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Bittersweet Love
Seducing her boss!
To Kane Marshall, her arrogant boss, Natalie had always been the perfect secretary; quiet, efficient, undemanding. For five years Kane had thought he controlled her life and secretly Natalie knew he controlled her heart!
But now with a new image and her confidence renewed the time had come for Natalie to stop dreaming and live life to the full. The trouble was, Natalie's new independence was a challenge Kane couldn't resist. Natalie was playing with fire, and it seemed that scorching seduction was on the agenda!
192 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 13, 1993
7 people are currently reading
85 people want to read
About the author
Cathy Williams
1,338 books202 followersCathy Williams, born in Trinidad and Tobago, is a British author who has written romance novels for Mills & Boon since 1990. She lives in Chiswick, London, with her three daughters and continues to craft engaging, heartfelt love stories.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
March 4, 2020
I really hated this and should have listened to the one star and lukewarm reviews.
The heroine has been in love with the hero for five years. Five years of watching him lech around. She makes herself over while he's gone for six months and he notices. Yippeee. Not really as he is amused at her change, is condescending, insulting and frankly gross. The hint of the possibility of another man and he's like a dog with two bones. The other bone is a vapid yet surprisingly vicious OW that the H cheats on with the heroine. So yes, the heroine is the other woman. The faux OW is a little scary and warns the heroine off and later threatens she will get even. Eventually she gets kicked to the curb, and in a surprise move ends up dating and marries the heroine's faux boyfriend. I breathed a sigh of relief when the evil OW, now besotted fiancee, showed up to their shabby little registrar wedding. I was afraid she was just using him to get back at the heroine as she said she would. Who knows, maybe she will down the line.
The heroine ends up with the hero, but only after denying that she is pregnant for...reasons. Secret babies don't bother me as much as they do some reviewers as so many of these HP heroes (cough the Greeks and Sicilians) don't deserve happiness, but this guy actually proposed to the heroine.
There is a Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolf? vibe about this and they totally deserve each other.
The heroine has been in love with the hero for five years. Five years of watching him lech around. She makes herself over while he's gone for six months and he notices. Yippeee. Not really as he is amused at her change, is condescending, insulting and frankly gross. The hint of the possibility of another man and he's like a dog with two bones. The other bone is a vapid yet surprisingly vicious OW that the H cheats on with the heroine. So yes, the heroine is the other woman. The faux OW is a little scary and warns the heroine off and later threatens she will get even. Eventually she gets kicked to the curb, and in a surprise move ends up dating and marries the heroine's faux boyfriend. I breathed a sigh of relief when the evil OW, now besotted fiancee, showed up to their shabby little registrar wedding. I was afraid she was just using him to get back at the heroine as she said she would. Who knows, maybe she will down the line.
The heroine ends up with the hero, but only after denying that she is pregnant for...reasons. Secret babies don't bother me as much as they do some reviewers as so many of these HP heroes (cough the Greeks and Sicilians) don't deserve happiness, but this guy actually proposed to the heroine.
There is a Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolf? vibe about this and they totally deserve each other.
February 21, 2020
Loved the heroine Natalie one of best h I have come across!! Strong minded, independent and not a doormat. She really put Kane through the wringer to get her despite being in love with him for 5 years. Super sweet and my fave novel by Cathy Willians for sure!!
September 26, 2021
"Bittersweet Love" have been on my list for a while and i am so happy i decided to read this wonderfully romantic and funny Harlequin Romance where the hot-tempered womanizer Kane Marshall returns from a business trip to totally finds his secretary of five years irresistible.Natalie Robins have always loved her boss from afar and decides to make some changes like losing weight and wearing hotter clothes.She never expected how stubbornly Kane would be so hot in his pursuit of her.
If there ever was a movie adaption out i would be watching it!Kane Marshall is this carefree,charming and teasing hero who also gets knocked out of his feet by these new intense emotions he is starting to feel for Natalie.I also like that he hadn`t been altogether indiffirent to Natalie even before she started to lose weight.I felt so sorry for Natalie in her unrequited love for Kane where she had to endure seeing him with all those other women.For all that she still stood strong in her dignity and refused to surrender to Kane.I love all her witty comebacks and how she refused marriage to Kane even loving him so desperately.Kane Marshall for all his arrogance and bad behaviour really won my heart with how charming he actually was and in the way he changes to this besotted lover who decides to stop Natalie`s supposed marriage to another man...just GOD HOW THAT SCENE MADE ME LAUGH!!!!Cathy Williams delivered a true passionate and hilarious romance with this one and i am very much excited to read more books by her!
If there ever was a movie adaption out i would be watching it!Kane Marshall is this carefree,charming and teasing hero who also gets knocked out of his feet by these new intense emotions he is starting to feel for Natalie.I also like that he hadn`t been altogether indiffirent to Natalie even before she started to lose weight.I felt so sorry for Natalie in her unrequited love for Kane where she had to endure seeing him with all those other women.For all that she still stood strong in her dignity and refused to surrender to Kane.I love all her witty comebacks and how she refused marriage to Kane even loving him so desperately.Kane Marshall for all his arrogance and bad behaviour really won my heart with how charming he actually was and in the way he changes to this besotted lover who decides to stop Natalie`s supposed marriage to another man...just GOD HOW THAT SCENE MADE ME LAUGH!!!!Cathy Williams delivered a true passionate and hilarious romance with this one and i am very much excited to read more books by her!
February 24, 2020
Hated this book spoilers below
Cathy Williams has never been one of my favorite authors but this book was awful. The hero is sleeping with another woman for 1/2 of the book. He also with other women the entire time she was his secretary. I hated him and it ruined the book for me. And the heroine just totally made me crazy. I just didn't understand how she could love him. He was a total womanizer and just not a hero to me. And then her friend Eric marrying the hero's ex lover was just too much. She was the heroes lover for over 50% of the book. I really am sorry I read this. I did cry through several chapters because the hero was such a mean jerk and I almost gave it two stars because it was very angsty and my emotions did get involved but I just can't. I am sick that I read it. I should have read reviews before I bought it. As far as HP's go, it was very painful and totally normal but just not my cup of tea. If you like angst and don't mind other women, then you will most likely love this. But me, I want to wake up my husband and yell at him for making me this jealous awful person but I can't. So Cathy Williams you better be expecting a call from me!!! 😏 Okay not really but man this book irked me!!!
Cathy Williams has never been one of my favorite authors but this book was awful. The hero is sleeping with another woman for 1/2 of the book. He also with other women the entire time she was his secretary. I hated him and it ruined the book for me. And the heroine just totally made me crazy. I just didn't understand how she could love him. He was a total womanizer and just not a hero to me. And then her friend Eric marrying the hero's ex lover was just too much. She was the heroes lover for over 50% of the book. I really am sorry I read this. I did cry through several chapters because the hero was such a mean jerk and I almost gave it two stars because it was very angsty and my emotions did get involved but I just can't. I am sick that I read it. I should have read reviews before I bought it. As far as HP's go, it was very painful and totally normal but just not my cup of tea. If you like angst and don't mind other women, then you will most likely love this. But me, I want to wake up my husband and yell at him for making me this jealous awful person but I can't. So Cathy Williams you better be expecting a call from me!!! 😏 Okay not really but man this book irked me!!!
April 9, 2024
Dreadfully dull. Like always Cathy Williams is a big hit or miss and I just couldn’t enjoy this book however hard I tried. For one it was an office romance so I wasn’t judging so bad, but it was as dull as dishwater, really.
The h is a slightly older secretary (imo at 27) having the hots for her boss who doesn’t look her way. He goes away for 6 months and that’s when she decides to work out and lose weight and upgrade her closet.
The H is now back and finally he notices that something’s changed about his PA. He comments on her weight and style and how she must have a man in her life to bother with all of this. The h barely retorts back on anything, just repeats what he says to her like she has a hearing problem. Wtf grown ass woman?? Like say something smart or just shut up.
I could hear, feel or see absolutely zero chemistry. Maybe this was an early book and CW was still growing as a writer. I wanted sass and it had passed by a wide berth or not even. The h had several moments to say something snarky or sexy to the H or the OW but she just repeats anything said to her like a parrot with no brain.
I could barely stand by. Even when the H pursues her, their passion is missing cuz it seemed to me like the h was a little dozy and not present in the moment. Eitherways, do not recommend.
Will also repeat that while the h has a spine, she’s also angry and that just made her sound really old to me. She wasn’t stuttering but then she also wasn’t sassing, she’d just be mad and RUIN THE MOMENT each time cuz of her dumb anger. Like what you angry at girl?? When you’ve been lusting after this man for a long time say five years. I’d have been happier if she’d predictably been a nervous stutterer. Is all.
The h is a slightly older secretary (imo at 27) having the hots for her boss who doesn’t look her way. He goes away for 6 months and that’s when she decides to work out and lose weight and upgrade her closet.
The H is now back and finally he notices that something’s changed about his PA. He comments on her weight and style and how she must have a man in her life to bother with all of this. The h barely retorts back on anything, just repeats what he says to her like she has a hearing problem. Wtf grown ass woman?? Like say something smart or just shut up.
I could hear, feel or see absolutely zero chemistry. Maybe this was an early book and CW was still growing as a writer. I wanted sass and it had passed by a wide berth or not even. The h had several moments to say something snarky or sexy to the H or the OW but she just repeats anything said to her like a parrot with no brain.
I could barely stand by. Even when the H pursues her, their passion is missing cuz it seemed to me like the h was a little dozy and not present in the moment. Eitherways, do not recommend.
Will also repeat that while the h has a spine, she’s also angry and that just made her sound really old to me. She wasn’t stuttering but then she also wasn’t sassing, she’d just be mad and RUIN THE MOMENT each time cuz of her dumb anger. Like what you angry at girl?? When you’ve been lusting after this man for a long time say five years. I’d have been happier if she’d predictably been a nervous stutterer. Is all.
February 23, 2020
Kinda icked out that he was fooling around with her, in her bed no less, after leaving the girlfriend's bed. Like right after. Also found her frustrating, she gets everything she wants, including a marriage proposal, and then doesn't want it or give it a chance.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 24, 2020
Loved the h! .. she leads him on a merry chase and makes him work for her ...
He comes across as a womanizer and yes, he was ... but there is no doubt that this was not one of those books where the h loses weight and he falls for her ...
as shown by the author, he compliments her on another occasion and recalls the color of her dress .... I think he approached her but she ran away ... he is also too knowledgeable about her life and nature that its obvious that he has been interested in her for sometime ...
Thoroughly enjoyable ...
He comes across as a womanizer and yes, he was ... but there is no doubt that this was not one of those books where the h loses weight and he falls for her ...
as shown by the author, he compliments her on another occasion and recalls the color of her dress .... I think he approached her but she ran away ... he is also too knowledgeable about her life and nature that its obvious that he has been interested in her for sometime ...
Thoroughly enjoyable ...
March 11, 2020
I must confess I read some of the low star reviews first before reading this book - which was recommended to me a by my Goodreads friend. So I went into this book with already lowered expectations. With that being said, I give this 3.25 stars. I took the stars off because I’m not too enamored of the H. Most of the time I like to idolize, gush and swoon over an H but this was – not so much.
What I didn’t like:
1. H still seemed to be actively in the drawers of the OW (which I agree with other reviews the official woman and h is considered the OW lol!)
2. I’m not too sure I believe the H’s love and devotion for the h. Are we sure that its not just a “playing hard to get” routine that finally won the H’s “heart” and now he is immediately “saddled” with marriage and kid (s) so no chance to escape??
3. OW ends up with h’s OM. That’s a little too much… and too convenient. That’s another case of is that really “love” between them?
4. h pined for H 5 years – well that just absolutely sucked! She should have really started this makeover WAAAYYY earlier than that! And had the time of her life a lot longer!
5. I’m not sure if I liked her pregnant – only that as I’ve said above, how can I believe the “love story”? In some ways it almost feels like the H is pretty much trapped hook, line and sinker! H got her virginity, got her pregnant, now got to marry her LOL. Almost like the author is telling me don’t worry readers! They’re gonna have a kid so no way he can dump her or cheat on her!
What I liked:
1. h playing hard to get/gave H a hard time/runaround. Yes! With the H flaunting his women I’m glad the h didn’t just fall into his bed – I mean she did later but thankfully not in the first two chapters or something!
2. H had to beg and grovel for her. Cool, it kinda almost made up for his man-whore ways (not just with the GF but with the past 5 years she pined for him – almost)
3. h pregnant – yeah I know I said I didn’t like it above but I also liked it coz I guess we get to see his reaction to that and how he totally changed his stance on marriage and kids. I mean I liked it but I’m not sure if I totally believe it – yet
Final thoughts: I did enjoy reading this book and I would possibly re-read it again – just to enjoy reading the h giving the H a hard time. I’m trying to believe their happy ending and the thought just occurred to me maybe this is like the “George Clooney and Amal” situation? So if I think about that, then yeah maybe it is a believable HEA (not awestruck by Clooney’s love story either though!) But anyhoo, 3.25 stars from me!
What I didn’t like:
1. H still seemed to be actively in the drawers of the OW (which I agree with other reviews the official woman and h is considered the OW lol!)
2. I’m not too sure I believe the H’s love and devotion for the h. Are we sure that its not just a “playing hard to get” routine that finally won the H’s “heart” and now he is immediately “saddled” with marriage and kid (s) so no chance to escape??
3. OW ends up with h’s OM. That’s a little too much… and too convenient. That’s another case of is that really “love” between them?
4. h pined for H 5 years – well that just absolutely sucked! She should have really started this makeover WAAAYYY earlier than that! And had the time of her life a lot longer!
5. I’m not sure if I liked her pregnant – only that as I’ve said above, how can I believe the “love story”? In some ways it almost feels like the H is pretty much trapped hook, line and sinker! H got her virginity, got her pregnant, now got to marry her LOL. Almost like the author is telling me don’t worry readers! They’re gonna have a kid so no way he can dump her or cheat on her!
What I liked:
1. h playing hard to get/gave H a hard time/runaround. Yes! With the H flaunting his women I’m glad the h didn’t just fall into his bed – I mean she did later but thankfully not in the first two chapters or something!
2. H had to beg and grovel for her. Cool, it kinda almost made up for his man-whore ways (not just with the GF but with the past 5 years she pined for him – almost)
3. h pregnant – yeah I know I said I didn’t like it above but I also liked it coz I guess we get to see his reaction to that and how he totally changed his stance on marriage and kids. I mean I liked it but I’m not sure if I totally believe it – yet
Final thoughts: I did enjoy reading this book and I would possibly re-read it again – just to enjoy reading the h giving the H a hard time. I’m trying to believe their happy ending and the thought just occurred to me maybe this is like the “George Clooney and Amal” situation? So if I think about that, then yeah maybe it is a believable HEA (not awestruck by Clooney’s love story either though!) But anyhoo, 3.25 stars from me!
October 7, 2020
A lot of jealousy in this book. He is jealous of the OM, she is jealous of the OW.
She was a virgin until their night together.
I find the ‘morning after the night’ scene so hot. He is totally in lust and love, he says and does sexy things, and when she doesn’t dare to look at him, he insists that she looks at and touches his naked body. His intensity is just ‘Wow’. He even begs her to marry him.
The book is very well written. Not boring at all.
I take 1 star off because I would have liked it better if the romance started before she lost weight. Or even better: if she hadn’t lost weight at all.
She was a virgin until their night together.
I find the ‘morning after the night’ scene so hot. He is totally in lust and love, he says and does sexy things, and when she doesn’t dare to look at him, he insists that she looks at and touches his naked body. His intensity is just ‘Wow’. He even begs her to marry him.
The book is very well written. Not boring at all.
I take 1 star off because I would have liked it better if the romance started before she lost weight. Or even better: if she hadn’t lost weight at all.
April 17, 2016
Loved it!! One of the best Cathy Williams books I have read.
June 28, 2024
I liked this. Dashing, debonair, chauvinistic yet vulnerable at the end hero who is the boss and his plain yet sassy secretary.
Lots of jealous, sarcastic, underhanded moments.
One night of passion but not so much chasing and wooing.
She was already in love so became breathless every time when he showed any intensity (which I secretly wanted more…he was rather good at it) but she still made him work hard before giving in.
Book is very well written.
Lots of jealous, sarcastic, underhanded moments.
One night of passion but not so much chasing and wooing.
She was already in love so became breathless every time when he showed any intensity (which I secretly wanted more…he was rather good at it) but she still made him work hard before giving in.
Book is very well written.
February 23, 2014
Hahhaa, by the end of the novel, I loved the hero. He had made a fool out of himself which made me love him more. The rest of the novel was very good.
January 15, 2021
I'll give this 3.5 stars.
It's basically the same old plot. The alpha male and the female who hopelessly in love with him.
Maybe it's good in terms of how the one you love finally looking at your direction. But all the while, my head keep on ringing 'SEXUAL HARASSMENT!!'.
I mean really....at least put some remarks that what the boss did is a sexual harassment. I like how the author pointed out several time on why on earth the h fall for the playboy him, so why not point that out too? It was like as long as the boss/coworker is a handsome alpha male, what he did is some kind of skinship. Is that it? Welp, at least he got a slap or two for it.
And ugh....all the while he kept on sleeping with other people while sexually harrassing his secretary. Seriously man....
I like how the h remained stubborn to the end even though she was exposed several times. And I really like Eric and how he know the word 'no'. I'm somehow curious how he and Anna hooked up starting with Anna planning to seduce him for revenge.
The best part is how she reduced him to beg for her which satisfied me a great deal (and gain this story an extra 1.5 star). And how he immediately understood her when she explained why she hide her pregnancy. And not playing victim like some H in other stories.
I had read the adaptation comic for this and I find the comic is more enjoyable
It's basically the same old plot. The alpha male and the female who hopelessly in love with him.
Maybe it's good in terms of how the one you love finally looking at your direction. But all the while, my head keep on ringing 'SEXUAL HARASSMENT!!'.
I mean really....at least put some remarks that what the boss did is a sexual harassment. I like how the author pointed out several time on why on earth the h fall for the playboy him, so why not point that out too? It was like as long as the boss/coworker is a handsome alpha male, what he did is some kind of skinship. Is that it? Welp, at least he got a slap or two for it.
And ugh....all the while he kept on sleeping with other people while sexually harrassing his secretary. Seriously man....
I like how the h remained stubborn to the end even though she was exposed several times. And I really like Eric and how he know the word 'no'. I'm somehow curious how he and Anna hooked up starting with Anna planning to seduce him for revenge.
The best part is how she reduced him to beg for her which satisfied me a great deal (and gain this story an extra 1.5 star). And how he immediately understood her when she explained why she hide her pregnancy. And not playing victim like some H in other stories.
I had read the adaptation comic for this and I find the comic is more enjoyable
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 1, 2022
A sweet classical Harlequin. No harsh scenes, antagonizm appropriate for the trop. I really liked the author trying to make a difference about stereotyping especially back when this was written. The female lead saw herself as overweight and undesirable. After loosing weight the male main character started showing interest and more than once he tells her he was interested before and so were other men Bur she was so convinced she was unattractive that the signals she put off were off-putting. He also stated more than once he never thought of her as being overweight.
It was a good story to get lost into but it could have been the worst but those sentiments the main male character expressed would have made it 5 stars anyway.
It was a good story to get lost into but it could have been the worst but those sentiments the main male character expressed would have made it 5 stars anyway.
February 20, 2021
The womanizing boss and his plain but reliable secretary. She undergone some transformation and he finally made a move. I liked the story. The OW added some angst so it wasn’t bland.
hq-to-read
May 28, 2020Seducing her boss!
To Kane Marshall, her arrogant boss, Natalie had always been the perfect secretary; quiet, efficient, undemanding. For five years Kane had thought he controlled her life and secretly Natalie knew he controlled her heart!
But now with a new image and her confidence renewed the time had come for Natalie to stop dreaming and live life to the full. The trouble was, Natalie's new independence was a challenge Kane couldn't resist. Natalie was playing with fire, and it seemed that scorching seduction was on the agenda!
To Kane Marshall, her arrogant boss, Natalie had always been the perfect secretary; quiet, efficient, undemanding. For five years Kane had thought he controlled her life and secretly Natalie knew he controlled her heart!
But now with a new image and her confidence renewed the time had come for Natalie to stop dreaming and live life to the full. The trouble was, Natalie's new independence was a challenge Kane couldn't resist. Natalie was playing with fire, and it seemed that scorching seduction was on the agenda!
September 3, 2016
I dont know what made me read it. A fluffy take about an overweight secretary, losing the extra pounds then catching the interest if her boss.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews