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Stranger from the Past
Penny Jordan needs no introduction as arguably the most recognisable name writing for Mills & Boon. We have celebrated her wonderful writing with a special collection, many of which for the first time in eBook format and all available right now. Would they become lovers now? The demands of a growing business meant Sybilla had less time to think about the past, about a lonely future--and definitely no time to become emotionally involved. Ever again. Not after Gareth Seymour. Ten years had changed them both--but hadn't erased her feelings. That tormenting realization came when Gareth suddenly returned, threatening to send her emotions reeling back in time, to weaken her defenses and leave her vulnerable once more to the man who'd shattered her confidence and broken her heart!
161 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 1, 1991
9 people are currently reading
149 people want to read
About the author
Penny Jordan
1,124 books668 followersPenelope Jones Halsall
aka Caroline Courtney, Annie Groves, Lydia Hitchcock, Melinda Wright
Penelope "Penny" Jones was born on November 24, 1946 at about seven pounds in a nursing home in Preston, Lancashire, England. She was the first child of Anthony Winn Jones, an engineer, who died at 85, and his wife Margaret Louise Groves Jones. She has a brother, Anthony, and a sister, Prudence "Pru".
She had been a keen reader from the childhood - her mother used to leave her in the children's section of their local library whilst she changed her father's library books. She was a storyteller long before she began to write romantic fiction. At the age of eight, she was creating serialized bedtime stories, featuring make-believe adventures, for her younger sister Prue, who was always the heroine. At eleven, she fell in love with Mills & Boon, and with their heroes. In those days the books could only be obtained via private lending libraries, and she quickly became a devoted fan; she was thrilled to bits when the books went on full sale in shops and she could have them for keeps.
Penny left grammar school in Rochdale with O-Levels in English Language, English Literature and Geography. She first discovered Mills & Boon books, via a girl she worked with. She married Steve Halsall, an accountant and a "lovely man", who smoked and drank too heavily, and suffered oral cancer with bravery and dignity. Her husband bought her the small electric typewriter on which she typed her first novels, at a time when he could ill afford it. He died at the beginning of 21st century.
She earned a living as a writer since the 1970s when, as a shorthand typist, she entered a competition run by the Romantic Novelists' Association. Although she didn't win, Penny found an agent who was looking for a new Georgette Heyer. She published four regency novels as Caroline Courtney, before changing her nom de plume to Melinda Wright for three air-hostess romps and then she wrote two thrillers as Lydia Hitchcock. Soon after that, Mills and Boon accepted her first novel for them, Falcon's Prey as Penny Jordan. However, for her more historical romance novels, she adopted her mother's maiden-name to become Annie Groves. Almost 70 of her 167 Mills and Boon novels have been sold worldwide.
Penny Halsall lived in a neo-Georgian house in Nantwich, Cheshire, with her Alsatian Sheba and cat Posh. She worked from home, in her kitchen, surrounded by her pets, and welcomed interruptions from her friends and family.
aka Caroline Courtney, Annie Groves, Lydia Hitchcock, Melinda Wright
Penelope "Penny" Jones was born on November 24, 1946 at about seven pounds in a nursing home in Preston, Lancashire, England. She was the first child of Anthony Winn Jones, an engineer, who died at 85, and his wife Margaret Louise Groves Jones. She has a brother, Anthony, and a sister, Prudence "Pru".
She had been a keen reader from the childhood - her mother used to leave her in the children's section of their local library whilst she changed her father's library books. She was a storyteller long before she began to write romantic fiction. At the age of eight, she was creating serialized bedtime stories, featuring make-believe adventures, for her younger sister Prue, who was always the heroine. At eleven, she fell in love with Mills & Boon, and with their heroes. In those days the books could only be obtained via private lending libraries, and she quickly became a devoted fan; she was thrilled to bits when the books went on full sale in shops and she could have them for keeps.
Penny left grammar school in Rochdale with O-Levels in English Language, English Literature and Geography. She first discovered Mills & Boon books, via a girl she worked with. She married Steve Halsall, an accountant and a "lovely man", who smoked and drank too heavily, and suffered oral cancer with bravery and dignity. Her husband bought her the small electric typewriter on which she typed her first novels, at a time when he could ill afford it. He died at the beginning of 21st century.
She earned a living as a writer since the 1970s when, as a shorthand typist, she entered a competition run by the Romantic Novelists' Association. Although she didn't win, Penny found an agent who was looking for a new Georgette Heyer. She published four regency novels as Caroline Courtney, before changing her nom de plume to Melinda Wright for three air-hostess romps and then she wrote two thrillers as Lydia Hitchcock. Soon after that, Mills and Boon accepted her first novel for them, Falcon's Prey as Penny Jordan. However, for her more historical romance novels, she adopted her mother's maiden-name to become Annie Groves. Almost 70 of her 167 Mills and Boon novels have been sold worldwide.
Penny Halsall lived in a neo-Georgian house in Nantwich, Cheshire, with her Alsatian Sheba and cat Posh. She worked from home, in her kitchen, surrounded by her pets, and welcomed interruptions from her friends and family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
February 24, 2018
Re Stranger From the Past - Penny Jordan kicks off November 1993 in HPlandia with a HP Plus, so we get extra PJness again.
This time we have PJ Pining Love - the h and H have been apart for ten years of angsty longing and yearning. We also get the flu, and I sorta think a little health warning should be issued with this one, it might be contagious the way the h was running around in it.
So this one starts with our usual PJ h. She is 25 and co-owns a business staffing service in her little English market town. As with all PJ h's she doesn't really date - mainly cause she fell in love with the boy next door when she was 15 and he was 22.
The highlight of their relationship was when he took her to the local village fete and won her a cute pink pig tea pot as a prize - the h had really wanted a goldfish, but there was only one left and a little boy wanted it badly, so the h let him have it and got the pig teapot instead - she has kept it all these years as a symbol of her abiding, unrequited love.
The h was also very good friends with the boy next door's grandfather and likes to go look at his lovely Dresden Shepherdess collection. On one such excursion, the h happened to overhear the H and his grandfather discussing ways to curb her "nuisance" crush on the H, (cause like most 15 yr olds, the h wasn't a master of hiding her feelings,) and the h is completely devastated.
She loved the H, she wasn't trying to be a nuisance and now her whole outlook on men is ruined. She is mortified that the H even had to move to America to escape her embarrassing love vibes. There will never be another love for her, she can't stand the thought of inflicting her obviously outrageous feelings on anyone else and all she has to show for it is a pink pig tea pot.
So the h spends the next ten years avoiding any type of serious relationship, avoiding the H any time he makes the trip from the States back to visit his grandfather and telling herself that love is just not worth the humiliation - plus making endless pots of tea in the pig teapot.
Then the H's grandfather dies and the H moves back for good. The grandfather's company is in need of an overhaul and the H is looking to do it. The book starts with the rainy weather, the grocery store and the h dressed for success and getting soaked. The h had to go in to work for a horrible client appointment on her day off as her business partner had an emergency.
But before she can get down to business, the h has to go shop for her elderly neighbors. This means that her car is at the far end of the lot, the rain is pouring down, it is muddy and the h is unlucky in love and shopping trolleys - cause hers tips over and wrecks and spills her groceries when she within sprinting distance of the car.
Another car stops and a man gets out. It is the H and as he rights the trolley and helps her pick up her neighbor's shave cream, he recognizes the h. It is another round of mortification for the h. Her tights are muddy and laddered, her power suit is rain soaked and the H is accompanied by an extremely beautiful and well dressed woman who makes no bones about being annoyed by the delay.
The h manages a bare nod of thanks and then rushes off to change and get to work. Her partner usually handles one particular client, but the h is stuck with him today. Unfortunately it is a lunch date and this man is a married slime swiller who thinks the h should provide bedroom services as well as company staffing.
The lunch meeting doesn't go well as the man makes lewd suggestions the H happens to overhear. The h tells the man off, but then the H shows up at her cottage ot tell the h that his grandfather left her his Dresden collection. There are ugly words for the h from the H too, as he thinks she is having an affair with a married man.
We get a punishing kiss and the H bites the h - she is caught in a conflagration of passion and is horrified. She throws the H out and the inner PJ patented h angsting starts. The h is also getting sick and she is worried, there is a big anniversary party the h simply must attend and the way things are going, she is going to be miserable for it.
Then the slime swiller client calls the h and gets really nasty when she refuses to meet with his low life, sewer slurping cheating hiney. The h has to get mean and she tells him where to jump. The next day the h is explaining to her partner about the slime swiller and the H, who has staffing needs of his own, overhears and feels bad he leapt to assumptions.
He shows up at the h's house again, this time to apologize for getting things so badly wrong and berating the h and the h finds out that the beautiful woman the H brought with him was a lawyer and not his girlfriend. There are more harsh words from the h to the H, she ends up sending him off again and the H is despondent - we realize that the H has been having piney mopey unrequited love for ten years too and we have to await developments.
The h is getting sick tho and instead of staying home and drinking fluids and sparing others the potential viral contamination, we get a lot of pages of cold remedies and the h worrying about the slinky dress she is wearing to the big anniversary party. The party finally arrives, the h is feeling wonky but she goes and the H gets invited to hang with the h and her family.
The h pretends that she doesn't care and ignores the H for the most part, but they have more words on the dance floor and the h is feeling badly, so finally she goes home. The H won't let her drive home tho, so he takes her himself. We get more roofie kisses in the car, more h outrage and then the h crawls into bed to fret and be ill.
(Unfortunately PJ decided to forego the all important sponging, so this book is the poorer for it. PJ sponging always makes things much better.)
The next day the H comes over to check on the h and she accidentally breaks the teapot. The H tries to help, but the h kicks him out again and then has a little weep as she tries to save the shards. The H sneaks back in the h's house and notices that she saved the teapot pieces, this gives him some hope.
Then we get more h mopey moments while the h goes to her parents to be ill. The h decides that that the village is too small for the H and her to coexist in, so she starts plotting ways to explain her leaving the area.
She doesn't get very far in her escape planning when she gets waylaid by the slime swiller ex client - he accosts her on the street and the h is starting to get scared when the H swoops in and rescues her. He carries her off to his home and finally the two of them manage to have their big passion explosion.
The h is still unsure of the H's feelings the next morning, but the H hunts her down as she hides in the garden and in words of one syllable explains that he loves her and always has. The conversation the h overheard ten years ago was the grandfather warning the H off because the h was 15 and he was 22 and she was just too young at the time.
The h is finally happy and declares her love back. We get a little epilogue where the H and h are quietly married, the h is expecting a baby and the H's wedding present is another pig teapot with a little pig in tow. The h tells the H he might want to scout around for more little pigs as she is sure their love will multiply for an nice little PJ HP HEA.
This isn't PJ's best pining love book, but it is sweet and the pigs are cute and for the most part, it is a decent day in the Shire of PJ for a good HP outing.
This time we have PJ Pining Love - the h and H have been apart for ten years of angsty longing and yearning. We also get the flu, and I sorta think a little health warning should be issued with this one, it might be contagious the way the h was running around in it.
So this one starts with our usual PJ h. She is 25 and co-owns a business staffing service in her little English market town. As with all PJ h's she doesn't really date - mainly cause she fell in love with the boy next door when she was 15 and he was 22.
The highlight of their relationship was when he took her to the local village fete and won her a cute pink pig tea pot as a prize - the h had really wanted a goldfish, but there was only one left and a little boy wanted it badly, so the h let him have it and got the pig teapot instead - she has kept it all these years as a symbol of her abiding, unrequited love.
The h was also very good friends with the boy next door's grandfather and likes to go look at his lovely Dresden Shepherdess collection. On one such excursion, the h happened to overhear the H and his grandfather discussing ways to curb her "nuisance" crush on the H, (cause like most 15 yr olds, the h wasn't a master of hiding her feelings,) and the h is completely devastated.
She loved the H, she wasn't trying to be a nuisance and now her whole outlook on men is ruined. She is mortified that the H even had to move to America to escape her embarrassing love vibes. There will never be another love for her, she can't stand the thought of inflicting her obviously outrageous feelings on anyone else and all she has to show for it is a pink pig tea pot.
So the h spends the next ten years avoiding any type of serious relationship, avoiding the H any time he makes the trip from the States back to visit his grandfather and telling herself that love is just not worth the humiliation - plus making endless pots of tea in the pig teapot.
Then the H's grandfather dies and the H moves back for good. The grandfather's company is in need of an overhaul and the H is looking to do it. The book starts with the rainy weather, the grocery store and the h dressed for success and getting soaked. The h had to go in to work for a horrible client appointment on her day off as her business partner had an emergency.
But before she can get down to business, the h has to go shop for her elderly neighbors. This means that her car is at the far end of the lot, the rain is pouring down, it is muddy and the h is unlucky in love and shopping trolleys - cause hers tips over and wrecks and spills her groceries when she within sprinting distance of the car.
Another car stops and a man gets out. It is the H and as he rights the trolley and helps her pick up her neighbor's shave cream, he recognizes the h. It is another round of mortification for the h. Her tights are muddy and laddered, her power suit is rain soaked and the H is accompanied by an extremely beautiful and well dressed woman who makes no bones about being annoyed by the delay.
The h manages a bare nod of thanks and then rushes off to change and get to work. Her partner usually handles one particular client, but the h is stuck with him today. Unfortunately it is a lunch date and this man is a married slime swiller who thinks the h should provide bedroom services as well as company staffing.
The lunch meeting doesn't go well as the man makes lewd suggestions the H happens to overhear. The h tells the man off, but then the H shows up at her cottage ot tell the h that his grandfather left her his Dresden collection. There are ugly words for the h from the H too, as he thinks she is having an affair with a married man.
We get a punishing kiss and the H bites the h - she is caught in a conflagration of passion and is horrified. She throws the H out and the inner PJ patented h angsting starts. The h is also getting sick and she is worried, there is a big anniversary party the h simply must attend and the way things are going, she is going to be miserable for it.
Then the slime swiller client calls the h and gets really nasty when she refuses to meet with his low life, sewer slurping cheating hiney. The h has to get mean and she tells him where to jump. The next day the h is explaining to her partner about the slime swiller and the H, who has staffing needs of his own, overhears and feels bad he leapt to assumptions.
He shows up at the h's house again, this time to apologize for getting things so badly wrong and berating the h and the h finds out that the beautiful woman the H brought with him was a lawyer and not his girlfriend. There are more harsh words from the h to the H, she ends up sending him off again and the H is despondent - we realize that the H has been having piney mopey unrequited love for ten years too and we have to await developments.
The h is getting sick tho and instead of staying home and drinking fluids and sparing others the potential viral contamination, we get a lot of pages of cold remedies and the h worrying about the slinky dress she is wearing to the big anniversary party. The party finally arrives, the h is feeling wonky but she goes and the H gets invited to hang with the h and her family.
The h pretends that she doesn't care and ignores the H for the most part, but they have more words on the dance floor and the h is feeling badly, so finally she goes home. The H won't let her drive home tho, so he takes her himself. We get more roofie kisses in the car, more h outrage and then the h crawls into bed to fret and be ill.
(Unfortunately PJ decided to forego the all important sponging, so this book is the poorer for it. PJ sponging always makes things much better.)
The next day the H comes over to check on the h and she accidentally breaks the teapot. The H tries to help, but the h kicks him out again and then has a little weep as she tries to save the shards. The H sneaks back in the h's house and notices that she saved the teapot pieces, this gives him some hope.
Then we get more h mopey moments while the h goes to her parents to be ill. The h decides that that the village is too small for the H and her to coexist in, so she starts plotting ways to explain her leaving the area.
She doesn't get very far in her escape planning when she gets waylaid by the slime swiller ex client - he accosts her on the street and the h is starting to get scared when the H swoops in and rescues her. He carries her off to his home and finally the two of them manage to have their big passion explosion.
The h is still unsure of the H's feelings the next morning, but the H hunts her down as she hides in the garden and in words of one syllable explains that he loves her and always has. The conversation the h overheard ten years ago was the grandfather warning the H off because the h was 15 and he was 22 and she was just too young at the time.
The h is finally happy and declares her love back. We get a little epilogue where the H and h are quietly married, the h is expecting a baby and the H's wedding present is another pig teapot with a little pig in tow. The h tells the H he might want to scout around for more little pigs as she is sure their love will multiply for an nice little PJ HP HEA.
This isn't PJ's best pining love book, but it is sweet and the pigs are cute and for the most part, it is a decent day in the Shire of PJ for a good HP outing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 6, 2021
QUESTION: How do you get any cuter than a pig-shaped teapot?
ANSWER: You don't.
Penny Jordan's long-time, unrequited love story had both good and bad points. The potted pig that played a crucial, symbolic role in the awkward courtship between the hero and the heroine was definitely a highlight.
Also on the good side was the fact that the hero was besotted and sent the OW packing really early on, exclusively focusing on the heroine for the rest of the story. Yes, he had stalkerish tendencies but I thought in light of the fact that he has honourably bowed out in the past ten years, it was about time that he took some pro-active steps to pursue her and make up for all the inaction of ten whole years.
He was a good beta hero who realized that the friendship he had been enjoying with the daughter of family friends since she was a kid had turned into a romantic crush when she became a teenager. In order to protect her, and also to protect himself from his own changing feelings of love for a cute kid that was morphing into love for a woman, since she was only 15 and he was 22 at the time, he decided to distance himself. And he did it in a subtle way that would not inflict pain on her or embarrass her. That took honor and integrity.
It was unfortunate that unbeknownst to him, the heroine had overheard part of a conversation where he was discussing the inappropriateness of her adolescent crush with his grandfather and became mortified, wrongly thinking that he was mocking her and felt embarrassed by her feelings and actions.
So when she did grow up and hero started to return to their small village to test the waters, he found that she was actively avoiding him and if they happened to randomly meet, she went to great length to show her aversion to him. He mistakenly thought that now she had grown up, she was no longer interested in him and wanted to hang out with boys her own age so he did the honorable thing again and took off to America to pursue his career. (This is where he kinda lost me, because it's great being beta and all, but he needed an insertion of Alpha assertiveness and make more of an effort in his pursuit of the heroine if she was indeed the love of his life).
So, on the negative side of things, these two idiots spent ten years obsessing over each other without communicating due to a Great, Big, Terrible Misunderstanding. And I thought it was lame that the heroine had not been able to develop a single, meaningful relationship during this time because of how pathetically obsessed she remained with the hero and how she let one perceived rejection that happened to her when she was 15 years old affect her so badly that she could not trust anyone or herself for a freaking decade.
Don't get me wrong, I know about the HP conventions that almost always require the heroine to remain virginal while the hero can sow his wild oats. I didn't expect her to become the town bicycle. But why couldn't she at least have an OM long term boyfriend or fiance that could show she has matured from the awkward teenager she used to be, that she was capable of having a relationship with a man and also, that could give the hero some fits of jealousy and rivalry and put some spice into things.
Although the book does not stress on it, it is quite obvious that the hero didn't remain celibate for a decade. I didn't get the impression at all that he was a manwhore or anything. But he definitely seemed the more level-headed of the two, so that I don't think he would forego regular dating because his love for the heroine never materialized.
I still don't believe him that the OW we met at the beginning of the book was merely an American attorney who accompanied him back to England to help "smooth" any issues with his grandfather's estate.
I think he took one look at the heroine and something snapped in him that this time, he was going to go after her, because the sight of a single can of shaving cream in her shopping cart (which was meant for her 82 year old neighbour but which he assumed was for a boyfriend of hers) sent him into such a paroxysm of jealous fury that he realized this obsession wasn't going away and no American attorney was going to be an adequate substitute for a teapotted-pig loving English girl from his past.
So the overall verdict is that this was a cute romance with somewhat annoying protagonists.
ANSWER: You don't.
Penny Jordan's long-time, unrequited love story had both good and bad points. The potted pig that played a crucial, symbolic role in the awkward courtship between the hero and the heroine was definitely a highlight.
Also on the good side was the fact that the hero was besotted and sent the OW packing really early on, exclusively focusing on the heroine for the rest of the story. Yes, he had stalkerish tendencies but I thought in light of the fact that he has honourably bowed out in the past ten years, it was about time that he took some pro-active steps to pursue her and make up for all the inaction of ten whole years.
He was a good beta hero who realized that the friendship he had been enjoying with the daughter of family friends since she was a kid had turned into a romantic crush when she became a teenager. In order to protect her, and also to protect himself from his own changing feelings of love for a cute kid that was morphing into love for a woman, since she was only 15 and he was 22 at the time, he decided to distance himself. And he did it in a subtle way that would not inflict pain on her or embarrass her. That took honor and integrity.
It was unfortunate that unbeknownst to him, the heroine had overheard part of a conversation where he was discussing the inappropriateness of her adolescent crush with his grandfather and became mortified, wrongly thinking that he was mocking her and felt embarrassed by her feelings and actions.
So when she did grow up and hero started to return to their small village to test the waters, he found that she was actively avoiding him and if they happened to randomly meet, she went to great length to show her aversion to him. He mistakenly thought that now she had grown up, she was no longer interested in him and wanted to hang out with boys her own age so he did the honorable thing again and took off to America to pursue his career. (This is where he kinda lost me, because it's great being beta and all, but he needed an insertion of Alpha assertiveness and make more of an effort in his pursuit of the heroine if she was indeed the love of his life).
So, on the negative side of things, these two idiots spent ten years obsessing over each other without communicating due to a Great, Big, Terrible Misunderstanding. And I thought it was lame that the heroine had not been able to develop a single, meaningful relationship during this time because of how pathetically obsessed she remained with the hero and how she let one perceived rejection that happened to her when she was 15 years old affect her so badly that she could not trust anyone or herself for a freaking decade.
Don't get me wrong, I know about the HP conventions that almost always require the heroine to remain virginal while the hero can sow his wild oats. I didn't expect her to become the town bicycle. But why couldn't she at least have an OM long term boyfriend or fiance that could show she has matured from the awkward teenager she used to be, that she was capable of having a relationship with a man and also, that could give the hero some fits of jealousy and rivalry and put some spice into things.
Although the book does not stress on it, it is quite obvious that the hero didn't remain celibate for a decade. I didn't get the impression at all that he was a manwhore or anything. But he definitely seemed the more level-headed of the two, so that I don't think he would forego regular dating because his love for the heroine never materialized.
I still don't believe him that the OW we met at the beginning of the book was merely an American attorney who accompanied him back to England to help "smooth" any issues with his grandfather's estate.
I think he took one look at the heroine and something snapped in him that this time, he was going to go after her, because the sight of a single can of shaving cream in her shopping cart (which was meant for her 82 year old neighbour but which he assumed was for a boyfriend of hers) sent him into such a paroxysm of jealous fury that he realized this obsession wasn't going away and no American attorney was going to be an adequate substitute for a teapotted-pig loving English girl from his past.
So the overall verdict is that this was a cute romance with somewhat annoying protagonists.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 10, 2017
What a great story!
In true HP fashion, both characters did not swallow their pride and admit their feelings until the end.
Hooray for the fact that the hero could tell a virgin when he was with one. What a sweetheart he was too.
It was passionate and intense when they made love for the first time.
It was hot!!!!
Loved it and will read again for sure.
Even the way they met again at a shopping mall it was so random I could see it happening.
It was really well written.
One of Penny Jordan's better books for me.
In true HP fashion, both characters did not swallow their pride and admit their feelings until the end.
Hooray for the fact that the hero could tell a virgin when he was with one. What a sweetheart he was too.
It was passionate and intense when they made love for the first time.
It was hot!!!!
Loved it and will read again for sure.
Even the way they met again at a shopping mall it was so random I could see it happening.
It was really well written.
One of Penny Jordan's better books for me.
April 5, 2021
The heroine in this one had a bad cold/flu the entire time and there wasn’t one instance of sponging. Way to tease, Penny Jordan.
That really was the only surprise in the story. Heroine loved the hero as a teenager and followed him around like a lost puppy. When she was 15 and he was 25, she overheard him tell his grandfather that he knew heroine was in love with him and that it was a nuisance.
Heroine avoided the hero ever since and put herself on ice around all men since her heart was irrevocably broken.
Ten years pass. The heroine established a thriving temp agency and stays in contact with the hero’s grandfather. Hero is a tycoon in the USA. Then gramps dies and hero returns for the funeral and to run the family business.
Heroine is cold to him when she meets him in a grocery store car park and then later at a restaurant. Hero overhears a sleezy businessman propositioning her and thinks she is the town’s good time girl.
After some terrible words and lots of sneezing on the heroine’s part (hero never gets sick even though he keeps kissing her) the H/h discover that they have both loved each other since heroine was 15. Hero left because she was too young.
They’ll live at gramps’s house and have babies for an HEA.
That really was the only surprise in the story. Heroine loved the hero as a teenager and followed him around like a lost puppy. When she was 15 and he was 25, she overheard him tell his grandfather that he knew heroine was in love with him and that it was a nuisance.
Heroine avoided the hero ever since and put herself on ice around all men since her heart was irrevocably broken.
Ten years pass. The heroine established a thriving temp agency and stays in contact with the hero’s grandfather. Hero is a tycoon in the USA. Then gramps dies and hero returns for the funeral and to run the family business.
Heroine is cold to him when she meets him in a grocery store car park and then later at a restaurant. Hero overhears a sleezy businessman propositioning her and thinks she is the town’s good time girl.
After some terrible words and lots of sneezing on the heroine’s part (hero never gets sick even though he keeps kissing her) the H/h discover that they have both loved each other since heroine was 15. Hero left because she was too young.
They’ll live at gramps’s house and have babies for an HEA.
March 3, 2016
Hmm, a Penny Jordan where the hero is not a cruel ass-hat. Nice change.
This is old skool although it's only 1999 and feels older. Could 1999 qualify as old school?
Quite a few reviews have dealt with plot so I'm going to jump to some anomalies.
1. Concept of lip biter is driven to a new level, 5 Shades of Grey. Thinking the h has had an affair with a married man, the H kisses her in anger (it's a Penny Jordan so there has to be some physical manifestation of angst). He bites her lip. She loves it. Of course.
2. Their second big kiss comes when she has the flu. PJ writes of her sniffling, coughing, aches and pains, and trip to the chemist for 5 pages then she's making out with our H. I actually said out loud, "Run! Gross!"
3. Evil OM hits on the h, almost literally, then does not get flattened by the hero. Subtract one star for lack of confrontation smack down.
4. The H, at 22, Gross or soul mates? Discuss.
This is old skool although it's only 1999 and feels older. Could 1999 qualify as old school?
Quite a few reviews have dealt with plot so I'm going to jump to some anomalies.
1. Concept of lip biter is driven to a new level, 5 Shades of Grey. Thinking the h has had an affair with a married man, the H kisses her in anger (it's a Penny Jordan so there has to be some physical manifestation of angst). He bites her lip. She loves it. Of course.
2. Their second big kiss comes when she has the flu. PJ writes of her sniffling, coughing, aches and pains, and trip to the chemist for 5 pages then she's making out with our H. I actually said out loud, "Run! Gross!"
3. Evil OM hits on the h, almost literally, then does not get flattened by the hero. Subtract one star for lack of confrontation smack down.
4. The H, at 22, Gross or soul mates? Discuss.
April 8, 2021
A story of unrequited love which Penny Jordan has executed more successfully in her other books.
Sybilla spent sooooo much time moping and being frightened of Gareth that I couldn't enjoy myself, which is sad because romances with unrequited love as their main theme is a favorite. As it stands, Sybilla's sensitivity seemed excessively over the top for my tastes. So she doesn't rank high among Penny Jordan's best heroines who, while being vulnerable, still possess enough inner strength to offset this potentially debilitating character trait.
In terms of plot, nothing really happened so that lent to a bland reading experience as well.
Sybilla spent sooooo much time moping and being frightened of Gareth that I couldn't enjoy myself, which is sad because romances with unrequited love as their main theme is a favorite. As it stands, Sybilla's sensitivity seemed excessively over the top for my tastes. So she doesn't rank high among Penny Jordan's best heroines who, while being vulnerable, still possess enough inner strength to offset this potentially debilitating character trait.
In terms of plot, nothing really happened so that lent to a bland reading experience as well.
January 9, 2017
Good read, not the best Penny Jordan though.
November 25, 2018
I was going to give 3 stars but took one away because of the skeevy factor; 22 year old H fell madly in love with the 15 year old h.
He fell in such a way that he had to actively stay away from seducing her; plus the h made a big deal of what she overheard H and his grandfather discussing about her; how he had to stay away from her and took it as a rejection. I understand about the rejection being painful to her as a 15 year old but felt that for her to feel rejected as an adult was not right. Maybe PJ should have shown h to be more understanding and happy as an adult; after all the much older subject of her crush didn't seduce her when she was very young; which is a common occurrence. She should have been thankful that the older guy didn't take advantage of her at a time when she could have been easily swayed.
He fell in such a way that he had to actively stay away from seducing her; plus the h made a big deal of what she overheard H and his grandfather discussing about her; how he had to stay away from her and took it as a rejection. I understand about the rejection being painful to her as a 15 year old but felt that for her to feel rejected as an adult was not right. Maybe PJ should have shown h to be more understanding and happy as an adult; after all the much older subject of her crush didn't seduce her when she was very young; which is a common occurrence. She should have been thankful that the older guy didn't take advantage of her at a time when she could have been easily swayed.
May 29, 2023
Reading it for second time. Same view.
He went away for ten years not remembering her or trying to look her up when he was in town. Makes no sense.
Secondly they’re both adults. All it takes is his saying I’m interested and same from her.
The book devotes pages upon pages to the heroine’s inner world which isn’t very intelligent frankly. She’s sneezing. She has flu. She kisses hero. Goes in to work.
Very very underwhelming book. Not worth buying according to me.
Previous review below 👇🏽
Found it terribly boring. With PJ it’s always a hit and miss. Many of her books are not very happening ones.
In this one too nothing much happens. There’s that obligatory dinner she attends with hero being present (favourite situation with PJ).
The hero and heroine barely interact. Unless you call his coming to her front door. Entering her foyer and then leaving an interaction.
There was zero logic in their behaviour. Why didn’t he try to date her earlier if he was so madly in love with her. He sat for ten years letting her avoid him? Then suddenly it’s all “I can’t stop loving you”. Makes no sense.
Didn’t get a sense of who the hero was or who the heroine was either.
Book was more like a mood board, a rough draft for a real novel. Very sketchy and nothing ever gets fleshed out.
It might have been nice if one was showed their younger interactions. Instead of vaguely being told.
Michelle Reid wrote an amazing novel on this theme. Young love and then a reunion ten years down the line.
I was thoroughly bored with this book and felt cheated by yet another PJ novel.
I’m specifically thinking of many of those Crichton ones. Again humdrum ho hum books.
When I was in my twenties or earlier Penny Jordan was the epitome of passionate heart throbbing romance to me. Now I find her novels most of them very boring. Last thing I’d call them would be romance.
Coming back to this book. Small town life. Nothing happens. They seem like two retired people in love disguised as younger people.
Shrugging.
😕
What was that whole attachment to a pig shaped jar? Very romantic. Not.
The villain/ OM /?? coming on to her. All that was highly avoidable and boring.
Couldn’t make sense of American bombshell coming and going in story. You give her one vague scene.
Very lazy way to write a story. Frankly.
Dis. appoint. ed
He went away for ten years not remembering her or trying to look her up when he was in town. Makes no sense.
Secondly they’re both adults. All it takes is his saying I’m interested and same from her.
The book devotes pages upon pages to the heroine’s inner world which isn’t very intelligent frankly. She’s sneezing. She has flu. She kisses hero. Goes in to work.
Very very underwhelming book. Not worth buying according to me.
Previous review below 👇🏽
Found it terribly boring. With PJ it’s always a hit and miss. Many of her books are not very happening ones.
In this one too nothing much happens. There’s that obligatory dinner she attends with hero being present (favourite situation with PJ).
The hero and heroine barely interact. Unless you call his coming to her front door. Entering her foyer and then leaving an interaction.
There was zero logic in their behaviour. Why didn’t he try to date her earlier if he was so madly in love with her. He sat for ten years letting her avoid him? Then suddenly it’s all “I can’t stop loving you”. Makes no sense.
Didn’t get a sense of who the hero was or who the heroine was either.
Book was more like a mood board, a rough draft for a real novel. Very sketchy and nothing ever gets fleshed out.
It might have been nice if one was showed their younger interactions. Instead of vaguely being told.
Michelle Reid wrote an amazing novel on this theme. Young love and then a reunion ten years down the line.
I was thoroughly bored with this book and felt cheated by yet another PJ novel.
I’m specifically thinking of many of those Crichton ones. Again humdrum ho hum books.
When I was in my twenties or earlier Penny Jordan was the epitome of passionate heart throbbing romance to me. Now I find her novels most of them very boring. Last thing I’d call them would be romance.
Coming back to this book. Small town life. Nothing happens. They seem like two retired people in love disguised as younger people.
Shrugging.
😕
What was that whole attachment to a pig shaped jar? Very romantic. Not.
The villain/ OM /?? coming on to her. All that was highly avoidable and boring.
Couldn’t make sense of American bombshell coming and going in story. You give her one vague scene.
Very lazy way to write a story. Frankly.
Dis. appoint. ed
September 2, 2012
The hero and heroine have loved each other since childhood but the hero broke the heroines heart. Now ten years have past and the feelings are still the same, except the heroine is more wary now and they both think they don't love each other. Eventually as the story progresses, so does their love and the confession that changes everything.
Great read.
Great read.
May 11, 2024
got what I wanted - lots of smut
June 24, 2013
This was a lovely, emotional book where, once again, Penny Jordan illustrated just why she was such a popular writer for Mills and Boon.
The story concerns Sybilla, a woman who has grown up with an adolescent crush on Gareth, who is 7 years her senior. One day, when she was 15, she overhears Gareth disparaging her "crush" on him and is hurt beyond all hope of ever recovering and loving again. Hence, 10 years later, when Gareth returns from America, she is cold and hostile towards him, hoping to distance herself from her embarrassment at how she displayed her emotions as a teenager.
As the story progresses, it becomes clear that Sybilla still harbours an emotional attachment to Gareth and after much heart-rending agonising over the matter, the ultimate happy ending is achieved (it is a Mills and Boon after all!)
There are a couple of problems with the book - the first is that for much of it, Sybilla has flu, which - and forgive me if you disagree - isn't actually that romantic. I know that whenever I've had flu, I've not particularly been up for any hanky-panky, preferring instead to lie in bed groaning and convincing myself I'm dying. Still, Sybilla is nothing if not stoical in the face of misfortune and she manages to get up to all sorts of hanky-panky whilst suffering from a high temperature, body chills, muscle aches and a sore throat. The second problem is the fact that Gareth isn't actually all that nice to Sybilla during their first (and also during some of their subsequent) meetings. He has the temerity to let himself into her house upon several occasions, force himself on her and then, just because he's a bit mad with her, bites her lip and draws blood! I suppose she can always console herself that she'll have given him flu.
The final problem is yet again one with the cover art work - I'm not sure which book the illustrator read, but it wasn't this one because I really, really don't recall the scene where the couple stand on the flyover of a motorway canoodling (which, from the background streetlighting looks like where they are in their pictured embrace).
Still, all problems aside, this is a very romantic and emotional read - I actually found myself weeping towards the end of it (although that might have been because I read it with the prospect of yet another night shift looming over me).
The story concerns Sybilla, a woman who has grown up with an adolescent crush on Gareth, who is 7 years her senior. One day, when she was 15, she overhears Gareth disparaging her "crush" on him and is hurt beyond all hope of ever recovering and loving again. Hence, 10 years later, when Gareth returns from America, she is cold and hostile towards him, hoping to distance herself from her embarrassment at how she displayed her emotions as a teenager.
As the story progresses, it becomes clear that Sybilla still harbours an emotional attachment to Gareth and after much heart-rending agonising over the matter, the ultimate happy ending is achieved (it is a Mills and Boon after all!)
There are a couple of problems with the book - the first is that for much of it, Sybilla has flu, which - and forgive me if you disagree - isn't actually that romantic. I know that whenever I've had flu, I've not particularly been up for any hanky-panky, preferring instead to lie in bed groaning and convincing myself I'm dying. Still, Sybilla is nothing if not stoical in the face of misfortune and she manages to get up to all sorts of hanky-panky whilst suffering from a high temperature, body chills, muscle aches and a sore throat. The second problem is the fact that Gareth isn't actually all that nice to Sybilla during their first (and also during some of their subsequent) meetings. He has the temerity to let himself into her house upon several occasions, force himself on her and then, just because he's a bit mad with her, bites her lip and draws blood! I suppose she can always console herself that she'll have given him flu.
The final problem is yet again one with the cover art work - I'm not sure which book the illustrator read, but it wasn't this one because I really, really don't recall the scene where the couple stand on the flyover of a motorway canoodling (which, from the background streetlighting looks like where they are in their pictured embrace).
Still, all problems aside, this is a very romantic and emotional read - I actually found myself weeping towards the end of it (although that might have been because I read it with the prospect of yet another night shift looming over me).
July 1, 2017
In my opinion, this book is not worth reading. I have to say, as a side note, I NEVER get this frustrated with books or with characters. And it's actually the first time I wrote notes as I went along, because that's how much I was ripping my hair out while reading it. It contains
SPOILERS
, so heed my warning. So, without further ado, here are my unfiltered thoughts through out the short story:
Who the fudge does Gareth think he is. Behaving like a Neanderthal and berating Sybilla like if she were nothing but a common wh---. I hate people that assume things, and try justifying them in their own selfish ways. Even more so when the person being bullied doesn't even try to defend him or herself. Honestly, if someone spoke to me like that, I'd slap the smirk right off of their face. Disrespectful MF.
They react like small children, throwing tantrums, not communicating, assuming things. A typical comment? "I see". Passive aggressive much?
There was excessive use of the word "tactfully". It's not commonly used when you talk, or honestly, when you think. So the amount of times it was used BAFFLED me. Another one? "By rights", like, what?.
What about Sybilla, you may ask? Well, she's a witch with a capital B: talking acidly, biting, always on the defensive. It really got tiring after a while. Grow up will you?
Also, it was basically an entire book about the main character convincing herself that she didn't have the flu. Which she did. And then it miraculously disappeared. Huh.
Let's talk about the ending, shall we? First, thank god it came quickly. Second, why the hell did it come so quickly? Rushed, unfinished, holes everywhere. Pair of dependent lovers I should say: “I’m afraid we’re going to have to have a very quick, very quiet wedding, my love. I can’t swear that you haven’t already conceived my child, and while I don’t give a damn who knows how much I wanted you and how impetuously, for the sake of your parents and our child I think it might be best if we used a bit of discretion.”
So... you admit you love one another, have sex, think you got pregnant straight away, and that equals to wedding? Like, with no asking? SMH.
Who the fudge does Gareth think he is. Behaving like a Neanderthal and berating Sybilla like if she were nothing but a common wh---. I hate people that assume things, and try justifying them in their own selfish ways. Even more so when the person being bullied doesn't even try to defend him or herself. Honestly, if someone spoke to me like that, I'd slap the smirk right off of their face. Disrespectful MF.
They react like small children, throwing tantrums, not communicating, assuming things. A typical comment? "I see". Passive aggressive much?
There was excessive use of the word "tactfully". It's not commonly used when you talk, or honestly, when you think. So the amount of times it was used BAFFLED me. Another one? "By rights", like, what?.
What about Sybilla, you may ask? Well, she's a witch with a capital B: talking acidly, biting, always on the defensive. It really got tiring after a while. Grow up will you?
Also, it was basically an entire book about the main character convincing herself that she didn't have the flu. Which she did. And then it miraculously disappeared. Huh.
Let's talk about the ending, shall we? First, thank god it came quickly. Second, why the hell did it come so quickly? Rushed, unfinished, holes everywhere. Pair of dependent lovers I should say: “I’m afraid we’re going to have to have a very quick, very quiet wedding, my love. I can’t swear that you haven’t already conceived my child, and while I don’t give a damn who knows how much I wanted you and how impetuously, for the sake of your parents and our child I think it might be best if we used a bit of discretion.”
So... you admit you love one another, have sex, think you got pregnant straight away, and that equals to wedding? Like, with no asking? SMH.
April 30, 2022
This is the very first Romance novel I ever read, back in 1996. At age 12! (Yes, I know. Someone left it out and I picked it up. Whatevs!)
It kick-started my love affair with this genre. At 16, I started writing my first ever Romance novel, More Than Friends. Life happened and I didn't finish it until about 6 years ago. I finally published it this year!
Thanks Penny! ☺️📚
It kick-started my love affair with this genre. At 16, I started writing my first ever Romance novel, More Than Friends. Life happened and I didn't finish it until about 6 years ago. I finally published it this year!
Thanks Penny! ☺️📚
August 11, 2019
It was a nice sweet read about an unrequited love that is finally fulfilled.
September 9, 2022
The first romance book I ever read. Loved it!
November 15, 2015
Ceritanya menarik, tentang persahabatan 2 orang di masa kecil. Garreth selalu melindungi Sybilla, mengajarinya banyak hal-hal baru dan mereka pun sering mengisi hari-hari dengan banyak canda dan tawa. Tapi Garreth terpaut 7 tahun lebih tua dari Sybilla. Saat Garreth beranjak dewasa, di usianya yang ke-22, Sybilla berusia 15 tahun. Dan Sybilla sadar bahwa ia mulai jatuh hati pada Garreth yang selama ini dianggapnya kakak.
Tapi, apakah pantas seorang anak di bawah umur mencintai orang dewasa? Hukum bisa bertindak dan memenjarakan Gareth! Tapi Sybilla tidak peduli, ia menginginkan Gareth, mengikuti dan memujanya sepenuh hati sampai..... Suatu kali tak sengaja ia mendengar obrolan Garreth dengan kakeknya bahwa Garreth menganggap Sybilla adalah beban, cinta Sybilla adalah suatu kesalahan, Sybilla sakit hati sehingga saat Garreth pergi mengadu nasib ke luar negeri, ia menghilang. Bahkan setiap kali Garreth pulang untuk liburan, Sybilla selalu menghindar keluar kota. Sybilla berusaha melupakan Garreth dengan caranya. Tapi, apakah ia bisa?
Sepuluh tahun kemudian, kakek Garret meninggal sehingga ia pun pulang ke kota masa kevilnya. tak sengaja Sybilla dan Garreth bersenggolan di luar supermarket. Barang belanjaan Sybilla terlempar berceceran. Sybilla menundukkan kepala berharap Garreth tidak mengenalinya, tapi tentu saja hal itu sia-sia. Mereka beradu argumen sebentar karena perempuan pirang cantik di mobil Garreth mendesak Garreth untuk cepat-cepat pergi. Sybilla makin patah hati, setelah sekian lama ia kira ia bisa melupakan Garreth tapi ternyata tidak.
Malamnya, Garreth mampir ke rumah Sybilla karena ada barang Sybilla yang terbawa Garreth. Sybilla yang mengira orang yang mengetuk pintu adalah temannya, keluar santai dari kamar mandi dengan handuk saja. Tapi ternyata ia salah. Garreth berdiri di sana mematung. Dan dari situlah plot bergulir naik dengan cepat.
Apakah Sybilla benar-benar dapat mengeyahkan Garreth dari hatinya?
Apa maksud Garreth sepuluh tahun lalu dengan bilang kalau Dybilla adalah beban?
Semuanya terjawab setelah itu.
Awalnya plot terkesan datar dan membosankan karena penulis banyak menggunakan deskripsi daripada dialog. Tapi setelah hampir separo buku, plotnya mulai enak. Pilihan kata juga ok. Saya paling suka ide orisinilnya tentang persahabatan 2 orang yang terpisah beberapa tahun. Klise, tapi bisa dibawakan dengan cukup manis.
Buku ini cocok untuk sore yang cerah dengan secangkir teh dan biskuit.
Tapi, apakah pantas seorang anak di bawah umur mencintai orang dewasa? Hukum bisa bertindak dan memenjarakan Gareth! Tapi Sybilla tidak peduli, ia menginginkan Gareth, mengikuti dan memujanya sepenuh hati sampai..... Suatu kali tak sengaja ia mendengar obrolan Garreth dengan kakeknya bahwa Garreth menganggap Sybilla adalah beban, cinta Sybilla adalah suatu kesalahan, Sybilla sakit hati sehingga saat Garreth pergi mengadu nasib ke luar negeri, ia menghilang. Bahkan setiap kali Garreth pulang untuk liburan, Sybilla selalu menghindar keluar kota. Sybilla berusaha melupakan Garreth dengan caranya. Tapi, apakah ia bisa?
Sepuluh tahun kemudian, kakek Garret meninggal sehingga ia pun pulang ke kota masa kevilnya. tak sengaja Sybilla dan Garreth bersenggolan di luar supermarket. Barang belanjaan Sybilla terlempar berceceran. Sybilla menundukkan kepala berharap Garreth tidak mengenalinya, tapi tentu saja hal itu sia-sia. Mereka beradu argumen sebentar karena perempuan pirang cantik di mobil Garreth mendesak Garreth untuk cepat-cepat pergi. Sybilla makin patah hati, setelah sekian lama ia kira ia bisa melupakan Garreth tapi ternyata tidak.
Malamnya, Garreth mampir ke rumah Sybilla karena ada barang Sybilla yang terbawa Garreth. Sybilla yang mengira orang yang mengetuk pintu adalah temannya, keluar santai dari kamar mandi dengan handuk saja. Tapi ternyata ia salah. Garreth berdiri di sana mematung. Dan dari situlah plot bergulir naik dengan cepat.
Apakah Sybilla benar-benar dapat mengeyahkan Garreth dari hatinya?
Apa maksud Garreth sepuluh tahun lalu dengan bilang kalau Dybilla adalah beban?
Semuanya terjawab setelah itu.
Awalnya plot terkesan datar dan membosankan karena penulis banyak menggunakan deskripsi daripada dialog. Tapi setelah hampir separo buku, plotnya mulai enak. Pilihan kata juga ok. Saya paling suka ide orisinilnya tentang persahabatan 2 orang yang terpisah beberapa tahun. Klise, tapi bisa dibawakan dengan cukup manis.
Buku ini cocok untuk sore yang cerah dengan secangkir teh dan biskuit.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 8, 2011
hmmmmm mari bernostalgia dengan novel2 jadul sambil nyoba apa ingetannya masih tokcer hehehehehehe
novel jadul begini harap maklum ya kalo ga ingat nama2nya :p
bercerita ttg si ceweq yg merupakan teman sejak kecil dengan si cowoq. si ceweq ini dari dulu udah suka si cowoq walaupun si cowoq pergi meninggalkan kampung halaman mereka si ceweq masih memendam suka.
si ceweq ini deket dengan kakek si cowoq suatu ketika dia mendengar ucapan si cowoq ke kakeknya tentang rasa suka si ceweq yg terasa mengganggunya (bener ga ya????)
akhirnya membuat si ceweq jadi benci ke si cowoq (pikirnya).
akhirnya mereka berpisah......
tahun2 berlalu si cowoq kembali saat kakeknya meninggal & bertemu kembali dengan si ceweq.
si ceweq ternyata udah tumbuh jadi gadis cantik & punya usaha sendiri.
sikap si ceweq sekarang jadi yahhhh antipati2 gitu ma si cowoq. dia ga pernah lagi bersikap ramah & memuja bahkan si ceweq menghindar dari si cowoq.
si cowoq yg ga tau kalo si ceweq ini pernah mendengar ucapannya ke kakeknya jelas aja heran kok sikap si ceweq berubah ya???
salah sendiri ngomong kok ya kasar amat.....
tidak menyadari hal itu si cowoq terus mendekati si ceweq (ih dasar mentang2 si ceweq dah jadi wanita cantik baru dia mau deketin emang perlu dijitak)
yahhh khas harlequin2 lainnya jelas happy ending donkkkk
si ceweq menyadari dia masih cinta ke si cowoq
si cowoq juga ternyata mencintai si ceweq
hmmmm kalo ga salah ingat si cowoq & ceweq ini umurnya beda rada jauh deh jadi si cowoq dulu nolak perhatian si ceweq karna ngerasa si ceweq terlalu muda (wah kayak DP nih)
PJ menurutku novelnya sweet banget & gampang dibaca
yah dulu khan baca novel begini khan dah sueneng 1/2 mati
dulu masih belum kenal segala HR dll jd HQ sweet begini aja dah dianggap bacaan dewasa banget hehehehehehe baca sambil sembunyi2
ga konsen belajar gara2 mikirin pengen lanjutin baca nih novel
ah keinget beli nih novel sembunyi2 trus ketahuan nyokap eh disita (ais nasib)....
novel jadul begini harap maklum ya kalo ga ingat nama2nya :p
bercerita ttg si ceweq yg merupakan teman sejak kecil dengan si cowoq. si ceweq ini dari dulu udah suka si cowoq walaupun si cowoq pergi meninggalkan kampung halaman mereka si ceweq masih memendam suka.
si ceweq ini deket dengan kakek si cowoq suatu ketika dia mendengar ucapan si cowoq ke kakeknya tentang rasa suka si ceweq yg terasa mengganggunya (bener ga ya????)
akhirnya membuat si ceweq jadi benci ke si cowoq (pikirnya).
akhirnya mereka berpisah......
tahun2 berlalu si cowoq kembali saat kakeknya meninggal & bertemu kembali dengan si ceweq.
si ceweq ternyata udah tumbuh jadi gadis cantik & punya usaha sendiri.
sikap si ceweq sekarang jadi yahhhh antipati2 gitu ma si cowoq. dia ga pernah lagi bersikap ramah & memuja bahkan si ceweq menghindar dari si cowoq.
si cowoq yg ga tau kalo si ceweq ini pernah mendengar ucapannya ke kakeknya jelas aja heran kok sikap si ceweq berubah ya???
salah sendiri ngomong kok ya kasar amat.....
tidak menyadari hal itu si cowoq terus mendekati si ceweq (ih dasar mentang2 si ceweq dah jadi wanita cantik baru dia mau deketin emang perlu dijitak)
yahhh khas harlequin2 lainnya jelas happy ending donkkkk
si ceweq menyadari dia masih cinta ke si cowoq
si cowoq juga ternyata mencintai si ceweq
hmmmm kalo ga salah ingat si cowoq & ceweq ini umurnya beda rada jauh deh jadi si cowoq dulu nolak perhatian si ceweq karna ngerasa si ceweq terlalu muda (wah kayak DP nih)
PJ menurutku novelnya sweet banget & gampang dibaca
yah dulu khan baca novel begini khan dah sueneng 1/2 mati
dulu masih belum kenal segala HR dll jd HQ sweet begini aja dah dianggap bacaan dewasa banget hehehehehehe baca sambil sembunyi2
ga konsen belajar gara2 mikirin pengen lanjutin baca nih novel
ah keinget beli nih novel sembunyi2 trus ketahuan nyokap eh disita (ais nasib)....
August 21, 2008
Sybilla jatuh cinta dan tergila-gila pada Gareth Seymour saat dirinya berumur 15 tahun. Dia jadi sering main ke rumah Tom Seymour -kakek Gareth- hanya untuk melihat Gareth. Suatu hari, tanpa sengaja dia mendengar Gareth berkata bahwa "cinta Sybilla mengganggunya". Mendengar hal ini, Syb kecewa dan berusaha melupakan Gareth.
Sepuluh tahun kemudian, tidak sengaja Syb bertemu kembali dengan Gareth. Setelah meninggalnya Tom Seymour, Gareth ingin kembali tinggal di Inggris dan meneruskan perusahaan yang dikelola kakeknya.
Selama 10 tahun, Syb mengira dirinya membenci Gareth dan sudah kebal terhadap pesonanya, ternyata tidak! Ia menyadari bahwa dirinya tetap mencintai Gareth. Mengingat komentar Gareth yang sangat menyakitkan hatinya, ia bersikap ketus dan kasar di tiap kesempatan bertemu Gareth. Heran juga Gareth, melihat perilaku kasar dan ketus dari Syb, padahal dulu Syb "crazy for him".
Saat Syb berada di rumah Tom untuk mengambil patung Dresden warisan dari Tom, Syb dan Gareth tidak kuasa menahan ketertarikan antara mereka berdua. Mereka pun bercinta.
Keesokan harinya, Syb memberitahu Gareth bagaimana perasaannya terhadap Gareth, mengapa ia menjaga jarak setelah bertemu kembali dengan Gareth. Tak disangka, Gareth juga menyatakan bahwa ia mencintai Syb. Bahwa perkataannya 10 tahun yang lalu dilontarkan semata-mata karena mereka berdua masih terlalu muda dan Gareth khawatir mereka tidak bisa menahan gejolak yang terjadi.
Sepuluh tahun kemudian, tidak sengaja Syb bertemu kembali dengan Gareth. Setelah meninggalnya Tom Seymour, Gareth ingin kembali tinggal di Inggris dan meneruskan perusahaan yang dikelola kakeknya.
Selama 10 tahun, Syb mengira dirinya membenci Gareth dan sudah kebal terhadap pesonanya, ternyata tidak! Ia menyadari bahwa dirinya tetap mencintai Gareth. Mengingat komentar Gareth yang sangat menyakitkan hatinya, ia bersikap ketus dan kasar di tiap kesempatan bertemu Gareth. Heran juga Gareth, melihat perilaku kasar dan ketus dari Syb, padahal dulu Syb "crazy for him".
Saat Syb berada di rumah Tom untuk mengambil patung Dresden warisan dari Tom, Syb dan Gareth tidak kuasa menahan ketertarikan antara mereka berdua. Mereka pun bercinta.
Keesokan harinya, Syb memberitahu Gareth bagaimana perasaannya terhadap Gareth, mengapa ia menjaga jarak setelah bertemu kembali dengan Gareth. Tak disangka, Gareth juga menyatakan bahwa ia mencintai Syb. Bahwa perkataannya 10 tahun yang lalu dilontarkan semata-mata karena mereka berdua masih terlalu muda dan Gareth khawatir mereka tidak bisa menahan gejolak yang terjadi.
November 13, 2011
I really like it when Penny Jordan does a book along these lines -- H/h who have loved each other secretly since childhood, come together after a long period of time, h thinks the H doesn't love her though we can tell he does, and then they come together in the end. Definitely a formula for her, but I like it nonetheless -- lots of emotional angst.
Side note though -- what is with some of these older novels where they think people want to kiss and make out while they have a terrible flu? They use the flu like it's a "weakness" that allows the sick person to give in to physical intimacy, but geez, who wants to make out when they've got one of those terrible flus where you have aches, fever, and a sore throat?? Not to mention that they are totally contagious yet kissing someone else -- that's all I can think of when they kiss in that state.
Side note though -- what is with some of these older novels where they think people want to kiss and make out while they have a terrible flu? They use the flu like it's a "weakness" that allows the sick person to give in to physical intimacy, but geez, who wants to make out when they've got one of those terrible flus where you have aches, fever, and a sore throat?? Not to mention that they are totally contagious yet kissing someone else -- that's all I can think of when they kiss in that state.
Read
September 18, 2024The h was constantly shuddering in this one. A restless shudder, followed by a violent shudder, then a shudder due to the cold, then again from panic, this time uncontrollable. 🙄
Also the reason for her angst is much too mild — especially to be nursing it for ten years. It would have been understandable if the H had been harsher, but what she overheard was very mild honestly and doesn’t account for her behaviour towards the H.
Did not finish. Don’t know why I think Penny Jordan is ever worth getting into, but I convinced myself this one might be worth a read. A mistake. Just could not with the shuddering, and she was patient zero! Going to a party when she knew she had a cold and was unwell 🤧 ugh!
Also the reason for her angst is much too mild — especially to be nursing it for ten years. It would have been understandable if the H had been harsher, but what she overheard was very mild honestly and doesn’t account for her behaviour towards the H.
Did not finish. Don’t know why I think Penny Jordan is ever worth getting into, but I convinced myself this one might be worth a read. A mistake. Just could not with the shuddering, and she was patient zero! Going to a party when she knew she had a cold and was unwell 🤧 ugh!
December 1, 2010
Would they become lovers now?
The demands of a growing business meant Sybilla had less time to think about the past, about a lonely future--and definitely no time to become emotionally involved. Ever again. Not after Gareth Seymour.
Ten years had changed them both--but hadn't erased her feelings. That tormenting realization came when Gareth suddenly returned, threatening to send her emotions reeling back in time, to weaken her defenses and leave her vulnerable once more to the man who'd shattered her confidence and broken her heart!
The demands of a growing business meant Sybilla had less time to think about the past, about a lonely future--and definitely no time to become emotionally involved. Ever again. Not after Gareth Seymour.
Ten years had changed them both--but hadn't erased her feelings. That tormenting realization came when Gareth suddenly returned, threatening to send her emotions reeling back in time, to weaken her defenses and leave her vulnerable once more to the man who'd shattered her confidence and broken her heart!
February 8, 2017
estórinha bobinha, mas que me pegou. adorei..só não foi 5 estrelas pq detesto pontas soltas (aquele pedaço de cerâmica quebrada que o Gareth pegou??? sem maiores explicações...fiquei esperando aquilo aparecer de novo todo o resto do livro)...
August 1, 2012
dapat versi baru nya...2012....
June 26, 2012
Rencana terbit 28-Jun by GPU Pria Dari Masa Lalu - Stranger From The Past */ cover baru (Penny Jordan)
July 15, 2012
Oke sih, cuma karena baca yang versi pertama Indonesia (jadul punya), jadi bahasanya agak-agak gimana gitu.. Agak aneh tapi masih bisa dinikmati =)
October 25, 2012
Standart
March 12, 2015
i don't really like the female character, but the story is quite good. The ending is sweet,,,,
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