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Burning with Passion
"February the fourteenth ... a day made for romance..."
ST. VALENTINE'S DAY is a special day for lovers all over the world. And this year it has a special significance for Caitlin Ross. This year she is sure that David Hartley will admit he loves her. But Caitlin has forgotten that Valentine's Day casts its own special magic. The surprises she receives, and the shocks that lie in store for David, make this a February the fourteenth they will never, ever forget...!
ST. VALENTINE'S DAY is a special day for lovers all over the world. And this year it has a special significance for Caitlin Ross. This year she is sure that David Hartley will admit he loves her. But Caitlin has forgotten that Valentine's Day casts its own special magic. The surprises she receives, and the shocks that lie in store for David, make this a February the fourteenth they will never, ever forget...!
192 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published February 1, 1995
8 people are currently reading
152 people want to read
About the author
Emma Darcy
642 books328 followersEmma Darcy is the pseudonym created by the married writing team of Wendy (1940-2020) and Frank Brennan (1936-1995). Their life journey has taken as many twists and turns as the characters in their stories, whose international popularity has resulted in over sixty-million book sales. With more than a hundred titles, Emma Darcy appeared regularly on the Waldenbooks bestseller lists in the U.S.A. and in the Nielson BookScan Top 100 chart in the U.K.
Wendy was born 28 November 1940 in Australia. Her sister was the novelist Maureen Mary (Miranda Lee). Her father was a country school teacher and brilliant sportsman. Her mother was a talented dressmaker. She obtained an Honours degree in Latin and initially worked as a high school English/French teacher. She married Frank Brennan, an Australian businessman born in 1936. She changed careers to computer programming before marriage and motherhood settled her into a community life. She was reputedly the first woman computer programmer in the southern hemisphere.
As voracious readers, the step to writing their own books seemed a natural progression and the challenge of creating exciting stories was soon highly addictive. They were published since 1983. In 1993, for the Emma Darcy pseudonym's 10th anniversary, they created the "Emma Darcy Award Contest" to encourage authors to finish their manuscripts. After the death of Frank Brennan in 1995, Wendy wrotes books on her own. She lived in a beachside property on the central coast of New South Wales, and liked to travel extensively to research settings and increase her experience of places and people.
Wendy Brennan passed away on December 21, 2020. She is survived by her children, grandchildren, and sister, writer Miranda Lee.
Wendy was born 28 November 1940 in Australia. Her sister was the novelist Maureen Mary (Miranda Lee). Her father was a country school teacher and brilliant sportsman. Her mother was a talented dressmaker. She obtained an Honours degree in Latin and initially worked as a high school English/French teacher. She married Frank Brennan, an Australian businessman born in 1936. She changed careers to computer programming before marriage and motherhood settled her into a community life. She was reputedly the first woman computer programmer in the southern hemisphere.
As voracious readers, the step to writing their own books seemed a natural progression and the challenge of creating exciting stories was soon highly addictive. They were published since 1983. In 1993, for the Emma Darcy pseudonym's 10th anniversary, they created the "Emma Darcy Award Contest" to encourage authors to finish their manuscripts. After the death of Frank Brennan in 1995, Wendy wrotes books on her own. She lived in a beachside property on the central coast of New South Wales, and liked to travel extensively to research settings and increase her experience of places and people.
Wendy Brennan passed away on December 21, 2020. She is survived by her children, grandchildren, and sister, writer Miranda Lee.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
June 26, 2018
Re Burning With Passion - Emma Darcy's 50th book is another fun and fluffy, pink sparkly rainbow unicorn HP outing with a charming amount of pure camp.
The story starts with the h realizing that being a full service personal assistant both in and out of the office isn't getting her any closer to her dream of a loving, sharing and caring relationship.
She has been her boss's lover for going on four months, he swept her off her feet and into bed with the same ruthless, organized tenacity that he runs his ergonomic furniture manufacturing firm. The H is very structured and adheres to a very set in stone schedule.
There is no scheduled time for chasing the h around his office during the day either. At work the H demands that liaison between the h and himself is never exhibited or mentioned. In fact, the H actually forbids interoffice romances. He put it in big letters in the employee handbook and to disregard the big letters in the employee handbook is generally considered an act that will get you booted out the door.
Still, the h is madly in love and only recently has come to believe that the H certainly doesn't act like he loves her back. Sadly, the h is slowly coming to realize that she is more a regularly scheduled convenience. Even worse, in her anxiousness over winning the H, she has allowed him to treat her that way.
The h decides that she may not be getting the H's love and devotion, but at least she can keep her dignity and self respect. She tests the H by asking him to break his rigid schedule and spend the day with her. The H rejects that offer and the h knows that their affair and probably her job is doomed.
That changes when the h gets to work, it is officially Valentine's Day and someone has delivered a beautiful dozen of roses and some lovely Beautiful perfume and products in a gift basket. The h immediately assumes that the H had them sent as a Valentine's surprise and decides to rethink her end of the line relationship stance.
Until the H sees the roses and the gift basket and angrily demands to know who sent them to the h. The h realizes that she really is done with the H and her job, but first there is a big meeting with some German businessmen who want to license the H's products.
In the rush of wowing over the roses and perfume, the h forgot to call the salesman who was supposed to be the bait for winning the German contract. As the h is typing out her resignation and dazzling the German's with her beauty and business brain, the h's mother calls in a huge snit fit.
It seems that Valentine's is also the h's parents 30th anniversary and the h's mother, who has decided OPINIONS about things, hysterically informs the h that the h's dad just walked out. Things have been a bit strained between the h's parents for awhile.
Her dad used to be a farmer, until a big property developer made an exceptional offer and the h's mother made the dad give up the farm and move to the city. The h's mother loves her new lifestyle, but the H's dad is missing his farm and his horses.
The h knows that if her dad went walkabout and fails to show for the big anniversary party, her mother will never, ever forgive him and his hiney will be toast. So the h promises her mother that she will come and try to sort things out. Tho seekritly the h thinks her snob slime slurper sister is probably exacerbating the entire situation and making things ten times worse.
The H comes storming in, as the h's exit line from the business meeting was a definite " I am done with you and your job moment". He is furious about the personal phone calls and puzzled as to why the h is dumping his neglectful self.
The h tells the H that he is a taker and only sees her as either an office machine or a horizontal stress reliever and she needs a real sharing relationship, so she is off to find one. Then the h's dad calls. The h's beloved pony Dobbins got badly hurt during the previous evening's storm and had to be put down.
The h is badly hurt and grieving, Dobbins was her BFF for over 13 years and she loved him a lot. Her dad also explains that the h's mother's insistence on selling the farm has caused him nothing but misery. He isn't into the jet set lifestyle they can now afford and he misses his farm, now he has nothing but time on his hands and it is getting him down.
The h is in tears and the H is shocked, she brushes him off as she races off to talk to her dad. As she is leaving for the last time, she tells the H that the roses and the perfume should have been from him, but he never thought beyond his own self enough to care about what the h might want or need.
The h goes to meet her dad in his temporary hotel room and much airing of angst, grief and marital grievances is done. Then the H shows up, he heard the h repeating the address on the phone, and he inadvertently gives the impression that he knows all about the h's parents marital meltdown and he encourages the h's dad to try and work things out.
Then the H declares that he is totally there to support and help the h, cause she is extremely important to him and they both go off to tackle the h's mother. The h's mother has been egged on by the slime pustule, envious sister and the h is having a hard time convincing her mother to forgive her father.
Then the H lets the truth about his and the h's sleeping arrangement's slip and the h's prudish mother demands that the h go get her father to deal with her tarty trampiness. The h immediately sends the H off to prep her dad for the big party and starts dealing with her mother's party preparations herself.
The stage is set when the H and the h's dad walk in right before the big gala starts. The h's dad goes all out on the grand romantic gestures showing he appreciates his wife and sings her a very devoted love song, to the h's mother's swooning delight.
The party kicks off and the H manages to tell off the h's nasty sister and then roofie kiss the h in the pantry. The kiss is so passionate on the Lurve Force Mojo scale that all the electricity in the house goes off.
The H made the h a vow of a week of celibacy to prove that he doesn't only want her for the horizontal mambo moments. The h is pleased and decides that they can focus on other aspects of their now reinstated relationship, but the temptation to throw their kit over the windmill and lurve it all up is very strong.
Eventually the lights get fixed, the party is swinging and the h's dad does one of the most hilarious "Your mother told me to tell you not to be a tarty tart" lectures ever. (He basically tells the h to be a tart if she wants to follow her heart and forget what her mother and snotty sister think.)
We also learn that the h's dad also has a little heart problem himself, and the reason that the h's mother demanded they sell the farm was that the doctor warned that the hard labor of farming would kill him. So the h decides that her parent's really do truly adore and love each other and she wants the same thing with the H.
The doorbell rings right after the h's decision and the H's biggest and most corrupt business rival shows up uninvited to cause big drama. He reveals that he was the one who sent the h the roses and the perfume and he insinuates that he and the h are having a huge affair and also that the h betrayed the H's business seekrits to him as well.
The H believes him and storms off. The evil OM, who isn't an OM at all, cause the h hates him, implies that the h is trampy tart and offers to pay her more than the H for all her "professional services." The h kicks him out and then has a mopey moment when she realizes the lonely H now believes she betrayed him.
The h isn't giving up tho, she goes into work Monday morning and with the helpful pointers from the LaToya Jackson Online Detective School flier, puzzles out that the receptionist and another wicked snot snarfing salesman are the seekrit selling culprits.
The receptionist got herself seduced by the married snot snarfer salesman and she is mortified and runs off. The H decides it is time for a lifestyle change and he is going to prove himself to the h. So they go off to buy the h a Clydesdale horse that she refuses to ride cause it is too tall and then a country estate to keep him on.
The h is worried that all the pent up Lurve Force Mojo tension is making the H a bit insane on the spending spree front, so she demands that they stop at a motel and have a boudoir bounce or ten to level the H out before he goes wild on the pricey country estate to house the Clydesdale.
The H and h declare their love, but the h had previously warned the H that the nematode dropping business rival had a person spying on the H and following him around.She also tells the H that the evil business guy specifically mentioned the H's mother - whom he has breakfast with at the same time every day and the H had a little panic moment.
We find out that the H's father died when there was a big furniture factory fire. The H's dad was trying to save the H's custom designs when the paints and lacquers blew up and sadly the H's dad was killed.
The H's mother was a beautiful woman who loved her husband so much, she ran into a blazing inferno to rescue him. She was horribly burned and is now a mournful recluse. The H loves his mother and her isolation pains him, so he keeps such a rigid schedule to give his mum a sense of routine and comfort that he hasn't rejected her, as he regularly visits her at the same times everyday.
The H and h now want to get married, the H gave a whole page full of reasons during his big "I adore you" speech. But the h wants to meet the H's mother first. The H is very resistant to the idea. His college sweetheart couldn't handle the way the H's mother looked, so they ended up breaking up when the H explained that he wouldn't abandon his mother for the ex.
The h insists the H and his mother give her a shot. So the H reluctantly sets up a meeting. The h wisely brings the H's mother a darling little silky Australian terrier and it's adorable cuteness totally wins the H's mother over.
The h doesn't think the mother looks terrible at all. She realizes that the H and his mum were so caught up in how she looked before, that they don't realize that to the rest of the world, the H's mother is just normal.
We get a final word from the h's mother, who calls the h to complain that the h's dad went out and bought himself a Ferrari, just like the H's. The h convinces her mother that her dad wants the car to take her mother out and show her off and the h's mother decides that her dad really does need the car, so since she always handles the money, she will go ahead and pay for it.
The h and H are happy that the h's parents are firmly reunited and even happier that the h's sister has her snotty, mercenary nose of joint. The h decides they are having a small wedding in six months, (so the h can convince the H's mother to come,) and we leave the two of them loving it up for the big pink sparky fluffy HEA HPlandia outing.
This one was riot to read between the h's thoughts, her parent's party drama and the H going nuts about horse buying when he decided he wasn't letting the h go cause he loved her madly. The h had a backbone and the H had a great "I love you" speech.
This one is high on action and low on angst and all the drama is of the funny kind, which makes it one to look out for when you want a more campy, but pretty romantic HP outing.
The story starts with the h realizing that being a full service personal assistant both in and out of the office isn't getting her any closer to her dream of a loving, sharing and caring relationship.
She has been her boss's lover for going on four months, he swept her off her feet and into bed with the same ruthless, organized tenacity that he runs his ergonomic furniture manufacturing firm. The H is very structured and adheres to a very set in stone schedule.
There is no scheduled time for chasing the h around his office during the day either. At work the H demands that liaison between the h and himself is never exhibited or mentioned. In fact, the H actually forbids interoffice romances. He put it in big letters in the employee handbook and to disregard the big letters in the employee handbook is generally considered an act that will get you booted out the door.
Still, the h is madly in love and only recently has come to believe that the H certainly doesn't act like he loves her back. Sadly, the h is slowly coming to realize that she is more a regularly scheduled convenience. Even worse, in her anxiousness over winning the H, she has allowed him to treat her that way.
The h decides that she may not be getting the H's love and devotion, but at least she can keep her dignity and self respect. She tests the H by asking him to break his rigid schedule and spend the day with her. The H rejects that offer and the h knows that their affair and probably her job is doomed.
That changes when the h gets to work, it is officially Valentine's Day and someone has delivered a beautiful dozen of roses and some lovely Beautiful perfume and products in a gift basket. The h immediately assumes that the H had them sent as a Valentine's surprise and decides to rethink her end of the line relationship stance.
Until the H sees the roses and the gift basket and angrily demands to know who sent them to the h. The h realizes that she really is done with the H and her job, but first there is a big meeting with some German businessmen who want to license the H's products.
In the rush of wowing over the roses and perfume, the h forgot to call the salesman who was supposed to be the bait for winning the German contract. As the h is typing out her resignation and dazzling the German's with her beauty and business brain, the h's mother calls in a huge snit fit.
It seems that Valentine's is also the h's parents 30th anniversary and the h's mother, who has decided OPINIONS about things, hysterically informs the h that the h's dad just walked out. Things have been a bit strained between the h's parents for awhile.
Her dad used to be a farmer, until a big property developer made an exceptional offer and the h's mother made the dad give up the farm and move to the city. The h's mother loves her new lifestyle, but the H's dad is missing his farm and his horses.
The h knows that if her dad went walkabout and fails to show for the big anniversary party, her mother will never, ever forgive him and his hiney will be toast. So the h promises her mother that she will come and try to sort things out. Tho seekritly the h thinks her snob slime slurper sister is probably exacerbating the entire situation and making things ten times worse.
The H comes storming in, as the h's exit line from the business meeting was a definite " I am done with you and your job moment". He is furious about the personal phone calls and puzzled as to why the h is dumping his neglectful self.
The h tells the H that he is a taker and only sees her as either an office machine or a horizontal stress reliever and she needs a real sharing relationship, so she is off to find one. Then the h's dad calls. The h's beloved pony Dobbins got badly hurt during the previous evening's storm and had to be put down.
The h is badly hurt and grieving, Dobbins was her BFF for over 13 years and she loved him a lot. Her dad also explains that the h's mother's insistence on selling the farm has caused him nothing but misery. He isn't into the jet set lifestyle they can now afford and he misses his farm, now he has nothing but time on his hands and it is getting him down.
The h is in tears and the H is shocked, she brushes him off as she races off to talk to her dad. As she is leaving for the last time, she tells the H that the roses and the perfume should have been from him, but he never thought beyond his own self enough to care about what the h might want or need.
The h goes to meet her dad in his temporary hotel room and much airing of angst, grief and marital grievances is done. Then the H shows up, he heard the h repeating the address on the phone, and he inadvertently gives the impression that he knows all about the h's parents marital meltdown and he encourages the h's dad to try and work things out.
Then the H declares that he is totally there to support and help the h, cause she is extremely important to him and they both go off to tackle the h's mother. The h's mother has been egged on by the slime pustule, envious sister and the h is having a hard time convincing her mother to forgive her father.
Then the H lets the truth about his and the h's sleeping arrangement's slip and the h's prudish mother demands that the h go get her father to deal with her tarty trampiness. The h immediately sends the H off to prep her dad for the big party and starts dealing with her mother's party preparations herself.
The stage is set when the H and the h's dad walk in right before the big gala starts. The h's dad goes all out on the grand romantic gestures showing he appreciates his wife and sings her a very devoted love song, to the h's mother's swooning delight.
The party kicks off and the H manages to tell off the h's nasty sister and then roofie kiss the h in the pantry. The kiss is so passionate on the Lurve Force Mojo scale that all the electricity in the house goes off.
The H made the h a vow of a week of celibacy to prove that he doesn't only want her for the horizontal mambo moments. The h is pleased and decides that they can focus on other aspects of their now reinstated relationship, but the temptation to throw their kit over the windmill and lurve it all up is very strong.
Eventually the lights get fixed, the party is swinging and the h's dad does one of the most hilarious "Your mother told me to tell you not to be a tarty tart" lectures ever. (He basically tells the h to be a tart if she wants to follow her heart and forget what her mother and snotty sister think.)
We also learn that the h's dad also has a little heart problem himself, and the reason that the h's mother demanded they sell the farm was that the doctor warned that the hard labor of farming would kill him. So the h decides that her parent's really do truly adore and love each other and she wants the same thing with the H.
The doorbell rings right after the h's decision and the H's biggest and most corrupt business rival shows up uninvited to cause big drama. He reveals that he was the one who sent the h the roses and the perfume and he insinuates that he and the h are having a huge affair and also that the h betrayed the H's business seekrits to him as well.
The H believes him and storms off. The evil OM, who isn't an OM at all, cause the h hates him, implies that the h is trampy tart and offers to pay her more than the H for all her "professional services." The h kicks him out and then has a mopey moment when she realizes the lonely H now believes she betrayed him.
The h isn't giving up tho, she goes into work Monday morning and with the helpful pointers from the LaToya Jackson Online Detective School flier, puzzles out that the receptionist and another wicked snot snarfing salesman are the seekrit selling culprits.
The receptionist got herself seduced by the married snot snarfer salesman and she is mortified and runs off. The H decides it is time for a lifestyle change and he is going to prove himself to the h. So they go off to buy the h a Clydesdale horse that she refuses to ride cause it is too tall and then a country estate to keep him on.
The h is worried that all the pent up Lurve Force Mojo tension is making the H a bit insane on the spending spree front, so she demands that they stop at a motel and have a boudoir bounce or ten to level the H out before he goes wild on the pricey country estate to house the Clydesdale.
The H and h declare their love, but the h had previously warned the H that the nematode dropping business rival had a person spying on the H and following him around.She also tells the H that the evil business guy specifically mentioned the H's mother - whom he has breakfast with at the same time every day and the H had a little panic moment.
We find out that the H's father died when there was a big furniture factory fire. The H's dad was trying to save the H's custom designs when the paints and lacquers blew up and sadly the H's dad was killed.
The H's mother was a beautiful woman who loved her husband so much, she ran into a blazing inferno to rescue him. She was horribly burned and is now a mournful recluse. The H loves his mother and her isolation pains him, so he keeps such a rigid schedule to give his mum a sense of routine and comfort that he hasn't rejected her, as he regularly visits her at the same times everyday.
The H and h now want to get married, the H gave a whole page full of reasons during his big "I adore you" speech. But the h wants to meet the H's mother first. The H is very resistant to the idea. His college sweetheart couldn't handle the way the H's mother looked, so they ended up breaking up when the H explained that he wouldn't abandon his mother for the ex.
The h insists the H and his mother give her a shot. So the H reluctantly sets up a meeting. The h wisely brings the H's mother a darling little silky Australian terrier and it's adorable cuteness totally wins the H's mother over.
The h doesn't think the mother looks terrible at all. She realizes that the H and his mum were so caught up in how she looked before, that they don't realize that to the rest of the world, the H's mother is just normal.
We get a final word from the h's mother, who calls the h to complain that the h's dad went out and bought himself a Ferrari, just like the H's. The h convinces her mother that her dad wants the car to take her mother out and show her off and the h's mother decides that her dad really does need the car, so since she always handles the money, she will go ahead and pay for it.
The h and H are happy that the h's parents are firmly reunited and even happier that the h's sister has her snotty, mercenary nose of joint. The h decides they are having a small wedding in six months, (so the h can convince the H's mother to come,) and we leave the two of them loving it up for the big pink sparky fluffy HEA HPlandia outing.
This one was riot to read between the h's thoughts, her parent's party drama and the H going nuts about horse buying when he decided he wasn't letting the h go cause he loved her madly. The h had a backbone and the H had a great "I love you" speech.
This one is high on action and low on angst and all the drama is of the funny kind, which makes it one to look out for when you want a more campy, but pretty romantic HP outing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 19, 2019
Rom Com is probably the best way to characterize the tone of this boss/secretary story. H/h are in a sexual relationship as well as working together. Hero wants to keep their affair private and casual. Heroine is tired of not know where she stands with him so on Valentine’s morning (and her parent’s 30th wedding anniversary) she issues an ultimatum – stay for breakfast or we’re through.
This sets off a chain of events that sees the hero scrambling to win back the heroine (and the German delegation that is thinking of buying his office furniture). The hero also has to reconcile the h’s parents, find out who is sabotaging his business, and find just the right horse to replace the heroine’s beloved pet.
Thankfully our hero is up to the job. He won me over by the end. Same with the heroine who stuck to her guns. Boogenhagen has all the details in her excellent review.
This sets off a chain of events that sees the hero scrambling to win back the heroine (and the German delegation that is thinking of buying his office furniture). The hero also has to reconcile the h’s parents, find out who is sabotaging his business, and find just the right horse to replace the heroine’s beloved pet.
Thankfully our hero is up to the job. He won me over by the end. Same with the heroine who stuck to her guns. Boogenhagen has all the details in her excellent review.
April 11, 2023
3.5*
This book changes tracks so fast that it gives one whiplash.
From a typical angst provoking cold-H/ insecure h opening scenes - to outlandish comic caper a minute rom-com - then some poignant family dramas on both sides - and finally we have our own Tommy-and-Tuppence mystery solving duo.
This book changes tracks so fast that it gives one whiplash.
From a typical angst provoking cold-H/ insecure h opening scenes - to outlandish comic caper a minute rom-com - then some poignant family dramas on both sides - and finally we have our own Tommy-and-Tuppence mystery solving duo.
August 16, 2018
This was crazy. Just kind of out there but lots of fun.
Can't add much to Boogehagen's review except when the hero decides to let loose he really lets loose. There was a madcap sensibility to the story after the heroine confronts the hero especially at the events with her family. Alert: incredibly irritating mother and bad sister alert that sadly rings true.
Had to laugh about the fit the heroine pitched when he told her mother they were having an affair.
By the way, the print is HUGE in the OpenLibrary version. Very quick read.
Can't add much to Boogehagen's review except when the hero decides to let loose he really lets loose. There was a madcap sensibility to the story after the heroine confronts the hero especially at the events with her family. Alert: incredibly irritating mother and bad sister alert that sadly rings true.
Had to laugh about the fit the heroine pitched when he told her mother they were having an affair.
By the way, the print is HUGE in the OpenLibrary version. Very quick read.
July 27, 2018
Boogenhagen said it all in her review. This was really sweet, but there was enough humor to keep it from being sickeningly saccharine. Fast paced and fun.
January 30, 2019
‘David, you haven’t told me you love me.’
‘Caitlin, I’m a seething inferno of love for you!’
"Burning with Passion" is the story of Caitlin and David.
The book begins on a Valentines day morning, when Caitlin realizes that her ongoing sexual relationship with her boss might be futile, with no future. She tries to tempt him in vain, is distracted by arrival of some surprising gifts, and soon ends things in a major blow-up..
She resigns, at the same time receiving the news that her parents, who were celebrating their 30th Anniversary might be separating, and that her beloved horse had to be put down!
Rushing to their aide while wallowing in sorrow, she never expects David to chase her, much less offer solution to all her problems..
A fast paced, interesting read with a super passionate couple, some interesting family dynamics, drama, loads of angst leading to a sweet HEA. The characters were extremely likable- the heroine was spunky and the hero was devoted. I liked both their families, and the evil competitor just made things all the more intriguing! Many laugh-out-loud, sobby-sob, yaaas and aww moments in this one.
Safe
4/5
‘Caitlin, I’m a seething inferno of love for you!’
"Burning with Passion" is the story of Caitlin and David.
The book begins on a Valentines day morning, when Caitlin realizes that her ongoing sexual relationship with her boss might be futile, with no future. She tries to tempt him in vain, is distracted by arrival of some surprising gifts, and soon ends things in a major blow-up..
She resigns, at the same time receiving the news that her parents, who were celebrating their 30th Anniversary might be separating, and that her beloved horse had to be put down!
Rushing to their aide while wallowing in sorrow, she never expects David to chase her, much less offer solution to all her problems..
A fast paced, interesting read with a super passionate couple, some interesting family dynamics, drama, loads of angst leading to a sweet HEA. The characters were extremely likable- the heroine was spunky and the hero was devoted. I liked both their families, and the evil competitor just made things all the more intriguing! Many laugh-out-loud, sobby-sob, yaaas and aww moments in this one.
Safe
4/5
May 23, 2023
Quick and funny!
April 9, 2023
I end up re-reading this book a fair amount, and I think it’s because the h has finally had enough of being treated like a dirty little secret and makes a break, whereupon the H loses his mind and starts pursuing her with a single-minded intensity that shows that he has finally realized what he was risking with his original rules about keeping their relationship private.
This story is unbalanced in terms of how much time is spent on his callousness and neglect at the beginning. They should’ve spent a little bit longer, and provided a few more incidents for her departure to have the most righteousness and for his groveling to be even more enjoyable. This book would’ve been a four-star one for sure if so.
This story is unbalanced in terms of how much time is spent on his callousness and neglect at the beginning. They should’ve spent a little bit longer, and provided a few more incidents for her departure to have the most righteousness and for his groveling to be even more enjoyable. This book would’ve been a four-star one for sure if so.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 9, 2011
Emma Darcy is one of the few HP writers who effectively uses the literary device in media res. She immerses the readers right away into the heart of the problem between the H/h but at the same time, she does not fail to impart the relevant background info on the characters. This is a credit to her dexterity as a writer.
Chapter 1 opens with an early morning scene in the heroine’s bedroom. Like an office automaton, the guy David is dressing up for work. Our heroine Caitlin on the other hand deliberately remains in bed, unclothed. At first, she coaxes him to do something spontaneous for a change but she eventually ends up goading him to declare his priorities. His response: he leaves. Thus, the conflict is set. As his lover and personal assistant, Caitlin has made him her entire world. But David has not made her his.
Their battle of wills escalates later at the workplace. Caitlin is deluged with Valentine Day gifts which she mistakes as groveling presents from David. A tricky business negotiation and an untimely family crisis push them to flashpoint and she then resigns and walks out.
Immediately, frantically and stupidly, David tries to make her reconsider with offers of a raise and better working conditions -- as if these were the cause of their current impasse. Her terse smackdown deserve standing ovation but her parting shot was best of all. When he asked who gave her the Valentine gifts, she replied with finality, “It should have been you.”
With this kind of beginning, I was so looking forward to a good read. But my beef with this book occurs halfway through the story. First, it got bogged down with secondary plots like corporate takeovers and familial problems. I understand that the relatives are tools to flesh out the H/h. Caitlin is portrayed as the mediator in her family; David comes out caring and protective with his mother. But the subplots are disproportionately drawn-out when one considers the general length of an HP book.
Secondly, the guy’s volte-face is too precipitate. In the morning, he’s all-business, cold and deliberate. Then, in the afternoon, he’s all-supportive, spontaneous and casual. The change is too drastic to be plausible. I firmly believe that the hero is exhibiting classic panic reaction to the departure and absence of the girl and he is bribing her to stay with promises of good behavior and material goods.
Lastly, in terms of romance, the hero’s actions speak more of appeasement rather than true love. There's a fine line between acceptable groveling and abased kowtowing and David has breached it. He accedes to every demands of Caitlin, such as quality-time and no-sex, in exchange for her return. Even his persistence over the horse Danny Boy is over-the-top.
Granting concessions to establish a truce and ceasefire may be advisable for Neville Chamberlain (and we all know how successful that was!). But among committed couples?! Nope. Doesn’t work.
Read with eyes wide open.
Chapter 1 opens with an early morning scene in the heroine’s bedroom. Like an office automaton, the guy David is dressing up for work. Our heroine Caitlin on the other hand deliberately remains in bed, unclothed. At first, she coaxes him to do something spontaneous for a change but she eventually ends up goading him to declare his priorities. His response: he leaves. Thus, the conflict is set. As his lover and personal assistant, Caitlin has made him her entire world. But David has not made her his.
Their battle of wills escalates later at the workplace. Caitlin is deluged with Valentine Day gifts which she mistakes as groveling presents from David. A tricky business negotiation and an untimely family crisis push them to flashpoint and she then resigns and walks out.
Immediately, frantically and stupidly, David tries to make her reconsider with offers of a raise and better working conditions -- as if these were the cause of their current impasse. Her terse smackdown deserve standing ovation but her parting shot was best of all. When he asked who gave her the Valentine gifts, she replied with finality, “It should have been you.”
With this kind of beginning, I was so looking forward to a good read. But my beef with this book occurs halfway through the story. First, it got bogged down with secondary plots like corporate takeovers and familial problems. I understand that the relatives are tools to flesh out the H/h. Caitlin is portrayed as the mediator in her family; David comes out caring and protective with his mother. But the subplots are disproportionately drawn-out when one considers the general length of an HP book.
Secondly, the guy’s volte-face is too precipitate. In the morning, he’s all-business, cold and deliberate. Then, in the afternoon, he’s all-supportive, spontaneous and casual. The change is too drastic to be plausible. I firmly believe that the hero is exhibiting classic panic reaction to the departure and absence of the girl and he is bribing her to stay with promises of good behavior and material goods.
Lastly, in terms of romance, the hero’s actions speak more of appeasement rather than true love. There's a fine line between acceptable groveling and abased kowtowing and David has breached it. He accedes to every demands of Caitlin, such as quality-time and no-sex, in exchange for her return. Even his persistence over the horse Danny Boy is over-the-top.
Granting concessions to establish a truce and ceasefire may be advisable for Neville Chamberlain (and we all know how successful that was!). But among committed couples?! Nope. Doesn’t work.
Read with eyes wide open.
January 31, 2019
2.75.
Cute and sweet, this was an easy read. It was safe and the intimate scenes were tastefully done. The H didn’t seem like a manho, but the h did come across as whiny. I know she had valid concerns, but she could have couched them differently than she did. I appreciate the lack of OP drama, but the characters and relationship were woefully underdeveloped. Given the short length, I didn’t expect everything to be resolved, but there were quite a few loose ends. I’d read this author again if I were in the mood for some brain candy.
Cute and sweet, this was an easy read. It was safe and the intimate scenes were tastefully done. The H didn’t seem like a manho, but the h did come across as whiny. I know she had valid concerns, but she could have couched them differently than she did. I appreciate the lack of OP drama, but the characters and relationship were woefully underdeveloped. Given the short length, I didn’t expect everything to be resolved, but there were quite a few loose ends. I’d read this author again if I were in the mood for some brain candy.
May 25, 2023
If you intend to read this as a straight-forward romance, it fails. So many times I would have hit the so-called H "upside the head", and even the h, too.
On the other hand, if you read it through a rom-com set of eye glasses, it can be fun reading.
On the other hand, if you read it through a rom-com set of eye glasses, it can be fun reading.
July 25, 2018
A lovely story.
The H was having an affair with his secretary, the h. On Valentine’s Day she decides to shake things up by asking for more than he was willing to give. That did not go well and started a day from hell.
The H and h got into a disagreement leading the h to the decision that she needed to move on from him.
Her parents got into a fight and her dad walked out on the night of their thirtieth anniversary dinner party.
Her childhood horse (and best friend) had to be put down due to illness. (Shades of Ole Yeller for me)
A much needed contract with a German company almost went awry.
The H’s biggest rival showed up at the h’s parents party with insinuations that the h was his valentine, causing the H to lose his sh!t.
The rival let it slip that he was out to devastate the H buy using his mother against him.
There was a lot going on and the h felt like she was Nancy Drew trying to solve it all. The best part of the book IMHO was meeting the H’s mom. I loved both the H and for the way that was done. The author handled it beautifully and it warmed the cockles of my heart.
This one was really wonderful.
The H was having an affair with his secretary, the h. On Valentine’s Day she decides to shake things up by asking for more than he was willing to give. That did not go well and started a day from hell.
The H and h got into a disagreement leading the h to the decision that she needed to move on from him.
Her parents got into a fight and her dad walked out on the night of their thirtieth anniversary dinner party.
Her childhood horse (and best friend) had to be put down due to illness. (Shades of Ole Yeller for me)
A much needed contract with a German company almost went awry.
The H’s biggest rival showed up at the h’s parents party with insinuations that the h was his valentine, causing the H to lose his sh!t.
The rival let it slip that he was out to devastate the H buy using his mother against him.
There was a lot going on and the h felt like she was Nancy Drew trying to solve it all. The best part of the book IMHO was meeting the H’s mom. I loved both the H and for the way that was done. The author handled it beautifully and it warmed the cockles of my heart.
This one was really wonderful.
February 17, 2021
Slightly generous rating, 4-4.5 would be more like it. But you get a feel good story which does exactly that - made me feel good!!
A frothy frilly affair around Valentine's Day is what I was expecting. But this one actually makes Valentine's Day the biggest day of reckoning in the girl's life. She gets hit my multiple reality checks in her life !!!
Her boss cum sex buddy is not showing any signs of closeness beyond the bedroom. She tries to alter the equation and fails. He actually walks out, to attend a meeting, without a backward glance.
When she reaches office, an important client deal is in the process of getting screwed. But she gets an SOS call from her mother at the same time. Saying her father has walked out of their marriage, on their 30th wedding anniversary. Double whammy !
And then her father calls to say her favourite pet pony died that morning in an accident. Bam!!!! Our poor girl is whacked. So much for Valentine's Day !!!!!!!!
But this is where the story takes a delightful turn. The girl doesn't sit and mope around. She first saves the business deal (in a dramatic, silly way), then throws her resignation on the hero's face (the sex buddy, remember?) and walks out to salvage her parent's marriage.
Now that is a reality check for our macho man here. He doesn't expect his docile secretary to walk off just like that! He is forced to re-evaluate their relationship. Which he does in record time. Because, close on the heels of the heroine reaching her parents, he comes following. And does an admirable job in helping her out.
After that, the way the two of them build a real, tangible relationship out of their mere sexual liaison of the past, is the crux of the story.
Well done. Lot of spunk, odd smattering of humor, good passionate dialog, a decent sex scene. And loads of entertainment for the reader.
A frothy frilly affair around Valentine's Day is what I was expecting. But this one actually makes Valentine's Day the biggest day of reckoning in the girl's life. She gets hit my multiple reality checks in her life !!!
Her boss cum sex buddy is not showing any signs of closeness beyond the bedroom. She tries to alter the equation and fails. He actually walks out, to attend a meeting, without a backward glance.
When she reaches office, an important client deal is in the process of getting screwed. But she gets an SOS call from her mother at the same time. Saying her father has walked out of their marriage, on their 30th wedding anniversary. Double whammy !
And then her father calls to say her favourite pet pony died that morning in an accident. Bam!!!! Our poor girl is whacked. So much for Valentine's Day !!!!!!!!
But this is where the story takes a delightful turn. The girl doesn't sit and mope around. She first saves the business deal (in a dramatic, silly way), then throws her resignation on the hero's face (the sex buddy, remember?) and walks out to salvage her parent's marriage.
Now that is a reality check for our macho man here. He doesn't expect his docile secretary to walk off just like that! He is forced to re-evaluate their relationship. Which he does in record time. Because, close on the heels of the heroine reaching her parents, he comes following. And does an admirable job in helping her out.
After that, the way the two of them build a real, tangible relationship out of their mere sexual liaison of the past, is the crux of the story.
Well done. Lot of spunk, odd smattering of humor, good passionate dialog, a decent sex scene. And loads of entertainment for the reader.
May 27, 2014
A wonderful delightful read. Loved the interaction between them and their families. The passion/love between them was sweet but sexy. Well written and a joy to read.
December 2, 2014
It had its moments. Esp those involving her parents.
February 15, 2018
Terrible. He doesn't love her, he's only appeasing her so he can still get laid by his efficient secretary.
April 8, 2021
3.5 smooth read
October 27, 2023
There IS a good story under this books bad choices. But since this book is what we got it's not good. Skip.
March 1, 2025
Rarely read this author. I started book a couple weeks ago, picked up to finish and realized I remembered nothing.
March 7, 2023
cw: loss of parent through fire, burn victim
I actually gave it a one star for a stupid reason but I won’t change my rating so…
I actually gave it a one star for a stupid reason but I won’t change my rating so…
July 22, 2022
February the fourteenth...a day made for romance...'
St Valentine's Day is a special day for lovers all over the world. And this year it has a special significance for Caitlin Ross. This year she is sure that David Hartley will admit he loves her.
But Caitlin has forgotten that Valentine's Day casts its own special magic. The surprises she receives, and the shocks that lie in store for David, make this a february the fourteenth they will never, ever forget...
St Valentine's Day is a special day for lovers all over the world. And this year it has a special significance for Caitlin Ross. This year she is sure that David Hartley will admit he loves her.
But Caitlin has forgotten that Valentine's Day casts its own special magic. The surprises she receives, and the shocks that lie in store for David, make this a february the fourteenth they will never, ever forget...
July 4, 2019
Burning with Passion
This all started with Valentine's day. She was not only the boss's PA in the office but in his bedroom. But she wants more. He is unwilling to commit. But what happens when she quits? And what happens when her family get involved?
This all started with Valentine's day. She was not only the boss's PA in the office but in his bedroom. But she wants more. He is unwilling to commit. But what happens when she quits? And what happens when her family get involved?
February 6, 2020
Mostly it was boring. The pacing was odd, I never emotionally connected with the characters. Largely angst and drama free. Just meh.
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