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Montana Mavericks: Return to Big Sky Country #5
The Rancher Takes a Wife
The Abduction
Wyatt North wouldn't wait any longer. He'd loved Melissa Avery for almost a lifetime. Now he was determined to have her. She'd know soon enough that the man she'd known forever was a stranger in the heat of the night. And that despite her unsettled past, he was about to claim her future....
Mass Market Paperback
First published November 1, 1994
2 people are currently reading
137 people want to read
About the author
Jackie Merritt
122 books18 followersJackie Merritt's first book was published in December of 1988, and since then she's been deeply engrossed in the writing game. While she's gone through dry spells, where she can't write a word that makes sense and every idea ends up in the trash can, for the most part she's usually working on a viable story.
Jackie honestly believes that anyone with a reasonable grasp of language and grammar can write a bookif they're self-disciplined enough to put in the time and effort that writing demands. Starting a book is easy; staying with it until it is finished is the part that stops many would-be authors. Jackie believes she had an advantage that a lot of people do not have. As a former accountant, she was used to working alone and completing long projects. Oddly enough, the same principles apply to writing.
Plus, of course, you have to love it. Jackie's first attempts to write fiction were so bad they were comical, but she still fell in love with writing. She had written hundreds of business letters before that, but never a word of fiction, and there, all of a sudden, was a whole new world for her to explore.
Jackie honestly believes that anyone with a reasonable grasp of language and grammar can write a bookif they're self-disciplined enough to put in the time and effort that writing demands. Starting a book is easy; staying with it until it is finished is the part that stops many would-be authors. Jackie believes she had an advantage that a lot of people do not have. As a former accountant, she was used to working alone and completing long projects. Oddly enough, the same principles apply to writing.
Plus, of course, you have to love it. Jackie's first attempts to write fiction were so bad they were comical, but she still fell in love with writing. She had written hundreds of business letters before that, but never a word of fiction, and there, all of a sudden, was a whole new world for her to explore.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
November 8, 2018
I need my rose-colored glasses adjusted because I could *not* see the romance in this second chance tale. I’ll be upfront. My r-c glasses have a Harlequin Presents filter and this hero did the exact opposite of an HP alpha, thus earning my scorn.
I know it’s not fair to judge characters by another line’s standards, but this author was writing for Silhouette at the same time as Diana Palmer and I found myself longing for the familiar world of Jacobsville -
Wow. I think I need an intervention.
Maybe.
Or maybe this story is objectively not romantic.
The backstory: H/h were high school sweethearts. Hero was the only son of wealthy, intellectual parents who bought a ranch outside of a small Montana town for his father’s help. They had servants and abundant help. Heroine was the daughter of a single mom who was bitter because of her husband’s desertion of the family. When the heroine was a senior in high school and the hero was a freshman in college, she moved the heroine to California.
H/h had a long-distance relationship/engagement. They had had sex a few times before they were separated so both were serious. Then the hero went to a party at college. Got drunk and woke up in the OW’s bed. He didn’t remember anything from the night before, including having sex. OW called him a month later telling him she was pregnant. OW was the daughter of a senator and therefore couldn’t cause a scandal. Hero married the OW, had a son, and stayed married to the OW until he caught her having an affair.
The story opens six years after the hero broke the heroine’s heart. His divorce is being finalized and he is moving back to his family’s ranch. The heroine has moved back to Montana some 18 months before and has opened a very successful café. We also find out that the heroine’s father did not desert the family. He was murdered years ago and there is an ongoing investigation that began when his body was recently discovered in a shallow grave.
H/h see each other again when he strolls into her café. He decides she’s still pretty and he wants her back – including marriage and babies. He never stopped loving her.
Heroine is hostile. She even more hostile when she finds out that the hero bought the building lot next to her café in a buying spree of several properties. At the time he didn't know she wanted the land to expand her business. Hero keeps trying to explain to the heroine about the drunken cheating, but heroine won’t listen.
Finally, the hero kidnaps her to a cabin in the mountains. The heroine has sex with him, hears his story, sees a photo of the H’s son whom she loves instantly. She still not convinced of a second chance, and asks to go home. The hero cries on the way back to town because he is out of ideas.
After a day or two back at the café, heroine decides she’s going to give their relationship a chance. She drives out to the ranch only to find the OW there – she’s come to blackmail the hero again because she’s pregnant. Heroine believes OW that they are getting their marriage back on track.
Hero is angry that the OW messed up his life for the second time and tells her to get a paternity test after the baby is born. He’ll support the child if it is his – but no marriage ever again.
He then grovels enough for the heroine to take him back. Later on the OW sends word that the hero can have custody of their son. She’s marrying the guy she’s having an affair with and affair guy didn’t want the kid.
Since this is a series, we don’t find out about the h’s father’s murder. But the h’s mother does not come back from California for the H/h’s wedding, so I’m making her the prime suspect.
So that’s the story. Here’s my problem:
An HP hero would have made the best of his marriage, ruthlessly purging the heroine from his mind. He also would have more billions to channel all of that emotion. But as soon as he started divorce proceedings, he would have tracked the heroine down and he would have begun his campaign to get her back. He would have *planned* to buy the land next to her business. He would have bought the bank that held her business loan. (This hero was a rich as an HP alpha, btw). He would have blackmailed her using the business into an engagement of convenience to get rid of the OW - the kidnapping wouldn’t have been as dopey as the hero pretending to go another way to the airport. He would have not touched the OW after he found out about the affair, thus making his responsibility for her pregnancy a fantasy story.
A Diana Palmer hero would have married the OW and then would have made her life a living hell of coldness. He never would have touched the OW in their six years of marriage because he was still in love with the heroine. Actually, he would have driven the OW off in the first year, kept the child and lived like a hermit. He wouldn't go back to his hometown because it would remind him of the heroine. He would be hostile to the heroine when he saw her again because he was bitter toward all women, but he would still long for her as he taunts her (and himself) about the men she had in California (no DP heroine would have had sex with other men like this heroine did). Also, this hero would never touch alcohol again since that lead to his downfall with the OW. He would be *tortured* by this mistake and would have done anything to keep his son away from the evil OW.
*sigh* This hero was such a weakling – he had sex with the OW on that drunken night – not that I blamed him too much– it was a long distance relationship. But he didn’t have the balls to stand up to the OW. His family had as much money as the OW’s – but he didn’t use that power. He never thought about the heroine again until he saw her. That’s not true obsessive love that can over come cheating. I’m glad he cried, but that was because he was out of ideas to get his way - not tears of remorse for hurting the heroine.
And heroine’s mom is totally a stone-cold killer.
I know it’s not fair to judge characters by another line’s standards, but this author was writing for Silhouette at the same time as Diana Palmer and I found myself longing for the familiar world of Jacobsville -
Wow. I think I need an intervention.
Maybe.
Or maybe this story is objectively not romantic.
The backstory: H/h were high school sweethearts. Hero was the only son of wealthy, intellectual parents who bought a ranch outside of a small Montana town for his father’s help. They had servants and abundant help. Heroine was the daughter of a single mom who was bitter because of her husband’s desertion of the family. When the heroine was a senior in high school and the hero was a freshman in college, she moved the heroine to California.
H/h had a long-distance relationship/engagement. They had had sex a few times before they were separated so both were serious. Then the hero went to a party at college. Got drunk and woke up in the OW’s bed. He didn’t remember anything from the night before, including having sex. OW called him a month later telling him she was pregnant. OW was the daughter of a senator and therefore couldn’t cause a scandal. Hero married the OW, had a son, and stayed married to the OW until he caught her having an affair.
The story opens six years after the hero broke the heroine’s heart. His divorce is being finalized and he is moving back to his family’s ranch. The heroine has moved back to Montana some 18 months before and has opened a very successful café. We also find out that the heroine’s father did not desert the family. He was murdered years ago and there is an ongoing investigation that began when his body was recently discovered in a shallow grave.
H/h see each other again when he strolls into her café. He decides she’s still pretty and he wants her back – including marriage and babies. He never stopped loving her.
Heroine is hostile. She even more hostile when she finds out that the hero bought the building lot next to her café in a buying spree of several properties. At the time he didn't know she wanted the land to expand her business. Hero keeps trying to explain to the heroine about the drunken cheating, but heroine won’t listen.
Finally, the hero kidnaps her to a cabin in the mountains. The heroine has sex with him, hears his story, sees a photo of the H’s son whom she loves instantly. She still not convinced of a second chance, and asks to go home. The hero cries on the way back to town because he is out of ideas.
After a day or two back at the café, heroine decides she’s going to give their relationship a chance. She drives out to the ranch only to find the OW there – she’s come to blackmail the hero again because she’s pregnant. Heroine believes OW that they are getting their marriage back on track.
Hero is angry that the OW messed up his life for the second time and tells her to get a paternity test after the baby is born. He’ll support the child if it is his – but no marriage ever again.
He then grovels enough for the heroine to take him back. Later on the OW sends word that the hero can have custody of their son. She’s marrying the guy she’s having an affair with and affair guy didn’t want the kid.
Since this is a series, we don’t find out about the h’s father’s murder. But the h’s mother does not come back from California for the H/h’s wedding, so I’m making her the prime suspect.
So that’s the story. Here’s my problem:
An HP hero would have made the best of his marriage, ruthlessly purging the heroine from his mind. He also would have more billions to channel all of that emotion. But as soon as he started divorce proceedings, he would have tracked the heroine down and he would have begun his campaign to get her back. He would have *planned* to buy the land next to her business. He would have bought the bank that held her business loan. (This hero was a rich as an HP alpha, btw). He would have blackmailed her using the business into an engagement of convenience to get rid of the OW - the kidnapping wouldn’t have been as dopey as the hero pretending to go another way to the airport. He would have not touched the OW after he found out about the affair, thus making his responsibility for her pregnancy a fantasy story.
A Diana Palmer hero would have married the OW and then would have made her life a living hell of coldness. He never would have touched the OW in their six years of marriage because he was still in love with the heroine. Actually, he would have driven the OW off in the first year, kept the child and lived like a hermit. He wouldn't go back to his hometown because it would remind him of the heroine. He would be hostile to the heroine when he saw her again because he was bitter toward all women, but he would still long for her as he taunts her (and himself) about the men she had in California (no DP heroine would have had sex with other men like this heroine did). Also, this hero would never touch alcohol again since that lead to his downfall with the OW. He would be *tortured* by this mistake and would have done anything to keep his son away from the evil OW.
*sigh* This hero was such a weakling – he had sex with the OW on that drunken night – not that I blamed him too much– it was a long distance relationship. But he didn’t have the balls to stand up to the OW. His family had as much money as the OW’s – but he didn’t use that power. He never thought about the heroine again until he saw her. That’s not true obsessive love that can over come cheating. I’m glad he cried, but that was because he was out of ideas to get his way - not tears of remorse for hurting the heroine.
And heroine’s mom is totally a stone-cold killer.
July 4, 2024
Hero dumped heroine after he got OW pregnant and married her to save face. He stayed with OW for six years, having regular sex with her and doing his best to make his marriage and family work, never giving heroine another thought. He only divorced OW because of hurt pride. OW was cheating on him and I think if he hadn't caught her red-handed, he would have continued in his marriage of convenience because he is that much of a passive wimp.
The fact that heroine initially thought he divorced his wife because he wanted another chance with heroine was so pathetic, I wanted to cry for her. What a dumb-dumb!
Instead of taking his time to rebuild trust, friendship and a relationship, he kidnapped the heroine and took her to his cabin in the woods so he could explain in his flat, whiney voice how he had been tricked into marriage six years earlier and that women always have the upper hand when trying to trap men into marriage by purposely getting pregnant. Yes, women are so awful, he continues to whine, you just never know with them, they are such manipulators.
But he, the hero, who kidnapped the heroine, had sex without protection, and was hoping to impregnate her so she would be tied to him, he is not a weasely manipulator at all, right?!! And when his ploy doesn't work, he weeps!!! But that's not manipulative at all, to make the heroine feel like she is the mean one for not taking him back lol.
Just when these two nincompoops decide to give it another chance, the OW comes back into his life, claiming she is pregnant, and he calmly takes it and acknowledges he might be the father. So apparently, they had been sleeping with each other right through the divorce process. Naturally, as he points out to the heroine, they shared a bedroom while they were married and she is beautiful, what did the heroine expect him to do, remain celibate? Still doesn't explain how he could think he might be the father of her baby if they went through a divorce and custody process. Or do they process these kinds of things in days instead of months/years in Montana?
Speaking of hero's sexual relationship with OW, I can't tell you how barftastic it was that the author suggested more than once that heroine should be happy he got all that bedroom experience with his very experienced wife. Hero and heroine had both been virgins the one time they slept together and it was muy awkward as these things tend to be for two teenagers in love but nervous. But after six years of hardcore sexual training with his wife, and heroine also getting some training on her own with random dates over the years, they now know how to get each other off satisfactorily. Who said romance was dead?
Anyhoo, when the OW confronts the heroine with a bunch of lies how they are getting back together, and the hero has done nothing to talk to the heroine about what's happening, he has the nerve to tell the heroine it is up to her who she believes, he's not going to lower himself to any explanation. You know, cause he has such a great track record for honesty and fidelity. The heroine ends up groveling to him, the big fat cheater! This is how they get their HEA.
The OW has the true HE A. She ruined the heroine and hero's life by passing off her baby numero uno as the hero's and demanding marriage. She lived the high life on hero's money and social standing for six years, preventing him from moving into his beloved ranch and forcing him to live the glitzy, glam life that one can only get in the bright lights, big city of Helena, Montana, while heroine was pouring her blood, sweat and tears into surviving and making something of herself with absolutely no support and an ocean of grief to deal with.
OW continued with her affairs and with the hero loyally servicing her in the bedroom as well. She hurt the heroine yet again by spewing her lies about her reconciliation with the hero. She ended up marrying the man she really wanted, the one who was having an affair with her and fathered her second child.
AND, she dumped the first baby,who's not even the hero's biological child,onto the hero and heroine to raise for her, so she can ride happily into the sunset with her new man!!!! We don't even get to see the reaction of the heroine in being forced, without any discussion, agreement or compromise, to take on the step mom role for a child who will be the constant reminder to her for the rest of her life that he was the reason she was dumped! No, the self-centered hero is so happy,he doesn't even consider her feelings. We leave him hanging up the phone after his former father-in-law played messenger for his wonderful daughter who really isn't all that bad, just a bit spoiled, and hero is so content that he doesn't even blink at this. No,he thinks everything in his life just turned wonderful and perfect, with him marrying the heroine, getting full custody of the OW's offspring and the OW mandating that she be given visitation rights from time to time so the heroine will always anticipate those lovely visits and custody exchanges for at least the next two decades.That just says it all.
The fact that heroine initially thought he divorced his wife because he wanted another chance with heroine was so pathetic, I wanted to cry for her. What a dumb-dumb!
Instead of taking his time to rebuild trust, friendship and a relationship, he kidnapped the heroine and took her to his cabin in the woods so he could explain in his flat, whiney voice how he had been tricked into marriage six years earlier and that women always have the upper hand when trying to trap men into marriage by purposely getting pregnant. Yes, women are so awful, he continues to whine, you just never know with them, they are such manipulators.
But he, the hero, who kidnapped the heroine, had sex without protection, and was hoping to impregnate her so she would be tied to him, he is not a weasely manipulator at all, right?!! And when his ploy doesn't work, he weeps!!! But that's not manipulative at all, to make the heroine feel like she is the mean one for not taking him back lol.
Just when these two nincompoops decide to give it another chance, the OW comes back into his life, claiming she is pregnant, and he calmly takes it and acknowledges he might be the father. So apparently, they had been sleeping with each other right through the divorce process. Naturally, as he points out to the heroine, they shared a bedroom while they were married and she is beautiful, what did the heroine expect him to do, remain celibate? Still doesn't explain how he could think he might be the father of her baby if they went through a divorce and custody process. Or do they process these kinds of things in days instead of months/years in Montana?
Speaking of hero's sexual relationship with OW, I can't tell you how barftastic it was that the author suggested more than once that heroine should be happy he got all that bedroom experience with his very experienced wife. Hero and heroine had both been virgins the one time they slept together and it was muy awkward as these things tend to be for two teenagers in love but nervous. But after six years of hardcore sexual training with his wife, and heroine also getting some training on her own with random dates over the years, they now know how to get each other off satisfactorily. Who said romance was dead?
Anyhoo, when the OW confronts the heroine with a bunch of lies how they are getting back together, and the hero has done nothing to talk to the heroine about what's happening, he has the nerve to tell the heroine it is up to her who she believes, he's not going to lower himself to any explanation. You know, cause he has such a great track record for honesty and fidelity. The heroine ends up groveling to him, the big fat cheater! This is how they get their HEA.
The OW has the true HE A. She ruined the heroine and hero's life by passing off her baby numero uno as the hero's and demanding marriage. She lived the high life on hero's money and social standing for six years, preventing him from moving into his beloved ranch and forcing him to live the glitzy, glam life that one can only get in the bright lights, big city of Helena, Montana, while heroine was pouring her blood, sweat and tears into surviving and making something of herself with absolutely no support and an ocean of grief to deal with.
OW continued with her affairs and with the hero loyally servicing her in the bedroom as well. She hurt the heroine yet again by spewing her lies about her reconciliation with the hero. She ended up marrying the man she really wanted, the one who was having an affair with her and fathered her second child.
AND, she dumped the first baby,who's not even the hero's biological child,onto the hero and heroine to raise for her, so she can ride happily into the sunset with her new man!!!! We don't even get to see the reaction of the heroine in being forced, without any discussion, agreement or compromise, to take on the step mom role for a child who will be the constant reminder to her for the rest of her life that he was the reason she was dumped! No, the self-centered hero is so happy,he doesn't even consider her feelings. We leave him hanging up the phone after his former father-in-law played messenger for his wonderful daughter who really isn't all that bad, just a bit spoiled, and hero is so content that he doesn't even blink at this. No,he thinks everything in his life just turned wonderful and perfect, with him marrying the heroine, getting full custody of the OW's offspring and the OW mandating that she be given visitation rights from time to time so the heroine will always anticipate those lovely visits and custody exchanges for at least the next two decades.That just says it all.
Read
June 13, 2012Just can't rate it,the questions that bothered me was
-How can you have sex with another woman when you have acknowledged and accepted that you love this woman,want her forever in your life?Then hurt her in worst possible way:(
-When he came to know what had he done why did he come clean and tell Melissa everything?
-When Shannon told him about pregnancy why did'nt he have a paternity test instead of blindly trusting her-going ahead for shotgun wedding?
-He had doubts whether Tim was his son or not,still he did nothing about,earlier he was in shock but what about later as he said it does'nt matters whether Tim is his or not he loves him then why not take the test,get out of that loveless marriage?It was never cleared whether Tim was his child or not?which disappointed me:(
-When yet again Shannon came out and declared her pregnancy he said "there was a slim chance that the child might be his":(
-Why did'nt he cleared the divorce mess first and then go ahead to winning Melissa,yet again he hurt her:(
This was a very disappointing read for me the only solace was we get to see H crying more then once:)it had tears and grovelling but still.........
Avoid it.
-How can you have sex with another woman when you have acknowledged and accepted that you love this woman,want her forever in your life?Then hurt her in worst possible way:(
-When he came to know what had he done why did he come clean and tell Melissa everything?
-When Shannon told him about pregnancy why did'nt he have a paternity test instead of blindly trusting her-going ahead for shotgun wedding?
-He had doubts whether Tim was his son or not,still he did nothing about,earlier he was in shock but what about later as he said it does'nt matters whether Tim is his or not he loves him then why not take the test,get out of that loveless marriage?It was never cleared whether Tim was his child or not?which disappointed me:(
-When yet again Shannon came out and declared her pregnancy he said "there was a slim chance that the child might be his":(
-Why did'nt he cleared the divorce mess first and then go ahead to winning Melissa,yet again he hurt her:(
This was a very disappointing read for me the only solace was we get to see H crying more then once:)it had tears and grovelling but still.........
Avoid it.
July 10, 2011
Some readers complained about the heroine's response to the hero. Here's my question: how is she supposed to act to a guy who "loved" her yet slept with another woman, got the ow pregnant, then married her-oh, the first two while being ENGAGED to the heroine??
They meet up six years later, and he's in the process of getting divorced and never stopped loving the heroine. That's nice. Good for you. Have fun with your divorced life, you loser!
That's easy for me to say, but I'm sure it's difficult for the heroine because she NEVER stopped loving him. I reiterate...the hero not only cheated, but knocked-up some other woman (see, that's bad...to have the man you LOVE impregnate some OTHER WOMAN with the child YOU were supposed to have with him...I'm just saying), married that OW for OVER FIVE YEARS (until the H discovered the OW was cheating on him, go figure!), and NOW she's just supposed to forget the past, the pain, the betrayal, the marriage, the child (not his fault, I know, but still), the YEARS that have past without a word, inkling, etc. because he's now available and wants her back.
Uh, no. She's emo right now, and I get that, but she's entitled.
So...they get back together and blah blah blah. I still have issues with the way he handled things. It was heavy handed, but I gotta consider when it was written.
They meet up six years later, and he's in the process of getting divorced and never stopped loving the heroine. That's nice. Good for you. Have fun with your divorced life, you loser!
That's easy for me to say, but I'm sure it's difficult for the heroine because she NEVER stopped loving him. I reiterate...the hero not only cheated, but knocked-up some other woman (see, that's bad...to have the man you LOVE impregnate some OTHER WOMAN with the child YOU were supposed to have with him...I'm just saying), married that OW for OVER FIVE YEARS (until the H discovered the OW was cheating on him, go figure!), and NOW she's just supposed to forget the past, the pain, the betrayal, the marriage, the child (not his fault, I know, but still), the YEARS that have past without a word, inkling, etc. because he's now available and wants her back.
Uh, no. She's emo right now, and I get that, but she's entitled.
So...they get back together and blah blah blah. I still have issues with the way he handled things. It was heavy handed, but I gotta consider when it was written.
avoid
March 13, 2013The guy is a prick, what's with all the smiling on the cover?
May 8, 2021
First read for me by this author, the Two main characters had been in love since high school they’re separated because she’s helping her mother and he’s at his family’s ranch as his father is ill. But then his daddy insists he goes to college, at a party he gets plastered and wakes up in bed with the other woman. A month later she calls to say she’s pregnant so he marries her, I was surprised he didn’t ask for tests to see if the baby was his, especially as he was engaged to the heroine. He has to phone the heroine to tell her what happened, she’s broken hearted.
6 years later she owns a cafe/diner in her home town, unknown to her the hero has returned also to his family’s ranch, he’s divorcing his wife of 6 years. Then they meet, he still loves and wants her, but she is really hostile. Eventually we can guess what happens.
I had a few issues with this, the hero claims he never ever loved the OW all through their 6 years of marriage, so why did he share a normal married life with her sex and all, he has never ever liked her so that was odd. Plus he’s always suspected the baby wasn’t his, so it doesn’t make sense. Then there’s the other strings to this story, the murder of the heroine’s father unsolved which was why she returned home in the first place. Is that solved in another book? There were a couple of other things too. I had assumed this was a stand alone, but it’s not quite that at all. I liked the heroine’s resistance to forgiving him for his betrayal of her, but he was very very persistent. Although this was written and published in 2009 it reads as though it’s set years ago long before that.
6 years later she owns a cafe/diner in her home town, unknown to her the hero has returned also to his family’s ranch, he’s divorcing his wife of 6 years. Then they meet, he still loves and wants her, but she is really hostile. Eventually we can guess what happens.
I had a few issues with this, the hero claims he never ever loved the OW all through their 6 years of marriage, so why did he share a normal married life with her sex and all, he has never ever liked her so that was odd. Plus he’s always suspected the baby wasn’t his, so it doesn’t make sense. Then there’s the other strings to this story, the murder of the heroine’s father unsolved which was why she returned home in the first place. Is that solved in another book? There were a couple of other things too. I had assumed this was a stand alone, but it’s not quite that at all. I liked the heroine’s resistance to forgiving him for his betrayal of her, but he was very very persistent. Although this was written and published in 2009 it reads as though it’s set years ago long before that.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 21, 2014
I did not finish this book. It was a steaming pile of fragrant fecal material. I hated the characters. I hated their words, their thoughts, and everything about them. They were both complete idiots. I wanted them both to crash into a tree and die.
What on Gods Green Earth was the author thinking, writing a story about a clueless , spineless dolt who is led by his nether regions through life - who then pops back up into his old hometown and then KIDNAPS HIS EX GIRLFRIEND ?!?!?!?!
There is NOTHING about this plot twist that makes an ounce of rational, logical sense. I closed the book and threw it directly into the trash as soon as the man got out of the truck and left the woman sitting in the truck after he had kidnapped her, and she began to RATIONALIZE AN ABDUCTION !!! And make excuses for his behavior and to start to think to herself that she kind of still liked him.
NO ! NO ! NO !
At that point any chance of anything about this book being " romantic" , like Elvis, dropped dead on the bathroom floor and began to stink.
Also, how many of us would buy a ticket to go and visit a parent who lives in another state, but then decide not to call her ahead of time and let her know we were coming. I don't know about many 30 something adults, but I do know if I showed up on my mothers doorstep out of the blue, she might feed me, but she would also gently let me know I should have called because she has her own life and does not exist just for me to show up and eat her groceries and borrow her car and leave her dirty laundry to wash and dry and fold and most likely put away.
There were, to put it lightly, plot holes in the first half of this book through which I could drive a fleet of hummers and maybe a small yacht.
If I could have rated it with a Negative star, I would have used That rating system. It's Awful.
What on Gods Green Earth was the author thinking, writing a story about a clueless , spineless dolt who is led by his nether regions through life - who then pops back up into his old hometown and then KIDNAPS HIS EX GIRLFRIEND ?!?!?!?!
There is NOTHING about this plot twist that makes an ounce of rational, logical sense. I closed the book and threw it directly into the trash as soon as the man got out of the truck and left the woman sitting in the truck after he had kidnapped her, and she began to RATIONALIZE AN ABDUCTION !!! And make excuses for his behavior and to start to think to herself that she kind of still liked him.
NO ! NO ! NO !
At that point any chance of anything about this book being " romantic" , like Elvis, dropped dead on the bathroom floor and began to stink.
Also, how many of us would buy a ticket to go and visit a parent who lives in another state, but then decide not to call her ahead of time and let her know we were coming. I don't know about many 30 something adults, but I do know if I showed up on my mothers doorstep out of the blue, she might feed me, but she would also gently let me know I should have called because she has her own life and does not exist just for me to show up and eat her groceries and borrow her car and leave her dirty laundry to wash and dry and fold and most likely put away.
There were, to put it lightly, plot holes in the first half of this book through which I could drive a fleet of hummers and maybe a small yacht.
If I could have rated it with a Negative star, I would have used That rating system. It's Awful.
April 2, 2015
This was an absolutely wonderful contemporary read for an older Harlequin....lots of adult angst & believable circumstances. Recommended as a read for any contemporary romance readers & those find of harlequins w/ believable circumstances. I will reread this one & wish to own a hardback edition...do they make harlequin hardbacks? Anyway; I recommend this one as a " to own" copy regardless & a must read!
July 27, 2024
Jumpin' Jesus on a Cracker - this was BONKERS. Now I'm a big fan of ridiculous to the point of absurdity storylines, so of course 5 stars from me.
But I can honestly see why this would be a 1 star read for many people. The hero has already committed the unforgivable curse, he cheated on the heroine, got the OW pregnant, and married her. He stayed married to the OW for six years, sleeping with her the whole time, and is *still* married to her (but the divorce papers are in the post darlin) when he enters stage left into our story.
He bumps into his long-lost high school sweetheart, and immediately proceeds to go after her with the speed and relentless determination of the T1000 from Terminator2. That same night he's forcing his way into her flat, raving about forever-love and getting married, and then force kisses her while she is crying and raging for him to please please please for the love of GOD go away and leave her alone.
He then turns into this incredibly frightening and fucking CREEPY stalker, honestly he gave off the energy of the psycho serial killer from a dark thriller than a romance lead. He slashes the heroine tire so he has an excuse to give her lift, he then kidnaps her and forces seduces her twice, the second time he is trying to breed her so he can trap her. The whole time he's got this manic gleam in his eye as he rants out these creepy, over the op, full-on love confessions. And the whole time she is making it loud and clear no no no no NO pleeeease take me home you're ruining my life. This poor woman spends the whole book emotionally crippled by her rage or abandoned to sobbing, full-on-hard crying jags.
Eventually the hero grinds her down, and in confusion and distress and horror she relents to his insane pressure and says 'I...think I might... love you?' after which he whoops and hollers and says 'gosh darlin you'll never regret this' and rushes her off to be married.
This is a romance worthy of an episode of Hannibal, or True Detective maybe. Creepy, oppressive, red-flags all over, with a unforgiveable self-pitying cheating hero and a heroine whose a broken mess. Slow hand clap to this author, she went there and gave zero fucks along the way.
But I can honestly see why this would be a 1 star read for many people. The hero has already committed the unforgivable curse, he cheated on the heroine, got the OW pregnant, and married her. He stayed married to the OW for six years, sleeping with her the whole time, and is *still* married to her (but the divorce papers are in the post darlin) when he enters stage left into our story.
He bumps into his long-lost high school sweetheart, and immediately proceeds to go after her with the speed and relentless determination of the T1000 from Terminator2. That same night he's forcing his way into her flat, raving about forever-love and getting married, and then force kisses her while she is crying and raging for him to please please please for the love of GOD go away and leave her alone.
He then turns into this incredibly frightening and fucking CREEPY stalker, honestly he gave off the energy of the psycho serial killer from a dark thriller than a romance lead. He slashes the heroine tire so he has an excuse to give her lift, he then kidnaps her and forces seduces her twice, the second time he is trying to breed her so he can trap her. The whole time he's got this manic gleam in his eye as he rants out these creepy, over the op, full-on love confessions. And the whole time she is making it loud and clear no no no no NO pleeeease take me home you're ruining my life. This poor woman spends the whole book emotionally crippled by her rage or abandoned to sobbing, full-on-hard crying jags.
Eventually the hero grinds her down, and in confusion and distress and horror she relents to his insane pressure and says 'I...think I might... love you?' after which he whoops and hollers and says 'gosh darlin you'll never regret this' and rushes her off to be married.
This is a romance worthy of an episode of Hannibal, or True Detective maybe. Creepy, oppressive, red-flags all over, with a unforgiveable self-pitying cheating hero and a heroine whose a broken mess. Slow hand clap to this author, she went there and gave zero fucks along the way.
February 2, 2022
I found it a bit boring. I wished that the H was a real jerk. It would be more interesting.
As it was I didn’t blame him that much because of the circumstances- a long distance relationship during long time and in his age was bound to end this way ( unless he was a saint ). I also think he should had take a paternity test after his son was born if he intended to sacrifice his life for the kid’s sake . I also wonder how deep was his love for the heroine . He still slept with his wife until recently and if not for her infidelity he would continue to do so. It would be more honest to realize that their life went on , they still felt something , some affection after years and as they met by pure coincidence they wanted to tray again. In stead of clinging to that big love story.
As it was I didn’t blame him that much because of the circumstances- a long distance relationship during long time and in his age was bound to end this way ( unless he was a saint ). I also think he should had take a paternity test after his son was born if he intended to sacrifice his life for the kid’s sake . I also wonder how deep was his love for the heroine . He still slept with his wife until recently and if not for her infidelity he would continue to do so. It would be more honest to realize that their life went on , they still felt something , some affection after years and as they met by pure coincidence they wanted to tray again. In stead of clinging to that big love story.
March 29, 2019
They were so in love in high school and they had kept their love going long distance while he was in college and she was working and helping her mother. The he went to a party and the next day found himself in a motel room with a girl he didn't really know. When she called him several weeks later and told him she was pregnant he called his fiance and told her he had to marry the girl. His heart was broken and her heart was broken. He spent 6 years in a marriage he didn't want because of his son. Now he is back in Whitehorn and was hoping to get her to forgive him. This is a heart breaker and tears fall. Great book.
January 19, 2024
Na verdade, é -1, para esse H covarde, escroto e corno. Pena que a h se deixou levar, ela merecia um homem de verdade. Esse poço de lama fedida só se separou porque foi corneado ao vivo e a cores, nunca pensou num exame de DNA e viveu normalmente com a OW, sem jamais lembrar da h. É um zero a esquerda, infelizmente a autora deu a h esse final infeliz.
January 14, 2023
Did I miss who killed her father?
March 1, 2024
This book was hard to get into. It took me a while the first couple chapters.
June 2, 2024
When do we find out why murdered the dad?
Another where the h certainly deserves better than the cheating asshat of a H. They weren't even on a break! He is a H who want's his cake and to eat it too.
The h & H were childhood sweethearts with him being a year or 2 ahead of her in school. They were inseparable and he was her first and only lover. h was from a poorish family with a bitter mom and a dad that had disappeared. H was from a rich family.
h had to move to California with her mum because mum conveniently hated the town where they live (probably because she knew her husband was dead and she is a bitter lady)
The H & h try to keep their romance going but basically the H is dazzled by a senators daughter and despite having regrets in the morning he did the deed. OW turns up several weeks later saying she is preggers and he lets the h down to marry her.
6 years later and the h is in the home town with a successful cafe when the H moves back to town in the midst of his divorce and meets the h again. He instantly decides he wants her back and she is LESS than impressed. When slashing her spare tyre with a knife doesn’t work Ihe resorts to kidnapping the h and taking her to his hideaway cabin but this h is made of sterner stuff.
When he realises he isn't getting anywhere with the h he takes her back to town after a cheeky cry at the side of the road. He knows he f**ked up and his h is not wanting to play with him despite his love. She does eventually give in and the ex wife turns up to declare she is preggers again with his baby. H was having a pretty good time in the marital bed despite not liking his ex wife and the baby could be his even though he caught her cheating. She throws a spoke in the wheel of his new relationship with the h then swans off.
H is gutted but losing the will to atone and disappears back to his cabin and the h goes after him. The H confesses that he doesn't think his son is really his but loves him anyway and the reunion is on. In a predictable twist the OW marries the last guy she had an affair with and gives custody of the son to the H. My god someone pass the brain bleach!
Another where the h certainly deserves better than the cheating asshat of a H. They weren't even on a break! He is a H who want's his cake and to eat it too.
The h & H were childhood sweethearts with him being a year or 2 ahead of her in school. They were inseparable and he was her first and only lover. h was from a poorish family with a bitter mom and a dad that had disappeared. H was from a rich family.
h had to move to California with her mum because mum conveniently hated the town where they live (probably because she knew her husband was dead and she is a bitter lady)
The H & h try to keep their romance going but basically the H is dazzled by a senators daughter and despite having regrets in the morning he did the deed. OW turns up several weeks later saying she is preggers and he lets the h down to marry her.
6 years later and the h is in the home town with a successful cafe when the H moves back to town in the midst of his divorce and meets the h again. He instantly decides he wants her back and she is LESS than impressed. When slashing her spare tyre with a knife doesn’t work Ihe resorts to kidnapping the h and taking her to his hideaway cabin but this h is made of sterner stuff.
When he realises he isn't getting anywhere with the h he takes her back to town after a cheeky cry at the side of the road. He knows he f**ked up and his h is not wanting to play with him despite his love. She does eventually give in and the ex wife turns up to declare she is preggers again with his baby. H was having a pretty good time in the marital bed despite not liking his ex wife and the baby could be his even though he caught her cheating. She throws a spoke in the wheel of his new relationship with the h then swans off.
H is gutted but losing the will to atone and disappears back to his cabin and the h goes after him. The H confesses that he doesn't think his son is really his but loves him anyway and the reunion is on. In a predictable twist the OW marries the last guy she had an affair with and gives custody of the son to the H. My god someone pass the brain bleach!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 6, 2009
This was a quick, easy read, however the main character, Melissa was a little over the top. Though I understand she was hurt very badly, there were a few times during the story that I wanted to slap her and tell her to wake up.
Great writing Jackie Merritt, you kept me interested and engaged.
Great writing Jackie Merritt, you kept me interested and engaged.
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