The ruggedly handsome president of Global Industries handled his business the way he handled his women -- with charm, daring and ruthless self-control. A man used to the very best, Nick hired Lauren Danner, and assumed the proud beauty would soon be another easy conquest. But Lauren's flashing wit and rare spirit dazzled him -- and slowly, against his will, he was intrigued, challenged -- and in love.

Yet Lauren was living a lie, a charade that became more dangerous with every passing moment. Trapped in a web of deceit, she fought her growing love for Nick. Her secret could destroy his fragile trust -- and the promise of life with the most compelling man she had ever met!

After a powerful family member asks Lauren Danner to work undercover at Sinco, a rival company, Lauren applies for an executive secretarial position with Sinco. Once she arrives for her interview, Lauren has already concluded that she is incapable of spying on Sinco. Lauren then proceeds to fail all entry tests and deliberately makes a bad impression during her interview with the head of human resources. How is she to know, after leaving the disastrous interview, that she would meet Nick Sinclair, the owner of Global Industries (the company that owns Sinco), and fall flat on her face in front of him? Before she knows what is happening, Lauren has a job at Sinco the next day despite her deliberate attempt to botch her job interview.

Nick attempts to ignore Lauren and his attraction to her. But Lauren doesn't realize who Nick is and spontaneously invites him to lunch. From there, Nick begins his assault, attempting to seduce Lauren and she believes she is falling in love.

McNaught draws a vivid portrait of a bold, successful business man who owns a considerable number of large, thriving companies. He is the typical type A confident male who thinks he has all the answers. In his arrogance, he seeks our Lauren for an affair - nothing more. He is a real stinker at times. Lauren, in turn, is fascinated with Nick until she learns his true identification. Lauren is quick and on target as she continually refuses Nick's further advances. Others have referred to Nick's treatment of Lauren as sexual harassment. Although I concede that Nick's words to Lauren could be considered sexual harassment, Lauren doesn't allow such treatment. She is firm and consistent in her refusals to Nick. She will not allow him to treat her flippantly. You actually love hearing Lauren reject Nick - you feel he deserves it. I am not fond of smart mouthed heroines that treat the man they secretly love with hate and meanness. This is not how Lauren treats Nick. Her treatment of Nick lets him know she will not allow disrespect, mistreatment, or use as a short term sexual playmate. Her lines are delivered with dry wit and satisfaction. McNaught does not allow her characters to wallow in silly misunderstandings or lies. Eventually Lauren and Nick communicate honestly and lovingly. There are a few sensual scenes that would rate about a three (see "about me" for sensual rating definition). This story does not need many sensual scenes. It drips with sexual chemistry.

The lead characters spend a lot of quality time together and we can watch their relationship grow. There is only one thing I would have changed about this book and that is the heroine's age. She is only 23. In contemporary novels, I prefer the heroine at least a few years older.

This is a book that will delight you and you won't want to put it down. Thanks Judith McNaught for another great story.


Another beautiful McNaught novel!   January 2, 2006
 11 out of 13 found this review helpful

It has been two months since I read my first Judith McNaught novel (Something Wonderful) and I've been hooked ever since. With the exception of Until You (which I liked but wasn't terribly impressed with the story), Judith's novels have been the best romances I've ever read. Double Standards is another memorable offering. I devoured this love story of a reformed modern rake in one sitting. Nick Sinclair is a powerful businessman and president of Global Industries. He is charming, imposing, confident and with a backbone of steel and the predatory ways of a tiger when it comes to making business deals and charming women into his bedroom. Lauren Danner is hired as a secretary at Nick's firm after a relative of hers talks her into spying on Nick's operations. After he sees the beautiful blue-eyed, honey-blond-haired beauty, Nick thinks she will be just another one of his many conquests, but he soon discovers that winning her over won't be as easy as he had anticipated. There are many twists throughout the novel.

Double Standards is shorter than most McNaught novels and I wish it had been longer. This novel contains the things I have come to love about this author's romances. I have read the things that one- and two-star reviewers have said about Nick and I happen to agree with some of them. Yes, Nicholas Sinclair is a Grade A Jerk in the beginning and his relentless persuasion and seduction of Lauren during work hours would have earned him a major sexual harassment law suit if this had taken place in real life. But his attitude was what compelled me because I wanted to see just how much he would change. Would the story be as compelling if Nick had been a perfect, love-struck gentleman from the very beginning? Furthermore, would there have been a point to the story if he had been perfect to begin with? Character growth was intended for Nick, that much was obvious. And that was the basic premise of this novel. His transitional feelings for Lauren are quite realistic and very nicely executed. And I love Lauren and how she puts Nick in his place by refusing his unrelenting advances. She is rather naive in the beginning, but her hurtful experience with Nick helps her mature into a strong and determined woman who refuses to be another one of his long string of lovers. I wanted to high-five the heroine every time she won one over the arrogant hero. The secondary characters are great, like Jim, Mary and Tony. There are some secondary characters, however, that are underdeveloped, like Nick's mother and half brother. Anyway, though this novel was obviously written during the 1980s and some of the content, like the typewriters and style of dresses, is outdated, I loved the story. As with all of the other McNaught novels, I felt all sorts of things when I read certain passages. I noticed from the very beginning that the author had been gathering a subplot centered on a major misunderstanding between the protagonists, but even that hadn't tainted the enjoyment of reading this novel. Double Standards is a beautiful love story with the proverbial rake. Nick is no vanilla hero. He's quite flawed and infuriating. I just thought I'd warn potential readers of this. If you like three-dimensional heroes with depth and who have some major character growth during the course of the story, then I strongly suggest you give this gem a whirl.


Second only to 'Perfect'   January 25, 2000
 10 out of 10 found this review helpful

I really enjoyed this book. The chemistry between Nick and Lauren... I could understand Nick not trusting anyone with heart as his very own mother hurt him. Lauren who never wanted to hurt anyone was treated poorly by Nick at times as her employer but I thought it fun knowing he was doing that because he didn't know how to deal with his feelings for her. It was a great read and I really recommend it to anyone. If you haven't read Paradise and Perfect, you're missing out. If you like historical romances, try all of Ms. McNaughts. I've yet to find an author that can set my emotions on a rollercoaster like she does. One minute you're laughing and then come the tears. Luckily all of JM's books end in smiles.


A very nice romance   April 27, 2000
 9 out of 10 found this review helpful

I love this book. i thought Nick was a geat guy with a hard childhood and Lauren was a great leading woman. This was one of the first romance books i read and i think it is wonderful! This book made me laugh, cry, and then laugh again. when I was done the book I felt so happy and good. Double Standards is truly an awsome book. After I read this I went on to reading a Kingdom of Dreams and Something Wonderful which are great, too. Judith McNaught is a great author and i give two thumbs up to her.


Um um um um um!!!   August 22, 2005
 9 out of 10 found this review helpful

Ok, I dont know why anyone would give this book a bad review. We all have our own opinions I guess, me I LOVED it. It was shorter, but I did not feel it was missing anything. It was a very intense story that kept you on the edge wondering what was going to happen next. Kinda suspencefull, without the murder.
Lauren, oh I loved Lauren. At first I thought she was a twit, until she about faced and gave Nick what he deserved. She managed to hold her own without being a b**ch. She was still very likable as she was telling Nick off. It was wonderful.
Nick, oh Nick. Very sure of himself, has a well earned ego, without being too full of himself.
The spying was a great plot line, that is what gives us our minor suspence. It was great. I agree 100% with one of the upper reviews, readers and dreamers or something. There were not alot of actual sex scenes, but the whole book is a primer. It didnt need alot of sex. With all the chemistry, wondering what is coming next and their battle of wills it is a never ending entertaining wonderful book. Not as long or filling as Paradise or Perfect, but still a great book just the same.