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16th out of 152 books
—
478 voters
Guilty Pleasures (Guilty #1)
For prim and shy Daphne Wade, the sweetest guilty pleasure of all is secretly watching her employer, the Duke of Tremore, as he works the excavation site on his English estate. Anthony hired Daphne to restore the priceless treasures he has been digging up, but it's hard for a woman to keep her mind on her work when her devastatingly handsome employer keeps taking his shirt...more
Mass Market Paperback, 384 pages
Published
January 27th 2004
by Avon
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Feb 27, 2010
Shawna
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Fans of sweet historical romance where a Plain Jane heroine finally has her day!
Shelves:
historical-romance,
historical-romance-regency,
laura-lee-guhrke,
heroine-odd-spinster-wallflower,
2010-reads,
hero-alpha,
favorite-romance-couple-hh-pairings,
hero-cold-cruelbrute-dark-dangerous,
favorites,
hero-bad-boy-playboy,
hero-cad-rake-rogue-scoundrel,
heroine-i-adore,
heroine-naïve-virgin-like-a-virgin,
i-read-library,
humorous-at-times-or-fluffy-fun,
hero-abused-scarred-tortured-angst,
historical-romance-georgian,
rt-book-reviews-top-pick,
archaeology-antiquities-scholar,
sweet-romance-left-smile-on-my-face,
heroine-bluestocking-unconventional,
heroine-plain-jane-ugly-duckling,
series-guilty,
5-stars,
hero-duke-heir-to-dukedom,
unrequited-love-crush,
best-faves-of-2010,
hh-smart-intellectual-brainy-geek,
hh-pygmalion-theme,
hh-bespectacled
5 stars – Historical Romance
This is a delightful, entertaining, feel-good romance about a Plain Jane antiquities restorer who secretly lusts/loves her boss Anthony, the dashing Duke of Tremore, and finally manages to turn his cynical, conceited head her way (and twist his emotions in the process) when she up and quits after overhearing his crushing, unpleasant personal appraisal. It’s a charming, fun, and uplifting read that will have you cheering when Anthony finally begins to see Daphne for th...more
This is a delightful, entertaining, feel-good romance about a Plain Jane antiquities restorer who secretly lusts/loves her boss Anthony, the dashing Duke of Tremore, and finally manages to turn his cynical, conceited head her way (and twist his emotions in the process) when she up and quits after overhearing his crushing, unpleasant personal appraisal. It’s a charming, fun, and uplifting read that will have you cheering when Anthony finally begins to see Daphne for th...more
Omg... I'am so tired. I read this in one night. Seriously. From 8 in the night to 5 in the morning.. And I had to go to school at 7. So goddd I was so freaking tired. Every cell in my body was regretting reading all night. I always tell myself that I won't read past midnight again but somehow I do it again and then wake up regretting it. Don't get me wrong.! The book was really good. I loved it. Loved Anthony and Daphne together. The duke was really hot and charming. Loved all bitses of him. An...more
Guys don't make passes at girls who wear glasses.....or do they? Really enjoyed this Regency romance story of plain-Jane Daphne who comes to work at the site of an archaeological dig at the English estate of the Duke of Tremore. The shy and unassuming Daphne, who harbors a secret attraction for the handsome duke, is crushed after hearing him make disparaging remarks about her. She gathers her courage and gives the duke her resignation, but he refuses to accept it. Her expertise is essential to t...more
What a delightful and entertaining book! 5 Stars!!
Daphne Wade fell in love with her employer the minute she laid eyes on him. She came to work for Anthony, the Duke of Tremore, to restore priceless ruins found under ground on his property. Daphne is a wallflower, one that blends in with her surroundings. She wears spectacles and always has on a hideous apron to protect her clothing. Her clothing is nothing special either, all of her dresses are some shade of brown. Whenever the Duke comes around...more
Daphne Wade fell in love with her employer the minute she laid eyes on him. She came to work for Anthony, the Duke of Tremore, to restore priceless ruins found under ground on his property. Daphne is a wallflower, one that blends in with her surroundings. She wears spectacles and always has on a hideous apron to protect her clothing. Her clothing is nothing special either, all of her dresses are some shade of brown. Whenever the Duke comes around...more
8 likes · like · see review
Jul 06, 2010
Juliana
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Shelves:
historical-romance,
2004-reads,
2004-aug-reads,
2008-reads,
2008-jan-reads,
2009-reads,
2009-nov-reads,
2010-reads,
2010-jul-reads,
4-half-stars,
best-romance-books,
best-romance-heroines-ever,
4-to-5-stars,
hr-class-difference,
hr-hero-aristocrat-lord-titled,
hr-hero-arrogant-autocratic,
hr-hero-bookish-smart,
hr-hero-head-of-family,
hr-hero-ladies-man,
hr-hero-nobility,
hr-hero-writer-art-music-science,
hr-heroine-bookish-smart,
hr-heroine-commoner,
hr-heroine-family-estranged,
hr-heroine-good-girl,
hr-heroine-foreigner,
hr-heroine-plain-jane,
hr-heroine-poor-background,
hr-heroine-shy-quiet-wallflower,
hr-heroine-recluse-loner,
hr-heroine-unusual-odd,
hr-heroine-without-family,
hr-heroine-works-or-has-profession,
hr-heroine-writer-art-music-history,
hr-secret-love,
hr-sizzling-chemistry,
hr-opposites-enemies-attract,
regency-historical-romance
(4.5 stars) Guilty Pleasures was an absolutely delightful read, just like all the other times I've read it. Having reread And Then He Kissed Her recently - one of my all-time favorite historical romances - I noticed much more, this time around, the similarities between the two books. They both feature often-overlooked heroines, who are always very much in control of themselves and their desires, and who work in unusual female employment under male bosses who have heretofore ignored them when it...more
8 likes · like · see review
The first book I've read by the author and definitely not the last!
This is the story of Daphne Wade, a restorer of antiquities in the employ of the Duke of Tremore, who she has a secret crush on, while he barely knows she's alive. After overhearing a conversation where he voices his opinion of her, which is anything but flattering, she decides she's had enough of it all and hands in her notice.
Anthony, Duke of Tremore, always gets what he wants and what he wants is his museum completed in time,...more
This is the story of Daphne Wade, a restorer of antiquities in the employ of the Duke of Tremore, who she has a secret crush on, while he barely knows she's alive. After overhearing a conversation where he voices his opinion of her, which is anything but flattering, she decides she's had enough of it all and hands in her notice.
Anthony, Duke of Tremore, always gets what he wants and what he wants is his museum completed in time,...more
Really now, this has to stop. I sense a pattern in Guhrke's books that I don't quite like - it doesn't matter which book I read first, because its bad in any book, and fact is - she repeats these things in most her books.
First of all: Girl only gets noticed when she refuses guy (for some reason) and/or gets pretty (like she was totally ugly in the first place)? Really? Its the most cliche of cliches. Don't get me wrong. I like cliches; I even like Cinderella prettified cliches, and I have no qu...more
First of all: Girl only gets noticed when she refuses guy (for some reason) and/or gets pretty (like she was totally ugly in the first place)? Really? Its the most cliche of cliches. Don't get me wrong. I like cliches; I even like Cinderella prettified cliches, and I have no qu...more
Daphne Wade has been left virtually destitute after her father's untimely death. Luckily, the knowledge she gained by living and working alongside her father, who was a famous and respected antiquarian,has gained her a position working to unearth a Roman villa at the Anthony, Duke of Tremore's estate.
Daphne is immediately dazzled by the Duke's good looks and falls in love with him agaisnt her better judgment. Daphne knows nothing could come out of her hopeless fixation with Anthony but heartbrea...more
Daphne is immediately dazzled by the Duke's good looks and falls in love with him agaisnt her better judgment. Daphne knows nothing could come out of her hopeless fixation with Anthony but heartbrea...more
"Ti ho amata a prima vista, Daphne, perché, nel momento in cui ti vidi sotto la pioggia, era come se fosse la prima volta che che ti vedevo veramente"
Una breve (il libro conta poco più di 200 pagine!)storia d'amore dalla brava Laura Lee Guhrke, che avevo già apprezzato in E infine la baciò ^_^ Daphne è un abile archeologa e restauratrice, alla morte del padre (che l'aveva portata con se in vari paesi per seguire gli scavi) trova lavoro presso il duca Anthony Courtland e in un attimo se ne innamo...more
Una breve (il libro conta poco più di 200 pagine!)storia d'amore dalla brava Laura Lee Guhrke, che avevo già apprezzato in E infine la baciò ^_^ Daphne è un abile archeologa e restauratrice, alla morte del padre (che l'aveva portata con se in vari paesi per seguire gli scavi) trova lavoro presso il duca Anthony Courtland e in un attimo se ne innamo...more
Daphne Wade likes to watch The Duke of Tremore withouth his shirt. She stands in the window with a spyglass trained on the Duke sighing over him. She is in love with him and he is her employer. Daphne is an antiquarian; that is she knows about the antiquities Anthony Courtland, Duke of Tremore is digging up on his estate.
Unfortunately for Daphne, the Duke does not see her as a woman. All he sees is a machine as he tells his sister, Viola,Lady Hammond one evening. He says, Miss Wade doens't have...more
Unfortunately for Daphne, the Duke does not see her as a woman. All he sees is a machine as he tells his sister, Viola,Lady Hammond one evening. He says, Miss Wade doens't have...more
Uma história carregada de amor e diversão. Ao ler a sinopse pela primeira vez não consegui perceber se seria um romance histórico ou se se iria passar nos nossos dias, mas acabei por ser surpreendida com um pouco dos dois. Apesar de se passar em 1830 muitas vezes dei por mim a imaginar que se podia passar também nos nossos dias, foi uma leitura leve que não foi massacrada por dolorosas descrições de ambiente, mas sim por momentos deliciosos de puro riso e paixão. Podemos conhecer Daphne Wade, qu...more
I really have a wonderful time reading this book. Although I never know it is actually a series, the book completely stand out and could be a stand alone book. The plain Daphne finally caught Anthony interest when Daphne asked for resigning the post of a restorer (it's more like an archeologist during that time). Anthony desperation to make her stay finally has a change of heart when he really close and learn about her as her friend.
The connection of the character is superb and believable. Daphn...more
The connection of the character is superb and believable. Daphn...more
Opinião no blog http://howtoliveathousandlives.blogsp...
Descrito como um romance histórico, este livro não me convenceu. Fiquei bastante desiludida, na medida em que não houve grandes descrições do ambiente e a estória limitou-se a incidir sobre o romance entre as duas personagens principais.
O que teria sido perfeitamente aceitável se estas me tivessem cativado. Pelo contrário, Anthony desde o início que se apresenta como um homem frio e insensível, com todos os comentários depreciativos que faz...more
Descrito como um romance histórico, este livro não me convenceu. Fiquei bastante desiludida, na medida em que não houve grandes descrições do ambiente e a estória limitou-se a incidir sobre o romance entre as duas personagens principais.
O que teria sido perfeitamente aceitável se estas me tivessem cativado. Pelo contrário, Anthony desde o início que se apresenta como um homem frio e insensível, com todos os comentários depreciativos que faz...more
It says on the front cover of this book that it is "a delight to read." Finally, a cover quote that describes my feelings about reading a book. This story is Guhrke at her finest. The story is filled with witty dialogue, humor, and characters that are more than one demential. The heroine is plucky, but has moments of shyness and uncertainty. The hero is so set in his ways that it is a miracle that he manages to find his HEA, but I believed in this miracle because the events were paced correctly....more
I really have a wonderful time reading this book. Although I never know it is actually a series, the book completely stand out and could be a stand alone book. The plain Daphne finally caught Anthony interest when Daphne asked for resigning the post of a restorer (it's more like an archeologist). Anthony desperation to make her stay finally has a change of heart when he really close and learn about her as her friend.
The connection of the character is superb and believable. Daphne become so stubb...more
The connection of the character is superb and believable. Daphne become so stubb...more
Daphne Wade has a guilty pleasure...she can't keep herself from lusting after her super sexy boss. She fell in love with Anthony Courtland at first sight, but although they have worked together for five months, he doesn't know she exists. Anthony pays little attention to the homely woman who does restoration work on the artifacts at his excavation site. He does appreciate her work, but as far as the woman under the unattractive clothes and eyeglasses, Anthony couldn't care less.
Daphne is conten...more
Daphne is conten...more
14 likes · like · see review
Not as great as I expected but I have to admit that I love the ending. I really felt what Anthony felt and I could just envision me being him during his darkest hours. And the ending was sweet, romantic, cheesy and heart-wrenching that I wanted to go into the book and hug Anthony right there. Even though there are no weddings in the ending, I approve of this ending then her other books which usually did not satisfied me enough. Laura could have done better though because I find the book quite du...more
daphne wade yang plain dan berkacamata bekerja untuk menghidupi diri nya after ayah nya meninggal karena sakit....
berbekal tiket ke inggris daphne pergi menumui lord anthony tremore untuk berkerja menggantikan ayahnya sebagi ahli arkeologi....
awalnya anthony gak mau menerima daphne bekerja secara saat itu perempuan gak berkerja sebagai arkeologi dan yang mau dipekerjakan oleh nicholas adalah ayah daphne yg ahli arkeologi terkenal...
tapi daphne bersikeras bilang kalo dia lebih dari mampu...akhirn...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
There were moments when I found the perspective with the wrong character. I mean readers would typically want to know what goes in a character's head when he/she makes a life-altering decisions and the like. But there were many instances that the events were narrated from someone else's perspective which I found quite disappointing
There were stll several things i liked about the book, however. The use of the Le Langage des Fleurs theme is not original, I must admit. But I still found it rather c...more
There were stll several things i liked about the book, however. The use of the Le Langage des Fleurs theme is not original, I must admit. But I still found it rather c...more
Oct 29, 2010
Amelia Fransiska
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
historical romance lovers
Recommended to Amelia by:
no one
sukaaaaaaaaaa bgt bo,,
beyond my expectation ;D
semua org pasti punya yg nama nya guilty pleasure
GP nya Miss Daphne Wade so pasti mlototin bos nya Anthony Courtland, duke of Tremore..
Apalagi klo si duke shirtless, hmmm klo bisa di makan pasti dah abisss di lahap ma daphne... LOL
selama kurang lebih 6bulan krja sbg antiquarian nya anthony, daphne selalu aja speechless tiap anthony nongol..
Daphne cuma bisa diam2 mengagumi anthony..
Sbg seorang spinster yg hampir seumur hidupnya -26taon- tinggal di da...more
beyond my expectation ;D
semua org pasti punya yg nama nya guilty pleasure
GP nya Miss Daphne Wade so pasti mlototin bos nya Anthony Courtland, duke of Tremore..
Apalagi klo si duke shirtless, hmmm klo bisa di makan pasti dah abisss di lahap ma daphne... LOL
selama kurang lebih 6bulan krja sbg antiquarian nya anthony, daphne selalu aja speechless tiap anthony nongol..
Daphne cuma bisa diam2 mengagumi anthony..
Sbg seorang spinster yg hampir seumur hidupnya -26taon- tinggal di da...more
I think it was a good read
Daphne takes a job restoring items that Anthony is excavating from his property when her father dies and leaves her alone in this world. She overhears a conversation that rocks her world and decides to leave her post and move to London to come out in society and find a husband. Anthony soon finds himself seeing her in a different light than he previously had and starts to woo her through flowers. Each flower has a different meaning and he communicates his feelings through them. He soon finds tha...more
Je me suis posée la question : « est-ce normal que je trouve cette lecture sans intérêt ? ».
Je crois que le problème que j’ai.. C’est l’auteure. Déjà, je n’avais pas adhéré à sa série « jeunes filles en fleurs » et bien idem pour celui-ci. J’ai trouvé l’histoire brodée de fil blanc, la vieille fille qui bave devant le duc qui se promène torse nu sur le site de fouilles archéologiques (bien entendu, il n’ a pas de bouée mais des pectoraux et des abdos du feu de dieu). Il la vexe, elle veut partir...more
Je crois que le problème que j’ai.. C’est l’auteure. Déjà, je n’avais pas adhéré à sa série « jeunes filles en fleurs » et bien idem pour celui-ci. J’ai trouvé l’histoire brodée de fil blanc, la vieille fille qui bave devant le duc qui se promène torse nu sur le site de fouilles archéologiques (bien entendu, il n’ a pas de bouée mais des pectoraux et des abdos du feu de dieu). Il la vexe, elle veut partir...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
This is on my keeper shelf... I love reading about the not so beautiful heroine that becomes beautiful in the hero's eyes... a total favorite!
This author has tried to Write characters like Mr. Darcy (Duke Tremore) and Elizabeth (Daphne Wade)it went all wrong the Duke comes off as being WHIMPISH AND WHINNY and Daphne comes off as being Arrogant Stubborn and is described as Plain and Poor and He is described as being very Powerful Rich and Handsome Duke. The Roles should be reversed. The two personalities just don't work and the wording is similar to Jane Austins Pride and Prejudice. Sorry the whole concept of this book didn't work. Eve...more
I actually liked this book. I'm glad I read it. I also like that the subplot was different from some of the others...meaning the job that Daphne held...very creative and educational. I wish the title could have been more smarter...it should have been called "A Compromising Position" b/c during the whole time the characters were doing a lot of compromising and mostly about Daphne's (position aka job)...but all in all...I liked it. Also, kudos to the author for adding the "game of flowers" again e...more
While I was amused by the story, I felt it was off balance. The first half of the book dragged out forever while the last half of it felt rushed. This book could have easily been another 100 pages long or had the pacing balanced out a bit and been a better story. I almost put it down before the first 50 pages were up but hung in there and am glad I did.
Despite the pacing, it was nice to see a "plain" girl with glasses in the role as heroine, and the story was fairly good. I was amused by it and...more
Despite the pacing, it was nice to see a "plain" girl with glasses in the role as heroine, and the story was fairly good. I was amused by it and...more
And this is how overheard conversations and misconceptions should be dealt with.
I loved this book. I love the way Daphne comes into her own and I can believe she's beautiful even if she doesn't actually physically change. I just love that.
She did the ugly duckling to swan thing but she's the same person, it's Anthony who starts to see the true beauty. The whole thing just meshed wonderfully and the courtship and the way it ties in to him wanting to keep her working with him for the seven month...more
I loved this book. I love the way Daphne comes into her own and I can believe she's beautiful even if she doesn't actually physically change. I just love that.
She did the ugly duckling to swan thing but she's the same person, it's Anthony who starts to see the true beauty. The whole thing just meshed wonderfully and the courtship and the way it ties in to him wanting to keep her working with him for the seven month...more
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From the publication of her very first historical romance, Laura Lee Guhrke has received numerous honors and critical acclaim for her novels and her writing style. She has been honored with the most prestigious award of romance fiction, the Romance Writers of America Rita Award, and she has received additional awards from Romantic Times and All About Romance. Romantic Times has proclaimed her, “On...more
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“A woman could be as beautiful as she felt herself to be.”
—
68 people liked it
“How much time do I get in exchange for that rose?”
For the rose, a short engagement. For the speech, you get a lifetime.”
I can live with that,” he said, and kissed her.”
—
34 people liked it
More quotes…
For the rose, a short engagement. For the speech, you get a lifetime.”
I can live with that,” he said, and kissed her.”
Mar 12, 2010 06:13pm
Mar 12, 2010 08:39pm