UGH! The hero thinks the heroine cheated on their marriage, the heroine was ill and has no memory so she thinks she cheated too. She punishes herself and hates herself for it. The hero is angry as hell, he's cold and verbally abusive to her, he calls her slut, whore, wanton, soiled goods… nasty subject of a romance novel! They were split up for two months... and during that time HE has multiple lovers. She has one night that she doesn't even remember doing... he flagrantly sleeps with other women as soon as he's thrown her out and started separation proceedings. This is not a good HP storyline. I could have lived with it if the hero had restrained himself and actually turned out NOT to have been having sex with other women during the two month separation, but two measly months went by and he was sleeping with other women, and he kept right on doing it until a few days before he started sleeping with the heroine again. Major ick factor.
And here's the kicker for me... the heroine never even thought badly of the hero for having sex with all kinds of other women. She blamed herself pure and simple. He got off scot-free, never even telling her "I'm sorry you had to live through my affairs and legitimately seeth with jealousy and hurt over women I actually was having sex with. But hey, thanks for turning out to NOT have had sex with another man yourself, it really is a relief and makes me feel good to know you're pure as the driven snow."
Rating: 1/5 stars, personally I couldn't stomach this storyline at all, and my rating reflects the storyline, not the writer's skill. I've loved books by MM before.
I read this one myself. I
I read this one myself. I had a lot of the same issues with it that you did, but I could not put it down. I thought that counted for something.
I also had a problem with the way HER parents had treated her all her life and the fact that they sided with him and had nothing to do with her when she needed their love and support the most.
And then she FORGAVE them!!!
There were a lot of other books out in January, February, and March that were downright terrible and made this one look good in comparison.
w-w-w
This book sounds like the
This book sounds like the reason I don't read Presents! Just the title sent me into a quivering rage.
"Perhaps what the average member of a group is capable of doesn't limit what a given individual can accomplish." -- Boston Globe, letter to the editor
March's Member of the Month!
Fake Frenchie... I love
Fake Frenchie... I love the HP series. It's my favourite (that and paranormal romances), but yes, I know some of their books are ICKY and I know when to recognize that and not read 'em. I have MANY favourite HP authors though that I know I can trust to get good reads out of consistently!
w-w-w.... You say you couldn't put this book down. I have to say, I was the same way. But the reason I couldn't put the book down was that I needed to get to the HEA. I just felt so bad for the heroine and mortified at what was happening in the book, that I needed some CLOSURE! LOL.... I had to know how it ended. And really I read this book right before I went to sleep, and I couldn't get to sleep because I felt a little depressed about it! And I woke up again this morning thinking "gosh, I gotta find me a light hearted book and read it now to get the nasty taste out of my head from that book!"
I like Melanie's other books!
I had the the same problem with this book as the rest of you -- the fact that in 2 months' time the H had multiple affairs. I could have understood (not liked it but understood) if he had an affair -- after all he and his wife thought that she had been unfaithful. But, to have multiple affairs -- and as was said previously he never apologized for that!!!
This could have been a powerful book -- but that just ruined it for me.
If you want to read a great reunion story, read Michelle Reid's "The Markonos Bride." The couple is separated for five years and yet both of them stayed true to their vows. Fabulous plot, meddling relatives, grief, etc... you'll love it!!!!!
I had the the same problem
I had the the same problem with this book as the rest of you -- the
fact that in 2 months' time the H had multiple affairs. I could have
understood (not liked it but understood) if he had an affair -- after
all he and his wife thought that she had been unfaithful. But, to have
multiple affairs -- and as was said previously he never apologized for
that!!!
This could have been a powerful book -- but that just ruined it for me.
If you want to read a great reunion story, read Michelle Reid's "The Markonos Bride." The couple is separated for five years and yet both of them stayed true to their vows. Fabulous plot, meddling relatives, grief, etc... you'll love it!!!!!
Vio... I LOVE YOU. Thanks for telling me that about "The Markonos Bride"... I have that in my TBR pile, and you just boosted it up in my list. Knowing that it's not gonna have the major ick factor of infidelity... yeesh I really need some HAPPY reads after reading this one by MM!
And about the hero and his multiple affairs... to me... that just isn't a guy I'd want to be in a committed relationship with. The hero never loved the heroine to the exclusion of others. He hardly blinked or suffered without her, he just self-righteously moved on to other women and MOCKED her with his affairs. And she cried. God it's such a depressing read!
I need light hearted comedy and some TLC right now, lol.