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Two Dozen Red Roses
Sloan Sheridan, brilliant trial lawyer, needed Sarah — as his secretary. She matched his professional standards and proved useful in his private affairs, intuitively knowing just when to send his latest beauty her farewell roses, signed, "Fond memories...."
Sarah went out of her way to appear uninteresting and unattractive to Sloan. A brief, shameful marriage had taught her the danger of being desired by an intensely attractive man bent on conquest.
Sarah went out of her way to appear uninteresting and unattractive to Sloan. A brief, shameful marriage had taught her the danger of being desired by an intensely attractive man bent on conquest.
192 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 1984
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
October 21, 2021
Unlike office romances of today, these older books do it so much better.
Even if this H is no less of a manhoe - but a ladies man or lady killer somehow sounds better.
The h is exceptional as the serious, dressed down but efficient Mrs. Kincaid or just 'Kincaid'. She's a burnt and shy widow whose whole life revolves around her professional life and wants nothing to rock it in any way.
So even copying her boss' handwriting to write 'Fond memories, no regrets' on the customary two dozen roses as farewell to his revolving door of women is routine and doesn't affect her much. She's been doing it for over 5 years.
It's highly interesting to watch the shift towards awareness and more, from the cool daily workplay between theses two very focused and strong-willed people.
I enjoyed this book even though the intensity and tenor is lost towards the end.
And his rule of never employing unmarried woman? He doesn't realize she's a widow now?! That was a bit odd. How could he not have known that his PA got widowed while in his employ?
Even if this H is no less of a manhoe - but a ladies man or lady killer somehow sounds better.
The h is exceptional as the serious, dressed down but efficient Mrs. Kincaid or just 'Kincaid'. She's a burnt and shy widow whose whole life revolves around her professional life and wants nothing to rock it in any way.
So even copying her boss' handwriting to write 'Fond memories, no regrets' on the customary two dozen roses as farewell to his revolving door of women is routine and doesn't affect her much. She's been doing it for over 5 years.
It's highly interesting to watch the shift towards awareness and more, from the cool daily workplay between theses two very focused and strong-willed people.
I enjoyed this book even though the intensity and tenor is lost towards the end.
And his rule of never employing unmarried woman? He doesn't realize she's a widow now?! That was a bit odd. How could he not have known that his PA got widowed while in his employ?
March 19, 2013
Setting: California
Tropes: Boss/Secretary
Classic Harlequin.
Reminded me of a Charlotte Lamb with the womanizing, bad-tempered boss, self-contained but lonely secretary, and the Punishing Kisses. Unlike some people, I happen to like these in my Harlequins so I was a happy camper :-)
Tropes: Boss/Secretary
Classic Harlequin.
Reminded me of a Charlotte Lamb with the womanizing, bad-tempered boss, self-contained but lonely secretary, and the Punishing Kisses. Unlike some people, I happen to like these in my Harlequins so I was a happy camper :-)
September 15, 2019
"Why are you being so damned stubborn?" he demanded in a tight voice. He pulled her down on to his lap, his arms around her. She gazed up at him with frightened eyes. He kissed her briefly, then seductively. "Tell me that does nothing to you," he murmured.
Shafts of fire shot through her at his touch, his kiss, and it took all her strength to meet his eyes coolly and calmly.
"No," she said, "It does nothing to me. Now, please let me go. I can grow my own red roses."
Oh, snap!
The roses the heroine refers to in her epic set-down of the hero are the two dozen red roses of the title, which the gigantic manwhore and commitment-phobe hero has had the heroine, his secretary, send to his long list of temporary bedwarmers, along with a simple card reading "fond memories, no regrets", over the past five years that she has worked for him.
His "Grand Gesture" to her, when he finally comes down his high horse and realizes she is not a pushover who is going to be another notch on his bedpost, is to present her with a dozen WHITE roses along with a card that says "To a long and happy future." This might strike the reader as either deeply romantic or very cringeworthy. I myself felt it was a Typhoon of Tackiness, like she is supposed to be over the moon cause she got the "special" rose YEAH RIGHT.
This is a typical office romance of the 80s where the secretary heroine disguises her sexy self under drab clothes, fake glasses and a tight chignon while her boss parades a string of mink-clad, lacquered-taloned, gorgeous birds of paradise in and out of the office. What makes it above average is the heroine has class and a backbone. The hero's callousness brings the story down but that's par for the course for 80s heros. We are supposed to be elated at the "happy" ending where the hero leaves off his swinging bachelor days behind because he has found twu luv with the heroine but I wonder how long it will last. The hero is consistently bored with his previous girlfriends. How long will his wife keep his attention? His career is his true love. He is a workaholic who drops all personal relationships for work. Then comes his father and sister. The heroine is coming in at fourth but is it because he loves her or that she is indispensable to him as his secretary. I wanted something better for her. I have yet to read an office romance that works as well as it does in Emma Darcy's Pattern of Deceit.
There is a B-plot involving the lawyer hero's representations of a doctor who is accused of sexual battery by his teenaged patient. Hero's brilliant legal strategy is to gather evidence to assassinate the character of the complainant, including covertly taking long-lens photos of the girl partying it up poolside with a bunch of men. Doctor gets off. Perhaps in more ways than one. *cringe*
Shafts of fire shot through her at his touch, his kiss, and it took all her strength to meet his eyes coolly and calmly.
"No," she said, "It does nothing to me. Now, please let me go. I can grow my own red roses."
Oh, snap!
The roses the heroine refers to in her epic set-down of the hero are the two dozen red roses of the title, which the gigantic manwhore and commitment-phobe hero has had the heroine, his secretary, send to his long list of temporary bedwarmers, along with a simple card reading "fond memories, no regrets", over the past five years that she has worked for him.
His "Grand Gesture" to her, when he finally comes down his high horse and realizes she is not a pushover who is going to be another notch on his bedpost, is to present her with a dozen WHITE roses along with a card that says "To a long and happy future." This might strike the reader as either deeply romantic or very cringeworthy. I myself felt it was a Typhoon of Tackiness, like she is supposed to be over the moon cause she got the "special" rose YEAH RIGHT.
This is a typical office romance of the 80s where the secretary heroine disguises her sexy self under drab clothes, fake glasses and a tight chignon while her boss parades a string of mink-clad, lacquered-taloned, gorgeous birds of paradise in and out of the office. What makes it above average is the heroine has class and a backbone. The hero's callousness brings the story down but that's par for the course for 80s heros. We are supposed to be elated at the "happy" ending where the hero leaves off his swinging bachelor days behind because he has found twu luv with the heroine but I wonder how long it will last. The hero is consistently bored with his previous girlfriends. How long will his wife keep his attention? His career is his true love. He is a workaholic who drops all personal relationships for work. Then comes his father and sister. The heroine is coming in at fourth but is it because he loves her or that she is indispensable to him as his secretary. I wanted something better for her. I have yet to read an office romance that works as well as it does in Emma Darcy's Pattern of Deceit.
There is a B-plot involving the lawyer hero's representations of a doctor who is accused of sexual battery by his teenaged patient. Hero's brilliant legal strategy is to gather evidence to assassinate the character of the complainant, including covertly taking long-lens photos of the girl partying it up poolside with a bunch of men. Doctor gets off. Perhaps in more ways than one. *cringe*
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 1, 2014
Loved it! One of those books, that once I started reading it I could not put it down.
A fun vintage read with a damaged heroine with a great family support system helping her recover from a disastrous first marriage. (She definitely was scarred and carried a terminal full of baggage on her back, but it was fun to watch the bags drop away as she started to heal)
This is one of those Boss/PA love affairs (a trope I usually dislike). However, this time it was tastefully done and had a credible love story to add depth.
Hero had more than one side to him. First and foremost, he was a "man-whore". I so love to watch a "man whore" in play. Especially, when I know he is dying to reform once Mrs Right comes along. I felt that way about this bad boy. On the other side, he was a loving kind son and brother. Those contrasting characteristics made him seem real. He wasn't totally perfect, but he wasn't totally worthless either. He seemed very real to me (bad boy and all) Actually, she did too in spite of the mound of baggage she carried.
This was well done.
A fun vintage read with a damaged heroine with a great family support system helping her recover from a disastrous first marriage. (She definitely was scarred and carried a terminal full of baggage on her back, but it was fun to watch the bags drop away as she started to heal)
This is one of those Boss/PA love affairs (a trope I usually dislike). However, this time it was tastefully done and had a credible love story to add depth.
Hero had more than one side to him. First and foremost, he was a "man-whore". I so love to watch a "man whore" in play. Especially, when I know he is dying to reform once Mrs Right comes along. I felt that way about this bad boy. On the other side, he was a loving kind son and brother. Those contrasting characteristics made him seem real. He wasn't totally perfect, but he wasn't totally worthless either. He seemed very real to me (bad boy and all) Actually, she did too in spite of the mound of baggage she carried.
This was well done.
June 29, 2021
Should’ve been called two dozen white roses instead. A sweet low angst old fashioned work place romance. The smoking bothered me. But I guess no one took much offence of anything back then.
Sloan is a high profile lawyer and barely has time to breathe. As a rule he only hires married secretaries to keep his libido in check. Sarah is his prim and very proper personal secretary who has reasons to dress dowdy to not attract any attention. She doesn’t talk much and also wears faux glasses to appear maidenly.
I was tbh pretty confused about Sloan’s strange dismissal of Sarah’s marital status. Sloan knows she’s off limits and doesn’t notice her much in the many years that they work together. The book passes through seasons and months like you’d expect to see the h and H into their old age before either pursues the other.
Sarah is wary of attention since she faced tragedy and betrayal earlier on in her married life. The book drags in on her indecision and Sloan’s strange inconsistent attraction to her that seemed to run hot and cold.
Nice enough while it lasted. It could be faster paced and Sloan could’ve come after Sarah in hot pursuit instead of letting their feelings seethe for years and years. (Yep years, not weeks/months). Who can wait that long..
Will check out other books from RH.
Sloan is a high profile lawyer and barely has time to breathe. As a rule he only hires married secretaries to keep his libido in check. Sarah is his prim and very proper personal secretary who has reasons to dress dowdy to not attract any attention. She doesn’t talk much and also wears faux glasses to appear maidenly.
I was tbh pretty confused about Sloan’s strange dismissal of Sarah’s marital status. Sloan knows she’s off limits and doesn’t notice her much in the many years that they work together. The book passes through seasons and months like you’d expect to see the h and H into their old age before either pursues the other.
Sarah is wary of attention since she faced tragedy and betrayal earlier on in her married life. The book drags in on her indecision and Sloan’s strange inconsistent attraction to her that seemed to run hot and cold.
Nice enough while it lasted. It could be faster paced and Sloan could’ve come after Sarah in hot pursuit instead of letting their feelings seethe for years and years. (Yep years, not weeks/months). Who can wait that long..
Will check out other books from RH.
June 17, 2011
Womanizing trial attorney and his secretary. At first, I liked the heroine, no-nonsense, on-the-ball, efficient, imperturbable. Definitely not a doormat. She stood up to his bullying ways as a boss but lost all good sense when she fell in love.
I highly doubt a marriage between them will last two years, tops. Throughout the book, he exhibited a mean streak as a boss, disproportionate anger when he's jealous and inability to treat girlfriends with gentleness and regard. And he had no signs of 360 conversions even after falling in love with the girl.
Given the high stress of his job, it's natural to expect that he's a high maintenance guy. However, the manner in which he treats his former exes is inexcusable. He was scathing when a gf came to remind him of their dinner date and he was smirking when said gf left in tears afterwards. This kind of callousness serves as a harbinger of how he'll treat his wife in the future when he's overworked or he's lost an important case.
No way a hero in my eyes.
I highly doubt a marriage between them will last two years, tops. Throughout the book, he exhibited a mean streak as a boss, disproportionate anger when he's jealous and inability to treat girlfriends with gentleness and regard. And he had no signs of 360 conversions even after falling in love with the girl.
Given the high stress of his job, it's natural to expect that he's a high maintenance guy. However, the manner in which he treats his former exes is inexcusable. He was scathing when a gf came to remind him of their dinner date and he was smirking when said gf left in tears afterwards. This kind of callousness serves as a harbinger of how he'll treat his wife in the future when he's overworked or he's lost an important case.
No way a hero in my eyes.
March 2, 2014
This was an ok read. I really enjoyed the h. She was strong and sticked to her decision and didnt let the H walk all over her. What bugged me about this bk is I felt history was repeating itself. Not that the H was a cheating jackass like her dead hubby ( he was actually lovely and kind to his family and didnt push the h -too much ) but i felt he proposed in the end because again she was playing hard to get. Her hubby also married her bcoz she wouldnt sleep wit him without a ring- which I admired about her. She had strong views and values, she knew herslf well in that she wouldnt or couldnt handle a short affair with the H. BUT i felt there was a middle ground that the author totally overlooked in order to get HEA ASAP! I feel the hea wud hav been more believable if they actually took the time to get to know one another- their r/s was strictly prof and the nly time it went into personal is when he took her to meet his fam bcoz they were in the 'neighbourhood' or whatever.
Overall not bad and my thnx for Leona for da rec!
Overall not bad and my thnx for Leona for da rec!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 14, 2021
Basically, 36 year old intense career minded manwhore boss is transformed by the love of a good woman. The good woman happens to be his 26 year old very efficient secretary who dresses down at work so she won’t be noticed. However, her disguise slips and she gets noticed(because she is gorgeous).
I enjoyed the story. There was sufficient angst. It took place over several months. The main criticism I have seen is that the H is such a manwhore there is no way he will stay faithful. I read these books for the fantasy/fairy tale aspect. I also believed in Santa Claus for a long time and that was a magical time. So, I’m going to believe that our heroine has brought this hero to heel and he is going to be true all his days. Plus I see the h working with him at the office where they will have their own private office parties until she starts popping out kids, and even then she will most likely do part time!
I enjoyed the story. There was sufficient angst. It took place over several months. The main criticism I have seen is that the H is such a manwhore there is no way he will stay faithful. I read these books for the fantasy/fairy tale aspect. I also believed in Santa Claus for a long time and that was a magical time. So, I’m going to believe that our heroine has brought this hero to heel and he is going to be true all his days. Plus I see the h working with him at the office where they will have their own private office parties until she starts popping out kids, and even then she will most likely do part time!
May 11, 2022
4 Stars ~ This is only the second book written by Rosemary Hammond that I have read. Written in the very early 80's it reminded me of my early office days and the behaviour that was accepted then but would be highly frowned upon now. That's not to say the hero in this book preyed on his staff, far from, he chose to only hire a married woman for his personal secretary which kept her out of reach.
Sarah's worked for Sloan for five years. When she was hired she'd been married but unhappily, her husband was a chronic philanderer. Two months after her employment she'd been widowed and although she had told Sloan her husband died, he chose not to absorb the information and kept on referring to her as married. Sloan's a highly successful trial lawyer and he's a demanding boss. Sarah, after her disastrous marriage, doesn't want to attract another charismatic man so she plays down her appearance with severely pulled back hair, fake glasses and bland businesslike office suits. This incognito look works great for her and she comes to love her job. While she disapproves of Sloan's various affairs that only seem to last six months, she appreciates that he keeps pleasure out of the office; except for when he delegates to her the task of send the famous "Fond memories, no regrets" flowers to mark an affair's end.
All is marvelous until the annual staff Christmas party and a young lawyer of the firm encourages Sarah to dance. When the room gets too warm, he pulls off her glasses and sweeps off her jacket, which loosens her hair, and suddenly Sarah is no longer the intimidating icy secretary. Sarah's not too happy with Warren's attentions and is happy when Sloan rescues her. But now Sloan has also noted the changes in Sarah's appearance and in the next months a new awareness builds between them. The slow build up on this story works perfectly and made this a very satisfying read.
Sarah's worked for Sloan for five years. When she was hired she'd been married but unhappily, her husband was a chronic philanderer. Two months after her employment she'd been widowed and although she had told Sloan her husband died, he chose not to absorb the information and kept on referring to her as married. Sloan's a highly successful trial lawyer and he's a demanding boss. Sarah, after her disastrous marriage, doesn't want to attract another charismatic man so she plays down her appearance with severely pulled back hair, fake glasses and bland businesslike office suits. This incognito look works great for her and she comes to love her job. While she disapproves of Sloan's various affairs that only seem to last six months, she appreciates that he keeps pleasure out of the office; except for when he delegates to her the task of send the famous "Fond memories, no regrets" flowers to mark an affair's end.
All is marvelous until the annual staff Christmas party and a young lawyer of the firm encourages Sarah to dance. When the room gets too warm, he pulls off her glasses and sweeps off her jacket, which loosens her hair, and suddenly Sarah is no longer the intimidating icy secretary. Sarah's not too happy with Warren's attentions and is happy when Sloan rescues her. But now Sloan has also noted the changes in Sarah's appearance and in the next months a new awareness builds between them. The slow build up on this story works perfectly and made this a very satisfying read.
May 6, 2014
I really liked this oldie, heroine has been working for the hero for five long years but he has never noticed her. She dresses down and he thinks she is married. But then we slowly see him noticing her, something she doesn't like. I loved the book!
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July 24, 2016Warren Langley was leaning over Sarah Kincaid's desk. Their boss, Sloan Sheridan was in his office behind closed doors with his newest client, Dr. Alvarez. Alvarez had been accused of being inappropriate with one of his clients, a 14 yr. old. Warren was asking about Sloan and he mentioned that Sarah didn't seem to like Sloan much. Sarah agreed that Sloan was a demanding boss and tended to be moody at times. Sloan came out of his office and told Warren to leave his secretary alone and to get back to work. Sloan called Sarah into his office later that day so he could dictate some notes on the Alvarez case. They were working together when his latest date arrived, Leonie. Sloan asked Sarah to type up the notes because he needed them first thing in the morning. Sarah wanted to go home and overheard the two of them arguing in his office. She left and Sloan told her that she could go home. He didn't really need the notes. He just wanted company so long as Leonie was there. Sloan took Sarah home and asked Sarah to send Leonie two dozen red roses along with the standard dismal note saying, 'Fond Memories, No Regrets!'
Sarah had been married previously. The marriage hadn't gone well. Sarah found her husband in bed with someone else shortly after they were married. He had died in a car accident within a year of their marriage. He had driven off a cliff with his latest girlfriend in the car with him. She didn't trust men and wore neutral colored suits to work with her hair in a bun. She wore glasses even though she didn't need them.
It was close to Christmas and she went to the company party. Warren insisted she dance with him as she was getting ready to leave. Her glasses fell off and Warren put them in his pocket. He was drunk and got a little touchy with Sarah. She was ready to slap him when her hand was grabbed by Sloan who once again reminded Warren to leave his secretary alone. Sarah got ready to leave and realized that she had forgotten her purse. She went back to get it and Sloan was drinking in his office. He saw Sarah and reached for her and kissed her and told her 'Merry Christmas'.
She went back to work to discover that Sloan was acting that nothing had happened between them so Sarah chose to ignore what happened too. Warren apologized for his behavior.
Shortly after Christmas, there was gossip in the office that Sloan was now seeing a model, Ariel Boone. Sarah was not happy about that and thought to herself that she was not his type anyway. He went for brunettes.
It was soon April and Warren stopped by on his way home. It was hot and he asked Sarah if she wanted to grab a drink downstairs in the building before she left. Sarah agreed and went with him. Warren and her were talking and he put his hand on top of Sarah's. Warren stiffened up when he noticed that Sloan had walked in and asked them what they were doing. They said that they were just having a drink and he asked to join them. Sarah went home shortly after he came in and she thought it was strange that he had asked to join them.
The next day, Sloan mentioned to Sarah that she needed to be careful of starting anything with Warren since she was married. She reminded Sloan that she wasn't married. He stated that he would have to let her go since she lied about being married when he hired her. She told him that she was married and that her husband had died. He was unaware of that fact. Sarah told him that it was all over the news. Sloan told her that he had heard about the accident. He didn't make the connection of the event to Sarah. He then told her that he couldn't help himself and he kissed her again. Sarah responded and the kiss was interrupted by the phone ringing. Sarah was embarrassed and ran out. Sarah called in to work sick on Monday. Sloan again acted like nothing had happened when she went back to work.
It was early May when Sloan asked Sarah to send two dozen roses with a card to Ariel Boone. During the next couple of months there was speculation going around the office as to who was going to be Sloan's next conquest.
It was mid-June when Sloan called Sarah at home and asked her to go with him to Santa Barbara to take a deposition from Dr. Alvarez's accusers ex-husband. Sarah didn't know how to refuse because Sloan needed her help. She went with him and first evening they were there Sloan told Sarah they were all going to dinner and he wanted her to come. He wouldn't take no for an answer and he mentioned that he wanted her to not look so dowdy. She was staying with her sister and dressed up in one of Margaret's dresses and left her hair down. She surprised Sloan when he arrived to pick her up.
They went to dinner and Sloan was jealous of her behavior with a friend of his and Mrs. Layton's ex husband. The ex husband told Sloan that the girl was not 14 yrs old as she stated. She was 16 and her mother was encouraging her to have relations with other men in order to live her life through her daughter's experiences. Sloan took Sarah home to where she was staying with her sister and it was obvious that he was angry. He stopped to drop her off and grabbed her roughly and kissed her again. He came to pick her up in the morning and the finished the deposition. On their way back home, Sloan stopped at his father's house and she met his father and sister. Sloan's father told Sarah that Sloan must really think a lot of her because he had never introduced any females to his sister. She had a mental breakdown after her marriage went bad in a similar way to Sarah's. Kathleen just didn't recover so well and was still fragile. Sloan took Sarah home and she told Sloan that because of the attraction he had for her that she had to quit. He asked her to stay until the Alvarez trial was over.
Sarah was once again busy for the next couple of months. She was handling as much of Sloan's work as she could to free his time to work on Dr. Alvarez's case. She made it through her last day of work and quit as the trial began. Friday evening, her last day of work, was over and her vacation was to begin. Her phone was ringing when she walked into her house. It was Sloan telling her that the ex-husband was in an accident and not expected to live. He wanted her to go with him to the Layton home and take some pictures of the wife and daughter at a party being given there that night. It was supposed to be a wild party that showed the behavior of both the daughter and mother. She needed to be dressed for a hike. They arrived and hiked to where they could look down onto the property. They took pictures of the women and the others there smoking dope and drinking. They then left when Sloan felt he had enough pictures and Sarah fell into some of the cactus bushes. Sloan took her home to doctor her badly scratched up back and she ended up staying the night. She got up the next morning and was unhappy about finding women's things in the bathroom and women's clothes in his house. She left him a note telling him not to contact her and she left.
She went to see him one day at the courthouse and saw him talking to another brunette. It hurt and she left without seeing the face of the woman.
Her father was a well known law professor and he was to receive an honor by the city. Sarah didn't tell others that she was related to him so that she could earn her own way in her career and people wouldn't say it was because of her father. She felt pretty sure that she would run into Sloan at the award banquet but was slightly relieved to learn that after Alvarez had been acquitted that Sloan was taking a vacation. She went to the award ceremony and ran into Warren. He was surprised to learn who Sarah's father was. They were talking when she noticed Sloan's arrival. He told her they needed to talk. They talked and Sarah told Sloan that she didn't want to have an affair with him. She couldn't handle it if he were to be unfaithful to her and he told her that he wasn't her ex-husband. She told him that she needed more than just a statement that he wanted her and she left.
A few days later she was at home watching her nephew and waiting for Margaret to come pick him up when Sloan came by. Sarah and Billy had been playing in the water and Margaret came and got Billy. Sloan gave Sarah a box and asked her to go get dressed. She went to get dressed and remembered the box. She opened it and there were two dozen white roses with a note that read, 'To a long and happy future'. She didn't understand and when she went out of her room to see him after she was dressed she told him she didn't know what to say. He suggested that maybe that she loved him and would marry him. He then told her that he would say it first and he told her that he loved her. She told him that she loved him to and she would marry him.
Sloan then told her that the items in the bathroom belonged to his sister and that his sister had been at the trial. The female that Sarah had seen him talking to was Kathleen.
Sarah had been married previously. The marriage hadn't gone well. Sarah found her husband in bed with someone else shortly after they were married. He had died in a car accident within a year of their marriage. He had driven off a cliff with his latest girlfriend in the car with him. She didn't trust men and wore neutral colored suits to work with her hair in a bun. She wore glasses even though she didn't need them.
It was close to Christmas and she went to the company party. Warren insisted she dance with him as she was getting ready to leave. Her glasses fell off and Warren put them in his pocket. He was drunk and got a little touchy with Sarah. She was ready to slap him when her hand was grabbed by Sloan who once again reminded Warren to leave his secretary alone. Sarah got ready to leave and realized that she had forgotten her purse. She went back to get it and Sloan was drinking in his office. He saw Sarah and reached for her and kissed her and told her 'Merry Christmas'.
She went back to work to discover that Sloan was acting that nothing had happened between them so Sarah chose to ignore what happened too. Warren apologized for his behavior.
Shortly after Christmas, there was gossip in the office that Sloan was now seeing a model, Ariel Boone. Sarah was not happy about that and thought to herself that she was not his type anyway. He went for brunettes.
It was soon April and Warren stopped by on his way home. It was hot and he asked Sarah if she wanted to grab a drink downstairs in the building before she left. Sarah agreed and went with him. Warren and her were talking and he put his hand on top of Sarah's. Warren stiffened up when he noticed that Sloan had walked in and asked them what they were doing. They said that they were just having a drink and he asked to join them. Sarah went home shortly after he came in and she thought it was strange that he had asked to join them.
The next day, Sloan mentioned to Sarah that she needed to be careful of starting anything with Warren since she was married. She reminded Sloan that she wasn't married. He stated that he would have to let her go since she lied about being married when he hired her. She told him that she was married and that her husband had died. He was unaware of that fact. Sarah told him that it was all over the news. Sloan told her that he had heard about the accident. He didn't make the connection of the event to Sarah. He then told her that he couldn't help himself and he kissed her again. Sarah responded and the kiss was interrupted by the phone ringing. Sarah was embarrassed and ran out. Sarah called in to work sick on Monday. Sloan again acted like nothing had happened when she went back to work.
It was early May when Sloan asked Sarah to send two dozen roses with a card to Ariel Boone. During the next couple of months there was speculation going around the office as to who was going to be Sloan's next conquest.
It was mid-June when Sloan called Sarah at home and asked her to go with him to Santa Barbara to take a deposition from Dr. Alvarez's accusers ex-husband. Sarah didn't know how to refuse because Sloan needed her help. She went with him and first evening they were there Sloan told Sarah they were all going to dinner and he wanted her to come. He wouldn't take no for an answer and he mentioned that he wanted her to not look so dowdy. She was staying with her sister and dressed up in one of Margaret's dresses and left her hair down. She surprised Sloan when he arrived to pick her up.
They went to dinner and Sloan was jealous of her behavior with a friend of his and Mrs. Layton's ex husband. The ex husband told Sloan that the girl was not 14 yrs old as she stated. She was 16 and her mother was encouraging her to have relations with other men in order to live her life through her daughter's experiences. Sloan took Sarah home to where she was staying with her sister and it was obvious that he was angry. He stopped to drop her off and grabbed her roughly and kissed her again. He came to pick her up in the morning and the finished the deposition. On their way back home, Sloan stopped at his father's house and she met his father and sister. Sloan's father told Sarah that Sloan must really think a lot of her because he had never introduced any females to his sister. She had a mental breakdown after her marriage went bad in a similar way to Sarah's. Kathleen just didn't recover so well and was still fragile. Sloan took Sarah home and she told Sloan that because of the attraction he had for her that she had to quit. He asked her to stay until the Alvarez trial was over.
Sarah was once again busy for the next couple of months. She was handling as much of Sloan's work as she could to free his time to work on Dr. Alvarez's case. She made it through her last day of work and quit as the trial began. Friday evening, her last day of work, was over and her vacation was to begin. Her phone was ringing when she walked into her house. It was Sloan telling her that the ex-husband was in an accident and not expected to live. He wanted her to go with him to the Layton home and take some pictures of the wife and daughter at a party being given there that night. It was supposed to be a wild party that showed the behavior of both the daughter and mother. She needed to be dressed for a hike. They arrived and hiked to where they could look down onto the property. They took pictures of the women and the others there smoking dope and drinking. They then left when Sloan felt he had enough pictures and Sarah fell into some of the cactus bushes. Sloan took her home to doctor her badly scratched up back and she ended up staying the night. She got up the next morning and was unhappy about finding women's things in the bathroom and women's clothes in his house. She left him a note telling him not to contact her and she left.
She went to see him one day at the courthouse and saw him talking to another brunette. It hurt and she left without seeing the face of the woman.
Her father was a well known law professor and he was to receive an honor by the city. Sarah didn't tell others that she was related to him so that she could earn her own way in her career and people wouldn't say it was because of her father. She felt pretty sure that she would run into Sloan at the award banquet but was slightly relieved to learn that after Alvarez had been acquitted that Sloan was taking a vacation. She went to the award ceremony and ran into Warren. He was surprised to learn who Sarah's father was. They were talking when she noticed Sloan's arrival. He told her they needed to talk. They talked and Sarah told Sloan that she didn't want to have an affair with him. She couldn't handle it if he were to be unfaithful to her and he told her that he wasn't her ex-husband. She told him that she needed more than just a statement that he wanted her and she left.
A few days later she was at home watching her nephew and waiting for Margaret to come pick him up when Sloan came by. Sarah and Billy had been playing in the water and Margaret came and got Billy. Sloan gave Sarah a box and asked her to go get dressed. She went to get dressed and remembered the box. She opened it and there were two dozen white roses with a note that read, 'To a long and happy future'. She didn't understand and when she went out of her room to see him after she was dressed she told him she didn't know what to say. He suggested that maybe that she loved him and would marry him. He then told her that he would say it first and he told her that he loved her. She told him that she loved him to and she would marry him.
Sloan then told her that the items in the bathroom belonged to his sister and that his sister had been at the trial. The female that Sarah had seen him talking to was Kathleen.
March 27, 2024
Sarah, a widow after the death of her cheating husband, didn't like the way her lawyer boss, Sloan Sheridan, dealth with his three-mouth-lasting women, but she liked her job as his secretary. One important rule to be his secretary is to be married, but he seemed to have forgotten that Sarah became a widow shortly after he employed her! However, in an office christmas party, and after an assistant lawyer took off her glasses and jacket, Sloan discovered Sarah was hiding her real self behind prim clothes and image. It was after that party that Sarah found herself forced to decide whether to stay with Sloan and have an affair with him as he suggested or leave her job and him for good!
It was an okay book I suppose, but it seems to lack real angsty and intensity. The main characters left each other for weeks and did not feel that upset. They just continued their lives as normal which also gave this book away.
It was an okay book I suppose, but it seems to lack real angsty and intensity. The main characters left each other for weeks and did not feel that upset. They just continued their lives as normal which also gave this book away.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 10, 2025
This is such a comfort read type of book! It's an office romance with a womanizing lawyer (H) and his buttoned-up secretary (h), set in San Francisco in the early 1980's. The title refers to the fareware gift the hero sends when one of his many affairs is over.
The plot is very predictable. H/h have worked together for 5 years and hero never noticed her. Over the course of one court case, the hero starts to notice the heroine and they eventually fall for each other. It doesn't have the psychological warfare of Charlotte Lamb's office romances or the whackiness of Susan Napier's, but it's satisfying nonetheless. There are no highs or lows - just a nice story.
The plot is very predictable. H/h have worked together for 5 years and hero never noticed her. Over the course of one court case, the hero starts to notice the heroine and they eventually fall for each other. It doesn't have the psychological warfare of Charlotte Lamb's office romances or the whackiness of Susan Napier's, but it's satisfying nonetheless. There are no highs or lows - just a nice story.
August 22, 2025
The novel was sweet, but I must admit it became rather boring, especially toward the end. That said, I have to acknowledge the author’s skill in portraying the atmosphere of the law office—the details were precise and realistic, and I genuinely enjoyed following the case the protagonist was defending.
As for the romance, it wasn’t particularly strong. Too much time passed between each meeting of the couple, which made it difficult for me to stay emotionally invested. I couldn’t quite believe how a passionate, devoted man could wait so many long weeks without seeing the woman he loved, nor why he delayed his marriage proposal for so long.
As for the romance, it wasn’t particularly strong. Too much time passed between each meeting of the couple, which made it difficult for me to stay emotionally invested. I couldn’t quite believe how a passionate, devoted man could wait so many long weeks without seeing the woman he loved, nor why he delayed his marriage proposal for so long.
June 14, 2023
You'd think the h would try and have a relationship with the H first and see how it goes, before even think about getting married again. I mean, if he's going to break your heart, he'll do it married or not.
June 17, 2020
80s interesting, but the predatory chickhunter stuff got old fast
July 17, 2024
Great romance with believable storyline and well developed characters. Of course, being a HP romance it doesn’t have an equal power dynamic between h and H. She is a secretary in dowdy disguise while he is a distinguished trial attorney, strikingly masculine and irresistible to women. What I liked about it is the heroine was a very good at her job/a valued professional, she didn’t succumb to the ‘traitorous body syndrome’ or became a hot mess every time the hero came in sight; she made him work for it ….
January 25, 2021
Μια όμορφη, διασκεδαστική ιστορία που την διαβάζεις με ευχαρίστηση! Είναι το πρώτο βιβλίο της Χάμοντ που διάβασα και μου άφησε πολύ καλές εντυπώσεις!!!
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May 24, 20162 - أشواك الحرير
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