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Hired for the Boss's Pleasure #3
Mistress: Hired for the Billionaire's Pleasure
Fast cars, glamorous socialites--everyday components of devastatingly handsome billionaire Orlando Winterton's thrilling, decadent lifestyle....
When Rachel arrives at Orlando's remote country estate in desperate need, Orlando cannot deny the pull of her fragile beauty, and takes her passionately. Then a baby is found abandoned on Orlando's doorstep--allegedly his son!
Now Orlando will hire Rachel to take care of the child--and as long as she's under his roof, he'll keep on making love to her...until he's got her out of his system!
When Rachel arrives at Orlando's remote country estate in desperate need, Orlando cannot deny the pull of her fragile beauty, and takes her passionately. Then a baby is found abandoned on Orlando's doorstep--allegedly his son!
Now Orlando will hire Rachel to take care of the child--and as long as she's under his roof, he'll keep on making love to her...until he's got her out of his system!
192 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published August 1, 2008
9 people are currently reading
217 people want to read
About the author
India Grey
132 books94 followersIndia Grey was born in England, UK. A self-confessed romance junkie, she was just thirteen years old when she first sent away for the Mills & Boon Writers' Guidelines. She can still recall the thrill of getting the large brown envelope with its distinctive logo through the letterbox, and subsequently whiled away many a dull school-day staring out the window and dreaming of the perfect hero. She kept these guidelines with her for the next ten years, tucking them carefully inside the cover of each new diary in January, and beginning every list of New Year's resolutions with the words Start Novel. In the meantime she also gained a degree in English literature and language from Manchester University, and in a stroke of genius on the part of the Gods of romance, met her gorgeous future husband on the very last night of their three years there. The last fifteen years have been spent blissfully buried in domesticity, and heaps of pink washing generated by three small daughters, but she has never really stopped daydreaming about romance. She's just profoundly grateful to have finally got an excuse to do it legitimately! After meeting the bestselling novelist Penny Jordan, she returned to writing romance, and sold her first novel in September 2006. In 2009, her novel Mistress: Hired for the Billionaire's Pleasure won the Love Story of the Year by the Romantic Novelists' Association.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
April 11, 2017
Pianist Rachel Campion runs out of her own wedding to an abusive man that she was being forced into marrying by her domineering mother. She ends up by chance at the estate of Orlando Winterton whom she had previously met once before. He offers her a place to stay while she sorts things out. Orlando is losing his eyesight, which he keeps a secret from everyone. On top of this, his ex-girlfriend surprises him with the news that he is supposedly the father to a baby boy, Felix, who she leaves with Orlando when she decides she can’t handle raising him on her own. Rachel stays on for awhile to help Orlando with Felix, and Rachel and Orlando find themselves growing closer together.
The story started off good and seemed interesting at first but the more it went it started to get tiresome. I did like Rachel and little baby Felix, but what brought the book down for me was Orlando. I can understand that losing one’s eyesight would be life-changing, but he acted as though it was life-ending. He thought he couldn’t be a father to his son, and therefore, refused to have anything to do with little Felix. He thought if he told Rachel he was losing his eyesight, she would want nothing to do with him. And on and on it went. The way he kept his failing eyesight a secret from everyone, when it was going to become known anyway, just got tedious after awhile. The more the story went, the more I lost interest.
The story started off good and seemed interesting at first but the more it went it started to get tiresome. I did like Rachel and little baby Felix, but what brought the book down for me was Orlando. I can understand that losing one’s eyesight would be life-changing, but he acted as though it was life-ending. He thought he couldn’t be a father to his son, and therefore, refused to have anything to do with little Felix. He thought if he told Rachel he was losing his eyesight, she would want nothing to do with him. And on and on it went. The way he kept his failing eyesight a secret from everyone, when it was going to become known anyway, just got tedious after awhile. The more the story went, the more I lost interest.
February 12, 2019
This story of an aristocratic RAF pilot going blind and the concert pianist heroine read like some sort of melodrama set between the wars.
But no – this was published in 2008. Huh.
I’m not quite sure how to rate this or what to do with it – since it’s an infuriating story, but it’s well written.
IG writes beautiful, if melancholy, descriptions. The bulk of the story takes place on an English estate in mid-winter. She likes the contrast of light and dark, warmth and cold, etc . . . The H/h meet in a graveyard on the eve of heroine’s wedding to her rapist. It’s all very self-consciously literary. That’s fine. I like literary.
However, her characterizations leave a lot to be desired and I ended up hating the H, the h, and the OW in equal measures.
Hero – is gorgeous – fallen angel gorgeous. Who is brave in battle and is now bitter about his blindness. He is also a huge horse’s ass – although the author clearly doesn’t think so.
The author tries to explain that the hero has earned the right to be bitter and sarcastic and a user. He’s so gorgeous – remember? And he’s titled.
So what if he doesn’t tell the heroine he’s going blind and that he’s not interested in his old girlfriend anymore or that it was his younger brother who fathered the baby the OW dumps on him? His younger brother died. And he’s going blind. And he’s gorgeous, remember?
So what that he beds the heroine and then turns cold, and never thanks her for taking care of a strange baby or organizing his party? He’s gorgeous, remember?
No author, I don’t remember because I was too busy hating his entitled ass.
The heroine, however, can’t forget how gorgeous hero is because she is a dimwit doormat. She managed to run away from her rapist agent whom her mother was making her marry because of concert sales. She runs from the frying pan of her wedding straight to the fire of the hero’s nightmare life and enjoys a few weeks of sleepless servitude. First, taking over for the housekeeper, florist *and* caterer who all backed out before the hero’s big party. And then taking care of the baby the OW left with the hero.
Heroine thinks that the H is going to get back together with the OW, but takes care of the baby because she has fallen in love with the hero and the baby and . . . hurl.
When the hero is called from a hospital in Paris and told the OW is ill, he makes the heroine accompany him. She will watch the baby while he tries to help the OW with her postpartum depression. (Pffft – she was there after a botched boob job). When the hero falls asleep in the hospital corridor, the OW fills the heroine’s head with lies and heroine believes them all. Heroine has no sense of self-preservation and tells this evil spider everything. *head desk*
Heroine then whispers a sad goodbye to the sleeping hero and returns to her rapist agent. She wonders how he is going to pull off the Paris concert (there are posters all over the city) since she ran out on him? He twirls his mustache and says he was going to put another redhead on stage and have her botch it, thus ruining the heroine’s name in the music industry.
And holy sh*T, heroine buys this, too and goes on stage and plays her heart out. She continues on the tour with her rapist agent and her evil mother.
I believe I used the word melodrama before – and I think this is accurate. Definition of melodrama: a sensational dramatic piece with exaggerated characters and exciting events intended to appeal to the emotions.
Exaggerated characters sums it up.
The OW the most of all – she has no basis in reality. Everything she says is lie or is meant to wound. She dumped the hero because he was going blind and then slept with his brother. She only let the hero know about her baby when her blonde boyfriend realizes the baby wasn’t his and she had to leave the baby with someone so she could get her boob job. Also, she has another guy in the pipeline and wanted to off load the kid so she could marry him. She gets away with everything, btw.
Anyway, the heroine finishes her concert tour. She’s going to retire since she’s pregnant with the hero’s baby. Hero shows up with OW’s kid at her last concert. The author tells us it’s an HEA since H/h are going to take care of his betraying brother's and OW’s child the rest of their lives.
In an epilogue, the heroine has a girl and is still stuck with the hero’s less-than-stellar personality as he goes blind. But he’s gorgeous, remember? And now she has “Lady” in front of her name.
And yet, I find a glimmer of literary pleasure. It all circles back to that unhappy opening - the H/h meeting at the foot of the H’s brother’s grave. So appropriate for this very depressing couple.
But no – this was published in 2008. Huh.
I’m not quite sure how to rate this or what to do with it – since it’s an infuriating story, but it’s well written.
IG writes beautiful, if melancholy, descriptions. The bulk of the story takes place on an English estate in mid-winter. She likes the contrast of light and dark, warmth and cold, etc . . . The H/h meet in a graveyard on the eve of heroine’s wedding to her rapist. It’s all very self-consciously literary. That’s fine. I like literary.
However, her characterizations leave a lot to be desired and I ended up hating the H, the h, and the OW in equal measures.
Hero – is gorgeous – fallen angel gorgeous. Who is brave in battle and is now bitter about his blindness. He is also a huge horse’s ass – although the author clearly doesn’t think so.
The author tries to explain that the hero has earned the right to be bitter and sarcastic and a user. He’s so gorgeous – remember? And he’s titled.
So what if he doesn’t tell the heroine he’s going blind and that he’s not interested in his old girlfriend anymore or that it was his younger brother who fathered the baby the OW dumps on him? His younger brother died. And he’s going blind. And he’s gorgeous, remember?
So what that he beds the heroine and then turns cold, and never thanks her for taking care of a strange baby or organizing his party? He’s gorgeous, remember?
No author, I don’t remember because I was too busy hating his entitled ass.
The heroine, however, can’t forget how gorgeous hero is because she is a dimwit doormat. She managed to run away from her rapist agent whom her mother was making her marry because of concert sales. She runs from the frying pan of her wedding straight to the fire of the hero’s nightmare life and enjoys a few weeks of sleepless servitude. First, taking over for the housekeeper, florist *and* caterer who all backed out before the hero’s big party. And then taking care of the baby the OW left with the hero.
Heroine thinks that the H is going to get back together with the OW, but takes care of the baby because she has fallen in love with the hero and the baby and . . . hurl.
When the hero is called from a hospital in Paris and told the OW is ill, he makes the heroine accompany him. She will watch the baby while he tries to help the OW with her postpartum depression. (Pffft – she was there after a botched boob job). When the hero falls asleep in the hospital corridor, the OW fills the heroine’s head with lies and heroine believes them all. Heroine has no sense of self-preservation and tells this evil spider everything. *head desk*
Heroine then whispers a sad goodbye to the sleeping hero and returns to her rapist agent. She wonders how he is going to pull off the Paris concert (there are posters all over the city) since she ran out on him? He twirls his mustache and says he was going to put another redhead on stage and have her botch it, thus ruining the heroine’s name in the music industry.
And holy sh*T, heroine buys this, too and goes on stage and plays her heart out. She continues on the tour with her rapist agent and her evil mother.
I believe I used the word melodrama before – and I think this is accurate. Definition of melodrama: a sensational dramatic piece with exaggerated characters and exciting events intended to appeal to the emotions.
Exaggerated characters sums it up.
The OW the most of all – she has no basis in reality. Everything she says is lie or is meant to wound. She dumped the hero because he was going blind and then slept with his brother. She only let the hero know about her baby when her blonde boyfriend realizes the baby wasn’t his and she had to leave the baby with someone so she could get her boob job. Also, she has another guy in the pipeline and wanted to off load the kid so she could marry him. She gets away with everything, btw.
Anyway, the heroine finishes her concert tour. She’s going to retire since she’s pregnant with the hero’s baby. Hero shows up with OW’s kid at her last concert. The author tells us it’s an HEA since H/h are going to take care of his betraying brother's and OW’s child the rest of their lives.
In an epilogue, the heroine has a girl and is still stuck with the hero’s less-than-stellar personality as he goes blind. But he’s gorgeous, remember? And now she has “Lady” in front of her name.
And yet, I find a glimmer of literary pleasure. It all circles back to that unhappy opening - the H/h meeting at the foot of the H’s brother’s grave. So appropriate for this very depressing couple.
June 11, 2016
I really wish these characters were real. So they could die.
The H is an RAF pilot and a business tycoon about to lose his eyesight to a degenerative disease. The h is a concert pianist who has been manipulated and verbally abused by her mother, and raped, yes raped, by the conductor, her soon to be husband. Now, I had a controlling mother, and I was a wuss and a wimp, but not even me at my wussiest would have married a man like Carlos, the rapist conductor. In fact, the h doesn't either. She waits until the last minute, literally, and leaves in his car. Nice touch that.
She ends up at the H's house where she becomes his housekeeper, kind of. The evil OW makes an appearance throwing venom around like snow in winter. She shows up with a baby that may or not be the H's or possibly the H's dead brother's. Who the hell cares?
TSTL, yes I am referring to the heroine, takes every word out of the evil OW as gospel and makes more stupid choices as does the H. They raise the whole concept of failure to communicate to a whole new level.
I hate trashing someone's writing, but I can't help it.
The H is an RAF pilot and a business tycoon about to lose his eyesight to a degenerative disease. The h is a concert pianist who has been manipulated and verbally abused by her mother, and raped, yes raped, by the conductor, her soon to be husband. Now, I had a controlling mother, and I was a wuss and a wimp, but not even me at my wussiest would have married a man like Carlos, the rapist conductor. In fact, the h doesn't either. She waits until the last minute, literally, and leaves in his car. Nice touch that.
She ends up at the H's house where she becomes his housekeeper, kind of. The evil OW makes an appearance throwing venom around like snow in winter. She shows up with a baby that may or not be the H's or possibly the H's dead brother's. Who the hell cares?
TSTL, yes I am referring to the heroine, takes every word out of the evil OW as gospel and makes more stupid choices as does the H. They raise the whole concept of failure to communicate to a whole new level.
I hate trashing someone's writing, but I can't help it.
February 21, 2010
The title of this book is a bit deceiving. You would really think that this story was about a power hungry man out to keep a woman for his own bidding. The back blurb isn't accurate either, as the child is not left on Orlando's doorstep, but is brought to him by his former lover.
its a same that the two things don't really provide a better account of what the story is about, because it may turn some readers away from a really good book.
In fact this story is much like a modern day fairy tale. It's little bit Beauty And The Beast with a wicked mother and evil suitor thrown in for good measure.
Rachel is a pianist running away from a marriage she doesn't want as well as from an abusive fiancee/conductor and Orlando is losing his sight and is trying to hide from the world. When the two come together they find a strange sort of happiness together, especially when Orlando's ex shows up with a baby in tow, claiming that its his.
Arabella exits, trying to get away from her responsibilities as well as suffering from post natal depressing and that's where Rachel comes in.
The story really comes together well, because Grey gives you characters you can truly feel for, whether its anger, sympathy or love and you'll feel these even the secondary players in this novel, including Orlando's brother Felix who is dead.
The imagery in the book is so superb, the reader can easily visualize Orlando's home at the time of the ball, when Rachel has taken over for Lucinda the decorator that's come down with the flu.
This is a book that would easily transition to film, particularly a Hallmark Channel Movie.
A fun, emotional read that's definitely going to find its way to many keeper shelves.
its a same that the two things don't really provide a better account of what the story is about, because it may turn some readers away from a really good book.
In fact this story is much like a modern day fairy tale. It's little bit Beauty And The Beast with a wicked mother and evil suitor thrown in for good measure.
Rachel is a pianist running away from a marriage she doesn't want as well as from an abusive fiancee/conductor and Orlando is losing his sight and is trying to hide from the world. When the two come together they find a strange sort of happiness together, especially when Orlando's ex shows up with a baby in tow, claiming that its his.
Arabella exits, trying to get away from her responsibilities as well as suffering from post natal depressing and that's where Rachel comes in.
The story really comes together well, because Grey gives you characters you can truly feel for, whether its anger, sympathy or love and you'll feel these even the secondary players in this novel, including Orlando's brother Felix who is dead.
The imagery in the book is so superb, the reader can easily visualize Orlando's home at the time of the ball, when Rachel has taken over for Lucinda the decorator that's come down with the flu.
This is a book that would easily transition to film, particularly a Hallmark Channel Movie.
A fun, emotional read that's definitely going to find its way to many keeper shelves.
September 24, 2009
He: former RAF pilot grounded due to sight deterioration, now almost blind
She: famous pianist that ran from her own wedding and hid in his house
Plot: he and she fall for each other but she’s a whiny little girl and he’s a secretive idiot that thinks he isn’t lovable because he’s blind. His ex comes back with (apparently) his son, throws a few jabs about his blindness, the heroine still has no idea what’s going on, though the clues are all there, and thinks he’s still in love with his ex. The ex is a bitch, lying to the heroine about how they would get back together because of their son, the heroine runs away, back to the abusive man she ran from, realizes she’s pregnant, the hero come to her concert, they finally talk and have a HEA.
I absolutely hated this story for all the above reasons. The hero was an idiot, the heroine was a stupid coward, and the plot consisted of an idiotic misunderstanding that could be resolved with a few minutes of conversation. But then there wouldn’t be a story, would it. That would certainly be preferable.
She: famous pianist that ran from her own wedding and hid in his house
Plot: he and she fall for each other but she’s a whiny little girl and he’s a secretive idiot that thinks he isn’t lovable because he’s blind. His ex comes back with (apparently) his son, throws a few jabs about his blindness, the heroine still has no idea what’s going on, though the clues are all there, and thinks he’s still in love with his ex. The ex is a bitch, lying to the heroine about how they would get back together because of their son, the heroine runs away, back to the abusive man she ran from, realizes she’s pregnant, the hero come to her concert, they finally talk and have a HEA.
I absolutely hated this story for all the above reasons. The hero was an idiot, the heroine was a stupid coward, and the plot consisted of an idiotic misunderstanding that could be resolved with a few minutes of conversation. But then there wouldn’t be a story, would it. That would certainly be preferable.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 30, 2014
Overall I did really enjoy the book and felt immersed in the story, though I found the back book blur a little misleading because that wasn't exactly what happened or how things came about. So that was a little misleading, and there was a lot more build up then was made known on the back with the baby not showing up until halfway through so that wasn't the overlying issue right away. It was more his ex Arabella with the baby, and him going blind. There was nothing even mentioned on the back about him going blind, no indication at all. But I digress and it didn't make me like the story less, but it just threw me a bit because it wasn't what I was originally expecting.
Any who, I did enjoy and like this story especially delving into both Rachel and Orlando's journeys with many obstacles to overcome. And both of them had a lot of issues and obstacles to overcome before they could live happily every after, but they got their with each of them growing throughout from beginning to end. And I liked seeing that and see how much each changed and grew, and that was possible because they came into each other lives, giving the other strength when it was needed most so they could become better and happier people and thereby having happy lives together. And I liked seeing that.
Rachel, who in the beginning I didn't really like feeling was just this spineless jellyfish that never stood up for herself and basically living for others and what they wanted and needed instead of her own. She was even willing to marry a guy, a famous conductor, because her mother said so because he could help her career and really take off. And she decided to go along with it even though the guy bullied her and raped her multiple times without saying boo to anyone, not that her mother would have listened, but still. Rachel was going to allow herself to be married to this abusive man all on her mother's say. Now Rachel doesn't refer to it as rape, but said at one point to Orlando after the first time they make love that this was the first time that she had sex because she wanted to. That's rape. Can't sugarcoat that. But she didn't see it that way, and plus she had other issues as well with her mother as well as everyone else telling her she couldn't do anything practical like cook or clean and she was nothing without her ability to play piano and basically never allowed her to make any decision for herself therefore making her feel worthless and so readily to do what she was told without question, even though she knew it didn't feel right.
In fact the morning of her wedding, she was out in this cemetery crying her eyes because she just didn't want to marry Carlos, knowing what he would do to her and make her do over and over again which she had experienced time and time again, but she knew it would be worse because she would be living with him. And she just felt sick of the whole thing, this was how she met Orlando, who was visiting his brother's grave which she happened to be crying on. And basically told her that she had a choice that she didn't have to go through with this and there was time to change it if she had the courage to do so. With his words in the back of her mind, Rachel realized she couldn't go through with this and ran from the wedding venue and try to get as far as she could. She got as far as Orlando's place, and knocked on his door and he basically told her that she could stay there and hide from the search party. So that was how he rescued her.
Now Orlando was not only dealing with his brother's death (he was a pilot), but also the fact that he was loosing his ability to see, which was changing his life. He had to give up his job (he was a pilot too and in constant competition with his brother and felt like his brother won since he now had this blindness), driving, his girlfriend Allegra, and just seeing the world in front of him and things he took for granted. He could see some in his peripheral vision, but his center vision was almost completely in darkness. He was down in the dumps, feeling sorry for himself with the oh woe is me kind of attitude and kept himself locked away in his mansion, not wanting anyone close to him or break down his barriers. But despite that he invited Rachel to stay with him to protect her, and he was attracted to her as she was attracted to him. She helped him accept his blindness as well as letting people in instead of pushing them away. So their relationship was beneficial for both of them.
The love story aspect, I did like in one regards and in one regards I didn't. I just felt this was more of a Harlequin Romance (tame love scenes) than a Harlequin Presents (hotter scenes), which was a little disappointing especially with all that angst and sexual tension that was oozing off the pages. It was just so palatable as they go back and forth not only fighting their attraction to one another, but let outside forces and misunderstandings really amp up the conflict between them causing even more angst between them. It just screamed on the pages, and just all this build up and the obvious hot attraction that they shared with one another and yada yada. It was promising and really enjoyable to read, so you would think with this kind of sexual tension they would heating up the pages during their love scenes with just passion scorching between them, but I have to say that wasn't case. Instead it was bland and a little mediocre, not really going into details and just kind of going into generalities. I didn't feel like I was experiencing what they were experience in the scene, emotional and just felt like there were and few actions here and there and then it was just over with. That was it? Nothing more? No steam value that I expect from Presents especially after all that buildup. Come on that's what the pay off was suppose to be and just show how it was effecting them on an emotional level. Instead it just felt flat and was disappointing because it just felt like a little blip and nothing more when it could have been especially during their second time after holding out for so long and waiting and waiting and then the damn burst, but again it was brief and unsatisfying. I know I sound like a perv, but it just how I feel especially from these types of books. Now if it was a Romance instead of a Presents like I stated above then I think I would be more okay with it because in Romance love scenes are usually less detailed and brief with basically, just a generalization like it was in this book, and not explicit at all and not overly hyped with passion but it just kind of there to further the love story on and show that the characters have gone onto to the next level, which fits the Romance line perfectly and what I would expect, but not out of Presents where passion is the key in this line. So, that was kind of disappointing.
But this could just be the author style and preference and something I am not used to. I read one of her other books in the past and I wasn't crazy about that one either. I don't remember if the love scenes in that book where like it was in this one, but it's possible, but to me it just didn't have the Present flavor. I guess I was expecting more heat because the build up of sexual tension built up for so long that the reader (me) was kind of expecting this explosion of passion and that it just didn't deliver. What's the point of having all that tension if there was really no passionate payoff in the end? I don't get it. So I was disappointed in that aspect of their relationship.
I felt disappointed too that he didn't address the whole issue of her being forced to have sex with Carlos because nothing was said except and nothing really was said or done or Orlando empathizing with her. I didn't know he got that she was raped at all until that later scene and I was like okay he did get it. I just thought there would have been more of conversation and him trying to get her to open about it then treat her like the way she deserved to be treated by engaging in some tender lovemaking to show her how it could have been. But there was none of that, and it was just put on the backburner. I thought he would at least said something to her. Now I get they were going through all at the time with misunderstandings surrounding Arabella. So I get that and all those problems caused them to back away from one another, but I still thought it should be addressed after all his issues all seemed to be addressed during their time together. It just made me wonder why it was even in there unless it was just to show that Rachel really hadn't made a single decision on her own and her first time with Orlando was her first decision. So I can understand that.
With Arabella in the mix lots of misunderstanding and tension ensues, which I really enjoyed. I just love the back and forth that increases the tension so much. It made me feel like I was reading a Diana Palmer book because in her older books that was her formula, bring the two main characters together, have some misunderstanding or obstacle in their way to separate them with the tension being thick with their attraction still highly there then bring back together then separate them again and so on. I love that formula and it worked here as well, and what made the story really entertaining, but I have to say that Arabella was some piece of work, she certainly had the power play downs to get what she wanted and get Rachel out. Again another Diana Palmer element that rival ex-girlfriend who wanted the man while the man was interesting in someone else and the ex had to do anything to eliminate the competition and did. I really enjoyed that portion of the book, which added to the heightened emotions and tension between the two just gave it the crux of the conflict to keep them apart. That was working for me. Actually all the angst and tension worked for me, it was just the actually love scenes that were a disappointment as well as fact not every issue was brought to the forefront and dealt with.
There was more stuff with him being a father and keeping his guard up for most of the time while Rachel was basically being Felix's mother while Arabella went off to Paris and Orlando just wasn't ready to deal with him yet for fear he wouldn't be adequate father since he was going blind. And he basically treated her like a slave there for a little while just handing the kid over to her and saying "you deal with him" while he kept his distance from her and the baby so he didn't get too attached. But she stood up to him and gave him the strength to deal with those issues, however she began to love the child herself and wanted to be apart of his life. So they all that to deal with as well. But they find the way through. It was another layer to the conflict.
Now I know it sounds like that I didn't like or enjoy the book, and that's not true. I enjoyed it very much especially with the heightened conflict as well as the heighten tension, which I mentioned above, and what really made this book for me was that angst, however I was disappointed because I didn't get what I was expecting, what I usually expect from this line. It didn't make or break the book, but I would have felt better if this was a Romance more than a Present so I knew that I wasn't going to get those steamy love scenes that I was expecting to get. That would have just changed my whole opinion if it was of a different line. That's all.
Overall it was an enjoyable read with love winning all the way with both characters growing and changing so they could get their happily ever after. And I love a happily ever after.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 15, 2008
India Grey has written a spectacular and moving love story in Mistress: Hired for the Billionaire’s Pleasure. Bravo and magnifco would be the way to describe this story as it’s about courage, strength, bravery and determination.
India’s English alpha is a competitive, proud and determined man who is tortured because he has a degenerative eye disease which has forced him to leave the RAF something he loves more than life. He’s recently lost his brother when his RAF plane crashed. All through their lives growing up they had been competitive and now he has been left alone, and blames himself for his brother’s death. He closes himself off from everyone and retreats to his estate, to live in darkness behind the walls of his palatial mansion.
Rachael Campion is a world class concert pianist has been raised as an only child by a controlling mother who insists she marry her conductor/manager. The man is a brut and Rachel is overwrought with fright at marrying the man who has physically hurt her. On the eve of her wedding she escapes to a cemetery where she meets Orlando. They speak and he talks to her about courage, courage to make a choice for herself.
Rachael decides just before she is to walk down the isle she will find that courage, so she takes her car, to run and hide from this monster and to leave her life behind. Along the way, she gets lost and where should she end up but at Orlando’s grand estate, Easton Hall. A winter storm is not only brewing outside. Inside the walls of Easton Hall another is storm brewing. Orlando offers Rachel shelter and comfort and things become very heated and they act upon those feelings. Rachel is immediately drawn to this man, so much so she becomes intimate with him. She’s not aware of his sight problem and mistakes his gruffness for other things.
That’s not all that’s brewing or brooding…….Orlando has closed himself in darkness and the reader wonders how would you feel if you lost your sight, something as precious as that should not be taken for granted. Would you close yourself off, not accepting the warmth of love or friendship?
On top of everything else, his old mistress arrives on the scene with a baby, claiming that Orlando is the father. To further add to the mix, he distances himself from the child and leaves his son’s care in Rachel’s hands. Talk about the lack of courage from a heroic alpha…..trust me, he’ll learn many lessons at Rachel’s hand, bravery being one of them and that he didn’t need his sight to see clearly, he just needed Rachel’s love.
You will absolutely learn to adore Rachel because she finds the courage she needs to stand up to this man, to show him what courage he needs to heal himself and step up to the plate for his son. She truly shows him her selfless love and in the end, heals him, bringing sunshine into his life.
Reading Hired for the Billionaire’s Pleasure, I felt I could look into the souls of each characters; cried right along with both of them. Reading about how they found courage, made me take a look at my own personal life; thanks India!
Book Description:
Fast cars and glamorous socialites are everyday components of devastatingly handsome billionaire Orlando Winterton’s thrilling, decadent lifestyle…
…then something changes, and Orlando closes himself off from the world. Until Rachel Campion arrives at Orlando’s remote country estate, desperately in need of shelter. Orlando cannot deny the pull of her fragile beauty, and takes her with passionate fury. The next morning his demons return to haunt him, and he knows he must ask Rachel to leave… But then a baby is found abandoned on his doorstep – allegedly his son!
To Orlando, the solution is simple: he’ll hire Rachel to take care of the child – and as long as she’s under his roof he’ll keep on making love to her… Until he’s got her out of his system!
India’s English alpha is a competitive, proud and determined man who is tortured because he has a degenerative eye disease which has forced him to leave the RAF something he loves more than life. He’s recently lost his brother when his RAF plane crashed. All through their lives growing up they had been competitive and now he has been left alone, and blames himself for his brother’s death. He closes himself off from everyone and retreats to his estate, to live in darkness behind the walls of his palatial mansion.
Rachael Campion is a world class concert pianist has been raised as an only child by a controlling mother who insists she marry her conductor/manager. The man is a brut and Rachel is overwrought with fright at marrying the man who has physically hurt her. On the eve of her wedding she escapes to a cemetery where she meets Orlando. They speak and he talks to her about courage, courage to make a choice for herself.
Rachael decides just before she is to walk down the isle she will find that courage, so she takes her car, to run and hide from this monster and to leave her life behind. Along the way, she gets lost and where should she end up but at Orlando’s grand estate, Easton Hall. A winter storm is not only brewing outside. Inside the walls of Easton Hall another is storm brewing. Orlando offers Rachel shelter and comfort and things become very heated and they act upon those feelings. Rachel is immediately drawn to this man, so much so she becomes intimate with him. She’s not aware of his sight problem and mistakes his gruffness for other things.
That’s not all that’s brewing or brooding…….Orlando has closed himself in darkness and the reader wonders how would you feel if you lost your sight, something as precious as that should not be taken for granted. Would you close yourself off, not accepting the warmth of love or friendship?
On top of everything else, his old mistress arrives on the scene with a baby, claiming that Orlando is the father. To further add to the mix, he distances himself from the child and leaves his son’s care in Rachel’s hands. Talk about the lack of courage from a heroic alpha…..trust me, he’ll learn many lessons at Rachel’s hand, bravery being one of them and that he didn’t need his sight to see clearly, he just needed Rachel’s love.
You will absolutely learn to adore Rachel because she finds the courage she needs to stand up to this man, to show him what courage he needs to heal himself and step up to the plate for his son. She truly shows him her selfless love and in the end, heals him, bringing sunshine into his life.
Reading Hired for the Billionaire’s Pleasure, I felt I could look into the souls of each characters; cried right along with both of them. Reading about how they found courage, made me take a look at my own personal life; thanks India!
Book Description:
Fast cars and glamorous socialites are everyday components of devastatingly handsome billionaire Orlando Winterton’s thrilling, decadent lifestyle…
…then something changes, and Orlando closes himself off from the world. Until Rachel Campion arrives at Orlando’s remote country estate, desperately in need of shelter. Orlando cannot deny the pull of her fragile beauty, and takes her with passionate fury. The next morning his demons return to haunt him, and he knows he must ask Rachel to leave… But then a baby is found abandoned on his doorstep – allegedly his son!
To Orlando, the solution is simple: he’ll hire Rachel to take care of the child – and as long as she’s under his roof he’ll keep on making love to her… Until he’s got her out of his system!
January 14, 2024
St Margaret’s review says everything I wanted to say - but better!
This was one of the most ridiculous romantic stories I’ve read. Melodramatic, unbelievable tosh.
Did IG actually write this? It has her polished prose, but lacks everything else that you need for a good romance:- ie engaging h/H, credible plot and sensitive execution.
The hero, Orlando, is an RAF pilot who is going blind. The heroine an absolutely gutless TSTL pianist who runs away from the mother from hell- and her forced wedding to her rapist - 5 minutes before it’s due to take place.
She takes refuge with Orlando and they have sex. The OW (who is the most vile OW I have ever read) turns up and drops a baby on Orlando claiming he’s the father. She tells the heroine lie after lie and the stupid heroine believes every word (because she trusts her more than the hero?). I find this theme in romances so utterly frustrating. Why would anyone believe a vicious, immoral cow who’s never done a good deed in her life? Makes no sense whatsoever. It’s simply an all too obvious plot device.
The hero believes he’s unworthy so doesn’t tell her about going blind. The heroine sacrificed him and her, so the baby can be with his mum and supposed dad. She says nothing about the OW’s threat. Why not? Why would you not simply tell him the truth? Oh, of course because there would be no date moment!
Seriously, this is one of these ridiculous stories where a 2 minute honest conversation would have sorted everything out.
The happy ending was abrupt and the epilogue was so sweet it was sickly!
The level of pantomime like melodrama in this story was literally unbearable.
I hated it. Still can’t believe IG write this. I have loved all her other books.
This was one of the most ridiculous romantic stories I’ve read. Melodramatic, unbelievable tosh.
Did IG actually write this? It has her polished prose, but lacks everything else that you need for a good romance:- ie engaging h/H, credible plot and sensitive execution.
The hero, Orlando, is an RAF pilot who is going blind. The heroine an absolutely gutless TSTL pianist who runs away from the mother from hell- and her forced wedding to her rapist - 5 minutes before it’s due to take place.
She takes refuge with Orlando and they have sex. The OW (who is the most vile OW I have ever read) turns up and drops a baby on Orlando claiming he’s the father. She tells the heroine lie after lie and the stupid heroine believes every word (because she trusts her more than the hero?). I find this theme in romances so utterly frustrating. Why would anyone believe a vicious, immoral cow who’s never done a good deed in her life? Makes no sense whatsoever. It’s simply an all too obvious plot device.
The hero believes he’s unworthy so doesn’t tell her about going blind. The heroine sacrificed him and her, so the baby can be with his mum and supposed dad. She says nothing about the OW’s threat. Why not? Why would you not simply tell him the truth? Oh, of course because there would be no date moment!
Seriously, this is one of these ridiculous stories where a 2 minute honest conversation would have sorted everything out.
The happy ending was abrupt and the epilogue was so sweet it was sickly!
The level of pantomime like melodrama in this story was literally unbearable.
I hated it. Still can’t believe IG write this. I have loved all her other books.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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July 19, 2018Midway through this book, I wasn't sure I'd finish it. The mistaken assumptions and refusals to communicate were just too frustrating. I know, I know, and believe me, I knew what I was getting into, reading a Harlequin Presents. I had liked the beginning, the gothic-y feel of the hero and heroine meeting in a cemetery, the heroine running away from her own wedding during a rainstorm and finding herself drawn to the expansive estate of the brooding, mysterious hero. Their initial interactions were passionately heated and enjoyable to read, and Grey's writing style was elegantly smooth. But then the plot plodded along with contrived conflict, poor communication, and stock tropes. The story did eventually take an upward turn, rewarding the reader with memorably cinematic scenes, and I finished the book believing these characters did indeed find a happy ending. All in all, the story was worth pushing through the tiresome parts.
June 7, 2021
Fast cars, glamorous socialites--everyday components of devastatingly handsome billionaire Orlando Winterton's thrilling, decadent lifestyle....When Rachel arrives at Orlando's remote country estate in desperate need, Orlando cannot deny the pull of her fragile beauty, and takes her passionately. Then a baby is found abandoned on Orlando's doorstep--allegedly his son! Now Orlando will hire Rachel to take care of the child--and as long as she's under his roof, he'll keep on making love to her...until he's got her out of his system! (l
December 25, 2010
This book got off to a good start. For the first four or five chapters, I was thinking four stars. But then the problems started. If the hero and heroine had just talked, if they'd just said out loud what they were thinking... As for the rest of the book, I know I shouldn't expect realism from a Harlequin presents, but everything in this book was just so implausible, from the ex and her behaviour to the baby plotline.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 11, 2016
The type of romance where there's a stupid reason keeping them apart, one which would easily have been solved if . But no.
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March 15, 2010Haven't read this one yet but Nalini Singh commented on it in her blog and it sounds terrific.
August 25, 2014
This power dynamic in this one made my crazy.
August 4, 2020
2.5/5 Απορώ πως πήρε βραβείο καλύτερης ερωτικής ιστορίας!
December 23, 2024
A Orlando Winterton le diagnostican una condición progresiva y como no ve salida se aísla de todos en su lúgubre mansión. Lo que no esperaba era que Rachel Campion, una pianista en ascenso, llegara a su vida vestida de novia.
Rachel iba a casarse, pero no por amor y por eso huyó. Pero fue a parar a los dominios de Orlando, un hombre frío y ermitaño. Ellos ya habían tenido un encuentro previo en el cementerio. Orlando diciéndole unas palabras a Rachel que se le quedarían para siempre en su mente en su corazón.
Yo creo que tienes elección. Lo que te falta, Rachel, es valor.
El protagonista la acepta en su casa para que no la encuentren y con la convivencia florecen los sentimientos.
Me gustó mucho este libro, la trama es intensa y te mantiene leyendo para saber el desenlace y que le depara a cada protagonista. Me toca la fibra la condición de Orlando, la veo en un familiar, y por eso me identifiqué mucho con él, con sus frustraciones y hastío hacia la vida.
Espero seguir leyendo más historias de esta autora.
📖:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️: 🔥🔥
Rachel iba a casarse, pero no por amor y por eso huyó. Pero fue a parar a los dominios de Orlando, un hombre frío y ermitaño. Ellos ya habían tenido un encuentro previo en el cementerio. Orlando diciéndole unas palabras a Rachel que se le quedarían para siempre en su mente en su corazón.
Yo creo que tienes elección. Lo que te falta, Rachel, es valor.
El protagonista la acepta en su casa para que no la encuentren y con la convivencia florecen los sentimientos.
Me gustó mucho este libro, la trama es intensa y te mantiene leyendo para saber el desenlace y que le depara a cada protagonista. Me toca la fibra la condición de Orlando, la veo en un familiar, y por eso me identifiqué mucho con él, con sus frustraciones y hastío hacia la vida.
Espero seguir leyendo más historias de esta autora.
📖:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️: 🔥🔥
August 15, 2018
FYI - The title of this book has nothing to do with the content. It was so off, I feel like they accidentally put the wrong cover on the book and just decided to leave it. This is borne out by the cover having a blonde, while Rachel's hair is described more than once as flaming red. Anyway, this book is emotionally heart rending in its content and was quite good. Don't let the misleading title put you off.
September 16, 2019
As usual with Grey's romances, much better than the back cover description makes it sound. Nonetheless, I had real difficulties towards the end, when . Come on.
June 6, 2022
Uhhh, there is alot of space in this one, the couple don't seem to actually meet. They are far apart the entire time. Don't know why they love each other, they don't know much about each other, oh and we have a kid practically thrown at them. Our heroine is a famous pianist and our hero is going blind, don't think he has a job, he is just moody. Random other woman being nuts. Its alot and not enough at the same time. The couple are like orbiting planets that never quite meet. I say skip it.
November 30, 2016
I quite liked the characters in this book, although why does there always have to be a too spiteful to be real ex in the background? If she was such a bitch why did the hero fall for her in the first place? Doesn't say much for his judgement does it?
September 18, 2019
Life at its best and worst
To have two people and polar iPod in life with insecurities, worst love making , arrogance to find each other is amazing. One must read this story to appreciate Ms. Grey's writting.
To have two people and polar iPod in life with insecurities, worst love making , arrogance to find each other is amazing. One must read this story to appreciate Ms. Grey's writting.
February 6, 2018
I read this a few years ago and I loved it.
August 7, 2021
Unlikeable characters, flawed plot and just drama drama drama.
November 8, 2021
Really really disliked this one, it was so boring that it was hard to get through. I really hated the surprise baby with the ex-girlfriend reveal in the middle of the book. P.
August 21, 2020
Για το είδος του είναι αξιοπρεπέστατο βιβλίο. Ότι πρέπει για να χαλαρώσει κανείς. Ο πρωτότυπος τίτλος δεν αντιστοιχεί στην ιστορία.
September 22, 2018
2.5 - very avg. Upgrade to 3.3 on re-read This was a re-read for me, after purchasing a combo of three India Grey books Rich, Rugged Ruthless/The Italian's Defiant Mistress/Mistress: Hired For The Billionaire's Pleasure/Taken For Revenge, Bedded For Pleasure, no idea what my actual original reading date was. A disjointed story, unlovable hero with a massive chip on his shoulder, and slightly precious heroine. Don't give Rachel your child to look after! She seems the bunny-boiler type who won't be able to hand back after a couple of days. The final chapter and epilogue are what saved this book. I know this book won "Love Story of the Year" by the Romantic Novelists' Association - that surprised me.
India Grey wrote some fantastic books for Harlequin between 2006 and 2012 (in particular her last three Craving the Forbidden, In Bed with a Stranger and The Secret She Can't Hide), then nothing - her worst, IMO was her contribution to the Balfour series (could that series be the "worst ever"?). No idea whether she stopped writing or has chosen to take a break.
India Grey wrote some fantastic books for Harlequin between 2006 and 2012 (in particular her last three Craving the Forbidden, In Bed with a Stranger and The Secret She Can't Hide), then nothing - her worst, IMO was her contribution to the Balfour series (could that series be the "worst ever"?). No idea whether she stopped writing or has chosen to take a break.
April 29, 2016
This book will make you thankful for just being able to see. Orlando is a proud man. He was also a pilot in the military. The book starts out with Orlando being told he had Stargardt's Macuar Dystrophy, a degenerative condition. It meant that the center of his vision was blurry. It affect everything from buttoning a shirt, and putting on cuff links to bigger task such as driving, or flying. The emotions in this book were raw, and tugged at my heart.
Rachel flees into the English countryside escaping an almost forced marriage. At the same time she is also escaping from her mom, who is wanting to force her daughter to marry. When she took off driving fast, away from her very wedding, she had no idea where she was going. She had no plans, she just knew she couldn't marry Carlos. Rachel drove to Orlando's house, not knowing who lived there, just hoping someone would open the door, so she could hide away from her fiancé, and mother.
Orlando lets her stay with him. They were two wounded souls that needed one another. To make any book great, you have to add a little drama, and a villain. The villain of the story was Arabella. She was Orlando's ex. I want go into detail and spoil the book. Trust me you will hate her as much as I did while reading this book.
This was an excellent book, with romance, raw emotions, a little action, a baby, and dealing with failing eye sight.
Rachel flees into the English countryside escaping an almost forced marriage. At the same time she is also escaping from her mom, who is wanting to force her daughter to marry. When she took off driving fast, away from her very wedding, she had no idea where she was going. She had no plans, she just knew she couldn't marry Carlos. Rachel drove to Orlando's house, not knowing who lived there, just hoping someone would open the door, so she could hide away from her fiancé, and mother.
Orlando lets her stay with him. They were two wounded souls that needed one another. To make any book great, you have to add a little drama, and a villain. The villain of the story was Arabella. She was Orlando's ex. I want go into detail and spoil the book. Trust me you will hate her as much as I did while reading this book.
This was an excellent book, with romance, raw emotions, a little action, a baby, and dealing with failing eye sight.
January 14, 2012
I got this when Mills&Boon had that huge ebook freebie giveaway, based on having heard good things about the author on the DA site, and I have to hand it to her that in 160 pages she manages to have one of the angstiest, most English high society and incredibly giftiest romances WITH BABY ever!!!
I wish they'd given her more space, then the torturedness of the hero wouldn't have overwhelmed the also big problems of the heroine - but even this way the balance was pretty good and the three people who had any bigger role to play - Arabella, Felix the younger and the party planner - were distinctly their own personalities.
I loved the epilogue, especially ^^ - I give it three stars because it's if you want an unrelenting tear jerker with an alphahole hero (who doesn't grovel enough, but does to my mind have some believable hang-ups and isn't just boorish for its own sake) you'll be ecstatic - but if you prefer more balance there just wasn't space here. I certainly was in the mood for this today.
I wish they'd given her more space, then the torturedness of the hero wouldn't have overwhelmed the also big problems of the heroine - but even this way the balance was pretty good and the three people who had any bigger role to play - Arabella, Felix the younger and the party planner - were distinctly their own personalities.
I loved the epilogue, especially ^^ - I give it three stars because it's if you want an unrelenting tear jerker with an alphahole hero (who doesn't grovel enough, but does to my mind have some believable hang-ups and isn't just boorish for its own sake) you'll be ecstatic - but if you prefer more balance there just wasn't space here. I certainly was in the mood for this today.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 8, 2014
The description writen for this book is TOTALY NOT RIGHT!!!
She was not hired. ugh don't know where to start correcting!!
My description:
The life of the best pilot, Orlando Winterton is abruptly changed the moment a serious eye problem forces him to give flying up. He isolates himself hiding the fact that he's graduately going blind. Until one day, when Rachel, famous pianist, appears at his door asking for help.
Her unique, delicate beauty awakens his desires and everything he's sworn to forget forever.
Rachel feels safe for the first time in her life in Orlando's home and by his side she can finally be herself. Orlando wants her, that she knows; but he's determined to keep her away and she doesn't know why. Now, she has to break his walls down and show him what makes a true hero and at the same time face her own demons.
She was not hired. ugh don't know where to start correcting!!
My description:
The life of the best pilot, Orlando Winterton is abruptly changed the moment a serious eye problem forces him to give flying up. He isolates himself hiding the fact that he's graduately going blind. Until one day, when Rachel, famous pianist, appears at his door asking for help.
Her unique, delicate beauty awakens his desires and everything he's sworn to forget forever.
Rachel feels safe for the first time in her life in Orlando's home and by his side she can finally be herself. Orlando wants her, that she knows; but he's determined to keep her away and she doesn't know why. Now, she has to break his walls down and show him what makes a true hero and at the same time face her own demons.
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