The Mother and the Millionare

by Alison Fraser

What is her big secret?Following unfounded accusations, Jack Doyle had been forced to leave his job at Highfield Manor. Now a millionaire, he's back and the new owner of the house that had been in Esme's family for centuries....Living in close proximity to the man Esme had worshiped as a teenager will be difficult enough. But she's worried that Jack will find out a secret she has kept for 10 years....Mistress to a Millionaire

Genres: Romance, Harlequin Presents, Harlequin, Second Chance, Contemporary Romance

186 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2002

Reviews

[Vintage · Rating 3 out of 5]

A re-read:
It's amazing how sometimes time and/or circumstances can make a difference in the enjoyment or not of a novel. I was pretty harsh with my criticism of the heroine when I first read and reviewed it.

Some of the issues still stands, but given that she felt used by the H (she wasn't) and has been marginalized by her horrible mother and equally bad sister her tension and reactions are very understandable.

Good hero and a great son made a difference in the story. Definitely more slow burn with a very abrupt HEA, it has an old school vibe. Satisfying comeuppance for some of the evil-doers.

I'm sorry Alison Fraser!

Old review
I picked Alison Fraser as she rarely disappoints, and was disappointed.

Skimmed and dnf.

Although the heroine has very good reason to by angry, At 16, she has sex with her crush. He leaves for the States, and she never hears from him. He did send a letter her vapid mother intercepted. I could not get past her crankiness, knee jerk reactions and, frankly, downright bitchiness. Even in the flashbacks of when she was sixteen, she wasn't so sweet. At some point, I wanted to see a spark of...something.

There were funny moments as she has a very dry sense of humor, but too few and far between. The H is just kind of there, and her son was quite cool.

An evil and oh-so bitchy older sister who gets a nice putdown by the H, and a distant self-involved mother.

[Leona · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story. It had all the Harlequin Tropes, but yet it still felt fresh. I thought the hero and heroine were well developed characters with strength, integrity and kindness. Something you don't often get in an HP. I absolutely loved Jack and his engaging ways and the heroine was one sharp cookie that knew how to act appropriately as the mother of a ten year old. I especially was amused by the secondary characters. They added warmth, humor and dimension to the story.

I was so entertained and caught up in their escapades, that when I turned the last page I felt as if I were saying goodbye to some new found friends. This is something that doesn't usually happen to me.

I highly recommend.

[JillyB · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 days, 4 Alison Fraser Books. This AF book seemed more like the HP’s I am used to, yet AF continues to give it a flair that is not always typical of the HP line(or at least the old ones). This was one of her later books so the story includes computers and mobiles. I really thought AF did a nice job with the angst in the story. The undercurrents of emotional feels were felt throughout. AF also does a nice job of giving us some(not a lot) of the H’s thoughts, however, the story is still mainly the h’s pov.

Quick overview than spoilers and likes. At 16, the heroine sleeps with her 22 year old crush after he is rejected by her older, easier, prettier sister. His mom was a cook for the rich h’s family. He takes off for America and becomes a computer guru. He now comes back 10 years later to buy the h’s homestead(he is a millionaire and she is most definitely not). She is abrasive with the H and the H is confused by this(the h was always the sweet one) Oh and the h has a 10 year old secret that she is trying to keep from the H so she tells the H her secret is only 9 years old.


The real story and SPOILERS:

The hero, Jack was never interested in the older sister Arabella. He could see through her games, so he never slept with her(although she slept with many). She caused a big scene after being rejected and got her mommy to kick the H off the homestead(his mom the cook was deceased at this time). He heads out to the barn with some whisky and the h, Esme follows him there. Inhibitions were lowered and they had very enjoyable sex. She led him to believe that she was 17, experienced, and on the pill. He had always liked the h and he has been a part of her life since they were children. I don’t think he thought of her in a sexual way until this moment. I think to some extent his one night with the h stuck with him as in the last 10 years he has never formed an attachment leading to marriage. Plus, upon seeing the h he is very interested although she seems to have developed some of the snobby manor ways(she was just guarding herself). He did write to her after the one night because he realizes that she was young and he would be there if there were any repercussions. Mommy dearest intercepted the letter unbeknownst to the h.

So the h figured she was part of a whole nailing and bailing scenario. She was able to hide her pregnancy for seven months, and then was convinced to give the child up for adoption. Once she gave birth, she knew adoption was not an option for her. She has struggled as a single mom, since her own mom was never really her champion. She lives in the cooks cottage on the grounds with her son, and she eeks out a living as a decorator. She also gets a small income from a dead aunt. Our h has always felt second best to her beautiful older sister. The H was there during her awkward years, and in many ways she still has the mindset of an awkward looking teen. This mindset was only exacerbated by both her mom and sister. (The H never saw her in this way). Physically her son doesn’t look like like the H, so the H has no clue that Harry is his. Plus, it wasn’t helped when the h gave him the wrong age. Harry does have the his father’s intellect however, and these two get on like a house on fire.


The H is very interested in the h. Something he shows her about halfway through the book. This is the 2nd book by AF where the hero forgoes his own pleasure but makes sure the h is happy. Although, tamed compared to some of the Kindle dirty reads I have read, I did do a double take to see if this were and HP or a Temptation/Blaze book which are saucier. 😯 Anyhoo, He is confused by her reactions to him(she promises to pay him back in kind later, so they will be square, but then that will be it). Needless to say the H was put off by this. She believes that given the choice he would rather be with her older sister and her sister’s new boobs. She doesn’t see her worth.

The H has some nice American friends who are relocating to England for the business as well. Rebecca, his partner’s wife, becomes a good friend to the h and starts to pick up on undercurrents. She doesn’t hesitate to play some match making duties. The h ends up decorating the H’s house and they try to keep it professional, but the H is struggling. He tells the h he doesn’t want to keep it just business. Then the h’s sister arrives in town and thinks she can score with the H(I mean she didn’t the first time, but now she has big boobs so….) The H, the sister, the couple, an architect friend, and the h are supposed to go to dinner. The h pleads a headache. The H sends Rebecca to get the h to go. It is revealed by the sister that the h’s son is 10 not 9. Dinner just became uncomfortable. The h leaves the restaurant and the H is hot on her trail. He takes them both back to her place to have the showdown. (I am so impressed that AF left paternity a secret until the last 20 pages).
The H is understandably angry. Everything finally gets revealed. The letter the h never received and the truth about Arabella and how he did not sleep with her. It is lines like this from the H that makes me love him…..

God, Esme.' He ran a hand through his hair in exasperation. 'Why do you think so little of yourself? I always lied you, more than liked you. That night we made love it felt so right, even though it was so very wrong, with you just a kid and me so many years older. You weren't experienced either, were you?'

Then moments later when he is going to prove that she is the only one that does it for him and whisks her away to her bedroom
... She tried to resurrect his anger. 'Don't you hate me for Harry?'

'Hate you?' He was quietly incredulous. 'You've given me this wonderful son.'

When he said in a soft, persuasive murmur, 'Why don't we make another one?' she was already lost.


Meanwhile the bff Rebecca has been keeping the bitchy sister from getting back home before the H and h can have their time together. By the time the sister gets back the h and H have had enough time to prove their passion more than once. The H has no qualms about letting the sister know that she can never measure up to the h, the sister also confirms (in her anger) the H’s story that she was never the H’s lover. The H tells the h to pack a bag because he doesn’t want to leave her in the cottage with the venomous sister. Our h still can’t believe he chose her. He wipes her doubts away back at the big house when he assures her that she is the woman of his dreams and it isn’t that he needs Harry to have his last name, it is that he wants/needs her to have his last name. AHHHHH….

Again, I would have liked an epilogue, but oh well…

One last tidbit that some readers will or will not appreciate. Celibacy. They were separated for 10 years. She was 16 he was 22. It is mentioned briefly and discreetly that the h has had sex a few times but they were nothing compared to the H. She has actually been celibate for the last 3 years. The H was not celibate either and it sounds like he was seeing one woman for almost 2 years, but obviously no one ever clicked for him the same way either. Although, I would not want this to be a rule for all of my HP’s, since I like celibacy, it was a nice change and handled in a way I didn’t mind. One thing that does get me going is when I read these, and the H is a total manwhore while the h lets her lady bits shrivel up for 10 years. UGH!!! Here the H was her first and will be her last.

OOh and there is that little titillating part in the story where AF makes us wonder if the H’s mom and h’s dad had a “friendly” relationship😉 It is neither confirmed nor denied…just hinted at. .

[Jacqueline J · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well done secret baby story. I enjoyed the spunk of the heroine. She had been down but, while not rolling in it, was doing okay. The hero couldn't tell immediately that the boy was his. So that was different and a good set up. The boy was well written and an interesting kid. The hero was a nice guy with moments of jerkiness. The story basically was not a bickerfest but rather a getting to know each other again after 10 years and realizing that they had adult and permanent feelings for each other. The heroine had a lot of years of being treated emotionally poorly by her family to overcome and the hero helped with that.

The pacing of the story was very well done. I've noticed that in a lot of recent HPs, the books are made up of relatively few but extremely long scenes and I really hate that. Here the scenes were a reasonable length and there were plenty of them. That allows time to pass so there is not that silly insta love feeling to the story. The dialog was also well done.

[Iris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another of Fraser's acerbic heroines, my favorite type of h paired with an H who is basically a sweet guy though with an edge of sexual opportunist about him. The fact that neither were celibate during the 10 year separation makes for more interesting and equal characters in my estimation, but views differ in this regard so a heads up to those who hold celibacy in higher esteem than I.

Stories with kids aren't my fav but AF writes kids better than most and Esme's son Harry is pretty great. However I really dislike it when an h keeps her child's parentage secret from the father for years unless the extenuating circumstances are dire, which they really weren't in this case.

[iamGamz · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really good reunited/secret baby book.

The H was the cooks son for a wealthy family with two daughters. The older daughter, Arabella, is the mom’s favorite and is a slag. The younger daughter, the h, was in love with the H but believed that he was in love with her sister. But she had one night with the H which left her pregnant.

Ten years later the H returns and is buying the h’s family home. She is hostile toward him to hide her hurt and keep him at a distance. She doesn’t want him to know about their son, Harry. However, he soon meets Harry and they become fast friends.

The author took a well worn trope and made it fresh. I loved how she allowed the H and h to work through their relationship issues before the truth about Harry happens. I also adored Harry.

The h’s mother and sister are complete bitches. Glad that her sister was taken down quite a few pegs at the end. Was hoping to see her mum get put into her place too, but sadly, that didn’t happen.

I really loved this book and will read it again. This is my second book by this author and I’m on the hunt for more of her work.

[DamsonDreamer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Giving it 3 stars because AF is so competent but I hate the secret baby trope and even her skill can't redeem it. The h, Esme,(understandably) is a frazzled grump for pretty much the entire story and the H, Jack was a bit iffy for me when they first reunited. The pregnancy-inducing,whisky-soaked hayloft fumbling when she was 16 and he was 22 was kind of hyper real enough to not be romantic and concealing the son's age on the remeet was just daft given the school angle which would have given it away anyway. Leaving aside the whole dubiousness of keeping father and child in ignorance of each others existence without very good reason, I just didn't like it much. The Hs American business partner and wife were nice and the son Harry was beautifully rendered. The hs bitch sister Arabella was your typical OW.

[MissKitty · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn’t really like this one. The heroine ruined it for me.

I would have been sympathetic to her plight. She had an absolute witch of a mother and a vicious tramp bully as her older sister. No one gave he any support especially during her teenage pregnancy.

The Hero was totally smitten, but I felt bad for him because the heroine was a bitch to him for 99% of the story! I don’t even see how their relationship could have developed. Presumably it happens after their somewhat tepid declarations of love on the last page...we can only hope.

Upped it to 3-stars because despite everything, the author writes well and kept my interest, wanting to know what happens to the couple. But still quite a disappointment.

[Malika · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! WOW she was one mad lady! And i dont blame her :-) I jst wish she didnt play hot n cold wit the H regarding their attraction towards each other...

The secondary characters were amazing i loved rebecca i wud love a friend like that if i was an insecure person but im not! The poor h had pretty shitty family so i totally understood her low self esteem regarding her looks n doubting the H wants her.

Lol im going on a alison fraser binge! 3 down nd i dont kno how many more to go!! I really like her style of writing nd her heroines r awesome!

[Lyndsay · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story line of a love child being discovered years later is a common theme in Harlequinesque novels. This novel was able to pull off the storyline without me hating either of the parents. That is a common side affect to these stories. Esme was 16 when she got pregnant. She was always belittled by her family, being the more sensitive, slightly overweight, with a learning disability. She had a crush on Jack for ages. After one night hook up he leaves for greener pastures, having nothing left to keep him there and thinking she is too young and better off with out him. 10 years later he buys her family home and she has a giant chip on her shoulder. It comes from a place of fear and regression to her younger years insecurities.

I like that he didn’t know Harry was his son just by looking at him. The climax is brought about when her older more beautiful sister reappear with designs on the now rich Jack. Esme’s lies unfurl and Jack does the math. However, he isn’t angry about having a son just happy to have such a great son and he wants to prove to Esme that even way back when he only had eyes for her.

It was generic and sappy but lets face it, if you are even considering reading these type of books you want sappy. So with that in mind I gave it 3 stars b/c it fulfilled my expectations.

[Nikki · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'd say this was a 1 and 1/2 star book. The author was trying to smoosh two very opposing stories into 1, making it all come off choppy. Why was the hero totally okay with the heroine not telling him? In the beginning it came off as if he was kinda hard and cold but he got mushier as the story went on. The heroine was stuck too. I liked her job and she should have started it in the beginning too that way the hero could fall in love with her again. I really don't buy that he was always in love with her when they were young either. And why have mean relations if they don't do anything? Eh, the potential was squandered on this one.

[Lupita Figueroa BookLoverRomantic · Rating 4 out of 5]

Me atrapó desde las primeras líneas y me mantuvo en vilo hasta el final. Se siente la química entre Esmes y Jack, pero me desagradó el conflicto entre las hermanas, que ellos no llegaran a hacer el amor sino hasta la última página de la novela, prácticamente, y que se enterara de que era el padre de su hijo, igualmente, al final. Muy injusto. Y lo que más me disgustó es que no hubo momentos felices.

[Si · Rating 3 out of 5]

Her low self esteem was grating! SIMPLY ANNOYING! the guys feeling were obvious from his return but she playing at poor little me and having a splendid pity party... was so annoying! The only good thing was the kid and the supporting character Rebecca!!

[Debra · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Mother and the Millionaire

He had been kicked off the land by her mother. Her sister has going out with him back then. Before he left she and he got drunk and had slept together. Years later he is back. But she is not the same girl who was left behind. He now has the money to buy the property. What happens when her sister comes back and wants him. What about Harry? The child no one , but his mother, knows who his father is?

[The Dragon Den Book Blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got introduced to the romance world reading the graphic novel of this book and went into the actual book itself eventually. I was originally just into young adult and popular fictional reads, but this was an opening to a door that has now led me to the romance reader I am.

[Keriboo · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Liked Jack. Would have liked to see how Harry reacted to Jack being his father.

[L · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wish the author gave an epilogue ,all her books end so abruptly. She was a good writer and mostof the stories are very readable.

[Nubeluz · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5*

[More Books Than Time · Rating 3 out of 5]

Liked honest emotions, believable characters. Likely higher rating on reread as story moves fast and there are nuances.

[Ez Man · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rather too slow paced for my liking. It had a lot of potential but I just lost interest two thirds in. Anyway, one of the best characterization of a cold indifferent hero

[RomLibrary · Rating 2 out of 5]

Following unfounded accusations, Jack Doyle had been forced to leave his job at Highfield Manor. Now a millionaire, he's back and the new owner of the house that had been in Esme's family for centuries.... Living in close proximity to the man Esme had worshiped as a teenager will be difficult enough. But she's worried that Jack will find out a secret she has kept for ten years....

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

A secret baby! This book has a strong female character who is able to bend and yet doesn't make odd decisions which are out of character for her. The millionaire hero is quite likable and not an alphahole. It's an enjoyable journey to HEA.

[Andrea Moreno · Rating 3 out of 5]

☆2.8☆corta pero la disfrute

[Elisa Vangelisti · Rating 1 out of 5]

abbandonato

[Erika · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Estrellas