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Don't Ask Me Now
Only one man was offering the forever kind of love
Four years ago, Cathy Lawrence's hopes of marrying Anthony Pryor-Jones had been humiliatingly crushed. The country girl from Armidale had been deemed no match for Anthony, whose family sat atop the social register in New South Wales--_ perhaps all Australia.
Since then she'd built a comfortable life for herself in Sydney, and had a steady relationship with Thomas Crawford--her business partner.
But when she bumped into Anthony at the charity ball, one brief look into those green eyes threw her emotions into churning conflict. He wanted her again. And Cathy wasn't sure she had the willpower to resist the only man she thought she had ever loved.
Four years ago, Cathy Lawrence's hopes of marrying Anthony Pryor-Jones had been humiliatingly crushed. The country girl from Armidale had been deemed no match for Anthony, whose family sat atop the social register in New South Wales--_ perhaps all Australia.
Since then she'd built a comfortable life for herself in Sydney, and had a steady relationship with Thomas Crawford--her business partner.
But when she bumped into Anthony at the charity ball, one brief look into those green eyes threw her emotions into churning conflict. He wanted her again. And Cathy wasn't sure she had the willpower to resist the only man she thought she had ever loved.
192 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1987
7 people are currently reading
349 people want to read
About the author
Emma Darcy
640 books327 followersEmma Darcy is the pseudonym created by the married writing team of Wendy (1940-2020) and Frank Brennan (1936-1995). Their life journey has taken as many twists and turns as the characters in their stories, whose international popularity has resulted in over sixty-million book sales. With more than a hundred titles, Emma Darcy appeared regularly on the Waldenbooks bestseller lists in the U.S.A. and in the Nielson BookScan Top 100 chart in the U.K.
Wendy was born 28 November 1940 in Australia. Her sister was the novelist Maureen Mary (Miranda Lee). Her father was a country school teacher and brilliant sportsman. Her mother was a talented dressmaker. She obtained an Honours degree in Latin and initially worked as a high school English/French teacher. She married Frank Brennan, an Australian businessman born in 1936. She changed careers to computer programming before marriage and motherhood settled her into a community life. She was reputedly the first woman computer programmer in the southern hemisphere.
As voracious readers, the step to writing their own books seemed a natural progression and the challenge of creating exciting stories was soon highly addictive. They were published since 1983. In 1993, for the Emma Darcy pseudonym's 10th anniversary, they created the "Emma Darcy Award Contest" to encourage authors to finish their manuscripts. After the death of Frank Brennan in 1995, Wendy wrotes books on her own. She lived in a beachside property on the central coast of New South Wales, and liked to travel extensively to research settings and increase her experience of places and people.
Wendy Brennan passed away on December 21, 2020. She is survived by her children, grandchildren, and sister, writer Miranda Lee.
Wendy was born 28 November 1940 in Australia. Her sister was the novelist Maureen Mary (Miranda Lee). Her father was a country school teacher and brilliant sportsman. Her mother was a talented dressmaker. She obtained an Honours degree in Latin and initially worked as a high school English/French teacher. She married Frank Brennan, an Australian businessman born in 1936. She changed careers to computer programming before marriage and motherhood settled her into a community life. She was reputedly the first woman computer programmer in the southern hemisphere.
As voracious readers, the step to writing their own books seemed a natural progression and the challenge of creating exciting stories was soon highly addictive. They were published since 1983. In 1993, for the Emma Darcy pseudonym's 10th anniversary, they created the "Emma Darcy Award Contest" to encourage authors to finish their manuscripts. After the death of Frank Brennan in 1995, Wendy wrotes books on her own. She lived in a beachside property on the central coast of New South Wales, and liked to travel extensively to research settings and increase her experience of places and people.
Wendy Brennan passed away on December 21, 2020. She is survived by her children, grandchildren, and sister, writer Miranda Lee.
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June 16, 2024
At 18, Cathy was a country girl in rural New South Wales, Australia.
She was working at a Pharmacy when she met a tall, handsome, confident and charming, Adonis.
His name was Anthony, he was the son of a wealthy landlord and on the last year of university.
They fell madly in love and had a very passionate sexual relationship, one that led to Cathy's alienation from her ultra conservative family.
Anthony took Cathy to his family's lavish Estate to stay for a couple of weeks in order to meet and get to know his parents.
But his parents had opened fire on her. They had judged her not good enough for their son.
Anthony heard all the put-downs which showed Cathy as an inferior species.
First she was too young, then she hadn't gone to the right schools, her clothes were wrong, she was ignorant of all the niceties of high society, her family was poor and insignificant, she did not belong to their polite society.
By the end of the two weeks, Anthony was showing all the signs that he had no intention of keeping their relationship going.
She was not a suitable wife for that family.
Anthony was giving her the kiss-off.
Heartbroken and having no family any more to fall back on, Cathy left for the big city, Sydney.
Five years later, Cathy is an antique shop owner in Sydney.
She could not have done it without the financial backing, support and encouragement from Tom.
He recognised her drive and ambition to make it.
He made her feel as if she were his equal even when she was little more than a beggar on his doorstep.
He was a wonderful person, her best friend and maybe now she could let him be more than a friend.
Tom was neither tall nor handsome but he was stocky and of average height but the strength of his character more than compensated for any lack of physical beauty.
He was attractive to Cathy and she had a deep affection for him.
He was a wealthy member of Sydney's high society.
In the five years Cathy had been in Sydney, she had practiced all the trappings of cultured and sophisticated people.
Her speech became impeccable, her clothes smart and her manners exemplary.
But inside the polished shell she was still the insecure young girl who lacked confident, the one who was rejected in the past for not being good enough.
That night Tom was to take Cathy to the most prestigious event of the year.
It was going to be Cathy's first brush with the upper class and she was nervous due to the past trauma.
Tom told her that she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.
At the ball Cathy found herself accepted by the rich and famous and Tom was there for her at every step supporting her, when she suddenly saw Anthony walking towards her. She hadn't seen him in five years and she was knocked off balance at the sight of him.
Anthony asked Cathy to dance and she reluctantly accepted.
He asked her why she turned away from him all those years ago.
He said she were his first and only love and that he'll be damned if he'll walk away from her now.
His parent's opinion of her, he said, did not matter to him.
He did not marry, because after Cathy, no other woman measured up.
He insisted that the passion was still burning between them and Cathy could not argue with that as the old passion came rushing back.
Anthony asked her if she loved Tom and she said she did not know how she felt.
He invited both Tom and Cathy to his family Estate for the weekend.
Tom agreed and Cathy had reservations but she ultimately agreed as she thought that perhaps going back will help her sort out exactly what she felt about everything.
She had to find out the truth about Anthony's feelings and her own.
Back at her place that night, Tom asked Cathy to marry him.
He loved her, he said, for a long time but he knew she wasn't looking for love, but the last six months things had changed between them.
Cathy started to cry and said "Don't ask me now". The book's title.
If Anthony had stayed buried in the past she might have said yes, but she could not dismiss Anthony now, could not go forward with Tom without sorting out her feelings for Anthony.
At this point and all the way to 70%, l had no idea as to who the Hero is in this book.
This is a love triangle and there is one person l identified with and rooted for and that is not the heroine.
She was working at a Pharmacy when she met a tall, handsome, confident and charming, Adonis.
His name was Anthony, he was the son of a wealthy landlord and on the last year of university.
They fell madly in love and had a very passionate sexual relationship, one that led to Cathy's alienation from her ultra conservative family.
Anthony took Cathy to his family's lavish Estate to stay for a couple of weeks in order to meet and get to know his parents.
But his parents had opened fire on her. They had judged her not good enough for their son.
Anthony heard all the put-downs which showed Cathy as an inferior species.
First she was too young, then she hadn't gone to the right schools, her clothes were wrong, she was ignorant of all the niceties of high society, her family was poor and insignificant, she did not belong to their polite society.
By the end of the two weeks, Anthony was showing all the signs that he had no intention of keeping their relationship going.
She was not a suitable wife for that family.
Anthony was giving her the kiss-off.
Heartbroken and having no family any more to fall back on, Cathy left for the big city, Sydney.
Five years later, Cathy is an antique shop owner in Sydney.
She could not have done it without the financial backing, support and encouragement from Tom.
He recognised her drive and ambition to make it.
He made her feel as if she were his equal even when she was little more than a beggar on his doorstep.
He was a wonderful person, her best friend and maybe now she could let him be more than a friend.
Tom was neither tall nor handsome but he was stocky and of average height but the strength of his character more than compensated for any lack of physical beauty.
He was attractive to Cathy and she had a deep affection for him.
He was a wealthy member of Sydney's high society.
In the five years Cathy had been in Sydney, she had practiced all the trappings of cultured and sophisticated people.
Her speech became impeccable, her clothes smart and her manners exemplary.
But inside the polished shell she was still the insecure young girl who lacked confident, the one who was rejected in the past for not being good enough.
That night Tom was to take Cathy to the most prestigious event of the year.
It was going to be Cathy's first brush with the upper class and she was nervous due to the past trauma.
Tom told her that she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.
At the ball Cathy found herself accepted by the rich and famous and Tom was there for her at every step supporting her, when she suddenly saw Anthony walking towards her. She hadn't seen him in five years and she was knocked off balance at the sight of him.
Anthony asked Cathy to dance and she reluctantly accepted.
He asked her why she turned away from him all those years ago.
He said she were his first and only love and that he'll be damned if he'll walk away from her now.
His parent's opinion of her, he said, did not matter to him.
He did not marry, because after Cathy, no other woman measured up.
He insisted that the passion was still burning between them and Cathy could not argue with that as the old passion came rushing back.
Anthony asked her if she loved Tom and she said she did not know how she felt.
He invited both Tom and Cathy to his family Estate for the weekend.
Tom agreed and Cathy had reservations but she ultimately agreed as she thought that perhaps going back will help her sort out exactly what she felt about everything.
She had to find out the truth about Anthony's feelings and her own.
Back at her place that night, Tom asked Cathy to marry him.
He loved her, he said, for a long time but he knew she wasn't looking for love, but the last six months things had changed between them.
Cathy started to cry and said "Don't ask me now". The book's title.
If Anthony had stayed buried in the past she might have said yes, but she could not dismiss Anthony now, could not go forward with Tom without sorting out her feelings for Anthony.
At this point and all the way to 70%, l had no idea as to who the Hero is in this book.
This is a love triangle and there is one person l identified with and rooted for and that is not the heroine.
June 20, 2016
Re Don't Ask Me Now - the title for this book comes from the h's apparently standard answer when either one of the two potential H's asks her a deeply relevant to their future question - she moans (and not with passion,) or groans and says "Don't ask me now!". Which I have to admit is an interesting premise to base a title on.
This book is a true rarity in HPlandia - we have not one, but two virile, uniquely interesting in their own ways, men who are competing for the h's hand. They are both wealthy, successful, landed gentry and upper social class guys - the true HP H quadfecta jackpot, but the h is going to have to face her past, her own insecurities and just plain grow up a bit in order to chose the right one. The h is around 24 or 25, five years earlier she took herself off to the big city after her life in her small hometown went to pieces.
When she arrived in the city with some hard fought for antiques knowledge, a small amount of cash and a decent amount of stock coupled with a foolproof business plan, she met a potential H who liked what he saw and invested the funds she needed to make her store grow.
She succeeded beyond her wildest dreams and when the story opens, we find out that she has paid back that investment six months earlier and her former investor seems to be wanting to make a closer relationship with her than just a business partner.
This h is very unsure of what she should do, she likes her investor - he makes her feel safe, supported and secure. So much so, that she has actually agreed to attend a high society charity ball with him - and she dreads, fears and loathes high society with all her heart - this reaction comes from her discarded and tormented past.
The h has nothing to worry about tho, not only does her evening's escort think she is the most beautiful woman at the ball, we get a guest appearance by the fierce social doyenne Vera Pallister (whom we first met as the sorta witchy mum of the H in Don't Play Games) and Vera HIGHLY approves of the investor's choice of escort for the evening.
So the h is happily settling in to being accepted by high society, which apparently makes a big contrast to the last time she was around such upper echelon bloodlines. Just as the h is dancing with her investor and enjoying herself, the evening takes a sharp turn for the worst when she spies a familiar blond head heading her way. She is paralyzed on the dance floor as the body under that hair makes an appearance in front of her and we are confronted with potential H number two, who is large landowner with a big cattle station and apparently the h's first lover.
They met when she was 17 and working her way through school and a demanding swimming competition schedule and she was wildly in love. That love turned sour in the end when, after she had been exiled from family and home and had nothing and only the lover to cling to, she was invited to a society weekend at the former lover's family home.
It was made very clear over the weekend that the h did not meet the social expectations expected for the scion of such a prestigious estate. So after one more obligatory date, where the lover made it obvious it was only a social obligation, the h found herself dumped and broken hearted and picked herself up and made a life and a business for herself.
However, those feelings of insecurity and inadequacy run very, very deep and it is because of them that she has held off potential H number one (the investor) for as long as she has.
She and the ex-lover wind up dancing, after he imposes himself and his catty sister upon the party. The h thinks she feels some passion for him, but mostly she is just confused and miserable. It is very obvious the ex wants to take up where he left off, and he cleverly twists the ending of their prior relationship enough to make the h think twice about rejecting him again.
This confusion gets worse when the ex manipulates the investor and the h into spending a weekend on his family estate. The h doesn't want to go, but everyone else seems to be pushing her into it and the investor thinks it will be a great time, so she reluctantly decides to attend. She thinks maybe she can get herself and her past sorted, and finally get some clear perspective on just what she has (if anything) with the ex-lover, but her plans are further complicated by the investor proposing marriage when he escorts her home that evening.
The h gives her answer as "Don't ask me now." and explains that she and the ex used to be a couple, but she doesn't go into specifics and she doesn't explain the whole story. She basically fluffs the investor off with as little info as she can - honestly I don't think she was trying to be evasive or sly, she just did not understand herself or her reactions and she has five years of torment and inadequacy to face up to.
Plus it is never really clear just how involved with the investor she really is. ED very cleverly keeps that info vague. I got the feeling that she had been rather standoffish and the investor makes it fairly clear that the h wouldn't even socialize with him until the loan had been paid off six months earlier. So the investor is left hanging and the h confirms the trip plans for the next day, but she has some very worried moments, cause she wasn't expecting the investor's declaration and she just isn't sure about anything.
The next day they all go to the fabled cattle station and the ex-lover does his best to stake his claim. He also tries to make the investor look bad, but the h isn't buying what he is selling. Things come to a serious drama when, after meeting and being accepted by the ex-lover's parents at the ex's demand, the investor walks in on the ex-lover passionately kissing the h.
There is a big dramatic scene with the possessive and domineering ex-lover insisting that he loves the h and she is his and the h is rather depressingly dithery in her response to the investor and the ex-lover. This lack of response and ditheriness naturally puts the investor in a very bad mood, he accuses the h of using him - and in a way I could see his point- however the h tries to explain that she is trying to regain her self respect and confront her past and her fears and she needed his support to do it.
The investor isn't delighted and spends the rest of the day ignoring the h and chatting up the catty sister of the ex-lover. The h is miserable, but she starts to think a bit too. The ex lover was always very domineering, so much that it really became quite a problem in the bedroom, lurve clubbing was really their only activity together, and the ex-lover was highly into dominance and control and when the h did not do as he wished, he withheld his approval and by the time it got to that point, the h was utterly dependent.
She was only 18 or 19 at the time and the ex had told her highly conservative and religious family all about their sexual escapades, which resulted in the h being kicked out, so really the h only had the H as a support in her life at the time and it made her all the more dependent on him.
The ex apparently liked things that way, until he met with his social group's disapproval and then dumped the h without a second thought. He tries to twist that perception, but the h is once again not on board with his directives and when he asks her to sleep with him after dinner and resume their former relationship cause he has always loved her, the answer is the inevitable "Don't ask me now."
Dinner happens and the h is further reminded of the skeevy qualities of her former lover when he starts trying to fondle her under the dinner table. The ex did this before when she was younger, and she tolerated it then, but she is of no mind to tolerate it now. She gives him a decent but discrete set down and then the focus of the table switches from general conversation to the investor.
It turns out the investor is an accomplished rowing champion and a very witty raconteur. The ex-lover doesn't like that and tries to put him down while bragging about the h's swimming accomplishments and then denigrating her parents and telling everyone how he held her up. The h pretty firmly rebuts that, but the investor is pretty intoxicated and takes himself off to bed. The h is not happy with the ex-lover and firmly turns him down when he tries it on while escorting her to her room.
The h spends the night fretting and realizes that what she felt five years earlier was not love, the ex is incapable of it, he only loves his family estate and no one and nothing is ever going to replace that. The next day she tells the ex that she doesn't want him, so he promptly goes off and resumes the company of the 19 year old he was lurve clubbing when he met the h again. The h goes to find the investor, to explain that she really loves him and wants to be with him, but he doesn't want to know - until the ex-lover's catty sister makes some nasty remarks, then he listens to the h.
She declares that she loves him, she has figured herself out and put her past behind her, but the investor really doesn't want to know. He thinks the h is offering sloppy seconds and he will take himself off to Italy rather than have leftovers.
The h is even more despondent and that night at a casual estate dance, she finally wins the approval of the ex-lover's father (he apologizes for his earlier treatment,) but she doesn't care anymore and blows him off. She tells the ex lover off too-- again, and he storms off the dance floor trying to cause a big scene.
The h doesn't care about that either, she is trying to find her H with no success. She seeks out the investor and tells him she is leaving with him in the morning, she got a ride on the same plane he did and doesn't want to stay on without him. Then she stifles a sob and leaves the dance.
As she is going back to the main house, she sees the ex in the backseat of the car with his 19 yr old. It is obvious they were getting their groove on. The h is disgusted, but the ex thinks she is chasing after him and goes out to meet her. Nasty words are exchanged, the ex is getting threatening, but then our investor H is there to save the day and threaten bodily harm to the ex. The ex makes some nasty insinuations about the night before, but the H bluffs him into admitting he lied and sweeps the h off her feet to carry her to her room.
The H admits that he wasn't really going to leave the h and go to Italy, after the h told him she loved him, he was going to stay with her, even if it meant sloppy seconds. The h is overjoyed and the real proof of her loves comes through in the passionate lurve clubbing that follows. There is no doubt in anybody's mind that they are meant for each other and there are no ghosts in their bed. (Though the H does want to break the bed before they leave to give the ex something to think about. He doesn't, cause the h reminds him it is a valuable antique and who cares about the insignificant ex anyways?)
The last chapter is actually a nice little epilogue where the H and h are married, blissfully in love, and celebrating the h's pregnancy in Italy. We find out that the h sold half her business to her assistant, reconciled with her family with the H's intervention and both are very happy and supportive of each other for a nice HEA.
This one is good and very different. The h is a bit dithery at times, which was slightly annoying, but she needed to be in order for the story to work- so I gave the indecision a pass in favor of the excellent plot.
The H turns out to be the one we usual HP readers don't expect, but was clearly the right choice for the wiser woman-- as rich, powerful and domineering might look good in theory, but a real H is one that builds you up instead of tearing you down and we can all be happy that the nice guy wins in the end and the user is left in the dust of memory as insignificant and unimportant and pretty sorry looking to boot.
This book is a true rarity in HPlandia - we have not one, but two virile, uniquely interesting in their own ways, men who are competing for the h's hand. They are both wealthy, successful, landed gentry and upper social class guys - the true HP H quadfecta jackpot, but the h is going to have to face her past, her own insecurities and just plain grow up a bit in order to chose the right one. The h is around 24 or 25, five years earlier she took herself off to the big city after her life in her small hometown went to pieces.
When she arrived in the city with some hard fought for antiques knowledge, a small amount of cash and a decent amount of stock coupled with a foolproof business plan, she met a potential H who liked what he saw and invested the funds she needed to make her store grow.
She succeeded beyond her wildest dreams and when the story opens, we find out that she has paid back that investment six months earlier and her former investor seems to be wanting to make a closer relationship with her than just a business partner.
This h is very unsure of what she should do, she likes her investor - he makes her feel safe, supported and secure. So much so, that she has actually agreed to attend a high society charity ball with him - and she dreads, fears and loathes high society with all her heart - this reaction comes from her discarded and tormented past.
The h has nothing to worry about tho, not only does her evening's escort think she is the most beautiful woman at the ball, we get a guest appearance by the fierce social doyenne Vera Pallister (whom we first met as the sorta witchy mum of the H in Don't Play Games) and Vera HIGHLY approves of the investor's choice of escort for the evening.
So the h is happily settling in to being accepted by high society, which apparently makes a big contrast to the last time she was around such upper echelon bloodlines. Just as the h is dancing with her investor and enjoying herself, the evening takes a sharp turn for the worst when she spies a familiar blond head heading her way. She is paralyzed on the dance floor as the body under that hair makes an appearance in front of her and we are confronted with potential H number two, who is large landowner with a big cattle station and apparently the h's first lover.
They met when she was 17 and working her way through school and a demanding swimming competition schedule and she was wildly in love. That love turned sour in the end when, after she had been exiled from family and home and had nothing and only the lover to cling to, she was invited to a society weekend at the former lover's family home.
It was made very clear over the weekend that the h did not meet the social expectations expected for the scion of such a prestigious estate. So after one more obligatory date, where the lover made it obvious it was only a social obligation, the h found herself dumped and broken hearted and picked herself up and made a life and a business for herself.
However, those feelings of insecurity and inadequacy run very, very deep and it is because of them that she has held off potential H number one (the investor) for as long as she has.
She and the ex-lover wind up dancing, after he imposes himself and his catty sister upon the party. The h thinks she feels some passion for him, but mostly she is just confused and miserable. It is very obvious the ex wants to take up where he left off, and he cleverly twists the ending of their prior relationship enough to make the h think twice about rejecting him again.
This confusion gets worse when the ex manipulates the investor and the h into spending a weekend on his family estate. The h doesn't want to go, but everyone else seems to be pushing her into it and the investor thinks it will be a great time, so she reluctantly decides to attend. She thinks maybe she can get herself and her past sorted, and finally get some clear perspective on just what she has (if anything) with the ex-lover, but her plans are further complicated by the investor proposing marriage when he escorts her home that evening.
The h gives her answer as "Don't ask me now." and explains that she and the ex used to be a couple, but she doesn't go into specifics and she doesn't explain the whole story. She basically fluffs the investor off with as little info as she can - honestly I don't think she was trying to be evasive or sly, she just did not understand herself or her reactions and she has five years of torment and inadequacy to face up to.
Plus it is never really clear just how involved with the investor she really is. ED very cleverly keeps that info vague. I got the feeling that she had been rather standoffish and the investor makes it fairly clear that the h wouldn't even socialize with him until the loan had been paid off six months earlier. So the investor is left hanging and the h confirms the trip plans for the next day, but she has some very worried moments, cause she wasn't expecting the investor's declaration and she just isn't sure about anything.
The next day they all go to the fabled cattle station and the ex-lover does his best to stake his claim. He also tries to make the investor look bad, but the h isn't buying what he is selling. Things come to a serious drama when, after meeting and being accepted by the ex-lover's parents at the ex's demand, the investor walks in on the ex-lover passionately kissing the h.
There is a big dramatic scene with the possessive and domineering ex-lover insisting that he loves the h and she is his and the h is rather depressingly dithery in her response to the investor and the ex-lover. This lack of response and ditheriness naturally puts the investor in a very bad mood, he accuses the h of using him - and in a way I could see his point- however the h tries to explain that she is trying to regain her self respect and confront her past and her fears and she needed his support to do it.
The investor isn't delighted and spends the rest of the day ignoring the h and chatting up the catty sister of the ex-lover. The h is miserable, but she starts to think a bit too. The ex lover was always very domineering, so much that it really became quite a problem in the bedroom, lurve clubbing was really their only activity together, and the ex-lover was highly into dominance and control and when the h did not do as he wished, he withheld his approval and by the time it got to that point, the h was utterly dependent.
She was only 18 or 19 at the time and the ex had told her highly conservative and religious family all about their sexual escapades, which resulted in the h being kicked out, so really the h only had the H as a support in her life at the time and it made her all the more dependent on him.
The ex apparently liked things that way, until he met with his social group's disapproval and then dumped the h without a second thought. He tries to twist that perception, but the h is once again not on board with his directives and when he asks her to sleep with him after dinner and resume their former relationship cause he has always loved her, the answer is the inevitable "Don't ask me now."
Dinner happens and the h is further reminded of the skeevy qualities of her former lover when he starts trying to fondle her under the dinner table. The ex did this before when she was younger, and she tolerated it then, but she is of no mind to tolerate it now. She gives him a decent but discrete set down and then the focus of the table switches from general conversation to the investor.
It turns out the investor is an accomplished rowing champion and a very witty raconteur. The ex-lover doesn't like that and tries to put him down while bragging about the h's swimming accomplishments and then denigrating her parents and telling everyone how he held her up. The h pretty firmly rebuts that, but the investor is pretty intoxicated and takes himself off to bed. The h is not happy with the ex-lover and firmly turns him down when he tries it on while escorting her to her room.
The h spends the night fretting and realizes that what she felt five years earlier was not love, the ex is incapable of it, he only loves his family estate and no one and nothing is ever going to replace that. The next day she tells the ex that she doesn't want him, so he promptly goes off and resumes the company of the 19 year old he was lurve clubbing when he met the h again. The h goes to find the investor, to explain that she really loves him and wants to be with him, but he doesn't want to know - until the ex-lover's catty sister makes some nasty remarks, then he listens to the h.
She declares that she loves him, she has figured herself out and put her past behind her, but the investor really doesn't want to know. He thinks the h is offering sloppy seconds and he will take himself off to Italy rather than have leftovers.
The h is even more despondent and that night at a casual estate dance, she finally wins the approval of the ex-lover's father (he apologizes for his earlier treatment,) but she doesn't care anymore and blows him off. She tells the ex lover off too-- again, and he storms off the dance floor trying to cause a big scene.
The h doesn't care about that either, she is trying to find her H with no success. She seeks out the investor and tells him she is leaving with him in the morning, she got a ride on the same plane he did and doesn't want to stay on without him. Then she stifles a sob and leaves the dance.
As she is going back to the main house, she sees the ex in the backseat of the car with his 19 yr old. It is obvious they were getting their groove on. The h is disgusted, but the ex thinks she is chasing after him and goes out to meet her. Nasty words are exchanged, the ex is getting threatening, but then our investor H is there to save the day and threaten bodily harm to the ex. The ex makes some nasty insinuations about the night before, but the H bluffs him into admitting he lied and sweeps the h off her feet to carry her to her room.
The H admits that he wasn't really going to leave the h and go to Italy, after the h told him she loved him, he was going to stay with her, even if it meant sloppy seconds. The h is overjoyed and the real proof of her loves comes through in the passionate lurve clubbing that follows. There is no doubt in anybody's mind that they are meant for each other and there are no ghosts in their bed. (Though the H does want to break the bed before they leave to give the ex something to think about. He doesn't, cause the h reminds him it is a valuable antique and who cares about the insignificant ex anyways?)
The last chapter is actually a nice little epilogue where the H and h are married, blissfully in love, and celebrating the h's pregnancy in Italy. We find out that the h sold half her business to her assistant, reconciled with her family with the H's intervention and both are very happy and supportive of each other for a nice HEA.
This one is good and very different. The h is a bit dithery at times, which was slightly annoying, but she needed to be in order for the story to work- so I gave the indecision a pass in favor of the excellent plot.
The H turns out to be the one we usual HP readers don't expect, but was clearly the right choice for the wiser woman-- as rich, powerful and domineering might look good in theory, but a real H is one that builds you up instead of tearing you down and we can all be happy that the nice guy wins in the end and the user is left in the dust of memory as insignificant and unimportant and pretty sorry looking to boot.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 6, 2014
This is a love triangle and the h picks the less attractive, nicer dude - for once - instead of the hot, gorgeous d-bag.
July 30, 2020
"Don't Ask Me Now" is the story of Cathy and Anthony..or Tom?
Well, that was unexpected.
An intriguing love triangle between a scorned woman, a passionate lover from the past and a smitten man in the present. Our heroine was humiliated and thrown out of OM1's life because of her poverty, and now runs a successful antique business with OM2. OM1 re-enters her life, just as OM2 proposes marriage. She is torn, and still thinks she is in love with OM1, so travels with OM2 to the land that rejected her. But who does she really love- the wild, dominant man or the kind, loving one?
I was so taken aback by this plot- I could not figure out who the hero was until midway, when the story took a turn (there were many red flags before that) and I was left wanting more. My perception of the characters changed so fast, and what was hot turned creepy in the blink of an eye.
Read it if you want something different. Epilogue was heartwarming!
SWE
3/5
Well, that was unexpected.
An intriguing love triangle between a scorned woman, a passionate lover from the past and a smitten man in the present. Our heroine was humiliated and thrown out of OM1's life because of her poverty, and now runs a successful antique business with OM2. OM1 re-enters her life, just as OM2 proposes marriage. She is torn, and still thinks she is in love with OM1, so travels with OM2 to the land that rejected her. But who does she really love- the wild, dominant man or the kind, loving one?
I was so taken aback by this plot- I could not figure out who the hero was until midway, when the story took a turn (there were many red flags before that) and I was left wanting more. My perception of the characters changed so fast, and what was hot turned creepy in the blink of an eye.
Read it if you want something different. Epilogue was heartwarming!
SWE
3/5
January 3, 2015
This is a bonafide love triangle book. Not all that common in Harlequin Presentslandia. Usually the hero is undeniably one man and there's no question that another could claim the heroine's affections. It was kind of a cool twist, actually. The real hero is one that you might not expect at first. Darcy seems to have read plenty of HPs where the heroine moves from the dangerously sexy, irresistible man who broke her heart to a safe, nice man. But something was missing. And her heart seemed to call her back to the 'bad boy' and away from 'safe.' She turns that on its head with this book.
Disclaimer: What I'm going to say in this review isn't quite a spoiler, but it might be!
I'm glad. I couldn't stand Cathy's ex. He was a jerk and user. He was so smug and arrogant and had no respect for boundaries. He was touching the heroine sexually in public, knowing it would cause her discomfort. That's not cool. I was so glad that she came to her senses and realized that sometimes a compulsive attraction to someone isn't always the same thing as true, sustainable love. She realizes it almost too late. I was glad that this point she realizes that Thomas isn't just the safe guy who helped her get back on her feet, but he's a man that is truly worthy of her love.
The descriptions of Cathy's relationship with Anthony are pretty detailed and it's kind of twisted for an older Harlequin Presents. I suppose it's par for the course with an Emma Darcy book. They seemed to be more daring for the time.
This was pretty good, but I don't much care for love triangles, to be honest. And the fact that there was a slight question who the heroine was going to end up with makes it not quite my taste. Others may appreciate it more than I did. I can't deny it's well written though.
Overall rating: 3.5/5.0 stars.
Disclaimer: What I'm going to say in this review isn't quite a spoiler, but it might be!
I'm glad. I couldn't stand Cathy's ex. He was a jerk and user. He was so smug and arrogant and had no respect for boundaries. He was touching the heroine sexually in public, knowing it would cause her discomfort. That's not cool. I was so glad that she came to her senses and realized that sometimes a compulsive attraction to someone isn't always the same thing as true, sustainable love. She realizes it almost too late. I was glad that this point she realizes that Thomas isn't just the safe guy who helped her get back on her feet, but he's a man that is truly worthy of her love.
The descriptions of Cathy's relationship with Anthony are pretty detailed and it's kind of twisted for an older Harlequin Presents. I suppose it's par for the course with an Emma Darcy book. They seemed to be more daring for the time.
This was pretty good, but I don't much care for love triangles, to be honest. And the fact that there was a slight question who the heroine was going to end up with makes it not quite my taste. Others may appreciate it more than I did. I can't deny it's well written though.
Overall rating: 3.5/5.0 stars.
May 1, 2021
Emma Darcy's Don't Ask Me Now is such an unusual Harlequin Presents. I had seen this plot done similarly in the Temptation line, which was more sexually explicit, but to see it in HP was a bit surprising.
What's the big deal? Well, this book features two heroes that the heroine sleeps with, although it's not as tawdry as I'm making it out.
The heroine had a torrid love affair many years ago with Anthony Pryor-Jones of the Pryor-Joneses, part of Australia's creme-de-la-creme. His family disapproved of her as he came from a wealthy heritage while Cathy was a nobody. Hero #1 was obsessed with her, and they had fantastic sex. But Cathy finally broke free of that toxic relationship and relocated to Sydney.
Years have passed, and Cathy's made a new life for herself. She's got a great friend and business partner, Tom. Tom, Hero #2, has always wanted Cathy, but he's been friend-zoned for some time. Finally, when he thinks he's breaking through her icy reserve, they bump into Anthony at a ball.
Cathy sees him, and her feelings come rushing back. And Anthony wants her again, too.
Tom isn't just going to stand by and let it happen. He demands Cathy see him as he really is: a man, a desirable one, who genuinely cares for her. But Tom's not willing to play second fiddle to her ardent feelings for Anthony. Even if he knows Cathy loves him, he's unwilling to be next-best in bed, as he's quite jealous of the passionate relationship she shared with Anthony.
"Don't ask me now, Tom," Cathy says to him, as she can't decide what her heart wants. But she must.
I'm happy to say that it's the nice guy who wins out in the end. Hero #1 turns out to be no hero at all. Tom and Cathy get invited to a weekend party at the Pryor-Jones estate. As Anthony sees that Tom and Cathy are drawing closer and Cathy won't give in to him once more, he tries to make Cathy jealous by having sex with a young girl in a car (what a stud!). Then he cruelly and abruptly abandons her when he sees Cathy fleeing his family's party.
Cathy realizes it's Tom she wants, needs, and, most importantly, desires. They have a great scene where they make love and break the bed (this occurs at the party at Anthony's parents' house, so they'll all see the results of Tom and Cathy's wildly erotic night).
What a unique Harlequin Presents, written with just the right touch, to keep you guessing who's the right man and then making you root for that right man to get the girl. I don't even want to imagine how this kind of plot would be addressed in a modern HP/ Mills and Boon. If it has, I don't want to know. Emma Darcy did this perfectly; it's one of my most beloved Harlequin Presents, if not top ten, then top 20 for sure.
5 stars
What's the big deal? Well, this book features two heroes that the heroine sleeps with, although it's not as tawdry as I'm making it out.
The heroine had a torrid love affair many years ago with Anthony Pryor-Jones of the Pryor-Joneses, part of Australia's creme-de-la-creme. His family disapproved of her as he came from a wealthy heritage while Cathy was a nobody. Hero #1 was obsessed with her, and they had fantastic sex. But Cathy finally broke free of that toxic relationship and relocated to Sydney.
Years have passed, and Cathy's made a new life for herself. She's got a great friend and business partner, Tom. Tom, Hero #2, has always wanted Cathy, but he's been friend-zoned for some time. Finally, when he thinks he's breaking through her icy reserve, they bump into Anthony at a ball.
Cathy sees him, and her feelings come rushing back. And Anthony wants her again, too.
Tom isn't just going to stand by and let it happen. He demands Cathy see him as he really is: a man, a desirable one, who genuinely cares for her. But Tom's not willing to play second fiddle to her ardent feelings for Anthony. Even if he knows Cathy loves him, he's unwilling to be next-best in bed, as he's quite jealous of the passionate relationship she shared with Anthony.
"Don't ask me now, Tom," Cathy says to him, as she can't decide what her heart wants. But she must.
I'm happy to say that it's the nice guy who wins out in the end. Hero #1 turns out to be no hero at all. Tom and Cathy get invited to a weekend party at the Pryor-Jones estate. As Anthony sees that Tom and Cathy are drawing closer and Cathy won't give in to him once more, he tries to make Cathy jealous by having sex with a young girl in a car (what a stud!). Then he cruelly and abruptly abandons her when he sees Cathy fleeing his family's party.
Cathy realizes it's Tom she wants, needs, and, most importantly, desires. They have a great scene where they make love and break the bed (this occurs at the party at Anthony's parents' house, so they'll all see the results of Tom and Cathy's wildly erotic night).
What a unique Harlequin Presents, written with just the right touch, to keep you guessing who's the right man and then making you root for that right man to get the girl. I don't even want to imagine how this kind of plot would be addressed in a modern HP/ Mills and Boon. If it has, I don't want to know. Emma Darcy did this perfectly; it's one of my most beloved Harlequin Presents, if not top ten, then top 20 for sure.
5 stars
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 24, 2023
Τελείως παραπειστικο οπισθόφυλλο.
Συναισθηματική φόρτιση στο full.
Η συγκεκριμένη ιστορία είναι μοναδική για την ιδιαιτεροτητα της.
5/5' και με τόνο!
.
Συναισθηματική φόρτιση στο full.
Η συγκεκριμένη ιστορία είναι μοναδική για την ιδιαιτεροτητα της.
5/5' και με τόνο!
.
November 24, 2018
Nice guy finishes first!
August 20, 2012
3.5 stars
Another ED with a love triangle. The heroine has spent the last four years making a success of herself, fitting in with the wealthy folks and her business partner Tom has helped her. He has been there for her, supporting her and theie relationship is changing, he wants more but it is she and her fears keeping them at bay. Cathy is still not over what happened five years ago when she was found wanting and she was left an emotional cripple. To be honest Cathy was a selfish and sometimes hateful character but you couldn't completely hate her because she had been reeled in when she was young and vulnerable and her age hadn't made her see the truth. So, when her former lover comes back on the scene, she needs to know if she still loves him and at first she is that foolish seventeen year old again who left her family and religion for him but when he sees Tom withdrawing from her, she starts opening her eyes and sees how she in her youth allowed herself to be demeaned by Anthony and how everything between them was all about sex and domination. Did Cathy deserve someone like Tom, I am not sure but he deserved better. Hell, he caught Anthony and Cathy making out and she relied on him for four years and kind of used him as an emotional stick but overall a different book. High melodrama.
Another ED with a love triangle. The heroine has spent the last four years making a success of herself, fitting in with the wealthy folks and her business partner Tom has helped her. He has been there for her, supporting her and theie relationship is changing, he wants more but it is she and her fears keeping them at bay. Cathy is still not over what happened five years ago when she was found wanting and she was left an emotional cripple. To be honest Cathy was a selfish and sometimes hateful character but you couldn't completely hate her because she had been reeled in when she was young and vulnerable and her age hadn't made her see the truth. So, when her former lover comes back on the scene, she needs to know if she still loves him and at first she is that foolish seventeen year old again who left her family and religion for him but when he sees Tom withdrawing from her, she starts opening her eyes and sees how she in her youth allowed herself to be demeaned by Anthony and how everything between them was all about sex and domination. Did Cathy deserve someone like Tom, I am not sure but he deserved better. Hell, he caught Anthony and Cathy making out and she relied on him for four years and kind of used him as an emotional stick but overall a different book. High melodrama.
October 11, 2025
Good book. I liked both the hero and the heroine. They felt real. And for once you have a heroine who hurts the hero while trying to find her way and make sense of her feelings. Well written and the scene where she tries to approach him again after their argument and the whole talk was very well written. I was feeling the pain on both sides.
Nice people. Happy ending. Warm fuzzy feels all over!
Its probably a 4.5 :)
Nice people. Happy ending. Warm fuzzy feels all over!
Its probably a 4.5 :)
October 6, 2022
OH MY! I think this one of my favourite HQN's!
I have not read a Harlequin with a twist like this. Even with all the angst and light steam I really liked this book,.
It going on my favourite shelf for sure.
I have not read a Harlequin with a twist like this. Even with all the angst and light steam I really liked this book,.
It going on my favourite shelf for sure.
February 19, 2012
Cathy met Tom when things were downright horrible for her. She had just left her first lover because his parents didn't approve of her, not to mention her parents abandoned her for choosing Anthony. (first lover)
When Tom and Cathy run into Anthony and his sister Vanessa, they are invited to Anthony's ancestry home for a weekend of fun. Anthony confesses his love and Tom finds out the secrets she's been hiding from him and tosses him away.
Eventually Anthony shows his true colors, Cathy realizes she's completely in love with Tom and drama unfolds.
The book was great! The emotional aspect of the book was right on par. It was a wonderful read.
When Tom and Cathy run into Anthony and his sister Vanessa, they are invited to Anthony's ancestry home for a weekend of fun. Anthony confesses his love and Tom finds out the secrets she's been hiding from him and tosses him away.
Eventually Anthony shows his true colors, Cathy realizes she's completely in love with Tom and drama unfolds.
The book was great! The emotional aspect of the book was right on par. It was a wonderful read.
July 8, 2014
Very refreshing. A love/lust triangle where all 3 main characters had flaws, some more than others. The book is really about growing up and having a chance to reexamine your past and present, your relationships with the person you loved so much that it emotionally crippled you when it ended and your relationship with other members of family. It is about opening your eyes and finally seeing the big picture of what really took place. I loved how different her relationships were; One dominating and full of lust, the other being equal and full of trust and understanding.
January 8, 2013
Good Guys don't always finish last! :))
Didn't hope to see that in a harlequin though and to top it all off.... all the qualities I usually like in my hero i.e. looks, jealousy, possessiveness, wealth and devotion towards the heroine apart from the x-factor, the "other guy" in this book had them all but I never rooted for him!
The quiet silent guy got the girl and Hooray for him!!
The emotional reactions portrayed in this book ring pleasantly true so this connected to me on a level Harlequins rarely do.
It was definitely a good read! :))
Didn't hope to see that in a harlequin though and to top it all off.... all the qualities I usually like in my hero i.e. looks, jealousy, possessiveness, wealth and devotion towards the heroine apart from the x-factor, the "other guy" in this book had them all but I never rooted for him!
The quiet silent guy got the girl and Hooray for him!!
The emotional reactions portrayed in this book ring pleasantly true so this connected to me on a level Harlequins rarely do.
It was definitely a good read! :))
June 7, 2018
Loved this book. Not your run of the mill HP.
The H wasn’t the handsome, charming wanna be alpha male , but the guy with the good heart.
The wanna be alpha male was self centered, cruel, manipulative, and just plain ole nasty. Most of the HP alphas have the same characteristics, but the difference is the other alphas use their superpowers for good, while this one was just an a$$hole!
The H in this book was the nice guy, and an alpha in his own right. He just doesn’t need to be all chest beating macho about it.
He was a friend to the h for the past five years. He supported her, helped her pick up the pieces of her soul that the Not H destroyed, and watched her rebuild herself into a stronger, more beautiful model.
He allowed the h the space she needed to become the woman that she could be proud of. He loved her. And I loved him.
The h’s trip back to the place of her destruction allowed her to make peace with her past and really appreciate the H for man that he is, and not just as a friend.
Loved this book. I may very well pull this one out for a read again in the future.
The H wasn’t the handsome, charming wanna be alpha male , but the guy with the good heart.
The wanna be alpha male was self centered, cruel, manipulative, and just plain ole nasty. Most of the HP alphas have the same characteristics, but the difference is the other alphas use their superpowers for good, while this one was just an a$$hole!
The H in this book was the nice guy, and an alpha in his own right. He just doesn’t need to be all chest beating macho about it.
He was a friend to the h for the past five years. He supported her, helped her pick up the pieces of her soul that the Not H destroyed, and watched her rebuild herself into a stronger, more beautiful model.
He allowed the h the space she needed to become the woman that she could be proud of. He loved her. And I loved him.
The h’s trip back to the place of her destruction allowed her to make peace with her past and really appreciate the H for man that he is, and not just as a friend.
Loved this book. I may very well pull this one out for a read again in the future.
December 19, 2023
For once the heroine chooses the better man.
November 16, 2021
I actually see this story as a bit of a role reversal, as the heroine is the one who's "emotionnally crippled" from a previous relationship with a passionate, sexy, blonde haired blue eyed beauty. She still goes out with a brunette, pure, good natured, nice, but ultimately plain Joe. Then the blonde bombshell comes back in the picture and our heroine has to decide who she wants to be with. In the process, she hurts both men to varying degrees, and she comes to understand more about both men and most importantly, about herself. Then she's the one who has to do some grovelling before ending up with the love of her life. The end.
Frankly this was a pretty refreshing story because it takes a while for the reader to know for sure who the hero is. Even though the OM is pretty irredeemable by the end, I still feel that they would have made a great couple if she had chose him, at least for a few years.
All in all, I'd definitely recommend this.
Frankly this was a pretty refreshing story because it takes a while for the reader to know for sure who the hero is. Even though the OM is pretty irredeemable by the end, I still feel that they would have made a great couple if she had chose him, at least for a few years.
All in all, I'd definitely recommend this.
April 22, 2016
well, it changed from the usual! I really thought Anthony was the hero here but surprise, surprise. I was absolutely astonished when he went ga-ga over his land near the end and behaved like such a kid ! it was like the author had decided to paint him black all of a sudden and all of a sudden Cathy cud no longer bear him anywhere near her, when she had been going ga-ga over him from the start of the book and wud not care one iota about poor Tom ! she was infact relieved Tom wud be leaving her alone so dat she cud focus on Anthony. the selfish bitch! it seemed she chose Tom because she realised Anthony had never really cared for her and only wanted her in bed.
May 9, 2011
I read this a long long long time ago and as such had forgotten the name of the book. All I remembered was - it was different and I was happy after having read it (which doesn't usually happen after most M&B books)
October 8, 2011
a woman on the verge of accepting one man suddenly meets her old flame, and now has to choose between them. i think this story was well written, and it reflects the anguish of the heroine who has been tremendously hurt in the past by one man, and has to decide just who she can trust.
August 4, 2024
This is hands down the best vintage Harlequin Presents that I have ever read. I *thought* it was going to be a story about reunited lovers but it turned into something else entirely. Emma Darcy skillfully crafted a narrative that kept me hooked from start to finish.
The characters of Anthony and Tom were both compelling in their own ways. They each had qualities that made them appealing and moments where they fell short. However, overwhelmingly, Tom was the best match for Cathy. His growth and the depth of his feelings for her truly stood out.
While both Anthony and Tom had moments where they said and did things that I didn’t like, Tom’s actions and character ultimately made him the perfect choice for Cathy. This book took me on an unexpected journey and I loved every twist and turn. A must-read for any Harlequin Presents fan!
Thank you @Vintage for the recommendation!
The characters of Anthony and Tom were both compelling in their own ways. They each had qualities that made them appealing and moments where they fell short. However, overwhelmingly, Tom was the best match for Cathy. His growth and the depth of his feelings for her truly stood out.
While both Anthony and Tom had moments where they said and did things that I didn’t like, Tom’s actions and character ultimately made him the perfect choice for Cathy. This book took me on an unexpected journey and I loved every twist and turn. A must-read for any Harlequin Presents fan!
Thank you @Vintage for the recommendation!
July 19, 2025
I rated the book this high because of its difference from other HP world's heroines and heros who have no depth and are almost always tstl, by some unknown or unwritten law. Well this one was really different. At first I thought it would be like all others with a doormat pathetic heroine who couldn't see any other man but the stupid ass hero, and I was going to shelf it as dnf and give it one star, but tnx to some reviewers I decided to keep reading and it was worth it, not 4 star in normal circumstances but a definite exception to the HP world left me no choice but to give it it's due rate
February 2, 2024
I’d give this more than three stars if it wasn’t for the heroine being so ridiculous in the beginning, and just crying all the time and for the overdramatic scene with the ex-boyfriend.
I really different Harlequin. Storyline was not one I’ve ever seen before. Definitely worth a read just for the hero.
I really different Harlequin. Storyline was not one I’ve ever seen before. Definitely worth a read just for the hero.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 14, 2025
Liked this one a lot. Old school Mills and Boon actually had decent plots and this one is the total opposite of the typical trope of love based on lust. Very realistic and a great change after reading so many of the "sheikh" and "greek tycoon" novels
March 25, 2019
I liked the idea of the nice guy getting the girl but the story didn't work for me.
January 12, 2020
Don't rush through this one, because it flips the script a little.
September 9, 2020
A bit unrealistic in terms of how h acquires the know how of antiques and becomes an expert so quickly with no formal education on arts and culture or learning through osmosis since her childhood.
May 1, 2025
Well! That was unexpected but enjoyable! What a horrible and abusive that ex was! It might never have been said but she definitely suffered sexual trauma by him.
November 20, 2014
Nice guys finish first!!!
The hero was great, but the poor guy had to put up with an undeserving heroine. She really broke his heart.
Okay, so eventually she realizes how much she loves him and becomes worthy of him.
The hero was great, but the poor guy had to put up with an undeserving heroine. She really broke his heart.
Okay, so eventually she realizes how much she loves him and becomes worthy of him.
Read
August 26, 2013wanted to love this book
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