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Darling Obstacles
DARLING OBSTACLES (Loveswept Golden Classic)
182 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 1985
36 people want to read
About the author
Barbara Boswell
123 books45 followersBarbara Schroeder was born on 28 October 1946 in McKeesport, Pennsylvania, USA. She worked as nurse, before she married William P. Boswell, a attorney, and they had three daughters.
She has been a longtime romance novel fan, becoming hooked on the romances by Harlequin back in the mid-‘70s when she was home with her three small daughters. When the youngest reached school age in 1983, she wanted something to do with her extra time. She thought about going back to nursing, but didn't care to deal with hospital shifts. She'd often made up stories in her head and/or continued the stories that she'd read, so it seemed like a fun idea to try to write a story of her own. It took a lot more effort and organization than the loosely strung-together scenes she'd run through her mind, but she was right about the fun part! She enjoyed the whole process and wrote a story that she knew she would enjoy reading. She sent it off and was thrilled when it was accepted! It was even more exciting to see her name on the book cover. Some 50-plus books later, it's still a thrill to see her name on the book and it's still fun to make up stories — at least most of the time!
Barbara gets her ideas from everywhere but especially from reading, which she loves to do. Sometimes, just a sentence in a newspaper or a magazine will spark an idea to develop into a romance. Other times, she'll be inspired by another romance novel and she will try to put her own spin on a favorite old plot. Barbara believes that we all have our preferences — she's always been partial to the "secret baby" story line. That, plus the "marriage of convenience" and class or family conflicts are some of her particular favorites.
Her three daughters are all grown up now, and she and her husband are the proud grandparents of a beautiful little grandson. They also have three cats who seem to think that they are the rulers of their house. They are terribly spoiled, and they just might be right.
She has been a longtime romance novel fan, becoming hooked on the romances by Harlequin back in the mid-‘70s when she was home with her three small daughters. When the youngest reached school age in 1983, she wanted something to do with her extra time. She thought about going back to nursing, but didn't care to deal with hospital shifts. She'd often made up stories in her head and/or continued the stories that she'd read, so it seemed like a fun idea to try to write a story of her own. It took a lot more effort and organization than the loosely strung-together scenes she'd run through her mind, but she was right about the fun part! She enjoyed the whole process and wrote a story that she knew she would enjoy reading. She sent it off and was thrilled when it was accepted! It was even more exciting to see her name on the book cover. Some 50-plus books later, it's still a thrill to see her name on the book and it's still fun to make up stories — at least most of the time!
Barbara gets her ideas from everywhere but especially from reading, which she loves to do. Sometimes, just a sentence in a newspaper or a magazine will spark an idea to develop into a romance. Other times, she'll be inspired by another romance novel and she will try to put her own spin on a favorite old plot. Barbara believes that we all have our preferences — she's always been partial to the "secret baby" story line. That, plus the "marriage of convenience" and class or family conflicts are some of her particular favorites.
Her three daughters are all grown up now, and she and her husband are the proud grandparents of a beautiful little grandson. They also have three cats who seem to think that they are the rulers of their house. They are terribly spoiled, and they just might be right.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
January 3, 2014
This book was a children fest, I mean the heroine had 3 kids, a widow of six years and the hero a surgeon had 4 kids, a widower of two years. While the heroine has spent her years raising her kids and earning money, the hero has been dating and floundering as a father. And then despite her baby-sitting his kids for years the hero gains an entry into the heroine's house and slowly her life. They have off the charts chemistry but the heroine doesn't indulge in affairs or date but somehow they can't keep their hands of each other. There is kids drama, miscommunication, a non-romantic proposal and HEA. All in all I enjoyed the book.
August 6, 2018
Babysits his kids while he screws other women. Not what I look for in a romance. Seems like 99% of this author's heroes are manwhores. It's a shame because she has a nice writing style.
June 26, 2018
"Darling Obstacles" is the story of Maggie and Greg.
Single mother and widow from 5 years, Maggie is mother to Kristin, Kari and Kevin and lives her life babysitting and on the pension of her late policeman husband. Among those she sits, are Josh, Wendy, Max- kids to famous neurosurgeon Dr Greg, who ever since his wife passed away 2 years ago- dates heavily, and often leaves the four (including Paula) alone at home until wee hours.
Suddenly, one night while picking up kids while on a date- he starts seeing Maggie in a different light- and decides to pursue her instead. But with 7 kids, financial differences and loads of unresolved issues between them- can these two get together? Maybe, especially if there's hot sex and kids get involved!
Sweet and sexy read with a brooding impulsive womanizing hero, kind and loving heroine, loads of cute and sassy kids, some OM/OW drama and oodles of hot sex. I really really liked this one!
Unsafe
4.5/5
Single mother and widow from 5 years, Maggie is mother to Kristin, Kari and Kevin and lives her life babysitting and on the pension of her late policeman husband. Among those she sits, are Josh, Wendy, Max- kids to famous neurosurgeon Dr Greg, who ever since his wife passed away 2 years ago- dates heavily, and often leaves the four (including Paula) alone at home until wee hours.
Suddenly, one night while picking up kids while on a date- he starts seeing Maggie in a different light- and decides to pursue her instead. But with 7 kids, financial differences and loads of unresolved issues between them- can these two get together? Maybe, especially if there's hot sex and kids get involved!
Sweet and sexy read with a brooding impulsive womanizing hero, kind and loving heroine, loads of cute and sassy kids, some OM/OW drama and oodles of hot sex. I really really liked this one!
Unsafe
4.5/5
October 7, 2021
Pentru Mary Magdalene May, Greg Wilder intra în aceeaşi categorie cu Alan Aida, Tom Selleck sau Robert Redford. Cu toţii erau nişte atrăgători zei masculini ― admirabili, chipeşi, interesanţi ― şi indiscutabil, total inaccesibili. Existau unele deosebiri, desigur. Greg Wilder nu era un actor celebru, deşi, ca neurochirurg de renume, reprezenta un soi de celebritate în comunitatea ordonată din Woodland, Maryland, unde locuiau amândoi. Şi erau în termeni civilizaţi: el o numea Maggie, iar ea îl numea doctor Wilder. El era tatăl lui Joshua, prietenul fiului ei Kevin, iar ea era guvernanta ocazio- nală a trei dintre copiii lui Greg Wilder.
Maggie nu fu surprinsă când doctor Wilder sosi, cu două ore şi jumătate întârziere, să-şi ia copiii, în vinerea aceea caldă de la începutul lui octombrie. Programele medicilor erau, adesea, dezordonate şi imprevizibile, şi mai întârziase şi altă dată. Pur şi simplu lungise ghiveciul de ton, mai adăugind tăiţei, şi le dăduse de mâncare lui Josh, Wendy şi Max, împreună cu cei trei copii ai ei ― Kristin, Kevin şi Kari. Josh ceruse porţie dublă, Wendy luase câteva înghiţituri mici, pronunţase cina ca „arătând câh“ şi ceru un sandviş cu unt de arahide şi jeleu. Maggie se supusese, cu bunăvoinţă; şi copiii ei avuseseră preferinţe culinare categorice la vârsta de patru ani.
Se făcuse ora opt şi jumătate, când doctor Wilder sosi, în sfârşit. Copiii stăteau adunaţi în micul living-room, urmărind prezentarea anuală la televiziune a filmului „Vrăjitorul din Oz“[1]. Scândura de călcat a lui Maggie era întinsă în colţul camerei, iar femeia privea din când în când la televizor, în timp ce călca. Purta o pereche de blugi tăiaţi şi o bluză galbenă fără mâneci, concesie faţă de temperatura neobişnuit de ridicată. Ajunsese la 30°C în timpul după-amiezii, iar căsuţa duplex din prefabricate avea nevoie de mult timp ca să se răcorească. Părul arămiu-închis al lui Maggie era legat în coadă de cal, pornind din creştet pentru a-i atinge, abia, ceafa. Deşi fratele ei o tachina adesea că arăta mai mult ca sora de doisprezece ani a lui Kristin decât ca o mamă, Maggie considera că-şi arăta toţi cei treizeci şi doi de ani. De simţit, îi simţea cu siguranţă.
Soneria răsună de două ori în succesiune rapidă. Niciunul dintre copii nu-şi luă ochii de la ecran, deşi Kristin strigă totuşi:
– Sună cineva la uşă, mami.
Maggie scoase fierul din priză şi se duse să deschidă. În prag stătea Greg Wilder, impozant, într-un smoking negru şi cămaşă albă gofrată. Era înalt, cu cel puţin cinci centimetri peste unu optzeci, şi avea trupul robust, disciplinat, al unui atlet. Cum, necum, reuşea să confere costumului fantezist o masculinitate colțuroasă, în pofida zorzoanelor albe, observă răutăcioasă Maggie. Avea părul şaten deschis, cu şuviţe blonde, decolorate de soare, purtându-l scurt, cu cărare într-o parte. Maggie ştia că familia Wilder era proprietara unei bărci cu pânze şi a unei şalupe de mare viteză, petrecând multe weekend-uri de vară, pe apă. Iar copiii Wilder aveau cu toţii acelaşi păr blond-şaten vârstat de soare.
Maggie nu fu surprinsă când doctor Wilder sosi, cu două ore şi jumătate întârziere, să-şi ia copiii, în vinerea aceea caldă de la începutul lui octombrie. Programele medicilor erau, adesea, dezordonate şi imprevizibile, şi mai întârziase şi altă dată. Pur şi simplu lungise ghiveciul de ton, mai adăugind tăiţei, şi le dăduse de mâncare lui Josh, Wendy şi Max, împreună cu cei trei copii ai ei ― Kristin, Kevin şi Kari. Josh ceruse porţie dublă, Wendy luase câteva înghiţituri mici, pronunţase cina ca „arătând câh“ şi ceru un sandviş cu unt de arahide şi jeleu. Maggie se supusese, cu bunăvoinţă; şi copiii ei avuseseră preferinţe culinare categorice la vârsta de patru ani.
Se făcuse ora opt şi jumătate, când doctor Wilder sosi, în sfârşit. Copiii stăteau adunaţi în micul living-room, urmărind prezentarea anuală la televiziune a filmului „Vrăjitorul din Oz“[1]. Scândura de călcat a lui Maggie era întinsă în colţul camerei, iar femeia privea din când în când la televizor, în timp ce călca. Purta o pereche de blugi tăiaţi şi o bluză galbenă fără mâneci, concesie faţă de temperatura neobişnuit de ridicată. Ajunsese la 30°C în timpul după-amiezii, iar căsuţa duplex din prefabricate avea nevoie de mult timp ca să se răcorească. Părul arămiu-închis al lui Maggie era legat în coadă de cal, pornind din creştet pentru a-i atinge, abia, ceafa. Deşi fratele ei o tachina adesea că arăta mai mult ca sora de doisprezece ani a lui Kristin decât ca o mamă, Maggie considera că-şi arăta toţi cei treizeci şi doi de ani. De simţit, îi simţea cu siguranţă.
Soneria răsună de două ori în succesiune rapidă. Niciunul dintre copii nu-şi luă ochii de la ecran, deşi Kristin strigă totuşi:
– Sună cineva la uşă, mami.
Maggie scoase fierul din priză şi se duse să deschidă. În prag stătea Greg Wilder, impozant, într-un smoking negru şi cămaşă albă gofrată. Era înalt, cu cel puţin cinci centimetri peste unu optzeci, şi avea trupul robust, disciplinat, al unui atlet. Cum, necum, reuşea să confere costumului fantezist o masculinitate colțuroasă, în pofida zorzoanelor albe, observă răutăcioasă Maggie. Avea părul şaten deschis, cu şuviţe blonde, decolorate de soare, purtându-l scurt, cu cărare într-o parte. Maggie ştia că familia Wilder era proprietara unei bărci cu pânze şi a unei şalupe de mare viteză, petrecând multe weekend-uri de vară, pe apă. Iar copiii Wilder aveau cu toţii acelaşi păr blond-şaten vârstat de soare.
February 29, 2024
Closer to 3.25 stars. This was a quick read, and definitely of the time it was published, 1985. A cute story about a "Brady Bunch type of family". Widower father of four, Dr. Greg Wilder, and widow mother of three, Mary Margaret "Maggie" May. Maggie babysits Dr. Wilder's three younger children a few times during the week, and she's been doing this for approximately two years. But suddenly, Greg becomes attracted to Maggie, and pursues her aggressively. I was annoyed at Greg for his heavy-handed treatment of Maggie, never listening to her expressing any concerns she had about any relationship between them going forward, using his sex appeal to sway her, and his money to influence her children. But then, he would start second guessing himself, and see his actions from Maggie's POV, and he would back off, but be defensive about his actions. Maggie had a lot of very valid concerns, but she would always talk herself out of them because of her attraction to Greg, and her concerns about finances, and having a male role model for her children. I rolled my eyes A LOT while reading this book. And, there is quite a bit of interaction with all of the kids, so be forewarned if you don't like reading about children in your stories. Overall, the story was cute, but Greg was written so over the top, I couldn't rate it higher.
November 21, 2017
One of the first romances I ever read, this one holds a special place. It features a sophisticated surgeon who falls for his children’s babysitter. I love the very domesticity and old school simplicity of it even now. I still own a fraying, yellowing copy. <3
August 5, 2011
Relecture parce que j'adore. Un héros avec deux garçons, une fille et une héroïne avec deux filles, un garçon. Quoi de mieux pour une belle histoire d'amour quand les enfants s'en mêlent? LOL
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews