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City Brides #2
Kejutan Di Kencan Buta / The Blind-Date Proposal
Di mata Finn McBride, Kate adalah sekretaris yang ceroboh dan tidak dapat diandalkan. Kate selalu datang terlambat, dan menghabiskan waktunya di kantor untuk mengganggu orang lain atau bergosip di telepon. Namun ternyata justru wanita itulah yang dianggap cocok oleh teman-temannya untuk menjadi ibu tiri anaknya! Di mata Kate Savage, Finn adalah bos yang mengerikan. Pria itu kaku, pemurung, dan selalu bersikap kasar. Betapa terkejutnya Kate ketika ternyata teman-temannya menjodohkannya dengan pria itu melalui kencan buta. Namun ketika Finn meminta Kate untuk menjadi tunangannya untuk mengelabui kakaknya, Kate tidak bisa menolak. Hingga akhirnya Kate menyadari perasaan cintanya pada pria itu bukan sekadar sandiwara. Haruskah Kate mengatakan perasaannya yang sesungguhnya? Sanggupkah Kate tetap meneruskan sandiwara pertunangan itu?
272 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2003
6 people are currently reading
129 people want to read
About the author
Jessica Hart
484 books137 followersAfter a haphazard career spent working and travelling around the world, I stumbled into romance writing as a way to fund a PhD. My first book, A Sweeter Prejudice, came out in 1991, and since then I've written a further 59 books, some of which have won awards in the US and the UK.
I live in York, a historic city in the north of England, and waste the best part of my days planning trips away or on Facebook and Twitter, both of which mean that I end up writing late into the night. As well as romance, I write 'time slips' as Pamela Hartshorne, and am a freelance project editor and occasional writing tutor.
In May 2013 I will publishing the Jessica Hart Vintage Collection of five of my early books from the 90s.
For news of forthcoming books and exclusive offers, do sign up for my newsletter: email jessica@jessicahart.co.uk or come and find me on Facebook.
I live in York, a historic city in the north of England, and waste the best part of my days planning trips away or on Facebook and Twitter, both of which mean that I end up writing late into the night. As well as romance, I write 'time slips' as Pamela Hartshorne, and am a freelance project editor and occasional writing tutor.
In May 2013 I will publishing the Jessica Hart Vintage Collection of five of my early books from the 90s.
For news of forthcoming books and exclusive offers, do sign up for my newsletter: email jessica@jessicahart.co.uk or come and find me on Facebook.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
February 22, 2012
4 Stars! ~ When Kate Savage’s ex-boyfriend claimed to their mutual employer that Kate was stalking him, she’d been asked to resign and wasn’t given a glowing reference. This forced her to sign on with a temp agency, which put her in as Finn McBride’s temp PA. Kate’s vivacious personality quickly clashes with Finn’s straight-laced regime, and neither seems overly impressed with the other. Kate’s flabbergasted when her best friend sets her up on a blind-date and it turns out to be Finn, esp. after it’s been well discussed how she hates her new boss! Finn’s a widower and he’s been coaxed by his sister to find a mother for his nine-year-old daughter, thus his agreeing to the blind date. When his housekeeper has to go out of town to nurse her ailing mother, Finn is forced to bring his daughter, Alex to the office, as it’s a school holiday. Alex takes to Kate immediately and when Finn’s PA is ready to return to her job, he asks Kate if she’ll be a live-in nanny housekeeper, and then to pretend to be his fiancée while his meddling sister comes for a visit. It doesn’t take long for Kate to have feelings for Finn, but it’s pretty obvious to her that he’s still very much in love with his late wife.
This was a marvelous read! I connected instantly with Kate and her adventures. She’s the sort of girl who is constantly putting her pretty foot from her mouth. Finn is so devastatingly attractive and he’s been through so much, she can’t help but fall in love with him and his daughter. Finn doesn’t believe there is another love of his life out there, even though Kate and her quirkiness charm him. I enjoyed this very much and rooted whole-heartedly for their HEA. I’m looking forward to Bella’s story next!
This was a marvelous read! I connected instantly with Kate and her adventures. She’s the sort of girl who is constantly putting her pretty foot from her mouth. Finn is so devastatingly attractive and he’s been through so much, she can’t help but fall in love with him and his daughter. Finn doesn’t believe there is another love of his life out there, even though Kate and her quirkiness charm him. I enjoyed this very much and rooted whole-heartedly for their HEA. I’m looking forward to Bella’s story next!
June 20, 2011
The story is this: Kate, the female character, is temping for a boss she just can't get on with, and the feelings mutual. She's also a little fragile at the moment after recently being dumped and fired on the same day! Kate is a nice person, who is always rescuing stray animals, and has a desire to be a 'city girl' but deep down longs for a simple life domesticity and children, she's also a little eccentric! Finn, the male character, is a widower with a daughter, he is very serious and organised and clashes with Kate all the time. They are set up on a blind date by mutual friends, to hilarious consequences, after which their relationship begins to develop to the point of Finn asking Kate to move in and pretend to be his fiancée in order to keep his meddling sister off his back.
Remember when I mentioned that the blind date had hilarious consequences, well it does! Both of them pretend they haven't met before, the awkwardness combined with the digs they keep taking at each other is so funny that I was both cringing and giggling! I loved that the character of Kate was written so honestly, she's not perfect i.e. she doesn't really have any high-flying career ambitions, she would love to just be a housewife but isn't the tidiest of people (something I relate to very much, just ask my husband!!), she's also not the thinnest or most beautiful of women! I can't enthuse enough how refreshing it was to have a character that is simply 'normal'! Once again the banter and wit of Jessica Hart's characters is fantastic! The only thing I found disappointing about this book (and its a very tiny thing) is that its written entirely from Kate's point of view, I would have liked to have been able to have an insight into Finn's thoughts/feelings!
Definitely a great read!
Originally posted at http://everyday-is-the-same.blogspot....
Remember when I mentioned that the blind date had hilarious consequences, well it does! Both of them pretend they haven't met before, the awkwardness combined with the digs they keep taking at each other is so funny that I was both cringing and giggling! I loved that the character of Kate was written so honestly, she's not perfect i.e. she doesn't really have any high-flying career ambitions, she would love to just be a housewife but isn't the tidiest of people (something I relate to very much, just ask my husband!!), she's also not the thinnest or most beautiful of women! I can't enthuse enough how refreshing it was to have a character that is simply 'normal'! Once again the banter and wit of Jessica Hart's characters is fantastic! The only thing I found disappointing about this book (and its a very tiny thing) is that its written entirely from Kate's point of view, I would have liked to have been able to have an insight into Finn's thoughts/feelings!
Definitely a great read!
Originally posted at http://everyday-is-the-same.blogspot....
May 4, 2014
3 ½ stars. Enjoyable romance. Light reading. Feel good.
Harlequin -- 2/3 the length of a regular novel. It’s third person but it feels like 1st person Kate. We are in her head throughout the book. We don’t know what the hero is thinking or feeling. The author uses this to create anguish and insecurities in Kate’s head. There are several conflicts where Kate “assumes” he doesn’t like her or want her - and the reader does not know. A separation happens because he “assumes” something inaccurate about her. If one of them had told the other their feelings, the conflicts would be resolved. I do not like that kind of plot. I’d rather see other interactions as they get to know each other instead of wrong assumptions.
I enjoyed the characters and other parts of the story -- especially the relationship between Alex (the daughter) and Kate.
DATA:
Narrative mode: 3rd person. Story length: 183 pages. Swearing language: mild. Sexual language: none. Number of sex scenes: one, plus one or two mentions of sex with no details. Setting: current day probably U.K. Copyright: 2003. Genre: contemporary romance.
Harlequin -- 2/3 the length of a regular novel. It’s third person but it feels like 1st person Kate. We are in her head throughout the book. We don’t know what the hero is thinking or feeling. The author uses this to create anguish and insecurities in Kate’s head. There are several conflicts where Kate “assumes” he doesn’t like her or want her - and the reader does not know. A separation happens because he “assumes” something inaccurate about her. If one of them had told the other their feelings, the conflicts would be resolved. I do not like that kind of plot. I’d rather see other interactions as they get to know each other instead of wrong assumptions.
I enjoyed the characters and other parts of the story -- especially the relationship between Alex (the daughter) and Kate.
DATA:
Narrative mode: 3rd person. Story length: 183 pages. Swearing language: mild. Sexual language: none. Number of sex scenes: one, plus one or two mentions of sex with no details. Setting: current day probably U.K. Copyright: 2003. Genre: contemporary romance.
January 29, 2023
A light read. Two normal people in a normal romance. No drama’s.
October 24, 2022
Whimsical, free-spirited girl crosses paths with uptight business man, and sparks fly.
In order to enjoy this book, you have to get into Finn's head. The problem is that the author never lets you have access to his thoughts, so you have to *IMAGINE* what he's thinking, feeling, and coming to understand about himself and about Kate.
Kate, on the other hand, is completely open to us, as readers. She's mouthy, generous, passionate, loyal, and a little too eager to please. She thinks Finn is gorgeous and smart, serious and deep, loyal and devoted to the memory of his late wife. She can't help herself liking him, wanting him. She's willing to even take table scraps.
As for Finn, he's kept an enigma. I kind of like that everything *WASN'T* disclosed about him. That he was set apart from the story, left for us to decipher for ourselves. You don't see that so much in books, where everything has to be spelled out for the reader.
Made it an intriguing read.
In order to enjoy this book, you have to get into Finn's head. The problem is that the author never lets you have access to his thoughts, so you have to *IMAGINE* what he's thinking, feeling, and coming to understand about himself and about Kate.
Kate, on the other hand, is completely open to us, as readers. She's mouthy, generous, passionate, loyal, and a little too eager to please. She thinks Finn is gorgeous and smart, serious and deep, loyal and devoted to the memory of his late wife. She can't help herself liking him, wanting him. She's willing to even take table scraps.
As for Finn, he's kept an enigma. I kind of like that everything *WASN'T* disclosed about him. That he was set apart from the story, left for us to decipher for ourselves. You don't see that so much in books, where everything has to be spelled out for the reader.
Made it an intriguing read.
November 9, 2020
Di mata Finn, Kate adalah sekretaris pengganti dengan sejumlah kekurangan. Selalu terlambat, tidak modis, dan seringkali membuatnya kesal. Sementara di mata Kate, Finn adalah bos yang menyebalkan dan menutup diri. Ketika keduanya bertemu dalam kencan buta yang diatur oleh sahabatnya, tentu saja keduanya menolak untuk menjadi pasangan.
Menariknya dalam HQ ini adalah chemistry yang tidak instan seperti halnya romansa HQ lainnya. Diperlukan skenario tunangan pura-pura dan keterlibatan anak perempuan Finn, seekor anjing, dan kakak yang suka mengatur di dalamnya. Nice story
Menariknya dalam HQ ini adalah chemistry yang tidak instan seperti halnya romansa HQ lainnya. Diperlukan skenario tunangan pura-pura dan keterlibatan anak perempuan Finn, seekor anjing, dan kakak yang suka mengatur di dalamnya. Nice story
July 29, 2019
Baguus, saya sukaaaa..., meski tidak ada adegan panas, tapi enak diikuti n ceritanya tidak bertele-tele. Asík juga kalo POV-nya dari sisi Kate saja, kita jadi menebak-nebak terus isi pikiran Finn. Beneran mewek saya pas Kate merasa harus menolak lamaran Finn.
November 18, 2019
2/3 stars
April 8, 2021
مضى وقت طويل لم أقرأ فيه رواية تمنيت أن تصبح فيلما بقدر هذه الرواية ... لطيفة وسهلة القراءة وممتعة 😬✨
September 13, 2013
Karena Alison, sekretaris Finn McBridge, mengalami cidera kaki maka Finn memutuskan untuk memperkerjakan Kate sebagai sekretaris sementaranya. Tapi Finn sungguh dibuat kerepotan karena sifat Kate yang ceroboh dan suka membalas perkataannya. Sampai pada suatu malam, mereka berdua dipertemukan dalam kencan buta oleh kedua teman mereka, Gib dan Phoebe. Merasa malu, akhirnya Kate berusaha memperbaiki sikap kerjanya sampai Alison sembuh dan mengambil pekerjaannya kembali.
Tak disangka, Alex putri Finn, sangat menyukai Kate dan berharap Kate bisa terus menjadi sekretaris ayahnya. Akan tetapi hal tersebut tidak mungkin terjadi, karena Alison sudah masuk kembali untuk bekerja. Finn mencetuskan ide untuk Kate menjadi pengurus rumah tangga di rumahnya, karena sejak kematian istrinya, Finn terus sibuk pada pekerjaannya dan membuat Alex menjadi kesepian.
Harihari Kate menjadi pengurus rumah tangga di rumah Finn dimulai dan berjalan lancar sampai pada berita kedatangan kakak perempuan Finn. Karena tak mau dipusingkan urusan perjodohan, Finn meminta Kate untuk berpura-pura menjadi tunangannya. Kate tak bisa menolak, karena kate juga membutuhkan gaji yang ditawarkan Finn. Sandiwara berjalan lancar dan membuat Finn dan Kate semakin dekat, dan akhirnya menyadari bahwa mereka saling mencintai.
--
Kisah romance yang sweet dan menggelitik, bikin cengar-cengir waktu membacanya. Not bad, buat mengisi waktu senggang saat mood sedang ingin membaca bacaan romance yang ringan.
Tak disangka, Alex putri Finn, sangat menyukai Kate dan berharap Kate bisa terus menjadi sekretaris ayahnya. Akan tetapi hal tersebut tidak mungkin terjadi, karena Alison sudah masuk kembali untuk bekerja. Finn mencetuskan ide untuk Kate menjadi pengurus rumah tangga di rumahnya, karena sejak kematian istrinya, Finn terus sibuk pada pekerjaannya dan membuat Alex menjadi kesepian.
Harihari Kate menjadi pengurus rumah tangga di rumah Finn dimulai dan berjalan lancar sampai pada berita kedatangan kakak perempuan Finn. Karena tak mau dipusingkan urusan perjodohan, Finn meminta Kate untuk berpura-pura menjadi tunangannya. Kate tak bisa menolak, karena kate juga membutuhkan gaji yang ditawarkan Finn. Sandiwara berjalan lancar dan membuat Finn dan Kate semakin dekat, dan akhirnya menyadari bahwa mereka saling mencintai.
--
Kisah romance yang sweet dan menggelitik, bikin cengar-cengir waktu membacanya. Not bad, buat mengisi waktu senggang saat mood sedang ingin membaca bacaan romance yang ringan.
February 24, 2008
Kate sang sekretaris pengganti dan Finn -bosnya- tidak saling menyukai, maka mereka berdua sangat kaget ketika ternyata mereka dijodohkan dalam satu kencan buta yang diatur oleh teman Kate.
Kate sendiri sebenarnya malu. Apalagi mengingat Kate selalu menjelek-jelekkan Finn di depan teman-temannya. Tapi, berlanjut dari kencan buta ini, Finn malah meminta Kate untuk berpura pura menjadi tunangannya. Ini untuk mengelabui kakak Finn yang akan datang dari luar negeri dan berniat menjodohkan Finn.
Maka, Kate pun pindah ke rumah Finn. Siapa sangka dari sini ketertarikan mereka berdua timbul. Terlebih lagi saat Finn melihat Kate yang sangat akrab dengan putri tunggalnya.
Kate sendiri sebenarnya malu. Apalagi mengingat Kate selalu menjelek-jelekkan Finn di depan teman-temannya. Tapi, berlanjut dari kencan buta ini, Finn malah meminta Kate untuk berpura pura menjadi tunangannya. Ini untuk mengelabui kakak Finn yang akan datang dari luar negeri dan berniat menjodohkan Finn.
Maka, Kate pun pindah ke rumah Finn. Siapa sangka dari sini ketertarikan mereka berdua timbul. Terlebih lagi saat Finn melihat Kate yang sangat akrab dengan putri tunggalnya.
Read
July 1, 2013عندما يبتسم الليل
جيسيكا هارت
حظ كايت سافيدج العاثر جعلها تعمل لدى مدير حول حياتها إلى جحيم . لعله أجمل رجل رأته في حياتها . لكنه يجعلها تكره الساعة التي عملت فيها لديه 24 ساعة في اليوم 7 أيام في الأسبوع .
وفي اليوم الذي أراد فيه أصدقاء كايت أن يروحوا عنها قليلا دعوها إلى لقاء رجل أرمل لا تعرفه ولم يكد نظر كايت يقع على الرجل الذي كان بانتظارها حتى أحست بصدمة قوية الرجل الغامض الذي يقف أمامها ليس سوى فيني ماكبرايد ... مديرها !
صحيح أن كايت مستعدة دائما للقبول بالتحديات .. لكن أن تتورط مع رئيسها ! هذا ما لم يكن بالحسبان !
طلب منها ان تكون مربيه لطفله
القصه الثانيه لثلاث صديقات يسكنون سويا
جيسيكا هارت
حظ كايت سافيدج العاثر جعلها تعمل لدى مدير حول حياتها إلى جحيم . لعله أجمل رجل رأته في حياتها . لكنه يجعلها تكره الساعة التي عملت فيها لديه 24 ساعة في اليوم 7 أيام في الأسبوع .
وفي اليوم الذي أراد فيه أصدقاء كايت أن يروحوا عنها قليلا دعوها إلى لقاء رجل أرمل لا تعرفه ولم يكد نظر كايت يقع على الرجل الذي كان بانتظارها حتى أحست بصدمة قوية الرجل الغامض الذي يقف أمامها ليس سوى فيني ماكبرايد ... مديرها !
صحيح أن كايت مستعدة دائما للقبول بالتحديات .. لكن أن تتورط مع رئيسها ! هذا ما لم يكن بالحسبان !
طلب منها ان تكون مربيه لطفله
القصه الثانيه لثلاث صديقات يسكنون سويا
June 30, 2008
Kate sang sekretaris pengganti dan Finn -bosnya- tidak saling menyukai, maka mereka berdua sangat kaget ketika ternyata mereka dijodohkan dalam satu kencan buta yang diatur oleh teman Kate.
Berlanjut dari kencan buta ini, Finn malah meminta Kate untuk berpura pura menjadi tunangannya. Siapa sangka dari sini ketertarikan mereka berdua timbul. Terlebih lagi saat Finn melihat Kate yang sangat akrab dengan putri tunggalnya.
Berlanjut dari kencan buta ini, Finn malah meminta Kate untuk berpura pura menjadi tunangannya. Siapa sangka dari sini ketertarikan mereka berdua timbul. Terlebih lagi saat Finn melihat Kate yang sangat akrab dengan putri tunggalnya.
August 26, 2014
جيسكا هارت لديها اسلوب مميز في اظهار شخصية البطلة,,فأول صفحات تجد كايت
التي تحب الحيوانات ونوعا ما خرقاء لاتصلح للعمل لكنها تحب الطبخ والعناية بالحديقة
فتحولت نظرة البطل اليها للافضل رأها بمنظور اخر
طبعا انا قرأت الجزء الاول من السلسلة وهي فيبي وبقى الجزء الاخير لبيلا ..
واتمنى ان يكون بروعة الروايتين
التي تحب الحيوانات ونوعا ما خرقاء لاتصلح للعمل لكنها تحب الطبخ والعناية بالحديقة
فتحولت نظرة البطل اليها للافضل رأها بمنظور اخر
طبعا انا قرأت الجزء الاول من السلسلة وهي فيبي وبقى الجزء الاخير لبيلا ..
واتمنى ان يكون بروعة الروايتين
May 16, 2008
another cinderella story, a perfect dream of every woman...having a rich & handsome boss, then marry him..
big & luxury house, supporting family...yeah, right.
well, life is full of surprises, right??
big & luxury house, supporting family...yeah, right.
well, life is full of surprises, right??
April 23, 2012
This was such a fun and quick read! I always enjoy Ms. Hart's characters and, in my opinion, she writes the best conservative, uptight hero & funny, sweet heroine stories. Give this book a chance, you won't be sorry!
January 17, 2018
This was so much better than the first book and I liked the first one.
I actually felt Kate had a bit of fire in her and I was respecting her for it.
I thought this wasn't the best romance in terms of he didn't give many hints he was in love with her but it was still nice.
I actually felt Kate had a bit of fire in her and I was respecting her for it.
I thought this wasn't the best romance in terms of he didn't give many hints he was in love with her but it was still nice.
February 26, 2008
Cookie cutter hokey romance.
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July 2, 2018Kate Savage has landed herself with the boss from hell -- he may be gorgeous in a brooding sort of way, but he's on her case 24/7! Kate's friends try cheering her up by arranging for her to go on a blind date with an eligible widower. Only, when Kate arrives for her date she's horrified to discover that her mystery man is Finn McBride -- her boss!
Finn has a very interesting proposition for Kate -- not only does he need a live-in nanny, he also wants her to pretend to be his fiancee.... Kate's ready to take on a challenge -- but she hasn't bargained on a blind-date proposal!
Finn has a very interesting proposition for Kate -- not only does he need a live-in nanny, he also wants her to pretend to be his fiancee.... Kate's ready to take on a challenge -- but she hasn't bargained on a blind-date proposal!
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews