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Forbidden Fruit
A dark flush invaded his face. His brows met, his grey eyes threatened.
"You will marry me though!" he told her curtly "Or take the consequences, and I assure you Leonie I will win. I always do."
"You will marry me though!" he told her curtly "Or take the consequences, and I assure you Leonie I will win. I always do."
192 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 1991
1 person is currently reading
125 people want to read
About the author
Charlotte Lamb
261 books316 followersSheila Ann Mary Coates Holland
aka Sheila Holland, Sheila Coates, Charlotte Lamb, Sheila Lancaster, Victoria Woolf, Laura Hardy
Sheila Ann Mary Coates was born on 1937 in Essex, England, just before the Second World War in the East End of London. As a child, she was moved from relative to relative to escape the bombings of World War II. Sheila attended the Ursuline Convent for Girls. On leaving school at 16, the convent-educated author worked for the Bank of England as a clerk. Sheila continued her education by taking advantage of the B of E's enormous library during her lunch breaks and after work. She later worked as a secretary for the BBC. While there, she met and married Richard Holland, a political reporter. A voracious reader of romance novels, she began writing at her husband's suggestion. She wrote her first book in three days with three children underfoot! In between raising her five children (including a set of twins), Charlotte wrote several more novels. She used both her married and maiden names, Sheila Holland and Sheila Coates, before her first novel as Charlotte Lamb, Follow a Stranger, was published by Mills & Boon in 1973. She also used the pennames: Sheila Lancaster, Victoria Wolf and Laura Hardy. Sheila was a true revolutionary in the field of romance writing. One of the first writers to explore the boundaries of sexual desire, her novels often reflected the forefront of the "sexual revolution" of the 1970s. Her books touched on then-taboo subjects such as child abuse and rape, and she created sexually confident - even dominant - heroines. She was also one of the first to create a modern romantic heroine: independent, imperfect, and perfectly capable of initiating a sexual or romantic relationship. A prolific author, Sheila penned more than 160 novels, most of them for Mills & Boon. Known for her swiftness as well as for her skill in writing, Sheila typically wrote a minimum of two thousand words per day, working from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. While she once finished a full-length novel in four days, she herself pegged her average speed at two weeks to complete a full novel. Since 1977, Sheila had been living on the Isle of Man as a tax exile with her husband and four of their five children: Michael Holland, Sarah Holland, Jane Holland, Charlotte Holland and David Holland. Sheila passed away on October 8, 2000 in her baronial-style home 'Crogga' on the Island. She is greatly missed by her many fans, and by the romance writing community.
aka Sheila Holland, Sheila Coates, Charlotte Lamb, Sheila Lancaster, Victoria Woolf, Laura Hardy
Sheila Ann Mary Coates was born on 1937 in Essex, England, just before the Second World War in the East End of London. As a child, she was moved from relative to relative to escape the bombings of World War II. Sheila attended the Ursuline Convent for Girls. On leaving school at 16, the convent-educated author worked for the Bank of England as a clerk. Sheila continued her education by taking advantage of the B of E's enormous library during her lunch breaks and after work. She later worked as a secretary for the BBC. While there, she met and married Richard Holland, a political reporter. A voracious reader of romance novels, she began writing at her husband's suggestion. She wrote her first book in three days with three children underfoot! In between raising her five children (including a set of twins), Charlotte wrote several more novels. She used both her married and maiden names, Sheila Holland and Sheila Coates, before her first novel as Charlotte Lamb, Follow a Stranger, was published by Mills & Boon in 1973. She also used the pennames: Sheila Lancaster, Victoria Wolf and Laura Hardy. Sheila was a true revolutionary in the field of romance writing. One of the first writers to explore the boundaries of sexual desire, her novels often reflected the forefront of the "sexual revolution" of the 1970s. Her books touched on then-taboo subjects such as child abuse and rape, and she created sexually confident - even dominant - heroines. She was also one of the first to create a modern romantic heroine: independent, imperfect, and perfectly capable of initiating a sexual or romantic relationship. A prolific author, Sheila penned more than 160 novels, most of them for Mills & Boon. Known for her swiftness as well as for her skill in writing, Sheila typically wrote a minimum of two thousand words per day, working from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. While she once finished a full-length novel in four days, she herself pegged her average speed at two weeks to complete a full novel. Since 1977, Sheila had been living on the Isle of Man as a tax exile with her husband and four of their five children: Michael Holland, Sarah Holland, Jane Holland, Charlotte Holland and David Holland. Sheila passed away on October 8, 2000 in her baronial-style home 'Crogga' on the Island. She is greatly missed by her many fans, and by the romance writing community.
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February 9, 2018
Re Forbidden Fruit - Charlotte Lamb challenges Anne Mather's supremacy for the keepin' it in the family trope with this one.
The h is in love when the story opens and excitedly planning her wedding. The man she is marrying is the younger son of a very well to do family and quite charming in his young man about town persona.
His family, consisting of a widowed mother and his older brother, are not thrilled that their beloved and favored youngest son is marrying an unsophisticated nobody who has neither lineage or money, tho she is startlingly beautiful and very feminine and compliant in that CL kinda icy blonde uber-femme way.
In fact the fiance's mother tries to intimidate the h with fancy high society parties and lots of 'more suitable' women are dangled in front of the young man, in an effort to pull him away from the h. The older brother does his bit too, when he makes a pass at the h at one of the big parties.
The h's fiance intervenes, much to the h's relief as the older brother makes her feel very strange and there are weird vibes between them, and tells his brother off. The is very sad that his family dislikes her, her own mother gave her up to her grandmother shortly after she was born and the h's dad died and they are very estranged.
The only reason her mother is talking to her now is because the h is marrying into the kind of lifestyle the rapacious and mercenary mother would like to have. The h knows that even tho her fiance's family is angry over the marriage, they are a close and loving family and the h is looking for that for herself. Ever since her dear grandmother died, the h has felt very alone in the world.
Things don't work out as planned when the h is getting one of the final fittings on her wedding dress. Her very bestest friend is an up and coming wedding designer and has made her a couture dress that is sure to knock em down in the aisles on the big day. But the doorbell rings after the BFF has gone and the h is still admiring her dress.
When she answers the door, the fiance's brother is there and the H harshly delivers the news that the fiance was killed in a skiing accident. The h rips off her wedding dress and passes out when the news finally sinks in, she is completely heart broken. The H tries to be kind, but the h fiercely resents him and his weird vibes.
The H eventually goes away after calling the h's mother and the h is wishing her mother had never been called, as the pit viper is all about how much money she has spent and her own loss of a chance to taste the high life. It is clear the h's mother has no regard for the h at all.
The book then jumps to a few months later. The h and her BFF are on holiday in Italy. The h has been going around in a mopey haze and the BFF is trying to cheer her up while getting some sun and fun on the beach. During a day trip to Ravenna, the fiance's brother shows up again.
Ostensibly he is in the area on business and sightseeing, but really he is stalking the h, as CL obliquely hints. The h isn't comfortable around him, while the BFF is wanting to make a move on him. Then the h passes out again and the H ends up driving both ladies back to their holiday resort.
Once the h gets back home, she confirms she is pregnant with her dead fiance's child. She isn't sure how she will swing things, but she is for sure and certain that her dead fiance's family will have nothing to do with her and the baby at all. They despised her and treated her badly when it seemed she would be part of the family and she will damned if they are going to alienate her from her baby.
Then her mother finds out about the pregnancy and she has a huge hissy fit. The mother calls the H, even tho the h specifically and forcefully told her that her involvement in the h's pregnancy is neither wanted or expected. The pit viper wants money from the H and she wants access to their lifestyle and thinks the baby is the ticket to do so.
The H shows up and the h, who has by now found a flat in a country home via the BFF's new boyfriend, a really sweet doctor, tells the H to take a hike. When he finds out about the dishy doc's flat offer, the H blackmails the h into marriage by threatening to take her baby.
The h works for a solicitor and she knows that losing custody isn't likely, but she also knows that the H has a lot of money and power. He seems determined that the baby is going to get his brother's share and he is determined that the baby will help his mother, who is prostrate with grief, get over her despondency.
The h has a real reason to fear the H, as he is very convincing and she reluctantly agrees to a name only marriage. She figures they will divorce after the baby is born and the whole marriage is a legal formality to facilitate the baby's inheritance.
So the H and h marry in a drab little civil registry office event. The h doesn't even speak to her mother and whatever the pit viper's expectations, she is shunted off into the mists of HPlandia. The h's BFF and her dishy doctor boyfriend come too, the H is furious and it is clear that he thinks the dishy doc was going to make a play for his girl, so he is pretty cranky to the h.
The h is oblivious to all of this, she is pregnant, tired, dispirited and now has to live in a house where she thinks everyone hates her. It isn't that bad tho. The mother comes around because the h is having the beloved son's baby and the H is actually nice to her when they are around each other.
They have separate rooms and the H and h make small talk, as you do in socially awkward situations. To the h's surprise she finds out that astonishingly , the H and herself have a lot of interests and tastes in common. So things settle down pretty quickly and then the h has the baby. The H is great as a labor coach and the h is again surprised that the H is so supportive of her.
She calls the baby Mal, after her dead fiance and she has a nanny, but the h is pretty firm at being a caring mum and she doesn't let the nanny take charge. The H does his bit on the diaper changing/baby care front too and all of the sudden the h realizes that the weird feeling between the H and herself is sexual tension and the Lurve Force Mojo.
The h finally gets the big picture when the baby wakes the H and he brings him in to the h for nursing and then he gets entranced by the h's chest and she is entranced he is feeling her up. The Lurve Force Mojo is strong between them and there is an almost kiss moment.
The baby's cries break the moment and the h is shocked to realize she is starting to love the H. Her grief over her fiance has faded with time (it has been almost a year,) and the h is finally ready to start moving forward again.
She doesn't like that feeling tho, especially when the H taunts her about his dead brother and orders the h to attend a big party with him that night. The h isn't keen on going, to her mind they have a fake marriage and she has no desire to meet the H's friends.
The H goes back to threats and the hints of violence and the h gets really mad. So she goes and pulls out a very daring little black dress and wears it to taunt the H back - her dead fiance picked the eye popping dress and she makes sure the H knows it. The h is getting a charge out of taunting and teasing the H and part of her is aghast at herself. But she isn't backing down either, so in full battle dress mode, she and the H go to the big party.
When they get there, the H and h are confronted with the past. The dishy doctor is there with the girl the H was dating when he first met the h with his brother. The h is sad to hear that the dishy doc and the BFF aren't seeing each other after the BFF went to Spain to do costumes for a movie. She realizes that she hasn't been in contact with her BFF, she has been too busy with her baby.
Then the H's ex-girlfriend makes a big show of kissing the H and smearing her lipstick all over his face and the h is livid, hurt and has to hide it behind her icy blond social smile facade.
The H is furious that the dishy doctor is there and drags the h home after he hears the h inviting the dishy doc to the family home to see her baby. Once they get there, the H storms into the h's room after she is wearing nothing but black lace lingerie and the h is shocked when he kneels at her feet to take the stockings off.
The H goes on to make his big confession about how he fell in love with the h at first sight. He wanted her so badly, but she was his brother's and then when his brother died, the H knew he had to give her time before he could make his move. He followed her to Italy, but tho she was nicer to him and he was nice to her, she was still grieving and he just came away frustrated with longing love and nowhere to expend it.
Then she was preggers and the H went insane. He knew he was losing his chance to woo the h, so he made up the custody plot and the blackmail. In a CL first, the H is on his knees and humbly apologizing for being so horrible.
He knew he was insane with jealously and possessiveness, but the dishy doctor worried him - even tho the h explained that it was his mum's house she would be at and that the dishy doc was with her BFF. The H is so in love he sees every other man as a threat and the ex-girlfriend was dumped after a few dates, because the h is only one the H could see after they met.
The h pretends to think about forgiving him, just to pay him back a bit, but then she tells him she loves him and probably has for a long time. The h and H are just about ready to have a big purple passion moment, then the baby wakes up and starts crying and the nanny is asleep. So we leave the h and H counting the longest thirty minutes of their lives on the road to the passionate consummation of their love for a big, happy CL HP HEA.
This one is good, CL can do the family/brother conflict for the h drama really well, She manages to keep it tasteful too - completely putting Anne Mather's trainwrecks to shame. Plus a CL H actually being on his knees to apologize is not to be missed -- ever.
The h is very likable and for all her insecurity and youth, she has a spine of steel when she needs it. This is a great HPlandia Plus outing, even tho there is no big lurve club moment. So if you want an intense, well paced story with the stalkery stalkerific H type, this is not one to be missed.
The h is in love when the story opens and excitedly planning her wedding. The man she is marrying is the younger son of a very well to do family and quite charming in his young man about town persona.
His family, consisting of a widowed mother and his older brother, are not thrilled that their beloved and favored youngest son is marrying an unsophisticated nobody who has neither lineage or money, tho she is startlingly beautiful and very feminine and compliant in that CL kinda icy blonde uber-femme way.
In fact the fiance's mother tries to intimidate the h with fancy high society parties and lots of 'more suitable' women are dangled in front of the young man, in an effort to pull him away from the h. The older brother does his bit too, when he makes a pass at the h at one of the big parties.
The h's fiance intervenes, much to the h's relief as the older brother makes her feel very strange and there are weird vibes between them, and tells his brother off. The is very sad that his family dislikes her, her own mother gave her up to her grandmother shortly after she was born and the h's dad died and they are very estranged.
The only reason her mother is talking to her now is because the h is marrying into the kind of lifestyle the rapacious and mercenary mother would like to have. The h knows that even tho her fiance's family is angry over the marriage, they are a close and loving family and the h is looking for that for herself. Ever since her dear grandmother died, the h has felt very alone in the world.
Things don't work out as planned when the h is getting one of the final fittings on her wedding dress. Her very bestest friend is an up and coming wedding designer and has made her a couture dress that is sure to knock em down in the aisles on the big day. But the doorbell rings after the BFF has gone and the h is still admiring her dress.
When she answers the door, the fiance's brother is there and the H harshly delivers the news that the fiance was killed in a skiing accident. The h rips off her wedding dress and passes out when the news finally sinks in, she is completely heart broken. The H tries to be kind, but the h fiercely resents him and his weird vibes.
The H eventually goes away after calling the h's mother and the h is wishing her mother had never been called, as the pit viper is all about how much money she has spent and her own loss of a chance to taste the high life. It is clear the h's mother has no regard for the h at all.
The book then jumps to a few months later. The h and her BFF are on holiday in Italy. The h has been going around in a mopey haze and the BFF is trying to cheer her up while getting some sun and fun on the beach. During a day trip to Ravenna, the fiance's brother shows up again.
Ostensibly he is in the area on business and sightseeing, but really he is stalking the h, as CL obliquely hints. The h isn't comfortable around him, while the BFF is wanting to make a move on him. Then the h passes out again and the H ends up driving both ladies back to their holiday resort.
Once the h gets back home, she confirms she is pregnant with her dead fiance's child. She isn't sure how she will swing things, but she is for sure and certain that her dead fiance's family will have nothing to do with her and the baby at all. They despised her and treated her badly when it seemed she would be part of the family and she will damned if they are going to alienate her from her baby.
Then her mother finds out about the pregnancy and she has a huge hissy fit. The mother calls the H, even tho the h specifically and forcefully told her that her involvement in the h's pregnancy is neither wanted or expected. The pit viper wants money from the H and she wants access to their lifestyle and thinks the baby is the ticket to do so.
The H shows up and the h, who has by now found a flat in a country home via the BFF's new boyfriend, a really sweet doctor, tells the H to take a hike. When he finds out about the dishy doc's flat offer, the H blackmails the h into marriage by threatening to take her baby.
The h works for a solicitor and she knows that losing custody isn't likely, but she also knows that the H has a lot of money and power. He seems determined that the baby is going to get his brother's share and he is determined that the baby will help his mother, who is prostrate with grief, get over her despondency.
The h has a real reason to fear the H, as he is very convincing and she reluctantly agrees to a name only marriage. She figures they will divorce after the baby is born and the whole marriage is a legal formality to facilitate the baby's inheritance.
So the H and h marry in a drab little civil registry office event. The h doesn't even speak to her mother and whatever the pit viper's expectations, she is shunted off into the mists of HPlandia. The h's BFF and her dishy doctor boyfriend come too, the H is furious and it is clear that he thinks the dishy doc was going to make a play for his girl, so he is pretty cranky to the h.
The h is oblivious to all of this, she is pregnant, tired, dispirited and now has to live in a house where she thinks everyone hates her. It isn't that bad tho. The mother comes around because the h is having the beloved son's baby and the H is actually nice to her when they are around each other.
They have separate rooms and the H and h make small talk, as you do in socially awkward situations. To the h's surprise she finds out that astonishingly , the H and herself have a lot of interests and tastes in common. So things settle down pretty quickly and then the h has the baby. The H is great as a labor coach and the h is again surprised that the H is so supportive of her.
She calls the baby Mal, after her dead fiance and she has a nanny, but the h is pretty firm at being a caring mum and she doesn't let the nanny take charge. The H does his bit on the diaper changing/baby care front too and all of the sudden the h realizes that the weird feeling between the H and herself is sexual tension and the Lurve Force Mojo.
The h finally gets the big picture when the baby wakes the H and he brings him in to the h for nursing and then he gets entranced by the h's chest and she is entranced he is feeling her up. The Lurve Force Mojo is strong between them and there is an almost kiss moment.
The baby's cries break the moment and the h is shocked to realize she is starting to love the H. Her grief over her fiance has faded with time (it has been almost a year,) and the h is finally ready to start moving forward again.
She doesn't like that feeling tho, especially when the H taunts her about his dead brother and orders the h to attend a big party with him that night. The h isn't keen on going, to her mind they have a fake marriage and she has no desire to meet the H's friends.
The H goes back to threats and the hints of violence and the h gets really mad. So she goes and pulls out a very daring little black dress and wears it to taunt the H back - her dead fiance picked the eye popping dress and she makes sure the H knows it. The h is getting a charge out of taunting and teasing the H and part of her is aghast at herself. But she isn't backing down either, so in full battle dress mode, she and the H go to the big party.
When they get there, the H and h are confronted with the past. The dishy doctor is there with the girl the H was dating when he first met the h with his brother. The h is sad to hear that the dishy doc and the BFF aren't seeing each other after the BFF went to Spain to do costumes for a movie. She realizes that she hasn't been in contact with her BFF, she has been too busy with her baby.
Then the H's ex-girlfriend makes a big show of kissing the H and smearing her lipstick all over his face and the h is livid, hurt and has to hide it behind her icy blond social smile facade.
The H is furious that the dishy doctor is there and drags the h home after he hears the h inviting the dishy doc to the family home to see her baby. Once they get there, the H storms into the h's room after she is wearing nothing but black lace lingerie and the h is shocked when he kneels at her feet to take the stockings off.
The H goes on to make his big confession about how he fell in love with the h at first sight. He wanted her so badly, but she was his brother's and then when his brother died, the H knew he had to give her time before he could make his move. He followed her to Italy, but tho she was nicer to him and he was nice to her, she was still grieving and he just came away frustrated with longing love and nowhere to expend it.
Then she was preggers and the H went insane. He knew he was losing his chance to woo the h, so he made up the custody plot and the blackmail. In a CL first, the H is on his knees and humbly apologizing for being so horrible.
He knew he was insane with jealously and possessiveness, but the dishy doctor worried him - even tho the h explained that it was his mum's house she would be at and that the dishy doc was with her BFF. The H is so in love he sees every other man as a threat and the ex-girlfriend was dumped after a few dates, because the h is only one the H could see after they met.
The h pretends to think about forgiving him, just to pay him back a bit, but then she tells him she loves him and probably has for a long time. The h and H are just about ready to have a big purple passion moment, then the baby wakes up and starts crying and the nanny is asleep. So we leave the h and H counting the longest thirty minutes of their lives on the road to the passionate consummation of their love for a big, happy CL HP HEA.
This one is good, CL can do the family/brother conflict for the h drama really well, She manages to keep it tasteful too - completely putting Anne Mather's trainwrecks to shame. Plus a CL H actually being on his knees to apologize is not to be missed -- ever.
The h is very likable and for all her insecurity and youth, she has a spine of steel when she needs it. This is a great HPlandia Plus outing, even tho there is no big lurve club moment. So if you want an intense, well paced story with the stalkery stalkerific H type, this is not one to be missed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 14, 2021
Hey Charlotte Lamb! Here’s a writing prompt! Older brother falls in love with his younger brother’s fiancé.
Michelle Reid got the same prompt and she wrote Marriage on the Rebound. Making the younger brother a cad who didn’t really love the heroine.
CL, on the other hand, killed younger brother off and made the heroine pregnant with his baby.
Filling squicked? I know I was. But hero marries the heavily pregnant heroine with his eyes wide open and his hormones in overdrive.
Heroine quickly forgets younger bro – who knows – maybe she has “Pregnesia.” But then she ties the proverbial string on her finger when she names her son after the younger brother.
Fear not. All is well six weeks later. The resolutions comes after a party where a wannabe OW kisses the hero on the lips and hero threatens a kindly doctor for being – er – kind to the heroine. An argument and sex follows for an abrupt ending.
Let’s take a moment to pity that poor kid stuck with the name “Mal,” two awful grandmothers, and a complicated backstory.
Boogenhagen has all the details in her spoiler review. (Boogenhagen is doing all the heavy lifting for me today in my reviews! Thanks, Boogenhagen!)
Michelle Reid got the same prompt and she wrote Marriage on the Rebound. Making the younger brother a cad who didn’t really love the heroine.
CL, on the other hand, killed younger brother off and made the heroine pregnant with his baby.
Filling squicked? I know I was. But hero marries the heavily pregnant heroine with his eyes wide open and his hormones in overdrive.
Heroine quickly forgets younger bro – who knows – maybe she has “Pregnesia.” But then she ties the proverbial string on her finger when she names her son after the younger brother.
Fear not. All is well six weeks later. The resolutions comes after a party where a wannabe OW kisses the hero on the lips and hero threatens a kindly doctor for being – er – kind to the heroine. An argument and sex follows for an abrupt ending.
Let’s take a moment to pity that poor kid stuck with the name “Mal,” two awful grandmothers, and a complicated backstory.
Boogenhagen has all the details in her spoiler review. (Boogenhagen is doing all the heavy lifting for me today in my reviews! Thanks, Boogenhagen!)
March 26, 2017
A heroine who makes it with two brothers? I thought that was strictly Carole Mortimer's territory lol.
Forbidden fruit indeed! When the heroine's fiance dies and she finds herself pregnant, the dead fiance's older brother steps in for a marriage of convenience so that the baby, future heir to the family fortune, won't be born a bastard.
This story started out well, with a slow burn between the hero and heroine but the second half, dealing with the MOC fell flat and rushed. This would have benefited from a more drawn out plot but alas Harlequin page constraints must have dictated a neatly tied up ending with the heroine realizing, OUT OF THE FREAKING BLUE, that she loved her convenient husband and the hero's jealousy pushing him to make his ILY confession.
Forbidden fruit indeed! When the heroine's fiance dies and she finds herself pregnant, the dead fiance's older brother steps in for a marriage of convenience so that the baby, future heir to the family fortune, won't be born a bastard.
This story started out well, with a slow burn between the hero and heroine but the second half, dealing with the MOC fell flat and rushed. This would have benefited from a more drawn out plot but alas Harlequin page constraints must have dictated a neatly tied up ending with the heroine realizing, OUT OF THE FREAKING BLUE, that she loved her convenient husband and the hero's jealousy pushing him to make his ILY confession.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 30, 2019
If you can get past the fact that the heroine Leonie was engaged to marry one brother, but then married the older brother when the other died, and she’s having the dead brothers baby then this might be for you. I was not too keen.
Leonie is portrayed as an unassuming shy girl, I quite liked her. I also didn’t mind Giles the brother she ended up marrying. It just seemed a bit off that they married when she’d been with the younger brother. Initially she’d been treated like crap by the family when she was first introduced to them and was engaged to Malcom, they looked down on her as not in their class, the mother was very unpleasant to her. Yet after Giles insisted they marry (for the baby’s sake) she was expected to live in the same house with the mother, who quite honestly was a rather pathetic character. I’m not keen on the hero’s in my romances living with their mother is smacks of them being a mummy’s boy. In fact he used his mothers grief at losing her youngest son and her depression as one of the reasons why Leonie should marry him, along with legal threats.
Overall this wasn’t a bad story it was obviously restricted by the page count that the author is limited to. I thought this is one of those stories that needed an epilogue, as the ending was very unsatisfactory IMO.
Leonie is portrayed as an unassuming shy girl, I quite liked her. I also didn’t mind Giles the brother she ended up marrying. It just seemed a bit off that they married when she’d been with the younger brother. Initially she’d been treated like crap by the family when she was first introduced to them and was engaged to Malcom, they looked down on her as not in their class, the mother was very unpleasant to her. Yet after Giles insisted they marry (for the baby’s sake) she was expected to live in the same house with the mother, who quite honestly was a rather pathetic character. I’m not keen on the hero’s in my romances living with their mother is smacks of them being a mummy’s boy. In fact he used his mothers grief at losing her youngest son and her depression as one of the reasons why Leonie should marry him, along with legal threats.
Overall this wasn’t a bad story it was obviously restricted by the page count that the author is limited to. I thought this is one of those stories that needed an epilogue, as the ending was very unsatisfactory IMO.
December 25, 2024
Kyaaa this one made my toes curl!!♥️♥️♥️
We have the sexy hero Giles Kent mooning over his brother’s beautiful fiancé, Leonie and even takes the necessary manipulative/ but desperate steps to claim her and her unborn child. This one is a classic keeper by Charlotte Lamb, we have Giles & Leonie in absolute agony for each other. Ah, I love a hero that goes after his heart no matter what. I also love the way he so shamelessly made a pass at Leonie while she was together with his brother. I mean he is that old school I don’t give a fu** type of hero. I loved this book to pieces!!♥️♥️♥️
We have the sexy hero Giles Kent mooning over his brother’s beautiful fiancé, Leonie and even takes the necessary manipulative/ but desperate steps to claim her and her unborn child. This one is a classic keeper by Charlotte Lamb, we have Giles & Leonie in absolute agony for each other. Ah, I love a hero that goes after his heart no matter what. I also love the way he so shamelessly made a pass at Leonie while she was together with his brother. I mean he is that old school I don’t give a fu** type of hero. I loved this book to pieces!!♥️♥️♥️
June 22, 2015
A very nice old unrequited love story where the older brother falls in love with the younger brother's fiance and then has to be nasty to her to hide his feelings. It had a bit of everything. Blackmail, forced marriage etc. Fun and worth the read for vintage HP fans.
December 21, 2011
I really enjoyed this book. It's a harlequin presents extra so there are a few more pages than the normal 188 hp book (about 15 extra pages). The heroine, Leonie was engaged to the hero, Giles, younger brother. From the moment he set eyes on her, Giles was in love. I think part of Leoni's appeal for the younger brother was in the fact that he knew Giles would desire her.
*spoilers spoilers spoilers*
Giles cam from a snobbish wealthy family who didn't think Leonie was suitable to marry into their family. Giles used that when he attempted to buy(?) and threaten Leonie to stay away from his younger brother. A short time before the weddings of Leonie and Giles' s younger brotherbrother, the YB is sent away for work. Unfortunately he had an accident and died. Giles was given the responsibility of telling Leonie of his passing. Leonie is very emotional upon hearing of the death of her fiancee. A few weeks after burying her former fiancée, Leonie's girl friend talks her into taking a vacation.
While in Spain, Leonie and her friend happen to run into Giles. Leonie was shocked to see Giles that she passed out. Now of course Giles planned to meet Leonie there but she was unaware of the fact. Anyway, she sees a doctor for her fainting spell and finds out she is pregnant. When Giles finds out about Leonie's pregnancy, he forces her to marry him. Leonie is very resistant to marrying Giles but then he threatens to take custody of the child so she relents. I won't tell you any more since I don't want to give away the entire story. This book made me a little weepy, it's worth 3.75 stars.
*spoilers spoilers spoilers*
Giles cam from a snobbish wealthy family who didn't think Leonie was suitable to marry into their family. Giles used that when he attempted to buy(?) and threaten Leonie to stay away from his younger brother. A short time before the weddings of Leonie and Giles' s younger brotherbrother, the YB is sent away for work. Unfortunately he had an accident and died. Giles was given the responsibility of telling Leonie of his passing. Leonie is very emotional upon hearing of the death of her fiancee. A few weeks after burying her former fiancée, Leonie's girl friend talks her into taking a vacation.
While in Spain, Leonie and her friend happen to run into Giles. Leonie was shocked to see Giles that she passed out. Now of course Giles planned to meet Leonie there but she was unaware of the fact. Anyway, she sees a doctor for her fainting spell and finds out she is pregnant. When Giles finds out about Leonie's pregnancy, he forces her to marry him. Leonie is very resistant to marrying Giles but then he threatens to take custody of the child so she relents. I won't tell you any more since I don't want to give away the entire story. This book made me a little weepy, it's worth 3.75 stars.
March 12, 2021
I came upon this book after reading Lucy Gordon’s His Brother’s Child. A reviewer remarked that the premise of these two books were basically the same...they were correct. IMO this book was slightly better with its more vintage feel. Our poor h and H never even get a chance to consummate their union before the book ends(what good are nannies if they aren’t there to get the baby during the hot and heavy moments between husband and wife?🤷🏻♀️)
These two books are different enough that if you like the “keeping it in the family theme” I think it will be enjoyed. Even though we don’t get the hero’s POV ...he declares all at the end of the book in a very passionate confession . Throughout the story you just know he is in turmoil over the h.
Boogenhagen gives a very thorough review, so I won’t bother going into a huge retell...plus Ivwoke up early to finish the book and now it’s time for work! Enjoy!!!
These two books are different enough that if you like the “keeping it in the family theme” I think it will be enjoyed. Even though we don’t get the hero’s POV ...he declares all at the end of the book in a very passionate confession . Throughout the story you just know he is in turmoil over the h.
Boogenhagen gives a very thorough review, so I won’t bother going into a huge retell...plus Ivwoke up early to finish the book and now it’s time for work! Enjoy!!!
April 3, 2024
Four starring because this is very much the two brothers one h archetype and therefore my catnip. In this case the h Leonie Priestley was due to marry the younger brother, Malcolm (rookie error) when he is killed and stern older brother Giles steps in to force marriage because she's pregnant. Amazeballs. HP h had sex before marriage and sex with someone other than the H. And a brother to boot. You have to be able to get past the squick factor, it's true. Didn't quite fulfil its potential (not as good as Michelle Reid's Marriage on the Rebound, to my mind the uber 2 brothers story on my reading travels thus far, wish RD had done one). Nevertheless very competent. Tiptoed right up to lactation kink as well. Shame no consummation and the ending was a little abrupt.
May 7, 2022
I'm going back to review all these CL books because I've actually read them all and can't fully remember. As others noted, this was the exact same prompt as Michelle Reid's Marriage on the Rebound, which was perfecto (as far as I can remember). This one falls a little short, because CL was still trying to work out how to resolve heroine's feelings towards the hero in these books, and opted for the "why, I'm in love with him" reveal, which is quite lazy to me. I didn't buy it, and though this is vintage and must be forgiven for its times, I'm against equating love with lust, which was clearly what Leonie was feeling. It seemed a clear case of postpartum hormones, and I simply didn't buy that she was that into him.
August 11, 2016
This novel was down right emotional. One thing after another happened and then at the end, the hero grovelled and almost made himself worthy in my eyes. The only thing that would of given this novel a higher rating would of been an epilogue.
May 24, 2025
I read it in two days. Because of course it’s Charlotte Lamb. A description of beautiful times. A more easy life.
I hated the fact that the heroine was in love with one man and went on to have his baby but married his elder brother because the fiancé died.
The hero took one look at her and fell into deep lust. It might have made a better story if he had pursued her and made her his.
It might have made a better story if she had been having his baby.
But no. She was deeply in love with a bright, happy, shallow younger son.
He died in a skiing accident days before the wedding. So his forbidding and grim elder brother stepped in when she was seven months pregnant and married her.
What my biggest grudge is that the heroine discovered her feelings at 65% of the book.
She never liked the hero. She was forced into the marriage. Then she was in love.
It was all too untidy and real for me.
I read romance to read a fairy tale. Both should love and adore deeply.
It was shocking to me how soon she forgot her fiancé. Within a few months.
Too shallow for me. What’s to say that her feelings for her husband aren’t as shallow.
Yes. Another thing. The author writes- It had been months since she had been in a man’s arms.
That truly turned me off. Any man would have done?? She needed a man. The hero was conveniently present.
But the vintage flavour. The description of that life kept me reading.
So that’s my assessment.
Take a look at it.
I wish they would bring out the paperbacks again so we can buy them.
Specially “Temptation” by this author.
I hated the fact that the heroine was in love with one man and went on to have his baby but married his elder brother because the fiancé died.
The hero took one look at her and fell into deep lust. It might have made a better story if he had pursued her and made her his.
It might have made a better story if she had been having his baby.
But no. She was deeply in love with a bright, happy, shallow younger son.
He died in a skiing accident days before the wedding. So his forbidding and grim elder brother stepped in when she was seven months pregnant and married her.
What my biggest grudge is that the heroine discovered her feelings at 65% of the book.
She never liked the hero. She was forced into the marriage. Then she was in love.
It was all too untidy and real for me.
I read romance to read a fairy tale. Both should love and adore deeply.
It was shocking to me how soon she forgot her fiancé. Within a few months.
Too shallow for me. What’s to say that her feelings for her husband aren’t as shallow.
Yes. Another thing. The author writes- It had been months since she had been in a man’s arms.
That truly turned me off. Any man would have done?? She needed a man. The hero was conveniently present.
But the vintage flavour. The description of that life kept me reading.
So that’s my assessment.
Take a look at it.
I wish they would bring out the paperbacks again so we can buy them.
Specially “Temptation” by this author.
December 30, 2021
Loved the characters and the settings and the plot. However, let's be clear. She was awfully gullible, especially since she worked in a law office. She could have asked one of the attorneys whether H's claim he would be the obvious guardian for her unborn child had any water. Of course the H would have stewardship over the kid's trust fund, but that is a very long way from being the guardian.
She probably had a dim inkling they would be happy together when she accepted his blackmail into marriage proposal.
She probably had a dim inkling they would be happy together when she accepted his blackmail into marriage proposal.
October 13, 2019
I definitely think this has an example of a woman sexually harassing a man. Doesn't make up for the multiple examples of the reverse, but it's interesting to read in light of major changes in social mores
in the 2010s, that I hope are permanent.
in the 2010s, that I hope are permanent.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 12, 2021
I liked Marriage on the Rebound by Michelle Reid better! It had more angst and feels!
February 17, 2025
WOW! This will be a reread x 10 for sure.
Engaging and fast paced. Lots of misunderstandings, grief, angst and unrequited love.
A great read
Engaging and fast paced. Lots of misunderstandings, grief, angst and unrequited love.
A great read
July 27, 2025
h was to marry H's brother and has his child, the useless brother dies and the H gets himself Barbie and his nephew. WTF
January 24, 2026
3.5 stars
This quietly intense story has a trope that I don't like, but overall, I liked this.
This quietly intense story has a trope that I don't like, but overall, I liked this.
January 22, 2025
Pregnant MFC is blackmailed/threatened (on very dubious claims, which she was too stupid to run past the lawyer for whom she worked) into marrying her dead fiance's nasty brother, who subjects her to icy sneers because he secretly loves her ... as a true hero does, of course. (Insert eyeroll.) Their relationship is confrontational and adversarial, with no romance whatsoever until the very end (which comes uncomfortably close to marital rape) when he suddenly tosses out an ILY. I didn't buy that she'd fallen in love with him - lust, sure.
August 9, 2010
Sampe nggak inget udah baca buku ini berapa kali. Sesuatu yang terlarang emang biasanya seru ya. Hmpfh!
August 30, 2010
My review: http://bit.ly/dvTOdH
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July 2, 2012This one didn't work as well for me as the last Lamb, it is a bit more of a traditional Mills & Boon.
December 11, 2016
Satu jam kelar
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