What do you think?
Rate this book
Wanting
This man was more than a match for her.
As a model, Heather was accustomed to being regarded as a sex object, but she made certain no one in her private life treated her that way.
She kept men at a distance, using her body as a lure and a torment, then rejecting her would-be lovers as retribution for the traumatic experiences of her past.
All that changed when she met Race Williams. He was a master at the game of enticement and denial, and for the first time Heather knew what it was to burn for something she couldn't have. . . .
As a model, Heather was accustomed to being regarded as a sex object, but she made certain no one in her private life treated her that way.
She kept men at a distance, using her body as a lure and a torment, then rejecting her would-be lovers as retribution for the traumatic experiences of her past.
All that changed when she met Race Williams. He was a master at the game of enticement and denial, and for the first time Heather knew what it was to burn for something she couldn't have. . . .
186 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1984
32 people are currently reading
236 people want to read
About the author
Penny Jordan
1,124 books668 followersPenelope Jones Halsall
aka Caroline Courtney, Annie Groves, Lydia Hitchcock, Melinda Wright
Penelope "Penny" Jones was born on November 24, 1946 at about seven pounds in a nursing home in Preston, Lancashire, England. She was the first child of Anthony Winn Jones, an engineer, who died at 85, and his wife Margaret Louise Groves Jones. She has a brother, Anthony, and a sister, Prudence "Pru".
She had been a keen reader from the childhood - her mother used to leave her in the children's section of their local library whilst she changed her father's library books. She was a storyteller long before she began to write romantic fiction. At the age of eight, she was creating serialized bedtime stories, featuring make-believe adventures, for her younger sister Prue, who was always the heroine. At eleven, she fell in love with Mills & Boon, and with their heroes. In those days the books could only be obtained via private lending libraries, and she quickly became a devoted fan; she was thrilled to bits when the books went on full sale in shops and she could have them for keeps.
Penny left grammar school in Rochdale with O-Levels in English Language, English Literature and Geography. She first discovered Mills & Boon books, via a girl she worked with. She married Steve Halsall, an accountant and a "lovely man", who smoked and drank too heavily, and suffered oral cancer with bravery and dignity. Her husband bought her the small electric typewriter on which she typed her first novels, at a time when he could ill afford it. He died at the beginning of 21st century.
She earned a living as a writer since the 1970s when, as a shorthand typist, she entered a competition run by the Romantic Novelists' Association. Although she didn't win, Penny found an agent who was looking for a new Georgette Heyer. She published four regency novels as Caroline Courtney, before changing her nom de plume to Melinda Wright for three air-hostess romps and then she wrote two thrillers as Lydia Hitchcock. Soon after that, Mills and Boon accepted her first novel for them, Falcon's Prey as Penny Jordan. However, for her more historical romance novels, she adopted her mother's maiden-name to become Annie Groves. Almost 70 of her 167 Mills and Boon novels have been sold worldwide.
Penny Halsall lived in a neo-Georgian house in Nantwich, Cheshire, with her Alsatian Sheba and cat Posh. She worked from home, in her kitchen, surrounded by her pets, and welcomed interruptions from her friends and family.
aka Caroline Courtney, Annie Groves, Lydia Hitchcock, Melinda Wright
Penelope "Penny" Jones was born on November 24, 1946 at about seven pounds in a nursing home in Preston, Lancashire, England. She was the first child of Anthony Winn Jones, an engineer, who died at 85, and his wife Margaret Louise Groves Jones. She has a brother, Anthony, and a sister, Prudence "Pru".
She had been a keen reader from the childhood - her mother used to leave her in the children's section of their local library whilst she changed her father's library books. She was a storyteller long before she began to write romantic fiction. At the age of eight, she was creating serialized bedtime stories, featuring make-believe adventures, for her younger sister Prue, who was always the heroine. At eleven, she fell in love with Mills & Boon, and with their heroes. In those days the books could only be obtained via private lending libraries, and she quickly became a devoted fan; she was thrilled to bits when the books went on full sale in shops and she could have them for keeps.
Penny left grammar school in Rochdale with O-Levels in English Language, English Literature and Geography. She first discovered Mills & Boon books, via a girl she worked with. She married Steve Halsall, an accountant and a "lovely man", who smoked and drank too heavily, and suffered oral cancer with bravery and dignity. Her husband bought her the small electric typewriter on which she typed her first novels, at a time when he could ill afford it. He died at the beginning of 21st century.
She earned a living as a writer since the 1970s when, as a shorthand typist, she entered a competition run by the Romantic Novelists' Association. Although she didn't win, Penny found an agent who was looking for a new Georgette Heyer. She published four regency novels as Caroline Courtney, before changing her nom de plume to Melinda Wright for three air-hostess romps and then she wrote two thrillers as Lydia Hitchcock. Soon after that, Mills and Boon accepted her first novel for them, Falcon's Prey as Penny Jordan. However, for her more historical romance novels, she adopted her mother's maiden-name to become Annie Groves. Almost 70 of her 167 Mills and Boon novels have been sold worldwide.
Penny Halsall lived in a neo-Georgian house in Nantwich, Cheshire, with her Alsatian Sheba and cat Posh. She worked from home, in her kitchen, surrounded by her pets, and welcomed interruptions from her friends and family.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
April 23, 2018
Heroine Heather is a model who dislikes men ever since she found out her fiancé only wanted to marry her for her money. (She gets her revenge by making men believe she's interested in them and then dumping them.) Heather's cousin Jennifer wants her to meet hero Race Williams, a writer who is the director of the Rio modeling contract she is interested in. (Race is determined to meet Heather and take her to bed. He's been crazy about her ever since he saw her picture. Heather keeps rejecting him, but he will not be put off.)
Heather decides she needs a break and wants to get away from London and the ever persistent Race so she agrees to go to an isolated cottage in Scotland after her cousin Jennifer talks her into it. After Heather gets there, who should show up but Race. (Heather had been set up by her cousin Jennifer who thinks this is a good and romantic idea.) While Heather is at the cottage she becomes snowbound with Race. Tensions flare up, they make love...
Race was a jealous, possessive hero, which I always enjoy. But there were times he was moody and unkind. Heather was a likable heroine. Her aunt and uncle were nice. (They took Heather in at thirteen when her parents died in an avalanche). Their son Neil was in love with Heather, which added some extra tension to the story. (This made Race very jealous.)
I enjoyed this older Harlequin Presents by Penny Jordan.
Heather decides she needs a break and wants to get away from London and the ever persistent Race so she agrees to go to an isolated cottage in Scotland after her cousin Jennifer talks her into it. After Heather gets there, who should show up but Race. (Heather had been set up by her cousin Jennifer who thinks this is a good and romantic idea.) While Heather is at the cottage she becomes snowbound with Race. Tensions flare up, they make love...
Race was a jealous, possessive hero, which I always enjoy. But there were times he was moody and unkind. Heather was a likable heroine. Her aunt and uncle were nice. (They took Heather in at thirteen when her parents died in an avalanche). Their son Neil was in love with Heather, which added some extra tension to the story. (This made Race very jealous.)
I enjoyed this older Harlequin Presents by Penny Jordan.
May 23, 2021
3.5 creepy, entitled guy gets the girl stars
Also I loved my dear friend Carmen's description of the book, -the besotted asshole chasing after the supermodel heroine , - which basically forced me to obsessively click and add it to my wtf collection.
I've been debating with myself over the course of a few days what rating I should give this little gem and the final speech of the hero really did convince me that the story deserves so much more credit than what people are giving it... 😇
‘From the first moment I saw your photograph I wanted you. I was obsessed by you,’ he admitted, letting his lips linger over the satin skin of her shoulder. ‘I found out about Jennifer and persuaded Terry to introduce you to me, only it didn’t work; you rejected me, but I still wanted you—so badly that I think I went a little mad. I’d heard about your reputation with other men and couldn’t understand why you wanted them but you didn’t want me. That was when I planned to trap you at the cottage. I thought if I got you alone… I wanted to make you pregnant,’ and bla bla bla.
Now look at the average rating... 3.25...Why Is It So? 🧐
People who have given this shining excellence of a story less than 3 bright stars, don't you guys know that all's fair in love and war? 🧐 Once the hero proved his noble cause to me, I couldn't contain the tears of happiness and fascination running down my cheeks... 🤡
‘You see, I’ve been wanting to meet you for quite a long time. You’re a very beautiful woman,’ he added softly, ‘and extremely desirable…. I’d very much like to go to bed with you.’
Pleeeeeease 🤚 One day I wanna reach the level of this guy's humbleness. 😌
‘Come on Heather,’ he said grimly, suddenly very much at the end of his patience. ‘What difference can one more man make, and think of the benefits?’
Also his wooing technique. 🥰 I'm still processing the beauty that is his personality...
P. S. Sooooo facts facts facts
The story is helluva triggering for just about anyone fed up with sexism, mysoginistic crap and the sense of entitlement men keep demonstrating in fiction.
Lately I've been experiencing a lot of that in real life so I guess reading books with such a content has a therapeutic effect on me or whatever.
Also I loved my dear friend Carmen's description of the book, -the besotted asshole chasing after the supermodel heroine , - which basically forced me to obsessively click and add it to my wtf collection.
I've been debating with myself over the course of a few days what rating I should give this little gem and the final speech of the hero really did convince me that the story deserves so much more credit than what people are giving it... 😇
‘From the first moment I saw your photograph I wanted you. I was obsessed by you,’ he admitted, letting his lips linger over the satin skin of her shoulder. ‘I found out about Jennifer and persuaded Terry to introduce you to me, only it didn’t work; you rejected me, but I still wanted you—so badly that I think I went a little mad. I’d heard about your reputation with other men and couldn’t understand why you wanted them but you didn’t want me. That was when I planned to trap you at the cottage. I thought if I got you alone… I wanted to make you pregnant,’ and bla bla bla.
Now look at the average rating... 3.25...Why Is It So? 🧐
People who have given this shining excellence of a story less than 3 bright stars, don't you guys know that all's fair in love and war? 🧐 Once the hero proved his noble cause to me, I couldn't contain the tears of happiness and fascination running down my cheeks... 🤡
‘You see, I’ve been wanting to meet you for quite a long time. You’re a very beautiful woman,’ he added softly, ‘and extremely desirable…. I’d very much like to go to bed with you.’
Pleeeeeease 🤚 One day I wanna reach the level of this guy's humbleness. 😌
‘Come on Heather,’ he said grimly, suddenly very much at the end of his patience. ‘What difference can one more man make, and think of the benefits?’
Also his wooing technique. 🥰 I'm still processing the beauty that is his personality...
P. S. Sooooo facts facts facts
The story is helluva triggering for just about anyone fed up with sexism, mysoginistic crap and the sense of entitlement men keep demonstrating in fiction.
Lately I've been experiencing a lot of that in real life so I guess reading books with such a content has a therapeutic effect on me or whatever.
October 18, 2015
Re Wanting - for all the PJ angst junkies out there, this one is for you! It has alllll the classic PJ h stereotypes, (in fact this storyline is practically the model for most HP's written today) and the usual PJ uber-Alpha H characteristics as well, (also traits predominate in the stories today).
HPLandia newcomers need to understand a few HPlandia rules before reading this book tho.
The first rule being that all models who are not an h in HPLandia are promiscuous, gold digging good time girls and therefore are fair game for whatever Alpha Male H who comes along to take one look and demand instant sexual gratification from them -- which they will instantly provide as soon as an acceptable price - Prada, diamonds and a luxury penthouse is settled upon.
The second rule being that if the model happens to be an HP h, she is still a virgin and exterior appearance to the contrary, not very responsive to men or normal relationships.
I know that sounds stereotyped and bad, but this is HPlandia and the rules were established like physics in the laws of the cosmos - even quantum can't change it.
It is interesting to see the contrast to the HP book blurb vs the M&B book blurp. IMO the M&B version is more accurate. The HP blurb wants the reader to believe that the h is some kind of male teasing vigilante, but in actuality she just lets them chase her and then turns them down as she was badly hurt by a man in her past who dated her, swore undying love which she returned, but in actuality was sleeping around with petite blondes (she is a tall brunette) while telling his friends that he will marry the h for the money her parents left her when they died. She dumps the former flame by pretending disinterest and moves in with her cousin in London and becomes a very successful model.
The H sees her picture and decides he has to have her. The h has a bit of a reputation for seeing lots of men and no one seems to care that she doesn't actually sleep with them, so the H gets her cousin to manipulate the h into a party he is at where he proceeds to tell her that he is going to sleep with her - pretty much whether she wants it or not. The h makes no bones about being repulsed and disgusted and goes home. He basically pressures the cousin and the man the cousin wants into forcing the h into his company. The h wants to be away from the H and so the cousin suggests an isolated Scottish cottage the h can go to for an extended stay. Needless to say, this was a machination of the H to get the h alone.
The h gets to the cottage, finds out she has been set up, tries to leave but gets snowbound and after several days finally gets drunk and succumbs to the H's advances. The H then finds out she is a virgin (after they go to bed) and completely rejects her. The h goes home, the cousin (who is an irresponsible twit and should have been horsewhipped) figured it would all be okay, (pimping her orphaned cousin out should be fine cause the h was really in love with him even though she said he repulsed her,) but feels a bit bad when the h tells her about the H's rejection - the cousin irked me a lot and the aunt wasn't much better in the end- cause the cousin was so sure the H really loved her.
Well the cousin was sure until the H started sleeping with a more experienced woman right away. The h, meanwhile goes home to help her aunt with her sick uncle and discovers she is preggers. She can't handle the thought of an abortion, so she decides to have the baby but not inform the H. Which I agreed with based on how decidedly weird the H was in setting her up and then dumping her once he figured out she wasn't a skank. The h's male cousin is really in love with her but she doesn't realize it until too late, she explains that she loves him like a brother and then the H shows up. The aunt sets it up so that the H gets her alone, (and in a way I can understand why she did it, but I did not like her for it,) and the H threatens all the usual H stuff of court, kidnapping etc unless the h marries him.
The h has convinced herself she lurves him by this time, and agrees and then suffers in silence while he dumps her in the country to skank around with his ladies in London. She goes into labor without him and the aunt lectures her about neglecting her husband (another reason to really dislike the lady, he is off ho'ing in London, insults her and can't stand to be around her and the h married him in part because her aunt thought it was the right thing to do) but the h basically goes home alone with a newborn alone.
The H shows up, gets jealous of his son breastfeeding and the h figures he is there to ask for a divorce, even though the H has stated that he won't divorce because of his son (he will just cheat on her all over the place and get into the newspapers with his lady-friends as well), so she decides to seduce him one last time.
Sex apparently makes the H avow a bit of love and confess his jealousy and HEA. Forget about the ladies he was sleeping with in London and will sleep with again, they aren't even mentioned, the h is just happy he lurves her a little bit and she can have more kids, he doesn't swear fidelity and I guess he figured with the country home and the London penthouse he can continue to split up his lifestyle as long as he keeps her preggers and into motherhood.
Needless to say this isn't one of my favorite PJ's - I love her ones where she has beta males or alpha's pretending to be beta and I really love the ones where she keeps both H and h celibate for twenty years, but IMO she makes her uber Alpha's too distant and detached so they always come off as sociopaths with the h's being pathetic doormats who will do anything because they mistake a physical passion for love.
This book really shows a bit of the dark side of the standard HP trope of ultra feminine doormat virgin and oversexxed uber Alpha Male. I had a hard time believing the HEA 30 years ago when I first read it and really did not believe it this time around at all.
Still it is a classic PJ and while I did not like the characterizations, the writing and the angst are highly entertaining--just don't think too seriously about the very real sexism and discrimination behind the facade of a romance and maybe have some adult beverages with cookies to boost the rosy glasses glow and you should be fine.
HPLandia newcomers need to understand a few HPlandia rules before reading this book tho.
The first rule being that all models who are not an h in HPLandia are promiscuous, gold digging good time girls and therefore are fair game for whatever Alpha Male H who comes along to take one look and demand instant sexual gratification from them -- which they will instantly provide as soon as an acceptable price - Prada, diamonds and a luxury penthouse is settled upon.
The second rule being that if the model happens to be an HP h, she is still a virgin and exterior appearance to the contrary, not very responsive to men or normal relationships.
I know that sounds stereotyped and bad, but this is HPlandia and the rules were established like physics in the laws of the cosmos - even quantum can't change it.
It is interesting to see the contrast to the HP book blurb vs the M&B book blurp. IMO the M&B version is more accurate. The HP blurb wants the reader to believe that the h is some kind of male teasing vigilante, but in actuality she just lets them chase her and then turns them down as she was badly hurt by a man in her past who dated her, swore undying love which she returned, but in actuality was sleeping around with petite blondes (she is a tall brunette) while telling his friends that he will marry the h for the money her parents left her when they died. She dumps the former flame by pretending disinterest and moves in with her cousin in London and becomes a very successful model.
The H sees her picture and decides he has to have her. The h has a bit of a reputation for seeing lots of men and no one seems to care that she doesn't actually sleep with them, so the H gets her cousin to manipulate the h into a party he is at where he proceeds to tell her that he is going to sleep with her - pretty much whether she wants it or not. The h makes no bones about being repulsed and disgusted and goes home. He basically pressures the cousin and the man the cousin wants into forcing the h into his company. The h wants to be away from the H and so the cousin suggests an isolated Scottish cottage the h can go to for an extended stay. Needless to say, this was a machination of the H to get the h alone.
The h gets to the cottage, finds out she has been set up, tries to leave but gets snowbound and after several days finally gets drunk and succumbs to the H's advances. The H then finds out she is a virgin (after they go to bed) and completely rejects her. The h goes home, the cousin (who is an irresponsible twit and should have been horsewhipped) figured it would all be okay, (pimping her orphaned cousin out should be fine cause the h was really in love with him even though she said he repulsed her,) but feels a bit bad when the h tells her about the H's rejection - the cousin irked me a lot and the aunt wasn't much better in the end- cause the cousin was so sure the H really loved her.
Well the cousin was sure until the H started sleeping with a more experienced woman right away. The h, meanwhile goes home to help her aunt with her sick uncle and discovers she is preggers. She can't handle the thought of an abortion, so she decides to have the baby but not inform the H. Which I agreed with based on how decidedly weird the H was in setting her up and then dumping her once he figured out she wasn't a skank. The h's male cousin is really in love with her but she doesn't realize it until too late, she explains that she loves him like a brother and then the H shows up. The aunt sets it up so that the H gets her alone, (and in a way I can understand why she did it, but I did not like her for it,) and the H threatens all the usual H stuff of court, kidnapping etc unless the h marries him.
The h has convinced herself she lurves him by this time, and agrees and then suffers in silence while he dumps her in the country to skank around with his ladies in London. She goes into labor without him and the aunt lectures her about neglecting her husband (another reason to really dislike the lady, he is off ho'ing in London, insults her and can't stand to be around her and the h married him in part because her aunt thought it was the right thing to do) but the h basically goes home alone with a newborn alone.
The H shows up, gets jealous of his son breastfeeding and the h figures he is there to ask for a divorce, even though the H has stated that he won't divorce because of his son (he will just cheat on her all over the place and get into the newspapers with his lady-friends as well), so she decides to seduce him one last time.
Sex apparently makes the H avow a bit of love and confess his jealousy and HEA. Forget about the ladies he was sleeping with in London and will sleep with again, they aren't even mentioned, the h is just happy he lurves her a little bit and she can have more kids, he doesn't swear fidelity and I guess he figured with the country home and the London penthouse he can continue to split up his lifestyle as long as he keeps her preggers and into motherhood.
Needless to say this isn't one of my favorite PJ's - I love her ones where she has beta males or alpha's pretending to be beta and I really love the ones where she keeps both H and h celibate for twenty years, but IMO she makes her uber Alpha's too distant and detached so they always come off as sociopaths with the h's being pathetic doormats who will do anything because they mistake a physical passion for love.
This book really shows a bit of the dark side of the standard HP trope of ultra feminine doormat virgin and oversexxed uber Alpha Male. I had a hard time believing the HEA 30 years ago when I first read it and really did not believe it this time around at all.
Still it is a classic PJ and while I did not like the characterizations, the writing and the angst are highly entertaining--just don't think too seriously about the very real sexism and discrimination behind the facade of a romance and maybe have some adult beverages with cookies to boost the rosy glasses glow and you should be fine.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 30, 2020
"Wanting" fit in to the Classic Harlequin formula of Penny Jordan.It has the angst of love and hate,jealousy,forced seduction,trickery,secret pregnancy,Alpha-hero and a Beautiful cynical heroine who thinks herself stone-cold.Yeah...i enjoyed this very much!
Penny Jordan Always impresses me with how she presents the on-page Chemistry between her main-characters,because the one between Heather Martin and Race Williams was off the page burning my Eyes!Just wow my beating heart,i couldn`t stop Reading!!!!The scene where Race directly told her he wants her in his bed made me laugh out,because that was so ridiculously straight-forward that it was funny.Though he thought she was used to this since he had heard of her reputation of changing lovers all the time.It was funny how he chased her at the start,and made himself stuck with her in the cottage in Scotland.
There are some few things i couldn`t get a grip on.There is one scene where Heather`s cousin Neil kisses her in the garden and tells her that there is a man across the street who looks like he would like to cut his head off.That made me immediately think of Race,but he never mentions this.One thing more was why he was so Cold to her when they met on that party weeks after their time in Scotland.I mean she had been a Virgin,and he had regretted treating her like she was experienced.Maybe he was angry because he thought that she had gotten over their time in the cottage since she was dancing and laughing with another man?This wasn`t clearly explained either.Well who am i to complain,this book was satisfying either way.
Penny Jordan Always impresses me with how she presents the on-page Chemistry between her main-characters,because the one between Heather Martin and Race Williams was off the page burning my Eyes!Just wow my beating heart,i couldn`t stop Reading!!!!The scene where Race directly told her he wants her in his bed made me laugh out,because that was so ridiculously straight-forward that it was funny.Though he thought she was used to this since he had heard of her reputation of changing lovers all the time.It was funny how he chased her at the start,and made himself stuck with her in the cottage in Scotland.
There are some few things i couldn`t get a grip on.There is one scene where Heather`s cousin Neil kisses her in the garden and tells her that there is a man across the street who looks like he would like to cut his head off.That made me immediately think of Race,but he never mentions this.One thing more was why he was so Cold to her when they met on that party weeks after their time in Scotland.I mean she had been a Virgin,and he had regretted treating her like she was experienced.Maybe he was angry because he thought that she had gotten over their time in the cottage since she was dancing and laughing with another man?This wasn`t clearly explained either.Well who am i to complain,this book was satisfying either way.
September 16, 2020
I read this again because I didn't write a review and I couldn't remember any of it.
So note to self: this is the one about the tall girl who becomes a model and resents men because her feelings were hurt by a boy's teasing when she was 18.
Hero is an obsessed rich guy who just wants to have sex with the heroine so bad. (Really - his motivations are that shallow)
The end up trapped in a snowbound cabin in Scotland and have sex once. Heroine falls pregnant. Hero is eaten with self-recriminations (that he takes out on the heroine everytime he sees her)
It's all a bit ridiculous - especially since one conversation at the very end of the story clears up months of angst.
For hardcore PJ fans.
So note to self: this is the one about the tall girl who becomes a model and resents men because her feelings were hurt by a boy's teasing when she was 18.
Hero is an obsessed rich guy who just wants to have sex with the heroine so bad. (Really - his motivations are that shallow)
The end up trapped in a snowbound cabin in Scotland and have sex once. Heroine falls pregnant. Hero is eaten with self-recriminations (that he takes out on the heroine everytime he sees her)
It's all a bit ridiculous - especially since one conversation at the very end of the story clears up months of angst.
For hardcore PJ fans.
May 17, 2017
Hey girls! I have great news for you. Apparently, when a guy tells you about 10 seconds after he has met you that he wants to go to bed with you, implies you are a big fat whore, sexually harasses you, threatens your job unless you sleep with him, entraps you into spending a few days with him at an isolated cottage with no way out, takes your virginity, then tells you the next day he is very glad you are leaving, taunts you with his latest bimbo when he runs into you at a party, ignores you for several months while busy dating very high profile women, suddenly shows up when you are six months pregnant and threatens to take you to court to get custody of the baby and get married to someone else who can act as step mom to your baby, forces you into marriage and shows his resentment of you every step of the way, and proceeds to ignore you for the rest of your pregnancy and first weeks of your child's life, it is ALL OKAY!
Because in PennyJordanLandia, these are all the symptoms of a guy who is desperately, obsessively in LOVE.
*swoon*
Because in PennyJordanLandia, these are all the symptoms of a guy who is desperately, obsessively in LOVE.
*swoon*
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 14, 2021
"Wanting" is the story of Heather and Race.
This book was insanity. The hero is cuckoo crazy behind the heroine, falling in love with her picture, stalking and then propositioning her. She is a supermodel jaded by her past. When she refuses, he doubles down, conspires with her friends and then they end up snowed in a remote cabin thanks to his machiavellianism.
Ofcourse, the great wall of hymen destroys his preconceptions, drama happens followed by a secret baby, some OW/ OM jealousy, a heartfelt confession and a HEA.
Misunderstandings for no reason with an obsessed hero. Very horny book!
Safe
3.5/5
This book was insanity. The hero is cuckoo crazy behind the heroine, falling in love with her picture, stalking and then propositioning her. She is a supermodel jaded by her past. When she refuses, he doubles down, conspires with her friends and then they end up snowed in a remote cabin thanks to his machiavellianism.
Ofcourse, the great wall of hymen destroys his preconceptions, drama happens followed by a secret baby, some OW/ OM jealousy, a heartfelt confession and a HEA.
Misunderstandings for no reason with an obsessed hero. Very horny book!
Safe
3.5/5
February 7, 2016
Well I think the only part I did not get was her bitch cousin Jen!! What the hell was with her!? She tell the hero were to find the heroine and then sets her up to get used!!! Wtf! And really hated that he missed the birth of his son while she was crying his name it made me cry. He was upset but I don't care he should have been with her instead of leaving her all the time cause he was an asshole. Also when he see her after their night of love and he takes the virginity he say nasty things to her. It was too much for me and reminded me of Diana Palmers books. Where the hero is acting like a spoiled kid and treats the heroine like shit cause things did not go his way!!! Omg save me from those cowards! They are real emotional retards!!! He was one bad hero and not in the good way. I wanted to know about the cousin Neil he seemed like a real nice guy and she should have gone with him. The hero did not deserve her. Just saying.
October 12, 2013
Heroine is a gorgeous model and a man-eater. She seduces tons of guys, treats them horribly, and breaks their hearts, one after another. The reason she is so bitter is because years ago the man she loved hurt and betrayed her.
So when she meets hero, Race, she tries to resist him and she succeeds for a while. But Race is determined to have her and their one night together results in an unexpected pregnancy which is by far my favorite theme.
Heather thinks Race doesn't want his baby so she decides to keep it a secret from him and Race is jealous of Heather's relationship with her cousin Neil. Neil is in love with Heather and wants to marry her but the moment Race reappears Heather knows she will never love Neil the way she loves Race. Will he ever return her feelings?
Loved the angst and all the crazy drama. PJ drew a sympathetic portrait of both main protagonists and the baby theme was very prominent which is why I enjoyed this so much!
So when she meets hero, Race, she tries to resist him and she succeeds for a while. But Race is determined to have her and their one night together results in an unexpected pregnancy which is by far my favorite theme.
Heather thinks Race doesn't want his baby so she decides to keep it a secret from him and Race is jealous of Heather's relationship with her cousin Neil. Neil is in love with Heather and wants to marry her but the moment Race reappears Heather knows she will never love Neil the way she loves Race. Will he ever return her feelings?
Loved the angst and all the crazy drama. PJ drew a sympathetic portrait of both main protagonists and the baby theme was very prominent which is why I enjoyed this so much!
August 9, 2021
The title is me, wanting another bottle of JD to swallow this disappointment.
What a waste of a perfect obsessed hero here.
The first part of the book was perfect, perfect because it describes the perfect obsession: the hero sees the heroine at a party, she doesn’t see him, and he immediately starts wanting her: he keeps pictures of her in his office, he starts following what she does, where she goes, and plans to meet her and seduce her. She refuses him but he doesn’t stop. He becomes a stalker, a sexual harasser, a manic, and eventually he manages to basically kidnap her in an isolated cottage in the middle of nothing, where they are forced by snow and weather to stay alone several days.
She tries to resist him but she suffers from TBS and her body betrays her mind ( never understood this division body/mind that seems to afflict many HP heroine) so she pants a lot.
His perfection is summarized in his declaration:
I want to possess you completely: body, mind and soul.
Here it’s the perfect stalker!
Then the book reaches his half and someone stole it from PJ and wrote the second part.
Someone who was under the influence of strong and nasty substances as acids, mushrooms and similar.
Because it’s completely disconnected and messed up.
As soon as the hero has sex with h and finds out she’s a virgin he is angry because he thought she was an experienced ho and…
Dumps her then and there, sends her away and goes immediately back to his manwhoring ways bedding all that is moving.
WTF?????
Are you crazy?
You had the perfect psychopath freaking obsessed hero and you turn him into a whiny spoiled child who stomps his foot because he wants a toy and when he has it he is angry and he doesn’t want it anymore???
Are. You. Serious.
No, this is a great huge big mistake.
Then you add a lot of bulls***t such as:
-pregnancy
-kinky incestuous love with a cousin
-six months separation
-ow who is as different from the h as can be (another big mistake because an obsessed man looks for women who are similar to the woman they love)
-forced marriage
-hero goes away and leaves the h alone for months
-H ignore h and his child for months
- H cheats on the h
- The end. A crazy unbelievable end where he explains to her he always loved her and was so disgusted with himself after he found out she was a virgin that he sent her away, but afterwards he looked for her for months, but he thought she love her cousin so he kept distant ( and cheated) because he was in lust with her. No explanation about ow he was pictured on tabloids. Gentleman until the end.
WTF?
You cannot be serious man.
After he dumped her the first time and went on f***ing ow I had to drink something strong because me and my blood pressure hate cheaters.
And his behavior was appalling since he scorned her and made cruel remarks about her virginity taunting her with ow.
The book was really bad.
From a psychological POV it was completely wrong.
His obsession would have prevented him from treating the heroine like he did. He should have done just the opposite of what he did.
The second part completely spoiled the book.
I’m sorry but it was unacceptable, not only for his cheating but more for the absolute incongruity of his behavior.
So, after crying with frustrated expectations and headache due to too much JD, I’m having some painkillers and strongly recommend not to read this book.
What a waste of a perfect obsessed hero here.
The first part of the book was perfect, perfect because it describes the perfect obsession: the hero sees the heroine at a party, she doesn’t see him, and he immediately starts wanting her: he keeps pictures of her in his office, he starts following what she does, where she goes, and plans to meet her and seduce her. She refuses him but he doesn’t stop. He becomes a stalker, a sexual harasser, a manic, and eventually he manages to basically kidnap her in an isolated cottage in the middle of nothing, where they are forced by snow and weather to stay alone several days.
She tries to resist him but she suffers from TBS and her body betrays her mind ( never understood this division body/mind that seems to afflict many HP heroine) so she pants a lot.
His perfection is summarized in his declaration:
I want to possess you completely: body, mind and soul.
Here it’s the perfect stalker!
Then the book reaches his half and someone stole it from PJ and wrote the second part.
Someone who was under the influence of strong and nasty substances as acids, mushrooms and similar.
Because it’s completely disconnected and messed up.
As soon as the hero has sex with h and finds out she’s a virgin he is angry because he thought she was an experienced ho and…
Dumps her then and there, sends her away and goes immediately back to his manwhoring ways bedding all that is moving.
WTF?????
Are you crazy?
You had the perfect psychopath freaking obsessed hero and you turn him into a whiny spoiled child who stomps his foot because he wants a toy and when he has it he is angry and he doesn’t want it anymore???
Are. You. Serious.
No, this is a great huge big mistake.
Then you add a lot of bulls***t such as:
-pregnancy
-kinky incestuous love with a cousin
-six months separation
-ow who is as different from the h as can be (another big mistake because an obsessed man looks for women who are similar to the woman they love)
-forced marriage
-hero goes away and leaves the h alone for months
-H ignore h and his child for months
- H cheats on the h
- The end. A crazy unbelievable end where he explains to her he always loved her and was so disgusted with himself after he found out she was a virgin that he sent her away, but afterwards he looked for her for months, but he thought she love her cousin so he kept distant ( and cheated) because he was in lust with her. No explanation about ow he was pictured on tabloids. Gentleman until the end.
WTF?
You cannot be serious man.
After he dumped her the first time and went on f***ing ow I had to drink something strong because me and my blood pressure hate cheaters.
And his behavior was appalling since he scorned her and made cruel remarks about her virginity taunting her with ow.
The book was really bad.
From a psychological POV it was completely wrong.
His obsession would have prevented him from treating the heroine like he did. He should have done just the opposite of what he did.
The second part completely spoiled the book.
I’m sorry but it was unacceptable, not only for his cheating but more for the absolute incongruity of his behavior.
So, after crying with frustrated expectations and headache due to too much JD, I’m having some painkillers and strongly recommend not to read this book.
May 27, 2021
Cover by Len Goldberg. Within his very extensive oeuvre it's best to avoid the books where there are roses in the foreground; clouds are good though.
I skimmed this again briefly, same rating. Hero Race is such an OTT knob that from other writers I might have found it funny but on some fundamental level I just never find PJ's heroes sexy—which is especially crucial when otherwise they're jerks—I mean why bother?
I skimmed this again briefly, same rating. Hero Race is such an OTT knob that from other writers I might have found it funny but on some fundamental level I just never find PJ's heroes sexy—which is especially crucial when otherwise they're jerks—I mean why bother?
August 10, 2021
This may have started as the perfect HP stalker book. He's obsessed and she wants no part of him. He can't quite figure out why such an experienced woman would want no part of him. Of course, this is HP from 1984 and he's slut shaming a virgin. He pushes, he plans, he gets her alone in a remote Scottish cabin in the dead of winter, and he eventually has his way with her. And then gets all pissy she was a virgin. If slut shaming is ridiculous, virgin shaming is at least as bad--why is this even a thing?
She abandons the Scottish cabin and goes home to her loving family, finds out she's pregnant and all of this is handled very nicely, conversations about being a single mother and abortion are handled surprisingly well and her family embraces every choice.
There's a clear line of demarcation, before and after sex. It's like PJ was writing 2 separate stories and put them together
He's gone back to London, doing the dating thing and stumbles onto a picture her cousin took of her at 6 months pregnant in a local. This starts the stalking back up. He's jealous of her cousin (which honestly, has a huge yuck factor, as the cousin is in love with her) and he insists they marry, but then he continues to be crazy jealous and dumps her in their new country home. She goes into labor and he's not there. He makes it just in time to be there for the delivery and again he's a jealous idiot over the cousin driving her to the hospital.
We get a final conversation with him admitting it was love at first sight for him and he's a moron. Blah, Blah, Blah... HEA
She abandons the Scottish cabin and goes home to her loving family, finds out she's pregnant and all of this is handled very nicely, conversations about being a single mother and abortion are handled surprisingly well and her family embraces every choice.
There's a clear line of demarcation, before and after sex. It's like PJ was writing 2 separate stories and put them together
He's gone back to London, doing the dating thing and stumbles onto a picture her cousin took of her at 6 months pregnant in a local. This starts the stalking back up. He's jealous of her cousin (which honestly, has a huge yuck factor, as the cousin is in love with her) and he insists they marry, but then he continues to be crazy jealous and dumps her in their new country home. She goes into labor and he's not there. He makes it just in time to be there for the delivery and again he's a jealous idiot over the cousin driving her to the hospital.
We get a final conversation with him admitting it was love at first sight for him and he's a moron. Blah, Blah, Blah... HEA
May 7, 2014
The male protagonist is a pig from the begining to the end. It's TOTALLY impossible that the heroine would fall in love with him, If you told me that green Martians have abducted her and make her preg It would be more believable.
Believe me, I'm telling the truth, the H in fact is the kind of character that you would like a real hero to punch him in the face.... not one redeeming quality even at the end of the book.
dnf
November 7, 2021I’m bored 🤷🏼♀️ Ran to Reviews … Sound like he cheats on her after taking her virginity and while she’s pregnant - doesn’t explain OW or promise to be faithful - I’m not liking these characters enough for that. 😕
Great cover though! 😍✌🏻
Great cover though! 😍✌🏻
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 29, 2021
Another old harlequin book from one of my favorite authors Rest in peace PJ 🙏
August 3, 2014
not bad but i found it hard to believe how heather fell so instantly in lust wid race! she was supposedly a manhater, frigid as well! yet she was like ripe for harvest! also disgusting the way the cousin set her up! for a man in love, race gave up too easily. he shud have clung to heather knowing she was a virgin and he had been her first. instead he decided to cut his losses and avoid her!? he did not behave rationally! the book did not make sense for me, definitely not my cup of tea!
June 8, 2021
As a model, Heather is accustomed to being objectified. She keeps men at a distance--tempting them and then rejecting them--her need for control a response to the traumatic experiences of her past. All that changes when she meets Race Williams. He's a master at the game of enticement and denial, and for the first time Heather knows what it's like to burn for something she can't have... Until one passion-fueled night leads to ever-lasting consequences
May 17, 2010
**** 3 1/2 stars ****
October 25, 2020
Blizzard of silliness!
October 26, 2020
Penny Jordan was a favourite in my teens. If the local library had it, I have read it.
Since I have fond memories of the author’s books, as and when I could, I tried to get most of the author’s books when they were reissued in e-book format some few years ago. While some of them left a lasting impression, some of them were eminently forgettable.
This book for me falls in the later category.
The only thing that I remembered about this book was the ripe-for-seduction setting in the isolated cottage!!
Notes from reviews -
Reference to HP Landia rules.
#1 - All models are promiscuous gold diggers. ( Heroines are exceptions to the rule)
#2 - Heroines who are models remain chaste virgins.
#3 - By default Alpha Heros will treat the doormat Heroines badly.
Some more shelves -
Hero does not deserve the Heroine.
Hero is jealous and possessive.
Hero’s behaviour is stalkerish.
Hero blackmails/ coerces Heroine into marriage.
Hero parades Other Woman / Women.😡
Hero can’t find her.
Heroine seduces Hero!!😳🙄
Heroine should have gone with the patiently waiting Other Man.
Since I have fond memories of the author’s books, as and when I could, I tried to get most of the author’s books when they were reissued in e-book format some few years ago. While some of them left a lasting impression, some of them were eminently forgettable.
This book for me falls in the later category.
The only thing that I remembered about this book was the ripe-for-seduction setting in the isolated cottage!!
Notes from reviews -
Reference to HP Landia rules.
#1 - All models are promiscuous gold diggers. ( Heroines are exceptions to the rule)
#2 - Heroines who are models remain chaste virgins.
#3 - By default Alpha Heros will treat the doormat Heroines badly.
Some more shelves -
Hero does not deserve the Heroine.
Hero is jealous and possessive.
Hero’s behaviour is stalkerish.
Hero blackmails/ coerces Heroine into marriage.
Hero parades Other Woman / Women.😡
Hero can’t find her.
Heroine seduces Hero!!😳🙄
Heroine should have gone with the patiently waiting Other Man.
May 19, 2011
I'm not even going to finish this book.
Where do I start? The guy in this book Race is so obsessive, that's not romantic or cute at all. It's creepy. And I don't why her friends and her cousin would trick her like that.
The Heather character had her moments in the beginning where I was like, cool this girl sticks up for herself.
Not once did she even try to say she was a virgin, she just let him believe what he wanted. That frustrated me to no end.
Then she loves this guy? This obsessive creepy guy. I don't get it.
I'm not into that. I don't see the romance in this at all.
Ps. I will say the beginning with her meeting him for the first time, while she was trying to sneek out. That part I liked. The book up to there, I could actually tolerate and enjoy.
Where do I start? The guy in this book Race is so obsessive, that's not romantic or cute at all. It's creepy. And I don't why her friends and her cousin would trick her like that.
The Heather character had her moments in the beginning where I was like, cool this girl sticks up for herself.
Not once did she even try to say she was a virgin, she just let him believe what he wanted. That frustrated me to no end.
Then she loves this guy? This obsessive creepy guy. I don't get it.
I'm not into that. I don't see the romance in this at all.
Ps. I will say the beginning with her meeting him for the first time, while she was trying to sneek out. That part I liked. The book up to there, I could actually tolerate and enjoy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 29, 2019
No convincing reason for separation. There is hardly any conversation between H and h. Most of the book is about headtalk.
August 5, 2023
Yeah. I don't vibe with this kind of vintage HP. I'm fine with a cool bastard alpha (I mean, I'm an RD fangirl), but I like slightly more subtle behaviours. Too much overt whacko stalker stuff in the early pages and I'm in the "I think you should consider calling the police " camp. And Race (I know) is very much of the straight out with it "I want to go to bed with you" on first meeting, having pursued her into a dark room and shut the door behind him type situation. It's not seduction, it's #metoo I WANT smash and grab. And yes indeed, he does toy with the rape word. No one should ever toy with the rape word. Add in a secret baby 🤮 and weird attitude to breastfeeding ("I'll be jealous of him if you do") and a propensity to squire other women after the marriage and I think you can safely say I was in no mood to give this guy the H badge I tore off him in chapter one. Heather, the tall model with issues wasn't all that appealing either. It was a no from me.
March 16, 2017
Re-Issue of "Wanting".
February 27, 2017
I remember reading and re-reading this story when I was a teenager, thinking how fascinating love is when you love so much and do crazy things just for passion and that special moment...
Nowadays, I think many people actually behave this way, have no issues in becoming sexual but cannot articulate one word of love out of "embarrassment", not to compromise themselves or more like lack of emotion.
Anyway, I think Race played a very determined and relentless character in his pursuit of the heroine, practically an obsession, and that may well be his most redeeming feature and why she fell in love with him - because he didn't give up like the others (?).
**spoiler**
In real life, he would have been labeled a stalker, kidnapper or worse (with her cousin going in too as an accomplice), but in fiction all the pieces fit together when all the events lead to her succumbing to his and her own desires - to only have him backtrack at full speed, haha.
Very few girls these days would venture in spending their entire pregnancy alone just not to upset the jealous cold tyrant, but I suppose that's proof of her faithfulness and devotion. Race has a lot to be sorry about his behaviour towards her and the baby, many more explanations to give than those he actually gave, he should have been more rational and responsible, yet she had forgiven him even before he had apologized and they get the happy-ever-after-ending.
We do get to see she has a very loving family, so her initial behaviour of alluring men with her beauty only to step on their hearts makes little sense and doesn't agree with her character when the rest of the story develops, after she meets Race, etc.
**spoiler/end**
I used to absolutely love this book many years ago, but reading it now, it lacks a lot of character development.
Nowadays, I think many people actually behave this way, have no issues in becoming sexual but cannot articulate one word of love out of "embarrassment", not to compromise themselves or more like lack of emotion.
Anyway, I think Race played a very determined and relentless character in his pursuit of the heroine, practically an obsession, and that may well be his most redeeming feature and why she fell in love with him - because he didn't give up like the others (?).
**spoiler**
In real life, he would have been labeled a stalker, kidnapper or worse (with her cousin going in too as an accomplice), but in fiction all the pieces fit together when all the events lead to her succumbing to his and her own desires - to only have him backtrack at full speed, haha.
Very few girls these days would venture in spending their entire pregnancy alone just not to upset the jealous cold tyrant, but I suppose that's proof of her faithfulness and devotion. Race has a lot to be sorry about his behaviour towards her and the baby, many more explanations to give than those he actually gave, he should have been more rational and responsible, yet she had forgiven him even before he had apologized and they get the happy-ever-after-ending.
We do get to see she has a very loving family, so her initial behaviour of alluring men with her beauty only to step on their hearts makes little sense and doesn't agree with her character when the rest of the story develops, after she meets Race, etc.
**spoiler/end**
I used to absolutely love this book many years ago, but reading it now, it lacks a lot of character development.
March 2, 2016
I love this book. I have been reading it for years but keep losing it. I understand why some ladies dislike Race, but I just don't see him that way. Heather played games and Race didn't play her games the same way other men did. They wanted each other but Heather was running from those feelings because Race was in high pursuit. I'm looking to replace my copy now. I like him because he's not the standard romance hero. He is a bastard, a jerk and can be overpowering, but he's also sweet, charismatic, and loves her. They need to put this on a digital format.
September 17, 2020
A classic vintage Harlequin romance.
If you don’t like the man to be a dominant, besotted alpha male who relentlessly pursues the woman, this book is not for you.
I like the man to be exactly that. So I enjoyed the book.
If you don’t like the man to be a dominant, besotted alpha male who relentlessly pursues the woman, this book is not for you.
I like the man to be exactly that. So I enjoyed the book.
October 3, 2013
This is one of those crazy harlequins, I remember at the time it was my absolute favorite. Maybe because I don't take them seriously ;)
February 26, 2021
3 stars? Overall the book is fine...I guess. You got angst, you got an obsessed hero. Only too bad he really came off more like an annoying obsessive fan, hence the first & second time they met. He was a pig, through & through. The things he was saying to her & the things she was letting him do to her. It was so unrealistic. Second thoughts, maybe this book doesn’t deserve 3 stars after all.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 9, 2024
Just too ridiculous! The h lets her opinion of men be influenced by her gold-digging boyfriend (yes, men can be gold-digger, too), who planned to marry her for her inheritance and sleep with women he finds more attractive. not letting him know she found out the truth, she dumps him, ruining his crummy plans and that should have been closure for her, instead of turning her into a hot fashion model with a heart in cold storage, who lets shallow guys like her ex think she cafes, then dumps them. This young woman needed serious therapy!
So did the H, who was obsessed by her photographs, then by her, determined to get her into bed, took advantage of her having one drink too many and got what he wanted, then had a hissy fit when he discovered she was a virgin! WTF!!!! It's usually when they're not virgins that the H gets angry! So, now the girl that dumps got dumped herself, while the H gets naked with other women!
Pregnancy follows (big surprise there) as well as the usual "marry me for the baby's sake" and all the other nonsense and add to it a TSTL cousin who keeps interfering when she should mind her own beeswax!
I might have liked this mess better if I liked the H and h, but since I couldn't stand either of them, it was DNF for me!
So did the H, who was obsessed by her photographs, then by her, determined to get her into bed, took advantage of her having one drink too many and got what he wanted, then had a hissy fit when he discovered she was a virgin! WTF!!!! It's usually when they're not virgins that the H gets angry! So, now the girl that dumps got dumped herself, while the H gets naked with other women!
Pregnancy follows (big surprise there) as well as the usual "marry me for the baby's sake" and all the other nonsense and add to it a TSTL cousin who keeps interfering when she should mind her own beeswax!
I might have liked this mess better if I liked the H and h, but since I couldn't stand either of them, it was DNF for me!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews