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The Black Hunter
"Call it a whim; but no you--then no deal!"
Coll Sullivan had been just as self-assured when he was a boy in rags. Now he was a man with power, and he oozed arrogance!
He had bought their old family home -- but why did he want her, too? Especially in a strictly hands-off arrangement, as his secretary. Was it because of something in the past?
Well, whatever -- for her brother's sake Dora had to agree. But she would certainly make sure that Coll knew it was against her wishes!
Coll Sullivan had been just as self-assured when he was a boy in rags. Now he was a man with power, and he oozed arrogance!
He had bought their old family home -- but why did he want her, too? Especially in a strictly hands-off arrangement, as his secretary. Was it because of something in the past?
Well, whatever -- for her brother's sake Dora had to agree. But she would certainly make sure that Coll knew it was against her wishes!
187 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1978
About the author
Jane Donnelly
144 books28 followersJane Donnelly began earning her living as a writer as a teenage reporter. When she married the editor of the newspaper she freelanced for women's mags for a while. After she was widowed she and her 5 year old daughter moved to Lancashire. She turned to writing fiction to make a living while still caring for her daughter, she sold her first Mills & Boon romance novel as a hard-up singleparent in 1965. She wrote over 60 romance novels for Mills & Boon until 2000. Now she lives in a roses-round-the door cottage near Stratford-upon-Avon, with four dogs and assorted rescued animals. Besides writing she enjoys travelling, swimming, walking and the company of friends.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
December 29, 2024
He looked like Lord Byron, that was what he looked like. With a dash of Lucifer. He had all the confidence in the world, and she could have spat in his face.
Dora’s fingers trembled, she hadn’t even thought to look how the fastener worked, and then Coll came up behind her and she felt his fingers against the nape of her neck, his breath on her cheek.
This had happened before. The last time he had tried to fasten the pearls for her, when she was sixteen and her heart had beat so loud she had thought he must hear it.
Beautifully written, extremely romantic, and a Great, Big, Terrible Misunderstanding that was both clever and cleverly revealed. I loved this! Only reason it is not a full five star is that I am not sure after all is said and done, that the heroine was deserving of such a great, swoon-worthy, man. She and her family are real p.o.s. at times and did not endure any comeuppance or offer any real apology let alone a grovel. But I loved, loved, loved the hero and finding such a gem is very rare in this genre, especially as he was set up to be the bad guy.
Dora’s fingers trembled, she hadn’t even thought to look how the fastener worked, and then Coll came up behind her and she felt his fingers against the nape of her neck, his breath on her cheek.
This had happened before. The last time he had tried to fasten the pearls for her, when she was sixteen and her heart had beat so loud she had thought he must hear it.
Beautifully written, extremely romantic, and a Great, Big, Terrible Misunderstanding that was both clever and cleverly revealed. I loved this! Only reason it is not a full five star is that I am not sure after all is said and done, that the heroine was deserving of such a great, swoon-worthy, man. She and her family are real p.o.s. at times and did not endure any comeuppance or offer any real apology let alone a grovel. But I loved, loved, loved the hero and finding such a gem is very rare in this genre, especially as he was set up to be the bad guy.
November 6, 2013
I always enjoy this author's work, but this book happens to be one of my favorites. This is one of those typical rags to riches story where boy meets girl in youth, but knows he is not good enough and goes off to make his fortune. Only this time there's a slight twist to the plot. When he returns the girl is no longer the wealthy heiress, but earning her way as secretary.
The author really built up such delightful tension between the H/h, but left all those incredible asshat moments behind. I found myself chuckling as they drove each other crazy. I also enjoyed that her family were loving and didn't fall into the traditional "let's sell our sister's soul for a buck" theme. (I get so tired of those self-sacrificing heroines) This heroine had spunk and went down swinging, but she never stood a chance against H. (sigh)
For me, this one hit the spot. It's not all perfect, but it was an enjoyable way to spend a few hours.
The author really built up such delightful tension between the H/h, but left all those incredible asshat moments behind. I found myself chuckling as they drove each other crazy. I also enjoyed that her family were loving and didn't fall into the traditional "let's sell our sister's soul for a buck" theme. (I get so tired of those self-sacrificing heroines) This heroine had spunk and went down swinging, but she never stood a chance against H. (sigh)
For me, this one hit the spot. It's not all perfect, but it was an enjoyable way to spend a few hours.
September 20, 2016
I forgot how much I enjoyed this author. The heroine is the daughter of the manor who fell on hard times and the millionaire hero is the "tinker boy" who dropped in on the heroine at various points in her young life, "stirring her up" and in their last meeting at ages 16 and 20, exciting a sexual interest. That interest was quickly repressed when she thinks he stole her pearl necklace, the only legacy she had from her dead mother. The proud "tinker boy" wouldn't defend himself and left in anger.
Fast forward to present day. The heroine is a competent secretary to her third fiance, a mama's boy accountant. The hero comes to town to buy the manor and to force the heroine to work for him. He does this by offering her brother a loan if the heroine will work for him for six months.
The heroine thinks it's for revenge, but it soon becomes obvious that the hero isn't going to be the hardest taskmaster when he invites the heroine for a moonlight horse ride.
This was enjoyable for so many reasons:
It's a little slow at the start, but the second half is crackling with sexual tension and fun encounters between the H/h.
Fast forward to present day. The heroine is a competent secretary to her third fiance, a mama's boy accountant. The hero comes to town to buy the manor and to force the heroine to work for him. He does this by offering her brother a loan if the heroine will work for him for six months.
The heroine thinks it's for revenge, but it soon becomes obvious that the hero isn't going to be the hardest taskmaster when he invites the heroine for a moonlight horse ride.
This was enjoyable for so many reasons:
It's a little slow at the start, but the second half is crackling with sexual tension and fun encounters between the H/h.
April 28, 2018
Before my review, I do definitely recommend this book for the writing and small town English characters. On the basis of Naksed’s review
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I had it on my TBR list, and only realized I had read it years ago.
Black Hunter is more of a story small town England with a romance than a straight out and out romance. The faded legacy of the upper crust Holcrafts with their silver spoons versus the rise of new money under the guise of the handsome tinker boy.
The heroine is in her third engagement as she can’t seem to pull the trigger. Her latest fiancee is a momma’s boy whose mother is a finger-pointing Gladys Kravitch type. While annoying like many older and cynical women, she has the heroine pegged. The heroine and her brother are close, and are happily living down the lane from their old manor that their father lost. Typical last gasp of an old era.
Once the ex-tinker boy hero comes back to the village, he buys up the manor and proceeds to buy the brother and the heroine’s services. The h breaks up with her latest fiancee, and is manipulated into working for the H by her brother.
Longstanding animosity from the heroine that started the moment she met him as children, but she focuses on the fact that he stole her pearls when she was 16.
Even with that, I enjoyed the writing, and the characters as a reflection of English cozy writing.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I had it on my TBR list, and only realized I had read it years ago.
Black Hunter is more of a story small town England with a romance than a straight out and out romance. The faded legacy of the upper crust Holcrafts with their silver spoons versus the rise of new money under the guise of the handsome tinker boy.
The heroine is in her third engagement as she can’t seem to pull the trigger. Her latest fiancee is a momma’s boy whose mother is a finger-pointing Gladys Kravitch type. While annoying like many older and cynical women, she has the heroine pegged. The heroine and her brother are close, and are happily living down the lane from their old manor that their father lost. Typical last gasp of an old era.
Once the ex-tinker boy hero comes back to the village, he buys up the manor and proceeds to buy the brother and the heroine’s services. The h breaks up with her latest fiancee, and is manipulated into working for the H by her brother.
Longstanding animosity from the heroine that started the moment she met him as children, but she focuses on the fact that he stole her pearls when she was 16.
Even with that, I enjoyed the writing, and the characters as a reflection of English cozy writing.
October 16, 2024
It was an okay read, but for an ‘it’s always been you’ trope, it was missing the angst, and the hero was more like a wallflower than a leading man in his own story.
June 7, 2024
I liked this book a lot. A slow burn. Thought provoking. A bit of a mystery to it. “What’s up with this guy?” No over-the-top douchebaggery from an insufferable alpha a-hole. It was a very nice book.
August 21, 2021
What a great romance. Well written and with a nice backstory.
April 1, 2011
Reversal in fortune: rich-girl-now-poor and self-made millionaire. He obviously loves her and is making non-stop plans to keep her at his side. She has to deal with unresolved conflict stemming from an episode with her stolen necklace and her youthful attraction to him. Loved the way he showed his vulnerability when she was about to leave before their Christmas party.
September 23, 2021
I started reading Harequins in junior high and read them for decades. Stopped when my interests broadened and some of their best authors progressed bigger publishing houses.
Enjoyed rereading this after all these years.
Enjoyed rereading this after all these years.
August 25, 2021
My first Jane Donnelly book. Quite a find, good stuff over all.
This story has a good premise, a proper rags to riches hero. He was the local street urchin as a boy, grew up in the digs, traveled about in trailers and camped in various towns for a living.
The girl is the riches to rags one in this tale. She is from an aristocratic family in town originally. But daddy dear loses all the money to gambling and debts. So she and her brother are forced to sell the decrepit mansion and take up ordinary jobs.
The hero comes back into town as the prospective buyer of the mansion. Our girl is in shock and awe, seeing how cool and sophisticated the fellow has turned out now. Her brother gets along well the hero , always been buddies.
But there is a small rankling scandal which the heroine is unable to forget or forgive. She believes that the hero stole her precious pearl necklace when they were all young. So a budding attraction between them got stifled because of the scandal.
Now the fellow is back. He keeps goading her to accept the change् circumstances. She still moves around with that aristocratic air about her!
The pearl necklace mystery is resolved towards the end, in a somewhat tame fashion.
The heroine decides - "All that hate I felt for him all these years is actually love.". The fellow agrees - "I came back running to town only because I saw your engagement notice with the OM. Its always been you , for me."
Ta da, years of animosity wiped off in a couple of kisses. The girl gets to keep her mansion and her man. Good bargain I'd say ;)))
This story has a good premise, a proper rags to riches hero. He was the local street urchin as a boy, grew up in the digs, traveled about in trailers and camped in various towns for a living.
The girl is the riches to rags one in this tale. She is from an aristocratic family in town originally. But daddy dear loses all the money to gambling and debts. So she and her brother are forced to sell the decrepit mansion and take up ordinary jobs.
The hero comes back into town as the prospective buyer of the mansion. Our girl is in shock and awe, seeing how cool and sophisticated the fellow has turned out now. Her brother gets along well the hero , always been buddies.
But there is a small rankling scandal which the heroine is unable to forget or forgive. She believes that the hero stole her precious pearl necklace when they were all young. So a budding attraction between them got stifled because of the scandal.
Now the fellow is back. He keeps goading her to accept the change् circumstances. She still moves around with that aristocratic air about her!
The pearl necklace mystery is resolved towards the end, in a somewhat tame fashion.
The heroine decides - "All that hate I felt for him all these years is actually love.". The fellow agrees - "I came back running to town only because I saw your engagement notice with the OM. Its always been you , for me."
Ta da, years of animosity wiped off in a couple of kisses. The girl gets to keep her mansion and her man. Good bargain I'd say ;)))
December 20, 2023
Dora Holcroft had just agreed to marry Neil whom she was dating for some time after she broke up her last two engagements and decided that life with him would be okey albiet his domineering mother! Her father lost their fortune and house and left her and her brother Simon and his wife and baby to struggle for years. Therefore, when Coll Sullivan, the tinker boy who became a millionaire, showed up and offered her brother to enable him to buy his antique shop's freehold in exchange of finding suitable antique furniture for the Manor, her brother was too excited to refuse. But, Dora had all the reasons to refuse! Not only she loathed Coll since childhood, but the Manor used to be their own house and they were likely to be sentimental about it. Besides, she had to broke up with Neil because of his jealousy to Coll! However, when Coll demanded that she become his secretary or the deal with her brother is off, Dora had to accept for the sake of her family even when Coll told her point blank that he was going to seduce her!
I read this book because of the reviews , but I regret it now. The book was confusing at the first pages and intruging a little when the hero showed up, but it failed to impress in events. Not that much impressionable at all. The heroine gave it away with her grudge againt a man whom she disliked after meeting in four summers when she was a child and a teenager.
I read this book because of the reviews , but I regret it now. The book was confusing at the first pages and intruging a little when the hero showed up, but it failed to impress in events. Not that much impressionable at all. The heroine gave it away with her grudge againt a man whom she disliked after meeting in four summers when she was a child and a teenager.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 27, 2025
'I'd come back to ask you to wait for me,' he said, 'but I couldn't. I could hardly look at you, I couldn't get a word out. I sat up all night writing you a letter, promising I was going to make a fortune for you, because it had always been you ever since I fell out of that tree.
A former tinker scum now practically millionaire arrives unexpectedly and buys the Georgian house where the heroine grew up. They met 4 times in the past as children.
The last time the h accused the H of stealing her pearls. Now the H’s offering a much-needed loan to her brother in exchange that the h works for him for 6 months.
I understand that she represents everything the poor homeless hero longed for as a child. But is she worth all this hustle? She’s bratty and rude. Her brother says she was spoiled and bitchy as a child and she doesn’t appeal to me now.
So she takes care of the house and is a good secretary, but there are lots of women who can do it better. Why is this one so special?
The most memorable part – she was engaged 3 times. Once she jilted her fiancé a week before the wedding. We’re supposed to believe that she was waiting for the H.
A former tinker scum now practically millionaire arrives unexpectedly and buys the Georgian house where the heroine grew up. They met 4 times in the past as children.
The last time the h accused the H of stealing her pearls. Now the H’s offering a much-needed loan to her brother in exchange that the h works for him for 6 months.
I understand that she represents everything the poor homeless hero longed for as a child. But is she worth all this hustle? She’s bratty and rude. Her brother says she was spoiled and bitchy as a child and she doesn’t appeal to me now.
So she takes care of the house and is a good secretary, but there are lots of women who can do it better. Why is this one so special?
The most memorable part – she was engaged 3 times. Once she jilted her fiancé a week before the wedding. We’re supposed to believe that she was waiting for the H.
May 9, 2024
If you would like to try this book, let me know. It wasn't my cup of tea. It's an enemy to lovers story, a plotline I rarely enjoy... so consider this while reading the rest of my review. I liked the hero a lot but could not stomach the the lack of compassion, assumption jumping and the level of animosity towards the hero the heroine held for Coll, since she was a child. I guess she was a spoiled heiress and he the poor, tinkers son. But that didn't excuse her awful attitude of such strong jealousy she felt for a boy who befriended her brother for a few weeks in the summer, every 4 or 5 years. I couldn't get past it.
January 16, 2022
Safe. The H fell in love with the h when they first met as teenagers but she was a child of the Manor and he was the son of a tinker. Would have loved a tiny bit more angst on both ends. I felt that the h had more maturing to do at 26 since she had extreme reactions to the H, and would have preferred an epilogue showing the H and h married with kids as that was what he had been wanting since 10 years, plus her previous track record of kinda spooked me.
pback-to-read
November 13, 2020"Call it a whim; but no you--then no deal!"
Coll Sullivan had been just as self-assured when he was a boy in rags. Now he was a man with power, and he oozed arrogance!
He had bought their old family home -- but why did he want her, too? Especially in a strictly hands-off arrangement, as his secretary. Was it because of something in the past?
Well, whatever -- for her brother's sake Dora had to agree. But she would certainly make sure that Coll knew it was against her wishes!
Coll Sullivan had been just as self-assured when he was a boy in rags. Now he was a man with power, and he oozed arrogance!
He had bought their old family home -- but why did he want her, too? Especially in a strictly hands-off arrangement, as his secretary. Was it because of something in the past?
Well, whatever -- for her brother's sake Dora had to agree. But she would certainly make sure that Coll knew it was against her wishes!
March 22, 2018
lovely book... well written. Realistic story with a confused heroine and vulnerable hero.
Read
October 30, 2022I read it to improve my English and it was amusing and easy to read
December 29, 2022
Hardworking, generous hero: ☆☆☆☆☆
Heroine & her awful, thieving family: negative ☆☆
So that's 3 stars then
July 24, 2023
Disturbing! H was smitten! h was cruel!
August 17, 2024
This is beautifully written! I highly recommend this story!
5+ stars
5+ stars
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews