Beyond Her Control

This is part of the books I inherited from my grandmother after she died. As a teen she would lend me volumes of Harlequin novels--from the 70's/80's/90's--because they interested me. I read this one originally when I was about 16, maybe 15, and I remember at the time I really didn't like all the French involved.

Reading this now however I find it intensely amusing. I'm not sure what Steele's intentions were originally with the novel, but to me it was a really humorous book overall. Also Brooke and Stephanie's relationship is rather like my sister and I's in that I do so much for her and she kind of throws back in my face because I'm not doing what she wants, just what she needs.

This is a bit different then a lot of Harlequins from the show more time period, or what I remember of them at least, in that I felt so bad for the guy. Jourdain puts up with A LOT from Brooke. And I do mean a lot. The man couldn't say good morning to her without her screeching that his flirtatious french ways were not something she wanted. He attempts to compliment her on how a shirt looks and she accuses him of seducing her out of her clothing.

His attempt at making her understand his actions/words/feelings at the end were made awkward by Brooke's insistence that he must be lying and trying to con her into his bed. Never mind the man all but admitted to being so smitten with her he couldn't work--obviously that only meant he wanted a quick shag. So imagine my surprise that after ten pages of making Jourdain beg for her to love him like he loves her, Brooke realizes that he must be telling the truth. I don't know what brought on this epiphany, I'm not sure I want to know, but at least Jourdain finally got his girl.

Just wish I felt happy for him and not apprehensive about how the future would be if all Brooke thought of his overtures was 'VILE SEDUCER OF WOMEN'. show less

OMG!! I finally found this book!!! I read it when I was about 14 but in an Arabic translation edition, so the titles and the names were all different!

I looked for it everywhere!! I LOVE this story!!

It tells a story about Colleen, who sacrificed her life and future to take care about her twin brother and sister and her widower father.

Her sister Marsha goes to France to spend her holiday and falls in love with an older French man, Colleen goes nuts because her sister write to her and tells her she isn't coming back or going to college.

So she heads to France to get her spoiled baby sister back home, and ends up falling in love with Roger Beauchesne herself.