What do you think?
Rate this book
عصفورة النار
Billionaires always get what they want!
Travis Black might be darkly, broodingly handsome, but as far as Beth is concerned he's also very infuriating! What would a rich, successful and charming man like him want with a quiet, vulnerable and oh-so-ordinary woman like her? Travis soon makes that abundantly clear.
However, Beth isn't into casual affairs--so this is one billionaire who won't get what he wants. Or will he?
Mass Market Paperback
First published December 1, 2006
37 people are currently reading
118 people want to read
About the author
Helen Brooks
406 books119 followersRita Bradshaw was born on 1949 in Northampton, England, where she was educated as a good Christian. She met Clive, her husband, at the age of 16 andnow the magic is still there. They have three lovely children, Cara, Faye, and Benjamin, and have always had a menagerie of animals in the house, which at the present is confined to two endearing and very comical dogs who would make a great double act on TV! The children, friends, and pets all keep the house buzzing and the food cupboards empty but Helen wouldn't have it any other way. She still lives today in Northampton with her family. Although having enjoyed some wonderful holidays abroad she has never been tempted to live anywhere else, although she rather likes the idea of a holiday home close to the sea one day.
Being a committed Christian and fervent animal lover she finds spare time is always at a premium, but long walks in the countryside with her husband and dogs, meals out followed by the cinema or theatre, reading, swimming, and having friends over for dinner are all fitted in somehow. She also enjoys sitting in her wonderfully therapeutic, rambling old garden in the sun with a glass of red wine, (under the guise of resting while thinking of course!)
For years, she was a secretary. She began writing in 1990 as she approached that milestone of a birthday 40! She realized her two teenage ambitions (writing a novel and learning to drive) had been lost amid babies and hectic family life, so set about resurrecting them.
Her first novel was for Mills and Boon and was accepted after one rewrite in 1992 as Helen Brooks, and she passed her driving test (the former was a joy and the latter an unmitigated nightmare!) She has written 50 novels as well as several sagas as Rita Bradshaw.
Since becoming a full-time writer she has found her occupation one of pure joy and often surprised when her characters develop a mind of their own but she loves exploring what makes people tick and finds the old adage "truth is stranger than fiction" to be absolutely true. She would love to hear from any readers care of Mills & Boon.
Being a committed Christian and fervent animal lover she finds spare time is always at a premium, but long walks in the countryside with her husband and dogs, meals out followed by the cinema or theatre, reading, swimming, and having friends over for dinner are all fitted in somehow. She also enjoys sitting in her wonderfully therapeutic, rambling old garden in the sun with a glass of red wine, (under the guise of resting while thinking of course!)
For years, she was a secretary. She began writing in 1990 as she approached that milestone of a birthday 40! She realized her two teenage ambitions (writing a novel and learning to drive) had been lost amid babies and hectic family life, so set about resurrecting them.
Her first novel was for Mills and Boon and was accepted after one rewrite in 1992 as Helen Brooks, and she passed her driving test (the former was a joy and the latter an unmitigated nightmare!) She has written 50 novels as well as several sagas as Rita Bradshaw.
Since becoming a full-time writer she has found her occupation one of pure joy and often surprised when her characters develop a mind of their own but she loves exploring what makes people tick and finds the old adage "truth is stranger than fiction" to be absolutely true. She would love to hear from any readers care of Mills & Boon.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
April 21, 2018
The heroine is a cranky little thing as well as being something of an idiot, a cranky one. In fact, she even admits that she’s a little bitchy, but she has good reason to be. Her pretty boy ex-husband not only cheated on her, but had a long term family stashed away as well as a couple of other women. She’s confronted by the other woman, and does not pass Go but gets divorced immediately.
After a tiny little emotional breakdown the heroine decides to take some time off in a pretty little village in Shropshire with her awesome dog Harvey.
Shropshire
Harvey, the bon vivant. Love the crossed paws as if he was thinking, “Get your act together and get me a Milk Bone while you’re at it, woman!”
There she meets the hero and his two female monster dogs.
and he’s a pretty nice guy. No, not by HP standards which have the bar set way too low if there even is a bar. He’s just on all around hunky, interested guy with a sense of humor. Annnnnd, we have a hero that actually pursues the heroine with humor and charm without thinking how, if he could just have sex with her, it would get her out of his system. Read this book for the hero.
He plays the long con when she shows she is not interested and never will be in a relationship.
You see, the truth of the matter is that sexually you’re not my type, Beth, but I find you interesting as a person. And that’s a compliment, incidentally,’ he added pleasantly. ‘There’s few people, men or women, I find interesting.’
Well played, hunky hero.
She gets a little piqued.
All the time she’d had the idea he fancied her, he’d obviously been feeling sorry for her. She wanted to fall on the floor and have a full scale paddy.
I’m not quite sure what a full scale paddy, but I assume it is close to a conniption or a hissy fit.
Nice romance with romantic things like picnics, long walks, some smoky passion but little to no sex.
One HUGE aggravation! Spay and neuter your dogs, you idjits.
Helen Brooks abandons a lot of the tropes that drive us crazy. The heroine's sister is nice and supportive and doesn't sabotage her sister. The heroine doesn't try and rationalize her creep's bad behavior, etc. HB doesn’t curb the British colloquialisms either which was fun for this Anglophile. The “Aga-saga gossip”, the “full paddy”, and who is Neddy? I know Noddy, but don’t know Neddy.
After a tiny little emotional breakdown the heroine decides to take some time off in a pretty little village in Shropshire with her awesome dog Harvey.
Shropshire
Harvey, the bon vivant. Love the crossed paws as if he was thinking, “Get your act together and get me a Milk Bone while you’re at it, woman!”
There she meets the hero and his two female monster dogs.
and he’s a pretty nice guy. No, not by HP standards which have the bar set way too low if there even is a bar. He’s just on all around hunky, interested guy with a sense of humor. Annnnnd, we have a hero that actually pursues the heroine with humor and charm without thinking how, if he could just have sex with her, it would get her out of his system. Read this book for the hero.
He plays the long con when she shows she is not interested and never will be in a relationship.
You see, the truth of the matter is that sexually you’re not my type, Beth, but I find you interesting as a person. And that’s a compliment, incidentally,’ he added pleasantly. ‘There’s few people, men or women, I find interesting.’
Well played, hunky hero.
She gets a little piqued.
All the time she’d had the idea he fancied her, he’d obviously been feeling sorry for her. She wanted to fall on the floor and have a full scale paddy.
I’m not quite sure what a full scale paddy, but I assume it is close to a conniption or a hissy fit.
Nice romance with romantic things like picnics, long walks, some smoky passion but little to no sex.
One HUGE aggravation! Spay and neuter your dogs, you idjits.
Helen Brooks abandons a lot of the tropes that drive us crazy. The heroine's sister is nice and supportive and doesn't sabotage her sister. The heroine doesn't try and rationalize her creep's bad behavior, etc. HB doesn’t curb the British colloquialisms either which was fun for this Anglophile. The “Aga-saga gossip”, the “full paddy”, and who is Neddy? I know Noddy, but don’t know Neddy.
April 25, 2019
I will remember this one for the fact that two intelligent, successful and educated people somehow couldn't figure out that letting their unspayed dogs run wild would end up in a litter of puppies down the line. *face palm*
September 24, 2017
"The Billionaire's Marriage Mission" is the story of Beth and Travis.
Basically Beth is cheated on by her ex husband, and has a breakdown post divorce. To get some rest, she takes a cottage in a secluded area with her dog Harvey, and ends up meeting Travis.
Now let me say, once again the hero was BOMB. He was kind, caring, gentle, not overbearing, gives the heroine space and time develop her feelings for him, does not pressure her for physical intimacies yet makes her realize the truth.
The h on the other hand is wallowing in self pity, initially being mean and later pushing away the hero even when he confesses his love. I really wanted someone to yell at her "get over it" as even the H went through shit but she was too dramatic about her ex.
GAH. If it had a less stubborn and stronger heroine, this would have been perfect.
Safe
3.5/5
P.S. Extra 1/2 star for the puppy love!
Basically Beth is cheated on by her ex husband, and has a breakdown post divorce. To get some rest, she takes a cottage in a secluded area with her dog Harvey, and ends up meeting Travis.
Now let me say, once again the hero was BOMB. He was kind, caring, gentle, not overbearing, gives the heroine space and time develop her feelings for him, does not pressure her for physical intimacies yet makes her realize the truth.
The h on the other hand is wallowing in self pity, initially being mean and later pushing away the hero even when he confesses his love. I really wanted someone to yell at her "get over it" as even the H went through shit but she was too dramatic about her ex.
GAH. If it had a less stubborn and stronger heroine, this would have been perfect.
Safe
3.5/5
P.S. Extra 1/2 star for the puppy love!
April 21, 2017
Leído el 28/09/2010
Argumento:
Los millonarios siempre consiguen lo que desean… y él no era ninguna excepción.
Travis Black era increíblemente guapo, pero también podía llegar a resultar odioso por esa manía suya de aparecer donde menos se le esperaba.
Era evidente que ella no era su tipo. ¿Qué iba a hacer un hombre rico y encantador como él con una mujer tímida y vulnerable como ella? Travis no tardó en responder a la pregunta.
El problema era que Beth no tenía intención de tener una aventura… por lo que parecía que, por una vez, aquel millonario no iba a conseguir lo que deseaba. ¿O quizá sí?
Argumento:
Los millonarios siempre consiguen lo que desean… y él no era ninguna excepción.
Travis Black era increíblemente guapo, pero también podía llegar a resultar odioso por esa manía suya de aparecer donde menos se le esperaba.
Era evidente que ella no era su tipo. ¿Qué iba a hacer un hombre rico y encantador como él con una mujer tímida y vulnerable como ella? Travis no tardó en responder a la pregunta.
El problema era que Beth no tenía intención de tener una aventura… por lo que parecía que, por una vez, aquel millonario no iba a conseguir lo que deseaba. ¿O quizá sí?
June 12, 2022
He is a fairy tale prince.
It’s not a whirlwind romance. He courts her for months because she is afraid to commit after she has been betrayed by her ex-husband. The romance felt slow, tame and difficult.
He’s the man women dream of, so that made it good.
It’s not a whirlwind romance. He courts her for months because she is afraid to commit after she has been betrayed by her ex-husband. The romance felt slow, tame and difficult.
He’s the man women dream of, so that made it good.
September 30, 2023
Get your pets fixed, people!!!
Probably not quite 4 stars but the H was great and this is a true romance. They even dated!
Unlike 90% of the HPs out there the H wants to commit and love and marry but the h is terrified of making another bad choice. Nice to see the switcheroo.
Probably not quite 4 stars but the H was great and this is a true romance. They even dated!
Unlike 90% of the HPs out there the H wants to commit and love and marry but the h is terrified of making another bad choice. Nice to see the switcheroo.
November 22, 2011
I really adored this book. Simply put, it was so sweet and it really showed how amazing love was. Throughout the book, I was touched by how much Travis loved Beth. Though it wasn’t specifically mentioned, the way he treated her showed me the depth of his love for her. And for some reason she just couldn’t feel it. But I’ll get into that later! Overall, I really enjoyed reading the book. Though some parts were a little slow here and there, I found that the good parts of the book made the entire reading experience an amazing one.
Let’s talk a little about the characters first! Travis is apparently a billionaire, though this isn’t really important. It was never actually mentioned. Which brings me to the point of the title. I think its so inappropriate! I mean, the book and the title has no link at all. Like zero. Travis is rich, yes, but I got the impression he wasn’t as rich as a billionaire. And he wasn’t explicitly chasing Beth for marriage. He loved her yes, and I’m sure he was hoping that she would fall in love with him and eventually marry him. But it wasn’t a mission at all, as the title stated! Haha I can’t think of any better title, just felt that this title was very … Misleading. Okay! Back to Travis:) I loved his character. He isn’t like other HP guys. They can be hot, aloof, cold, enigmatic, rich, doesn’t want a relationship, doesn’t trust women, super experienced… You get my point. But Travis was just about the opposite of that. He was sweet, kind, patient, helpful, had a great sense of humor, friendly, just about every girl’s dream guy! Not that I know so much about that! And he’s so freaking hot too! Especially during the car scene. OMG I was like dying when he was kinda expressing his love for her?
Beth was an interesting character. I liked her from the start, her unwillingness to get so quick into another relationship and not wanting things to go too fast making me appreciate her kind of character. Its cos many times females are kinda quick to fall into another man’s arms after a bad relationship or sth, and the impact of the bad relationship not affecting them in the least. This way, its really more realistic and I can empathise with the character more! But somehow, as the book went on, I just couldn’t bring myself to like her anymore. I mean, its like she just kept pushing him away and I just couldn’t stand it. He loved her so damn much, but she just couldn’t see it, couldn’t feel it. She had a long enough time to get over her hurt. What he said to her was so true. She seriously had to stop self-pitying. She had to stop living in the past and live in the future. Needless to say, she did do that in the end!
Overall, the book was very well-written and it was very convincing and believable. I really enjoyed reading the book. Though the beginning bits of the book was rather slow and boring, the rest of the book more than made up for it! I loved it when they both finally confessed they loved each other. And what Beth did in the end made me admire her again. I mean, she had the courage to . It’s kinda pretty amazing!
I remember my favorite part was the wedding. Nothing much was really said, but the thing that truly touched my heart was when the book mentioned about the look on Travis’ face as he looked at Beth walking down the aisle. I thought it had to be the most beautiful thing ever. I can just imagine it. All that love shining in his eyes, all that passion for her! Sigh, it really makes me want to be in love, for someone to look at me that way. Gah, I have to stop! Sorry I didn’t sleep the whole night, I’m kinda high right now!
So all in all this was a great book, and I really did love it! It just epitomized what love is all about and that really is what romance novels should be about.
Let’s talk a little about the characters first! Travis is apparently a billionaire, though this isn’t really important. It was never actually mentioned. Which brings me to the point of the title. I think its so inappropriate! I mean, the book and the title has no link at all. Like zero. Travis is rich, yes, but I got the impression he wasn’t as rich as a billionaire. And he wasn’t explicitly chasing Beth for marriage. He loved her yes, and I’m sure he was hoping that she would fall in love with him and eventually marry him. But it wasn’t a mission at all, as the title stated! Haha I can’t think of any better title, just felt that this title was very … Misleading. Okay! Back to Travis:) I loved his character. He isn’t like other HP guys. They can be hot, aloof, cold, enigmatic, rich, doesn’t want a relationship, doesn’t trust women, super experienced… You get my point. But Travis was just about the opposite of that. He was sweet, kind, patient, helpful, had a great sense of humor, friendly, just about every girl’s dream guy! Not that I know so much about that! And he’s so freaking hot too! Especially during the car scene. OMG I was like dying when he was kinda expressing his love for her?
Beth was an interesting character. I liked her from the start, her unwillingness to get so quick into another relationship and not wanting things to go too fast making me appreciate her kind of character. Its cos many times females are kinda quick to fall into another man’s arms after a bad relationship or sth, and the impact of the bad relationship not affecting them in the least. This way, its really more realistic and I can empathise with the character more! But somehow, as the book went on, I just couldn’t bring myself to like her anymore. I mean, its like she just kept pushing him away and I just couldn’t stand it. He loved her so damn much, but she just couldn’t see it, couldn’t feel it. She had a long enough time to get over her hurt. What he said to her was so true. She seriously had to stop self-pitying. She had to stop living in the past and live in the future. Needless to say, she did do that in the end!
Overall, the book was very well-written and it was very convincing and believable. I really enjoyed reading the book. Though the beginning bits of the book was rather slow and boring, the rest of the book more than made up for it! I loved it when they both finally confessed they loved each other. And what Beth did in the end made me admire her again. I mean, she had the courage to . It’s kinda pretty amazing!
I remember my favorite part was the wedding. Nothing much was really said, but the thing that truly touched my heart was when the book mentioned about the look on Travis’ face as he looked at Beth walking down the aisle. I thought it had to be the most beautiful thing ever. I can just imagine it. All that love shining in his eyes, all that passion for her! Sigh, it really makes me want to be in love, for someone to look at me that way. Gah, I have to stop! Sorry I didn’t sleep the whole night, I’m kinda high right now!
So all in all this was a great book, and I really did love it! It just epitomized what love is all about and that really is what romance novels should be about.
August 9, 2021
It's always fascinating to read the Harlequin Presents novels by the authors who have written enough HP books that you can tell their editors basically shrug and say "meh, we'll throw it in there, go for it." The hero's billionaire-dom is basically completely irrelevant and the entire plot of the book is the heroine, an architect (not that it matters), is sulking in a cottage over the end of her marriage to a complete jackass, while the hero pursues her and she tries to pretend she doesn't want to bang him senseless. It's quite sweet, honestly, but bears no resemblance to the back cover copy or what I was expecting.
January 11, 2024
Sinceramente no esperaba que me gustara así, está bien que es una historia muy pero muy sencilla pero de todas formas me pareció muy bonita y linda. Tenemos a un personaje masculino que aunque hacía cosas que no me parecían del todo correcta, lo compensaba con toda la compresión y el querer ayudar a la protagonista.
May 7, 2017
This was an ok read, as is usual with Helen Brooks, the hero is besotted from the start but has to work through the baggage the heroine carries with her. He did a good job. The heroine was a little self-pitying but she went though a tough betrayal.
March 10, 2025
I don’t know how Helen Brooks’ books fit the HP category, but I don’t worry about it much. I just enjoy the Britishisms (vest tops, instant coffee, etc). Yes, the heroine is a bit of a pill but this just gives an opportunity for the H to shine. What a wonderful guy. Someone to sigh over.
April 3, 2022
PERFECT!!!!!!
January 11, 2018
416 عصفورة النار (هيلين بروكس) The Billionaire's Marriage Mission
روايات احلام
قد يكون ترا. بلاك غاية في الوسامة لكنه غاية في الازعاج ايضا فهو يظهر دائما في الاوقات غير المناسبة واكثر ما يزعج بيث هو نظراته العميقة التي تذكرها في كل لحظة بأنها امرأة ولكن من الواضح أنها ليست الصنف الذي يحبه. فما عساه هذا الثري والناضج يريد من فتاة هادئة تعيش حياة رتيبة ؟هذه المرة قد لايحصل المليونيرعلى مبتغاه.أو ربما هناك مفاجأة!
روايات احلام
قد يكون ترا. بلاك غاية في الوسامة لكنه غاية في الازعاج ايضا فهو يظهر دائما في الاوقات غير المناسبة واكثر ما يزعج بيث هو نظراته العميقة التي تذكرها في كل لحظة بأنها امرأة ولكن من الواضح أنها ليست الصنف الذي يحبه. فما عساه هذا الثري والناضج يريد من فتاة هادئة تعيش حياة رتيبة ؟هذه المرة قد لايحصل المليونيرعلى مبتغاه.أو ربما هناك مفاجأة!
September 28, 2009
While a good story when considered in a vacuum, the fact that it was the exact same story as "His Christmas Bride" really ruined the stories for me. I mean, divorcee left destitute by two-timing ex-husband is similar enough. To have both heroines' parents die premature accidental deaths as well is just too much. The same meet cute, the same "I don't want to have sex and fall in love with you because my ex-husband ruined me on men" prevarication, it was the same story with the names changed.
February 5, 2012
A good story. A little tame for a HP, it should have been a HR. I seem to like the Helen Brook's heroes more than her heroines. The author likes to trot out very similar character situations in her books too. In this book, the heroine has a loser ex-husband like in His Christmas Bride HP 2689.
March 8, 2013
This is the few times where the H is the tease instead of the h. Also, the scenes, especially the ending is so cheesy for me, that it is quite unbelievable. I cried on some good parts, so I will give points on that.
January 5, 2014
Forgettable; thankfully borrowed from the library. Sweet, wonderful, Travis to scared Beth. Very straightforward.
There's not much in terms of learning more about Travis, his work, etc. Aside from Beth's thoughts and reaction to Travis, I did not know much about her either.
There's not much in terms of learning more about Travis, his work, etc. Aside from Beth's thoughts and reaction to Travis, I did not know much about her either.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 2, 2009
DNF - glad it was from the library and easily returned.
August 17, 2015
It was ok, not my favourite book found it lacking something but the stuff about Harvey the dog made me laugh, loved the stuff he got up to so brings the book up to 3 Stars.
Read
May 30, 2011not enough romance for me
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews