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War of Love
Lyon Buchanan was man who had just about everything - looks power, sex appeal, money. Was there a woman in his life, though? And, if not, had he frightened them all away? Silke reckoned Lyon wouldn't know love if it jumped up and bit him on the nose...but maybe it was just about to. Because Silke was made of strong stuff and would give as good as she got!
186 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published February 1, 1995
About the author
Carole Mortimer
1,314 books913 followersI have written almost 250 romance novels in contemporary and Regency.
I am a USA Today Bestselling Author and recipient of the 2015 RWA Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2014 I received a Pioneer of Romance Award from Romantic Times in the US and in 2012 I was recognised by Queen Elizabeth II for my 'outstanding service to literature'.
I am very happily married to Peter with six sons, and live on the Isle of Man
I am a USA Today Bestselling Author and recipient of the 2015 RWA Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2014 I received a Pioneer of Romance Award from Romantic Times in the US and in 2012 I was recognised by Queen Elizabeth II for my 'outstanding service to literature'.
I am very happily married to Peter with six sons, and live on the Isle of Man
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
December 18, 2016
This one started out cute, with our heroine showing up at H's workplace in a Playboy bunny outfit due to the first of many Great, Big, Terrible Misunderstandings. But I like my HPlandia heroes a bit more old skool and it did not sit right with me that he politely stepped aside and told the OM to treat h well in the future, believing, through Great, Big, Terrible, Misunderstanding Number 573, that she preferred the OM to the H. My kind of HPlandia hero would steamroll over an OM and drag h to his cave by the hair if she protested :)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 8, 2021
"War of Love" is one of the most funniest romantic books by Carole Mortimer.This charming love-story about the stubborn heroine,Silke Jordan and the aggressive grumpy hero,Lyon Buchanan was so entertaining and funny.I totally enjoyed their love-hate relationship!One thing i also realize is that there are ONLY four supporting characters in this book. As a matter of fact i just finished this book so fast,a real page-turner.
July 31, 2018
Re War of Love - Carole Mortimer goes for the comedy aspect of the big misunderstanding with this HP outing.
The h is a 25 yr olf aspirational jewelry designer who gets conned by her staffing agency owning mother into being a bunny girl for a local department store.
Unfortunately while the blonde haired, green eyed, five ft tall h is very cute and fluffy, various men can't seem to keep their hands off the posterior that her cute, fluffy white tail is attached to while the h is handing out chocolate bunnies.
(And munching on quite a few too, but really a girl has got to do something to soothe the inner Zena when muck slurping slime pustules can't keep their hands to themselves.)
One particularly elderly man is VERY grabby with his hands on the h's accouterments and the h is forced to deliver a very sharp set down. Then all of the sudden a thirty-fivish tall dark and very angry type man comes storming across the sales floor and drags the h off to the upper echelon of the head office.
The man is clearly angry at the h, she thinks because she was very sharp with the elderly man and he complained. But the man, who is the head of the whole conglomerate and the big boss, is really mad because he wanted a kid friendly Cadbury fluffy bunny, not the adult black bustier and silk stocking type.
The h is just appalled at the nasty remarks that are spilling out of the head honcho's mouth and even more appalled when she realizes that the elderly man she told off is actually one of the store owners too and the uncle of the head honcho.
The situation deteriorates even more when the h removes her bunny masque and the elderly man asks her name and then has a heart spell that requires medication. The h, whose name is Silke to her mother's Satin, gives him her name as he recovers.
The H, Lyon, a very upright Grumpy Gus, is very angry at what he assumes are the tarty trampy 'actress' wiles of the h with his older uncle - who is apparently still sampling the lady buffet varieties even at 67. The H gets even angrier as his uncle insists on seeing the h back to her mother's office.
When they get there, the h's mother has a freak out moment and runs off. The uncle collapses again and the h is forced to call the H to get him to his doctor. The H is just full of nasty words and names about the tarty tramp gold digging h, especially when the uncle insists that he and Satin are marrying.
The H mistakenly thinks the h is the one the uncle is referring to when he claims he is marrying and there is lots of lovely verbal snark as the h knows the H's pomposity is going to blow up in a big ball of egg on his face when he finally drops his assumptions enough to listen.
Eventually the H does learn about the h's mother and his uncle - they were parted 35 years earlier when the H's parents died and his uncle was named his guardian. The h's mum and the H's uncle were madly in love, but the other side of the H's family did not like the fact that the h's mum was beneath them in social status. So at 18, the h's mum ran away and the H's uncle did not have to face a custody battle.
Now, through the Big Bunny Misadventure, the h's mum and the H's uncle are firmly reunited and planning to marry, no matter how many hissy fits Mr. Priggish Grumpy Gus may have. The H tries to buy the ladies off and does a background investigation, but the h's mum and the H's uncle elope.
There is some OM drama when the h's former fiance shows up and claims he made a mistake dumping the h right before their wedding for the woman he ran off with, but the h is pretty much over the OM and now all about fighting her feelings for the H instead.
All of the sudden the H and h's mutual antagonism is shown to be a big cover up for a lot of mutual Lurve Force Mojo. Tho the h is still petting unicorns, the H just can't resist her Silke charms and grooming licenses are permanently revoked.
Eventually the H becomes resigned to the fact that everybody else is just going to do what they want to do and it is pretty amusing as the straight man H has to learn to adjust to the more flamboyant behavior of his uncle and new step-aunt.
The h is pretty happy that the H got some comeuppance for his nasty assumptions, but she is having a little mopey moment too, cause she is in love with the H and doesn't think he can uncouple enough from his hiney stick perch to love her back.
After another visit from the OM where the H believes the h is leaving with him, the h goes to talk to her mum and the H overhears the h explaining that she has to leave the H cause she loves him. This motivates the H to declare he loves the h just as madly back and finally everybody gets on the same understanding page and we leave them all lurved up and happy for the HEA.
This one is pretty cute and fluffy, the h was hilarious and the H was suitably awful until the h got him reformed enough to be a decent partner. The secondary romance was cute too, but kinda overpowered the main romance, still it was a pretty good HPlandia outing overall.
The h is a 25 yr olf aspirational jewelry designer who gets conned by her staffing agency owning mother into being a bunny girl for a local department store.
Unfortunately while the blonde haired, green eyed, five ft tall h is very cute and fluffy, various men can't seem to keep their hands off the posterior that her cute, fluffy white tail is attached to while the h is handing out chocolate bunnies.
(And munching on quite a few too, but really a girl has got to do something to soothe the inner Zena when muck slurping slime pustules can't keep their hands to themselves.)
One particularly elderly man is VERY grabby with his hands on the h's accouterments and the h is forced to deliver a very sharp set down. Then all of the sudden a thirty-fivish tall dark and very angry type man comes storming across the sales floor and drags the h off to the upper echelon of the head office.
The man is clearly angry at the h, she thinks because she was very sharp with the elderly man and he complained. But the man, who is the head of the whole conglomerate and the big boss, is really mad because he wanted a kid friendly Cadbury fluffy bunny, not the adult black bustier and silk stocking type.
The h is just appalled at the nasty remarks that are spilling out of the head honcho's mouth and even more appalled when she realizes that the elderly man she told off is actually one of the store owners too and the uncle of the head honcho.
The situation deteriorates even more when the h removes her bunny masque and the elderly man asks her name and then has a heart spell that requires medication. The h, whose name is Silke to her mother's Satin, gives him her name as he recovers.
The H, Lyon, a very upright Grumpy Gus, is very angry at what he assumes are the tarty trampy 'actress' wiles of the h with his older uncle - who is apparently still sampling the lady buffet varieties even at 67. The H gets even angrier as his uncle insists on seeing the h back to her mother's office.
When they get there, the h's mother has a freak out moment and runs off. The uncle collapses again and the h is forced to call the H to get him to his doctor. The H is just full of nasty words and names about the tarty tramp gold digging h, especially when the uncle insists that he and Satin are marrying.
The H mistakenly thinks the h is the one the uncle is referring to when he claims he is marrying and there is lots of lovely verbal snark as the h knows the H's pomposity is going to blow up in a big ball of egg on his face when he finally drops his assumptions enough to listen.
Eventually the H does learn about the h's mother and his uncle - they were parted 35 years earlier when the H's parents died and his uncle was named his guardian. The h's mum and the H's uncle were madly in love, but the other side of the H's family did not like the fact that the h's mum was beneath them in social status. So at 18, the h's mum ran away and the H's uncle did not have to face a custody battle.
Now, through the Big Bunny Misadventure, the h's mum and the H's uncle are firmly reunited and planning to marry, no matter how many hissy fits Mr. Priggish Grumpy Gus may have. The H tries to buy the ladies off and does a background investigation, but the h's mum and the H's uncle elope.
There is some OM drama when the h's former fiance shows up and claims he made a mistake dumping the h right before their wedding for the woman he ran off with, but the h is pretty much over the OM and now all about fighting her feelings for the H instead.
All of the sudden the H and h's mutual antagonism is shown to be a big cover up for a lot of mutual Lurve Force Mojo. Tho the h is still petting unicorns, the H just can't resist her Silke charms and grooming licenses are permanently revoked.
Eventually the H becomes resigned to the fact that everybody else is just going to do what they want to do and it is pretty amusing as the straight man H has to learn to adjust to the more flamboyant behavior of his uncle and new step-aunt.
The h is pretty happy that the H got some comeuppance for his nasty assumptions, but she is having a little mopey moment too, cause she is in love with the H and doesn't think he can uncouple enough from his hiney stick perch to love her back.
After another visit from the OM where the H believes the h is leaving with him, the h goes to talk to her mum and the H overhears the h explaining that she has to leave the H cause she loves him. This motivates the H to declare he loves the h just as madly back and finally everybody gets on the same understanding page and we leave them all lurved up and happy for the HEA.
This one is pretty cute and fluffy, the h was hilarious and the H was suitably awful until the h got him reformed enough to be a decent partner. The secondary romance was cute too, but kinda overpowered the main romance, still it was a pretty good HPlandia outing overall.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 29, 2018
No words to express my contempt and disappointment in the H, so…
Can’t add much to the other reviews, except, yes, potentially awesome heroine except for the fact that she suddenly and inexplicably fell in love with our pinheaded, very disrespectful, downright mean hero. Not a nice guy at all, and suddenly she’s in love.
Nope.
P.S.
Can’t add much to the other reviews, except, yes, potentially awesome heroine except for the fact that she suddenly and inexplicably fell in love with our pinheaded, very disrespectful, downright mean hero. Not a nice guy at all, and suddenly she’s in love.
Nope.
P.S.
September 26, 2011
Darn those first impressions. They are very hard to overcome. Lyon sees Silke for the first time in a sexy bunny outfit. He immediately starts thinking she's one of those kinds of women. It doesn't help that his aging playboy uncle Hal seems to take a liking to her. Then Lyon gets the impression that Hal plans to marry her. The words "Gold Digger" become a fervent part of his vocabulary when he talks to Silke. But he's gotten it all wrong. Hal doesn't want to marry Silke, he wants to marry her mother, Satin, his lost love. It's easy to get names like Satin and Silke mixed up, especially since Silke is the spitting image of her mother.
Lyon is kind of a jerk for a large part of this book. But I found that I kind of liked him at the same time. He was rather stuffy and reminded me of the characters that Cary Grant, David Niven, and Rock Hudson used to play in the 50s romantic comedies. He had the wrong idea about the heroine, and was slow on the uptake, and it took most of the movie (book in this case) to get a clue. The whole time he's falling head over heels for Silke. Silke gave me the impression of a young Shirley MacLaine in some of those movies. I love those movies, so that gave me a good feeling when I was reading.
I liked Silke. She was feisty and independent, and able to take on this big, bossy guy without flinching. I think that her falling in love with Lyon made it easier for me to like him. And I could totally see why Lyon couldn't resist her. She had that vibrant energy and joy about her that made her very compelling. Lyon was the kind of guy who took everything too seriously, so he needs a woman like Silke. I'm glad he figures that out.
I also liked the fact that Lyon's uncle Hal and Silke's mother Satin play a big role in this book, because I love books about family connections, the wackier the better. Along with the tone, these elements made this a lighter-hearted read, although there were a few more angsty bits. This book reminds me of the sort that Emma Goldrick used to write, which is a nice association, since I loved her books. I was dead tired Saturday night, but I didn't want to put this down and go to sleep. In fact, I ended up finishing it before I went to sleep. It was worth it.
Lyon is kind of a jerk for a large part of this book. But I found that I kind of liked him at the same time. He was rather stuffy and reminded me of the characters that Cary Grant, David Niven, and Rock Hudson used to play in the 50s romantic comedies. He had the wrong idea about the heroine, and was slow on the uptake, and it took most of the movie (book in this case) to get a clue. The whole time he's falling head over heels for Silke. Silke gave me the impression of a young Shirley MacLaine in some of those movies. I love those movies, so that gave me a good feeling when I was reading.
I liked Silke. She was feisty and independent, and able to take on this big, bossy guy without flinching. I think that her falling in love with Lyon made it easier for me to like him. And I could totally see why Lyon couldn't resist her. She had that vibrant energy and joy about her that made her very compelling. Lyon was the kind of guy who took everything too seriously, so he needs a woman like Silke. I'm glad he figures that out.
I also liked the fact that Lyon's uncle Hal and Silke's mother Satin play a big role in this book, because I love books about family connections, the wackier the better. Along with the tone, these elements made this a lighter-hearted read, although there were a few more angsty bits. This book reminds me of the sort that Emma Goldrick used to write, which is a nice association, since I loved her books. I was dead tired Saturday night, but I didn't want to put this down and go to sleep. In fact, I ended up finishing it before I went to sleep. It was worth it.
July 31, 2018
Smitten hero is the bull. Heroine is the matador as she waves one red flag after another and adroitly sidesteps.
The red flags:
Hot bunny costume
The mistaken belief his uncle is going to marry her (this last until chapter five)
The mistaken belief that she is dating her married ex-fiance
The mistaken belief she's using nepotism to get her jewelry into his stores
The mistaken belief she's pregnant after their one night stand
The mistaken belief she's running away with her ex
Honestly, this guy was so predictable. Something would happen. Hero would jump to conclusions. Heroine wouldn't explain. Rinse, repeat.
Even though bulls are powerful and deadly, I always end up sorry for them. Same with this hero - he was felled by the heroine's blonde hair and nubile figure before he even got in the ring.
If you don't mind one misunderstanding after another and a dopey story line about the heroine's mother and the hero's uncle finally getting together after 35 years, you'll like this one. The uncle is 67 and is considered "elderly." :)
Heroine was a virgin. Hero was way too obsessed to even look at another woman. Ex-fiance was not really an OM, he just showed up on her doorstep when the author needed to get a rise out of the hero.
The red flags:
Hot bunny costume
The mistaken belief his uncle is going to marry her (this last until chapter five)
The mistaken belief that she is dating her married ex-fiance
The mistaken belief she's using nepotism to get her jewelry into his stores
The mistaken belief she's pregnant after their one night stand
The mistaken belief she's running away with her ex
Honestly, this guy was so predictable. Something would happen. Hero would jump to conclusions. Heroine wouldn't explain. Rinse, repeat.
Even though bulls are powerful and deadly, I always end up sorry for them. Same with this hero - he was felled by the heroine's blonde hair and nubile figure before he even got in the ring.
If you don't mind one misunderstanding after another and a dopey story line about the heroine's mother and the hero's uncle finally getting together after 35 years, you'll like this one. The uncle is 67 and is considered "elderly." :)
Heroine was a virgin. Hero was way too obsessed to even look at another woman. Ex-fiance was not really an OM, he just showed up on her doorstep when the author needed to get a rise out of the hero.
July 12, 2010
Standard issue Harlequin Presents.
Spirited heroine meets arrogant hero under embarrassing circumstances. He makes terrible assumptions about her character and treats her like dirt. In the middle of forcefully kissing her after accusing her of carrying on with her married ex-fiance, hero's behavior magically flips some switch that makes the heroine tearfully realize she's in love. Natch.
Condomless true love sex ensues, heroine's a surprise virgin, hero begins to realize error of his ways. Grovel. HEA.
The End.
I love soaps.
Spirited heroine meets arrogant hero under embarrassing circumstances. He makes terrible assumptions about her character and treats her like dirt. In the middle of forcefully kissing her after accusing her of carrying on with her married ex-fiance, hero's behavior magically flips some switch that makes the heroine tearfully realize she's in love. Natch.
Condomless true love sex ensues, heroine's a surprise virgin, hero begins to realize error of his ways. Grovel. HEA.
The End.
I love soaps.
November 1, 2018
"War of Love" is the story of Silke and Lyon.
When Silke dresses up in a sexy bunny costume to help her mother with a promotional event for a client, she never expects to be manhandled by the owner Lyon Buchanan, or give angina to his uncle Henry! Soon they engage in a war of words, after which Silke escapes back to her mother Tina's home with the help of Henry, who soon realizes Tina is none other than the love of his life "Satin", who had left him ages ago.
As Henry and Satin/Tina renew their acquaintance, Lyon is still in the dark about it, and thinks that Henry is in love with Silke, something that leads him to "bruisingly" kiss her and then slut shame her along with calling her a gold digger.
Thus begins an exhausting back an forth with multiple presumptions by the hero which leads to him barging in to the heroine's home/office/mother's home/bathroom etc etc etc, a heroine who is apparently spunky yet can't correct any of the hero's disbeliefs, some crazy ex drama, loads of pushing and running away, an angry sex scene and an abrupt conclusion.
I love the blurb but the book underwhelmed me. The only thing I liked was the ending.
Meeeeh.
Safe
2.5/5
When Silke dresses up in a sexy bunny costume to help her mother with a promotional event for a client, she never expects to be manhandled by the owner Lyon Buchanan, or give angina to his uncle Henry! Soon they engage in a war of words, after which Silke escapes back to her mother Tina's home with the help of Henry, who soon realizes Tina is none other than the love of his life "Satin", who had left him ages ago.
As Henry and Satin/Tina renew their acquaintance, Lyon is still in the dark about it, and thinks that Henry is in love with Silke, something that leads him to "bruisingly" kiss her and then slut shame her along with calling her a gold digger.
Thus begins an exhausting back an forth with multiple presumptions by the hero which leads to him barging in to the heroine's home/office/mother's home/bathroom etc etc etc, a heroine who is apparently spunky yet can't correct any of the hero's disbeliefs, some crazy ex drama, loads of pushing and running away, an angry sex scene and an abrupt conclusion.
I love the blurb but the book underwhelmed me. The only thing I liked was the ending.
Meeeeh.
Safe
2.5/5
November 26, 2012
This hero was overbearing and annoying. He had me so frustrated and pissed off I was easily ready to take a gun and shoot him. I mean, the emotions that I felt were so real and unique. I thought this novel was super great!
November 1, 2016
Mortimer must have written this book in a rush, because it's that bad.
April 19, 2021
Many of the reviews make me feel guilty for liking this book, but I really liked it! It is a fluffy romance with long lost loves, new loves, old loves, misinterpretations, misinformation etc...There are no OW’s and the OM in the story was a good use of jealousy/angst as it pertained to the hero.
I like the back and forth between the hero and heroine. She stood up for herself! The hero was a jerk but that just made his head over heels in love of the heroine that much more satisfying! Don’t we like to knock the wind out of the sails of a hero who is determined to say no to love and marriage? It makes the magic of the heroine even more powerful!!!! Even though she loved the hero she wasn’t going to go along with all his suggestions. She needed to be loved in return.
I have a couple of other books I started reading...my interest was piqued about this book as it was mentioned in the forums on Goodread. Once I started reading it at 5 this morning, I didn’t put it down. It is a quick read and although it was predictable, I really enjoyed it!
I like the back and forth between the hero and heroine. She stood up for herself! The hero was a jerk but that just made his head over heels in love of the heroine that much more satisfying! Don’t we like to knock the wind out of the sails of a hero who is determined to say no to love and marriage? It makes the magic of the heroine even more powerful!!!! Even though she loved the hero she wasn’t going to go along with all his suggestions. She needed to be loved in return.
I have a couple of other books I started reading...my interest was piqued about this book as it was mentioned in the forums on Goodread. Once I started reading it at 5 this morning, I didn’t put it down. It is a quick read and although it was predictable, I really enjoyed it!
June 8, 2021
Lyon Buchanan was man who had just about everything - looks power, sex appeal, money. Was there a woman in his life, though? And, if not, had he frightened them all away? Silke reckoned Lyon wouldn't know love if it jumped up and bit him on the nose...but maybe it was just about to. Because Silke was made of strong stuff and would give as good as she got!
January 5, 2013
Fun, short, lighthearted read. I liked that the hero was smitten from the beginning, despite being so uptight and stern.
February 28, 2021
3.5 stars
This was a fast read and I enjoyed it but I didn't not like the H's attitude.
Silke's mother, Tina, runs some sort of agency and they're short staffed so Silke gets roped into wearing a bunny outfit for a department store's new line of chocolates. Due to some miscommunication, Silke is dressed like a Playboy bunny instead of an easter bunny which leads to a fiery run in with Lyon, CEO of the department store, and his uncle. This chance meeting reunites Lyon's uncle with Silke's mom, young lovers who broke up thirty years ago.
Lyon is a very cynical and angry person who grew up without love (his parents died when he was five and he was raised by nannies). He mistrusts Silke and her mother and accuses them of being gold diggers and wants to stop the marriage. He spends majority of the book accusing Silke of something conniving and nefarious. Somehow out of this, Silke manages to fall in love with him.
This was a fast read and I enjoyed it but I didn't not like the H's attitude.
Silke's mother, Tina, runs some sort of agency and they're short staffed so Silke gets roped into wearing a bunny outfit for a department store's new line of chocolates. Due to some miscommunication, Silke is dressed like a Playboy bunny instead of an easter bunny which leads to a fiery run in with Lyon, CEO of the department store, and his uncle. This chance meeting reunites Lyon's uncle with Silke's mom, young lovers who broke up thirty years ago.
Lyon is a very cynical and angry person who grew up without love (his parents died when he was five and he was raised by nannies). He mistrusts Silke and her mother and accuses them of being gold diggers and wants to stop the marriage. He spends majority of the book accusing Silke of something conniving and nefarious. Somehow out of this, Silke manages to fall in love with him.
October 27, 2023
Booo, not a fun time. I like the concept of what the author was trying to do, but it really falls flat. Why does the douche ex still get a happy ending? Ew. And the hero ain't nothing to write home about. Skip.
October 22, 2020
Not her best work
Stilted dialogue and forced storyline.... Carole Mortimer usually delivers.... this had to be her first/earlier effort. She’s really improved. Just OK.
Stilted dialogue and forced storyline.... Carole Mortimer usually delivers.... this had to be her first/earlier effort. She’s really improved. Just OK.
November 14, 2021
Enjoyed reading. A bit different plot from usual.
December 27, 2021
3.5 stars
October 25, 2013
Enjoyable read. Lyon is your typically arrogant, high-handed, bossy, HP hero but was evenly matched as the heroine, Silk gave as good as she got. The names of the mother and daughter pair (Satin & Silk) were funny as was the circumstances in which Lyon and Silk met. In fact the book had quite a few crazy plots going on but was brought together well and made for an entertaining read. I agree with others, Lyon's redeeming quality was Silk's love for him.
October 15, 2012
Loved it!!
October 22, 2023
bunny suit
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews