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His Untamed Innocent
Jake Radley-Smith is pleasantly surprised to find a strange female in his company apartment-wearing a bath towel! He isn't interested in Marin's sob story. He's late for a house party and she'll be perfect as his ready-made date!
Marin's completely bewildered…. She thought pretending to be a loving couple would be easy, but the chemistry between her and Jake is explosive! She's also left with no doubt that what Jake wants, he gets.and it seems he wants her-badly. How can she, inexperienced and nervous, handle his lethal brand of dark desire?
Marin's completely bewildered…. She thought pretending to be a loving couple would be easy, but the chemistry between her and Jake is explosive! She's also left with no doubt that what Jake wants, he gets.and it seems he wants her-badly. How can she, inexperienced and nervous, handle his lethal brand of dark desire?
192 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published October 1, 2010
About the author
Sara Craven
504 books270 followersAnne Bushell was born on October 1938 in South Devon, England, just before World War II and grew up in a house crammed with books. She was always a voracious reader, some of her all-time favorites books are: "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen, "Middlemarch" by George Eliot, "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë, "Gone With the Wind" by Margaret Mitchell and "The Code of the Woosters" by P. G. Wodehouse.
She worked as journalist at the Paignton Observer, but after her marriage, she moved to the north of England, where she worked as teacher. After she returned to journalism, she joined the Middlesbrough Writers' Group, where she met other romance writer Mildred Grieveson (Anne Mather). She started to wrote romance, and she had her first novel "Garden of Dreams" accepted by Mills & Boon in 1975, she published her work under the pseudonym of Sara Craven. In 2010 she became chairman of the Southern Writers' Conference, and the next year was elected the twenty-six Chairman (2011–2013) of the Romantic Novelists' Association.
Divorced twice, Annie lives in Somerset, South West England, and shares her home with a West Highland white terrier called Bertie Wooster. In her house, she had several thousand books, and an amazing video collection. When she's not writing, she enjoys watching very old films, listening to music, going to the theatre, and eating in good restaurants. She also likes to travel in Europe, to inspire her romances, especially in France, Greece and Italy where many of her novels are set. Since the birth of her twin grandchildren, she is also a regular visitor to New York City, where the little tots live. In 1997, she was the overall winner of the BBC's Mastermind, winning the last final presented by Magnus Magnusson.
She worked as journalist at the Paignton Observer, but after her marriage, she moved to the north of England, where she worked as teacher. After she returned to journalism, she joined the Middlesbrough Writers' Group, where she met other romance writer Mildred Grieveson (Anne Mather). She started to wrote romance, and she had her first novel "Garden of Dreams" accepted by Mills & Boon in 1975, she published her work under the pseudonym of Sara Craven. In 2010 she became chairman of the Southern Writers' Conference, and the next year was elected the twenty-six Chairman (2011–2013) of the Romantic Novelists' Association.
Divorced twice, Annie lives in Somerset, South West England, and shares her home with a West Highland white terrier called Bertie Wooster. In her house, she had several thousand books, and an amazing video collection. When she's not writing, she enjoys watching very old films, listening to music, going to the theatre, and eating in good restaurants. She also likes to travel in Europe, to inspire her romances, especially in France, Greece and Italy where many of her novels are set. Since the birth of her twin grandchildren, she is also a regular visitor to New York City, where the little tots live. In 1997, she was the overall winner of the BBC's Mastermind, winning the last final presented by Magnus Magnusson.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
February 17, 2017
On the plus side,we have a great romantic hero of my favorite kind, the reformed rake. The heroine is not conventionally beautiful which is a nice change of pace. The stepsis is not a troll from hell for once, so thanks for debunking that cliche. The parents are nice and supportive. The initial dialogue between h and H was funny and sexy. That's really what got his attention anyways. There was some yummy tension and heat between them, and the ending ILY declaration rather romantic.
But, on the minus side: Not one, not two but three evil trolls (h's former employer, the employer’s lecherous husband, and of course a venomous OW) never get their comeuppance and in fact, I can quite imagine them making the rest of the h's life pure hell because she just can't stand up for herself.
Speaking of h, after the initial fireworks between her and the hero, where she tells him off, that spark completely disappears for the rest of the story. If you are going to make your heroine not exactly an oil painting (belle laide, as well as a number of even more unflattering adjectives are used to describe her), can we at least not make her such a Debbie downer. Give her intelligence, wit, some talent, or a spine, something to justify the hero's interest in her.
Up to the end of the book, the heroine thought of herself as ugly, dowdy, boring, unsophisticated, and simply not on the level of the hero. I didn't really get any hint that was about to change. Hence my annoyance at the baddies of this tale never getting their comeuppance.
I lost interest at the halfway mark and kind of just pushed myself to finish as this was a short read anyway.
But, on the minus side: Not one, not two but three evil trolls (h's former employer, the employer’s lecherous husband, and of course a venomous OW) never get their comeuppance and in fact, I can quite imagine them making the rest of the h's life pure hell because she just can't stand up for herself.
Speaking of h, after the initial fireworks between her and the hero, where she tells him off, that spark completely disappears for the rest of the story. If you are going to make your heroine not exactly an oil painting (belle laide, as well as a number of even more unflattering adjectives are used to describe her), can we at least not make her such a Debbie downer. Give her intelligence, wit, some talent, or a spine, something to justify the hero's interest in her.
Up to the end of the book, the heroine thought of herself as ugly, dowdy, boring, unsophisticated, and simply not on the level of the hero. I didn't really get any hint that was about to change. Hence my annoyance at the baddies of this tale never getting their comeuppance.
I lost interest at the halfway mark and kind of just pushed myself to finish as this was a short read anyway.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 6, 2010
The ol' SC that I've known & luved is back & I hope she'll stick to her best luved formula. Unplanned pregnancy + marriage, angst, young & shy virginal heroine, loaded hero w/ mouth-watering mansion, luv @ 1st sight & a touch of humor. Brilliant writing as always. The only thing that I wanted SC to add was smacking the 2 bitches @ the restaurant for being venomous vipers LOL... J/K. It just felt like a dangling minor issue 'cuz I was in a bloodthirsty mode. This is gonna be 1 of my fav re-reads. She just made a die-hard fan 1 super happy reader. *Kisses*
January 15, 2017
meh! mellow romance with a mildly annoying heroine, witty Brit hero and a predictable plot line. But this being a Sara Craven book; didn't feel so very unoriginal ( with originality having lost out to 'formula' these days). Definitely worth two stars or maybe even two and a half.
June 21, 2013
The heroine was a major bitch and the hero was the most wonderful kindest sweetest man! She didn't deserve him! I wanted him to dump her sorry ass and kick her to the curb but alas it never happened.
September 6, 2026
A lot of forced angst and misunderstanding. The H was the sweetest guy from the beginning when they meet, and yet the h treats him deplorably like she had been dumped by him in the past or something. A uselessly snarky way to respond to a man who talks to you respectfully and takes care of you and isn’t subservient and such, as in he’s still pretty masculine and in control and assertive. Anything this man would say or do to her, the h would troll him by trying to get away from him and hurl unnecessary insults at him. LOL. Like girl what??? He even asks her if she was the same woman who was with him at night.
The h wanted to play martyr and kept tooting her own horn how she’s so shy and nervous and such a stick and has no curves. She had some kinda martyr/ I’m not good enough syndrome and couldn’t act decently for a second. HATED HER. Plus anyone who’s naturally shy and restrained doesn’t go around announcing it to people that they are. Total let down! Oh and yes, she was the one who initiated their first time together and then came crying wolf the next day. 🙄
The h wanted to play martyr and kept tooting her own horn how she’s so shy and nervous and such a stick and has no curves. She had some kinda martyr/ I’m not good enough syndrome and couldn’t act decently for a second. HATED HER. Plus anyone who’s naturally shy and restrained doesn’t go around announcing it to people that they are. Total let down! Oh and yes, she was the one who initiated their first time together and then came crying wolf the next day. 🙄
February 4, 2020
3,5 stars for extremely naive (that means idiot) and besotted H and totally preventable little angst.
December 20, 2017
The h in this book is a complete ninny!
She makes a deal with hot Mr. H to be his gf for a party. He needs to avoid the wife of one of his clients who has her heart set on having him back in her bed.
They then get invited to spend a weekend at the same client’s house with his barracuda wife. They have a challenging weekend trying to keep their hands off of each other, until the last, when the H made the earth move for his virgin h.
She ends up pregnant. He insists on marriage. She acts like a total idiot with all her insecurities and pushes him away. He tries, but damn, how many times can a person get treated like they are a monster before they give up?!
This was a great story. It kept me riveted during all the self inflicted drama and pain. My sympathies were completely for the H. Yes, he was a playboy before he met her but it was so obvious that he was in luuurve. She was too much of a ninny to see it.
I can see myself revisiting this one in a year or two. It was worth the read.
She makes a deal with hot Mr. H to be his gf for a party. He needs to avoid the wife of one of his clients who has her heart set on having him back in her bed.
They then get invited to spend a weekend at the same client’s house with his barracuda wife. They have a challenging weekend trying to keep their hands off of each other, until the last, when the H made the earth move for his virgin h.
She ends up pregnant. He insists on marriage. She acts like a total idiot with all her insecurities and pushes him away. He tries, but damn, how many times can a person get treated like they are a monster before they give up?!
This was a great story. It kept me riveted during all the self inflicted drama and pain. My sympathies were completely for the H. Yes, he was a playboy before he met her but it was so obvious that he was in luuurve. She was too much of a ninny to see it.
I can see myself revisiting this one in a year or two. It was worth the read.
March 13, 2012
The hero Jake arrives home to find the heroine Marin in his apartment wearing only a towel. Marin's stepsister is Jake's PA and thinking that Jake would be out of town for a while offered Marin the apartment to stay in after Marin had returned home suddenly. Although he is blatantly annoyed to find Marin in his home he does see a way out of a current dilemma so he asks her to come to a party with him in order to deter the unwelcome advances of an ex. Marin agrees but didn't expect that one party would turn into a weekend away having to pretend to be Jake's partner. Their closeness soon turns deeper and more intense and they give in to their desire for one another. But Marin's hopes that something may be starting between her and Jake are dashed when she is humiliated by Jake's cruel ex. Marin leaves without a word but Jake manages to track her down a month later and they discover that their one night together has resulted in pregnancy. At Jake's insistence, they marry but Marin is confused over her feelings for Jake, which makes her pull away from him making them both unhappy.
This is exactly the kind of book that shows what Sara Craven does best, and I really enjoyed it. There is a lot of emotion and angst throughout the story as well as good use of external conflict. The heroine does act a little irrational at times and that is a little frustrating to read, but I felt that her character went on a journey and was able to grow as the story progressed. I adored the hero, I really wish that his POV had been included it would have made this book even more enjoyable.
What I like about this is that the plot isn't overly complicated, and it flows well. I'm not usually a fan of the jealous-other-woman trope, but in this book the author makes her so dastardly bitchy that it ends up working!
Really liked this one.
Originally posted at http://everyday-is-the-same.blogspot....
This is exactly the kind of book that shows what Sara Craven does best, and I really enjoyed it. There is a lot of emotion and angst throughout the story as well as good use of external conflict. The heroine does act a little irrational at times and that is a little frustrating to read, but I felt that her character went on a journey and was able to grow as the story progressed. I adored the hero, I really wish that his POV had been included it would have made this book even more enjoyable.
What I like about this is that the plot isn't overly complicated, and it flows well. I'm not usually a fan of the jealous-other-woman trope, but in this book the author makes her so dastardly bitchy that it ends up working!
Really liked this one.
Originally posted at http://everyday-is-the-same.blogspot....
December 29, 2015
The thing I wondered while reading this book was were that point is when heroine's naivety turns into TSTL. In this book I wanted to hit that Marin girl with something hard. Like a frying pan. Hero was great! Hero was amazing! And she was some stupid girl with lousy excuses who believes everything she is told by nasty people and doesn't believe her own experience or hero's words. I wonder how she was successful at her job being so naïve?
And she also wasn't talking. She made up some "truth" and believed it no matter what. Her unwillingness to make their marriage work was unspeakable. How she was imagining their future life I have no idea. She didn't deserve that extra thousand for the weekend (Where was her professionalism she was so fond of? Nowhere to be found. Her job was to save him and she left him alone.) and she definitely didn't deserve Jake's love.
3rd star is for hero only.
And she also wasn't talking. She made up some "truth" and believed it no matter what. Her unwillingness to make their marriage work was unspeakable. How she was imagining their future life I have no idea. She didn't deserve that extra thousand for the weekend (Where was her professionalism she was so fond of? Nowhere to be found. Her job was to save him and she left him alone.) and she definitely didn't deserve Jake's love.
3rd star is for hero only.
October 3, 2016
Average 3.0
I would have given it just 2.0 but one extra for the honey sweet Male lead , Jake . He is such a lovely character , easy to fall in love .
Marin is stupid . Sometimes it felt like she was right in her part , but most of the times , you will find her stupid , at times you may also feel like giving a tight slap . Especially the second half of the book.
Well Yaas , I loved Lynne , Barbara and Elizabeth .
I would have given it just 2.0 but one extra for the honey sweet Male lead , Jake . He is such a lovely character , easy to fall in love .
Marin is stupid . Sometimes it felt like she was right in her part , but most of the times , you will find her stupid , at times you may also feel like giving a tight slap . Especially the second half of the book.
Well Yaas , I loved Lynne , Barbara and Elizabeth .
December 22, 2021
I loved this. The H is to die for. She gets stick in other reviews for her lack of confidence but I'm fine with that. It happens. And the fairytale for me is that the gentle, unconfident virgin gets her gorgeous reformed rake. It's unfashionable but it's nice to see shy, sweet girls getting HEAs. It's not always possible to be kickass. Loved the pivotal sex scene. He's hot.
September 14, 2014
This is marginally better then THE HIGHEST STAKES OF ALL. At least she wasn't sold to Jake by a relative.
April 27, 2017
Leído el 08/01/2011
December 31, 2019
3.5 stars
December 17, 2023
this one was realistic? likable characters? AMAZING? NASTY?!?!! REREADDD
Read
May 26, 2023DNF, 66% in the book. Honestly, I couldn't take any more of this h. Nothing, not a single thing about her was endearing, to keep me interested in the book.
July 16, 2020
Another romance where she throws happiness away because of fear. That makes me angry, so stupid, unwilling to risk rejection to gain everything.
Also yet another one where h believes everything the OW says. This OW is clever and plays on both h and H’s insecurities.
The h thinks she’s homely and assumes H slept with her because he knew she wanted it and he felt pity and obligated. Huh??. I get the homely part but H had shown he was very attracted to her. But she believed OW instead of evidence in hand. Then she won’t sleep with him, not even only cuddle, after wedding, assumes he’s with other ladies.
Would be 2 stars except SC is a favorite even with trite plots. Increasing to 4 stars on reread because H knew what he wanted and went after it. Liked H, h was a dumb timid bunny. S C writes the most delicious nasty OW who have no compunction about saying anything.
Bad: blasphemy.
Also yet another one where h believes everything the OW says. This OW is clever and plays on both h and H’s insecurities.
The h thinks she’s homely and assumes H slept with her because he knew she wanted it and he felt pity and obligated. Huh??. I get the homely part but H had shown he was very attracted to her. But she believed OW instead of evidence in hand. Then she won’t sleep with him, not even only cuddle, after wedding, assumes he’s with other ladies.
Would be 2 stars except SC is a favorite even with trite plots. Increasing to 4 stars on reread because H knew what he wanted and went after it. Liked H, h was a dumb timid bunny. S C writes the most delicious nasty OW who have no compunction about saying anything.
Bad: blasphemy.
August 30, 2012
Decent but I'd of loved to see the whore of a villain gets hers. I always think of how we can kill the villains off when I'm done reading the novel. Unfortunately she wasn't in the novel killed off, just a bitter, pathetic excuse for a woman. The rest of the novel was alright. I liked the chemistry the hero and heroine had. It was a good show.
December 11, 2020
The H is 5 stars, the h is 1 star or less. But the story is well written, so 4 stars.
They have a great night together. The next morning the OW says some things about him and her. Instead of telling the H what the OW has said to her, she shuts him off immediately. She treats him cold while he has done nothing wrong.
The man is a dream, but she’s so annoying.
They have a great night together. The next morning the OW says some things about him and her. Instead of telling the H what the OW has said to her, she shuts him off immediately. She treats him cold while he has done nothing wrong.
The man is a dream, but she’s so annoying.
October 10, 2011
Good read -- emotion & angst, though I'm starting to see that SC has a definite formula. I wish she'd have more physical stuff between the H&h after the early "one night stand."
February 15, 2017
the hero was too good for the heroine!this book belongs to him and I love Sara cravens writing style
hq-to-read
March 12, 2018Jake Radley-Smith is pleasantly surprised to find a strange female in his company apartment--wearing a bath towel! He isn't interested in Marin's sob story. He's late for a house party and she'll be perfect as his ready-made date!Marin's completely bewildered.... She thought pretending to be a loving couple would be easy, but the chemistry between her and Jake is explosive! She's also left with no doubt that what Jake wants, he gets.and it seems he wants her--badly. How can she, inexperienced and nervous, handle his lethal brand of dark desire? (l
January 5, 2026
Guardo esto como Inocencia Salvaje: las niñas jarrapas de Andrea Abreu
Chulo, tardé un montón en terminarlo porque soy una vaga.
Chulo, tardé un montón en terminarlo porque soy una vaga.
July 18, 2016
2.5 stars really. First half of the book was delightful, flirty.
With a prim and proper virginal heroine and a serial womanizer hero !
But once the book reaches the crescendo and they "do" it, it loses tempo.
She thinks he is going to discard her like the daily newspaper and get a new one tomorrow.
He thinks "doing" it has made her cranky, not to mention pregnant !
A not so important and rather stupid OW figures now and then.
But the heroine falls for her taunts even after knowing first hand that the OW is just a A class b***h !
Charming first half 2.5/2.5. Extremely brainless second half 0/2.5
Total 2.5 / 5 , that's my score for this one !
Untamed, really !!?!??! Is this some zoo !?!?
With a prim and proper virginal heroine and a serial womanizer hero !
But once the book reaches the crescendo and they "do" it, it loses tempo.
She thinks he is going to discard her like the daily newspaper and get a new one tomorrow.
He thinks "doing" it has made her cranky, not to mention pregnant !
A not so important and rather stupid OW figures now and then.
But the heroine falls for her taunts even after knowing first hand that the OW is just a A class b***h !
Charming first half 2.5/2.5. Extremely brainless second half 0/2.5
Total 2.5 / 5 , that's my score for this one !
Untamed, really !!?!??! Is this some zoo !?!?
April 14, 2012
This was an impulse purchase - I liked the premise and recall liking some of Sara Craven's previous books. While the setting felt current enough, Marin came across as being too much on the naive side, and I never got into their romance. Nothing wrong really with this story, but it doesn't deliver anything fresh either.
December 7, 2010
I really enjoyed this novel, but I thought Marin (I dislike this name) acted a bit wrong towards Jake during some parts when he was trying to be nice and actually show his feelings. I was sad that they lost the baby, but they did get their happily ever after, which is what I wanted!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 18, 2011
I liked the story-some parts more than others. I thought that Marin was way too young and the relationship between her and Jake didn't get much time to develop. Yes, I get that is typical in this sort of book. I still think the relationship needed a little more.
November 17, 2012
A nice feel-good story.
January 23, 2013
Es taaaan tan aburrido...
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews