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Soldiers of Fortune #3
Enamored
Believing he would never again see the wife who betrayed him, Diego Laremos, a dangerous and passionate man with few friends and unwillingness to trust, is stunned when he learns that she and a mysterious little boy need his help. Reprint.
Mass Market Paperback
First published April 1, 1988
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About the author
Diana Palmer
1,039 books3,098 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
Diana Palmer is a pseudonym for author Susan Kyle.
(1)romance author
Susan Eloise Spaeth was born on 11 December 1946 in Cuthbert, Georgia, USA. She was the eldest daughter of Maggie Eloise Cliatt, a nurse and also journalist, and William Olin Spaeth, a college professor. Her mother was part of the women's liberation movement many years before it became fashionable. Her best friends are her mother and her sister, Dannis Spaeth (Cole), who now has two daughters, Amanda Belle Hofstetter and Maggie and lives in Utah. Susan grew up reading Zane Grey and fell in love with cowboys. Susan is a former newspaper reporter, with sixteen years experience on both daily and weekly newspapers. Since 1972, she has been married to James Kyle and have since settled down in Cornelia, Georgia, where she started to write romance novels. Susan and her husband have one son, Blayne Edward, born in 1980.
She began selling romances in 1979 as Diana Palmer. She also used the pseudonyms Diana Blayne and Katy Currie, and her married name: Susan Kyle. Now, she has over 40 million copies of her books in print, which have been translated and published around the world. She is listed in numerous publications, including Contemporary Authors by Gale Research, Inc., Twentieth Century Romance and Historical Writers by St. James Press, The Writers Directory by St. James Press, the International Who's Who of Authors and Writers by Meirose Press, Ltd., and Love's Leading Ladies by Kathryn Falk. Her awards include seven Waldenbooks national sales awards, four B. Dalton national sales awards, two Bookrak national sales awards, a Lifetime Achievement Award for series storytelling from Romantic Times, several Affaire de Coeur awards, and two regional RWA awards.
Inspired by her husband, who quit a blue-collar manufacturing job to return to school and get his diploma in computer programming, Susan herself went back to college as a day student at the age of 45. In 1995, she graduated summa cum laude from Piedmont College, Demorest, GA, with a major in history and a double minor in archaeology and Spanish. She was named to two honor societies (the Torch Club and Alpha Chi), and was named to the National Dean's List. In addition to her writing projects, she is currently working on her master's degree in history at California State University. She hopes to specialize in Native American studies. She is a member of the Native American Rights Fund, the American Museum of Natural History, the National Cattlemen's Association, the Archaeological Institute of Amenca, the Planetary Society, The Georgia Conservancy, the Georgia Sheriff's Association, and numerous conservation and charitable organizations. Her hobbies include gardening, archaeology, anthropology, iguanas, astronomy and music.
In 1998, her husband retired from his own computer business and now pursues skeet shooting medals in local, state, national and international competition. They love riding around and looking at the countryside, watching sci-fi on TV and at the movies, just talking and eating out.
Diana Palmer is a pseudonym for author Susan Kyle.
(1)romance author
Susan Eloise Spaeth was born on 11 December 1946 in Cuthbert, Georgia, USA. She was the eldest daughter of Maggie Eloise Cliatt, a nurse and also journalist, and William Olin Spaeth, a college professor. Her mother was part of the women's liberation movement many years before it became fashionable. Her best friends are her mother and her sister, Dannis Spaeth (Cole), who now has two daughters, Amanda Belle Hofstetter and Maggie and lives in Utah. Susan grew up reading Zane Grey and fell in love with cowboys. Susan is a former newspaper reporter, with sixteen years experience on both daily and weekly newspapers. Since 1972, she has been married to James Kyle and have since settled down in Cornelia, Georgia, where she started to write romance novels. Susan and her husband have one son, Blayne Edward, born in 1980.
She began selling romances in 1979 as Diana Palmer. She also used the pseudonyms Diana Blayne and Katy Currie, and her married name: Susan Kyle. Now, she has over 40 million copies of her books in print, which have been translated and published around the world. She is listed in numerous publications, including Contemporary Authors by Gale Research, Inc., Twentieth Century Romance and Historical Writers by St. James Press, The Writers Directory by St. James Press, the International Who's Who of Authors and Writers by Meirose Press, Ltd., and Love's Leading Ladies by Kathryn Falk. Her awards include seven Waldenbooks national sales awards, four B. Dalton national sales awards, two Bookrak national sales awards, a Lifetime Achievement Award for series storytelling from Romantic Times, several Affaire de Coeur awards, and two regional RWA awards.
Inspired by her husband, who quit a blue-collar manufacturing job to return to school and get his diploma in computer programming, Susan herself went back to college as a day student at the age of 45. In 1995, she graduated summa cum laude from Piedmont College, Demorest, GA, with a major in history and a double minor in archaeology and Spanish. She was named to two honor societies (the Torch Club and Alpha Chi), and was named to the National Dean's List. In addition to her writing projects, she is currently working on her master's degree in history at California State University. She hopes to specialize in Native American studies. She is a member of the Native American Rights Fund, the American Museum of Natural History, the National Cattlemen's Association, the Archaeological Institute of Amenca, the Planetary Society, The Georgia Conservancy, the Georgia Sheriff's Association, and numerous conservation and charitable organizations. Her hobbies include gardening, archaeology, anthropology, iguanas, astronomy and music.
In 1998, her husband retired from his own computer business and now pursues skeet shooting medals in local, state, national and international competition. They love riding around and looking at the countryside, watching sci-fi on TV and at the movies, just talking and eating out.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
October 5, 2019
May/December romance between neighbors in Guatemala. He’s a plantation owner and a mercenary. There is bad blood between the families since heroine’s mother married her father and not the hero’s father.
Heroine has crushed on the hero for years and moons around on her horse in hopes of catching a glimpse of him. When she is 19 the H/h are caught in a cross-fire of bad guys (don’t ask – boring). They escape to a Mayan ruin and have sex. Heroine’s father catches them and insists on marriage. Hero thinks she trapped him. (Don’t ask – it’s DP hero convoluted logic) Heroine is left alone with his angry family. When hero returns two months later, heroine tries to put the moves on him, but he rejects her. She runs out into the night and falls.
At the hospital the doctor confirms her pregnancy. Hero thinks she lost the baby, but she didn’t. Heroine runs away to Arizona (what? Random) since she thinks he will take the baby after it is born and discard her.
Five years later the hero is called after heroine is in a plane crash. Her marriage certificate was in her purse (I carry mine wherever I go!) and they need permission to do emergency surgery. Hero then finds out heroine has a son. He thinks heroine hooked up with another guy right after her “miscarriage.” Heroine lets him think that because she is still afraid he will take her son away.
They move to Chicago (what? Random) for the heroine to recover while the hero runs a business with his mercenary buddies.
The rest of the story is the hero discovering the truth and bonding with his zoo-obsessed child.
There is an unfunny sub-plot of an antagonistic relationship between one of the hero’s co-workers and his Plain-Jane secretary. Heroine gives her a make-over and all is well.
Diana Palmer checklist:
Hairy chest Not enough time in the Mayan ruins to notice.
Breast Description Mauve tipped!
Cigarettes Cheroots! Constantly
Alcohol No
Town Descriptions Guatemala has mercenaries, Mayan ruins, open plains, and oppressive heat. Chicago has parks and a zoo. That’s it.
Gardenia Scent Floral scent.
LOL detail Cowl necks everywhere. And look at that cover!
Cutesy detail Bickering secretary/boss "banter"
DP hobbyhorse Any plain Jane can benefit from makeover. (But it will always result in insults from the DP hero)
Heroine has crushed on the hero for years and moons around on her horse in hopes of catching a glimpse of him. When she is 19 the H/h are caught in a cross-fire of bad guys (don’t ask – boring). They escape to a Mayan ruin and have sex. Heroine’s father catches them and insists on marriage. Hero thinks she trapped him. (Don’t ask – it’s DP hero convoluted logic) Heroine is left alone with his angry family. When hero returns two months later, heroine tries to put the moves on him, but he rejects her. She runs out into the night and falls.
At the hospital the doctor confirms her pregnancy. Hero thinks she lost the baby, but she didn’t. Heroine runs away to Arizona (what? Random) since she thinks he will take the baby after it is born and discard her.
Five years later the hero is called after heroine is in a plane crash. Her marriage certificate was in her purse (I carry mine wherever I go!) and they need permission to do emergency surgery. Hero then finds out heroine has a son. He thinks heroine hooked up with another guy right after her “miscarriage.” Heroine lets him think that because she is still afraid he will take her son away.
They move to Chicago (what? Random) for the heroine to recover while the hero runs a business with his mercenary buddies.
The rest of the story is the hero discovering the truth and bonding with his zoo-obsessed child.
There is an unfunny sub-plot of an antagonistic relationship between one of the hero’s co-workers and his Plain-Jane secretary. Heroine gives her a make-over and all is well.
Diana Palmer checklist:
Hairy chest Not enough time in the Mayan ruins to notice.
Breast Description Mauve tipped!
Cigarettes Cheroots! Constantly
Alcohol No
Town Descriptions Guatemala has mercenaries, Mayan ruins, open plains, and oppressive heat. Chicago has parks and a zoo. That’s it.
Gardenia Scent Floral scent.
LOL detail Cowl necks everywhere. And look at that cover!
Cutesy detail Bickering secretary/boss "banter"
DP hobbyhorse Any plain Jane can benefit from makeover. (But it will always result in insults from the DP hero)
March 29, 2015
I'm very careful in my book selections from this author because she typically writes a type of hero that I don't care for. However, the few books that I have read, I have throughly enjoyed. This being one of them.
A young girl is hopelessly infatuated with her older neighbor. The sparks always fly whenever they are together, in spite of the fact that he does everything to keep their relationship on a platonic level. Everything is fairly innocent until the night they take shelter in a deserted ruin where they are are discovered in a compromising situation. Love turns to hate, as both are forced by family into a marriage of convenience. He feels purposely trapped and takes it out on her emotionally becoming cold and harsh. She feels utterly betrayed and leaves him after an accident.
The tension is high (just the way I like my romances) and most of the book is about reconciliation. However, both were very likable. Both made mistakes, both seemed human.
A young girl is hopelessly infatuated with her older neighbor. The sparks always fly whenever they are together, in spite of the fact that he does everything to keep their relationship on a platonic level. Everything is fairly innocent until the night they take shelter in a deserted ruin where they are are discovered in a compromising situation. Love turns to hate, as both are forced by family into a marriage of convenience. He feels purposely trapped and takes it out on her emotionally becoming cold and harsh. She feels utterly betrayed and leaves him after an accident.
The tension is high (just the way I like my romances) and most of the book is about reconciliation. However, both were very likable. Both made mistakes, both seemed human.
June 26, 2021
Four stars for the angst, very high for most part of the book. The heroine was 22 and in love with 35 hero, their families were enemies so there was no chance for them to be a couple. He was attracted by her but wanted to be free. One night they are alone and they have sex, but her father finds them and forces the hero to marry her. Of course the hero blames the heroine because, even though she was a virgin and 22 she planned to trap him. Eh??? Really??? So he’s furious, and after marriage he takes her to his mansion with his evil grandmother and leaves her there alone for weeks. When he comes back she’s a shadow of her former self and when she tries to tell him she would like to have a real marriage with him he rejects her telling her she repulses him. She runs away and falls badly, and when she’s taken to the hospital she finds out she’s pregnant and probably will lose her baby. She asks the doctor not to tell his husband she hasn’t lost the baby and when she sees her husband she pretends she had a miscarriage. Then she flies away. Five years later the hero is called by a hospital: the heroine had an accident. He finds out she’s a son and thinks he’s not his. He spent five years regretting the way he treated her and looking for her. Now he wants her back, even if he thinks the child is not his son.
He eventually confess that he’s loved her all these years but he wanted his freedom (????) and was furious because he didn’t want to marry anyone at the time.
Ok, good book. Very angsty. What I liked:
-no mystery story here, few secondary characters: all the story is about the heroine and the hero.
-the child: nice and cute!
- when the hero finds out he’s a son and the heroine kept him hidden he’s not angry with her but with himself: he blames himself because he recognizes he treated her abominably and it was all his fault if she left him. He also blames himself for all the things she had to suffer without his help.
- he really tries to win her back with patience and care
- he was celibate for five years even if she left him
- he had five years of penance for the way he treated her, losing his son for all that time
- the angst level is very high
What I didn’t like
- he blames her for trapping him in the beginning, when he seduced her and was an experienced man of 35.
- soon after their marriage he leaves her and then rejects her, like a coward.
- he resents the 4 year old boy because he thinks he’s another man’s
- the reason for his awful behavior in the beginning is that he wanted his freedom. Coward immature bastard unable to behave like a real man
- he doesn’t have sex with her if she doesn’t tell him the truth about her child.
I loved this book, I think it’s one of dp best.
He eventually confess that he’s loved her all these years but he wanted his freedom (????) and was furious because he didn’t want to marry anyone at the time.
Ok, good book. Very angsty. What I liked:
-no mystery story here, few secondary characters: all the story is about the heroine and the hero.
-the child: nice and cute!
- when the hero finds out he’s a son and the heroine kept him hidden he’s not angry with her but with himself: he blames himself because he recognizes he treated her abominably and it was all his fault if she left him. He also blames himself for all the things she had to suffer without his help.
- he really tries to win her back with patience and care
- he was celibate for five years even if she left him
- he had five years of penance for the way he treated her, losing his son for all that time
- the angst level is very high
What I didn’t like
- he blames her for trapping him in the beginning, when he seduced her and was an experienced man of 35.
- soon after their marriage he leaves her and then rejects her, like a coward.
- he resents the 4 year old boy because he thinks he’s another man’s
- the reason for his awful behavior in the beginning is that he wanted his freedom. Coward immature bastard unable to behave like a real man
- he doesn’t have sex with her if she doesn’t tell him the truth about her child.
I loved this book, I think it’s one of dp best.
February 14, 2022
Diego the man who likes to cut off his nose to spite his face, and Melissa the fool who lends him the knife.
So far I have liked all DP's books from the mercenary series. This one perhaps not as much as others, but it was an enjoyable read. I though Diego was especially pig headed but he does a nice job being remorseful and groveling when the time comes.
There's no OW stuff except for comments now and then about his vast experience with the ladies over the years (before marrying Melissa).
She is 20 and he is 35 living on neighbouring estates in Guatemala. She's been raises like a nun and Diego is her only experience with men. He's dark and dangerous and years older, but he's still kind to her and appreciates her innocence. Of course they could never marry because of the bad history between their families.
Then one stormy afternoon after being chased by bandits, they let loose their passion and get caught by her father. Diego is sure she set it up to trap him and is hateful till just after the wedding when he leaves her alone with his family for a couple months. His grandmother is ridiculously awful and Diego's sister is not any better because she feels she must support her grandmother in being a mean, small minded shrew.
When Diego returns, Melissa tries to reach out to him but he is hateful some more and chases her till she falls down some steps running away from him. Of course now it occurs to him that he's gone to far...
BUT.
In classic HQ&DP style, he has lost her trust and Melissa is now determined to get away. She runs to America for 5 years until she is injured in a plane crash and Diego is her emergency contact. It was odd that a woman so down on her luck could afford to be on a plane in the first place... *shrug*.
Of course Diego brings her to his home in Chicago to heal, along with her son, Matthew whom he thinks is another man's child.
The second half of the book is them getting to know each other again but being too careful not to trust each other. Matthew is bewildered as to why Diego doesn't like him at first, but Diego can't resist the boy. In fact he does more to get to know Matthew than he does Melissa which kinda annoyed me. But he did look for her for years after she ran away.
I thought Melissa had a pretty good spine.
We never do meet his butthead sister and grandmother again,
Safety is good.
So far I have liked all DP's books from the mercenary series. This one perhaps not as much as others, but it was an enjoyable read. I though Diego was especially pig headed but he does a nice job being remorseful and groveling when the time comes.
There's no OW stuff except for comments now and then about his vast experience with the ladies over the years (before marrying Melissa).
She is 20 and he is 35 living on neighbouring estates in Guatemala. She's been raises like a nun and Diego is her only experience with men. He's dark and dangerous and years older, but he's still kind to her and appreciates her innocence. Of course they could never marry because of the bad history between their families.
Then one stormy afternoon after being chased by bandits, they let loose their passion and get caught by her father. Diego is sure she set it up to trap him and is hateful till just after the wedding when he leaves her alone with his family for a couple months. His grandmother is ridiculously awful and Diego's sister is not any better because she feels she must support her grandmother in being a mean, small minded shrew.
When Diego returns, Melissa tries to reach out to him but he is hateful some more and chases her till she falls down some steps running away from him. Of course now it occurs to him that he's gone to far...
BUT.
In classic HQ&DP style, he has lost her trust and Melissa is now determined to get away. She runs to America for 5 years until she is injured in a plane crash and Diego is her emergency contact. It was odd that a woman so down on her luck could afford to be on a plane in the first place... *shrug*.
Of course Diego brings her to his home in Chicago to heal, along with her son, Matthew whom he thinks is another man's child.
The second half of the book is them getting to know each other again but being too careful not to trust each other. Matthew is bewildered as to why Diego doesn't like him at first, but Diego can't resist the boy. In fact he does more to get to know Matthew than he does Melissa which kinda annoyed me. But he did look for her for years after she ran away.
I thought Melissa had a pretty good spine.
We never do meet his butthead sister and grandmother again,
Safety is good.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 18, 2013
Melissa is a very naive, very innocent girl who falls in love with Diego Laremos a brooding hard soldier. He sees her as a child but one night they end up in bed together and is forced to marry her. Their marriage is a very unhappy one. He hates Melissa for trapping him and she feels lonely and hurt living with Diego and his cruel grandmother. She abandons him despite her pregnancy but five years later Diego finds her and her son living in poverty and decides to take them under his protection without knowing that Matthew is his son.
I loved Melissa, Diego and little Matt. Heroine is fierce and I loved her spirit. Hero is cruel but vulnerable, he grovelled and he deserved a second chance with Melissa and their son. Big plus that both hero and heroine kept their wedding vows while they were apart!
I loved Melissa, Diego and little Matt. Heroine is fierce and I loved her spirit. Hero is cruel but vulnerable, he grovelled and he deserved a second chance with Melissa and their son. Big plus that both hero and heroine kept their wedding vows while they were apart!
October 21, 2019
So I got on the DP wagon ... after seeing that StM had read this one ... am on a DP bender right now ... *sigh* ...
Interesting reading ... all the usual DP tropes are there but her earlier books were much more fun to read as she didnt preach as much in them as she did the later ones ... but hey, I like DP's books and have read most of them ...
This was a reread ... enjoyed this and now am off to read the other 2 books in this series ...
Interesting reading ... all the usual DP tropes are there but her earlier books were much more fun to read as she didnt preach as much in them as she did the later ones ... but hey, I like DP's books and have read most of them ...
This was a reread ... enjoyed this and now am off to read the other 2 books in this series ...
July 17, 2021
Just what you would expect from DP. A hero who is a decade older than the heroine, yet still finds a way to blame her for all his bad choices. Despite it all, the angst was great, the H behaved like a jerk, the h has *some* backbone, and best of all--they were both celibate during their separation.
June 18, 2015
Fairly typical DP. Did like that the h in this one developed some pride and left the hero. Also, the fact that he was faithful to her during their years apart was nice.
August 8, 2013
Oh God. I can't ever express the intensity of my love for this one woman. *sob* I can't even - I just -
Okay okay, trying to calm down.
First of all, I'll talk about the Epilogue and how Palmer flashed back to five years ago in the first few chapters. I loved that, I loved feeling what they both (especially Melissa) felt and going through what they went through. Now this, ladies, is how you tell history.
The angst, pain and emotion in this story was perfect. I loved Diego, especially because of his asshole-ness, and I loved Melissa for her sweetness, and for standing up for herself. I loved that she wasn't a doormat either. And Matt was so adorable! I kept going 'Awwwwww' every time he spoke about himself in the third person. 'Mr Man doesn't like Matt.'
Diana Palmer writes emotion so well. And I love the smartass banter between the characters. I've laughed so many times because of the kickass stuff the heroines say to the heroes when they're being complete asses. The side characters' romance, Apollo and Joyce? Janice? (I'm awful with names) was really cute too. I prefer what she did in this book, give them a happy ending of their own in the same book, to what she usually does; give the characters a book of their own. The story usually drags then, so I liked what she did here.
This was a well-written, wonderful book, and like most other Diana Palmer books, I loved it so very much <3
Okay okay, trying to calm down.
First of all, I'll talk about the Epilogue and how Palmer flashed back to five years ago in the first few chapters. I loved that, I loved feeling what they both (especially Melissa) felt and going through what they went through. Now this, ladies, is how you tell history.
The angst, pain and emotion in this story was perfect. I loved Diego, especially because of his asshole-ness, and I loved Melissa for her sweetness, and for standing up for herself. I loved that she wasn't a doormat either. And Matt was so adorable! I kept going 'Awwwwww' every time he spoke about himself in the third person. 'Mr Man doesn't like Matt.'
Diana Palmer writes emotion so well. And I love the smartass banter between the characters. I've laughed so many times because of the kickass stuff the heroines say to the heroes when they're being complete asses. The side characters' romance, Apollo and Joyce? Janice? (I'm awful with names) was really cute too. I prefer what she did in this book, give them a happy ending of their own in the same book, to what she usually does; give the characters a book of their own. The story usually drags then, so I liked what she did here.
This was a well-written, wonderful book, and like most other Diana Palmer books, I loved it so very much <3
August 26, 2017
2,5.
Quería justificar los errores de este libro con el hecho de que fue escrito hace tanto tiempo, pero luego recordé que he leído libros tan viejos o más que estaban mucho mejor que este.
O soy yo la que tiene mal el libro o las conversaciones a veces ni tenían sentido. A veces parecía que estaban hablando pero se ignoraban mutuamente porque cada uno hablaba de una cosa.
La historia en si esta escrita de forma bastante infantil y ñoña... todo demasiado rápido, vista la mínima cantidad de páginas tampoco se podría pedir más ¿verdad?
Una historia demasiado dulce, pero válida para pasar el ratito
Quería justificar los errores de este libro con el hecho de que fue escrito hace tanto tiempo, pero luego recordé que he leído libros tan viejos o más que estaban mucho mejor que este.
O soy yo la que tiene mal el libro o las conversaciones a veces ni tenían sentido. A veces parecía que estaban hablando pero se ignoraban mutuamente porque cada uno hablaba de una cosa.
La historia en si esta escrita de forma bastante infantil y ñoña... todo demasiado rápido, vista la mínima cantidad de páginas tampoco se podría pedir más ¿verdad?
Una historia demasiado dulce, pero válida para pasar el ratito
January 3, 2021
Pretty boring, actually. H was only moderately cruel. Plot moppet was a bit creepy.
January 18, 2016
Poor her he really did not deserve her! She was an angel who feel for a hard ass mercenary. He only did the right thing reluctantly and she just suffered in silence. God it's not fair she had to put up with his bullshit. However the fact that he was faithful made up for a lot for me and that he was tortured by the fact that her child was he thinks not his. It is and he does love her. Sweet ending.
April 2, 2017
"Enamored" is the bittersweet love story of Diego and Melissa.
When Diego receives a call that is estranged wife Melissa has been in an accident and he has the power of attorney regarding her surgery, he unwillingly rushes to her side.
Years ago she "trapped" him into marriage and fled later. He's never been able to find her since even in remorse.
Meeting her he realizes she has a son, never suspecting it is his because she lies about his age.
The book is them rediscovering each other, their love, the passionate feelings, the past and finally becoming a family. Loved the Spanish influence and the way he fell for Jake, slowly and steadily.
Slow burn for this one. I honestly felt bad for the heroine but she was a powerful, determined lady but a child at heart and kudos for that. The hero also gave in and didn't make me hate him much.
Enjoyed it with a sweet epilogue.
Safe
4/5
When Diego receives a call that is estranged wife Melissa has been in an accident and he has the power of attorney regarding her surgery, he unwillingly rushes to her side.
Years ago she "trapped" him into marriage and fled later. He's never been able to find her since even in remorse.
Meeting her he realizes she has a son, never suspecting it is his because she lies about his age.
The book is them rediscovering each other, their love, the passionate feelings, the past and finally becoming a family. Loved the Spanish influence and the way he fell for Jake, slowly and steadily.
Slow burn for this one. I honestly felt bad for the heroine but she was a powerful, determined lady but a child at heart and kudos for that. The hero also gave in and didn't make me hate him much.
Enjoyed it with a sweet epilogue.
Safe
4/5
August 14, 2021
Tanto tiempo perdido por culpa de Diego, que manera de desperdiciar el tiempo. Aunque falto mucha comunicación por parte de los dos, me estaban desquiciando con lo que creían que pensaba el otro..
December 13, 2011
First time reading this author and it was just okay. I hated Diego the first half of the book, he was such a dick. His pride meant more than anything to him and the way he blamed Melissa for trapping him. He's 30 years old, she's a 20 year old virgin and he was trapped? She'd always had a crush on him. He was the sexual aggressor. And then after being forced to marry her, he's gone for six weeks, leaving her to his bitter grandmother and pussy sister who would leave the room whenever she entered telling her how much they despise her. When he finally comes back, he tells her she repulses him. Is it any wonder why she left him?
I just couldn't get beyond all of the shit he said and pulled in the beginning of the book enough to like him for the 2nd half. I have about 5 of her books, but I'm not sure if I'll keep reading them or sell them. On the fence.
I just couldn't get beyond all of the shit he said and pulled in the beginning of the book enough to like him for the 2nd half. I have about 5 of her books, but I'm not sure if I'll keep reading them or sell them. On the fence.
May 21, 2013
More like playing push and pull.
Melissa's been in love with Diego since forever. But her family and Diego's aren't in best relationship. Until one night that changed everything? Diego had to marry Melissa and he hate her for it, because he thought that Melissa trapped her. Melissa's devastated because act of hatred is around her so she left. But five years later, there's a little boy..
I don't think this is my favorite. Diego's too harsh and I know I know he's sorry for it, but if it was me, I'd put fire ants inside his pants.
And I don't know but, Melissa's far too forgiving. She needs to, at least,playing hard to get. I mean, he treated her like shit right? Argh! Frustating!
But still, I always love when the Hero's begging for forgiveness. It's very.. fun to watch. Or in this case, to read. :)
Melissa's been in love with Diego since forever. But her family and Diego's aren't in best relationship. Until one night that changed everything? Diego had to marry Melissa and he hate her for it, because he thought that Melissa trapped her. Melissa's devastated because act of hatred is around her so she left. But five years later, there's a little boy..
I don't think this is my favorite. Diego's too harsh and I know I know he's sorry for it, but if it was me, I'd put fire ants inside his pants.
And I don't know but, Melissa's far too forgiving. She needs to, at least,playing hard to get. I mean, he treated her like shit right? Argh! Frustating!
But still, I always love when the Hero's begging for forgiveness. It's very.. fun to watch. Or in this case, to read. :)
June 11, 2017
Read it again, couldn't believe the racism. A West Indian accent? There are several countries in the West Indies with really different accents. What the hell is a Ladino? A Latino maybe, but Latinos come in all shapes, sizes and colors. Not just brown as Diana Palmer assumes. I'm Latina, I'm white, dark blonde and have hazel eyes. And don't even get me started with the description of Guatemala. It's very Mr and Mrs Smith when they put Bogotá in the middle of a rainforest.
May 5, 2020
Hay libros malos y luego está esto que adquiere un nuevo nivel. Tampoco ha ayudado que mi edición fuera pésima pero aunque hubiera sido mejor no creo que nada pudiera salvarlo.
Le doy una estrella porque no puedo darle menos. No sé cómo he conseguido leerlo entero.
Le doy una estrella porque no puedo darle menos. No sé cómo he conseguido leerlo entero.
July 9, 2015
It was such a beautiful book. I cried from Chapter 1! Definitely deserves 5 stars in my book.
dnf
February 14, 2024DNF @ 54%
I was really turned off by all the terms of endearment.
pequeña
chica
niña - Please don't.
little one
adorada
querida
señora - Excuse me? 🤨
I know I missed a few more.
Maybe it's because I'm a Spanish speaker (I'm Mexican) that I'm highly critical of how characters speak Spanish. It rarely comes off natural and makes me cringe. When the heroine said "delicioso" I instantly thought of Dora the Explorer. I heard her voice in my head.
But seriously, it felt like the author was trying too hard with the terms of endearment. These were all used within a chapter or two. It was grating. Niña? Eww, the hero calling the heroine that doesn't sound right; it's a total miss in Spanish. And calling your own wife "señora" is just offensive LOL I tried to ignore this issue, tho.
The real reason I'm DNFing is because I'm getting bored. There's no angst for me. I read it for the secret baby trope but it's not working out. The first part was interesting enough, dramatic even, but it has lost steam. I'm losing my patience with these two characters. Actually, I'm not sure I've warmed up to the hero yet. She's okay but perhaps too passive. Lastly, why did their son speak in 3rd person? Lydia was perplexed. Anyhoo, I'm ready to throw in the towel.
I was really turned off by all the terms of endearment.
pequeña
chica
niña - Please don't.
little one
adorada
querida
señora - Excuse me? 🤨
I know I missed a few more.
Maybe it's because I'm a Spanish speaker (I'm Mexican) that I'm highly critical of how characters speak Spanish. It rarely comes off natural and makes me cringe. When the heroine said "delicioso" I instantly thought of Dora the Explorer. I heard her voice in my head.
But seriously, it felt like the author was trying too hard with the terms of endearment. These were all used within a chapter or two. It was grating. Niña? Eww, the hero calling the heroine that doesn't sound right; it's a total miss in Spanish. And calling your own wife "señora" is just offensive LOL I tried to ignore this issue, tho.
The real reason I'm DNFing is because I'm getting bored. There's no angst for me. I read it for the secret baby trope but it's not working out. The first part was interesting enough, dramatic even, but it has lost steam. I'm losing my patience with these two characters. Actually, I'm not sure I've warmed up to the hero yet. She's okay but perhaps too passive. Lastly, why did their son speak in 3rd person? Lydia was perplexed. Anyhoo, I'm ready to throw in the towel.
March 6, 2019
Loved this book Melissa Sterling has always loved Diego Laremos since so was young there is a fifteen year age difference between them. He always fought his feelings for her until they where in a compromising position and her dad caught them they get married because of it but it is not a happy marriage his family hates her and one day she leaves after she was hurt and in the hospital he thinks she lost their baby but that wasn't the case she was scared they would take her baby. So when she gets hurt and needs him things change he thinks the baby belongs to someone else even though they are still married once they start working on their marriage things work out for both of them
January 14, 2024
Angsty,a true DP original...
January 2, 2018
rilettura, riconfermate stelline!!!
August 29, 2021
I love my May/December Romances (15 years).
The story opens with the now 25 year old h(Melissa)in a hospital room and the 40 year old H(Diego)is seeing her for the first time in 5 years. The h ran away from her and even though he was a mercenary with many connections, he was unable to locate her. After this initial set up, the story goes back in time to tell the reader the background. So the last time the H saw the h she was in hospital, and now here she is in hospital again after a plane crash. Torn ligaments in her leg and she lost an ovary(but still has a functioning one for future heirs). The H was contacted when the hospital found the h’s marriage certificate in her purse(I hope to hell , she doesn’t carry her social security card as well, this is like identify theft walking!) The H decides he will take care of the h and then finds out she has a son. This causes him anger as he was celibate during the separation. When he goes to get her things from her shabby apartment, he finds a photo she took of him years ago. He leaves it untouched but has hope that she may care for him still. He takes her and the kid Matt to Chicago where he works for one of his mercenary buddies. From here the story is learning how to love and trust again. Matt knows “the man” doesn’t like him, but eventually the H warms up to the kid. Many people assume he is the father, because wouldn’t you know it, the kid looks like him.
The H does discover that the kid is his after all by things the son says, and he also sends away for the birth certificate(he should have looked in the h’s purse first). However, he doesn’t tell the h he knows because he wants it to come from her. The h discovers the certificate in one of the H’s drawers, so now she knows he knows but doesn’t tell him. 
Meanwhile the h strikes up a friendship with the secretary of one of the H’s friends. She tells her the whole story and the friend tells about her unrequited love with H’s friend. So they embark on makeovers to make their men stand up and notice. It works in the end. The h and H have their avowals of love with the H even telling her as much as he loves his son, it is nothing compared to how much he loves her(at least this lets her know he isn’t being a good husband because of the heir only) Plus the little side story of the friend and the H’s friend get a happy ending as well. I’m not sure why they didn’t get their own book. I think all the other mercenaries did, but oh well.
So this DP satisfied my need for a cruel hero, angst, and an age gap. Our h was pretty strong as well. She wasn’t going to settle for a abuse or a loveless marriage. She basically told the h she was the one doing all the work and that’s just not good enough. I suspect these two will go on to have more children and live happily ever after. I am not sure how long they have however, because the guy smokes an awful lot of cheroots.
Really, Fred? Really???
The story opens with the now 25 year old h(Melissa)in a hospital room and the 40 year old H(Diego)is seeing her for the first time in 5 years. The h ran away from her and even though he was a mercenary with many connections, he was unable to locate her. After this initial set up, the story goes back in time to tell the reader the background. So the last time the H saw the h she was in hospital, and now here she is in hospital again after a plane crash. Torn ligaments in her leg and she lost an ovary(but still has a functioning one for future heirs). The H was contacted when the hospital found the h’s marriage certificate in her purse(I hope to hell , she doesn’t carry her social security card as well, this is like identify theft walking!) The H decides he will take care of the h and then finds out she has a son. This causes him anger as he was celibate during the separation. When he goes to get her things from her shabby apartment, he finds a photo she took of him years ago. He leaves it untouched but has hope that she may care for him still. He takes her and the kid Matt to Chicago where he works for one of his mercenary buddies. From here the story is learning how to love and trust again. Matt knows “the man” doesn’t like him, but eventually the H warms up to the kid. Many people assume he is the father, because wouldn’t you know it, the kid looks like him.
The H does discover that the kid is his after all by things the son says, and he also sends away for the birth certificate(he should have looked in the h’s purse first). However, he doesn’t tell the h he knows because he wants it to come from her. The h discovers the certificate in one of the H’s drawers, so now she knows he knows but doesn’t tell him. Meanwhile the h strikes up a friendship with the secretary of one of the H’s friends. She tells her the whole story and the friend tells about her unrequited love with H’s friend. So they embark on makeovers to make their men stand up and notice. It works in the end. The h and H have their avowals of love with the H even telling her as much as he loves his son, it is nothing compared to how much he loves her(at least this lets her know he isn’t being a good husband because of the heir only) Plus the little side story of the friend and the H’s friend get a happy ending as well. I’m not sure why they didn’t get their own book. I think all the other mercenaries did, but oh well. So this DP satisfied my need for a cruel hero, angst, and an age gap. Our h was pretty strong as well. She wasn’t going to settle for a abuse or a loveless marriage. She basically told the h she was the one doing all the work and that’s just not good enough. I suspect these two will go on to have more children and live happily ever after. I am not sure how long they have however, because the guy smokes an awful lot of cheroots.
Really, Fred? Really???
September 13, 2018
What a rollercoaster of not much. Love how the hero blames the heroine for 'trapping' him. Uhhh you are a bit older fella, you were the one to suggest sex to a girl who is in worship love with you! So man up and take some responsibility. Hero put ther heroine through the ringer and is surprised she won't trust him? Yeah dude, your family and you hate her. Hey, if your family was insulted by hers....why are you hanging around her anyway? Tempting fate much? But I completely understand why she did what she did and why she didn't cop to it, she had no reason to think 'hmmm he was celibate all the time we were apart, he felt guilty, he wanted me and my baby'. Nope, none, no reason to believe that. They talked a few times about 'divorce not being an option' cause of their religion, then chop chop to church kids, then I will believe you. Liked the fighting between the other couple shoved in there, they lifted the story out of the gloom and moodiness all around. He, so so I'd say. Hero wasn't too great and the heroine couldn't do anything cause she was injured.
January 9, 2015
Update: Re-read in January 2015
February 24, 2014
LOVED IT! The hero wasn't like the usual jerks the heroes of this author turn out to be...
Overall, 5+++ stars! One of my favorites by this author!:)
A definite keeper!!!
Overall, 5+++ stars! One of my favorites by this author!:)
A definite keeper!!!
May 18, 2014
An emotionally charged read....the hero is a jerk in the beginning but once he realized he lost the best thing in his life he starts to change into a decent human being that can love.
July 10, 2021
4 solid stars!
Melissa, 20 y/o, had been fan girling Diego, his neighbor, ever since she could remember. Due to their families' history (and hostility), she tried to hide her fascination of him.
For Diego, being 12 years her senior, made an effort to put aside his physical attraction to this young one.
An incident brought them together and lo and behold, they had sex. To protect his family's honor, Diego was forced to marry her. Before long, resentment descended and he distanced himself from her, blaming her for trapping him into a marriage he did not wish. He treated her badly, even when she tried to reach out to him. He pushed her away, even telling her she repulsed him. Hurt and humiliated, she ran, fell and found herself in a hospital with the doctor telling her she almost lost her baby. Terrified that Diego's family would take her baby away, she led him believe the baby was lost.
And feeling lost and alone, Melissa ran away.
Fast forward 5 years later, Diego received a phone call asking him for a permission to operate his wife who had survived a plane accident. He was in for a surprise, not only at finally able to see his missing wife, but a boy who looked a lot like him. Was he? Nah ... Melissa must had had an affair. So he treated her abominably. Anyways, you read the rest.
I loved the angst. It was an interesting read. I usually don't love such age - gaps between the couple but since the storyline was solid, I gave it a go. And am glad I did.
I loved the way the heroine was able to put off her feelings and tried to push the hero away for the hurt he caused. (Groveling) ... Yes, I love grovelings. So ... nice weekend read overall.
Melissa, 20 y/o, had been fan girling Diego, his neighbor, ever since she could remember. Due to their families' history (and hostility), she tried to hide her fascination of him.
For Diego, being 12 years her senior, made an effort to put aside his physical attraction to this young one.
An incident brought them together and lo and behold, they had sex. To protect his family's honor, Diego was forced to marry her. Before long, resentment descended and he distanced himself from her, blaming her for trapping him into a marriage he did not wish. He treated her badly, even when she tried to reach out to him. He pushed her away, even telling her she repulsed him. Hurt and humiliated, she ran, fell and found herself in a hospital with the doctor telling her she almost lost her baby. Terrified that Diego's family would take her baby away, she led him believe the baby was lost.
And feeling lost and alone, Melissa ran away.
Fast forward 5 years later, Diego received a phone call asking him for a permission to operate his wife who had survived a plane accident. He was in for a surprise, not only at finally able to see his missing wife, but a boy who looked a lot like him. Was he? Nah ... Melissa must had had an affair. So he treated her abominably. Anyways, you read the rest.
I loved the angst. It was an interesting read. I usually don't love such age - gaps between the couple but since the storyline was solid, I gave it a go. And am glad I did.
I loved the way the heroine was able to put off her feelings and tried to push the hero away for the hurt he caused. (Groveling) ... Yes, I love grovelings. So ... nice weekend read overall.
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