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Nothing Changes Love
Marry in haste, divorce at leisure…
Lexi's husband of only one year was cheating on her. WHen she flung the words at him, "I really don't care about you breaking your promise�I would much rather have the money," she was lying through her teeth. But now she had only her pride left to salvage. Let Jake think that she was a cheap little gold digger. She was going to leave him and start a new life!
But, of course, Jake traced her to Italy and he wasn't about to let her forget that they were still legally married. But as far as Lexi was concerned, he could try blackmailing her all he wanted�she would never resume her place in his bed!
196 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 28, 1995
27 people are currently reading
206 people want to read
About the author
Jacqueline Baird
276 books258 followersJacqueline Baird was born on the 1st of April at home in a small village Northumbria, England, UK, where she raised. She went to the local village school, and later an all-girls' grammar school where she passed the University of Oxford General Certificate of Education in various subjects. On leaving school she joined the civil service in the then Post Office department.
She met her husband Jim, when she was only eighteen. Eight years later, after working as a hotel receptionist in a five-star hotel in Scotland and traveling abroad for a few years, she came home and married him. They still live in Northumbria and have two grown sons.
Her number one love is writing. She has always been an avid reader, and she had her first success as a writer at the age of eleven, when she won the first prize in the Nature Diary of the Year competition at school. But she always felt a little guilty because her diary was more fiction than fact. Apart from a spell as a hopeful painter in oils, when she actually did have a painting accepted for the Federation of Northern Artists' annual exhibition her real passion was for romance novels. When her sons went to school all day she thought she would try writing one. Jacqueline Baird's been writing for Mills & Boon since 1988, and she still gets a thrill every time a new book is published.
When Jacqueline is not busy writing she likes to spend her time traveling, reading and playing cards. She was a keen sailor until a knee injury ended her sailing days, but she still enjoys swimming in the sea. She visits a gym twice a week now and has made the surprising discovery that she gets some good ideas while doing the mind-numbingly boring exercises on the cycling and weight machines.
She met her husband Jim, when she was only eighteen. Eight years later, after working as a hotel receptionist in a five-star hotel in Scotland and traveling abroad for a few years, she came home and married him. They still live in Northumbria and have two grown sons.
Her number one love is writing. She has always been an avid reader, and she had her first success as a writer at the age of eleven, when she won the first prize in the Nature Diary of the Year competition at school. But she always felt a little guilty because her diary was more fiction than fact. Apart from a spell as a hopeful painter in oils, when she actually did have a painting accepted for the Federation of Northern Artists' annual exhibition her real passion was for romance novels. When her sons went to school all day she thought she would try writing one. Jacqueline Baird's been writing for Mills & Boon since 1988, and she still gets a thrill every time a new book is published.
When Jacqueline is not busy writing she likes to spend her time traveling, reading and playing cards. She was a keen sailor until a knee injury ended her sailing days, but she still enjoys swimming in the sea. She visits a gym twice a week now and has made the surprising discovery that she gets some good ideas while doing the mind-numbingly boring exercises on the cycling and weight machines.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
February 13, 2018
I thought I had read this one before, but I didn't remember any of it. It is a classic JB break up because of a misunderstanding. Heroine has just had a miscarriage and comes upon the hero and his personal assistant in their robes talking about how he has broken his promise to the heroine. Heroine interprets it as he has broken his marital vows, hero meant he isn't able to hang on to her family home if he wants to invest in a docklands real estate scheme.
Fast forward five years. Heroine is working in a hotel in Italy and has a "boyfriend" whom she has never slept with. The hero shows up right before the end of the separation period for a divorce and tells her he wants a baby from her then he'll let her go.
It's all so OTT that the angst just doesn't quite jell. The hero is still smitten, the misunderstanding is so obvious that all the heroine's self-pity didn't move me. I thought their five year time out was probably a good thing. Hero still needed to improve himself and let go of his past and the heroine needed to grow up.
The OW was a weird twist. She was supposed to be a lesbian and that's why the hero didn't think anything of the heroine's jealous accusations. Just because someone doesn't want to have sex with you, it doesn't mean that they can't be possessive or stifling or want to ruin your life. This chick did not like the heroine and did her best to break them up.
FYI: Hero was celibate during their separation as was the heroine.
Fast forward five years. Heroine is working in a hotel in Italy and has a "boyfriend" whom she has never slept with. The hero shows up right before the end of the separation period for a divorce and tells her he wants a baby from her then he'll let her go.
It's all so OTT that the angst just doesn't quite jell. The hero is still smitten, the misunderstanding is so obvious that all the heroine's self-pity didn't move me. I thought their five year time out was probably a good thing. Hero still needed to improve himself and let go of his past and the heroine needed to grow up.
The OW was a weird twist. She was supposed to be a lesbian and that's why the hero didn't think anything of the heroine's jealous accusations. Just because someone doesn't want to have sex with you, it doesn't mean that they can't be possessive or stifling or want to ruin your life. This chick did not like the heroine and did her best to break them up.
FYI: Hero was celibate during their separation as was the heroine.
September 4, 2012
TSTL pretty much sums up every main character (and most of the supporting characters) in this book.
9/3/2012: JUST FOUND THIS REVIEW I WROTE BACK ON 21 SEP 2010:
"Nothing Changes Love" by Jacqueline Baird - Please, God, let this be the last time I have to even think about this book! :-)
It opens with our heroine, Lexi, groggily opening her eyes in the hospital following a miscarriage. Her doctor for the past twenty years (mistake!) tells her, "Some things in life, child, are just not meant to be." Her "handsome" husband (the doctor's words-male-no man says that!), Jake, has been told and arrives shortly thereafter. He could not be there because he was working and his assistant, Lorraine, failed to give him the message thinking it wasn't that important. Of course, he raises all kinds of He** at the hospital becfuase he doesn't realize he was informed just not told. Blah Blah Blah
OK. So...fast-forward a few weeks and Lexi is totally depressed and does not have any support system to speak of. During that time, we get flashbacks into their whirlwind romance complete with problems provided by Lorraine. Jake tells her at one point that Lorraine is "strictly an employee, little one; you're the only woman for me, understand?" At the time, she had seen a "possessive glint" in the other woman's eyes couled with the "stunning brunette hanging on his arm."
*SIGH*
During the romance portion, there are big hints of Lorraine's feelings towards Lexi...she belives her to be a "mercenary little bit^&" looking for someone to buy her family home to help with the bills. Blah Blah Blah
OK. Back to the present. Lorraine makes some really nast and hurtful remarks regarding Lexi's miscarriage to which Jake only says "mind your business." WTF? Can you say FIRED!?
Later on, Lexi's doctor says she should take a vacation to help wiht the depresssion so she packs a bag and shows up, unexpected, at "Jake's apartment" presumably in town. Well, guess what she finds: [BREATHE]
* Jake and Lorraine in robes having a glass of wine on the balcony
* Jake and Lorraine discussing Lexi
* Jake telling Lorraine how he "broke his promise to Lexi"; "he can't tell her just yet"
* Lorraine saying how Lexi will "find out anyway, and that will hurt a hell of a lot more"
The conversation just gets more awful from there. Lexi is "discovered" much to Jake's shock. She tells them she's heard everything. He's RELIEVED and says let's celebrate and offers her champagne. She's shocked, naturally, says some parting words aimed to hurt and play up the "I'm just here for the money" persona Lorraine seems intent to thrust upon her. She leaves amid a flurry of vile comments from Jake.
Flash forward five, celibate years and Lexi is managing at a hotel in Italy, just got engaged to her older boyfriend, and Jake shows up after he has been served divorce papers. Surprise!
Well, he is a nasty POW towards her and blackmails, bullies, and seduces her back into being his wife and bedmate. Oh, Lorraine is in tow and as nasty as ever. He NEVER denies that Lorraine's his mistress.
This part of our book is filled with the most vile behavior (IMHO) by Jake AND a constant, sickening seduction scene. Oh, and Lorraine's rude remarks and behavior just top it all off.
Guess what? Jake slowly begins to realize that maybe, just maybe, he was wrong about his wife. BASTA@#!
The pinnacle of stupidity begins after he has another fit when an attractive man gives Lexi an innocent gift followed closely by Lorraine digging her nails into Lexi’s bare shoulders capped off by Lexi catching Jake and Lorraine embracing after she was JUST beginning to believe in their love again.
Lexis runs, again, Jake catches up with her and accuses her of running to her Arab friend (the guy who gave her the gift that same night). He bullies her back to their villa and stumbles through yet another forced seduction which he stops when it becomes apparent, her hitting him repeatedly obviously didn’t do the trick that she wants him to stop.
Jake, prince that he is, says he doesn’t understand and thought that after their trip to Pompeii (turning point) things had begun to change but his first “thought was, mercenary little bit*&, she’s decided that flaming Arab was a better bet.”
Prince among men, right???
Of course, he admits that after he calmed down he was wrong. Ahh, shucks! Then they start to talk and all the ugly little, stupid misunderstandings come out:
• When she caught them in robes, they were waiting on their clothes to dry after being caught in the rain.
• They were speaking of selling her home. The one he had PROMISED to keep for her. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, THAT was the promise he was speaking of breaking!!
• Lorraine is a lesbian and he thinks she might have feelings for Lexi. He says he’s “not taking any chances.” He’s actually jealous! Never mind the claw marks, eh, Prince Jake??
• He has shipped Lorraine (who’s had a hard life, poor thing) off to the New York office. A “demotion," he says.
Of course, he has the gall to say during the course of this conversation, “What a low opinion you have of must have of me…” POW! Blah Blah Blah He does admit that he should have booted Lorraine during the whole miscarriage thing (phone message and her hurtful comments) but he was “blinded” by business. Idiot!
They spend the next 36-hours in bed, speak words of love, and then credit rolls.
9/3/2012: JUST FOUND THIS REVIEW I WROTE BACK ON 21 SEP 2010:
"Nothing Changes Love" by Jacqueline Baird - Please, God, let this be the last time I have to even think about this book! :-)
It opens with our heroine, Lexi, groggily opening her eyes in the hospital following a miscarriage. Her doctor for the past twenty years (mistake!) tells her, "Some things in life, child, are just not meant to be." Her "handsome" husband (the doctor's words-male-no man says that!), Jake, has been told and arrives shortly thereafter. He could not be there because he was working and his assistant, Lorraine, failed to give him the message thinking it wasn't that important. Of course, he raises all kinds of He** at the hospital becfuase he doesn't realize he was informed just not told. Blah Blah Blah
OK. So...fast-forward a few weeks and Lexi is totally depressed and does not have any support system to speak of. During that time, we get flashbacks into their whirlwind romance complete with problems provided by Lorraine. Jake tells her at one point that Lorraine is "strictly an employee, little one; you're the only woman for me, understand?" At the time, she had seen a "possessive glint" in the other woman's eyes couled with the "stunning brunette hanging on his arm."
*SIGH*
During the romance portion, there are big hints of Lorraine's feelings towards Lexi...she belives her to be a "mercenary little bit^&" looking for someone to buy her family home to help with the bills. Blah Blah Blah
OK. Back to the present. Lorraine makes some really nast and hurtful remarks regarding Lexi's miscarriage to which Jake only says "mind your business." WTF? Can you say FIRED!?
Later on, Lexi's doctor says she should take a vacation to help wiht the depresssion so she packs a bag and shows up, unexpected, at "Jake's apartment" presumably in town. Well, guess what she finds: [BREATHE]
* Jake and Lorraine in robes having a glass of wine on the balcony
* Jake and Lorraine discussing Lexi
* Jake telling Lorraine how he "broke his promise to Lexi"; "he can't tell her just yet"
* Lorraine saying how Lexi will "find out anyway, and that will hurt a hell of a lot more"
The conversation just gets more awful from there. Lexi is "discovered" much to Jake's shock. She tells them she's heard everything. He's RELIEVED and says let's celebrate and offers her champagne. She's shocked, naturally, says some parting words aimed to hurt and play up the "I'm just here for the money" persona Lorraine seems intent to thrust upon her. She leaves amid a flurry of vile comments from Jake.
Flash forward five, celibate years and Lexi is managing at a hotel in Italy, just got engaged to her older boyfriend, and Jake shows up after he has been served divorce papers. Surprise!
Well, he is a nasty POW towards her and blackmails, bullies, and seduces her back into being his wife and bedmate. Oh, Lorraine is in tow and as nasty as ever. He NEVER denies that Lorraine's his mistress.
This part of our book is filled with the most vile behavior (IMHO) by Jake AND a constant, sickening seduction scene. Oh, and Lorraine's rude remarks and behavior just top it all off.
Guess what? Jake slowly begins to realize that maybe, just maybe, he was wrong about his wife. BASTA@#!
The pinnacle of stupidity begins after he has another fit when an attractive man gives Lexi an innocent gift followed closely by Lorraine digging her nails into Lexi’s bare shoulders capped off by Lexi catching Jake and Lorraine embracing after she was JUST beginning to believe in their love again.
Lexis runs, again, Jake catches up with her and accuses her of running to her Arab friend (the guy who gave her the gift that same night). He bullies her back to their villa and stumbles through yet another forced seduction which he stops when it becomes apparent, her hitting him repeatedly obviously didn’t do the trick that she wants him to stop.
Jake, prince that he is, says he doesn’t understand and thought that after their trip to Pompeii (turning point) things had begun to change but his first “thought was, mercenary little bit*&, she’s decided that flaming Arab was a better bet.”
Prince among men, right???
Of course, he admits that after he calmed down he was wrong. Ahh, shucks! Then they start to talk and all the ugly little, stupid misunderstandings come out:
• When she caught them in robes, they were waiting on their clothes to dry after being caught in the rain.
• They were speaking of selling her home. The one he had PROMISED to keep for her. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, THAT was the promise he was speaking of breaking!!
• Lorraine is a lesbian and he thinks she might have feelings for Lexi. He says he’s “not taking any chances.” He’s actually jealous! Never mind the claw marks, eh, Prince Jake??
• He has shipped Lorraine (who’s had a hard life, poor thing) off to the New York office. A “demotion," he says.
Of course, he has the gall to say during the course of this conversation, “What a low opinion you have of must have of me…” POW! Blah Blah Blah He does admit that he should have booted Lorraine during the whole miscarriage thing (phone message and her hurtful comments) but he was “blinded” by business. Idiot!
They spend the next 36-hours in bed, speak words of love, and then credit rolls.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 1, 2018
Re Nothing Changes Love - Jacqueline Baird is doing Jacqueline Baird in this one, right up to the old skool bullying and semi-forced seduction.
It all starts with back flashes of whirlwind romance as the sweet young h wakes up in hospital. The h was trying to sell her family manse to clear off old debts. The H bought it and swept her off her feet at the same time. Of course our sweet little unicorn-petter is topsy turvy in love and of course her new beau's female assistant is looking like the h is the worm in her G&T.
The h and H marry, but the H is a workaholic, mainly cause he overextended himself and is scrambling to save his company. The h, like all good HP unicorn groomers do, finds herself in the family way, right away. (Remember the HP Virgin=Stork Visit rule here.)
It is a lonely pregnancy and an even lonelier miscarriage. When the h tried to contact her H, who is off on a business dinner, his assistant put her off and failed to deliver the message until much later. (We can all see where this is going and it ain't pretty.)
The h has her two weeks of mopey moments, which I thought was rather short given the desolation and pain and the fact that her H just blew off the assistant's actions as being no big deal and a minor mistake. ( Slime Snot just forgot, she did not consider the h's issues important.)
Then the h, who really is a bit plucky, decides to get herself together and get over her depression and take a little holiday with her H. She goes to his City flat as a surprise and what does she find?
The H and the assistant cuddled up in robes, drinking wine and plotting how to tell the h the the H broke his promise. The OW Slime Snot of the Greater London Area then suggests offering the h a ton of cash and things will be fine, the h is a gold digger anyways.
The h pops her head up at this moment and tells the H she heard him, he is delighted and pops open a magnum of Dom Pérignon to celebrate. The h tells him she will take the cash option please and goes to her friend's house for comfort that her husband of just a few months must have married her for the house and now is cheating on her.
Five years goes by. The h is eligible for non-consent divorce and wants a baby. In the interim between her marriage and now, she becomes the manager of a charming hotel in Italy. But the owner needs to sell, his son needs the Gold Standard American Treatment to walk again and he needs to attend to his son and not worry about business.
So the h agrees to marry one of the owner's son's friends, he is nice, a little older and all about building a family. The h has notice that her divorce is underway and things are starting to bloom for the h again.
Until the bully H, OW Slime Snot in tow, buys the hotel. We get the standard JB H blackmail trope of she either resumes the marriage and replaces the child she so thoughtlessly lost or everyone's lives will be ruined.
Then a combination of semi-forced seduction and bullying put the h out for the count. The H and h are back together - tho I am not sure the h actually ever stopped the divorce with her English solicitor- and the H is determined NOBODY gets to play with his toy but him.
There are outings and Purple Transcendent Bliss moments and the H gets a huge kick in the ego when the hotel gives the H and h a little party and the Richest Handsomest Arab Guy in the World gives the h a jeweled dagger and indicates that she can come hang at his oasis anytime.
The OW Slime Snot makes another slime snot attack, this time leaving two inch claw marks in the h's arms. Later on, the h spies the H and his Slime Snot in an intimate embrace and once again decides to dump the H's sorry hiney.
That doesn't work, cause the H chases her down and drags her off and yet another almost semi-forced seduction event plays out - the H actually backs down when he figures out he is literally about to rape his wife.
(JB never lets her H's get that far, they will always back off at the minute, so safety readers take note.)
The H was jealous about the Richest Arab Guy in the World, but belatedly realizes that the man has billions more than he does and if the h was going to jump ship with him, he would have sent a helicopter and the h was about to take off in a junker Fiat. The H also admits that the h never touched the millions he gave her when she left him the first time.
So the H bullies the h into explaining her actions and it comes out that the h has believed the H was keeping the OW Slime Snot as his lover on the side, his actions during the miscarriage and the evening she left him five years ago prove that.
The H claims that his Slime Snot is a lesbian and maybe she is jealous that the h won't even look at her. She was an old school friend with a hard life and he gave her a job out of pity. Then he realized that she really did hate the h and he very, very belatedly realized that when your boss's wife is having a miscarriage in hospital, an employee just doesn't "forget" to pass along the message.
So the H told her she has to transfer overseas and the Slime Snot resigned instead. The H also claims that he broke his promise not to sell the h's home, not his marriage vows, but he needed the cash and there was an offer on the table that would put him back in the black financially.
By now the h has preggerness hormones on the brain and plus the H has a lot of property she can circle around between if she needs to escape, so she tells him she believes his lame, sorry tale of woe and she probably still loves him too.
Then the H declares his love, offers her the chief management position of one of his hotels if she wants it and the two of them descend into another pink sparkly cloud of Lurve Mojo Bliss for the HEA.
This one is a very standard JB HP day at the office. She pulls out all her usual tropes and tricks, tho the lesbian angle was little awkwardly done, at least JB made an effort. While it is a far cry from JB's best, it does have it's little moments and you could do worse for a semi-really old skool HPlandia outing.
It all starts with back flashes of whirlwind romance as the sweet young h wakes up in hospital. The h was trying to sell her family manse to clear off old debts. The H bought it and swept her off her feet at the same time. Of course our sweet little unicorn-petter is topsy turvy in love and of course her new beau's female assistant is looking like the h is the worm in her G&T.
The h and H marry, but the H is a workaholic, mainly cause he overextended himself and is scrambling to save his company. The h, like all good HP unicorn groomers do, finds herself in the family way, right away. (Remember the HP Virgin=Stork Visit rule here.)
It is a lonely pregnancy and an even lonelier miscarriage. When the h tried to contact her H, who is off on a business dinner, his assistant put her off and failed to deliver the message until much later. (We can all see where this is going and it ain't pretty.)
The h has her two weeks of mopey moments, which I thought was rather short given the desolation and pain and the fact that her H just blew off the assistant's actions as being no big deal and a minor mistake. ( Slime Snot just forgot, she did not consider the h's issues important.)
Then the h, who really is a bit plucky, decides to get herself together and get over her depression and take a little holiday with her H. She goes to his City flat as a surprise and what does she find?
The H and the assistant cuddled up in robes, drinking wine and plotting how to tell the h the the H broke his promise. The OW Slime Snot of the Greater London Area then suggests offering the h a ton of cash and things will be fine, the h is a gold digger anyways.
The h pops her head up at this moment and tells the H she heard him, he is delighted and pops open a magnum of Dom Pérignon to celebrate. The h tells him she will take the cash option please and goes to her friend's house for comfort that her husband of just a few months must have married her for the house and now is cheating on her.
Five years goes by. The h is eligible for non-consent divorce and wants a baby. In the interim between her marriage and now, she becomes the manager of a charming hotel in Italy. But the owner needs to sell, his son needs the Gold Standard American Treatment to walk again and he needs to attend to his son and not worry about business.
So the h agrees to marry one of the owner's son's friends, he is nice, a little older and all about building a family. The h has notice that her divorce is underway and things are starting to bloom for the h again.
Until the bully H, OW Slime Snot in tow, buys the hotel. We get the standard JB H blackmail trope of she either resumes the marriage and replaces the child she so thoughtlessly lost or everyone's lives will be ruined.
Then a combination of semi-forced seduction and bullying put the h out for the count. The H and h are back together - tho I am not sure the h actually ever stopped the divorce with her English solicitor- and the H is determined NOBODY gets to play with his toy but him.
There are outings and Purple Transcendent Bliss moments and the H gets a huge kick in the ego when the hotel gives the H and h a little party and the Richest Handsomest Arab Guy in the World gives the h a jeweled dagger and indicates that she can come hang at his oasis anytime.
The OW Slime Snot makes another slime snot attack, this time leaving two inch claw marks in the h's arms. Later on, the h spies the H and his Slime Snot in an intimate embrace and once again decides to dump the H's sorry hiney.
That doesn't work, cause the H chases her down and drags her off and yet another almost semi-forced seduction event plays out - the H actually backs down when he figures out he is literally about to rape his wife.
(JB never lets her H's get that far, they will always back off at the minute, so safety readers take note.)
The H was jealous about the Richest Arab Guy in the World, but belatedly realizes that the man has billions more than he does and if the h was going to jump ship with him, he would have sent a helicopter and the h was about to take off in a junker Fiat. The H also admits that the h never touched the millions he gave her when she left him the first time.
So the H bullies the h into explaining her actions and it comes out that the h has believed the H was keeping the OW Slime Snot as his lover on the side, his actions during the miscarriage and the evening she left him five years ago prove that.
The H claims that his Slime Snot is a lesbian and maybe she is jealous that the h won't even look at her. She was an old school friend with a hard life and he gave her a job out of pity. Then he realized that she really did hate the h and he very, very belatedly realized that when your boss's wife is having a miscarriage in hospital, an employee just doesn't "forget" to pass along the message.
So the H told her she has to transfer overseas and the Slime Snot resigned instead. The H also claims that he broke his promise not to sell the h's home, not his marriage vows, but he needed the cash and there was an offer on the table that would put him back in the black financially.
By now the h has preggerness hormones on the brain and plus the H has a lot of property she can circle around between if she needs to escape, so she tells him she believes his lame, sorry tale of woe and she probably still loves him too.
Then the H declares his love, offers her the chief management position of one of his hotels if she wants it and the two of them descend into another pink sparkly cloud of Lurve Mojo Bliss for the HEA.
This one is a very standard JB HP day at the office. She pulls out all her usual tropes and tricks, tho the lesbian angle was little awkwardly done, at least JB made an effort. While it is a far cry from JB's best, it does have it's little moments and you could do worse for a semi-really old skool HPlandia outing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
avoid
February 13, 2018I think someone said that the OW was a lesbian.
So we have an OW, who is not the OW, but is the OW anyway, who's suffering from identity crisis and thinks she's a HP hero therefore she should be vile, accuse heroine of gold digging, call her names, shake her, physically assault her to charm her so that she'll leave her husband to fall on her arms!!!
I may also have misunderstood someone's sarcasm but either way I'm steering clear of this one!!!
So we have an OW, who is not the OW, but is the OW anyway, who's suffering from identity crisis and thinks she's a HP hero therefore she should be vile, accuse heroine of gold digging, call her names, shake her, physically assault her to charm her so that she'll leave her husband to fall on her arms!!!
I may also have misunderstood someone's sarcasm but either way I'm steering clear of this one!!!
July 23, 2012
ok...this wasn't exactly my cup of tea. This definitely had all the passion and intensity that I have come to love in my HP reads...But somehow the heroine just came off too weak and pathetic to enjoy.
The first part of the book is absolutely riveting...but then it goes downhill when Jake comes back to claim her demanding she become his wife again. Lexi just folds like a house of cards...and as a reader I couldn't understand why. After 5 year separation, it's an easy no fault divorce. Of course he blackmails her by threatening to hurt her employers child. But really, how realistic is that.
He calls her a mercenary b@#$h, but has no facts to support it. ..In the five years they were separated, she never asked for a dime. When she had his sorry butt over a barrel and could have taken him for everything he was worth, she didn't. What barrel? The one where he would rather play happy tycoon businessman with his PA, while she is in the hospital having a miscarriage. The one where he is caught in his apartment with his PA, in bathrobes, sipping champagne. She walks out, disappears for 5 years, never takes a penny and he calls her mercenary? Say what?
Yikes. Of course, they have great sex. But really, how could you let a man touch you that was MIA when you lost his baby, and is caught drinking champagne with his PA.
Please.
The first part of the book is absolutely riveting...but then it goes downhill when Jake comes back to claim her demanding she become his wife again. Lexi just folds like a house of cards...and as a reader I couldn't understand why. After 5 year separation, it's an easy no fault divorce. Of course he blackmails her by threatening to hurt her employers child. But really, how realistic is that.
He calls her a mercenary b@#$h, but has no facts to support it. ..In the five years they were separated, she never asked for a dime. When she had his sorry butt over a barrel and could have taken him for everything he was worth, she didn't. What barrel? The one where he would rather play happy tycoon businessman with his PA, while she is in the hospital having a miscarriage. The one where he is caught in his apartment with his PA, in bathrobes, sipping champagne. She walks out, disappears for 5 years, never takes a penny and he calls her mercenary? Say what?
Yikes. Of course, they have great sex. But really, how could you let a man touch you that was MIA when you lost his baby, and is caught drinking champagne with his PA.
Please.
March 30, 2011
Lexi Laughton and Jake Taylor have this obsessive, tumultuous and sometimes boarding on physically violent relationship. The two meet when Lexi is selling her family home after the death of her father; Jake is a prospective buyer for the property. When the two come face-to-face for the first time there are immediate sexual sparks. Lexi is barely out of her teens at the age of 20 and Jake is a full ten years her senior and worldly with it. From the very being he is dominating mentality and Lexi fits the bill, because she is so young and naïve about mature man-woman relationships. She is bowled over by Jake's attraction to her and her's to him.
Within 24 hours he pretty much takes over her life and 3 weeks after that they are married and Lexi is head over heels in love; I'm not so sure about Jake. Right off it would be easy to call Jake a jerk and be done with his whole character assessment. However, he actually is more than a one dimensional character. He is ambitious to a fault and domineering in all aspects of his life; Lexi fits right in with is over all life plan because from the start she acquiesce towards all of his he-man behavior; she is so in awe of him that she can't think for herself and becomes the "little woman" to his "big strong" man.
Unfortunately or fortunately however you look at it Lexi suffers a miscarriage during her pregnancy which happens about five months after they get married; when this happens Lexi's rose colored view of life with Jake takes a drastic turn. She starts to questioning whether she did the right thing in marrying him, she also questions Jake's fidelity' suspecting that he might be having an affair with is personal assistant Lorraine. Did I forget to mention that Lexi is pretty much intimidated by Lorraine after their first meeting. Lorraine thinks Lexi is a gold-digger from the word "go" and makes no bones about telling her so and doesn't go out of her way to hide her dislike for Lexi.
Shortly after the miscarriage Lexi goes through a bout of depression that tests the bonds of her marriage, seesawing between sadness, self-blame, anger and suspicion. She seeks the help of her doctor who assures her that the emotions that she is experiencing are normal after a miscarriage. Reassured that she hasn't lost her marbles Lexi decides its time to try and mend the strained fences with Jake who by this time is living in London during the weeks subsequent to the miscarriage, because of the fact that Lexi has basically kicked him out of their bed and barely speaks to him when he is home. He decided to give her the space she requests in order to come to terms with loosing the baby.
Lexi decides to visit Jake at their London apartment hoping to patch things up by suggesting a second honeymoon. When she gets there she finds Jake and Lorraine in bathrobes drinking wine and discussing what she assumes are plans for Jake to divorce her and be with Lorraine; she hears Jake tell his assistant that he has had to break a promise to Lexi. Meanwhile, Jake and Lorraine are under the impression that Lexi is in full knowledge of the circumstances of their actual conversation and proceeds to ask her to celebrate with them. In true melodramatic fashion Lexi informs Jake that she is going on vacation and that she will take whatever money he has decided to give her and then storms out, not to be heard of again for nearly five years.
Fast Forward 5yrs Lexi is now 25yrs old a lot more mature and a little wiser; she is the General Manager for an exclusive boutique hotel in Italy that caters to the very wealthy, she is dating a man 15yrs her senior and thinking about becoming engaged to him, however before she can contemplate marrying him she must seek a divorce from her estranged husband. She contacts her lawyer to get the divorce ball rolling and that's when the stuff hits the fan. After nearly 5 yrs and no communication what so ever between the two Jake shows up in Italy and tells Lexi he won't grant her a divorce and that its time she assumed the role of his wife in all aspects and oh by the way I've brought the hotel your working in. Arrogant doesn't even begin to describe Jake at this point he blackmails Lexi into resuming their marriage by holding over her head that if she doesn't comply he will pull out of the deal to purchase the hotel; Lexi knows that if he holds to his threat the current owner won't get the money he desperately needs.
At this point in the story Jake had not changed in the intervening years and as much as the author went through pains taking detail to convince the reader that Lexi was this strong, mature independent woman, it fell short because neither had Lexi changed much. She fell back into the same role as before with Jake, the only difference this time around was that she did flare up on occasion at him, but it made her look shrewish and immature at times; which only gave Jake an excuse to grab her roughly, make more threats, demean her character or have sex with her which he used often to subdue her. If, these two were ever in love I missed it in 185pgs I read, they were in lust and obsession with one another. Everlasting love for one another; the jury is still out on that. However, there was lots of grabbing, near physical striking and harsh feelings towards one another and sex.
Okay Read
Within 24 hours he pretty much takes over her life and 3 weeks after that they are married and Lexi is head over heels in love; I'm not so sure about Jake. Right off it would be easy to call Jake a jerk and be done with his whole character assessment. However, he actually is more than a one dimensional character. He is ambitious to a fault and domineering in all aspects of his life; Lexi fits right in with is over all life plan because from the start she acquiesce towards all of his he-man behavior; she is so in awe of him that she can't think for herself and becomes the "little woman" to his "big strong" man.
Unfortunately or fortunately however you look at it Lexi suffers a miscarriage during her pregnancy which happens about five months after they get married; when this happens Lexi's rose colored view of life with Jake takes a drastic turn. She starts to questioning whether she did the right thing in marrying him, she also questions Jake's fidelity' suspecting that he might be having an affair with is personal assistant Lorraine. Did I forget to mention that Lexi is pretty much intimidated by Lorraine after their first meeting. Lorraine thinks Lexi is a gold-digger from the word "go" and makes no bones about telling her so and doesn't go out of her way to hide her dislike for Lexi.
Shortly after the miscarriage Lexi goes through a bout of depression that tests the bonds of her marriage, seesawing between sadness, self-blame, anger and suspicion. She seeks the help of her doctor who assures her that the emotions that she is experiencing are normal after a miscarriage. Reassured that she hasn't lost her marbles Lexi decides its time to try and mend the strained fences with Jake who by this time is living in London during the weeks subsequent to the miscarriage, because of the fact that Lexi has basically kicked him out of their bed and barely speaks to him when he is home. He decided to give her the space she requests in order to come to terms with loosing the baby.
Lexi decides to visit Jake at their London apartment hoping to patch things up by suggesting a second honeymoon. When she gets there she finds Jake and Lorraine in bathrobes drinking wine and discussing what she assumes are plans for Jake to divorce her and be with Lorraine; she hears Jake tell his assistant that he has had to break a promise to Lexi. Meanwhile, Jake and Lorraine are under the impression that Lexi is in full knowledge of the circumstances of their actual conversation and proceeds to ask her to celebrate with them. In true melodramatic fashion Lexi informs Jake that she is going on vacation and that she will take whatever money he has decided to give her and then storms out, not to be heard of again for nearly five years.
Fast Forward 5yrs Lexi is now 25yrs old a lot more mature and a little wiser; she is the General Manager for an exclusive boutique hotel in Italy that caters to the very wealthy, she is dating a man 15yrs her senior and thinking about becoming engaged to him, however before she can contemplate marrying him she must seek a divorce from her estranged husband. She contacts her lawyer to get the divorce ball rolling and that's when the stuff hits the fan. After nearly 5 yrs and no communication what so ever between the two Jake shows up in Italy and tells Lexi he won't grant her a divorce and that its time she assumed the role of his wife in all aspects and oh by the way I've brought the hotel your working in. Arrogant doesn't even begin to describe Jake at this point he blackmails Lexi into resuming their marriage by holding over her head that if she doesn't comply he will pull out of the deal to purchase the hotel; Lexi knows that if he holds to his threat the current owner won't get the money he desperately needs.
At this point in the story Jake had not changed in the intervening years and as much as the author went through pains taking detail to convince the reader that Lexi was this strong, mature independent woman, it fell short because neither had Lexi changed much. She fell back into the same role as before with Jake, the only difference this time around was that she did flare up on occasion at him, but it made her look shrewish and immature at times; which only gave Jake an excuse to grab her roughly, make more threats, demean her character or have sex with her which he used often to subdue her. If, these two were ever in love I missed it in 185pgs I read, they were in lust and obsession with one another. Everlasting love for one another; the jury is still out on that. However, there was lots of grabbing, near physical striking and harsh feelings towards one another and sex.
Okay Read
February 11, 2021
Lexi is married for almost one year and she has a miscarriage. Her husband arrives late because his b**c of PA didn’t tell him his wife had left a message. Lexi is depressed and doesn’t want to sleep with him for a while. They only see in the weekends. Then she decides to surprise him and goes to his apartment where she sees him and his PA drinking champagne in bath towels... she leaves him. 5 years later she asks him for divorce because she wants to marry another man. He blackmails her thinking she is a gold digger but he wants her back. They reconcile and the big misunderstanding is explained. Really, this man was TSTL and she is without pride nor self respect. He taunts her and mocks her, forcing himself on her even when she says no, she has the hots for him even if she says she hates him. So, you are both adults: he is not able to understand that his b**c PA is trying to destroy their marriage??? How stupid are you man ? How can a man like that be attractive? I feel nauseous only reading how stupid and slow witted he was... and the heroine? She says she hates him but the moment he puts his hands on her she is salivating like she has never seen a man before. So ok, you hate him but he’s good in bed why don’t you admit it? No, she keeps telling him that she doesn’t want him but keeps having sex with him. Two stupid characters, i cannot believe I’ve just read all the book.
June 4, 2018
Loved it! even though this was OTT in parts, the story was lovely and I really liked the H and the h in spite of the fact that they were as prone to misunderstandings and hiding behind their egos as the other couples of M&Bland. It was sexy/angsty/ crazy (the H pretends to be half Italian at one point to impress the h), but totally worth the read. And I absolutely have a weakness for smitten Heroes and Jake here is probably numero uno on the list of the besotted H. This is going on my 'to re-read' shelf.
five (not a doubt in my mind) stars!
five (not a doubt in my mind) stars!
June 13, 2020
"Nothing Changes Love" is the story of Lorraine and Dante.
A second chance, angst filled romance with loads of misunderstandings and miscommunications! The book begins with a tragic miscarriage, after which the hero and heroine drift apart. Through perfectly misconstrued circumstances, she starts believing the hero is cheating on her and leaves him.
Five years later, she works as a successful manager to a hotel and has a petting-only boyfriend, when he proposes and she applies for a divorce. The hero then tracks her down, vowing to never let her go.
Another impulsive and stubborn heroine, jealous and confused hero, loads of passion and romance, drama, a crazy OW who is not that and meddling secondary characters.
A good one time read!
Safe
3.5/5
A second chance, angst filled romance with loads of misunderstandings and miscommunications! The book begins with a tragic miscarriage, after which the hero and heroine drift apart. Through perfectly misconstrued circumstances, she starts believing the hero is cheating on her and leaves him.
Five years later, she works as a successful manager to a hotel and has a petting-only boyfriend, when he proposes and she applies for a divorce. The hero then tracks her down, vowing to never let her go.
Another impulsive and stubborn heroine, jealous and confused hero, loads of passion and romance, drama, a crazy OW who is not that and meddling secondary characters.
A good one time read!
Safe
3.5/5
August 20, 2018
Loved this! The last chapter had me shedding tear was one of best for I read. Definitely recommend this! 5 years separation was such a GREAT shame though!
October 9, 2016
Emotional, passionate and full of angst! Couple with good chemistry and trust issues. Hero and heroine were celibate during separation. This author always delivers!
April 18, 2021
She is happy, I'm happy.
October 22, 2021
Well, this was passably entertaining. 🤷🏼♀️ It’s one of the few by the author I actually finished, so I feel like that’s saying something. 😬
I liked the drama and the characters. The H is jealous and possessive and the h is sweet. I wasn’t wild about the ridiculous misunderstanding that led to a five year separation, but I suppose I should be happy it wasn’t a full decade including a tween secret child. 🙄 My main criticism of this book and the rest I’ve read by this author is that the gals run away, and the hero barely puts any effort into finding them. All Jake had to do was search for her maiden name. 👀 And in this one, the evil OW isn’t evil at all 👀, she’s just a crazy lesbian. 👀😐🙄🙄🙄 I can’t even. I think that was where the book really took a dive. The explanation at the end is supposed to be where I swoon, not where my eyeballs roll out of my head.
Bottom line? Started strong, and ended in a way that wasn’t satisfying to me. ⭐️⭐️⭐️
⚠️SAFETY SQUAD SPOILERS⚠️
- no cheating or sharing
- OW drama - he’s got a meddling PA that the h assumes he’s having an affair with (with good reason), but no worries, she’s a lesbian. 🙈😅
- OM drama - when the H finds the h, she’s engaged - H is of course not happy, since they are still married - he assumes all the men want her and he gets very jealous
- dubcon and hate sex (probably the best part of the book. 😅)
- h is a 20 year old virgin when they meet
- H is a 30 year old experienced man
- 5 year separation, both celibate
- miscarriage
I liked the drama and the characters. The H is jealous and possessive and the h is sweet. I wasn’t wild about the ridiculous misunderstanding that led to a five year separation, but I suppose I should be happy it wasn’t a full decade including a tween secret child. 🙄 My main criticism of this book and the rest I’ve read by this author is that the gals run away, and the hero barely puts any effort into finding them. All Jake had to do was search for her maiden name. 👀 And in this one, the evil OW isn’t evil at all 👀, she’s just a crazy lesbian. 👀😐🙄🙄🙄 I can’t even. I think that was where the book really took a dive. The explanation at the end is supposed to be where I swoon, not where my eyeballs roll out of my head.
Bottom line? Started strong, and ended in a way that wasn’t satisfying to me. ⭐️⭐️⭐️
⚠️SAFETY SQUAD SPOILERS⚠️
- no cheating or sharing
- OW drama - he’s got a meddling PA that the h assumes he’s having an affair with (with good reason), but no worries, she’s a lesbian. 🙈😅
- OM drama - when the H finds the h, she’s engaged - H is of course not happy, since they are still married - he assumes all the men want her and he gets very jealous
- dubcon and hate sex (probably the best part of the book. 😅)
- h is a 20 year old virgin when they meet
- H is a 30 year old experienced man
- 5 year separation, both celibate
- miscarriage
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 14, 2015
Ok why oh why can't they follow their independence spirit and I would not want to get with my hubby after I lost a baby! He would have some serious apologizing to do for me to even consider going to bed with him. I get he did nothing but I am hormonal here tlc is needed and he is just an ass. Don't bother with this if you hate spineless woman. The sex was ok but too much forced situations for me.
July 23, 2012
I enjoy most of Jacquline Baird's books and this is one my favorite. . Jake is so wrapped up in his business that Lexi being young and pliable , doesn't make waves until she suffers a miscarriage and he doesn't arrive at the hospital until the next day. He did not get the message and wants hospital staff's heads to roll for this, He does not believe the staff when he is informed of the message that was left for him. His valued P. A . did not give him the message and Lexie knows that it was an intential oversight.
Lyexie just knows that Jake and his PA are involved because they spend too much time together. Lexiie wants to surprise Jake by leaving their country manor and visiting him at their town apartment. Lexie had a big surprise because she finds the two of them in a very compromising position with Lorraine wearing Lexie's bathrobe.
Lexie runs away and it takes Jake a very long time to locate her and now Lexie has a boyfriend that she has promised to marry when she gets her divorce. Jake has other plans and the reader receives a surprise about the PA that was unexpected. A lot of tension, emotional and sexual, moves the story. At times Jake and his PA are not pleasant to Lexie - they are both bossy and arrogant but Lexie is not as naive as she once was and tries to keep them from treating her as a child as they once did. Very enjoyable reading.
Lyexie just knows that Jake and his PA are involved because they spend too much time together. Lexiie wants to surprise Jake by leaving their country manor and visiting him at their town apartment. Lexie had a big surprise because she finds the two of them in a very compromising position with Lorraine wearing Lexie's bathrobe.
Lexie runs away and it takes Jake a very long time to locate her and now Lexie has a boyfriend that she has promised to marry when she gets her divorce. Jake has other plans and the reader receives a surprise about the PA that was unexpected. A lot of tension, emotional and sexual, moves the story. At times Jake and his PA are not pleasant to Lexie - they are both bossy and arrogant but Lexie is not as naive as she once was and tries to keep them from treating her as a child as they once did. Very enjoyable reading.
August 8, 2018
Not bad, but I agree with an earlier reviewer that it started off well and sort of petered out mid-way.
The young heroine is suffering through a miscarriage and we see the delayed appearance of her concerned husband. He has arrived too late to her side, his business concerns being more important. We see all these from the heroine’s point of view. Although he seems a very caring and concerned husband, she feels a bit neglected.
Later as she is recuperating from a post natal depression, she dwells on her suspicions that her husband is having an affair with his PA. PA has not endeared herself to the heroine from the start of her marriage. heroine also suspects her husband rushed her into marriage so he could acquire her old home and turn it into a hotel.
However she is convinced by her doctor to take a vacation and clear things with her husband, so she rushes off to London, and instead finds him and the PA in their apartment, wearing robes! She also overhears part of their conversation, where her husband confesses that he has broken his promise to her. She also hears the PA calling her a little gold digger. So she burst in on them, announces she is a gold digger and never wants to see her husband again. Then she leaves.
That all happens at about 50%. After which we learn she goes to work in an Italian hotel and it takes her husband 5years to track her down so he can blackmail her to stay married to him.
It’s actually a pretty sad story since she feels so betrayed and so does the husband. After all, he thinks she only married him for his money. For the most part the husband seemed very caring and sweet to her. Even when he was in a rage and trying to bend her to his blackmail scheme, he would do caring things for her.
Of course it’s a Harley and everything gets cleared up in the end. So they both wasted 5 years for nothing.
The young heroine is suffering through a miscarriage and we see the delayed appearance of her concerned husband. He has arrived too late to her side, his business concerns being more important. We see all these from the heroine’s point of view. Although he seems a very caring and concerned husband, she feels a bit neglected.
Later as she is recuperating from a post natal depression, she dwells on her suspicions that her husband is having an affair with his PA. PA has not endeared herself to the heroine from the start of her marriage. heroine also suspects her husband rushed her into marriage so he could acquire her old home and turn it into a hotel.
However she is convinced by her doctor to take a vacation and clear things with her husband, so she rushes off to London, and instead finds him and the PA in their apartment, wearing robes! She also overhears part of their conversation, where her husband confesses that he has broken his promise to her. She also hears the PA calling her a little gold digger. So she burst in on them, announces she is a gold digger and never wants to see her husband again. Then she leaves.
That all happens at about 50%. After which we learn she goes to work in an Italian hotel and it takes her husband 5years to track her down so he can blackmail her to stay married to him.
It’s actually a pretty sad story since she feels so betrayed and so does the husband. After all, he thinks she only married him for his money. For the most part the husband seemed very caring and sweet to her. Even when he was in a rage and trying to bend her to his blackmail scheme, he would do caring things for her.
Of course it’s a Harley and everything gets cleared up in the end. So they both wasted 5 years for nothing.
December 17, 2019
One hundred and ninety pages HP misunderstanding and lack of communication.
March 7, 2022
Careless, excitable writing, nonsensical plotting, and the stupidest, most unpleasant people.
November 27, 2021
“You’re a fool. A weak-willed, sex-starved idiot!”, she told herself bitterly.”
She is right about herself. She is so spineless that she annoyed me.
She left her marriage with the H almost 5 years ago because she thought he was cheating on her. She lied to him then that she was only interested in his money.
She is now dating and kissing another man even though she hasn’t yet filed for divorce from the H.
He is not a great guy either. The things he allowed the so-called OW to say to his wife after her miscarriage, he should have stopped her.
It is well written though.
She is right about herself. She is so spineless that she annoyed me.
She left her marriage with the H almost 5 years ago because she thought he was cheating on her. She lied to him then that she was only interested in his money.
She is now dating and kissing another man even though she hasn’t yet filed for divorce from the H.
He is not a great guy either. The things he allowed the so-called OW to say to his wife after her miscarriage, he should have stopped her.
It is well written though.
February 27, 2016
4 Runaway Wife Stars
“I’m not finished with you, not by a long way.”
Another classic winner from Jacqueline Baird!
Lexi falls head over heels for Jake and marries him soon after meeting him. A year later she has a miscarriage and realizes that her marriage is not what she believed it to be. She finds her husband and his assistant in a compromising situation, packs her bags and walks out of his life.
Five years later she has a new life, meets a man she wants to marry, and files for divorce. Then on the anniversary of her miscarriage Jake returns and puts paid to her plans. He wants his wife back and also wants the child he believes she owes him.
This is a book filled with misunderstandings and recriminations. I enjoyed every word of it and highly recommend it. It’s a Angst Filled Read !
“I’m not finished with you, not by a long way.”
Another classic winner from Jacqueline Baird!
Lexi falls head over heels for Jake and marries him soon after meeting him. A year later she has a miscarriage and realizes that her marriage is not what she believed it to be. She finds her husband and his assistant in a compromising situation, packs her bags and walks out of his life.
Five years later she has a new life, meets a man she wants to marry, and files for divorce. Then on the anniversary of her miscarriage Jake returns and puts paid to her plans. He wants his wife back and also wants the child he believes she owes him.
This is a book filled with misunderstandings and recriminations. I enjoyed every word of it and highly recommend it. It’s a Angst Filled Read !
September 13, 2021
3.5 Stars!
It was unexpectedly good, and this is the exact crazy OTT type of book that keeps me coming back to Harlequin Presents. It had all my favorite ingredients. And I liked Lexi even though she had too many TSTL moments. However, she stood up for herself occasionally, which is pretty much a nice change from most old HPs heroines. And as for the hero Jake, there are times I wanted to thump him for being so callous towards Lexi, but I understand where he's coming from. I loved the fact that he was faithful to Lexi even when they were apart and everything he'd been through to get her back. I liked Jake's character more than I liked Lexi. He's overbearing, manipulative but has a soft, creamy center, and he loved Lexi to bits.
Though it wasn't perfect, I still enjoyed reading it.
It was unexpectedly good, and this is the exact crazy OTT type of book that keeps me coming back to Harlequin Presents. It had all my favorite ingredients. And I liked Lexi even though she had too many TSTL moments. However, she stood up for herself occasionally, which is pretty much a nice change from most old HPs heroines. And as for the hero Jake, there are times I wanted to thump him for being so callous towards Lexi, but I understand where he's coming from. I loved the fact that he was faithful to Lexi even when they were apart and everything he'd been through to get her back. I liked Jake's character more than I liked Lexi. He's overbearing, manipulative but has a soft, creamy center, and he loved Lexi to bits.
Though it wasn't perfect, I still enjoyed reading it.
June 8, 2021
Marry in haste, divorce at leisure. Lexi's husband of only one year was cheating on her. When she flung the words at him, "I really don't care about you breaking your promise--I would much rather have the money," she was lying through her teeth. But now she had only her pride left to salvage. Let Jake think that she was a cheap little gold digger. She was going to leave him and start a new life! But, of course, Jake traced her to Italy and he wasn't about to let her forget that they were still legally married. But as far as Lexi was concerned, he could try blackmailing her all he wanted--she would NEVER resume her place in his bed!
August 2, 2025
This has been on my to-read list for a while, but it’s more a browse and dump than a readable story. H is a clueless jerk, OW a creep. Who doesn’t tell a man his wife is hospitalized with a miscarriage?? And what man would neither believe his precious PA didn’t give him the message nor fire her when he found out it was true? And our h jumped to conclusions, did the one smart thing and left H, then let him get her back.
The ickiest thing is the h (supposedly) misunderstood the H. Ugh. I hate it when it’s the h who is wrong. Plus I think he was having an affair, or at least emotionally cheating his wife.
Tried to reread but this is bad.
The ickiest thing is the h (supposedly) misunderstood the H. Ugh. I hate it when it’s the h who is wrong. Plus I think he was having an affair, or at least emotionally cheating his wife.
Tried to reread but this is bad.
March 26, 2015
Give me a break!!!!! If anyone in this scenario was ever in "LOVE" they never acted like it. So many of these Harlequin books, Baird and many other authors make the women bumbling idiots, who run away, never mature enough to discuss thoughts or feelings, to afraid of losing their husbands love to communicate.
July 21, 2017
Silly misunderstanding.
June 18, 2025
But was this love??? I'm not so sure.
I'm giving it two stars, because it was entertaining, but too flawed. It has the usual big misunderstanding, with the h, Lexi, thinking the H, Jake is cheating while he thinks she only married him for his money, due to a snarky comment she made when she caught him and his personal assistant, Lorraine in what appeared to be a compromising situation, and only hearing part of a conversation, which made it sound like Jake wanted a divorce. Then, Lexi does the too familiar disappearing routine, with some help from friends.
What was sad, was that she had lost their baby, and was going through a period of depression and guilt (she had been late for her doctor's appointment, was hurrying to get there and fell down) which made her shut Jake out, though she really wanted to be close to him, but felt she didn't deserve that, because of the miscarriage that she blamed herself for.
Jake, meanwhile, was told to expect some of this from the family doctor, but it was still tough for him and made him feel helpless.
It was when she managed to snap out of it and was on her way to surprise him, that she got the "surprise" that caused a separation of five years.
Too much was off in this story. The doctor explained about the depression to Jake but never really said much to Lexi until a later visit to his office, when he should have told her from the start, as she was the one going through it. For a man who'd been practicing medicine since before Lexi was born, he could be a bit of a dim bulb!
When they got married, Lexi was only 19 and Jake was 30, which made him treat her more like a child than a wife, not really talking to or confiding in her, and spending too much time away in London on business, while she remained in her old family home, which was now part hotel (to pay off her late father's business debts). The only place they connected was in bed, and Lexi was insecure about her innocence vs. his sophistication. It was their lack of communication that made it easy to think the worst of each other, and during five years apart, while Lexi worked as a hotel manager in Italy (taking over from the son of the couple that helped her through her unhappiness after she left Jake), she found it easy to believe Jake was glad to be free of her and was either with Lorraine or some other woman (or women), while Jake was convinced Lexi was on the prowl for a wealthy sugar daddy.
Funny thing is, neither of them was in a hurry to end their marriage. They both just seemed content to wait out the five-year separation that would result in an uncontested divorce. Neither of them (despite thinking the other had most likely gotten some bed action the past five years) had slept with anyone else, and despite their claiming to despise each other when they meet again, it doesn't take long for them to get naked! And if Jake thinks so badly of her, why does he blackmail her into forgetting the divorce and resuming their marriage, buying the hotel she works for, firing her from her job, and threatening to renege on the sale that gave her friends the money for their son's surgery if she didn't comply?
So many times, they hide behind bullying behavior, snarky comments, temper tantrums, domineering arrogance, etc. when what they should have done is talked more about the loss of the baby, that affected them both more than the other realized. When they finally do talk, and it brings them closer, stupid stuff then gets in the way.
When Jake throws a party for Lexi at the hotel and the staff shows their appreciation for all her hard work the past few years, Jake's jealousy of Ali, a Middle Eastern multimillionaire, (who was a childhood friend and liked flirting with Lexi), convinces her he feels more than just desire for her body, perhaps the same love she finally admits to herself she always felt for him? Yet once again, seeing him in another scenario with Lorraine, she thinks the worst and gets into runaway mode again!
Talk about a moron!! Five years ago, she was an insecure twenty-year-old, so her behavior could be excused. But at twenty-five, there was no excuse! Where was the supposed maturity she had gained the past five years??? It sure wasn't in evidence! Instead of marching up to them and asking what the heck was going on, she heads for her car to drive away but is stopped by a furious Jake!
He's no better, either! After claiming he believed Lexi had never been with another man and only wanted him, he actually thought she was going to chase after Ali, because she didn't want to let someone that wealthy get away!! He's no less a moron than Lexi!
And how come neither of them ever stopped to consider the obvious??? If Jake had only married Lexi to get his hands on her late father's property, then how come he no longer owned it? If he was so anxious to marry Lorraine, how come he didn't try to finalize their divorce ASAP? As for Lexi, if she was such a gold-digger, then why wasn't she interested in the wealthy business associate of Jake's, who had tried more than once to win her favor? And why was she (before Jake showed up) planning to marry Dante, owner of a modest cafe, whose income was nothing to rave about?
Let's be honest: two people with so much mistrust, so ready to believe the worst, shouldn't be together, no matter how much they claim to care or how much they love it in bed! Also, Lexi was still too childish, making too many snarky remarks and having too many "I HATE you!" tantrums. And Jake played too many games and told little half-truths here and there, which was childish as well.
And I didn't think much of Lexi using Dante, an older man she claimed to love (though it was really friend-zoned feelings). She had no sex desire for him (he agreed to wait until they were married, which was no hardship at all for her), or for any other man, having rebuffed all overtures for almost five years, and only started dating Dante a few months before, because she had been thinking about her lost baby and decided she wanted to be a mother. (Another of those WTF!!! moments.) Had she never heard of a sperm bank or adoption? Maybe fostering a baby? You do NOT use a nice man like Dante because you want a baby, when you know damn well you don't love him, don't want to sleep with him, and still long for your ex-husband! He deserved better! (The scene where he's confronted by Jake and Lexi together and told in effect to get lost, was sad. After that, it's like he never existed. Lexi could be really crummy.)
As for Lorraine: her story takes quite a twist! I won't even get into that, except to say it was pretty ridiculous as well as unnecessary.
Read if you want, but don't expect a winner. Not even a place or show.
I'm giving it two stars, because it was entertaining, but too flawed. It has the usual big misunderstanding, with the h, Lexi, thinking the H, Jake is cheating while he thinks she only married him for his money, due to a snarky comment she made when she caught him and his personal assistant, Lorraine in what appeared to be a compromising situation, and only hearing part of a conversation, which made it sound like Jake wanted a divorce. Then, Lexi does the too familiar disappearing routine, with some help from friends.
What was sad, was that she had lost their baby, and was going through a period of depression and guilt (she had been late for her doctor's appointment, was hurrying to get there and fell down) which made her shut Jake out, though she really wanted to be close to him, but felt she didn't deserve that, because of the miscarriage that she blamed herself for.
Jake, meanwhile, was told to expect some of this from the family doctor, but it was still tough for him and made him feel helpless.
It was when she managed to snap out of it and was on her way to surprise him, that she got the "surprise" that caused a separation of five years.
Too much was off in this story. The doctor explained about the depression to Jake but never really said much to Lexi until a later visit to his office, when he should have told her from the start, as she was the one going through it. For a man who'd been practicing medicine since before Lexi was born, he could be a bit of a dim bulb!
When they got married, Lexi was only 19 and Jake was 30, which made him treat her more like a child than a wife, not really talking to or confiding in her, and spending too much time away in London on business, while she remained in her old family home, which was now part hotel (to pay off her late father's business debts). The only place they connected was in bed, and Lexi was insecure about her innocence vs. his sophistication. It was their lack of communication that made it easy to think the worst of each other, and during five years apart, while Lexi worked as a hotel manager in Italy (taking over from the son of the couple that helped her through her unhappiness after she left Jake), she found it easy to believe Jake was glad to be free of her and was either with Lorraine or some other woman (or women), while Jake was convinced Lexi was on the prowl for a wealthy sugar daddy.
Funny thing is, neither of them was in a hurry to end their marriage. They both just seemed content to wait out the five-year separation that would result in an uncontested divorce. Neither of them (despite thinking the other had most likely gotten some bed action the past five years) had slept with anyone else, and despite their claiming to despise each other when they meet again, it doesn't take long for them to get naked! And if Jake thinks so badly of her, why does he blackmail her into forgetting the divorce and resuming their marriage, buying the hotel she works for, firing her from her job, and threatening to renege on the sale that gave her friends the money for their son's surgery if she didn't comply?
So many times, they hide behind bullying behavior, snarky comments, temper tantrums, domineering arrogance, etc. when what they should have done is talked more about the loss of the baby, that affected them both more than the other realized. When they finally do talk, and it brings them closer, stupid stuff then gets in the way.
When Jake throws a party for Lexi at the hotel and the staff shows their appreciation for all her hard work the past few years, Jake's jealousy of Ali, a Middle Eastern multimillionaire, (who was a childhood friend and liked flirting with Lexi), convinces her he feels more than just desire for her body, perhaps the same love she finally admits to herself she always felt for him? Yet once again, seeing him in another scenario with Lorraine, she thinks the worst and gets into runaway mode again!
Talk about a moron!! Five years ago, she was an insecure twenty-year-old, so her behavior could be excused. But at twenty-five, there was no excuse! Where was the supposed maturity she had gained the past five years??? It sure wasn't in evidence! Instead of marching up to them and asking what the heck was going on, she heads for her car to drive away but is stopped by a furious Jake!
He's no better, either! After claiming he believed Lexi had never been with another man and only wanted him, he actually thought she was going to chase after Ali, because she didn't want to let someone that wealthy get away!! He's no less a moron than Lexi!
And how come neither of them ever stopped to consider the obvious??? If Jake had only married Lexi to get his hands on her late father's property, then how come he no longer owned it? If he was so anxious to marry Lorraine, how come he didn't try to finalize their divorce ASAP? As for Lexi, if she was such a gold-digger, then why wasn't she interested in the wealthy business associate of Jake's, who had tried more than once to win her favor? And why was she (before Jake showed up) planning to marry Dante, owner of a modest cafe, whose income was nothing to rave about?
Let's be honest: two people with so much mistrust, so ready to believe the worst, shouldn't be together, no matter how much they claim to care or how much they love it in bed! Also, Lexi was still too childish, making too many snarky remarks and having too many "I HATE you!" tantrums. And Jake played too many games and told little half-truths here and there, which was childish as well.
And I didn't think much of Lexi using Dante, an older man she claimed to love (though it was really friend-zoned feelings). She had no sex desire for him (he agreed to wait until they were married, which was no hardship at all for her), or for any other man, having rebuffed all overtures for almost five years, and only started dating Dante a few months before, because she had been thinking about her lost baby and decided she wanted to be a mother. (Another of those WTF!!! moments.) Had she never heard of a sperm bank or adoption? Maybe fostering a baby? You do NOT use a nice man like Dante because you want a baby, when you know damn well you don't love him, don't want to sleep with him, and still long for your ex-husband! He deserved better! (The scene where he's confronted by Jake and Lexi together and told in effect to get lost, was sad. After that, it's like he never existed. Lexi could be really crummy.)
As for Lorraine: her story takes quite a twist! I won't even get into that, except to say it was pretty ridiculous as well as unnecessary.
Read if you want, but don't expect a winner. Not even a place or show.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 5, 2017
Stuff in this book:
- a TSTL heroine
- an alphahole hero
- a big misunderstanding
- a bitchy, lesbian OW who causes trouble
- a miscarriage
- a five year separation
- a blackmail/revenge "reconciliation"
- a Bugatti
- a guided tour of Pompeii
- sex in a pool
- more big misunderstandings
- the hero puts his hands around his wife's neck and threatens to kill her
- the hero calls his wife a mercenary little bitch
- the heroine hits her husband repeatedly and screams so he will stop "seducing" her
- a happy ending...?
WTF!?!?
The Hero has a personality disorder. He is hateful, jealous, manipulative, and violent, then suddenly loving, sweet, and generous. He goes through this cycle of love/abuse several times in this story. He ticks all the abusive partner boxes. ::shudders::
- a TSTL heroine
- an alphahole hero
- a big misunderstanding
- a bitchy, lesbian OW who causes trouble
- a miscarriage
- a five year separation
- a blackmail/revenge "reconciliation"
- a Bugatti
- a guided tour of Pompeii
- sex in a pool
- more big misunderstandings
- the hero puts his hands around his wife's neck and threatens to kill her
- the hero calls his wife a mercenary little bitch
- the heroine hits her husband repeatedly and screams so he will stop "seducing" her
- a happy ending...?
WTF!?!?
The Hero has a personality disorder. He is hateful, jealous, manipulative, and violent, then suddenly loving, sweet, and generous. He goes through this cycle of love/abuse several times in this story. He ticks all the abusive partner boxes. ::shudders::
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 20, 2019
Strange. Not sure how to describe or rate this book. Supposedly brilliant hero does not realize that his behavior is putting his secretary before his wife. He even communicates more with said OW and trusts her more than the h. Case in point: he and secretary are sitting in his apartment in nothing but housecoats, drinking wine and talking about breaking promises. He never welcomes his wife, offers no explanation for their lack of clothes and behavior and wants to celebrate because she overheard part of their conversation...say what? She leaves. Eventually they reunite and he fires OW but not because she was interfering in his marriage, she was let go because she had become too possessive of his business.
May 9, 2017
Leído el 02/02/2012
2.5 estrellas
UNA PROMESA ROTA
Protagonistas: Jake Taylor y Lexi
Argumento:
Le había dicho que no le importaba que rompiera su promesa, que prefería el dinero. Aunque aquello era mentira, Lexi debía salvar su orgullo: hacía apenas un año que estaban casados, y su marido ya la engañaba. Por eso, Lexi escapó a Italia para comenzar una nueva vida, pero con el tiempo, Jake la encontró. Quizá él todavía pensaba que ella era una cazafortunas sin escrúpulos y que podía chantajearla para hacerla regresar a su lado... pero Lexi estaba decidida a no volver a ocupar su lugar en el lecho conyugal.
2.5 estrellas
UNA PROMESA ROTA
Protagonistas: Jake Taylor y Lexi
Argumento:
Le había dicho que no le importaba que rompiera su promesa, que prefería el dinero. Aunque aquello era mentira, Lexi debía salvar su orgullo: hacía apenas un año que estaban casados, y su marido ya la engañaba. Por eso, Lexi escapó a Italia para comenzar una nueva vida, pero con el tiempo, Jake la encontró. Quizá él todavía pensaba que ella era una cazafortunas sin escrúpulos y que podía chantajearla para hacerla regresar a su lado... pero Lexi estaba decidida a no volver a ocupar su lugar en el lecho conyugal.
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