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La jungla del deseo
Rafael Oliveira no tenía tiempo para mujeres, pues no había conocido a ninguna que no fuera falsa y peligrosa.
Grace Thacker era joven e inocente. Había acudido a Rafael con el propósito de salvar su negocio y tenía sólo diez minutos para convencer al despiadado brasileño de que la ayudara… Diez minutos en los que tendría que decidir si marcharse y perderlo todo… o saldar sus deudas en la cama.
Grace Thacker era joven e inocente. Había acudido a Rafael con el propósito de salvar su negocio y tenía sólo diez minutos para convencer al despiadado brasileño de que la ayudara… Diez minutos en los que tendría que decidir si marcharse y perderlo todo… o saldar sus deudas en la cama.
160 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 2007
25 people are currently reading
374 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Morgan
696 books7,295 followersAbout Sarah
USA Today and #1 Sunday Times bestselling author Sarah Morgan writes romance and contemporary women's fiction and her trademark humour and warmth have gained her fans across the globe. Sarah lives near London, England, and when she isn't reading or writing she loves being outdoors.
Look out for Sarah's latest novel - All Together for Christmas (UK title)/ A Merry Little Lie (US/Canadian title)
Join Sarah on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorSarahM...
Follow Sarah on Twitter: https://twitter.com/SarahMorgan_
Follow Sarah on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahmorgan...
Website: www.sarahmorgan.com
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
USA Today and #1 Sunday Times bestselling author Sarah Morgan writes romance and contemporary women's fiction and her trademark humour and warmth have gained her fans across the globe. Sarah lives near London, England, and when she isn't reading or writing she loves being outdoors.
Look out for Sarah's latest novel - All Together for Christmas (UK title)/ A Merry Little Lie (US/Canadian title)
Join Sarah on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorSarahM...
Follow Sarah on Twitter: https://twitter.com/SarahMorgan_
Follow Sarah on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahmorgan...
Website: www.sarahmorgan.com
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
November 23, 2017
I don't how I missed this one the first time around, but this was really sweet. Our Sweet Polly Pure Bread heroine has had her business loan called in by the reclusive, emotionally stunted hero who lives in a luxury tree house in the Brazilian rain forest. The heroine, in a last ditch hope to save her chain of London coffee shops, arranges a meeting with the hero.
She is nervous and dithery. He is cold and calculating. They are both sizing each other up as a sexual partner. Sweet Polly thinks this is love, Cold Calculating is trying to decide if he unleashes his revenge before or after bedding her.
Part of the revenge is a walk through the jungle to meet the downtrodden coffee farmers whom the heroine has defrauded. The coffee farmers are near and dear to the hero and he wants the heroine to feel guilt. The heroine does feel guilt, because she has no idea her father was defrauding these people in the name of her business. Turns out the heroine has no head for figures and had left that side of the business to her father.
The hero is impressed with how well the heroine held up during the jungle march and with her acting skills. (He still thinks she's guilty) They have transcendent sex (of course) and the virgin heroine is convinced she's in love.
This is all pretty standard until the hero starts to believe the heroine and jumps into protective alpha mode. I loved that he helped her understand her financial statements and that he wanted to be with her when she confronted her father.
There are a few twists before the H/h have their happy ending - and one of them is not sending the h's father to jail. I was very disappointed his sorry ass wasn't thrown behind bars. And the heroine forgave him too easily.
This would have been a five star story because the romance is very sweet. But I couldn't with the heroine's instant forgiveness of her father. That's a half star. The other half star is for all the times the heroine said to the hero that she sensed goodness in him. I kept hearing Luke saying this to Darth Vader - and the mood was broken. :)
Still, this is a fun story with a great setting.
She is nervous and dithery. He is cold and calculating. They are both sizing each other up as a sexual partner. Sweet Polly thinks this is love, Cold Calculating is trying to decide if he unleashes his revenge before or after bedding her.
Part of the revenge is a walk through the jungle to meet the downtrodden coffee farmers whom the heroine has defrauded. The coffee farmers are near and dear to the hero and he wants the heroine to feel guilt. The heroine does feel guilt, because she has no idea her father was defrauding these people in the name of her business. Turns out the heroine has no head for figures and had left that side of the business to her father.
The hero is impressed with how well the heroine held up during the jungle march and with her acting skills. (He still thinks she's guilty) They have transcendent sex (of course) and the virgin heroine is convinced she's in love.
This is all pretty standard until the hero starts to believe the heroine and jumps into protective alpha mode. I loved that he helped her understand her financial statements and that he wanted to be with her when she confronted her father.
There are a few twists before the H/h have their happy ending - and one of them is not sending the h's father to jail. I was very disappointed his sorry ass wasn't thrown behind bars. And the heroine forgave him too easily.
This would have been a five star story because the romance is very sweet. But I couldn't with the heroine's instant forgiveness of her father. That's a half star. The other half star is for all the times the heroine said to the hero that she sensed goodness in him. I kept hearing Luke saying this to Darth Vader - and the mood was broken. :)
Still, this is a fun story with a great setting.
March 4, 2012
I absolutely adore this book. It’s a funny, sexy, romantic story set in the lush Brazilian rainforest and my favorite city London.
The hero, Rafael Cordeiro is a dark, gorgeous and of course very very rich reclusive billionaire, living in the most incredible home – think of an expensive, huge and fabulous tree house….a recluse who has no time for women who finally meets a woman that will change and bring happiness into his life (of course he doesn’t realize that when he first lays eyes on her!!!)
Her being Grace Thacker. She has to be one of my most loved heroines… here is this young English woman….beautiful both inside and out, funny, gutsy, adventurous , hard working, who has struggled all her life to make a difference in this world despite having the most awful father, who has never done anything for her except calling her stupid. She owns a coffee chain called Café Brazil in London which was financed by Rafael (who she had never met) because it helps the local farmers that export the coffee that she uses in her business….even a bit of Eco Green comes into the story!!!!!
With her business in trouble and with the threat of Rafael stopping his funding, she decides to go and see him personally and put her proposals to him in person.
I loved the scene where they first meet!!!!....Grace has just been dropped off in the middle of the jungle by a crazy pilot in a small rickety plane, wearing her smart suit and shoes (high heels of course). Try walking on a suspended rope bridge with those things…not easy I am sure. So here she is with her heel stuck on the walkway, trying desperately to free herself when she suddenly sees this gorgeous man looking at her with a look of …..you get the picture!!!!! I was laughing as I pictured this encounter. There are more scenes that make you smile….the time she has to state her “case” to Rafael…..
The dialogue is sharp, funny, witty and such a pleasure to read each word.
Rafael’s home…..in my head I could see it so clearly and all I wanted to do was stay there….the pool…the jungle.
The jungle and the farm settings are so well done. The sex scenes are so sensual….wow the dress Grace “borrows” to wear to dinner the first night she spends in the “tree house” is amazing…..gorgeous scene.
So, I guess one can tell that I loved the story – true….it has a special place in my favorites section of my huge bookshelf.
Oh yes….forgot to include that they do get their HEA…..after the funniest and at the same time sad scene with Grace finally standing up to her dishonorable and cruel father.
Get this book and read it……it’s a fab fab story....i have read it a few times and each time I am still enthralled by it.
And try some of Sarah Morgan’s other books….they are really good.
August 8, 2020
"The Brazilian Boss's Innocent Mistress" is the story of Grace and Rafael.
A very sweet love story between a cynical, arrogant hero and a sweet, honest heroine. It involves a Brazilian rain-forest, a business proposition, a familial betrayal, a plea of innocence, intense attraction, hot lovemaking and HEA. Likable characters, minimal drama and HEA. The hero went from angry to protective in a page after the truth came out, it was quite funny TBH.
Safe
2.5/5
A very sweet love story between a cynical, arrogant hero and a sweet, honest heroine. It involves a Brazilian rain-forest, a business proposition, a familial betrayal, a plea of innocence, intense attraction, hot lovemaking and HEA. Likable characters, minimal drama and HEA. The hero went from angry to protective in a page after the truth came out, it was quite funny TBH.
Safe
2.5/5
March 17, 2020
Dengan ini, hubunganku dengan romance-harlequin resmi berakhir. Selamanya.
Sebenarnya aku sudah mulai merasakan "permusuhan" dengan genre ini sejak pertengahan tahun lalu. Tapi aku masih berusaha berpikir positif, bahwa mungkin aku saja yang sedang buntung menemukan buku yang tidak bagus. Kemudian, aku mencoba sekali lagi dengan buku ini, karangan penulis harlequin favoritku, berharap bahwa aku bisa bersahabat kembali dengan buku-buku harlequin.
Membaca ini, akhirnya aku sadar bahwa bukan bukunya yang tidak bagus. It's me. Aku tidak lagi cocok dengan premis, plot, dan penokohan dari novel-novel harlequin. Sama sekali tidak cocok.
Pemeran tokoh pria yang kaya raya/pewaris takhta tapi sangat judgemental, misoginis, kejam, selalu berputar pada asumsi sendiri, dan selalu dikendalikan nafsu. Juga sebagian tokoh perempuan yang miskin, mau saja dibodohi, pengecut, lemah, tidak mampu melawan ketoksikan si tokoh pria. Ini menjadi alasan utama aku merasa tidak sanggup lagi berpetualang di rimba harlequin.
Plot yang itu-itu saja terasa sangaaaaat membosankan. Kesalahpahaman dan tuduhan-tuduhan keji yang tercipta akibat asumsi dan trauma masa lalu si pria selalu diselesaikan dengan bukti bahwa si tokoh perempuan masih perawan. Menurut lini novel ini, kejujuran dan integritas seseorang (perempuan) hanya bisa diselesaikan dengan utuhnya lapisan hymen. Ha ha.
Kisah cinta serba instan (dan panas) juga tidak lagi cocok buatku. Terlalu utopis, sama sekali tidak realistis. Trauma masa lalu, phobia komitmen, skeptisme atas cinta, dll yang dipendam selama puluhan tahun selalu bisa langsung terkikis setelah mantap-mantap 2-7 hari.
Juga, kenaifan para tokoh perempuan yang yakin bisa mengubah dan "memanusiakan" tokoh prianya ini bikin muak. Sangat. Aku tidak akan lagi membaca kebodohan semacam ini. Tidak. Akan. Pernah. Lagi.
Tapi, aku tidak akan memungkiri fakta bahwa dulu aku sangat menggemari harlequin. Aku pernah berada di fase ketika reading slump, satu-satunya penyembuh adalah membaca harlequin. Ah, indahnya.
Aku senang mengakhiri ini dengan bacaan dari tante Sarah Morgan, yang pernah menjadi idolaku. Terima kasih banyak, harlequin. Selamat tinggal.
Sebenarnya aku sudah mulai merasakan "permusuhan" dengan genre ini sejak pertengahan tahun lalu. Tapi aku masih berusaha berpikir positif, bahwa mungkin aku saja yang sedang buntung menemukan buku yang tidak bagus. Kemudian, aku mencoba sekali lagi dengan buku ini, karangan penulis harlequin favoritku, berharap bahwa aku bisa bersahabat kembali dengan buku-buku harlequin.
Membaca ini, akhirnya aku sadar bahwa bukan bukunya yang tidak bagus. It's me. Aku tidak lagi cocok dengan premis, plot, dan penokohan dari novel-novel harlequin. Sama sekali tidak cocok.
Pemeran tokoh pria yang kaya raya/pewaris takhta tapi sangat judgemental, misoginis, kejam, selalu berputar pada asumsi sendiri, dan selalu dikendalikan nafsu. Juga sebagian tokoh perempuan yang miskin, mau saja dibodohi, pengecut, lemah, tidak mampu melawan ketoksikan si tokoh pria. Ini menjadi alasan utama aku merasa tidak sanggup lagi berpetualang di rimba harlequin.
Plot yang itu-itu saja terasa sangaaaaat membosankan. Kesalahpahaman dan tuduhan-tuduhan keji yang tercipta akibat asumsi dan trauma masa lalu si pria selalu diselesaikan dengan bukti bahwa si tokoh perempuan masih perawan. Menurut lini novel ini, kejujuran dan integritas seseorang (perempuan) hanya bisa diselesaikan dengan utuhnya lapisan hymen. Ha ha.
Kisah cinta serba instan (dan panas) juga tidak lagi cocok buatku. Terlalu utopis, sama sekali tidak realistis. Trauma masa lalu, phobia komitmen, skeptisme atas cinta, dll yang dipendam selama puluhan tahun selalu bisa langsung terkikis setelah mantap-mantap 2-7 hari.
Juga, kenaifan para tokoh perempuan yang yakin bisa mengubah dan "memanusiakan" tokoh prianya ini bikin muak. Sangat. Aku tidak akan lagi membaca kebodohan semacam ini. Tidak. Akan. Pernah. Lagi.
Tapi, aku tidak akan memungkiri fakta bahwa dulu aku sangat menggemari harlequin. Aku pernah berada di fase ketika reading slump, satu-satunya penyembuh adalah membaca harlequin. Ah, indahnya.
Aku senang mengakhiri ini dengan bacaan dari tante Sarah Morgan, yang pernah menjadi idolaku. Terima kasih banyak, harlequin. Selamat tinggal.
November 24, 2017
Started out slow, but I enjoyed it more once the plot and characters became more interesting three-quarters of the way in.
In the beginning, Rafael and Grace's treatment of each other seemed stuck on one repetitive, slightly annoying theme: he was cold and accusing, she was naive and apologetic. They did end up having good chemistry and the love scenes were pretty hot, which Sarah Morgan is adept at writing. I liked how protective and possessive Rafael had become. Grace, for her part, charmed me with her optimism but appeared too trusting and naive for her own good. I liked their sweet and romantic declaration of love at the end.
In the beginning, Rafael and Grace's treatment of each other seemed stuck on one repetitive, slightly annoying theme: he was cold and accusing, she was naive and apologetic. They did end up having good chemistry and the love scenes were pretty hot, which Sarah Morgan is adept at writing. I liked how protective and possessive Rafael had become. Grace, for her part, charmed me with her optimism but appeared too trusting and naive for her own good. I liked their sweet and romantic declaration of love at the end.
February 3, 2016
Sweet love story but nothing special.
July 7, 2018
Really enjoyed this one, loved the jungle setting.
December 24, 2017
This book had some nice stuff like Raphael's beautiful lodge right in the midst of the Brazilian rainforest. It sounded so lovely and breathtaking.
Then, the cafe business that Grace had started
And, above all, first kiss in the rainforest. Loved it because it was so spontaneous.
However, there were many things that didn't work for me.
-- Too much of time was spent on business talk, I was bored.
-- Too much of time spent by Grace telling Raphael that there was goodness in him and him in telling her that he was cold and uncaring.
-- I'm fond of sweet, naive, caring and strong heroines and SM's heroines are usually these, but I felt Grace took naivety and seeing good about everyone too, too far. She'd make excuses for even people she hadn't met like the time when Raphael told her his ex-wife deliberately got pregnant and she tells him because she loved him so much or the time he told her his mother was arranging to put him in a children home because the man she wanted to marry didn't want to raise another man's child and she tells him she didn’t mean that, perhaps she thought if she said that then the man she was marrying would come round and they would all be a family. After that, I wasn't surprised that she forgave her father.
-- Raphael's cynicism and harshness prolonged for too long. It was only toward the end after he'd learnt the truth about Grace's dyslexia that he'd softened a bit and went about helping her with learning the figures and all the other little gestures he did thereafter like getting his staff pin ribbons on trees so that she doesn't get lost in the rainforest. I guess being abandoned by his own mother at the age of eight and his ex-wife's betrayal, distrust against women came naturally to him.
Overall, this was just about okay read for me, which came as a surprise to me, because I am a big fan of SM's books.
Then, the cafe business that Grace had started
And, above all, first kiss in the rainforest. Loved it because it was so spontaneous.
However, there were many things that didn't work for me.
-- Too much of time was spent on business talk, I was bored.
-- Too much of time spent by Grace telling Raphael that there was goodness in him and him in telling her that he was cold and uncaring.
-- I'm fond of sweet, naive, caring and strong heroines and SM's heroines are usually these, but I felt Grace took naivety and seeing good about everyone too, too far. She'd make excuses for even people she hadn't met like the time when Raphael told her his ex-wife deliberately got pregnant and she tells him because she loved him so much or the time he told her his mother was arranging to put him in a children home because the man she wanted to marry didn't want to raise another man's child and she tells him she didn’t mean that, perhaps she thought if she said that then the man she was marrying would come round and they would all be a family. After that, I wasn't surprised that she forgave her father.
-- Raphael's cynicism and harshness prolonged for too long. It was only toward the end after he'd learnt the truth about Grace's dyslexia that he'd softened a bit and went about helping her with learning the figures and all the other little gestures he did thereafter like getting his staff pin ribbons on trees so that she doesn't get lost in the rainforest. I guess being abandoned by his own mother at the age of eight and his ex-wife's betrayal, distrust against women came naturally to him.
Overall, this was just about okay read for me, which came as a surprise to me, because I am a big fan of SM's books.
June 4, 2021
Deep in the Brazilian rainforest lies a rich and reclusive billionaire. He has all he needs in his luxury retreat: a multi-billion-dollar business at his fingertips, mistresses flown in as and when he demands...Rafael Cordeiro: no one crosses Rafael. He has little time for women - he hasn't found one who isn't deceitful and dangerous...Grace Thacker: young and innocent, a real English rose. She has come to Rafael's lair to save her fledgling business. She has ten minutes to persuade the ruthless Brazilian to help her.Ten minutes to make her decision: she can leave and lose - or settle her debts in his bed!
March 20, 2020
Sebenarnya novel ini awal ceritanya lumayan menjanjikan walau terlalu "gap" perbedaan antara hero dan heroine-nya. Tapi malah setelah paro akhir malah heroine-nya bikin saya geregetan saking naifnya.
Grace Thacker mengalami kesulitan usaha cafe-nya krn investornya, Rafael Cordeiro berniat menarik investasinya. Grace bersusah payah menemui Rafael di tempat persembunyiannya, di hutan hujan. Dan sambutan Rafael yg super dingin nyaris menghancurkan harapan Grace sampai Grace mengetahui penyebabnya. Rafael menuding Grace membuat pembukuan ganda dan membayar dgn sangat kecil pd produsen kopinya di Brazil. Grace sangat shock dan dia berusaha membuktikan dirinya tidak bersalah. Tapi mereka malah berakhir dgn buka-bukaan di ranjang, dan buka-bukaan itu tidak berhenti sampai disitu saja. Grace akhirnya mengakui kekurangan dirinya yg paling fatal, yaitu disleksianya.
Saya baru tahu disleksia itu bukan hanya ttg huruf atau kesulitan membaca, ternyata ada juga disleksia angka dan sulit membedakan kiri dan kanan. Terlepas dari kekurangannya tsb, Grace bikin saya jengkel abis krn sifatnya yg super polos dan sangat naif. Grace selalu mempercayai orang, bahkan org terdekatnya yg sudah menyakitinya. Inilah yg bikin org bilang sangat bodoh dan sangat baik itu bedanya tipis banget. Sebaliknya Rafael itu tipe alpha man, sinis, dan sangat tidak percaya wanita, misoginis banget dah. Tapi sekonyong-konyong Rafael langsung berubah sejak membawa Grace ke ranjangnya.
Dan yg paling menjengkelkan saya adalah bapaknya Grace yg 11-12 dgn ayah saya. Selalu dan selalu memanfaatkan uang anaknya utk kepentingannya sendiri, menuntut hormat tetapi tidak pernah mengusahakannya. Alias mau seenaknya dewe. Berbeda dgn Grace, kalau saya sudah saya perkedel bapak macam gitu.
Terlepas itu, saya masih mafhum dgn hasrat Rafael yg menggebu-gebu kpd Grace. Separah-parahnya pria, dia tetap mau "dibelai" egonya. Rafael boleh saja menyatakan dirinya orang jahat, tetapi saat seorang wanita dgn lugunya menyatakan dirinya orang baik, pastilah jiwanya melayang-layang joget gembira. Dan saya suka sekali sifat protektif Rafael pd Grace, krn wanita itu tidak perlu dibela ramai-ramai, cukup dgn seorang pria saja yg mencintainya, itu sudah bikin kelepek-kelepek si wanita, ya kan?
Grace Thacker mengalami kesulitan usaha cafe-nya krn investornya, Rafael Cordeiro berniat menarik investasinya. Grace bersusah payah menemui Rafael di tempat persembunyiannya, di hutan hujan. Dan sambutan Rafael yg super dingin nyaris menghancurkan harapan Grace sampai Grace mengetahui penyebabnya. Rafael menuding Grace membuat pembukuan ganda dan membayar dgn sangat kecil pd produsen kopinya di Brazil. Grace sangat shock dan dia berusaha membuktikan dirinya tidak bersalah. Tapi mereka malah berakhir dgn buka-bukaan di ranjang, dan buka-bukaan itu tidak berhenti sampai disitu saja. Grace akhirnya mengakui kekurangan dirinya yg paling fatal, yaitu disleksianya.
Saya baru tahu disleksia itu bukan hanya ttg huruf atau kesulitan membaca, ternyata ada juga disleksia angka dan sulit membedakan kiri dan kanan. Terlepas dari kekurangannya tsb, Grace bikin saya jengkel abis krn sifatnya yg super polos dan sangat naif. Grace selalu mempercayai orang, bahkan org terdekatnya yg sudah menyakitinya. Inilah yg bikin org bilang sangat bodoh dan sangat baik itu bedanya tipis banget. Sebaliknya Rafael itu tipe alpha man, sinis, dan sangat tidak percaya wanita, misoginis banget dah. Tapi sekonyong-konyong Rafael langsung berubah sejak membawa Grace ke ranjangnya.
Dan yg paling menjengkelkan saya adalah bapaknya Grace yg 11-12 dgn ayah saya. Selalu dan selalu memanfaatkan uang anaknya utk kepentingannya sendiri, menuntut hormat tetapi tidak pernah mengusahakannya. Alias mau seenaknya dewe. Berbeda dgn Grace, kalau saya sudah saya perkedel bapak macam gitu.
Terlepas itu, saya masih mafhum dgn hasrat Rafael yg menggebu-gebu kpd Grace. Separah-parahnya pria, dia tetap mau "dibelai" egonya. Rafael boleh saja menyatakan dirinya orang jahat, tetapi saat seorang wanita dgn lugunya menyatakan dirinya orang baik, pastilah jiwanya melayang-layang joget gembira. Dan saya suka sekali sifat protektif Rafael pd Grace, krn wanita itu tidak perlu dibela ramai-ramai, cukup dgn seorang pria saja yg mencintainya, itu sudah bikin kelepek-kelepek si wanita, ya kan?
September 3, 2020
Probably a three and a half as I will likely read it again. Sweet heroine who grows up a lot, takes what the Hero throws at her and learns from it, she isn't whiny and annoying despite some really horrible treatment from the H but most especially her father.
Amazing and unusual setting, a deluxe tree house with all the mod cons, but threat of danger all around from the rainforest.
I would look out for this author again.
Amazing and unusual setting, a deluxe tree house with all the mod cons, but threat of danger all around from the rainforest.
I would look out for this author again.
June 3, 2017
Several years ago, Grace accepted an investment from billionaire Rafael Cordeiro to start her chain of coffee shops. Now, though her business isn't losing money, it's not making as much as it should be and she flies to his rainforest retreat to convince him not to call in the repayment of his loan. Rafael is determined to destroy Grace; he knows that her business isn't earning enough money because she's extorting money at the expense of the little people. There is no other possibility as her numbers don't lie. But Grace has no idea what's really going on in her business and she has to convince Rafael that she's innocent. Despite their conflict, Rafael is reluctantly impressed with Grace and highly attracted to her. This combines to make him eager to take her to bed. Grace though won't settle for a one-night stand in the jungle. She's fallen in love with the seemingly emotionless but secretly vulnerable man and wants more than he's offering.
On the brightside, the author sets this story up so that the conflict is believable. Grace has reasons that she has no idea that someone in her business is cheating people and valid reasons for not sharing this reason . And Rafael has reasons that he simply won't believe Grace is innocent, despite mounting evidence. He's hardened by his past and believes the worst of all women. So even if Grace did reveal the truth, he'd simply think she was offering excuses. So their conflict was definitely believable. I'm not sure though whether I believed Grace was really in love with Rafael...it seemed more like she felt sorry for him and his secret vulnerability than really appreciated who he was. He was pretty much an asshole to her. She claims to have fallen in love with the glimpses of the man beneath the mask, of which she's had very few. Rafael had moments, especially there towards the end where it was obvious that underneath it all, he had a soft spot for Grace, even though on the surface he seemed as unemotional as ever. This is tough to do, so I give the author props for that. But I highly despised him about the time he LIED to the heroine just to get her into bed, so even if he unknowingly loved her, I can't forgive the deception. It tells me that he's really a rat, despite how much I might have liked him otherwise. I really liked the setting of this story though and desperately want a house like his.
On the brightside, the author sets this story up so that the conflict is believable. Grace has reasons that she has no idea that someone in her business is cheating people and valid reasons for not sharing this reason . And Rafael has reasons that he simply won't believe Grace is innocent, despite mounting evidence. He's hardened by his past and believes the worst of all women. So even if Grace did reveal the truth, he'd simply think she was offering excuses. So their conflict was definitely believable. I'm not sure though whether I believed Grace was really in love with Rafael...it seemed more like she felt sorry for him and his secret vulnerability than really appreciated who he was. He was pretty much an asshole to her. She claims to have fallen in love with the glimpses of the man beneath the mask, of which she's had very few. Rafael had moments, especially there towards the end where it was obvious that underneath it all, he had a soft spot for Grace, even though on the surface he seemed as unemotional as ever. This is tough to do, so I give the author props for that. But I highly despised him about the time he LIED to the heroine just to get her into bed, so even if he unknowingly loved her, I can't forgive the deception. It tells me that he's really a rat, despite how much I might have liked him otherwise. I really liked the setting of this story though and desperately want a house like his.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 19, 2014
Well, you shouldn't look for a logic in a romance book, but it was just strange. 1st, they spend less then two days together and she already madly in love with him, even though she says it's important for her to really know person. Ok, she is naive and has her pink glasses on, but he is so cinical and everything, but he also moves from hate to love in a split seconds. They were together 4 days in total and then she disapeared for a week ( yeah, i think you should totally fire those workers of yours who was searching for her with no luck! You can easily check someone else's bank account but then fail to track her credit card movements? I'm not buying it! How hard wer you looking?) and suddenly he is madly in love too? I can believe in love at first sight in her case, but can't believe in it in his. It's just not plausible.
2nd, he is such a successful businessmen but he gave her money five years ago and never asked for some kind of feedback not to mention financial reports, especially if there was no profit at all in these five years? Was he so careless that he let it be until that poor farmers' family couldn't take it anymore? It sounds like there was no legal document involved in that process. How did it look like? It really sounded like he just wrote her a check without any legal document involved: was it a loan? Was it investment? Or they were partners? By the sound of it it seems like financial aid from sponsor or philanthropist :)
I normaly am not so picky or fastidious, but there were too much of this to simply overlook it all. And it was too little time for the feelings involved. But that, i guess, is a common thing in short romance stories.
2nd, he is such a successful businessmen but he gave her money five years ago and never asked for some kind of feedback not to mention financial reports, especially if there was no profit at all in these five years? Was he so careless that he let it be until that poor farmers' family couldn't take it anymore? It sounds like there was no legal document involved in that process. How did it look like? It really sounded like he just wrote her a check without any legal document involved: was it a loan? Was it investment? Or they were partners? By the sound of it it seems like financial aid from sponsor or philanthropist :)
I normaly am not so picky or fastidious, but there were too much of this to simply overlook it all. And it was too little time for the feelings involved. But that, i guess, is a common thing in short romance stories.
April 8, 2019
This strained credulity and only got increasingly more ridiculous as the story continued. There was a lot of repetition of dialog. Like the characters would say the same thing multiple times often with large chunks of narrative in between. Disappointing.
January 16, 2013
one of my all time favorite and the one which made me seek other sarah morgan's books.
April 2, 2023
Utter rubbish
March 21, 2020
Rafael Cordeiro menyambut kedatangan Grace Thacker ke tempat tinggal nya yg terpencil di hutan hujan Brasil dgn sikap sinis, tdk bersahabat, dan penuh tuduhan yg tdk di tutup-tutupi. Grace yg datang dgn tujuan untuk membujuk Rafael untuk tidak menarik investasinya pada bisnisnya, tdk paham akan sikap memusuhi yg terang-terangan ditunjukkan oleh Rafael.
Rafael mengundang Grace untuk datang ke tempatnya yg berada di tempat terpencil dgn tujuan tertentu. Ingin memberi pelajaran secara langsung pada Grace karena telah berani-beraninya menilap uang perusahaan dan tdk memberi pembayaran yg layak pada pemasok kopi-fazenda- untuk cafe miliknya. Rencana awalnya adalah Rafael akan mengajak Grace ke fazenda dan akan membuka kedok Grace habis2an. Setelah kunjungan mereka ke Fazenda pun tdk membuat terkesan seorang Rafael, karena dgn kukuh menganggap Grace seorang aktris yg hebat karena penyangkalan dan akting yg hebat terhadap tuduhan yg diberikan oleh Rafael.
Tapi disisi lain, Rafael tdk bisa menyangkal ketertarikan yg kuat antara dirinya dan Grace. Bahkan setelah mengkonfrontasi Grace habis2an, ia malah semakin menginginkan wanita itu. Grace sendiri jg merasa ketertarikan tersebut, tpi ia tdk ingin melakukannya tnpa keterlibatan perasaan. Sedangkan Rafael tdk percaya dgn kata cinta. Menurutnya, kalau seks ya seks saja, sesederhana itu, tdk ada hubungannya dgn perasaan, dan tdk perlu dibuat ribet.
----
Oh, ini ceritanya menarik buatku, karena latar tempatnya yg di hutan hujan Brasil, dan ketidakmampuan diri Grace yg ia sembunyikan saat dulu ia memulai pinjaman untuk mendapat investasi dri perusahaan Rafael. Yg mana itu, menjadi pemicu konflik utama di buku ini. Terus sikap posesif Rafael yg muncul setelah ia dan Grace menghabiskan malam bersama. Ga uwu banget sih, tpi lumayan lah. Dan sampul buku ini yg ciamik sekali, suka.
Rafael mengundang Grace untuk datang ke tempatnya yg berada di tempat terpencil dgn tujuan tertentu. Ingin memberi pelajaran secara langsung pada Grace karena telah berani-beraninya menilap uang perusahaan dan tdk memberi pembayaran yg layak pada pemasok kopi-fazenda- untuk cafe miliknya. Rencana awalnya adalah Rafael akan mengajak Grace ke fazenda dan akan membuka kedok Grace habis2an. Setelah kunjungan mereka ke Fazenda pun tdk membuat terkesan seorang Rafael, karena dgn kukuh menganggap Grace seorang aktris yg hebat karena penyangkalan dan akting yg hebat terhadap tuduhan yg diberikan oleh Rafael.
Tapi disisi lain, Rafael tdk bisa menyangkal ketertarikan yg kuat antara dirinya dan Grace. Bahkan setelah mengkonfrontasi Grace habis2an, ia malah semakin menginginkan wanita itu. Grace sendiri jg merasa ketertarikan tersebut, tpi ia tdk ingin melakukannya tnpa keterlibatan perasaan. Sedangkan Rafael tdk percaya dgn kata cinta. Menurutnya, kalau seks ya seks saja, sesederhana itu, tdk ada hubungannya dgn perasaan, dan tdk perlu dibuat ribet.
----
Oh, ini ceritanya menarik buatku, karena latar tempatnya yg di hutan hujan Brasil, dan ketidakmampuan diri Grace yg ia sembunyikan saat dulu ia memulai pinjaman untuk mendapat investasi dri perusahaan Rafael. Yg mana itu, menjadi pemicu konflik utama di buku ini. Terus sikap posesif Rafael yg muncul setelah ia dan Grace menghabiskan malam bersama. Ga uwu banget sih, tpi lumayan lah. Dan sampul buku ini yg ciamik sekali, suka.
July 20, 2014
(Note: Read this awhile ago and have yet to do the review on it so this review is me reflecting on what I can remember from when I read this book and the notes that I had made on the book might have forgotten some of the things I felt when reading this book originally since I read it a long time ago. So I am doing my best to write this review to the best of my recollection and feelings I had for the book. And I am going to try to keep this short since this book is just the general feeling I got for the book and it isn't quite fresh in my mind. Hopefully you enjoy anyway.)
Despite the hot and sexy passion between the characters, the story kind of fell flat and was missing something. It needed more angst and ripped but gusting emotion between the two that I find enjoyable in a romance. The raw emotions just weren't there for me. At times it felt superficial and just all that was between the two was the physical and nothing more, which then felt unrealistic when each of them claimed love for the other one. And it really felt shallow.
I just felt that the story kept repeating over and over again of how much he distrusted her and how little he thought her but despite all that he was attracted to her and decided to sleep with her despite that distrust. Also she went on an on about how he was a good person and that he had good inside of him despite the fact he showed her the exact opposite by sleeping with her knowing he still distrusted her. But despite his actions she forgave him for that and tried to tell him how good of a person he was. He didn't deserve that especially when he treated her like dirt under his shoes for a really long time. Really? And she found this endearing. I wouldn't trust him after that and I definitely wouldn't expect her to want to sleep with especially after the way he treated her unless he made a grand gesture towards her to show his remorse but at this point he didn't do that and he still distrusted her.
On the flip side when he finally did make the grand gesture and he did make one, though in my opinion too late to be considered forgiven, to show that he was in fact wrong in the way he treated her and that he was beginning to care about her. I liked that he made a little path for her in the jungle so she wouldn't get lost and wound eaten by some wild animals. She was dyslexia and she couldn't tell her left from her right so she couldn't tell which path to take to the pool because wasn't sure so he made it so she could tell by labeling the right path with white flags that she could follow. It showed the caring side of Rafael, which was needed though I thought a bit too late.
Speaking of Rafael, and if you can't tell by the comments above, I wasn't really feeling him. I didn't like him. I thought he was too hard on Grace when he didn't need to be. He cruel beyond measure when she didn't deserve. Made love to her knowing that he still distrusted her and believed she took all that money from her company the one that he decided to invest in and therefore he lost money too. And he was just way too mean to her. He was utter jerk. Yes, he made it up to her in the end when he discovered that he was wrong about her and began to understand her more then he changed his tune and even vowed to help her and her business by finding the culprit to the crime, but at that point I just found it too late because he was way too harsh and way too alpha. I was disappointed in him and I didn't believe he fell in love with her that quickly.
And Grace, was an okay heroine and I liked her strength and how she worked her butt off in order to get her business of the ground knowing the challenges that she faced with her disability. Her downfall was that she was too trusting and was duped by her own father who was not supportive at all of her dreams for her business. But she didn't let that stop and vowed to succeed and even though her father vowed to help he was the one that was making sure she failed, making Grace upset that her own father would do that. I think too she was almost too forgiving of Rafael like I said above. I get she wanted to see the good in Rafael but at the same time she was a little bit too naïve for my taste. I wanted to see more of a back bone from her.
The love scenes were hot and sexy and definitely high point to the book (especially the pool scene). I liked the passion in the scenes but at the same time I felt like there was nothing behind them emotionally speaking. I felt like all it was, was them just doing the deed and nothing more to them really. I didn't really feel the emotions aside from lust coming off the scenes. Just I wanted more.
Another highlight from the book was the lush scenery and the way that Sarah Morgan described it, and it made me feel like I was in this isolated rainforest along with Rafael and Grace as they trekked through it. The descriptions were very well done and were definitely an enjoyable part of the book.
Overall this book was okay and not unreadable it was just that I wanted more angst and more emotion filled in the love story between Rafael and Grace. I wanted to feel the emotions and the depth of them and just feel like it was real. I think a big thing that clouded my judgment of the book was the fact that I didn't like Rafael so much and if I don't the hero the odds are I am not going to love the love story or think he deserves the heroine, and I kind of feel like that for this one. The most memorable scene in the book was the pool scene but other than that it was forgettable I am afraid to say. I gave this a three stars just because the passion in the lovemaking scene was there and the descriptions were plentiful making me feel like I was really there with them plus it's Sarah Morgan and I love her and I don't think I could give her a low rating because I do. So that might make me a tad biased but it is what it is. But with that being said this was not one of my favorite of hers. But I will still continue to read her because I love her that much and know that she is capable of creating rich love story abound with emotions galore.
Despite the hot and sexy passion between the characters, the story kind of fell flat and was missing something. It needed more angst and ripped but gusting emotion between the two that I find enjoyable in a romance. The raw emotions just weren't there for me. At times it felt superficial and just all that was between the two was the physical and nothing more, which then felt unrealistic when each of them claimed love for the other one. And it really felt shallow.
I just felt that the story kept repeating over and over again of how much he distrusted her and how little he thought her but despite all that he was attracted to her and decided to sleep with her despite that distrust. Also she went on an on about how he was a good person and that he had good inside of him despite the fact he showed her the exact opposite by sleeping with her knowing he still distrusted her. But despite his actions she forgave him for that and tried to tell him how good of a person he was. He didn't deserve that especially when he treated her like dirt under his shoes for a really long time. Really? And she found this endearing. I wouldn't trust him after that and I definitely wouldn't expect her to want to sleep with especially after the way he treated her unless he made a grand gesture towards her to show his remorse but at this point he didn't do that and he still distrusted her.
On the flip side when he finally did make the grand gesture and he did make one, though in my opinion too late to be considered forgiven, to show that he was in fact wrong in the way he treated her and that he was beginning to care about her. I liked that he made a little path for her in the jungle so she wouldn't get lost and wound eaten by some wild animals. She was dyslexia and she couldn't tell her left from her right so she couldn't tell which path to take to the pool because wasn't sure so he made it so she could tell by labeling the right path with white flags that she could follow. It showed the caring side of Rafael, which was needed though I thought a bit too late.
Speaking of Rafael, and if you can't tell by the comments above, I wasn't really feeling him. I didn't like him. I thought he was too hard on Grace when he didn't need to be. He cruel beyond measure when she didn't deserve. Made love to her knowing that he still distrusted her and believed she took all that money from her company the one that he decided to invest in and therefore he lost money too. And he was just way too mean to her. He was utter jerk. Yes, he made it up to her in the end when he discovered that he was wrong about her and began to understand her more then he changed his tune and even vowed to help her and her business by finding the culprit to the crime, but at that point I just found it too late because he was way too harsh and way too alpha. I was disappointed in him and I didn't believe he fell in love with her that quickly.
And Grace, was an okay heroine and I liked her strength and how she worked her butt off in order to get her business of the ground knowing the challenges that she faced with her disability. Her downfall was that she was too trusting and was duped by her own father who was not supportive at all of her dreams for her business. But she didn't let that stop and vowed to succeed and even though her father vowed to help he was the one that was making sure she failed, making Grace upset that her own father would do that. I think too she was almost too forgiving of Rafael like I said above. I get she wanted to see the good in Rafael but at the same time she was a little bit too naïve for my taste. I wanted to see more of a back bone from her.
The love scenes were hot and sexy and definitely high point to the book (especially the pool scene). I liked the passion in the scenes but at the same time I felt like there was nothing behind them emotionally speaking. I felt like all it was, was them just doing the deed and nothing more to them really. I didn't really feel the emotions aside from lust coming off the scenes. Just I wanted more.
Another highlight from the book was the lush scenery and the way that Sarah Morgan described it, and it made me feel like I was in this isolated rainforest along with Rafael and Grace as they trekked through it. The descriptions were very well done and were definitely an enjoyable part of the book.
Overall this book was okay and not unreadable it was just that I wanted more angst and more emotion filled in the love story between Rafael and Grace. I wanted to feel the emotions and the depth of them and just feel like it was real. I think a big thing that clouded my judgment of the book was the fact that I didn't like Rafael so much and if I don't the hero the odds are I am not going to love the love story or think he deserves the heroine, and I kind of feel like that for this one. The most memorable scene in the book was the pool scene but other than that it was forgettable I am afraid to say. I gave this a three stars just because the passion in the lovemaking scene was there and the descriptions were plentiful making me feel like I was really there with them plus it's Sarah Morgan and I love her and I don't think I could give her a low rating because I do. So that might make me a tad biased but it is what it is. But with that being said this was not one of my favorite of hers. But I will still continue to read her because I love her that much and know that she is capable of creating rich love story abound with emotions galore.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 25, 2019
Rafael Cordeiro is a rich and reclusive billionaire.
He lives deep in the Brazilian rain forest. He has all he needs; a luxury retreat & a multi-billion dollar business. He is very demanding and no one would dare cross him.
He has found women in general to be for his wants and needs. He hasn't found one so far that hasn't been cheating or lying to him with a hidden agenda.
Grace Thacker is a business woman. She owns and runs a coffee shop.
She is young and innocent and lives in London. She would be what others would refer to as an English rose.
She has come to Rafael to save her business and get her loan extended in order to do it.
Problem is, the ruthless businessman has only given her 10 minutes to persuade him to help her. And he has already told her he is going to deny her request.
This was a story of seduction, passion and a woman coming into her own against a formidable opponent. She teaches him a few things, and he shows her things about herself she has never felt.
I enjoyed this story.
He lives deep in the Brazilian rain forest. He has all he needs; a luxury retreat & a multi-billion dollar business. He is very demanding and no one would dare cross him.
He has found women in general to be for his wants and needs. He hasn't found one so far that hasn't been cheating or lying to him with a hidden agenda.
Grace Thacker is a business woman. She owns and runs a coffee shop.
She is young and innocent and lives in London. She would be what others would refer to as an English rose.
She has come to Rafael to save her business and get her loan extended in order to do it.
Problem is, the ruthless businessman has only given her 10 minutes to persuade him to help her. And he has already told her he is going to deny her request.
This was a story of seduction, passion and a woman coming into her own against a formidable opponent. She teaches him a few things, and he shows her things about herself she has never felt.
I enjoyed this story.
August 26, 2022
Antara naif dan bego memang beda tipis. Saking naifnya Grace ditipu ayahnya habis - habisan dengan merekayasa laporan keuangan kafe yang dimilikinya. Kafe yang sangat ramai tetapi tidak dapat memberikan keuntungan seperti seharusnya. Hal ini yang membuat Grace mesti bertemu Rafael, pengusaha yang memberikan modal untuk membangun kafe Brasil lima tahun lalu. Pertemuan itu untuk menegosiasikan agar Rafael tidak menarik dananya dari investasi tersebut. Grace ternyata mengidap disleksia parah yang semakin sulit baginya untuk mengelola keuangan kafe. Saya kurang suka dengan karakter Grace ketika menghadapi Rafael yang menganggap hubungan mereka hanya sekedar hubungan fisik saja. Serasa Grace tidak punya harga diri walau Rafael berulangkali menolaknya dan menuduh macam - macam tetap saja Grace langsung luluh ketika berhadapan dengan Rafael. Setelah sepanjang novel Rafael menolak konsep cinta lalu di setengah halaman terakhir tiba - tiba sadar dia mencintai Grace, mungkin kepalanya kepentok dinding pesawat jet miliknya ketika pergi ke London menyusul Grace.
3⭐
3⭐
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 28, 2020
Rafael, seorang miliarder Brasil mengendalikan bisnisnya dari tengah hutan karena ingin menjauhi keramaian dunia. Grace Tucker datang menyambanginya demi memperjuangkan bisnisnya. Awalnya mereka saling tidak tahan karena masing-masing memiliki asumsi buruk kepada satu sama lain tapi yah reaksi tubuh sulit berbohong dan akhirnya mereka menyerah dan menuruti dorongan hati.
Rafael ini sinis, Grace meskipun manis tapi berpendirian teguh. Nggak ada yang terlalu baik atau terlalu jahat, dalam batas kewajaran aja sifat-sifatnya.
Suka dengan latarnya di hutan Brasil juga beberapa detil terkait Grace yang cukup unik dan tidak biasa.
Harusnya bisa 5 stars tapi dikurangi 1 karena rada kesel sama asumsi-asumsi pribadi yang bertebaran di awal cerita, ganggu karena terlalu berlebihan. Selebihnya sih oke !
Rafael ini sinis, Grace meskipun manis tapi berpendirian teguh. Nggak ada yang terlalu baik atau terlalu jahat, dalam batas kewajaran aja sifat-sifatnya.
Suka dengan latarnya di hutan Brasil juga beberapa detil terkait Grace yang cukup unik dan tidak biasa.
Harusnya bisa 5 stars tapi dikurangi 1 karena rada kesel sama asumsi-asumsi pribadi yang bertebaran di awal cerita, ganggu karena terlalu berlebihan. Selebihnya sih oke !
dnf
January 30, 2020I liked how the book started.
But then it lost its shine.
H was too grumpy rude judgmental of an a*shole.
The h was nothing remarkable either.
But then it lost its shine.
H was too grumpy rude judgmental of an a*shole.
The h was nothing remarkable either.
February 17, 2019
Je dirais que c'est le moins bon livre que j'ai lu de Sarah Morgan. Mais ça reste quand même une romance très correcte. L'ambiance est dépaysante grâce à cette jungle amazonienne luxuriante. Les personnages sont plutôt pas mal. Seul bémol : l'intrigue est expédiée très rapidement, tout va trop vite, en particulier l'attraction entre les deux protagonistes. C'est plus une nouvelle qu'un roman, et je suis un peu restée sur ma faim.
October 31, 2022
Oh so very much of its time. The title should have given it away.
Insta lust, "I've never loved before", very rich man with no explanation (somehow was ultra poor as a child but ???),
Insta lust, "I've never loved before", very rich man with no explanation (somehow was ultra poor as a child but ???),
June 2, 2018
I just couldn't get past how fast she said she loved him especially what a hard time he gave her. Even in harlequin books where the H and h marry almost immediately cause of their insane chemistry, at least they really clicked at first.
October 25, 2021
Rated 3.5. The story is good actually but happened too quickly. The heroine had a cafe business and the hero is the investor. She needed to convince him not to pull out, only to find out that she had been cheated by her own father. She was dyslexic and he helped her a lot.
May 30, 2018
رواية ممتعه حبيتها جداا انصح بها لمن يعاني من كسل بالقراءة
July 17, 2018
Good read
July 21, 2022
One of the best romances ever! What an amazing plot! I feel that
her characters are real people and I loved getting to know them!
her characters are real people and I loved getting to know them!
August 15, 2022
Bagus..
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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