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Desire For Revenge
EX-LOVER, NEW BOSSSarah believed in love at first sight. But after meeting the man of her dreams, and spending a night of passion in his arms, she was scared the magic couldn't possibly last. So she left before he awoke.Joshua Howard had met his perfect woman, and lost her again in one night. Now he vowed to get his own back on her, and his revenge was going to be slow and sweet.It would begin as soon as he introduced himself as Sarah's new boss!
219 pages, Paperback
First published June 21, 2013
10 people are currently reading
191 people want to read
About the author
Penny Jordan
1,127 books668 followersPenelope Jones Halsall
aka Caroline Courtney, Annie Groves, Lydia Hitchcock, Melinda Wright
Penelope "Penny" Jones was born on November 24, 1946 at about seven pounds in a nursing home in Preston, Lancashire, England. She was the first child of Anthony Winn Jones, an engineer, who died at 85, and his wife Margaret Louise Groves Jones. She has a brother, Anthony, and a sister, Prudence "Pru".
She had been a keen reader from the childhood - her mother used to leave her in the children's section of their local library whilst she changed her father's library books. She was a storyteller long before she began to write romantic fiction. At the age of eight, she was creating serialized bedtime stories, featuring make-believe adventures, for her younger sister Prue, who was always the heroine. At eleven, she fell in love with Mills & Boon, and with their heroes. In those days the books could only be obtained via private lending libraries, and she quickly became a devoted fan; she was thrilled to bits when the books went on full sale in shops and she could have them for keeps.
Penny left grammar school in Rochdale with O-Levels in English Language, English Literature and Geography. She first discovered Mills & Boon books, via a girl she worked with. She married Steve Halsall, an accountant and a "lovely man", who smoked and drank too heavily, and suffered oral cancer with bravery and dignity. Her husband bought her the small electric typewriter on which she typed her first novels, at a time when he could ill afford it. He died at the beginning of 21st century.
She earned a living as a writer since the 1970s when, as a shorthand typist, she entered a competition run by the Romantic Novelists' Association. Although she didn't win, Penny found an agent who was looking for a new Georgette Heyer. She published four regency novels as Caroline Courtney, before changing her nom de plume to Melinda Wright for three air-hostess romps and then she wrote two thrillers as Lydia Hitchcock. Soon after that, Mills and Boon accepted her first novel for them, Falcon's Prey as Penny Jordan. However, for her more historical romance novels, she adopted her mother's maiden-name to become Annie Groves. Almost 70 of her 167 Mills and Boon novels have been sold worldwide.
Penny Halsall lived in a neo-Georgian house in Nantwich, Cheshire, with her Alsatian Sheba and cat Posh. She worked from home, in her kitchen, surrounded by her pets, and welcomed interruptions from her friends and family.
aka Caroline Courtney, Annie Groves, Lydia Hitchcock, Melinda Wright
Penelope "Penny" Jones was born on November 24, 1946 at about seven pounds in a nursing home in Preston, Lancashire, England. She was the first child of Anthony Winn Jones, an engineer, who died at 85, and his wife Margaret Louise Groves Jones. She has a brother, Anthony, and a sister, Prudence "Pru".
She had been a keen reader from the childhood - her mother used to leave her in the children's section of their local library whilst she changed her father's library books. She was a storyteller long before she began to write romantic fiction. At the age of eight, she was creating serialized bedtime stories, featuring make-believe adventures, for her younger sister Prue, who was always the heroine. At eleven, she fell in love with Mills & Boon, and with their heroes. In those days the books could only be obtained via private lending libraries, and she quickly became a devoted fan; she was thrilled to bits when the books went on full sale in shops and she could have them for keeps.
Penny left grammar school in Rochdale with O-Levels in English Language, English Literature and Geography. She first discovered Mills & Boon books, via a girl she worked with. She married Steve Halsall, an accountant and a "lovely man", who smoked and drank too heavily, and suffered oral cancer with bravery and dignity. Her husband bought her the small electric typewriter on which she typed her first novels, at a time when he could ill afford it. He died at the beginning of 21st century.
She earned a living as a writer since the 1970s when, as a shorthand typist, she entered a competition run by the Romantic Novelists' Association. Although she didn't win, Penny found an agent who was looking for a new Georgette Heyer. She published four regency novels as Caroline Courtney, before changing her nom de plume to Melinda Wright for three air-hostess romps and then she wrote two thrillers as Lydia Hitchcock. Soon after that, Mills and Boon accepted her first novel for them, Falcon's Prey as Penny Jordan. However, for her more historical romance novels, she adopted her mother's maiden-name to become Annie Groves. Almost 70 of her 167 Mills and Boon novels have been sold worldwide.
Penny Halsall lived in a neo-Georgian house in Nantwich, Cheshire, with her Alsatian Sheba and cat Posh. She worked from home, in her kitchen, surrounded by her pets, and welcomed interruptions from her friends and family.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
October 28, 2019
Normal people:
H: Why did you sneak out in the morning after our night of passion?
h: I was a virgin, in love, and didn't want you to reject me.
H: You hurt my feelings by walking out, but I understand.
h: Sorry
H: Shall we try again for a relationship?
h: Yes, please.
HP characters:
H: Why?
h: I needed someone -anyone - to take my virginity so a rapist will lose interest.
H: I'm going to blow hot/blow cold for the next 10 chapters. I will protect you from rapists, reject you when you're needy, flaunt a wannbe OW, take you on a "business trip" making sure we meet my old friends and stop at fabulous restaurants.
h: I, in turn, will notice every kitchen I'm in.
Reviewer: Oh, Penny Jordan, I love you.
There were at least 4 different kitchens. Penny was enjoying a dark-wood cabinet phase.
Boogenhagen has a real review.
H: Why did you sneak out in the morning after our night of passion?
h: I was a virgin, in love, and didn't want you to reject me.
H: You hurt my feelings by walking out, but I understand.
h: Sorry
H: Shall we try again for a relationship?
h: Yes, please.
HP characters:
H: Why?
h: I needed someone -anyone - to take my virginity so a rapist will lose interest.
H: I'm going to blow hot/blow cold for the next 10 chapters. I will protect you from rapists, reject you when you're needy, flaunt a wannbe OW, take you on a "business trip" making sure we meet my old friends and stop at fabulous restaurants.
h: I, in turn, will notice every kitchen I'm in.
Reviewer: Oh, Penny Jordan, I love you.
There were at least 4 different kitchens. Penny was enjoying a dark-wood cabinet phase.
Boogenhagen has a real review.
June 13, 2016
Re Desire for Revenge - so in Classic PJ style we have her strangers meeting in the night for one enchanted evening of bliss followed by 180 pages of frustration and torment..
The H and h meet at a party and the attraction is instant, overwhelming and mutual -they both get swept off their feet and carried away by physical passion. Then the h, upon awakening after her night of love, is mortally embarrassed she acted like a tart in heat and flung her chastity over the windmill to a total stranger and runs away.
Not to worry tho, PJ has no intention of keeping these two destined lovers apart. The h is an editor for a publishing house and when she reports in on Monday, guess who is her new boss? The H fell very much in lurve with his h during their night of bliss, but instead of telling her that because he is angry she ran away, he is standoffish and churlish and the h is mortified, so she claims she was just using his lurve club to relieve herself of her virginity.
Obviously such miscommunication and evasions are not conducive to instant true lurve forever HEA's but they do provide a lot of reasons for H and h arguments, h fretful neurosis, and punishing kisses for the next 8 chapters.
We have the H and h going back and forth over her job and his perceptions, interspersed with yet more punishing kisses. The H demotes the h from working with the authors of the books and pushes her more towards reading and picking out potential new block busters. Needless to say she isn't happy about it, but she goes along with it in the end.
There is also the sub-plot of a deranged author who is obsessed with the h and her "innocence" - which the h naively assumed would be finished with after her one night with the h - and the H has to rescue the h from rape by the man.
(Our fragile little snowflake h had no clue that in PJ's HPLandia, the H is only character allowed to conduct workplace sexual harassment against the h. She soon figures it out tho, so nothing bad happens really - except the H spends the night in tortured unrelieved lurve club frustration on the h's couch.) The h is tortured too by thinking the H doesn't want her anymore - so it all evens out in the end.
This all culminates in the obligatory PJ torture-the-h-with-potential-OW-scenario, where the H and h travel to France to check on the H's apparent OW, (at least it appears to be so to the h,) an actress who wants to publish her memoirs, but the H does't want to be sued for libel, so they leave early. The H also introduces the h to his friends along the way.
When the H and h are finally alone at last and within 20 feet of a horizontal surface on the way home, the tempting torment of a power of tower ride overcomes all common sense. After kissing each other to the brink of insanity, they finally confess they both love each other madly and each misdirected each other after the night of bliss to avoid looking foolish in front of the other.
(Awww, the H turns out to an an emotionally sensitive snowflake too, he just couldn't handle the h's rejection after the best night of his life when he fell tooootallly in love at once.) So now that their mutual devotion is assured, the lurve club holding commences for the big HEA.
This one is really average in a PJ sorta way. If you're a PJ junkie you get an okay fix, but otherwise this one was just there and good if nothing else is available.
The H and h meet at a party and the attraction is instant, overwhelming and mutual -they both get swept off their feet and carried away by physical passion. Then the h, upon awakening after her night of love, is mortally embarrassed she acted like a tart in heat and flung her chastity over the windmill to a total stranger and runs away.
Not to worry tho, PJ has no intention of keeping these two destined lovers apart. The h is an editor for a publishing house and when she reports in on Monday, guess who is her new boss? The H fell very much in lurve with his h during their night of bliss, but instead of telling her that because he is angry she ran away, he is standoffish and churlish and the h is mortified, so she claims she was just using his lurve club to relieve herself of her virginity.
Obviously such miscommunication and evasions are not conducive to instant true lurve forever HEA's but they do provide a lot of reasons for H and h arguments, h fretful neurosis, and punishing kisses for the next 8 chapters.
We have the H and h going back and forth over her job and his perceptions, interspersed with yet more punishing kisses. The H demotes the h from working with the authors of the books and pushes her more towards reading and picking out potential new block busters. Needless to say she isn't happy about it, but she goes along with it in the end.
There is also the sub-plot of a deranged author who is obsessed with the h and her "innocence" - which the h naively assumed would be finished with after her one night with the h - and the H has to rescue the h from rape by the man.
(Our fragile little snowflake h had no clue that in PJ's HPLandia, the H is only character allowed to conduct workplace sexual harassment against the h. She soon figures it out tho, so nothing bad happens really - except the H spends the night in tortured unrelieved lurve club frustration on the h's couch.) The h is tortured too by thinking the H doesn't want her anymore - so it all evens out in the end.
This all culminates in the obligatory PJ torture-the-h-with-potential-OW-scenario, where the H and h travel to France to check on the H's apparent OW, (at least it appears to be so to the h,) an actress who wants to publish her memoirs, but the H does't want to be sued for libel, so they leave early. The H also introduces the h to his friends along the way.
When the H and h are finally alone at last and within 20 feet of a horizontal surface on the way home, the tempting torment of a power of tower ride overcomes all common sense. After kissing each other to the brink of insanity, they finally confess they both love each other madly and each misdirected each other after the night of bliss to avoid looking foolish in front of the other.
(Awww, the H turns out to an an emotionally sensitive snowflake too, he just couldn't handle the h's rejection after the best night of his life when he fell tooootallly in love at once.) So now that their mutual devotion is assured, the lurve club holding commences for the big HEA.
This one is really average in a PJ sorta way. If you're a PJ junkie you get an okay fix, but otherwise this one was just there and good if nothing else is available.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 28, 2020
I enjoyed this love-at-first-sight romance. In real life I'm not sure if I believe in the concept, or if relationships based on insta love can be solid and long lasting. However, it doesn't mean that it’s not possible. Used as a plot device in romantic fiction it can certainly lead to tension and conflict because the leads have no prior basis for trust since they don’t know each other.
There’s a good dose of that at play in this book. The first time the hero and heroine, Joss and Sarah, officially meet plays out like a fairytale. They are immediately smitten with one another and share a magical night making love after meeting for the first time at a costumed ball. Unfortunately, it all goes downhill after that.
This is a romance and a Harlequin at that so fears, assumptions, misunderstandings and lack of honest communication all play a part in keeping the protagonists apart. Shocked at the revelation Joss is her new boss, Sarah, like most of Jordan's heroines, turns into protective mode and is dishonest as to why she made love with Joss. She doesn't want him knowing the truth in case he doesn't feel the same way....
Of course, they do find their happy ending and declare their love in a sweet ending hinting at a future filled with . This is a Penny Jordan romance after all!
There’s a good dose of that at play in this book. The first time the hero and heroine, Joss and Sarah, officially meet plays out like a fairytale. They are immediately smitten with one another and share a magical night making love after meeting for the first time at a costumed ball. Unfortunately, it all goes downhill after that.
This is a romance and a Harlequin at that so fears, assumptions, misunderstandings and lack of honest communication all play a part in keeping the protagonists apart. Shocked at the revelation Joss is her new boss, Sarah, like most of Jordan's heroines, turns into protective mode and is dishonest as to why she made love with Joss. She doesn't want him knowing the truth in case he doesn't feel the same way....
Of course, they do find their happy ending and declare their love in a sweet ending hinting at a future filled with . This is a Penny Jordan romance after all!
March 23, 2019
"Desire for Revenge" is the story of Sarah and Joss.
Our h is an innocent belle, working for a major book publishing company. She's being harassed by a pervy author who is obsessed with her purity, and decides to escape by going to her beloved sister's home in the countryside. There she attends a masquerade, meets an enigmatic man, has a passionate one night stand and runs away the next day...only to realize he is her new boss!
The h then denies the H, pushing him away by claiming it was only sex but the H makes many excuses to keep the h closer to him. Then one day as the harassing pervy author is fired, he tries to molest the drugged h, and the H rescues her. There is a lot of back and forth, with denials and acceptances, until the h gives H her love and they have their HEA.
Hmm. I don't like wuss heroines, especially who are not ready to convict an almost rapist. She pushed the H away throughout the book, but the minute he did not give her any attention, she whined and internally broke down. I did like the H and h's family though. Some publishing and OW drama try to spice up this mess, but the h is such a debby downer it just makes the book a wah-wah.
This felt more like a Helen Brooks novel, where a crappy h gets a great H.
The title is a misnomer. Barely any revenge or angst. Loads of self pity though.
Safe
2/5
Our h is an innocent belle, working for a major book publishing company. She's being harassed by a pervy author who is obsessed with her purity, and decides to escape by going to her beloved sister's home in the countryside. There she attends a masquerade, meets an enigmatic man, has a passionate one night stand and runs away the next day...only to realize he is her new boss!
The h then denies the H, pushing him away by claiming it was only sex but the H makes many excuses to keep the h closer to him. Then one day as the harassing pervy author is fired, he tries to molest the drugged h, and the H rescues her. There is a lot of back and forth, with denials and acceptances, until the h gives H her love and they have their HEA.
Hmm. I don't like wuss heroines, especially who are not ready to convict an almost rapist. She pushed the H away throughout the book, but the minute he did not give her any attention, she whined and internally broke down. I did like the H and h's family though. Some publishing and OW drama try to spice up this mess, but the h is such a debby downer it just makes the book a wah-wah.
This felt more like a Helen Brooks novel, where a crappy h gets a great H.
The title is a misnomer. Barely any revenge or angst. Loads of self pity though.
Safe
2/5
October 6, 2014
this would have been a good book, minus the abrupt ending...
July 12, 2015
I love PJ's vulnerable sweet heroines and her alpha heroes! Great story!
June 25, 2023
Never like leaving a low rating for my fave PJ but this book was a level zero in incredulous absurdity. Basically a filler PJ book and I’ll try not to let my mouth run too much.
The h is a total weirdo. She works at a decent job as a magazine editor. A guy at her work place wants to take her out but he’s in an influential position and she’s facing a hard time keeping him off. He’s also a creep and gives rapey vibes.
One day the h is attending a village party with her sister’s family where she meets a stud. As needy and horny as she’d be, she agrees to have a ONS. The sister doesn’t know and they all leave for the night when the party dies down except the h who’s losing her v- card and rather proudly.
Next day at work there’s a new boss. Turns out to be the guy from the party. The h is mortified but not for long. She says the darnest thing to save face: that she slept with him only to loose her bothersome v-card and nothing more or less.
The H is spitting mad being shunned so easily. The workplace creep makes a dig at the h and the H (the new boss) comes to her help and announces how the h is now no longer a virgin. The creep makes a note of that.
The h is summoned to the H’s villa under construction to work from home. They’re in close proximity but there isn’t anything picking up between them. The h is very standoffish and wants to keep lying to herself and her boss that it was a ONS and no feelings are involved. Secretly obv she’s in love with the man.
There wasn’t much sparring between them. The H was nice and had a head about his shoulders. He refused to sleep with the h the next chance she got needy so that she doesn’t get to berate him on that and come off as a martyr. He keeps his hands to himself and very appropriately tells the h that he won’t sleep with her indeed unless she’s willing.
Rare quality I see in HP Hs. Mostly they’re territorial and then the h comes as a saint and accuses him of hitting on her and cries wolf. Joss was a refreshing change from them when he clearly told the h that he won’t sleep with her while she’s recovering from an almost rape attack.
It was a bit boring. The MCs were basic and the work place setting and boss/employee dynamics were a miss. Cute ending to their HEA for triplets or twins.
The h is a total weirdo. She works at a decent job as a magazine editor. A guy at her work place wants to take her out but he’s in an influential position and she’s facing a hard time keeping him off. He’s also a creep and gives rapey vibes.
One day the h is attending a village party with her sister’s family where she meets a stud. As needy and horny as she’d be, she agrees to have a ONS. The sister doesn’t know and they all leave for the night when the party dies down except the h who’s losing her v- card and rather proudly.
Next day at work there’s a new boss. Turns out to be the guy from the party. The h is mortified but not for long. She says the darnest thing to save face: that she slept with him only to loose her bothersome v-card and nothing more or less.
The H is spitting mad being shunned so easily. The workplace creep makes a dig at the h and the H (the new boss) comes to her help and announces how the h is now no longer a virgin. The creep makes a note of that.
The h is summoned to the H’s villa under construction to work from home. They’re in close proximity but there isn’t anything picking up between them. The h is very standoffish and wants to keep lying to herself and her boss that it was a ONS and no feelings are involved. Secretly obv she’s in love with the man.
There wasn’t much sparring between them. The H was nice and had a head about his shoulders. He refused to sleep with the h the next chance she got needy so that she doesn’t get to berate him on that and come off as a martyr. He keeps his hands to himself and very appropriately tells the h that he won’t sleep with her indeed unless she’s willing.
Rare quality I see in HP Hs. Mostly they’re territorial and then the h comes as a saint and accuses him of hitting on her and cries wolf. Joss was a refreshing change from them when he clearly told the h that he won’t sleep with her while she’s recovering from an almost rape attack.
It was a bit boring. The MCs were basic and the work place setting and boss/employee dynamics were a miss. Cute ending to their HEA for triplets or twins.
August 31, 2021
He is a smitten man. And a smitten H is always at least 3 or 4 stars worth in my rating.
The bedroom scene in their first night together was steamy. Penny Jordan is so excellent in writing and describing a h and H making out. The part in which Penny Jordan describes the H taking off his medieval clothes, I could almost see it.
What I didn’t like, was that she didn’t want to take action against the man who had tried to rape her. The H says to her that pressing charges might protect other women from the rapist. She then says he was only wanting her and therefore the man is not dangerous for other women. Yeah, sure. 🙄
The bedroom scene in their first night together was steamy. Penny Jordan is so excellent in writing and describing a h and H making out. The part in which Penny Jordan describes the H taking off his medieval clothes, I could almost see it.
What I didn’t like, was that she didn’t want to take action against the man who had tried to rape her. The H says to her that pressing charges might protect other women from the rapist. She then says he was only wanting her and therefore the man is not dangerous for other women. Yeah, sure. 🙄
October 25, 2019
Cute, quick story, though the ending came rather abruptly. Hero/heroine are fighting, No HEA in sight,still some issues to resolve, but all of a sudden, they're in the same room and there are three pages left and they're saying they love each other and want to get married ASAP. THE END.
Sarah and Joss come across each other at a masquerade ball, their eyes meet and lock. Sarah gets breathless because she has never felt this way about anyone, let alone a man she hasn't met. My homie Joss goes up to her and asks her to dance. Instant connection,insta-lust. He's feeling it, she's feeling it, so homie says, "I want to make love to you." Sarah practically swoons upon hearing this and says she wants that, too. Joss says he's got a cottage nearby, Sarah says, "Take me there." Joss is on a roll! At this point, they don't even know each other's names yet! Anyway, Sarah loses her virginity to him. Joss is elated because he thinks he's found his dream woman, he's thinking true love is real and he is just so very happt, but Sarah has a major freak-out in the middle of the night while Joss is asleep and sneaks away. She does this because the lovemaking meant so much to her and she's afraid that if she stuck around till morning, she'll find out that it meant nothing to Joss. She didn't think she could take the pain. So she runs away.
Meanwhile, back in London where Sarah lives and works as an editor of women's fiction, she is determined to get on with her life and forget all about her mystery lover. Besides, having gotten rid of her pesky virginity, she's pretty sure now that the nasty, creepy writer who's been heavily sexually harassing her will finally leave her alone because Sarah is convinced that it was only her virginity he was obsessed with. Oh Sarah, you adorable naif! Oh, and wait till she meets her new boss... JOSS, the guy she wham-bammed-thank-you-ma'amed.Can you believe that amazing coincidence? The guy she fell in love with at first sight, the guy she gave her V to, is her new boss. Oh! And he will also be living in the house that Sarah has fantasized living in all her life. Ain't that a hoot?
Joss is super pissed, of course. He thought Sarah felt the same way he did and their lovemaking had sealed the deal. He becomes bitter and disillusioned when he woke up to find her gone. Then he walks into his new London office on Monday morning as the new owner/editor in chief of the publishing house where Sarah works and guess who he finds there...
Sarah and Joss have an adorable meet-cute and I totally bought that they had an instant connection. But of course, the story needs to keep going so Sarah tells Joss that she only used him to get rid of her virginity in order to protect herself from getting hurt, and Joss gets even more mad and decides he wants revenge from Sarah for crushing his hopes and dreams. Petty jealousies, big misunderstandings, angry words, regretful tears and lots of grabbing and not-so-gentle kisses soon follow.
Like I said, it's a quick read but it lags a little bit in the middle because Joss and Sarah basically go around in circles. Oh, and I was really annoyed by Sarah most of the time because she can be so stubborn to the point that she's being obtuse. She almost gets raped because she doesn't tell anyone that this creepy writer has been sexually harassing her for six months until it escalates to the point where he's moments from succeeding in raping her.
I liked Joss. I like the notion of a hero "seeking the one," instead of the other way around. It's cute.
Sarah and Joss come across each other at a masquerade ball, their eyes meet and lock. Sarah gets breathless because she has never felt this way about anyone, let alone a man she hasn't met. My homie Joss goes up to her and asks her to dance. Instant connection,insta-lust. He's feeling it, she's feeling it, so homie says, "I want to make love to you." Sarah practically swoons upon hearing this and says she wants that, too. Joss says he's got a cottage nearby, Sarah says, "Take me there." Joss is on a roll! At this point, they don't even know each other's names yet! Anyway, Sarah loses her virginity to him. Joss is elated because he thinks he's found his dream woman, he's thinking true love is real and he is just so very happt, but Sarah has a major freak-out in the middle of the night while Joss is asleep and sneaks away. She does this because the lovemaking meant so much to her and she's afraid that if she stuck around till morning, she'll find out that it meant nothing to Joss. She didn't think she could take the pain. So she runs away.
Meanwhile, back in London where Sarah lives and works as an editor of women's fiction, she is determined to get on with her life and forget all about her mystery lover. Besides, having gotten rid of her pesky virginity, she's pretty sure now that the nasty, creepy writer who's been heavily sexually harassing her will finally leave her alone because Sarah is convinced that it was only her virginity he was obsessed with. Oh Sarah, you adorable naif! Oh, and wait till she meets her new boss... JOSS, the guy she wham-bammed-thank-you-ma'amed.Can you believe that amazing coincidence? The guy she fell in love with at first sight, the guy she gave her V to, is her new boss. Oh! And he will also be living in the house that Sarah has fantasized living in all her life. Ain't that a hoot?
Joss is super pissed, of course. He thought Sarah felt the same way he did and their lovemaking had sealed the deal. He becomes bitter and disillusioned when he woke up to find her gone. Then he walks into his new London office on Monday morning as the new owner/editor in chief of the publishing house where Sarah works and guess who he finds there...
Sarah and Joss have an adorable meet-cute and I totally bought that they had an instant connection. But of course, the story needs to keep going so Sarah tells Joss that she only used him to get rid of her virginity in order to protect herself from getting hurt, and Joss gets even more mad and decides he wants revenge from Sarah for crushing his hopes and dreams. Petty jealousies, big misunderstandings, angry words, regretful tears and lots of grabbing and not-so-gentle kisses soon follow.
Like I said, it's a quick read but it lags a little bit in the middle because Joss and Sarah basically go around in circles. Oh, and I was really annoyed by Sarah most of the time because she can be so stubborn to the point that she's being obtuse. She almost gets raped because she doesn't tell anyone that this creepy writer has been sexually harassing her for six months until it escalates to the point where he's moments from succeeding in raping her.
I liked Joss. I like the notion of a hero "seeking the one," instead of the other way around. It's cute.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 10, 2022
I will post a review soon. I need some gif images but I'm using the cellphone right now XD
January 15, 2013
Before I start, I'm going to hold my hands up and say that I LOVE Penny Jordan. She is my all time fave Mills and Boon writer and so my review may be slightly biased in her favour. As Penny Jordan novels go, this is standard stock in trade stuff - Sarah, an employee of a publishing company, shares a night of passion with a mysterious stranger who, you will know if you've ever read a Penny Jordan novel before, it will later be revealed, is her new boss. They are then free to be thrust in each other's company (and lots of awkward situations) until they decide they are in love after all, and are destined to live happily ever after - possibly with twins. The characters are pretty two-dimensional and don't seem to converse or indeed share much in common at all beyond mutual heaving bosoms and wild desires. Pretty much the only thing "Joss" says to "Sarah" during their first encounter is "I want to make love to you"; and I've got to say if some strange man approached me at a party and said that, I'd run a mile, even if he was possessed of a granite jaw and flashing eyes of sapphire. Still, Sarah evidently likes the direct approach and the inevitable night of passion follows. It's then, of course, later revealed that Joss is to be her new boss. Sarah spends much of the time internally agonising over the situation and it's really impossible to tell what Joss feels about it all, except that he seems to spend the next 150 pages or so basically sexually harrassing her at work, demoting her, humiliating her, before dragging her halfway across France and admitting he's in love with her. This approach would similarly put me off more, but, hey, it evidently floats Sarah's boat and they are destined for the inevitable happy ending. Despite it's (many) faults, I enjoyed this book immensely. It had a real charm and made me laugh a lot. Published in 1985, this book shows its age (where else would the heroine willingly don a "casual lemon flying suit" post shower, so there's a lot of nostalgic appeal there too. It won't take you long to read it but it will give you lots of pleasure.
Read
July 27, 2011Sarah has an issue with an author she is an editor for. He wants her virginity, and she doesn't want to give it to him. A weekend retreat to her sister's home, brings and unexpected man in to her life, Joss. She falls for him, losing her viriginity to him hours after they met. She, of course, panics and runs out disappearing on him.
Joshua 'Joss' starts a new job and low and behold, there is his little runaway Sarah.
A nice story.
Joshua 'Joss' starts a new job and low and behold, there is his little runaway Sarah.
A nice story.
June 18, 2023
The heroine is an editor. She has to deal with a male romance author who keeps sexually harassing her. She is unable to handle it or complain. What does she do? She decides she is at fault. Her virginity is what is drawing the predator. She decides to lose her virginity.
She goes to a party with her sister if I remember correctly. There she sees the hero. Both hero and heroine are instantly tremendously attracted to the extent that they don’t even talk. Nothing. At at the end of the night they sleep together. Then heroine escapes in the early hours.
Weekend over. She goes back to London? Where she works. Finds her new boss (in job she herself wanted I think?) or at any rate her new boss is the one night stand man.
Instead of asking her why she left and telling her he would like to date her/get to know her/create a lasting relationship the hero starts gaslighting her for being a slut who sleeps around.
Lots of usual Penny Jordan stuff. Where one is supposed to feel sorry for the poor mentally abused heroine.
Alls well. Because story ends.
I did not like this one at all.
She goes to a party with her sister if I remember correctly. There she sees the hero. Both hero and heroine are instantly tremendously attracted to the extent that they don’t even talk. Nothing. At at the end of the night they sleep together. Then heroine escapes in the early hours.
Weekend over. She goes back to London? Where she works. Finds her new boss (in job she herself wanted I think?) or at any rate her new boss is the one night stand man.
Instead of asking her why she left and telling her he would like to date her/get to know her/create a lasting relationship the hero starts gaslighting her for being a slut who sleeps around.
Lots of usual Penny Jordan stuff. Where one is supposed to feel sorry for the poor mentally abused heroine.
Alls well. Because story ends.
I did not like this one at all.
July 12, 2025
3.5⭐️ rounded to 4!
This was my very first Harlequin, and I was quite surprised by how short the book was, even though I knew Harlequin Presents books to be short. It is perfect for someone in my situation:
"In a deep reading slump and trying to get out of it but mentally can't yet invest in a longer book."
Coming to the story itself, the plot wasn't anything extraordinary, but I liked the writing and the protagonists well enough (even though the FMC's apprehensions about the MMC's actions started to grate on me after a while lol).
The MMC was hot and cold, and honestly, I didn't mind it. In fact, I was looking for a hot and cold mmc myself and was very happy with what this book delivered.
Some of the FMC's action, and indeed the reason for the most important one on which the plot is based, was, to me, quite dumb. No other word to describe it. 🤐
But I found myself rooting for the protagonists and admiring their chemistry🥰. So, in the coming days, I suuppose I'll be reading more Penny Jordan and Harlequins!
This was my very first Harlequin, and I was quite surprised by how short the book was, even though I knew Harlequin Presents books to be short. It is perfect for someone in my situation:
"In a deep reading slump and trying to get out of it but mentally can't yet invest in a longer book."
Coming to the story itself, the plot wasn't anything extraordinary, but I liked the writing and the protagonists well enough (even though the FMC's apprehensions about the MMC's actions started to grate on me after a while lol).
The MMC was hot and cold, and honestly, I didn't mind it. In fact, I was looking for a hot and cold mmc myself and was very happy with what this book delivered.
Some of the FMC's action, and indeed the reason for the most important one on which the plot is based, was, to me, quite dumb. No other word to describe it. 🤐
But I found myself rooting for the protagonists and admiring their chemistry🥰. So, in the coming days, I suuppose I'll be reading more Penny Jordan and Harlequins!
July 26, 2021
3.5 stars ⭐️ I loved the "Love at first sight" meeting at a fancy costume ball!! That was a unique plot point. My biggest complaint in this book is that evil stalker/almost rapist author didn't get a good punishment!! He needed much more pain and suffering!!
August 20, 2013
I read Penny Jordan because its a study in 1980's chauvinism and makes great entertainment, this one does not disappoint, its about Sarah, who is a "sensitive little thing" who gets in trouble with one of her authors. Its got enough of a steamy plot to keep going
September 23, 2020
This one was brilliant.(for me I love the cheesey ness of love at first sight and the back and forth the characters have with each other, you always know the characters get it in the end so tend not to mind the misunderstandings they go through)
I enjoyed this one I don't want to add spoilers, had everything I wanted in a romance, Love at first sight, then the unsure and miss readings of each other. Then back to love and misunderstandings all sorted out.
Brilliant Thats what I enjoy out of a Mills and Boons book as soppy as I am :)
Its a Mills and Boons perfect for me, if I wanted a book with bit more in it I'd simply not choose mills and boons. They're brilliant light reads and brings happiness when the characters get together always in the end.
I enjoyed this one I don't want to add spoilers, had everything I wanted in a romance, Love at first sight, then the unsure and miss readings of each other. Then back to love and misunderstandings all sorted out.
Brilliant Thats what I enjoy out of a Mills and Boons book as soppy as I am :)
Its a Mills and Boons perfect for me, if I wanted a book with bit more in it I'd simply not choose mills and boons. They're brilliant light reads and brings happiness when the characters get together always in the end.
September 26, 2018
I found it very intriguing to read this book during the time of the #metoo movement. There are moments of sexual harassment, sexual assault, and attempted rape. Along with Penny Jordan mentioning bodice rippers and how men tend force seduction in romance books.
Meanwhile, the heroine sleeps with her future boss. Ironic? Kinda.
Furthermore, there's a movie director named Harry Weinberger.
The subtlety in HP will always amaze me:
Something I'm still stuck on. What the hell is a flying suit? And why is she wearing it to bed?
Meanwhile, the heroine sleeps with her future boss. Ironic? Kinda.
Furthermore, there's a movie director named Harry Weinberger.
The subtlety in HP will always amaze me:
Her need to feel the life force of him pulsing deep within her was overwhelming."
Something I'm still stuck on. What the hell is a flying suit? And why is she wearing it to bed?
kindle-hq
August 24, 2021Sarah believed in love at first sight
One enchanted evening at a masquerade ball Sarah French fell in love with a sapphire-eyed stranger. "I want to make love to you," he murmured.
As if in a dream Sarah answered, "I want it, too...." And that night for the first time Sarah experienced the delights of passion and tenderness. But before Joss wakened, she disappeared, frightened by the return of reality.
Sarah returned to London to her work as an editor, convinced that she would never see her dream lover again. Until she met her new boss, Joshua Howard, and had to face his furious sapphire eyes.
One enchanted evening at a masquerade ball Sarah French fell in love with a sapphire-eyed stranger. "I want to make love to you," he murmured.
As if in a dream Sarah answered, "I want it, too...." And that night for the first time Sarah experienced the delights of passion and tenderness. But before Joss wakened, she disappeared, frightened by the return of reality.
Sarah returned to London to her work as an editor, convinced that she would never see her dream lover again. Until she met her new boss, Joshua Howard, and had to face his furious sapphire eyes.
September 28, 2024
Something about a masked ball and throwing caution to the wind for a night that just reels me in. I have to say I enjoyed the very pragmatic attitude that the h and her sister displayed in this book. There was no slut shaming occurring for our h and it was very refreshing. My heart did hurt for the H with the dubious excuse the h gave him but PJ does seem to like writing about prideful main characters. Of course my heart hurt less for him with all the angst the h went through with very obvious and bitchy ow drama.
May 14, 2020
Pleasant romance but a little hard to believe.
March 10, 2021
Very much a slog. Not a lot of reasons for the things the characters do. The plot has to do all the work. Uhhh the hero demoted the heroine...anyone care about that? I did. Ugh skip it.
November 2, 2022
Love at first sight
September 24, 2024
Dear self, boogenhagen says it’s only good if nothing else is available. So I don’t know?
April 13, 2024
I have a desire for revenge on this author for writing this crappy book and on myself for being stupid enough to read it!
April 12, 2013
Balo gecesi Sarah'ın Joss'a dediklerine o kadar güldüm ki yani anlatamam.Ama Joss'da karşılık verince işler hayli zevkli bir duruma dönüştü.Ta ki Sarah akıllısı sabah şok geçirip kaçınca :D
Ve En komik tarafı Yeni Patronu Bu adam çıkıyor :D dfbadfgadfga :D
En hoş durum ise Joshua'nın Duyguları.Hissettikleri o kadar etkileyiciydi ki ağzımın suları akacaktı neredeyse :D
Ve En komik tarafı Yeni Patronu Bu adam çıkıyor :D dfbadfgadfga :D
En hoş durum ise Joshua'nın Duyguları.Hissettikleri o kadar etkileyiciydi ki ağzımın suları akacaktı neredeyse :D
September 22, 2017
I re-read the Kindle version of this book which is a combination book: Desire for Revenge & A Debt Paid in Passion: Billionaire Romances. I liked it a lot better this time around.
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