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An Inconvenient Husband
Divorce solution
It wasn't that Nicky hadn't loved her husband—quite the opposite. By leaving, Nicky had hoped to provoke some kind of reaction. Blake Chandler was the strong and silent type. He didn't show much emotion behind those impassive gray eyes. Of course, Nicky's plan had misfired—Blake had been only too happy to sign the divorce papers.
Now, four years later, Nicky is abducted by her ex, and this time Blake is far from silent about his feelings.
It wasn't that Nicky hadn't loved her husband—quite the opposite. By leaving, Nicky had hoped to provoke some kind of reaction. Blake Chandler was the strong and silent type. He didn't show much emotion behind those impassive gray eyes. Of course, Nicky's plan had misfired—Blake had been only too happy to sign the divorce papers.
Now, four years later, Nicky is abducted by her ex, and this time Blake is far from silent about his feelings.
192 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 1997
6 people are currently reading
93 people want to read
About the author
Karen van der Zee
94 books41 followersI always wanted to write, ever since I was a child growing up in Holland. I was a dreamer, reading books and making up my own stories. I had notebooks full of stories which I illustrated with crayon drawings. My brothers burned the notebooks in the attic one day, fortunately not burning down the house. They don’t remember this now, but I do!
I also always wanted to travel. Holland is very flat and I wanted to see mountains and coconut palms and tropical beaches and deserts. I wanted to meet interesting people and learn about different cultures and see how people lived their daily lives. And then I wanted to write adventurous stories set in these exotic places
I got lucky and fell in love with a globetrotting American. I met him in Amsterdam, he asked me to marry him in Rome, and we tied the knot in a ten-minute ceremony in Kenya, East Africa, where he was a Peace Corps Volunteer. Some wedding that was! Not the stuff of romantic dreams, but really good for a laugh.
After Kenya we lived in the States for a while, then four years in Ghana, West Africa where not only our first daughter was born, but my first Mills & Boon romance as well. It took me a year to write, which is three months longer than it takes to have a baby. It was set in Ghana, and I called it SWEET NOT ALWAYS, a slogan found on a big colorfully decorated truck that transported people, goods, and live chickens.
I continued writing romances and loved the creativity of it, although it was, and is, never easy. Later we also lived in Indonesia, Ramallah (Palestine), then another three years in Ghana, and most recently six years in Armenia, which lies east of Turkey and north of Iran. Along the way we acquired a couple more kids, so now we have three.
I’ve written over thirty books now, many set in exotic locations such as Bali, Thailand, Malaysia, Java, Kenya and Ghana, as well as Holland and the US. Writing as Mona van Wieren, I received a RITA for a Silhouette Romance entitled RHAPSODY IN BLOOM.
I love the challenge of living in a foreign country where the food is different, the people interesting and life gives me endless inspiration for my writing. So, I’ll just keep going for a while.
I also always wanted to travel. Holland is very flat and I wanted to see mountains and coconut palms and tropical beaches and deserts. I wanted to meet interesting people and learn about different cultures and see how people lived their daily lives. And then I wanted to write adventurous stories set in these exotic places
I got lucky and fell in love with a globetrotting American. I met him in Amsterdam, he asked me to marry him in Rome, and we tied the knot in a ten-minute ceremony in Kenya, East Africa, where he was a Peace Corps Volunteer. Some wedding that was! Not the stuff of romantic dreams, but really good for a laugh.
After Kenya we lived in the States for a while, then four years in Ghana, West Africa where not only our first daughter was born, but my first Mills & Boon romance as well. It took me a year to write, which is three months longer than it takes to have a baby. It was set in Ghana, and I called it SWEET NOT ALWAYS, a slogan found on a big colorfully decorated truck that transported people, goods, and live chickens.
I continued writing romances and loved the creativity of it, although it was, and is, never easy. Later we also lived in Indonesia, Ramallah (Palestine), then another three years in Ghana, and most recently six years in Armenia, which lies east of Turkey and north of Iran. Along the way we acquired a couple more kids, so now we have three.
I’ve written over thirty books now, many set in exotic locations such as Bali, Thailand, Malaysia, Java, Kenya and Ghana, as well as Holland and the US. Writing as Mona van Wieren, I received a RITA for a Silhouette Romance entitled RHAPSODY IN BLOOM.
I love the challenge of living in a foreign country where the food is different, the people interesting and life gives me endless inspiration for my writing. So, I’ll just keep going for a while.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
December 8, 2018
Re An Inconvenient Husband - Karen van der Zee's final HP voyage is a second chance romance.
The h in this one is 27 and writes published articles on local foods as travels the world. She married the H in a whirlwind courtship six years before the book starts.
They parted two years later when the H's constant travel for his job, (like most KvdZ characters he works for the World Bank and does humanitarian work in various places,) and a huge breakdown in marital communication led the h to file for divorce.
When the story starts, the h is in Kuala Lumpur visiting her newly widowed father when she runs into the H at a party. It is a tense meeting because the h is still massively in love with the H, tho she believes that he doesn't even think about her.
We get a little flashback where we learn that the H was not very communicative during the marriage. He never told the h he loved her, when he went on trips he never said he missed her and the h was much more verbal about things than he was. She has a huge flair for the dramatic and the H is very pragmatic, so the two of them have vastly different ways of expression and it leads to big misunderstandings.
Eventually the h began testing the H, by deliberately being gone when he was home and when the h never said anything or complained, the h assumed that she was more a convenient food cooker and bed partner than a real marital partner.
In her desperation to force the H to communicate, she filed for divorce instead of flat out asking what was up with him and the H just let her go, because he felt he showed his love for the h by going along with what he thinks her actions say she wants.
Now they are face to face again and the Lurve Force Mojo tension is rising, along with the frustration of failed communication and a destroyed marriage.
Then the h almost gets kidnapped when dubious characters who want to do business with the h's father think she might be a good bargaining tool. The H manages to get her away from the bad guys, but the h believes she has lost her passport and her purse with her cash and credit cards is left behind.
The H takes her to a friend's place in the jungle and the h and H slowly start to reconnect. We learn that the H and h both took individual rights and freedoms very seriously.
(The H was determined that he wouldn't fetter the h by making demands or imposing restrictions on how the h was doing things. The h was determined to let the H travel at will. She was in still in school when they first married and she expected to travel with the H when she graduated, but the H never asked her and she couldn't figure out how to talk about it. )
When the long time housekeeper of the home they are staying at fails to tell them about a damaged telephone because she is afraid she will be fired, the H is at a loss to understand her fear. He figures the housekeeper should just know that she wouldn't be there if she wasn't valued and the h has to explain that the housekeeper needs to be verbally told how important she is.
This little scene beautifully illustrates the differences in their thinking and the causes that led up to their marriage. As the time passes in the present, they are still locked into their old behavior patterns.
The H expects the h to magically osmose his mental wishes that they could get back together and the h gets more and more frustrated because she throws out how he did not seem to care if she was around or not and the H blows her off.
There is the added tension of a wanna be OW who tries to warn the h off and both the H and h are having nightmares about the demise of their relationship. There is some intense bickering as the two just seem to continue their miscommunications, but eventually the Lurve Force Mojo takes over when the h tries to leave. Her car breaks down in the jungle and they have a boudoir purple passion moment.
The H and h are now aware that they are both still intensely attracted, but the h is convinced that it is temporary. She believes that the H cheated on her during their marriage because when she would call him at all hours of the night when he was supposed to be home, the H was never there.
The h never asked him where he was when she did talk to him, she just assumed he was with another woman and therefore all women were just interchangeable to him. The H believes the h just did not want to be married anymore and maybe she was cheating on him and so he let her go.
When the h finds her supposedly missing passport in the H's things, the big confrontation moment is at hand. The h finally spells out her grievances about the marriage and the H finally gets that he needs to use his words to tell the h that he does love her and does want to be married to her.
Nobody cheated on anybody either. The H did not like being in their house without the h, so he booked into a hotel by his work so he wouldn't be lonely wandering around an empty home. The h was too busy fretting over the H and his lack of communication to be with anyone else and the H finally gets that he was supposed to chase after the h when she filed for divorce.
The h is sorry she did not use her words either. Cause had she just sat the H down and spelled out her issues in excruciating detail and not let the H get up until he could verbalize a full understanding of how to communicate wither her, then the h wouldn't have set such foolish tests of devotion and whole lot of legal fees could have been avoided.
Now that all the issues are aired out and talked about, the H and h declare they still love each other and are getting remarried. They both decide to use their words on a daily basis and everybody is going to impose theirs wishes on everybody, so that we can all be assured that all parties are being heard and needs are being met for a very nice HEA.
This one was well done. KvdZ writes situations that are eerily close to real life and the way these two approached, avoided and then finally discussed and resolved their problems was very believable in a real world way.
It is also a very mellow HP outing, so those who like more drama and angst are not going find a surfeit of it here. KvdZ has the everyday married people plots down well and her last HPlandia outing before moving over to HP Subscriptoria is a fine example of it.
The h in this one is 27 and writes published articles on local foods as travels the world. She married the H in a whirlwind courtship six years before the book starts.
They parted two years later when the H's constant travel for his job, (like most KvdZ characters he works for the World Bank and does humanitarian work in various places,) and a huge breakdown in marital communication led the h to file for divorce.
When the story starts, the h is in Kuala Lumpur visiting her newly widowed father when she runs into the H at a party. It is a tense meeting because the h is still massively in love with the H, tho she believes that he doesn't even think about her.
We get a little flashback where we learn that the H was not very communicative during the marriage. He never told the h he loved her, when he went on trips he never said he missed her and the h was much more verbal about things than he was. She has a huge flair for the dramatic and the H is very pragmatic, so the two of them have vastly different ways of expression and it leads to big misunderstandings.
Eventually the h began testing the H, by deliberately being gone when he was home and when the h never said anything or complained, the h assumed that she was more a convenient food cooker and bed partner than a real marital partner.
In her desperation to force the H to communicate, she filed for divorce instead of flat out asking what was up with him and the H just let her go, because he felt he showed his love for the h by going along with what he thinks her actions say she wants.
Now they are face to face again and the Lurve Force Mojo tension is rising, along with the frustration of failed communication and a destroyed marriage.
Then the h almost gets kidnapped when dubious characters who want to do business with the h's father think she might be a good bargaining tool. The H manages to get her away from the bad guys, but the h believes she has lost her passport and her purse with her cash and credit cards is left behind.
The H takes her to a friend's place in the jungle and the h and H slowly start to reconnect. We learn that the H and h both took individual rights and freedoms very seriously.
(The H was determined that he wouldn't fetter the h by making demands or imposing restrictions on how the h was doing things. The h was determined to let the H travel at will. She was in still in school when they first married and she expected to travel with the H when she graduated, but the H never asked her and she couldn't figure out how to talk about it. )
When the long time housekeeper of the home they are staying at fails to tell them about a damaged telephone because she is afraid she will be fired, the H is at a loss to understand her fear. He figures the housekeeper should just know that she wouldn't be there if she wasn't valued and the h has to explain that the housekeeper needs to be verbally told how important she is.
This little scene beautifully illustrates the differences in their thinking and the causes that led up to their marriage. As the time passes in the present, they are still locked into their old behavior patterns.
The H expects the h to magically osmose his mental wishes that they could get back together and the h gets more and more frustrated because she throws out how he did not seem to care if she was around or not and the H blows her off.
There is the added tension of a wanna be OW who tries to warn the h off and both the H and h are having nightmares about the demise of their relationship. There is some intense bickering as the two just seem to continue their miscommunications, but eventually the Lurve Force Mojo takes over when the h tries to leave. Her car breaks down in the jungle and they have a boudoir purple passion moment.
The H and h are now aware that they are both still intensely attracted, but the h is convinced that it is temporary. She believes that the H cheated on her during their marriage because when she would call him at all hours of the night when he was supposed to be home, the H was never there.
The h never asked him where he was when she did talk to him, she just assumed he was with another woman and therefore all women were just interchangeable to him. The H believes the h just did not want to be married anymore and maybe she was cheating on him and so he let her go.
When the h finds her supposedly missing passport in the H's things, the big confrontation moment is at hand. The h finally spells out her grievances about the marriage and the H finally gets that he needs to use his words to tell the h that he does love her and does want to be married to her.
Nobody cheated on anybody either. The H did not like being in their house without the h, so he booked into a hotel by his work so he wouldn't be lonely wandering around an empty home. The h was too busy fretting over the H and his lack of communication to be with anyone else and the H finally gets that he was supposed to chase after the h when she filed for divorce.
The h is sorry she did not use her words either. Cause had she just sat the H down and spelled out her issues in excruciating detail and not let the H get up until he could verbalize a full understanding of how to communicate wither her, then the h wouldn't have set such foolish tests of devotion and whole lot of legal fees could have been avoided.
Now that all the issues are aired out and talked about, the H and h declare they still love each other and are getting remarried. They both decide to use their words on a daily basis and everybody is going to impose theirs wishes on everybody, so that we can all be assured that all parties are being heard and needs are being met for a very nice HEA.
This one was well done. KvdZ writes situations that are eerily close to real life and the way these two approached, avoided and then finally discussed and resolved their problems was very believable in a real world way.
It is also a very mellow HP outing, so those who like more drama and angst are not going find a surfeit of it here. KvdZ has the everyday married people plots down well and her last HPlandia outing before moving over to HP Subscriptoria is a fine example of it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 17, 2014
A very raw, very real portrayal of a marriage that is destroyed when two people play games and refuse to communicate with each other. One is motivated by pride, the other is plagued with insecurities, but both love each other madly.
This is a second chance at love and a HEA. I thought this story was very well done and one of the better HPs I have come across. It is subtle without a lot of tension, but yet very powerful. I was frustrated at times watching them carelessly throw away something so precious, but the unfortunate reality is many people do.
They were lucky for a chance to find each other again. This book was a gentle reminder of how precious the gift of love truly is and how important it is to move heaven and earth to protect and cherish it.
4.5 stars
This is a second chance at love and a HEA. I thought this story was very well done and one of the better HPs I have come across. It is subtle without a lot of tension, but yet very powerful. I was frustrated at times watching them carelessly throw away something so precious, but the unfortunate reality is many people do.
They were lucky for a chance to find each other again. This book was a gentle reminder of how precious the gift of love truly is and how important it is to move heaven and earth to protect and cherish it.
4.5 stars
December 9, 2018
3.5/4 stars
I really liked this one a lot. It just needed an extra chapter--or, at the very least, an excellent epilogue--to wrap it up in a satisfactory way.
I especially needed the OW to get a soul-crushing "OH YOU'RE THE LITTLE EX-WIFEY SOON TO BE RE-MARRIED WIFEY" moment. Needed that.
******
Epilogue:
Nicky danced around the kitchen in Blake's button-down shirt. She had prepared a delicious breakfast for her soon-to-be-2nd-husband. Also, for her ex-first-husband. And the man she loved with all of her heart.
She put fresh mango juice on the outdoor patio table. Tropical flowers surrounded the secluded spot, and butterflies fluttered lazily in the tropical sunshine. Suddenly, a pair of strong masculine arms wrapped around her.
"Um. Delicious." Blake nuzzled the back of her neck, and Nicky sagged within his embrace.
"The mango juice?" she whispered huskily.
"Not the mango juice, Nicky. You. You are my favorite treat."
Just at that exact moment, Ghita walked onto the terrace and gasped.
"Oh. Excuse me. I thought this...you know...woman...would be gone already." She rolled her eyes and tapped her high heel sandal on the stone floor.
"Nicky will never be gone. She's the woman I've always loved. We'll be remarried within the week."
Blake spun Nicky in his arms and kissed her passionately, completely ignoring a stunned Ghita.
"Remarried! This cannot be true!"
Nicky rested her head against Blake's rock-hard chest. "It's true. We made so many mistakes in the past. Ones that pretty much could have been cleared up with a sentence or two. Instead we refused to speak to each other. But...those days are over. Now, we have opened up our hearts and souls to each other."
"Ugh." Ghita looked mad enough to spit.
"Sorry, Ghita. This man's taken. Forever." Nicky sent her a possessive and irritated look. "Do you mind leaving us in privacy? We are about to have an intimate breakfast."
Blake chuckled. "Indeed."
Ghita growled and stormed off the terrace.
"I thought she'd never leave," Blake said.
"Time for your favorite treat," Nicky replied helpfully.
And they lived happily ever after, with plenty of juicy mangoes.
THE END
I really liked this one a lot. It just needed an extra chapter--or, at the very least, an excellent epilogue--to wrap it up in a satisfactory way.
I especially needed the OW to get a soul-crushing "OH YOU'RE THE LITTLE EX-WIFEY SOON TO BE RE-MARRIED WIFEY" moment. Needed that.
******
Epilogue:
Nicky danced around the kitchen in Blake's button-down shirt. She had prepared a delicious breakfast for her soon-to-be-2nd-husband. Also, for her ex-first-husband. And the man she loved with all of her heart.
She put fresh mango juice on the outdoor patio table. Tropical flowers surrounded the secluded spot, and butterflies fluttered lazily in the tropical sunshine. Suddenly, a pair of strong masculine arms wrapped around her.
"Um. Delicious." Blake nuzzled the back of her neck, and Nicky sagged within his embrace.
"The mango juice?" she whispered huskily.
"Not the mango juice, Nicky. You. You are my favorite treat."
Just at that exact moment, Ghita walked onto the terrace and gasped.
"Oh. Excuse me. I thought this...you know...woman...would be gone already." She rolled her eyes and tapped her high heel sandal on the stone floor.
"Nicky will never be gone. She's the woman I've always loved. We'll be remarried within the week."
Blake spun Nicky in his arms and kissed her passionately, completely ignoring a stunned Ghita.
"Remarried! This cannot be true!"
Nicky rested her head against Blake's rock-hard chest. "It's true. We made so many mistakes in the past. Ones that pretty much could have been cleared up with a sentence or two. Instead we refused to speak to each other. But...those days are over. Now, we have opened up our hearts and souls to each other."
"Ugh." Ghita looked mad enough to spit.
"Sorry, Ghita. This man's taken. Forever." Nicky sent her a possessive and irritated look. "Do you mind leaving us in privacy? We are about to have an intimate breakfast."
Blake chuckled. "Indeed."
Ghita growled and stormed off the terrace.
"I thought she'd never leave," Blake said.
"Time for your favorite treat," Nicky replied helpfully.
And they lived happily ever after, with plenty of juicy mangoes.
THE END
April 19, 2022
HAIKU BOOK REVIEW: An Inconvenient Husband, by Karen Van Der Zee.
Like in Cool Hand Luke,
What we’ve got here is failure
To communicate.
Like in Cool Hand Luke,
What we’ve got here is failure
To communicate.
May 22, 2017
Heroine not celibate during separation not sure about hero.
April 7, 2024
The first time I read this my review was different but thanks (or no thanks) to Amazon never posted it.
This second reading I got more feelings from the couple, understood their points of view and enjoyed the story a 100% more.
It’s a one school HQN but one worth reading.
This second reading I got more feelings from the couple, understood their points of view and enjoyed the story a 100% more.
It’s a one school HQN but one worth reading.
October 18, 2013
The heart desires to be loved and wanted. And often a lack of communication can play havoc in the lives of two people who are immensely in love with each other. This is such a "real" story. It has happened to so many people we know but life is cruel and we seldom get a second chance to clear the air. We seldom get a second chance at love. So we spend our life in anguish, filling our heart with hatred and resentment.
We are introduced to Blake, the strong, silent , responsible type, who didn't express himself with words. Not the romantic sort who whispers sweet nothings on the telephone. He let his marriage apart, and let the woman he loved the most, his wife, Nicky go by granting her the divorce without a fight. Why? Because he was too stupid. He allowed pride to come in the way.
Nicky is just like one of us. I could totally relate to her insecurities. She is madly in love with her husband. She is blissfully happy though her husband Blake is often away on business trips. Initially all is fine. But soon she becomes insecure. They are away from each away for months. She starts fearing he never loves her and doesn't feel needed. So to shake him up a little, she leaves him and files for a divorce.
We make so many mistakes. We try to test the other person's love, to prove it for us on our terms. But sadly we forget to mention the rules to the other person and it often ends in a disaster and is often fatal. It often rings the death knell for the marriage.
I really, really loved the hero, Blake. (Reminds me of William Blake, ah another brooding Romantic poet)I loved the last chapter when both Blake and Nicky clear the air. It all felt so real, so sincere, so heartfelt. It brought tears into my eyes.
It's so unfair to let two people drift apart because of lack of verbal communication. So many years wasted... but I guess the years apart and a second chance at love makes them value each other even more and strengthens the bond of love even more.
Highly recommended.
We are introduced to Blake, the strong, silent , responsible type, who didn't express himself with words. Not the romantic sort who whispers sweet nothings on the telephone. He let his marriage apart, and let the woman he loved the most, his wife, Nicky go by granting her the divorce without a fight. Why? Because he was too stupid. He allowed pride to come in the way.
Nicky is just like one of us. I could totally relate to her insecurities. She is madly in love with her husband. She is blissfully happy though her husband Blake is often away on business trips. Initially all is fine. But soon she becomes insecure. They are away from each away for months. She starts fearing he never loves her and doesn't feel needed. So to shake him up a little, she leaves him and files for a divorce.
We make so many mistakes. We try to test the other person's love, to prove it for us on our terms. But sadly we forget to mention the rules to the other person and it often ends in a disaster and is often fatal. It often rings the death knell for the marriage.
I really, really loved the hero, Blake. (Reminds me of William Blake, ah another brooding Romantic poet)I loved the last chapter when both Blake and Nicky clear the air. It all felt so real, so sincere, so heartfelt. It brought tears into my eyes.
It's so unfair to let two people drift apart because of lack of verbal communication. So many years wasted... but I guess the years apart and a second chance at love makes them value each other even more and strengthens the bond of love even more.
Highly recommended.
May 21, 2011
This was an interesting read,the couples are divorced based on so many misunderstandings,hero is always on business trips and heroin is left alone never a word of love is spoken by hubby which leads wife thinking he does'nt loves her ,in the start of their marraige wife keeps saying she loves him but cause of lack of response she stops saying which leads hubby to think now she does'nt loves him thus the divorce but now after 4 years heroin's life is threatened and hero is back they spent some times in Jungle which makes them realise that their divorce was based on minsunderstandings everything is cleared and we have HEA
the story had me interested cause it makes us realise how expressing love in words is so important,lack of communication and expression also shatters a relation
Good read
Recommend it
the story had me interested cause it makes us realise how expressing love in words is so important,lack of communication and expression also shatters a relation
Good read
Recommend it
May 31, 2025
3.5 stars Raw, emotional, full of regret, with a great Malaysian setting. Just needed a little more joy and happiness, especially towards the end.
August 15, 2025
nunca odie tanto a la protagonista de un libro como a esta, ahhhhh que violencia me provocó
November 12, 2024
The title should have been, "A Tale of Two Nincompoops"!
This is another of those wasted potential books. I liked the h's interest in food, recipes from different countries, her freelance articles about culinary experiences in different places, etc., and there was also an air of intrigue, with her father's business involvement with some unscrupulous people, and a "friendly" kidnapping (kidnapped by the H to prevent her being kidnapped by the villains), enough to make for an entertaining story.
But it wasn't.
As far as the "romance" between the H and h (if you can call it that, as it was more of a joke), that was a dismal failure. They were divorced for four years, after a two-year marriage that was one of those "love" (or rather lust) at first sight deals, with the h being too young (barely 21 and still in college) and way too idealistic. She seemed to think that everything would magically fall into place for them, and that she wouldn't be bothered at all by the H having to travel frequently for his work, sometimes having to stay weeks in another country, maybe even a month or two. But that was okay with her! Until it wasn't.
She found her imagination running amok, thinking he didn't miss her, didn't love her (since he never told her he did, that one was understandable), didn't mind their being separated so long, and (worst of all) didn't think he had to stay faithful! Too many late-night calls to his hotel room to find out he's not there convinced her that he may have been occupied elsewhere, in an activity that didn't require clothes! Despite her declaration that everything would fall into place, they'd respect each other's independence, she'd accept his absences the way he'd accept hers in the future (when she graduated and got her own career going), they wouldn't get clingy and demanding, etc., everything flew out the window when insecurities came through the door!
She had some reasons for feeling like she did. The H would no sooner come home than he was taking off again, maybe for a week, maybe for a month or even longer. And when he got home, naturally he'd want to spend a lot of that time in bed with the h, and then enjoying her culinary skills, which were up there with her lovemaking ones (and unlike sex, he didn't teach her how to cook)! So, it's not surprising she felt more like a mistress/chef than a wife.
But did it ever occur to her that freedom also meant the freedom to speak your mind, say how you really feel, be honest when something was bothering you? Apparently not, because instead of confronting him about her feelings, she opts for playing games instead, which shows how much growing up she still had to do.
She decides to take a special cooking class in New York (they live in D.C.), hoping he'd tell her not to, that he'd miss her. Instead, he has no problem with it, so she assumes he doesn't care enough about her. She pulls this same stunt a few more times, and each time he seems indifferent, so she decides on the ultimate ploy to get him to reveal his true feelings: she'll write him a letter saying she wants a divorce! Surely, he'll beg her not to go through with it???
Surely, NOT! He just tells her if that's what she wants, he'll accept it. Well, you may not agree with her actions, but you can't blame her for thinking he never really did care after all, if he's not going to even argue, try to talk to her about her decision, get her to change her mind, ANYTHING! Instead, she got nothing!
Why, you ask? Because in his way, the H was just as foolish as the h, maybe more so, since he was ten years older (but apparently no wiser)! He supposedly had no problem with the long separations because the h had said she didn't mind, that they weren't going to act like conventional couples, they'd respect their freedom to do what they had to do, and so on, so he assumed he could stay away for longer periods of time, and she wouldn't mind. The same went for her classes in New York, extended visits with her parents overseas, staying with her friend in Rome, whatever. He thought that's what she wanted, that she didn't mind not seeing him for such a long time, and he didn't want to seem controlling. As for the divorce, there again, he thought that's what she wanted, and he didn't want to try and hold onto her if she wanted to be free.
What a nice guy! What a thoughtful man!! WHAT A JERK!!!
We're supposed to believe he loves her so much that he was willing to let her go without a fight, to make her happy. COME ON!!!! This kind of behavior is usually reserved for the wimpy beta OM, who knew at the start he never had a chance with the h, but coming from the H it's just plain RIDICULOUS!!! It comes across more like the h was right, and he never did care all that much.
To make things worse, when they meet again, he has a really bad attitude, acting cold and annoyed half the time, then he'll act thoughtful and caring (like remembering her favorite tea, or how much she loves outdoor markets and gardens) but then switch over to indifference, not even wanting to talk to her!
As for the h, she does what so many h's do: gets all snarky (borderline bitchy), and makes a big deal out of her independence, when what she really wants to do is fling herself into his arms and beg him to take her to bed!
And talk about STUPID!!! When they finally get around to discussing their marriage and divorce, it was a case of:
"I only said I wanted a divorce because I thought you'd try and stop me."
"But I didn't try and stop you because I thought you really wanted a divorce."
"But I loved you so much."
"Then why did you start traveling?"
"Because you traveled so much and I wanted you to know how I felt, so I did the same thing."
"But you didn't mind my being away.".
"Yes I did, but I didn't say I did because I thought you wouldn't want to hear that I did."
"But I thought you didn't mind, so I traveled a lot, thinking you didn't care."
"But I did care, I hated being away from you, I thought you didn't mind being away from me."
"But I did mind, I minded a lot."
"Then why didn't you ever tell me you loved me?"
"Because I thought you knew, and you didn't talk about love, either."
"Because I thought you wouldn't want to hear it, because you didn't love me."
"But, Gee!"
"Well, DUH!"
"Um, Uh..."
" Oh Gosh, oh, Golly!"
"OH, BARF!!!!!!!"
Get the idea???? On a ludicrous scale, this book would win the all-time record!
BTW: it's interesting to note that, despite her feelings for the H that never really went away, the h wasn't exactly lonely during those four years, as for at least one of them there was the OM in the picture (never seen, only mentioned in the h's thoughts). It was one of those cases where she was pretty fond of him, but knew she'd never love him, never get close to feeling like she did about the H. However, if she was seeing him for a year, unless this guy was fond of cold showers or was getting his action on the side, doesn't it stand to reason that something more was going on then friendly dinner dates with a quick goodnight kiss? Maybe she didn't get naked with the guy, but perhaps an occasional BJ to make him content? Just a thought. And the fact that she never mentioned him to the H (even when there was a potential OW on the scene) tells you she must have had something to hide.
Interesting, but not enough to save this book!
This is another of those wasted potential books. I liked the h's interest in food, recipes from different countries, her freelance articles about culinary experiences in different places, etc., and there was also an air of intrigue, with her father's business involvement with some unscrupulous people, and a "friendly" kidnapping (kidnapped by the H to prevent her being kidnapped by the villains), enough to make for an entertaining story.
But it wasn't.
As far as the "romance" between the H and h (if you can call it that, as it was more of a joke), that was a dismal failure. They were divorced for four years, after a two-year marriage that was one of those "love" (or rather lust) at first sight deals, with the h being too young (barely 21 and still in college) and way too idealistic. She seemed to think that everything would magically fall into place for them, and that she wouldn't be bothered at all by the H having to travel frequently for his work, sometimes having to stay weeks in another country, maybe even a month or two. But that was okay with her! Until it wasn't.
She found her imagination running amok, thinking he didn't miss her, didn't love her (since he never told her he did, that one was understandable), didn't mind their being separated so long, and (worst of all) didn't think he had to stay faithful! Too many late-night calls to his hotel room to find out he's not there convinced her that he may have been occupied elsewhere, in an activity that didn't require clothes! Despite her declaration that everything would fall into place, they'd respect each other's independence, she'd accept his absences the way he'd accept hers in the future (when she graduated and got her own career going), they wouldn't get clingy and demanding, etc., everything flew out the window when insecurities came through the door!
She had some reasons for feeling like she did. The H would no sooner come home than he was taking off again, maybe for a week, maybe for a month or even longer. And when he got home, naturally he'd want to spend a lot of that time in bed with the h, and then enjoying her culinary skills, which were up there with her lovemaking ones (and unlike sex, he didn't teach her how to cook)! So, it's not surprising she felt more like a mistress/chef than a wife.
But did it ever occur to her that freedom also meant the freedom to speak your mind, say how you really feel, be honest when something was bothering you? Apparently not, because instead of confronting him about her feelings, she opts for playing games instead, which shows how much growing up she still had to do.
She decides to take a special cooking class in New York (they live in D.C.), hoping he'd tell her not to, that he'd miss her. Instead, he has no problem with it, so she assumes he doesn't care enough about her. She pulls this same stunt a few more times, and each time he seems indifferent, so she decides on the ultimate ploy to get him to reveal his true feelings: she'll write him a letter saying she wants a divorce! Surely, he'll beg her not to go through with it???
Surely, NOT! He just tells her if that's what she wants, he'll accept it. Well, you may not agree with her actions, but you can't blame her for thinking he never really did care after all, if he's not going to even argue, try to talk to her about her decision, get her to change her mind, ANYTHING! Instead, she got nothing!
Why, you ask? Because in his way, the H was just as foolish as the h, maybe more so, since he was ten years older (but apparently no wiser)! He supposedly had no problem with the long separations because the h had said she didn't mind, that they weren't going to act like conventional couples, they'd respect their freedom to do what they had to do, and so on, so he assumed he could stay away for longer periods of time, and she wouldn't mind. The same went for her classes in New York, extended visits with her parents overseas, staying with her friend in Rome, whatever. He thought that's what she wanted, that she didn't mind not seeing him for such a long time, and he didn't want to seem controlling. As for the divorce, there again, he thought that's what she wanted, and he didn't want to try and hold onto her if she wanted to be free.
What a nice guy! What a thoughtful man!! WHAT A JERK!!!
We're supposed to believe he loves her so much that he was willing to let her go without a fight, to make her happy. COME ON!!!! This kind of behavior is usually reserved for the wimpy beta OM, who knew at the start he never had a chance with the h, but coming from the H it's just plain RIDICULOUS!!! It comes across more like the h was right, and he never did care all that much.
To make things worse, when they meet again, he has a really bad attitude, acting cold and annoyed half the time, then he'll act thoughtful and caring (like remembering her favorite tea, or how much she loves outdoor markets and gardens) but then switch over to indifference, not even wanting to talk to her!
As for the h, she does what so many h's do: gets all snarky (borderline bitchy), and makes a big deal out of her independence, when what she really wants to do is fling herself into his arms and beg him to take her to bed!
And talk about STUPID!!! When they finally get around to discussing their marriage and divorce, it was a case of:
"I only said I wanted a divorce because I thought you'd try and stop me."
"But I didn't try and stop you because I thought you really wanted a divorce."
"But I loved you so much."
"Then why did you start traveling?"
"Because you traveled so much and I wanted you to know how I felt, so I did the same thing."
"But you didn't mind my being away.".
"Yes I did, but I didn't say I did because I thought you wouldn't want to hear that I did."
"But I thought you didn't mind, so I traveled a lot, thinking you didn't care."
"But I did care, I hated being away from you, I thought you didn't mind being away from me."
"But I did mind, I minded a lot."
"Then why didn't you ever tell me you loved me?"
"Because I thought you knew, and you didn't talk about love, either."
"Because I thought you wouldn't want to hear it, because you didn't love me."
"But, Gee!"
"Well, DUH!"
"Um, Uh..."
" Oh Gosh, oh, Golly!"
"OH, BARF!!!!!!!"
Get the idea???? On a ludicrous scale, this book would win the all-time record!
BTW: it's interesting to note that, despite her feelings for the H that never really went away, the h wasn't exactly lonely during those four years, as for at least one of them there was the OM in the picture (never seen, only mentioned in the h's thoughts). It was one of those cases where she was pretty fond of him, but knew she'd never love him, never get close to feeling like she did about the H. However, if she was seeing him for a year, unless this guy was fond of cold showers or was getting his action on the side, doesn't it stand to reason that something more was going on then friendly dinner dates with a quick goodnight kiss? Maybe she didn't get naked with the guy, but perhaps an occasional BJ to make him content? Just a thought. And the fact that she never mentioned him to the H (even when there was a potential OW on the scene) tells you she must have had something to hide.
Interesting, but not enough to save this book!
January 4, 2012
I really liked the characters in this one, and was happy to see them get their happily ever after. Not a 5-star though because I thought the story was a little too flat -- not enough ups and downs, just sort of meandered along until it finished. Still a decent read though.
April 16, 2021
This book dragged! There needed to be more action and plot!
June 20, 2021
Well written, sympathetic characters and good descriptions of Malaysia in 2nd chance romance. Unfortunately heroine acted stupidly 4 yrs earlier, played games to get her husband to say he missed her, ended up divorced and miserable. He's been miserable too.
This author injects humor too, this time with heroine writing little snippets about food and ex-husbands that are very funny.
This author injects humor too, this time with heroine writing little snippets about food and ex-husbands that are very funny.
May 26, 2022
Loved it. More intense.
Was really good. Char acters so real. A lot of angst but it worked. I really cared and loved the man in it. Never read this author before but will do again. Different to the usual mills and boon but very enjoyable. Emotional.
Was really good. Char acters so real. A lot of angst but it worked. I really cared and loved the man in it. Never read this author before but will do again. Different to the usual mills and boon but very enjoyable. Emotional.
June 26, 2024
It was okay. Well written but the plot is silly. And the characters just needed to SPEAK to each other. Instead of blaming each other. The couple are in denial about their own behavior that caused their divorce. I say skip it.
June 6, 2017
Sounds like a relationship advise. The ending is hurried and flat.
June 9, 2023
Rereads
February 9, 2024
H and h did not talk hence misunderstanding!
June 23, 2024
Loved the H, he deserved better. Book needed an epilogue too.
March 14, 2015
3 1/2 stars for this one.
A chance discovery led me to this and intrigued by the blurb I decided to give it a shot.
Communication is very vital for any relationship be it between parents and children, friends or anyone who's important enough for you in any sphere of your life and who could be more important than a spouse.
Nicky and Blake have a whirlwind romance and quickly get married too, everything is hunky dory in the first year of the marriage. It's when the honeymoon period ends that things start falling apart for them slowly; under the impression that the other person doesn't need/ want me both fail to communicate to each other their true feelings and when one day when Blake receives a letter along with a deed of divorce, he promptly signs the papers without exchanging a word with his wife.
Four years on they meet again under circumstances that bring them together and slowly and steadily the couple discovers how pride and insecurities tore them apart and kept them away from each other all this time when all that was needed was a conversation.
As someone who's very vocal yet unable to express herself at times I could relate to this book and would definitely recommend it to anyone.
Mills & Boons has not been my cup of tea mostly but this one changed my mind and I think I would be looking out for some more of these from the vintage collection for sure.
A chance discovery led me to this and intrigued by the blurb I decided to give it a shot.
Communication is very vital for any relationship be it between parents and children, friends or anyone who's important enough for you in any sphere of your life and who could be more important than a spouse.
Nicky and Blake have a whirlwind romance and quickly get married too, everything is hunky dory in the first year of the marriage. It's when the honeymoon period ends that things start falling apart for them slowly; under the impression that the other person doesn't need/ want me both fail to communicate to each other their true feelings and when one day when Blake receives a letter along with a deed of divorce, he promptly signs the papers without exchanging a word with his wife.
Four years on they meet again under circumstances that bring them together and slowly and steadily the couple discovers how pride and insecurities tore them apart and kept them away from each other all this time when all that was needed was a conversation.
As someone who's very vocal yet unable to express herself at times I could relate to this book and would definitely recommend it to anyone.
Mills & Boons has not been my cup of tea mostly but this one changed my mind and I think I would be looking out for some more of these from the vintage collection for sure.
March 24, 2016
I absolutely loved this book! You could tell that Blake and Nicky really loved each other. I could feel the pain they both went through because of miscommunication. Unfortunately, this really does happen in real life which makes it a more interesting book. Also, both characters were portrayed as nice good people. No one was at fault and no one was out for revenge or punishment. They just tried to communicate and, for the most part, acted decently to each other. You could see how much they still loved one another although at times, past hurts would get in the way. Thank god they cleared it in the end and got their HEA.
abrierto-to-read-hr-other
May 24, 2020It wasn't that Nicky hadn't loved her husband—quite the opposite. By leaving, Nicky had hoped to provoke some kind of reaction. Blake Chandler was the strong and silent type. He didn't show much emotion behind those impassive gray eyes. Of course, Nicky's plan had misfired—Blake had been only too happy to sign the divorce papers.
Now, four years later, Nicky is abducted by her ex, and this time Blake is far from silent about his feelings.
Now, four years later, Nicky is abducted by her ex, and this time Blake is far from silent about his feelings.
July 6, 2011
I really like the way van der Zee explores relationships. Sure, they do border on the melodramatic, but there is a solid foundation of truth within. Communication is so fundamental to a healthy and lasting relationship – Blake and Nicky's insecurities and reticence led to a divorce neither of them even wanted.
Read
February 20, 2011Part of the draw is I saw the mention of KL and that pulls me. First quarter in though they retreat to some anonymous kampung site
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 18, 2011
3.5
Too much coming-together-no-we're-not for me. Still, a mature emotional read
Too much coming-together-no-we're-not for me. Still, a mature emotional read
May 17, 2014
I just did not see any romance in this, gave up on it 1/3 in the book.
May 25, 2014
I just can't understand why two people are so in love with each other but can have so much trouble in communicating their wants and need and to the extreme that they can't express their love.
October 5, 2016
I was frustrated by the lack of communication...on both sides
January 21, 2022
Wow
I am disappointed. How the female character could be such a doormat. The main nale character to think he can live like a single guy and still be married.
I am disappointed. How the female character could be such a doormat. The main nale character to think he can live like a single guy and still be married.
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