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Who Rides the Tiger
"Who rides the tiger dare not dismount" goes the Chinese saying -- and Dominique felt the proverb could well apply to her strange, impulsive marriage to Vincente Santos. She dared not dismount from the tiger she rode -- but what if she was thrown?
Vincente drew out a case of cheroots and extracted one calmly.
His tawny eyes surveyed her almost indifferently, as if assessing her qualifications. "I want you to break your engagement to Harding and marry me!"
"Marry you!" Dominique couldn't believe her cars. "You can't be serious!"
His expression was withdrawn but intense. "Oh, but I am," he said calmly.
Dominique pressed the palms of her hands against her burning cheeks. "This is ridiculous! You don't want to marry me! You don't love me!"
His lack of emotion was uncharacteristic, his indifferent way of stating such assertions was unnerving.
What manner of man was he. What were his motives? What extra motivations had inspired such a command?
Vincente drew out a case of cheroots and extracted one calmly.
His tawny eyes surveyed her almost indifferently, as if assessing her qualifications. "I want you to break your engagement to Harding and marry me!"
"Marry you!" Dominique couldn't believe her cars. "You can't be serious!"
His expression was withdrawn but intense. "Oh, but I am," he said calmly.
Dominique pressed the palms of her hands against her burning cheeks. "This is ridiculous! You don't want to marry me! You don't love me!"
His lack of emotion was uncharacteristic, his indifferent way of stating such assertions was unnerving.
What manner of man was he. What were his motives? What extra motivations had inspired such a command?
187 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1970
About the author
Anne Mather
814 books367 followersAnne Mather is the pseudonym used by Mildred Grieveson, a popular British author of over 160 romance novels. She also signed novels as Caroline Fleming and Cardine Fleming.
Mildred Grieveson began to write down stories in her childhood years. The first novel that she actually finished, Caroline (1965), was also her first book to be published. Her novel, Leopard in the Snow (1974), was developed into a 1978 film.
Mildred Grieveson began to write down stories in her childhood years. The first novel that she actually finished, Caroline (1965), was also her first book to be published. Her novel, Leopard in the Snow (1974), was developed into a 1978 film.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
March 16, 2018
The heroine of Anne Mather's Who Rides The Tiger is a stupendous smoker, even by vintage standards. This chick lit up first thing in the morning, last thing at night. She drew deeply on her cigarette when she was angry, stressed, happy, hungry, or just plain bored.
I could hardly see the words on the page through the heavy cloud of smoke that rose up and stung my eyes. A Las Vegas Casino has more purified air than this chica's boudoir. So does the inside of Cheech and Chong's van, I mean, really! Every paragraph was puffing with smoke :~{
I think she would have made a better match of it if she got together with Conrad Stephanus Lodewickus De Jhong, Yvonne Whittal's pipe puffing protagonist from her novel Devil's Gateway.
They could ride off together in a great, big, ball of grey smoke and leave the rest of humanity to finally catch their breath after all that second hand smoke. Do not attempt this book without a gas mask!
I could hardly see the words on the page through the heavy cloud of smoke that rose up and stung my eyes. A Las Vegas Casino has more purified air than this chica's boudoir. So does the inside of Cheech and Chong's van, I mean, really! Every paragraph was puffing with smoke :~{
I think she would have made a better match of it if she got together with Conrad Stephanus Lodewickus De Jhong, Yvonne Whittal's pipe puffing protagonist from her novel Devil's Gateway.
They could ride off together in a great, big, ball of grey smoke and leave the rest of humanity to finally catch their breath after all that second hand smoke. Do not attempt this book without a gas mask!
June 24, 2021
"Who Rides the Tiger" is the story of Dominique and Vincente.
Heroine travels cities to meet her fiancé, only to be received by his boss. There is wild attraction, and he appears to be courting her much to her chagrin. This also makes the fiancé jealous. Soon, we realize the possible motive behind his sudden courtship, loads of drama occurs, and the book ends in a HEA.
I have two problems with this book-
1. Smoking like a chimney- NOT SEXY
2. How they let the OM get away with murder and severe bodily harm.
It had a potential to be a great read but was overall OK!
Safe
3/5
Heroine travels cities to meet her fiancé, only to be received by his boss. There is wild attraction, and he appears to be courting her much to her chagrin. This also makes the fiancé jealous. Soon, we realize the possible motive behind his sudden courtship, loads of drama occurs, and the book ends in a HEA.
I have two problems with this book-
1. Smoking like a chimney- NOT SEXY
2. How they let the OM get away with murder and severe bodily harm.
It had a potential to be a great read but was overall OK!
Safe
3/5
December 19, 2019
Smoke ‘em if you’ve got ‘em. This is going to be a (second hand) nicotine-fueled review. As Naksed explains in her review, our heroine smokes - a lot. The other characters don’t seem to notice, but wow – she lights up every other paragraph.
If you’re trying to quit smoking – good for you. And don’t read this – major triggers.
Now on to the story.
Heroine is engaged to a dry stick from England who comforted her after her father was killed in a traffic accident. Dry stick moves to Brazil for an engineering job, but heroine wants time to process her grief. They have been apart for six months when the heroine arrives in Rio to get married and to live there until his contract is up in two years.
Dry stick does not pick her up, the hero does. He is the adopted son of the owner of the company and is quite the lady killer. Heroine is intrigued/disturbed by him, but goes out to dinner and a night club with him. Hero tries to put the moves on but the heroine reaches for an ashtray rebuffs him.
They helicopter to the job site and heroine is installed with the local gossip. Hero continues to put the moves on the heroine until he proposes marriage a week after meeting.
Heroine is overcome by lust (or it’s been an hour since her last cigarette) and she agrees. They marry, have one magic night, but then gossip reaches the heroine’s ears.
When she confronts the hero about marrying her for revenge (dry stick had an affair with hero’s sister) his honor is affronted and he retaliates by ignoring her.
Heroine is full of angst and woe until the hero is in a laboratory explosion. Heroine tries to show her loyalty, but hero doesn’t want her to see his burn scars while he is in the hospital. More angst and woe until AM runs out of page time and H/h abruptly reconcile and Dry stick is sent to the hinterlands for causing the explosion for an HEA.
It’s difficult to justify the heroine switching from man to another – and AM really doesn’t pull it off here. Dry stick is dry, but hero isn’t that compelling. Heroine just looks like of fickle (through the cloud of smoke). But this is AM who isn’t afraid of unlikeable characters, so I’ll grade this heroine on curve.
If you’re trying to quit smoking – good for you. And don’t read this – major triggers.
Now on to the story.
Heroine is engaged to a dry stick from England who comforted her after her father was killed in a traffic accident. Dry stick moves to Brazil for an engineering job, but heroine wants time to process her grief. They have been apart for six months when the heroine arrives in Rio to get married and to live there until his contract is up in two years.
Dry stick does not pick her up, the hero does. He is the adopted son of the owner of the company and is quite the lady killer. Heroine is intrigued/disturbed by him, but goes out to dinner and a night club with him. Hero tries to put the moves on but
They helicopter to the job site and heroine is installed with the local gossip. Hero continues to put the moves on the heroine until he proposes marriage a week after meeting.
Heroine is overcome by lust (or it’s been an hour since her last cigarette) and she agrees. They marry, have one magic night, but then gossip reaches the heroine’s ears.
When she confronts the hero about marrying her for revenge (dry stick had an affair with hero’s sister) his honor is affronted and he retaliates by ignoring her.
Heroine is full of angst and woe until the hero is in a laboratory explosion. Heroine tries to show her loyalty, but hero doesn’t want her to see his burn scars while he is in the hospital. More angst and woe until AM runs out of page time and H/h abruptly reconcile and Dry stick is sent to the hinterlands for causing the explosion for an HEA.
It’s difficult to justify the heroine switching from man to another – and AM really doesn’t pull it off here. Dry stick is dry, but hero isn’t that compelling. Heroine just looks like of fickle (through the cloud of smoke). But this is AM who isn’t afraid of unlikeable characters, so I’ll grade this heroine on curve.
October 17, 2020
I've been rereading old Harlequins that have been rereleased in ebook format. Who Rides a Tiger was originally published in 1977. Romance novels have changed a lot since then. As a contemporary romance, Who Rides a Tiger would likely not be written today, but it's a pleasant, nostalgic read.
After a six month separation, Dominque moves from London to Brazil to meet up with her British fiance, John, who had gotten a position there. Unbeknownst to her, he had been playing around, and seduced and dumped the sister of the owner of the company he works for. The sister was so distraught, she joined a convent.
Vincente, the company owner, decides to get even by stealing Dominque. She does end up jilting John for Vincente.
The infidelity, love triangle aspect would probably be a big turn-off in today's romances. The other thing that really stood out was the smoking. If I had a quarter every time Dominique lit up a cigarette, I'd have the $4.99 ebook paid for! You almost never read about a main characters smoking. (And this heroine did it a lot).
If you've never read the old Harlequins and are only used to recent contemporary romance, this may not be your cup of tea. But just like we all like the music from our own generation, if you did grow up on Harlequins, you'll enjoy this one the second time around.
After a six month separation, Dominque moves from London to Brazil to meet up with her British fiance, John, who had gotten a position there. Unbeknownst to her, he had been playing around, and seduced and dumped the sister of the owner of the company he works for. The sister was so distraught, she joined a convent.
Vincente, the company owner, decides to get even by stealing Dominque. She does end up jilting John for Vincente.
The infidelity, love triangle aspect would probably be a big turn-off in today's romances. The other thing that really stood out was the smoking. If I had a quarter every time Dominique lit up a cigarette, I'd have the $4.99 ebook paid for! You almost never read about a main characters smoking. (And this heroine did it a lot).
If you've never read the old Harlequins and are only used to recent contemporary romance, this may not be your cup of tea. But just like we all like the music from our own generation, if you did grow up on Harlequins, you'll enjoy this one the second time around.
February 14, 2016
This one was a crazy old fashion kind of story about a girl going to marry one man when another comes in and steels her away for revenge. At least that's the plan but things change and feeling grow and he has to tell her everything or risk losing her forever. awesome story. Worth the download.
April 26, 2021
"Who rides the tiger dare not dismount" goes the Chinese saying -- and Dominique felt the proverb could well apply to her strange, impulsive marriage to Vincente Santos. She dared not dismount from the tiger she rode -- but what if she was thrown?
Vincente drew out a case of cheroots and extracted one calmly.
His tawny eyes surveyed her almost indifferently, as if assessing her qualifications. "I want you to break your engagement to Harding and marry me!"
"Marry you!" Dominique couldn't believe her cars. "You can't be serious!"
His expression was withdrawn but intense. "Oh, but I am," he said calmly.
Dominique pressed the palms of her hands against her burning cheeks. "This is ridiculous! You don't want to marry me! You don't love me!"
His lack of emotion was uncharacteristic, his indifferent way of stating such assertions was unnerving.
What manner of man was he. What were his motives? What extra motivations had inspired such a command?
Vincente drew out a case of cheroots and extracted one calmly.
His tawny eyes surveyed her almost indifferently, as if assessing her qualifications. "I want you to break your engagement to Harding and marry me!"
"Marry you!" Dominique couldn't believe her cars. "You can't be serious!"
His expression was withdrawn but intense. "Oh, but I am," he said calmly.
Dominique pressed the palms of her hands against her burning cheeks. "This is ridiculous! You don't want to marry me! You don't love me!"
His lack of emotion was uncharacteristic, his indifferent way of stating such assertions was unnerving.
What manner of man was he. What were his motives? What extra motivations had inspired such a command?
March 14, 2011
الرواية مترجمة بالعربي باسم ( مازلنا غرباء ) جميلة
October 17, 2009
3 1/2 stars. Just love the oldies. A bit of an abrupt ending on this one, otherwise would have been a four.
October 10, 2015
ممتعه جداا
July 6, 2025
#11 of the first 100 HP. Wow! There was a looooooooot of smoking by the h. How that can be seen as attractive or supporting the innocent/naive personality I just don’t understand. A different time, different attitudes. I wish more of the book was after they got together. It seemed like the plot rushed to the finish.
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August 5, 2014-مازلنا غرباء-ان ميثر
لم تعد تطيق الانتظار كان عليها ان تلتحق بخطيبها في احدى القرى الجبليه النائيه حيث يعمل: والبلد البرازيل بحرارتها التي تخترق الجلد والاعصاب وعواطفها المتأججه كالمناخ الاستوائي عندما تصل دومينيك الى نهايه رحلتها تكتشف اخير لماذا كانت متردده في سرها غير مستقره على حآل لآ تعرف حقآ اذاكانت عرفت معنى الحب فتنتها الواضحه تجذب اليهآ فنسانتي سانتوس الرجل الناري النظرات وربّ عمل خطيبها املاكه بلا حدود ومطالبه لآ ترد ولكنه يريدها من اجل شيء آخر هناك سر دفين تفوح منه رائحه الانتقام وشرك تخطو فيه بكل براءه وعيناها مغمضتان
May 26, 2016
I thought the novel was pretty great. I definitely was all over the place emotionally. I couldn't stand when the hero was in the hospital and purposely hurt the heroine, it was enough to break my heart. The ending was very short, I would of liked it more narrowed down and centered on the main characters future.
May 22, 2014
I read it when it first came out and enjoyed it.......And.....Guess what it is still a really good quick read. I give it a 5.0.
July 20, 2026
I thought of giving this book three stars but all that cigarette smoking the h did was so damned ANNOYING I didn't think it was worth mor than two! While a lot of Harlequin books from the 60's and 70's have both H's and h's who smoke, this one went way overboard! She was a good example of how people used to think a cigarette would help with nervousness, stress, worry or any other emotion they'd rather not be having, and many of those people became either ashes or worm food a lot sooner then they'd planned; this h probably didn't have to worry about her future with the h because she'll be dead of lung cancer soon enough!
That being said, this would have been a better story if he H's injury in the explosion hadn't occurred so late in the story and had lasted a bit longer so that it could have been made part of their marriage, where they get things back on track and it's going well, but then the explosion happens and it changes things. He thinks she finds his scars repulsive and is only staying out of pity, she can't convince him she loves him no matter what, the OM keeps interfering, trying to win her back, etc. I think that would have been good. (Maybe I should have been an author???)
The whole thing about him wanting revenge for the OM's treatment of his sister by taking his fiancée (the h) away from him but then realizing he loved her was a good plot device, but the h seemed more c0ncerned that he had been married before than about his using her in the beginning, which seemed a bit silly. So were the H's declarations that he wanted the h to trust him when he had had ulterior motives for getting involved with her (though not for marrying her) and also never told her much about himself, especially where his feelings for her were concerned (and never said anything about his former marriage, she had to learn details from his sister.)
As for the OM, he was a real crap person who got away with too much, like seducing the H's younger sister and breaking her heart (while engaged to the h) and causing the explosion that could have killed the H, as revenge for the h breaking her engagement to him and marrying the H! Ironically, he was angry at the h for her infidelity (she shared some passionate kisses with the H while still engaged to him), when meanwhile he had been cheating with the H's sister during the months he and the h were separated, never telling her he was engaged to be married, of course! What a hypocrite!
He should have had to pay for what he did, instead of being given a new job in a different place, that was just stupid!
I also thought the ending was rushed, especially with all the misunderstandings between the couple, who had too little time as a couple in this story! And his sister deciding to become a nun after the OM betrayed her should have been explained more, like she discovered she had a real calling and wanted to dedicate her life to God, and it no longer had anything to do with the jerk, but that was left unsaid.
And those women who had nothing better to do than gossip and cause trouble were really ANNOYING!
Some good points, but also pretty flawed.
That being said, this would have been a better story if he H's injury in the explosion hadn't occurred so late in the story and had lasted a bit longer so that it could have been made part of their marriage, where they get things back on track and it's going well, but then the explosion happens and it changes things. He thinks she finds his scars repulsive and is only staying out of pity, she can't convince him she loves him no matter what, the OM keeps interfering, trying to win her back, etc. I think that would have been good. (Maybe I should have been an author???)
The whole thing about him wanting revenge for the OM's treatment of his sister by taking his fiancée (the h) away from him but then realizing he loved her was a good plot device, but the h seemed more c0ncerned that he had been married before than about his using her in the beginning, which seemed a bit silly. So were the H's declarations that he wanted the h to trust him when he had had ulterior motives for getting involved with her (though not for marrying her) and also never told her much about himself, especially where his feelings for her were concerned (and never said anything about his former marriage, she had to learn details from his sister.)
As for the OM, he was a real crap person who got away with too much, like seducing the H's younger sister and breaking her heart (while engaged to the h) and causing the explosion that could have killed the H, as revenge for the h breaking her engagement to him and marrying the H! Ironically, he was angry at the h for her infidelity (she shared some passionate kisses with the H while still engaged to him), when meanwhile he had been cheating with the H's sister during the months he and the h were separated, never telling her he was engaged to be married, of course! What a hypocrite!
He should have had to pay for what he did, instead of being given a new job in a different place, that was just stupid!
I also thought the ending was rushed, especially with all the misunderstandings between the couple, who had too little time as a couple in this story! And his sister deciding to become a nun after the OM betrayed her should have been explained more, like she discovered she had a real calling and wanted to dedicate her life to God, and it no longer had anything to do with the jerk, but that was left unsaid.
And those women who had nothing better to do than gossip and cause trouble were really ANNOYING!
Some good points, but also pretty flawed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 8, 2025
Hero (31) seeks revenge on the fiancé of heroine because he made the hero's sister fall in love and then discarded her so she joined a convent. His revenge, initially just to seduce, turns into a marriage. He's a player with an unhappy past.
The heroine (22) is really sweet, but blinded by lust for the hero and agrees to swap fiances and marries him straight away. The next day she finds out why he married her, and that he'd already been married before. Understandably upset she confronts him and he loses his temper (despite everything she said to him being true!) and then after he is injured, he refuses to see her. He's like a petulant child and was married to a much older woman for studly behaviour, and was going to have sex with the heroine for revenge - so we are not really talking about a nice man here.
It's an ok story, for fun, but it is just a tad superficial - like she didn't think it out properly.
I liked the heroine and I guess the hero will be faithful, at least until he's had plastic surgery. She'll need to keep him on his toes.
The heroine (22) is really sweet, but blinded by lust for the hero and agrees to swap fiances and marries him straight away. The next day she finds out why he married her, and that he'd already been married before. Understandably upset she confronts him and he loses his temper (despite everything she said to him being true!) and then after he is injured, he refuses to see her. He's like a petulant child and was married to a much older woman for studly behaviour, and was going to have sex with the heroine for revenge - so we are not really talking about a nice man here.
It's an ok story, for fun, but it is just a tad superficial - like she didn't think it out properly.
I liked the heroine and I guess the hero will be faithful, at least until he's had plastic surgery. She'll need to keep him on his toes.
October 31, 2020
Heroine was after lung disease or something, she smokes like no tomorrow, back to back a couple time. She exchanged her fiancée “lukewarm love” for the “delight & obeisance emotions” of the hero. So what did she expect? She was out to have a good time so she got that & some more. I didn’t appreciate how unremorsefully she broke up with the fiancée, that was immoral. It was hard to feel sympathy for her after that. Her first “I love you” to the hero was blurted out randomly. I didn’t feel the emotion was quite there yet.
So why the 4 stars?
Story was engaging with some twists. Hero was a predator after his prey, hunted & had her cornered. She fell right into his trap...a little bit too easily. I believe he was smitten from the start...quiet smitten I would say.
Well played, well played Ms Mather!
So why the 4 stars?
Story was engaging with some twists. Hero was a predator after his prey, hunted & had her cornered. She fell right into his trap...a little bit too easily. I believe he was smitten from the start...quiet smitten I would say.
Well played, well played Ms Mather!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 28, 2022
An incredibly weak, unfaithful doormat who smells like an ashtray is manipulated with pathetic ease into an instant, ill-advised marriage to a complete stranger based solely on lust. She was so childish and TSTL that I was indifferent to her. (“Do you think you can treat me like an imbecile?” Well, if the shoe fits ….) For someone who supposedly loved her (but too proud/arrogant to show it or allay her doubts) the asshole alpha certainly treated her poorly and with no affection, then snarled at her because she rightly did not trust him. They were a toxic, unpleasant couple. The ending felt unsatisfactory and rushed.
April 18, 2020
I read this many years ago, but I adore Anne Mather's books! I am revisiting some of these older books that I consider dear--like an old friend! This is emotive, moving, and I take into account that behaviour that was acceptable in the 70's is not deemed "politically correct" today. The smoking doesn't bother me--I just read, enjoy the story and take that sort of behaviour in stride. I adore this book. If you're an Anne Mather fan, you will enjoy it too!
September 30, 2017
Could have been longer and the story developed a bit more. Overall it was an good read and I liked the hero, heroine and the Brazilian setting. As someone mentioned it did need an epilogue because the ending was abrupt.
March 19, 2020
Kesinlikle çooook boş bir kitap. Şaşkın bir genç kızın nişanlısıyla evlenmek için gittiği Brezilya'da, başka biriyle evlenip ona triplenmesini anlatıyor. Kitabın tek iyi yönü sürükleyici olması. Ama yine de okumayın bence. Beyaz roman dedikleri türden.
July 5, 2018
Always enjoyed a Mather love story. This one is good.
April 1, 2021
"Θα σ' ακολουθήσω παντού" - Άνν Μάθερ, Συλλογή 47, έτος έκδοσης: 1977
"Η Ντομινίκ, αρραβωνιασμένη με τον Τζων, πηγαίνει στη Βραζιλία για να παντρευτούν. Όμως η μοίρα είχε αντίθετη γνώμη. Ο Βιτσέντε Σάντος ήταν ωραίος, πλούσιος, επιπόλαιος. Και οι γυναίκες ήταν πάντα η αδυναμία του. Τώρα ήταν η σειρά της Ντομινίκ να γεμίσει με την εφήμερη παρουσία της μια νύχτα στην άστατη ζωή του μεγάλου καρδιοκατακτητή. Αλλά οι Βραζιλιάνοι αγαπάνε με πάθος ό,τι τους ανήκει. Και φαίνεται πώς ο Σάντος, θεώρησε την Ντομινίκ απόκτημά του....
Μια πολύ αγαπημένη ιστορία!!!! Μου άρεσε τρελά!!!! Από τις πολύ ωραίες ιστορίες της Άνν Μάθερ!!!!
"Η Ντομινίκ, αρραβωνιασμένη με τον Τζων, πηγαίνει στη Βραζιλία για να παντρευτούν. Όμως η μοίρα είχε αντίθετη γνώμη. Ο Βιτσέντε Σάντος ήταν ωραίος, πλούσιος, επιπόλαιος. Και οι γυναίκες ήταν πάντα η αδυναμία του. Τώρα ήταν η σειρά της Ντομινίκ να γεμίσει με την εφήμερη παρουσία της μια νύχτα στην άστατη ζωή του μεγάλου καρδιοκατακτητή. Αλλά οι Βραζιλιάνοι αγαπάνε με πάθος ό,τι τους ανήκει. Και φαίνεται πώς ο Σάντος, θεώρησε την Ντομινίκ απόκτημά του....
Μια πολύ αγαπημένη ιστορία!!!! Μου άρεσε τρελά!!!! Από τις πολύ ωραίες ιστορίες της Άνν Μάθερ!!!!
November 20, 2014
I liked this for sure but would've liked even more drama. The ending was way abrupt and the deceit on Isabella and Salvadore's part was never fully explained. The book was badly in need of an epilogue.
June 19, 2016
I lost count how many times the heroine lit up. Too much smoking in the 70s. I love Anne Mather's novels but I prefer the author's later works. More character/story developement. There was too much focus on unnecessary description of scenery.
March 16, 2017
Love love love love love love love love *_*
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews