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Πικρό Δίλημμα - Άρλεκιν Συλλογή #1758
Ο Τζέικ Γουίντερ ήταν γοητευτικός, πλούσιος, πετυχημένος, ένας άντρας που κάθε γυναίκα θα τον ήθελε δικό της. Η Κλερ, η προσωπική του βοηθός, δεν μπορούσε φυσικά να αποτελεί εξαίρεση. Πως ήταν δυνατόν να αρνηθεί όταν της ζήτησε να παντρευτούν;
Ο γάμος τους όμως ίσχυε μονάχα στα χαρτιά και η Κλερ για τον Τζέικ δεν ήταν παρά ένα καινούριο απόκτημα. Τι μπορούσε λοιπόν να κάνει τώρα που ήξερε ότι ήταν αθεράπευτα ερωτευμένη μαζί του;
Να μείνει κοντά του και να παλέψει για την αγάπη του, παρ' όλο που εκείνος φαινόταν να προτιμάει την όμορφη Λορέλα, ή να φύγει για πάντα απ' τη ζωή του;
Ο γάμος τους όμως ίσχυε μονάχα στα χαρτιά και η Κλερ για τον Τζέικ δεν ήταν παρά ένα καινούριο απόκτημα. Τι μπορούσε λοιπόν να κάνει τώρα που ήξερε ότι ήταν αθεράπευτα ερωτευμένη μαζί του;
Να μείνει κοντά του και να παλέψει για την αγάπη του, παρ' όλο που εκείνος φαινόταν να προτιμάει την όμορφη Λορέλα, ή να φύγει για πάντα απ' τη ζωή του;
160 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 1995
13 people are currently reading
119 people want to read
About the author
Diana Hamilton
325 books74 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.
Diana Hamilton was born in a English town. Wanting to be a country child, her imagination came into play at an early age, transforming a neighbor’s tree into a forest, a hole in a stone wall into a gingerbread house, a gas puddle into a fairyland, complete with mountains, lakes and flower meadows. She loathed housework but made to do her share, to lessen the boredom, she told herself stories, in a very loud voice, featuring princesses and flower gardens, discovering that telling herself stories was almost as good as reading them in a book.
She loathed school with an equal passion and got through it by pretending to be somewhere else. Even so she left grammar school with respectable grades... And was sent to art college when she wanted to study to be a vet. This was nowhere as bad as it had seemed because it was there, at age 18, she first saw Peter. He had returned from two years’ active service in Korea to resume his studies, and Diana immediately fell in love with him.
Gaining a degree in advertising copywriting, Diana worked as a copywriter and married Peter. They moved to a remote part of Wales after the birth of their second child, Paul, when their daughter, Rebecca, was three years old. There, Diana enjoyed pony trekking and walking in the mountains; and her third child, Andrew, was born. Itchy feet brought them back to England to the beautiful county of Shropshire four years later and they have been there ever since, gradually restoring the rambling Elizabethan manor that Diana gave her heart to on sight, creating a garden out of a wilderness of nettles, brambles and old bedsteads.
In the mid-'70s Diana took up her pen again to write stories to read to her three children at bedtime. These were never offered for publication but the bug had bitten. Over the next 10 years she combined writing over 30 novels, published by Robert Hale of London, with bringing up her children, gardening and cooking for the restaurant of a local inn—a wonderful excuse to avoid the dreaded housework! In 1987 Diana realized her dearest ambition—the publication of her first Mills & Boon romance, Song in a Strange Land. She had come home. And that feeling persists to this day as, around 30 Harlequin/Mills & Boon romantic novels late, she was still in love with the genre.
Sadly, Diana Hamilton passed away on May 3, 2009, at her home in Shropshire, surrounded by her family. She will be sorely missed by her fans and everyone at Mills & Boon/Harlequin
Diana Hamilton was born in a English town. Wanting to be a country child, her imagination came into play at an early age, transforming a neighbor’s tree into a forest, a hole in a stone wall into a gingerbread house, a gas puddle into a fairyland, complete with mountains, lakes and flower meadows. She loathed housework but made to do her share, to lessen the boredom, she told herself stories, in a very loud voice, featuring princesses and flower gardens, discovering that telling herself stories was almost as good as reading them in a book.
She loathed school with an equal passion and got through it by pretending to be somewhere else. Even so she left grammar school with respectable grades... And was sent to art college when she wanted to study to be a vet. This was nowhere as bad as it had seemed because it was there, at age 18, she first saw Peter. He had returned from two years’ active service in Korea to resume his studies, and Diana immediately fell in love with him.
Gaining a degree in advertising copywriting, Diana worked as a copywriter and married Peter. They moved to a remote part of Wales after the birth of their second child, Paul, when their daughter, Rebecca, was three years old. There, Diana enjoyed pony trekking and walking in the mountains; and her third child, Andrew, was born. Itchy feet brought them back to England to the beautiful county of Shropshire four years later and they have been there ever since, gradually restoring the rambling Elizabethan manor that Diana gave her heart to on sight, creating a garden out of a wilderness of nettles, brambles and old bedsteads.
In the mid-'70s Diana took up her pen again to write stories to read to her three children at bedtime. These were never offered for publication but the bug had bitten. Over the next 10 years she combined writing over 30 novels, published by Robert Hale of London, with bringing up her children, gardening and cooking for the restaurant of a local inn—a wonderful excuse to avoid the dreaded housework! In 1987 Diana realized her dearest ambition—the publication of her first Mills & Boon romance, Song in a Strange Land. She had come home. And that feeling persists to this day as, around 30 Harlequin/Mills & Boon romantic novels late, she was still in love with the genre.
Sadly, Diana Hamilton passed away on May 3, 2009, at her home in Shropshire, surrounded by her family. She will be sorely missed by her fans and everyone at Mills & Boon/Harlequin
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
December 5, 2018
He had been discreetly seeing his mistresses throughout the marriage.
Wanted a shot at making the marriage real cause he was tired of flings And they were clingy.
His grand idea to seduce his wife was by flaunting another mistress
Please, please shoot me!
Wanted a shot at making the marriage real cause he was tired of flings And they were clingy.
His grand idea to seduce his wife was by flaunting another mistress
Please, please shoot me!
August 19, 2018
Re Never a Bride - Diana Hamilton brings us a Marriage of Convenience that goes all pear shaped when business turns to love.
The h worked for H as his highly efficient assistant and then needed money to care for her very ill mum. The H needed a wife and PA to organize his life and run his businesses, so he suggested they embark on a MOC and he is very generous financially to the h's frail and ill mum, whose husband left her when the h was a child and the mum worked herself to a nub to support them both.
The marriage has been going on for two years, but the h has fallen in love with H and can't stand to see him escorting other women. (The H has had mistresses discretely over this time, it is per their agreement and the H assumes the h has been doing the same with various men.) Coincidentally, the h's mum has inherited a ton of money from a miserly relative, so she no longer needs the H's financial support.
After some suggestive photos with an Italian lady appear in the paper, the h, who hasn't been catting around on the side, decides to fake an affair where she is truly in love to get out of the marriage.
(The h and H agreed that if they met someone they really wanted to marry, the marriage would be dissolved.)
Meanwhile the H is deciding he wants a real marriage with the h and there was no affair with the Italian woman. He starts selling off businesses, buying a country home and trying to seduce the h, but keeps getting interrupted by his sister.
It is very clear that the H believes the h is in the midst of an an affair and equally clear that he wants to win in the possess the h and keep her stakes.
(It is up for questioning on how he actually feels about the h. Is she just such a paragon of efficiency and class that he feels she will be a greater asset as not only his junior partner, but also his broodmare? Or is there something deeper motivating the H? DH doesn't give us many hints about it.)
The h gets away with her scheme after some purple tinged almost seduction moments and the H lets her go. The h takes a job with a crabby old lady for six months and has a huge mopey moment waiting for the divorce papers.
The h's mum, who really likes the H and thinks her child is making a mistake, fakes an illness to manipulate both of them into meeting up at her conveniently empty cottage. The H and h arrive at about the same time, find out the h's mother set them up and then finally have a big fight to air out their differences.
The H claims that he loves the h and has for a while now, he was doing his best to make the h jealous over the Italian woman and it backfired. However he does NOT deny that there have been multiple women since he married her and he doesn't dispel the notion that maybe he wants a real marriage because his OW are getting a little too clingy.
Anyhow, the H is pretty mean to the h when she confesses her deception about another man and the h finally has had enough of his high-handed manipulation and smacks him.
This shakes the H up enough to get over himself, declare that he still loves the h and she declares she loves him back and the two of them are left lurvin' it up for the big HEA.
The angst in this is fairly well done, for best effect this should probably be read only once as I noticed that things look decidedly less rosy in afterglow of considerable h angst on the reread.
I do believe the H wanted the h, but I also wondered if he really loved her or if she was just a challenge and he was trying to get rid of another, unmentioned woman who wasn't as suitable to the H's lifestyle and tastes as he trained the h to be.
Either way it is a decent enough little angstfest when you crave a light dose of misery and not a totally terrible HPlandia outing.
The h worked for H as his highly efficient assistant and then needed money to care for her very ill mum. The H needed a wife and PA to organize his life and run his businesses, so he suggested they embark on a MOC and he is very generous financially to the h's frail and ill mum, whose husband left her when the h was a child and the mum worked herself to a nub to support them both.
The marriage has been going on for two years, but the h has fallen in love with H and can't stand to see him escorting other women. (The H has had mistresses discretely over this time, it is per their agreement and the H assumes the h has been doing the same with various men.) Coincidentally, the h's mum has inherited a ton of money from a miserly relative, so she no longer needs the H's financial support.
After some suggestive photos with an Italian lady appear in the paper, the h, who hasn't been catting around on the side, decides to fake an affair where she is truly in love to get out of the marriage.
(The h and H agreed that if they met someone they really wanted to marry, the marriage would be dissolved.)
Meanwhile the H is deciding he wants a real marriage with the h and there was no affair with the Italian woman. He starts selling off businesses, buying a country home and trying to seduce the h, but keeps getting interrupted by his sister.
It is very clear that the H believes the h is in the midst of an an affair and equally clear that he wants to win in the possess the h and keep her stakes.
(It is up for questioning on how he actually feels about the h. Is she just such a paragon of efficiency and class that he feels she will be a greater asset as not only his junior partner, but also his broodmare? Or is there something deeper motivating the H? DH doesn't give us many hints about it.)
The h gets away with her scheme after some purple tinged almost seduction moments and the H lets her go. The h takes a job with a crabby old lady for six months and has a huge mopey moment waiting for the divorce papers.
The h's mum, who really likes the H and thinks her child is making a mistake, fakes an illness to manipulate both of them into meeting up at her conveniently empty cottage. The H and h arrive at about the same time, find out the h's mother set them up and then finally have a big fight to air out their differences.
The H claims that he loves the h and has for a while now, he was doing his best to make the h jealous over the Italian woman and it backfired. However he does NOT deny that there have been multiple women since he married her and he doesn't dispel the notion that maybe he wants a real marriage because his OW are getting a little too clingy.
Anyhow, the H is pretty mean to the h when she confesses her deception about another man and the h finally has had enough of his high-handed manipulation and smacks him.
This shakes the H up enough to get over himself, declare that he still loves the h and she declares she loves him back and the two of them are left lurvin' it up for the big HEA.
The angst in this is fairly well done, for best effect this should probably be read only once as I noticed that things look decidedly less rosy in afterglow of considerable h angst on the reread.
I do believe the H wanted the h, but I also wondered if he really loved her or if she was just a challenge and he was trying to get rid of another, unmentioned woman who wasn't as suitable to the H's lifestyle and tastes as he trained the h to be.
Either way it is a decent enough little angstfest when you crave a light dose of misery and not a totally terrible HPlandia outing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 16, 2017
Conflict centers around a big misunderstanding.
H/h embark on a marriage of convenience. H will provide for the h’s mother and in return she will organize his life and be 24/7 personal assistant. If she falls in love with someone else, he’ll let her go – but no monetary settlement. If he falls in love with someone else – she’ll get a payoff.
They don’t have sex, but the heroine is starting to have feelings for the H. The heroine’s mother just came into a legacy, so the heroine has no excuse to stay with the H – especially since she thinks he’s fallen in love after she sees the H is coupled with an Italian princess in a tabloid. He also bought a family house in the country and is showing signs of settling down.
The heroine firmly holds on to this notion, even when the H puts the moves on the heroine in the lush conservatory of the new house he just bought. Luckily for her pride, they are interrupted at the last minute by his sister. Then the hero takes her to an isolated cottage. Heroine is so worried she’ll give into temptation that she invents a boyfriend and says she wants out.
The hero lets her go. Six months later her mother arranges for the H/h to meet and to finally tell each other their true feelings. HEA.
A nice little marriage of convenience romp with likable characters. Just not very fresh or memorable.
H/h embark on a marriage of convenience. H will provide for the h’s mother and in return she will organize his life and be 24/7 personal assistant. If she falls in love with someone else, he’ll let her go – but no monetary settlement. If he falls in love with someone else – she’ll get a payoff.
They don’t have sex, but the heroine is starting to have feelings for the H. The heroine’s mother just came into a legacy, so the heroine has no excuse to stay with the H – especially since she thinks he’s fallen in love after she sees the H is coupled with an Italian princess in a tabloid. He also bought a family house in the country and is showing signs of settling down.
The heroine firmly holds on to this notion, even when the H puts the moves on the heroine in the lush conservatory of the new house he just bought. Luckily for her pride, they are interrupted at the last minute by his sister. Then the hero takes her to an isolated cottage. Heroine is so worried she’ll give into temptation that she invents a boyfriend and says she wants out.
The hero lets her go. Six months later her mother arranges for the H/h to meet and to finally tell each other their true feelings. HEA.
A nice little marriage of convenience romp with likable characters. Just not very fresh or memorable.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 5, 2012
I thought the book was going to be good, there was even modest interest when I read the blurb and description but I found myself lost for words when I read it. I didn't like it at all. It was way too obvious and the hero and heroine were just a bunch of idiots.
September 10, 2018
Utter. Waste. Of. Time.
The story would have progressed and been better if the inner dialogue was cut. I finished reading this and again wondered why didn't give up from get go. Disappointing read.
Do not recommend this.
The story would have progressed and been better if the inner dialogue was cut. I finished reading this and again wondered why didn't give up from get go. Disappointing read.
Do not recommend this.
March 5, 2018
60% in I finally checked Goodreads and discovered I had read this before. For most of the book I thought I’d read a really in depth review.
So, h marries H to be his no-sex secretary, in exchange for him taking financial care of her mother. Two years later the mother inherits enough money to look after herself, and the h is bummed, because now she had no reason to be married to the H, other than she loves him. But he’ll never lover her, and now there’s Principessa Lorella, who has big knockers and the h is convinced, on the strength of a newspaper photo and some eye-rolling comment that the H makes, that this is the love of his life.
And, because the h is too proud to ever let the H know that she loves him, and has this nasty little need to ‘win’ by exiting the relationship first, she eventually convinces the H that she’s found someone new.
It’s just awful. The heroine is a self-involved idiot who took every opportunity to make herself miserable. The hero could have done a lot better, poor thing.
So, h marries H to be his no-sex secretary, in exchange for him taking financial care of her mother. Two years later the mother inherits enough money to look after herself, and the h is bummed, because now she had no reason to be married to the H, other than she loves him. But he’ll never lover her, and now there’s Principessa Lorella, who has big knockers and the h is convinced, on the strength of a newspaper photo and some eye-rolling comment that the H makes, that this is the love of his life.
And, because the h is too proud to ever let the H know that she loves him, and has this nasty little need to ‘win’ by exiting the relationship first, she eventually convinces the H that she’s found someone new.
It’s just awful. The heroine is a self-involved idiot who took every opportunity to make herself miserable. The hero could have done a lot better, poor thing.
January 1, 2022
Yawn. This is one of those HP's where the heroine gets in the way of a really good story.
Original review below.
__________________________________
I enjoyed this, but it had the potential to be so much stronger.
Too much internalizing over the same issue by the heroine. (I really hate ongoing internal angst...so monotonous) I would have much preferred to wade into more interesting waters. Was he ever unfaithful? How did he orchestrate it? When did he stop? Was it love or something else?
He was very charming. (sigh.....)
She was too self absorbed for my taste.
Original review below.
__________________________________
I enjoyed this, but it had the potential to be so much stronger.
Too much internalizing over the same issue by the heroine. (I really hate ongoing internal angst...so monotonous) I would have much preferred to wade into more interesting waters. Was he ever unfaithful? How did he orchestrate it? When did he stop? Was it love or something else?
He was very charming. (sigh.....)
She was too self absorbed for my taste.
November 12, 2020
Tedious
April 24, 2015
this cud have been so much better! claire was actually very annoying and jumped to conclusions quickly. it was obvious jake was not having an affiar and he was jealous but in love wid her, i'm not convinced. the book was boring! one minute she was leaving him, the next she was not. lol!
July 27, 2012
This book is so emotionally charged, I had no choice but to like it.
February 2, 2018
As is the case with many Diana Hamilton books - or romances - there would be no story if the hero and heroine just spoke to each other.
The hero's love for the heroine was obvious. So were his attempts to make the heroine jealous.
The heroine was in her own world and kept misunderstanding the hero because of low self-esteem issues she had. She just didn't seem to believe the hero loved her.
It's also because she saw him as a playboy and wasn't optimistic or confident enough to think he would love her.
It was a decent read.
The hero's love for the heroine was obvious. So were his attempts to make the heroine jealous.
The heroine was in her own world and kept misunderstanding the hero because of low self-esteem issues she had. She just didn't seem to believe the hero loved her.
It's also because she saw him as a playboy and wasn't optimistic or confident enough to think he would love her.
It was a decent read.
March 29, 2025
Though written in 1995, premise of plot would still hold up today. Once again, communication would have solved everything but then, we would not have had any good reading material.
So indulge in this story, feel the drama, angst, romance and unrequited love as this couple journeys to their own HEA!
So indulge in this story, feel the drama, angst, romance and unrequited love as this couple journeys to their own HEA!
August 4, 2012
Yaaawn.
August 10, 2018
I was really disappointed. The summary was too good haha.
heroine is an annoying harpy and the Hero is... is there any Hero in the story? LELS!
heroine is an annoying harpy and the Hero is... is there any Hero in the story? LELS!
October 19, 2018
This comes to mind about this book.
Dumb and dumber!!
Dumb and dumber!!
August 30, 2018
2.5 stars
Ok but kinda dull
Ok but kinda dull
May 2, 2021
The perfect match ... in name only!
Jake Winters was every woman's fantasy - and, as his P.A., Claire had been groomed to become his perfect partner. She was the ideal assistant, hostess...and wife!
Their wedding had been a mutually beneficial business arrangement; their marriage a paper affair. Claire had never felt like a real bride: she was just a beautiful possession to Jake, who seemed more interested in the seductive Lorella.
Now Claire had made a big mistake: she'd fallen in love with her husband!
Jake Winters was every woman's fantasy - and, as his P.A., Claire had been groomed to become his perfect partner. She was the ideal assistant, hostess...and wife!
Their wedding had been a mutually beneficial business arrangement; their marriage a paper affair. Claire had never felt like a real bride: she was just a beautiful possession to Jake, who seemed more interested in the seductive Lorella.
Now Claire had made a big mistake: she'd fallen in love with her husband!
March 30, 2014
This is my all-time favorite and until now I haven't found another - still looking- that contains the correct amount of jealousy, angst, effort to hide one's feelings, and I also like the feel of separation, when you know the couple belongs together, and all of that so artfully described right until the final turn and their love confession.
August 27, 2025
Claire (age?) and Jake (37) have had a marriage of convenience for the past 2 years. Claire's was Jake's secretary when her mother had health problems, so Jake suggested a MOC. Claire is available to assist him 24/7. In exchange, Jake financially supports Claire's ailing mother. They agreed they wouldn't have a physical relationship, and they could discretely date other people. It's been working out really well, and they are very good friends.
Jake returns from a trip to Italy, where he was photographed with an Italian princess. Claire confronts him about his lack of discretion, which broke their agreement. He apologizes, but it's too late to do anything about it now.
But while he was on this trip, something else happened. Claire's mother inherited a fortune from a rich uncle. She doesn't need Jake's financial support anymore.
So, here's the conflict: Jake was never photographed with a lover before. Claire thinks the reason he took the princess out in public to be photographed is because Jake must love her, if he wants to make their relationship public. Jake says he doesn't plan on divorcing Claire, but she's not convinced.
Jake goes back to Rome by himself. Claire assumes he's spending time with the princess.
The night Claire confronted Jake about the princess, Claire was on the phone with her mother when he walked in the house. He got suspicious that she was talking to a lover. That should be no problem, because they have an open marriage. But Jake seems a little jealous. Claire thinks he's acting weird, because he never cared about whether she had a lover before. Is he looking for another reason to end the marriage?
Claire realizes she loves Jake. She feels like she can't watch him date another woman while she's stuck in a fake marriage with him.
When he gets back from Rome this time, they tour a house he just bought near his sister's house. (This is not unusual, he buys lots of properties.) While in the new house, she tells him she wants a divorce. Then they have a very long lunch, and drink a lot of champaign. They kiss and he begins to take her clothes off. But his sister bursts into the house and interrupts them. Claire realizes he never mentioned love. So she says she still wants a divorce.
When they're back in the office, he tries again to talk her into staying, so she comes up with a plan. According to the marriage agreement, they can end it if they fall in love with someone else. So, she will make him believe she's in love with someone else.
She begins to sneak out of the house to pretend she's meeting a lover.
Eventually, he tells her they need to talk. He says he knows she has a lover; it was obvious from the moment he came home and caught her on the phone (which was really the call with her mother). He's so nice about it, all she can do is cry while he's talking, because she's so miserable and in love with him, and he's acting like he doesn't care. But then he asks for a second chance to have the "real marriage" he had offered her before. They kiss. But he still never says anything about love or feelings. She can't take it anymore, and plans to leave the next morning.
So the next morning she tells Jake she's leaving because she wants to marry the OM. All Jake says is that he can't believe she'd leave after the way she "turned on for him" last night. Which confirms for her that he thinks all she needs is sex, not love.
Six months later, Claire's been working as a secretary for someone else. She hasn't talked to Jake or told him where she is. She gets a call that her mother is sick, but her mom gave them both the same message. She really wasn't sick, she just wanted both of them to show up at her house to have a chance to reconcile.
They go into the house and get into an argument. Now he yells, "I loved you!" He explains that he realized he loved her before he went to Rome the first time. He only went to the opera with the princess (and her father) because he was there to do business with her father. But when he came back home, he caught Claire on the phone with her "darling." He didn't deny having an affair because Claire's jealousy gave him hope that she cared about him. But he had already lost Claire to another man.
She admits she made up the OM as the only way out of the arrangement, because she couldn't stand being married to him while he didn't love her. So they agree to start being "really married." And the house he bought near his sister's was actually meant to be their family home, once he sold off his businesses.
Some negative reviews mention they don't like that Claire jumps to conclusions about the princess. But come on, what would you think? I think her conclusions made sense, under the circumstances. I liked this one and it actually made me tear up a little. Claire was so miserable, and Jake was too prideful to just tell her how he felt, because of the OM. They both allowed each other to think there was OW/OM.
Jake returns from a trip to Italy, where he was photographed with an Italian princess. Claire confronts him about his lack of discretion, which broke their agreement. He apologizes, but it's too late to do anything about it now.
But while he was on this trip, something else happened. Claire's mother inherited a fortune from a rich uncle. She doesn't need Jake's financial support anymore.
So, here's the conflict: Jake was never photographed with a lover before. Claire thinks the reason he took the princess out in public to be photographed is because Jake must love her, if he wants to make their relationship public. Jake says he doesn't plan on divorcing Claire, but she's not convinced.
Jake goes back to Rome by himself. Claire assumes he's spending time with the princess.
The night Claire confronted Jake about the princess, Claire was on the phone with her mother when he walked in the house. He got suspicious that she was talking to a lover. That should be no problem, because they have an open marriage. But Jake seems a little jealous. Claire thinks he's acting weird, because he never cared about whether she had a lover before. Is he looking for another reason to end the marriage?
Claire realizes she loves Jake. She feels like she can't watch him date another woman while she's stuck in a fake marriage with him.
When he gets back from Rome this time, they tour a house he just bought near his sister's house. (This is not unusual, he buys lots of properties.) While in the new house, she tells him she wants a divorce. Then they have a very long lunch, and drink a lot of champaign. They kiss and he begins to take her clothes off. But his sister bursts into the house and interrupts them. Claire realizes he never mentioned love. So she says she still wants a divorce.
When they're back in the office, he tries again to talk her into staying, so she comes up with a plan. According to the marriage agreement, they can end it if they fall in love with someone else. So, she will make him believe she's in love with someone else.
She begins to sneak out of the house to pretend she's meeting a lover.
Eventually, he tells her they need to talk. He says he knows she has a lover; it was obvious from the moment he came home and caught her on the phone (which was really the call with her mother). He's so nice about it, all she can do is cry while he's talking, because she's so miserable and in love with him, and he's acting like he doesn't care. But then he asks for a second chance to have the "real marriage" he had offered her before. They kiss. But he still never says anything about love or feelings. She can't take it anymore, and plans to leave the next morning.
So the next morning she tells Jake she's leaving because she wants to marry the OM. All Jake says is that he can't believe she'd leave after the way she "turned on for him" last night. Which confirms for her that he thinks all she needs is sex, not love.
Six months later, Claire's been working as a secretary for someone else. She hasn't talked to Jake or told him where she is. She gets a call that her mother is sick, but her mom gave them both the same message. She really wasn't sick, she just wanted both of them to show up at her house to have a chance to reconcile.
They go into the house and get into an argument. Now he yells, "I loved you!" He explains that he realized he loved her before he went to Rome the first time. He only went to the opera with the princess (and her father) because he was there to do business with her father. But when he came back home, he caught Claire on the phone with her "darling." He didn't deny having an affair because Claire's jealousy gave him hope that she cared about him. But he had already lost Claire to another man.
She admits she made up the OM as the only way out of the arrangement, because she couldn't stand being married to him while he didn't love her. So they agree to start being "really married." And the house he bought near his sister's was actually meant to be their family home, once he sold off his businesses.
Some negative reviews mention they don't like that Claire jumps to conclusions about the princess. But come on, what would you think? I think her conclusions made sense, under the circumstances. I liked this one and it actually made me tear up a little. Claire was so miserable, and Jake was too prideful to just tell her how he felt, because of the OM. They both allowed each other to think there was OW/OM.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 16, 2021
Fabulous until midway through. Readers can see that the H is clearly in love with the h and his was amazing. All the feels, all the thrills!
The ending was nice in that the h smacked the H very satisfactorily.
One of the reviewers noted that the H never directly denies that he wasn't celibate during their 2 year marriage and I usually hold on to even half a sentence in the text that suggests that yep, he kept it zipped even if they hadn't consummated their marriage yet. Unfortunately we don't see him say anything suggesting this. I felt pretty bummed about that. He did extensively clarify that he had never had a fling with the Italian Princess. He does also admit that it took him only until recently to realize that he loved her, same as with the h. I wish the author had given us a fake consolation. Non celibate after meeting the h heroes depress me .
The ending was nice in that the h smacked the H very satisfactorily.
One of the reviewers noted that the H never directly denies that he wasn't celibate during their 2 year marriage and I usually hold on to even half a sentence in the text that suggests that yep, he kept it zipped even if they hadn't consummated their marriage yet. Unfortunately we don't see him say anything suggesting this. I felt pretty bummed about that. He did extensively clarify that he had never had a fling with the Italian Princess. He does also admit that it took him only until recently to realize that he loved her, same as with the h. I wish the author had given us a fake consolation. Non celibate after meeting the h heroes depress me .
not-interested-in-reading
July 3, 2022Did Not Read. Refuse to Read. Not My Cuppa.
Whether or not they had an agreement to see other people, and he DID admit to having multiple affairs/mistresses, she did NOT. From other reviews, it was clear he admitted to wanting to stay married because the other women were getting too clingy, which told me that he more than likely did not really love the heroine, but instead wanted to use her as a buffer to keep the other women at bay...until he wanted to stray again. Nope, not a book I want to read.
Whether or not they had an agreement to see other people, and he DID admit to having multiple affairs/mistresses, she did NOT. From other reviews, it was clear he admitted to wanting to stay married because the other women were getting too clingy, which told me that he more than likely did not really love the heroine, but instead wanted to use her as a buffer to keep the other women at bay...until he wanted to stray again. Nope, not a book I want to read.
July 30, 2020
This one was alright. Kinda bland but you root for the silly couple. Get it together kids, you are acting like fools. Read.
August 30, 2022
Hay que tontos nuevamente perdiendo el tiempo con sus malos entendidos, los dos tan orgullosos.
Read
May 10, 2024Old reads
May 27, 2021
I feel sorry for this hero. He really deserves the name ‘hero’ for putting up with the crap she put him through and for forgiving her.
He is so nice and sweet. He stands by her in the hospital when she is worried about her mother, he gives her a job as his personal assistant, he buys her mother a house, he gives her mother a monthly allowance, he pays for her mother’s help.
And what does this woman do in return for all his help and kindness. She makes assumptions all the time that he has a mistress. She pretends she has a lover, so she can get out of their marriage. She buys lingerie so he would think that she is having a boyfriend. She lies to him that she loves another man and that she wants to be with another man.
I give it three stars because of the man. He’s a good man and he deserves a good woman. Poor guy.
Oh yeah, and 1 star extra because of the writing style. I like Diana Hamilton’s old HP’s. She really is an excellent writer. It’s never boring and she takes you on a rollercoaster of emotions.
He is so nice and sweet. He stands by her in the hospital when she is worried about her mother, he gives her a job as his personal assistant, he buys her mother a house, he gives her mother a monthly allowance, he pays for her mother’s help.
And what does this woman do in return for all his help and kindness. She makes assumptions all the time that he has a mistress. She pretends she has a lover, so she can get out of their marriage. She buys lingerie so he would think that she is having a boyfriend. She lies to him that she loves another man and that she wants to be with another man.
I give it three stars because of the man. He’s a good man and he deserves a good woman. Poor guy.
Oh yeah, and 1 star extra because of the writing style. I like Diana Hamilton’s old HP’s. She really is an excellent writer. It’s never boring and she takes you on a rollercoaster of emotions.
June 11, 2015
This book bored me to tears. It was more like a memoir of a women with really low self esteem. The book just went on and on about the hero not loving her. I wanted to yell at her to get a life. I felt the Hero never had a chance.
January 16, 2015
I can't say I really liked this book. It was very predictable for me. In my opinion, it's a very forgettable book.
October 31, 2015
Lack of communication.
April 3, 2016
It had a good start. The angst the agony but i got bored towards the end
Read
April 9, 2018The perfect match ... in name only!
Jake Winters was every woman's fantasy - and, as his P.A., Claire had been groomed to become his perfect partner. She was the ideal assistant, hostess...and wife!
Their wedding had been a mutually beneficial business arrangement; their marriage a paper affair. Claire had never felt like a real bride: she was just a beautiful possession to Jake, who seemed more interested in the seductive Lorella.
Now Claire had made a big mistake: she'd fallen in love with her husband!
Wedlocked!
Jake Winters was every woman's fantasy - and, as his P.A., Claire had been groomed to become his perfect partner. She was the ideal assistant, hostess...and wife!
Their wedding had been a mutually beneficial business arrangement; their marriage a paper affair. Claire had never felt like a real bride: she was just a beautiful possession to Jake, who seemed more interested in the seductive Lorella.
Now Claire had made a big mistake: she'd fallen in love with her husband!
Wedlocked!
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