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Inherited by Her Enemy
"All property, I bequeath to Andre Duchard…"
As the final words of Virginia Mason's stepfather's will are read, the silence in the room is deafening. Suddenly, innocent Ginny's life has shattered. With no inheritance, her future�and her family's�is entirely in the hands of enigmatic Frenchman Andre Duchard.
Andre is outrageously attractive and everything that Ginny despises in a man�arrogant and cynical. But one devastatingly sensual kiss later, virgin Ginny is already in over her head! How can she convince Andre she's not part of his inheritance when she so desperately yearns for his complete possession?
189 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2014
25 people are currently reading
191 people want to read
About the author
Sara Craven
493 books267 followersAnne Bushell was born on October 1938 in South Devon, England, just before World War II and grew up in a house crammed with books. She was always a voracious reader, some of her all-time favorites books are: "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen, "Middlemarch" by George Eliot, "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë, "Gone With the Wind" by Margaret Mitchell and "The Code of the Woosters" by P. G. Wodehouse.
She worked as journalist at the Paignton Observer, but after her marriage, she moved to the north of England, where she worked as teacher. After she returned to journalism, she joined the Middlesbrough Writers' Group, where she met other romance writer Mildred Grieveson (Anne Mather). She started to wrote romance, and she had her first novel "Garden of Dreams" accepted by Mills & Boon in 1975, she published her work under the pseudonym of Sara Craven. In 2010 she became chairman of the Southern Writers' Conference, and the next year was elected the twenty-six Chairman (2011–2013) of the Romantic Novelists' Association.
Divorced twice, Annie lives in Somerset, South West England, and shares her home with a West Highland white terrier called Bertie Wooster. In her house, she had several thousand books, and an amazing video collection. When she's not writing, she enjoys watching very old films, listening to music, going to the theatre, and eating in good restaurants. She also likes to travel in Europe, to inspire her romances, especially in France, Greece and Italy where many of her novels are set. Since the birth of her twin grandchildren, she is also a regular visitor to New York City, where the little tots live. In 1997, she was the overall winner of the BBC's Mastermind, winning the last final presented by Magnus Magnusson.
She worked as journalist at the Paignton Observer, but after her marriage, she moved to the north of England, where she worked as teacher. After she returned to journalism, she joined the Middlesbrough Writers' Group, where she met other romance writer Mildred Grieveson (Anne Mather). She started to wrote romance, and she had her first novel "Garden of Dreams" accepted by Mills & Boon in 1975, she published her work under the pseudonym of Sara Craven. In 2010 she became chairman of the Southern Writers' Conference, and the next year was elected the twenty-six Chairman (2011–2013) of the Romantic Novelists' Association.
Divorced twice, Annie lives in Somerset, South West England, and shares her home with a West Highland white terrier called Bertie Wooster. In her house, she had several thousand books, and an amazing video collection. When she's not writing, she enjoys watching very old films, listening to music, going to the theatre, and eating in good restaurants. She also likes to travel in Europe, to inspire her romances, especially in France, Greece and Italy where many of her novels are set. Since the birth of her twin grandchildren, she is also a regular visitor to New York City, where the little tots live. In 1997, she was the overall winner of the BBC's Mastermind, winning the last final presented by Magnus Magnusson.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
July 24, 2018
If you're in the mood for a vintage story with a martyred heroine, overbearing mother and sister, a tangled backstory for people the heroine is not related to and will never meet, and a new heir that is throwing them all out on the street, then you'll like this one.
Hero is the illegitimate son of the heroine's stepfather who has just died. Stepdad left everything to him and very little to his useless wife. Heroine's blonde bombshell sister is due to marry the son of the local gentry, but she blows that chance by flirting with the hero.
Heroine is attracted to the hero, but thinks he's having an affair with her sister. When she goes to his hotel room to confront him, they end up having sex. (As you do) Heroine was a virgin. Hero insists they marry. Heroine doesn't want a duty marriage, but she does agree to travel to the vineyards in France where the hero "works" until a pregnancy scare is over.
Hero not only works the vineyards, he owns them. Plus he's the heir to *his* stepfather's chateau. Heroine is pregnant, but then step-sis shows up and more misunderstandings ensue.
It takes a tumble down the stairs and concussion for the hero to finally declare himself.
This was a solid story for a vintage HP, but I suspect a reader in 2014 would have been disappointed in it. There were too many characters and backstories cluttering up the romance. And the heroine protested a bit too much after she inevitably ended up in bed with the hero. But I'm sure they will have an HEA in the timewarp where this story is located.
Hero is the illegitimate son of the heroine's stepfather who has just died. Stepdad left everything to him and very little to his useless wife. Heroine's blonde bombshell sister is due to marry the son of the local gentry, but she blows that chance by flirting with the hero.
Heroine is attracted to the hero, but thinks he's having an affair with her sister. When she goes to his hotel room to confront him, they end up having sex. (As you do) Heroine was a virgin. Hero insists they marry. Heroine doesn't want a duty marriage, but she does agree to travel to the vineyards in France where the hero "works" until a pregnancy scare is over.
Hero not only works the vineyards, he owns them. Plus he's the heir to *his* stepfather's chateau. Heroine is pregnant, but then step-sis shows up and more misunderstandings ensue.
It takes a tumble down the stairs and concussion for the hero to finally declare himself.
This was a solid story for a vintage HP, but I suspect a reader in 2014 would have been disappointed in it. There were too many characters and backstories cluttering up the romance. And the heroine protested a bit too much after she inevitably ended up in bed with the hero. But I'm sure they will have an HEA in the timewarp where this story is located.
March 20, 2017
I was a chapter into this and realized I had read it before. Not a good sign.
It all started out so promising, and then Sara Craven threw her suffer, little h, suffer wrench into the mix. SC is second only to Penny Jordan in making her tiny h's suffer or reducing them to brainless twits. She keeps this h's idiocy at a minimum until the very end. Like Michael Corleon, Just when I thought I was out... they pull me back in.
Ginnie is the long suffering daughter of two of the biggest blonde pills in H history. Then again, please refer to my "Sara Craven" tag. She's the practical little Cinderella, and apparently the only one that loved stepfather moneybags. Step-F has died, and there's a bombshell at the reading of the will in the shape of a French bastard, Andre. Ooh la la. Another quote from a movie comes to mind: French Kiss when Meg Ryan looks at the scruffy Kevin Kline..You're French, aren't you?The h actually has some sense of pride and a sense of humor, but apparently in SC's world tiny h's can not be sexually attracted to someone, have a sense of humor and self-respect all at the same time
Anyhoo, fill in the blanks... It was all riding into a 3 star sunset with various evil OW thrown in. I could forbear until...
It all started out so promising, and then Sara Craven threw her suffer, little h, suffer wrench into the mix. SC is second only to Penny Jordan in making her tiny h's suffer or reducing them to brainless twits. She keeps this h's idiocy at a minimum until the very end. Like Michael Corleon, Just when I thought I was out... they pull me back in.
Ginnie is the long suffering daughter of two of the biggest blonde pills in H history. Then again, please refer to my "Sara Craven" tag. She's the practical little Cinderella, and apparently the only one that loved stepfather moneybags. Step-F has died, and there's a bombshell at the reading of the will in the shape of a French bastard, Andre. Ooh la la. Another quote from a movie comes to mind: French Kiss when Meg Ryan looks at the scruffy Kevin Kline..You're French, aren't you?The h actually has some sense of pride and a sense of humor, but apparently in SC's world tiny h's can not be sexually attracted to someone, have a sense of humor and self-respect all at the same time
Anyhoo, fill in the blanks... It was all riding into a 3 star sunset with various evil OW thrown in. I could forbear until...
July 25, 2018
I got the feeling that this was an old book, modernized only by the mention of cellphones existence, but still, I really liked it.
Edit: Hero has firm flat buttocks. 😐
Edit: Hero has firm flat buttocks. 😐
December 11, 2014
Inherited by her Enemy is a Cinderella romance with an old school HP feel.
Told from the heroine's perspective we get to see her background, what drives her why she is what she is. This type of storytelling is engrossing and emotional but leaves one frustrated due to not knowing the hero's motivations.
I had three issues with Inherited by her Enemy. First the greedy mom such a big player then faded into the background. I didn't want to see her reap any happiness after treating the heroine so shoddy. Second, the bad seed little sister deserved no happiness after treating the heroine so shabily. Third, the heroine was way to forgiving towards her bad family while pushing the hero away much of the book.
Interesting, these issues did not detract from me enjoying this book. This makes Sara Craven a very good storyteller.
Told from the heroine's perspective we get to see her background, what drives her why she is what she is. This type of storytelling is engrossing and emotional but leaves one frustrated due to not knowing the hero's motivations.
I had three issues with Inherited by her Enemy. First the greedy mom such a big player then faded into the background. I didn't want to see her reap any happiness after treating the heroine so shoddy. Second, the bad seed little sister deserved no happiness after treating the heroine so shabily. Third, the heroine was way to forgiving towards her bad family while pushing the hero away much of the book.
Interesting, these issues did not detract from me enjoying this book. This makes Sara Craven a very good storyteller.
June 27, 2019
Only in HPlandia would this book even begin to make sense. There were wild leaps to crazy conclusions. Secret keeping for no apparent reason. A lack of clarity on who the side characters were. I kept thinking 'who the F*** is that?' and then realizing it wasn't important and I didn't care to figure these side characters out.
December 13, 2014
Good read but I felt that the romance was not the focus here. Needed more romance, less intrigue and other characters.
January 3, 2015
4.5 Stars
There's a certain something I find in Sara Craven's books that I not only struggle to find in a lot of others but also that I find totally enthralling. Her storytelling is wonderfully crafted.
This story is weaved beautifully and takes you on a journey. You don't get many romance novels these days written soley from the heroines point of view, and it's risky thing to do in my opinion. But it works.
I adore the besotted, almost gentle hero and the heroine was annoyingly prim, which made her even more endearing.
This book is a rich soup of other characters, which cause misunderstandings and miscommunication but all play out well and I found I believed in the romance too. Kind of sad and heart rendering in places, a bit melodramatic in others... But I loved it!
There's a certain something I find in Sara Craven's books that I not only struggle to find in a lot of others but also that I find totally enthralling. Her storytelling is wonderfully crafted.
This story is weaved beautifully and takes you on a journey. You don't get many romance novels these days written soley from the heroines point of view, and it's risky thing to do in my opinion. But it works.
I adore the besotted, almost gentle hero and the heroine was annoyingly prim, which made her even more endearing.
This book is a rich soup of other characters, which cause misunderstandings and miscommunication but all play out well and I found I believed in the romance too. Kind of sad and heart rendering in places, a bit melodramatic in others... But I loved it!
July 21, 2023
3.5 stars
Cinderella x French vineyard vibes with a chill heroine. Despite what the title says, there is not a single enemy to be found, lol.
Cinderella x French vineyard vibes with a chill heroine. Despite what the title says, there is not a single enemy to be found, lol.
January 22, 2019
"This is the story of a girl named UN-lucky" xD
Me parece que, más que romance, esta novelita trata de una pobre chica que se amarga por todo. Y con el héroe diría que "corta el hilo por lo más delgado", con él sí se rebela y se enoja, y es el único que la quiere bien en toda la historia.
Me molesta mucho el plan de heroína que se queja por todo, que no quiere estar con el protagonista pero sí, agh, por momentos parecía escrito por Helen Brooks =_=.
Me parece que, más que romance, esta novelita trata de una pobre chica que se amarga por todo. Y con el héroe diría que "corta el hilo por lo más delgado", con él sí se rebela y se enoja, y es el único que la quiere bien en toda la historia.
Me molesta mucho el plan de heroína que se queja por todo, que no quiere estar con el protagonista pero sí, agh, por momentos parecía escrito por Helen Brooks =_=.
January 19, 2015
Lately having quite of a bit of a Harlequin Presents binge. So far that's the majority of books that I have read this year. Just in the mood for quick passionate romance without a such a complicated plot I guess. Anyway on to the review:
Warning major plot spoilers ahead. And I mean major. Almost ever plot point is in here. If you don't want to know what happens in this book then don't read this review. Don't say I didn't warn you.
It wasn't bad or awful nor was it the most fantastic book I have ever read either, though it may seem like it from my negative comments here and the dislikes I list here but it wasn't all bad. I will definitely say that the second half was a hundred percent better than the first half, and I wished the second half was more prevalent throughout with the angst, tension, and misunderstandings being beautifully portrayed. There needed to be more of that and less of the first half with the setup and the mother.
Okay, first off all the chemistry between the characters was a bit iffy too me or at least at the beginning. When they first met, there weren't that many sparks between them, granted this wasn't exactly the perfect moment for sparks to fly with her stepfather/his father just dying and the time to reading the will. And between the Andre and Ginny I felt hate and animosity between them not so much desire. Now hate and animosity can be a great spring board for chemistry and desire with the hate and animosity disguising how much they wanted each other and were trying their best not to jump each others bones, but in this book that wasn't the case. I just felt they had a very intense dislike to each other and nothing more than that. It made me think that they didn't belong with each other or a love story would come between Andre and Ginny. It just felt so unexpected especially when they jumped into bed so quickly with nothing really preparing me for it. It was kind of like "huh." I think they needed to spend more time together and have the anticipation build up between them then it might of have worked for me. Even have more of the animosity build up between them and getting more and more heated until their passion exploded for one another and just sexiness exuded, but the way this was done just didn't feel right. I just needed more anticipation and build up between the two before they slept together the first time.
The regarding the love scenes. They were okay, but there was only really one proper love scene that was their first time/her first time. And regarding the love scene like I said above just totally happened out of left field and something that I didn't expect. I didn't even think they wanted each other at that point, that there was just a build up of tension between them then heading in that direction, but not quite there yet. So that kind of took me back a little bit. The first time scene was okay. It was passionate, but aside from that there wasn't that much to it. It was just all about lust for them, which is fine but because it happened so quick and unexpected it just kind of felt off to me, and way out of character for Ginny. And aside from that there was one almost love scene that got interrupted, which I thought was a bit hotter than the actually love scene because there was desire and anticipation build up to that moment so that I was ready for another love scene to come my way and ready to let their passions unleash especially from her side. Still wasn't sure where he was coming from or his motives. That scene was more satisfactory I thought because there was definitely more behind it than the lust, which I like seeing in a love scene. And other than that there wasn't another love scene to speak of, which kind of disappointed me. I thought there would be one more at least where they did give into tier passions fully and embrace their desire for one another. I was looking forward to that scene and I just didn't get it and I was waiting for that scene because I wanted to see what would happen during that scene as well as the emotions behind it.
And just really the whole love story aspect of the book just was slightly disappointing. One problem I had was that I didn't know where Andre was coming from. It was never clear. Did he just want to sleep with her again after they shared that passionate moment together? Did he just want her? Did he have deeper emotions for her? Did he care about her? Did he love her? None of this was clear. I felt like Andre just wanted her in his bed and was making the best of a bad situation when the possibility of her being pregnant. But I never got the fact that he wanted her around because he cared about her and wanted her more than a physical level. I never got that impression for most of the book. Now near the end, yes, I could see he cared about her and was upset that she was pushing him away and not giving him a chance. Plus he believed she wasn't in love with him, which I could tell totally hurt. But I couldn't tell this until the very end while the rest of the book he remained a completely mystery to me. It made me wonder how and why he ended up falling in love with Ginny because for most of the book I couldn't tell. Usually I can, but in this instance I couldn't.
I think another problem with the love story aspect of the book was the fact that there was very little romance to it. Yes, they had the love scenes, but that was about it. I felt like they spent no time really getting to know each other or come know the others personality, flaws and vulnerabilities. So how can someone fall in love with someone when they don't truly know the person except on a physical and surface level? Answer, you can't. I just felt that Andre and Ginny really didn't have any meaningful conversations with one another, therefore it was hard to swallow that they were falling in love with one another. Just they needed to spend more time together, I thought.
This leads me to my next point with the fact I think there was just so much going on that the romance and love story kind got lost in all that and was pushed to the back burner. It was like a secondary plot point. There was just a lot going on and a lot thrown in there. Here's all the plot points that were stuck in there that wasn't a focus on the romance. If you want to know click the spoiler button if not then don't because there are major spoilers here and reveal great plot details. Read at your own risk: . Anyway there was just way too much focus on outside forces then the couple. I felt like the couple only spent maybe 70-75 pages actually together out 188. And that's a problem in a romance. They needed to be together more and more relationship building going on in my opinion at least to make it more believable that they fell in love and weren't just in lust with one another.
I will say that I was optimistic about this book in the beginning when I started reading. The setup was very well done with the whole death of the stepfather/father and this unknown heir suddenly coming into the picture, and he was basically a brooding and not so nice guy. Plus the fact that it showed that Ginny wasn't treated exactly well by her family and treated her like nothing more than servant meant to serve them. They didn't think much of her and Ginny took the abuse. So the set up was there, and I thought it was very well portrayed and made me want Ginny to get her happily ever after. There was immediate tension there and just sadness to the whole situation. So the potential was definitely there for an angst and emotional read where the reader goes on the raw journey with the main characters. And I was expecting to like this book just from the set up alone, but then as I went along and saw more of outside forces take over and less of the couple spending time together then my enjoyment tapered off considerably and found myself less interested in love story of aspect of the story. I was expecting so much more rawness between the two of them and when I didn't get it then I was disappointed, which was a shame because the bones for a great love story was there as well as an emotional roller coaster ride, but it just didn't happen.
And I will say that I enjoyed the last third of the book because that's when the potential came back. The misunderstandings came into play as did hurt feelings from these misunderstandings. Now I could tell that Ginny's emotions were definitely in play here when it came to Andre and just how much she wanted him but kept him at arm's length so she didn't fall in the trap of falling in love with him when he wasn't going to fall in love with her. She wanted to avoid that hurt. Ironically she got hurt anyway once her sister came back onto the scene then misunderstandings ensued. Tenfold. Then story became interesting again and so much better. The angst was there. The rawness of emotions were there. The hurt, the longing, just everything that makes for a great angst love story that I would loved. Now if this was presented throughout the novel then I would have liked it so much more and would have maybe believed more in the relationship between Andre and Ginny because here was were the emotions really came into play. On both of their parts. This was what the book needed. Plus build up all the anticipation around them as well as upped the denied passion between them plus with angst surrounding them in the air. It would have been so much better. Especially if they waited to give into this passion with this set up behind them then it would have been a more satisfying ride I think. And I probably believed more in their passion for one another. I just wanted more of the last third of the book and less of the rest of the book.
I also think another reason why I was disappointed by this book was that from the synopsis on the back I thought the book was going to be totally different than it was. I thought there would have been a lot more angst as well deeper emotional issues going on. I thought that the stepfather/father's will was going to stipulate Andre and Ginny to marry in order to inherit all of his possessions that he left behind. Boom. Conflict city. That would have upped the ante tenfold I think. And what I thought was going to happen was that Ginny wouldn't want to and it was going to be Andre's job to convince in anyway possible aka seducing her. I think that would have peaked my interest so much more and I would have been glued to the pages more. Plus the emotional intensity would've been upped and it would have been a great roller coaster ride and journey to go on with them. Alas that didn't happen, which messed with my expectation so therefore I was disappointed in what came across the page.
There were a few cute things that I found about this story. One I loved how Ginny's stepfather truly cared for her and wanted the best for her and would do anything to make sure she reached her potential in the world. Even though he was gone, I could tell that he really adore Ginny and loved her like he was his own daughter. So that was sweet. Also another sweet moment was with the dog and how attached she was to the dog and how the dog was seemingly attached to her. Then to see how the dog trusted Andre and just the sweet affection that he shared with the dog. Also I loved Andre's family in France and how they very easily welcomed Ginny into the fold. I liked just their connection with Andre and that closeness family feel that they had for one another. Also liked how his stepfather treated him like a son much like his father treated Ginny like a daughter. So that was beautiful to see.
The characters of Andre and Ginny were okay. Not my favorite characters in the world, but I didn't dislike them. I just felt kind of neutral about them, and I was kind of unsure about Andre being we only know what was presented through Ginny's eyes since the book was only told in her perspective. I felt for Ginny and all the crap she went through with her family, but that was about it. I wasn't rooting for her but I wasn't rooting for her. Again neutral. Maybe if they were a little more dynamic characters than I would have had a bit of more opinion about them but instead I was neutral because they were kind of flat. Nothing exciting about them. There just needed to be a bit more spark especially between them as a couple.
Also a side note, Andre did speak in French what seemed like every other sentence, which kind of what disconcerting. I think I figured out what he was saying, but it was just almost too much French. If it was just here and there it would have been fine or if he just had a French nickname for her that he kept saying then fine, but it was throughout the whole. Just another thing I was absolutely thrilled about.
I have noticed lately that my bar has so been risen for Harlequin Presents books lately. If it doesn't connect to me on an emotional level or touch me in anyway or have that gut wrenching rawness to it then odds are I am not going to like it or have problems with it. I need the author to go deep and really deep and dig out all those emotions and present them to the forefront where I hurt for the character then root for them then pair that with anticipation, angst and hot passion/chemistry and you have one hell of a love story and one I will be praising to high heavens. I just expect so much more of these emotional roller coaster stories. I'm spoiled because some Harlequin Presents authors are great in creating those types of romance for the Presents line especially a lot of the new ones and some of the older ones well. The names that immediately come to mind are Maisey Yates, Abby Green, Annie West, Sarah Morgan Jennie Lucas, Lucy Monroe, Victoria Parker, Dani Collins, and that create wonderful love stories that are very emotional as they are passionate. I love those stories and they are the bar that I set for other romances in this line and when author doesn't do that then I am disappointed and kind of dissatisfied with the story. Those authors just know how to gut me and really take me on that emotional roller coaster right along with the characters, and it's great, and I love that. That's why I read romance in the first place. For the escapism. A story I can read over and over again and enjoying it every time never getting bored for a single time even if I already read it a hundred times already.
Now does this mean that other stories are bad? No, it's just my expectation are so high that I expect what I get from those other authors every single time and when I don't then my review reflects accordingly. So I am kind of spoiled.
And that was kind of the case with this book. It was an okay story. It wasn't my favorite. The potential was there, but it just didn't off the way I was expecting. I was expecting more emotional from this book. More angst. More relationship development. And just more passionate love scenes between the pair. Something where I actually believed that Andre and Ginny did in fact fall in love with one another. Instead I felt that very little was focused on the couple and them getting to know each other. I just wanted to see them more together. I was disappointed in this book, which I thought I would have enjoyed more especially from the back synopsis.
But it wasn't all bad either and was definitely readable. I didn't fall asleep during the book like I have during some in the past. I didn't feel like I had to skim the book just to get through it. There were definitely bright spots to the book with the setup and later third of book where the misunderstanding ensued and got me to feeling a bit more with the angst coming into play. I wanted that feeling more while I was reading. There were a few sweet moments as well though not between the couple but still sweet nonetheless.
Overall it was just an okay book. An okay romance. Nothing that I would scream from the rooftops that it was my favorite nor would I discourage anyone from reading it either. I say go for it if you want to give a shot. All you can do is start and read and decide for yourself. There's nothing more I can say.
Warning major plot spoilers ahead. And I mean major. Almost ever plot point is in here. If you don't want to know what happens in this book then don't read this review. Don't say I didn't warn you.
It wasn't bad or awful nor was it the most fantastic book I have ever read either, though it may seem like it from my negative comments here and the dislikes I list here but it wasn't all bad. I will definitely say that the second half was a hundred percent better than the first half, and I wished the second half was more prevalent throughout with the angst, tension, and misunderstandings being beautifully portrayed. There needed to be more of that and less of the first half with the setup and the mother.
Okay, first off all the chemistry between the characters was a bit iffy too me or at least at the beginning. When they first met, there weren't that many sparks between them, granted this wasn't exactly the perfect moment for sparks to fly with her stepfather/his father just dying and the time to reading the will. And between the Andre and Ginny I felt hate and animosity between them not so much desire. Now hate and animosity can be a great spring board for chemistry and desire with the hate and animosity disguising how much they wanted each other and were trying their best not to jump each others bones, but in this book that wasn't the case. I just felt they had a very intense dislike to each other and nothing more than that. It made me think that they didn't belong with each other or a love story would come between Andre and Ginny. It just felt so unexpected especially when they jumped into bed so quickly with nothing really preparing me for it. It was kind of like "huh." I think they needed to spend more time together and have the anticipation build up between them then it might of have worked for me. Even have more of the animosity build up between them and getting more and more heated until their passion exploded for one another and just sexiness exuded, but the way this was done just didn't feel right. I just needed more anticipation and build up between the two before they slept together the first time.
The regarding the love scenes. They were okay, but there was only really one proper love scene that was their first time/her first time. And regarding the love scene like I said above just totally happened out of left field and something that I didn't expect. I didn't even think they wanted each other at that point, that there was just a build up of tension between them then heading in that direction, but not quite there yet. So that kind of took me back a little bit. The first time scene was okay. It was passionate, but aside from that there wasn't that much to it. It was just all about lust for them, which is fine but because it happened so quick and unexpected it just kind of felt off to me, and way out of character for Ginny. And aside from that there was one almost love scene that got interrupted, which I thought was a bit hotter than the actually love scene because there was desire and anticipation build up to that moment so that I was ready for another love scene to come my way and ready to let their passions unleash especially from her side. Still wasn't sure where he was coming from or his motives. That scene was more satisfactory I thought because there was definitely more behind it than the lust, which I like seeing in a love scene. And other than that there wasn't another love scene to speak of, which kind of disappointed me. I thought there would be one more at least where they did give into tier passions fully and embrace their desire for one another. I was looking forward to that scene and I just didn't get it and I was waiting for that scene because I wanted to see what would happen during that scene as well as the emotions behind it.
And just really the whole love story aspect of the book just was slightly disappointing. One problem I had was that I didn't know where Andre was coming from. It was never clear. Did he just want to sleep with her again after they shared that passionate moment together? Did he just want her? Did he have deeper emotions for her? Did he care about her? Did he love her? None of this was clear. I felt like Andre just wanted her in his bed and was making the best of a bad situation when the possibility of her being pregnant. But I never got the fact that he wanted her around because he cared about her and wanted her more than a physical level. I never got that impression for most of the book. Now near the end, yes, I could see he cared about her and was upset that she was pushing him away and not giving him a chance. Plus he believed she wasn't in love with him, which I could tell totally hurt. But I couldn't tell this until the very end while the rest of the book he remained a completely mystery to me. It made me wonder how and why he ended up falling in love with Ginny because for most of the book I couldn't tell. Usually I can, but in this instance I couldn't.
I think another problem with the love story aspect of the book was the fact that there was very little romance to it. Yes, they had the love scenes, but that was about it. I felt like they spent no time really getting to know each other or come know the others personality, flaws and vulnerabilities. So how can someone fall in love with someone when they don't truly know the person except on a physical and surface level? Answer, you can't. I just felt that Andre and Ginny really didn't have any meaningful conversations with one another, therefore it was hard to swallow that they were falling in love with one another. Just they needed to spend more time together, I thought.
This leads me to my next point with the fact I think there was just so much going on that the romance and love story kind got lost in all that and was pushed to the back burner. It was like a secondary plot point. There was just a lot going on and a lot thrown in there. Here's all the plot points that were stuck in there that wasn't a focus on the romance. If you want to know click the spoiler button if not then don't because there are major spoilers here and reveal great plot details. Read at your own risk: . Anyway there was just way too much focus on outside forces then the couple. I felt like the couple only spent maybe 70-75 pages actually together out 188. And that's a problem in a romance. They needed to be together more and more relationship building going on in my opinion at least to make it more believable that they fell in love and weren't just in lust with one another.
I will say that I was optimistic about this book in the beginning when I started reading. The setup was very well done with the whole death of the stepfather/father and this unknown heir suddenly coming into the picture, and he was basically a brooding and not so nice guy. Plus the fact that it showed that Ginny wasn't treated exactly well by her family and treated her like nothing more than servant meant to serve them. They didn't think much of her and Ginny took the abuse. So the set up was there, and I thought it was very well portrayed and made me want Ginny to get her happily ever after. There was immediate tension there and just sadness to the whole situation. So the potential was definitely there for an angst and emotional read where the reader goes on the raw journey with the main characters. And I was expecting to like this book just from the set up alone, but then as I went along and saw more of outside forces take over and less of the couple spending time together then my enjoyment tapered off considerably and found myself less interested in love story of aspect of the story. I was expecting so much more rawness between the two of them and when I didn't get it then I was disappointed, which was a shame because the bones for a great love story was there as well as an emotional roller coaster ride, but it just didn't happen.
And I will say that I enjoyed the last third of the book because that's when the potential came back. The misunderstandings came into play as did hurt feelings from these misunderstandings. Now I could tell that Ginny's emotions were definitely in play here when it came to Andre and just how much she wanted him but kept him at arm's length so she didn't fall in the trap of falling in love with him when he wasn't going to fall in love with her. She wanted to avoid that hurt. Ironically she got hurt anyway once her sister came back onto the scene then misunderstandings ensued. Tenfold. Then story became interesting again and so much better. The angst was there. The rawness of emotions were there. The hurt, the longing, just everything that makes for a great angst love story that I would loved. Now if this was presented throughout the novel then I would have liked it so much more and would have maybe believed more in the relationship between Andre and Ginny because here was were the emotions really came into play. On both of their parts. This was what the book needed. Plus build up all the anticipation around them as well as upped the denied passion between them plus with angst surrounding them in the air. It would have been so much better. Especially if they waited to give into this passion with this set up behind them then it would have been a more satisfying ride I think. And I probably believed more in their passion for one another. I just wanted more of the last third of the book and less of the rest of the book.
I also think another reason why I was disappointed by this book was that from the synopsis on the back I thought the book was going to be totally different than it was. I thought there would have been a lot more angst as well deeper emotional issues going on. I thought that the stepfather/father's will was going to stipulate Andre and Ginny to marry in order to inherit all of his possessions that he left behind. Boom. Conflict city. That would have upped the ante tenfold I think. And what I thought was going to happen was that Ginny wouldn't want to and it was going to be Andre's job to convince in anyway possible aka seducing her. I think that would have peaked my interest so much more and I would have been glued to the pages more. Plus the emotional intensity would've been upped and it would have been a great roller coaster ride and journey to go on with them. Alas that didn't happen, which messed with my expectation so therefore I was disappointed in what came across the page.
There were a few cute things that I found about this story. One I loved how Ginny's stepfather truly cared for her and wanted the best for her and would do anything to make sure she reached her potential in the world. Even though he was gone, I could tell that he really adore Ginny and loved her like he was his own daughter. So that was sweet. Also another sweet moment was with the dog and how attached she was to the dog and how the dog was seemingly attached to her. Then to see how the dog trusted Andre and just the sweet affection that he shared with the dog. Also I loved Andre's family in France and how they very easily welcomed Ginny into the fold. I liked just their connection with Andre and that closeness family feel that they had for one another. Also liked how his stepfather treated him like a son much like his father treated Ginny like a daughter. So that was beautiful to see.
The characters of Andre and Ginny were okay. Not my favorite characters in the world, but I didn't dislike them. I just felt kind of neutral about them, and I was kind of unsure about Andre being we only know what was presented through Ginny's eyes since the book was only told in her perspective. I felt for Ginny and all the crap she went through with her family, but that was about it. I wasn't rooting for her but I wasn't rooting for her. Again neutral. Maybe if they were a little more dynamic characters than I would have had a bit of more opinion about them but instead I was neutral because they were kind of flat. Nothing exciting about them. There just needed to be a bit more spark especially between them as a couple.
Also a side note, Andre did speak in French what seemed like every other sentence, which kind of what disconcerting. I think I figured out what he was saying, but it was just almost too much French. If it was just here and there it would have been fine or if he just had a French nickname for her that he kept saying then fine, but it was throughout the whole. Just another thing I was absolutely thrilled about.
I have noticed lately that my bar has so been risen for Harlequin Presents books lately. If it doesn't connect to me on an emotional level or touch me in anyway or have that gut wrenching rawness to it then odds are I am not going to like it or have problems with it. I need the author to go deep and really deep and dig out all those emotions and present them to the forefront where I hurt for the character then root for them then pair that with anticipation, angst and hot passion/chemistry and you have one hell of a love story and one I will be praising to high heavens. I just expect so much more of these emotional roller coaster stories. I'm spoiled because some Harlequin Presents authors are great in creating those types of romance for the Presents line especially a lot of the new ones and some of the older ones well. The names that immediately come to mind are Maisey Yates, Abby Green, Annie West, Sarah Morgan Jennie Lucas, Lucy Monroe, Victoria Parker, Dani Collins, and that create wonderful love stories that are very emotional as they are passionate. I love those stories and they are the bar that I set for other romances in this line and when author doesn't do that then I am disappointed and kind of dissatisfied with the story. Those authors just know how to gut me and really take me on that emotional roller coaster right along with the characters, and it's great, and I love that. That's why I read romance in the first place. For the escapism. A story I can read over and over again and enjoying it every time never getting bored for a single time even if I already read it a hundred times already.
Now does this mean that other stories are bad? No, it's just my expectation are so high that I expect what I get from those other authors every single time and when I don't then my review reflects accordingly. So I am kind of spoiled.
And that was kind of the case with this book. It was an okay story. It wasn't my favorite. The potential was there, but it just didn't off the way I was expecting. I was expecting more emotional from this book. More angst. More relationship development. And just more passionate love scenes between the pair. Something where I actually believed that Andre and Ginny did in fact fall in love with one another. Instead I felt that very little was focused on the couple and them getting to know each other. I just wanted to see them more together. I was disappointed in this book, which I thought I would have enjoyed more especially from the back synopsis.
But it wasn't all bad either and was definitely readable. I didn't fall asleep during the book like I have during some in the past. I didn't feel like I had to skim the book just to get through it. There were definitely bright spots to the book with the setup and later third of book where the misunderstanding ensued and got me to feeling a bit more with the angst coming into play. I wanted that feeling more while I was reading. There were a few sweet moments as well though not between the couple but still sweet nonetheless.
Overall it was just an okay book. An okay romance. Nothing that I would scream from the rooftops that it was my favorite nor would I discourage anyone from reading it either. I say go for it if you want to give a shot. All you can do is start and read and decide for yourself. There's nothing more I can say.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 16, 2014
Inherited by Her Enemy by Sara Craven is a well written romance set in France. The story line resembles the older harlequins and it is written completely from the heroine’s point of view. Ginny is a sweet innocent heroine with a cunning evil mother and sister who don’t treat her right. I did not like the way Ginny was so forgiving after the way her family treated her. She stood up to the hero but not her mother and sister.
Andre is a sexy, cynical, arrogant hero who I could not get a read on except that he wanted Ginny. The romance is mixed with loads of drama from the other side characters and at times moved the focus from the main characters, but overall it was enjoyable for me because I like all the drama in my books. Andre and Ginny go very well together because they share a good chemistry.
Overall, Inherited by Her Enemy by Sara Craven is a enjoyable romance and is recommended for the author’s fans and the people who love old harlequin Presents.Read More
Andre is a sexy, cynical, arrogant hero who I could not get a read on except that he wanted Ginny. The romance is mixed with loads of drama from the other side characters and at times moved the focus from the main characters, but overall it was enjoyable for me because I like all the drama in my books. Andre and Ginny go very well together because they share a good chemistry.
Overall, Inherited by Her Enemy by Sara Craven is a enjoyable romance and is recommended for the author’s fans and the people who love old harlequin Presents.Read More
February 20, 2018
Virginia is a patient sensible heroine who lived with her selfish mother and sister and had to take care of everything in their lives especially after the death of her step-father and his son came to inherit everything.
It's a typical predictable story that slowly progresses and eventually bores you. Many events would have been avoided with mare honesty in the parts of both the hero and the heroine.
Not a story I would read twice.
It's a typical predictable story that slowly progresses and eventually bores you. Many events would have been avoided with mare honesty in the parts of both the hero and the heroine.
Not a story I would read twice.
January 5, 2015
Ugh. What's happened to my fave harlequin authors? Sara craven has been one of my faves for a couple of decades. This book wasn't bad it was just rather dry and boring.
February 24, 2018
These Sara Craven chicks are so darn stubborn.. 0_0
October 28, 2019
Protagonistas: Andre & Virginia
Profesiones: Viticultor & Ama de Llaves
Paises: Francia & Londres
Profesiones: Viticultor & Ama de Llaves
Paises: Francia & Londres
June 28, 2022
My expectations for this(based on reviews) was not high. Plus I was coming off of a book I rated 5 stars so I went into this expecting to be disappointed. I was actually pleasantly surprised and ending up enjoying this book. It was a pretty solid 3 star rating in HP land. As other reviewers pointed out, this story felt older than its 2015 copyright date.
So this story had some great moments of angst, however, I think SC missed some opportunities for deeper angst by not having our main characters together more. She included a lot of little extras(some going nowhere) in the story that I think detracted from the romance that should have been there. There were quite a few despicable characters(some tried/succeeded to redeem themselves, while others were happy in their devilry). On top of this the heroine goes the whole story knowing/believing the hero slept with her spoiled sister minutes before she cashed in her v-card to the hero in the same hotel bed(he did come to his hotel room door showered after the sister left, but the bed was a rumpled mess) So as a reader you have to decide A) Am I ok with the hero sleeping with both sisters within an hour of each other? OR B) This is obviously some SC trickery and the H did not sleep with the sister. Well in the immortal words of the sister when the heroine asked her what went on, “Wouldn’t you like to know!”
Ok here our the players:
Heroine: Ginny, 22 year old virgin who has a Cinderella complex. She puts everything on hold so she can wait on her beautiful, bitchy, lazy mother and equally beautiful, spoiled, bratty younger sister. She has already decided the spinster life will be for her. In fact, she has approached her stepfather about loaning her money so she can take over the village cafe which is historically run by spinsters(except the last owner is leaving to get married!) Unfortunately, the stepfather is dead at the beginning of the story without leaving any notation of loaning the stepdaughter money, in fact at the reading of the will, the whole family is stunned to realize that all property and wealth has been left to an illegitimate son from France. Well he did bequeath 40 thousand a year and a small run down cottage to his wife.
Hero: Andre Duchard-He is French and he oozed sex appeal. I am not sure if it was the fact that SC actually included quite a bit of French that helped up his sexy quotient, but basically I was all in when it came to him. That isn’t to say there were not missteps along the way. Although he was not intentionally cruel, he seemed to be clueless on how to woo the h successfully leading her to believe that he wasn’t interested. In this way he was less Louis Jourdan
and more Inspector Clouseau with all his unintentional bumbling.
MoneyMommy dearest: Rosina is an attractive woman in her 40’s. She married the now dead Andrew Charlton 10 years before(under false pretenses we find out later). Her marriage elevated her buying power and status(although locals never truly accepted her). She was basically your typical cardboard cut out gold digger who must have graduated from OW school, because she actually got her man. She doted on her younger daughter, while treating her elder daughter as help. I am not sure why she married her first husband as she was not the type to be satisfied with being a teacher’s wife. So in my imagination, my guess would be that she got knocked up with the first child, and he married her. This would also explain her animosity towards the elder daughter. The elder daughter not only looked like the father, but her personality was similar as well. Therefore, when pretty blonde daughter #2 arrived the mother would not be bitter towards her. She wasn’t the cause of the marriage and she looked like mommy’s mini me! Bottom line: Mommy takes care of Mommy first and foremost.
Lucilla(Cilla)-OW wannabe…Spoiled rotten brat, who has been indulged by everyone including big sis Ginny to a certain extent. I can’t even blame her for turning out the way she did, as she was raised to be selfish, self serving, and basically useless. Even the beloved stepdad, Andrew, thought she best go to finishing school so she could be someone’s wife not thinking she could be anything else. Well, she did score the wealthy neighbor boy, the same one who was dating her sister, and he is now her fiancé. Unfortunately she is not content with her vanilla bean fiancé and thinks French vanilla is more to her liking.
Andrew Charlton: Stepdad to Ginny, bio dad to Andre: We are led to believe he was a good man. He was kindly to his stepdaughters, to his first wife, and to loyal employees. However, there is no doubt the man was flawed in some ways. His first wife had multiple miscarriages and according to the housekeeper that was really the only reason she engaged in sexual relations. After the Dr. Said she should stop trying, she basically suffered from depression, in and out of hospitals, and insisted on separate bedrooms. The companion assigned to her was the Hero’s mom. His mom was sweet and young. Well one thing led to another and she got knocked up by the Lord of the Manor. She fled to France and was rescued by her one true love who ended up marrying her and adopting the hero. He is still alive and was actually on good terms with Andrew Charlton. In fact, unbeknownst to the family, Andrew was going to leave England and move to France. His plan was to take Ginny with him, knowing his wife and Cilla would not agree to the move. Why take Ginny? He actually noticed that Ginny was living the life of a dried up spinster, and he wanted her to spread her wings.(I have another theory as well which I will put below)
Ok there are few more characters(as the story gets a little bogged down in characters) but I am going to bullet point the rest of the story with spoilers included. So if you hate the spoilers 🛑NOW SPOILERS ARE COMING!!!🛑
All and all this was an entertaining story. It is not going to go on anyones all time favorite SC book or even get honorable mention in the world of HP’s. However, I read it from front to back with nary a break. I think the biggest criticism of the book is that the romance seemed to take a backseat to a lot of other things going on. Plus, the cover of the book I can only assume takes place when the h and H get married and they are on a honeymoon. The only thing that looks familiar are the glasses of champagne(of course only if it is truly from that region in France)
So this story had some great moments of angst, however, I think SC missed some opportunities for deeper angst by not having our main characters together more. She included a lot of little extras(some going nowhere) in the story that I think detracted from the romance that should have been there. There were quite a few despicable characters(some tried/succeeded to redeem themselves, while others were happy in their devilry). On top of this the heroine goes the whole story knowing/believing the hero slept with her spoiled sister minutes before she cashed in her v-card to the hero in the same hotel bed(he did come to his hotel room door showered after the sister left, but the bed was a rumpled mess) So as a reader you have to decide A) Am I ok with the hero sleeping with both sisters within an hour of each other? OR B) This is obviously some SC trickery and the H did not sleep with the sister. Well in the immortal words of the sister when the heroine asked her what went on, “Wouldn’t you like to know!”
Ok here our the players:
Heroine: Ginny, 22 year old virgin who has a Cinderella complex. She puts everything on hold so she can wait on her beautiful, bitchy, lazy mother and equally beautiful, spoiled, bratty younger sister. She has already decided the spinster life will be for her. In fact, she has approached her stepfather about loaning her money so she can take over the village cafe which is historically run by spinsters(except the last owner is leaving to get married!) Unfortunately, the stepfather is dead at the beginning of the story without leaving any notation of loaning the stepdaughter money, in fact at the reading of the will, the whole family is stunned to realize that all property and wealth has been left to an illegitimate son from France. Well he did bequeath 40 thousand a year and a small run down cottage to his wife.
Hero: Andre Duchard-He is French and he oozed sex appeal. I am not sure if it was the fact that SC actually included quite a bit of French that helped up his sexy quotient, but basically I was all in when it came to him. That isn’t to say there were not missteps along the way. Although he was not intentionally cruel, he seemed to be clueless on how to woo the h successfully leading her to believe that he wasn’t interested. In this way he was less Louis Jourdan
and more Inspector Clouseau with all his unintentional bumbling. Lucilla(Cilla)-OW wannabe…Spoiled rotten brat, who has been indulged by everyone including big sis Ginny to a certain extent. I can’t even blame her for turning out the way she did, as she was raised to be selfish, self serving, and basically useless. Even the beloved stepdad, Andrew, thought she best go to finishing school so she could be someone’s wife not thinking she could be anything else. Well, she did score the wealthy neighbor boy, the same one who was dating her sister, and he is now her fiancé. Unfortunately she is not content with her vanilla bean fiancé and thinks French vanilla is more to her liking.
Andrew Charlton: Stepdad to Ginny, bio dad to Andre: We are led to believe he was a good man. He was kindly to his stepdaughters, to his first wife, and to loyal employees. However, there is no doubt the man was flawed in some ways. His first wife had multiple miscarriages and according to the housekeeper that was really the only reason she engaged in sexual relations. After the Dr. Said she should stop trying, she basically suffered from depression, in and out of hospitals, and insisted on separate bedrooms. The companion assigned to her was the Hero’s mom. His mom was sweet and young. Well one thing led to another and she got knocked up by the Lord of the Manor. She fled to France and was rescued by her one true love who ended up marrying her and adopting the hero. He is still alive and was actually on good terms with Andrew Charlton. In fact, unbeknownst to the family, Andrew was going to leave England and move to France. His plan was to take Ginny with him, knowing his wife and Cilla would not agree to the move. Why take Ginny? He actually noticed that Ginny was living the life of a dried up spinster, and he wanted her to spread her wings.(I have another theory as well which I will put below)
Ok there are few more characters(as the story gets a little bogged down in characters) but I am going to bullet point the rest of the story with spoilers included. So if you hate the spoilers 🛑NOW SPOILERS ARE COMING!!!🛑
All and all this was an entertaining story. It is not going to go on anyones all time favorite SC book or even get honorable mention in the world of HP’s. However, I read it from front to back with nary a break. I think the biggest criticism of the book is that the romance seemed to take a backseat to a lot of other things going on. Plus, the cover of the book I can only assume takes place when the h and H get married and they are on a honeymoon. The only thing that looks familiar are the glasses of champagne(of course only if it is truly from that region in France)
April 26, 2015
When her stepfather's will was read, Virginia Mason discovered that everything was left to an unknown biological son, Andre Duchard who had already set in motion to turn the house into a B&B! Now Virginia is out of a home and her job as a waitress disappears too when the restaurant is sold. Penniless and homeless, she has few options when Andre invites her to France to work for him. Even though Virginia thinks he's arrogant, cynical and aloof, once Andre kisses her, she knows she's in trouble! Once in the French beautiful countryside, will their passion turn into something more substantial?
I really liked this story. It's an old-fashioned romance set in a beautiful place. Yes, there are a lot of French phrases but even though they aren't directly translated, they can be understood from the context of the situation I think. It wasn't quite a 5-star story but it was a 4.5-star story.
I really liked this story. It's an old-fashioned romance set in a beautiful place. Yes, there are a lot of French phrases but even though they aren't directly translated, they can be understood from the context of the situation I think. It wasn't quite a 5-star story but it was a 4.5-star story.
December 30, 2014
Not one of Sara Craven's better novels. Although, I enjoy reading about Frenchmen, this story had way too much French written for the majority of American readers to understand what is being said. Readers who are from England may understand the French phrases, but I'm pretty sure most American readers wouldn't understand a bit of it. Also, the first tenth of the book and the last tenth of the book were the most "interesting" sections of the book. The entire middle section was a complete waste of time.
December 18, 2015
A nice enough plot. But seriously the Heroine appears as though she's jut stepped out of a 90's book.
No Hero's POV at all. After getting used to reading about the Hero's POV for at least 25% if not 50% of the book, I was so disappointed. I kept turning the pages in the hope that yes....now we'll get to read about the Hero's POV....but I was waiting till the last page of the book.
No Hero's POV at all. After getting used to reading about the Hero's POV for at least 25% if not 50% of the book, I was so disappointed. I kept turning the pages in the hope that yes....now we'll get to read about the Hero's POV....but I was waiting till the last page of the book.
September 17, 2020
The plot is good, quite straightforward, but author clutters it up in the last half with a few red herring other women. On the other had the characters are good and as usual Sara Craven manages to build in romantic tension that feels so right.
May 8, 2018
When Virginia's stepfather dies, an unexpected stranger comes to the reading of the will. Turns out that the stranger, Andre, is her stepfather's biological child and will now inherit everything. Virginia's mother, to whom Virginia is essentially Cinderella, is not pleased at the turn of events, nor is Virginia's sister, Cilla. Virginia and Andre clash right off the bat, but there is an underlying attraction, which culminates in a one-afternoon-stand and a pregnancy scare. And this has Andre offering marriage and a new home in France to Virginia. She's at a loss since she's now lost her home and job, so she agrees to accompany Andre, but not to marry him - not until she knows she's pregnant. They bump along pretty roughly while in France until Virginia's sister, Cilla shows up and Virginia is certain that Andre is no longer interested in her, but plans to marry Cilla instead.
This was a bit of a mess, but still kind of enjoyable. This doesn't read like a standard romance, since for the most part, Virginia and Andre don't spend enough time together to develop a relationship. Evidently, Andre has been in love with Virginia since he saw her, but that didn't stop him from being snarky and having a pretty nasty attitude with her. But Virginia falls in love with him anyway, despite this. I couldn't understand it since they were still practically strangers by the end of the book. They don't even have the uncontrollable lust to drive their hormones into feelings of love. They have sex once in this story - and there's no emotion in it whatsoever. In fact, Virginia goes into Andre's bed fully believing that only minutes before, Andre had been having sex with Cilla on that very same bed. Umm. Ew. I kinda can't believe Virginia wasn't dwelling on that a bit more...it's kinda all I could think of at the time. I mean...sex creates fluids and sweat and you don't just lay down on a bed where you think people have just been doing that...
One good thing about this story was Andre - yes he's snarky and doesn't exactly come across as loving to the woman he supposedly loves, but he's pretty damn respectful about what she wants. He doesn't pressure her into sex, he doesn't try to influence her decisions and when she says she's leaving, he's prepared to let her go, even if he doesn't want to. I like that kind of hero.
This was a bit of a mess, but still kind of enjoyable. This doesn't read like a standard romance, since for the most part, Virginia and Andre don't spend enough time together to develop a relationship. Evidently, Andre has been in love with Virginia since he saw her, but that didn't stop him from being snarky and having a pretty nasty attitude with her. But Virginia falls in love with him anyway, despite this. I couldn't understand it since they were still practically strangers by the end of the book. They don't even have the uncontrollable lust to drive their hormones into feelings of love. They have sex once in this story - and there's no emotion in it whatsoever. In fact, Virginia goes into Andre's bed fully believing that only minutes before, Andre had been having sex with Cilla on that very same bed. Umm. Ew. I kinda can't believe Virginia wasn't dwelling on that a bit more...it's kinda all I could think of at the time. I mean...sex creates fluids and sweat and you don't just lay down on a bed where you think people have just been doing that...
One good thing about this story was Andre - yes he's snarky and doesn't exactly come across as loving to the woman he supposedly loves, but he's pretty damn respectful about what she wants. He doesn't pressure her into sex, he doesn't try to influence her decisions and when she says she's leaving, he's prepared to let her go, even if he doesn't want to. I like that kind of hero.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 18, 2019
A good story...
The heroin is a fool being slave to her evil mother and bitch sister,she doesn't need enemies,she was her own enemy...
Thanks to the writer the bitch sister and greedy bitch of her mother were get ridden till chepter 29 ....
The hero was a good man, beautiful surroundings,I wish he would have spoken his 💓 to that fool of heroin....
Still no spoilers easy read ...
h s stepfather died with leaving everything to his own son in France,her greedy mom and her boyfriend stealing sister were left with their greeds only... stepfather really loved this stepdaughter and had plans for her to bring her along to the France with him,he already made a background by praising for her to her son Andre and others...
So when he died her mother gave her ultimatum to move out, though she was working as a free house maid for her,the H made her a proposition and took her with him to his country where she realized that he is the future Baron,not a peasant...
Fanally a happy ending😆😍
The heroin is a fool being slave to her evil mother and bitch sister,she doesn't need enemies,she was her own enemy...
Thanks to the writer the bitch sister and greedy bitch of her mother were get ridden till chepter 29 ....
The hero was a good man, beautiful surroundings,I wish he would have spoken his 💓 to that fool of heroin....
Still no spoilers easy read ...
h s stepfather died with leaving everything to his own son in France,her greedy mom and her boyfriend stealing sister were left with their greeds only... stepfather really loved this stepdaughter and had plans for her to bring her along to the France with him,he already made a background by praising for her to her son Andre and others...
So when he died her mother gave her ultimatum to move out, though she was working as a free house maid for her,the H made her a proposition and took her with him to his country where she realized that he is the future Baron,not a peasant...
Fanally a happy ending😆😍
August 18, 2024
A free copy of this book was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Inherited by Her Enemy is the story of Ginny, whose family is rocked when her step-father dies and leaves the family fortune to his illegitimate son Andre. Ginny unexpectedly ends up losing her virginity in bed with Andre and he insists on keeping her close and 'doing the right thing' if she ends up pregnant from their encounter.
I quite enjoyed this Mills and Boon book. It sort of felt very much like the kind of Mills and Boon I would read back when I was a teen. Andre is the kind of domineering (but not in a creepy way) romantic lead and there's an evil blonde sister who is trying to break up Andre and Ginny's relationship. It's all very dramatic and overblown and I sped through it in a couple of hours.
A fun and enjoyable classic Mills and Boon read. 3.5 stars.
Inherited by Her Enemy is the story of Ginny, whose family is rocked when her step-father dies and leaves the family fortune to his illegitimate son Andre. Ginny unexpectedly ends up losing her virginity in bed with Andre and he insists on keeping her close and 'doing the right thing' if she ends up pregnant from their encounter.
I quite enjoyed this Mills and Boon book. It sort of felt very much like the kind of Mills and Boon I would read back when I was a teen. Andre is the kind of domineering (but not in a creepy way) romantic lead and there's an evil blonde sister who is trying to break up Andre and Ginny's relationship. It's all very dramatic and overblown and I sped through it in a couple of hours.
A fun and enjoyable classic Mills and Boon read. 3.5 stars.
October 21, 2022
The story itself was not bad. It was interesting enough for me to finish reading. However, I was looking for a romance when I picked this up. In this book, family drama takes center stage with the romance a neglected subplot. The author had the elements necessary to make a good romance book, but missed the mark by getting lost in the intrigue.
Also, this is a personal taste thing, but we only hear Virginia's pov, not Andre's. I strongly prefer romances to include the povs of both of the leads.
Also, this is a personal taste thing, but we only hear Virginia's pov, not Andre's. I strongly prefer romances to include the povs of both of the leads.
February 12, 2022
Great story from start finish! Finn is young but independent. Her mother and sister are lazy, spoilt snobs and great her as a servant. Andre comes into the picture and changed Ginny's life for good. Strong characters and wonderful story.
August 3, 2018
Una storia dolce
February 23, 2019
An excellent story!
A bloomin' good read! Excellent lead characters and so well written I couldn't put it down. If I could award more than 5 stars I would!
A bloomin' good read! Excellent lead characters and so well written I couldn't put it down. If I could award more than 5 stars I would!
May 19, 2019
There I something about Ms Craven's writing style that I really enjoy. And I enjoyed this story specifically, even if all the French made me miss up my day's Spanish lesson. :)
January 16, 2020
Why do I pick the worst books on hoopla...
April 28, 2021
3.25 A decent read but two things kept the rating low: Didn't enjoy the h's nearly unrelenting antagonism towards the H, and the h's decision about the evil older OW at the end was ridiculous.
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