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Heart on Fire
Temptation with a capital T
Claudia had been warned -- working for Ellis Lefevre, the dynamic head of a multinational corporation, would be more than challenging. She knew he was a troublemaker, but then, that had been part of the job's appeal.
But when Ellis locked her in his hotel suite to type a confidential report for an important meeting, Claudia began to have serious doubts about her boss and his unusual working methods.
She was tempted to tell him what to do with his job, but that would mean severing their relationship. And Claudia didn't know if she could do that to the one man who finally set her heart on fire...>
Claudia had been warned -- working for Ellis Lefevre, the dynamic head of a multinational corporation, would be more than challenging. She knew he was a troublemaker, but then, that had been part of the job's appeal.
But when Ellis locked her in his hotel suite to type a confidential report for an important meeting, Claudia began to have serious doubts about her boss and his unusual working methods.
She was tempted to tell him what to do with his job, but that would mean severing their relationship. And Claudia didn't know if she could do that to the one man who finally set her heart on fire...>
187 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published June 1, 1992
1 person is currently reading
105 people want to read
About the author
Charlotte Lamb
261 books316 followersSheila Ann Mary Coates Holland
aka Sheila Holland, Sheila Coates, Charlotte Lamb, Sheila Lancaster, Victoria Woolf, Laura Hardy
Sheila Ann Mary Coates was born on 1937 in Essex, England, just before the Second World War in the East End of London. As a child, she was moved from relative to relative to escape the bombings of World War II. Sheila attended the Ursuline Convent for Girls. On leaving school at 16, the convent-educated author worked for the Bank of England as a clerk. Sheila continued her education by taking advantage of the B of E's enormous library during her lunch breaks and after work. She later worked as a secretary for the BBC. While there, she met and married Richard Holland, a political reporter. A voracious reader of romance novels, she began writing at her husband's suggestion. She wrote her first book in three days with three children underfoot! In between raising her five children (including a set of twins), Charlotte wrote several more novels. She used both her married and maiden names, Sheila Holland and Sheila Coates, before her first novel as Charlotte Lamb, Follow a Stranger, was published by Mills & Boon in 1973. She also used the pennames: Sheila Lancaster, Victoria Wolf and Laura Hardy. Sheila was a true revolutionary in the field of romance writing. One of the first writers to explore the boundaries of sexual desire, her novels often reflected the forefront of the "sexual revolution" of the 1970s. Her books touched on then-taboo subjects such as child abuse and rape, and she created sexually confident - even dominant - heroines. She was also one of the first to create a modern romantic heroine: independent, imperfect, and perfectly capable of initiating a sexual or romantic relationship. A prolific author, Sheila penned more than 160 novels, most of them for Mills & Boon. Known for her swiftness as well as for her skill in writing, Sheila typically wrote a minimum of two thousand words per day, working from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. While she once finished a full-length novel in four days, she herself pegged her average speed at two weeks to complete a full novel. Since 1977, Sheila had been living on the Isle of Man as a tax exile with her husband and four of their five children: Michael Holland, Sarah Holland, Jane Holland, Charlotte Holland and David Holland. Sheila passed away on October 8, 2000 in her baronial-style home 'Crogga' on the Island. She is greatly missed by her many fans, and by the romance writing community.
aka Sheila Holland, Sheila Coates, Charlotte Lamb, Sheila Lancaster, Victoria Woolf, Laura Hardy
Sheila Ann Mary Coates was born on 1937 in Essex, England, just before the Second World War in the East End of London. As a child, she was moved from relative to relative to escape the bombings of World War II. Sheila attended the Ursuline Convent for Girls. On leaving school at 16, the convent-educated author worked for the Bank of England as a clerk. Sheila continued her education by taking advantage of the B of E's enormous library during her lunch breaks and after work. She later worked as a secretary for the BBC. While there, she met and married Richard Holland, a political reporter. A voracious reader of romance novels, she began writing at her husband's suggestion. She wrote her first book in three days with three children underfoot! In between raising her five children (including a set of twins), Charlotte wrote several more novels. She used both her married and maiden names, Sheila Holland and Sheila Coates, before her first novel as Charlotte Lamb, Follow a Stranger, was published by Mills & Boon in 1973. She also used the pennames: Sheila Lancaster, Victoria Wolf and Laura Hardy. Sheila was a true revolutionary in the field of romance writing. One of the first writers to explore the boundaries of sexual desire, her novels often reflected the forefront of the "sexual revolution" of the 1970s. Her books touched on then-taboo subjects such as child abuse and rape, and she created sexually confident - even dominant - heroines. She was also one of the first to create a modern romantic heroine: independent, imperfect, and perfectly capable of initiating a sexual or romantic relationship. A prolific author, Sheila penned more than 160 novels, most of them for Mills & Boon. Known for her swiftness as well as for her skill in writing, Sheila typically wrote a minimum of two thousand words per day, working from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. While she once finished a full-length novel in four days, she herself pegged her average speed at two weeks to complete a full novel. Since 1977, Sheila had been living on the Isle of Man as a tax exile with her husband and four of their five children: Michael Holland, Sarah Holland, Jane Holland, Charlotte Holland and David Holland. Sheila passed away on October 8, 2000 in her baronial-style home 'Crogga' on the Island. She is greatly missed by her many fans, and by the romance writing community.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
December 29, 2024
Charlotte Lamb at her most glorious, food-porny, crazed-Alpha, mine-mine-mine, best!
Avocado and fresh orange, thinly sliced in a fan with a garnish of feathery dill; the sole, served with a trio of nouvelle cuisine vegetables, crisply cooked and sculpted into shapes, with which she drank her one glass of wine.
This is the first meal that Ellis Lefèvre, our arrogant, worldly, powerful, and smitten hero orders for his luscious, temporary secretary, Claudia Thorburn. And if you had any doubts that he is trying to seduce her through her taste buds, he follows up that five-star lunch with the following gastronomic delight for dinner, despite her half-hearted protestations that she would have done with a simple salad.
To begin with, black pearls of caviar on crushed ice, served in a silver goblet…To follow that, thinly sliced breast of chicken with a delicate mushroom sauce, mangetout peas, a tomato and basil salad, and spears of asparagus which must have been flown from the other side of the world. The sweet was a peach and mango sorbet, and was delicious.
Claudia understands and appreciates the language of food. When Ellis callously proposes a convenient, mistress-on-retainer, arrangement between the two of them, she has the good taste to dump a jug of delicious watercress and cucumber soup, straight from the chill of the fridge, onto his smug head.
Fragments of watercress showed here and there; a fleck had caught in his thick black lashes, and there were slivers of cucumber in his hair, on his collar, on the shoulders of his jacket.
[The chef] broke into agitated French, moaning, ‘Oh, mon Dieu, mon Dieu, ma soupe! Oh, ma soupe.’
By contrast, the wimpy, lacking in imagination, and definitely culinary deprived, potential OM, takes Claudia to some dumpy English joint where they proceed to lunch on
nothing spectacular, just excellent English cooking-a home made vegetable soup, perfect roast beef and crisp vegetables, with which they drank a glass of red wine each.
Yeeech. Poor guy, he never stood a chance against the elegant, seafood-savvy, Ellis. I predict a very happy foodie future for Ellis and Claudia, and I’m kinda envious about it.
Avocado and fresh orange, thinly sliced in a fan with a garnish of feathery dill; the sole, served with a trio of nouvelle cuisine vegetables, crisply cooked and sculpted into shapes, with which she drank her one glass of wine.
This is the first meal that Ellis Lefèvre, our arrogant, worldly, powerful, and smitten hero orders for his luscious, temporary secretary, Claudia Thorburn. And if you had any doubts that he is trying to seduce her through her taste buds, he follows up that five-star lunch with the following gastronomic delight for dinner, despite her half-hearted protestations that she would have done with a simple salad.
To begin with, black pearls of caviar on crushed ice, served in a silver goblet…To follow that, thinly sliced breast of chicken with a delicate mushroom sauce, mangetout peas, a tomato and basil salad, and spears of asparagus which must have been flown from the other side of the world. The sweet was a peach and mango sorbet, and was delicious.
Claudia understands and appreciates the language of food. When Ellis callously proposes a convenient, mistress-on-retainer, arrangement between the two of them, she has the good taste to dump a jug of delicious watercress and cucumber soup, straight from the chill of the fridge, onto his smug head.
Fragments of watercress showed here and there; a fleck had caught in his thick black lashes, and there were slivers of cucumber in his hair, on his collar, on the shoulders of his jacket.
[The chef] broke into agitated French, moaning, ‘Oh, mon Dieu, mon Dieu, ma soupe! Oh, ma soupe.’
By contrast, the wimpy, lacking in imagination, and definitely culinary deprived, potential OM, takes Claudia to some dumpy English joint where they proceed to lunch on
nothing spectacular, just excellent English cooking-a home made vegetable soup, perfect roast beef and crisp vegetables, with which they drank a glass of red wine each.
Yeeech. Poor guy, he never stood a chance against the elegant, seafood-savvy, Ellis. I predict a very happy foodie future for Ellis and Claudia, and I’m kinda envious about it.
August 9, 2019
Tame with a capital T for the tepid romance.
I'm all for secondary characters playing a strong supporting role but not when their presence impedes the romance. There were just too many scenes of them with Claudia and Ellis (heroine and hero) and not enough meaty, solo scenes between our leads. The scenes that existed were filled mostly with antagonism rather than romance, so one long tender scene among the bickering ones would have been a refreshing treat. There were also some plot threads important to the heroine that the author left dangling, giving the story a cliffhanger feel.
But gets an "A" for the entertaining cat-and-mouse chase.
Poor Ellis. Claudia knocked him down so many times I actually began to feel a bit sorry for him. Luckily for the both of them the man's heart was as thick as his skin because repeated rejections couldn't keep him down. Oh, no. Besotted and bewitched Ellis was determined to be loved by Claudia! So I liked Ellis. The man was clearly smitten and even Claudia's rude comebacks weren't a deterrent. Speaking of which I knew Claudia's antagonism was her way of protecting her heart and pride, but I felt she took her self-defense mechanisms to extremes at times.
If feisty heroines, a light romance, and loose plot threads don't bother you, then this romance might be up your alley.
I'm all for secondary characters playing a strong supporting role but not when their presence impedes the romance. There were just too many scenes of them with Claudia and Ellis (heroine and hero) and not enough meaty, solo scenes between our leads. The scenes that existed were filled mostly with antagonism rather than romance, so one long tender scene among the bickering ones would have been a refreshing treat. There were also some plot threads important to the heroine that the author left dangling, giving the story a cliffhanger feel.
But gets an "A" for the entertaining cat-and-mouse chase.
Poor Ellis. Claudia knocked him down so many times I actually began to feel a bit sorry for him. Luckily for the both of them the man's heart was as thick as his skin because repeated rejections couldn't keep him down. Oh, no. Besotted and bewitched Ellis was determined to be loved by Claudia! So I liked Ellis. The man was clearly smitten and even Claudia's rude comebacks weren't a deterrent. Speaking of which I knew Claudia's antagonism was her way of protecting her heart and pride, but I felt she took her self-defense mechanisms to extremes at times.
If feisty heroines, a light romance, and loose plot threads don't bother you, then this romance might be up your alley.
July 4, 2011
This book is nothing flashy or showy. It's just well written and a good love story. Most of all, I loved Claudia. She was feisty and tough, and sweet, and determined. She didn't let Ellis walk all over her. He had to do some serious pursuing to claim her heart, which is the name of the game for me. I liked Claudia's relationship with Ellis' father, Quentin, who was a very grumpy person. I liked that she was able to look past that, and see why he was so hard to deal with. Additionally, Claudia's gentle maneuverings help to heal a painful rift in the family between Ellis and his dad. And she did it in a classy way. Claudia was very down to earth, which I appreciate. I loved her "Rich people are crazy (although not in those words)" moment. One thing that bugged me was, did she ever get compensated for the overtime she put in working for Ellis at the beginning of the book? When you work for a living, you think of such things. One thing is for sure, she could have him up on a serious sexual harassment suit were this not Harlequin Presentslandia. I'd recommend this book to Harlequin Presents readers.
October 16, 2017
Re Heart on Fire - Charlotte Lamb gives us the two things we love the most from her. An uber obsessive, jealous, possessive gourmand H and FOOD PORN!
(Tho I am referring everyone to Naksed's awesome review for the foodie portion of our program-- she has way better pics.)
This one starts with the h working as a temp secretary in a London hotel and helping out her CL trademark bossy older sister and sis's French chef hubby in their new restaurant. Our h really wants to be an actress, but lessons and gym fees have to be paid for and there doesn't seem to be a lot of parts on offer, so the h is making do and helping her sister out too.
The h goes into work and gets told she is going up to the big executive suite. There is a flu running around and the big poobah international Swiss CEO staying there needs a temporary secretary to type things up. The h goes in all her long legged Titan haired glory and immediately gets interrogated by the H.
Does she have a boy friend? Is she married? The answers to these questions are vital to the conglomerate's security. The h isn't buying that line of enquiry and tells the H to go jump. The H says fine, but she will be locked in the suite until the next day as she is typing confidential information that can't be leaked. Not to worry tho, the H will order her room service before he locks her in.
The h is outraged and quickly gets to work in the hope that getting the job accomplished quickly will free her from this weird guy - tho admittedly he has a brilliant food ordering future ahead of him if lunch is anything to go by. Unfortunately, despite a veritable feast for lunch including wine which the h doesn't drink, the H and his super witchy girlfriend leave her locked in the suite and furious at their condescending antics.
When the H returns, he refuses to let her leave and her secretarial boss just giggles and told her she didn't tell the h about the locking in cause the woman thought the h would quite rightly refuse. The h is even more furious, but the H thoughtfully has the hotel bring up lingerie and night rail as the h has none and the h reluctantly accepts it.
One nap and a glimpse of negligee later, the H is very interested and the roofie kissing commences. The h fights him off, kicks him out of her room and the H wanders off again. The h is sleeping when the H's girlfriend calls in the middle of night and isn't happy to find the h there. Dire threats and unlady like language is used before the h gets her off the phone and goes back to sleep, feeling sorry for the poor woman who has to try and keep up with the lady buffet marauding H.
The next day the h is able to leave and with a sense of relief that she will never have to see these obnoxious people again, the h returns to her sister's flat and gets ready to help on the restaurant waitress job. Then she gets the message from the hotel that she is fired. It seems the H's witchy girlfriend is the daughter of the hotel owner and the H complained she was insolent cause the h shot his grabby hands and his offer of boudoir bouncing bliss down.
The h is livid, her bossy older sister is outraged and then the H shows up with a young man for dinner. The H claims he never had her fired and did not complain, it must have been his girlfriend taking pot shots at the competition. Then he offers the h a job as his "secretary" with full bedroom duties as well. The h is NOT that kinda girl, and as her chef brother in law looks on in full horror, the h dumps an entire vat of delicious cucumber watercress soup all over the arrogant H.
The H is gobsmacked and runs off like a big old mad baby. Seeing the H in such an obviously discommoded state gives his dining partner idears tho. It turns out the young man with the H is his younger brother. And tho his food tastes run to solid English fare and an amusing dinner on five table houseboat, he has a proposition for the H. (Not the kind the H is thinking of either.)
The H's baby bro offers the h a job as a secretary to his recently retired and now blind father. It seems there was a stroke. The H's father had to resign from head of the company, turning things over reluctantly to the H and now the father is running off timid ladies who take dictation left and right and the H's little brother thinks that any one who can stand up to the H can probably stand up to his dad too, as his dad has currently banned the big brother H from the house.
The h takes the job after meeting the H's dad and seeing his lovely riverside country home with assurances that she can take time off to go to auditions. The only difference is the h will live in the flat over the estate's boathouse, but the h doesn't think that will be a hardship. So the h's settles in to the H's father's household. She is typing out the father's memoirs and enjoying the cherry jam and croissants provided by the father's french housekeeper.
She soon learns that the H's father is remarkably like the H in snappish temper, but she soon sets him right when he snaps at her one time to many and she snaps right back. A nice rapport is evolving between the two and the h is beginning to understand that the estrangement between father and the H is based on misunderstanding and the older man's frustration at being cut out of the family empire.
The H shows up late one night at her flat and makes the accusation that the h is his brother's hidden mistress. In his rage, massive roofie kisses and an almost forced seduction occurs, until the H pushes the h away, tries to kick her out of the flat and then storms off. The h is furious all over again, but she is wary too, cause now the H has burrowed into her heart.
The H returns the next day, he finds the h is his father's secretary now and while he gets his dad to sort some company problems and they repair their family relationship, he corners the h in the garden and gets her to agree to dinner and the theater.
The h is starting to revise her opinion of the H and maybe give him a shot at returning her like, but his girlfriend shows up and implies that the H and she will travelling together on his upcoming business trip and the h is distant again, cause now she knows that the H is nothing more than a two timing love rat and she doesn't go for that kinda thing. How dare this man think he can take her out as a bit on the side when he is soon to be off with his girlfriend?
The H tries to get the h to talk to him after he sends the girlfriend on her way, but the h is impervious in her icy rage and the H has to back off defeated. The H's father is now going back to Switzerland, where he will be more involved in the business and he asks the h to be his secretary. The h refuses, cause she is still pursuing an acting career and when a phone call comes from her agent, she thinks she may be getting her big break in a tv commercial.
The h goes to the appointed place and time and when she gets there, she is directed to a room that is actually a contained flat in a business building. The door locks behind and in a nice little circle of events, she faces the H's interrogation once again. The H wants her and he knows she wants him back. He is insane in his overwhelming obsessive, possessive love for her and she has to listen to him, as she can't escape his clutches. He explains that he had to lure her to him with a fake job cause she wouldn't talk to him and the OW is NOT his girlfriend.
She is just a old fling that dumped him for another guy and then stalked him when the other guy did not work out. The H does a lot of business with the OW's father and that is why they were travelling together. The father and the H had to travel together and the OW just tagged along, stalking the H, but the H really has no interest, he only has eyes and food sharing for the h. ( So really this H is all CAVEMAN about the h, only he has his gourmet food delivered, as uber Alpha's do.)
With the OW now explained away, the H can focus on his roofie kissing technique and true love for the h declarations. The h is soon kissed into confessing her love back and the H announces that she will have to move to Switzerland, the company HQ is there and since he does have to travel at times, she can be his dad's secretary too, -- just to stave off the boredom while he is gone, you understand.
The h, roofie kissed into compliance, follows the H out as he takes her to the brother in law's restaurant and the h's sister is thinking wedding bells and bliss. The h has one bad moment when she realizes where her sister's mind is at and has no clue how to explain that this is an affair and not a formal engagement. The h will worry about that later tho as the H causes another scene with a rude onlooker in the restaurant and then whisks the h off to his dad's house. Once they get there he announces the h as his future bride, to the h's shocked surprise and his father's delights and another HEA of joyous bliss is once again found in HPlandia.
This one was great, the h was fantastic, the H was suitably CL AlphaH'y and I was starving by the end of it, looking for that perfect melon and fresh Dover sole. Give this one a go if you like food or Charlotte Lamb or if you just want an entertaining HP outing.
(Tho I am referring everyone to Naksed's awesome review for the foodie portion of our program-- she has way better pics.)
This one starts with the h working as a temp secretary in a London hotel and helping out her CL trademark bossy older sister and sis's French chef hubby in their new restaurant. Our h really wants to be an actress, but lessons and gym fees have to be paid for and there doesn't seem to be a lot of parts on offer, so the h is making do and helping her sister out too.
The h goes into work and gets told she is going up to the big executive suite. There is a flu running around and the big poobah international Swiss CEO staying there needs a temporary secretary to type things up. The h goes in all her long legged Titan haired glory and immediately gets interrogated by the H.
Does she have a boy friend? Is she married? The answers to these questions are vital to the conglomerate's security. The h isn't buying that line of enquiry and tells the H to go jump. The H says fine, but she will be locked in the suite until the next day as she is typing confidential information that can't be leaked. Not to worry tho, the H will order her room service before he locks her in.
The h is outraged and quickly gets to work in the hope that getting the job accomplished quickly will free her from this weird guy - tho admittedly he has a brilliant food ordering future ahead of him if lunch is anything to go by. Unfortunately, despite a veritable feast for lunch including wine which the h doesn't drink, the H and his super witchy girlfriend leave her locked in the suite and furious at their condescending antics.
When the H returns, he refuses to let her leave and her secretarial boss just giggles and told her she didn't tell the h about the locking in cause the woman thought the h would quite rightly refuse. The h is even more furious, but the H thoughtfully has the hotel bring up lingerie and night rail as the h has none and the h reluctantly accepts it.
One nap and a glimpse of negligee later, the H is very interested and the roofie kissing commences. The h fights him off, kicks him out of her room and the H wanders off again. The h is sleeping when the H's girlfriend calls in the middle of night and isn't happy to find the h there. Dire threats and unlady like language is used before the h gets her off the phone and goes back to sleep, feeling sorry for the poor woman who has to try and keep up with the lady buffet marauding H.
The next day the h is able to leave and with a sense of relief that she will never have to see these obnoxious people again, the h returns to her sister's flat and gets ready to help on the restaurant waitress job. Then she gets the message from the hotel that she is fired. It seems the H's witchy girlfriend is the daughter of the hotel owner and the H complained she was insolent cause the h shot his grabby hands and his offer of boudoir bouncing bliss down.
The h is livid, her bossy older sister is outraged and then the H shows up with a young man for dinner. The H claims he never had her fired and did not complain, it must have been his girlfriend taking pot shots at the competition. Then he offers the h a job as his "secretary" with full bedroom duties as well. The h is NOT that kinda girl, and as her chef brother in law looks on in full horror, the h dumps an entire vat of delicious cucumber watercress soup all over the arrogant H.
The H is gobsmacked and runs off like a big old mad baby. Seeing the H in such an obviously discommoded state gives his dining partner idears tho. It turns out the young man with the H is his younger brother. And tho his food tastes run to solid English fare and an amusing dinner on five table houseboat, he has a proposition for the H. (Not the kind the H is thinking of either.)
The H's baby bro offers the h a job as a secretary to his recently retired and now blind father. It seems there was a stroke. The H's father had to resign from head of the company, turning things over reluctantly to the H and now the father is running off timid ladies who take dictation left and right and the H's little brother thinks that any one who can stand up to the H can probably stand up to his dad too, as his dad has currently banned the big brother H from the house.
The h takes the job after meeting the H's dad and seeing his lovely riverside country home with assurances that she can take time off to go to auditions. The only difference is the h will live in the flat over the estate's boathouse, but the h doesn't think that will be a hardship. So the h's settles in to the H's father's household. She is typing out the father's memoirs and enjoying the cherry jam and croissants provided by the father's french housekeeper.
She soon learns that the H's father is remarkably like the H in snappish temper, but she soon sets him right when he snaps at her one time to many and she snaps right back. A nice rapport is evolving between the two and the h is beginning to understand that the estrangement between father and the H is based on misunderstanding and the older man's frustration at being cut out of the family empire.
The H shows up late one night at her flat and makes the accusation that the h is his brother's hidden mistress. In his rage, massive roofie kisses and an almost forced seduction occurs, until the H pushes the h away, tries to kick her out of the flat and then storms off. The h is furious all over again, but she is wary too, cause now the H has burrowed into her heart.
The H returns the next day, he finds the h is his father's secretary now and while he gets his dad to sort some company problems and they repair their family relationship, he corners the h in the garden and gets her to agree to dinner and the theater.
The h is starting to revise her opinion of the H and maybe give him a shot at returning her like, but his girlfriend shows up and implies that the H and she will travelling together on his upcoming business trip and the h is distant again, cause now she knows that the H is nothing more than a two timing love rat and she doesn't go for that kinda thing. How dare this man think he can take her out as a bit on the side when he is soon to be off with his girlfriend?
The H tries to get the h to talk to him after he sends the girlfriend on her way, but the h is impervious in her icy rage and the H has to back off defeated. The H's father is now going back to Switzerland, where he will be more involved in the business and he asks the h to be his secretary. The h refuses, cause she is still pursuing an acting career and when a phone call comes from her agent, she thinks she may be getting her big break in a tv commercial.
The h goes to the appointed place and time and when she gets there, she is directed to a room that is actually a contained flat in a business building. The door locks behind and in a nice little circle of events, she faces the H's interrogation once again. The H wants her and he knows she wants him back. He is insane in his overwhelming obsessive, possessive love for her and she has to listen to him, as she can't escape his clutches. He explains that he had to lure her to him with a fake job cause she wouldn't talk to him and the OW is NOT his girlfriend.
She is just a old fling that dumped him for another guy and then stalked him when the other guy did not work out. The H does a lot of business with the OW's father and that is why they were travelling together. The father and the H had to travel together and the OW just tagged along, stalking the H, but the H really has no interest, he only has eyes and food sharing for the h. ( So really this H is all CAVEMAN about the h, only he has his gourmet food delivered, as uber Alpha's do.)
With the OW now explained away, the H can focus on his roofie kissing technique and true love for the h declarations. The h is soon kissed into confessing her love back and the H announces that she will have to move to Switzerland, the company HQ is there and since he does have to travel at times, she can be his dad's secretary too, -- just to stave off the boredom while he is gone, you understand.
The h, roofie kissed into compliance, follows the H out as he takes her to the brother in law's restaurant and the h's sister is thinking wedding bells and bliss. The h has one bad moment when she realizes where her sister's mind is at and has no clue how to explain that this is an affair and not a formal engagement. The h will worry about that later tho as the H causes another scene with a rude onlooker in the restaurant and then whisks the h off to his dad's house. Once they get there he announces the h as his future bride, to the h's shocked surprise and his father's delights and another HEA of joyous bliss is once again found in HPlandia.
This one was great, the h was fantastic, the H was suitably CL AlphaH'y and I was starving by the end of it, looking for that perfect melon and fresh Dover sole. Give this one a go if you like food or Charlotte Lamb or if you just want an entertaining HP outing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 13, 2017
This was a fun story. The blurb explains how the H/h “meet cute” when the h has to type a speech for the H who is staying at the hotel where she works. The H is super paranoid about corporate spies, so he locks her in the room until he gives the speech the next day.
He makes sure she eats well from room service (fillet of sole!) and he buys her a lovely nightgown to sleep in. Unfortunately a wanna-be OW sees the set up and assumes the h is poaching on her territory. She manages to get the h fired.
The h, who lives with her sister and her husband above their French bistro, needed that job to pay for her voice and acting lesson. So she is not at all happy when the H and his brother show up at the restaurant to see her. The H didn’t know she had been fired, but his excuses inflame the heroine even more and she dumps a vat of cold cucumber soup on his head.
The H’s brother returns the next day, offering the heroine a job typing for his blind father. He figures if the heroine can stand up to his brother, she can stand up to his equally demanding father who is extra-cranky after going blind. After the heroine sees the beautiful estate on the Thames and the flat over the boathouse, she agrees.
Right after the brother drops her back at the bistro, the hero turns up like a bad penny. He just can’t quit the heroine and now he is insanely jealous that she was out with his brother. She doesn’t tell him about the job with his father.
Hero leaves for Japan. Heroine goes to work and learns all about the dynamic with the father and the two brothers. Seems the father favors the brother because he and the H are too alike.
The food is also good at the father’s house. Cherry jam alert! She has it on her croissants each morning.
The hero returns in the dead of night and stumbles across the heroine in the boathouse flat. He assumes his brother had installed her in this love nest right under his father’s nose.
Heroine enjoys his kisses even though she is furious and eventually gets him to leave. The next morning he finds out what her job is. Heroine encourages H and his father to patch up their differences. Hero asks her out when he returns from Germany, but the OW turns up and the heroine is angry all over again.
The hero can’t get a break – so he arranges for the heroine to go on an audition at one of his buildings in London. He locks her in and explains that the OW is an old girlfriend who dumped him a long time ago. He wants nothing to do with her. He wants the heroine. Heroine thinks because he is so rich he just wants an affair – not marriage. She doesn’t realize his intentions until he tells his father that he is getting married.
The ending was super-abrupt – it’s only in the last two paragraphs the heroine realizes they are going to marry. I would have liked more interaction between the H/h – maybe just one peaceful scene – but then they are volatile people and they will probably always have this kind of a relationship. The heroine dropped the actress dreams as soon as the hero suggested moving to Switzerland, which was also an abrupt turnaround.
This is a fun one with a bit of drama, some interesting side characters, and lots of food descriptions.
He makes sure she eats well from room service (fillet of sole!) and he buys her a lovely nightgown to sleep in. Unfortunately a wanna-be OW sees the set up and assumes the h is poaching on her territory. She manages to get the h fired.
The h, who lives with her sister and her husband above their French bistro, needed that job to pay for her voice and acting lesson. So she is not at all happy when the H and his brother show up at the restaurant to see her. The H didn’t know she had been fired, but his excuses inflame the heroine even more and she dumps a vat of cold cucumber soup on his head.
The H’s brother returns the next day, offering the heroine a job typing for his blind father. He figures if the heroine can stand up to his brother, she can stand up to his equally demanding father who is extra-cranky after going blind. After the heroine sees the beautiful estate on the Thames and the flat over the boathouse, she agrees.
Right after the brother drops her back at the bistro, the hero turns up like a bad penny. He just can’t quit the heroine and now he is insanely jealous that she was out with his brother. She doesn’t tell him about the job with his father.
Hero leaves for Japan. Heroine goes to work and learns all about the dynamic with the father and the two brothers. Seems the father favors the brother because he and the H are too alike.
The food is also good at the father’s house. Cherry jam alert! She has it on her croissants each morning.
The hero returns in the dead of night and stumbles across the heroine in the boathouse flat. He assumes his brother had installed her in this love nest right under his father’s nose.
Heroine enjoys his kisses even though she is furious and eventually gets him to leave. The next morning he finds out what her job is. Heroine encourages H and his father to patch up their differences. Hero asks her out when he returns from Germany, but the OW turns up and the heroine is angry all over again.
The hero can’t get a break – so he arranges for the heroine to go on an audition at one of his buildings in London. He locks her in and explains that the OW is an old girlfriend who dumped him a long time ago. He wants nothing to do with her. He wants the heroine. Heroine thinks because he is so rich he just wants an affair – not marriage. She doesn’t realize his intentions until he tells his father that he is getting married.
The ending was super-abrupt – it’s only in the last two paragraphs the heroine realizes they are going to marry. I would have liked more interaction between the H/h – maybe just one peaceful scene – but then they are volatile people and they will probably always have this kind of a relationship. The heroine dropped the actress dreams as soon as the hero suggested moving to Switzerland, which was also an abrupt turnaround.
This is a fun one with a bit of drama, some interesting side characters, and lots of food descriptions.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 26, 2020
Pretty good more like 3.5. The chemistry between the couple was hot. Not a lot of relationship building though, the heroine seems to have spent more time with the Hero’s father than the Hero himself.
Also, in the end, it seems she will ultimately give up her dream to be an actress, to be married to the Hero and companion cum Right hand to her future father in law.
Nasty OW got no comuppance for being instrumental in getting the heroine fired from her job the first time. Hero does not defend the heroine from the OW, only explains that he had a past relationship with her, but not it the last few years. Also OW’s family are friends/ buisness assoicates of the Hero’s family so I can see her hanging around for a long time, making trouble for the couple.
Also, in the end, it seems she will ultimately give up her dream to be an actress, to be married to the Hero and companion cum Right hand to her future father in law.
Nasty OW got no comuppance for being instrumental in getting the heroine fired from her job the first time. Hero does not defend the heroine from the OW, only explains that he had a past relationship with her, but not it the last few years. Also OW’s family are friends/ buisness assoicates of the Hero’s family so I can see her hanging around for a long time, making trouble for the couple.
December 30, 2017
"Heart on Fire" is the story of Claudia and Ellis.
Claudia is a struggling actress who works part time as a volunteer hotel secretary- when an elusive billionaire Ellis ends up hiring her..and locking her in his suite!
Soon she is fired after the job, and mysteriously hired by Ellis's estranged brother..
A not-so-your-average doormat heroine in this one- we have a strong but occasionally whiny heroine- an obsessive hero- some OW/OM drama- jealousy- and a sudden HEA.
Minimal to no angst in this one-really wished it had an epilogue.
SWE
2.5/5
Claudia is a struggling actress who works part time as a volunteer hotel secretary- when an elusive billionaire Ellis ends up hiring her..and locking her in his suite!
Soon she is fired after the job, and mysteriously hired by Ellis's estranged brother..
A not-so-your-average doormat heroine in this one- we have a strong but occasionally whiny heroine- an obsessive hero- some OW/OM drama- jealousy- and a sudden HEA.
Minimal to no angst in this one-really wished it had an epilogue.
SWE
2.5/5
May 17, 2016
2006 Review: Feisty Heroine and Arrogant Hero! My thoughts: The story is Claudia fills in as a secretary for Ellis and you know what happens (see above) But of course, they are attracted to each other, haha. But luckily, our heroine is so feisty that she doesn't really succumb to him right away. Later on the hero gives her an indecent proposal and our heroine actually throws soup at him! Whoa!! That was a little tense and I thought that he'd slap her or something -_- don't worry, he doesn't. But then again good for her! So you think that's the end of Claudia and Ellis, but the hero's brother, after seeing soup on his brother thinks that she will be good for his going blind father. Basically, their father is going blind, needs a secretary to help him write a book but because he is such a pain, noone wants to work with him, like father, like son. So once again, Ellis and Claudia's path crosses. You know they'll end up together but the journey to the ending is pretty cute! This book is definitely staying on my bookshelf.
October 11, 2021
I loved this story. It seemed to me that Charlotte Lamb had a lot of fun writing it. There were touches of humour and even LOL moments for me (the cucumber soup scene was brilliant and hilarious).
The hero was an alpha and arrogant, but without the pathological nastiness that some heroes have. The heroine was spirited but retained her sweetness, unlike some feisty heroines who end up seeming brittle and bitter. Nor was she a doormat. What's not to love?
As with many CL stories, she stuffs her books with interesting side characters too and gives them surprising depth considering she has such a short space to pack so much in. So in this story there was the loving but bossy sister, the funny temperamental Gallic brother-in-law, and the crotchety but endearing father of the hero. The OM was sufficiently bland but interesting enough to trigger jealous rages in the hero.
Yeah, loved the mouth-watering food descriptions too. The only thing I would have liked would have been more scenes with just the hero and heroine.
Definitely a keeper.
The hero was an alpha and arrogant, but without the pathological nastiness that some heroes have. The heroine was spirited but retained her sweetness, unlike some feisty heroines who end up seeming brittle and bitter. Nor was she a doormat. What's not to love?
As with many CL stories, she stuffs her books with interesting side characters too and gives them surprising depth considering she has such a short space to pack so much in. So in this story there was the loving but bossy sister, the funny temperamental Gallic brother-in-law, and the crotchety but endearing father of the hero. The OM was sufficiently bland but interesting enough to trigger jealous rages in the hero.
Yeah, loved the mouth-watering food descriptions too. The only thing I would have liked would have been more scenes with just the hero and heroine.
Definitely a keeper.
August 1, 2021
Temptation with a capital T
Claudia had been warned -- working for Ellis Lefevre, the dynamic head of a multinational corporation, would be more than challenging. She knew he was a troublemaker, but then, that had been part of the job's appeal.
But when Ellis locked her in his hotel suite to type a confidential report for an important meeting, Claudia began to have serious doubts about her boss and his unusual working methods.
She was tempted to tell him what to do with his job, but that would mean severing their relationship. And Claudia didn't know if she could do that to the one man who finally set her heart on fire...
Claudia had been warned -- working for Ellis Lefevre, the dynamic head of a multinational corporation, would be more than challenging. She knew he was a troublemaker, but then, that had been part of the job's appeal.
But when Ellis locked her in his hotel suite to type a confidential report for an important meeting, Claudia began to have serious doubts about her boss and his unusual working methods.
She was tempted to tell him what to do with his job, but that would mean severing their relationship. And Claudia didn't know if she could do that to the one man who finally set her heart on fire...
June 4, 2014
this was not like CL's usual books. ellis pursued claudia all through the book but i did not feel the passion and i got bored wid claudia's interactions wid ellis's family. i was very disappointed.
September 21, 2019
1.5 Stars
I hated the Hero and I hated the ending , he was too arrogant he already had a woman but wanted to mess with the heroine what a fool
I hated the Hero and I hated the ending , he was too arrogant he already had a woman but wanted to mess with the heroine what a fool
July 11, 2020
A story filled with interesting characters.. feisty heroine, arrogant hero, crotchety father, nice brother, protective sister and her well matched husband. Definitely an entertaining read.
November 5, 2021
This is a good one. The h and H are equally matched in intellect and willpower. He's a businessman who wants her as his mistress, originally; she's not having that. Moderate OW/Minor OM.
November 26, 2022
An open library impulse borrow that I soon realized I'd already read. Bit of a mixed bag. Claudia is a resting actress who helps at her sister and brother in law's restaurant as well as secretarial temping for a posh hotel. It's here that she is engaged by hotshot tycoon Ellis Lefevre to type up a top secret speech and he ensures confidentiality by locking her in his suite. OW arrives. Feathers are ruffled, hot temptation rears its head then she is fired. Next time she meets him is when he rocks up at Sis's restaurant with a man. A contretemps with a bowl of soup ensues.
The other man at the table turns out to be Ellis's stepbrother who, taken with Claudia's fiery sass, engages her as assistant to their blind father unbeknownst to Ellis.
Anyhow, not quite enough of some things to make it as good as a jealousy brothers thing could be. Some parts rather dull. Ending, where he lures her into a setting which screams Harvey W vibes, not to my taste. Obviously CL writes a storm but this one slightly missed for me.
The other man at the table turns out to be Ellis's stepbrother who, taken with Claudia's fiery sass, engages her as assistant to their blind father unbeknownst to Ellis.
Anyhow, not quite enough of some things to make it as good as a jealousy brothers thing could be. Some parts rather dull. Ending, where he lures her into a setting which screams Harvey W vibes, not to my taste. Obviously CL writes a storm but this one slightly missed for me.
October 27, 2022
Datato ma piacevole. Elis Lefrevre incarna “l’uomo che non deve chiedere mai “ che andava tanto di moda negli anni 80-90 , lei Claudia non così accondiscendente come le donna della Palmer, ma un po’ banderuola;la Lamb di solito crea personaggi femminili contraddittori che a non tutti piacciono. diciamo che qui la cosa che meno mi è piaciuta è stata la situazione iniziale parecchio improbabile dove lei sostituisce la segretaria di lui e per una questione di fantomatica segretezza viene addirittura segregata tipo sequestro di persona che francamente non può essere giustificabile neanche con la datazione del romanzo. Insomma una cosa un po’ campata in aria. Per il resto la situazione che si verrà a creare ovviamente abbastanza prevedibile e non manca quella emozione semplice che davano gli Harmony dell’epoca. Insomma tutto un po’ telefonato ma piacevole da leggere. In definitiva sufficiente. ⭐️⭐️⭐️
March 18, 2022
Super tame. Infinite potential, what with the red-gold haired, green eyed gorgeous English h and the tall, black haired grey eyed Swiss H.
Just enough misunderstandings to make it fun, along with a nice dunking of fridge cold peasoup on the H lol.
I wish we had more H and h scenes together post declaration. Romance was suggested but nothing more than a couple of roofie kisses and one groping midnight scene sans silky negligee. I wanted more tbh.
Safe HEA. h kisses H's bro as a friend once.
Miss Kitty summed up my feelings perfectly in her review. The H wants her to move to Switzerland so that's bye bye to her acting career and hello to being her husbands meeting travel companion and life long FIL's secretary. With caviar and sole avocado meals tho.
Just enough misunderstandings to make it fun, along with a nice dunking of fridge cold peasoup on the H lol.
I wish we had more H and h scenes together post declaration. Romance was suggested but nothing more than a couple of roofie kisses and one groping midnight scene sans silky negligee. I wanted more tbh.
Safe HEA. h kisses H's bro as a friend once.
Miss Kitty summed up my feelings perfectly in her review. The H wants her to move to Switzerland so that's bye bye to her acting career and hello to being her husbands meeting travel companion and life long FIL's secretary. With caviar and sole avocado meals tho.
January 7, 2023
Not bad! I like it when the h actually has some self respect and doesn't shag the asshole H within the first few chapters because her 'treacherous body' made her do it. The H in this one is a dick, and the h doesn't stand for it! I was delighted when she threw soup at him, and essentially told him to f-off and do one whenever he tried and failed to seduce her with his smooooth moves. The sister was chuffing annoying, gasping and gobbling in the background like an outraged turkey, but her deficiencies were more than made up for with the crotchety old dad character. Loved him.
October 22, 2019
It's always interesting when Charlotte Lamb brings up issues so many Harlequin Presents novels ignore, e.g. the hero is from extreme wealth and operates in a fishbowl and the heroine is a normal person who realizes that kind of sucks. The problem is she doesn't really do anything with it - once the heroine realizes the hero is in love with her and they're going to get married, it's game over, she's just going to have to deal.
April 19, 2021
3.75 stars
I liked the heroine. She had a solid head and a feisty attitude. She didn't let Ellis walk all over her even though he was much wealthier and powerful. I can't believe she threw a tub of soup on him! I also liked that she had a rapport with Quentin, Ellis's dad.
The ending was rather abrupt. What about her acting aspirations? What about the OM sitch with Stephen?
I liked the heroine. She had a solid head and a feisty attitude. She didn't let Ellis walk all over her even though he was much wealthier and powerful. I can't believe she threw a tub of soup on him! I also liked that she had a rapport with Quentin, Ellis's dad.
The ending was rather abrupt. What about her acting aspirations? What about the OM sitch with Stephen?
September 10, 2021
So choppy, the hero is flitting in and out and being very aggressive, not something we can get behind as readers. The heroine is talking alot about acting but doing not alot to get that career off the ground. What happened to that mean girl who got the heroine fired? Liked the brother way more, even though he was very illogical as a person. But not a very believable story overall. Skip.
March 5, 2021
The beginning was good. Typical CL storyline. But then it went all mehh. Lacked the usual drama and darkness I expect from her books.
March 12, 2022
2.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️This was disappointing! There was very little time that the H abs h were actually together. They didn't even have a first date until after the ILYs occurred. It was not a very good plot.
February 18, 2025
Entertaining. H was an old skool misogynistic jerk who should have been backhanded into submission.
November 20, 2014
Entertaining, but I would've liked Ellis to grovel a bit. Instead, Claudia gave in to him too quick and just seemed grateful that he'd finally promoted her in his mind from potential mistress to potential wife.
November 2, 2016
Carino ma il finale mi ha decisamente lasciato l'amaro in bocca poteva essere scritto meglio.
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