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Kouros Brothers Duo #1
The Greek's Innocent Virgin
Greek tycoon Sebastian Kouros thinks he knows all about Rachel Long: she's a scheming money-grabber who deserves nothing from him or his family. Rachel has come to Sebastian's island to claim her inheritance -- but although the bitterness between them is ripe, neither is expecting their searing sexual chemistry. Sebastian takes Rachel to his bed, but it appears she's not the virgin she claims to be. Perhaps now is the time to take her as his mistress, and discard her when he sees fit…
Only Rachel is telling the truth -- she's an innocent and a virgin…
192 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published March 1, 2005
134 people are currently reading
1102 people want to read
About the author
Lucy Monroe
605 books1,567 followersI write spicy romance books that end in an HEA. Contemporary romance, historical romance, paranormal romance…I write it all. The two things my books all have in common is lots of emotion and spice. Last year, I fell in love with a new subgenre: mafia romance. Since I write what I love to read, I started a new standalone series, Syndicate Rules where you’ll meet over the top alpha heroes in the Italian and Greek mafias as well as the Irish mob. There are arranged marriages, forced marriages, enemies to lovers, stalkers, forced proximity and lots of mafia intrigue. Morally gray is my new favorite color.
Follow me on BookBub for alerts on my next release: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/lucy-...
I’ve been published a while and most of my 90+ books have hit the Nielson Bookscan bestseller list, a few ended up on the USA Today bestseller list and some even hit national bestseller lists in the UK and Australia. My books have been translated into numerous languages and are for sale in dozens of countries around the world. I’ve won awards and been published with most of the big houses in New York, but my greatest achievement is touching readers’ hearts. When I hear from a reader who got caught up in one of my books, I know I’m doing what I’m meant to do.
I love writing emotionally deep stories with snappy dialogue and solid plots. I’m more grateful than I’ll ever be able to express that so many readers have taken my stories into their hearts and put my books on their reread and keeper shelves.
Follow me on BookBub for alerts on my next release: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/lucy-...
I’ve been published a while and most of my 90+ books have hit the Nielson Bookscan bestseller list, a few ended up on the USA Today bestseller list and some even hit national bestseller lists in the UK and Australia. My books have been translated into numerous languages and are for sale in dozens of countries around the world. I’ve won awards and been published with most of the big houses in New York, but my greatest achievement is touching readers’ hearts. When I hear from a reader who got caught up in one of my books, I know I’m doing what I’m meant to do.
I love writing emotionally deep stories with snappy dialogue and solid plots. I’m more grateful than I’ll ever be able to express that so many readers have taken my stories into their hearts and put my books on their reread and keeper shelves.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 126 reviews
July 15, 2024
What she wrote:
Without any warning, Rachel found herself on her back, a sexually voracious male vibrating with his need to possess above her… He made guttural sounds deep in his throat and then reared up to tear his shirt all the way off, exposing gleaming, hard masculine planes to her eyes.
What I pictured:
What she wrote:
His fingertips finally trespassed onto turgid peaks, stinging with need.
What I pictured:
What she wrote:
He crushed her highly sensitized breasts into the thick mat of hair on his chest.
What I pictured:
The hero was a big, whiny baby, who ran to his mommy because he was butthurt that the heroine allegedly lied to him about being a virgin. Mommy had to give this thirty year old, savvy, worldly, manwhore, millionaire living in the twentieth century, a simple biology lesson, after which he was ready to play with his toy again but got upset because now that he had broken and thrown his toy in the garbage, he could not find it again.
The heroine was a martyr/doormat who made unreasonable demands such as being courted and being asked rather than told to get married. Hero’s idea of courtship was burying her under a mountain of flowers, expensive jewelry, and real estate. When she balked, he went back to sulking and running away, leaving her alone until her inner doormat took over and she acquiesced, once again, to his wishes.
A big source of angst for the heroine was that her evil mom hid the identity of her father her entire life. So that plotline was neatly tied up in a pink bow within the last few pages, at NASCAR speed, without us ever finding anything about MIA dad's back story, his reunion with his daughter, or even his name!
I just did not get this story at all. Not my cuppa. sorrynotsorry.
Without any warning, Rachel found herself on her back, a sexually voracious male vibrating with his need to possess above her… He made guttural sounds deep in his throat and then reared up to tear his shirt all the way off, exposing gleaming, hard masculine planes to her eyes.
What I pictured:
What she wrote:
His fingertips finally trespassed onto turgid peaks, stinging with need.
What I pictured:
What she wrote:
He crushed her highly sensitized breasts into the thick mat of hair on his chest.
What I pictured:
The hero was a big, whiny baby, who ran to his mommy because he was butthurt that the heroine allegedly lied to him about being a virgin. Mommy had to give this thirty year old, savvy, worldly, manwhore, millionaire living in the twentieth century, a simple biology lesson, after which he was ready to play with his toy again but got upset because now that he had broken and thrown his toy in the garbage, he could not find it again.
The heroine was a martyr/doormat who made unreasonable demands such as being courted and being asked rather than told to get married. Hero’s idea of courtship was burying her under a mountain of flowers, expensive jewelry, and real estate. When she balked, he went back to sulking and running away, leaving her alone until her inner doormat took over and she acquiesced, once again, to his wishes.
A big source of angst for the heroine was that her evil mom hid the identity of her father her entire life. So that plotline was neatly tied up in a pink bow within the last few pages, at NASCAR speed, without us ever finding anything about MIA dad's back story, his reunion with his daughter, or even his name!
I just did not get this story at all. Not my cuppa. sorrynotsorry.
July 9, 2020
Re-read. Nice angst in this one as the heroine is judged by her evil mother's actions. The hero ran away from his feelings the morning after their ONS and created a narrative in his own mind. The heroine had enough spine to leave him and go back to her life. The rest of the story is the hero trying to make amends after the heroine's health scare.
I liked that the heroine got a lovely mother-in-law and that she was reunited with her father. That was a nice bonus to the romance.
I liked that the heroine got a lovely mother-in-law and that she was reunited with her father. That was a nice bonus to the romance.
February 22, 2010
It turns out this was an accidental reread for me. But I was drawn into the story enough to keep reading, despite the familiarity of the events.
Lucy Monroe is one of those authors that draws you into her stories. She doesn't go for some fantastic, world-changing writing style. She just tells a story about two people in love. I like that she has a down-to-earth approach as an author. There is something wholesome about her stories, that also appeals to me. I like that the love relationship is the heart of the story, and it's not contrived in the execution.
Sebastian starts out as a bit of a jerk. But he definitely redeems himself in spades, with a little help from his wise and kind-hearted mother. And when he realizes what he lets slip through his fingers, Sebastian moves mountains to get Rachel back. One of the things that appeals to me, is that Rachel is one of those heroines who acts like an intelligent woman. I think that she thought through her decision to be involved in an affair with Sebastian very carefully. She gave her heart to him fully, only to have it broken. And she moves on to go back to her life, wiser for the experience. When Sebastian comes calling, she doesn't fall back into this arms immediately. In my opinion, her reticience to trust him again was wise, and I respected her for it. He treated her abominably, and he had to make up for that before she could give her heart again. Which he does exceedingly well, I must say.
The Greek's Innocent Virgin is one of those modern romances that has enough old-fashioned touches that make it enjoyable for those of us readers who don't really go for the Sex and the City-type romance novel. Yes, ordinary heroines with old-fashioned values can still have their happy ending without abandoning too many of their values in the process. If a reader is of the ordinary/wholesome type, you can get a little bit of identification with your romance read in this story. It's not heavy-handed, but I get the feeling that this story would appeal, if you're looking for this kind of book. If you're not, I think you can still enjoy this story if you want a quick, enjoyable, and romantic read.
Lucy Monroe is one of those authors that draws you into her stories. She doesn't go for some fantastic, world-changing writing style. She just tells a story about two people in love. I like that she has a down-to-earth approach as an author. There is something wholesome about her stories, that also appeals to me. I like that the love relationship is the heart of the story, and it's not contrived in the execution.
Sebastian starts out as a bit of a jerk. But he definitely redeems himself in spades, with a little help from his wise and kind-hearted mother. And when he realizes what he lets slip through his fingers, Sebastian moves mountains to get Rachel back. One of the things that appeals to me, is that Rachel is one of those heroines who acts like an intelligent woman. I think that she thought through her decision to be involved in an affair with Sebastian very carefully. She gave her heart to him fully, only to have it broken. And she moves on to go back to her life, wiser for the experience. When Sebastian comes calling, she doesn't fall back into this arms immediately. In my opinion, her reticience to trust him again was wise, and I respected her for it. He treated her abominably, and he had to make up for that before she could give her heart again. Which he does exceedingly well, I must say.
The Greek's Innocent Virgin is one of those modern romances that has enough old-fashioned touches that make it enjoyable for those of us readers who don't really go for the Sex and the City-type romance novel. Yes, ordinary heroines with old-fashioned values can still have their happy ending without abandoning too many of their values in the process. If a reader is of the ordinary/wholesome type, you can get a little bit of identification with your romance read in this story. It's not heavy-handed, but I get the feeling that this story would appeal, if you're looking for this kind of book. If you're not, I think you can still enjoy this story if you want a quick, enjoyable, and romantic read.
February 10, 2017
Look, I shouldn't be liking this book, but it was hilarious! And I LOVED it! Don't pay attention to the blurb. Because it makes the hero sound like an Ancient Greek playboy dinosaur who's looking for a virgin bride. He wasn't! And the whole thing was even funnier and the virginity wasn't the issue here!
He was still slapworthy and deserved couple of kicks to his balls but sweet baby Jesus I was laughing too much to get angry! The whole situation was a ridiculous mess and it was a pleasant read at the end!
He was still slapworthy and deserved couple of kicks to his balls but sweet baby Jesus I was laughing too much to get angry! The whole situation was a ridiculous mess and it was a pleasant read at the end!
September 12, 2010
We all know the drill: 30-year-old Greek tycoon Sebastian Kouros has the hots for 23-year-old innocent Rachel Long, but he thinks she's like her spoiled, scheming and unfaithful mother (who married and eventually caused his beloved great-uncle's death, no less). So Sebastian treats Rachel with contempt and disrespect, because everyone knows that character flaws are genetic traits and passes from mother to daughter. *rolls eyeballs* Moving on...
At first, Rachel takes the usual crap from Sebastian because she loves him and thinks he'll come to love her too when he gets to know her. Unfortunately, she fails to deliver the ultimate proof of innocence - gasp, she doesn't bleed when they make love for the 1st time! - so he draws all sorts of deranged conclusions from that, calls her names and sends her running away. Only when his mother (!!!) tells him that not all virgins bleed on their 1st time, he rethinks his actions and admits he was wrong about Rachel. But it's too late, because she's gone and he doesn't know where she is and how to find her. Oh no! What will he do? How is he supposed to live without her?
Well, I'm not going to give anything else away, but regular HP readers shouldn't have any problem guessing the rest of the story. All these books follow a basic formula, and it's up to the author to make readers enjoy it over and over again. Ms. Monroe did an OK job here: Sebastian had some jerk-ish moments but was humble enough to apologize when he was wrong; Rachel was sweet and innocent, but she was no pushover; they had good chemistry together and their love scenes were hot.
All in all, this was a nice little read. Not too taxing - hey, it's Saturday and my brain needed a break, LOL - and good enough to keep me entertained for 2-3 hours.
At first, Rachel takes the usual crap from Sebastian because she loves him and thinks he'll come to love her too when he gets to know her. Unfortunately, she fails to deliver the ultimate proof of innocence - gasp, she doesn't bleed when they make love for the 1st time! - so he draws all sorts of deranged conclusions from that, calls her names and sends her running away. Only when his mother (!!!) tells him that not all virgins bleed on their 1st time, he rethinks his actions and admits he was wrong about Rachel. But it's too late, because she's gone and he doesn't know where she is and how to find her. Oh no! What will he do? How is he supposed to live without her?
Well, I'm not going to give anything else away, but regular HP readers shouldn't have any problem guessing the rest of the story. All these books follow a basic formula, and it's up to the author to make readers enjoy it over and over again. Ms. Monroe did an OK job here: Sebastian had some jerk-ish moments but was humble enough to apologize when he was wrong; Rachel was sweet and innocent, but she was no pushover; they had good chemistry together and their love scenes were hot.
All in all, this was a nice little read. Not too taxing - hey, it's Saturday and my brain needed a break, LOL - and good enough to keep me entertained for 2-3 hours.
February 11, 2013
Another instant favorite! Sebastian is in lust with Rachel. Rachel is in love with Sebastian. After their night together he misjudges her and treats her badly. Very soon he realizes how badly he has maligned sweet innocent Rachel and he will do anything to rectify his mistake. After his mistreatment the heroine really hardens her heart and was determined to not let him in again.
She contacts him again not for her sake but for the sake of her unborn child. She is advised to have an abortion because of her dangerous heart condition but she is totally against it. She is determined to keep her baby and risk her own health instead. I adored Rachel! she is brave, loving and her strength and unconditional love for her baby made me tear up badly! Sebastian grovelled and made her realize his feelings for her were as deeply as her own. He even went as far as to find her missing father for her! So glad these two soul mates got their happy ending in more ways than one! Amazing!
She contacts him again not for her sake but for the sake of her unborn child. She is advised to have an abortion because of her dangerous heart condition but she is totally against it. She is determined to keep her baby and risk her own health instead. I adored Rachel! she is brave, loving and her strength and unconditional love for her baby made me tear up badly! Sebastian grovelled and made her realize his feelings for her were as deeply as her own. He even went as far as to find her missing father for her! So glad these two soul mates got their happy ending in more ways than one! Amazing!
May 2, 2023
Greek tycoon Sebastian Kouros, approx 30 years old, just lost his great-uncle who was married to a very evil woman who died alongside his great uncle in an automobile accident. She was truly wicked and awful and treated her family terribly including her daughter, Rachel, 23 years old. To say the mother was slutty is being much too kind. This woman had a daughter that she cared nothing about. Her daughter, Rachel, went to college in the US while the family remained in Greece. She never came back home and the reason was two-fold. First, she didn't want anything to do with her scheming, lying, cheating mother because people always automatically assumed like mother like daughter and that couldn't be further from the truth.
The second reason is because she had fallen in love at the age of seventeen with the great-nephew, Sebastian Kouros, of her mother's husband. He was a gorgeous wealthy man but those things were not important. He made her come alive when she was around him. He was a man about town and she just couldn't go back to Greece and be on the sidelines while he dated beautiful, glamorous women from all over the world who he took to his bed. It would completely break her to witness that.
He was also so very kind to Rachel and when she went back home to Greece for her mother's and her husband's funeral she saw him.
They are very drawn to each other-always have been-but he believes her to be like her mother even though she has never acted the part. They finally got together one evening and when they woke the next morning he said very unforgivable and harmful things that broke her young heart, shattering her. She was devastated. She had been a virgin but he accused her of sleeping around and said horrible heartbreaking things to her. It was so bad that she could no longer stay. She packed up and left to go home to the US. It is then she finds out she is pregnant and is very ill.
I enjoyed this for the second time but this hero was really clueless on how to get his woman back. Everything he did was wrong, dead wrong and instead of drawing her to him it ended up pushing her further away. I was not real sure a real person could actually be as ignorant as he was and that brought it down a star for me.
This is book one of a duology.
The second reason is because she had fallen in love at the age of seventeen with the great-nephew, Sebastian Kouros, of her mother's husband. He was a gorgeous wealthy man but those things were not important. He made her come alive when she was around him. He was a man about town and she just couldn't go back to Greece and be on the sidelines while he dated beautiful, glamorous women from all over the world who he took to his bed. It would completely break her to witness that.
He was also so very kind to Rachel and when she went back home to Greece for her mother's and her husband's funeral she saw him.
They are very drawn to each other-always have been-but he believes her to be like her mother even though she has never acted the part. They finally got together one evening and when they woke the next morning he said very unforgivable and harmful things that broke her young heart, shattering her. She was devastated. She had been a virgin but he accused her of sleeping around and said horrible heartbreaking things to her. It was so bad that she could no longer stay. She packed up and left to go home to the US. It is then she finds out she is pregnant and is very ill.
I enjoyed this for the second time but this hero was really clueless on how to get his woman back. Everything he did was wrong, dead wrong and instead of drawing her to him it ended up pushing her further away. I was not real sure a real person could actually be as ignorant as he was and that brought it down a star for me.
This is book one of a duology.
November 13, 2016
Heroine actually has a spine and makes Greek alpa her work for it.
No plot discussion here as it's been done and done well.
I do want to contribute something as this is such a deliciously tropey Harlequin:
Virgins (just one)
Unrequited love
A magic P
Rotten parent(s)
Running from the hero
Spines of steel (heroines only apply within)
Sudden illness
Pregnancy
Hidden/secret baby (kind of, see sudden illness)
Failure to communicate and leaping to conclusions (heroes don't just jump, they leap in Harley-land, and always, always land waaayyyy off target)
Groveling
An alpha hero clearly out of his razor-like mind that goes into a well deserved decline for his ass-hattedness and aforementioned leaping to conclusions
Surprisingly, one of the most rational and sympathetic characters is the H's mother. Trope says that most mothers of Greek alpha ass-hats are suspicious, conniving and xenophobic. Thank you Ms. Monroe for a nice change of pace.
No plot discussion here as it's been done and done well.
I do want to contribute something as this is such a deliciously tropey Harlequin:
Virgins (just one)
Unrequited love
A magic P
Rotten parent(s)
Running from the hero
Spines of steel (heroines only apply within)
Sudden illness
Pregnancy
Hidden/secret baby (kind of, see sudden illness)
Failure to communicate and leaping to conclusions (heroes don't just jump, they leap in Harley-land, and always, always land waaayyyy off target)
Groveling
An alpha hero clearly out of his razor-like mind that goes into a well deserved decline for his ass-hattedness and aforementioned leaping to conclusions
Surprisingly, one of the most rational and sympathetic characters is the H's mother. Trope says that most mothers of Greek alpha ass-hats are suspicious, conniving and xenophobic. Thank you Ms. Monroe for a nice change of pace.
December 11, 2019
Talk about bad moms
Her Mother was awful but I loved the heroine. She was perfect. So not a doormat and kind and honest. I hated the jerk hero at first and it took me until about 75% to even think about liking him. He was so cruel to the heroine. Especially the night after they fooled around. He was cruel. I loved when she left her memento box behind. And then when he talked to his Mother I almost laughed out loud. She was a great character. I liked that she was good to the h and was matchmaking. There was angst but not so much it puts you off, it was just enough to keep the Story interesting. I definitely will not forget it. Thank you Melody for recommending it and it was worth the 24 hours trying to find it.
Her Mother was awful but I loved the heroine. She was perfect. So not a doormat and kind and honest. I hated the jerk hero at first and it took me until about 75% to even think about liking him. He was so cruel to the heroine. Especially the night after they fooled around. He was cruel. I loved when she left her memento box behind. And then when he talked to his Mother I almost laughed out loud. She was a great character. I liked that she was good to the h and was matchmaking. There was angst but not so much it puts you off, it was just enough to keep the Story interesting. I definitely will not forget it. Thank you Melody for recommending it and it was worth the 24 hours trying to find it.
June 25, 2023
3 ⭐⭐⭐ - OK or decent reads
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UPDATE: reread June 2023
UPDATE: reread July 2018
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Lucy Monroe - Falsa Ilusão
The Greed's Innocent Virgin - Jessica 72
paperback Portuguese edition
=======================
UPDATE: reread June 2023
UPDATE: reread July 2018
--------------
Lucy Monroe - Falsa Ilusão
The Greed's Innocent Virgin - Jessica 72
paperback Portuguese edition
July 27, 2020
"The Greek's Innocent Virgin" is the story of Rachel and Sebastian.
This is one of those romances, which were totally average but utterly engaging and enjoyable.
The hero is this rich Greek billionaire/ alpha/ cynic/asshole who is judgmental, epitome of manliness, mama's boy and filled with politeness. His uncle was married the heroine's mother, and they both die in a tragic accident after the snooty mother is found cheating (again). The hero puts the whole blame on the heroine, and thinks of her as a giant manipulative slut. She proves on multiple occasions that she's a kind, sweet, gentle woman who is independent and who's been in love with the hero for years- yet the hero's emotions are like on a see saw.
Hero's brain: She's a hoe
Also hero's brain: She's so hot let's bang her
Further hero's brain: She's an innocent this is against my morals
Back to hero's brain: Such a manipulative bitch
Anyways, he does bang her, then immediately assumes the worse because of his archaic thoughts and zero knowledge about female anatomy. She leaves, gets pregnant and he now has to grovel his ass off. But do not worry, she's having a heart as big of an ocean and he's going to fish for love corals. And she's hesitant (not really).
Did I mention they glide over her like a bedtime story. But then again there's the whole vasectomy and daddy drama I did not expect, but by the time the book had got to a level of sweet ridiculousness that my heart was burnt marshmallow and my teeth had cavities.
Anyways, I enjoyed it.
Unsafe by definition
3/5
This is one of those romances, which were totally average but utterly engaging and enjoyable.
The hero is this rich Greek billionaire/ alpha/ cynic/asshole who is judgmental, epitome of manliness, mama's boy and filled with politeness. His uncle was married the heroine's mother, and they both die in a tragic accident after the snooty mother is found cheating (again). The hero puts the whole blame on the heroine, and thinks of her as a giant manipulative slut. She proves on multiple occasions that she's a kind, sweet, gentle woman who is independent and who's been in love with the hero for years- yet the hero's emotions are like on a see saw.
Hero's brain: She's a hoe
Also hero's brain: She's so hot let's bang her
Further hero's brain: She's an innocent this is against my morals
Back to hero's brain: Such a manipulative bitch
Anyways, he does bang her, then immediately assumes the worse because of his archaic thoughts and zero knowledge about female anatomy. She leaves, gets pregnant and he now has to grovel his ass off. But do not worry, she's having a heart as big of an ocean and he's going to fish for love corals. And she's hesitant (not really).
Did I mention they glide over her like a bedtime story. But then again there's the whole vasectomy and daddy drama I did not expect, but by the time the book had got to a level of sweet ridiculousness that my heart was burnt marshmallow and my teeth had cavities.
Anyways, I enjoyed it.
Unsafe by definition
3/5
August 11, 2011
I admit it gives me a heart-twinge when a guy tears up as he realizes how badly he has maligned the heroine. As a mom, I just want to comfort him [instead of the ill-used girl] and say “it’s okay, dearie, she’ll forgive you” [thus preempting the girl’s prerogative to say no].
But…
be still, my beating heart! I’ve got a bone (make it a vertebrae) to pick with this dubious fellow.
First: face saving. I didn’t at all like the way the hero Sebastan used the non compos mentis defense to excuse his behavior. He rationalized his acusations as one colossal blunder of a lunatic and therefore, should be dismissed without prejudice. The heroine’s initial reactions were spot on: “Just like that. Amazing….[He could] pretend that everything was fine between them.”
Well, it’s always easier to spew out hostile words than to eat them.
But it wasn’t up to him to brush off the injury he had caused as if it were nothing relevant. Nor was it his right to demand that she simply forget that fiasco. As painful and embarrassing the memory of his unjust words was to him, his main focus shouldn’t have been to save face but to acknowledge that he has done her incredibly wrong.
Second: self-seeking. He wanted Rachel back so he bribed her with an island and villa. He wanted her as a lover so he arranged their wedding without her say-so. He wanted her to concede to his plans so he childishly sulked and withheld his presence from her. He needed her to admit that she was his. It's all about him and what he wants. All that was lacking in this one-man show was Ed MacMahon announcing, “And heeeeeeerre’s Sebastian!”
Like the hero's mother, we could revel in this alpha maleness as something romantic. But get this: no matter his score on the alpha-male-meter, true love doesn't seek its own gratification. Neither is it manipulative under the guise of it's-for-your-own-good,cher.
Last: embellishing. Ha! I nearly fell for that sweet talk he gave the heroine Rachel. With a straight face, he told her that a legal marriage between them was only ever necessary to make her his wife in name only because he was already committed to her in spirit the first time they had sex. He said that, while in the throes of passion, he consciously pledged to marry her. Scout’s honor, he said.
Even Rachel was flabbergasted and thought, “He couldn’t be serious.”
You see, the glaring problem of his exaggeration is this: how serious could he be in his decision, how convinced was he of his commitment, how determined could he be to marry the heroine, when in less than 3 hours later, he was able to turn around and back out of that promise given while in a sexual daze?
An iota.
Oy vey! This hero is so digging his own hole. But the trusting, loving heroine just grants him general amnesty like she's Andrew Jackson reincarnated.
This story proposed the twisted logic that the depth of the hero’s attraction corresponded to the vitriol of his attack. You know, how you always hurt the one you love the most song-and-dance.
In real life, however, the opposite is true: the depth of your love should be inversely proportional to the aggression of your words.
You know that bit about love is patient, love is kind, rejoices in the truth, believes all thing and all that jazz.
But…
be still, my beating heart! I’ve got a bone (make it a vertebrae) to pick with this dubious fellow.
First: face saving. I didn’t at all like the way the hero Sebastan used the non compos mentis defense to excuse his behavior. He rationalized his acusations as one colossal blunder of a lunatic and therefore, should be dismissed without prejudice. The heroine’s initial reactions were spot on: “Just like that. Amazing….[He could] pretend that everything was fine between them.”
Well, it’s always easier to spew out hostile words than to eat them.
But it wasn’t up to him to brush off the injury he had caused as if it were nothing relevant. Nor was it his right to demand that she simply forget that fiasco. As painful and embarrassing the memory of his unjust words was to him, his main focus shouldn’t have been to save face but to acknowledge that he has done her incredibly wrong.
Second: self-seeking. He wanted Rachel back so he bribed her with an island and villa. He wanted her as a lover so he arranged their wedding without her say-so. He wanted her to concede to his plans so he childishly sulked and withheld his presence from her. He needed her to admit that she was his. It's all about him and what he wants. All that was lacking in this one-man show was Ed MacMahon announcing, “And heeeeeeerre’s Sebastian!”
Like the hero's mother, we could revel in this alpha maleness as something romantic. But get this: no matter his score on the alpha-male-meter, true love doesn't seek its own gratification. Neither is it manipulative under the guise of it's-for-your-own-good,cher.
Last: embellishing. Ha! I nearly fell for that sweet talk he gave the heroine Rachel. With a straight face, he told her that a legal marriage between them was only ever necessary to make her his wife in name only because he was already committed to her in spirit the first time they had sex. He said that, while in the throes of passion, he consciously pledged to marry her. Scout’s honor, he said.
Even Rachel was flabbergasted and thought, “He couldn’t be serious.”
You see, the glaring problem of his exaggeration is this: how serious could he be in his decision, how convinced was he of his commitment, how determined could he be to marry the heroine, when in less than 3 hours later, he was able to turn around and back out of that promise given while in a sexual daze?
An iota.
Oy vey! This hero is so digging his own hole. But the trusting, loving heroine just grants him general amnesty like she's Andrew Jackson reincarnated.
This story proposed the twisted logic that the depth of the hero’s attraction corresponded to the vitriol of his attack. You know, how you always hurt the one you love the most song-and-dance.
In real life, however, the opposite is true: the depth of your love should be inversely proportional to the aggression of your words.
You know that bit about love is patient, love is kind, rejoices in the truth, believes all thing and all that jazz.
February 8, 2019
Enjoyed this to the core!
Wow I loved this. It was very fast paced and filled with angst,drama, passion, pain of unrequited love. The main characters were made for each other. I loved how the heroine made hero work for her forgiveness. Hero was so ashamed of his behavior. His mother also won my heart. I kept procrastinating reading this book because I loved, loved the second one in the series and didn’t want anything to spoil that. But now I’m glad and sure I’ll be re-reading this soon.
Absolutely recommended.
Wow I loved this. It was very fast paced and filled with angst,drama, passion, pain of unrequited love. The main characters were made for each other. I loved how the heroine made hero work for her forgiveness. Hero was so ashamed of his behavior. His mother also won my heart. I kept procrastinating reading this book because I loved, loved the second one in the series and didn’t want anything to spoil that. But now I’m glad and sure I’ll be re-reading this soon.
Absolutely recommended.
March 14, 2021
Not a bad HR read. I thought it would be a bit more angsty considering the story line, but I didn't feel the angst I was craving. The story was decent though.
August 20, 2015
3.5 stars. Yet another 'you're a scheming slut' plot.
The h's mother was a real piece of work. A narcissistic type who wasn't even capable of loving or protecting her own daughter.
The mother, Andrea, marries the hero's much older great-uncle, a man who has been like a father to the hero. She basically uses him for his money and sleeps with other men. As the book opens both have died in a car wreck leaving a party where the uncle caught his wife cheating (again). With all the anger and the alcohol behind the wheel - there is a crash.
The hero had always been nice to (and secretly attracted to) Andrea's daughter, Rachel. But in his grief he turns his anger on Rachel, blaming her for not doing something to stop mom's crappy behavior. Like anyone could.
After they sleep together and he decides she wasn't really a virgin (she was) he says some nasty, nasty things to her. *Warning* could be triggering for victims of sexual assault. Needless to say, I was VERY glad she walked out on the H.
It is fun to read about the H being vulnerable and trying to get back into the h's good graces. The h is also a very responsible, likeable person. She would do what she though was best for her child regardless of her feelings for the hero.
The h's mother was a real piece of work. A narcissistic type who wasn't even capable of loving or protecting her own daughter.
The mother, Andrea, marries the hero's much older great-uncle, a man who has been like a father to the hero. She basically uses him for his money and sleeps with other men. As the book opens both have died in a car wreck leaving a party where the uncle caught his wife cheating (again). With all the anger and the alcohol behind the wheel - there is a crash.
The hero had always been nice to (and secretly attracted to) Andrea's daughter, Rachel. But in his grief he turns his anger on Rachel, blaming her for not doing something to stop mom's crappy behavior. Like anyone could.
After they sleep together and he decides she wasn't really a virgin (she was) he says some nasty, nasty things to her. *Warning* could be triggering for victims of sexual assault. Needless to say, I was VERY glad she walked out on the H.
It is fun to read about the H being vulnerable and trying to get back into the h's good graces. The h is also a very responsible, likeable person. She would do what she though was best for her child regardless of her feelings for the hero.
February 11, 2013
This is one of my all time favorite Lucy Monroe books that I often go back to read on those rainy days. Sebastian makes an absolutely horrible mistake and loses the love of his life, Rachel. Rachel, on the other hand, is a very strong heroine...Recognizing that she has been tramped on by Sebastian, she leaves without a backwards glance. Unfortunately health reasons cause her months later to contact Sebastian and from there, the rest of the book is focused on how Sebastian (recognizing his mistake) works hard to win her back. It's got the "big misunderstanding", heaps of grovel and a well earned Happy Ending. You see Rachel take a big step forward to put her hurt aside because Sebastian truly earned her love and trust. The best lesson being to take the risk to live your life with love versus hate and regrets. A great read
June 11, 2019
Absolutely adored this book and can't wait to re-read it!!!
So this one's about teenage love of sorts. Sebastian and Rachel know each other through family and have a bit of a crush on each other. They meet on and off through the years and while Sebastian keeps note of how Rachel has become a beautiful woman and he'd like to know her more intimately, Rachel has quietly been falling in love with him and collecting mementos of every meeting they've had.
Eventually they meet after a few years when Rachel's mother has died along with her husband (who is Sebastian's uncle). With her mother's bad reputation of being fast and sleazy and sleeping around thru her marriage, Rachel is met by contempt from Sebastian who inwardly blames Rachel's mother for his uncle's early death and unfortunate marriage.
Their extreme attraction to each other is combusting so they give in to that but Sebastian thinks that Rachel used him to get access to his wealth, just like her mother did with his uncle.
It's a messy situation that Rachel walks away from and eventually realizes that she's also pregnant. Sebastian also realizes that his thick headed assumption has pushed her away for good. The rest of the book is his grovel and acknowledging that he treated her like a tramp and was at fault.
Rachel was also no pushover! After being so deeply hurt and accused of having nefarious intentions, when she's actually in love with Sebastian, she steels her heart and refuses his each attempt for redemption.
It's sweet HEA at the end and Sebastian is by far a very hot alpha that will stay in my head and other places for a long time... Look at that cover!
So this one's about teenage love of sorts. Sebastian and Rachel know each other through family and have a bit of a crush on each other. They meet on and off through the years and while Sebastian keeps note of how Rachel has become a beautiful woman and he'd like to know her more intimately, Rachel has quietly been falling in love with him and collecting mementos of every meeting they've had.
Eventually they meet after a few years when Rachel's mother has died along with her husband (who is Sebastian's uncle). With her mother's bad reputation of being fast and sleazy and sleeping around thru her marriage, Rachel is met by contempt from Sebastian who inwardly blames Rachel's mother for his uncle's early death and unfortunate marriage.
Their extreme attraction to each other is combusting so they give in to that but Sebastian thinks that Rachel used him to get access to his wealth, just like her mother did with his uncle.
It's a messy situation that Rachel walks away from and eventually realizes that she's also pregnant. Sebastian also realizes that his thick headed assumption has pushed her away for good. The rest of the book is his grovel and acknowledging that he treated her like a tramp and was at fault.
Rachel was also no pushover! After being so deeply hurt and accused of having nefarious intentions, when she's actually in love with Sebastian, she steels her heart and refuses his each attempt for redemption.
It's sweet HEA at the end and Sebastian is by far a very hot alpha that will stay in my head and other places for a long time... Look at that cover!
December 14, 2025
Missed angst opportunities
The author created so many great angst plot points but she never utilized them to their full potential. Just as it was accelerating, it would run out of gas and fizzle into nothing.
Angst is half the reason I read hq to beging with.
The other half is the OTT-ness. And it lacked that too.
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🕮⋆˚࿔✎𓂃 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐬
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The author created so many great angst plot points but she never utilized them to their full potential. Just as it was accelerating, it would run out of gas and fizzle into nothing.
Angst is half the reason I read hq to beging with.
The other half is the OTT-ness. And it lacked that too.
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🕮⋆˚࿔✎𓂃 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐬
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February 10, 2017
Thanks Mrs. Lucy Monroe for this jewel!
Oh, for further references read Vintage and Jenny reviews. Nuff said.
Oh, for further references read Vintage and Jenny reviews. Nuff said.
February 23, 2017
I just love Lucy monroe!she writes the most amazing heros!!yes the hero was horrible in the beginning,but he redeemed himself throughout the book.I mean the chap was practically begging the heroine! i loved the portrayal of the heroine as well.After all she went through she didn't turn out to be a wallflower and was strong.i loved how she stood up to the hero.I really liked the scene where the hero drunk dials the heroine,it showed how much he loved her and was hurt when she started to ignore him!overall an excellent read,which left a happy smile on my face!
July 30, 2015
I really liked Rachel. She had an inner strength and her expectations of herself was commendable. Sebastian is an ass in the first part of the story but even then the reader can clearly see his struggles with his own feelings when it involved Rachel. He does a 350 turn around in the second half but Rachael made him earn her love.
October 10, 2016
A feel good book . Though Sebastian had been nasty at a point , He made up for it . I loved reading it . Rn reading #KourosBrothersDuo 2 .
August 12, 2016
4 Stars! ~ Rachel returns to Greece to attend her mother's and step-father's funeral. She's had a crush on her step-father's nephew since she met him when she was 17, and seeing his bitterness now, Rachel knows that he will be very glad to see the last of her. Sebastien resents the attraction he feels for Rachel, especially as he feels that Rachel could have stopped her mother's reckless behaviour that led to the accident that took his uncle's life. In the days following the funerals, Sebastien sees in Rachel the innocent woman he had known and they spend time together, ending in a night of passion. The next morning Sebastien rejects Rachel, claiming she is just like her money hungry mother, so Rachel flees Greece. After months home in the US, Rachel suffers from heart flutters so intense that she seeks a doctor, and learns that she has an ailment that must be treated very soon or she may stroke or have a heart attack. Treatment is straightforward, except for the complication that Rachel is pregnant. Fearing what will become of her baby should anything happen to her, Rachel is compelled to contact Sebastien.
This is another emotionally intense love story. You can feel Rachel's pain when Sebastien rejects her and feel Sebastien's defeat when he finds Rachel's keepsake box in the trash can, the box filled with mementos of him from the time she was a teenager. These two were destined to be together, and I'm glad Ms. Monroe gave them their HEA.
This is another emotionally intense love story. You can feel Rachel's pain when Sebastien rejects her and feel Sebastien's defeat when he finds Rachel's keepsake box in the trash can, the box filled with mementos of him from the time she was a teenager. These two were destined to be together, and I'm glad Ms. Monroe gave them their HEA.
November 30, 2011
3.75 Stars
Sometimes I have a real hankering for a sweet and easy Mills & Boon novel and this story filled the spot nicely.
Rachel had been crushing on her sort-of brother-in-law since she was sixteen, but had moved away from their home in Greece many years ago so that she could get away from her manipulating mother and attend university in America.
When her mother dies in a car accident killing Sebastian's Uncle (that he treated like a father) they are reunited. But Sebastian holds a grudge towards Rachel because it was her mothers fault that his beloved uncle died.
Any-who, passion ignites but Sebastian can't help but wonder if Rachel is like her scheming mother.
It is a chase and release sort of story - where they start getting it on, then there's some drama, then Seb chases Rach, then the other way around etc etc until the HEA at the end.
Good, easy read - that hit the spot.
Sometimes I have a real hankering for a sweet and easy Mills & Boon novel and this story filled the spot nicely.
Rachel had been crushing on her sort-of brother-in-law since she was sixteen, but had moved away from their home in Greece many years ago so that she could get away from her manipulating mother and attend university in America.
When her mother dies in a car accident killing Sebastian's Uncle (that he treated like a father) they are reunited. But Sebastian holds a grudge towards Rachel because it was her mothers fault that his beloved uncle died.
Any-who, passion ignites but Sebastian can't help but wonder if Rachel is like her scheming mother.
It is a chase and release sort of story - where they start getting it on, then there's some drama, then Seb chases Rach, then the other way around etc etc until the HEA at the end.
Good, easy read - that hit the spot.
June 29, 2013
This was so cute, and I read it faster than any book I've read in a while. I loved how strong the h was, even though she knew she loved him and he was the only guy for her, she didn't allow him to walk over her.
Our H was an autocratic Greek male who jumped to the entirely wrong conclusion mostly because of his pride, but, when the smoke cleared he was sooooooo remorseful it was melancholy. You could see he started to value her for her actual attributes and had stopped judging her by her mother's dirty yard stick. Loved it!
Our H was an autocratic Greek male who jumped to the entirely wrong conclusion mostly because of his pride, but, when the smoke cleared he was sooooooo remorseful it was melancholy. You could see he started to value her for her actual attributes and had stopped judging her by her mother's dirty yard stick. Loved it!
March 25, 2012
This is book one of a 2 book series about bothers. I loved the second book, but this one is just not as good. It is a good story, and while it has the typical hero thinks heroine is greedy ho thing he quickly realizes he is wrong (with a timely verbal slap from his momma!) and he does a nice job fixing everything. It is just hard to rate this book better when it is compared to book 2.
March 11, 2017
3.5 stars :)
November 28, 2011
Rachel Long aka Rachel Newman has returned to Greece for the funeral of her nasty, overreaching, gold digging ho bag mother and sweeter-than-can-be-believed-finally-sprouted-a-brain stepfather. She wasn’t planning on staying, but she was talked into it by the hot Greek who was always nice to her, Sebastian Kouros. (or at least he didn’t treat her poorly because of her mother) Well that was then, and this is now because he isn’t as nice now. He actually had the gall to tell her she should have reined in her MOTHER some instead of running off to live her own life. That JERK! But Sebastian is so drawn to Rachel that it isn’t even funny. Yet he is extremely leery of getting involved w/ her because surely the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Sebastian waffles back and forth on that score several times, but he doesn’t seem afraid to apologize either. He knows that Rachel isn’t like her mother, but still she is the daughter of that . . . . (see above). So of course when he finally gets to have Rachel he informs her straight up that it will not be leading to marriage – and of course Rachel is all good w/ that. She is surprised that Sebastian can make her desire him especially after the trauma of a near rape years ago that mommy dearest wrote off as nothing btw!
Sebastian has to have his mother point some things out to him after his wonderful night w/ Rachel and his stupidly rash conclusions that he drew. Okay, yes they were out there, but I think he was looking for a reason to push her away and that thought process he hit upon . . . paydirt! I could actually see someone rationalizing that all out since they were still suffering from the loss of a beloved relative – not excusing it though but I can see that happening. Yes, Sebastian was a POW! He is quickly tuned into the truth by an interested party who was playing match maker though.
Rachel was enthralled w/ him from years ago – she kept mementos that pertained to him but tossed them after he unleashed the POW of her. Sebastian searches her out – at home and away but isn’t having much luck as Rachel goes by the name Newman. She does finally call because she is ill and knows that Sebastian will take care of the wee surprise if she is unable to. He had been waiting for her to call! IMHO I don’t think she would have called if for any other reason and I so respected her for that.
Sebastian has to have his mother point some things out to him after his wonderful night w/ Rachel and his stupidly rash conclusions that he drew. Okay, yes they were out there, but I think he was looking for a reason to push her away and that thought process he hit upon . . . paydirt! I could actually see someone rationalizing that all out since they were still suffering from the loss of a beloved relative – not excusing it though but I can see that happening. Yes, Sebastian was a POW! He is quickly tuned into the truth by an interested party who was playing match maker though.
Rachel was enthralled w/ him from years ago – she kept mementos that pertained to him but tossed them after he unleashed the POW of her. Sebastian searches her out – at home and away but isn’t having much luck as Rachel goes by the name Newman. She does finally call because she is ill and knows that Sebastian will take care of the wee surprise if she is unable to. He had been waiting for her to call! IMHO I don’t think she would have called if for any other reason and I so respected her for that.
November 18, 2011
I try to avoid this book because I really didn't like it. It's hard to believe that it's in the same series as The Greek's Christmas Baby.
So, the heroine is the good girl who's mother was a user parasite type woman married to a nice man. That nice man happened to be the hero's uncle. The whole family hated her mother because of the way she treated her husband. The hero was the person that the heroine looked up to who treated her normally and understood that she was not like her mother.
So enter years later and the heroine's mother and stepfather die. She goes back to the island they live on and is confronted with the family and the hero. He waffles around between thinking she's a nice person who he wants to have sex with and she's an evil B. who's just like her mother and he wants to have sex with.
The hero makes it clear that he doesn't want her until she tries to leave. Then he waffles around to have her stay because he wants her, but makes it clear that he will never ever ever ever marry her.
The two wind up in bed and the hero wakes up thinking the heroine is a no good ho like her mommy. When the heroine goes to tell him that he was special to her because she'd never let another man near her after her near rape at 16, he goes off about what a slut she is and how she's just like her mother.
The heroine winds up leaving his sorry butt and winding up pregnant.
Unfortunately she has a heart condition that's probably going to kill her so she goes back to the hero so he can raise his child when she inevitably dies.
That's the only part of this book that I liked.
But then the hero comes to get her, almost kills her proving that she wants him, and then he's all sad because she just doesn't love him anymore and can't trust him and all that bad stuff he said about her he didn't mean. Oh he went crazy that day and it's all in the past.
And the heroine rolls over and takes it.
Ugh.
So, the heroine is the good girl who's mother was a user parasite type woman married to a nice man. That nice man happened to be the hero's uncle. The whole family hated her mother because of the way she treated her husband. The hero was the person that the heroine looked up to who treated her normally and understood that she was not like her mother.
So enter years later and the heroine's mother and stepfather die. She goes back to the island they live on and is confronted with the family and the hero. He waffles around between thinking she's a nice person who he wants to have sex with and she's an evil B. who's just like her mother and he wants to have sex with.
The hero makes it clear that he doesn't want her until she tries to leave. Then he waffles around to have her stay because he wants her, but makes it clear that he will never ever ever ever marry her.
The two wind up in bed and the hero wakes up thinking the heroine is a no good ho like her mommy. When the heroine goes to tell him that he was special to her because she'd never let another man near her after her near rape at 16, he goes off about what a slut she is and how she's just like her mother.
The heroine winds up leaving his sorry butt and winding up pregnant.
Unfortunately she has a heart condition that's probably going to kill her so she goes back to the hero so he can raise his child when she inevitably dies.
That's the only part of this book that I liked.
But then the hero comes to get her, almost kills her proving that she wants him, and then he's all sad because she just doesn't love him anymore and can't trust him and all that bad stuff he said about her he didn't mean. Oh he went crazy that day and it's all in the past.
And the heroine rolls over and takes it.
Ugh.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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