Foolish Deceiver

by Sandra K. Rhoades

Foolish Deceiver by Sandra K Rhoades released on Nov 24, 1989 is available now for purchase.

Genres: Harlequin, Romance, Harlequin Romance

192 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1990

Reviews

[reeder (reviews) · Rating 2 out of 5]

What I see as the crisis point from which the relationship needs to recover, the author saw as the HEA. Go figure.

The heroine is a genius computer programmer who falls in love with a widowed father who thinks she's a dumb blonde because she's deliberately masking her rarefied intellectual accomplishments and she has no practical life skills. Eventually they have a falling out over his plans to send his young son (recently "diagnosed" as a genius) away to boarding school so the boy can have an enriched academic experience. She tries to explain that she had the same kind of special education and had been miserable, but he thinks she's talking about "special" at the other end of the academic spectrum and condescends to her before dismissing her from his life.

Post break-up, the heroine reconciles with her parents, whom she had resented for treating her exactly as the hero is now treating his son (like her intelligence was their trophy to hold aloft). She also agrees to be a key speaker at a professional conference in Las Vegas. There, she runs into the hero in the elevator. It has been months since they separated and he's as surprised to see her as she is to see him: he thinks she's there on holiday. And she...doesn't seem to be thinking at all.

He insists on meeting with her in her hotel room to discuss how much he's missed her, how she was right about his son, and how bored he was by his first wife who wasn't his intellectual equal. He's concerned -- he is still concerned -- that he will be similarly bored by the heroine, which is why he cut her out of his life and hadn't pursued her in the intervening months. Before he can verbally commit to risking his brilliance in another relationship with a sexy but intellectually inferior woman, there's a knock on the door and a note is delivered to the heroine (Dr. Heroine, PhD) from the hero (software company CEO and egocentric douchebag) postponing a business meeting that was scheduled to take place at that very moment.

Her: Wait, you're Aragon Software?

Him: You're Dr Heroine, PhD? Whom I thought was Dr Dude, PhD, because you used your initials and I am sexist? Now you are worthy of me! Let's get married!

Her: Yay! *smooch*

Maybe it's just me, but hearing "I thought you were sexy but too stupid for me" would literally kill any fondness I have for the human being uttering those words. That kind of judgmental assessment is way out of line and needs to be redressed with some form of groveling, not rewarded with an engagement.

[Daisy Daisy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well for people that are supposed to be intelligent they are both a right pair of numpties.

The H is such a sanctimonious wazzock that he needs a Boogenhagen skillet or 3 upside the head to knock some smarts into him. As for the h, she may be a genius but she also needs to learn how to look after herself and not rely on others to do things for her, like cook/feed her while she disappears off into braniac land to program thingymabobs on computers.

If he wasn't such a judgemental butt munch these 2 would be a match made in heaven but his me smart and awesome, you dumb blonde eyecandy attitude just made me feel rage.

[Tia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I actually thought it was pretty good, however the hero was all sorts of an asshole. It was really depressing watching her being teared down by him.

[More Books Than Time · Rating 2 out of 5]

This gave me unwelcome flashbacks to high school and the smart kids who thought they were so much better than everyone else. Brains are a gift and what counts is what you do with them, not your numerical IQ. Let’s be blunt, personality and morals are a lot more important than brains. The H was worse than the h about confusing braininess with worth.

Both h and H didn’t see there is a wide space between egghead and village idiot (page 78).

I’ve known brilliant people and there isn’t much correlation between intellectual gifts and character. The dinner party at the beginning said it all, h couldn’t talk about normal stuff and almost no one finds differential equations fascinating.

[Katherine Pierce · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sweet and meaningful story that I adore. It shows you that you don't have to change for someone, the right person will like you for who you are.

[Darcia Scates · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is full of energy. I liked it. I wanted to keep reading. I hope Ms. Rhoades keeps writing.

[Cecelia]

It's alright, nothing fantastic though