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Duet
Carrie Stuart returned to London with reluctanceThere she would face the bittersweet memories of the past. There she had met Matthew Silver.Meeting him again four years later was no accident. He had manipulated events to put her back in his power, and she found that the gentle, considerate lover she'd known had become an unfeeling, hard stranger.He blamed her for their breakup yet he was the one who had left. Carrie had resolved Matt would never know that her husband was a figment of her imagination and that her twin daughters were his own.
384 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 1987
18 people are currently reading
565 people want to read
About the author
Patricia Wilson
119 books181 followersPatricia Wilson (1929 – 2010) was a best-selling writer of 53 romance novels for the Mills & Boon publisher from 1986 to 2004. She placed her novels primarily in England, Spain or France.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
May 21, 2012
This is a book with a wow factor. It has all the elements that make the older HP books sizzle, crack, and pop. The ruthless hero, the great dialogue, and the crazy demands that you can only read about in a Harlequin Presents novel. One of my friends on GRs, you know who you are, raves about this book, and she's never wrong about HPs being awesome. She was right again!
I won't lie about my love of stalkerific heroes, and Matt makes my list. He was just wow. I had no doubts that this man couldn't live without Carrie. I loved the way that Patricia Wilson wrote the interactions between Matt and Carrie. Matt had a way of talking that seemed almost cinematic. I totally got this feeling of intense, once in a life time love between this couple. Because this is an older HP, you don't get the hero POV, but so much intensity emanates off Matt. For Carrie, she doesn't really have a clue how crazy he is about her. She thinks he just wants revenge. But as a reader, that is very clear, even if the sap doesn't can't bring himself to say the words to make that clear.
As far as the reasons for Carrie leaving Matt, I think that was a bit soft. I will chalk it down to her being young and immature. I really think he should have just asked her to marry him back when they first met. I feel that she would have been less insecure about their relationship. For Matt, his reasons for how he initially handled their relationship makes sense towards the end, but I was afraid that he had some deep, dark secret like he was married and that's why they were just living together as "loves". I am so glad that wasn't the case. I hate that sort of deep, dark secret.
This one will probably push buttons for some of the modern HP fans. The heroine is very young and quite submissive to the hero. That's not really my thing, but in this story, it works. Similarly, the whole blackmail thing probably wouldn't go over well to some readers. This one pushes my buttons in a good way. It takes that young, very innocent heroine and older, experienced hero and does it good. Although Matt seems like he has the upper hand, boy howdy, he doesn't. The man is putty. I could feel his need and his profound love for Carrie, even if he wasn't good about showing it. I liked that he wasn't a cruel man, even if he wanted to seem hard. He was so good with the kids, and that got him brownie points, not to mention how he always tried to take care of Carrie. Not the actions of a man who hates a woman and just wants to use her. It could be frustrating at time seeing all the mixed signals and words unspoken, but that was sort of par for the course. It's part of that vintage HP drama, so I go with it! In the end, everything comes together so beautifully, and I will have some of those moments emblazoned on my brain.
This is one of those books where I ask if I want to be loved that way while I'm reading. I'm not sure I do, but I sure do enjoying reading books with this dynamic. Thumbs up from this reader.
I won't lie about my love of stalkerific heroes, and Matt makes my list. He was just wow. I had no doubts that this man couldn't live without Carrie. I loved the way that Patricia Wilson wrote the interactions between Matt and Carrie. Matt had a way of talking that seemed almost cinematic. I totally got this feeling of intense, once in a life time love between this couple. Because this is an older HP, you don't get the hero POV, but so much intensity emanates off Matt. For Carrie, she doesn't really have a clue how crazy he is about her. She thinks he just wants revenge. But as a reader, that is very clear, even if the sap doesn't can't bring himself to say the words to make that clear.
As far as the reasons for Carrie leaving Matt, I think that was a bit soft. I will chalk it down to her being young and immature. I really think he should have just asked her to marry him back when they first met. I feel that she would have been less insecure about their relationship. For Matt, his reasons for how he initially handled their relationship makes sense towards the end, but I was afraid that he had some deep, dark secret like he was married and that's why they were just living together as "loves". I am so glad that wasn't the case. I hate that sort of deep, dark secret.
This one will probably push buttons for some of the modern HP fans. The heroine is very young and quite submissive to the hero. That's not really my thing, but in this story, it works. Similarly, the whole blackmail thing probably wouldn't go over well to some readers. This one pushes my buttons in a good way. It takes that young, very innocent heroine and older, experienced hero and does it good. Although Matt seems like he has the upper hand, boy howdy, he doesn't. The man is putty. I could feel his need and his profound love for Carrie, even if he wasn't good about showing it. I liked that he wasn't a cruel man, even if he wanted to seem hard. He was so good with the kids, and that got him brownie points, not to mention how he always tried to take care of Carrie. Not the actions of a man who hates a woman and just wants to use her. It could be frustrating at time seeing all the mixed signals and words unspoken, but that was sort of par for the course. It's part of that vintage HP drama, so I go with it! In the end, everything comes together so beautifully, and I will have some of those moments emblazoned on my brain.
This is one of those books where I ask if I want to be loved that way while I'm reading. I'm not sure I do, but I sure do enjoying reading books with this dynamic. Thumbs up from this reader.
September 6, 2016
Re Lingering Melody - let's just all know that I am a HUGE PW fan girl, so while her writing does have some very valid criticisms - especially in her feminine, delicate almost TSTL h's and very, very Alpha H's - I just don't care. I am biased, I like her h's usually and her H's tend to grow on me by the end- even tho they do all those H things I hate, like bully, blackmail and order people about and seem to enjoy it and NEVER explain themselves until the very, very end. Something about PW's writing really appeals to me, and I don't really want to dissect why cause then the magic might not work any more and I would be bereft of really good rereading material.
So this one starts with our 24 yr old h with twin daughters and her very helpful male older cousin being summoned back to England on the behalf of her cousin's fledgling company. The cousin very kindly took her pregger self in when she was in desperate measures and they all live in Australia, where the cousin has a start up business designing the next greatest thing in computers. Except the computer genesis isn't finished yet and now the cousin's venture capital company is calling him for a business review and an accounting of his progress. Really tho, the whole thing is a set-up. The company review by it's investors is actually a cover for the very angry and possibly mentally disturbed H to get the h back into his clutches.
Our h was a 19 yr old pure and virtuous Yorkshire orphan raised by a Viking grandma and doing a secretarial course when she meets the H for the first time. He is in his thirties and it is total and utter adoration at first sight- for both of them. However our H is a bit a lurvely lady buffet sampler and he has been wronged by the ladies before, so he fights his attraction hard. This is HPLandia tho, and we all know resistance is futile.
This doesn't mean that he and the h run off for wedded bliss in the pink rosy HEA sunset either. He sets the little lady up in his home as his live in lover, the h is utterly in love and doesn't care, but things take a very bad turning when the H wanders off to America, supposedly for a short time and then doesn't wander back. To make things even worse, it appears that the H has returned to the arms of an old lover. A woman the h had heard mention of before, and apparently she dumped the H pretty harshly, leaving a permanent scar upon his heart. The h finds the letter she sent the H that had him rushing off at a moment's notice and it reads like a summons to recommence their one true love.
Since the H communication is non existent, the h has no choice but to believe she was nothing more than a little amusement and she will be cast out at any second. Plus she is now preggers. She leaves the H and flings herself on the mercy of her cousin. They all move to Australia and the h helps him with his company doing office stuff. She also invents a man and a marriage so that no one will make assumptions or judgments about her single mother status.
Then the H's summons arrives and he srsly means to destroy the cousin's business if the h doesn't agree to marry him and have her kids call him dad. The H knows all about the h's life and her twin girls and that other man she married, apparently barely two months after leaving him. The H wants revenge, he thought something horrible had happened to the h since she just walked out with nothing and he worried himself to death. The H has spent a considerable amount of time hunting her down and he was always wildly possessive and jealous. The H plans to tell everyone the h's kids are his and that she has been recovering from a three year illness - apparently he went a bit around the bend when the h left him and his friends and associates grew very concerned.
The h agrees to marry him, she owes her cousin a lot and having his business destroyed because of her mistake isn't a way to do it. She also lies about her daughters' ages. She sees no reason to inflict a father upon them who only wants revenge and might wander off again at any time. Plus the H would probably steal her children, and she isn't having any of that - they are all a package deal and why shouldn't the girls get the benefit of having a wealthy father. \
The h is fully aware it isn't much in the way of retribution for the way he pumped and dumped her, but at least it is something. So they marry and they all move to the H's magnificent country estate. The H is actually a very good father, but he and the h are maintaining a very neutral distance with occasional cutting commentary from the H. The h is very adamant that no boudoir bouncing is going to be happening on her watch, so even tho the H's kisses are divine, they maintain separate rooms.
So the h and the girls settle into life with the H. He has a very motherly housekeeper who seems to think the h is a fragile little duck that needs extra nurturing. Things are going well superficially, the h's cousin is getting on with his company and his new assistant is a girl the h knew at secretarial school, they soon become a couple. Things between the H and h are dicey tho, the h misses the way it used to be and the H is still seething over the supposedly dead husband.
Then the h gets the flu and the house floods from the local river. The H is kinder to the h, but when they have to go to the H's London flat while the house is being restored from the flood, the h runs into a vicious gossip who makes all sorts of comments about the h and her girls and the H's old lover. The H knows that the girls are his, he figured it out right after they married, but the h is really upset that nasty rumors are going round about them all. The H jumps into protective mode and makes arrangements for the gossip to be kicked off her committees and out of their social circle. Then the H forcibly seduces the h, tho she isn't complaining. However this forced seduction that ends in mutual bliss seems to have a very negative impact on the H, he seems to be feeling horribly guilty over the thing - even tho the h was just fine with how it all ended.
Now the h is getting more concerned over the H's increasing moodiness and wonders how long it will be before he goes back to his first true love. Then she sees a letter from America and things come to a head. They all go back to the country house and the H comes in one night and offers the h a divorce. She is shocked, and assumes he wants to return to his real love in America, but the H makes it clear that he is only offering one cause he can't stand to see the h so unhappy anymore. The h assures him she doesn't want a divorce and then they wind up lurvin it up. The H decides to take the h away for a few days and the h is worried again, but she still doesn't mention the fact that she made up a husband and she doesn't bring up his past lover.
The H's surprise is that he bought the h's grandmother's cottage as a present for the h. She is really delighted and finally the whole truth comes out. The h asks him about his former love and the H explains that she was an older woman who dazzled him at first, until she got shares in his company in America and then proceeded to cheat on him, which made him fall out of love and become really cynical and bitter really quickly- until he met the h that is.
The H moved back to England then and built up the business there, letting the American side slowly fade out until the woman had no more influence. The letter the H got was when the woman was dying and she died before he got there. The H had to stay for several days to finish up her affairs, but he got his company shares back. When he returned, he wanted to marry the h cause he figures out he really loved her. But the h had already left him, so he spent four years hunting her down and setting her up to keep her forever.
The h explains that she found the letter, thought she was a temporary amusement, found out she was preggers and went to Australia but then decided to make up a husband so people wouldn't make nasty assumptions. The h and H are both relieved that they were both jealous over non-existent lovers and the H sincerely apologizes for not telling her what he was doing in America to begin with. He is really heartfelt and adorable for the last chapter and half, it was close enough to a grovel that I was just in a swoon.
The H is really, really sweet in his explanations and in how much he loves the h. She had some pretty clueless moments when it came to realizing how much the H loved her - it is pretty obvious for most of the book- but he does do and say some mean things so it all balances out nicely in the end.
Overall this is a very sweet with a side of tartness story that works because the H is just so crazy about the h and she is just so clueless that he does. The h isn't dumb and she isn't vapid, she was just really sheltered and young and to be fair, to the world and the people who talked to her, she really was just the H's latest mistress for a large part of their relationship. She wasn't worldly enough to see how madly in love he was and the H really wanted to have his cake and eat it too, otherwise he would have put a ring on it a lot sooner and maybe the h wouldn't have left him.
The H is also pretty grateful the h kept the twins, he admits that with her thinking he had deserted her, it took a lot of courage to keep them and raise them and he was just happy that they could finally be a real family. For an Alpha H, this one was pretty sweet and the h manages to get there with the realization he loves her in the end and if it had been any other way, I wouldn't have been so entertained for 189 pages.
I like this one a lot, but it may be a bit too soppy romantically for those who love the Vengeful H to be not so sweetly supportive by the end. If you are new to PW, I wouldn't really start with this one tho, the h may be too clueless for a lot of readers. For the HP Veterans this one is a good read and even new HPlandia travelers will appreciate just how nice the H turns out to be by the end of it.
So this one starts with our 24 yr old h with twin daughters and her very helpful male older cousin being summoned back to England on the behalf of her cousin's fledgling company. The cousin very kindly took her pregger self in when she was in desperate measures and they all live in Australia, where the cousin has a start up business designing the next greatest thing in computers. Except the computer genesis isn't finished yet and now the cousin's venture capital company is calling him for a business review and an accounting of his progress. Really tho, the whole thing is a set-up. The company review by it's investors is actually a cover for the very angry and possibly mentally disturbed H to get the h back into his clutches.
Our h was a 19 yr old pure and virtuous Yorkshire orphan raised by a Viking grandma and doing a secretarial course when she meets the H for the first time. He is in his thirties and it is total and utter adoration at first sight- for both of them. However our H is a bit a lurvely lady buffet sampler and he has been wronged by the ladies before, so he fights his attraction hard. This is HPLandia tho, and we all know resistance is futile.
This doesn't mean that he and the h run off for wedded bliss in the pink rosy HEA sunset either. He sets the little lady up in his home as his live in lover, the h is utterly in love and doesn't care, but things take a very bad turning when the H wanders off to America, supposedly for a short time and then doesn't wander back. To make things even worse, it appears that the H has returned to the arms of an old lover. A woman the h had heard mention of before, and apparently she dumped the H pretty harshly, leaving a permanent scar upon his heart. The h finds the letter she sent the H that had him rushing off at a moment's notice and it reads like a summons to recommence their one true love.
Since the H communication is non existent, the h has no choice but to believe she was nothing more than a little amusement and she will be cast out at any second. Plus she is now preggers. She leaves the H and flings herself on the mercy of her cousin. They all move to Australia and the h helps him with his company doing office stuff. She also invents a man and a marriage so that no one will make assumptions or judgments about her single mother status.
Then the H's summons arrives and he srsly means to destroy the cousin's business if the h doesn't agree to marry him and have her kids call him dad. The H knows all about the h's life and her twin girls and that other man she married, apparently barely two months after leaving him. The H wants revenge, he thought something horrible had happened to the h since she just walked out with nothing and he worried himself to death. The H has spent a considerable amount of time hunting her down and he was always wildly possessive and jealous. The H plans to tell everyone the h's kids are his and that she has been recovering from a three year illness - apparently he went a bit around the bend when the h left him and his friends and associates grew very concerned.
The h agrees to marry him, she owes her cousin a lot and having his business destroyed because of her mistake isn't a way to do it. She also lies about her daughters' ages. She sees no reason to inflict a father upon them who only wants revenge and might wander off again at any time. Plus the H would probably steal her children, and she isn't having any of that - they are all a package deal and why shouldn't the girls get the benefit of having a wealthy father. \
The h is fully aware it isn't much in the way of retribution for the way he pumped and dumped her, but at least it is something. So they marry and they all move to the H's magnificent country estate. The H is actually a very good father, but he and the h are maintaining a very neutral distance with occasional cutting commentary from the H. The h is very adamant that no boudoir bouncing is going to be happening on her watch, so even tho the H's kisses are divine, they maintain separate rooms.
So the h and the girls settle into life with the H. He has a very motherly housekeeper who seems to think the h is a fragile little duck that needs extra nurturing. Things are going well superficially, the h's cousin is getting on with his company and his new assistant is a girl the h knew at secretarial school, they soon become a couple. Things between the H and h are dicey tho, the h misses the way it used to be and the H is still seething over the supposedly dead husband.
Then the h gets the flu and the house floods from the local river. The H is kinder to the h, but when they have to go to the H's London flat while the house is being restored from the flood, the h runs into a vicious gossip who makes all sorts of comments about the h and her girls and the H's old lover. The H knows that the girls are his, he figured it out right after they married, but the h is really upset that nasty rumors are going round about them all. The H jumps into protective mode and makes arrangements for the gossip to be kicked off her committees and out of their social circle. Then the H forcibly seduces the h, tho she isn't complaining. However this forced seduction that ends in mutual bliss seems to have a very negative impact on the H, he seems to be feeling horribly guilty over the thing - even tho the h was just fine with how it all ended.
Now the h is getting more concerned over the H's increasing moodiness and wonders how long it will be before he goes back to his first true love. Then she sees a letter from America and things come to a head. They all go back to the country house and the H comes in one night and offers the h a divorce. She is shocked, and assumes he wants to return to his real love in America, but the H makes it clear that he is only offering one cause he can't stand to see the h so unhappy anymore. The h assures him she doesn't want a divorce and then they wind up lurvin it up. The H decides to take the h away for a few days and the h is worried again, but she still doesn't mention the fact that she made up a husband and she doesn't bring up his past lover.
The H's surprise is that he bought the h's grandmother's cottage as a present for the h. She is really delighted and finally the whole truth comes out. The h asks him about his former love and the H explains that she was an older woman who dazzled him at first, until she got shares in his company in America and then proceeded to cheat on him, which made him fall out of love and become really cynical and bitter really quickly- until he met the h that is.
The H moved back to England then and built up the business there, letting the American side slowly fade out until the woman had no more influence. The letter the H got was when the woman was dying and she died before he got there. The H had to stay for several days to finish up her affairs, but he got his company shares back. When he returned, he wanted to marry the h cause he figures out he really loved her. But the h had already left him, so he spent four years hunting her down and setting her up to keep her forever.
The h explains that she found the letter, thought she was a temporary amusement, found out she was preggers and went to Australia but then decided to make up a husband so people wouldn't make nasty assumptions. The h and H are both relieved that they were both jealous over non-existent lovers and the H sincerely apologizes for not telling her what he was doing in America to begin with. He is really heartfelt and adorable for the last chapter and half, it was close enough to a grovel that I was just in a swoon.
The H is really, really sweet in his explanations and in how much he loves the h. She had some pretty clueless moments when it came to realizing how much the H loved her - it is pretty obvious for most of the book- but he does do and say some mean things so it all balances out nicely in the end.
Overall this is a very sweet with a side of tartness story that works because the H is just so crazy about the h and she is just so clueless that he does. The h isn't dumb and she isn't vapid, she was just really sheltered and young and to be fair, to the world and the people who talked to her, she really was just the H's latest mistress for a large part of their relationship. She wasn't worldly enough to see how madly in love he was and the H really wanted to have his cake and eat it too, otherwise he would have put a ring on it a lot sooner and maybe the h wouldn't have left him.
The H is also pretty grateful the h kept the twins, he admits that with her thinking he had deserted her, it took a lot of courage to keep them and raise them and he was just happy that they could finally be a real family. For an Alpha H, this one was pretty sweet and the h manages to get there with the realization he loves her in the end and if it had been any other way, I wouldn't have been so entertained for 189 pages.
I like this one a lot, but it may be a bit too soppy romantically for those who love the Vengeful H to be not so sweetly supportive by the end. If you are new to PW, I wouldn't really start with this one tho, the h may be too clueless for a lot of readers. For the HP Veterans this one is a good read and even new HPlandia travelers will appreciate just how nice the H turns out to be by the end of it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 4, 2021
I think the first and biggest trope we have to deal with is the what we have here failure to communicate trope at work.
The h is young, virginal, and very innocent (kind of a hayseed) from Yorkshire, comes to the big bad city to become a secretary. At a bizarre calling-call reception that smacked of a Regency ball to find a husband, fledgling secretaries in training are looked over by prospectivesuitors bosses. The h sees the H from across the room and the angels' weep. He is much older and is soon attracted to her, but tries to pull off an avuncular/fatherly interest in her. After some googoo eyes, picnics and longing glances they finally succumb to their passion. Do they get married like any proper Harley-Land virgin and her swain do? OMG no! They move in and are blissfully happy. She quits secretarial school, by the way. I had to check when this was published thinking the 1970s only to find out it was 1987. Hmmm.
The h is called away to the States, the black hole of Harley-Land. Nothing ever goes right when one of the MC's goes to the USA. Too much democracy or something. Left behind, the h finds a letter from a woman. To say this letter is vague is saying something. Apparently, forgetting that even in 1987 there were such things as, what are they called, phones, the heroine runs away to Australia. She's also pregnant with twins because, of course. She runs to her cousin she adores who keeps her safe and vows to kill the man who done her wrong. They make up a fake daddy for the kids and propriety.
Four years later, they are back in England as the cuz's computer company is about to be taken over. Let's skip some obvious points to where the H steps in and tell the h he will allow the cuz's business to continue if she marries him and her kids call him daddy. The H is opposed to this as what about her dead husband? Huh! What dead husband? He was a fake dead husband!
They marry and while it's supposed to be a sexless marriage we all know that won't last forever. It lasts longer than you would think though.
They yin/yang interaction between these two was exhausting, and, frankly, I wanted to take a two by four upside each of their heads. Good Godfrey, they were stupid. Just a simple question? Even a hint? A nudge? Anything would have cleared up what was not a problem.
So, I'm going with a three star once again (two times in a row) because of the over his head, bamboozled hero. Ye gods, has he suffered! He is so in love with the heroine it's kind of sad. Nice to have the stiletto on the other heel, as I don't think I am alone in hoping the heroine lives up to his loooovvveeeee.
The h is young, virginal, and very innocent (kind of a hayseed) from Yorkshire, comes to the big bad city to become a secretary. At a bizarre calling-call reception that smacked of a Regency ball to find a husband, fledgling secretaries in training are looked over by prospective
The h is called away to the States, the black hole of Harley-Land. Nothing ever goes right when one of the MC's goes to the USA. Too much democracy or something. Left behind, the h finds a letter from a woman. To say this letter is vague is saying something. Apparently, forgetting that even in 1987 there were such things as, what are they called, phones, the heroine runs away to Australia. She's also pregnant with twins because, of course. She runs to her cousin she adores who keeps her safe and vows to kill the man who done her wrong. They make up a fake daddy for the kids and propriety.
Four years later, they are back in England as the cuz's computer company is about to be taken over. Let's skip some obvious points to where the H steps in and tell the h he will allow the cuz's business to continue if she marries him and her kids call him daddy. The H is opposed to this as what about her dead husband? Huh! What dead husband? He was a fake dead husband!
They marry and while it's supposed to be a sexless marriage we all know that won't last forever. It lasts longer than you would think though.
They yin/yang interaction between these two was exhausting, and, frankly, I wanted to take a two by four upside each of their heads. Good Godfrey, they were stupid. Just a simple question? Even a hint? A nudge? Anything would have cleared up what was not a problem.
So, I'm going with a three star once again (two times in a row) because of the over his head, bamboozled hero. Ye gods, has he suffered! He is so in love with the heroine it's kind of sad. Nice to have the stiletto on the other heel, as I don't think I am alone in hoping the heroine lives up to his loooovvveeeee.
August 20, 2015
It was ok. Maybe it was just my mood, because it had several tropes I generally enjoy. Blackmail, vengeful hero, forced marriage.
Something about it just didn't resonate with me. Not sure I can put my finger on it. For example, most of the 'big misunderstandings' in HPlandia are stupid. That's a given. But for some reason this one got on my nerves.
H/h are living together. She's only 19 at the time and he's in his thirties. He gets a letter and suddenly has to go to America for a few weeks. No explanation really. Just 'gotta go'. He's away much longer than expected and in the meantime the h finds the letter and it's from a woman who he's obviously had a past with. The h has also realized she's pregnant. She gets really upset that he's left her for this other woman so she just leaves, disappears, and goes to work for her cousin.
I know I shouldn't be bringing reality into HP. It's a dangerous/volatile thing to do. The entire fabric of their universe could implode and I really don't want that to happen. But, really, couldn't dude have called? This is an oldie, but in 1987 you could make international phone calls. Yeah, you'd have had to use a land line (gasp), but I assure you it was possible.
Also, I don't think I'd have just left with no way for the H to find me. I'd want an explanation of some sort or for him to tell me to my face that he'd left me for someone else, especially if I was pregnant.
Hero's big problem is that he thinks HE was wronged since she left. Seems he never considered that the h had anything to complain about. Neither of them were the brightest bulbs if you ask me.
Also, I have no problem with May/December stories but their was something about his paternal attitude that was a big creepy.
Something about it just didn't resonate with me. Not sure I can put my finger on it. For example, most of the 'big misunderstandings' in HPlandia are stupid. That's a given. But for some reason this one got on my nerves.
H/h are living together. She's only 19 at the time and he's in his thirties. He gets a letter and suddenly has to go to America for a few weeks. No explanation really. Just 'gotta go'. He's away much longer than expected and in the meantime the h finds the letter and it's from a woman who he's obviously had a past with. The h has also realized she's pregnant. She gets really upset that he's left her for this other woman so she just leaves, disappears, and goes to work for her cousin.
I know I shouldn't be bringing reality into HP. It's a dangerous/volatile thing to do. The entire fabric of their universe could implode and I really don't want that to happen. But, really, couldn't dude have called? This is an oldie, but in 1987 you could make international phone calls. Yeah, you'd have had to use a land line (gasp), but I assure you it was possible.
Also, I don't think I'd have just left with no way for the H to find me. I'd want an explanation of some sort or for him to tell me to my face that he'd left me for someone else, especially if I was pregnant.
Hero's big problem is that he thinks HE was wronged since she left. Seems he never considered that the h had anything to complain about. Neither of them were the brightest bulbs if you ask me.
Also, I have no problem with May/December stories but their was something about his paternal attitude that was a big creepy.
July 15, 2025
This is a second chance story with a misunderstanding (Heroine thought the hero was cheating on her, but he wasn't). Yes, those are a dime a dozen in HPlandia, but this one stands out because:
*Hero seeks his revenge for the heroine leaving him four years before by putting her cousin out of business. Hero has spent a lot of time putting this revenge plan in motion.
*Heroine has twin girls and an imaginary husband named George Glass Kevin Henley. Hero is jealous of imaginary husband.
*In a flashback, H/h have a sweet meet cute when the hero rescues our wallflower heroine and gives her red and white roses for her 19th birthday. She has a "Viking" grandmother with strong morals and a cottage in the Yorkshire Dales.
*There is a flash flood at the hero's country estate to liven things up.
*Both the hero and the heroine's cousin have a good sense of humor where the twin girls are concerned. There are some amusing scenes with the kids.
*There is an added bonus romance between the cousin and the hero's temporary secretary.
*The hero gives the heroine her grandmother's cottage at the end when their misunderstandings are cleared up.
This is one smitten hero and one confused heroine. At the beginning he hated as much as he had loved before. No indifference here. PW manages to keep up the intensity without making the hero unlikable. Trigger warning: there is a forced seduction that turns tender before the end of the scene.
For revenge and second chance fans.
*Hero seeks his revenge for the heroine leaving him four years before by putting her cousin out of business. Hero has spent a lot of time putting this revenge plan in motion.
*Heroine has twin girls and an imaginary husband named
*In a flashback, H/h have a sweet meet cute when the hero rescues our wallflower heroine and gives her red and white roses for her 19th birthday. She has a "Viking" grandmother with strong morals and a cottage in the Yorkshire Dales.
*There is a flash flood at the hero's country estate to liven things up.
*Both the hero and the heroine's cousin have a good sense of humor where the twin girls are concerned. There are some amusing scenes with the kids.
*There is an added bonus romance between the cousin and the hero's temporary secretary.
*The hero gives the heroine her grandmother's cottage at the end when their misunderstandings are cleared up.
This is one smitten hero and one confused heroine. At the beginning he hated as much as he had loved before. No indifference here. PW manages to keep up the intensity without making the hero unlikable. Trigger warning: there is a forced seduction that turns tender before the end of the scene.
For revenge and second chance fans.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 21, 2021
I loved this book. The hero is a businessman of 32 and the heroine is a student barely of age.
He falls for her like a ton of bricks and after trying to resist his feelings ( briefly and unsuccessfully) he asks her to live with him.
They spend some happy months, he really is in love with her.
One day he tells her he has to go to Florida for business and he’ll be back in a few days.
When he’s gone she finds a letter of a woman that asks him to go back to her to solve their issues. She thinks he left her and went back to ow, so she leaves and go to Australia to her cousin.
Three years later the hero has found her and threatens to ruin her cousin’s business if she doesn’t marry him.
The heroine pretends to be a widow and has twins.
Of course there’s no late husband and the twins are the hero’s.
So they get married and we have months of grudges and angry words and rejection by both of them.
The only good thing is their behavior with their twins. Luckily both parents do their best for their children, not using them as a means to hurt the other. Thank god.
Eventually- at last!- they talk and all is solved: the hero had an affair with ow but it was years before he met the heroine and they had business together. So the letter was about their business and not about love. There was always only one woman for him: the heroine. Sadly We all understand that but the heroine.
This is a bad case of miscommunication.
The heroine is young and naive and believes rumors that the hero has a secret love in America, but this has no evidence since he was really smitten with her from the start. There was nothing in his behavior that could have told the heroine he was into another woman.
So basically she didn’t trust him enough and didn’t even wait to talk to him. Too bad.
The hero didn’t tell the heroine all the truth about ow, maybe he didn’t want to spoil their “perfect “union but this was a big mistake, as was a mistake not asking her to marry when she was living with him.
A girl like her, a country girl raised by a grandmother, should of course have felt very much safer of his love if she was married to him.
Big mistake hero!
But it was obvious that he was still in love with her, he asked her immediately to marry him ( this thing made me laugh!) and even wanted to adopt her children even if she didn’t think they were his: this was so sweet! And as soon as he saw them he understood they were his: a normal IQ here, what a surprise!
The heroine’s insecurities were unfounded IMO, the hero was caring and sweet, moreover he was one of the most obsessed and jealous heroes I’ve read about: he never stopped looking for her when she was gone, and as soon as he knew she wasn’t married anymore he wanted her back. And he forced her to marry even if he believed she had children with om: this was an evidence of his love for her. (Usually scorned heroes at first ask heroine to become their lover)
Definitely a good book, both were celibate and there was never another man/ woman for them after they met.
No ow/ om only two shadows that we never meet : a fictional husband for her and a dead ex lover for him.
This story was almost perfect because there’s a big misunderstanding with cruel retaliation from the hero but only in words: there was never too much cruelty and there’s not so much angst too. I would have loved more angst but I enjoyed it very much anyway.
He falls for her like a ton of bricks and after trying to resist his feelings ( briefly and unsuccessfully) he asks her to live with him.
They spend some happy months, he really is in love with her.
One day he tells her he has to go to Florida for business and he’ll be back in a few days.
When he’s gone she finds a letter of a woman that asks him to go back to her to solve their issues. She thinks he left her and went back to ow, so she leaves and go to Australia to her cousin.
Three years later the hero has found her and threatens to ruin her cousin’s business if she doesn’t marry him.
The heroine pretends to be a widow and has twins.
Of course there’s no late husband and the twins are the hero’s.
So they get married and we have months of grudges and angry words and rejection by both of them.
The only good thing is their behavior with their twins. Luckily both parents do their best for their children, not using them as a means to hurt the other. Thank god.
Eventually- at last!- they talk and all is solved: the hero had an affair with ow but it was years before he met the heroine and they had business together. So the letter was about their business and not about love. There was always only one woman for him: the heroine. Sadly We all understand that but the heroine.
This is a bad case of miscommunication.
The heroine is young and naive and believes rumors that the hero has a secret love in America, but this has no evidence since he was really smitten with her from the start. There was nothing in his behavior that could have told the heroine he was into another woman.
So basically she didn’t trust him enough and didn’t even wait to talk to him. Too bad.
The hero didn’t tell the heroine all the truth about ow, maybe he didn’t want to spoil their “perfect “union but this was a big mistake, as was a mistake not asking her to marry when she was living with him.
A girl like her, a country girl raised by a grandmother, should of course have felt very much safer of his love if she was married to him.
Big mistake hero!
But it was obvious that he was still in love with her, he asked her immediately to marry him ( this thing made me laugh!) and even wanted to adopt her children even if she didn’t think they were his: this was so sweet! And as soon as he saw them he understood they were his: a normal IQ here, what a surprise!
The heroine’s insecurities were unfounded IMO, the hero was caring and sweet, moreover he was one of the most obsessed and jealous heroes I’ve read about: he never stopped looking for her when she was gone, and as soon as he knew she wasn’t married anymore he wanted her back. And he forced her to marry even if he believed she had children with om: this was an evidence of his love for her. (Usually scorned heroes at first ask heroine to become their lover)
Definitely a good book, both were celibate and there was never another man/ woman for them after they met.
No ow/ om only two shadows that we never meet : a fictional husband for her and a dead ex lover for him.
This story was almost perfect because there’s a big misunderstanding with cruel retaliation from the hero but only in words: there was never too much cruelty and there’s not so much angst too. I would have loved more angst but I enjoyed it very much anyway.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 30, 2012
This book is like Mary Poppins, practically perfect in every way. Full of drama and angst, misunderstandings, true love and noble sacrifice with an added dash of secret babies. I loved the melodrama of it all. The heroine Carrie left the hero Matt four years ago when he ran off to America to go to the side of his former lover. Now he has tracked her down and threatened to ruin her cousin Allan if she doesn't marry him.
One of the strong points of the book is that the secondary characters are so well done. Everyone, even if they are only on the page for a paragraph or two, is wonderfully realized. I loved that Allan was a good guy and not the typical wastrel whom the heroine shouldn't bother saving. Instead they were very close and Allan had made it his job for the last 4 years to take care of her and the twins because he loved them. His business was not failing by his own fault but was only suffering because Matt had made it his business to put its financing on shaky ground so he could get Carrie back. I loved the high class secretary Viviene who could have been used as a bitchy vampy stereotype but was instead funny and real. In fact I would like to see a book about her and Allan.
That makes it sound like Matt was an ass but he never really came across that way. You could tell through every thing he did that he had missed her, was crazy in love with her and doing everything he could to get her back while pretending to be nasty to her to protect himself.
To top the whole thing off, the end was great. It was nice and long with every little thing explained. There was a lot of heart felt sacrifice and yearning and begging and wonderful declarations of love. And they didn't just jump into happy teasing and total confidence in each other's feelings that always seems so oddly overly cheerful after all the angst to me. They instead seemed to keep questioning each other and reassuring each other. That seems more like real reunited lovers to me.
One of the strong points of the book is that the secondary characters are so well done. Everyone, even if they are only on the page for a paragraph or two, is wonderfully realized. I loved that Allan was a good guy and not the typical wastrel whom the heroine shouldn't bother saving. Instead they were very close and Allan had made it his job for the last 4 years to take care of her and the twins because he loved them. His business was not failing by his own fault but was only suffering because Matt had made it his business to put its financing on shaky ground so he could get Carrie back. I loved the high class secretary Viviene who could have been used as a bitchy vampy stereotype but was instead funny and real. In fact I would like to see a book about her and Allan.
That makes it sound like Matt was an ass but he never really came across that way. You could tell through every thing he did that he had missed her, was crazy in love with her and doing everything he could to get her back while pretending to be nasty to her to protect himself.
To top the whole thing off, the end was great. It was nice and long with every little thing explained. There was a lot of heart felt sacrifice and yearning and begging and wonderful declarations of love. And they didn't just jump into happy teasing and total confidence in each other's feelings that always seems so oddly overly cheerful after all the angst to me. They instead seemed to keep questioning each other and reassuring each other. That seems more like real reunited lovers to me.
November 7, 2020
Another silly heroine. Just not to hear supposed break up, she left him. Of course he should have said the real reason of his visit of the US. And not to say about the twins parentage was also cruel especially after he told about his love and fear of her safety after she left without a trace.
Example of her perfect logic:
“He wanted to own her again as he had before when she had imagined it was love. She had been an obsessional interest to be cast aside when the woman he loved wanted him back. Now she was a wife who was to be for ever punished. To sleep in his arms again would rob her of every bit of self-respect, would crush her finally.”
“No!' She tried to pull free but he grasped her tightly. 'No! I'll not let you spoil something beautiful. I'll not face second best. I'd rather be alone for ever, just remembering!”
(...)
“she sometimes longed to tell him that he really was their father. Only her fear kept her silent, fear that he would at some time go off to Florida again and leave her to wait in obedient despair. Her hurt was still too deep to ignore that possibility.”
OMG, she was really stupid and cruel. If there was another woman whom he supposedly loved why he got married to h?
“You make me whole,' he said softly, his fingers threading through her hair. 'You feed my soul, give me a reason for being alive. You're a miracle I found and lost. Don't be lost again, Carrie”
She didn’t even grovel. She didn’t deserve him.
Example of her perfect logic:
“He wanted to own her again as he had before when she had imagined it was love. She had been an obsessional interest to be cast aside when the woman he loved wanted him back. Now she was a wife who was to be for ever punished. To sleep in his arms again would rob her of every bit of self-respect, would crush her finally.”
“No!' She tried to pull free but he grasped her tightly. 'No! I'll not let you spoil something beautiful. I'll not face second best. I'd rather be alone for ever, just remembering!”
(...)
“she sometimes longed to tell him that he really was their father. Only her fear kept her silent, fear that he would at some time go off to Florida again and leave her to wait in obedient despair. Her hurt was still too deep to ignore that possibility.”
OMG, she was really stupid and cruel. If there was another woman whom he supposedly loved why he got married to h?
“You make me whole,' he said softly, his fingers threading through her hair. 'You feed my soul, give me a reason for being alive. You're a miracle I found and lost. Don't be lost again, Carrie”
She didn’t even grovel. She didn’t deserve him.
June 25, 2024
I don’t like it when it all ends in pages and pages and STILL MORE PAGES of explanation. It takes me out of the story. There is something so wonderful about vintage romances like Nurse at Noongwalla where in a few, choice words, or certain vivid scenes, a wealth of meaning is conveyed. Here, it was the opposite. Long monologues and navel-gazing and explanations and justifications. I gave up.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 13, 2012
For me, this was a difficult read....and actually offended me.
He was an extremely, vindictive abusive man and she was a very submissive woman.
I would avoid this one....
He was an extremely, vindictive abusive man and she was a very submissive woman.
I would avoid this one....
September 6, 2016
Turns out I had read this one before. I liked everything except the reason she left him. She does it without confronting him and he stupidly does not tell her where he's going or why. It didn't make any sense, but without it there would be no separation and no story to tell.
May 28, 2013
Like another reviewer said the hero treated the heroine like a queen so her insecurities didn't seem valid to me. Poor man he was so gentle and protective of the heroine and of her kids even when he thought she abandoned him, married another guy and had his children. It was a torment for him to be jealous of a ghost and he came across as possessive but not at all cruel. I liked the heroine as well. She was a bit too naive but then again she was a very young and sheltered woman so I can forgive her stupidity.
July 24, 2012
This truly a wonderful classic old skool HP. It has secret babies (twins), blackmail, major misunderstandings and plenty of angst. Not only does it have all the major tropes but it is well written, has great characters and a wonderful HEA.
July 2, 2015
I will post a review soon...
July 12, 2012
Have I ever mentioned how much I love reunion romances. So long as they have some very important elements. First one is that the hero and heroine haven't been sleazing all over the countryside with multiple other lovers in the meantime. Ok so that might be a bit of a spoiler. But there are plenty of other things to discover about this book.
Matt and Carrie lived together as lovers four years ago and when Matt went off without explanation, Carrie left him, believing he'd gone to another woman. Now she is back in London with three year old twins and a dead husband. She has come to help save her cousins business. So it's a nasty surprise to find Matt is the one holding the cards.
This is a classic blackmailed bride story and Matt is a determined man who will stop at nothing to get back his former lover. Blaming Carrie as he does for the breakup he isn't going to let himself be vulnerable but it is clear to see that he still burns for her, in spite of believing she'd married and had another man's children.
Carrie can't see that, but is amazed by his tender reaction to the children. Matt is one scary obsessed male at times but we the reader see beyond that to what is driving him. They both have a lot to clear up before getting their HEA but it is worth it in the end.
I loved every page of this book. The hero was an old fashioned alpha and the heroine while young had her own strength when it came to her children. A Great Read if you like these vintage Presents.
Matt and Carrie lived together as lovers four years ago and when Matt went off without explanation, Carrie left him, believing he'd gone to another woman. Now she is back in London with three year old twins and a dead husband. She has come to help save her cousins business. So it's a nasty surprise to find Matt is the one holding the cards.
This is a classic blackmailed bride story and Matt is a determined man who will stop at nothing to get back his former lover. Blaming Carrie as he does for the breakup he isn't going to let himself be vulnerable but it is clear to see that he still burns for her, in spite of believing she'd married and had another man's children.
Carrie can't see that, but is amazed by his tender reaction to the children. Matt is one scary obsessed male at times but we the reader see beyond that to what is driving him. They both have a lot to clear up before getting their HEA but it is worth it in the end.
I loved every page of this book. The hero was an old fashioned alpha and the heroine while young had her own strength when it came to her children. A Great Read if you like these vintage Presents.
May 8, 2013
Meh. Stupid heroine. It's different if the OW appeared in a flesh, but no, she's just a name and the heroine could go jealous and scared aaallll the way. You want to know? Ask.
It's so clear that the heroine ran away sheer because her "imagination".
AND it's different too if the hero treated you like a worthless woman, but no, he treated you like a queen and the heroine could feel insecure all damn way to hell.
So immature. Well, i guess it's because her age anyway.
The basic plot of the story is so ridiculous that the upcoming story fell rather flat for me. It seems a pity for the hero showed all the love for heroine, while the heroine is TOO TOO TOO stupid.
She definitely does not deserve the hero. Enough said.
It's so clear that the heroine ran away sheer because her "imagination".
AND it's different too if the hero treated you like a worthless woman, but no, he treated you like a queen and the heroine could feel insecure all damn way to hell.
So immature. Well, i guess it's because her age anyway.
The basic plot of the story is so ridiculous that the upcoming story fell rather flat for me. It seems a pity for the hero showed all the love for heroine, while the heroine is TOO TOO TOO stupid.
She definitely does not deserve the hero. Enough said.
February 25, 2017
I'm on a Patricia Wilson kick. This one was sweet but perhaps not overly memorable. I thought their separation/misunderstanding was pretty unnecessary, the h really stretched for an excuse to feel betrayed, but nonetheless it was nice reading about his endless yearning for her.
"Why did you do this lovely thing, Matt?"
He turned away, his hands in his pockets, his face out of her sight.
"Maybe I love you."
Aww... <;^)
"Why did you do this lovely thing, Matt?"
He turned away, his hands in his pockets, his face out of her sight.
"Maybe I love you."
Aww... <;^)
July 19, 2023
This is so... 1980s. I truly have no words, lol. Had a blast reading and cackling, though. As far as secret babies go, these three-year-old twin girls were ridiculously cute. Nearly died laughing when one destroyed doll had to go to the "nurse bay" and a replacement had to be procured in secret.
March 28, 2013
4 Stars ~ After a bad relationship in his 20's, Matt had devoted his life to making his business a success. Meeting Carrie, an innocent and very young student, threw him for a loop. Against his better judgement, he couldn't keep away from her. And when she completed her course to gain secretarial skills, he asked her to move in with him. They were very much in love, always together. But Carrie had felt a little overwhelmed by Matt, and as he had never told her he loved her, she felt a little insecure as well. She had heard through gossip about a woman in America who had a past claim to Matt's heart and she worried that someday he'd go back to her. When a letter arrives, Matt immediately leaves for America to return in a few days. Carrie discovers the letter, and it's from the former lover begging Matt to come to her. Heart broken, Carrie packs her things and leaves. When Matt returns to London it's to discover Carrie gone without a trace. She'd left for Australia with her cousin Alan, where she could begin her life again, her and her twin daughters. Returning to London four years later with her girls and Alan, to face Alan's investors, Carrie is shocked to discover it's Matt who has manipulated the investor meetings. It seems without his backing, Alan's company is under threat of bankruptcy. Matt is bitter, believing Carrie had taken him for a ride all those years ago, and had immediately jumped into another man's bed. Now, unless she marries him and makes her daughters his, he'll ruin Alan.
It's obvious right from the beginning that Carrie and Matt have always loved each other deeply. Because of misconceptions based on only half truths, these two are separated, and both suffer tremendously. Matt's determination to find Carrie and bring her home to him, even though he thinks it's only as revenge, clearly shows that his love has never died. Carrie's pain, even after four years, is still very raw and seeing Matt's coldness towards her nearly destroys her again. Matt can't keep up his cold hearted facade, the children warm his heart and Carrie's quiet suffering nearly brings him to his knees. Though I found the other woman scenario rather weak, the angst in this story made it a compelling read. When I reached the end, I immediately went back to savour all that glorious emotion all over again.
It's obvious right from the beginning that Carrie and Matt have always loved each other deeply. Because of misconceptions based on only half truths, these two are separated, and both suffer tremendously. Matt's determination to find Carrie and bring her home to him, even though he thinks it's only as revenge, clearly shows that his love has never died. Carrie's pain, even after four years, is still very raw and seeing Matt's coldness towards her nearly destroys her again. Matt can't keep up his cold hearted facade, the children warm his heart and Carrie's quiet suffering nearly brings him to his knees. Though I found the other woman scenario rather weak, the angst in this story made it a compelling read. When I reached the end, I immediately went back to savour all that glorious emotion all over again.
March 21, 2020
2.5 stars. Two stars for a safe read, with no real OP drama. The safety . The secondary couple was also surprisingly cute, so I'm giving them half a star. LOL.
However, I can't bring myself to give any more than two stars. Unfortunately, I didn't really feel the chemistry between the MCs. And the fact that the H had this multi million dollar company, limitless resources at his fingertips, and couldn't figure out that sort of put a damper on the whole premise. The lack of communication was pretty annoying too. All in all, this was just an ok read.
However, I can't bring myself to give any more than two stars. Unfortunately, I didn't really feel the chemistry between the MCs. And the fact that the H had this multi million dollar company, limitless resources at his fingertips, and couldn't figure out that sort of put a damper on the whole premise. The lack of communication was pretty annoying too. All in all, this was just an ok read.
October 8, 2016
I liked this one except for H's explanation about his abrupt departure and why he didn't call h . Kind of lame - so rating dropped. 2.5 stars.
February 4, 2013
I think the lead male was bipolar and the lead female was very naive.
November 7, 2020
I like Patricia Wilson, but this was just an OK read for me. The over-reliance on a years-old Big Misunderstanding didn't work for me at all, and while I usually enjoy PW's weird but well-done mix of humor and angsty drama, those elements just didn't mesh quite right in this one. Lots of histrionics from the typically dizzy PW heroine and the alpha-out-for-revenge (who never really does much more than blow hot and cold and threaten dire things but instead wraps the heroine in luxury and is a good dad to the plot-moppets). PW is a really distinctive and skillful writer, and I overall enjoyed the story--the secondary characters were wonderfully quirky and well drawn, in particular--but the main conflict was kind of silly and literally could have been cleared up with a single conversation. Nonetheless, PW on a bad day is still better, for me, than a lot of other HP authors on their best days, and, despite the plot/conflict weaknesses, ALM plays with a TON of vintage tropes that I love , which may be why I find it such a mixed bag. Definitely not boring! But missed the mark just a bit for me.
July 14, 2017
"A lingering Melody" is the story of Matt and Carrie.
When Carrie returns back to her hometown in England with her twins Pippa and Gemma in tow to help out her brother Alan, she never expects it's all a ruse orchestrated by her ex Matt who wants her at any cost.
The highlight of this story, undoubtedly is the hero Matthew.
He is utterly devoted, in love with the heroine, wants to take care of the twins and give them his name even before he knows of their paternity, provides her the most beautiful wedding, flowers, every luxury possible for her and her kids and is so obsessed with her from the start- even when he thinks she's married- that he is literally ready to go any lengths for her.
It's one of the rare times that I felt annoyed that the heroine ran away pregnant- because Matt honestly was an amazing hero.
Safe
3.5/5
Ps. I love the name of the book! And ofcourse, the hero.
When Carrie returns back to her hometown in England with her twins Pippa and Gemma in tow to help out her brother Alan, she never expects it's all a ruse orchestrated by her ex Matt who wants her at any cost.
The highlight of this story, undoubtedly is the hero Matthew.
He is utterly devoted, in love with the heroine, wants to take care of the twins and give them his name even before he knows of their paternity, provides her the most beautiful wedding, flowers, every luxury possible for her and her kids and is so obsessed with her from the start- even when he thinks she's married- that he is literally ready to go any lengths for her.
It's one of the rare times that I felt annoyed that the heroine ran away pregnant- because Matt honestly was an amazing hero.
Safe
3.5/5
Ps. I love the name of the book! And ofcourse, the hero.
April 4, 2014
the heroine killed it 4 me! carrie flew away from matt like the devils were after her. she never looked back after dat, even when she was pregnant wid the twins. matt n the twins had the right 2 no each other, she cheated them, deprived them of each other bcoz she wanted 2 punish matt. matt was a gud man. it was obvious he fell hard 4 her but was wary bcoz she was so young. i thought her behaviour was unforgivable, she was despicable! even in the present, she never told him the kids were his, wud not admit kevin was a figment of her imagination. neither did she mention yvette. the book just dragged on n on n she wud not tell him what disturbed her.
February 25, 2017
What a blind h ? A fool .
H treats her like a queen , even after leaving him without a proper msg and for NO REASON . Her insecurities are hard to believe , I wish her character was more strongly build . And this fool doesn't deserve H , she torments him , just too happy with her non-existent husband . I really felt bad for H , he was helplessly in love with her . I can understand her leaving him in the past , she was young and naive but her act of being in love with her ghost-of-a-imaginative-husband was just too much to handle .
H treats her like a queen , even after leaving him without a proper msg and for NO REASON . Her insecurities are hard to believe , I wish her character was more strongly build . And this fool doesn't deserve H , she torments him , just too happy with her non-existent husband . I really felt bad for H , he was helplessly in love with her . I can understand her leaving him in the past , she was young and naive but her act of being in love with her ghost-of-a-imaginative-husband was just too much to handle .
November 18, 2012
Okay, this novel was incredibly romantic. It made my heartbeat speed up pretty quick. I really loved the fact that this is an older harlequin and it dealt with pregnancy and babies BEFORE marriage. You don't see many of those around, so this one surprised the heck out of me and made me enjoy it all the more. The characters were great, the storyline was strong. There was some points I didn't quite care for but overall, it's four stars worth of awesome!
August 28, 2022
I've read 2 books by Patricia Wilson. One, from the 80s I think, was incredible, and made me want to seek out other things she'd written. She writes dynamic characters, some of which have a touch of instability, I think. This one was not as good as the one I really liked, but it still had its strengths.
The big issue in this story is that the H, Matt, and the h, Carrie, need to sit down and talk things out instead of reacting emotionally to things they think are true, but actually aren't. But then we wouldn't have a story if that were the case. But it was pretty frustrating to see Matt railing against a guy that doesn't exist and Carrie sitting there in silence, knowing she could simply end his torture...or to see Carrie terrified of Matt's relationship with Yvette and yet, never mention her to him.
See, years before, when Carrie was a young ingenue and newly in love with Matt (and he definitely with her) he took off to America for a time and Carrie learned that he was visiting Yvette after she found a love letter. So off she hies herself, pregnant with twins and disappears from Matt's life. Well Matt returns from a perfectly innocent visit to America (he didn't cheat or anything) and finds that the love of his life has disappeared. One needs to understand the trauma of this to understand precisely how unhinged Matt can become. And he definitely reads as unhinged. He's possessive, controlling, and one-could-say emotionally abusive (but he's a lovely father). All of this stems from a need to have Carrie with him, but also to protect his heart from her now that she's already shattered it. Rather than confront him or defend herself, Carrie falls into a depression more or less. She compares her time now with an angry Matt to those memories of how they were before she'd left and it saddens her. Matt interprets this as, "she doesn't love me she's remembering the lover she left me for (who never existed)" So the craziness between them just keeps building, including a forced-seduction-style rape which just furthers the insanity since Matt now can't forgive himself for his savageness, which seems to make Carrie even more unhappy.
The release of this pressure is definitely worthwhile. Once these two start communicating and spilling all their secrets and realizing that they've been fighting for no damn good reason because they've both loved each other all along...it's very enjoyable. That was the part I liked the most. The unhinginess of the hero (he was pretty mean) and the total lack of communication that frustrated the hell out of me, I didn't like so much. I can't usually handle the type of story that relies on character silence to drag it out. But I'm not giving up, on to the next Patricia Wilson story!
The big issue in this story is that the H, Matt, and the h, Carrie, need to sit down and talk things out instead of reacting emotionally to things they think are true, but actually aren't. But then we wouldn't have a story if that were the case. But it was pretty frustrating to see Matt railing against a guy that doesn't exist and Carrie sitting there in silence, knowing she could simply end his torture...or to see Carrie terrified of Matt's relationship with Yvette and yet, never mention her to him.
See, years before, when Carrie was a young ingenue and newly in love with Matt (and he definitely with her) he took off to America for a time and Carrie learned that he was visiting Yvette after she found a love letter. So off she hies herself, pregnant with twins and disappears from Matt's life. Well Matt returns from a perfectly innocent visit to America (he didn't cheat or anything) and finds that the love of his life has disappeared. One needs to understand the trauma of this to understand precisely how unhinged Matt can become. And he definitely reads as unhinged. He's possessive, controlling, and one-could-say emotionally abusive (but he's a lovely father). All of this stems from a need to have Carrie with him, but also to protect his heart from her now that she's already shattered it. Rather than confront him or defend herself, Carrie falls into a depression more or less. She compares her time now with an angry Matt to those memories of how they were before she'd left and it saddens her. Matt interprets this as, "she doesn't love me she's remembering the lover she left me for (who never existed)" So the craziness between them just keeps building, including a forced-seduction-style rape which just furthers the insanity since Matt now can't forgive himself for his savageness, which seems to make Carrie even more unhappy.
The release of this pressure is definitely worthwhile. Once these two start communicating and spilling all their secrets and realizing that they've been fighting for no damn good reason because they've both loved each other all along...it's very enjoyable. That was the part I liked the most. The unhinginess of the hero (he was pretty mean) and the total lack of communication that frustrated the hell out of me, I didn't like so much. I can't usually handle the type of story that relies on character silence to drag it out. But I'm not giving up, on to the next Patricia Wilson story!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 21, 2018
My first book by Patricia Wilson has left me craving for more!
“Lingering Melody” was spectacular! Carrie and Matt met each other when she was a completely innocent 19 year old and he was a jaded 33 year old. He seemingly stalled her. Showing up at her school, waiting for her at random times, then blowing hot and cold when they were together.
She learned from “friends” that the love of his life lived in America so Carrie assumed his attention was avuncular. His intentions were not.
Even so, the difference between them left her with insecurities and the first challenge she faced had her running. While running she learned that she was pregnant and had twins.
Years later, she is face to face with him again and this time he is cold and cruel. So delightfully cold and cruel! There was blackmail, and manipulation until he got whet he wanted.
I loved how easily Matt accepted the twins, even though he thought they were someone else’s children.
Although he was cold and cruel at times, there were so many ways he showed how much he loved Carrie. And although she had aged and become a mother, Carries was still so insecure where Matt was concerned.
This one is a keeper that I will pull off the bookshelf and read again.
“Lingering Melody” was spectacular! Carrie and Matt met each other when she was a completely innocent 19 year old and he was a jaded 33 year old. He seemingly stalled her. Showing up at her school, waiting for her at random times, then blowing hot and cold when they were together.
She learned from “friends” that the love of his life lived in America so Carrie assumed his attention was avuncular. His intentions were not.
Even so, the difference between them left her with insecurities and the first challenge she faced had her running. While running she learned that she was pregnant and had twins.
Years later, she is face to face with him again and this time he is cold and cruel. So delightfully cold and cruel! There was blackmail, and manipulation until he got whet he wanted.
I loved how easily Matt accepted the twins, even though he thought they were someone else’s children.
Although he was cold and cruel at times, there were so many ways he showed how much he loved Carrie. And although she had aged and become a mother, Carries was still so insecure where Matt was concerned.
This one is a keeper that I will pull off the bookshelf and read again.
December 4, 2015
Couldn't figure out why he rushed to America when he received the letter from OW. The letter was ambiguous and made no reference to her health issue. In the end he explains how the OW had treated him and how he had been phasing out his business in America as a way of dissolving their partnership. That made the reason for his urgent trip seem rather odd. Also odd that if this woman was dying, why did she send a letter with a photo rather than picking up the phone? Other things didn't add up as well, for example telling h how much he loved her and that he knew he had to go slow to win her did nothing to explain why he treated her like dirt. How was that supposed to woo her?
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