Greek's Temporary Cinderella

by Julia James

A love that once burned too hot is reignited when this billionaire gets a second chance with his Cinderella…but will he make the same mistakes? Find out in this all-new romance by USA TODAY bestselling author Julia James!

“I have a proposition for you:
I want you to come back to me…”>/i>

Greek billionaire Leandros Kastellanos cynically surveys the crowd at an Athenian high-society party. As he catches sight of a hauntingly beautiful woman, time stops. It’s Eliana Georgiades, certified gold digger, and the ex-fiancée who shattered his carefully controlled world. And yet he’s never stopped craving her…

Eliana’s desperate attempt to save her family home crashed spectacularly around her. Now she's utterly destitute and agonizingly heartbroken, and reason escapes her when Leandros offers her a very dangerous liaison. Is her acceptance born of regret…or too-tempting desire?

Genres: Harlequin

208 pages, Mass Market Paperback

Published September 24, 2024

About the author

Julia lives in England with her family. Mills and Boon novels were Julia's first "grown up" books she read as a teenager ("Alongside Georgette Heyer and Daphne du Maurier."), and she's been reading them ever since.

Julia adores the English countryside ("And the Celtic countryside!"), in all its seasons, and is fascinated by all things historical, from castles to cottages. She also has a special love for the Mediterranean ("The most perfect landscape after England!") — she considers both are ideal settings for romance stories! In between writing she enjoys walking, gardening, needlework and baking "extremely gooey chocolate cakes" — and trying to stay fit!

Reviews

[Carol Storm]

FROM DIRT TO DIAMONDS was one of the five or ten best Harlequin Presents I've read in the last twenty years, but this one was sadly nothing special. The hero and heroine start out hating each other but only a few chapters in they start wimping out and the tension goes right down the drain. Plus the author seems to think that just putting them in Paris makes the story romantic, whether the tension is there or not. And the same with throwing in classic films like Robin Hood and Casablanca. And enough with grand opera and Puccini! How about the Four Tops and the Supremes? Eliana keeps asking, where did our love go? And Andreas says, baby, I need your loving!

[Erin]

Eliana & Leandro

3.5? Not sure if this should be a 3 or a 4.

It did hold my attention. I tend to like 2nd chance stories, and stories where it's obvious early on that the characters have feelings for each other. It was better than a few I've read recently.

I think a few things spoiled it, though. I generally don't care for it when the male main character is in deep denial about his feelings. Like, conflicted would have worked: acknowledging feeling two different things at the same time would have worked. But the denial/confusion angle. Nah.

I also don't care for the trope of the previously married virgin, with some elaborate reason how this came about, and the fact of her virginity coming to light "changing everything" for the male protagonist. Not for me.

And the ending really started to jump the shark. Even more complications to the unconsummated marriage, hidden dependents, the "hero" only then considering that in the past she might have (a) been protecting her father, (b) protecting him.... Like really a lot of late contortions to free her of guilt, and if anything, put it on him.

And after all that, it really boiled down to: all the past 6 years of estrangement could have been cleared up with one or two conversations at the beginning. It's a let down when a story feels completely avoidable/unnecessary.

[Beyond the Pages with Eva K]

Quick Summary: A second chance at love

My Review: Greek's Temporary Cinderella by Julia James is a 2024 Harlequin Presents romance.

About the Book: "A love that once burned too hot is reignited when this billionaire gets a second chance with his Cinderella…but will he make the same mistakes? "

My Final Say: This was an okay read. I wish I could say more, but I've got nothing.

Rating: 2.75/5
Recommend: +/-
Audience: A

#libraryread

[Melissa]

Stretching it to a 3. The blurb made it seem like it was going to be really passionate, but it read more like a soap opera storyline with as much focus on the scenery as the story which started off fairly well, but then Leandros became passive and angry and Eliana was constantly beating herself up for being a decent person who'd been manipulated by powerful people. Almost didn't finish, but wanted to know how it ended.

[nadia]

Few things I loved about this book, love the selfless heroine even though she did come across too much as martyr. Also love that hero was heroine only lover. Did not like that story did drag for me, the hero constantly brutally insulting the heroine for her actions six years ago. And the heroine constantly verbally beating herself up for her actions 6 years ago. Did not like the ending, no kids or pregnancy? Only talk of potential child? 🙁. 3.5 stars 5 if it had a better ending.

[Sarah Macnellan]

Note to self: He held her in contempt, and she deserved it—that was the hardest thing to bear. To bear as she had had to bear it for six long years. Since she had walked out on him, rejecting him for another man. A man she hadn’t loved—a man she had married only for his money.
Guilt bit at her for what she had done to Leandros

[Jenny]

Lovely reunion story. Heroine was a sweetheart and hero even though he wanted revenge he was so gentle with her once he realised his mistake! I only needed an epilogue and them to have a baby!

[JmsBndGrl]

It tried too hard to be rated higher.