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Gadis Penakluk
Bagi Merlyn Forrest Steel, Cameron Thorpe yang pemurung itu mirip sekali dengan "Mr. Rochester", tokoh idolanya dalam novel Jane Eyre. Tapi walaupun pengalaman hidup Merlyn saat ini hampir mirip dengan kisah klasik yang bergelora tersebut, masih banyak urusan lain yang lebih penting yang harus dikerjakannya.
Seperti misalnya membuktikan kepada ayahnya bahwa ia mampu bertahan hidup tanpa uang jutaan dolar yang dimilikinya atau tanpa usaha ayahnya untuk menjodohkannya.
Namun, menggoda pria kaku yang menakutkan itu terasa amat menantang. Sampai akhirnya Cameron juga memutuskan untuk mengalahkan Merlyn dalam permainan yang sama.
Seperti misalnya membuktikan kepada ayahnya bahwa ia mampu bertahan hidup tanpa uang jutaan dolar yang dimilikinya atau tanpa usaha ayahnya untuk menjodohkannya.
Namun, menggoda pria kaku yang menakutkan itu terasa amat menantang. Sampai akhirnya Cameron juga memutuskan untuk mengalahkan Merlyn dalam permainan yang sama.
241 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1984
About the author
Diana Palmer
1,000 books3,111 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
Diana Palmer is a pseudonym for author Susan Kyle.
(1)romance author
Susan Eloise Spaeth was born on 11 December 1946 in Cuthbert, Georgia, USA. She was the eldest daughter of Maggie Eloise Cliatt, a nurse and also journalist, and William Olin Spaeth, a college professor. Her mother was part of the women's liberation movement many years before it became fashionable. Her best friends are her mother and her sister, Dannis Spaeth (Cole), who now has two daughters, Amanda Belle Hofstetter and Maggie and lives in Utah. Susan grew up reading Zane Grey and fell in love with cowboys. Susan is a former newspaper reporter, with sixteen years experience on both daily and weekly newspapers. Since 1972, she has been married to James Kyle and have since settled down in Cornelia, Georgia, where she started to write romance novels. Susan and her husband have one son, Blayne Edward, born in 1980.
She began selling romances in 1979 as Diana Palmer. She also used the pseudonyms Diana Blayne and Katy Currie, and her married name: Susan Kyle. Now, she has over 40 million copies of her books in print, which have been translated and published around the world. She is listed in numerous publications, including Contemporary Authors by Gale Research, Inc., Twentieth Century Romance and Historical Writers by St. James Press, The Writers Directory by St. James Press, the International Who's Who of Authors and Writers by Meirose Press, Ltd., and Love's Leading Ladies by Kathryn Falk. Her awards include seven Waldenbooks national sales awards, four B. Dalton national sales awards, two Bookrak national sales awards, a Lifetime Achievement Award for series storytelling from Romantic Times, several Affaire de Coeur awards, and two regional RWA awards.
Inspired by her husband, who quit a blue-collar manufacturing job to return to school and get his diploma in computer programming, Susan herself went back to college as a day student at the age of 45. In 1995, she graduated summa cum laude from Piedmont College, Demorest, GA, with a major in history and a double minor in archaeology and Spanish. She was named to two honor societies (the Torch Club and Alpha Chi), and was named to the National Dean's List. In addition to her writing projects, she is currently working on her master's degree in history at California State University. She hopes to specialize in Native American studies. She is a member of the Native American Rights Fund, the American Museum of Natural History, the National Cattlemen's Association, the Archaeological Institute of Amenca, the Planetary Society, The Georgia Conservancy, the Georgia Sheriff's Association, and numerous conservation and charitable organizations. Her hobbies include gardening, archaeology, anthropology, iguanas, astronomy and music.
In 1998, her husband retired from his own computer business and now pursues skeet shooting medals in local, state, national and international competition. They love riding around and looking at the countryside, watching sci-fi on TV and at the movies, just talking and eating out.
Diana Palmer is a pseudonym for author Susan Kyle.
(1)romance author
Susan Eloise Spaeth was born on 11 December 1946 in Cuthbert, Georgia, USA. She was the eldest daughter of Maggie Eloise Cliatt, a nurse and also journalist, and William Olin Spaeth, a college professor. Her mother was part of the women's liberation movement many years before it became fashionable. Her best friends are her mother and her sister, Dannis Spaeth (Cole), who now has two daughters, Amanda Belle Hofstetter and Maggie and lives in Utah. Susan grew up reading Zane Grey and fell in love with cowboys. Susan is a former newspaper reporter, with sixteen years experience on both daily and weekly newspapers. Since 1972, she has been married to James Kyle and have since settled down in Cornelia, Georgia, where she started to write romance novels. Susan and her husband have one son, Blayne Edward, born in 1980.
She began selling romances in 1979 as Diana Palmer. She also used the pseudonyms Diana Blayne and Katy Currie, and her married name: Susan Kyle. Now, she has over 40 million copies of her books in print, which have been translated and published around the world. She is listed in numerous publications, including Contemporary Authors by Gale Research, Inc., Twentieth Century Romance and Historical Writers by St. James Press, The Writers Directory by St. James Press, the International Who's Who of Authors and Writers by Meirose Press, Ltd., and Love's Leading Ladies by Kathryn Falk. Her awards include seven Waldenbooks national sales awards, four B. Dalton national sales awards, two Bookrak national sales awards, a Lifetime Achievement Award for series storytelling from Romantic Times, several Affaire de Coeur awards, and two regional RWA awards.
Inspired by her husband, who quit a blue-collar manufacturing job to return to school and get his diploma in computer programming, Susan herself went back to college as a day student at the age of 45. In 1995, she graduated summa cum laude from Piedmont College, Demorest, GA, with a major in history and a double minor in archaeology and Spanish. She was named to two honor societies (the Torch Club and Alpha Chi), and was named to the National Dean's List. In addition to her writing projects, she is currently working on her master's degree in history at California State University. She hopes to specialize in Native American studies. She is a member of the Native American Rights Fund, the American Museum of Natural History, the National Cattlemen's Association, the Archaeological Institute of Amenca, the Planetary Society, The Georgia Conservancy, the Georgia Sheriff's Association, and numerous conservation and charitable organizations. Her hobbies include gardening, archaeology, anthropology, iguanas, astronomy and music.
In 1998, her husband retired from his own computer business and now pursues skeet shooting medals in local, state, national and international competition. They love riding around and looking at the countryside, watching sci-fi on TV and at the movies, just talking and eating out.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews
April 4, 2018
Feisty, Queen of the One-Liners, heiress heroine wants to slum it for a while as one of the great, unwashed masses, because she is sick and tired of friends and boyfriends wanting her for her money.
So she takes a job as a research assistant to an old lady historical romance author who lives with her widowed banker son and her cute plot moppet granddaughter.
In between discussing Jasper Tudor and the War of the Roses while wearing a blue, working-class chic, tube top, as you do, heroine manages to endear herself to her employer and to the plot moppet but as for the conservative, grumpy banker, sparks fly, and not in a lovey way, at least not at first.
I really enjoyed the first third of the story a lot, when the heroine had the upper hand, berating the hero at every turn for his sadly lacking parenting skills, humiliating and embarrassing him for his snobbishness and judgmental ways, especially in front of his infantile fiancee and her Dragon lady mother, always getting the last word, and oh joy, even managing to hit him in the face with a wet, cold, slimy carp.
No, that is not a gross euphemism, she was fishing at the time and she lost control of the fishing rod, swinging the fish that had been caught at the end of it backwards and into the unsuspecting hero's face. That was the high point of the book for me.
Unfortunately, things went downhill after the heroine let her treacherous body take control and her brain went on a vacation climbing Mount Himalaya on the other side of the world. *sigh* Isn't that always the way? The low point is when she let the H drag her to a freaking closet to make out with her during a high class party where his fiancee was supposed to be the guest of honor. How she put up with such disrespect from the H after all the times she had stood up to him, I will never know. Gross on both parts!
Not bad however overall for a Diana Palmer. In a twist, instead of having the hero drown the heroine in unwarranted insults about being a tarty gold-digging hall-of-famer, it is the heroine who gets to insult the debt-ridden hero for sleeping his way to the top.
Unfortunately, I never got over the feeling that the hero was in it for the money and I think that he would have happily married the rich OW and kept the heroine as a bit on the side if he hadn't found out she or at least her rich tycoon father, could buy and sell the OW twice over :~{
So she takes a job as a research assistant to an old lady historical romance author who lives with her widowed banker son and her cute plot moppet granddaughter.
In between discussing Jasper Tudor and the War of the Roses while wearing a blue, working-class chic, tube top, as you do, heroine manages to endear herself to her employer and to the plot moppet but as for the conservative, grumpy banker, sparks fly, and not in a lovey way, at least not at first.
I really enjoyed the first third of the story a lot, when the heroine had the upper hand, berating the hero at every turn for his sadly lacking parenting skills, humiliating and embarrassing him for his snobbishness and judgmental ways, especially in front of his infantile fiancee and her Dragon lady mother, always getting the last word, and oh joy, even managing to hit him in the face with a wet, cold, slimy carp.
No, that is not a gross euphemism, she was fishing at the time and she lost control of the fishing rod, swinging the fish that had been caught at the end of it backwards and into the unsuspecting hero's face. That was the high point of the book for me.
Unfortunately, things went downhill after the heroine let her treacherous body take control and her brain went on a vacation climbing Mount Himalaya on the other side of the world. *sigh* Isn't that always the way? The low point is when she let the H drag her to a freaking closet to make out with her during a high class party where his fiancee was supposed to be the guest of honor. How she put up with such disrespect from the H after all the times she had stood up to him, I will never know. Gross on both parts!
Not bad however overall for a Diana Palmer. In a twist, instead of having the hero drown the heroine in unwarranted insults about being a tarty gold-digging hall-of-famer, it is the heroine who gets to insult the debt-ridden hero for sleeping his way to the top.
Unfortunately, I never got over the feeling that the hero was in it for the money and I think that he would have happily married the rich OW and kept the heroine as a bit on the side if he hadn't found out she or at least her rich tycoon father, could buy and sell the OW twice over :~{
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 1, 2018
I think there are two types of Diana Palmer books, one where the hero are massive jerks and heroine simpering idiots and then there is this one, where the heroine is fabulous, she is witty, she is sassy, she is AWESOME! She calls a spade a spade and takes pleasure in pointing out short-coming of the hero as a dad, in his wardrobe and in that child he was considering marrying. I totally loved it. I am so glad I found this in my friend's Erika's favourites shelf. I often find myself going through my friends shelves to my find my next read. Am I the only one who does that?
April 9, 2022
As always the author's heroes are ogres.
In my point of view he is a cheater.
The heroine is pretty funny but does not stand up to the hero's raw charm and ends up inside the closet with him making out.
Next he is kissing his fiancee. Yes, the hero is engaged with a girl who is an heiress 19 years younger than him.
Our heroine is much richer than his fiancee, but she seeks true love and refuses to marry in convenience.
Even with the engagement our heroes have a night of unprotected sex. He regrets the act and she runs and returns home.
It has scenes typical of the author's books and the fans will like it.
In my point of view he is a cheater.
The heroine is pretty funny but does not stand up to the hero's raw charm and ends up inside the closet with him making out.
Next he is kissing his fiancee. Yes, the hero is engaged with a girl who is an heiress 19 years younger than him.
Our heroine is much richer than his fiancee, but she seeks true love and refuses to marry in convenience.
Even with the engagement our heroes have a night of unprotected sex. He regrets the act and she runs and returns home.
It has scenes typical of the author's books and the fans will like it.
Huffing and puffing, she matched pull with tug, until with one quick, sharp jerk, she flipped the fish out of the water... and right into Cameron Thorpe's face as he walked toward her down the slight hill.
"You have exquisite breasts."
She had to remember that he might dally with a pretty girl, but he wasn't about to ruin his chances of marrying an heiress. Especaily not with a woman he thought was a penniless historian.
"Cameron, don't," Delle was saying. "Honestly, you know I don't like being kissed so roughly. And you've mussed my dress!'' "It will press,'' he muttered.
"I see I wasn't the only one enjoying myself," she commented, staring pointedly at Delle's swollen mouth. "Of course, you two are engaged, aren't you?'' she added with rare venom and a cold smile. "Anything goes these days."
"Is he marrying her? Lately I've been having doubts." "You wouldn't if you'd seen them this morning," Merlyn muttered. Lila laughed softly. "Oh."
"About last night..." "Now, don't you worry," she said with a honeyed smile. "I understand perfectly that you wouldn't want me to get my hopes up just because you kissed me. Delle has gobs of money and I'm penniless." His chest rose and fell heavily, quickly.
"But it was, Merlyn," he said quietly, and his chiseled mouth curved softly. "I kissed Delle twice and felt your mouth both times."
"You might just remind yourself occasionally that you're engaged."
"I don't want you," he said coldly, desperately, as though he was trying to convince himself.
"How did we get on the subject of marriage?" he asked after a minute. "I don't remember proposing to you."
"I feel the same about mine. So does Delie," he added curtly. She smiled sadly. "Then marry her."
"I keep an apartment here in the city," he said after a minute, seemingly out of the blue. "Just for business. I've never taken a woman there." It seemed important to him that she understand that.
"Now shouldn't we circulate? After all," she added venomously, "Delle would be aghast at what you've been saying to me."
"You're a passionate man. You'll hate living with an ice cube." "At least I won't be vulnerable with her," he cut back.
He turned, and what she saw on his face made her want to cry. Because it wasn't love and happy ever after. It was bitter regret.
November 3, 2021
One of best DPs I've read so far, and a great chaser for Fearless (aka Rodrigo), which left a bad taste in my mouth. It's an early one (1984, Silhouette Desire), and I can see with this one why DP is so beloved. Laugh out loud funny, smoking hot, and sweet without being cloying or preachy. Loved the fiesty, sharp-witted, mouthy, free-spirit heroine, who is the perfect foil and fit for the buttoned-down hero who's alpha but not invulnerable. Add in great secondary characters, a plot that moves along briskly despite being a straight romance (no spies-like-us or cop capers that take up so much space in later DP novels), and some hilarious 80s fashion references (Halston, powder-blue tuxedos, musk and British Steel cologne!), and it's a real old-skool treat!
Sure, we've got the usual virgin worship, chesty foreplay, hairy hero, and soap-boxing (conservation, a DP fave), but we've also got a hero with vulnerabilities and a case of treacherous body syndrome that's even worse than the heroine's (aside: I think it's hilarious that DP's heroes are so often "minute men" on first encounters with the heroines, hee), a heroine who kicks ass, and lots of romance and intensity. One of my fave so far in DPs immense catalog!
Sure, we've got the usual virgin worship, chesty foreplay, hairy hero, and soap-boxing (conservation, a DP fave), but we've also got a hero with vulnerabilities and a case of treacherous body syndrome that's even worse than the heroine's (aside: I think it's hilarious that DP's heroes are so often "minute men" on first encounters with the heroines, hee), a heroine who kicks ass, and lots of romance and intensity. One of my fave so far in DPs immense catalog!
March 16, 2018
"Lady Love" is the story of Merlyn and Cameron.
When Merlyn is duped by her boyfriend Adam, and discovers his true incentive to marry her is her father's money- she decides to accept her father's challenge to be a different person.
Taking the job of assisting the writer Lila in her historical research, she pretends to be from a lower middle class family- but her calm demeanor is shattered when confronted with Lila's son and father to Amanda, Cameron, at whom she turns out to be at complete loggerheads, and soon passion ignites.
Extremely funny book with laugh out loud moments, hilarious leads with sizzling chemistry, hairy hero, innocent heroine, boob rubbing and uber Diana Palmer feels. I adored it from start to end and this has got to be one of my all time favorite DP books.
What a fantastic read. Couldnt stop laughing!
SWE
5/5
Ps. Loved the Jane Eyre and Mr Rochester references!
When Merlyn is duped by her boyfriend Adam, and discovers his true incentive to marry her is her father's money- she decides to accept her father's challenge to be a different person.
Taking the job of assisting the writer Lila in her historical research, she pretends to be from a lower middle class family- but her calm demeanor is shattered when confronted with Lila's son and father to Amanda, Cameron, at whom she turns out to be at complete loggerheads, and soon passion ignites.
Extremely funny book with laugh out loud moments, hilarious leads with sizzling chemistry, hairy hero, innocent heroine, boob rubbing and uber Diana Palmer feels. I adored it from start to end and this has got to be one of my all time favorite DP books.
What a fantastic read. Couldnt stop laughing!
SWE
5/5
Ps. Loved the Jane Eyre and Mr Rochester references!
July 22, 2021
Quick reading, low angst, funny.
I liked this one, really.
The heroine, a rich heiress, agrees with her father to sped one month working as an assistant to a writer. The writer is the hero's mother. Immediately the hero, a brooding and starched banker, is attracted to the heroine, who is funny and feisty.
He's engaged to a rich bimbo, not evil but stupid and naive. He needs her money to pay for his father's debt.
I liked the heroine is disguise. She was smart and clever, witty and pleasant. Not a doormat or a salivating teenager.
The hero is passionate about her.
I loved their first kissing: in the closet, no less! Making out in the closet during a party! It's been long I haven't read about it...
The part where they are in the closet and a drunk guest tries to retrieve his coat is exilarating!
Then they spend a night together and of course they have wild sex, but the day after the hero confesses that he knew she was not a working girl, but a rich heiress and the heroine thinks he only wants her for her money-
Misunderstandings and words later, they can eventually get married and be happy together, and with a baby on the way.
Cute and sweet.
The ow was a poor naive girl, not mean or cruel
Kissing with om and ow. The hero tries to kiss his fiancee but he doesn't want her, he thinks of the heroine instead. And the heroine kisses a friend of her but it's innocent. So not 100% safe but not much harm done.
They are immediately smitten from the start, and it's cute.
The hero's daughter is lovely, so as his mother and the heroine's father.
So, no abuses, no evil parents, only some misunderstandings.
And the hero grovels for his after sex behaviour.
Recommended for a safe and relaxing reading
I liked this one, really.
The heroine, a rich heiress, agrees with her father to sped one month working as an assistant to a writer. The writer is the hero's mother. Immediately the hero, a brooding and starched banker, is attracted to the heroine, who is funny and feisty.
He's engaged to a rich bimbo, not evil but stupid and naive. He needs her money to pay for his father's debt.
I liked the heroine is disguise. She was smart and clever, witty and pleasant. Not a doormat or a salivating teenager.
The hero is passionate about her.
I loved their first kissing: in the closet, no less! Making out in the closet during a party! It's been long I haven't read about it...
The part where they are in the closet and a drunk guest tries to retrieve his coat is exilarating!
Then they spend a night together and of course they have wild sex, but the day after the hero confesses that he knew she was not a working girl, but a rich heiress and the heroine thinks he only wants her for her money-
Misunderstandings and words later, they can eventually get married and be happy together, and with a baby on the way.
Cute and sweet.
The ow was a poor naive girl, not mean or cruel
Kissing with om and ow. The hero tries to kiss his fiancee but he doesn't want her, he thinks of the heroine instead. And the heroine kisses a friend of her but it's innocent. So not 100% safe but not much harm done.
They are immediately smitten from the start, and it's cute.
The hero's daughter is lovely, so as his mother and the heroine's father.
So, no abuses, no evil parents, only some misunderstandings.
And the hero grovels for his after sex behaviour.
Recommended for a safe and relaxing reading
November 17, 2019
Not remarkable!
December 30, 2015
Funny cute read!
December 8, 2018
The book was saved by the lovemaking scenes as the heroine was OTT snobbish and snooty. H was a delicious hunk and I wished that he ended up with his original fiancee. Everything was rushed and I think the romance was too far-fetched even for DP standards. The book could've been better if every good characteristic of h was handed to H's fiancee and h was treated as an OW. The romance would've been much sweeter if throughout the book discovers that his opinion of his fiancee is wrong and he loves the less rich girl of the two.
March 3, 2021
Una historia corta y entretenida, que me ha sacado unas cuantas risas.
No ha estado nada mal.
No ha estado nada mal.
August 18, 2013
I think my DP roll is going to come to an end soon. I'll read a book or two more, because I don't yet feel like going back into the world of non-asshole heroes and non-innocent heroines who are in love with them. God, DP. She is like a soothing balm for me, every once in a while when I get tired of reading awful, bitchy heroines and unpleasant plots, I always pick up a Palmer book. She always manages to have an uplifting effect on me, even if the book turns out to be not so good, even if I decide to give it a 1-star. She is just amazing for me. I FUCKING LOVE HER, DAMMIT!!!
Now my thoughts on this book. I didn't like it very much, TBH. It didn't do much for me (except get me *ahem* fanning myself a few times). The reason for it (for my dislike, not the fanning) was mainly the heroine, Merlyn. I hate rich-girl-poor-guy romances and I hate deception-themed romances even more. Merlyn was a spoiled rich girl with too many walls (that weren't even justified, IMO) and a carefree life. Cam was very swoon-worthy, though, I loved him so much! He was older, cynical, stuffy and fell hard for Merlyn. I absolutely love older, mature guys. His daughter Amanda was a sweetheart too ♥
The writing was, sadly, lacking, but I loved, loved the banter. The way Merlyn teases Cam using Jane Eyre innuendoes was hi-freakin'-larious!! I loved the Jane Eyre references as well, JE being my MOST favourite romance novel. The story was full of angst and the ending was so sweet, especially the serenading part which had me laughing my ass off. DP does homour very well too! All in all it was a cute read. I enjoyed it quite a bit.
Now my thoughts on this book. I didn't like it very much, TBH. It didn't do much for me (except get me *ahem* fanning myself a few times). The reason for it (for my dislike, not the fanning) was mainly the heroine, Merlyn. I hate rich-girl-poor-guy romances and I hate deception-themed romances even more. Merlyn was a spoiled rich girl with too many walls (that weren't even justified, IMO) and a carefree life. Cam was very swoon-worthy, though, I loved him so much! He was older, cynical, stuffy and fell hard for Merlyn. I absolutely love older, mature guys. His daughter Amanda was a sweetheart too ♥
The writing was, sadly, lacking, but I loved, loved the banter. The way Merlyn teases Cam using Jane Eyre innuendoes was hi-freakin'-larious!! I loved the Jane Eyre references as well, JE being my MOST favourite romance novel. The story was full of angst and the ending was so sweet, especially the serenading part which had me laughing my ass off. DP does homour very well too! All in all it was a cute read. I enjoyed it quite a bit.
September 13, 2021
Okay, the book was hilarious. I enjoyed reading it. I loved the hero and heroine's first meeting. It made me laugh out loud... Literally.
"Now now. Temper, temper. You'll hurt yourself."
"I'm so glad you like me, Mr. Thorpe. I like you too. Dark, somber men really turn me on."
I don't know if I like the heroine Merlyn or not. I felt ambivalent towards her. I liked her because she's funny, has a sense of humor, how she gets a rise out of Cameron, and stands up for herself. And at the same time, I don't like her for acting like a spoiled rich girl.
Cameron Thorpe, aww. *sigh* Hard as the nail on the outside but has a big heart, great sense of humor, knows how to sweep a girl off her feet, and a sweetheart. In short, he's swoon-worthy.
I liked other characters, too, especially Merlyn's father. But the three things I loved the most were the mention of Jane Eyre, their funny/witty banter, and the serenading part where Cameron ended up in jail. It was freaking hilarious, and had me in tears from laughing so hard. Best groveling moment ever! And the ending was delightful.
Diana Palmer never ceases to amaze me.
"Now now. Temper, temper. You'll hurt yourself."
"I'm so glad you like me, Mr. Thorpe. I like you too. Dark, somber men really turn me on."
I don't know if I like the heroine Merlyn or not. I felt ambivalent towards her. I liked her because she's funny, has a sense of humor, how she gets a rise out of Cameron, and stands up for herself. And at the same time, I don't like her for acting like a spoiled rich girl.
Cameron Thorpe, aww. *sigh* Hard as the nail on the outside but has a big heart, great sense of humor, knows how to sweep a girl off her feet, and a sweetheart. In short, he's swoon-worthy.
I liked other characters, too, especially Merlyn's father. But the three things I loved the most were the mention of Jane Eyre, their funny/witty banter, and the serenading part where Cameron ended up in jail. It was freaking hilarious, and had me in tears from laughing so hard. Best groveling moment ever! And the ending was delightful.
Diana Palmer never ceases to amaze me.
October 16, 2016
Full review in a few!
February 26, 2021
Different from all other DPs I’ve read. I didn’t find any humour that made me laugh or even be slightly amused. This was one of those books with flat, try-hard jokes that the h constantly makes to rile up the H.
Merlyn is filthy rich and the only heir to her father’s millions but, slightly beyond marriageable age (in DP standards) at twenty six. She can’t find a man who will love her for her and not her inheritance. Eventually she gets a brilliant idea to work under cover and see if she can distract herself and/or snare a true match for herself.
Tbh it was just really average writing. Not much romance I felt in the book. I also couldn’t like Merlyn with her ‘bubbly’ personality. Nothing exciting in this one!
Merlyn is filthy rich and the only heir to her father’s millions but, slightly beyond marriageable age (in DP standards) at twenty six. She can’t find a man who will love her for her and not her inheritance. Eventually she gets a brilliant idea to work under cover and see if she can distract herself and/or snare a true match for herself.
Tbh it was just really average writing. Not much romance I felt in the book. I also couldn’t like Merlyn with her ‘bubbly’ personality. Nothing exciting in this one!
Want to Read
November 17, 2019"Sed de deseo"
November 8, 2025
Tym razem "wzięłam na celownik" harlequin z serii "Gwiazdy Romansu", której Autorką jest Diana Palmer. To drugi tytuł tej znanej w świecie romansideł pisarki, z którym przyszło mi się mierzyć. I o ile wcześniejsze "Sny na jawie" były osadzone w klimacie rancza, tak w "Pracującej dziewczynie" próżno szukać koni i przystojnych kowbojów. Wydarzenia opisane w ksiażce mają miejsce w Stanach Zjednoczonych. Poznajemy rezolutną Merlyn Steele - córkę opływającego w luksusach bogacza, który pragnie męża dla swojej dwudziestosześcioletniej latorośli. Marzy też o wnukach. Dlatego usilnie stara się zeswatać Merlyn. Niestety, wszyscy kandydaci widzą w niej córkę bogatego ojca, z którym będą mogli robić interesy, a to dziewczynie nie odpowiada, gdyż ona pragnie prawdziwego uczucia. Każdy kandydat zostaje więc odprawiony z kwitkiem. Po kolejnym rozstaniu Merlyn stanowczo oznajmia ojcu, iż ma zaprzestać poszukiwań męża dla niej. Ojciec obiecuje, że już nigdy więcej nie będzie się bawił w swata, ale ma prośbę - dziewczyna ma przez miesiąc spróbować żyć na własny koszt, bez jego koneksji. W tym celu ma wyjechać do domu pewnej pisarki, żeby pomóc jej w szukaniu materiałów do książki. Merlyn się zgadza, ale nie wie, że to kolejny z misternych planów ojca... Wszak w domu, w którym zamieszka przebywa niejaki Cameron Thorpe...
Romans nie jest moim ulubionym gatunkiem. Jednakże tutaj, muszę przyznać, że książka Diane Palmer pozytywnie mnie zaskoczyła. Mamy tu mocno zarysowany motyw enemies to lovers, ciągnący się przez pól książki. Romans napisany jest w interesujący sposób. Ironia podszyta mocnym sarkazmem widoczna jest w większości dialogów między Merlyn a Cameronem. Historia opowiedziana na kartach tej książki jest prosta, ale coś każe śledzić losy głównej pary, zwłaszcza, kiedy do tej dwójki dołącza trzecia osoba oraz równie zabawny w zachowaniu Jared Steele...
W "Pracującej dziewczynie" do motywu enemies to lovers Autorka dodała sporą dawkę dialogów, które wręcz iskrzą sarkazmem: poczynając od inteligentnych przekomarzanek, w których ironia nie jest przypadkowym dodatkiem, ale wręcz kluczowym elementem, które buduje napięcie między bohaterami. Dla Merlyn humor i ironia jest tarczą obronną, mającą na celu odpierać urok Camerona, który z każdą chwilą coraz bardziej ją fascynuje. Wszak ma się ona za silną, niezależną kobietę, musi więc uchronić się przed zaangażowaniem. Natomiast sarkazm jest dla Pana Thorpe'a płaszczem, mającym ukryć jego romantyczną duszę. Tym bardziej słowne potyczki tej dwójki stają się interesujące - czytelnik z zaangażowaniem śledzi ich losy, chcąc przekonać się, co też z tych rozmów wyniknie. Nie sposób się nudzić, kiedy dwie tak silne osobowości nie szczędzą sobie ostrych ripost i ironicznych komentarzy. Ten humor w dialogach sprawia, że książka wciąga już od pierwszych rozdziałów. Dzięki temu książka Diany Palmer nie jest kolejnym, infantylnym, cukierkowym romansem, ale opowieścią, która z przekąsem nakreśla czytelnikowi historię relacji z całym jej bagażem chaosu trudności w kontakcie, które z czasem przeradzają się w dużą namiętność.
Prawdopodobnie nie przekonam do lektury osób, które nie przepadają za gatunkiem. Jednak, jeśli ktoś lubi takie romanse, w których bohaterowie nie potrafią się dogadać, ale mimo to nie mogą bez siebie żyć - to "Pracująca dziewczyna" na pewno przypadnie do gustu. A jeśli jeszcze do tego można się trochę pośmiać przy lekturze i trochę pokibicować któremuś z bohaterów - w tych ich walkach na słowa - to na pewno jest to książka idealna. A wiem, co mówię, bo tutaj jest komu kibicować: oprócz głównej pary mamy też ojca Merlyn, a sytuacje z nim (pod koniec książki) są bardzo zabawne, jednocześnie będąc trafione "w punkt". Pewność siebie tego mężczyzny jest przy tym wszystkim wręcz ujmująco słodka.
Nigdy nie przypuszczałam, że jakikolwiek romans typu harlequin nazwę błyskotliwie i naprawdę dobrze napisaną książką. Tymczasem, podczas lektury "Pracującej dziewczyny" świetnie się bawiłam, często łapiąc się na tym, że oto mam dobrze napisaną historię. Nie żałuję czasu spędzonego z tym romansem, a to już samo w sobie jest atutem.
Opinia opublikowana na moim blogu:
https://literackiepodrozebooki.blogsp...
Romans nie jest moim ulubionym gatunkiem. Jednakże tutaj, muszę przyznać, że książka Diane Palmer pozytywnie mnie zaskoczyła. Mamy tu mocno zarysowany motyw enemies to lovers, ciągnący się przez pól książki. Romans napisany jest w interesujący sposób. Ironia podszyta mocnym sarkazmem widoczna jest w większości dialogów między Merlyn a Cameronem. Historia opowiedziana na kartach tej książki jest prosta, ale coś każe śledzić losy głównej pary, zwłaszcza, kiedy do tej dwójki dołącza trzecia osoba oraz równie zabawny w zachowaniu Jared Steele...
W "Pracującej dziewczynie" do motywu enemies to lovers Autorka dodała sporą dawkę dialogów, które wręcz iskrzą sarkazmem: poczynając od inteligentnych przekomarzanek, w których ironia nie jest przypadkowym dodatkiem, ale wręcz kluczowym elementem, które buduje napięcie między bohaterami. Dla Merlyn humor i ironia jest tarczą obronną, mającą na celu odpierać urok Camerona, który z każdą chwilą coraz bardziej ją fascynuje. Wszak ma się ona za silną, niezależną kobietę, musi więc uchronić się przed zaangażowaniem. Natomiast sarkazm jest dla Pana Thorpe'a płaszczem, mającym ukryć jego romantyczną duszę. Tym bardziej słowne potyczki tej dwójki stają się interesujące - czytelnik z zaangażowaniem śledzi ich losy, chcąc przekonać się, co też z tych rozmów wyniknie. Nie sposób się nudzić, kiedy dwie tak silne osobowości nie szczędzą sobie ostrych ripost i ironicznych komentarzy. Ten humor w dialogach sprawia, że książka wciąga już od pierwszych rozdziałów. Dzięki temu książka Diany Palmer nie jest kolejnym, infantylnym, cukierkowym romansem, ale opowieścią, która z przekąsem nakreśla czytelnikowi historię relacji z całym jej bagażem chaosu trudności w kontakcie, które z czasem przeradzają się w dużą namiętność.
Prawdopodobnie nie przekonam do lektury osób, które nie przepadają za gatunkiem. Jednak, jeśli ktoś lubi takie romanse, w których bohaterowie nie potrafią się dogadać, ale mimo to nie mogą bez siebie żyć - to "Pracująca dziewczyna" na pewno przypadnie do gustu. A jeśli jeszcze do tego można się trochę pośmiać przy lekturze i trochę pokibicować któremuś z bohaterów - w tych ich walkach na słowa - to na pewno jest to książka idealna. A wiem, co mówię, bo tutaj jest komu kibicować: oprócz głównej pary mamy też ojca Merlyn, a sytuacje z nim (pod koniec książki) są bardzo zabawne, jednocześnie będąc trafione "w punkt". Pewność siebie tego mężczyzny jest przy tym wszystkim wręcz ujmująco słodka.
Nigdy nie przypuszczałam, że jakikolwiek romans typu harlequin nazwę błyskotliwie i naprawdę dobrze napisaną książką. Tymczasem, podczas lektury "Pracującej dziewczyny" świetnie się bawiłam, często łapiąc się na tym, że oto mam dobrze napisaną historię. Nie żałuję czasu spędzonego z tym romansem, a to już samo w sobie jest atutem.
Opinia opublikowana na moim blogu:
https://literackiepodrozebooki.blogsp...
April 1, 2022
Read for uni.
Merlyn was so FUCKING annoying. Deadass. Also return of the ‘hehe cheeky father figure actually set up his rich daughter with an equally rich business partner hehehe what a scoundrel’. Also the whole gaslighting merlyn into thinking she was pregnant to get her to marry Cameron was very uncomfortable and weird.
Merlyn was so FUCKING annoying. Deadass. Also return of the ‘hehe cheeky father figure actually set up his rich daughter with an equally rich business partner hehehe what a scoundrel’. Also the whole gaslighting merlyn into thinking she was pregnant to get her to marry Cameron was very uncomfortable and weird.
August 2, 2022
I really enjoyed this because the h was awesome.
1. She is richer than the H
2. She has zero f**ks to give
3. She is a nice person
4. She tells the H what a muppet he is as a father and a suitor and a dresser
5. She hits him in the face with an actual fish
6. She has a spine
The h is sick of men wanting he for her (or her dads) $$$ so he sets her up to work for a living for a month then he will stop trying to marry her off to plonkers. The bet is afoot and the h works for the H's mum who looks after her grandaughter as the H is a workaholic and a fool who doesn't appreciate what he has.
The h is a breath of fresh air trying to pretend to be a regular working lady but she doesn't take any abuse from the H who thinks he is better than her while wanting her desperately. His fiancee and mother treat her badly so its great to see the tables turned when she leaves and they are invited onto her turf and she outshines and out-riches them all.
Super fun as the H has to stop being a boring stuffed shirt to get his h.
1. She is richer than the H
2. She has zero f**ks to give
3. She is a nice person
4. She tells the H what a muppet he is as a father and a suitor and a dresser
5. She hits him in the face with an actual fish
6. She has a spine
The h is sick of men wanting he for her (or her dads) $$$ so he sets her up to work for a living for a month then he will stop trying to marry her off to plonkers. The bet is afoot and the h works for the H's mum who looks after her grandaughter as the H is a workaholic and a fool who doesn't appreciate what he has.
The h is a breath of fresh air trying to pretend to be a regular working lady but she doesn't take any abuse from the H who thinks he is better than her while wanting her desperately. His fiancee and mother treat her badly so its great to see the tables turned when she leaves and they are invited onto her turf and she outshines and out-riches them all.
Super fun as the H has to stop being a boring stuffed shirt to get his h.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 11, 2017
Well, buku ini dibuat tahun 1984. Jadi nggak heran kalau agak "tua". Bulu dada sama sekali bukan favorite. Ha!
Terjemahannya jg nggak kalah kaku.
Terjemahannya jg nggak kalah kaku.
October 20, 2010
This one was actually fun! In some of her older books, DP's heroines sometimes make me want to slap them, but I really enjoyed Merlyn's sass and the way she poked and prodded her way past Cam's stuffiness. That and the fact that this is one of DP's heroines who, although a virgin, has actually heard about sex makes Merlyn a favorite DP character:-)
August 7, 2014
I liked it, even though there are some parts that made me rolled my eyes. Mostly because the Hero is super annoying, he made me want to smack him in the face. It's just, he's so mean towards the heroine yet he admit that he "want" the heroine. Weirdo.
But overall I enjoyed this book. Look forward to read another Diana Palmer's books.
But overall I enjoyed this book. Look forward to read another Diana Palmer's books.
May 18, 2020
s. 31 Napadlo ji, jaký je asi v posteli (...) Třeba má ještě méně zkušeností než ona, i když je ještě panna.
Až tak? Hrdina byl ženatý a má dítě, takže je to odvážná myšlenka.
Frackovitá hrdinka měla být asi zábavná a roztomilá. Ale nebyla.
s. 42 „Myslely si, že pomáháte mně a ne mojí matce, tak jsem to uvedl na pravou míru.“
Znovu?
s. 33 ...zasáhl Cameron chladně. „Pomáhá matce pracovat na nové knize.“
s. 85 Margaretou Duchessovou s Burgundy
Jistě by to šlo i lépe.
s. 16 zkousnout
s. 25 ne ...
s. 28 Jindřicha sedmého
s. 36 zamilovné
s. 97 procházky.?
anotace - Marlyn[Merlyn]
ji/jí - s. 15, 18, 47, 91
uvozovky – s. 15
špatné dělení slov - s. 32
Až tak? Hrdina byl ženatý a má dítě, takže je to odvážná myšlenka.
Frackovitá hrdinka měla být asi zábavná a roztomilá. Ale nebyla.
s. 42 „Myslely si, že pomáháte mně a ne mojí matce, tak jsem to uvedl na pravou míru.“
Znovu?
s. 33 ...zasáhl Cameron chladně. „Pomáhá matce pracovat na nové knize.“
s. 85 Margaretou Duchessovou s Burgundy
Jistě by to šlo i lépe.
s. 16 zkousnout
s. 25 ne ...
s. 28 Jindřicha sedmého
s. 36 zamilovné
s. 97 procházky.?
anotace - Marlyn[Merlyn]
ji/jí - s. 15, 18, 47, 91
uvozovky – s. 15
špatné dělení slov - s. 32
May 27, 2021
If you’re looking for more ambitious story this is not the book. But if you want a light, naive read it would be OK. You won’t find any hidden depths.
The heroine was kind of funny but for someone from the upper crust she lacked sophistication. It showed mostly in her banter with the H . She sometimes crossed the line and appeared too cheeky. And should I applaud that she decided to work for one month in stead of rely on her father money? Then she started to antagonize and tease the H trying to make him notice her despite that the H was engaged.
I would like to read more books about women who are engineers or scientists or doctors. This one has BC in history. Not bad but not that impressive to me.
I won’t write about the H because I expected him to behave badly knowing it was DP’s book, calculating, flirting with the heroine while involved with OW.
The heroine was kind of funny but for someone from the upper crust she lacked sophistication. It showed mostly in her banter with the H . She sometimes crossed the line and appeared too cheeky. And should I applaud that she decided to work for one month in stead of rely on her father money? Then she started to antagonize and tease the H trying to make him notice her despite that the H was engaged.
I would like to read more books about women who are engineers or scientists or doctors. This one has BC in history. Not bad but not that impressive to me.
I won’t write about the H because I expected him to behave badly knowing it was DP’s book, calculating, flirting with the heroine while involved with OW.
May 1, 2018
This was so unexpected from Diana Palmer! I have read a lot of her books starting from when I was like 17 years old and almost all of them follow the same pattern of sexually repressed lead h's and overly arrogant asshole H. Merlyn was a great character. She was confidant and passionate and even when she knew she was falling in love with Cameron she still kept her wits about her didn't revert to a lovesick twat. Her dad was very funny and it was great to see they had a close relationship where they could joke around about her possibly being pregnant and Cameron's complete change from the ice man to being an easy going and affection man made my inner pre-teen self swoon. LOL!
May 8, 2018
This is an author I read a long time ago and in reading this I remembered why I stopped. To be fair this is one of her old books (mid 80s) but the chauvinism and domineering "hero" just doesn't translate well to this era. I liked the heroine's grit and pride in herself but of course in the end she falls for the chauvinist. Aside from all of That, the book itself makes wild jumps in emotion and left me wondering how each character could adapt that fast. That was my first hint that this was an early novel, this author has grown a lot in her genre even if those domineering tendencies can still be found in her later books.
March 4, 2020
The rich met his match
Absolutely wonderful way to make a woman remember the kind of love for her first man and last for life. This is terribly enchanting and wickedly awesome characters. Diana you'll always be the the very best author with this fan. Started reading your books years ago over three decades. I'll always be waiting for the most pleasurable reading new ones for this Texas gal who's six and pray you are blessed for many more years. You are so gifted thank you Carmen
Absolutely wonderful way to make a woman remember the kind of love for her first man and last for life. This is terribly enchanting and wickedly awesome characters. Diana you'll always be the the very best author with this fan. Started reading your books years ago over three decades. I'll always be waiting for the most pleasurable reading new ones for this Texas gal who's six and pray you are blessed for many more years. You are so gifted thank you Carmen
August 15, 2024
I should have loved this book. The heroine of course is a DP virgin, but she’s not shy, orphaned, hopelessly naive or inexperienced. She’s feisty and witty.
There is also a slightly descriptive hot all the way scene which hasn’t happened in the DP of 79-83.
The hero doesn’t throw her down with horrible insults either.
But I didn’t like this book! Maybe there’s too much dialogue not enough introspection. Or too much banter not enough passion/love. Or that this hero is engaged to someone else through the book.
It al just didn’t work for me.
There is also a slightly descriptive hot all the way scene which hasn’t happened in the DP of 79-83.
The hero doesn’t throw her down with horrible insults either.
But I didn’t like this book! Maybe there’s too much dialogue not enough introspection. Or too much banter not enough passion/love. Or that this hero is engaged to someone else through the book.
It al just didn’t work for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 17, 2022
Kolejną nowelą z serii „Sezon na miłość”, którą miałam okazję poznać jest książka pod tytułem „Pracująca dziewczyna”.
Jest to pozycja pochodząca z roku 1984 i nieposiadająca swej kontynuacji…
Jak mi się spodobała?
Zapraszam do zapoznania się z moją opinią…
https://taka-jest-agata.blogspot.com/...
Jest to pozycja pochodząca z roku 1984 i nieposiadająca swej kontynuacji…
Jak mi się spodobała?
Zapraszam do zapoznania się z moją opinią…
https://taka-jest-agata.blogspot.com/...
September 9, 2024
La pase muy bien leyendo este libro, me gusto mucho la quimica de Merlyn y Cameron。
Habian momentos que me parecieron muy graciosos de la protagonista cuando lo molestaba y le hacia bromas hasta volverlo loco (😂😏).
En resumen fue una agradable y entretenida lectura.❤️
Calificacion final: 5 estrellas✨
Habian momentos que me parecieron muy graciosos de la protagonista cuando lo molestaba y le hacia bromas hasta volverlo loco (😂😏).
En resumen fue una agradable y entretenida lectura.❤️
Calificacion final: 5 estrellas✨
February 16, 2021
Entertaining love story
I love how the characters were opposites and always getting a rise out of each other. It was funny and sweet watching their love develop as they both found themselves doing things out of character.
I love how the characters were opposites and always getting a rise out of each other. It was funny and sweet watching their love develop as they both found themselves doing things out of character.
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