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Reckless Conduct
'9 to 5 "Behaving badly..."
Harriet attended the company's New Year's Eve party in all innocence. It wasn't her fault that the punch she'd been drinking was stronger than expected—so that she'd ended up confiding in a gorgeous stranger about her broken engagement. How was she to know she'd been pouring her heart out to the chairman himself, Marcus Fox?
Now Harriet has to work with Marcus. Luckily, she's since changed her image, dyed Harriet is a model secretary. Unluckily, Marcus still recognizes her—and seems determined to punish Harriet for her reckless conduct!
Harriet attended the company's New Year's Eve party in all innocence. It wasn't her fault that the punch she'd been drinking was stronger than expected—so that she'd ended up confiding in a gorgeous stranger about her broken engagement. How was she to know she'd been pouring her heart out to the chairman himself, Marcus Fox?
Now Harriet has to work with Marcus. Luckily, she's since changed her image, dyed Harriet is a model secretary. Unluckily, Marcus still recognizes her—and seems determined to punish Harriet for her reckless conduct!
186 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1996
20 people are currently reading
468 people want to read
About the author
Susan Napier
141 books152 followersPerhaps being born on Valentine’s Day was an omen that Susan Napier would become a romance writer. This New Zealand author has written over 30 Mills & Boon category romances since 1984. Napier and her husband Tony Potter met when they both worked at the Auckland Star newspaper. After they married, she left the newspaper to work for a film company where she learned the art of dialogue. After the birth of her sons, Simon and Ben, she was a freelance scriptwriter for documentaries. It was soon after that she decided to try her hand at writing the romance fiction she dearly loved.
She and her husband still live in the home they bought in Auckland shortly after their marriage.
She and her husband still live in the home they bought in Auckland shortly after their marriage.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews
September 18, 2009
This is an awesome book. Harriet is the typical, prudish, retiring type girl, who gets fed up with her life after her fiance dumps her for being to boring. She gets a little drunk at the Christmas party at work and it turns out she sleeps with her boss, who's shoulder she cries on. It's a little embarrassing, but Harriet is ready to move on anyway and live her life, so she tries to resign. But her boss Marcus is not willing to let go of her, namely because he's been in love with her for sometime. He loved her in her previous incarnation, but isn't sure what to do with her new, reckless, bleach-blonde, sexy-dressing, hot-rod driving car self. But he's going to pursue to get her back and in his life.
This was a fun book. I had never read a book with a heroine who was a bleach-blonde when I read it. I enjoyed Harriet's rather reckless behavior and her desire to have fun and enjoy life. It was fairly harmless, and Marcus was there looking over her shoulder to keep her from falling into another man's arms. When he finds out she wants a no-strings attached affair, he selflessly volunteers himself out. He even moves into her apartment building (okay, maybe it's a little stalkerish, but it works). He introduces her to his young teenaged daughter Natalia and asks her to watch out for her (although you'd wonder why he'd want the new, wild and crazy Harriet anywhere near his impressionable daughter, but it's clear that he has a lifelong agenda). Marcus is a typical Susan Napier hero, big, sexy, alpha, but a little on the conservative side, but not too much to appreciate Harriet.
There is a wonderful twist (I absolutely refuse to give it away) that was icing on the top of this wonderful dessert. This is a more lighthearted romance, with two characters that you like as people and want to get together, and the journey is very entertaining. I like that Harriet doesn't have any plans to go back to being staid. Despite becoming a wife and mom, she keeps her bleach blonde hair and her fun demeanor. This book has a great epilogue, by the way.
This was a fun book. I had never read a book with a heroine who was a bleach-blonde when I read it. I enjoyed Harriet's rather reckless behavior and her desire to have fun and enjoy life. It was fairly harmless, and Marcus was there looking over her shoulder to keep her from falling into another man's arms. When he finds out she wants a no-strings attached affair, he selflessly volunteers himself out. He even moves into her apartment building (okay, maybe it's a little stalkerish, but it works). He introduces her to his young teenaged daughter Natalia and asks her to watch out for her (although you'd wonder why he'd want the new, wild and crazy Harriet anywhere near his impressionable daughter, but it's clear that he has a lifelong agenda). Marcus is a typical Susan Napier hero, big, sexy, alpha, but a little on the conservative side, but not too much to appreciate Harriet.
There is a wonderful twist (I absolutely refuse to give it away) that was icing on the top of this wonderful dessert. This is a more lighthearted romance, with two characters that you like as people and want to get together, and the journey is very entertaining. I like that Harriet doesn't have any plans to go back to being staid. Despite becoming a wife and mom, she keeps her bleach blonde hair and her fun demeanor. This book has a great epilogue, by the way.
March 26, 2020
1.5★
"Be kind," our Prime Minister said as we head into lockdown.
& I'm trying but I just didn't like this book.
With Corona virus, I was having trouble concentrating & super stressed. I thought a light romance, by one of my two favourite Mills & Boon writers would lighten my mood - but it didn't.
I'm trying to be fair & I will try to find positives.
The idea - as presented by the not completely accurate blurb - was good. I have been trying to correct Ms Napier's listings on Goodreads ad this book's premise sounded fun. It was a variant of blondes have more fun. I wish I had read that book!
Let's get on with it.
▪ Plotting is normally Ms Napier's great strength. But this story is awkward, clumsy & just doesn't hang together well.
▪ I don't usually like romances that have teens and children as part of the plot. I can let it go if the author has handled it well & Ms Napier has done so in the past. Nicola barely had any personality or presence in the book. She was merely a plot device. Even worse
▪ Nicola was 15 &
▪ A Napier man will be your Alpha male type. But usually they have a sense of humour and some endearing quirks. Out of the Napier titles I have read, Marcus is the first of her heroes that hasn't. I disliked him intensely.
I still want to reread my favourite Napier title Sweet Vixen but in fairness to this author, I won't read any of her other works.
Looks like I have outgrown them and I feel like I should apologise for reading this one when I should have realised that.
Sorry.
https://wordpress.com/view/carolshess...
"Be kind," our Prime Minister said as we head into lockdown.
& I'm trying but I just didn't like this book.
With Corona virus, I was having trouble concentrating & super stressed. I thought a light romance, by one of my two favourite Mills & Boon writers would lighten my mood - but it didn't.
I'm trying to be fair & I will try to find positives.
The idea - as presented by the not completely accurate blurb - was good. I have been trying to correct Ms Napier's listings on Goodreads ad this book's premise sounded fun. It was a variant of blondes have more fun. I wish I had read that book!
Let's get on with it.
▪ Plotting is normally Ms Napier's great strength. But this story is awkward, clumsy & just doesn't hang together well.
▪ I don't usually like romances that have teens and children as part of the plot. I can let it go if the author has handled it well & Ms Napier has done so in the past. Nicola barely had any personality or presence in the book. She was merely a plot device. Even worse
▪ Nicola was 15 &
▪ A Napier man will be your Alpha male type. But usually they have a sense of humour and some endearing quirks. Out of the Napier titles I have read, Marcus is the first of her heroes that hasn't. I disliked him intensely.
I still want to reread my favourite Napier title Sweet Vixen but in fairness to this author, I won't read any of her other works.
Looks like I have outgrown them and I feel like I should apologise for reading this one when I should have realised that.
Sorry.
https://wordpress.com/view/carolshess...
October 30, 2018
Re Reckless Conduct - Susan Napier's contribution to the 9 to 5 series is a hilarious study of a meek and mild h improving her confidence and her assertiveness by changing her life when she changes her hair color.
This h has been through tragedy after tragedy over the last two years. An efficient upper executive secretary, she is also the preferred company trainer for up-and-coming new assistants and was a devoted caretaker of her mother, her father and her elderly cat Frank.
She had a tepid, boring fiance too. But after her mother had a stroke after the death of her older brother, then passed on herself, her father fell ill from a broken heart. The h's money grubbing fiance wanted to put him in a care facility, as he decided that home care cost too much.
The h dumped his apathetic and heartless hiney toot sweet and then devoted herself to her father's care. He died a week later. Then the h had a spot of work embarrassment when someone spiked the punch at the company holiday party and the highly inebriated h crawled into an office to sleep it off.
She managed to sneak out of the office with nothing more than some strange, vague dreams of angels and demons fighting over her body. Then her 18 year cat Frank died when he got hit by a car, the h found him when she came home from work and that was the final blow.
The h decided that life is too fragile and short to live behind a set of rigid rules and plans and all of her devotion and kindness has left her alone and sad. She figures blonde's have way more magnetism, assertiveness and fun and she is tired of being called a little brown mouse.
Because her parents were well insured and a land developer wants to buy her childhood home, the h decides to make a drastic change. She bleaches her hair to a very professional shading of platinum's and buys herself a whole new wardrobe of miniskirts.
When the book opens, an expensive bottle blonde woman in very high heels is slinking her way across the courtyard of the H's 19 story office building. The H is the Chief mucky muck of his firm and has a very convenient executive telescope set up before his panoramic view.
Ostensibly, the telescope is for soothing views of the New Zealand harbour, but in reality, the H is checking out the men who are checking out the lethal blonde as she makes her way across the flag stones.
The H has nothing good to think about bottled blondes, tho he does hope he is over his younger self's fatal fascination with them. When the blonde disappears, the H gets back to his original goal, which involves some sort of plans for a very specific woman.
The h is the blonde of course and shows up a little later than her usual work time to make a big first impression with her new look and get the office drama over with at once.
Everyone is definitely surprised as this formerly staid and serene company stanchion of executive efficiency totally wows them with the flashy golden light she had been hiding under a brown serge bushel.
Her immediate boss has a panic attack tho. The big boss H has requested the h for a special assignment and after the h shows that she is still the formidable office organizer underneath that platinum streaked mane, the h's immediate boss is trying to convince the h to change back to her usual staid self.
The h determinedly refuses and in the process of that hilarious debate, which the h is winning, the H wanders into the office right as the h's boss is in the middle of changing his shirt. (He spit out his coffee all over his previous one when he first saw the h.)
The H and h have some verbal banter of their own up in his office and the H wants the h to mentor his 15 year old daughter in a menial office job for her school holidays.
His somewhat meddling mother in law needs a rest to recover from some illness and he doesn't feel like sending his child off to mentor with the mother-in-law's choice of a suitable future wife for him.
After the mother in law, the wanna be OW and the H's daughter walk into the H's office while the H has his hands tangled in the h's garters, there are lots of raised eyebrows and the h escapes. The h and H meet again later that night.
The h had accepted a date with the office Lothario and they end up at the same night club as the H and his group of friends, including the wanna be OW. The h is daringly dressed in a gold metal link dress and the H and h have more verbal banter as the h tries to convince the H that she is not a suitable caretaker for his impressionable young daughter.
It soon becomes apparent that there is more to the H's motives than what he is admitting too. He refuses to accept the h's excuses and soon the h is taking the H's daughter around on her lunch hour, getting their ears pierced and buying go-with-anything white Porsche Carreras.
The h manages to get manipulated into buying an apartment in the H's building too. The verbal banter between them as the H swears that the h is trying to drive him around the bend and his desperate jealousy when the h starts dating OM, and taking various classes to meet more, is quite entertaining.
Eventually a book of erotic pictures is found in the h's book collection and the Lurve Force Mojo between the H and h fairly sizzles. The H finally admits that he and the h had a one night Purple Passion moment during that unremembered office holiday party and the h is mortified.
The H had been traveling for days when he got to the office party, he was jet lagged and he drank a few of the spiked punches. He normally doesn't drink, but when he got into his personal office, he found the h all cuddled up and crying and things led to things and Passionate Mojo Moments Happened -to the mutual enjoyment of them both - but the h was too toasted to remember.
The H explains that his father was an alcoholic, his birth mother was a trampy gold digging bottle blonde who abandoned him to his father and step mother for money, but refused to allow the H's step mother to adopt him.
Then the H met his first wife, also a bottle blonde, and the daughter of the owner of the H's current company. Their marriage was a torment of never ending games of jealousy and potential cheating on the wife's part, until she and the H's father in law were killed in an accident.
So the H has a firm dislike of unnatural blonde bombshells, but they are also his fatal attraction and the h is attracting him madly.
They decide on a one night stand and there is much Purple Passion Mojo and bronze garter belts involved. The H then tells the h that she really wants more than just a one night stand, (or two night stand, as it is,) and the h agrees. They decide to embark upon an affair.
But first, the H demands that the h go to a doctor and get checked out, otherwise there will be no mutual exploration of his lurve club. The h goes to her doctor and finds out she is preggers. She is pretty gobsmacked about the whole thing, but is called up to the H's office once again.
We get a pretty convoluted explanation that the h is having some sort of mental fugue state and behaving erratically as a result of her first night o' love with the H. (The H even called a psychiatrist friend of his to verify that.)
The H claims that he has been trying to manage and ensnare the h with manly mojo for months now, because he just can't stay away from her charms and she is constantly hi-jacking his thoughts.
The h admits that she loves the H and he declares that he loves her too, right before they decide to re-christen his office couch. His mother in law forces her way in while the H and h are roofie kissing on the couch.
The h and H are seen by half the executive floor staff and the h hastens to announce that she and the H are celebrating their new engagement to preserve the H's company chairman reputation.
The H immediately agrees they are getting married and rapidly pulls out a huge diamond ring - the H was all prepared to propose, but he will accept the h's very well done proposal instead.
The mother in law starts complaining that the H's request for a registry office wedding is too abrupt, but as the h announces her pregnancy right at that moment, the mother in law decides that tomorrow morning won't be soon enough.
The book ends with a cute little epilogue of the H once again using his telescope in his penthouse office. This time there is a blonde bombshell in a black swing coat and three little mini blondes in swing coats too, they are making their way up to their daddy's big office.
The H, h, their three triplet daughters and the H's older daughter are happily together and the h announces that there is another holiday baby or three on the way for the big HEA.
This one was very funny and the H's frustrations as the h was determined to get out and live a little are truly hilarious. If you are looking for a light-hearted office romance with a dip into some more serious pools about self validation and gaining self confidence, it is hard to find a better HP outing than this.
Tho the H's assumption that the h was erratic and only acting out because of their drunken one nighter was a bit egotistical, as were his many, many manipulations, the h truly does gain self esteem and a backbone over the course of this and the HEA is adorable. Give this one a go if you run into it, it is fast, amusingly frivolous and great day at the HP office.
This h has been through tragedy after tragedy over the last two years. An efficient upper executive secretary, she is also the preferred company trainer for up-and-coming new assistants and was a devoted caretaker of her mother, her father and her elderly cat Frank.
She had a tepid, boring fiance too. But after her mother had a stroke after the death of her older brother, then passed on herself, her father fell ill from a broken heart. The h's money grubbing fiance wanted to put him in a care facility, as he decided that home care cost too much.
The h dumped his apathetic and heartless hiney toot sweet and then devoted herself to her father's care. He died a week later. Then the h had a spot of work embarrassment when someone spiked the punch at the company holiday party and the highly inebriated h crawled into an office to sleep it off.
She managed to sneak out of the office with nothing more than some strange, vague dreams of angels and demons fighting over her body. Then her 18 year cat Frank died when he got hit by a car, the h found him when she came home from work and that was the final blow.
The h decided that life is too fragile and short to live behind a set of rigid rules and plans and all of her devotion and kindness has left her alone and sad. She figures blonde's have way more magnetism, assertiveness and fun and she is tired of being called a little brown mouse.
Because her parents were well insured and a land developer wants to buy her childhood home, the h decides to make a drastic change. She bleaches her hair to a very professional shading of platinum's and buys herself a whole new wardrobe of miniskirts.
When the book opens, an expensive bottle blonde woman in very high heels is slinking her way across the courtyard of the H's 19 story office building. The H is the Chief mucky muck of his firm and has a very convenient executive telescope set up before his panoramic view.
Ostensibly, the telescope is for soothing views of the New Zealand harbour, but in reality, the H is checking out the men who are checking out the lethal blonde as she makes her way across the flag stones.
The H has nothing good to think about bottled blondes, tho he does hope he is over his younger self's fatal fascination with them. When the blonde disappears, the H gets back to his original goal, which involves some sort of plans for a very specific woman.
The h is the blonde of course and shows up a little later than her usual work time to make a big first impression with her new look and get the office drama over with at once.
Everyone is definitely surprised as this formerly staid and serene company stanchion of executive efficiency totally wows them with the flashy golden light she had been hiding under a brown serge bushel.
Her immediate boss has a panic attack tho. The big boss H has requested the h for a special assignment and after the h shows that she is still the formidable office organizer underneath that platinum streaked mane, the h's immediate boss is trying to convince the h to change back to her usual staid self.
The h determinedly refuses and in the process of that hilarious debate, which the h is winning, the H wanders into the office right as the h's boss is in the middle of changing his shirt. (He spit out his coffee all over his previous one when he first saw the h.)
The H and h have some verbal banter of their own up in his office and the H wants the h to mentor his 15 year old daughter in a menial office job for her school holidays.
His somewhat meddling mother in law needs a rest to recover from some illness and he doesn't feel like sending his child off to mentor with the mother-in-law's choice of a suitable future wife for him.
After the mother in law, the wanna be OW and the H's daughter walk into the H's office while the H has his hands tangled in the h's garters, there are lots of raised eyebrows and the h escapes. The h and H meet again later that night.
The h had accepted a date with the office Lothario and they end up at the same night club as the H and his group of friends, including the wanna be OW. The h is daringly dressed in a gold metal link dress and the H and h have more verbal banter as the h tries to convince the H that she is not a suitable caretaker for his impressionable young daughter.
It soon becomes apparent that there is more to the H's motives than what he is admitting too. He refuses to accept the h's excuses and soon the h is taking the H's daughter around on her lunch hour, getting their ears pierced and buying go-with-anything white Porsche Carreras.
The h manages to get manipulated into buying an apartment in the H's building too. The verbal banter between them as the H swears that the h is trying to drive him around the bend and his desperate jealousy when the h starts dating OM, and taking various classes to meet more, is quite entertaining.
Eventually a book of erotic pictures is found in the h's book collection and the Lurve Force Mojo between the H and h fairly sizzles. The H finally admits that he and the h had a one night Purple Passion moment during that unremembered office holiday party and the h is mortified.
The H had been traveling for days when he got to the office party, he was jet lagged and he drank a few of the spiked punches. He normally doesn't drink, but when he got into his personal office, he found the h all cuddled up and crying and things led to things and Passionate Mojo Moments Happened -to the mutual enjoyment of them both - but the h was too toasted to remember.
The H explains that his father was an alcoholic, his birth mother was a trampy gold digging bottle blonde who abandoned him to his father and step mother for money, but refused to allow the H's step mother to adopt him.
Then the H met his first wife, also a bottle blonde, and the daughter of the owner of the H's current company. Their marriage was a torment of never ending games of jealousy and potential cheating on the wife's part, until she and the H's father in law were killed in an accident.
So the H has a firm dislike of unnatural blonde bombshells, but they are also his fatal attraction and the h is attracting him madly.
They decide on a one night stand and there is much Purple Passion Mojo and bronze garter belts involved. The H then tells the h that she really wants more than just a one night stand, (or two night stand, as it is,) and the h agrees. They decide to embark upon an affair.
But first, the H demands that the h go to a doctor and get checked out, otherwise there will be no mutual exploration of his lurve club. The h goes to her doctor and finds out she is preggers. She is pretty gobsmacked about the whole thing, but is called up to the H's office once again.
We get a pretty convoluted explanation that the h is having some sort of mental fugue state and behaving erratically as a result of her first night o' love with the H. (The H even called a psychiatrist friend of his to verify that.)
The H claims that he has been trying to manage and ensnare the h with manly mojo for months now, because he just can't stay away from her charms and she is constantly hi-jacking his thoughts.
The h admits that she loves the H and he declares that he loves her too, right before they decide to re-christen his office couch. His mother in law forces her way in while the H and h are roofie kissing on the couch.
The h and H are seen by half the executive floor staff and the h hastens to announce that she and the H are celebrating their new engagement to preserve the H's company chairman reputation.
The H immediately agrees they are getting married and rapidly pulls out a huge diamond ring - the H was all prepared to propose, but he will accept the h's very well done proposal instead.
The mother in law starts complaining that the H's request for a registry office wedding is too abrupt, but as the h announces her pregnancy right at that moment, the mother in law decides that tomorrow morning won't be soon enough.
The book ends with a cute little epilogue of the H once again using his telescope in his penthouse office. This time there is a blonde bombshell in a black swing coat and three little mini blondes in swing coats too, they are making their way up to their daddy's big office.
The H, h, their three triplet daughters and the H's older daughter are happily together and the h announces that there is another holiday baby or three on the way for the big HEA.
This one was very funny and the H's frustrations as the h was determined to get out and live a little are truly hilarious. If you are looking for a light-hearted office romance with a dip into some more serious pools about self validation and gaining self confidence, it is hard to find a better HP outing than this.
Tho the H's assumption that the h was erratic and only acting out because of their drunken one nighter was a bit egotistical, as were his many, many manipulations, the h truly does gain self esteem and a backbone over the course of this and the HEA is adorable. Give this one a go if you run into it, it is fast, amusingly frivolous and great day at the HP office.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 28, 2020
I was sooooo bored, and I hated Harriet. Okay, so hate is a strong word. Let me revise my sentiment to say that I felt little empathy for Harriet.
Why? Well, there was little character development or deep exploration into Harriet's and Marcus's psyches so I didn't give a rat's ass about them. What I did know, I didn't care for. And while the characters talked a lot, most of it seemed like useless chatter which didn't advance the romantic relationship or the characterizations.
Now on to my "favorite" heroine ever. As much as Harriet claimed to have an aversion to appearing a bimbo, she sure did a damn fine job of emulating one! She threw a tantrum after Marcus asked her to perform a job task outside of her normal responsibilities. This was her way of supposedly exercising her new assertive attitude. I understand if she didn't care for the task, but the way she responded translated as whiny and unprofessional to me. Like the Prince song says, "act your age, not your shoe size". Finally, what moron forgets this happened to them?
Okay. . . . Bimbo doesn't cover the half of it.
If this had been my first Susan Napier, I would have never tried another. Your mileage will vary.
Why? Well, there was little character development or deep exploration into Harriet's and Marcus's psyches so I didn't give a rat's ass about them. What I did know, I didn't care for. And while the characters talked a lot, most of it seemed like useless chatter which didn't advance the romantic relationship or the characterizations.
Now on to my "favorite" heroine ever. As much as Harriet claimed to have an aversion to appearing a bimbo, she sure did a damn fine job of emulating one! She threw a tantrum after Marcus asked her to perform a job task outside of her normal responsibilities. This was her way of supposedly exercising her new assertive attitude. I understand if she didn't care for the task, but the way she responded translated as whiny and unprofessional to me. Like the Prince song says, "act your age, not your shoe size". Finally, what moron forgets this happened to them?
Okay. . . . Bimbo doesn't cover the half of it.
If this had been my first Susan Napier, I would have never tried another. Your mileage will vary.
January 16, 2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️ three stars -
If you’ve been following my recent reviews, you might recall that I’ve been over here making my way through select old school Harlequins, and a few Mills and Boons, too.
Well, I recently came across a recommendation for this author, Susan Napier, from a few fellow reviewers I follow here. What a nice referral this turned out to be! I very much enjoyed this story, and in fact, I went immediately over to eBay to source a few more titles by Napier from a used bookstore I favor over there as soon as I finished this story.
I really enjoyed this fairly quick and easy Harlequin read. This one wasn’t too terribly dated. In fact, original published date for this one is 1996, so not too old school (not for this reviewer, anyway lol).
Here’s what I liked about it:
✅ office romance - one of my favorite tropes
✅ smart, snappy heroine - I just loved her sassy comebacks
✅ fun, outrageous heroine - it was fun watching her just not give a rat’s a*% anymore, and the outrageous statements she made just made this a fun-to-read story in many parts
✅ ugly duckling turns into a swan trope - a tad dated and cliche? Yes, but who cares? My little heart gets an extra beat with this shtick each and every time
✅ strong, alpha-ish Hero
✅ spicy, hot sexy times - a little shocking for a HQ, but not unwelcome 😂
Basically, a cute, easy-to-read story. Just what you’d expect from a Harlequin - nothing more, and nothing less.
Do recommend for my fellow HQ readers. For myself, I’m off to read another one of Napier’s office romances 🏃♀️.
Three strong stars.
If you’ve been following my recent reviews, you might recall that I’ve been over here making my way through select old school Harlequins, and a few Mills and Boons, too.
Well, I recently came across a recommendation for this author, Susan Napier, from a few fellow reviewers I follow here. What a nice referral this turned out to be! I very much enjoyed this story, and in fact, I went immediately over to eBay to source a few more titles by Napier from a used bookstore I favor over there as soon as I finished this story.
I really enjoyed this fairly quick and easy Harlequin read. This one wasn’t too terribly dated. In fact, original published date for this one is 1996, so not too old school (not for this reviewer, anyway lol).
Here’s what I liked about it:
✅ office romance - one of my favorite tropes
✅ smart, snappy heroine - I just loved her sassy comebacks
✅ fun, outrageous heroine - it was fun watching her just not give a rat’s a*% anymore, and the outrageous statements she made just made this a fun-to-read story in many parts
✅ ugly duckling turns into a swan trope - a tad dated and cliche? Yes, but who cares? My little heart gets an extra beat with this shtick each and every time
✅ strong, alpha-ish Hero
✅ spicy, hot sexy times - a little shocking for a HQ, but not unwelcome 😂
Basically, a cute, easy-to-read story. Just what you’d expect from a Harlequin - nothing more, and nothing less.
Do recommend for my fellow HQ readers. For myself, I’m off to read another one of Napier’s office romances 🏃♀️.
Three strong stars.
February 4, 2019
This is a very nice surprise!:)
A delightful read gave me lots of lol moments 😂😂😂.
I thought is just a light read until I feel speechless when I found out what was happening with the heroine's family in the last two years, it's a tragic and I think she needed a professional help if the hero not with her when she needed someone badly.
Btw, why can't we get an alpha hero like this anymore ?
He is very sophisticated and clever in his way to get what he wanted without the heroine realised she had been manoeuvre, lol. 😜
See, you don't need to be an alphole jerk to get your girl.
And the epilogue? Here some clues for you,
They stretched out to the side of her, joined hand in hand like a string of identical paper-cutout dolls, in their little black coats and patent leather shoes and baby-fair curls.
Awww, I haven't read that adorable ending lately:)
A delightful read gave me lots of lol moments 😂😂😂.
I thought is just a light read until I feel speechless when I found out what was happening with the heroine's family in the last two years, it's a tragic and I think she needed a professional help if the hero not with her when she needed someone badly.
Btw, why can't we get an alpha hero like this anymore ?
He is very sophisticated and clever in his way to get what he wanted without the heroine realised she had been manoeuvre, lol. 😜
See, you don't need to be an alphole jerk to get your girl.
And the epilogue? Here some clues for you,
They stretched out to the side of her, joined hand in hand like a string of identical paper-cutout dolls, in their little black coats and patent leather shoes and baby-fair curls.
Awww, I haven't read that adorable ending lately:)
May 11, 2016
This was almost a 4 star, but just missed.
Poor Harriet has been through the wringer. Not to get into great detail but the past couple of years she has had one tragedy after another. (Don't fear. She's not a mealy-mouth, woe is me kind of girl. It's like pulling teeth to uncover her trigger.) She recalls wallowing a teensy bit at what is now a notorious New Year's Eve party where an ex-employee spiked the punch. She's happy to semi-recall that she only moaned a little about her life before leaving the party to crash in an office. Lucky girl. She didn't embarrass herself. Nope, not at all.
The story opens several months later with her reaction to the latest emotional blow: a full scale makeover from little mouse to blonde bombshell, a blonde bombshell with 4" heels and a mini-skirt. Marcus, CEO of the company she works out, just happens to have his handy dandy telescope out when he sees her as well as the company Lothario.
Marcus asks/demands that Harriet devote herself to helping his 15 year old daughter get through a rebellious stage. Harriet is quite reluctant to do this as she wants to go through her own rebellious stage and doesn't have time to be a boring role model, but the boss has spoken.
Essentially, the plot breaks down with Harriet doing her best to walk on the wild side while Marcus makes every attempt to talk her down off her emotional ledge. His so-called rebellious teen daughter, rather than being the ubiquitous snotty nightmare we all hate, is the sweet voice of reason to some of Harriet's more outrageous actions. Is it really wise to buy a Porsche you can barely drive in the last 15 minutes of your lunch hour, Harriet?
Susan Napier is one of my favorites as she has yummy alpha heroes who get in waaaayyyy over their head, and her heroines actually have this thing called...what is it...a personality, an element that is often missing in the storm und drang of many a Harlequin. Marcus, yum, Marcus is a keeper, but he hangs back a little too much for me. He comes through in the end. Harriet is a confused mess, and Ms. Napier drops the ball on occasion with her character. What is clear is that while life has thrown her some hardballs, she is a fighter and a great heroine.
Despite only giving it three stars, I recommend this for readers who are sick and tired of the same old cynical and suspicious, all women are gold-diggers tycoons as well as the poe faced, spineless martyred heroines.
Poor Harriet has been through the wringer. Not to get into great detail but the past couple of years she has had one tragedy after another. (Don't fear. She's not a mealy-mouth, woe is me kind of girl. It's like pulling teeth to uncover her trigger.) She recalls wallowing a teensy bit at what is now a notorious New Year's Eve party where an ex-employee spiked the punch. She's happy to semi-recall that she only moaned a little about her life before leaving the party to crash in an office. Lucky girl. She didn't embarrass herself. Nope, not at all.
The story opens several months later with her reaction to the latest emotional blow: a full scale makeover from little mouse to blonde bombshell, a blonde bombshell with 4" heels and a mini-skirt. Marcus, CEO of the company she works out, just happens to have his handy dandy telescope out when he sees her as well as the company Lothario.
Marcus asks/demands that Harriet devote herself to helping his 15 year old daughter get through a rebellious stage. Harriet is quite reluctant to do this as she wants to go through her own rebellious stage and doesn't have time to be a boring role model, but the boss has spoken.
Essentially, the plot breaks down with Harriet doing her best to walk on the wild side while Marcus makes every attempt to talk her down off her emotional ledge. His so-called rebellious teen daughter, rather than being the ubiquitous snotty nightmare we all hate, is the sweet voice of reason to some of Harriet's more outrageous actions. Is it really wise to buy a Porsche you can barely drive in the last 15 minutes of your lunch hour, Harriet?
Susan Napier is one of my favorites as she has yummy alpha heroes who get in waaaayyyy over their head, and her heroines actually have this thing called...what is it...a personality, an element that is often missing in the storm und drang of many a Harlequin. Marcus, yum, Marcus is a keeper, but he hangs back a little too much for me. He comes through in the end. Harriet is a confused mess, and Ms. Napier drops the ball on occasion with her character. What is clear is that while life has thrown her some hardballs, she is a fighter and a great heroine.
Despite only giving it three stars, I recommend this for readers who are sick and tired of the same old cynical and suspicious, all women are gold-diggers tycoons as well as the poe faced, spineless martyred heroines.
April 28, 2022
I had trouble getting through this, since I couldn't relate to the heroine. Wanting to be reckless with your hair and wardrobe is one thing. Spending money irresponsibly is another. I cringed at the green porshe.
However, the yummy hero and the fun twist at the end made up for the heroine. I'm rarely surprised while reading an HP and I'm always happy when an author can pull it off
However, the yummy hero and the fun twist at the end made up for the heroine. I'm rarely surprised while reading an HP and I'm always happy when an author can pull it off
September 28, 2011
4-1/2 stars. Amusing story with a ditsy heroine. You don't get enough of those and it's a story type that I really like. She used to be staid and conservative and just got tired of it. So she gives herself a make over dyes her hair and changes her dress style. She had already caught the eye of her boss in her old incarnation and he doesn't really know what to do with her now. She sort of runs circles around him. A couple of surprises in the end. Cute read.
September 9, 2019
Well I’ve mixed feelings and can’t make up my mind about this one. However, I surely do know that I hated the heroine and was short of murdering her (in my head). I don’t even know why someone like her deserved centre stage in a book!
This book is obviously written years ago and is a classic. The workplace itself and the hullabaloo around it reads very stuffy. But I kept going.
So what it seems to the reader is that the h, Harriet, has just had an image change. She’s gone to be a blonde and has changed all her clothes to provocative and less-is-more and to the chagrin of her co-workers , she has now decided to also live up to this image. All in a night’s turn.
In the same moment she is platonically and very professionally asked by her boss to help with something. This boss is relentless is his pursuit of Harriet. Harriet on the other hand is a total ungrateful B about it.
She is so lost in her new image of painting the night red that she has almost crossed all boundaries of propriety. All her co-workers are seemingly watching out for her and keep reminding her of her true self which is conservative and responsible.
It is a mystery why h has decided to be this way. Even after finishing the book, I still can’t point that out. Despite the respectful and caring way the H, Marcus, repeatedly treated her, Harriet was an embarrassment. She acted abominably and you’d think that she had better be left to her devices to have sex with the whole town!
I rate it 4 stars because it was just very well written. The dialogues were outstanding and the verbiage was heavy. I just appreciated that the writer had put in so much soul to writing an HP story, which is not even a full fledged novel.
Marcus was also old fashioned and chivalrous. The kind of chivalrous that is certainly of historic ages for today! I’m also disliking that this is my second SN book and yet again the h is not a virgin. I wonder if this is true for all her books because I’d like to explore some more!!
This book is obviously written years ago and is a classic. The workplace itself and the hullabaloo around it reads very stuffy. But I kept going.
So what it seems to the reader is that the h, Harriet, has just had an image change. She’s gone to be a blonde and has changed all her clothes to provocative and less-is-more and to the chagrin of her co-workers , she has now decided to also live up to this image. All in a night’s turn.
In the same moment she is platonically and very professionally asked by her boss to help with something. This boss is relentless is his pursuit of Harriet. Harriet on the other hand is a total ungrateful B about it.
She is so lost in her new image of painting the night red that she has almost crossed all boundaries of propriety. All her co-workers are seemingly watching out for her and keep reminding her of her true self which is conservative and responsible.
It is a mystery why h has decided to be this way. Even after finishing the book, I still can’t point that out. Despite the respectful and caring way the H, Marcus, repeatedly treated her, Harriet was an embarrassment. She acted abominably and you’d think that she had better be left to her devices to have sex with the whole town!
I rate it 4 stars because it was just very well written. The dialogues were outstanding and the verbiage was heavy. I just appreciated that the writer had put in so much soul to writing an HP story, which is not even a full fledged novel.
Marcus was also old fashioned and chivalrous. The kind of chivalrous that is certainly of historic ages for today! I’m also disliking that this is my second SN book and yet again the h is not a virgin. I wonder if this is true for all her books because I’d like to explore some more!!
July 16, 2017
"Reckless conduct" is the story of Harriet and Marcus.
When Harriet decides to have a makeover and change her lifestyle, she never realizes she'd catch the eye of the big boss Marcus, or that he'd employ her to babysit his teenage daughter Nicola.
What starts as an impulse becomes a journey of self discovery- filled with burning chemistry, various laugh out loud moments, hot sex and an adorable HEA.
I enjoyed this book from starting to the end - because of a strong heroine as well as a non overbearing hero- and the ending made the book all too sweet.
Safe
4.5/5
When Harriet decides to have a makeover and change her lifestyle, she never realizes she'd catch the eye of the big boss Marcus, or that he'd employ her to babysit his teenage daughter Nicola.
What starts as an impulse becomes a journey of self discovery- filled with burning chemistry, various laugh out loud moments, hot sex and an adorable HEA.
I enjoyed this book from starting to the end - because of a strong heroine as well as a non overbearing hero- and the ending made the book all too sweet.
Safe
4.5/5
November 20, 2021
I don’t like it when the H or h already has a child by someone else. In this case it’s the H who has a teenage daughter.
And I don’t like it that things between the H and h only got heated after her make-over. It seems to be about her looks only.
And I don’t like it that things between the H and h only got heated after her make-over. It seems to be about her looks only.
July 14, 2019
5 Stars! ~ Reeling from a year of unbearable losses, Harriet snaps one Friday after yet another emotional hit. No more is she going to be the mousy boring woman who is so dependable and efficient. In one weekend, she replaces her wardrobe, bleaches her hair, takes a makeup lesson and sells her house. Late to work on Monday, she makes her grand entrance; short platinum wavy hair, snug mini-skirt, four inch heels and sexy black stockings; she has every male distracted. Ever since the company's New Year's Eve party almost three months before, Marcus has had Harriet in his radar. Someone had spiked the holiday punch, and Harriet doesn't remember the events of that party, but Marcus does. He's been worried about her, as that night the alcohol had brought out her depression and she'd needed comforting. Surprised by her drastic make-over, Marcus now worries about the about face and her sudden desire for excitement in her life. He carefully watches out for her, even to the extent of showing up at a club where's she on a date with the office Lothario. Enlisting her help with his 15 year old daughter works to his advantage, and he's able to keep tabs on her exploits. Harriet loves her new attitude, and she loves to tease Marcus at every turn. He's always been rather a stuffed shirt, all business; seeing that he has a sense of humour and can be put off balance, only spurs her on. Whenever she's close to Marcus, her libido goes into overdrive, and she's plagued not only by ex-rated fantasies but a tremendous sense of deja vu.
Ms Napier had me rolling with laughter from the first page! Harriet has changed her image to project a ditzy blonde in the hopes of sparking some excitement into her very lonely and depressing life. But she's not a blonde bimbo by any means, and she deftly keeps Marcus on his toes. I loved the way Marcus tried to keep a step ahead of Harriet, and often lost that battle. As she slowly reveals all that she has lost, her sudden need to live fully comes to light. Marcus is there for her every step of the way. These two make a fabulous couple and I know I'll be reading their HEA again and again.
Ms Napier had me rolling with laughter from the first page! Harriet has changed her image to project a ditzy blonde in the hopes of sparking some excitement into her very lonely and depressing life. But she's not a blonde bimbo by any means, and she deftly keeps Marcus on his toes. I loved the way Marcus tried to keep a step ahead of Harriet, and often lost that battle. As she slowly reveals all that she has lost, her sudden need to live fully comes to light. Marcus is there for her every step of the way. These two make a fabulous couple and I know I'll be reading their HEA again and again.
April 24, 2018
A really fun read with with a heroine that you will either love or hate with a passion.
Within a short span, Harriett lost her brother and both her parents. Then her fiancé dumps her and her cat gets killed. The loss of her cat makes her realize that her life is dull and she is frumpy. So she decides to revamp herself. She sets out and buys a whole new wardrobe full of clothes that are a complete, vampy change from who she was before.
Her new change brings the attention of lots of men and Marcus decides that he will have Harriett work on a special project to keep her out of trouble - mentoring his 15 year old daughter.
What follows is Harriett going over the top with her desire to proves that she has changed. Her constant harping about changing herself became annoying really quickly.
However, even with the h’s annoying ways, the story was sweet. Harriett’s relationship with his daughter. His suppressed jealousy. And Marcus, the alpha male, tried to hold quicksilver in his hand and was eventually successful.
I really enjoyed this book. It was definitely worth the read.
Within a short span, Harriett lost her brother and both her parents. Then her fiancé dumps her and her cat gets killed. The loss of her cat makes her realize that her life is dull and she is frumpy. So she decides to revamp herself. She sets out and buys a whole new wardrobe full of clothes that are a complete, vampy change from who she was before.
Her new change brings the attention of lots of men and Marcus decides that he will have Harriett work on a special project to keep her out of trouble - mentoring his 15 year old daughter.
What follows is Harriett going over the top with her desire to proves that she has changed. Her constant harping about changing herself became annoying really quickly.
However, even with the h’s annoying ways, the story was sweet. Harriett’s relationship with his daughter. His suppressed jealousy. And Marcus, the alpha male, tried to hold quicksilver in his hand and was eventually successful.
I really enjoyed this book. It was definitely worth the read.
October 11, 2021
Hugely entertaining. I really enjoyed this book.
The heroine ricocheted from one crazy impulse to another, driving the poor, desperately smitten hero insane in his efforts to protect her from herself. She was like a drunk driver except she was drunk on sadness and loneliness rather than alcohol. I loved that she wasn't a doormat, she had depth and courage and zaniness (but not enough to make her annoying).
The heroine ricocheted from one crazy impulse to another, driving the poor, desperately smitten hero insane in his efforts to protect her from herself. She was like a drunk driver except she was drunk on sadness and loneliness rather than alcohol. I loved that she wasn't a doormat, she had depth and courage and zaniness (but not enough to make her annoying).
July 4, 2016
She did reinvent herself completely after she changed her hair color from brown to bleached blonde.
March 6, 2018
This was a highly amusing book. I totally loved it. Harriet is a spunky heroine and she leads the Hero a merry dance. The story also had a very cut epilogue.
maybe
December 17, 2022self note
Single dad H. Pet peeve.
Single dad H. Pet peeve.
December 12, 2023
Well she certainly led him on a merry dance - what wasn't to love about this one?
The h inadvertently got drunk at an new year party and unknowingly had sexytimes with her big bad boss.
In the lead up to this she lost her parents, her brother, her fiance and her cat (the fiancé was a butt munch though so that's allowed). Because of all these sad things happening she inherits some money and just decides to say sod it, I'm gonna blow it on what I want because like is too short.
After the bumping uglies she dyes her hair blond, buys awesome dresses, tells her bosses to stop taking advantage of her and buys a Porsche and a new place to live. Boss dude was kinda smitten by her before then and has no idea what hit him when hot to trot Harriet strolls in. He liked her just the way she was and is a little horrified by the dye job because it reminded him of his shallow but dead wife.
Harriet has him wrapped round her little finger she parties with the handsy office lothario who didn't even notice her before when that doesn't work out she signs up for online dating and lots of clubs which will let her meet men.
Boss man H is horrified he wants h for himself but shes never available because she has so many extra curricular activities going on. Meanwhile teen daughter is acting up saying she wants to drop out of school but basically she wants to spend more time with her dad. She shares a house with his MIL and dad when in town and goes to boarding school which she wants to leave.
Dear old dad thinks giving her a mindless holiday job in his building will put her off this course of action and send her running, the snag she will be working for the h who splutters and threatens to corrupt said daughter with her dating buffet, piercing, reckless spending and late lunches.
THe daddy/daughter situation bothered me because he part lived with his interfering old bat (but heart in the right place) MIL so that he could stay in town whenever he wanted with the ladies in the apartment he has there an he has live in childcare - when shes not at boarding school. that is some bad parenting right there he just doesn't seem to be that bothered, just wants to get into the h's unmentionables instead so that's why I have now on reflection dropped a * (plus he calls the h a stupid little bitch so he is not quite the H I originally thought).
He manipulates the h into buying an apartment in the same building he is (think he owns it) and the situation escalates when she finds out and they have a pretty big row he blurts out that they had sex. To be fair he is pretty mortified by the whole experience as he realises he took advantage of a drunk woman but didn't know that at the time. The h gets in some pretty good verbal barbs 2 which end when they both agree to another night together.
The ending to this book is one of the best despite the MIL - she is far too involved in the SIL life and she would do my head in if she were mine. Turns out the h had gotten pregnant after the NYE amnesia lurve fest and the H suspected as much. He sends her off to the Dr's for a check up threatening to withhold his favours until shes been. Anyway 4 years later shes still a bottle blond, shes a mum to triplet girls, the H is head over heels for the h and shes pregnant again and ordered to have a boy or 3.
I think this was my first h who dyed her hair other than the odd pink streak that appears in some of our more modern rebellious h's hair. This would have been a 5* for me of not for the name calling and bad H parenting.
The h inadvertently got drunk at an new year party and unknowingly had sexytimes with her big bad boss.
In the lead up to this she lost her parents, her brother, her fiance and her cat (the fiancé was a butt munch though so that's allowed). Because of all these sad things happening she inherits some money and just decides to say sod it, I'm gonna blow it on what I want because like is too short.
After the bumping uglies she dyes her hair blond, buys awesome dresses, tells her bosses to stop taking advantage of her and buys a Porsche and a new place to live. Boss dude was kinda smitten by her before then and has no idea what hit him when hot to trot Harriet strolls in. He liked her just the way she was and is a little horrified by the dye job because it reminded him of his shallow but dead wife.
Harriet has him wrapped round her little finger she parties with the handsy office lothario who didn't even notice her before when that doesn't work out she signs up for online dating and lots of clubs which will let her meet men.
Boss man H is horrified he wants h for himself but shes never available because she has so many extra curricular activities going on. Meanwhile teen daughter is acting up saying she wants to drop out of school but basically she wants to spend more time with her dad. She shares a house with his MIL and dad when in town and goes to boarding school which she wants to leave.
Dear old dad thinks giving her a mindless holiday job in his building will put her off this course of action and send her running, the snag she will be working for the h who splutters and threatens to corrupt said daughter with her dating buffet, piercing, reckless spending and late lunches.
THe daddy/daughter situation bothered me because he part lived with his interfering old bat (but heart in the right place) MIL so that he could stay in town whenever he wanted with the ladies in the apartment he has there an he has live in childcare - when shes not at boarding school. that is some bad parenting right there he just doesn't seem to be that bothered, just wants to get into the h's unmentionables instead so that's why I have now on reflection dropped a * (plus he calls the h a stupid little bitch so he is not quite the H I originally thought).
He manipulates the h into buying an apartment in the same building he is (think he owns it) and the situation escalates when she finds out and they have a pretty big row he blurts out that they had sex. To be fair he is pretty mortified by the whole experience as he realises he took advantage of a drunk woman but didn't know that at the time. The h gets in some pretty good verbal barbs 2 which end when they both agree to another night together.
The ending to this book is one of the best despite the MIL - she is far too involved in the SIL life and she would do my head in if she were mine. Turns out the h had gotten pregnant after the NYE amnesia lurve fest and the H suspected as much. He sends her off to the Dr's for a check up threatening to withhold his favours until shes been. Anyway 4 years later shes still a bottle blond, shes a mum to triplet girls, the H is head over heels for the h and shes pregnant again and ordered to have a boy or 3.
I think this was my first h who dyed her hair other than the odd pink streak that appears in some of our more modern rebellious h's hair. This would have been a 5* for me of not for the name calling and bad H parenting.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 5, 2018
Never have I laughed so hard and so much while reading a romance novel in recent times as I did when I was reading Reckless Conduct by Susan Napier. I would always be forever grateful for having found Susan Napier’s books because they are aboslute gems in the world of Harlequin romances.
Reckless Conduct is a novel that is to be lauded for so many reasons. It has got that oh-so-good-i-am-going-to-die-of-laughter variety of humor going for it. There is a deliciously controlled hero who made every single sense of mine stand on high alert. Then there is the heroine, whose makeover and clumsy antics, plus the way she seems to always find herself in one tantalizing position after another with the hero became one I reveled in. The sense of want and desire that is continuous thread throughout the book was one that I found heady and enjoyable on so many levels.
Harriet Smith, the heroine is someone who has continually being considered as staid, boring, and conventional. However, all of that changes when Harriet decides to have the makeover of a lifetime which turns her from the wallflower so to speak to the stunningly beautiful and curvaceous woman that turns heads as she makes her way to the office on the morning following the makeover.
Marcus Fox is the chairman of the board of Trident Finance where Harriet works. When Marcus enlists Harriet’s expertise on a personal matter, Harriet is forced into close proximity with a man who makes her want to throw caution to the wind, who brings back that edge of spontaneity to her character which had died a painful death under the hands of her ex-fiance’. It also makes her want to flee because she is reluctant to get into something that could spell long term heartbreak for her. That sense of awakening in a heroine as reluctant as Harriet was one of the best aspects of this book.
If you are a fan of Harlequin romances, this is a must read. Susan Napier is brilliant in her execution of romance novels. Her books have foresight and depth to them that few Harlequin authors bring to the table. Her stories are less than conventional and for me that is one reason why I absolutely adore them and indulge in one every now and then.
Definitely recommended. If not for the laughs, for the sheer experience of Marcus Fox in all his glory. Loved the last chapter. Made me want to bawl my eyes out, and smile from ear to ear at the same time.
Final Verdict: Susan Napier wows her readers with unconventional stories that stand out for their sensuality and strong leads. Reckless Conduct is classic Napier in this sense and I cannot recommend it well enough.
Rating = 4.5/5
For more reviews and quotes, please visit, www.maldivianbookreviewer.com
Reckless Conduct is a novel that is to be lauded for so many reasons. It has got that oh-so-good-i-am-going-to-die-of-laughter variety of humor going for it. There is a deliciously controlled hero who made every single sense of mine stand on high alert. Then there is the heroine, whose makeover and clumsy antics, plus the way she seems to always find herself in one tantalizing position after another with the hero became one I reveled in. The sense of want and desire that is continuous thread throughout the book was one that I found heady and enjoyable on so many levels.
Harriet Smith, the heroine is someone who has continually being considered as staid, boring, and conventional. However, all of that changes when Harriet decides to have the makeover of a lifetime which turns her from the wallflower so to speak to the stunningly beautiful and curvaceous woman that turns heads as she makes her way to the office on the morning following the makeover.
Marcus Fox is the chairman of the board of Trident Finance where Harriet works. When Marcus enlists Harriet’s expertise on a personal matter, Harriet is forced into close proximity with a man who makes her want to throw caution to the wind, who brings back that edge of spontaneity to her character which had died a painful death under the hands of her ex-fiance’. It also makes her want to flee because she is reluctant to get into something that could spell long term heartbreak for her. That sense of awakening in a heroine as reluctant as Harriet was one of the best aspects of this book.
If you are a fan of Harlequin romances, this is a must read. Susan Napier is brilliant in her execution of romance novels. Her books have foresight and depth to them that few Harlequin authors bring to the table. Her stories are less than conventional and for me that is one reason why I absolutely adore them and indulge in one every now and then.
Definitely recommended. If not for the laughs, for the sheer experience of Marcus Fox in all his glory. Loved the last chapter. Made me want to bawl my eyes out, and smile from ear to ear at the same time.
Final Verdict: Susan Napier wows her readers with unconventional stories that stand out for their sensuality and strong leads. Reckless Conduct is classic Napier in this sense and I cannot recommend it well enough.
Rating = 4.5/5
For more reviews and quotes, please visit, www.maldivianbookreviewer.com
April 21, 2021
I thoroughly enjoyed this book even though I read spoilers ahead of time! I highly recommend NOT reading spoilers ahead of time because there are some cool twists and turns in this book. However, if like me, you can’t help but read a Boogenhagen synopsis ahead of time then as you read the book it’s fun looking for the “signs” that are peppered throughout. Danielle the Book Huntress’s review gives a good overview without the huge spoiler moment.
So what were a couple of things I liked....
Hero loved heroine before her Marilyn Monroe makeover! Usually our mousy secretaries and personal assistants have to get a makeover before their boss’s really notice how efficient they can be.
Heroine’s drastic makeover was a result of basically two years of tragedies. I could see someone wanting to shake up their life after losing so much in a short span of time. People do much more drastic things!
Heroine(26) is not poor and she is not a virgin. I like my virgin heroine’s, but in this case it really makes more sense that she is not. Also, she doesn’t need anyone to bale her out financially.
Finally, the epilogue......thank you....thank you...thank you! A few years in the future and the image through the telescope was a nice touch...as the story started with an image through the telescope!
So what were a couple of things I liked....
Hero loved heroine before her Marilyn Monroe makeover! Usually our mousy secretaries and personal assistants have to get a makeover before their boss’s really notice how efficient they can be.
Heroine’s drastic makeover was a result of basically two years of tragedies. I could see someone wanting to shake up their life after losing so much in a short span of time. People do much more drastic things!
Heroine(26) is not poor and she is not a virgin. I like my virgin heroine’s, but in this case it really makes more sense that she is not. Also, she doesn’t need anyone to bale her out financially.
Finally, the epilogue......thank you....thank you...thank you! A few years in the future and the image through the telescope was a nice touch...as the story started with an image through the telescope!
February 4, 2022
Cute but I suspect forgettable.
April 25, 2017
Harriet é que se chama um moça certinha, que da noite para o dia muda completamente de aparência e modo de agir. Em vez de se esconder, passa a encarar o mundo de peito aberto.
Marcus é o patrão boa pinta, que de repente se vê atraído por uma das suas secretárias. E a partir daí rolam trechos engraçados criados pelos personagens. Ele, por conta de seu bom comportamento resolve pedir que ela o ajude com sua filha adolescente, visto que é viúvo e não entende como orientá-la e qual não é sua surpresa quando topa com a nova Harriet, que não aceita imposição, nem quer se envolver em problemas, apenas quer viver livre-leve-e-solta.
Ele não aceita muito bem esse comportamento e tenta protegê-la, mas mesmo se sente atraído e no final do livro, a autora surpreende ao revelar o motivo da mudança desta nova Harriet.
Marcus é o patrão boa pinta, que de repente se vê atraído por uma das suas secretárias. E a partir daí rolam trechos engraçados criados pelos personagens. Ele, por conta de seu bom comportamento resolve pedir que ela o ajude com sua filha adolescente, visto que é viúvo e não entende como orientá-la e qual não é sua surpresa quando topa com a nova Harriet, que não aceita imposição, nem quer se envolver em problemas, apenas quer viver livre-leve-e-solta.
Ele não aceita muito bem esse comportamento e tenta protegê-la, mas mesmo se sente atraído e no final do livro, a autora surpreende ao revelar o motivo da mudança desta nova Harriet.
June 3, 2011
This was the first that I read by Napier. She is a wonderful writer of these short romance novels excelling at holding interest and developing characters. I'm sad to say that I haven't found any new material by her and I continue to hold out hope that she'll pick up the pen and do some more work. We miss her and need more writers like her. Her settings are all set in New Zealand with characters almost always from Down Under. I find her to be unique in that respect as well. Almost all of her backlist is excellent but this is the one that got me started and will work for most as a beginning to a great author.
January 17, 2014
this was an absolute fun read n very original ! can u believe dat harriet actually 4got she had sex wid the boss on new year's eve !? lol! her emotions were all over the place !! frankly i had doubts abt her mental stability, she did seem a lil deranged or like suffering from bipolar disorder. while marcus was so very upright, i guess i was disappointed not 2 have our usual manwhore. he was besotted wid her since their one night stand n was very sweet. i mean the way he gradually stepped n infiltrated her life. he handled her wid care n was very patient. it was like she was having a middle life crisis at 26 yrs old lol! he was VERY patient wid her
March 25, 2012
hated the "heroine" in the book. at first i loved her mindset and her makeover! and as the book progressed, my feelings for her went downhill. Damn she's annoying, someone should throw her off a cliff! the ending did kind of made up for that horrible read. but i suggest not reading it if u have no patience for idiotic people.
March 25, 2024
3.5 Stars
This was such a fun book.
This was such a fun book.
July 29, 2016
The heroine decided she needed an image change and it was quite drastic. The hero decided well before the image change, that the heroine was the woman for him. When they have a secret fling at a new years party and the heroine doesn't remember a thing about it afterwards, the hero still pursues her. Finally after a whole lot of hilariousness and some quirky drama, they come together. The ending is one that will have you giggling!
I liked it quite a lot actually. I was laughing through more than half of it, it was damn good!
I liked it quite a lot actually. I was laughing through more than half of it, it was damn good!
July 18, 2012
DNF - I hated the h. Hated her attitude towards her superiors. I don't like her being a smart-ass towards the boss. I cringed every time she was being "bold" (that's her operative word) and all I see in my case was "unprofessional". I sympathize with her cause to break out of her shell but she didn't need to over do it. When the h told the H she was "impertinent" at the beginning of the book that became my signal to stop. No mas.
April 13, 2014
Boring yet....
I thought the story seemed to drag on. It felt like much to do about nothing (words leading the story nowhere). That is until the hero called the heroine out of her name. I'm still confused on were this change came from. By the time this little excitement happened I was 80% through the story. Then the next thing I knew, the story was over. Don't think I would recommend.
I thought the story seemed to drag on. It felt like much to do about nothing (words leading the story nowhere). That is until the hero called the heroine out of her name. I'm still confused on were this change came from. By the time this little excitement happened I was 80% through the story. Then the next thing I knew, the story was over. Don't think I would recommend.
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