What do you think?
Rate this book
The Eleventh-Hour Groom
Eighteen months ago Elizabeth and Jay Hammond made a hasty marriage of convenience to secure her inheritance. But when Elizabeth suspected Jay was having an affair with another woman, she left him. Her expertly hidden feelings for Jay ran so deep that she fled Jamaica to make a new life for herself in London.
Now Jay has come to find her— and it seems he has some unfinished business concerning their marriage merger! The trouble is, Elizabeth can't be sure revenge isn't part of his reason for tracking her down....
192 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2002
1 person is currently reading
39 people want to read
About the author
Kathryn Ross
171 books46 followers Kathryn Ross is a professional beauty therapist, but writing is her first love. At thirteen she was editor of her school magazine and wrote a play for a competition, and won. Ten years later she was accepted by Mills & Boon, who were the only publishers she ever approached with her work. Kathryn lives in Lancashire, is married and has inherited two delightful stepsons. She has written over twenty novels now and is still as much in love with writing as ever and never plans to stop.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
June 3, 2021
Unlike most romance readers, I openly love a Big Misunderstanding plot.
As a youthful reader of romance, my love of the Big Mis plot was because nobody has actually done anything wrong but you get all the drama as if they had. Yes, I'm older and more nuanced now, so I can see that the lack of trust and communication inherent in a Big Mis plot is problematic (that is, THAT is what they're doing wrong), but I am not sliding down that rabbit hole right now.
The value in a Big Mis plot, the secret of its ongoing appeal for me, is in how the misunderstanding and its unraveling is crafted. A big misunderstanding is like a mini-mystery. The more convincing the set-up is, the more thorough the explanation needs to be.
This book is an example of how NOT to do a Big Misunderstanding, which is a pity because "little" misunderstandings are everywhere in the plot (she thinks the papers he's brought for her signature are divorce papers, he thinks she's having a clandestine affair with her married boss, etc.), so nailing the misunderstanding theme would elevate the book.
Before our story begins, the heroine proposed a marriage of convenience with the hero to fulfill the terms of her father's will so she can inherit his shipyard. (This is ridiculous because the heroine is on excellent terms with her stepmother, who would probably have deeded the shipyard if asked...also ridiculous because outrageous codicils in wills are probably unenforceable.) The hero said yes, but insisted on a "real" marriage (i.e., there will be sex). They marry. There's sex. Everything seems to be fine, though nobody's saying ILY, then the heroine overhears the hero's secretary in the ladies' restroom during "a function at the polo club" (lol):
I know, I know. Not exactly riveting dialogue. But the point is names are named, sexual relations are asserted, and the only ambiguity is whether the husband has feelings for his secretary or is just sexing her up.
Naturally, the heroine doesn't confront her husband. They continue to live together for a few days/weeks, but the heroine can't stand to have the hero touch her after this. Presumably the hero doesn't confront her on her change in behavior and starts to work longer hours to avoid her, because one night when he hasn't come home by 11:30pm, she decides to seek him out in his office at the shipyard. Where she sees the secretary, sitting on his desk, lean forward to give her husband a "smouldering, passionate kiss." So the heroine leaves Jamaica for London where the hero shows up 12 months later at the book's opening with papers he needs her to sign.
Heroine returns with hero to Jamaica for a combination of her stepmother's remarriage and business reasons re: the shipyard. There she discovers that his former secretary (Lisa of the smouldering lips) has been moved to the accounts department and replaced by Caroline of the no-implied-infidelity.
I'll just hop over the plot filler. During the great unraveling that leads to the HEA, the hero confirms that he had had an affair with Lisa which ended before the heroine proposed to him. The heroine spills all about the kiss she witnessed and the conversation she overheard.
...and that's it. That's the explanation. A non-explanation. This isn't how a satisfying Big Mis works! We need the clues pieced together: confirmation of a craftily plotting OW who saw a prenup and then set up the wife to eavesdrop on that conversation. No joy here. (We do get bonus confirmation that the hero took Lisa out to lunch a couple of times while the heroine was in London, because dating an ex during a marital estrangement is always a good look for a hero.)
Not a recommended read. 2.5 stars, rounded down.
As a youthful reader of romance, my love of the Big Mis plot was because nobody has actually done anything wrong but you get all the drama as if they had. Yes, I'm older and more nuanced now, so I can see that the lack of trust and communication inherent in a Big Mis plot is problematic (that is, THAT is what they're doing wrong), but I am not sliding down that rabbit hole right now.
The value in a Big Mis plot, the secret of its ongoing appeal for me, is in how the misunderstanding and its unraveling is crafted. A big misunderstanding is like a mini-mystery. The more convincing the set-up is, the more thorough the explanation needs to be.
This book is an example of how NOT to do a Big Misunderstanding, which is a pity because "little" misunderstandings are everywhere in the plot (she thinks the papers he's brought for her signature are divorce papers, he thinks she's having a clandestine affair with her married boss, etc.), so nailing the misunderstanding theme would elevate the book.
Before our story begins, the heroine proposed a marriage of convenience with the hero to fulfill the terms of her father's will so she can inherit his shipyard. (This is ridiculous because the heroine is on excellent terms with her stepmother, who would probably have deeded the shipyard if asked...also ridiculous because outrageous codicils in wills are probably unenforceable.) The hero said yes, but insisted on a "real" marriage (i.e., there will be sex). They marry. There's sex. Everything seems to be fine, though nobody's saying ILY, then the heroine overhears the hero's secretary in the ladies' restroom during "a function at the polo club" (lol):
"I think I've fallen in love," the woman had said dreamily. "No one has ever turned me on the way he does. Sex is just incredible."
"And does Jay feel the same way?" her companion had asked.
"I don't know. All I do know is that he doesn't love his wife. Well, she's hardly in his league, is she. She's a bit of a plain Jane."
"Which one is his wife?"
"Long dark hair, a bit on the weighty side. She's called Beth."
"Oh, I didn't realize she was his wife."
"Well, they've only been married for about six months."
"Six months! They should still be on their honeymoon."
"Yes, I suppose so, but he's not happy. Well, he can't be can he? Otherwise he wouldn't be playing away. That marriage is just a sham. Jay probably got a tax break or something by marrying her."
I know, I know. Not exactly riveting dialogue. But the point is names are named, sexual relations are asserted, and the only ambiguity is whether the husband has feelings for his secretary or is just sexing her up.
Naturally, the heroine doesn't confront her husband. They continue to live together for a few days/weeks, but the heroine can't stand to have the hero touch her after this. Presumably the hero doesn't confront her on her change in behavior and starts to work longer hours to avoid her, because one night when he hasn't come home by 11:30pm, she decides to seek him out in his office at the shipyard. Where she sees the secretary, sitting on his desk, lean forward to give her husband a "smouldering, passionate kiss." So the heroine leaves Jamaica for London where the hero shows up 12 months later at the book's opening with papers he needs her to sign.
Heroine returns with hero to Jamaica for a combination of her stepmother's remarriage and business reasons re: the shipyard. There she discovers that his former secretary (Lisa of the smouldering lips) has been moved to the accounts department and replaced by Caroline of the no-implied-infidelity.
I'll just hop over the plot filler. During the great unraveling that leads to the HEA, the hero confirms that he had had an affair with Lisa which ended before the heroine proposed to him. The heroine spills all about the kiss she witnessed and the conversation she overheard.
"And you left me because of that?" Jay asked furiously. "Well, she was lying, G*d damn it!"
"How did she know we had an arranged marriage for business reasons?"
"I don't know, but it wasn't anything I'd told her." Jay's voice was so cold, so contemptuous, that she hesitated.
...and that's it. That's the explanation. A non-explanation. This isn't how a satisfying Big Mis works! We need the clues pieced together: confirmation of a craftily plotting OW who saw a prenup and then set up the wife to eavesdrop on that conversation. No joy here. (We do get bonus confirmation that the hero took Lisa out to lunch a couple of times while the heroine was in London, because dating an ex during a marital estrangement is always a good look for a hero.)
Not a recommended read. 2.5 stars, rounded down.
November 29, 2020
I am totally conflicted with this book. I hated the hero even at the end and he wasn't a bad guy really. I just hated that he was a manho after he met her. They were just friends but he disgusted me. Plus he was married before and he said it was fireworks so he was glad to to be moc with her since it was better to be friends. I hate that he had slept with Lisa his secretary, not while they were married but before the marriage plus he took her out a couple of times after she left. That just bothered me and the heroine pissed me off. She lied and I hate that. She just annoyed me. I hate the big misunderstanding trope too. This is between a two and a three to me. The hero says he hadn't touched anyone since the day they were married but I just didn't like him. I did know he loved her but he did let that ho kiss him. It made me cry too because I felt her pain. And it was true he never cheated after they were married or while they were apart but he was still icky to me. I just didn't like him. And I don't know why. Disappointed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 6, 2019
Eighteen months ago Elizabeth and Jay Hammond made a hasty marriage of convenience to secure her inheritance. But when Elizabeth suspected Jay was having an affair with another woman, she left him. Her expertly hidden feelings for Jay ran so deep that she fled Jamaica to make a new life for herself in London.
Now Jay has come to find her— and it seems he has some unfinished business concerning their marriage merger! The trouble is, Elizabeth can't be sure revenge isn't part of his reason for tracking her down....
Now Jay has come to find her— and it seems he has some unfinished business concerning their marriage merger! The trouble is, Elizabeth can't be sure revenge isn't part of his reason for tracking her down....
August 14, 2008
The eleventh hour groom is a story of a couple, Elizabeth and Jay, who got married or let's say made a "contract" according to the condition of Elizabeth's father so she can get her inheritance. The story goes like this; they love each other, each one of them tries to hide his\her feelings, each one doubts that the other has a secret affair and booooom !! the end of the story they confess and find that they were mistaken and can't live apart anymore.
huh!, CAN IT BE MORE TYPICAL !!
One thing I really liked in this story is when the author describes Elizabeth's passion, feelings and emotions. I reeeeeally could feel what she felt. In my opinion that was the one thing the author showed a wonderfulness at.
I don't actually recommend it unless you wanna change the mood of a previous book .. like what I did
huh!, CAN IT BE MORE TYPICAL !!
One thing I really liked in this story is when the author describes Elizabeth's passion, feelings and emotions. I reeeeeally could feel what she felt. In my opinion that was the one thing the author showed a wonderfulness at.
I don't actually recommend it unless you wanna change the mood of a previous book .. like what I did
October 4, 2023
Heroine thinks hubby cheated so she moves from Jamaica to London and starts up a new life as an advertising executive. (as you do)
On the eve of her birthday, hubby shows up to implore her to sign papers so he can expand the boatyard she inherited upon marrying him. She had thought they were divorce papers and couldn't bring herself to open them.
Reeder has an indepth review (thank you, reeder) so I'm spared the heavy lifting of explaining why these whiny characters didn't elicit much interest from me in their reconcilliation.
What I was struck by was how a 20-something with no credentials could move to London from abroad, land a really good job in the center of London and afford to rent a mews house within commuting distance of the office. Now that's fantasy!
Also, a modern HP heroine would never date her co-workers while still married.Even the hero showing up at heroine's work birthday party didn't dissuade guys from hitting on her or taking her out later in the story. The hero also took women out while heroine was in London, so goose/gander.
To marvel at these attitudes (and low London rents) is about the only reason I can find to recommend this story.
On the eve of her birthday, hubby shows up to implore her to sign papers so he can expand the boatyard she inherited upon marrying him. She had thought they were divorce papers and couldn't bring herself to open them.
Reeder has an indepth review (thank you, reeder) so I'm spared the heavy lifting of explaining why these whiny characters didn't elicit much interest from me in their reconcilliation.
What I was struck by was how a 20-something with no credentials could move to London from abroad, land a really good job in the center of London and afford to rent a mews house within commuting distance of the office. Now that's fantasy!
Also, a modern HP heroine would never date her co-workers while still married.Even the hero showing up at heroine's work birthday party didn't dissuade guys from hitting on her or taking her out later in the story. The hero also took women out while heroine was in London, so goose/gander.
To marvel at these attitudes (and low London rents) is about the only reason I can find to recommend this story.
Read
September 5, 2024Reread today
November 6, 2012
Moyen.
Y a mieux et y a pire.
Y a mieux et y a pire.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews