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Conditional Surrender
She couldn't just ignore him
Kate had always known that her dynamic boss, Gregory Courtney, possessed more than his fair share of arrogance. Only recently had she realized he was also charming, attractive... and dangerous.
"Just what would it take to get you into my bed, Kate?" he asked. A self-confessed cynic, he believed in passion but not in love, while nothing less than love would induce Kate to give up her independence.
Yet there was an attraction between them, a flame which soon blazed out of control.
Kate had always known that her dynamic boss, Gregory Courtney, possessed more than his fair share of arrogance. Only recently had she realized he was also charming, attractive... and dangerous.
"Just what would it take to get you into my bed, Kate?" he asked. A self-confessed cynic, he believed in passion but not in love, while nothing less than love would induce Kate to give up her independence.
Yet there was an attraction between them, a flame which soon blazed out of control.
192 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published April 1, 1990
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64 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
June 21, 2024
I don't know what was more disgusting, that he kissed his slutty ex at the very party celebrating his engagement to the heroine, or that he went behind her back to hire the OW to decorate their home, including their NURSERY, going so far as to say he liked the ex's interior design ideas more than his wife's. No amount of grovel he did afterwards (including having the house renovated to his wife's taste after all) could set things right for me. I am just glad that heroine has a nice left hook, she's going to be using it a lot in this farce of a marriage.
July 19, 2017
I had such high hopes for this when in the second page the heroine does a rockem sockem robot imitation and hauls off and slaps the beejezus out of a fresh co-worker. He calls her "bitch" which pleases no one, and we are off the races with at best a retrograde sexist story, at worst a misogynistic one. I'm surprised at my reaction to the men in the story, but they set my teeth on edge.
Boogenhagen's review is the standard bearer for this book,
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
and I just don't care enough about the story to do a full review. My issues stem from the h's blue collar father's resentment/freakout of his daughter's total commitment to helping support the family; the H's calculated stalking and seduction so he could have an emotionless affair with a younger, naive woman (admittedly an h with a solid right hook), and the smarmy co-worker who spreads rumors and brings the evil OW to the engagement party.
I think I gave up
I eventually believed he loved her when I arrived at page 178, but it was hard work.
A kitchen sink drama except the sink is made of the best porcelain.
Boogenhagen's review is the standard bearer for this book,
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
and I just don't care enough about the story to do a full review. My issues stem from the h's blue collar father's resentment/freakout of his daughter's total commitment to helping support the family; the H's calculated stalking and seduction so he could have an emotionless affair with a younger, naive woman (admittedly an h with a solid right hook), and the smarmy co-worker who spreads rumors and brings the evil OW to the engagement party.
I think I gave up
I eventually believed he loved her when I arrived at page 178, but it was hard work.
A kitchen sink drama except the sink is made of the best porcelain.
June 15, 2017
This one really grew on me. There is real character development for the H/h as their boss/secretary relationship is upgraded when the H helps out the heroine's family and then finds he wants an affair with the inexperienced heroine. The heroine is just as intrigued with the hero, but she is a marriage and kids kind of a gal and the hero says love is off the table.
Events lead to the H/h marrying, the heroine falling pregnant (and in love) and a long separation while both the H/h get their heads together. I liked how the H/h were honest with their shortcomings upfront. I liked the heroine's family - especially her mother who was kind to the hero when he needed it. I didn't realize how much I liked these two together until the baby's birth at that end. That was a lovely scene.
Read Boogenhagen's review for more details.
Events lead to the H/h marrying, the heroine falling pregnant (and in love) and a long separation while both the H/h get their heads together. I liked how the H/h were honest with their shortcomings upfront. I liked the heroine's family - especially her mother who was kind to the hero when he needed it. I didn't realize how much I liked these two together until the baby's birth at that end. That was a lovely scene.
Read Boogenhagen's review for more details.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 12, 2017
Re Conditional Surrender - this is Wendy Prentice's only HP- actually I think it is her only book, if she has another name I haven't been able to find it. However this one and only HP event is one that should not be missed.
This one starts with the 23ish h having to punch one of her fellow employees in the jaw when he gets way to gropy in the office. Her boss walks in at that moment and promptly kicks the guy out, but he doesn't fire him even when the guy insinuates the h is having it on with the H. The H does take the opportunity to test the h waters with a kiss, but the h backs off quicky and she has a bit of a temper, so the H lets it go for the nonce.
Then the h gets a frantic phone call to come home. The h's father, a long haul trucker, has recently been made redundant when he wouldn't follow his old company's new cut rate policies and sell out his fellow union member workers. Since the h's dad is an English Archie Bunker, the redundancy has had a devastating effect on his ego, especially since it is the h's salary that is keeping her mum, dad, and little brothers financially afloat.
The mum is in a panic that the dad is going to go to loan sharks with the title to their house. The boy next door has returned from Australia and wants to set up his own haulage firm, he wants the h's dad to go in with him, but the dad doesn't have the money and the h's mum is afraid he is going to get a loan on the security of the house and they could lose their home.
The H steps in at this point and offers to go into business with the h's dad and her next door neighbor. Then he tells the h she needs to have an affair with him or he will call in the money on the contract. The h tells him where to go and threatens to quit. The H backs off, then he suggests marriage. The h IS attracted to the H, but she isn't the kind of girl to just jump into an physical fling and marriage means more that financial freedom and the right to go to bed together to the h.
The H makes it quite clear he sees marriage and relationships as business transactions or quid pro quo, he doesn't want to be in love and he doesn't want the h to be in love with him either. He hints that love destroyed his father, but the reasoning behind his aversion is not made clear. Well the h doesn't go for the marriage bit either and the H is getting kinda desperate, cause he is worried the next door neighbor might have a thing for the h.
The neighbor and new business partner is about the h's age and it is clear that they have a close relationship. (The h and the neighbor are close, but he is like another brother to her and there is no hint of romance. The H just can't believe it tho and is extremely jealous.)
The H, now that he is fast friends and business partner's with the h's father, is always around and silently hounding the h. He notices a series of sketches of the h's family members in her home and learns the h had done them, but she has the weird quirk of only being able to sketch people she loves.
The h's mum confides that if the H hadn't stepped in with the partnership offer, the h's dad was going to leave the family as he felt the h had taken over the household by supporting it. (The h did not try to set rules and she abided by her parent's household wishes, but the dad's ego just couldn't handle his daughter being the main breadwinner.) The h is starting to feel more and more pressure, especially since the H is still wanting her and still threatening to call the contract money due. Then she gets ill.
She is ill for a few days and when she recovers enough to be aware of things, she finds she is being watched over by the H. The h's family took off for the afternoon and after a bath and some hair washing, the H starts in on the roofie kisses on the physically and mentally weakened h.
Her parents walk in on the big seduction scene and the H claims they are getting married. The h's father is devastated but perks right up when the H claims they are engaged. Now the h is stuck, she has been well and truly cornered, and so wedded non-bliss it is. The h does do a fine telling off of the H about it tho.
(This h is pretty feisty, but sensible about it. She isn't naively flying off the handle or posturing. She has a genuine dislike for the tactics used by the H, especially since she trusted him. And she feels he is totally treating her with complete disrespect, so she has no qualms in telling him how wrong and misguided he is. I was totally cheering her on.)
The h and H marry and the h refuses to have church wedding or a big reception. The H wanted to do it up more, but the h wasn't having any of that, there will be no false sentimentality about this wedding event.
We also meet the H's surrogate parents, who took him in after his father died until the H left at 16, We find out the H's father died when he was 12, three years after a mine accident crushed his legs and his mother walked out. The H's mother is never heard from, she has been married several times and was very not happy with the H's father. She cheated on him constantly and used her beauty and her body to trade up the monetary ladder. This has had a big effect on the H and is part of the reason he treats relationships as mercenary transactions.
We also get a flashback to the engagement party where the skeevy employee the h punched at the beginning of the book shows up with an ex of the H. (The skeevy employee soon gets transferred ot the equivalent of Siberia.) The OW is a patronizing skeeze and the h gives her a very sharp set down. A bit later, the h and her neighbor friend go out into the garden where they find the H kissing the OW.
Since the H had promised fidelity, the h is EXTREMELY livid. She throws a glass of water on him when he tries to explain and she tells him succinctly that he either meets HER standards of fidelity - and that doesn't include goodbye make-out sessions, or the whole thing is off and hang the consequences. The H is furious but totally in the wrong and he knows it. They fight but the h doesn't back down and he finally admits that the OW kissed him and he just did not push her off. The h is adamant it does't happen again.
On the honeymoon the H wants the h to fully participate, but she just isn't feeling the lurve. She realizes she can't live in a battleground, so she does her best to be pleasant and acquiescent, but the H gets pretty drunk before the fade to black seduction. The h is okay with it, it wasn't wonderful but it worked and the H and h settle down into domestic harmony. They play a lot of chess together and the h tries to establish some kind of friendship with the H, but he tends to back off any personal daily intimacies.
The lurve club mojo improves a lot and the h manages to redecorate the H's penthouse bedroom after she finds out the whole place was decorated by the OW. The H doesn't flip out over it and things are perking along nicely, but the h is not too happy with the distance of the H. He keeps saying he doesn't want a wife that does wifely things and the h tells him that a wife is what you get when a man gets married, so he needs to deal with it.
The h eventually realizes that she does love the H while talking to her old neighbor friend and so after the H gets into an accident saving an elderly lady from some purse snatchers, the h resolves to be more giving and maybe teach him how to love and have a real relationship. The h finds out she is preggers and in her nesting instinct, she finds this big white elephant house that completely captures her imagination.
The h gets really, really involved with decorating and redoing it once the H agrees to buy it, she is determined to make a real happy home for herself and the H and their children. Things seem to be improving on all fronts until the H's birthday. The H comes home early and overhears the neighbor friend talking to the h about not letting the H know something and he assumes that the h is having it off with her old friend. His retaliation is to have the OW decorator call the h and tell her that she is doing the interior of the house.
The H comes home to find the h vomiting in the bathroom and he chides her for being rude to the OW. Then he accuses her of having an affair with the neighbor friend. The h has finally had it, she explains that the neighbor friend was helping her with an errand. The friend agreed to pick up the H's birthday present for her and she goes on to flay the H alive with the difference between a close friend who is practically family and the wasteland of relationships that the H calls a life and how dare he try to turn her into a mercenary duplicate of the OW.
Then she gives him his present and it is a sketch the h did of the H to proclaim her love. The H is utterly devastated but the h is done. She leaves him to go to the cottage in Wales where they had their honeymoon at and thus starts a long distance relationship.
The h is by herself being preggers in Wales, she only talks to the H on the phone for several months. The H is working and learning the long haulage business from the old neighbor friend and the h's father. Gradually the h and H start connecting in other ways than bed and work and the H makes occasional visits to the h in Wales, usually accompanied by one of her family. Finally the h is near to term and she decides to head back to see the H.
The old neighbor friend drops her off at the new house and the H has spent most of his time decorating it just like the h had designed. He got her family and his surrogate parents to help him and he did the nursery all by himself. He explains that the house was his way of showing his love for the h. He was worried that he was like his mother and when he had to watch his father fall apart after his accident and eventually pass on from the heartbreak of letting his wife go, he resolved never to do that to another person and so he tried to keep the h at a distance.
The h and her family have won him over and he is more than ready to declare true love forever, if the h will just forgive him and come back home. The h is more than happy to oblige, as soon as she gets to the hospital cause she is in labor. There is a cute little delivery scene with the H suitably worried and stressed out and the H and h are very happy when they have a little boy named after the H's dad. We leave the happy family with the nurse rhapsodizing about how handsome the H is as the other nurse declares they are too in love to even notice their tea for the big rosy glow HEA.
This one is very, very well done. The h isn't a doormat and the H does a very creditable conversion from non-emotional user to a man very much in love. There is a LOT of story in this one and there is a lot of passion too. Definitely hunt this one down and read it for one of the more memorable, if solitary, great author offerings for a trip to HPlandia.
This one starts with the 23ish h having to punch one of her fellow employees in the jaw when he gets way to gropy in the office. Her boss walks in at that moment and promptly kicks the guy out, but he doesn't fire him even when the guy insinuates the h is having it on with the H. The H does take the opportunity to test the h waters with a kiss, but the h backs off quicky and she has a bit of a temper, so the H lets it go for the nonce.
Then the h gets a frantic phone call to come home. The h's father, a long haul trucker, has recently been made redundant when he wouldn't follow his old company's new cut rate policies and sell out his fellow union member workers. Since the h's dad is an English Archie Bunker, the redundancy has had a devastating effect on his ego, especially since it is the h's salary that is keeping her mum, dad, and little brothers financially afloat.
The mum is in a panic that the dad is going to go to loan sharks with the title to their house. The boy next door has returned from Australia and wants to set up his own haulage firm, he wants the h's dad to go in with him, but the dad doesn't have the money and the h's mum is afraid he is going to get a loan on the security of the house and they could lose their home.
The H steps in at this point and offers to go into business with the h's dad and her next door neighbor. Then he tells the h she needs to have an affair with him or he will call in the money on the contract. The h tells him where to go and threatens to quit. The H backs off, then he suggests marriage. The h IS attracted to the H, but she isn't the kind of girl to just jump into an physical fling and marriage means more that financial freedom and the right to go to bed together to the h.
The H makes it quite clear he sees marriage and relationships as business transactions or quid pro quo, he doesn't want to be in love and he doesn't want the h to be in love with him either. He hints that love destroyed his father, but the reasoning behind his aversion is not made clear. Well the h doesn't go for the marriage bit either and the H is getting kinda desperate, cause he is worried the next door neighbor might have a thing for the h.
The neighbor and new business partner is about the h's age and it is clear that they have a close relationship. (The h and the neighbor are close, but he is like another brother to her and there is no hint of romance. The H just can't believe it tho and is extremely jealous.)
The H, now that he is fast friends and business partner's with the h's father, is always around and silently hounding the h. He notices a series of sketches of the h's family members in her home and learns the h had done them, but she has the weird quirk of only being able to sketch people she loves.
The h's mum confides that if the H hadn't stepped in with the partnership offer, the h's dad was going to leave the family as he felt the h had taken over the household by supporting it. (The h did not try to set rules and she abided by her parent's household wishes, but the dad's ego just couldn't handle his daughter being the main breadwinner.) The h is starting to feel more and more pressure, especially since the H is still wanting her and still threatening to call the contract money due. Then she gets ill.
She is ill for a few days and when she recovers enough to be aware of things, she finds she is being watched over by the H. The h's family took off for the afternoon and after a bath and some hair washing, the H starts in on the roofie kisses on the physically and mentally weakened h.
Her parents walk in on the big seduction scene and the H claims they are getting married. The h's father is devastated but perks right up when the H claims they are engaged. Now the h is stuck, she has been well and truly cornered, and so wedded non-bliss it is. The h does do a fine telling off of the H about it tho.
(This h is pretty feisty, but sensible about it. She isn't naively flying off the handle or posturing. She has a genuine dislike for the tactics used by the H, especially since she trusted him. And she feels he is totally treating her with complete disrespect, so she has no qualms in telling him how wrong and misguided he is. I was totally cheering her on.)
The h and H marry and the h refuses to have church wedding or a big reception. The H wanted to do it up more, but the h wasn't having any of that, there will be no false sentimentality about this wedding event.
We also meet the H's surrogate parents, who took him in after his father died until the H left at 16, We find out the H's father died when he was 12, three years after a mine accident crushed his legs and his mother walked out. The H's mother is never heard from, she has been married several times and was very not happy with the H's father. She cheated on him constantly and used her beauty and her body to trade up the monetary ladder. This has had a big effect on the H and is part of the reason he treats relationships as mercenary transactions.
We also get a flashback to the engagement party where the skeevy employee the h punched at the beginning of the book shows up with an ex of the H. (The skeevy employee soon gets transferred ot the equivalent of Siberia.) The OW is a patronizing skeeze and the h gives her a very sharp set down. A bit later, the h and her neighbor friend go out into the garden where they find the H kissing the OW.
Since the H had promised fidelity, the h is EXTREMELY livid. She throws a glass of water on him when he tries to explain and she tells him succinctly that he either meets HER standards of fidelity - and that doesn't include goodbye make-out sessions, or the whole thing is off and hang the consequences. The H is furious but totally in the wrong and he knows it. They fight but the h doesn't back down and he finally admits that the OW kissed him and he just did not push her off. The h is adamant it does't happen again.
On the honeymoon the H wants the h to fully participate, but she just isn't feeling the lurve. She realizes she can't live in a battleground, so she does her best to be pleasant and acquiescent, but the H gets pretty drunk before the fade to black seduction. The h is okay with it, it wasn't wonderful but it worked and the H and h settle down into domestic harmony. They play a lot of chess together and the h tries to establish some kind of friendship with the H, but he tends to back off any personal daily intimacies.
The lurve club mojo improves a lot and the h manages to redecorate the H's penthouse bedroom after she finds out the whole place was decorated by the OW. The H doesn't flip out over it and things are perking along nicely, but the h is not too happy with the distance of the H. He keeps saying he doesn't want a wife that does wifely things and the h tells him that a wife is what you get when a man gets married, so he needs to deal with it.
The h eventually realizes that she does love the H while talking to her old neighbor friend and so after the H gets into an accident saving an elderly lady from some purse snatchers, the h resolves to be more giving and maybe teach him how to love and have a real relationship. The h finds out she is preggers and in her nesting instinct, she finds this big white elephant house that completely captures her imagination.
The h gets really, really involved with decorating and redoing it once the H agrees to buy it, she is determined to make a real happy home for herself and the H and their children. Things seem to be improving on all fronts until the H's birthday. The H comes home early and overhears the neighbor friend talking to the h about not letting the H know something and he assumes that the h is having it off with her old friend. His retaliation is to have the OW decorator call the h and tell her that she is doing the interior of the house.
The H comes home to find the h vomiting in the bathroom and he chides her for being rude to the OW. Then he accuses her of having an affair with the neighbor friend. The h has finally had it, she explains that the neighbor friend was helping her with an errand. The friend agreed to pick up the H's birthday present for her and she goes on to flay the H alive with the difference between a close friend who is practically family and the wasteland of relationships that the H calls a life and how dare he try to turn her into a mercenary duplicate of the OW.
Then she gives him his present and it is a sketch the h did of the H to proclaim her love. The H is utterly devastated but the h is done. She leaves him to go to the cottage in Wales where they had their honeymoon at and thus starts a long distance relationship.
The h is by herself being preggers in Wales, she only talks to the H on the phone for several months. The H is working and learning the long haulage business from the old neighbor friend and the h's father. Gradually the h and H start connecting in other ways than bed and work and the H makes occasional visits to the h in Wales, usually accompanied by one of her family. Finally the h is near to term and she decides to head back to see the H.
The old neighbor friend drops her off at the new house and the H has spent most of his time decorating it just like the h had designed. He got her family and his surrogate parents to help him and he did the nursery all by himself. He explains that the house was his way of showing his love for the h. He was worried that he was like his mother and when he had to watch his father fall apart after his accident and eventually pass on from the heartbreak of letting his wife go, he resolved never to do that to another person and so he tried to keep the h at a distance.
The h and her family have won him over and he is more than ready to declare true love forever, if the h will just forgive him and come back home. The h is more than happy to oblige, as soon as she gets to the hospital cause she is in labor. There is a cute little delivery scene with the H suitably worried and stressed out and the H and h are very happy when they have a little boy named after the H's dad. We leave the happy family with the nurse rhapsodizing about how handsome the H is as the other nurse declares they are too in love to even notice their tea for the big rosy glow HEA.
This one is very, very well done. The h isn't a doormat and the H does a very creditable conversion from non-emotional user to a man very much in love. There is a LOT of story in this one and there is a lot of passion too. Definitely hunt this one down and read it for one of the more memorable, if solitary, great author offerings for a trip to HPlandia.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 15, 2012
Rating 3.5
I enjoyed the book, it was a drama filled HP, heroine works for the hero he starts showing an interest in her but he is not the commitement sort but will marry her to get her in bed. He helps her family out too.
She marries him tries to keep her distance and fails and somehow they grow closer until the hero's past rears his head (his mom was a phliandrer who broke his father's heart) and he tries to bring some distance between them, she leaves which actually opens up a courtship period of sorts between them, they talk on the phone, opening up and he visits sometimes.
I liked the end though it was typical, the hero confessing all his hidden fears & feelings.
I enjoyed the book, it was a drama filled HP, heroine works for the hero he starts showing an interest in her but he is not the commitement sort but will marry her to get her in bed. He helps her family out too.
She marries him tries to keep her distance and fails and somehow they grow closer until the hero's past rears his head (his mom was a phliandrer who broke his father's heart) and he tries to bring some distance between them, she leaves which actually opens up a courtship period of sorts between them, they talk on the phone, opening up and he visits sometimes.
I liked the end though it was typical, the hero confessing all his hidden fears & feelings.
July 19, 2017
Actually a little long winded in places, but still very good. This was different from your normal blackmail revenge type HPs. I think this is the only book this author wrote for Harlequin. Pity since I think I would have really enjoyed her work.
______________________________
A re-read me for me. Available from open library but there is a long waiting list. Rating still stands.
______________________________
A re-read me for me. Available from open library but there is a long waiting list. Rating still stands.
October 16, 2021
Cruel and clueless H ✔️
Sweet h with a steel backbone ✔️
Sweet h with a steel backbone ✔️
October 23, 2020
The hero was a big fat jerk as usual but I am giving this book 3 stars only because in the end, I believe he actually loved the heroine and the gesture with the whole reconstructing is sweet. One of the things I liked about the book was the strong heroine.
Safety Issue: Nothing was clear if he was celibate or not when the events of the books started but he was faithful to her after the marriage. There was a long separation and the hero was celibate at that time also.
Safety Issue: Nothing was clear if he was celibate or not when the events of the books started but he was faithful to her after the marriage. There was a long separation and the hero was celibate at that time also.
March 22, 2019
I loved the heroine in this book. She was the opposite of a doormat. The book opens with her punching her sleazy co-worker in the face when he comes on to her. She has always been attracted to her boss Greg, but he is far too above her reach.
Greg has wanted Kate from the moment he saw her. He proposes a sex only relationship (he can never love any woman) but Kate is the marrying kind and she turns him down. He uses his power and influence to back Kate into a corner until she has no choice but to marry him.
The rest of the book is Kate being her not-a-doormat self and trying to survive this situation with her heart intact. Greg is pushy, rude, and many times, either clueless or stupid. There is evil OW drama, hot and cold behavior, and our poor h falls in love with this guy until she finally realizes he will never love her back and she leaves him. Finally, a Harlequin with a heroine who doesn't take crap from nobody. Kate is what made this book for me. Greg does turn out to be a sweetheart with a tragic past and the ending is one big, long apology and explanation.
I liked this book because it went against the typical trope and the ending was so good. 3 stars because many of the clueless actions of the H and the borderline cheating (and OW drama) took me out of the story and bugged me.
Safety
Greg has wanted Kate from the moment he saw her. He proposes a sex only relationship (he can never love any woman) but Kate is the marrying kind and she turns him down. He uses his power and influence to back Kate into a corner until she has no choice but to marry him.
The rest of the book is Kate being her not-a-doormat self and trying to survive this situation with her heart intact. Greg is pushy, rude, and many times, either clueless or stupid. There is evil OW drama, hot and cold behavior, and our poor h falls in love with this guy until she finally realizes he will never love her back and she leaves him. Finally, a Harlequin with a heroine who doesn't take crap from nobody. Kate is what made this book for me. Greg does turn out to be a sweetheart with a tragic past and the ending is one big, long apology and explanation.
I liked this book because it went against the typical trope and the ending was so good. 3 stars because many of the clueless actions of the H and the borderline cheating (and OW drama) took me out of the story and bugged me.
Safety
May 19, 2015
3 1/2 Stars ~ Greg is a self-made millionaire, transferring all his emotional energy into building a successful business. After witnessing how love destroyed his father, he'd vowed never to allow that emotion into his relationships. Kate was young and beautiful, and one look was enough for Greg to promote her from his typing pool to his private secretary. Her intelligent mind and quiet efficiency proved an asset, while her innocence kept him at arms length. Until, nearly two years later, Kate proved that she had a temper that matched her fiery red hair, and Greg decided it was time to awake more than just her temper. With just one kiss, he was able to evoke a passion in Kate she had no idea she possessed, and confirmed to Greg that she was finally ready to match his own desires.
Coaxing Kate into an affair proved impossible. While she could not deny her vulnerability to the passion he invoked, she morally could not give herself without a commitment. And so Greg did the one thing he swore never to do, he proposed, but it was to be a marriage based on their physical compatibility and to have none of that love nonsense. In fact, he demanded that Kate not fall in love with him. And when she refused his proposal, Greg manipulated her into a compromising situation that forced her to accept the inevitable. At times in their marriage Kate felt there was hope that Greg was opening his heart. But when she became pregnant, and he began to revert to that cold emotionless man, she couldn't bear it, and so she left him. Greg, then had the difficult task of wooing back his wife and proving that he deserved her love after all.
This is the one and only book Ms. Prentice wrote for Harlequin which is really rather too bad. I'd very much like to read more from her as her story telling holds great promise. This marriage of convenience between Greg and Kate is rather unique, and it works very well. Their chemistry is undeniable, the angst level is kept steady. It would have been lovely to have scenes from Greg's POV, however, we do get some great glimpses into how desperately he's come to love Kate, even though he was unable to admit it. This was an enjoyable few hours of reading.
Coaxing Kate into an affair proved impossible. While she could not deny her vulnerability to the passion he invoked, she morally could not give herself without a commitment. And so Greg did the one thing he swore never to do, he proposed, but it was to be a marriage based on their physical compatibility and to have none of that love nonsense. In fact, he demanded that Kate not fall in love with him. And when she refused his proposal, Greg manipulated her into a compromising situation that forced her to accept the inevitable. At times in their marriage Kate felt there was hope that Greg was opening his heart. But when she became pregnant, and he began to revert to that cold emotionless man, she couldn't bear it, and so she left him. Greg, then had the difficult task of wooing back his wife and proving that he deserved her love after all.
This is the one and only book Ms. Prentice wrote for Harlequin which is really rather too bad. I'd very much like to read more from her as her story telling holds great promise. This marriage of convenience between Greg and Kate is rather unique, and it works very well. Their chemistry is undeniable, the angst level is kept steady. It would have been lovely to have scenes from Greg's POV, however, we do get some great glimpses into how desperately he's come to love Kate, even though he was unable to admit it. This was an enjoyable few hours of reading.
February 26, 2011
She couldn't just ignore him
Kate had always known that her dynamic boss, Gregory Courtney, possessed more than his fair share of arrogance. Only recently had she realized he was also charming, attractive... and dangerous.
"Just what would it take to get you into my bed, Kate?" he asked. A self-confessed cynic, he believed in passion but not in love, while nothing less than love would induce Kate to give up her independence.
Yet there was an attraction between them, a flame which soon blazed out of control.
Not bad at all!! Obviously he was a cynic and didn't believe in love but he believed in sex, so he made her an offer she couldn't refuse. He helped her family and he was really good with everyone. In the end he made amends with her. a very good story.
Kate had always known that her dynamic boss, Gregory Courtney, possessed more than his fair share of arrogance. Only recently had she realized he was also charming, attractive... and dangerous.
"Just what would it take to get you into my bed, Kate?" he asked. A self-confessed cynic, he believed in passion but not in love, while nothing less than love would induce Kate to give up her independence.
Yet there was an attraction between them, a flame which soon blazed out of control.
Not bad at all!! Obviously he was a cynic and didn't believe in love but he believed in sex, so he made her an offer she couldn't refuse. He helped her family and he was really good with everyone. In the end he made amends with her. a very good story.
August 25, 2012
The hero and heroine were boss and secretary. Eventually he wanted a relationship with her but she was only the marrying kind and she wouldn't marry him. So the hero took it in his hands and set them in a uncompromising situation so they had to wed now. After a little fight, faith and a whole lot of drama, they loved each other deeply.
Great read.
Great read.
August 8, 2022
I can't believe this is the only book that the author wrote as although it wasn't for me I thought her to be a great writer.
The book started so well as the h gave a creepy OM a punch in the face for being a harasser.
Sadly she doesn't keep up this spirit with the H who decides to take over her life and compromise her so that she feels she has to marry him.
He starts off very well helping her out with her family. Her dad is proper old skool and he cannot stand it that his daughter has to help him out with the bills when he is out of work. H interferes and joins dad and another man as partners in a trucking venture. The OM is kinda touted as an OM but the h sees him as a friend - and he is a good one to both of them - the H's jealousy is unfounded.
The h ends up married to the H in a rather unromantic way when he puts the moved on her after a bout of illness and she also ends up preggers after the underwhelming honeymoon.
The H is a total muppet though and not only is he caught with his tongue down the throat of another woman he also hires her to decorate the h's dream house because he is spiteful and knows that the h doesn't like her style (she also decorated his bachelor pad). He does this because he thinks the h is having a fling with her friend/his new business partner.
The h is a bit of an artist but can only draw things she loves and shes drawn a pic of the H for his birthday and the only thing the OM was doing was getting it framed and telling her to tell the H she loves him as he can see it as shes drawn him.
I loved that she gave him the pic and moved out after his accusations and our h swans of to gorgeous Wales to wallow in her sadness and grow her baby bump. She eventually lets the H visit and try to woo her but this takes the length of the pregnancy as she is very unimpressed with him despite her love for him.
Eventually nice OM arrives and persuades her to see go home to see the H and love declarations are made in her new lovely house that he has spent the last 7 months decorating himself to her specifications. She immediately goes into labour and its off to the nearest maternity ward for their HEA
The book started so well as the h gave a creepy OM a punch in the face for being a harasser.
Sadly she doesn't keep up this spirit with the H who decides to take over her life and compromise her so that she feels she has to marry him.
He starts off very well helping her out with her family. Her dad is proper old skool and he cannot stand it that his daughter has to help him out with the bills when he is out of work. H interferes and joins dad and another man as partners in a trucking venture. The OM is kinda touted as an OM but the h sees him as a friend - and he is a good one to both of them - the H's jealousy is unfounded.
The h ends up married to the H in a rather unromantic way when he puts the moved on her after a bout of illness and she also ends up preggers after the underwhelming honeymoon.
The H is a total muppet though and not only is he caught with his tongue down the throat of another woman he also hires her to decorate the h's dream house because he is spiteful and knows that the h doesn't like her style (she also decorated his bachelor pad). He does this because he thinks the h is having a fling with her friend/his new business partner.
The h is a bit of an artist but can only draw things she loves and shes drawn a pic of the H for his birthday and the only thing the OM was doing was getting it framed and telling her to tell the H she loves him as he can see it as shes drawn him.
I loved that she gave him the pic and moved out after his accusations and our h swans of to gorgeous Wales to wallow in her sadness and grow her baby bump. She eventually lets the H visit and try to woo her but this takes the length of the pregnancy as she is very unimpressed with him despite her love for him.
Eventually nice OM arrives and persuades her to see go home to see the H and love declarations are made in her new lovely house that he has spent the last 7 months decorating himself to her specifications. She immediately goes into labour and its off to the nearest maternity ward for their HEA
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 8, 2021
She couldn't just ignore him
Kate had always known that her dynamic boss, Gregory Courtney, possessed more than his fair share of arrogance. Only recently had she realized he was also charming, attractive... and dangerous.
"Just what would it take to get you into my bed, Kate?" he asked. A self-confessed cynic, he believed in passion but not in love, while nothing less than love would induce Kate to give up her independence.
Yet there was an attraction between them, a flame which soon blazed out of control.
Kate had always known that her dynamic boss, Gregory Courtney, possessed more than his fair share of arrogance. Only recently had she realized he was also charming, attractive... and dangerous.
"Just what would it take to get you into my bed, Kate?" he asked. A self-confessed cynic, he believed in passion but not in love, while nothing less than love would induce Kate to give up her independence.
Yet there was an attraction between them, a flame which soon blazed out of control.
January 12, 2025
I really liked this book! The author managed to get in the usual tropes (misunderstandings, H with relationship issues, h "trapped into marriage", OM/OW jealousy, both hiding their true feelings, etc.) without going overboard with them, as so many HP authors tend to do. Even while separated, there was none of that "I can't let him find me, I'll change my name, disappear somewhere" nonsense. The H knew where she was all the time, they kept in touch and even saw each other on occasion until things worked out.
The h tried to fight her feelings but when she gave in to them, she accepted her desires without blaming the H for them. And she didn't resort to sulks and snarks, she worked at building her dream house, instead! She had a temper but only displayed it when really provoked (and at those times, the H deserved that glass of water in his face, as well as a later slap) and most of the time she was the type of person you couldn't help but like.
The H had some major issues because of his parents' marriage (which caused his attitude toward getting too close to anyone) but you could tell he was someone with a lot to give, if he wasn't so wary of giving it.
Rather than go from the "I hate you", to "I love you" almost overnight, you got to see the steps along the way, as they both realized how long they'd been fighting their feelings. He thought he had nothing to give as far as love was concerned, while she couldn't admit her love if he couldn't accept it.
And I love how the author chose for the h to let him know, without saying the words. It had so much more meaning and gave it (and everything that followed) more of an impact.
I'm sorry that Ms. Prentice apparently only wrote this one book. She had a lot of talent, and I would have liked reading more books by her.
This one's worth checking out!
The h tried to fight her feelings but when she gave in to them, she accepted her desires without blaming the H for them. And she didn't resort to sulks and snarks, she worked at building her dream house, instead! She had a temper but only displayed it when really provoked (and at those times, the H deserved that glass of water in his face, as well as a later slap) and most of the time she was the type of person you couldn't help but like.
The H had some major issues because of his parents' marriage (which caused his attitude toward getting too close to anyone) but you could tell he was someone with a lot to give, if he wasn't so wary of giving it.
Rather than go from the "I hate you", to "I love you" almost overnight, you got to see the steps along the way, as they both realized how long they'd been fighting their feelings. He thought he had nothing to give as far as love was concerned, while she couldn't admit her love if he couldn't accept it.
And I love how the author chose for the h to let him know, without saying the words. It had so much more meaning and gave it (and everything that followed) more of an impact.
I'm sorry that Ms. Prentice apparently only wrote this one book. She had a lot of talent, and I would have liked reading more books by her.
This one's worth checking out!
April 4, 2023
This is good with a ton of emotion and good characters who grew and changed through the story.
A lot of HP authors give their Hs the “can’t/won’t love, don’t believe in love” for their flaw but it’s usually a cloak for self indulgence. This H truly has that flaw and he’s desperate to avoid hurting the h because of it. Unusual and feels real.
Some reviewers point out that H hired his ex to decorate his and h's new house which is noxious and spurred the h to leave. She hated the sterile, icy décor the ex liked and felt she had no chance to turn her husband H into the loving man she caught glimpses of.
My reading is that H did hire or at least discuss decorating with his ex, which is nasty, but ended up doing the decorations himself or with family and friends helping. He definitely used the h's designs and colors and fabrics, so the ex could have been in charge of purchasing and organizing but not to create the design itself.
A lot of HP authors give their Hs the “can’t/won’t love, don’t believe in love” for their flaw but it’s usually a cloak for self indulgence. This H truly has that flaw and he’s desperate to avoid hurting the h because of it. Unusual and feels real.
Some reviewers point out that H hired his ex to decorate his and h's new house which is noxious and spurred the h to leave. She hated the sterile, icy décor the ex liked and felt she had no chance to turn her husband H into the loving man she caught glimpses of.
My reading is that H did hire or at least discuss decorating with his ex, which is nasty, but ended up doing the decorations himself or with family and friends helping. He definitely used the h's designs and colors and fabrics, so the ex could have been in charge of purchasing and organizing but not to create the design itself.
October 13, 2020
Red haired Kate is the object of love for stubborn Greg, her boss. He convinces her to marry him, and they struggle in their effort to admit that they love each other.
July 8, 2022
3.5 stars. Liked both MCs, h has a backbone for once and H did redeem himself IMO.
July 25, 2022
Great heroine,her values,morals,how she love her family.
Love scenes her less steamy but the emotions were to good which overshadowed it.good epilogue.
Love scenes her less steamy but the emotions were to good which overshadowed it.good epilogue.
January 12, 2021
Soap opera. Boring story. Heroine - Drama queen(for the first half). Hero - could have lusted for someone more sensible.
May 7, 2015
Very sweet MOC love story with mature realistic characters.
June 28, 2015
First romance book that I read at the age of 18. I thought it was so amazing and read it more than 5 times. Fifteen years now and I still want to read it!
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