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Man of Stone
Could she ever prove her innocence?
After her father's death, Sara Rodney thought she'd finally be safe at her grandmother's country home outside London. That was before she was forced to marry Luke Gallagher, almost a total stranger.
Cressy, Sara's selfish stepsister, had filled Luke's head with lies, and now he believed Sara to be a despicable fortune hunter. There was no way to change his mind.
But Luke's hatred was only part of the trouble. For despite her efforts to the contrary, Sara found herself falling in love with her new husband.
190 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1988
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About the author
Frances Roding
7 books15 followersAKA Caroline Courtney, Annie Groves, Penny Halsall, Lydia Hitchcock, Penny Jordan, and Melinda Wright.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
December 14, 2016
Re Man of Stone - Angst Junkies Rejoice - in this corner of the Penny Jordan subcontinent in her FR province, the wrecki angst rules.
Angst is angstier, tropes are tropier and an Alpha H is sooo Alpha Manly he is blind with it and we can adjust his intelligence accordingly - his tremendous ego will make up for it. h's get enough martyry martyrdom to make a turnip weep and earthworms have more spine than a FR h - this little slice of HPlandia is a junkie's dream.
Fortunately PJ only wrote five FR HP's and one HR and the other's are all linked as a miniseries- otherwise HP angsters would be in danger of overdose.
FR pulls out all the stops for MoS and it is EXTREME. Our h is not only orphaned with a fragile little half brother who needs a good country home, she was horribly used as a domestic servant by her very own unadoring father! Her mother died young and the scurvy dog remarried to a glamorous Evil Stepmother - even worse, the Glamorous Evil Step Sister is waaay more evil than even the h's unadoring parent and stepmum, fortunately they died before the book can get started but the Evil StepSis only added to her evil powers.
Because there is no money and the Evil Step Sis always has an evil scheme, she convinces the h she would be no good at using her training for a perfectly good secretarial job. Nope, she will take Fragile Tom, the cherubic half-brother practically raised by the h (and that explains the cherubic,) and the Evil SS herself, and they will all go impose themselves on the h's estranged maternal grandmother. The h's father refused to acknowledge the h's mother's family - probably because they DID NOT APPROVE of the scurvy scoundrel - and so the h has never met them.
'Not to worry', says Evil SS, they are LOADED and they have a family manor that is 300 YEARS OLD with DOZENS of rooms - the grandma will be delighted to take some orphaned waifs in. After all the other granddaughter (the h's cousin) of the house died seven years ago, so now there is only widowed Grandma and the dead cousins REALLY DISHY and QUITE WEALTHY Australian husband.
(We can all see what Evil SS is aiming for right away - I allowed myself a delicious spine tingle here of all the dreaded Evil SS OWness that was about to be unleashed.)
And Unleashed it is! Grandma takes one look at the h and it is adoration right away - the h looks just like her dear departed mum and is even nicer in charm and character, if you can imagine that. Since Evil SS is around to take full advantage too, Grandma mistakenly leaves her to own devices while she and the h have a lovely little coze over tea and crumpets.
Poor Fragile Tom was feeling a bit poorly, so the kindly housekeeper tenderly tucked him into bed. Grandma is one sharp cookie tho, and when the bewildered h expresses surprise that she never got any letters or packages from Grandma, (after Grandma's gentle rebuke for no thank you notes,) Granny quickly realizes that the scurvy slime dog dad deliberately kept the h and her soon to be beloved Granny far apart.
Why, he wouldn't even let the h's much loved mother return to the family home when she was going thru her difficult pregnancy - the scurvy slurper insisted he needed the maid services of his wife while he partied it up in Italy - ostensibly writing a book. Then sadly the h's mum died and Grandma was very sad.
Granny is a pretty sharp tack when she looks at the h and sees years of shining domestic devotion and care giving ahead in her future - now if only she can find a way to make the h permanently stay, she will have a devoted nurse for life AND a devoted caretaker for her fabulous family home. Hmm, Granny thinks, this h is perfect. But that creature she calls a stepsister has got to go - it wouldn't do to put her out to soon tho, the h might feel bad.
Meanwhile, Evil SS has been making very GOOD use of her time, and in thirty minutes flat has the OH SO MANLY and RICH H convinced that Evil SS is a poor benighted and put-upon girl and that the virtuous h is a tarty, home-wrecking, gold-digger con artist and totally up to NO good.
The H KNOWS this is so, cause his ALPHA MANLY H instinct is INFALLIBLE - and he will be keeping a sharp eye out for any h misdemeanors and indiscretions - the minute he catches her in the disreputable act - OUT she goes into the muck and mire! He will see to it.
Evil SS sips her G&T with a sly grin, while the H is keeping watch for h crimes and abuses - she will be worming her oh so seductive way right under the H's skin - and we will see where that meek little miss butter wouldn't melt in her mouth priss winds up then!
So everybody settles in. Evil SS is swinging her lies and wiles on the all-knowing H. Fragile Tom is cheerfully taking to country Home living, and his color is so improved, the h is helpful and devoted and Granny is happy - The H manages to restrict his tart/golddigger/con artist accusations to five or six times a day and life goes on.
Then Evil SS decides it is time to up her game and get a more formal proposal out of the H, she will take herself off to the bright lites for a few weeks and give the poor widower a chance to miss her. After she goes, Granny has a heart palpitation. The h is quite frightened, cause she has become so devoted in such a short amount of time - Granny is like a lifeline to security and the love the h had been wanting all her poor starved life. Granny is adamant that the H not be told of her little spell, but the h isn't comfortable with that.
While undressing later that night, the h decides that it is IMPERATIVE that the H know about Granny's little incident. Donning a silky robe over her little briefs and brassiere, she waits for him to come home - right in his room so Granny won't know she tattled. But the H is a long time coming home, and the H's big bed is so cozy and comfy, she just can't help but fall asleep. Only to be woken some hours later and utters a tremendous scream that brings Granny running.
HORRORS - Granny is SHOCKED! The H and h are in the VERY SAME bed in HER HOUSE - and there is no wedding vows between them! OH the HORROR of it all! 'Not to worry,' the H interjects, me and the little h here were just confirming our nuptial plans - it is kinda late, but we never seem to have moment alone during the day - you know with me accusing her of nefarious deeds every hour on the hour and all.
HURRAY! Grandma says - just what I ALWAYS wanted -- my devoted grandson in law and my granddaughter united in Wedded Bliss and the potential for a great-grandchild too! (You know H, it doesn't hurt that you're loaded either, now I can leave the house to the two of you and you have enough money to support it. Great Houses are quite expensive on the upkeep don'tcha know.)
Then the H corners the h and tells her that the punishment has just begun, she manipulated the marriage and now she will have to live with it - her being such and evil tart and all. He will be taking his payment out with his Lance of Lust and the h just better be prepared for a lot of poking. She won't be getting away with anything else dubious either - cause now the Judge, Jury and Executioner H will be pinning her down if she steps out line and she will be extremely sorry - promiscuous, gold digging tart that she is.
So the h and H marry and everyone is delighted except for the principles. The H gets his own in tho - cause he is mighty in his Lancing when they go to a local hotel for the honeymoon. The h has a reluctant but fiery fulfillment and knows that she is doomed, cause now she is all in love. The honeymoon bonging is interrupted by an emergency call to go home tho. Evil SS has heard the news and picked a fight with Fragile Tom - who is now in the throes of an asthma attack. The h must return home at once and domestic caretaking/servitude with a side of H thrice daily insults is about to begin.
But not before Evil SS makes her rage known and lets the h know that the H's first wife was perfect - just like the Evil SS herself- and that the H will NEVER love her and she better watch her back, the Evil SS aims to have her out in year or whenever Granny departs for the hereafter. The Angry h now has to make a statement that she KNOWS the H doesn't love her - and she doesn't care cause she married him for his money! The H conveniently being in hearing range when she says it and Evil SS storms off to California - maybe she will get an acting part.
The H isn't pleased, and accusations and verbal lashings continue. Just cause the h was a chaste little flower for the plucking doesn't mean she isn't a tarty golddigging con artist - she was just waiting for the right price and sadly now that it has been met, she will be doing a lot of paying the pipe and the repayment plan is a backbreaker.
The h is dying inside of unrequited love, but she serenely handles it all with an outward appearance of grace and life goes on around the Manor. Then Granny needs a heart valve replacement - guaranteed for 15 years or 100,000 kilometers- to give her a whole new lease on life.
Fragile Tom is deemed to be improving too and the H can't understand how such a trampy (albeit venial virgin), could appear to be so caring. Then Fragile Tom expresses tender and heartrending thanks that the h has always taken such good care of him and the H is SHOCKED that Evil SS is HATED by Fragile Tom. His All Knowing Hness must have gotten mixed up on the details - but he STILL KNOWS ALL - and the h isn't done being punished with the Lance of his Love - he knows she wants it.
Soon the H is getting even meaner, as the h tenderly nurtures all who cross her path, even stray kids and dads. Why can't you offer some nurturing arms to me? He whines loudly to the h after another stray person is comforted - I am an orphan who needs some comforting arms too! he cries. The h asks him why on earth he would want her dubious scurrilous comfort and the H goes off to sulk and plot his luvre club thrust activities for later - tho that little plan is scuppered when the h turns cold when he insists she be his stroking receptacle instead of his tender lover.
The H eventually has to leave the country for business and the h gets wan and pale. OH The Agonies of h Unrequited and Tormented Love! Grandma is delighted-- cause that means there is a baby on the way - the h is devastated cause the H indicated that he would be dumping the h for a divorce as soon as it was possible.
Grandma - blind to what she doesn't want to see, is happily prattling away about the H and h's great love and rubbing in the salt on the h's wounded heart, cause she KNOWS the H despises her and is still mourning his late wife. This baby won't be wanted, cause the H has never gotten over the baby he lost with his wife and now the h will have to leave her happy and oh so comfy beloved home and go live in a grotty flat and eat cold beans on crumbs of toast. (Actual loaves being so pricey and all.)
The H returns, announces he will now be Exclusive to England and granny spills the baby beans. The h tells him not to worry tho, it won't affect the divorce, she just isn't sure that pregnant women should continue to be persecuted and punished - it might affect the baby.
The H gives an agonized cry and confesses to the h that HE HAS SUFFERED! Sure she had a few bad minor moments of discomfort and verbal shaming -- but he has been so Fraught and Torn! Cause it is SO HARD to berate a woman every two hours on schedule during the day and then lurve club her to pieces every night. The H has had to do this FOR MONTHS NOW and with no h nurturing arms and Alpha Manly ego stoking, HIS PAIN IS ENDLESSLY INESTIMABLE!
But he can't imprison the h with his love, so he will arrange the divorce post haste.
The h almost faints, in FR approved wilting, overjoyed h fashion. YOU REALLY LOVE ME, the h cries.
But what about your adored and beloved wife whom you wanted to dive into the grave with and you still imagine every time you Lance me? The H has to fess up that his late wife wasn't so adored as rather hot and good in various bouncing positions.
He was in the wrong frame of mind at the wrong time and wound up marrying her cause there was a mini H on the way - but the late wife wanted a modeling career more and had a termination. She died a short while later.
The H hardened his heart and turned himself to stone - until the sweet h wandered by and flung her spineless self right into the mud and mire, so he could walk all over her and he loves her for it. He will continue to love her, as long as she provides the feet wiping services and mini H's, forever more. The h joyously accepts such a stunning display of caring and love and it is big HEA time once again in the FR province of Penny Jordan's HPlandia.
So live it up HP voyagers! This is quality angsty goodness here and we don't always get such a plentiful fountain of it in HPlandia, a good angst is a terrible thing to waste and this one is a angsty angstfest keeper for the HP ages.
Angst is angstier, tropes are tropier and an Alpha H is sooo Alpha Manly he is blind with it and we can adjust his intelligence accordingly - his tremendous ego will make up for it. h's get enough martyry martyrdom to make a turnip weep and earthworms have more spine than a FR h - this little slice of HPlandia is a junkie's dream.
Fortunately PJ only wrote five FR HP's and one HR and the other's are all linked as a miniseries- otherwise HP angsters would be in danger of overdose.
FR pulls out all the stops for MoS and it is EXTREME. Our h is not only orphaned with a fragile little half brother who needs a good country home, she was horribly used as a domestic servant by her very own unadoring father! Her mother died young and the scurvy dog remarried to a glamorous Evil Stepmother - even worse, the Glamorous Evil Step Sister is waaay more evil than even the h's unadoring parent and stepmum, fortunately they died before the book can get started but the Evil StepSis only added to her evil powers.
Because there is no money and the Evil Step Sis always has an evil scheme, she convinces the h she would be no good at using her training for a perfectly good secretarial job. Nope, she will take Fragile Tom, the cherubic half-brother practically raised by the h (and that explains the cherubic,) and the Evil SS herself, and they will all go impose themselves on the h's estranged maternal grandmother. The h's father refused to acknowledge the h's mother's family - probably because they DID NOT APPROVE of the scurvy scoundrel - and so the h has never met them.
'Not to worry', says Evil SS, they are LOADED and they have a family manor that is 300 YEARS OLD with DOZENS of rooms - the grandma will be delighted to take some orphaned waifs in. After all the other granddaughter (the h's cousin) of the house died seven years ago, so now there is only widowed Grandma and the dead cousins REALLY DISHY and QUITE WEALTHY Australian husband.
(We can all see what Evil SS is aiming for right away - I allowed myself a delicious spine tingle here of all the dreaded Evil SS OWness that was about to be unleashed.)
And Unleashed it is! Grandma takes one look at the h and it is adoration right away - the h looks just like her dear departed mum and is even nicer in charm and character, if you can imagine that. Since Evil SS is around to take full advantage too, Grandma mistakenly leaves her to own devices while she and the h have a lovely little coze over tea and crumpets.
Poor Fragile Tom was feeling a bit poorly, so the kindly housekeeper tenderly tucked him into bed. Grandma is one sharp cookie tho, and when the bewildered h expresses surprise that she never got any letters or packages from Grandma, (after Grandma's gentle rebuke for no thank you notes,) Granny quickly realizes that the scurvy slime dog dad deliberately kept the h and her soon to be beloved Granny far apart.
Why, he wouldn't even let the h's much loved mother return to the family home when she was going thru her difficult pregnancy - the scurvy slurper insisted he needed the maid services of his wife while he partied it up in Italy - ostensibly writing a book. Then sadly the h's mum died and Grandma was very sad.
Granny is a pretty sharp tack when she looks at the h and sees years of shining domestic devotion and care giving ahead in her future - now if only she can find a way to make the h permanently stay, she will have a devoted nurse for life AND a devoted caretaker for her fabulous family home. Hmm, Granny thinks, this h is perfect. But that creature she calls a stepsister has got to go - it wouldn't do to put her out to soon tho, the h might feel bad.
Meanwhile, Evil SS has been making very GOOD use of her time, and in thirty minutes flat has the OH SO MANLY and RICH H convinced that Evil SS is a poor benighted and put-upon girl and that the virtuous h is a tarty, home-wrecking, gold-digger con artist and totally up to NO good.
The H KNOWS this is so, cause his ALPHA MANLY H instinct is INFALLIBLE - and he will be keeping a sharp eye out for any h misdemeanors and indiscretions - the minute he catches her in the disreputable act - OUT she goes into the muck and mire! He will see to it.
Evil SS sips her G&T with a sly grin, while the H is keeping watch for h crimes and abuses - she will be worming her oh so seductive way right under the H's skin - and we will see where that meek little miss butter wouldn't melt in her mouth priss winds up then!
So everybody settles in. Evil SS is swinging her lies and wiles on the all-knowing H. Fragile Tom is cheerfully taking to country Home living, and his color is so improved, the h is helpful and devoted and Granny is happy - The H manages to restrict his tart/golddigger/con artist accusations to five or six times a day and life goes on.
Then Evil SS decides it is time to up her game and get a more formal proposal out of the H, she will take herself off to the bright lites for a few weeks and give the poor widower a chance to miss her. After she goes, Granny has a heart palpitation. The h is quite frightened, cause she has become so devoted in such a short amount of time - Granny is like a lifeline to security and the love the h had been wanting all her poor starved life. Granny is adamant that the H not be told of her little spell, but the h isn't comfortable with that.
While undressing later that night, the h decides that it is IMPERATIVE that the H know about Granny's little incident. Donning a silky robe over her little briefs and brassiere, she waits for him to come home - right in his room so Granny won't know she tattled. But the H is a long time coming home, and the H's big bed is so cozy and comfy, she just can't help but fall asleep. Only to be woken some hours later and utters a tremendous scream that brings Granny running.
HORRORS - Granny is SHOCKED! The H and h are in the VERY SAME bed in HER HOUSE - and there is no wedding vows between them! OH the HORROR of it all! 'Not to worry,' the H interjects, me and the little h here were just confirming our nuptial plans - it is kinda late, but we never seem to have moment alone during the day - you know with me accusing her of nefarious deeds every hour on the hour and all.
HURRAY! Grandma says - just what I ALWAYS wanted -- my devoted grandson in law and my granddaughter united in Wedded Bliss and the potential for a great-grandchild too! (You know H, it doesn't hurt that you're loaded either, now I can leave the house to the two of you and you have enough money to support it. Great Houses are quite expensive on the upkeep don'tcha know.)
Then the H corners the h and tells her that the punishment has just begun, she manipulated the marriage and now she will have to live with it - her being such and evil tart and all. He will be taking his payment out with his Lance of Lust and the h just better be prepared for a lot of poking. She won't be getting away with anything else dubious either - cause now the Judge, Jury and Executioner H will be pinning her down if she steps out line and she will be extremely sorry - promiscuous, gold digging tart that she is.
So the h and H marry and everyone is delighted except for the principles. The H gets his own in tho - cause he is mighty in his Lancing when they go to a local hotel for the honeymoon. The h has a reluctant but fiery fulfillment and knows that she is doomed, cause now she is all in love. The honeymoon bonging is interrupted by an emergency call to go home tho. Evil SS has heard the news and picked a fight with Fragile Tom - who is now in the throes of an asthma attack. The h must return home at once and domestic caretaking/servitude with a side of H thrice daily insults is about to begin.
But not before Evil SS makes her rage known and lets the h know that the H's first wife was perfect - just like the Evil SS herself- and that the H will NEVER love her and she better watch her back, the Evil SS aims to have her out in year or whenever Granny departs for the hereafter. The Angry h now has to make a statement that she KNOWS the H doesn't love her - and she doesn't care cause she married him for his money! The H conveniently being in hearing range when she says it and Evil SS storms off to California - maybe she will get an acting part.
The H isn't pleased, and accusations and verbal lashings continue. Just cause the h was a chaste little flower for the plucking doesn't mean she isn't a tarty golddigging con artist - she was just waiting for the right price and sadly now that it has been met, she will be doing a lot of paying the pipe and the repayment plan is a backbreaker.
The h is dying inside of unrequited love, but she serenely handles it all with an outward appearance of grace and life goes on around the Manor. Then Granny needs a heart valve replacement - guaranteed for 15 years or 100,000 kilometers- to give her a whole new lease on life.
Fragile Tom is deemed to be improving too and the H can't understand how such a trampy (albeit venial virgin), could appear to be so caring. Then Fragile Tom expresses tender and heartrending thanks that the h has always taken such good care of him and the H is SHOCKED that Evil SS is HATED by Fragile Tom. His All Knowing Hness must have gotten mixed up on the details - but he STILL KNOWS ALL - and the h isn't done being punished with the Lance of his Love - he knows she wants it.
Soon the H is getting even meaner, as the h tenderly nurtures all who cross her path, even stray kids and dads. Why can't you offer some nurturing arms to me? He whines loudly to the h after another stray person is comforted - I am an orphan who needs some comforting arms too! he cries. The h asks him why on earth he would want her dubious scurrilous comfort and the H goes off to sulk and plot his luvre club thrust activities for later - tho that little plan is scuppered when the h turns cold when he insists she be his stroking receptacle instead of his tender lover.
The H eventually has to leave the country for business and the h gets wan and pale. OH The Agonies of h Unrequited and Tormented Love! Grandma is delighted-- cause that means there is a baby on the way - the h is devastated cause the H indicated that he would be dumping the h for a divorce as soon as it was possible.
Grandma - blind to what she doesn't want to see, is happily prattling away about the H and h's great love and rubbing in the salt on the h's wounded heart, cause she KNOWS the H despises her and is still mourning his late wife. This baby won't be wanted, cause the H has never gotten over the baby he lost with his wife and now the h will have to leave her happy and oh so comfy beloved home and go live in a grotty flat and eat cold beans on crumbs of toast. (Actual loaves being so pricey and all.)
The H returns, announces he will now be Exclusive to England and granny spills the baby beans. The h tells him not to worry tho, it won't affect the divorce, she just isn't sure that pregnant women should continue to be persecuted and punished - it might affect the baby.
The H gives an agonized cry and confesses to the h that HE HAS SUFFERED! Sure she had a few bad minor moments of discomfort and verbal shaming -- but he has been so Fraught and Torn! Cause it is SO HARD to berate a woman every two hours on schedule during the day and then lurve club her to pieces every night. The H has had to do this FOR MONTHS NOW and with no h nurturing arms and Alpha Manly ego stoking, HIS PAIN IS ENDLESSLY INESTIMABLE!
But he can't imprison the h with his love, so he will arrange the divorce post haste.
The h almost faints, in FR approved wilting, overjoyed h fashion. YOU REALLY LOVE ME, the h cries.
But what about your adored and beloved wife whom you wanted to dive into the grave with and you still imagine every time you Lance me? The H has to fess up that his late wife wasn't so adored as rather hot and good in various bouncing positions.
He was in the wrong frame of mind at the wrong time and wound up marrying her cause there was a mini H on the way - but the late wife wanted a modeling career more and had a termination. She died a short while later.
The H hardened his heart and turned himself to stone - until the sweet h wandered by and flung her spineless self right into the mud and mire, so he could walk all over her and he loves her for it. He will continue to love her, as long as she provides the feet wiping services and mini H's, forever more. The h joyously accepts such a stunning display of caring and love and it is big HEA time once again in the FR province of Penny Jordan's HPlandia.
So live it up HP voyagers! This is quality angsty goodness here and we don't always get such a plentiful fountain of it in HPlandia, a good angst is a terrible thing to waste and this one is a angsty angstfest keeper for the HP ages.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 15, 2016
Oh, this was a good one. Sara, our heroine, is a downtrodden Cinderella, who through the machinations of her evil stepsister finds herself on the doorstep of her wealthy grandmother. Within the first two minutes of meeting the grandmother, evil stepsister makes sure that widower cousin-in-law, Luke, knows Sara is a gold-digger. Throw in an asthmatic half-brother, a heart condition for grandma, and a weird need to not explain herself and you have all the makings of an HP romance where the hero shows his contempt with punishing kisses and railroading her into marriage. What gives this a four star for me is that the author gives lots of hints as to Luke's true feelings -especially when he's having a change of heart.
May 19, 2020
Sadly, this is another romance where the calcium-deprived heroine wonders, and so do I, how it's possible she fell in love with a man who has only ever been rude to her.
What really annoyed me was how easily Luke believed anything Sara's evil stepsister-actress-total stranger (!), Cressy, told him. Either the woman deserves both an Oscar and a BAFTA, or Luke is simply the most pigheaded and dimwitted man ever. (Guess which one I vote for?) Luke had already formed his own conclusions about Sara before ever meeting her so the cards were stacked against her from the start. But what I don't understand is, if you claim to love someone—even if it's just to yourself—why not ask the object of your "affection" to clear the air? Sara might not have told him the truth, but at least he'd look like less of a tool.
These misunderstandings, which seemed as big and deep as Lake Superior, might have been more palatable if the romance had been as developed. But Luke barely appeared in the narrative and when he did it was to only sneer at Sara who took it as her due. The author might as well have made Sara's grandmother, who was also Luke's grandmother-in-law, the heroine instead. Luke showered more concern onto her than he ever did for Sara.
Another mark against this book was the lack of comeuppance for Cressy. This isn't uncommon, but did the author have to twist the knife further and give the harpy her own happy ending? Grr
I read this in search of melodramatic angst and wasn't disappointed (no surprise as Frances Roding is another pen name for Penny Jordan), but I didn't find the swoon-worthy hero and the passionate romance I'd hoped to find.
What really annoyed me was how easily Luke believed anything Sara's evil stepsister-actress-total stranger (!), Cressy, told him. Either the woman deserves both an Oscar and a BAFTA, or Luke is simply the most pigheaded and dimwitted man ever. (Guess which one I vote for?) Luke had already formed his own conclusions about Sara before ever meeting her so the cards were stacked against her from the start. But what I don't understand is, if you claim to love someone—even if it's just to yourself—why not ask the object of your "affection" to clear the air? Sara might not have told him the truth, but at least he'd look like less of a tool.
These misunderstandings, which seemed as big and deep as Lake Superior, might have been more palatable if the romance had been as developed. But Luke barely appeared in the narrative and when he did it was to only sneer at Sara who took it as her due. The author might as well have made Sara's grandmother, who was also Luke's grandmother-in-law, the heroine instead. Luke showered more concern onto her than he ever did for Sara.
Another mark against this book was the lack of comeuppance for Cressy. This isn't uncommon, but did the author have to twist the knife further and give the harpy her own happy ending? Grr
I read this in search of melodramatic angst and wasn't disappointed (no surprise as Frances Roding is another pen name for Penny Jordan), but I didn't find the swoon-worthy hero and the passionate romance I'd hoped to find.
November 6, 2012
meh....Definitely filled with the requisite angst and tension, but I just am so tired of:
1) Brilliantly intelligent heroes that become stupid overnight because they allow OW to feed them absolute bullsh#$% that no one else in their right mind would ever believe, including a 10 year old.
2) Heroines who do stupid things like showing up in a man's bedroom at 1am in the morning, dead tired and half dressed, and are surprised to find themselves in a compromising situation. Really?
3) Heroines that allow themselves to be the doormat for everyone in the book for reasons unknown to anyone except the heroine.
4) Heroes that think that the heroine is a conniving bit#$ just because she happens to be a virgin.
5) Heroes who decide it is their role in life to act as judge & jury, passing a lifetime sentence of cruelty.
6) Heroines who fall in love with heroes who believe they have some innate right to preside as judge and jury and mete out whatever punishment floats their boat.
7) A pregnancy that happens after the first try
8) A hero that calls out another woman's name while making love to the heroine. (Big no no in my book)
ok, ok..ok....I know he says forgive me. But really, at that point, I was so divested out of the story...it didn't matter.
1) Brilliantly intelligent heroes that become stupid overnight because they allow OW to feed them absolute bullsh#$% that no one else in their right mind would ever believe, including a 10 year old.
2) Heroines who do stupid things like showing up in a man's bedroom at 1am in the morning, dead tired and half dressed, and are surprised to find themselves in a compromising situation. Really?
3) Heroines that allow themselves to be the doormat for everyone in the book for reasons unknown to anyone except the heroine.
4) Heroes that think that the heroine is a conniving bit#$ just because she happens to be a virgin.
5) Heroes who decide it is their role in life to act as judge & jury, passing a lifetime sentence of cruelty.
6) Heroines who fall in love with heroes who believe they have some innate right to preside as judge and jury and mete out whatever punishment floats their boat.
7) A pregnancy that happens after the first try
8) A hero that calls out another woman's name while making love to the heroine. (Big no no in my book)
ok, ok..ok....I know he says forgive me. But really, at that point, I was so divested out of the story...it didn't matter.
June 1, 2009
Another old favorite HP of mine. Okay, maybe the heroine is a bit doormat-y, but it's still really good. Luke thinks Sara is no good and is trying to manipulate the old lady that turns out to be a long-lost relative of hers, and is also his great-aunt. Sara is probably one of the nicest people on earth, however. The great-aunt convinces Sara and her young brother to live with her, and of course, Luke moves in to keep an eye on things. He treats Sara contemptuously because of his bad experiences with an ex (he doesn't want to believe that she's as good as she seems). Circumstances happen where Sara goes to his room to talk to him and falls asleep on his bed. The great-aunt discovers her in there, and Luke convinces Sara they should get married so that the great-aunt won't think bad of either of them. Sara thinks it's a marriage of convenience because there's no way Luke could be attracted to a plain Jane like her, but he is so they end up having a real marriage. Of course, Luke is still dealing with his trust issues, and Sara's no good younger sister is no help, trying to make a play for Luke. This is one I've reread more times than I can count. I love this kind of storyline for some odd reason (probably because they are both crazy about each other but doesn't think the other returns their feelings).
January 23, 2022
Oh vey, she’s such a martyr. I actually nodded my head as the evil stepsister tells her to get in touch with the grandmother because of the h's asthmatic little brother. Stepsis is a total and utter selfish bitch, but she has some common sense.
The heroine finally does visit her very sane and loving grandmother but only because her little brother will probably die if not. She is then blindsided when her step-sister does an end run and bad mouths her to what must be the most gullible/stupid hero in HPLand. Once, just once, I wish she had said, “You are such an idiot,” but she suffered in silence instead. And suffered and suffered. I suffered.
As for the hero, he's not the worst out there by any means, but he’s not great. He says at the end he fell in love at first sight, I scoff. That doesn’t explain why OUCH!
The heroine finally does visit her very sane and loving grandmother but only because her little brother will probably die if not. She is then blindsided when her step-sister does an end run and bad mouths her to what must be the most gullible/stupid hero in HPLand. Once, just once, I wish she had said, “You are such an idiot,” but she suffered in silence instead. And suffered and suffered. I suffered.
As for the hero, he's not the worst out there by any means, but he’s not great. He says at the end he fell in love at first sight, I scoff. That doesn’t explain why OUCH!
May 24, 2020
I know, 5 stars is more than the book deserves but after reading so many sugary or not besotted heroes, this one like a warm breeze in a cold day.
January 7, 2022
Cinderella retelling, with a not so charming prince, an entertaining evil stepsister, a lovely fairy grandmother and a sweet but sickly half brother.
Lots of angst, the idiot prince believes everything he hears from the evil stepsister--judge and jury behavior follows.
Cinderella's sweet and loving nature shines through and eventually Prince Charming realizes he's been an idiot.
2 star story, an extra star for the lovely cover.
Lots of angst, the idiot prince believes everything he hears from the evil stepsister--judge and jury behavior follows.
Cinderella's sweet and loving nature shines through and eventually Prince Charming realizes he's been an idiot.
2 star story, an extra star for the lovely cover.
February 27, 2015
3 1/2 Stars ~ Sara's mother had died shortly after she had been born, and she grew up knowing that her father had little affection for her. Later her father had remarried a woman who had a beautiful daughter a few years younger than Sara, and then they had a son together. It was an odd family, with Sara often the one to take care of the house and her little brother. It was her stepsister that her father seemed to love best, and though Sara felt abandoned she made the best of things because of young Tom. When her father and stepmother are killed in an accident abroad, Sara learns that they've spent all their money and soon they will be forced to leave their home. Stepsister Cressy reminds Sara that Sara has family on her mother's side that she should take Tom to, while Cressy herself has decided to pursue an acting career.
Sara and Tom are immediately welcomed by Sara's grandmother, who for many years had hoped that Sara would come. Sara's surprised to find her cousin's (who died in an accident) husband living with Alice; and it seems he disapproves of Sara's sudden appearance in Alice's life. He believes Cressy's lies about Sara, that's she a selfish gold digger, and that she uses Tom as a means to get her way. When Sara's grandmother, Alice, discovers Sara in Luke's bedroom, he immediately announces to her that it's okay, they are getting married, even though there is an innocent reason for Sara to have been there. Alice has a heart condition, and Sara fears that should she now tell her the truth it would be hurt her, so she allows herself to be trapped into a marriage with Luke. It becomes obvious from the moment they are alone that Luke's agenda in marrying her is to punish her. When Tom disputes some lie Cressy had told, Luke begins to wonder if he's misjudged Sara.
Frances Roding is one of Penny Jordan's pen names. I love the wrongfully accused stories, especially if the heroine has her moment of triumph in proving her innocence. In this story, we don't really have that moment, and I so wanted Sara to have it. Luke's proved himself to be devoted to her grandmother and his fondness of Tom further shows he's not a heartless man. Yet poor Sara only ever feels his contempt, and a sense that he'll never forget his dead wife. We do see him brooding over Sara's generosity in caring for everyone but him, and slowly it becomes clear that the only one that doesn't know he had feels for her is Sara. The HEA is rather rushed, but there's a lovely epilogue that somewhat makes up for it.
Sara and Tom are immediately welcomed by Sara's grandmother, who for many years had hoped that Sara would come. Sara's surprised to find her cousin's (who died in an accident) husband living with Alice; and it seems he disapproves of Sara's sudden appearance in Alice's life. He believes Cressy's lies about Sara, that's she a selfish gold digger, and that she uses Tom as a means to get her way. When Sara's grandmother, Alice, discovers Sara in Luke's bedroom, he immediately announces to her that it's okay, they are getting married, even though there is an innocent reason for Sara to have been there. Alice has a heart condition, and Sara fears that should she now tell her the truth it would be hurt her, so she allows herself to be trapped into a marriage with Luke. It becomes obvious from the moment they are alone that Luke's agenda in marrying her is to punish her. When Tom disputes some lie Cressy had told, Luke begins to wonder if he's misjudged Sara.
Frances Roding is one of Penny Jordan's pen names. I love the wrongfully accused stories, especially if the heroine has her moment of triumph in proving her innocence. In this story, we don't really have that moment, and I so wanted Sara to have it. Luke's proved himself to be devoted to her grandmother and his fondness of Tom further shows he's not a heartless man. Yet poor Sara only ever feels his contempt, and a sense that he'll never forget his dead wife. We do see him brooding over Sara's generosity in caring for everyone but him, and slowly it becomes clear that the only one that doesn't know he had feels for her is Sara. The HEA is rather rushed, but there's a lovely epilogue that somewhat makes up for it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 24, 2025
Część 15 pozbywania się książek z pokoju
11:4
Niespodziewanie bawiłem się na prawdę dobrze do momentu w którym Luke po raz pierwszy pocałował Sarę.
Bardzo dobrze się to czyta. Serio. Szybko idzie, akcja nie jest zbyt skomplikowana, nie ma dużo bohaterów. Dobry odmóżdżacz i prosta rozrywka.
Jakby wyciąć romans.
Cała podstawa tego wątku jest niesamowicie krucha. On myśli że ona chce wyjść za niego dla pieniędzy a ona jest przekonana że on jej nienawidzi??? Ale angażują małżeństwo tylko po to żeby nie wyprowadzać babci Sary z błędu bo ma chore serce i mogłaby mieć zawał?????? Można było powiedzieć "czekałam na Luke'a w jego pokoju bo wrócił później niż zwykle, a to że śpi nago to nie moja wina". I nie trzeba angażować ślubu.
Nie rozumiem też skoro Luke ma taki dobry kontakt z Tomem czemu nie zapytał go o to która z jego sióstr mówi prawdę? Przecież 8 latek mu nie skłamie bo nie wie o tym że ta aktorka (nie pamiętam jej imienia) ich wszystkich okłamuje. Nienawidzę miscommunication. Główny wątek serio opiera się na problemie który możnaby było wyjaśnić w 15 minut, może do godziny czasu, w każdym razie jedną rozmową.
NIENAWIDZĘ jak ktokolwiek mówię "ale ja wiem lepiej bo widzę jak reaguje twoje ciało". NIE ZNACZY NIE. KROPKA. Pierwszy pocałunek? Przygwoździł ją do ściany po tym jak ona mu dała w twarz bo wprosił się do pokoju jak była w bieliźnie.
W trakcie "nocy poślubnej" Sara stanowczo nie chciała uprawiać seksu i SAMA POWIEDZIAŁA ŻE TO BYŁBY GWAŁT. A Luke twierdzi że nie i nagle magicznie okazuje się że ona tego chce w momencie jak zaczął ją dotykać.
Każdemu kto to czyta chcę powiedzieć że PODNIECENIE SEKSUALNE PODCZAS NIECHCIANEGO STOSUNKU SIĘ ZDARZA i nikt nie powinien się tego wstydzić i za to obwiniać bo tak już działa nasz organizm i to NIE SPRAWIA że to co mówimy nagle jest nieważne. Powtórzę jeszcze raz NIE TO NIE.
Ja nie kupuję tego że on się kochał w niej od samego początku a ona w nim zaczęła jak się otworzył przed nią. No po prostu nie. To kolejny przykład że enemies to lovers połączone z aranżowajymi małżeństwami nie działa poza fantasy i fikcją historyczną.
11:4
Niespodziewanie bawiłem się na prawdę dobrze do momentu w którym Luke po raz pierwszy pocałował Sarę.
Bardzo dobrze się to czyta. Serio. Szybko idzie, akcja nie jest zbyt skomplikowana, nie ma dużo bohaterów. Dobry odmóżdżacz i prosta rozrywka.
Jakby wyciąć romans.
Cała podstawa tego wątku jest niesamowicie krucha. On myśli że ona chce wyjść za niego dla pieniędzy a ona jest przekonana że on jej nienawidzi??? Ale angażują małżeństwo tylko po to żeby nie wyprowadzać babci Sary z błędu bo ma chore serce i mogłaby mieć zawał?????? Można było powiedzieć "czekałam na Luke'a w jego pokoju bo wrócił później niż zwykle, a to że śpi nago to nie moja wina". I nie trzeba angażować ślubu.
Nie rozumiem też skoro Luke ma taki dobry kontakt z Tomem czemu nie zapytał go o to która z jego sióstr mówi prawdę? Przecież 8 latek mu nie skłamie bo nie wie o tym że ta aktorka (nie pamiętam jej imienia) ich wszystkich okłamuje. Nienawidzę miscommunication. Główny wątek serio opiera się na problemie który możnaby było wyjaśnić w 15 minut, może do godziny czasu, w każdym razie jedną rozmową.
NIENAWIDZĘ jak ktokolwiek mówię "ale ja wiem lepiej bo widzę jak reaguje twoje ciało". NIE ZNACZY NIE. KROPKA. Pierwszy pocałunek? Przygwoździł ją do ściany po tym jak ona mu dała w twarz bo wprosił się do pokoju jak była w bieliźnie.
W trakcie "nocy poślubnej" Sara stanowczo nie chciała uprawiać seksu i SAMA POWIEDZIAŁA ŻE TO BYŁBY GWAŁT. A Luke twierdzi że nie i nagle magicznie okazuje się że ona tego chce w momencie jak zaczął ją dotykać.
Każdemu kto to czyta chcę powiedzieć że PODNIECENIE SEKSUALNE PODCZAS NIECHCIANEGO STOSUNKU SIĘ ZDARZA i nikt nie powinien się tego wstydzić i za to obwiniać bo tak już działa nasz organizm i to NIE SPRAWIA że to co mówimy nagle jest nieważne. Powtórzę jeszcze raz NIE TO NIE.
Ja nie kupuję tego że on się kochał w niej od samego początku a ona w nim zaczęła jak się otworzył przed nią. No po prostu nie. To kolejny przykład że enemies to lovers połączone z aranżowajymi małżeństwami nie działa poza fantasy i fikcją historyczną.
November 3, 2020
3 Soapy Stars
This has been on my list FOREVER, but it’s not in the kindle store, so I've always moved on. Imagine my delight when I stumbled across a pdf copy on Scribd 😊 Man of Stone is a late 80’s Harlequin featuring Sara Rodney and Luke Gallagher. I think I allowed the many years of dreaming about how awesome this one would be skew my expectations, so I admit… I’m disappointed… it was just ok.
On paper it reads like a soapy lover’s dream. There is Sara, the fragile, doormat orphan, left penniless with the charge of her sickly, younger brother, Tom. Luke, the broody, widow super stud that is not only rich and handsome, but also stubborn and judgmental. Cressy, the OTT evil step-sister; she’s everything we expect, completely gorgeous, blond, innocent looking viper who only cares about herself. Add in the long-lost grandma, and it’s soapy gold, am I right?
I’m not sure where it went wrong; there was SO MUCH ANGST, and I love the drama, but somewhere I just lost that loving feeling. Sara was a bit too squishy for me; I can take the young naïve h, but she pushed my martyr button too many times. I lost patience with Luke and his BS. There were large chunks where nothing much was happening, and I was bored. I needed passion, and not G-ma calling Luke virile-ick, or saying husky repeatedly; I wanted battles, arguments, and groveling, and sadly none of those really happened. Cressy rode of in the sunset without any repercussions, and Sara & Luke got their HEA… The End
This has been on my list FOREVER, but it’s not in the kindle store, so I've always moved on. Imagine my delight when I stumbled across a pdf copy on Scribd 😊 Man of Stone is a late 80’s Harlequin featuring Sara Rodney and Luke Gallagher. I think I allowed the many years of dreaming about how awesome this one would be skew my expectations, so I admit… I’m disappointed… it was just ok.
On paper it reads like a soapy lover’s dream. There is Sara, the fragile, doormat orphan, left penniless with the charge of her sickly, younger brother, Tom. Luke, the broody, widow super stud that is not only rich and handsome, but also stubborn and judgmental. Cressy, the OTT evil step-sister; she’s everything we expect, completely gorgeous, blond, innocent looking viper who only cares about herself. Add in the long-lost grandma, and it’s soapy gold, am I right?
I’m not sure where it went wrong; there was SO MUCH ANGST, and I love the drama, but somewhere I just lost that loving feeling. Sara was a bit too squishy for me; I can take the young naïve h, but she pushed my martyr button too many times. I lost patience with Luke and his BS. There were large chunks where nothing much was happening, and I was bored. I needed passion, and not G-ma calling Luke virile-ick, or saying husky repeatedly; I wanted battles, arguments, and groveling, and sadly none of those really happened. Cressy rode of in the sunset without any repercussions, and Sara & Luke got their HEA… The End
September 15, 2009
Great HP! Just wish there had been consequences for the evil step-sister, Cressy.
June 9, 2025
Not me making the poor decision to start reading this Sunday at bedtime and then finishing it in under 2 hours skdkjfksldk. The red flags were red flagging but these old Harlequin books deliver so well on that hate-to-love that I can't seem to be bothered.
July 19, 2011
This book seems split into two timelines: prenuptial and postnuptial. For me, the after-marriage plot is tolerable but it can’t make up the awful first part.
In this story we have 1) a hero Luke who believed in witchcraft, and 2) a heroine Sara who belonged in the invertebrate species. They really shouldn't have rubbed each other the wrong way when they first met because he might be of stone but she's of water anyway.
What annoys me about our hero is that, in less than an hour’s company with Sara’s stepsister, he swallowed all the lies that Sara was the Wicked Witch of the East personified without verification. How could he accept a stranger’s tittle-tattle that unquestioningly?
Then, okay… granting that he was gullible enough to believe the character assassination, it annoys me even more that he professed his love for her from the very moment he had met her AND cited that love as reason he believed the worst of her.
Huh?! Is he channeling Mr. Darcy?
If somebody declares that he loves you but has to convince himself that you’re a mercenary, conniving, merciless tramp in order to avoid falling for you, logic demands that you inquire (haughtily ala Elizabeth Bennet) why with so evident a desire to insult you, he dares profess his love against his will, reason and character.
Really! Luke’s contempt for Sara was altogether real that any love avowal/excusesounds like is drivel.
Secondly, the heroine redeemed herself somewhat in the latter half when she gained self-assurance and displayed her innate compassion. But first impressions of her passivity are just too hard to forget. Her acceptance of her stepsister’s scheming is simply ludicrous that it’s not even funny to read. I know: it’s all meant to tug at our heartstrings. But after a while, reverse psychology sets in. You begin to want the meany stepsister to goad Sara more so she’d grow a spine and snap out of Cinderella complex.
One for the mollusk.
In this story we have 1) a hero Luke who believed in witchcraft, and 2) a heroine Sara who belonged in the invertebrate species. They really shouldn't have rubbed each other the wrong way when they first met because he might be of stone but she's of water anyway.
What annoys me about our hero is that, in less than an hour’s company with Sara’s stepsister, he swallowed all the lies that Sara was the Wicked Witch of the East personified without verification. How could he accept a stranger’s tittle-tattle that unquestioningly?
Then, okay… granting that he was gullible enough to believe the character assassination, it annoys me even more that he professed his love for her from the very moment he had met her AND cited that love as reason he believed the worst of her.
Huh?! Is he channeling Mr. Darcy?
If somebody declares that he loves you but has to convince himself that you’re a mercenary, conniving, merciless tramp in order to avoid falling for you, logic demands that you inquire (haughtily ala Elizabeth Bennet) why with so evident a desire to insult you, he dares profess his love against his will, reason and character.
Really! Luke’s contempt for Sara was altogether real that any love avowal/excuse
Secondly, the heroine redeemed herself somewhat in the latter half when she gained self-assurance and displayed her innate compassion. But first impressions of her passivity are just too hard to forget. Her acceptance of her stepsister’s scheming is simply ludicrous that it’s not even funny to read. I know: it’s all meant to tug at our heartstrings. But after a while, reverse psychology sets in. You begin to want the meany stepsister to goad Sara more so she’d grow a spine and snap out of Cinderella complex.
One for the mollusk.
January 14, 2013
4.5 stars. This was a great old-school read. Enjoyable plot set-up, smitten hero, martyred heroine -- all good fun! One big unresolved issue -- why on earth did the hero call out his dead wife's name while having sex with the heroine??? Whatever, I just pretended that didn't happen since it in no way jived with the history and was never explained. So, if you like older HPs (particularly Penny Jordans), then you'll probably like this one too.
November 2, 2023
What can I say? All of the usual PJ cray cray. Some love these doormat plus iceman nutters and I have a fondness for some myself but this was just a blunt instrument for me. Struggled to finish.
January 5, 2022
The misconceptions is what drives the angst on this train. It is one of those stories where the angst is subtle, yet it sits and festers in the pit of your stomach for most of the book. The undertones in this book are very Cinderellaesque! So here is the rundown on the characters in the book.
Daddy-When our story begins, good ole dad is already dead. Yet as we learn about him, we realize he was a selfish, hedonistic man. His wife ran off with him against her parent’s wishes, basically cutting all ties with him. She died giving birth to the heroine. He never treats the h very well. Does he blame her for the death of his wife? Is he mad that he is saddled with a child? One has to believe that he couldn’t had loved his wife very much to treat their daughter with such disrespect. He marries another woman who comes with her own daughter Cressy. We will get to her later.
Stepmom-The h doesn’t say much about her stepmom, because quite frankly our h tries not to talk poorly about anyone. Based on what little we learn of her, she was never out and out cruel to the heroine, but she herself like the carefree life that her husband enjoyed. She was hardly the mothering type. She did have a son with the h’s dad.
Thomas- Thomas is loved dearly by the heroine. He is 8 years old at the opening of the story and suffers from asthma which seems to be brought on by stress. Sarah showers the love on Thomas that he doesn’t receive from his “were too busy” parents.
Cressy- Cressy is the..bitch.Stepsister in the story. She is 21. She is blonde. She is an actress. She was preferred by the stepdad over his biological child, but she would sell him in a heartbeat for a pair of jimmy choos. Cressy causes the bulk of the strife in the relations between the H and h. At least the grandmother has her number.
Grandma Alice, She is the h’s maternal mom. She tried for years to connect with the h, but the h never responded.(dear old dad never passed on the messages, but Cressy knew all about it). After the h’s dad and stepmom perish on one of their trips, she finds herself in charge of her 1/2 brother with no provisions made from death of her father. Cressy, is the one who bullies her into seeking out the grandmother. Cressy wants nothing to do with the raising of her brother, and is happy to be rid of him and her step sister. That is until she meets Luke.
Luke: Luke is the..prince. ...jerk Hero of the story. He is Australian and was once married to the h’s cousin(she died). He himself was an orphan, but he formed an attachment for his dead wife’s grandmother, and lives with her when not traveling for his job. He is tall, dark and broodingly yummy. He is put instantly on alert when the the h shows up unannounced on the grandmother’s doorstep. His suspicious attitude is only heightened by Cressy as she feeds him full of lies about the h in a matter of minutes as he is running to get his plane. Cressy’ s acting career could bolstered with a rich husband, and she has set her sites on him.
Sara- is our 23 year old.doormat Cinderella... Heroine. She is sweet. She is kind. She is unknowingly attractive but not a model beauty. She has basically been an unpaid servant to her family. She doesn’t even realize how terrible it was until she starts living with her grandma who welcomes her with open arms. She constantly makes excuses for them and this may be more of a way for her to protect herself, because who wants to believe that they were never wanted. At least she has her 1/2 brother for love. It comes to her attention right away that the Hero has very little regard for her. She finds this troublesome and she isn’t sure why. There’s just something about him.
So basically this is the story…do not read anymore if you don’t want the spoilers.
For some people this story may be a little too tame or slow. For me, there was as I said earlier this constant pit in my stomach. I also felt the hero’s emotions of love really came through in that last 1/4 of the book.
Daddy-When our story begins, good ole dad is already dead. Yet as we learn about him, we realize he was a selfish, hedonistic man. His wife ran off with him against her parent’s wishes, basically cutting all ties with him. She died giving birth to the heroine. He never treats the h very well. Does he blame her for the death of his wife? Is he mad that he is saddled with a child? One has to believe that he couldn’t had loved his wife very much to treat their daughter with such disrespect. He marries another woman who comes with her own daughter Cressy. We will get to her later.
Stepmom-The h doesn’t say much about her stepmom, because quite frankly our h tries not to talk poorly about anyone. Based on what little we learn of her, she was never out and out cruel to the heroine, but she herself like the carefree life that her husband enjoyed. She was hardly the mothering type. She did have a son with the h’s dad.
Thomas- Thomas is loved dearly by the heroine. He is 8 years old at the opening of the story and suffers from asthma which seems to be brought on by stress. Sarah showers the love on Thomas that he doesn’t receive from his “were too busy” parents.
Cressy- Cressy is the
Grandma Alice, She is the h’s maternal mom. She tried for years to connect with the h, but the h never responded.(dear old dad never passed on the messages, but Cressy knew all about it). After the h’s dad and stepmom perish on one of their trips, she finds herself in charge of her 1/2 brother with no provisions made from death of her father. Cressy, is the one who bullies her into seeking out the grandmother. Cressy wants nothing to do with the raising of her brother, and is happy to be rid of him and her step sister. That is until she meets Luke.
Luke: Luke is the
Sara- is our 23 year old
So basically this is the story…do not read anymore if you don’t want the spoilers.
For some people this story may be a little too tame or slow. For me, there was as I said earlier this constant pit in my stomach. I also felt the hero’s emotions of love really came through in that last 1/4 of the book.
April 19, 2015
The basic plot is pretty much my favorite, because I always enjoyed this kind of plot, you know, misunderstanding Hero who treats the heroine badly and stuff like that? Yes. I loved it.
But the writing is just.. Sucks. I'm so sorry. I was hoping for more redemption, but I got nothing. I ended up angry and I don't like it. Could be so much better than this.
Overall, not my favorite.
But the writing is just.. Sucks. I'm so sorry. I was hoping for more redemption, but I got nothing. I ended up angry and I don't like it. Could be so much better than this.
Overall, not my favorite.
February 4, 2014
Just okay. This was an ordinary old HP with nothing particularly outstanding.
April 18, 2014
I only started to read HP books recently, I'm a great manga fan and was attracted to this gender because of some mangas based in these novels. But I have to admit I'm absolutely shocked of what these female authors picture as the "Female Paradigm"
First of all the vignity issue. REALLY! Are we living on XXI century or in the Medieval Ages¿??¿?. Perhaps these women have read to much fairy tales when they were children and now want to turn back time to an era when women were almost sold, had no rights and were no worth shit if they were no virgins. Didn't you notice how many times the "heroes" of these novels only stop treating their wifes/lovers like whores (degrading, insulting and humllating them), when they find they are virgins? Does that mean that if the poor girl would have had a previous BF she would deserve all the misstreating¿?...... Totally male chauvinist if we count that most of the male in this stories have had hundreds of lovers. That females are the ones that write these books is totally shameful and only reinforces the reality that during history "Women have been the worst enemy to women".
Another outrageous fact It's the believe that if the female is not a complete doormat she is not feminine enough. Just look at the martyr on this story.... Her parents abused of her generosity all her life treating her like a maid and lying to her about her grandparents, her stepsister is a real bitch that ruined her last oportunity to have a real family for her selfish gain, Luke makes her life a living hell spitting on her each time they talk, she has in her care a sick half brother and granny.... But even so she never gets angry, she never defends herself against insult or lie, never rebeled against her parents, never got angry or despised her sister nooooo!!!! she even invites her to her new home so she could continue to ruin her life, forgives her and is sorry that they can't have a real sister-relationship. The males are all immediately fogiven too because the famales love them all sooooooo muchhhhhhhh that all the humillation, insults, threats, blackmail, isolation and tortures are of not consequence ar all. They say "Forgive me for doing all I did to you. I loved so much that I't couldn't be helped" and Plufff! all forgotten..... Can someone be more of a doormat? Yesssssssssssss, They even go and search and find justification for all the bad deeds their husbands do because the poor men have had such a sad bad experiences on their pasts. Pity they never are so generous with their wifes.
I'm sorry to break these news to Hp authors, but in this day and age females have the same sexual rights as men, some of them even have sexual active relationships before marriage, and even the more feminine are not doormats, not are they perfect. The fact that a woman has a temper and fights for her rights or what she considers an unfair situation doesn´t make her a bitch, less feminine or respectable. It's a pity and a shame that these women writers don't think the same way.
March 23, 2019
Penny Jordan is the author. This heroine was too much of a doormat.
Could she ever prove her innocence?
After her father's death, Sara Rodney thought she'd finally be safe at her grandmother's country home outside London. That was before she was forced to marry Luke Gallagher, almost a total stranger.
Cressy, Sara's selfish stepsister, had filled Luke's head with lies, and now he believed Sara to be a despicable fortune hunter. There was no way to change his mind.
But Luke's hatred was only part of the trouble. For despite her efforts to the contrary, Sara found herself falling in love with her new husband.
Could she ever prove her innocence?
After her father's death, Sara Rodney thought she'd finally be safe at her grandmother's country home outside London. That was before she was forced to marry Luke Gallagher, almost a total stranger.
Cressy, Sara's selfish stepsister, had filled Luke's head with lies, and now he believed Sara to be a despicable fortune hunter. There was no way to change his mind.
But Luke's hatred was only part of the trouble. For despite her efforts to the contrary, Sara found herself falling in love with her new husband.
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April 19, 2010My "bestest" paperback romance ever.
April 22, 2013
The heroine was a sweetheart but I needed more Luke. Kind of slow and boring book.
February 3, 2025
Well, this is a switch, one that you don't see too often: the H is the TSTL one, when he believes what the manipulative OW says (in this case, the h's stepsister) and thinks the worst of the h. He also gives the impression that he's still in mourning for his late wife and unborn child, but it turns out to be more of a "Rebecca" story. (Though it's never explained why the H, while in bed with his present wife, calls out his former wife's name????)
The h, who's a sweet natured type and takes excellent care of her invalid brother, also allows her stepsister to treat her crummy for too long, and her (also invalid) grandmother to manipulate her, even though the lady had good intentions. (And her insistence that she have great-granddaughters as opposed to great-grandsons is as sexist as when the family patriarch insists on boys instead of girls.)
The H seems to want to think the worst of the h about her motives for marrying him, and the h reinforces that by letting him go on believing what she said to her stepsister in a moment of anger, that she only married the H for his money. It's ironic: she wants his love so desperately, yet she won't admit she lied when she said that, making him continue to think she's a gold-digger. Figure that one out!
There's too much in this book that's not even worth figuring out, like why Granny insists they name their baby girl (naturally, they wouldn't dare have a boy) Fitton! (Altogether now: "WTF!!!!!!") It sounds like a name one of those elderly butlers would have in a Regency romance. And the DUMB ASS parents agree to it!!!!! Two spineless jellyfish, who really deserve each other as they both obey Granny's every command!
RIDICULOUS!!!
The h, who's a sweet natured type and takes excellent care of her invalid brother, also allows her stepsister to treat her crummy for too long, and her (also invalid) grandmother to manipulate her, even though the lady had good intentions. (And her insistence that she have great-granddaughters as opposed to great-grandsons is as sexist as when the family patriarch insists on boys instead of girls.)
The H seems to want to think the worst of the h about her motives for marrying him, and the h reinforces that by letting him go on believing what she said to her stepsister in a moment of anger, that she only married the H for his money. It's ironic: she wants his love so desperately, yet she won't admit she lied when she said that, making him continue to think she's a gold-digger. Figure that one out!
There's too much in this book that's not even worth figuring out, like why Granny insists they name their baby girl (naturally, they wouldn't dare have a boy) Fitton! (Altogether now: "WTF!!!!!!") It sounds like a name one of those elderly butlers would have in a Regency romance. And the DUMB ASS parents agree to it!!!!! Two spineless jellyfish, who really deserve each other as they both obey Granny's every command!
RIDICULOUS!!!
November 20, 2021
Leave your brain cells at the door when you start reading. The h is a lovely kind hearted doormat of the first order, who ALWAYS ends up not saying the right thing or clarification when it needs to be said, and conversely always saying the wrong thing at the worst possible moment. Add to this the absolute improbability of various scenarios ever happening in real life - I'd retitle this book as A Series of Unfortunate Events personally - and there you have the book. The h seems to be truly surrounded by invalids and the H was obsessed with assuming the worst of her at every turn without any evidence and being pretty harsh to her until they got married. The random twist of was very lame but remember- suspend all disbelief.
I can't forgive the H for
The ending is a HEA with a baby daughter. We see the H being tortured silently towards the second half but I wanted some more groveling some more torture - although he did lose a lot of weight !
I can't forgive the H for
The ending is a HEA with a baby daughter. We see the H being tortured silently towards the second half but I wanted some more groveling some more torture - although he did lose a lot of weight !
February 20, 2022
Usually the h is too stupid to breathe but our stony H is so dumb, so self-righteous and so sure he is omnipotent that he should be confined for his own protection. How can someone that blind and gloriously proud of his insight manage a company? Do his income tax? Figure out what clothes to wear?
Our h is F Roding’s easy-to-manipulate, guileless, insanely willing to martyr herself on the altar of evil step-sis’s feelings and H’s stupidity h. When evil step-sis confronts her about her perfidy in marrying H, why didn’t h suffers sweetly that evil step sis could take asthmatic Tom and Tom’s nonexistent trust fund. Or if that doesn’t suit, why not fess up a bit to H and guilt him into a $$ settlement?
One scorecard I use to rate these convoluted hot messes of emotional and mental puddles is how often I want to yell at h with some perfectly accurate things she could say instead of nobly hiding her quivering lip and hurt feelings. By that criterion this is a 2 to 3 star story. I wasn’t engaged enough to reach through my tablet to throttle her or smack him or shove ES-S out the door.
Our h is F Roding’s easy-to-manipulate, guileless, insanely willing to martyr herself on the altar of evil step-sis’s feelings and H’s stupidity h. When evil step-sis confronts her about her perfidy in marrying H, why didn’t h suffers sweetly that evil step sis could take asthmatic Tom and Tom’s nonexistent trust fund. Or if that doesn’t suit, why not fess up a bit to H and guilt him into a $$ settlement?
One scorecard I use to rate these convoluted hot messes of emotional and mental puddles is how often I want to yell at h with some perfectly accurate things she could say instead of nobly hiding her quivering lip and hurt feelings. By that criterion this is a 2 to 3 star story. I wasn’t engaged enough to reach through my tablet to throttle her or smack him or shove ES-S out the door.
July 29, 2018
My Mom was a huge Harlequin Presents reader. She would search for missing books from her library. To escape, and go to an easy read, she gave me her collection. I've read bags of them now, and gave my read books to Goodwill. If there are Harlequin Presents readers and you do the same as my mom, let me know. I read this book yesterday. I enjoyed reading about Sara and Luke. Sara so loving being portrayed by her step-sister as something very different. Does she trap Luke? The one thing I did not understand is how Luke was so close to Sara's grandmother... don't want to spoil anything though. Maybe you will disagree with me....
April 4, 2020
OMG this book was horrid. First of all, I know that this is fiction but it should have a level of credibility. I don't know of anyone who gets falsely accused of doing something so bad and she does not defend herself in any way but this book was trying to say that. Also, a man who has money and businesses in different places and is considered a success should have enough sense to consider both sides of an issue before making a final decision, but in this book, he only listens to one side and decides that that is the truth lol. So, in conclusion, this book is not worth reading at all. I got to the halfway point and just had to stop and save myself the stress of completing it.
November 1, 2020
Angsty good! Spoilers...
Hero claims that he was in love with heroine the moment he saw her. You see, in order for that line to work, the author has to put some effort to make it believable. Like that first time they met must show strong indication of that kind of impression. In my humble opinion, Ms Jordan fail to depict the impact of attraction for him. Only later that his feelings were developed. But why am I complaining, declaring love at first sight surely is more romantic. Actually here is my real complaint, why did he call out his ex-wife name on their wedding night?! Mystery unsolved, lost a star!
Hero claims that he was in love with heroine the moment he saw her. You see, in order for that line to work, the author has to put some effort to make it believable. Like that first time they met must show strong indication of that kind of impression. In my humble opinion, Ms Jordan fail to depict the impact of attraction for him. Only later that his feelings were developed. But why am I complaining, declaring love at first sight surely is more romantic. Actually here is my real complaint, why did he call out his ex-wife name on their wedding night?! Mystery unsolved, lost a star!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 24, 2022
I liked the first part of the book. The plain heroine was miss judged by the H who was taken by the evil stepsister. The book gradually disintegrated in my opinion. The heroine waiting in Hero’s room at night, in her robe because she wanted to talk to him …hm right. The H claimed that he fell for the heroine from the beginning. I found it unlikely and I wish he confess that he took his time to notice her and gradually change his mind about her. The stepsister should be dealt with appropriately.
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