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Stranded for One Scandalous Week
USA TODAY bestselling author Natalie Anderson treats us to seven scandalous nights of seduction in this tale of innocence…and daring desire.
The innocent, the playboy…
And their seven-night passion!
Archivist Merle’s dream job in an abandoned mansion on New Zealand’s Waiheke Island gives her the isolation she craves and the freedom to delight in its extravagance. Then infamous owner Ash arrives without warning…
Used to women falling at his feet, Ash is ever so intrigued when he interrupts virginal siren Merle in his bath—and she tries to conceal her shock…then her red-hot reaction! He’s back for one week only to lay his tarnished past to rest. Might he find solace in the intriguing Merle instead?
From Harlequin Escape to exotic locations where passion knows no bounds.
Rebels, Brothers, Billionaires
Book 1: Stranded for One Scandalous Week
The innocent, the playboy…
And their seven-night passion!
Archivist Merle’s dream job in an abandoned mansion on New Zealand’s Waiheke Island gives her the isolation she craves and the freedom to delight in its extravagance. Then infamous owner Ash arrives without warning…
Used to women falling at his feet, Ash is ever so intrigued when he interrupts virginal siren Merle in his bath—and she tries to conceal her shock…then her red-hot reaction! He’s back for one week only to lay his tarnished past to rest. Might he find solace in the intriguing Merle instead?
From Harlequin Escape to exotic locations where passion knows no bounds.
Rebels, Brothers, Billionaires
Book 1: Stranded for One Scandalous Week
256 pages, Mass Market Paperback
Published April 27, 2021
About the author
Natalie Anderson
659 books550 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Natalie Anderson is a USA TODAY bestselling author. She writes emotional contemporary romances full of sparkling banter, sizzling heat and uplifting endings—perfect for readers who love to escape with everyday empowered heroines and arrogant alphas who are too sexy for their own good.
With over five million books sold, her stories are translated into more than a dozen languages, she’s been a Romantic Times Award nominee and a finalist for the R*BY (Romantic Book of the Year).
When she’s not writing, you’ll find her wrangling her four fab kids, walking Alfie, the mini schnauzer and laughing with her husband at the end of the day–unless they’ve taken Romeo, the Campervan for a spin. She lives in Christchurch, New Zealand.
Natalie Anderson is a USA TODAY bestselling author. She writes emotional contemporary romances full of sparkling banter, sizzling heat and uplifting endings—perfect for readers who love to escape with everyday empowered heroines and arrogant alphas who are too sexy for their own good.
With over five million books sold, her stories are translated into more than a dozen languages, she’s been a Romantic Times Award nominee and a finalist for the R*BY (Romantic Book of the Year).
When she’s not writing, you’ll find her wrangling her four fab kids, walking Alfie, the mini schnauzer and laughing with her husband at the end of the day–unless they’ve taken Romeo, the Campervan for a spin. She lives in Christchurch, New Zealand.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
April 9, 2021
The Underwhelmed Jackass Reviewer Speaks...
Poor, plain Merle,
You sweet, intelligent girl.
All your life,
You have been -
Such a loser.
You've never had much,
Not so much as a touch,
From hot guys,
Who've always made fun -
Of ya!
But luckily one day,
In a fancy bathtub,
So far away,
A rich manho,
Stops by -
To ogle ya!
The sexy glint in his eyes,
Is no big disguise,
For his lusty
Intentions,
Towards ya!
Poor Po Faced Merle,
You shy, desperate girl.
You can't concentrate,
'Cause his body's
So great,
And you've never seen
Such abs
In front of ya!
He's slowly besotted,
Barely noticed your face,
'Cause your bod,
Is all
he remembers.
And now you're so glad,
When he hoists his big flag,
'Cause he didn't even need,
In his hot, lusty greed,
To use
A brown paper bag,
On ya!
Dear, lucky Merle,
You can finally do a twirl,
'Cause you've got a hot guy,
Forever.
You don't have to grow,
Lonely and old,
With an opinionated cat,
To help keep out the cold,
In a dingy old flat,
Full of sorrow.
Dear sweet Merle,
Your dreams have come true,
You've found your true blue,
Who's ready,
To treasure,
And love ya!
************************
Predictably sweet storytelling with delightfully bland MC's: the nerdy, saintly, goody two shoes, insecure, Po Face, plain Jane heroine meets the mawkishly cheesy playboy H, who's hot off of HPlandia's *generic broody H assembly line* before the technicians could polish him up some more.
He didn't seem like sexy H material to me, but more like the over friendly, always grinning and permanently flirtatious best friend that a real sexy alpha male H would have had, in those vintage HPlandia romances.
It's the same old merry go round, with the H who's so tormented by his daddy issues and overblown, rich boy Man-Pain ™️, that he's allergic to commitment and drowns his sorrows in unreusable/one use only, over the counter vaginas.
But here's the rub:
I'm a total, unapologetic hypocrite who can 💯 love this type of HPlandia H, if he's written in such a way that makes him intriguing to me. Ash, this H, failed to intrigue or entertain me and I didn't even find him sexy either. I found him tacky, annoying and just full of himself, with all his preening/posing/swimming - so much so that I refuse to waste a sexy H photo on him.
This is my artistic impression of the H, preening in his pool:
And, let's not talk more about Merle ( aka the archivist heroine ). My ridiculous poem, above, has said more than enough about her. All I felt for Merle, was empathy, to be honest.
This is my artistic impression of the heroine, Merle, pretending to work in the office but spying on him while he preens in the pool:
I know that today's HPlandia has a certain template and the majority of the stories are predictable, but I don't mind the predictable storylines if the storytelling itself is compelling enough to keep me entertained.
With this novel, I could barely concentrate on the story after the MC's were locked in the secret bunker.
By the time they'd had sex, I was beginning to feel either disinterested or sleepy or both.
I'll let you in on a secret: whenever I come across MC's/sex scenes/storylines that are awesome, I get this shiver or tingle ( don't laugh or my dog Harold will cyber-bite you ) of glee and it's like a serotonin release or something. The point is that I actually feel it when a book is so fabulously romantic, with MC's who share intense sexual chemistry.
I only felt that a tiny bit, at the very beginning when the H found her in the bathtub. Afterwards, it fizzled out quickly because I just didn't care about either of them and I even laughed when he left poor, sad, whiny Merle, even after she'd begged him to stay. That's not my normal reaction when a commitment phobe H decides to run away.
And, this is totally irrelevant to everyone else but myself, but I kept picturing a character from my favourite Australian cult prison soap opera, Prisoner, Cell Block H, every time I read the heroine's name. Afterwards, I spent a couple of days wondering if that's the reason why I couldn't enjoy this book 🤭🤔🤷♀️.
The character, Merle, from PCBH, was a lovable, child-like inmate with mental health issues, who loved teddy bears and a fake comic book H, named Captain Marvellous. At one point in the novel, my mind had wandered to thoughts about the H, Ash, being his Merle's Captain Marvellous and that's when I knew I'd definitely lost the plot ! 😂😂😂
This is Merle, with her teddy bear, from Prisoner, Cell Block H:
But, on a positive note, I'm looking forward to the next novel in the duet, because the H's half brother Leo seems more like the type of H who'll appeal to me.
Safety: No OW, no OM and both MC's are celibate during their short separation.
Poor, plain Merle,
You sweet, intelligent girl.
All your life,
You have been -
Such a loser.
You've never had much,
Not so much as a touch,
From hot guys,
Who've always made fun -
Of ya!
But luckily one day,
In a fancy bathtub,
So far away,
A rich manho,
Stops by -
To ogle ya!
The sexy glint in his eyes,
Is no big disguise,
For his lusty
Intentions,
Towards ya!
Poor Po Faced Merle,
You shy, desperate girl.
You can't concentrate,
'Cause his body's
So great,
And you've never seen
Such abs
In front of ya!
He's slowly besotted,
Barely noticed your face,
'Cause your bod,
Is all
he remembers.
And now you're so glad,
When he hoists his big flag,
'Cause he didn't even need,
In his hot, lusty greed,
To use
A brown paper bag,
On ya!
Dear, lucky Merle,
You can finally do a twirl,
'Cause you've got a hot guy,
Forever.
You don't have to grow,
Lonely and old,
With an opinionated cat,
To help keep out the cold,
In a dingy old flat,
Full of sorrow.
Dear sweet Merle,
Your dreams have come true,
You've found your true blue,
Who's ready,
To treasure,
And love ya!
************************
Predictably sweet storytelling with delightfully bland MC's: the nerdy, saintly, goody two shoes, insecure, Po Face, plain Jane heroine meets the mawkishly cheesy playboy H, who's hot off of HPlandia's *generic broody H assembly line* before the technicians could polish him up some more.
He didn't seem like sexy H material to me, but more like the over friendly, always grinning and permanently flirtatious best friend that a real sexy alpha male H would have had, in those vintage HPlandia romances.
It's the same old merry go round, with the H who's so tormented by his daddy issues and overblown, rich boy Man-Pain ™️, that he's allergic to commitment and drowns his sorrows in unreusable/one use only, over the counter vaginas.
But here's the rub:
I'm a total, unapologetic hypocrite who can 💯 love this type of HPlandia H, if he's written in such a way that makes him intriguing to me. Ash, this H, failed to intrigue or entertain me and I didn't even find him sexy either. I found him tacky, annoying and just full of himself, with all his preening/posing/swimming - so much so that I refuse to waste a sexy H photo on him.
This is my artistic impression of the H, preening in his pool:
And, let's not talk more about Merle ( aka the archivist heroine ). My ridiculous poem, above, has said more than enough about her. All I felt for Merle, was empathy, to be honest.
This is my artistic impression of the heroine, Merle, pretending to work in the office but spying on him while he preens in the pool:
I know that today's HPlandia has a certain template and the majority of the stories are predictable, but I don't mind the predictable storylines if the storytelling itself is compelling enough to keep me entertained.
With this novel, I could barely concentrate on the story after the MC's were locked in the secret bunker.
By the time they'd had sex, I was beginning to feel either disinterested or sleepy or both.
I'll let you in on a secret: whenever I come across MC's/sex scenes/storylines that are awesome, I get this shiver or tingle ( don't laugh or my dog Harold will cyber-bite you ) of glee and it's like a serotonin release or something. The point is that I actually feel it when a book is so fabulously romantic, with MC's who share intense sexual chemistry.
I only felt that a tiny bit, at the very beginning when the H found her in the bathtub. Afterwards, it fizzled out quickly because I just didn't care about either of them and I even laughed when he left poor, sad, whiny Merle, even after she'd begged him to stay. That's not my normal reaction when a commitment phobe H decides to run away.
And, this is totally irrelevant to everyone else but myself, but I kept picturing a character from my favourite Australian cult prison soap opera, Prisoner, Cell Block H, every time I read the heroine's name. Afterwards, I spent a couple of days wondering if that's the reason why I couldn't enjoy this book 🤭🤔🤷♀️.
The character, Merle, from PCBH, was a lovable, child-like inmate with mental health issues, who loved teddy bears and a fake comic book H, named Captain Marvellous. At one point in the novel, my mind had wandered to thoughts about the H, Ash, being his Merle's Captain Marvellous and that's when I knew I'd definitely lost the plot ! 😂😂😂
This is Merle, with her teddy bear, from Prisoner, Cell Block H:
But, on a positive note, I'm looking forward to the next novel in the duet, because the H's half brother Leo seems more like the type of H who'll appeal to me.
Safety: No OW, no OM and both MC's are celibate during their short separation.
April 13, 2021
2,5 stars!
April 6, 2021
Oh I simply loved this. Two people find themselves alone together in a fabulous house in a beautiful setting and recognise an instant attraction. Merle is an inexperienced, rather withdrawn young woman and Ash, a wealthy playboy with painful memories and a strong sense of guilt,
Their interactions and banter are clever, intelligent and witty. Their agreement to have a week’s fling leads to the development of a relationship which grows in depth and strength. The author did such a wonderful job of creating 2 credible and appealing main characters and then to plot the most wonderful journey for them.
Natalie Anderson’s characters are always well drawn and engaging. Such a deft, sensitive touch, I loved everything about it, a really satisfying read and the sex scenes were amongst the best I’ve ever read.
Their interactions and banter are clever, intelligent and witty. Their agreement to have a week’s fling leads to the development of a relationship which grows in depth and strength. The author did such a wonderful job of creating 2 credible and appealing main characters and then to plot the most wonderful journey for them.
Natalie Anderson’s characters are always well drawn and engaging. Such a deft, sensitive touch, I loved everything about it, a really satisfying read and the sex scenes were amongst the best I’ve ever read.
May 5, 2021
I was fascinated by Merle's job - the disconnect required is something I wouldn't be able to do, I am far too sentimental even with other people.
Ash and Merle meet with a burning flash of lust - and a lot of conflict. I liked seeing them clash, and watch their passion grow. The heat when they finally gave in to each other? Wow *fans self*
I really appreciated Ash's respect for Merle. He waited for her, her consent and even for her to ask. He was in a positional of power and it would have been all too easy for him to coerce Merle instead. I really enjoyed that he didn't, for all that he was a Hot Cross Bun he did it with integrity!
Ash and Merle meet with a burning flash of lust - and a lot of conflict. I liked seeing them clash, and watch their passion grow. The heat when they finally gave in to each other? Wow *fans self*
I really appreciated Ash's respect for Merle. He waited for her, her consent and even for her to ask. He was in a positional of power and it would have been all too easy for him to coerce Merle instead. I really enjoyed that he didn't, for all that he was a Hot Cross Bun he did it with integrity!
June 9, 2021
Major Plot spoilers ahead. Read at your own risk
ONCE AGAIN MAJOR PLOT SPOILERS AHEAD, THIS IS YOUR FINAL WARNING
Not gonna a lie this was a solid 4.5 stars all the way through until it got to the ending then it quickly ramped up to 5 stars just because of the touching grand gestures that happened both in the final chapter and the epilogue. The real one that took the cake though was the epilogue one and made me swoon so hard because it was that fabulous. It just warmed my heart so hard. I loved it so much. It was just the perfect ending in my opinion.
From word one, I absolutely adored this story. I was immediately sucked in and invested in the story. I absolutely loved, loved the first meeting between Merle and Ash. That bathtub scene was steamy with lots of sexy banter and sexual tension. The sparks just flew off the pages that I knew this was going to an intense and hot story. More than that it was kind of funny how the whole situation between them was set up then him just thinking she was prostitute just really added the clashing right away. His innuendo and double entendres were so spot on and so good. They came off as charming and endearing instead of arrogant and annoying. It made for some entertaining moments that carried on throughout the story.
The cat and mouse that came was just utter perfection. It was fun and flirty yet entertaining and intense. Every time they had a sparring match between them just set the pages on fire. It showed off how much chemistry they had with one another. It was a natural chemistry, not forced just because they were stuck on the island together. It felt real and genuine. The pull was there, and it was absolutely delicious. I loved the game they played each other. They both knew they were playing games with each other. They were willingly engaging with one another because they had this strong pull towards each other. It was hot. They just bounced off of each other really well.
There quite a few humorous moments throughout story that I really enjoyed. It mostly had to do with Ash’s flirty banter as he tried to entice her to engage in the heated passion that was surrounding the two of them. Because there was humor there, it felt like less of him having pushy agenda to get her in his bed, and more it was about his charm to draw her to him so they could have their passionate connection. One of the funniest lines that he said was when they were trapped in his father’s secure bunker and there seemed to be no way out. Merle said about perhaps a retinal scan in order to release the lock on the door. Then he said something to the effect of “Sure I will just pull my dad’s eye out of my pocket and scan it.” That line just had me chuckling so hard that I never fell over. It was just classic.
When they finally did give into their passions, it was so beautiful because of the care and affection that he put into the moment for her because he wanted to make special for her. His emotions were attached at that point. It became very real between them. It was very much about their emotions as it was with their bodies. It just made me swoon over Ash. The way he checked in with her during the entire encounter not only to make sure was still with him in the moment but also to get her consent over what he was doing at certain moments. It was beautiful to see the meeting of minds, souls and body at the same exact moment. It was just such a great first love scene. I wish all romance have at least one of these type of love scenes in their books. I loved it. I loved the other two as well because it was clear that it was more than just slaking of lust but about expressing their emotions for one another. I loved that too.
There were great emotional intimate moments between them. They really opened up to each other about past hurts as well as issues they were currently dealing with. How their past shaped who they were when they met. They listened to each other. They talked about things. They provided each other with comfort and understanding. They could really soothe each other. They encouraged each other to be stronger and better people. The tenderness and caring that were put into those moments were absolutely beautiful. It was so sweet, yet intense and heart wrenching at the same time. It was so good. It was the type of emotional journey that I love in romances, and this one just hit it right on the head for me.
I just really liked them as a couple. Even though what happened between them was rather quick in the grand scheme fo things, it worked because I believed the chemistry between them, the feelings that were building between them, and nothing really felt forced or unbelievable. It felt like a natural progression from where they were in the beginning to the end. I truly saw them as soul mates. I felt it with everything in my being. I just wanted to see them together because they really brought out the best in each other. The really suited each other to perfection. I was rooted for them all the way because they were truly two puzzle pieces that fit together to make a perfect picture.
Overall, I really enjoyed this romance between Merle and Ash. It had all the vibes that I was wanting. The chemistry was insane. The cat and mouse game was intense and very sexy as they played off of each other. They both willing played the game. It wasn’t like he was just chasing her. No, she wanted to be chased and even encouraged it, which made it even sexier. It was just plain entertaining to watch them spar with each other. I loved the intimacy that was between them both physically and emotionally. It was clear that they had a special connection. They both complete with the other in their life. It was beautiful as they expressed their respect, tenderness and caring they had for one another. They just worked on every level. Then once the ending came with the last chapter and epilogue, I was over the moon. I was swooning over the two things that Ash presented to Merle to show how special she was to him. They were very meaningful things to her and them as a couple. I loved it so much. That really put it over to a 5 stars for me. It was just the perfect ending.
Highly recommend for Harlequin Presents lovers and lovers who love a sexy cat and mouse game that is so very entertaining to watch to play out on on the pages.
ONCE AGAIN MAJOR PLOT SPOILERS AHEAD, THIS IS YOUR FINAL WARNING
Not gonna a lie this was a solid 4.5 stars all the way through until it got to the ending then it quickly ramped up to 5 stars just because of the touching grand gestures that happened both in the final chapter and the epilogue. The real one that took the cake though was the epilogue one and made me swoon so hard because it was that fabulous. It just warmed my heart so hard. I loved it so much. It was just the perfect ending in my opinion.
From word one, I absolutely adored this story. I was immediately sucked in and invested in the story. I absolutely loved, loved the first meeting between Merle and Ash. That bathtub scene was steamy with lots of sexy banter and sexual tension. The sparks just flew off the pages that I knew this was going to an intense and hot story. More than that it was kind of funny how the whole situation between them was set up then him just thinking she was prostitute just really added the clashing right away. His innuendo and double entendres were so spot on and so good. They came off as charming and endearing instead of arrogant and annoying. It made for some entertaining moments that carried on throughout the story.
The cat and mouse that came was just utter perfection. It was fun and flirty yet entertaining and intense. Every time they had a sparring match between them just set the pages on fire. It showed off how much chemistry they had with one another. It was a natural chemistry, not forced just because they were stuck on the island together. It felt real and genuine. The pull was there, and it was absolutely delicious. I loved the game they played each other. They both knew they were playing games with each other. They were willingly engaging with one another because they had this strong pull towards each other. It was hot. They just bounced off of each other really well.
There quite a few humorous moments throughout story that I really enjoyed. It mostly had to do with Ash’s flirty banter as he tried to entice her to engage in the heated passion that was surrounding the two of them. Because there was humor there, it felt like less of him having pushy agenda to get her in his bed, and more it was about his charm to draw her to him so they could have their passionate connection. One of the funniest lines that he said was when they were trapped in his father’s secure bunker and there seemed to be no way out. Merle said about perhaps a retinal scan in order to release the lock on the door. Then he said something to the effect of “Sure I will just pull my dad’s eye out of my pocket and scan it.” That line just had me chuckling so hard that I never fell over. It was just classic.
When they finally did give into their passions, it was so beautiful because of the care and affection that he put into the moment for her because he wanted to make special for her. His emotions were attached at that point. It became very real between them. It was very much about their emotions as it was with their bodies. It just made me swoon over Ash. The way he checked in with her during the entire encounter not only to make sure was still with him in the moment but also to get her consent over what he was doing at certain moments. It was beautiful to see the meeting of minds, souls and body at the same exact moment. It was just such a great first love scene. I wish all romance have at least one of these type of love scenes in their books. I loved it. I loved the other two as well because it was clear that it was more than just slaking of lust but about expressing their emotions for one another. I loved that too.
There were great emotional intimate moments between them. They really opened up to each other about past hurts as well as issues they were currently dealing with. How their past shaped who they were when they met. They listened to each other. They talked about things. They provided each other with comfort and understanding. They could really soothe each other. They encouraged each other to be stronger and better people. The tenderness and caring that were put into those moments were absolutely beautiful. It was so sweet, yet intense and heart wrenching at the same time. It was so good. It was the type of emotional journey that I love in romances, and this one just hit it right on the head for me.
I just really liked them as a couple. Even though what happened between them was rather quick in the grand scheme fo things, it worked because I believed the chemistry between them, the feelings that were building between them, and nothing really felt forced or unbelievable. It felt like a natural progression from where they were in the beginning to the end. I truly saw them as soul mates. I felt it with everything in my being. I just wanted to see them together because they really brought out the best in each other. The really suited each other to perfection. I was rooted for them all the way because they were truly two puzzle pieces that fit together to make a perfect picture.
Overall, I really enjoyed this romance between Merle and Ash. It had all the vibes that I was wanting. The chemistry was insane. The cat and mouse game was intense and very sexy as they played off of each other. They both willing played the game. It wasn’t like he was just chasing her. No, she wanted to be chased and even encouraged it, which made it even sexier. It was just plain entertaining to watch them spar with each other. I loved the intimacy that was between them both physically and emotionally. It was clear that they had a special connection. They both complete with the other in their life. It was beautiful as they expressed their respect, tenderness and caring they had for one another. They just worked on every level. Then once the ending came with the last chapter and epilogue, I was over the moon. I was swooning over the two things that Ash presented to Merle to show how special she was to him. They were very meaningful things to her and them as a couple. I loved it so much. That really put it over to a 5 stars for me. It was just the perfect ending.
Highly recommend for Harlequin Presents lovers and lovers who love a sexy cat and mouse game that is so very entertaining to watch to play out on on the pages.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 27, 2021
Reviewed at Happily Ever After Romance
Stranded for One Scandalous Week begins the Rebels, Brothers, Billionaires series (duet) with a passionate and emotional encounter between a man who has spent years living with anger and guilt to the point of almost burnout and a woman who has been sheltered in many ways but not by loving circumstances but by the twisted mindset and anger of family members.
They should be like oil and water, unmixable… yet. Merle and Ash light up the page with not only their passion but with emotions that have shaped them and now have come to the ignite point when this couple makes a one-week deal that will change their lives.
I’m not sure who I had more empathy for this time – Merle has given up so much of her life for and because of her family, she’s a realistic woman with the heart of a warrior who is battle-scarred and leery of returning to the fray. That warrior’s heart may seem hidden behind fear and conditioning at first but it is there slowly building, coming to the forefront, reshaping Merle into a woman who knows what she deserves in life and is no longer afraid to take the risks to have the life she needs with Ash.
Ash is a wounded soul, shaped by a vile father’s actions and mistakes made when he was a younger man. He’s allowed heartbreaking events in his life to overtake the man he could be if he would only face the past, forgive himself as others have, and move forward once again with a woman who is so completely right for him. Oh, he sees it, eventually, but by then that illuminating acceptance of who he really is will require baring his heart and soul which won’t be easy for this proud man. I hurt for them both, and watched, sometimes with impatience, as slowly but with certainty as they fought their battles within and came to accept the love and passion that fueled their one week together.
I found this couple fascinating. Their passion for each other heats up the page, their fears and insecurities are obvious yet will be conquered in time. In many ways, neither believed in themselves, and seeing that be overcome as love grew and the past was faced was an emotional and delightful journey for this reader. Stranded for One Scandalous Week grabbed my attention and kept me engaged throughout Ash and Merle’s journey – next up is Leo’s story and I cannot wait to dive into Ash’s brother’s story.
I own a Kindle edition of this title.
Stranded for One Scandalous Week begins the Rebels, Brothers, Billionaires series (duet) with a passionate and emotional encounter between a man who has spent years living with anger and guilt to the point of almost burnout and a woman who has been sheltered in many ways but not by loving circumstances but by the twisted mindset and anger of family members.
They should be like oil and water, unmixable… yet. Merle and Ash light up the page with not only their passion but with emotions that have shaped them and now have come to the ignite point when this couple makes a one-week deal that will change their lives.
I’m not sure who I had more empathy for this time – Merle has given up so much of her life for and because of her family, she’s a realistic woman with the heart of a warrior who is battle-scarred and leery of returning to the fray. That warrior’s heart may seem hidden behind fear and conditioning at first but it is there slowly building, coming to the forefront, reshaping Merle into a woman who knows what she deserves in life and is no longer afraid to take the risks to have the life she needs with Ash.
Ash is a wounded soul, shaped by a vile father’s actions and mistakes made when he was a younger man. He’s allowed heartbreaking events in his life to overtake the man he could be if he would only face the past, forgive himself as others have, and move forward once again with a woman who is so completely right for him. Oh, he sees it, eventually, but by then that illuminating acceptance of who he really is will require baring his heart and soul which won’t be easy for this proud man. I hurt for them both, and watched, sometimes with impatience, as slowly but with certainty as they fought their battles within and came to accept the love and passion that fueled their one week together.
I found this couple fascinating. Their passion for each other heats up the page, their fears and insecurities are obvious yet will be conquered in time. In many ways, neither believed in themselves, and seeing that be overcome as love grew and the past was faced was an emotional and delightful journey for this reader. Stranded for One Scandalous Week grabbed my attention and kept me engaged throughout Ash and Merle’s journey – next up is Leo’s story and I cannot wait to dive into Ash’s brother’s story.
I own a Kindle edition of this title.
April 11, 2022
Great story with Ash and Merle as leading characters. Keep up the great writing, Natalie.
May 23, 2021
Wow, at the first chapter I was mesmerized by how divine and well-written the setting was then I was captivated by the heroine, she was a complete heroine I adored. As an archivist, Merle was hired to sort out all the documents and other things within an inherited mansion in Waiheke, New Zealand. On the day when she wanted to over-indulge and relax herself in a bath while having fancy champagne then the notorious billionaire playboy hero, Ash who inherited the mansion from his father unexpectedly came and encountered Merle in bath and he wrongly presumed that Merle was an entertainer for him whom sent by his half-brother. Ash came to the mansion to hide and need a quiet surroundings so after Merle informed who she was, Ash asked her to leave the mansion. However, after having struggled to look after her grandpa and pay the debt for her grandpa’s insurance, Merle had been homeless thus she persisted to stay and promise that she would be invisible that Ash would never know she stayed and shared the mansion.
I was utterly infatuated by the sexual chemistry between Ash and Merle. Merle was determined not to be seduced by Ash. She had been reserved and always stayed unseen due to her upbringings on the other hand Ash, the notorious playboy was determined to bring out every single passion within Merle, especially he was lured by Merle’s red-hot expression. Despite the determination, both eventually were willing to share one intense week together. The genuine emotions when Merle and Ash revealed their past painful conditions seized the feeling within me, particularly before the one promised week was over.
Stranded for One Scandalous Week was a complete delight from the beginning, the witty comments between Ash and Merle was the entertainment I looked for. This book would make you over-indulge into both passion and wittiness and bring you to the uplifting ending. Thank you to Natalie Anderson for this ARC which I voluntarily reviewed. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this.
I was utterly infatuated by the sexual chemistry between Ash and Merle. Merle was determined not to be seduced by Ash. She had been reserved and always stayed unseen due to her upbringings on the other hand Ash, the notorious playboy was determined to bring out every single passion within Merle, especially he was lured by Merle’s red-hot expression. Despite the determination, both eventually were willing to share one intense week together. The genuine emotions when Merle and Ash revealed their past painful conditions seized the feeling within me, particularly before the one promised week was over.
Stranded for One Scandalous Week was a complete delight from the beginning, the witty comments between Ash and Merle was the entertainment I looked for. This book would make you over-indulge into both passion and wittiness and bring you to the uplifting ending. Thank you to Natalie Anderson for this ARC which I voluntarily reviewed. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this.
May 24, 2021
I feel I don't need to say anything about this book really as Ivy's review says it all.
The h was such a martyr and the H was sooooo cheesy that he made himself unattractive tbh. I like to develop a crush on my book boyfriends. Alas this one needed his man parts slammed between the pages of a hefty hardback!
The h was such a martyr and the H was sooooo cheesy that he made himself unattractive tbh. I like to develop a crush on my book boyfriends. Alas this one needed his man parts slammed between the pages of a hefty hardback!
April 6, 2021
This is the story of Ash (playboy billionaire) and Merle (archivist and having lived a virtually play-less life). They are thrown together in a very glamourous but private setting and both have really significant background hang-ups to resolve (him with past actions that have caused pain to others and her to learn how to live more joyfully). Merle resolves her issues first and comes out earlier as the stronger character, though eventually he catches up.
I found this book to be intense, in a variety of ways. The setting of a private family estate was fairly limited (& there were virtually no other characters to divert from this); there was even a bunker involved which provided some locational reinforcement of the physical proximity which was a strong theme in this book. The hero’s and heroine’s characters were both intense, as they worked through their individual historical scars. The action was intense, as much of it was represented by the characters’ individual inner dialogues and exchanged out loud conversations with each other; collectively this added up to a lot of talking. The exchanges of Merle and Ash were sparky, fun and sharp. I liked that. The inner dialogue worked less well for me, there was a just a wee bit too much of it and it had the impact of making some of the action seem a long time coming.
Overall though I enjoyed this book and thought it was an entertaining and successful attempt at something a little different, it almost felt like a ‘locked room’ book. The usual situational glamour was there, but had very little of a look-in really, this was a book intently focused on the two central characters. Apart from my personal grumble about the amount of inner dialogue, it all worked in marrying intensity with sparky and likeable characters. Merle gets an extra vote for being so strong and clear headed.
I received an advance copy of this book from the author, in return for an honest review.
I found this book to be intense, in a variety of ways. The setting of a private family estate was fairly limited (& there were virtually no other characters to divert from this); there was even a bunker involved which provided some locational reinforcement of the physical proximity which was a strong theme in this book. The hero’s and heroine’s characters were both intense, as they worked through their individual historical scars. The action was intense, as much of it was represented by the characters’ individual inner dialogues and exchanged out loud conversations with each other; collectively this added up to a lot of talking. The exchanges of Merle and Ash were sparky, fun and sharp. I liked that. The inner dialogue worked less well for me, there was a just a wee bit too much of it and it had the impact of making some of the action seem a long time coming.
Overall though I enjoyed this book and thought it was an entertaining and successful attempt at something a little different, it almost felt like a ‘locked room’ book. The usual situational glamour was there, but had very little of a look-in really, this was a book intently focused on the two central characters. Apart from my personal grumble about the amount of inner dialogue, it all worked in marrying intensity with sparky and likeable characters. Merle gets an extra vote for being so strong and clear headed.
I received an advance copy of this book from the author, in return for an honest review.
April 15, 2021
A sizzling romance, set on a private island, a fast-paced, physical attraction, catalyses gradual emotional commitment.
This story is full of introspection and internal conflict. Merle's teenage years were lonely and starved of affection. Ash has regrets from his youth that he can't let go. The romance is passionate and the dialogue vibrant. Merle's character development is good. Ash's self-realisation is not as significant, but he gets there in the end.
The conclusion is romantic and satisfying.
I received a copy of this book from Mills and Boon via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
This story is full of introspection and internal conflict. Merle's teenage years were lonely and starved of affection. Ash has regrets from his youth that he can't let go. The romance is passionate and the dialogue vibrant. Merle's character development is good. Ash's self-realisation is not as significant, but he gets there in the end.
The conclusion is romantic and satisfying.
I received a copy of this book from Mills and Boon via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
priority
September 11, 2022Archivist Merle's dream job in an abandoned mansion on New Zealand's Waiheke Island gives her the isolation she craves and the freedom to delight in its extravagance. Then infamous owner Ash arrives without warning...
Used to women falling at his feet, Ash is ever so intrigued when he interrupts virginal siren Merle in his bath--and she tries to conceal her shock...then her red-hot reaction! He's back for one week only to lay his tarnished past to rest. Might he find solace in the intriguing Merle instead?
Used to women falling at his feet, Ash is ever so intrigued when he interrupts virginal siren Merle in his bath--and she tries to conceal her shock...then her red-hot reaction! He's back for one week only to lay his tarnished past to rest. Might he find solace in the intriguing Merle instead?
Read
April 2, 2021Categories
Contemporary Romance, Romance
Miniseries
Rebels, Brothers, Billionaires (Book #1)
Contemporary Romance, Romance
Miniseries
Rebels, Brothers, Billionaires (Book #1)
Read
April 2, 2021Categories
Contemporary Romance, Romance
Miniseries
Rebels, Brothers, Billionaires (Book #1)
Contemporary Romance, Romance
Miniseries
Rebels, Brothers, Billionaires (Book #1)
May 7, 2021
the story is fine. kinda boring actually 🤷🏽♀️
March 31, 2024
You won’t want to miss this sparklingly passionate duet. It’s fun, it’s touching and it’s satisfying.
April 13, 2026
A slow start but fun read with some spice. Two people learning about themselves and each other.
May 22, 2021
Thank you Mills and Boon for gifting me a copy of this Book through NetGalley from the April Insiders Newsletter.
Stranded For One Scandalous Week is part of the Mills and Boon Modern Collection, and my goodness was there some sexual tension right from the start! It is a well written, short read with everything you want from a modern romance.
I loved Merle, she was such a lovely Character and you will be vouching for her from the beginning. Obviously Ash is a dream, there is no way I would have been able to resist him!
Whoever knew that Snakes and ladders could be so erotic 🐍
Stranded For One Scandalous Week is part of the Mills and Boon Modern Collection, and my goodness was there some sexual tension right from the start! It is a well written, short read with everything you want from a modern romance.
I loved Merle, she was such a lovely Character and you will be vouching for her from the beginning. Obviously Ash is a dream, there is no way I would have been able to resist him!
Whoever knew that Snakes and ladders could be so erotic 🐍
April 28, 2021
Stranded for One Scandalous Week was a very sweet, sexy romance that was relatively low-angst and low drama. The opening of this book was so much fun, when Merle's relaxing bubble bath is interrupted by the arrival of the handsome Ash. I really enjoyed their banter at the beginning and how their relationship changed to flirtatious, then passionate and then finally full on emotional.
My only criticism (if you can really call it that) is that the title is a little mis-leading. The couple are not really stranded but each have their own reasons for not wanting to leave their little hideaway. I might have enjoyed it even more if they'd been locked in that bunker for longer!
I received an ARC from Netgalley and Mills and Boon in exchange for an honest review.
My only criticism (if you can really call it that) is that the title is a little mis-leading. The couple are not really stranded but each have their own reasons for not wanting to leave their little hideaway. I might have enjoyed it even more if they'd been locked in that bunker for longer!
I received an ARC from Netgalley and Mills and Boon in exchange for an honest review.
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