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Outback Angel
With her stunning Latin looks, Angelica De Campo was beautiful enough to live up to her nickname of Angel.
But Jake McCord, Australia's most eligible bachelor, couldn't decide if his newest employee was an angel or a temptress! Jake had hired Angelica to transform his Outback home into a lavish Christmas party venue; their relationship had to remain strictly professional.
Only, the more closely they worked together, the harder they both had to fight to resist the attraction between them - or risk the consequences....
192 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published October 1, 2002
8 people are currently reading
49 people want to read
About the author
Margaret Way
611 books162 followersMargaret Way was born and educated in the river city of Brisbane, Australia. Before her marriage she was a well-known pianist, teacher, vocal coach and accompanist, but her hectic musical career came to a halt when her son was born and the demands of motherhood dictated a change of pace.
On a fortuitous impulse she decided to try her hand at romance writing and was thrilled when Mills & Boon accepted her first effort, Time of the Jacaranda, which they published less than a year later in 1970; a feat that brought tears to her father's eyes. Some seventy odd books have followed resulting in a loyal readership whose letters provide a source of support and encouragement. A driving force in all her writing has been the promotion of her much loved country, Australia. She delights in bringing it alive for her readers; its people, way of life, environment, flora and fauna. Her efforts so far have not excited official recognition, but she expects one day she will be awarded the "Order of Australia."
Her interests remain with the arts. She still plays the piano seriously, but her "top Cs" have gone. She is still addicted to collecting antiques and paintings and browsing through galleries. She now lives within sight and sound of beautiful Moreton Bay and its islands, inspiration for some of her books. Her house is full of books, spectacular plants, Chinese screens and pots. She is devoted to her garden and spends much time "directing the design and digging and providing cold drinks and chocolates."
On a fortuitous impulse she decided to try her hand at romance writing and was thrilled when Mills & Boon accepted her first effort, Time of the Jacaranda, which they published less than a year later in 1970; a feat that brought tears to her father's eyes. Some seventy odd books have followed resulting in a loyal readership whose letters provide a source of support and encouragement. A driving force in all her writing has been the promotion of her much loved country, Australia. She delights in bringing it alive for her readers; its people, way of life, environment, flora and fauna. Her efforts so far have not excited official recognition, but she expects one day she will be awarded the "Order of Australia."
Her interests remain with the arts. She still plays the piano seriously, but her "top Cs" have gone. She is still addicted to collecting antiques and paintings and browsing through galleries. She now lives within sight and sound of beautiful Moreton Bay and its islands, inspiration for some of her books. Her house is full of books, spectacular plants, Chinese screens and pots. She is devoted to her garden and spends much time "directing the design and digging and providing cold drinks and chocolates."
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
December 23, 2019
The blurb is the entire plot. Mary Sue, the angel of the title, captivates her man by the mid-way point. The lavish descriptions of the party preperations, Christmas decorations, and flora surrounding the station take up just as much page time as the romance.
MW actually includes a shower sex scene (after heroine helps put out a lightning fire) that is as purple and fulsome as all of her landscape descriptions. It was fascinating to read her spin on a sex scene.
Other MW staples are included: Obnoxious OW, neurotic relatives, artistic aboriginals for the heroine to champion. All in all, this was a fun Margaret Way story without a lot of drama. Recommended for those who like MW.
MW actually includes a shower sex scene (after heroine helps put out a lightning fire) that is as purple and fulsome as all of her landscape descriptions. It was fascinating to read her spin on a sex scene.
Other MW staples are included: Obnoxious OW, neurotic relatives, artistic aboriginals for the heroine to champion. All in all, this was a fun Margaret Way story without a lot of drama. Recommended for those who like MW.
February 18, 2018
This is a fun and enjoyable read. I liked the outback settings and all the characters good and bad. And, Jake and Angelica made a great pair.
Coori Downs is hosting the various Christmas functions for the present year that included the finals of a polo cup and a gala ball and Cattle King Jake McCord, master of CD and two other outstations, desperately needs someone to organize the functions for him. He couldn't rely on his step-mother, Stacy, and step-sister, Gillian, to do it for him, because they lacked the confidence and competence to organize such major events.
Their timidity stemmed from years of being intimidated by his father, who'd turned into a hard man with the untimely death of Jake's mother after her fall from her horse. Jake had been six then. Two years after his mother's death, his father married eighteen year old Stacy, who was too shy and timid to stand up to her intimidating husband and even as a boy Jake had to fight against his father for her, which angered his father and the two had a very strained relationship until his father's death three years ago. Although both Stacy and Gillian were sweet and endearing, Jake needed a strong and confident woman who would help him run the cattle stations or at least run such major events for him. He'd fallen in love with a woman who was few years older to him when he was at university but ended up hurt when he found her making out with another guy. That incident however hasn't stopped him from hoping to find that one special woman who would share his life and CD with him.
He knew Dinah Campbell would be happy to take that position. She was super confident being another outback royalty herself, grand-daughter of his grandfather's close friend, one of the rare people whom his father approved and wanted him to marry. He'd been in a brief relationship with her once causing her to believe that she's as good as the mistress of CD, but he didn't like her patronizing attitude toward his family. Stacy, Gillian and everyone at CD retreated into a shell whenever she visited which was too often for anyone's liking.
He asked his cousin who had a large scale catering business, to organize the Christmas functions, but then all of a sudden she calls to tell him her she can't do it as her husband needs immediate surgery. To his relief, she has someone in mind to do the job. Her protegee Angelica De Campo, who is a food writer with an up-market magazine and a fantastic cook.
When Angelica calls Jake, the two end up flirting with one another and so intrigued were they about the other that they were excited about their first meeting at the airport. However, to their utter shock, they find they'd met briefly before three years ago and it was a shameful encounter
Jake didn't want to fly her to CD because he knows he wouldn't be able to trust her. However, when he tells her to go back, Angelica refuses and puts her foot down, telling him she's cancelled other functions to accommodate him and he bloody well put up with her. Seeing her adamant, he's left with no choice but to take her to CD.
Angelica has everyone eating out of her hands at CD from the moment she set foot on it. She's smart, confident and a beautiful woman--very tall, touching six feet in two inches sandals and endowed with an eye-catching bust that she inherited from the Italian side of the family, both of which brings unkind remarks her way at times. Stacy and Gillian are completely floored by her and under her guidance started opening up like daisies and becoming self-confident. Seeing Leah's talent in aboriginal art --she's the part aboriginal house girl, who'd been abandoned by a white man when she was pregnant and rescued by Jake who gave her a job at CD-- she got her to do the mural at the polo venue and encouraged her to pursue her dress-designing skills. Even Clary, who's been the housekeeper for twenty plus years and was thinking of retiring, told Jake she was having a ball being Angel’s right hand. Funnily, Jake was living in a house full of women but he was wonderful to all of them including the Leah's four year old daughter Kylee. He was very sweet to her. The only other male who came to the house and had dinner with them at times was Charlie, the Honourable Charles Middleton, Jake's jackeroo who came from British aristocracy and on whom Gillian had a crush.
Seeing Angelica work her magic on his people, filling his house with laughter and sunshine, Jake couldn't figure whether his new event organizer was an angel or the temptress he'd seen as the blurb says.
“You’re not here to tell me how to live my life,” Jake growled.
“I’m trying to help you.” Angelica laid a hesitant hand on his arm. “Moreover, I’m trying to help myself. You give me the impression you think I’m the sort of woman who might hurt you.”
She was so beautiful, with that abundant hair flowing around her face, and her eyes as dark as night. He wanted to kiss her, deeply, lavishly, with all the passion that beat in his blood.
“I never believed in a witch until I met you,” he said, wondering what it would be like to keep her forever.
“Yet you still call me Angel? I have to tell you that no one else has called me that.” It seemed important to bring that fact to his attention. “You need to think about that, Jake McCord. Because I can’t be both….”
Even as the two keep sparring, they find they're devastatingly attracted to one another. Although Jake had started with holding Angelica in condemnation, it didn't take him long to fall for her charms too. Everyone could see how he lit up when Angelica was around. He himself realizes that he was rushing to get home because of her. When he sees her dance like a goddess in the rain, he loses it completely and cannot help kiss her.
Then, Dinah arrives to rain on everyone's parade. Like always she goes about behaving as if she's mistress of CD. Now that Angelica is falling for Jake and knows that he too is falling for her, understandably, she's dying to know what exactly was Jake's & Dinah's relationship. However, at times I found she got too personal.
“We’re friends. I don’t want to make love to her. Is that plain enough?”
“But you do know what she’s like in bed? Average. Good. Sensational?”
He shifted to lean back against the fence, elegant even in a slouch. “Mind your own business, Angel Face.”
Found myself laughing at Jake's reply when once Angelica complained to him about Dinah being a nuisance. “Look, she’s your ex-girlfriend and she’s really bugging me,” Angelica cried, catching him as he ran down the front steps. “I have so much to do and she’s a nuisance.”
Jake, who was actually fed up with Dinah himself and worried about one of his prize beasts, rounded on the indignant Angelica. “Kill her,” he said, golden eyes flashing.
“You’re saying you’re agreeable?”
“I’m saying I’m too damned busy to listen to this, Angel,” he answered
Dinah, however, was in for a surprise. Stacy and Gillian, who used to get flustered in front of her have now started giving her tart replies. Moreover, she'd come confident that she'd walk all over the event planner, but she hadn't reckoned for someone like Angelica, who had a confidence superior than hers and a temper and a smart mouth to give it back good. She was one of those rare heroines who was superbly confident and yet compassionate, though at few places I didn't fully concur with her. Nevertheless, it was amusing to see her and Dinah end up like two cats ready to claw each other's face every time they crossed paths.
“Either you’d do anything to get Jake’s attention or you’re insane.” Dinah came after her, her mind suddenly filled with doomed dreams.
“Anything else you’d like to add?” Angelica turned so abruptly Dinah almost slammed into her.
“Yes.” Dinah’s green eyes were twin daggers as she threw down the challenge. Now was a good time. Everything being as rotten as it was. “Just make sure you don’t try to come between Jake and me.”
Angelica surveyed Dinah from her superior height. “If you disappeared off the face of the earth I bet you he wouldn’t notice.”
Dinah lost it. “I don’t give a stuff what you think,” she said furiously. “You’ll be gone the day after the Christmas party. We’ll never see you again.”
“When I’ve already got Jake to sign me up for his birthday party?”
“Wha-a-t?” Dinah visibly recoiled.
“You heard. Jake is starting to get a real appreciation for my talents.”
“All the sex appeal?” Dinah sneered, almost demented with jealousy. “Slut. I bet there are a lot of wild stories about you.”
“You wish. Then you could take them all to Jake. Personally I have no idea what slut means. But if you asked me what a super-bitch was I could tell you.”
Then, nothing like a big fire in the outback to stir things up. I liked how things progressed between Jake and Angelica from there on, she going to help the men put off the fire, then promising to wait up for Jake when he sends her home after a flaming branch almost hits her. Felt my heart melting when Jake, disappointed that Angelica didn't keep her promise of waiting for him but not holding it against her knowing she would be exhausted, finds her, still wet and full of grime like him, fast asleep on the floor of the shower room. Also liked how they come together in the shower after first fighting the temptation by taking separate showers and I couldn't help chuckle seeing Jake doing his best not to give in to Angelica's seduction the following morning only to succumb eventually. I also like the polo functions and the ball, Jake proud of all the women in his household and happy that Stacy is interested in someone, a guy he admires. But, that annoying Dinah had to spoil things --having realized she's lost Jake when she saw Angelica sneaking out of his room in his robe at dawn-- by goading an alcohol induced Charlie to make a play for Angelica and unwittingly creating a scene between them that makes Jake once again suspicious of Angelica and her angry with him for his distrust. Although, their making up scene was cute with Kylee happily dancing and singing luv luv seeing the two kiss, I thought the ending was too abrupt. Would have loved to see a little bit more of the making up scene. The epilogue was sweet but again too short.
Some readers however may not like the fact that the book provides point of view of almost all characters of the book
I, however, enjoyed the book.I adored Jake McCord and was happy that he found a good match in Angelica.
Coori Downs is hosting the various Christmas functions for the present year that included the finals of a polo cup and a gala ball and Cattle King Jake McCord, master of CD and two other outstations, desperately needs someone to organize the functions for him. He couldn't rely on his step-mother, Stacy, and step-sister, Gillian, to do it for him, because they lacked the confidence and competence to organize such major events.
Their timidity stemmed from years of being intimidated by his father, who'd turned into a hard man with the untimely death of Jake's mother after her fall from her horse. Jake had been six then. Two years after his mother's death, his father married eighteen year old Stacy, who was too shy and timid to stand up to her intimidating husband and even as a boy Jake had to fight against his father for her, which angered his father and the two had a very strained relationship until his father's death three years ago. Although both Stacy and Gillian were sweet and endearing, Jake needed a strong and confident woman who would help him run the cattle stations or at least run such major events for him. He'd fallen in love with a woman who was few years older to him when he was at university but ended up hurt when he found her making out with another guy. That incident however hasn't stopped him from hoping to find that one special woman who would share his life and CD with him.
He knew Dinah Campbell would be happy to take that position. She was super confident being another outback royalty herself, grand-daughter of his grandfather's close friend, one of the rare people whom his father approved and wanted him to marry. He'd been in a brief relationship with her once causing her to believe that she's as good as the mistress of CD, but he didn't like her patronizing attitude toward his family. Stacy, Gillian and everyone at CD retreated into a shell whenever she visited which was too often for anyone's liking.
He asked his cousin who had a large scale catering business, to organize the Christmas functions, but then all of a sudden she calls to tell him her she can't do it as her husband needs immediate surgery. To his relief, she has someone in mind to do the job. Her protegee Angelica De Campo, who is a food writer with an up-market magazine and a fantastic cook.
When Angelica calls Jake, the two end up flirting with one another and so intrigued were they about the other that they were excited about their first meeting at the airport. However, to their utter shock, they find they'd met briefly before three years ago and it was a shameful encounter
Jake didn't want to fly her to CD because he knows he wouldn't be able to trust her. However, when he tells her to go back, Angelica refuses and puts her foot down, telling him she's cancelled other functions to accommodate him and he bloody well put up with her. Seeing her adamant, he's left with no choice but to take her to CD.
Angelica has everyone eating out of her hands at CD from the moment she set foot on it. She's smart, confident and a beautiful woman--very tall, touching six feet in two inches sandals and endowed with an eye-catching bust that she inherited from the Italian side of the family, both of which brings unkind remarks her way at times. Stacy and Gillian are completely floored by her and under her guidance started opening up like daisies and becoming self-confident. Seeing Leah's talent in aboriginal art --she's the part aboriginal house girl, who'd been abandoned by a white man when she was pregnant and rescued by Jake who gave her a job at CD-- she got her to do the mural at the polo venue and encouraged her to pursue her dress-designing skills. Even Clary, who's been the housekeeper for twenty plus years and was thinking of retiring, told Jake she was having a ball being Angel’s right hand. Funnily, Jake was living in a house full of women but he was wonderful to all of them including the Leah's four year old daughter Kylee. He was very sweet to her. The only other male who came to the house and had dinner with them at times was Charlie, the Honourable Charles Middleton, Jake's jackeroo who came from British aristocracy and on whom Gillian had a crush.
Seeing Angelica work her magic on his people, filling his house with laughter and sunshine, Jake couldn't figure whether his new event organizer was an angel or the temptress he'd seen as the blurb says.
“You’re not here to tell me how to live my life,” Jake growled.
“I’m trying to help you.” Angelica laid a hesitant hand on his arm. “Moreover, I’m trying to help myself. You give me the impression you think I’m the sort of woman who might hurt you.”
She was so beautiful, with that abundant hair flowing around her face, and her eyes as dark as night. He wanted to kiss her, deeply, lavishly, with all the passion that beat in his blood.
“I never believed in a witch until I met you,” he said, wondering what it would be like to keep her forever.
“Yet you still call me Angel? I have to tell you that no one else has called me that.” It seemed important to bring that fact to his attention. “You need to think about that, Jake McCord. Because I can’t be both….”
Even as the two keep sparring, they find they're devastatingly attracted to one another. Although Jake had started with holding Angelica in condemnation, it didn't take him long to fall for her charms too. Everyone could see how he lit up when Angelica was around. He himself realizes that he was rushing to get home because of her. When he sees her dance like a goddess in the rain, he loses it completely and cannot help kiss her.
Then, Dinah arrives to rain on everyone's parade. Like always she goes about behaving as if she's mistress of CD. Now that Angelica is falling for Jake and knows that he too is falling for her, understandably, she's dying to know what exactly was Jake's & Dinah's relationship. However, at times I found she got too personal.
“We’re friends. I don’t want to make love to her. Is that plain enough?”
“But you do know what she’s like in bed? Average. Good. Sensational?”
He shifted to lean back against the fence, elegant even in a slouch. “Mind your own business, Angel Face.”
Found myself laughing at Jake's reply when once Angelica complained to him about Dinah being a nuisance. “Look, she’s your ex-girlfriend and she’s really bugging me,” Angelica cried, catching him as he ran down the front steps. “I have so much to do and she’s a nuisance.”
Jake, who was actually fed up with Dinah himself and worried about one of his prize beasts, rounded on the indignant Angelica. “Kill her,” he said, golden eyes flashing.
“You’re saying you’re agreeable?”
“I’m saying I’m too damned busy to listen to this, Angel,” he answered
Dinah, however, was in for a surprise. Stacy and Gillian, who used to get flustered in front of her have now started giving her tart replies. Moreover, she'd come confident that she'd walk all over the event planner, but she hadn't reckoned for someone like Angelica, who had a confidence superior than hers and a temper and a smart mouth to give it back good. She was one of those rare heroines who was superbly confident and yet compassionate, though at few places I didn't fully concur with her. Nevertheless, it was amusing to see her and Dinah end up like two cats ready to claw each other's face every time they crossed paths.
“Either you’d do anything to get Jake’s attention or you’re insane.” Dinah came after her, her mind suddenly filled with doomed dreams.
“Anything else you’d like to add?” Angelica turned so abruptly Dinah almost slammed into her.
“Yes.” Dinah’s green eyes were twin daggers as she threw down the challenge. Now was a good time. Everything being as rotten as it was. “Just make sure you don’t try to come between Jake and me.”
Angelica surveyed Dinah from her superior height. “If you disappeared off the face of the earth I bet you he wouldn’t notice.”
Dinah lost it. “I don’t give a stuff what you think,” she said furiously. “You’ll be gone the day after the Christmas party. We’ll never see you again.”
“When I’ve already got Jake to sign me up for his birthday party?”
“Wha-a-t?” Dinah visibly recoiled.
“You heard. Jake is starting to get a real appreciation for my talents.”
“All the sex appeal?” Dinah sneered, almost demented with jealousy. “Slut. I bet there are a lot of wild stories about you.”
“You wish. Then you could take them all to Jake. Personally I have no idea what slut means. But if you asked me what a super-bitch was I could tell you.”
Then, nothing like a big fire in the outback to stir things up. I liked how things progressed between Jake and Angelica from there on, she going to help the men put off the fire, then promising to wait up for Jake when he sends her home after a flaming branch almost hits her. Felt my heart melting when Jake, disappointed that Angelica didn't keep her promise of waiting for him but not holding it against her knowing she would be exhausted, finds her, still wet and full of grime like him, fast asleep on the floor of the shower room. Also liked how they come together in the shower after first fighting the temptation by taking separate showers and I couldn't help chuckle seeing Jake doing his best not to give in to Angelica's seduction the following morning only to succumb eventually. I also like the polo functions and the ball, Jake proud of all the women in his household and happy that Stacy is interested in someone, a guy he admires. But, that annoying Dinah had to spoil things --having realized she's lost Jake when she saw Angelica sneaking out of his room in his robe at dawn-- by goading an alcohol induced Charlie to make a play for Angelica and unwittingly creating a scene between them that makes Jake once again suspicious of Angelica and her angry with him for his distrust. Although, their making up scene was cute with Kylee happily dancing and singing luv luv seeing the two kiss, I thought the ending was too abrupt. Would have loved to see a little bit more of the making up scene. The epilogue was sweet but again too short.
Some readers however may not like the fact that the book provides point of view of almost all characters of the book
I, however, enjoyed the book.I adored Jake McCord and was happy that he found a good match in Angelica.
December 29, 2023
Loved the h in this one. She's confident, cool, competent, brave and kind. She also suffers from being very tall and very beautiful. Men tend to be obsessed with her and as a result she is saddled with the reputation of being a man eater. When men make aggressive sexual moves at her, she is deemed to be the one 'at fault'. I could feel her frustration, and often despair, at this injustice and she fights hard to rise above the prejudice of men who judge her on her beautiful face and large bust alone. At one point she rages that you could drown the world in the tears of women who are misjudged by men, and wow, I felt her fury. Margaret Way may have written vintage romances, but her themes are often, sadly, timeless.
March 14, 2024
Estaba indecisa si darle 3 o 4 ⭐.
Es un libro corto y relajado para un momento de bloqueo.
La fluidez con la que se desarrolla el libro, pese a que en una historia real la situación sería una metida de pata, con estos personajes funciona.
Es un libro corto y relajado para un momento de bloqueo.
La fluidez con la que se desarrolla el libro, pese a que en una historia real la situación sería una metida de pata, con estos personajes funciona.
May 16, 2021
Loved this :)
December 11, 2020
Sebuah cerita romantis yang menjadi penghibur paling tepat. Ditutup dengan ending yang manis.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews