Pregnant Enemy, Christmas Bride

by Maisey Yates

An enemies-to-lovers, surprise pregnancy, Greek billionaire Christmas romance by NYT bestselling author Maisey Yates.

It’s cold outside…
but they’re playing with fire!

CEO Florence Clare’s relationship with Hades Achelleos is…complicated. By day, her corporate enemy is the devil himself, their rivalry a thing of headline-grabbing legend. By night, they indulge in a clandestine affair. Equally brilliant, equally headstrong, they are one another’s forbidden rebellion…

Hades is fire personified, and Florence has always known their entanglement becoming public would be disastrous. But this Christmas, two little lines threaten to reveal her darkest secret—she’s pregnant. And the paparazzi sense scandal when the Greek tycoon announces his shocking new bride-to-be…

Genres: Romance, Harlequin, Harlequin Presents, Holiday

256 pages, Mass Market Paperback

Published November 26, 2024

About the author

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author Maisey Yates lives in rural Oregon with her three children and her husband, whose chiseled jaw and arresting features continue to make her swoon. She feels the epic trek she takes several times a day from her office to her coffee maker is a true example of her pioneer spirit. In 2009, at the age of twenty-three Maisey sold her first book.

Since then it’s been a whirlwind of sexy alpha males and happily ever afters, and she wouldn’t have it any other way. Maisey divides her writing time between dark, passionate category romances set just about everywhere on earth and light sexy contemporary romances set practically in her back yard.

She believes that she clearly has the best job in the world.

Reviews

[Paula (In & Out) · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was unfortunately not for me. I usually like Maisey Yates reads but I struggled here to finish it because I didn't like either MC and for over 80% or so, I didn't like their so-called "romance.

🚩👇🏻 SPOLIERS BELOW 👇🏻🚩

MCs come from rivaling families and they have been having a secret FB type relationship for ten whole years! Other than sex, they don't know anything about the other in any real sense since there is no discussions or anything deep and for this "relationship" to continue for 10 years without them wanting anything more from one another was just too lame for me.

So in the present, heroine learns that Hero is getting married and is angry that he had slept with her previously without telling her that he is engaged. So what does she do? She has sex one last time with him (angry sex) and tells him it's the end for them.

Hero thought he would continue the sex with heroine since his marriage is one of convenience but she sets him straight. Then on the day he is set to say his I do's, she finds she is pregnant with his kid so goes to tell him & his fiancé. Hero ends up breaking things off with the OW and marrying the heroine instead.

While the last 20-30% or so was better, when 60% of it is not enjoyable at all, it makes no difference..

In terms of safety, it depends how you view/interpret it. He f****d heroine for 10 yrs and still planned to marry OW and cheat on said wife with heroine. Uhm... NO. Just no.

I was provided a free copy by NetGalley for my honest opinion.

[Esther · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC provided by NetGalley and Harlequin for an honest review. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Rating 3.5

I've been wrestling with my rating on this one. I liked some parts but not others. It almost seemed like to different stories to me. But in the end I liked the second half of the book. I kinda see what MY was doing here, but think the execution could have been smoother with more depth. But again she did only have 192 pages or so to deliver the story. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Florence and Hades have had a physical relationship only, for ten years. No relationship at all but sex. They each have major Daddy and some Mommy issues. It's shaped each of them into who they are now. Both Fathers were very successful and intelligent businessmen. They were actual rivals in the business world and intermingled in the same social and financial circles.

And this is how Florance and Hades got "aquanted". They kind knew of each other as preteens to young adults. Florance was infatuated with Hades but was very careful of showing it as her father would have been furious. At eighteen she sent a note to Hades asking him to meet her in her hotel room. She convinced her father she was old enough at this point to have her own room. She lost her virginity to Hades at eighteen that night. Their sexual encounter was very intense and obsessive. So let me say upfront that their sexual relationship was very much on the erotica side. They each traveled with their Fathers for business as the Father's were training their children to take over as CEO's. Each father eventually passed away and they took over as CEO.

Whenever they were in the same city, or social circles/functions or had business together, they always ended up having sex. There was never any romance, no really conversation and no real relationship. Both have become successful CEO's. We pretty much only get the heroines point of view in this story. She is dealing with image issues and especially as a woman CEO. She feels a huge amount of pressure to put on a certain image. So each has decided to keep this secret as they are rivals. And this goes on for ten years. I had a problem with how long their sexual relationship lasted.

Well surprise, surprise on month after a recent hook-up Florence learns that Hades is getting married in a month. And all of a sudden she is furious and decides to confront him as his office. She goes off on him for not letting her know on their last hookup that he was engaged. She ends everything as he will be married and he see's no need for them to really stop their hook up's. That pissed me off that Hades had no problem with them continuing their relationship, but we will learn later why, wish it was made clear at the beginning, his thought process here. I did not like Hades for about a third or half of the book. I also struggled with liking Florence ,because like girl what the heck are you doing with this jerk. Oh and they have angry sex when she went off on him and let him have it. Florences says it's her good bye and last time, that was her thought process. 🙄

Florence runs away with her assistant and friend Sarah to Lake Como where her Mother has a home. She has to get away from everything and process her hurt. I think it was the day or so before Hades is to get married that her Mother and her are having a conversation and she's asking a lot of questions because Florence seems different. Well low and behold during the discussion her Mother asks her if she's pregnant and Florence realizes she is but has been ignoring/blocking all the signs.

She decides she will have to tell Hades before he marries. She arrives the day of his wedding and informs him and his bride that she will be having his baby. Well we begin to learn more about Hades from this point on. Florence becomes the bride that day as Hades insist they marry and his ex was fine as he compensated her with money. They were marrying for convenience. Hades because of a stipulation in the will from his father and the ex was more for money and fame.

From this point on we begin the "relationship" part of Hades and Florence. I have to be honest I was about to DNF this book but decided to stick with it. MY rarely fails me in her stories. So I pushed through and continued.

The last half was a good read. We see the development of who they are, what caused them each so much pain, dissatisfaction with life and their lives. It's a process of them finally communicating and opening up about their feelings. I learned to like Hades and understand him to a certain point. They each worked through their past and made some discoveries of who they really were individually and as a couple. They definitely got their HEA.


A few points I have to share

Ten years was wayyyy too long in my humble opinion.

This review was longer than I intended but again I really wrestled with this story and wasn't sure what I was going to write up for this book.

I didn't really like the first half. But see that maybe MY was luring us in and giving an outside view/perspective before delving into their emotions and feelings. I really am kinda guessing here, not sure. Wish it was a different first half, still thinking I didn't care for it.🤷🏻‍♀️

I would have liked more of Hades thoughts and feelings in the first half.

I appreciated how Florence evolved, grew and accepted who she really was and lived HER life.

I liked Hades towards the end.

I did skim some of the sex scenes (especially the first half), just me wanting and needing more heart/emotions and romance.

I so appreciated that MY made each of them stay true to each other in 10 years. Especially Hades. Thank you Maisey Yates.

Nice epilogue and HEA for both of these poor souls who had terrible childhoods and parents.

Oh one more thought. I would LOVE a story for Sarah, Florence's assistant and her half brother. Yes please.

[Raffaella · Rating 2 out of 5]

I hoped it was better.
The hero and the heroine had a f- buddies kind of relationship for ten years, they meet and have sex every few months, without so much as a chat.
Because they are business rivals and their fathers are enemies.
So they both accept to be secret f.buddies for a decade.
Snort.
Yuck.
Burp.
Folks, sorry to disappoint you but we’re in 2025 and this things are not believable anymore.
Whatever.
Let’s pretend it’s believable.
They are both so cold and detached outside the bedroom that I couldn’t care for both. At all.
Because there’s really not feeling or not feeling enough anyway, both care more for their business than for anything that can be a possible relationship between them. I mean, where’s the angst? Romeo and Juliet loved each other completely, so the whole rivalry between their families made their story so painful and heartbreaking and angsty.
But here, we have two adult people, and at a certain point both fathers are dead and they have their companies, so the fact that they won’t make any effort ever to make a step forward, well it says much about their feelings.
Imo they turned out two people who are just selfish, self centered, cold and not having feelings for the other, which makes this hp a very unromantic book.
He also is getting married to a woman without telling anything to the heroine who has to hear it from some friends, and he would have married ow and have had children with her if the heroine had not got pregnant.
So where’s the romanticism here?
They get married and he tells her he wanted to marry a woman he was indifferent to. Because he felt safe.
And the final confession that he always loved her but wouldn’t admit, well it’s a bit inconsistent.
So no, I didn’t like it very much, it didn’t have the requirements for me, they both are so cold and detached, so indifferent, no one of them would admit that they wanted more and probably the would have married op if the heroine had not got pregnant.
It would be a one star but since both were only with each other even if they never were committed, I add another safety bonus star.

[Aou · Rating 3 out of 5]

“I surrendered. Because I knew myself. I was more than making my father proud. I was more than distinguishing myself from my mother. I was more than a good CEO. I was Florence. As I had been all along. And I was the woman that had captured his attention all those years ago, never to lose it. So perhaps I was enough all along.



Meanwhile the MCs were having sex! 🤦🏻‍♀️

And I don’t believe his love because of the classic ‘no love speak’ and meaningless separation!

[Alex McArthur · Rating 1 out of 5]

this was everything i feared it would be

[Hsiau Wei · Rating 4 out of 5]

Florence and Hades have shared an intense, decade-long, purely physical relationship rooted in their intertwined family histories and personal traumas. Both were shaped by their late fathers, rival CEOs who groomed their children to take over their respective companies. Despite their shared history and frequent encounters during business trips and social events, their relationship remained devoid of romance or genuine emotional connection.

Things take a turn when Florence learns Hades is engaged. Furious at his casual attitude toward their arrangement, she confronts him, leading to an angry farewell encounter. Determined to move on, Florence retreats to Lake Como to process her emotions, only to discover she is pregnant with Hades’ child. On the day of his wedding, she informs him and his fiancée, which leads to an unexpected twist—Hades cancels his wedding and marries Florence instead, fulfilling a stipulation in his father’s will.

The second half of the story shifts focus to the emotional growth of both characters. As they navigate their new marriage, they begin to confront their past wounds, open up about their feelings, and develop genuine affection and understanding. Over time, Florence and Hades transform their fractured dynamic into a real partnership, finding healing and love along the way. Their journey ultimately leads to a satisfying happily ever after, despite the rocky start.

[Christa Walker · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was not a good book.

I feel bad saying that because I have a lot of respect for Maisey Yates. I know she works very hard. But this book felt like a first draft and should not have been published without a significant amount of editing work.

First of all, Harlequin, please do not give me a first person single POV Presents. I opened this looking for the soapy angst which was there but there were times where it veered into romcom and then whiplashed back to dark angst. It’s like I bought a bags of chips and opened it to find pretzels. Both are snack foods, but when I go out of my way to get something specific, it needs to actually be that thing.

This book was all tell, no show. This happened even in conversations where the couples would be talking then we’d go into paragraphs of navel gazing where the heroine would spell out what the conversation was supposed to be relaying then suddenly back to the conversation which by now I had lost the thread of because of the long ass explanation. Also what she takes from the things Hades says does not make sense sometimes. It seems like she just wants to be upset and argue.

There was an insane amount of ingrained misogyny. The writing was trying SO hard to be feminist, too, but it wasn’t. Oh ok she’s a nepo baby CEO and it’s so hard for her because she’s a woman? Women have been CEO’s for a long ass time now. There was a ton of other micro misogynistic comments in here, too.

There were so many other little issues:
- Hero BLACKMAILS her into marriage initially
- WHY DIDN’T SHE USE A PHONE TO CALL HIM?! She jumped on a plane instead!
- They had a televised debate for a contract? What? Like ok I can forgive that as romance reasons but only if the rest of the book had made up for it
- There were almost no setting descriptions
- The writing was choppy to a distracting degree and there were too many … ellipses.

I want to end on a good note, so here are the things I did like:
- Maisey Yates writes a hell of a sex scene 🔥🔥🔥
- I appreciated that the heroine wasn’t a Cinderella or delicate little flower
- I appreciate that the heroine actually ate food like burgers
- Excellent job with escapist locations

CW: Physically abusive parent (off page, in past), misogyny, slut shaming

[RomanceByTheBook · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pregnant Enemy, Christmas Bride has the potential to be a wild Christmas romance if only the author really embraced that crazy essence that existed in this story.

I like a category romance. They are quick and easy reads and often have bonkers storylines. When I read the synopsis for this book, I knew I needed to read it because the plot sounded wild. I hoped for lots of delicious drama, lusty tension, and sharp banter. Unfortunately, I didn’t get any of that in this book. This book just didn’t work for me. I don’t have any problem with the plot. I actually don’t mind accidental pregnancy, which leads to a marriage of convenience or forced marriage trope. I devour that kind of drama with a smile on my face.

The problem I had was the way this book was executed. First, for a short-category romance, there was way too much internal dialogue going on. It takes up most of the book, which means there is a limited amount of dialogue. One of the great things about an enemies-to-lovers or rivalries-to-lovers story is the sharp and fast banter between the two MCs. I didn’t get that in this book, and when these two did talk, it was rigid and felt off. Their conversations and how they unfolded didn’t make sense and made for a jarring and confusing reading experience.

The chemistry between these two characters didn’t really exist for me. Florence’s feelings and actions toward Hades are all over the map, and not in a good way. She went from only sex buddies to I have to have him for myself in the blink of an eye. I know things often move fast in the category of romance, but that doesn’t mean they can unfold in a confusing and illogical manner. There is an art to writing fun, crazy, quick romance; unfortunately, that didn’t happen in this book. It was hard to get a read on Hades’s character; I think it might have been a good idea to include his POV. I might have been able to connect with his character.

Even though this story was a miss for me, that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have potential. I love the plot idea behind this book, and I think with some rewriting and tweaking, it could be a great read.

Click on the link to read more of our reviews on our blog: https://romancebythebook.com/book-rev...

[Cassandra Bivens · Rating 3 out of 5]

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**🌟 *Pregnant Enemy, Christmas Bride* by Maisey Yates 🌟**
**⭐️⭐️⭐️**

Florence Clare and Hades Achelleos are rivals by day, but by night, their relationship is anything but professional. Both CEOs are brilliant and headstrong, making their forbidden, secret affair even more intense. Florence knows that if their entanglement were ever made public, it could spell disaster for both their careers.

But this Christmas, Florence faces an even bigger challenge—**she’s pregnant**. With the paparazzi circling and Florence’s secret about to be revealed, Hades makes a shocking announcement: they are getting married. Suddenly, their heated rivalry is turned upside down, and the stakes are higher than ever as they prepare for a whirlwind Christmas wedding.

Maisey Yates delivers an addictive mix of **enemies-to-lovers**, **surprise pregnancy**, and a **Greek billionaire romance** that’s both fiery and festive. The chemistry between Florence and Hades is electric, making this a perfect holiday escape for romance readers.

**💬 Favorite Quote:**
*"We’ve been playing with fire for years. But this Christmas, we’re burning together."*

---

**✨ Highlights:**
- **Enemies-to-Lovers**: The perfect slow-burn tension between Florence and Hades, with high-stakes romance.
- **Surprise Pregnancy**: A classic twist that adds emotional depth to the characters' journey.
- **Holiday Setting**: The festive atmosphere and whirlwind wedding plans add extra charm to the story.

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*Pregnant Enemy, Christmas Bride* is a **sizzling holiday romance** with high stakes, intense chemistry, and a whirlwind plot that will keep readers hooked until the final page.

See more reviews at:
Casla Reads

*I received this book through NetGalley as an ARC reader. This will not in any way affect my thoughts or opinions on the book.*

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[Darlene Montalvo · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have this author before many times I use to enjoy it. I’ve grown up read harlequin books since I was teen I guess I out them since the story wasn’t my cup of tea. The story was good. The couple in the start out as enemies who rival each other with respected companies. This kind of story where they spend most of the book fight each other is not my favorite I usually like to the story to a combination of both and for the romance to flow better. The couple end up have an affair but the romance I wasn’t feeling it. And I usually like Maisey Yates stories I guess my taste has changed.

[Moira · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my favorite by Maisey Yates, but I finished it. Standard book that defines the Harlequin story . The couple are attracted as teenagers but their fathers are mortal business enemies. Their affair lasts for 10 years, the deaths of their fathers, and now he announces his engagement and she's devastated by the news. When she goes to confront him they have unprotected sex leaving her pregnant. What happens next is pretty standard for a Harlequin book.

Although I received a free ARC ebook from Net Galley and the publisher, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

[*CJ* · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Pregnant Enemy, Christmas Bride" is the story of Florence and Hades.

Hero and heroine are business rivals who have been hate sexing each other, until he decides to get married and she gets pregnant.
The hero was too cold for most of the book- I know it was because of his past but I had a hard time believing his feelings especially because he confessed to openly wanting to marry/ sleep with OW??

Ugh pretty disappointing. The heroine had no self respect when it came to him.

Safe by definition
2.5/5

[Carmelita Clardy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hard to finish

This author is one of my favorites but this time, this book was hard to follow. I skimmed through a lot of the chapters because they were so long and boring. The h and H have known each other for a long time as business rivals and secret lovers. The plot was made more complicated than it should have been, the h was overly dramatic and the H was overly complicated. An unexpected pregnancy didn’t help, there are long chapters of the h just being so dramatic. I basically skimmed through to the end.

[Eileen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pregnant Enemy, Christmas Bride by Maisey Yates is a story of two people who are enemies in public, lovers in private. Hades and Florence were attracted to each other as teenagers but as their fathers were rival business enemies they had to keep their distance. After the deaths of their fathers they each take over the businesses, while still appearing as rivals and enemies in public; all to keep up appearances. For the past ten years, they have been having a secret affair. When Hades announces his engagement and Florence is devastated by the news. She goes to confront him at his office, only they end up having unprotected intercourse, leaving her pregnant. What follows is two troubled characters finding love and understanding together.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
#NetGalley #Harlequin

[Eris · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good book. The two main characters are Florence and Hades. There is an instant attraction. When they meet they only have eyes for each other. They start an affair which goes for 10 years. Florence finds out that Hades is engaged and about to marry. N his wedding day Florence goes to him to tell him that she was pregnant. He stops the wedding and marries Florence. They work through some issues and fall in love.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was not what I'm used to from Maisey Yates but it was still an enjoyable read imho. The main characters Hades and Florence were possibly not as likeable as most of the characters from her books but became more likeable as the book progressed. Quick read as this one is under 200 pages long. Pick this one up in November 2025.

[Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a hard read. But I read it in one night because I wanted to see how the author handled a different storyline. I needed to know how 2 troubled characters could find love and understanding together. And they did. Of course

[Nancy Ku · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pregnant Enemy, Christmas Bride (Harlequin Presents by Maisey Yates (
This was unfortunately not for me. I usually like her books but I struggled here to finish this one. I didn't like either MC and for over 80% or so, I didn't like Florence Clare’s or Hades Achelleos or so-called "romance.

[Allie · Rating 2 out of 5]

2/5. Read it cause a coworker wanted to know what would happen. A lot happened. Not really bad overall but jumbled and confusing for a fair amount of it. Felt like a lot of filler dialogue to meet a word count or something. Also so much therapy is needed omg.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a book about a woman who gets one positive home pregnancy test and within two days has married her arch nemesis and agreed to merge their multi-billion dollar companies without even seeing a doctor to confirm the pregnancy.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn’t put this book down. I enjoyed it so much. Maisey Yates is a brilliant writer.

[sunshine_in_ny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty sure this was my first category romance and also a contemporary which I rarely read. It was fast paced which was exactly what I needed today.

[Julie Shelton · Rating 1 out of 5]

My adult daughters got me my very first Harlequin romance novel as a joke gift. I'll read just about anything and this proves it. Utterly ridiculous. 4 hours of my life completely wasted!

[Crystal Merced · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 1/2⭐️

[Vicki · Rating 3 out of 5]

The pacing ground to a halt in the second half.

[Shebbles · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun read on a beach vacation at Christmas!