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It's Complicated #4
Sweeter Than Revenge
Was Maria Johnson a pampered princess who relied on her good looks and her daddy's money? You betcha! But when her father cut off her funds and ordered her to become an executive assistant at his firm, Maria was forced to make her new position work. Until she met her new boss—the gorgeous man who'd broken her heart four years ago. How was she supposed to work with David Hunt?
Not with—for, David kept reminding her. He was back in Maria's life for one reason only, R-E-V-E-N-G-E! And he knew the sweetest way to get it, too.…
Not with—for, David kept reminding her. He was back in Maria's life for one reason only, R-E-V-E-N-G-E! And he knew the sweetest way to get it, too.…
288 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2008
21 people are currently reading
86 people want to read
About the author
Ann Christopher
59 books248 followersA recovering lawyer, Ann Christopher has been published since 2006 and writes steamy contemporary romance.
When she’s not writing, Ann likes to do the following, in no particular order: read; cook; eat; hang out at Target looking for new stuff she doesn’t need; play with her 2 rescue dogs
and 2 rescue cats; and travel the world with her family. She lives in Ohio.
If you’d like to recommend a great new TV show or share a recipe for homemade cake of any kind, Ann would love to hear from you!
Stay in touch with Ann!
AnnChristopher.com
ann@annchristopher.co
When she’s not writing, Ann likes to do the following, in no particular order: read; cook; eat; hang out at Target looking for new stuff she doesn’t need; play with her 2 rescue dogs
and 2 rescue cats; and travel the world with her family. She lives in Ohio.
If you’d like to recommend a great new TV show or share a recipe for homemade cake of any kind, Ann would love to hear from you!
Stay in touch with Ann!
AnnChristopher.com
ann@annchristopher.co
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
September 16, 2010
Not enough revenge (as the book jacket implies) and too much vague communication causing conflict.
It started out pretty good, but as the story progressed I found myself liking it less. The author relied on inaccurate assumptions and vague communication to create the major conflicts, which bothered me. There are other creative and intelligent ways to separate the couple. There was also a little too much pondering in the minds about prior and current feelings, fears and what if he/she hurts me again.
Story brief: Maria is a pampered rich girl. Her father Ellis hires David for the summer. He and Maria fall in love, but David leaves her to finish grad school, working on his MBA. A few months later, she marries George. Later, she and George divorce. Four years later, David returns to work full time for Ellis. Ellis cuts off Maria’s funds and forces her to work at his firm for David, to teach her skills through work and responsibility. David was hurt by her marriage four years earlier and looks forward to getting revenge against Maria through work.
CAUTION SPOILERS:
The major plot event was revenge. I was hoping for a lot of good revenge events, but the revenge lasted less than 24 hours. Her first day at work was humiliating and painful for her, but by the second day, David had changed his tune and was supportive rather than revengeful.
A second major plot event was why they broke up four years earlier. David was supposed to have one last evening with Maria before he returned to school. He cancelled their date, saying he was going back earlier. She said she loved him. Although he loved her he never said so. He just said “I’ll be back.” He never said when he would return. He never called or emailed after he left. She assumed he didn’t want her anymore. She wouldn’t eat, lost weight, was miserable and married George. I didn’t buy it. Lovers are open. They talk to each other. No phone calls or emails? He later explains to Maria that he went back to school a day earlier because “I needed to get away from you before I got so obsessed that I didn’t care about school.” What???? He knows she loves him, so why can’t he say something like the following? “I’m desperate for you, and I’m afraid it might hurt my studies. I need to concentrate on school, and I fear phone calls will distract me from my studies and will be too painful because I’ll want to be with you. Can you be patient and wait for me while I finish my schooling, and then I’ll come back for you?” She would have said yes.
After one day of revenge and a few more days of working together, Maria and David have sex. She tells him she loves him. A few hours later, her father tells Maria that David is wealthy now. Maria breaks up with David, saying he should have told her he was wealthy immediately after they had sex. Because he didn’t tell her right away, she felt he did not trust her. This was just a few hours after the beginning of their new relationship. She was mad that he didn’t blurt out everything about him that she might not know right away? Then he proposes the next day, and she immediately says yes. This was no fun. I felt this was a cheap way of creating conflict and resolving it.
Lost opportunity: Ellis takes Maria’s car away from her. She has limited funds and plans to buy an inexpensive car. David offers to help her, saying men can usually negotiate better deals then women, but she refuses his help. To David’s and Ellis’s surprise, she purchases a cool car, and they wished they knew how she did it. As a reader, I wanted to know the details as well. The author led me to believe she outmaneuvered and out-negotiated the salesman. The author told and didn’t show it. This could have been a good scene.
Story length: 277 pages. Sexual language: moderate. Number of sex scenes: four. Total number of sex scene pages: 13. Setting: current day Cincinnati, Ohio. Copyright: 2008. Genre: African-American contemporary romance.
It started out pretty good, but as the story progressed I found myself liking it less. The author relied on inaccurate assumptions and vague communication to create the major conflicts, which bothered me. There are other creative and intelligent ways to separate the couple. There was also a little too much pondering in the minds about prior and current feelings, fears and what if he/she hurts me again.
Story brief: Maria is a pampered rich girl. Her father Ellis hires David for the summer. He and Maria fall in love, but David leaves her to finish grad school, working on his MBA. A few months later, she marries George. Later, she and George divorce. Four years later, David returns to work full time for Ellis. Ellis cuts off Maria’s funds and forces her to work at his firm for David, to teach her skills through work and responsibility. David was hurt by her marriage four years earlier and looks forward to getting revenge against Maria through work.
CAUTION SPOILERS:
The major plot event was revenge. I was hoping for a lot of good revenge events, but the revenge lasted less than 24 hours. Her first day at work was humiliating and painful for her, but by the second day, David had changed his tune and was supportive rather than revengeful.
A second major plot event was why they broke up four years earlier. David was supposed to have one last evening with Maria before he returned to school. He cancelled their date, saying he was going back earlier. She said she loved him. Although he loved her he never said so. He just said “I’ll be back.” He never said when he would return. He never called or emailed after he left. She assumed he didn’t want her anymore. She wouldn’t eat, lost weight, was miserable and married George. I didn’t buy it. Lovers are open. They talk to each other. No phone calls or emails? He later explains to Maria that he went back to school a day earlier because “I needed to get away from you before I got so obsessed that I didn’t care about school.” What???? He knows she loves him, so why can’t he say something like the following? “I’m desperate for you, and I’m afraid it might hurt my studies. I need to concentrate on school, and I fear phone calls will distract me from my studies and will be too painful because I’ll want to be with you. Can you be patient and wait for me while I finish my schooling, and then I’ll come back for you?” She would have said yes.
After one day of revenge and a few more days of working together, Maria and David have sex. She tells him she loves him. A few hours later, her father tells Maria that David is wealthy now. Maria breaks up with David, saying he should have told her he was wealthy immediately after they had sex. Because he didn’t tell her right away, she felt he did not trust her. This was just a few hours after the beginning of their new relationship. She was mad that he didn’t blurt out everything about him that she might not know right away? Then he proposes the next day, and she immediately says yes. This was no fun. I felt this was a cheap way of creating conflict and resolving it.
Lost opportunity: Ellis takes Maria’s car away from her. She has limited funds and plans to buy an inexpensive car. David offers to help her, saying men can usually negotiate better deals then women, but she refuses his help. To David’s and Ellis’s surprise, she purchases a cool car, and they wished they knew how she did it. As a reader, I wanted to know the details as well. The author led me to believe she outmaneuvered and out-negotiated the salesman. The author told and didn’t show it. This could have been a good scene.
Story length: 277 pages. Sexual language: moderate. Number of sex scenes: four. Total number of sex scene pages: 13. Setting: current day Cincinnati, Ohio. Copyright: 2008. Genre: African-American contemporary romance.
July 12, 2020
Fantastic
This book had me so intrigued I could not put it down. The characters were interesting. Ana was something else! Uppity and funny!
I have read the majority of your books and you have kept my interest!!! I give them all five stars. Keep them coming! You have the best characters and storylines.
Thank you for these books. Makes the days go by much better due to this pandemic!!! You are definitely one of my favorite authors. So glad I came across your books.
This book had me so intrigued I could not put it down. The characters were interesting. Ana was something else! Uppity and funny!
I have read the majority of your books and you have kept my interest!!! I give them all five stars. Keep them coming! You have the best characters and storylines.
Thank you for these books. Makes the days go by much better due to this pandemic!!! You are definitely one of my favorite authors. So glad I came across your books.
March 20, 2023
Lazy Sunday reading
I thought, what can I read that entertaining, beguiling, engaging, hilarious and witty? Well my mind scrolled my Goodreads list and immediately thought, this author will give my mind what it desires. Her comparison saying make me laugh out loud!
The storyline was exhilarating and enjoyable.
I thought, what can I read that entertaining, beguiling, engaging, hilarious and witty? Well my mind scrolled my Goodreads list and immediately thought, this author will give my mind what it desires. Her comparison saying make me laugh out loud!
The storyline was exhilarating and enjoyable.
September 16, 2019
Love it!
I enjoyed this book the most of the four. I did not think I would since it was supposed to be about a spoiled rich girl but her character was much better than advertised and she turned into a strong female character.
I loved how they found their way
I enjoyed this book the most of the four. I did not think I would since it was supposed to be about a spoiled rich girl but her character was much better than advertised and she turned into a strong female character.
I loved how they found their way
May 12, 2019
Spoiled brat turns out okay. A
This was a funny, charming romp through a fantasy lifestyle. I loved Maria and David. I even liked Anastasia finally.
This was a funny, charming romp through a fantasy lifestyle. I loved Maria and David. I even liked Anastasia finally.
February 3, 2014
I could not finish it.
April 6, 2017
A wonderful visit!!
I still love this read . And I truly grateful that the author was able to revisit her oldie and put in a little additions for us fans .
My advice if you have read the original story , please this update you will be so please.
And my wish to the author
Can you please do the same for "Campaign for seduction"
You #1 fan
Karen
I still love this read . And I truly grateful that the author was able to revisit her oldie and put in a little additions for us fans .
My advice if you have read the original story , please this update you will be so please.
And my wish to the author
Can you please do the same for "Campaign for seduction"
You #1 fan
Karen
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews