Sigh. This book had everything my emotions need in a story - an h who is goodness, working as a model from the age of 14 to earn money for her mother'Sigh. This book had everything my emotions need in a story - an h who is goodness, working as a model from the age of 14 to earn money for her mother's medical bills, who is realistic in planning for a future beyond modeling by signing a marriage contract with the H, who takes in homeless underage models, who grows a spine to stand up for herself an H who is cold, cruel, distant to the h because he projects his experience with his first love/OW onto the h, who resents the h as a gold digger because of the OW but realizes that he also agreed to his father's pressure to marry in order to secure his financial support for investment projects, who is unfaithful to the h by continuing his affair with his ex/OW after his marriage to the h, who essentially abandoned the h on their wedding night after consummating it Both characters grow in response to their relationship with each other....more
When I read the H saying the following to the h in the sample chapter, I knew I was going to enjoy this book. "You were just a fuck --- we weren't in When I read the H saying the following to the h in the sample chapter, I knew I was going to enjoy this book. "You were just a fuck --- we weren't in a relationship. You think I go around fucking women I care about in supply closets?" I was not disappointed. I devoured it. The story line is tightly woven. The betrayal of the h by the H was 5 years ago when they worked together at a hospital and the H failed to believe and support the h when his ex falsely accused the h of incompetence that resulted in the death of a patient. The h is now a respected nurse in a hospital across the country. The H accepts a position in the same hospital. The past history and present are connected with strategically chosen short flashbacks. This strategy worked much better for me than taking whole chapters to fill in background information. I often find too much or too long back and forth in time disrupts the continuity of the story. The H is so confident in his past assessment of the h's nursing skills that he is furious with her for not taking responsibility for her mistake and his anger manifests itself in bullying, demanding and demeaning treatment of the h in public. Unlike her experience with her previous hospital, the h has support from her colleagues and manages to hold her own until the H's manipulative ex (the OW) is also hired at her current hospital. Both the h and H experience doubt about the "rightness" of their thinking. The h questions her nursing abilities. The H questions his belief in his ex's character and abilities as a physician. The author's research on health care adds veracity to the hospital setting for the story. This attention to detail is also evident in specific information about geographic locations of the story. This author continues to evolve....more
I was torn between wanting to binge read this book and savouring it more slowly. I decided to savour it. So many things in the book were right for my I was torn between wanting to binge read this book and savouring it more slowly. I decided to savour it. So many things in the book were right for my taste in books. The H has returned after ten years and has brought his girlfriend for his estranged father's funeral.The h is the daughter of the H's father's mistress. The H left his father's ranch ten years ago after learning the h's identity. The H and h were young (18 and 20) and in love until he hurled angry hurtful names and money at her blaming her mother for destroying his parents' marriage. I would have preferred to have the H and h live in this scene rather than in a memory. I think the guy punch lost some of its intensity by being a recollection. The h has continued living and working at the ranch in order to first care for her sick mother and then fulfilling her promise to her mother by caring for the H's dying father. The H hates the h and chose to protect his emotionally fragile mother over his father. What really works for me is that more than half of the book is hurtful exchanges between the H and h as they learn more about what actually happened ten years ago. This creates a high level of angst that leads to regret and remorse. OW drama, a manipulative mother, shady business deals and threats of violence also work well. The description of ranch life seems to be well researched. The h and H both come to terms with the people that they were and the people that they are....more
The book began with an intense emotional punch. The h is publicly humiliated by the H's brother and her subsequent high school experience becomes a hoThe book began with an intense emotional punch. The h is publicly humiliated by the H's brother and her subsequent high school experience becomes a horror show of bullying and shunning. The h's father and brother immediately believe that she capable of the behavior she is accused of without asking her for her side of the story. Since they belong to an MC, those members take their cue from them in treating the h like dirt. Only her step mother listens to the h, believes her and supports her. After graduation, the H's brother learns that his ex-girlfriend lied about the h. The next part of the book is less intensely emotional as the H returns from a five year stint in the army to find the h living on her own, away from her family and working at a tattoo parlor that rivals the one run by the MC. He supports her in finding ways to help the MC members who were most hateful to her as a child feel the pain and abandonment that she experienced through their actions, sometimes thoughtless and sometimes intentional. Eliciting empathy and remorse is difficult to write well. This book takes a unique approach....more
This book goes against the norms of what is expected in a romance story. The need to meet expectations is an undercurrent throughout. The H bets his fThis book goes against the norms of what is expected in a romance story. The need to meet expectations is an undercurrent throughout. The H bets his friends that he can seduce the h. When he succeeds he makes hurtful, humiliating comments to fulfill the expectations of how a player should act. The h has already had her self worth undermined by cutting remarks about her weight and personality from her peers and family. Overhearing the H's words seriously impact her mental health and she leaves. The repercussions are still in effect when she returns fifteen years later when she returns a beautiful, slender woman who is in therapy for an eating disorder that nearly cost her her life. The H is now engaged to the OW who meets society's expectations but is a mean, artificial person. The H proposed when the OW announced her pregnancy because it was expected of him but he is questioning the need to live his life according to the expectations of others, especially his father. The author is skilled in providing situations that mirror each other in order to underscore the pervasiveness of an idea e.g., a discussion between the H and h about the book "Great Expectations" and reflections on societal expectations about the need to marry. Thought provoking....more
4 1/2 stars. It takes skill to make a reader feel intense emotion and worry about the future for the h and H and I felt that in this book. The h and H4 1/2 stars. It takes skill to make a reader feel intense emotion and worry about the future for the h and H and I felt that in this book. The h and H are childhood sweethearts, planning a future that includes going to the same college. The h's father receives a job opportunity and her family moves away. Her family worries about her depression and tries to give her space and time to heal which causes the long distance relationship to fail. Nevertheless the h goes to the college as planned only to find the H is now in a relationship with her former best friend. OW drama while the H deals with his anger toward the h. Issues of mental health....more
I loved almost everything about this book. I found myself rereading parts of the book before I'd even finished the book. The h and H have been a couplI loved almost everything about this book. I found myself rereading parts of the book before I'd even finished the book. The h and H have been a couple for seven years since they were fifteen years old. Their relationship has had ongoing interference from his best friend and also his brothers. They believe that the H needs to see other people in order to be sure that he has a broad enough experience to be happy with his choice of the h. The brothers and even the H's mother have been snippy with the h over the years. Finally the H decides to pack his stuff and move out for a six month separation expecting to be able to return to the h if he doesn't meet someone better. The h who has been expecting an engagement ring is blindsided when the H explains what he is doing. Coincidentally the h was planning to give him a gift bag with a sonogram and positive pregnancy tests that same night. She is devastated but still sends him a text telling the H she is pregnant. The response is Goodbye. A couple of months later the H's youngest brother realizes that the h is pregnant and starts providing support. It takes a considerable amount of time for the H to see his actions from the h's point of view and he continues to make hurtful decisions during this period. The response to the text did not come from the H but from his family who is dysfunctional with a capital D. The process of moving the H from thinking about himself to thinking about the h and their son requires a lot of reflection....more
4 1/2 stars. I devoured this book. I've recently read three books that began with a missed anniversary being the final "nail in a coffin" for a neglec4 1/2 stars. I devoured this book. I've recently read three books that began with a missed anniversary being the final "nail in a coffin" for a neglected wife's marriage. This was the best of the three. The h allowed herself to be a doormat and she names it and calls herself out for it. Coming from "trailer trash" and getting pregnant at 18 contributed to her low self image. Add to that the snide remarks of the H, his family and even her own teen age children and the result is a consideration of suicide. When the h walks out, the H is surprised to find out that no one around him is surprised that she left. He is clueless about what everyone else saw in his treatment of his wife, spending time with his assistant rather than her at events, allowing his mother to berate her, ignoring and discouraging communication through texts and emails, sleeping in the guest room. Some pointing at the H's misogynistic view of women. She leaves and goes to support her terminally ill friend and run her bed and breakfast. The H follows her when he belatedly appreciates how important she is in his life....more
My experience with this author runs hot and cold. I enjoyed this book although there were a few pieces that were a stretch for me. The pace worked witMy experience with this author runs hot and cold. I enjoyed this book although there were a few pieces that were a stretch for me. The pace worked with no lagging lulls in the story. The h interviewed by the H for a bar job in the MC clubhouse. There was a spark. A jealous woman sets the h up to be violated by a member. The H views part of the attack and concludes that the h is taken by the member. Instead she has been traumatized and mutilated. Perhaps because she is in law school she takes the job knowing she will see her attacker every day. She also sees the H with the OW everyday. Listening to lies and not asking for her side of the story, the club torments the h on a daily basis. The H loves the h but believes he cannot act in his feelings because the h rejected a fellow member. After 5 years of this, the h's father figure shares the truth. The H is distraught but others in the club are still uncertain. It doesn't feel like the H had to work very hard to make up to the h for the five years of abuse she suffered....more
4 1/2 stars. So close to being a five star. The last few chapters seemed to be unnecessary and I'm not sure what purpose they served. They made the la4 1/2 stars. So close to being a five star. The last few chapters seemed to be unnecessary and I'm not sure what purpose they served. They made the last impression of the book feel very flat. The rest of the book had many elements that I enjoy in a story. Poor h works hard to keep her college scholarship and contribute to the cost of her education. The H is the advantaged king of the campus, polo playing, brilliant, wealthy, with messed up parents and supportive half brothers. Paired for a class project, the h tries to communicate with the H to get him to contribute to the assignment. He's not interested as this prof will give him a good grade because of who his parents are. Temporarily living with two roommates, the H becomes part of a bet about sleeping with the h. The bet is irrelevant and forgotten as his relationship with the h blossoms. When the roommates deduce that the H has won the bet, they streak across campus wearing signs that identify the h and humiliate her. That night her beloved grandmother dies suddenly. Somehow the H is unaware of the public spectacle that is fall out from the bet. He becomes furious when he is unable to contact the h and his gifts to her are sold on line. Fast forward fourteen years, in a fluke coincidence, the H's brother hires the financially struggling h as the H's PA. The H bets that he can get the h to quit in three months. Desperate for the company benefit that eases the financial burden of care for grandfather, the h swallows the mean, vengeful demands of the H. The H has to eat crow when he finds out that he was responsible for the h dropping out of school, and that the h sold his gifts to pay for medical and funeral costs for grandmother. The h forgives the H when she finds out about the ways that he has treasured their time together....more
It took a while for this book to grab me. I liked that this book didn't try to sugar coat some of the actions and words of the H. The H didn't just taIt took a while for this book to grab me. I liked that this book didn't try to sugar coat some of the actions and words of the H. The H didn't just take one look in the mirror to reflect on his mistakes but had several realizations of the impact of his choices and decisions. The H is a single father of a son that was abandoned by his mother. The H marries the h with a view to having a step mom with an early childhood degree for his four year old son. The H has held on to the belief that his son's biological mother would come back from Hollywood and want to be a family. His wife, the h, served as a placeholder so he held himself back from her during the three years of their marriage. The H has a one night stand with his ex but then continues to spend time with her looking for a plastic surgeon to repair the facial scars from a car accident. His ex videotaped their one night stand and is using it to blackmail the H. The h unexpectedly finds herself to be four months pregnant. Ironically the H has not touched the h for four months while he has been away on "business trips" and involved with his ex. The ex wants an image of herself as a wronged party to boost her failing career....more
This book has been recommended several times and it didn't disappoint. The H and h are in a serious relationship then a lifelong friend returns to theThis book has been recommended several times and it didn't disappoint. The H and h are in a serious relationship then a lifelong friend returns to their small town from London. She takes over and inserts herself between them while the H ignores the danger signs and warnings from the h and their friends. Unable to continue being an invisible, low priority the h leaves. Finally the H sees the truth about his ex's behavior but not before his lying and ignoring and thoughtlessness has humiliated the h. Very well written. Lots of angst and we feel the h's pain even while we want to slap the H for his stupidity. He did carry a pretty heavy secret about his ex....more
I really was not impressed in the first half of the book. I thought that the vocabulary, the tone of the interaction between the H and the h, and the I really was not impressed in the first half of the book. I thought that the vocabulary, the tone of the interaction between the H and the h, and the relationship between the H, a lord, and the h, a governess, were so inauthentic. Then the second half the book was so full of twists and turns that it became a page turner....more
Moderate level of angst caused by h insecurity in comparing herself to both her older sister as well as the H. H enters marriage of convenience to proModerate level of angst caused by h insecurity in comparing herself to both her older sister as well as the H. H enters marriage of convenience to provide for h family believing that his life that includes a mistress will continue as before....more
Reread. The H believes himself in love with the OW. He has idealized her. The OW is possessive but the H is not wealthy enough for her to accept his oReread. The H believes himself in love with the OW. He has idealized her. The OW is possessive but the H is not wealthy enough for her to accept his offer of marriage. She pretends that her father has forbidden the match and that she is frightened of him hurting her. When the OW's betrothal to a wealthy but seemingly weak Lord is announced, the H accepts an arranged marriage to the h. He is not interested in the h and doesn't bother to meet her until he is waiting on the church steps on the day of their marriage. He is struck by her beauty. The OW lures him into the garden during the wedding celebration and threatens to kill herself unless he declares his love for her and that he will not love the h. The h overhears this. She was raised to be a prioress and is intelligent and independent viewing herself as an equal to others. The H believes the OW is the ideal woman, submissive and in need of protection. The h and H are fiery in bed but butt heads outside of the bed chamber. For most of the book, the h believes the OW will always hold a part of his heart as he is blind to her machinations that everyone else sees. Intense OW and OM drama....more
Angst level through the roof in this and each book in this series. Author is very skilled at intertwining the three stories in the three books which oAngst level through the roof in this and each book in this series. Author is very skilled at intertwining the three stories in the three books which occur in chronological order. Loved all of them...more