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Pagan Enchantment
Swept away by the millionaire... Promising young actress, Merry Charles, is beyond excited when celebrated movie director, Gideon Steele, arrives to see her play. She can't help but dream that it's so he can offer her a part in his next production. But Gideon's reasons are much more personal... Soon Merry finds herself being swept away to the Mediterranean on Gideon's luxury yacht, posing as his girlfriend! But Gideon has another surprise for Merry--he's her stepbrother!--and suddenly Merry finds herself bound closer to this millionaire than she ever expected! Originally published in 1983
285 pages, Hardcover
First published November 24, 1983
About the author
Carole Mortimer
1,307 books913 followersI have written almost 250 romance novels in contemporary and Regency.
I am a USA Today Bestselling Author and recipient of the 2015 RWA Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2014 I received a Pioneer of Romance Award from Romantic Times in the US and in 2012 I was recognised by Queen Elizabeth II for my 'outstanding service to literature'.
I am very happily married to Peter with six sons, and live on the Isle of Man
I am a USA Today Bestselling Author and recipient of the 2015 RWA Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2014 I received a Pioneer of Romance Award from Romantic Times in the US and in 2012 I was recognised by Queen Elizabeth II for my 'outstanding service to literature'.
I am very happily married to Peter with six sons, and live on the Isle of Man
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
August 29, 2019
Pretty young heroine/actress Merry Charles (who is 20) is in a stage play. Director hero Gideon Steele (who's 34) is in the audience and wants to see her after the show. Excited Merry thinks Gideon may want to use her in his next production, but he has a more personal reason for seeking her out. He tells her he's her stepbrother and that he wants to reunite her with her biological mother. (Merry didn't know she was adopted.) Merry eventually agrees and Gideon persuades her to try to get to know her mother by taking a Mediterranean cruise on a yacht with him posing as her boyfriend...
Merry was a likable heroine who did stand up to the hero at times, but Gideon was very arrogant, cranky, and angry through most of the book, so it wasn't a very romantic read. I didn't like how he first went about telling Merry she was adopted and he kept pestering her, trying to force her into meeting her biological mother without giving much thought to Merry's feelings. (Even though everything did work out in the end and Merry was glad she did meet her mother.) I did like the setting on the yacht but I found the story disappointing as a romance, even though I liked the mother/daughter storyline. I usually enjoy Carole Mortimer's books, she's one of my favorite Harlequin Presents authors, but I didn't care for this one.
Merry was a likable heroine who did stand up to the hero at times, but Gideon was very arrogant, cranky, and angry through most of the book, so it wasn't a very romantic read. I didn't like how he first went about telling Merry she was adopted and he kept pestering her, trying to force her into meeting her biological mother without giving much thought to Merry's feelings. (Even though everything did work out in the end and Merry was glad she did meet her mother.) I did like the setting on the yacht but I found the story disappointing as a romance, even though I liked the mother/daughter storyline. I usually enjoy Carole Mortimer's books, she's one of my favorite Harlequin Presents authors, but I didn't care for this one.
May 19, 2017
Interesting premise in this one. The film director H seeks aspiring actress h for his stepmother. Heroine is the baby his stepmother gave up at 17. She’s 38 now and had a nervous breakdown because of the guilt. Hero thinks meeting the h will help her.
Heroine never knew she was adopted and doesn’t believe the hero’s story. She’s not very nice to him for that reason and because she was hoping for a part in a movie. The hero tracks her down at her father’s house and after overhearing their conversation, the father tells the heroine the truth. They had been meaning to tell her on her 18th birthday, but then her mother died and he kept putting it off.
(Reviewers note: I remember this kind of secrecy surrounding adoptions. It was just becoming a thing to seek out your birth parents. The laws were starting to change around this time.)
Heroine finally agrees to meet her birth mother. Hero will take her on a two week cruise around Greece and Turkey and introduce her as his girlfriend. He wants to make sure the stepmother and the heroine can get along before revealing the truth. He doesn’t want the stepmother to have more trauma if they don’t click.
So off they go to Greece. H/h do not get along even though they are both attracted to each other. The womanizer hero puts his best moves on the heroine, but she resists. The first night she is seasick and the hero takes care of her. There is an OW, the ship’s doctor’s fiancé. (This is a private yacht with around 20 or so passengers). The hero is jealous of anyone who speaks or dances with the h, including his own father. (He’s got it bad)
To inoculate himself from the h, he spends a lot of time with the OW. The H’s father keeps watching the heroine (she looks just like her mother), but he doesn’t let the cat out of the bag. The stepmother finally realizes the h might be her lost daughter when she sees her laughing. They have a lovely reunion.
Now that they no longer have to pretend to be in a relationship, the H is moody and even more horrible to the heroine. The heroine has fallen for him, so this hurts her heart. Once she is back in London she tries to forget him. Her only bright spot is getting to know her mother.
Finally she has an audition for a movie. It’s the hero’s movie and he wants her. He does a nice grovel/explanation (he even pinpoints when he realized he was in love with her). They’ll get married and make movies and children together. HEA.
This is the usual verbally cruel, cynical hero brought to his knees by a young heroine with a lot of spirit. The unusual twist was the adopted daughter plot line.
Heroine never knew she was adopted and doesn’t believe the hero’s story. She’s not very nice to him for that reason and because she was hoping for a part in a movie. The hero tracks her down at her father’s house and after overhearing their conversation, the father tells the heroine the truth. They had been meaning to tell her on her 18th birthday, but then her mother died and he kept putting it off.
(Reviewers note: I remember this kind of secrecy surrounding adoptions. It was just becoming a thing to seek out your birth parents. The laws were starting to change around this time.)
Heroine finally agrees to meet her birth mother. Hero will take her on a two week cruise around Greece and Turkey and introduce her as his girlfriend. He wants to make sure the stepmother and the heroine can get along before revealing the truth. He doesn’t want the stepmother to have more trauma if they don’t click.
So off they go to Greece. H/h do not get along even though they are both attracted to each other. The womanizer hero puts his best moves on the heroine, but she resists. The first night she is seasick and the hero takes care of her. There is an OW, the ship’s doctor’s fiancé. (This is a private yacht with around 20 or so passengers). The hero is jealous of anyone who speaks or dances with the h, including his own father. (He’s got it bad)
To inoculate himself from the h, he spends a lot of time with the OW. The H’s father keeps watching the heroine (she looks just like her mother), but he doesn’t let the cat out of the bag. The stepmother finally realizes the h might be her lost daughter when she sees her laughing. They have a lovely reunion.
Now that they no longer have to pretend to be in a relationship, the H is moody and even more horrible to the heroine. The heroine has fallen for him, so this hurts her heart. Once she is back in London she tries to forget him. Her only bright spot is getting to know her mother.
Finally she has an audition for a movie. It’s the hero’s movie and he wants her. He does a nice grovel/explanation (he even pinpoints when he realized he was in love with her). They’ll get married and make movies and children together. HEA.
This is the usual verbally cruel, cynical hero brought to his knees by a young heroine with a lot of spirit. The unusual twist was the adopted daughter plot line.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 29, 2019
"Pagan Enchantment" is the story of Merry and Gideon.
Our h is an aspiring actress, working in small shows in theaters when famous director, our H shows up in her life. Instead of offering her a role of her lifetime, he tells her that he's her stepbrother, and that she was adopted! The h who has recently lost her mother is shocked to learn that she was adopted, and after much coercion agrees to meet her birth mother. However, the H stipulates that they should pretend to be engaged to lessen the shock, and the h and H become a fake couple while travelling to the cruise ship where his father and her biological mother are recuperating. Then there are loads of heated kisses, almost lovemaking, loads of OW drama and OM jealousy, banter, angst ending in a sweet confessional HEA.
Liked in parts.
Safe
3/5
Our h is an aspiring actress, working in small shows in theaters when famous director, our H shows up in her life. Instead of offering her a role of her lifetime, he tells her that he's her stepbrother, and that she was adopted! The h who has recently lost her mother is shocked to learn that she was adopted, and after much coercion agrees to meet her birth mother. However, the H stipulates that they should pretend to be engaged to lessen the shock, and the h and H become a fake couple while travelling to the cruise ship where his father and her biological mother are recuperating. Then there are loads of heated kisses, almost lovemaking, loads of OW drama and OM jealousy, banter, angst ending in a sweet confessional HEA.
Liked in parts.
Safe
3/5
July 6, 2012
A very disappointing read. Gideon is a famous film director who seeks Meredith out, because he has discovered that she is his stepsister. His stepmother was a single, pregnant 17 year old forced to give her child up for adoption. Though, in later years she met, fell in love and married Gideon's father, she could never come to grips with having given up her child.
He tries to reunite them by introducing her as his girlfriend on a 2 week Mediterranean cruise giving them the opportunity to get to know one another before the "big discovery". Why he chose to do that, rather than just tell his stepmother that he had finally found her long lost daughter, never made any sense.
Mildly put, Gideon was one big jerk...so I couldn't believe that anyone could love him so I was skeptical about the HEA.
The heroine, was just too young to make any sense and no matter how much he trampled all over her, she just continued to love him.
I would recommend passing on this one. Not only was it a ridiculous plot, but the characters weren't worthy of the time invested to read the book.
He tries to reunite them by introducing her as his girlfriend on a 2 week Mediterranean cruise giving them the opportunity to get to know one another before the "big discovery". Why he chose to do that, rather than just tell his stepmother that he had finally found her long lost daughter, never made any sense.
Mildly put, Gideon was one big jerk...so I couldn't believe that anyone could love him so I was skeptical about the HEA.
The heroine, was just too young to make any sense and no matter how much he trampled all over her, she just continued to love him.
I would recommend passing on this one. Not only was it a ridiculous plot, but the characters weren't worthy of the time invested to read the book.
March 21, 2021
On the luxury of the yacht that sweeps the actress Meredith "Merry" Charles and the famous director Gideon Steele to the beauty of the Greek Islands onto the Mediterranean. The exotic locales had a wonderful descriptions to it, and the intense and fascinating romance between Merry and Gideon had its charms and excitement. Enemies who clearly detests each other from the start, finds a truce when Merry gets to know that he is her step-brother. A careful bond of attraction turns to a blistering love neither of them can deny. In all the desperation of a man in love Gideon hates the thought of their disguise to come clear, as he is not ready to lose her.
Long ago i read anything by Carole Mortimer, she is a fantastic story-teller. Gideon is the cynical and INCREDIBLE jealous hero who really got cruel against the heroine at times, but it is so clear that he thought he was suffering unrequited love for her, and our heroine was a very stubborn spitfire who defied Gideon at every turn, and the ending was wonderful for their finally deserved HEA.!
***
"I want to make love—with you, only with you. I want to make love to you, desperately in fact, but I also want to just be with you, talk with you, be silent with you, grow old with you. I want all that, Merry and I'm not going to rest until I have it. You'll never escape me. I want children with you too, black-haired, green-eyed little witches like their mother."
-Gideon to Merry
Long ago i read anything by Carole Mortimer, she is a fantastic story-teller. Gideon is the cynical and INCREDIBLE jealous hero who really got cruel against the heroine at times, but it is so clear that he thought he was suffering unrequited love for her, and our heroine was a very stubborn spitfire who defied Gideon at every turn, and the ending was wonderful for their finally deserved HEA.!
***
"I want to make love—with you, only with you. I want to make love to you, desperately in fact, but I also want to just be with you, talk with you, be silent with you, grow old with you. I want all that, Merry and I'm not going to rest until I have it. You'll never escape me. I want children with you too, black-haired, green-eyed little witches like their mother."
-Gideon to Merry
July 29, 2016
The hero ruined the novel for me, he was beyond cruel and rude to the heroine and even though the story was very good, it only takes one character to ruin the whole novel completely for me.
November 13, 2015
All was well until the end. I have my veiw on falling in love after a couple of days - or weeks - :3
March 13, 2017
3.5 Surprising Stars
I actually enjoyed this book much more than I thought I would.
While I agree with the other reviewers that the H was unnecessarily cruel, I also loved the way the h, even at twenty stood up to him and put him in his place.
The concept was also different. The H went looking for the daughter that his stepmother gave up for adoption when she was 17. She regretted the decision to the point that she was having a breakdown because she was unable to locate her child. That when her stepson took matters in his own hands and, by any means necessary, found the h.
It was a sweet thought to help the woman he considers his mother, but his actions were anything but sweet. He traumatized the poor girl when her found her. Made demands without a care for her feeling about the situation and then proceeded to run hot and cold all over her.
Although she is years younger than he is, she held her own where he was concerned. The h is one sassy little thing!
This was a wonderfully surprising read that I hated to put down and I am glad that I read.
I actually enjoyed this book much more than I thought I would.
While I agree with the other reviewers that the H was unnecessarily cruel, I also loved the way the h, even at twenty stood up to him and put him in his place.
The concept was also different. The H went looking for the daughter that his stepmother gave up for adoption when she was 17. She regretted the decision to the point that she was having a breakdown because she was unable to locate her child. That when her stepson took matters in his own hands and, by any means necessary, found the h.
It was a sweet thought to help the woman he considers his mother, but his actions were anything but sweet. He traumatized the poor girl when her found her. Made demands without a care for her feeling about the situation and then proceeded to run hot and cold all over her.
Although she is years younger than he is, she held her own where he was concerned. The h is one sassy little thing!
This was a wonderfully surprising read that I hated to put down and I am glad that I read.
April 12, 2019
Merry Charles was a promising young actress and Gideon Steele a very celebrated director - and when he came to see her play one night she couldn't help hoping it meant he was going to offer her a job in his next production. But that wasn't what Gideon wanted at all! In fact he had come on private business, with family news of a startling nature - and the next thing Merry knew, she was on a luxury yacht in the Mediterranean, posing as Gideon's girl-friend. And that was only the beginning of it. (
August 17, 2025
This had some good points, like most of the story taking place on a luxurious yacht, and the H and h speaking a lot of witty repartee, reminding me of those classic old movies I love so much.
But I have issues with this H. for a sophisticated, worldly man in his 30's, he often acted like a spoiled teenager, who got angry and resentful when things didn't go his way. He'd make caustic comments to the h, and either ignore her, act like he didn't care, then do an about face and say how much he wanted her, then back away when things heated up. He'd spend too much time around the OW, yet throw a fit when the h spent any time with the OM. (In an interesting twist, the OW and OM were engaged and later got married, though after the way the OW treated him I think the guy had rocks in his head to stay with her.) He deliberately pushed her away by the end of the cruise, then later flaunted another woman in front of her (all an act, as she was happily married and a family friend) to make her believe he didn't care, then does another about face and arranges for her to get a part in the movie he's directing, because he loves her so much he can't live without her!
Therapy??? Bipolar meds????
Nope, just a case of a former playboy too chicken to admit he was in love! UNBELIEVABLE!!!
To make things worse, this guy is abnormally jealous! It's one thing to be jealous of the OM, but when his jealously extends to his own father (who's very much in love with the H's stepmother), that's really going WAY OVER THE TOP!!! Even more ridiculous, the H arranges for the h to audition for a part in his film, then gets jealous when she has to kiss a man in the audition scene. It was his idea for her to get the part, and he knew she'd have to kiss the actor who played her boyfriend, yet he's getting all bothered about it! Ridiculous!!!
But the worst part of all, was the way he blurted out way too fast (when they first meet) that the h is actually his stepsister, because his father is married to her birth mother! The h didn't even know she was adopted!!! Talk about crummy!! His concern was for his stepmother, who hadn't been well and had been thinking about the baby girl she gave up for adoption, and the H figured if he could find her it would help his stepmom recover. He gave no thought tom the h and how she'd feel, blindsiding her like this!
Also, having found out where the h was, it would have been better if he had spoken to her father first (her adoptive parents had never told her about it and the mother had passed away), and explain the situation, find out if she knew the truth, and decide what to do about it together. It would have given her father the chance to tell her the truth himself, instead of the H doing that for him, when he had no right.
In other words, this H is a trainwreck, and if I were the h, I'd leave the station FAST!!
Come to think of it, I would have preferred a book about the H's father and the h's birth mother. From the bits and pieces that you're told of their story, it sounds like it would have made a great novel. The author really goofed things up!
But I have issues with this H. for a sophisticated, worldly man in his 30's, he often acted like a spoiled teenager, who got angry and resentful when things didn't go his way. He'd make caustic comments to the h, and either ignore her, act like he didn't care, then do an about face and say how much he wanted her, then back away when things heated up. He'd spend too much time around the OW, yet throw a fit when the h spent any time with the OM. (In an interesting twist, the OW and OM were engaged and later got married, though after the way the OW treated him I think the guy had rocks in his head to stay with her.) He deliberately pushed her away by the end of the cruise, then later flaunted another woman in front of her (all an act, as she was happily married and a family friend) to make her believe he didn't care, then does another about face and arranges for her to get a part in the movie he's directing, because he loves her so much he can't live without her!
Therapy??? Bipolar meds????
Nope, just a case of a former playboy too chicken to admit he was in love! UNBELIEVABLE!!!
To make things worse, this guy is abnormally jealous! It's one thing to be jealous of the OM, but when his jealously extends to his own father (who's very much in love with the H's stepmother), that's really going WAY OVER THE TOP!!! Even more ridiculous, the H arranges for the h to audition for a part in his film, then gets jealous when she has to kiss a man in the audition scene. It was his idea for her to get the part, and he knew she'd have to kiss the actor who played her boyfriend, yet he's getting all bothered about it! Ridiculous!!!
But the worst part of all, was the way he blurted out way too fast (when they first meet) that the h is actually his stepsister, because his father is married to her birth mother! The h didn't even know she was adopted!!! Talk about crummy!! His concern was for his stepmother, who hadn't been well and had been thinking about the baby girl she gave up for adoption, and the H figured if he could find her it would help his stepmom recover. He gave no thought tom the h and how she'd feel, blindsiding her like this!
Also, having found out where the h was, it would have been better if he had spoken to her father first (her adoptive parents had never told her about it and the mother had passed away), and explain the situation, find out if she knew the truth, and decide what to do about it together. It would have given her father the chance to tell her the truth himself, instead of the H doing that for him, when he had no right.
In other words, this H is a trainwreck, and if I were the h, I'd leave the station FAST!!
Come to think of it, I would have preferred a book about the H's father and the h's birth mother. From the bits and pieces that you're told of their story, it sounds like it would have made a great novel. The author really goofed things up!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 4, 2024
I didn't like it.
The FMC was interesting and I liked that when MMC went off with another woman (that he had slept with in past) that FMC then hung out with the other woman's fiancee to make them both jealous.
However she was a disappointment with how she pined for the MMC after he kept rejecting her and was mean to her. It was extremely disappointing that when she got an opportunity for an acting part her main thought (and why she wanted it) was that she would be on same continent as him.
MMC was not great, he was a manwhore that slept with every woman on that Yacht (except his FMC and his stepmother). He was mean the the FMC every time they talked. He flirted with other women (that he had slept with in the past) in front of her. Np.
The FMC was interesting and I liked that when MMC went off with another woman (that he had slept with in past) that FMC then hung out with the other woman's fiancee to make them both jealous.
However she was a disappointment with how she pined for the MMC after he kept rejecting her and was mean to her. It was extremely disappointing that when she got an opportunity for an acting part her main thought (and why she wanted it) was that she would be on same continent as him.
MMC was not great, he was a manwhore that slept with every woman on that Yacht (except his FMC and his stepmother). He was mean the the FMC every time they talked. He flirted with other women (that he had slept with in the past) in front of her. Np.
February 28, 2021
I have read a lot of terrible HP’s lately. What a relief to read this excellent HP.
The h is feisty and not stupid, which is also a relief.
The end was disappointing, therefore not a 5 star rating. In the end she gets invited for an audition, she is the only one doing the audition and she gets the role because of the H who is the director. I don’t like that.
It makes her acting talent (or lack of acting talent) look even worse that he just gives her a role because of his love for her. She apparently isn’t a good actress, well then leave it at that. He tells her that she would have gotten the role even if she had messed up her audition. Nah.
The h is feisty and not stupid, which is also a relief.
The end was disappointing, therefore not a 5 star rating. In the end she gets invited for an audition, she is the only one doing the audition and she gets the role because of the H who is the director. I don’t like that.
It makes her acting talent (or lack of acting talent) look even worse that he just gives her a role because of his love for her. She apparently isn’t a good actress, well then leave it at that. He tells her that she would have gotten the role even if she had messed up her audition. Nah.
June 30, 2017
Predictable.
May 17, 2016
I wish I could have given this book zero stars. A very sensitive issue as adopting was turned into a trivial matter here. For a man to ambush a girl in her home and force her to admit that she had been adopted and then force her to meet her biological parents wash harassment. For the man to continue to do so, and at the same time be very ally abusive was criminal. And having done that he forced her to be his fake girlfriend so that everyone would find it easier to accept her.
Meredith should have filed a police report and taken him to court. In which case this plot would have turned out very differently.
Meredith should have filed a police report and taken him to court. In which case this plot would have turned out very differently.
December 8, 2015
It's very much one of my favorite books.They have this entertaining chemistry that is coy, playfull and charming. She turn the tables on him and of course he falls like a ton of bricks. His jealousy reactions were enjoyable. It's a fantastic read.
October 25, 2023
Merry Charles is quite surprised to meet Gideon Steele and find out he is her stepbrother. She never knew she had been adopted and was reluctant to meet her birth mother.
Read
April 22, 2018He taught her all about loving
Merry knew what she wanted out of life--an acting career that would assure her fame and fortune. And the night she met the internationally celebrated director Gideon Steele, she knew he could be instrumental in bringing all her plans to fruition.
But Gideon had sought her out for a purpose entirely his own; one that had nothing to do with stage or screen.
Suddenly Merry found herself surrendering to a will stronger that, her own--and learning more than she could ever have guessed about the secrets of a loving heart.
Merry knew what she wanted out of life--an acting career that would assure her fame and fortune. And the night she met the internationally celebrated director Gideon Steele, she knew he could be instrumental in bringing all her plans to fruition.
But Gideon had sought her out for a purpose entirely his own; one that had nothing to do with stage or screen.
Suddenly Merry found herself surrendering to a will stronger that, her own--and learning more than she could ever have guessed about the secrets of a loving heart.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews