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Without Knowing Why
The situation was bizarre
Erith wasn't particularly keen on tracking down her self-centered stepsister. However, she'd agreed to help when Audra vanished into the wilds of Peru after announcing her engagement to Filipo, a man her family had never met.
Erith wasn't making much progress until Domengo de Zarmoza, Filipo's uncle, chose to interfere. Domengo was self-assured, confident and accustomed to having his own way. He was a stimulating but not always easygoing traveling companion.
Erith wasn't sure Domengo even liked her. And if that was the case, why would he bother to help?
Erith wasn't particularly keen on tracking down her self-centered stepsister. However, she'd agreed to help when Audra vanished into the wilds of Peru after announcing her engagement to Filipo, a man her family had never met.
Erith wasn't making much progress until Domengo de Zarmoza, Filipo's uncle, chose to interfere. Domengo was self-assured, confident and accustomed to having his own way. He was a stimulating but not always easygoing traveling companion.
Erith wasn't sure Domengo even liked her. And if that was the case, why would he bother to help?
189 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 1991
2 people are currently reading
64 people want to read
About the author
Jessica Steele
339 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 - 13 of 13 reviews
May 30, 2021
"Without Knowing Why" is the story of Erith and Domengo.
I love you with all that's in me,' he stated quietly, and there was no mistaking the sincerity in his eyes. 'I've been in such hell over you, my sweet Erith,' he revealed.
What a beautiful story!
Heroine is forced to travel to Peru, when her stepsister disappears with a stranger. What she doesnt expect is to get robbed, and immediately meet the hero- uncle to the man her sister disappeared with. He appears to be taken with her, while she remains completely oblivious. They travel and explore the beauty of Peru, however the hero is always grumpy when the heroine mentions her sister or traveling back home. The book ends with a long winded love confession and a sweet HEA.
Adored it!
Safe
4.5/5
I love you with all that's in me,' he stated quietly, and there was no mistaking the sincerity in his eyes. 'I've been in such hell over you, my sweet Erith,' he revealed.
What a beautiful story!
Heroine is forced to travel to Peru, when her stepsister disappears with a stranger. What she doesnt expect is to get robbed, and immediately meet the hero- uncle to the man her sister disappeared with. He appears to be taken with her, while she remains completely oblivious. They travel and explore the beauty of Peru, however the hero is always grumpy when the heroine mentions her sister or traveling back home. The book ends with a long winded love confession and a sweet HEA.
Adored it!
Safe
4.5/5
April 27, 2020
One of Steele's better books, and the sequel is even better (see Flight of Discovery). Jessica Steele is on auto buy for me, even though she only writes Harlequin Romances and some Hqn Presents. She is now about 80 years old, sad to say.
Steele is a quirky writer, in terms of syntax, grammar, etc. Her sentence construction is ... unusual.
But she is among the best at Hqn in terms of storytelling, dialogue, and sexual tension. Also, her characters make me chuckle sometimes. I love her books, even the ones I only rate three stars are good.
Most of Jessica Steele's books follow a pattern, or formula. The plot goes something like this: Her heroes are always wealthy, world-wise, dashing, and debonaire, like Cary Grant. Her heroines are always beautiful virgins, so no sex (usually) and the wanting always drives the heroes nuts. But usually, the hero starts off on the wrong foot, thinking the gal did something terrible (embezzle, cheat, steal, sleep around, etc), so he is nasty, cold and ruthless. Steele's heroes always endure internal conflict, because they think they are falling in love with a dishonorable woman, a shady character! So they blow hot and cold and generally mess it all up. Ha ha! Later, when they realize how wrong they've been, they sweat it out! Sometimes they grovel - I like a good grovel. :-)
Steele is a quirky writer, in terms of syntax, grammar, etc. Her sentence construction is ... unusual.
But she is among the best at Hqn in terms of storytelling, dialogue, and sexual tension. Also, her characters make me chuckle sometimes. I love her books, even the ones I only rate three stars are good.
Most of Jessica Steele's books follow a pattern, or formula. The plot goes something like this: Her heroes are always wealthy, world-wise, dashing, and debonaire, like Cary Grant. Her heroines are always beautiful virgins, so no sex (usually) and the wanting always drives the heroes nuts. But usually, the hero starts off on the wrong foot, thinking the gal did something terrible (embezzle, cheat, steal, sleep around, etc), so he is nasty, cold and ruthless. Steele's heroes always endure internal conflict, because they think they are falling in love with a dishonorable woman, a shady character! So they blow hot and cold and generally mess it all up. Ha ha! Later, when they realize how wrong they've been, they sweat it out! Sometimes they grovel - I like a good grovel. :-)
December 6, 2013
I enjoyed this one until the ending.
It was too saccharine and melodramatic for my taste. I also would have preferred a more realistic reaction to his compulsive lying rather than the typical "melt in my arms just because I say I love you".
The good news. I thought it was well written. Surprising, because that is not JS's strong point.
It was too saccharine and melodramatic for my taste. I also would have preferred a more realistic reaction to his compulsive lying rather than the typical "melt in my arms just because I say I love you".
The good news. I thought it was well written. Surprising, because that is not JS's strong point.
July 3, 2021
So boring and it ran on and on about nothing.
May 8, 2014
Boring and lengthy tales of travel which were summarized AGAIN by the H/h in the end. So... of course I fell asleep.
August 22, 2021
A very sweet story where you do not realize until the last 30 pages(where JS has the hero reveal all) just the lengths the H was willing to go to explore his feelings and claim his love. Plus the description of Peru is absolutely breath taking. I love books where I want to google things.
Heroine: Erith, virgin, 22 -
Is a Titian haired beauty that takes off to Peru to look for her spoiled good for nothing step sister who doesn’t feel the need to update her mom where she is. The h’s dad is worried about the step-mom(a very nice lady) because she has not heard from her errant daughter. He feels that either he or she should go look for the step, because Bliss(she is in the next bookFlight of Discovery), Erith’s sister, is recovering from a deadly bout of double pneumonia. So, the whole family pools what money they can and send Erith to look for the ss. She doesn’t have much to go on. One letter was sent where the ss mentioned being engaged to a man named Filipe and they were visiting his Uncle’s hacienda in Jahara. The h is barely in Peru for a day and her bag is stolen, she hid a little bit of money away but it is only enough for a flight home. She makes a police report and mentions the details of her trip. Knock Knock…must be the police at her door….nope, it’s our hero! A strapping blonde Peruvian…
Hero-Dom, 36- Approaches the h because he is pretty sure she is a gold digging slut like her step sister. He quickly realizes that she is not. He offers to help her find the errant step sister, by first paying for her hotel room then taking her to his hacienda.
The h is overwhelmed by the beauty of it all, which the hero finds illuminating as his own mother(taking the sister) left his father and her son because she hated it in Peru at the Hacienda. His father never stopped loving his mother, but couldn’t leave the ancestral home. The H has a very strong feeling for his home as well.
However, as much as our h would love to take in the sights and take a little vacay she has a mission to perform. So, daily she is asking the H if he has any news. This tends to put him in a black mood. She is aware he doesn’t like her stepsister, (who does?), but she really wants to put her stepmothers worries to rest. After several days at the hacienda, the H gets word that the couple have been seen in Arequipa, so the h packs her bags and they head south. It doesn’t pan out, but at least they could enjoy some sight seeing. Then, the H finds out that the nephew and ss are taking a tour of Peru, so the H knows that eventually the nephew will show up at Lake Titicaca(as I hum the animaniacs’ tune, I just like saying the name!)
There is lots of sight seeing going on at Lake Titicaca, and our h is guiltily enjoying herself. There is some very heavy kissing and bare breasts and bare chests, which are called to a halt by our H as the h is a virgin. She is in love with him of course, and would have happily continued, but this is a JS staple in her books to go pretty far only to have the H pull back. However, she is there to find the ss. Again, she brings this up with the H and after more enquiries he finds that they are not far off from Lima. So off they go.
Finally they are making some headway. They get to their hotel room and the H wants to tell her something but he tells her to rest first and leaves. The next thing you know the ss is getting off the elevator. The step sister in the flesh is as bad as described. She isn’t averse to telling the h all about what Peruvian men want from the European women. Then she drops the biggest bombshell of them all, and this has the h grabbing her bag and running as far away from the H as possible(another JS ploy). The sister and her get to the airport but there is only enough money for one to go back to England, so she puts the stepsister on the plane and turns to leave. Frantically, the H is upon her and he wants to clear the air(for the next 20-30 pages, another JS staple) . The HEA comes about, and everything the H did was in the name of love. However, what really hit me was what he was willing to do just to have the h be with him forever. So our couple is happy! I am happy. They will show up a little bit in the next book about 3 months into their marriage.
For me the actual story is about 3 ⭐️, I boosted it another star, because it really made me interested in Peru. I have always been enthralled with European countries, but this story really makes me want to visit Peru. While reading the book, I kept googling spots on my other device.
Heroine: Erith, virgin, 22 -
Is a Titian haired beauty that takes off to Peru to look for her spoiled good for nothing step sister who doesn’t feel the need to update her mom where she is. The h’s dad is worried about the step-mom(a very nice lady) because she has not heard from her errant daughter. He feels that either he or she should go look for the step, because Bliss(she is in the next bookFlight of Discovery), Erith’s sister, is recovering from a deadly bout of double pneumonia. So, the whole family pools what money they can and send Erith to look for the ss. She doesn’t have much to go on. One letter was sent where the ss mentioned being engaged to a man named Filipe and they were visiting his Uncle’s hacienda in Jahara. The h is barely in Peru for a day and her bag is stolen, she hid a little bit of money away but it is only enough for a flight home. She makes a police report and mentions the details of her trip. Knock Knock…must be the police at her door….nope, it’s our hero! A strapping blonde Peruvian…
Hero-Dom, 36- Approaches the h because he is pretty sure she is a gold digging slut like her step sister. He quickly realizes that she is not. He offers to help her find the errant step sister, by first paying for her hotel room then taking her to his hacienda.
The h is overwhelmed by the beauty of it all, which the hero finds illuminating as his own mother(taking the sister) left his father and her son because she hated it in Peru at the Hacienda. His father never stopped loving his mother, but couldn’t leave the ancestral home. The H has a very strong feeling for his home as well.
However, as much as our h would love to take in the sights and take a little vacay she has a mission to perform. So, daily she is asking the H if he has any news. This tends to put him in a black mood. She is aware he doesn’t like her stepsister, (who does?), but she really wants to put her stepmothers worries to rest. After several days at the hacienda, the H gets word that the couple have been seen in Arequipa, so the h packs her bags and they head south. It doesn’t pan out, but at least they could enjoy some sight seeing. Then, the H finds out that the nephew and ss are taking a tour of Peru, so the H knows that eventually the nephew will show up at Lake Titicaca(as I hum the animaniacs’ tune, I just like saying the name!)
There is lots of sight seeing going on at Lake Titicaca, and our h is guiltily enjoying herself. There is some very heavy kissing and bare breasts and bare chests, which are called to a halt by our H as the h is a virgin. She is in love with him of course, and would have happily continued, but this is a JS staple in her books to go pretty far only to have the H pull back. However, she is there to find the ss. Again, she brings this up with the H and after more enquiries he finds that they are not far off from Lima. So off they go.
Finally they are making some headway. They get to their hotel room and the H wants to tell her something but he tells her to rest first and leaves. The next thing you know the ss is getting off the elevator. The step sister in the flesh is as bad as described. She isn’t averse to telling the h all about what Peruvian men want from the European women. Then she drops the biggest bombshell of them all, and this has the h grabbing her bag and running as far away from the H as possible(another JS ploy). The sister and her get to the airport but there is only enough money for one to go back to England, so she puts the stepsister on the plane and turns to leave. Frantically, the H is upon her and he wants to clear the air(for the next 20-30 pages, another JS staple) . The HEA comes about, and everything the H did was in the name of love. However, what really hit me was what he was willing to do just to have the h be with him forever. So our couple is happy! I am happy. They will show up a little bit in the next book about 3 months into their marriage.
For me the actual story is about 3 ⭐️, I boosted it another star, because it really made me interested in Peru. I have always been enthralled with European countries, but this story really makes me want to visit Peru. While reading the book, I kept googling spots on my other device.
July 5, 2019
3+
Won't notch among my favorite Steeles, but is definitely among the Greaters.
This one is relatively transparent in plot if you know what to look for. That is, the hero sees the heroine, falls HARD & FAST, and has to hustle reasons to keep her around as he tries to decide what to do about it all while fighting a great internal battle about it. The heroine reacts, has a FALL and things to hide and decide of her own as she tries to determine her fate. And this particular plot isn't anything more than a travelogue as the leads discover one another and their want-into-love. But the settings and travel are interesting, literally and thematically has the plot move along at pace, and the actions never seem completely incredulous.
Steele checklist:
- Hero misjudges the heroine's character
- Heroine stands up for herself but also yields maybe a few too many times because she's also fallen for him and doesn't realize it yet
- Heroine is sentimental and genuine just often enough unbidden the hero starts to rethink his opinion of her -- to himself only of course
- Version of 'my god you're a ... virgin!'
- Hero push/pull desire for her and hating that desire, then realizing his misjudgment of her, but now it's too late to just go for it because he knows 'my god you're a ... virgin!'
- Misunderstands, a trot around hither-and-yon
- Good undercurrent sparks and chemistry, good exchanges, serpentine storytelling
- Heroine finally has Enough and here comes the catalyst
- Hero unloads in a right good, almost ott tellall, grovel at the end
- HEA
Is it melodramatic and lacking "sensible course of action by the leads?" Heck yes! It's a Harlequin old school category -- embrace it.
Won't notch among my favorite Steeles, but is definitely among the Greaters.
This one is relatively transparent in plot if you know what to look for. That is, the hero sees the heroine, falls HARD & FAST, and has to hustle reasons to keep her around as he tries to decide what to do about it all while fighting a great internal battle about it. The heroine reacts, has a FALL and things to hide and decide of her own as she tries to determine her fate. And this particular plot isn't anything more than a travelogue as the leads discover one another and their want-into-love. But the settings and travel are interesting, literally and thematically has the plot move along at pace, and the actions never seem completely incredulous.
Steele checklist:
- Hero misjudges the heroine's character
- Heroine stands up for herself but also yields maybe a few too many times because she's also fallen for him and doesn't realize it yet
- Heroine is sentimental and genuine just often enough unbidden the hero starts to rethink his opinion of her -- to himself only of course
- Version of 'my god you're a ... virgin!'
- Hero push/pull desire for her and hating that desire, then realizing his misjudgment of her, but now it's too late to just go for it because he knows 'my god you're a ... virgin!'
- Misunderstands, a trot around hither-and-yon
- Good undercurrent sparks and chemistry, good exchanges, serpentine storytelling
- Heroine finally has Enough and here comes the catalyst
- Hero unloads in a right good, almost ott tellall, grovel at the end
- HEA
Is it melodramatic and lacking "sensible course of action by the leads?" Heck yes! It's a Harlequin old school category -- embrace it.
June 9, 2022
2.5 stars ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️This was mostly a travelogue of South America, specifically, Peru! There was a small, predictable mystery of what the H was up to that kept me somewhat interested. At the end, I had forgotten who the author was and was shocked when I realized it was Jessica Steele! This had the most non JS H I have ever read. It was boring though, mainly due to the lack of angst.
March 31, 2025
Hot Peruvian hero (35ish) tells lies to sweet, but fiery heroine (22) to keep her with him as they both fall in love in two weeks.
It's cute, with lots of interesting travel commentary, a LOT of meals together, a hot hero and a worthwhile and beautiful heroine.
4 1/2 stars from me.
It's cute, with lots of interesting travel commentary, a LOT of meals together, a hot hero and a worthwhile and beautiful heroine.
4 1/2 stars from me.
August 6, 2022
The situation was bizarre
Erith wasn't particularly keen on tracking down her self-centered stepsister. However, she'd agreed to help when Audra vanished into the wilds of Peru after announcing her engagement to Filipo, a man her family had never met.
Erith wasn't making much progress until Domengo de Zarmoza, Filipo's uncle, chose to interfere. Domengo was self-assured, confident and accustomed to having his own way. He was a stimulating but not always easygoing traveling companion.
Erith wasn't sure Domengo even liked her. And if that was the case, why would he bother to help?
Erith wasn't particularly keen on tracking down her self-centered stepsister. However, she'd agreed to help when Audra vanished into the wilds of Peru after announcing her engagement to Filipo, a man her family had never met.
Erith wasn't making much progress until Domengo de Zarmoza, Filipo's uncle, chose to interfere. Domengo was self-assured, confident and accustomed to having his own way. He was a stimulating but not always easygoing traveling companion.
Erith wasn't sure Domengo even liked her. And if that was the case, why would he bother to help?
March 29, 2015
Not perfect, the ending was a little melodramatic, I would have liked to see the full bedroom turnout, and some of the scenes would have used more action/events...but I still dug it. Hard to put down and I ended up basically reading it in one sitting, the characters were likeable and something was mesmerizing about the authors' style.
November 20, 2014
It was so obvious that the hero was a big fat liar. Why does it never occur to these Harlequin heroes to just ask the heroine on a date? Instead, he lies over and over again to keep her with him. I know I'm not supposed to, but I liked the stepsister because she was so entertaining in her selfishness.
January 3, 2011
I love all Jessica Steele's novels.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews