What do you think?
Rate this book
Elusive Obsession
Re-read this classic romance by USA Today bestselling author Carole MortimerDiana Lamb wanted revenge! When powerful, enigmatic billionaire Reece Falcon seduced her stepmother, her father committed suicide and Diana is determined to make Reece pay for her loss…But in getting close to Reece—to better exact her revenge—successful model Diana finds herself falling for this brooding magnate's charms! Now she's engaged to her enemy, but will the wedding proceed once the truth comes out…?Originally published in 1992
288 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1993
24 people are currently reading
185 people want to read
About the author
Carole Mortimer
1,296 books907 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
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
May 16, 2019
Re Elusive Obsession - Carole Mortimer gets another HP Plus shot for March of 1994 in this one. This time we have an h who wants revenge.
The story has a prologue that takes place 12 years before the story begins. The nine year old h has mumps and is home from boarding school to recover. Her mum died years earlier and her father is very nice, but obsessed with his new wife, the h's evil stepmother. The h is hiding behind the big window seat curtains of her father's study when she hears the H and her father in a big argument.
It seems the h's father has lost all his money and his house to the H in some kind of shady business deal. There is also the suggestion that the H seduced the h's stepmother too and that the h's father is livid over the betrayal. He throws the H out of the house and then he shoots himself. The h sees her father after his death and the prologue ends as the h blacks out in a silent scream.
Twelve years on, the h is 21 and a world famous super model working an exclusive fashion show in Paris. She is the star of the show, as the designer did a whole collection all around her. She is modeling the last dress of the show, a wedding dress, when her revenge target finally makes his appearance in a reserved seat section at the end of the runway.
He is accompanied by a redhead and a blonde and the h hides a little smile of satisfaction as she sashays down the runway - her grand plan o'vengeance is about to begin.
The h, who is very private and doesn't socialize much, has been seen very publicly and frequently with the H's son. The H doesn't like that and his appearance in Paris is to attempt to pay the h off.
He accosts her after the show, insisting that the h talk with him, but she blows him off and goes back to England.
Where we meet Puddle, the h's Manx cat. Puddle doesn't have a tail and goes on hunger strikes when he knows his regular h cat staffer is going away. Then he gorges himself while she is gone and when she comes back. Puddle also invests some time in nipping the h's legs after her return, to rebuke her for leaving Puddle with a temporary neighbor cat staffer and to remind her that should she take it into her head to travel again, Puddle will be waiting with a reprimand.
To the h's surprise, the H shows up at her house with breakfast imported from France. The h introduces Puddle and the H is surprised, then the h explains that Puddle likes breakfast foods and will steal them. To everyone's surprise, the H does the CM Patented Alpha Manly Rasp at Puddle to leave the food alone and Puddle does!
For about two minutes-- then he sneaks a pastry and goes behind the chair to eat it. His cat independence is fully restored. The H tries to buy the h off, but she is having none of that. There is great verbal debate and then the H tries a forcible roofie kiss that the h does NOT respond too. She kicks the H out instead and then his son shows up. So the h feeds him his dad's breakfast foods, after all Puddle only got one small pastry of it.
We then find out that the H's son is actually engaged to another woman, when the h and the son meet the H for dinner. The h is a bit surprised, but she doesn't really care that much cause she was only seen with the son to lure the H into her spidery web of revenge.
CM gives us plenty of H POV in this one and the H is feeling the effects of the full on Lurve Mojo Force, he is srsly obsessing his 39 yr old brain about the 21 yr old h and he even goes so far as to offer her an extremely lucrative spokesmodel contract for a cosmetic company he owns. He is determined to have the h no matter what, but the h is remaining elusively of reach.
However, in the usual CM weird twist fashion, the cosmetic company's other owner is the mother of the H's son's fiance - who presumably isn't happy about the games the H's son is playing with her daughter. The h mistakenly believes the H is engaged to his son's future mother in law, but the H tells her that is not true.
( It was still kinda strange tho. I got a creepy feeling when the son, his fiancee and the h were all together, it should have been a classic OW smackdown situation, with the h as the OW. Instead the son's fiancee is demanding the wedding dress that the h modeled at the fashion show be bought for her to wear at her wedding to the son.
But they all acted like they were the best of friends and I really don't see why anyone would want the h's son, who apparently likes to play women off against each other. I also had no clue what to make of the H, who saw nothing wrong in arranging a marriage for his son or deciding that the h should just do as he said, and physically assault her if she did not..)
The h rejects the H's contract and tells him it is because he offered it. Then she gets pale and asks the H to drive her home, the H's behavior is reminding her of how he drove her poor father to his death and the h is feeling the backlash of her grand revenge machinations.
Once they get to the h's flat, Puddle twines around the H's legs and gives him a good coating of random cat hairs and the H tries the roofie kissing thing again. The h responds under the Lurve Mojo Force of Treacherous Body Syndrome, but manages to hold off the lurve club by explaining she is a virgin.
The H, delighted that he is going to conquer and score new territory, proposes straight away. The h accepts his marriage proposal and we get the rest of the h's backstory. After the h's father shot himself, the h's evil stepmother was named her guardian. The ES packed her off to boarding school and pretty much abandoned her there except for a few brief holidays after the Evil Step married another really rich man.
When the h was 16, the husband of the Evil Stepmother attacked the h and she told the ES about it and the woman completely disregarded it. Boarding school was equally hideous for the h, because it was an uber exclusive one and everyone knew all about her father and berated the h for it.
Then the h saw the H's son at a dinner and decided to punish the H for spoiling his snot pustule kid after he destroyed her father and seduced his wife and she was left to suffer for years utterly alone. Her grand plan o'vengeance was formed and she set her previous machinations into play, with the object being the public humiliation of a dumped H after she married him and then deserted him.
Except now the h is in love with the man who is her mortal enemy and she is panicking. Cause she has doomed herself and by her own design too. The h is hoping that maybe she can just marry the H and be in love and forget the whole revenge deal, as the H has no clue who she really is, she uses a different last name than her father's.
But the Evil Stepmother shows up to blackmail the h. ES has gotten kicked out by her wanna be rapist hubby and she figured out the h's grand plan o'vengeance and she wants the h to pay her off. The h is now really panicking, cause she doesn't know what to do.
The H meanders in on the highly fraught h and Evil Step scene - he has some seekrits of his own that he needs to confess before they can marry and lurve it all up. But he recognized the Evil Stepmother and the truth comes out in a big dramatic confrontation.
The h runs out of the apartment and right under a car, once the Evil Stepmother reveals her true identity, so we all have to go to hospital as the h is in a coma. The H hangs around her bedside looking wan and desperate for week, until the h wakes up and they both decide that they really do love each other.
The H forces another confrontation with the Evil Stepmother, where we find out that he never seduced the woman and the H also did not destroy her father's business or take the h's family home. He lent the h's dad some money with the h's family home being collateral.
Then the h father's business deal went bust and the Evil Stepmother announced she was leaving him, cause the Evil Stepmother doesn't stay married to poor guys who can't afford her designer clothing bills or the appropriate status symbol mansions to showcase them. The h's dad shot himself because ES was going, the H never wanted the h's house and was trying to tell the dad that he would float him through the financial setback, but it was too late.
The H got really ill right after the conversation with the h's dad and then the man shot himself, so the H never got the chance to make his financial bridging offer. The H did pay for the h's exclusive boarding school for years and anything else the ES claimed the h needed, but more importantly, he put the h's family home in trust for her until she turned 21.
The Evil Stepmother bilked the money the H was paying to care for the h and never mentioned that the h also got her family home. The ES also knew that her second husband attacked the h, but it would have ruined her gravy train, so she did nothing.
The Evil Stepmother is banished into the HP mists, her only comeuppance is that the attempted rapist has replaced her with a younger and richer model. Then the H then has to admit he is sterile. The illness the H got after talking to the h's father was the mumps, ( he got them from the h,) and the H believes he is sterile and he wasn't going to tell the h, cause he figured money can totally replace kids if it comes down to it.
The h just laughs at the thought that the H might be sterile and sure enough, we get a H and h married epilogue where the h has given birth to twin girls and the H is completely helpless in caring for them, but he adores all his girls for the big HPlandia HEA win.
This one is pretty good, tho I wasn't a huge fan of the characters except for Puddle. The h's revenge plot kinda petered out and she fell in love in about two paragraphs and three roofie kisses, which was a bit jolting. The H was kinda tacky and it was weird, cause he was literally old enough to be the h's father, (his son was 20 to the h's 21.) So I was kinda creeped a bit.
Still it was very dramatic and the h had a spine and used it, so overall don't be afraid to give this one a go if you are in the mood for an h revenge lite HPlandia outing.
The story has a prologue that takes place 12 years before the story begins. The nine year old h has mumps and is home from boarding school to recover. Her mum died years earlier and her father is very nice, but obsessed with his new wife, the h's evil stepmother. The h is hiding behind the big window seat curtains of her father's study when she hears the H and her father in a big argument.
It seems the h's father has lost all his money and his house to the H in some kind of shady business deal. There is also the suggestion that the H seduced the h's stepmother too and that the h's father is livid over the betrayal. He throws the H out of the house and then he shoots himself. The h sees her father after his death and the prologue ends as the h blacks out in a silent scream.
Twelve years on, the h is 21 and a world famous super model working an exclusive fashion show in Paris. She is the star of the show, as the designer did a whole collection all around her. She is modeling the last dress of the show, a wedding dress, when her revenge target finally makes his appearance in a reserved seat section at the end of the runway.
He is accompanied by a redhead and a blonde and the h hides a little smile of satisfaction as she sashays down the runway - her grand plan o'vengeance is about to begin.
The h, who is very private and doesn't socialize much, has been seen very publicly and frequently with the H's son. The H doesn't like that and his appearance in Paris is to attempt to pay the h off.
He accosts her after the show, insisting that the h talk with him, but she blows him off and goes back to England.
Where we meet Puddle, the h's Manx cat. Puddle doesn't have a tail and goes on hunger strikes when he knows his regular h cat staffer is going away. Then he gorges himself while she is gone and when she comes back. Puddle also invests some time in nipping the h's legs after her return, to rebuke her for leaving Puddle with a temporary neighbor cat staffer and to remind her that should she take it into her head to travel again, Puddle will be waiting with a reprimand.
To the h's surprise, the H shows up at her house with breakfast imported from France. The h introduces Puddle and the H is surprised, then the h explains that Puddle likes breakfast foods and will steal them. To everyone's surprise, the H does the CM Patented Alpha Manly Rasp at Puddle to leave the food alone and Puddle does!
For about two minutes-- then he sneaks a pastry and goes behind the chair to eat it. His cat independence is fully restored. The H tries to buy the h off, but she is having none of that. There is great verbal debate and then the H tries a forcible roofie kiss that the h does NOT respond too. She kicks the H out instead and then his son shows up. So the h feeds him his dad's breakfast foods, after all Puddle only got one small pastry of it.
We then find out that the H's son is actually engaged to another woman, when the h and the son meet the H for dinner. The h is a bit surprised, but she doesn't really care that much cause she was only seen with the son to lure the H into her spidery web of revenge.
CM gives us plenty of H POV in this one and the H is feeling the effects of the full on Lurve Mojo Force, he is srsly obsessing his 39 yr old brain about the 21 yr old h and he even goes so far as to offer her an extremely lucrative spokesmodel contract for a cosmetic company he owns. He is determined to have the h no matter what, but the h is remaining elusively of reach.
However, in the usual CM weird twist fashion, the cosmetic company's other owner is the mother of the H's son's fiance - who presumably isn't happy about the games the H's son is playing with her daughter. The h mistakenly believes the H is engaged to his son's future mother in law, but the H tells her that is not true.
( It was still kinda strange tho. I got a creepy feeling when the son, his fiancee and the h were all together, it should have been a classic OW smackdown situation, with the h as the OW. Instead the son's fiancee is demanding the wedding dress that the h modeled at the fashion show be bought for her to wear at her wedding to the son.
But they all acted like they were the best of friends and I really don't see why anyone would want the h's son, who apparently likes to play women off against each other. I also had no clue what to make of the H, who saw nothing wrong in arranging a marriage for his son or deciding that the h should just do as he said, and physically assault her if she did not..)
The h rejects the H's contract and tells him it is because he offered it. Then she gets pale and asks the H to drive her home, the H's behavior is reminding her of how he drove her poor father to his death and the h is feeling the backlash of her grand revenge machinations.
Once they get to the h's flat, Puddle twines around the H's legs and gives him a good coating of random cat hairs and the H tries the roofie kissing thing again. The h responds under the Lurve Mojo Force of Treacherous Body Syndrome, but manages to hold off the lurve club by explaining she is a virgin.
The H, delighted that he is going to conquer and score new territory, proposes straight away. The h accepts his marriage proposal and we get the rest of the h's backstory. After the h's father shot himself, the h's evil stepmother was named her guardian. The ES packed her off to boarding school and pretty much abandoned her there except for a few brief holidays after the Evil Step married another really rich man.
When the h was 16, the husband of the Evil Stepmother attacked the h and she told the ES about it and the woman completely disregarded it. Boarding school was equally hideous for the h, because it was an uber exclusive one and everyone knew all about her father and berated the h for it.
Then the h saw the H's son at a dinner and decided to punish the H for spoiling his snot pustule kid after he destroyed her father and seduced his wife and she was left to suffer for years utterly alone. Her grand plan o'vengeance was formed and she set her previous machinations into play, with the object being the public humiliation of a dumped H after she married him and then deserted him.
Except now the h is in love with the man who is her mortal enemy and she is panicking. Cause she has doomed herself and by her own design too. The h is hoping that maybe she can just marry the H and be in love and forget the whole revenge deal, as the H has no clue who she really is, she uses a different last name than her father's.
But the Evil Stepmother shows up to blackmail the h. ES has gotten kicked out by her wanna be rapist hubby and she figured out the h's grand plan o'vengeance and she wants the h to pay her off. The h is now really panicking, cause she doesn't know what to do.
The H meanders in on the highly fraught h and Evil Step scene - he has some seekrits of his own that he needs to confess before they can marry and lurve it all up. But he recognized the Evil Stepmother and the truth comes out in a big dramatic confrontation.
The h runs out of the apartment and right under a car, once the Evil Stepmother reveals her true identity, so we all have to go to hospital as the h is in a coma. The H hangs around her bedside looking wan and desperate for week, until the h wakes up and they both decide that they really do love each other.
The H forces another confrontation with the Evil Stepmother, where we find out that he never seduced the woman and the H also did not destroy her father's business or take the h's family home. He lent the h's dad some money with the h's family home being collateral.
Then the h father's business deal went bust and the Evil Stepmother announced she was leaving him, cause the Evil Stepmother doesn't stay married to poor guys who can't afford her designer clothing bills or the appropriate status symbol mansions to showcase them. The h's dad shot himself because ES was going, the H never wanted the h's house and was trying to tell the dad that he would float him through the financial setback, but it was too late.
The H got really ill right after the conversation with the h's dad and then the man shot himself, so the H never got the chance to make his financial bridging offer. The H did pay for the h's exclusive boarding school for years and anything else the ES claimed the h needed, but more importantly, he put the h's family home in trust for her until she turned 21.
The Evil Stepmother bilked the money the H was paying to care for the h and never mentioned that the h also got her family home. The ES also knew that her second husband attacked the h, but it would have ruined her gravy train, so she did nothing.
The Evil Stepmother is banished into the HP mists, her only comeuppance is that the attempted rapist has replaced her with a younger and richer model. Then the H then has to admit he is sterile. The illness the H got after talking to the h's father was the mumps, ( he got them from the h,) and the H believes he is sterile and he wasn't going to tell the h, cause he figured money can totally replace kids if it comes down to it.
The h just laughs at the thought that the H might be sterile and sure enough, we get a H and h married epilogue where the h has given birth to twin girls and the H is completely helpless in caring for them, but he adores all his girls for the big HPlandia HEA win.
This one is pretty good, tho I wasn't a huge fan of the characters except for Puddle. The h's revenge plot kinda petered out and she fell in love in about two paragraphs and three roofie kisses, which was a bit jolting. The H was kinda tacky and it was weird, cause he was literally old enough to be the h's father, (his son was 20 to the h's 21.) So I was kinda creeped a bit.
Still it was very dramatic and the h had a spine and used it, so overall don't be afraid to give this one a go if you are in the mood for an h revenge lite HPlandia outing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 14, 2012
I rated this four stars for the intense emotions it invoked in me and the "I couldn't put it down factor".....wow.
This is a theme of revenge (not my favorite plot) yet there is a unique twist to the story because it is the heroine that is out to avenge her father's suicide. The book opens with a prologue of her as a young child listening behind the curtains in her father's office. She hears the hero arguing with her father prior to his storming out, and then the fatal gunshot....that kills her father.
This is one strong heroine that isn't swayed from her mission and doesn't cave to those feelings of lust all the while despising the hero. (another convenient trope that I dislike)
She stays true to the course of her mission and the hairs on the back of my neck stood up. I highly recommend this book if you want a different, absorbing read.
This is a theme of revenge (not my favorite plot) yet there is a unique twist to the story because it is the heroine that is out to avenge her father's suicide. The book opens with a prologue of her as a young child listening behind the curtains in her father's office. She hears the hero arguing with her father prior to his storming out, and then the fatal gunshot....that kills her father.
This is one strong heroine that isn't swayed from her mission and doesn't cave to those feelings of lust all the while despising the hero. (another convenient trope that I dislike)
She stays true to the course of her mission and the hairs on the back of my neck stood up. I highly recommend this book if you want a different, absorbing read.
April 1, 2021
I have read two great revenge romances by Carole Mortimer before,A Past Revenge and Subtle Revenge and "Elusive Obession" is one HELLUVA intense ride like them.The heoine, Diana is a beautiful model every man wants to possess and when she meets the rich hero Reece Falcon, revenge is the only thing on her mind. Reece strives to keep her away from his son Chris, but soon realizes that he wants to possess her for himself...
Diana and Reece are INTENSE together, the sexual chemistry almost blew me away. I loved it when Diana won over him and his arrogance ,and how frustrated and angry she always made him...and poor Reece..he really became besotted with her and how intensely jealous he became over her and his son together.But i loved him,as i always love Mortimer`s Alpha-heroes and Diana was a strong-minded heroine i truly admired and i came to dread her to break Reece`s heart.He is a wonderful man and i knew that he wasn`t to blame for her father`s death.The epilogue was so adorable and i was so happy for their love and future.
***
'No more games from either of us, Reece.' She shook her head. 'I'm sure you must have realised by now that it isn't something I enjoy indulging in.'
She gave a slightly derisive smile.
He shrugged. 'I'm not sure I know anything about you at all.' His eyes were narrowed. 'Who are you, Diana Lamb?'
Now it was her turn to catch her breath in her throat.
'What do you mean?' she finally managed to say, every nerve in her body tensed now.
He ran a hand over his brow in weary acceptance. "Why do I find myself thinking about you all the time? Why do I want you so damned much?' he said harshly.
***
Reece & Diana
Diana and Reece are INTENSE together, the sexual chemistry almost blew me away. I loved it when Diana won over him and his arrogance ,and how frustrated and angry she always made him...and poor Reece..he really became besotted with her and how intensely jealous he became over her and his son together.But i loved him,as i always love Mortimer`s Alpha-heroes and Diana was a strong-minded heroine i truly admired and i came to dread her to break Reece`s heart.He is a wonderful man and i knew that he wasn`t to blame for her father`s death.The epilogue was so adorable and i was so happy for their love and future.
***
'No more games from either of us, Reece.' She shook her head. 'I'm sure you must have realised by now that it isn't something I enjoy indulging in.'
She gave a slightly derisive smile.
He shrugged. 'I'm not sure I know anything about you at all.' His eyes were narrowed. 'Who are you, Diana Lamb?'
Now it was her turn to catch her breath in her throat.
'What do you mean?' she finally managed to say, every nerve in her body tensed now.
He ran a hand over his brow in weary acceptance. "Why do I find myself thinking about you all the time? Why do I want you so damned much?' he said harshly.
***
Reece & Diana
May 23, 2019
Intense story with a potentially triggering opening (heroine witnesses her father’s suicide). Heroine’s family lost everything and heroine has blamed the hero ever since. She concocts a revenge scheme – find a way to alienate the hero from his son.
Yes, our hero is 39 and has a 20 year-old son. Heroine is 21. In a fun opening the heroine meets the hero while modeling a wedding gown. Hero wants to hate her for messing up his plans for his son’s life but he is wildly attracted.
Unfortunately, the son is engaged to another while he’s proposing to the heroine so once that deception is uncovered, the field is clear for the hero to pursue her.
An average reader would think that the heroine can now turn down the hero and have her revenge that way, but she has traitorous body syndrome and is “in love.”
*sigh* I don’t know why this heroine thought the hero was such a prize. He was a terrible father, a terrible husband to his first wife. He’s ruthless in business and that guilt money he set aside for the heroine at the time of her father’s death (step mother used it ) is too little too late to make him an honorable man.
This is a fascinating story – just not a convincing romance. Boogenhagen has all the details in her excellent review.
Yes, our hero is 39 and has a 20 year-old son. Heroine is 21. In a fun opening the heroine meets the hero while modeling a wedding gown. Hero wants to hate her for messing up his plans for his son’s life but he is wildly attracted.
Unfortunately, the son is engaged to another while he’s proposing to the heroine so once that deception is uncovered, the field is clear for the hero to pursue her.
An average reader would think that the heroine can now turn down the hero and have her revenge that way, but she has traitorous body syndrome and is “in love.”
*sigh* I don’t know why this heroine thought the hero was such a prize. He was a terrible father, a terrible husband to his first wife. He’s ruthless in business and that guilt money he set aside for the heroine at the time of her father’s death (step mother used it ) is too little too late to make him an honorable man.
This is a fascinating story – just not a convincing romance. Boogenhagen has all the details in her excellent review.
October 17, 2018
"Elusive Obsession" is the crazy story of "Divine" Diana and Reece Falcon.
Many years ago, a 9 year old Divina had witnessed a confrontation between her father and a stranger, which had led to the former's suicide. Traumatized, she was thrust into the guardianship of an uncaring stepmother who made the coming years painful for her.
Now the world famous supermodel Divine, she is adored by the world as an ethereal beauty, yet spends her normal life as a simple woman with ambitions, and a heart filled with vengeance.
Soon she starts "seeing" Chris, son to Reese Falcon, her nemesis.
A notorious fashion show brings her face to face with Reese, who finds himself utterly fascinated with the tall, stunning woman. He knows he cannot let his son marry her, and determines to make her his!
Instead of the usual plots where the heroine is a game of catch between the father and the son, in this one we see the hero completely eliminating competation getting his son out of the way pretty early in the book.
He doesn't throw any OW on her face, and gets so damn crazy about her that he gives up even on food, stalks her and cannot concentrate on anything. He is sensitive to her mood and expression changes, and immediately senses when she withdraws from him.
In the final conclusion when truth is revealed, instead of acting like an ass he is sympathetic and helps her with her shitty stepmother.
The ending was FAB, especially the epilogue.
Loved this May/December romance!
Safe for me/SWME for some
4.75/5
Many years ago, a 9 year old Divina had witnessed a confrontation between her father and a stranger, which had led to the former's suicide. Traumatized, she was thrust into the guardianship of an uncaring stepmother who made the coming years painful for her.
Now the world famous supermodel Divine, she is adored by the world as an ethereal beauty, yet spends her normal life as a simple woman with ambitions, and a heart filled with vengeance.
Soon she starts "seeing" Chris, son to Reese Falcon, her nemesis.
A notorious fashion show brings her face to face with Reese, who finds himself utterly fascinated with the tall, stunning woman. He knows he cannot let his son marry her, and determines to make her his!
Instead of the usual plots where the heroine is a game of catch between the father and the son, in this one we see the hero completely eliminating competation getting his son out of the way pretty early in the book.
He doesn't throw any OW on her face, and gets so damn crazy about her that he gives up even on food, stalks her and cannot concentrate on anything. He is sensitive to her mood and expression changes, and immediately senses when she withdraws from him.
In the final conclusion when truth is revealed, instead of acting like an ass he is sympathetic and helps her with her shitty stepmother.
The ending was FAB, especially the epilogue.
Loved this May/December romance!
Safe for me/SWME for some
4.75/5
May 16, 2019
Intense story with a potentially triggering opening (heroine witnesses her father’s suicide). Heroine’s family lost everything and heroine has blamed the hero ever since. She concocts a revenge scheme – find a way to alienate the hero from his son.
Yes, our hero is 39 and has a 20 year-old son. Heroine is 21. In a fun opening the heroine meets the hero while modeling a wedding gown. Hero wants to hate her for messing up his plans for his son’s life but he is wildly attracted.
Unfortunately, the son is engaged to another while he’s proposing to the heroine so once that deception is uncovered, the field is clear for the hero to pursue her.
An average reader would think that the heroine can now turn down the hero and have her revenge that way, but she has traitorous body syndrome and is “in love.”
*sigh* I don’t know why this heroine thought the hero was such a prize. He was a terrible father, a terrible husband to his first wife. He’s ruthless in business and that guilt money he set aside for the heroine at the time of her father’s death (step mother used it ) is too little too late to make him an honorable man.
This is a fascinating story – just not a convincing romance. Boogenhagen has all the details in her excellent review.
Yes, our hero is 39 and has a 20 year-old son. Heroine is 21. In a fun opening the heroine meets the hero while modeling a wedding gown. Hero wants to hate her for messing up his plans for his son’s life but he is wildly attracted.
Unfortunately, the son is engaged to another while he’s proposing to the heroine so once that deception is uncovered, the field is clear for the hero to pursue her.
An average reader would think that the heroine can now turn down the hero and have her revenge that way, but she has traitorous body syndrome and is “in love.”
*sigh* I don’t know why this heroine thought the hero was such a prize. He was a terrible father, a terrible husband to his first wife. He’s ruthless in business and that guilt money he set aside for the heroine at the time of her father’s death (step mother used it ) is too little too late to make him an honorable man.
This is a fascinating story – just not a convincing romance. Boogenhagen has all the details in her excellent review.
July 19, 2017
I really liked this book a lot especially how it winded down. Vengeful hs are rare and rarer still are focused non-bitchy ones. This one seems cool and unemotional but her humanity and compassion are just there, beneath her very composed exterior. I so cannot stand bitchy hs while at the same time longing for a strong and calm h. This one fit the bill totally-and earns a place in my all time fav hs.
The H, much older at 39 years seemed one dimensional and floundering while trying to woo her but he regroups and redeems himself as hero material at the end.
I really liked the ending and that standard ‘we got twins‘ epilogue. Their love and hea, which seemed contrived till midway, was completely believable at the end.
The H, much older at 39 years seemed one dimensional and floundering while trying to woo her but he regroups and redeems himself as hero material at the end.
I really liked the ending and that standard ‘we got twins‘ epilogue. Their love and hea, which seemed contrived till midway, was completely believable at the end.
April 18, 2012
The heroine is 21 year old super model, Devine Di. The hero is 39 year old super tycoon, Reese Falcon. He is also the man that Diane hates and blames for her father's death. Having met Reese's son chris Diane decides to encourage his interest as a means of coming in contact with Reese and to exact revenge. When the heroine wass 9 years old she overheard her father arguing with the hero and her father blaming reese for him losing everything. After Reese left she then heard her father shoot himself. She was naturally severely traumatised and even more so when all the family wealth was gone and she was left with a nasty step-mother.
As usual in HQ land she had misunderstood the situation, which of course is necessary in order to have a HEA. I actually prefer that in this story it is the h seeking revenge because she can't hang on to her anger and hatred as long as usually happens when it is the H seeking revenge. I enjoyed the story, believed the HEA, and truly liked the epilogue.
As usual in HQ land she had misunderstood the situation, which of course is necessary in order to have a HEA. I actually prefer that in this story it is the h seeking revenge because she can't hang on to her anger and hatred as long as usually happens when it is the H seeking revenge. I enjoyed the story, believed the HEA, and truly liked the epilogue.
October 11, 2025
Oh, boy! I loved this! I actually read it again a second time back to back.
I also seem to love father / son triangles. Where is the 18 year old me that would snob the OTT drama? Give me mooore!
So what do we get: A heroine that is golden. Diane is a rich and famous model. Bonus points for being able to tell the hero where he can put his offers when he tries to tempt her / buy her and actually mean it. I liked her very much. She's also smart and a sneaky little manipulator and I loved the games she played. Oh and her cat! Puddle! What a cute name! Loved the cat. of course having two of them I believe this cat is as real as a unicorn... but what the hell, he's adorable.
Which brings us to the hero, Reece, who apparently says 'Stay' to a CAT and the cat sits in place ignoring the food two feet away.
*Cat owner interlude* HAHAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA! Riiiiiiiiiiiiight! Suuuuuuuuuuuure! That could happen!
I will completely agree with the fact that Reece doesn't really have much to recommend him but I was good with that. Its realistic. He's failed his first marriage being a bad / indifferent husband, he's an average father (and a stupid father after he meets Diane). I didn't mind. What Reece has going for him is his insane obsession with the heroine. The title is perfect. Sees her a couple of times and can't eat, can't sleep, can't concentrate on work... has to have her. His thoughts are all the money! And when he's trying to get time alone with her he throws subtlety out the window. A 17 year old boy would have more tact and be less transparent. I found it all hilarious!
Best bit: He's having dinner with his son and Diane. Its the third time he seen her and at that time she's dating his son. Our extremely mentally stable hero spends dinner time fantasying about the heroine that's sitting across the table. So when the dinner is about over and his son and Diana are whispering, after trying and failing at eavesdropping our hero goes back to his fantasies:
So instead he could only look at her, at the way her curtain of hair had fallen forward, so thick and luxuriant that Reece just wanted to entangle his hands in it—at the same time his body became entangled with hers! He felt like a callow youth as he felt his body harden with desire, knowing that he couldn’t get up and leave the table just yet without totally betraying himself.
Ooooh, Reece!
I also seem to love father / son triangles. Where is the 18 year old me that would snob the OTT drama? Give me mooore!
So what do we get: A heroine that is golden. Diane is a rich and famous model. Bonus points for being able to tell the hero where he can put his offers when he tries to tempt her / buy her and actually mean it. I liked her very much. She's also smart and a sneaky little manipulator and I loved the games she played. Oh and her cat! Puddle! What a cute name! Loved the cat. of course having two of them I believe this cat is as real as a unicorn... but what the hell, he's adorable.
Which brings us to the hero, Reece, who apparently says 'Stay' to a CAT and the cat sits in place ignoring the food two feet away.
*Cat owner interlude* HAHAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA! Riiiiiiiiiiiiight! Suuuuuuuuuuuure! That could happen!
I will completely agree with the fact that Reece doesn't really have much to recommend him but I was good with that. Its realistic. He's failed his first marriage being a bad / indifferent husband, he's an average father (and a stupid father after he meets Diane). I didn't mind. What Reece has going for him is his insane obsession with the heroine. The title is perfect. Sees her a couple of times and can't eat, can't sleep, can't concentrate on work... has to have her. His thoughts are all the money! And when he's trying to get time alone with her he throws subtlety out the window. A 17 year old boy would have more tact and be less transparent. I found it all hilarious!
Best bit: He's having dinner with his son and Diane. Its the third time he seen her and at that time she's dating his son. Our extremely mentally stable hero spends dinner time fantasying about the heroine that's sitting across the table. So when the dinner is about over and his son and Diana are whispering, after trying and failing at eavesdropping our hero goes back to his fantasies:
So instead he could only look at her, at the way her curtain of hair had fallen forward, so thick and luxuriant that Reece just wanted to entangle his hands in it—at the same time his body became entangled with hers! He felt like a callow youth as he felt his body harden with desire, knowing that he couldn’t get up and leave the table just yet without totally betraying himself.
Ooooh, Reece!
November 27, 2013
Pure unadulterated angst of the May December, revenge tropes so of course I loved it. Reece is thirty-nine, a divorcee with a twenty year old son. He isn't interested in a permanent relationship with anyone.
The Divine Diana is a glamorous 21 year old model with a non-existent past. Diana blames Reece for the suicide death of her father which she witnessed as a nine year old child. So when she meets Chris, Reece's son she sets course on a path of revenge.
Only problem is that Reece is far more attractive than she expected, and not at all the bogey monster she had made him in her grief and shock.
This is so full of angsty goodness. A mature man with a secret that will prevent him marrying a young innocent woman. A young woman eaten up with anger and revenge yet strangely attracted to the object of her revenge. An evil step-mother, a creepy step-father. If anything more had been packed into it the book would have exploded.
Loved it.
The Divine Diana is a glamorous 21 year old model with a non-existent past. Diana blames Reece for the suicide death of her father which she witnessed as a nine year old child. So when she meets Chris, Reece's son she sets course on a path of revenge.
Only problem is that Reece is far more attractive than she expected, and not at all the bogey monster she had made him in her grief and shock.
This is so full of angsty goodness. A mature man with a secret that will prevent him marrying a young innocent woman. A young woman eaten up with anger and revenge yet strangely attracted to the object of her revenge. An evil step-mother, a creepy step-father. If anything more had been packed into it the book would have exploded.
Loved it.
October 29, 2018
It was ok I guess. Not impressed.
June 11, 2020
Despite having all the elements that would cheer my heart, there's something lacking about the characters and their romance. Not to mention total lack of steam. I don't think there's any deep love between them. H is nearing forty. So when he sees a young hot model he becomes obsessed with possessing her. I feel lust and subconsciously his desire to defy his age that drives this obsession with h. This is apparent with how many times he forces himself on her. Not gonna lie, I liked this. Singularly obsessed and possessive older hero are my heart's desire. Their methods often are secondary issue to me.
But h falling for him despite no grand effort or even passionate nights was a tad disappointing. For the first time I felt how easily heart can switch to the other side of love-hate line. Her hatred for him for so many years converted into love when she came in close contact with him. It felt like she needed to confront him to truly understand her feelings about him.
Pleasantly surprised to see a proper epilogue, with twin kids and lovemaking scenes. Being a fan of HEA, I wish she had continued using epilogues in her other books too.
But h falling for him despite no grand effort or even passionate nights was a tad disappointing. For the first time I felt how easily heart can switch to the other side of love-hate line. Her hatred for him for so many years converted into love when she came in close contact with him. It felt like she needed to confront him to truly understand her feelings about him.
Pleasantly surprised to see a proper epilogue, with twin kids and lovemaking scenes. Being a fan of HEA, I wish she had continued using epilogues in her other books too.
April 10, 2017
Premise was fascinating: 9-year-old girl hiding behind a curtain overhears father arguing with a man and then shooting himself. Traumatized girl swears vengeance on the man who "caused" father's suicide. Grows up to be hugely successful supermodel and meets the man by twining his grown son around her little finger, and gets the man to fall insanely in love with her too. Quite a great hook!
There is a secret dark part of me that just loves cold-hearted, bloody-minded manipulation in heroines. However, I felt like it kind of came apart at the end .
If you're looking for an HP where the heroine is the one in control of the situation for most of the story while the H is off-balance and dazed, you might like this one.
There is a secret dark part of me that just loves cold-hearted, bloody-minded manipulation in heroines. However, I felt like it kind of came apart at the end .
If you're looking for an HP where the heroine is the one in control of the situation for most of the story while the H is off-balance and dazed, you might like this one.
November 23, 2015
i absolutely loved it!!reece was 1 of those obsessive, very jealous n besotted heroes !! it was really the cherry on the cake when he announced diana as his fiancee 2chris..after only a few months of rejecting diana as chris's fiancee. how more outrageous cud he get !! big lol ! it lost 1 star along the way as i was really eager for them 2 have sex but they never did ! the sex promised 2be mind-blowing. dats 1 disappointment abt the book.
July 13, 2015
I loveeeeeee this book ñ_ñ
April 3, 2016
A very quick read with May-December romance. The h is 21 and the H is 39. A good misunderstanding due to which h wants revenge from H. Overall I liked it. The H is seriously bessotted and controlling.
June 18, 2015
I was in revenge binge mood this past week so I picked 5 books with the revenge plot dished out by the heroine.
This one was pretty intense and probably my second choice out of the bunch with Judas Kiss being my favorite.
The age difference kind of bothered me in this one.
The prologue grabs the reader's attention and engages them fully and makes them need some sort of justice for that young little girl.
This one was pretty intense and probably my second choice out of the bunch with Judas Kiss being my favorite.
The age difference kind of bothered me in this one.
The prologue grabs the reader's attention and engages them fully and makes them need some sort of justice for that young little girl.
February 24, 2021
Diana Lamb wanted revenge! When powerful, enigmatic billionaire Reece Falcon seduced her stepmother, her father committed suicide and Diana is determined to make Reece pay for her loss…
But in getting close to Reece—to better exact her revenge—successful model Diana finds herself falling for this brooding magnate's charms! Now she's engaged to her enemy, but will the wedding proceed once the truth comes out…?
But in getting close to Reece—to better exact her revenge—successful model Diana finds herself falling for this brooding magnate's charms! Now she's engaged to her enemy, but will the wedding proceed once the truth comes out…?
dnf
August 29, 2022😴😴😴😴😴😴😴 so boring. At 59% these MCs have barely spoken to each other. It’s all been melodramatic inner monologues.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 5, 2021
Apparently, I’m on a revenge kick.
I’m not sure how this one popped on my radar, but it did, it was okay. 2.5 ⭐️ Rounding down.
Note to self... Carole Mortimer isn’t a vintage favorite, avoid.
I’m not sure how this one popped on my radar, but it did, it was okay. 2.5 ⭐️ Rounding down.
Note to self... Carole Mortimer isn’t a vintage favorite, avoid.
November 6, 2021
Age gap
H39, h21
- no love scenes
- it does drag in the middle. Zzzz….
H39, h21
- no love scenes
- it does drag in the middle. Zzzz….
August 17, 2012
I just realized the heroine on the cover looks a bit like Ashley Benson.
May 28, 2016
Wow the hero was totally obsessed with the elusive heroine. Good read.
July 6, 2024
New fav trope unlocked: Revenge by FMCs
I have recently ended up reading a few revenge books where the FMC gets revenge and I find I absolutely love them. Because why do only men in romance book get to corner on the revenge trope.
Really liked this one, especially Divina/Diana!
I have recently ended up reading a few revenge books where the FMC gets revenge and I find I absolutely love them. Because why do only men in romance book get to corner on the revenge trope.
Really liked this one, especially Divina/Diana!
November 7, 2015
3.5 stars!
More about revenge than loving! Heh:)
I don't think this is spoiler because you will find it in the prologue which will suck you into the story.
Our 9 years old heroine hiding behind the curtain in her daddy's office when she heard the Hero had argument with her dad.
Yes he was her father's friend, after he left she heard a gun shot, her father commited suicide.
They meet again when she was 20, a rich and famous supermodel and he was a 39 years old billionaire.
First, she kind of dating his son but he wanted her from the first time he saw her and do anything to have her.
Poor son! But the boy is a cheeky thing too actually, and I'm not telling you why:))
A fabulous story!
Why not more stars?
The problems ending too abrupt, everything fine within a chapter, come on! Not something involving suicide revenge! Grrrr!!!
I think this book started to get an editor cut and the story had been squeeze by certain pages, oh well...
Gosh, perhaps I kind of bonkers but I love a story between women with older guys *gulp*
Oh, as long as he still a gorgeous guy of course:)))
More about revenge than loving! Heh:)
I don't think this is spoiler because you will find it in the prologue which will suck you into the story.
Our 9 years old heroine hiding behind the curtain in her daddy's office when she heard the Hero had argument with her dad.
Yes he was her father's friend, after he left she heard a gun shot, her father commited suicide.
They meet again when she was 20, a rich and famous supermodel and he was a 39 years old billionaire.
First, she kind of dating his son but he wanted her from the first time he saw her and do anything to have her.
Poor son! But the boy is a cheeky thing too actually, and I'm not telling you why:))
A fabulous story!
Why not more stars?
The problems ending too abrupt, everything fine within a chapter, come on! Not something involving suicide revenge! Grrrr!!!
I think this book started to get an editor cut and the story had been squeeze by certain pages, oh well...
Gosh, perhaps I kind of bonkers but I love a story between women with older guys *gulp*
Oh, as long as he still a gorgeous guy of course:)))
May 20, 2019
This book is a very guilty pleasure of mine. The behaviour is so bad it makes the book excellent and it reminds me of the glory days of old soap operas like Dallas and Dynasty - the drama is so out there! I mean who really does these things.
The book opens to a point in the past where the h is off school because she has mumps and she is hiding in her dads study. He takes a meeting with the future H which does not go well and once the H is thrown out of the house the h's dad picks up a gun and shoots himself in the head and the h sees everything, clearly traumatising her.
Years later and with a new name the h is now a top model and is "dating" the H's son on a very casual basis because he seems to have the same attitude as his daddy dearest with his arrogance and she knows its a sure fire way to get on H's radar.
Sure enough her plan works and the H displays some shallow AF tendencies in his attitude and attraction to the h. Shes genuinely pretty disgusted at first and runs rings around the H getting him just where she wants him. He has some pretty strong mojo though and the h starts to feel attraction to this manly H. However CM gave this h a spine of steel and although she is attracted to him as soon as he opens his arrogant gob she "wakes up" and her eyes are back on the prize - REVENGE!
Son is dumped (turns out he has a cheeky fiancee tucked away) but she turns down the H's offer to work with him/one of his women/mother of the fiancee - she doesn't need the money and YES! this revenge lady also has scruples - no animal testing in her cosmetics TYVM!
She eventually convinces the H into a marriage proposal with the purpose of dumping him very publicly afterwards, not caring she will ruin her career too - its totally worth it. H is happy but says he never wants kids which they get into a disagreement over despite the h planning not having kids with him and dumping his besotted ass. H is rather an arrogant asshat it would seem he treated his ex wife poorly and fought and won against her for custody of his son despite always putting his business ahead of them. In a rarely seen HPlandia trope the ex is not a nasty piece of work but actually a nice lady who has since remarried and had a little girl. She also doesn't treat the H poorly despite him actually deserving it and she also figures that he has finally "fallen".
The h has a rather horrible stepmum who she never got on with, whose toyboy husband tried it on with the h and who has been stealing all her money that the H has been secretly passing to the h for years to pay for schooling and the family house (which she didn't even know hadn't been sold and she in fact owned) Evil stepmum seeing a chance to ruin everything turns up looking for a meal ticket as her toyboy is looking to divorce her for a younger model and her meal ticket is about to be punched. H also turns up on doorstep to explain his reasons for not wanting kids with the h and finally realises who the h is and that he has been set up. Our h can't cope and flees on foot only to be hit by a car and winds up in a coma that only the H can talk her out of.
When h wakes up they both tiptoe around each other until she is well enough to go home where he sets up a meeting with Evil stepmum and the truth emerges. Our H had a guilty conscience over the past events and so looked out for the h out of guilt but was told to keep away from her because she was basically struggling from what would these days be classed as PTSD. He was never having an affair with the stepmother she just fancied him and the dad was jealous.
At this point I almost docked a star as we get to hear the conversation that took place in the room all those years ago and the H's story in the present day doesn't quite tally up with what was said back then but this book is so awesome I just couldn't bring myself to do it. Stepmum is kicked out and the H declares its all a matter of trust.
True love is declared and the H confesses he thinks he is sterile because he caught mumps when the h's dad died from the h. Sharing is caring after all! She isn't bothered and thinks fate will make magic sperms anyway and this is proved correct when they welcome the arrival of twin girls.
This is one of those books that I suspect evokes strong feelings regarding the revenge the rather smug git falls hard for the h changing a lifetime of poor behaviour for her and he is kind even after he realises what she planned to do to him. She I think was justified in wanting revenge on the H from her childhood trauma but the way she did it was pretty mean but I forgive her because she did have an amazing spine.
The book opens to a point in the past where the h is off school because she has mumps and she is hiding in her dads study. He takes a meeting with the future H which does not go well and once the H is thrown out of the house the h's dad picks up a gun and shoots himself in the head and the h sees everything, clearly traumatising her.
Years later and with a new name the h is now a top model and is "dating" the H's son on a very casual basis because he seems to have the same attitude as his daddy dearest with his arrogance and she knows its a sure fire way to get on H's radar.
Sure enough her plan works and the H displays some shallow AF tendencies in his attitude and attraction to the h. Shes genuinely pretty disgusted at first and runs rings around the H getting him just where she wants him. He has some pretty strong mojo though and the h starts to feel attraction to this manly H. However CM gave this h a spine of steel and although she is attracted to him as soon as he opens his arrogant gob she "wakes up" and her eyes are back on the prize - REVENGE!
Son is dumped (turns out he has a cheeky fiancee tucked away) but she turns down the H's offer to work with him/one of his women/mother of the fiancee - she doesn't need the money and YES! this revenge lady also has scruples - no animal testing in her cosmetics TYVM!
She eventually convinces the H into a marriage proposal with the purpose of dumping him very publicly afterwards, not caring she will ruin her career too - its totally worth it. H is happy but says he never wants kids which they get into a disagreement over despite the h planning not having kids with him and dumping his besotted ass. H is rather an arrogant asshat it would seem he treated his ex wife poorly and fought and won against her for custody of his son despite always putting his business ahead of them. In a rarely seen HPlandia trope the ex is not a nasty piece of work but actually a nice lady who has since remarried and had a little girl. She also doesn't treat the H poorly despite him actually deserving it and she also figures that he has finally "fallen".
The h has a rather horrible stepmum who she never got on with, whose toyboy husband tried it on with the h and who has been stealing all her money that the H has been secretly passing to the h for years to pay for schooling and the family house (which she didn't even know hadn't been sold and she in fact owned) Evil stepmum seeing a chance to ruin everything turns up looking for a meal ticket as her toyboy is looking to divorce her for a younger model and her meal ticket is about to be punched. H also turns up on doorstep to explain his reasons for not wanting kids with the h and finally realises who the h is and that he has been set up. Our h can't cope and flees on foot only to be hit by a car and winds up in a coma that only the H can talk her out of.
When h wakes up they both tiptoe around each other until she is well enough to go home where he sets up a meeting with Evil stepmum and the truth emerges. Our H had a guilty conscience over the past events and so looked out for the h out of guilt but was told to keep away from her because she was basically struggling from what would these days be classed as PTSD. He was never having an affair with the stepmother she just fancied him and the dad was jealous.
At this point I almost docked a star as we get to hear the conversation that took place in the room all those years ago and the H's story in the present day doesn't quite tally up with what was said back then but this book is so awesome I just couldn't bring myself to do it. Stepmum is kicked out and the H declares its all a matter of trust.
True love is declared and the H confesses he thinks he is sterile because he caught mumps when the h's dad died from the h. Sharing is caring after all! She isn't bothered and thinks fate will make magic sperms anyway and this is proved correct when they welcome the arrival of twin girls.
This is one of those books that I suspect evokes strong feelings regarding the revenge the rather smug git falls hard for the h changing a lifetime of poor behaviour for her and he is kind even after he realises what she planned to do to him. She I think was justified in wanting revenge on the H from her childhood trauma but the way she did it was pretty mean but I forgive her because she did have an amazing spine.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 2, 2017
This book's premise is gross
The H is seriously older than the h. In fact, the H has a son her age and wants to marry her himself. I couldn't get over the father and son both wanting the h. It was a gross concept.
The H is seriously older than the h. In fact, the H has a son her age and wants to marry her himself. I couldn't get over the father and son both wanting the h. It was a gross concept.
November 20, 2014
good for a Harlequin
October 29, 2015
It was ok, a little dull for my taste.
There were not sex scene at all in this book, however the epilogue was nice.
There were not sex scene at all in this book, however the epilogue was nice.
November 6, 2018
I love the heroine
Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews