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Pattern of Deceit
'If you start fancying yourself in love with me, you're out.'
Matt Fielding might be impossibly arrogant, but his stipulation suited Ann just fine. Bitter experience had taught her to steer clear of the limelight - all she wanted was to concentrate on the prestigious job he was offering. But he needn't think he could walk all over her, either...so perhaps it was inevitable that sparks would fly!
Matt Fielding might be impossibly arrogant, but his stipulation suited Ann just fine. Bitter experience had taught her to steer clear of the limelight - all she wanted was to concentrate on the prestigious job he was offering. But he needn't think he could walk all over her, either...so perhaps it was inevitable that sparks would fly!
Hardcover
First published January 1, 1989
4 people are currently reading
232 people want to read
About the author
Emma Darcy
655 books324 followersEmma Darcy is the pseudonym created by the married writing team of Wendy (1940-2020) and Frank Brennan (1936-1995). Their life journey has taken as many twists and turns as the characters in their stories, whose international popularity has resulted in over sixty-million book sales. With more than a hundred titles, Emma Darcy appeared regularly on the Waldenbooks bestseller lists in the U.S.A. and in the Nielson BookScan Top 100 chart in the U.K.
Wendy was born 28 November 1940 in Australia. Her sister was the novelist Maureen Mary (Miranda Lee). Her father was a country school teacher and brilliant sportsman. Her mother was a talented dressmaker. She obtained an Honours degree in Latin and initially worked as a high school English/French teacher. She married Frank Brennan, an Australian businessman born in 1936. She changed careers to computer programming before marriage and motherhood settled her into a community life. She was reputedly the first woman computer programmer in the southern hemisphere.
As voracious readers, the step to writing their own books seemed a natural progression and the challenge of creating exciting stories was soon highly addictive. They were published since 1983. In 1993, for the Emma Darcy pseudonym's 10th anniversary, they created the "Emma Darcy Award Contest" to encourage authors to finish their manuscripts. After the death of Frank Brennan in 1995, Wendy wrotes books on her own. She lived in a beachside property on the central coast of New South Wales, and liked to travel extensively to research settings and increase her experience of places and people.
Wendy Brennan passed away on December 21, 2020. She is survived by her children, grandchildren, and sister, writer Miranda Lee.
Wendy was born 28 November 1940 in Australia. Her sister was the novelist Maureen Mary (Miranda Lee). Her father was a country school teacher and brilliant sportsman. Her mother was a talented dressmaker. She obtained an Honours degree in Latin and initially worked as a high school English/French teacher. She married Frank Brennan, an Australian businessman born in 1936. She changed careers to computer programming before marriage and motherhood settled her into a community life. She was reputedly the first woman computer programmer in the southern hemisphere.
As voracious readers, the step to writing their own books seemed a natural progression and the challenge of creating exciting stories was soon highly addictive. They were published since 1983. In 1993, for the Emma Darcy pseudonym's 10th anniversary, they created the "Emma Darcy Award Contest" to encourage authors to finish their manuscripts. After the death of Frank Brennan in 1995, Wendy wrotes books on her own. She lived in a beachside property on the central coast of New South Wales, and liked to travel extensively to research settings and increase her experience of places and people.
Wendy Brennan passed away on December 21, 2020. She is survived by her children, grandchildren, and sister, writer Miranda Lee.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
December 16, 2020
Update December 16, 2020:
This is not the first time I re-read this wonderful book by Emma Darcy, her very best imho. I just had to make this update on my gazillionth re-read and state that I would give this a million more stars if possible and that, this time around, it wasn't just the heroine's moral strength that I noticed but her sweet vulnerability too. This feels more like the story of a woman coming to terms with the traumas of her childhood and triumphing over her demons than a simple romance. But the romance is wonderful too. It really has all the feelz. This is SO a keeper.
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Original Review January 1, 2017:
"I'll give it to you straight. I want no female emotionalism in this office. We get on with the job. That's it. Do I make myself clear?"
Ann stared back at him fiercely, wanting to cut him down to size. He was her employer and she wanted nothing-absolutely nothing-of a more personal nature from him.
-"I'm sure I won't trouble you, sir. Actually, I prefer younger men."
POW! And just like that, the gloves were on, the two contestants started circling each other in the ring, and the first of many gorgeous punches by the heroine hit their mark spot on. It wasn't long before the match was over and I'll give you three guesses on who was the one to get knocked out.
I can't say enough about how much I loved Emma Darcy's heroine in Pattern of Deceit. She was smart, strong, sarcastic, feisty but also vulnerable and very human. A very layered, very entertaining character to inhabit the mind of for the duration of this wonderful, quirky, humorous, and also at times very poignant office romance.
The hero starts out by being the typical big fat jerk but he is nowhere as sadistic as most of the Alphas in HPlandia. That strong, arrogant facade is somewhat justified by his extreme intelligence, drive, and seriously jaw-dropping work ethic. He doesn't suffer fools gladly and neither does the heroine. These two actually get along great on the professional front and it is when the hero resorts to chauvinistic power plays to put her back into place that the dragon laying dormant inside the heroine's cool and calm veneer surfaces and boy, does it roar. To give him credit though, the hero admits when she beats him at his own game and is a pretty good sport about it.
As we get to know these characters more on a personal level, you can't help but be equally drawn to both and root for their happy ending.
Pattern of Deceit is a satisfying, modern love story that does not sing one single, false note. I loved it and I am so glad I started out 2017 with such a fun read.
April 19, 2017
This was adorable - from the personal assistant heroine spiking the head honcho hero's guns with the frilled dress shirt to the underwear fiasco. The dialogue was sparkling and the characters well-rounded.
There are a lot of great reviews for this one, so I won't go into the plot, but I will say how much I liked how the author handled the mommy/daddy issues. The heroine was still reeling from her mother's notorious death - in fact, she was embarrassed by it and that prolonged her grieving. I like how she slowly came to terms with her identity separate from her mother's. And once she was able to do that, she adopted the good lessons she had learned from her mother - and those lessons prompted her to stop hiding and to grab life with both hands. She was awesome and I'm glad she got that hunkalicious hero who was willing to change and grow to keep up with her.
Highly recommend.
There are a lot of great reviews for this one, so I won't go into the plot, but I will say how much I liked how the author handled the mommy/daddy issues. The heroine was still reeling from her mother's notorious death - in fact, she was embarrassed by it and that prolonged her grieving. I like how she slowly came to terms with her identity separate from her mother's. And once she was able to do that, she adopted the good lessons she had learned from her mother - and those lessons prompted her to stop hiding and to grab life with both hands. She was awesome and I'm glad she got that hunkalicious hero who was willing to change and grow to keep up with her.
Highly recommend.
February 25, 2017
50% in: Hey I like this! A lot!
75% in: Oh wow, I love this!
This heroine did not miss a step. She did everything perfectly right, just the way I wanted her to. I loved her so much! And her hilariously old-school-chauvinistic boor of a sexy boss was alternately infuriating and adorable in the way only a big, rude, macho sweetheart can be.
So Ann is one of those sexy-but-hiding-it-under-dowdy-clothes personal assistants, and Matt is one of those don't-fall-in-love-with-me-or-you're-fired bosses. Old trope, tried and true. Twist comes in with Ann's secret background, as well as her secret ability to sing like an angel.
The way these two played around each other, testing each other's limits, was delightful. Matt is some kinda caveman throwback and expects his personal assistant to do all kinds of errands for him. Ann rebels in her silently audacious ways with a perfect poker face.
Some of my favorite parts:
The love confession at the end was awesome, even though she was the one making it. If only all heroines were this COOL!! This was the most fun and light-hearted read I've had in a while and I enjoyed it immensely.
75% in: Oh wow, I love this!
This heroine did not miss a step. She did everything perfectly right, just the way I wanted her to. I loved her so much! And her hilariously old-school-chauvinistic boor of a sexy boss was alternately infuriating and adorable in the way only a big, rude, macho sweetheart can be.
So Ann is one of those sexy-but-hiding-it-under-dowdy-clothes personal assistants, and Matt is one of those don't-fall-in-love-with-me-or-you're-fired bosses. Old trope, tried and true. Twist comes in with Ann's secret background, as well as her secret ability to sing like an angel.
The way these two played around each other, testing each other's limits, was delightful. Matt is some kinda caveman throwback and expects his personal assistant to do all kinds of errands for him. Ann rebels in her silently audacious ways with a perfect poker face.
Some of my favorite parts:
The love confession at the end was awesome, even though she was the one making it. If only all heroines were this COOL!! This was the most fun and light-hearted read I've had in a while and I enjoyed it immensely.
February 7, 2017
What a kickass heroine.
She's
You're the top, you're the Collisseum
You're the top, you're the Louvre Museum
You're the melody from a symphony by Strauss
You're a Bendel bonnet, a Shakespeare sonnet, you're Mickey Mouse
You're the Nile, you're the Tower of Pisa
You're the smile of the Mona Lisa
I'm a worthless check, a total wreck, a flop
But if baby, I'm the bottom, you're the top
You're the top, you're Mahatma Gandhi
You're the top, you're Napoleon brandy
You're the purple light of a summer night in Spain
You're the National Gallery, you're Garbo's salary, you're cellophane
You're sublime, you're a turkey dinner
You're the time of the Derby Winner
The h is singled out to be the H's PA because she's frumpy. She knows why and lets the H have it, both barrels, order to keep her pride and implies he's too old and keep up with her. Despite a great working relationship, she keeps it cool. Every effort he makes in his macho way to define her, she tops him. He wants her to buy his evening shirt. She does, and buys him a ruffled nightmare. He wants her to buy him underwear: okay, but be prepared to wear pink hearts or little hands. Well done, fiesty h.
She hides behind frumpy suits and glasses which drives her boss CRAZY. The h feels she has good reason to hide part of her identity as the famous actress-mother she adored died scandalously.
Despite my enjoyment of the story, I thought this was written much, much earlier due to the sexual stereotypes in the workplace. The h is overwhelmed that someone will find out about her mother and assume she is easy as well. Given that this is set in Australia and not the US, maybe it wasn't as big of an issue as in the States. Anita Hill comes to mind at this time. However, the h's need to hide her background and dress down her sexuality rang true rather than a as a mere HarleyLand trope.
The h keeps it professional until she's required to stay at his family estate. The H's sister outs her as an incredible singer and her idol as well as the daughter of a notorious actress. The h belts out one song, but is incredibly distressed as she feels it labels her as a wanton.
The h and H continue their working relationship until an unpleasant woman draws attention to the elephant in the room: their sexual tension. The H says what the heck, I want to have sex, so let's get married. The h admits she loves him and that would never work. She needs love.
The H comes through eventually, and I think we have a real HEA here.
She's
You're the top, you're the Collisseum
You're the top, you're the Louvre Museum
You're the melody from a symphony by Strauss
You're a Bendel bonnet, a Shakespeare sonnet, you're Mickey Mouse
You're the Nile, you're the Tower of Pisa
You're the smile of the Mona Lisa
I'm a worthless check, a total wreck, a flop
But if baby, I'm the bottom, you're the top
You're the top, you're Mahatma Gandhi
You're the top, you're Napoleon brandy
You're the purple light of a summer night in Spain
You're the National Gallery, you're Garbo's salary, you're cellophane
You're sublime, you're a turkey dinner
You're the time of the Derby Winner
The h is singled out to be the H's PA because she's frumpy. She knows why and lets the H have it, both barrels, order to keep her pride and implies he's too old and keep up with her. Despite a great working relationship, she keeps it cool. Every effort he makes in his macho way to define her, she tops him. He wants her to buy his evening shirt. She does, and buys him a ruffled nightmare. He wants her to buy him underwear: okay, but be prepared to wear pink hearts or little hands. Well done, fiesty h.
She hides behind frumpy suits and glasses which drives her boss CRAZY. The h feels she has good reason to hide part of her identity as the famous actress-mother she adored died scandalously.
Despite my enjoyment of the story, I thought this was written much, much earlier due to the sexual stereotypes in the workplace. The h is overwhelmed that someone will find out about her mother and assume she is easy as well. Given that this is set in Australia and not the US, maybe it wasn't as big of an issue as in the States. Anita Hill comes to mind at this time. However, the h's need to hide her background and dress down her sexuality rang true rather than a as a mere HarleyLand trope.
The h keeps it professional until she's required to stay at his family estate. The H's sister outs her as an incredible singer and her idol as well as the daughter of a notorious actress. The h belts out one song, but is incredibly distressed as she feels it labels her as a wanton.
The h and H continue their working relationship until an unpleasant woman draws attention to the elephant in the room: their sexual tension. The H says what the heck, I want to have sex, so let's get married. The h admits she loves him and that would never work. She needs love.
The H comes through eventually, and I think we have a real HEA here.
January 2, 2014
I always enjoy an Emma Darcy romance. Especially the earlier vintage work. This was no exception.
A young successful woman finds employment with Mr. Gorgeous when she quits her job after being sexually harassed. Of course, new boss (Mr. Gorgeous) warns her to make sure she doesn't fall in love with him, like the last three PAs he had to fire.
Since our heroine goes out of her way to avoid any sort of non-professional encounter with him, this shouldn't be a problem. Furthermore since she purposely dresses as Miss Frump (armor she uses to avoid further sexual harassment) it's unlikely Mr. Gorgeous is even going to bother glancing her way. So here we have it, two dedicated professional beavers off to work in the industrial dam of business. You would think things would go smooth as clockwork, except, ah emm.....there seems to be an electric buzz in the air.....
I liked these two, they were raw and real. Though, the hero suffered from a bit of a "God complex", the issues from his past more or less explained his attitude. The heroine herself had a lot of excess baggage to overcome and she underwent several changes as she faced her fears. This added the necessary spice and tension I like to have in my HPs.
The story was very engaging and hilariously outdated as the heroine kept being sent out to not only make his coffee, buy his shirts, but to buy his UNDERWEAR. LOL.
A young successful woman finds employment with Mr. Gorgeous when she quits her job after being sexually harassed. Of course, new boss (Mr. Gorgeous) warns her to make sure she doesn't fall in love with him, like the last three PAs he had to fire.
Since our heroine goes out of her way to avoid any sort of non-professional encounter with him, this shouldn't be a problem. Furthermore since she purposely dresses as Miss Frump (armor she uses to avoid further sexual harassment) it's unlikely Mr. Gorgeous is even going to bother glancing her way. So here we have it, two dedicated professional beavers off to work in the industrial dam of business. You would think things would go smooth as clockwork, except, ah emm.....there seems to be an electric buzz in the air.....
I liked these two, they were raw and real. Though, the hero suffered from a bit of a "God complex", the issues from his past more or less explained his attitude. The heroine herself had a lot of excess baggage to overcome and she underwent several changes as she faced her fears. This added the necessary spice and tension I like to have in my HPs.
The story was very engaging and hilariously outdated as the heroine kept being sent out to not only make his coffee, buy his shirts, but to buy his UNDERWEAR. LOL.
February 17, 2020
I understand why readers love "Pattern of Deceit",but for me it was a fun one-time read and not that mindblowing and awesome as other harlequins i have come across on this trope.Its a Office-Romance from the 90s with clashing personalities between the main-leads.Its a game of power,and both refused to lose and i also have got to admit that it irked me how the supposed cold and sensible intelligent heroine Ann Carmody took herself down to childish nonsense to win over her dynamic boss Matthew Fieldings,and only made matters unnecesary worse when she instead (as she herself put it later on in the story) could have been resonable and smart about it.But (sigh) i know it was needed for the developement,but it j.u.s.t. irritated me!
What i liked about this story is Darcy`s way of developing the romance and the story-telling.Its great done and the last half of the book was my favourite part.!I love the way their turbulent emotions comes down on both Matthew and Ann,and i loved what Ann did at the end.That was so
inspiring and brave...and i know myself that i would never dare to do it!
Despite little annoyance on Ann`s part,i did really come to enjoy reading this story!
What i liked about this story is Darcy`s way of developing the romance and the story-telling.Its great done and the last half of the book was my favourite part.!I love the way their turbulent emotions comes down on both Matthew and Ann,and i loved what Ann did at the end.That was so
inspiring and brave...and i know myself that i would never dare to do it!
Despite little annoyance on Ann`s part,i did really come to enjoy reading this story!
January 10, 2019
"Pattern of Deceit" is the story of Ann and Matt.
When Ann Carmody is appointed as the personal secretary to Matt Fielding, he has only one demand: do not fall in love with him.
Ann is more than happy to oblige. Running from a life that had exposed her to enough limelight and pain to last a lifetime, she is hell bent on hiding her real identity. However, dressing herself in drab grey suits is one thing, being a personal slave for her chauvinistic boss is another!
Thus begins a battle of wills between a strong, independent yet wounded heroine and a super intrigued hero. I adored the banter between these two, and the pranks she played on him with the tie and shirt made me laugh out loud!
There is a dramatic reveal, some nosy relatives, and a beautiful self discovery- all of which culminates to a sweet HEA.
What a wonderful read! Loved it!
Safe
4.5/5
When Ann Carmody is appointed as the personal secretary to Matt Fielding, he has only one demand: do not fall in love with him.
Ann is more than happy to oblige. Running from a life that had exposed her to enough limelight and pain to last a lifetime, she is hell bent on hiding her real identity. However, dressing herself in drab grey suits is one thing, being a personal slave for her chauvinistic boss is another!
Thus begins a battle of wills between a strong, independent yet wounded heroine and a super intrigued hero. I adored the banter between these two, and the pranks she played on him with the tie and shirt made me laugh out loud!
There is a dramatic reveal, some nosy relatives, and a beautiful self discovery- all of which culminates to a sweet HEA.
What a wonderful read! Loved it!
Safe
4.5/5
May 2, 2012
I really enjoyed this book. I liked that the heroine would not allow the H, her boss, to treat her with disrespect. She was a little passive/agressive in her reactions to his unreasonable demands but the situation warranted it. If she had actively confronted his chauvinistic behaviors she would have lost her job. She always put him in his place by complying with what he asked but with an attitude that ensured he would not be pleased with the outcome.
Both the H and the h had issues that interfered with them developing a romantic relationship but they both came to terms with their issues. The Hea was sweet.
Both the H and the h had issues that interfered with them developing a romantic relationship but they both came to terms with their issues. The Hea was sweet.
May 3, 2012
Rating 3.5
The heroine was quite spunky in this and had a habit of getting the upper hand with the hero, her boss. She left her last job because of sexual harassment and started dressing in an unflattering manner at work and she kept putting the hero in his place, first by saying she preferred younger men and then when one of his lovers called, kind of making fun of his sexual prowess and when he told her to shop for him, buying outrageous stuff.
She had a habit of taking things the wrong way and it stemmed from her past, her parents were famous especially her mother, who was known for younger men and her excess's, she loved her mother but after an argument with the hero realized how she had been suppressing herself for years not to be like her, hiding behind clothes and sharp comebacks and not singing.
The book doesn't have much at the romantic front, I felt it was more about the growth of the heroine and accepting and owning her past and walking beyond those shadows to accept who she was. This acceptance brought along with it her love for the hero, but she still resigned not willing to accept marriage without love.
I actually never thought the hero felt something for her before because she was adept at maintaining distance by calling him sir and not letting in room for any personal conversations and the one time that he kind of angrily made a move on her, her tears stopped him and made him apologize profusely. She actually led the hero on a merry chase and he was not sure of anything with her.
I would recommend reading the book for a strong heroine my only reservation was for the romance, which doesn't come into play till the very end.
The heroine was quite spunky in this and had a habit of getting the upper hand with the hero, her boss. She left her last job because of sexual harassment and started dressing in an unflattering manner at work and she kept putting the hero in his place, first by saying she preferred younger men and then when one of his lovers called, kind of making fun of his sexual prowess and when he told her to shop for him, buying outrageous stuff.
She had a habit of taking things the wrong way and it stemmed from her past, her parents were famous especially her mother, who was known for younger men and her excess's, she loved her mother but after an argument with the hero realized how she had been suppressing herself for years not to be like her, hiding behind clothes and sharp comebacks and not singing.
The book doesn't have much at the romantic front, I felt it was more about the growth of the heroine and accepting and owning her past and walking beyond those shadows to accept who she was. This acceptance brought along with it her love for the hero, but she still resigned not willing to accept marriage without love.
I actually never thought the hero felt something for her before because she was adept at maintaining distance by calling him sir and not letting in room for any personal conversations and the one time that he kind of angrily made a move on her, her tears stopped him and made him apologize profusely. She actually led the hero on a merry chase and he was not sure of anything with her.
I would recommend reading the book for a strong heroine my only reservation was for the romance, which doesn't come into play till the very end.
February 19, 2021
This book is unbelievable funny! 🤣🤣🤣
I read lots of Hplandia, but the last four years I couldn’t finished any new HP’s books, mostly just reread books which published over 25 years ago.
This one also another vintage book, but it wasn’t reread and gave me lots of LOL moments.
What a delightful read! ☺️
❤️❤️❤️
I read lots of Hplandia, but the last four years I couldn’t finished any new HP’s books, mostly just reread books which published over 25 years ago.
This one also another vintage book, but it wasn’t reread and gave me lots of LOL moments.
What a delightful read! ☺️
❤️❤️❤️
September 2, 2018
This one is a gem. The h was an admirable person and her battle of wills with the H was truly enjoyable. I also liked how the H was obviously falling for her more and more every time they interacted, and his jealousy was quite charming in the context it was shown.
August 27, 2023
0I LOVED this one. One of the best harlequins ever!
And one of the best office romances too ; )
Ann/Angel lives under the shadow of her famous mother and her mother's lurid death. So she manages by avoiding being anything like her except in private. To the world she shows her sexless business women image and doesn't seem to date at all. Even though she's 28. But don't worry, she isn't a virgin. BUT... but...
Yet the story is more balanced in that Matt isn't a manho. He is a chick magnet, but doesn't take advantage of it much.
He hires Ann as his new assistant out of a literal lineup of women. Tacky much?! Anyways, he hires her because she is wearing her sexless attire and he doesn't want an assistant who will 'fall in love with him'.
Ann already has her back up from her previous employer who found out about her mother and assumed the apple didn't fall far from the tree. So she's ready to battle with words. And they do battle and it was a lot of fun because she always gets her way, at first.
But slowly we start to see that Matt isn't as stereotypical as she thinks. And she is not being honest with him... or herself, as she finds out.
Hence the 'pattern of deceit'
I loved their dance of words. He knows she's hiding stuff and she assumes his interest is just as basic as the last boss she had.
His declarations/semi grovel at the end was lovely!
Safety is good.
And one of the best office romances too ; )
Ann/Angel lives under the shadow of her famous mother and her mother's lurid death. So she manages by avoiding being anything like her except in private. To the world she shows her sexless business women image and doesn't seem to date at all. Even though she's 28. But don't worry, she isn't a virgin. BUT... but...
Yet the story is more balanced in that Matt isn't a manho. He is a chick magnet, but doesn't take advantage of it much.
He hires Ann as his new assistant out of a literal lineup of women. Tacky much?! Anyways, he hires her because she is wearing her sexless attire and he doesn't want an assistant who will 'fall in love with him'.
Ann already has her back up from her previous employer who found out about her mother and assumed the apple didn't fall far from the tree. So she's ready to battle with words. And they do battle and it was a lot of fun because she always gets her way, at first.
But slowly we start to see that Matt isn't as stereotypical as she thinks. And she is not being honest with him... or herself, as she finds out.
Hence the 'pattern of deceit'
I loved their dance of words. He knows she's hiding stuff and she assumes his interest is just as basic as the last boss she had.
His declarations/semi grovel at the end was lovely!
Safety is good.
January 14, 2014
This was such a delightful story. I loved both Matt and Ann. Really enjoyed it a lot. Definitely one of my favorites. Thank you Leona for the recommendation. I didn't want to stop reading the book. I didn't want to say goodbye to Matt who was adorable and behaved quite well and Ann who gave it back to him splendidly! I am going to read the other books of Emma Darcy that you have sent me and I am going to forget the nightmare I had when I read the other book by Emma Darcy.
Please throw any more gems you stumble upon my way. :)
Please throw any more gems you stumble upon my way. :)
March 27, 2019
Unfortunately this book didn't do much for me. I was curious to read it given its avg reviews. Won't dwell on the plot much but this book is from 30 years ago so I'm assuming it was more of a contemporary romance at that time.
The h was a prude in an annoying way and I couldn't warm up to her. No sweet notes to her personality! She's left high and dry by an accusation that she's just like her mother. To me her mother wasn't the worst anyways so I couldn't connect to why the h was so insecure about being associated with her mother. Especially when she misses her mother and remembers her as one who loved and cared for the h.
So you're like your mother (who's basically a party girl/social druggie -- but now deceased), so what. If the h was otherwise sweet and shy, I'd have believed her outlook on life. She was instead rude, crude and her antics to me were distasteful. What's the big deal if your boss asks you to pick him a dress shirt. So you won't bow down to his request, so instead you go and publicly embarrass this apparent "billionaire" of a man.
This man wasn't out of line even once. And the h was anything but angelic, given her name is Angel. The end.
The h was a prude in an annoying way and I couldn't warm up to her. No sweet notes to her personality! She's left high and dry by an accusation that she's just like her mother. To me her mother wasn't the worst anyways so I couldn't connect to why the h was so insecure about being associated with her mother. Especially when she misses her mother and remembers her as one who loved and cared for the h.
So you're like your mother (who's basically a party girl/social druggie -- but now deceased), so what. If the h was otherwise sweet and shy, I'd have believed her outlook on life. She was instead rude, crude and her antics to me were distasteful. What's the big deal if your boss asks you to pick him a dress shirt. So you won't bow down to his request, so instead you go and publicly embarrass this apparent "billionaire" of a man.
This man wasn't out of line even once. And the h was anything but angelic, given her name is Angel. The end.
June 8, 2021
'If you start fancying yourself in love with me, you're out.'
"I'm sure I won't trouble you, sir. Actually, I prefer younger men."
Matt Fielding might be impossibly arrogant, but his stipulation suited Ann just fine. Bitter experience had taught her to steer clear of the limelight - all she wanted was to concentrate on the prestigious job he was offering. But he needn't think he could walk all over her, either...so perhaps it was inevitable that sparks would fly! (less)
"I'm sure I won't trouble you, sir. Actually, I prefer younger men."
Matt Fielding might be impossibly arrogant, but his stipulation suited Ann just fine. Bitter experience had taught her to steer clear of the limelight - all she wanted was to concentrate on the prestigious job he was offering. But he needn't think he could walk all over her, either...so perhaps it was inevitable that sparks would fly! (less)
April 28, 2012
A re-read for me and still holds up with respect to the contents. Heroine was sexually harassed and now has a method to avoid that in her new job but realizes that she was not being true to herself. 'Course the H realizes that and loves the h for her brains. HEA!
August 27, 2023
The Goodreads app is having a glicth. I feel the need to buy and download books immediately , so I won't forget them. The book features a hero who isn't very chauvinistic, but the heroine is trying too hard to prove her worth through bickering. The book lacks a certain amount of romance, which is why I didn't give it a 5-star rating. Nonetheless, I found it to be a good read, particularly because of my interest for the hate to love trope.
January 27, 2019
Έχουμε και λέμε:
Τίτλος που σε καμιά περίπτωση δε πρόκειται να δώσεις καμιά σημασία...
Εξώφυλλο άχρωμο...
Οπισθόφυλλο άοσμο......
Μέγα λάθος!
Έρχεται περίτρανα το συγκεκριμένο βιβλίο να κολλήσει γάντι με τη ρήση :
Μην κρίνεται από το περίβλημα, το περιεχόμενο μετράει!
Πλοκή χορταστική που όσο προχωράς εξελίσσεται!
Ήρωες κυριαρχικοί, σκοτεινοί ,αδίστακτοι, απόλυτοι ατσαλάκωτοι σχεδόν μέχρι το τέλος,,
Τα μυστικά που αναβλύζουν στην επιφάνεια ως προς το παρελθόν της ηρωίδας... Το απροσπέλαστο τοίχος που έχει στήσει γύρω της, βγάζει έξω από τα ρούχα του τον ήρωα.
Στρίγκλα και απρόσιτη 100% τον έχει κάνει να χάσει τα αυγά και τα καλάθια!
Λογοπαίγνια πανέξυπνα σε πολλές περιπτώσεις σκληρά και σε άλλες καυστικά και απολαυστικά μέχρι δακρύων..
Σκεφτείτε ότι το πρώτο τους φιλί αν μπορεί να το περιγράψει κάποιος σαν φιλί,(μόνο φιλί δεν ήταν) δόθηκε στην 117 σελίδα!
Και αυτό δεν είχε να κάνει με την ηρωίδα, αφού είχε τις ερωτικές της εμπειρίες...Φανταστείτε λοιπόν πόσο δυνατή πλοκή είχε για να με κρατήσει!Ούτε το κατάλαβα!
Ο επίλογος άκρως συγκινητικός όταν ο ήρωας λέει στην ηρωίδα μετά τη συνεύρεση τους..
<<Για πρώτη φορά στη ζωή μου δεν αισθάνομαι μόνος>>
Μία πρόταση που περικλείει τα πάντα ,που σε εκτοξεύει στα ουράνια!
Εν κατακλείδι κάποιες φορές πίσω από κοινότυπους τίτλους,και άοσμα εξώφυλλα κρύβονται κάποια βιβλία που κάνουν τη διαφορά!Είναι μια κατηγορία από μόνα τους!
Δε θα γράψω αν πέσει στο χέρι σας... αλλά ΤΡΕΞΤΕ
και ψάξτε να το βρείτε!
Ούτε να το σκεφτείτε να το προσπεράσετε!
Συλλογ�� 1183!
Τίτλος που σε καμιά περίπτωση δε πρόκειται να δώσεις καμιά σημασία...
Εξώφυλλο άχρωμο...
Οπισθόφυλλο άοσμο......
Μέγα λάθος!
Έρχεται περίτρανα το συγκεκριμένο βιβλίο να κολλήσει γάντι με τη ρήση :
Μην κρίνεται από το περίβλημα, το περιεχόμενο μετράει!
Πλοκή χορταστική που όσο προχωράς εξελίσσεται!
Ήρωες κυριαρχικοί, σκοτεινοί ,αδίστακτοι, απόλυτοι ατσαλάκωτοι σχεδόν μέχρι το τέλος,,
Τα μυστικά που αναβλύζουν στην επιφάνεια ως προς το παρελθόν της ηρωίδας... Το απροσπέλαστο τοίχος που έχει στήσει γύρω της, βγάζει έξω από τα ρούχα του τον ήρωα.
Στρίγκλα και απρόσιτη 100% τον έχει κάνει να χάσει τα αυγά και τα καλάθια!
Λογοπαίγνια πανέξυπνα σε πολλές περιπτώσεις σκληρά και σε άλλες καυστικά και απολαυστικά μέχρι δακρύων..
Σκεφτείτε ότι το πρώτο τους φιλί αν μπορεί να το περιγράψει κάποιος σαν φιλί,(μόνο φιλί δεν ήταν) δόθηκε στην 117 σελίδα!
Και αυτό δεν είχε να κάνει με την ηρωίδα, αφού είχε τις ερωτικές της εμπειρίες...Φανταστείτε λοιπόν πόσο δυνατή πλοκή είχε για να με κρατήσει!Ούτε το κατάλαβα!
Ο επίλογος άκρως συγκινητικός όταν ο ήρωας λέει στην ηρωίδα μετά τη συνεύρεση τους..
<<Για πρώτη φορά στη ζωή μου δεν αισθάνομαι μόνος>>
Μία πρόταση που περικλείει τα πάντα ,που σε εκτοξεύει στα ουράνια!
Εν κατακλείδι κάποιες φορές πίσω από κοινότυπους τίτλους,και άοσμα εξώφυλλα κρύβονται κάποια βιβλία που κάνουν τη διαφορά!Είναι μια κατηγορία από μόνα τους!
Δε θα γράψω αν πέσει στο χέρι σας... αλλά ΤΡΕΞΤΕ
και ψάξτε να το βρείτε!
Ούτε να το σκεφτείτε να το προσπεράσετε!
Συλλογ�� 1183!
September 18, 2021
Rating: **3.8 stars**
So we have the opening of this book with FL wearing boring grey attire and with no nonsense attitude musing how she wants to be this business minded woman who doesn't want any emotional entaglements and exactly 5 mins later in the same day contradicts herself by discussing her choice of lovers with her boss who just hired her.
Both were anything but professional.They worked well together but were constantly in each other's business and at each other's throats.
Well gotta side with the ML this time. Her evasions and contradictions would frustrate anyone and this was the course occurring throughout the book. There were quite a few humorous situations which made their interactions enjoyable and interesting.
Keeping the nuances of the book aside it was enjoyable and engaging and the twist towards the end was a surprise but a pleasant one and was worth increasing the rating.
So we have the opening of this book with FL wearing boring grey attire and with no nonsense attitude musing how she wants to be this business minded woman who doesn't want any emotional entaglements and exactly 5 mins later in the same day contradicts herself by discussing her choice of lovers with her boss who just hired her.
Both were anything but professional.They worked well together but were constantly in each other's business and at each other's throats.
Well gotta side with the ML this time. Her evasions and contradictions would frustrate anyone and this was the course occurring throughout the book. There were quite a few humorous situations which made their interactions enjoyable and interesting.
Keeping the nuances of the book aside it was enjoyable and engaging and the twist towards the end was a surprise but a pleasant one and was worth increasing the rating.
June 6, 2020
3.5 stars, ann was one of the best female characters i've read in a long time omg
March 21, 2022
Lots of Excellent reviews for this one .
Now either Goodreads or I made a mistake(I am pretty sure it was GR). I knew I read this before. I even remember most of the details. I knew I enjoyed it. GR still had it on my WTR pile as oppose to read pile. I was only going to skim the story and leave a rating/review, but I couldn’t sleep and the book pulled me in…again. So I read the whole thing. I do remember initially passing this book by based on the cover. Her outfit and Toni Tennille hair style…oh my. I know “don’t judge a book by its cover”….
This is an office romance with the usual players. Commitment phobe ladies man Hero, aka Matt(38) and his new matronly dressed 28 year old PA Ann(Angel).
However, it is done much better than many out there.
First, our heroine Ann not only dresses to avoid conflicts with amorous bosses, but she also dresses to hide from her real self. This girl has hidden talents but due to a family scandal she chooses not to embrace it.
The hero thought he was in love once, but her love was directly tied to his monetary potential…when it looked like his potential was less than stellar she split. Hence his aversion to love.
Typical of this trope, our h and H rub each other the wrong way. Both like to win and put the other firmly in their place. She respects his business acuity and he respects her efficiency.
Eventually her secret comes out, but they move past it and keep working. When they go away for a week long convention with adjoining rooms, the lines between boss and PA become blurred. However, they don’t totally cross that line, and they think that they will show back up at the office with everything status quo. The h realizes that she has done the unthinkable….the one thing the hero warned her about…and has fallen in love with her boss. She also realizes she needs to stop her”pattern of deceit” and embrace the person she was always meant to be.
So when they return to the office, the h’s drab togs are long gone, and the hero is ready to get back down to the business at hand. Then the h tenders her resignation. Our hero is stymied. The h tells him she needs to embrace a more fulfilling life which doesn’t entail being an office PA. Oh and she tells him she loves him.
He proposes. She rejects it(the proposal needs to come from love not convenience). He gets angry and tells her he doesn’t want to see her again. She leaves.
A few hours later and there is a knock at her door. The avowals of love are spoken and finally with 95% of the story done, the h and H make love. I really like that they held off for 95% of the book and got together only after the I love you’s were said. Don’t get me wrong I like my sexy stories as well, but this just goes to show a well written romance doesn’t need it.
There is an unofficial epilogue. Our H really comes through in the end. He truly wants to be the h’s partner in life and her biggest cheerleader. These two really seem to understand the cherish, love, and honor aspect of marriage.
So, yes it has a lot of the elements of previous boss/secretary stories. ED was able to prolong the characters coming together romantically for 80+ % of the story. The anticipation is one of the best aspects of the story. I mean think of romantic comedies, for example Friends. Ross and Rachel got together in season 2/season 3. The show lasted 10 seasons. Had Rachel and Ross stayed together and not gone on a “break”, I doubt the show would have been able to go that long. This is the case for many shows, the tension is at its best when the couples fight their attraction.
No drama from ow’s, om’s or family. The h has no family, and the H’s family is lovely.
Now either Goodreads or I made a mistake(I am pretty sure it was GR). I knew I read this before. I even remember most of the details. I knew I enjoyed it. GR still had it on my WTR pile as oppose to read pile. I was only going to skim the story and leave a rating/review, but I couldn’t sleep and the book pulled me in…again. So I read the whole thing. I do remember initially passing this book by based on the cover. Her outfit and Toni Tennille hair style…oh my. I know “don’t judge a book by its cover”….
This is an office romance with the usual players. Commitment phobe ladies man Hero, aka Matt(38) and his new matronly dressed 28 year old PA Ann(Angel).
However, it is done much better than many out there.
First, our heroine Ann not only dresses to avoid conflicts with amorous bosses, but she also dresses to hide from her real self. This girl has hidden talents but due to a family scandal she chooses not to embrace it.
The hero thought he was in love once, but her love was directly tied to his monetary potential…when it looked like his potential was less than stellar she split. Hence his aversion to love.
Typical of this trope, our h and H rub each other the wrong way. Both like to win and put the other firmly in their place. She respects his business acuity and he respects her efficiency.
Eventually her secret comes out, but they move past it and keep working. When they go away for a week long convention with adjoining rooms, the lines between boss and PA become blurred. However, they don’t totally cross that line, and they think that they will show back up at the office with everything status quo. The h realizes that she has done the unthinkable….the one thing the hero warned her about…and has fallen in love with her boss. She also realizes she needs to stop her”pattern of deceit” and embrace the person she was always meant to be.
So when they return to the office, the h’s drab togs are long gone, and the hero is ready to get back down to the business at hand. Then the h tenders her resignation. Our hero is stymied. The h tells him she needs to embrace a more fulfilling life which doesn’t entail being an office PA. Oh and she tells him she loves him.
He proposes. She rejects it(the proposal needs to come from love not convenience). He gets angry and tells her he doesn’t want to see her again. She leaves.
A few hours later and there is a knock at her door. The avowals of love are spoken and finally with 95% of the story done, the h and H make love. I really like that they held off for 95% of the book and got together only after the I love you’s were said. Don’t get me wrong I like my sexy stories as well, but this just goes to show a well written romance doesn’t need it.
There is an unofficial epilogue. Our H really comes through in the end. He truly wants to be the h’s partner in life and her biggest cheerleader. These two really seem to understand the cherish, love, and honor aspect of marriage.
So, yes it has a lot of the elements of previous boss/secretary stories. ED was able to prolong the characters coming together romantically for 80+ % of the story. The anticipation is one of the best aspects of the story. I mean think of romantic comedies, for example Friends. Ross and Rachel got together in season 2/season 3. The show lasted 10 seasons. Had Rachel and Ross stayed together and not gone on a “break”, I doubt the show would have been able to go that long. This is the case for many shows, the tension is at its best when the couples fight their attraction.
No drama from ow’s, om’s or family. The h has no family, and the H’s family is lovely.
August 5, 2018
This one is a winner.
Ann, the h, applies for a job as PA to Matt, the H. She wears a dowdy grey suit, owl glasses and makes herself as unattractive as possible. The decision to look unattractive comes from who her mother was and how people perceive her after learning this info.
Out of the final three candidates for the position, she gets the job. Matt begins their work relationship by telling her what he expects from her and one of thise things is to not fall in love with him. His arrogance annoys Ann and it begins the sly oneupmanship that she starts on him.
Ann is a consummate professional but, she challenges Matt whenever she is asked to do a task that she considers inappropriate. Like shopping for a shirt for him. Or being made to read out a message from his lover. And the best one, asking her to buy 6 pairs of Holeproof Daks underwear. The pettiness between them just got better and better.
I loved the relationship between the two. The chemistry between them really sparked off when Ann was forced to work at Matt’s family home for a weekend and she challenged the way he saw her. Especially after he learned the truth about who she really was.
There wasn’t any real drama or angst in this book. It was all about these two characters working out their differences and coming to terms with their love for each other. It was an really light, fun read. One I will revisit again.
Ann, the h, applies for a job as PA to Matt, the H. She wears a dowdy grey suit, owl glasses and makes herself as unattractive as possible. The decision to look unattractive comes from who her mother was and how people perceive her after learning this info.
Out of the final three candidates for the position, she gets the job. Matt begins their work relationship by telling her what he expects from her and one of thise things is to not fall in love with him. His arrogance annoys Ann and it begins the sly oneupmanship that she starts on him.
Ann is a consummate professional but, she challenges Matt whenever she is asked to do a task that she considers inappropriate. Like shopping for a shirt for him. Or being made to read out a message from his lover. And the best one, asking her to buy 6 pairs of Holeproof Daks underwear. The pettiness between them just got better and better.
I loved the relationship between the two. The chemistry between them really sparked off when Ann was forced to work at Matt’s family home for a weekend and she challenged the way he saw her. Especially after he learned the truth about who she really was.
There wasn’t any real drama or angst in this book. It was all about these two characters working out their differences and coming to terms with their love for each other. It was an really light, fun read. One I will revisit again.
December 21, 2015
I really enjoy Vintage Romances with an office set-up and this was no exception. When I started this book, I felt maybe I have already read this one but as the story progressed, it was different from the other office romances I have read this far.
The H was a male chauvinist pig but at the end I really liked how he came to care for the h as a person and how he encouraged and supported her to achieve her dreams.
Also, apart from the romance there was a background story of the h's life, the effect it has on her and finally how she accepts and evolves as a person.
Overall a pretty decent read.
The H was a male chauvinist pig but at the end I really liked how he came to care for the h as a person and how he encouraged and supported her to achieve her dreams.
Also, apart from the romance there was a background story of the h's life, the effect it has on her and finally how she accepts and evolves as a person.
Overall a pretty decent read.
October 28, 2020
wtf is this?? i don’t understand all the good reviews. this is literally not even a romance. The h is a prude who spends the entire book admonishing the H. She’s insecure about herself and her past with her mother, so she spends the entire book being prickly to the H. There’s not even any good interactions between the H/h and there’s zero chemistry because all you read about is the h thinking of how to keep her walls up and keep her work life separate from personal life.
March 23, 2019
This had me sniggering to myself at times. The h with a take no prisoners attitude was awesome at times and a little tiresome at times but she was true to herself, always. She was front and centre in this and the H a mere sidekick . Other h's could learn from her. Her discovery of her 'love' and subsequent hea was a little too quick for me.
May 31, 2019
I absolutely adored this book! Ann is one of my favourite heroines of all time. There were some really hilarious battle of wills between Matt and Ann that had me laughing out loud. And talk about a sloooow burn! My one gripe... why on earth did Ann keep referring to Matt by his full name? That felt a little weird. Apart from that, a really great read.
November 14, 2017
Holy shit, this was an emotional roller-coaster from start to finish. I find a common pattern (hah!) in 80's books is that everything is very over-the-top. Exaggerated reactions, implausible plots and characters that are archetypes more than people. This book was written in the late 1980's and it shows. There's a strong undercurrent of sexism and slut-shaming, but hey, I knew what I was getting into and was able to read past it and enjoy the story.
Ann, the heroine, works as a personal assistant for the chauvinistic boor Matt Feilding. And being a PA in those days meant Ann had to act more like a work-wife than an actual assistant, including stuff like buying him shirts and underwear. BUT Ann is not a doormat and has a functioning spine, so she doesn't put up with his bullying and sets him down when she needs to. They have similar minds when it comes to business and get along well in a professional relationship. However once romance was thrown in things get...messy.
I have to say that the entire romance angle wasn't handled well. Every conversation between the hero and heroine was a verbal battleground. It felt like they were enemies on the opposite sides of a chess match, constantly trying to one-up eachother. It wasn't cute like the normal banter if see in romance books.
Matt uses his position as the boss to make her do things she doesn't want and invade her personal life. Ann had to hold her tongue and bear the bullying. Yes, she gets back at Matt but not always since she understandably wants to keep her job. After a forced kiss in a hotel room the heroine suddenly falls in love. And it completely baffled me since they didn't even have a working friendship before. The way Matt professed love (at like 95%) also felt very jarring.
Though I didn't like the characters, I was still very immersed in the storyline and even teared up a little in the end. It reads very much like a soap opera. But who doesn't love an occasional soap drama every now and then?
Ann, the heroine, works as a personal assistant for the chauvinistic boor Matt Feilding. And being a PA in those days meant Ann had to act more like a work-wife than an actual assistant, including stuff like buying him shirts and underwear. BUT Ann is not a doormat and has a functioning spine, so she doesn't put up with his bullying and sets him down when she needs to. They have similar minds when it comes to business and get along well in a professional relationship. However once romance was thrown in things get...messy.
I have to say that the entire romance angle wasn't handled well. Every conversation between the hero and heroine was a verbal battleground. It felt like they were enemies on the opposite sides of a chess match, constantly trying to one-up eachother. It wasn't cute like the normal banter if see in romance books.
Matt uses his position as the boss to make her do things she doesn't want and invade her personal life. Ann had to hold her tongue and bear the bullying. Yes, she gets back at Matt but not always since she understandably wants to keep her job. After a forced kiss in a hotel room the heroine suddenly falls in love. And it completely baffled me since they didn't even have a working friendship before. The way Matt professed love (at like 95%) also felt very jarring.
Though I didn't like the characters, I was still very immersed in the storyline and even teared up a little in the end. It reads very much like a soap opera. But who doesn't love an occasional soap drama every now and then?
November 16, 2023
This book is from 1989. He is the boss, she is his personal assistant. The conversations they have are stiff and formal. The story moves slow.
We read how great they work together. On page 119 (!) he asks her to call him by his first name. On page 140 he gives her one kiss.
This is not a romance. There’s no chemistry, no passion. This is a journey of a woman who is shaking off her embarrassment about who and what her mother was.
We read how great they work together. On page 119 (!) he asks her to call him by his first name. On page 140 he gives her one kiss.
This is not a romance. There’s no chemistry, no passion. This is a journey of a woman who is shaking off her embarrassment about who and what her mother was.
November 2, 2019
Ann, or Angel Carmody, wanted recognition of her professional talents rather than recognition of her body in any job she takes, so when Mathew Fielding told her he wanted no emotional involvement in his personal assistant, she was glad and started going to work in grey shapeless suits! At first, he challenged her and infuriated her to the extreme and so she replied him in causing one shock after another to him while she kept her cool efficient facade, but soon she came to know him more and that was when she started falling for him.
A very quick read. Not the best - mind you - but at least enjoyable.
A very quick read. Not the best - mind you - but at least enjoyable.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 23, 2013
I had fun reading this one. I liked the characters and their spunk. I couldn't wait to see what the next battle of wills were to next. I liked the insight and images. The ending was a good blend of true self and a leap of faith. I liked the courage and the mutual support at the end too. The true ending was touching and left a small smile on my face. I would enjoy reading this again, a good anytime book for relaxing and/or escapism. Enjoy
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