A Priceless Love isn’t your typical Harlequin romance with a spoiled heiress. Instead, it dives headfirst into the world of obsessive heroes, taking the trope to its extreme. This outlandish story features perhaps the most obsessive hero in all of Harlequin-dom, making it a wild ride of emo-drama. Buckle up, because this over-the-top romance might push the boundaries of believability even for seasoned Harlequin fans.
A Widow’s Desperation and a Daughter’s Failing Sight
Our story begins with a widowed heroine juggling three jobs to make ends meet. Her late husband, a kind soul but a reckless dreamer, left her with no life insurance after a fatal glider accident. Now, her young daughter’s eyesight is fading due to a tumor, and the only hope is expensive surgery in America. Desperate, the heroine relies on the kindness of an eccentric older woman who provides housing and childcare in exchange for inspiration for her vibrant paintings.
A Blast from the Past and a Forced Seduction
Working as a secretary, the heroine encounters her husband’s childhood friend, a man who once tried to seduce her and whom she blames for her husband’s risky behavior. This obsessive hero, now incredibly wealthy, buys the worst-performing stocks on her advice, gets her fired, and kidnaps her to his yacht. He confesses his enduring love, but the heroine sees only a desire for physical gratification. She escapes but leaves her purse behind, inadvertently revealing her location.
Their paths cross again at a luxury hotel where the hero mistakes her for a call girl. A forced seduction ensues, leaving the heroine horrified but secretly in love. He cynically writes a check, assuming it’s payment for services, but she accepts it to fund her daughter’s surgery. Meanwhile, the older woman’s paintings, inspired by the heroine’s daughter, become a sensation thanks to the unwitting intervention of the hero and an art dealer client the heroine was supposed to meet.
A Second Chance and a Priceless Gift
The surgery is successful, and the heroine’s daughter regains her sight. While in America, they enjoy a trip to Disneyland, courtesy of the now-successful painter. Upon returning home, the heroine discovers she’s pregnant. The hero reappears, offering her a fortune from the stocks she unknowingly advised him to buy, which have skyrocketed in value. He gives her 60 days to decide whether to marry him. Torn between her love for him and her fear that he’ll misunderstand the pregnancy, she agonizes over her decision.
A Dramatic Reunion and a Happy Ever After
At the painter’s art exhibition, the heroine collapses and is whisked away to the hero’s hotel suite. They reconcile, overjoyed about the baby, and plan a quick wedding. But the hero departs on a mysterious errand. Days later, the art dealer reveals the hero was shot while rescuing priceless art from the Soviets. Furious, the heroine awaits his return. He arrives safely, having earned $20 million for the rescue, which he donates to a fund for blind children. He professes his unwavering belief in her love and the legitimacy of their child.
The story culminates in a heartwarming, albeit campy, happy ending. The hero buys a horse farm, the painter marries the art dealer, and the heroine receives a house in Capri. They welcome a son, and their future is filled with promises of enduring love. A Priceless Love is a whirlwind romance, a far cry from similarly themed dramas but nonetheless a captivating read with its fast pace and utterly obsessive hero. If you’re looking for an escape into Harlequin Land with a generous dose of emo-drama, this story is perfect.
