What do you think?
Rate this book
Sealed with a Kiss #7
Angels Do Have Wings
Angels Do Have Wings by Helen Brooks released on Jul 25, 1995 is available now for purchase.
187 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 1994
14 people are currently reading
103 people want to read
About the author
Helen Brooks
405 books119 followersRita Bradshaw was born on 1949 in Northampton, England, where she was educated as a good Christian. She met Clive, her husband, at the age of 16 andnow the magic is still there. They have three lovely children, Cara, Faye, and Benjamin, and have always had a menagerie of animals in the house, which at the present is confined to two endearing and very comical dogs who would make a great double act on TV! The children, friends, and pets all keep the house buzzing and the food cupboards empty but Helen wouldn't have it any other way. She still lives today in Northampton with her family. Although having enjoyed some wonderful holidays abroad she has never been tempted to live anywhere else, although she rather likes the idea of a holiday home close to the sea one day.
Being a committed Christian and fervent animal lover she finds spare time is always at a premium, but long walks in the countryside with her husband and dogs, meals out followed by the cinema or theatre, reading, swimming, and having friends over for dinner are all fitted in somehow. She also enjoys sitting in her wonderfully therapeutic, rambling old garden in the sun with a glass of red wine, (under the guise of resting while thinking of course!)
For years, she was a secretary. She began writing in 1990 as she approached that milestone of a birthday 40! She realized her two teenage ambitions (writing a novel and learning to drive) had been lost amid babies and hectic family life, so set about resurrecting them.
Her first novel was for Mills and Boon and was accepted after one rewrite in 1992 as Helen Brooks, and she passed her driving test (the former was a joy and the latter an unmitigated nightmare!) She has written 50 novels as well as several sagas as Rita Bradshaw.
Since becoming a full-time writer she has found her occupation one of pure joy and often surprised when her characters develop a mind of their own but she loves exploring what makes people tick and finds the old adage "truth is stranger than fiction" to be absolutely true. She would love to hear from any readers care of Mills & Boon.
Being a committed Christian and fervent animal lover she finds spare time is always at a premium, but long walks in the countryside with her husband and dogs, meals out followed by the cinema or theatre, reading, swimming, and having friends over for dinner are all fitted in somehow. She also enjoys sitting in her wonderfully therapeutic, rambling old garden in the sun with a glass of red wine, (under the guise of resting while thinking of course!)
For years, she was a secretary. She began writing in 1990 as she approached that milestone of a birthday 40! She realized her two teenage ambitions (writing a novel and learning to drive) had been lost amid babies and hectic family life, so set about resurrecting them.
Her first novel was for Mills and Boon and was accepted after one rewrite in 1992 as Helen Brooks, and she passed her driving test (the former was a joy and the latter an unmitigated nightmare!) She has written 50 novels as well as several sagas as Rita Bradshaw.
Since becoming a full-time writer she has found her occupation one of pure joy and often surprised when her characters develop a mind of their own but she loves exploring what makes people tick and finds the old adage "truth is stranger than fiction" to be absolutely true. She would love to hear from any readers care of Mills & Boon.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
December 10, 2017
He is arrogant.
He is a lady-killer.
He is a star heart surgeon.
He keeps brandy in the glove compartment.
Meet Dr. Hunter Ryan, as good a HPlandia hero as they come.
Helen Brooks' Angels do have wings is quite a delicious tidbit, with an obsessed, possessive, mine-mine-mine Alpha hero who is besotted with the heroine from Day 1 and hides his soft marshmallow heart under a derisive, hard as steel, jaded exterior. My favorite kind of HP hero!
There is no dangling of OW (though an OM wanna be hangs around for the sheer joy of making our hero seethe). Some punishing kisses and groping but nothing too over-the-line, at least for a vintage harlequin.
Our heroine has a good spine on her. No leaky jellyblob mess for her, she keeps it quite contained and gives the hero a few epic setdowns that had me chuckling.
I didn't like the use of a plot moppet who is conveniently diagnosed with a heart condition to bring the two of them together.
I was also kinda bummed that heroine's original dreams of going to medical school, which is talked about briefly in the beginning, just completely vanished amidst the pure joy and ecstasy of becoming a doctor's wife *eye roll*
What made me most uneasy though was his statement that he was "relieved" when his wife and baby died on the operating table twenty years ago because he wasn't ready then to be a husband and father. I really hope all he meant by it was survivor's guilt and he just put his foot in his mouth.
Yup, you read that correctly. He was married twenty years before meeting the heroine, when she herself was just a baby. That is QUITE a gap so if that gives you the cringes, stay away. Otherwise, enjoy a very readable, humorous, swoon worthy romance :)
He is a lady-killer.
He is a star heart surgeon.
He keeps brandy in the glove compartment.
Meet Dr. Hunter Ryan, as good a HPlandia hero as they come.
Helen Brooks' Angels do have wings is quite a delicious tidbit, with an obsessed, possessive, mine-mine-mine Alpha hero who is besotted with the heroine from Day 1 and hides his soft marshmallow heart under a derisive, hard as steel, jaded exterior. My favorite kind of HP hero!
There is no dangling of OW (though an OM wanna be hangs around for the sheer joy of making our hero seethe). Some punishing kisses and groping but nothing too over-the-line, at least for a vintage harlequin.
Our heroine has a good spine on her. No leaky jellyblob mess for her, she keeps it quite contained and gives the hero a few epic setdowns that had me chuckling.
I didn't like the use of a plot moppet who is conveniently diagnosed with a heart condition to bring the two of them together.
I was also kinda bummed that heroine's original dreams of going to medical school, which is talked about briefly in the beginning, just completely vanished amidst the pure joy and ecstasy of becoming a doctor's wife *eye roll*
What made me most uneasy though was his statement that he was "relieved" when his wife and baby died on the operating table twenty years ago because he wasn't ready then to be a husband and father. I really hope all he meant by it was survivor's guilt and he just put his foot in his mouth.
Yup, you read that correctly. He was married twenty years before meeting the heroine, when she herself was just a baby. That is QUITE a gap so if that gives you the cringes, stay away. Otherwise, enjoy a very readable, humorous, swoon worthy romance :)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 28, 2021
Ay caramba! Pages 199-200 are smoking with naughty talk but spare us a long list of what one body part is going to do to another with alarming force and frequency if you know what I mean, Sam Crescent, Alexa Riley…
Anyhoo… THE REVIEW
The h is raising her little brother after losing both parents 18 months ago. She’s all on her own; she’s tiny and pretty feisty. So feisty she takes on the H when she thinks he’s being a jackass. He is being a jackass, but in part because the little brother ran out in front of his, eye roll, Ferrari or whatever, and almost got run over.
They meet up at the doctor’s office where she works, and he’s in as a consultant muckety-muck heart surgeon. They throw verbal daggers at each other, but he’s in the throes of some big time, humongous, epic insta-lust. Over the next couple of encounters he makes it quite clear he wants to be the yang to her yin. She’s a good girl she is so her yin isn’t interested in anything other than a longterm love affair with anyone’s yang, but she realizes she has the hots for the doc.
Trope alert when the sweet little brother almost dies of an undiagnosed heart condition. What a lucky coincidence that Dr. Insta-lust is a heart surgeon. Hemaneuvers gets them to London, puts the boy in the hospital and ups the Rico Suave moves on the h. First, she tosses out a lesser mortal swain as a love shield then she commits the ultimate mea culpa, and tells the H she loves him.
Failure to communicate and stupidly stubborn behavior on the part of both, but, hurray, the h holds hard to her ideal that simply falling in bed so the H can notch his bedpost one more time is just not right for her.
The H makes a big play for the h and throws it all on the line. He can move on from his first tragic then shallow past and be the man he was meant to be. I made that part up, but that’s the gist.
The heroine may be little but she’s a force of nature. The H is a jerk, but he’s an older and sometimes charming jerk with some major player moves so it's fun to see him turn into lovestruck sucker.
For what’s it’s worth, this story was full of some fun Tropes (some only British) I love but make me roll my eyes.
1. Brandy for shock. In all my mumble-five years I have not had one person offer me brandy for shock. My husband even got a Coke out of my gynecologist for almost passing out at an emergency ultrasound, but me NADA.
2. Over-zealous concern and medical care for the following: coffee, tea or other hot water burns or cut fingers. Just suck on it. I mean literally.
3. Coffee at night. I guess the H and h cancel out the caffeine with mega doses of melatonin.
4. Dressing for dinner. I love it!!!!! Preferably something in chiffon and if it pre-dates 1985, blouson.
5. Velvet jackets for the men. Yum
5. Silk shirt are a BIG NO!!!!! HUGE.
6. Italian cars rule even in jolly olde England. Ferrari’s, Lamborghini’s, Maserati, but never Bentley’s, Rolls Royce and the car to trump them all, the Aston Martin. And love laughs at the French autos. Yeah, a 6’ 4” Greek tycoon is going to unwind out of a Citroen. I don’t think so.
7. Virginal heroines live in messy and vine covered cottages.
9. Men (British) that have an old school club they can go to for dinner, cards, MORE brandy, and even sleep.
Anyhoo… THE REVIEW
The h is raising her little brother after losing both parents 18 months ago. She’s all on her own; she’s tiny and pretty feisty. So feisty she takes on the H when she thinks he’s being a jackass. He is being a jackass, but in part because the little brother ran out in front of his, eye roll, Ferrari or whatever, and almost got run over.
They meet up at the doctor’s office where she works, and he’s in as a consultant muckety-muck heart surgeon. They throw verbal daggers at each other, but he’s in the throes of some big time, humongous, epic insta-lust. Over the next couple of encounters he makes it quite clear he wants to be the yang to her yin. She’s a good girl she is so her yin isn’t interested in anything other than a longterm love affair with anyone’s yang, but she realizes she has the hots for the doc.
Trope alert when the sweet little brother almost dies of an undiagnosed heart condition. What a lucky coincidence that Dr. Insta-lust is a heart surgeon. He
Failure to communicate and stupidly stubborn behavior on the part of both, but, hurray, the h holds hard to her ideal that simply falling in bed so the H can notch his bedpost one more time is just not right for her.
The H makes a big play for the h and throws it all on the line. He can move on from his first tragic then shallow past and be the man he was meant to be. I made that part up, but that’s the gist.
The heroine may be little but she’s a force of nature. The H is a jerk, but he’s an older and sometimes charming jerk with some major player moves so it's fun to see him turn into lovestruck sucker.
For what’s it’s worth, this story was full of some fun Tropes (some only British) I love but make me roll my eyes.
1. Brandy for shock. In all my mumble-five years I have not had one person offer me brandy for shock. My husband even got a Coke out of my gynecologist for almost passing out at an emergency ultrasound, but me NADA.
2. Over-zealous concern and medical care for the following: coffee, tea or other hot water burns or cut fingers. Just suck on it. I mean literally.
3. Coffee at night. I guess the H and h cancel out the caffeine with mega doses of melatonin.
4. Dressing for dinner. I love it!!!!! Preferably something in chiffon and if it pre-dates 1985, blouson.
5. Velvet jackets for the men. Yum
5. Silk shirt are a BIG NO!!!!! HUGE.
6. Italian cars rule even in jolly olde England. Ferrari’s, Lamborghini’s, Maserati, but never Bentley’s, Rolls Royce and the car to trump them all, the Aston Martin. And love laughs at the French autos. Yeah, a 6’ 4” Greek tycoon is going to unwind out of a Citroen. I don’t think so.
7. Virginal heroines live in messy and vine covered cottages.
9. Men (British) that have an old school club they can go to for dinner, cards, MORE brandy, and even sleep.
October 21, 2020
I adore Helen Brooks Romances.She writes with great passion and deliver great angsty love stories with sexy alpha heroes and innocent heroines who can`t help but love them.Angelina "Angel" Murray is 23 years old and takes care of her younger brother Toby.When one day Toby almost gets into an accident with the legendary surgeon Hunter Ryan,Angel and Hunter fights like cats and dogs.But there is this irresistible attraction between them neither can`t deny.When Toby falls sick into a hospital Hunter steps in to save the boy.I love that Hunter couldn`t stay away from Angel,while he still wanted to run away from the feelings she opened up inside him.This book was a wonderful romantic read,and the epiluge just made it better!
December 19, 2012
I am a huge fan of Helen Brooks, and she is almost always an automatic buy for me. I find that she really pens a beautiful story and writes such delightful characters. I think I enjoy her work so much because I find that she steps out of the stereotypical mold and creates real people who fall in love and find their way towards each other.
However, I didn't find that to be the case with this book. The story line was enjoyable, but the characters fell far short of expectation. They were more like the typical HP mold with uncontrollable passions towards people you would typically hate, and anatomical descriptions of body parts on fire" that were rather silly .
Maybe I am just too old to remember, but I honestly can't ever recall my "nipples" standing at attention when I got close to a good looking guy.
Took a little bit more than that ...... ; - ))
I was disappointed to find this author falling into that trap. Oh well.
However, I didn't find that to be the case with this book. The story line was enjoyable, but the characters fell far short of expectation. They were more like the typical HP mold with uncontrollable passions towards people you would typically hate, and anatomical descriptions of body parts on fire" that were rather silly .
Maybe I am just too old to remember, but I honestly can't ever recall my "nipples" standing at attention when I got close to a good looking guy.
Took a little bit more than that ...... ; - ))
I was disappointed to find this author falling into that trap. Oh well.
October 31, 2021
DNF free on open lib.
The h is a raging bitch, because she’s attracted.
The H, a grown ass doctor acts like he’s 17, because he’s attracted. No doctor should act like this, he grossed me out.
They fight and argue the entire time..immature book. 🙄
The h is a raging bitch, because she’s attracted.
The H, a grown ass doctor acts like he’s 17, because he’s attracted. No doctor should act like this, he grossed me out.
They fight and argue the entire time..immature book. 🙄
November 26, 2017
"Angels Do Have Wings" is the story of Hunter and Angel (yes, really!)
Angel spends her days working minor jobs for the hospital with little to no excitement and taking care of her younger brother Toby since her parents' death- until an accident leads her to cross paths with Hunter.
Hunter is a surgeon and ruthless to the T. Scarred by a traumatic past, he is used to getting what he wants until he comes across the angelic diva.
Many verbal spars ahead, when Toby falls sick- it is Hunter who steps in to help.
Misunderstandings, defense mechanisms, crazy brooding hero, innocent firecracker heroine fill this tale of love and lust. I wish the story would have been way better if they communicated more and didnt spend all the time pushing each other away.
Sweet epilogue!
Safe
3.5/5
Angel spends her days working minor jobs for the hospital with little to no excitement and taking care of her younger brother Toby since her parents' death- until an accident leads her to cross paths with Hunter.
Hunter is a surgeon and ruthless to the T. Scarred by a traumatic past, he is used to getting what he wants until he comes across the angelic diva.
Many verbal spars ahead, when Toby falls sick- it is Hunter who steps in to help.
Misunderstandings, defense mechanisms, crazy brooding hero, innocent firecracker heroine fill this tale of love and lust. I wish the story would have been way better if they communicated more and didnt spend all the time pushing each other away.
Sweet epilogue!
Safe
3.5/5
October 20, 2018
Two and a half stars. She's a self-sacrificing, exquisitely beautiful virgin, whereas he's bitter, cynical and a womanizer who is much older. He falls in love with her, resents it, and stalks her/makes her miserable. You know the drill.
Fairly enjoyable if you don't mind the h having ZERO personality.
Fairly enjoyable if you don't mind the h having ZERO personality.
Read
August 20, 2016I've now breezed through a number of Brooks' backlist and the ones I've chosen share similar themes/characters.
1) Older (mid-late 20s/early 30s!) female virgins
2) Older, experienced heroes - think mid-late 30s
3) Heroes who only want no-strings relationships due to some woman who done them wrong in the past
4) Heroines who are attractive but don't necessarily see themselves as such or don't care about their looks
5) Heroines are amazingly perceptive about the heroes' past and can see the good man underneath it all
6) Kissing and fade to black sex
7) Conflicts that could ups be cleared up quickly if the heroine just explained herself
If you want a very quick read - and I mean seriously quick - with a HEA and tea (Brooks is British), give this a whirl.
Bonus: it's on Open Library.
1) Older (mid-late 20s/early 30s!) female virgins
2) Older, experienced heroes - think mid-late 30s
3) Heroes who only want no-strings relationships due to some woman who done them wrong in the past
4) Heroines who are attractive but don't necessarily see themselves as such or don't care about their looks
5) Heroines are amazingly perceptive about the heroes' past and can see the good man underneath it all
6) Kissing and fade to black sex
7) Conflicts that could ups be cleared up quickly if the heroine just explained herself
If you want a very quick read - and I mean seriously quick - with a HEA and tea (Brooks is British), give this a whirl.
Bonus: it's on Open Library.
March 5, 2012
From the opening pages we are shown what an explosive relationship Angel and Hunter are about to have. Angel knows Hunter is powerful but she's not about to let him bully her or weaken her resolve not to get involved with him. But at every turn, it seems that he's there just when she needs him to be. Hunter tries to convince himself that all he feels for Angel is an almost all comsuming attraction. It takes some pushing on Angel's part to show him that there's much much more. Their sparks leapt off the pages and I read this one in one sitting!
April 28, 2020
Dear Vicky,
Things are just the same here. My life is mapped out for years ahead with a chance of anything changing...
As she wrote those words to her best friend, Angel had no idea that a gorgeous stranger was about to turn her world upside down!
Hunter Ryan was rich and famous, surely not the kind of man to look twice at Angel? Yet he was a rock to lean on when her younger brother fell sick; and soon his face began to haunt her dreams .... He teased Angel for not living up to her name - if only he'd realize he was the first man ever to touch her heart!
Things are just the same here. My life is mapped out for years ahead with a chance of anything changing...
As she wrote those words to her best friend, Angel had no idea that a gorgeous stranger was about to turn her world upside down!
Hunter Ryan was rich and famous, surely not the kind of man to look twice at Angel? Yet he was a rock to lean on when her younger brother fell sick; and soon his face began to haunt her dreams .... He teased Angel for not living up to her name - if only he'd realize he was the first man ever to touch her heart!
October 19, 2018
Available on Open Library.
This book had so many high ratings, so I was eagerly waiting to read it, however it just didn’t do it for me.
The heroine is a beautiful, hard working young woman who is caring for her 12 year old brother after the untimely death of their parents. Times are hard but they make do,
They meet the Hero when he crashes into her parked car, but it turns out he was avoiding her brother, who ran into the street. They have a shouting match, but soon after, the Hero is making known his attraction to her, and makes a pass. Later he finds out about their tragic circumstances and tries to smooth things for them. Soon after, he sees her with some friends and offers her a ride home and he makes a pass again!
The Hero is the usual alpha, sampling lots of ladies, committing to none. He obviously also wants to sample the heroine despite all her objections. None of this is unusual in an HP except that this guy was the doctor of her brother! I kinda expected better behaviour! anyway....
The young brother has a heart condition, so they need the expert services of doctor Hero. He convinces the heroine to move into his house, while the brother is confined, ostensibly so he can take care of her. uh huh yes!! Of course he makes yet another pass, on her first night there! I found it so creepy how he would forcibly make love to her, especially at her most vulnerable moments... It was all just so unethical. I didn’t really like the Hero.
Of course in the end, the explanation is; he was just too obsessed with her so he wasn’t thinking straight and he hated her for making him feel too much blah blah blah. But now he wants to get married and have babies with her. He also promises to take care of the brother, so HEA.
This book had so many high ratings, so I was eagerly waiting to read it, however it just didn’t do it for me.
The heroine is a beautiful, hard working young woman who is caring for her 12 year old brother after the untimely death of their parents. Times are hard but they make do,
They meet the Hero when he crashes into her parked car, but it turns out he was avoiding her brother, who ran into the street. They have a shouting match, but soon after, the Hero is making known his attraction to her, and makes a pass. Later he finds out about their tragic circumstances and tries to smooth things for them. Soon after, he sees her with some friends and offers her a ride home and he makes a pass again!
The Hero is the usual alpha, sampling lots of ladies, committing to none. He obviously also wants to sample the heroine despite all her objections. None of this is unusual in an HP except that this guy was the doctor of her brother! I kinda expected better behaviour! anyway....
The young brother has a heart condition, so they need the expert services of doctor Hero. He convinces the heroine to move into his house, while the brother is confined, ostensibly so he can take care of her. uh huh yes!! Of course he makes yet another pass, on her first night there! I found it so creepy how he would forcibly make love to her, especially at her most vulnerable moments... It was all just so unethical. I didn’t really like the Hero.
Of course in the end, the explanation is; he was just too obsessed with her so he wasn’t thinking straight and he hated her for making him feel too much blah blah blah. But now he wants to get married and have babies with her. He also promises to take care of the brother, so HEA.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 16, 2022
After reading a book with a cheating non celibate hero(which sadly I liked), I needed to cleanse my palate with a reformed manwhore.
I was not sure about this story at first, I almost overlooked it. However, between the reviews written by Naksed https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...,
Vintage https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... and
Azet https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I knew that at the very least this would be a 3 star for me. I am so glad I took a chance on this little gem. The reviews above really do a nice job covering the story, so I probably will refrain from going into too much detail, and just focus more on what I enjoyed.
This book had some great angst, humor, and interactions between the h and H
Heroine: 23 year old Angelina(Angel) became guardian of her 12 year old brother 18 months before the story opens when their parents died in a house accident. She gave up her university days and came home to help her brother heal from finding his parents dead. She works for a nearby Dr.(she herself was planning on medical school), lives in a small cottage, and has an old car that gets her from A to B. Although she dated a little in high school, those “boys” held little appeal for her and never got her motor running. Now she doesn’t have time for men, and she knows that she will not be getting her v card stamped until it’s a forever thing and the real deal. Enter the real deal(-forever)….
Hero: 39 year old Dr. Hunter Ryan…his name suits him, as he top of the food chain when it comes to not only his job, but the fairer sex. He doesn’t lack for company, but he makes sure the ladies know the score and that this particular Hunter will never be trapped in Holy Matrimony. He oozes charm and is really good with the words. So, good, that I am glad I did not need my rosy tinted glasses for this one because the hero would have steamed them up rendering them useless.
The H and h meet when he crashes into her car to avoid hitting her brother who ran into the street. They do not hit it off. However, under all the sniping and arguing there lies a passion of another nature. Without spending too much time on the plot, the h and H’s paths cross and cross often. Usually this is the result of the H orchestrating such meetings. He makes no secret that he wants the h, and although she is having all of those tingly feelings she isn’t settling for romper room activities alone. The thing is she isn’t trying to trap the H. She just accepts reluctantly that he is made one way and she is made another. The h is not everyone’s cup of tea, but I found her steel spine and shut downs of the h refreshing…like this little tidbit when the H tells her how he thinks love is a fallacy.
.. Exactly.' The piercing eyes were watching her very closely. 'And I make sure that my... friendships are conducted with women of the same mind. No complications, no messy emotion. Clean and precise and clear.'
'Like one of your operations?' She suddenly felt furiously, bitterly angry.
'If you like,' he answered quietly.
'No, I don't like.' Something inside was hurting but the anger was paramount. 'I've never heard anything so cold-blooded in my life, if you want to know, and to be absolutely honest I think your world stinks, Mr Ryan, like a putrefying wound that won't heal. You call such liaisons clean and precise?' Her lip curled away from her teeth aggressively. 'Well, I call them cheap and nasty.' Now she really had got through to him, she noted with grim satisfaction as he sat bolt upright, his eyes turning into hard chips of stone. 'Where do all the normal things fit into such thinking? Families, children, a home—'
A few more sentences and she actually asks him the question that so many h’s are afraid to ask: “What has happened to you that you feel this way?”
'Happened to me?' For a moment, a fleeting moment, she saw a stricken expression on his face that was gone the next instant. 'Why does something have to have happened to me? I don't like ties, that's all.'(we find out later that something did happen!!!!)
I love that she basically called HIM cheap and nasty.
Later the H calls the h to ask her to dinner. She tells him no in her round about dismissive way.
'A simple ''no" would have sufficed, Angel,' he said sardonically. 'It's been a long, long time since I chased a woman —
'Well, don't start now, then.' She put down the phone before he could reply and then immediately took it off the hook again in case he phoned back.
Now had the heroine been a different type of woman, this could all be seen as playing “hard to get”. But that is not the case with this heroine, she is trying to protect herself as she already realizes her strong pull for the Hero.
Other things I liked in the story:
*The H gets very jealous whenever he sees someone who is trying to poach on his territory
*The H tries very hard to not fall in love with the h, unfortunately he was hooked early on. He knows that he can not treat her like his other woman, yet he can’t/won’t yield to the type of relationship the h wants.
*He takes the h and her brother under his wing and is concerned about their welfare. Basically, if this was one of those KU stories, the h would probably be calling him “daddy”.
* I like May/December romances
*Enemies to lovers(even though official consummation doesn’t take place til the end and is off page during the honeymoon)
*Vintage pointed out in her review pages 199-200. It was scorching, and the probably the hottest scene in the book! Later the h has some very vivid dreams we are privy to as well.
*The h screws up and tells the H she loves him in a moment where she was going to cash in her vCard (principles and values be damned)Now she actually knew that saying ILY is a big no no with a commitment phobe, but it slipped out and was like a cold shower to the H. Thus beginning a 3 month hiatus from each other. Honestly, I don’t think she could have gone further in the loss of virginity without saying ILY, because for her that has to be part of it.
*I like that the h was pretty blunt about what she wanted, however, she also knew that once she fell in love with him that to protect herself she needed to stay quiet about it. She also determined that she would have a life without love as the hero was the only one for her.
*The H’s reemergence into the h’s life after 3 months was epic. HB really made her hero come through in the end(plus he has been celibate since meeting the h) The HEA was well done.
I really enjoyed this story although it may be too bickery at times for some people. IMO it had just the right amount.
I was not sure about this story at first, I almost overlooked it. However, between the reviews written by Naksed https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...,
Vintage https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... and
Azet https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I knew that at the very least this would be a 3 star for me. I am so glad I took a chance on this little gem. The reviews above really do a nice job covering the story, so I probably will refrain from going into too much detail, and just focus more on what I enjoyed.
This book had some great angst, humor, and interactions between the h and H
Heroine: 23 year old Angelina(Angel) became guardian of her 12 year old brother 18 months before the story opens when their parents died in a house accident. She gave up her university days and came home to help her brother heal from finding his parents dead. She works for a nearby Dr.(she herself was planning on medical school), lives in a small cottage, and has an old car that gets her from A to B. Although she dated a little in high school, those “boys” held little appeal for her and never got her motor running. Now she doesn’t have time for men, and she knows that she will not be getting her v card stamped until it’s a forever thing and the real deal. Enter the real deal(-forever)….
Hero: 39 year old Dr. Hunter Ryan…his name suits him, as he top of the food chain when it comes to not only his job, but the fairer sex. He doesn’t lack for company, but he makes sure the ladies know the score and that this particular Hunter will never be trapped in Holy Matrimony. He oozes charm and is really good with the words. So, good, that I am glad I did not need my rosy tinted glasses for this one because the hero would have steamed them up rendering them useless.
The H and h meet when he crashes into her car to avoid hitting her brother who ran into the street. They do not hit it off. However, under all the sniping and arguing there lies a passion of another nature. Without spending too much time on the plot, the h and H’s paths cross and cross often. Usually this is the result of the H orchestrating such meetings. He makes no secret that he wants the h, and although she is having all of those tingly feelings she isn’t settling for romper room activities alone. The thing is she isn’t trying to trap the H. She just accepts reluctantly that he is made one way and she is made another. The h is not everyone’s cup of tea, but I found her steel spine and shut downs of the h refreshing…like this little tidbit when the H tells her how he thinks love is a fallacy.
.. Exactly.' The piercing eyes were watching her very closely. 'And I make sure that my... friendships are conducted with women of the same mind. No complications, no messy emotion. Clean and precise and clear.'
'Like one of your operations?' She suddenly felt furiously, bitterly angry.
'If you like,' he answered quietly.
'No, I don't like.' Something inside was hurting but the anger was paramount. 'I've never heard anything so cold-blooded in my life, if you want to know, and to be absolutely honest I think your world stinks, Mr Ryan, like a putrefying wound that won't heal. You call such liaisons clean and precise?' Her lip curled away from her teeth aggressively. 'Well, I call them cheap and nasty.' Now she really had got through to him, she noted with grim satisfaction as he sat bolt upright, his eyes turning into hard chips of stone. 'Where do all the normal things fit into such thinking? Families, children, a home—'
A few more sentences and she actually asks him the question that so many h’s are afraid to ask: “What has happened to you that you feel this way?”
'Happened to me?' For a moment, a fleeting moment, she saw a stricken expression on his face that was gone the next instant. 'Why does something have to have happened to me? I don't like ties, that's all.'(we find out later that something did happen!!!!)
I love that she basically called HIM cheap and nasty.
Later the H calls the h to ask her to dinner. She tells him no in her round about dismissive way.
'A simple ''no" would have sufficed, Angel,' he said sardonically. 'It's been a long, long time since I chased a woman —
'Well, don't start now, then.' She put down the phone before he could reply and then immediately took it off the hook again in case he phoned back.
Now had the heroine been a different type of woman, this could all be seen as playing “hard to get”. But that is not the case with this heroine, she is trying to protect herself as she already realizes her strong pull for the Hero.
Other things I liked in the story:
*The H gets very jealous whenever he sees someone who is trying to poach on his territory
*The H tries very hard to not fall in love with the h, unfortunately he was hooked early on. He knows that he can not treat her like his other woman, yet he can’t/won’t yield to the type of relationship the h wants.
*He takes the h and her brother under his wing and is concerned about their welfare. Basically, if this was one of those KU stories, the h would probably be calling him “daddy”.
* I like May/December romances
*Enemies to lovers(even though official consummation doesn’t take place til the end and is off page during the honeymoon)
*Vintage pointed out in her review pages 199-200. It was scorching, and the probably the hottest scene in the book! Later the h has some very vivid dreams we are privy to as well.
*The h screws up and tells the H she loves him in a moment where she was going to cash in her vCard (principles and values be damned)Now she actually knew that saying ILY is a big no no with a commitment phobe, but it slipped out and was like a cold shower to the H. Thus beginning a 3 month hiatus from each other. Honestly, I don’t think she could have gone further in the loss of virginity without saying ILY, because for her that has to be part of it.
*I like that the h was pretty blunt about what she wanted, however, she also knew that once she fell in love with him that to protect herself she needed to stay quiet about it. She also determined that she would have a life without love as the hero was the only one for her.
*The H’s reemergence into the h’s life after 3 months was epic. HB really made her hero come through in the end(plus he has been celibate since meeting the h) The HEA was well done.
I really enjoyed this story although it may be too bickery at times for some people. IMO it had just the right amount.
February 4, 2021
I want to like all Helen Brooks because she definitely can write angst, tension, chemistry. But the chemistry here felt a little bit forced & lacking tension. I wish HB would stop making her hero so wishy washy. At least if they are going to play hot & cold, have a reason to. One that makes sense! He knows she’s a virgin early on, yet he still wants to bed her like a tramp. Who do you think you are, what great attractions do you have that allows you to think you can do that an innocent. Do you think she would be grateful? Well maybe. If the innocent is kind of into you...
I had secondhand embarrassment when they met again at her workplace. They were arguing like little kids in front of her boss aka his friend. I expected more class than that, at least from her if not him. Ughh, another one down the drain.
I had secondhand embarrassment when they met again at her workplace. They were arguing like little kids in front of her boss aka his friend. I expected more class than that, at least from her if not him. Ughh, another one down the drain.
June 8, 2022
3.5 stars ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️I liked the spine this h had and I like that the romance occurred over weeks and finish was months into the book. I hate how some books move the plot line super fast, ILYs in 2 weeks or less! This was a great story without much angst.
March 28, 2021
Bellissimo. Questo libro, benché sia breve e semplice, è un gioiellino. L'ho letto e riletto, e ogni volta mi ha emozionata.
September 27, 2022
A true love story.
August 6, 2023
Jena got it right. I'm giving this book very biased 2 stars,too.
September 9, 2023
This was better than most. It was a return to the more typical format: Enter Hunter Ryan, a wealthy, good-looking and sexy man with a good career, who's locked up his feelings and become cynical due to a tragic event in his youth. He meets Angel(ina) Murray, a young, beautiful virgin (16 years his junior) who has also had a tragic experience. Naturally both deny their feelings in the beginning but do recognise and agree that they desire each other. Then the good Doctor Ryan swoops in and saves the day and wins Angel's gratitude and heart.
The book, written in 1994, nearly 30 years ago, shows its age. Right at the beginning, Hunter kisses Angel with "passion". Here I have to translate freely from the Finnish "And did you behave like a perfect gentleman?" Angel threw back. "You harassed me like a half-grown brute." ... "You did molest me. ... Or do you think I enjoy being attacked and subdued by brute force?" ... "It was violence! I didn't want you to kiss me or touch me!" It's certainly not a done thing now-a-days, and in Finland sexual abuse and harassment laws have very recently been made tighter/stricter.
The book, written in 1994, nearly 30 years ago, shows its age. Right at the beginning, Hunter kisses Angel with "passion". Here I have to translate freely from the Finnish "And did you behave like a perfect gentleman?" Angel threw back. "You harassed me like a half-grown brute." ... "You did molest me. ... Or do you think I enjoy being attacked and subdued by brute force?" ... "It was violence! I didn't want you to kiss me or touch me!" It's certainly not a done thing now-a-days, and in Finland sexual abuse and harassment laws have very recently been made tighter/stricter.
Read
May 22, 2016رجل خلف القناع - هيلين بروكس
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews