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A Certain Affection
Amy had always loved Maxwell St Clair, her attractive cousin by marriage. But it was clear that all he felt for her was the friendly affection which she had enjoyed as a child all those years ago. His love was reserved for another woman and it would be foolish of Amy to try to come between them. And yet he exhibited something remarkably like jealousy when he met the men in Amys life. Perhaps there was hope for her after all?
187 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 1989
4 people are currently reading
245 people want to read
About the author
Patricia Wilson
237 books178 followersPatricia Wilson (1929 – 2010) was a best-selling writer of 53 romance novels for the Mills & Boon publisher from 1986 to 2004. She placed her novels primarily in England, Spain or France.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
December 26, 2016
Re A Certain Affection - PW brings us her usual cuddlesome h, except this one does hurdles in games and wins medals - presumably the Olympics, but they were in Frankfurt so maybe it was the HPlandics. The H is more troublesome in this one, cause anyone who reads PW knows that her H's are generally head over heels and stalkerific over the h, so it is rather surprising to see the H actively encouraging another woman - usually a PW OW will stalk the H while he is oblivious.
This one starts with the orphaned Cornish Pixie h being emotionally blackmailed by her aunt into spending some time at her other aunt's fabulous English estate. The h, a Head games mistress for a local school, has been avoiding returning to the family nest since she fell in love with her twelve yrs older male cousin in law - who is a world renowned sculptor.
Since she was mortified that he might figure out her almighty crush at 17, she avoided family do's like weddings etc and focuses on her physical sports. She is a dab hand at gymnastics, but won fame and recognition as a hurdler in world competition games. (Since the h is described a being tiny at 5ft 1', that was fairly startling, cause I thought you had to be at least 5ft 5' to clear the hurdles. But then again she seems to fly around a lot in the book, so maybe she had seekrit rocket boosters.)
Anyhoose, she is off to the family nest to see her beloved extended family and right away she knows that the attraction for the H is still there - but now he is throwing in some roofie kisses and that makes him DANGEROUS! She is having red light sonar depth charge warnings within ten feet of the H and she knows that nothing good can come of this, even after the H shows her his private personal collection of lovingly sculpted little bronzes of the h at various ages and the older ones are rather non-clothed.
The h understands via the family grapevine that the H is looking to marry. The H even drags the h over to his newly purchased but needs a renovate house, he wants her opinion on what a wife would like as interior decoration. The h is rather reluctant to go, but we readers are already cheering, cause we know this is a sneaky H trick to lure his long adored h into his sticky web of lurve mojo. The stairs in the house are rather rickety and the h manages to step through one and sprain her ankle, thus delaying her departure back to her school to take her fifth form girls to their summer games.
This proves to be a sad event in more ways than one, cause now the h is filled with longing and love for the H and he has to go out and bring his rumored fiancee home to meet the rest of the family. The h is now torn and tossed on a bed of unrequited love and she can't escape. That the H keeps throwing roofie kisses at her, when he is ostensibly escorting another woman, just adds grist to the h's little mill. The h is relieved when her other male cousin in law shows a bit of interest, she can keep her longing at bay with the warm companionship of another man, but that gets shot down in the wake of the H's irrational but recognizable jealousy. The h is in turmoil, but fortunately there is a school trip to France coming up and so the h can make her escape. It seems the H's new fiancee has broken more than the h's heart, her other male cousin in law has succumbed to the bite of the love bug as well and now has a hopeless passion for the H's fiancee.
The h prepares to go to France, an ex boyfriend that she is trying to pawn off on one of her friends is the other teacher on the trip and whilst she is packing, another old male school friend shows up as a pit stop on a travelogue and the h offers him a platonic bunk for the night. Of course the H chases after the h after her hasty departure and arrives just as the OM is leaving, the h and H have a bit of a spat and the h kicks him out. He leaves, but sneaks back in to carry the h back to the family nest. We find out that the H's fiancee isn't really a fiancee at all, the H was just setting her and the other male cousin in law up for a lifetime of bliss, cause they are both really shy and introverted and someone had to take a hand in things.
So the H and h are dinking around the homestead together and the h is falling further into love, but the big Paris trip with the horrors of the sixth form is up next and the H asks the h to go to France with him alone afterwards. The h has a panicky moment, as does her beloved aunty, cause they both assume the H is trying to push the h into an affair. Nevertheless, the h takes her students to Paris, where the ex boyfriend maths teacher and the school head in their endless museum quest, are deserted by students for the h and her habit of slouching into disreputable sidewalk cafe's. A great time is had by all, except the maths teacher and the Headmaster are a bit discomfited by the student's abandonment of their tour of cultural enlightenment for a more sociological study of persons that was the h's contribution to the trip.
The H and h are finally alone and in Paris and the h is worried about possible consequences for an affair. All that worrying leads to nought, the H is a perfect gentleman and suitor the whole trip. The h is starting to believe the H really does love her, ( and at this point it is past time she gets a clue,) but then she sees the H at the opera with another woman for ten minutes and instantly feels rejected - she had thought he was heading straight home after he dropped her off from the Paris trip. So thinking the H is two timing love rat, the h makes for her Cornish home town. She knows every fisherman there and even has her own little boat to swan about in.
The h has some mopey moments and we also meet another man who is in love with the h, but she looks at him just as a friend, so there is no chance there. The H shows up after a few days and there is tense drama as the h has to rescue a little boy from a dangerous current. Her boat sinks, but she saves the day as well as the boy, and the H has a panic attack conniption when he thinks he might lose her, ( it was reeeally dramatic, three big fisherguys had to hold him down.)
The H carries the h off and declares undying love forever for the h. She wants to know about his Opera lady and the H explains that it was a ten minute meeting with the head of the Opera Guild, they want the H to do a statue. Happy that the H isn't loving anyone but her, the h finally agrees to give up her job and marry the H. (It was a whole chapter of H true lurve declarations intermixed with lovin' it up, so I kinda forgave the OW's repeatedly thrown in. PW does great H declarations. )
This one is pretty good, the chapter of the H declaring himself, (like he hadn't been shouting it with every action the whole book,) was nice if you are in the mood for lurverly declarations. The h is cute in a PW kinda way, but a bit slow on the uptake. This one could be considered a bit drawn out, PW had to throw red herring OW in just to make page count I think, but overall it isn't a bad day's travelling in HPlandia.
This one starts with the orphaned Cornish Pixie h being emotionally blackmailed by her aunt into spending some time at her other aunt's fabulous English estate. The h, a Head games mistress for a local school, has been avoiding returning to the family nest since she fell in love with her twelve yrs older male cousin in law - who is a world renowned sculptor.
Since she was mortified that he might figure out her almighty crush at 17, she avoided family do's like weddings etc and focuses on her physical sports. She is a dab hand at gymnastics, but won fame and recognition as a hurdler in world competition games. (Since the h is described a being tiny at 5ft 1', that was fairly startling, cause I thought you had to be at least 5ft 5' to clear the hurdles. But then again she seems to fly around a lot in the book, so maybe she had seekrit rocket boosters.)
Anyhoose, she is off to the family nest to see her beloved extended family and right away she knows that the attraction for the H is still there - but now he is throwing in some roofie kisses and that makes him DANGEROUS! She is having red light sonar depth charge warnings within ten feet of the H and she knows that nothing good can come of this, even after the H shows her his private personal collection of lovingly sculpted little bronzes of the h at various ages and the older ones are rather non-clothed.
The h understands via the family grapevine that the H is looking to marry. The H even drags the h over to his newly purchased but needs a renovate house, he wants her opinion on what a wife would like as interior decoration. The h is rather reluctant to go, but we readers are already cheering, cause we know this is a sneaky H trick to lure his long adored h into his sticky web of lurve mojo. The stairs in the house are rather rickety and the h manages to step through one and sprain her ankle, thus delaying her departure back to her school to take her fifth form girls to their summer games.
This proves to be a sad event in more ways than one, cause now the h is filled with longing and love for the H and he has to go out and bring his rumored fiancee home to meet the rest of the family. The h is now torn and tossed on a bed of unrequited love and she can't escape. That the H keeps throwing roofie kisses at her, when he is ostensibly escorting another woman, just adds grist to the h's little mill. The h is relieved when her other male cousin in law shows a bit of interest, she can keep her longing at bay with the warm companionship of another man, but that gets shot down in the wake of the H's irrational but recognizable jealousy. The h is in turmoil, but fortunately there is a school trip to France coming up and so the h can make her escape. It seems the H's new fiancee has broken more than the h's heart, her other male cousin in law has succumbed to the bite of the love bug as well and now has a hopeless passion for the H's fiancee.
The h prepares to go to France, an ex boyfriend that she is trying to pawn off on one of her friends is the other teacher on the trip and whilst she is packing, another old male school friend shows up as a pit stop on a travelogue and the h offers him a platonic bunk for the night. Of course the H chases after the h after her hasty departure and arrives just as the OM is leaving, the h and H have a bit of a spat and the h kicks him out. He leaves, but sneaks back in to carry the h back to the family nest. We find out that the H's fiancee isn't really a fiancee at all, the H was just setting her and the other male cousin in law up for a lifetime of bliss, cause they are both really shy and introverted and someone had to take a hand in things.
So the H and h are dinking around the homestead together and the h is falling further into love, but the big Paris trip with the horrors of the sixth form is up next and the H asks the h to go to France with him alone afterwards. The h has a panicky moment, as does her beloved aunty, cause they both assume the H is trying to push the h into an affair. Nevertheless, the h takes her students to Paris, where the ex boyfriend maths teacher and the school head in their endless museum quest, are deserted by students for the h and her habit of slouching into disreputable sidewalk cafe's. A great time is had by all, except the maths teacher and the Headmaster are a bit discomfited by the student's abandonment of their tour of cultural enlightenment for a more sociological study of persons that was the h's contribution to the trip.
The H and h are finally alone and in Paris and the h is worried about possible consequences for an affair. All that worrying leads to nought, the H is a perfect gentleman and suitor the whole trip. The h is starting to believe the H really does love her, ( and at this point it is past time she gets a clue,) but then she sees the H at the opera with another woman for ten minutes and instantly feels rejected - she had thought he was heading straight home after he dropped her off from the Paris trip. So thinking the H is two timing love rat, the h makes for her Cornish home town. She knows every fisherman there and even has her own little boat to swan about in.
The h has some mopey moments and we also meet another man who is in love with the h, but she looks at him just as a friend, so there is no chance there. The H shows up after a few days and there is tense drama as the h has to rescue a little boy from a dangerous current. Her boat sinks, but she saves the day as well as the boy, and the H has a panic attack conniption when he thinks he might lose her, ( it was reeeally dramatic, three big fisherguys had to hold him down.)
The H carries the h off and declares undying love forever for the h. She wants to know about his Opera lady and the H explains that it was a ten minute meeting with the head of the Opera Guild, they want the H to do a statue. Happy that the H isn't loving anyone but her, the h finally agrees to give up her job and marry the H. (It was a whole chapter of H true lurve declarations intermixed with lovin' it up, so I kinda forgave the OW's repeatedly thrown in. PW does great H declarations. )
This one is pretty good, the chapter of the H declaring himself, (like he hadn't been shouting it with every action the whole book,) was nice if you are in the mood for lurverly declarations. The h is cute in a PW kinda way, but a bit slow on the uptake. This one could be considered a bit drawn out, PW had to throw red herring OW in just to make page count I think, but overall it isn't a bad day's travelling in HPlandia.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 21, 2013
I just loved this book. I loved the fact that he allowed her to grow up and become a successful person in her own right. Loved that he declared war and was hell bent on capturing her heart once he felt sure she was ready. Loved all the chase scenes. Loved that he felt she deserved to be woo'ed instead of mauled. Loved that he had to fight to keep his hands off her. Loved that she drove him crazy. Loved that he was madly jealous.
Loved that she was ABSOLUTELY clueless.
LOVED, LOVED, LOVED this story! I wish there were more like this one.
Special thanks to Lululemon for recommending this to me, when I was down and out laying low with the flu bug. It helped to brighten my days.
Loved that she was ABSOLUTELY clueless.
LOVED, LOVED, LOVED this story! I wish there were more like this one.
Special thanks to Lululemon for recommending this to me, when I was down and out laying low with the flu bug. It helped to brighten my days.
May 11, 2017
God this was boring! However! Apparently hero hasn't ACTUALLY been with another woman since he's developed feelings for heroine, thus the two stars! Poor man has been celibate for quite a while, since she was 17 and has been trying to get her notice him in a way that didn't scream "cousin"!
Pity, I usually like PW!
Pity, I usually like PW!
May 16, 2011
Lessons I might have learnt from this book:
-obsessing about 11 year old girls ain't creepy at all (to be fair, here the H is portrayed as being a guardian to the h when she's 11/12 and he doesn't act obsessive towards her and is attentive and kind to her...so...am I justifying this? I dunno, am I?).
-Kissing a 17 year old 'man-style' is vairay sexay.
-If a woman is petite, she's helpless fo shure!
-Every guy a beautiful woman meets MUST fall for her
-'You're Mine! do ya hear me!?!?! MINE MINE MINE! (or something like this) is fine for a man to say to HIS HIS HIS woman
-a story can have NO plausible cause of rift between the h/h and yet still drag the course of the whole book
SOMEONE: Please answer the following questions?
1- WHY did Max (H) have to pretend that he was marrying Glenys(supposedly the OW)? Amy(h) specifically says 'and you'll be marrying Glenys soon' while they go watch his house together and yet he doesn't say: 'Oh I'm setting that biotch up with my bro cuz you know he got bit by the shy bug, yo!'???
2- WHAT was keeping Max and Amy apart. I honestly do NOT understand this. She knows he obsesses about her (almost creepily) and she's still attracted to him. He's a free agent. She legally of age (finally) so what?!?!?!?!
The start of the story is cute. But the age difference between the H/h makes pedophilia crop up a lil. There are random dates/wooing which to me doesn't clarify the issue between the H/h. I'm just...confused o_O
-obsessing about 11 year old girls ain't creepy at all (to be fair, here the H is portrayed as being a guardian to the h when she's 11/12 and he doesn't act obsessive towards her and is attentive and kind to her...so...am I justifying this? I dunno, am I?).
-Kissing a 17 year old 'man-style' is vairay sexay.
-If a woman is petite, she's helpless fo shure!
-Every guy a beautiful woman meets MUST fall for her
-'You're Mine! do ya hear me!?!?! MINE MINE MINE! (or something like this) is fine for a man to say to HIS HIS HIS woman
-a story can have NO plausible cause of rift between the h/h and yet still drag the course of the whole book
SOMEONE: Please answer the following questions?
1- WHY did Max (H) have to pretend that he was marrying Glenys(supposedly the OW)? Amy(h) specifically says 'and you'll be marrying Glenys soon' while they go watch his house together and yet he doesn't say: 'Oh I'm setting that biotch up with my bro cuz you know he got bit by the shy bug, yo!'???
2- WHAT was keeping Max and Amy apart. I honestly do NOT understand this. She knows he obsesses about her (almost creepily) and she's still attracted to him. He's a free agent. She legally of age (finally) so what?!?!?!?!
The start of the story is cute. But the age difference between the H/h makes pedophilia crop up a lil. There are random dates/wooing which to me doesn't clarify the issue between the H/h. I'm just...confused o_O
November 28, 2019
Sweet, slow-moving, step-cousin story. Hero is a sculptor and ten years older than the heroine. He has loved her forever. "Cornish pixie" and gyms teacher heroine has felt the same way about him, but thinks he's marrying the girl his shy brother is sweet on.
There are lots of misunderstandings and gentle angst as the hero finally makes his move - but doesn't explain himself.
Boogenhagen has all the details.
There are lots of misunderstandings and gentle angst as the hero finally makes his move - but doesn't explain himself.
Boogenhagen has all the details.
December 12, 2018
"A Certain Affection" is the story of Amy and Max.
A story of unrequited love between our school teacher Amy and her cousin by marriage, famous sculptor artist Maxwell St Clair.
The book starts with a 3 year separation, after which orphaned Amy goes back to visit Max and his family. She then realizes he is "engaged" and finds herself in a heartbreaking dilemma. However, wherever she goes, Max is always there to accompany her. And Sebastian, Max's brother, is possibly into Max's shy fiance. And then, Max is jealous of every man who looks at Amy. Can these two find their HEA?
Max was SUCH a sweet PW hero. He loved her for years and years from afar, creating her living images in stone and keeping her close to his heart while pining for her. He also chases her again and again, and cannot let her go, making sure her wishes come true. Amy is an adorably impulsive heroine, who is athletic and a master in running away from the hero. There's a lot of "chase" sequences in the book, but all ends in a sweet HEA.
Enjoyed it!
Safe
4/5
A story of unrequited love between our school teacher Amy and her cousin by marriage, famous sculptor artist Maxwell St Clair.
The book starts with a 3 year separation, after which orphaned Amy goes back to visit Max and his family. She then realizes he is "engaged" and finds herself in a heartbreaking dilemma. However, wherever she goes, Max is always there to accompany her. And Sebastian, Max's brother, is possibly into Max's shy fiance. And then, Max is jealous of every man who looks at Amy. Can these two find their HEA?
Max was SUCH a sweet PW hero. He loved her for years and years from afar, creating her living images in stone and keeping her close to his heart while pining for her. He also chases her again and again, and cannot let her go, making sure her wishes come true. Amy is an adorably impulsive heroine, who is athletic and a master in running away from the hero. There's a lot of "chase" sequences in the book, but all ends in a sweet HEA.
Enjoyed it!
Safe
4/5
January 20, 2023
She cries too much and too often over nothing.
January 3, 2018
Wilson is back to her favourite plot: men falling in love with children.
This heroine is a champion hurdler and head of the PE department of a rough high school in London, but naturally she’s also tiny and pretty and sparkly. She’s had a crush on the sculptor hero for ages and has avoided him for years, but had finally run out of excuses not to visit the English Country Manor where he lives and which is full of people who aren’t quite her relatives but adore her.
There, she is once again drawn to the most handsome talented man on the planet, who makes tiny bronze sculptures of her which she chooses to identify as Art rather than Creepy.
He proves his greatness by rescuing her from the fate of the majority of Wilson heroes bed: the Sprained Ankle.
I’m sad for her: not even medal winning athletes can escape Wilson wanting her heroines to fall over and/or have an alarming virus.
Every man wants the heroine, and the hero is, for a Wilson man, mostly patient about it. He’s nicer than most, although it makes absolutely no sense for him to continue to string her along without declaring his (ugh) honourable intentions after a certain point. I have no idea what his motivations were, actually, since he seemed to lack that deep fear of abandonment and humiliation that comes out in all the other heroes who wait until the last minute to come clean about how desperately in love they are.
The characters aren’t quite as crazy as Wilson’s other girl-child grown-man love matches. Jealousy over the OW (who is not the usual insane bitch) and all the heroine’s boyfriends is minimal, so this is mildly enjoyable but a bit forgettable.
I do love that the hero is wearing a purple polo shirt on the cover, and that the heroine, who is probably trying for passion, just looks a bit drunk.
This heroine is a champion hurdler and head of the PE department of a rough high school in London, but naturally she’s also tiny and pretty and sparkly. She’s had a crush on the sculptor hero for ages and has avoided him for years, but had finally run out of excuses not to visit the English Country Manor where he lives and which is full of people who aren’t quite her relatives but adore her.
There, she is once again drawn to the most handsome talented man on the planet, who makes tiny bronze sculptures of her which she chooses to identify as Art rather than Creepy.
He proves his greatness by rescuing her from the fate of the majority of Wilson heroes bed: the Sprained Ankle.
I’m sad for her: not even medal winning athletes can escape Wilson wanting her heroines to fall over and/or have an alarming virus.
Every man wants the heroine, and the hero is, for a Wilson man, mostly patient about it. He’s nicer than most, although it makes absolutely no sense for him to continue to string her along without declaring his (ugh) honourable intentions after a certain point. I have no idea what his motivations were, actually, since he seemed to lack that deep fear of abandonment and humiliation that comes out in all the other heroes who wait until the last minute to come clean about how desperately in love they are.
The characters aren’t quite as crazy as Wilson’s other girl-child grown-man love matches. Jealousy over the OW (who is not the usual insane bitch) and all the heroine’s boyfriends is minimal, so this is mildly enjoyable but a bit forgettable.
I do love that the hero is wearing a purple polo shirt on the cover, and that the heroine, who is probably trying for passion, just looks a bit drunk.
February 25, 2017
Real talk, I straight-up loved this one. It's right up my alley of perfect fantasy romances. Amy is one of my favorite heroine types- no insecurity or waspishness or even saccharine saintliness; she's tiny and athletic and always on the move. She's a small ball of energy and literally doing backflips and somersaults when Max sees her again after a long absence. I like the way Max is always either waiting for her to appear or chasing after her like he's some kinda crazy storm-hunter and she's his dream tornado.
Okay, so there was a moment when Amy found his shrine to her and got creeped out. I don't mind stalkerific heroes as much as some do; in fact I quite like obsessiveness and would have had no problem a-tall with the shrine, except... I don't like it when the heroine gets creeped out. So since Amy didn't like it, I didn't like it. But, contrarily, it made me like Amy even more that she didn't like it.
The only other discordant note in my happy fantasy was near the end when Max told her she had to give up her job. "I earn more than you do and I therefore demand the right to continue with my work. One of us must stop, and I've decided it will be you!" .... I know, right? And get this: the guy's a sculptor. I mean, it'd be easier to move your equipment than a school... but what do I know, I'm just a bookjunkie. It turned out okay because after all, he'd bought the house there and she'd be with her family and stuff, so that's alright.
Oh yeah and I almost forgot this tiny one other thing: he was so mad about her risking life and limb to rescue the cat in the tree during the storm that he grabbed her and just left the cat up there! He brushed it off saying cats just do it for attention and get away safely if you ignore them, but that did not seem the case to me, with all its yowling! AND, Smithers was never seen again. Reading between the lines you can tell that the tree was struck by lightning and the cat got fried and fell in a mud puddle and Max had to quietly bury it in the middle of the night and run out and buy another cat that looked just like Smithers v.1 so Amy would never find out how he totally lied to her. But it's okay because actually I've never been a cat-lover either. If it had been a dog, though, the book would have lost a star. Have you ever noticed, d'you think maybe that's why this kind of loyally-obsessed, devoted, chasing-after-heroine type of hero appeals to me so much, because I'm a dog-lover? And maybe cat-lovers tend to find more appeal in heroes who blow hot-and-cold or treat the heroine with more contempt? Oh my God, I'm a psychologist.
Anyway, so I loved this book. Thanks boogie.
Okay, so there was a moment when Amy found his shrine to her and got creeped out. I don't mind stalkerific heroes as much as some do; in fact I quite like obsessiveness and would have had no problem a-tall with the shrine, except... I don't like it when the heroine gets creeped out. So since Amy didn't like it, I didn't like it. But, contrarily, it made me like Amy even more that she didn't like it.
The only other discordant note in my happy fantasy was near the end when Max told her she had to give up her job. "I earn more than you do and I therefore demand the right to continue with my work. One of us must stop, and I've decided it will be you!" .... I know, right? And get this: the guy's a sculptor. I mean, it'd be easier to move your equipment than a school... but what do I know, I'm just a bookjunkie. It turned out okay because after all, he'd bought the house there and she'd be with her family and stuff, so that's alright.
Oh yeah and I almost forgot this tiny one other thing: he was so mad about her risking life and limb to rescue the cat in the tree during the storm that he grabbed her and just left the cat up there! He brushed it off saying cats just do it for attention and get away safely if you ignore them, but that did not seem the case to me, with all its yowling! AND, Smithers was never seen again. Reading between the lines you can tell that the tree was struck by lightning and the cat got fried and fell in a mud puddle and Max had to quietly bury it in the middle of the night and run out and buy another cat that looked just like Smithers v.1 so Amy would never find out how he totally lied to her. But it's okay because actually I've never been a cat-lover either. If it had been a dog, though, the book would have lost a star. Have you ever noticed, d'you think maybe that's why this kind of loyally-obsessed, devoted, chasing-after-heroine type of hero appeals to me so much, because I'm a dog-lover? And maybe cat-lovers tend to find more appeal in heroes who blow hot-and-cold or treat the heroine with more contempt? Oh my God, I'm a psychologist.
Anyway, so I loved this book. Thanks boogie.
November 22, 2023
Not angsty at all but pleasant enough. The hero has been in love with the heroine since she was a teenager, he’s older and scared her when he kissed her at 17, so she left and went to college. She had a crush on him but is over now, and it doesn’t feel like she loves him until past the 50% of the story. He loves her but imo he has a too friendly attitude and the heroine tends to friendzone him. He should have been a bit more passionate. She thinks he’s engaged with a shy girl who is actually very fond of his brother, and everyone but the heroine understands that the hero is only trying to match her with his also shy brother, so there’s a bit of misunderstanding but nothing angsty. In the end they are together but the book lacks of suspense and angst and it was very predictable since the beginning. Cute heroine and nice hero.
December 14, 2018
A hero who was not only obsessed but possessive and smitten with the our h. It was great read with all the angst and drama. Lovely and believable HEA. The fact he went out to court her was endearing making it that bit more special.
did-not-finish
March 20, 2025This had an ick factor because she was like a little sister and then he kissed her when she was 17. Would have been better if there had been a longer time before he made a move on her. They make it look like he was lusting over her when she was growing up!
March 11, 2016
Woo-hoo, obsessive creepy stalker alert alert! All kidding aside I actually loved this book. I loved it so much that I had to finish it and now it's 2 in the morning. Yeah I'm a sucker for "I've loved you for ages and I love you so much that I've built a" shrine" in your honor and have tracked your every move and youre mine forever mine!" kind of heroes lol! But since it is 2 in the morning I will continue this review after I get my beauty sleep! UPDATE: ok continuation of review. Bottomline is if you really analyze the hero it's soooo obvious to everyone but the heroine that he is TOTALLY into her - to the point that he was a little creepy. One example creating a little figurine of heroine - awwww how sweet!!! EXCEPT it was a nude figurine of her at 11 years old!! And yeah, they knew each other since she was 11, him 22. The book kind of dragged about 3/4 of the book only because I couldn't understand why they weren't getting together already since all the obstacles seemed gone. I gave it 4 stars because the hero was so devoted and so Gaga and jealous over her and really did think about her. I just hope the heroine won't be too smothered
February 6, 2022
The H was obsessed with the h for years but rather than act like an adult about it, made it into an exhausting gauntlet so he could make sure the h was ready to see him as a man.
There were some things I liked about him, however. He was effusive in his praise of her beauty and her character. He was an artist, and so his obsession was a little bit less creepy because the h was a muse to him and one expects that from artists.
There was an element of "not like the other girls" to this h that was offputting, at least to me. All the men who met her fell in love with her, children adored her, everyone praised her bravery and pluck, and she had a difficulty keeping weight on. She was a tiny, exquisite, spitfire who preferred the company of men and who was low-maintenance except with the H and their neverending skirmishes. In reality, though, she seemed in need of so much male attention that she was perfect for the obsessed H.
There were some things I liked about him, however. He was effusive in his praise of her beauty and her character. He was an artist, and so his obsession was a little bit less creepy because the h was a muse to him and one expects that from artists.
There was an element of "not like the other girls" to this h that was offputting, at least to me. All the men who met her fell in love with her, children adored her, everyone praised her bravery and pluck, and she had a difficulty keeping weight on. She was a tiny, exquisite, spitfire who preferred the company of men and who was low-maintenance except with the H and their neverending skirmishes. In reality, though, she seemed in need of so much male attention that she was perfect for the obsessed H.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 24, 2013
This is a fairly standard, older man waiting for a girl to grow up. Max is an artist and the first time he sees 11yr old Amy, he wants to sculpt her. They become friends and develop a bond that is broken when he kisses her at 17.
Five years later she's back and Max is just the same, except he seems to be courting another woman. I really loved Max, who treated the younger Amy with a lot of tender sensitivity. Amy is a bit TSTL at times, impulsive and always quick to think the worst but strong underneath.
I enjoyed this and the ending was very sweet.
Five years later she's back and Max is just the same, except he seems to be courting another woman. I really loved Max, who treated the younger Amy with a lot of tender sensitivity. Amy is a bit TSTL at times, impulsive and always quick to think the worst but strong underneath.
I enjoyed this and the ending was very sweet.
March 16, 2022
It was a pleasant read.
There was no angst. Not much chemistry either.
They’re quite fond of each other and they get married in the end.
Heroine wins medals in athletics and sails boats in dangerous waters (at the ending).
Hero is a sculptor who builds shrines to her in his bedroom.
Won’t be re-reading. Too dull frankly.
Hero was very archaic in his attitude as hero’s are liable to be if it’s a vintage romance.
I find it quite shocking. The level of misogyny in books written in those times.
There was no angst. Not much chemistry either.
They’re quite fond of each other and they get married in the end.
Heroine wins medals in athletics and sails boats in dangerous waters (at the ending).
Hero is a sculptor who builds shrines to her in his bedroom.
Won’t be re-reading. Too dull frankly.
Hero was very archaic in his attitude as hero’s are liable to be if it’s a vintage romance.
I find it quite shocking. The level of misogyny in books written in those times.
October 26, 2016
I read this as a breather in between longer books and it was a breath of fresh air. It was refreshing to find such an enlightened HP hero, who was so patient and kind and understanding. The only problem was... if he's so understanding, why did it take so long for them to be together? Halfway through, I was surprised to find there was still so long to go (not a good sign). The ending and explanation is long and protracted, as per Wilson's MO, and I do find some HPs unbelievable because of this big reveal, because it shouldn't take that big and long of an explanation to clarify what is essentially just a romance. I will give it for this book, though, because given their two statuses, and for a young girl who's never had a serious relationship aside from her hero worship of the guy, that her apparent see-sawing (being affectionate and then running away in fear) was legitimate and reasonable, and that for all his patience, their timing just failed to match. But still, why couldn't he just explain from the outset that he wasn't interested in the other woman? It was pretty clear to the reader and I find it low when such a practiced man uses these tactics to make the girl jealous. Especially when she's forthright enough to state what her impressions of them are.
February 19, 2021
After reading Dark Illusion, I decided to read another book by Ms. Wilson. Well, Max was nothing like Nick, except that they were both besotted with their own heroine. But Nick was totally vocal about his feelings while Max wasn't. But anyway, I still enjoyed this book! Yes, it could be frustrating to see all the mixed signals and words unspoken, but that was par for the course. And besides, who wouldn't love a hero who worshiped the ground she walked on? I'm totally into that. I also loved their friendship and closeness. I loved watching it develop into more.
February 11, 2013
Often I can't get into this author because I find her heroes too obvious and therefore that the story lacks tension, but I liked this one. I love this author's usual set-ups -- hero who has known and loved heroine since her childhood -- and this one didn't disappoint. I might just have been in the right mood for a story like this, because I can't say that the hero's feelings weren't pretty obvious the whole time, but somehow this one just worked for me.
February 3, 2013
4.5 stars
I really enjoyed this story. Two people meant for each other. The hero is absolutely divine, a mature man who knows what he wants and goes above and beyond to get it.
I really enjoyed this story. Two people meant for each other. The hero is absolutely divine, a mature man who knows what he wants and goes above and beyond to get it.
July 3, 2024
Bit drawn out this one, but likely to please vintage age gap innocent lovers. Amy is a petite, firecracker type but very sweet with it. She is a Head of PE in a London school having also been a hurdle sprinter. She was largely raised by aunts and first encounters the H, Max, at a family wedding in Northumberland when she was 12. They are cousins-ish and he's much older and, shall we say, rather too taken with a barely pubescent girl. He takes lots of photos and secretly sculpts her, including nudes, because artistic licence not paedophilia. Lots of holidays later, when she's 17, she realizes her hero worship is getting a bit carnal when he kisses her. So for 5 years she keeps away. The story proper begins when her aunt talks her into accompanying her back up to Northumberland during summer vac. I never could quite grasp why the besotted H, seeing how susceptible to him she was, couldn't just out with it from the off. Instead there's a bit of fake OWery and OMery, a school trip to Paris closely followed by the H taking her back to Paris on the same day she returned (I was not really seeing the point of this tbh) and a h flight down to her childhood Cornish home complete with solo sailing and child rescuing. Like I say, a bit drawn out. My fiction age gap tolerance is reasonable but the dynamic here felt ever so slightly patronising and squicky.
January 19, 2023
Ok... so... when I was little, like 10-11, my 4 years older sister started reading Harlequin novels. And, of course, I read them, too. They have a special place in my heart. But... they are awful! If you ever wonder why E.L. James writes the way she does, THIS is the reason why. She also grew up reading these dastardly little pieces of crap. But, she never grew out of them. She still believes this is romantic, sexy, hot, and a love story.
No.
OK, spoilers ahead, if you care about that stuff.
The story begins with our heroine finding out that "Max" is getting married. Then we find out that Max is the hero. So, we know Max is definitely not getting married. But that is what Amy (heroine) thinks. So when Max is "flirting" (sexually harassing) Amy, she is really bothered thinking that he is cheating on his fiancée with her, that she is cheating on another woman with her fiance, hates herself for wanting it, hates him for not caring about his future wife, and her. And the bastard says nothing, even though he is well aware that Amy thinks and feels this way.
Anyway. We find out that Max and Amy met the first time when Amy was 11, and Max, 11 years older to her, wanted to make a sculpture of her, so he took photos of her.
We find out that Amy has been living with Max's family and has seen Max as a big brother her whole life. Until she was 17 and he kissed her. In a very unbrotherly way.
And he's all "nice guy" about it, too! Remember that he's 11 years older than she is. He was 28 when this happened.
"Maybe I wanted a better thanks", he says.
"Maybe you don't deserve any", I'd say. "Please, don't do anything for me, if you think you are buying my sexual attention with it."
She saw him as a big brother/uncle.
And that makes me question why a 22-28 years old man was interested of the 11-17 years old girl, playing a "big brother", spending time with her, doing things with her, talking with her... Grooming comes to mind. "maybe I'm no longer sure that I want to be such a comfortable figure in your airy life". Maybe you never did... maybe you decided already when you saw the 11 years old that you'd have her. F-ing P-file.
And then we find out that he made another sculpture of her, this time the sculpture is naked.
We find out that he has framed all the photos of her he used as reference material and has them on his bedroom wall with the sculptures of the 11-years-old Amy and the 20-something Amy... I mean... really icky.
Patricia Wilson is trying to defuse the p-file vibes by having Amy leave after the kiss when she was 17 and not coming back before now. (She's 23-24). But she was competing in some games and won, and Max apparently contacted the media and asked for photos of her for the sculpture, and they just send them to him. So apparently he's been keeping a tab on her all this time. I mean, Amy seems to at least have some sense in her, but Max is a total creep, groomer and stalker. Yikes.
Anyway, he keeps harassing her and giving her mixed signals, and when she protests, he just says
"It's your fault, I'm gaslighting you. You are such a silly child."
Of course, he's violently jealous. Of course, he punishes her for "making him jealous". So much so that she starts believing she was flirting with guys. She wasn't. Of course, he keeps mocking her and laughing at her, ridiculing her and belittling her, and making her feel stupid and childish, when her reactions are totally normal, sane, adult, intelligent, and good reactions. Of course, he doesn't give her the necessary information and then makes her feel stupid, guilty, ashamed, or whatever for drawing her own conclusions. He plays stupid games with her, and just snickers when she is all confused and bewildered.
Absolutely disgusting.
She tries to get some space, and of course, he harasses her aunt enough to find out where she is and follows her. To her childhood home, where she lived the 10 first years of her life with her parents. They died at sea. And he looks around in the small cottage, sounding very judgmental to me, and has the gall to say 'Don't you think that it's time to let them go, Amy?'
Excuse me?
She lets him in and makes him breakfast - I would never have - and then leaves the dishes and goes sailing, which she had planned to do, and he tries to make her feel bad about it, for not "giving him all her attention", when he has been driving the whole way from London to Cornwall the whole night - even though no-one asked him to, no-one wanted him to, everyone would have been better off without him there.
He follows her nagging all the time to the boat and then tries to get in the boat, even though it's a tiny dinghy with room for just one person. She goes out but starts to think and decides that it's time to get all out in the open and clear, and turns, and then she hears the warning bells and sees a stupid little kid in danger, and as she is the only one out there and closest to the child, she goes to rescue him. Max, of course, doesn't want any of this, because he believes all the Cornish fisherman and Amy are idiots who can't be trusted with such things, so three guys need to hold him so that he won't get in the way of the rescue operation. After Amy has arrived to the beach, he's there sulking and scolding and swearing and throwing nasty looks at all the locals - and Amy, of course. Amy is thinking that it would be nice if he could see her as the adult, capable woman she is, and maybe praise her for having rescued the kid, but no, he is just thinking about himself and how worried he was about her, because of course Amy can't be trusted with things she's been doing her whole life. After all, Max wants her to be what he has planned her to be. After all,
It goes so long that Amy is ready to give up her childhood home, Cornwall, her boat, her friends, and never visit Cornwall again - even though it's her "happy place", the seat of her calm and serenity, the foundation of her life... Max doesn't like it. OMG!
Now, Max actually does the first good thing in the book and doesn't let her. But he "makes up for it" by practically kidnapping her to his home and telling her she won't ever go back to her job in London, because letting your employer know that you quit and giving them time to replace you is none of his interest. He earns enough to support her, so she'll be his little housewife and not work.
Anyway, things lead to them having sex, and Amy still doesn't know if Max actually loves her or not. He hasn't told her. Why?
OBVIOUSLY NOT, YOU F-ING IDIOT!
Anyway, they'll get married, and everything is just fine and dandy. After all, that's true love. Women sacrifice everything and give up everything to become what the guy wants them to be, and the guy gets everything they want, the way they want. Happy End!
No.
OK, spoilers ahead, if you care about that stuff.
The story begins with our heroine finding out that "Max" is getting married. Then we find out that Max is the hero. So, we know Max is definitely not getting married. But that is what Amy (heroine) thinks. So when Max is "flirting" (sexually harassing) Amy, she is really bothered thinking that he is cheating on his fiancée with her, that she is cheating on another woman with her fiance, hates herself for wanting it, hates him for not caring about his future wife, and her. And the bastard says nothing, even though he is well aware that Amy thinks and feels this way.
Anyway. We find out that Max and Amy met the first time when Amy was 11, and Max, 11 years older to her, wanted to make a sculpture of her, so he took photos of her.
We find out that Amy has been living with Max's family and has seen Max as a big brother her whole life. Until she was 17 and he kissed her. In a very unbrotherly way.
She was not sure now what it was that Max had done for her that had prompted her to give him a great hug and a kiss on the cheek, although she could remember doing it. She could remember rushing into the studio to thank him, running across to him and flinging her arms around his neck, standing on her toes to reach his great height. She could even remember her words.
'Max, you're so wonderful! Oh, thank you, Max!'
It was his reaction to that small and uncomplicated kiss that had been the beginning of the end of her time here.
'If. you're going to thank me, thank me properly,' he had said softly, his arms locking round her and refusing to let go.
'I did!' She had looked startled, even then not at all aware of what was coming.
'Not really,' he had assured her with one of his slow smiles. 'I think that if you're going to kiss someone, especially me, you should do it wholeheartedly, like this!'
Now he was holding her with only one arm, a strong arm like iron, that held her to him with no offer of escape — not that she thought of escaping, not then. His other hand came to her long, black hair, his fingers spearing through it, capturing her head as his lips covered hers for the first time in a kiss that took her breath away and set her heart hammering wildly. When he reluctantly lifted his head, she could not utter a sound. Her eyes were brilliantly blue in her pale face as she stared up at him in a shocked silence.
'Max?' she managed to say, as he simply looked down at her, watching her reaction. At her questioning and shaken look he smiled and stroked her face, still not freeing her from his tight embrace.
'Amy?' His eyes were slightly derisive, a look she had never seen before on him, and it confused her even more.
'Why — why did you — you kiss me?'
'Why not ?' he countered. 'Maybe I wanted bigger and better thanks, or maybe I'm no longer sure that I want to be such a comfortable figure in your airy life.'
'But — but I've always loved you, Max! I look forward to seeing you. I — I need you like ...'
'Like an old well-known dog, like a security blanket?' he asked wryly. 'Step one in growing up, poppet: don't take anyone at their face value.'
And she couldn't after that. The kiss had awakened something in her that she could not control. Other kisses had left her with no feeling at all, but they had been kisses given to her briefly by boys she knew, and few of them at that. This was different. It was a kiss from a man to a woman, and she wanted more.
And he's all "nice guy" about it, too! Remember that he's 11 years older than she is. He was 28 when this happened.
"Maybe I wanted a better thanks", he says.
"Maybe you don't deserve any", I'd say. "Please, don't do anything for me, if you think you are buying my sexual attention with it."
She saw him as a big brother/uncle.
And that makes me question why a 22-28 years old man was interested of the 11-17 years old girl, playing a "big brother", spending time with her, doing things with her, talking with her... Grooming comes to mind. "maybe I'm no longer sure that I want to be such a comfortable figure in your airy life". Maybe you never did... maybe you decided already when you saw the 11 years old that you'd have her. F-ing P-file.
And then we find out that he made another sculpture of her, this time the sculpture is naked.
We find out that he has framed all the photos of her he used as reference material and has them on his bedroom wall with the sculptures of the 11-years-old Amy and the 20-something Amy... I mean... really icky.
Patricia Wilson is trying to defuse the p-file vibes by having Amy leave after the kiss when she was 17 and not coming back before now. (She's 23-24). But she was competing in some games and won, and Max apparently contacted the media and asked for photos of her for the sculpture, and they just send them to him. So apparently he's been keeping a tab on her all this time. I mean, Amy seems to at least have some sense in her, but Max is a total creep, groomer and stalker. Yikes.
Anyway, he keeps harassing her and giving her mixed signals, and when she protests, he just says
'But — but I don't understand! You're going to marry her! That house ...'
'Did I ever say I was going to marry Glenys?' he asked, his eyes holding hers.
'No, no, I don't think so, but you let me believe ...'
'You weren't paying enough attention to me,' he said softly.
"It's your fault, I'm gaslighting you. You are such a silly child."
Of course, he's violently jealous. Of course, he punishes her for "making him jealous". So much so that she starts believing she was flirting with guys. She wasn't. Of course, he keeps mocking her and laughing at her, ridiculing her and belittling her, and making her feel stupid and childish, when her reactions are totally normal, sane, adult, intelligent, and good reactions. Of course, he doesn't give her the necessary information and then makes her feel stupid, guilty, ashamed, or whatever for drawing her own conclusions. He plays stupid games with her, and just snickers when she is all confused and bewildered.
Absolutely disgusting.
She tries to get some space, and of course, he harasses her aunt enough to find out where she is and follows her. To her childhood home, where she lived the 10 first years of her life with her parents. They died at sea. And he looks around in the small cottage, sounding very judgmental to me, and has the gall to say 'Don't you think that it's time to let them go, Amy?'
Excuse me?
She lets him in and makes him breakfast - I would never have - and then leaves the dishes and goes sailing, which she had planned to do, and he tries to make her feel bad about it, for not "giving him all her attention", when he has been driving the whole way from London to Cornwall the whole night - even though no-one asked him to, no-one wanted him to, everyone would have been better off without him there.
He follows her nagging all the time to the boat and then tries to get in the boat, even though it's a tiny dinghy with room for just one person. She goes out but starts to think and decides that it's time to get all out in the open and clear, and turns, and then she hears the warning bells and sees a stupid little kid in danger, and as she is the only one out there and closest to the child, she goes to rescue him. Max, of course, doesn't want any of this, because he believes all the Cornish fisherman and Amy are idiots who can't be trusted with such things, so three guys need to hold him so that he won't get in the way of the rescue operation. After Amy has arrived to the beach, he's there sulking and scolding and swearing and throwing nasty looks at all the locals - and Amy, of course. Amy is thinking that it would be nice if he could see her as the adult, capable woman she is, and maybe praise her for having rescued the kid, but no, he is just thinking about himself and how worried he was about her, because of course Amy can't be trusted with things she's been doing her whole life. After all, Max wants her to be what he has planned her to be. After all,
"I have this awful feeling I should always have my own way, especially with you. It comes from having fashioned you in permanent materials, I expect. I just have this odd feeling that I've created you.'
'That's a pretty scary thing to say!' gasped Amy, swinging to face him.
'Oh, I don't know,' mused Max, his eyes on her startled face. 'I'm quite prepared to take the responsibility.'
It goes so long that Amy is ready to give up her childhood home, Cornwall, her boat, her friends, and never visit Cornwall again - even though it's her "happy place", the seat of her calm and serenity, the foundation of her life... Max doesn't like it. OMG!
Now, Max actually does the first good thing in the book and doesn't let her. But he "makes up for it" by practically kidnapping her to his home and telling her she won't ever go back to her job in London, because letting your employer know that you quit and giving them time to replace you is none of his interest. He earns enough to support her, so she'll be his little housewife and not work.
Anyway, things lead to them having sex, and Amy still doesn't know if Max actually loves her or not. He hasn't told her. Why?
'But you know I do,' he said with a certainty in his deep voice. 'You've known it all your life.'
OBVIOUSLY NOT, YOU F-ING IDIOT!
Anyway, they'll get married, and everything is just fine and dandy. After all, that's true love. Women sacrifice everything and give up everything to become what the guy wants them to be, and the guy gets everything they want, the way they want. Happy End!
July 5, 2025
Read this some time ago but I didn’t rate, nothing special but a nice story.
August 31, 2025
This probably my third or fourth read of this vintage Harlequin..
This is a light angst romance. All the characters are well developed and not vindictive. Of course, plain old communication would have solved the problem.
A great book to lose yourself in for awhile
This is a light angst romance. All the characters are well developed and not vindictive. Of course, plain old communication would have solved the problem.
A great book to lose yourself in for awhile
April 8, 2015
i did not feel any chemistry between max and amy. i thought the author tried to force the matter. i was also bored wid all their siblings involved. heavy one!
July 27, 2018
Totally not ok with the H's weird fascination with the h when she was a little girl. He even made a statue of her naked. What a creep!
June 27, 2021
Too slow, lost interest… might comeback later to finish it.
October 31, 2015
He is a cousin by marriage. He fell in love with her and waited patiently for her. She avoided her family because she wasn't ready to face him. It's very sweet how he shows her how much he loves her with just the little things.
July 10, 2013
review to come
July 22, 2022
Amy met Maxwell St Clair when one of her beloved aunt Dorothy married his father. He took photographs of her at the wedding while being an 11 year old enchanting bridemaid and moulded a fingurine for her. Amy's emotions swiftly moved from enchantment to fondness to adoration and eventually love at the age of seventeen and she couldn't handle them so she decided to stay with her aunt Joan and stay away from Belmore House, away from Max. That is until her aunt Joan decided its up time she went back to Belmore House.
Meeting Max was a relieved that soon changed to anger and bewilderment because it seemed Max was determined to have her again even though he was vertually engaged to be married to sweet innocent shy Glenys!
The story and events are fine, yet the heros' fickleness annoyed me a bit. It's an enjoyable read neverthless.
Meeting Max was a relieved that soon changed to anger and bewilderment because it seemed Max was determined to have her again even though he was vertually engaged to be married to sweet innocent shy Glenys!
The story and events are fine, yet the heros' fickleness annoyed me a bit. It's an enjoyable read neverthless.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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