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Woman of Honour
She'd lost her trust in menNot one, but two bad experiences with men had put Molly strictly on the defensive. From now on she'd have nothing to do with them.So Molly concentrated instead on the gourmet catering service she and a friend ran. Which was a pity. Because Molly was a woman who really wanted to love and be loved fully.Then Richard Pembroke, a persuasive lawyer, came dramatically into her life. Would Molly be able to overcome her doubts, to see that with Richard the past didn't matter?
189 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1986
5 people are currently reading
110 people want to read
About the author
Emma Darcy
640 books327 followersEmma Darcy is the pseudonym created by the married writing team of Wendy (1940-2020) and Frank Brennan (1936-1995). Their life journey has taken as many twists and turns as the characters in their stories, whose international popularity has resulted in over sixty-million book sales. With more than a hundred titles, Emma Darcy appeared regularly on the Waldenbooks bestseller lists in the U.S.A. and in the Nielson BookScan Top 100 chart in the U.K.
Wendy was born 28 November 1940 in Australia. Her sister was the novelist Maureen Mary (Miranda Lee). Her father was a country school teacher and brilliant sportsman. Her mother was a talented dressmaker. She obtained an Honours degree in Latin and initially worked as a high school English/French teacher. She married Frank Brennan, an Australian businessman born in 1936. She changed careers to computer programming before marriage and motherhood settled her into a community life. She was reputedly the first woman computer programmer in the southern hemisphere.
As voracious readers, the step to writing their own books seemed a natural progression and the challenge of creating exciting stories was soon highly addictive. They were published since 1983. In 1993, for the Emma Darcy pseudonym's 10th anniversary, they created the "Emma Darcy Award Contest" to encourage authors to finish their manuscripts. After the death of Frank Brennan in 1995, Wendy wrotes books on her own. She lived in a beachside property on the central coast of New South Wales, and liked to travel extensively to research settings and increase her experience of places and people.
Wendy Brennan passed away on December 21, 2020. She is survived by her children, grandchildren, and sister, writer Miranda Lee.
Wendy was born 28 November 1940 in Australia. Her sister was the novelist Maureen Mary (Miranda Lee). Her father was a country school teacher and brilliant sportsman. Her mother was a talented dressmaker. She obtained an Honours degree in Latin and initially worked as a high school English/French teacher. She married Frank Brennan, an Australian businessman born in 1936. She changed careers to computer programming before marriage and motherhood settled her into a community life. She was reputedly the first woman computer programmer in the southern hemisphere.
As voracious readers, the step to writing their own books seemed a natural progression and the challenge of creating exciting stories was soon highly addictive. They were published since 1983. In 1993, for the Emma Darcy pseudonym's 10th anniversary, they created the "Emma Darcy Award Contest" to encourage authors to finish their manuscripts. After the death of Frank Brennan in 1995, Wendy wrotes books on her own. She lived in a beachside property on the central coast of New South Wales, and liked to travel extensively to research settings and increase her experience of places and people.
Wendy Brennan passed away on December 21, 2020. She is survived by her children, grandchildren, and sister, writer Miranda Lee.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
May 27, 2016
Re Woman of Honour- ED brings us a 26yr old h who has been badly betrayed by love, but tho she is cautious, she is still willing to take a chance (and incidentally correct other people's gross misjudgments with the fiery conviction of an archangel with a flaming sword.)
HPlandia doesn't offer many h smackdowns for bad behavior, but WOH is high on the list for greatest HP h's who firmly address very badly behaving other characters with some serious verbal ammunition.
The h is caterer on holiday when the book opens, she had a very bad love affair while training in Paris - she met a man, fell in love and was thinking wedding bells and babies and then found out he was already married and she was his bit on the side.
She broke it off and it broke her heart. She is in the catering business with another dear friend whose husband ran off and abandoned her with a ton of debt and no reason for his walkabout for the last two years. Her own bad luck and her friend's misfortune aside, the h isn't quite ready to write the male population off. She meets a man on holiday and tho he travels a lot for work, she is hoping he can be the start of a beautiful new relationship.
Until she is out with him on his first night in town and runs into his brother in law at the ballet. The BIL is very contemptuous of the h and accuses her of everything short of outright prostitution, dressing her down in the middle of a crowded upper class ballet going group foyer.
The h is initially in shock, she had no idear the man was married - he doesn't wear a ring and he certainly did not act like a married person ought to. Then the H continues giving her contemptuous looks across the room and the h loses her temper.
SHE did not do anything wrong and the BIL had very little to say to the person actually trying to commit adultery - according to the BIL it was all her fault. Well, she isn't having any of that! So she marches across the foyer and gives the BIL a piece of her mind.
The h snaps the BIL right up to attention when she proceeds to insult his intelligence, his integrity and his judgement (and him a Queen's Council barrister too,) in his rush to be judge, jury and executioner. She also suggests that while condemning the woman and absolving the man, he might want to solder a wedding ring to his sister's property, so innocent women could be warned and not get involved. But since that is obviously beyond his capabilities, perhaps he could just keep his spite reserved to those who deserve it.
The man she was with starts in on her for attacking his BIL and the h knocks him a good smack on the face, (too bad she left her emergency skillet at home,) tells him to stay far, far away from her , and then takes herself home - sadly broken hearted and alone again.
The h is very traumatized, but at least she has her career and it is through her dinner party catering that the next bit of drama unfolds. The h's partner books a new client, the h will be doing the serving while her partner does her signature entrees. T
hey get to the upper class parvenu's house and the BIL is a dinner guest. Since the h recognizes the hostess from the ballet where she smackdowned the BIL, she realizes that the whole situation is a Mean Girl setup. The h braces for the firestorm but finds an unexpected ally in the BIL. He apologizes sincerely to the h for the farce going on around them and at the end of the excellent dinner, proceeds to verbally demolish the host and hostess and all the avid little gossip vipers gathered around.
Win for the H and h and the society types have some egg on their face. The h is happy her honour has been restored and then she gets a single ballet ticket from the BIL as an apology. The h goes to the ballet and who should be sitting right next to her but the BIL. They have a nice conversation and he takes her out for some really good Chinese.
Then he asks her out again, for a little day trip to see the sights and the h (tho very nervous about the whole thing, ) agrees to go. The H sends her roses during the week and when date day rolls around, we find the h wary but hopeful once again.
We are all treated to a mini tour of the convict settlement era of Australia and the brief foray into the ancestral history of the H and h. He is English with a great grandfather who stole a bible and the h comes from a long line of Irish rebels.
The h is very attracted to the H and he is out of town during the week, but makes a succession of dates for the forthcoming weekends. The h is trying to avoid a physical relationship with the H because she wants more than just a fling, she wants a forever man.
The H finally puts the question to the h of if she really likes him or not and the h admits she is very interested. The H is very interested back and they decide to spend the next Sunday at the H's house. The h is willing to take yet another chance on a love life and decides to give into the passion. Fiery lurve clubbing ensues and all is a rosy glow with the h's hopes for marriage running high.
Then the door bell rings in the middle of post passion bliss. It is the H's sister - who is upset that her hubby has been cheating on her. The h is trying to make a delicate exit, but then the cheating hubby shows up and the game is up when he recognizes the h and the sister figures out the situation. She immediately starts attacking the h and the h just wants to leave.
The H doesn't want her to go tho, his parents divorced over a midlife crisis affair when he was 19 and the sister was 12 and he wants the h to save his sister's marriage-- just cause one partner is a cheating slimeball is no reason to ruin a perfectly good marriage with divorce.
The h doesn't want to get any more involved, she wasn't trying to have an affair with ANYONE, she just wanted a shot a decent romance and maybe a marriage. The H tells her she is selfish if she doesn't help and the h realizes that the H was basically using her too. So with some bitter resolve and a wish for a skillet, she goes to sort the rotten little parasitic slime cells on a nematode out.
Which she proceeds to do in a brilliant verbal dressing down and making-everyone-thoroughly-ashamed-of-themselves scene that showed every single person there for the self-centered egotists they really are.
The h points out the disingenuousness of the sister's hubby for lying and deceiving an innocent woman. Then she points out that the sister has never had to compete in the slim pickings for a worthy man and doesn't appreciate what she had. (ED did a good job of showing how both the sister and the husband had neglected their marriage and how both of them were at fault for the mess they made.)
She tops it all off by offering the husband a second chance with her, if he is going to be free, and the sister physically attacks the h and whines like the pathetic worm she is, but reconciles with her equally wormy hubby. Then the H kicks them all out to take the h home.
The h is very heartbroken once again, and salt is poured on her open wounds when she gets home and her business partner's husband has returned from his walkabout. He got into trouble gambling and that is why he left his wife broke and abandoned because unsavory types were looking for him to settle his debt.
He is reformed a bit now and the h's friend is ready to reconcile - so the h is walking into domestic bliss while her own hopes of domesticity and babies have just flushed down the drain. Then the H asks her if she still loves his sister's husband. The h firmly denies this, she just did what she had to do to get them back together. She tells the H goodbye and he insists that he loves her and they never have to see his sister again if the h will marry him.
The h avows true lurve forever back and it is off to the golden shores of passionate love and making plans for a wedding for the big HEA.
In terms of the awesome h smackdown, this book is a clear winner. In terms of the HEA believability it is a win too. I do question the h's swift decent into tru lurve tho.
First she "loves" a guy who she has spent one night hanging out with (she never slept with the sister's husband - she was dating by All the Rules: Time-Tested Secrets for Capturing the Heart of Mr. Right system for getting a man.)
Then when that ends in disaster, she falls in "love" with the H in about 6 dates. Granted I could overlook the H part - this IS HPlandia- but I did have some moments where I wondered if she was just in love with being in love and it also seemed to me that her desperation was more for a marriage, and pretty much any marriage would do.
I can't say I approve of the whole condemnation of divorce for adultery sub trope either. (I have VIEWS about taking a cheater back willy nilly,) but I also make allowances once again for the alien culture - so overall I just rolled with the HP tidal flow and totally enjoyed the h and H's verbal defenses of their individual honour and each other.
HPlandia doesn't offer many h smackdowns for bad behavior, but WOH is high on the list for greatest HP h's who firmly address very badly behaving other characters with some serious verbal ammunition.
The h is caterer on holiday when the book opens, she had a very bad love affair while training in Paris - she met a man, fell in love and was thinking wedding bells and babies and then found out he was already married and she was his bit on the side.
She broke it off and it broke her heart. She is in the catering business with another dear friend whose husband ran off and abandoned her with a ton of debt and no reason for his walkabout for the last two years. Her own bad luck and her friend's misfortune aside, the h isn't quite ready to write the male population off. She meets a man on holiday and tho he travels a lot for work, she is hoping he can be the start of a beautiful new relationship.
Until she is out with him on his first night in town and runs into his brother in law at the ballet. The BIL is very contemptuous of the h and accuses her of everything short of outright prostitution, dressing her down in the middle of a crowded upper class ballet going group foyer.
The h is initially in shock, she had no idear the man was married - he doesn't wear a ring and he certainly did not act like a married person ought to. Then the H continues giving her contemptuous looks across the room and the h loses her temper.
SHE did not do anything wrong and the BIL had very little to say to the person actually trying to commit adultery - according to the BIL it was all her fault. Well, she isn't having any of that! So she marches across the foyer and gives the BIL a piece of her mind.
The h snaps the BIL right up to attention when she proceeds to insult his intelligence, his integrity and his judgement (and him a Queen's Council barrister too,) in his rush to be judge, jury and executioner. She also suggests that while condemning the woman and absolving the man, he might want to solder a wedding ring to his sister's property, so innocent women could be warned and not get involved. But since that is obviously beyond his capabilities, perhaps he could just keep his spite reserved to those who deserve it.
The man she was with starts in on her for attacking his BIL and the h knocks him a good smack on the face, (too bad she left her emergency skillet at home,) tells him to stay far, far away from her , and then takes herself home - sadly broken hearted and alone again.
The h is very traumatized, but at least she has her career and it is through her dinner party catering that the next bit of drama unfolds. The h's partner books a new client, the h will be doing the serving while her partner does her signature entrees. T
hey get to the upper class parvenu's house and the BIL is a dinner guest. Since the h recognizes the hostess from the ballet where she smackdowned the BIL, she realizes that the whole situation is a Mean Girl setup. The h braces for the firestorm but finds an unexpected ally in the BIL. He apologizes sincerely to the h for the farce going on around them and at the end of the excellent dinner, proceeds to verbally demolish the host and hostess and all the avid little gossip vipers gathered around.
Win for the H and h and the society types have some egg on their face. The h is happy her honour has been restored and then she gets a single ballet ticket from the BIL as an apology. The h goes to the ballet and who should be sitting right next to her but the BIL. They have a nice conversation and he takes her out for some really good Chinese.
Then he asks her out again, for a little day trip to see the sights and the h (tho very nervous about the whole thing, ) agrees to go. The H sends her roses during the week and when date day rolls around, we find the h wary but hopeful once again.
We are all treated to a mini tour of the convict settlement era of Australia and the brief foray into the ancestral history of the H and h. He is English with a great grandfather who stole a bible and the h comes from a long line of Irish rebels.
The h is very attracted to the H and he is out of town during the week, but makes a succession of dates for the forthcoming weekends. The h is trying to avoid a physical relationship with the H because she wants more than just a fling, she wants a forever man.
The H finally puts the question to the h of if she really likes him or not and the h admits she is very interested. The H is very interested back and they decide to spend the next Sunday at the H's house. The h is willing to take yet another chance on a love life and decides to give into the passion. Fiery lurve clubbing ensues and all is a rosy glow with the h's hopes for marriage running high.
Then the door bell rings in the middle of post passion bliss. It is the H's sister - who is upset that her hubby has been cheating on her. The h is trying to make a delicate exit, but then the cheating hubby shows up and the game is up when he recognizes the h and the sister figures out the situation. She immediately starts attacking the h and the h just wants to leave.
The H doesn't want her to go tho, his parents divorced over a midlife crisis affair when he was 19 and the sister was 12 and he wants the h to save his sister's marriage-- just cause one partner is a cheating slimeball is no reason to ruin a perfectly good marriage with divorce.
The h doesn't want to get any more involved, she wasn't trying to have an affair with ANYONE, she just wanted a shot a decent romance and maybe a marriage. The H tells her she is selfish if she doesn't help and the h realizes that the H was basically using her too. So with some bitter resolve and a wish for a skillet, she goes to sort the rotten little parasitic slime cells on a nematode out.
Which she proceeds to do in a brilliant verbal dressing down and making-everyone-thoroughly-ashamed-of-themselves scene that showed every single person there for the self-centered egotists they really are.
The h points out the disingenuousness of the sister's hubby for lying and deceiving an innocent woman. Then she points out that the sister has never had to compete in the slim pickings for a worthy man and doesn't appreciate what she had. (ED did a good job of showing how both the sister and the husband had neglected their marriage and how both of them were at fault for the mess they made.)
She tops it all off by offering the husband a second chance with her, if he is going to be free, and the sister physically attacks the h and whines like the pathetic worm she is, but reconciles with her equally wormy hubby. Then the H kicks them all out to take the h home.
The h is very heartbroken once again, and salt is poured on her open wounds when she gets home and her business partner's husband has returned from his walkabout. He got into trouble gambling and that is why he left his wife broke and abandoned because unsavory types were looking for him to settle his debt.
He is reformed a bit now and the h's friend is ready to reconcile - so the h is walking into domestic bliss while her own hopes of domesticity and babies have just flushed down the drain. Then the H asks her if she still loves his sister's husband. The h firmly denies this, she just did what she had to do to get them back together. She tells the H goodbye and he insists that he loves her and they never have to see his sister again if the h will marry him.
The h avows true lurve forever back and it is off to the golden shores of passionate love and making plans for a wedding for the big HEA.
In terms of the awesome h smackdown, this book is a clear winner. In terms of the HEA believability it is a win too. I do question the h's swift decent into tru lurve tho.
First she "loves" a guy who she has spent one night hanging out with (she never slept with the sister's husband - she was dating by All the Rules: Time-Tested Secrets for Capturing the Heart of Mr. Right system for getting a man.)
Then when that ends in disaster, she falls in "love" with the H in about 6 dates. Granted I could overlook the H part - this IS HPlandia- but I did have some moments where I wondered if she was just in love with being in love and it also seemed to me that her desperation was more for a marriage, and pretty much any marriage would do.
I can't say I approve of the whole condemnation of divorce for adultery sub trope either. (I have VIEWS about taking a cheater back willy nilly,) but I also make allowances once again for the alien culture - so overall I just rolled with the HP tidal flow and totally enjoyed the h and H's verbal defenses of their individual honour and each other.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 12, 2018
Mixed emotions. Read for the stand-up scenes of the heroine.
The moral of this story is it's better to have a lying, cheating pig of a husband than no man at all. The heroine dodges a bullet through pure luck more than anything else, but her best friend and the H's sister all end up scraping the bottom of the barrel. The best friend's husband abandoned her two years ago, and he cries his way back into good graces, and the H's sister is stuck with a loser. I'm actually okay with that as she's a big zero too.
Plot: Finally getting over the pain of a romance with a duplicitous married man, the h is finally ready to move on. Unfortunately her first step puts her in the path of yet another lying piece of scum who's married. With children.
The H sees them at the ballet and makes a point of shaming her as a marriage breaker-upper. Absolutely furious at the injustice of this, the heroine lays out the hero then goes back and lays out the lying swine. As he whines why did she have to make a big scene, she cements the ugly scene with a big ole slap that made this reader very happy.
A caterer, she's hired by some awful and snide society types to cater a dinner where the H has been invited. The hosts hope for fireworks as part of the entertainment, but the hero who is a very nice and honorable guy feels bad about his accusations (plus he wants the h) pulls the rug out from under the rude hosts. Nice scene there as well.
H and h start a romance where I agree with Boogenhagen, this girl falls in love a little too quickly and is a little too desperate. She wants a commitment before they have sex, and he's,"OK"! Bad post coital timing when his bratty little sister arrives hysterical because her husband is having an affair. Fireworks when the lying piece of scum shows up, and it all becomes the women's fault. The lying piece of scum's POV is that he's unappreciated, and bratty little sister still blames the heroine despite the fact she never knew the guy was married. I hated this scene as all the rationalizations and excuses were so cemented in HP world.
The H promises they won't have to see the sister and husband again, but reality rears it's ugly head in my mind and you just know his mother is going to force the issue. Thanksgiving and Christmas will be so awkward!
Fun times with the heroine standing up for herself, but overall a little sad and sordid that so many of the women settled for worse than second best. The whole book reminded me of Marie (Carrie Fisher) in When Harry Met Sally, desperate for a man.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Ww5v...
The moral of this story is it's better to have a lying, cheating pig of a husband than no man at all. The heroine dodges a bullet through pure luck more than anything else, but her best friend and the H's sister all end up scraping the bottom of the barrel. The best friend's husband abandoned her two years ago, and he cries his way back into good graces, and the H's sister is stuck with a loser. I'm actually okay with that as she's a big zero too.
Plot: Finally getting over the pain of a romance with a duplicitous married man, the h is finally ready to move on. Unfortunately her first step puts her in the path of yet another lying piece of scum who's married. With children.
The H sees them at the ballet and makes a point of shaming her as a marriage breaker-upper. Absolutely furious at the injustice of this, the heroine lays out the hero then goes back and lays out the lying swine. As he whines why did she have to make a big scene, she cements the ugly scene with a big ole slap that made this reader very happy.
A caterer, she's hired by some awful and snide society types to cater a dinner where the H has been invited. The hosts hope for fireworks as part of the entertainment, but the hero who is a very nice and honorable guy feels bad about his accusations (plus he wants the h) pulls the rug out from under the rude hosts. Nice scene there as well.
H and h start a romance where I agree with Boogenhagen, this girl falls in love a little too quickly and is a little too desperate. She wants a commitment before they have sex, and he's,"OK"! Bad post coital timing when his bratty little sister arrives hysterical because her husband is having an affair. Fireworks when the lying piece of scum shows up, and it all becomes the women's fault. The lying piece of scum's POV is that he's unappreciated, and bratty little sister still blames the heroine despite the fact she never knew the guy was married. I hated this scene as all the rationalizations and excuses were so cemented in HP world.
The H promises they won't have to see the sister and husband again, but reality rears it's ugly head in my mind and you just know his mother is going to force the issue. Thanksgiving and Christmas will be so awkward!
Fun times with the heroine standing up for herself, but overall a little sad and sordid that so many of the women settled for worse than second best. The whole book reminded me of Marie (Carrie Fisher) in When Harry Met Sally, desperate for a man.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Ww5v...
August 18, 2017
Nice courtship story with a great hero who can admit when he is wrong and persists after the heroine in non-stalkerish way. The conflict comes from the heroine being burned twice by married men. The first time in Paris where she was attending a cordon bleu cooking school and the second time when she is swept off of her feet by the hero's brother-in-law. (Although there was no physical affair, the lonely heroine was very tempted until she found out he was married.)
There are some interesting set pieces with the meaning of the each scene underscored by the art or literature being discussed.
At a ballet, which is about a woman who is gang raped and is tempted to go to another world with a bird because of the brutality of men, the heroine is publicly shamed by the hero that her escort is a married man. Theme: pain.
At a dinner party the heroine is catering, the host and hostess hope to humiliate the H/h by reminding them of the heroine's telling off of the hero at the ballet. Instead, the hero launches into a defense of the heroine and pleads guilty to being wrong. Theme: justice
At the next ballet the heroine attends with the hero she is enraptured with Anna Karenina - the woman who died for love and being shunned by society while the men got off free. Theme: perils of passion
At the Chinese restaurant the hero is welcomed because he defended the owner who was up on a murder charge for protecting his wife. Theme: Good men protect
At their outing to the Blue Mountains the H/h discuss their family history. She of the Irish rebels. He of the English overlords. Theme: Old hurts healed
The heroine's business partner is reunited with her husband when she discovers he left her because of gambling debts, not another woman. Theme: misunderstandings can be cleared up. Faults can be forgiven.
The final scene has the heroine (after finally going to bed with the H) facing the OM and the hero's sister as they drag their shaky marriage to the hero's doorstep. The sister gets to have her say about the pain the her husband has caused her - and the heroine does, too. It's an interesting dynamic having the "OW" and the wife raking the husband over the coals. Theme: Being a selfish pig hurts a lot of people.
The heroine thinks it's over for the H/h since she doesn't see how they can sit down to Christmas Dinner with the hero's family if she is there. The hero thinks differently. She will be his family if his sister doesn't like it - too bad. HEA
This was a nicely structured novel, as you can see. I really liked the hero - more than the heroine who was a bit of a drama queen. But I think she'll keep it interesting. Anyone who can argue with a lawyer and cook is a real catch. The OM needs a bell on him. I don't think the heroine did the H's sister any favors by urging her to reconcile. He's a salesman with a huge ego and lots of opportunity to cheat. I'm not buying their HEA.
There are some interesting set pieces with the meaning of the each scene underscored by the art or literature being discussed.
At a ballet, which is about a woman who is gang raped and is tempted to go to another world with a bird because of the brutality of men, the heroine is publicly shamed by the hero that her escort is a married man. Theme: pain.
At a dinner party the heroine is catering, the host and hostess hope to humiliate the H/h by reminding them of the heroine's telling off of the hero at the ballet. Instead, the hero launches into a defense of the heroine and pleads guilty to being wrong. Theme: justice
At the next ballet the heroine attends with the hero she is enraptured with Anna Karenina - the woman who died for love and being shunned by society while the men got off free. Theme: perils of passion
At the Chinese restaurant the hero is welcomed because he defended the owner who was up on a murder charge for protecting his wife. Theme: Good men protect
At their outing to the Blue Mountains the H/h discuss their family history. She of the Irish rebels. He of the English overlords. Theme: Old hurts healed
The heroine's business partner is reunited with her husband when she discovers he left her because of gambling debts, not another woman. Theme: misunderstandings can be cleared up. Faults can be forgiven.
The final scene has the heroine (after finally going to bed with the H) facing the OM and the hero's sister as they drag their shaky marriage to the hero's doorstep. The sister gets to have her say about the pain the her husband has caused her - and the heroine does, too. It's an interesting dynamic having the "OW" and the wife raking the husband over the coals. Theme: Being a selfish pig hurts a lot of people.
The heroine thinks it's over for the H/h since she doesn't see how they can sit down to Christmas Dinner with the hero's family if she is there. The hero thinks differently. She will be his family if his sister doesn't like it - too bad. HEA
This was a nicely structured novel, as you can see. I really liked the hero - more than the heroine who was a bit of a drama queen. But I think she'll keep it interesting. Anyone who can argue with a lawyer and cook is a real catch. The OM needs a bell on him. I don't think the heroine did the H's sister any favors by urging her to reconcile. He's a salesman with a huge ego and lots of opportunity to cheat. I'm not buying their HEA.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 27, 2021
I revisited this one today and enjoyed it even more than the first time.
Such wonderful MCs, that I had to add another star!
...............
What a satisfying little read!
Not much happens, but it sure doesn't lack for 'feels'.
Molly has bad luck with men, her first love turned out to be married and now another man professing love for her turns out to be married too! The way she finds this out is publicly and dramatically!
It was delicious the way she sets not just Jeremy (the self professed lover) but his judgmental brother-in-law, Richard, as well.
But she will meet Richard again, and this time the scene they cause will be quite different.
I loved how I could really feel the awkward insecurity from both of them, as they fell in love...
'Does she care?', 'Does he care?'
There's a final dramatic scene at the end that sets their relationship on it's head just as they were professing their feelings for the first time. The worst timing!
But the author doesn't let things fester and even goes against the usual formulaic expectations in Richard's heartfelt declarations.
Loved it!
but 4 stars instead of 5 because it does get kinda slow here and there.
Safety is all good
Such wonderful MCs, that I had to add another star!
...............
What a satisfying little read!
Not much happens, but it sure doesn't lack for 'feels'.
Molly has bad luck with men, her first love turned out to be married and now another man professing love for her turns out to be married too! The way she finds this out is publicly and dramatically!
It was delicious the way she sets not just Jeremy (the self professed lover) but his judgmental brother-in-law, Richard, as well.
But she will meet Richard again, and this time the scene they cause will be quite different.
I loved how I could really feel the awkward insecurity from both of them, as they fell in love...
'Does she care?', 'Does he care?'
There's a final dramatic scene at the end that sets their relationship on it's head just as they were professing their feelings for the first time. The worst timing!
But the author doesn't let things fester and even goes against the usual formulaic expectations in Richard's heartfelt declarations.
Loved it!
but 4 stars instead of 5 because it does get kinda slow here and there.
Safety is all good
November 12, 2018
HAIKU BOOK REVIEW: Woman of Honour, by Emma Darcy.
Woman of honour,
but sadly, not of wisdom,
you deserved better.
Woman of honour,
but sadly, not of wisdom,
you deserved better.
August 24, 2021
"Woman of Honour" is the story of Molly and Richard.
Heroine is looking for love, albeit in the wrong places. Turns out two of her boyfriends have been married with kids. The hero is a lawyer, who turns out to be brother to the second cheater's sister. He calls out the heroine, she- finally disillusioned- doesnt like it- and asks him to actually blame his brother in law. Anyways, they begin a relationship, feelings get involved, and the book ends in one of the most cringe sequences where the heroine, hero, cheater 2 and wife/ hero's sister are in a four way argument. The conversation then revolves around heroine wanting to have sex with cheater 2, being in love with him- INFRONT OF THE HERO AND HIS WIFE- and then telling the wife how good she has?
UM BIG NOPE. Not my idea of a romance, the big moment or not.
Safe
1/5
Heroine is looking for love, albeit in the wrong places. Turns out two of her boyfriends have been married with kids. The hero is a lawyer, who turns out to be brother to the second cheater's sister. He calls out the heroine, she- finally disillusioned- doesnt like it- and asks him to actually blame his brother in law. Anyways, they begin a relationship, feelings get involved, and the book ends in one of the most cringe sequences where the heroine, hero, cheater 2 and wife/ hero's sister are in a four way argument. The conversation then revolves around heroine wanting to have sex with cheater 2, being in love with him- INFRONT OF THE HERO AND HIS WIFE- and then telling the wife how good she has?
UM BIG NOPE. Not my idea of a romance, the big moment or not.
Safe
1/5
December 21, 2023
Downgrading this to 2.5 stars. Heroine and the whole cast of characters just drove me batty.
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3.5 to 4 stars. This one was definitely different from most HP's you will read. The heroine is strong, passionate and doesn't shirk from defending herself. However, she seems to be a radar for married men who want to step out on their wives. The hero sees her with his brother-in-law at the ballet and insults her when he accuses her of being a home wrecker.
The heroine fights back. She publicly and loudly sets the record straight with the hero, and slaps the conniving, cheating brother-in-law in the face.
The only negative I found in the story, was it did seem like the heroine was rather shallow and fickle when it came to love. She was so desperate to love and be loved, that she fell for any man that looked at her twice. Had she been more selective, she might have avoided some heartache. It was hard for me to sympathize with her.
The hero was wonderful.
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3.5 to 4 stars. This one was definitely different from most HP's you will read. The heroine is strong, passionate and doesn't shirk from defending herself. However, she seems to be a radar for married men who want to step out on their wives. The hero sees her with his brother-in-law at the ballet and insults her when he accuses her of being a home wrecker.
The heroine fights back. She publicly and loudly sets the record straight with the hero, and slaps the conniving, cheating brother-in-law in the face.
The only negative I found in the story, was it did seem like the heroine was rather shallow and fickle when it came to love. She was so desperate to love and be loved, that she fell for any man that looked at her twice. Had she been more selective, she might have avoided some heartache. It was hard for me to sympathize with her.
The hero was wonderful.
July 24, 2011
The description of this book here on GoodReads is not what's on the back of the volume I have. The hero of this book is named Richard, Jeremy is the 'other man'. The heroine is very moral and stands up for herself vociferously although she is a bit of a drama queen. The hero pussy foots around her a bit because she is so rigid. The end becomes just a bit muddled but is in the same vein of the heroine stridently standing up for herself. Interesting to read just to see her slap the bad guy and tell the good guy off at the top of her voice in public. I liked it. Maybe 3-1/2 stars really
March 4, 2011
Very. VERY. Good
Very rarely do I see a realistic book coming out of HQN - I mean yes it's romance but how many couple do we think will stick it out really?
This one I picked out randomly at the book store cuz of Emma Darcy's name - I loved "Blind Date" for very strong writing and I thought I'd give this one a chance too..
Let's see:
1-Very strong meaningful/thought provoking dialog
2- Strong heroine
3- side stories plural
4- Ever wondered what happened to the OW?
5- You can see theirs shall be a bond for life....
I still don't want to give the story away cuz that ruins the story for me so I can PM you if wish to know =)
Very rarely do I see a realistic book coming out of HQN - I mean yes it's romance but how many couple do we think will stick it out really?
This one I picked out randomly at the book store cuz of Emma Darcy's name - I loved "Blind Date" for very strong writing and I thought I'd give this one a chance too..
Let's see:
1-Very strong meaningful/thought provoking dialog
2- Strong heroine
3- side stories plural
4- Ever wondered what happened to the OW?
5- You can see theirs shall be a bond for life....
I still don't want to give the story away cuz that ruins the story for me so I can PM you if wish to know =)
December 19, 2013
Really good book, the heroine has been burnt badly in love so when she finds out the new guy in her life is also duplicitous, she slaps him and insults the hero who questioned her character. She meets the hero again, at a party her company is cooking for and this time the hero apologizes. This book was a bit different in my book, quieter, the hero pursues the heroine who is very wary of men and even intimacy and when she does give in his family appears and the heroine again acts honourably. I kind of found the book an unusual read.
October 6, 2023
This was lovely, the kind you finish with a smile on your face. I usually run a mile from romances with chef/cook/baker characters (spare me the little cupcake cafes of this world, I'm not a fan) but I make an exception for HP. The h, Molly, does dinner party catering with her friend, Beth. Beth has been abandoned by her husband and is Bitter About Men. Molly has already had the wool pulled by one married man with kids and is hoping the latest man is a sure thing. At the ballet on a date they are accosted in the interval by an excoriating bloke who turns out to be Richard Pembroke QC, the brother of new man's wife. Yep, another cheater. The accoster lays into them both. Molly isn't standing for that and accosts him right back, then slaps her beau and leaves, promising herself she's through with men. Guess who she sees again at a catered dinner she's serving at. Turns out the bitchy hostess has set both Molly and Richard up as the entertainment. Anyhow, a lovely romantic courtship ensues where Richard is the perfect gentleman and Porsche driving date about town and Molly fights her feelings for him, determined not to succumb to a mere affair. There's a reconciliation for Beth and a horrible family confrontation but Richard comes up trumps and I have high hopes for this couple. A nice read.
November 11, 2018
The h is a very likable character who has been burned before by someone related to the H, so there are a lot of barriers present. There's a scene at the end where the h pours her heart out, and it's quite believable. What adds a twist to it is that the H is trying to manipulate her into admitting her feelings for him, but it ends up being an extremely cruel thing to do and backfires on him terribly, and he deserves it. However, all in all he is an Alpha H who is also not a jerk and definitely loves the h, so he's forgiven in my book.
December 1, 2020
the good:
For all the times righteous indignation must be tamped down IRL or when one has the burning desire to administer a verbal set down but can't come up with the proper zinger in the moment, Woman of Honour is extremely satisfying.
I loved Richard's self-deprecating humor and emotional intelligence and how when he makes mistakes he apologizes in a manner that shows he understands what he did wrong. This is in complete contrast to his jerk brother-in-law and wannabe OM, Jeremy, who apologizes situationally and resentfully and with the aim to bring the other person down to his level as though to show he doesn't have that much to apologize for after all! He's so gross.
It's an absolutely believable HEA. Molly and Richard are perfect for each other, like two nerds in a pod and I look forward to meeting them at the ballet some day.
things I didn't like:
Molly is strangely juvenile in regards to romantic relationships. How can she possibly believe Jeremy's professed "love" is anything other than sexual opportunism? Or consider the possibility that she is in love with him? They've literally known each other for half a day. I feel as though I'm blaming the victim here but honestly dear, jerks will keep spouting this lie to get women into bed as long as women like you need the pretense to rationalize wanting sex!
Molly is totally correct that Richard shouldn't have used emotional manipulation to force her to intercede in Jeremy's and his sister's marital troubles, but I suppose he thought she would simply state she hadn't slept with the jerk and be done with it. She wasn't being asked to reveal her entire romantic history or break out her amateur reverse psychology tricks. That she'd already determined that love is a zero-sum game and Richard had chosen his sister over her, without talking it over with him or fighting for their relationship speaks to her immaturity. Which leads to her ill-considered burning of bridges where she decides to take everyone else down with her under the guise of doing what Richard asked of her. It's less a verbal smackdown than a sour combination of her lack of emotional/romantic intelligence and her envy that Richard's miserable sister gets to have a miserable scumbag husband and poor Molly gets nothing!! unless you are counting her thriving business, beauty and hot sex with the nice guy of her dreams as something, which Molly definitely is not!
Molly's desperation for marriage, which was reinforced with three separate examples, implies that for a woman, being married is always preferable to being single! No matter how crummy or cheating or lying the husband. I was disappointed in ED here!
And now I'm just being petty but the labored use of the word honour as a description of both Molly's and Richard's behavior throughout the book irritated me. This is my prejudice but I have no use for the concept of honour when throughout history and literature it seems to function primarily as a self-justifying gloss over indefensible male behavior. With Othello, The Count Of Monte Cristo and hideously real life honor killings as examples. And anyway, I can't even figure out what is supposed to be so extraordinarily honorable about Molly's actions. So she slaps him and refuses to have any further contact with Jeremy when she learns he is married? That seems a rather low bar.
For all the times righteous indignation must be tamped down IRL or when one has the burning desire to administer a verbal set down but can't come up with the proper zinger in the moment, Woman of Honour is extremely satisfying.
I loved Richard's self-deprecating humor and emotional intelligence and how when he makes mistakes he apologizes in a manner that shows he understands what he did wrong. This is in complete contrast to his jerk brother-in-law and wannabe OM, Jeremy, who apologizes situationally and resentfully and with the aim to bring the other person down to his level as though to show he doesn't have that much to apologize for after all! He's so gross.
It's an absolutely believable HEA. Molly and Richard are perfect for each other, like two nerds in a pod and I look forward to meeting them at the ballet some day.
things I didn't like:
Molly is strangely juvenile in regards to romantic relationships. How can she possibly believe Jeremy's professed "love" is anything other than sexual opportunism? Or consider the possibility that she is in love with him? They've literally known each other for half a day. I feel as though I'm blaming the victim here but honestly dear, jerks will keep spouting this lie to get women into bed as long as women like you need the pretense to rationalize wanting sex!
Molly is totally correct that Richard shouldn't have used emotional manipulation to force her to intercede in Jeremy's and his sister's marital troubles, but I suppose he thought she would simply state she hadn't slept with the jerk and be done with it. She wasn't being asked to reveal her entire romantic history or break out her amateur reverse psychology tricks. That she'd already determined that love is a zero-sum game and Richard had chosen his sister over her, without talking it over with him or fighting for their relationship speaks to her immaturity. Which leads to her ill-considered burning of bridges where she decides to take everyone else down with her under the guise of doing what Richard asked of her. It's less a verbal smackdown than a sour combination of her lack of emotional/romantic intelligence and her envy that Richard's miserable sister gets to have a miserable scumbag husband and poor Molly gets nothing!! unless you are counting her thriving business, beauty and hot sex with the nice guy of her dreams as something, which Molly definitely is not!
Molly's desperation for marriage, which was reinforced with three separate examples, implies that for a woman, being married is always preferable to being single! No matter how crummy or cheating or lying the husband. I was disappointed in ED here!
And now I'm just being petty but the labored use of the word honour as a description of both Molly's and Richard's behavior throughout the book irritated me. This is my prejudice but I have no use for the concept of honour when throughout history and literature it seems to function primarily as a self-justifying gloss over indefensible male behavior. With Othello, The Count Of Monte Cristo and hideously real life honor killings as examples. And anyway, I can't even figure out what is supposed to be so extraordinarily honorable about Molly's actions. So she slaps him and refuses to have any further contact with Jeremy when she learns he is married? That seems a rather low bar.
November 11, 2018
Wow!
This one took me by surprise. There is so much to unpack.
The h met a man that she thought she could have a future with until she learned he was married.
The H was the brother-in-law of the man Molly was falling for. He humiliated her in public accusing her of being a home wrecker.
She got her own back when she told him about himself and his incorrect assumptions in from of a room full of people.
Then they met again at a dinner party that was put together just to try an humiliate them.
They formed a tentative friendship that quickly grew into more for the h. But she was still hesitant to move forward with the H because she’d been hurt before.
After weeks and weeks of dating, she finally admitted her love to herself and allowed the H to make love to her.
And wouldn’t you know that was the day the H’s sister walks up in his house crying about her cheating husband.
Then the cheater comes in soon after. The whole mess hits the fan when the H’s sister realizes that the h is the supposed to be other woman in her marriage.
There are all sorts of ugly accusations thrown at the h. She’s about to leave when the H asks her to stay and help his sis and bro-in-law sort out the mess.
The h has had enough at this point and she lets loose with some truths that they could not handle! It was intense, brutal and brilliant!
What I thought was going to be a quiet, sweet read turned into so much more. It was awesome!
This book makes my favorites list. It was unexpected and wonderfully enjoyable. Ms Darcy wrote a winner with this one.
This one took me by surprise. There is so much to unpack.
The h met a man that she thought she could have a future with until she learned he was married.
The H was the brother-in-law of the man Molly was falling for. He humiliated her in public accusing her of being a home wrecker.
She got her own back when she told him about himself and his incorrect assumptions in from of a room full of people.
Then they met again at a dinner party that was put together just to try an humiliate them.
They formed a tentative friendship that quickly grew into more for the h. But she was still hesitant to move forward with the H because she’d been hurt before.
After weeks and weeks of dating, she finally admitted her love to herself and allowed the H to make love to her.
And wouldn’t you know that was the day the H’s sister walks up in his house crying about her cheating husband.
Then the cheater comes in soon after. The whole mess hits the fan when the H’s sister realizes that the h is the supposed to be other woman in her marriage.
There are all sorts of ugly accusations thrown at the h. She’s about to leave when the H asks her to stay and help his sis and bro-in-law sort out the mess.
The h has had enough at this point and she lets loose with some truths that they could not handle! It was intense, brutal and brilliant!
What I thought was going to be a quiet, sweet read turned into so much more. It was awesome!
This book makes my favorites list. It was unexpected and wonderfully enjoyable. Ms Darcy wrote a winner with this one.
January 23, 2013
3.5 stars
A great book to read after reading a story with a spineless lead lady.
Molly has been burnt not once but twice by married man. She is not just going to stand there and take a verbal tongue bashing from her date's brother in law. She has few things to say on her own behalf and a slap in the face to deliver before she exits,....
A great book to read after reading a story with a spineless lead lady.
Molly has been burnt not once but twice by married man. She is not just going to stand there and take a verbal tongue bashing from her date's brother in law. She has few things to say on her own behalf and a slap in the face to deliver before she exits,....
December 15, 2019
Molly has been burned by love once already and she's seen it happen to her best friend. But she's hopeful of love finally working out for her. But when she's at the opera with her current love, she learns she's been burned again when his brother-in-law appears and starts barraging her for being the other woman. Instead of taking it, she shoots right back at him and puts him in his place. So she's astounded when she's invited to cater a dinner party and he's there. When the mean-ass hostesses turn it into a performance, featuring her and the Hero, Richard, as the entertainment, he stands up for her, calling her a woman of honour. Richard invites her to a ballet and suggests they start dating. Molly is reluctant, fearing the fall and the inevitable burn, but Richard seems like a solid guy, so she gives it a go.
I ended up reading this because so many reviews said this heroine could stand up for herself - and OMG could she definitely. I didn't realize how sick I was of wishy-washy heroines who go home and cry instead of saying what they're feeling and pointing out hypocrisy when it rears its ugly head. Molly has no shortage of precisely cutting words when they're needed and I loved it. She's actually kinda vulnerable because she's not tough as nails, she's also desperate for love and by extension marriage. So much so that she's willing to look at any guy and say, "sure, I could marry him, I think I love him." Fortunately, she does give Richard a bit more time before claiming love (but I still wonder...). Richard's feelings were a bit more subtle, but I had no trouble believing that he loved her for who she was. I did have a bit more trouble believing he's cutting his family from his life for her though. I certainly wasn't a huge fan of the theme that no matter what marriage should be saved (even in light of a cheating husband or a man who gambles their savings away and then disappears for 2 years without a word). Still, the author made some damn good points in favor of it. I was borderline convinced...at least in certain circumstances. This was an excellently fun little romp back to 1980s Australia with some very enjoyable characters. Except for the sister and Jeremy. Prigs.
I ended up reading this because so many reviews said this heroine could stand up for herself - and OMG could she definitely. I didn't realize how sick I was of wishy-washy heroines who go home and cry instead of saying what they're feeling and pointing out hypocrisy when it rears its ugly head. Molly has no shortage of precisely cutting words when they're needed and I loved it. She's actually kinda vulnerable because she's not tough as nails, she's also desperate for love and by extension marriage. So much so that she's willing to look at any guy and say, "sure, I could marry him, I think I love him." Fortunately, she does give Richard a bit more time before claiming love (but I still wonder...). Richard's feelings were a bit more subtle, but I had no trouble believing that he loved her for who she was. I did have a bit more trouble believing he's cutting his family from his life for her though. I certainly wasn't a huge fan of the theme that no matter what marriage should be saved (even in light of a cheating husband or a man who gambles their savings away and then disappears for 2 years without a word). Still, the author made some damn good points in favor of it. I was borderline convinced...at least in certain circumstances. This was an excellently fun little romp back to 1980s Australia with some very enjoyable characters. Except for the sister and Jeremy. Prigs.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 21, 2020
This was a nice little book where not much happens but lots of delicious food is consumed. The angst is low, the H is a good man, the h is a little prone to flights of fancy and the romance is nice.
Safety: The h does kiss a married man, but she didn't know at the time that he was married (what a dog!) and that married man does turn out to be married to the Hero's sister so there are always going to be some SUPER awkward family get-togethers. Good luck to them!
Safety: The h does kiss a married man, but she didn't know at the time that he was married (what a dog!) and that married man does turn out to be married to the Hero's sister so there are always going to be some SUPER awkward family get-togethers. Good luck to them!
October 9, 2011
this poor heroine has fallen twice for a married man who didn't tell her he WAs married, and when someone sees her with that married man, and speaks contemptuously to her, she defends herself most publicly. i liked that the heroine was able to stand up for herself, yet she was vunerable in wanting to find a man to love her, and only her. the hero was exceptional in that he made a mistake ad owned up to making said error, in public, no less.
February 17, 2015
Very well written
Some drama, but I wished there had been even more
Likable characters and good story
Some drama, but I wished there had been even more
Likable characters and good story
April 11, 2022
Two stars for the heroine standing up for herself at the start. Otherwise it is a no star book as the heroine takes it all away by coming across as desperate at the end for any man and advising the wife to take back her cheater husband, really?! - not one for feminists and leaves a bad taste. Although the hero is quite wonderful
February 24, 2017
At times i really wondered why does he bother and really reallly wanted to smack her.
May 16, 2015
Likable characters and good story. Read the full review at Alpha Fangirl book blog.
http://www.alphafangirl.com/harlequin...
June 16, 2013
2,5 stars
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