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By His Royal Decree #1
One Night Heir
Only a royal wedding...
Bitter life lessons have taught Crown Prince Maksim Yurkovich that duty must come before desire. His country needs an heir, so when he discovers his lover can’t have children, he must sever their ties. Only Maks can’t resist spending one last night in her bed.
...can avert this royal scandal!
Now he faces the biggest diplomatic crisis of his life. Against all odds, Gillian Harris has become pregnant. Maks’s royal reserve masks the heart of a fierce Cossack warrior—one who is not above using their mutual passion to convince a hurt, wary Gillian that she must be his queen!
Bitter life lessons have taught Crown Prince Maksim Yurkovich that duty must come before desire. His country needs an heir, so when he discovers his lover can’t have children, he must sever their ties. Only Maks can’t resist spending one last night in her bed.
...can avert this royal scandal!
Now he faces the biggest diplomatic crisis of his life. Against all odds, Gillian Harris has become pregnant. Maks’s royal reserve masks the heart of a fierce Cossack warrior—one who is not above using their mutual passion to convince a hurt, wary Gillian that she must be his queen!
256 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published June 18, 2013
108 people are currently reading
1120 people want to read
About the author
Lucy Monroe
608 books1,569 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 120 reviews
October 25, 2016
Low 4 Stars
I finished this on Monday. Or what I think is/was/once upon a time twas Monday...seeing as I don't even actually know what today really is...as I had the Worst. Flu. Imaginable.
For the SECOND TIME this year.
Holy lack of a quality immune system, people.
All I know is, it all started on Saturday...
When the hubs came home early from work complaining he *cough* didn't feel well *cough* *cough*
Legit rendition:
So, Super Wife that I am, I came charging to the rescue.
Legit rendition (post photoshop of course):
And I nursed that man RIGHT back to health by Sunday afternoon.
But by Sunday evening?
Here was me:
Or even more aptly put:
A state in which I would remain ALL FUCKING WEEK.
Thankfully, Hubs took care of me.
But then again, that rat bastard owed me.
Needless to say, somewhere in that Tamiflu/Robutussin/IBrofen haze of pain, while wheezing my ass off, rubbing my nose raw, and feeling like I was swallowing large shards of balled glass, I finished this book.
And I liked it....I think.
I am a total sucker for these HQ-style baby-mama/billionaire/mistress/surprise you knocked me up books and I always will be.
This one had a bit of a different twist in that the H was actually going to marry the h - until he found out homegirl had some less than stellar ovarian potential...aka her "medical report" *snort* - because PRINCE - stated: Bitch Can't Breed.
So he kicks her to the curb - after one "last blast," of course - and shortly thereafter discovers:
Because homegirl be with child.
SURPRISE!
Obviously, this book isn't breaking any "originality" barriers or anything. And I would have liked the H to come crawling back to the the h BEFORE he found out she was pregnant; but the H was OTT devoted to her after all was said and done and I always like that.
Other than that, this was a pretty standard Lucy Monroe HQ-style book. Not my favorite by any means...that title belonging to The Billionaire's Pregnant Mistress and The Greek's Christmas Baby. But still, a decent read when you are in the mood for this shtick.
Find me at:
I finished this on Monday. Or what I think is/was/once upon a time twas Monday...seeing as I don't even actually know what today really is...as I had the Worst. Flu. Imaginable.
For the SECOND TIME this year.
Holy lack of a quality immune system, people.
All I know is, it all started on Saturday...
When the hubs came home early from work complaining he *cough* didn't feel well *cough* *cough*
Legit rendition:
So, Super Wife that I am, I came charging to the rescue.
Legit rendition (post photoshop of course):
And I nursed that man RIGHT back to health by Sunday afternoon.
But by Sunday evening?
Here was me:
Or even more aptly put:
A state in which I would remain ALL FUCKING WEEK.
Thankfully, Hubs took care of me.
But then again, that rat bastard owed me.
Needless to say, somewhere in that Tamiflu/Robutussin/IBrofen haze of pain, while wheezing my ass off, rubbing my nose raw, and feeling like I was swallowing large shards of balled glass, I finished this book.
And I liked it....I think.
I am a total sucker for these HQ-style baby-mama/billionaire/mistress/surprise you knocked me up books and I always will be.
This one had a bit of a different twist in that the H was actually going to marry the h - until he found out homegirl had some less than stellar ovarian potential...aka her "medical report" *snort* - because PRINCE - stated: Bitch Can't Breed.
So he kicks her to the curb - after one "last blast," of course - and shortly thereafter discovers:
Because homegirl be with child.
SURPRISE!
Obviously, this book isn't breaking any "originality" barriers or anything. And I would have liked the H to come crawling back to the the h BEFORE he found out she was pregnant; but the H was OTT devoted to her after all was said and done and I always like that.
Other than that, this was a pretty standard Lucy Monroe HQ-style book. Not my favorite by any means...that title belonging to The Billionaire's Pregnant Mistress and The Greek's Christmas Baby. But still, a decent read when you are in the mood for this shtick.
Find me at:
October 19, 2017
I have read this quite a few times and just realized that I had never reviewed it. It's a solid three star almost four star.
Enjoyable read if you are sick of OTT asshat heroes, spineless doormats and heartbreaking relatively manipulative angst. Lucy Monroe tends to write kinder, gentler heroes with a sense of honor and saner heroines with a sense of self and self respect. I'm surprised Harlequin tolerates her. ha ha
Anyhoo, the H is a prince of Fantasy Island or something and has just found out that the girl he has chosen, not loves mind you, but chosen to be his princess is not as fertile as Myrtle should be. It's too bad as he is very fond of her and he can't keep his hands off her. Missed signals ends up with them having one last hurrah. When she finds out that it was goodbye sex and not-welcome-to-the-palace-sex she throws him out. No crying, no whining. Just a nice little fit of temper showing her scorn for him THEN she cries.
Turns out she is fertile as she ends up pregnant. His sneaky faux brother (hero in Prince of Secrets ) finds out she's pregnant through nefarious means and the H is thrilled. The heroine is thrilled that she's pregnant, not so much with the hero. If she and her compromised Fallopian tubes weren't good enough the first time around then forget it. She also points out to the hero that is she miscarries, he will be right back where he started when he dumped her. The rest of the book is about the hero convincing the heroine they need to marry.
I bought it. As KatieV points out, he is a little stilted, but he's a nice guy Prince/hero, and we just don't have too many of them, and the heroine can actually walk and chew gum at the same time.
One more thing about Lucy Monroe, her characters talk and talk and talk... Lack of communication is not an issue here or with the pretty but stupid Valentino of Valentino's Love-Child.
Enjoyable read if you are sick of OTT asshat heroes, spineless doormats and heartbreaking relatively manipulative angst. Lucy Monroe tends to write kinder, gentler heroes with a sense of honor and saner heroines with a sense of self and self respect. I'm surprised Harlequin tolerates her. ha ha
Anyhoo, the H is a prince of Fantasy Island or something and has just found out that the girl he has chosen, not loves mind you, but chosen to be his princess is not as fertile as Myrtle should be. It's too bad as he is very fond of her and he can't keep his hands off her. Missed signals ends up with them having one last hurrah. When she finds out that it was goodbye sex and not-welcome-to-the-palace-sex she throws him out. No crying, no whining. Just a nice little fit of temper showing her scorn for him THEN she cries.
Turns out she is fertile as she ends up pregnant. His sneaky faux brother (hero in Prince of Secrets ) finds out she's pregnant through nefarious means and the H is thrilled. The heroine is thrilled that she's pregnant, not so much with the hero. If she and her compromised Fallopian tubes weren't good enough the first time around then forget it. She also points out to the hero that is she miscarries, he will be right back where he started when he dumped her. The rest of the book is about the hero convincing the heroine they need to marry.
I bought it. As KatieV points out, he is a little stilted, but he's a nice guy Prince/hero, and we just don't have too many of them, and the heroine can actually walk and chew gum at the same time.
One more thing about Lucy Monroe, her characters talk and talk and talk... Lack of communication is not an issue here or with the pretty but stupid Valentino of Valentino's Love-Child.
March 28, 2016
It was okay. I thought the characters were overall kind of boring. The hero was too robotic and the heroine too self sacrificing and willing to settle. She was a sad character in many ways. Also, I guess I don't read a lot of newer HPs, but the texting back and forth seemed weird to me.
Sample text from future king: R U sure?
Maybe I'm judging the royal family of his fake country too strictly, but that doesn't seem very princely. At least there were no 'lol' or 'OMG! Wtf?' texts.
I love the ones where the powerful hero dumps the heroine because she's not 'suitable' in some manner. In this one, it was because she was likely infertile and he was to be King. Mostly I just like to see the hero suffer for his arrogant stupidity and realize he can't live without the heroine. This one didn't play out that way so much.
Many HP heroes are out of touch with their feelings. This guy took the cake, to the point of it almost being a disorder. He was robotic and did not have our human logic, not even the HP variety. Of course, he was a royal, and we mere mortals cannot fathom such responsibility and duty.
Meh. I tend not to sympathize with these princes from tiny fake countries. The royalty HPs are not usually my cuppa. The name of this fake country sounded like Klingon or perhaps Vulcan - no kidding. And, bonus, there were still some other things that bugged the crap out of me.
The hero had planned to marry the heroine because she ticked all his boxes for a royal wife and he was sexually attracted to her. Then he gets her physical and realizes she fails to tick the 'provide me an heir and a spare' box. He has breakup sex with her (that she didn't realize was breakup sex since she hadn't read her physical). The next morning he does the breakup after she confesses her love for him (awkward). He tells her he doesn't love her in addition to the fact that he can't be with her since she's barren. There is a chance she could become pregnant, but it's not high enough for his standards. OH, and he decided to go bareback for their last encounter because 'WTH-she's barren, may as well get some benefit out of it'. Okay, he didn't think that (that we know) but it seemed that way in context.
Several months later he finds out she's pregnant via his cousin who secretly had her under surveillance (for the good of the country, of course. you never know what these crazy ex girlfriends may do). There is a little bit of navel gazing on the hero's part before this, i.e. how he just can't sleep with anyone else and he misses the heroine - still, he has no plans to see or call her. If the cousin hadn't been such a busybody, he wouldn't have found out about the pregnancy until she chose to tell him.
He demands marriage and, to the heroine's credit, she doesn't immediately fall back into his arms. Also, to the hero's credit, he hasn't been sleeping around and doesn't pull the usual B.S. of accusing her of being pregnant with another man's child. However, he does accuse her of not fighting for their relationship in the first place.
Huh? A guy dumps you and tells you flat out that he doesn't love you - what is there to fight? Unless one is delusional, there isn't a lot of wiggle room there. This wasn't a fixable case of 'we have to breakup because I hate your roommate' or some such thing.
The heroine finally decides to marry the guy, because she loves him enough for both of them and he's convinced her he'll never be unfaithful and only wants her. And she also buys his crap about her not fighting for the relationship.
Good point - The hero seems to be the insecure, clingy one in some ways because the heroine is playing it cool for her pride's sake. Finally, in the end, the hero realizes that yeah, he does love her after all and was just out of touch with his feelings. He panics when he thinks she only marrying him long enough to have the child legitimized and will then leave him. So, he does get down on his knees, begs her not to ever leave him, and declares his love.
Still, it wasn't enough. I couldn't get past the fact that he walked away and despite his 'feels' never had any intention of contacting her again.
Sample text from future king: R U sure?
Maybe I'm judging the royal family of his fake country too strictly, but that doesn't seem very princely. At least there were no 'lol' or 'OMG! Wtf?' texts.
I love the ones where the powerful hero dumps the heroine because she's not 'suitable' in some manner. In this one, it was because she was likely infertile and he was to be King. Mostly I just like to see the hero suffer for his arrogant stupidity and realize he can't live without the heroine. This one didn't play out that way so much.
Many HP heroes are out of touch with their feelings. This guy took the cake, to the point of it almost being a disorder. He was robotic and did not have our human logic, not even the HP variety. Of course, he was a royal, and we mere mortals cannot fathom such responsibility and duty.
Meh. I tend not to sympathize with these princes from tiny fake countries. The royalty HPs are not usually my cuppa. The name of this fake country sounded like Klingon or perhaps Vulcan - no kidding. And, bonus, there were still some other things that bugged the crap out of me.
The hero had planned to marry the heroine because she ticked all his boxes for a royal wife and he was sexually attracted to her. Then he gets her physical and realizes she fails to tick the 'provide me an heir and a spare' box. He has breakup sex with her (that she didn't realize was breakup sex since she hadn't read her physical). The next morning he does the breakup after she confesses her love for him (awkward). He tells her he doesn't love her in addition to the fact that he can't be with her since she's barren. There is a chance she could become pregnant, but it's not high enough for his standards. OH, and he decided to go bareback for their last encounter because 'WTH-she's barren, may as well get some benefit out of it'. Okay, he didn't think that (that we know) but it seemed that way in context.
Several months later he finds out she's pregnant via his cousin who secretly had her under surveillance (for the good of the country, of course. you never know what these crazy ex girlfriends may do). There is a little bit of navel gazing on the hero's part before this, i.e. how he just can't sleep with anyone else and he misses the heroine - still, he has no plans to see or call her. If the cousin hadn't been such a busybody, he wouldn't have found out about the pregnancy until she chose to tell him.
He demands marriage and, to the heroine's credit, she doesn't immediately fall back into his arms. Also, to the hero's credit, he hasn't been sleeping around and doesn't pull the usual B.S. of accusing her of being pregnant with another man's child. However, he does accuse her of not fighting for their relationship in the first place.
Huh? A guy dumps you and tells you flat out that he doesn't love you - what is there to fight? Unless one is delusional, there isn't a lot of wiggle room there. This wasn't a fixable case of 'we have to breakup because I hate your roommate' or some such thing.
The heroine finally decides to marry the guy, because she loves him enough for both of them and he's convinced her he'll never be unfaithful and only wants her. And she also buys his crap about her not fighting for the relationship.
Good point - The hero seems to be the insecure, clingy one in some ways because the heroine is playing it cool for her pride's sake. Finally, in the end, the hero realizes that yeah, he does love her after all and was just out of touch with his feelings. He panics when he thinks she only marrying him long enough to have the child legitimized and will then leave him. So, he does get down on his knees, begs her not to ever leave him, and declares his love.
Still, it wasn't enough. I couldn't get past the fact that he walked away and despite his 'feels' never had any intention of contacting her again.
September 9, 2022
I kept flipping between a 2 and a 3 for this one but decided to settle for a 2.5 because I was actually enjoying the first few chapters until it went downhill. Then it made me sad because it felt like it could have been so much more, and I really really wanted to love this book, and I wish I could give it more than 2.5 stars. But some things annoyed me.
First, the hero, Maks, his arrogance is a strike against him for me. He thinks the world is his oyster. That he can do whatever he wants, and he can get whatever he wants just because he's a prince. I really hated the way he dumped her just because there was a possibility of her not being able to give him an heir.
“What about fertility treatments?”
“Fertility treatment could be an option for you with someone else,” he said like he was offering her good news.”
“But not you.”
I like the heroine, Gillian, though. She's headstrong but not obstinate. kind, but not a doormat. I love that she held her ground and had him work for her hand in marriage because she's worth it. Though she had her moments like any other female lead out there, I still genuinely liked her. I just felt cheated that she gave in after a while.
Overall, there's nothing special about this book, but it's okay enough to read if you're looking for something to pass the time.
April 4, 2018
A quiet story. This prince of the realm jilts the heroine with a heavy heart when he discovers she will have a difficult/impossible time conceiving. They have one night of unprotected sex and surprise! a baby is on the way.
Now the hero wants the heroine back but her heart has been broken and she knows the hero doesn't love her.
Thus begins a meditation on love and marriage with the hero's mother as a counterpoint - she married a man who didn't love her and kept a mistress his whole life. The hero's mother knows her son and knows he loves the heroine and she basically tricks him into understanding his feelings.
Not a bad trick, mom, but in real life that probably wouldn't work.
Now the hero wants the heroine back but her heart has been broken and she knows the hero doesn't love her.
Thus begins a meditation on love and marriage with the hero's mother as a counterpoint - she married a man who didn't love her and kept a mistress his whole life. The hero's mother knows her son and knows he loves the heroine and she basically tricks him into understanding his feelings.
Not a bad trick, mom, but in real life that probably wouldn't work.
October 11, 2021
3 ⭐⭐⭐ - OK decent reads.
======================
==>Reread August 2019 (- 1 ⭐ )
===========================
==>Reread November 2017
Herdeiro Casual - Paixão 377 - Harlequin
(paperback portuguese edition)
----------
He dumped her because he wanted heirs and she had a health problem ... but got pregnant anyway. He just wanted the baby.
======================
==>Reread August 2019 (- 1 ⭐ )
===========================
==>Reread November 2017
Herdeiro Casual - Paixão 377 - Harlequin
(paperback portuguese edition)
----------
He dumped her because he wanted heirs and she had a health problem ... but got pregnant anyway. He just wanted the baby.
“I’m not. You know I cannot marry a woman who won’t be able to produce the next heir plus a spare.”
She tucked back down into bed, snuggling against him. “I could get used to this.” “It is too bad we cannot.” She heard the words, but they didn’t make sense, so they didn’t register.
“Continuing to have sex together will only make our eventual breakup all the harder, not to mention increasing the chances of the media picking up on our relationship. We’ve been lucky so far, they’ve left us alone.”
His expression was not hope producing. “A breakup between us is inevitable. Surely you understand this.”
“I cannot marry a woman incapable of providing heirs to the throne. It’s draconian, I know, but nevertheless, it is the way things must be.”
She was defective and therefore not worthy to be his bride. Oh, God. The silent prayer was filled with anguish, but received no heavenly reply.
“You do not love me.”
“Love is not an emotion I have the freedom or inclination to pursue.”
Every dream she’d nursed in the past months shattered, every hope she’d let herself entertain despite her past and present life that in no way matched his for brilliance ripped violently from her still bleeding heart.
He didn’t reply and she didn’t expect him to. It wasn’t the empty admonishment it might have been before she rang security on him the last time he’d been to her apartment.
“Even if I didn’t want to marry you, I would.” He gave gratitude that he did in fact like the idea of marriage to his lovely blonde. “Even better.”
“I believed pregnancy was impossible, or at least extremely unlikely,” he felt compelled to add. “Unlucky you.” “That is not how I see it.”
“You don’t love me.” She put her hand up when he made as if to speak. “In your mind, that doesn’t matter. I know, but it matters to me and I have to decide if I can be the best mother possible married to a man who does not love me and who found it so easy to discard me.”
“You do not trust me at all.” That shocked him. He was eminently trustworthy. “No, I don’t.” “That is not acceptable.”
He’d shattered her scarred heart when he rejected her and let Gillian know in unequivocal terms that he did not love her.
June 9, 2013
I don't know what happened to Lucy Monroe, I used to love her HP's and many of her old works are ones I re-read but sadly the new one's have been dull and bland and so is this one. The whole time I read this book it felt that the hero/heroine were having the same discussion/argument. Hero/heroine have been involved for some time when he learns she can't have kids and that is bad for his kingdom so of course they have to break up. Hero of course doesn't do love, heroine is devastated by hero's actions, then viola magic pregnancy and the hero comes calling. I wish the heroine had had a bit of a spine, despite growing up with parents who ignored her, she is happy marrying a guy who says he doesn't do love. Her agreeing to his proposal reeked of desperation and that is not an attractive trait in any book.
April 27, 2018
surprisingly this book is good. and I really hate king fedir, what an ass
June 6, 2013
Not impressed. I didn't feel the romance between Maks and Gillian. Also was annoyed the author had to throw in Gillian's 2 prior hookups which didn't even impress the heroine. Should have made Gillian a virgin since she didn't benefit from those prior hookups!
May 5, 2013
Decent enough I guess. This story was told mostly through 3 or 4 very long scenes consisting mostly of dialog. I kept wanting the scene to be over and the story to move along. There wasn't really a lot of tension between these two. The hero was an ass to dump her when he thought she couldn't have kids but come crawling back the moment he finds out she's pregnant. She was too forgiving. Still it was well written and held my interest.
March 28, 2018
4.5 rounded up
I liked this one a lot, but I LOVED #2 even better!
I liked this one a lot, but I LOVED #2 even better!
September 3, 2021
Everything worked out a little bit too easily. But I liked how this one was different with two characters who actually have healthy communication. The angst just wasn't there.
April 23, 2021
This is a solid 3⭐ for me, but enjoying pleasure will probably depend on your mood. If you’re in the mood for the typical aggressive male, sweet h and loads of OTT drama-llama due to OW manipulations and misunderstanding/assumptions…keep looking cuz this isn’t it. BUT, if you’re in the mood for a more level headed H/h combo with loads of discussion and adulting… then this is for you.
Crown Prince Maksim Yurkovich has been dating Gillian Harris for 10-month, and sees wedding bells on the horizon. Unfortunately, she has a “poorly functioning reproductive system” which places her strictly in the unsuitable wife column. Maks isn’t happy about this, but he has a duty to his pretend country and rules are rules. After a round of break-up sex…you guessed it… Gillian is expecting!!
That right there is pretty much the only conflict, because Maks learns the good news straightaway, and he is a devoted man after that. He’s pretty swoony, even though he thinks he doesn’t have the capacity to love. This couple has some of the best conversations I’ve ever read. They had adulting down, and I liked not having the frustration of mc’s being prideful and not talking, but it doesn’t make for the most exciting read.
Bottom Line- Not the most riveting, but still a solid read. I liked both mc’s, but felt like Maks almost had a social disorder with the way he spoke. (everything was overly logical) He actually reminded me of Sheldon from the Big Bang… who I love, but FYI, if that’s not your thing.
“That won’t happen.” “Even you can’t prevent it by sheer force of will.” “Of course I can. It is not merely a matter of will, but of actions. I can guarantee against it without doubt.” She did not share his confidence. “How?” “Not allowing another woman close enough for a relationship to grow into intimacy that could lead to love, for a start,” he said, like it should be obvious.
“This is hypothetical as you well know. My personal office staff are all male, but if I thought a woman who worked for me was attracted to me, I would transfer her, or fire her, depending on how she revealed that attraction.”
Crown Prince Maksim Yurkovich has been dating Gillian Harris for 10-month, and sees wedding bells on the horizon. Unfortunately, she has a “poorly functioning reproductive system” which places her strictly in the unsuitable wife column. Maks isn’t happy about this, but he has a duty to his pretend country and rules are rules. After a round of break-up sex…you guessed it… Gillian is expecting!!
That right there is pretty much the only conflict, because Maks learns the good news straightaway, and he is a devoted man after that. He’s pretty swoony, even though he thinks he doesn’t have the capacity to love. This couple has some of the best conversations I’ve ever read. They had adulting down, and I liked not having the frustration of mc’s being prideful and not talking, but it doesn’t make for the most exciting read.
Bottom Line- Not the most riveting, but still a solid read. I liked both mc’s, but felt like Maks almost had a social disorder with the way he spoke. (everything was overly logical) He actually reminded me of Sheldon from the Big Bang… who I love, but FYI, if that’s not your thing.
“That won’t happen.” “Even you can’t prevent it by sheer force of will.” “Of course I can. It is not merely a matter of will, but of actions. I can guarantee against it without doubt.” She did not share his confidence. “How?” “Not allowing another woman close enough for a relationship to grow into intimacy that could lead to love, for a start,” he said, like it should be obvious.
“This is hypothetical as you well know. My personal office staff are all male, but if I thought a woman who worked for me was attracted to me, I would transfer her, or fire her, depending on how she revealed that attraction.”
September 16, 2016
I enjoyed Mills and Boons in college. They were short, satisfying, addictive and suited for relaxation. After some months, most of them blurred together - virgin women, arrogant men, lots of misunderstandings, unexpected pregnancies, a hidden marriage clause...But the Unforgivable Sin was that the guys rarely treated the girl right - 70 % of the book was angst, accusations and abuse, usually over something trivial.
But Lucy Monroe lured me back. Both her characters may be emotionally blocked but there's no cruelty, the girl has both, a spine and a voice, the guys are caring and capable of commitment. One Night Heir was no different.
Maks has to end his relationship with Gillian when he discovers pregnancy may not be possible. He's a dedicated Prince, proud of his heritage. For him duty comes first and he fears love. He ends things with Gillian.
Maks is delighted to learn that Gillian is pregnant and shocked when she refuses to marry him. Gillian had a difficult childhood and doesn't believe in fighting for a lost cause. She has emotional boundaries and is not going to repeat any mistakes.
Maks is agitated and wants Gillian back. They discuss things openly, he doesn't lie or make any empty promises. Maks was caring and afectionate, supportive and smart. Maks was wary when he didn't know where he stood with Gillian.
I liked seeing these two characters work through their issues and build a stronger relationship. It was strange that Maks was miserable without Gillian and did nothing about it. Overall, it was a slow build, low angst, engaging romance which reminded me why I enjoyed Mills and Boons once.
But Lucy Monroe lured me back. Both her characters may be emotionally blocked but there's no cruelty, the girl has both, a spine and a voice, the guys are caring and capable of commitment. One Night Heir was no different.
Maks has to end his relationship with Gillian when he discovers pregnancy may not be possible. He's a dedicated Prince, proud of his heritage. For him duty comes first and he fears love. He ends things with Gillian.
Maks is delighted to learn that Gillian is pregnant and shocked when she refuses to marry him. Gillian had a difficult childhood and doesn't believe in fighting for a lost cause. She has emotional boundaries and is not going to repeat any mistakes.
Maks is agitated and wants Gillian back. They discuss things openly, he doesn't lie or make any empty promises. Maks was caring and afectionate, supportive and smart. Maks was wary when he didn't know where he stood with Gillian.
I liked seeing these two characters work through their issues and build a stronger relationship. It was strange that Maks was miserable without Gillian and did nothing about it. Overall, it was a slow build, low angst, engaging romance which reminded me why I enjoyed Mills and Boons once.
January 6, 2021
He is a prince and needs an heir and a spare, he wants to marry his mistress but she has fertility issues. She’s not sterile anyway. So he leaves her even if they could try some fertility treatments, but he refuses and dumps her. After two months he is informed by his cousin that she’s pregnant. He wants her back, hea. It’s clear that he would have never married her if she weren’t pregnant. He didn’t love her of course. We live in modern day where fertility issues are solved without much inconvenience so why he decided to dump her? He didn’t love her. Where’s the romance here?
July 13, 2025
I wasn’t really convinced either of these people are in love. The hero only comes back because he find out she’s pregnant. She only takes him back because she’s pregnant. Meh.
February 14, 2019
Just finished a re-read thanks to Audible and their romance package. Still not my favorite Lucy Monroe, but I have read worse. Please excuse spelling errors of names, since this was an audiobook.
Max, who is crown prince of a Slavic monarchy, has been dating Gillian for 7 months when he finds out she can't have biological children and dumps her on what she thinks will be her big proposal night. Seriously, I get the import of a royal family carrying on the line, but dude didn't want a wife, he wanted a broodmare. Of course, as the title gives away, during their "goodbye" (which Gillian doesn't know is a goodbye, making it so much worse) it turns out she isn't as infertile as they thought and 9 weeks later a royal hacker (for real) delves into her medical records and Prince Douche is going to be a father.
Honestly, with Gillian's history, I would have liked this story a lot better if it weren't a romance and focused more on her rather awful parents. Those two shitheads needed a pretty ferocious come-to-Jesus. I might have preferred this as a larger, more fleshed out family drama, than a romance with a guy who (no matter his reasons) needed a mechanical womb more than a wife. I'm not going to go back and re-read right now but I'm pretty sure he never even bothered to apologize and Lord knows, never suffered in any real way for dumping her.
All in all, not bad, but all the good stuff is in the first half. After that it's basically about a Prince wiping his feet on his doormat because she loves him.
Max, who is crown prince of a Slavic monarchy, has been dating Gillian for 7 months when he finds out she can't have biological children and dumps her on what she thinks will be her big proposal night. Seriously, I get the import of a royal family carrying on the line, but dude didn't want a wife, he wanted a broodmare. Of course, as the title gives away, during their "goodbye" (which Gillian doesn't know is a goodbye, making it so much worse) it turns out she isn't as infertile as they thought and 9 weeks later a royal hacker (for real) delves into her medical records and Prince Douche is going to be a father.
Honestly, with Gillian's history, I would have liked this story a lot better if it weren't a romance and focused more on her rather awful parents. Those two shitheads needed a pretty ferocious come-to-Jesus. I might have preferred this as a larger, more fleshed out family drama, than a romance with a guy who (no matter his reasons) needed a mechanical womb more than a wife. I'm not going to go back and re-read right now but I'm pretty sure he never even bothered to apologize and Lord knows, never suffered in any real way for dumping her.
All in all, not bad, but all the good stuff is in the first half. After that it's basically about a Prince wiping his feet on his doormat because she loves him.
June 5, 2013
Maksim is a Crown Prince very much in denial about his feelings for his girlfriend Gillian. Still he is about to propose to her. But when he finds out she is infertile he breaks up with her and she is left alone and heartbroken. When she finds out she is pregnant she is happy but shocked. What is even more shocking is that Maksim shows up at her doorstep tells her he knows everything about her pregnancy and proposes marriage. But Gillian won't accept a loveless marriage based on duty, she wants Maksim's heart as well!
Once again LM delivers scorching passion, intense emotions and a sweet love story. The hero was super sexy and the heroine loving but with her own deep issues. I would have liked a more detailed well written epilogue but overall the story was quite beautiful!
Once again LM delivers scorching passion, intense emotions and a sweet love story. The hero was super sexy and the heroine loving but with her own deep issues. I would have liked a more detailed well written epilogue but overall the story was quite beautiful!
December 3, 2022
Reread December 2, 2022
Original review still works…
okay not spectacular, he should have had to work harder to get her back after dumping her. He needed to be ignored, until he realized what he threw away.
Original review still works…
okay not spectacular, he should have had to work harder to get her back after dumping her. He needed to be ignored, until he realized what he threw away.
June 30, 2013
If you've read one Harlequin book about an unexpected baby bringing the main characters together again, then there's little that could technically count as a spoiler for this one, but just to be on the safe side, I'm using the "hide" function for this review.
Maksim finds out that Gillian may be unable to have children so he feels he must end their relationship so that he can choose a wife who can provide him with an heir and a spare (his words). Of course, the fact that that very night he'd been planning to propose to Gillian doesn't give him all that much pause, and he assumes that she knows what's going to happen, so he sleeps with her one last time which results in - you guessed it - a baby. After he learns about it, he decides he can marry her after all and things progress from there.
There are some problems with this book - including the aforementioned overly familiar story. Plus, there are so many repetitive conversations between Maksim and Gilliam that revolve around how he will not let love into his life but she wants to be loved, etc. etc. They go around in circles on this point time and time again and only make some forward progress at the end, after the intervention of a family member.
That intervention brings me to another issue: for an arrogant, powerful alpha male, Maksim is kind of on the passive side. Someone else keeps tabs on Gillian and informs him of the baby, just as someone else provides the impetus for Maksim's eventual epiphany and the story reaching its HEA. The one thing that he does that literally made me my jaw drop (which is not a common occurrence for me while reading a book, and it's a good thing that I was alone at the time because I'm sure my expression was somewhat less-than-attractive) is that he makes an issue - several times - of the fact that Gillian didn't "fight" for him when he broke things off with her. Maybe it's just me, but I couldn't believe the sheer gall it takes (given how he had hurt her) to repeatedly throw that in her face as a way to "prove" that she doesn't really love him.
The HEA itself is relatively nice in that it provides resolution and things finally move forward. However, for all that Maksim puts Gillian through, he doesn't do much - if anything - in the way of groveling or making it up to her, so this story doesn't offer much emotional payoff from that perspective.
As for the good aspects of the story, Gillian is a great heroine - she's got smarts and a spine and she doesn't let Maksim walk all over her. In fact, during their initial breakup, the way she reacts is strong and confident and I think it's the first time that I've ever read a Harlequin breakup where such a thing has happened.
So, this one has more than its fair share of downsides, but I'm a Lucy Monroe fan and the fact that, even with all of those factors in play, she still made me care about the characters and their journey says a lot for the kind of writer that she is. Additionally, I found that the love scenes in this one had a bit more heat than such scenes in Harlequin books usually contain, which was a nice change of pace. All in all, this doesn't break new ground and if you're a frequent reader of Harlequin books, this isn't anything you haven't read before. However, Lucy Monroe put her spin on the formula and makes it readable, so if you're in the mood for a Harlequin, I'd suggest giving this one a try.
Maksim finds out that Gillian may be unable to have children so he feels he must end their relationship so that he can choose a wife who can provide him with an heir and a spare (his words). Of course, the fact that that very night he'd been planning to propose to Gillian doesn't give him all that much pause, and he assumes that she knows what's going to happen, so he sleeps with her one last time which results in - you guessed it - a baby. After he learns about it, he decides he can marry her after all and things progress from there.
There are some problems with this book - including the aforementioned overly familiar story. Plus, there are so many repetitive conversations between Maksim and Gilliam that revolve around how he will not let love into his life but she wants to be loved, etc. etc. They go around in circles on this point time and time again and only make some forward progress at the end, after the intervention of a family member.
That intervention brings me to another issue: for an arrogant, powerful alpha male, Maksim is kind of on the passive side. Someone else keeps tabs on Gillian and informs him of the baby, just as someone else provides the impetus for Maksim's eventual epiphany and the story reaching its HEA. The one thing that he does that literally made me my jaw drop (which is not a common occurrence for me while reading a book, and it's a good thing that I was alone at the time because I'm sure my expression was somewhat less-than-attractive) is that he makes an issue - several times - of the fact that Gillian didn't "fight" for him when he broke things off with her. Maybe it's just me, but I couldn't believe the sheer gall it takes (given how he had hurt her) to repeatedly throw that in her face as a way to "prove" that she doesn't really love him.
The HEA itself is relatively nice in that it provides resolution and things finally move forward. However, for all that Maksim puts Gillian through, he doesn't do much - if anything - in the way of groveling or making it up to her, so this story doesn't offer much emotional payoff from that perspective.
As for the good aspects of the story, Gillian is a great heroine - she's got smarts and a spine and she doesn't let Maksim walk all over her. In fact, during their initial breakup, the way she reacts is strong and confident and I think it's the first time that I've ever read a Harlequin breakup where such a thing has happened.
So, this one has more than its fair share of downsides, but I'm a Lucy Monroe fan and the fact that, even with all of those factors in play, she still made me care about the characters and their journey says a lot for the kind of writer that she is. Additionally, I found that the love scenes in this one had a bit more heat than such scenes in Harlequin books usually contain, which was a nice change of pace. All in all, this doesn't break new ground and if you're a frequent reader of Harlequin books, this isn't anything you haven't read before. However, Lucy Monroe put her spin on the formula and makes it readable, so if you're in the mood for a Harlequin, I'd suggest giving this one a try.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 7, 2013
I know that the hero and heroine were in a fairly long relationship before the beginning of the story, but even so, the I Love You's felt a little too quick from our hero's side.
Very light, easy reading, with some lovely angst and steam, but I wish that our hero had been forced to grovel a bit more.
3.5-4/5 Stars, full review to follow.
Very light, easy reading, with some lovely angst and steam, but I wish that our hero had been forced to grovel a bit more.
3.5-4/5 Stars, full review to follow.
September 20, 2016
2.5 Stars
July 7, 2017
Really boring. Oils not connect with the main characters. I read about 75% of the book but skimmed the rest, very boring.
July 9, 2013
I thought that the story was okay, but felt that something was missing. Not between the characters necessarily because they had insane chemistry going on, and they worked as a couple. Though I did have issue with Maks, who didn't exactly disregard Gillian feelings of how hard it would be to be married to him while she loved him, but he totally didn't get why it would be hard for her, which was puzzling to me. I get that he didn't believe in love and all the strong emotions associated with it, but even still I just thought it was a little insensitive of him to keeping pushing marriage on her while not loving her when it was hurting her so badly. And I could totally get why it did and saw how it did gut her like a knife, knowing that she would be in an unequal relationship with him where she loved him and he didn't and have to live without his love basically. She grew up with that all her life from her parents, she didn't need it from her marriage too. So that bothered me a tad about him.
Also what bothered me about him was how knowing he was going to break up with her, he decided to sleep with her anyway in the beginning of the book, knowing he shouldn't, but he didn't anyway. I don't care if he thought she knew the information about her physical that she wouldn't be able to have children and because his position as future king would demand that didn't mean she would assume it would and then lead to their breakup. Even with all that he still knew what he was going to do so he shouldn't have slept with her in the first place. Because it was going to break her heart especially when she told him for the first time in the afterglow which was a double whammy. Okay, he did feel guilty about sleeping with her especially when he found out her feelings for him, and I get that he was hurting too (though he didn't show that to her) and wanted one last sweet reminder of her and their time together so he made love to her furiously to say goodbye. I could tell he didn't want to give her up and wanted to savor every moment of his final one time and I could sympathize with that and it made me forgive him a little more knowing his emotions were fully into it. But still I didn't think he should have done it just making it harder for each of them to say goodbye plus doing it without protection not a smart move (or was it?).
If he used protection then the story wouldn't have continued now would it because despite the report saying it would be difficult to have children, Gillian wound up pregnant much to the surprise of both. And the pregnancy was the thing that brought them together again, and it was the perfect excuse to get Gillian back into his life.
Though Gillian didn't see it that way, thinking that the only reason he came back because she was pregnant with his child, which was true, but he definitely felt more for her than that and to him it was almost a relief to have her back in his life as well as a child on the way. It was a win-win for him. But for her it just brought back the fact that he didn't love her, especially when he told her that he didn't love her, but did want her, want to marry her and wanted to be with her, but that didn't make her feel any better and hurting because of his lack of feelings for her, and I understood why she didn't want to live like again.
So, basically the rest of the book was a back and forth argument of whether they would get married or not with each stating their case of why they should or shouldn't. He felt bad that he didn't love her, though it was obvious to the reader that he did especially the way he didn't want to let her go or how much in the beginning of the story he didn't want to breakup with her but felt he had to because it was his duty, but wanted to be with her, feeling this deep connection to her and not wanting to let her go. While she didn't want to be in a painful, loveless marriage to him. So, they go on for pages like this until she finally agreed to marry him, hoping that their relationship was special enough to survive without love and with their baby.
And of coarse at the end of the book, he came to realize that he did love her very much and didn't want her to go anywhere. For a brief moment he thought that Gillian would leave him when Gillian said she would leave him so that he could find love and be happy with the prompting being done by his mother setting a trap for him to admit his feelings for Gillian. It worked like a charm, and was devastated to even think about Gillian leaving him for even a second because she was his heart and love and he didn't need to go out in the world to find love because it was right in front of him all along. They kiss and commit themselves to one another. And I was glad because they do belong to each other with it being obvious that neither wanted anyone else and had deep feelings for one another despite him not saying it or him believing that she didn't fight for him even when she said he loved him. I got what he was saying, but at the same time yeah she could have fought for him harder, but what would have been the point? One he didn't love her (supposedly)and she did. Two in the beginning he made his priorities quite clear that duty came before anything else. And three why would she want to fight so hard for a man that didn't love and then wound up being rejected when she did fight for him. She shouldn't had to do that. She did that with her parents she didn't want to do it again, knowing how much hurt and pain she would be setting herself up for so she didn't fight hard to save their relationship, but who could really blame her. I couldn't. And I understand why she didn't want to try. But regardless they ended up together and got what they wanted in the end.
Though Maks was intentionally cruel he was a little clueless when it came to her feelings and how hard it was for Gillian to start up a relationship with him. And he didn't do the smartest thing by sleeping with her either, knowing what was coming. He should have been honest and upfront with her of what was going on instead of just sleeping with her. Though to be fair she was the one who initiated the encounter, but that was when she thought she would be getting an engagement ring in the near future not a break up instead. I know he didn't mean to hurt her, and I get that he wanted to do his duty to his country and it had been ingrained into him from the time that he was young, but still he should have had a little more respect for their relationship instead of just throwing her away like she was nothing or that was how she saw it while it was very difficult for him though he didn't show it. But he should've and then maybe she would have understood better of what a hardship was for him and let her know that she meant something to him and he wasn't disregarding her lightly. He hated that he couldn't be with her after he found the result of the test because he planned on marrying her, but the test just derailed that. But I just think he should have talked to her and been upfront with her instead of making her feeling like less than nothing. That was just one thing that irked me about him, but otherwise I did like him. He was kind and sweet to her and tried his best to convince her that they would have a good life together while reassuring that he wanted to be with and always did and wished he never broke up with her in the first place. So, overall I did like him, he wasn't a complete jerk like some heroes could be in these types of book though he was a little clueless. But I like him I just wished he less clueless more open and more willing to recognize his feelings for her in the beginning, though maybe it was better he didn't because he might of been in more pain at the knowledge that he was loosing the woman that he loved because he had to do a duty to his country. Or maybe he would have forsaken duty at that point, but I don't think so.
I like Gillian too, and I wish she didn't have to go through so much heartache in the book between her parents and Maks, but I think I wished that there was a scene in the book between one of her parents and her with Maks there just to show her parents lack of affection for her and just what it did to her with Maks witnessing it. Maybe then he would have understood why it hurt her to love someone and they didn't love her back and just how badly it hurt. It might have Maks made him get what she was saying more at seeing it first hand of how bad it was for her. Then maybe he could have seen what his lack of feelings did to her inside. I just wanted to see that happen or even have her confront her parents or have Maks confront her parent just to show it since the issue was present throughout the book. I just felt it should have been there, but her parents weren't there at all, which probably was the point, but still I would have liked to have seen it. Maybe that was the missing piece for me.
Also I did think the Gillian did give in to easily to Maks. I got that she loved him and wanted to be with him no matter what and I know that Maks reassured her to the best of his ability. But I just felt like she shouldn't have agreed until he totally got what his lack of love did to her because I don't think he got it a hundred percent. I think he got it sum, but not all, and I think if he did see the depth of pain he caused her I don't think he would have forced her to marry him because he wouldn't want to see her hurting that badly. But she did give in and she just hoped for the best. But I guess she couldn't have fought forever, and there was some back and forth with the same arguments presents, but I just thought she should have held out just a tad longer, making him sweat a little.
I will say that the pair did have awesome chemistry, which was the best part of the book. The love scenes were hot, hot, hot with a capital H. It was steamy and intense and something that wasn't just about the physical but the emotion too. I thought they were very well done and showed the connection they had with each other and showing what was beneath the surface for both. It worked for me, and weren't thrown in there just to be in there, but because they meant something to each character adding to the intensity and their connection. And I believed that they fit together and belonged together and it wasn't forced and was very natural and real. I like when love scenes feel real like these did and not contrived and making it totally unbelievable and just lack of connection between the characters where I wouldn't believe that the act was more than physical then they come to realize they love each other, which wouldn't make sense to me at all. But this book didn't do that and was the complete opposite because I could feel both the love and passion coming off the page and making me believe that they do in fact love each other, which in turn got me rooting for them. So, I thought they were very well done.
Like I said this was an okay book and I felt at times needed more too it, but the love scenes more than made up for it for me, which was why I gave it three stars. I just thought that the parents issue would come into play more and would show it more so not only that I would understand what she went through, but also Maks would too. But it was a nice quick light read from Lucy Monroe and I will still keeping reading her books in the future and look forward to it. Hopefully I will be a little more into them than I was this one and just feel more connected to the plot as well.
Also what bothered me about him was how knowing he was going to break up with her, he decided to sleep with her anyway in the beginning of the book, knowing he shouldn't, but he didn't anyway. I don't care if he thought she knew the information about her physical that she wouldn't be able to have children and because his position as future king would demand that didn't mean she would assume it would and then lead to their breakup. Even with all that he still knew what he was going to do so he shouldn't have slept with her in the first place. Because it was going to break her heart especially when she told him for the first time in the afterglow which was a double whammy. Okay, he did feel guilty about sleeping with her especially when he found out her feelings for him, and I get that he was hurting too (though he didn't show that to her) and wanted one last sweet reminder of her and their time together so he made love to her furiously to say goodbye. I could tell he didn't want to give her up and wanted to savor every moment of his final one time and I could sympathize with that and it made me forgive him a little more knowing his emotions were fully into it. But still I didn't think he should have done it just making it harder for each of them to say goodbye plus doing it without protection not a smart move (or was it?).
If he used protection then the story wouldn't have continued now would it because despite the report saying it would be difficult to have children, Gillian wound up pregnant much to the surprise of both. And the pregnancy was the thing that brought them together again, and it was the perfect excuse to get Gillian back into his life.
Though Gillian didn't see it that way, thinking that the only reason he came back because she was pregnant with his child, which was true, but he definitely felt more for her than that and to him it was almost a relief to have her back in his life as well as a child on the way. It was a win-win for him. But for her it just brought back the fact that he didn't love her, especially when he told her that he didn't love her, but did want her, want to marry her and wanted to be with her, but that didn't make her feel any better and hurting because of his lack of feelings for her, and I understood why she didn't want to live like again.
So, basically the rest of the book was a back and forth argument of whether they would get married or not with each stating their case of why they should or shouldn't. He felt bad that he didn't love her, though it was obvious to the reader that he did especially the way he didn't want to let her go or how much in the beginning of the story he didn't want to breakup with her but felt he had to because it was his duty, but wanted to be with her, feeling this deep connection to her and not wanting to let her go. While she didn't want to be in a painful, loveless marriage to him. So, they go on for pages like this until she finally agreed to marry him, hoping that their relationship was special enough to survive without love and with their baby.
And of coarse at the end of the book, he came to realize that he did love her very much and didn't want her to go anywhere. For a brief moment he thought that Gillian would leave him when Gillian said she would leave him so that he could find love and be happy with the prompting being done by his mother setting a trap for him to admit his feelings for Gillian. It worked like a charm, and was devastated to even think about Gillian leaving him for even a second because she was his heart and love and he didn't need to go out in the world to find love because it was right in front of him all along. They kiss and commit themselves to one another. And I was glad because they do belong to each other with it being obvious that neither wanted anyone else and had deep feelings for one another despite him not saying it or him believing that she didn't fight for him even when she said he loved him. I got what he was saying, but at the same time yeah she could have fought for him harder, but what would have been the point? One he didn't love her (supposedly)and she did. Two in the beginning he made his priorities quite clear that duty came before anything else. And three why would she want to fight so hard for a man that didn't love and then wound up being rejected when she did fight for him. She shouldn't had to do that. She did that with her parents she didn't want to do it again, knowing how much hurt and pain she would be setting herself up for so she didn't fight hard to save their relationship, but who could really blame her. I couldn't. And I understand why she didn't want to try. But regardless they ended up together and got what they wanted in the end.
Though Maks was intentionally cruel he was a little clueless when it came to her feelings and how hard it was for Gillian to start up a relationship with him. And he didn't do the smartest thing by sleeping with her either, knowing what was coming. He should have been honest and upfront with her of what was going on instead of just sleeping with her. Though to be fair she was the one who initiated the encounter, but that was when she thought she would be getting an engagement ring in the near future not a break up instead. I know he didn't mean to hurt her, and I get that he wanted to do his duty to his country and it had been ingrained into him from the time that he was young, but still he should have had a little more respect for their relationship instead of just throwing her away like she was nothing or that was how she saw it while it was very difficult for him though he didn't show it. But he should've and then maybe she would have understood better of what a hardship was for him and let her know that she meant something to him and he wasn't disregarding her lightly. He hated that he couldn't be with her after he found the result of the test because he planned on marrying her, but the test just derailed that. But I just think he should have talked to her and been upfront with her instead of making her feeling like less than nothing. That was just one thing that irked me about him, but otherwise I did like him. He was kind and sweet to her and tried his best to convince her that they would have a good life together while reassuring that he wanted to be with and always did and wished he never broke up with her in the first place. So, overall I did like him, he wasn't a complete jerk like some heroes could be in these types of book though he was a little clueless. But I like him I just wished he less clueless more open and more willing to recognize his feelings for her in the beginning, though maybe it was better he didn't because he might of been in more pain at the knowledge that he was loosing the woman that he loved because he had to do a duty to his country. Or maybe he would have forsaken duty at that point, but I don't think so.
I like Gillian too, and I wish she didn't have to go through so much heartache in the book between her parents and Maks, but I think I wished that there was a scene in the book between one of her parents and her with Maks there just to show her parents lack of affection for her and just what it did to her with Maks witnessing it. Maybe then he would have understood why it hurt her to love someone and they didn't love her back and just how badly it hurt. It might have Maks made him get what she was saying more at seeing it first hand of how bad it was for her. Then maybe he could have seen what his lack of feelings did to her inside. I just wanted to see that happen or even have her confront her parents or have Maks confront her parent just to show it since the issue was present throughout the book. I just felt it should have been there, but her parents weren't there at all, which probably was the point, but still I would have liked to have seen it. Maybe that was the missing piece for me.
Also I did think the Gillian did give in to easily to Maks. I got that she loved him and wanted to be with him no matter what and I know that Maks reassured her to the best of his ability. But I just felt like she shouldn't have agreed until he totally got what his lack of love did to her because I don't think he got it a hundred percent. I think he got it sum, but not all, and I think if he did see the depth of pain he caused her I don't think he would have forced her to marry him because he wouldn't want to see her hurting that badly. But she did give in and she just hoped for the best. But I guess she couldn't have fought forever, and there was some back and forth with the same arguments presents, but I just thought she should have held out just a tad longer, making him sweat a little.
I will say that the pair did have awesome chemistry, which was the best part of the book. The love scenes were hot, hot, hot with a capital H. It was steamy and intense and something that wasn't just about the physical but the emotion too. I thought they were very well done and showed the connection they had with each other and showing what was beneath the surface for both. It worked for me, and weren't thrown in there just to be in there, but because they meant something to each character adding to the intensity and their connection. And I believed that they fit together and belonged together and it wasn't forced and was very natural and real. I like when love scenes feel real like these did and not contrived and making it totally unbelievable and just lack of connection between the characters where I wouldn't believe that the act was more than physical then they come to realize they love each other, which wouldn't make sense to me at all. But this book didn't do that and was the complete opposite because I could feel both the love and passion coming off the page and making me believe that they do in fact love each other, which in turn got me rooting for them. So, I thought they were very well done.
Like I said this was an okay book and I felt at times needed more too it, but the love scenes more than made up for it for me, which was why I gave it three stars. I just thought that the parents issue would come into play more and would show it more so not only that I would understand what she went through, but also Maks would too. But it was a nice quick light read from Lucy Monroe and I will still keeping reading her books in the future and look forward to it. Hopefully I will be a little more into them than I was this one and just feel more connected to the plot as well.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 13, 2013
This review was posted at Tsuki’s Book Blog on Thursday June 13, 2013
Do you ever read a book and immediately (as in the first page) want to punch the hero in the face? I understand alpha-heroes tend to start in Asshat-Land and at some point move into Total Understanding-Land but sometimes it's just not enough. While I enjoyed the book as a whole those early chapters were incredibly difficult for me to get through. Let's start with a basic synopsis and go from there, shall we?
Gillian and Maksim (weird name) have been seeing each other for awhile when Maksim considers popping the question. Unfortunately he needs a woman who can give him an heir and due to an in-depth physical it is discovered Gillian has basically a 1% chance of getting pregnant. In a total lack of communication he sleeps with her then breaks up with her, thinking she had read the results [she hadn't]. Of course Gillian is pregnant from the one night and now wants nothing to do with Maksim. In true alpha-male fashion, he wages war on convincing the woman he wanted all along to give him a second chance all while saying he will never love her.
Gillian was an interesting woman. She was a small-town girl living in a foreign country but she knew what she wanted. She also had an incredible back-bone for the most part. She wanted Maksim to work for it since he had been so horrible to her. Why should she simply marry the father of her child when he didn't want to marry her before her medical condition had been discovered? She really tries to hold him off until she accepts the fact she wants to marry him even though she deserves more.
Maks was more of a typical alpha-male. Other than being from a highly dysfunctional family, he really had no unique qualities. He followed all of the alpha-male douchebaggery when it came to the break-up, the decision they would marry due to the pregnancy, and his unwillingness to admit he loved her until the final ten pages.
This is my second Lucy Monroe title and I am seeing a pattern. Her heroines tend to be strong, independent women (YAY!) but the men are interchangeable with very little differences. In fact I could have taken Valentino (from "Valentino's Love-Child") and switched him with Maks with very little changes. The differences were nationality and Tino=good family + son while Maks=dysfunctional family + brother. Their general attitudes and beliefs lined up pretty closely. It kind of bummed me out.
I think this is a nice read for someone who wants the alpha-male who swoops in and decides what will happen before learning anything at all about where they went wrong in the first place. I may try a Lucy Monroe book in the future but for now I'll look to other authors in the Harlequin Presents line.
2 Stars
Published by Harlequin--Presents
June 18, 2013
192 Pages
Provided by--NetGalley
Do you ever read a book and immediately (as in the first page) want to punch the hero in the face? I understand alpha-heroes tend to start in Asshat-Land and at some point move into Total Understanding-Land but sometimes it's just not enough. While I enjoyed the book as a whole those early chapters were incredibly difficult for me to get through. Let's start with a basic synopsis and go from there, shall we?
Gillian and Maksim (weird name) have been seeing each other for awhile when Maksim considers popping the question. Unfortunately he needs a woman who can give him an heir and due to an in-depth physical it is discovered Gillian has basically a 1% chance of getting pregnant. In a total lack of communication he sleeps with her then breaks up with her, thinking she had read the results [she hadn't]. Of course Gillian is pregnant from the one night and now wants nothing to do with Maksim. In true alpha-male fashion, he wages war on convincing the woman he wanted all along to give him a second chance all while saying he will never love her.
Gillian was an interesting woman. She was a small-town girl living in a foreign country but she knew what she wanted. She also had an incredible back-bone for the most part. She wanted Maksim to work for it since he had been so horrible to her. Why should she simply marry the father of her child when he didn't want to marry her before her medical condition had been discovered? She really tries to hold him off until she accepts the fact she wants to marry him even though she deserves more.
Maks was more of a typical alpha-male. Other than being from a highly dysfunctional family, he really had no unique qualities. He followed all of the alpha-male douchebaggery when it came to the break-up, the decision they would marry due to the pregnancy, and his unwillingness to admit he loved her until the final ten pages.
This is my second Lucy Monroe title and I am seeing a pattern. Her heroines tend to be strong, independent women (YAY!) but the men are interchangeable with very little differences. In fact I could have taken Valentino (from "Valentino's Love-Child") and switched him with Maks with very little changes. The differences were nationality and Tino=good family + son while Maks=dysfunctional family + brother. Their general attitudes and beliefs lined up pretty closely. It kind of bummed me out.
I think this is a nice read for someone who wants the alpha-male who swoops in and decides what will happen before learning anything at all about where they went wrong in the first place. I may try a Lucy Monroe book in the future but for now I'll look to other authors in the Harlequin Presents line.
2 Stars
Published by Harlequin--Presents
June 18, 2013
192 Pages
Provided by--NetGalley
May 21, 2013
One Night Heir by Lucy Monroe
In One Night Heir, Crown Prince Maksim is about to propose to Gillian Harris, when he receives medical records showing that it would be very "unlikely" that Gillian would be able to conceive a child. After an intense night of passion, he ends their relationship. Gillian is totally devastated, as she believed he was going to propose.
Maks does not believe in love, having not seen it between his parents. While he cares for Gillian and really hated the idea of breaking up with her. But he is also Duty bound, and must produce an Heir. I liked how he was willing to do just about anything to get her back, but was still honest.
Nine weeks later Gillian is in total shock, but totally overjoyed with her surprising news. Deciding to keep her pregnancy to herself until she passes her third month, and the risk of miscarriage goes down. She is very shocked when Maks shows up on her doorstep, confronting her about the baby and asking her to marry him.
While Gillian character is broken hearted, she is also much stronger than maybe even she knew. I really felt a connection to her character. And loved how she didn't drop everything when he appeared at her front door. She was demanding and let Maks know while she still loved him, she would not marry him without a pre-nup to protect her and the baby.
There were a number of things I really enjoyed about this book. The passion between the two. How Gillian reacted when Maks breaks up with her, PRICELESS.
A couple of things I did not enjoy. Maks had not proposed yet so I was not buying the part of the story line where she went to his doctor and he got a copy of the report. And the epilogue, it was a little to brief and really didn't say much.
I received an ARC " Advanced Readers Copy " of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
4/5 stars
In One Night Heir, Crown Prince Maksim is about to propose to Gillian Harris, when he receives medical records showing that it would be very "unlikely" that Gillian would be able to conceive a child. After an intense night of passion, he ends their relationship. Gillian is totally devastated, as she believed he was going to propose.
Maks does not believe in love, having not seen it between his parents. While he cares for Gillian and really hated the idea of breaking up with her. But he is also Duty bound, and must produce an Heir. I liked how he was willing to do just about anything to get her back, but was still honest.
Nine weeks later Gillian is in total shock, but totally overjoyed with her surprising news. Deciding to keep her pregnancy to herself until she passes her third month, and the risk of miscarriage goes down. She is very shocked when Maks shows up on her doorstep, confronting her about the baby and asking her to marry him.
While Gillian character is broken hearted, she is also much stronger than maybe even she knew. I really felt a connection to her character. And loved how she didn't drop everything when he appeared at her front door. She was demanding and let Maks know while she still loved him, she would not marry him without a pre-nup to protect her and the baby.
There were a number of things I really enjoyed about this book. The passion between the two. How Gillian reacted when Maks breaks up with her, PRICELESS.
A couple of things I did not enjoy. Maks had not proposed yet so I was not buying the part of the story line where she went to his doctor and he got a copy of the report. And the epilogue, it was a little to brief and really didn't say much.
I received an ARC " Advanced Readers Copy " of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
4/5 stars
September 5, 2013
3 1/2 stars This is a fairly classic story line. Maks is all set to make his lover Gillian his bride until her medical report comes back showing fertility problems. Big issue for the Prince of a country that requires at least an heir and a spare.
So of course he dumps her, after a last magic night of lovemaking.
Gillian is not clueless, she's seen where the relationship is heading and is expecting her HEA to be announced that night. She thinks that magical night was all about leading up to the big moment so in the afterglow she tells Maks she loves him which is a big deal for her as she's never been shown love by her parents, only her grandparents.
Maks response is to dump her but he feels guilty about it. In fact he feels really bad for a whole host of reasons he'd rather not deal with, so he doesn't.
So...9 weeks later...a little bird tells Maks that Gillian is off to the obstetrician. Duty requires he go and take responsibility. It's a tough job but he's up for it. Only trouble is that Gillian isn't as happy about his return as he expected.
The rest of the story is largely about how they resolve the conflict between his declaration that he does not love her but wants her and the baby and Gillian's despair that she loves a man who will never love her back but she wants a proper family life for her child.
I enjoyed the story though occasionally the back and forth over the 'you love me I love you not' got a little repetitive. The ending was satisfying and could have done without the the Epilogue which was a rushed tidy up with a link to the other story in the duet about Maks cousin.
So of course he dumps her, after a last magic night of lovemaking.
Gillian is not clueless, she's seen where the relationship is heading and is expecting her HEA to be announced that night. She thinks that magical night was all about leading up to the big moment so in the afterglow she tells Maks she loves him which is a big deal for her as she's never been shown love by her parents, only her grandparents.
Maks response is to dump her but he feels guilty about it. In fact he feels really bad for a whole host of reasons he'd rather not deal with, so he doesn't.
So...9 weeks later...a little bird tells Maks that Gillian is off to the obstetrician. Duty requires he go and take responsibility. It's a tough job but he's up for it. Only trouble is that Gillian isn't as happy about his return as he expected.
The rest of the story is largely about how they resolve the conflict between his declaration that he does not love her but wants her and the baby and Gillian's despair that she loves a man who will never love her back but she wants a proper family life for her child.
I enjoyed the story though occasionally the back and forth over the 'you love me I love you not' got a little repetitive. The ending was satisfying and could have done without the the Epilogue which was a rushed tidy up with a link to the other story in the duet about Maks cousin.
May 19, 2013
I received the book from Netgallery.com for an honest review. I really liked this short read. It is about Gillian and Maksim the Crown Prince, who both have been hurt by their parents love.Maksim must marry a woman who can help secure the royal line. He is set to do this with Gillian, until he gets her medical records and finds out Gillian has a smaller chance of conceiving. So he ends their relationship due to these reasons, as he cannot take a chance. He is loyal to the crown and the country first and foremost. Although he and Gillian have one last night together. This results in a pregnancy although Gillian is not ready to deliver the news. But Mak finds out from his cousin, who found out through his hacker. Gillian is miffed she was spied on, and feels that Mak is only back in her life due to t she baby. She loves him a lot and has suffered much in the weeks since the break up. Do they over come those issues to stay together. With a much needed push from Mak's mother Mak realizes that yes in fact that he can have both love and love for the crown and county.
June 3, 2013
Too quickly done, not enough time to actually like the characters, let alone fall in love with them and their story. It was a rush/hack job. 1.5 stars.
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