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The Devil's Price
She loved him but couldn't marry him.
Cynara hadn't seen Zack Buchanan in five years, not since she'd hurt him -- hurt herself even more -- by leaving him.
She'd let Zack think the worst of her to avoid watching his love slowly turn to ashes. But now that he'd stumbled across her singing at one of his hotels in London, she knew that he intended to exact payment for the past.
She knew, too, that she would bargain with the devil himself to be with Zack again -- as long as she could keep secret her reason for never marrying...
Cynara hadn't seen Zack Buchanan in five years, not since she'd hurt him -- hurt herself even more -- by leaving him.
She'd let Zack think the worst of her to avoid watching his love slowly turn to ashes. But now that he'd stumbled across her singing at one of his hotels in London, she knew that he intended to exact payment for the past.
She knew, too, that she would bargain with the devil himself to be with Zack again -- as long as she could keep secret her reason for never marrying...
189 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published July 12, 1985
8 people are currently reading
212 people want to read
About the author
Carole Mortimer
1,296 books907 followersI have written almost 250 romance novels in contemporary and Regency.
I am a USA Today Bestselling Author and recipient of the 2015 RWA Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2014 I received a Pioneer of Romance Award from Romantic Times in the US and in 2012 I was recognised by Queen Elizabeth II for my 'outstanding service to literature'.
I am very happily married to Peter with six sons, and live on the Isle of Man
I am a USA Today Bestselling Author and recipient of the 2015 RWA Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2014 I received a Pioneer of Romance Award from Romantic Times in the US and in 2012 I was recognised by Queen Elizabeth II for my 'outstanding service to literature'.
I am very happily married to Peter with six sons, and live on the Isle of Man
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
February 9, 2016
Re The Devil's Price - this book may not be everyone's cuppa. It depends entirely on a tolerance for an h who is willing to endure just about anything for a second shot at her only true love and an H who is so shattered by her earlier betrayal, that he is downright abusive in his cruelty to the h.
It may also help to remember that this is HPlandia, and a HP h is like Rubbermaid, the harder she falls the further she bounces back. An HP h's innate worthiness is always judged by her capacity to martyr herself and the greater an HP H's malevolence, the greater his love in the end. Keep those thoughts in mind if you happen to run across this book.
The h is a 26 yr old lounge singer working at a hotel as the professional musical entertainment when the book opens. She notices a young boy staring at her publicity photo and starts to worry. The young man is the son of her former lover, the H. She met him on cruise ship five years earlier when he was 33, after he separated from his wife and they both fell in love. The H's father was against the union and blackmailed the h into leaving the H by digging up a deep, dark past secret.
The h was terrified her secret would come out and pretended to accept the money the father gave her to buy her off. When the H proposed to her, she told him her career was more important and left. The father put a stop on the check, but made sure the H knew how mercenary the h supposedly was.
Five years on the h finds out that not only does the H have a son, who warns her off his dad in the hotel's coffee shop, but he has a daughter too, and her mother is the H's former wife who is now dead. The h thinks the H reunited with his wife and is worried that she was a rebound fling. It helps lessen her guilt over lying to the H the way she did.
The h and H meet again and the meeting goes badly. The H makes some nasty accusations and the h just longs for the H to be in her arms again. When she develops problems with her voice that mean she can't perform for the next several months, the H offers her a deal where he will let her live with him as his paid companion - yes, THAT kind of companion.
The h leaps at the opportunity, she has no intention of accepting his money -- she has enough of her own, she just wants a second shot at their former relationship. The H isn't seeing things the same way. He thinks she is a greedy, mercenary good time popsie who can be had by anyone with the right amount and he is willing to pay for exclusive access. She is not to comment on any other aspect of his life, including his kids who live with his mum and he visits on the weekends. She is just to be his bed warmer and cook and clean his apartment, he has his lawyer draw up an agreement.
On their first evening together they have serious words and the H winds up violently raping her. The h rejects his advances the next morning and while accepting part of the blame for provoking him, she refuses to stay if rape is going to be a regular part of their future. The H makes the remark that it won't happen again as now he can't use her body due to to injury and so the tone for the next several weeks is set.
Except the H keeps doing little things that show he isn't a total jerk. The h had ordered things for the apartment, paintings, cushions, and flowers etc. The H threw a fit and the h returned everything. When the H noticed they were gone later in the day, he arranged to have everything returned to the apartment. Gradually as the weeks pass, the h and H establish a close relationship, they both admit that they have some caring for each other and make the best of their passion and try to re-establish a friendship.
Then the H's son runs away from boarding school and winds up at the H and h's apartment. The H is off on business, so the h winds up taking him back to his grandmother's home. Grandmum is happy to see the h, gives her the infamous file the H's father blackmailed her with, and hopes that she and the H are reuniting. The h takes the file and hides it under her clothes at the apartment. The H returns and he and the h get into a fight over his neglect as a parent. They have a stalemate on the subject, but then the H is off again and the grandmum needs help cause everyone is sick with the measles.
Since the h already had measles during her childhood in an orphanage, she goes down to help the 70 year old lady with two very sick kids. The h shines as a domestic goddess and purveyor of all things motherhood related. Aside from a little behavior problem with the son being impertinent to one of the maids and the h firmly establishing herself as the arbiter of motherly discipline, everyone is happy.
Until the H gets home and finds the h comfortably ensconced with his family. They fight, he argues he is only paying for bed privileges and wants her out of the house or she will be sorry. The h argues that he is a lousy parent, turning into his hateful father and that he is going to lose the affection of his kids. The h goes to tell the son goodbye, cause she is tired of the arguing and the grandmum, son and daughter all state that they will riot if the h leaves. The H sulks for a bit, but does arrange for the son to live at home with his sister instead of boarding school and he humbly apologizes to the h.
The h asks him to bring her some clothes and he finds the file. He rushes back to grandmum's and finally believes the h when she tells him his dad blackmailed her. The h, appalled that the H knows her secret, rushes off in the middle of a big storm and winds up at a pub hotel. The H charms his way in and the big reunion stage is set.
The h was in an accident and can't have kids, when her fiance found out, he dumped her faster than a hot potato and told her she was half a woman. The H's father knew all about it and played on her 21 year old self's guilt and pain by indicating that she was lower than pond scum for being barren. The H read the file, but as he says-- he already has two kids that he is messing up and he doesn't need anymore. It doesn't matter to him, he just loves her and wants no other woman.
Turns out he did divorce his wife and she remarried, the daughter is not his child, but his son is her brother and the ex's parents knew the kids needed to be raised together. The H took them both and left them with his mum. The h is very handily stepping in as the mum they need and the kids, grandmum and the H all love and adore her. The H implies that he hasn't been with anyone else since the h and he worships the ground she walks on. He was so mean cause he thought she just wanted a brief affair and was forsaking his love and he was cruel in his agonizing inner pain of futile love.
The H and h wind up married and the story ends with a nice little epilogue of the family on vacation, with the kids calling the h mum and the h and H's lovebird behavior shocking the elderly hotel guests.
If you can buy into the premise, this is a good book. The H is convincing in his deep love and his fury with the h. The h is convincing with her all out effort to get the H back. They both behave badly through ignorance and fear, but they do come together again in a very romantic fashion after the misunderstandings are sorted out.
As always there are some dangling plot points, such as why the H did not figure out what the father had done sooner and why the H's mum, who appeared to want her son to be happy with the h, did not say anything to the H when the father died, but I chalked it up to the vagaries of HPlandia and just enjoyed the glow of a satisfying HEA.
It may also help to remember that this is HPlandia, and a HP h is like Rubbermaid, the harder she falls the further she bounces back. An HP h's innate worthiness is always judged by her capacity to martyr herself and the greater an HP H's malevolence, the greater his love in the end. Keep those thoughts in mind if you happen to run across this book.
The h is a 26 yr old lounge singer working at a hotel as the professional musical entertainment when the book opens. She notices a young boy staring at her publicity photo and starts to worry. The young man is the son of her former lover, the H. She met him on cruise ship five years earlier when he was 33, after he separated from his wife and they both fell in love. The H's father was against the union and blackmailed the h into leaving the H by digging up a deep, dark past secret.
The h was terrified her secret would come out and pretended to accept the money the father gave her to buy her off. When the H proposed to her, she told him her career was more important and left. The father put a stop on the check, but made sure the H knew how mercenary the h supposedly was.
Five years on the h finds out that not only does the H have a son, who warns her off his dad in the hotel's coffee shop, but he has a daughter too, and her mother is the H's former wife who is now dead. The h thinks the H reunited with his wife and is worried that she was a rebound fling. It helps lessen her guilt over lying to the H the way she did.
The h and H meet again and the meeting goes badly. The H makes some nasty accusations and the h just longs for the H to be in her arms again. When she develops problems with her voice that mean she can't perform for the next several months, the H offers her a deal where he will let her live with him as his paid companion - yes, THAT kind of companion.
The h leaps at the opportunity, she has no intention of accepting his money -- she has enough of her own, she just wants a second shot at their former relationship. The H isn't seeing things the same way. He thinks she is a greedy, mercenary good time popsie who can be had by anyone with the right amount and he is willing to pay for exclusive access. She is not to comment on any other aspect of his life, including his kids who live with his mum and he visits on the weekends. She is just to be his bed warmer and cook and clean his apartment, he has his lawyer draw up an agreement.
On their first evening together they have serious words and the H winds up violently raping her. The h rejects his advances the next morning and while accepting part of the blame for provoking him, she refuses to stay if rape is going to be a regular part of their future. The H makes the remark that it won't happen again as now he can't use her body due to to injury and so the tone for the next several weeks is set.
Except the H keeps doing little things that show he isn't a total jerk. The h had ordered things for the apartment, paintings, cushions, and flowers etc. The H threw a fit and the h returned everything. When the H noticed they were gone later in the day, he arranged to have everything returned to the apartment. Gradually as the weeks pass, the h and H establish a close relationship, they both admit that they have some caring for each other and make the best of their passion and try to re-establish a friendship.
Then the H's son runs away from boarding school and winds up at the H and h's apartment. The H is off on business, so the h winds up taking him back to his grandmother's home. Grandmum is happy to see the h, gives her the infamous file the H's father blackmailed her with, and hopes that she and the H are reuniting. The h takes the file and hides it under her clothes at the apartment. The H returns and he and the h get into a fight over his neglect as a parent. They have a stalemate on the subject, but then the H is off again and the grandmum needs help cause everyone is sick with the measles.
Since the h already had measles during her childhood in an orphanage, she goes down to help the 70 year old lady with two very sick kids. The h shines as a domestic goddess and purveyor of all things motherhood related. Aside from a little behavior problem with the son being impertinent to one of the maids and the h firmly establishing herself as the arbiter of motherly discipline, everyone is happy.
Until the H gets home and finds the h comfortably ensconced with his family. They fight, he argues he is only paying for bed privileges and wants her out of the house or she will be sorry. The h argues that he is a lousy parent, turning into his hateful father and that he is going to lose the affection of his kids. The h goes to tell the son goodbye, cause she is tired of the arguing and the grandmum, son and daughter all state that they will riot if the h leaves. The H sulks for a bit, but does arrange for the son to live at home with his sister instead of boarding school and he humbly apologizes to the h.
The h asks him to bring her some clothes and he finds the file. He rushes back to grandmum's and finally believes the h when she tells him his dad blackmailed her. The h, appalled that the H knows her secret, rushes off in the middle of a big storm and winds up at a pub hotel. The H charms his way in and the big reunion stage is set.
The h was in an accident and can't have kids, when her fiance found out, he dumped her faster than a hot potato and told her she was half a woman. The H's father knew all about it and played on her 21 year old self's guilt and pain by indicating that she was lower than pond scum for being barren. The H read the file, but as he says-- he already has two kids that he is messing up and he doesn't need anymore. It doesn't matter to him, he just loves her and wants no other woman.
Turns out he did divorce his wife and she remarried, the daughter is not his child, but his son is her brother and the ex's parents knew the kids needed to be raised together. The H took them both and left them with his mum. The h is very handily stepping in as the mum they need and the kids, grandmum and the H all love and adore her. The H implies that he hasn't been with anyone else since the h and he worships the ground she walks on. He was so mean cause he thought she just wanted a brief affair and was forsaking his love and he was cruel in his agonizing inner pain of futile love.
The H and h wind up married and the story ends with a nice little epilogue of the family on vacation, with the kids calling the h mum and the h and H's lovebird behavior shocking the elderly hotel guests.
If you can buy into the premise, this is a good book. The H is convincing in his deep love and his fury with the h. The h is convincing with her all out effort to get the H back. They both behave badly through ignorance and fear, but they do come together again in a very romantic fashion after the misunderstandings are sorted out.
As always there are some dangling plot points, such as why the H did not figure out what the father had done sooner and why the H's mum, who appeared to want her son to be happy with the h, did not say anything to the H when the father died, but I chalked it up to the vagaries of HPlandia and just enjoyed the glow of a satisfying HEA.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 5, 2016
I thought I could handle this book, but NO!
Plus the so-called#!(*% hero is so verbally abusive and dismissive to the tiny h, his own son, and his mom.
This guy is up there for most vicious hero in Harley-Land. His competition is some winners from The Highest Stakes of All and Shattered Dreams. To quote the great and yummy Dean Winchester, "Son of a bitch!". I just wanted to reach into the book and slap the sense into the heroine which, scarily enough, she might like.
I love an alpha hero as much as the rest, but, come on, give me something to work with besides the ever present magic P. Get thee to a psychiatrist.
Plus the so-called#!(*% hero is so verbally abusive and dismissive to the tiny h, his own son, and his mom.
This guy is up there for most vicious hero in Harley-Land. His competition is some winners from The Highest Stakes of All and Shattered Dreams. To quote the great and yummy Dean Winchester, "Son of a bitch!". I just wanted to reach into the book and slap the sense into the heroine which, scarily enough, she might like.
I love an alpha hero as much as the rest, but, come on, give me something to work with besides the ever present magic P. Get thee to a psychiatrist.
November 17, 2017
So many sins, so little time . . .
The H was cheating on his estranged wife with the heroine when they first got together.
The heroine was blackmailed by the H's father into leaving him the first time and hero is bitter.
The hero offers the heroine a contract to be his sex toy after she is told she can't sing for six months.
The heroine agrees to said contract.
The hero rapes the heroine in a fit of anger.
The hero is a terrible father - maybe one of the worst in all of HPlandia.
So which sin bothered me the most?
I hated how he treated his children. How he stubbornly didn't listen to them. How he involved them in his bitterness and anger.
The heroine had her own sins and made her choice to stay with the hero after he apologized for the rape. The kids had no choice.
I can believe that the H/h could go on to have an HEA - but the happy families epilogue did not ring true. I'm waiting for the son to have his own Harley where some kind heroine is going to help him through his father issues.
So why three stars? The author keeps up the intensity and I was curious as to what the hero's father blackmailed her with. The whole story was well-written considering I stuck by these awful, awful characters for 190 pages.
The H was cheating on his estranged wife with the heroine when they first got together.
The heroine was blackmailed by the H's father into leaving him the first time and hero is bitter.
The hero offers the heroine a contract to be his sex toy after she is told she can't sing for six months.
The heroine agrees to said contract.
The hero rapes the heroine in a fit of anger.
The hero is a terrible father - maybe one of the worst in all of HPlandia.
So which sin bothered me the most?
I hated how he treated his children. How he stubbornly didn't listen to them. How he involved them in his bitterness and anger.
The heroine had her own sins and made her choice to stay with the hero after he apologized for the rape. The kids had no choice.
I can believe that the H/h could go on to have an HEA - but the happy families epilogue did not ring true. I'm waiting for the son to have his own Harley where some kind heroine is going to help him through his father issues.
So why three stars? The author keeps up the intensity and I was curious as to what the hero's father blackmailed her with. The whole story was well-written considering I stuck by these awful, awful characters for 190 pages.
July 12, 2013
Heroine was engaged to be married to a guy who left her days before the wedding because he found out she couldn't have children. Heroine meets hero who is separated and already has a son. They fall in love, move in together but when he proposes marriage she makes him believe she is a mercenary slut and abandons him.
Years later she works as a singer in one of his hotels. Hero is still not over her so he proposes an arrangement. Money in exchange for sexual favors. Heroine accepts not because of the money but because she is stil in love with him. He doesn't know that ofcourse. He still thinks heroine is an immoral slut who left him once his father gave her a big fat cheque.
There is a rape scene so be warned! I liked the characters and how intense their emotions were. I truly believe their love was genuine and I love how they never got over each other no matter the years they lived apart. So first pages kept me hooked. Didnt like the middle of the book though. There was way too much focus on the kids and no focus on the romance and this is what ruined the novel for me.
Years later she works as a singer in one of his hotels. Hero is still not over her so he proposes an arrangement. Money in exchange for sexual favors. Heroine accepts not because of the money but because she is stil in love with him. He doesn't know that ofcourse. He still thinks heroine is an immoral slut who left him once his father gave her a big fat cheque.
There is a rape scene so be warned! I liked the characters and how intense their emotions were. I truly believe their love was genuine and I love how they never got over each other no matter the years they lived apart. So first pages kept me hooked. Didnt like the middle of the book though. There was way too much focus on the kids and no focus on the romance and this is what ruined the novel for me.
January 7, 2019
‘The bastard that told you is only half a man if he made you believe those things. You’re beautiful, wonderful, a loving compassionate woman. The fact that you can’t conceive child doesn’t make you any less those things,’ he told her savagely. ‘God, if I had wanted a baby-machine, I could have married again years ago. The truth of it is I’m not that good at being a parent, you’ve brought me closer to my children than I’ve ever been. I just want you, Cynara, need you so much.’
As famous Turkish Sufi Poem Yunus Emre said ;
Knowledge is to understand
To understand who you are.
If you know not who you are
What’s the use of learning?
I think H redeemed himself.
As famous Turkish Sufi Poem Yunus Emre said ;
Knowledge is to understand
To understand who you are.
If you know not who you are
What’s the use of learning?
I think H redeemed himself.
December 28, 2021
I understand that some authors of old have this fantasy/kink, that is the hero raping the heroine in a rage.
It can be the case in historical romances, body rippers, mafia stories, where the hero is a rude and cruel man with no morals, and treats everyone like craps.
In this book the rape was not justified.
The heroine though was stupid and idiot in her beliefs.
She met the hero who was divorcing his wife and became his lover. He proposed but she refused and left him in an awful way, humiliating him in front of his father and admitting she was only interested in her career as a singer and in money.
She loved him of course but since she has this big fault that prevents her to marry a man she refuses to marry him.
And she acts the gold digger tart.
Five years later they meet again.
The hero has another daughter (he already had a boy who is now ten) and is still very angry with the heroine.
He even tells her that he dreams every night of throttling her with her hair. Nice gentleman.
The heroine is a singer, with a problem with her voice.
She has to stop singing for at least six months if she doesn’t want to have surgery.
The hero offers her an arrangement: she will be his lover and he will provide to her. The heroine has enough money and doesn’t need to be kept but she wants to be with him as long as she can, and with no ties, since she has this big issue that prevents her from marrying. So this is her chance to be with him.
Then she acts like a real tart, and taunts him because she doesn’t want him to think she’s in love with him.
And he rapes her.
This doesn’t go with his character because he’s a quiet man, not a rapist or an abusive one.
He is also a very indifferent parent for his two children who are left or at boarding school or with their grandparents.
This heroine tries to mediate with the children even if he doesn’t want her to meddle with that side of his life.
The man was really unpleasant and cruel but the heroine fed him with lies about herself, and a false image of a cruel, gold digger and promiscuous woman who isn’t interested in anything but herself.
Thank god the hero understands the inconsistencies behind her behavior and starts having doubts.
He also can’t keep the pretense and wants more from her, a true affair based on their attraction and not on money.
Eventually the hero finds out what her big secret is and of course he tells her that it doesn’t matter because he wants her for herself and so they get married and are very happy with their two children.
Big secret: she was a serial killer.
No! I’m joking!
She was barren. And the hero couldn’t care less since he is not so great a father himself and doesn’t want other children.
So, utter stupidity of the heroine prevented them to get married five years before. Luckily the man was besotted enough and didn’t have ow for all those years apart and he willingly looked for her because he wanted her back, even thinking she was a gold digger.
The book would be quite good, but the rape is not justified and not seriously dealt with.
He turns into a monster and then behaves like everything is normal. Not believable for me.
I don’t know if 40 and something years ago it was quite the norm for women to be raped by their men once in a while, I found this scene disturbing and really unnecessary for the story.
The rest was ok, the heroine was thick skinned and didn’t mind if he was cruel and nasty. Actually she asked for his cruelty because she let him believe she was a slut who didn’t care for him at all, and after all he loved her and asked her to marry. I can’t believe she really made up all that because of her sterility. Really a one sided decision and not a smart one.
It can be the case in historical romances, body rippers, mafia stories, where the hero is a rude and cruel man with no morals, and treats everyone like craps.
In this book the rape was not justified.
The heroine though was stupid and idiot in her beliefs.
She met the hero who was divorcing his wife and became his lover. He proposed but she refused and left him in an awful way, humiliating him in front of his father and admitting she was only interested in her career as a singer and in money.
She loved him of course but since she has this big fault that prevents her to marry a man she refuses to marry him.
And she acts the gold digger tart.
Five years later they meet again.
The hero has another daughter (he already had a boy who is now ten) and is still very angry with the heroine.
He even tells her that he dreams every night of throttling her with her hair. Nice gentleman.
The heroine is a singer, with a problem with her voice.
She has to stop singing for at least six months if she doesn’t want to have surgery.
The hero offers her an arrangement: she will be his lover and he will provide to her. The heroine has enough money and doesn’t need to be kept but she wants to be with him as long as she can, and with no ties, since she has this big issue that prevents her from marrying. So this is her chance to be with him.
Then she acts like a real tart, and taunts him because she doesn’t want him to think she’s in love with him.
And he rapes her.
This doesn’t go with his character because he’s a quiet man, not a rapist or an abusive one.
He is also a very indifferent parent for his two children who are left or at boarding school or with their grandparents.
This heroine tries to mediate with the children even if he doesn’t want her to meddle with that side of his life.
The man was really unpleasant and cruel but the heroine fed him with lies about herself, and a false image of a cruel, gold digger and promiscuous woman who isn’t interested in anything but herself.
Thank god the hero understands the inconsistencies behind her behavior and starts having doubts.
He also can’t keep the pretense and wants more from her, a true affair based on their attraction and not on money.
Eventually the hero finds out what her big secret is and of course he tells her that it doesn’t matter because he wants her for herself and so they get married and are very happy with their two children.
Big secret: she was a serial killer.
No! I’m joking!
She was barren. And the hero couldn’t care less since he is not so great a father himself and doesn’t want other children.
So, utter stupidity of the heroine prevented them to get married five years before. Luckily the man was besotted enough and didn’t have ow for all those years apart and he willingly looked for her because he wanted her back, even thinking she was a gold digger.
The book would be quite good, but the rape is not justified and not seriously dealt with.
He turns into a monster and then behaves like everything is normal. Not believable for me.
I don’t know if 40 and something years ago it was quite the norm for women to be raped by their men once in a while, I found this scene disturbing and really unnecessary for the story.
The rest was ok, the heroine was thick skinned and didn’t mind if he was cruel and nasty. Actually she asked for his cruelty because she let him believe she was a slut who didn’t care for him at all, and after all he loved her and asked her to marry. I can’t believe she really made up all that because of her sterility. Really a one sided decision and not a smart one.
September 25, 2021
‘You blackmailed me into living with you.’
‘I would have committed murder to get you!’ His eyes glittered. ‘But I daren’t show you how I still felt, was still convinced you were a mercenary. Only by being cruel to you could I stop myself from telling you I loved you.’ Pain darkened his eyes. ‘I’ve hurt you so badly, inflicted so much pain on you. And my only excuse is that I love you so much I ache inside!’
-Cynara & Zack
***
"The Devil`s Price" was one emotional and intense ride full of hot-blooded angst,heartbreak and undying love that captured the readers heart as it did with mine.Cynara was a tortured heroine who believed any man to fall out in love of her once they ever should know of her heartbreaking secret,and that`s why she left Zack Buchanan,breaking his heart while also breaking hers.
He is back.This time to avenge her through blackmailing her to be his mistress.In its own way,this book had an dark shadow over it.The pain they cause each other just to hide their love was really devastating for me,cuz i could feel their utterly pain,and i just longed for these two to be together.
Warning!!!:there is a scene where the hero rapes the heroine.
‘I would have committed murder to get you!’ His eyes glittered. ‘But I daren’t show you how I still felt, was still convinced you were a mercenary. Only by being cruel to you could I stop myself from telling you I loved you.’ Pain darkened his eyes. ‘I’ve hurt you so badly, inflicted so much pain on you. And my only excuse is that I love you so much I ache inside!’
-Cynara & Zack
***
"The Devil`s Price" was one emotional and intense ride full of hot-blooded angst,heartbreak and undying love that captured the readers heart as it did with mine.Cynara was a tortured heroine who believed any man to fall out in love of her once they ever should know of her heartbreaking secret,and that`s why she left Zack Buchanan,breaking his heart while also breaking hers.
He is back.This time to avenge her through blackmailing her to be his mistress.In its own way,this book had an dark shadow over it.The pain they cause each other just to hide their love was really devastating for me,cuz i could feel their utterly pain,and i just longed for these two to be together.
Warning!!!:there is a scene where the hero rapes the heroine.
June 5, 2016
Couldn't get over the rape, but how could I when he kept on being mean to her.
February 5, 2022
For some reason I never really warmed up to these two, so I didn’t really feel the angst.
We spend far too much time psychoanalyzing the children and the H’s relationship to them.
Her Big Horrible Secret and reason for allowing the 5 year separation and letting the H think she was a gold-digging Whore was obvious and lame.
Her going out of her way to make the H continue to believe those things about her when the reason for all this drama (his asshole dad) is out of their way, was annoying.
Bottom Line? ⭐️⭐️⭐️ I’ve read worse.
⚠️SAFETY SQUAD SPOILERS⚠️
- no cheating or sharing
- OW drama - the h spends most of the book believing the H went back to his wife and had another child with her after the h left him (the wife is now dead and he didn’t) - also, she sees him sitting at a table with a woman in the hotel bar, and gets upset, but she was just a platonic acquaintance
- OM drama - the H is jealous of the h’s boss and the h’s agent — she allows him to believe she’s slept around the last few years and was with OM the same day she moves into his apartment
- dubcon/noncon - he forces rough kissing on her a couple times and their first time together, after 5 years, is straight up rape.
- h *may* have been a v when she first slept with the H when she was 21, but it’s left ambiguous. She was engaged previously and it’s not spelled out exactly if she slept with him or not and it’s never definitely stated that she has only had sex with the H
- the H, 33 when they met, was an experienced man, going through a divorce
- both MCs were celibate during their 5 year separation
- no condoms used or discussed (1985 🤷🏼♀️)
- the h is barren
We spend far too much time psychoanalyzing the children and the H’s relationship to them.
Her Big Horrible Secret and reason for allowing the 5 year separation and letting the H think she was a gold-digging Whore was obvious and lame.
Her going out of her way to make the H continue to believe those things about her when the reason for all this drama (his asshole dad) is out of their way, was annoying.
Bottom Line? ⭐️⭐️⭐️ I’ve read worse.
⚠️SAFETY SQUAD SPOILERS⚠️
- no cheating or sharing
- OW drama - the h spends most of the book believing the H went back to his wife and had another child with her after the h left him (the wife is now dead and he didn’t) - also, she sees him sitting at a table with a woman in the hotel bar, and gets upset, but she was just a platonic acquaintance
- OM drama - the H is jealous of the h’s boss and the h’s agent — she allows him to believe she’s slept around the last few years and was with OM the same day she moves into his apartment
- dubcon/noncon - he forces rough kissing on her a couple times and their first time together, after 5 years, is straight up rape.
- h *may* have been a v when she first slept with the H when she was 21, but it’s left ambiguous. She was engaged previously and it’s not spelled out exactly if she slept with him or not and it’s never definitely stated that she has only had sex with the H
- the H, 33 when they met, was an experienced man, going through a divorce
- both MCs were celibate during their 5 year separation
- no condoms used or discussed (1985 🤷🏼♀️)
- the h is barren
January 23, 2019
I expected to hate the Hero for his sins but I couldn’t.
And I can’t respect an author who throws in a rape scene for shock value or for God knows what reason. The plot would have been absolutely fine without it. It made no sense except to get readers to hate the H and perhaps martyrize the h. It didn’t work for me, quite the opposite in fact.
I can’t feel sympathy for a heroine that lied and went all out to foster an impression that she was mercenary, cold-hearted, ambitious and just wanted to be a famous singer, willing to accept a pay-out from the H’s father to stop seeing the H.
Father felt she would be an unsuitable wife for his son, being a lounge singer and had hired a detective to dig out skeletons in her closet. Unlike most detectives in HP land, this one did an extremely thorough job so father could threaten to reveal her Deep Dark Secret.
Hero was in love with her and had asked her to marry him. She turned him down, pretending to be an opportunist only interested in short affairs because she was convinced that H would spurn her once he found out The Deep Dark Secret.
So she was 21 when she had that belief, but five years later, when they re-meet as hotel owner and singer-employee, to hold on to that belief and put up with his anger and resentment was a tad much. He wants a chance to get her out of his system and proposes a less-than-savory means of rekindling their affair
So, yes, H was a total dipshit but mostly because it seemed he never got over her callous betrayal and desertion of him. To me, it felt like he turned into a bad father because of what had happened, running away from intimacy with those he loved.
And since I dislike books where the H’s appalling behavior can almost be explained away due to h’s dumb actions, it didn’t quite work for me especially when kids are dragged into the melodrama.
To be fair, Mortimer showed H and h cared deeply for each other despite it all. And there were other good moments
If you like the stepchildren trope, Mortimer devotes more than enough page time for it. Me, I tend to get bugged by it. Like her fully intending to spank his son. Sure, he was a brat, needed a firm hand and discipline but she’s not even the stepmother yet. They’ve only been reacquainted for a couple of weeks. It’s me, honestly, I just can’t handle the children-as-angst trope.
But there was a lovely ending when he reassures her he doesn’t give a crap about the Deep Dark Secret
The h wasn’t a virgin (slept with ex) and both were celibate during the 5 years apart for those who need to know. Mortimer does write very well, got to give her credit for a good angsty read.
And I can’t respect an author who throws in a rape scene for shock value or for God knows what reason. The plot would have been absolutely fine without it. It made no sense except to get readers to hate the H and perhaps martyrize the h. It didn’t work for me, quite the opposite in fact.
I can’t feel sympathy for a heroine that lied and went all out to foster an impression that she was mercenary, cold-hearted, ambitious and just wanted to be a famous singer, willing to accept a pay-out from the H’s father to stop seeing the H.
Father felt she would be an unsuitable wife for his son, being a lounge singer and had hired a detective to dig out skeletons in her closet. Unlike most detectives in HP land, this one did an extremely thorough job so father could threaten to reveal her Deep Dark Secret.
Hero was in love with her and had asked her to marry him. She turned him down, pretending to be an opportunist only interested in short affairs because she was convinced that H would spurn her once he found out The Deep Dark Secret.
So she was 21 when she had that belief, but five years later, when they re-meet as hotel owner and singer-employee, to hold on to that belief and put up with his anger and resentment was a tad much. He wants a chance to get her out of his system and proposes a less-than-savory means of rekindling their affair
So, yes, H was a total dipshit but mostly because it seemed he never got over her callous betrayal and desertion of him. To me, it felt like he turned into a bad father because of what had happened, running away from intimacy with those he loved.
And since I dislike books where the H’s appalling behavior can almost be explained away due to h’s dumb actions, it didn’t quite work for me especially when kids are dragged into the melodrama.
To be fair, Mortimer showed H and h cared deeply for each other despite it all. And there were other good moments
If you like the stepchildren trope, Mortimer devotes more than enough page time for it. Me, I tend to get bugged by it. Like her fully intending to spank his son. Sure, he was a brat, needed a firm hand and discipline but she’s not even the stepmother yet. They’ve only been reacquainted for a couple of weeks. It’s me, honestly, I just can’t handle the children-as-angst trope.
But there was a lovely ending when he reassures her he doesn’t give a crap about the Deep Dark Secret
The h wasn’t a virgin (slept with ex) and both were celibate during the 5 years apart for those who need to know. Mortimer does write very well, got to give her credit for a good angsty read.
May 14, 2020
3.5 stars
December 9, 2012
Well, this was interesting. An in your face rape scene that will turn a lot of women off this story. The entire book revolved around a big secret of the heroine's that turned out lame. And ol' granddad blackmailing her over it made him a huge douchebag. But if you don't like your Harleys over-sweet and can overlook some serious plot fails, then you might give it a try.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
March 27, 2017Let me just spell it out.
It WAS rape, not borderline. And he hasn't at any point truly apologised for it.
However no ranting, or review, or rating, as it's definitely be another one star and a 5000 word essay.
I'd rather suggest boogenhagen's review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
She has sugarcoated it, or rather used sugar dripping sarcasm but I'm sure you can draw your own conclusions.
It WAS rape, not borderline. And he hasn't at any point truly apologised for it.
However no ranting, or review, or rating, as it's definitely be another one star and a 5000 word essay.
I'd rather suggest boogenhagen's review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
She has sugarcoated it, or rather used sugar dripping sarcasm but I'm sure you can draw your own conclusions.
November 10, 2011
This is definitely bad and outdated, and has a full-on rape. And yet, something about it drew me in anyway -- I think it's that you could tell the hero couldn't help but love her. Definitely lost steam in the middle with way too much focus on the kids, but still a decent read if you don't mind all the old-school cruelty.
November 27, 2012
This novel had a really intense rape scene in it that had me cringing. Other than that, the novel was great, especially when the truth about the heroine came out and the hero accepted her no matter what.
June 12, 2020
Veeery interesting--lots of excellent plot summaries below, so just a few observations from me:
I can't say I liked it, it was almost too real world; very flawed characters, which made it fascinating, and both the hero and the heroine were pretty cynical real-world dwellers in their ways. I liked the heroine--she was tough and didn't take a lot of crap, and when the hero raped her (and it was rape, and they both agreed it was rape), she probably should have walked but decided to stick around--knowing that it was possible she wouldn't get over it. It wasn't glossed over and she didn't suffer treacherous body syndrome half-way through--it showed just how fucked up the hero was, and when she decided to stick around afterward, it was with eyes wide open, no illusions. When the heroine agrees to become his mistress, he's determined to keep it a business arrangement and not allow her to infiltrate other aspects of his life, and it's very cold and maybe too realistic for a Harley for a while.
This was a pretty bitter read, and while I like bitterly angsty books, this one was not really romantic in any sense. It was more about vulnerability and love and redemption. And it worked--CM is a good writer, but based on this one, she's not your average Harley writer for the period. I liked that and it makes me curious to see if her other books are similar (I must have read her back in the day but don't remember her books well, if at all). An interesting and quite brutal Harley outing.
I can't say I liked it, it was almost too real world; very flawed characters, which made it fascinating, and both the hero and the heroine were pretty cynical real-world dwellers in their ways. I liked the heroine--she was tough and didn't take a lot of crap, and when the hero raped her (and it was rape, and they both agreed it was rape), she probably should have walked but decided to stick around--knowing that it was possible she wouldn't get over it. It wasn't glossed over and she didn't suffer treacherous body syndrome half-way through--it showed just how fucked up the hero was, and when she decided to stick around afterward, it was with eyes wide open, no illusions. When the heroine agrees to become his mistress, he's determined to keep it a business arrangement and not allow her to infiltrate other aspects of his life, and it's very cold and maybe too realistic for a Harley for a while.
This was a pretty bitter read, and while I like bitterly angsty books, this one was not really romantic in any sense. It was more about vulnerability and love and redemption. And it worked--CM is a good writer, but based on this one, she's not your average Harley writer for the period. I liked that and it makes me curious to see if her other books are similar (I must have read her back in the day but don't remember her books well, if at all). An interesting and quite brutal Harley outing.
June 2, 2021
Cynara loved Zack Buchanan even when his father blackmailed her to leave him or reveal her secret five years ago. For five long agonising years, her sole salvation was her singing career because it was through work that she lessened her pain. Yet, fate played a treacherous tick on her by bringing Zack and his son back to her life. Now, Zack wanted his revenge. He wanted to punish her for the mercenary woman he thought her to be. Therefore, he offered her a demeaning affair and she accepted out of love!!
The novel is not written in deep details, yet the dialogues convey strong emotions and real torment. The heroine certainly had her share of pain! Yet, I do find the rape scene a little disturbing especially when a supposedly tortured but loving hero committed it in a fit of total rage. Violence is not a sign of love no matter how it is excused or explained.
The novel is not written in deep details, yet the dialogues convey strong emotions and real torment. The heroine certainly had her share of pain! Yet, I do find the rape scene a little disturbing especially when a supposedly tortured but loving hero committed it in a fit of total rage. Violence is not a sign of love no matter how it is excused or explained.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 5, 2016
Yeah no. I'm fine with dub-con in my mainstream romances, but full on rape? Nope. Sorry. If I want to read books that tackle rape (dub or non-con) in the context of erotica or romance, I'd read one of the many dark erotica/romances out there with it. I don't have so much of an issue with it there, provided the reasoning and context and how it's written (and I go into those with an understanding that it's there). But I don't expect or want in a mainstream romance, the hero being an all out rapist. It's unappealing! It's disturbing! Why would Harlequin think it's okay? I just don't understand it, I guess.
Quotes:
Why would an author write a mainstream romance where the hero is a legitimate rapist?
Quotes:
Why would an author write a mainstream romance where the hero is a legitimate rapist?
January 28, 2019
Despite his raspy (x46) voice and the one time he raped her, I would read it again! He's a total fool in love, his children call her mom in the end, Crazy Gramps did NOT get the thrashing his deserved before he did, and they were separated for 5 years half bc of Crazy Gramps and half because of h's insecurity, BUT. He loved her to the exclusion of everything else, including his kids. He cared not and felt not until she came back into his life, and okay so he hurt her in his anger at his perceived rejection by her, BUT. you could tell the entire fucking book that he loved her. And the ending was not only heartwarming, but Michael, his son, is HILARIOUS.
The best line in the entire book was spoken by him:
"If it's about sex, don't bother. We've already had that talk at school. Besides, I get all the visual lessons I need from you two."
(here's where I wish I knew how to insert GIFs)
Fun fact for those worried about the rape: He goes batshit when she won't stop talking about it, but he doesn't deny it, he doesn't let her take ANY responsibility for it, he hates that it happened, he promises to never do it again, and not just when he tells her her injured body is no use to him, but later too. He also went batshit when he saw he had hurt her and she didn't tell him. (He goes batshit every time he's hurt actually, from any cause). And HE'S the one doing the groveling for her at the end, and I mean PAGES of it, not just a half assed "sorry" like most Heros. So, he redeemed himself in my book. (He also didn't set out to rape her, but he didn't view it as rape because he's a bit thickheaded, especially when it comes to HER.)
The best line in the entire book was spoken by him:
"If it's about sex, don't bother. We've already had that talk at school. Besides, I get all the visual lessons I need from you two."
(here's where I wish I knew how to insert GIFs)
Fun fact for those worried about the rape: He goes batshit when she won't stop talking about it, but he doesn't deny it, he doesn't let her take ANY responsibility for it, he hates that it happened, he promises to never do it again, and not just when he tells her her injured body is no use to him, but later too. He also went batshit when he saw he had hurt her and she didn't tell him. (He goes batshit every time he's hurt actually, from any cause). And HE'S the one doing the groveling for her at the end, and I mean PAGES of it, not just a half assed "sorry" like most Heros. So, he redeemed himself in my book. (He also didn't set out to rape her, but he didn't view it as rape because he's a bit thickheaded, especially when it comes to HER.)
May 19, 2025
Lots wrong here, and once again, we have a book that could have been written a lot better, had I only had been around to coach the author!
But putting my conceit aside, I think Ms. Mortimer missed a good opportunity by not having the h work as a nanny for the H's children from the beginning, instead of that ridiculous mistress arrangement that was just sleazy. The trouble with the H's son and the boarding school. as well as the h not being able to work as a singer for a while, could have prompted the H's mother (who always liked the H) to suggest her working to care for the children. Then, gradually, the troubles with his son would have smoothed over, the H and h would have bonded over the kids rather than wasted too much time in nasty, snarky, insulting comments to each other (tempered by bouts in bed, of course) that got to be ad nauseum fast.
Then when the h's big secret was revealed, it would have fit into the story, rather than used in such a ridiculous way, to have kept them apart for five years. Five STUPID years!!!
As for that secret: talk about RIDICULOUS!!! From the way she carried on, I thought it was something criminal, like maybe she had mobsters in her family background. The author left out a lot of details, like how an 18-year-old leaves an orphanage where she helped out with the kids, and suddenly she has a singing career??? Wouldn't she need voice lessons, as well as money to pay for them? I assumed her secret was that she posed for pics in her birthday suit to afford those lessons, and when she told her former fiancé, he rejected her, and she thought the same thing would happen if the H found out. So, thinking she was not wife material for posing in sleazy mags, she agreed to get involved with the H while he was still technically married, and avoided the subject of marriage (using her career as an excuse) until the H made that impossible, hence his heartless father stepping in and uncovering (sort of a pun there) her secret, and blackmailing her with it.
But the author goofed with the actual secret! How could a detective get hold of private medical records and wouldn't want to risk that even if it were possible! So, it's unlikely the H's father could have found out about the h's inability to have children. In any case, it was a STUPID reason for the h to agree to the father's plan, because first of all, the H didn't act all gung-ho about having more kids. He assumed they'd get married and have a family, but he never made it sound like a baby was the be all and end all. And, despite her love for the H, she didn't give him much credit for being a good person, just lumped him together with her ex, who coldly rejected her as being defective, less of a woman, and dumped her only a week before their wedding day, when she finally told him about it. The guy obviously didn't love her, and was a real creep, but did she really think the H might act that way, or maybe marry her out of pity, really wanting to break up but not having the heart to?
She gave him no credit at all, and for that I couldn't feel sorry for her. She deserved to throw herself into her singing (which she no longer cared about), have no other life (and no other men) nearly do herself permanent vocal damage, and be miserable without the H.
For his part, I felt sorry for him at first, being made to think the h was a gold-digger who preferred a lump sum of money than a life with him, but that didn't excuse him for taking out his hurt on his kids by keeping his distance, sending his son to a boarding school he hated, never talking to him and trying to understand how he felt, and putting too much parental responsibility on his mother. Then, when he and the h meet again, he calls her all kinds of insulting names, seems to get a vengeful kick out of her never making it big as a singer, then works out an arrangement, where he can enjoy her body and nothing else! You can get hurt and disillusioned, without turning into a JERK!
And worst of all, he actually RAPED her! And this was a real RAPE, not a forced seduction, not a h who shouts "NO"!! one minute, then "OH, YES!!!" the next, this was just AWFUL!!! I wish the H had stopped before it went too far or at least told her he was sorry right away (he took his time doing that) and was really devastated by what he'd done, but what really got goofed up was the h (after a night of misery) getting over it quickly and then being okay sleeping with him again! That should NEVER have happened!!
Ironic, isn't it? Too many h's act like the outraged victim when they actually loved every minute of it, while this h really was a victim of a violent assault, and despite her hurt and pain, didn't get as angry at the H as you'd expect her to be. She even partly blamed herself, for some snarky remarks she made prior to the rape (trying to keep up the character of gold-digger, too afraid to admit the truth). The book left me feeling slightly sick after this.
And all this misery and assorted nonsense, because the h couldn't bring herself to tell the H she couldn't have children. When he finds out, his speech redeems his character.
I liked the follow-up at the end, their life together a few years later. (I could have done without the H's son making all those comments about the couple's sex life, however. His 13-year-old hormones were really kicking in; that kid's going to be a major horndog!) I'm glad the author stuck to reality, and didn't suddenly find a miracle operation that made the h have kids. That didn't change.
Not a bad book, but still very flawed.
But putting my conceit aside, I think Ms. Mortimer missed a good opportunity by not having the h work as a nanny for the H's children from the beginning, instead of that ridiculous mistress arrangement that was just sleazy. The trouble with the H's son and the boarding school. as well as the h not being able to work as a singer for a while, could have prompted the H's mother (who always liked the H) to suggest her working to care for the children. Then, gradually, the troubles with his son would have smoothed over, the H and h would have bonded over the kids rather than wasted too much time in nasty, snarky, insulting comments to each other (tempered by bouts in bed, of course) that got to be ad nauseum fast.
Then when the h's big secret was revealed, it would have fit into the story, rather than used in such a ridiculous way, to have kept them apart for five years. Five STUPID years!!!
As for that secret: talk about RIDICULOUS!!! From the way she carried on, I thought it was something criminal, like maybe she had mobsters in her family background. The author left out a lot of details, like how an 18-year-old leaves an orphanage where she helped out with the kids, and suddenly she has a singing career??? Wouldn't she need voice lessons, as well as money to pay for them? I assumed her secret was that she posed for pics in her birthday suit to afford those lessons, and when she told her former fiancé, he rejected her, and she thought the same thing would happen if the H found out. So, thinking she was not wife material for posing in sleazy mags, she agreed to get involved with the H while he was still technically married, and avoided the subject of marriage (using her career as an excuse) until the H made that impossible, hence his heartless father stepping in and uncovering (sort of a pun there) her secret, and blackmailing her with it.
But the author goofed with the actual secret! How could a detective get hold of private medical records and wouldn't want to risk that even if it were possible! So, it's unlikely the H's father could have found out about the h's inability to have children. In any case, it was a STUPID reason for the h to agree to the father's plan, because first of all, the H didn't act all gung-ho about having more kids. He assumed they'd get married and have a family, but he never made it sound like a baby was the be all and end all. And, despite her love for the H, she didn't give him much credit for being a good person, just lumped him together with her ex, who coldly rejected her as being defective, less of a woman, and dumped her only a week before their wedding day, when she finally told him about it. The guy obviously didn't love her, and was a real creep, but did she really think the H might act that way, or maybe marry her out of pity, really wanting to break up but not having the heart to?
She gave him no credit at all, and for that I couldn't feel sorry for her. She deserved to throw herself into her singing (which she no longer cared about), have no other life (and no other men) nearly do herself permanent vocal damage, and be miserable without the H.
For his part, I felt sorry for him at first, being made to think the h was a gold-digger who preferred a lump sum of money than a life with him, but that didn't excuse him for taking out his hurt on his kids by keeping his distance, sending his son to a boarding school he hated, never talking to him and trying to understand how he felt, and putting too much parental responsibility on his mother. Then, when he and the h meet again, he calls her all kinds of insulting names, seems to get a vengeful kick out of her never making it big as a singer, then works out an arrangement, where he can enjoy her body and nothing else! You can get hurt and disillusioned, without turning into a JERK!
And worst of all, he actually RAPED her! And this was a real RAPE, not a forced seduction, not a h who shouts "NO"!! one minute, then "OH, YES!!!" the next, this was just AWFUL!!! I wish the H had stopped before it went too far or at least told her he was sorry right away (he took his time doing that) and was really devastated by what he'd done, but what really got goofed up was the h (after a night of misery) getting over it quickly and then being okay sleeping with him again! That should NEVER have happened!!
Ironic, isn't it? Too many h's act like the outraged victim when they actually loved every minute of it, while this h really was a victim of a violent assault, and despite her hurt and pain, didn't get as angry at the H as you'd expect her to be. She even partly blamed herself, for some snarky remarks she made prior to the rape (trying to keep up the character of gold-digger, too afraid to admit the truth). The book left me feeling slightly sick after this.
And all this misery and assorted nonsense, because the h couldn't bring herself to tell the H she couldn't have children. When he finds out, his speech redeems his character.
I liked the follow-up at the end, their life together a few years later. (I could have done without the H's son making all those comments about the couple's sex life, however. His 13-year-old hormones were really kicking in; that kid's going to be a major horndog!) I'm glad the author stuck to reality, and didn't suddenly find a miracle operation that made the h have kids. That didn't change.
Not a bad book, but still very flawed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 2, 2022
Apart from in the final pages this H was pretty awful. I mean, I like them on the stern side but this one was actively cruel. There is a rape - not a forced seduction, and I really couldn't take to him after that. The way he speaks to her is hard to accept. The children were lovely, as was the H's mother, which is just as well or this would have been unrelentingly grim. Hard work.
July 16, 2025
"The Devil's Price" is the story of Cynara and Zack.
What a well written and enjoyable story if not for the
Hero and heroine were madly in love when they were separated by the hero's father and his lies. Five years later, she is a singer who is losing her voice. The hero re-enters her life, and she soon realizes he is her boss.
Circumstances lead to her losing her job and accepting the hero's proposal to be his mistress. His only condition- no feelings need to be involved.
Thus begins an angsty tale between a couple in love but fighting their feelings- both physical and emotional. The non con sex scene is brutal and soon pushed under the rug-which is frustrating.
However the second half has the heroine fighting back, bonding with the hero's children and mother, an apology and reconciliation, the reveal of truth and a happy ending.
Had such a potential to be a five star read but that scene really threw me off. Otherwise well written and with likable heroine and secondary characters- and the hero even apologizes.
SWE?
4/5
What a well written and enjoyable story if not for the
Hero and heroine were madly in love when they were separated by the hero's father and his lies. Five years later, she is a singer who is losing her voice. The hero re-enters her life, and she soon realizes he is her boss.
Circumstances lead to her losing her job and accepting the hero's proposal to be his mistress. His only condition- no feelings need to be involved.
Thus begins an angsty tale between a couple in love but fighting their feelings- both physical and emotional. The non con sex scene is brutal and soon pushed under the rug-which is frustrating.
However the second half has the heroine fighting back, bonding with the hero's children and mother, an apology and reconciliation, the reveal of truth and a happy ending.
Had such a potential to be a five star read but that scene really threw me off. Otherwise well written and with likable heroine and secondary characters- and the hero even apologizes.
SWE?
4/5
November 6, 2020
Wow! This was almost a slice of life type of book, one I immensely enjoyed reading. Despite the fact that I didnt like the decisions the heroine was taking or her reason for leaving the hero, But the ending won me and I liked to see everyone so happy.
October 19, 2019
This was a very fun book to read. One woman falls in love with a man until his father puts a stop to it and makes her an offer to leave his son. Years later they meet again and find out some hidden truths
not-interested-in-reading
August 29, 2022Did Not Read. Refuse to Read. Rape is never romantic.
August 20, 2013
I like the aspect of involving the family and friends; it's a good thing that the author didn't just focus on the 'angst' in the story. Although, I agree with most people thinking that her secret is too shallow; and yes, what he did on the beginning of their agreement is rape! I appreciate that the author didn't play it down and didn't mask it as something else. Overall, I really enjoyed it. specially the end, if only the author we're able to put that humour more from the start, I would probably rate it higher :)
May 27, 2023
"Το τίμημα της προδοσίας"- Κάρολ Μόρτιμερ , Συλλογή 679, έτος έκδοσης: 1985.
Πέντε χρόνια πριν η Σινάρα είχε απορρίψει με το χειρότερο τρόπο την πρόταση του Ζακ να την παντρευτεί. Και όμως η Σινάρα είχε πληγωθεί βαθιά τότε. Αλλά αυτό δεν ήταν τίποτα μπροστά στον πόνο που της προκαλούσε τώρα η συμπεριφορά του Ζακ, που με τη ψυχή γεμάτη μίσος και πίκρα ερχόταν να της ξεπληρώσει το κακό που του είχε κάνει....
Πέντε χρόνια πριν η Σινάρα είχε απορρίψει με το χειρότερο τρόπο την πρόταση του Ζακ να την παντρευτεί. Και όμως η Σινάρα είχε πληγωθεί βαθιά τότε. Αλλά αυτό δεν ήταν τίποτα μπροστά στον πόνο που της προκαλούσε τώρα η συμπεριφορά του Ζακ, που με τη ψυχή γεμάτη μίσος και πίκρα ερχόταν να της ξεπληρώσει το κακό που του είχε κάνει....
October 15, 2012
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June 2, 2020
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