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Secrets! #1
Blackhawk's Sweet Revenge
THE BRIDE'S DEMAND
He was the renegade, the outcast…and the object of her youthful affection. And when Native American Lucan Blackhawk triumphantly returned to his hometown, on a quest for revenge, Julianna Hadley readily agreed to his shocking proposal.
Boldly she married the man who sought to destroy her father. For Julianna knew only her fierce and enduring love could tame her solitary groom. And as Lucas laid claim to her body and soul, vowing to accept nothing less than her ultimate surrender, his virgin bride resolved to win nothing less than all of Blackhawk's heart!
He was the renegade, the outcast…and the object of her youthful affection. And when Native American Lucan Blackhawk triumphantly returned to his hometown, on a quest for revenge, Julianna Hadley readily agreed to his shocking proposal.
Boldly she married the man who sought to destroy her father. For Julianna knew only her fierce and enduring love could tame her solitary groom. And as Lucas laid claim to her body and soul, vowing to accept nothing less than her ultimate surrender, his virgin bride resolved to win nothing less than all of Blackhawk's heart!
187 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published May 25, 1999
3 people are currently reading
84 people want to read
About the author
Barbara McCauley
146 books24 followersBARBARA MCCAULEY is the author of over 30 best-selling romance novels, including "Blackhawk's Sweet Revenge," the first volume of her popular SECRETS! series for Silhouette. Her work has been nominated eight times by the Romance Writers of America ® for Best Short Contemporary in the prestigious RITA contest. She has also received numerous "Top Picks" from Romantic Times magazine, plus several Best Short Desire and "W.I.S.H." awards for her hunky heroes, and two Career Achievement Awards. All of her books have appeared on the Walden Romance Best Seller lists.
A native of Southern California, Ms. McCauley enjoys spending time with her husband and two children and working in her garden when she can manage to break away from her computer. "I love to cook," says Barbara, "but when I'm on a tight deadline, quick recipes and take-out are essential." The youngest of five children growing up, she discovered early the peaceful satisfaction of daydreams and reading a good book. She remains an avid reader today, indulging her love of romance whenever possible.
A native of Southern California, Ms. McCauley enjoys spending time with her husband and two children and working in her garden when she can manage to break away from her computer. "I love to cook," says Barbara, "but when I'm on a tight deadline, quick recipes and take-out are essential." The youngest of five children growing up, she discovered early the peaceful satisfaction of daydreams and reading a good book. She remains an avid reader today, indulging her love of romance whenever possible.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
November 2, 2017
Loved this book. It had passion, angst, humour, suspense in it. Loved both Julianna and Lucas. They had awesome chemistry.
Lucas Blackhawk has returned to take revenge from Julianna's father, Mason, who had stolen his father's ranch and had falsely sent him to prison where he died. Lucas has been loaning money to Mason through one of his subsidiary companies taking every single asset of his house --house, the land, cattle-- as collateral and has now come to call upon the loan, which Mason cannot repay and so by default Lucas gets everything.
Because of her own shyness and her father's money and ruthlessness, Julianna never had any girlfriends or boyfriends growing up. She was known as the Ice Princess. She'd always loved Lucas from far since she was fourteen. Lucas, however, was under the impression like her father who hated him for being half-Indian, she too, thought she was too good for him. At the age of twenty-two, he was working for a feed store, when he saw her turn her face away when she saw him. He left town soon after and kept her in mind as he slogged it out to become rich enough to be on par with her status. Now, Julianna wants her grandparents' house, of which she has fond memories growing up and which was supposed to be in her name, but her father had signed that off as collateral too. She goes to Lucas to beg him for it and that's when he decides to make the Ice Princess his wife and mother of his children. Unknown to him, he's actually fulfilling Julianna's dream of marriage to him and of having his children.
Lucas thought he was in control of the situation, but suddenly finds everything going out of his control especially his desire for Julianna. He wanted a normal marriage but with no love and emotions involved. It was funny how after asking her to striptease on their wedding night he vanishes from the room because he was shocked by his overwhelming need for her. He also spends the wedding night getting drunk because he couldn't get over Julianna's father hitting her at the courthouse after they got married and he hadn't seen it coming --although he'd managed to intercept the second blow.
His jealousy over any man even looking at Julianna made it very amusing to read. Like his thoughts when Julianna was laughing at his buddy, Nick's anecdotes.
He had thoughts of murder. His victim alternated between a cool, beautiful blond, and a dark-haired motorcycle racer. By the end of the evening he decided he would simply kill them both.
Or the time, he and Nick were in the bar where Julianna is working as waitress.
"Oh, darlin', turn around and let me see if your face matches that amazing body. Those legs should be illegal." Nick leaned back in his chair trying to get a better look. "You being married and all, I'm sure it wouldn't interest you, Blackhawk, but this here sweet little waitress can bring me drinks all night long."
It didn't interest him at The moment, he just wanted a quick beer and to get up to his room, but Lucas would eat the ashtray on the table before he'd admit that to Nick. He glanced over his shoulder, caught a glimpse of black high heels and incredible legs that never seemed to stop. Lucas hadn't chosen the short skirts for the waitresses himself, but he decided to give a raise to the man who had.The woman bent at the waist, serving drinks to a table of men on the other side of the room. He started to turn away, but something, he couldn't say what, had him narrowing his eyes and staring harder. And then she straightened. Son of a bitch. Julianna.
He was too stunned to move, let alone react. Why the hell was Julianna—his wife—serving drinks in a bar? Still numb, he hadn't time to stop Nick from calling out as he waved a hand. She turned, headed their way with a tray in her hands. When Nick's mouth dropped open, Lucas felt his blood boil.
"What can I get you boys?" she asked sweetly.
She nearly spilled out of the top of her form-fitting waitress uniform. Lucas decided to fire the man who ordered such skimpy outfits. And he definitely decided to fire whoever it was who had put Julianna in one.
"Ah, I'll have a beer," Nick said with a slow grin.
She started to name a few different brands when Lucas finally found his voice. "What the hell are you doing here?"
"I'm working." She smiled, set a bowl on the table. "Nuts?"
Because he was working so hard not to cause a scene, he didn't tell her what he thought of her offer. "We'll discuss this up in the suite. Now."
"I don't get off until one," she said calmly. "Would you like a beer, too?"
He gritted his teeth when she leaned toward him, dangerously testing the fit of her top. "What I would like is for you to get yourself up to our room before I have to hurt that man ogling you." "Sorry," Nick mumbled.
Lucas scowled. "I meant the man two tables over."
"I told you, Lucas. My shift isn't over until one. Now if you'll excuse me, I don't make tips by standing around talking."
"You don't need to make any damn tips," Lucas ground out. "I own this place, remember?"
"And thank goodness for that," she said brightly. "I'm not exactly qualified for this, so it helped to throw your name around."
"You look qualified to me." Nick winked, but refrained from letting his eyes go where he wanted them to. Lucas all but growled at Nick, then glared at his wife. "If you're doing this to annoy me, Julianna, you're doing a hell of a job."
"I'm not doing this to annoy you, Lucas. It's honest work. In spite of what you think of me, I'm not lazy. I've needed something to do, and for the past three nights the bar has been shorthanded." She smiled at a young couple and told them she'd be right with them. "I'll bring your beers in a minute. Right now, gentlemen, I've got an order up."
Three nights! She'd been serving drinks, half dressed, in a bar for the past three nights and he didn't even know? His fists tightened as he watched her walk away. He had one of two choices: throw her over his shoulder and cary her up to the room or wait her out. He didn't like either one, but reason chose the latter.
"Well," Nick said, grinning at Lucas. "I guess she doesn't like to shop."
"Shut up, Santos." It was going to be a long night.
Enjoyed the banter between him and Nick and although Ian, wasn't physically present I enjoyed reading the pranks that the trio of devils played when they were young. In fact the book starts with a prologue showing the forging of friendship between them at the age of thirteen. Nick and Ian also have their own books in this series
There were ups and downs in their marriage, sweet, passionate moments as well as angst, misunderstandings, and jealousy. Like Lucas doing sweet things for Julianna like physically doing up the house for her on the quiet and dropping in announced during the day from work just to see her or dragging her from the cafe even before they could place their order because he was suddenly starving for her not food, then suddenly leaving town for three weeks to keep distance from her. And, while Julianna was totally in love with Lucas, was ecstatic when she found out she was pregnant with his baby, she never got around to tell him the truth about what transpired between her father and his the night his father was shot and arrested. Then, it was too late. She almost lost her life because of it. Lots of stuff was going on, but its better for one to read it than for me to tell.
Although, there was no epilogue, I loved the end --Julianna pregnant with twins and determined not to give up Lucas and to fight for him.
Enjoyable book
Lucas Blackhawk has returned to take revenge from Julianna's father, Mason, who had stolen his father's ranch and had falsely sent him to prison where he died. Lucas has been loaning money to Mason through one of his subsidiary companies taking every single asset of his house --house, the land, cattle-- as collateral and has now come to call upon the loan, which Mason cannot repay and so by default Lucas gets everything.
Because of her own shyness and her father's money and ruthlessness, Julianna never had any girlfriends or boyfriends growing up. She was known as the Ice Princess. She'd always loved Lucas from far since she was fourteen. Lucas, however, was under the impression like her father who hated him for being half-Indian, she too, thought she was too good for him. At the age of twenty-two, he was working for a feed store, when he saw her turn her face away when she saw him. He left town soon after and kept her in mind as he slogged it out to become rich enough to be on par with her status. Now, Julianna wants her grandparents' house, of which she has fond memories growing up and which was supposed to be in her name, but her father had signed that off as collateral too. She goes to Lucas to beg him for it and that's when he decides to make the Ice Princess his wife and mother of his children. Unknown to him, he's actually fulfilling Julianna's dream of marriage to him and of having his children.
Lucas thought he was in control of the situation, but suddenly finds everything going out of his control especially his desire for Julianna. He wanted a normal marriage but with no love and emotions involved. It was funny how after asking her to striptease on their wedding night he vanishes from the room because he was shocked by his overwhelming need for her. He also spends the wedding night getting drunk because he couldn't get over Julianna's father hitting her at the courthouse after they got married and he hadn't seen it coming --although he'd managed to intercept the second blow.
His jealousy over any man even looking at Julianna made it very amusing to read. Like his thoughts when Julianna was laughing at his buddy, Nick's anecdotes.
He had thoughts of murder. His victim alternated between a cool, beautiful blond, and a dark-haired motorcycle racer. By the end of the evening he decided he would simply kill them both.
Or the time, he and Nick were in the bar where Julianna is working as waitress.
"Oh, darlin', turn around and let me see if your face matches that amazing body. Those legs should be illegal." Nick leaned back in his chair trying to get a better look. "You being married and all, I'm sure it wouldn't interest you, Blackhawk, but this here sweet little waitress can bring me drinks all night long."
It didn't interest him at The moment, he just wanted a quick beer and to get up to his room, but Lucas would eat the ashtray on the table before he'd admit that to Nick. He glanced over his shoulder, caught a glimpse of black high heels and incredible legs that never seemed to stop. Lucas hadn't chosen the short skirts for the waitresses himself, but he decided to give a raise to the man who had.The woman bent at the waist, serving drinks to a table of men on the other side of the room. He started to turn away, but something, he couldn't say what, had him narrowing his eyes and staring harder. And then she straightened. Son of a bitch. Julianna.
He was too stunned to move, let alone react. Why the hell was Julianna—his wife—serving drinks in a bar? Still numb, he hadn't time to stop Nick from calling out as he waved a hand. She turned, headed their way with a tray in her hands. When Nick's mouth dropped open, Lucas felt his blood boil.
"What can I get you boys?" she asked sweetly.
She nearly spilled out of the top of her form-fitting waitress uniform. Lucas decided to fire the man who ordered such skimpy outfits. And he definitely decided to fire whoever it was who had put Julianna in one.
"Ah, I'll have a beer," Nick said with a slow grin.
She started to name a few different brands when Lucas finally found his voice. "What the hell are you doing here?"
"I'm working." She smiled, set a bowl on the table. "Nuts?"
Because he was working so hard not to cause a scene, he didn't tell her what he thought of her offer. "We'll discuss this up in the suite. Now."
"I don't get off until one," she said calmly. "Would you like a beer, too?"
He gritted his teeth when she leaned toward him, dangerously testing the fit of her top. "What I would like is for you to get yourself up to our room before I have to hurt that man ogling you." "Sorry," Nick mumbled.
Lucas scowled. "I meant the man two tables over."
"I told you, Lucas. My shift isn't over until one. Now if you'll excuse me, I don't make tips by standing around talking."
"You don't need to make any damn tips," Lucas ground out. "I own this place, remember?"
"And thank goodness for that," she said brightly. "I'm not exactly qualified for this, so it helped to throw your name around."
"You look qualified to me." Nick winked, but refrained from letting his eyes go where he wanted them to. Lucas all but growled at Nick, then glared at his wife. "If you're doing this to annoy me, Julianna, you're doing a hell of a job."
"I'm not doing this to annoy you, Lucas. It's honest work. In spite of what you think of me, I'm not lazy. I've needed something to do, and for the past three nights the bar has been shorthanded." She smiled at a young couple and told them she'd be right with them. "I'll bring your beers in a minute. Right now, gentlemen, I've got an order up."
Three nights! She'd been serving drinks, half dressed, in a bar for the past three nights and he didn't even know? His fists tightened as he watched her walk away. He had one of two choices: throw her over his shoulder and cary her up to the room or wait her out. He didn't like either one, but reason chose the latter.
"Well," Nick said, grinning at Lucas. "I guess she doesn't like to shop."
"Shut up, Santos." It was going to be a long night.
Enjoyed the banter between him and Nick and although Ian, wasn't physically present I enjoyed reading the pranks that the trio of devils played when they were young. In fact the book starts with a prologue showing the forging of friendship between them at the age of thirteen. Nick and Ian also have their own books in this series
There were ups and downs in their marriage, sweet, passionate moments as well as angst, misunderstandings, and jealousy. Like Lucas doing sweet things for Julianna like physically doing up the house for her on the quiet and dropping in announced during the day from work just to see her or dragging her from the cafe even before they could place their order because he was suddenly starving for her not food, then suddenly leaving town for three weeks to keep distance from her. And, while Julianna was totally in love with Lucas, was ecstatic when she found out she was pregnant with his baby, she never got around to tell him the truth about what transpired between her father and his the night his father was shot and arrested. Then, it was too late. She almost lost her life because of it. Lots of stuff was going on, but its better for one to read it than for me to tell.
Although, there was no epilogue, I loved the end --Julianna pregnant with twins and determined not to give up Lucas and to fight for him.
Enjoyable book
November 22, 2017
Nothing special.
June 5, 2024
Pretty sweet harlequin romance. Angsty only because he's completely dense, she was on the other hand too good for him :-) Still enjoyed it for the most part.
February 16, 2019
I think this story is good but it wasn't fleshed out enough to actually tell. The hero is trying to be mean but is nice. The heroine gets her time to shine at the end. Ah, I guess read it if you want to fill in the huge missing pieces to this story.
July 1, 2012
Titre vf : Un mariage impossible
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews