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Love Without Reason
Little consequences
An illegitimate baby was fodder for the local gossips--especially when the identity of the baby's father was uncertain. But Riona knew that Cameron Adams, the wealthy American who owned the farm she managed in Scotland, was her son's father. He was also the man who'd left her without a word.
When Cam returned and took one look at the five-month-old baby in her arms, Riona's deepest fear became a reality. Cam gave her a choice--a marriage of convenience to legitimize their son... or a custody battle that Riona knew only Cam could win!
An illegitimate baby was fodder for the local gossips--especially when the identity of the baby's father was uncertain. But Riona knew that Cameron Adams, the wealthy American who owned the farm she managed in Scotland, was her son's father. He was also the man who'd left her without a word.
When Cam returned and took one look at the five-month-old baby in her arms, Riona's deepest fear became a reality. Cam gave her a choice--a marriage of convenience to legitimize their son... or a custody battle that Riona knew only Cam could win!
192 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1993
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127 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
April 12, 2020
A re-read.
I just don't see a happy ending for these two. He's petty and mean.
As with the other A. Fraser books I've read, the heroine has a spine of steel and is able to coolly withstand all kinds of condescending shading by evil other women and bad relatives.
I just don't see a happy ending for these two. He's petty and mean.
As with the other A. Fraser books I've read, the heroine has a spine of steel and is able to coolly withstand all kinds of condescending shading by evil other women and bad relatives.
May 11, 2018
Re Love Without Reason - Alison Fraser brings us a clash of cultures and a huge misunderstanding in this tale of an American H who meets up with a Scottish h.
The h is 20 to the H's 35 years and the book opens with a startling demand from the H to know if the baby the h had three months earlier is his. The h lies and says no and then takes herself back to her baby and her dilapidated sheep herding croft that happens to be on the H's recently inherited Scottish Estate.
The h isn't too pleased to see the H back in the little village and tells her friend, the local doctor who is a substitute father, that the H is back and she refuses to tell him about his son. Through a big flash back, we find out that the H came to the village last summer and began a pursuit of the h after he found out she was a really beautiful girl instead of a lad he had given a ride to.
The differences between the brash, entrepreneurial American and the more conservative Scottish h are explored as the H ropes the h into introducing him to the local knitting ladies, in the aim of setting up a village label to sell their woolen goods.
Now the h isn't petting unicorns and that is made clear at the start of the story. The h had actually won a place at the Royal College of Music in Edinburgh, but her Grandfather was very ill and needed help and he had taken the orphaned h in when her missionary parents died, so the h stayed to look after him.
She accepted the help of a local lad who was on his way to the Navy. After a very bad snowstorm where they spent three days rescuing sheep and some did not make it, during which her Grandfather finally passed, the h believed the local lad's protestation of love and gave into his seduction moves.
Only to find out that the lad was only interested in scoring, as he went bragging about how he finally got her after all the years of her blowing him off. The h isn't proud of herself, but she is a strong girl and quickly dismisses the local lad, who is now in the Navy, as a grieving mistake.
Then the H shows up and he just refuses to go away. He drags the h around on various errands and even tho he has heard the local gossip that the local lad is her boyfriend, he eventually seduces her anyway after he rescues her from a drunken attacker one night.
The h realizes that he thinks she is a unicorn groomer, and she does try to explain that she is not. But she believes the H when he tells her he loves her and she is a bit overwhelmed by his passionate nature, in huge contrast to her much shyer and more reticent one.
The h had heard local gossip about the H too, for one that he isn't interested in marriage and when she asks him flat out if that is true, the H tells her he is not. He also takes her to the local doctor to get the morning after pill - the first mention of this ever in HPlandia- but the h is too embarrassed to request it from a doctor who has known her since she was a child.
In the h's mind, the H did all he could to prevent a baby. He regularly used birth control after their first time and he did take her to get a preventative after the fact, the h blames herself for being unable to ask for it. So the h fully believes that she alone is responsible for her child, there is also the way the H left the summer before that makes the h believe that she was really only a fling for a bored American and she has no intention to tying herself to that.
The H and h were lovers for approximately three weeks and then the H had some out of town business. The h waited for his return, but the H never came back. He took off for the States again and never contacted the h, the only thing she heard was that he was gone and the estate was up for sale.
The h found out she was expecting the stork a few months later and decided that she was better than being a fling for a toad turd sewer snuffler, so she ignored the local gossip and had her baby and continued on with the sheep crofting.
When the H returns to find out if the h's baby is his, we find out that the local lad got leave from the Navy and the H happened to give him a ride to the village. Along the way the local lad just had to brag about being with the h, so instead of asking the h what was up, he dropped the local lad off at the h's house and took off like a big whiny baby.
The local lad ended up staying the night on the h's couch, after she pretty firmly told him another one nighter wasn't on, because it was too far for him to get to his parent's house without a car. The h doesn't explain this to the H upon his accusations tho, mainly cause he is a nasty toad turd and shouting at the top of his lungs that the h is a Tarty Mctart and the Harlot of Scotland.
Then the H makes the demand that the h marry him for six months to legitimize the baby and the H will turn over the estate to the baby when he is twenty five - with the condition that the h isn't allowed to marry or have a significant relationship with another man until the baby is 18 - otherwise the offer is rescinded and the H will get custody.
The H threatens a custody battle if the h doesn't comply and the h has no money for a lawyer. However it isn't until the baby gets sick and has to go to hospital that the h realizes the baby might resent not having an inheritance. So she agrees to the H's offer of a six month marriage, the baby will get the estate at twenty five and after the six months in America, the h and the baby will go back to live on the main estate in the big house and the H and h will divorce.
So we all go to Boston and we find out the H is super, mega rich and never mentioned this at all. His father married the other half of their shared business conglomerate for her shares after his beloved Scottish wife died and it was his beloved mother's brother that the H inherited from.
The H's stepmother is an icy snob, the H's stepsister is all about trying to humiliate the lower class h and warn the h that the H will be marrying her instead. The h is too smart to let the girl see that she is getting to her tho, she just makes a few little verbal barbs of her own.
The H is overwhelmingly contemptuous as he takes the h shopping for clothes and mocks her for worrying about spending a thousand dollars or so on baby things. He also, for some reason completely unknown and truly slime swillery, makes the baby wait in the car with a chauffeur and a housemaid assigned to help the h with the baby when he summons the h to his office and during the shopping.
The H's dad is very nice and seems very happy to see the h and his grandson. He is the only welcoming person in all of Boston, as we find out when there is a big party and the stepsister and the younger crowd make really loud tacky comments about the h to the rest of the guests. Then the h finds the H and the stepsister wrapped around each other and the h has had enough.
The H wasn't responding to the stepsister's seduction moves, but he wasn't pushing her drunk rear off either and the h is ready to go. The H follows her and accuses the h of being jealous, the h declares she isn't marrying the H. Then there is a semi-forced furious H seduction and the h gives into Treacherous Body Syndrome. Afterwards, she kicks the H out of her room - she got stuck in the nanny room and not a real bedroom- when the baby starts crying.
The next day the h takes the baby and the H's American Express card and goes home. She just walks out the door and no one even notices she is gone. When she gets back to her village, she leaves the baby with the matchmaking doctor and goes to check on her croft. The H is there waiting and the h doesn't want to know.
She runs off and the H chases her and he explains that the doctor told him what happened. He claims, now that he has realized that he totally messed up the h's life because she couldn't go to music college once she was preggers, that he doesn't care that she wasn't a virgin and that he loves her and he told her he did during their fling, but she never told him she loved him back.
The h doesn't remember if she did or she did not, but she reckons that she surely demonstrated that she loved him cause she followed him around like a puppy for three weeks and hung on his every word. Then the H declares that he still loves the h and that he gave up his father's business and plans on staying on the estate in Scotland and the h tells him she loves him back.
The little epilogue is the H and h marrying in the local church, the H wears a kilt and everyone is happy cause the H and h are obviously in love and the H finally did right by the h and married the mother of his child for a pretty decent HEA.
This one was good, the misunderstanding was acceptable, tho I was not convinced that the H really wasn't upset that the h wasn't a virgin. Mainly cause the H himself told the h she had the local lad for a boyfriend, but he just assumed that the h was a virgin and then ran off as soon as he found out different.
So apparently he either was irked that she was not a virgin or he realized that he scooped another guy's girl and did not want to face up to the consequences of his actions. Which was pretty hypocritical in light of the way he was all cozied up to his stepsister.
Overall tho the h was the best part of the story and she was totally strong and a great h. I don't blame her for not revealing the whole scenario with the local lad in the Navy either, the H wasn't big on details for all his conquests, merely that he had lots of them and supposedly the two were adults and past relationships were not discussed in detail.
The 20 year old h also had the ability and maturity to ask the H straight out about the gossip about him, which the 35 year old, but still acting like a toddler, H never had the courtesy to do. With a great h and toad turd H who finally sees the light in the end, this was not a bad HPlandia outing and worth a read for the h alone, if you run into it.
The h is 20 to the H's 35 years and the book opens with a startling demand from the H to know if the baby the h had three months earlier is his. The h lies and says no and then takes herself back to her baby and her dilapidated sheep herding croft that happens to be on the H's recently inherited Scottish Estate.
The h isn't too pleased to see the H back in the little village and tells her friend, the local doctor who is a substitute father, that the H is back and she refuses to tell him about his son. Through a big flash back, we find out that the H came to the village last summer and began a pursuit of the h after he found out she was a really beautiful girl instead of a lad he had given a ride to.
The differences between the brash, entrepreneurial American and the more conservative Scottish h are explored as the H ropes the h into introducing him to the local knitting ladies, in the aim of setting up a village label to sell their woolen goods.
Now the h isn't petting unicorns and that is made clear at the start of the story. The h had actually won a place at the Royal College of Music in Edinburgh, but her Grandfather was very ill and needed help and he had taken the orphaned h in when her missionary parents died, so the h stayed to look after him.
She accepted the help of a local lad who was on his way to the Navy. After a very bad snowstorm where they spent three days rescuing sheep and some did not make it, during which her Grandfather finally passed, the h believed the local lad's protestation of love and gave into his seduction moves.
Only to find out that the lad was only interested in scoring, as he went bragging about how he finally got her after all the years of her blowing him off. The h isn't proud of herself, but she is a strong girl and quickly dismisses the local lad, who is now in the Navy, as a grieving mistake.
Then the H shows up and he just refuses to go away. He drags the h around on various errands and even tho he has heard the local gossip that the local lad is her boyfriend, he eventually seduces her anyway after he rescues her from a drunken attacker one night.
The h realizes that he thinks she is a unicorn groomer, and she does try to explain that she is not. But she believes the H when he tells her he loves her and she is a bit overwhelmed by his passionate nature, in huge contrast to her much shyer and more reticent one.
The h had heard local gossip about the H too, for one that he isn't interested in marriage and when she asks him flat out if that is true, the H tells her he is not. He also takes her to the local doctor to get the morning after pill - the first mention of this ever in HPlandia- but the h is too embarrassed to request it from a doctor who has known her since she was a child.
In the h's mind, the H did all he could to prevent a baby. He regularly used birth control after their first time and he did take her to get a preventative after the fact, the h blames herself for being unable to ask for it. So the h fully believes that she alone is responsible for her child, there is also the way the H left the summer before that makes the h believe that she was really only a fling for a bored American and she has no intention to tying herself to that.
The H and h were lovers for approximately three weeks and then the H had some out of town business. The h waited for his return, but the H never came back. He took off for the States again and never contacted the h, the only thing she heard was that he was gone and the estate was up for sale.
The h found out she was expecting the stork a few months later and decided that she was better than being a fling for a toad turd sewer snuffler, so she ignored the local gossip and had her baby and continued on with the sheep crofting.
When the H returns to find out if the h's baby is his, we find out that the local lad got leave from the Navy and the H happened to give him a ride to the village. Along the way the local lad just had to brag about being with the h, so instead of asking the h what was up, he dropped the local lad off at the h's house and took off like a big whiny baby.
The local lad ended up staying the night on the h's couch, after she pretty firmly told him another one nighter wasn't on, because it was too far for him to get to his parent's house without a car. The h doesn't explain this to the H upon his accusations tho, mainly cause he is a nasty toad turd and shouting at the top of his lungs that the h is a Tarty Mctart and the Harlot of Scotland.
Then the H makes the demand that the h marry him for six months to legitimize the baby and the H will turn over the estate to the baby when he is twenty five - with the condition that the h isn't allowed to marry or have a significant relationship with another man until the baby is 18 - otherwise the offer is rescinded and the H will get custody.
The H threatens a custody battle if the h doesn't comply and the h has no money for a lawyer. However it isn't until the baby gets sick and has to go to hospital that the h realizes the baby might resent not having an inheritance. So she agrees to the H's offer of a six month marriage, the baby will get the estate at twenty five and after the six months in America, the h and the baby will go back to live on the main estate in the big house and the H and h will divorce.
So we all go to Boston and we find out the H is super, mega rich and never mentioned this at all. His father married the other half of their shared business conglomerate for her shares after his beloved Scottish wife died and it was his beloved mother's brother that the H inherited from.
The H's stepmother is an icy snob, the H's stepsister is all about trying to humiliate the lower class h and warn the h that the H will be marrying her instead. The h is too smart to let the girl see that she is getting to her tho, she just makes a few little verbal barbs of her own.
The H is overwhelmingly contemptuous as he takes the h shopping for clothes and mocks her for worrying about spending a thousand dollars or so on baby things. He also, for some reason completely unknown and truly slime swillery, makes the baby wait in the car with a chauffeur and a housemaid assigned to help the h with the baby when he summons the h to his office and during the shopping.
The H's dad is very nice and seems very happy to see the h and his grandson. He is the only welcoming person in all of Boston, as we find out when there is a big party and the stepsister and the younger crowd make really loud tacky comments about the h to the rest of the guests. Then the h finds the H and the stepsister wrapped around each other and the h has had enough.
The H wasn't responding to the stepsister's seduction moves, but he wasn't pushing her drunk rear off either and the h is ready to go. The H follows her and accuses the h of being jealous, the h declares she isn't marrying the H. Then there is a semi-forced furious H seduction and the h gives into Treacherous Body Syndrome. Afterwards, she kicks the H out of her room - she got stuck in the nanny room and not a real bedroom- when the baby starts crying.
The next day the h takes the baby and the H's American Express card and goes home. She just walks out the door and no one even notices she is gone. When she gets back to her village, she leaves the baby with the matchmaking doctor and goes to check on her croft. The H is there waiting and the h doesn't want to know.
She runs off and the H chases her and he explains that the doctor told him what happened. He claims, now that he has realized that he totally messed up the h's life because she couldn't go to music college once she was preggers, that he doesn't care that she wasn't a virgin and that he loves her and he told her he did during their fling, but she never told him she loved him back.
The h doesn't remember if she did or she did not, but she reckons that she surely demonstrated that she loved him cause she followed him around like a puppy for three weeks and hung on his every word. Then the H declares that he still loves the h and that he gave up his father's business and plans on staying on the estate in Scotland and the h tells him she loves him back.
The little epilogue is the H and h marrying in the local church, the H wears a kilt and everyone is happy cause the H and h are obviously in love and the H finally did right by the h and married the mother of his child for a pretty decent HEA.
This one was good, the misunderstanding was acceptable, tho I was not convinced that the H really wasn't upset that the h wasn't a virgin. Mainly cause the H himself told the h she had the local lad for a boyfriend, but he just assumed that the h was a virgin and then ran off as soon as he found out different.
So apparently he either was irked that she was not a virgin or he realized that he scooped another guy's girl and did not want to face up to the consequences of his actions. Which was pretty hypocritical in light of the way he was all cozied up to his stepsister.
Overall tho the h was the best part of the story and she was totally strong and a great h. I don't blame her for not revealing the whole scenario with the local lad in the Navy either, the H wasn't big on details for all his conquests, merely that he had lots of them and supposedly the two were adults and past relationships were not discussed in detail.
The 20 year old h also had the ability and maturity to ask the H straight out about the gossip about him, which the 35 year old, but still acting like a toddler, H never had the courtesy to do. With a great h and toad turd H who finally sees the light in the end, this was not a bad HPlandia outing and worth a read for the h alone, if you run into it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 16, 2011
The heroine Riona is shocked when she is confronted by the hero Cameron. She hasn't seen him in over a uear after he just left without word one day. And now he demanding to know who the father of her baby is. Riona was deeply heartbroken when Cameron left, and was left feeling like her simple crofting life was not good enough for the suarve new American Laird. She tries to deny her baby is Cameron's but he quickly realises the truth. Cameron gives her two choices; she can either marry him, which he makes clear would only be a marriage of convenience for their son's sake. Or he will sue her for custody. Riona agrees to marry him as she knows that her son deserves everything Cameron can give him, but Cameron's obvious dislike for her makes it a very difficult decision. Things only get worse when she moves to America with him and discoveres just how powerful and wealthy his faily are, not to mention disapproving. She knows Cameron never loved her, but her feelings for him never changed, which only makes it harder for her to go through with everything.
I really enjoyed this book, it had me hooked in right from the start. This is certainly a very emotion-heavy book, but it is written beautifully. The character's back story is told very well, although I would have preferred it to have been revealed bit by bit over the whole book, rather than as a big lump right at the start. I also would have liked to have Cameron's point of view included.
The author handles the differences between the hero and heroine's way of living very well. I never felt as though the heroine is an inferior character because of her basic life. The inclusion of Cameron's jealous stepsister is interesting but not overdone (hurrah!).
The book flows well, I couldn't put it down. Very enjoyable.
Originally posted at http://everyday-is-the-same.blogspot....
I really enjoyed this book, it had me hooked in right from the start. This is certainly a very emotion-heavy book, but it is written beautifully. The character's back story is told very well, although I would have preferred it to have been revealed bit by bit over the whole book, rather than as a big lump right at the start. I also would have liked to have Cameron's point of view included.
The author handles the differences between the hero and heroine's way of living very well. I never felt as though the heroine is an inferior character because of her basic life. The inclusion of Cameron's jealous stepsister is interesting but not overdone (hurrah!).
The book flows well, I couldn't put it down. Very enjoyable.
Originally posted at http://everyday-is-the-same.blogspot....
November 15, 2017
Love Without Reason is the eighth romance novel by British author, Alison Fraser. Riona Macleod is dismayed at the return of the new laird of the estate to her highland village, but glad that she doesn’t have the baby with her. As long as Cameron Adams doesn’t see him, he will believe her claim that Rory is not his baby. She’s content is her tiny, rundown croft, if not happy, and Cam can only upset things.
When he arrived from Boston to claim his inheritance, this wealthy American wasn’t expecting to fall in love, but meeting a feisty Scots lass changed all that. Their summer was idyllic. Then Cam found his trust had been betrayed. And now he discovers that Riona had a baby, which might just be his.
Fraser has a real knack for the laconic American and the British girl who is the mistress of the verbal put-down. This one has some lump-in-the-throat moments as these two tangle. In this genre, Fraser is a talented author, and it is a shame her output was so limited. Enjoyable.
When he arrived from Boston to claim his inheritance, this wealthy American wasn’t expecting to fall in love, but meeting a feisty Scots lass changed all that. Their summer was idyllic. Then Cam found his trust had been betrayed. And now he discovers that Riona had a baby, which might just be his.
Fraser has a real knack for the laconic American and the British girl who is the mistress of the verbal put-down. This one has some lump-in-the-throat moments as these two tangle. In this genre, Fraser is a talented author, and it is a shame her output was so limited. Enjoyable.
May 4, 2014
Nicely done secret baby story. Although the hero acted like a 20 year old instead of a 35 year old in doing the thing that broke them up. Still I liked the touch of pathos and angst. This heroine was one of those who really only belonged in one place. She ended up in Boston and while definitely a fish out of water did more or less hold her own. But she really only belonged in Scotland. You could tell the hero was crazy about her so the author did a good job on that even if there was no scenes from his POV. There were flashbacks which I generally don't enjoy but here it wasn't too intrusive. I ended up enjoying it.
February 8, 2016
Ok I did not really understand this one I tried so they have sex and he had sex before with Fergus who she loves and then she loves the hero. What???? I can't understand why it's important or relevant that they go on and on about her v card it was stupid she slept with another guy big deal and he slept with no one right???? It's just a stupid story and the characters were cartoonish in nature even down to the near rape. Just weird! Did not like and will not read again ever.
September 2, 2016
Story full of misunderstandings that could easily be resolved if characters trusted each other and not behaving as stubborn teenagers. The hero was 35 years old for goodness…
December 16, 2018
Call me old fashioned by I prefer a man who doesn't, three times, say he is gonna 'kill me' and man handle me twice, both of those things happened once as a precursor to sex. Yeah not my cup of tea. The hero is bipolar. It's the only explanation for his behavior! 'I love you-' Flies to America without telling the heroine. 'I like you cause you aren't a social climber-' buys outfits for heroine to help her fit it. He was right 'I want you more than Rory(his son!!!!!)' but what about tomorrow? When he changes his mind again?! Lordy. And who doesn't love a hero who believes the words to 2 random strangers of the girl you 'love'? Ah, such romance. The heroine is doing the best she freaking can, just trying to keep her head above water in life for her son and the hero is just there to try to drown her it seems. I think if she just went to school, while pregnant this poor story never would have happened because she'd have been way cooler and more knowledgeable and not be blackmailed into marriage/dragged to America/fled from America/took the hero back.....EVER! Girl get your education! You don't need no man to raise your baby! Would not categorize this as romance.
March 5, 2016
A satisfying tale for me.
I liked the characters but Riona was the winner. She's tough. Some might think her attitude towards Cameron was a bit prickly or even bitchy, but it's her protecting herself. And the way she handled OW wannabe had me clapping.
Cameron was a nice hero. His relentless pursue of Riona proofed how smitten he was with her. And I was fangirling cause he wore a kilt at the wedding.
The romance was sweet although it's a bit ridiculous that they obsessed over some OM and OW wannabe who in reality didn't mean anything to either of them, but they refused to make that clear. That's pride for you.
The story writing was easy to follow. Written in Riona's point of view, but sometimes the author couldn't help inserting a sentence or two of what's going on in Cameron's head.
I will try other books from this author.
I liked the characters but Riona was the winner. She's tough. Some might think her attitude towards Cameron was a bit prickly or even bitchy, but it's her protecting herself. And the way she handled OW wannabe had me clapping.
Cameron was a nice hero. His relentless pursue of Riona proofed how smitten he was with her. And I was fangirling cause he wore a kilt at the wedding.
The romance was sweet although it's a bit ridiculous that they obsessed over some OM and OW wannabe who in reality didn't mean anything to either of them, but they refused to make that clear. That's pride for you.
The story writing was easy to follow. Written in Riona's point of view, but sometimes the author couldn't help inserting a sentence or two of what's going on in Cameron's head.
I will try other books from this author.
March 14, 2014
Another awesome read by AF! im not a big fan of secret baby plots but i liked this one!
The H was besotted and yummy and i just love this authors writing!! Some ppl might not like the back and forth timeline story telling but i personally love it.. AF does it very well, it brings lil suspense to the stories in regards to wat happens, y does she hate him, etc
My only peev wit AF bks is the ending! I would kill for an epilogue see the H/h after few yrs, sadly AF ends her stories abruptly! The h/H r so great u dont wanna leave em :-(
I higly rec this authors work for HP readers who love heroines with backbone and besotted heroes!
The H was besotted and yummy and i just love this authors writing!! Some ppl might not like the back and forth timeline story telling but i personally love it.. AF does it very well, it brings lil suspense to the stories in regards to wat happens, y does she hate him, etc
My only peev wit AF bks is the ending! I would kill for an epilogue see the H/h after few yrs, sadly AF ends her stories abruptly! The h/H r so great u dont wanna leave em :-(
I higly rec this authors work for HP readers who love heroines with backbone and besotted heroes!
March 11, 2023
Competent but not earth shattering. One for the Scotland fans. American Cameron inherits a lairdship and falls for orphan, fairly spiky crofter Riona under the kindly eye of Dr MacNab. Some jealous misunderstanding about a previous virginity-taking om ensues and complicates paternity (in the Hs mind) of the ensuing baby, Rory -a typically well behaved HP tot. Apart from a couple of episodes of lactation kink, there's nothing too outstanding in this. There's a planned MoC and trip to Boston to allow some evil stepsister machinations before a return to God's own country for the finale. Perfectly readable.
September 5, 2014
4.5 stars. Good, angsty story with a fun heroine (maybe a little overly wild-animal like) and a smitten hero. Predictable story without any real surprises, but still a satisfying read.
September 1, 2025
Story without reason. Could have been amazing. Wasn’t.
Terribly boring. In between I read the newest one by Elizabeth O Roark.
I didn’t like this heroine at all.
How stupid was she. When she’s going out with one man then why does she allow her ex to sleep over.
Dumb.
Hero. Dumb. Another man is with his lover and he sits outside the house like a worm
It was irritating.
When I read mills and boon I want neat plot lines. Neat stratagems.
She slept with another man. Her ex. Fine. Of course it’s fine. But then she lets him sleep over. When she’s having an affair with another man. Dumb.
She keeps letting hero assume she’s never had another lover
It was all very sordid and underwhelming.
Don’t feel like discussing the story.
Heroine was shitty. Hero gave vibes of alien. Foreigner. You get??? His alien-ness is underlined . Those were the days people were insular.
A billionaire went around asking women to start a co-operative. Nope. Couldn’t happen. He’d employ people to do it.
It was just irritating.
I like this author sometimes. Her voice. Not always. But this story. Nope.
Terribly boring. In between I read the newest one by Elizabeth O Roark.
I didn’t like this heroine at all.
How stupid was she. When she’s going out with one man then why does she allow her ex to sleep over.
Dumb.
Hero. Dumb. Another man is with his lover and he sits outside the house like a worm
It was irritating.
When I read mills and boon I want neat plot lines. Neat stratagems.
She slept with another man. Her ex. Fine. Of course it’s fine. But then she lets him sleep over. When she’s having an affair with another man. Dumb.
She keeps letting hero assume she’s never had another lover
It was all very sordid and underwhelming.
Don’t feel like discussing the story.
Heroine was shitty. Hero gave vibes of alien. Foreigner. You get??? His alien-ness is underlined . Those were the days people were insular.
A billionaire went around asking women to start a co-operative. Nope. Couldn’t happen. He’d employ people to do it.
It was just irritating.
I like this author sometimes. Her voice. Not always. But this story. Nope.
December 10, 2023
‘It’s Rory, isn’t it? You’re marrying me for his sake.’
‘God, you still don’t get it yet, do you?’ Cameron swore under his breath at her obtuseness. ‘Then let me spell it out for you. I left here, hating you. I spent a year trying to shut you out of my mind. Yet I was on a plane to Britain within a day of hearing you’d had a baby.’
‘You knew before you returned?’ Riona hadn’t realised that.
‘Yeah, I knew,’ he admitted roughly. ‘What do you think brought me back? And no, it wasn’t to play Daddy. I just thought—I’ve got her... If it’s mine, I’ve got her.’
‘But you left me...’ Riona still didn’t understand.
'Of course I left!’ he almost shouted at her. ‘If I hadn’t, I would have killed you. Or, worse, I would have got down on my knees and begged you to choose me, not Ross. So I got out, while I still had some pride, some sanity. But then I heard about Rory and it gave me the chance to come back, to demand, not beg, believing your position made you helpless. I thought, I can have her without admitting I love her—to anybody, including myself. I can pretend I’m doing what’s right, and forget it’s the only thing I can do, when life without you is impossible.'
An American businessman inherits a remote Scottish estate where he meets a stubborn Scottish girl he mistakes for a virgin. Riona's had a brief and disastrous affair with a local boy that has left her completely disillusioned. She falls in love with Cameron although she knows nothing about him.
She's deeply hurt when he leaves without a word.
A year later he returns once he hears that Riona's given birth to an illegitimate child.
Cameron demands they have a marriage of convenience and move to Boston where Riona is completely miserable.
The solution to their transatlantic relationship?
Cameron quits his family business and moves to Scotland. As there's little chance Riona will fit in Bostonian society and he's bored with his former life and job.
I must say Riona sounds snobbish when talking about Americans. And thinking Scots are the salt of earth when she was ostracized by her local community for being a single mother???
And we didn't see crouds rushing to help a helpless teenager after the death of her only relative.
This solution sounds too idyllic.
‘God, you still don’t get it yet, do you?’ Cameron swore under his breath at her obtuseness. ‘Then let me spell it out for you. I left here, hating you. I spent a year trying to shut you out of my mind. Yet I was on a plane to Britain within a day of hearing you’d had a baby.’
‘You knew before you returned?’ Riona hadn’t realised that.
‘Yeah, I knew,’ he admitted roughly. ‘What do you think brought me back? And no, it wasn’t to play Daddy. I just thought—I’ve got her... If it’s mine, I’ve got her.’
‘But you left me...’ Riona still didn’t understand.
'Of course I left!’ he almost shouted at her. ‘If I hadn’t, I would have killed you. Or, worse, I would have got down on my knees and begged you to choose me, not Ross. So I got out, while I still had some pride, some sanity. But then I heard about Rory and it gave me the chance to come back, to demand, not beg, believing your position made you helpless. I thought, I can have her without admitting I love her—to anybody, including myself. I can pretend I’m doing what’s right, and forget it’s the only thing I can do, when life without you is impossible.'
An American businessman inherits a remote Scottish estate where he meets a stubborn Scottish girl he mistakes for a virgin. Riona's had a brief and disastrous affair with a local boy that has left her completely disillusioned. She falls in love with Cameron although she knows nothing about him.
She's deeply hurt when he leaves without a word.
A year later he returns once he hears that Riona's given birth to an illegitimate child.
Cameron demands they have a marriage of convenience and move to Boston where Riona is completely miserable.
The solution to their transatlantic relationship?
Cameron quits his family business and moves to Scotland. As there's little chance Riona will fit in Bostonian society and he's bored with his former life and job.
I must say Riona sounds snobbish when talking about Americans. And thinking Scots are the salt of earth when she was ostracized by her local community for being a single mother???
And we didn't see crouds rushing to help a helpless teenager after the death of her only relative.
This solution sounds too idyllic.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 27, 2013
Cameron seduces Riona and leaves. A year later he returns. Will she tell him who's Rory's father?
July 18, 2023
Good old school with a lot of angst and a lot of chauvinism.
The heroine is one I love, a strong young woman who lives alone in the highlands and never complains.
The hero is her new landlord, an american billionaire that she doesn't like because he flirts with her all the time.
She doesn't fall for his charms for quite some time but the man is persistent and eventually she gives in.
There's a lot of misunderstanding, i tried to see when it was written because the matter of her V-card is always there.
She's not a virgin, because she had sex with a boyfriend, only once actually, and the hero thinks she is.
Then said boyfriend comes back and brags about how he has the most beautiful gf of scotland waiting for him and the hero sees his car parked outside the heroine's house all the night so this, with the rumors that a virgin she was not, have him run to America leaving the heroine without a word.
Seems that her V-card was so important for everyone, but I wonder why his V-card is never discussed.
meh.
One year later he's back because he heard she has a child and he wants to know if hes' his. Of course he is, but the heroine is a hard lil thing and denies it's his.
Sadly, genes are what matters and since the heroine is a blondie and her ex bf is a ginger, and the child is a dark haired with blue eyes as the hero, it doesn't take a genetist to understand whose child is this...
The hero is angry and the heroine is angry, he thinks she jumped from his bed to the boyfriend's but he's willing to marry her, at least for some months, to give him his name and heritage.
The heroine is not very happy but she's sensible and for the sake of her child she accepts.
Marriage in name only for 6 months then she will go back to the highlands with the child.
The hero takes her to Boston and the heroine catches a severe emotional cold due to the icy behavior of his family, with the exception of his father who's a warm old thing, and his friends.
She resists his kisses and tries to persuade him she doesn't fit and it's better if they don't marry until, after the latest humiliation, she packs her shit and goes back to the Highlands.
The hero is there for her, and there's the Big Explanation of why and how things went so bad.
Seems that the heroine never told him ILY, and he was insecure of her feelings, so of course he believed the rumors that she was fickle.
Eve then, he was willing to have her back and proposed marriage hoping she would fall for him.
There are two would be ow that make mischief and many death threats by the hero because he's jealous and possessive.
All very entertaining.
Celibate hero and heroine even during separation.
The heroine is one I love, a strong young woman who lives alone in the highlands and never complains.
The hero is her new landlord, an american billionaire that she doesn't like because he flirts with her all the time.
She doesn't fall for his charms for quite some time but the man is persistent and eventually she gives in.
There's a lot of misunderstanding, i tried to see when it was written because the matter of her V-card is always there.
She's not a virgin, because she had sex with a boyfriend, only once actually, and the hero thinks she is.
Then said boyfriend comes back and brags about how he has the most beautiful gf of scotland waiting for him and the hero sees his car parked outside the heroine's house all the night so this, with the rumors that a virgin she was not, have him run to America leaving the heroine without a word.
Seems that her V-card was so important for everyone, but I wonder why his V-card is never discussed.
meh.
One year later he's back because he heard she has a child and he wants to know if hes' his. Of course he is, but the heroine is a hard lil thing and denies it's his.
Sadly, genes are what matters and since the heroine is a blondie and her ex bf is a ginger, and the child is a dark haired with blue eyes as the hero, it doesn't take a genetist to understand whose child is this...
The hero is angry and the heroine is angry, he thinks she jumped from his bed to the boyfriend's but he's willing to marry her, at least for some months, to give him his name and heritage.
The heroine is not very happy but she's sensible and for the sake of her child she accepts.
Marriage in name only for 6 months then she will go back to the highlands with the child.
The hero takes her to Boston and the heroine catches a severe emotional cold due to the icy behavior of his family, with the exception of his father who's a warm old thing, and his friends.
She resists his kisses and tries to persuade him she doesn't fit and it's better if they don't marry until, after the latest humiliation, she packs her shit and goes back to the Highlands.
The hero is there for her, and there's the Big Explanation of why and how things went so bad.
Seems that the heroine never told him ILY, and he was insecure of her feelings, so of course he believed the rumors that she was fickle.
Eve then, he was willing to have her back and proposed marriage hoping she would fall for him.
There are two would be ow that make mischief and many death threats by the hero because he's jealous and possessive.
All very entertaining.
Celibate hero and heroine even during separation.
September 25, 2025
It wasn't bad, and I liked the Scottish Highlands background and all the talk of the "laird", gave it a historical feeling. But for two people who loved each other, this H and h seemed to go out of their way to mess things up for themselves and in this case, it was the H who caused most of the trouble by doing what so many h's have done: pulling a disappearing act!
Usually, it's the h who misunderstands a situation and believes whatever the OW tells her, but in this case, it was the H who did that and believed the OM. (This guy was invisible during the entire story but sure made an impact!) He also misunderstood the situation, when the OM platonically spent the night at the h's house (not her idea). So off he goes for a whole year, leaving the h dazed and bewildered (not to mention pregnant) and wondering what the heck happened???
This h was a good character: feisty, independent (without going overboard about it), a good mom, and with a good heart. (She gave up a music scholarship to stay with her ill grandfather, nursed him until the end, and never complained about the hard work she had to do.) She also did her best to put the OW in her place (the H's snarky bitch of a stepsister), which was no easy task! (I'd have liked to see more scenes with them, but the h's time in the H's hometown of upper-class Boston was too short.)
She also went through a lot: mistaking her gratitude for the OM as love and making the mistake of sleeping with him once (not very pleasant and something she regretted), only tom have him gloat that he got her into bed! She was also nearly raped by a drunk jerk who insisted on walking her home from work (he didn't leave her much choice). If the H hadn't come along, there's no doubt what would have happened! Then, the H abandons her with apparently no reason, and next thing you know, she's a single mom! She sure earned her HEA!
With the H saying more than once that marriage wasn't for him, trying to get her to take the morning after pill when they first got carried away, and telling her they have to be careful as this is not the time for a pregnancy, it's no wonder she was reluctant to let him know about the baby when he came back again.
Too much was left unsaid for too long. Because of her bad experience with the OM, the h didn't want to get involved with the H and when they did, she tried to tell him about the OM, but the words never came out. (Ironically, when the first made love, she was so nervous and tense, afraid it would be a disaster like it was with the OM, that the H mistook this for discomfort because she was a virgin, and how could she tell him then?) But had he known, he would have understood and it wouldn't have mattered. Instead, circumstances led him to believe she and the OM had a long-term fling, and she was amusing herself with him while the guy was in the navy.
Then, when the H returned, she'd let him believe what he wanted, even imply that it was true out of hurt and anger, because he wasn't sure the baby was his.
Then (when one look at the baby boy, who was the image of the H, convinces him), he turns a marriage proposal into a business/financial deal for their son's sake.
Yes, things work out, but it sure takes a long time!
A good secondary character was the elderly doctor, kind of a surrogate father/grandfather, who knew from the start the H and h belong together, if they both just weren't so stubborn!
It's frustrating at times, but still a good story.
Usually, it's the h who misunderstands a situation and believes whatever the OW tells her, but in this case, it was the H who did that and believed the OM. (This guy was invisible during the entire story but sure made an impact!) He also misunderstood the situation, when the OM platonically spent the night at the h's house (not her idea). So off he goes for a whole year, leaving the h dazed and bewildered (not to mention pregnant) and wondering what the heck happened???
This h was a good character: feisty, independent (without going overboard about it), a good mom, and with a good heart. (She gave up a music scholarship to stay with her ill grandfather, nursed him until the end, and never complained about the hard work she had to do.) She also did her best to put the OW in her place (the H's snarky bitch of a stepsister), which was no easy task! (I'd have liked to see more scenes with them, but the h's time in the H's hometown of upper-class Boston was too short.)
She also went through a lot: mistaking her gratitude for the OM as love and making the mistake of sleeping with him once (not very pleasant and something she regretted), only tom have him gloat that he got her into bed! She was also nearly raped by a drunk jerk who insisted on walking her home from work (he didn't leave her much choice). If the H hadn't come along, there's no doubt what would have happened! Then, the H abandons her with apparently no reason, and next thing you know, she's a single mom! She sure earned her HEA!
With the H saying more than once that marriage wasn't for him, trying to get her to take the morning after pill when they first got carried away, and telling her they have to be careful as this is not the time for a pregnancy, it's no wonder she was reluctant to let him know about the baby when he came back again.
Too much was left unsaid for too long. Because of her bad experience with the OM, the h didn't want to get involved with the H and when they did, she tried to tell him about the OM, but the words never came out. (Ironically, when the first made love, she was so nervous and tense, afraid it would be a disaster like it was with the OM, that the H mistook this for discomfort because she was a virgin, and how could she tell him then?) But had he known, he would have understood and it wouldn't have mattered. Instead, circumstances led him to believe she and the OM had a long-term fling, and she was amusing herself with him while the guy was in the navy.
Then, when the H returned, she'd let him believe what he wanted, even imply that it was true out of hurt and anger, because he wasn't sure the baby was his.
Then (when one look at the baby boy, who was the image of the H, convinces him), he turns a marriage proposal into a business/financial deal for their son's sake.
Yes, things work out, but it sure takes a long time!
A good secondary character was the elderly doctor, kind of a surrogate father/grandfather, who knew from the start the H and h belong together, if they both just weren't so stubborn!
It's frustrating at times, but still a good story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 20, 2023
3.5
He said that he loved her the first time when he had an affair with her and later when she asked if he is the marrying kind he said no, then why he said that he loved her? His love certainly seems a lie to me. I bet he said that he loved other OWs too. Not only that but he was taking precautions after the first time and asked her to take the morning after pill.
Then he left without messages for more than a year and he was expecting that she would be waiting for him, he is a slime guy. What right that he slut-shame her if he is only her second lover while he must had hundreds of women. I bet that he had a fling with his stepsister in the past.
Some of AF's Hs I liked, this guy here I did not like.
AF's heroines are one of the few that are not doormats but a strong, independent women.
He said that he loved her the first time when he had an affair with her and later when she asked if he is the marrying kind he said no, then why he said that he loved her? His love certainly seems a lie to me. I bet he said that he loved other OWs too. Not only that but he was taking precautions after the first time and asked her to take the morning after pill.
Then he left without messages for more than a year and he was expecting that she would be waiting for him, he is a slime guy. What right that he slut-shame her if he is only her second lover while he must had hundreds of women. I bet that he had a fling with his stepsister in the past.
Some of AF's Hs I liked, this guy here I did not like.
AF's heroines are one of the few that are not doormats but a strong, independent women.
June 1, 2025
Heroine (20/21) is a narky Scottish lass who fights her attraction to American/Scottish hero (35/36), then they have a passionate liaison before he leaves thinking she has cheated on him with an old boyfriend. Fast forward a year and she has a son, he finds out and comes to take her back to Boston and force a marriage to gain access to the child/AKA keep his pride whilst taking her back. Of course, she never cheated on him and he eventually finds out, after having subjected her to dumb shaming by his vile stepsister & co.
The heroine becomes more likeable and the hero is consistently overwhelmingly besotted and rather splendid (except he should have been more forceful to his dumb shaming stepsister).
4 stars.
The heroine becomes more likeable and the hero is consistently overwhelmingly besotted and rather splendid (except he should have been more forceful to his dumb shaming stepsister).
4 stars.
May 14, 2019
Love Without Return
This was about a man who left without having let his lover know. And his return back a year later. And finding out that she had given birth. He wanted to know if he was the child's father. She lied and said no. Now what happens when he figures out the truth is the story.
This was about a man who left without having let his lover know. And his return back a year later. And finding out that she had given birth. He wanted to know if he was the child's father. She lied and said no. Now what happens when he figures out the truth is the story.
March 5, 2018
My first book from this author, but not the last. I became a fan and will read more from her word, That much I loved this book.
December 17, 2019
It's like a low 3, more 2.5, because of some of the stupid shit the man pulled. But overall I liked it and I liked the woman a lot.
big-age-difference-skip-for-now
July 28, 202220h/35H
February 5, 2025
she's not like the other girls
October 19, 2014
definitely a keeper! these 2 were insanely in love! cameron fell for riona from the 1st. however, the book lost 2 stars bcoz he actually left without giving her a chance to explain about fergus. she had not been honest but she was still very young, just a naive kid. i think he shud have conceded all dat before abandoning her; though i dunt doubt, for 1 sec, dat he loved her fiercely!
October 6, 2013
A very good story. The heroine is strong without being ridiculous. She stays true to herself but is a dynamic character. I will definitely read this authors backlist.
May 17, 2015
All of the usual Harlequin Cinderella fantasy with less of the overly descriptive unparalleled lust. It seemed sweetly plausible.
July 11, 2025
3.5 stars
May 7, 2022
Disappointing.
Started again and did not finish.
Started again and did not finish.
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