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She wanted love and marriage--not a fling
It was one thing to match wits with Patrick Hagan on a TV talk show, where authors were expected to promote their wares in as frivolous a manner as possible. It was quite another to be madly pursued in the real world, where Patrick's physical magnetism gave him a notorious advantage.
For reasons she couldn't fathom, Ruth captured Patrick's fancy, though she strongly suspected that his fancy was no more than a passing affair. And for the widow who'd had a happy, giving marriage, that was a problem.
Could a man like Patrick ever understand the need for a loving home and a family?
It was one thing to match wits with Patrick Hagan on a TV talk show, where authors were expected to promote their wares in as frivolous a manner as possible. It was quite another to be madly pursued in the real world, where Patrick's physical magnetism gave him a notorious advantage.
For reasons she couldn't fathom, Ruth captured Patrick's fancy, though she strongly suspected that his fancy was no more than a passing affair. And for the widow who'd had a happy, giving marriage, that was a problem.
Could a man like Patrick ever understand the need for a loving home and a family?
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About the author
Emma Darcy
641 books327 followersEmma Darcy is the pseudonym created by the married writing team of Wendy (1940-2020) and Frank Brennan (1936-1995). Their life journey has taken as many twists and turns as the characters in their stories, whose international popularity has resulted in over sixty-million book sales. With more than a hundred titles, Emma Darcy appeared regularly on the Waldenbooks bestseller lists in the U.S.A. and in the Nielson BookScan Top 100 chart in the U.K.
Wendy was born 28 November 1940 in Australia. Her sister was the novelist Maureen Mary (Miranda Lee). Her father was a country school teacher and brilliant sportsman. Her mother was a talented dressmaker. She obtained an Honours degree in Latin and initially worked as a high school English/French teacher. She married Frank Brennan, an Australian businessman born in 1936. She changed careers to computer programming before marriage and motherhood settled her into a community life. She was reputedly the first woman computer programmer in the southern hemisphere.
As voracious readers, the step to writing their own books seemed a natural progression and the challenge of creating exciting stories was soon highly addictive. They were published since 1983. In 1993, for the Emma Darcy pseudonym's 10th anniversary, they created the "Emma Darcy Award Contest" to encourage authors to finish their manuscripts. After the death of Frank Brennan in 1995, Wendy wrotes books on her own. She lived in a beachside property on the central coast of New South Wales, and liked to travel extensively to research settings and increase her experience of places and people.
Wendy Brennan passed away on December 21, 2020. She is survived by her children, grandchildren, and sister, writer Miranda Lee.
Wendy was born 28 November 1940 in Australia. Her sister was the novelist Maureen Mary (Miranda Lee). Her father was a country school teacher and brilliant sportsman. Her mother was a talented dressmaker. She obtained an Honours degree in Latin and initially worked as a high school English/French teacher. She married Frank Brennan, an Australian businessman born in 1936. She changed careers to computer programming before marriage and motherhood settled her into a community life. She was reputedly the first woman computer programmer in the southern hemisphere.
As voracious readers, the step to writing their own books seemed a natural progression and the challenge of creating exciting stories was soon highly addictive. They were published since 1983. In 1993, for the Emma Darcy pseudonym's 10th anniversary, they created the "Emma Darcy Award Contest" to encourage authors to finish their manuscripts. After the death of Frank Brennan in 1995, Wendy wrotes books on her own. She lived in a beachside property on the central coast of New South Wales, and liked to travel extensively to research settings and increase her experience of places and people.
Wendy Brennan passed away on December 21, 2020. She is survived by her children, grandchildren, and sister, writer Miranda Lee.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
December 29, 2024
The old adage goes: Marry in haste, repent at leisure. The Hero and heroine in Emma Darcy's "A World Apart" got engaged in haste, only to break up a few days later. The hero was a successful but pretty shallow literary celebrity who didn't think his engagement to the classy, widowed heroine, should change anything to his jet-setting lifestyle with all his wealthy, party-hardy, bedroom-hopping friends. The heroine catches him not long after their engagement in a passionate embrace with one of his many, many exes. When she breaks up with him that same night, he tries to gaslight her and guilt her into taking him back, asking her if she is really going to throw what they have together because he made *one* mistake. With sadness, she replies to him that he didn't make a mistake, she did. What a great parting shot!
Heroine realizes later that she is pregnant but hesitates to tell the hero. After she gives birth to their baby, she does reach out to him, and in a flash, he gets on a plane from America to Australia to see her and their son. Eventually, he humbly and very genuinely proposes to her again, and she accepts, for a very sweet HEA.
I liked this book a lot. The protagonists' long separation and ultimate reunion was plausible and romantic because it gave time for both of their characters to have some growth and development. The grovel from the reformed rake hero was not long but it was heartfelt and in this case, actions spoke louder than words. He immediately came as soon as heroine wrote to him, he welcomed his Seekret Baby Son with open arms, he humbly asked instead of forcibly demanding marriage, as many chauvinist Harlequin heroes do, and he even made efforts to soothe the ruffled feelings of her family, which he had arrogantly snubbed the first time round. This humility from a formerly arrogant, entitled asshole showed that he made use of his year apart from the heroine wisely, not by returning to his patterns of whoring around like so many of these Harlequin heroes do, but by taking time to look at the man in the mirror and change his ways, as the song goes. This couple makes cameos in some of Emma Darcy's other books and it was a pleasure to see that their happily-ever-after was indeed longlasting.
Heroine realizes later that she is pregnant but hesitates to tell the hero. After she gives birth to their baby, she does reach out to him, and in a flash, he gets on a plane from America to Australia to see her and their son. Eventually, he humbly and very genuinely proposes to her again, and she accepts, for a very sweet HEA.
I liked this book a lot. The protagonists' long separation and ultimate reunion was plausible and romantic because it gave time for both of their characters to have some growth and development. The grovel from the reformed rake hero was not long but it was heartfelt and in this case, actions spoke louder than words. He immediately came as soon as heroine wrote to him, he welcomed his Seekret Baby Son with open arms, he humbly asked instead of forcibly demanding marriage, as many chauvinist Harlequin heroes do, and he even made efforts to soothe the ruffled feelings of her family, which he had arrogantly snubbed the first time round. This humility from a formerly arrogant, entitled asshole showed that he made use of his year apart from the heroine wisely, not by returning to his patterns of whoring around like so many of these Harlequin heroes do, but by taking time to look at the man in the mirror and change his ways, as the song goes. This couple makes cameos in some of Emma Darcy's other books and it was a pleasure to see that their happily-ever-after was indeed longlasting.
May 24, 2018
Buttoned up writer heroine falls for Lothario writer hero - they are engaged for two seconds and then heroine sees hero being kissed at a sophisticated party and breaks it off.
That's the gist of the conflict. The heroine is widow and the hero is 39(!) and ready to settle down. ED set it up so that their whirlwind relationship didn't have a chance to build a base of trust.
After a year apart - suddenly the heroine feels she can trust the H?
I felt there was something missing. Maybe if the hero had published a book during that year apart and she could see into his soul or something. But a year apart and literally a world apart didn't convince me these two could go the distance.
Epilogue needed!
That's the gist of the conflict. The heroine is widow and the hero is 39(!) and ready to settle down. ED set it up so that their whirlwind relationship didn't have a chance to build a base of trust.
After a year apart - suddenly the heroine feels she can trust the H?
I felt there was something missing. Maybe if the hero had published a book during that year apart and she could see into his soul or something. But a year apart and literally a world apart didn't convince me these two could go the distance.
Epilogue needed!
June 11, 2022
Cheating H.
After the MCs get engaged, the h walks into a private room at a party to find the H kissing his ex (he had sex with in the past). The scene was heavy and passionate. I would call this a cheating book, even if it’s just a kiss. She breaks off the engagement (as she should)…then they make up and HEA. (Dumb doormat)
“The image of Lissa Hindley in Patrick's arms only sharpened more painfully. It had not been a casual embrace. Patrick's hands had stood out starkly, one moving slowly over the naked back, the other curving intimately on a rounded hip. Lissa Hindley had been clinging to him passionately and there was no innocence at all in the movement of their mouths.”
Why did he kiss the Ow? Well he’s a manwhore first of all. He said it was to make the ex stay away from him..🙄 yea, ok..you read that scene above?
So after a year apart, in which he had never reached out to get her back - not only does this doormat go back to the cheating H, but she thinks she was in the wrong. It’s all her fault. She think he’s too used to his manwhore ways, so she should’ve been more understanding🙄, and not expect him to change his ways (kissing, flirting and maybe even more??? with other women) over night. Because he truly loved her, but she had killed his love for her…and she knows he truly loved her, because they spent 2 whole weeks together (sarcasm).
“Ruth at last conceded that she had been too hasty in rejecting Patrick. She had judged harshly and had turned her back on a love that might well have overcome their differences if she had been more patient and tolerant.” Mind of a doormat are all alike. He was messing around with his ex mistress in a private room, at a party the MC attended together as a couple…what great love? He not only betrayed her, but that’s just fucking disrespectful. Ditch the h at a party to see his ex?
And she kept the baby a secret from the father! This book pissed me the F off.
Widowed h.
Manwhore H.
After the MCs get engaged, the h walks into a private room at a party to find the H kissing his ex (he had sex with in the past). The scene was heavy and passionate. I would call this a cheating book, even if it’s just a kiss. She breaks off the engagement (as she should)…then they make up and HEA. (Dumb doormat)
“The image of Lissa Hindley in Patrick's arms only sharpened more painfully. It had not been a casual embrace. Patrick's hands had stood out starkly, one moving slowly over the naked back, the other curving intimately on a rounded hip. Lissa Hindley had been clinging to him passionately and there was no innocence at all in the movement of their mouths.”
Why did he kiss the Ow? Well he’s a manwhore first of all. He said it was to make the ex stay away from him..🙄 yea, ok..you read that scene above?
So after a year apart, in which he had never reached out to get her back - not only does this doormat go back to the cheating H, but she thinks she was in the wrong. It’s all her fault. She think he’s too used to his manwhore ways, so she should’ve been more understanding🙄, and not expect him to change his ways (kissing, flirting and maybe even more??? with other women) over night. Because he truly loved her, but she had killed his love for her…and she knows he truly loved her, because they spent 2 whole weeks together (sarcasm).
“Ruth at last conceded that she had been too hasty in rejecting Patrick. She had judged harshly and had turned her back on a love that might well have overcome their differences if she had been more patient and tolerant.” Mind of a doormat are all alike. He was messing around with his ex mistress in a private room, at a party the MC attended together as a couple…what great love? He not only betrayed her, but that’s just fucking disrespectful. Ditch the h at a party to see his ex?
And she kept the baby a secret from the father! This book pissed me the F off.
Widowed h.
Manwhore H.
July 18, 2019
I read this book because the h famously dumps the H after she finds him passionately kissing OW. The h is a widow who lost her husband and son in an accident. She knew what love and family were and she didn't want a counterfeit. The H has the requisite bad childhood and neglect. I love this book just for the fact that the h actually stands her ground, has some standards and holds to them.
I believed in their HEA after their year separation as miserable shells of their former selves. They loved each other like crazy and I loved the final pages where their ILY are exchanged.
Safety:
I believed in their HEA after their year separation as miserable shells of their former selves. They loved each other like crazy and I loved the final pages where their ILY are exchanged.
Safety:
April 18, 2016
RE - A World Apart - this one has a widowed writer h and a good looking Harold Robbins HP equivalent H. They meet when they are both scheduled to do an Aussie talk show promoting their books.
The H is a ladies man, right down to the half buttoned shirts and the gold medallion. He has not one, but two glamourous ladies vying for his attention while waiting for his segment to start. The lovely lady posse doesn't stop him from scoping out the h tho, in fact he does his best charming rogue personification to get her to go out with him.
The h, recognizing the playboy at the lady buffet type, sardonically turns him down. The interview starts and the h lets some of her reserve go and spiritedly debates the points of single-sex schools and education - as that was what her book was about in part. The H compliments her on air and then finagles his way into dinner with her and her agent.
The h is not impressed, but she does find him an amusing raconteur. Until he makes earie faces over her wedding ring and being addressed as "Miss". The h informs him that she was widowed, and he can keep his snide remarks and earie faces to himself. The H is disconcerted and on the way back to the h's hotel, he tries to set up another outing. The h rejects him politely but firmly.
The next day the h is at her book signing and she is a bit overwhelmed and very exhausted. The H shows up with an initation of prepared lunch with oysters and champagne and an offer to tote her packages while she Christmas shops. The h is so tired and hungry, she takes the bait and they spend an enjoyable afternoon together. The h is surprised by the H's perception and sensitivity to the various subjects they touch on.
Then the H buys her a dress he insists was made just for her cause it matches her eyes, and takes her out dinner - he shows his sartorial splendor in his white linen leisure suit with flame orange half buttoned shirt and gold medallion amidst the curling chest hairs - the epitome of playboy bonhomie.
They have a nice time at dinner, until the h realizes that he is trying to seduce her on the dance floor. She is attracted, since her husband and son died in a car accident three years ago, she has been leading a very lonely life - she teaches during the day, but there has been no special relationships and the h feels pieces are missing from her life.
The H attempts another seduction back at the h's room and while she wants him physically, mentally she isn't going there with a man who likes to pump and dump - to put it bluntly (and she does.)
The h also has to issue a sharp reprimand to her agent, who has a tendency to get a mite proprietorial and the h is having none of that. The h is sad that the H is a party boy though, when he wasn't channeling Rudolph Valentino, he was actually very nice, insightful and she liked talking with him - a lot.
The h goes home and gets ready for Christmas, she goes to her family for Christmas Day and the loneliness she feels while around her very happy married kith and kin is intense. She goes home alone and is crying over photo albums of her late son and husband when the doorbell rings.
It is the H, he wanted to see her again and then he notices the photo album and finds out the h lost a son as well. He is very concerned over the h's distressed state and we find out that her son and husband died on Christmas Day. The son and husband were hit by a car when the two year old darted into the road and the husband tried to save him.
The H tells her that part of her life is over and he wants to marry her. He swears he loves her, has never met anyone like her and she makes his life complete. The h is wary at first, but then she agrees to marry, as he seems really sincere and she knows she is in love with him.
When the H says he wants to marry, he means like right now. He is all for a special license and the drive thru wedding chapel. The h is a bit hesitant, it takes 30 days to get a license in Australia and she needs him to meet her parents.
The H is very resistant to meeting the h's parents and decides that they will go to California and marry there. Except they can't get a flight out until after New Year's, and so the h gets him to agree to meet the parents the day before they go. The H is massively hostile to any family involvement and the impression is given that the H's family is not a good one and that he was a pretty neglected child.
The h is packing up her stuff to fly off with the H and decides to stop by and let her parents know what is up. The h's dad is actively against it and the mum is a bit worried, but the h's parents do come around later on that day to help her pack up. The mum and dad are just concerned that she is marrying a man she herself said was a bit of a player, and they worry about the short courtship. The h is very firm in her decision though and her mum and dad are being as supportive as they can.
The h goes back to the H and explains about the parents and makes him promise to bring her back for a visit in a few months. The H agrees and seems happy that the h isn't letting the parent's opinion change her mind. The h suggests that they go to a New Year's Eve party the H has been invited to among the jet set. The H is not real keen, but agrees and the h gets there and realizes that it isn't her scene. She is also seeing the more unattractive side of the H as he joins in the mean gossip and innuendo.
Then the real kicker comes, the h is left by the H for awhile to discuss some business with the man who is filming one of his books. The man's wife was one of the women hanging on the H in the green room of the TV station and she wasn't too happy to see the h with the H. After a while the h goes to look for the bathroom and wonders where the H is. She hears his voice and walks to the doorway of a bedroom to see the H very heavily involved in swallowing the tonsil's of the movie man's wife.
The h runs back to the party and gets waylaid by one of the actors who had been trying to pick up on her earlier. She winds up dancing with him and the H shows up and rips her out of the guy's reach. They leave the party and the h is rather perturbed at the jealousy and gives the H a pretty harsh lecture about double standards and then when they reach the hotel, she really lays into him about his casual attitude towards sex and using people and she gives him his ring back.
He tries the old seduction routine and the h almost melts, but then he moves just like he did while kissing the OW and the h really lets him have it. She pretty much calls him a skanky rent boy and then she leaves him - he tells her he never wants to see or be reminded of her again.
The h goes home and is really depressed and in the dumps, she is also preggers. She gives up her teaching job, rents a house in the mountains for a year and has the baby. She begins to think that she over-reacted. The H had told her that the woman threw herself at him and the easiest way to prevent a scene was to let her kiss him and then throw her back.
The h also thinks that maybe he just hadn't had time to adjust, he went from international bed hopper to respectable fiance in less than two weeks and he probably needed time to adapt. She doesn't write or tell him about the baby tho, that rejection of his and her harshness makes her feel that she ended things pretty finally.
Then she has the baby and she is crying cause she still loves the H, the baby looks just like him so she will always be reminded. Her dad tells her to do the right thing and let the man know he has a child. The h thinks about it and then writes a really stark note telling the H he has a son and thought he should know. Then she doesn't hear from the H for weeks and thinks he has really blown them off.
She gets a phone call early one morning and it is the H, he just got her letter and is coming to Australia. The H arrives and is really happy about the baby but very reserved around the h. The h is worried, cause she hoped they might reconcile. The H is polite, but not really forthcoming with the h, until he demands marriage as he wants to be a full-time dad. He tells her she either marries him or be prepared for a new permanent neighbor. The h eventually agrees and makes it a condition that they have more children. The H asks if she is sure and the h wants to take the chance to try and win him over again.
This time the H willingly goes to be interrogated by the h's parents. The dad is especially hard on him, but he get through it with good grace and finds out the h was really devastated by his leaving. He is obviously very reformed, was hoping he could use the marriage to win the h over as well and finally he and the h talk and both confess they really love each other and want to work it out and HEA.
This is a pretty good book, not so much for the H's contrition - he doesn't do more than a half page grovel, (it was good tho,) but the h was brilliant in laying out how she saw his actions and how they weren't acceptable to her or her values.
This H got it, he realized he totally offended and he was very convincing in his reformation and how the h held a mirror to him with her vigorous set down and he really did not like what he saw and spent a year changing his lifestyle and attitude.
He says he was on his way back to the h to try and win her over again when he got her letter and it was believable. I have to admit, die-hard skillet user that I am, I totally felt bad for the H and thought the h might have been just the teensiest bit too harsh in her rejection. ( I had a cup of tea and got over that tho,) but still the sincerity of the H was well done and the book was very good.
We also will get to see this h and H again in The Impossible Woman where they are friends of the H in that book, but cheer on the h who wants more than a casual hookup, and this h and H are obviously wildly happy together in multiple appearances there.
The H is a ladies man, right down to the half buttoned shirts and the gold medallion. He has not one, but two glamourous ladies vying for his attention while waiting for his segment to start. The lovely lady posse doesn't stop him from scoping out the h tho, in fact he does his best charming rogue personification to get her to go out with him.
The h, recognizing the playboy at the lady buffet type, sardonically turns him down. The interview starts and the h lets some of her reserve go and spiritedly debates the points of single-sex schools and education - as that was what her book was about in part. The H compliments her on air and then finagles his way into dinner with her and her agent.
The h is not impressed, but she does find him an amusing raconteur. Until he makes earie faces over her wedding ring and being addressed as "Miss". The h informs him that she was widowed, and he can keep his snide remarks and earie faces to himself. The H is disconcerted and on the way back to the h's hotel, he tries to set up another outing. The h rejects him politely but firmly.
The next day the h is at her book signing and she is a bit overwhelmed and very exhausted. The H shows up with an initation of prepared lunch with oysters and champagne and an offer to tote her packages while she Christmas shops. The h is so tired and hungry, she takes the bait and they spend an enjoyable afternoon together. The h is surprised by the H's perception and sensitivity to the various subjects they touch on.
Then the H buys her a dress he insists was made just for her cause it matches her eyes, and takes her out dinner - he shows his sartorial splendor in his white linen leisure suit with flame orange half buttoned shirt and gold medallion amidst the curling chest hairs - the epitome of playboy bonhomie.
They have a nice time at dinner, until the h realizes that he is trying to seduce her on the dance floor. She is attracted, since her husband and son died in a car accident three years ago, she has been leading a very lonely life - she teaches during the day, but there has been no special relationships and the h feels pieces are missing from her life.
The H attempts another seduction back at the h's room and while she wants him physically, mentally she isn't going there with a man who likes to pump and dump - to put it bluntly (and she does.)
The h also has to issue a sharp reprimand to her agent, who has a tendency to get a mite proprietorial and the h is having none of that. The h is sad that the H is a party boy though, when he wasn't channeling Rudolph Valentino, he was actually very nice, insightful and she liked talking with him - a lot.
The h goes home and gets ready for Christmas, she goes to her family for Christmas Day and the loneliness she feels while around her very happy married kith and kin is intense. She goes home alone and is crying over photo albums of her late son and husband when the doorbell rings.
It is the H, he wanted to see her again and then he notices the photo album and finds out the h lost a son as well. He is very concerned over the h's distressed state and we find out that her son and husband died on Christmas Day. The son and husband were hit by a car when the two year old darted into the road and the husband tried to save him.
The H tells her that part of her life is over and he wants to marry her. He swears he loves her, has never met anyone like her and she makes his life complete. The h is wary at first, but then she agrees to marry, as he seems really sincere and she knows she is in love with him.
When the H says he wants to marry, he means like right now. He is all for a special license and the drive thru wedding chapel. The h is a bit hesitant, it takes 30 days to get a license in Australia and she needs him to meet her parents.
The H is very resistant to meeting the h's parents and decides that they will go to California and marry there. Except they can't get a flight out until after New Year's, and so the h gets him to agree to meet the parents the day before they go. The H is massively hostile to any family involvement and the impression is given that the H's family is not a good one and that he was a pretty neglected child.
The h is packing up her stuff to fly off with the H and decides to stop by and let her parents know what is up. The h's dad is actively against it and the mum is a bit worried, but the h's parents do come around later on that day to help her pack up. The mum and dad are just concerned that she is marrying a man she herself said was a bit of a player, and they worry about the short courtship. The h is very firm in her decision though and her mum and dad are being as supportive as they can.
The h goes back to the H and explains about the parents and makes him promise to bring her back for a visit in a few months. The H agrees and seems happy that the h isn't letting the parent's opinion change her mind. The h suggests that they go to a New Year's Eve party the H has been invited to among the jet set. The H is not real keen, but agrees and the h gets there and realizes that it isn't her scene. She is also seeing the more unattractive side of the H as he joins in the mean gossip and innuendo.
Then the real kicker comes, the h is left by the H for awhile to discuss some business with the man who is filming one of his books. The man's wife was one of the women hanging on the H in the green room of the TV station and she wasn't too happy to see the h with the H. After a while the h goes to look for the bathroom and wonders where the H is. She hears his voice and walks to the doorway of a bedroom to see the H very heavily involved in swallowing the tonsil's of the movie man's wife.
The h runs back to the party and gets waylaid by one of the actors who had been trying to pick up on her earlier. She winds up dancing with him and the H shows up and rips her out of the guy's reach. They leave the party and the h is rather perturbed at the jealousy and gives the H a pretty harsh lecture about double standards and then when they reach the hotel, she really lays into him about his casual attitude towards sex and using people and she gives him his ring back.
He tries the old seduction routine and the h almost melts, but then he moves just like he did while kissing the OW and the h really lets him have it. She pretty much calls him a skanky rent boy and then she leaves him - he tells her he never wants to see or be reminded of her again.
The h goes home and is really depressed and in the dumps, she is also preggers. She gives up her teaching job, rents a house in the mountains for a year and has the baby. She begins to think that she over-reacted. The H had told her that the woman threw herself at him and the easiest way to prevent a scene was to let her kiss him and then throw her back.
The h also thinks that maybe he just hadn't had time to adjust, he went from international bed hopper to respectable fiance in less than two weeks and he probably needed time to adapt. She doesn't write or tell him about the baby tho, that rejection of his and her harshness makes her feel that she ended things pretty finally.
Then she has the baby and she is crying cause she still loves the H, the baby looks just like him so she will always be reminded. Her dad tells her to do the right thing and let the man know he has a child. The h thinks about it and then writes a really stark note telling the H he has a son and thought he should know. Then she doesn't hear from the H for weeks and thinks he has really blown them off.
She gets a phone call early one morning and it is the H, he just got her letter and is coming to Australia. The H arrives and is really happy about the baby but very reserved around the h. The h is worried, cause she hoped they might reconcile. The H is polite, but not really forthcoming with the h, until he demands marriage as he wants to be a full-time dad. He tells her she either marries him or be prepared for a new permanent neighbor. The h eventually agrees and makes it a condition that they have more children. The H asks if she is sure and the h wants to take the chance to try and win him over again.
This time the H willingly goes to be interrogated by the h's parents. The dad is especially hard on him, but he get through it with good grace and finds out the h was really devastated by his leaving. He is obviously very reformed, was hoping he could use the marriage to win the h over as well and finally he and the h talk and both confess they really love each other and want to work it out and HEA.
This is a pretty good book, not so much for the H's contrition - he doesn't do more than a half page grovel, (it was good tho,) but the h was brilliant in laying out how she saw his actions and how they weren't acceptable to her or her values.
This H got it, he realized he totally offended and he was very convincing in his reformation and how the h held a mirror to him with her vigorous set down and he really did not like what he saw and spent a year changing his lifestyle and attitude.
He says he was on his way back to the h to try and win her over again when he got her letter and it was believable. I have to admit, die-hard skillet user that I am, I totally felt bad for the H and thought the h might have been just the teensiest bit too harsh in her rejection. ( I had a cup of tea and got over that tho,) but still the sincerity of the H was well done and the book was very good.
We also will get to see this h and H again in The Impossible Woman where they are friends of the H in that book, but cheer on the h who wants more than a casual hookup, and this h and H are obviously wildly happy together in multiple appearances there.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 16, 2021
"'Patrick?'
The name was a tremulous protest as his fingers made light work of the string ties supporting her bikini bra.
'Keep my name on your lips, Ruth. Keep it there until I can imprint it on your mind and carve it onto your heart.'"
"A World Apart" is the story of Ruth and Patrick.
A very angst filled tale between a widow and a playboy hero. Both are writers, who meet at a talk show. She is standoffish, while he gallantly tries to woo her. Despite her resisting, she eventually gives into his pleadings and they end up courting, and then sleeping together. When he proposes a whirlwind marriage, she accepts. That is only to realize how far apart she is from his flamboyant life. There is an awful breakup, a secret baby, a teary reconciliation and HEA.
I have to say the heroine spent a good part of the book making the hero woo her, and even if she wasn't always right- she was strong and stood up for herself. My tear ducts are washed out.
SWE
4/5
The name was a tremulous protest as his fingers made light work of the string ties supporting her bikini bra.
'Keep my name on your lips, Ruth. Keep it there until I can imprint it on your mind and carve it onto your heart.'"
"A World Apart" is the story of Ruth and Patrick.
A very angst filled tale between a widow and a playboy hero. Both are writers, who meet at a talk show. She is standoffish, while he gallantly tries to woo her. Despite her resisting, she eventually gives into his pleadings and they end up courting, and then sleeping together. When he proposes a whirlwind marriage, she accepts. That is only to realize how far apart she is from his flamboyant life. There is an awful breakup, a secret baby, a teary reconciliation and HEA.
I have to say the heroine spent a good part of the book making the hero woo her, and even if she wasn't always right- she was strong and stood up for herself. My tear ducts are washed out.
SWE
4/5
October 4, 2011
Started as a 4.25 star read and disintegrated into a 3.5 star read - weird falling out between H/h. Gave me food for thought,
'I'm opposed to segregation. It's basically antisocial and gives rise to the worst kind of sexism... When a boy or girl has been forced along the straight and narrow for an unnatural length of time, most of them rush headlong into unexplored territory at the first brush with freedom. I think it causes a lot of disillusion and unhappiness.'
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'It does sound too easy, doesn't it? But if a man keeps saying, "I want you," a naive girl is drawn in by the ego-trip of her own desirability. The man need not be particularly attractive in himself. It's the girl's vulnerability which traps her. A student from a co-ed school would laugh it off unless she was truly attracted,'
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'If one made an objective comparison between you and John, you'd probably outpoint him on every point, bar one. And that is the important one. You don't want to build, Patrick. You want to take what's there. As soon as you become dissatisfied you move on. You call it freedom. To me it is a frightening emptiness. When John and I quarrelled, neither of us feared that the other would walk out permanently. We released tension and sprang back closer together. The tie was always there, unbreakable, except by death.'
'I'm opposed to segregation. It's basically antisocial and gives rise to the worst kind of sexism... When a boy or girl has been forced along the straight and narrow for an unnatural length of time, most of them rush headlong into unexplored territory at the first brush with freedom. I think it causes a lot of disillusion and unhappiness.'
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'It does sound too easy, doesn't it? But if a man keeps saying, "I want you," a naive girl is drawn in by the ego-trip of her own desirability. The man need not be particularly attractive in himself. It's the girl's vulnerability which traps her. A student from a co-ed school would laugh it off unless she was truly attracted,'
-------------
'If one made an objective comparison between you and John, you'd probably outpoint him on every point, bar one. And that is the important one. You don't want to build, Patrick. You want to take what's there. As soon as you become dissatisfied you move on. You call it freedom. To me it is a frightening emptiness. When John and I quarrelled, neither of us feared that the other would walk out permanently. We released tension and sprang back closer together. The tie was always there, unbreakable, except by death.'
October 29, 2016
i actually liked this one but cud not quite come up wid the fact dat Patrick fell in love wid Ruth so quickly. i felt the author rushed things from this point. what happened next was unavoidable. they did not know each other well and were complete opposites. things just got awry and it ended dreadfully ! their HEA was doubtful as i did not feel they had worked on their issues or resolved them so as they cud be happy together.
March 27, 2012
I needed more grovelling even though this guy DID actually grovel and admit that she was right! Keeping the kid away from him, however, NOT GOOD!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 23, 2018
The very first chapter begins with some interesting dialogue between the H and h who meet on a TV set to promote their respective books. The H is a known best seller and the h is a high school teacher with one book already under her belt. Here is an excerpt from chapter 1 : When the TV show host asks - Is it my imagination or is there electricity crackling around here. Our h volleys it back with 'A short circuit - its what happens when a positive charge meets a negative one.' With her allusion to not tripping on crowded streets, she really sounds like a strong minded individual. But then comes the rest of the chapters and the book was pretty neat but none of them fulfilled the promise and the expectation set by Chapter 1.
December 6, 2022
This one has an unrepentant playboy hero and a heroine that knows how to handle him. I really enjoyed reading about their interview segment - the banter was between the hero and heroine was amazing. I also liked that the heroine genuinely liked her first husband and mourned for him and her parents loved and cared for her. Her smackdowns of her hero was amazing especially after the party. Overall, I liked this.
August 17, 2022
Intense and romantic. The gold chain and medallion with unbuttoned orange silk shirt nearly did me in. It is a perfect metaphor for H Mark 1. When H Mark 2 shows up he dresses more like a real person.
December 2, 2025
For the life of me, I dont understand what happened to the h. Lol!
H cheated on her, she caught him having a makeout session with OW. And then, a year later, everything was her fault? She's the one who needed to be forgiven?
Huh. I dont get her at all.
H cheated on her, she caught him having a makeout session with OW. And then, a year later, everything was her fault? She's the one who needed to be forgiven?
Huh. I dont get her at all.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 19, 2023
Really enjoyed this one! Both MC’s were very obviously in love - i could believe in their HEA.
January 28, 2015
This is one of those books where you really wish for the ability to give half stars, because I'd really says its a 2 and a half.
The book begins with the H/h meeting while they are interviewed on the same morning tv show, as they are both authors. The H is immediately intrigued and persues the h, who is wary of his playboy past and fights the attraction. Alas, they attend a party given by the H "friends" on new years eve ... ..
My issue with this one was mostly the pacing, which I found slow .. I'm one of those readers who likes to be tossed right in to the action and I often prefer books where the story is mid swing when it starts. But thats just my preference, I know some readers like to start at the H/h first meeting and read all the little details in their courtship. What I really liked in this one was the H. It was clear right from the start that he was totally blown away by the h, not just by her appearance but by her mind. He never really hides his feelings so it's endearing to read how desperate he was to keep the h. He's never really an ass, and his care and concern for the h was a theme throughout, even when they arent on the best terms.
All in all, I'm glad I read it... but it doesn't make my reread pile.
The book begins with the H/h meeting while they are interviewed on the same morning tv show, as they are both authors. The H is immediately intrigued and persues the h, who is wary of his playboy past and fights the attraction. Alas, they attend a party given by the H "friends" on new years eve ... ..
My issue with this one was mostly the pacing, which I found slow .. I'm one of those readers who likes to be tossed right in to the action and I often prefer books where the story is mid swing when it starts. But thats just my preference, I know some readers like to start at the H/h first meeting and read all the little details in their courtship. What I really liked in this one was the H. It was clear right from the start that he was totally blown away by the h, not just by her appearance but by her mind. He never really hides his feelings so it's endearing to read how desperate he was to keep the h. He's never really an ass, and his care and concern for the h was a theme throughout, even when they arent on the best terms.
All in all, I'm glad I read it... but it doesn't make my reread pile.
September 29, 2016
One of Darcy's best. It is not bad to see the heroine humiliate the hero once in a while (the split-up scene).
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July 2, 2018She wanted love and marriage--not a fling
It was one thing to match wits with Patrick Hagan on a TV talk show, where authors were expected to promote their wares in as frivolous a manner as possible. It was quite another to be madly pursued in the real world, where Patrick's physical magnetism gave him a notorious advantage.
For reasons she couldn't fathom, Ruth captured Patrick's fancy, though she strongly suspected that his fancy was no more than a passing affair. And for the widow who'd had a happy, giving marriage, that was a problem.
Could a man like Patrick ever understand the need for a loving home and a family?
It was one thing to match wits with Patrick Hagan on a TV talk show, where authors were expected to promote their wares in as frivolous a manner as possible. It was quite another to be madly pursued in the real world, where Patrick's physical magnetism gave him a notorious advantage.
For reasons she couldn't fathom, Ruth captured Patrick's fancy, though she strongly suspected that his fancy was no more than a passing affair. And for the widow who'd had a happy, giving marriage, that was a problem.
Could a man like Patrick ever understand the need for a loving home and a family?
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