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Tempestuous Affair
Read this classic romance by USA Today bestselling author Carole Mortimer, now available for the first time in e-book!
More than his mistress...?
After his brother's suicide--at the hand of his sister-in-law's devastating lies--Joel Sutherland no longer believes in love and has vowed to avoid commitment altogether. But that doesn't mean he can't keep Lindsey Pope as his mistress!
The last six months with Joel have been the happiest of Lindsey's life, and also the most heart-wrenching. Her decision to leave him is not easy. But Joel has made his position painfully clear, and she can't stand being Joel's mistress any longer. Not when she wants so much more...
Originally published in 1984
More than his mistress...?
After his brother's suicide--at the hand of his sister-in-law's devastating lies--Joel Sutherland no longer believes in love and has vowed to avoid commitment altogether. But that doesn't mean he can't keep Lindsey Pope as his mistress!
The last six months with Joel have been the happiest of Lindsey's life, and also the most heart-wrenching. Her decision to leave him is not easy. But Joel has made his position painfully clear, and she can't stand being Joel's mistress any longer. Not when she wants so much more...
Originally published in 1984
192 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1984
About the author
Carole Mortimer
1,324 books914 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 53 reviews
December 5, 2015
Re Tempestuous Affair - this is another groundbreaker for HPlandia. CM throws tradition aside, and actually starts the book at the breakup of a relationship instead of the beginning. Not only does she start at the end, but the h has flaunted all conventional (until now) HP mores, and has been living and loving with the H for the six months prior to the start of the story-- to the condemnation of her mother and her friends. The only one who understands is her older sister, who lost her fiance' to leukemia two years earlier, and reassures the h that despite the nay-sayers, she had to try the live-in relationship to see if the H would return her love. Interestingly, the h is never referred to as a mistress, she is always the H's ex-girlfriend or lover.
When the story starts this strategy hasn't worked. The H is happy but the h is caught in the classic trap of loving a man who doesn't love her back. So instead of martyring herself to the cause of love, she waits until the H has to travel for a photo shoot in the US and packs up her bags and moves back to her flat. (Which she sensibly continued to pay the rent on.)
The H returns in blaze of fiery temper that quickly morphs into passion but the h straight out tells him that the lovin' has been great, but she needs more. The H doesn't get it, or at least he pretends not to. So the h spells it out, they work together and they have sex - he won't meet her friends or her family and they don't really do "couply" things together. She wants a real relationship with an opportunity for marriage and what they had just won't do.
She holds off the H's amorous advances but agrees to see him at work on Monday. Later on, she quickly realizes that having your ex lover for a boss is just not going to work, especially when you're still in love with him. So she turns in her resignation too. She has to work out her notice tho, so there is still plenty of time for interesting things to happen.
Number one is meeting the H's new client, he is a big cosmetic tycoon and very interested in the h-- until he meets her sister at a dinner party that a mutual friend of both the H and h invites each of them to. Since they are officially over as a couple, the friend encourages them to bring new partners. The friend is actually trying a bit of reconciliation matchmaking here, as ironically now that the h has taken a stand and ended a going nowhere love affair, everyone around her is encouraging her to hang on and keep on fighting.
The H shows up with a famous model (he is a fashion photographer, but he always wears three piece suits), and nearly explodes with jealousy when the cosmetic tycoon whisks the h away to the balcony for a bit of intimate chat. (The CT is actually trying to pump the h for sister info, but the H doesn't know that.) The H then tries to flirt with the sister but the sister ( in a rare show of loyalty from an HPlandia sibling relationship), cuts the H down to size and walks off.
The H propositions the h again, but she is rescued by CT and the next day finagles the sister and the CT into going off by themselves. The sister comes back and is worried that she is stealing her little sis's boyfriend (the CT kissed her), but the h reassures her and encourages the relationship. (The sis and the CT was a pretty sweet secondary romance, it was also ideal for the h to imply by omission that she and the CT were getting married after he proposes to the sister, thus getting some of her own back against the H's multi-bouquet of ravishing ladies he displays before the h.)
The h and H do have one more passionate encounter, but big shock Number two is when a woman from the H's unknown past is chosen to star in the CT's new add campaign. The OW is flat out evil and the H seems to be strangely subdued and uncertain in her presence. He starts spending a lot of time with the OW and the h is trying to find a new job.
After a false start where she interviewed with a guy who insisted "personal attention" was part of the job description, the h learns a harsh world lesson about living with your boss - it is very bad for your career 'cause it implies a lot more skillz than just filing and answering the phone. The h does eventually get a new job, but the OW drops her bombshell.
She implies that she and the H are married (actually she calls herself his wife and truthfully tells the h that she and H have the same last name). Supposedly they have been separated but are now back together. She also tells the h that she and the H picked out the jewelry the H is giving her as a goodbye present. The h is devastated, but when the H shows up and tries to explain about the OW, the h has had enough and cuts him off.
Eventually the h learns that the new job she got was the result of the H calling in a favor on her behalf. She storms over to the H's home and dumps whiskey over his head while he is in the tub. He pulls her into the tub with him and then hauls her out and has her wear his robe while her clothes are drying. The H looks terrible and is missing the h desperately, he confesses he has been obsessively staking out her apartment and the h is about to shut him down because of the wife, but then the OW walks in and high drama ensues.
Seven years earlier the H and OW met when she gave him her portfolio, they had a brief affair but the H's brother fell in love with the OW and married her. Frankly the OW was a bit of skank cause she seduced the H again about a week before the wedding.
The H had no idear that the OW and brother were even together, he was shocked when they married and even more shocked when the OW announced her pregnancy and implied it could be the H's. The brother went home and committed suicide. The OW lost her baby and is now out to ruin the H's life by disrupting his relationship with the h.
Supposedly the OW lied to give the lil' brother more confidence against the H, (because after all she married the little brother didn't she?) She also says she loved the brother as the love of her life, but I was totally not buying that, I think she wanted to hurt the H because he dumped her and so she snagged the brother instead.
She then lied about the H being the baby daddy to start a war between the brothers, but was just as happy with the brother's death as it made the H an outcast from his family and his guilt kept him from being happy. Since she did not get what she felt was her due, she made everyone's life miserable and blames them all for mistreating her. This OW was quite a trip, but the icing on the cake is when the H and h just feel sorry for her and she storms out.
The OW disposed of,the h confesses it is her sister marrying the CT and the h and H avow eternal love and passion. CM adds the promise of reunion with the H's parents, as well as meeting the h's family, for multiple wedding bells and a connubial cozy domestic HEA.
I did feel bad about the brother's death, but CM gives us an important new rule for HPlandia:
HP Rule #7 - A REAL HP H will ALWAYS marry a virgin, (and a virgin widow is even better,) or an h with limited physical experience, no matter how many times he visits the more liberal lady buffet -- 'Cause once he navigates the dangers of his magic lurve club transforming a chaste and virtuous innocent into a rampaging wanton woman, where else can he get a well-dressed doormat sex slave broodmare, trained to his personal taste, who won't even bother to read the pre-nup giving him total custody of the kids (in the event that the rampaging and/or a backbone emerges later,) before signing it?
After all the brother in this story shows the stark HP reality of non-H's going for the tart with no heart, and just look how THAT turned out. So now we who visit HPlandia can comfortably read on with expanded horizons and the ultimate truth test of a REAL HPLandia H.
When the story starts this strategy hasn't worked. The H is happy but the h is caught in the classic trap of loving a man who doesn't love her back. So instead of martyring herself to the cause of love, she waits until the H has to travel for a photo shoot in the US and packs up her bags and moves back to her flat. (Which she sensibly continued to pay the rent on.)
The H returns in blaze of fiery temper that quickly morphs into passion but the h straight out tells him that the lovin' has been great, but she needs more. The H doesn't get it, or at least he pretends not to. So the h spells it out, they work together and they have sex - he won't meet her friends or her family and they don't really do "couply" things together. She wants a real relationship with an opportunity for marriage and what they had just won't do.
She holds off the H's amorous advances but agrees to see him at work on Monday. Later on, she quickly realizes that having your ex lover for a boss is just not going to work, especially when you're still in love with him. So she turns in her resignation too. She has to work out her notice tho, so there is still plenty of time for interesting things to happen.
Number one is meeting the H's new client, he is a big cosmetic tycoon and very interested in the h-- until he meets her sister at a dinner party that a mutual friend of both the H and h invites each of them to. Since they are officially over as a couple, the friend encourages them to bring new partners. The friend is actually trying a bit of reconciliation matchmaking here, as ironically now that the h has taken a stand and ended a going nowhere love affair, everyone around her is encouraging her to hang on and keep on fighting.
The H shows up with a famous model (he is a fashion photographer, but he always wears three piece suits), and nearly explodes with jealousy when the cosmetic tycoon whisks the h away to the balcony for a bit of intimate chat. (The CT is actually trying to pump the h for sister info, but the H doesn't know that.) The H then tries to flirt with the sister but the sister ( in a rare show of loyalty from an HPlandia sibling relationship), cuts the H down to size and walks off.
The H propositions the h again, but she is rescued by CT and the next day finagles the sister and the CT into going off by themselves. The sister comes back and is worried that she is stealing her little sis's boyfriend (the CT kissed her), but the h reassures her and encourages the relationship. (The sis and the CT was a pretty sweet secondary romance, it was also ideal for the h to imply by omission that she and the CT were getting married after he proposes to the sister, thus getting some of her own back against the H's multi-bouquet of ravishing ladies he displays before the h.)
The h and H do have one more passionate encounter, but big shock Number two is when a woman from the H's unknown past is chosen to star in the CT's new add campaign. The OW is flat out evil and the H seems to be strangely subdued and uncertain in her presence. He starts spending a lot of time with the OW and the h is trying to find a new job.
After a false start where she interviewed with a guy who insisted "personal attention" was part of the job description, the h learns a harsh world lesson about living with your boss - it is very bad for your career 'cause it implies a lot more skillz than just filing and answering the phone. The h does eventually get a new job, but the OW drops her bombshell.
She implies that she and the H are married (actually she calls herself his wife and truthfully tells the h that she and H have the same last name). Supposedly they have been separated but are now back together. She also tells the h that she and the H picked out the jewelry the H is giving her as a goodbye present. The h is devastated, but when the H shows up and tries to explain about the OW, the h has had enough and cuts him off.
Eventually the h learns that the new job she got was the result of the H calling in a favor on her behalf. She storms over to the H's home and dumps whiskey over his head while he is in the tub. He pulls her into the tub with him and then hauls her out and has her wear his robe while her clothes are drying. The H looks terrible and is missing the h desperately, he confesses he has been obsessively staking out her apartment and the h is about to shut him down because of the wife, but then the OW walks in and high drama ensues.
Seven years earlier the H and OW met when she gave him her portfolio, they had a brief affair but the H's brother fell in love with the OW and married her. Frankly the OW was a bit of skank cause she seduced the H again about a week before the wedding.
The H had no idear that the OW and brother were even together, he was shocked when they married and even more shocked when the OW announced her pregnancy and implied it could be the H's. The brother went home and committed suicide. The OW lost her baby and is now out to ruin the H's life by disrupting his relationship with the h.
Supposedly the OW lied to give the lil' brother more confidence against the H, (because after all she married the little brother didn't she?) She also says she loved the brother as the love of her life, but I was totally not buying that, I think she wanted to hurt the H because he dumped her and so she snagged the brother instead.
She then lied about the H being the baby daddy to start a war between the brothers, but was just as happy with the brother's death as it made the H an outcast from his family and his guilt kept him from being happy. Since she did not get what she felt was her due, she made everyone's life miserable and blames them all for mistreating her. This OW was quite a trip, but the icing on the cake is when the H and h just feel sorry for her and she storms out.
The OW disposed of,the h confesses it is her sister marrying the CT and the h and H avow eternal love and passion. CM adds the promise of reunion with the H's parents, as well as meeting the h's family, for multiple wedding bells and a connubial cozy domestic HEA.
I did feel bad about the brother's death, but CM gives us an important new rule for HPlandia:
HP Rule #7 - A REAL HP H will ALWAYS marry a virgin, (and a virgin widow is even better,) or an h with limited physical experience, no matter how many times he visits the more liberal lady buffet -- 'Cause once he navigates the dangers of his magic lurve club transforming a chaste and virtuous innocent into a rampaging wanton woman, where else can he get a well-dressed doormat sex slave broodmare, trained to his personal taste, who won't even bother to read the pre-nup giving him total custody of the kids (in the event that the rampaging and/or a backbone emerges later,) before signing it?
After all the brother in this story shows the stark HP reality of non-H's going for the tart with no heart, and just look how THAT turned out. So now we who visit HPlandia can comfortably read on with expanded horizons and the ultimate truth test of a REAL HPLandia H.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 24, 2017
When the OW scoffs at the heroine for being a "simpering idiot" and you find yourself in agreement, then you know this "romance" has missed the mark. Too bad it took me the entire book to realize I had been wasting my time.
This story is about an h who is the secretary to the high fashion photographer H, a lothario who uses and discards women more often than I do Kleenexes in the middle of a particularly runny cold.
They decide to move in together for 6 months as an experiment. Him, presumably because of the convenience. Her, because she just knows she is going to be the woman who changes his mind on marriage. LoL
After 6 months of bedroom gymnastics, followed by H going on a 3-week overseas trip during which he doesn't bother to call h one single time, she finally realizes this shacking up deal isn't moving forward on the path to matrimony. She moves out and resigns her job. However, the hero demands that she works through her one month notice.
Hero immediately returns to his feverish dating lifestyle, taking out a different woman every night, to make up for lost time and rub the h’s face in it. As for the h, there is a handsome, rich OM interested in her but the big ninny sets him up with her sister instead. *face palm*
Then in walks in the supposed love of hero’s life, a supermodel no less, who check marks all the requisite items on supervillain OW's to-do list such as: being rude, being catty, wearing fur, wearing cloying perfume, planting lingering mouth kisses on H, making sexual innuendos, and leading h by a ring in her nose on the path of Great, Big, Terrible Misunderstandings. It seems that OW jilted hero for his own brother, breaking his heart and turning him into the cynical manho he is today. Now that she is widowed, she waltzes back into H’s life determined to win him back and H is falling for her all over again. At least, that’s the picture the OW paints for the heroine, who swallows all her stories and despairs of ever reconciling with hero.
During the eventual confrontation where h, H and OW have their Big Revelation summit meeting, the OW, far from being embarrassed at being caught red-handed in all her lies, tells the heroine and hero she pities them for being so gullible. She is surprised that h has finally caught on after so much time. If placed in a similar situation, OW says she, unlike the ninny h, would have been super proactive and determined in her quest for the truth and for her man. And you know what, I believed her!
The conclusion of the book asks us to believe that H became a commitment-phobe manwhore not because OW jilted him but because he felt guilty that he had sex with the OW shortly before she married H's brother, causing H's brother to doubt the paternity of OW's baby and triggering H’s brother into committing suicide.
So, basically, H atoned for his tragedy-causing manwhoring way by manwhoring some more at the risk of sending more victims into depression and suicide. HPlandia logic at its best!
With that in perspective, do you blame me for not believing in h and H's HEA?
This story is about an h who is the secretary to the high fashion photographer H, a lothario who uses and discards women more often than I do Kleenexes in the middle of a particularly runny cold.
They decide to move in together for 6 months as an experiment. Him, presumably because of the convenience. Her, because she just knows she is going to be the woman who changes his mind on marriage. LoL
After 6 months of bedroom gymnastics, followed by H going on a 3-week overseas trip during which he doesn't bother to call h one single time, she finally realizes this shacking up deal isn't moving forward on the path to matrimony. She moves out and resigns her job. However, the hero demands that she works through her one month notice.
Hero immediately returns to his feverish dating lifestyle, taking out a different woman every night, to make up for lost time and rub the h’s face in it. As for the h, there is a handsome, rich OM interested in her but the big ninny sets him up with her sister instead. *face palm*
Then in walks in the supposed love of hero’s life, a supermodel no less, who check marks all the requisite items on supervillain OW's to-do list such as: being rude, being catty, wearing fur, wearing cloying perfume, planting lingering mouth kisses on H, making sexual innuendos, and leading h by a ring in her nose on the path of Great, Big, Terrible Misunderstandings. It seems that OW jilted hero for his own brother, breaking his heart and turning him into the cynical manho he is today. Now that she is widowed, she waltzes back into H’s life determined to win him back and H is falling for her all over again. At least, that’s the picture the OW paints for the heroine, who swallows all her stories and despairs of ever reconciling with hero.
During the eventual confrontation where h, H and OW have their Big Revelation summit meeting, the OW, far from being embarrassed at being caught red-handed in all her lies, tells the heroine and hero she pities them for being so gullible. She is surprised that h has finally caught on after so much time. If placed in a similar situation, OW says she, unlike the ninny h, would have been super proactive and determined in her quest for the truth and for her man. And you know what, I believed her!
The conclusion of the book asks us to believe that H became a commitment-phobe manwhore not because OW jilted him but because he felt guilty that he had sex with the OW shortly before she married H's brother, causing H's brother to doubt the paternity of OW's baby and triggering H’s brother into committing suicide.
So, basically, H atoned for his tragedy-causing manwhoring way by manwhoring some more at the risk of sending more victims into depression and suicide. HPlandia logic at its best!
With that in perspective, do you blame me for not believing in h and H's HEA?
January 23, 2017
It's been a while since a HP has drawn me in. I've kind of gotten on a urban fantasy kick and almost every newer HP I pick up is a disappointment. Luckily, for me, this is an oldie :)
***spoilers***
I enjoy the HPs that start out at the breakup (or close to it) and the rest of the story is the drama leading up to the reconciliation. According to boogenhagen, this was the first of that type and I bow to her superior knowledge of HPLandia, as always.
This was written in the day when 3rd party limited POV (h only) was more popular. It's a style I enjoy when done well. I thought this was one of the well done ones. Even though we didn't get H pov, it is very clear from what we see through the heroine's eyes that he is suffering (yay).
The virginal h decided to take her boss up on his offer to move in with him. He tells her up front that he doesn't do love/marriage. She agrees to try it for 6 months, hoping he'll realize he loves her too.
The story begins as the heroine, Lindsay, has moved back to her flat after the 6 months (while the H, Joel, was on a business trip, which was cowardly). He's returned and is banging down her door wondering why the hell she moved out.
On the surface, the 6 months seemed to go well. They got along well and had a great sex life, but the heroine felt like she hadn't gained any ground. She hadn't gotten the coveted 'I love you' and they didn't seem to have much of a relationship outside of work/bed. She lets Joel in to discuss the issue and it's obvious he's baffled and hurt, but he also makes it clear that he is still set against love/marriage. Lindsay decides she made the right decision. She is in love and he can't/won't give her what she needs. She says she'll still be his secretary, but their personal relationship is over.
It quickly becomes clear that they aren't going to be able to work together. Joel keeps alternately pushing for reconciliation and saying incredibly hurtful things. He actually apologizes for them as well and seems sincere. That was a bit unprecedented in an old school HP hero, and I thought CM did a good job with conveying that he was lashing out because he was hurt.
The angst between the two remains strong, but the plot does take some strange (even in HPLandia) twists. I think a good alternate title would be 'A Family Affair'. The h is courted briefly by an American who then falls in instaluv with her sister. The hero, however, believes the h is involved with him and she doesn't straighten him out due to pride. The big crazy is the deal with the evil OW who was once married to the H's dead brother. Apparently both brothers were involved with the witch, which is the source of the H's commitment problems. Pretty twisted stuff. Also the end was ultra abrupt. I'm seriously wondering if the ecopy I had wasn't missing a page or two. It was basically
Lindsay - "ok, so you both screwed the same woman within a week before her marrying your brother... then this crazy thing happened, and that other uber crazy thing happened... that's okay, it's all good."
Joel - "I love you, let's get married."
I know abrupt endings are stock in HPs and epilogues were not as common in the older ones, but considering the cray cray of the hero's situation... I wanted some more. It still kept me hooked in though, so 4 stars!
***spoilers***
I enjoy the HPs that start out at the breakup (or close to it) and the rest of the story is the drama leading up to the reconciliation. According to boogenhagen, this was the first of that type and I bow to her superior knowledge of HPLandia, as always.
This was written in the day when 3rd party limited POV (h only) was more popular. It's a style I enjoy when done well. I thought this was one of the well done ones. Even though we didn't get H pov, it is very clear from what we see through the heroine's eyes that he is suffering (yay).
The virginal h decided to take her boss up on his offer to move in with him. He tells her up front that he doesn't do love/marriage. She agrees to try it for 6 months, hoping he'll realize he loves her too.
The story begins as the heroine, Lindsay, has moved back to her flat after the 6 months (while the H, Joel, was on a business trip, which was cowardly). He's returned and is banging down her door wondering why the hell she moved out.
On the surface, the 6 months seemed to go well. They got along well and had a great sex life, but the heroine felt like she hadn't gained any ground. She hadn't gotten the coveted 'I love you' and they didn't seem to have much of a relationship outside of work/bed. She lets Joel in to discuss the issue and it's obvious he's baffled and hurt, but he also makes it clear that he is still set against love/marriage. Lindsay decides she made the right decision. She is in love and he can't/won't give her what she needs. She says she'll still be his secretary, but their personal relationship is over.
It quickly becomes clear that they aren't going to be able to work together. Joel keeps alternately pushing for reconciliation and saying incredibly hurtful things. He actually apologizes for them as well and seems sincere. That was a bit unprecedented in an old school HP hero, and I thought CM did a good job with conveying that he was lashing out because he was hurt.
The angst between the two remains strong, but the plot does take some strange (even in HPLandia) twists. I think a good alternate title would be 'A Family Affair'. The h is courted briefly by an American who then falls in instaluv with her sister. The hero, however, believes the h is involved with him and she doesn't straighten him out due to pride. The big crazy is the deal with the evil OW who was once married to the H's dead brother. Apparently both brothers were involved with the witch, which is the source of the H's commitment problems. Pretty twisted stuff. Also the end was ultra abrupt. I'm seriously wondering if the ecopy I had wasn't missing a page or two. It was basically
Lindsay - "ok, so you both screwed the same woman within a week before her marrying your brother... then this crazy thing happened, and that other uber crazy thing happened... that's okay, it's all good."
Joel - "I love you, let's get married."
I know abrupt endings are stock in HPs and epilogues were not as common in the older ones, but considering the cray cray of the hero's situation... I wanted some more. It still kept me hooked in though, so 4 stars!
February 27, 2017
Some great reviews, so I won't do a plot synopsis of this second chance story between a man-about-town photographer and his young secretary who have been living together for six months.
Boogenhagen has pointed out that this is the first HP with the break up starting the story and I have to say I really like it. It shows the h has a little backbone and self-preservation and it's a good wake-up call for the hero. However, the hero *accepts* the situation like he's wearing some kind of hairshirt and lets the h go. Well - there are bouts of jealousy of the OM who is really interested in the h's sister. But the H is not going to budge from his no marriage/commitment stance.
What's interesting about this story is that the OW arrives mid-way through the story - like the ghost of Christmas past - to startle and change the *hero.* In fact he pales and is shaken when he sees her. I like that in an OW.
There is absolutely no interest in the OW on his part, but the poor heroine can't see it. The hero takes all the OW dishes out because he is still regretting the part he and the OW played in his brother's suicide. (If the OW is 25 now - she was 18 then - so yeah she was a stupid kid and he didn't have the emotional wherewithal to deal wit his guilt.)
So our hero has been reliving this pattern of short-lived relationships for seven years, thinking he doesn't deserve to be happy. But the OW's return breaks this spell. It's no accident the OW is the face of the "Bewitched" cosmetics ad campaign.
You have to face your past and your demons in every fairy tale - and the hero finally does that in a nice showdown with the OW with the h as witness. Now that the spell is broken, he's able to commit to the heroine.The insta-love with the sister who has been locked in grief and OM is unrealistic, but also adds to the fantasy of one person being the key to break you out of the past.
An interesting HP with an unsual third act.
Boogenhagen has pointed out that this is the first HP with the break up starting the story and I have to say I really like it. It shows the h has a little backbone and self-preservation and it's a good wake-up call for the hero. However, the hero *accepts* the situation like he's wearing some kind of hairshirt and lets the h go. Well - there are bouts of jealousy of the OM who is really interested in the h's sister. But the H is not going to budge from his no marriage/commitment stance.
What's interesting about this story is that the OW arrives mid-way through the story - like the ghost of Christmas past - to startle and change the *hero.* In fact he pales and is shaken when he sees her. I like that in an OW.
There is absolutely no interest in the OW on his part, but the poor heroine can't see it. The hero takes all the OW dishes out because he is still regretting the part he and the OW played in his brother's suicide. (If the OW is 25 now - she was 18 then - so yeah she was a stupid kid and he didn't have the emotional wherewithal to deal wit his guilt.)
So our hero has been reliving this pattern of short-lived relationships for seven years, thinking he doesn't deserve to be happy. But the OW's return breaks this spell. It's no accident the OW is the face of the "Bewitched" cosmetics ad campaign.
You have to face your past and your demons in every fairy tale - and the hero finally does that in a nice showdown with the OW with the h as witness. Now that the spell is broken, he's able to commit to the heroine.The insta-love with the sister who has been locked in grief and OM is unrealistic, but also adds to the fantasy of one person being the key to break you out of the past.
An interesting HP with an unsual third act.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 22, 2019
Given this book reeks of the 80s and the newfangled way to shame your parents, living in sin, the phrase “Why buy the milk when you get the cow free,” is ringing in my ears. Thanks mom.
For all the tempestuousness in the title, the hero and heroine were pretty bland. She actually controls herself around the hero which is nice in theory, but I never really bought into their grand passion. In terms of brain function, these two aren’t too bright. Forest Gump fluttered through my mind more than once.
Too many elements from other stories…
Womanizing photographer
Hero’s shutdown emotions because????
Revolving stable of beauties
Secretary h
Disapproving mother that isn’t utilized enough
Surprisingly nice sister with a back story
ABSOLUTELY awful but fun evil OW
OM that serves to make the H jealous
The secondary romance between the heroine’s sister and the attractive silver fox is a little bit of a joke. They go on one date then he ends up proposing on the phone. Huh?
The real entertainment comes when the gorgeous and evil woman comes to town. She’s an utter bitch to the heroine who takes it on the chin repeatedly. What is the fun in that? I don’t need mud wrestling, but please, give me a little more
The evil OW is about a thousand times smarter than these two and lays it all out.
She (the heroine) looked towards the other woman with accusing eyes. 'Why did you lie to me?'
'Why did you believe me?' Marilyn taunted …
Good point.
Later the evil OW lays it out. But the best part was when I told her we were the ones who got married seven years ago.'
Joel looked at Lindsay with pained eyes. 'That was what she told you that day you had to leave early with a headache?'
Lindsay moistened dry lips, knowing she had misjudged him. 'Yes.'
'God!' he groaned. 'Why did you do it, Marilyn? What did you hope to achieve?'
'Your continued unhappiness!' she spat at him.
And there you go, the most interesting person in the room.
For all the tempestuousness in the title, the hero and heroine were pretty bland. She actually controls herself around the hero which is nice in theory, but I never really bought into their grand passion. In terms of brain function, these two aren’t too bright. Forest Gump fluttered through my mind more than once.
Too many elements from other stories…
Womanizing photographer
Hero’s shutdown emotions because????
Revolving stable of beauties
Secretary h
Disapproving mother that isn’t utilized enough
Surprisingly nice sister with a back story
ABSOLUTELY awful but fun evil OW
OM that serves to make the H jealous
The secondary romance between the heroine’s sister and the attractive silver fox is a little bit of a joke. They go on one date then he ends up proposing on the phone. Huh?
The real entertainment comes when the gorgeous and evil woman comes to town. She’s an utter bitch to the heroine who takes it on the chin repeatedly. What is the fun in that? I don’t need mud wrestling, but please, give me a little more
The evil OW is about a thousand times smarter than these two and lays it all out.
She (the heroine) looked towards the other woman with accusing eyes. 'Why did you lie to me?'
'Why did you believe me?' Marilyn taunted …
Good point.
Later the evil OW lays it out. But the best part was when I told her we were the ones who got married seven years ago.'
Joel looked at Lindsay with pained eyes. 'That was what she told you that day you had to leave early with a headache?'
Lindsay moistened dry lips, knowing she had misjudged him. 'Yes.'
'God!' he groaned. 'Why did you do it, Marilyn? What did you hope to achieve?'
'Your continued unhappiness!' she spat at him.
And there you go, the most interesting person in the room.
November 6, 2012
For those of you that love a train wreck, this one is for you!
I didn't care for either the hero or the heroine. The book starts with Lindsay walking out on Joel after having lived with him for six months. She realizes that he will never love her. Though they enjoy a highly sexually charged relationship, there really isn't anything more to it.
The OW is just absolutely evil, and doesn't hide the fact that all she wants to do is wreck Joel's miserable life.
Through all of this, Heroine remains on the sides still panting for Joel. That's when I scratch my head and say why?
I am a huge fan of Carole Mortimer, but I think she blew it on this one.
I didn't care for either the hero or the heroine. The book starts with Lindsay walking out on Joel after having lived with him for six months. She realizes that he will never love her. Though they enjoy a highly sexually charged relationship, there really isn't anything more to it.
The OW is just absolutely evil, and doesn't hide the fact that all she wants to do is wreck Joel's miserable life.
Through all of this, Heroine remains on the sides still panting for Joel. That's when I scratch my head and say why?
I am a huge fan of Carole Mortimer, but I think she blew it on this one.
November 29, 2019
"Tempestuous Affair" is the story of Lindsay and Joel.
The book begins with the h moving out of the H's home, and him returning from a work trip and confronting her. The H is a photographer, the h his secretary. They had a long standing sexual relationship, which the h realizes is going nowhere and decides to end it. She also resigns, both of which the hero doesn't take sitting down.
Then we see many confrontations, almost confessions, OM/OW drama,tantrums and eventual HEA.
It was totally meh.
Safe
2/5
The book begins with the h moving out of the H's home, and him returning from a work trip and confronting her. The H is a photographer, the h his secretary. They had a long standing sexual relationship, which the h realizes is going nowhere and decides to end it. She also resigns, both of which the hero doesn't take sitting down.
Then we see many confrontations, almost confessions, OM/OW drama,tantrums and eventual HEA.
It was totally meh.
Safe
2/5
October 26, 2024
It's just nice to go read stuff from a different, simpler decade. Good secretary-cum-mistress emotional wringer.
June 21, 2020
Tempestuous Affair is the tale of photographer Joel and secretary Lindsey, and their struggle to HEA-ville with the “miscommunication” plot device. Joel is the typical broody “guilt-ridden” H who doesn’t deserve happiness, and Lindsey is what I like to call the “hateful” heroine. You know the type, she insults, yells, and is generally nasty, but then is DEVASTATED when she thinks she’s missed her shot. This starts with the break-up of Joel and Lindsay; her and Joel have been happily living in sin for 6-months (very progressive for 1985 HP-landia) Joel is faithful, takes her out on dates, etc., but she needs the words I love you, so she knows they have a future. Joel is lugging around some baggage, and just can’t choke the words out. This sets up the remainder of the story which pretty much consist of these two arguing constantly, and Lindsey making it seem like she’s involved with her sister’s b-friend.
I picked this up after I saw it on a “Best of the Worst: Evil OW” list, and although Marilyn Mills is an evil bitch; her worst was done before the book even started, and she doesn’t even come on to the scene until 60% in. Most disappointing, her “meddling” could have been avoided with one adult conversation. I may be in the minority here, but I’d rather have a blind/clueless H, or insecure h, be the cause for the meddling to be effective, rather than the MC’s failing to have a logical discussion that normal adults would naturally have.
Bottom Line-This wasn’t my favorite. Most of the “drama” was caused by the CONSTANT arguing between these two, and the pace moved like molasses. The conflict is solely built on miscommunication and pride, and the ending is rushed and abrupt.
I picked this up after I saw it on a “Best of the Worst: Evil OW” list, and although Marilyn Mills is an evil bitch; her worst was done before the book even started, and she doesn’t even come on to the scene until 60% in. Most disappointing, her “meddling” could have been avoided with one adult conversation. I may be in the minority here, but I’d rather have a blind/clueless H, or insecure h, be the cause for the meddling to be effective, rather than the MC’s failing to have a logical discussion that normal adults would naturally have.
Bottom Line-This wasn’t my favorite. Most of the “drama” was caused by the CONSTANT arguing between these two, and the pace moved like molasses. The conflict is solely built on miscommunication and pride, and the ending is rushed and abrupt.
July 5, 2013
I thought it was ok but kind of ridiculous. The hero and his lover caused the death of his brother and he was ok with that? Seriously?
January 19, 2021
Lindsay had an affair with her boss, Joel Sutherland, in the belief that she could change his mind about love and marriage and make him love her as much as she loves him within the six months they agreed to live together. Unfortunately, and heartbrokenly, after the six months she was no closer to opening his heart to her nor his tongue to tell her more about his own feelings and family. Therefore, she decides to leave his house and stay his secretary only as before their affair. Joel, however, didn't like her decision and he decided to win her back.
It's a well-written book, as most of Carole Mortimer's novels, so it's a pity it lacks a real plot. The story leaves much to be believed and the characters are not likable enough to make the reader sympathizes with them even though Carole Mortimer tried. We do understand the hero's' agony over his lose and treason, but not to the extent of hiding everything from the woman he claims to be his only love! Nor to the extent of denying his love for her and continuously rejecting her love for him as well!!! He needs psychological therapy! Not a book I would recommend.
It's a well-written book, as most of Carole Mortimer's novels, so it's a pity it lacks a real plot. The story leaves much to be believed and the characters are not likable enough to make the reader sympathizes with them even though Carole Mortimer tried. We do understand the hero's' agony over his lose and treason, but not to the extent of hiding everything from the woman he claims to be his only love! Nor to the extent of denying his love for her and continuously rejecting her love for him as well!!! He needs psychological therapy! Not a book I would recommend.
August 11, 2021
There wasn't enough romance and connection to fully sell me on the relationship. The OW was good fun, though.
August 16, 2014
It's been an absolute age since I last read a Carole Mortimer. While I started out with some sympathy with the h and not so much with the H, by the end it was the other way round. the h was such a twit and well... the H was the H. Never the less I enjoyed the read.
April 25, 2019
I went looking for a good “evil other woman” book and I found one!
Lindsay worked for foamed photographer, Joel Sutherland. She fell for him and became his lover. The book starts six months into their personal relationship when Lindsay has moved out of Joel’s apartment while he’s on a business trip.
Joel has made it clear that while he enjoys her in his bed, their relationship is never going any further. So, she decides to move on to protect her heart from being shattered. However, she still works for him.
Shortly after she learned about Marilyn Mills. A stunning black haired, green eyed model that Joel seemed obsessed with. Joel and Marilyn had a relationship in the past and it’s the reason that he will not commit to loving anyone.
As the “other woman” in this book, Marilyn was a real witch. She tormented Lindsay with innuendos of her past with Joel. She drove a wedge between them and relished watching them hurt, especially Joel. She’s the woman you love to hate.
Then there was Malcolm. One of Joel’s client who became my favorite guy. He was a sweetheart and willing to help Lindsay when she needed bolstering. He is one of the good guys.
I loved the drama and angst. It made for a very entertaining read.
Lindsay worked for foamed photographer, Joel Sutherland. She fell for him and became his lover. The book starts six months into their personal relationship when Lindsay has moved out of Joel’s apartment while he’s on a business trip.
Joel has made it clear that while he enjoys her in his bed, their relationship is never going any further. So, she decides to move on to protect her heart from being shattered. However, she still works for him.
Shortly after she learned about Marilyn Mills. A stunning black haired, green eyed model that Joel seemed obsessed with. Joel and Marilyn had a relationship in the past and it’s the reason that he will not commit to loving anyone.
As the “other woman” in this book, Marilyn was a real witch. She tormented Lindsay with innuendos of her past with Joel. She drove a wedge between them and relished watching them hurt, especially Joel. She’s the woman you love to hate.
Then there was Malcolm. One of Joel’s client who became my favorite guy. He was a sweetheart and willing to help Lindsay when she needed bolstering. He is one of the good guys.
I loved the drama and angst. It made for a very entertaining read.
January 24, 2021
I liked steel boned h.
December 1, 2017
She would never stop loving him!
Walking out on Joel Sutherland had not been easy. He'd given Lindsay some of the most wonderful times she'd ever known in London. But they'd also been the most heartwrenching.
For the man who held her heart steadfastly refused to believe in love. Right from the start he'd made his position painfully clear -- offering Lindsay a live-in arrangement instead of the loving commitment she longed for.
And she'd fooled herself into thinking he would change his mind about love and marriage -- until she came face to face with the woman from his past who'd tied his heart in knots.
Walking out on Joel Sutherland had not been easy. He'd given Lindsay some of the most wonderful times she'd ever known in London. But they'd also been the most heartwrenching.
For the man who held her heart steadfastly refused to believe in love. Right from the start he'd made his position painfully clear -- offering Lindsay a live-in arrangement instead of the loving commitment she longed for.
And she'd fooled herself into thinking he would change his mind about love and marriage -- until she came face to face with the woman from his past who'd tied his heart in knots.
March 15, 2023
I have read this three times and I just don’t like the mmc. The chemistry between the main couple seems one sided and the secondary characters were just too much.
A definite read if you like old Harlequins and the men from that time.
A definite read if you like old Harlequins and the men from that time.
July 2, 2018
The title does this book justice. The hero and heroine have the same fight over and over and over. Changing nothing. The villain shows up too late in the story. Two side characters get engaged in like 2 weeks. A lot of dead characters that effect the events but not explained until the very last second. The last chapter was like an exposition dump but on overload. I’d say read this if you do not mind repetitiveness, a villain not getting their comeuppance in the story, the villain and heroine sorta saying the same lie but only the villain gets called out, and a hero who’s star sign has to be Gemini x 10 cause you never know or understand his moods...just like the heroine.
January 10, 2021
"Της ζήλιας τα καμώματα"- Κάρολ Μόρτιμερ, Συλλογή 609, έτος έκδοσης: 1984.
ΜΙΑ ΥΠΕΡΟΧΗ ΙΣΤΟΡΙΑ!!!
ΜΙΑ ΥΠΕΡΟΧΗ ΙΣΤΟΡΙΑ!!!
May 23, 2021
Boogenhagen’s, KatieV, StMargarets all have reviews that do a great cover of this. Naksed gives a less flattering review of book, yet well written with some very valid observations and points!
Vintage posted on one of the forums a shelf with mistresses, so I decided to check this out. I also like a lot of CM’s books.
I probably can’t add anything more enlightening to the already great reviews. There was enough angst, misunderstandings, evil ow machinations to keep the book moving forward. It was one of those Hero loves heroine, refuses to succumb to what is obviously love not lust. Heroine thinks enough of herself not to stay in a relationship that doesn’t include a future despite the fact she would never love another like this.
I would have loved a book exploring the secondary romance between the om and the sister of the h. First it was a may/December romance, love at first sight, all things I like.
The om was very likable and enjoyed getting the hero riled up.
Oh, and I like the fact that although the heroine was heartbroken she was embracing life happily....meanwhile the tortured hero was losing weight and drinking too much! Basically looking like death warmed over!
Vintage posted on one of the forums a shelf with mistresses, so I decided to check this out. I also like a lot of CM’s books.
I probably can’t add anything more enlightening to the already great reviews. There was enough angst, misunderstandings, evil ow machinations to keep the book moving forward. It was one of those Hero loves heroine, refuses to succumb to what is obviously love not lust. Heroine thinks enough of herself not to stay in a relationship that doesn’t include a future despite the fact she would never love another like this.
I would have loved a book exploring the secondary romance between the om and the sister of the h. First it was a may/December romance, love at first sight, all things I like.
The om was very likable and enjoyed getting the hero riled up.
Oh, and I like the fact that although the heroine was heartbroken she was embracing life happily....meanwhile the tortured hero was losing weight and drinking too much! Basically looking like death warmed over!
September 29, 2017
Why am i mostly reading Mortimer`s book lately...?
Oh because she is FANTASTIC!
'I've needed this so badly the last few weeks,' he groaned into her hair. 'Sometimes I thought I would go insane with wanting it.'
Lindsay had wanted this too, she knew that now.
'Joel, you have to go,' she told him huskily.
'Yes.'
But he made no effort to release her.
'I can't let you stay here tonight.'
'No.' Still he held her as if he never wanted to let her go.
'Please don't tempt me, Joel,' she pleaded for one of them to act sanely and remember he had a wife.
'I can't help it,' he looked down at her with golden eyes, 'I want to kiss you.'
'No!'
'Yes,' he decided firmly, his head bending as he gently claimed her mouth in a kiss that seemed to draw the very soul from her body.
Following the dynamic hero Joel Sutherland and the lovely heroine Lindsay Pope was a delight..and i truly enjoyed their love-story.
How they made each other jealous and how they didn`t admit their feelings to each other was hilarious.Enjoyable book,one of Carole Mortimer`s more magical romances!
Oh because she is FANTASTIC!
'I've needed this so badly the last few weeks,' he groaned into her hair. 'Sometimes I thought I would go insane with wanting it.'
Lindsay had wanted this too, she knew that now.
'Joel, you have to go,' she told him huskily.
'Yes.'
But he made no effort to release her.
'I can't let you stay here tonight.'
'No.' Still he held her as if he never wanted to let her go.
'Please don't tempt me, Joel,' she pleaded for one of them to act sanely and remember he had a wife.
'I can't help it,' he looked down at her with golden eyes, 'I want to kiss you.'
'No!'
'Yes,' he decided firmly, his head bending as he gently claimed her mouth in a kiss that seemed to draw the very soul from her body.
Following the dynamic hero Joel Sutherland and the lovely heroine Lindsay Pope was a delight..and i truly enjoyed their love-story.
How they made each other jealous and how they didn`t admit their feelings to each other was hilarious.Enjoyable book,one of Carole Mortimer`s more magical romances!
November 6, 2012
3.5 stars
Hero had some nice "beta" moments.
Hero had some nice "beta" moments.
January 17, 2025
As has happened before, when I find myself liking the secondary couple more than the main one, I know the book isn't going to live up to expectations. That's just what happened here.
At first, the whole thing seemed intriguing, as it isn't often the H and h live together without being married first. but that soon fell flat as they split up when the story began, wasted too much time with misunderstandings, evasions, false pride (especially with the h, who more than once got on my nerves with it), and the ad nauseum of the supposed OM and OW, when the "OW" was still in love with the memory of the H's late brother, and the "OM" was hopelessly in love with the h's sister! Neither the H nor the h came out and said what was really the case, but at least the H wasn't aware that the h didn't know the truth, whereas the h was just playing a silly game out of jealousy, which made me want to throw a brick at her!
Not that the H couldn't have used a few brick hits, himself! He seemed to wallow in playing the martyr, being a "love 'em and leave 'em" playboy before he met the h, letting his view of his "unworthiness" ruin things with her by not committing fully to their relationship, and never telling her the reason for his attitude, why he didn't want to meet her family, why he never talked about his own family, and a host of other "whys" that should have been answered!
Even when you find out the whole story, it's hard to feel sympathy for him, when so many of his troubles could have disappeared if he had given up the "Woe has me, I'm so unworthy" view of himself. Snap out of it, Sir!! Time to put on your big boy briefs and man up, already!!!
Worst of all, the h had a habit of getting all hurt/angry/insulted over dumb things, like when the H helped get her a job that she adored, all because of her silly pride (which was hard to abide and should long since have died; sorry, I couldn't resist the poetry), and then when she learns the whole story from the H about why he couldn't let himself commit to her, she takes it all so well and is full of instant sympathy. Yes, it was a sad story (especially regarding the h's brother) but if he had told her all from the start, they could have avoided all that heartache. Yes, she should have held and comforted him, but first she should have shaken him and rattled his teeth!
Their reconciliation came too quickly and seemed too false, so I didn't give a damn about their HEA.
As for the "OW": what a history!!! And what a 304, sleeping with two brothers in as many weeks!
This caused all the trouble (and the tragedy that resulted from it) and yet - typical of self-centered people - she takes no accountability whatsoever, wanting to blame it all on the H, which wasn't fair! it served her right that she was never able to get over his brother and has been miserable ever since!
My fav characters were the supposed OM and the h's sister, I would have liked to have seen more of their relationship. In fact, I would have liked a book about them, which would have been better than this one!
At first, the whole thing seemed intriguing, as it isn't often the H and h live together without being married first. but that soon fell flat as they split up when the story began, wasted too much time with misunderstandings, evasions, false pride (especially with the h, who more than once got on my nerves with it), and the ad nauseum of the supposed OM and OW, when the "OW" was still in love with the memory of the H's late brother, and the "OM" was hopelessly in love with the h's sister! Neither the H nor the h came out and said what was really the case, but at least the H wasn't aware that the h didn't know the truth, whereas the h was just playing a silly game out of jealousy, which made me want to throw a brick at her!
Not that the H couldn't have used a few brick hits, himself! He seemed to wallow in playing the martyr, being a "love 'em and leave 'em" playboy before he met the h, letting his view of his "unworthiness" ruin things with her by not committing fully to their relationship, and never telling her the reason for his attitude, why he didn't want to meet her family, why he never talked about his own family, and a host of other "whys" that should have been answered!
Even when you find out the whole story, it's hard to feel sympathy for him, when so many of his troubles could have disappeared if he had given up the "Woe has me, I'm so unworthy" view of himself. Snap out of it, Sir!! Time to put on your big boy briefs and man up, already!!!
Worst of all, the h had a habit of getting all hurt/angry/insulted over dumb things, like when the H helped get her a job that she adored, all because of her silly pride (which was hard to abide and should long since have died; sorry, I couldn't resist the poetry), and then when she learns the whole story from the H about why he couldn't let himself commit to her, she takes it all so well and is full of instant sympathy. Yes, it was a sad story (especially regarding the h's brother) but if he had told her all from the start, they could have avoided all that heartache. Yes, she should have held and comforted him, but first she should have shaken him and rattled his teeth!
Their reconciliation came too quickly and seemed too false, so I didn't give a damn about their HEA.
As for the "OW": what a history!!! And what a 304, sleeping with two brothers in as many weeks!
This caused all the trouble (and the tragedy that resulted from it) and yet - typical of self-centered people - she takes no accountability whatsoever, wanting to blame it all on the H, which wasn't fair! it served her right that she was never able to get over his brother and has been miserable ever since!
My fav characters were the supposed OM and the h's sister, I would have liked to have seen more of their relationship. In fact, I would have liked a book about them, which would have been better than this one!
September 13, 2021
This was okay, exactly the kind of stuff I gobbled up as a teen. Since it seems vaguely familiar, it may really have been one that I did 🤔
A couple that is clearly IN deep with each other, but neither wants to admit to wanting a more permanent commitment, or maybe its just the Hero who wants to continue his work with benefits relationship with his secretary heroine. So she breaks it off with him.
Both are miserable and jealous, at the same time flaunting other attractive people in each other’s face so to ramp up more angst and misundertanding. The heroine thinks the Hero wont commit because he was heartbroken in the past, then it seems his lost love has re-enterd the picture. The lost love reveals some things about her and the Hero in the past that leave the heroine writhing in jeaslousy and misery. The Hero does look pale and troubled when he sees the lost love, so for the heroine, his feelings are way stronger than any she has witnessed from him before.
All is explained in the end and the couple get their happy ever after, but it still left a bit of a bad taste in my mouth so Im down grading a star.
SPOILERS:
The Lost love made it seem like she was married to the Hero years ago and they never got divorced. It turns out she was married to his brother.
BUT before that, she and the Hero had been having an affair, and she slept with him a mere week before she married his brother. The Hero didnt know she was marrying his brother and actually they had already broken up. When she got pregnant, she was fighting with the brother and in the heat of the moment told him the baby might belong to the Hero!
The brother couldnt take it and killed himself. The Hero has been living with the guilt this whole time and could not allow himself to find love and happiness w the heroine since he didnt deserve it.🙄
According to the OW she did love the brother, and she still resented the Hero so thats why she tried to make trouble between HIM and the heroine. Didnt remove the distate of knowing the Hero and his brother shared the same skank. 🤢 But Hey, it was totally okay with the heroine. 🤷🏻♀️
A couple that is clearly IN deep with each other, but neither wants to admit to wanting a more permanent commitment, or maybe its just the Hero who wants to continue his work with benefits relationship with his secretary heroine. So she breaks it off with him.
Both are miserable and jealous, at the same time flaunting other attractive people in each other’s face so to ramp up more angst and misundertanding. The heroine thinks the Hero wont commit because he was heartbroken in the past, then it seems his lost love has re-enterd the picture. The lost love reveals some things about her and the Hero in the past that leave the heroine writhing in jeaslousy and misery. The Hero does look pale and troubled when he sees the lost love, so for the heroine, his feelings are way stronger than any she has witnessed from him before.
All is explained in the end and the couple get their happy ever after, but it still left a bit of a bad taste in my mouth so Im down grading a star.
SPOILERS:
The Lost love made it seem like she was married to the Hero years ago and they never got divorced. It turns out she was married to his brother.
BUT before that, she and the Hero had been having an affair, and she slept with him a mere week before she married his brother. The Hero didnt know she was marrying his brother and actually they had already broken up. When she got pregnant, she was fighting with the brother and in the heat of the moment told him the baby might belong to the Hero!
The brother couldnt take it and killed himself. The Hero has been living with the guilt this whole time and could not allow himself to find love and happiness w the heroine since he didnt deserve it.🙄
According to the OW she did love the brother, and she still resented the Hero so thats why she tried to make trouble between HIM and the heroine. Didnt remove the distate of knowing the Hero and his brother shared the same skank. 🤢 But Hey, it was totally okay with the heroine. 🤷🏻♀️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 15, 2021
Lindsay leaves joel after 6 months because he only wants her as a mistress, nothing serious. She is also his secretary and she resigns but has to work with him for a month. Enter evil OW, a model (the hero is a photographer) who years before was involved with hero. Lots (tons!) of misunderstandings. Eventually we undertsand why the hero didn't want any commitment, why he didn't think he deserved to be happy. And we also undertsand that he loved the heroine all along, and was devasted because he believed that she was marrying another man. I loved this book , it was easy and quick, CM is able to write nice and intriguing stories with bright dialogue, adding more characters that are interesting and always keeps your attention. I loved this one. Evil OW was really evil, but naive heroine could not know how really evil (and apparently nor could our hero...)
June 19, 2017
The author is an excellent writer because I managed to stay interested in this book and give it a good rating despite the fact that I hate the characters.
The hero is a horrible manwhore and I have no sympathy for his "pain". If you are so broken about what you caused in your brother's marriage, your punishment wouldn't be to sleep with loads of models.
The heroine was an arrogant idiot which is the perfect combination, isn't it? Not only do I not give a duck about her sorrows, I also don't care if she's happy or not.
I was only interested in Judi and Malcolm and after the big reveal I cared more about Marilyn than the main characters. I wish she was successful because it seems like she's getting punished while the hero's being rewarded but they both were responsible for what happened.
The hero is a horrible manwhore and I have no sympathy for his "pain". If you are so broken about what you caused in your brother's marriage, your punishment wouldn't be to sleep with loads of models.
The heroine was an arrogant idiot which is the perfect combination, isn't it? Not only do I not give a duck about her sorrows, I also don't care if she's happy or not.
I was only interested in Judi and Malcolm and after the big reveal I cared more about Marilyn than the main characters. I wish she was successful because it seems like she's getting punished while the hero's being rewarded but they both were responsible for what happened.
September 26, 2022
She was his secretary and mistress but called it all off when she saw it wasn't going anywhere because he only lusted after her instead of loving as she did. Reminded me of a similar one (can't remember title, I think it was where his ex wife and daughter still had first dibs on his time). Anyway, not my favourite plot type. It was certainly tempestuous and if any of them ever got to finish a sentence, maybe they could have resolved some of the issues sooner. The final explanation of the H's reluctance to marry was pretty heavy. I'd frankly be having second thoughts based on what he'd done. He was obviously a bit of a gonad driven bloke. Let's hope his repentance and behaviour change is permanent, surrounded as he is with beautiful women every day in his job.
July 17, 2021
2.5 stars rated up as its such a convoluted plot twist that I wanted to know what else was going to be thrown in to create angst. Weird plot and character. The h and H have an affair but h realizes he wasn’t going to offer marriage and finishes off the affair but continues to work for him as his secretary. He keeps wanting to continue the affair. The h meets another guy but he falls in love with her sister! The H’s ex turns out to be his sister in law and the h learns about it and then they kinda pick up and there is some HEA. The ending was rushed and wrapped up before you know what happened.
October 17, 2022
The OW is so nasty she will say anything to make H miserable. Since H is stupid and arrogant OW doesn’t have to work to hurt him.
OW’s attitude is incomprehensible. She hates the H, blames him for everything, yet it was she who like to her husband (whom she claimed to love) that H fathered her child. How can anyone want to ruin someone else's life?
Too much graphic stuff.
OW’s attitude is incomprehensible. She hates the H, blames him for everything, yet it was she who like to her husband (whom she claimed to love) that H fathered her child. How can anyone want to ruin someone else's life?
Too much graphic stuff.
September 12, 2017
Was going along at a 3 star, lacking in angst, drama and a little depth but at a 3 star level. Then the showdown with OW was just stupid. and the ending was stupid and once revealed, the whole plot was just stupid. and then it ended. WTF?
Nothing more to say
Nothing more to say
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