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The Master Player
Book by Darcy, Emma
Paperback
Published November 1, 2009
13 people are currently reading
171 people want to read
About the author
Emma Darcy
640 books326 followersEmma Darcy is the pseudonym created by the married writing team of Wendy (1940-2020) and Frank Brennan (1936-1995). Their life journey has taken as many twists and turns as the characters in their stories, whose international popularity has resulted in over sixty-million book sales. With more than a hundred titles, Emma Darcy appeared regularly on the Waldenbooks bestseller lists in the U.S.A. and in the Nielson BookScan Top 100 chart in the U.K.
Wendy was born 28 November 1940 in Australia. Her sister was the novelist Maureen Mary (Miranda Lee). Her father was a country school teacher and brilliant sportsman. Her mother was a talented dressmaker. She obtained an Honours degree in Latin and initially worked as a high school English/French teacher. She married Frank Brennan, an Australian businessman born in 1936. She changed careers to computer programming before marriage and motherhood settled her into a community life. She was reputedly the first woman computer programmer in the southern hemisphere.
As voracious readers, the step to writing their own books seemed a natural progression and the challenge of creating exciting stories was soon highly addictive. They were published since 1983. In 1993, for the Emma Darcy pseudonym's 10th anniversary, they created the "Emma Darcy Award Contest" to encourage authors to finish their manuscripts. After the death of Frank Brennan in 1995, Wendy wrotes books on her own. She lived in a beachside property on the central coast of New South Wales, and liked to travel extensively to research settings and increase her experience of places and people.
Wendy Brennan passed away on December 21, 2020. She is survived by her children, grandchildren, and sister, writer Miranda Lee.
Wendy was born 28 November 1940 in Australia. Her sister was the novelist Maureen Mary (Miranda Lee). Her father was a country school teacher and brilliant sportsman. Her mother was a talented dressmaker. She obtained an Honours degree in Latin and initially worked as a high school English/French teacher. She married Frank Brennan, an Australian businessman born in 1936. She changed careers to computer programming before marriage and motherhood settled her into a community life. She was reputedly the first woman computer programmer in the southern hemisphere.
As voracious readers, the step to writing their own books seemed a natural progression and the challenge of creating exciting stories was soon highly addictive. They were published since 1983. In 1993, for the Emma Darcy pseudonym's 10th anniversary, they created the "Emma Darcy Award Contest" to encourage authors to finish their manuscripts. After the death of Frank Brennan in 1995, Wendy wrotes books on her own. She lived in a beachside property on the central coast of New South Wales, and liked to travel extensively to research settings and increase her experience of places and people.
Wendy Brennan passed away on December 21, 2020. She is survived by her children, grandchildren, and sister, writer Miranda Lee.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
dnf
January 10, 2010Couldn't finish this one, it was so creepy. (I skimmed to make sure it wasn't going to go in a different direction, and it only gets creepier.) The heroine is totally under the thumb of her awful husband and mother, until she is "rescued" by the hero and is then completely under his thumb; he takes over her life to the point that he even renames her with a name he thinks more appropriate for her! All I can think about the happy ending is that it would be perfect for an erotica story about a dom and sub.
December 31, 2022
Cute story about a tv star, the heroine, who’s been exploited by both her mother and her husband who, by the way, has been cheating on her with their PA. When she finds out she leaves him and guess who’s helping her? The hero, a producer who’s been pining for her for years and now has the right chance to make her his. So he will host her, protect her from her awful so called family and eventually seduce her. He’s a manipulative and selfish man but eventually he falls in love with her and they will have their happy family or so it seems.
Something is bothering me though.
The heroine has been exploited by her mother all her life, then by her husband too and it’s very sad that she ends with an equally cunning and manipulative man, even if he doesn’t want to steal anything from her beside the faculty of being herself for once and deciding what she wants to do with her life. Meh.
The man eventually loves her but I didn’t feel it was right that she was always under someone else’s care.
Safety is not good of course. She is married with om and he’s been having various mistresses until she’s free, which is not very romantic since it seems that the heroine is not special in any way, only somehow better than his previous mistress.
Something is bothering me though.
The heroine has been exploited by her mother all her life, then by her husband too and it’s very sad that she ends with an equally cunning and manipulative man, even if he doesn’t want to steal anything from her beside the faculty of being herself for once and deciding what she wants to do with her life. Meh.
The man eventually loves her but I didn’t feel it was right that she was always under someone else’s care.
Safety is not good of course. She is married with om and he’s been having various mistresses until she’s free, which is not very romantic since it seems that the heroine is not special in any way, only somehow better than his previous mistress.
March 18, 2018
4.5 stars
Book Reporter: Hello everyone! This is the Book Reporter and today I am going to interview Miss Ronyell about her thoughts on Emma Darcy’s one hundredth book, “The Master Player!” Hello Miss Ronyell!
Ronyell: Hello Book Reporter! Nice to meet you!
Book Reporter: So I see that you have just recently read Emma Darcy’s book, “The Master Player.” Could you give us a brief summary on this book?
Ronyell: Certainly! Basically, “The Master Player” is about a young star actress named Chloe Rollins who is married to a popular screenwriter named Tony Lipton and has her mother, Stephanie Rollins, as her agent. Life was going well for Chloe until a horrible scandal between Tony and her personal assistant, Laura Farrell, threaten to destroy Chloe’s career, until a handsome billionaire named Maximilian Hart saves Chloe from getting her reputation ruined when he takes her to live with him at his mansion. Of course, Chloe has heard rumors that Max is a player and she notices that Max not only wants to rescue her, but steal her heart in the process too!
Book Reporter: Wow! This book does sound interesting! So what did you think about Emma Darcy’s writing style?
Ronyell: I loved the way that Emma Darcy made this book extremely dramatic and heartwarming at the same time. The scenes where Chloe confronts her mother, Tony and Laura were extremely well done as these scenes were seriously intense and greatly confirmed Chloe’s fear of them. I was actually on the edge of my seat when I was reading these scenes between Chloe and her family. I also loved the sexual scenes between Max and Chloe, even though there were rarely any in this book and one of the sex scenes in this book were a little bit too explicit, but nicely done. I will admit that whenever Emma Darcy spelled certain words like “realize” to “realise,” I was a little confused, but because the story was so interesting, I did not mind about the spellings in this book.
Book Reporter: Who were your favorite characters and what do you like about them?
Ronyell: My favorite characters in this book were Chloe and Max and what I liked about Chloe’s character was that at first she did not know how to defend herself since she was told what to do almost her entire life; however, as the book evolves Chloe becomes a stronger and more independent character that I really enjoyed reading through. The character who truly stood out the most for me was Maximilian Hart (or Max for short) because he was truly an awesome character. Not only was he described as being an extremely muscular man, which is an aspect that I loved about most romance heroes, but he was an extremely considerate and independent character who truly cares for Chloe’s feelings and tries everything in his power to protect her. My favorite scene with Max was when he literally threw Tony out of his mansion when he was threatening Chloe and that just showed so much man power for me!
Book Reporter: So you love muscular men in romance novels, do you?
Ronyell: I most certainly do!
Book Reporter: What rating did you give this book?
Ronyell: I gave this book a four and a half rating because it seems like Chloe did not trust Max enough to commit to a serious relationship with him. Even I though I liked the idea of Chloe being independent, I think that she rarely trusted Max and she was pretty oblivious to Max’s affections for her. Also, Max practically helped Chloe with being independent and he also protected and cared for Chloe. I know that Chloe has trust issues with Max because of her rough life with her mother and Tony, but she should have confided her problems to Max and also when her mother made accusations against Max not being able to love her back, Chloe rarely stood up for Max and she sort of let what her mother and Tony said affect her feelings for Max, which is probably why there were not many romantic scenes between Max and Chloe until a hundred pages later.
Book Reporter: I understand that this is the first book that you have read from the Harlequin Presents series. Any final thoughts on this book are you planning on reading more books from the Harlequin Presents series?
Ronyell: Overall, I thought that “The Master Player” was a great romance novel and I am sure that many romance fans will definitely enjoy this book! Yes, now that I have read this book, I am definitely looking forward to reading more books from the Harlequin Presents series!
Book Reporter: Thank you for your time Ronyell! Well, there you have it everyone! Be sure to check this book out at your local library or your local bookstore!
Review is also on: Rabbit Ears Book Blog
Book Reporter: Hello everyone! This is the Book Reporter and today I am going to interview Miss Ronyell about her thoughts on Emma Darcy’s one hundredth book, “The Master Player!” Hello Miss Ronyell!
Ronyell: Hello Book Reporter! Nice to meet you!
Book Reporter: So I see that you have just recently read Emma Darcy’s book, “The Master Player.” Could you give us a brief summary on this book?
