許されぬ密会

by Miranda Lee, 槙 由子 (Translator), ミランダ・リー

Nicolas Dupre thought he'd left his past in a small Australian bush town far behind. He'd made billions as a theatrical entrepreneur in New York and London. But then he received a request to return to Rocky Creek, and everything he'd tried to forget came rushing back….

Including Serina, whom he hadn't seen since that last night when they'd shared passion like hungry animals. Nicolas had never gotten over her, or how she'd wronged him. Here was his chance to claim one final bedding, and closure….

Only, Serina had a secret that could change his life….

Genres: Harlequin, Romance, Harlequin Presents, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Harlequin Romance, Mills and Boon

183 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

Maureen Mary was born on 1945 at Port Macquarie, a popular seaside town on the Mid-North Coast of New South Wales, Australia, and is the youngest of four children. Her sister was the novelist Wendy Brennan (Emma Darcy). Her father was a country school teacher and brilliant sportsman. Her mother was a talented dressmaker. When Miranda was ten, her father was transferred to Gosford, another coastal town in the countryside, much closer to Sydney. After leaving her convent school, she briefly studied the cello before moving to Sydney, where she embraced the emerging world of computers. Her career as a programmer ended after she married, had three daughters and bought a small acreage in a semi-rural community. Following this, she attempted greyhound training, as well as horse and goat breeding, but was left dissatisfied.

Miranda yearned to find a creative career from which she could earn money. When her sister suggested writing romances, it seemed like a good idea. She could do it at home, and it might even be fun! It took a decade of trial and error before her first romance, After the Affair, was accepted and published. At that time, Miranda, her husband Tony, and her three daughters had moved back to the Central Coast, where they could enjoy the sun and the surf lifestyle once again. Not long into her writing career, Miranda committed herself to writing a six-book series entitled, The Hearts of Fire, with a deadline of just nine short months. Bravely, her husband left his executive position to stay home and support Miranda’s writing career. He learned to cook and to clean, two invaluable household skills. Numerous successful stories followed, each embodying Miranda’s trademark style: pacy and sexy rhythms; passionate, real-life characters; and enduring, memorable story lines. She has one credo when writing romances: Don’t bore the reader! Millions of fans world-wide agree she never does.

Miranda was the sister of the late author, Emma Darcy.

Reviews

[Kellcifer · Rating 1 out of 5]

First, I feel I should say that I largely skimmed this book, as it pissed me off so much. Nicolas is often pretty despicable in the beginning. I'm annoyed by the fact that part of the storyline plays on the "woman says one thing but means the opposite and the guy was supposed to know that despite all evidence to the contrary." By which I mean that Serina told Nicolas she didn't love him but he was supposed to know that she did still love him even though she turned around and started dating and eventually married another man. It was also pretty unforgivable that Serina did what she did. I have read several "secret baby" stories and generally have no huge issues with them but this one really, really rubbed me wrong. My problems with the secret baby plot in this particular book were as follows: 1. Serina got pregnant by Nicolas while engaged to another man. She chose to seek Nicolas out...while shopping for her wedding; 2. She knew the baby was Nicolas's but chose not to tell him which was both selfish and cowardly; 3. She knew the baby was not her fiancé's baby and chose not to tell him which was selfish and deceitful; 4. She married Greg while carrying another man's baby and then proceeded to pretend the baby was his, and continue the charade for 12 years--even after Greg's death; 5. When confronted about paternity by Nicolas at his mother's funeral, when their child was about 2 years old, Serina flat out lied to him. It would have been one thing if he'd been a bad person, or into sketchy business, or abusive. But Nicolas was none of those things. He was a decent enough guy (back then, in the present he's sort of a douche, but at least you get to understand why) whom she screwed over in infinite ways--first breaking up with him when he got his big break, then sleeping with him while engaged to someone else then running away, then realizing she's pregnant and it's his baby and not telling him, and finally, by cheating him of his daughters almost-entire childhood--her first breath, her first tooth, her first smile, her first time rolling over, crawling, walking, her first word... It was unbelievable that Nicolas would ever forgive Serina for such an act...she stole his daughter from him!

[Wendy, Lady Evelyn Quince · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Tell me you that you love me...You don't have to mean it. Just say it. I want to hear you say it."

Nicolas Dupre is a prideful, arrogant male who made his fortune in the music world while forming no real human attachments. Serina is the small-town girl he left behind, whom he never forgot. Not only does a twenty year old passion unite them...but there is a child as well.

Hidden, secret babies are not my thing, especially when the mother makes it appear that the child is her loving, unknowing husband's for 12 years. But Serina's husband is long dead and somehow, Lee makes it work.

Serina is far from a perfect heroine and Nicolas is much too proud. The ending is full of honest revelations, and neatly wrapped up, albeit too neatly.

However, this is a Miranda Lee book and when she's good, there is no other Harlequin Presents writer who is hotter. Compared to her works of the 1990's & early 2000's, this book is average. But compared to her recent works, this book is excellent. Plus, having a blond hero gets an automatic star from me. 4 1/2 stars for this steamy read.

[seton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Miranda Lee is my favorite HP author working today. As usual, I liked the sexy and emotional depth of the writing she achieves in this book but it was not enough to overcome my distaste for the fact that this is a Secret Baby story.

This books features a couple who first get together (about) 22 years ago and have always been each other's Love of his/her Life. Since the heroine is the one who is mostly responsible for them not getting together sooner and had the dreaded Secret Baby and then, keeps changing her mind when they meet again, she is way too unlikable for the romance to work.

Skip it.

[Kalpana · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book had a heroine who made me despise my own sex. She is one of the most hateful and selfish women in all of hplandia.

She is more worried about what others might feel instead of the heroes feelings. She can say anything about him" The only thing you are good for is sex" and when he calls her a lay she is hurt????

She doesn't leave a single opportunity to deceive him belittle him but justifies her actions as if she is a damn martyr. The first time she takes a dig at hero saying he doesn't like small towns as if she is doing a great favour on all the mankind by living in a small town while the hero is a hateful person because he prefers living in large cities , I felt like strangling her.

There is not a single redeeming quality about her she cheated both the persons who loved her always thinking about herself and all others can go take a jump in the lake.

The daughter had much more maturity than her and was a much nicer person.

God she spoiled the whole book for me and made the hero look like a wimp because he feels she is bravest person more like a piranha eating people alive.

Overall a horrible heroine and a wimpy hero definite miss....

[Marianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Night, A Secret…..A Child is the 18th stand-alone romance novel by Australian author, Miranda Lee. Serina Harmon has kept a guilty secret for thirteen years: just before her wedding to Greg Harmon, a night of passion with Nicolas Dupre, the man who broke her heart at eighteen, had produced a daughter, Felicity. Now Greg is dead and Felicity has invited Nicolas, former world-class concert pianist and theatrical entrepreneur, to judge a fund-raising concert, and he’s coming to Rocky Creek! Nicolas is determined to experience again the unequalled passion he once had with Serina. Lee has set this romance where she grew up, which will no doubt appeal to locals. Characters and dialogue are credible; it’s just a pity that whoever chose the cover photo obviously did not read the novel as the Nicolas is meant to be blond with an amputated left thumb, while the guy on the cover clearly still has his left thumb!! Enjoyable.

[Jen · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was definitely sexy but I agree with other reviewers re: the heroine's handling of her pregnancy; it was so selfish and cowardly (the cowardice I can appreciate) to deceive the father, and the other "father". Girly, that's not the way it goes! And the fact that the father still wanted you and loved you back (ditto your daughter) in spite of this MASSIVE OVERSIGHT just shows how gargantuan a mistake you made.

Granted, Nicolas, put simply, turned out to be quite the prick, but he was a heartbroken prick, and he redeemed himself better than Serina did.

[Missy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two people in love with each other that also share a passion for music that can't be honest with each, go their seperate ways. Years later they meet again bought together by their secret child, one a widow & one a womanizer. Was a good read.

[BiancaNadineReads · Rating 2 out of 5]

I tried romance, a short romance novel... I don’t like it. But that’s just my preference. At least I tried it out and know not to go back to it. 😅

[Carolane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Let’s talk about the 90s and Harlequin/ Mills & Bloom: Aside from the typical secret baby/billionaire/secretary tropes, books in this era and from this publishing house are actually really well written (regardless if we like the content or not). Also, they tend to have good content and plots, climaxes, conflict, tension, and romance without having sex and obscure monologues every 30 pages. I don’t know, but there is something about the books from this era that I prefer versus the tacky cont. romances I’ve come across....though they could have done better with book titles, those suck!
Anyways, didn’t love the story, but very good writing! Harlequin is where it all started I guess.

[Dagmara dagmar · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like this book it's not bad but why does he give a shit she had her chance to tell the truth when the kid was two and Nick came for his mom's funeral She also had the chance to tell Nick before the wedding To Greg and I think Greg's parent's knew deep down she wasn't There grand kid what is why they told what they told to Nick to be honest if she love her daughter and care at all for Greg she should have told the truth regardless of who got hurt Nick had the right to know and frankly he should have told his own child the truth why would she hate him it was her mom's fault not Nick's

[Mattie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Did not like this one at The heroine is pretty awful she cheated on her fiance with the Hero and passes her baby off as her fiance/husband for 12 years and lies when confronted when her daughter was a baby and her daughter could have grown up knowing her real father. She cheats hero out of knowing his daughter as a child. I didn't really like the hero either he speaks some pretty awful stuff to heroine and was selfish as well not understand why she couldn't leave and he never chased her. C.

[Alexis-Morgan Roark · Rating 2 out of 5]

I just don't get these secret baby books! So, I am still not sure WHY she couldn't have told him sometime in the last 12 years that he had a daughter.

To top it all off, the kid, even towards the end, does not feel comfortable calling her actual dad, "Dad." She still calls him her "stepfather." He was cheated, and I am angry for him!!!

[Kbee · Rating 1 out of 5]

Audible Romance Package

AUDIOBOOK: Read 28August 2020
6hrs

Narrator: Simone Phillips was n't good with her accents this was in Aussie but the accent was american???
I gotbored with this one.

[Debora · Rating 1 out of 5]

Un libro che era meglio non aver mai letto, lei assurda, fa credere a tutti che la figlia sia del marito defunto quando in realtà è del suo ex fidanzato che è diventato un bravissimo pianista di fama mondiale, lui che continua ad amarla anche se lei è scostante e fredda con lui, la figlia che non sa niente di lui, solo che è un bravissimo pianista, lo invita alla competizione della sua scuola di musica e lui acconsente perché vuole rivedere la sua ex che caso strano è anche la figlia, infatti è venuto a sapere che lei è vedova e vuole rivederla perché ancora prova qualcosa, ma è assurdo il fatto che lei sia uscita con un'altro, lo abbia sposato e tutto senza amarlo mai davvero ed avendolo tradito solo pochi giorni prima del matrimonio, in più non ha mai detto neanche al padre naturale di chi era davvero la bambina e infatti lui crede sia del suo defunto marito, una persona così è solo da tenere lontano altro che volerla ancora.

[Mrseiji Kun · Rating 4 out of 5]

Otra autora que me encanta!
Qué linda historia.
Celos, idas y venidas, una hermosa niña de por medio y mucho amor eterno para esta pareja.
Hace muchos años Serina y Nicolas habían sido pareja. Él, con un futuro muy prometedor de concertista, se había ido del pueblo y Serina dolida y sintiéndose sola decidió casarse con otro, no sin antes tener una última vez... una última noche... de la que quedó embarazada.
Años después su hija le escribe a su ídolo, ese pianista que había vivido en su pueblo para que sea jurado de un concurso. Lo que no sabe es que le escribe a su propio padre.
Ella ya es viuda, por lo que dar rienda suelta a todo ese amor guardado no es un pecado en esta ocasión. El tema es cuando él se entere de su hija... y cuando tenga que decidir entre el amor o su vida hasta ese momento.
HEA para ambos.



Leído de carne y hueso.

[Raquel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ai gostei tanto desta história que ninguém imagina. Quando comecei a ler, óbvio que rapidamente soube qual era o segredo, mas esta uma história muito bem estruturada, bem construída e que leva qualquer uma a suspirar. Esta será uma das histórias que irei adorar reler. Nicholas não esquece aquela sua paixão que deixou ficar em Rocky Creek, a Serena. Serena guarda um segredo que o Nicholas não sabe nem suspeita. Até que um dia, Nicholas recebe uma carta a pedir para voltar à sua Terra Natal e ninguém esperando, que vai mudar a vida de três pessoas.

http://aviciadadoslivros.blogspot.pt/...

[Debra · Rating 3 out of 5]

What happens in the past doesn't always stay there, Just ask Nicolas Dupre. He left home twenty years ago when he was just a child prodigy. He left her behind and didn't look back. But her daughter contacted him and asked him to come back and help the community by being a judge at a school activities. Once there the past secrets come to light. What will happen when he finds out that he didn't leave with everything.

[Helen Moulden · Rating 5 out of 5]

10 out of 5. Loved the story, loved Nicholas.......I had him as the main character in this story. It was more from his viewpoint instead of the female ............for a change. All of the characters in the story were great but NICHOLAS DUPRE was GORGEOUS.

[Sian · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting different than normal story line for a Harlequin/Mills and Boon. The heroine was the main character who has to confront her choices she made when younger. She told big a whopper lie and now it comes to fruititon.

[Kafamdaki Makine · Rating 1 out of 5]

Çok sıradan ve sıkıcı bir kitap.

[Rachel Sides · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable, fast read.

[Su · Rating 2 out of 5]

Neither H`s nor h`s love is convincing. They both jump onto opportunity of getting separated and stay separated for years and years!

[Titinha Scaeiro · Rating 3 out of 5]

História leve, que me ajudou a voltar às leituras...

[Christa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m sorry but Nicolas is a turd nugget.

[LIA Kh. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book it's okay.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the fact that this particular "Harlequin Presents" book didn't follow the typical plot of “virgin marries millionaire and they never ever experience a relationship with anyone else in their lifetime.” In fact, in this book, the couple may be "soul mates" but each have had relationships with other people in their lives. This could be classified as a "second" or "third chance" relationship, in fact. By the time Nicolas and Serina meet again, they are much older and have a 12-year-old daughter between them.
However, I wasn't impressed by the writing style. The author uses past perfect tense too much, which really bothers me ("had seen" or "had accomplished"). Then she switches the writing to past tense. I understand the intent of doing this, but it just makes the writing sound awkward. Also, I couldn’t seem to become emotionally attached to this particular couple--maybe because Serina's character is just so flighty in her motivations and intentions. She's constantly confused about whether she wants him in her life or doesn't want him in her life. This made me completely frustrated.

[Roger Burk · Rating 2 out of 5]

Serina had a fling with an old flame a month before her wedding and managed to get herself pregnant. Well that's surely an awkward situation. But that was thirteen years ago, and she managed to pass off her lover's child as her husband's. A few years later he died an heroic and convenient death, so all is OK. Re-enter the lover: rich, handsome, powerful, talented, passionate, masterful, tender, a heartbreaking tragedy in his past. And of course, Serina: capable, beautiful, womanly, passionate, a little conflicted about her sexuality. Everything is made twice as hard as it has to be by endless agonizing and speculation about what the other person really thinks. Some genteel sex scenes. Attitudes suddenly and magically change. All the chapters end with portentious ellipses . . . .

I read this to find out what a Harlequin romance is really like. Well, now I know: mostly harmless.

[Courtney · Rating 2 out of 5]

I generally give romance books where I reach the end 3 stars; however, my I had 2 problems with this book I simply couldn't overlook. Warning #2 provides spoilers.

1. The cover doesn't match the book. The cover has a man with short dark hair and all 10 fingers. In the book the lead has long blonde hair and is missing a thumb. I know you're not supposed to pick a book by its cover, but honestly with Harlequinn romances that is generally what I do because I want to imagine the guy on the cover as the lead. It is not like I don't know how the story is going to end.

2. Again spoiler: The fire scene at the very end where the parents humor the girl and rescue the fox while a brushfire is raging behind them is ridiculous. If my daughter refused to leave and she was 12 I don't care if I had to pick her up and run with her flailing in my arms. If you are in danger of serious injury or death you get to safety period.

[Adriana Fogaça · Rating 3 out of 5]

Por Pura Vingança
Uma Noite... Um Segredo
Miranda Lee
H. Paixão 86
2010

Porque todo homem, da Harlequin Paixão, é tão egoísta e egocêntrico, sem duvida é a pergunta que não quer calar.

Normalmente, acabo gostando dos livrinhos da série Paixão, mas alguns deles que passam dos limites do bom senso...

No final, quando Serina pede para Nicolas ir embora é cumulo da covardia e egoísmo. Até este momento gostava da figura da mocinha, mas essa atitude foi o fim...

Surpreendi-me com o mocinho que não se rebelou simplesmente enfiou o rabinho entre as pernas e foi embora, sem exigências.

Ainda bem que Felicity salvou o livro com aquela singela cartinha pra Nicolas...

Apenas por isso o livro vai levar 3 estrelas, por Felicity...

[Kris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I was upset with how Serina handled the issue about Felicity's biological father. I was also mad that Nicholas didn't go after her. They both still had intense feelings for each other, but did not pursue it. I felt really bad for Greg because he didn't deserve to be lied to like that. Even when Serina admitted that she didn't love Greg as much as she had ever loved Nicholas. Overall it was a good book, but it was funny how she was able to keep the secret for so many years and then the truth starts to come out in rapid speed.