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One More Time
She had to break free of his love
Sanny Copeland was all too familiar with the pain and rejection love seemed to bring. Now she was immune to it. If Mark Taylor thought he could change her, that was his business. Hers was pursuing a career as a journalist.
But she wasn't prepared for the rush of emotion and yearning that Mark's tender touches and sweet words unleashed. For her own protection she had to get away from him And before he discovered she'd fallen in love
Mark would never understand why she couldn’t marry him--or anyone.
Sanny Copeland was all too familiar with the pain and rejection love seemed to bring. Now she was immune to it. If Mark Taylor thought he could change her, that was his business. Hers was pursuing a career as a journalist.
But she wasn't prepared for the rush of emotion and yearning that Mark's tender touches and sweet words unleashed. For her own protection she had to get away from him And before he discovered she'd fallen in love
Mark would never understand why she couldn’t marry him--or anyone.
189 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 1983
2 people are currently reading
126 people want to read
About the author
Karen van der Zee
93 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 - 21 of 21 reviews
June 6, 2011
'Sanny Joy Copeland, itinerant journalist.'
'Sanny Joy,' he repeated slowly, as if tasting the words. 'I like it.'
'I hate it. It sounds like the name of a toilet bowl cleaner.'
With this brilliant start, we launch on a heavily dialogue-centric, unusual HP set in Africa. The banter is very enjoyable, at least for the 1st 1/2 of the story. The plot is good and the writing is good, but the pacing didn't quite work for me. I liked the banter in the beginning but it does get old after a while, and I found myself wanting something more substantial that I could sink my teeth into. Then the pace picks up with the sex and the flashbacks and angsting. Then it bogs down again in the heroine's bizarre dreams and more snark. And so on.
Overall though it is a good read. The heroine is likable despite pushing everyone away. I felt her angst very well, but did get impatient with her toward the end. The hero is likable too and pleasingly persistent/stalkerific, without ever being a jerk. He's a bit bland, having some of his POV would make me feel that I got to know him better. It's nice to see an ordinary guy as a HP hero though, and I really appreciated that he wasn't some Greek/Spanish/Italian gazillionaire. The sexual tension is hot in the 1st 1/2, but the sex when it comes is not graphic. The ending is sweet and appropriate.
I love unusual settings in my HP's and have to give the Africa locale big points. It's almost a 3rd character in the story, it's so omni-present. Wonderful description of landscape, villages, beaches, foods, rundown hotels. Brings this up to a good 4*.
'Sanny Joy,' he repeated slowly, as if tasting the words. 'I like it.'
'I hate it. It sounds like the name of a toilet bowl cleaner.'
With this brilliant start, we launch on a heavily dialogue-centric, unusual HP set in Africa. The banter is very enjoyable, at least for the 1st 1/2 of the story. The plot is good and the writing is good, but the pacing didn't quite work for me. I liked the banter in the beginning but it does get old after a while, and I found myself wanting something more substantial that I could sink my teeth into. Then the pace picks up with the sex and the flashbacks and angsting. Then it bogs down again in the heroine's bizarre dreams and more snark. And so on.
Overall though it is a good read. The heroine is likable despite pushing everyone away. I felt her angst very well, but did get impatient with her toward the end. The hero is likable too and pleasingly persistent/stalkerific, without ever being a jerk. He's a bit bland, having some of his POV would make me feel that I got to know him better. It's nice to see an ordinary guy as a HP hero though, and I really appreciated that he wasn't some Greek/Spanish/Italian gazillionaire. The sexual tension is hot in the 1st 1/2, but the sex when it comes is not graphic. The ending is sweet and appropriate.
I love unusual settings in my HP's and have to give the Africa locale big points. It's almost a 3rd character in the story, it's so omni-present. Wonderful description of landscape, villages, beaches, foods, rundown hotels. Brings this up to a good 4*.
May 4, 2011
W/ the rare exception of Jamie (Outlander saga) & Perry (A promise of spring), I haven't been too keen on beta heroes but this 1 almost converted me. Luved the slippery marriage proposal in the shower w/ heroine's flippant zinger : "Of course not." Booyah !
Sumptuous imagery of Africa thru' the eyes of Sanny. The food / fruit descriptions had the same devastating effect on my crash diet as a penniless alcoholic in a bar. Hero's self-deprecating humor was a nice balance to Heroine's phoney facade. For once U get to see a hero so smitten w/ Heroine that he's willing to chase her to the ends of the earth, w/ a "U can run, but U can't hide" attitude. No external conflicts, no viperish fork-tongued other woman, no gazillionaire sweeping downtrodden heroine off her feet, he actually uses his intellect as his livelihood. How's that for a change ? I wish modern HQNs would revert back to this style, w/ no embarassing generic / hair-raising title *cough "Pregnesia" cough* on the cover. Heroine's running commentary w/ her annoying other self shoulda been nipped in the bud & her overlong dream sequences stole hero's screen time. The declaration of luv is right up there w/ my ultimate fav ILY by Logan (Daphne Clair - Dark remembrance).
'Sanny,' he said quietly, emphatically, 'besides all the obvious aspects of love — the infatuation, the attraction, the feelings of closeness and belonging — besides all that, Sanny, love is a decision. That's what keeps it going in the long run, through bad time and difficult situation,' Mark said softly. 'Love isn't just something you feel, some state of mind you have no control over. Love needs nurturing to stay alive, and that is a conscious decision every day, Sanny. It expresses itself in all the little daily things that happen between people.' His hands slid down her back and he drew her closer. 'Love doesn't just stop or fly out the window. It dies from neglect.'
He paused.
'Sanny,' he continued softly, 'I love you. My promise to you is that I will not neglect that love.'
Sumptuous imagery of Africa thru' the eyes of Sanny. The food / fruit descriptions had the same devastating effect on my crash diet as a penniless alcoholic in a bar. Hero's self-deprecating humor was a nice balance to Heroine's phoney facade. For once U get to see a hero so smitten w/ Heroine that he's willing to chase her to the ends of the earth, w/ a "U can run, but U can't hide" attitude. No external conflicts, no viperish fork-tongued other woman, no gazillionaire sweeping downtrodden heroine off her feet, he actually uses his intellect as his livelihood. How's that for a change ? I wish modern HQNs would revert back to this style, w/ no embarassing generic / hair-raising title *cough "Pregnesia" cough* on the cover. Heroine's running commentary w/ her annoying other self shoulda been nipped in the bud & her overlong dream sequences stole hero's screen time. The declaration of luv is right up there w/ my ultimate fav ILY by Logan (Daphne Clair - Dark remembrance).
'Sanny,' he said quietly, emphatically, 'besides all the obvious aspects of love — the infatuation, the attraction, the feelings of closeness and belonging — besides all that, Sanny, love is a decision. That's what keeps it going in the long run, through bad time and difficult situation,' Mark said softly. 'Love isn't just something you feel, some state of mind you have no control over. Love needs nurturing to stay alive, and that is a conscious decision every day, Sanny. It expresses itself in all the little daily things that happen between people.' His hands slid down her back and he drew her closer. 'Love doesn't just stop or fly out the window. It dies from neglect.'
He paused.
'Sanny,' he continued softly, 'I love you. My promise to you is that I will not neglect that love.'
May 12, 2019
"One More Time" is the story of Sanny and Mark.
Oh what a sad and heartbreaking tale.
This is the anguish filled tale of love between our traumatized and broken heroine- a journalist with a terrible childhood and abandonment issues, and our hero- a professor and kind hearted gentleman who falls in love with her, chases her every time she runs away, and makes her accept him in her life and his love for her. She has a LOT of problems, but hides under a cheerful facade, something the hero sees through, and forces the heroine to expose her chipped heart.
Lots of angsty back and forth, non descriptive passion and hurt in this one, but Im glad the heroine begins to heal at the very end, and I commend the hero for not giving up.
Safe
4/5
Oh what a sad and heartbreaking tale.
This is the anguish filled tale of love between our traumatized and broken heroine- a journalist with a terrible childhood and abandonment issues, and our hero- a professor and kind hearted gentleman who falls in love with her, chases her every time she runs away, and makes her accept him in her life and his love for her. She has a LOT of problems, but hides under a cheerful facade, something the hero sees through, and forces the heroine to expose her chipped heart.
Lots of angsty back and forth, non descriptive passion and hurt in this one, but Im glad the heroine begins to heal at the very end, and I commend the hero for not giving up.
Safe
4/5
June 25, 2013
4 1/2 Stars ~ Sanny's start in life was abandonment and neglect and she grew up moving from foster home to foster home. Her generous nature soon took some serious knocks and she quickly learned that love was an illusion and she couldn't afford to let herself care for anyone too deeply. After working three years as a journalist for a Boston paper, she's tired of the social fluff she's given and decides it's time to make her future. West Africa sounds challenging and exciting, and so she packs up and starts her adventure in Senegal and travels slowly north seeing how the people live. She meets Mark in Liberia where he's lecturing as part of a tour with the US Information Service. She intrigues him, and he insists on getting to know her, but after a few days of acquaintance, she says her goodbyes and moves on. When she arrives weeks later in Abidjan and answers the knock on her hotel room door, she's amazed to find Mark. He's not ready to let her go. The more time she spends with Mark, the more determined she becomes to keep him at arms length. But her heart and body refuse to listen to that little voice warning her to beware, until she realizes it's too late and she's already fallen for him hard. But she can't have Mark, he'll only leave her evntually, she's better off to make him leave her now.
I knew this was going to be a delicious read when in Chapter One, Sanny asks why he's following her, Mark tells her to guess, and she throws out teasingly that he's fallen head over heels in love with her, to which he agrees. And then in Chapter Two, when he catches up with her, he declares "I'm in love with you".
I really liked Mark, no matter how Sanny pushed him away he stayed steady and took everything she dished out. He wasn't a pushover either, getting angry with her when after an amazing night of passion she froze him out. Sanny is such a wounded soul, she's gotten so used to the cheerful front she displays that she's quite good at numbing her emotions. Mark shakes her up, and while she's able to put her emotions away during the day, at night her dreams take some bizarre turns and Mark's there in every dream.
There are some hilarious moments throughout the book, Ms. van der Zee has a wicked sense of humour. This works well to balance out the emotional turmoil and really rather tragic childhood Sanny experienced. I thought the use of Sanny's vivid and imaginative dreams to help her work out her emotions was rather clever and great fun to read. I loved the way Mark got her in the end, well done! This is the first book I've read written by Karen van der Zee. I look forward to reading more.
I knew this was going to be a delicious read when in Chapter One, Sanny asks why he's following her, Mark tells her to guess, and she throws out teasingly that he's fallen head over heels in love with her, to which he agrees. And then in Chapter Two, when he catches up with her, he declares "I'm in love with you".
I really liked Mark, no matter how Sanny pushed him away he stayed steady and took everything she dished out. He wasn't a pushover either, getting angry with her when after an amazing night of passion she froze him out. Sanny is such a wounded soul, she's gotten so used to the cheerful front she displays that she's quite good at numbing her emotions. Mark shakes her up, and while she's able to put her emotions away during the day, at night her dreams take some bizarre turns and Mark's there in every dream.
There are some hilarious moments throughout the book, Ms. van der Zee has a wicked sense of humour. This works well to balance out the emotional turmoil and really rather tragic childhood Sanny experienced. I thought the use of Sanny's vivid and imaginative dreams to help her work out her emotions was rather clever and great fun to read. I loved the way Mark got her in the end, well done! This is the first book I've read written by Karen van der Zee. I look forward to reading more.
February 13, 2016
I'm an angst junkie, but this story was just depressing for the most part. Reporter heroine is doing freelance writing while touring Africa. Hero is economics professor on a lecture tour of Africa. They keep running into each other. Heroine alternates between interested and running scared. Hero keeps pursuing her without coming across as a stalker. I liked the hero a lot. The heroine . . .
This read like woman's fiction and an old skool travelogue romance. The elements weren't balanced well and the pacing was glacial. However - there's a beautiful payoff at the end. When the heroine finally - finally - shows her true feelings the hero reassures her that love is choice and that you're still in control of your life if you love someone. He also talked about how love had to be nurtured and he would always pay attention to their love. It was something she needed to hear and a good philosophy for a successful marriage.
If you like insight into a tortured mind (honestly - how can she live in that head?) and Africa, this is your book.
This read like woman's fiction and an old skool travelogue romance. The elements weren't balanced well and the pacing was glacial. However - there's a beautiful payoff at the end. When the heroine finally - finally - shows her true feelings the hero reassures her that love is choice and that you're still in control of your life if you love someone. He also talked about how love had to be nurtured and he would always pay attention to their love. It was something she needed to hear and a good philosophy for a successful marriage.
If you like insight into a tortured mind (honestly - how can she live in that head?) and Africa, this is your book.
April 20, 2009
Great road romance through Africa.
Heroine is the wise-cracking type who hides her bitterness behind her jokes. Hero is a professor who is trying to see behind her facade.
Heroine is the wise-cracking type who hides her bitterness behind her jokes. Hero is a professor who is trying to see behind her facade.
March 17, 2011
4.75...
Can't believe that something written such a long time ago could trump modern tales with such a huge margin. i did have some slight issues which included the hero's pursuance of the heroine. i think for me pride would get in the way....which i guess tells me that i need to let go a little in that department. Also the heroine's weird dreams were abundant. I think one would have sufficed. 3 (or was it 4 or 5?) were too much.... anyhoo... a very nice story with lots of character. i'm glad i got to read it. and the hero's lil speech about love struck a chord with me too.
Can't believe that something written such a long time ago could trump modern tales with such a huge margin. i did have some slight issues which included the hero's pursuance of the heroine. i think for me pride would get in the way....which i guess tells me that i need to let go a little in that department. Also the heroine's weird dreams were abundant. I think one would have sufficed. 3 (or was it 4 or 5?) were too much.... anyhoo... a very nice story with lots of character. i'm glad i got to read it. and the hero's lil speech about love struck a chord with me too.
June 13, 2012
Rating 3.5
The heroine in this book angered me, infuriated me but all the while she made me feel for her, her pain and abandonment issues were so great that even when she fell in love with the hero, she just couldn't grasp it and believe it and instead did everything in her power to drive him away one moment being happy with him, the other moment her other self would take over and she would turn into a shrew.
I loved the setting Africa, the hero is a professor of economics and he just is great to her, taking her out, not accepting no for an answer from her and giving her all the time and space she needs. In the end when she asks him why he kept coming back, he tells her that she may have perfected her barriers, with the jokes and all but he could see through her barriers, her refusals to talk about her mother(who was an alcoholic, who refused to give her away so that she could be adopted), Peter, the guy she said was her first love, so he knew she loved him even when she said she didn't.
I felt for her I really did, she had shut herself down once she turned 13 and lost another foster family she loved, at 16 she fell for Peter who again abandoned her, so she coped the best way she could and just couldn't make herself believe that Mark would stay and that love would last, it was just so sad her fear that ruled her life.
The heroine in this book angered me, infuriated me but all the while she made me feel for her, her pain and abandonment issues were so great that even when she fell in love with the hero, she just couldn't grasp it and believe it and instead did everything in her power to drive him away one moment being happy with him, the other moment her other self would take over and she would turn into a shrew.
I loved the setting Africa, the hero is a professor of economics and he just is great to her, taking her out, not accepting no for an answer from her and giving her all the time and space she needs. In the end when she asks him why he kept coming back, he tells her that she may have perfected her barriers, with the jokes and all but he could see through her barriers, her refusals to talk about her mother(who was an alcoholic, who refused to give her away so that she could be adopted), Peter, the guy she said was her first love, so he knew she loved him even when she said she didn't.
I felt for her I really did, she had shut herself down once she turned 13 and lost another foster family she loved, at 16 she fell for Peter who again abandoned her, so she coped the best way she could and just couldn't make herself believe that Mark would stay and that love would last, it was just so sad her fear that ruled her life.
February 29, 2012
I've cried more than a couple of times, but it was worth it.
June 17, 2021
Sanny Joy Copeland had a shattered and a heart-wrenching childhood as a result of which her believes of love and forever are nonexistent! She was bored. Therefore, She left her job as a journalist in Chronicle Magazine and embarked in a journey of discovery in Africa to write her own book. It was there that she attended a party and met Mark Taylor, a professor of economics. She treated him like any other man who happened to drift in her life with many smiles, lies and diversions. Yet, gradually and relentlessly Mark was affecting her against her well and she didn't like it one bit! She just couldn't handle it and wanted to push him away no matter what.
Anyone reading the three first pages of this book would think the characters so silly and shallow because their first meeting was not promising since they talked nonsense and acted weird! Yet, once you end reading chapter one, I don't think you would ever stop reading. With every chapter you get to understand and sympathize with the characters as well as rationalize their behavior. You can't but feel deeply for the heroine's inner agonies and respect the hero's passionate and patient personality.
I advise you to have some tissues ready when you read this book. It's so heart-touching and certainly recommended. I loved the writing style and how unlike many Harlequin books, this story did not contain any description of the physical side of both the main characters and concentrated mainly in their intellect and how it is reflected in their behavior at first. It showed the change in Sanny's personality and her awareness of it. Clever Karen Van Der Zee!
Anyone reading the three first pages of this book would think the characters so silly and shallow because their first meeting was not promising since they talked nonsense and acted weird! Yet, once you end reading chapter one, I don't think you would ever stop reading. With every chapter you get to understand and sympathize with the characters as well as rationalize their behavior. You can't but feel deeply for the heroine's inner agonies and respect the hero's passionate and patient personality.
I advise you to have some tissues ready when you read this book. It's so heart-touching and certainly recommended. I loved the writing style and how unlike many Harlequin books, this story did not contain any description of the physical side of both the main characters and concentrated mainly in their intellect and how it is reflected in their behavior at first. It showed the change in Sanny's personality and her awareness of it. Clever Karen Van Der Zee!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 1, 2026
Mark and his endless patience get a star, otherwise the hysterical heroine and her powdered milk would get a big fat zero if I could.
The travel stuff was deadly dull, so surprising for a van der Zee. Idk what happened with this one.
The travel stuff was deadly dull, so surprising for a van der Zee. Idk what happened with this one.
November 13, 2011
It was a good read,story progressed well,adored Mark,enjoyed the banters between Mark-Sanny but Sanny irritated me sometimes otherwise the book was good
Recommend it
Recommend it
December 3, 2015
Good story - a bit different. The heroine is a writer traveling around Africa and she meets the H in a party. They hit it off, she is bright and sparkling and he is attracted and intrigued. He follows her as much as he can and we all know that he is already in love with her. The h is hard to pin down since she has a lot or rejection issues. She was abandoned as a little kid and was moved around to different foster homes. The H has a hard time convincing her of his love.
Only weird part was the h would have dreams at night of the H eventually rejecting her. This and the internal dialogue that accompanied these dreams went on too long. I guess the author tried to show how she was coming to terms with her insecurities, but it was a bit too much.
Also in this book we meet up again with Matt and Jaquie from "Sweet Not Always" they are friends of the Hero, Mark.
Only weird part was the h would have dreams at night of the H eventually rejecting her. This and the internal dialogue that accompanied these dreams went on too long. I guess the author tried to show how she was coming to terms with her insecurities, but it was a bit too much.
Also in this book we meet up again with Matt and Jaquie from "Sweet Not Always" they are friends of the Hero, Mark.
May 22, 2011
It was good. The heroine left me a bit disappointed, too adult and hard sometimes, but more often a little child. But maybe I have issue with this author's heroines.
He was good. A very good professor, nice and in love.
He was good. A very good professor, nice and in love.
May 19, 2011
4.5 stars
September 5, 2020
This was exactly what I thought it would be and exactly what I wanted it to be. The ending was satisfying, the characters felt like romance novel characters, basically it was an easy, mindless read. Would recommend to people who like short, easy to read, no consequence romances.
January 25, 2025
القصة مافيها أحداث والحوار بين الاثنين معدودة
August 14, 2011
Very good category. Heroine has a difficult past, and truly doesn't believe in love anymore. Hero refuses to give up on her, but it takes a lot for Sanny to overcome her past. It's funny and sad, and features a cross-country through Africa.
Really liked it.
Really liked it.
December 30, 2011
Cute story, if a little odd with all the wacky dream sequences. Loved the hero, felt sorry for the heroine but still liked her.
March 17, 2019
Just another typical romance novel. This was just an ok read, something to pass the time. Not the best storyline.
June 8, 2017
Good plot but not handled well technically. H and h are hardly together. Almost no conversation. It is all about telling h's angsty childhood memories and bizarre dreams which gets really boring and hard to read. They finally have a serious conversation at the last page (literary) !
This was second book that I read of this author. I do not dare to read another one.
This was second book that I read of this author. I do not dare to read another one.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews