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The Secrets of Xanos #1
A Shameful Consequence
Nico Eliades is back on the idyllic Greek island of Xanos to uncover long-buried family secrets. He can't help but notice a bride in a crumpled wedding dress sitting on the steps of his hotel.
Constantine's orchestrated marriage is over before the wedding night. A humiliated virgin bride, she longs to feel desired, and at Nico's skilled hands she experiences white-hot passion.
But their one night brings more than just shame on Constantine and her family…. Constantine has no choice but to reveal her bombshell to Nico - yet still her fingers tremble as she dials the number for Eliades Enterprises…...
256 pages, Mass Market Paperback
Published February 28, 2012
38 people are currently reading
316 people want to read
About the author
Carol Marinelli
1,350 books449 followersCarol Marinelli was born in England to Scottish parents, then emigrated to Australia, where there are loads of Scottish and English people who did exactly the same, so she’s very at home there.
She lives in the outer suburbs of Melbourne—pretty much in her car, driving her three children to their various commitments.
Carol writes for the Harlequin Presents and Medical lines and she also writes contemporary women's fiction (with a dark twist).
When she's not writing she's reading, when she's not reading she's writing.
She lives in the outer suburbs of Melbourne—pretty much in her car, driving her three children to their various commitments.
Carol writes for the Harlequin Presents and Medical lines and she also writes contemporary women's fiction (with a dark twist).
When she's not writing she's reading, when she's not reading she's writing.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
June 5, 2018
Oh boy, this prologue was heartbreaking, and it sets the tone for both books. If you enjoy this one, you should read An Indecent Proposition for maximum angst and resolution of the brothers.
Two brothers separated while babies on a very traditonal Greek island that puts in play the angst in both books.
The h, Constantine, doesn't have it much better with a father that sells her out and needs to roast in the bad place, but doesn't really ever suffer. He set up his only daughter in a MOC with a gay man, but she manages to find some loving her wedding night with the H. As someone mentioned, it's like the writing was translated into English as it has a distance to it. I think/hope that CM was making a creative choice as her tone gives it a fairy tale element as if you're reading the story behind the veil. Who knows?
The heroine disappears and the H eventually finds her and the heroine makes some incredibly stupid choices that almost ripped a star off. Okay, HP authors, have your character do stupid stuff as that's what makes fiction go round, but leave us something to care about with your characters.
Evil parents galore on both sides:
Heroine: selfish and immoral father, selfish and enabler mother
Hero: abusive father, heartbreaking young mother
Two brothers separated while babies on a very traditonal Greek island that puts in play the angst in both books.
The h, Constantine, doesn't have it much better with a father that sells her out and needs to roast in the bad place, but doesn't really ever suffer. He set up his only daughter in a MOC with a gay man, but she manages to find some loving her wedding night with the H. As someone mentioned, it's like the writing was translated into English as it has a distance to it. I think/hope that CM was making a creative choice as her tone gives it a fairy tale element as if you're reading the story behind the veil. Who knows?
The heroine disappears and the H eventually finds her and the heroine makes some incredibly stupid choices that almost ripped a star off. Okay, HP authors, have your character do stupid stuff as that's what makes fiction go round, but leave us something to care about with your characters.
Evil parents galore on both sides:
Heroine: selfish and immoral father, selfish and enabler mother
Hero: abusive father, heartbreaking young mother
June 3, 2018
I liked this one better than the second book about the hero's twin who was left with his abusive father (this hero was adopted out). The H/h meet at the heroine's arranged wedding. On her wedding night her groom tells her he is gay and doesn't want to have sex with her (although they'll have children through artificial insemination.) The heroine flees the reception and runs into the hero who was captivated by her as she walked down the aisle.
They have a one night stand, but for once, I didn't cringe at it. The hero is so very sweet and the heroine is so very needy. I liked how he made up an entire past history of their dating life and how it lead to this moment. The sheltered heroine needed that.
Fast forward a year. The heroine has a secret baby in England. She doesn't contact the hero because she thinks he'll hate her after she finds out her corrupt father was the one who sold him as a baby to his adoptive parents. Hero only finds about the heroine annulling her marriage by chance. He then hunts her down and brings her back to Greece.
The second half of the story is the heroine recovering from the birth of their son and feeling guilty about the secrets she knows. The hero is getting more obsessed about his origins and yet the heroine says nothing . . .
It says a lot about the hero that he doesn't fall into vendetta mode and that he really stops to think about his actions during the black moment. He was a great hero. Heroine was so downtrodden by her parents that her actions makes sense and her final actions show real courage.
There are some whut? moments - like the hero recognizing the streets of the town of his birth. He was an infant when he was adopted out, so not possible. But he is an alpha HP hero - so who knows.
Heroine was celibate and it's never mentioned if the hero was celibate during their separation.
They have a one night stand, but for once, I didn't cringe at it. The hero is so very sweet and the heroine is so very needy. I liked how he made up an entire past history of their dating life and how it lead to this moment. The sheltered heroine needed that.
Fast forward a year. The heroine has a secret baby in England. She doesn't contact the hero because she thinks he'll hate her after she finds out her corrupt father was the one who sold him as a baby to his adoptive parents. Hero only finds about the heroine annulling her marriage by chance. He then hunts her down and brings her back to Greece.
The second half of the story is the heroine recovering from the birth of their son and feeling guilty about the secrets she knows. The hero is getting more obsessed about his origins and yet the heroine says nothing . . .
It says a lot about the hero that he doesn't fall into vendetta mode and that he really stops to think about his actions during the black moment. He was a great hero. Heroine was so downtrodden by her parents that her actions makes sense and her final actions show real courage.
There are some whut? moments - like the hero recognizing the streets of the town of his birth. He was an infant when he was adopted out, so not possible. But he is an alpha HP hero - so who knows.
Heroine was celibate and it's never mentioned if the hero was celibate during their separation.
June 5, 2018
Upon reread I really liked this book a lot better. I loved the hero actually. He gave her his card and told her to call him if she needed him but when she did call, she didn't say a word. He would have been there for her I just know it. He loved her before he knew he loved her. They meet at her wedding and she is marrying a man that her Father made a deal with and he is mean and cold to her and she has never been kissed or anything. On her wedding night she finds out her husbands secret and realizes her marriage is a sham. Her Father even knew the secret and still forced her to marry him. The hero finds her and learns what happened and he gives her the wedding night she deserved. It was beautiful. He does tell her tonight only and she agrees. The next morning he sees her and gives her his card and tells her she has options. She totally bucks her parents and she gets an annulment. They throw her out and lo and behold she finds out shes pregnant. A year later, the hero overhears his parents talking about her and she has a little boy that is two months old. He immediately goes to her, she is living in poverty taking care of an old man, and he rescues her and takes her to his greek island. They never talk about the baby or whose it is. It is very different. Of course he tries to push her away and she stands up for herself and there are still some secrets she has about his birth and her Father and it ends very nicely. The epilogue is wonderful. I don't know why I only gave it one star. It was so unusual. And his celibacy is unclear but she did see him on the internet with z lof of other women so of course he probably wasn't, but it didn't even bother me that much. It's not discussed or thought about at all. I just really liked the book. Maybe it's because lately I have had so many cheaters thrown at me that it was pretty lame compared to them but I really think I would have liked it anyway. I am glad I re-read it and gave it a chance.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 11, 2012
This was a very interesting read for me. But it was difficult for me to rate. There were a lot of things I truly enjoyed and liked, but there were also some things I didn't like.
I really liked the plot/storyline....and I enjoyed the hero and heroine. She came from a very traditional Greek family, born and raised on an island in Greece. The H was a bit of a tortured soul not quite understanding why he didn't feel connected to his family.
The storyline was powerful...but it failed to deliver a powerful punch for two reasons:
1) The writing was absolutely clumsy. In fact it was quite painful to read. It felt like it had been translated (rather poorly) from another language or written by a second grader.
2) Too many things were not explained and just didn't make sense. For example, he knows that his parents aren't blood relations? How can that be? He was a baby when he was adopted! He walks the streets of the island and recognizes it? Huh??....Why did her father give her to someone that could never consummate the marriage? What was his motivation? What about her husband? What happened to him? Where was the dialogue between them when she told him to take a hike?
So given this, I say 3 stars.
I really liked the plot/storyline....and I enjoyed the hero and heroine. She came from a very traditional Greek family, born and raised on an island in Greece. The H was a bit of a tortured soul not quite understanding why he didn't feel connected to his family.
The storyline was powerful...but it failed to deliver a powerful punch for two reasons:
1) The writing was absolutely clumsy. In fact it was quite painful to read. It felt like it had been translated (rather poorly) from another language or written by a second grader.
2) Too many things were not explained and just didn't make sense. For example, he knows that his parents aren't blood relations? How can that be? He was a baby when he was adopted! He walks the streets of the island and recognizes it? Huh??....Why did her father give her to someone that could never consummate the marriage? What was his motivation? What about her husband? What happened to him? Where was the dialogue between them when she told him to take a hike?
So given this, I say 3 stars.
January 21, 2012
This is an amazing book. So much more than the gorgeous, rich Greek tycoon who meets and dazzles the beautiful virgin and live happily ever after – which is most of the plots of Mills and Boon’s books. Not to deny that is one of the reasons I LOVE their books and authors.
I was totally hooked from the first page and by the end of the prologue I was overwhelmed by such an incredible feeling of wanting to continue reading the entire book –non stop...which I did.
I am not going to give the plot away – don’t want to spoil the story, which is filled with sadness, loss, violence, bitterness, betrayal and finding that love can heal your heart and lift the darkness in you.
This is the story of Nico Eliades and Constantine (Connie) who meet on the day she is getting married to a man chosen by her family. Her wedding night turns into a nightmare for her and Nico comforts her....they spend an unforgettable night together – OMG....the love scene is beyond AMAZING....just read the book and you will see what I mean......This has to be the BEST AND MOST UNFORGETABLE LOVE SCENE EVER in a Mills and Boon novel.......
They both go through incredible difficulties in their lives before they finally find happiness together....
And there is a cliff-hanger............Nico discovers he has a twin brother.....
Can’t wait for Zander’s story.
This is such an incredible book. A refreshing and original plot and such depth in the story.
Carol Marinelli is definitely one of my favourite Mills and Boons author.
I was totally hooked from the first page and by the end of the prologue I was overwhelmed by such an incredible feeling of wanting to continue reading the entire book –non stop...which I did.
I am not going to give the plot away – don’t want to spoil the story, which is filled with sadness, loss, violence, bitterness, betrayal and finding that love can heal your heart and lift the darkness in you.
This is the story of Nico Eliades and Constantine (Connie) who meet on the day she is getting married to a man chosen by her family. Her wedding night turns into a nightmare for her and Nico comforts her....they spend an unforgettable night together – OMG....the love scene is beyond AMAZING....just read the book and you will see what I mean......This has to be the BEST AND MOST UNFORGETABLE LOVE SCENE EVER in a Mills and Boon novel.......
They both go through incredible difficulties in their lives before they finally find happiness together....
And there is a cliff-hanger............Nico discovers he has a twin brother.....
Can’t wait for Zander’s story.
This is such an incredible book. A refreshing and original plot and such depth in the story.
Carol Marinelli is definitely one of my favourite Mills and Boons author.
January 3, 2012
4.5 stars
The hero Nico sees the heroine Connie for the first time as she is about to get married. There is something about her that he can't stop thinking about and when he sees her again, crying her eyes out, he offers her comfort. Connie is feeling humiliated after discovering the truth about her new husband, and doesn't know what to do, fearing disapproval from her family should she decide to end the arranged marriage. But one thing she is sure of is that she wants to take the comfort that Nico is offering in his arms. They spend a wonderful night together, indulging in the fantasy of what it would have been like had they met each other first. Although it is a difficult decision, her night with Nico gives Connie the confidence to end her sham marriage, however she is left abandoned by her family and pregnant. Nico finds her a year later where she is struggling to cope with caring for her baby and making a living. In the year since they have been apart Nico has discovered shocking secrets about his life and throughout it all he has never forgotten Connie. He takes her back home with him to help her recover, and although he is not ready to acknowledge that Connie's baby is his Nico knows the truth in his heart and that he and Connie belong together.
I loved this book, it had me hooked from the very first page. The plot is original and enjoyably unpredictable. Carol Marinelli has managed to include a wonderful blend of happiness and darkness that really creates depth in this story. The journey that the hero and heroine go on, both individually and together, is simply spectacular. It is a true masterpiece! And, this book has, hands down, the best love scene I have ever read (and I have read a LOT of love scenes!), it is hot and so very romantic, I couldn't help but sigh at the beautiful and evocative writing.
This is a brilliant book; full of emotion and is Carol Marinelli at her best. Recommended.
Originally posted at http://everyday-is-the-same.blogspot....
The hero Nico sees the heroine Connie for the first time as she is about to get married. There is something about her that he can't stop thinking about and when he sees her again, crying her eyes out, he offers her comfort. Connie is feeling humiliated after discovering the truth about her new husband, and doesn't know what to do, fearing disapproval from her family should she decide to end the arranged marriage. But one thing she is sure of is that she wants to take the comfort that Nico is offering in his arms. They spend a wonderful night together, indulging in the fantasy of what it would have been like had they met each other first. Although it is a difficult decision, her night with Nico gives Connie the confidence to end her sham marriage, however she is left abandoned by her family and pregnant. Nico finds her a year later where she is struggling to cope with caring for her baby and making a living. In the year since they have been apart Nico has discovered shocking secrets about his life and throughout it all he has never forgotten Connie. He takes her back home with him to help her recover, and although he is not ready to acknowledge that Connie's baby is his Nico knows the truth in his heart and that he and Connie belong together.
I loved this book, it had me hooked from the very first page. The plot is original and enjoyably unpredictable. Carol Marinelli has managed to include a wonderful blend of happiness and darkness that really creates depth in this story. The journey that the hero and heroine go on, both individually and together, is simply spectacular. It is a true masterpiece! And, this book has, hands down, the best love scene I have ever read (and I have read a LOT of love scenes!), it is hot and so very romantic, I couldn't help but sigh at the beautiful and evocative writing.
This is a brilliant book; full of emotion and is Carol Marinelli at her best. Recommended.
Originally posted at http://everyday-is-the-same.blogspot....
March 24, 2012
I loved this very romantic book. The overall tone of the book is very lyrical without being over the top or maudlin. The first love scene between the hero and the heroine was sweet, moving, romantic, and wonderfully written. So out of the ordinary that a one night stand in a Greek billionaire romance is so moving. I think any woman in the world would have fallen in love with the hero. Even better the scenes created in that imaginative scene are alluded to throughout the book especially by the hero and have a part to play at the end of the book.
The characterization is very well done. The hero is shown to be an unapologetic product of his upbringing. For example, he refuses to lift a finger to pick up or clean anything but in a charmingly arrogant way of course. He never treats the heroine poorly.
The heroine has been brought up in an extremely sheltered manner. She put up with it out of a Greek girl's duty to her family even as she wished to be more modern and free. She learns to stand on her own feet with just a little help from the grace that the hero gifts her with on their night together. She has some problems but does have a backbone. At one point when he is doing a bit of arrogant game playing with her she breaks her date with him and tells him she will go alone.
Then he's scrambling to get back in her good graces.
Not your typical HP. Read it if you're looking for something a little different.
Hope the brother's book is just as good.
The characterization is very well done. The hero is shown to be an unapologetic product of his upbringing. For example, he refuses to lift a finger to pick up or clean anything but in a charmingly arrogant way of course. He never treats the heroine poorly.
The heroine has been brought up in an extremely sheltered manner. She put up with it out of a Greek girl's duty to her family even as she wished to be more modern and free. She learns to stand on her own feet with just a little help from the grace that the hero gifts her with on their night together. She has some problems but does have a backbone. At one point when he is doing a bit of arrogant game playing with her she breaks her date with him and tells him she will go alone.
What you think I need you to go out with? that I need an escort? I'm very happy with my own company. I know she won't sulk, I know she'll enjoy the evening.
Then he's scrambling to get back in her good graces.
Not your typical HP. Read it if you're looking for something a little different.
Hope the brother's book is just as good.
April 22, 2013
This was somewhat more depressing than what I've come to expect from this author. This is partly because the heroine is such a wilted flower, despite some occasional rebellions. Partly it's because the consequences of her one big rebellion leave her grindingly poor in London, and fat enough for her eyes to be slits. (Though not so fat that a week or two later she can't fit into underwear and a dress from her trousseau). In addition, there are only 2 nice secondary people in the book - and they barely appear; everyone else is horrible. I hate it when the protagonists have no friends, no support network. And on top of all that, the romance was really unconvincing.
April 15, 2013
Very blah and boring book. I'm not a fan of this author. The plot was predictable and I felt like it was a chore to crack the book open and to try to read even a few pages.
November 2, 2014
Interesting plot, very unusual and could have been great, but so odd in many ways. Started out cool, but 1) so many one-dimensional evil people, 2) Surreal and unlikely how a 1 year old had all these specific memories and knowledge, 3) Hero was really cold, slept with so many women he couldn't even remember them, didn't really feel true love for heroine, 4) just couldn't connect to it emotionally.
August 5, 2020
This is the first book in the Xanos series which follows twin brothers that were separated at birth. An Indecent Proposition is Zander's book.
Nico (the adopted twin) is searching for answers about his family secrets. He stumbles across a wedding, and is immediately smitten with Constantine. (the bride) Later he sees her sobbing, The two embark on a one night/no strings deflower-fest of love making. H- is very gentle patient with the nervous h. This should be no surprise, because it’s part of the Secret Baby Box set… there’s a surprise baby.
This one was just ok for me, it wasn’t bad, just felt a little flat. There’s really not a lot going on… drama wise… for much of it. Nico, sort of wobbles between being attentive, and pushing Constantine away. He has baggage, doesn’t think he can love…blah blah blah. Constantine flirts with TSTL status. I’m not a huge fan of the hiding the baby trope, but this makes zero sense.
You’ll also have to accept some huh? moments, like… the H can remember things from when he was a 1-yr-old… and… the h can lose buckets of weight and cure depression with sunshine, sleep, and better-quality food in a week or so.
Bottom Line The whole tortured-H, family drama had potential to be epic, but it just didn’t. There also wasn’t a lot of back story of why the H was so tortured, as he’s the adopted twin that was raised in the rich family.
*part of the secret baby box set
Nico (the adopted twin) is searching for answers about his family secrets. He stumbles across a wedding, and is immediately smitten with Constantine. (the bride) Later he sees her sobbing, The two embark on a one night/no strings deflower-fest of love making. H- is very gentle patient with the nervous h. This should be no surprise, because it’s part of the Secret Baby Box set… there’s a surprise baby.
This one was just ok for me, it wasn’t bad, just felt a little flat. There’s really not a lot going on… drama wise… for much of it. Nico, sort of wobbles between being attentive, and pushing Constantine away. He has baggage, doesn’t think he can love…blah blah blah. Constantine flirts with TSTL status. I’m not a huge fan of the hiding the baby trope, but this makes zero sense.
You’ll also have to accept some huh? moments, like… the H can remember things from when he was a 1-yr-old… and… the h can lose buckets of weight and cure depression with sunshine, sleep, and better-quality food in a week or so.
Bottom Line The whole tortured-H, family drama had potential to be epic, but it just didn’t. There also wasn’t a lot of back story of why the H was so tortured, as he’s the adopted twin that was raised in the rich family.
*part of the secret baby box set
October 8, 2011
I was bored through the book,Connie was very weak,Nico liked him,half story Nico-Connie stay seperated and rest half is all about Nico,his birth parents what happened,why he was sold and he comes to know of his indentical twin Alexandro.second story is about twin hope i am not disappointed by that one
August 1, 2012
I am somewhere between a 3.5 and 4 on this book. The beginning and ending were so romantic. I loved how they pretended they had met and dated before their lovemaking and the end where Nico thought to himself if he had grown up on Xanos, he would have actually loved and courted Connie. It was all so sweet. It was just the middle stuff that bothered me. It just felt off and unreal. They just didn't connect in the middle. It was weird.
There were so many editing errors in this book, as well. I was quite surprised.
I like this author but this isn't one of my favorites. Still looking forward to Zander's story.
There were so many editing errors in this book, as well. I was quite surprised.
I like this author but this isn't one of my favorites. Still looking forward to Zander's story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 11, 2014
This was an ok book. There wasn't really any humor or good feelings and this book just kinda felt dark. Focused more on anger, a little depression, but it had a semi happy feeling ending. I just wasn't really feelin the love in this one. To tell the truth I was feeling a little depressed reading this. There wasn't much and I kinda had to make myself finish this one and couldn't get into it, not even to get mad or aggravated at the characters. Sorry and Good luck
September 20, 2019
Primer libro de la bilogía Los secretos de Xanos, cuyo segundo libro podréis encontrar aquí La otra cara del amor
La bilogía va de dos gemelos separados de niños.
En el prólogo se nos cuenta que el padre maltrataba a su madre que llega un momento que no aguanta más y decide marcharse con sus hijos, con tan mala suerte que el marido la pilla en el momento que se prepara para irse. El tipo le dice que es una desagradecida pero que se marche si quiere, pero que solo se llevará a uno de los gemelos. Él se queda al mayor, que se llama como él y le pone en los brazos al otro y la echa de la casa.
La pobre mujer se marcha a pedir ayuda a su padre con la esperanza de que la ayude a recuperar a su otro hijo, pero resulta que su padre había muerto hacía meses y su marido, que lo sabía, no le había dicho nada. Sola y en una situación cada vez más precaria se ve obligada a prostituirse para sobrevivir hasta que una pareja la encuentra en un callejón y le propone comprarle al bebé, cosa que ella acepta para salvar al bebé de la miseria.
Breve resumen.
Nicos viaja a Lathira para visitar a sus padres con los que no tiene una muy buena relación. Al llegar descubre que han ido a una boda a Xanos, la isla de al lado, y allí que se marcha el chico.
Al llegar, ve a la novia y se queda flipado con ella, es muy guapa y le gusta mucho la chica y al verla deduce de su mirada que la pobre no quiere casarse.
Mientras Connie entra en la boda del brazo de su padre para casarse con el hombre que han escogido para ella, la pobre es joven e inocente y piensa que el amor llegará con el tiempo, pero que su prometido la quiere aunque a veces sea algo brusco con ella. Hasta que en la noche de boda el novio le informa que tendrán habitaciones separadas ya que él es homosexual.
La pobre hundida coge una botella de champán y sale fuera para asimilar la información, y allí es donde la encontrará Nico. Nico empezará a hablar con la muchacha y a consolarla y una cosa llevará a otra y terminarán pasando su noche de bodas juntos.
Y hasta aquí os voy a contar, ya para saber más ya os toca leerlo. ;)
Pues un libro típico de harlequin, la lectura es entretenida y se lee en un suspiro, ahora me voy a leer el libro del otro gemelo que parece que va a tener tela.
La bilogía va de dos gemelos separados de niños.
En el prólogo se nos cuenta que el padre maltrataba a su madre que llega un momento que no aguanta más y decide marcharse con sus hijos, con tan mala suerte que el marido la pilla en el momento que se prepara para irse. El tipo le dice que es una desagradecida pero que se marche si quiere, pero que solo se llevará a uno de los gemelos. Él se queda al mayor, que se llama como él y le pone en los brazos al otro y la echa de la casa.
La pobre mujer se marcha a pedir ayuda a su padre con la esperanza de que la ayude a recuperar a su otro hijo, pero resulta que su padre había muerto hacía meses y su marido, que lo sabía, no le había dicho nada. Sola y en una situación cada vez más precaria se ve obligada a prostituirse para sobrevivir hasta que una pareja la encuentra en un callejón y le propone comprarle al bebé, cosa que ella acepta para salvar al bebé de la miseria.
Breve resumen.
Nicos viaja a Lathira para visitar a sus padres con los que no tiene una muy buena relación. Al llegar descubre que han ido a una boda a Xanos, la isla de al lado, y allí que se marcha el chico.
Al llegar, ve a la novia y se queda flipado con ella, es muy guapa y le gusta mucho la chica y al verla deduce de su mirada que la pobre no quiere casarse.
Mientras Connie entra en la boda del brazo de su padre para casarse con el hombre que han escogido para ella, la pobre es joven e inocente y piensa que el amor llegará con el tiempo, pero que su prometido la quiere aunque a veces sea algo brusco con ella. Hasta que en la noche de boda el novio le informa que tendrán habitaciones separadas ya que él es homosexual.
La pobre hundida coge una botella de champán y sale fuera para asimilar la información, y allí es donde la encontrará Nico. Nico empezará a hablar con la muchacha y a consolarla y una cosa llevará a otra y terminarán pasando su noche de bodas juntos.
Y hasta aquí os voy a contar, ya para saber más ya os toca leerlo. ;)
Pues un libro típico de harlequin, la lectura es entretenida y se lee en un suspiro, ahora me voy a leer el libro del otro gemelo que parece que va a tener tela.
March 1, 2015
Horribly, horribly written. I even had my husband read one page, and he even said it was badly written. The pronouns don't match with the subject names. Quotes are left unidentified, so that I'm not even sure who said the quotes. It was confusing and convoluted. I also don't know what on earth the author was thinking to have an arranged marriage in the 21st century in Europe. Not only that, the woman was lied into the marriage to marry someone who held no attraction to her whatsoever and would never do so. I was so frustrated with this story that I didn't even get half-way through it before I decided to quit.
September 2, 2019
I really loved this one. The ‘wedding night’ scene with Nico and Connie is beautifully written. Nico is just utterly delicious! Ms Martinelli writes beautifully, almost poetically and her story is, as another reviewer said, almost like a fairy tale. I can understand the comments about parts of the plot line not being properly explained but quite frankly they did not reduce my enjoyment one little bit. The next book about Zander fleshes out Nico,and Constantine’s story even more so is a must read for that alone!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 10, 2012
Dribble. Boring, bland dribble. The characters were weak, both in substance and character. The plot seemed to ponder about, with no clear rhythum or destination. Nico and Constantine...just blah. Not a book I recommend. There are few books I don't enjoy, this joins the few.
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December 27, 2014Miniseries: The Secrets of Xanos
Category: Classic Romance
Category: Classic Romance
October 21, 2025
I didn't like it. The connection between them did not feel very strong in my opinion.
The mmc never pursued her after they slept together on her wedding night to another man and it took a year for him to even hear about her annuling her marriage, he never even checked up on her. Then he only went to her because he heard she had a 2 month old son. So if she wasn't pregnant he never would have gone to her. He was not celibate during their 1 year seperation, he never specifically thought of other women but he never had thoughts of being celibate and vaguely had thoughts referring to freedom, so I assume freedom to him means sex.
As for the fmc she found out her father facilitated the mmc's adoption (his parents bought him from his birth mother) and decided she could not tell him that so didn't contact him about pregnancy and instead lived in squalor with her infant son. Even once he found her and told her about his adoption plus how determined he was to find out the truth, she for some reason didn't tell him. I have no idea what her reasoning was and why she would live in squalor rather than tell him. I don't understand why she would protect her father, he kicked her out of the house and blocked her from getting respectable jobs at every turn. Her decision making made zero sense to me.
It felt like purely physical attraction on his side, I never once felt like he loved her. When she got ugly he was not drawn to her until weeks later when she was pretty again, he wanted to leave her when he saw how she lived and looked but stayed because of his son.
I hated how she was described as unrecognizable, extremely overweight and had a bloated face when the mmc found her after learning that she had a 2 month old son. I would assume she would be underweight if she was poor, barely had any money and was constantly on the move working, plus she was breast feeding. P.
The mmc never pursued her after they slept together on her wedding night to another man and it took a year for him to even hear about her annuling her marriage, he never even checked up on her. Then he only went to her because he heard she had a 2 month old son. So if she wasn't pregnant he never would have gone to her. He was not celibate during their 1 year seperation, he never specifically thought of other women but he never had thoughts of being celibate and vaguely had thoughts referring to freedom, so I assume freedom to him means sex.
As for the fmc she found out her father facilitated the mmc's adoption (his parents bought him from his birth mother) and decided she could not tell him that so didn't contact him about pregnancy and instead lived in squalor with her infant son. Even once he found her and told her about his adoption plus how determined he was to find out the truth, she for some reason didn't tell him. I have no idea what her reasoning was and why she would live in squalor rather than tell him. I don't understand why she would protect her father, he kicked her out of the house and blocked her from getting respectable jobs at every turn. Her decision making made zero sense to me.
It felt like purely physical attraction on his side, I never once felt like he loved her. When she got ugly he was not drawn to her until weeks later when she was pretty again, he wanted to leave her when he saw how she lived and looked but stayed because of his son.
I hated how she was described as unrecognizable, extremely overweight and had a bloated face when the mmc found her after learning that she had a 2 month old son. I would assume she would be underweight if she was poor, barely had any money and was constantly on the move working, plus she was breast feeding. P.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 3, 2018
I read these short little Harlequin presents when I just need to relax, and this book did that for me. Sitting in bed with a cold, I read this
Greek tycoon book, about a man who can't love. Not an unusual trope for these books, but this had a unique twist, twins separated at a year. So Nico was the lucky one, sold by his mother to rich parents. As an adult he goes to a wedding on island that turns out to be where he was born. He has a one night stand with a bride who just found out her husband is gay. There is of course a happy ending. And an even happier ending, I just found the book about the other twin on my shelf. Will read it now.
Greek tycoon book, about a man who can't love. Not an unusual trope for these books, but this had a unique twist, twins separated at a year. So Nico was the lucky one, sold by his mother to rich parents. As an adult he goes to a wedding on island that turns out to be where he was born. He has a one night stand with a bride who just found out her husband is gay. There is of course a happy ending. And an even happier ending, I just found the book about the other twin on my shelf. Will read it now.
January 21, 2024
"A Shameful Consequence" is the story of Constantine and Nico.
A bit confusing.
Hero is a twin that is sold at birth.
Decades later, he attends a wedding where a poor waif is being forced to marry a man (who's not straight). When the heroine finds out she's her husband's beard, she is angry and sleeps with the hero. This (as expected), has bun-in-the-oven-consequences. She also realizes her parents' contribution to the hero's past trauma..
The hero was very cold, and basically displayed little feelings. Many plots were introduced, then abandoned. Didnt understand most of this book.
EH
Safe?
2/5
A bit confusing.
Hero is a twin that is sold at birth.
Decades later, he attends a wedding where a poor waif is being forced to marry a man (who's not straight). When the heroine finds out she's her husband's beard, she is angry and sleeps with the hero. This (as expected), has bun-in-the-oven-consequences. She also realizes her parents' contribution to the hero's past trauma..
The hero was very cold, and basically displayed little feelings. Many plots were introduced, then abandoned. Didnt understand most of this book.
EH
Safe?
2/5
March 19, 2020
Some of the chapters are really surreal in this book and really very weird in terms of how h and H relate to one another and how they cope with emotions and a very unnaturally quick volte-face in the last chapter. The epilogue is more like Avengers' style post credit trying to set up the readers for the next book in the series but doesn't actually create as much curiosity.
June 5, 2018
The writing was just so overwrought. We won't even mention the fact that the heroine is named Constantine or that no one seems Greek, like, at all.
April 26, 2023
A very interesting book, I love the story line. Can't wait to start part two.
August 17, 2012
Esta historia comienza con un pequeño prologo,donde nos queda mas o menos claro de que va a la historia,aunque al leerla da un trasfondo diferente.
La historia comienza con un matrimonio concertado de Constantine.Ella aun es virgen,con 24 años y es hija única,así que vive para complacer a su familia.Su padre la obliga a tomar por esposo a un hombre que es cruel,no la trata con cariño.Ella piensa que con el tiempo el la va a querer o al menos eso le dice su madre.Del brazo de su padre para la boda,se encuentra con Nico,ella no lo conoce personalmente pero si lo había visto y siempre le había gustado.La atracción es mutua,pero el matrimonio sigue en pie.
En la noche de sus bodas,encuentra a su esposo con su amante...un hombre.Su esposo le confiesa que es homosexual.Ella humillada y con sus sueños rotos se pone a beber en medio de las escaleras del hotel.Allí se encuentra con Nico y el trata de ayudarla,darle ánimos pero pasan la noche juntos.La noche de bodas que se supone que pasara con su esposo la pasa con Nicos y eso de alguna manera mas la forma en que el le aconseja,hacen que ella tome fuerzas y tenga el carácter de anular su matrimonio.
Nico siempre había sentido que no encajaba en su entorno,no se podía decir que quisiera a sus padres y además siempre había tenido unas horribles pesadillas que lo atormentaban.Cuando llega a la isla de Xanos,siente algo extraño,como si fuera de allí ,como si algo lo llamara.El piensa que no es hijo de sus padres,pero ellos lo niegan,aun así el sigue investigando pero no logra encontrar nada que le confirme lo que toda su vida ha sentido.
Pasa un año y Constantine,fue botada de su casa,ella sabe el secreto de Nico...pero por no inculpar a su padre decide callar y seguir con su vida y la de su hijo.Nico se entera que Constantine tiene un hijo y vive en la miseria así que decide ayudarla y aunque piensa que el bebe es su hijo,ni le pregunta a ella ,ni lo acepta ya que el por sus traumas es un hombre que no quiere compromiso y no quiere amar,nunca ha querido algo que lo ate.
La historia es muy apasionada,esta bien escrita y dentro de lo que cabe es muy diferente a las típicas Harlequin.Al final deja completamente claro que viene una segunda parte de esta serie.Muy buena para pasar el rato.
La historia comienza con un matrimonio concertado de Constantine.Ella aun es virgen,con 24 años y es hija única,así que vive para complacer a su familia.Su padre la obliga a tomar por esposo a un hombre que es cruel,no la trata con cariño.Ella piensa que con el tiempo el la va a querer o al menos eso le dice su madre.Del brazo de su padre para la boda,se encuentra con Nico,ella no lo conoce personalmente pero si lo había visto y siempre le había gustado.La atracción es mutua,pero el matrimonio sigue en pie.
En la noche de sus bodas,encuentra a su esposo con su amante...un hombre.Su esposo le confiesa que es homosexual.Ella humillada y con sus sueños rotos se pone a beber en medio de las escaleras del hotel.Allí se encuentra con Nico y el trata de ayudarla,darle ánimos pero pasan la noche juntos.La noche de bodas que se supone que pasara con su esposo la pasa con Nicos y eso de alguna manera mas la forma en que el le aconseja,hacen que ella tome fuerzas y tenga el carácter de anular su matrimonio.
Nico siempre había sentido que no encajaba en su entorno,no se podía decir que quisiera a sus padres y además siempre había tenido unas horribles pesadillas que lo atormentaban.Cuando llega a la isla de Xanos,siente algo extraño,como si fuera de allí ,como si algo lo llamara.El piensa que no es hijo de sus padres,pero ellos lo niegan,aun así el sigue investigando pero no logra encontrar nada que le confirme lo que toda su vida ha sentido.
Pasa un año y Constantine,fue botada de su casa,ella sabe el secreto de Nico...pero por no inculpar a su padre decide callar y seguir con su vida y la de su hijo.Nico se entera que Constantine tiene un hijo y vive en la miseria así que decide ayudarla y aunque piensa que el bebe es su hijo,ni le pregunta a ella ,ni lo acepta ya que el por sus traumas es un hombre que no quiere compromiso y no quiere amar,nunca ha querido algo que lo ate.
La historia es muy apasionada,esta bien escrita y dentro de lo que cabe es muy diferente a las típicas Harlequin.Al final deja completamente claro que viene una segunda parte de esta serie.Muy buena para pasar el rato.
February 13, 2013
A set of twins, separated as babies...Now Nico Eliades has returned to the Greek island of Xanos for the wedding of the daughter of his father's business rival when he begins to sense that he's been there before. That night, Nico discovers the bride, Constantine, outside his hotel with a half-empty bottle of champagne and, one thing leads to another as they say. Constatine's marriage is over before it began anyhow and a couple months later, she realizes that Nico will be a father. When gossip reaches Nico about the baby, he tracks down Constantine in London and pressures her to return to Xanos with him. In that idyllic setting, can they sort out their feelings for each other, their families and forge a future together?
The premise of the story, twins separated as babies, and their different lives is fascinating; I can hardly wait to read the other book! Nico was sold to a rich family through an illegal adoption done by Constatine's father which made their relationship so rocky. Both of them had poor relationships with their parents and it's an interesting challenge to see how they handle them while finding love with each other. Most of the story takes place on Xanos which gives the story an exotic air. A great escape!
The premise of the story, twins separated as babies, and their different lives is fascinating; I can hardly wait to read the other book! Nico was sold to a rich family through an illegal adoption done by Constatine's father which made their relationship so rocky. Both of them had poor relationships with their parents and it's an interesting challenge to see how they handle them while finding love with each other. Most of the story takes place on Xanos which gives the story an exotic air. A great escape!
January 26, 2015
What a boring load of twaddle. I didn't feel anything for the characters, probably because it felt like they could change their situations at any time if they'd just stop playing "pity me", but they wouldn't because I guess they just loved a reason to be miserable and bitch at how awful their parents were to them. I also didn't feel any sort of love or connection between these two characters, not even at the end when Nico decides that perhaps he could do the whole love thing after all. Also the epilogue was a massive disappointment that seemed to be solely there to promote the sequel, which is a really annoying way to "end" an otherwise self-contained story.
June 4, 2021
Nico Eliades is back on the idyllic Greek island of Xanos to uncover long-buried family secrets. He can't help but notice a bride in a crumpled wedding dress sitting on the steps of his hotel.
Constantine's orchestrated marriage is over before the wedding night. A humiliated virgin bride, she longs to feel desired, and at Nico's skilled hands she experiences white-hot passion.
But their one night brings more than just shame on Constantine and her family.... Constantine has no choice but to reveal her bombshell to Nico - yet still her fingers tremble as she dials the number for Eliades Enterprises....
Constantine's orchestrated marriage is over before the wedding night. A humiliated virgin bride, she longs to feel desired, and at Nico's skilled hands she experiences white-hot passion.
But their one night brings more than just shame on Constantine and her family.... Constantine has no choice but to reveal her bombshell to Nico - yet still her fingers tremble as she dials the number for Eliades Enterprises....
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