Compromising Positions

by Kate Hoffmann

A very intimate battleground Amelia Sheffield arrives in the sleepy town of Millhaven, New York, to collect what was promised her for a museum an antique bed that George Washington once slept in. The problem is one incredibly infuriating—and incredibly sexy—innkeeper who insists the bed belongs to him. Of course, Sam Blackstone has no idea how dirty Amelia is willing to play this game… Sam is furious—and intrigued—when he learns that Amelia plans on sleeping in the bed until it's hers. But he can be just as stubborn as her. After all, that bed could keep his family's inn from closing. Which means he'll sleep in the bed, too. And if she wants to play dirty, he's right there with her!

Genres: Harlequin, Harlequin Blaze

224 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published February 16, 2016

About the author

Kate began reading romance in 1979 when she picked up a copy of Kathleen Woodiwiss's Ashes in the Wind. She read the book from cover to cover in one very long night and was immediately hooked on the genre.

The next morning, she was standing at the door to her local Waldenbooks and when they opened, she hurried inside and asked for everything else written by Woodiwiss. At the same time, she found wonderful books by Rosemary Rogers, Laurie McBain, and Jennifer Blake.

Nearly 10 years later, while working as an advertising copywriter, Kate decided to try writing a romance of her own. After a history of interesting jobs in teaching, retailing, advertising, and nonprofit work, she was determined to add romance author to that list.

After numerous failed attempts over three years, Kate decided to forget writing historical romance and turned to category romance. Six months later, her first story, A Vagabond Heart, was finished. A year later, Harlequin bought the book after Kate won the national 1992 Harlequin Temptation contest. The book was published in 1993 as Indecent Exposure.

Her dream of adding romance writer to her resume came true and in December of 1993 she turned off her alarm clock, shredded her pantyhose, and became a full-time writer.

Since then, Kate has written numerous books for Temptation, Weddings by DeWilde, Harlequin anthologies, Love and Laughter, and Duets. Her new Duet, Three Babies and a Bargain (July 2000) will be her 24th project for Harlequin and All Through the Night (August 2000), a Temptation Blaze, will mark her 25th.

Kate lives in southeastern Wisconsin in a cozy little house in a picturesque village. Two cats also live with her—Tansing, a grumpy Himalayan, and Tibriz, a tortie Persian mix that she rescued from an animal shelter. She enjoys gardening, golf, reading, and romantic movies.

Reviews

[Carole · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointed. I usually love Kate Hoffman's work and there were some cute moments, but there were several points that did not work for me, including the main plot thread of the bed that seemed forced and just dumb.

Started off wrong for me with the Hero's opening salvo at their initial meeting over the bed's ownership which was I'm not "going to give up because you've got a nice smile and a sexy voice.." What??? Ew it was not sexy banter, rather borderline sexual harassment at their first meeting - not classy and sets him up as sleazy rather than the nice but stressed unhappy guy he turns out to be.

Early in the book in his internal dialogue he starts making assumptions about her being privileged and him not measuring up before he knew anything about her, so these thoughts were out of order to to the action...

I did not believe the insta-lust made her stay in town and the insta-love came before they knew much about each other . Story was angsty at times as we got into the unhappiness of both characters and don't get me started on the '...so she ran away' trope...

I preferred the romance between his sister the plumber which was cute...Good bones of story, but overall did not work for me. Disappointed 2.5 stars. Toasted from my Ebook Library as I will not re-read.

[Svalora · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to this book on Audible— after speeding up the narration to 1.5, it was okay to me and didn’t distract from the book.
While I’m not really the “sleep with each other at first night” kind of person, it works in this book I guess.
I liked the characters and the setting but there were some holes in the plot for me. If you owned a historical inn — I don’t care who you were, if you knew you had a George Washington bed, you’d also know you had other priceless antiques! Just saying! So that was a little unbelievable to me. Yes things are found everyday in people’s possessions that they didn’t know were priceless — I’m just saying that this setting etc didn’t add up for me!
The story also ends with a lot of loose ends for me. Nothing that an epilogue couldn’t tie up, but just too many for the book to just end with them going to bed.
I would probably read another book of this author.

[Cindy Bolen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it

They are fighting to get the George Washington bed. The woman who owned it promised it to Sam AND Amelia's museum. When the owner of the bed suggests they work it out between themselves, they both decide to sleep in the bed. What happens when they fall for each other?

Definitely one of the best one bed tropes I've read in a long time. They both want the bed for different reasons. Amelia is from a wealthy family and is trying to assert her independence. Sam is trying to get money for his family's inn. I recommend this book.

[Mattie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Didn't like it, I thought the plot was boring and I didn't care for either character. Np.

[Ines Johnson]

well structured! but wanted more emotion

[Harlequin Books]

"The story’s initial conflict quickly fades from a heated debate to a lighthearted game as the couple exchanges their competition for the bed with a risqué battle of sexual give and take. Amelia and Sam both wrestle with familial expectations, but they help each other grow and define their paths for the future in this cozy Wrong Bed read" (4 stars @ RT Book Reviews).

Miniseries: The Wrong Bed

[Geraldine Sadiku · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun sexy read that ticks all the boxes