Ronyell: Certainly! Basically, “The Master Player” is about a young star actress named Chloe Rollins who is married to a popular screenwriter named Tony Lipton and has her mother, Stephanie Rollins, as her agent. Life was going well for Chloe until a horrible scandal between Tony and her personal assistant, Laura Farrell, threaten to destroy Chloe’s career, until a handsome billionaire named Maximilian Hart saves Chloe from getting her reputation ruined when he takes her to live with him at his mansion. Of course, Chloe has heard rumors that Max is a player and she notices that Max not only wants to rescue her, but steal her heart in the process too!
Book Reporter: Wow! This book does sound interesting! So what did you think about Emma Darcy’s writing style?
Ronyell: I loved the way that Emma Darcy made this book extremely dramatic and heartwarming at the same time. The scenes where Chloe confronts her mother, Tony and Laura were extremely well done as these scenes were seriously intense and greatly confirmed Chloe’s fear of them. I was actually on the edge of my seat when I was reading these scenes between Chloe and her family. I also loved the sexual scenes between Max and Chloe, even though there were rarely any in this book and one of the sex scenes in this book were a little bit too explicit, but nicely done. I will admit that whenever Emma Darcy spelled certain words like “realize” to “realise,” I was a little confused, but because the story was so interesting, I did not mind about the spellings in this book.
Book Reporter: Who were your favorite characters and what do you like about them?
Ronyell: My favorite characters in this book were Chloe and Max and what I liked about Chloe’s character was that at first she did not know how to defend herself since she was told what to do almost her entire life; however, as the book evolves Chloe becomes a stronger and more independent character that I really enjoyed reading through. The character who truly stood out the most for me was Maximilian Hart (or Max for short) because he was truly an awesome character. Not only was he described as being an extremely muscular man, which is an aspect that I loved about most romance heroes, but he was an extremely considerate and independent character who truly cares for Chloe’s feelings and tries everything in his power to protect her. My favorite scene with Max was when he literally threw Tony out of his mansion when he was threatening Chloe and that just showed so much man power for me!
Book Reporter: So you love muscular men in romance novels, do you?
Ronyell: I most certainly do!
Book Reporter: What rating did you give this book?
Ronyell: I gave this book a four and a half rating because it seems like Chloe did not trust Max enough to commit to a serious relationship with him. Even I though I liked the idea of Chloe being independent, I think that she rarely trusted Max and she was pretty oblivious to Max’s affections for her. Also, Max practically helped Chloe with being independent and he also protected and cared for Chloe. I know that Chloe has trust issues with Max because of her rough life with her mother and Tony, but she should have confided her problems to Max and also when her mother made accusations against Max not being able to love her back, Chloe rarely stood up for Max and she sort of let what her mother and Tony said affect her feelings for Max, which is probably why there were not many romantic scenes between Max and Chloe until a hundred pages later.
Book Reporter: I understand that this is the first book that you have read from the Harlequin Presents series. Any final thoughts on this book are you planning on reading more books from the Harlequin Presents series?
Ronyell: Overall, I thought that “The Master Player” was a great romance novel and I am sure that many romance fans will definitely enjoy this book! Yes, now that I have read this book, I am definitely looking forward to reading more books from the Harlequin Presents series!
Book Reporter: Thank you for your time Ronyell! Well, there you have it everyone! Be sure to check this book out at your local library or your local bookstore!
Review is also on: Rabbit Ears Book Blog
April 18, 2022
"The Master Player" is the story of Chloe and Max.
I so enjoyed this!
The hero is a movie producer, who rescues our sweet heroine from a cheating husband and a barracuda mother. He soon provides her with a home, and all arsenal to leave behind the toxic environment she was living in. Now some would have a problem with how controlling and manipulative the hero was- but it kind reminded me of modern alpha heroes who go above and beyond for their women. I mean, he gets her a dog, tries to help her at every turn- and even renames her (ok that part was a bit weird)- but to give her a reprieve from her previous shackles. It did not feel like she went from one prison to another, I wish the love confession was a bit more fleshed out but the last chaper and epilogue was very sweet.
Safe
4/5
I so enjoyed this!
The hero is a movie producer, who rescues our sweet heroine from a cheating husband and a barracuda mother. He soon provides her with a home, and all arsenal to leave behind the toxic environment she was living in. Now some would have a problem with how controlling and manipulative the hero was- but it kind reminded me of modern alpha heroes who go above and beyond for their women. I mean, he gets her a dog, tries to help her at every turn- and even renames her (ok that part was a bit weird)- but to give her a reprieve from her previous shackles. It did not feel like she went from one prison to another, I wish the love confession was a bit more fleshed out but the last chaper and epilogue was very sweet.
Safe
4/5
April 8, 2020
Quick read
Huge focus on consent and Max honoring Chloe's right to make her own choices. A good read marred only by the presence of too many villains. The adorable puppy deserves a full star for being a major part of the storyline.
Content advisory: verbal abuse of the heroine (not by the hero) and animal cruelty by one of the villains.
Huge focus on consent and Max honoring Chloe's right to make her own choices. A good read marred only by the presence of too many villains. The adorable puppy deserves a full star for being a major part of the storyline.
Content advisory: verbal abuse of the heroine (not by the hero) and animal cruelty by one of the villains.
September 2, 2015
3 1/2 Stars ~ This story opens with film and television mogul, Max, watching his newest star at a gala party to launch his latest television hit series. He's deeply attracted to her, recognizing her special beauty and incredible talent. But Chloe's married to a man Max has little respect for, as it's obvious Tony is only using Chloe. Another annoyance is Chloe's mother, Stephanie, who has managed and pushed Chloe into a career in the limelight since she was an infant. Max hates that the mother and husband control every move Chloe makes but as long as it doesn't interfere with her performance it's really none of his business. With these thoughts, he scans the room looking for the mother, spots her schmoozing with the A-list, adding to her contacts, and then spots the husband in an intense conversation with Chloe's PA, Laura. Tony's about to shake the woman when she breaks free and makes a b-line to Chloe who is at present surrounded by her admiring peers. Max sees the malicious intent on Laura's face and instantly attempts to head her off, but Laura gets to Chloe first. Whatever she whispers into Chloe's ear it is obviously intent to upset her, and Max watches as Chloe pales and begins to shake. Finally at her side, Max shields her and puts an arm about her leading her out of the ballroom; seeing his determination to protect Chloe, no one attempts to stop them.
Whisking her up to the penthouse suite he'd reserved for himself, he hands Chloe a brandy and gently asks her what Laura had said to her. In shock, Chloe tells him that Laura confessed that she'd been having an affair with Tony; that she's now pregnant with his child; and that he won't leave Chloe, "his cash cow". Max then prompts, "The critical question is.. will you leave him?" to which Chloe, now in a cold anger, insists "I won't let you, or Tony or my mother sweep this under the mat. I don't care if it hurts my image. I'll never take him back as my husband!" Her mind in turmoil and desperate to find an escape, she speaks out loud her deepest wish; "I've got to get away from them..." This is just the opening that Max needs, "Let me protect you, Chloe....... Trust me, Chloe. There is nothing I can't do to set you on an independent path. If that is what you want." Such seductive words, freedom shimmering right in front of her.
Max wants to cocoon Chloe in the total security he can provide, but he knows that from now on Chloe has to have the freedom to make her own decisions, all he can do is show her what her choices are. She agrees to move into the guest house on his gated and secure property, well out of the reach of her grasping mother and her cheating husband. Max makes it all so easy. When she expresses she needs her things, he arranges a moving company to pick everything up so that she doesn't have to face Tony, when she expresses she doesn't want her mother as her agent any more controlling her money and the roles she takes, Max arranges a meeting for Chloe with his lawyer, and again Chloe need never see her mother again if she doesn't want it.
Max is hugely surprised at how strong his feelings for Chloe have become. He's always kept his relationships as no-strings and short-term, but with Chloe he can imagine a future and even sees himself giving her the babies she'd like. He's a take charge alpha who, once he'd earned his power, had rarely had to wait for anything he desired. With Chloe he has to step back and watch from the sidelines and allow her to gain confidence in herself.
This is Ms. Darcy's 100th romance for Mills and Boon. In her Dear Reader letter, she describes which of her works are her favourites, and how her most favourite was her 50th book. And "because I loved this story so much, I wanted to chose another wonderfully masterful hero and a similar theme -- the white knight to the rescue -- for my 100th book."
This story is written primarily from Max's point of view. Max is indeed a masterful hero; and while his actions could be mistaken as manipulative, I found he did his best to give Chloe the room to make her own choice. Chloe has been living in the bubble her mother and husband had created. The emotional abuse dealt out by her mother when she was a child, gave Chloe an outlook that it was just easier to go along. Max shows her a world where no one has the right to force her to do anything against her will. This is a lovely "white knight to the rescue" romance.
Whisking her up to the penthouse suite he'd reserved for himself, he hands Chloe a brandy and gently asks her what Laura had said to her. In shock, Chloe tells him that Laura confessed that she'd been having an affair with Tony; that she's now pregnant with his child; and that he won't leave Chloe, "his cash cow". Max then prompts, "The critical question is.. will you leave him?" to which Chloe, now in a cold anger, insists "I won't let you, or Tony or my mother sweep this under the mat. I don't care if it hurts my image. I'll never take him back as my husband!" Her mind in turmoil and desperate to find an escape, she speaks out loud her deepest wish; "I've got to get away from them..." This is just the opening that Max needs, "Let me protect you, Chloe....... Trust me, Chloe. There is nothing I can't do to set you on an independent path. If that is what you want." Such seductive words, freedom shimmering right in front of her.
Max wants to cocoon Chloe in the total security he can provide, but he knows that from now on Chloe has to have the freedom to make her own decisions, all he can do is show her what her choices are. She agrees to move into the guest house on his gated and secure property, well out of the reach of her grasping mother and her cheating husband. Max makes it all so easy. When she expresses she needs her things, he arranges a moving company to pick everything up so that she doesn't have to face Tony, when she expresses she doesn't want her mother as her agent any more controlling her money and the roles she takes, Max arranges a meeting for Chloe with his lawyer, and again Chloe need never see her mother again if she doesn't want it.
Max is hugely surprised at how strong his feelings for Chloe have become. He's always kept his relationships as no-strings and short-term, but with Chloe he can imagine a future and even sees himself giving her the babies she'd like. He's a take charge alpha who, once he'd earned his power, had rarely had to wait for anything he desired. With Chloe he has to step back and watch from the sidelines and allow her to gain confidence in herself.
This is Ms. Darcy's 100th romance for Mills and Boon. In her Dear Reader letter, she describes which of her works are her favourites, and how her most favourite was her 50th book. And "because I loved this story so much, I wanted to chose another wonderfully masterful hero and a similar theme -- the white knight to the rescue -- for my 100th book."
This story is written primarily from Max's point of view. Max is indeed a masterful hero; and while his actions could be mistaken as manipulative, I found he did his best to give Chloe the room to make her own choice. Chloe has been living in the bubble her mother and husband had created. The emotional abuse dealt out by her mother when she was a child, gave Chloe an outlook that it was just easier to go along. Max shows her a world where no one has the right to force her to do anything against her will. This is a lovely "white knight to the rescue" romance.
Read
February 15, 2018This was a little bit creepy. This hero took things to another level.
December 13, 2009
I remember Emma Darcy very fondly from back when I used to read harlequins in the 80s and very early 90s. I recall that sometimes her books were somewhat subversive and managed to nudge the Harlequin envelope a little.
Even though I've stopped reading categories for the most part, once in awhile I'll see an old familiar name whose books I've remembered fondly and will pick their stuff up for a quick read.
This book actually started out quite strongly and was very quickly intriguing. It is told primarily from the POV of the hero, an Australian tv mogul named Max Hart. His newly launched tv show is by all accounts a success and it is thanks to his star, Chloe Rollins.
Chloe has been a star all her life, managed by a pushy stage mother who doubles as her agent, she has rarely been out of the spotlight. Max has been intrigued by Chloe for years and, unbeknownst to her, he created this show as a vehicle for her. He wanted her so badly he was even willing to contract with her pushy mother and Chloe's no-talent hack of writer husband as part of the deal.
At the start of the story we are in Max's head as he is thinking about Chloe and watching her at the launch party for their show. However, his ponderings are interrupted as across the crowded, festive room he watches as small drama, dirty plays out. It allows his protective instincts to kick in and he whisks Chloe away to avoid scandal.
What follows is fairly typical in Harlequin Presents land. Rich, handsome billionaire turns overprotective white night while beautiful, nice heroine is swept off her feet and falls in love.
And therein lies my biggest dissatisfaction with this book. I really enjoyed the first 1/3 of it but the rest was really quite a let down. Chloe was much, much too passive. She sat back and allowed herself to be saved. Once or twice she tried to assert herself but she was too much of a doormat for me to truly enjoy. There is one scene where she is being exploited for money by a former friend and rather than showing the chick the door, Chloe just wilts. I wanted to jump into the book and slap her at that point.
Max was a much stronger character, possibly helped by the fact that the the majority of the book is told by his POV. As I mentioned above, Max is a fairly typical Harlequin hero -- super rich, super handsome, super successful, women falling out of his ass -- basically he has it all. So I kept waiting to figure out why she was i for him. But I never got it.
I recommend if you really like this type of Harlequin. If you like a strong heroine, steer clear.
Even though I've stopped reading categories for the most part, once in awhile I'll see an old familiar name whose books I've remembered fondly and will pick their stuff up for a quick read.
This book actually started out quite strongly and was very quickly intriguing. It is told primarily from the POV of the hero, an Australian tv mogul named Max Hart. His newly launched tv show is by all accounts a success and it is thanks to his star, Chloe Rollins.
Chloe has been a star all her life, managed by a pushy stage mother who doubles as her agent, she has rarely been out of the spotlight. Max has been intrigued by Chloe for years and, unbeknownst to her, he created this show as a vehicle for her. He wanted her so badly he was even willing to contract with her pushy mother and Chloe's no-talent hack of writer husband as part of the deal.
At the start of the story we are in Max's head as he is thinking about Chloe and watching her at the launch party for their show. However, his ponderings are interrupted as across the crowded, festive room he watches as small drama, dirty plays out. It allows his protective instincts to kick in and he whisks Chloe away to avoid scandal.
What follows is fairly typical in Harlequin Presents land. Rich, handsome billionaire turns overprotective white night while beautiful, nice heroine is swept off her feet and falls in love.
And therein lies my biggest dissatisfaction with this book. I really enjoyed the first 1/3 of it but the rest was really quite a let down. Chloe was much, much too passive. She sat back and allowed herself to be saved. Once or twice she tried to assert herself but she was too much of a doormat for me to truly enjoy. There is one scene where she is being exploited for money by a former friend and rather than showing the chick the door, Chloe just wilts. I wanted to jump into the book and slap her at that point.
Max was a much stronger character, possibly helped by the fact that the the majority of the book is told by his POV. As I mentioned above, Max is a fairly typical Harlequin hero -- super rich, super handsome, super successful, women falling out of his ass -- basically he has it all. So I kept waiting to figure out why she was i for him. But I never got it.
I recommend if you really like this type of Harlequin. If you like a strong heroine, steer clear.
October 30, 2014
uhuh, Abusers suck and there is a really fine line between abuser and alpha (controlling) man. It's almost euphemistic. He's so controlling and manipulative. Max is a man with money and he is familiar with being in relationship with women who are users. He makes things happen. Develops and execute plans like they are missions.
Chloe on the other hand is a woman who has been a puppet to her abusive and domineering mother since she was born. She's an actress but not by choice. She hasn't made any choices in her life that weren't dictated by other people. And she is tired. She when she is given traumatizing news; Max swoops in and saves the day. He saves his investment and she is protected from the press and presented with an opportunity for excape.
What really blew my mind is the construction of Max as the person who gives her choices about her life. He gives her the freedom to make decisions about what happens next in her life. I do understand why Chloe thinks that she is making decisions about her life but she is being guided and manipulated by Max and it was uncomfortable and not hot. It just seems that since she has been steamrolled over by her mother and husband that when Max gives her controlled choices without the usual guilt that others give here then it's her running the show.
Chloe on the other hand is a woman who has been a puppet to her abusive and domineering mother since she was born. She's an actress but not by choice. She hasn't made any choices in her life that weren't dictated by other people. And she is tired. She when she is given traumatizing news; Max swoops in and saves the day. He saves his investment and she is protected from the press and presented with an opportunity for excape.
What really blew my mind is the construction of Max as the person who gives her choices about her life. He gives her the freedom to make decisions about what happens next in her life. I do understand why Chloe thinks that she is making decisions about her life but she is being guided and manipulated by Max and it was uncomfortable and not hot. It just seems that since she has been steamrolled over by her mother and husband that when Max gives her controlled choices without the usual guilt that others give here then it's her running the show.
May 1, 2011
maaaaaaxxxxx i luv uuuu
hahhhaaa...bener2 deh awal ny beli nih buku karena cover..tapi setelah d baca q jadi mikir kapan y ksatria berbaju zirah plus kuda putih datang..
fall in luv berat sama Max Hart..tajir super keren n yg pasti super cinta tapi gak egois..bener2 Mr perfercto..
ampe mimpi tuh Max jadi nyata
xixixi....
hahhhaaa...bener2 deh awal ny beli nih buku karena cover..tapi setelah d baca q jadi mikir kapan y ksatria berbaju zirah plus kuda putih datang..
fall in luv berat sama Max Hart..tajir super keren n yg pasti super cinta tapi gak egois..bener2 Mr perfercto..ampe mimpi tuh Max jadi nyata
xixixi....
February 21, 2011
Entah kenapa... gw ga ngerasain sebuah emosi yg seharusnya biasa di dapet dalam buku Emma Darcy.. =_+
Sementara 3 bintang dl deh... tar coba di reread lagii... ^^
Sementara 3 bintang dl deh... tar coba di reread lagii... ^^
April 13, 2019
He is a bit sneaky and manipulative but saves her in the end.
April 27, 2025
Likely to have taken the feminist movement back fifty years by its publication.
June 21, 2020
More like 3.5.
A story which meticulously lines up all the troubles on Page 1 itself. So, from that low point, there is just one way for the story to move. Its gets better and better, till the HEA on the last page.
Story begins with all the troubles of the world descending on the hapless heroine on Day 1. The poor woman is a TV soap star. But saddled with a horrid family.
Her filthy husband cheats on her with her PA. The bitchy PA claims to be pregnant by the scoundrel husband. The heroine's mummy is a scheming, ambitious manipulator who exploits her daughter for glory and success.
The hero is her show's all powerful producer, who is the only person who values her professional skills as well as her personality as a human. So he skillfully pulls her out of her mess. Gives her a bolt hole to escape from the horrid family. Gifts her a puppy to enliven her spirits ! Gives her a good time in bed to uplift her sagging morale !! And finally decides, she is marriage material, not just a rescue project !!!
She starts as a spineless wimp. Then hides and licks her wounds. Then slowly learns to fight her battles. And wins the hero'es love in the process.
Good read. Just that the nasty realities of a failed marriage as glossed over by the author. In the real world, harassed women don't land up with such knights in shining armor at their disposal. But this is HP land. So let's dream on ....
A story which meticulously lines up all the troubles on Page 1 itself. So, from that low point, there is just one way for the story to move. Its gets better and better, till the HEA on the last page.
Story begins with all the troubles of the world descending on the hapless heroine on Day 1. The poor woman is a TV soap star. But saddled with a horrid family.
Her filthy husband cheats on her with her PA. The bitchy PA claims to be pregnant by the scoundrel husband. The heroine's mummy is a scheming, ambitious manipulator who exploits her daughter for glory and success.
The hero is her show's all powerful producer, who is the only person who values her professional skills as well as her personality as a human. So he skillfully pulls her out of her mess. Gives her a bolt hole to escape from the horrid family. Gifts her a puppy to enliven her spirits ! Gives her a good time in bed to uplift her sagging morale !! And finally decides, she is marriage material, not just a rescue project !!!
She starts as a spineless wimp. Then hides and licks her wounds. Then slowly learns to fight her battles. And wins the hero'es love in the process.
Good read. Just that the nasty realities of a failed marriage as glossed over by the author. In the real world, harassed women don't land up with such knights in shining armor at their disposal. But this is HP land. So let's dream on ....
April 19, 2019
I read this book, borrowed from either my mother or aunt, as a teenager some years ago. It was once a favourite ‘love yarn’ (as Mum called them) or mine. I have thought about it on occasion, and struggled to remember the author or title of the book. I finally found it, and quickly purchased the ebook. However, as time has passed, this love yarn has not aged well—as many do not, even Melanie Milburne has said she would rather see some of her own novels taken off of shelves. Poor Chloe goes from being a victim to her mother and husband, to becoming the plaything of Max. Admittedly, her character growth is good, but she still ends up under the wing of another person by the end. I don’t necessarily regret the purchase, and I may read it again, but I definitely do not see it in the same light that I did ten years ago.
January 21, 2018
Max is the master... in business and in love…
When scandal threatens the star of his network, television baron Maximilian Hart whisks beautiful Chloe away from the paparazzi. Where better to hide this innocent beauty than the Hart mansion…?
But the handsome tycoon’s plan doesn't stop at just protecting his investment — he wants Chloe in his bed! Max might have swept her out of the fire, but Chloe finds herself in a raging inferno: Max is the master player, when it comes to business and seduction…
When scandal threatens the star of his network, television baron Maximilian Hart whisks beautiful Chloe away from the paparazzi. Where better to hide this innocent beauty than the Hart mansion…?
But the handsome tycoon’s plan doesn't stop at just protecting his investment — he wants Chloe in his bed! Max might have swept her out of the fire, but Chloe finds herself in a raging inferno: Max is the master player, when it comes to business and seduction…
September 23, 2019
I love Max and Chloe! They are so real with their insecurities and doubts, strong will and passion. I feel related to their simple and yet full of steppingstones lives.
February 26, 2020
Está novela fue tipo cuentos de hadas, Max fue el caballero que salvó a la dama en apuro de los dragones que la tenían cautiva y al final comieron perdices y fueron felices.
October 23, 2014
This book was a beautiful story about an actress betrayed by her husband and mother. Both money hungry and conniving people forced her to continue acting when all she wanted to be was just herself. The night of a launch party she is confronted with the fact that her husband has been cheating on her with her assistant and that her mother knew all along. Max Hart, the money behind the show, intercedes and helps her disentangle herself from them. He's been waiting for this moment from the start, a means to have her all to himself. Only now he realizes that her family have been mentally and at times physically abusing her and his need to protect her becomes fierce. He wants to give her everything she's been denied, and that includes having choices.
Will her freedom cost him her love or will it bring them closer. Will he admit his need for her or will he let her slip away.
Will her freedom cost him her love or will it bring them closer. Will he admit his need for her or will he let her slip away.
August 22, 2013
Separuh bagian awal buku kerasa banget emosi dan chemistrynya, karena menggambarkan usha Chloe untuk lepas dari cengkeraman ibu dan suaminya yang tukang selingkuh, juga kekaguman tersembunyi Max pada Chloe. Makin ke belakang dijelaskan Chloe berusaha menjadi independen, tapi serasa nggak konsisiten karena dia otomatis menjatuhkan diri dalam cengkeraman Max, meskipun memang Max nggak ada niat buruk sama Chloe. Normalnya perempuan yang muak disetir orang lain pasti nggak akan semudah itu mau dikendalikan pria lain lagi, meskipun si pria itu ganteng, irresistable, dan cinta mati sama dia. I smell a little Christian Grey here, which means I hate it.
July 11, 2014
:) A love story
There was no creepy stalker stuff. H was attracted to h but she was married (to a class A jerk, but still married), and he respected that. When he saw an opportunity, he seized it. He took care of her when she needed it and encouraged independence when she needed it as well. The H wasn't a tortured soul, there were no lies, deep dark secrets, or miscommunication, rather, they had a developing relationship. He was protective and a touch possessive but not overly so. When he realized he loved her... he told her.
There was no creepy stalker stuff. H was attracted to h but she was married (to a class A jerk, but still married), and he respected that. When he saw an opportunity, he seized it. He took care of her when she needed it and encouraged independence when she needed it as well. The H wasn't a tortured soul, there were no lies, deep dark secrets, or miscommunication, rather, they had a developing relationship. He was protective and a touch possessive but not overly so. When he realized he loved her... he told her.
June 9, 2010
I totally adore Emma Darcy! This is her 100th book and a must read.I am in awe of Max Hart,he is undoubtedly one of Emma's best heroes!!!
December 16, 2010
Great book
April 5, 2011
kurang panjang....masa lalu max ny kurang detail
April 8, 2011
katanya ini buku ke-100 Emma Darcy (tertulis di sampulnya) tapi kok ceritanya gak ada greget kayak buku Emma Darcy yang sebelumnya. Kecewa :(
April 11, 2011
Enough entertain, Maximillian Hart such perfect man who never i met..hahaha He is impress me
May 2, 2011
biasa banget, ga ada greget. kalo boleh dibilang, jelek terutama cover bukunya *puke*
May 15, 2011
Knp urusan cerainya gak dkelarin dulu,baru sleeping together?
But oke-lah,lmyn deg ser daku bacanya.Lbih mnggigit drpd HQ yg kubaca sblmnya (Craving Beauty).
But oke-lah,lmyn deg ser daku bacanya.Lbih mnggigit drpd HQ yg kubaca sblmnya (Craving Beauty).
May 23, 2011
not a bad read, its short and packed with excitement.
January 28, 2012
lumayan bgs deh
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