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Frustration
Would the past ruin her future?
In the chaotic world of a London television network, Natalie struggled to rebuild her life--and grieved privately over the death of her beloved husband, Angus.
When she was promoted to Jake Lang's production team, the whole network buzzed. Jake had hated Natalie ever since an unspeakably humiliating night she'd tried to forget.
But Natalie knew that if she was to have any kind of a future, she somehow had to make Jake believe that he was more than just a substitute for Angus. It wouldn't be easy!
In the chaotic world of a London television network, Natalie struggled to rebuild her life--and grieved privately over the death of her beloved husband, Angus.
When she was promoted to Jake Lang's production team, the whole network buzzed. Jake had hated Natalie ever since an unspeakably humiliating night she'd tried to forget.
But Natalie knew that if she was to have any kind of a future, she somehow had to make Jake believe that he was more than just a substitute for Angus. It wouldn't be easy!
186 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1979
12 people are currently reading
464 people want to read
About the author
Charlotte Lamb
261 books313 followersSheila Ann Mary Coates Holland
aka Sheila Holland, Sheila Coates, Charlotte Lamb, Sheila Lancaster, Victoria Woolf, Laura Hardy
Sheila Ann Mary Coates was born on 1937 in Essex, England, just before the Second World War in the East End of London. As a child, she was moved from relative to relative to escape the bombings of World War II. Sheila attended the Ursuline Convent for Girls. On leaving school at 16, the convent-educated author worked for the Bank of England as a clerk. Sheila continued her education by taking advantage of the B of E's enormous library during her lunch breaks and after work. She later worked as a secretary for the BBC. While there, she met and married Richard Holland, a political reporter. A voracious reader of romance novels, she began writing at her husband's suggestion. She wrote her first book in three days with three children underfoot! In between raising her five children (including a set of twins), Charlotte wrote several more novels. She used both her married and maiden names, Sheila Holland and Sheila Coates, before her first novel as Charlotte Lamb, Follow a Stranger, was published by Mills & Boon in 1973. She also used the pennames: Sheila Lancaster, Victoria Wolf and Laura Hardy. Sheila was a true revolutionary in the field of romance writing. One of the first writers to explore the boundaries of sexual desire, her novels often reflected the forefront of the "sexual revolution" of the 1970s. Her books touched on then-taboo subjects such as child abuse and rape, and she created sexually confident - even dominant - heroines. She was also one of the first to create a modern romantic heroine: independent, imperfect, and perfectly capable of initiating a sexual or romantic relationship. A prolific author, Sheila penned more than 160 novels, most of them for Mills & Boon. Known for her swiftness as well as for her skill in writing, Sheila typically wrote a minimum of two thousand words per day, working from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. While she once finished a full-length novel in four days, she herself pegged her average speed at two weeks to complete a full novel. Since 1977, Sheila had been living on the Isle of Man as a tax exile with her husband and four of their five children: Michael Holland, Sarah Holland, Jane Holland, Charlotte Holland and David Holland. Sheila passed away on October 8, 2000 in her baronial-style home 'Crogga' on the Island. She is greatly missed by her many fans, and by the romance writing community.
aka Sheila Holland, Sheila Coates, Charlotte Lamb, Sheila Lancaster, Victoria Woolf, Laura Hardy
Sheila Ann Mary Coates was born on 1937 in Essex, England, just before the Second World War in the East End of London. As a child, she was moved from relative to relative to escape the bombings of World War II. Sheila attended the Ursuline Convent for Girls. On leaving school at 16, the convent-educated author worked for the Bank of England as a clerk. Sheila continued her education by taking advantage of the B of E's enormous library during her lunch breaks and after work. She later worked as a secretary for the BBC. While there, she met and married Richard Holland, a political reporter. A voracious reader of romance novels, she began writing at her husband's suggestion. She wrote her first book in three days with three children underfoot! In between raising her five children (including a set of twins), Charlotte wrote several more novels. She used both her married and maiden names, Sheila Holland and Sheila Coates, before her first novel as Charlotte Lamb, Follow a Stranger, was published by Mills & Boon in 1973. She also used the pennames: Sheila Lancaster, Victoria Wolf and Laura Hardy. Sheila was a true revolutionary in the field of romance writing. One of the first writers to explore the boundaries of sexual desire, her novels often reflected the forefront of the "sexual revolution" of the 1970s. Her books touched on then-taboo subjects such as child abuse and rape, and she created sexually confident - even dominant - heroines. She was also one of the first to create a modern romantic heroine: independent, imperfect, and perfectly capable of initiating a sexual or romantic relationship. A prolific author, Sheila penned more than 160 novels, most of them for Mills & Boon. Known for her swiftness as well as for her skill in writing, Sheila typically wrote a minimum of two thousand words per day, working from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. While she once finished a full-length novel in four days, she herself pegged her average speed at two weeks to complete a full novel. Since 1977, Sheila had been living on the Isle of Man as a tax exile with her husband and four of their five children: Michael Holland, Sarah Holland, Jane Holland, Charlotte Holland and David Holland. Sheila passed away on October 8, 2000 in her baronial-style home 'Crogga' on the Island. She is greatly missed by her many fans, and by the romance writing community.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
September 7, 2020
TV producer hero Jake Lang falls for co-worker Natalie Buchan, but she is still in mourning for her late husband, Angus, who died over a year ago. Natalie first met Jake at a party. She thought he looked like her husband Angus from behind. She left the party in a daze and went home with Jake. When they started to make love, Natalie said Angus’s name. Jake has been furious ever since. She isn’t interested in a relationship, but Jake is determined to have her.
I really didn’t care for this book at all. The hero was too cruel and abusive to the heroine and ruined it for me with his bad behavior. (Grasping and wrenching Natalie’s hair, kissing her till her lips bled, telling her “I enjoy hurting you”, flying off the handle at anything, breaking dolls, etc.) I enjoy besotted, obsessive heroes but Jake was too much.
I really didn’t care for this book at all. The hero was too cruel and abusive to the heroine and ruined it for me with his bad behavior. (Grasping and wrenching Natalie’s hair, kissing her till her lips bled, telling her “I enjoy hurting you”, flying off the handle at anything, breaking dolls, etc.) I enjoy besotted, obsessive heroes but Jake was too much.
August 31, 2018
The creepy doll on the front - symbol of the hero's insane jealousy - really sums up the story. Heroine is a widow, still locked in grief. She has a one night stand with the hero on the anniversary of her husband's death. Turns out he is a big boss where she works. Ooops.
The hero, for his part, fell instantly in love with the heroine and is enraged that he was used as a substitute for her dead husband. He wants her love and attention and alternately throws tantrums and is kind until he finally breaks through the heroine's shell of grief and wins an I Love You from her.
The H/h were both given families and family scenes in the story. I liked the hero's parents and the rose gardens as well as the heroine's sister and her precocious boys.
The characters I didn't like were the H/h, unfortunately. The heroine was a zombie who shamelessly uses an OM to stop gossip. (Like what's the difference? They gossip about you and the H or you and the OM.) The hero was a bully - not just to the heroine, but to his co-workers as well.
This is very well written, but not a favorite by CL.
The hero, for his part, fell instantly in love with the heroine and is enraged that he was used as a substitute for her dead husband. He wants her love and attention and alternately throws tantrums and is kind until he finally breaks through the heroine's shell of grief and wins an I Love You from her.
The H/h were both given families and family scenes in the story. I liked the hero's parents and the rose gardens as well as the heroine's sister and her precocious boys.
The characters I didn't like were the H/h, unfortunately. The heroine was a zombie who shamelessly uses an OM to stop gossip. (Like what's the difference? They gossip about you and the H or you and the OM.) The hero was a bully - not just to the heroine, but to his co-workers as well.
This is very well written, but not a favorite by CL.
April 13, 2022
Shall we talk about the cover?
With the creepy doll?
My god, this book.
It shouldn't be in the cathegory HP.
This is a great romance, with some of the most interesting psychological insights I've ever read in a romance.
Ever.
It's creepy and crazy and insane.
Both characters are insane.
The hero needs treatment and so the heroine.
Pity the end was so rushed. It would have been a five starts if the author didn't end the pages at her disposal, which is a thing that often happens with CL.
I loved both characters even if they are very disturbed.
The heroine is a young widow, a shy and introvert creature who is still mourning for her husband's death.
The first time she goes to a party she sees a man who, from behind, looks like he husband.
He looks at her, they dances, and then there's this powerful, irresistible attraction between them so they go to her and they almost make love.
Almost, because the heroine says her late husband's name.
And the hero freezes.
She explains it's her husband and he thinks she's still married, so he leaves after trashing her verbally.
He's stunned and hurt, it's obvious that he thought she was the one, while he finds out he was only a substitute for her husband.
The day after she finds out he's her new boss, and he requires her as his pa.
He found out she's a widow but he's still very angry.
And he stays angry for all the book.
The heroine is not an easy mark, she's an introvert and doesn't talk much, or shows her feelings.
The hero tries to take her out of her shell, and sometimes he's really cruel.
There's a moment where he seduces her and then leaves her unsatisfied, but she doesn't react and she goes out with another man.
There are both another man and another woman, who both characters use to make the other jealous, but there's only flirt and no sex involved.
The hero is really besotted with the heroine and wants her to love him, and to leave her past - her late husband- behind.
He's all bully and evil, threatening the heroine that she will surrender and become his lover eventually, and the heroine, who's afraid to be used for revenge, tells him she's leaving for the USA
Of course he's appalled and begs her not to, revealing his love (obsession is more likely) and she tells him she loves him.
There's a lot going on in this book, there's abuse, cruelty and obsession, there is revenge and threats, but there are also some cute moments with the heroine's nephews, and dialogues are really good.
Some epic moments.
- The heroine calling her husband's name while making out with the hero.
- The hero telling the heroine he enjoys so much hurting her, he could become addicted to it. (jeez, the creep!)
- The lil nephew throwing up just while h/H are having sex.
- The hero throwing away a portrait of the heroine that a male collegue, who's got a crush on her, drew and then gave the hero as a present.
-The hero almost fainting when the heroine tells him she's leaving.
Lots of OTT and both characters are not very sane or healthy but this book is certainly entertaining in all its pages, I read it avidly and re-read immediately after for a better understanding.
Unfortunately the end was rushed, it had all to be solved in two pages, I felt like the author needed more pages, and this is why the book was not 5 stars for me.
But a great read anyway.
With the creepy doll?
My god, this book.
It shouldn't be in the cathegory HP.
This is a great romance, with some of the most interesting psychological insights I've ever read in a romance.
Ever.
It's creepy and crazy and insane.
Both characters are insane.
The hero needs treatment and so the heroine.
Pity the end was so rushed. It would have been a five starts if the author didn't end the pages at her disposal, which is a thing that often happens with CL.
I loved both characters even if they are very disturbed.
The heroine is a young widow, a shy and introvert creature who is still mourning for her husband's death.
The first time she goes to a party she sees a man who, from behind, looks like he husband.
He looks at her, they dances, and then there's this powerful, irresistible attraction between them so they go to her and they almost make love.
Almost, because the heroine says her late husband's name.
And the hero freezes.
She explains it's her husband and he thinks she's still married, so he leaves after trashing her verbally.
He's stunned and hurt, it's obvious that he thought she was the one, while he finds out he was only a substitute for her husband.
The day after she finds out he's her new boss, and he requires her as his pa.
He found out she's a widow but he's still very angry.
And he stays angry for all the book.
The heroine is not an easy mark, she's an introvert and doesn't talk much, or shows her feelings.
The hero tries to take her out of her shell, and sometimes he's really cruel.
There's a moment where he seduces her and then leaves her unsatisfied, but she doesn't react and she goes out with another man.
There are both another man and another woman, who both characters use to make the other jealous, but there's only flirt and no sex involved.
The hero is really besotted with the heroine and wants her to love him, and to leave her past - her late husband- behind.
He's all bully and evil, threatening the heroine that she will surrender and become his lover eventually, and the heroine, who's afraid to be used for revenge, tells him she's leaving for the USA
Of course he's appalled and begs her not to, revealing his love (obsession is more likely) and she tells him she loves him.
There's a lot going on in this book, there's abuse, cruelty and obsession, there is revenge and threats, but there are also some cute moments with the heroine's nephews, and dialogues are really good.
Some epic moments.
- The heroine calling her husband's name while making out with the hero.
- The hero telling the heroine he enjoys so much hurting her, he could become addicted to it. (jeez, the creep!)
- The lil nephew throwing up just while h/H are having sex.
- The hero throwing away a portrait of the heroine that a male collegue, who's got a crush on her, drew and then gave the hero as a present.
-The hero almost fainting when the heroine tells him she's leaving.
Lots of OTT and both characters are not very sane or healthy but this book is certainly entertaining in all its pages, I read it avidly and re-read immediately after for a better understanding.
Unfortunately the end was rushed, it had all to be solved in two pages, I felt like the author needed more pages, and this is why the book was not 5 stars for me.
But a great read anyway.
December 22, 2019
I have to say,Charlotte Lamb always manages to surprise me with her dramatic plots,dynamic angsty love-stories where her Cold-Blooded and intense Alpha Heroes cruelly but passionately are in pursuit of their heroines.
"Frustration" just kept my heart swagged over the whole ride.Jake Lang and Natalie Buchanan are two soulmates who meets in a party,and while Jake falls in love with her on first sight,she fantasizes him as her dead husband.After a encounter full of passion that night Jake storms off heartbroken and furious after she calls him by her dead husbands name.
Jake Lang was one EXTREME Alpha-male i will never forget.He is one of the most deathly jealous and besotted heroes ever and how he kept her near him always just amused me.Loved their angsty relationship so much!Jake Lang are one of the most alive and sexiest heroes i have read about,and his PAINED reaction after Natalie told him that she will leave him..just made me OHHH!..
Love the way Natalie slowly falls in love with him and i was so relieved when she confessed to him and put him off on his torture!
A Electric and Entertaining obsession is what this book did to me..so hats off to CL for creating this AWESOME 5-STAR READ..!
***
Re-read in 12-21-2019
I have come to the unspeakable conclusion that Charlotte Lamb hates her Anti-heroes.She always makes them suffer blood.
"Frustration" just kept my heart swagged over the whole ride.Jake Lang and Natalie Buchanan are two soulmates who meets in a party,and while Jake falls in love with her on first sight,she fantasizes him as her dead husband.After a encounter full of passion that night Jake storms off heartbroken and furious after she calls him by her dead husbands name.
Jake Lang was one EXTREME Alpha-male i will never forget.He is one of the most deathly jealous and besotted heroes ever and how he kept her near him always just amused me.Loved their angsty relationship so much!Jake Lang are one of the most alive and sexiest heroes i have read about,and his PAINED reaction after Natalie told him that she will leave him..just made me OHHH!..
Love the way Natalie slowly falls in love with him and i was so relieved when she confessed to him and put him off on his torture!
A Electric and Entertaining obsession is what this book did to me..so hats off to CL for creating this AWESOME 5-STAR READ..!
***
Re-read in 12-21-2019
I have come to the unspeakable conclusion that Charlotte Lamb hates her Anti-heroes.She always makes them suffer blood.
February 6, 2017
Temptation, frustration
So bad it makes him cry
Normally I dislike/hate books like this, but CL pulls it off with an uber, over the top, in over his head, bamboozled hero. Jake raises ass-hattery to an extremely high level, but redeems it and himself with hisobsession love for the heroine.
Natalie is a butter-won't-melt-in-her-mouth, cool as in cold as ice grieving widow when she sees a man that reminds her of her husband at an office party. She goes home with the besotted fool only to call him by her husband's name. Jake DOES NOT TAKE IT WELL. To say that Jake is a poor loser is like comparing the Titanic to a rowboat. Think John McEnroe: the early years.
Lucky Natalie finds out that Jake is their new boss, and the office gossip mill is grinding like mad with lots of help from the h's irritating office friend. Natalie ends up working for Jake ,and the tension is high. She tosses a bone to another office worker and dates/uses him to diffuse the situation.
Punishing kisses later, Jake finally gets her where he wants her, and Natalie admits she wants HIM. He gloats in her face at her capitulation and leaves, and the ice maiden melts. She melts due to the rage she feels over the humiliation.
There is a lot of back and forth, more office gossip fueled by the office friend (she's the one that needs a 2 by 4 desperately). In a final, awe-inspiring moment, Jake admits his love for the heroine. It's not so much a grovel as the confession of all-consuming love. Despite the fact that Jake is a total ass-hat meanie, he redeems himself with his confession AND his explanation. Plus his mom and dad really like her, and he is sweet to his mother.
Folks, I don't know what's going on here, but in my last HarleyLand read I had a heroine who refused the hero, and now we have a hero who explains his ass-hattery!!!
Jake is both terrible and awesome. Apparently recovering from thunderbolts is hard on the male psyche. Natalie is pretty darn cool as well. She stands her ground with Jake although I was a little disappointed in how she used the OM.
All in all, quite the angsty read, but it rises to the top with the OTT emotions that spur the OTT actions of the H.
I don't know if I see a HEA long-term for these two as Jake is more than a little tightly wound. But it's an intense HEA for now, and that's good enough for me.
So bad it makes him cry
Normally I dislike/hate books like this, but CL pulls it off with an uber, over the top, in over his head, bamboozled hero. Jake raises ass-hattery to an extremely high level, but redeems it and himself with his
Natalie is a butter-won't-melt-in-her-mouth, cool as in cold as ice grieving widow when she sees a man that reminds her of her husband at an office party. She goes home with the besotted fool only to call him by her husband's name. Jake DOES NOT TAKE IT WELL. To say that Jake is a poor loser is like comparing the Titanic to a rowboat. Think John McEnroe: the early years.
Lucky Natalie finds out that Jake is their new boss, and the office gossip mill is grinding like mad with lots of help from the h's irritating office friend. Natalie ends up working for Jake ,and the tension is high. She tosses a bone to another office worker and dates/uses him to diffuse the situation.
Punishing kisses later, Jake finally gets her where he wants her, and Natalie admits she wants HIM. He gloats in her face at her capitulation and leaves, and the ice maiden melts. She melts due to the rage she feels over the humiliation.
There is a lot of back and forth, more office gossip fueled by the office friend (she's the one that needs a 2 by 4 desperately). In a final, awe-inspiring moment, Jake admits his love for the heroine. It's not so much a grovel as the confession of all-consuming love. Despite the fact that Jake is a total ass-hat meanie, he redeems himself with his confession AND his explanation. Plus his mom and dad really like her, and he is sweet to his mother.
Folks, I don't know what's going on here, but in my last HarleyLand read I had a heroine who refused the hero, and now we have a hero who explains his ass-hattery!!!
Jake is both terrible and awesome. Apparently recovering from thunderbolts is hard on the male psyche. Natalie is pretty darn cool as well. She stands her ground with Jake although I was a little disappointed in how she used the OM.
All in all, quite the angsty read, but it rises to the top with the OTT emotions that spur the OTT actions of the H.
I don't know if I see a HEA long-term for these two as Jake is more than a little tightly wound. But it's an intense HEA for now, and that's good enough for me.
July 15, 2010
Similar premise to Laurey Bright = The rainbow way, w/ the widow still grieving for 1st hubby & sleeping beauty is not ready to move on w/ a much hawter dude, but overall I prefer TRW 'cuz the hero in CL book acts more like a petulant child @ times, just 'cuz the poor sap heroine subconsciously utters the dead hubby's name during hot & heavy session. Whoops ! Uh la la He turns out to be her boss & besides being a natural slavedriver, he makes her pay for denting his ginormous ego. The LB book has a heroine who tries to fake it & gets caught, another big no-no in a man's book. CL book is slower & more lethargic in pace & mood. Jake is a beast, fesses up that he wants to hurt Natalie, as a way of cauterizing a wound. I liked Nathan, the hero in TRW much bettah & also 'cuz TRW ending was way more satisfying than this 1. Sigh. Makes me wanna re-read TRW again for the umpteenth time. Lessons learned :
* Heroine : Uttering another man's name during passionate encounter = a dong deflater.
* Hero : Being over-competitive w/ a dead man is like pissing in the wind.
* Heroine : Uttering another man's name during passionate encounter = a dong deflater.
* Hero : Being over-competitive w/ a dead man is like pissing in the wind.
May 25, 2011
This is probably one of my favorite CL books to date. Sometimes in older HQN books and CL books in particular I like the story but get tired of the overwrought emotions, the OTT anger of the H resulting in bad and even despicable behavior. Frequently I have trouble understanding the level of anger over a real or imagined offense. These elements were true of this book and yet I still really liked the H even when he was acting badly.
From the first page this book held my interest and kept me reading to find out what happened next. I was never tempted to skip ahead and just get on with it as I often do. This book was so well written that I wouldn't dare skip any of it because I just might miss something.
I would recommend this book, especially if you've been bored with reading lately. I've been feeling bored and having trouble finding anything I wanted to read. I've started books and put them aside and felt frustrated. After reading this book now I'm excited to find another good book to read.
From the first page this book held my interest and kept me reading to find out what happened next. I was never tempted to skip ahead and just get on with it as I often do. This book was so well written that I wouldn't dare skip any of it because I just might miss something.
I would recommend this book, especially if you've been bored with reading lately. I've been feeling bored and having trouble finding anything I wanted to read. I've started books and put them aside and felt frustrated. After reading this book now I'm excited to find another good book to read.
September 7, 2020
If you are wondering why that freaky doll is on the book cover along with the lovers, it is because the hero, crazed with jealousy that another man has dared to gift the heroine with this atrocious, cheesy souvenir doll, quite deliberately knocks it off her desk and into a wastebasket filled with trash and ashes. This is just one of the hilarious episodes in this crazy, OTT, mine-mine-mine, frustrated hero's quest to make the cool, icy, remote heroine fall for him.
I do enjoy CL's breed of crazed Alpha heroes in hot pursuit. The hero of the piece is quite physical with the heroine and her traitorous body likes it every time even though her mind is screaming no. His rather gushing declaration of love at the conclusion went a long way to make up for his assholish behavior before that.
I think it really helped that the heroine of the piece was quite strong. She gave back about as well as she got, and kept the hero off balance just as he did her. It would not have worked for me if she was a doormat or wallflower. I also liked the office romance setting, along with all the malicious gossip and forever interfering co-workers. A little visit to the would-be in-laws was quite lovely and I smelled a juicy story between this elder HP couple to rival our protagonists.
I do enjoy CL's breed of crazed Alpha heroes in hot pursuit. The hero of the piece is quite physical with the heroine and her traitorous body likes it every time even though her mind is screaming no. His rather gushing declaration of love at the conclusion went a long way to make up for his assholish behavior before that.
I think it really helped that the heroine of the piece was quite strong. She gave back about as well as she got, and kept the hero off balance just as he did her. It would not have worked for me if she was a doormat or wallflower. I also liked the office romance setting, along with all the malicious gossip and forever interfering co-workers. A little visit to the would-be in-laws was quite lovely and I smelled a juicy story between this elder HP couple to rival our protagonists.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 21, 2016
3.5 rounded up. This was more of a 'cannot look away' than a 'aww what a couple' type of romance. I'm hoping Jake chills out now that he has the girl. The inclusion of his happy and sane parents gave me some hope. Very old school. Lots of punishing kisses, manhandling, and threats from the obsessed hero. Lamb was a good writer though. Bonus for having kid characters who act like kids.
February 4, 2021
Delicious angsty and old school Harlequin! Heroine's husband is dead and she is not interested in a relationship but Jake her co-worker is determined to have her. It was very amusing to watch how the heroine tried to resist him so much and how that in turn frustrated hero!
December 5, 2020
Calm down, Jake.
Jake's volatility was off the charts so I think he would have seriously benefited from anger-management classes! I love a smitten hero, but physical violence isn't how one demonstrates it. "Poor" Jake suffered so much angst over Natalie's inadvertent rejection of him that he wanted to hurt her back—bad.
Five-year-olds can get away with this kind of behavior. Adult males? Not so much. Thank God Natalie put him out of his misery when she did. I don't think Jake would have lasted much longer.
As for Natalie I liked how long it took for her to fall for Jake, which was realistic. She was still mourning her late husband a year after his death. However, I had to shake my head at Natalie's naiveté at work. She knew gossip spread like wildfire yet she still confided in her gossipy work friend. On second thought, it may have been a calculated move to diffuse the gossip already surrounding her. . . .
In spite of my complaints, I still liked this. Jake's antics combined with Natalie's short leash on him made for some good entertainment. I liked the ending and seeing how happy they were. Jake had finally calmed down.
Jake's volatility was off the charts so I think he would have seriously benefited from anger-management classes! I love a smitten hero, but physical violence isn't how one demonstrates it. "Poor" Jake suffered so much angst over Natalie's inadvertent rejection of him that he wanted to hurt her back—bad.
Five-year-olds can get away with this kind of behavior. Adult males? Not so much. Thank God Natalie put him out of his misery when she did. I don't think Jake would have lasted much longer.
As for Natalie I liked how long it took for her to fall for Jake, which was realistic. She was still mourning her late husband a year after his death. However, I had to shake my head at Natalie's naiveté at work. She knew gossip spread like wildfire yet she still confided in her gossipy work friend. On second thought, it may have been a calculated move to diffuse the gossip already surrounding her. . . .
In spite of my complaints, I still liked this. Jake's antics combined with Natalie's short leash on him made for some good entertainment. I liked the ending and seeing how happy they were. Jake had finally calmed down.
September 9, 2025
Everything I expect from a Charlotte Lamb book: angst, toxic relationship, and possessive MMC.
September 5, 2018
Jake was cruel hero and this book had me laughing at times,the whole office politics and Jake's behaviour was something out of high school playground ...with little kids bickering and the gossiping. It is what I thought about when Jake was inflicting pain on Natalie like when he was pulling her hair etc. It was the sort thing a boy who is crushing hard on girl does not a grown man!
It was fun read nonetheless - loved the ending. A keeper for sure!
It was fun read nonetheless - loved the ending. A keeper for sure!
December 13, 2011
This was okay. I enjoyed the jealous hero but his actions didn't always make sense even with that. I felt that he should have done more apologizing at the end instead of her doing most of it. I did like how the book went on after the I love yous to show how their relationship was working out. All in all a good read but not necessarily something I'll reread.
September 6, 2018
What a deliciously cruel hero! Another 4 star CL book. I like her books from this time period.
June 17, 2014
This one just didn't grip me. The hero's actions were sometimes just downright silly and the heroine walked around most of the time in a fog.
November 24, 2021
Another solid Charlotte Lamb read. I’m gonna give it ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️, which is pretty impressive considering it has a trope I typically avoid. The h is grieving a dead spouse. The H was a typical CL manipulative jealous asshole. 😍 He’s patient to play the long game, and isn’t scared to get a little rough. Besides the dead spouse trope, the only other thing that bothered me was how long he tolerated her dating someone else… but I think he was only cool-ish with that because he knew she was too frozen by grief to have smexxy times. 😏
⚠️SAFETY SQUAD SPOILERS⚠️
- no cheating or sharing
- OW drama - there’s a woman who is after the H and the H seems to be dating her while he waits for the h to be ready for him - he takes her out but isn’t intimate with her - it’s mostly for show and to make the h jealous
- OM drama - the h also dates someone else - but the H is the most jealous of her dead spouse
- h was married for 1 year before her spouse was killed in a car wreck. She hasn’t been with anyone else until the H
- H is a known manwhore - but isn’t with anyone else after meeting the h
- dubcon - lots of torrid embraces and rough forced kisses
⚠️SAFETY SQUAD SPOILERS⚠️
- no cheating or sharing
- OW drama - there’s a woman who is after the H and the H seems to be dating her while he waits for the h to be ready for him - he takes her out but isn’t intimate with her - it’s mostly for show and to make the h jealous
- OM drama - the h also dates someone else - but the H is the most jealous of her dead spouse
- h was married for 1 year before her spouse was killed in a car wreck. She hasn’t been with anyone else until the H
- H is a known manwhore - but isn’t with anyone else after meeting the h
- dubcon - lots of torrid embraces and rough forced kisses
October 6, 2010
this is one book i have read and re-read over again... it never palls!!!
the book has every ingredient of a fav book
**an adorable and endearingly jealous hero
**a strong heroine (non-doormat)... even though she is a widow never once in the story did her love for her first husband appear trite or worthless(even if compared to her love for the Hero)
** a great plot with a reluctant heroine n a pining hero
the H is very lovable due to his frequent and passionate(albeit childish)outbursts of jealousy and possessiveness.
and as i totally fall for books that show that extra something (time with family n friends) for a better outlook into the characters of our protagonists.. i fell for this one (and hard)...check out this para where the hero is interacting with kids in heroine's sister's place.
***
Colin stared with round eyes. 'You're not Uncle Tom.'
Jake's head swivelled to Natalie and she flushed at the look in his eyes. 'No,' he said, glancing
back at Colin, 'I am definitely not Uncle Tom. Don't forget that. I don't like being confused with
other men.'
Tony jumped down and measured himself against him. 'You're not as big as my daddy.'
'I'm sorry about that,' Jake retorted. 'I'm still growing.'
'So is my daddy,' Colin said.
Tony nodded, giving Jake a satisfied grin.
'God forbid,' Jake said piously. 'What does your mother feed him on? Beanstalks?'
***
this book is totally worth the while!!
grab it!Happy reading!!
:))
the book has every ingredient of a fav book
**an adorable and endearingly jealous hero
**a strong heroine (non-doormat)... even though she is a widow never once in the story did her love for her first husband appear trite or worthless(even if compared to her love for the Hero)
** a great plot with a reluctant heroine n a pining hero
the H is very lovable due to his frequent and passionate(albeit childish)outbursts of jealousy and possessiveness.
and as i totally fall for books that show that extra something (time with family n friends) for a better outlook into the characters of our protagonists.. i fell for this one (and hard)...check out this para where the hero is interacting with kids in heroine's sister's place.
***
Colin stared with round eyes. 'You're not Uncle Tom.'
Jake's head swivelled to Natalie and she flushed at the look in his eyes. 'No,' he said, glancing
back at Colin, 'I am definitely not Uncle Tom. Don't forget that. I don't like being confused with
other men.'
Tony jumped down and measured himself against him. 'You're not as big as my daddy.'
'I'm sorry about that,' Jake retorted. 'I'm still growing.'
'So is my daddy,' Colin said.
Tony nodded, giving Jake a satisfied grin.
'God forbid,' Jake said piously. 'What does your mother feed him on? Beanstalks?'
***
this book is totally worth the while!!
grab it!Happy reading!!
:))
February 25, 2017
This book was damn good! Natalie and Jake saw each other across a crowded room at a party and he fell hard in insta-love. They fell into bed together... and then she called him Angus! She'd only been swept away because he looked so much like her beloved dead husband! It was like a knife in the gut for poor Jake, who didn't realize she was widowed and thought she was a slutty adulteress, quite a shock from thinking he'd met his dream girl at last.
Of course it turns out that he's her new alpha boss and she's the original ice-maiden-in-an-impenetrable-bubble, etc. etc. I thought it was tons of fun and I liked everything about Natalie, being all competent and reserved and depended on by everybody in the office to be the calming influence on volatile, intense Jake, who's not-so-subtly head-over-heels for her. It was nice that she had actually had a happy albeit short previous marriage and she had truly loved her handsome young deceased husband (despite that name... lol). I like when heroines are capable of knowing happiness outside of the brawny arms of the Hero. I also liked that she never really embarrasses herself, like so many h's are wont to do.
I didn't wholly approve of what Jake did for revenge, but I can understand how he must have felt after being hurt so badly. He was certainly in a desperate position for most of the book. I liked how neatly she maneuvered him into confessing at the end, although maybe she did it subconsciously. Great read!
Of course it turns out that he's her new alpha boss and she's the original ice-maiden-in-an-impenetrable-bubble, etc. etc. I thought it was tons of fun and I liked everything about Natalie, being all competent and reserved and depended on by everybody in the office to be the calming influence on volatile, intense Jake, who's not-so-subtly head-over-heels for her. It was nice that she had actually had a happy albeit short previous marriage and she had truly loved her handsome young deceased husband (despite that name... lol). I like when heroines are capable of knowing happiness outside of the brawny arms of the Hero. I also liked that she never really embarrasses herself, like so many h's are wont to do.
I didn't wholly approve of what Jake did for revenge, but I can understand how he must have felt after being hurt so badly. He was certainly in a desperate position for most of the book. I liked how neatly she maneuvered him into confessing at the end, although maybe she did it subconsciously. Great read!
April 3, 2018
"Frustration" is the story of Jake and Natalie.
Widowed Natalie has been a shadow of herself since her husband Angus passed away, and is slowly fading away to oblivion. On what would have been their second wedding anniversary, she is asked to attend a party with her friend where she meets an enigmatic stranger Jake, who bears a faint resemblance to her dead husband. As they are about to coitus, it is interrupted when she calls out her ex's name, something that enrages our dear hero.
Soon Natalie finds out Jake is her boss, and that he might not be really wanting to let her go..
A tale filled with
-A crazy obsessed hero
-A strong but stoic heroine
-Office drama and grapevines
-Bruising kisses and mouth "raping"
-Loads of OW/OM drama and throwing them in H/h's faces
-Loving parents
-Angst
-Violent love
This was all about getting over your past and embracing a slightly disturbing future. I wasnt very comfortable with the hero frequently attacking heroine's mouth despite promising not to, but this is an OLD CL and it was kinda expected. Ends on a very sweet note.
SWE
3.5/5
Widowed Natalie has been a shadow of herself since her husband Angus passed away, and is slowly fading away to oblivion. On what would have been their second wedding anniversary, she is asked to attend a party with her friend where she meets an enigmatic stranger Jake, who bears a faint resemblance to her dead husband. As they are about to coitus, it is interrupted when she calls out her ex's name, something that enrages our dear hero.
Soon Natalie finds out Jake is her boss, and that he might not be really wanting to let her go..
A tale filled with
-A crazy obsessed hero
-A strong but stoic heroine
-Office drama and grapevines
-Bruising kisses and mouth "raping"
-Loads of OW/OM drama and throwing them in H/h's faces
-Loving parents
-Angst
-Violent love
This was all about getting over your past and embracing a slightly disturbing future. I wasnt very comfortable with the hero frequently attacking heroine's mouth despite promising not to, but this is an OLD CL and it was kinda expected. Ends on a very sweet note.
SWE
3.5/5
October 25, 2021
Lots of great reviews on this one…
This was a nice change for me. I am so used to the heroine being 2nd best to the hero’s dead and/or ex wife.
So this time our hero of the story has to feel the sting of being 2nd best(at least for a bit). Unlike the heroines of the other stories who suffer quietly with their inner most thinky thinks, our hero handles it with anger, asshattery, and aggression.
The story opens on what would have been Natalie’s 2nd wedding anniversary. Her beloved Angus died before they reached their first anniversary in a car crash where the h was a passenger. So she carries with her the memories of being a newlywed where the husband is still on his best behavior (toilet seat down, farting discreetly somewhere else etc…)She is convinced into going to a party where her drink glass keeps getting filled. Feeling quite “muzzy”, she sees the back of the H’s head and it reminds her of her Angus. The H sensing her gaze upon him, turns around, and they lock eyes. The H is hit with the equivalent of a nuclear missile, while the h is in a somewhat confused dreamlike state. They dance on the dance floor like passionate lovers and the H takes her back to her place. Coffee gets put to the back burner as their loving heats up in the bedroom. Clothing is off, passion is full on and the h utters out “Angus”. For the H this was the equivalent of participating in the ice bucket challenge. He asks who the hell is Angus and the h tells him her husband…not dead, not late, but straight up husband. So the H is outrage he just slept with a married woman, calls her names and leaves. Oh and that is just chapter 1…. The next day, the H finds out truth about the h because he is one of the higher ups at Metropolis where they both work(no he is not Superman. )
Scorecard time:
H falls in love with h at first sight +1
The h is attracted to the H at first because it reminds her of her dead husband(eww, -1)
The H and h wind up in bed before exchanging names(-1 each)
The H apologizes for calling the h names before he realized she was actually widowed(+1)
The h admits she let him take her home because it was her 2nd anniversary and he reminded her of her Angus(+1 for being honest)
The H threatens her several times in the story….I will strangle you with your hair, I want to hurt you, cruelty to you could become an addiction for me and more…..(-to infinity!)
The h uses the om because he is safe and she is in no danger of loving him(- - - -not good )
H uses ow but its ok because she is a bitch(+1)
H is celibate after meeting h(+1)
H wants to get a little of his own back, so he gets the h into a tizzy only to push her away and say he is going out with the ow(-1)
The h keeps telling Carol(her supposed good friend things) and Carol blabs it all to the workplace people(-1)
The h further demeans the H by talking loud enough in lunchroom about how he leaves her cold so he and everyone else can hear(-1)
Both come from good parents(+1 each)
Hero obviously talked about the h to his mom…a lot…and they were not even close to their HEA yet(+1)
OK I could go on and on about how each made many missteps in the story but let me take the last few sentences to discuss what are some of the best parts…..
The h’s sister Angela is a hoot…I would have liked a little bit more of her in the story. She has trained her husband well, and will whip her sons into shape like nobody’s business. When her kids go to school the teachers are going to have a love/hate relationship with her. She will most likely involve herself in the planning of every party, field trip, and social event at school, but will also call at 9pm at night as to why little Tony didn’t eat all of his lunch that day, because you know, she expects him to eat the food pyramid lunch she puts together for him the night before and the teacher should make sure that happens…..
The H’s parents(I am not sure why he is such a douche, because his parents are lovely) We get insight into his dad’s love for his mom. She had polio and couldn’t walk. The dad worked with her daily to help her regain her strength in a pool he put in especially for her. So we see the caring and have hopes for the H. In other HP’s, the dad would leave the invalid mother to nurses and the son while he slept around with latest and greatest tootsie roll(oh and the wife would accept it, because To love in sickness and health only applies to women🙄)
IMO the ending is the best part of the book, and is so close to pumping this up to 4 stars. The h’s sister is moving to the states. The h tells the H that she will be going as well.
... “Jake stopped dead. 'What?' He turned a face as white as the
rose in her hand, the lines of it as harshly bitten as though he
were in sudden agony, his eyes molten with the terrifying
violence she had seen in them once or twice before.
'Angela's found me a job over there,' she said nervously.
'No!' Jake shouted hoarsely, and his voice startled some
thrushes parading on the lawn. They flew up with an excited “twittering.
Natalie stared at him, dumbfounded, and he stared back as if
he suddenly did not see her at all as if he saw something else,
something which made him grey and haggard. He was shaking,
as if with a chill, breathing roughly; as though just to draw air
down into his lungs hurt them.
'You're not going anywhere,' he ground out, and his words
had a slurred incoherence which made him sound drunk. She
only just understood them and the look he gave her, the
thickness in his voice, alarmed her. Was he ill? she wondered.”
It keeps going from there. You really get to feel the H’s feelings for the h in the coming declarations. There is a nice little ending to wrap everything up. Oh and like most of these 2nd best stories, the hero has a little bit of an edge on the previous husband, because she has never been so turned on before. So she loves and lusts after him. I left a lot out, but the reviews from Vintage, Stmargaret, and Azet to name a few give some more insight.
This was a nice change for me. I am so used to the heroine being 2nd best to the hero’s dead and/or ex wife.
So this time our hero of the story has to feel the sting of being 2nd best(at least for a bit). Unlike the heroines of the other stories who suffer quietly with their inner most thinky thinks, our hero handles it with anger, asshattery, and aggression.
The story opens on what would have been Natalie’s 2nd wedding anniversary. Her beloved Angus died before they reached their first anniversary in a car crash where the h was a passenger. So she carries with her the memories of being a newlywed where the husband is still on his best behavior (toilet seat down, farting discreetly somewhere else etc…)She is convinced into going to a party where her drink glass keeps getting filled. Feeling quite “muzzy”, she sees the back of the H’s head and it reminds her of her Angus. The H sensing her gaze upon him, turns around, and they lock eyes. The H is hit with the equivalent of a nuclear missile, while the h is in a somewhat confused dreamlike state. They dance on the dance floor like passionate lovers and the H takes her back to her place. Coffee gets put to the back burner as their loving heats up in the bedroom. Clothing is off, passion is full on and the h utters out “Angus”. For the H this was the equivalent of participating in the ice bucket challenge. He asks who the hell is Angus and the h tells him her husband…not dead, not late, but straight up husband. So the H is outrage he just slept with a married woman, calls her names and leaves. Oh and that is just chapter 1…. The next day, the H finds out truth about the h because he is one of the higher ups at Metropolis where they both work(no he is not Superman. )
Scorecard time:
H falls in love with h at first sight +1
The h is attracted to the H at first because it reminds her of her dead husband(eww, -1)
The H and h wind up in bed before exchanging names(-1 each)
The H apologizes for calling the h names before he realized she was actually widowed(+1)
The h admits she let him take her home because it was her 2nd anniversary and he reminded her of her Angus(+1 for being honest)
The H threatens her several times in the story….I will strangle you with your hair, I want to hurt you, cruelty to you could become an addiction for me and more…..(-to infinity!)
The h uses the om because he is safe and she is in no danger of loving him(- - - -not good )
H uses ow but its ok because she is a bitch(+1)
H is celibate after meeting h(+1)
H wants to get a little of his own back, so he gets the h into a tizzy only to push her away and say he is going out with the ow(-1)
The h keeps telling Carol(her supposed good friend things) and Carol blabs it all to the workplace people(-1)
The h further demeans the H by talking loud enough in lunchroom about how he leaves her cold so he and everyone else can hear(-1)
Both come from good parents(+1 each)
Hero obviously talked about the h to his mom…a lot…and they were not even close to their HEA yet(+1)
OK I could go on and on about how each made many missteps in the story but let me take the last few sentences to discuss what are some of the best parts…..
The h’s sister Angela is a hoot…I would have liked a little bit more of her in the story. She has trained her husband well, and will whip her sons into shape like nobody’s business. When her kids go to school the teachers are going to have a love/hate relationship with her. She will most likely involve herself in the planning of every party, field trip, and social event at school, but will also call at 9pm at night as to why little Tony didn’t eat all of his lunch that day, because you know, she expects him to eat the food pyramid lunch she puts together for him the night before and the teacher should make sure that happens…..
The H’s parents(I am not sure why he is such a douche, because his parents are lovely) We get insight into his dad’s love for his mom. She had polio and couldn’t walk. The dad worked with her daily to help her regain her strength in a pool he put in especially for her. So we see the caring and have hopes for the H. In other HP’s, the dad would leave the invalid mother to nurses and the son while he slept around with latest and greatest tootsie roll(oh and the wife would accept it, because To love in sickness and health only applies to women🙄)
IMO the ending is the best part of the book, and is so close to pumping this up to 4 stars. The h’s sister is moving to the states. The h tells the H that she will be going as well.
... “Jake stopped dead. 'What?' He turned a face as white as the
rose in her hand, the lines of it as harshly bitten as though he
were in sudden agony, his eyes molten with the terrifying
violence she had seen in them once or twice before.
'Angela's found me a job over there,' she said nervously.
'No!' Jake shouted hoarsely, and his voice startled some
thrushes parading on the lawn. They flew up with an excited “twittering.
Natalie stared at him, dumbfounded, and he stared back as if
he suddenly did not see her at all as if he saw something else,
something which made him grey and haggard. He was shaking,
as if with a chill, breathing roughly; as though just to draw air
down into his lungs hurt them.
'You're not going anywhere,' he ground out, and his words
had a slurred incoherence which made him sound drunk. She
only just understood them and the look he gave her, the
thickness in his voice, alarmed her. Was he ill? she wondered.”
It keeps going from there. You really get to feel the H’s feelings for the h in the coming declarations. There is a nice little ending to wrap everything up. Oh and like most of these 2nd best stories, the hero has a little bit of an edge on the previous husband, because she has never been so turned on before. So she loves and lusts after him. I left a lot out, but the reviews from Vintage, Stmargaret, and Azet to name a few give some more insight.
January 10, 2021
I’m a big fan of the vintage HP books of Charlotte Lamb, Patricia Wilson and Janet Dailey.
The H is one of Charlotte Lamb’s cruel, passionate, jealous, dominant, rich, successful, powerful, besotted men who lie at the feet of the woman they love. So with Charlotte Lamb, it’s in fact the woman who has the power: the woman has the power to mentally make or break this strong man.
Charlotte Lamb is so, so good in describing an intense, passionate H. And wow, this H is intense. You can feel his crazy jealousy and his madness about the woman in every scene, in every sentence, she writes about them.
Charlotte Lamb puts together an intense atmosphere in her books. She creates a web of chemistry in which both the H and h are captured and can’t break free.
Charlotte Lamb was the reason that in my teenage years I wanted to become a HP writer too, lol. But her HP mastery, her skill in writing intense HP novels, is quite extraordinary.
Especially reading (or trying to read) books from
the newer HP writers, I more and more realize how extraordinary and outstanding the old, vintage HP writers, like Charlotte Lamb and Patricia Wilson and Janet Dailey, were. I miss their books. The new HP writers don’t have that kind of a writing style.
Warning: If you like a mellow, laidback H, then Charlotte Lamb is not your writer.
The H is one of Charlotte Lamb’s cruel, passionate, jealous, dominant, rich, successful, powerful, besotted men who lie at the feet of the woman they love. So with Charlotte Lamb, it’s in fact the woman who has the power: the woman has the power to mentally make or break this strong man.
Charlotte Lamb is so, so good in describing an intense, passionate H. And wow, this H is intense. You can feel his crazy jealousy and his madness about the woman in every scene, in every sentence, she writes about them.
Charlotte Lamb puts together an intense atmosphere in her books. She creates a web of chemistry in which both the H and h are captured and can’t break free.
Charlotte Lamb was the reason that in my teenage years I wanted to become a HP writer too, lol. But her HP mastery, her skill in writing intense HP novels, is quite extraordinary.
Especially reading (or trying to read) books from
the newer HP writers, I more and more realize how extraordinary and outstanding the old, vintage HP writers, like Charlotte Lamb and Patricia Wilson and Janet Dailey, were. I miss their books. The new HP writers don’t have that kind of a writing style.
Warning: If you like a mellow, laidback H, then Charlotte Lamb is not your writer.
January 15, 2016
The dude tells the heroine on several different occasions that he likes to hurt her.
" You were cruel whenever you got the chance," she muttered.
"I couldn't help it. It was like making love to you."
"A twisted sort of lovemaking."
(Then the "hero" goes on to lay the blame for his boorish behavior on her.)
He Grimaced. "I know. You'd warped the way I felt about you. You'd wrecked my pride that night and I wanted to punish you for it, but above all that I knew I still craved you, a physical need I couldn't stop."
The heroine goes on to tell him she realized she loved him while they were in the pool. That was too unbelievable for me. On that occasion he had yanked her hair until she cried out in pain and then kissed her brutally until she tasted blood. Oh yes that's romantic isn't it?
" You were cruel whenever you got the chance," she muttered.
"I couldn't help it. It was like making love to you."
"A twisted sort of lovemaking."
(Then the "hero" goes on to lay the blame for his boorish behavior on her.)
He Grimaced. "I know. You'd warped the way I felt about you. You'd wrecked my pride that night and I wanted to punish you for it, but above all that I knew I still craved you, a physical need I couldn't stop."
The heroine goes on to tell him she realized she loved him while they were in the pool. That was too unbelievable for me. On that occasion he had yanked her hair until she cried out in pain and then kissed her brutally until she tasted blood. Oh yes that's romantic isn't it?
October 31, 2015
Would the past ruin her future?
In the chaotic world of a London television network, Natalie struggled to rebuild her life--and grieved privately over the death of her beloved husband, Angus.
When she was promoted to Jake Lang's production team, the whole network buzzed. Jake had hated Natalie ever since an unspeakably humiliating night she'd tried to forget.
But Natalie knew that if she was to have any kind of a future, she somehow had to make Jake believe that he was more than just a substitute for Angus. It wouldn't be easy!
In the chaotic world of a London television network, Natalie struggled to rebuild her life--and grieved privately over the death of her beloved husband, Angus.
When she was promoted to Jake Lang's production team, the whole network buzzed. Jake had hated Natalie ever since an unspeakably humiliating night she'd tried to forget.
But Natalie knew that if she was to have any kind of a future, she somehow had to make Jake believe that he was more than just a substitute for Angus. It wouldn't be easy!
May 23, 2013
well i'm a big fan of charlotte lamb n i always enjoy her books !!n she has done it again with this book..very entertaining n pleasant read though not intense. i had such big LOL moments like when the kid told jake he was not uncle tom n he replied " no i am definitely not Uncle Tom. don't forget dat. i don't like being confused wid other men". natalie had clearly made a piece of work on him LOL. don't miss it if u like jealous, besotted men
November 20, 2014
Felt really bad for the hero in this book since the heroine only wanted him in the first place because he resembled her deceased husband from behind. He went a little sadistic on her, but in the end they got a HEA.
September 11, 2016
I found this novel really mediocre. The heroine seemed completely devastated with her loss but when she turned to the hero, it was only because he was a look a like. Which in turn brought out the viciousness of the hero.
June 14, 2021
Natalie was still mourning the sudden death of her husband, Angus, even after two years from the accident. She was utterly wretched in her wedding anniversary day and what made it even worse was the loss of her wedding ring. To divert her thoughts from her painful memories, one of her colleagues insisted she attended one of the company's parties. Natalie agreed, albeit doubting anything of sort would help her. However, she was wrong! In her attempt to leave the party, she glimpsed a back of a man similar to her husband in the dime light when she was almost drunk! They danced together and then he took her to her house and started to make love to her! When she called her husband's name in bed, however, the man bolted thinking she was a cheating married woman! It was later that she discovered he was Jake Lang, the manager of the production team in her company and that he wanted an explanation to her "Jake Lang left me cold" rumor that was circulating in the company! He wanted revenge to his wounded pride at no cost!
Lovely development of events and lovable and strong characters. You would certainly want to complete it once you finish reading chapter one.
Lovely development of events and lovable and strong characters. You would certainly want to complete it once you finish reading chapter one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 28, 2023
3.5 stars
Look at that creepy doll on the cover! It takes up about two pages in the book, hah.
He's incredibly problematic, but she hands it right back to him, and all the things he suffers through for his arrogance are very satisfying. I also have a soft spot for lovely family life depictions and for heroes who (truly) fall in love on first sight--rare anytime, but especially in the crazy world of Harlequin Presents.
Look at that creepy doll on the cover! It takes up about two pages in the book, hah.
He's incredibly problematic, but she hands it right back to him, and all the things he suffers through for his arrogance are very satisfying. I also have a soft spot for lovely family life depictions and for heroes who (truly) fall in love on first sight--rare anytime, but especially in the crazy world of Harlequin Presents.
May 3, 2020
Disliked this book. Except for the h, none of the characters in the book are people you'd want to know in real life. The H is abusive and paranoid, and the h's sister is obnoxious. The doll on the front cover isn't creepy; her sister is!
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