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Love in Disguise
To do a friend a favor ~ and also because it suited her at the time to get away from home ~ Anthea offered to take over temporarily the friend's new job, as housekeeper to the high-powered tycoon Mark Allen. But Mr. Allen, it seemed, preferred his housekeepers to be staid and middle-aged, so Anthea assumed a disguise.
But no disguise could hide her growing awareness of her acid-tongued employer or help to conceal her dislike of the lovely Claudine who seemed determined to marry him...
Librarian's Alternate cover edition of ISBN 0373705859.
But no disguise could hide her growing awareness of her acid-tongued employer or help to conceal her dislike of the lovely Claudine who seemed determined to marry him...
Librarian's Alternate cover edition of ISBN 0373705859.
188 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1975
5 people are currently reading
118 people want to read
About the author
Rachel Lindsay
84 books64 followersRachel Lindsay is the pen name of an author who also published as Roberta Leigh, Janey Scott, and Rozella Lake. See the "Roberta Leigh" entry for full biographical information.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
April 8, 2017
The only thing I learned from this story is that beige powder can age a 23 year old girl by about ten years. Who needs elaborate disguises and special Hollywood effects when a simple sprinkling of the beige stuff, some mauve lipstick, a plaited hairstyle and a ghastly Laura Ashley dress two sizes too big can turn our brainy, fashionable, Supermodel beautiful heroine into Mrs. Doubtfire?
The hero didn't seem to mind. He actually started liking her before her inevitable transformation back into a pin-up. A reverse-Cinderella of sorts. Too bad he was so boring, with his I-hate-all-women issues and his constant flirting with the married OW.
This story was just too ridiculous for me and NOT helpful at all in dragging me out of my book slump :(
The hero didn't seem to mind. He actually started liking her before her inevitable transformation back into a pin-up. A reverse-Cinderella of sorts. Too bad he was so boring, with his I-hate-all-women issues and his constant flirting with the married OW.
This story was just too ridiculous for me and NOT helpful at all in dragging me out of my book slump :(
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 19, 2010
I just love romances that de-emphasize looks.
Heroine is a college student who gets a temporary job as the 30 year old hero's new housekeeper. Since she is too young for the job, she disguises herself as a frumpy, pudgy older woman in her mid-30s with some padding and powder. The hero is not physically attracted to her but he finds that he likes talking with her because of her sharp mind and great personality and they become friends.
Of course, her disguise is eventually revealed. I found 75% of the novel absolutely delightful but the last 25% got bogged down with misunderstandings. This prevented LID from being a 5 Star read.
The hero wore glasses and he really needed them. Just like in RL's Storm Cloud Marriage which I recommend for a unPC read. I wish I can come across more HPs with H/h wearing glasses.
Content warning: none (no sex, kisses only)
Heroine is a college student who gets a temporary job as the 30 year old hero's new housekeeper. Since she is too young for the job, she disguises herself as a frumpy, pudgy older woman in her mid-30s with some padding and powder. The hero is not physically attracted to her but he finds that he likes talking with her because of her sharp mind and great personality and they become friends.
Of course, her disguise is eventually revealed. I found 75% of the novel absolutely delightful but the last 25% got bogged down with misunderstandings. This prevented LID from being a 5 Star read.
The hero wore glasses and he really needed them. Just like in RL's Storm Cloud Marriage which I recommend for a unPC read. I wish I can come across more HPs with H/h wearing glasses.
Content warning: none (no sex, kisses only)
September 2, 2013
This was a very enjoyable read. I really liked the heroine, which is the barometer I usually use when rating my HPs. She was feisty, strong, and very independent. The hero was also very interesting and quite endearing for the first part of the book, but then sadly started to creep me out a bit towards the end once her disguise was revealed. It also had one of those delicious OW that always entertains me and a besotted boyfriend that kept things moving along enough to force me to finish this in one sitting.
The storyline was unique, a "pygmalion" in reverse, with both falling in love with each other when she is a frumpy old housekeeper and he has bottle coke glasses. So those typical HP dazzling good looks don't play a part in this romance making it stand out from the typical genre trap.
The ending was a bit rushed, but that's typical of the timeframe of when the book was written.
If you like this author, but missed this one, I highly recommend.
The storyline was unique, a "pygmalion" in reverse, with both falling in love with each other when she is a frumpy old housekeeper and he has bottle coke glasses. So those typical HP dazzling good looks don't play a part in this romance making it stand out from the typical genre trap.
The ending was a bit rushed, but that's typical of the timeframe of when the book was written.
If you like this author, but missed this one, I highly recommend.
September 15, 2013
The first half of the book was 5 star, the second half a 3 stars. I wish she remained in disguise longer and her cover wasn't blown so early. There were areas in the book I did not understand the male lead character's reasoning specifically when it came to his relationship with the OW ... asking her to hire a decorator and do as she wishes with his country home...talking until 3 in the morning, staying at her place until dawn, allowing her to host his parties and all of these happening for over a month while her husband was a way. He was sending a lot of mixed messages to the OW, I could not fault her for believing she had a chance.
October 4, 2020
"Love in Disguise" is the story of Anthea and Mark.
Our heroine gave up on her education to take care of her professor father, only for him to remarry a VERY disapproving woman. Soon the heroine has a new "lady" in her life, who makes it very clear that she must move out and get a job. Unqualified and desperate, the heroine ends up taking the position to be the hero's housekeeper, helping out a temporarily incapacitated friend. She adopts the disguise of an older, dowdy woman, but cannot hide her very vibrant nature. There's a lot of back and forth, identities are revealed, some OW/ OM/ work related drama takes place- but it all ends in a HEA.
Enjoyable one time read.
Safe..ish
3/5
Our heroine gave up on her education to take care of her professor father, only for him to remarry a VERY disapproving woman. Soon the heroine has a new "lady" in her life, who makes it very clear that she must move out and get a job. Unqualified and desperate, the heroine ends up taking the position to be the hero's housekeeper, helping out a temporarily incapacitated friend. She adopts the disguise of an older, dowdy woman, but cannot hide her very vibrant nature. There's a lot of back and forth, identities are revealed, some OW/ OM/ work related drama takes place- but it all ends in a HEA.
Enjoyable one time read.
Safe..ish
3/5
July 19, 2022
I am trying to read tge old harlequin/ mills and boon books of 1960s and 70s. This is the first book of Rachel Lindsay which I have read and I am very impressed with her writing. In this book both the hero and heroine are strong characters ,independent and go getters. The story was very well developed and the dialogues were especially very witty ,sometimes sharp and good.The story progresses well and there was a bit of a twist in the end which made it further interesting. I am m looking forward to reading more books by this author.
September 9, 2013
Rating 3.5 stars
Thanks Leona for this recommendation. I so like reading about a heroine who can bring out her claws and strike back. The heroine has always lived at home, taking care of her father and she took a year off university to help her sick father. Now things have changed, her dad comes back home married and there is friction with her new step-mom which makes the heroine start searching for a place to live. I think the book straddled a fine line between showing the step-mom as being selfish and not that bad, same with the heroine, she came off as self-sacrificing at few moments and very strong and assertive the next.
The heroine finds a temporary job as a house-keeper standing in for a friend. She of course doesn't tell her family what the job is and because she is so young dresses like a woman, a decade older. She mistakes the very rich hero to be a driver at first and questions him at every turn, his working so hard, not eating, his army of servants and more.
Honestly, the romance here is okay, we have a few kisses and the heroine's belief that the hero is having an affair with a married woman and then bam we get a HEA. Nevertheless, despite some shortcomings I liked the book.
Thanks Leona for this recommendation. I so like reading about a heroine who can bring out her claws and strike back. The heroine has always lived at home, taking care of her father and she took a year off university to help her sick father. Now things have changed, her dad comes back home married and there is friction with her new step-mom which makes the heroine start searching for a place to live. I think the book straddled a fine line between showing the step-mom as being selfish and not that bad, same with the heroine, she came off as self-sacrificing at few moments and very strong and assertive the next.
The heroine finds a temporary job as a house-keeper standing in for a friend. She of course doesn't tell her family what the job is and because she is so young dresses like a woman, a decade older. She mistakes the very rich hero to be a driver at first and questions him at every turn, his working so hard, not eating, his army of servants and more.
Honestly, the romance here is okay, we have a few kisses and the heroine's belief that the hero is having an affair with a married woman and then bam we get a HEA. Nevertheless, despite some shortcomings I liked the book.
March 20, 2017
Another one down on my quest to read the first 100 numbered Harlequin Presents. This one is numbered 85.
I read this one back in the day and remembered it in a general way. It gets four stars for a well rounded story of a girl who is working as a housekeeper for a rich man. She dresses and acts older in order to get the job and hero finds to his bewilderment that he is falling in love with the unappealing looking heroine. At least we know that he loves her for her mind and personality. I could totally see this as a rom com movie.
I read this one back in the day and remembered it in a general way. It gets four stars for a well rounded story of a girl who is working as a housekeeper for a rich man. She dresses and acts older in order to get the job and hero finds to his bewilderment that he is falling in love with the unappealing looking heroine. At least we know that he loves her for her mind and personality. I could totally see this as a rom com movie.
December 9, 2022
A very dreadfully boring Harley. The plot was amazing and it could’ve been a hundred times better if the MCs weren’t so dowdy and there was some spark in their interactions.
The h’s dad remarries and theres a step mom in the picture who isn’t ready to grow up. The h tries to get along with her but there is much resistance on both ends, and I’d say the step mom was nicer and kinder. The h talked back all the time and not in an attractive way. I wish the writer could’ve fine tuned the h’s comebacks so they were sassy as opposed to rude and unbecoming of a young girl.
The h decides to move from her parents house, new mom and all, but boarding is expensive. She tactfully takes a housekeeper job from her neighbor who has fallen ill. The h agrees that she’ll cover for this ridiculous job and meanwhile also get free food and a place to stay.
The H is the lord of the manor. Their meeting scene is predictable. The h thinks he’s the chauffeur and talks back to him in her tacky usual way. The h also disguises herself in hideous clothing and face powder and ‘purple’ lipstick to appear older. Everyone now thinks the h is middle aged and appropriate to work as a house keeper.
The H is intrigued by his new employee who appears to dress up ugly but can’t hold back on her lashing insulting tongue. Soon enough he requests for her to wine and dine with him. Pretty creepy for a man to want to sit and chat with his older house keeper.
The MCs take off on the most boring tales. There is wayy too much talk of business. While the h wants to ensure that she isn’t needy and plays cool, she actually is quite needy and hovers around the H all the time. She constantly berates the H on working too hard or fixes him a meal so that he doesn’t go hungry and tired. A little too eager to play grandmama to the H. She also has the balls to comment that he looks wiped out. I’d fire my housekeeper on such familiar cheekiness.
The H is boring and doesn’t do much to feed his curiosity. They tattle on their life stories where the h has no bedside manners and says anything that comes up in her head. This goes on in circles until you almost fall asleep with nothing happening between the MCs.
I wish the writer could’ve focused on the MCs without bringing in the whole village. The h could’ve been more feminine with a sweet disposition. Her v-card status was unclear.
The h’s dad remarries and theres a step mom in the picture who isn’t ready to grow up. The h tries to get along with her but there is much resistance on both ends, and I’d say the step mom was nicer and kinder. The h talked back all the time and not in an attractive way. I wish the writer could’ve fine tuned the h’s comebacks so they were sassy as opposed to rude and unbecoming of a young girl.
The h decides to move from her parents house, new mom and all, but boarding is expensive. She tactfully takes a housekeeper job from her neighbor who has fallen ill. The h agrees that she’ll cover for this ridiculous job and meanwhile also get free food and a place to stay.
The H is the lord of the manor. Their meeting scene is predictable. The h thinks he’s the chauffeur and talks back to him in her tacky usual way. The h also disguises herself in hideous clothing and face powder and ‘purple’ lipstick to appear older. Everyone now thinks the h is middle aged and appropriate to work as a house keeper.
The H is intrigued by his new employee who appears to dress up ugly but can’t hold back on her lashing insulting tongue. Soon enough he requests for her to wine and dine with him. Pretty creepy for a man to want to sit and chat with his older house keeper.
The MCs take off on the most boring tales. There is wayy too much talk of business. While the h wants to ensure that she isn’t needy and plays cool, she actually is quite needy and hovers around the H all the time. She constantly berates the H on working too hard or fixes him a meal so that he doesn’t go hungry and tired. A little too eager to play grandmama to the H. She also has the balls to comment that he looks wiped out. I’d fire my housekeeper on such familiar cheekiness.
The H is boring and doesn’t do much to feed his curiosity. They tattle on their life stories where the h has no bedside manners and says anything that comes up in her head. This goes on in circles until you almost fall asleep with nothing happening between the MCs.
I wish the writer could’ve focused on the MCs without bringing in the whole village. The h could’ve been more feminine with a sweet disposition. Her v-card status was unclear.
October 14, 2013
Very interesting. The whole point of this romance was that the guy fell in love with the heroine's personality and wit.
September 18, 2015
3.5 stars.
This book was so funny. The charade and the misunderstanding manage to be hilarious instead of aggravating.
Mark's unflattering generalization about women really annoyed me, but he had been hurt by a woman in the past and he was more bark than bite. He won me because he started to feel something towards Anthea while she's still disguised as a plain older woman.
The tone turned a bit brooding after Anthea found out that she's in love with Mark, but the ending was so cute I giggled like a schoolgirl.
This book was so funny. The charade and the misunderstanding manage to be hilarious instead of aggravating.
Mark's unflattering generalization about women really annoyed me, but he had been hurt by a woman in the past and he was more bark than bite. He won me because he started to feel something towards Anthea while she's still disguised as a plain older woman.
The tone turned a bit brooding after Anthea found out that she's in love with Mark, but the ending was so cute I giggled like a schoolgirl.
June 10, 2018
Light weight romance, good breezy read.
The girl needs to move out of home urgently because her absent minded professor daddy remarries at the age of 60 ! Her step mom needs space, so Anthea needs a temporary place to stay until she can move into her college hostel when her term begins.
A chance vacancy comes about at the heroes house. For a housekeeper in his country bungalow. Assuming the guy must be a oldie rich man, Anthea takes up the job. But since she is too young to be taken seriously, she puts in a dowdy appearance pretending to be a non glam 30 something.
Surprise , surprise. The guy is a rich finance tycoon but also hot and hunky ! They instinctively warm up to each other even when the pretenses are on. They discuss business, family etc without getting touchy feely.
But when the pretense is off, sparks begin to fly. Not just their minds, they realize their bodies are in absolute sync too ! Good for them.
Smart practical girl, rich but sensitive guy. Simple story with a tinge of fantasy and comedy. Lovely read.
The girl needs to move out of home urgently because her absent minded professor daddy remarries at the age of 60 ! Her step mom needs space, so Anthea needs a temporary place to stay until she can move into her college hostel when her term begins.
A chance vacancy comes about at the heroes house. For a housekeeper in his country bungalow. Assuming the guy must be a oldie rich man, Anthea takes up the job. But since she is too young to be taken seriously, she puts in a dowdy appearance pretending to be a non glam 30 something.
Surprise , surprise. The guy is a rich finance tycoon but also hot and hunky ! They instinctively warm up to each other even when the pretenses are on. They discuss business, family etc without getting touchy feely.
But when the pretense is off, sparks begin to fly. Not just their minds, they realize their bodies are in absolute sync too ! Good for them.
Smart practical girl, rich but sensitive guy. Simple story with a tinge of fantasy and comedy. Lovely read.
June 23, 2022
Anthea's father remarries, and Anthea realizes she needs to leave home. Unfortunately, it is too early for university to start. She needs to look for a job. One opens as a housekeeper because a friend has taken ill and cannot go to the job when scheduled. Anthea takes the job so it will be opened for her friend. She has to disguise herself as older. She does and does a good job. When happens when her employer discovers her deception?
I enjoyed this book. It is as relevant today as when it was written in 1975. I chuckled as Anthea and her employer, Mark, poke at each other. He knows something is not right but cannot figure it out. Anthea pulls no punches with him. I chuckled as I read those scenes. They were fun. When the truth comes out, he's upset but knows she's right about her ability to do the job. Eventually, Anthea realizes she's fallen in love, and she has to hide it. I liked how she lets him know of her love.
This was a good read. I have always liked Rachel Lindsay's writing.
I enjoyed this book. It is as relevant today as when it was written in 1975. I chuckled as Anthea and her employer, Mark, poke at each other. He knows something is not right but cannot figure it out. Anthea pulls no punches with him. I chuckled as I read those scenes. They were fun. When the truth comes out, he's upset but knows she's right about her ability to do the job. Eventually, Anthea realizes she's fallen in love, and she has to hide it. I liked how she lets him know of her love.
This was a good read. I have always liked Rachel Lindsay's writing.
June 7, 2025
Engagingly preposterous plot leads the two stubborn, outspoken main characters to their HEA. Author Lindsay effectively crams farce, a love triangle, financial double dealings, and an “in name only” engagement into this slim volume.
The heroine is honest, feisty, and possesses a naughty sense of humor, while the supporting characters are very entertaining. The leading man is rather standard issue, but he does fall for the heroine based on her quick wit and not her looks, which are “disguised” due to a delightfully ridiculous plot contrivance.
The heroine is honest, feisty, and possesses a naughty sense of humor, while the supporting characters are very entertaining. The leading man is rather standard issue, but he does fall for the heroine based on her quick wit and not her looks, which are “disguised” due to a delightfully ridiculous plot contrivance.
August 3, 2021
2021 READ: 5 STARS!
It's like Jane Eyre but in a funny way. I actually like both FL and ML and I feel giddy reading about their scenes. This is my second RL book and I'm curious about her works.
My review is not for intelligent discussion. It's what I felt/thought while reading the book. For 2021, I would rate the book this way:
1 - DNF'ed
2 - does not exist
3 - did not like
4 - it was okay
5 - I like it / I enjoy reading it (but it doesn't mean I recommend it)
It's like Jane Eyre but in a funny way. I actually like both FL and ML and I feel giddy reading about their scenes. This is my second RL book and I'm curious about her works.
My review is not for intelligent discussion. It's what I felt/thought while reading the book. For 2021, I would rate the book this way:
1 - DNF'ed
2 - does not exist
3 - did not like
4 - it was okay
5 - I like it / I enjoy reading it (but it doesn't mean I recommend it)
October 10, 2025
This was just a great book, imo. I adored the H and h's interactions and falling in love, and that he was already falling for the h even before her disguise was uncovered. LOL at her malicious compliance with his demand that she wear more colorful clothes with the most hideous over the top disgusting dress ever!
July 23, 2024
Dnf- I stopped reading about 2/3 of the way in
The h and H were not likable. The heroine especially was rude and unpleasant, and based her existence on lies and untrue assumptions. I couldn’t get into it.
The h and H were not likable. The heroine especially was rude and unpleasant, and based her existence on lies and untrue assumptions. I couldn’t get into it.
June 20, 2020
I wish this was longer. It's that cute.
June 23, 2020
Rachel Lindsay was a harlequin romance writer far ahead of her time. Great, smart heroines ... great story development. I wish more romance writers had her depth.
September 10, 2024
Even though I liked the premise the heroine was annoying and the hero never showed any sign of liking her much less falling in love wi5 her throughout the book.
June 25, 2025
Heroine (21/22) has a mixed personality - one minute she seems middle aged and then we hear she's vivacious and fun (didn't seem it to me). I think her disguise suited her personality. She is likeable (just a bit boring when she realises that she is in love with him).
The hero (34) is rich and therefore thinks he is magnetic, even after she tells him she finds him dull (he says after that he thinks she wants to bed him and that the heroine is jealous of the OW - that seemed against the geek style persona). The married OW always hanging around was boring (and I think in bad taste), as was the business affairs.
The author has written some wonderful characters before, but I didn't feel any chemistry between these two.
2 1/2 stars from me.
The hero (34) is rich and therefore thinks he is magnetic, even after she tells him she finds him dull (he says after that he thinks she wants to bed him and that the heroine is jealous of the OW - that seemed against the geek style persona). The married OW always hanging around was boring (and I think in bad taste), as was the business affairs.
The author has written some wonderful characters before, but I didn't feel any chemistry between these two.
2 1/2 stars from me.
September 24, 2013
hilarious one ! very funny, very nice !! a bit slow though due 2 cumbersome details n thus the book lost 2 stars 4 me. but then it's an oldie, i guess in those times the book was a definite 5 star. i actually really liked their story n it was a fun one n i was hooked from the start. i wanted 2 know what gonna happened next as it was entertaining, interesting n fun but the pace was slowed due 2 too many details as i already told. neway if some1 knows the modern version, do lmk ! nice read:)
September 29, 2019
To do a friend a favor ~ and also because it suited her at the time to get away from home ~ Anthea offered to take over temporarily the friend's new job, as housekeeper to the high-powered tycoon Mark Allen. But Mr. Allen, it seemed, preferred his housekeepers to be staid and middle-aged, so Anthea assumed a disguise.
But no disguise could hide her growing awareness of her acid-tongued employer or help to conceal her dislike of the lovely Claudine who seemed determined to marry him...
But no disguise could hide her growing awareness of her acid-tongued employer or help to conceal her dislike of the lovely Claudine who seemed determined to marry him...
November 20, 2014
This book had me laughing out loud a few times. Entertaining and sweet.
September 29, 2011
Reread.
I'm still liking it.
I'm still liking it.
Read
January 6, 2016fun
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews