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Temporary Girlfriend
Should his every wish be her command?
What choice did Elyss have but to put up with Saul Pendleton calling the shots? Because of a series of dreadful mistakes, she owed him a whole lot of money and hadn't a hope of being able to pay him back. However, if she signed up with Saul's personal loan scheme and became his date for every social occasion, then all her troubles would be solved. Or would they?
It soon became apparent that Saul expected interest on his loan—but did he want a temporary girlfriend or a permanent wife?
What choice did Elyss have but to put up with Saul Pendleton calling the shots? Because of a series of dreadful mistakes, she owed him a whole lot of money and hadn't a hope of being able to pay him back. However, if she signed up with Saul's personal loan scheme and became his date for every social occasion, then all her troubles would be solved. Or would they?
It soon became apparent that Saul expected interest on his loan—but did he want a temporary girlfriend or a permanent wife?
188 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1997
6 people are currently reading
74 people want to read
About the author
Jessica Steele
338 books113 followersJessica Steele was born on May 9, 1933 in the elegant Warwickshire town of Royal Leamington Spa. She has two super brothers, Colin and George, and a lovely sister, Elizabeth. She was a delicate child and missed a lot of school. In fact, she left school at aged 14, when she was diagnosed as having tuberculosis. At 16, she started work as a junior clerk. In 1967, Jessica married with her husband, Peter and within a very short space of time they had moved from her hometown to the lovely area where they now live. Their house is built into the side of a hill, and has beautiful views over more hills and valleys. Her brothers and her sister are very close and she has plenty of nephews and nieces to make up for the fact that she and her husband have no children of their own. Both she and her husband are more than a little dog-oriented, and their current dog is a Staffordshire bull terrier named Florence. Florence is gorgeous. She loves everybody but, since she is 40 pounds of dynamite and would hurl her boisterous self at everyone she meets - given half a chance - she has to be restrained (as much as possible). She is fun.
Her husband spurred Jessica on to her writing career, giving her every support while she did what she considers her five-year apprenticeship (the rejection years) while learning how to write. She published her first books in 1979. Jessica has tried using a typewriter, but it just doesn't work for her. She is much happier writing in longhand, and in actual fact has a dozen or so fountain pens filled and ready to go at the start of any one session. A friend has a secretarial agency and, after deciphering Jessica's writing, returns an immaculately typed manuscript. To gain authentic background for her books, she has travelled and researched in Greece, Russia, Egypt, Mexico, Peru, Chile, Hong Kong, China and Japan.
Her husband spurred Jessica on to her writing career, giving her every support while she did what she considers her five-year apprenticeship (the rejection years) while learning how to write. She published her first books in 1979. Jessica has tried using a typewriter, but it just doesn't work for her. She is much happier writing in longhand, and in actual fact has a dozen or so fountain pens filled and ready to go at the start of any one session. A friend has a secretarial agency and, after deciphering Jessica's writing, returns an immaculately typed manuscript. To gain authentic background for her books, she has travelled and researched in Greece, Russia, Egypt, Mexico, Peru, Chile, Hong Kong, China and Japan.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
January 26, 2018
I read somewhere, once, that Jessica Steele's H's are the debonair, charming, sexy, handsome and gentlemanly millionaires with an old fashioned type of Cary Grant charm. This novel bears testament to that comment. I loved this quirky little romance ! In an age where romancelandia's H's are aggressive man whores, Saul Pendleton is a suave and sophisticated hottie who knows how to treat a woman. He was even chivalrous towards the tarty, married OW who was chasing him unashamedly. I love an educated, classy and urbane H who possesses a charm that the nouveau riche billionaires tend to lack . I wished he had not waited, until after she had derailed his burgeoning relationship with the heroine, to tell her off but I understood his rationale for the way he had chosen to handle the situation. If it's one thing that Jessica Steele does really well, it's to tie all loose ends and clear up all misunderstandings between the MC's.
The heroine Elyss is a beautiful and compassionate young lady whose roommate Nikki had borrowed her car to go and stalk a cheating boyfriend and ended up crashing into Saul's Ferrari. Nikki is an utter mess of a character. She's annoying, airheaded, stalks her loser boyfriend, forgot to drop off the heroine's car insurance cheque payment and then becomes useless after causing an expensive car crash that she can't afford. Elyss is also in dire financial straits but manages ( and this had me cussing like a sailor ) to not only be gracious and kind to the dimwitted bimbo but to also take it upon herself to do ALL the damage control. I know that the MC's would not have met had it not been for Nikki's utter stupidity but I really wished that the dumbo would have gotten some form of punishment. As it was, she got no comeuppance and was even cossetted and shielded by the sweet heroine.
The novel's story line develops because the heroine has to pretend to be Saul's new girlfriend because he was being pursued relentlessly by the 30 something year old wife of his 60 something yr old friend and business partner Roland. This part was only revealed at the end though. Throughout the fake girlfriend charade, Elyss continues to believe that Saul is using her as a shield for his affair with the pathetic Madeleine. There was no sex in the novel and to be honest, I didn't miss it because I was enjoying the story too much. Many readers might not enjoy it the same way because it's quite old fashioned but the quirky side of me that loved watching old Cary Grant/Doris Day movies with my grandmother, had a ball reading all the verbal battles between the MC's. What was so lovely was that their verbal exchanges were never filled with malice or nasty insults.
I loved Saul Pendleton as a H. He was so besotted with the heroine and she couldn't see it. However,
the reader knew that only a besotted man would make such a silly arrangement with a woman who could not afford to pay him for the damage done to his Ferrari. Saul even paid for her car to be fixed ( and with new parts too ! ). She didn't even ask him to do that but he didn't want her having to use public transportation when she had to leave work late. Madeleine was more of a plot device rather than a fleshed out minor character. She never actually had much to say to the heroine but her behind the scenes manipulations did put huge obstacles in the MC's journey towards a HEA. I think I'm going to be reading some more of Jessica Steele's novels. She's not a popular author with many romance lovers but I just adore her old fashioned stories and her dashing heroes. And I just LOVED the cover of this novel. It's just like a Cary Grant movie poster !
The heroine Elyss is a beautiful and compassionate young lady whose roommate Nikki had borrowed her car to go and stalk a cheating boyfriend and ended up crashing into Saul's Ferrari. Nikki is an utter mess of a character. She's annoying, airheaded, stalks her loser boyfriend, forgot to drop off the heroine's car insurance cheque payment and then becomes useless after causing an expensive car crash that she can't afford. Elyss is also in dire financial straits but manages ( and this had me cussing like a sailor ) to not only be gracious and kind to the dimwitted bimbo but to also take it upon herself to do ALL the damage control. I know that the MC's would not have met had it not been for Nikki's utter stupidity but I really wished that the dumbo would have gotten some form of punishment. As it was, she got no comeuppance and was even cossetted and shielded by the sweet heroine.
The novel's story line develops because the heroine has to pretend to be Saul's new girlfriend because he was being pursued relentlessly by the 30 something year old wife of his 60 something yr old friend and business partner Roland. This part was only revealed at the end though. Throughout the fake girlfriend charade, Elyss continues to believe that Saul is using her as a shield for his affair with the pathetic Madeleine. There was no sex in the novel and to be honest, I didn't miss it because I was enjoying the story too much. Many readers might not enjoy it the same way because it's quite old fashioned but the quirky side of me that loved watching old Cary Grant/Doris Day movies with my grandmother, had a ball reading all the verbal battles between the MC's. What was so lovely was that their verbal exchanges were never filled with malice or nasty insults.
I loved Saul Pendleton as a H. He was so besotted with the heroine and she couldn't see it. However,
the reader knew that only a besotted man would make such a silly arrangement with a woman who could not afford to pay him for the damage done to his Ferrari. Saul even paid for her car to be fixed ( and with new parts too ! ). She didn't even ask him to do that but he didn't want her having to use public transportation when she had to leave work late. Madeleine was more of a plot device rather than a fleshed out minor character. She never actually had much to say to the heroine but her behind the scenes manipulations did put huge obstacles in the MC's journey towards a HEA. I think I'm going to be reading some more of Jessica Steele's novels. She's not a popular author with many romance lovers but I just adore her old fashioned stories and her dashing heroes. And I just LOVED the cover of this novel. It's just like a Cary Grant movie poster !
March 30, 2022
Read this ages ago and not sure why I never wrote a review.. hmmmm. Me thinks this is another one that disappeared!
February 21, 2015
I almost gave up on this book. The beginning has the heroine's flatmate, Nikki, blubbering and sniveling over her cheating louse of a boyfriend for far too long. Additionally, when the flatmate crashes the heroine's car into the hero's Ferrari (among other things that compound the issue), the heroine tells her not to worry, blah, blah, because Nikki is already on the verge of a mental breakdown (due to said louse). Several times I wished that she would just slap Nikki back into reality.
*Repeat to self: Violence never solves anything*
But I persisted, and I'm glad I did. It was a sweet (if predictable) romance and if the fall into love was a trifle fast on both sides, it was easily overlooked.
Sexual content: Heavy petting.
*Repeat to self: Violence never solves anything*
But I persisted, and I'm glad I did. It was a sweet (if predictable) romance and if the fall into love was a trifle fast on both sides, it was easily overlooked.
Sexual content: Heavy petting.
October 17, 2025
I’ve not read this one in years and it’s cute! The heroine (22) is feisty and funny (and of course beautiful). The hero (late 30s) is much sweeter than her usual heroes (he says nice things to her all the time!), and really enjoys when the heroine is jealous. The OW means nothing to the hero, but it takes ages to be explained away. There are no OM in this one and it all takes place in the space of a few weeks.
January 12, 2020
An evening of JS to start the year's reading? Yes please. And I picked a good one from the pile--definitely a Superior Steele.
It's a tried-and-true JS plot, but here our hero doesn't think the worst of her from the jump, which makes for a nice change. And she wasn't the too-worthy heroine who zips her lips even past the point of reason to 'protect' a tertiary character at her own expense, as oft happens in JS. I absolutely 'called it' the minute he fell in love with her while reading and then thought 'hah! called it!' when he said as much during The Chapter Nine Tell-All swoons. Gold star to me (to JS, for writing the moment so well).
The heroine is sweet and kind but has a sass and wit that I appreciated. The hero appreciated that too--it's part of what he liked from the start. He's suave but considerate and deliberate, vs manipulative, and though he should explain a lot more as he goes (which, lol never as if, that would ruin the conflict and tension), he has right motives and gets it all sorted in the end.
The plot moves us around locations and small snarls and them around one another until they figure it out; once they do it's glorious because they're well matched and gonna be quite besottedly happy into their HEA.
It's a tried-and-true JS plot, but here our hero doesn't think the worst of her from the jump, which makes for a nice change. And she wasn't the too-worthy heroine who zips her lips even past the point of reason to 'protect' a tertiary character at her own expense, as oft happens in JS. I absolutely 'called it' the minute he fell in love with her while reading and then thought 'hah! called it!' when he said as much during The Chapter Nine Tell-All swoons. Gold star to me (to JS, for writing the moment so well).
The heroine is sweet and kind but has a sass and wit that I appreciated. The hero appreciated that too--it's part of what he liked from the start. He's suave but considerate and deliberate, vs manipulative, and though he should explain a lot more as he goes (which, lol never as if, that would ruin the conflict and tension), he has right motives and gets it all sorted in the end.
The plot moves us around locations and small snarls and them around one another until they figure it out; once they do it's glorious because they're well matched and gonna be quite besottedly happy into their HEA.
July 28, 2019
2.5 stars.
Safe. We only get the pov of the h and she came across as a shrew to the H. With the person who actually deserved a little bit of her ire, her roommate, she was a lamb. I understood why she was so sensitive and understanding, but still. I needed to see her be a little more firm with her roomie instead of soothing her and telling her everything was going to be fine. Maybe an epilogue where she tells her roomie the truth or something.
The H was was patient, not getting mad at the h for making all her crazy assumptions. However, I was a little frustrated by how little communication there was between the MCs. Until the very last chapter, the H just let the h run wild with her misconceptions. Ah well.
Overall, the set up of the story was strong, albeit a little slow. The rest of the story, however, wasn't entirely convincing. Engaging storytelling, no real OP drama, and no running into any ex-gfs of the H (which is always a bonus). An epilogue would've been great.
Safe. We only get the pov of the h and she came across as a shrew to the H. With the person who actually deserved a little bit of her ire, her roommate, she was a lamb. I understood why she was so sensitive and understanding, but still. I needed to see her be a little more firm with her roomie instead of soothing her and telling her everything was going to be fine. Maybe an epilogue where she tells her roomie the truth or something.
The H was was patient, not getting mad at the h for making all her crazy assumptions. However, I was a little frustrated by how little communication there was between the MCs. Until the very last chapter, the H just let the h run wild with her misconceptions. Ah well.
Overall, the set up of the story was strong, albeit a little slow. The rest of the story, however, wasn't entirely convincing. Engaging storytelling, no real OP drama, and no running into any ex-gfs of the H (which is always a bonus). An epilogue would've been great.
January 19, 2021
Should his every wish be her command?
What choice did Elyss have but to put up with Saul Pendleton calling the shots? Because of a series of dreadful mistakes, she owed him a whole lot of money and hadn't a hope of being able to pay him back. However, if she signed up with Saul's personal loan scheme and became his date for every social occasion, then all her troubles would be solved. Or would they?
It soon became apparent that Saul expected interest on his loan—but did he want a temporary girlfriend or a permanent wife?
What choice did Elyss have but to put up with Saul Pendleton calling the shots? Because of a series of dreadful mistakes, she owed him a whole lot of money and hadn't a hope of being able to pay him back. However, if she signed up with Saul's personal loan scheme and became his date for every social occasion, then all her troubles would be solved. Or would they?
It soon became apparent that Saul expected interest on his loan—but did he want a temporary girlfriend or a permanent wife?
August 25, 2021
🛑 If you are watching your carbs you will want to avoid this book because it has lots of sugar in it(especially the last 30 pages!)
There is not a lot of angst in the book. There is a very mild wannabe ow, and what I mean by mild is she doesn’t do or say anything wicked to the h(Elyse), but she is after the H(Saul Pendleton). She married a much older man(40 years older) who is a business associate and friend of the H. It sounds like she is barely off her honeymoon and is already looking for a younger, virile model. So even though she isn’t evil like other OW’s, her ethical compass is somewhat askew. However, as a book device for causing angst, it really doesn’t. As a reader, we can see that our hero is a stand up guy, and totes in love with the h to boot!
I am not going to go in details about the book, but what I liked is the witty repertoire between the h and H. They actually laugh with and at each other. I’m so used to the broody hero that this was a very nice change from other harlequins. Another thing that JS often does with her heroes, is she has them compliment the h with comments throughout the story. This H was often complimentary and not just about her looks but about her personality. Their more intimate moments were done very well. In one of their bedroom scenes the H is basically teaching our virgin h as they go. He kisses her shoulder, she kisses his, etc…Like most of the JS books I have read, their bedroom scenes get close, but alas no cigar leaving the h’s virginity intact for the impending marriage. Our h has a spine and is not lacking in pride. Although we the reader do not get very angst up in the story, our h has some sufferings which leads us to the the last 30 pages of the book. JS is famous for her long endings where the H gets to explain everything. Basically, instead of seeing his POV as we read the previous 158 pages, he lets it all out in the remaining 30. So, this could be a little torturous for those of us who like our tea unsweetened. Because it is very, very sweet.
He says yada, yada to the h and then has to take a break and kiss her.
The h says yada, yada, yada and she decides to return the kisses.
The H is enraptured and enthralled with something the h says and he cant resist another touch.
The h is so overwhelmed by the words from the H that she is really thinking a white wedding is probably overrated and demands a nuzzle or two.
I think I have painted a pretty accurate picture here, but for more substance check out some of these reviews:
Trenchologist:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
IvyH: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
There is not a lot of angst in the book. There is a very mild wannabe ow, and what I mean by mild is she doesn’t do or say anything wicked to the h(Elyse), but she is after the H(Saul Pendleton). She married a much older man(40 years older) who is a business associate and friend of the H. It sounds like she is barely off her honeymoon and is already looking for a younger, virile model. So even though she isn’t evil like other OW’s, her ethical compass is somewhat askew. However, as a book device for causing angst, it really doesn’t. As a reader, we can see that our hero is a stand up guy, and totes in love with the h to boot!
I am not going to go in details about the book, but what I liked is the witty repertoire between the h and H. They actually laugh with and at each other. I’m so used to the broody hero that this was a very nice change from other harlequins. Another thing that JS often does with her heroes, is she has them compliment the h with comments throughout the story. This H was often complimentary and not just about her looks but about her personality. Their more intimate moments were done very well. In one of their bedroom scenes the H is basically teaching our virgin h as they go. He kisses her shoulder, she kisses his, etc…Like most of the JS books I have read, their bedroom scenes get close, but alas no cigar leaving the h’s virginity intact for the impending marriage. Our h has a spine and is not lacking in pride. Although we the reader do not get very angst up in the story, our h has some sufferings which leads us to the the last 30 pages of the book. JS is famous for her long endings where the H gets to explain everything. Basically, instead of seeing his POV as we read the previous 158 pages, he lets it all out in the remaining 30. So, this could be a little torturous for those of us who like our tea unsweetened. Because it is very, very sweet.
He says yada, yada to the h and then has to take a break and kiss her.
The h says yada, yada, yada and she decides to return the kisses.
The H is enraptured and enthralled with something the h says and he cant resist another touch.
The h is so overwhelmed by the words from the H that she is really thinking a white wedding is probably overrated and demands a nuzzle or two.
I think I have painted a pretty accurate picture here, but for more substance check out some of these reviews:
Trenchologist:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
IvyH: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
January 12, 2021
Zzzzzzz. This book moved at a snail’s pace and got to nowhere. A botched plot that could really not come together. There was no angst and no chemistry. The H was strange, I really couldn’t gather my thoughts around his personality. The h was shrieking and screaming the house down or trying to slap the H off in almost every scene.
Elyss is a good girl who’s living away from her parents for the last time with 3 other roommates. She’s the only one who’s single and still hanging on to moral choices and not sleeping her way through life. She lends her car one night to her roomie who then bangs it into the H‘s car.
There’s a meeting and as predictable as can be, Saul doesn’t quite put out to Elyss how she’s to pay him back for the damage rendered. They meet here and there and the focus on the main couple is hazy.
Saul is either always joking or being invasive and not in a sexy or come-hither way. The h is accusatory for no reason given she’s not Saul’s girlfriend /wife/mother. She also keeps telling Saul how he’s around town and has no morals and such. I just can’t stand those types of fucking annoying motherly TSTL h’s.
The plot was forced. The h was forced to be old fashioned and she’s the only one out of roomies to have a positive relationship with her down trodden parents. Her father owned a firm that sold out when they went bankrupt. Elyss had something going on for her in her head where she played the role of being the only miss goody 2 shoes. Boring af.
Elyss is a good girl who’s living away from her parents for the last time with 3 other roommates. She’s the only one who’s single and still hanging on to moral choices and not sleeping her way through life. She lends her car one night to her roomie who then bangs it into the H‘s car.
There’s a meeting and as predictable as can be, Saul doesn’t quite put out to Elyss how she’s to pay him back for the damage rendered. They meet here and there and the focus on the main couple is hazy.
Saul is either always joking or being invasive and not in a sexy or come-hither way. The h is accusatory for no reason given she’s not Saul’s girlfriend /wife/mother. She also keeps telling Saul how he’s around town and has no morals and such. I just can’t stand those types of fucking annoying motherly TSTL h’s.
The plot was forced. The h was forced to be old fashioned and she’s the only one out of roomies to have a positive relationship with her down trodden parents. Her father owned a firm that sold out when they went bankrupt. Elyss had something going on for her in her head where she played the role of being the only miss goody 2 shoes. Boring af.
December 14, 2018
جيد
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June 17, 2020Cute. The end is flat though
May 5, 2022
Read a while back and forgot to review. Story is ok but the h needs to rethink her friends.
July 20, 2022
It was a skimmer
April 14, 2019
"Temporary Girlfriend" is the story of Elyss and Saul.
What a sweet love story!
I really enjoyed this old school romance- between a kind and chivalrous hero, a sweet and fiery heroine, some OW drama, loads of sweet kisses, witty banter and a HEA.
The hero in this was SO NICE! He did not lose his temper even once- but whenever the h lost hers, he just smiled and kissed her. He was just so damn adorable! The heroine was a fiesty virgin, who stood her ground on one side and blushed red to his kisses on another.
Worth your time!
Safe
4/5
What a sweet love story!
I really enjoyed this old school romance- between a kind and chivalrous hero, a sweet and fiery heroine, some OW drama, loads of sweet kisses, witty banter and a HEA.
The hero in this was SO NICE! He did not lose his temper even once- but whenever the h lost hers, he just smiled and kissed her. He was just so damn adorable! The heroine was a fiesty virgin, who stood her ground on one side and blushed red to his kisses on another.
Worth your time!
Safe
4/5
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews