Lynn Forster's father died 2 months ago, leaving her in control of his art restoration business (she used to assist him with the less complicated work) and their apartment (although she won't be able to afford it soon). So she's excited to get her first solo job, working for Brett Sackville at La Casa Espagnole. She travels there and the housekeeper shows her the work and she writes a quote and everything's great until Brett shows up. Brett first meets her while she's lounging by the pool wearing a skimpy yellow bikini and he immediately lumps her in with the evil marriage hunting women he knows who he delights in using for sex before breaking up with them. He doesn't even look at her quote, and scorns her personally, but insists she do the work. So there she is – then the brutal kisses start.
Brett's Spanish lover shows up and after making Lynn's life more miserable they take off to Spain. Great! Lynn is free to finish the work in peace, right? No, cuz Brett's Spanish half-brother shows up and Raphael insists he's fallen in love with her. Lynn doesn't want anything less than marriage for true love on both sides, so she tries to disabuse him of the notion but with no luck. Once she's done with the work at Spanish House, she agrees to accompany Raphael to Spain and evaluate whether he is telling the truth that there are paintings there which need work. But Brett is there too! And he's pissed that she's there! And what's worse, his mother seems to have decided that to protect Raphael's intended fiancée Rosa Maria Lynn should be paired with Brett! And Brett agrees so more punishing kisses ensue with Lynn's insistences that she's not trying to catch anyone being completely ignored. Plus then realizes she loves Brett!
This book wants to be a Harlequin Presents really, really badly. But it's totally not up to par. The thing with HP's is while the hero may be calling the heroine a tramp, a golddigger, a slut or what have you, HE'S hurt by these accusations too! Because he loves her but can't reconcile his feelings with what his head tells him – and we know this! Not so here. Brett even insinuates (multiple times!) that maybe Lynn isn't jumping into bed (or whatever) with him because “perhaps you're one of those women who enjoy their lovemaking better when they're overpowered.” He also implies that if a man pursues a woman she must be sending out some kind of encouraging signals and other garbage that reminds me of all those people who don't believe date rape exists or who insist that it can't be rape if the girl was wearing a mini-skirt as she was asking for it. Fortunately Brett does let her go whenever she makes herself go limp – and these scenes remind me of playing dead with a bear or whatever animal that's supposed to protect you from! The highlight of this book for me is when Brett has taken Lynn out on a boat and deliberately got them stranded overnight to ruin her reputation and thus turn his brother away – Brett makes another comment about Lynn liking it rough when Lynn resists him and Lynn actually accuses him of intending to rape her! She actually uses that word! It was great and I wish other 80's authors followed suit (although this is one case where the word didn't really apply as Lynn finishes the book still a virgin as they are waiting for marriage). Anyway Lynn really tells him off and I would've been thrilled if they ended the book on that note, with her escape back to England and rebuilding a life for herself, but no – of course Brett has to come and declare his love! And a more baseless and unconvincing declaration I have never read. I have zero faith that these two will live HEA and I'm not even totally convinced that they are going to get married. Avoid this book!
