Terminus Tehran

by Roumelia Lane

Claire wanted to go to Tehran to see her fiance, and her brother Mike was due to drive a truck there - so what was more simple than that Claire should go along with him? But unfortunately Mike's boss didn't see it that way.

Genres: Harlequin Romance

189 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published December 1, 1969

About the author

Kay Green
aka Roumelia Lane, Florissa May, Guy Granger, Katie Kent, Harley Davis

Kay Green was born on 31 December 1927 in Bradford, Yorkshire, England, UK. On 1 October 1949, she married Gavin Frederick Green, they had a son and a daughter.

Reviews

[JR · Rating 2 out of 5]

I accidentally deleted my first review of this book - but the gist of it was that in purchasing the novel (my first, and likely last, by Roumelia Lane) I mistakenly thought I'd get some kind of vaguely interesting look at Tehran pre-Iranian revolution (the book being published in 1969). However, I ought have paid more attention to the use of the term Terminus in the title...

Basically, the story comprises Year 8 geography style description of the overground route from London to Tehran. The protagonists - a quasi-journalist and 'transport boss' (as the author romantically terms him) never really build a tangible relationship - I couldn't fathom the draw between them. The heroine was OK so far as it goes, but the author seemingly followed the then M&B editorial policy to 'nth degree' giving the hero far too large a dose of 'glamorous unapproachability', i.e. depicting the hero as exceedingly handsome, 'five times larger than life' and aloof - always calling the tune and never appearing to be at a loss. What this results in here, is a two-dimensional character who spends a lot of time fixing the snow-bound truck and ignoring the heroine as she attempts to make conversation by 'sparkling' up at his rugged jawline.

I'm (generously) giving 'Terminus Tehran' a two-star vintage romance rating, but it was a [insert your own expression of displeasure] long and bland read.

[Last Chance Saloon · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the oddest M&B I have ever come across. Our heroine (19) works for a driving magazine and decides to join her brother who is now a truck driver on a trip to Iran. The company boss (the hero, 33) refuses to take a girl, so she pretends to be Dave, and then there's a last minute swap in driver and the company boss/hero takes over. Not until Holland is Dave uncovered as Clair. He's ex-army, big and capable, but seems to have a girl in every motel to kiss on his way.
The amount of trouble 'Dave' causes is unreal, and hero accepts it when she drives his truck into a bridge, causes huge delays and all with a grin. She gets sick and they spend a week recuperating whilst he wanders around the city doing who knows what.
However, the heroine is truly fascinated by these places and it's obvious that he is completely nuts about her and tormented about the fiancé. He pushes her away, then for the slightest reason carries her/pulls her close again. Plus he shows her the sights and she falls for him more every day.
The OM is the fiancé and he's foul - when she finds him, he is kissing a 16 year old in Iran. There's more drama there and eventually a happy ever after.
I'm upping this to 4 1/2 stars on a re-read, as the two main characters and the truck setting really are splendid.