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An Impossible Dream
An Impossible Dream by Emma Darcy released on Jan 25, 1993 is available now for purchase.
189 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published March 1, 1993
85 people want to read
About the author
Emma Darcy
640 books325 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 - 23 of 23 reviews
December 23, 2017
Re An Impossible Dream - Emma Darcy does their take on Materialism vs Simplicity with this one.
ED even throws in a farm or two, and interestingly enough, ED also touts those same values as the previous Melinda Cross book Mirror Image.
So this book is also about Character over Image and Kindness over Disinterest, but ED presents those very same qualities in a completely different way, yet comes to the same conclusions in the end.
This is also a Christmas book, even tho it was published after Christmas in the US, so I find it kinda appropriate to be spoilerizing it in December of 2017.
This one starts with the 23yr old h thinking that disasters come in threes, just like her kind, wise and very loving but sorta stubborn Grandma likes to say. Grandma lives on a little farm outside the city. She and Grampa were very happy there and a lot of the land was sold to developers after Grandpa passed on, but Grandma still has chickens and small farm animals and the h loves to visit her.
The h's parents have tried to insist Grandma move to a retirement community several times, but Grandma is very stubborn and kinda ornery and firmly states that she is going to live exactly as she chooses to live and that is just how she wants it. Fortunately, Grandma taught the h that same inner perseverance, cause in the h's parents and older sister's eyes, the h is a complete mess up.
The h's older sister is the shining light of her well to do and well educated, upper middle class parents. The older sister has a great job in publicity, a lovely flat that she owns in a nice Sydney neighborhood and has a string of wealthy men on a hook to escort her about. Yep, older sister is the h's parent's shinning light and dream, she always does and says the right thing and never, ever messes anything up. It is perhaps a bit regrettable that older sis seems to be playing the wealthy bachelor field, but really at least she isn't shacked up with a no hoper layabout.
The h, on the other hand, never went to uni - she wants to be a chef and open her own restaurant. She lives in a shared three story house in a lower class Sydney neighborhood and the h has been working odd hours in restaurants for so long learning to be a chef, that she has no time for a social life - not even with a layabout.
However the big Family Gathering of the h's parents, her brilliant and beautiful older sister and Grandma is coming up. The h has just walked out of her upwardly mobile job as a sous chef at a very reputable Sydney restaurant and has probably ruined her chances of opening her own restaurant as well.
Her very BBF, outside of Grandma, is her older cleaning lady neighbor, Mrs. B. Mrs. B has had some misfortune too, or maybe the h's unlucky star is shinning some light on her as well, cause Mrs. B fell and sprained her ankle and now can't do housekeeping for her 'gentlemen', as Mrs. B likes to call them. Happily tho, even a dark cloud has a silver lining.
The h stormed out of her big time restaurant job when the main chef cornered her in the dry pantry and made some lewd suggestions with the inappropriate hand gestures thrown in. The h refused his offer, but he persisted most determinedly until the h dumped her freshly baked Triple Fudge Chocolate Lava cake all over his head - in front of ALL the kitchen staff. The h is very unhappy that bad behavior forced her to such extremes and in front of everyone, but a girl has got to do what a girl has got to do to keep her unicorn grooming skills sharp.
So the h has no chef job and may not be able to get another in a similar quality restaurant. The h figures it is just as well really, cause Mrs. B needs someone to cover for her 'gentlemen' and now the h has lots of spare time take on the house cleanings scheduled, and get a split of some handy cash too. The h doesn't particularly like house cleaning, but any port in a storm - as Grandma would say.
So now the h has to go home for Christmas and explain her latest mishaps to sternly disapproving and critical parents and endure her brilliantly beautiful older sister's continual harping, criticisms and attempts to run the h's life - cause according to the Wicked Sis, the h just does everything WRONG and she needs to be set straight.
The h loves her family, but when mum calls and enthusiastically emotes about Wicked Sis's big promotion and her new man she is bringing to Christmas, the h just wishes she could hide for the big day. However Grandma will be there too, and Grandma is the best ever and usually on the side of the h, so the h resolves to maybe think of a way to distract attention from herself.
All this thinking gives the h an idear, how about if she finds someone she can bring with her to Christmas and that person can be so adroit and brilliant, all the focus will be on them and not the h's latest little contretemps.
At this point we meet the H. He lives in a very lovely Double Bay home that is an architectural dream. He is by far the wealthiest of Mrs. B's gentlemen and Mrs. B has nothing but good things to say about him. The H is a famous psychologist and he has several bestselling books about sex and ladies published. The h has never read any of them, but she figures she is going to meet a slightly younger Australian version of Freud when she cleans his home for him.
She soon realizes that she made a big wrong assumption. She gets to the H's and his house is awesome with a fountain and a pond with real plants right in his atrium foyer. She heads right for the bedroom, as Mrs. B instructed her to do, to get the bedding and the bathroom towels right into the washer. Except her bed stripping is stopped without warning when there is an EXTREMELY handsome and really WELL BUILT naked man sprawled face down on the bed. There is an empty champagne bottle and two glasses and a pair of silk black lace panties wrapped in the duvet the h tries to cover the man with - the h guesses she is to wash the undies too.
The h wakes the H up and explains that she has a schedule and he is impeding it and would he please get up so she can get on with things. The H, who is not at his best after a night of celebration, has some verbal banter for the h, but does as she asks. The h looks at the H and thinks he is exactly the kind of person her sister and her parent's would just gush over. So she gets an idear.
When the H's caterers cancel on him for his best seller party celebration scheduled for the next day, the h agrees to cater the event for him - if he will accompany her to her parent's house as a guest on Christmas day. Since the H is very estranged from his own family and has nothing on and no hope of finding a competent caterer on such short notice, he agrees and the deal is set.
The h finds herself a little melty around the H. But she also worries, cause he really does seem to be in the same over achieving and brilliant mold as Wicked Sis. But when the H leaps on the h's suggestion that he send flowers and a note to Mrs. B, who needs a bit of cheering up, the h starts to revise her opinion. Soon the H and h are having a great time together as they shop for the party food and clean the H's house - it seems the H really likes the h and well, with a man as handsome and as nice as the H is, a girl just can't help but dream a little.
Mrs. B is delighted with the flowers and even more delighted that they spur her own manly older suitor to up his game in wooing her. Mrs B is soon off with her new suitor for her own HEA. The h is thinking her gray skies are clearing, until Wicked Sis calls up to gripe about the h's gift choices and bully the h into selecting Wicked Sis's choices for gifts for the family. The h kindly refuses Wicked Sis's demands for different gifts than the fun stuff the h usually gives everyone and she endures Wicked Sis's taunts that all the h wants to do is get messy and have fun - which in Wicked Sis's eyes is just plain evil living and wrong.
The h does get a jolt when Wicked Sis warns her off the H. Wicked Sis is one of the publicists on his new bestseller. When the h refuses to give into WS's demands - WS tells the h that she and the H slept together. The h is upset, cause she just will not poach on her sister's seconds and so the h now has a party to cater for and no gain from it - she can't take the H to her parent's home on Christmas now - WS will never let her hear the end of it and Christmas will be ruined.
So the h caters the H's party and then has to explain why she is terminating their deal - she gets a big time roofie kiss from the H first, and wow she is sooo tempted by a man who knows how to give a kiss. Family loyalty wins out tho and the h explains that the H is off her list and tells him she can't take her sister's ex lover to meet the family. The H is stunned, cause WS offered herself for other services besides book promotion and the H turned her down. The H flat out tells the h that her sister is lying.
The h doesn't know what to believe, why would WS, who has everything, lie about something like that. The H and Grandma claim it is because the h is her own person, she doesn't know how to be anything else, and that WS is jealous. So the h gives the H a chance, he offers her a job as his full time personal chef at a very good salary.
After the h makes it clear that it is only food cooking not oven bun baking that she will be doing, the H claims he will provide his version of a chef's uniform and he takes the h shopping. Since the h's catered party was such a success, (even tho the H's ex lover seemed a bit peeved when the h gave her permission to seduce the H some more,) the H wants to have a formal dinner party now.
The H takes the h to a very exclusive boutique - (ED talked to Helen Bianchin,) and a gorgeous dream of a dress is found. Even the h's wildly curly hair looks great and the h is stunning in the new finery. A wild H and h tango is danced. The dinner guests start arriving and the first two couples are great - then the h opens the door and it is Wicked Sis and her new beau.
WS is furious the h is outshining her by a mile and a big time sibling verbal fight takes place in the kitchen while the h's dinner burns. The H set the two sisters up for confrontation. Mainly because he really likes the h and is angry that WS lied about him, but also to let WS air her grievances when the h straight up asks her what the problem is. WS is mad because WS had all these parental expectations piled on her and she felt she HAD to live up to them and the h just does whatever she likes, cause no one expects anything from her.
The h is shocked that the woman who is held up as the family example of perfection is so hurt and angry, she sees another side to the story now and she offers WS a sincere apology that she has not always been very nice to WS either. Then she reminds WS that she is still the family favorite and WS throws back that Grandma likes the h better. The h points out that she is pushed away by the rest of the family and that she should at least get one person on her side and that WS hates Grandma's ideas and her home anyway.
WS wanders off with new beau and the H and h finally throw caution to the winds and have the best lurve mojo moment ever - even the unicorns were happy for them. The h declares her love for the H and the H is a bit cagey, so the h has a moment of doubt. But the H only tells her that he will do the proposing and the h smartly responds that any proposing had better come soon, cause milk won't be free and available forever.
The h and H have a lovely time in the remaining days before Christmas, and it is obvious the two are absolutely in love with each other. We get a huge romantic Christmas proposal and Grandma, who tells little fairy stories in lieu of lectures, explains that the H has a bit of Irish in him, just like Grandpa. So the h may be a fancy chef, but she should feed the H plain wholesome food and again just like Grandpa, Grandma is sure the H will be the most amendable to suggestion after a well cooked leg of lamb.
Wicked Sis is present too and actually apologizes for her prior treatment of the h and for lying abut the H. The airing of grievances has cleaned away years of bound up frustration and just like the Grinch, the h's understanding and her apology, plus a marriage proposal from Sis's new beau, has broken the rusty chains that kept Wicked Sis all bound up and nasty. Sis's heart has grown three sizes that Christmas and she just wants to spread the happiness all around, now that she is finally happy too.
In the only example I can find in ALL of HPlandia, the epilogue takes place FIFTY years later, when the H and h have retired to a little hobby farm. The h and H are still married and still in love and the grand kids think that Grandma h is wonderful - just as Grandma's are supposed to be --for a truly romantic and the longest HPlandia HEA ever.
This book is such a great happy and romantic read, it should be kept on the HP traveler's keeper shelf and taken out whenever an uplifting and heartwarming moment is needed. ED says essentially the same things about character and virtue as the book before this. But this one is so well done and enjoyable that all you feel is the deep kindness, humble acceptance and enormous love that two people share and spread to others for all their lives to really make the world better.
When you put this one down, it leaves a little happy glow in it's trail and even if it isn't the Christmas season, this book is a reminder that a life well lived is a life that has well loved.
While material comforts are lovely and can bring great pleasure and joy, the true comfort of the heart is kindness, compassion, understanding and the gift of love that can heal and broaden even the most bound up minds and personalities.
That is the feeling I read romances for, so to find it in HPlandia and told with such style is truly a gift that makes this book a real HP treasure.
ED even throws in a farm or two, and interestingly enough, ED also touts those same values as the previous Melinda Cross book Mirror Image.
So this book is also about Character over Image and Kindness over Disinterest, but ED presents those very same qualities in a completely different way, yet comes to the same conclusions in the end.
This is also a Christmas book, even tho it was published after Christmas in the US, so I find it kinda appropriate to be spoilerizing it in December of 2017.
This one starts with the 23yr old h thinking that disasters come in threes, just like her kind, wise and very loving but sorta stubborn Grandma likes to say. Grandma lives on a little farm outside the city. She and Grampa were very happy there and a lot of the land was sold to developers after Grandpa passed on, but Grandma still has chickens and small farm animals and the h loves to visit her.
The h's parents have tried to insist Grandma move to a retirement community several times, but Grandma is very stubborn and kinda ornery and firmly states that she is going to live exactly as she chooses to live and that is just how she wants it. Fortunately, Grandma taught the h that same inner perseverance, cause in the h's parents and older sister's eyes, the h is a complete mess up.
The h's older sister is the shining light of her well to do and well educated, upper middle class parents. The older sister has a great job in publicity, a lovely flat that she owns in a nice Sydney neighborhood and has a string of wealthy men on a hook to escort her about. Yep, older sister is the h's parent's shinning light and dream, she always does and says the right thing and never, ever messes anything up. It is perhaps a bit regrettable that older sis seems to be playing the wealthy bachelor field, but really at least she isn't shacked up with a no hoper layabout.
The h, on the other hand, never went to uni - she wants to be a chef and open her own restaurant. She lives in a shared three story house in a lower class Sydney neighborhood and the h has been working odd hours in restaurants for so long learning to be a chef, that she has no time for a social life - not even with a layabout.
However the big Family Gathering of the h's parents, her brilliant and beautiful older sister and Grandma is coming up. The h has just walked out of her upwardly mobile job as a sous chef at a very reputable Sydney restaurant and has probably ruined her chances of opening her own restaurant as well.
Her very BBF, outside of Grandma, is her older cleaning lady neighbor, Mrs. B. Mrs. B has had some misfortune too, or maybe the h's unlucky star is shinning some light on her as well, cause Mrs. B fell and sprained her ankle and now can't do housekeeping for her 'gentlemen', as Mrs. B likes to call them. Happily tho, even a dark cloud has a silver lining.
The h stormed out of her big time restaurant job when the main chef cornered her in the dry pantry and made some lewd suggestions with the inappropriate hand gestures thrown in. The h refused his offer, but he persisted most determinedly until the h dumped her freshly baked Triple Fudge Chocolate Lava cake all over his head - in front of ALL the kitchen staff. The h is very unhappy that bad behavior forced her to such extremes and in front of everyone, but a girl has got to do what a girl has got to do to keep her unicorn grooming skills sharp.
So the h has no chef job and may not be able to get another in a similar quality restaurant. The h figures it is just as well really, cause Mrs. B needs someone to cover for her 'gentlemen' and now the h has lots of spare time take on the house cleanings scheduled, and get a split of some handy cash too. The h doesn't particularly like house cleaning, but any port in a storm - as Grandma would say.
So now the h has to go home for Christmas and explain her latest mishaps to sternly disapproving and critical parents and endure her brilliantly beautiful older sister's continual harping, criticisms and attempts to run the h's life - cause according to the Wicked Sis, the h just does everything WRONG and she needs to be set straight.
The h loves her family, but when mum calls and enthusiastically emotes about Wicked Sis's big promotion and her new man she is bringing to Christmas, the h just wishes she could hide for the big day. However Grandma will be there too, and Grandma is the best ever and usually on the side of the h, so the h resolves to maybe think of a way to distract attention from herself.
All this thinking gives the h an idear, how about if she finds someone she can bring with her to Christmas and that person can be so adroit and brilliant, all the focus will be on them and not the h's latest little contretemps.
At this point we meet the H. He lives in a very lovely Double Bay home that is an architectural dream. He is by far the wealthiest of Mrs. B's gentlemen and Mrs. B has nothing but good things to say about him. The H is a famous psychologist and he has several bestselling books about sex and ladies published. The h has never read any of them, but she figures she is going to meet a slightly younger Australian version of Freud when she cleans his home for him.
She soon realizes that she made a big wrong assumption. She gets to the H's and his house is awesome with a fountain and a pond with real plants right in his atrium foyer. She heads right for the bedroom, as Mrs. B instructed her to do, to get the bedding and the bathroom towels right into the washer. Except her bed stripping is stopped without warning when there is an EXTREMELY handsome and really WELL BUILT naked man sprawled face down on the bed. There is an empty champagne bottle and two glasses and a pair of silk black lace panties wrapped in the duvet the h tries to cover the man with - the h guesses she is to wash the undies too.
The h wakes the H up and explains that she has a schedule and he is impeding it and would he please get up so she can get on with things. The H, who is not at his best after a night of celebration, has some verbal banter for the h, but does as she asks. The h looks at the H and thinks he is exactly the kind of person her sister and her parent's would just gush over. So she gets an idear.
When the H's caterers cancel on him for his best seller party celebration scheduled for the next day, the h agrees to cater the event for him - if he will accompany her to her parent's house as a guest on Christmas day. Since the H is very estranged from his own family and has nothing on and no hope of finding a competent caterer on such short notice, he agrees and the deal is set.
The h finds herself a little melty around the H. But she also worries, cause he really does seem to be in the same over achieving and brilliant mold as Wicked Sis. But when the H leaps on the h's suggestion that he send flowers and a note to Mrs. B, who needs a bit of cheering up, the h starts to revise her opinion. Soon the H and h are having a great time together as they shop for the party food and clean the H's house - it seems the H really likes the h and well, with a man as handsome and as nice as the H is, a girl just can't help but dream a little.
Mrs. B is delighted with the flowers and even more delighted that they spur her own manly older suitor to up his game in wooing her. Mrs B is soon off with her new suitor for her own HEA. The h is thinking her gray skies are clearing, until Wicked Sis calls up to gripe about the h's gift choices and bully the h into selecting Wicked Sis's choices for gifts for the family. The h kindly refuses Wicked Sis's demands for different gifts than the fun stuff the h usually gives everyone and she endures Wicked Sis's taunts that all the h wants to do is get messy and have fun - which in Wicked Sis's eyes is just plain evil living and wrong.
The h does get a jolt when Wicked Sis warns her off the H. Wicked Sis is one of the publicists on his new bestseller. When the h refuses to give into WS's demands - WS tells the h that she and the H slept together. The h is upset, cause she just will not poach on her sister's seconds and so the h now has a party to cater for and no gain from it - she can't take the H to her parent's home on Christmas now - WS will never let her hear the end of it and Christmas will be ruined.
So the h caters the H's party and then has to explain why she is terminating their deal - she gets a big time roofie kiss from the H first, and wow she is sooo tempted by a man who knows how to give a kiss. Family loyalty wins out tho and the h explains that the H is off her list and tells him she can't take her sister's ex lover to meet the family. The H is stunned, cause WS offered herself for other services besides book promotion and the H turned her down. The H flat out tells the h that her sister is lying.
The h doesn't know what to believe, why would WS, who has everything, lie about something like that. The H and Grandma claim it is because the h is her own person, she doesn't know how to be anything else, and that WS is jealous. So the h gives the H a chance, he offers her a job as his full time personal chef at a very good salary.
After the h makes it clear that it is only food cooking not oven bun baking that she will be doing, the H claims he will provide his version of a chef's uniform and he takes the h shopping. Since the h's catered party was such a success, (even tho the H's ex lover seemed a bit peeved when the h gave her permission to seduce the H some more,) the H wants to have a formal dinner party now.
The H takes the h to a very exclusive boutique - (ED talked to Helen Bianchin,) and a gorgeous dream of a dress is found. Even the h's wildly curly hair looks great and the h is stunning in the new finery. A wild H and h tango is danced. The dinner guests start arriving and the first two couples are great - then the h opens the door and it is Wicked Sis and her new beau.
WS is furious the h is outshining her by a mile and a big time sibling verbal fight takes place in the kitchen while the h's dinner burns. The H set the two sisters up for confrontation. Mainly because he really likes the h and is angry that WS lied about him, but also to let WS air her grievances when the h straight up asks her what the problem is. WS is mad because WS had all these parental expectations piled on her and she felt she HAD to live up to them and the h just does whatever she likes, cause no one expects anything from her.
The h is shocked that the woman who is held up as the family example of perfection is so hurt and angry, she sees another side to the story now and she offers WS a sincere apology that she has not always been very nice to WS either. Then she reminds WS that she is still the family favorite and WS throws back that Grandma likes the h better. The h points out that she is pushed away by the rest of the family and that she should at least get one person on her side and that WS hates Grandma's ideas and her home anyway.
WS wanders off with new beau and the H and h finally throw caution to the winds and have the best lurve mojo moment ever - even the unicorns were happy for them. The h declares her love for the H and the H is a bit cagey, so the h has a moment of doubt. But the H only tells her that he will do the proposing and the h smartly responds that any proposing had better come soon, cause milk won't be free and available forever.
The h and H have a lovely time in the remaining days before Christmas, and it is obvious the two are absolutely in love with each other. We get a huge romantic Christmas proposal and Grandma, who tells little fairy stories in lieu of lectures, explains that the H has a bit of Irish in him, just like Grandpa. So the h may be a fancy chef, but she should feed the H plain wholesome food and again just like Grandpa, Grandma is sure the H will be the most amendable to suggestion after a well cooked leg of lamb.
Wicked Sis is present too and actually apologizes for her prior treatment of the h and for lying abut the H. The airing of grievances has cleaned away years of bound up frustration and just like the Grinch, the h's understanding and her apology, plus a marriage proposal from Sis's new beau, has broken the rusty chains that kept Wicked Sis all bound up and nasty. Sis's heart has grown three sizes that Christmas and she just wants to spread the happiness all around, now that she is finally happy too.
In the only example I can find in ALL of HPlandia, the epilogue takes place FIFTY years later, when the H and h have retired to a little hobby farm. The h and H are still married and still in love and the grand kids think that Grandma h is wonderful - just as Grandma's are supposed to be --for a truly romantic and the longest HPlandia HEA ever.
This book is such a great happy and romantic read, it should be kept on the HP traveler's keeper shelf and taken out whenever an uplifting and heartwarming moment is needed. ED says essentially the same things about character and virtue as the book before this. But this one is so well done and enjoyable that all you feel is the deep kindness, humble acceptance and enormous love that two people share and spread to others for all their lives to really make the world better.
When you put this one down, it leaves a little happy glow in it's trail and even if it isn't the Christmas season, this book is a reminder that a life well lived is a life that has well loved.
While material comforts are lovely and can bring great pleasure and joy, the true comfort of the heart is kindness, compassion, understanding and the gift of love that can heal and broaden even the most bound up minds and personalities.
That is the feeling I read romances for, so to find it in HPlandia and told with such style is truly a gift that makes this book a real HP treasure.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 24, 2017
The scene when heroine meets hero pretty much brought the whole book down to 3 stars straightaway and heroine’s more than once confrontations with the OW Simone has sealed this book’s fate as a C+ average grade.
Don’t get me wrong. Book was safe in other matters. Any relationship with Simone was strictly before hero met heroine. Sadly that past was within a less than 12 hour timeframe. I’d say more like 8.
Furthermore, he tried to take the heroine to bed within 48 hours of f***ing Simone WHILE Simone was in his house, and that my friends, just did NOT sit well with me.
I just really didn’t believe in the love. Neither hers, DEFINITELY not his.
Lust, yes. For the first time someone successful according to heroine’s parents’ standards has chosen her over the sister. So she was intrigued. And of course he’s a very attractive male specimen and she finally decided to pursue physical relationship. But that’s all there was. Yes, he’s a nice guy. ONLY because she’s demanding niceness. He didn’t think of the flowers or messages to Mrs B, SHE did. And any man who doesn’t pay enough attention to the woman they wanna take to bed shouldn’t have heroine’s time of day. So no, I really don’t see any loveable qualities in the hero and feel heroine fell in love because the author told us that’s what happened.
Then the hero, I’m sorry, but all he wanted was a good lay that was different from his usual one. Simone being smart and sophisticated still didn’t match up to him as a challenge and he was bored. Heroine was an enigma, he couldn’t figure her out and he really only wanted to have sex and figure her out. At no point of time did he give me any finer vibes. The last nail on the coffin was him telling heroine he’s the male and nobody tells him who or when to marry. I’m pretty sure that was supposed to be funny and quirky but it came off as misogynistic and controlling. So he decides and she just what? Agrees? What if she doesn’t want to marry him anymore when he comes to that fine decision? Which heroine actually very nicely conveyed to him and there was a hint that she won’t put up with his shenanigans unless he can make up hid mind.
Which brings me to my last point, hero proposing. Within what? 4 or 5 days of sleeping with the OW? And also after heroine subtly hints you have to buy the cow or no free milk? Basically that conveys to me as marrying her because he doesn’t want to lose the sex with her. Or rather promising to marry her because anything can happen in between engagement and marriage. May be he felt he wouldn’t get lucky that night if he fails to present her with a ring. The fact we have an epilogue in forever after is besides the point.
The saving grace of this book was hero never ever sleeping or considering sleeping with the sister.
However his putting the sisters up for confrontation was WRONG. He wasn’t even in a relationship with heroine so he had no right despite his name being involved in this mess as a womaniser. Well, he was one. And he just came off as even further controlling to me but thankfully heroine is way stronger than him and has the strength and ability to set him straight.
Don’t get me wrong. Book was safe in other matters. Any relationship with Simone was strictly before hero met heroine. Sadly that past was within a less than 12 hour timeframe. I’d say more like 8.
Furthermore, he tried to take the heroine to bed within 48 hours of f***ing Simone WHILE Simone was in his house, and that my friends, just did NOT sit well with me.
I just really didn’t believe in the love. Neither hers, DEFINITELY not his.
Lust, yes. For the first time someone successful according to heroine’s parents’ standards has chosen her over the sister. So she was intrigued. And of course he’s a very attractive male specimen and she finally decided to pursue physical relationship. But that’s all there was. Yes, he’s a nice guy. ONLY because she’s demanding niceness. He didn’t think of the flowers or messages to Mrs B, SHE did. And any man who doesn’t pay enough attention to the woman they wanna take to bed shouldn’t have heroine’s time of day. So no, I really don’t see any loveable qualities in the hero and feel heroine fell in love because the author told us that’s what happened.
Then the hero, I’m sorry, but all he wanted was a good lay that was different from his usual one. Simone being smart and sophisticated still didn’t match up to him as a challenge and he was bored. Heroine was an enigma, he couldn’t figure her out and he really only wanted to have sex and figure her out. At no point of time did he give me any finer vibes. The last nail on the coffin was him telling heroine he’s the male and nobody tells him who or when to marry. I’m pretty sure that was supposed to be funny and quirky but it came off as misogynistic and controlling. So he decides and she just what? Agrees? What if she doesn’t want to marry him anymore when he comes to that fine decision? Which heroine actually very nicely conveyed to him and there was a hint that she won’t put up with his shenanigans unless he can make up hid mind.
Which brings me to my last point, hero proposing. Within what? 4 or 5 days of sleeping with the OW? And also after heroine subtly hints you have to buy the cow or no free milk? Basically that conveys to me as marrying her because he doesn’t want to lose the sex with her. Or rather promising to marry her because anything can happen in between engagement and marriage. May be he felt he wouldn’t get lucky that night if he fails to present her with a ring. The fact we have an epilogue in forever after is besides the point.
The saving grace of this book was hero never ever sleeping or considering sleeping with the sister.
However his putting the sisters up for confrontation was WRONG. He wasn’t even in a relationship with heroine so he had no right despite his name being involved in this mess as a womaniser. Well, he was one. And he just came off as even further controlling to me but thankfully heroine is way stronger than him and has the strength and ability to set him straight.
January 30, 2018
Cute romance where the central conflict is between sisters. The H/h "meet cute" when the heroine, as his temporary housekeeper, wakes him up to change the bed. There is an instant attraction, and the heroine thinks she's found the answer to her problems. She will cater a party for the hero if he'll be her date on Christmas Day.
Unfortunately, her sister lies and says she has slept with the hero and the heroine can't bring him home for Christmas. Heroine is a very straightforward person and asks the hero outright. Hero assures her he never slept with the sister.
The rest of the story covers two weeks and involves the hero romancing the heroine and the heroine coming to terms with the sibling rivalry she has with her sister. The HEA comes on Christmas Day - but the epilogue shows the H/h as grandparents - as if ED recognized that this was a whirlwind romance and the reader needed reassurances that these two were in it for the long haul.
While the H/h had chemistry, I thought the most compelling character was the lying, resentful sister. She had issues that were cleared up a little too quickly, imo.
Unfortunately, her sister lies and says she has slept with the hero and the heroine can't bring him home for Christmas. Heroine is a very straightforward person and asks the hero outright. Hero assures her he never slept with the sister.
The rest of the story covers two weeks and involves the hero romancing the heroine and the heroine coming to terms with the sibling rivalry she has with her sister. The HEA comes on Christmas Day - but the epilogue shows the H/h as grandparents - as if ED recognized that this was a whirlwind romance and the reader needed reassurances that these two were in it for the long haul.
While the H/h had chemistry, I thought the most compelling character was the lying, resentful sister. She had issues that were cleared up a little too quickly, imo.
August 17, 2021
"An Impossible Dream" is the story of Dani and Cameron.
The heroine's believes bad luck is upon her. Not only did she have to leave her job, she also doesn't have a date to take home for Christmas- an event which always traumatizes her thanks to her parents and snooty sister. She decides to help out her injured neighbor for a housekeeping job, and ends up next to a naked hero's bed! Finding lace panties tells a lot about him, and soon an idea begins to form to use him as a pretend date. Circumstances lead to intrigue and a deal, until she realizes he might have a past with her sister. How the lies are unveiled, they fall in love and finally end up together forms the story.
I have to say I enjoyed this! A hero in pursuit, a strong heroine, open communication, sizzling chemistry- if not for the one me man, you woman sequence- the book would be perfect. Also, the epilogue made me tear up- SO PERFECT OMG.
Enjoyed it!
Safe
4.5/5
The heroine's believes bad luck is upon her. Not only did she have to leave her job, she also doesn't have a date to take home for Christmas- an event which always traumatizes her thanks to her parents and snooty sister. She decides to help out her injured neighbor for a housekeeping job, and ends up next to a naked hero's bed! Finding lace panties tells a lot about him, and soon an idea begins to form to use him as a pretend date. Circumstances lead to intrigue and a deal, until she realizes he might have a past with her sister. How the lies are unveiled, they fall in love and finally end up together forms the story.
I have to say I enjoyed this! A hero in pursuit, a strong heroine, open communication, sizzling chemistry- if not for the one me man, you woman sequence- the book would be perfect. Also, the epilogue made me tear up- SO PERFECT OMG.
Enjoyed it!
Safe
4.5/5
February 14, 2024
I'm never sure how I feel about these sorts of unangsty, cutesy stories. I mean, love is a wonderful thing and I'm always happy about that but somehow I feel shortchanged if the H isn't a taciturn tycoon or tempestuous latin 😂 This H, handsome hunk and bestselling psychologist Cameron falls for attractive but not earth shattering free spirited chef Dani who is Her Own Person and needs convincing (as do we, frankly) that she's in his league. I guess it can happen. Top marks for fabulous house with pool overlooking Double Bay. Point deducted for slightly mawkish epilogue. For a romance reader I am frighteningly unromantic 😁
Next up, a Kay Thorpe. That should be bracing 😂😂
Next up, a Kay Thorpe. That should be bracing 😂😂
June 9, 2021
Cameron McFarlane was handsome, rich and fairly famous - he was the bestselling author of The Psychology of Sex. More importantly, he needed Dani!
Cameron needed her to cater a dinner party. And Dani agreed - in exchange for his spending Christmas Day with her and her family. With a man like Cameron at her side, surely her family would finally consider her a success.
Cameron certainly seemed to like more than just Dani's cooking. His kisses excited and confused her. Was he just playing along, or was he playing for keeps?
Cameron needed her to cater a dinner party. And Dani agreed - in exchange for his spending Christmas Day with her and her family. With a man like Cameron at her side, surely her family would finally consider her a success.
Cameron certainly seemed to like more than just Dani's cooking. His kisses excited and confused her. Was he just playing along, or was he playing for keeps?
January 18, 2022
Uhh. I guess girls with a snappy turn-off bad attitude also deserve an HEA.
Dani (short for Danielle) is having a bad day/week/month/year. She’s just quit on her job as a sous chef and has now volunteered to help her neighbor who had an accident with their work. The work is not as menial - a cleaning lady- but for very high profile clients. Given that Dani had agreed to that as a goodwill, she shouldn’t have been so sour about it with her clients.
Dani also has issues with her older competitive sister who sits well in their parents book as a high achiever. Dani wants to bring a date for their Xmas meet up so she can save face and not look so miserable and lonely when her sister brings a date and also just got promoted. So much for achievements lined up as small talk at the Xmas table.
Dani meets the H, Cameron on duty. I hated her bad attitude where she’s ordering around the home owner (the H) and saying condescending things to him when she spots him in bed at 9 am with some silky women’s underwear. How is that the housekeeper ESP A TEMP housekeeper to make those cheeky remarks to a wealthy client. I’d fire Dani on the spot and also make sure she doesn’t stand for another job.
Dani carries on with her loose tongue and scolds Cameron that if he doesn’t hurry the f up in his shower she won’t be washing his dirty towels. The H requests for breakfast where Dani says that she’d put the coffee to brewing but he’d have to pour it himself.
I couldn’t stand Dani for the life of me. She’s the absolute perfect stand-in for the kind of hs that I absolutely loathe.
Dani’s high handedness continues. Later with a no-show from a catering company, the H asks Dani if she’d be willing to cater for his party of 20. Dani does a bit of a vain show of self praise where she proclaims how she’s the best chef and what not and that she’d really have to work it out to fit this catering job in her schedule. When in reality she has no work or man.
The H was loose of his marbles cuz he gives this catty lady his Beemer to take home and bring back the goodies day of the party. Dani thinks she’s on some high cloud deserving of this princess treatment when in reality she’s a cleaner working up some good karma.
Day of party the h is warding off suspicion from the H’s recent ONS (silky underwear lady) and confirming that she’s just the caterer. Two seconds later she’s sleeping with the H. Really. I could barely read beyond this without skipping a few.
Weird book. Didn’t see any feelings between the h and H. Didn’t like the h at all to wish her a happy ending. Disappointing
Dani (short for Danielle) is having a bad day/week/month/year. She’s just quit on her job as a sous chef and has now volunteered to help her neighbor who had an accident with their work. The work is not as menial - a cleaning lady- but for very high profile clients. Given that Dani had agreed to that as a goodwill, she shouldn’t have been so sour about it with her clients.
Dani also has issues with her older competitive sister who sits well in their parents book as a high achiever. Dani wants to bring a date for their Xmas meet up so she can save face and not look so miserable and lonely when her sister brings a date and also just got promoted. So much for achievements lined up as small talk at the Xmas table.
Dani meets the H, Cameron on duty. I hated her bad attitude where she’s ordering around the home owner (the H) and saying condescending things to him when she spots him in bed at 9 am with some silky women’s underwear. How is that the housekeeper ESP A TEMP housekeeper to make those cheeky remarks to a wealthy client. I’d fire Dani on the spot and also make sure she doesn’t stand for another job.
Dani carries on with her loose tongue and scolds Cameron that if he doesn’t hurry the f up in his shower she won’t be washing his dirty towels. The H requests for breakfast where Dani says that she’d put the coffee to brewing but he’d have to pour it himself.
I couldn’t stand Dani for the life of me. She’s the absolute perfect stand-in for the kind of hs that I absolutely loathe.
Dani’s high handedness continues. Later with a no-show from a catering company, the H asks Dani if she’d be willing to cater for his party of 20. Dani does a bit of a vain show of self praise where she proclaims how she’s the best chef and what not and that she’d really have to work it out to fit this catering job in her schedule. When in reality she has no work or man.
The H was loose of his marbles cuz he gives this catty lady his Beemer to take home and bring back the goodies day of the party. Dani thinks she’s on some high cloud deserving of this princess treatment when in reality she’s a cleaner working up some good karma.
Day of party the h is warding off suspicion from the H’s recent ONS (silky underwear lady) and confirming that she’s just the caterer. Two seconds later she’s sleeping with the H. Really. I could barely read beyond this without skipping a few.
Weird book. Didn’t see any feelings between the h and H. Didn’t like the h at all to wish her a happy ending. Disappointing
August 7, 2018
Emma Darcy has brought me a streak of amazingly delicious reads and this one is no different. I loved this book. It’s like a modern day fairytale. Dani is the Cinderella type h whose perfect sister can do no wrong and she can do no right. With Christmas around the corner and with no job and no man in her life, Dani is dreading going hone for the family Christmas dinner.
While helping out an injured friend by taking her house cleaning jobs, Dani meets Cameron, sexy, gorgeous and a celebrity author. As she’s cleaning for him, he learns that the catering company he hired for his party the following day has cancelled. Dani, amazing chef and opportunist, offered a proposal. She’ll cater his dinner for free if ... he goes to the family Christmas dinner with her.
It all seemed so simple until Cameron changes the rules a bit and Dani finds herself living in his home as his personal chef with a massive salary and an bigger case of the hots for him.
Dani’s character was bright and refreshing. She was outspoken and straightforward. She had her hang ups about herself but was always kind and wonderful to others. She initially viewed Cameron as a playboy because of her sister’s description of him. But as she got to know him she saw there was so much more to him.
Cameron seemed to like everything about Dani that she didn’t like herself. He appreciated her curly/frizzy hair, her freckles, her candor. He wanted her but she fought him believing him to be a playboy. What I really loved about Cameron was that he didn’t give up on Dani. Even when he got frustrated with her, he still let her know that he had every intention of having her as his.
Their relationship was one of honesty and straightforwardness from the start. Without Nicole’s venom, they would have had an easier time of it, but it wouldn’t have been appreciated as much, I think. The author wrote a book that was fun to read but had a message of being true to yourself and accepting yourself for who you are. Faults and all.
Oh! My favorite character was Dani’s grandma! I lost both my grandmothers when I was really young and never had a relationship like that. But I wish I did. She gave Dani pearls of wisdom and a definite sense of self worth. Her grandmother is what I aspire to be for my grandkids.
While helping out an injured friend by taking her house cleaning jobs, Dani meets Cameron, sexy, gorgeous and a celebrity author. As she’s cleaning for him, he learns that the catering company he hired for his party the following day has cancelled. Dani, amazing chef and opportunist, offered a proposal. She’ll cater his dinner for free if ... he goes to the family Christmas dinner with her.
It all seemed so simple until Cameron changes the rules a bit and Dani finds herself living in his home as his personal chef with a massive salary and an bigger case of the hots for him.
Dani’s character was bright and refreshing. She was outspoken and straightforward. She had her hang ups about herself but was always kind and wonderful to others. She initially viewed Cameron as a playboy because of her sister’s description of him. But as she got to know him she saw there was so much more to him.
Cameron seemed to like everything about Dani that she didn’t like herself. He appreciated her curly/frizzy hair, her freckles, her candor. He wanted her but she fought him believing him to be a playboy. What I really loved about Cameron was that he didn’t give up on Dani. Even when he got frustrated with her, he still let her know that he had every intention of having her as his.
Their relationship was one of honesty and straightforwardness from the start. Without Nicole’s venom, they would have had an easier time of it, but it wouldn’t have been appreciated as much, I think. The author wrote a book that was fun to read but had a message of being true to yourself and accepting yourself for who you are. Faults and all.
Oh! My favorite character was Dani’s grandma! I lost both my grandmothers when I was really young and never had a relationship like that. But I wish I did. She gave Dani pearls of wisdom and a definite sense of self worth. Her grandmother is what I aspire to be for my grandkids.
June 16, 2021
This really could have been something. The H was great, loved him. But the h fell short for me (super annoying to me for some reason) and the development of the story plus their love was just weirdly paced, hard to believe, and way TOO quick even by my standards.
December 15, 2017
I wish we had a little tit bit from Hero's POV, but none the less I loved the characters. The Epilogue was kind of eccentric , the characters seemed strangers then.
September 21, 2015
Hated the ending of this book. No one wants to deal with growing old and reading about it happening.
August 13, 2018
Cute love story. Strong and honest H and h.
September 13, 2019
The way the H and h come together was really well written. There was suspense and a naturalness along with surprising human motivations that pull the readers into the story. The secondary character h's sister and her influence in h's life was really so well written. Sometimes when we look back at our life and have a greater understanding of the people whom we grow up with, we surprise ourselves.
January 9, 2021
Typical light-hearted Emma Darcy. Not actually a 4 star since the epilogue kinda ruined it for me. It was a surprise since I usually enjoy having a peek into the MCs HEA but this book's epilogue was just crammed there in the end. As if Emma Darcy had written a much longer story but then tthe editor told her to cut down the number of pages
February 2, 2021
Toho fňukání o „zatrápené smůle“, navzdory které se hrdinka dožila požehnaného věku 23 let, tam bylo na můj vkus zbytečně moc.
Příběh je zbytečně uspěchaný. Od seznámení do žádosti o ruku to autorka stihla za 14 dní.
s. 107 „Která jídla nemáš rád, Camerone?“
„Vnitřnosti. Nenávidím je. A také nejím játra.“
Játra nejsou vnitřnosti?
Příběh je zbytečně uspěchaný. Od seznámení do žádosti o ruku to autorka stihla za 14 dní.
s. 107 „Která jídla nemáš rád, Camerone?“
„Vnitřnosti. Nenávidím je. A také nejím játra.“
Játra nejsou vnitřnosti?
April 4, 2021
I really like this book. It has a great storyline, very subtle which is expected since it was written almost thirty years ago.
June 8, 2022
3.5 stars - light read with very little to no angst. Loved both the MC’s! There were some bits that were extremely funny too!
January 2, 2023
A fantasy of course but what a lovely one. A refreshing change from endless smut and focus on unimportant things
September 4, 2023
3.5 stars
September 19, 2025
An okay read. No strong feeling since it was kinda too sweet for me.
Nothing stood out for me to rave about, so...
Nothing stood out for me to rave about, so...
August 13, 2024
The heroine is a chef with a fantastic sense of humour. The hero writes books and is a best selling author.
February 16, 2020
Its a fun book, very easy to read.
The h meets the H when as a favor to a neighbor she goes to clean his house, the H is naked in bed with black lace underwear on the floor cause he just got some. The h wakes him up and the H is a goner, instant boom. There were no games, no OW no nothing, he wanted her and she wanted him and they were both direct about it. The h cant be anything but direct and the H likes that in her.
The only obstacle was the h's sister but the H cleaned that mess up real easy and quick. The end is very sweet with an epilogue of 50 years in the future with the Hs rule to everyday a husband must hug his wife at least three times. Soo sweet.
The h meets the H when as a favor to a neighbor she goes to clean his house, the H is naked in bed with black lace underwear on the floor cause he just got some. The h wakes him up and the H is a goner, instant boom. There were no games, no OW no nothing, he wanted her and she wanted him and they were both direct about it. The h cant be anything but direct and the H likes that in her.
The only obstacle was the h's sister but the H cleaned that mess up real easy and quick. The end is very sweet with an epilogue of 50 years in the future with the Hs rule to everyday a husband must hug his wife at least three times. Soo sweet.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 25, 2011
The hero was totally into the h which was nice. The epilogue was a bit stretched but it was nice nonetheless.
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