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Bennett Family #1
One Chance at Love
A Golden Apollo swimming in the nude...
That had been Dizzy James's first sight of Zachariah Bennett. It was hard to reconcile what she had seen then with the stodgy-looking, scholarly professor who stood before her now, silently condemning Dizzy for her waywardness and loose morals.
In fact, the man knew nothing about her except what he had been led to believe. And all because Dizzy, who despite her name was anything but, had agreed to a charade to help out a friend.
What Zach thought of her had been a matter of supreme indifference to her. Now it wasn't.
That had been Dizzy James's first sight of Zachariah Bennett. It was hard to reconcile what she had seen then with the stodgy-looking, scholarly professor who stood before her now, silently condemning Dizzy for her waywardness and loose morals.
In fact, the man knew nothing about her except what he had been led to believe. And all because Dizzy, who despite her name was anything but, had agreed to a charade to help out a friend.
What Zach thought of her had been a matter of supreme indifference to her. Now it wasn't.
187 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published September 1, 1988
60 people are currently reading
239 people want to read
About the author
Carole Mortimer
1,300 books911 followersI have written almost 250 romance novels in contemporary and Regency.
I am a USA Today Bestselling Author and recipient of the 2015 RWA Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2014 I received a Pioneer of Romance Award from Romantic Times in the US and in 2012 I was recognised by Queen Elizabeth II for my 'outstanding service to literature'.
I am very happily married to Peter with six sons, and live on the Isle of Man
I am a USA Today Bestselling Author and recipient of the 2015 RWA Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2014 I received a Pioneer of Romance Award from Romantic Times in the US and in 2012 I was recognised by Queen Elizabeth II for my 'outstanding service to literature'.
I am very happily married to Peter with six sons, and live on the Isle of Man
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
October 31, 2016
Re- One Chance At Love - CM brings us an extremely fluffy romance with a seekritive h and an H who has some surprises of his own. He also wears glasses and dresses in old tweeds with a pipe, but somehow he just doesn't have the adorableness that Rachel Lindsay's glasses wearing H conveyed.
The story starts with our free roaming h being dragged to her manipulative and interfering best friend's rescue at her uncle's castle. She wants the h to come and convince the uncle that the BF is the most reliable person around, especially when compared to the h, whom she plans to present as the most irresponsible person on the planet. The h is to pretend to be a distant acquaintance mooching off her old skool friend's generosity, sort like a traveling house guest, and this act is supposed to convince her uncle to release her inheritance when she is 21 in a month rather than making her wait to she is 25.
(Like pulling off such an improvisation is going to make her seem really reliable and able to manage a large amount of money. Really? I did not get the urgency here, the woman is an actress in drama school and has been living in London for years on her own, I am sure she had some kind of allowance as London isn't cheap and she did not have a regular job, yet all the sudden she needs her money immediately. It is HPlandia so I guess we just go with it.)
The h duly presents herself at the castle, but walking along the path to the place, she comes across a lake with a very attractive blond nude male swimming. The h is definitely enjoying the view and after a bit of oogeling, she wanders up to announce herself as the BF's guest, all ready to meet the fusty, dusty uncle of the BF. Except that the uncle isn't fusty or dusty at all, he is Greek God the h was drooling over in the little lake.
The h is overcome with a strong surge of passion, but the BF gives the impression to the uncle that the h is the most moochingest fly by night of indeterminate origin ever. The uncle is a history professor and he dresses like it, but still he makes efforts to be hospitable to the h. He shows her his prized paintings of a famous artist that include a little girl imprisoned in a nursery and a very Gothic foreboding house that the h really doesn't like.
It turns out she has good reason to loathe both the paintings and the artist. The artist is her mother who abandoned her to the care of her MP father who resented her existence and locked her in her room and sent her to boarding school at eight and then never let her come home. The landscape painting is of her father's house and if it hadn't been for her BF's parents, the h would never have had anywhere to go over holidays and things. Who her parents are is a closely kept secret, her father completely disapproves of her and ignores her existence and her mother has never tried to contact her since she abandoned her. The h has a small group of close friends and spends a lot of time travelling for her work, but she is 21 and has never been kissed and doesn't think that relationships are for her. She has a hard time with trust.
The H doesn't really approve of the h, he thinks she is sleeping with a guy named Harry, who is actually a dog and there are various other scrapes the h has innocently gotten into that don't look quite proper when they are talked about. The h also has an insatiable appetite for pilchards, which are large sardines, and quite a lot of the book is devoted to the h's continual questing for them as she doesn't sleep well and pilchards at two in the morning help send her right off to dreamland.
On her first night in the castle, the h is on a midnight pilchard hunt and runs into the H, they are both wearing the same stripped pjs and there is an almost kissing moment. The next morning the h finds a little girl crying in the kitchen. She is the cook's granddaughter who is staying temporarily while the girl's mum is in hospital from appendicitis. The little girl keeps crying for Melissa, and the h quickly figures out that the little girl wants her doll. So to demonstrate both the h and her BF's innate kindness and compassion and general HP h worthiness, we all trek to town 30 miles away to get the doll and the little girl is happy and the H yells at them for not telling him about the little girl's distress - thus proving that he is a nice HP H and worthy too.
The attraction between the H and h is growing and the H brings the h a little middle of night snack, (but he couldn't face the pilchards at two in the morning,) and it ends in a big kissing moment. The kissing stops when the little girl has a nightmare and the H and h run to help her and the h winds up sitting with her the rest of the night. Reinforcing how HP h worthy she really is. The H's turn comes the next morning when he apologizes profusely for taking advantage of a guest under his roof, and he promises it won't happen again. The h is thoroughly pleased at how the H took all the responsibility for passionate kissing and never once said she was a tramp or a tease.
The h knows the next move is up to her, and with the BF's encouragement and after the H takes them both to dinner and they share a convivial after dinner moment, the h decides to tell the H the truth. She goes to find the H in his lake the next afternoon, but sadly he is wearing swimming trunks. There is more kissing and the h explains the deception. The H somehow thinks that the h was using their mutual attraction to manipulate him in the matter of the BF's money and he kicks the h out, especially after finding out who her parents are but he also adds that he had no intention of not giving the BF her money.
The h goes back to her studio and has a big mopey moment. The h is halfheartedly photographing a couple for her next romance cover, (she does the big romance cover illustrations and makes a lot of money at it as she is in big demand.) She is miserable and debating what to do about her unfulfilled love for the H. Then the BF shows up and the h is bewailing her loss on her shoulder. The phone rings at the height of the bemoaning and it is the h's publisher. The h has gotten the cover artist assignment of her dreams for her favorite historical romance author. The BF rushes her off to the publisher's office and the H is waiting for her there.
The H is the h's favorite historical romance author and he wants the h to do the cover and marry him too, cause he loves her madly. The h agrees after some major kisses and the h's first name is sorta explained. The h is called Dizzy after her initials DC, that is what the kids at school called her and she hates her first names of Delilah Cleopatra, so she only answers to Dizzy. The H is determined that she will never have to worry about her parents again, cause he loves her enough for twenty people and they marry after a statement that the lurve clubbing has happened.
The epilogue is three months later when they are both skinny dipping at the lake and the h knows she is preggers cause she can't stand the sight of pilchards and the H is ecstatic that his lurve club mojo hit the target for the HEA.
This one is okay, but not CM's best, it was supposed to be zany and fluffy, but the usual CM spark was missing - tho both the h and H were very nice people I am sure. There was lot more time devoted to the BF and her beauty and character, so I couldn't help but think that CM was more interested in the BF's upcoming story than she was about this one. Read this if it is there, but if you skip it, you won't be missing a lot.
The story starts with our free roaming h being dragged to her manipulative and interfering best friend's rescue at her uncle's castle. She wants the h to come and convince the uncle that the BF is the most reliable person around, especially when compared to the h, whom she plans to present as the most irresponsible person on the planet. The h is to pretend to be a distant acquaintance mooching off her old skool friend's generosity, sort like a traveling house guest, and this act is supposed to convince her uncle to release her inheritance when she is 21 in a month rather than making her wait to she is 25.
(Like pulling off such an improvisation is going to make her seem really reliable and able to manage a large amount of money. Really? I did not get the urgency here, the woman is an actress in drama school and has been living in London for years on her own, I am sure she had some kind of allowance as London isn't cheap and she did not have a regular job, yet all the sudden she needs her money immediately. It is HPlandia so I guess we just go with it.)
The h duly presents herself at the castle, but walking along the path to the place, she comes across a lake with a very attractive blond nude male swimming. The h is definitely enjoying the view and after a bit of oogeling, she wanders up to announce herself as the BF's guest, all ready to meet the fusty, dusty uncle of the BF. Except that the uncle isn't fusty or dusty at all, he is Greek God the h was drooling over in the little lake.
The h is overcome with a strong surge of passion, but the BF gives the impression to the uncle that the h is the most moochingest fly by night of indeterminate origin ever. The uncle is a history professor and he dresses like it, but still he makes efforts to be hospitable to the h. He shows her his prized paintings of a famous artist that include a little girl imprisoned in a nursery and a very Gothic foreboding house that the h really doesn't like.
It turns out she has good reason to loathe both the paintings and the artist. The artist is her mother who abandoned her to the care of her MP father who resented her existence and locked her in her room and sent her to boarding school at eight and then never let her come home. The landscape painting is of her father's house and if it hadn't been for her BF's parents, the h would never have had anywhere to go over holidays and things. Who her parents are is a closely kept secret, her father completely disapproves of her and ignores her existence and her mother has never tried to contact her since she abandoned her. The h has a small group of close friends and spends a lot of time travelling for her work, but she is 21 and has never been kissed and doesn't think that relationships are for her. She has a hard time with trust.
The H doesn't really approve of the h, he thinks she is sleeping with a guy named Harry, who is actually a dog and there are various other scrapes the h has innocently gotten into that don't look quite proper when they are talked about. The h also has an insatiable appetite for pilchards, which are large sardines, and quite a lot of the book is devoted to the h's continual questing for them as she doesn't sleep well and pilchards at two in the morning help send her right off to dreamland.
On her first night in the castle, the h is on a midnight pilchard hunt and runs into the H, they are both wearing the same stripped pjs and there is an almost kissing moment. The next morning the h finds a little girl crying in the kitchen. She is the cook's granddaughter who is staying temporarily while the girl's mum is in hospital from appendicitis. The little girl keeps crying for Melissa, and the h quickly figures out that the little girl wants her doll. So to demonstrate both the h and her BF's innate kindness and compassion and general HP h worthiness, we all trek to town 30 miles away to get the doll and the little girl is happy and the H yells at them for not telling him about the little girl's distress - thus proving that he is a nice HP H and worthy too.
The attraction between the H and h is growing and the H brings the h a little middle of night snack, (but he couldn't face the pilchards at two in the morning,) and it ends in a big kissing moment. The kissing stops when the little girl has a nightmare and the H and h run to help her and the h winds up sitting with her the rest of the night. Reinforcing how HP h worthy she really is. The H's turn comes the next morning when he apologizes profusely for taking advantage of a guest under his roof, and he promises it won't happen again. The h is thoroughly pleased at how the H took all the responsibility for passionate kissing and never once said she was a tramp or a tease.
The h knows the next move is up to her, and with the BF's encouragement and after the H takes them both to dinner and they share a convivial after dinner moment, the h decides to tell the H the truth. She goes to find the H in his lake the next afternoon, but sadly he is wearing swimming trunks. There is more kissing and the h explains the deception. The H somehow thinks that the h was using their mutual attraction to manipulate him in the matter of the BF's money and he kicks the h out, especially after finding out who her parents are but he also adds that he had no intention of not giving the BF her money.
The h goes back to her studio and has a big mopey moment. The h is halfheartedly photographing a couple for her next romance cover, (she does the big romance cover illustrations and makes a lot of money at it as she is in big demand.) She is miserable and debating what to do about her unfulfilled love for the H. Then the BF shows up and the h is bewailing her loss on her shoulder. The phone rings at the height of the bemoaning and it is the h's publisher. The h has gotten the cover artist assignment of her dreams for her favorite historical romance author. The BF rushes her off to the publisher's office and the H is waiting for her there.
The H is the h's favorite historical romance author and he wants the h to do the cover and marry him too, cause he loves her madly. The h agrees after some major kisses and the h's first name is sorta explained. The h is called Dizzy after her initials DC, that is what the kids at school called her and she hates her first names of Delilah Cleopatra, so she only answers to Dizzy. The H is determined that she will never have to worry about her parents again, cause he loves her enough for twenty people and they marry after a statement that the lurve clubbing has happened.
The epilogue is three months later when they are both skinny dipping at the lake and the h knows she is preggers cause she can't stand the sight of pilchards and the H is ecstatic that his lurve club mojo hit the target for the HEA.
This one is okay, but not CM's best, it was supposed to be zany and fluffy, but the usual CM spark was missing - tho both the h and H were very nice people I am sure. There was lot more time devoted to the BF and her beauty and character, so I couldn't help but think that CM was more interested in the BF's upcoming story than she was about this one. Read this if it is there, but if you skip it, you won't be missing a lot.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 26, 2012
Ah, this was a cute book. Zach has the nerd appeal big time. I can't resist a guy who is hot and a nerd, or perhaps the nerdiness enhances the appeal of a hot guy for me big time. I am a sucker for love at first sight stories, and finding loving where you least expect it, and this one definitely has that vibe. Dizzy saw Zach for the first time and fell like a ton of bricks, although she manages to keep her composure fairly well (point in her favor). Zach also feels things for his niece's young friend that are not at all avuncular. What to do about that! Zach won me over big time with his Nerdy Professor demeanor. I find that so hot! Whenever she described his bad clothes and glasses, I started fanning myself. I am a sick woman! But I see that also rocked for Dizzy. I like how she made a comment near the end when he bought some better clothes that she'd have to beat the women off her Greek God. Girls who ignore the nerds are missing out! (Keep in mind I am not referring to the uber-geeks with poor grooming and hygiene skills and no social skills that hang out at Comic-Con. They do nothing for me)
The one that troubles me about this book is how Dizzy doesn't get closure on her parents. Is she always going to be estranged from them? I can't imagine having parents like that. No one has perfect parents, but Dizzy's are a nightmare. At least she has Zach, Christi, and her friends. I feel like her parents are the ones missing out on knowing a great daughter.
Yeah, this one doesn't have a lot of drama, but I didn't miss it. I loved the sweet and passionate scenes between Dizzy, and how they weren't fooling Christi at all that they had made a love connection. Also loved the literary aspects of this novel with Dizzy and Zach's secret careers.
Although sweet and simple, this one was a winner. Thumbs up.
*Now Danielle wants to find more romance novels with nerdy heroes. The deliciously and lickably nerdy Bruce Banner played by Mark Ruffalo in The Avengers movie did not help to diminish my thing for nerds at all!*
The one that troubles me about this book is how Dizzy doesn't get closure on her parents. Is she always going to be estranged from them? I can't imagine having parents like that. No one has perfect parents, but Dizzy's are a nightmare. At least she has Zach, Christi, and her friends. I feel like her parents are the ones missing out on knowing a great daughter.
Yeah, this one doesn't have a lot of drama, but I didn't miss it. I loved the sweet and passionate scenes between Dizzy, and how they weren't fooling Christi at all that they had made a love connection. Also loved the literary aspects of this novel with Dizzy and Zach's secret careers.
Although sweet and simple, this one was a winner. Thumbs up.
*Now Danielle wants to find more romance novels with nerdy heroes. The deliciously and lickably nerdy Bruce Banner played by Mark Ruffalo in The Avengers movie did not help to diminish my thing for nerds at all!*
March 15, 2019
Adorable.
Note to self: this is the one where the heroine glimpses the hero skinny-dipping and is immediately smitten with his Greek God physique. Imagine her surprise when he turns out to be the “stuffy” history professor uncle of her bff. The “stuffy” professor she is supposed to impress with her irresponsibility so her bff will look responsible enough to access her inheritance early.
It’s a stupid plan and none of it works out because these two soulmates zoom past the “stuffy” and “irresponsible” masks to head-over heels-in no time.
Half the fun of this story is discovering just *how* perfect they are for each other. Sexual desire is one thing – but hearts and minds is so often overlooked. The author drips bits of backstory into the narrative so that it dawns on the heroine (and the reader) just what a perfect fit this hero is. I think my favorite moment is when we find how the heroine’s career and the hero’s dovetail. It’s a delightful scene.
This is a very open and talky hero, with the heroine keeping a lot of pain and secrets close to the vest. It's a dynamic you don't see often, but I enjoyed it.
I don’t want to give too much away because I had forgotten all about Boogenhagen’s review (which prompted me to the waiting list at Open Library) and went into this one cold. I loved all the characters, the setting and the romance. Warning: this is fluff – good fluff – but very low angst.
Edited to add: Good lord, look at that cover. It's awful - and ironic.
Note to self: this is the one where the heroine glimpses the hero skinny-dipping and is immediately smitten with his Greek God physique. Imagine her surprise when he turns out to be the “stuffy” history professor uncle of her bff. The “stuffy” professor she is supposed to impress with her irresponsibility so her bff will look responsible enough to access her inheritance early.
It’s a stupid plan and none of it works out because these two soulmates zoom past the “stuffy” and “irresponsible” masks to head-over heels-in no time.
Half the fun of this story is discovering just *how* perfect they are for each other. Sexual desire is one thing – but hearts and minds is so often overlooked. The author drips bits of backstory into the narrative so that it dawns on the heroine (and the reader) just what a perfect fit this hero is. I think my favorite moment is when we find how the heroine’s career and the hero’s dovetail. It’s a delightful scene.
This is a very open and talky hero, with the heroine keeping a lot of pain and secrets close to the vest. It's a dynamic you don't see often, but I enjoyed it.
I don’t want to give too much away because I had forgotten all about Boogenhagen’s review (which prompted me to the waiting list at Open Library) and went into this one cold. I loved all the characters, the setting and the romance. Warning: this is fluff – good fluff – but very low angst.
Edited to add: Good lord, look at that cover. It's awful - and ironic.
July 15, 2019
One of my least favorite tropes among so very, very many is the heroine who pretends to be easy, a slut, a mistress, insert your preferred bad girl term in order to teach the H a lesson, throw up an emotional shield, etc as it is usually so poorly done. There are authors who can pull it off, but not many. Imagine my surprise and happiness when this heroine’s attempt is much more lighthearted and more carefree. She will pretend to be irresponsible to throw her BF in a better light so the BF can receive her inheritance from her disapproving Uncle. Not exactly the best logic, but oh well. Nice touch when the H thinks she is easy because he hears she’s providing solace to a brown-haired lonely guy. The BF’s dog.
We have some four star moments with the very virginal heroine lusting after the H after she sees him swimming nude. I think the term she used was “Greek god”. He hides his light under a bushel of tweed and some glasses. He does a little eyebrow raising and subtle allusions to the heroine’s bad girl status, but his heart isn’t in it.
There is some horrifically bad parenting off page that drives the heroine which is where the book falls down. I wondered if word count issues derailed a better resolution of the heroine’s two bad parents. The H and h get their HEA, but it comes after just a couple of dinners, a late night kitchen raid and a couple of heartfelt confessions. If Mortimer had done more with the H’s past and resolving the horror story that the h endured I would have gone for four stars.
Very nice banter and some whimsy.
We have some four star moments with the very virginal heroine lusting after the H after she sees him swimming nude. I think the term she used was “Greek god”. He hides his light under a bushel of tweed and some glasses. He does a little eyebrow raising and subtle allusions to the heroine’s bad girl status, but his heart isn’t in it.
There is some horrifically bad parenting off page that drives the heroine which is where the book falls down. I wondered if word count issues derailed a better resolution of the heroine’s two bad parents. The H and h get their HEA, but it comes after just a couple of dinners, a late night kitchen raid and a couple of heartfelt confessions. If Mortimer had done more with the H’s past and resolving the horror story that the h endured I would have gone for four stars.
Very nice banter and some whimsy.
August 16, 2020
Wow! I really enjoyed this book. It was so sweet 🧁 I loved the main characters 💯💖 Finally, I found a bessoted hero and a lovely heroine 🙌
An epilogue always adds points to my final rating 🌟 and this one was no exception.
An epilogue always adds points to my final rating 🌟 and this one was no exception.
May 12, 2018
"One Chance at Love" is the story of Dizzy and Zach.
When Dizzy James is asked a huge favor by her close friend Claire- she never expects it would include travelling up to her uncle's castle, encountering a nude Adonis, and later finding out that it is Claire's uncle Zach! In order to portray responsibility, Claire hatches the plan to show Dizzy as a wild, uninhibited belle- something that would surely put her scholarly uncle off- but as sparks fly between Dizzy and Zach, soon Claire's plan transforms into subtle matchmaking.
A sweet geeky hero, a scarred-from-past nerdy heroine, some sardines and animal love mixed with nude bathing and humor, this was just a pleasant read overall.
I liked how kind Dizzy was with Kate, and how understanding Zach was. Adorable epilogue!
Safe
3.5/5
When Dizzy James is asked a huge favor by her close friend Claire- she never expects it would include travelling up to her uncle's castle, encountering a nude Adonis, and later finding out that it is Claire's uncle Zach! In order to portray responsibility, Claire hatches the plan to show Dizzy as a wild, uninhibited belle- something that would surely put her scholarly uncle off- but as sparks fly between Dizzy and Zach, soon Claire's plan transforms into subtle matchmaking.
A sweet geeky hero, a scarred-from-past nerdy heroine, some sardines and animal love mixed with nude bathing and humor, this was just a pleasant read overall.
I liked how kind Dizzy was with Kate, and how understanding Zach was. Adorable epilogue!
Safe
3.5/5
March 16, 2019
Oh my, my, my. This was precious. "Professor"-style hero...yum. Heroine with very interesting backstory, who is instantly smitten with the hero. She is also loving and loyal. I loved this couple!
Low angst, high on the adorable rating.
One-of-a-kind "meet-cute"...She sees hero skinny-dipping in the lake! Hee hee!
There is also a fun twist at the end.
Grade: A
Look forward to rereading this one!
Low angst, high on the adorable rating.
One-of-a-kind "meet-cute"...She sees hero skinny-dipping in the lake! Hee hee!
There is also a fun twist at the end.
Grade: A
Look forward to rereading this one!
August 24, 2020
Enjoyable read, but needed a bit more angst to get more than 3 stars.
March 17, 2019
All the exclamation marks threw me, but I still rather enjoyed this rather flirtatious story. I loved how well Dizzy's and Zach's true characters came to light, as did the revelations.
Relatively angst-free, utterly sweet - except that their love possibly moved too fast for my liking - it was still a rather enjoyable read.
Relatively angst-free, utterly sweet - except that their love possibly moved too fast for my liking - it was still a rather enjoyable read.
March 7, 2016
What a great story to traditional readers of harlequin presents. Loved the way they were so hot for each other.
March 3, 2014
First book in a series of 5 of which I've now read 4. This one was enjoyable without being a total standout. The hero was pretty much a beta hero but I would have enjoyed him being even stuffier. The heroine was named Dizzy but she wasn't really. I was hoping she'd be a more ditzy character. But still if was a nice enjoyable read.
July 29, 2017
I thought this book was fantastic. The heroine was delightful. The hero was intelligent. The story predictable but i loved it.
April 11, 2023
Again with the half dozen exclamation marks a page! It becomes really distracting! You start picking them out before you've even read the text! Sometimes there are two or three in one paragraph alone!
Anyhow. I was disappointed with this as I fancied the premise, and the "fusty" prof (love an academic H) and the literally Dizzy h had so much potential. But she was not as well executed as a LG ditzy type (in truth she wasn't dizzy at all) and the emotional development was both hasty and incomplete. Pity. Nice castle in the Lakes. Nice first sighting of H skinny dipping. Everything else went off the boil for me.
Anyhow. I was disappointed with this as I fancied the premise, and the "fusty" prof (love an academic H) and the literally Dizzy h had so much potential. But she was not as well executed as a LG ditzy type (in truth she wasn't dizzy at all) and the emotional development was both hasty and incomplete. Pity. Nice castle in the Lakes. Nice first sighting of H skinny dipping. Everything else went off the boil for me.
November 17, 2020
3.5 Stars ~ This is a fun read. Dizzy is a loveable young woman, who to her friends, appears to be as free-spirited as her name. Being the first to jump to help someone and with her genuinely kind heart, she's earned her title of godmother six times. Only her best friend, Christi, knows the deep pain she keeps buried and that drives her to live her life as an orphan-by-choice, if not in fact.
When Christi calls out an SOS, Dizzy can't refuse to answer. With Dizzy to play the role of irresponsible impulsive practically homeless friend, Christi will appear mature and confident in contrast. Just what Christi needs to prove to her guardian Uncle for him to release her inheritance on her 21st birthday. There's one hitch, the fusty, dusty professor that Dizzy is expecting Uncle Zach to be, turns out to be a golden Apollo in disguise.
Though only 35, Zach has two loves -- his castle, in dire need of renovation, and history. He's not sure what the two girls are up to, but it doesn't take him long to realize Dizzy is not the girl trying to live up to her name. She completely enchants him and he finds himself falling hard and fast. When Dizzy owns up to Christi's scheme and confides in him who her parents are, Zach feels that he's been taken for a fool. It take's Christi in a rage to protect her loyal friend, to point out that Dizzy's not the only one with secrets about identity.
When Christi calls out an SOS, Dizzy can't refuse to answer. With Dizzy to play the role of irresponsible impulsive practically homeless friend, Christi will appear mature and confident in contrast. Just what Christi needs to prove to her guardian Uncle for him to release her inheritance on her 21st birthday. There's one hitch, the fusty, dusty professor that Dizzy is expecting Uncle Zach to be, turns out to be a golden Apollo in disguise.
Though only 35, Zach has two loves -- his castle, in dire need of renovation, and history. He's not sure what the two girls are up to, but it doesn't take him long to realize Dizzy is not the girl trying to live up to her name. She completely enchants him and he finds himself falling hard and fast. When Dizzy owns up to Christi's scheme and confides in him who her parents are, Zach feels that he's been taken for a fool. It take's Christi in a rage to protect her loyal friend, to point out that Dizzy's not the only one with secrets about identity.
March 13, 2021
Dizzy James first sees Professor Zach Bennett swimming naked in his castle pool—andwhat a sight it is! The normally stuffy looking scholar has a body made for sin, and Dizzyis intrigued to see what else he's hiding…
But can she convince Zach that she's not thewayward girl he's been led to believe she is? And that, despite her name, Dizzy isanything but? What Zach thinks of her should be a matter of supreme indifference to her.Yet somehow, it isn't…and Dizzy has one chance to make Zach notice her!
But can she convince Zach that she's not thewayward girl he's been led to believe she is? And that, despite her name, Dizzy isanything but? What Zach thinks of her should be a matter of supreme indifference to her.Yet somehow, it isn't…and Dizzy has one chance to make Zach notice her!
September 18, 2012
3.5 stars. This was a pretty lighthearted read -- two goofy girls trying to fool a "fusty dusty" professor who actually looks like a Greek god under his clothes. The characters were enjoyable though, so overall it was a decent read.
February 7, 2017
A delightful story about friendship and unexpectedly meeting your Greek god.
Dizzy James went to help out her friend Christi who was stuck with her old fusty dusty uncle in his castle. What she did not expect to find was a Greek god swimming nude in the lake.
Turns out that Christi's uncle isn't as fusty and dusty as she claims. He is handsome, sexy and intriguing and hiding a god like body under his oversized tweed jackets.
The book was a fun read. I grinned like a lion throughout the entire thing. I loved Dizzy and Christi's friendship. Their loyalty to each other and the lengths they will go for each other is a beautiful thing. The ending was a little awkward but still sweet. And Claudia Laurence - who would've thunk?! That was a delightful twist!
Dizzy James went to help out her friend Christi who was stuck with her old fusty dusty uncle in his castle. What she did not expect to find was a Greek god swimming nude in the lake.
Turns out that Christi's uncle isn't as fusty and dusty as she claims. He is handsome, sexy and intriguing and hiding a god like body under his oversized tweed jackets.
The book was a fun read. I grinned like a lion throughout the entire thing. I loved Dizzy and Christi's friendship. Their loyalty to each other and the lengths they will go for each other is a beautiful thing. The ending was a little awkward but still sweet. And Claudia Laurence - who would've thunk?! That was a delightful twist!
July 27, 2012
When Dizzy was persuaded by her best friend, Christi to go to her Uncle Zach's (a fusty-dusty professor) castle to make Christi appeared responsible and level-headed, she didn't expect to encounter a "Greek god", swimming naked. And when she reached the castle and meet the professor, she had a shock for it was her "Greek god"!
The story started with that cute opening chapter and it was a nice read. Not too dramatic which I like. It was a light romance. Sweet and sexy without being too mushy and too explicit in sex.
I find this a very nice read!
The story started with that cute opening chapter and it was a nice read. Not too dramatic which I like. It was a light romance. Sweet and sexy without being too mushy and too explicit in sex.
I find this a very nice read!
February 17, 2018
4 solid stars! I did not expect to enjoy this book so much! I thought I had read it all of such Mills & Boon stories but this one managed to surprise me not once or twice but many times! If there had been more sexy times I'd give this full 5* LOL
Because of all the plot twists and surprises there will be spoilers so my advice is just read the book and not too many reviews!
So out of all the books in my TBR I read this because the blurb sure grabbed my attention! Hero swimming naked in the lake and seen by heroine? Sold!
Dizzy James' professional name was DC James. Her name itself was a mystery which was revealed to us right at the end. Check below for her real name under spoilers. But her nickname Dizzy was derived from her initials DC, which was what her father called her after he got over his disappointment of not having a son and realised the names his artist wife gave their daughter.
Her best chum Christi was due to inherit upon turning 21 but it seemed her guardian uncle was not quite ready to release the money to her till he's satisfied she's mature enough to inherit. One of his "conditions" was for her to stay with him for some time in his Lake District castle, and the poor little rich girl was bored out of her mind and thinking of murdering her fusty and dusty uncle! She concocted the crazy idea for Dizzy to come and act irresponsibly so that in contrast Christi would look so mature and good!
Uncle Zachariah was a hot hunk of a nerd, a history professor who wrote books. Being a much younger brother of Christi's archeologist father, he was only 35 so not at all the elderly professor Dizzy had imagined! She had hiked the miles from the train station to the castle when she saw a Greek god swimming and sunbathing in the nude at a lake. In fact when she was introduced to Uncle, and realised HE was her Greek god, she choked up so badly! Hilarious 😂
Anyway Christi laid it on so thick, that Dizzy seemed a drifter doing nothing with her life and living off the generosity of friends. Even us readers wondered how she's surviving out of two bags travelling the world! Oh Zach thought Dizzy a loose girl cos he overheard Christi on the phone with Dizzy, who had let Henry sleep in her bed because he was lonely and had soulful brown eyes! But the joke was Henry was Christi's dog!
Anyway we slowly found out more about Dizzy's family background and her emotional baggage.
All's well that ends well and the sweet ending/ epilogue tied in very nicely with Dizzy's love for pilchards 😍😍
SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS
So many funny twists.
Knowing Zach liked to go "bird watching" every afternoon according to Christi, Dizzy decided to look for him at the lake to confess the truth of her parents' identities, who were rich and famous MP (father) and mother a famous artist that Zach collected.
As she approached the lake, he saw her and started walking towards her. At this point Dizzy was getting excited...but Zach emerged from the water in swimming trunks, albeit tiny sexy black ones LOL. Turned out he added two and two to get four, and realised she must have seen him swimming naked when she arrived at the castle! Since then he wisely put on trunks, while wondering when Dizzy would come find him again!
After the confession and Zach angrily chased Dizzy off, we found out Dizzy made a good living as a book cover illustrator! She specialised in romance novels and historical in particular. Her favourite author Claudia Laurence finally agreed to let Dizzy illustrate one of her covers, but heartbroken Dizzy could not bring herself to be excited. Christi had to dress her up and send her to her publisher in a taxi! Annnnnd surprise! Zach WAS Claudia Laurence, bestselling "hot historicals" author! Castles are expensive to buy and renovate, you know, so poor Zach had to have a secret career. This plot twist took me by surprise as I totally did not see it coming! Great job! I love how the author used the romance industry and write these characters in to give us a glimpse of how Dizzy and Zach worked.
By this point I was really wondering what DC stand for...if her mother was a flamboyant artist it could be something Degas Cézanne or what. Then I thought it could be some dramatic names like Desdemona Cleopatra!
I was close! DC stood for Delilah Cleopatra! LOL Even Zach was laughing when he recounted how Dizzy asked the vicar if he really had to read out her full real names for the wedding service!
And the sweet ending...right in the beginning we knew Dizzy loved pilchards, a sardine-like herring type fish. In the castle on her first night, she was caught by Zach raiding the larder for some because she was hungry and couldn't sleep. He immediately got suspicious and questioned if she was pregnant and craving! Haha! The following night, he saw light under her door and brought her hot milk and biscuits because he could not bring himself to open the pilchards LOL. That was when they shared their first hot kiss!
I so wanted to read their sexy times but other than a couple of hot kisses, we were only told they made beautiful love, no going into the bedroom with them.
And. We were told Dizzy was pregnant in the last scene, because she tried to eat pilchards at lunch and they made her nauseous! Love how all the little details tied in at the end!
Great story!
Copyrighted 1988.
Because of all the plot twists and surprises there will be spoilers so my advice is just read the book and not too many reviews!
So out of all the books in my TBR I read this because the blurb sure grabbed my attention! Hero swimming naked in the lake and seen by heroine? Sold!
Dizzy James' professional name was DC James. Her name itself was a mystery which was revealed to us right at the end. Check below for her real name under spoilers. But her nickname Dizzy was derived from her initials DC, which was what her father called her after he got over his disappointment of not having a son and realised the names his artist wife gave their daughter.
Her best chum Christi was due to inherit upon turning 21 but it seemed her guardian uncle was not quite ready to release the money to her till he's satisfied she's mature enough to inherit. One of his "conditions" was for her to stay with him for some time in his Lake District castle, and the poor little rich girl was bored out of her mind and thinking of murdering her fusty and dusty uncle! She concocted the crazy idea for Dizzy to come and act irresponsibly so that in contrast Christi would look so mature and good!
Uncle Zachariah was a hot hunk of a nerd, a history professor who wrote books. Being a much younger brother of Christi's archeologist father, he was only 35 so not at all the elderly professor Dizzy had imagined! She had hiked the miles from the train station to the castle when she saw a Greek god swimming and sunbathing in the nude at a lake. In fact when she was introduced to Uncle, and realised HE was her Greek god, she choked up so badly! Hilarious 😂
Anyway Christi laid it on so thick, that Dizzy seemed a drifter doing nothing with her life and living off the generosity of friends. Even us readers wondered how she's surviving out of two bags travelling the world! Oh Zach thought Dizzy a loose girl cos he overheard Christi on the phone with Dizzy, who had let Henry sleep in her bed because he was lonely and had soulful brown eyes! But the joke was Henry was Christi's dog!
Anyway we slowly found out more about Dizzy's family background and her emotional baggage.
All's well that ends well and the sweet ending/ epilogue tied in very nicely with Dizzy's love for pilchards 😍😍
SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS
So many funny twists.
Knowing Zach liked to go "bird watching" every afternoon according to Christi, Dizzy decided to look for him at the lake to confess the truth of her parents' identities, who were rich and famous MP (father) and mother a famous artist that Zach collected.
As she approached the lake, he saw her and started walking towards her. At this point Dizzy was getting excited...but Zach emerged from the water in swimming trunks, albeit tiny sexy black ones LOL. Turned out he added two and two to get four, and realised she must have seen him swimming naked when she arrived at the castle! Since then he wisely put on trunks, while wondering when Dizzy would come find him again!
After the confession and Zach angrily chased Dizzy off, we found out Dizzy made a good living as a book cover illustrator! She specialised in romance novels and historical in particular. Her favourite author Claudia Laurence finally agreed to let Dizzy illustrate one of her covers, but heartbroken Dizzy could not bring herself to be excited. Christi had to dress her up and send her to her publisher in a taxi! Annnnnd surprise! Zach WAS Claudia Laurence, bestselling "hot historicals" author! Castles are expensive to buy and renovate, you know, so poor Zach had to have a secret career. This plot twist took me by surprise as I totally did not see it coming! Great job! I love how the author used the romance industry and write these characters in to give us a glimpse of how Dizzy and Zach worked.
By this point I was really wondering what DC stand for...if her mother was a flamboyant artist it could be something Degas Cézanne or what. Then I thought it could be some dramatic names like Desdemona Cleopatra!
I was close! DC stood for Delilah Cleopatra! LOL Even Zach was laughing when he recounted how Dizzy asked the vicar if he really had to read out her full real names for the wedding service!
And the sweet ending...right in the beginning we knew Dizzy loved pilchards, a sardine-like herring type fish. In the castle on her first night, she was caught by Zach raiding the larder for some because she was hungry and couldn't sleep. He immediately got suspicious and questioned if she was pregnant and craving! Haha! The following night, he saw light under her door and brought her hot milk and biscuits because he could not bring himself to open the pilchards LOL. That was when they shared their first hot kiss!
I so wanted to read their sexy times but other than a couple of hot kisses, we were only told they made beautiful love, no going into the bedroom with them.
And. We were told Dizzy was pregnant in the last scene, because she tried to eat pilchards at lunch and they made her nauseous! Love how all the little details tied in at the end!
Great story!
Copyrighted 1988.
October 5, 2016
As an oldie it's fine, but some parts were a little boring so I skimmed!
January 15, 2019
Dizzy goes to Castle Haven to help her friend, Christi. On the way, she sees a man skinny dipping and promptly labels him as a Greek god in her mind. Later that day she meets the man and it is Christi's uncle who she has described as a fusty scholar. Christi wants to show how responsible she is so she can get control of her inheritance and thinks that Dizzy's bohemian behavior will work in her favor. Unknown to Christi, Zach has every intention of giving her control of her inheritance. Through half truths and misunderstandings, Zach ends up with the wrong impressions of Dizzy despite falling for her. When Dizzy tries to explain exactly who she is, harsh words are exchanged and Dizzy leaves despite loving Zach. Zach realizes his mistake and chases after her and reveals that he is her favorite historical romance author, Claudia Laurence. They talk honestly and Zach proposes. Dizzy accepts and reveals her last secret of her name, DC (Dizzy) is for Delilah Cleopatra.
August 7, 2023
Dizzy James agrees to help her friend Christi convince her guardian uncle that she is ready to receive/handle her inheritance. The plan is for Dizzy to act as dizzy as her name suggests so Christi will look responsible by comparison. But when Dizzy catches sight of Uncle Zachariah Bennett skinny dipping, she discovers the 35-year-old bachelor is not at all “fusty-dusty” like her friend claimed and regrets having agreed to the plan.
Originally published in 1988, One Chance at Love is a classic Harlequin romance, worth a read for its nostalgic value. I enjoyed the story. Zachariah is pretty hot!
Originally published in 1988, One Chance at Love is a classic Harlequin romance, worth a read for its nostalgic value. I enjoyed the story. Zachariah is pretty hot!
February 19, 2024
Oh, this was really good. I think it took a little time to get going in the beginning, but after this was a lovely contemporary story. Love, kisses and all the rest, and even marriage. A very enjoyable read. 4☆
September 21, 2024
Dear self, this is the one where the hero moonlights as the writer of sexy historical romance novels under the pen name of his mother, Claudia something, in order to make enough money to warm his castle.
June 1, 2017
It was alright. Not as good as the sequel though.
April 28, 2021
3.5 slow going at first, and there weren't enough interactions between the H and h to make me "feel the love"
February 11, 2023
Liked this book very much. Couldn'e put down.
Read
May 29, 2021In order to be financially independent from her uncle, Christi asked her best friend Dizzy to help her in her task. With her bag pack and walking to meet her friend, she was in awe with the naked golden god swimming in the lake. Feeling like a voyeur , Dizzy continued her way to meet the stuffy old uncle until she discovered her golden god in front of her ….
July 24, 2012
Short but very sweet book. Once again another partner in crime gets a character into some serious trouble full of lies. Then you all know how the story goes, she or he fall in love, the truth surfaces, queue major angst and then conclusion/happy ending.
It was a delightful book to read. I can't honestly say too much bad about it, expect it was way too short. The ending was a plus though, it ended rather nicely.
It was a delightful book to read. I can't honestly say too much bad about it, expect it was way too short. The ending was a plus though, it ended rather nicely.
March 29, 2013
wowwwww!! Bir profesördem daha çeci ne olabilir ki?
ZACH?! Beni de kendine aşık ettin :(
Bennett serisi harika ama sadece ilk 2 kitabı.
çok eğlenceliydi her 2 kitapta.
ZACH?! Beni de kendine aşık ettin :(
Bennett serisi harika ama sadece ilk 2 kitabı.
çok eğlenceliydi her 2 kitapta.
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