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Master of Deceit
"You've done what?"
Andrea had wanted to confront E. J. Preston, but she had never intended that her protest group kidnap him! Forced into close contact with the international industrial tycoon, she soon realized that he played deadly games -- and that she must set him free. But E. J. blamed her for his imprisonment, and what better way to make Andrea pay than to blackmail her into accompanying him on a business trip to beautiful, mysterious Japan -- the perfect backdrop against which to explore their mutual, magnetic attraction?
Andrea had wanted to confront E. J. Preston, but she had never intended that her protest group kidnap him! Forced into close contact with the international industrial tycoon, she soon realized that he played deadly games -- and that she must set him free. But E. J. blamed her for his imprisonment, and what better way to make Andrea pay than to blackmail her into accompanying him on a business trip to beautiful, mysterious Japan -- the perfect backdrop against which to explore their mutual, magnetic attraction?
- GenresHarlequinContemporary
189 pages, Paperback
First published December 27, 1995
About the author
Susanne McCarthy
102 books74 followersI'm a Londoner, though now I live in Devon, a twenty-minute walk from the sea. I love nothing more than walking my pretty Cavapoo on the beach in the rain (well, OK, I don't object to the sun, but when it's raining we usually have the whole beach to ourselves.)
Back in the day I had 25 novels published by Mills&Boon. After a long gap doing other things I found my love of writing again, and self-published three new novels.
But I knew that to reach more readers I needed an established publisher. Step in Joffe Books. They were top of my list so I was delighted when they accepted the first novel I sent them.
This could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
Back in the day I had 25 novels published by Mills&Boon. After a long gap doing other things I found my love of writing again, and self-published three new novels.
But I knew that to reach more readers I needed an established publisher. Step in Joffe Books. They were top of my list so I was delighted when they accepted the first novel I sent them.
This could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
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March 13, 2019The blurb was intriguing. The heroine kidnaps the H!
As an opening, this book was intellectually riveting. The h is part of a demonstration group protesting that one of H's factories is polluting the environment and harming the people living nearby. She is a teacher, and together with an OM teacher and students are preventing his limo from going into the office grounds.
H deals with this immediately with his managers while in the limo: shut the factory down and investigate. But she doesn't know this. Later that evening, she sneaks past the gates at his home and confronts him.
He isn't aware that they had been in touch with his office with evidence-based research and were turned away. He is just upset that she has trespassed and refuses to entertain her. She gets angry and assumes he is one of those heartless millionaires though both are very attracted to one another.
OM and the students come up with the idea to kidnap the H and make him listen to their side. She dismisses this idea as ridiculous but they do it anyway and to her horror, she becomes an unknowing accomplice as they drug, kidnap and chain him in the basement.
As she goes to check on him, he regains consciousness and immediately assumes she is the ringleader. She doesn't correct him because finally, she has his full attention: just read the damn report and be released immediately. But he is furious and refuses to submit to their demands.
And then the fun begins.
As readers of HP romances, we are often told how tough the Hs are but how often do we actually get to see this in action. This H was the very definition of self-possesion.
With one arm chained to the wall, he tells the group of men that if they do not let him go immediately, he will find a way to bitch-slap them. He will not succumb to their terrorist tactics.
They are taken aback and tell him they are in charge, they mean no harm, just read the fucking report. But instead he pulls the rug out from under them
They realise they are in trouble. They are no professional kidnappers and only intended to keep him an hour or so.
Soon they're all nervous. He could end up in terrible shape or worse, die and they could all go to prison. The news is full of his disappearance and the police are everywhere looking for him. The group realises they’re beaten and have to let him go.
She drives him home and realises he is finally reading the report. He tells her the factory was already shut, and she is stumped, realising he will lose millions. He in turn, is impressed by the thoroughness of her research.
Now the media and the police are everywhere at his house and here is where the author lost me. And I assure you, it’s 100% me, it’s not the book. He doesn't inform anyone he's safe. They both enter through the back, he takes a shower and starts preparing himself a meal. He starts propositioning her about a working trip to Japan.
And I’m thinking, wait, what about the police? They heavily suspect IRA involvement. People are still out looking for him. In my head, the police were torturing some poor dude to get information while these two sat around getting to know each other. I just couldn’t shake it off.
So they talk about the trip, she gets a makeover to look more professional and I'm losing interest and start skimming. Yes, yes Japan is lovely with Mount Fuji and the cherry blossoms.
There is a Japanese OW married to his Japanese friend. The h suspects H brought her along to cover up his affair with his friend’s wife.
Then I’m cringing. The Japanese OW is running off in tears for shaming her father and husband because she cheered for H instead of her husband when they had some sort of a duel in martial arts.
As I’m allergic to stupid stereotyping in my romances especially of the Asian variety, I skim faster. And also ponder on my shameless double standards since vengeful, angry Greek Heroes absolutely do it for me.
but I was already done with this novel, so I didn't care. All I understood was, for a brilliant scientist, she was not quite all there.
I will definitely not rule this out for others. Maybe there were nice travelogues of Japan, maybe there was nice steamy sex, I don’t know. I can’t rate because of the major skimming. And my apologies if I’ve got any details wrong.
I suspect many could like this book but it just wasn’t for me.
As an opening, this book was intellectually riveting. The h is part of a demonstration group protesting that one of H's factories is polluting the environment and harming the people living nearby. She is a teacher, and together with an OM teacher and students are preventing his limo from going into the office grounds.
H deals with this immediately with his managers while in the limo: shut the factory down and investigate. But she doesn't know this. Later that evening, she sneaks past the gates at his home and confronts him.
He isn't aware that they had been in touch with his office with evidence-based research and were turned away. He is just upset that she has trespassed and refuses to entertain her. She gets angry and assumes he is one of those heartless millionaires though both are very attracted to one another.
OM and the students come up with the idea to kidnap the H and make him listen to their side. She dismisses this idea as ridiculous but they do it anyway and to her horror, she becomes an unknowing accomplice as they drug, kidnap and chain him in the basement.
As she goes to check on him, he regains consciousness and immediately assumes she is the ringleader. She doesn't correct him because finally, she has his full attention: just read the damn report and be released immediately. But he is furious and refuses to submit to their demands.
And then the fun begins.
As readers of HP romances, we are often told how tough the Hs are but how often do we actually get to see this in action. This H was the very definition of self-possesion.
With one arm chained to the wall, he tells the group of men that if they do not let him go immediately, he will find a way to bitch-slap them. He will not succumb to their terrorist tactics.
They are taken aback and tell him they are in charge, they mean no harm, just read the fucking report. But instead he pulls the rug out from under them
They realise they are in trouble. They are no professional kidnappers and only intended to keep him an hour or so.
Soon they're all nervous. He could end up in terrible shape or worse, die and they could all go to prison. The news is full of his disappearance and the police are everywhere looking for him. The group realises they’re beaten and have to let him go.
She drives him home and realises he is finally reading the report. He tells her the factory was already shut, and she is stumped, realising he will lose millions. He in turn, is impressed by the thoroughness of her research.
Now the media and the police are everywhere at his house and here is where the author lost me. And I assure you, it’s 100% me, it’s not the book. He doesn't inform anyone he's safe. They both enter through the back, he takes a shower and starts preparing himself a meal. He starts propositioning her about a working trip to Japan.
And I’m thinking, wait, what about the police? They heavily suspect IRA involvement. People are still out looking for him. In my head, the police were torturing some poor dude to get information while these two sat around getting to know each other. I just couldn’t shake it off.
So they talk about the trip, she gets a makeover to look more professional and I'm losing interest and start skimming. Yes, yes Japan is lovely with Mount Fuji and the cherry blossoms.
There is a Japanese OW married to his Japanese friend. The h suspects H brought her along to cover up his affair with his friend’s wife.
Then I’m cringing. The Japanese OW is running off in tears for shaming her father and husband because she cheered for H instead of her husband when they had some sort of a duel in martial arts.
As I’m allergic to stupid stereotyping in my romances especially of the Asian variety, I skim faster. And also ponder on my shameless double standards since vengeful, angry Greek Heroes absolutely do it for me.
but I was already done with this novel, so I didn't care. All I understood was, for a brilliant scientist, she was not quite all there.
I will definitely not rule this out for others. Maybe there were nice travelogues of Japan, maybe there was nice steamy sex, I don’t know. I can’t rate because of the major skimming. And my apologies if I’ve got any details wrong.
I suspect many could like this book but it just wasn’t for me.
November 13, 2019
Andrea had wanted to confront E. J. Preston, but she had never intended that her protest group kidnap him! Forced into close contact with the international industrial tycoon, she soon realized that he played deadly games -- and that she must set him free. But E. J. blamed her for his imprisonment, and what better way to make Andrea pay than to blackmail her into accompanying him on a business trip to beautiful, mysterious Japan -- the perfect backdrop against which to explore their mutual, magnetic attraction
October 17, 2025
He is a vegetarian who likes yoga, meditation, manipulation, and playing with other people’s emotions. He’s also quite facetious.
Her eco-activist group kidnaps him to make him read her report. The h is against this decision but acts as though it’s not a big deal.
Nobody is punished; the author simply forgets about the kidnapping.
The H takes her to Japan, where they finally have sex and then part ways. It’s only after the announcement of her wedding that he realizes he loves her - because she’s the only person in the world who argues with him.
The heroine is not a virgin but very inexperienced.
Her eco-activist group kidnaps him to make him read her report. The h is against this decision but acts as though it’s not a big deal.
Nobody is punished; the author simply forgets about the kidnapping.
The H takes her to Japan, where they finally have sex and then part ways. It’s only after the announcement of her wedding that he realizes he loves her - because she’s the only person in the world who argues with him.
The heroine is not a virgin but very inexperienced.
May 8, 2023
Ending is bit rushed ,but a perfect old school romance
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews