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Duel of Desire
It was hard to resist AlexHe smiled arrogantly at her. "You've wanted me ever since we began working together four years ago. Admit it, Deborah."She turned away abruptly. It was true. She loved Alex St. James, a music-industry executive who had exercised his sensual powers over every beautiful recording star in the country.But Deborah wasn't going to become another victim of his practiced charm. She was engaged to a man who offered her affection and security. It would be foolish to throw all that away - even if she wanted to!
304 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1978
About the author
Charlotte Lamb
262 books316 followersSheila Ann Mary Coates Holland
aka Sheila Holland, Sheila Coates, Charlotte Lamb, Sheila Lancaster, Victoria Woolf, Laura Hardy
Sheila Ann Mary Coates was born on 1937 in Essex, England, just before the Second World War in the East End of London. As a child, she was moved from relative to relative to escape the bombings of World War II. Sheila attended the Ursuline Convent for Girls. On leaving school at 16, the convent-educated author worked for the Bank of England as a clerk. Sheila continued her education by taking advantage of the B of E's enormous library during her lunch breaks and after work. She later worked as a secretary for the BBC. While there, she met and married Richard Holland, a political reporter. A voracious reader of romance novels, she began writing at her husband's suggestion. She wrote her first book in three days with three children underfoot! In between raising her five children (including a set of twins), Charlotte wrote several more novels. She used both her married and maiden names, Sheila Holland and Sheila Coates, before her first novel as Charlotte Lamb, Follow a Stranger, was published by Mills & Boon in 1973. She also used the pennames: Sheila Lancaster, Victoria Wolf and Laura Hardy. Sheila was a true revolutionary in the field of romance writing. One of the first writers to explore the boundaries of sexual desire, her novels often reflected the forefront of the "sexual revolution" of the 1970s. Her books touched on then-taboo subjects such as child abuse and rape, and she created sexually confident - even dominant - heroines. She was also one of the first to create a modern romantic heroine: independent, imperfect, and perfectly capable of initiating a sexual or romantic relationship. A prolific author, Sheila penned more than 160 novels, most of them for Mills & Boon. Known for her swiftness as well as for her skill in writing, Sheila typically wrote a minimum of two thousand words per day, working from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. While she once finished a full-length novel in four days, she herself pegged her average speed at two weeks to complete a full novel. Since 1977, Sheila had been living on the Isle of Man as a tax exile with her husband and four of their five children: Michael Holland, Sarah Holland, Jane Holland, Charlotte Holland and David Holland. Sheila passed away on October 8, 2000 in her baronial-style home 'Crogga' on the Island. She is greatly missed by her many fans, and by the romance writing community.
aka Sheila Holland, Sheila Coates, Charlotte Lamb, Sheila Lancaster, Victoria Woolf, Laura Hardy
Sheila Ann Mary Coates was born on 1937 in Essex, England, just before the Second World War in the East End of London. As a child, she was moved from relative to relative to escape the bombings of World War II. Sheila attended the Ursuline Convent for Girls. On leaving school at 16, the convent-educated author worked for the Bank of England as a clerk. Sheila continued her education by taking advantage of the B of E's enormous library during her lunch breaks and after work. She later worked as a secretary for the BBC. While there, she met and married Richard Holland, a political reporter. A voracious reader of romance novels, she began writing at her husband's suggestion. She wrote her first book in three days with three children underfoot! In between raising her five children (including a set of twins), Charlotte wrote several more novels. She used both her married and maiden names, Sheila Holland and Sheila Coates, before her first novel as Charlotte Lamb, Follow a Stranger, was published by Mills & Boon in 1973. She also used the pennames: Sheila Lancaster, Victoria Wolf and Laura Hardy. Sheila was a true revolutionary in the field of romance writing. One of the first writers to explore the boundaries of sexual desire, her novels often reflected the forefront of the "sexual revolution" of the 1970s. Her books touched on then-taboo subjects such as child abuse and rape, and she created sexually confident - even dominant - heroines. She was also one of the first to create a modern romantic heroine: independent, imperfect, and perfectly capable of initiating a sexual or romantic relationship. A prolific author, Sheila penned more than 160 novels, most of them for Mills & Boon. Known for her swiftness as well as for her skill in writing, Sheila typically wrote a minimum of two thousand words per day, working from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. While she once finished a full-length novel in four days, she herself pegged her average speed at two weeks to complete a full novel. Since 1977, Sheila had been living on the Isle of Man as a tax exile with her husband and four of their five children: Michael Holland, Sarah Holland, Jane Holland, Charlotte Holland and David Holland. Sheila passed away on October 8, 2000 in her baronial-style home 'Crogga' on the Island. She is greatly missed by her many fans, and by the romance writing community.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
February 22, 2017
Let's see. Where do I start with this train wreck?
First, the "hero."
He is a big, fat manwhore music executive who hits on anything with boobs, and actually pimps himself out quite merrily if it means it will land him a record contract with the latest, up and coming, female pop star to be. He uses these affairs quite ruthlessly to get free publicity for his label. A cheap manwhore!
He asks his secretary, the heroine, to whore herself out similarly to get male artists to sign with his label but when she flirts a bit too much for his liking, he has no problem quite violently setting her down with many punishing kisses (he draws blood!) and forceful gropings (he leaves bruises!).
He calls the heroine a variation on the bitch theme (you lying little bitch, you cold-hearted bitch, you cheating bitch, etc) pretty much every other paragraph.
He wears around his neck his ex's medallion for three quarters of the story, even as he is trying to woo the heroine into bed (she feels it pressing down on her chest during their frantic make-out sessions), until she finally flings it from his neck in a jealous fit. Then he asks heroine to believe she was not his ex at all, nor were all the other pop star side-pieces, it was all a publicity stunt only. Yeah, right!
He purposefully sets up heroine for a mid-week "business trip" in France in order to slut-shame her enough that her engagement to the company's boring little accountant gets broken. He also wants to take the opportunity to see if he can convince her to go to bed with him during that same trip . But don't worry, whether or not he strikes out, he has a gorgeous model lined up for the weekend when they get back to London. Heroine ought to know, she made the arrangements for them!
Now for the heroine.
She is in love/lust with her hero boss for four years but dating and quasi-engaged to the boring company accountant.
She keeps telling the hero to leave her alone then sticks to him closer than his own shadow.
She keeps resigning/threatening to resign then goes back on her word.
She keeps getting engaged (to two different men) then going back on her word.
She invites the ex-fiance into her home so he can apologize for his boorish behavior, then, when he accidentally splits his shirt, tells him to take off his shirt so she can go sew it up again in her bedroom and invites him to change in her bedroom, only for hero to naturally walk in on them. Ha! For once, I could not fault the hero for jumping to conclusions.
She is a 26 year old woman living in a democracy and access to law enforcement, court system, counseling, etc. who lets herself be forcibly married by hero so he won't lose face in front of his colleagues. LoooL
She is resigned to enter a loveless, adulterous marriage because she has already been taking care of hero as his assistant for four years and marriage probably won't be so different.
Her idea of a honeymoon is to retreat at her mother-in-law's isolated country cottage and consummate the marriage in mom-in-law's bed. Hero also thinks this is a perfectly great idea. Paging Dr. Freud.
Conclusion:
This is probably one of the most trainwrecky Charlotte Lamb books I have ever read. It's funny because her crazy books either completely win me over with their craziness or, on the contrary, fill me with bile. There is just no telling whether I am going to end up with 5 or 1 star. Timing is also everything and I wouldn't be surprised if my ratings fluctuate upon future re-readings depending on how receptive my mind is to her brand of wackiness. In this case, though, I couldn't wait to get away from both these loons.
First, the "hero."
He is a big, fat manwhore music executive who hits on anything with boobs, and actually pimps himself out quite merrily if it means it will land him a record contract with the latest, up and coming, female pop star to be. He uses these affairs quite ruthlessly to get free publicity for his label. A cheap manwhore!
He asks his secretary, the heroine, to whore herself out similarly to get male artists to sign with his label but when she flirts a bit too much for his liking, he has no problem quite violently setting her down with many punishing kisses (he draws blood!) and forceful gropings (he leaves bruises!).
He calls the heroine a variation on the bitch theme (you lying little bitch, you cold-hearted bitch, you cheating bitch, etc) pretty much every other paragraph.
He wears around his neck his ex's medallion for three quarters of the story, even as he is trying to woo the heroine into bed (she feels it pressing down on her chest during their frantic make-out sessions), until she finally flings it from his neck in a jealous fit. Then he asks heroine to believe she was not his ex at all, nor were all the other pop star side-pieces, it was all a publicity stunt only. Yeah, right!
He purposefully sets up heroine for a mid-week "business trip" in France in order to slut-shame her enough that her engagement to the company's boring little accountant gets broken. He also wants to take the opportunity to see if he can convince her to go to bed with him during that same trip . But don't worry, whether or not he strikes out, he has a gorgeous model lined up for the weekend when they get back to London. Heroine ought to know, she made the arrangements for them!
Now for the heroine.
She is in love/lust with her hero boss for four years but dating and quasi-engaged to the boring company accountant.
She keeps telling the hero to leave her alone then sticks to him closer than his own shadow.
She keeps resigning/threatening to resign then goes back on her word.
She keeps getting engaged (to two different men) then going back on her word.
She invites the ex-fiance into her home so he can apologize for his boorish behavior, then, when he accidentally splits his shirt, tells him to take off his shirt so she can go sew it up again in her bedroom and invites him to change in her bedroom, only for hero to naturally walk in on them. Ha! For once, I could not fault the hero for jumping to conclusions.
She is a 26 year old woman living in a democracy and access to law enforcement, court system, counseling, etc. who lets herself be forcibly married by hero so he won't lose face in front of his colleagues. LoooL
She is resigned to enter a loveless, adulterous marriage because she has already been taking care of hero as his assistant for four years and marriage probably won't be so different.
Her idea of a honeymoon is to retreat at her mother-in-law's isolated country cottage and consummate the marriage in mom-in-law's bed. Hero also thinks this is a perfectly great idea. Paging Dr. Freud.
Conclusion:
This is probably one of the most trainwrecky Charlotte Lamb books I have ever read. It's funny because her crazy books either completely win me over with their craziness or, on the contrary, fill me with bile. There is just no telling whether I am going to end up with 5 or 1 star. Timing is also everything and I wouldn't be surprised if my ratings fluctuate upon future re-readings depending on how receptive my mind is to her brand of wackiness. In this case, though, I couldn't wait to get away from both these loons.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 25, 2017
This heroine is nucking futs! Deb was half-insane, and half-manipulative bitch. At first I thought she was cool: the self-possessed PA to the womanizing H, Alex, who has lusted after her for four years. Meanwhile she's calmly ignoring his advances, rejecting his date invitations, and getting engaged to an accountant. Good for you girl! Don't give him an inch!
Then BAM she loses her goddamn mind after they get stranded in a flooded cottage. Out of the blue she yanks a pendant off his neck and hurls it away because she's jealous another woman gave it to him. I hope he doesn't figure out I'm in love with him! Okay, idiot, then why did you just do that? It wasn't even a quasi-subtle, Boy, that is an ugly pendant. It was like, That gorgeous singer gave you that pendant because you had sex with her! I'll rip it off your neck! I did not understand where the hell that came from. And then she says, "Sorry, I didn't mean to do that." She actually says that. Good Lord, I had no idea how they just ignored that little incident.
So she's established herself in my mind as randomly psycho at this point, then I get to the part where her ex-fiance comes to visit her apartment. She's barely dressed in a sexy slip, expecting Alex for a date at any minute, when the ex shows up instead. Of course she invites him in. "I'm hot." Off goes his jacket. She gives him a drink. He catches his sleeve and rips it. "Take off your shirt," she says kindly. "I'll mend it."
This setup is just too damn obvious, but the kicker was when, after sewing up his torn shirt, she doesn't bring it back out to him. She leaves it lying on her bed and calls him into the bedroom to get it. I get the heavy-handed set-up but the fact that she knows Alex is coming over any minute now, and she still gets her ex-fiance half-naked and makes him come into the bedroom- and she didn't even take the time to change out of her silky slip- this is when I realized it may not be acknowledged but this woman is a master devious manipulator. I mean HPs abound with heroines caught in misconstrued situations but this? This? She engineered that shit with the finesse of an OW. And then later she blames it all on the ex, like he planned it, as if she wasn't the one who told him to take off his shirt or called him into the bedroom or didn't put on clothes when she had plenty of time to sew up a rip... I'm not a fool, woman!
I finished the book quite cynically, having lost faith in Deb's pure innocent lurve. CL is a great writer and it's always fun reading her, but I thought this heroine was balls. The best part about this book was Alex hunting for eggs from the angry chickens and falling on his butt.
Then BAM she loses her goddamn mind after they get stranded in a flooded cottage. Out of the blue she yanks a pendant off his neck and hurls it away because she's jealous another woman gave it to him. I hope he doesn't figure out I'm in love with him! Okay, idiot, then why did you just do that? It wasn't even a quasi-subtle, Boy, that is an ugly pendant. It was like, That gorgeous singer gave you that pendant because you had sex with her! I'll rip it off your neck! I did not understand where the hell that came from. And then she says, "Sorry, I didn't mean to do that." She actually says that. Good Lord, I had no idea how they just ignored that little incident.
So she's established herself in my mind as randomly psycho at this point, then I get to the part where her ex-fiance comes to visit her apartment. She's barely dressed in a sexy slip, expecting Alex for a date at any minute, when the ex shows up instead. Of course she invites him in. "I'm hot." Off goes his jacket. She gives him a drink. He catches his sleeve and rips it. "Take off your shirt," she says kindly. "I'll mend it."
This setup is just too damn obvious, but the kicker was when, after sewing up his torn shirt, she doesn't bring it back out to him. She leaves it lying on her bed and calls him into the bedroom to get it. I get the heavy-handed set-up but the fact that she knows Alex is coming over any minute now, and she still gets her ex-fiance half-naked and makes him come into the bedroom- and she didn't even take the time to change out of her silky slip- this is when I realized it may not be acknowledged but this woman is a master devious manipulator. I mean HPs abound with heroines caught in misconstrued situations but this? This? She engineered that shit with the finesse of an OW. And then later she blames it all on the ex, like he planned it, as if she wasn't the one who told him to take off his shirt or called him into the bedroom or didn't put on clothes when she had plenty of time to sew up a rip... I'm not a fool, woman!
I finished the book quite cynically, having lost faith in Deb's pure innocent lurve. CL is a great writer and it's always fun reading her, but I thought this heroine was balls. The best part about this book was Alex hunting for eggs from the angry chickens and falling on his butt.
January 9, 2014
I am in the minority on this one, but I found both H/h to be annoying, one dimensional cardboard figures that left very little to be desired.
He was a man whore with no other redeeming value. Don't get me wrong, I love to have one of those delicious man whores that you just want to kick to the curb. But, I want them to at least have some intrigue and complexity to their character. I want to have to search deeper to find the true guy. There was nothing complex about this guy. What you saw is what you got. On the surface, he was just one very selfish, superficial man who enjoyed bragging about his conquests and was more concerned about his image than the people in his life.
She was an idiot, beyond TSTL. She would say one thing, but do something else. She was supposed to be strong and smart, but I know 3 year olds that have better judgment.
Now I know why many readers avoid Lamb. Mystery solved.
He was a man whore with no other redeeming value. Don't get me wrong, I love to have one of those delicious man whores that you just want to kick to the curb. But, I want them to at least have some intrigue and complexity to their character. I want to have to search deeper to find the true guy. There was nothing complex about this guy. What you saw is what you got. On the surface, he was just one very selfish, superficial man who enjoyed bragging about his conquests and was more concerned about his image than the people in his life.
She was an idiot, beyond TSTL. She would say one thing, but do something else. She was supposed to be strong and smart, but I know 3 year olds that have better judgment.
Now I know why many readers avoid Lamb. Mystery solved.
July 24, 2018
"Dual of Desire" is the story of Deborah and Alex.
Deborah works for the music industry executive Alex, and has always known and ignored his attraction to her. She instead has chosen to go out with the safe accountant Robin, and left Alex to his hoard of incoming artists and women.
However, as she finally decides to give in and marry Robin to fulfill her yearning for a family, Alex whisks her away to a business trip only for them to be trapped together.
As other men try to flirt with her, he rewards her with bruising kisses and when they are eventually stranded together in his mother's cottage, Deborah realizes her feelings for Alex which were evident all along.
I enjoyed this book a lot, and I always love the crazy insane obsessiveness a CM hero has. This one also had a heroine who realized the truth pretty quick. That being said, his suspicious nature, though expected was scary, bloody kisses though expected were concerning, and rape threats-though not executed, were joked about and almost attempted.
If you're ok with dub-con, you wont mind this book.
SWE/Unsafe
3/5
Deborah works for the music industry executive Alex, and has always known and ignored his attraction to her. She instead has chosen to go out with the safe accountant Robin, and left Alex to his hoard of incoming artists and women.
However, as she finally decides to give in and marry Robin to fulfill her yearning for a family, Alex whisks her away to a business trip only for them to be trapped together.
As other men try to flirt with her, he rewards her with bruising kisses and when they are eventually stranded together in his mother's cottage, Deborah realizes her feelings for Alex which were evident all along.
I enjoyed this book a lot, and I always love the crazy insane obsessiveness a CM hero has. This one also had a heroine who realized the truth pretty quick. That being said, his suspicious nature, though expected was scary, bloody kisses though expected were concerning, and rape threats-though not executed, were joked about and almost attempted.
If you're ok with dub-con, you wont mind this book.
SWE/Unsafe
3/5
July 2, 2011
This is a very good read. It keeps you turning the pages not wanting to miss one word, caught up in the tension between the H/h.
The h is his PA. She's been his PA for four years but has managed to keep a cool aloof and diapproving distance despite his periodic attempts to date her and obvious interest in seducing her. She knows there is a sexual awareness between them but she disapproves of his reputation for going from one relationship to another without any true feelings involved. She refuses to be one more in a long line of conquests.
When she is about to announce her engagement to another man the H goes into action, setting up a situation likely to put an end to the engagement and hopefully lead to her seduction. The conflict between sexual desire without love and the need for love that results in sexual desire makes for an exciting duel.
This was well written, interesting and had plenty of angst and conflict.
The h is his PA. She's been his PA for four years but has managed to keep a cool aloof and diapproving distance despite his periodic attempts to date her and obvious interest in seducing her. She knows there is a sexual awareness between them but she disapproves of his reputation for going from one relationship to another without any true feelings involved. She refuses to be one more in a long line of conquests.
When she is about to announce her engagement to another man the H goes into action, setting up a situation likely to put an end to the engagement and hopefully lead to her seduction. The conflict between sexual desire without love and the need for love that results in sexual desire makes for an exciting duel.
This was well written, interesting and had plenty of angst and conflict.
September 24, 2011
This was a good read,you can actually feel that Alex-Deb both love each other but cause of their own insecurities and both are involved with other people so both have never said anything,Deb keeps actching Alex kissing Sammy(a model) and she gets more angrier and is jealous but she keeps denying her feelings for her and keeps thinking she is better with Robin but on one weekend they are stuck together where in Deb realises how she has been in love with Alex for past 4 years and her jealousy with Alex's other woman which Alex keeps throwing to torment her.Alex also loves Deb and knows she is engaged which stops him but he keeps taunting her.after the weekend Robin(Deb is involved with him)he says real cruel things to Deb and Alex punches him and fires him and declares Deb is getting married to him and she is not his mistress
Before marriage there's one more misunderstanding which leads a strain on their relation,they do get married and then they talk it out and everything is cleared and they both confess their love for each other and HEA
Absolutely enjoyed the book but too many Bitch slaps in the book,and never did once Alex apologised for calling her Bitch and drawing horrible conclusions all is says is he is a swine which i completely agree lol
Good read
Before marriage there's one more misunderstanding which leads a strain on their relation,they do get married and then they talk it out and everything is cleared and they both confess their love for each other and HEA
Absolutely enjoyed the book but too many Bitch slaps in the book,and never did once Alex apologised for calling her Bitch and drawing horrible conclusions all is says is he is a swine which i completely agree lol
Good read
August 19, 2025
They created "communication" after the author wrote the book!
A lovely read for my Bingo read of 2025: A book set in Europe (London and Nice)
25⭕ ┃37⭕┃87┃13┃68┃40⭕┃32┃59┃76┃44
10⭕┃86┃4 ┃45┃47┃98┃50⭕┃14⭕┃85┃75
88┃51┃ 9⭕┃2┃42⭕┃29⭕┃ 24┃92⭕┃ 82┃1⭕
100┃34⭕┃17┃96┃43���┃49┃64⭕┃70┃15⭕┃38⭕
84┃31⭕┃ 62⭕┃7⭕┃21┃73┃28┃46⭕┃90┃77
3⭕┃12⭕┃80⭕┃ 69⭕┃52⭕┃ 65⭕┃54⭕┃ 91⭕┃23⭕┃ 72⭕
18┃95┃ 22┃99┃93┃74⭕┃41⭕┃8┃35⭕┃ 58⭕
57┃94┃ 16⭕┃56┃ 5⭕┃60⭕┃78⭕┃ 26┃81┃ 61
97┃48⭕┃ 79⭕┃67┃ 53⭕┃30⭕┃ 6⭕┃36⭕┃89⭕┃ 33⭕
71⭕┃19┃ 39⭕┃66┃ 55┃27⭕┃ 20┃63┃ 11┃83
A lovely read for my Bingo read of 2025: A book set in Europe (London and Nice)
25⭕ ┃37⭕┃87┃13┃68┃40⭕┃32┃59┃76┃44
10⭕┃86┃4 ┃45┃47┃98┃50⭕┃14⭕┃85┃75
88┃51┃ 9⭕┃2┃42⭕┃29⭕┃ 24┃92⭕┃ 82┃1⭕
100┃34⭕┃17┃96┃43���┃49┃64⭕┃70┃15⭕┃38⭕
84┃31⭕┃ 62⭕┃7⭕┃21┃73┃28┃46⭕┃90┃77
3⭕┃12⭕┃80⭕┃ 69⭕┃52⭕┃ 65⭕┃54⭕┃ 91⭕┃23⭕┃ 72⭕
18┃95┃ 22┃99┃93┃74⭕┃41⭕┃8┃35⭕┃ 58⭕
57┃94┃ 16⭕┃56┃ 5⭕┃60⭕┃78⭕┃ 26┃81┃ 61
97┃48⭕┃ 79⭕┃67┃ 53⭕┃30⭕┃ 6⭕┃36⭕┃89⭕┃ 33⭕
71⭕┃19┃ 39⭕┃66┃ 55┃27⭕┃ 20┃63┃ 11┃83
October 12, 2019
3.5 stars
Old school romance with so many typical elements that are old HP classics: a t100% alpha-her/billionaire who does not believe in love but only in lust, a prim-proper assistant with a painful childhood who believes in love and not in passion. She hates-loves him but is engaged to a good guy..... the hero behaves like a caveman and spends his time trying to convince her that he is the one but not for love! bruising kisses, push and pull play, jealousy and possessiveness, misunderstanding.... a lot of passion.
I enjoyed it!
Old school romance with so many typical elements that are old HP classics: a t100% alpha-her/billionaire who does not believe in love but only in lust, a prim-proper assistant with a painful childhood who believes in love and not in passion. She hates-loves him but is engaged to a good guy..... the hero behaves like a caveman and spends his time trying to convince her that he is the one but not for love! bruising kisses, push and pull play, jealousy and possessiveness, misunderstanding.... a lot of passion.
I enjoyed it!
January 19, 2020
It was hard to resist Alex.
He smiled arrogantly at her. "You've wanted me ever since we began working together four years ago. Admit it, Deborah."
She turned away abruptly. It was true. She loved Alex St. James, a music-industry executive who had exercised his sensual powers over every beautiful recording star in the country.
But Deborah wasn't going to become another victim of his practiced charm. She was engaged to a man who offered her affection and security. It would be foolish to throw all that away - even if she wanted to!
He smiled arrogantly at her. "You've wanted me ever since we began working together four years ago. Admit it, Deborah."
She turned away abruptly. It was true. She loved Alex St. James, a music-industry executive who had exercised his sensual powers over every beautiful recording star in the country.
But Deborah wasn't going to become another victim of his practiced charm. She was engaged to a man who offered her affection and security. It would be foolish to throw all that away - even if she wanted to!
November 20, 2014
As with all these old harlequins, I wish it was longer so the plot and characters could be better developed. I love old Charlotte Lamb.
May 7, 2022
I remember reading this book way back when when I got it in a used book sale. There are several really good elements in the plotting, but somehow it fails to come together for me.
There were too many elements that should have been slightly tweaked for believability and weren't, and the plotting and characterization just didn't feel that well developed at the end.
First, we have a boss-assistant situation that's been going on for four years now with no resolution. He's a music records managing director, and she's his extremely competent, cool as ice assistant who's recently about to become engaged to an accountant in the firm. (Some additional details are given for everyone's background—he has a very detached mother with whom he has a good bit distant relationship; she's an orphan who yearns for the feeling of family, and the accountant is way too close to his family and cares too much about appearances.)
Right off the bat, there are a lot of inconsistencies that stick out at me. I did not for a second believe this volcanic situation could have persisted for four years. If it had been only two years, then maybe. He's also supposed to be a manwhore who believes in free publicity, and so his reputation is very exaggerated. I didn't completely believe in this either, because if she's so uber competent and intelligent, she should have seen the difference between when he was in a real relationship versus not, and yet she was completely taken in by a fake relationship?
What spurs the action on is when she needs to be back in England in order to visit the accountant's family in order to get engaged. This aspect was really odd and probably only used to make Robin a completely ahole. He was useless, and I thought much less of her for dating him. On the one hand, he had apparently told his mother that she was her boss's mistress before they started dating, but when she offers to quit her job, he's dismayed and wants her to stay in her uber high paying glam job? WHICH IS IT, ROBIN? He was completely without depth as the OM, and I was not here for it.
The action is propelled by them in Paris, visiting a young rock star. Alex is simultaneously telling her to wear hot stuff and then annoyed when she does. Contrary to her, cool, competent exterior, she doesn't tell him off but gets flustered multiple times—though I could not understand why at this late stage. As boss and trusted assistant, they must have made similar trips in the past. Why was it coalescing now?
Somehow or another, he manages to direct them to visit his mother in the countryside, but she's gone by the time they get there and they're caught in a flash flood. Domesticity ensues, but I could not find Alex attractive because of an earlier description of his shirt open to reveal a medallion hanging on his chest, which was covered with light, fine hairs. Just. No.
She grapples with her feelings and somehow has an "why, I love him" epiphany but does not want to be a notch on his bedpost. There are multiple scenes of him forcing himself onto her, her feeling overwhelmed by lust, and nothing coming out of it. All this amidst him calling her "bitch" over and over again (nine times).
They return to London, having missed the weekend, and the accountant is pissed and makes ugly accusations, to which she tries with tears to counter. Alex punches him, then comes out with the obligatory engagement announcement, thus propelling us into the marriage of convenience trope.
All in all, these tropes should have made the book exciting, but it wasn't, because she was so submissive that she was completely uninteresting to me. Things continually happened to her, and she just let it happen. He was also extremely unattractive because of those fine hairs and his constant name calling.
There were too many elements that should have been slightly tweaked for believability and weren't, and the plotting and characterization just didn't feel that well developed at the end.
First, we have a boss-assistant situation that's been going on for four years now with no resolution. He's a music records managing director, and she's his extremely competent, cool as ice assistant who's recently about to become engaged to an accountant in the firm. (Some additional details are given for everyone's background—he has a very detached mother with whom he has a good bit distant relationship; she's an orphan who yearns for the feeling of family, and the accountant is way too close to his family and cares too much about appearances.)
Right off the bat, there are a lot of inconsistencies that stick out at me. I did not for a second believe this volcanic situation could have persisted for four years. If it had been only two years, then maybe. He's also supposed to be a manwhore who believes in free publicity, and so his reputation is very exaggerated. I didn't completely believe in this either, because if she's so uber competent and intelligent, she should have seen the difference between when he was in a real relationship versus not, and yet she was completely taken in by a fake relationship?
What spurs the action on is when she needs to be back in England in order to visit the accountant's family in order to get engaged. This aspect was really odd and probably only used to make Robin a completely ahole. He was useless, and I thought much less of her for dating him. On the one hand, he had apparently told his mother that she was her boss's mistress before they started dating, but when she offers to quit her job, he's dismayed and wants her to stay in her uber high paying glam job? WHICH IS IT, ROBIN? He was completely without depth as the OM, and I was not here for it.
The action is propelled by them in Paris, visiting a young rock star. Alex is simultaneously telling her to wear hot stuff and then annoyed when she does. Contrary to her, cool, competent exterior, she doesn't tell him off but gets flustered multiple times—though I could not understand why at this late stage. As boss and trusted assistant, they must have made similar trips in the past. Why was it coalescing now?
Somehow or another, he manages to direct them to visit his mother in the countryside, but she's gone by the time they get there and they're caught in a flash flood. Domesticity ensues, but I could not find Alex attractive because of an earlier description of his shirt open to reveal a medallion hanging on his chest, which was covered with light, fine hairs. Just. No.
She grapples with her feelings and somehow has an "why, I love him" epiphany but does not want to be a notch on his bedpost. There are multiple scenes of him forcing himself onto her, her feeling overwhelmed by lust, and nothing coming out of it. All this amidst him calling her "bitch" over and over again (nine times).
They return to London, having missed the weekend, and the accountant is pissed and makes ugly accusations, to which she tries with tears to counter. Alex punches him, then comes out with the obligatory engagement announcement, thus propelling us into the marriage of convenience trope.
All in all, these tropes should have made the book exciting, but it wasn't, because she was so submissive that she was completely uninteresting to me. Things continually happened to her, and she just let it happen. He was also extremely unattractive because of those fine hairs and his constant name calling.
May 18, 2025
This book shows what love/jealousy can do; it brings the H close to raping the h, it makes the h so furious she rips a medallion off the H, because it was a gift from another woman. It makes the H nearly lose his mind, accusing, believing the worst, while it makes the h get engaged to the OM, trying to convince herself she wants a life with him (because the H is an apparent playboy who will apparently never commit to one woman.)
It also makes the H propose and the h accept!
This book has an interesting twist, as the OM is vindictive, and tries to convince the H that he and the h slept together (and succeeded, for a time). Usually, it's the OW who plays that role, and gets the h to believe what isn't true. I like that big of originality.
This book is just okay, it didn't have enough going for it to be a good one you don't want to miss, so no big deal if you skip it.
It also makes the H propose and the h accept!
This book has an interesting twist, as the OM is vindictive, and tries to convince the H that he and the h slept together (and succeeded, for a time). Usually, it's the OW who plays that role, and gets the h to believe what isn't true. I like that big of originality.
This book is just okay, it didn't have enough going for it to be a good one you don't want to miss, so no big deal if you skip it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 11, 2022
A quick read. The hero is a bit of an asshole. The heroine is kinda wishy-washy too. I'd say skip it.
July 22, 2022
Good but I didn’t much like the long drawn out ending.
August 16, 2025
Some very hot scenes happen when H returns to the office after learning the h is getting engaged. He turns on the heat and things almost burn out of control a few times!
February 8, 2026
Old school romance! Πολύ μου άρεσε!!
December 26, 2014
Deborah had worked as private assistant to Alex for four years, her opinion of him was that all he wanted was to keep his Stars happy and if that included sexually happy then he was ready to oblige. Deborah was in a relationship with someone she felt would provide a solid foundation for a marriage, he was the accountant for the company she worked for. They were engaged but he didn't make her heart melt not like the feelings she had for Alex, but Alex wasn't the kind of man she would ever consider to be good husband material not with all the casual love affairs he was involved in. When Alex wanted her to fly to Paris she turned him down flat, she had big plans for the weekend, Alex as her boss ordered her to go with him to help with one of his male singing Stars, he promised her she would be home in plenty of time for her to keep her plans with her fiancé. But Alex had other plans for Deb and himself, he wanted her and he told himself he had waited four long years, and this time he would have her.
February 7, 2015
this was a fantastic read! what i reproached the author here is not ending it sooner. she made it tedious. more so, it was unbelievable alex had not raped deborah upto the end! she was so obviously gagging for it dat it was annoying!
July 16, 2014
A classic boss-secretary romance, with jealous boyfriend-collegue. Heroine not of strong character. No sex before the mentioning of love and marriage, very old-fashioned.
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