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A Festive Fling In Stockholm
Romantic involvement was definitely out
So Georgina welcomed the platonic friendship she shared with Desmond Warner. He didn't distract her from her job.
But when Georgina's new boss, Tallis York, became convinced she was Desmond's mistress and threatened to dismiss her, she was panic-stricken. Her family needed her monthly paycheck.
Tallis's own family included Lara Warner--Desmond's wife. Georgina could see no way out of the complex situation; Tallis provided the solution....
So Georgina welcomed the platonic friendship she shared with Desmond Warner. He didn't distract her from her job.
But when Georgina's new boss, Tallis York, became convinced she was Desmond's mistress and threatened to dismiss her, she was panic-stricken. Her family needed her monthly paycheck.
Tallis's own family included Lara Warner--Desmond's wife. Georgina could see no way out of the complex situation; Tallis provided the solution....
192 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 1980
117 people want to read
About the author
Jessica Steele
339 books113 followersJessica Steele was born on May 9, 1933 in the elegant Warwickshire town of Royal Leamington Spa. She has two super brothers, Colin and George, and a lovely sister, Elizabeth. She was a delicate child and missed a lot of school. In fact, she left school at aged 14, when she was diagnosed as having tuberculosis. At 16, she started work as a junior clerk. In 1967, Jessica married with her husband, Peter and within a very short space of time they had moved from her hometown to the lovely area where they now live. Their house is built into the side of a hill, and has beautiful views over more hills and valleys. Her brothers and her sister are very close and she has plenty of nephews and nieces to make up for the fact that she and her husband have no children of their own. Both she and her husband are more than a little dog-oriented, and their current dog is a Staffordshire bull terrier named Florence. Florence is gorgeous. She loves everybody but, since she is 40 pounds of dynamite and would hurl her boisterous self at everyone she meets - given half a chance - she has to be restrained (as much as possible). She is fun.
Her husband spurred Jessica on to her writing career, giving her every support while she did what she considers her five-year apprenticeship (the rejection years) while learning how to write. She published her first books in 1979. Jessica has tried using a typewriter, but it just doesn't work for her. She is much happier writing in longhand, and in actual fact has a dozen or so fountain pens filled and ready to go at the start of any one session. A friend has a secretarial agency and, after deciphering Jessica's writing, returns an immaculately typed manuscript. To gain authentic background for her books, she has travelled and researched in Greece, Russia, Egypt, Mexico, Peru, Chile, Hong Kong, China and Japan.
Her husband spurred Jessica on to her writing career, giving her every support while she did what she considers her five-year apprenticeship (the rejection years) while learning how to write. She published her first books in 1979. Jessica has tried using a typewriter, but it just doesn't work for her. She is much happier writing in longhand, and in actual fact has a dozen or so fountain pens filled and ready to go at the start of any one session. A friend has a secretarial agency and, after deciphering Jessica's writing, returns an immaculately typed manuscript. To gain authentic background for her books, she has travelled and researched in Greece, Russia, Egypt, Mexico, Peru, Chile, Hong Kong, China and Japan.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
January 3, 2021
I've been doing a few re-reads of my "most read HP authors" this holiday season; a guilty pleasure of mine. Though JS tends to be hit or miss for me, she always makes the list. I find her earlier books to be significantly better than her later work (even though she is the queen of poor grammar). I love her heroines and no one writes a more besotted hero than JS.
However, on re-read this one just didn't stand up to my original rating. The heroine lacked common sense and a moral compass. She justified her actions of dating a married man because she wasn't sleeping with him and discounted the whole aspect of emotional cheating. She failed to acknowledge that she was interfering with a reconciliation and refused to see the OM even when the hero repeatedly asked her to stop. She almost lost her job over it. Also, the chemistry between H and h didn't exist. Not surprising given there was more time page time given to the OM than the actual hero of the story.
I'm downgrading my initial review from 3 stars to 1 star. I just couldn't get past the heroine and her thoughtless actions. It always amazes me how your impression of a book can change.
My original review is below.
_____________________________________
Well now this was a little different. I am a big fan of Jessica Steele because she writes some very strong and interesting heroines. Though sometimes I find her style a bit clumsy, I am usually so engrossed in the story that I let it slide. Just like her other works, this is an engaging read. I loved the characters, the plot, and the delicious cunning OW that made things heat up. Only wait...she wasn't the OW, our heroine was the OW!
My only disappointment is that the heroine never recognized that her actions truly placed her as the OW. She had no clue what she was doing to the other couple's relationship. Even though you don't sleep with someone doesn't stop you from being destructive. It wasn't until she was threatened with losing her job, that she actually decided to back off. Having to wait for a mandate like that to do the right thing, lessened her in my eyes.
However, it is still an entertaining read...and the Hero was GREAT! He more than made up for the lack of judgement of the heroine.
However, on re-read this one just didn't stand up to my original rating. The heroine lacked common sense and a moral compass. She justified her actions of dating a married man because she wasn't sleeping with him and discounted the whole aspect of emotional cheating. She failed to acknowledge that she was interfering with a reconciliation and refused to see the OM even when the hero repeatedly asked her to stop. She almost lost her job over it. Also, the chemistry between H and h didn't exist. Not surprising given there was more time page time given to the OM than the actual hero of the story.
I'm downgrading my initial review from 3 stars to 1 star. I just couldn't get past the heroine and her thoughtless actions. It always amazes me how your impression of a book can change.
My original review is below.
_____________________________________
Well now this was a little different. I am a big fan of Jessica Steele because she writes some very strong and interesting heroines. Though sometimes I find her style a bit clumsy, I am usually so engrossed in the story that I let it slide. Just like her other works, this is an engaging read. I loved the characters, the plot, and the delicious cunning OW that made things heat up. Only wait...she wasn't the OW, our heroine was the OW!
My only disappointment is that the heroine never recognized that her actions truly placed her as the OW. She had no clue what she was doing to the other couple's relationship. Even though you don't sleep with someone doesn't stop you from being destructive. It wasn't until she was threatened with losing her job, that she actually decided to back off. Having to wait for a mandate like that to do the right thing, lessened her in my eyes.
However, it is still an entertaining read...and the Hero was GREAT! He more than made up for the lack of judgement of the heroine.
March 16, 2025
I think I was hoping for this to be a little more salacious. In other hands (Charlotte Lamb, Penny Jordan, Robyn Donald, etc…) this probably would have been a 5-star but this author just relied on the heroine’s weird choices to not tell ANYONE what was going on to cause all the drama. It became really irritating and it was hard to understand or relate to her choices by midway. None of the people in this book are very likable. I kept going, hoping for a vintage style forced seduction with surprise virgin scene at least, but NO. It never happens, sadly. 🤡 womp-womp
October 14, 2018
I've said it before: there is a special circle of Harlequin Hell reserved for women who go along with the H's plans to make the h jealous, or who try to make the h jealous on behalf of the H. I still feel this applies when the h is the one who collaborated with the OM to make his estranged wife, the OW, jealous.
August 21, 2021
The premise was good ... H believes h is having an affair with married OM ... So angst galore
But the h has to be the biggest doormat ever
Spineless OM cannot stand up to his wife and in all his happy moments like winning a big contract, etc.he calls the wife up to celebrate but when he's miserable he calls her and she consoles him
But she doesn't have the spine to tell him to grow up and grow a pair
H thinks the absolute worst of her and insults her to hell and back but the moment he says he loves her, she's falling in his arms
And to add insult to injury, the bitch of OM g gets her doormat husband back and is pregnant to boot
A waste of time ...
But the h has to be the biggest doormat ever
Spineless OM cannot stand up to his wife and in all his happy moments like winning a big contract, etc.he calls the wife up to celebrate but when he's miserable he calls her and she consoles him
But she doesn't have the spine to tell him to grow up and grow a pair
H thinks the absolute worst of her and insults her to hell and back but the moment he says he loves her, she's falling in his arms
And to add insult to injury, the bitch of OM g gets her doormat husband back and is pregnant to boot
A waste of time ...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
November 20, 2020DNF @ 70%
Damn… I just could not get interested in this one. I’ll admit, office romances aren’t really my thing, and I tend to avoid them, but this just felt flat all around. The blurb pretty much sets it up, Georgina and Desmond are friends, which is platonic, but highly inappropriate IMO for a man with an estranged wife he supposedly wants back. I didn’t like this dynamic at all, because yes, they’re just friends, but she knows the wife is upset by her, and she still goes on dates with him and holds hands, and sees nothing wrong with it. She knows everyone (the wife, her boss, wife’s dad) all assume it’s an affair, but does little to deny. I just kept thinking if this was the OW (which she pretty much is) I’d be pissed. Also, she’s super hateful towards the H, Tallis because he assumes, she’s a homewrecker, and that got old.
Bottom Line- The author does make the wife an undesirable, so we can side with the h, but I wasn’t feeling it. At 70% we’re still just circling the same crap, and I’m bored. Also, I’m reading my mom’s 1980 copy, and I’m not loving the writing style. It is available on scribd as a pdf if you don't have a mother with boxes of HP's.
Damn… I just could not get interested in this one. I’ll admit, office romances aren’t really my thing, and I tend to avoid them, but this just felt flat all around. The blurb pretty much sets it up, Georgina and Desmond are friends, which is platonic, but highly inappropriate IMO for a man with an estranged wife he supposedly wants back. I didn’t like this dynamic at all, because yes, they’re just friends, but she knows the wife is upset by her, and she still goes on dates with him and holds hands, and sees nothing wrong with it. She knows everyone (the wife, her boss, wife’s dad) all assume it’s an affair, but does little to deny. I just kept thinking if this was the OW (which she pretty much is) I’d be pissed. Also, she’s super hateful towards the H, Tallis because he assumes, she’s a homewrecker, and that got old.
Bottom Line- The author does make the wife an undesirable, so we can side with the h, but I wasn’t feeling it. At 70% we’re still just circling the same crap, and I’m bored. Also, I’m reading my mom’s 1980 copy, and I’m not loving the writing style. It is available on scribd as a pdf if you don't have a mother with boxes of HP's.
April 2, 2022
At least 50% of this book involves criminally boring office machinations.
About 40% involves her stupid married friend who isn’t much of a friend that she continues to see despite it causing all kinds of issues and not any pleasure. The boring wife makes boring trouble and the heroine has to deal with the fallout in boring ways.
The 10% that’s left—I’m probably being generous with that percentage—is the kind of romance where the hero/new boss is constantly accusing her of ruining marriages and having low morals, or snatching a kiss from her unexpectedly.
I skipped about a third of the book and read the last chapter, where the HEA we’re presented with involves her telling him nervously that she’s 26 and still a virgin, and his responding enthusiastically that that’s her most precious gift. *hurl*
About 40% involves her stupid married friend who isn’t much of a friend that she continues to see despite it causing all kinds of issues and not any pleasure. The boring wife makes boring trouble and the heroine has to deal with the fallout in boring ways.
The 10% that’s left—I’m probably being generous with that percentage—is the kind of romance where the hero/new boss is constantly accusing her of ruining marriages and having low morals, or snatching a kiss from her unexpectedly.
I skipped about a third of the book and read the last chapter, where the HEA we’re presented with involves her telling him nervously that she’s 26 and still a virgin, and his responding enthusiastically that that’s her most precious gift. *hurl*
January 6, 2021
Yet another tycoon and secretary story. The girl is suspected to be a home wrecker, having an affair with the hero's cousin sister.
Hero intends to fire her, but finds her too good at the job. He also finds her too attractive for his own good. So he keeps see-sawing between mild flirtation and jealous rages!
When the suspicion about the wimpy OM turns out to a damp squib, the hero is mighty relieved. HEA.
Good while it lasted, but nothing lingering.
Hero intends to fire her, but finds her too good at the job. He also finds her too attractive for his own good. So he keeps see-sawing between mild flirtation and jealous rages!
When the suspicion about the wimpy OM turns out to a damp squib, the hero is mighty relieved. HEA.
Good while it lasted, but nothing lingering.
May 28, 2024
4 Stars
A romance written by Jessica Steele is always a delight. This one published in 1980 is pretty old school with a virginal, naive and yet feisty heroine; and a worldly hero who easily misinterprets her motives. They have some great shouting matches :)
A romance written by Jessica Steele is always a delight. This one published in 1980 is pretty old school with a virginal, naive and yet feisty heroine; and a worldly hero who easily misinterprets her motives. They have some great shouting matches :)
March 23, 2025
I’ve read this a few times before - many years ago - and liked it. How odd that I utterly hated it today.
The heroine (26) is so worthy in most respects, and her insistence on staying single until her step siblings can cope without her salary is admirable. But she is deadly dull. Which makes it inexplicable that she’s happy to be considered the OW in a broken marriage.
Yet, the superior rudeness and criticism of the hero (late 30s), annoyed me even more. He’s vile to her because the wife in the triangle is his cousin. But he’s such a slut that thinks just because the heroine said no to sex after he kissed her (not even after a date!!) that she must have another man on the go. Then after trying to get her into bed, he openly and grinningly admits to the heroine two days later that he’s spent the night with some random woman (who proceeds to tell the heroine on the telephone in her role as a secretary, to thank the hero for the amazing night). How is this hero material? Particularly Jessica Steele hero material?
However boring and blind the heroine is, however misguided in terms of being a friend to someone’s estranged husband, she deserves better than an aging, raging manwhore who’ll end up giving her herpes and breaking her heart.
The heroine (26) is so worthy in most respects, and her insistence on staying single until her step siblings can cope without her salary is admirable. But she is deadly dull. Which makes it inexplicable that she’s happy to be considered the OW in a broken marriage.
Yet, the superior rudeness and criticism of the hero (late 30s), annoyed me even more. He’s vile to her because the wife in the triangle is his cousin. But he’s such a slut that thinks just because the heroine said no to sex after he kissed her (not even after a date!!) that she must have another man on the go. Then after trying to get her into bed, he openly and grinningly admits to the heroine two days later that he’s spent the night with some random woman (who proceeds to tell the heroine on the telephone in her role as a secretary, to thank the hero for the amazing night). How is this hero material? Particularly Jessica Steele hero material?
However boring and blind the heroine is, however misguided in terms of being a friend to someone’s estranged husband, she deserves better than an aging, raging manwhore who’ll end up giving her herpes and breaking her heart.
November 23, 2021
Georgina was anxious after Chesterton Company tookover Parton and Naylor where she has been working for four years. Even though her former retired boss assured her none of the staff would be dismissed, she still felt threatened, especially when Tallis York, THE BIg BOSS of Chesterton asked to see her in person! During her meeting with him, not only did he attack her lack of decency, but also ordered her to cut her "affair" with Desmond Warner short! Otherwise, she would have to face the consequences! Georgina was appalled because her relationship with Desmond was of mutual platonic friendship! But try saying that to Tallis York who not only wanted her where he could see her, but also where he could impose an insult after an insult on her!
To a great extend, this book is not bad. Yet, it is not great either. It's enjoyable and interesting enough to complete and not feel bored at least, so I quess it's okay as a vintage novel. If certain aspects were improved though, I personally think it would have been an excellent book. One of these aspects is the fact that the heroine never knew the hero's true nature outside the office except at the one time he went with her to her hometown. She vertually knows nothing about him.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 28, 2024
This was a good book. Jessica Steele is a gifted author and I usually enjoy her books.
There was lots of drama and angst in this story. I wasn’t overly fond of any of the characters and found their new found love feelings a bit hard hard to believe given the antagonism they showed but it IS the romance land of HARLEQUIN so we must keep he faith.
There was lots of drama and angst in this story. I wasn’t overly fond of any of the characters and found their new found love feelings a bit hard hard to believe given the antagonism they showed but it IS the romance land of HARLEQUIN so we must keep he faith.
February 20, 2020
Won't rise among my JS faves.
The beginning started even more "the heroine details the whole past to get us up to speed in a few moments' musings" than usual, and the set up was convoluted to get through.
Too many revolutions between the leads over the same misunderstanding. With too many false dawns between them as well.
Her temperament means she over-explains the wrong things and stays mum on the other wrong things because she's had enough of trying to explain. And oh, it's perfectly suited to twisting them round one another but it wears and gets nonsensical.
The hero makes gross assumptions and wants sex from her, thinking she's experienced; she corrects she's not a mistress but doesn't ever find out from the other guy who's-a-friend what his motives are (heroine discovers she's been played against his wife to create jealousy and I would think it'd be worth drawing a line there and not hanging with him). Or enforce boundaries with the hero.
I don't blame the heroine for being a friend with a man. Something ofc that in old skools just can't happen--unless it's her wet rag school chum she can't marry because she's been swept into feminine awareness by a Real Man lol--but most especially when the hero is jealous and a tad throwback. She wasn't wrong to keep the other man's company, but in this kind of book she'd never be in the right for it.
One of those they-love-each-other-why?-in-spite situations and I suppose it's between the lines (well, at the least he's reliably JS in that he desires her and despises himself for it & she's virginal *except for HIM*, which are JS' love languages).
The hero doesn't grovel at the end. In fact the ending felt rushed, particularly for a JS.
I dunno, this one was the right mix of JS strengths but the result came out jumbled instead.
Upshots: moments of good emotional punch. Once the hero figured out how loyal she was to her family he softened, and that family was dear.
The beginning started even more "the heroine details the whole past to get us up to speed in a few moments' musings" than usual, and the set up was convoluted to get through.
Too many revolutions between the leads over the same misunderstanding. With too many false dawns between them as well.
Her temperament means she over-explains the wrong things and stays mum on the other wrong things because she's had enough of trying to explain. And oh, it's perfectly suited to twisting them round one another but it wears and gets nonsensical.
The hero makes gross assumptions and wants sex from her, thinking she's experienced; she corrects she's not a mistress but doesn't ever find out from the other guy who's-a-friend what his motives are (heroine discovers she's been played against his wife to create jealousy and I would think it'd be worth drawing a line there and not hanging with him). Or enforce boundaries with the hero.
I don't blame the heroine for being a friend with a man. Something ofc that in old skools just can't happen--unless it's her wet rag school chum she can't marry because she's been swept into feminine awareness by a Real Man lol--but most especially when the hero is jealous and a tad throwback. She wasn't wrong to keep the other man's company, but in this kind of book she'd never be in the right for it.
One of those they-love-each-other-why?-in-spite situations and I suppose it's between the lines (well, at the least he's reliably JS in that he desires her and despises himself for it & she's virginal *except for HIM*, which are JS' love languages).
The hero doesn't grovel at the end. In fact the ending felt rushed, particularly for a JS.
I dunno, this one was the right mix of JS strengths but the result came out jumbled instead.
Upshots: moments of good emotional punch. Once the hero figured out how loyal she was to her family he softened, and that family was dear.
July 11, 2015
I enjoyed reading this one
Want to read
April 8, 2025After reading some of the GR reviews and the first chapter of the book, I decided it's not worth my time so I left it unread.
But I want to comment on something that bugs me quite often when I read a romance, especially vintage ones- how come the h, upon meeting the H who's usually well in his thirties, very rarely think that he could be married and with family, or engaged to be married, or in a long term relationship?
In the first and only chapter that I read of this book, heroine thinks about H's sex appeal and his many paramours (!) and makes some absurd remark about his sex life and the frequency of it -to a man who, at her estimate, is probably 37-38 years old. That's not feisty, that's uncouth and utterly stupid.
But I want to comment on something that bugs me quite often when I read a romance, especially vintage ones- how come the h, upon meeting the H who's usually well in his thirties, very rarely think that he could be married and with family, or engaged to be married, or in a long term relationship?
In the first and only chapter that I read of this book, heroine thinks about H's sex appeal and his many paramours (!) and makes some absurd remark about his sex life and the frequency of it -to a man who, at her estimate, is probably 37-38 years old. That's not feisty, that's uncouth and utterly stupid.
January 4, 2018
71- هل تجرؤين؟
روايات احلام
إذن أنت الأنسة ديكنسون المصدر الوحيد لمشاكلي في الوقت الحاضر؟ لم تفهم لوارا السكرتيرة البسيطة كيف تشغل بال روب ماكفرسون رئيس مجلس الإدارة العظيم إلى هذه الدرجة ، ولكنها أدركت أن مستقبلها محكوم بالدمار من هذا الرجل ، ومع هذا قبلت التحدي : حياتي الخاصة ملكي سيد ماكفرسون ولن أقبل أن يفرض عليّ أحدٌ شيئاً !وهكذا بدأت الحرب ، واستعمل فيها الطرفان كافة أنواع الأسلحة ، وأثبت روب ماكفرسون أن لا شيئ يقف في طريقه عندما يريد أمراً ......
روايات احلام
إذن أنت الأنسة ديكنسون المصدر الوحيد لمشاكلي في الوقت الحاضر؟ لم تفهم لوارا السكرتيرة البسيطة كيف تشغل بال روب ماكفرسون رئيس مجلس الإدارة العظيم إلى هذه الدرجة ، ولكنها أدركت أن مستقبلها محكوم بالدمار من هذا الرجل ، ومع هذا قبلت التحدي : حياتي الخاصة ملكي سيد ماكفرسون ولن أقبل أن يفرض عليّ أحدٌ شيئاً !وهكذا بدأت الحرب ، واستعمل فيها الطرفان كافة أنواع الأسلحة ، وأثبت روب ماكفرسون أن لا شيئ يقف في طريقه عندما يريد أمراً ......
priority
November 13, 2020Romantic involvement was definitely out
So Georgina welcomed the platonic friendship she shared with Desmond Warner. He didn't distract her from her job.
But when Georgina's new boss, Tallis York, became convinced she was Desmond's mistress and threatened to dismiss her, she was panic-stricken. Her family needed her monthly paycheck.
Tallis's own family included Lara Warner-- .
So Georgina welcomed the platonic friendship she shared with Desmond Warner. He didn't distract her from her job.
But when Georgina's new boss, Tallis York, became convinced she was Desmond's mistress and threatened to dismiss her, she was panic-stricken. Her family needed her monthly paycheck.
Tallis's own family included Lara Warner-- .
will-not-read
August 14, 2022Did Not Read. Refuse to Read. Emotional cheating is still cheating. I don't think anyone should "date" a married person, even if they excuse it as "just a platonic"relationship. If there is a spouse, then the mate should not be spending time "seeing" another person, even platonically.
July 28, 2025
Heroine was ridiculous. She dated a married man who was estranged from his wife because he reminded her of her father who was lonely.
What? She's willing to blow up her life because sad sack OM wants a shoulder to cry on?
Ridiculous premise.
What? She's willing to blow up her life because sad sack OM wants a shoulder to cry on?
Ridiculous premise.
September 29, 2018
رواية احلام هل تجرؤين روايه ممتعه جدا
June 17, 2023
Saccharine
May 4, 2025
This was better than I thought it was going to be. I loved the ending.
February 24, 2017
I enjoyed some parts, but I don't love it. But enjoyable nonetheless.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews