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Mansion for My Love
"He's not a good man to fall in love with!"
Faine had not ignored the warning, but even without his wealth, charm and good looks, Burke Harding had a magnetism,
His determined pursuit and assault on her heart soon overcame her wavering resistance. She agreed to marry him, but some deep instinct of self-preservation kept her from revealing her love--and in time her decision was vindicated.
"I carefully avoided telling you that I love you," he told her when Faine discovered she was a stand-in for the woman he really loved--but could not have.
Faine had not ignored the warning, but even without his wealth, charm and good looks, Burke Harding had a magnetism,
His determined pursuit and assault on her heart soon overcame her wavering resistance. She agreed to marry him, but some deep instinct of self-preservation kept her from revealing her love--and in time her decision was vindicated.
"I carefully avoided telling you that I love you," he told her when Faine discovered she was a stand-in for the woman he really loved--but could not have.
188 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 1982
4 people are currently reading
375 people want to read
About the author
Robyn Donald
448 books148 followersRobyn Elaine Donald was born on 14 August 1940 in Northland, New Zealand. She was the oldest child in her family, and as a child, she thrilled her four sisters and one brother with bloodcurdling adventure tales, usually very like the latest book she'd borrowed from the library.
Robyn owes her writing career to two illnesses. The first was a younger sister's flu. She was living with her husband and Robyn and spent most of that winter acquiring, suffering, and recovering from various infections. One day she croaked that she had read everything on Robyn's bookshelves, so would Robyn please buy her something cheerful and sustaining. Robyn found three paperbacks- one Mills and Boon Modern Romance novel and a couple of other romances. Robyn read them, too, of course, and so enjoyed them she spent the next couple of years hunting down more Mills and Boon books. This was much more difficult then than it is today, so she decided to write her own, and for the following busy 10 years she wrote and hoped that one day she would finish a manuscript good enough that was good enough to send to a publisher.
The second illness was her husband's, and it was bad a heart attack. He was so young it terrified them all. While he was recovering, he suggested that Robyn finish the manuscript she was writing and send it off. It wasn't a perfect manuscript, but the doctor had said to humour her husband, so she finished the manuscript, edited it as best she could, and sent it off. Three months later, she was astounded to read a letter from the editor saying that if She made a few revisions they would buy her novel Bride at Whangatapu.
Published since 1977, Robyn sees her readers as intelligent women who insist on accurate backgrounds, so she spends time researching as well as writing.Robyn Donald sometimes thinks that writing is much like gardening. It's a similar process creating landscapes for the mind and emotions from the seeds of ideas and dreams and images. Both activities can also lead to moments of extreme delight, moments of total despair, and backache.Now Robyn lives in the Bay Islands. She continues writing, and also finds time for a very supportive husband, two adult children and their partners, a granddaughter and her mother, not to mention the member of the family that keeps her fit - a loud, cheerful, and ruthlessly determined "almost" Labradordog.
Robyn owes her writing career to two illnesses. The first was a younger sister's flu. She was living with her husband and Robyn and spent most of that winter acquiring, suffering, and recovering from various infections. One day she croaked that she had read everything on Robyn's bookshelves, so would Robyn please buy her something cheerful and sustaining. Robyn found three paperbacks- one Mills and Boon Modern Romance novel and a couple of other romances. Robyn read them, too, of course, and so enjoyed them she spent the next couple of years hunting down more Mills and Boon books. This was much more difficult then than it is today, so she decided to write her own, and for the following busy 10 years she wrote and hoped that one day she would finish a manuscript good enough that was good enough to send to a publisher.
The second illness was her husband's, and it was bad a heart attack. He was so young it terrified them all. While he was recovering, he suggested that Robyn finish the manuscript she was writing and send it off. It wasn't a perfect manuscript, but the doctor had said to humour her husband, so she finished the manuscript, edited it as best she could, and sent it off. Three months later, she was astounded to read a letter from the editor saying that if She made a few revisions they would buy her novel Bride at Whangatapu.
Published since 1977, Robyn sees her readers as intelligent women who insist on accurate backgrounds, so she spends time researching as well as writing.Robyn Donald sometimes thinks that writing is much like gardening. It's a similar process creating landscapes for the mind and emotions from the seeds of ideas and dreams and images. Both activities can also lead to moments of extreme delight, moments of total despair, and backache.Now Robyn lives in the Bay Islands. She continues writing, and also finds time for a very supportive husband, two adult children and their partners, a granddaughter and her mother, not to mention the member of the family that keeps her fit - a loud, cheerful, and ruthlessly determined "almost" Labradordog.
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March 5, 2025
SPOILERS
Early 1980's
Twenty three year old Faine was a classy, well-bred and graceful librarian.
Thirty two year old Burke was a financial tycoon in New Zealand who was gifted with film star good looks and had a long list of beautiful female conquests. He was charming with an air of power.
Burke caught Faine's eye when he'd borrowed some books from the library. The next day she met a wheelchair bound young man, Gavin, in the Domain. Soon Gavin's wife and brother joined them.
Coincidentally, Gavin's older brother was non other than Burke, and Gavin's wife a beautiful Britton, Libby, who had an anguished face and a taut expression.
Burke invited Faine for a walk. His brother, Burke said, was frustrated, taking it out on those around him, and poor Libby put up with him.
Faine found Burke very attractive. He possessed personal magnetism, sexual charisma and masterful personality.
She had the feeling, though, that there must be rather less pleasant character traits hidden below the surface, like ruthlessness.
Nevertheless he intrigued her and was unable to put him out of her mind.
One day he took her on a picnic on the hills overlooking the sea. There was an abandoned, elegant old mansion there, surrounded by colourful gardens and a marble statue of Persephone was standing in the midst of it.
Faine fell in love with the house.
There was a strong attraction between the two and Faine was intrigued by him. They started dating.
He introduced her to his grandmother and his friends and as the weeks went by Faine fell more and more in love but she was reluctant to show it.
One day he took her to Persephone's house. He told her if she wanted the house he'd have to go with it as a package. Faine accepted.
Later on she got consumed by uneasiness. Nothing she could put her finger on as a cause.
And he never said he loved her.
They announced the news to his family. His grandmother was ecstatic as she loved Faine who was ladylike with beautiful manners and a kind heart.
There were undercurrents from Libby and Gavin. Very definitely there was something wrong, too much tension between the couple and Burke, making Faine feel uncomfortable.
And just why Libby always had an expression of anxiety on her face?
They got married. The reception was held at the family mansion. Faine was about to step outside when she saw Burke and Libby in an embrace, kissing passionately and exchanging words of love.
Faine's suspicions were confirmed and her hopes for the future dashed.
As Burke re-entered the house, his face turned white. He apologised to Faine and told her that they would work it out.
"Why the sudden revulsion? I don't remember you asking whether l was in love with another woman and l avoided telling you that l love you. What you'd witnessed need make little difference to us. My wedding vows are important to me and intend to keep them".
(As if he did not just broke the wedding vows he only took a couple of hours earlier).
He'd used his grandmother to manipulate Faine into staying put. The shock of betrayal had robbed Faine of energy and will power. She was tired, numb and emotionally fragile.
They went on their week long honeymoon which remained unconsummated. Faine felt trapped in that mockery of a marriage. He had courted her, wooed her into a marriage in spite of his feelings for Libby.
Faine, right from the start sensed a reserve from him, despite his passion.
She told him she was not planning to stay with him, she would not be used as a substitute.
"Then make me love you" he said "l want children and a kind stimulating, passionate wife. I want you and l know l can make you happy ".
"Can l make you happy when you love Libby and she loves you?"
"There was no future with Libby and me. I doubt if l'd have taken her.l love my brother and l wouldn't do that to my grandmother."
They've settled in Persephone's house. On the surface Faine was happy. Home-making gave her satisfaction and she enjoyed working in the garden, planting shrubs and flowers.
For the first time after her parents death when she was 17, she felt security.
Burke asked her to invite the family for dinner which of course included Libby who was a mass of nerves and a martyr expression painted on her face.
When they had gone, Faine heard him in his room walking the floor and her heart ached. She went to his room to comfort him and they ended up making love. In fact it went so perfect that Faine thought they may have a chance.
They woke up to the news of Gavin's death. Libby, grief stricken, broke down in Burke's arms. Burke's and Faine's night together forgotten now that Libby needed him and was constantly leaning heavily on Burke.
Faine took over the decisions, responsibilities and arrangements.
At the funeral Libby collapsed against Burke crying and wouldn't let go, to the point that the grandmother urged Faine to intervene and get Libby away.
Not in front of the mourners, she seemed to say, let there be no scandal.
They moved temporarily to the family home in order to give comfort to the grandmother and Libby.
Burke thanked Faine for being such a tower of strength and support to all of them.
Faine's sence of security was gone. What security had there been with Libby now a constant threat?
She told Burke that she won't stand in his way. Burke said that she must have a low opinion of him to think that he would let her go now that circumstances have changed.
They made love and afterwards she told him she was leaving. Libby needed him. He'd asked if she, Faine, needed him. She said she didn't.
He told her to stay.
"Do you want the two of us? Me as a wife and Libby as a mistress?"
"No, of course not"
"Then l'll go."
"You have bought the mansion of a love but not possessed it".
Faine moved far away and got a job in a library. She wept for the man she loved but never possessed. For the house that she considered home, and the gardens with the violets she'd planted, she even wept for Persephone.
One day coming back home she'd found Burke waiting for her. His sudden appearance forced the mask drop from her face and all the love she had for him was clearly shown on her face.
He saw it.
He said Libby had gone back to England, for good. He wanted Faine back. He emphasised that he had sent Libby away. He discovered that whatever they'd had wasn't love.
If Faine did not take him back it would be the nearest thing to hell for him.
He said that after Gavin lost use of his legs, his brother behaved like a swine to Libby. Burke felt so sorry for her and she was so beautiful, he wanted her.
When Faine came along he thought if he married, it would remove the temptation on both Libby and himself.
It worked, but what he did not realise was that as his hunger for Faine increased, his feelings for Libby decreased.
He'd found Faine desirable, a terrific companion, compassionate, sweet and opinionated. Faine made it clear to him that she didn't need him and he did not know at the time that she loved him.
When Faine left, he moved back to the family house but he didn't sell their home. He felt empty and cold but he was excited. He'd wanted Libby for so long and it came as a shock when he'd realised that she meant no more to him than most of the others.
They'd tried to make love but he was unable to. He'd craved and ached for Faine day after day. Things became tense and strained with Libby and they had a row. She'd accused him of been in love with Faine which he'd realised that it was true but Libby had no such change of heart.
He told her to go back to England. He mistook the compassion he felt for Libby for love.
He told Faine that there hasn't been a minute that he haven't thought of her. Faine forgave him. She told him "l could no more stop loving you than l could stop breathing".
Two years later Faine was pregnant and the couple was crazy in love. Libby got married again in England and came back to New Zealand with her new husband to visit the grandmother.
Libby told Faine that her love for Gavin was wearing thin even before the accident that hurt his legs, and then she couldn't leave him. She felt so secure with Burke, she leaned on him and he had such sexual magnetism. She was feeling guilty having those feelings for Burke and Gavin was very astute and suspicious.
She hated it when Burke married Faine. She felt deserted. In the end Burke realised that it wasn't love and much later Libby realised it too.
The author tried to portray Libby as a sympathetic character. She hadn't succeeded with me. Libby seemed to be a victim narcissist. She was considering leaving Gavin but after the accident she stayed and played the martyr. The loyal, devoted wife who supported her wheelchair bound husband. The husband who was bitter and snappy. But how could he not be like that when he could see what was going on between his wife and big brother?
Even the grandmother knew. You see, they were all living under the same roof.
Libby cornered the Hero on his wedding day to have a secret tryst and an exchange of love words. No concern and respect for the heroine on her wedding day.
After Gavin's death she'd attached herself onto the Hero like a leech, seeking attention and support again, no concern for the heroine. What was she so upset about anyway, she did not even like Gavin. Even the grandmother was embarrassed with her inappropriate behaviour in front of the mourners.
Then the heroine left because of Libby and poor, recently widowed Libby, was ready and willing to jump into bed with the Hero. The married Hero, and in the grandmother's house too.
Who cares about the heroine. All that mattered was long suffering, martyr, anguished Libby.
Two years later she came back to New Zealand flaunting her new husband and their undying love.
Did she apologise to the heroine for all she'd put her through?
Not at all. No remorse. It was all about poor, wronged Libby.
Early 1980's
Twenty three year old Faine was a classy, well-bred and graceful librarian.
Thirty two year old Burke was a financial tycoon in New Zealand who was gifted with film star good looks and had a long list of beautiful female conquests. He was charming with an air of power.
Burke caught Faine's eye when he'd borrowed some books from the library. The next day she met a wheelchair bound young man, Gavin, in the Domain. Soon Gavin's wife and brother joined them.
Coincidentally, Gavin's older brother was non other than Burke, and Gavin's wife a beautiful Britton, Libby, who had an anguished face and a taut expression.
Burke invited Faine for a walk. His brother, Burke said, was frustrated, taking it out on those around him, and poor Libby put up with him.
Faine found Burke very attractive. He possessed personal magnetism, sexual charisma and masterful personality.
She had the feeling, though, that there must be rather less pleasant character traits hidden below the surface, like ruthlessness.
Nevertheless he intrigued her and was unable to put him out of her mind.
One day he took her on a picnic on the hills overlooking the sea. There was an abandoned, elegant old mansion there, surrounded by colourful gardens and a marble statue of Persephone was standing in the midst of it.
Faine fell in love with the house.
There was a strong attraction between the two and Faine was intrigued by him. They started dating.
He introduced her to his grandmother and his friends and as the weeks went by Faine fell more and more in love but she was reluctant to show it.
One day he took her to Persephone's house. He told her if she wanted the house he'd have to go with it as a package. Faine accepted.
Later on she got consumed by uneasiness. Nothing she could put her finger on as a cause.
And he never said he loved her.
They announced the news to his family. His grandmother was ecstatic as she loved Faine who was ladylike with beautiful manners and a kind heart.
There were undercurrents from Libby and Gavin. Very definitely there was something wrong, too much tension between the couple and Burke, making Faine feel uncomfortable.
And just why Libby always had an expression of anxiety on her face?
They got married. The reception was held at the family mansion. Faine was about to step outside when she saw Burke and Libby in an embrace, kissing passionately and exchanging words of love.
Faine's suspicions were confirmed and her hopes for the future dashed.
As Burke re-entered the house, his face turned white. He apologised to Faine and told her that they would work it out.
"Why the sudden revulsion? I don't remember you asking whether l was in love with another woman and l avoided telling you that l love you. What you'd witnessed need make little difference to us. My wedding vows are important to me and intend to keep them".
(As if he did not just broke the wedding vows he only took a couple of hours earlier).
He'd used his grandmother to manipulate Faine into staying put. The shock of betrayal had robbed Faine of energy and will power. She was tired, numb and emotionally fragile.
They went on their week long honeymoon which remained unconsummated. Faine felt trapped in that mockery of a marriage. He had courted her, wooed her into a marriage in spite of his feelings for Libby.
Faine, right from the start sensed a reserve from him, despite his passion.
She told him she was not planning to stay with him, she would not be used as a substitute.
"Then make me love you" he said "l want children and a kind stimulating, passionate wife. I want you and l know l can make you happy ".
"Can l make you happy when you love Libby and she loves you?"
"There was no future with Libby and me. I doubt if l'd have taken her.l love my brother and l wouldn't do that to my grandmother."
They've settled in Persephone's house. On the surface Faine was happy. Home-making gave her satisfaction and she enjoyed working in the garden, planting shrubs and flowers.
For the first time after her parents death when she was 17, she felt security.
Burke asked her to invite the family for dinner which of course included Libby who was a mass of nerves and a martyr expression painted on her face.
When they had gone, Faine heard him in his room walking the floor and her heart ached. She went to his room to comfort him and they ended up making love. In fact it went so perfect that Faine thought they may have a chance.
They woke up to the news of Gavin's death. Libby, grief stricken, broke down in Burke's arms. Burke's and Faine's night together forgotten now that Libby needed him and was constantly leaning heavily on Burke.
Faine took over the decisions, responsibilities and arrangements.
At the funeral Libby collapsed against Burke crying and wouldn't let go, to the point that the grandmother urged Faine to intervene and get Libby away.
Not in front of the mourners, she seemed to say, let there be no scandal.
They moved temporarily to the family home in order to give comfort to the grandmother and Libby.
Burke thanked Faine for being such a tower of strength and support to all of them.
Faine's sence of security was gone. What security had there been with Libby now a constant threat?
She told Burke that she won't stand in his way. Burke said that she must have a low opinion of him to think that he would let her go now that circumstances have changed.
They made love and afterwards she told him she was leaving. Libby needed him. He'd asked if she, Faine, needed him. She said she didn't.
He told her to stay.
"Do you want the two of us? Me as a wife and Libby as a mistress?"
"No, of course not"
"Then l'll go."
"You have bought the mansion of a love but not possessed it".
Faine moved far away and got a job in a library. She wept for the man she loved but never possessed. For the house that she considered home, and the gardens with the violets she'd planted, she even wept for Persephone.
One day coming back home she'd found Burke waiting for her. His sudden appearance forced the mask drop from her face and all the love she had for him was clearly shown on her face.
He saw it.
He said Libby had gone back to England, for good. He wanted Faine back. He emphasised that he had sent Libby away. He discovered that whatever they'd had wasn't love.
If Faine did not take him back it would be the nearest thing to hell for him.
He said that after Gavin lost use of his legs, his brother behaved like a swine to Libby. Burke felt so sorry for her and she was so beautiful, he wanted her.
When Faine came along he thought if he married, it would remove the temptation on both Libby and himself.
It worked, but what he did not realise was that as his hunger for Faine increased, his feelings for Libby decreased.
He'd found Faine desirable, a terrific companion, compassionate, sweet and opinionated. Faine made it clear to him that she didn't need him and he did not know at the time that she loved him.
When Faine left, he moved back to the family house but he didn't sell their home. He felt empty and cold but he was excited. He'd wanted Libby for so long and it came as a shock when he'd realised that she meant no more to him than most of the others.
They'd tried to make love but he was unable to. He'd craved and ached for Faine day after day. Things became tense and strained with Libby and they had a row. She'd accused him of been in love with Faine which he'd realised that it was true but Libby had no such change of heart.
He told her to go back to England. He mistook the compassion he felt for Libby for love.
He told Faine that there hasn't been a minute that he haven't thought of her. Faine forgave him. She told him "l could no more stop loving you than l could stop breathing".
Two years later Faine was pregnant and the couple was crazy in love. Libby got married again in England and came back to New Zealand with her new husband to visit the grandmother.
Libby told Faine that her love for Gavin was wearing thin even before the accident that hurt his legs, and then she couldn't leave him. She felt so secure with Burke, she leaned on him and he had such sexual magnetism. She was feeling guilty having those feelings for Burke and Gavin was very astute and suspicious.
She hated it when Burke married Faine. She felt deserted. In the end Burke realised that it wasn't love and much later Libby realised it too.
The author tried to portray Libby as a sympathetic character. She hadn't succeeded with me. Libby seemed to be a victim narcissist. She was considering leaving Gavin but after the accident she stayed and played the martyr. The loyal, devoted wife who supported her wheelchair bound husband. The husband who was bitter and snappy. But how could he not be like that when he could see what was going on between his wife and big brother?
Even the grandmother knew. You see, they were all living under the same roof.
Libby cornered the Hero on his wedding day to have a secret tryst and an exchange of love words. No concern and respect for the heroine on her wedding day.
After Gavin's death she'd attached herself onto the Hero like a leech, seeking attention and support again, no concern for the heroine. What was she so upset about anyway, she did not even like Gavin. Even the grandmother was embarrassed with her inappropriate behaviour in front of the mourners.
Then the heroine left because of Libby and poor, recently widowed Libby, was ready and willing to jump into bed with the Hero. The married Hero, and in the grandmother's house too.
Who cares about the heroine. All that mattered was long suffering, martyr, anguished Libby.
Two years later she came back to New Zealand flaunting her new husband and their undying love.
Did she apologise to the heroine for all she'd put her through?
Not at all. No remorse. It was all about poor, wronged Libby.
April 7, 2018
Re Mansion for My Love - Robyn Donald's eighth HP is that nightmare trope that is all too common in early HPlandia - the H marries the h despite being in love with another woman.
In most HPlandia cases, the H is really NOT in love with the other woman, it is just a stick used to drive the plot. However, RD's usual nematode H is not afraid to go there, and yes, he REALLY does love the other woman. But in true to life callous idiot male style, he figures an h in the hand is better than upsetting his grandma and snaffling his semi-paralyzed, angry younger brother's wife - which happens to be the lady the H is in love with.
Interestingly, this book can be directly contrasted to it's exact opposite, Smoke in the Wind which is RD's twentieth HP outing. In that book the H is with the h and dumps her to marry her cousin, whom he believes is his real true love.
In both instances, the h is told she is sloppy seconds and in both instances, the h gathers herself and her shattered heart up and carries on with dignity, class and a certain aloofness that ultimately will bring the H to his knees in remorse for his stupidity. (Well maybe not in Smoke, but I hate the H in that book and I am totally biased.)
While I have written and ranted copious amounts about Smoke in the Wind, my most hated HP ever, I really, really like this one and it is all because of the h, while I tolerate the H. Faine is the ultimate in cool, ladylike class and she is by far and away the best HPlandia h in all of the 1980's HP's written. (Venetia comes a close second in Smoke, but she marries the H when she shouldn't have and that was fatal in my eyes.)
The story starts with Faine, an orphaned diplomat's daughter, meeting the H as he comes into her library to borrow a book. We soon learn that the H is a hot shot self-made multi-millionaire and frequently seen in the company of all kinds of lovely ladies.
The h admits he packs a punch, but she has no illusions about her willingness to be served as an hors d'oeuvre on the lurvely lady buffet and while she is no slouch in the beauty stakes, she isn't a glamourous model type either. Her parent's died in the midst of their diplomatic duties and the h's fiancee soon dumped her afterwards, so the h is a bit standoffish in her dealings with the world, especially men, but she is also a genuinely nice person while not being a doormat.
So it is with a great dead of surprise that the h accepts a date with the H when he asks her out. The h had been out for a walk in the Auckland Domain and was feeding the ducks, when she happened upon a semi-charming young man in a wheelchair. It turns out the very bitter young man is the younger brother of the H and also has a model-type lovely wife, who seems to be in despair over the young man's anger at life.
The H is soon escorting the h about regularly, even putting another man who might be a better fit for the h into a very distant second place. The h knows she is wildly attracted physically to the H, but there is something going on underneath the very nice courtship that she just can't figure out. She keeps dreaming of masks and illusions, but the h isn't about to let vague fears rule her life.
When the H takes her to a lovely hidden house on the edge of the Domain, complete with statue of Persephone confronted by Hades, the H offers to buy the house if she will accept his proposal of marriage. After scuppering her date with the other man, introducing her to his very correct and old fashioned grandmother and thoroughly vetting the h's suitability for his life while roofie kissing the wits out of her, the h is sure the H doesn't love her.
But she is also fairly certain that the H will be a good husband, a good companion and the h is pretty sure that they the two of them have enough to build on to actually grow into a real and deep love. So being a true HPlandia h and a fearless RD one as well, the h takes the chance that the longings of her heart can be brought to bloom and agrees to marry the H. Then the real disaster strikes.
Hours after the wedding ceremony, the h sees the H and his brother's wife embracing in the garden and avowing true love forever. Finally the h's dreams and hidden reservations are understood, the h is to be used as a stand-in for the H's unacceptable love for his crippled, bitter brother's wife.
(Thus we get to understand the title of the book, which is taken from Act III Scene II of Romeo and Juliet where Juliet says
The h's first reaction is to walk out, no one likes being made to realize that they are sloppy seconds. But the H's arguments that he will be faithful, his grandmother would be hurt and his challenge to the h to make her replace the OW in his affections prove to be greater than her shock and the two of them embark on a non-consummated marriage, tho the h very sensibly makes sure that any inadvertent lurve clubbings can't produce any progeny.
(A lot of reader's may find Faine's choice to stay to be hard to understand. But Faine is not a doormat, she truly believes that the H, Burke, means what he says when he says he will be faithful, and for what it is worth, I believed him too - he had too much character to sleep with his brother's wife while his brother is still around. Faine herself has much more character that Burke. She knows she took a risk and she feels she has only herself to blame for accepting a proposal she knew wasn't right. Still, she gave her word and made a commitment in good faith and she has to see it through and at least try to salvage this horrible mess.
Tho as we shall soon see, Faine has her own limits and is quite capable of sorting out a situation that she doesn't agree with. It is what makes Faine such a great h, she will tolerate a lot in the name of love, but when it gets right down to it, she doesn't take any garbage and she firmly puts Burke in his place when he tries it.)
After a dinner party where the H's brother is right snot to everyone, his wife is charmingly woebegone in her marital distress and the H looks like a bulldozer ran over him, the h allows her sense of compassion to overrule her brain and she sleeps with the H. Unicorns are no longer being groomed, but the whole thing went so well that the h believes their marriage has a real chance.
Until the next day, when the H's little brother manages to kill himself in his sports car when he swerves to avoid hitting a child. The little brother's death flings the whole situation into chaos. The H and his brother's wife are now free to find their love and the h, after a forced lurve club moment after the funeral with the H, dumps the H's hiney and takes herself to the far North and another library job.
Eventually the H tracks the h down and wants to resume their marriage. The h is none too sure about that, the H was a big sewer slurper for the most part and probably doesn't deserve a second chance. But the H reveals that tho he tried, he and the OW couldn't make the lurve club rise and the OW accused him of being in love with the h.
The OW is going back to England, cause the H realized that his feelings for her were more of the wounded cuddly kitten needing help variety than the deeper currents of real and abiding love. So the H does a pretty decent grovel for an HP H of the time as he begs a pretty shocked h to take him back.
The h is no fool despite being only 23, she recognizes real devotion and love when she sees it, so she happily agrees to resume the marriage for a highly believable HEA. RD gives us one of the very few epilogues of the 80's era, where we meet the OW and her new husband two years later as they come to New Zealand to visit the H's grandmother.
The OW makes it very clear that any feelings the H and she had for each other were due more to the intense misery of the moment and bitterness of the H's younger brother over his circumstances and
sheer propinquity. There is nothing left between them but the distant memory of affection in a difficult time. The H again does a very good speech about how the now preggers h is his whole world, in this one and the next. So the younger brother's memory is finally put to rest, everyone is coupled up and happy with their real true loves and we can close the book on a very well-wrought RD HEA.
There are a lot of bad marks for this book, and if you cannot handle the h being second best in the beginning, it is probably not for you. However, the H's redemption is exceedingly well done and the h, Faine, is one of the very best in HPlandia ever.
RD makes a continual habit of having really great h's paired with utter coprophagic slime pustule H's, Smoke in the Wind is a great example of how badly that can fail with an utterly unredeemed H. But she makes it work here with her redemption of Burke and the contrasts in the two books make them well worth the time spent reading them.
This book is also one of the best Vintage HP Trainwrecks ever, and love it or hate it, to be a devotee of Vintage HPlandia at all means you must read it. So for better or worse, give this book a look in and have yourself a total trainwrecky angsty outing in HPlandia.
In most HPlandia cases, the H is really NOT in love with the other woman, it is just a stick used to drive the plot. However, RD's usual nematode H is not afraid to go there, and yes, he REALLY does love the other woman. But in true to life callous idiot male style, he figures an h in the hand is better than upsetting his grandma and snaffling his semi-paralyzed, angry younger brother's wife - which happens to be the lady the H is in love with.
Interestingly, this book can be directly contrasted to it's exact opposite, Smoke in the Wind which is RD's twentieth HP outing. In that book the H is with the h and dumps her to marry her cousin, whom he believes is his real true love.
In both instances, the h is told she is sloppy seconds and in both instances, the h gathers herself and her shattered heart up and carries on with dignity, class and a certain aloofness that ultimately will bring the H to his knees in remorse for his stupidity. (Well maybe not in Smoke, but I hate the H in that book and I am totally biased.)
While I have written and ranted copious amounts about Smoke in the Wind, my most hated HP ever, I really, really like this one and it is all because of the h, while I tolerate the H. Faine is the ultimate in cool, ladylike class and she is by far and away the best HPlandia h in all of the 1980's HP's written. (Venetia comes a close second in Smoke, but she marries the H when she shouldn't have and that was fatal in my eyes.)
The story starts with Faine, an orphaned diplomat's daughter, meeting the H as he comes into her library to borrow a book. We soon learn that the H is a hot shot self-made multi-millionaire and frequently seen in the company of all kinds of lovely ladies.
The h admits he packs a punch, but she has no illusions about her willingness to be served as an hors d'oeuvre on the lurvely lady buffet and while she is no slouch in the beauty stakes, she isn't a glamourous model type either. Her parent's died in the midst of their diplomatic duties and the h's fiancee soon dumped her afterwards, so the h is a bit standoffish in her dealings with the world, especially men, but she is also a genuinely nice person while not being a doormat.
So it is with a great dead of surprise that the h accepts a date with the H when he asks her out. The h had been out for a walk in the Auckland Domain and was feeding the ducks, when she happened upon a semi-charming young man in a wheelchair. It turns out the very bitter young man is the younger brother of the H and also has a model-type lovely wife, who seems to be in despair over the young man's anger at life.
The H is soon escorting the h about regularly, even putting another man who might be a better fit for the h into a very distant second place. The h knows she is wildly attracted physically to the H, but there is something going on underneath the very nice courtship that she just can't figure out. She keeps dreaming of masks and illusions, but the h isn't about to let vague fears rule her life.
When the H takes her to a lovely hidden house on the edge of the Domain, complete with statue of Persephone confronted by Hades, the H offers to buy the house if she will accept his proposal of marriage. After scuppering her date with the other man, introducing her to his very correct and old fashioned grandmother and thoroughly vetting the h's suitability for his life while roofie kissing the wits out of her, the h is sure the H doesn't love her.
But she is also fairly certain that the H will be a good husband, a good companion and the h is pretty sure that they the two of them have enough to build on to actually grow into a real and deep love. So being a true HPlandia h and a fearless RD one as well, the h takes the chance that the longings of her heart can be brought to bloom and agrees to marry the H. Then the real disaster strikes.
Hours after the wedding ceremony, the h sees the H and his brother's wife embracing in the garden and avowing true love forever. Finally the h's dreams and hidden reservations are understood, the h is to be used as a stand-in for the H's unacceptable love for his crippled, bitter brother's wife.
(Thus we get to understand the title of the book, which is taken from Act III Scene II of Romeo and Juliet where Juliet says
Oh, I have bought the mansion of a love, but not possessed it, and though I am sold, not yet enjoyed.Meaning that Faine was hoping for a real marriage based on mutual love and now, because of the H's feelings for his brother's wife, she may never actually experience her dream.)
The h's first reaction is to walk out, no one likes being made to realize that they are sloppy seconds. But the H's arguments that he will be faithful, his grandmother would be hurt and his challenge to the h to make her replace the OW in his affections prove to be greater than her shock and the two of them embark on a non-consummated marriage, tho the h very sensibly makes sure that any inadvertent lurve clubbings can't produce any progeny.
(A lot of reader's may find Faine's choice to stay to be hard to understand. But Faine is not a doormat, she truly believes that the H, Burke, means what he says when he says he will be faithful, and for what it is worth, I believed him too - he had too much character to sleep with his brother's wife while his brother is still around. Faine herself has much more character that Burke. She knows she took a risk and she feels she has only herself to blame for accepting a proposal she knew wasn't right. Still, she gave her word and made a commitment in good faith and she has to see it through and at least try to salvage this horrible mess.
Tho as we shall soon see, Faine has her own limits and is quite capable of sorting out a situation that she doesn't agree with. It is what makes Faine such a great h, she will tolerate a lot in the name of love, but when it gets right down to it, she doesn't take any garbage and she firmly puts Burke in his place when he tries it.)
After a dinner party where the H's brother is right snot to everyone, his wife is charmingly woebegone in her marital distress and the H looks like a bulldozer ran over him, the h allows her sense of compassion to overrule her brain and she sleeps with the H. Unicorns are no longer being groomed, but the whole thing went so well that the h believes their marriage has a real chance.
Until the next day, when the H's little brother manages to kill himself in his sports car when he swerves to avoid hitting a child. The little brother's death flings the whole situation into chaos. The H and his brother's wife are now free to find their love and the h, after a forced lurve club moment after the funeral with the H, dumps the H's hiney and takes herself to the far North and another library job.
Eventually the H tracks the h down and wants to resume their marriage. The h is none too sure about that, the H was a big sewer slurper for the most part and probably doesn't deserve a second chance. But the H reveals that tho he tried, he and the OW couldn't make the lurve club rise and the OW accused him of being in love with the h.
The OW is going back to England, cause the H realized that his feelings for her were more of the wounded cuddly kitten needing help variety than the deeper currents of real and abiding love. So the H does a pretty decent grovel for an HP H of the time as he begs a pretty shocked h to take him back.
The h is no fool despite being only 23, she recognizes real devotion and love when she sees it, so she happily agrees to resume the marriage for a highly believable HEA. RD gives us one of the very few epilogues of the 80's era, where we meet the OW and her new husband two years later as they come to New Zealand to visit the H's grandmother.
The OW makes it very clear that any feelings the H and she had for each other were due more to the intense misery of the moment and bitterness of the H's younger brother over his circumstances and
sheer propinquity. There is nothing left between them but the distant memory of affection in a difficult time. The H again does a very good speech about how the now preggers h is his whole world, in this one and the next. So the younger brother's memory is finally put to rest, everyone is coupled up and happy with their real true loves and we can close the book on a very well-wrought RD HEA.
There are a lot of bad marks for this book, and if you cannot handle the h being second best in the beginning, it is probably not for you. However, the H's redemption is exceedingly well done and the h, Faine, is one of the very best in HPlandia ever.
RD makes a continual habit of having really great h's paired with utter coprophagic slime pustule H's, Smoke in the Wind is a great example of how badly that can fail with an utterly unredeemed H. But she makes it work here with her redemption of Burke and the contrasts in the two books make them well worth the time spent reading them.
This book is also one of the best Vintage HP Trainwrecks ever, and love it or hate it, to be a devotee of Vintage HPlandia at all means you must read it. So for better or worse, give this book a look in and have yourself a total trainwrecky angsty outing in HPlandia.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 25, 2024
Almost exactly like Diane Palmer's horrible Fit for a King except, incredibly, DP's hero was better. At least, he was honest from Day One to the heroine that he was in unrequited love with his sister-in-law and theirs would be a marriage of convenience only.
Here, the pathetic excuse for a human being "hero" unscrupulously and despicably manipulated a weak, orphaned, destitute, and naive heroine into marriage and she found out ON HER WEDDING DAY that he was in love with his sister-in-law when she caught them in a passionate embrace.
If you think he felt bad even for a nanosecond, then you, my friend, have failed the HPlandia reader's license test and must go back to review the HPlandia Manual, especially Chapter 8 entitled "Arrogant Stinky Schmucks (A.S.S.) and the spineless leaky jellyblobs who love them."
After this idiot doormat finally leaves him, he goes to bed with the sis-in-law and when the experience amounts to disappointment, he goes back to his jelly-spined wife with an absolute cock-and-bull story that he couldn't perform at the last minute because as he was staring at the naked, ready body of his brother's wife that he had lusted for, fetishized, and obsessed over for years, that's when he had his Eureka moment that it was really his wife he wanted after all.
Excuse me while I go throw up for the next 48 hours.
Here, the pathetic excuse for a human being "hero" unscrupulously and despicably manipulated a weak, orphaned, destitute, and naive heroine into marriage and she found out ON HER WEDDING DAY that he was in love with his sister-in-law when she caught them in a passionate embrace.
If you think he felt bad even for a nanosecond, then you, my friend, have failed the HPlandia reader's license test and must go back to review the HPlandia Manual, especially Chapter 8 entitled "Arrogant Stinky Schmucks (A.S.S.) and the spineless leaky jellyblobs who love them."
After this idiot doormat finally leaves him, he goes to bed with the sis-in-law and when the experience amounts to disappointment, he goes back to his jelly-spined wife with an absolute cock-and-bull story that he couldn't perform at the last minute because as he was staring at the naked, ready body of his brother's wife that he had lusted for, fetishized, and obsessed over for years, that's when he had his Eureka moment that it was really his wife he wanted after all.
Excuse me while I go throw up for the next 48 hours.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 3, 2018
Oh dear. Just re-read the reviews, and I fear for my sanity.
Review
Well, this is what justifiable homicide was made for.
Libby, dear sweet Libby the H’s sister-in-law, is so wonderful that the H Burke, dear sweet fucking, disloyal Burke, calls her “gallant and loyal” to the the heroine. Spare me from creatures that bat their eyelashes and cling to the H’s strength and never cross the line of adultery, but the whole wide world knows about their sacrifice. Gavin, her paraplegic husband, was bitter? He was a paraplegic with a wife making goo goo eyes at his brother who reciprocated because poor Libby…blah blah blah.
4 stars for writing and a real story. A negative million stars for romance as the H murders the concept of love again and again. It’s not enough to fall for his brother’s wife, but everybody knows about it from the worrying grandmother, the suspicious husband/brother, the maid. Everybody except for the heroine who will be the beard for his unrequited love. The scene where she finds out is very well played out which makes it all the more sickening. Compounding that is the H’s insistence that in some way the heroine owes him a happy marriage to complete his life. Not a nice guy.
Fortunately or unfortunately depending how you look at it, Robyn Donald’w writing is excellent. Pity the contemporary HP writers condemned to vacuous and ridiculous titles with “Virgin”, “Tycoon”, “Mistress” etc tossed around with slick, superficial plotting and dialogue. RD has Shakespeare in the title and the book.
The H finally confesses his love to the heroine, and I don’t really care if he means it or not. Yes, he’s good looking, witty, wealthy and charismatic, but he has to be. He is a rotten character and a rotten person, and the heroine chose poorly.
Three stars is all I can give it, but it is so well-written and fleshed out which makes it all the more a horror show.
Review
Well, this is what justifiable homicide was made for.
Libby, dear sweet Libby the H’s sister-in-law, is so wonderful that the H Burke, dear sweet fucking, disloyal Burke, calls her “gallant and loyal” to the the heroine. Spare me from creatures that bat their eyelashes and cling to the H’s strength and never cross the line of adultery, but the whole wide world knows about their sacrifice. Gavin, her paraplegic husband, was bitter? He was a paraplegic with a wife making goo goo eyes at his brother who reciprocated because poor Libby…blah blah blah.
4 stars for writing and a real story. A negative million stars for romance as the H murders the concept of love again and again. It’s not enough to fall for his brother’s wife, but everybody knows about it from the worrying grandmother, the suspicious husband/brother, the maid. Everybody except for the heroine who will be the beard for his unrequited love. The scene where she finds out is very well played out which makes it all the more sickening. Compounding that is the H’s insistence that in some way the heroine owes him a happy marriage to complete his life. Not a nice guy.
Fortunately or unfortunately depending how you look at it, Robyn Donald’w writing is excellent. Pity the contemporary HP writers condemned to vacuous and ridiculous titles with “Virgin”, “Tycoon”, “Mistress” etc tossed around with slick, superficial plotting and dialogue. RD has Shakespeare in the title and the book.
The H finally confesses his love to the heroine, and I don’t really care if he means it or not. Yes, he’s good looking, witty, wealthy and charismatic, but he has to be. He is a rotten character and a rotten person, and the heroine chose poorly.
Three stars is all I can give it, but it is so well-written and fleshed out which makes it all the more a horror show.
July 26, 2018
How to rate this angst-fest? I'll show you:
5 stars for the beautiful writing - the descriptions of the house/bedsit/beach/city in New Zealand are exquisite and set the angsty tone.
5 stars for the angst - heroine is hurting when she discovers her groom kissing his sister-in-law on their wedding day
5 stars for the rage-inducing behavior of the hero post cheating kiss. "Make me love you and not her." LOL - make me not murder you and bury the body under that mansion you bought me.
5 stars for showing the frailties of human nature - hero is afraid of intimacy, so he wraps his "love" for his pitiful sister-in-law around him so he won't feel what he really feels for the heroine and thus be vulnerable
5 stars for a heroine who holds on to her virginity and her dignity their entire courtship and many months of their marriage.
1 star for the heroine taking him back so quickly with only one "I'm sorry."
1 star for the heroine not going to a lawyer the day after their wedding
1 star for the sister in law not apologizing to the heroine for seeking out her groom and kissing him right after the wedding ceremony and then agreeing to have an affair with him while he was still married to the h. RD arranged that scene and sis-in-law should have groveled to the heroine. I HATED her. She should have divorced the hero's slimy brother and moved on.
1 star for the hero pursuing the heroine in very long drawn out courtship and then making it her fault she was upset to find out he was in love with another woman
1 star for the hero being such a wimp about his own feelings (Yes, it contradicts the five stars for human frailty. I admire RD for bring it up, but I don't have to like the hero)
So, I found this to be a mixed bag of highs and lows. It starts out very slowly with a courtship that doesn't feel quite right. RD does a great job showing just how reluctant our heroine is and just how entitled our hero is. It lulls the reader into a hope that the marriage will work out and the heroine will be happy - and then - wham. Let's pour on the angst and conflict.
*happy sigh* I will never have these character's problems.
Boogenhagen has all the spoilers in her excellent review!
Triggers: dubious consent/rape, discussions of rape from the stone age
5 stars for the beautiful writing - the descriptions of the house/bedsit/beach/city in New Zealand are exquisite and set the angsty tone.
5 stars for the angst - heroine is hurting when she discovers her groom kissing his sister-in-law on their wedding day
5 stars for the rage-inducing behavior of the hero post cheating kiss. "Make me love you and not her." LOL - make me not murder you and bury the body under that mansion you bought me.
5 stars for showing the frailties of human nature - hero is afraid of intimacy, so he wraps his "love" for his pitiful sister-in-law around him so he won't feel what he really feels for the heroine and thus be vulnerable
5 stars for a heroine who holds on to her virginity and her dignity their entire courtship and many months of their marriage.
1 star for the heroine taking him back so quickly with only one "I'm sorry."
1 star for the heroine not going to a lawyer the day after their wedding
1 star for the sister in law not apologizing to the heroine for seeking out her groom and kissing him right after the wedding ceremony and then agreeing to have an affair with him while he was still married to the h. RD arranged that scene and sis-in-law should have groveled to the heroine. I HATED her. She should have divorced the hero's slimy brother and moved on.
1 star for the hero pursuing the heroine in very long drawn out courtship and then making it her fault she was upset to find out he was in love with another woman
1 star for the hero being such a wimp about his own feelings (Yes, it contradicts the five stars for human frailty. I admire RD for bring it up, but I don't have to like the hero)
So, I found this to be a mixed bag of highs and lows. It starts out very slowly with a courtship that doesn't feel quite right. RD does a great job showing just how reluctant our heroine is and just how entitled our hero is. It lulls the reader into a hope that the marriage will work out and the heroine will be happy - and then - wham. Let's pour on the angst and conflict.
*happy sigh* I will never have these character's problems.
Boogenhagen has all the spoilers in her excellent review!
Triggers: dubious consent/rape, discussions of rape from the stone age
November 18, 2011
Robyn Donald is one author who writes mean heroes,most of her books have mean rude selfish first class MCP and Burke is no exception he falls in all these catagory infact he is has no moral/ethics he is a slimy pathetic diplorable dirtbag(feeling much better my pentup anger is out Phew!!!!)
okay so here is my review
Faine fell in love with Burke.so when Burke proposes she says yes n they get married.Burke has his own motive to get married to Faine,Faine was warned that Burke is not a man to fall is love with but she went ahead n the truth comes out on wedding day itself he was using her and the marriage to cover up the fact that he was in love with his brother's wife!Libby but for grandma's sake n cover up he marries Faine
I guess my problem with the story is that Libby and Burke believed they were in love with each other. Burke married Faine though. Libby was married to Burke's brother, Gavin. Both Libby and Burke thought Gavin didn't know about each other's feelings? Um . . . even grandma could sense something there. I think grandma was happy when Burke married Faine she seemed to really like her and Faine liked Elled, grandma. So of course Burke uses that as a means to keep Faine at his side. He wants to continue to have this marriage and he will hold up his vows. Soon Gavin dies and all bets are off?! Faine tells Burke to go and of course he does so. He thinks to try his luck at Libby. My problem is what about what grandma thinks now? They were all concerned before but now they don't care because it meshes with what Burke and Libby want?Burke goes to Libby they try to have Sex i guess they went till kisses n foreplay but they don't do the deed was Burke-Libby realise they are not in love it was never love and Burke comes back to Faine n tells her these details n I Love U and all is forgiven
Burke was terrible to Faine,I found it so painful to read I wanted her to tell Burke to "GET LOST!"
Faine should have tried her luck with the other guy that she had been dating before and then I would have felt better about the ending. Yet she doesn't and Burke shows up. All is forgiven in a few short pages. Where is the groveling???? I liked Faine and I liked some of the other aspects of this story but I'm not sure about the ending.
I cannot recommend this book
okay so here is my review
Faine fell in love with Burke.so when Burke proposes she says yes n they get married.Burke has his own motive to get married to Faine,Faine was warned that Burke is not a man to fall is love with but she went ahead n the truth comes out on wedding day itself he was using her and the marriage to cover up the fact that he was in love with his brother's wife!Libby but for grandma's sake n cover up he marries Faine
I guess my problem with the story is that Libby and Burke believed they were in love with each other. Burke married Faine though. Libby was married to Burke's brother, Gavin. Both Libby and Burke thought Gavin didn't know about each other's feelings? Um . . . even grandma could sense something there. I think grandma was happy when Burke married Faine she seemed to really like her and Faine liked Elled, grandma. So of course Burke uses that as a means to keep Faine at his side. He wants to continue to have this marriage and he will hold up his vows. Soon Gavin dies and all bets are off?! Faine tells Burke to go and of course he does so. He thinks to try his luck at Libby. My problem is what about what grandma thinks now? They were all concerned before but now they don't care because it meshes with what Burke and Libby want?Burke goes to Libby they try to have Sex i guess they went till kisses n foreplay but they don't do the deed was Burke-Libby realise they are not in love it was never love and Burke comes back to Faine n tells her these details n I Love U and all is forgiven
Burke was terrible to Faine,I found it so painful to read I wanted her to tell Burke to "GET LOST!"
Faine should have tried her luck with the other guy that she had been dating before and then I would have felt better about the ending. Yet she doesn't and Burke shows up. All is forgiven in a few short pages. Where is the groveling???? I liked Faine and I liked some of the other aspects of this story but I'm not sure about the ending.
I cannot recommend this book
August 10, 2012
Did not like this story at all. The first half of the book was full of long descriptions of places and inner musings speckled with her inner voice telling her that there was something seriously wrong with this guy. I was either bored or thinking why is she so stupid to keep going out with the guy if she thinks he's shady. I spent the second half of the book totally insulted and digusted.
When the story starts, the hero lives with his grandmother, his brother and sister in law. The hero's brother was crippled and was always nasty to the sister in law. The sister in law always carried this look of anguish and guilt and put up with the abuse she received from the brother.
About halfway through, the heroine caught the hero kissing his sister in law in the back yard on the H & h's wedding day. So we find out that he was in love with the sister in law and married the heroine because it would take tempation away for having an affair with his brother's wife. His response when the heroine caught him was to be a cold jerk about it and tell her she should've known he didn't love her anyway cause he was careful to never tell her. Since their reasons for getting married was the same (companionship and security), she shouldn't think anything of it and go about their lives. WTF!?!?! They then lived with him arogantly waiting for her to throw herself at him and her not leaving him because, gasp!, she loved him so much. Made me sick. He ends up not waiting though and rapes her, even though she of course submits once he gets busy. Grrr!
The brother ends up getting killed in an accident, leaving the sister in law fancy free and hanging all over the hero in a crumbled heap. After the funeral, the heroine finally got a backbone and left, but only because now the hero could be happy with the sister in law and she wouldn't stay knowing she was second best. She only now feels this way!?!? Give me a break.
I hated this hero. I hated his physical description, his personality, his selfishness, and everything he stood for. I wouldn't have hated the heroine except she was just pathetic with the crap she put up with.
The hero did come to grovel at the end after realizing he didn't love the sister in law after all, but only had to do so for about ten minutes before the heroine tossed herself in his arms. Yuck.
There was an epilogue where the sister in law comes for a visit with her new husband to bury old hachets and to show how everyone was so much the happier for how things turned out. But it did nothing for me and I still hated everyone in the book (except the sister in law, actually.)
I ususally secretly (ok, not so secretly) love these cheater books, and even look forward to getting all ticked off at the awful things the heroine has to deal with. But this one is just over the top with the a-hole behavior from the hero and the pathetic, lily livered heroine. You can read it but don't expect to enjoy it.
When the story starts, the hero lives with his grandmother, his brother and sister in law. The hero's brother was crippled and was always nasty to the sister in law. The sister in law always carried this look of anguish and guilt and put up with the abuse she received from the brother.
About halfway through, the heroine caught the hero kissing his sister in law in the back yard on the H & h's wedding day. So we find out that he was in love with the sister in law and married the heroine because it would take tempation away for having an affair with his brother's wife. His response when the heroine caught him was to be a cold jerk about it and tell her she should've known he didn't love her anyway cause he was careful to never tell her. Since their reasons for getting married was the same (companionship and security), she shouldn't think anything of it and go about their lives. WTF!?!?! They then lived with him arogantly waiting for her to throw herself at him and her not leaving him because, gasp!, she loved him so much. Made me sick. He ends up not waiting though and rapes her, even though she of course submits once he gets busy. Grrr!
The brother ends up getting killed in an accident, leaving the sister in law fancy free and hanging all over the hero in a crumbled heap. After the funeral, the heroine finally got a backbone and left, but only because now the hero could be happy with the sister in law and she wouldn't stay knowing she was second best. She only now feels this way!?!? Give me a break.
I hated this hero. I hated his physical description, his personality, his selfishness, and everything he stood for. I wouldn't have hated the heroine except she was just pathetic with the crap she put up with.
The hero did come to grovel at the end after realizing he didn't love the sister in law after all, but only had to do so for about ten minutes before the heroine tossed herself in his arms. Yuck.
There was an epilogue where the sister in law comes for a visit with her new husband to bury old hachets and to show how everyone was so much the happier for how things turned out. But it did nothing for me and I still hated everyone in the book (except the sister in law, actually.)
I ususally secretly (ok, not so secretly) love these cheater books, and even look forward to getting all ticked off at the awful things the heroine has to deal with. But this one is just over the top with the a-hole behavior from the hero and the pathetic, lily livered heroine. You can read it but don't expect to enjoy it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 27, 2021
A re-read, and man I forgot how INTENSE RD's stuff can be. The hero still comes off as an utter asshole--one of RD's wrist-gripping, sadistic, uber-dominant bastards--but I can't say that it didn't suck me in and leave me breathless at points. When it comes to OTT alpha heroes who verge on downright scary where the heroines are concerned, RD is up there with Charlotte Lamb. I love the overall sense of danger and dancing on a razor's edge in her intense tales populated with icy, dangerous heroes who could explode at any moment and the seemingly brittle but ultimately unbreakable heroines who face up to them. Whew! For the darker side of HPs, RD was unbeatable in her heyday.
Original review:
OMG, an RD H I absolutely LOATHE. I mean, I defend Ryan Fraine from Smoke in the Wind, for chrissakes. It takes a lot for me to despise an RD alpha, since they usually push all my buttons in terms of dark dominating Hs who put the tough-but-vulnerable RD heroines through the wringer.
But this guy is just a slimy POS.
I give this book four stars because it's well written and angsty, but it left me deflated and angry. What Burke does to Faine is way worse, in my book, than what Ryan does to Venetia in Smoke in the Wind and comes close to what the H of The Guarded Heart does to that book's h (and that's completely vile. This wasn't a romance, it was a horror story with the heroine getting devoured by the monster in the end. There's a certain sadistic fascination to it, but not sure I buy it as a love story.
Original review:
OMG, an RD H I absolutely LOATHE. I mean, I defend Ryan Fraine from Smoke in the Wind, for chrissakes. It takes a lot for me to despise an RD alpha, since they usually push all my buttons in terms of dark dominating Hs who put the tough-but-vulnerable RD heroines through the wringer.
But this guy is just a slimy POS.
I give this book four stars because it's well written and angsty, but it left me deflated and angry. What Burke does to Faine is way worse, in my book, than what Ryan does to Venetia in Smoke in the Wind and comes close to what the H of The Guarded Heart does to that book's h (and that's completely vile. This wasn't a romance, it was a horror story with the heroine getting devoured by the monster in the end. There's a certain sadistic fascination to it, but not sure I buy it as a love story.
March 6, 2023
The hero here is in love with his sister in law, she’s married with his crippled brother so they can’t divorce.
He ruthlessly pursues the heroine and marries her without telling her this.
She finds out in the worst possible way, after their wedding, when she listens to their passionate declarations of love and sees them passionately kissing.
Yuk.
She stays and decides to give their marriage a try, but the stupid crippled brother dies in a car accident and she decides to leave her husband now that ow is free.
The hero stays some months with sil, but then finds out he’s not able to have sex with her and eventually she tells him he’s in love with the heroine.
So he’s back and the stupid heroine takes him back.
WTF????
Need I say something about this s**t?
-the hero goes straight to my list of heroes I’d like to castrate with a machete. He’s dishonest and a cheater and beta hero, not alpha. Alpha men don’t pine after a woman to find out later they love another one, sorry not my idea of strong and determined man.
It took months to him to realize that he was in love with the heroine, and in the meantime he lived with his sil, trying to have sex with her, while married to the heroine. This is cheating.
-I appreciated the heroine until she refused to leave when she saw them together. She should have left him after telling his grandma and his brother what she saw. And I hated her that she remained with him but decided to leave when the ow was free.
Nonsense.
And hated more that the hero let her go.
Not my cup of tea.
He ruthlessly pursues the heroine and marries her without telling her this.
She finds out in the worst possible way, after their wedding, when she listens to their passionate declarations of love and sees them passionately kissing.
Yuk.
She stays and decides to give their marriage a try, but the stupid crippled brother dies in a car accident and she decides to leave her husband now that ow is free.
The hero stays some months with sil, but then finds out he’s not able to have sex with her and eventually she tells him he’s in love with the heroine.
So he’s back and the stupid heroine takes him back.
WTF????
Need I say something about this s**t?
-the hero goes straight to my list of heroes I’d like to castrate with a machete. He’s dishonest and a cheater and beta hero, not alpha. Alpha men don’t pine after a woman to find out later they love another one, sorry not my idea of strong and determined man.
It took months to him to realize that he was in love with the heroine, and in the meantime he lived with his sil, trying to have sex with her, while married to the heroine. This is cheating.
-I appreciated the heroine until she refused to leave when she saw them together. She should have left him after telling his grandma and his brother what she saw. And I hated her that she remained with him but decided to leave when the ow was free.
Nonsense.
And hated more that the hero let her go.
Not my cup of tea.
August 7, 2020
I had to wait 365 days for this atrocity at Open Library, so I am darned well going to review it. Caution: I use the word "smug" a lot. If this is a trigger for you. don't click the spoiler cut.
August 26, 2015
Aand I'm done. I cannot respect a heroine who uses other men to make the hero jealous, kissing them ardently in front of the hero. I didn't give it a chance, I know, but what's the point if I can't bear the heroine.
August 11, 2018
This is one of the absolute worst H's I have ever read. The more we learned about him, the more monstrous he became. Everything he said was a poison dart -- sometimes intentional, sometimes not.
March 6, 2021
Mansion for My Love is a vintage (1983) HP between Faine and Burke. On paper it screams angsty goodness, but fell a little short for me.
It’s written really well, and I loved that RD gave the standard 6’3” H a tall gal (5’11”) rather than the standard small girl with rocking curves. I’m also a fan when the H starts out loving another woman. It makes for HEARTBREAKING angst. And, after the SLOW start, Burke’s brutal/non sensitive response to Faine seeing him kissing Libby hours after their wedding…YUM
BUT, then it just kinda fell off, because although I liked her, Faine is cold and unemotional. You can’t really have heartbreaking angst… when there’s not a heart breaking. Whether you see Faine as resilient or a doormat, it doesn’t change the outcome. There’s no emotional connection. IMO, in trying to make her proud, stoic, and strong, it backfired and robbed us of our feels.
If that’s not bad enough, she pretty much kills any chance of drama by removing Libby for much of the book, and making her nice. Even the plot device used for the “black moment” provided the catalyst, but was the easy way out to tie everything up perfectly... without any work.
Bottom Line- Just ok for me. It’s solid, just not the emotional read I was craving. The “groveling” is pretty long for a HP hero (several pages) and the last chapter FFW in the future for an epilogue-ish ending… but perhaps my biggest disappointment was I don’t feel like Libby or Burke ever took responsibility for the hurt they caused. 😑 *This is 80’s HP, and not PC. There’re dub-con/forced seduction situations, Burke manhandles her some. FYI, if that's a turnoff. ** I would not recommend to readers who hate a second-best scenario (although I guess after the test drive, she should be secure in her place. 🤣) or have zero tolerance for anything cheating-ish, or are looking for a romantic romance.
It’s written really well, and I loved that RD gave the standard 6’3” H a tall gal (5’11”) rather than the standard small girl with rocking curves. I’m also a fan when the H starts out loving another woman. It makes for HEARTBREAKING angst. And, after the SLOW start, Burke’s brutal/non sensitive response to Faine seeing him kissing Libby hours after their wedding…YUM
BUT, then it just kinda fell off, because although I liked her, Faine is cold and unemotional. You can’t really have heartbreaking angst… when there’s not a heart breaking. Whether you see Faine as resilient or a doormat, it doesn’t change the outcome. There’s no emotional connection. IMO, in trying to make her proud, stoic, and strong, it backfired and robbed us of our feels.
If that’s not bad enough, she pretty much kills any chance of drama by removing Libby for much of the book, and making her nice. Even the plot device used for the “black moment” provided the catalyst, but was the easy way out to tie everything up perfectly... without any work.
Bottom Line- Just ok for me. It’s solid, just not the emotional read I was craving. The “groveling” is pretty long for a HP hero (several pages) and the last chapter FFW in the future for an epilogue-ish ending… but perhaps my biggest disappointment was I don’t feel like Libby or Burke ever took responsibility for the hurt they caused. 😑 *This is 80’s HP, and not PC. There’re dub-con/forced seduction situations, Burke manhandles her some. FYI, if that's a turnoff. ** I would not recommend to readers who hate a second-best scenario (although I guess after the test drive, she should be secure in her place. 🤣) or have zero tolerance for anything cheating-ish, or are looking for a romantic romance.
April 20, 2021
#asshole
June 26, 2011
Personally, if I were the heroine, my first reaction would be to slam the door on his sorry face when he comes a-knocking then play that Gloria Gaynor song “I Will Survive” for him, full blast, as he drives away… but then, I’d be the oddball HP heroine without a happy ending. So let me rethink this and rationalize why I would take him back:
First, because I have proven to him that I can walk out of the marriage and thrive well. To languish is just nonexistent in the vocabulary of any strong heroine. In exactly the same cool manner as the heroine when she walked out, I’d show him that I’m his Serene Highness. When asked by the hero if I’d be happy, I’d fake that megawatt smile even if it kills me, brush aside his phony concern and move on.
Second, because he groveled – on his knees, slobbering over my hand, confessing his stupidity, pleading as if there was no tomorrow, and begging for another chance. I’m not really a vindictive person and marriage after all is for humans, not saints.
(And I've walked away once, I can walk away again -- for good.)
Lastly, because he had truly exorcised his fascination over the OW. His fixation over her stems more from the Forbidden Fruit complex than love. So once he was allowed to have the fruit compote and eat it too, he discovered that he was a steak-and-potatoes type of guy.
Angsty read. Antacid recommended.
First, because I have proven to him that I can walk out of the marriage and thrive well. To languish is just nonexistent in the vocabulary of any strong heroine. In exactly the same cool manner as the heroine when she walked out, I’d show him that I’m his Serene Highness. When asked by the hero if I’d be happy, I’d fake that megawatt smile even if it kills me, brush aside his phony concern and move on.
Second, because he groveled – on his knees, slobbering over my hand, confessing his stupidity, pleading as if there was no tomorrow, and begging for another chance. I’m not really a vindictive person and marriage after all is for humans, not saints.
(And I've walked away once, I can walk away again -- for good.)
Lastly, because he had truly exorcised his fascination over the OW. His fixation over her stems more from the Forbidden Fruit complex than love. So once he was allowed to have the fruit compote and eat it too, he discovered that he was a steak-and-potatoes type of guy.
Angsty read. Antacid recommended.
April 20, 2014
What a doormat Faine was she actually made me more angry then Burke and trust me I really did dislike that guy!
June 14, 2016
Mansion for my love:
Rating: 4.5 stars.
Read date: August 27, 2015
This is such an overdue review.
I absolutely loved this book! It made my chest ache and made me cry real and genuine tears.
I absolutely loved it that it mentions the Greek gods and that the heroine was a history buff. I love it!!! I love the heroine even more for this, “She had wanted to be virgin on her wedding day, to wear her mother’s white wedding dress without feeling a fraud.”
We need more females like this heroine these days. What's the point of wearing a white dress on your wedding day if you're a tainted cesspool. If the girls these days wore a wedding dress that represented their sexual escapades it most certainly wouldn't be white. LMAO. The heroine is a virgin, but she does however have experience in dating and have kissed several men and has fallen in love before. I found this to be very realistic, you can't expect the heroine to be both unkissed and untouched, especially at her age. I found her to be very relatable.
I do wish that there were more hurtful moments, I just wanted to read a heart wrenching book. Yes it made me tear up, but it didn't really move me.
The emotions that this book brought up however was one of discontentment with living in this generation/ era. If only I could have a time machine. T_T *sigh*
So here's my usual rant.
I have a couple of issues with this book. Firstly, they went to a club? .. Well, let's hope it wasn't a rave, house music trash sort of club. Although I'm sure lots of youngins who read this book probably imagined that they did go to those trashy clubs. *gag* I hate clubbing culture that my generation seem to love and I especially hate promiscuity and drunkenness. “Then he took her to a nightclub and they danced until two in the morning.”
The heroine at the very end also annoyed me. She took the hero back no questions asked. She even stopped him when he had tried to explain that he couldn't be intimate with his sister in law, because I guess he couldn't get it up. Oh and yes, that annoyed me too. The hero was stupid enough to not chase after the heroine straight away and instead decided to try and pursue a relationship with his sister in law, who he thought he was in love with. Stupid, stupid.
Rating: 4.5 stars.
Read date: August 27, 2015
This is such an overdue review.
I absolutely loved this book! It made my chest ache and made me cry real and genuine tears.
I absolutely loved it that it mentions the Greek gods and that the heroine was a history buff. I love it!!! I love the heroine even more for this, “She had wanted to be virgin on her wedding day, to wear her mother’s white wedding dress without feeling a fraud.”
We need more females like this heroine these days. What's the point of wearing a white dress on your wedding day if you're a tainted cesspool. If the girls these days wore a wedding dress that represented their sexual escapades it most certainly wouldn't be white. LMAO. The heroine is a virgin, but she does however have experience in dating and have kissed several men and has fallen in love before. I found this to be very realistic, you can't expect the heroine to be both unkissed and untouched, especially at her age. I found her to be very relatable.
I do wish that there were more hurtful moments, I just wanted to read a heart wrenching book. Yes it made me tear up, but it didn't really move me.
The emotions that this book brought up however was one of discontentment with living in this generation/ era. If only I could have a time machine. T_T *sigh*
So here's my usual rant.
I have a couple of issues with this book. Firstly, they went to a club? .. Well, let's hope it wasn't a rave, house music trash sort of club. Although I'm sure lots of youngins who read this book probably imagined that they did go to those trashy clubs. *gag* I hate clubbing culture that my generation seem to love and I especially hate promiscuity and drunkenness. “Then he took her to a nightclub and they danced until two in the morning.”
The heroine at the very end also annoyed me. She took the hero back no questions asked. She even stopped him when he had tried to explain that he couldn't be intimate with his sister in law, because I guess he couldn't get it up. Oh and yes, that annoyed me too. The hero was stupid enough to not chase after the heroine straight away and instead decided to try and pursue a relationship with his sister in law, who he thought he was in love with. Stupid, stupid.
December 1, 2014
"When you kept silent it infuriated me. I think that was why I raped you after the funeral."
Nuff said.....
Nuff said.....
December 29, 2021
She was an ✨idiot ✨. He was a bigger ✨idiot✨. A match made in ✨idiocy✨ heaven.
October 11, 2010
I can't decide if I like this or not. There was angst. There was definite emotional cheating AND physical cheating in the form of kissing-she sees them and hears them on her wedding day no less! Then after the heroine leaves his butt-good for her!-they unsuccessfully try to consummate the relationship but he can't do it 'cause he finally realizes he loves her.
But he tried to, you know? Jerk! Tormented but still a jerk!
But I am torn by how we got there. The behavior of the characters was pretty revealing...too revealing, maybe? I don't know. I'll have to read it again.
But he tried to, you know? Jerk! Tormented but still a jerk!
But I am torn by how we got there. The behavior of the characters was pretty revealing...too revealing, maybe? I don't know. I'll have to read it again.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 7, 2024
“Mansion of my Love” is the story of Faine and Burke.
Disgusting.
The hero lies to the tall, gangly heroine to court her, and then traps her into marriage! The reason - he is lusting after his sister in law and they love each other. Not only are there two scenes of marital rape, the minute the heroine leave he attempts to sleep with the widowed SIL and only reason he doesn’t succeed is impotence.
Fall in a ditch Burke
Unsafe
0/5
Disgusting.
The hero lies to the tall, gangly heroine to court her, and then traps her into marriage! The reason - he is lusting after his sister in law and they love each other. Not only are there two scenes of marital rape, the minute the heroine leave he attempts to sleep with the widowed SIL and only reason he doesn’t succeed is impotence.
Fall in a ditch Burke
Unsafe
0/5
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 25, 2021
“I carefully avoided telling you that I love you.”
MANSION FOR MY LOVE
Harlequin Presents #567
⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 3 out of 5
A Hard Book to Review
Robyn Donald, who authored romances primarily for the Harlequin Presents line, often wrote some of the most angst-filled books, with heroes so cruel, you’d swear they were the villains. Mansion for My Love is one of those books where you can’t believe what the supposed hero does to the heroine.
A 3-star rating is an odd thing. It can represent such varied levels of opinions on personal enjoyment. There are the average reads, which make for a pleasant way to pass the time but likely are stories you’ll forget and/or never desire to re-explore.
Then there are those books that get you right away and seem like a guaranteed 5-star experience, but then result in disappointment somehow and fall to a barely favorable rating or vice-versa.
Some books are objectively terrible (either in plot development or editing like grammar/spelling, etc.). Yet they provide so much guilty entertainment that you can’t possibly give them a negative review, even if you’re ashamed that your friends and followers will know you enjoy such trash.
And, last, there are books like Mansion for My Love. This is the kind of book that splits readers every which way, the kind no matter what you feel, everyone can’t stop talking about.
As of May 25, 2021, this has a mean rating of 2.98 stars, from a total of 279 readers, divided as follows:
5 stars 14% (40)
4 stars 21% (60)
3 stars 27% (78)
2 stars 20% (57)
1 stars 15% (44)
Almost an equal number of readers ranked it a 1 or 5, but 3 seems to be the plurality.
The Plot
Faine is a great heroine, charming, independent, and open to love. She meets Burke Harding and is drawn to his strong magnetic presence. He pursues her with cold determination, and against her better judgment, she finds herself head over heels for him. But while Burke is obviously interested in her, he keeps himself at a distance. So when Burke proposes, Faine says yes, but strangely love is never mentioned.
Finally, Faine and Burke get married, and that’s where the drama starts. This all hinges on a gimmick:
Girl meets guy, he pursues her like crazy, she falls in love, they have a whirlwind wedding, and on their wedding day, she overhears the hero declare his love for his sister-in-law who’s married to his sick brother.
What a betrayal. How can the hero ever be redeemed?
There’s more. Done wrong, Faine, runs away from Burke, who tracks her down, demands a real marriage, pretty much forces his way into her bed, and makes her mad with love and lust.
Then the brother dies. And there is still lots of drama to come! That’s quite a bit of romantic angst to pack into a 188-page book.
Final Analysis of Mansion for My Love
Robyn Donald was certainly an above-average writer for the HP line. Her works evoke vivid visions of their natural settings, her heroes written in a similar brutal & obsessive vein, her heroines fighting their inner struggles to submit to cruel passion.
MfML is genre fiction that grips you in the gut. It’s a controversial romance among its fans and detractors. It’s always a book I’ll remember, if not the tiny details, then the way it made me feel. The heroine is great. If she were a weak pushover type, this story wouldn’t be as strong. What Burke did was so wrong, not just one deed, but another followed by another. Faine didn’t deserve to be wronged, but at the end of the day, she chose to be with Burke.
MfML leaves me with a ton of questions.
Why did Faine love him so much? Is Burke’s transformation at the end believable? Is she second-best or first in his heart? Can he be forgiven? Does he deserve to? So many unknowns!
Despite that middling rating, an average read it is not. This is not an easy book to pin down; it’s one that inspires conflicting emotions.
It certainly did for me. I love this book. I hate this book. I don’t know if I could stomach ever reading this angsty “love story” again, but it holds a place on my keeper shelf.
3 stars, love it and hate it
MANSION FOR MY LOVE
Harlequin Presents #567
⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 3 out of 5
A Hard Book to Review
Robyn Donald, who authored romances primarily for the Harlequin Presents line, often wrote some of the most angst-filled books, with heroes so cruel, you’d swear they were the villains. Mansion for My Love is one of those books where you can’t believe what the supposed hero does to the heroine.
A 3-star rating is an odd thing. It can represent such varied levels of opinions on personal enjoyment. There are the average reads, which make for a pleasant way to pass the time but likely are stories you’ll forget and/or never desire to re-explore.
Then there are those books that get you right away and seem like a guaranteed 5-star experience, but then result in disappointment somehow and fall to a barely favorable rating or vice-versa.
Some books are objectively terrible (either in plot development or editing like grammar/spelling, etc.). Yet they provide so much guilty entertainment that you can’t possibly give them a negative review, even if you’re ashamed that your friends and followers will know you enjoy such trash.
And, last, there are books like Mansion for My Love. This is the kind of book that splits readers every which way, the kind no matter what you feel, everyone can’t stop talking about.
As of May 25, 2021, this has a mean rating of 2.98 stars, from a total of 279 readers, divided as follows:
5 stars 14% (40)
4 stars 21% (60)
3 stars 27% (78)
2 stars 20% (57)
1 stars 15% (44)
Almost an equal number of readers ranked it a 1 or 5, but 3 seems to be the plurality.
The Plot
Faine is a great heroine, charming, independent, and open to love. She meets Burke Harding and is drawn to his strong magnetic presence. He pursues her with cold determination, and against her better judgment, she finds herself head over heels for him. But while Burke is obviously interested in her, he keeps himself at a distance. So when Burke proposes, Faine says yes, but strangely love is never mentioned.
Finally, Faine and Burke get married, and that’s where the drama starts. This all hinges on a gimmick:
Girl meets guy, he pursues her like crazy, she falls in love, they have a whirlwind wedding, and on their wedding day, she overhears the hero declare his love for his sister-in-law who’s married to his sick brother.
What a betrayal. How can the hero ever be redeemed?
There’s more. Done wrong, Faine, runs away from Burke, who tracks her down, demands a real marriage, pretty much forces his way into her bed, and makes her mad with love and lust.
Then the brother dies. And there is still lots of drama to come! That’s quite a bit of romantic angst to pack into a 188-page book.
Final Analysis of Mansion for My Love
Robyn Donald was certainly an above-average writer for the HP line. Her works evoke vivid visions of their natural settings, her heroes written in a similar brutal & obsessive vein, her heroines fighting their inner struggles to submit to cruel passion.
MfML is genre fiction that grips you in the gut. It’s a controversial romance among its fans and detractors. It’s always a book I’ll remember, if not the tiny details, then the way it made me feel. The heroine is great. If she were a weak pushover type, this story wouldn’t be as strong. What Burke did was so wrong, not just one deed, but another followed by another. Faine didn’t deserve to be wronged, but at the end of the day, she chose to be with Burke.
MfML leaves me with a ton of questions.
Why did Faine love him so much? Is Burke’s transformation at the end believable? Is she second-best or first in his heart? Can he be forgiven? Does he deserve to? So many unknowns!
Despite that middling rating, an average read it is not. This is not an easy book to pin down; it’s one that inspires conflicting emotions.
It certainly did for me. I love this book. I hate this book. I don’t know if I could stomach ever reading this angsty “love story” again, but it holds a place on my keeper shelf.
3 stars, love it and hate it
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 8, 2012
This was a surprisingly boring book. I was not expecting that from such a seemingly interesting plot line. The hero being in love with the OW was not dealt with sufficiently. It was rather blase for being the main conflict in the story. Something vital was missing and it might have been the lack of depth in the story and the chemistry between the leads. I'm not sure, I can't put my finger on it, only to say I was bored out of my mind reading this book. Even the ending when they got back together and the hero explained why he didn't love the Ow anymore and now loved the heroine to distraction was laughable. He just came off as being fickle where his love was concerned, and if I was the heroine, I wouldn't trust him with a ten foot pole. He seems like he's the type of guy that only wants what he can't have. I was not impressed with this vintage HP.
April 10, 2025
I do not know if I cried the first time I read this, but it had me bawling this time.
Unrequited love is so sad and anguishing.
To read about a couple’s journey from one sided unrequited love to a two sided misconstrued feelings brought out the emotions.
It was a journey for sure taking place across New Zealand and the beauty of the country.
Of course it ends in a HEA with a final chapter afterwards to tie up any loose strings
Unrequited love is so sad and anguishing.
To read about a couple’s journey from one sided unrequited love to a two sided misconstrued feelings brought out the emotions.
It was a journey for sure taking place across New Zealand and the beauty of the country.
Of course it ends in a HEA with a final chapter afterwards to tie up any loose strings
August 1, 2021
This is my first story by Robyn Donald. Her writing is good, but this story bordered on the uncomfortable side and I would advise people to proceed with caution, safety wise.
The heroine is a meek young lady, vulnerable to falling in love. Her parents had died and her former fiance had deceived her, so she had retreated from living. When she meets the H, despite her aloofness, she's much too vulnerable. Before she realizes what he's about, she's deeply in love with her. She put up with a lot of shit from him, but she had a quiet strength about her. And she knew how much she could put up with. For her self awareness, I liked her a lot.
I wish the OW had suffered more.
The heroine is a meek young lady, vulnerable to falling in love. Her parents had died and her former fiance had deceived her, so she had retreated from living. When she meets the H, despite her aloofness, she's much too vulnerable. Before she realizes what he's about, she's deeply in love with her. She put up with a lot of shit from him, but she had a quiet strength about her. And she knew how much she could put up with. For her self awareness, I liked her a lot.
I wish the OW had suffered more.
May 28, 2013
The idea for the story is a good one, the synopsis grabbed my attention.
But I found the Hero to be really creepy. Maybe it's the dated dialogue (it was published 30 years ago...) and the heroine to be all talk no action, to the point of being embarrassingly spineless. And the seduction scenes were plain unsettling and debasing. Overall, it was a just outdated and dull.
I think if this book was rewritten to fit into the current Mills & Boon Modern / Harlequin Presents guidelines, I think it would be a good read.
2 Stars because I like the idea, but just not the delivery.
But I found the Hero to be really creepy. Maybe it's the dated dialogue (it was published 30 years ago...) and the heroine to be all talk no action, to the point of being embarrassingly spineless. And the seduction scenes were plain unsettling and debasing. Overall, it was a just outdated and dull.
I think if this book was rewritten to fit into the current Mills & Boon Modern / Harlequin Presents guidelines, I think it would be a good read.
2 Stars because I like the idea, but just not the delivery.
December 6, 2015
Dude has a real weird sense of ethics. It's not okay in his opinion to commit adultery with his brother's wife but as soon as brother dies it's okay to cheat on his own wife. Are we are supposed the cheer because he didn't have Viagra and he couldn't complete the deed?
May 3, 2020
Wow! Beautifully written—a hero in love with his SIL. He decides to move forward with his life with someone else, and that would be the smart, self contained heroine, who finds out on her wedding day that she’s second best.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 10, 2015
Stooooopid book. Poor writing, dumb plot. Take a nap instead!:)
to-avoid
January 26, 2016Both (H and h) kiss OM and OW :/
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