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The Calhoun Women #3
For the Love of Lilah
AVAILABLE DIGITALLY FOR THE FIRST TIME
Adrift in a storm, Professor Max Quartermain believes he hallucinated the beautiful mermaid who rescued him from certain death. But Lilah Calhoun is no mystical creature - she's a flesh and blood woman.
Lilah is surprised by the intense attraction she feels for the man she saved. She's never met a man like him before - reserved and intelligent, but with a deep, passionate side she wants to know better. But how can she truly give her heart to Max when he is keeping a secret that could destroy everything - and everyone - she loves?
For the Love of Lilah can be enjoyed as a captivating standalone novel. It is also the third book in The Calhouns series, which begins with Courting Catherine and A Man for Amanda and continues with Suzanna's Surrender and Megan's Mate.
Includes a preview of Suzanna's Surrender.
Adrift in a storm, Professor Max Quartermain believes he hallucinated the beautiful mermaid who rescued him from certain death. But Lilah Calhoun is no mystical creature - she's a flesh and blood woman.
Lilah is surprised by the intense attraction she feels for the man she saved. She's never met a man like him before - reserved and intelligent, but with a deep, passionate side she wants to know better. But how can she truly give her heart to Max when he is keeping a secret that could destroy everything - and everyone - she loves?
For the Love of Lilah can be enjoyed as a captivating standalone novel. It is also the third book in The Calhouns series, which begins with Courting Catherine and A Man for Amanda and continues with Suzanna's Surrender and Megan's Mate.
Includes a preview of Suzanna's Surrender.
244 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 1, 1991
1074 people are currently reading
1782 people want to read
About the author
Nora Roberts
1,225 books60.3k followersNora Roberts is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than 200 novels, including Hideaway, Under Currents, Come Sundown, The Awakening, Legacy, and coming in November 2021 -- The Becoming -- the second book in The Dragon Heart Legacy. She is also the author of the futuristic suspense In Death series written under the pen name J.D. Robb. There are more than 500 million copies of her books in print.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 125 reviews
June 10, 2016
Very quick read which was good because the whole story was just rubbish. Lilah was the most annoying female character I have come across for a while. Pretending to be Oh-so-uninhibited and free-spirited about men but in reality she was the the biggest prude ever! Couldn't stand her childishness! And Max, our super-smart Cornellian professor turn out to be just a macho caveman in disguise. Stupid, stupid story.
April 19, 2022
This one is objectively less bad than the previous one but the hero is the bad kind of dumb and inconsistent and the amount of it I skimmed, whew boy.
March 5, 2020
“I’m going to take care of you, whether you like it or not.”
Aaaaaaand once again, Roberts fails to deal with the important differences between love/potential love and respect. I’m guessing she hopes that people won’t know or care about this distinction, but no luck.
I’d be willing to bet that all of the fatherly shit packed in that small quote above seems perfectly romantic if you buy into the whole “he’s concerned and is falling in love” justification.
The problem is that his approach is not too dissimilar from that of an angry and worried father with a teen-aged daughter who has violated her curfew to the tune of 5 hours. This approach, when put in this context, is something many of us ( this is especially true of those of us with children) might applaud, most especially with a dangerous man in the area.
Thing is, though, that we’re not dealing with a teen-aged girl but a grown ass woman, one who managed to keep herself alive throughout the previous crisis without his guardianship and “head” “[patting]”.
More importantly, one could make the case that his angry, dictatorial approach comes out of the “emasculating” realization that sex with her doesn’t signal a tacit agreement to sit at home, ready for and available for him, most especially when he apparently blew her off to take care of something he thought she need not know about. This is a point which Lila makes clear in her reply: “Damn you, you made up lame excuses and practically patted me on the head. And tonight, you've got an itch and you're annoyed that I wasn't here to scratch it.”
This series features a pattern of sexist, infantilizing conspiring behind the backs of the women; the “heroes” can regularly be found congregating out of earshot and strategizing about things which they’ve decided the womenfolk needn’t worry their purdy lil heads about. I am truly perplexed at the notion of paternalism as a mark of attractiveness. That a man is willing to brave your anger and stomp all over your free will and autonomy to protect you should send you running, not walking, to the nearest exit, full stop.
How about addressing Lila like the adult she is rather than chastising and dictating to her? How about trusting her to take care of herself rather than insisting that submitting to your male authority is what’s best for her. Why not suggest that she alter her normal routine until the current crisis has passed and respect her decision to ignore said suggestion and look out for herself? Rather than telling her how it’s going to be, and expecting her to obey you because she’s taken you to bed, try making your case with logic and reason, like you would were you dealing with someone you respected.
Aaaaaaand once again, Roberts fails to deal with the important differences between love/potential love and respect. I’m guessing she hopes that people won’t know or care about this distinction, but no luck.
I’d be willing to bet that all of the fatherly shit packed in that small quote above seems perfectly romantic if you buy into the whole “he’s concerned and is falling in love” justification.
The problem is that his approach is not too dissimilar from that of an angry and worried father with a teen-aged daughter who has violated her curfew to the tune of 5 hours. This approach, when put in this context, is something many of us ( this is especially true of those of us with children) might applaud, most especially with a dangerous man in the area.
Thing is, though, that we’re not dealing with a teen-aged girl but a grown ass woman, one who managed to keep herself alive throughout the previous crisis without his guardianship and “head” “[patting]”.
More importantly, one could make the case that his angry, dictatorial approach comes out of the “emasculating” realization that sex with her doesn’t signal a tacit agreement to sit at home, ready for and available for him, most especially when he apparently blew her off to take care of something he thought she need not know about. This is a point which Lila makes clear in her reply: “Damn you, you made up lame excuses and practically patted me on the head. And tonight, you've got an itch and you're annoyed that I wasn't here to scratch it.”
This series features a pattern of sexist, infantilizing conspiring behind the backs of the women; the “heroes” can regularly be found congregating out of earshot and strategizing about things which they’ve decided the womenfolk needn’t worry their purdy lil heads about. I am truly perplexed at the notion of paternalism as a mark of attractiveness. That a man is willing to brave your anger and stomp all over your free will and autonomy to protect you should send you running, not walking, to the nearest exit, full stop.
How about addressing Lila like the adult she is rather than chastising and dictating to her? How about trusting her to take care of herself rather than insisting that submitting to your male authority is what’s best for her. Why not suggest that she alter her normal routine until the current crisis has passed and respect her decision to ignore said suggestion and look out for herself? Rather than telling her how it’s going to be, and expecting her to obey you because she’s taken you to bed, try making your case with logic and reason, like you would were you dealing with someone you respected.
December 15, 2010
As I sit to write this review, I am struggling with words, trying to find the right ones to describe exactly how I feel. First of all, let me just say that I loved the book!
There were times when I felt frustrated while reading this book, even a bit- a very small bit- bored. I am admitting the truth and now I suggest you to read this whole review before forming any definite judgment about this book. Whatever disappointment I felt, which was really very tiny, I actually really enjoyed it and came to love it. I didn't exactly take an instant like to the book, but I grew fond as I read more and more.
Lilah, an exotic name of an actually intriguing, engaging and admirable character itself, I really liked her. A few times I felt like shaking her, to make her see what really was, but it was an amusing journey that I had with the characters, to see her discover things on her own and find what she treasured most.
I loved the sensitive, nature-lover Lilah... The beautiful Calhoun who knew the true meaning of love, friendship, trust and beauty.
Max, oh boy, did I love him. He was one adorable history professor who was sexy, intelligent, passionate and sensible. A very attractive package, if you ask me. I can't find words to describe why I liked him so much, but all I can say is that I just did.
What made me love this truly wonderful book were the tiny details, the beautiful description, the sensual panorama... God, it was really really good. I loved the blend of the old with the new, the legends and the reality of it. Here's a short paragraph from the book itself.
""He would have been half-mad for her." Taking her hands, he brought her to her feet. He left her for a moment, to draw the shades so that they were closed in with music and candlelight. "Thoughts of her would have haunted him, day and night. Her face..." He skimmed his fingers over Lilah's cheeks, over her jaw, down her throat. "Every time he closed his eyes, he would have seen it. Her taste..." He pressed his lips to hers. "Every time he took a breath it would be there to remind him what it was like to kiss her."
"And she would have lain in bed, night after night, wanting his touch." Heart racing, she pushed the shirt from his shoulders, then shivered when he reached for the belt of her robe. "Remembering how he looked at her when he undressed her."
"He couldn't have wanted her more than I want you." The robe slithered to the floor. His arms drew her closer. "Let me show you."
The candles burned low. A single thread of moonlight slashed through the chink in the drapes. There was music, swelling with passion, and the scent of fragile flowers. Murmured promises. Desperate answers. A low husky laugh, a sobbing gasp. From patience to urgency, from tenderness to madness, they drove each other. Through the dark, endless night they were tireless and greedy. A gentle touch could cause a tremor; a rough caress a soft sigh. They came together with generous affection, then again like warriors. Each time they thought they were sated, they would turn to each other once more to arouse or to soothe, to cling or to stroke, until the candles gutted out and the gray light of dawn crept into the room."
It was a truly amazing read!
There were times when I felt frustrated while reading this book, even a bit- a very small bit- bored. I am admitting the truth and now I suggest you to read this whole review before forming any definite judgment about this book. Whatever disappointment I felt, which was really very tiny, I actually really enjoyed it and came to love it. I didn't exactly take an instant like to the book, but I grew fond as I read more and more.
Lilah, an exotic name of an actually intriguing, engaging and admirable character itself, I really liked her. A few times I felt like shaking her, to make her see what really was, but it was an amusing journey that I had with the characters, to see her discover things on her own and find what she treasured most.
I loved the sensitive, nature-lover Lilah... The beautiful Calhoun who knew the true meaning of love, friendship, trust and beauty.
Max, oh boy, did I love him. He was one adorable history professor who was sexy, intelligent, passionate and sensible. A very attractive package, if you ask me. I can't find words to describe why I liked him so much, but all I can say is that I just did.
What made me love this truly wonderful book were the tiny details, the beautiful description, the sensual panorama... God, it was really really good. I loved the blend of the old with the new, the legends and the reality of it. Here's a short paragraph from the book itself.
""He would have been half-mad for her." Taking her hands, he brought her to her feet. He left her for a moment, to draw the shades so that they were closed in with music and candlelight. "Thoughts of her would have haunted him, day and night. Her face..." He skimmed his fingers over Lilah's cheeks, over her jaw, down her throat. "Every time he closed his eyes, he would have seen it. Her taste..." He pressed his lips to hers. "Every time he took a breath it would be there to remind him what it was like to kiss her."
"And she would have lain in bed, night after night, wanting his touch." Heart racing, she pushed the shirt from his shoulders, then shivered when he reached for the belt of her robe. "Remembering how he looked at her when he undressed her."
"He couldn't have wanted her more than I want you." The robe slithered to the floor. His arms drew her closer. "Let me show you."
The candles burned low. A single thread of moonlight slashed through the chink in the drapes. There was music, swelling with passion, and the scent of fragile flowers. Murmured promises. Desperate answers. A low husky laugh, a sobbing gasp. From patience to urgency, from tenderness to madness, they drove each other. Through the dark, endless night they were tireless and greedy. A gentle touch could cause a tremor; a rough caress a soft sigh. They came together with generous affection, then again like warriors. Each time they thought they were sated, they would turn to each other once more to arouse or to soothe, to cling or to stroke, until the candles gutted out and the gray light of dawn crept into the room."
It was a truly amazing read!
October 1, 2015
Author: Nora Roberts
First published: 1991
Length: 195 pages
Setting: Contemporary, 1991. Mount Desert Island off the coast of Maine.
Sex: Explicit. Handwavy.
Hero: Professor of History
Heroine: Naturalist
I didn’t much like Lilah in the previous books. She came across as lazy, disinterested and self-involved (rather than selfish). For the Love of Lilah didn’t change my mind.
I loved Max. He was interesting and clever. He made sense.
I didn’t like Lilah. She wanted everything her own way. Didn’t see other people’s pops (particularly Max’s). Quick to judge but angry when others implied some vague judgement of her.
She didn’t work for me.
As for an addition to the ongoing story-arc of Bianca and Christian and the missing emeralds, For the Love of Lilah acts very much as a placeholder. Whilst there was plenty of discussion of the emeralds, leave this book out and you would miss little towards the multi-book story. Very little happened.
Overall, Lilah’s story was a fizzer. One that could easily be left out.
The Calhouns:
Book 1 Courting Catherine - Trenton St. James and Catherine (CC) Calhoun
Book 2 A Man for Amanda - Amanda Calhoun and Sloan O'Reilly
Book 3 For the Love of Lilah - Lilah Calhoun and Maxwell Quartermain
Book 4 Suzanna's Surrender - Suzanna Calhoun and Holt Bradford
Book 5 Megan's Mate - Megan O’Riley and Nathaniel Fury
References:
Author's website: http://noraroberts.com/1991/08/for-th...
(read in The Calhouns: Volume 2 ISBN 9781488758058)
-CR-
First published: 1991
Length: 195 pages
Setting: Contemporary, 1991. Mount Desert Island off the coast of Maine.
Sex: Explicit. Handwavy.
Hero: Professor of History
Heroine: Naturalist
I didn’t much like Lilah in the previous books. She came across as lazy, disinterested and self-involved (rather than selfish). For the Love of Lilah didn’t change my mind.
I loved Max. He was interesting and clever. He made sense.
I didn’t like Lilah. She wanted everything her own way. Didn’t see other people’s pops (particularly Max’s). Quick to judge but angry when others implied some vague judgement of her.
She didn’t work for me.
As for an addition to the ongoing story-arc of Bianca and Christian and the missing emeralds, For the Love of Lilah acts very much as a placeholder. Whilst there was plenty of discussion of the emeralds, leave this book out and you would miss little towards the multi-book story. Very little happened.
Overall, Lilah’s story was a fizzer. One that could easily be left out.
The Calhouns:
Book 1 Courting Catherine - Trenton St. James and Catherine (CC) Calhoun
Book 2 A Man for Amanda - Amanda Calhoun and Sloan O'Reilly
Book 3 For the Love of Lilah - Lilah Calhoun and Maxwell Quartermain
Book 4 Suzanna's Surrender - Suzanna Calhoun and Holt Bradford
Book 5 Megan's Mate - Megan O’Riley and Nathaniel Fury
References:
Author's website: http://noraroberts.com/1991/08/for-th...
(read in The Calhouns: Volume 2 ISBN 9781488758058)
-CR-
August 15, 2020
У роману љубав, породица, заврзламе, страст и све то описано на начин да је занимљиво, интригантно и угодно за читати. Препорука за одморити се од тешких тема јер Љубав светли у пуном сјају.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 13, 2023
Não me entusiasmou nadinha.
Entre 2,5⭐️ e as 3⭐️
Só continuo a ler mesmo por curiosidade em saber que aconteceu às esmeraldas.
Entre 2,5⭐️ e as 3⭐️
Só continuo a ler mesmo por curiosidade em saber que aconteceu às esmeraldas.
May 14, 2018
3.75*
E mais uma boa história! ^_^
E mais uma boa história! ^_^
February 6, 2025
I really enjoyed rereading Courting Catherine, so I decided to reread For the Love of Lilah, the third book in the Calhoun Women series. I decided to listen to the audiobook, which maybe wasn't the best idea because I wasn't thrilled with the narrator. I didn't enjoy For the Love of Lilah as much as Courting Catherine, but I'm glad I reread it.
Lilah was a really fun character. She is just so chill, and loves relaxing and naps, and I can so get behind that. Also, her job as a naturalist was kind of cool. I also, for the most part, liked Max. Nora Roberts really knows how to create nerdy heroes that you just can't help but swoon for. And I also really liked Max and Lilah together. It was so clear that they made a good couple.
But oh my gosh, sometimes Lilah and Max really pissed me off. This was definitely one of those books where if they just sat down and had an honest conversation with each other, all the drama wouldn't have happened. Honestly, sometimes Max really annoyed me. He was so sure that Lilah, who is gorgeous, wouldn't be attracted to a professor like himself. He was so insecure and sometimes jealous, and while I liked that it was the guy that felt this way (instead of the woman - it's a nice role reversal here), he sometimes said some not nice things to Lilah, and it pissed me off. I also felt like Lilah made some silly and reckless decisions given what was going on all around them.
As I said, I listened to the audiobook, and I really didn't care for the narrator, Kate Rudd. She had a way of making the annoying habits of these characters even more annoying!
All this said, I didn't hate For the Love of Lilah. It's definitely dated, but I could see how Nora Roberts was working to change the way men and women were typically portrayed in romance, and I respect that. Still, there are so many other Nora Roberts books that I like so much more.This review was originally posted on Quinn's Book Nook
Lilah was a really fun character. She is just so chill, and loves relaxing and naps, and I can so get behind that. Also, her job as a naturalist was kind of cool. I also, for the most part, liked Max. Nora Roberts really knows how to create nerdy heroes that you just can't help but swoon for. And I also really liked Max and Lilah together. It was so clear that they made a good couple.
But oh my gosh, sometimes Lilah and Max really pissed me off. This was definitely one of those books where if they just sat down and had an honest conversation with each other, all the drama wouldn't have happened. Honestly, sometimes Max really annoyed me. He was so sure that Lilah, who is gorgeous, wouldn't be attracted to a professor like himself. He was so insecure and sometimes jealous, and while I liked that it was the guy that felt this way (instead of the woman - it's a nice role reversal here), he sometimes said some not nice things to Lilah, and it pissed me off. I also felt like Lilah made some silly and reckless decisions given what was going on all around them.
As I said, I listened to the audiobook, and I really didn't care for the narrator, Kate Rudd. She had a way of making the annoying habits of these characters even more annoying!
All this said, I didn't hate For the Love of Lilah. It's definitely dated, but I could see how Nora Roberts was working to change the way men and women were typically portrayed in romance, and I respect that. Still, there are so many other Nora Roberts books that I like so much more.This review was originally posted on Quinn's Book Nook
February 3, 2017
Well, well, well... I didn't know at first what to expect but I was not disappointed. It's true that Max has nothing to do with Trent or Sloan but that only makes him more attractive.
In this book, Nora shows that intellect can be the total opposite of boring. The proof is that Lilah was attracted to a professor, Max, who believes in what he does and knows how to reflect his knowledge in his everyday's life without sounding like a nerd. He has courage, he is polite, but he is also a man who would do anything to save the woman he loves and that is what he did.
It is true that Lilah saved his life first at the beginning of the book and that was very beautiful to read especially with a character like Lilah's. The way she felt the storm, the way she feels the vibes and the way she trusts her instincts. The least we could say is that she's different from the calhouns'women. Of course, she is in some way like her aunt Coco but she still is her own personality. A daydreamer, a naturalist and a free spirit. I wondered while reading book 1 and 2 how would be the man she will fall in love with and I think Max is the perfect match.
However, I think I should mention, that the police not catching Livingston or whatever his name is makes me anxious and a little bit angry and I am hoping for a big finale :)
In this book, Nora shows that intellect can be the total opposite of boring. The proof is that Lilah was attracted to a professor, Max, who believes in what he does and knows how to reflect his knowledge in his everyday's life without sounding like a nerd. He has courage, he is polite, but he is also a man who would do anything to save the woman he loves and that is what he did.
It is true that Lilah saved his life first at the beginning of the book and that was very beautiful to read especially with a character like Lilah's. The way she felt the storm, the way she feels the vibes and the way she trusts her instincts. The least we could say is that she's different from the calhouns'women. Of course, she is in some way like her aunt Coco but she still is her own personality. A daydreamer, a naturalist and a free spirit. I wondered while reading book 1 and 2 how would be the man she will fall in love with and I think Max is the perfect match.
However, I think I should mention, that the police not catching Livingston or whatever his name is makes me anxious and a little bit angry and I am hoping for a big finale :)
August 8, 2016
Inte en av Nora Roberts bästa. Jag tycket inte att karaktärerna var särskilt välutvecklade och gick emot sig själva. Jag hittade boken i en av stadens boklådor så jag har inte läst någon av de tidigare böckerna i serien, men det gick lika bra för det. Den här boken får nog hitta tillbaka till en låda så får någon annan som kanske uppskattar den mer ta hand om den. Fast, man vill ju ändå ha reda på slutet av Biancas historia...
June 3, 2021
Compared to the other books in the series, this one was bad. The chemistry between Lilah and Max was just not there for me. Part of it might be how they meet and Lilah's character. She's supposedly mystical and witchy at times and it doesn't work. The supernatural part of the whole series have been the ghost so to throw some mysticism in this book was a bit much. Especially since in the previous books, Lilah's character was more intuitive than fate/destiny.
June 3, 2019
The saving grace of this story is the backstory of Bianca and her demise. I've decided that learning about Bianca is what keeps me reading this series. I really didn't care for Lilah's love story (or Lilah... what a twit).
March 11, 2023
This is the second time I am reading this series, but it was so long ago that I read it, it ls like the first time. It is classic Nora Roberts. Smart capable women finding their match with strong manly men, which would not be appreciated in the current world of the Woke. But I do.
The Calhoun women live in their ancestral home that was built as a summer castle for Bianca by her wealthy but cold and controlling husband. On the night that she was preparing to take her 3 children and leave him for her lover, she mysteriously falls from her tower to her death. But before she does, she hide her valuable emerald necklace, which she plans to take with her to pay for their escape.
Two generations later, her 4 great granddaughters live there with their aunt, but its upkeep is more than they can manage. After selling off many of the heirlooms they were looking at having to sell when Trent walked into their lives and fell in love with CC. In book 2, he hires friend and architect Sloan to renovate part of the building into an exclusive hotel. Meanwhile, word has gotten out about the missing necklace and a jewelry thief wanted by Interpol has set his mind to steal it. He doesn't care who he needs to hurt to get it and has already threatened the women twice, but still has not been caught.
This book is about Lilah, who is the image of Bianca. The thief hired Professor Max Quarterman to go through a bag of papers that he stole from the Towers in the previous book. But once Max learns the truth, he escapes and ends up at the Towers, helping the women search for the necklace and falling in love with Lilah. There is a seance, ghost and a villain. Fun.
The Calhoun women live in their ancestral home that was built as a summer castle for Bianca by her wealthy but cold and controlling husband. On the night that she was preparing to take her 3 children and leave him for her lover, she mysteriously falls from her tower to her death. But before she does, she hide her valuable emerald necklace, which she plans to take with her to pay for their escape.
Two generations later, her 4 great granddaughters live there with their aunt, but its upkeep is more than they can manage. After selling off many of the heirlooms they were looking at having to sell when Trent walked into their lives and fell in love with CC. In book 2, he hires friend and architect Sloan to renovate part of the building into an exclusive hotel. Meanwhile, word has gotten out about the missing necklace and a jewelry thief wanted by Interpol has set his mind to steal it. He doesn't care who he needs to hurt to get it and has already threatened the women twice, but still has not been caught.
This book is about Lilah, who is the image of Bianca. The thief hired Professor Max Quarterman to go through a bag of papers that he stole from the Towers in the previous book. But once Max learns the truth, he escapes and ends up at the Towers, helping the women search for the necklace and falling in love with Lilah. There is a seance, ghost and a villain. Fun.
November 12, 2017
"For the Love of Lilah" is the story of Lilah and Max.
Lilah is the third of the Calhoun sisters, the whimsical gypsy- finding magic and happiness in all things. Always caring for the wounded while trying to find the missing emeralds and catching the bad guys who attacked Bianca's tower, she is shocked to find a man fighting for his life in the sea and is coerced to save him.
Max is a history professor who gets a temp job during summer to decipher some paper puzzles, only to realize his employers are thieves and jumps off their ship to save himself.
When Lilah and Max meet, sparks emerge. Soon along with the other Calhouns they race against time to find the necklace, solve the mystery behind Bianca and avoid falling in love.
I was avoiding this book because we already knew how Bianca's story ended and was not in the mood to read her heartbreak.
Max and Lilah..eh.
He kept referring to her promiscuous past while serenading her beauty, while she kept being offended and taking him as a scholastic gift from nature while literally throwing her weird ideologies at him. I wasn't able to connect with the free with body and spirit still being a prude Lilah at all.
The story picks up in the last half with the mystery behind Fred and Christian, but ofcourse since we have another book to go things end in this couple getting their HFN.
Safe/SWE
2.5/5
Lilah is the third of the Calhoun sisters, the whimsical gypsy- finding magic and happiness in all things. Always caring for the wounded while trying to find the missing emeralds and catching the bad guys who attacked Bianca's tower, she is shocked to find a man fighting for his life in the sea and is coerced to save him.
Max is a history professor who gets a temp job during summer to decipher some paper puzzles, only to realize his employers are thieves and jumps off their ship to save himself.
When Lilah and Max meet, sparks emerge. Soon along with the other Calhouns they race against time to find the necklace, solve the mystery behind Bianca and avoid falling in love.
I was avoiding this book because we already knew how Bianca's story ended and was not in the mood to read her heartbreak.
Max and Lilah..eh.
He kept referring to her promiscuous past while serenading her beauty, while she kept being offended and taking him as a scholastic gift from nature while literally throwing her weird ideologies at him. I wasn't able to connect with the free with body and spirit still being a prude Lilah at all.
The story picks up in the last half with the mystery behind Fred and Christian, but ofcourse since we have another book to go things end in this couple getting their HFN.
Safe/SWE
2.5/5
August 24, 2024
𝑻𝒊 𝒔𝒊 𝒏𝒂𝒋𝒍𝒆𝒑𝒔𝒂 𝒛𝒆𝒏𝒂 𝒌𝒐𝒋𝒖 𝒔𝒂𝒎 𝒊𝒌𝒂𝒅𝒂 𝒗𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒐.
𝑹𝒆𝒌𝒍𝒂 𝒃𝒊𝒉 𝒅𝒂 𝒏𝒆 𝒊𝒛𝒍𝒂𝒛𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝒎𝒏𝒐𝒈𝒐, 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒇𝒆𝒔𝒐𝒓𝒆.
Prelepa. Toliko mi je legla za ove vrele dane. Moram reći da mi se ova najviše dopala od 3 dela koja sam pročitala i da jedva čekam da vidim šta će se desiti u preostale dve knjige.
Priča mi je davala osećaj “Male sirene” i zbog toga mi se mnogo dopala. Lajla mi je omiljena od sestara, lukava je, duhovita, pametna i veoma harizmatična, a profesor Maksvel mi je toliko prirastao srcu njegovom dobrotom, skromnošću i inteligencijom. Zajedno su mi zaista divni. Pored njihove priče, Bjankina prošlost mi je zaista najinteresantnija u ovim knjigama i sve više imam osećaj da je ubijena. Takođe, opisi mesta u kom se odvija radnja kao i same kuće su toliko lepi i magični.
Od mene 5/5⭐️ jer mi je držala pažnju do samog kraja i zbog tete Kolin!
𝑼 𝒕𝒐𝒎 𝒕𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒖𝒕𝒌𝒖 𝒔𝒂𝒎 𝒔𝒉𝒗𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐 𝒅𝒂 𝒏𝒊𝒋𝒆 𝒔𝒖𝒅𝒋𝒆𝒏𝒐 𝒅𝒂 𝒊𝒛𝒈𝒖𝒃𝒊𝒎. 𝑫𝒂 𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒋𝒊 𝒓𝒂𝒛𝒍𝒐𝒈 𝒛𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒐 𝒏𝒆 𝒔𝒎𝒆𝒎 𝒅𝒂 𝒊𝒛𝒈𝒖𝒃𝒊𝒎. 𝑼𝒗𝒆𝒌 𝒄𝒖 𝒔𝒆 𝒑𝒊𝒕𝒂𝒕𝒊 𝒅𝒂 𝒍𝒊 𝒋𝒆 𝒕𝒂 𝒔𝒊𝒍𝒂, 𝒕𝒂𝒋 𝒐𝒔𝒆𝒄𝒂𝒋, 𝒃𝒊𝒐 𝒔𝒂𝒎𝒐 𝒎𝒐𝒋, 𝒊𝒍𝒊 𝒎𝒊 𝒋𝒆 𝒑𝒐𝒎𝒐𝒈𝒍𝒂 𝑩𝒋𝒂𝒏𝒌𝒂. 💜
𝑹𝒆𝒌𝒍𝒂 𝒃𝒊𝒉 𝒅𝒂 𝒏𝒆 𝒊𝒛𝒍𝒂𝒛𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝒎𝒏𝒐𝒈𝒐, 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒇𝒆𝒔𝒐𝒓𝒆.
Prelepa. Toliko mi je legla za ove vrele dane. Moram reći da mi se ova najviše dopala od 3 dela koja sam pročitala i da jedva čekam da vidim šta će se desiti u preostale dve knjige.
Priča mi je davala osećaj “Male sirene” i zbog toga mi se mnogo dopala. Lajla mi je omiljena od sestara, lukava je, duhovita, pametna i veoma harizmatična, a profesor Maksvel mi je toliko prirastao srcu njegovom dobrotom, skromnošću i inteligencijom. Zajedno su mi zaista divni. Pored njihove priče, Bjankina prošlost mi je zaista najinteresantnija u ovim knjigama i sve više imam osećaj da je ubijena. Takođe, opisi mesta u kom se odvija radnja kao i same kuće su toliko lepi i magični.
Od mene 5/5⭐️ jer mi je držala pažnju do samog kraja i zbog tete Kolin!
𝑼 𝒕𝒐𝒎 𝒕𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒖𝒕𝒌𝒖 𝒔𝒂𝒎 𝒔𝒉𝒗𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐 𝒅𝒂 𝒏𝒊𝒋𝒆 𝒔𝒖𝒅𝒋𝒆𝒏𝒐 𝒅𝒂 𝒊𝒛𝒈𝒖𝒃𝒊𝒎. 𝑫𝒂 𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒋𝒊 𝒓𝒂𝒛𝒍𝒐𝒈 𝒛𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒐 𝒏𝒆 𝒔𝒎𝒆𝒎 𝒅𝒂 𝒊𝒛𝒈𝒖𝒃𝒊𝒎. 𝑼𝒗𝒆𝒌 𝒄𝒖 𝒔𝒆 𝒑𝒊𝒕𝒂𝒕𝒊 𝒅𝒂 𝒍𝒊 𝒋𝒆 𝒕𝒂 𝒔𝒊𝒍𝒂, 𝒕𝒂𝒋 𝒐𝒔𝒆𝒄𝒂𝒋, 𝒃𝒊𝒐 𝒔𝒂𝒎𝒐 𝒎𝒐𝒋, 𝒊𝒍𝒊 𝒎𝒊 𝒋𝒆 𝒑𝒐𝒎𝒐𝒈𝒍𝒂 𝑩𝒋𝒂𝒏𝒌𝒂. 💜
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 28, 2023
This is book 3, need to find book 1 & 2....hehehe.
July 1, 2024
lilah and max had so much potential but time and time again mmc said rush and hurtful things. the whole book was filled with miscommunication tropes.
February 5, 2021
amo a associação da personagens mulheres livres e o cabelão cheioooo. me sinto a própria aspirante a lilah, amo d+🥺 e amo que cada irmã é diferente entre si então não precisa escolher uma fav, você só aprende a gostar de cada uma de um jeito. PERFEITOOOOO, dona nora roberts!!!
August 16, 2009
This is the third installment about the Calhoun sisters and their struggle to restore their big old house into a resort, searching for the missing family heirloom of an emerald necklace and finding the love of their lives.
The main characters are Lilah Calhoun, with a very laid back view on life and Max, a history professor. Sometimes Nora Roberts describes a character she gets a bit to contradictory. In this book I think it´s in Max. He starts as a mild, scholarly type and I start to think, how are he going to complement Lilah, with her easy going life style, and gets very excited about that. But then Nora Roberts change his character so that he gets all bossy, in a teacherly way. And I don´t feel it fit´s him.
Well, apart from that, the story gets a bit more exciting with murderers on the prowl so it´s a good read on a lazy sunday afternoon.
And I do like the romance in the meetings between Lilah and Max, the wine, the flowers, the making love all nights....
The main characters are Lilah Calhoun, with a very laid back view on life and Max, a history professor. Sometimes Nora Roberts describes a character she gets a bit to contradictory. In this book I think it´s in Max. He starts as a mild, scholarly type and I start to think, how are he going to complement Lilah, with her easy going life style, and gets very excited about that. But then Nora Roberts change his character so that he gets all bossy, in a teacherly way. And I don´t feel it fit´s him.
Well, apart from that, the story gets a bit more exciting with murderers on the prowl so it´s a good read on a lazy sunday afternoon.
And I do like the romance in the meetings between Lilah and Max, the wine, the flowers, the making love all nights....
May 22, 2015
Dr Maxwell Quartermaine of Cornell U is an expert in the early 1900s. Unbeknownst to him, he has been hired by the bad guys to help them find the infamous emerald necklace that has been missing since the night Bianca died in a tumble from the Tower. When he discovers how he has been duped, he escapes into the storm off the boat. Lilah sitting up in the Tower is drawn to the shore in the storm and fishes Dr Q out of the water. Another handsome stranger shows up at the Towers and another Calhoun sister bites the dust.Tthese girls all fall in love in the first 100 pages....
August 21, 2016
This one was a bit better than Amanda's. At least, the love interest isn't a headless cowboy, but a history professor. Lila's sweet and so is Max. Their relationship was the most believable so far of the Callhoum women.
The emerald's story keeps on going and there are a few more snippets of information about Bianca and Christian.
Of course, I need to know what happens to all the sisters and to the house and the emeralds. And I'd love to see The Towers as a hotel, not just the house. So, I'll keep reading.
The emerald's story keeps on going and there are a few more snippets of information about Bianca and Christian.
Of course, I need to know what happens to all the sisters and to the house and the emeralds. And I'd love to see The Towers as a hotel, not just the house. So, I'll keep reading.
January 17, 2013
Lilah Calhoun comes off as the flirt. That one girl that always has an afternoon date or share her bed. But really, it is not true. She is just opening up her heart waiting for love to find her. And you better believe it found her when she saw Professor Max Quartermain's body floating in the sea during a storm. Their love is pure and full of emotion. When Max saved her from getting killed their was no longer a stage to back to. They fell in love.
January 29, 2015
Nada de deslumbrante.
May 4, 2015
narrated by Kate Rudd
reviewed for AudioGals. Link http://www.audiogals.net/2015/04/for-...
reviewed for AudioGals. Link http://www.audiogals.net/2015/04/for-...
March 12, 2019
Gag worthy at best. The entire thing is a miserable cringe-fest. Oh well.
May 13, 2025
FOR THE LOVE OF LILAH (The Calhoun Women #3)
Nora Roberts, 1991
Contemporary, Mystery
Overall: 4/10
For the Love of Lilah was a fun read, but an incomplete one, setting up and developing a storyline about the Calhoun family diamonds and its connection to Max and Lilah that barely comes to a head, much less is solved, by the end of the book. It felt like the novel couldn't figure out how to wrap up its own threads, which was a shame as there were many things I liked about (the idea of) the side plots. There were major pacing issues, as well as what I'll call consequence issues: nothing seemed to have any consequences in the book, outside of the unspoken assumptions made by both characters about each other. I cared a lot more about the murderous (and crazy?) Hawkins and Caulfield than Roberts seemed to: by the time someone showed up with a knife, there wasn't even a full chapter left! I also felt disappointed by the lack of interaction between Lilah and her family -- every time she had a conversation with one of her sisters or their husbands/fiances, it felt like a dutiful inclusion on Roberts's part. I know this is standard in romance, but here it felt grating as they were all living in the same house -- that being said, given the nature of the non-romance plot, there wasn't too much to bounce off of each other. One of my favorite parts in the book was when Great-Aunt Colleen showed up; I love a feisty old woman! I'm hoping she'll stick around for the next installment, and hopefully get a lot of screentime.
FMC: 7/10 -- Lilah was immediately interesting to me, as her first description was basically "she's lazy and she likes that about herself" -- that's awesome! I felt like I had a strong understanding of her, and I understood what she liked about Max (though I did feel like a slower acknowledgement of her love for him would have greatly served her character and allowed for a better sense of growth).
MMC: 6/10 -- I really wanted to like Max, and for a lot of the book I did like Max: he's a great archetype (nerd who, when the time calls for it, is willing to be dumb and courageous) and I do think that his "I need to take risks" plotline reads. That being said, he cut off a lot of opportunities for growth AND for daring by a) preventing Lilah from doing crazy stuff (which would have been exciting to read) and b) constantly calling the cops. I get it, he's not a vigilante -- but almost every "dangerous" moment in the book is "solved" by calling the cops, something that has little to no consequences (the house is never monitored, Lilah is never called away from work AND the criminals are never caught).
The Couple: 7/10 -- their banter was good! Lilah's playfulness and Max's sometimes awkward sweetness made me believe they'd be a good match.
The Chemistry: 4/10 -- unfortunately, in most sexual situations, Max became a different person who I didn't like as much and didn't really care about
Side Characters: 4/10 -- wasted potential!
Location: 8.5/10 -- probably the strongest part of the book for me -- definitely the part with the most wish fulfillment. Not only the setting but the WEATHER was particularly well done, and added a lot to my enjoyment of the romance. Take me to the Towers once they turn it into a hotel!
The Non-Romance Conflict: 2/10 -- wasted potential! Compare the scene where Max is saved by Lilah in the beginning and the one in the final chapter; did she just get bored?
The "Misunderstanding": 2/10 -- yes, dumb, but more importantly, predicated on basically nothing (Lilah builds a castle upon a single phrase!), so not even narratively interesting -- Roberts also included a second, extremely rushed misunderstanding in the FINAL chapter, which she also solved in the FINAL chapter!
Queerness: 0/10
Page Count: 247 (12 chapters)
Edition: 2022 (published as Imagine Us with Suzanna's Surrender (The Calhoun Women#4)
Og Publication: 1991, Harlequin Silhouette
Dedication: For my great-great grandmother Selina MacGruder, who fell in love unwisely and well
Perspectives: 3rd Person Limited(?) (FMC, MMC, Side Characters, Antagonists, not chapter or scene restricted)
First Kiss: 28 (chapter 1) really 55 (chapter 3)
First Sex Scene: 141 (chapter 7)
Nora Roberts, 1991
Contemporary, Mystery
Overall: 4/10
For the Love of Lilah was a fun read, but an incomplete one, setting up and developing a storyline about the Calhoun family diamonds and its connection to Max and Lilah that barely comes to a head, much less is solved, by the end of the book. It felt like the novel couldn't figure out how to wrap up its own threads, which was a shame as there were many things I liked about (the idea of) the side plots. There were major pacing issues, as well as what I'll call consequence issues: nothing seemed to have any consequences in the book, outside of the unspoken assumptions made by both characters about each other. I cared a lot more about the murderous (and crazy?) Hawkins and Caulfield than Roberts seemed to: by the time someone showed up with a knife, there wasn't even a full chapter left! I also felt disappointed by the lack of interaction between Lilah and her family -- every time she had a conversation with one of her sisters or their husbands/fiances, it felt like a dutiful inclusion on Roberts's part. I know this is standard in romance, but here it felt grating as they were all living in the same house -- that being said, given the nature of the non-romance plot, there wasn't too much to bounce off of each other. One of my favorite parts in the book was when Great-Aunt Colleen showed up; I love a feisty old woman! I'm hoping she'll stick around for the next installment, and hopefully get a lot of screentime.
FMC: 7/10 -- Lilah was immediately interesting to me, as her first description was basically "she's lazy and she likes that about herself" -- that's awesome! I felt like I had a strong understanding of her, and I understood what she liked about Max (though I did feel like a slower acknowledgement of her love for him would have greatly served her character and allowed for a better sense of growth).
MMC: 6/10 -- I really wanted to like Max, and for a lot of the book I did like Max: he's a great archetype (nerd who, when the time calls for it, is willing to be dumb and courageous) and I do think that his "I need to take risks" plotline reads. That being said, he cut off a lot of opportunities for growth AND for daring by a) preventing Lilah from doing crazy stuff (which would have been exciting to read) and b) constantly calling the cops. I get it, he's not a vigilante -- but almost every "dangerous" moment in the book is "solved" by calling the cops, something that has little to no consequences (the house is never monitored, Lilah is never called away from work AND the criminals are never caught).
The Couple: 7/10 -- their banter was good! Lilah's playfulness and Max's sometimes awkward sweetness made me believe they'd be a good match.
The Chemistry: 4/10 -- unfortunately, in most sexual situations, Max became a different person who I didn't like as much and didn't really care about
Side Characters: 4/10 -- wasted potential!
Location: 8.5/10 -- probably the strongest part of the book for me -- definitely the part with the most wish fulfillment. Not only the setting but the WEATHER was particularly well done, and added a lot to my enjoyment of the romance. Take me to the Towers once they turn it into a hotel!
The Non-Romance Conflict: 2/10 -- wasted potential! Compare the scene where Max is saved by Lilah in the beginning and the one in the final chapter; did she just get bored?
The "Misunderstanding": 2/10 -- yes, dumb, but more importantly, predicated on basically nothing (Lilah builds a castle upon a single phrase!), so not even narratively interesting -- Roberts also included a second, extremely rushed misunderstanding in the FINAL chapter, which she also solved in the FINAL chapter!
Queerness: 0/10
Page Count: 247 (12 chapters)
Edition: 2022 (published as Imagine Us with Suzanna's Surrender (The Calhoun Women#4)
Og Publication: 1991, Harlequin Silhouette
Dedication: For my great-great grandmother Selina MacGruder, who fell in love unwisely and well
Perspectives: 3rd Person Limited(?) (FMC, MMC, Side Characters, Antagonists, not chapter or scene restricted)
First Kiss: 28 (chapter 1) really 55 (chapter 3)
First Sex Scene: 141 (chapter 7)
September 19, 2019
Hace unos días terminé con este libraco que contiene las 4 novelas de la saga Las Calhoun.
En esta oportunidad Nora nos relata la historia de cuatro hermanas, bastante dispares, que viven en un viejo castillo. Por problemas económicos tienen que ponerlo a la venta muy a su pesar, a causa de esto y de una leyenda de un collar de esmeraldas, estas cuatro hermanas no solo van a encontrar el amor, sino que también van a tener que descifrar el misterioso paradero de las mismas mientas se enfrentan a un despiadado ladrón que hará de todo para encontrarlas.
Me gustó mucho esta saga, cada historia va complementado a la anterior, además del romance de cada hermana, a media que va avanzando la historia vamos descubriendo qué pasó con Bianca, esa pariente lejana que vivió un desamor muy grande y escondió las esmeraldas antes de suicidarse saltando de la torre más alta de este pequeño castillo.
A pesar de ser un libro largo, se lee muy rápido, por separado las historias no son largas y no tienen relleno innecesario, cuando te queres dar cuenta ya te leíste las cuatro y descubriste el misterio.
En esta oportunidad Nora nos relata la historia de cuatro hermanas, bastante dispares, que viven en un viejo castillo. Por problemas económicos tienen que ponerlo a la venta muy a su pesar, a causa de esto y de una leyenda de un collar de esmeraldas, estas cuatro hermanas no solo van a encontrar el amor, sino que también van a tener que descifrar el misterioso paradero de las mismas mientas se enfrentan a un despiadado ladrón que hará de todo para encontrarlas.
Me gustó mucho esta saga, cada historia va complementado a la anterior, además del romance de cada hermana, a media que va avanzando la historia vamos descubriendo qué pasó con Bianca, esa pariente lejana que vivió un desamor muy grande y escondió las esmeraldas antes de suicidarse saltando de la torre más alta de este pequeño castillo.
A pesar de ser un libro largo, se lee muy rápido, por separado las historias no son largas y no tienen relleno innecesario, cuando te queres dar cuenta ya te leíste las cuatro y descubriste el misterio.
December 15, 2020
Is it just because it is the freshest one? How do I love each one more than the last?
Honestly I think I saw how I wish I was in lilah. And Max is a beyond perfect egghead. Although I thought at least 7 times that this would be much shorter if they just talked it out. But you know what ? Sometimes insecurities and jumping to conclusions make rationale conversations impossible. I loved everytime Max made Lilah stop and listen. He did it with such patience to her flights of temper.
Bianca's story in this story went beyond breaking my heart. And a fully grown up kinda mean Aunt Colleen made it all the worse. That Fergus! Grrr!
Two story twists that I saw have seen coming for some time might actually come to fruition. The Fred one will be much sweeter than the grandson one.
I hope Bianca's story ends in Susan's book. I see there is one story past Susan, but it would be weird to finish her story not in her family. Unless, of course that finds its way into it. Hmm. I guess I'll have to read and find out.
Honestly I think I saw how I wish I was in lilah. And Max is a beyond perfect egghead. Although I thought at least 7 times that this would be much shorter if they just talked it out. But you know what ? Sometimes insecurities and jumping to conclusions make rationale conversations impossible. I loved everytime Max made Lilah stop and listen. He did it with such patience to her flights of temper.
Bianca's story in this story went beyond breaking my heart. And a fully grown up kinda mean Aunt Colleen made it all the worse. That Fergus! Grrr!
Two story twists that I saw have seen coming for some time might actually come to fruition. The Fred one will be much sweeter than the grandson one.
I hope Bianca's story ends in Susan's book. I see there is one story past Susan, but it would be weird to finish her story not in her family. Unless, of course that finds its way into it. Hmm. I guess I'll have to read and find out.
June 14, 2019
The third book in this series builds on the first two. This time, we meet Max Quatermain, a professor who has been recruited by the bad guys to go through the papers stolen in the second book to see if they will lead to the fabled Calhoun emeralds. But Max overhears their plans and decides that jumping over the side of the boat they're on into a storm is better than death by bullet. He doesn't quite make it to shore but Lilah Calhoun sees him struggling and swims out to help. For a short time, Max can't remember who he is or why the family name seems so familiar. But he knows that Lilah is the most beautiful, desirable woman that he's ever known. And Lilah is attracted to the quiet, handsome professor as well.
This is definitely a 90s book with Lilah as a later-day hippy/gypsy sort of hybrid. This is probably my favorite book in this series just because I feel like we get to see so much more of the relationship building than the first two books.
This is definitely a 90s book with Lilah as a later-day hippy/gypsy sort of hybrid. This is probably my favorite book in this series just because I feel like we get to see so much more of the relationship building than the first two books.
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