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Secret Passion
Secret Passion by Carole Mortimer released on Feb 23, 1988 is available now for purchase.
187 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1987
About the author
Carole Mortimer
1,309 books914 followersI have written almost 250 romance novels in contemporary and Regency.
I am a USA Today Bestselling Author and recipient of the 2015 RWA Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2014 I received a Pioneer of Romance Award from Romantic Times in the US and in 2012 I was recognised by Queen Elizabeth II for my 'outstanding service to literature'.
I am very happily married to Peter with six sons, and live on the Isle of Man
I am a USA Today Bestselling Author and recipient of the 2015 RWA Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2014 I received a Pioneer of Romance Award from Romantic Times in the US and in 2012 I was recognised by Queen Elizabeth II for my 'outstanding service to literature'.
I am very happily married to Peter with six sons, and live on the Isle of Man
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
September 26, 2020
5 star hero meets 2 star heroine for a 3 star romance. Heroine is so convinced that she is not “worthy” of the real estate partner hero that she rejects him time and time again. Hero is smitten and will not take no for an answer.
He’s not entitled stalker, though. He is genuinely interested in the heroine’s health food store, her traumatized mother and her injured cat. He’s just a nice guy with beautiful green eyes who wears glasses to read.
Virgin heroine thinks she’ll ruin the hero’s reputation because she was once featured in tabloid news. (See plot twist spoiler) To add to her sins: she had been duped into going out with the hero’s partner without knowing he was married. She’s afraid he’s going to discover her secrets so she continually evades questions about her past.
There is an evil OM and OW (who are married to each other – ha!) who are closing in the heroine’s secrets for the black moment. Heroine finally tells the hero about her notorious past:
Hero is – of course – understanding. Which goes to show that (1) the truth will set you free (2) this would have been a very short story if heroine had been forthcoming.
There is another twist at the H/h’s wedding with the heroine and her mother finding love and understanding with
Just a sweet – if improbable – story. Injured cat pulls through, btw.
He’s not entitled stalker, though. He is genuinely interested in the heroine’s health food store, her traumatized mother and her injured cat. He’s just a nice guy with beautiful green eyes who wears glasses to read.
Virgin heroine thinks she’ll ruin the hero’s reputation because she was once featured in tabloid news. (See plot twist spoiler) To add to her sins: she had been duped into going out with the hero’s partner without knowing he was married. She’s afraid he’s going to discover her secrets so she continually evades questions about her past.
There is an evil OM and OW (who are married to each other – ha!) who are closing in the heroine’s secrets for the black moment. Heroine finally tells the hero about her notorious past:
Hero is – of course – understanding. Which goes to show that (1) the truth will set you free (2) this would have been a very short story if heroine had been forthcoming.
There is another twist at the H/h’s wedding with the heroine and her mother finding love and understanding with
Just a sweet – if improbable – story. Injured cat pulls through, btw.
February 22, 2021
The romance were sexy,the blooming love powerful,the plot intriguing with a sexy,honorable smitten hero...!
James Ballentine is a very different kind of HQ hero.While most of them are cold,he is warm,while they are cruel,he is loving,while they were judging and accusing and insulting,he thought it all over with a smart mind and loving heart.But i knew that a ruthless Alpha-male were hidden inside of him,but he fell in love with Aura Jones while he got to know her and with their growing relationship they were learning to trust each other.Their love-story is truly beautiful and pure,a love every woman dreams and wish of..and that makes me one of them❤️❤️❤️(sigh).
James Ballentine is a very different kind of HQ hero.While most of them are cold,he is warm,while they are cruel,he is loving,while they were judging and accusing and insulting,he thought it all over with a smart mind and loving heart.But i knew that a ruthless Alpha-male were hidden inside of him,but he fell in love with Aura Jones while he got to know her and with their growing relationship they were learning to trust each other.Their love-story is truly beautiful and pure,a love every woman dreams and wish of..and that makes me one of them❤️❤️❤️(sigh).
August 30, 2016
Re Secret Passion - I have to say I like the M&B book blurb better than the HP one for this - " A Man Died In Her Bed..." - now doesn't that make you want to hunt this one down and then find a cozy corner and snuggle up with the book, some tasty treats and a chilled sparkly beverage?
In that regard, this book doesn't disappoint either. The story starts with our health food owning store h in some agitation about her business premises lease. She also lives in the flat above her shop and has an invalid mum, so when she got a letter that her lease wouldn't be renewed because she refused an affair with the leaseholder, the h is none too happy. She goes to the leasing office in order to discuss the situation, but when she gets there she doesn't find the owner who has been wooing her with dinner and a diamond bracelet - which our morally upright h staunchly rejected .
Instead she meets the kindest, most handsomest man she has ever seen and it turns out he is also an owner in the business and one look at the dreamy blue eyes of our h and he gets that lease situation sorted out toot-sweet. Then he asks her out. Our sweet h has had some trouble in the past, some sort of big scandal besides covetous leering landlords, and she isn't too keen to get involved. Especially when the handsome owner mentions his partner's wife and child, this shocks the h badly - she had no idear that the other guy was married, he certainly did not act like it.
Needless to say our handsome Owner H isn't married, engaged or even dating - but he is hoping to change all that with the h. So he starts popping up all over the place and he is even kind to the h's invalid mum - who seems to be lost in a world of her own ever since the h's father died. Sadly the mum just can't cope with life after the dad's death and hasn't left the h's flat in two years. The h couldn't keep her in the family home because the memories were so devastating for her mum, so when she decided to open her store, she made sure there was living premises above it. The H is clearly infatuated and the h is reluctantly falling in love.
The clincher for the h is when the h's BFF adores him when he comes with the h for dinner and more importantly, (and my heart was won too,) when the h's mum's cat Marmaduke gets injured and is close to death. The H gallantly takes charge of the situation and gets the vet and sits up all day and night with the h, her mum and the cat until Marmaduke recovers. He even calls in a sickie to the office to help with Marmaduke - who makes it through the dangerous stage solely on the power of the H's strong will for him to live.
(I loved this part, really. We need more Cat Rescuer H's in HPLandia. No matter how badly they behave otherwise, it is an automatic win for me and they should be forgiven anything -not that this H was badly behaved, he never put a foot wrong. ) Marmaduke does indeed get well, but unfortunately his near death experience means that his cat staff now has to personally prepare boiled fish or chicken for his dinner every night, no more Tastee Delites out of a can for Marmaduke, he almost lost one of his nine lives out there and his staff better show their appreciation by fixin the chickin- minced please and not sliced.
The now admits to herself that she is in love with the H, but there is big dilemma. The H was engaged once, several years earlier. While he was a perfect gentleman to his then precious princess, she was young, nubile and anxious to get her groove on. She cheated on him and wound up preggers by the OM. The H had never touched the young lady and so she wound up marrying her OM after the H broke the engagement. Since that time, the H just can't tolerate a woman who lies or cheats and the h completely understands why.
However, she has two secrets that she feels she just can't share yet with the H. One is regarding two families and a big scandal that was in all the tabloids along with the h's picture, to reveal that would not only hurt her, but other people as well. There is also the matter of her going out with the evil landlord business partner, she really doesn't want to confess that she too has dated a taken man. Her BFF is urging her to tell the H the full story of her recent traumas, but the h feels that since the H and she have really only known each other for ten days, it is too early to be dropping megawatt bombs on him about her scandalous past just yet.
The H manages to solve the latter dilemma for the h tho. One night while the h is on her way to dinner at the H's place, evil landlord guy shows up and threatens her with the termination of the lease unless he gets his quid pro quo. The h tells him off and shows him the door, mentioning that his partner gave her a business lease for the next five years. The EL threatens retribution, but the h is undeterred. After some dithering, she shows up late at the H's and the Evil Landlord is there too, he is shocked to see the h and she is appalled. The H intervenes tho and sends him on his way. He questions the h pretty closely regarding the EL, but the h is evasive and eventually they just have a nice dinner and the h begs the H to just take things moment by moment, she can't promise him a big future but she wants to enjoy every minute they have together. The H agrees, but lets the h know that he is in this for the long haul and he isn't going anywhere.
Then the next day at work, Mrs. Evil Landlord appears and she is flaunting the diamond bracelet the h rejected from Evil Landlord. It seems the EL's tenth anniversary is coming up and the H won't attend if the h doesn't. The h is gobsmacked, she tells Mrs. Evil that the H is a free agent to do whatever he wants. Mrs. Evil seems really adamant about the h attending this party tho. It seems a bit suspicious and the h's assistant warns that Mrs. Evil may be more evil than EL and the h should watch out. The h calls the H and explains about the invitation. The H explains that he doesn't want to go either, it turns out that Mrs. Evil was the woman who cheated on him and he broke their engagement so she had to marry his business partner.
The H explains that he doesn't really like either Mr or Mrs Evil, but he liked Mr. Evil's dad and kept Mr. Evil on when he inherited part of the business. He goes to the anniversary party every year, even tho is is High Society and he doesn't like that set, in order to alleviate rumors that he is still in love with Mrs. Evil - he totally isn't and doesn't like her much either.
Keeping the partnership with Mr. Evil was also a way of scotching the rumors regarding him and Mrs. Evil as well. He wants the h to attend the party with him, if she doesn't want to go, then he won't feel bad about missing it. The h is concerned, she thinks the H really needs to go for the sake of the business partnership, but the other family involved in the h's big scandal frequents those same circles and she doesn't want a scene. However, she loves the H and wants to be his support in a stressful situation, so she agrees to go.
The big party happens and it soon becomes clear that Mrs. Evil is a malicious viper and still in love with the H, even tho he can't stand her. Mrs. Evil is lookin' for some trouble and makes lots of nasty innuendos to the h. The h and H brush them off and are having a bit of a cuddle when the h goes white, feels ill and has to leave. There is another pregnant lady across the room that reacts the same way when she sees the h. The H and h leave and the h feels the pendulum of doom swinging down. She knows she has to explain things to the H, but she just isn't ready yet.
Then Mrs. Evil pays another call on the h the next day. She threatens the h with exposure about her sordid past if she doesn't dump the H and tell him herself. The h knows her time is up and she agrees to do it, but she also tells Mrs. Evil that the H won't touch her with a ten foot pole, irregardless of how much she thinks the H wants her and no matter how many times she knows her husband has cheated on her. In fact the h think that Mr. Evil actually loves Mrs. Evil, and she is so mean because she lost the H and so that is why Mr. Evil cheats - but she doesn't care about their mess, she has to fix her own.
That night she goes to the H and tells him her whole story. It seems a few years ago the most wealthy industrialist in England died in her bed, the press named the h as his mistress and the man's children by his wife- especially his son- make horrible, derogatory comments about her that egged the tabloids on. The h had to fend them off by herself, her mum was completely incapacitated and there was no one else. The h has lived very quietly since then but she dreads any new scandal.
The H tells her he isn't shocked, he figures daughters have a right to be present at their father's death and what would be unusual about a dad visiting his kid and then having a heart attack and passing away in her bed. The h is stunned the H figured it out so fast, but the H explains that he knows the h is a nice girl and the industrialist was old enough to be her father. The H also knows the h's mum is a very beautiful woman and really traumatized by the father's death, so it wasn't hard to put two and two together. The H goes on to say that her father fell in love with her mother, but probably couldn't leave his wife who became stuck in a wheelchair from a fall off a horse after the birth of her second child.
The h clarifies that her father's wife refused a divorce multiple times and threatened to sic the tabloids on both the h's mum and her father if her father filed for divorce - even though the two had been living separately for years. The h's mum has always been a bit fragile and the father did not want to subject her to the hounds of the press. Then he died at the h's place and the press hounded her, egged on by his legitimate children.
The H doesn't care about any of that, he wants the h to marry him and he isn't taking no for an answer. The h explains about Mrs. Evil's threats and the H says he will put a stop to her right away, he also tells the h that he is dissolving the partnership between him and Mr. Evil because he figured out that Mr. Evil had been trying to coerce the h with threats about the lease when she rejected his advances and the H figures he may have tried it on before. The H refuses to be in business with slime like that and Mr. and Mrs. Evil can just go off an be miserable together and quit bothering the nice people.
Then he and the h avow true love forever and the big love fest begins. The h has to get home to look after her mum tho, so she and the H go back to her place. When they get there, the h's half sister is there and the h is pretty irked. The half sister is the pregnant woman from the party and the h doesn't want her upsetting her mum, the woman has been calling her on the phone repeatedly and the h told her not to, but she showed up anyway. The h's half sister explains that she and her brother figured out that the h was their sister and she wanted to meet to the h's mum cause her father loved her. (Which was really pushy of her, and rude I thought.)
The sister also tells the h that her mother ( the estranged wife,) threatened to not let the dad see his kids if he tried to divorce her, even tho the marriage was dead for years. Her mother just likes making people miserable. The h explains that her mum is pretty fragile too and it would be better if they did not meet again. The sister tells the h that even her brother wants to meet her and accept her into the family, the h looks just like their grandmother, but they understand that it would hurt the h's mum too much. She leaves after telling the h she will send a birth announcement.
The h is sad she can't have more family on her dad's side, but really happy she is marrying the H. The big wedding day arrives and the h is shocked when the man who gives her away turns out to be the estranged half brother at the last minute, with the h's half sister and grandmother there too. ( I did NOT APPROVE here, cause he called her the Tart of Babylon in the press and made things ten time worse, now he and his sister and the grandmother are imposing themselves on the h's very private, happy wedding day and it was too jarring but CM was going for the really big HEA and page count was limited.)
The h and H are joyously married and then Mrs. Evil has her last act by siccing the press the on the H and h after the ceremony. The h's mum snaps out of her fugue by announcing the h was the dead industrialist's daughter and the half brother makes the statement that the wedding is a private family event, thus welcoming the h and her mum into the fold. The estranged wife had died a few weeks earlier, so all the good people can be happy together in one big family.
The H and h have a little epilogue where they are christening their newborn daughter and the h's mum is fully recovered and the two sides of the dad's family are happy together and the H and h are lurvin it up for the sparklie HEA.
Up until the last minute insertion of the dad's other family, this is a good book. The whole brother and sister thing was a bit OTT, but it all worked out in the end and everyone was happy so this is for the HP voyagers who like drama but like it to be a result of external factors and the H and h never fight or really have any angsty fighting drama between them. Technically these two nice people are just visiting HPlandia, but the h's family circumstances and the adultery going on throughout the book between all sorts of people pretty much keeps this firmly in the HP universe for a fairly good read.
In that regard, this book doesn't disappoint either. The story starts with our health food owning store h in some agitation about her business premises lease. She also lives in the flat above her shop and has an invalid mum, so when she got a letter that her lease wouldn't be renewed because she refused an affair with the leaseholder, the h is none too happy. She goes to the leasing office in order to discuss the situation, but when she gets there she doesn't find the owner who has been wooing her with dinner and a diamond bracelet - which our morally upright h staunchly rejected .
Instead she meets the kindest, most handsomest man she has ever seen and it turns out he is also an owner in the business and one look at the dreamy blue eyes of our h and he gets that lease situation sorted out toot-sweet. Then he asks her out. Our sweet h has had some trouble in the past, some sort of big scandal besides covetous leering landlords, and she isn't too keen to get involved. Especially when the handsome owner mentions his partner's wife and child, this shocks the h badly - she had no idear that the other guy was married, he certainly did not act like it.
Needless to say our handsome Owner H isn't married, engaged or even dating - but he is hoping to change all that with the h. So he starts popping up all over the place and he is even kind to the h's invalid mum - who seems to be lost in a world of her own ever since the h's father died. Sadly the mum just can't cope with life after the dad's death and hasn't left the h's flat in two years. The h couldn't keep her in the family home because the memories were so devastating for her mum, so when she decided to open her store, she made sure there was living premises above it. The H is clearly infatuated and the h is reluctantly falling in love.
The clincher for the h is when the h's BFF adores him when he comes with the h for dinner and more importantly, (and my heart was won too,) when the h's mum's cat Marmaduke gets injured and is close to death. The H gallantly takes charge of the situation and gets the vet and sits up all day and night with the h, her mum and the cat until Marmaduke recovers. He even calls in a sickie to the office to help with Marmaduke - who makes it through the dangerous stage solely on the power of the H's strong will for him to live.
(I loved this part, really. We need more Cat Rescuer H's in HPLandia. No matter how badly they behave otherwise, it is an automatic win for me and they should be forgiven anything -not that this H was badly behaved, he never put a foot wrong. ) Marmaduke does indeed get well, but unfortunately his near death experience means that his cat staff now has to personally prepare boiled fish or chicken for his dinner every night, no more Tastee Delites out of a can for Marmaduke, he almost lost one of his nine lives out there and his staff better show their appreciation by fixin the chickin- minced please and not sliced.
The now admits to herself that she is in love with the H, but there is big dilemma. The H was engaged once, several years earlier. While he was a perfect gentleman to his then precious princess, she was young, nubile and anxious to get her groove on. She cheated on him and wound up preggers by the OM. The H had never touched the young lady and so she wound up marrying her OM after the H broke the engagement. Since that time, the H just can't tolerate a woman who lies or cheats and the h completely understands why.
However, she has two secrets that she feels she just can't share yet with the H. One is regarding two families and a big scandal that was in all the tabloids along with the h's picture, to reveal that would not only hurt her, but other people as well. There is also the matter of her going out with the evil landlord business partner, she really doesn't want to confess that she too has dated a taken man. Her BFF is urging her to tell the H the full story of her recent traumas, but the h feels that since the H and she have really only known each other for ten days, it is too early to be dropping megawatt bombs on him about her scandalous past just yet.
The H manages to solve the latter dilemma for the h tho. One night while the h is on her way to dinner at the H's place, evil landlord guy shows up and threatens her with the termination of the lease unless he gets his quid pro quo. The h tells him off and shows him the door, mentioning that his partner gave her a business lease for the next five years. The EL threatens retribution, but the h is undeterred. After some dithering, she shows up late at the H's and the Evil Landlord is there too, he is shocked to see the h and she is appalled. The H intervenes tho and sends him on his way. He questions the h pretty closely regarding the EL, but the h is evasive and eventually they just have a nice dinner and the h begs the H to just take things moment by moment, she can't promise him a big future but she wants to enjoy every minute they have together. The H agrees, but lets the h know that he is in this for the long haul and he isn't going anywhere.
Then the next day at work, Mrs. Evil Landlord appears and she is flaunting the diamond bracelet the h rejected from Evil Landlord. It seems the EL's tenth anniversary is coming up and the H won't attend if the h doesn't. The h is gobsmacked, she tells Mrs. Evil that the H is a free agent to do whatever he wants. Mrs. Evil seems really adamant about the h attending this party tho. It seems a bit suspicious and the h's assistant warns that Mrs. Evil may be more evil than EL and the h should watch out. The h calls the H and explains about the invitation. The H explains that he doesn't want to go either, it turns out that Mrs. Evil was the woman who cheated on him and he broke their engagement so she had to marry his business partner.
The H explains that he doesn't really like either Mr or Mrs Evil, but he liked Mr. Evil's dad and kept Mr. Evil on when he inherited part of the business. He goes to the anniversary party every year, even tho is is High Society and he doesn't like that set, in order to alleviate rumors that he is still in love with Mrs. Evil - he totally isn't and doesn't like her much either.
Keeping the partnership with Mr. Evil was also a way of scotching the rumors regarding him and Mrs. Evil as well. He wants the h to attend the party with him, if she doesn't want to go, then he won't feel bad about missing it. The h is concerned, she thinks the H really needs to go for the sake of the business partnership, but the other family involved in the h's big scandal frequents those same circles and she doesn't want a scene. However, she loves the H and wants to be his support in a stressful situation, so she agrees to go.
The big party happens and it soon becomes clear that Mrs. Evil is a malicious viper and still in love with the H, even tho he can't stand her. Mrs. Evil is lookin' for some trouble and makes lots of nasty innuendos to the h. The h and H brush them off and are having a bit of a cuddle when the h goes white, feels ill and has to leave. There is another pregnant lady across the room that reacts the same way when she sees the h. The H and h leave and the h feels the pendulum of doom swinging down. She knows she has to explain things to the H, but she just isn't ready yet.
Then Mrs. Evil pays another call on the h the next day. She threatens the h with exposure about her sordid past if she doesn't dump the H and tell him herself. The h knows her time is up and she agrees to do it, but she also tells Mrs. Evil that the H won't touch her with a ten foot pole, irregardless of how much she thinks the H wants her and no matter how many times she knows her husband has cheated on her. In fact the h think that Mr. Evil actually loves Mrs. Evil, and she is so mean because she lost the H and so that is why Mr. Evil cheats - but she doesn't care about their mess, she has to fix her own.
That night she goes to the H and tells him her whole story. It seems a few years ago the most wealthy industrialist in England died in her bed, the press named the h as his mistress and the man's children by his wife- especially his son- make horrible, derogatory comments about her that egged the tabloids on. The h had to fend them off by herself, her mum was completely incapacitated and there was no one else. The h has lived very quietly since then but she dreads any new scandal.
The H tells her he isn't shocked, he figures daughters have a right to be present at their father's death and what would be unusual about a dad visiting his kid and then having a heart attack and passing away in her bed. The h is stunned the H figured it out so fast, but the H explains that he knows the h is a nice girl and the industrialist was old enough to be her father. The H also knows the h's mum is a very beautiful woman and really traumatized by the father's death, so it wasn't hard to put two and two together. The H goes on to say that her father fell in love with her mother, but probably couldn't leave his wife who became stuck in a wheelchair from a fall off a horse after the birth of her second child.
The h clarifies that her father's wife refused a divorce multiple times and threatened to sic the tabloids on both the h's mum and her father if her father filed for divorce - even though the two had been living separately for years. The h's mum has always been a bit fragile and the father did not want to subject her to the hounds of the press. Then he died at the h's place and the press hounded her, egged on by his legitimate children.
The H doesn't care about any of that, he wants the h to marry him and he isn't taking no for an answer. The h explains about Mrs. Evil's threats and the H says he will put a stop to her right away, he also tells the h that he is dissolving the partnership between him and Mr. Evil because he figured out that Mr. Evil had been trying to coerce the h with threats about the lease when she rejected his advances and the H figures he may have tried it on before. The H refuses to be in business with slime like that and Mr. and Mrs. Evil can just go off an be miserable together and quit bothering the nice people.
Then he and the h avow true love forever and the big love fest begins. The h has to get home to look after her mum tho, so she and the H go back to her place. When they get there, the h's half sister is there and the h is pretty irked. The half sister is the pregnant woman from the party and the h doesn't want her upsetting her mum, the woman has been calling her on the phone repeatedly and the h told her not to, but she showed up anyway. The h's half sister explains that she and her brother figured out that the h was their sister and she wanted to meet to the h's mum cause her father loved her. (Which was really pushy of her, and rude I thought.)
The sister also tells the h that her mother ( the estranged wife,) threatened to not let the dad see his kids if he tried to divorce her, even tho the marriage was dead for years. Her mother just likes making people miserable. The h explains that her mum is pretty fragile too and it would be better if they did not meet again. The sister tells the h that even her brother wants to meet her and accept her into the family, the h looks just like their grandmother, but they understand that it would hurt the h's mum too much. She leaves after telling the h she will send a birth announcement.
The h is sad she can't have more family on her dad's side, but really happy she is marrying the H. The big wedding day arrives and the h is shocked when the man who gives her away turns out to be the estranged half brother at the last minute, with the h's half sister and grandmother there too. ( I did NOT APPROVE here, cause he called her the Tart of Babylon in the press and made things ten time worse, now he and his sister and the grandmother are imposing themselves on the h's very private, happy wedding day and it was too jarring but CM was going for the really big HEA and page count was limited.)
The h and H are joyously married and then Mrs. Evil has her last act by siccing the press the on the H and h after the ceremony. The h's mum snaps out of her fugue by announcing the h was the dead industrialist's daughter and the half brother makes the statement that the wedding is a private family event, thus welcoming the h and her mum into the fold. The estranged wife had died a few weeks earlier, so all the good people can be happy together in one big family.
The H and h have a little epilogue where they are christening their newborn daughter and the h's mum is fully recovered and the two sides of the dad's family are happy together and the H and h are lurvin it up for the sparklie HEA.
Up until the last minute insertion of the dad's other family, this is a good book. The whole brother and sister thing was a bit OTT, but it all worked out in the end and everyone was happy so this is for the HP voyagers who like drama but like it to be a result of external factors and the H and h never fight or really have any angsty fighting drama between them. Technically these two nice people are just visiting HPlandia, but the h's family circumstances and the adultery going on throughout the book between all sorts of people pretty much keeps this firmly in the HP universe for a fairly good read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 8, 2018
Amazing hero and amazing heroine.
Though I DID want to slap the hero for involving heroine's SOB of a half brother in the wedding who called the heroine rather unforgivable name.
The half sister was also a pure bitch!
I wanted the hero to at least give them a verbal smackdown. However, I understand He must have been very tired from all the kitten rescuing, dotting on a would be mother in law, and built up frustration for a strict no sex for a quite while!
On top of that, he also had to basically, beg, threaten, coerce, and then beg again to keep the heroine from bolting, all done through love though. He threatened and coerced her with love, in most caring manner before anyone jumps to conclusion.
This guy also had a solid head on his shoulder and was pretty quick to put two and two together from the very beginning.
He also owned me over when he justified the broken partnership by using the logic "if he tried to blackmail you, what are the chances he didn't try it in the past?" indicating, of course heroine holds a special place in his life, but if his partner took advantage of someone else in the past, it is also not acceptable.
This guy completely failed at jumping to wrong conclusions or calling the heroine "whore/slut/tart/tease" and all other generic terms.
Then again he wasn't exactly a tycoon par se, so may be why he failed "tycooning 101"!
All in all, a complete winner hero!
Though I DID want to slap the hero for involving heroine's SOB of a half brother in the wedding who called the heroine rather unforgivable name.
The half sister was also a pure bitch!
I wanted the hero to at least give them a verbal smackdown. However, I understand He must have been very tired from all the kitten rescuing, dotting on a would be mother in law, and built up frustration for a strict no sex for a quite while!
On top of that, he also had to basically, beg, threaten, coerce, and then beg again to keep the heroine from bolting, all done through love though. He threatened and coerced her with love, in most caring manner before anyone jumps to conclusion.
This guy also had a solid head on his shoulder and was pretty quick to put two and two together from the very beginning.
He also owned me over when he justified the broken partnership by using the logic "if he tried to blackmail you, what are the chances he didn't try it in the past?" indicating, of course heroine holds a special place in his life, but if his partner took advantage of someone else in the past, it is also not acceptable.
This guy completely failed at jumping to wrong conclusions or calling the heroine "whore/slut/tart/tease" and all other generic terms.
Then again he wasn't exactly a tycoon par se, so may be why he failed "tycooning 101"!
All in all, a complete winner hero!
May 23, 2018
5 happily, lyrically, romance-is-alive stars for an awesome hero. He plays Scrabble with the heroine’s delicate and fey mother, and saves the cat. Swoon.
Dun dun dunnnn. Then there is the heroine.
Yeah, okay. One word! Communicate. No, let me correct that. Two words. Communicate, foo.
Can’t beat Boogenhagen’s review, but my problems with the heroine and her inability to communicate to her awesome hero drove me crazy.
The fact she loves the hero plus the hero saves it.
Dun dun dunnnn. Then there is the heroine.
Yeah, okay. One word! Communicate. No, let me correct that. Two words. Communicate, foo.
Can’t beat Boogenhagen’s review, but my problems with the heroine and her inability to communicate to her awesome hero drove me crazy.
The fact she loves the hero plus the hero saves it.
April 25, 2018
As far as Harley's go, this one's pretty good.
A kind, gentle hero.
Evil manipulative OW
Surprise twist
Happy Ending
4 stars
A kind, gentle hero.
Evil manipulative OW
Surprise twist
Happy Ending
4 stars
December 13, 2018
"Secret Passion" is the story of Aura and James.
Such a BEAUTIFUL love story of trust and love between our traumatized heroine Aura and heart-stealing hero James.
I loved the single minded intensity with which he pursued her, cared for her and persuaded her to trust him and his love. He was so kind and caring, and has to be one of the best CM heroes out there.
The heroine goes through a lot- her past, the recent betrayal and the responsibility of her mother. But when James enters her life, he makes her and her soul smile.
There is a lot of drama, revelations, secrets, vengeful exes, cats and passion in this one, but honestly my favorite parts of this book all involved James and his devotion towards Aura.
All stars for him.
Safe
4.5/5
Such a BEAUTIFUL love story of trust and love between our traumatized heroine Aura and heart-stealing hero James.
I loved the single minded intensity with which he pursued her, cared for her and persuaded her to trust him and his love. He was so kind and caring, and has to be one of the best CM heroes out there.
The heroine goes through a lot- her past, the recent betrayal and the responsibility of her mother. But when James enters her life, he makes her and her soul smile.
There is a lot of drama, revelations, secrets, vengeful exes, cats and passion in this one, but honestly my favorite parts of this book all involved James and his devotion towards Aura.
All stars for him.
Safe
4.5/5
December 19, 2020
I just loved the hero. The book is worthy of four stars only because of him. The heroine was not really my favorite. I can understand her skittishness but she faded in front of the hero.
March 8, 2018
James Ballitine is swoon worthy hero 💕
This was super sweet and the drama was great. Loved it!
This was super sweet and the drama was great. Loved it!
March 2, 2012
This was pretty good. The only downside for me was that there wasn't much conflict between the hero and heroine -- there were a lot of outside factors that jeopardized their relationship, but I think I prefer a little more tension between the two characters (it was almost a letdown that all those outside factors didn't cause any misunderstandings between the hero and heroine. Ah, romance-land, where I want things to happen that would piss me off to no end in real life). Overall though, a decent read.
January 16, 2016
Looking back, the rumor was so out of character with what we knew of Aura that I should have solved the mystery sooner. I really felt sorry for her and her mom. There were two evil women in this story. The OW was a nasty piece of work but the other bitch was a malevolent beast and the one who caused so much damage all around and beyond recall. I really don't care that she was handicapped or her husband wasn't faithful to her. I didn't see her as a victim but as a spiteful women who wanted everyone to be miserable.
I loved James right from the start. He was perfect.
I loved James right from the start. He was perfect.
June 5, 2021
An author I have always loved.
The suspense....
The twists and turns in the story...
Too good.
Hero is swoonworthy.
The suspense....
The twists and turns in the story...
Too good.
Hero is swoonworthy.
February 27, 2012
Aura met James at a meeting when she was being denied a lease for her place due to his partner Adrian. Adrian was a creep, he had a wife and child and as still unfaithful. He tried to use Aura's lease for a reason to take her to bed. James had fund out about it secretly but never said a word to Aura, waiting for Aura to come and tell him.
When Aura and James became intimate and fallen in love with each other, all the other drama came out with it. Such as; a dead man in Aura's bed, a old scandal, some family members that Aura had nothing to do with, not to mention the fact that Seline who is Adrian's wife was still deeply in love with James. Seline and James were suppose to marry but Seline cheated on James with Adrian and Adrian knocked her up.
It was a heck of a read but I must point out, it's a very old harlequin and all the stuff in the novel had absolutely no relevance to todays way of thinking and people. I enjoyed it though.
When Aura and James became intimate and fallen in love with each other, all the other drama came out with it. Such as; a dead man in Aura's bed, a old scandal, some family members that Aura had nothing to do with, not to mention the fact that Seline who is Adrian's wife was still deeply in love with James. Seline and James were suppose to marry but Seline cheated on James with Adrian and Adrian knocked her up.
It was a heck of a read but I must point out, it's a very old harlequin and all the stuff in the novel had absolutely no relevance to todays way of thinking and people. I enjoyed it though.
March 30, 2021
Aura Jones knows that she and successful financial businessman James Ballantine could
light up the skies with their desire for each other. But falling in love with him is a
risk she can't allow herself to take, not whilst she's still haunted by the secrets in her
past.
Aura knows James has been disillusioned—he needs a woman who has a spotless
reputation, not one fuelled by scandal, like Aura's. She must call off their affair before
things go too far. But can Aura continue to hold herself back, once their red-hot passion
has been unleashed…
light up the skies with their desire for each other. But falling in love with him is a
risk she can't allow herself to take, not whilst she's still haunted by the secrets in her
past.
Aura knows James has been disillusioned—he needs a woman who has a spotless
reputation, not one fuelled by scandal, like Aura's. She must call off their affair before
things go too far. But can Aura continue to hold herself back, once their red-hot passion
has been unleashed…
January 14, 2013
Gentle beta hero. Subtle humor, steady love. 4.5 stars
February 27, 2021
4.25 stars
***Three cheers for a wonderful hero***
Aura and James meet because she's been given notice the lease for her health foods store is not being renewed (James and his partner, Adrian, are her landlords). Aura knows this was done in retaliation because she turned down Adrian after a few dates. James takes care of the problem while Adrian is gone on vacation with his wife. Embarrassed because she didn't know Adrian was married, Aura does not disclose her previous relationship with Adrian and discourages James's interest in her. James is a great hero, perfect for nervous and shy heroine. Aura got caught up in a very public scandal two years ago when a prominent businessman died in her bed. She's drawn to James but scared of getting involved with someone while hiding her scandalous past. James is unabashedly infatuated with her and gentle and persistent with his efforts to be a part of her life. He is kind to her mother who's suffering from a mental issue and her cat, Marmaduke. He lets Aura know how much he wants her but he doesn't pressure her. They have more than one steamy situation which almost led to sex with James stopping each time. This is an example of why James is a great and considerate hero:
‘Darling, if I made love to you now—and God knows I want to!—you would never forgive me. A little at a time,’ he reminded her soothingly. ‘We’ll give each other a little at a time. And then maybe eventually we’ll be able to give it all.’ He gently straightened her camisole and rebuttoned her blouse, smoothing her tangled hair.
Aura looked at him dazedly. He could have made love to her, could have taken the one thing most other men were interested in. Instead he had said no for both of them, hadn’t rejected her but had taken the control she had momentarily lost.'
Aura herself is a strong and caring character. She and James are well-matched. She went through quite a traumatizing and public scandal with her name and reputation in shreds. She is single handedly taking care of her mother while running a business. She caused more stress for herself by withholding the truth about Adrian and her past from James but I can sympathize with her fear of losing someone who she had come to love.
I've been reading through CM's catalogue because I was bored with current HPs. I didn't expect this one to stand out but it did because James is such a great hero! This book was written in 1988. Most of CM's heroes, especially the vintage ones, are arrogant, rude/mean, slut-shamers and violent/roofie kissers/borderline rapists. James is nothing like this and a breath of fresh air. I usually finish these books thinking "How did the h fall in love with the H?" This book made me love James and for that alone, this is going on my favorites list.
***Three cheers for a wonderful hero***
Aura and James meet because she's been given notice the lease for her health foods store is not being renewed (James and his partner, Adrian, are her landlords). Aura knows this was done in retaliation because she turned down Adrian after a few dates. James takes care of the problem while Adrian is gone on vacation with his wife. Embarrassed because she didn't know Adrian was married, Aura does not disclose her previous relationship with Adrian and discourages James's interest in her. James is a great hero, perfect for nervous and shy heroine. Aura got caught up in a very public scandal two years ago when a prominent businessman died in her bed. She's drawn to James but scared of getting involved with someone while hiding her scandalous past. James is unabashedly infatuated with her and gentle and persistent with his efforts to be a part of her life. He is kind to her mother who's suffering from a mental issue and her cat, Marmaduke. He lets Aura know how much he wants her but he doesn't pressure her. They have more than one steamy situation which almost led to sex with James stopping each time. This is an example of why James is a great and considerate hero:
‘Darling, if I made love to you now—and God knows I want to!—you would never forgive me. A little at a time,’ he reminded her soothingly. ‘We’ll give each other a little at a time. And then maybe eventually we’ll be able to give it all.’ He gently straightened her camisole and rebuttoned her blouse, smoothing her tangled hair.
Aura looked at him dazedly. He could have made love to her, could have taken the one thing most other men were interested in. Instead he had said no for both of them, hadn’t rejected her but had taken the control she had momentarily lost.'
Aura herself is a strong and caring character. She and James are well-matched. She went through quite a traumatizing and public scandal with her name and reputation in shreds. She is single handedly taking care of her mother while running a business. She caused more stress for herself by withholding the truth about Adrian and her past from James but I can sympathize with her fear of losing someone who she had come to love.
I've been reading through CM's catalogue because I was bored with current HPs. I didn't expect this one to stand out but it did because James is such a great hero! This book was written in 1988. Most of CM's heroes, especially the vintage ones, are arrogant, rude/mean, slut-shamers and violent/roofie kissers/borderline rapists. James is nothing like this and a breath of fresh air. I usually finish these books thinking "How did the h fall in love with the H?" This book made me love James and for that alone, this is going on my favorites list.
August 27, 2025
This was quite a story, different from the usual and with quite a twist to it! I liked both the H and h, though the h's hesitancy to confide in the H (as well as her thinking he'd care about his social status) got to be a bit much at times.
It's funny: there's a point in the story where you get the wrong idea and for a moment can lose your sympathy for the h but then that twist to the story comes in and makes you realize what a sacrifice she made and why she did it.
The OM and OW are both a couple of creeps! He and the h were briefly dating before she met the H, and he sought revenge when she wouldn't sleep with him. Meanwhile, he neglected to tell her he was married. Ironically, his wife was the OW, who was once the H's fiancée, who cheated on him with the OM! These two deserved each other and deserved their unhappy marriage.
The H and h are both likeable and deserved their HEA.
It's funny: there's a point in the story where you get the wrong idea and for a moment can lose your sympathy for the h but then that twist to the story comes in and makes you realize what a sacrifice she made and why she did it.
The OM and OW are both a couple of creeps! He and the h were briefly dating before she met the H, and he sought revenge when she wouldn't sleep with him. Meanwhile, he neglected to tell her he was married. Ironically, his wife was the OW, who was once the H's fiancée, who cheated on him with the OM! These two deserved each other and deserved their unhappy marriage.
The H and h are both likeable and deserved their HEA.
November 8, 2025
I hated it when the cat got injured. I don’t want to read about animal suffering, I can’t stand it.
Anyway, the H was too humble towards the h and he was too good to be true. At first I liked it but after a while it became annoying and I wanted him to get some spine. The most realistic thing in this book was that she was not a virgin. She took more initiative sexually than he did.
Anyway, the H was too humble towards the h and he was too good to be true. At first I liked it but after a while it became annoying and I wanted him to get some spine. The most realistic thing in this book was that she was not a virgin. She took more initiative sexually than he did.
April 5, 2015
E' difficile mettere una pietra sul passato e Aura scopre che, per sfuggirgli, non basta scappare lontano né chiudersi in un isolamento doloroso. La vicenda scandalosa che le ha profondamente segnato l'esistenza torna alla ribalta, di colpo, minacciando l'equilibrio appena raggiunto e impedendo al nuovo sogno d'amore di realizzarsi. James l'ama, ma lei sa che il loro sentimento è proibito, impossibile, e cerca di soffocarlo. Forse, se Aura non ci riuscirà, sarà Selina, seducente e senza scrupoli, ad affondare il dito nella piaga...
Un classico del format harmony che non tramonta mai
Un classico del format harmony che non tramonta mai
September 1, 2013
I thought this was a nice,light hearted, fun, and loving romance. i love that Aura is independent and a bit frightened of love; she also has a large secret that makes her that way. James is everything she needs patient, loving, honest and kind-will Aura allow them to fall in love? Carole Mortimer is a great author and one I always go back to no matter how old I get. i have been reading her novels since I was in high school. This one does not disappoint.
October 13, 2015
Il passato riaffiora (in Italiano)
Libro bellissimo!!!
Tenero, con colpi di scena.
Grazie a Carole Mortimer per questi piccoli gioielli!
Riesce sempre a creare personaggi che ti fanno innamorare già dalle prime righe.
Libro bellissimo!!!
Tenero, con colpi di scena.
Grazie a Carole Mortimer per questi piccoli gioielli!
Riesce sempre a creare personaggi che ti fanno innamorare già dalle prime righe.
October 24, 2023
Aura knew that she and James Ballantine could have something special going for them.
December 4, 2021
Re-read 10/20/14.
Want to Read
June 4, 2017"Pasión secreta"
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