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Damiano's Return
Damiano Braganzi is back! Damiano-the husband whom Eden had thought she'd never see again....Eden and Damiano had been married only a short time when he disappeared, and things had not been good between them. So, though Eden knows her love for Damiano is as strong as ever, she fears that he will want a divorce...unless she can overcome her hang-ups in the bedroom....
288 pages, Hardcover
First published November 1, 2000
52 people are currently reading
393 people want to read
About the author
Lynne Graham
1,763 books1,450 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Lynne Graham was born on July 30, 1956 of Irish-Scottish parentage. She has livedin Northern Ireland all her life. She grew up in a seaside village with herbrother. She learnt to read at the age of 3, and haven't stopped since then.
Lynne first met her husband when she was 14. At 15, she wrote her firstbook, but it was rejected everywhere. Lynne married after she completed adegree at Edinburgh University. She started writing again when she was athome with her first child. It took several attempts before she sold herfirst book in 1987 and the delight of seeing that first book for sale in thelocal newsagents has never been forgotten. Now, there are over 10 million ofher books in print worldwide.
Lynne always wanted a large family and has five children. Her eldest and heronly natural child is 19 and currently at university. Her other fourchildren, who are every bit as dear to her heart, are adopted. She has two9-year-olds adopted from Sri Lanka and a 5- and a 3-year-old adopted fromGuatemala. In Lynne's home, there is a rich and diverse cultural mix, whichadds a whole extra dimension of interest and discovery to family life. Thefamily lives in a country house surrounded by a woodland garden, which iswonderfully private. The family has two pets. Thomas, a very large andaffectionate black cat, bosses the dog and hunts rabbits. The dog is Daisy,an adorable but not very bright white West Highland terrier, who loves beingchased by the cat. At night, dog and cat sleep together in front of thekitchen stove. Lynne loves gardening, cooking, collects everything from oldtoys to rock specimens and is crazy about every aspect of Christmas.
Lynne Graham was born on July 30, 1956 of Irish-Scottish parentage. She has livedin Northern Ireland all her life. She grew up in a seaside village with herbrother. She learnt to read at the age of 3, and haven't stopped since then.
Lynne first met her husband when she was 14. At 15, she wrote her firstbook, but it was rejected everywhere. Lynne married after she completed adegree at Edinburgh University. She started writing again when she was athome with her first child. It took several attempts before she sold herfirst book in 1987 and the delight of seeing that first book for sale in thelocal newsagents has never been forgotten. Now, there are over 10 million ofher books in print worldwide.
Lynne always wanted a large family and has five children. Her eldest and heronly natural child is 19 and currently at university. Her other fourchildren, who are every bit as dear to her heart, are adopted. She has two9-year-olds adopted from Sri Lanka and a 5- and a 3-year-old adopted fromGuatemala. In Lynne's home, there is a rich and diverse cultural mix, whichadds a whole extra dimension of interest and discovery to family life. Thefamily lives in a country house surrounded by a woodland garden, which iswonderfully private. The family has two pets. Thomas, a very large andaffectionate black cat, bosses the dog and hunts rabbits. The dog is Daisy,an adorable but not very bright white West Highland terrier, who loves beingchased by the cat. At night, dog and cat sleep together in front of thekitchen stove. Lynne loves gardening, cooking, collects everything from oldtoys to rock specimens and is crazy about every aspect of Christmas.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
August 20, 2020
I had absolutely no recollection of reading this before.
I did a re-read as I have learned the ways of HP a little more since the first time I read this plus GR reviewers' reviews (Boogenhagen, StMargarets, Ivy H) made me.
Heroine is still the biggest, spineless, walk-on-me doormat ever. A blancmange of a wife she stupidly pays off blackmail on the guy that WRONGED her (she should have been blackmailing him) and merely bleats at the evil woman who has gleefully framed her.
However, and it's a big one, once she becomes pregnant her spine stiffens and there is some brain activity.
Once pregnant, she actually gets angry, shows some humor at the evil doers' comeuppance, and shows glimmers of personality.
Another reason for three stars, the totally epic and satisfying comeuppance of the evil doers.
Not up to Lynne Graham's standards. No great chemistry, just a little angst.
Plot: Husband returns home after five years due to a kidnapping plot. In the meanwhile, evil elements in the family have plotted to get our spineless heroine out.
She was frigid before he left, but her resurrection has made her appreciate her time with him and cures her. Due to other circumstances, spoiler: , this becomes problematic.
spoiler: , she lives in fear her husband will find out. Does she take the sensible route and bring it up first? No, of course not.
She finally grows a spine and throws a little shade at her two witchy SIL's and almost as spineless BIL, but only after the H supports her.
It all sounds more exciting than it really is which is a pity, because when L.G hits it, it's awesome.
I did a re-read as I have learned the ways of HP a little more since the first time I read this plus GR reviewers' reviews (Boogenhagen, StMargarets, Ivy H) made me.
Heroine is still the biggest, spineless, walk-on-me doormat ever. A blancmange of a wife she stupidly pays off blackmail on the guy that WRONGED her (she should have been blackmailing him) and merely bleats at the evil woman who has gleefully framed her.
However, and it's a big one, once she becomes pregnant her spine stiffens and there is some brain activity.
Once pregnant, she actually gets angry, shows some humor at the evil doers' comeuppance, and shows glimmers of personality.
Another reason for three stars, the totally epic and satisfying comeuppance of the evil doers.
Not up to Lynne Graham's standards. No great chemistry, just a little angst.
Plot: Husband returns home after five years due to a kidnapping plot. In the meanwhile, evil elements in the family have plotted to get our spineless heroine out.
She was frigid before he left, but her resurrection has made her appreciate her time with him and cures her. Due to other circumstances, spoiler: , this becomes problematic.
spoiler: , she lives in fear her husband will find out. Does she take the sensible route and bring it up first? No, of course not.
She finally grows a spine and throws a little shade at her two witchy SIL's and almost as spineless BIL, but only after the H supports her.
It all sounds more exciting than it really is which is a pity, because when L.G hits it, it's awesome.
January 4, 2018
The soap opera is alive and kicking this oldie by Lynne Graham. It's a second chance romance with a twist because the H has been imprisoned in a fictional South American banana republic and his wife and relatives don't know he's alive until after 5 years have elapsed. I couldn't mesh with the heroine Eden that much. She's had an extremely conservative upbringing and was therefore very prudish in the bedroom with her husband, the H. That had caused much distress in and out of the marriage bed and the couple's troubles were compounded by the fact that the heroine was very uncomfortable and unhappy living in the same mansion with her husband's snobbish and hateful siblings. Eden was a bit of a martyr too because she suffered in silence when she should have confided in Damiano.
The H returns to find his wife living on her own and supporting herself as a seamstress. His brother had failed to provide her with money for living expenses and she couldn't use the H's money since his funds had been frozen as his "death" had yet to be determined. I could have happily given this 5 stars if Eden had not made the dumbest move ever by taking the blame for her sister in law's adultery. A few months after Damiano went missing, his brother's slutty wife Tina had started having an affair with a childhood friend of Eden's. The paparazzi had taken photos of the couple's clandestine meetings and since Tina was superficially similar to Eden ( a petite blonde ) and had borrowed the heroine's car, everybody assumed that Eden was guilty of adultery.
The most stupid part of this was how Tina convinced Eden to take the blame since Damien was probably never going to return and it wouldn't be fair ( gasp ! the audacity ! ) for Tina and Nuncio's marriage to be destroyed over a little old affair. I can't understand why Eden would make this huge sacrifice for a bitchy sister in law who had snobbed her and treated her like crap. Firstly, Eden would be ruining her own reputation. That just pissed me off. This girl had a very pristine reputation and was even prudish, prim and proper and here she is willing to ruin her image for a cheating slag like Tina. And even if Damiano never returned, why was Eden willing to let his memory be tarnished by the rumours that she had turned to another man a mere 4 months after he went missing. I couldn't blame Damiano for being mad as hell when he found out about this act of stupid martyrdom.
Of course, before Damiano discovered that it was really Tina who was with Martin, there was lots of angst and drama because he didn't believe Eden when she first told him the truth. Damiano also suspects Eden had cheated because the new incarnation of Eden loves having hot sex with him. In his calculating brain, that meant ( obviously since former man whores don't know how to give wives the benefit of the doubt ) that Eden had been "practising" her sex skills with other men - in this case, Martin. The soap opera drama gets upped with Martin blackmailing Eden by saying he would support Tina's story. Dumbo Eden withdraws all her pitiful savings and gives it to her former friend turned snake. Damiano was angry when all this was revealed but he located the photographer who had snapped the photos and was surprised to see that in the unpublished photos the woman had obviously been Tina. Guess that newspaper will be getting a lawsuit...
Another plot twist is added to the soap opera when an old girlfriend/former fiancee of Damiano's enters the tale. Annabel had been Damiano's fiancee years before he met Eden and she was also his sister Cosetta's bff. Damiano had broken his engagement to Annabel when he overheard some gold digging comments she had made to her sister. That hadn't stopped Annabel, with the full cooperation of Cosetta, from trying to break up his marriage to Eden. Cosetta was such a vile witch of a sister ( even her name gives me the creeps because it sounds like some wart nose witch in a hypothetical Iberian fairy tale ). Anyway, when Damiano had gone missing, Annabel, who had been pregnant with some other man's baby, decided that the time had arrived to pull the long con. She conned Nuncio and Cosetta into believing that her kid was fathered by Damiano and that the latter had made plans to divorce Eden, marry her and live HEA. DUNCio and Cosetta were such gullible fools that they ate that story up like fettucine shrimp mascarpone.
Towards the end, the truth is revealed about Tina's adultery and DUNCio is squawking around like a headless chicken while Cosetta shrieks like the witch she is supposed to be. Added to that revelation, DUNCio and Cosetta are shocked to discover that they've been giving tons of money to Annabel for the upkeep of her kid who is not related to them ! These simpletons really got a comeuppance because Damiano tells DUNCio that it's his hard luck he wasted his money on a scheming liar like Annabel. The scheming con artist turns up next, all pale, trembling and wringing her hands in anxiety because she doesn't have a cent to pay back the money. Damiano threatens her with a lawsuit should any newspaper print a word about her son being fathered by him and he sends her on her way by telling her that it's up DUNCio to decide about the money.
The epilogue is lovely because the MC's have twin babies and are celebrating their wedding anniversary. We also hear that DUNCio divorced Tina and found out via DNA testing that his daughter is not biologically his. I felt not an ounce of sympathy for DUNCio after the way he had treated Eden. Cosetta has been ignored by Damiano until Eden asked him to invite her to their babies' christening ( Lynne G loves to make her heroine be all sweet and full of the milk of human kindness to bitches who had been evil to them ). We also hear that Annabel rushed to marry some rich old man because DUNCio had started to demand repayment of his money. As for the blackmailing snake Martin, well he ends up in prison because his employers discovered proof of his embezzlement. Lynne G really wraps up the punishment for the wrong doers in this novel.
This was ok. I confess I enjoyed the soap opera drama a lot more than the actual romance because the latter seemed to take a secondary place to the former.
The H returns to find his wife living on her own and supporting herself as a seamstress. His brother had failed to provide her with money for living expenses and she couldn't use the H's money since his funds had been frozen as his "death" had yet to be determined. I could have happily given this 5 stars if Eden had not made the dumbest move ever by taking the blame for her sister in law's adultery. A few months after Damiano went missing, his brother's slutty wife Tina had started having an affair with a childhood friend of Eden's. The paparazzi had taken photos of the couple's clandestine meetings and since Tina was superficially similar to Eden ( a petite blonde ) and had borrowed the heroine's car, everybody assumed that Eden was guilty of adultery.
The most stupid part of this was how Tina convinced Eden to take the blame since Damien was probably never going to return and it wouldn't be fair ( gasp ! the audacity ! ) for Tina and Nuncio's marriage to be destroyed over a little old affair. I can't understand why Eden would make this huge sacrifice for a bitchy sister in law who had snobbed her and treated her like crap. Firstly, Eden would be ruining her own reputation. That just pissed me off. This girl had a very pristine reputation and was even prudish, prim and proper and here she is willing to ruin her image for a cheating slag like Tina. And even if Damiano never returned, why was Eden willing to let his memory be tarnished by the rumours that she had turned to another man a mere 4 months after he went missing. I couldn't blame Damiano for being mad as hell when he found out about this act of stupid martyrdom.
Of course, before Damiano discovered that it was really Tina who was with Martin, there was lots of angst and drama because he didn't believe Eden when she first told him the truth. Damiano also suspects Eden had cheated because the new incarnation of Eden loves having hot sex with him. In his calculating brain, that meant ( obviously since former man whores don't know how to give wives the benefit of the doubt ) that Eden had been "practising" her sex skills with other men - in this case, Martin. The soap opera drama gets upped with Martin blackmailing Eden by saying he would support Tina's story. Dumbo Eden withdraws all her pitiful savings and gives it to her former friend turned snake. Damiano was angry when all this was revealed but he located the photographer who had snapped the photos and was surprised to see that in the unpublished photos the woman had obviously been Tina. Guess that newspaper will be getting a lawsuit...
Another plot twist is added to the soap opera when an old girlfriend/former fiancee of Damiano's enters the tale. Annabel had been Damiano's fiancee years before he met Eden and she was also his sister Cosetta's bff. Damiano had broken his engagement to Annabel when he overheard some gold digging comments she had made to her sister. That hadn't stopped Annabel, with the full cooperation of Cosetta, from trying to break up his marriage to Eden. Cosetta was such a vile witch of a sister ( even her name gives me the creeps because it sounds like some wart nose witch in a hypothetical Iberian fairy tale ). Anyway, when Damiano had gone missing, Annabel, who had been pregnant with some other man's baby, decided that the time had arrived to pull the long con. She conned Nuncio and Cosetta into believing that her kid was fathered by Damiano and that the latter had made plans to divorce Eden, marry her and live HEA. DUNCio and Cosetta were such gullible fools that they ate that story up like fettucine shrimp mascarpone.
Towards the end, the truth is revealed about Tina's adultery and DUNCio is squawking around like a headless chicken while Cosetta shrieks like the witch she is supposed to be. Added to that revelation, DUNCio and Cosetta are shocked to discover that they've been giving tons of money to Annabel for the upkeep of her kid who is not related to them ! These simpletons really got a comeuppance because Damiano tells DUNCio that it's his hard luck he wasted his money on a scheming liar like Annabel. The scheming con artist turns up next, all pale, trembling and wringing her hands in anxiety because she doesn't have a cent to pay back the money. Damiano threatens her with a lawsuit should any newspaper print a word about her son being fathered by him and he sends her on her way by telling her that it's up DUNCio to decide about the money.
The epilogue is lovely because the MC's have twin babies and are celebrating their wedding anniversary. We also hear that DUNCio divorced Tina and found out via DNA testing that his daughter is not biologically his. I felt not an ounce of sympathy for DUNCio after the way he had treated Eden. Cosetta has been ignored by Damiano until Eden asked him to invite her to their babies' christening ( Lynne G loves to make her heroine be all sweet and full of the milk of human kindness to bitches who had been evil to them ). We also hear that Annabel rushed to marry some rich old man because DUNCio had started to demand repayment of his money. As for the blackmailing snake Martin, well he ends up in prison because his employers discovered proof of his embezzlement. Lynne G really wraps up the punishment for the wrong doers in this novel.
This was ok. I confess I enjoyed the soap opera drama a lot more than the actual romance because the latter seemed to take a secondary place to the former.
January 31, 2018
Second chance story that has an old skool heroine - one who can't speak up, is hopelessly naive and spends a lot of time feeling sorry for herself. The H/h have only been married seven months when he is kidnapped overseas. Now, five years later, he returns to England to pick up the pieces of his life. He's learned about priorities in life and has had a lot of time to reflect on what went wrong in his marriage.
The heroine is still in love with the hero, but she is basically being blackmailed by her sister-in-law and childhood friend to hide their affair. (The tabloids speculated it was the heroine in the grainy photo). The H/h have a great reunion until the hero sees a cutting from the tabloid. Heroine finally tells him the whole story, but he's not listening . . .
The H/h both grew up while they were apart - although they did lapse into old habits as their first reaction. Hero was celibate during their separation as was the heroine.
I enjoyed all the OTT evil family members and "friends" and watching the H/h work it all out.
Not for those who are annoyed by ninny heroines - so be warned.
The heroine is still in love with the hero, but she is basically being blackmailed by her sister-in-law and childhood friend to hide their affair. (The tabloids speculated it was the heroine in the grainy photo). The H/h have a great reunion until the hero sees a cutting from the tabloid. Heroine finally tells him the whole story, but he's not listening . . .
The H/h both grew up while they were apart - although they did lapse into old habits as their first reaction. Hero was celibate during their separation as was the heroine.
I enjoyed all the OTT evil family members and "friends" and watching the H/h work it all out.
Not for those who are annoyed by ninny heroines - so be warned.
August 2, 2020
I don`t think i have quite read a book like this by Lynne Graham before,it was very dramatic.The charismatic italian hero Damiano Braganzi was the lost husband of Eden Braganzi whom she believed was dead.Now after 5 years its been known that he had been stuck on prison in Montavia and is now back for her.Its a very intense reunion,and me really ate up every tension and word of it!
I see that many readers detested Eden for her doormacy when it came to the in-laws and that she didn`t open up about the misunderstandings sooner.Surprisingly,i didn`t find her annoying,i did like her.She has had a very uptight upbringing,and suddenly finds herself swept off her feet by this sexy sophisticated tycoon and marries him for love.But when it came to the akwardness of sex,that brought up a huge wall between these two individuals who obviously loved each other very much.I couldn`t see how blind Eden was to the obvious smitten and possessive nature of Damiano when it came to her.I mean,i can`t believe he was willing to take aside his pride and still be with her despite her supposed "infidelity".I liked these two a lot,Eden for her angelic and gentle character,and Damiano for finally putting her feelings first and trying to take away his sorching rage and jealousy.I love it when all misunderstandings gets cleared,and how they openly love each other.Its just so romantic,i loved it!
I see that many readers detested Eden for her doormacy when it came to the in-laws and that she didn`t open up about the misunderstandings sooner.Surprisingly,i didn`t find her annoying,i did like her.She has had a very uptight upbringing,and suddenly finds herself swept off her feet by this sexy sophisticated tycoon and marries him for love.But when it came to the akwardness of sex,that brought up a huge wall between these two individuals who obviously loved each other very much.I couldn`t see how blind Eden was to the obvious smitten and possessive nature of Damiano when it came to her.I mean,i can`t believe he was willing to take aside his pride and still be with her despite her supposed "infidelity".I liked these two a lot,Eden for her angelic and gentle character,and Damiano for finally putting her feelings first and trying to take away his sorching rage and jealousy.I love it when all misunderstandings gets cleared,and how they openly love each other.Its just so romantic,i loved it!
July 3, 2011
Excellent book,Damiano was kidnapped and presumes dead but now he is returning after 5 years and comes to know he wife has moved out of the house and when he asks his family they show him the tabloid story of her n another man and he believes the paper and what ever lies his family tells him about Eden,he has lots to work on his insecurities and what ever his family n gossips are around and Eden's saying she is innocent all this confuses him,he believes what he sees and does'nt trust Eden
Eden because of her strict upbringing and her insecurities about her body, she was very inhibited in the bedroom. But Damiano loved her body,cause he never said he loves her and then kidnapping and the tabloid story and on top of that Damiano's taunts and mistrust hurts her very much,she tries to prove herself innocent but Damiano trusts his family over her
but then everything is out,who was the culprit n who is victim is all out in open,Damiano is ashamed and asks for forgiveness and we have out HEA
Good read
Recommend it
Eden because of her strict upbringing and her insecurities about her body, she was very inhibited in the bedroom. But Damiano loved her body,cause he never said he loves her and then kidnapping and the tabloid story and on top of that Damiano's taunts and mistrust hurts her very much,she tries to prove herself innocent but Damiano trusts his family over her
but then everything is out,who was the culprit n who is victim is all out in open,Damiano is ashamed and asks for forgiveness and we have out HEA
Good read
Recommend it
December 13, 2014
Finally a virgin who is that way on principle and a realistic look at the marital sex life (usually the stuff of very unlikely fantasy) of a shy, insecure virgin and an very experienced man. (Marriage Meltdown had it but that hero was a bigger jerk and didn't really love his wife). The story was caught between hero wanting to rage with jealousy over wife's "cheating" and having to occasionally address the fact that it wouldn't actually have been cheating! Lost a star for me when he said he would have divorced her. That just doesn't seem consistent with a man who'd suffered so much and undergone a transformation in his perspective of what is important.
I loved how she ran to greet him and the way she expressed her feelings.
I loved how she ran to greet him and the way she expressed her feelings.
June 22, 2012
Damiano returns after being gone for 5 years having been kidnapped when doing business in a volatile third world nation.
Interesting story about how two people work to put back together a marriage that had been on the rocks prior to his departure. Damiano was actually a terrific hero. Five years of captivity has given him time to understand and prioritize what really matters in life and he comes home willing to fight for his marriage.
What I couldn't get past, was the heroine's weakness. She was just so pathetic. Though, she does get a backbone in the end, her actions and logic behind her decisions were too pitiful to watch. She just made one blunder after another. I felt that she really wasn't worthy of him.
Interesting story about how two people work to put back together a marriage that had been on the rocks prior to his departure. Damiano was actually a terrific hero. Five years of captivity has given him time to understand and prioritize what really matters in life and he comes home willing to fight for his marriage.
What I couldn't get past, was the heroine's weakness. She was just so pathetic. Though, she does get a backbone in the end, her actions and logic behind her decisions were too pitiful to watch. She just made one blunder after another. I felt that she really wasn't worthy of him.
September 13, 2018
The h is completely defenseless against the pit of vipers that is the H's family. She makes absolutely no good decisions, ever. It still might be worth a read because good grief these people are awful.
May 23, 2021
"Damiano's Return" is the story of Eden and Damiano.
A very dramatic tale, in which the heroine's presumed dead husband returns from a military imprisonment. He is a changed man, she is a very different woman. His evil family drove her away, her sleazy friend/OM and SIL blackmailed her, and she had to make a name for herself. However, none of it matters when the man she loves re-enters her life and they go on to mend their broken marriage. There is reconcilation, drama, loads of evil characters, romance and sweet HEA.
I did enjoy this!
Safe
3.5/5
A very dramatic tale, in which the heroine's presumed dead husband returns from a military imprisonment. He is a changed man, she is a very different woman. His evil family drove her away, her sleazy friend/OM and SIL blackmailed her, and she had to make a name for herself. However, none of it matters when the man she loves re-enters her life and they go on to mend their broken marriage. There is reconcilation, drama, loads of evil characters, romance and sweet HEA.
I did enjoy this!
Safe
3.5/5
August 1, 2013
Nice reconciliation story, lots of angst and nice hero and heroine. Hero's family was family from hell though! Plus heroine was not very clever. Her husband was crazy jealous of her best male friend and she had no idea. Also her best male friend was an asshole so she should listen to her husband more since she was so naive. Still loved them both and the cute twins epilogue! aww!
December 12, 2014
Fabulous story. Read it in one sitting. Loved the hero. Heroine was a bit of a dipstick but came good in the end.
Great blackmail story ( not by the hero but others). Lynn Graham has woven an interesting romance filled with an intricate plot and like I said, a fabulous hero!
Great blackmail story ( not by the hero but others). Lynn Graham has woven an interesting romance filled with an intricate plot and like I said, a fabulous hero!
November 25, 2019
The H totally makes this book as his time away has made him grow up and see the error of his ways and he wants his wife back.
The h has also grown up and become more independent but she is still a total numptie when it comes to letting others trample all over her. This includes her so called best friend who turns out to be a total snake and her awful sister in law plus his relatives!
She didn't deserve that treatment but she did enable them by covering for them.
St Margarets has the low down on this one I don't need to say more.
The h has also grown up and become more independent but she is still a total numptie when it comes to letting others trample all over her. This includes her so called best friend who turns out to be a total snake and her awful sister in law plus his relatives!
She didn't deserve that treatment but she did enable them by covering for them.
St Margarets has the low down on this one I don't need to say more.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 18, 2012
Meh. OTT, much? psycho in-laws of h played to the max, including the H. I mean he's getting off from making his wife jealous and forces his wife to live in the same house with his bro (and assorted family) AND his sis PLUS his ex is free to visit? WTF.
April 20, 2025
There are some books that present you an overly-prude FMC and you yell at her "Communicate Bitch!"
"You're loosing your husband, the love of your life juts because you can't talk to him" I get so fucking frustrated, that really my blood pursue gets high. This book added another layer of crazy:
When she fucking opened her month to finally explain: she's plain stupid and she'll end up loosing him any way.
In real life, I have money because of those people who are so perfectly wrong for each other and I divorce them left and right but in romance land, I want some happy romance pleaaaaaase
So sad that this idiotic book ticked the square of "A hero presumed dead returns"
25⭕ ┃37⭕┃87┃13┃68┃40⭕┃32┃59┃76┃44
10┃86┃4 ⭕┃45┃47┃98┃50⭕┃14┃85┃75
88┃51┃ 9⭕┃2┃42┃29┃ 24┃92┃ 82┃1⭕
100┃34⭕┃17┃96┃43┃49┃64⭕┃70┃15┃38⭕
84┃31┃ 62┃7┃21┃73┃28┃46┃90┃77
3⭕┃12⭕┃80⭕┃ 69⭕┃52⭕┃ 65⭕┃54⭕┃ 91⭕┃23⭕┃ 72⭕
18┃95┃ 22┃99┃93┃74┃41⭕┃8┃35⭕┃ 58
57┃94┃ 16┃56┃ 5┃60┃78⭕┃ 26┃81┃ 61
97┃48⭕┃ 79┃67┃ 53⭕┃30⭕┃ 6⭕┃36┃89┃ 33⭕
71⭕┃19┃ 39⭕┃66┃ 55┃27┃ 20┃63┃ 11┃83
"You're loosing your husband, the love of your life juts because you can't talk to him" I get so fucking frustrated, that really my blood pursue gets high. This book added another layer of crazy:
When she fucking opened her month to finally explain: she's plain stupid and she'll end up loosing him any way.
In real life, I have money because of those people who are so perfectly wrong for each other and I divorce them left and right but in romance land, I want some happy romance pleaaaaaase
So sad that this idiotic book ticked the square of "A hero presumed dead returns"
25⭕ ┃37⭕┃87┃13┃68┃40⭕┃32┃59┃76┃44
10┃86┃4 ⭕┃45┃47┃98┃50⭕┃14┃85┃75
88┃51┃ 9⭕┃2┃42┃29┃ 24┃92┃ 82┃1⭕
100┃34⭕┃17┃96┃43┃49┃64⭕┃70┃15┃38⭕
84┃31┃ 62┃7┃21┃73┃28┃46┃90┃77
3⭕┃12⭕┃80⭕┃ 69⭕┃52⭕┃ 65⭕┃54⭕┃ 91⭕┃23⭕┃ 72⭕
18┃95┃ 22┃99┃93┃74┃41⭕┃8┃35⭕┃ 58
57┃94┃ 16┃56┃ 5┃60┃78⭕┃ 26┃81┃ 61
97┃48⭕┃ 79┃67┃ 53⭕┃30⭕┃ 6⭕┃36┃89┃ 33⭕
71⭕┃19┃ 39⭕┃66┃ 55┃27┃ 20┃63┃ 11┃83
May 25, 2022
Loved the angst in this one. And I loved the devoted hero.
December 17, 2019
I loved this HP, it hit all my angst buttons!
4.5 Stars
4.5 Stars
December 7, 2013
i'm a huge fan of LG but this one did not do 4me. it's actually gud but i can't stand such a wimpy n pathetic heroine ! u can be a prude but u dunt have 2 let every1 walk over u !! dats what she did. i dunt c how damiano cud remain in love wid her after such a bad past. eden was a useless wife, pathetic n problematic. damiano did not understand his wife n was jealous. what i liked abt the book was dat he does not plan 2 divorce his wife even if he had doubts abt her fidelity. he was ready 2 4give n most importantly, he gave her the benefit of the doubt. i liked damiano very much. this is a gud book, just not my cup of tea bcoz of eden ! she irritated me beyond measure. she preferred 2 sully her name, her reputation. she made damiano pass 4 a cuckholded husband n dat did not bother her !? she made a laughing stock out of him though he was thought dead at dat time. n she did not do it 4 any gud reason. she made cover 4 tina !? surely nuncio shud no his wife is unfaithful, married him only 4 his money. well, eden got what she deserved, they all were against her n tina was the 1st 2 condemn her
September 30, 2012
Far and away my all-time favourite M&B/Harlequin romance and I can't quite put my finger on why that should be. Is it the Cinderella factor? The second chance? The reunion? The amazing chemistry and his swoon-worthy obsession of her, which even five years of absence couldn't dilute? Oh yes, definitely that last one.
Perhaps it is little formulaic when it comes to characterisation but then it is a M&B romance, and I like my romances the way I like my chocolate - smooth and creamy. You can keep your 'sun-ripened tangerine with a hint of chilli' and I'll sit down with my Cadbury's Whole nut and rejoice in another opportunity to have my heart wrenched and my tear ducts drained.
I think I must have read this at least ten times.
Perhaps it is little formulaic when it comes to characterisation but then it is a M&B romance, and I like my romances the way I like my chocolate - smooth and creamy. You can keep your 'sun-ripened tangerine with a hint of chilli' and I'll sit down with my Cadbury's Whole nut and rejoice in another opportunity to have my heart wrenched and my tear ducts drained.
I think I must have read this at least ten times.
May 16, 2020
There is just something about 'older' HP stories, that make them so cliche but so very enjoyable! I do like a good reconciliation plot with twists and turns, & this book sure did deliver on that. BUT perhaps too many of them? My other gripe is that the family and friends were all so awful! Their behaviour made it almost possible to excuse the heroine's doormat tenancies... almost! Still an entertaining book.
November 26, 2016
TSTL heroine + over-the-top villains = excessive eye-rolls
I liked Damiano, but he wasn't enough to save this book from mediocrity.
I liked Damiano, but he wasn't enough to save this book from mediocrity.
February 1, 2015
Basic plot- H/h are married and it's not going so great when the H goes on a business trip and disappears presumed dead for 5 years. H comes back and h/H must now fix what was wrong in their marriage and get through lies/ OW/ mean family etc.
What I liked about this was it had a few elements you don't see in your typical Hq... A huge issue in the marriage, was sex. Usually the sex is always earth shattering, even if the h is a virgin and no matter what problems the couple have. But, in this case the h is a virgin, and is very uncomfortable with sex and showing herself or being "wanton", where as the H, instead of somehow "knowing" exactly what to do/how to touch her, he instead becomes quickly frustrated and a bit of a bully to the h.
Also, you have both a H and a h who stay 100% true to their marriage vows, even over a 5 year separation
And I also really liked how honest the H was throughout the story being honest about the issues they had before and his desire to fix things.
All in all, worth a read :)
What I liked about this was it had a few elements you don't see in your typical Hq... A huge issue in the marriage, was sex. Usually the sex is always earth shattering, even if the h is a virgin and no matter what problems the couple have. But, in this case the h is a virgin, and is very uncomfortable with sex and showing herself or being "wanton", where as the H, instead of somehow "knowing" exactly what to do/how to touch her, he instead becomes quickly frustrated and a bit of a bully to the h.
Also, you have both a H and a h who stay 100% true to their marriage vows, even over a 5 year separation
And I also really liked how honest the H was throughout the story being honest about the issues they had before and his desire to fix things.
All in all, worth a read :)
October 17, 2016
Filled with drama, the author tells of a young, insecure bride whose husband has been kidnapped and missing for five years returns unexpectedly.
I hurt for both the H and h in this book. They both lived in their own hell for five years. The H's family were a despicable bunch who made the h's life miserable.
One of my favorite Lynne Grahams and definitely one I would recommend.
I hurt for both the H and h in this book. They both lived in their own hell for five years. The H's family were a despicable bunch who made the h's life miserable.
One of my favorite Lynne Grahams and definitely one I would recommend.
April 26, 2011
Reconciliation story. Husband reappears after getting lost for 4 years in a political quagmire in SA country. In-laws and girlfriend from hell. Wished she just threw a bloody tantrum instead of suffering in silence.
November 15, 2025
After rereading this 5 times, I should really give a review. Two of my favourite tropes ( second chance romance/missing-coming back from the dead romance); this book has Everything you want. The drama, heat, romance, love and a great HEA!
March 27, 2022
I can't comprehend why the low rating?
This was a very good harlequin book!
The plot was very interesting and the way the story took off - it was gripping.
Angsty.
Loved all the misunderstandings, the way the Hero's family members attempted to throw the heroine under the bus - upon finding out he was marrying her; a nobody.
And then after the Hero's sudden disappearance, they bullied her relentlessly and blackmailed her, forcing her to move out of the house and live on her own.
Five years later, the heroine was informed that her husband was alive.
Shocked beyond belief, she was ecstatic but terrified of how he would receive the news ... of how his family had been treating her ... and then the other newspaper article that showed "her" kissing her friend.
She thought she would spill everything once he'd settled in.
Only the 'news' caught with him faster than she did and she was accused of being a manipulative woman.
I really enjoyed reading this book. It was a one person POV book - by the heroine, which was a bit unique.
I would have loved more groveling by the Hero - when he found out the truth. I would also loved to know "how" he found that out. I thought the author kind of "skipped" that part behind the scene.
But overall, a very nice book.
This was a very good harlequin book!
The plot was very interesting and the way the story took off - it was gripping.
Angsty.
Loved all the misunderstandings, the way the Hero's family members attempted to throw the heroine under the bus - upon finding out he was marrying her; a nobody.
And then after the Hero's sudden disappearance, they bullied her relentlessly and blackmailed her, forcing her to move out of the house and live on her own.
Five years later, the heroine was informed that her husband was alive.
Shocked beyond belief, she was ecstatic but terrified of how he would receive the news ... of how his family had been treating her ... and then the other newspaper article that showed "her" kissing her friend.
She thought she would spill everything once he'd settled in.
Only the 'news' caught with him faster than she did and she was accused of being a manipulative woman.
I really enjoyed reading this book. It was a one person POV book - by the heroine, which was a bit unique.
I would have loved more groveling by the Hero - when he found out the truth. I would also loved to know "how" he found that out. I thought the author kind of "skipped" that part behind the scene.
But overall, a very nice book.
October 30, 2022
Liked it despite h having done an incredibly stupid thing for people who were vicious users. Reminded me of Bond of Hatred as the H was similar.
November 3, 2020
This one was just ok. I’m a sucker for the “OMG…you’re alive” trope, so I was looking forward to it, but it was missing something. We all have our favorite soapy concepts (Greek w/meddling OW😊) and our least fav concepts, and Eden is my least favorite h type for soapy-smut... The Prude. She gets better, but these are short reads, so I like to get the show on the road, and lack the patience for the “Prude” to relax her uptight ways. I also struggled getting down with the Damiano/Eden love match…just wasn’t feeling it. He’s dreamed of his cold, awkward wife that struggled to hug him for five years??!!
I liked the meddling family, and wish we would have seen more of them. Same for the ex; she could have shaken it up a bit. Bottom line- This isn’t the type of drama I crave, but that’s just me.
I liked the meddling family, and wish we would have seen more of them. Same for the ex; she could have shaken it up a bit. Bottom line- This isn’t the type of drama I crave, but that’s just me.
April 27, 2023
It's funny how over the years you can read and re-read a book and not remember. It wasn't until I was 3/4 of the way through that it began to be familiar. This was my fourth read of this book over the last five years. Obviously I enjoy the story to keep re-reading.
I liked the main characters, watching them "grow" as people and really liked the end when the protagonists got their just deserts in different ways.
I liked the main characters, watching them "grow" as people and really liked the end when the protagonists got their just deserts in different ways.
November 16, 2011
I liked this one a lot. I was worried the hinted-at misunderstanding (photos supposedly showing the heroine cheating, though she didn't) would be the focus of the book and the hero would spend most of it berating her, but it wasn't like that at all. Instead, good emotion and angst.
April 3, 2014
Florzinha
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