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Sensual Encounter
Read this classic romance by USA Today bestselling author Carole Mortimer, now available for the first time in e-book!
Pursued by her fling…
Kate is heartbroken when her fiancé marries another woman—for her money!—leaving Kate to pick up the pieces of her shattered life. So when the opportunity for a weekend fling with irresistibly sexy Jared Rourke arises, Kate doesn’t say no!
Three months later, to save herself from future heartache, Kate is planning to marry for companionship. Yet Jared has other ideas… He’ll pursue Kate and make her his! But can Jared convince Kate to open her heart to her unforgettable fling?
Originally published in 1984
Pursued by her fling…
Kate is heartbroken when her fiancé marries another woman—for her money!—leaving Kate to pick up the pieces of her shattered life. So when the opportunity for a weekend fling with irresistibly sexy Jared Rourke arises, Kate doesn’t say no!
Three months later, to save herself from future heartache, Kate is planning to marry for companionship. Yet Jared has other ideas… He’ll pursue Kate and make her his! But can Jared convince Kate to open her heart to her unforgettable fling?
Originally published in 1984
190 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 15, 1984
43 people are currently reading
133 people want to read
About the author
Carole Mortimer
1,296 books907 followersI have written almost 250 romance novels in contemporary and Regency.
I am a USA Today Bestselling Author and recipient of the 2015 RWA Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2014 I received a Pioneer of Romance Award from Romantic Times in the US and in 2012 I was recognised by Queen Elizabeth II for my 'outstanding service to literature'.
I am very happily married to Peter with six sons, and live on the Isle of Man
I am a USA Today Bestselling Author and recipient of the 2015 RWA Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2014 I received a Pioneer of Romance Award from Romantic Times in the US and in 2012 I was recognised by Queen Elizabeth II for my 'outstanding service to literature'.
I am very happily married to Peter with six sons, and live on the Isle of Man
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
September 20, 2021
'I want you, my darling,' he muttered raggedly against her throat, 'I want you all the time. I haven't been able to get you out of my mind for the last three months. How could I settle to a job in North America when you were all I could think about?'
His mouth claimed hers once again, deepening the caress with probing warmth.
'No!' Kate wrenched away from him, fastening the belt of her robe with shaking hands. 'I'm going to marry Richard!'
Jared thrust his hands into his denims pockets, his shoulders hunched over. 'I don't happen to agree with you,' he challenged.
-Kate & Jared
***
In "Sensual Encounter" we meet the heroine Kate Mary,a succesful businesswoman who happens to be engaged to a rich man,but will soon be torn when the hero,the easy-going Jared Rourke re-appear in her life to fight for her love.When Jared shows up..i knew he would be a different kind of hero.He is really easy-going and carefree from the start with a certain charm that makes him so sexy.He is a wonderful man and so in love..that we can see.But inside him we soon will discover a brutal Alpha-hero,that can be so cruel when he gets insanely angry,and Kate are the only one who can make him like that.He truly loves Kate,and with a stubborn fierceness,he does everything to win her.When she still broke his heart,both insulting and mocking him..he still never gave up!
His mouth claimed hers once again, deepening the caress with probing warmth.
'No!' Kate wrenched away from him, fastening the belt of her robe with shaking hands. 'I'm going to marry Richard!'
Jared thrust his hands into his denims pockets, his shoulders hunched over. 'I don't happen to agree with you,' he challenged.
-Kate & Jared
***
In "Sensual Encounter" we meet the heroine Kate Mary,a succesful businesswoman who happens to be engaged to a rich man,but will soon be torn when the hero,the easy-going Jared Rourke re-appear in her life to fight for her love.When Jared shows up..i knew he would be a different kind of hero.He is really easy-going and carefree from the start with a certain charm that makes him so sexy.He is a wonderful man and so in love..that we can see.But inside him we soon will discover a brutal Alpha-hero,that can be so cruel when he gets insanely angry,and Kate are the only one who can make him like that.He truly loves Kate,and with a stubborn fierceness,he does everything to win her.When she still broke his heart,both insulting and mocking him..he still never gave up!
October 30, 2012
Fun, angst filled read by Carole Mortimer. Story about a young successful woman that was betrayed by the love of her life when he runs off and marries a wealthy widow. She meets our hero, when she is on the rebound and has a wonderful passionate weekend, but bolts because she isn't interested in HEA. She also thinks, he is a lazy non-starter and will want to live off her hard efforts, like her past boyfriend. Fast forward three months later, when she bumps into the hero shortly after getting engaged to a wealthy man....Heroine has decided that love is much overrated, better to marry for companionship, sexual attraction and good business.
This was a very unique book in that the hero made no bones about his pursuit...and the heroine kept running like hell. As typical Carole Mortimer, the sexual tension and chemistry just sizzled.
My only regret is
This one was fun, but still tension filled....Carole Mortimer at her best.
This was a very unique book in that the hero made no bones about his pursuit...and the heroine kept running like hell. As typical Carole Mortimer, the sexual tension and chemistry just sizzled.
My only regret is
This one was fun, but still tension filled....Carole Mortimer at her best.
March 14, 2019
"Sensual Encounter" is the story of Kate and Jared.
This one is a double jeopardy, filled with deceptions, obsessed love, jealousy, sexy lovemaking and HEA.
The h and H met 3 months ago. The h was reeling from a broken engagement, and licking her wounds on a resort when she bumps into the H, literally. Instant lust and sparks ignite, and both of them spend 2 days in bed sans clothes, having intense coitus.
However, the h escapes post the wild weekend because the hero portrays himself as an unemployed globetrotter. She has already had a guy leech on her and then run away when a richer prospect showed up, and she does not want to go through it again.
Fast forward to now, the h is engaged to a well-to-do guy, running her successful business when the H intrudes on her life again. He insists he loves her, is obsessed with her and wants to marry her. Despite reluctance and pushing away, the hero pursues her, until they fall in bed. The h then expects HEA, until her ex shows up again, the H goes crazy, and her soon-to-be-ex reveals secrets that the H is hiding..
This one had a ABSOLUTELY cray-cray hero. He was jealous, possessive, stalkery, and borderline cuckoo- he loved the heroine from the start, went to insane lengths to get her, and was kinda a sex maniac. I adored him!
The heroine had a backbone- was strong, independent and passionate.
Their chemistry was hot!
The OM/OW provided the much needed drama.
Really enjoyed it!
Safe/SWME
4.5/5
This one is a double jeopardy, filled with deceptions, obsessed love, jealousy, sexy lovemaking and HEA.
The h and H met 3 months ago. The h was reeling from a broken engagement, and licking her wounds on a resort when she bumps into the H, literally. Instant lust and sparks ignite, and both of them spend 2 days in bed sans clothes, having intense coitus.
However, the h escapes post the wild weekend because the hero portrays himself as an unemployed globetrotter. She has already had a guy leech on her and then run away when a richer prospect showed up, and she does not want to go through it again.
Fast forward to now, the h is engaged to a well-to-do guy, running her successful business when the H intrudes on her life again. He insists he loves her, is obsessed with her and wants to marry her. Despite reluctance and pushing away, the hero pursues her, until they fall in bed. The h then expects HEA, until her ex shows up again, the H goes crazy, and her soon-to-be-ex reveals secrets that the H is hiding..
This one had a ABSOLUTELY cray-cray hero. He was jealous, possessive, stalkery, and borderline cuckoo- he loved the heroine from the start, went to insane lengths to get her, and was kinda a sex maniac. I adored him!
The heroine had a backbone- was strong, independent and passionate.
Their chemistry was hot!
The OM/OW provided the much needed drama.
Really enjoyed it!
Safe/SWME
4.5/5
April 22, 2017
This is definitely a keeper!! Woah what a treasure! This HP has a different trope from the normal* ones. The H in this book *.* I loved how the h kept running away from him unsuccesfully lol
August 31, 2015
I did not like it. The whole sleeping with you did not mean anything! Come on this is romance not some cheap hook-up! Please this I love you even though I was in love with like another guy two minutes before thing. It's not worth the read again.
November 27, 2012
This novel was really done well too. I didn't expect some of the parts in the novel, while there were others I simply read into and could easily find out what was happening next. Never the less, it was GREAT!
July 6, 2020
I liked this one a lot. I can't believe it was written in 1984 there was so much pre-marital sex and they enjoyed it! Kate is a successful business woman engaged to her college sweetheart, but he dumps her to marry a rich widow. To try and forget, Kate goes out of town where she meets a stranger (our Hero, Jared) She is immediately attracted to him and they spend 2 passionate nights together. However, since for her it is just a fling, she goes back to London and 3 months later, decides to marry a man who is rich enough to take care of her. She doesn't want to marry for love anymore. Soon after, Jared, appears on her doorstep and declares his love. She is torn as she thinks he is a lazy layabout whom she will have to support. Anyway he continues to pursue her. The story is about how he pursues her and how she has to decide if she will marry for love or money. It's s cute and steamy read. I really liked both characters and you could see they were meant for each other.
July 17, 2013
4.5 Starts. I really enjoyed this one.
July 17, 2016
Kate runs her own advertising agency, and has no time for loafers. She spent years financially supporting and having bad sex (the kind where satisfaction is knowing her partner had a good time) with her artist fiancé, until she found him in bed with another woman. Artist fiancé went on to marry his rich lady, and Kate took herself off to a hotel for a good long think.
There she met Jared. Jared was wearing jeans and said he lived by his wits, so Kate wrote him off as a no-good-nik. She did spend two days in bed with him and discovered what she’d been missing. Jared went to Canada, and Kate started dating rich Richard. Three months go by. Richard is handsome, wears suits, and is good for business. He’s just put a ring on it, when Jared turns up again.
‘Darling, I’m back from Canada,’ says Jared, ‘aren’t you pleased to see me?’ Kate’s … not really. I mean, giving him a fake name and not sticking around to wave him goodbye to Canada should have been a pretty good indication that she wasn’t interested in anything long term. Jared, however, isn’t the type to take a hint. He solemnly and gently declares he’ll help her through her pain over the past fiancé, and tolerate her quibbles over the present fiancé, so long as she comes to her senses pretty quickly. He’s in love, they belong together, he’s invested in sticking very close to her so she’ll soon see the light.
I’ve had a great week for reading strong, financially independent and competent heroines. Sure, Kate’s a bit wonky headed about men and what she ultimately wants out of life. Her outlook on getting a man who has the same ambitions she does is sound, and while it’s obvious to the reader that she’s been too quick to write off Jared, I didn’t read her judgement as inherently wrong. She’s had a bad experience with the past fiancé, and learned to be more clear about what she wants.
I had to overlook that when she got emotionally stressed out by the whole man juggling she didn’t feel up to doing any work. Heroes always go to work. In fact, they throw themselves into their work and the only sign of their emotional upheaval is that they look pale and thin because they aren’t eating or sleeping. I think Kate could have battled through and stayed at the office.
I also had a few moments when I just wasn’t sure about her priorities. She’s young and has made a success of her business, but she owes a number of her contracts to her romantic association with Richard. And she thinks the big score she’s in the process of landing is also courtesy of her involvement with him. This felt unusual. I’m more used to heroines complaining about how they can’t get ahead on merit because of the boys’ club social networks. Kate’s perfectly comfortable with taking advantage of it, and that gave me a moment’s pause. Only a moment, because why shouldn’t she? Of course … basing business deals on romantic associations isn’t a solid foundation when the romance goes sour.
I liked Jared for most of the book. He was very attracted to Kate and thought she was fun and interesting and he respected her work. He was almost perfect … and then he raped her.
Okay, so this is 1980s romance, and heroes could get very pushy. It all gets very emotional and Kate hasn’t been quick enough handing back Richard’s ring. Plus, past fiancé is also stirring up trouble, because his wife isn’t as understanding as Kate was about just how bad at sex he is. He’d like to come back and have bad sex with Kate, and he’ll let her look after him again, and they’ll be happy. Kate says no thanks, but Jared’s over all these boyfriends showing up, and Kate repeatedly telling him that she’s not interested.
So Jared’s now going to teach her that final lesson with some goodbye hate sex. Kate doesn’t treat the scene as rape. I’ve read the other reviews here on Goodreads, and no one else calls this out as rape. I struggled over it myself for a while, because of how clear Kate was that she hadn’t been raped. She notes that he still cared enough to make it enjoyable for her. She reasons that she’s in love with him, which to her mind is consent, but Jared goes into the scene with the express purpose of having sex with Kate whether she wants it or not.
Jared’s full of remorse later, but the later is also troubling. Jared convinces Kate’s building manager to give him the key to her flat and he returns after the rape, and Kate wakes up, crying, in his arms. He’s there to comfort her, but there were a lot of characters in this book clearing the way for Jared to do whatever he wanted with and to Kate, on the basis that he seemed like a nice guy. It’s always troubling how much secondary characters willingly enable threatening behaviour.
Since it is the 1980s, there are no lingering sinister overtones, or hints that Jared will ever be anything other than a caring and loving husband. Moving on, Kate still has to realise what she really wants, and forgive Jared over the detail of his career (it’s really no spoiler that he’s much filthier rich than Richard).
The scene cast a shadow over what was a really good romance. It’s positive that there’s no hint that Kate will have to give up her career, and that she doesn’t have to become all sweet and surrender herself for Jared to love and want to be with her. There’s a lot to like about this book, but I just wish it had come without the rape scene.
There she met Jared. Jared was wearing jeans and said he lived by his wits, so Kate wrote him off as a no-good-nik. She did spend two days in bed with him and discovered what she’d been missing. Jared went to Canada, and Kate started dating rich Richard. Three months go by. Richard is handsome, wears suits, and is good for business. He’s just put a ring on it, when Jared turns up again.
‘Darling, I’m back from Canada,’ says Jared, ‘aren’t you pleased to see me?’ Kate’s … not really. I mean, giving him a fake name and not sticking around to wave him goodbye to Canada should have been a pretty good indication that she wasn’t interested in anything long term. Jared, however, isn’t the type to take a hint. He solemnly and gently declares he’ll help her through her pain over the past fiancé, and tolerate her quibbles over the present fiancé, so long as she comes to her senses pretty quickly. He’s in love, they belong together, he’s invested in sticking very close to her so she’ll soon see the light.
I’ve had a great week for reading strong, financially independent and competent heroines. Sure, Kate’s a bit wonky headed about men and what she ultimately wants out of life. Her outlook on getting a man who has the same ambitions she does is sound, and while it’s obvious to the reader that she’s been too quick to write off Jared, I didn’t read her judgement as inherently wrong. She’s had a bad experience with the past fiancé, and learned to be more clear about what she wants.
I had to overlook that when she got emotionally stressed out by the whole man juggling she didn’t feel up to doing any work. Heroes always go to work. In fact, they throw themselves into their work and the only sign of their emotional upheaval is that they look pale and thin because they aren’t eating or sleeping. I think Kate could have battled through and stayed at the office.
I also had a few moments when I just wasn’t sure about her priorities. She’s young and has made a success of her business, but she owes a number of her contracts to her romantic association with Richard. And she thinks the big score she’s in the process of landing is also courtesy of her involvement with him. This felt unusual. I’m more used to heroines complaining about how they can’t get ahead on merit because of the boys’ club social networks. Kate’s perfectly comfortable with taking advantage of it, and that gave me a moment’s pause. Only a moment, because why shouldn’t she? Of course … basing business deals on romantic associations isn’t a solid foundation when the romance goes sour.
I liked Jared for most of the book. He was very attracted to Kate and thought she was fun and interesting and he respected her work. He was almost perfect … and then he raped her.
Okay, so this is 1980s romance, and heroes could get very pushy. It all gets very emotional and Kate hasn’t been quick enough handing back Richard’s ring. Plus, past fiancé is also stirring up trouble, because his wife isn’t as understanding as Kate was about just how bad at sex he is. He’d like to come back and have bad sex with Kate, and he’ll let her look after him again, and they’ll be happy. Kate says no thanks, but Jared’s over all these boyfriends showing up, and Kate repeatedly telling him that she’s not interested.
So Jared’s now going to teach her that final lesson with some goodbye hate sex. Kate doesn’t treat the scene as rape. I’ve read the other reviews here on Goodreads, and no one else calls this out as rape. I struggled over it myself for a while, because of how clear Kate was that she hadn’t been raped. She notes that he still cared enough to make it enjoyable for her. She reasons that she’s in love with him, which to her mind is consent, but Jared goes into the scene with the express purpose of having sex with Kate whether she wants it or not.
Jared’s full of remorse later, but the later is also troubling. Jared convinces Kate’s building manager to give him the key to her flat and he returns after the rape, and Kate wakes up, crying, in his arms. He’s there to comfort her, but there were a lot of characters in this book clearing the way for Jared to do whatever he wanted with and to Kate, on the basis that he seemed like a nice guy. It’s always troubling how much secondary characters willingly enable threatening behaviour.
Since it is the 1980s, there are no lingering sinister overtones, or hints that Jared will ever be anything other than a caring and loving husband. Moving on, Kate still has to realise what she really wants, and forgive Jared over the detail of his career (it’s really no spoiler that he’s much filthier rich than Richard).
The scene cast a shadow over what was a really good romance. It’s positive that there’s no hint that Kate will have to give up her career, and that she doesn’t have to become all sweet and surrender herself for Jared to love and want to be with her. There’s a lot to like about this book, but I just wish it had come without the rape scene.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 28, 2021
So, so romantic. Carole Mortimer’s vintage HP’s are worth reading and re-reading endlessly.
He is so in love with her. She is engaged to be married to another man, but he really fights for her. Again and again. She says hateful things to him, she hurts him. But he keeps loving her. He doesn’t let go.
More than 5 stars.
He is so in love with her. She is engaged to be married to another man, but he really fights for her. Again and again. She says hateful things to him, she hurts him. But he keeps loving her. He doesn’t let go.
More than 5 stars.
July 28, 2024
Es un libro muy bueno, pero no le di 5 estrellas porque siento que le falto que se extendiera un poco mas al final.
February 5, 2020
One of the rare most recommended reads ever. So happy that I came across it and read it. Jared and Kate are certainly two of the most distinguished heroes in a harlequin. So strong and welling to commit to their love once they find it. So Beautiful and passionate. Love it! A novel for keeps!
January 21, 2025
How is this considered a romance novel???? The h lets one guy (the first OM) use her, both in bed and out, then goes from his bed to the H's after OM dumps her for a sugar mama, only this time she's doing the using! The H pretends to be someone he's not, acts like an obsessed stalker and won't leave her alone (though she's made it clear that their fling was an ego boost for her after being dumped by the OM, nothing more, despite the multiple orgasms she never had with her gigolo ex), and meanwhile she's found herself a sugar daddy, as a means of avenging herself on the guys who used her (she thinks the H will be one of them) by using a guy, instead! The H later proves his "love" (or his twisted version of it) by raping her!!!! Of course, he's real sorry later on!
I've started and DNF several of Ms. Mortimer's books, because she seems to want to make her main characters as unappealing as possible. In real, life, they'd all be in intensive therapy, which I doubt would even help!
Som far, she's written a few gems, so I'll search for a few more, but most likely I'll find a lot more
DNF
I've started and DNF several of Ms. Mortimer's books, because she seems to want to make her main characters as unappealing as possible. In real, life, they'd all be in intensive therapy, which I doubt would even help!
Som far, she's written a few gems, so I'll search for a few more, but most likely I'll find a lot more
DNF
February 5, 2023
domineering Jack-wagon
I did finish the book, but it’s not the greatest book. At one point in the book, the Jack-wagon rapes the woman he supposedly loves. She says no literally 3 or 4 times and physically struggles against him and he still does the deed, using her “melting into his body” as consent. That is not consent, that is wearing her down and the anger and violence is still there when he leaves. Then he comes back and does the deed again, but with a “sorry” on his lips. She is then madly in love with him. Nothing charming about his anger and flashes of temper. She is crabby too and strikes out at him, but nothing in this book was worth the read.
I did finish the book, but it’s not the greatest book. At one point in the book, the Jack-wagon rapes the woman he supposedly loves. She says no literally 3 or 4 times and physically struggles against him and he still does the deed, using her “melting into his body” as consent. That is not consent, that is wearing her down and the anger and violence is still there when he leaves. Then he comes back and does the deed again, but with a “sorry” on his lips. She is then madly in love with him. Nothing charming about his anger and flashes of temper. She is crabby too and strikes out at him, but nothing in this book was worth the read.
September 27, 2021
3.5 stars.
July 18, 2024
Uyy esa posesividad y las escenas de celos de jared fueron explosivas.
Hace rato no me habia enganchado un harlequin tanto.❤️🔥😍
Hace rato no me habia enganchado un harlequin tanto.❤️🔥😍
July 23, 2017
This was more or less a fair read until the male protagonist forced himself on the heroine. That scene ruined everything. Plus he was also a big hypocrite: he concealed his identity from her until the end yet patronised her for getting engaged to a man she didn't love.
I just cant'accept rape in a romantic novel.
I just cant'accept rape in a romantic novel.
April 30, 2010
Have I mentioned that I love books whose heroine's name is Kate or Kathrine? Well, I should probably tell it now! Although overall the book was comme ci comme ca, I have it in my favourite book's list because of Kate's name. As a romance book, I could say that it was nice.
January 14, 2016
I love it. I love it. I love it. I fell in love the h and H
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews