What do you think?
Rate this book
Man with a Past
Cole Stockton had a will of steel and a raw determination to go after what he wanted - including Kelsey Murdock. He'd invaded her life, assaulting her with his sensuality, tempting her to be reckless. She sensed something dangerous about the man - in the secrets he refused to share, the past that still haunted him, the coiled tension that denied intimacy. For Cole, the past was a closed door. For Kelsey, that meant too many questions and no answers.
325 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1985
3 people are currently reading
430 people want to read
About the author
Jayne Ann Krentz
400 books7,123 followersThe author of over 50 consecutive New York Times bestsellers, JAYNE ANN KRENTZ writes romantic-suspense in three different worlds: Contemporary (as Jayne Ann Krentz), historical (as Amanda Quick) and futuristic (as Jayne Castle). There are over 30 million copies of her books in print.
She earned a B.A. in History from the University of California at Santa Cruz and went on to obtain a Masters degree in Library Science from San Jose State University in California. Before she began writing full time she worked as a librarian in both academic and corporate libraries.
She earned a B.A. in History from the University of California at Santa Cruz and went on to obtain a Masters degree in Library Science from San Jose State University in California. Before she began writing full time she worked as a librarian in both academic and corporate libraries.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
June 24, 2020
"Man with a Past" is the story of Kelsey and Cole.
A super sexy and thrilling romance, with an alpha hero and heroine who make it a fun read!
The book begins with the heroine planning to break up with the hero, owing to his secretiveness about his mysterious past. However, the hero has already decided that she is his woman, and stalks her like a prey until she is well and truly seduced.
Thus begins a cat and mouse game between the couple, filled with surrender, compromises and finally, the truth.
The suspense aspect comes in the form of a task the heroine is asked to perform, that gets her trapped on a remote island with the hero, a stranger and many goons.
The sex scenes are super hot, the hero absolutely crazy and the heroine worthy of his love and at the same time, able to baffle him.
Do I think the hero was too controlling and interfering? Yes. Did the heroine give into to his overbearing attitude? Yes. Did he love her like crazy? Yes to that too.
So in the end, it all worked out for me!
Safe
4/5
A super sexy and thrilling romance, with an alpha hero and heroine who make it a fun read!
The book begins with the heroine planning to break up with the hero, owing to his secretiveness about his mysterious past. However, the hero has already decided that she is his woman, and stalks her like a prey until she is well and truly seduced.
Thus begins a cat and mouse game between the couple, filled with surrender, compromises and finally, the truth.
The suspense aspect comes in the form of a task the heroine is asked to perform, that gets her trapped on a remote island with the hero, a stranger and many goons.
The sex scenes are super hot, the hero absolutely crazy and the heroine worthy of his love and at the same time, able to baffle him.
Do I think the hero was too controlling and interfering? Yes. Did the heroine give into to his overbearing attitude? Yes. Did he love her like crazy? Yes to that too.
So in the end, it all worked out for me!
Safe
4/5
October 1, 2018
"Man with a Past" by Jayne Ann Krentz delivers an Unforgettable love-story between the cynical predator-like tycoon Cole Stockton (how i love this man) and the hard-working and independent Kelsey Murdock, where a war will succumb between them where Cole wants Kelsey`s absolute surrender.!
I have no idea why this book has so many negative 1-STAR reviews between the mixed reviews.This book is SO GOOD,I loved it! Many found faults with the hero`s intensity and "abusive" nature when it came to heroine. But i will tell you what!If you thought that Cole was "abusive",then you don`t even know about the word and should stay away from books where there is a Alpha-hero like Cole.
Cole never had any woman after the moment he met Kelsey and even courted her platonically (except for goodnight kisses) over a month before the book starts. He is always honest with her (he never lied,and he openly showed that he don`t have any desire to talk about his past with Kelsey).He never hits or slaps her like MANY heroes usually do nor do he ever insult her. He clearly loves Kelsey throughout the story and it also shows in the ULTRA Possessive way he is so protective of her, jealous of any man in her life (he detests her boss) and he is a man willing to fight for her,and letting NOTHING stop him from getting her...not even herself.
Yeah he has a violence inside him where he is ready to kill any man,and there it showed to me (like it did to Kelsey) that he once in his past had been a warrior. And i just love that Kelsey knew and trusted him without knowing it herself, she fell in love with him for who he was and i was happy for him. He may be an Arrogant ass-hole sometimes,but he is a rare Alpha who felt the most unusual emotions when it came to Kelsey-uncertainty,panic,desperation..and utter vulnerability .A very somehow unique Alpha in my eyes, a man whose feelings are so passionate that he can destroy everything around him .The moments were terrifying when it came to that..but oh how i love when it gets that angsty! Cole and Kelsey are both wonderful characters, Cole more intriguing with his Savage but Cold nature..so sexy!
There are also a mystery plot after they get stranded on that island later on, but it didn`t lessen the romance feeling at all, it just made it better! and it doesn`t take up much of the story at all, so don`t worry about that. The sex-scene in the cave was helluva sexy as hell without being too graphic...I love this book, l.o.v.e it! A intense Keeper i very much recommend.!
I have no idea why this book has so many negative 1-STAR reviews between the mixed reviews.This book is SO GOOD,I loved it! Many found faults with the hero`s intensity and "abusive" nature when it came to heroine. But i will tell you what!If you thought that Cole was "abusive",then you don`t even know about the word and should stay away from books where there is a Alpha-hero like Cole.
Cole never had any woman after the moment he met Kelsey and even courted her platonically (except for goodnight kisses) over a month before the book starts. He is always honest with her (he never lied,and he openly showed that he don`t have any desire to talk about his past with Kelsey).He never hits or slaps her like MANY heroes usually do nor do he ever insult her. He clearly loves Kelsey throughout the story and it also shows in the ULTRA Possessive way he is so protective of her, jealous of any man in her life (he detests her boss) and he is a man willing to fight for her,and letting NOTHING stop him from getting her...not even herself.
Yeah he has a violence inside him where he is ready to kill any man,and there it showed to me (like it did to Kelsey) that he once in his past had been a warrior. And i just love that Kelsey knew and trusted him without knowing it herself, she fell in love with him for who he was and i was happy for him. He may be an Arrogant ass-hole sometimes,but he is a rare Alpha who felt the most unusual emotions when it came to Kelsey-uncertainty,panic,desperation..and utter vulnerability .A very somehow unique Alpha in my eyes, a man whose feelings are so passionate that he can destroy everything around him .The moments were terrifying when it came to that..but oh how i love when it gets that angsty! Cole and Kelsey are both wonderful characters, Cole more intriguing with his Savage but Cold nature..so sexy!
There are also a mystery plot after they get stranded on that island later on, but it didn`t lessen the romance feeling at all, it just made it better! and it doesn`t take up much of the story at all, so don`t worry about that. The sex-scene in the cave was helluva sexy as hell without being too graphic...I love this book, l.o.v.e it! A intense Keeper i very much recommend.!
April 3, 2015
Very dated. Very 80s. I didn't like how the characters sounded in this audio-version....sarcastic, mean, etc., but that is how it was written.
May 15, 2020
I love this author and HATE this book. After 31 years in law enforcement, I recognize the main characters from my work. He’s a threatening, physically abusive stalker and she’s the stupid person who tries telling me any woman would be lucky to have a guy like him— this is usually mumbled because her jaw is wired shut after he had to show her how right he was and how petulant she’s being. Read Trust Me by this author. One of most she got right
August 8, 2011
What are wrong with these people? That's not love. That's messed up.
September 23, 2013
It was simply horrible.
'You have to trust me.'
'But tell me who you are and were.'
'It doesn't matter, I will never lie to you and you have to trust me.'
'But I don't really know you and we can't have a relationship without communication.'
'Yes, you do know me - we've dated for the last month and I was always telling the truth, so trust me.'
'Oh, OK, I guess I love you, so I will trust you and never ask about your past.'
'Then I will tell you about my past. And by the way, I love you too.'
This could be a sum of all their conversations and the whole story. There was some plot in a typical Krentz fashion, but it didn't improve the book at all. I know it was written in different times, but please, it was just idiotic. That kind of stories make a bad name for romance novels.
'You have to trust me.'
'But tell me who you are and were.'
'It doesn't matter, I will never lie to you and you have to trust me.'
'But I don't really know you and we can't have a relationship without communication.'
'Yes, you do know me - we've dated for the last month and I was always telling the truth, so trust me.'
'Oh, OK, I guess I love you, so I will trust you and never ask about your past.'
'Then I will tell you about my past. And by the way, I love you too.'
This could be a sum of all their conversations and the whole story. There was some plot in a typical Krentz fashion, but it didn't improve the book at all. I know it was written in different times, but please, it was just idiotic. That kind of stories make a bad name for romance novels.
June 4, 2011
Definitely an "old skool" romance. I just wanted to smack the hero. And the heroine.
November 5, 2012
This book was horrible. It started off as the third act of a 3 act play. I think my friends and family thought I ate something horrible the whole time I listened to it.
The main male needs to be smacked, punched and kneed.
the female needs a new brain. Not sure why I have the book but it should be good to prop something up....
The main male needs to be smacked, punched and kneed.
the female needs a new brain. Not sure why I have the book but it should be good to prop something up....
August 23, 2019
I can't really believe this kindof stuff was commonly published as romance even in the 80's. I mean feminism wasn't invented in this millennium. She's beyond stupid, she's impossible to save and deserved to be erased as a character. She suffers abuse and above all has no idea of how to behave in a professional role.
January 4, 2012
Even compared to the standard of the rest of JAK's early work, this seems more like a primer on abusive relationships than a romance. Seriously http://stoprelationshipabuse.org/educ...
November 30, 2012
This has been my least favorite Krentz book. Krentz usually writes hero's with such character and excitement. Cole, however, is much more the villain than the hero in this book.
He starts out with scaring Kelsey, the heroine, nearly to death. She tries to end their casual month of seeing each other on weekends, and he reacts by smashing a glass of brandy in his hand (one of a couple of glasses he smashes in anger). He then chases Kelsey out into the rain when she runs to try to escape him. Freezing cold and scared, Kelsey walks slowly back to the house, where he jumps out from behind a tree, grabs her by the waist, covers her mouth with his hand and tells her she can't escape. He brings the terrified Kelsey inside and forces himself on her. She finally gives in (why I have no idea) and they sleep together. He then claims that she belongs to him.
He refuses to answer any questions about his past and expects Kelsey to trust him unconditionally (his behavior to me would indicate that he's very violent and possibly a serial killer, but Kelsey is expected to trust him unconditionally). She goes back home to avoid him and thinks her solo cruise she has planned will give her space to clear her mind.
Little does Kelsey know, that Cole follows her onto the cruise (can we say "stalker) and pays a cruise ship employee to give him her room information. When he doesn't see her there he pays another person to arrange her seat at dinner with him. When she doesn't show up to dinner, he bangs on her door, and barges in. (Um, hello, psychopath!). Kelsey is in her room sea-sick so he calls the doctor to give her a sedative which will knock her out. He insists on staying in the room and she is too weak to fight him. She wakes up once in the night and notices he is going through all of her papers and then steals said papers. When she asks him about it in the morning, he then taunts her to "turn him into the police" and is angry with her for not trusting him.
He goes on to yell at her about who she can spend time with, question why she is out of the house, require her to obey orders, threatens to take her over his knee and hit her when she doesn't, criticises what she wears, asks her to leave her job and move in with him (but he is "kind" and accepts eventually that she wants to keep her job to which Kelsey is very grateful- seriously?!?), intercepts her messages, reads her mail from her boss, yells at her, tells everyone she belongs to him, tells her she isn't allowed to leave and he will chase her down, oh and she says she loves him and they will live happily ever after...
There is a little side story going on, but don't want to add any spoilers, so just tlaking about the hero/heroine here.
Seriously?!?!?! I'm all for dangerous bad boys and mysterious men, but Cole is downright creepy! I can't understand at all why Kelsey agreed to all of his conditions when she should have been getting a restraining order and running for her life. I'm OK with females who are a bit submissive, but the extent to which Cole is creepy and she agrees with him is jut scary. This is more like a story for abusive relationships, than a romance. I'm very disappointed in this book.
Maybe the audio version made him sound even creepy than the paper book would have, but his behavior is unexusable and unacceptable in any realm. He's a very possessive controlling man with an anger problem. Kelsey should've kept on running!
He starts out with scaring Kelsey, the heroine, nearly to death. She tries to end their casual month of seeing each other on weekends, and he reacts by smashing a glass of brandy in his hand (one of a couple of glasses he smashes in anger). He then chases Kelsey out into the rain when she runs to try to escape him. Freezing cold and scared, Kelsey walks slowly back to the house, where he jumps out from behind a tree, grabs her by the waist, covers her mouth with his hand and tells her she can't escape. He brings the terrified Kelsey inside and forces himself on her. She finally gives in (why I have no idea) and they sleep together. He then claims that she belongs to him.
He refuses to answer any questions about his past and expects Kelsey to trust him unconditionally (his behavior to me would indicate that he's very violent and possibly a serial killer, but Kelsey is expected to trust him unconditionally). She goes back home to avoid him and thinks her solo cruise she has planned will give her space to clear her mind.
Little does Kelsey know, that Cole follows her onto the cruise (can we say "stalker) and pays a cruise ship employee to give him her room information. When he doesn't see her there he pays another person to arrange her seat at dinner with him. When she doesn't show up to dinner, he bangs on her door, and barges in. (Um, hello, psychopath!). Kelsey is in her room sea-sick so he calls the doctor to give her a sedative which will knock her out. He insists on staying in the room and she is too weak to fight him. She wakes up once in the night and notices he is going through all of her papers and then steals said papers. When she asks him about it in the morning, he then taunts her to "turn him into the police" and is angry with her for not trusting him.
He goes on to yell at her about who she can spend time with, question why she is out of the house, require her to obey orders, threatens to take her over his knee and hit her when she doesn't, criticises what she wears, asks her to leave her job and move in with him (but he is "kind" and accepts eventually that she wants to keep her job to which Kelsey is very grateful- seriously?!?), intercepts her messages, reads her mail from her boss, yells at her, tells everyone she belongs to him, tells her she isn't allowed to leave and he will chase her down, oh and she says she loves him and they will live happily ever after...
There is a little side story going on, but don't want to add any spoilers, so just tlaking about the hero/heroine here.
Seriously?!?!?! I'm all for dangerous bad boys and mysterious men, but Cole is downright creepy! I can't understand at all why Kelsey agreed to all of his conditions when she should have been getting a restraining order and running for her life. I'm OK with females who are a bit submissive, but the extent to which Cole is creepy and she agrees with him is jut scary. This is more like a story for abusive relationships, than a romance. I'm very disappointed in this book.
Maybe the audio version made him sound even creepy than the paper book would have, but his behavior is unexusable and unacceptable in any realm. He's a very possessive controlling man with an anger problem. Kelsey should've kept on running!
April 12, 2015
I listened to this book on a Playaway (mp3) or I would never have finished it. It is very obvious that this book was written inSo can't file without them the 80s . The characters are completely impossible to relate to . This should never have been resurrected . If this had been my first JAK book , it most probably would've been my last . Don't bother taking this one home unless you have absolutely nothing else left to read including shampoo bottles while sitting on the toilet .
Read
June 25, 2016Kelsey Murdock's mother, Amanda, and stepfather, Roger Evans, were taking a trip to New Zealand. They had introduced her to a neighbor, Cole Stockton, before they left for their trip about a month ago. They had been spending a lot of time together during the weekends she was at her mother's house in California's Monterey Peninsula while she was there to taking care of the houseplants.
Cole had come over to her mother's place and Kelsey told Cole about a trip she was taking to the Caribbean to deliver a briefcase of papers to a client there. She told him that she had been working with her stepfather setting up a new computer. She tried to ask him about his past and he refused to answer any questions. He then told Kelsey that she needed to give up her job and move in with him. He would give her enough money to match her salary. Kelsey got mad. She refused to become his mistress. She had decided that she wasn't going to see him anymore and he refused to accept that. She knew that Cole had money but she knew nothing about how he had made his money and what he did for a living. She told him that her job was important to her and so was her independence. She told him that she wasn't ready to make a commitment to him because she didn't know enough about him. He tried to say that she did but she told him that there were parts of his life he refused to discuss so she wasn't ready to make a commitment to him. She was leaving and their relationship was over. The next thing she heard was this wine glass splintering in his hand. He was angry now and told her not to even try and leave. She wouldn't get very far. She started out the door and he followed her. She walked around outside in the rain for awhile and he watched her. He stopped her as she was going back into her house. Kelsey was scared then and tried to get away from Cole. He kissed her into submitting to him and they had sex that night.
Cole didn't stay the night but went back to his house after Kelsey fell asleep. Kelsey woke up and was walking around the house and decided to check and see how her stepfather was coming on his computer setup. She found a file on Cole and found that her stepfather was paying him $1000 a month. She first thought that Cole might be blackmailing him and left to go confront Cole. Cole refused to answer any questions about the payments and Kelsey left angry again. She went back to work, picked up the briefcase from her boss and prepared for her cruise to the Caribbean. In the meantime, Cole purchased tickets to be on the same cruise ship as Kelsey. He didn't contact her for a week and didn't tell her he would be on the cruise with her. She got on board the ship and Cole wondered why she didn't show up for dinner. He went to find her and found her seasick. He called the Dr. to come give her a shot and took her briefcase. She accused him of stealing it when she woke up but he told her that he took it because he didn't think she should have the responsibility for having such valuable possessions herself. He took it to protect her. She was wary but believed him.
They hired a pilot to take them to Valentine's island. He didn't show up so they told the pilot to wait and they went to his house to find him. The plane took off. They knew then that they weren't alone on the island. Cole noticed someone following him and they hid. It was Valentine. They were told that three men came to the island and one left in a boat. The other two were in the house and they went to the house and caught them after dark. They left Kelsey in a cave.
They returned to the cave and told Kelsey that they were going to get the third man in the morning. Cole and Kelsey made love that night. She woke up in the morning and Cole was gone. She wasn't supposed to leave the cave but she decided to sneak over and see what was going on. She saw them on the shore but she also saw another gunman watching them also. She snuck in closer and hit him over the head with a rock. They caught the man on the beach and Cole heard Kelsey and came running. Cole was mad but he realized that she had probably saved at least one of their lives.
They left the island with a fisherman and Valentine stayed on his island to deal with the thieves. He knew that turning them in wouldn't do much good since they were out of US jurisdiction so he threatened them and sent them on their way.
On the ship, Cole told Kelsey that they needed to spend time together without interruption and he stopped a few messages from getting to her from her boss. The phone was ringing when they arrived back at her apartment and he came over. They didn't tell him everything that happened to keep Cole's involvement out. They told him that they arrived after Valentine had caught the guys.
Cole told Kelsey that she could keep her job and he would move in with her during the week and spend the weekends at this place in Carmel. Kelsey agreed not to question him about his past. Cole was thrilled but something still bothered him. He didn't quite know what it was.
Kelsey's parents arrived back home from their trip and Kelsey picked them up. They arrived home and Kelsey tried to explain her relationship with Cole to her mother. Her mother told her that her new husband had borrowed money from Cole because some investments went bad and he didn't want her to know. Amanda had found out but never told Roger that she knew. That was what the payments to Cole were all about. Kelsey was relieved to finally know about the payments.
Cole came over to dinner and both Kelsey and Cole became quieter throughout the evening that she could never leave him, he wouldn't allow her to. She told him that she was no longer afraid of him. She understood from the way he handled things on the island that his past involved violence that was probably best left in the past. Cole was surprised and then admitted that he loved her and didn't want to lose her. He wanted a marriage rather than an affair. Kelsey agreed to marry him. Cole first told Kelsey he wanted to explain his past and then leave it in the past going forward. Cole told Kelsey that he was in the military and then became a mercenary for hire. He did that until he got burned out. He took one last mission and simply never went back. No one that he worked for and with never knew what happened to him and apparently didn't care enough to look for him. His past would stay buried so that no one would ever come looking for him.
They agreed that they needed to invite Valentine to their wedding.
Cole had come over to her mother's place and Kelsey told Cole about a trip she was taking to the Caribbean to deliver a briefcase of papers to a client there. She told him that she had been working with her stepfather setting up a new computer. She tried to ask him about his past and he refused to answer any questions. He then told Kelsey that she needed to give up her job and move in with him. He would give her enough money to match her salary. Kelsey got mad. She refused to become his mistress. She had decided that she wasn't going to see him anymore and he refused to accept that. She knew that Cole had money but she knew nothing about how he had made his money and what he did for a living. She told him that her job was important to her and so was her independence. She told him that she wasn't ready to make a commitment to him because she didn't know enough about him. He tried to say that she did but she told him that there were parts of his life he refused to discuss so she wasn't ready to make a commitment to him. She was leaving and their relationship was over. The next thing she heard was this wine glass splintering in his hand. He was angry now and told her not to even try and leave. She wouldn't get very far. She started out the door and he followed her. She walked around outside in the rain for awhile and he watched her. He stopped her as she was going back into her house. Kelsey was scared then and tried to get away from Cole. He kissed her into submitting to him and they had sex that night.
Cole didn't stay the night but went back to his house after Kelsey fell asleep. Kelsey woke up and was walking around the house and decided to check and see how her stepfather was coming on his computer setup. She found a file on Cole and found that her stepfather was paying him $1000 a month. She first thought that Cole might be blackmailing him and left to go confront Cole. Cole refused to answer any questions about the payments and Kelsey left angry again. She went back to work, picked up the briefcase from her boss and prepared for her cruise to the Caribbean. In the meantime, Cole purchased tickets to be on the same cruise ship as Kelsey. He didn't contact her for a week and didn't tell her he would be on the cruise with her. She got on board the ship and Cole wondered why she didn't show up for dinner. He went to find her and found her seasick. He called the Dr. to come give her a shot and took her briefcase. She accused him of stealing it when she woke up but he told her that he took it because he didn't think she should have the responsibility for having such valuable possessions herself. He took it to protect her. She was wary but believed him.
They hired a pilot to take them to Valentine's island. He didn't show up so they told the pilot to wait and they went to his house to find him. The plane took off. They knew then that they weren't alone on the island. Cole noticed someone following him and they hid. It was Valentine. They were told that three men came to the island and one left in a boat. The other two were in the house and they went to the house and caught them after dark. They left Kelsey in a cave.
They returned to the cave and told Kelsey that they were going to get the third man in the morning. Cole and Kelsey made love that night. She woke up in the morning and Cole was gone. She wasn't supposed to leave the cave but she decided to sneak over and see what was going on. She saw them on the shore but she also saw another gunman watching them also. She snuck in closer and hit him over the head with a rock. They caught the man on the beach and Cole heard Kelsey and came running. Cole was mad but he realized that she had probably saved at least one of their lives.
They left the island with a fisherman and Valentine stayed on his island to deal with the thieves. He knew that turning them in wouldn't do much good since they were out of US jurisdiction so he threatened them and sent them on their way.
On the ship, Cole told Kelsey that they needed to spend time together without interruption and he stopped a few messages from getting to her from her boss. The phone was ringing when they arrived back at her apartment and he came over. They didn't tell him everything that happened to keep Cole's involvement out. They told him that they arrived after Valentine had caught the guys.
Cole told Kelsey that she could keep her job and he would move in with her during the week and spend the weekends at this place in Carmel. Kelsey agreed not to question him about his past. Cole was thrilled but something still bothered him. He didn't quite know what it was.
Kelsey's parents arrived back home from their trip and Kelsey picked them up. They arrived home and Kelsey tried to explain her relationship with Cole to her mother. Her mother told her that her new husband had borrowed money from Cole because some investments went bad and he didn't want her to know. Amanda had found out but never told Roger that she knew. That was what the payments to Cole were all about. Kelsey was relieved to finally know about the payments.
Cole came over to dinner and both Kelsey and Cole became quieter throughout the evening that she could never leave him, he wouldn't allow her to. She told him that she was no longer afraid of him. She understood from the way he handled things on the island that his past involved violence that was probably best left in the past. Cole was surprised and then admitted that he loved her and didn't want to lose her. He wanted a marriage rather than an affair. Kelsey agreed to marry him. Cole first told Kelsey he wanted to explain his past and then leave it in the past going forward. Cole told Kelsey that he was in the military and then became a mercenary for hire. He did that until he got burned out. He took one last mission and simply never went back. No one that he worked for and with never knew what happened to him and apparently didn't care enough to look for him. His past would stay buried so that no one would ever come looking for him.
They agreed that they needed to invite Valentine to their wedding.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 22, 2017
I listened to the audio version of this book and it was awe full. I had read the story before and wasn't thrilled with the theme as is because of the arrogance of the mail lead. However, the audio version is so abridged that the key scenes that make the Cole somewhat sympathetic were removed, leaving a leading man that any woman would want to toss out the door. Also whoever abridged this version also makes the main character, Kelsey, seem like an idiot. When I read this story originally, I only gave it three stars, but this version doesn't even deserve the one star I did give it. I wonder why they decided to further abridge a book that's a short read as is.
November 4, 2018
Man with a Past (Hardcover)
by Jayne Ann Krentz (Goodreads Author)
I don't like the stereotypical "Harlequin Romance" characters from the 70s and 80s. i.e. Stupid weak young female and older jerk male. There's no story that can make those character types palatable enough to get through the entire book.
Since this is one of JAK's books from early in her career, the 80s, I'm not surprised at her writing during that time period. I made it a few chapters then decided not to finish.
Guess I'll just have to wait until she writes some more new books to read. :)
by Jayne Ann Krentz (Goodreads Author)
I don't like the stereotypical "Harlequin Romance" characters from the 70s and 80s. i.e. Stupid weak young female and older jerk male. There's no story that can make those character types palatable enough to get through the entire book.
Since this is one of JAK's books from early in her career, the 80s, I'm not surprised at her writing during that time period. I made it a few chapters then decided not to finish.
Guess I'll just have to wait until she writes some more new books to read. :)
August 25, 2014
This was not a story line that I expected from Ms. Krentz. The "hero" came across more like a stalker than a man I would find as a possible mate. He was way to dominering, to the almost to the point of abusive. I, personally, don't know of a young single woman that would take his behavior without calling the police or at lest telling their family and freinds.
September 17, 2020
This has to be one of my least favourite JAK books ever. I guess in the 80's women liked men to be manipulative and overbearing, but it just left me cold. Glad her writing has improved since '85.
August 8, 2020
This was my first book by this author. I thought it was good. It wasn’t something that I would rave about though. I will probably read another book by this author sometime in the future. I liked the characters enough...though I didn’t like how Cole was a bit overbearing with Kelsey. He wasn’t completely likable like some leading men. I liked that Kelsey wasn’t a submissive little mouse. She didn’t just run and do everything Cole wanted her to do just because he wanted her to do it. There were things to me that were not answered by the end of the book too. I am not sure I totally buy the HEA either. Overall it was an ok read.
April 22, 2022
I purchased the audiobook version from a used book store, and I'm really glad I didn't pay more for this trash. I usually really enjoy books by Jayne Ann Krentz and her alter egos, but couldn't even finish the first disc of the CDs. From the beginning the guy is a jerk, thinking how she BELONGS to him, like a woman is just property, and she should be happy to follow his rules. When he started thinking she OWED him sex and that she had no where to run from his remote beach house, I started thinking this can't be the love interest in this book!? This was date rape and mental abuse not love!! I often give my books to the library when I'm finished, but I'll be throwing this in the trash!
August 1, 2024
E S P E C T A C U L A R !!!
Me encantó todooo; la historia, el misterio y los personajes... Mejor dicho ¿donde estaba este libro y por qué no lo había leído antes?.
Me fascinó la personalidad de la heroína lo valiente que era y la firmeza en sus ideales. Lo mismo en el caso de Cole, me gustaba lo protector que era con Kesley aunque eso sí era bastante posesivo (me lo pido jiji🤭).
Mi calificación final: 6 estrellas 💫
Me encantó todooo; la historia, el misterio y los personajes... Mejor dicho ¿donde estaba este libro y por qué no lo había leído antes?.
Me fascinó la personalidad de la heroína lo valiente que era y la firmeza en sus ideales. Lo mismo en el caso de Cole, me gustaba lo protector que era con Kesley aunque eso sí era bastante posesivo (me lo pido jiji🤭).
Mi calificación final: 6 estrellas 💫
July 16, 2017
Kelsey Murdock decides Cole Stocton, who lives next door to her parent, is not open enough for any kind of relationship. She is not happy when he suggests she move in with him. His hidden past is a big thing with Kelsey. Her vacation is her escape from Cole.
Twists and turns kept me interested right to the end.
Twists and turns kept me interested right to the end.
September 16, 2020
I normally love JAK’s books, but any hero who doesn’t accept the word “No” and thinks it’s okay to scare the heroine into submission gets a big DNF from me. Didn’t even make it past the first chapter.
Some of her early Harlequin books were okay. Not this one.
Read Private Eye, Grand Passion or her Whispering Springs books....
Some of her early Harlequin books were okay. Not this one.
Read Private Eye, Grand Passion or her Whispering Springs books....
February 24, 2018
Although the book is a fiction, cole is very stubborn, if i'm a female i will never friend him. i can trust him best on his condition. Any way he later Spoke about the past.
April 9, 2019
Audible
July 31, 2019
Αγαπώ έναν άγνωστο...
October 6, 2020
was a good book but could have used a better narrator.
August 2, 2021
Un rollazo de libro. Ella es insoportable
August 20, 2021
DNF. What kind of rapey, stalkerish, toxic, abusive shit was this?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 11, 2024
A bit Rapey. A bit hostagey. In real life she'd be in for some decades of control and abuse eventually. But shrug, this was the eighties writing style. One just has to cringe and proceed.
dnf
January 16, 2025Dnf 30%
Couldn’t get into this.
H was too pushy.
Couldn’t get into this.
H was too pushy.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews