Pippa is enaged to be married to her boss Tom who she works for at an insurance company but when they get into a car crash with her ex boss, Randal Harding, her world spins out of control. Pippa worked for Randal for a matter of weeks 4 years ago, managing to fall in love with him in that short a time but running away when he makes out with her in the office, as he is married and she knows he could convince her to be his lover which she does not want to do. She wants a man who will put her first because as a foundling she was bounced from home to home and she was never anyone's priority. Randal chose his wife and son over her so she moved to a new city, took a new job, while he was out of the country.
Now he's back and telling her he is divorced and that Pippa belongs to him. Apparently as soon as his wife left him 2 years ago he hired a PI to track Pippa down and doesn't intend to give her up now that he's found her. He pursues her wholeheartedly, exploiting her weakness for his kisses so that Tom finds them naked and intimate on her bed, breaking off the engagement. Pippa knows she musn't marry Tom (and really she had always known that since she turned him down the first time he asked and only accepted after making sure he knew she didn't love him) but doesn't want Randal either as he didn't put her first and admits that he still wouldn't - not over her son. But he insists that she come meet the boy, Johnny, as it is visiting weekend at the boarding school. When the ex is there Pippa becomes convinced Randal must still love her instead...will they talk out their confusion and live HEA?
The answer is pretty much no - they definitely won't talk it out! Basically a standard scene is like - something happens and Pippa protests and Randal makes out with her until she is mindless. Pippa is also excessively fond of running away, making her the more unreasonable party of the two!
Although Charlotte Lamb was a great author, this is not a great book, and I don't recommend it. This is especially too bad considering it was her last book ever. Re-read some of her older works instead - they are amazing!
Question for you
Based on your comment, his wife left him 2 yrs ago. Therefore when he made out with the heroine 4 yrs ago he was still with his wife -- correct? If that is the case, he's not what I would consider Hero material.
How can the heroine be sure that he won't cheat on her?
You're right, C.L. wrote some great books. I don't remember reading this one.
Yup he sure was! The
Yup he sure was! The heroine felt he was setting her up to be his mistress which is why she fled the first time - she didn't think she could resist but thought it was wrong. (He even justified himself b/c his wife had been cheating on him for years...) Further, he wasn't even the one that asked for the divorce when it eventually did come! I'd skip this one.