What do you think?
Rate this book
Divided Loyalties
She'd lose her best friend - or her heart!Debra felt responsible for Liz since the younger girl's parents had died. So when the job in HOng Kong was offered to Debra, she insisted that Liz come, too."Fine," said Vane Oliver, a famous fashion designer and Debra's new boss. "Liz is a sweet young thing."Sweet, yes, but in love with Vane. And to Debra that was terrible! Not just because Vane was too old for Liz, but because Debra was in love with him, too!
- GenresHarlequin Romance
192 pages, Hardcover
First published October 9, 1981
1 person is currently reading
39 people want to read
About the author
Margaret Mayo
351 books46 followersThere is more than one author with this name
For Children's writer see Margaret Mayo
Jessica R. Mayo was born on February 7, 1936 in Staffordshire, England, and has remained within the county all of her life. It was never her ambition to become a writer, although she always loved reading, even to the extent of reading comics out loud to her twin brother when she was eight years old. In fact her only writing experience was in letters to various pen pals around the world. She unfortunately lost touch with them now and often wonders whether any of them have ever discovered that her chatty letters were the forerunner to her writing career.
She left school to become a secretary, taking a break to have her two children, Adrian and Tina. Once they were at school she started back to work and planned to further her career by becoming a bi-lingual secretary. Unfortunately she couldn't speak any languages other than her native English, so she began evening classes. It was at this time that she got the idea for a romantic short story - to this day she doesn't know where the idea came from or why, but she thanks her lucky stars because it kick-started her career. Margaret, and her mother before her, had always read Mills & Boon romances, and to actually be writing one excited her beyond measure.
'My life began at forty' is another one of her favourite sayings - because that is when her first book was published - two and a half years after she first set pen to paper (that first book was written long before she felt confident enough to send it off).Having those books accepted was the happiest and most exciting day of her life. She waltzed her husband around the room and their two children thought they'd gone mad, until they were told the good news.
Her first two submitted novels were accepted simultaneously, and now she has over sixty-five to her credit. When she looks at them lined up on her bookshelf she wonders how she has managed to write all those millions of words. She is a hopeless romantic who loves writing. She falls in love with every one of her heroes and likes to boast about how many 'love affairs' she's had.
Margaret gets so immersed in her writing that one day - before she made writing her full-time career and did most of her writing at the office (!!) - her daughter phoned to ask whether she could come and meet her out of work. Margaret told her not to be silly because it was foggy. Her daughter said 'But it's sunny here.' And when Margaret looked out of the window the sun was shining. Her hero and heroine were lost out in a sea of fog!
Before she became a successful author Margaret was extremely shy and found it difficult to talk to strangers. For research purposes she forced herself to speak to people from all walks of life and now says her shyness has gone forever - to a certain degree. She is still happier pouring her thoughts out on paper.
Copied from Fantastic Fiction
For Children's writer see Margaret Mayo
Jessica R. Mayo was born on February 7, 1936 in Staffordshire, England, and has remained within the county all of her life. It was never her ambition to become a writer, although she always loved reading, even to the extent of reading comics out loud to her twin brother when she was eight years old. In fact her only writing experience was in letters to various pen pals around the world. She unfortunately lost touch with them now and often wonders whether any of them have ever discovered that her chatty letters were the forerunner to her writing career.
She left school to become a secretary, taking a break to have her two children, Adrian and Tina. Once they were at school she started back to work and planned to further her career by becoming a bi-lingual secretary. Unfortunately she couldn't speak any languages other than her native English, so she began evening classes. It was at this time that she got the idea for a romantic short story - to this day she doesn't know where the idea came from or why, but she thanks her lucky stars because it kick-started her career. Margaret, and her mother before her, had always read Mills & Boon romances, and to actually be writing one excited her beyond measure.
'My life began at forty' is another one of her favourite sayings - because that is when her first book was published - two and a half years after she first set pen to paper (that first book was written long before she felt confident enough to send it off).Having those books accepted was the happiest and most exciting day of her life. She waltzed her husband around the room and their two children thought they'd gone mad, until they were told the good news.
Her first two submitted novels were accepted simultaneously, and now she has over sixty-five to her credit. When she looks at them lined up on her bookshelf she wonders how she has managed to write all those millions of words. She is a hopeless romantic who loves writing. She falls in love with every one of her heroes and likes to boast about how many 'love affairs' she's had.
Margaret gets so immersed in her writing that one day - before she made writing her full-time career and did most of her writing at the office (!!) - her daughter phoned to ask whether she could come and meet her out of work. Margaret told her not to be silly because it was foggy. Her daughter said 'But it's sunny here.' And when Margaret looked out of the window the sun was shining. Her hero and heroine were lost out in a sea of fog!
Before she became a successful author Margaret was extremely shy and found it difficult to talk to strangers. For research purposes she forced herself to speak to people from all walks of life and now says her shyness has gone forever - to a certain degree. She is still happier pouring her thoughts out on paper.
Copied from Fantastic Fiction
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
September 23, 2023
I can see nobody summarised this story so l am going to give it a try.
SPOILERS. LOVE TRIANGLE.
The h Debra, 22, was at a job interview with the H, Vane, 36. He was the owner of a Couture House. The h was a designer. The attraction between them was very palpable though the h knew how to hide it. She got the job but as she stated on her CV that she speaks Chinese the H wanted to transfer her to his Hong Kong branch so she can do some interpreting as well as there had been some miscommunication with the staff in the past.
The h declined as she had a 17 year old ward, Liz, to look after. Liz's parents died a short time ago and the girl was consumed with grief.
The H visited Liz while the h was out and using his charm and powers of persuasion next thing they are all on their way to Hong Kong.
Liz was besotted with the H who was good and overly friendly with her as he lost his parents at a young age as well and he understands her feelings.
The two girls were to stay at the Hs luxury villa and Liz was hero worship him, been throwing and flaunting herself at him and he was amused and responding to her.
The h was alarmed and in Liz's absence she would ask him repeatedly to stop acting so affectionate with Liz, stop buying her presents and in general stop encouraging her.
The h at this point was feeling extremely jealous of their undeniable closeness and rapport. She was feeling left out and a third wheel, making her sulky and uncooperative.
The H said he was merely helping Liz to find her enthusiasm for life again and he was succeeding in doing so. He had no designs on her and she was absolutely safe with him.
The H and h would drive together to work each day and the H would often leave early to take Liz out on tours of the island to entertain her so she wouldn't be bored.
The h was very concerned that the Hs intentions were less than honourable where Liz was concerned. She was very outspoken and she would chastise him every chance telling him that the girl was in love with him and she was going to be left heartbroken especially after the emotional trauma from the loss of her parents and she was very vulnerable. The H said " what do you want me to do, ignore her? ".
Despite all the attention he was showing the girl the H would corner, kiss and grop the h all the time letting her know how attracted he was to her. The h believing he was a womaniser playing both girls,was very antagonistic, argumentative, uncooperative and aggressive with him even though she was very attracted to him,a thing that the H knew.
Liz would be hurt and sulk each time the H would switch his attention to the h.
The h was scared of her growing feelings for him.
Liz would become more and more clinging to the H and she told the h she was in love and she knew he loved her too and were going to be married.
One night after the h rejected the Hs advances, late at night, she heard him go to Liz's room. He stayed quite some time and the h knew they had been intimate.
She admitted to herself that she had fallen in love with him but now it was too late as he was with Liz.
The H started pursuing the h more aggressively and she was struggling with her loyalty to Liz and her love for the H.
She would chastise, say hurtful things to him until Liz started to stay in her room sulking. She confided to the h that when she professed her love to the H, he told her she made a mistake to love him, she was too young for him and they were friends and nothing more.
All three returned back to England on business matters and Liz decided to stay there and attend university.
Debra went back to Hong Kong while the H stayed back to finish the business.
The H returned back unexpectedly and told the h he knew she loved him as Liz had told him so. The h said she thought at one point that he was in love with Liz and she knows one night he visited Liz's room and stayed for a long time.
He explained it was the night the h rejected him once again and he went to her room to find out why Debra disliked and run away from him all the time.
He said Liz was throwing herself at him and sometimes he was tempted as she was an attractive little thing and Debra would keep rejecting him even though he knew that she physically wanted him.
He said nothing happened with Liz and he was proud he helped her get over her grief.
He fell in love with the h the very day she stepped into his office for the interview and he wanted to bring her to Hong Kong so he could have her to himself but things didn't work out as Liz got in the way to complicate the situation and Debra got too resentful of him.
SPOILERS. LOVE TRIANGLE.
The h Debra, 22, was at a job interview with the H, Vane, 36. He was the owner of a Couture House. The h was a designer. The attraction between them was very palpable though the h knew how to hide it. She got the job but as she stated on her CV that she speaks Chinese the H wanted to transfer her to his Hong Kong branch so she can do some interpreting as well as there had been some miscommunication with the staff in the past.
The h declined as she had a 17 year old ward, Liz, to look after. Liz's parents died a short time ago and the girl was consumed with grief.
The H visited Liz while the h was out and using his charm and powers of persuasion next thing they are all on their way to Hong Kong.
Liz was besotted with the H who was good and overly friendly with her as he lost his parents at a young age as well and he understands her feelings.
The two girls were to stay at the Hs luxury villa and Liz was hero worship him, been throwing and flaunting herself at him and he was amused and responding to her.
The h was alarmed and in Liz's absence she would ask him repeatedly to stop acting so affectionate with Liz, stop buying her presents and in general stop encouraging her.
The h at this point was feeling extremely jealous of their undeniable closeness and rapport. She was feeling left out and a third wheel, making her sulky and uncooperative.
The H said he was merely helping Liz to find her enthusiasm for life again and he was succeeding in doing so. He had no designs on her and she was absolutely safe with him.
The H and h would drive together to work each day and the H would often leave early to take Liz out on tours of the island to entertain her so she wouldn't be bored.
The h was very concerned that the Hs intentions were less than honourable where Liz was concerned. She was very outspoken and she would chastise him every chance telling him that the girl was in love with him and she was going to be left heartbroken especially after the emotional trauma from the loss of her parents and she was very vulnerable. The H said " what do you want me to do, ignore her? ".
Despite all the attention he was showing the girl the H would corner, kiss and grop the h all the time letting her know how attracted he was to her. The h believing he was a womaniser playing both girls,was very antagonistic, argumentative, uncooperative and aggressive with him even though she was very attracted to him,a thing that the H knew.
Liz would be hurt and sulk each time the H would switch his attention to the h.
The h was scared of her growing feelings for him.
Liz would become more and more clinging to the H and she told the h she was in love and she knew he loved her too and were going to be married.
One night after the h rejected the Hs advances, late at night, she heard him go to Liz's room. He stayed quite some time and the h knew they had been intimate.
She admitted to herself that she had fallen in love with him but now it was too late as he was with Liz.
The H started pursuing the h more aggressively and she was struggling with her loyalty to Liz and her love for the H.
She would chastise, say hurtful things to him until Liz started to stay in her room sulking. She confided to the h that when she professed her love to the H, he told her she made a mistake to love him, she was too young for him and they were friends and nothing more.
All three returned back to England on business matters and Liz decided to stay there and attend university.
Debra went back to Hong Kong while the H stayed back to finish the business.
The H returned back unexpectedly and told the h he knew she loved him as Liz had told him so. The h said she thought at one point that he was in love with Liz and she knows one night he visited Liz's room and stayed for a long time.
He explained it was the night the h rejected him once again and he went to her room to find out why Debra disliked and run away from him all the time.
He said Liz was throwing herself at him and sometimes he was tempted as she was an attractive little thing and Debra would keep rejecting him even though he knew that she physically wanted him.
He said nothing happened with Liz and he was proud he helped her get over her grief.
He fell in love with the h the very day she stepped into his office for the interview and he wanted to bring her to Hong Kong so he could have her to himself but things didn't work out as Liz got in the way to complicate the situation and Debra got too resentful of him.
December 18, 2021
Did you notice how few reviews there are for this book? It's because it is a confusing mess and you will dislike everyone. I can't even begin to summarize it. The H encourages the OW who is young and emotionally fragile, and taunts or ignores the h. Later he seemingly ends his relationship with the OW and then the OW is giving him advice about the h? The only love I believed in was the love of the H for himself.
June 22, 2023
Too old school to be appealing.
The heroine is a frigid virgin and the hero the usual mid 80s sleazy playboy, I see him wearing low waisted skinny pants and a shirt unbuttoned til his belly button, with a heavy gold chain. Yuck.
The heroine bff is young and had a trauma, and she’s helping her recovering from it.
The hero is very attracted to the heroine but she’s a cold bitch and each time he tries to kiss her she acts like he killed her cat.
Her bff on the contrary,despite being only 18, is a slutty virgin and would like very much to give it to the hero, so she starts attracting his attention and flirting with him.
Since the heroine is more mature and loves her bff, she lets her have her flirt with the hero who seems not disappointed by her bff attentions.
The heroine thinks they are an item and acts scowling and sulking all the time leaving the happy couple together.
She also sees the hero entering her bff bedroom and thinks they had sex.
Eventually the hero tells her it’s always been her and he tried to be kind to her bff because she was young and naive.
Nope. He also admits he was attracted to her bff but she was too young and naive for his tastes.
I hated all the characters. The heroine is too cold, the hero a manwhore and the bff too slutty.
The heroine is a frigid virgin and the hero the usual mid 80s sleazy playboy, I see him wearing low waisted skinny pants and a shirt unbuttoned til his belly button, with a heavy gold chain. Yuck.
The heroine bff is young and had a trauma, and she’s helping her recovering from it.
The hero is very attracted to the heroine but she’s a cold bitch and each time he tries to kiss her she acts like he killed her cat.
Her bff on the contrary,despite being only 18, is a slutty virgin and would like very much to give it to the hero, so she starts attracting his attention and flirting with him.
Since the heroine is more mature and loves her bff, she lets her have her flirt with the hero who seems not disappointed by her bff attentions.
The heroine thinks they are an item and acts scowling and sulking all the time leaving the happy couple together.
She also sees the hero entering her bff bedroom and thinks they had sex.
Eventually the hero tells her it’s always been her and he tried to be kind to her bff because she was young and naive.
Nope. He also admits he was attracted to her bff but she was too young and naive for his tastes.
I hated all the characters. The heroine is too cold, the hero a manwhore and the bff too slutty.
May 26, 2023
OMG - so dated. I can’t believe that stuff like this was written, let alone published. The idea of a 36 year old man even considering sex with a grief stricken 17 year old, when he’s supposed to be in love with the older sister, simply makes me want to. Omit.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 12, 2024
"Divided Loyalties" is the story of Debra and Vane.
Lets establish the ages: Heroine is in her early 20s, her friend is SEVENTEEN, the hero is mid 30s
She is a designer who is offered a job with the hero in Hong Kong. She refuses as she's now the guardian to her orphaned (bratty) friend. So the hero convinces the heroine to bring her friend for the job.
He then makes them stay in his house, and most of the book is him encouraging the crush of the VERY young friend, going to her bedroom to chat (?), taking her out, accepting her kisses and even at the end telling heroine "that she was an attractive thing".
So youre telling me Im supposed to root for this creep?? I dont even care that he cared and was speaking about the heroine to the cousin, or whatever banter he had with the heroine..
Creep
Ew
SWE
1/5
Lets establish the ages: Heroine is in her early 20s, her friend is SEVENTEEN, the hero is mid 30s
She is a designer who is offered a job with the hero in Hong Kong. She refuses as she's now the guardian to her orphaned (bratty) friend. So the hero convinces the heroine to bring her friend for the job.
He then makes them stay in his house, and most of the book is him encouraging the crush of the VERY young friend, going to her bedroom to chat (?), taking her out, accepting her kisses and even at the end telling heroine "that she was an attractive thing".
So youre telling me Im supposed to root for this creep?? I dont even care that he cared and was speaking about the heroine to the cousin, or whatever banter he had with the heroine..
Creep
Ew
SWE
1/5
September 30, 2023
a guilty pleasure for sure.. ate that sh!t up in one sitting 🫣
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews