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Amante en Dublín
Amante en Dublín by Abby Green released on Nov 06, 2007 is available now for purchase.
160 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published March 1, 2007
79 people are currently reading
459 people want to read
About the author
Abby Green
976 books600 followersAbby Green spent her teens reading Mills & Boon romances. She then spent many years working in the Film and TV industry as an Assistant Director. One day while standing outside an actor's trailer in the rain, she thought: "there has to be more than this". So she sent off a partial to Mills & Boon. After numerous rewrites, they accepted her first book and an author was born.
She lives in Dublin, Ireland and you can find out more here www.abby-green.com
She lives in Dublin, Ireland and you can find out more here www.abby-green.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews
March 10, 2011
As a Harlequin Presents fan, I’ll sometimes find myself thinking, “I crave a story about an alpha guy who thinks the innocent heroine is a gold-digging whore and then feels terrible when he finds out he’s wrong... but I don’t want to read the same old crap.” If you find yourself in a similarly schizophrenic mood, here’s a great story to try. The basic plot is very much the classic formula, but it has a verve that hits me in all the right places. This is one of those books I’m often drawn to reread sections of for a catharsis fix.
As I reread it this time, I tried to pinpoint what works so well. I think it’s that so much attention is paid to emotions, both for the hero and the heroine. They feel a lot, most of it ambivalent -- so drawn to each other, yet so convinced the other is cold/heartless/greedy/what have you. The emotions really draw me in. And of course the hero Caleb is tender and loving towards Maggie, despite how badly he thinks of her -- because he just can't help himself. Gotta love it!
The feelings are so well drawn, that despite the main characters being at odds for much of the book, it doesn't feel like a bickerfest. Just some lovely angst and suffering, culminating in a perfect happy ending. Happy sigh.
As I reread it this time, I tried to pinpoint what works so well. I think it’s that so much attention is paid to emotions, both for the hero and the heroine. They feel a lot, most of it ambivalent -- so drawn to each other, yet so convinced the other is cold/heartless/greedy/what have you. The emotions really draw me in. And of course the hero Caleb is tender and loving towards Maggie, despite how badly he thinks of her -- because he just can't help himself. Gotta love it!
The feelings are so well drawn, that despite the main characters being at odds for much of the book, it doesn't feel like a bickerfest. Just some lovely angst and suffering, culminating in a perfect happy ending. Happy sigh.
January 14, 2021
The H/h met and had insta-attraction, but their relationship was hijacked by the h's stepfather who wanted to best the hero in some business transaction. When hero realizes that the h is just playing him, he says he never wants to see her again, leaving the h guilty for helping her stepfather and heartbroken that the hero wasn't really attracted to her.
Six months later the stepfather has died bankrupt, thanks to the hero who also has the deed to the heroine's family home, the one tie the heroine's mother had to her beloved first husband. Because her mother had suffered so much abuse from the stepfather, the heroine will do anything to make her mother happy including being the H's mistress for two months. In turn he will sign over the house to her mother.
And so it begins - the hero thinks she's a gold-digger. The heroine tries to guard her heart by going along with that image.
The hero kept up his revenge by sex with a gold-digger for a great portion of the book, which kept up the tension. The heroine was enjoying the sex so much that it wasn't all that angsty of a ride, but it was still enjoyable.
Six months later the stepfather has died bankrupt, thanks to the hero who also has the deed to the heroine's family home, the one tie the heroine's mother had to her beloved first husband. Because her mother had suffered so much abuse from the stepfather, the heroine will do anything to make her mother happy including being the H's mistress for two months. In turn he will sign over the house to her mother.
And so it begins - the hero thinks she's a gold-digger. The heroine tries to guard her heart by going along with that image.
The hero kept up his revenge by sex with a gold-digger for a great portion of the book, which kept up the tension. The heroine was enjoying the sex so much that it wasn't all that angsty of a ride, but it was still enjoyable.
March 29, 2011
what I liked
- the writing, was smooth and flowed well
- lots of angst but didn't bog down into endless inner monologues
- good dialogue, not hateful bickerfests
- hero, didn't descend into jerkdom and couldn't help treating heroine sweetly at times
- heroine, wasn't TSTL but bit too self-sacrificing
- very steamy for a HP
- no virginity-as-proof-of-innocence or oops-pregnancy tropes
- the ending
what I didn't like
- spineless mother who wouldn't divorce abusive hubs even though she had million $ of real estate to fall back on
- heroine didn't tell mother what her hubs was forcing her to do and drag stoopid mom outta there
- heroine playing up (or down) to hero's poor opinion of her, why must they always do that?
what I didn't understand
- pimp stepdaddy's scheme, how was heroine seducing hero supposed to sabotage his business deal?
classic Harlequin moment: heroine getting groped by stepdad's creepy pal and hero jealously assuming she's lining up her next sugar daddy. Oy!
- the writing, was smooth and flowed well
- lots of angst but didn't bog down into endless inner monologues
- good dialogue, not hateful bickerfests
- hero, didn't descend into jerkdom and couldn't help treating heroine sweetly at times
- heroine, wasn't TSTL but bit too self-sacrificing
- very steamy for a HP
- no virginity-as-proof-of-innocence or oops-pregnancy tropes
- the ending
what I didn't like
- spineless mother who wouldn't divorce abusive hubs even though she had million $ of real estate to fall back on
- heroine didn't tell mother what her hubs was forcing her to do and drag stoopid mom outta there
- heroine playing up (or down) to hero's poor opinion of her, why must they always do that?
what I didn't understand
- pimp stepdaddy's scheme, how was heroine seducing hero supposed to sabotage his business deal?
classic Harlequin moment: heroine getting groped by stepdad's creepy pal and hero jealously assuming she's lining up her next sugar daddy. Oy!
July 11, 2014
Abby Green has written a sizzling and emotional story about revenge tied up in a relationship built on unrequited lust turned to love. Caleb Cameron has Maggie all wrong. He thinks that her bid to seduce him was a coldhearted action designed to cheat Caleb in the favor of Maggie's stepfather. The truth is Maggie had to act on a genuine attraction she had to Caleb or her mother would suffer the consequences. In the end, it backfires, and their tryst is unconsummated with ugly words said before they parted. And many months later, Maggie has to protect her widowed mother from the consequences of her unscrupulous deceased husband's actions, and Caleb's revenge. Caleb will take everything, including her mother's house (from her first husband), if Maggie doesn't agree to be his mistress for two months. Maggie still has feelings for Caleb, but it hurts that he believes so poorly of her. However, she has to go through with their business for pleasure arrangement, and keep her heart locked away in the process. When it's over, will either walk away heart whole?
Maggie is a very sympathetic heroine. Her situation with her mother is tough, and she does tend to act as a sacrificial lamb, which may annoy some readers. I can identify with her need to look after her very vulnerable mother. I couldn't blame her for the choices she made, especially in light of the fact that she still loved Caleb, and wanted a real relationship with him. But now that's not a possibility. Maggie is a nice mix of emotional integrity, independent practicality and iron resiliency.
Caleb isn't really a bonafide jerk. He does come off as callous at times, and almost willfully determined to believe the worst of Maggie. He's fairly emotionally brutal towards Maggie initially (although I think it was more of a deliberate act to protect himself). That aspect is standard Harlequin Presents fare, but I think Ms. Green layers this story with deep emotion and poignant writing. You actually see Maggie and Caleb getting to know each other and fall in love, and see that while their relationship seems sexual, it's much more than that. I think his gesture near the end is very satisfying, and it has particular resonance for earlier moments in the story.
This is a satisfying quick contemporary romance read, and one of the Harlequin Presents books that very much captures the feel of the line, but also has deeper, powerful emotion that drives the story to a fulfilling conclusion.
Maggie is a very sympathetic heroine. Her situation with her mother is tough, and she does tend to act as a sacrificial lamb, which may annoy some readers. I can identify with her need to look after her very vulnerable mother. I couldn't blame her for the choices she made, especially in light of the fact that she still loved Caleb, and wanted a real relationship with him. But now that's not a possibility. Maggie is a nice mix of emotional integrity, independent practicality and iron resiliency.
Caleb isn't really a bonafide jerk. He does come off as callous at times, and almost willfully determined to believe the worst of Maggie. He's fairly emotionally brutal towards Maggie initially (although I think it was more of a deliberate act to protect himself). That aspect is standard Harlequin Presents fare, but I think Ms. Green layers this story with deep emotion and poignant writing. You actually see Maggie and Caleb getting to know each other and fall in love, and see that while their relationship seems sexual, it's much more than that. I think his gesture near the end is very satisfying, and it has particular resonance for earlier moments in the story.
This is a satisfying quick contemporary romance read, and one of the Harlequin Presents books that very much captures the feel of the line, but also has deeper, powerful emotion that drives the story to a fulfilling conclusion.
March 25, 2011
Thanks to seton for recommending this, I really enjoyed it. The book starts of with Maggie and her mother celebrating that her abusive step-father is dead and they are finally free, then they get the news that their beloved house that belonged to them is no longer theirs, the step-father lost everything. The new owner is the hero Caleb, with whom Maggie has a history. Six months before Maggie was threatened by her step-father to deceive Caleb. Hence, begins the story and the blackmail, Maggie wants the house for her mother and Caleb wants revenge and her. The story is well done and the end reveal and grovel scene really good. Enjoyable!
October 10, 2018
3.5 stars ⭐️
Recommended.
Recommended.
November 13, 2016
A likable, tropey book with a super angsty tone. It will be telling on your fortitude if you bring out the Kleenex or not, cuz the author gives it her all to make you do just that. But still a chest pang or two are defensible, as are a couple of eyerolls!
A vengeful H and a wrongly accused h made to pay for her sins in his bed, is the stuff of HP legends, and this one was done quite well by most standards. The h does her bit for her doormat-martyr sisters, sighing and suffering in silence the H’s unjust accusations and manipulations. Things and mus could have so easily righted with some sane explanations, but what would be the fun in that, so the h deserves praise for suffering for our pleasure. The H tried his best to be a punishing jerk but his sensitive side keeps popping out. Like his accepting with equanimity the delay in getting down to the bedding brass tacks was one such pointer.
Did I say doormat, martyr? How about obtuse..
"I’ll do anything you want…anything! Wash floors…’ she said wildly,”
“You’d sell your soul to the devil?’
‘Yes.’ She answered simply, without hesitation. ‘If I had to.’
“Your body to me in exchange for the house.’
Maggie stepped back, blanching at his stark words, his intent.
“I couldn’t do that…How…how could you even suggest such a thing…”
*eyeroll*
Girl, we all know this scene from zillions of books and movies. And everyone knows what ‘anything’ in such a situation means! So why rear back like a horrified maiden in a bad Victorian melodrama.
A vengeful H and a wrongly accused h made to pay for her sins in his bed, is the stuff of HP legends, and this one was done quite well by most standards. The h does her bit for her doormat-martyr sisters, sighing and suffering in silence the H’s unjust accusations and manipulations. Things and mus could have so easily righted with some sane explanations, but what would be the fun in that, so the h deserves praise for suffering for our pleasure. The H tried his best to be a punishing jerk but his sensitive side keeps popping out. Like his accepting with equanimity the delay in getting down to the bedding brass tacks was one such pointer.
Did I say doormat, martyr? How about obtuse..
"I’ll do anything you want…anything! Wash floors…’ she said wildly,”
“You’d sell your soul to the devil?’
‘Yes.’ She answered simply, without hesitation. ‘If I had to.’
“Your body to me in exchange for the house.’
Maggie stepped back, blanching at his stark words, his intent.
“I couldn’t do that…How…how could you even suggest such a thing…”
*eyeroll*
Girl, we all know this scene from zillions of books and movies. And everyone knows what ‘anything’ in such a situation means! So why rear back like a horrified maiden in a bad Victorian melodrama.
December 31, 2014
When I read ‘Ruthlessly Bedded, Forcibly Wedded’ there was a scene with Vincenzo meeting Maggie and Caleb, and being a bit envious of their happiness and observing something about their awesome marriage, and in the gap of silence that extends awkwardly after his observation, I thought: ah ha. You could insert a 200 page book into that silence, and I bet it’ll have some deliciously nasty stuff in it.’
Maggie first meets Caleb at one of her despicable step-dad’s despicable social business suppers (rich people are so odd), and gets all fluttery about him immediately. Then, her step-dad makes her put on a negligee to meet Caleb for dinner at a hotel, and Caleb is all: oh please. Can you be a bit less obvious about trying to seduce me for your step-dad’s despicable business crap, and: gah, this whole thing is turning me into Caleb the Rage Monster!!
She doesn’t sleep with him then. Instead, she runs home to Ireland with her mum and twelve months later the step-dad’s dead and while they’re both too nice to spit and dance on his grave, they are as happy as good-hearted women of high moral fibre can be.
Until: disaster. Despicable step-dad was trying to do complicated business take-over things at Caleb, but Caleb was too smart and did stabby complicated business things back and now Caleb owns everything, including this nice millions money house which, actually, was Maggie’s mum’s from her good dead dad, and shouldn’t have been part of the whole despicableness. Except Maggie’s mum signed something and has now disappeared off into her room all pale and shaking, and Maggie’s all primed to make the noblest of noble sacrifices.
I can’t quite work out what these two ladies have been living on for the past twelve months. They were all about not taking anything from His Despicableness, and Maggie’s an artist. Maybe she makes money that way? This house is in the country but an easy commutable distance to Dublin, and it’s worth millions, which makes it big, probably? Or with lots of grounds? Big houses with grounds are pretty expensive, with taxes and heating and repairs and such? Maggie’s mum only starts talking about going out and getting herself a job after the funeral?
Maggie goes to Caleb’s Dublin office and camps out for eight or so hours, except for that one toilet break, and eventually Caleb emerges and she does her ‘I’ll do anything to get my mum’s house back’ bit, and he’s all ‘that’s going to be sex, you do realise? And I’m going to say some pretty revolting things to you as both foreplay and after, because that’s how I roll?’
She reluctantly agrees the deal. Maggie’s mum has extracted a promise from Maggie to never speak about what went on in the despicable marriage. Which is fine – none of his business anyway, and she’s got to spend all her energy on not having feelings. If you think you’re going to go live in the muck with a Rage Monster, you’ve already decided there isn’t much you can do to make it any nicer. Except cook him dinner occasionally.
Caleb sticks his fingers in his ears and yells ‘la la la she’s evil’ for most of the story, and Maggie’s singing that version of ‘Let it Go’ for romance heroines where they get to ‘conceal don’t feel’ and then just sing that for the rest of the song.
There are trips to Paris and clothes and jewels and a new car, all of which mean Nothing to Maggie (she was really attached to her old car, dammit) because Caleb will never love her, and after the Deed is done, she’s pretty sure he’s going to tire of it and then she’ll be all alone again, but at least her mum will have a house.
While this is all pretty similar to ‘Ruthlessly’ – I do love this plot and as long as the characters don’t screw it up by being too mean or too pitiful, I’m pretty happy. Both Maggie and Caleb manage to not be unremittingly gloomy and were sweet enough to be likeable.
Maggie first meets Caleb at one of her despicable step-dad’s despicable social business suppers (rich people are so odd), and gets all fluttery about him immediately. Then, her step-dad makes her put on a negligee to meet Caleb for dinner at a hotel, and Caleb is all: oh please. Can you be a bit less obvious about trying to seduce me for your step-dad’s despicable business crap, and: gah, this whole thing is turning me into Caleb the Rage Monster!!
She doesn’t sleep with him then. Instead, she runs home to Ireland with her mum and twelve months later the step-dad’s dead and while they’re both too nice to spit and dance on his grave, they are as happy as good-hearted women of high moral fibre can be.
Until: disaster. Despicable step-dad was trying to do complicated business take-over things at Caleb, but Caleb was too smart and did stabby complicated business things back and now Caleb owns everything, including this nice millions money house which, actually, was Maggie’s mum’s from her good dead dad, and shouldn’t have been part of the whole despicableness. Except Maggie’s mum signed something and has now disappeared off into her room all pale and shaking, and Maggie’s all primed to make the noblest of noble sacrifices.
I can’t quite work out what these two ladies have been living on for the past twelve months. They were all about not taking anything from His Despicableness, and Maggie’s an artist. Maybe she makes money that way? This house is in the country but an easy commutable distance to Dublin, and it’s worth millions, which makes it big, probably? Or with lots of grounds? Big houses with grounds are pretty expensive, with taxes and heating and repairs and such? Maggie’s mum only starts talking about going out and getting herself a job after the funeral?
Maggie goes to Caleb’s Dublin office and camps out for eight or so hours, except for that one toilet break, and eventually Caleb emerges and she does her ‘I’ll do anything to get my mum’s house back’ bit, and he’s all ‘that’s going to be sex, you do realise? And I’m going to say some pretty revolting things to you as both foreplay and after, because that’s how I roll?’
She reluctantly agrees the deal. Maggie’s mum has extracted a promise from Maggie to never speak about what went on in the despicable marriage. Which is fine – none of his business anyway, and she’s got to spend all her energy on not having feelings. If you think you’re going to go live in the muck with a Rage Monster, you’ve already decided there isn’t much you can do to make it any nicer. Except cook him dinner occasionally.
Caleb sticks his fingers in his ears and yells ‘la la la she’s evil’ for most of the story, and Maggie’s singing that version of ‘Let it Go’ for romance heroines where they get to ‘conceal don’t feel’ and then just sing that for the rest of the song.
There are trips to Paris and clothes and jewels and a new car, all of which mean Nothing to Maggie (she was really attached to her old car, dammit) because Caleb will never love her, and after the Deed is done, she’s pretty sure he’s going to tire of it and then she’ll be all alone again, but at least her mum will have a house.
While this is all pretty similar to ‘Ruthlessly’ – I do love this plot and as long as the characters don’t screw it up by being too mean or too pitiful, I’m pretty happy. Both Maggie and Caleb manage to not be unremittingly gloomy and were sweet enough to be likeable.
January 15, 2016
La trama no me terminó de convencer. Es como que la prota está todo el tiempo sintiéndose atrapada en un chantaje al que nadie la obligó -_-. Y durante toodo el libro está en papel de víctima, pero cuando puede se hace la zorrit4 para que el héroe crea que ella es una cazafortunas (¿?). La empecé leyendo con ganas de que el héroe no tuviera ninguna duda de las motivaciones que la llevan a venderse a él vestida como put4 en su primer encuentro, pero como que no me dio la sensación de que él estuviera cien por ciento seguro de su inocencia. Y en este libro se vuelve a la trama casi copiada de tantos Harlequin de esta época: se ruboriza, es inocentona, no sabe nada de la vida, pero ya anduvo con otro en la universidad aunque "él no la tocaba como el prota". Y, no. No me gusta ese estilo de justificación, porque entonces te hace pensar que la heroína es tonta y que el héroe lo es más por comprar ese buzón. Estreno la shelve "heroína vende humo", porque esta es merecedora del título.
May 22, 2012
I was a little bit disturbed by this book. The writing was well done, as I have come to expect from Abby Green. However, I really struggled with a few things.
1) She was just too much of a self martyr for my taste
2) She always caved way too easily and allowed the hero to say truly horrible things to her constantly. She also forgave the hero too fast. After all, he was guilty of the same crime. At least her excuse, was to save her Mom from the cruel hands of her stepdad. What was his excuse? I never really felt his regret for that night.
3) I actually was bored with the love scenes, I kept skipping over them. The chemistry between the two just wasn't there. In a novel, where the whole plot is about being someone's mistress, I would have liked to have chemistry and emotion.
I love Abby Green...but this one, didn't do much for me, unlike her other books.
1) She was just too much of a self martyr for my taste
2) She always caved way too easily and allowed the hero to say truly horrible things to her constantly. She also forgave the hero too fast. After all, he was guilty of the same crime. At least her excuse, was to save her Mom from the cruel hands of her stepdad. What was his excuse? I never really felt his regret for that night.
3) I actually was bored with the love scenes, I kept skipping over them. The chemistry between the two just wasn't there. In a novel, where the whole plot is about being someone's mistress, I would have liked to have chemistry and emotion.
I love Abby Green...but this one, didn't do much for me, unlike her other books.
March 7, 2011
4.5*
Fan friggin tastic ! Even tho' I got a permanent squint outta it, worth the damage all the way =^B
Fan friggin tastic ! Even tho' I got a permanent squint outta it, worth the damage all the way =^B
January 31, 2018
I liked the story, liked the angst and tension between the MCs. However, although I like angsty reads, I felt the misunderstanding in this book stretched on unnecessarily because of which there was a cold politeness instead of warmth between the two for most part of the book.
Another thing that annoyed me was the heroine doing stuff to feed into the hero's misconception of her - misconception she herself led him to believe. I get that initially she couldn't tell him that she had been badgered by her step-father into seducing him because of the promise her mother took from her not to tell anyone of what the two of them had gone through at the hands of her step-father. But, later on every time he started to doubt his misconception, she'd do or say something to retain his initial thoughts about her like the time she told his she'd trained under a chef after he'd praised her for the risotto then went on to say she was bored or when he bought her the new car and her heart was breaking for her old one because it was very special to her. He was a nice guy and she was in love with him, so why make him continue to think she's a gold-digging tramp. I would rather have had her give him a 'Go figure it out yourself buddy' shrug. Maybe it would lighten things between them a little. She fought hard to let him believe bad things about her than her love for him.
Having said that, I still liked it. It was not bad.
Another thing that annoyed me was the heroine doing stuff to feed into the hero's misconception of her - misconception she herself led him to believe. I get that initially she couldn't tell him that she had been badgered by her step-father into seducing him because of the promise her mother took from her not to tell anyone of what the two of them had gone through at the hands of her step-father. But, later on every time he started to doubt his misconception, she'd do or say something to retain his initial thoughts about her like the time she told his she'd trained under a chef after he'd praised her for the risotto then went on to say she was bored or when he bought her the new car and her heart was breaking for her old one because it was very special to her. He was a nice guy and she was in love with him, so why make him continue to think she's a gold-digging tramp. I would rather have had her give him a 'Go figure it out yourself buddy' shrug. Maybe it would lighten things between them a little. She fought hard to let him believe bad things about her than her love for him.
Having said that, I still liked it. It was not bad.
February 19, 2021
"You're my home, and I want to come home, so much."
I have been on a total binge of Ms. Green's books, and I can honestly say that she can do no wrong in my eyes. I loved this book! I loved Maggie and Caleb. They were perfect for each other. And I loved that the book was told in dual POVs. Getting inside their heads makes it impossible not to fall in love with them.
I enjoyed this book. I liked Ms. Green's ability to write clearly and beautifully. And though I loved the ending and all, I wanted a little something extra.
I have been on a total binge of Ms. Green's books, and I can honestly say that she can do no wrong in my eyes. I loved this book! I loved Maggie and Caleb. They were perfect for each other. And I loved that the book was told in dual POVs. Getting inside their heads makes it impossible not to fall in love with them.
I enjoyed this book. I liked Ms. Green's ability to write clearly and beautifully. And though I loved the ending and all, I wanted a little something extra.
September 28, 2020
Caleb and Maggie’s story was actually very engaging. However Maggie’s continued reinforcement of Caleb’s image of her as a money grabbing, flighty, unprincipled gold-digger became monotonously puzzling and boring. As the story progressed it made less and less sense. AG writes well and I liked this so I let the heroine’s petulance go.
Would have liked an epilogue.
Would have liked an epilogue.
May 31, 2022
4 1/2 Stars ~ For Maggie it had been love at first sight and her innocent heart couldn't believe that Caleb could possibly be interested in her. Seeing their mutual attraction, Maggie's stepfather decided to use her to distract Caleb while he took over the younger man's business. But Caleb grew wise to the plot, so when Maggie tried to seduce him, he called her on it. What he hadn't known was that Maggie had no choice but to fall in with her stepfather's plan, held under the threat of a severe beating for her mother, one that her stepfather vowed would send her to the hospital. Fleeing with her mother home to Dublin, Maggie was unaware of the systematic destruction of all her stepfather's business, ending in an ultimate bankruptcy. Caleb had succeeded in turning the tables. And when her stepfather suffers a fatal coronary, Maggie and her mother actually rejoice their new freedom, only to have their attorney announce that Caleb now owns everything including their family home in Dublin. Not able to bear seeing her mother suffer further, Maggie pleads with Caleb to return the house to her mother, and agrees she'll do anything. Wanting revenge and still feeling their strong attraction, Caleb insists that she become his mistress for two months. And so again, Maggie is trapped, this time to a man she still finds devastatingly attractive and she knows that should her love for him ever come out, he'll destroy her.
This is such a compelling read. From the first Ms. Green embraces you in Maggie's dilemma, and with clever internalization we quickly learn that Caleb's not an evil man but rather a bitter one who feels a fool because he had genuinely bought her innocent act. It's his own hurt feelings that drive him to strike back at Maggie when she begs him to spare her mother's home. From the past abuses inflicted on her, Maggie exhibits signs of PTSD which concern Caleb and he begins to question the image of the cold hearted manipulative he's painted her. When he shows her tenderness, Maggie has to guard her heart even more. Her tension is almost unbearable and yet she endures. She takes the punishment she believes she deserves for her part in his betrayal and yet she has a dignity and strength I couldn't help admire. This keeper is one I'm sure I'll be reading again and again.
Thanks Willafil for the recommendation! This book was everything you said it was :)
This is such a compelling read. From the first Ms. Green embraces you in Maggie's dilemma, and with clever internalization we quickly learn that Caleb's not an evil man but rather a bitter one who feels a fool because he had genuinely bought her innocent act. It's his own hurt feelings that drive him to strike back at Maggie when she begs him to spare her mother's home. From the past abuses inflicted on her, Maggie exhibits signs of PTSD which concern Caleb and he begins to question the image of the cold hearted manipulative he's painted her. When he shows her tenderness, Maggie has to guard her heart even more. Her tension is almost unbearable and yet she endures. She takes the punishment she believes she deserves for her part in his betrayal and yet she has a dignity and strength I couldn't help admire. This keeper is one I'm sure I'll be reading again and again.
Thanks Willafil for the recommendation! This book was everything you said it was :)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 23, 2023
I’m sorry, but I just couldn’t stand the h’s weak, selfish mother.
After the h’s father died, her mother quickly married another man thinking that man would take care of her and her daughter. What about looking for a job instead of marrying a sugardaddy?
Sugardaddy turns out to be a horrible, cruel, violent man. So she and her child suffer.
Sugardaddy forces the h to seduce the H. The seduction didn’t fully take place because the H saw through the h’s little scam. He is out for revenge.
After the death of sugardaddy, the house where they live in now belongs to the H.
It turns out that mommy had signed her house over to sugardaddy (and no, he didn’t force her). Mommy tells the h never ever to talk about her signing over the house because mommy couldn’t bear that.
Mommy makes the h promise that she’ll never ever tell anyone what her stepfather had done to them, because mommy couldn’t bear that either.
So the martyr h sees no other choice than to sell her booty to the H in exchange for that house, just to make mommy feel happy again.
For a house??
Anyway, the h tried to scam him, she lies to him, she deliberately acts like a gold-digger talking about new clothes and jewelry. And in the end she feels hurt because he doesn’t trust her. So strange that he doesn’t just trust a lying, deceitful scam artist.
The h is not a virgin, she has had a boyfriend. But because she never had the big O before the H worked his magic hands on her, she was like a virgin. 🙄
After the h’s father died, her mother quickly married another man thinking that man would take care of her and her daughter. What about looking for a job instead of marrying a sugardaddy?
Sugardaddy turns out to be a horrible, cruel, violent man. So she and her child suffer.
Sugardaddy forces the h to seduce the H. The seduction didn’t fully take place because the H saw through the h’s little scam. He is out for revenge.
After the death of sugardaddy, the house where they live in now belongs to the H.
It turns out that mommy had signed her house over to sugardaddy (and no, he didn’t force her). Mommy tells the h never ever to talk about her signing over the house because mommy couldn’t bear that.
Mommy makes the h promise that she’ll never ever tell anyone what her stepfather had done to them, because mommy couldn’t bear that either.
So the martyr h sees no other choice than to sell her booty to the H in exchange for that house, just to make mommy feel happy again.
For a house??
Anyway, the h tried to scam him, she lies to him, she deliberately acts like a gold-digger talking about new clothes and jewelry. And in the end she feels hurt because he doesn’t trust her. So strange that he doesn’t just trust a lying, deceitful scam artist.
The h is not a virgin, she has had a boyfriend. But because she never had the big O before the H worked his magic hands on her, she was like a virgin. 🙄
February 1, 2021
Maggie is forced by her evil stepfather to seduce Caleb because he wants to ruin his business. Caleb knows it and the plan backfires. Some time later he is back and he wants revenge: she will be is mistress for two months if she wants to keep the house for her mother. Here we have an innocent and martyr heroine, she and her mother were abused by evil man who married her mother when she was a widow. He hit them and threatened them, so heroine's mother is emotionally weak and mentally instable. Hero doesn't know and thinks she's an evil gold digger. I don't like this kind of H, men who have to blackmail a woman to have sex, is simply disgusting. But I don't like heroine who for a house, or money or else sells herself to these disgusting kind of men. Ans she enjoys the sex. There's always a choice, you don't have to play the victim and you are not expected to save the world. And it's not natural to fall in love with a man who doesn't trust you, slut-shames you, verbally abuses you and blackmails you. this cannot happen. I'm not impressed, I don't fell angst only annoyance.
March 10, 2011
6 months ago Maggie Holland was forced to suduce Caleb Cameron by her abusive stepfather. Now he's dead and Caleb is out for the final revenge on Maggie. Leving her mother nothing when he died, Caleb now owns the house that belonged to her real father. The news shatters her mother's heart so Maggie goes to talk to Caleb to try to get it back. The price? Be his mistress for two months. Not knowing the truth behind Maggie's motives 6 months ago, Caleb keeps his guard up around her, but can't help the way she makes him feel. When their time is up and she's gone, he finally learns the truth about her past. But is it too late to ask for forgiveness?
March 22, 2015
I have read so many books like this and recently something just snapped. I felt like this book was showing how women tend to fall into abusive relationships and let the man completely walk all over them. I did not identify with this heroine at all. I just thought of her as weak. Maybe I'm just a product of my generation but this book did not feel like a romance to me. It felt more like a psychological drama
October 11, 2011
Damn, this was pretty great! I loved getting to see what both sides were thinking. And I always love seeing a hero who can't help but feel tenderly toward a heroine even though he thinks she's done something awful. Pretty hot sex scenes too. Great book!
May 31, 2021
Returned. So sick and tired of these heroines in HP spreading their legs for other men. Seriously, the ONLY reason I’m still reading these tepid romances is for the virgin heroines. If the h has been broken in by someone else, it loses all the thrill and magic and there’s no point to reading it.
July 9, 2012
A book that is full of angst but of course they get their HEA in the end......One I know I have read before and will probably read again!
June 30, 2013
I think you'll like this book! For me it was beautiful. Short, some hot and dramatic.
April 2, 2022
This was a goodie right from the beginning!!!
It was angsty!
It was delightful!
Pure delight, I tell you.
I couldn't put it down for the life of me.
The anticipation, the misunderstandings, the longing .... ugh, just priceless.
Both characters were so good. They compliment each other beautifully.
The Hero was hot and sexy - and not overbearing, whereas the heroine was a beautiful and kind hearted female - who was not a spineless woman like most harlequin books are.
I loved the couple's interactions - ALL THROUGHOUT THE BOOK.
Seriously, it never got boring, like a dip towards 3/4 of the book like how most books are ...
This was a consistent HIGH all til the end.
Love it. Love it. Love it.
It was angsty!
It was delightful!
Pure delight, I tell you.
I couldn't put it down for the life of me.
The anticipation, the misunderstandings, the longing .... ugh, just priceless.
Both characters were so good. They compliment each other beautifully.
The Hero was hot and sexy - and not overbearing, whereas the heroine was a beautiful and kind hearted female - who was not a spineless woman like most harlequin books are.
I loved the couple's interactions - ALL THROUGHOUT THE BOOK.
Seriously, it never got boring, like a dip towards 3/4 of the book like how most books are ...
This was a consistent HIGH all til the end.
Love it. Love it. Love it.
December 27, 2017
I was in the mood for a forced relationship "mistress" trope and this story fit the bill. There were some loose ends that didn't make sense, but overall it was great.
4+ HP Stars!
4+ HP Stars!
June 3, 2016
It was a good story, but something was missing that would have given it a five stars. It didn't quite have that extra spark that these books usually have. Extra intensity would have been good as well and combined that with more angst then I think it would have been five stars I think for me.
That's not to say this story wasn't enjoyable because it was. It was a nice quick read with a lot of elements that I like in Harlequin Presents novels. The structure was there but maybe not as deeply as I would have liked. It wasn't an unreadable story, and the story definitely has its moments with flashes of highlights here and there.
One of the issues that I had was all the back and forth between Caleb and Maggie, which is unusual since I usually enjoy the byplay and the back and forth because it increases the anticipation between characters. But this instance it was too drawn out and too much back and forth that it became repetitive. I would kind of disappointed whenever that happened. Instead of becoming anticipatory, it became that I wanted them to hurry up and get on with it. No more delays. Whenever they went back to opposite corners I would groan and not in a good way. Like I just wanted them to do it and not draw it out.
When they did come together after being drawn out for so long, it kind of felt easy and not much of struggles or friction between them. Well not in a meaningful way. It was all surface I felt. I think the emotional intensity could have be amped up a tad and made the story interesting and deep. Dig beneath the surface for that good emotional intensity. I wanted to feel the characters more gutted throughout especially with all the misunderstanding yet to be revealed. It did come between them, for sure, but there could have been more consequences and feelings going on because of these misunderstanding. I just wasn't gutted or emotional about the story like I usually am. So potential though that could have made it so but didn't.
What I enjoyed and was a high point in the book were the tender moments between them. I absolutely loved those scenes, which really brought out the romance in the story. And I am not just talking about the love scenes either. It was other moments in the book like when held her hand, or kissed the back of her hand, or even when he was rubbing cream on for her bruise he did that very gently as well as the kiss and holding later on in that scene. It was great. It showed genuine feelings on his part and her reaction to it. It was romance in its finest display. I wished there were more scenes like that instead of the will they/ won't they vibe that had for a majority of the book.
The love scenes were good. Very well written, but I felt were kind of short and less passionate that I was expecting. Probably due to their shortness but before I blinked they were over. That didn't make them any less beautiful or tender but it was less descriptive so it made me feel less passion. The romance and the feelings were very good and I could see their connection and caring for one another.
Also I kind of wished she was a virgin because then that walk would have been let down a lot sooner between them then maybe all that back forth would have been lessened. Plus I just would have liked him to be her first but that's just a personal preference.
Overall this book was a very easy and quick read that I did enjoy. Somethings in the story I wished were sped up and gotten to the point much quicker. That's the trick dragging it out and increasing the anticipation between reader and the characters without having to be too drawn out where it seems rather long. This seemed rather long and too repetitive. It decreased the excitement of the story I thought with a lot of stops and starts throughout the story. The intensity wasn't quite there for me either. It needed more. The romance and tenderness was really good and though there was passion between them, I believe there could have been a little bit more for my liking. I wanted to see the passion, the tenderness and the caring all combined to make a really nice balanced love story. But I was glad there was the focus on emotions and tenderness than just have heavy focus on the bedroom stuff where it became too much and overwhelming. The tender scenes were what I loved in this book. It was the highlight. It was a nice romance but I just needed a little more intensity for my liking. I needed it to go a tad deeper and just to up the edge. I wanted to be gutted and experience all feels right along with them.
That being said this was not the worst book I have ever read and it was definitely an enjoyable way to spend the afternoon. It was good. So nice job Abby Green. Can't wait to read another book by her in the future.
That's not to say this story wasn't enjoyable because it was. It was a nice quick read with a lot of elements that I like in Harlequin Presents novels. The structure was there but maybe not as deeply as I would have liked. It wasn't an unreadable story, and the story definitely has its moments with flashes of highlights here and there.
One of the issues that I had was all the back and forth between Caleb and Maggie, which is unusual since I usually enjoy the byplay and the back and forth because it increases the anticipation between characters. But this instance it was too drawn out and too much back and forth that it became repetitive. I would kind of disappointed whenever that happened. Instead of becoming anticipatory, it became that I wanted them to hurry up and get on with it. No more delays. Whenever they went back to opposite corners I would groan and not in a good way. Like I just wanted them to do it and not draw it out.
When they did come together after being drawn out for so long, it kind of felt easy and not much of struggles or friction between them. Well not in a meaningful way. It was all surface I felt. I think the emotional intensity could have be amped up a tad and made the story interesting and deep. Dig beneath the surface for that good emotional intensity. I wanted to feel the characters more gutted throughout especially with all the misunderstanding yet to be revealed. It did come between them, for sure, but there could have been more consequences and feelings going on because of these misunderstanding. I just wasn't gutted or emotional about the story like I usually am. So potential though that could have made it so but didn't.
What I enjoyed and was a high point in the book were the tender moments between them. I absolutely loved those scenes, which really brought out the romance in the story. And I am not just talking about the love scenes either. It was other moments in the book like when held her hand, or kissed the back of her hand, or even when he was rubbing cream on for her bruise he did that very gently as well as the kiss and holding later on in that scene. It was great. It showed genuine feelings on his part and her reaction to it. It was romance in its finest display. I wished there were more scenes like that instead of the will they/ won't they vibe that had for a majority of the book.
The love scenes were good. Very well written, but I felt were kind of short and less passionate that I was expecting. Probably due to their shortness but before I blinked they were over. That didn't make them any less beautiful or tender but it was less descriptive so it made me feel less passion. The romance and the feelings were very good and I could see their connection and caring for one another.
Also I kind of wished she was a virgin because then that walk would have been let down a lot sooner between them then maybe all that back forth would have been lessened. Plus I just would have liked him to be her first but that's just a personal preference.
Overall this book was a very easy and quick read that I did enjoy. Somethings in the story I wished were sped up and gotten to the point much quicker. That's the trick dragging it out and increasing the anticipation between reader and the characters without having to be too drawn out where it seems rather long. This seemed rather long and too repetitive. It decreased the excitement of the story I thought with a lot of stops and starts throughout the story. The intensity wasn't quite there for me either. It needed more. The romance and tenderness was really good and though there was passion between them, I believe there could have been a little bit more for my liking. I wanted to see the passion, the tenderness and the caring all combined to make a really nice balanced love story. But I was glad there was the focus on emotions and tenderness than just have heavy focus on the bedroom stuff where it became too much and overwhelming. The tender scenes were what I loved in this book. It was the highlight. It was a nice romance but I just needed a little more intensity for my liking. I needed it to go a tad deeper and just to up the edge. I wanted to be gutted and experience all feels right along with them.
That being said this was not the worst book I have ever read and it was definitely an enjoyable way to spend the afternoon. It was good. So nice job Abby Green. Can't wait to read another book by her in the future.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 14, 2008
You want Hot? Revenge? Romance that will make your heart race? Well then this one is for you and it's fabulous! Abby is just another rising star amongst the new Harlequin Presents authors. It's a wonderful love story set in Dublin!
Seduced for revenge, bedded for pleasure
Six months ago Brazilian tycoon Caleb Cameron thought he’d uncovered Maggie Holland’s plot to ruin him – by seducing him to take his mind off business deals worth millions!
In actual fact Maggie was being manipulated by her cruel stepfather. What was more, she fell in love with Caleb – but he said he never wanted to see her again.
However, now her stepfather has died, leaving Maggie and her mother with nothing – Caleb Cameron is the new owner of all their assets! And, as the final piece of his revenge, he’s got an offer Maggie cannot refuse: to keep their precious family home, she must become his mistress for two months!
Seduced for revenge, bedded for pleasure
Six months ago Brazilian tycoon Caleb Cameron thought he’d uncovered Maggie Holland’s plot to ruin him – by seducing him to take his mind off business deals worth millions!
In actual fact Maggie was being manipulated by her cruel stepfather. What was more, she fell in love with Caleb – but he said he never wanted to see her again.
However, now her stepfather has died, leaving Maggie and her mother with nothing – Caleb Cameron is the new owner of all their assets! And, as the final piece of his revenge, he’s got an offer Maggie cannot refuse: to keep their precious family home, she must become his mistress for two months!
November 19, 2018
The h's mom is so spineless that she let her daughter and herself be abused and even after all that she ends up signing over her home as a collateral. Then she makes her daughter our h promise to not talk about it with anyone. For this woman who calls herself a mother, our h prostitutes herself so her mother can get her home. Of course no harlequin is complete without H and his own mommy issues. Atleast here his mommy is a rich cougar :)
November 13, 2012
This novel was just so sweet. I really enjoyed it ad the characters in it. I felt saddened a lot of the time for Maggie and her mother, what they had been through..
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