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Man Without a Heart
1 POCKET-SIZE SOFTCOVER BOOK
192 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 1976
60 people want to read
About the author
Roberta Leigh
113 books66 followersaka Rachel Lindsay, Janey Scott, Rozella Lake
Roberta Leigh was the most frequently used pen name of an author who also published novels as Rachel Lindsay, Rozella Lake, and Janey Scott. Her birth name was Rita Shulman.
Leigh was one of the first romance writers to introduce strong, career-minded heroines who wouldn't be bossed around by the hero.
Leigh had her own film company and wrote and produced 7 TV series for children. She would also "write" the music for her series, although this usually involved her humming or singing the tune into a tape recorder, after which someone else would arrange and write a score.
She studied oil and watercolor painting with Diana Raphael and Michael Chaitow, who her interest in abstract art. Her work has been exhibited at the Podbury Gallery and Finnegan's Gallery in London.
In 1948, she married Michael Lewin and they had a son, Jeremy. Her husband passed away in 1981.
Roberta Leigh was the most frequently used pen name of an author who also published novels as Rachel Lindsay, Rozella Lake, and Janey Scott. Her birth name was Rita Shulman.
Leigh was one of the first romance writers to introduce strong, career-minded heroines who wouldn't be bossed around by the hero.
Leigh had her own film company and wrote and produced 7 TV series for children. She would also "write" the music for her series, although this usually involved her humming or singing the tune into a tape recorder, after which someone else would arrange and write a score.
She studied oil and watercolor painting with Diana Raphael and Michael Chaitow, who her interest in abstract art. Her work has been exhibited at the Podbury Gallery and Finnegan's Gallery in London.
In 1948, she married Michael Lewin and they had a son, Jeremy. Her husband passed away in 1981.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
May 4, 2016
I stumbled across this one by accident. I don’t normally read many other Mills & Boon authors apart from Penny Jordan, but once I happened across this one, I thought I’d give it a go. I’m so glad I did. I think Roberta Leigh might be one of my new all-time favourite authors for Mills and Boon.
This is the story of Andrea (a working class girl), who lives with her working class mum and her Uncle who is a union man. This is 1976, so we’re right in the heartland of industrial politics here, and the author makes sure we know it. When her Uncle is humiliated for his policies of moderation within his own union (“This was the era of the revolutionary”) on television by Maxwell Lane, Andrea sets out to get her own back on the man himself and ends up working for him as his research assistant. Her revenge never really gets off the ground because (as it’s a Mills and Boon) she unfortunately ends up in love with him. Still, she has a good go at trying to find his weak spot before realising that revenge is utterly unworthy of a romantic heroine and giving it up as a bad job. By that time, we, as readers, are fully aware that Max’s real weak spot is Andrea, and all she has to do to make him suffer is move house without leaving a forwarding address.
This is a wonderful product of its time. The author emphasises the vast gap between rich and poor in society at the time. Whilst Andrea’s mother is darning the sheets because she can’t afford new ones and having to go next door to watch TV because ‘they’ve got colour’, Max’s immigrant housekeeper can’t afford to buy flowers, Max and his ilk are living it up at fashionable Mayfair ‘discotheques’ (1970s...) and the Savoy. Consider the following : “She was still simmering with emotion when she entered the flat and her mother, always quick to know when she was upset, switched on the electric kettle and made her a cup of tea.
The working class panacea, Andrea thought bitterly, and remembered Max offering her champagne. She took a quick swallow of hot tea and spluttered.” (p. 141).
During the story itself, there is a third party (Catherine) who also fancies Max (there’s usually a love rival in these novels to pep things up). Catherine, we are told, has come from some grim Northumberland village ‘oop North’ from a working class family. However, she has married money and promptly forgotten her roots, so the reader knows immediately that she is not worthy of Max. Only Andrea, who is unashamed of the tiny flat she lives in with her view over the London rooftops, deserves to win the hero’s heart.
And if the reader happens to miss these social criticisms on the part of the author (too busy looking at the romance) the author starts to spell it out by having the main character voice the criticisms aloud:
“They were in a fashionable Mayfair restaurant filled with fashionable Mayfair people and a sprinkling of visiting foreigners, [...]
‘It’s amazing how much money there is around,’ Andrea said without thinking. ‘Some families don’t earn in a week what two people could spend here on one meal!” (p. 75)
The romance is done well as well. Sometimes, in Jordan’s work, the characters have very little to say to each other. However, Andrea and Max actually have interesting conversations. She is a fantastic heroine and fully worthy of her good fortune when she wins the hero’s heart (and access to his bank account). Similarly, Max changes too, becoming (like most Mills and Boon heroes) a better (less-sexist) man through his love for the unassuming heroine.
A classic of the genre – do not miss this one if you are fan of these romances.
This is the story of Andrea (a working class girl), who lives with her working class mum and her Uncle who is a union man. This is 1976, so we’re right in the heartland of industrial politics here, and the author makes sure we know it. When her Uncle is humiliated for his policies of moderation within his own union (“This was the era of the revolutionary”) on television by Maxwell Lane, Andrea sets out to get her own back on the man himself and ends up working for him as his research assistant. Her revenge never really gets off the ground because (as it’s a Mills and Boon) she unfortunately ends up in love with him. Still, she has a good go at trying to find his weak spot before realising that revenge is utterly unworthy of a romantic heroine and giving it up as a bad job. By that time, we, as readers, are fully aware that Max’s real weak spot is Andrea, and all she has to do to make him suffer is move house without leaving a forwarding address.
This is a wonderful product of its time. The author emphasises the vast gap between rich and poor in society at the time. Whilst Andrea’s mother is darning the sheets because she can’t afford new ones and having to go next door to watch TV because ‘they’ve got colour’, Max’s immigrant housekeeper can’t afford to buy flowers, Max and his ilk are living it up at fashionable Mayfair ‘discotheques’ (1970s...) and the Savoy. Consider the following : “She was still simmering with emotion when she entered the flat and her mother, always quick to know when she was upset, switched on the electric kettle and made her a cup of tea.
The working class panacea, Andrea thought bitterly, and remembered Max offering her champagne. She took a quick swallow of hot tea and spluttered.” (p. 141).
During the story itself, there is a third party (Catherine) who also fancies Max (there’s usually a love rival in these novels to pep things up). Catherine, we are told, has come from some grim Northumberland village ‘oop North’ from a working class family. However, she has married money and promptly forgotten her roots, so the reader knows immediately that she is not worthy of Max. Only Andrea, who is unashamed of the tiny flat she lives in with her view over the London rooftops, deserves to win the hero’s heart.
And if the reader happens to miss these social criticisms on the part of the author (too busy looking at the romance) the author starts to spell it out by having the main character voice the criticisms aloud:
“They were in a fashionable Mayfair restaurant filled with fashionable Mayfair people and a sprinkling of visiting foreigners, [...]
‘It’s amazing how much money there is around,’ Andrea said without thinking. ‘Some families don’t earn in a week what two people could spend here on one meal!” (p. 75)
The romance is done well as well. Sometimes, in Jordan’s work, the characters have very little to say to each other. However, Andrea and Max actually have interesting conversations. She is a fantastic heroine and fully worthy of her good fortune when she wins the hero’s heart (and access to his bank account). Similarly, Max changes too, becoming (like most Mills and Boon heroes) a better (less-sexist) man through his love for the unassuming heroine.
A classic of the genre – do not miss this one if you are fan of these romances.
February 6, 2023
An exceptionally well written novel with both hero Max and heroine Andrea being strong characters who can talk their mind. The story progresses well at a fast pace and i found it very interesting and kept thinking what will happen next.Highly recommended
October 12, 2022
"3.5/5"
April 22, 2015
A nice read. My love for classic Mills and Boons is because of the books like this. It is a simple story of a young woman Andrea whose Uncle dies of a stroke. She believes TV host Maxwell Lane, who interviewed her uncle ruthlessly is behind it. She sets of to take a revenge until things turn one after another and she starts working as his assistant. Despite the age difference, they both fall for each other. The chemistry between them is intense. I really liked how a matured, stern and a man devoid of emotions falls for a pretty woman with limited social circle. The part where their attraction is irresistible is certainly one of the things I enjoyed in this book.
pback-to-read
November 18, 2021"Don't lose your temper," her mother warned Andrea when she set out to tell top TV interviewer, Maxwell Lane, just what she thought of him. Andrea was sure his ruthless interview with her beloved uncle had contributed to his death.
"Of course, I won't," Andrea replied firmly. "I'm going to be cool, calm and demolishing!"
So much for good intentions. Somehow Andrea found herself working for Maxwell Lane as a research assistant and her chances of getting even with him seemed more remote than ever!
"Of course, I won't," Andrea replied firmly. "I'm going to be cool, calm and demolishing!"
So much for good intentions. Somehow Andrea found herself working for Maxwell Lane as a research assistant and her chances of getting even with him seemed more remote than ever!
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews