Rico left the country because of a scandal about his involvement with the Sinclair sisters (16 and 18 year old daughters of his boss). He was married with a baby on the way, and the scandal was based on lies and hurt him professionally and personally, very badly. Four years later, the youngest Sinclair sister confesses her lies and Rico sees his chance to gain back his reputation and get revenge. He determines to use Danielle (the older Sinclair) as his means of revenge. She needs help with a stalker, so that gives him an excuse to get near her. He offers protection, but he really wants revenge: to marry her and get an heir out of her, to make up for what he lost because of her family. Danielle is innocent in all this, and soon the hero feels bad for involving her. But Danielle has kept a secret herself, which is hurtful and makes a future for them doubtful.
The dialogue between this couple was very real, I could picture the hero being a guy you met off the street, he had his own foibles. I liked that the hero was loyal to his wife, and her memory, and didn't take sex/relationships lightly. If a man is capable of that love, loyalty, then the woman who ends up with him is lucky. I liked that there were no sordid relationships on either the hero/heroine's sides. This was a nice read.
Rating: 4/5 stars, I've read about four or five Tessa Radley books this week, and I've liked 'em all.
RE: RICH MAN'S REVENGE by Tessa Radley
Jeeze..this one sounds very real! What a neat-o sounding novel!
"I went to a FIGHT the other night...and a HOCKEY GAME broke out!! "
HockeyDET@comcast.net
Janet, this is definitely a
Janet, this is definitely a candidate for "best Tessa Radley book", IMHO. Though her latest, Pride and a Pregnancy Secret, is also great. I have her book The Desert Bride of Al Zayed that I'm just about to start reading - it's the only one of hers I haven't read yet.
Abby
The Diaper Diaries - Harlequin Superromance March 08
Fully Engaged - Harlequin NASCAR March 08
www.abbygaines.com
HockeyJock... yeah it is
HockeyJock... yeah it is a good read!
Abby... I haven't read all of Tessa Radley's books, but yeah, this was a very good one. I liked Pride & A Pregnancy Secret!
About Silhouette Desire books... I don't read the entire line. At one point, I didn't like 50% of the SD books I browsed through, because they didn't appeal to me too much... I like a unique love between the hero/heroine, and some of the SDs I've read have heroes that come off like horny guys on the road to the next lay, and the heroine's just one bump in that road (or worse, she was a roll in the hay years ago, and he's casual about her both then and now) Right now, with the SD books that I'm reading, I'm picking books by specific authors I've liked: Heidi Betts and Tessa Radley. I'm enjoying those books.
Whiff of fresh air....
Sounds good, Janet. It's refreshing that the characters aren't bed-hoppers, as long as the faithful couple does have a passionate relationship. The ongoing theme of a man (or woman) who is wildly promiscuous does get kind of old after a while.
Amanda... yeah, I read
Amanda... yeah, I read Presents, Blaze, and Desire.... (and paranormals) so I don't think I really have "prudish" tastes... lol I read books for the passion, but also for that "unique thrill of a love that's going to last".
I don't like it when the hero seems like he won't be faithful after he seals his vows with the heroine! Past adultery/cheating, or affairs while on an ambiguous "break" rub me the wrong way. I don't like it when the hero has been unfaithful in the past, and the heroine has to live with it.
And yes.... I'm deliberately saying "hero, hero, hero" here because it's always the hero, never the heroine in the 1000 or so books I've read. And the hypocrisy of the bed-hopping hero and pure-as-snow heroine gets to me. They can have past sex lives, but let 'em both have at it, and don't make the heroine seem like she's wearing a scarlett letter (Blazes are great for equality! Presents and Desires.. not so much)
About Desire
Janet, sorry to hear that you've been disappointed in recent Desires to such an extent and for the stated reason. I agree, absolutely, about feeling the unique connection between the hero and heroine...in feeling it and in believing it. Also agree about the hero being a hero. Just really sorry you're not finding this in more Desires.
Bron
Bronwyn Jameson:
My blog; My website; Diamonds Down Under
TYCOON'S ONE-NIGHT REVENGE: Silhouette Desire, Apr
Janet, sorry to hear that
Janet, sorry to hear that you've been disappointed in recent Desires to such an extent and for the stated reason. I agree, absolutely, about feeling the unique connection between the hero and heroine...in feeling it and in believing it. Also agree about the hero being a hero. Just really sorry you're not finding this in more Desires.
It's in BOTH Desires and Presents... and I know there are loads of SD/HPs without this negative (imo) element, so it's not stopping me from reading the lines entirely! Don't think I'm giving up on Desires. *wink* I've actually read more Desires than I usually do, 11 in May so far.
I read 100 books in April. So granted yes, I run into plot lines that frustrate me occasionally. I am happy with most books I read though! I was a little "vehement" because of a PRESENTS book I read recently that pissed me off.... a married couple was separated for 2 measly months and the hero went out and had multiple lovers and rubbed them in his innocent wife's face... GRRR!!!! *bangs head on table* (I read another HP last night where the hero was separated from his wife for 2 full years and went without having sex with other women. I wanted to hand him a medal and thank him for womenkind.)
Right now with Desires, I'm getting a little more into them then I used to be. I got some recommendations for specific books, and I think I'll read more Desires, and slightly fewer Presents. For me... I rely on Back Covers, Front Teasers, and reviews to get me interested in a book. So I'll explore and see if I find books that appeal.
Janet ....
If you havent' read them and can get your hands on, I highly recommend you read Bronwyn's Desire trilogy The Princes of the Outback .... SD-1666 - The Rugged Loner, SD-1680 - The Rich Stranger, SD-The Ruthless Stranger, ... all three were nominated for a RITA ... actually, I've really enjoyed every book of Bronwyn's I've read (though The Rugged Loner has a few moments that were hard to swallow)
I'm having a problem with some of the newer Desires ... where the hero is just over the top ruthless .... you'd think I'd enjoy them because I've enjoyed the ruthless heroes in the Presents .. but there's just something about some of the newer heroes that really push boundaries .... the books may be well written but the hero has to be a "hero" ... that means he has to have honour
I seem to enjoy the Outback or US Rancher Desires far more than the CEO ones ... and I haven't been able to put my finger on why ... odd
~~ KatherineT ~~ I'm a Harlequin Addict, and I'm proud of it!
~~ Quiet Canadians ~ 2008 Book Challenge Blog
If you havent' read them
If you havent' read them and can get your hands on, I highly recommend you read Bronwyn's Desire trilogy The Princes of the Outback .... SD-1666 - The Rugged Loner, SD-1680 - The Rich Stranger, SD-The Ruthless Stranger, ... all three were nominated for a RITA ... actually, I've really enjoyed every book of Bronwyn's I've read (though The Rugged Loner has a few moments that were hard to swallow)
Hmmm... Ok. I've put a couple on hold. I'll check 'em out. The Rugged Loner actually sounds good to me, though I know his attitude is hurtful to the heroine, it just seems really passionate.
I'm having a problem with some of the newer Desires ... where the hero is just over the top ruthless .... you'd think I'd enjoy them because I've enjoyed the ruthless heroes in the Presents .. but there's just something about some of the newer heroes that really push boundaries .... the books may be well written but the hero has to be a "hero" ... that means he has to have honour
Hear hear! I don't know if I've read the "recent Desires" you refer to, but I agree with the concept. Lol. I'm all for honourable heroes. Personally with Desires, sometimes the honour and specialness of the love is detracted from because the attitude towards sex is a little too casual. I don't like feeling that the heroine is no more special than any of the other lovers the hero has had, and vice versa when it applies.
I seem to enjoy the Outback or US Rancher Desires far more than the CEO ones ... and I haven't been able to put my finger on why ... odd
Hmmm. I tend to just not pick up rancher/cowboy stories because they are not me and aren't worlds I dream about. But when I do pick one up and start reading it, the setting doesn't matter to me, the hero/heroine relationship and the passion/conflict draw me in.
Also, random thought about Desires
A random thought about Desires... I've read 11 so far in May. And of those, about 4 of them had covers where the HERO actor looked like he was barely out of high school.
Anyone else notice the models looking a little too juvenile for their tastes? (These Desires were probably 2007-2008 books)
ROFL .. on the cover models ...
Last year throughout the Challenge blogs, there were quite a few discussions on how young the male models were ... there was one cover (can't remember which now) where the model didn't even fit into his shirt!
Re: The Rugged Loner ... yes, it's a passionate read ... I read that one from cover to cover non-stop ... so it truly is a great book, I just had some problems with the hero's coldness ...
~~ KatherineT ~~ I'm a Harlequin Addict, and I'm proud of it!
~~ Quiet Canadians ~ 2008 Book Challenge Blog
Hehe, Kat, I read every
Hehe, Kat, I read every book cover-to-cover non-stop, so that's not special for me. If a meal needs to be made, I stand in the kitchen reading. lol...
But yes.... coldness in a hero is bad. I read "Fortune's Forbidden Woman" and I had a coldness problem with that book, which didn't make me HATE the book, but it made me puzzle and think "this ain't romantic". (The hero took the heroine's virginity, and then treated her really coldly... he knew very well that he was not dealing with a sophisticated woman who knew the score)
Katherine is this it?
Christa ~ Quiet Canadians ~ 2008 Challenge Blog
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LOL ... yes, Christa
that's the cover ....... it's almost as if the real model didn't show up for the shoot so they grabbed any one and the one the grabbed didn't even fit the shirt! LOL
there were a few Desires too release in early 07 that had such young male models ....
~~ KatherineT ~~ I'm a Harlequin Addict, and I'm proud of it!
~~ Quiet Canadians ~ 2008 Book Challenge Blog