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Dinastía griega
Aquel matrimonio nunca había sido consumado… hasta ahora.
Hacía ya ocho años que Prudence se había visto obligada a casarse con Nikolos Angelis, pero siempre habían vivido separados y ni siquiera habían consumado el matrimonio.
Sin embargo, ahora Prudence deseaba tener un hijo, por lo que quería pedirle el divorcio a Nikolos. Pero su respuesta fue rotunda: él era su marido y sería también el padre de su hijo.
Al principio Prudence se negó a intentarlo siquiera; al fin y al cabo, Nikolos era un conocido donjuán. Pero entonces las circunstancias la empujaron a sus brazos y la hicieron cambiar de opinión…
Hacía ya ocho años que Prudence se había visto obligada a casarse con Nikolos Angelis, pero siempre habían vivido separados y ni siquiera habían consumado el matrimonio.
Sin embargo, ahora Prudence deseaba tener un hijo, por lo que quería pedirle el divorcio a Nikolos. Pero su respuesta fue rotunda: él era su marido y sería también el padre de su hijo.
Al principio Prudence se negó a intentarlo siquiera; al fin y al cabo, Nikolos era un conocido donjuán. Pero entonces las circunstancias la empujaron a sus brazos y la hicieron cambiar de opinión…
160 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 1, 2006
157 people are currently reading
715 people want to read
About the author
Lynne Graham
1,763 books1,448 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 109 reviews
April 18, 2017
1.5 SHE IS SO PATHETIC STARS
Question:
What do you do if you are a modern independent woman of the world who has a loser cheater for a husband but you want a baby?
Answer:
Why divorce him and get yourself artificial inseminated!
It's the perfect plan!
Only one problem, HER HUSBAND IS A CAVEMAN!
He doesn't want her but she "belongs" to him.
Good grief!
PLEASE!
Now, what happens next is just the usual bull about the hero being a man and having needs so he has loads of mistresses on the side but it's all good cause she didn't really mind.
In fact, it seemed to me they could all come over and swap sex stories!
Okay maybe not that far, but still!
More double standards and chauvinistic behavior later we have them finally trying to make their marriage work after being married for almost a decade.
Honestly, this book is not the worst but for me it was just too hard to believe a man like this would ever be a worthy husband to this poor put upon heroine. And this is why I call bullsh*t on this one.
I wasn't buying his "love" or her sadly dejected and pathetic virgin obsession.
Of course, these are just my thoughts and you can agree or disagree with them.
Also, I should admit that I read this book more than once here and I remember loving it the first time. However, rereading it now wasn't a good idea!
I ruined that whole thing for myself.
My best advice is to
NOT REREAD BOOKS THAT YOU HAVE ENJOYED, most don't stand the reread.
Just a suggestion!
Question:
What do you do if you are a modern independent woman of the world who has a loser cheater for a husband but you want a baby?
Answer:
Why divorce him and get yourself artificial inseminated!
It's the perfect plan!
Only one problem, HER HUSBAND IS A CAVEMAN!
He doesn't want her but she "belongs" to him.
Good grief!
PLEASE!
Now, what happens next is just the usual bull about the hero being a man and having needs so he has loads of mistresses on the side but it's all good cause she didn't really mind.
In fact, it seemed to me they could all come over and swap sex stories!
Okay maybe not that far, but still!
More double standards and chauvinistic behavior later we have them finally trying to make their marriage work after being married for almost a decade.
Honestly, this book is not the worst but for me it was just too hard to believe a man like this would ever be a worthy husband to this poor put upon heroine. And this is why I call bullsh*t on this one.
I wasn't buying his "love" or her sadly dejected and pathetic virgin obsession.
Of course, these are just my thoughts and you can agree or disagree with them.
Also, I should admit that I read this book more than once here and I remember loving it the first time. However, rereading it now wasn't a good idea!
I ruined that whole thing for myself.
My best advice is to
NOT REREAD BOOKS THAT YOU HAVE ENJOYED, most don't stand the reread.
Just a suggestion!
April 17, 2017
Their marriage was forced, unconsummated and occured 8 years ago when the story opens. Virgin heroine, who is now 27, decides she'd like a baby, courtesy of the sperm bank. On her annual birthday outing with the H she asks for a divorce.
The H, who has three mistresses in three different cities going at once, is not happy about this. He will give the h a baby and they will live together as husband and wife. He stayed away from the heroine because he thought he had caused her trauma on her wedding night (he had been drugged and blacked out and didn't remember a thing). Now that he knows the truth, he goes ahead and seduces her.
The rest of the story is the playboy hero trying to win over the reluctant heroine. He starts with blackmail, but doesn't have the funds to cover buying a new farm for the heroine and her rescued animals, so he sells his yacht. I know - it's not like selling his watch to buy her hair combs, but in billionaire land it is.
There are lots of cute moments like this, with some minor problems along the way. The black moment comes when the heroine inherits more money than the hero has and the dead grandfather taunts him about it via a pre-recorded dvd. The hero comes to his senses and overcomes his pride. It's his choice to stay married - and he's not a kept man.
The mistress thing is no big deal to the heroine, so it wasn't a big deal to me. LG even plays with this by having three of the hero's exes talk to her at a party and the h ends up befriending them.
This is a low angst, fluffy tale with the hero in the epilogue buying her every rescue dog at the pound because he couldn't leave any behind.
The H, who has three mistresses in three different cities going at once, is not happy about this. He will give the h a baby and they will live together as husband and wife. He stayed away from the heroine because he thought he had caused her trauma on her wedding night (he had been drugged and blacked out and didn't remember a thing). Now that he knows the truth, he goes ahead and seduces her.
The rest of the story is the playboy hero trying to win over the reluctant heroine. He starts with blackmail, but doesn't have the funds to cover buying a new farm for the heroine and her rescued animals, so he sells his yacht. I know - it's not like selling his watch to buy her hair combs, but in billionaire land it is.
There are lots of cute moments like this, with some minor problems along the way. The black moment comes when the heroine inherits more money than the hero has and the dead grandfather taunts him about it via a pre-recorded dvd. The hero comes to his senses and overcomes his pride. It's his choice to stay married - and he's not a kept man.
The mistress thing is no big deal to the heroine, so it wasn't a big deal to me. LG even plays with this by having three of the hero's exes talk to her at a party and the h ends up befriending them.
This is a low angst, fluffy tale with the hero in the epilogue buying her every rescue dog at the pound because he couldn't leave any behind.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 5, 2022
I'm sorry to trash a LG unmercifully but this time I just can't let it go.
She went OTT with this one.
The opening scene is the hero in bed with one of his mistresses, thinking he has to give a birthday present to his wife.
yes, that's it.
The heroine and hero married years ago, a MOC, she refused to have sex with im on their wedding night and he thought she was disgusted by him, but she was only young and inexperienced so he went away and kept his manhoring ways all along, remembering her only on her birthday.
-She stays celibate
-She asks divorce
-she wants a child and thinks about having a AI
Really???
But this is not all.
-she's been in love with him all along
-he was in the tabloids with endless women and she knew, so zero respect for his young wife-
-now, he's annoyed that she wants a divorce and he wants a real marriage because he thinks he's ready for commitment
-she can't resist and has a severe attack of TBS
Women, please don't read this rubbish because it's very offensive for any woman with a minimum of self worth and dignity.
First: opening a romance with a hero cheating on his wife is unforgivable.
Second: he doesn't even have the excuse of a misunderstanding, that is, he thinks she cheated on him, he thinks she wronged him in any way. No, zero excuses here. Only his immense as**oleness.
Third: he only begins to see her as a woman when she asks for divorce. Not love her, only possession and chauvinism.
The rest was lost for me. Even the miscarriage left me cold. The heroine didn't deserve a happy ending.
She had no pride, no self respect, nothing.
She deserve a cheating a** for a husband, who doesn't love her, doesn't respect her, doesn't care for her. Because this is what he will be. He's not redeemable.
There's nothing, no excuse for his behaviour, and nothing romantic in this book.
-I hate cheating in any case but, at least, when cheating is used there must be a valid excuse. A misunderstood heroine, a hero who misjudged her completely, and is bent on revenge. A too young heroine who the hero sees only as a child and is not of age, and where the hero doesn't see for years until she's all grown up. Here there's not a reason for his behaviour. And he didn't even tried to hide his mistresses. The heroine collected all the pictures of him with his mistresses. Awful. Yucky.
And yet, she fell for him. No, Jezuz, no! And not at all romantic. You don't redeem such an a**.
Sometimes LG has very entertaining and even angsty romances, sometimes they are funny and cute, I gave her books some four stars and I also read them twice, but when she fails, she fails totally. Completely.
Sorry, I can't save anything here.
She went OTT with this one.
The opening scene is the hero in bed with one of his mistresses, thinking he has to give a birthday present to his wife.
yes, that's it.
The heroine and hero married years ago, a MOC, she refused to have sex with im on their wedding night and he thought she was disgusted by him, but she was only young and inexperienced so he went away and kept his manhoring ways all along, remembering her only on her birthday.
-She stays celibate
-She asks divorce
-she wants a child and thinks about having a AI
Really???
But this is not all.
-she's been in love with him all along
-he was in the tabloids with endless women and she knew, so zero respect for his young wife-
-now, he's annoyed that she wants a divorce and he wants a real marriage because he thinks he's ready for commitment
-she can't resist and has a severe attack of TBS
Women, please don't read this rubbish because it's very offensive for any woman with a minimum of self worth and dignity.
First: opening a romance with a hero cheating on his wife is unforgivable.
Second: he doesn't even have the excuse of a misunderstanding, that is, he thinks she cheated on him, he thinks she wronged him in any way. No, zero excuses here. Only his immense as**oleness.
Third: he only begins to see her as a woman when she asks for divorce. Not love her, only possession and chauvinism.
The rest was lost for me. Even the miscarriage left me cold. The heroine didn't deserve a happy ending.
She had no pride, no self respect, nothing.
She deserve a cheating a** for a husband, who doesn't love her, doesn't respect her, doesn't care for her. Because this is what he will be. He's not redeemable.
There's nothing, no excuse for his behaviour, and nothing romantic in this book.
-I hate cheating in any case but, at least, when cheating is used there must be a valid excuse. A misunderstood heroine, a hero who misjudged her completely, and is bent on revenge. A too young heroine who the hero sees only as a child and is not of age, and where the hero doesn't see for years until she's all grown up. Here there's not a reason for his behaviour. And he didn't even tried to hide his mistresses. The heroine collected all the pictures of him with his mistresses. Awful. Yucky.
And yet, she fell for him. No, Jezuz, no! And not at all romantic. You don't redeem such an a**.
Sometimes LG has very entertaining and even angsty romances, sometimes they are funny and cute, I gave her books some four stars and I also read them twice, but when she fails, she fails totally. Completely.
Sorry, I can't save anything here.
October 3, 2011
This book easily goes downhill.
At the start of the book you have Prudence and Nik. Prue is forced to marry Nik for her mother. Nik is forced to marry Prue to save his family. On their wedding day she's confronted by his ex-girlfriend who informs her that despite the arranged marriage, Nik and the girlfriend were still together. Prue was upset but went to face Nik with what had been said. She sees him kissing on his girlfriend. Then he gets himself completely trashed and had to be carried up to their room.
Enter 8 years later. Prue and Nik have been living separately the entire time. Prue has worked hard at building a friendship with her husband over the years. Nik has worked hard to pay off the debt his family owed so he would be free. He's also spent the last 8 years sleeping with tons of women. At this point he's got three mistresses and is actually leaving the bed of one to go meet up with his wife for her birthday.
Prue's mother has finally died and she's ready to move on with her life. She wants a baby and the first step to that is ending her marriage. Nik is upset. Despite the fact that he has tons of other women, he always planned that eventually he'd settle down with Prue.
So the start of this book can either be overlooked, or it will make you hate the rest.
But if you skip the beginning of the book and read from Prue waking up on her birthday, the book is actually really good.
Nik and Prue are an estranged couple who have never really been together. Nik always planned that eventually he would settle down with Prue. On his latest birthday visit Prue surprises him by asking for a divorce. Using the typical HP blackmail, he gets her to agree to a trial marriage instead.
I love the rest of the book because it has some great moments. Nik buys a house for Prue and while he thinks she's thinking of him, she's really thinking about how she loves the house and is going to take it in the divorce.
There were some unreasonable moments and I really hated the beginning. Also, nothing was ever really explained about the other women. But despite some flaws, it had things I absolutely loved. So skip the beginning and the book is pretty darn good.
At the start of the book you have Prudence and Nik. Prue is forced to marry Nik for her mother. Nik is forced to marry Prue to save his family. On their wedding day she's confronted by his ex-girlfriend who informs her that despite the arranged marriage, Nik and the girlfriend were still together. Prue was upset but went to face Nik with what had been said. She sees him kissing on his girlfriend. Then he gets himself completely trashed and had to be carried up to their room.
Enter 8 years later. Prue and Nik have been living separately the entire time. Prue has worked hard at building a friendship with her husband over the years. Nik has worked hard to pay off the debt his family owed so he would be free. He's also spent the last 8 years sleeping with tons of women. At this point he's got three mistresses and is actually leaving the bed of one to go meet up with his wife for her birthday.
Prue's mother has finally died and she's ready to move on with her life. She wants a baby and the first step to that is ending her marriage. Nik is upset. Despite the fact that he has tons of other women, he always planned that eventually he'd settle down with Prue.
So the start of this book can either be overlooked, or it will make you hate the rest.
But if you skip the beginning of the book and read from Prue waking up on her birthday, the book is actually really good.
Nik and Prue are an estranged couple who have never really been together. Nik always planned that eventually he would settle down with Prue. On his latest birthday visit Prue surprises him by asking for a divorce. Using the typical HP blackmail, he gets her to agree to a trial marriage instead.
I love the rest of the book because it has some great moments. Nik buys a house for Prue and while he thinks she's thinking of him, she's really thinking about how she loves the house and is going to take it in the divorce.
There were some unreasonable moments and I really hated the beginning. Also, nothing was ever really explained about the other women. But despite some flaws, it had things I absolutely loved. So skip the beginning and the book is pretty darn good.
December 16, 2017
Cheating swine!
March 23, 2013
The premise was good and the hero was beyond amazing. Once Nikolas and Prudence got together he did everything in his power to make her happy and make all her dreams come true. What he got in return was lies and deception. In fact The heroine was so vindictive and shallow I had trouble believing she once had a crush on the hero. Her character just really bothers me and I find her so annoying, stubborn, and irritating.
All she does is saunters around lying and insulting Niko as well as, hurting him with no consideration nor remorse what so ever. Then in the end of the book it is shown that everyone should love her and apologize to her for the things she's done (makes no sense what so ever?!?)! I waited for her to show some maturity or growth but alas it never happened!
I really do feel bad for the amazing hero who treated her like a queen! I wanted him to move on so badly but unfortunately this is a romance so they had to end up together. The writing was very good but couldn't get over the self-indulgent, spoiled heroine.
All she does is saunters around lying and insulting Niko as well as, hurting him with no consideration nor remorse what so ever. Then in the end of the book it is shown that everyone should love her and apologize to her for the things she's done (makes no sense what so ever?!?)! I waited for her to show some maturity or growth but alas it never happened!
I really do feel bad for the amazing hero who treated her like a queen! I wanted him to move on so badly but unfortunately this is a romance so they had to end up together. The writing was very good but couldn't get over the self-indulgent, spoiled heroine.
December 21, 2014
This was one where married heroine retains her virginity for 8 years, living a supressed and pathetically lonely life fluttering around her animals while hero sleeps with tons of women and publicly humiliates his wife. Background, Nik believes they consummated the marriage and that his wife Prudence loved him enough to ask for him to be made to marry her, but he's entitled to freely and publicly cheat rather than pursue a conversation because his wife was standoffish to a real marriage....he has no morality so when she withdraws in humiliation he just goes off and enjoys himself rather than figure things out. Women who like animals and are voluptuous and short are also asexual, in fact she wants artificial insemination because, why would be interested in sex? But when hero touches her, she's a nympho! This is one where I really wanted her to have her own affair with a nice guy and when hero is all shocked say "are you out of your mind? I'm 27 years old and you have 3 mistresses? Did you think I was twiddling my thumbs waiting for you?" But of course, he did and she was.
May 5, 2022
This book was one of the FIRST I read by Lynne Graham, and I LOVED it! However... after I read Becky's review and others that shares her same point of view... I thought WHY did I like this book? I HATE infidelity! In real life and the books I read, even if they are not romance. Even if they got married without love each other, it was a real marriage! this "hero" didn't have to sleep with those tons of women! Why does LG like to create this type of heros that like to have their pants down.
Oh! I haven't forgotten the beginning of the book, the last time with his mistress 🙄😒 I read this book in 2008 and I have read MANY HPs since then, but I can't forget that part. I can't find very romantic or real, the womanizer who fall in love with the heroine after one night stand with her!
Does LG think that a woman likes to know the sexual past of man? Well... I think right now I going to take my 5 stars and low my rating to 3 or 2 I don't like cheating heros, maybe if they were not married I could forgive him, but he was not single and even if he didn't love her, he HAD to respect her and their vows.
Updated
April/15/2015
I didn't change anything, I just corrected some grammar mistakes 🙃 (My mother tongue is Spanish, I try to write in English the best I can ☺️
Updated
February/23/2022
1.0 star! 🤣
Oh! I haven't forgotten the beginning of the book, the last time with his mistress 🙄😒 I read this book in 2008 and I have read MANY HPs since then, but I can't forget that part. I can't find very romantic or real, the womanizer who fall in love with the heroine after one night stand with her!
Does LG think that a woman likes to know the sexual past of man? Well... I think right now I going to take my 5 stars and low my rating to 3 or 2 I don't like cheating heros, maybe if they were not married I could forgive him, but he was not single and even if he didn't love her, he HAD to respect her and their vows.
Updated
April/15/2015
I didn't change anything, I just corrected some grammar mistakes 🙃 (My mother tongue is Spanish, I try to write in English the best I can ☺️
Updated
February/23/2022
1.0 star! 🤣
March 23, 2022
Urgh, yuck. Sexually incontinent H and a pathetic doormat of h who forgives him for all the women he has been screwing while married to her.
Don't wedding vows mean anything - forsaking all others, for example?
The fact that she wasn't that bothered by meeting 3 of his exes just showed how unrealistic her character was. No-one can be that forgiving and indifferent. It would scar any real-life woman forever, no matter how loving he was when he finally decided to stop screwing around. This story just made me mad. Can't believe I wasted a couple of hours on this garbage.
Don't wedding vows mean anything - forsaking all others, for example?
The fact that she wasn't that bothered by meeting 3 of his exes just showed how unrealistic her character was. No-one can be that forgiving and indifferent. It would scar any real-life woman forever, no matter how loving he was when he finally decided to stop screwing around. This story just made me mad. Can't believe I wasted a couple of hours on this garbage.
December 19, 2014
I liked this well enough to give it 3 stars, but it did have some major issues. If taken seriously, it could make you want to vomit. If taken as a known wallbanger, it had some entertaining moments.
The heroine, Prudence, was the illegitimate English granddaughter of a very powerful and ruthless Greek tycoon. His only son died before providing him with a legitimate heir and his attempts to father another child later in life didn't work out. So, he reluctantly decides that Prudence will have to be the baby-maker that will continue the Demakis' legacy.
A rival Greek tycoon has gotten himself into financial difficulties, so Theo Demakis steps in and offers to bail him out *if* his 22-year old eldest son, Nik, will marry Prudence. Nik agrees to save the family business/honor and his mom and sisters' lifestyle.
Nik is, of course, a gorgeous 6' plus lady killer who is already showing more aptitude for business than his irresponsible father. Prudence, on the other hand, is a shy wallflower type who at 19 still carries some baby fat. Her description makes her sound very pretty, but she is very conscious of the fact that she is not the tall, slim model-type that Nik is infamous for bedding.
Prudence had met Nik a few times before at social functions and she had a crush on him. He was always nice to her. He saw how catty the other girls were and how uncomfortable she was and made an effort to be nice. Whatever her feelings, she did have enough self-respect to not want her grandfather to buy her a husband who obviously didn't want her. But dear old granddad held her mother's failing health and need of treatment over her head, so she agreed to the marriage.
There was a big misunderstanding on their wedding night. Someone slipped Nik a drug and he passed out and was unable to consummate the marriage. Prudence was very hurt and felt rejected. She had still harbored a hope they could have a good marriage despite the beginnings. Nik didn't know what had happened and wouldn't admit to it, so he assumed that the 'deflowering' had gone badly and that he had possibly hurt her due to his resentment of the marriage. Of course, they could have set down and talked about it, but then we wouldn't have HPs.
Prudence goes back to England to be with her ailing mother within weeks of the marriage and Nik lets her go because he's ashamed of what he thought happened on the wedding night and IMHO mostly because he was a 22-year-old womanizer who didn't want to settle down anyway.
For the next 8 years they see each other a few times a year and do develop a friendly affection toward one another. Prudence has allowed her crush to turn into love, though, but she never lets him know this. She accepts things as they are and tries to live her own life. For a long time she is consumed with her mother's care and she also has an animal sanctuary, but after her mother's death she really starts to think about what she wants out of life. She decides a marriage in name only is not good enough and she wants to divorce Nik (who no longer needs her grandfather's money) and have a baby by artificial insemination (since she'll never love anyone like she does Nik).
She doesn't really expect trouble when she asks for a divorce. After all, he'd been flaunting mistresses all over Europe for 8 years and was constantly photographed in magazines with them. Which really burned me up. Ok, he thought they had an understanding, but he could have been more discreet. I thought these sexist, old-fashioned tycoons were supposed to "honor" their wives by keeping their affairs secret rather than humiliating them with sleazy tabloid reminders. Also, he had 3 mistresses. 3!
In typical Greek Tycoon fashion, Nik has a fit when she proposes the divorce. He's 30 now and was starting to kick around the idea of settling down with his wife, although he hadn't really made any firm moves in that direction. The arrogant SOB just assumed she'd be there waiting for him until he finished sowing his wild oats. She had to be in love with him. Who wouldn't be?
Prudence was baffled and enraged. She knew she'd always love him, but also believed he did not and would not ever love her. And she was also not keen on his new idea of making their marriage real. She didn't want to be #4 in the stable. Imagine that.
So, he whips out a typical ruthless blackmail scheme to keep her and she also comes up with a few schemes of her own to hang him out to dry once she catches him cheating. She also starts taking birth control behind his back. I was a bit disappointed in Prudence's lack of follow through. She does keep standing up to him and is wary of giving her trust, but her plans to catch him cheating and divorce him are quickly dropped in hopes of the marriage being real.
Nik, as is typical, realizes he really loves Prudence and that she is a much smarter and tougher woman than he'd imagined. But he never apologizes for all the humiliation she suffered over the 8 years. The way he saw it, he treated her well when he saw her and was more than happy to provide her with anything she wanted. Why should she be so offended when she obviously didn't want to be with him since she'd taken off weeks after the marriage and hadn't shown any interest in a real marriage since. Also, why wouldn't she trust his word when he said he was ready to settle down and be a true husband. How dare she question his honor? *cough*
I didn't get bored and kept reading and was entertained in that outraged WTF sort of way I often am when reading an HP. But if you look at it from a more serious standpoint, you'll be very disappointed and possibly enraged. I really don't see him staying faithful forever. He was far to OTT in his womanizing. I'd imagine he'd be much more discreet since the marriage is now real and he really does have a great liking for the heroine, but his medieval attitudes and double standards will allow him to justify his actions. He'd be the type to think that all is well as long as he treats his wife well and upholds his family responsibilities. What's the harm in a little strange on the side with some slut when his dear Madonna wife is oblivious and pampered? WALLBANGER
The heroine, Prudence, was the illegitimate English granddaughter of a very powerful and ruthless Greek tycoon. His only son died before providing him with a legitimate heir and his attempts to father another child later in life didn't work out. So, he reluctantly decides that Prudence will have to be the baby-maker that will continue the Demakis' legacy.
A rival Greek tycoon has gotten himself into financial difficulties, so Theo Demakis steps in and offers to bail him out *if* his 22-year old eldest son, Nik, will marry Prudence. Nik agrees to save the family business/honor and his mom and sisters' lifestyle.
Nik is, of course, a gorgeous 6' plus lady killer who is already showing more aptitude for business than his irresponsible father. Prudence, on the other hand, is a shy wallflower type who at 19 still carries some baby fat. Her description makes her sound very pretty, but she is very conscious of the fact that she is not the tall, slim model-type that Nik is infamous for bedding.
Prudence had met Nik a few times before at social functions and she had a crush on him. He was always nice to her. He saw how catty the other girls were and how uncomfortable she was and made an effort to be nice. Whatever her feelings, she did have enough self-respect to not want her grandfather to buy her a husband who obviously didn't want her. But dear old granddad held her mother's failing health and need of treatment over her head, so she agreed to the marriage.
There was a big misunderstanding on their wedding night. Someone slipped Nik a drug and he passed out and was unable to consummate the marriage. Prudence was very hurt and felt rejected. She had still harbored a hope they could have a good marriage despite the beginnings. Nik didn't know what had happened and wouldn't admit to it, so he assumed that the 'deflowering' had gone badly and that he had possibly hurt her due to his resentment of the marriage. Of course, they could have set down and talked about it, but then we wouldn't have HPs.
Prudence goes back to England to be with her ailing mother within weeks of the marriage and Nik lets her go because he's ashamed of what he thought happened on the wedding night and IMHO mostly because he was a 22-year-old womanizer who didn't want to settle down anyway.
For the next 8 years they see each other a few times a year and do develop a friendly affection toward one another. Prudence has allowed her crush to turn into love, though, but she never lets him know this. She accepts things as they are and tries to live her own life. For a long time she is consumed with her mother's care and she also has an animal sanctuary, but after her mother's death she really starts to think about what she wants out of life. She decides a marriage in name only is not good enough and she wants to divorce Nik (who no longer needs her grandfather's money) and have a baby by artificial insemination (since she'll never love anyone like she does Nik).
She doesn't really expect trouble when she asks for a divorce. After all, he'd been flaunting mistresses all over Europe for 8 years and was constantly photographed in magazines with them. Which really burned me up. Ok, he thought they had an understanding, but he could have been more discreet. I thought these sexist, old-fashioned tycoons were supposed to "honor" their wives by keeping their affairs secret rather than humiliating them with sleazy tabloid reminders. Also, he had 3 mistresses. 3!
In typical Greek Tycoon fashion, Nik has a fit when she proposes the divorce. He's 30 now and was starting to kick around the idea of settling down with his wife, although he hadn't really made any firm moves in that direction. The arrogant SOB just assumed she'd be there waiting for him until he finished sowing his wild oats. She had to be in love with him. Who wouldn't be?
Prudence was baffled and enraged. She knew she'd always love him, but also believed he did not and would not ever love her. And she was also not keen on his new idea of making their marriage real. She didn't want to be #4 in the stable. Imagine that.
So, he whips out a typical ruthless blackmail scheme to keep her and she also comes up with a few schemes of her own to hang him out to dry once she catches him cheating. She also starts taking birth control behind his back. I was a bit disappointed in Prudence's lack of follow through. She does keep standing up to him and is wary of giving her trust, but her plans to catch him cheating and divorce him are quickly dropped in hopes of the marriage being real.
Nik, as is typical, realizes he really loves Prudence and that she is a much smarter and tougher woman than he'd imagined. But he never apologizes for all the humiliation she suffered over the 8 years. The way he saw it, he treated her well when he saw her and was more than happy to provide her with anything she wanted. Why should she be so offended when she obviously didn't want to be with him since she'd taken off weeks after the marriage and hadn't shown any interest in a real marriage since. Also, why wouldn't she trust his word when he said he was ready to settle down and be a true husband. How dare she question his honor? *cough*
I didn't get bored and kept reading and was entertained in that outraged WTF sort of way I often am when reading an HP. But if you look at it from a more serious standpoint, you'll be very disappointed and possibly enraged. I really don't see him staying faithful forever. He was far to OTT in his womanizing. I'd imagine he'd be much more discreet since the marriage is now real and he really does have a great liking for the heroine, but his medieval attitudes and double standards will allow him to justify his actions. He'd be the type to think that all is well as long as he treats his wife well and upholds his family responsibilities. What's the harm in a little strange on the side with some slut when his dear Madonna wife is oblivious and pampered? WALLBANGER
April 18, 2012
I think some people might be turned off by this book due to the adultery. I usually am one of those people!
Yet for some reason, this book just seemed to work for me. Maybe because the author did a very good job of showing that it really was just a marriage of convenience that happened to work for BOTH parties and that the friendship between the two was a key element to their relationship. Maybe it worked because the author stressed that she left him and she consequently defined the rules of the relationship. Maybe it worked because the author did a great job of explaining how two very young people can be ruthlessly manipulated and torn apart by bitter family feuds. Maybe it worked, because the author dropped tons of hints that Nick really was very interested in his wife and that he was just trying to carefully navigate walking through a mine field because he couldn't risk losing her. Or maybe, it was because once they did consummate the marriage and start living together as a married couple, he never once cheated on her and it became an all consuming campaign to win her over. Whatever it was, it worked for me!
Yet for some reason, this book just seemed to work for me. Maybe because the author did a very good job of showing that it really was just a marriage of convenience that happened to work for BOTH parties and that the friendship between the two was a key element to their relationship. Maybe it worked because the author stressed that she left him and she consequently defined the rules of the relationship. Maybe it worked because the author did a great job of explaining how two very young people can be ruthlessly manipulated and torn apart by bitter family feuds. Maybe it worked, because the author dropped tons of hints that Nick really was very interested in his wife and that he was just trying to carefully navigate walking through a mine field because he couldn't risk losing her. Or maybe, it was because once they did consummate the marriage and start living together as a married couple, he never once cheated on her and it became an all consuming campaign to win her over. Whatever it was, it worked for me!
Read
April 15, 2018DNF.
Sorry but I can’t continue.I never, if not rarely DNF.
One of the most disgusting hero. Ever! First chapter even started with cheating scene. How can he even face her? And 3 mistress! Dear god. And lets not even start with his double standards and horrible attitude.
Not at all recommended.
Sorry but I can’t continue.I never, if not rarely DNF.
One of the most disgusting hero. Ever! First chapter even started with cheating scene. How can he even face her? And 3 mistress! Dear god. And lets not even start with his double standards and horrible attitude.
Not at all recommended.
November 26, 2016
A paint by the numbers, lighter side of Lynne Graham. This one falls under the voluptuous heroine with morals who has a faceoff with the uber alpla-romero, soon-to-be-ex manwhore and they live HEA.
This dynamic has been done better by LG.
Basically, the h is blackmailed into marrying the H who is strong armed for business reasons. The wedding is a disaster as everyone knows the H is furious. Compound this with passing out at the wedding, and the marriage is off to a humiliating start.
Eight years later, having lived separately from the H, the h realizes it's time for her to move on despite their amicable relationship. To his horror, she asks for divorce. He always thought they would end up together. How sweet, right? Hell to the no! Why he's so upset nobody knows as he's had three mistresses stashed around Europe over the years. This is the point I think that most readers have a problem with because I sure did. He wants to start up the marriage and the heroine never addresses the fact that he may need an STD test at the very least require he be celibate. It is assumed of course, but still.
The only redeeming issue is that once the H decides he's in for the heroine, he is all in. He bribes, threatens and manipulates in his Greek alpha-romero OTT fashion, and this is where LG excels. The h stumps him along the way as she doesn't trust him.Normally her heroines are much better at the accidental put-downs that lay the H low. This little h gets her innings in.
Cute but she's done better.
This dynamic has been done better by LG.
Basically, the h is blackmailed into marrying the H who is strong armed for business reasons. The wedding is a disaster as everyone knows the H is furious. Compound this with passing out at the wedding, and the marriage is off to a humiliating start.
Eight years later, having lived separately from the H, the h realizes it's time for her to move on despite their amicable relationship. To his horror, she asks for divorce. He always thought they would end up together. How sweet, right? Hell to the no! Why he's so upset nobody knows as he's had three mistresses stashed around Europe over the years. This is the point I think that most readers have a problem with because I sure did. He wants to start up the marriage and the heroine never addresses the fact that he may need an STD test at the very least require he be celibate. It is assumed of course, but still.
The only redeeming issue is that once the H decides he's in for the heroine, he is all in. He bribes, threatens and manipulates in his Greek alpha-romero OTT fashion, and this is where LG excels. The h stumps him along the way as she doesn't trust him.Normally her heroines are much better at the accidental put-downs that lay the H low. This little h gets her innings in.
Cute but she's done better.
November 13, 2019
I occasionally come across an older LG that I haven't read This one was pretty good. The guy did technically cheat even though they had an arranged unconsummated marriage. I didn't really care for that even though it would have been unrealistic to have expected anything else. All of the plot elements were pretty well thought out here. The reason for the unconsummated marriage was one of the better ones I've read. And the way the hero was so monofocused on the heroine once that was cleared up was fun. He was never an ass to her outside of his way of convincing her to try the marriage for real. And you as the reader of course knew he was all bluff. So if you like LG, you'll like this one if you can accept the cheating.
June 21, 2024
‘I didn’t know I could feel like this…’
His scorching gaze welded to hers. ‘Not everyone can. Your passion matches mine.’
The Greek’s Chosen Wife by Lynne Graham, first published in 2006, is an emotionally charged novel that leaves the reader hooked from the onset. If you are like myself and love the high intense variety of romances filled with angst, then you would find the story of Prudence Demakis and Nikolos Angelis a captivating and enthralling read.
Prudence is just nineteen years old when her emotionally distant and cold grandfather forces her into a marriage of convenience with Nikolos, who is just a twenty-two year old university student himself. Known for his arrogance and womanizing ways even then, along with the weight of his family’s expectations which he chafes at, Nikolos initially views Prudence as an inconvenient burden—unattractive and beneath his standards. While Prudence is in love with Nikolos, any dreams of the rose-tinted variety are dashed with a disastrous wedding night, followed by eight years of separate lives.
Prudence finds her solace in running an animal sanctuary, and as time heals her wounds over Nikolos and his rejection, Prudence decides it is time for her to move forward in her life and have a baby. When Nikolos is faced with the ego bruising knowledge that his wife is seeking a divorce from him to pursue her own dreams of achieving motherhood, Nikolos rejects this notion just as vehemently as he initially rejected the very idea of marriage to Prudence. Thus begins the fraught journey that these two take towards their happily ever after, with misunderstandings and past hurts forcing them to jarring stops along the way.
Ms. Graham does a marvelous job of navigating the intricacies between Prudence and Nikolos, in revealing their vulnerabilities and exposing the raw intensity of their burgeoning attraction. Their journey from adversaries to reluctant allies, and finally to passionate lovers, is a testament to Ms. Graham’s skill in crafting deeply nuanced characters and compelling relationships.
I loved how Prudence evolved from a woman defined by the perception of others who were unkind to her to becoming a formidable force in her own right. Her ability to stand up for herself and her self-possession were admirable, especially in the face of the forceful character that is Nikolos.
Nikolos himself has some growing up to do as the story progresses, which includes putting his own ego aside to understand the true rarity in finding someone who accepts you as you are, no questions asked. As always, Ms. Graham manages to paint the vividness of love and how it has the ability to transform even the hardest of hearts and smash through the most powerful of egos. I loved Nikolos because he was willing to fight for Prudence and what their marriage, even if it meant going against Prudence herself.
Recommended for fans of romances featuring themes of unrequited love and marriages of convenience. Ms. Graham does these tropes great justice!
Final Verdict: The Greek’s Chosen Wife delivers a compelling read brimming with sizzling sensuality and poignancy of love’s complexities, making this book a must-read for fans of emotional and character-driven romance!
Rating = 5/5
For more reviews and quotes, please visit A Maldivian's Passion for Romance
April 10, 2018
I literally hated just about everything about this book. The H was an arrogant asshat who had 3 bloody mistresses on the go at anyone time. The h was a spineless muppet whose only redeeming point were her rescue pets/sanctuary. What a doormat she was and her keeping scrapbooks of his 100's of mistresses was downright stalkerish. I would have only accepted this if she'd have launched them at his man bits and exclaimed grounds for divorce ya manwhore. He didn't even really grovel for having multiple mistresses just brushed it off like yeah we weren't together so whatever - not acceptable dude! The fact they kept crawling out of the woodwork and she was nice all the time also wound me up - woman grow a spine and tell them where to go he put a ring on it so own it. Too much was also made about how ugly she supposedly was - geez get some confidence and own that pocket Venus look if the so called H can't keep his hands off her she can't be that bad. Don't even get me started on her nickname offensive much?
Overall I wanted to burn this book on several occasions. The only reason I give it 1 star is that I'm glad she got all the money and ended up richer than the H. At that point I'd give flipped him off and sailed off into the sunset on my new mega yacht with rescue pets
Overall I wanted to burn this book on several occasions. The only reason I give it 1 star is that I'm glad she got all the money and ended up richer than the H. At that point I'd give flipped him off and sailed off into the sunset on my new mega yacht with rescue pets
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 7, 2018
Read first time in 2015*
4.5*
Read this ages ago. Second time reread I pretty much felt like this was new book and it was better than I anticipated. Fluffy read and it was okay. I know loads of reader were bother
by he cheating so was I but looking at it from angle they were never married and she left him. It was better to at least be discreet.
The ending was great and the fact she stood up to him and decided to not walk away from her inheritance won my respect, up until then I thought she was push over. The HEA was believable and I thought he is smitten man who is not going to cheat. I think the fact he fought so hard to keep her married to him and the last gesture he made with the dogs makes him redeemable. Lovely story! Recommend this for sure!!
4.5*
Read this ages ago. Second time reread I pretty much felt like this was new book and it was better than I anticipated. Fluffy read and it was okay. I know loads of reader were bother
by he cheating so was I but looking at it from angle they were never married and she left him. It was better to at least be discreet.
The ending was great and the fact she stood up to him and decided to not walk away from her inheritance won my respect, up until then I thought she was push over. The HEA was believable and I thought he is smitten man who is not going to cheat. I think the fact he fought so hard to keep her married to him and the last gesture he made with the dogs makes him redeemable. Lovely story! Recommend this for sure!!
April 29, 2011
There was one problem with this book - the hero spent eight years committing adultry - having multiple mistresses WHILE married to the heroine who was aware of it.....I don't know about that issue not being dealt with and the whole issue of trust/love. While the author writes really good short stories and I always enjoy them there are a few of them that never deal with, in my opinion, a very important issue. It's skipped over or totally ignored which prevents this author from getting that five star rating, at least from me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 22, 2025
The Unfaithful Wife was better. At least H was victim of the Blackmailer dad of h!
August 19, 2015
wow. the H's whoring around is a bit much, even for me in my current mood of handing out 4 stars to halfway decent books. He gets up from just putting it to one of his mistresses, Tania (he has two others in other cities/countries), to go to his wife's b'day party, where he realizes she just might not be asexual, and might actually be looking to get laid. so hey, it's time to let wifey out of the fridge.
why do i feel like i've read and reviewed this before. :|
okay, so the H had reason enough to keep away from h- he thought he'd raped her on their wedding night (his drink had been spiked by his gf Cassia, he was hammered and he didn't remember anything from the wedding night). but that still doesn't excuse humiliating her with mistresses all these years.
the doormat of a h could've just filed for divorce on grounds of cheating. it's not like he was hiding it! but no, he melts her panties, so... who cares if he publicly humiliated her. she loves him.
oh and the sweet, sweet H... goes all angry when he sees his wife surrounded by his exes. rushes off to the rescue. and in answer to Chantal's question of what he sees in her, says "she never forgets she's a lady", thus insulting the other women (Jenna and Zoe) who had been his mistress. really? so it's okay to f*** them and then insult them. granted, they were taking stabs at the h, but he was the one who put her in that position! if anyone should've been branded "less than" anything, it was him.
oh and since she bought birth control behind his back, she's been deceiving him! never mind that he hadn't thought of having babies yet.
H's first response on h's grandfather having left his millions to her? get rid of the money, or you lose me. how romantic!
so it all boils down to the big misunderstanding (of the wedding night). i could've lived with that, but all the other women, whom the h has to deal with, by being a lady? no, just no.
if he had had any feelings towards his new bride, even at the tender age of 22, he'd have stuck around to make sure she was okay, to apologize. but no, this macho man went away to shag scores of other women because he thought he'd roughly raped his wife. yeah, that makes a lot of sense.
[I upped the stars from 1 to 2, because at least the H didn't go smug and unsupportive when h had to deal with facing his women]
why do i feel like i've read and reviewed this before. :|
okay, so the H had reason enough to keep away from h- he thought he'd raped her on their wedding night (his drink had been spiked by his gf Cassia, he was hammered and he didn't remember anything from the wedding night). but that still doesn't excuse humiliating her with mistresses all these years.
the doormat of a h could've just filed for divorce on grounds of cheating. it's not like he was hiding it! but no, he melts her panties, so... who cares if he publicly humiliated her. she loves him.
oh and the sweet, sweet H... goes all angry when he sees his wife surrounded by his exes. rushes off to the rescue. and in answer to Chantal's question of what he sees in her, says "she never forgets she's a lady", thus insulting the other women (Jenna and Zoe) who had been his mistress. really? so it's okay to f*** them and then insult them. granted, they were taking stabs at the h, but he was the one who put her in that position! if anyone should've been branded "less than" anything, it was him.
oh and since she bought birth control behind his back, she's been deceiving him! never mind that he hadn't thought of having babies yet.
H's first response on h's grandfather having left his millions to her? get rid of the money, or you lose me. how romantic!
so it all boils down to the big misunderstanding (of the wedding night). i could've lived with that, but all the other women, whom the h has to deal with, by being a lady? no, just no.
if he had had any feelings towards his new bride, even at the tender age of 22, he'd have stuck around to make sure she was okay, to apologize. but no, this macho man went away to shag scores of other women because he thought he'd roughly raped his wife. yeah, that makes a lot of sense.
[I upped the stars from 1 to 2, because at least the H didn't go smug and unsupportive when h had to deal with facing his women]
May 20, 2020
Scribd binging several of these...
This one was just ok. I found it a bit boring, and far-fetched even for the soapy universe. Pru & Nik have been married for eight years, but living separate all this time because of misunderstanding/assumptions from their wedding night. The problem is that although separated, and Nik having mistresses; the couple become friends and do see each other a handful of times each year. So in all these visits and years of conversations, the subject never came up, nor did either ever pursue the mutual attraction ??!! There's an entire trope for this...friends to lovers....
Stupid conflict aside; it's pretty low on drama. (cheating aside) Nik is a pretty nice guy, and is kind to his pudding; he didn't become mean or broody after being forced to marry her. Pudding pushes back a smidge, but she's neither tough or a doormat... because he's not mean. So no groveling... no brooding... no asshole... the evil relative is missing after the first couple of chapters... there are a couple OW issues that come up, but aren't really dramatic, and are brushed away quickly.
Overall, OK, just not the OTT drama full soapy-smut.
This one was just ok. I found it a bit boring, and far-fetched even for the soapy universe. Pru & Nik have been married for eight years, but living separate all this time because of misunderstanding/assumptions from their wedding night. The problem is that although separated, and Nik having mistresses; the couple become friends and do see each other a handful of times each year. So in all these visits and years of conversations, the subject never came up, nor did either ever pursue the mutual attraction ??!! There's an entire trope for this...friends to lovers....
Stupid conflict aside; it's pretty low on drama. (cheating aside) Nik is a pretty nice guy, and is kind to his pudding; he didn't become mean or broody after being forced to marry her. Pudding pushes back a smidge, but she's neither tough or a doormat... because he's not mean. So no groveling... no brooding... no asshole... the evil relative is missing after the first couple of chapters... there are a couple OW issues that come up, but aren't really dramatic, and are brushed away quickly.
Overall, OK, just not the OTT drama full soapy-smut.
February 26, 2017
just couldn't warm up to both hero and heroine!!hero had three mistress while married to heroine!yes they didn't consummate their marriage but three mistress!!!And all along when he was dallying with them he was sure he would be back with the heroine,he just wanted to play around to his hearts content till he was ready to start a real marriage with heroine!the heroine was happily chatting away with the hero's mistresses when they were at a party!!it makes me sick.this is definitely not a romance!
July 6, 2014
Is hard for me to Not like an HP this book started with a great story and I love books that have the H POV but as soon as they got together it went downhill. The H was the dormat here what an idiot. The excuse to stay away from her because he though the did something wrong on their wedding night falls flat with me. Come on get some balls and be the Greek hero you're suppose to be. I had to finish it but not happy. Blah!!!
March 30, 2011
This was a surprise read for me. I didn't think I would care for it but the interesting twist in this marriage of convenience was refreshing. I don't think I've read a Graham book with this kind of scenario before.
October 14, 2021
Reread 10/13/2021
I’m tempted to downgrade this one… didn’t like it as much on the reread.
I’m tempted to downgrade this one… didn’t like it as much on the reread.
October 1, 2018
‘Theo’s only son must be dead ten years now, he’s on his third wife and he still doesn’t have another child. He only has his English granddaughter. He wants Prudence to marry a Greek boy from a good background and that’s not surprising when she’s half-English and illegitimate into the bargain. Demakis is an old-fashioned man and he’s offering an old-fashioned deal.’
Prudence, whom his friends had christened Pudding for her love of baklava pastries, was to be his wife? He was shocked and outraged by the suggestion.
‘I know I shouldn’t have been listening and I’ll die if we become poor but you can’t ask Nik to marry Theo Demakis’s granddaughter. She’s a fat cow and plain as a pig!’
Even though he was still at university, he had acquired a reputation as a womaniser.
He worked hard and he played hard and he rarely slept alone. He didn’t do long-term and he didn’t do faithful.
‘You have the same puppy-dog eyes, the same scared smile. You’ve got no backbone and weakness disgusts me.’
‘This is crazy,’ she muttered frantically. ‘Nikolos would never agree to marry me in a million years! For goodness’ sake, he’s dating Cassia Morikis…’
Prudence had found them silly and superficial and the females had been horribly bitchy to her.
The girls in his set mobbed him, hung on his every word, flirted like mad with him, fought over him—in short, acted like sex-starved tarts.
In true Demakis style, she had not grown up but out and she barely reached the top of his chest; she was small and dumpy. She wore drab layers like an old lady:
‘Pudding…’ he breathed with uncharacteristic awkwardness. ‘Do you mind if I call you that?’
Within hours, her happiness would be destroyed and her trust shattered.
‘I CAN’T MAKE it to your party,’ Nikolos told the woman reclining on the bed, pulling on the jacket of his suit with the fluid grace that distinguished all his movements.
‘Please…pretty please…’ Naked but for a turquoise silk wrap, Tania Benson leapt up and curled her arms round his neck,
He only saw Tania when he was in Paris or Brussels.
To complement her position in his life, he enjoyed the company of an Icelandic blonde in New York and a sultry Russian model in London.
Once, Nikolos conceded grimly, he had been a lot less considerate about the level of public interest his way of life could attract.
After all, he had been married for almost eight years and had lived apart from his wife for most of that period.
Even though she saw him only a handful of times a year, Nikolos had been the centre of her world.
Nourishing a morbid interest in Nik’s taste in other women and cherishing a girlish flame of unrequited love was doing her no favours. Having finally come to terms with those facts, she had sunk her energy into the animal sanctuary.
‘I’m not and I have never been Nik’s wife—’
Some would say that accepting an arranged marriage for family reasons was incredibly medieval but he did it. He also runs a stable of mistresses but still has no problem regarding you as his wife—’
She was five feet two inches tall with a big bosom and generous hips.
She was more interested in animal welfare and her garden than in men. With the exception of himself, of course.
When a guy kept three mistresses he had loads of opportunities to practise his womanising charm.
‘When I saw you, you were wrapped round each other like Romeo and Juliet and it didn’t look quite so innocent.’
‘You were kissing her!’
His arrested attention was claimed by tabloid cuttings, magazine articles and picture after picture of him with other women. He felt sick. ‘You put this together?’
Nik was an old-style Greek tycoon. An unrepentant womaniser with double standards.
She gasped and shivered violently, her legs suddenly behaving like bendy twigs.
‘I had no right to expect or even to hope…but that you are a virgin will mean a great deal to me,’ he swore, speaking half in English, half in Greek.
‘I was just thinking how good you are at all this stuff…now I finally know what all the fuss is about—’
‘Sharing a bed with me doesn’t make me your wife. It just makes me one more in a long line of women!’
‘And you’re not exactly exclusive, are you?’
Nik needed a wife who would be content with a superficial show of marital togetherness and turn a blind eye to his mistresses.
He was a bred-in-the-bone womaniser with a taste for gorgeous supermodels whom no average woman could ever hope to rival. He would be unfaithful and she would not be able to bear it.
Three mistresses in three different countries, Prudence reflected in a passion of painful resentment.
She had just learnt the hard way that, when it came to getting what he wanted, Nik was as ruthless and cold-blooded as his reputation implied.
How can a woman with your moral views try being married to a bloke with three mistresses?’
An unfaithful husband, who broke her heart and humiliated her, would never make her happy, she acknowledged ruefully.
Prudence turned white with raging humiliation. ‘So, in essence, you did think that my grandfather had bought me a husband. That I was so desperate I would take you on any terms!’
When Chantal Donnington came to greet them, Prudence tensed. She immediately recognised her hostess as one of Nik’s exes.
Unless she was very much mistaken, and Prudence did not think her memory was at fault, she was about to meet another two of Nik’s former lovers. The feminine antagonism in the air made the skin prickle at the nape of her neck.
‘I’m Jenna Marsden,’ the brunette announced tautly.
‘Zoe Amberley,’ the blonde supplied with a challenging smile. ‘You may not be aware of the fact but we all have something in common.’
‘Yes, he certainly lives up to his legendary reputation.’ Chantal rested spiteful green eyes on Prudence.
‘Any other woman would have divorced him long ago,’ Zoe sneered.
March 26, 2022
I stumbled upon this book after reading the comments from Reeder’s review of Cozakis Bride…. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I love when there are additional suggestions in the comments and or review. I felt the Cozakis Bride was because the Nik in that book was more forgivable. First, the H and h in the CB were engaged not married and very, very young. However, it is apparent that the H truly loved the h and his behavior for the next 10 years was to obliterate his love of the h through meaningless sex romps.
In chosen bride, 22 year old Nik and 19 year old Prudence(also young) were blackmailed by her grandpa into a marriage and his eyes were glued onHer breasts Her as she walked down the aisle. His thoughts were purely that of a 22 year old horn dog. Of course she was in love with him. She, being the ugly duckling, was mistreated by everyone around her, so when the H blacksout on their wedding night without consummating the marriage, she doesn’t stick around long and goes back to England to take care of her ailing mom(the whole reason she agreed to the marriage). Meanwhile the H spends the next 8 years sowing his wild oats all over the world. Oh, wait, I may be judging the H a little to harshly. I believe he does show some monogamy. While in London he only sees his London mistress, in New York he only sees his NY mistress, in Paris he only sees his Parisian mistress etc… I am not sure who he sees when in Greece, maybe he lets his trouser snake out to explore the many possibilities and doesn’t put a limit. I am not sure what brand of condoms he is using, but the fact that he has escaped any unwanted pregnancies or stds is a great testament to its reliability in the area of protection.
Now through the 8 years, the H makes obligatory visits to the h and they have developed a friendship. He doesn’t allow others to disparage his wife…
I guess that’s his job as the h has photo albums full of news clippings with everyWhore
exploit of his in black and white. So when the Parisian lolly bemoans his ugly wife, he dumps her and heads to wife to celebrate her 27th birthday.
Unbeknownst to the H, the h has decided that she will be asking for a divorce. She has decided that it is time to get on with her life instead of pathetically cutting out newspaper clippings and wants to have a baby via sperm bank. When she gives the H the news of a divorce, (thinking he should be on board with this) he astounds her with a very vehement NO!
It is during this exchange that we find out that the H was unaware he never consummated the marriage and has been having guilty sex all these years because he thought he must have forced the h and hurt her.
Obviously, instead of being a mopey man baby, he should have talked to the h. However, he didn’t and now he is willing to share his vast knowledge of a woman’s body with the h. (I mean it has been all of 3 hours since he left his Parisian pastry, so I am sure he is suffering some sort of withdrawal
The h, still determined to get a divorce, decides that losing her virginity to a pro wouldn’t be the worst thing she has ever done. So the sex happens, its the best ever for the Hero, and he will spend the rest of the book pursuing the h until he can convince her that he is a reformed rake and the only sowing of seeds he plans on doing is with her. There will be some more black moments along the way(because honestly I have only given you the scoop on the first 3 chapters)
The H does make some very grand romantic gestures and isn’t opposed to blackmail to keep the heroine in his sphere. The heroine stays pretty strong in guarding her heart and she doesn’t make things easy for the H. He does have to work for her trust and in the end I am convinced that he loves and adores her. This book also covers pet lovers and epilogue junkies! This might have been a 4 star for me, but the H’s amorous exploits being broadcast all over the papers for years and years made me a little disgusted….I mean at least show some discretion! Mistresses should not be seen or heard unless they are in the bedroom.
I love when there are additional suggestions in the comments and or review. I felt the Cozakis Bride was because the Nik in that book was more forgivable. First, the H and h in the CB were engaged not married and very, very young. However, it is apparent that the H truly loved the h and his behavior for the next 10 years was to obliterate his love of the h through meaningless sex romps.
In chosen bride, 22 year old Nik and 19 year old Prudence(also young) were blackmailed by her grandpa into a marriage and his eyes were glued on
Now through the 8 years, the H makes obligatory visits to the h and they have developed a friendship. He doesn’t allow others to disparage his wife…
I guess that’s his job as the h has photo albums full of news clippings with every
exploit of his in black and white. So when the Parisian lolly bemoans his ugly wife, he dumps her and heads to wife to celebrate her 27th birthday.
Unbeknownst to the H, the h has decided that she will be asking for a divorce. She has decided that it is time to get on with her life instead of pathetically cutting out newspaper clippings and wants to have a baby via sperm bank. When she gives the H the news of a divorce, (thinking he should be on board with this) he astounds her with a very vehement NO!
It is during this exchange that we find out that the H was unaware he never consummated the marriage and has been having guilty sex all these years because he thought he must have forced the h and hurt her.
Obviously, instead of being a mopey man baby, he should have talked to the h. However, he didn’t and now he is willing to share his vast knowledge of a woman’s body with the h. (I mean it has been all of 3 hours since he left his Parisian pastry, so I am sure he is suffering some sort of withdrawal The h, still determined to get a divorce, decides that losing her virginity to a pro wouldn’t be the worst thing she has ever done. So the sex happens, its the best ever for the Hero, and he will spend the rest of the book pursuing the h until he can convince her that he is a reformed rake and the only sowing of seeds he plans on doing is with her. There will be some more black moments along the way(because honestly I have only given you the scoop on the first 3 chapters)
The H does make some very grand romantic gestures and isn’t opposed to blackmail to keep the heroine in his sphere. The heroine stays pretty strong in guarding her heart and she doesn’t make things easy for the H. He does have to work for her trust and in the end I am convinced that he loves and adores her. This book also covers pet lovers and epilogue junkies! This might have been a 4 star for me, but the H’s amorous exploits being broadcast all over the papers for years and years made me a little disgusted….I mean at least show some discretion! Mistresses should not be seen or heard unless they are in the bedroom.
October 25, 2022
En fin, lo leí por tiktok
February 22, 2015
well., what can i say ? the super gorgeous cheating husband who has 3 mistresses and a 8years marriage w/plain, spineless character heroine who fall in love w/her cheating husband having their HEA bcoz the sex is good. forget about how low he was treating his "estranged" wife, forget about how he openly having 3 mistresses and doent even once considering his wife's feeling, forget about how lonely his wife is, and forget about how stupid prudence is. in HQ, all is good and forgiven as long as the super handsome hero can give the heroine an explosive sex. then bam!! he has her in his finger. there's no more pride, no consequences of what he did, and even his infedility isnt something that his wife make a problem of. what an outstanding situation and character.....
he used prudence as his "backup" plan, he has this plan where he will and want to settled down w/prudence WHEN THE TIME IS READY FOR HIM! so, while he still not ready, he can put his d*** to whatever women he wants, so.. it's freakin okay to hav 3 mistresses, coz prudence doesnt even give a flying F. now, that's a wonderful wife! and when he comebcak to prudence and giveing her a great sex, and even more silly, prudence was flattered bcoz Nik felt aroused for her. well..well.. a manwhore like nik, can get aroused even if someone dressed up as a cow. for her to feel flattered about this is really silly. Hello, prudence, does it occured to you that what he did to you (this so called explosive sex) was also what he done countless time w/his 3 mistresses on regular times ? nope ? oh, never mind, just go w/that tiny lil flattering special moment thing. yucks...
can we just go w/how she just want to hv sex? and screw about fidelity. as long as the great handsome nik willing to hv sex w/her, all is good and fine!! bye to 8 years wrecked of marriage, bye to her pride as a wife who got cheated on, and bye to his infedelity.. hello to sex. wow.. just.. freakin.. wow. who should i hate? nikolos? or prudence ? well, im sure i dont want to bcome someone like prudence. for sure
the most humiliating scene (if i was prudence) was when prudence sit on the same table as his 3 mistresses, and prudence lovingly pay attention and put a pitty to the mistresses sobbing rant about her relationship w/his husband when they were a lover, about how he didnt give her attention enough, about how he didnt want to go out attending to a party, about how cold he was, but she forget to mention about how often prudence's husband put his d*** in her freakin c***. and prudence even gave this mistresses an advise and hoping that she can find other man. what a splendid .. UNBELIAVBLE character this prudence was... im speechless...
he used prudence as his "backup" plan, he has this plan where he will and want to settled down w/prudence WHEN THE TIME IS READY FOR HIM! so, while he still not ready, he can put his d*** to whatever women he wants, so.. it's freakin okay to hav 3 mistresses, coz prudence doesnt even give a flying F. now, that's a wonderful wife! and when he comebcak to prudence and giveing her a great sex, and even more silly, prudence was flattered bcoz Nik felt aroused for her. well..well.. a manwhore like nik, can get aroused even if someone dressed up as a cow. for her to feel flattered about this is really silly. Hello, prudence, does it occured to you that what he did to you (this so called explosive sex) was also what he done countless time w/his 3 mistresses on regular times ? nope ? oh, never mind, just go w/that tiny lil flattering special moment thing. yucks...
can we just go w/how she just want to hv sex? and screw about fidelity. as long as the great handsome nik willing to hv sex w/her, all is good and fine!! bye to 8 years wrecked of marriage, bye to her pride as a wife who got cheated on, and bye to his infedelity.. hello to sex. wow.. just.. freakin.. wow. who should i hate? nikolos? or prudence ? well, im sure i dont want to bcome someone like prudence. for sure
the most humiliating scene (if i was prudence) was when prudence sit on the same table as his 3 mistresses, and prudence lovingly pay attention and put a pitty to the mistresses sobbing rant about her relationship w/his husband when they were a lover, about how he didnt give her attention enough, about how he didnt want to go out attending to a party, about how cold he was, but she forget to mention about how often prudence's husband put his d*** in her freakin c***. and prudence even gave this mistresses an advise and hoping that she can find other man. what a splendid .. UNBELIAVBLE character this prudence was... im speechless...
April 28, 2018
I usually don't rate books I don't finish but good god, who likes this shit?!
This is classic romance written at a time when women liked cheating assholes
and the heroines that get all stuttery and shivery when said asshole gazes at her with his "stunning golden eyes".
Please.
This dude has lived apart from his wife for 8 years because he can't be bothered. And, you know, a wife would interfere with his slimy lifestyle. He currently has 3 mistresses. Am I supposed to find this impressive Ms. Graham? The heroine finally decides to dump his sorry ass but he slithers back into her life and decides he wants her.
He's not charming or apologetic. Just goes all caveman on her and SHE CAN'T RESIST HIM!
Again, who likes this shit?!
First of all, I like my hero's to be kind, respectful, and loving.
Secondly, I need my heroines to have a BRAIN.
And I resent authors who can't provide either. It's insulting.
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