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My Dear Cousin
Most girls would be delighted to have the opportunity to visit Africa, but Lisa was not much looking forward to the prospect - to the prospect, at any rate, of meeting her cousin Adrian again.
It was seven years since they had met, but she still remembered how she had never been a match for his mocking self-assurance, his disconcerting arrogance. Perhaps, though, she told herself, he had changed, had mellowed since those days.
But he hadn't, as Lisa found the moment she arrived in Rhodesia
It was seven years since they had met, but she still remembered how she had never been a match for his mocking self-assurance, his disconcerting arrogance. Perhaps, though, she told herself, he had changed, had mellowed since those days.
But he hadn't, as Lisa found the moment she arrived in Rhodesia
- GenresHarlequin RomanceAfrica
192 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published July 1, 1965
1 person is currently reading
31 people want to read
About the author
Lilian Warren
87 books10 followersLilian Warren aka Rosalind Brett, Kathryn Blair, Katrina Britt, and Celine Conway.
Lilian Warren was born in London, England, UK. She worked as secretary, when at 19, her first magazine story was accepted. She married and moved to South Africa, where she continued writing. In the 1950s, she started to write to Rich & Cowan, and later to Mills & Boon, under various pseudonyms Rosalind Brett, Celine Conway, and Kathryn Blair. She passed away on 1961 in South Africa. Some of her books were published posthumuously.
Lilian Warren was born in London, England, UK. She worked as secretary, when at 19, her first magazine story was accepted. She married and moved to South Africa, where she continued writing. In the 1950s, she started to write to Rich & Cowan, and later to Mills & Boon, under various pseudonyms Rosalind Brett, Celine Conway, and Kathryn Blair. She passed away on 1961 in South Africa. Some of her books were published posthumuously.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
July 13, 2018
I approached this one with trepidation even though the author is one I like in general, because of the title. I'm not down with the cousin-lovin', and there have been too many old-skool romances where the H and h have been a little too related for my comfort. Fortunately, they aren't really related. He is one seriously bossy SOB, and constantly frustrated by her stubbornness. She, on the other hand, is another iron-willed, seemingly mild-mannered h. It seems to be a common theme of Conway's that her h's have been doormats for their families for years, but when they break free, they are immovable about what matters to them. The h manages to sting him back, hard, every time he vents his anger and frustration, and he's practically crazed by the end of the book because she will not give him an inch.
There's an OW, a former flame of the H's who married someone else, but she's never more than an irritation, although the h thinks the H wants her back. The h puts him through the wringer about her, even though her assessment of the situation is wrong. It's brilliant. I kind of wanted them to keep wrangling because it was like a re-do of all the bad romances I've read. The H would say something terrible that would have destroyed a typical heroine of another book, and the h would be hurt, but she'd never show it, and she'd make sure he suffered for saying it.
There's an OW, a former flame of the H's who married someone else, but she's never more than an irritation, although the h thinks the H wants her back. The h puts him through the wringer about her, even though her assessment of the situation is wrong. It's brilliant. I kind of wanted them to keep wrangling because it was like a re-do of all the bad romances I've read. The H would say something terrible that would have destroyed a typical heroine of another book, and the h would be hurt, but she'd never show it, and she'd make sure he suffered for saying it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 22, 2019
Really it’s more like a 2.5 star.
The romance is so slow going it’s almost non existent. Despite the Hero and he heroine sharing a house, I got the feeling they didn’t interact much.
Only clue to the hero’s feelings is that he sometimes acts jealous, or he could just have been protective over her since she is supposed to be his young cousin.
Heroine is not really his cousin since she was adopted by his aunt.
This is the usual, Hero acts high handed and arrogant and heroine acts submissive. Although this one was able to put her foot down a couple of times.
The OW was not too evil since she really did believe the heroine was the Hero’s cousin and wanted to be nice to his relatives. 😂
Best part of this book is in my imagination when I picture them announcing their engagement/marriage to the OW 🤣😂🤣
The romance is so slow going it’s almost non existent. Despite the Hero and he heroine sharing a house, I got the feeling they didn’t interact much.
Only clue to the hero’s feelings is that he sometimes acts jealous, or he could just have been protective over her since she is supposed to be his young cousin.
Heroine is not really his cousin since she was adopted by his aunt.
This is the usual, Hero acts high handed and arrogant and heroine acts submissive. Although this one was able to put her foot down a couple of times.
The OW was not too evil since she really did believe the heroine was the Hero’s cousin and wanted to be nice to his relatives. 😂
Best part of this book is in my imagination when I picture them announcing their engagement/marriage to the OW 🤣😂🤣
September 11, 2020
the two leads are living in the same house but they seemed far apart to me, I assumed that it would mean plenty of meaningful interactions and tension but no that didn’t happen. This is quite slow going and it needs some dedication to finish it. Too light on the romance for me.
August 29, 2024
The h comes to Africa to help bring some abandoned kids to their grandparents in Ireland. They're temporarily staying with the h's cousin, who's not her blood relative as she was adopted and whom her adoptive mother dislikes. The h hasn't seen him in many years but the mother's fed her some information about him being a manipulative ogre. The goose and the gander?
The h is manipulated by her adoptive mother and her 'cousin' is determined to open her eyes. By being domineering and manipulative?
The way he treats her budding romance with that broken young man is too much.
The H is so detached and I get the vibes of ‘Big Brother is watching you’.
The kid the h is supposed to watch is awful.
The h is manipulated by her adoptive mother and her 'cousin' is determined to open her eyes. By being domineering and manipulative?
The way he treats her budding romance with that broken young man is too much.
The H is so detached and I get the vibes of ‘Big Brother is watching you’.
The kid the h is supposed to watch is awful.
October 1, 2018
Another of mum's books which I did enjoy. Characters very much of their time but enjoyable storyline.
December 17, 2025
I enjoyed this more this time, so upping to 4 stars.
The heroine (22) is insecure as she is adopted and her manipulative adopted mother never lets her forget to be grateful. She heads to Rhodesia to meet her adopted mother’s nephew (the hero, 34) who wants her help in looking after a 6 year old boy that has been deserted by one of his employees. He spends time belittling her love for her mother, her youth, her naivety, and what he considers to be her fear about growing up. He’s quite unkind about the men who are attracted to her, and keeps his past relationship with the OW a secret.
He clearly worries about her and this time I saw the underlying attraction for her as well.
The declaration is very nice, but I’m not rating it higher as they have so few moments alone together for him to appreciate that actually she is pretty awesome and has strength of mind he doesn’t see.
The heroine (22) is insecure as she is adopted and her manipulative adopted mother never lets her forget to be grateful. She heads to Rhodesia to meet her adopted mother’s nephew (the hero, 34) who wants her help in looking after a 6 year old boy that has been deserted by one of his employees. He spends time belittling her love for her mother, her youth, her naivety, and what he considers to be her fear about growing up. He’s quite unkind about the men who are attracted to her, and keeps his past relationship with the OW a secret.
He clearly worries about her and this time I saw the underlying attraction for her as well.
The declaration is very nice, but I’m not rating it higher as they have so few moments alone together for him to appreciate that actually she is pretty awesome and has strength of mind he doesn’t see.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews