Παράξενη συνάντηση

by Susanna Firth

Ερωτευμένη τρελά με τον προϊστάμενό της η Κέιτ απογοητεύεται φρικτά, όταν εκείνος αγνοεί τον αρραβώνα τους, και κάνει έναν εμπορικό γάμο. Πικραμένη ορκίζεται να μην μπλεχτεί ξανά με άντρα από την δουλειά της. Και όταν ο μεγαλοεπιχειρηματίας Νίκολας Μπλέικ της προσφέρει τη θέση της ιδιαιτέρας του η Κέιτ τη δέχεται
ευχαρίστως, από τη μια γιατί της δηλώνει πως εκείνος ποτέ δεν ερωτεύεται τη γραμματέα του και από την άλλη γιατί είναι σίγουρη πως η ίδια απεχθάνεται αυτόν τον αλαζονικό Νίκολας. Δυστυχώς, όμως, η κατάσταση θα αλλάξει πολύ σύντομα...

Genres: Romance, Harlequin, Harlequin Romance, M F Romance

158 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1979

Reviews

[StMargarets · Rating 2 out of 5]

An office romance. Heroine is a secretary who left her job after the boss she thought she was engaged to married the daughter of a tycoon. She's on her way to her aunt's bed and breakfast in the Cotswolds to lick her wounds when her slow driving causes the hero to crash his car into a tree. Harsh, sexist words are exchanged. Heroine leaves him at the garage to sort out his mess. Hero shows up on the doorstep of her aunt's b&b an hour later. He is still in a temper and cools off by kissing the heroine, who melts in his arms.

The next morning more sexist words are exchanged. He offers her a job. She tears up his card. He gives her more punishing kisses. She runs away to her room to cry for two hours. *sigh* You can see what we're dealing with here.

Heroine has a holiday and then returns to London to look for work. Since she won't ask for a reference from her former boss/fiance, she can't get a job. She finally swallows her pride and calls the hero. He gives her a job as his secretary. Hero has an OW, but that doesn't stop him from kissing his secretary when she steps out of line.

Heroine falls in love with hero, of course. When he returns from a trip he takes her out to dinner where they are photographed dancing. Now everyone in the building thinks she's his mistress. He gives her a promotion (no more typing!) and her first duty is to play hostess for a business dinner at his penthouse.

Her ex-boss/fiance (OM) is there as well as his wife and his tycoon in-laws. All is well until the OM sexually assaults her in the spare bedroom. Hero breaks it up and doesn't listen to the heroine's explanations. OM sends her flowers and harasses her at the office, until the hero tells him to knock it off. When heroine finds out hero told OM off, she slaps him and resigns. (Not really sure why she was so offended. The guy was a nuisance.) She had tried to resign before, but this time he lets her go.

She is miserable and goes back to the Cotswolds. Hero shows up a week later. He can't live without her. HEA

Heroine was impulsive, stubborn and childish. Hero was sexist, hot-tempered, and entitled. About right for a 1980 HR.

[Leona · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not worth the time. If it's possible to earn a title that goes beyond TSTL, this heroine would certainly get it. She had no commonsense and purposely went out of her way to enrage the hero. The hero was one mean, obnoxious SOB that should have ended up in jail for sexual harassment. He was a sneaky, slimy snake.

I can't even recommend this for those that love a train wreck. Both H/h were pitiful people not worth reading about.

GRRRR....

[İlkim · Rating 1 out of 5]

Kötü olduğu kadar çeviri de berbattı. Çok eski bir hq imiş zaten, pek de şaşırmamak lazım.

[Mili Fay · Rating 2 out of 5]

Writing: 4 Stars;
Characters: 2 Stars; Good characterisation, but appalling people.
Plot: 2 Stars;
Entertaining: 2 Stars;
Read Again? No.

Total: 2 Stars.

I’ve read a translation of this book as a teenager and thought it was amusing. However, it is clear that I remembered the amusing conflict bits, but forgot the substance. As an adult, I’m appalled that this is considered romance. The hero is an overbearing brute, who should be in jail for sexual harassment. The heroine is suppose to be this smart, young woman, but she is a ninny who puts up with assault and keeps coming back for more. Rape is not a joke, and I do not understand how another woman can think that it is.

All I can say is, THANK YOU to the women who fought and who keep fighting fo gender equality. If this is what the world was like only a few decades ago, I’m glad I was not in it. This is not a romance, and if there are women who encounter this type of “hero” and think he may be a good partner in life: wake up and run!

Also, the heroine has chestnut hair, while on the cover she is a blond. (Sigh.)

[Terri · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute book. A lot of chemistry and angst between the hero and heroine which kept my attention to the end.

[Bea Tea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dude blows hot & cold all day long. Office romance written in 1979 so obviously a modern day HR nightmare lol. I really enjoyed it.

[Lindsey Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good! Feels like is based in real life. I wish they would reprint her books!

[Sid · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5* - Good amount of romance and drama. I also liked that the heroine wasn't overly beautiful, which is the case in most harlequins