What do you think?
Rate this book
Obsession
He wanted his fun--with no commitments
Nicola knew all the reasons why she should remain nothing more than Lang Hyland's secretary. That was all she ever intended to be
Lang was a womanizer. He preferred big-eyed blondes, but his interest waned after three months. Nicola had watched enough women tearing their hearts out over him to feel immune.
Then why, she asked herself, should she feel so upset when he again made his position clear? "I've absolutely no intention of getting married," Lang said, "and I know you wouldn't consider anything else."
Nicola knew all the reasons why she should remain nothing more than Lang Hyland's secretary. That was all she ever intended to be
Lang was a womanizer. He preferred big-eyed blondes, but his interest waned after three months. Nicola had watched enough women tearing their hearts out over him to feel immune.
Then why, she asked herself, should she feel so upset when he again made his position clear? "I've absolutely no intention of getting married," Lang said, "and I know you wouldn't consider anything else."
188 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1980
6 people are currently reading
480 people want to read
About the author
Charlotte Lamb
261 books313 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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews
January 24, 2022
not the switch up... the way the heroine made the hero her little bitch??? i knew miss girl was gonna be different just by the bob she's sporting on that cover. she ate this book up watch her go
how to humble a man, as done by ms.nicola:
👉🏽 step 1: gaslight
she said have one then 🤣🤣🤣 yes bestie invalidate his experience
not him trying to play her like she's average 💀💀💀 pls call your mistress sir cause but ms. nicola is not the one
👉🏽 step 2: gatekeep
what's the move for when your boss is flirting with your sister and you'd very much like them to stop? pretend to pass out in the middle of the party of course 😇
she said y'all it's been real but i have places to go and people to see bye-
and i say do what you gotta do queen, make that scene 💋
👉🏽 step 3: girlboss
behind every egotistical man is a woman able to knock him down a peg w only a smile :)
as iconic as i found nicola, im so sad how unimpressed i was by the hero (don't remember his name rn but im sure it'll come to me). if there's one thing i can count on ms. lamb for it's a jealous, obsessive, possessive, lock this man up im SCAred hero and im sorry this man just didn't have it 😪 the way he just let her date his brother??? no slaps, no SA, no nothing?? my feminist sensibilities are Offended... how dare he
how to humble a man, as done by ms.nicola:
👉🏽 step 1: gaslight
"No, I'm sure you haven't got a temperature."
"Damn you, I know I have!" he exploded. "Get a thermometer."
She had not believed he would become so childish in illness. She looked at him with sheer disbelief. "Oh, well, if you want to have a temperature, have one."
she said have one then 🤣🤣🤣 yes bestie invalidate his experience
"Why don't you do something? You haven't got a womanly bone in your body, have you? Lois would be making hot lemon and whisky by now or soothing my fevered brow, not looking at me as though I were a mental case."
"Shall I ring her?" Nicola suggested.
not him trying to play her like she's average 💀💀💀 pls call your mistress sir cause but ms. nicola is not the one
👉🏽 step 2: gatekeep
what's the move for when your boss is flirting with your sister and you'd very much like them to stop? pretend to pass out in the middle of the party of course 😇
She had her eyes closed. She slumped against him and Andrew held her, his arm supporting her back. Slowly Nicola began to slide downward.
she said y'all it's been real but i have places to go and people to see bye-
and i say do what you gotta do queen, make that scene 💋
👉🏽 step 3: girlboss
"I always know when you're in a temper," he said, "because you start smiling like a crocodile and using a voice like melted honey. At first I thought you were just a simple-minded little bitch. Then I realised you did it deliberately. And very effective it is, too. It's hard to go on shouting at someone who smiles back with sunny good temper and agrees with everything you say."
behind every egotistical man is a woman able to knock him down a peg w only a smile :)
as iconic as i found nicola, im so sad how unimpressed i was by the hero (don't remember his name rn but im sure it'll come to me). if there's one thing i can count on ms. lamb for it's a jealous, obsessive, possessive, lock this man up im SCAred hero and im sorry this man just didn't have it 😪 the way he just let her date his brother??? no slaps, no SA, no nothing?? my feminist sensibilities are Offended... how dare he
January 27, 2021
I swear these two are the couple from hell lmao/
The hero:
"I am not begging to get you back!" *stomps his foot *
Also the hero five minutes later:
The hero:
"I am not begging to get you back!" *stomps his foot *
Also the hero five minutes later:
August 12, 2019
I remember reading this when it came out in 1980. We (my two friends and I who pooled our money and bought HPs once a month) were so confused by it – LOL. We knew hero was an unrepentant womanizer and not very nice to the heroine (his secretary) and yet by the end of the story he was offering marriage, talking of their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary and showing respect for the heroine for her cunning ways.
It all seemed so sophisticated and light years from our high school romances. Maybe it was a British thing? LOL
Now I can read it and see that H/h were well suited. The heroine was no cringing violet and she had a temper to match the hero’s. She also matched him in how clueless she was about her own feelings until the hero voiced them. And in a satisfying declaration, poor tiger* hero showed his belly and said he loved her too.
Oh, and all those OM and OWs they burned through? – including his brother and her sister – collateral damage, I guess. I couldn’t take any of them seriously as the H/h had all the chemistry.
*The wry hungry tiger/tethered goat imagery was hilarious to me – and CL didn’t over do it. (Looking at you, Laura Florand)
If you haven’t read this one, or it’s been a long time, give it a go. It’s a fun story.
It all seemed so sophisticated and light years from our high school romances. Maybe it was a British thing? LOL
Now I can read it and see that H/h were well suited. The heroine was no cringing violet and she had a temper to match the hero’s. She also matched him in how clueless she was about her own feelings until the hero voiced them. And in a satisfying declaration, poor tiger* hero showed his belly and said he loved her too.
Oh, and all those OM and OWs they burned through? – including his brother and her sister – collateral damage, I guess. I couldn’t take any of them seriously as the H/h had all the chemistry.
*The wry hungry tiger/tethered goat imagery was hilarious to me – and CL didn’t over do it. (Looking at you, Laura Florand)
If you haven’t read this one, or it’s been a long time, give it a go. It’s a fun story.
January 2, 2014
What can I say, I'm a sucker for a strong, lovable and likable heroine and this heroine certainly fits the bill. This was a fun and engaging read about a woman who works for the king of all man whores and is fighting her attraction (and his) since she doesn't want to become another notch on the bedpost. When Lamb wrote this hero, she threw away the mold.
The story grabbed me from the first page and took me on one of the best rides in HP Land. If you missed this one for some reason, or have it on your long TBR pile, I highly recommend moving it up. ESPECIALLY for those of you that avoid Lamb like the plague for all the reasons we won't mention here. This one is very different from her usual stories and approach.
My only reason for 4 stars versus 5 stars, is I am not convinced that this HEA is really in the making. I give it three months (his usual track record) before he starts skipping out on her and "doing" more blondes. A ring on the finger won't stop his infidelity and his whole I am "caged" attitude didn't sit well with me.
But hey, she finally got him....so now all she has to do is figure out how to keep him. Phew, I get tired just thinking about it. Good luck, girlfriend!
The story grabbed me from the first page and took me on one of the best rides in HP Land. If you missed this one for some reason, or have it on your long TBR pile, I highly recommend moving it up. ESPECIALLY for those of you that avoid Lamb like the plague for all the reasons we won't mention here. This one is very different from her usual stories and approach.
My only reason for 4 stars versus 5 stars, is I am not convinced that this HEA is really in the making. I give it three months (his usual track record) before he starts skipping out on her and "doing" more blondes. A ring on the finger won't stop his infidelity and his whole I am "caged" attitude didn't sit well with me.
But hey, she finally got him....so now all she has to do is figure out how to keep him. Phew, I get tired just thinking about it. Good luck, girlfriend!
November 18, 2022
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ four stars -
I’m just over here making my way through old school Harlequin Presents books, and having a fantastic time reading these classic escapes into romance land 📖👌
This was a very well-written, easy to read, old school romance, and I loved it! Yes, there were a few things I didn’t like about it (more about that later), but overall, I really enjoyed this one. What’s not to like about romance? 💖
I discovered this 1980 published work from Harlequin Presents by Charlotte Lamb by perusing recommended romance read lists here on Goodreads. If you follow my reviews, you will probably recall me mentioning that I’ve been on a HP reading binge over the past few months. I’ve decided to review the ones worth mentioning, and “Obsession” gets this honor ✍️
The Book Lists you can find here on Goodreads are one of my favorite things about this site. I just love finding new books this way. It’s really one of the best features GR offers, in my opinion.
Now, back to this book…
Here’s what hit all my buttons and helped it get to the four star rating I’m labeling it with:
• a strong Hero ✔️
• he’s forceful - which gets my motor going - he even smacked her behind once - I wouldn’t call it a spanking (I do read dark romance), but be smacked her during their climatic final scene (pun intended ha), and I loved it ✔️
• it’s one of those stories where our Hero is in love with our h, but doesn’t know it ✔️
• a very strong, intelligent heroine who has a full backstory, complete with her own friend group ✔️
• enemies to lovers ✔️
• workplace romance (a romance staple ha) ✔️
• fulfilled romantic arc with declarations of love - *le sigh ✔️
• heroine is strong enough to punish our Hero and make him pay/grovel ✔️✔️
• this is a story where the Hero is fighting his way along against falling in love, and I just LOVE that arc! ✔️✔️✔️
• Bonus points for the Hero’s dry wit when he mentions in the final scene how he’s upset he fell in love with our heroine because he’s going to have to pay up to his mates - he bet against them that he would never fall in love and never get married - he was having way too much fun being a swinging bachelor. I just thought that was so humorous and witty - just really enjoyed Lamb’s style. I especially loved revisiting all the old expressions I had forgotten about that you don’t often hear in conversation anymore - I loved the trip down memory lane ✔️✔️✔️✔️
Now, on to what I didn’t like about it:
• our Hero calls our heroine a “b*tch” several times. Was this acceptable conversation between couples in the 1970s? I don’t recall this being a thing. She finally calls him out at the end during their final confrontational showdown, but that’s after about the sixth time he had already called her that. This is one of the main points against it, and this contributed toward the loss of the star
• the heroine dates the Hero’s brother, and the Hero hooks up with the heroine’s sister (he’s caught making out with her and she has her dress half off) - this will make for some interesting family get togethers 🙄
I don’t think that I would’ve rated this one five stars anyway, but even with points taken away, I still feel as if it deserves four stars. I enjoyed it that much. I will probably reread this one at some point.
Four stars for old school romance. Do recommend for the fellow romance reader that has a tolerance for old school style Heroes.
I’m just over here making my way through old school Harlequin Presents books, and having a fantastic time reading these classic escapes into romance land 📖👌
This was a very well-written, easy to read, old school romance, and I loved it! Yes, there were a few things I didn’t like about it (more about that later), but overall, I really enjoyed this one. What’s not to like about romance? 💖
I discovered this 1980 published work from Harlequin Presents by Charlotte Lamb by perusing recommended romance read lists here on Goodreads. If you follow my reviews, you will probably recall me mentioning that I’ve been on a HP reading binge over the past few months. I’ve decided to review the ones worth mentioning, and “Obsession” gets this honor ✍️
The Book Lists you can find here on Goodreads are one of my favorite things about this site. I just love finding new books this way. It’s really one of the best features GR offers, in my opinion.
Now, back to this book…
Here’s what hit all my buttons and helped it get to the four star rating I’m labeling it with:
• a strong Hero ✔️
• he’s forceful - which gets my motor going - he even smacked her behind once - I wouldn’t call it a spanking (I do read dark romance), but be smacked her during their climatic final scene (pun intended ha), and I loved it ✔️
• it’s one of those stories where our Hero is in love with our h, but doesn’t know it ✔️
• a very strong, intelligent heroine who has a full backstory, complete with her own friend group ✔️
• enemies to lovers ✔️
• workplace romance (a romance staple ha) ✔️
• fulfilled romantic arc with declarations of love - *le sigh ✔️
• heroine is strong enough to punish our Hero and make him pay/grovel ✔️✔️
• this is a story where the Hero is fighting his way along against falling in love, and I just LOVE that arc! ✔️✔️✔️
• Bonus points for the Hero’s dry wit when he mentions in the final scene how he’s upset he fell in love with our heroine because he’s going to have to pay up to his mates - he bet against them that he would never fall in love and never get married - he was having way too much fun being a swinging bachelor. I just thought that was so humorous and witty - just really enjoyed Lamb’s style. I especially loved revisiting all the old expressions I had forgotten about that you don’t often hear in conversation anymore - I loved the trip down memory lane ✔️✔️✔️✔️
Now, on to what I didn’t like about it:
• our Hero calls our heroine a “b*tch” several times. Was this acceptable conversation between couples in the 1970s? I don’t recall this being a thing. She finally calls him out at the end during their final confrontational showdown, but that’s after about the sixth time he had already called her that. This is one of the main points against it, and this contributed toward the loss of the star
• the heroine dates the Hero’s brother, and the Hero hooks up with the heroine’s sister (he’s caught making out with her and she has her dress half off) - this will make for some interesting family get togethers 🙄
I don’t think that I would’ve rated this one five stars anyway, but even with points taken away, I still feel as if it deserves four stars. I enjoyed it that much. I will probably reread this one at some point.
Four stars for old school romance. Do recommend for the fellow romance reader that has a tolerance for old school style Heroes.
October 5, 2016
It was an entertaining book but if you are looking for Romance with a capital R, I would not recommend it. It was more like a farce, with the protagonists one-upping each other at every turn, both of them terrified to reveal any real emotions, both of them hiding under glib, distanced masks.
He is absolutely agonized by the idea of marriage, a cage where he will be chained up for life and miserable. She is too proud to risk becoming another notch on his bedpost. Homeboy gets around. Even h'sister is not immune to his rapacious instincts. Meanwhile, she dates his brother so he can be the buffer between them.
I don't know. I certainly enjoyed the sharp, humorous dialogue. The heroine has a tongue like razors and the hero enjoys being cut. But overall,it felt sad to me, how terrified these two were of intimacy and commitment. I just did not believe in their HE A and I wouldn't be surprised if he returned to his cheating ways shortly after the honeymoon and we would have a divorce to end all acrimonious divorces.
Sorry CL, I love you,but you just didn't sell me on this one.
He is absolutely agonized by the idea of marriage, a cage where he will be chained up for life and miserable. She is too proud to risk becoming another notch on his bedpost. Homeboy gets around. Even h'sister is not immune to his rapacious instincts. Meanwhile, she dates his brother so he can be the buffer between them.
I don't know. I certainly enjoyed the sharp, humorous dialogue. The heroine has a tongue like razors and the hero enjoys being cut. But overall,it felt sad to me, how terrified these two were of intimacy and commitment. I just did not believe in their HE A and I wouldn't be surprised if he returned to his cheating ways shortly after the honeymoon and we would have a divorce to end all acrimonious divorces.
Sorry CL, I love you,but you just didn't sell me on this one.
August 17, 2018
Mildly amusing cat-and-mouse romance with a shaky HEA.
Neither Lang nor Nicola seemed convinced in Lang's ability to remain faithful, so I wasn't either consequently:
1. Lang, like many a romantic hero, had established himself as a notorious womanizer with zero belief in committed and loving relationships. This wasn't a problem in of itself, but it IS problematic when the hero frequently doubts his own ability to commit. What would have helped eased my doubts is a long, heartfelt declaration of undying love or an epilogue set into the future featuring a happily married Lang and Nicola.
2. The ending concluded with Nicola believing that her relationship with Lang wouldn't last very long. Are you kidding me, Charlotte Lamb? What a downer.
The bright sides were the author's sparkling writing and the cat-and-mouse chase. I found the latter ironic since Nicola kept Lang at a distance because she didn't want to be a passing fancy of his, not to lure him in as he believed. There's also a brief and light-hearted spanking scene that might offend. Taken in context it demonstrated Lang's inability to handle Nicola's cock-blocking "tactics". And I can't forget to mention Lang's tendency to call Nicola a bitch whenever she provoked him, which seemed to be quite often. Politically correct it wasn't, but amusing? You bet.
Neither Lang nor Nicola seemed convinced in Lang's ability to remain faithful, so I wasn't either consequently:
1. Lang, like many a romantic hero, had established himself as a notorious womanizer with zero belief in committed and loving relationships. This wasn't a problem in of itself, but it IS problematic when the hero frequently doubts his own ability to commit. What would have helped eased my doubts is a long, heartfelt declaration of undying love or an epilogue set into the future featuring a happily married Lang and Nicola.
2. The ending concluded with Nicola believing that her relationship with Lang wouldn't last very long. Are you kidding me, Charlotte Lamb? What a downer.
The bright sides were the author's sparkling writing and the cat-and-mouse chase. I found the latter ironic since Nicola kept Lang at a distance because she didn't want to be a passing fancy of his, not to lure him in as he believed. There's also a brief and light-hearted spanking scene that might offend. Taken in context it demonstrated Lang's inability to handle Nicola's cock-blocking "tactics". And I can't forget to mention Lang's tendency to call Nicola a bitch whenever she provoked him, which seemed to be quite often. Politically correct it wasn't, but amusing? You bet.
August 26, 2018
I saw a review of Obsession, checked and realized I had read it and given it 4 stars no less. Since I've delved into HP world, I've learned to really appreciate Charlotte Lamb's writing so wanted to recall why I gave it 4 stars.
Hell if I know. The hero is such an out and out stinker that even the 4 star feisty heroine can knock this up to 4 stars. Skillet alert!
SPOILERS....
The h is the secretary to Asshat Womanizer and Business Man Extradonnairre. Just ask him. She's pretty fed up doing his dirty work like ordering yet another bouquet of red roses for the soon to be jettisoned chick. Even by HP standards he is a cliche. They have a rocky relationship, but he can't get through the day without her. In a business capacity.
He hears that her sister is coming to town and once he finds out the h doesn't want her shallow and married sister meeting him, he pulls out all the stops to get to her and succeeds. What's both amusing and kind of tragic is that the heroine is less concerned about the sanctity of marriage than she is about her all-about-me vapid sister being an anchor around her neck again. The h loves her, but loves her better when she's in North England.
The h goes to work for the H's kindler, gentler more boring brother who is thrilled to one up the H for once in his life.
Nothing really happens, but as always Charlotte Lamb's writing is so well done she makes the office scenario interesting.
It all comes out in the was as the heroine realizes she loves the rotter. Great heroine, great writing, but a huge star subtraction for a caddish, manipulative pretty boy as the H when the heroine deserves so much better.
Hell if I know. The hero is such an out and out stinker that even the 4 star feisty heroine can knock this up to 4 stars. Skillet alert!
SPOILERS....
The h is the secretary to Asshat Womanizer and Business Man Extradonnairre. Just ask him. She's pretty fed up doing his dirty work like ordering yet another bouquet of red roses for the soon to be jettisoned chick. Even by HP standards he is a cliche. They have a rocky relationship, but he can't get through the day without her. In a business capacity.
He hears that her sister is coming to town and once he finds out the h doesn't want her shallow and married sister meeting him, he pulls out all the stops to get to her and succeeds. What's both amusing and kind of tragic is that the heroine is less concerned about the sanctity of marriage than she is about her all-about-me vapid sister being an anchor around her neck again. The h loves her, but loves her better when she's in North England.
The h goes to work for the H's kindler, gentler more boring brother who is thrilled to one up the H for once in his life.
Nothing really happens, but as always Charlotte Lamb's writing is so well done she makes the office scenario interesting.
It all comes out in the was as the heroine realizes she loves the rotter. Great heroine, great writing, but a huge star subtraction for a caddish, manipulative pretty boy as the H when the heroine deserves so much better.
February 25, 2021
Very funny 😂.
The hero is a bastard, but the heroine is a very intelligent girl. She wasn’t spineless like the usual HP’s heroine and she give a fight back as good as she gets and made the hero run for his money! 😂
He was a manwhore and we’ve got a taste of his life with OW in chapter one, but it was a parade of OM after, which made this one a delicious read and go right till the end too! 😏
Seriously, they deserved each other forever and ever! 🤣🤣🤣
The leash and collar stay in place and locked for good!
Yes Lang, is not invisible and we can see it! 😂
What can I say? Charlotte Lamb still my Hplandia’s Queen!
❤️
The hero is a bastard, but the heroine is a very intelligent girl. She wasn’t spineless like the usual HP’s heroine and she give a fight back as good as she gets and made the hero run for his money! 😂
He was a manwhore and we’ve got a taste of his life with OW in chapter one, but it was a parade of OM after, which made this one a delicious read and go right till the end too! 😏
Seriously, they deserved each other forever and ever! 🤣🤣🤣
The leash and collar stay in place and locked for good!
Yes Lang, is not invisible and we can see it! 😂
What can I say? Charlotte Lamb still my Hplandia’s Queen!
❤️
April 23, 2022
This book had me on the edge of my seat from the first page. I am blown away. This book was the fun entertainment i had been craving and Charlotte Lamb does it so good everytime. Lang Hyland is one of those heroes that fits into the High Chair Tyrant archetype- he only craves, but does not inspire. I just could not entirely understand why the awesome heroine Nicola Adney found herself in this awful obsession over him. Being his secretary she have been tolerating his awful temper and snide remarks for two years. Even when she leaves after she finds him kissing her sister, she still comes back when she also knows he have used his master manipulation in trying to grovel for her to get back at his side.
But ahhh.Love is painful and Lang is the only man alive that can make Nicola feel alive. I still like how she never was a doormat for him and didn`t wimp and cry like other heroines. She still kisses other male characters in this story, and even dated Lang`s brother for a while. I enjoyed Lang`s pursuit in trying to win over Nicola. Thinking he had her in his palm, never imagining that a cage was slowly closing around him, with Nicola being the owner of the key. You can see how suffocated he feels over time, how miserable and how powerless. It was always him coming back for Nicola, despite hating the hold she has over him. Both Nicola & Lang are colorful and stubborn characters, i can only imagine how they will lock thorns with each other their whole lives together.
But ahhh.Love is painful and Lang is the only man alive that can make Nicola feel alive. I still like how she never was a doormat for him and didn`t wimp and cry like other heroines. She still kisses other male characters in this story, and even dated Lang`s brother for a while. I enjoyed Lang`s pursuit in trying to win over Nicola. Thinking he had her in his palm, never imagining that a cage was slowly closing around him, with Nicola being the owner of the key. You can see how suffocated he feels over time, how miserable and how powerless. It was always him coming back for Nicola, despite hating the hold she has over him. Both Nicola & Lang are colorful and stubborn characters, i can only imagine how they will lock thorns with each other their whole lives together.
August 17, 2018
I don't know how I didn't read this sooner! AMazinnnggggg.
The heroine Nicola was great and up there with other h written by lamb. She eptiomied everything a woman with backbone should be. If only more h in hplandia were strong and willed like her - eventually she got her man! What a ride!
Loved this one. Loved Lang he was broken man by the time he got round to winning her over! Hilarious at times, great chemistry and believable HEA!
Favourite snippet from the book
'I should have locked the door and got under the bed the day I first set eyes on you,' Lang went on. 'Even if I felt like straying I've got a horrible suspicion I wouldn't get an inch from your side.' He put a hand to his throat, frowning. 'I hope to God nobody can see it'
'What?' she asked, puzzled.
'The collar and leash,' said Lang with a wry emphasis. He looked at her, grinning. 'Admit it, Nicky. I was set up, wasn't I? You've played it superbly and I don't believe it wasn't all a cool plot.'
'There's still time to escape,' Nicola murmured, smiling with her eyes lowered. 'There's the door, Lang. I won't try to stop you going through it.'
'That's the real cunning of it, isn't it? I wouldn't go even if you begged me to. You couldn't get me out of here with a loaded gun aimed at my head. The cage is too invitingly baited.'
A Keeper for sure!
The heroine Nicola was great and up there with other h written by lamb. She eptiomied everything a woman with backbone should be. If only more h in hplandia were strong and willed like her - eventually she got her man! What a ride!
Loved this one. Loved Lang he was broken man by the time he got round to winning her over! Hilarious at times, great chemistry and believable HEA!
Favourite snippet from the book
'I should have locked the door and got under the bed the day I first set eyes on you,' Lang went on. 'Even if I felt like straying I've got a horrible suspicion I wouldn't get an inch from your side.' He put a hand to his throat, frowning. 'I hope to God nobody can see it'
'What?' she asked, puzzled.
'The collar and leash,' said Lang with a wry emphasis. He looked at her, grinning. 'Admit it, Nicky. I was set up, wasn't I? You've played it superbly and I don't believe it wasn't all a cool plot.'
'There's still time to escape,' Nicola murmured, smiling with her eyes lowered. 'There's the door, Lang. I won't try to stop you going through it.'
'That's the real cunning of it, isn't it? I wouldn't go even if you begged me to. You couldn't get me out of here with a loaded gun aimed at my head. The cage is too invitingly baited.'
A Keeper for sure!
November 17, 2021
⚠️VAGUELY SPOILERY REVIEW BELOW⚠️
I was up til 3 am reading this book. 👀 Yep. That means I’m running on less than 3 hours sleep. 👀😅 It’s fine. I‘m fine. Totally fine. 👀🤡
Only. I’m not fine. This book was so good. You know those tropes I love? The ones that have me forever begging for recs?? *clears throat*
😈 V*rg*n/manhoooaar 😍
😈 Confused commitment-phobe falling HARD and jealous as h€ll 😍 #alphaholesaremyjam
😈 H does something supremely STUPID and is left scrambling to chase the h 🙃
😈 h makes him SWEAT 😏
😈 He’s not afraid of a little manipulation… but neither is she 😅
😈 h let’s him think she’s been with someone else 😏
😈 H loses his ever loving mind 🤯🤬
😈 H discovers some truths The Old Fashioned Way #imadramahoooaar
Seriously. It’s 🤩🤩🤩🤩. I cried. Twice. 🥺🙈 I laughed so hard when the H finally declares himself. This man IS NOT HAPPY to have been hit by Cupid’s arrow. And he lets the h know all about it. 😅😅😅😅🤡
Bottom Line? * PERFECTION* ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
⚠️SAFETY SQUAD SPOILERS⚠️
- no cheating or sharing
- OW drama - the h is the H’s secretary - she is in charge of sending gifts to his castoffs - he only keeps woman for about 3 months. She’s worked with him for 2 years. So, do the math. 😐 Also, before he realizes they both have feelings involved he makes a pass at her sister (he’s just a bored @$$hole)… this scene is what sets the chase in motion. He only kisses the sister. After this moment (early in the book), there are no OW involved at all.
- OM drama - the h dates several men and drives the H INSANE
- h is a 22 yr old v*rg*n
- H is a 35-ish manhoooaar
- dubcon-ish
- there are several Torrid Embraces and they DO consummate the relationship within the pages of this book.
I was up til 3 am reading this book. 👀 Yep. That means I’m running on less than 3 hours sleep. 👀😅 It’s fine. I‘m fine. Totally fine. 👀🤡
Only. I’m not fine. This book was so good. You know those tropes I love? The ones that have me forever begging for recs?? *clears throat*
😈 V*rg*n/manhoooaar 😍
😈 Confused commitment-phobe falling HARD and jealous as h€ll 😍 #alphaholesaremyjam
😈 H does something supremely STUPID and is left scrambling to chase the h 🙃
😈 h makes him SWEAT 😏
😈 He’s not afraid of a little manipulation… but neither is she 😅
😈 h let’s him think she’s been with someone else 😏
😈 H loses his ever loving mind 🤯🤬
😈 H discovers some truths The Old Fashioned Way #imadramahoooaar
Seriously. It’s 🤩🤩🤩🤩. I cried. Twice. 🥺🙈 I laughed so hard when the H finally declares himself. This man IS NOT HAPPY to have been hit by Cupid’s arrow. And he lets the h know all about it. 😅😅😅😅🤡
Bottom Line? * PERFECTION* ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
⚠️SAFETY SQUAD SPOILERS⚠️
- no cheating or sharing
- OW drama - the h is the H’s secretary - she is in charge of sending gifts to his castoffs - he only keeps woman for about 3 months. She’s worked with him for 2 years. So, do the math. 😐 Also, before he realizes they both have feelings involved he makes a pass at her sister (he’s just a bored @$$hole)… this scene is what sets the chase in motion. He only kisses the sister. After this moment (early in the book), there are no OW involved at all.
- OM drama - the h dates several men and drives the H INSANE
- h is a 22 yr old v*rg*n
- H is a 35-ish manhoooaar
- dubcon-ish
- there are several Torrid Embraces and they DO consummate the relationship within the pages of this book.
April 6, 2012
My progress graph
@ 20% whoa! such a cool funky heroine who takes no shit from the H. Amazing
@ 40% What? what's he doing seducing the h's MARRIED sister? Is it a bid for attention? NO? TF?
@50% Oh, Lord is the firm's competitor gonna create trouble? Is that why he's being mentioned? umm.....no.
@ 60% Other M'e'n interensted in the h? Not one, not two but THREE? Ahem! P.S I'm glad she left the hero. He had it coming, yay!
@75% H's weird... why's she going back to him?
@80% Where TF is this going...? I'm confused!
@95% Why is he spanking her for C's sake!!!! why??? what'd she do wrong
@100%...The end
My reaction
o_O| O_O | O_o
@ 20% whoa! such a cool funky heroine who takes no shit from the H. Amazing
@ 40% What? what's he doing seducing the h's MARRIED sister? Is it a bid for attention? NO? TF?
@50% Oh, Lord is the firm's competitor gonna create trouble? Is that why he's being mentioned? umm.....no.
@ 60% Other M'e'n interensted in the h? Not one, not two but THREE? Ahem! P.S I'm glad she left the hero. He had it coming, yay!
@75% H's weird... why's she going back to him?
@80% Where TF is this going...? I'm confused!
@95% Why is he spanking her for C's sake!!!! why??? what'd she do wrong
@100%...The end
My reaction
o_O| O_O | O_o
May 21, 2012
3.5 stars. Ah, the days before sexual harrassment suits.
April 11, 2021
4/10/2021 Edited for clarity and to squee about the cover! Harlequin didn't credit their artists and I don't know why—many of the artist's themselves didn't add legible signatures and seem not to have mentioned their romance cover work on their CVs—but after some sleuthing I discovered Bob Kebic's name and website (featuring his beautiful current landscape paintings) so I wrote him a fan e-mail—mentioning my appreciation of his work and he responded very politely, which was nice. Here he strikes the perfect tone with the no-nonsense heroine who looks unflappable and the suited hero who appears appropriately shady.
A cynical version of the office romance trope. H is a classic hard driving man-child executive who throws sturm und drang tantrums in the office and spends his free time catting around with kittenish blondes. Obviously he's really got the hots for his sleek, dark haired, coolly indifferent, extremely competent P.A., Nicola, who is a fabulous example of my favorite type of h, she's fascinated by the jerk but isn't going to let a little thing like that stop her from playing with his mind.
Lang is a little amusing and a lot gross. He kisses Nicola's married sister because why not? she was there and willing, Nicola is furious at both sister and H, and moral outrage about the sanctity of marriage is the least of it. Her anger towards her sister is complicated, there's the latent jealousy but also the fact that if her sister screws up her marriage she will become Nicola's responsibility again. Nicola quits her job but quickly agrees to work for Lang's brother Andrew—just down the hall—she's still in position to get under Lang's skin which she does with her usual aplomb and a fair bit of kissing other men, including Andrew, at least they are all single! I'm a fan of CL's non-sweet heroines so I found the parity of callousness funny but YMMV. These two don't really specialize in finer feelings.
And everything is going along splendidly until Objectified Virginity saunters in as it so often does in HPland; sometimes treated like a hangnail, sometimes like an apple pie cooling on the counter, but CL ruins her wonderfully acidic H/h dynamic with it because it feels like a contrivance to satisfy HP standards more than any logic of character. If ever an h was likely to have sexual experience it's Nicola; are we supposed to believe that virginity has any value to she or Lang? As if!
The tension in their relationship was Lang's horror of being captured and domesticated; he rightly suspects that Nicola is strong enough to reel him in but his sudden anger that she may have had the nerve to "give" her virginity to another guy deflects from this. Suddenly there's perceived injury—to himself—and that really takes some cheek. Now he gets to storm around and decide she needs to be punished, culminating in what has to be the most half-hearted spanking attempt in HPland, it's as though he starts to bring his hand down for a resounding smack on her bum and stops because he realizes he's in the wrong book. She still wins her booby prize of a hero but the tenor of the victory has changed; does she get her man because she is just that awesome or because wealthy playboys are helpless against virginity mojo?
A cynical version of the office romance trope. H is a classic hard driving man-child executive who throws sturm und drang tantrums in the office and spends his free time catting around with kittenish blondes. Obviously he's really got the hots for his sleek, dark haired, coolly indifferent, extremely competent P.A., Nicola, who is a fabulous example of my favorite type of h, she's fascinated by the jerk but isn't going to let a little thing like that stop her from playing with his mind.
Lang is a little amusing and a lot gross. He kisses Nicola's married sister because why not? she was there and willing, Nicola is furious at both sister and H, and moral outrage about the sanctity of marriage is the least of it. Her anger towards her sister is complicated, there's the latent jealousy but also the fact that if her sister screws up her marriage she will become Nicola's responsibility again. Nicola quits her job but quickly agrees to work for Lang's brother Andrew—just down the hall—she's still in position to get under Lang's skin which she does with her usual aplomb and a fair bit of kissing other men, including Andrew, at least they are all single! I'm a fan of CL's non-sweet heroines so I found the parity of callousness funny but YMMV. These two don't really specialize in finer feelings.
And everything is going along splendidly until Objectified Virginity saunters in as it so often does in HPland; sometimes treated like a hangnail, sometimes like an apple pie cooling on the counter, but CL ruins her wonderfully acidic H/h dynamic with it because it feels like a contrivance to satisfy HP standards more than any logic of character. If ever an h was likely to have sexual experience it's Nicola; are we supposed to believe that virginity has any value to she or Lang? As if!
The tension in their relationship was Lang's horror of being captured and domesticated; he rightly suspects that Nicola is strong enough to reel him in but his sudden anger that she may have had the nerve to "give" her virginity to another guy deflects from this. Suddenly there's perceived injury—to himself—and that really takes some cheek. Now he gets to storm around and decide she needs to be punished, culminating in what has to be the most half-hearted spanking attempt in HPland, it's as though he starts to bring his hand down for a resounding smack on her bum and stops because he realizes he's in the wrong book. She still wins her booby prize of a hero but the tenor of the victory has changed; does she get her man because she is just that awesome or because wealthy playboys are helpless against virginity mojo?
August 25, 2019
Loved the spunky heroine in this one. I read it in one sitting last night. There was even a spanking LOL!
August 18, 2018
This book has been appearing in my feed on GR for the last couple of days and everyone was saying good things so I HAD to move it up my TBR pile. I'm so glad I did it was extremely refreshing to have a h who didn't cave no matter what - I love, love loved her!
But overall I'm glad I moved this up my TBR pile I devoured it in one sitting and thoroughly enjoyed it.
But overall I'm glad I moved this up my TBR pile I devoured it in one sitting and thoroughly enjoyed it.
March 25, 2012
An okay read, nothing spectacular, but it wasn't that bad either. It took too long for the heroine to warm up to the hero though. For a good while it was really just a secretary boss relationship and I didn't see the chemistry between them, but after she caught him making out with her sister emotions started running wild. The hero kept things interesting with his bad tempered book throwing personality, but I would have liked to see the chemistry between the leads from the beginning or at least see them fall in love gradually, but the hero's POV was missing and the heroine didn't start to show her attraction for him until half way through the book.
Even the physical obsession which the heroine kept mentioning wasn't shown. We should have SEEN her checking him out all the time and thinking how good looking he was if that was her obsession, not told how obsessed she was with doing it! As a reader you never once see that, so I felt like I missed out on something whenever she mentioned it. With the few CL I've read so far I've notice that she doesn't like to SHOW but tell. 2.5 stars
Even the physical obsession which the heroine kept mentioning wasn't shown. We should have SEEN her checking him out all the time and thinking how good looking he was if that was her obsession, not told how obsessed she was with doing it! As a reader you never once see that, so I felt like I missed out on something whenever she mentioned it. With the few CL I've read so far I've notice that she doesn't like to SHOW but tell. 2.5 stars
November 11, 2021
Hilarious reading with a very unlikely love story.
The plot is funny and the banter between the characters is light, of course not a love story in any way.
The hero is a manwhore who shags everything with two legs and was going to shag even her own married sister.
There’s a man I wouldn’t want even if he came crawling under a closed door.
The heroine is too good for him.
He will cheat on her at the first chance.
Whatever.
It was like a comedy in the 70s.
The plot is funny and the banter between the characters is light, of course not a love story in any way.
The hero is a manwhore who shags everything with two legs and was going to shag even her own married sister.
There’s a man I wouldn’t want even if he came crawling under a closed door.
The heroine is too good for him.
He will cheat on her at the first chance.
Whatever.
It was like a comedy in the 70s.
September 11, 2014
Liked the fact that the female lead was no clinging wimplet!
October 16, 2020
3 stars
for a book with a pretty ambiguous, happy for now ending, it was well done and i actually think this relationship can last.
for a book with a pretty ambiguous, happy for now ending, it was well done and i actually think this relationship can last.
January 2, 2014
i absolutely loved this one ! terrific it was but i did not believe 4 1 sec dat land had fallen in love wid nicola ! infact, land himself did not seem convinced lol !:P he was disgusting really, treating women like garbage n breaking their hearts, did not hesitate 2 grab married women ! i was disgusted dat he touched her sister. ok it was just a kiss but it wud have gone further if nicola had not interrupted them. yuck, i dunt think u can reform dat kinda of man, attracted 2 one sister yet attracted 2 other one as well. he can fuck both of them in other words, it does not disturb him. big lol ! well, this is one huge entertainment ! nicola gave as good as she got n she was a mastermind. i admired her control, her tenacity, her whit. she actually reminded me of 1 of my best friends. she was not like those pathetic women who can't say no 2heroes bcoz they're so hot! when she did give in, i was flabbergasted by land's reaction!!lol dat was the best part of the book:
"Her skin was flushed with fever. Her lips were parted on a
stifled moan. Closing her eyes, she fell against him and began
to kiss his neck, his shoulder; her mouth open, lips shaking.
Lang didn't move. He just leaned there, not responding.
Suddenly he flung her back and she looked at him dazedly, her
eyes snapping open. Her skin was burning, her body melting.
She met his stare in complete bewilderment
'You little bitch,' he muttered, his eyes like knives.
She looked blankly at him .What was wrong? Why was he
looking at her like that?"
LOL, i was like what !? rofl !! if u want 2no what happens next, u shud read the book:D
a big thnxs 2 Onu 4 dat awesome recommendation !!:D it's definitely not 2 be missed
"Her skin was flushed with fever. Her lips were parted on a
stifled moan. Closing her eyes, she fell against him and began
to kiss his neck, his shoulder; her mouth open, lips shaking.
Lang didn't move. He just leaned there, not responding.
Suddenly he flung her back and she looked at him dazedly, her
eyes snapping open. Her skin was burning, her body melting.
She met his stare in complete bewilderment
'You little bitch,' he muttered, his eyes like knives.
She looked blankly at him .What was wrong? Why was he
looking at her like that?"
LOL, i was like what !? rofl !! if u want 2no what happens next, u shud read the book:D
a big thnxs 2 Onu 4 dat awesome recommendation !!:D it's definitely not 2 be missed
October 24, 2017
"Obsession" is the story of Lang and Nicola.
Basically, boss from hell and serial womanizer Lang has super efficient secretary who's also attracted to him. When her attractive but flirty married sister intrudes into her life, and Lang's business associates start making play for Nicky, jealousy from both sides erupts.
The book has numerous possessive encounters, the couple dating other people out of spite, denial of feelings and witty banter.
The hero wasnt as cruel as usual CL, the heroine not as passive.
Yes there's that one slap pre coitus, and loads of violent shaking, but you'll ignore it as youve tolerated the insane drama so far (him kissing her sister, her kissing his brother etc etc).
Crazy, roller coaster ride with a pleasant end. Enjoyed it.
Unsafe
3.5/5
Basically, boss from hell and serial womanizer Lang has super efficient secretary who's also attracted to him. When her attractive but flirty married sister intrudes into her life, and Lang's business associates start making play for Nicky, jealousy from both sides erupts.
The book has numerous possessive encounters, the couple dating other people out of spite, denial of feelings and witty banter.
The hero wasnt as cruel as usual CL, the heroine not as passive.
Yes there's that one slap pre coitus, and loads of violent shaking, but you'll ignore it as youve tolerated the insane drama so far (him kissing her sister, her kissing his brother etc etc).
Crazy, roller coaster ride with a pleasant end. Enjoyed it.
Unsafe
3.5/5
August 30, 2018
I wasn't sure how to shelve this, but I really liked the h, the H not so much. For once the h, Nicola, was strong without being whiny or bitchy for no reason. She stood up to her boss, Lang, and let him know when he did something wrong
This is definitely before sexual harassment policies, and I didn't like Over all, there were some fun places, and some face-palm/ head-desk parts.
This is definitely before sexual harassment policies, and I didn't like Over all, there were some fun places, and some face-palm/ head-desk parts.
December 29, 2011
Well, goodness. This one kept my attention with great emotional tension. But geez, the hero was a piece of work and I was definitely left with the impression that the chances of a true happily ever after for this couple was slim. Lang was way too resentful of having to marry her, of feeling "caged" or whatever. An interesting read though.
October 14, 2023
This Harlequin had not enough engaging romance to compensate for the part that aged badly (mobbing by the boss). I understand that the standards in the XX century were different (I remember them), and I accept such standards in books written then (or taking place then). I am not a fan of lying that the world was different in the past. Yet, reading this novel I felt uncomfortable. It wasn't aggressive, the hero didn't differ much from the other alpha heroes of the genre, but for some reason, it was simply too much to me. And, the last pages dragged boringly.
[2-2.5 stars]
[2-2.5 stars]
April 12, 2021
Entertaining! Smart heroine, jealous hero.
April 2, 2022
4.5. CL gives us a very realistic ending.
September 26, 2011
This was a decent read,Lang what do i say he was like all CL heroes mean,cruel,angry when Nicola would not give in what he wanted and obviously bitch slaps were there
i adored Nicola she was one strong woman and way she stood up to Lang,stuck by her morals,she took time to stand to her selfish mean cruel sister but she gave it back to her,really danced when Nicola did not gave in Caroline's crocodile tears and let her go
Really enjoyed the part where Lang in literally begs Nicky to come back,he accepts he is lost without her,i wanted more punishment for that jerk but Nicola went back to being his secretary,enjoyed their bickering
Lang took his time to realise he has fallen for Nicola and Nicola she knew she loved him but cause of his reputation then catching him kissing her sister and her own fears she never said anything but they manage to surpass the hurdles and have their HEA
Overall a good read
i adored Nicola she was one strong woman and way she stood up to Lang,stuck by her morals,she took time to stand to her selfish mean cruel sister but she gave it back to her,really danced when Nicola did not gave in Caroline's crocodile tears and let her go
Really enjoyed the part where Lang in literally begs Nicky to come back,he accepts he is lost without her,i wanted more punishment for that jerk but Nicola went back to being his secretary,enjoyed their bickering
Lang took his time to realise he has fallen for Nicola and Nicola she knew she loved him but cause of his reputation then catching him kissing her sister and her own fears she never said anything but they manage to surpass the hurdles and have their HEA
Overall a good read
May 28, 2025
Old school Harlequin, with womanizing boss literally chasing his secretary, our heroine, around a desk. But dated, problematic stuff aside, this was such good angst porn! She’s SO fun, because she smartly gives as good as she gets, and his gradual come-around to realizing that he can’t live without her is done so well. I like that she takes him to task for his behavior, and the relationship feels satisfyingly hard-won.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews