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Rival Attractions
'You'd find life much less fraught if you learned to trust people a little, Charlotte. You're always so ready to believe the worst of others ...'
But Charlotte Spencer was scared to let herself follow her instincts where Oliver Tennant was concerned. How could she respond to him as an attractive man when he was also a business rival who might be playing a deeper game? In any case, what had a country bumpkin like herself to offer a sophisticated man about town? Better by far to put all thoughts of love aside ...
But Charlotte Spencer was scared to let herself follow her instincts where Oliver Tennant was concerned. How could she respond to him as an attractive man when he was also a business rival who might be playing a deeper game? In any case, what had a country bumpkin like herself to offer a sophisticated man about town? Better by far to put all thoughts of love aside ...
187 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1990
8 people are currently reading
87 people want to read
About the author
Penny Jordan
1,125 books667 followersPenelope Jones Halsall
aka Caroline Courtney, Annie Groves, Lydia Hitchcock, Melinda Wright
Penelope "Penny" Jones was born on November 24, 1946 at about seven pounds in a nursing home in Preston, Lancashire, England. She was the first child of Anthony Winn Jones, an engineer, who died at 85, and his wife Margaret Louise Groves Jones. She has a brother, Anthony, and a sister, Prudence "Pru".
She had been a keen reader from the childhood - her mother used to leave her in the children's section of their local library whilst she changed her father's library books. She was a storyteller long before she began to write romantic fiction. At the age of eight, she was creating serialized bedtime stories, featuring make-believe adventures, for her younger sister Prue, who was always the heroine. At eleven, she fell in love with Mills & Boon, and with their heroes. In those days the books could only be obtained via private lending libraries, and she quickly became a devoted fan; she was thrilled to bits when the books went on full sale in shops and she could have them for keeps.
Penny left grammar school in Rochdale with O-Levels in English Language, English Literature and Geography. She first discovered Mills & Boon books, via a girl she worked with. She married Steve Halsall, an accountant and a "lovely man", who smoked and drank too heavily, and suffered oral cancer with bravery and dignity. Her husband bought her the small electric typewriter on which she typed her first novels, at a time when he could ill afford it. He died at the beginning of 21st century.
She earned a living as a writer since the 1970s when, as a shorthand typist, she entered a competition run by the Romantic Novelists' Association. Although she didn't win, Penny found an agent who was looking for a new Georgette Heyer. She published four regency novels as Caroline Courtney, before changing her nom de plume to Melinda Wright for three air-hostess romps and then she wrote two thrillers as Lydia Hitchcock. Soon after that, Mills and Boon accepted her first novel for them, Falcon's Prey as Penny Jordan. However, for her more historical romance novels, she adopted her mother's maiden-name to become Annie Groves. Almost 70 of her 167 Mills and Boon novels have been sold worldwide.
Penny Halsall lived in a neo-Georgian house in Nantwich, Cheshire, with her Alsatian Sheba and cat Posh. She worked from home, in her kitchen, surrounded by her pets, and welcomed interruptions from her friends and family.
aka Caroline Courtney, Annie Groves, Lydia Hitchcock, Melinda Wright
Penelope "Penny" Jones was born on November 24, 1946 at about seven pounds in a nursing home in Preston, Lancashire, England. She was the first child of Anthony Winn Jones, an engineer, who died at 85, and his wife Margaret Louise Groves Jones. She has a brother, Anthony, and a sister, Prudence "Pru".
She had been a keen reader from the childhood - her mother used to leave her in the children's section of their local library whilst she changed her father's library books. She was a storyteller long before she began to write romantic fiction. At the age of eight, she was creating serialized bedtime stories, featuring make-believe adventures, for her younger sister Prue, who was always the heroine. At eleven, she fell in love with Mills & Boon, and with their heroes. In those days the books could only be obtained via private lending libraries, and she quickly became a devoted fan; she was thrilled to bits when the books went on full sale in shops and she could have them for keeps.
Penny left grammar school in Rochdale with O-Levels in English Language, English Literature and Geography. She first discovered Mills & Boon books, via a girl she worked with. She married Steve Halsall, an accountant and a "lovely man", who smoked and drank too heavily, and suffered oral cancer with bravery and dignity. Her husband bought her the small electric typewriter on which she typed her first novels, at a time when he could ill afford it. He died at the beginning of 21st century.
She earned a living as a writer since the 1970s when, as a shorthand typist, she entered a competition run by the Romantic Novelists' Association. Although she didn't win, Penny found an agent who was looking for a new Georgette Heyer. She published four regency novels as Caroline Courtney, before changing her nom de plume to Melinda Wright for three air-hostess romps and then she wrote two thrillers as Lydia Hitchcock. Soon after that, Mills and Boon accepted her first novel for them, Falcon's Prey as Penny Jordan. However, for her more historical romance novels, she adopted her mother's maiden-name to become Annie Groves. Almost 70 of her 167 Mills and Boon novels have been sold worldwide.
Penny Halsall lived in a neo-Georgian house in Nantwich, Cheshire, with her Alsatian Sheba and cat Posh. She worked from home, in her kitchen, surrounded by her pets, and welcomed interruptions from her friends and family.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
August 26, 2017
Re Rival Attractions - Penny Jordan has two real estate agents collide in this one. The h, who lost her mother at a young age and was raised by an indifferent father who only wanted a son and continually reminded the h of that fact, runs a small village estate agency and is gobsmacked when a new rival firm opens up on the outskirts of town. She is even more flustered when the handsome new agency owner ends up being her lodger.
The H and h first see each other when the h steals his parking spot on the way to visit her solicitor. PJ has a little social cause in this one and the h has plenty of moments to declaim about rich incomers buying up village properties and driving prices up, thus forcing local young couples out of the first time home buying market because they can't afford the available properties.
The h is concerned that the H might be one of those shady estate agents who lies about properties and tries to encourage bidding wars and the h is very adamant that she despises those business practices.
Through the manipulations of an incomer evil wanna be OW, the h and H meet at a local dinner party. The evil OW goes on and on about how unattractive and anti-feminine the h is to the H. He gallantly deflects the worst of the wanna be OW's comments and the h is the usual PJ mix of insecurity and angst over her big attraction to the H. Which makes things difficult for the h when her assistant offers the H rooms in the h's big family house at the end of a secluded lane.
Throw in some wanna be OW's nasty comments about the unsuitability of the H and h to share a house and the h finds herself neatly caught in the trap of wanting to prove the OW wrong and she has to follow through on the house sharing offer.
The H is all over that and soon the h is having to deal with redecorating her kitchen in the latest Kaffe Fassette plant pot wallpaper and the disturbing proximity of the H in the solitude of her home.
As every secondary character in the book tells the h it is dangerous for a woman to live alone and in such an isolated location, yet the h is worried that her growing attraction for the H is going to lead to a heartbreak and rejection that is even worse than a stranger attack.
Even a few roofie kisses from the H can't shake the h's notion that she is an unattractive and unfeminine person and there is no way the H could ever be interested in her after the evil wanna be OW throws in a few more disparaging remarks. The h refuses to accept that the H might be interested in her for many pages, tho the H goes out of his way to share business and real estate listings with her and be helpful and nice and loan her his Jaguar and weed her garden with no shirt on, providing the h with some excellent eye candy.
The H even has a Fortnum's gala picnic hamper and champagne to share with the h and after getting a little tipsy, the H and h surrender to the pink passion lurve club mojo. We get a little H pov here, and I had to laugh when the H was hoping he got the h up the duff so he could make her marry him. The h is horrified at her behavior the next morning, and goes back to H rejection mode. (I admit I was getting a little annoyed with our h, who refused to see the forest or even acknowledge there might be a tree or two right in front of her.)
Finally PJ gets the h to see reason after the h goes to an isolated farmstead about a potential listing and the man who wants to sell some property attacks her. The H shows up just in time to rescue the h from a fate worse than death and in the aftermath the H declares his boundless love for the h in a suitably dramatic PJ fashion. The h now realizes she has been a big silly ninny and declares her love back. She and the H start making wedding plans and hoping for little h and H's for the big pink sparkly HEA.
This one was pretty sweet and a nice little HP outing PJ style. The first part does tend to drag a bit, but once the H and h are forced together, things move along nicely and the H's big declaration is really well done. It isn't PJ's most dramatic or her best beta H book, however if your a PJ fangirl, this one is worth the read.
The H and h first see each other when the h steals his parking spot on the way to visit her solicitor. PJ has a little social cause in this one and the h has plenty of moments to declaim about rich incomers buying up village properties and driving prices up, thus forcing local young couples out of the first time home buying market because they can't afford the available properties.
The h is concerned that the H might be one of those shady estate agents who lies about properties and tries to encourage bidding wars and the h is very adamant that she despises those business practices.
Through the manipulations of an incomer evil wanna be OW, the h and H meet at a local dinner party. The evil OW goes on and on about how unattractive and anti-feminine the h is to the H. He gallantly deflects the worst of the wanna be OW's comments and the h is the usual PJ mix of insecurity and angst over her big attraction to the H. Which makes things difficult for the h when her assistant offers the H rooms in the h's big family house at the end of a secluded lane.
Throw in some wanna be OW's nasty comments about the unsuitability of the H and h to share a house and the h finds herself neatly caught in the trap of wanting to prove the OW wrong and she has to follow through on the house sharing offer.
The H is all over that and soon the h is having to deal with redecorating her kitchen in the latest Kaffe Fassette plant pot wallpaper and the disturbing proximity of the H in the solitude of her home.
As every secondary character in the book tells the h it is dangerous for a woman to live alone and in such an isolated location, yet the h is worried that her growing attraction for the H is going to lead to a heartbreak and rejection that is even worse than a stranger attack.
Even a few roofie kisses from the H can't shake the h's notion that she is an unattractive and unfeminine person and there is no way the H could ever be interested in her after the evil wanna be OW throws in a few more disparaging remarks. The h refuses to accept that the H might be interested in her for many pages, tho the H goes out of his way to share business and real estate listings with her and be helpful and nice and loan her his Jaguar and weed her garden with no shirt on, providing the h with some excellent eye candy.
The H even has a Fortnum's gala picnic hamper and champagne to share with the h and after getting a little tipsy, the H and h surrender to the pink passion lurve club mojo. We get a little H pov here, and I had to laugh when the H was hoping he got the h up the duff so he could make her marry him. The h is horrified at her behavior the next morning, and goes back to H rejection mode. (I admit I was getting a little annoyed with our h, who refused to see the forest or even acknowledge there might be a tree or two right in front of her.)
Finally PJ gets the h to see reason after the h goes to an isolated farmstead about a potential listing and the man who wants to sell some property attacks her. The H shows up just in time to rescue the h from a fate worse than death and in the aftermath the H declares his boundless love for the h in a suitably dramatic PJ fashion. The h now realizes she has been a big silly ninny and declares her love back. She and the H start making wedding plans and hoping for little h and H's for the big pink sparkly HEA.
This one was pretty sweet and a nice little HP outing PJ style. The first part does tend to drag a bit, but once the H and h are forced together, things move along nicely and the H's big declaration is really well done. It isn't PJ's most dramatic or her best beta H book, however if your a PJ fangirl, this one is worth the read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 16, 2021
"Rival Attractions" is the story of Charlotte and Oliver.
Don't go by the name- the only rivalry in this book is that they have the same profession and the heroine temporarily thinks he is her nemesis. In actuality, she is a closed off real estate agent who meets the hero, and he ends up first helping her, then moving into her home and her heart. She tries to resist him but he wins her over. The drama is provided by a catty OW who the hero just ignores.
It was an average read, low on angst.
Safe
3/5
Don't go by the name- the only rivalry in this book is that they have the same profession and the heroine temporarily thinks he is her nemesis. In actuality, she is a closed off real estate agent who meets the hero, and he ends up first helping her, then moving into her home and her heart. She tries to resist him but he wins her over. The drama is provided by a catty OW who the hero just ignores.
It was an average read, low on angst.
Safe
3/5
June 16, 2019
Hero was swoon worthy.
December 28, 2024
Typical neurotic PJ’s heroine.
August 31, 2013
3.75*. dunno where the other guy jumped in from? And guy's thoughts didn't make any sense. Felt really rushed at the end.
March 16, 2021
Don't let the title fool you... there's no real rivalry or angst. In this case, the gentle cover image serves better to give you an idea of the story. Hero (around mid-30s) moves his competing real estate business to the heroine's (28 yrs old) small town. From the start, the hero is very kind and nice, but it takes a while for the heroine to accept his good nature. She also has some major self-confidence issues. There is a married other woman who is jealous of the hero's attention to the heroine, but the hero wants nothing to do with the ow and tries to avoid her. This story could have worked as good sweet/romantic HP but it falls short due to infrequent interaction between the h/H and having them fall in love too quickly.
May 19, 2021
I've realized what irritates me about PJ's early-ish contributions to HP
Her heroes are mansplaining, occasionally rapey ciphers and her heroines have 2 emotional states. They're either very, very angry about something or they're falling in love for no apparent reason.
I know, I know...consider the times the books were written, right?
I have. I do. The bonus, non-HP related irritation is that aside from being reminded of tragic fashion and decorating choices it doesn't seem much has changed considering how frequently I read the same outdated and damaging themes and attitudes in stories published very recently. So there's that.
The very good news is that HP has many newer authors that are taking old tropes and changing them in much needed ways. Many of their more established authors are doing the same.
Will I continue to read PJ titles? Of course. For both the catharsis of an occasional rage read and for, more importantly, the reminder that even incremental changes are still welcome.
Her heroes are mansplaining, occasionally rapey ciphers and her heroines have 2 emotional states. They're either very, very angry about something or they're falling in love for no apparent reason.
I know, I know...consider the times the books were written, right?
I have. I do. The bonus, non-HP related irritation is that aside from being reminded of tragic fashion and decorating choices it doesn't seem much has changed considering how frequently I read the same outdated and damaging themes and attitudes in stories published very recently. So there's that.
The very good news is that HP has many newer authors that are taking old tropes and changing them in much needed ways. Many of their more established authors are doing the same.
Will I continue to read PJ titles? Of course. For both the catharsis of an occasional rage read and for, more importantly, the reminder that even incremental changes are still welcome.
September 4, 2012
The start was way too slow, the ending was way too fast. The main characters hardly had any time to get to know each other. The whole book was based on love at fist sight. It was okay but not too impressive.
July 26, 2015
Not much H/h interaction.
December 9, 2017
Synopsis: Real-Estate agent in a tiny UK town, suddenly finds that a competitor has moved to town, he's smoking hot and will probably destroy her business. Through some subtle manipulation of her two side-kicks and maybe Hero, (and I almost suspect the evil-other-woman, using reverse-psychology, as it's obvious her husband has the hots for the heroine), somehow the Hero just has to rent a room from her.
Yeah, suddenly, he's out in her garden, all shirtless, sweaty, dirty--Yep. Pulling weeds. Dragging big heavy rug out there, pillows and a really fancy champagne-in-a-bucket picnic..for his landlord (her)? And totally pulling-his-punches on real-estate deals, & giving her halvsies. Message received --but not to her. The Hero's point-of-view was funny and I wish there was more. Finally after a crisis, they both speak frankly.
Story Complexity: Very simplistic, reads like a 120-pager, great for a person undergoing chemo, or on an airflight.
Characters: Hero: classy Colin Firth in Brigitte Jones Diary, that whole hinting at a hidden crush thing. Heroine: very Doc Martin socially awkward and blustery, but inwardly scaldingly insecure and total self-loathing (due to her upbringing & father's constant dislike of her) at her masochistic weakness for the Hero.
Drama, Angst: Not really.
Insta-Love: Yes
Sex: Vague, no body parts listed, but very well written, surprisingly I liked it. I usually like lots of detail for my money.
Triggers: Potential rape by a bad guy, well-written and effective, scared me, which is rare.
What I would've Liked to See in a longer RE-edit: add more drama, angst, say one of them derails the relationship somehow, more misunderstandings, interlopers-mucking-about, and so they have to work at it longer. Obviously more sexy detail. More Hero's point-of-view. Something has to happen to save that poor male-friend married to the evil-other-woman.
Yeah, suddenly, he's out in her garden, all shirtless, sweaty, dirty--Yep. Pulling weeds. Dragging big heavy rug out there, pillows and a really fancy champagne-in-a-bucket picnic..for his landlord (her)? And totally pulling-his-punches on real-estate deals, & giving her halvsies. Message received --but not to her. The Hero's point-of-view was funny and I wish there was more. Finally after a crisis, they both speak frankly.
Story Complexity: Very simplistic, reads like a 120-pager, great for a person undergoing chemo, or on an airflight.
Characters: Hero: classy Colin Firth in Brigitte Jones Diary, that whole hinting at a hidden crush thing. Heroine: very Doc Martin socially awkward and blustery, but inwardly scaldingly insecure and total self-loathing (due to her upbringing & father's constant dislike of her) at her masochistic weakness for the Hero.
Drama, Angst: Not really.
Insta-Love: Yes
Sex: Vague, no body parts listed, but very well written, surprisingly I liked it. I usually like lots of detail for my money.
Triggers: Potential rape by a bad guy, well-written and effective, scared me, which is rare.
What I would've Liked to See in a longer RE-edit: add more drama, angst, say one of them derails the relationship somehow, more misunderstandings, interlopers-mucking-about, and so they have to work at it longer. Obviously more sexy detail. More Hero's point-of-view. Something has to happen to save that poor male-friend married to the evil-other-woman.
January 14, 2014
The development of the story was too slow for me mainly bec the author went on and on about the heroine's insights on things, her daily activities, background about her past, and so few of the conversations between her and the hero. So when she was forced to interact with him, things just progressed too fast and then boom, story ended. A tad boring, to be honest.
July 17, 2019
Nice storyline and a great hero but for me they fell in love too quickly.
March 11, 2025
The poor heroine of Penny Jordan's Attractive Rivals is always down on herself, having had her self-esteem destroyed first by an uncaring father, then by her nasty ex-fiance, and an even nastier Neighborhood Mean Girl. Heroine is great at her job as a realtor, has a nice group of female friends, and her clients for the most part like and respect her. But aside from the aforementioned ex-fiance, who easily let her go when she had to move back home to her village to care for her ailing father, she has had no romantic relationships. At the BIG AGE of 28, she has resigned herself to be a forever spinster. LMAO. The ageism was truly rampant throughout the entire book, not too surprising since it was published in 1990. Vintage Harlequin heroines who were over the age of 25 were considered at best to be "mature" heroines and at worst over the hill. I haven't read many Harlequins post the 2000s and I am hoping that has changed, along with fat-shaming, date rape, slut-shaming, and all those lovely tropes of yesteryear. But I digress...
The book's conflict begins when a new hot shot realtor, freshly arrived from London, decides to open up a branch in heroine's countryside corner, because real estate is experiencing a big boom there. All the yuppie, nouveau riche Londoners can't wait to get their hands on some prime real estate in the countryside so they too can play Lord of the Manor. The heroine is incensed. Not only does she see hero as a threat to her business, but she immediately pegs him as an immoral, ruthless scoundrel who is going to really hurt her beloved community. There is quite a long discourse by the passionate heroine about soulless McMansion owners, greedy developers, and unscrupulous realtor and money-lending institutions that drive up the prices and inflate mortgages and interest rates so much that young families and senior citizens are being pushed out of their idyllic village life. The heroine understands that business is about making money but she does not condone what is happening here.
Given today's horrible real estate climate more than 30 years after this book was written, it would be an understatement to say that the heroine had a point.
This isn't the first time that Penny Jordan, through her heroine, has gotten on her soapbox to preach about the socio-economic, political or cultural issue du jour. I remember at least one other novel of hers where the central conflict between the separated husband and wife revolved around nuclear disarmament, of all things! But, I digress again...
We get a glimpse of the hero's POV and he is smitten with the heroine, has been since Day 1, even though he witnessed the heroine steal his parking spot in the middle of a heavy rainshower (a capital offense if you ask me, he must have REALLY been hit by a coup de foudre if he could forgive her for that!). Unlike the heroine, the hero is in touch with his feelings, knows what he wants, and is not afraid to go for it. He is doing everything in his power to court the heroine slowly and properly, and get behind her defenses. This is aided by the fact that heroine's motherly assistant comes up with the genius idea of having the hero become heroine's lodger. Heroine is horrified, both by what would happen to her reputation if she shacks up with a man, umarried, and by what she is increasingly recognizing as her out-of-control libido when it comes to him. When the neighborhood Mean Girl spews out her venom one too many times though, implying that the hero is just buttering up the heroine to get her trade secrets and her clientele, and that he could not possibly be attracted to her, the heroine decides to go through with the landlord-tenant bit, just out of spite. Eventually, the shacking up leads to some shagging down and the heroine experiences a cataclysmic, life-changing night of passion with the hero butt naked on her lawn lol.
The hero is all set to propose marriage but the heroine, in a last bout of Debbie-Downerism, has morning after shame and regrets. Before these two can talk it out, she rushes to a real estate appointment with a surly farmer who turns out to be a complete psycho rapist and potential murderer. He assaults the heroine, but before the worst can happen, the hero, like a white knight, comes to heroine's rescue. This episode is the final nail in the coffin of heroine's insecurities. As she was facing death, she was holding on to the memory of her one night of passion with hero and realizing that she was so happy to have experienced love. The hero and heroine finally avow their love for each other and we leave them happily engaged and back for some love-making on the lawn the night before their wedding. They will join forces on the real estate front as well, ensuring that their little village will not be overtaken by horrid land speculators, yuppies, and bulldozers and hopefully keep its charming, bucolic character and affordable prices. One can only hope!
The book's conflict begins when a new hot shot realtor, freshly arrived from London, decides to open up a branch in heroine's countryside corner, because real estate is experiencing a big boom there. All the yuppie, nouveau riche Londoners can't wait to get their hands on some prime real estate in the countryside so they too can play Lord of the Manor. The heroine is incensed. Not only does she see hero as a threat to her business, but she immediately pegs him as an immoral, ruthless scoundrel who is going to really hurt her beloved community. There is quite a long discourse by the passionate heroine about soulless McMansion owners, greedy developers, and unscrupulous realtor and money-lending institutions that drive up the prices and inflate mortgages and interest rates so much that young families and senior citizens are being pushed out of their idyllic village life. The heroine understands that business is about making money but she does not condone what is happening here.
Given today's horrible real estate climate more than 30 years after this book was written, it would be an understatement to say that the heroine had a point.
This isn't the first time that Penny Jordan, through her heroine, has gotten on her soapbox to preach about the socio-economic, political or cultural issue du jour. I remember at least one other novel of hers where the central conflict between the separated husband and wife revolved around nuclear disarmament, of all things! But, I digress again...
We get a glimpse of the hero's POV and he is smitten with the heroine, has been since Day 1, even though he witnessed the heroine steal his parking spot in the middle of a heavy rainshower (a capital offense if you ask me, he must have REALLY been hit by a coup de foudre if he could forgive her for that!). Unlike the heroine, the hero is in touch with his feelings, knows what he wants, and is not afraid to go for it. He is doing everything in his power to court the heroine slowly and properly, and get behind her defenses. This is aided by the fact that heroine's motherly assistant comes up with the genius idea of having the hero become heroine's lodger. Heroine is horrified, both by what would happen to her reputation if she shacks up with a man, umarried, and by what she is increasingly recognizing as her out-of-control libido when it comes to him. When the neighborhood Mean Girl spews out her venom one too many times though, implying that the hero is just buttering up the heroine to get her trade secrets and her clientele, and that he could not possibly be attracted to her, the heroine decides to go through with the landlord-tenant bit, just out of spite. Eventually, the shacking up leads to some shagging down and the heroine experiences a cataclysmic, life-changing night of passion with the hero butt naked on her lawn lol.
The hero is all set to propose marriage but the heroine, in a last bout of Debbie-Downerism, has morning after shame and regrets. Before these two can talk it out, she rushes to a real estate appointment with a surly farmer who turns out to be a complete psycho rapist and potential murderer. He assaults the heroine, but before the worst can happen, the hero, like a white knight, comes to heroine's rescue. This episode is the final nail in the coffin of heroine's insecurities. As she was facing death, she was holding on to the memory of her one night of passion with hero and realizing that she was so happy to have experienced love. The hero and heroine finally avow their love for each other and we leave them happily engaged and back for some love-making on the lawn the night before their wedding. They will join forces on the real estate front as well, ensuring that their little village will not be overtaken by horrid land speculators, yuppies, and bulldozers and hopefully keep its charming, bucolic character and affordable prices. One can only hope!
November 10, 2021
Low angst, easy HEA, an H who fell in love with her on sight. Throw in a couple of introspective h monologue paragraphs. Pseudo villain at the end made me feel a tiny bit weird but meh. Love uncomplicated endiings.
September 22, 2022
Intense, emotional with a loving, besotted H. Unfortunately PJ likes her h to have zero confidence and obsess about being sexually unattractive and how no one could want them, on an on, etc, etc.
I get feeling unlovable and ugly, but don’t get constantly whining about it.
I get feeling unlovable and ugly, but don’t get constantly whining about it.
September 26, 2025
Cute h/H who are completely besotted with one another, but the story was just a little too saccharine sweet to rank higher. I also disliked the gratuitous use of rape/attempted rape as a plot driver, with the H showing up just in time to save the h.
January 8, 2024
It was a quick read but it kinda had a slow start so I didn’t get sucked in right away.
June 9, 2020
You'd find life much less fraught if you learned to trust people a little, Charlotte. You're always so ready to believe the worst of others ...'
But Charlotte Spencer was scared to let herself follow her instincts where Oliver Tennant was concerned. How could she respond to him as an attractive man when he was also a business rival who might be playing a deeper game? In any case, what had a country bumpkin like herself to offer a sophisticated man about town? Better by far to put all thoughts of love aside
But Charlotte Spencer was scared to let herself follow her instincts where Oliver Tennant was concerned. How could she respond to him as an attractive man when he was also a business rival who might be playing a deeper game? In any case, what had a country bumpkin like herself to offer a sophisticated man about town? Better by far to put all thoughts of love aside
June 13, 2014
This is the best Penny Jordan novel that I have ever read. I think Charlotte's is a strong character who feels that noone really sees who she is. She's an everyday sort of woman. Not pretty or especially feminine but good at the work she does and cares lots for the community that she is part of. Then enters the hero and they clash. He challenges her assumptions. I can't explain the connection that I have with this book thoroughly but I do re-read it periodically because I like it so much. I have tried to read other books by Penny Jordan but none compare to this one. As a matter of fact, I haven't liked any of the other books that I have read of hers but this one is a keeper for me.
January 1, 2015
The Heroine was a pretty strong character the story was nice i like the book.
June 28, 2018
Charlotte was afraid to follow her instincts
At least as far as Oliver Tennant was concerned. After all, how could she respond to a man who was also a business rival? One who just might be playing a deceptive game...?
How many times had Charlotte been told that life would be easier if she learned to trust people? Perhaps Oliver was different.
But even so, what could a country mouse like herself offer a sophisticated man-about-town? Far better to forget about love...
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews