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Patrick had warned her: "If you marry me there's no going back. If you decide you don't like Venezuela, I doubt if I could ever bear to let you go. Our marriage is a contract, and our commitment to that marriage can be based on nothing less than a lifetime."
But that was before he knew that Ruth had tricked him into marrying her-- had made him feel like a fool.
Now what future could they possibly have together?
But that was before he knew that Ruth had tricked him into marrying her-- had made him feel like a fool.
Now what future could they possibly have together?
158 pages, ebook
First published November 1, 1973
6 people are currently reading
141 people want to read
About the author
Anne Mather
799 books360 followersAnne Mather is the pseudonym used by Mildred Grieveson, a popular British author of over 160 romance novels. She also signed novels as Caroline Fleming and Cardine Fleming.
Mildred Grieveson began to write down stories in her childhood years. The first novel that she actually finished, Caroline (1965), was also her first book to be published. Her novel, Leopard in the Snow (1974), was developed into a 1978 film.
Mildred Grieveson began to write down stories in her childhood years. The first novel that she actually finished, Caroline (1965), was also her first book to be published. Her novel, Leopard in the Snow (1974), was developed into a 1978 film.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
February 6, 2022
Blackmailed into marriage! Except this time, it's the heroine who blackmails the hero into a shotgun marriage, by pretending she's pregnant, all because hero is the one guy that she couldn't wrap around her little finger lol.
The heroine is a spoiled little rich girl but with endearing gumption. She will not be stopped by the proverbial black hole (*nod to Boogenhagen*) until she gets her man, whether he wants her or not! She was honestly great OW material, so it's a shame that she was wasted on being a heroine hehe. The hero plays the "girl" role, being totally putty in his possessive spouse's hands, horribly jealous about her and sexually enslaved to her to boot, but fighting his feelings the whole way through. He sulks around pretending that he is not a totally enthralled and willing victim of her wiles. But we, as seasoned Harlequin readers, know better :)
The minor scene with the OW was HILARIOUS because it shows the old adage that "it takes one to know one." Unfortunately for the meek, rookie OW of this story, the heroine just dismisses her innuendos and threats as so much garbage and doesn't even bring it up to her husband until four months later when they are lazing around in the sun on their belated honeymoon and sharing the HEA news that they're pregnant.
The secondary character of the heroine's father, a self-made millionaire who, instead of pimping out his daughter or neglecting her, stands firmly by her and gives the hero a dressing down that he so richly deserves, was da best!
A very enjoyable one by Anne Mather who usually writes doormat heroines and succubus demons parents. Must've been one of her early ones. This almost made it to 4 stars but I have read other early works from her where the hero was more Alpha delicious and the chemistry between the protags worked much better than this kinda limp lettuce leaf hero.
The heroine is a spoiled little rich girl but with endearing gumption. She will not be stopped by the proverbial black hole (*nod to Boogenhagen*) until she gets her man, whether he wants her or not! She was honestly great OW material, so it's a shame that she was wasted on being a heroine hehe. The hero plays the "girl" role, being totally putty in his possessive spouse's hands, horribly jealous about her and sexually enslaved to her to boot, but fighting his feelings the whole way through. He sulks around pretending that he is not a totally enthralled and willing victim of her wiles. But we, as seasoned Harlequin readers, know better :)
The minor scene with the OW was HILARIOUS because it shows the old adage that "it takes one to know one." Unfortunately for the meek, rookie OW of this story, the heroine just dismisses her innuendos and threats as so much garbage and doesn't even bring it up to her husband until four months later when they are lazing around in the sun on their belated honeymoon and sharing the HEA news that they're pregnant.
The secondary character of the heroine's father, a self-made millionaire who, instead of pimping out his daughter or neglecting her, stands firmly by her and gives the hero a dressing down that he so richly deserves, was da best!
A very enjoyable one by Anne Mather who usually writes doormat heroines and succubus demons parents. Must've been one of her early ones. This almost made it to 4 stars but I have read other early works from her where the hero was more Alpha delicious and the chemistry between the protags worked much better than this kinda limp lettuce leaf hero.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 1, 2013
This was one of a few books that stuck in my memory from my adolescent Harlequin addiction. (Which just goes to show you, AA is right -- you can't ever start up again!) Someone identified it for me years ago, but I've been reluctant to actually start it.
Finally I bit the bullet and found that though very dated and not as angsty as I remembered, it's still a good read. I was amused to note that it's full of Venezulan local color, which I didn't remember in the slightest bit -- I thought it took place on a ranch, because horseback riding is involved.
The story is that Ruth, a rich, pampered young woman, falls for Patrick, who is much older and not into commitment. He blows hot and cold at her in an aggravating manner for awhile and finally she takes matters into her own hands and forces him to marry her. (This made quite an impression on me… such a naughty heroine!) But when Patrick discovers he was tricked, naturally all hell breaks loose. What happens next is familiar to anyone who reads a lot of Harlequins, but I guess it was a first for me and also made quite an impression on my young mind.
The book is very old-fashioned in tone, to the point of being funny -- a character is aghast that the (supposedly) pregnant Ruth plans to go swimming, but he probably wouldn't have turned a hair if she'd had a drink. The book also gave me the hard-to-dislodge idea that
Anyway, it might have been the haze of nostalgia, but I enjoyed it.
Finally I bit the bullet and found that though very dated and not as angsty as I remembered, it's still a good read. I was amused to note that it's full of Venezulan local color, which I didn't remember in the slightest bit -- I thought it took place on a ranch, because horseback riding is involved.
The story is that Ruth, a rich, pampered young woman, falls for Patrick, who is much older and not into commitment. He blows hot and cold at her in an aggravating manner for awhile and finally she takes matters into her own hands and forces him to marry her. (This made quite an impression on me… such a naughty heroine!) But when Patrick discovers he was tricked, naturally all hell breaks loose. What happens next is familiar to anyone who reads a lot of Harlequins, but I guess it was a first for me and also made quite an impression on my young mind.
The book is very old-fashioned in tone, to the point of being funny -- a character is aghast that the (supposedly) pregnant Ruth plans to go swimming, but he probably wouldn't have turned a hair if she'd had a drink. The book also gave me the hard-to-dislodge idea that
Anyway, it might have been the haze of nostalgia, but I enjoyed it.
May 27, 2021
In Anne Mather's The Waterfalls of the Moon (I love the old Harlequin Presents titles), the teenaged heroine is in pursuit of a much older man, but the hero's not taking the San-Quentin tail so easily.
I can't say many of Anne Mather's works number among my all-time favorites, but, for the most part, I had a good time reading them. She could make unlikeable heroines that were somehow fascinating, and Ruth is one of them. She's a spoiled teen, rich beyond reason, bored, and chases after Patrick with a cold calculation.
All you have to do is change record players to iPhones (although record players have made a huge comeback) and there's no difference between this shallow youth's mega-rich lifestyle and that of the pampered princesses of Bravo & MTV reality TV. She parties, she lunches, she shops, she dates...casually. As this is a 1970's era Harlequin, Ruth is not sexually experienced.
She is, however, quite cunning, and when circumstances lead to Patrick getting black-out drunk they're together, she takes advantage of the situation to suit her desires.
Patrick is in England temporarily, and the last thing he needs is a woman, let alone a privileged girl nearly two decades younger, whose Daddy will buy her whatever she wants, including him.
Regardless, Patrick's body wants what his head does not, and so a battle rages within him: "I want you, I don't want you, I want you, I don't want you... I'm stalking you & now I have to get pass-out drunk because I am so jealous thinking about you with other men!"
And Ruth thinks: "I love him! He passed out in my bed & thinks we did it! Of course, we didn't, but I won't tell him the truth until it's too late."
So Ruth manipulates Patrick into thinking that they spent a drunken night together. Worse, to come, she makes him believe she's pregnant.
Patrick, being the old-fashioned type, agrees to marry Ruth. However, he's got work in Venezuela, so that's where Ruth is to live for the next several months. One thing about Ruth is that she's no wishy-washy person; she knows her mind, as devious as it is. It's in for a penny, in for a pound with her.
So Ruth goes to Venezuela, into the depths of the jungles, to be with her man. Then he finds out the shocking truth, and our love story unfolds from there.
I enjoy a good heroine-in-pursuit romance, and The Waterfalls of the Moon was mostly that. I wish there were more happy interactions between Ruth and Patrick, but the plot setup took a bit of time in this short category romance. Still, if you're looking for a vintage romance where the heroine isn't the usual epitome of moral perfection, this one has a tangy bite to it.
I can't say many of Anne Mather's works number among my all-time favorites, but, for the most part, I had a good time reading them. She could make unlikeable heroines that were somehow fascinating, and Ruth is one of them. She's a spoiled teen, rich beyond reason, bored, and chases after Patrick with a cold calculation.
All you have to do is change record players to iPhones (although record players have made a huge comeback) and there's no difference between this shallow youth's mega-rich lifestyle and that of the pampered princesses of Bravo & MTV reality TV. She parties, she lunches, she shops, she dates...casually. As this is a 1970's era Harlequin, Ruth is not sexually experienced.
She is, however, quite cunning, and when circumstances lead to Patrick getting black-out drunk they're together, she takes advantage of the situation to suit her desires.
Patrick is in England temporarily, and the last thing he needs is a woman, let alone a privileged girl nearly two decades younger, whose Daddy will buy her whatever she wants, including him.
Regardless, Patrick's body wants what his head does not, and so a battle rages within him: "I want you, I don't want you, I want you, I don't want you... I'm stalking you & now I have to get pass-out drunk because I am so jealous thinking about you with other men!"
And Ruth thinks: "I love him! He passed out in my bed & thinks we did it! Of course, we didn't, but I won't tell him the truth until it's too late."
So Ruth manipulates Patrick into thinking that they spent a drunken night together. Worse, to come, she makes him believe she's pregnant.
Patrick, being the old-fashioned type, agrees to marry Ruth. However, he's got work in Venezuela, so that's where Ruth is to live for the next several months. One thing about Ruth is that she's no wishy-washy person; she knows her mind, as devious as it is. It's in for a penny, in for a pound with her.
So Ruth goes to Venezuela, into the depths of the jungles, to be with her man. Then he finds out the shocking truth, and our love story unfolds from there.
I enjoy a good heroine-in-pursuit romance, and The Waterfalls of the Moon was mostly that. I wish there were more happy interactions between Ruth and Patrick, but the plot setup took a bit of time in this short category romance. Still, if you're looking for a vintage romance where the heroine isn't the usual epitome of moral perfection, this one has a tangy bite to it.
January 24, 2015
I enjoyed it! First time I read about a rich devious heroine trying to marry poor hero by lying and deceiving him. But hey she loved him truly and obsessively so I can't blame her!
June 20, 2012
Eh, although it did keep my interest enough to finish it, it's hard to get really into this kind of older HP. The heroine is immature and scheming; she'd be the evil OW in any modern story. And she doesn't really change over the course of the novel -- the happy ending is basically that her scheming works and she keeps her man. The story wasn't boring at all, just not very satisfying as a romance.
Also, I have to say that as a fantasy I don't really like these older HPs where the hero isn't rich. Realism has its place, but I don't like stories where the happy ending is that the heroine is a frugal housewife who lives in some unfamiliar, pretty uncomfortable place where she knows no one, but it's all ok because she has her man. Not exactly my fantasy happy ending.
Also, I have to say that as a fantasy I don't really like these older HPs where the hero isn't rich. Realism has its place, but I don't like stories where the happy ending is that the heroine is a frugal housewife who lives in some unfamiliar, pretty uncomfortable place where she knows no one, but it's all ok because she has her man. Not exactly my fantasy happy ending.
April 23, 2017
Ruth met Patrick, a scientist working in a remote, primitive area in Venezuela, while staying at her friend's parents home for the weekend. He was the cousin to her friend's father and significantly older than she was. She took one look at him and decided that she wanted him. Then she did all that she could to gain his attention and to trick him into marrying her, against his will.
After marriage she travelled to Venezuela to be with him and he soon found her out that she lied and tricked him into marriage. Understandably, he was angry, however his treatment of her bordered on cruelty. He refused to let her return home and kept her with him to be a whipping boy for his anger. It wasn't until a traumatic event at the end of the book that he realized what he had done and what wage almost lost.
In spite of my sympathies for her, Ruth was damned annoying. She acted like a spoiled child who wanted something that she couldn't have and did every sneaky thing she could to get it. She annoyed the hell out of me for the first half of the book, but then she was forced to grow up and deal with her husband's harsh cruelties. That was when I began to sympathize with her.
I didn't like Patrick for most of the book. I felt bad for him at times, but he ran so hit and cold that I would have ran away from his bipolar behavior. I can't even say he made the book more interesting. I found Ruth's father and John a helluva lot more interesting. Still, it was a wonderful read.
As annoyed as I was with the characters, I still could not walk away from the story. I needed to know what happened and how it all became resolved. Well worth the time.
After marriage she travelled to Venezuela to be with him and he soon found her out that she lied and tricked him into marriage. Understandably, he was angry, however his treatment of her bordered on cruelty. He refused to let her return home and kept her with him to be a whipping boy for his anger. It wasn't until a traumatic event at the end of the book that he realized what he had done and what wage almost lost.
In spite of my sympathies for her, Ruth was damned annoying. She acted like a spoiled child who wanted something that she couldn't have and did every sneaky thing she could to get it. She annoyed the hell out of me for the first half of the book, but then she was forced to grow up and deal with her husband's harsh cruelties. That was when I began to sympathize with her.
I didn't like Patrick for most of the book. I felt bad for him at times, but he ran so hit and cold that I would have ran away from his bipolar behavior. I can't even say he made the book more interesting. I found Ruth's father and John a helluva lot more interesting. Still, it was a wonderful read.
As annoyed as I was with the characters, I still could not walk away from the story. I needed to know what happened and how it all became resolved. Well worth the time.
September 10, 2016
This book was totally amazing. The fact that is kept me so glued to it, not wanting to miss any factor surprised me. I thought it was going to be an old school HP that wouldn't rate past three stars from the description given but it was so great. I loved it!
August 10, 2016
this one was better than the last i read. what ruth did was really unforgivable ! she trapped patrick into marriage, this is actually what the evil OW does in other books lol. ruth had it in her 2 do it bcoz she was a spoiled child, she had 2 have patrick n she had him ! she behaved ruthlessly n she did get payback at the end. though i can't say if she deserved it or not bcoz i felt torn abt her. she really was mad 4 patrick, insanely in love. she did what she had 2 gain the man she loves n i admire dat ! if u want 2 read the book's modern version, try The Millionaire's Marriage, which is a fav of mine:)
April 8, 2016
I feel like I read a completely different book from the other reviewers
because I felt .........wow that was an awful story
there was nothing likeable about the Hero ...and they never had one nice moment together in the whole book ...except in the epilogue ....which to me is too late
no romance , no communication, she tricks him into marrying her , he decides never to live with her as a real couple .....he never even takes her out on a date ....he just wants her to pretend in public they are happy - for months
then when another man wants to take her out he decides to take her on a picnic
bla bla bla stuff happens
he never visits her in hospital ...she leaves hospital in the middle of the night and has to go find him walking home in her bare feet after a miscarriage .....I think not
If I were her ...I would have gone home with her father .... a man who flew to her rescue and he wanted to take her home to UK for a break .....and start her life again hopefully meet a new guy
I'd be like ....yeah no luggage Dad lets go
because I felt .........wow that was an awful story
there was nothing likeable about the Hero ...and they never had one nice moment together in the whole book ...except in the epilogue ....which to me is too late
no romance , no communication, she tricks him into marrying her , he decides never to live with her as a real couple .....he never even takes her out on a date ....he just wants her to pretend in public they are happy - for months
then when another man wants to take her out he decides to take her on a picnic
bla bla bla stuff happens
he never visits her in hospital ...she leaves hospital in the middle of the night and has to go find him walking home in her bare feet after a miscarriage .....I think not
If I were her ...I would have gone home with her father .... a man who flew to her rescue and he wanted to take her home to UK for a break .....and start her life again hopefully meet a new guy
I'd be like ....yeah no luggage Dad lets go
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 6, 2022
Patrick had warned her: "If you marry me there's no going back. If you decide you don't like Venezuela, I doubt if I could ever bear to let you go. Our marriage is a contract, and our commitment to that marriage can be based on nothing less than a lifetime."
But that was before he knew that Ruth had tricked him into marrying her-- had made him feel like a fool.
Now what future could they possibly have together? (less)
But that was before he knew that Ruth had tricked him into marrying her-- had made him feel like a fool.
Now what future could they possibly have together? (less)
June 15, 2025
I very much enjoyed the sheer determination of this heroine, so giving it 5 stars (not that I would approve of her behaviour in real life, but it is fun to read about).
The heroine (21) meets the hero (35) at her friend's house and is instantly smitten. He's attracted, but behaves in an almost heroine behaviour of yes/no/yes/no and is really quite rude to her over the course of the next few weeks. He has to be back in Venezuela for his scientific job and doesn't think it is a suitable place for a woman (especially a rich and pampered girl like the heroine). In the end, his hormones let him down and she convinces him she is pregnant (he passed out but thinks they were intimate, but were not). They marry and she goes out to live with him, but of course he soon finds out she lied and is horrid to her for 2 months, until it all comes to a head.
The hero is in parts quite beta, yet so stubborn and once he finds out he has been lied to, is unforgiving. Fortunately another man is on the scene to make him mad with jealousy. There is no real OM of course and only a want-to-be brat OW, that he never considers because he's not really like that with anyone but the heroine (job focused).
The heroine is fascinating, the hero is complex and the location is attractive - a great read!
The heroine (21) meets the hero (35) at her friend's house and is instantly smitten. He's attracted, but behaves in an almost heroine behaviour of yes/no/yes/no and is really quite rude to her over the course of the next few weeks. He has to be back in Venezuela for his scientific job and doesn't think it is a suitable place for a woman (especially a rich and pampered girl like the heroine). In the end, his hormones let him down and she convinces him she is pregnant (he passed out but thinks they were intimate, but were not). They marry and she goes out to live with him, but of course he soon finds out she lied and is horrid to her for 2 months, until it all comes to a head.
The hero is in parts quite beta, yet so stubborn and once he finds out he has been lied to, is unforgiving. Fortunately another man is on the scene to make him mad with jealousy. There is no real OM of course and only a want-to-be brat OW, that he never considers because he's not really like that with anyone but the heroine (job focused).
The heroine is fascinating, the hero is complex and the location is attractive - a great read!
February 1, 2026
3.5/5
Finished this in one day, the first half is exceptionally good, the passion between them is unmatched and he’s soo charming plus it’s just so delicious how he can’t resist her, I couldn’t stop thinking about this book whenever I had to do something, but the second half… it was on track to be 5 stars read for me but the second half is stale and not that fun to read, especially because the female MC loses all sense of self respect (the rest of the review is maybe a spoiler??) she forgave him wayyyyy too fast, but it was fun at the beginning to see someone fuck around and find out, romance books lately are too afraid to do what’s done in this book.
Finished this in one day, the first half is exceptionally good, the passion between them is unmatched and he’s soo charming plus it’s just so delicious how he can’t resist her, I couldn’t stop thinking about this book whenever I had to do something, but the second half… it was on track to be 5 stars read for me but the second half is stale and not that fun to read, especially because the female MC loses all sense of self respect (the rest of the review is maybe a spoiler??) she forgave him wayyyyy too fast, but it was fun at the beginning to see someone fuck around and find out, romance books lately are too afraid to do what’s done in this book.
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December 2, 2019I just read a few chapter of the book. This book is so different from other hon books. While most comments criticised the h. I rather thought the H was the worst one since he was the mature and older one of the two. The much younger h decided to stay away from him after he expressed no further interest in emotional involvement. But the old guy gave a different sign and kept go after her every time she tried to stop seeing him. She’s young and brave. He’s old, weak and foolish. He did not deserve her at all. I loathe the H more than any other brutes in HPN.
September 20, 2020
I couldn't continue this one the heroine is a spoiled br** the hero is poor, weak who cooks for himself!... Now, I am an alpha - female, almost a feminist to my society so I enjoy vice versa stories *sinful I know *, this heroine got on my nerves..
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April 11, 2020#perfect, Wonderful. Just what's always expected from such a tremendous Writer. Anne Mather "salute"
August 28, 2021
Heroine made me so angry! Stupid, dull , sticky girl . She has no job or carrier no ambition no self respect nothing! Complete moron ooof
May 24, 2019
Patrick met Ruth while on vacation from his job in Venezuela. They immediately shared an attraction and after he is convinced they slept together, Ruth claims pregnancy. When he finds out the truth, he is furious, not knowing how easily Ruth can conceive?
February 17, 2018
Όταν κανείς ξεκινάει στα 13 του με αυτό το ΒΙΠΕΡ ΝΟΡΑ τότε....Πως να μην κολλήσει με αυτά? πείτε μου!! Ασυναγώνιστη η Μάθερ, κορυφαία στο να μας δίνει δυνατές στιγμές,αξέχαστους ήρωες,μεγάλα πάθη και τρελά χτυποκάρδια. Ο Πάτρικ θα παραμείνει στην πρώτη θέση στην πυραμίδα των πεντάστερων ηρώων ,μέχρι σήμερα και το βιβλίο θα έχει τιμητική θέση στη βιβλιοθήκη μιας και είναι αυτο που έχει μέχρι σήμερα διαβαστει τις περισσότερες φορές απ'όλα.Δεν τελείωσα ακόμη μαζί του...όσο μπορώ και διαβάζω
July 7, 2021
Mathers older books
I loved this book! Old school romance. A romance book doesn`t always has to be about the «over the top» sex scenes, but about the hero and heroines feelings for eachother and the developing of their mutal love.
I loved this book! Old school romance. A romance book doesn`t always has to be about the «over the top» sex scenes, but about the hero and heroines feelings for eachother and the developing of their mutal love.
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January 14, 2013the most lovly sweat story ever i have a copy of it <3
May 1, 2017
Leído el 01/06/2011
MENTIRA DE AMOR
Mediante un engaño, Ruth consigue que Patrick se case con ella. Acostumbrada como estaba a vivir rodeada de lujo, le resultó difícil adaptarse al ambiente hostil de un pueblecito de Venezuela. Pero Ruth no estaba dispuesta a rendirse fácilmente en la lucha que tenía que librar para conquistar el amor de su marido. ¿Habría algún medio de destruir las barreras que los separaban?
MENTIRA DE AMOR
Mediante un engaño, Ruth consigue que Patrick se case con ella. Acostumbrada como estaba a vivir rodeada de lujo, le resultó difícil adaptarse al ambiente hostil de un pueblecito de Venezuela. Pero Ruth no estaba dispuesta a rendirse fácilmente en la lucha que tenía que librar para conquistar el amor de su marido. ¿Habría algún medio de destruir las barreras que los separaban?
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews