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Passion
A super-charged, irresistible tour de force about two people fighting their own feelings - and fighting for their lives...A failed marriage between Melissa Elmett and Will Hyde did a lot of damage. She was too young, he was hurt when she left him. Years later, Melissa becomes the target for a kidnap plot, a consequence of her father’s ground-breaking energy-saving invention, and Will is the only man who can protect her. Now they’re on the run, thrown together again by the pursuit of vengeance, will their passion for each other reignite?
480 pages, Paperback
First published April 30, 2009
42 people are currently reading
683 people want to read
About the author
Louise Bagshawe
64 books489 followersLouise Daphne Bagshawe was born on 28 June 1971 in England, UK. She attended local all-girls Catholic schools near her family home in Surrey, before going to Oxford University in 1989. After graduating with a degree in Anglo Saxon and Norse, she worked as press officer with EMI records and then as a marketing official with Sony Music. On her 22nd birthday, her passion for writing was realised with a major publishing deal as Louise Bagshawe. She is the author of more than fifteen novels, published in more than eight languages. She is sister of the also writer Tilly Bagshawe.
Louise married Anthony LoCicero, and they had three children, but since June 2011, she is married with her second husband Peter Mensch. She lives in Northamptonshire with her family, and has been the Parliamentary Candidate for Corby and East Northants since November 2006, and became the Member of Parliament for Corby after winning the seat at the 2010 general election.
Louise married Anthony LoCicero, and they had three children, but since June 2011, she is married with her second husband Peter Mensch. She lives in Northamptonshire with her family, and has been the Parliamentary Candidate for Corby and East Northants since November 2006, and became the Member of Parliament for Corby after winning the seat at the 2010 general election.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 102 reviews
October 12, 2023
*Intricate Thriller*
This book seemed like it was going to be about a love story. It was but it was also so much more.
When Melissa Elmett & Will Hyde met it was a love like no other an unstoppable invisible thread that pulled them together. They were very young and her scientist father who went to Oxford wanted so much more for her. Melissa is bright and educated her parents were not impressed and made her choose between them and Will. After being told she was needed as her mother had cancer she chose them. Will was living in a care & foster homes and he did not seem like a good bet in their eyes. So the marriage was to be annulled
Will was distraught and spent his life in the military trying to get Melissa out of his system and later taking over a run of the mill bank in the USA and now a self made billionaire more times over.
Years later he is with a beautiful socialite who he thinks he should settle down with. All the time he is holding a torch for Melissa.
Back in the U.K. Melissa is at odds with her cold father her mother now passed and after discovering her parents deception she has been pining for Will. Her father thankfully travels for work so she barely sees him. In her efforts to move on she is with someone she barely tolerates and wants to break off the engagement. This is when the book goes into a whole other direction, a failed attempt on her life but claims another has her running for her life.
Will in the USA sees the newspapers from the U.K. and the next thing he is on route to find her, after all he does not want to see her in arms way. We then find out who he is behind the banking facade and in a dangerous twist he is helping her and I was gripped with the way his mind worked.
On first sight Melissa has turned into a dowdy person to the extent that Will thinks he had an imaginary character in his mind. But as the danger intensifies as they try to work out why she is being hunted, we are left in no doubt that they may not survive this as the best of the best assassins are after them but are they underestimating Will?
This book seemed like it was going to be about a love story. It was but it was also so much more.
When Melissa Elmett & Will Hyde met it was a love like no other an unstoppable invisible thread that pulled them together. They were very young and her scientist father who went to Oxford wanted so much more for her. Melissa is bright and educated her parents were not impressed and made her choose between them and Will. After being told she was needed as her mother had cancer she chose them. Will was living in a care & foster homes and he did not seem like a good bet in their eyes. So the marriage was to be annulled
Will was distraught and spent his life in the military trying to get Melissa out of his system and later taking over a run of the mill bank in the USA and now a self made billionaire more times over.
Years later he is with a beautiful socialite who he thinks he should settle down with. All the time he is holding a torch for Melissa.
Back in the U.K. Melissa is at odds with her cold father her mother now passed and after discovering her parents deception she has been pining for Will. Her father thankfully travels for work so she barely sees him. In her efforts to move on she is with someone she barely tolerates and wants to break off the engagement. This is when the book goes into a whole other direction, a failed attempt on her life but claims another has her running for her life.
Will in the USA sees the newspapers from the U.K. and the next thing he is on route to find her, after all he does not want to see her in arms way. We then find out who he is behind the banking facade and in a dangerous twist he is helping her and I was gripped with the way his mind worked.
On first sight Melissa has turned into a dowdy person to the extent that Will thinks he had an imaginary character in his mind. But as the danger intensifies as they try to work out why she is being hunted, we are left in no doubt that they may not survive this as the best of the best assassins are after them but are they underestimating Will?
February 25, 2020
Passion by Louise Bagshawe is a fast,fun romantic thriller and it's so unlike her other books.
It's old love reunited because of a father's work secret and a unstoppable hit women (obviously she falls to the pit of hell eventually 👍) it takes us from London to America and a few other stops along the way, whilst keeping us excited and flipping pages faster than the wind.
It's definitely a book to read if you want something to pass the time📖
It's old love reunited because of a father's work secret and a unstoppable hit women (obviously she falls to the pit of hell eventually 👍) it takes us from London to America and a few other stops along the way, whilst keeping us excited and flipping pages faster than the wind.
It's definitely a book to read if you want something to pass the time📖
November 20, 2009
Melissa Elmet and William Hyde fell madly in love when they were teenagers and end up marrying in secret. However Melissa’s family get involved and the marriage ends up being annulled and the pair never see each other again. Melissa now lives the life of an academic whereas Will is now a billionaire. Their worlds are incredibly far apart but they’re thrown back together when Will, an ex-MI6 agent, notices a link between recent killings and fears Melissa is next. The pair end up on the run as Lola, a beautiful female assassin, chases them all over the world in hot pursuit.
Louise Bagshawe is an incredibly talented writer and I loved Sparkles when I read it a few years ago. Her books have always been quite complex but as her writing has developed her books have gotten more and more complex and Passion is, undoubtedly, her most complex yet. The book is billed as James Bond for girls and that’s an accurate description.
Passion begins by introducing us to Dimitri who has hired Lola, an assassin, to take out four people. It’s a very intriguing start to the book. We then go back to the past and see how Melissa and Will first met and fell in love before, ultimately, ending up being separated. We then come back to the present and see how the heartbreak has affected both Melissa and Will. The difference between the two is apparant and quite surprising: Melissa is now a shy, academic whereas Will is now a billionaire banker. The killings start quite quickly and after many years apart Will and Melissa are now thrown back together again, on the run from a very determined assassin.
As Melissa and Will try to outwit Lola the chase is indeed on. The book takes in many places around the world as they all try to find or outwit each other and the book is incredibly fast paced. The plot is ultimately the chase between Melissa, Will and Lola and it goes on throughout the book, pretty much from the first page until the last. Will being an ex-MI6 agent provides an extra twist to the book because it means he knows what Lola is trying to do so he can try and outwit her that way. Both Will and Lola are incredibly clever which makes for compulsive reading. Of course it wouldn’t be a Bagshawe book without romance and Will and Melissa fight their feelings for each other throughout the book.
The characters are all well-thought out and I liked seeing Melissa change from a shy, retiring academic into someone thinking like an assassin as she learns what it’s like trying to evade Lola and being constantly on the run and fearing for your life. At first Melissa didn’t seem to be a very strong character but as her life was threatened she became stronger as the book progressed. Will was a fantastic lead male character; yes he’s an ex-MI6 agent but I could tell he really cared for Melissa and only wanted the best for her. He may have done a lot of bad things when he was part of the MI6 but after leaving that life, it was like it was a part of him he put away. He didn’t forget about it but that was a part of life he felt he needed to do and when he was done, he was done. I actually liked Lola, which surprised me, as she’s hardly likeable. But the thing is she knew what her targets were and went after them like a woman possessed. She was incredibly fierce and hugely determined and I liked that in her. Melissa, Will and Lola are the three main characters but there are lots more behind the scenes who have orchestrated the whole thing.
Passion is told in the third person and flicks from Melissa’s point of view, Will’s point of view and Lola’s point of view as well as those involved in the bigger picture. I found it very easy to keep up with all of the changes of view and I loved switching from one character to the next. I wasn’t a huge fan of those involved in the bigger picture – those people who were the reasons Lola is chasing Melissa – but it helped make a rounder picture of the whole story. The reasons why Lola is chasing Melissa are quite complicated but Bagshawe explains it all well, and I did eventually make sense of it all. It was a very clever plot and I thought the chasing between the three main characters was very compulsive. Because it was told in the third person we could see just how close/far Lola was from Melissa and Will and I had no idea how the book was going to end.
The book is a huge blockbuster of a book. My trade paperback has 472 pages but the fun never stops so the pages just whizz by. I started it this morning and didn’t expect to finish it as I saw how large it was. I whizzed through it though and ended up rushing head-first towards the end. It was a hugely satisfying read and I can’t wait for Louise’s next book as she’s a fantastic storyteller.
Louise Bagshawe is an incredibly talented writer and I loved Sparkles when I read it a few years ago. Her books have always been quite complex but as her writing has developed her books have gotten more and more complex and Passion is, undoubtedly, her most complex yet. The book is billed as James Bond for girls and that’s an accurate description.
Passion begins by introducing us to Dimitri who has hired Lola, an assassin, to take out four people. It’s a very intriguing start to the book. We then go back to the past and see how Melissa and Will first met and fell in love before, ultimately, ending up being separated. We then come back to the present and see how the heartbreak has affected both Melissa and Will. The difference between the two is apparant and quite surprising: Melissa is now a shy, academic whereas Will is now a billionaire banker. The killings start quite quickly and after many years apart Will and Melissa are now thrown back together again, on the run from a very determined assassin.
As Melissa and Will try to outwit Lola the chase is indeed on. The book takes in many places around the world as they all try to find or outwit each other and the book is incredibly fast paced. The plot is ultimately the chase between Melissa, Will and Lola and it goes on throughout the book, pretty much from the first page until the last. Will being an ex-MI6 agent provides an extra twist to the book because it means he knows what Lola is trying to do so he can try and outwit her that way. Both Will and Lola are incredibly clever which makes for compulsive reading. Of course it wouldn’t be a Bagshawe book without romance and Will and Melissa fight their feelings for each other throughout the book.
The characters are all well-thought out and I liked seeing Melissa change from a shy, retiring academic into someone thinking like an assassin as she learns what it’s like trying to evade Lola and being constantly on the run and fearing for your life. At first Melissa didn’t seem to be a very strong character but as her life was threatened she became stronger as the book progressed. Will was a fantastic lead male character; yes he’s an ex-MI6 agent but I could tell he really cared for Melissa and only wanted the best for her. He may have done a lot of bad things when he was part of the MI6 but after leaving that life, it was like it was a part of him he put away. He didn’t forget about it but that was a part of life he felt he needed to do and when he was done, he was done. I actually liked Lola, which surprised me, as she’s hardly likeable. But the thing is she knew what her targets were and went after them like a woman possessed. She was incredibly fierce and hugely determined and I liked that in her. Melissa, Will and Lola are the three main characters but there are lots more behind the scenes who have orchestrated the whole thing.
Passion is told in the third person and flicks from Melissa’s point of view, Will’s point of view and Lola’s point of view as well as those involved in the bigger picture. I found it very easy to keep up with all of the changes of view and I loved switching from one character to the next. I wasn’t a huge fan of those involved in the bigger picture – those people who were the reasons Lola is chasing Melissa – but it helped make a rounder picture of the whole story. The reasons why Lola is chasing Melissa are quite complicated but Bagshawe explains it all well, and I did eventually make sense of it all. It was a very clever plot and I thought the chasing between the three main characters was very compulsive. Because it was told in the third person we could see just how close/far Lola was from Melissa and Will and I had no idea how the book was going to end.
The book is a huge blockbuster of a book. My trade paperback has 472 pages but the fun never stops so the pages just whizz by. I started it this morning and didn’t expect to finish it as I saw how large it was. I whizzed through it though and ended up rushing head-first towards the end. It was a hugely satisfying read and I can’t wait for Louise’s next book as she’s a fantastic storyteller.
September 6, 2022
This book Passion, is truly a James Bond for girls. It is fast paced, irresistible, highly charged with anticipation and love.
I was hooked on to this book from the begining itself.
The story revolves around two individuals, our hero William Hyde a former MI6 and a secret agent, highly trained and very sharp. The world's most famous assassin, who is deadly even being a girl, described Will as
And our heroine, Melissa Elmet an Oxford academic, beautiful, shy and truly intelligent and brave. She is said as
At the beginning we get to know the background between the main two characters , where we get to know that they were married but Melissa's parents interfere and she had to anull the marriage. A heartbroken Will continues with his and so does Melissa, and then the chase begins, where Melissa is hunted, but Will comes to save her, using all his years of experience as an agent and simultaneously Melissa trains herself. They slowly unravel the truth and in the process know that they were always in love.
This book is filled with such passion that the emotions can be felt so perfectly.
The book is good but not the best of my reads, so my rating goes to 4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I was hooked on to this book from the begining itself.
The story revolves around two individuals, our hero William Hyde a former MI6 and a secret agent, highly trained and very sharp. The world's most famous assassin, who is deadly even being a girl, described Will as
She thought more about Will Hyde. He had been a constant surprise. He had amazed her. He was strong and inventive, unattached to money, absolutely fearless. Exceptionally handsome. He aroused her........
And our heroine, Melissa Elmet an Oxford academic, beautiful, shy and truly intelligent and brave. She is said as
Understand. The women is good, She's a natural
At the beginning we get to know the background between the main two characters , where we get to know that they were married but Melissa's parents interfere and she had to anull the marriage. A heartbroken Will continues with his and so does Melissa, and then the chase begins, where Melissa is hunted, but Will comes to save her, using all his years of experience as an agent and simultaneously Melissa trains herself. They slowly unravel the truth and in the process know that they were always in love.
This book is filled with such passion that the emotions can be felt so perfectly.
The book is good but not the best of my reads, so my rating goes to 4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 18, 2019
Finished ..but couldn't finish :/
Was going ok, until the main characters were being chased by assassins..and Melissa said to stop!
She needed to find a stand to buy a toothbrush and brush her teeth?? Seriously? I didn't care for Melissa's character in the first place, hoping she would redeem herself..and Will started to fail in character as well. Sorry, for this reader this story was just plain dumb.
Was going ok, until the main characters were being chased by assassins..and Melissa said to stop!
She needed to find a stand to buy a toothbrush and brush her teeth?? Seriously? I didn't care for Melissa's character in the first place, hoping she would redeem herself..and Will started to fail in character as well. Sorry, for this reader this story was just plain dumb.
August 25, 2022
Omg stupid me, I deleted this book from my shelve... 🤦♀️
✅️ lovers to enemies-to-lovers
✅️ misunderstood
✅️ YA
✅️ Action
✅️ Billionare
✅️ Murder Mystery
✅️ Hitwoman /Hitmen
✅️ Multiple POV
I read this book when I was 17 and my grandfather gave it to me because an aunt of him had translated it to dutch. I reread it in English last month. It hits really different a second time. Says something about my growth as a reader and about my age I think 🤔...
But it's still hot! I mean, who doesn't want a really cute and sweet bf who wants to marry you. You turn him down because of the timing. He leaves and after more then a decade he is one of the riches people and a former spy 😍 A James bond story for young adults. Just really enjoyable. The second time I read it I found some mistakes and some parts in the book that were a bit repetitive. But still an underrated book.
And I mean the tent scène 😍
✅️ lovers to enemies-to-lovers
✅️ misunderstood
✅️ YA
✅️ Action
✅️ Billionare
✅️ Murder Mystery
✅️ Hitwoman /Hitmen
✅️ Multiple POV
I read this book when I was 17 and my grandfather gave it to me because an aunt of him had translated it to dutch. I reread it in English last month. It hits really different a second time. Says something about my growth as a reader and about my age I think 🤔...
But it's still hot! I mean, who doesn't want a really cute and sweet bf who wants to marry you. You turn him down because of the timing. He leaves and after more then a decade he is one of the riches people and a former spy 😍 A James bond story for young adults. Just really enjoyable. The second time I read it I found some mistakes and some parts in the book that were a bit repetitive. But still an underrated book.
And I mean the tent scène 😍
January 24, 2023
2023
Явно като не знам какво да чета, се връщам към едни и същи автори. Малко като страстта към семките.
2022
Бях забравила колко надъхано пише авторката, направо като заредена с ракетно гориво. Дала е воля на фантазията си на макс. Но се чете бързо и те увлича. Знам , че е политическа активиста и още в далечната 2009 година,когато е написана книгата, е прозряла, че идва края на черното злато . Това вече е ясно и на слепите.
Явно като не знам какво да чета, се връщам към едни и същи автори. Малко като страстта към семките.
2022
Бях забравила колко надъхано пише авторката, направо като заредена с ракетно гориво. Дала е воля на фантазията си на макс. Но се чете бързо и те увлича. Знам , че е политическа активиста и още в далечната 2009 година,когато е написана книгата, е прозряла, че идва края на черното злато . Това вече е ясно и на слепите.
October 30, 2012
It was like watching a movie. Crazy twists, good characters, fun read.
December 30, 2015
I surprised myself by enjoying this a lot more than expected - I used to really like this author in my 20s, but felt I had outgrown her, so it sat on the shelf for ages and I picked it up thinking I would probably get a few chapters in and be able to abandon it so I could return it to book club, but was pleasantly surprised that it was a cheesy but enjoyable action thriller with a likeable heroine, instead of the thinly disguised romance I was expecting. Sure, it was a sort of love story, but will all the boring sex scenes stripped out (I'm sure her books used to be raunchier but she must've been planning to be an MP by that stage so toned things down to not offend her Tory readers?)
Melissa and Will meet in Oxford as teenagers, fall in love and get married spontaneously, but her parents bully her out of it and the marriage is annulled. Broken-hearted, Will quits uni to join the army, and then becomes a spy and then a billionnaire (I never said the plot was believable), while Melissa retreats into university life for 20 years, becoming a mousy professor. When people start being killed by a notorious female assasin for some wealthy Russian & Arab clients, Will sees the link and rushes to England as he fears Melissa will be next. Most of the story is about the chase around Europe & the USA while they escape the baddies and solve the (very easy to guess) mystery. It's preposterous trash but gained marks for entertainment value. I just can't read this sort of thing too often.
Melissa and Will meet in Oxford as teenagers, fall in love and get married spontaneously, but her parents bully her out of it and the marriage is annulled. Broken-hearted, Will quits uni to join the army, and then becomes a spy and then a billionnaire (I never said the plot was believable), while Melissa retreats into university life for 20 years, becoming a mousy professor. When people start being killed by a notorious female assasin for some wealthy Russian & Arab clients, Will sees the link and rushes to England as he fears Melissa will be next. Most of the story is about the chase around Europe & the USA while they escape the baddies and solve the (very easy to guess) mystery. It's preposterous trash but gained marks for entertainment value. I just can't read this sort of thing too often.
September 17, 2025
I read this book around 5 years ago and earlier this year, the plot of this book has been coming back to haunt me which you know means it was a great book! However, my problem was that I couldn't remember the title of the book or the author! I had to go through so much to find the name of the author, let alone the title of the book. Then, I remembered Louise through the first book of hers which was Tuesday Child(another good one). It was a pleasure to read this once again, I couldn't remember parts of it but it felt very familiar. I actually have been having trouble with writers block and in a reading slump. It was really upsetting not being able to read as I considered reading a big part of me however, I managed to finish this book in 3 days. It's a big achievement considering my slump and it’s a long book as I usually leave a book half-read then would go back in a couple of weeks. This book Passion re-ignited my passion for reading!That's how good it is! The action packed plot and romance makes it so worthy of reading. Though it was the action scenes that had me flying through the book despite having read it before, it's not something you can leave mid-way with the cliff hangers. The description of Oxford and all the other countries that it's been set in made me feel as if I was there with the characters-it felt like I was watching an action movie. This is a must read of Bagshawe!!
May 1, 2012
"James Bond for girls?"
Passion, follows two young lovers that become torn apart by family. Years later their lives are thrown together in both a mystery and a life and death chase, that takes them across the world. Why are hitmen trying to kill Melissa? And why is Will so keen to save her life? Will it be happy ever after? Or more heartache?
Now, i'm not usually into chic lit, but a friend once told me to read something different every once in a while. Hence this review on Passion. I found the book very easy to read and i felt the writing flowed well. The book started a bit slowly, but after the first few chapters, the book really comes into its own. It is full of high energy chases, full on passion and quite a good mystery plot. However, i did find that the ending was a little weak and felt that there should have been a few more chapters to the mystery plot near the end, just to bulk it up a bit. Otherwise, I really enjoyed this book far more than i expected to and i would definitely recommend it to others.
Passion, follows two young lovers that become torn apart by family. Years later their lives are thrown together in both a mystery and a life and death chase, that takes them across the world. Why are hitmen trying to kill Melissa? And why is Will so keen to save her life? Will it be happy ever after? Or more heartache?
Now, i'm not usually into chic lit, but a friend once told me to read something different every once in a while. Hence this review on Passion. I found the book very easy to read and i felt the writing flowed well. The book started a bit slowly, but after the first few chapters, the book really comes into its own. It is full of high energy chases, full on passion and quite a good mystery plot. However, i did find that the ending was a little weak and felt that there should have been a few more chapters to the mystery plot near the end, just to bulk it up a bit. Otherwise, I really enjoyed this book far more than i expected to and i would definitely recommend it to others.
March 4, 2013
Ah, woman shaming in the guise of empowering escapism.
Review to come as part of Chick-Lit 101 on The Book Lantern
Review to come as part of Chick-Lit 101 on The Book Lantern
June 4, 2022
Vermakelijk boek
November 2, 2023
Will and Melissa are both very annoying...
October 22, 2022
Mit gerade mal 17 lernt Melissa Will kennen und sie verlieben sich ineinander. Doch Melissa ist die Tochter eines gutsituierten geadelten Professors und Will ist im Waisenhaus groß geworden und besitzt kaum einen Penny. Entgegen den Wünschen ihrer Eltern heiratet sie Will - nur um ihn direkt danach wieder zu verlassen wegen einer Intrige ihrer Eltern. Will ist tief getroffen und heuert beim britischen Geheimdienst an während Melissa ihr Collegestudium beginnt.
Fast 20 Jahre gehen ins Land: Will hat seinen Dienst beim MI6 quittiert, ist nach Amerika gegangen und hat dort das große Geld gemacht. Er ist nun einer der begehrtesten Junggesellen der guten Gesellschaft. Melissa dagegen ist zur grauen Maus mutiert und lebt nach dem Tod ihrer Eltern in bescheidenen Verhältnissen als Collegeprofessorin. Sie hat Will nie vergessen, auch wenn sie jetzt verlobt ist und kurz vor der Hochzeit steht. Da wird ihr Verlobter direkt vor ihrer Nase erschossen und im Krankenhaus entgeht Melissa knapp einem weiteren Mordanschlag. Als Will davon hört ahnt er, dass alles kein Zufall ist und eilt ihr zu Hilfe. Und damit beginnt eine mörderische Jagd kreuz und quer durch die Welt, denn wer immer es auf sie abgesehen hat, hat viel Macht und Geld und nimmt auch den Tod von Unschuldigen in Kauf. Gemeinsam mit Will, der nun ebenfalls ins Visir der Killer gerät, ist sie auf der Flucht und versucht herauszufinden wer das Kopfgeld auf sie ausgesetzt hat...
Anfangs ist das Buch gemächlich und startet mit einem Rückblick in die Jugend von Will und Melissa. Doch spätestens als der Mord an Melissas Verlobten passiert, zieht die Handlung an und es wird spannend. Ich hatte vorher noch kein Buch von Louise Bagshawe gelesen und war angenehm überrascht von dem lockeren Schreibstil und der spannenden Handlung.
Die Charaktere sind gut gezeichnet und die Dialoge spritzig; die Handlung entführt ins Milleu der Geheimdienste und spätestens ab der Mitte konnte ich meinen Reader nicht mehr zur Seite legen.
Das war solide Unterhaltung, die mich neugierig gemacht hat auf die anderen Bücher der Autorin und ich werde definitiv meine Augen offen halten nach ihren anderen Büchern!
Fazit: Gute Mischung aus Liebesgeschichte und spannendem Spionagethriller.
Fast 20 Jahre gehen ins Land: Will hat seinen Dienst beim MI6 quittiert, ist nach Amerika gegangen und hat dort das große Geld gemacht. Er ist nun einer der begehrtesten Junggesellen der guten Gesellschaft. Melissa dagegen ist zur grauen Maus mutiert und lebt nach dem Tod ihrer Eltern in bescheidenen Verhältnissen als Collegeprofessorin. Sie hat Will nie vergessen, auch wenn sie jetzt verlobt ist und kurz vor der Hochzeit steht. Da wird ihr Verlobter direkt vor ihrer Nase erschossen und im Krankenhaus entgeht Melissa knapp einem weiteren Mordanschlag. Als Will davon hört ahnt er, dass alles kein Zufall ist und eilt ihr zu Hilfe. Und damit beginnt eine mörderische Jagd kreuz und quer durch die Welt, denn wer immer es auf sie abgesehen hat, hat viel Macht und Geld und nimmt auch den Tod von Unschuldigen in Kauf. Gemeinsam mit Will, der nun ebenfalls ins Visir der Killer gerät, ist sie auf der Flucht und versucht herauszufinden wer das Kopfgeld auf sie ausgesetzt hat...
Anfangs ist das Buch gemächlich und startet mit einem Rückblick in die Jugend von Will und Melissa. Doch spätestens als der Mord an Melissas Verlobten passiert, zieht die Handlung an und es wird spannend. Ich hatte vorher noch kein Buch von Louise Bagshawe gelesen und war angenehm überrascht von dem lockeren Schreibstil und der spannenden Handlung.
Die Charaktere sind gut gezeichnet und die Dialoge spritzig; die Handlung entführt ins Milleu der Geheimdienste und spätestens ab der Mitte konnte ich meinen Reader nicht mehr zur Seite legen.
Das war solide Unterhaltung, die mich neugierig gemacht hat auf die anderen Bücher der Autorin und ich werde definitiv meine Augen offen halten nach ihren anderen Büchern!
Fazit: Gute Mischung aus Liebesgeschichte und spannendem Spionagethriller.
April 26, 2010
Same shit, different book.
This is just Sparkles recycled,from the M-16 agents, the baddie Russians from the Finnish-Russian border, the names of designer brands recognized by male characters (HA!), and the bizarre, unfitting descriptions of food which make me wonder if the author is simply a fat girl or has an eating disorder.
The main character is named Lola Montoya. There are such valuable descriptions throughout such as "straight as a ruler" and "dark as night." The Italian language used in the novel is full of errors. The plot was ridiculous. The dialogue was silly. Long exposure to the inept writing is likely to transform readers' brains to a pile of moss.
That's not to say I didn't like it. Despite my eye-rolling while reading, I >ahem< couldn't put it down. Shhh. Don't tell anyone. ;)
This is just Sparkles recycled,from the M-16 agents, the baddie Russians from the Finnish-Russian border, the names of designer brands recognized by male characters (HA!), and the bizarre, unfitting descriptions of food which make me wonder if the author is simply a fat girl or has an eating disorder.
The main character is named Lola Montoya. There are such valuable descriptions throughout such as "straight as a ruler" and "dark as night." The Italian language used in the novel is full of errors. The plot was ridiculous. The dialogue was silly. Long exposure to the inept writing is likely to transform readers' brains to a pile of moss.
That's not to say I didn't like it. Despite my eye-rolling while reading, I >ahem< couldn't put it down. Shhh. Don't tell anyone. ;)
November 20, 2010
Louise Bagshawe has been a favourite author of mine for the last 6 years and I have to say I was extremely disappointed with this book.
It started off really good and was loving it until about 300 or so pages in.
For me, there was a lack of passion in this book. I actually love to have a decent love/sex scene in a book but we didnt get this in this one. When Louise B normally does these scenes quite tastefully.
I also thought the ending was rushed. It all wrapped up very quickly and nothing really got resolved.
I won't give up with this author, I can only hope her latest book "Desire" lives up to her usual standards.
It started off really good and was loving it until about 300 or so pages in.
For me, there was a lack of passion in this book. I actually love to have a decent love/sex scene in a book but we didnt get this in this one. When Louise B normally does these scenes quite tastefully.
I also thought the ending was rushed. It all wrapped up very quickly and nothing really got resolved.
I won't give up with this author, I can only hope her latest book "Desire" lives up to her usual standards.
July 5, 2015
How much do I love this book? I read this book a few years back when I borrowed it from the local library...could not put it down, I devoured it.
Decided to reread my own copy of it these last few days, and discovered that it was still thoroughly enjoyable on a second read through.
It is pure indulgence for romance/thriller fans...long lost lovers are reunited twenty years later through a series of assassinations of seemingly unconnected people in different corners of the world. Bad guys, spies, intrigue, suspense and love reunited!
Decided to reread my own copy of it these last few days, and discovered that it was still thoroughly enjoyable on a second read through.
It is pure indulgence for romance/thriller fans...long lost lovers are reunited twenty years later through a series of assassinations of seemingly unconnected people in different corners of the world. Bad guys, spies, intrigue, suspense and love reunited!
September 5, 2012
This story was truly breathtaking in more ways than one. You find yourself instantly hooked and linked with the characters feeling their love, sorrow and heartache then throw in a hit man and running for your life... wow your are in for a ride of your life!
It is a gripping, fast pace and a page turner.
I'm not going to give you any spoilers you are just going to have to read it, but be warned you are in for journey of a life time.
Well worth the read, would defiantly go on to my read again pile.
It is a gripping, fast pace and a page turner.
I'm not going to give you any spoilers you are just going to have to read it, but be warned you are in for journey of a life time.
Well worth the read, would defiantly go on to my read again pile.
February 23, 2018
I absolutely love this author, as I always know that when a read one of Louise's books, I know that I'm in for a treat. Pure indulgence on so many levels, it's got everything.
If you haven't read a her books before, then I highly recommend that you do.
If you haven't read a her books before, then I highly recommend that you do.
September 14, 2009
a fantastic book could not put it down
January 5, 2015
A book so fast you'll hardly keep up reading. It's like a James Bond story. I've read it twice. That's what you do with a REALLY good book!
March 15, 2024
FULL REVIEW ON MY WEBSITE
https://thebookcornerchronicles.com/2...
This book is so confusing because the chapters jump all over the timeline of the book. And there is nothing to indicate if there is past or present you just have to take the hints and determine if it is past or present. I have no problem with multiple timelines in a story, I love it when it is clear like in “IT” by Stephen King if it is past or present.
The beginning was okay for the most part but the moment when the main characters began to be chased around town by professional hitman who have been doing the job for years and for whatever reason that hitman just forgets everything which she learned and just starts to chase the main character around like Leatherface. At that point I just couldn’t read on because this book became so insufferable.
The characters here are okay for the most part. The male main character is okay but he acts like the stereotypical rich guy who is dating all the super models, drives the most expensive cars, live in the best apartment in New York City and just doesn’t give a shit about anyone else but himself. When it comes to the female main character is so confusing and child like. Because she dated the male main character in college and she left him and ever since she left him she is like “I wish that I didn’t leave him but I guess I’m gonna marry the guy who reminds me of my father just because I’m in my 30s and I want kids”. I really didn’t care about any of the characters in this book because they were so fucking unrelatable and they felt like cartoons which may created to make a parody a thriller book or movie. Think about all the stereotypical stupid decisions you can make while a hitman is after you and you will have the main female character.
https://thebookcornerchronicles.com/2...
This book is so confusing because the chapters jump all over the timeline of the book. And there is nothing to indicate if there is past or present you just have to take the hints and determine if it is past or present. I have no problem with multiple timelines in a story, I love it when it is clear like in “IT” by Stephen King if it is past or present.
The beginning was okay for the most part but the moment when the main characters began to be chased around town by professional hitman who have been doing the job for years and for whatever reason that hitman just forgets everything which she learned and just starts to chase the main character around like Leatherface. At that point I just couldn’t read on because this book became so insufferable.
The characters here are okay for the most part. The male main character is okay but he acts like the stereotypical rich guy who is dating all the super models, drives the most expensive cars, live in the best apartment in New York City and just doesn’t give a shit about anyone else but himself. When it comes to the female main character is so confusing and child like. Because she dated the male main character in college and she left him and ever since she left him she is like “I wish that I didn’t leave him but I guess I’m gonna marry the guy who reminds me of my father just because I’m in my 30s and I want kids”. I really didn’t care about any of the characters in this book because they were so fucking unrelatable and they felt like cartoons which may created to make a parody a thriller book or movie. Think about all the stereotypical stupid decisions you can make while a hitman is after you and you will have the main female character.
December 18, 2017
Passion is one of my favourite books by Louise Bagshawe. I love Will Hyde! This book is James Bond for girls!
The book starts with Dimitri who has hired Lola, a female assassin. All you know is that she has been hired to take out four people.
Passion then takes you back to the past, meeting Will Hyde and Melissa Elmett in a time when they fall in love and marry young in secret, however not long after, Melissa’s family get involved resulting in their marriage ending and legally annulled leaving the couple to never see each other again.
The book then brings you back to the present Melissa a shy academic and Will a billionaire their lives very much worlds apart… But not for much longer!
Will an ex MI6 Agent fears for Melissa’s safety after hearing about a kidnap plot. Leaving them thrown together again on the run from Lola the female assassin.
Passion is written in the third person, each chapter jumps to different characters in the book, mainly Will, Melissa and Lola’s point of view. I enjoyed this throughout the story, it helped to connect to the main characters and made the chase more gripping knowing how close behind Lola was.
Of course it wouldn’t be a Louise Bagshawe book without romance, Passion is pretty much a love story between them, on the run from the bad guys and their feelings for one another resurfacing.
This book will have you hooked from the start, running for your life and falling in love with Will Hyde! But will Lola catch them or can Will get Melissa to safety?
The book starts with Dimitri who has hired Lola, a female assassin. All you know is that she has been hired to take out four people.
Passion then takes you back to the past, meeting Will Hyde and Melissa Elmett in a time when they fall in love and marry young in secret, however not long after, Melissa’s family get involved resulting in their marriage ending and legally annulled leaving the couple to never see each other again.
The book then brings you back to the present Melissa a shy academic and Will a billionaire their lives very much worlds apart… But not for much longer!
Will an ex MI6 Agent fears for Melissa’s safety after hearing about a kidnap plot. Leaving them thrown together again on the run from Lola the female assassin.
Passion is written in the third person, each chapter jumps to different characters in the book, mainly Will, Melissa and Lola’s point of view. I enjoyed this throughout the story, it helped to connect to the main characters and made the chase more gripping knowing how close behind Lola was.
Of course it wouldn’t be a Louise Bagshawe book without romance, Passion is pretty much a love story between them, on the run from the bad guys and their feelings for one another resurfacing.
This book will have you hooked from the start, running for your life and falling in love with Will Hyde! But will Lola catch them or can Will get Melissa to safety?
November 25, 2018
The back of this book describes itself as "James Bond for girls". I'm not even going to try to unpack that, so I'll just say: It's NOT. It's a romance novel wrapped in a bit of action and that's about it. At least 3/4 of the book is the two main characters resisting attraction to each other, and it's perfectly clear that's what you're getting by 10 pages in. Having said that, I tried to keep that in mind when rating it. It did get a slightly higher rating due to the fact that there is actually a story with some action in there. I suppose if this is your sort of thing you'll probably like it just fine. It's not my thing though.
May 26, 2018
This was the book that I read years ago, as I was reading it I was able to remember it and what happens while also not fully remembering so I was able to be surprised for some parts. William and Melissa are okay together, I wasn’t super invested in their relationship. The beginning of their relationship yes completely but when they were reunited not as much as the beginning
4/5
4/5
August 26, 2022
Each chapter of this book was filled with an event - or a different place. I enjoyed the fast pace of this book. As described, it was definitely sort of a James Bond for women; there was glamour and passion intermingling throughout. Billionaire William Hyde with his intoxicating looks and damsel in distress Melissa have crazy chemistry, and the adventure they’re in was fun to read
July 4, 2023
I absolutely LOVED this book! The story is a little far fetched but nonetheless gripping. Plenty of twists and turns. It was one of a mere handful of books I read 10+ years ago. I literally grabbed it without taking much notice of the description simply because a friend had given and lent me some books and I wanted to return the favour. I wasn’t actually interested in reading it but I did so anyway and was hooked. Of course I lent it to her afterwards and never got it back. Skip ahead 10 ish years and I could no longer remember the authors name or the title of the book. After much searching, my husband of all people found it for me. So once again, bought it and read it in a day. Couldn’t put it down. Definitely one of my favourites, and will no doubt read it again one day too!
March 11, 2019
I loved it!!! It was a great take me away book that I really needed after reading so many serious books. If you need a relaxing pajama day with a good, entertaining, suspenseful read then this is the book.
It's almost like a Harlequin on major steroids.
It's almost like a Harlequin on major steroids.
September 19, 2021
An incredible story which kept you wanting more! So addictive and I ended up reading it within 4 days. If you want a fast paced, lustful, spy thriller then give this a read, I promise you won’t regret it.
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