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At No Man's Command
The shock engagement of the century! It looks as if our favourite tearaway, the notorious Aiesha Adams, is trying to change her spots. Inside sources have revealed that not only is she currently holed up in the Scottish countryside with the gorgeous aristocrat James Challender, but the pair are secretly engaged! We've always had a soft spot for Aiesha, and with rumours of her unhappy childhood trailing her footsteps wherever she goes, we knew her wild streak hid something more. But we thought Aiesha and James were sworn enemies...Perhaps when there are fireworks outside the bedroom, the sparks are just too impossible to resist! Discover more at www.millsandboon.co.uk/melaniemilburne
256 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2014
28 people are currently reading
134 people want to read
About the author
Melanie Milburne
1,142 books391 followersI grew up on a small farm on the outskirts of Sydney and as a keen horse rider, often competed in local gymkhanas and even broke in a few horses from time to time. As I was surrounded by animals, I decided at an early age to become a nurse, however I couldn’t stand the sight of blood and so opted for a career in teaching. It’s a bit ironic that I married a surgeon.
I read my first Mills & Boon novel when I was 17 and that encouraged me to continue reading romance novels; the lure of the tall dark handsome hero, who in reality I fell in love with and knew I was going to marry on our second date! After marrying a year later, we moved to Scotland with our six week old baby so my husband could work and study for his MD in surgery. After the birth of our second son we came back to Australia to settle in Tasmania.
I went back to University and up-graded my teaching diploma to a degree and then went on to do a Masters but still I felt as if something was missing. I sat down one day and began writing and everything clicked into place - I had finally found ‘my brilliant career’! I used to write from instinct rather than a specific plan, but now, so many books later I find a loose plan doesn't go astray. An idea will pop into my head, sometimes it will be just a simple phrase or a what if question and I'm away.
Writing is a skill that can be learned and the best way to learn it is to read and to write. So many people feel they have a novel in them and very probably they are right-the only trick is to get it out. My advice to ‘would be’ writers is to write, write, and write even more. Carry a notebook at all times and jot down ideas. And like any other activity the more you do, the more it feels comfortable.
I hope you enjoy my stories and look forward to hearing from you.
I read my first Mills & Boon novel when I was 17 and that encouraged me to continue reading romance novels; the lure of the tall dark handsome hero, who in reality I fell in love with and knew I was going to marry on our second date! After marrying a year later, we moved to Scotland with our six week old baby so my husband could work and study for his MD in surgery. After the birth of our second son we came back to Australia to settle in Tasmania.
I went back to University and up-graded my teaching diploma to a degree and then went on to do a Masters but still I felt as if something was missing. I sat down one day and began writing and everything clicked into place - I had finally found ‘my brilliant career’! I used to write from instinct rather than a specific plan, but now, so many books later I find a loose plan doesn't go astray. An idea will pop into my head, sometimes it will be just a simple phrase or a what if question and I'm away.
Writing is a skill that can be learned and the best way to learn it is to read and to write. So many people feel they have a novel in them and very probably they are right-the only trick is to get it out. My advice to ‘would be’ writers is to write, write, and write even more. Carry a notebook at all times and jot down ideas. And like any other activity the more you do, the more it feels comfortable.
I hope you enjoy my stories and look forward to hearing from you.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
January 11, 2015
This was definitely a unique Harlequin Presents. Aiesha really is a bad girl. She's not a very nice person, and while I felt sympathy for her, at first, she was not easy to like. As time went along, it was clear that her outrageous behavior and caustic personality was a defense mechanism against the deprived nature of her childhood and all its attendant disappointments. She used sex as a weapon, and I'm not ever a fan of that kind of behavior. At the same time, it was refreshing to have a bad heroine and a nice hero. Milburne flipped the usual HP script around, giving Aiesha many of the HP hero traits. I think it would have been cooler if she was independently wealthy so that 'gold digger' aspect was not part of the equation.
The sexuality was a lot more blatant in this book, probably because Aiesha is quite sexually experienced and rather callused about sex. James tends to be more circumspect about sex, although he definitely knows what he's doing in the bed. I would have loved to see him as an inexperienced hero, which would have made the role reversal more thorough. Although James does have a condemning attitude towards Aiesha initially, I really did respect and like him. He was seriously harmed emotionally by Aiesha's antics ten years ago, and had a reason to be angry. I liked that he was able to put that behind him and evaluate Aiesha more thoroughly and he had learned to see past her offensive behavior and sex kitten armor to the wounded woman underneath.
The ending was pretty cool. Aiesha gets her dream come true and her man, and realizes that she doesn't have to be ashamed of her childhood, because none of that is her fault. At the same time, I think she did learn that treating people badly because of what she'd been deprived of wasn't good behavior either.
By the end of this book, I did believe that Aiesha and James truly loved each other, and were more than willing to take a risk and go after a life together, regardless of what had taken place in the past. James showed that he was for her and she showed that she loved him in a very demonstrative way.
I would give this four stars. It was well written and thoughtful. Despite the way it seemed, this is a very angsty and rather pathos-inducing. It made me feel a bit melancholy after I finished it, so that's why I didn't rate it higher.
The sexuality was a lot more blatant in this book, probably because Aiesha is quite sexually experienced and rather callused about sex. James tends to be more circumspect about sex, although he definitely knows what he's doing in the bed. I would have loved to see him as an inexperienced hero, which would have made the role reversal more thorough. Although James does have a condemning attitude towards Aiesha initially, I really did respect and like him. He was seriously harmed emotionally by Aiesha's antics ten years ago, and had a reason to be angry. I liked that he was able to put that behind him and evaluate Aiesha more thoroughly and he had learned to see past her offensive behavior and sex kitten armor to the wounded woman underneath.
The ending was pretty cool. Aiesha gets her dream come true and her man, and realizes that she doesn't have to be ashamed of her childhood, because none of that is her fault. At the same time, I think she did learn that treating people badly because of what she'd been deprived of wasn't good behavior either.
By the end of this book, I did believe that Aiesha and James truly loved each other, and were more than willing to take a risk and go after a life together, regardless of what had taken place in the past. James showed that he was for her and she showed that she loved him in a very demonstrative way.
I would give this four stars. It was well written and thoughtful. Despite the way it seemed, this is a very angsty and rather pathos-inducing. It made me feel a bit melancholy after I finished it, so that's why I didn't rate it higher.
July 1, 2014
So many people have been misjudged before. Sayings such as
"She's from the wrong side of the tracks" or " Trailer trash ! Looking for an easy way to easy money." People like this are not only sadly misjudged they are accused of all kinds of nasty things, even more tragic some of them choose to not defend themselves and instead just goes with the reputation.
Lucky for some they do find that one person who sees right through the facade and finds the real person. In the new Melanie Milburne read this is what life comes down to for Aiesha Adams. She craves the spotlight and to be taken seriously as an artist but her past life and family scandals have made it more than difficult.
She however finds a stroke of luck when she finds herself trapped with the more than simply delicious James Challender. Many years ago he was part of her past and just like back then the man sends her senses into overdrive. Now he's back and the press are on the hunt for a new story, James and Aiesha are it!
But what the outside world sees has not comparison to what goes on behind closed doors, James gets to know the real Aiesha and falls for her hook line and sinker, that is until she stabs him in the heart with a little jolt from the past involving his father. Will it send him running or taking her into his arms again?
I so very much enjoyed this book. It was full of amazing emotion that made me bawl my eyes out again and again and again ! James was a real sweetheart of a man but he had that certain " Don't take me on for you will surely lose" flair about him, that just made him even more delicious. I loved his compassion and caring nature , not wanting to believe his heart and instead follow his head but at the same time fighting the obvious and trying to see the two worlds of decision making meet and live in harmony.
Aiesha was absolutely stunning ! I adored this heroine, she was fun and spunky the one minute and snobby and all bossy the next. It was a little like reading about one of today's dolled up celebrities , the real Paris Hilton kind, but it also reminded me that some of those celebrities act all dumb and dramatic, but in real fact I think they are just hiding the various feelings of hurt and anger they face, because they just like the rest of us are only human.
I particularly loved the hate -love vibe between James and Aiesha very entertaining reading material that brought me laughter and many tears. At the end of the day am taking away a message of life has many various types of people. Some are straight forward and let's the world see them for who they are , but even a little part of themselves are hidden for just a certain someone to see. Others are more complex-ed and instead of showing the world the real them they hide behind a mocked up personality.
But the truth comes down to this, when we hide behind facade's because we have been branded as a bad person, we are only hurting ourselves. The outside world will always see what they want to see no matter what we do or say, so instead of going with the flow, rather make yourself happy by being true to yourself. And always go after what you want, giving up is never an option. But most importantly, never think you know someone from the side they let you see, there is always something deeper inside.
I highly recommend this read for all fans of Melanie Milburne books, she has once again created remarkable characters , a stunning emotional story of deceit, love, scandal and showed how the truth shall set you free.
5/5 star review
" She's ready to play him but he wants to do more than just play."
Merged review:
So many people have been misjudged before. Sayings such as
"She's from the wrong side of the tracks" or " Trailer trash ! Looking for an easy way to easy money." People like this are not only sadly misjudged they are accused of all kinds of nasty things, even more tragic some of them choose to not defend themselves and instead just goes with the reputation.
Lucky for some they do find that one person who sees right through the facade and finds the real person. In the new Melanie Milburne read this is what life comes down to for Aiesha Adams. She craves the spotlight and to be taken seriously as an artist but her past life and family scandals have made it more than difficult.
She however finds a stroke of luck when she finds herself trapped with the more than simply delicious James Challender. Many years ago he was part of her past and just like back then the man sends her senses into overdrive. Now he's back and the press are on the hunt for a new story, James and Aiesha are it!
But what the outside world sees has not comparison to what goes on behind closed doors, James gets to know the real Aiesha and falls for her hook line and sinker, that is until she stabs him in the heart with a little jolt from the past involving his father. Will it send him running or taking her into his arms again?
I so very much enjoyed this book. It was full of amazing emotion that made me bawl my eyes out again and again and again ! James was a real sweetheart of a man but he had that certain " Don't take me on for you will surely lose" flair about him, that just made him even more delicious. I loved his compassion and caring nature , not wanting to believe his heart and instead follow his head but at the same time fighting the obvious and trying to see the two worlds of decision making meet and live in harmony.
Aiesha was absolutely stunning ! I adored this heroine, she was fun and spunky the one minute and snobby and all bossy the next. It was a little like reading about one of today's dolled up celebrities , the real Paris Hilton kind, but it also reminded me that some of those celebrities act all dumb and dramatic, but in real fact I think they are just hiding the various feelings of hurt and anger they face, because they just like the rest of us are only human.
I particularly loved the hate -love vibe between James and Aiesha very entertaining reading material that brought me laughter and many tears. At the end of the day am taking away a message of life has many various types of people. Some are straight forward and let's the world see them for who they are , but even a little part of themselves are hidden for just a certain someone to see. Others are more complex-ed and instead of showing the world the real them they hide behind a mocked up personality.
But the truth comes down to this, when we hide behind facade's because we have been branded as a bad person, we are only hurting ourselves. The outside world will always see what they want to see no matter what we do or say, so instead of going with the flow, rather make yourself happy by being true to yourself. And always go after what you want, giving up is never an option. But most importantly, never think you know someone from the side they let you see, there is always something deeper inside.
I highly recommend this read for all fans of Melanie Milburne books, she has once again created remarkable characters , a stunning emotional story of deceit, love, scandal and showed how the truth shall set you free.
5/5 star review
" She's ready to play him but he wants to do more than just play."
"She's from the wrong side of the tracks" or " Trailer trash ! Looking for an easy way to easy money." People like this are not only sadly misjudged they are accused of all kinds of nasty things, even more tragic some of them choose to not defend themselves and instead just goes with the reputation.
Lucky for some they do find that one person who sees right through the facade and finds the real person. In the new Melanie Milburne read this is what life comes down to for Aiesha Adams. She craves the spotlight and to be taken seriously as an artist but her past life and family scandals have made it more than difficult.
She however finds a stroke of luck when she finds herself trapped with the more than simply delicious James Challender. Many years ago he was part of her past and just like back then the man sends her senses into overdrive. Now he's back and the press are on the hunt for a new story, James and Aiesha are it!
But what the outside world sees has not comparison to what goes on behind closed doors, James gets to know the real Aiesha and falls for her hook line and sinker, that is until she stabs him in the heart with a little jolt from the past involving his father. Will it send him running or taking her into his arms again?
I so very much enjoyed this book. It was full of amazing emotion that made me bawl my eyes out again and again and again ! James was a real sweetheart of a man but he had that certain " Don't take me on for you will surely lose" flair about him, that just made him even more delicious. I loved his compassion and caring nature , not wanting to believe his heart and instead follow his head but at the same time fighting the obvious and trying to see the two worlds of decision making meet and live in harmony.
Aiesha was absolutely stunning ! I adored this heroine, she was fun and spunky the one minute and snobby and all bossy the next. It was a little like reading about one of today's dolled up celebrities , the real Paris Hilton kind, but it also reminded me that some of those celebrities act all dumb and dramatic, but in real fact I think they are just hiding the various feelings of hurt and anger they face, because they just like the rest of us are only human.
I particularly loved the hate -love vibe between James and Aiesha very entertaining reading material that brought me laughter and many tears. At the end of the day am taking away a message of life has many various types of people. Some are straight forward and let's the world see them for who they are , but even a little part of themselves are hidden for just a certain someone to see. Others are more complex-ed and instead of showing the world the real them they hide behind a mocked up personality.
But the truth comes down to this, when we hide behind facade's because we have been branded as a bad person, we are only hurting ourselves. The outside world will always see what they want to see no matter what we do or say, so instead of going with the flow, rather make yourself happy by being true to yourself. And always go after what you want, giving up is never an option. But most importantly, never think you know someone from the side they let you see, there is always something deeper inside.
I highly recommend this read for all fans of Melanie Milburne books, she has once again created remarkable characters , a stunning emotional story of deceit, love, scandal and showed how the truth shall set you free.
5/5 star review
" She's ready to play him but he wants to do more than just play."
Merged review:
So many people have been misjudged before. Sayings such as
"She's from the wrong side of the tracks" or " Trailer trash ! Looking for an easy way to easy money." People like this are not only sadly misjudged they are accused of all kinds of nasty things, even more tragic some of them choose to not defend themselves and instead just goes with the reputation.
Lucky for some they do find that one person who sees right through the facade and finds the real person. In the new Melanie Milburne read this is what life comes down to for Aiesha Adams. She craves the spotlight and to be taken seriously as an artist but her past life and family scandals have made it more than difficult.
She however finds a stroke of luck when she finds herself trapped with the more than simply delicious James Challender. Many years ago he was part of her past and just like back then the man sends her senses into overdrive. Now he's back and the press are on the hunt for a new story, James and Aiesha are it!
But what the outside world sees has not comparison to what goes on behind closed doors, James gets to know the real Aiesha and falls for her hook line and sinker, that is until she stabs him in the heart with a little jolt from the past involving his father. Will it send him running or taking her into his arms again?
I so very much enjoyed this book. It was full of amazing emotion that made me bawl my eyes out again and again and again ! James was a real sweetheart of a man but he had that certain " Don't take me on for you will surely lose" flair about him, that just made him even more delicious. I loved his compassion and caring nature , not wanting to believe his heart and instead follow his head but at the same time fighting the obvious and trying to see the two worlds of decision making meet and live in harmony.
Aiesha was absolutely stunning ! I adored this heroine, she was fun and spunky the one minute and snobby and all bossy the next. It was a little like reading about one of today's dolled up celebrities , the real Paris Hilton kind, but it also reminded me that some of those celebrities act all dumb and dramatic, but in real fact I think they are just hiding the various feelings of hurt and anger they face, because they just like the rest of us are only human.
I particularly loved the hate -love vibe between James and Aiesha very entertaining reading material that brought me laughter and many tears. At the end of the day am taking away a message of life has many various types of people. Some are straight forward and let's the world see them for who they are , but even a little part of themselves are hidden for just a certain someone to see. Others are more complex-ed and instead of showing the world the real them they hide behind a mocked up personality.
But the truth comes down to this, when we hide behind facade's because we have been branded as a bad person, we are only hurting ourselves. The outside world will always see what they want to see no matter what we do or say, so instead of going with the flow, rather make yourself happy by being true to yourself. And always go after what you want, giving up is never an option. But most importantly, never think you know someone from the side they let you see, there is always something deeper inside.
I highly recommend this read for all fans of Melanie Milburne books, she has once again created remarkable characters , a stunning emotional story of deceit, love, scandal and showed how the truth shall set you free.
5/5 star review
" She's ready to play him but he wants to do more than just play."
September 17, 2014
Wow, a bad girl instead of bad boy!!!!!!!!! A Vegas lounge singer 
and you know those British aristo
Love it!!
adopted by a wealthy family has always had a wild side to her and is now a lounge singer in Las Vegas. She’s strong and independent but hides her true feelings behind her brazen and brash attitude. imgsrc=”
James Challender, son of the family who adopted Aiesha is determined to do the right thing in his life and never becoming like his philanderer father. He’s high class… ….
What happens when they meet up again? Snowbound together? She is hiding away from the paparazzi and he is meeting his fiancé and now find themselves snowbound for who knows how long
James is actually fabulous…see I don’t really like English heroes…I find them a bit bland and boring…but I liked him. Okay, he was a bit stuffy at times but boy, did Aiesha get under his skin!!!!!! Did he feel his self-control slipping??? Damm right he did!!!!!!
but as they open up to each other it became quite clear that James was the right person for Aiesha….his kindness and caring heart was what she needed and of course Aiesha brought something special into his rather boring and drab life………and let’s not forget the most important thing of all…………LOVE!!!!
A fabulous read.
and you know those British aristo
Love it!!
She sashayed over to him, deliberately trailing one of her fingertips along the whitened tendons on the back of one of his clenched fists. ‘Loosen up, James. You’re as wound as a tight spring. If you need an outlet for all that pressure- ’ she batted her impossibly long eyelashes at him, ‘-just call me, OK?’Aiesha Adams, a former street kid – yes, a totally unsuitable wild child
adopted by a wealthy family has always had a wild side to her and is now a lounge singer in Las Vegas. She’s strong and independent but hides her true feelings behind her brazen and brash attitude. imgsrc=”
James Challender, son of the family who adopted Aiesha is determined to do the right thing in his life and never becoming like his philanderer father. He’s high class… ….
What happens when they meet up again? Snowbound together? She is hiding away from the paparazzi and he is meeting his fiancé and now find themselves snowbound for who knows how long
James is actually fabulous…see I don’t really like English heroes…I find them a bit bland and boring…but I liked him. Okay, he was a bit stuffy at times but boy, did Aiesha get under his skin!!!!!! Did he feel his self-control slipping??? Damm right he did!!!!!!
James forced himself to endure the electric shock of her touch without flinching. He forced himself not to look at her mouth, where the tip of her pink tongue had left a moistly glistening trail. He forced himself not to slam her against the nearest wall and slake the fireball of his lust by plunging into her hot, wet warmth and doing what he’d always wanted to do to her. Every cell in his body was vibrating with need, and what sickened him the most was she damn well knew it. ‘Get the freaking hell out of my sight.’And Aiesha just kept on pushing him…………………..
Her eyes glinted with devilment. ‘I love it when a man talks dirty to me.’ She gave an exaggerated little shiver that made her braless breasts jiggle beneath her sweater. ‘It makes me come in a flash.’I actually doubted these two ever getting together – pushing each other….
but as they open up to each other it became quite clear that James was the right person for Aiesha….his kindness and caring heart was what she needed and of course Aiesha brought something special into his rather boring and drab life………and let’s not forget the most important thing of all…………LOVE!!!!A fabulous read.
June 28, 2014
This is a very moving story about Aiesha Adams a girl from the wrong side of the tracks who has gone through so much in her life and puts on a show that she is notorious trouble maker breaking up marriages but when James Challender the handsome rich aristocrat meets her again after many years this time he gets to know her when they are stranded in a snow storm at his mother's place and what ensues is an up and down journey to a very moving HEA. I really enjoyed this one as Aiesha and James learned to trust and understand themsleves and each other. I highly recommend this one
December 2, 2024
Woah, two for two so far. That's impressive for a Harlequin bundle.
This was just as good as the first one, if not a little better in its pacing. I think this is a story that deeply benefitted from being just-over novella length. If it had been stretched out longer, the drama of the fake engagement and the adolescent rivalry wouldn't be so effective.
This was just as good as the first one, if not a little better in its pacing. I think this is a story that deeply benefitted from being just-over novella length. If it had been stretched out longer, the drama of the fake engagement and the adolescent rivalry wouldn't be so effective.
August 5, 2024
Could not get into this story, ended up skipping pages.
September 8, 2016
James and Aiesha are explosive dynamite together. The tale of Bad Girl vs. a Good Boy = HEA.
James is a total dreamboat. He is serious, loyal and has an unshakable core of integrity. Aiesha is all sass and brass . She is tenderhearted and wounded under her tough exterior. James sees right through her baloney. It made me love him more! He is a thrill. Stern, firm and sheer alpha without being an overbearing jerk. Not that he could get away with bullying a tough West End gal like Aiesha. No way!
The plot has a few interesting twists and turns. There is a lot of sex and it works to bring this volatile pair together. Cuz it is hot and steamy but emotional. If James is a sleeping volcano, then Aiesha is a tsunami . This pair spend a lot of time getting together, connecting and learning to trust. The HEA is a little cliched but it didn't take away from the fact I wanted them to find happiness together and apart in every area of their lives. If you love spirited, expressive heroines and heroes with smoldering intensity, then Aisesha and James are worth your time. Dive in. I won't say I told ya so.
James is a total dreamboat. He is serious, loyal and has an unshakable core of integrity. Aiesha is all sass and brass . She is tenderhearted and wounded under her tough exterior. James sees right through her baloney. It made me love him more! He is a thrill. Stern, firm and sheer alpha without being an overbearing jerk. Not that he could get away with bullying a tough West End gal like Aiesha. No way!
The plot has a few interesting twists and turns. There is a lot of sex and it works to bring this volatile pair together. Cuz it is hot and steamy but emotional. If James is a sleeping volcano, then Aiesha is a tsunami . This pair spend a lot of time getting together, connecting and learning to trust. The HEA is a little cliched but it didn't take away from the fact I wanted them to find happiness together and apart in every area of their lives. If you love spirited, expressive heroines and heroes with smoldering intensity, then Aisesha and James are worth your time. Dive in. I won't say I told ya so.
September 28, 2014
This was only okay. I didn't really enjoy the heroine. I can get behind a bad girl feisty heroine but this one just didn't do it for me. Her motivations weren't strong enough or not presented strongly enough. Her characterization was all over the place. The sudden way the hero fell for her was not well done. I kind of went 'wait! what?' The plot was thin and not much happened. Meh.
July 19, 2014
Very emotional - excellent writing and I read it in one sitting. Loved both the h/h and I thought it was very gutsy of the author to veer away from the usual type of heroine. As to why some people gave this one star ? - maybe it was out of their comfort zone... But that is what writing should do.
July 2, 2015
I really really like this kind of story. Predictable, I know, but I really enjoyed reading it.
November 18, 2014
AT NO MAN’S COMMAND by USA Bestselling author Melanie Milburne is a July 2014 release by Harlequin Presents.
Aiesha Adams is known as the flirty fun loving girl. She also had the reputation of breaking up James Challender’s parents and causing their divorce, so why was James mother still in touch with her? Was she really the girl other people saw her as?
James hated her but finding her at his mother’s home gave him food for thought. He’d been fighting his attraction to her all through his life. What would happen if he gives in to the passion and the chemistry just once?
AT NO MAN’S COMMAND is a sensual romance with a strong and sassy heroine. It is fast-paced and feel-good romance that sparkles with red-hot sensuality, mesmerizing emotion and intense passion. You have to let Aiesha’s personality unwrap and wrap around you and you will fall in love with her. Just like our hero James did. I was staggered how the author Melanie Milburne added layers to this heroine’s character and also the story which made us the readers hate then love the heroine. Once again Melanie Milburne proves she can bring any twist to a story yet readers would love it!
Aiesha Adams is known as the flirty fun loving girl. She also had the reputation of breaking up James Challender’s parents and causing their divorce, so why was James mother still in touch with her? Was she really the girl other people saw her as?
James hated her but finding her at his mother’s home gave him food for thought. He’d been fighting his attraction to her all through his life. What would happen if he gives in to the passion and the chemistry just once?
AT NO MAN’S COMMAND is a sensual romance with a strong and sassy heroine. It is fast-paced and feel-good romance that sparkles with red-hot sensuality, mesmerizing emotion and intense passion. You have to let Aiesha’s personality unwrap and wrap around you and you will fall in love with her. Just like our hero James did. I was staggered how the author Melanie Milburne added layers to this heroine’s character and also the story which made us the readers hate then love the heroine. Once again Melanie Milburne proves she can bring any twist to a story yet readers would love it!
April 9, 2015
While I enjoyed spending time with the characters, the plot was very formulaic and predictable. The writing was also completely over the top, way too flowery in my opinion. The upside was that it was short and I read it in a day, and I was somewhat curious about the outcome, so I kept reading even though it did end exactly the way I thought it would. Just not my style of writing or book.
June 3, 2016
Heroine is a strong ass. Love it
June 28, 2017
I'm pretty basic with my ratings because 2/5 feels to harsh for me and 3/5 comes very easily to me when I don't necessarily hate the book nor love the book.
At No Man's Command is a book that is not following the typical Harlequin Presents format everyone really loves. She's not a virgin but a washed up Las Vegas singer who came from a past of bad parents, sex, and no education. Which is fine because characters are supposed to be diverse and I don't want authors to feel confined to only producing the similar troupes with the same characters. However, with that being said, I'm not really fond of my characters being too guarded, using sex as a defense mechanism. Aiesha, our main heroine, does just this and always plays off her feelings with comments about how much sex she has and how good she is at it. Like yes, you can be proud but when readers can see right through it, it does become quite annoying because she's far too stubborn.
Enter our hero, James, who is trying his best to not be associated with Aiesha in any way but of course, he's far too attracted to her and there's nothing he can do about it except to give into her and have sex. James soon grows soft for Aiesha and it's up to Aiesha to really think about giving herself into James.
With all that being said, this story was average to me because I didn't think it was a Harlequin Presents novel. I would think it would be more Harlequin Desire or Blaze simply because the story fits more into what styles of stories they usually publish under that series. It was off putting in a way. So if you're a big fan of virgins and a dominant billionaire and secrets, this book ISN'T for you.
At No Man's Command is a book that is not following the typical Harlequin Presents format everyone really loves. She's not a virgin but a washed up Las Vegas singer who came from a past of bad parents, sex, and no education. Which is fine because characters are supposed to be diverse and I don't want authors to feel confined to only producing the similar troupes with the same characters. However, with that being said, I'm not really fond of my characters being too guarded, using sex as a defense mechanism. Aiesha, our main heroine, does just this and always plays off her feelings with comments about how much sex she has and how good she is at it. Like yes, you can be proud but when readers can see right through it, it does become quite annoying because she's far too stubborn.
Enter our hero, James, who is trying his best to not be associated with Aiesha in any way but of course, he's far too attracted to her and there's nothing he can do about it except to give into her and have sex. James soon grows soft for Aiesha and it's up to Aiesha to really think about giving herself into James.
With all that being said, this story was average to me because I didn't think it was a Harlequin Presents novel. I would think it would be more Harlequin Desire or Blaze simply because the story fits more into what styles of stories they usually publish under that series. It was off putting in a way. So if you're a big fan of virgins and a dominant billionaire and secrets, this book ISN'T for you.
August 10, 2023
💟Me parece extremadamente turbio que a él le guste una mina que tuvo algo con su papá. Me perturba
💟tiene desarrollo de personaje, o por lo menos lo que piensan a pesar de que el libro tiene pocas páginas
💟las escenas segsuales son buenas
💟Me gusta que esté escrito en tercera persona, que tenga povs de los dos suma
💟James no es mí tipo ni ahí, no me gusta.
💟Ella es la fuckgirl de la relación. Wattpad a la inversa
💟Te engancha bastante
💟La propuesta de matrimonio no me gustó
💟El libro tiene la letra demasiado chica
💟Suma puntos que el llore
💟Se enamoraron DEMASIADO RAPIDO. Lit fueron tres semanas.
💟Frase fav: "eres la mujer que llevo esperando toda mí vida" y "gatita seductora" JAJAJAJA
2/5
💟tiene desarrollo de personaje, o por lo menos lo que piensan a pesar de que el libro tiene pocas páginas
💟las escenas segsuales son buenas
💟Me gusta que esté escrito en tercera persona, que tenga povs de los dos suma
💟James no es mí tipo ni ahí, no me gusta.
💟Ella es la fuckgirl de la relación. Wattpad a la inversa
💟Te engancha bastante
💟La propuesta de matrimonio no me gustó
💟El libro tiene la letra demasiado chica
💟Suma puntos que el llore
💟Se enamoraron DEMASIADO RAPIDO. Lit fueron tres semanas.
💟Frase fav: "eres la mujer que llevo esperando toda mí vida" y "gatita seductora" JAJAJAJA
2/5
August 8, 2017
Las dos caras de una persona, una historia familiar detrás, una atracción que siempre estuvo y el deseo de poder resistirse.
September 17, 2020
3,5 stars.
March 7, 2021
Στο ρυθμό του έρωτα - Melanie Milburne, Χρυσά, 1686
May 26, 2021
Melanie Milburne never disappoints me............light reading on a rough day!!!!
With BADASS FL.........its cool!!!
With BADASS FL.........its cool!!!
October 23, 2016
She...
She is Aiesha Adams. A Vegas showgirl, a home wrecker and above all without any scruples. But still endearing. A lady who has seen it all endured it all. Aiesha comes out very strong as a character. In fact, for this genre, I got a shock at the way her character is portrayed. Where is the damsel in distress - the one which we are so used to? This lady knows how to throw the punch- literally. At first, as a reader, I didn't know whether I even liked her. Too cut-throat for me. And then, she starts growing on me. Of course, she is camouflaged under layers of sassiness and arrogance. Understandable. under the circumstances.
A woman embroiled in sex and scandal and defying my image of the demure heroines so associated with Harlequin. Took me some time to digest this sassy lass.But when I did - I gave a loud whoop when she threw one of her punches at James and shed a few tears with her when she relived her memories of Archie. That was soul touching.
He..
He is James Chandlender. A man who knows her too well and hated all that he knew about her. But circumstances, created by his beautiful mom, makes him rethink about his stand. He knew from the beginning that he is fighting a losing battle but he comes across as a man with integrity and a strong character. A man who is not afraid to face the society for her.
Just what she needed to break the wall she had erected around herself.
Matches are made in Heaven.
When two people meet, a relationship is formed based on their compatibility. Aiesha and James had one connection between them. Sex. At least, initially. But as layers are removed, James finds himself doubting the very principles he believed in. Aiesha too hates the fact that her softer side is coming out for the world to see. The one, she is so hard trying to hide even from the man she was slowly falling in love with.
From the wrong side of the town...
Fighting her background is one of the toughest things Aiesha has to confront with. But is the enemy only external? As James says,
"I suspect your only enemy, Aeisha,is yourself."
While running away from her past she does make some wrong choices. Some of them are not intentional and others are just that - wrong choices. But it makes her very humane to me as a reader. A perfect personality makes a wonderful heroine but imperfection connects a reader to the protagonist.
And that is exactly what it did .
Archie in Aiesha's life is so endearing. I had a lump in my throat when that story was narrated. In this genre where one expects only sex and beaches, this heartwarming story stood out. James comes across as a very sensitive guy. A man who has doubts about the relationship but is ready to overcome them. A man who is ready to accept the weaknesses of his love. What more could a woman want ? :)
The surprise element .
But Aiesha refuses his proposal. Just when you thought the story is being neatly tied up, Ms. Milburne throws her own punch. Is it because Lady Luck has at last smiled on Aiesha or is it something deeper .. more painful? Check it out for yourself. :)
Reasoning
The storyline, the pathos, the sexual tension all were perfect. I loved the way Aiesha is portrayed as a vamp as well as an innocent. Every scene show her toughness yet underneath that is a layer of her vulnerability. The superb timing of pathos to pull the reader deeper into the story.
Oft repeated.
In the beginning of the novel, the defects of both the fathers were repeated often. I am not denying that to justify Aiesha's character, it was needed but once or twice would have been suffice. To me as a reader, the repeated mentions of the both the protag's fathers took me a bit away from the love story.
Justification..
Is justification of a character really necessary? So she is a home wrecker. a person who loves having a sexual relationship with married men. There were moments when Aeisha's character has been justified to the extent that all here wrong doings were made right. A romanticized idealism. Would James not have accepted her if her actions were not justified? Hmm... dunno.
Would I recommend this book :
A must for all romance lovers :)
The Lines that stayed with me .
He eased back to look at her face, ravaged by grief and anger and tears that had taken a decade to spill from her eyes. He was so glad she had chosen to tell him. So relieved. So honoured. It made him feel as if she finally saw him as someone she could trust. Not someone who would exploit the betray her.
Do such men exist? :P
April 12, 2016
When I started this one I was pretty sure it was going to be terrible. While I will probably never seek anything like this out again, I can at least admit that it wasn't abysmal. There were actual emotions in the story and the characters get to know each other a little bit before they actually get down and dirty (the sex was well-written too, which helped). James is likable enough but Aiesha (also: Aiesha? Really?) was way too over the top to even seem remotely realistic.
With books like this, I can't figure out if they are supposed to be funny or not. Like, is the writing that terrible on purpose? Are they supposed to be campy? Not trying to be sarcastic or snarky at all--I'm genuinely stumped about this.
Yet another question I may never know the answer to...
With books like this, I can't figure out if they are supposed to be funny or not. Like, is the writing that terrible on purpose? Are they supposed to be campy? Not trying to be sarcastic or snarky at all--I'm genuinely stumped about this.
Yet another question I may never know the answer to...
not-for-me
September 4, 2018Vegas lounge singer. She is the bad one. The shock engagement of the century!
It looks like our favorite tearaway, the notorious Aiesha Adams, is trying to change her spots. Inside sources have revealed that not only is she currently holed up in the Scottish countryside with the gorgeous aristocrat James Challender, but the pair are secretly engaged!
We've always had a soft spot for Aiesha, and with rumors of her unhappy childhood trailing her footsteps wherever she goes, we knew her wild streak hid something more. But we thought Aiesha and James were sworn enemies...perhaps when there are fireworks outside the bedroom, the sparks are just too impossible to resist!
It looks like our favorite tearaway, the notorious Aiesha Adams, is trying to change her spots. Inside sources have revealed that not only is she currently holed up in the Scottish countryside with the gorgeous aristocrat James Challender, but the pair are secretly engaged!
We've always had a soft spot for Aiesha, and with rumors of her unhappy childhood trailing her footsteps wherever she goes, we knew her wild streak hid something more. But we thought Aiesha and James were sworn enemies...perhaps when there are fireworks outside the bedroom, the sparks are just too impossible to resist!
March 9, 2016
Aisha Adams made the book for me , I wasn't expecting to find this kind of heroine in an HP book , she was sassy , playful , naughty and with a strong personality which is a bit refreshing .
July 23, 2014
Aiedha Adams ran away as a teenager because of physical abuse to her mother by her stepfather. Currently she is hiding out due to a scandal involving a married man.
James Chalkender shows up at his Moms house to find Aiesha. The woman responsible forhis parents break up. He's in a serious relationship with Pheobe until the news comes out that he's engaged to Aiesha.
Can a lounge singer from Las Vegas have fairytale ending? Pick up this story and find out.
James Chalkender shows up at his Moms house to find Aiesha. The woman responsible forhis parents break up. He's in a serious relationship with Pheobe until the news comes out that he's engaged to Aiesha.
Can a lounge singer from Las Vegas have fairytale ending? Pick up this story and find out.
Read
January 12, 2016"Milburne’s romance of polar opposites is provocative, her characters revealing and her expressive narrative beautifully sets the scene. The love scenes are hauntingly emotional and the uncovering of her heroine’s dirty secrets climatic" (RT Book Reviews). 4 1/2 stars
June 2, 2014
Another HP with a Lindsay Lohan/Paris Hilton heroine!
Read
January 12, 2016received 4 1/2 stars @ RT Book Reviews
July 27, 2014
Really off month for Presents. This was hardly worth finishing. Very disappointed.
August 20, 2014
A great heroine in this book - unusually tough!
September 28, 2014
This book made me cry. It was intense and now it's one of my favorite story. Sometimes love can be very hard.
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