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From Here to Paternity #10
The Price of a Wife
He wanted a family...at any price!
Luke Hawkton was a wildly successful businessman who had it all. His one remaining ambition was to find a wife and start a family....
Josie's dreams of marriage and babies had been shattered by tragedy. She had to live with the knowledge that she'd never experience the joy of holding her own child. Her career was now her life, and she couldn't allow herself to get close to Luke. If he married her, he'd forget his dreams of fatherhood. Surely that was too heavy a price for any man to pay?
From Here to Paternity - men who find their way to fatherhood by fair means, by foul, or even by default!
188 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published March 1, 1997
11 people are currently reading
119 people want to read
About the author
Helen Brooks
409 books122 followersRita Bradshaw was born on 1949 in Northampton, England, where she was educated as a good Christian. She met Clive, her husband, at the age of 16 andnow the magic is still there. They have three lovely children, Cara, Faye, and Benjamin, and have always had a menagerie of animals in the house, which at the present is confined to two endearing and very comical dogs who would make a great double act on TV! The children, friends, and pets all keep the house buzzing and the food cupboards empty but Helen wouldn't have it any other way. She still lives today in Northampton with her family. Although having enjoyed some wonderful holidays abroad she has never been tempted to live anywhere else, although she rather likes the idea of a holiday home close to the sea one day.
Being a committed Christian and fervent animal lover she finds spare time is always at a premium, but long walks in the countryside with her husband and dogs, meals out followed by the cinema or theatre, reading, swimming, and having friends over for dinner are all fitted in somehow. She also enjoys sitting in her wonderfully therapeutic, rambling old garden in the sun with a glass of red wine, (under the guise of resting while thinking of course!)
For years, she was a secretary. She began writing in 1990 as she approached that milestone of a birthday 40! She realized her two teenage ambitions (writing a novel and learning to drive) had been lost amid babies and hectic family life, so set about resurrecting them.
Her first novel was for Mills and Boon and was accepted after one rewrite in 1992 as Helen Brooks, and she passed her driving test (the former was a joy and the latter an unmitigated nightmare!) She has written 50 novels as well as several sagas as Rita Bradshaw.
Since becoming a full-time writer she has found her occupation one of pure joy and often surprised when her characters develop a mind of their own but she loves exploring what makes people tick and finds the old adage "truth is stranger than fiction" to be absolutely true. She would love to hear from any readers care of Mills & Boon.
Being a committed Christian and fervent animal lover she finds spare time is always at a premium, but long walks in the countryside with her husband and dogs, meals out followed by the cinema or theatre, reading, swimming, and having friends over for dinner are all fitted in somehow. She also enjoys sitting in her wonderfully therapeutic, rambling old garden in the sun with a glass of red wine, (under the guise of resting while thinking of course!)
For years, she was a secretary. She began writing in 1990 as she approached that milestone of a birthday 40! She realized her two teenage ambitions (writing a novel and learning to drive) had been lost amid babies and hectic family life, so set about resurrecting them.
Her first novel was for Mills and Boon and was accepted after one rewrite in 1992 as Helen Brooks, and she passed her driving test (the former was a joy and the latter an unmitigated nightmare!) She has written 50 novels as well as several sagas as Rita Bradshaw.
Since becoming a full-time writer she has found her occupation one of pure joy and often surprised when her characters develop a mind of their own but she loves exploring what makes people tick and finds the old adage "truth is stranger than fiction" to be absolutely true. She would love to hear from any readers care of Mills & Boon.
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February 22, 2025
"One repentant sinner." Luke was there, big and dark, and in his arms was a bedraggled, thin but very much alive Mog. "He's been badly frightened, he's hungry, and I think he wants plenty of tender loving care, but other than that, he's fine." Luke said calmly as he deposited the miaowing cat in her arms.
"LUKE!" She stood in dazed wonder as he turned, Mog clinging like a monkey around her chest and neck, his two front paws resting either side of her throat as he purred an express train of greeting. "I don't know what to say. How can I ever thank you?". She said shakily. "I-Luke... Thank you.". She wasn't making any sense, but he nodded coolly.
"Goodnight, Josie." He pointed at Mog. "And don't forget, plenty of tender loving care. We males aren't always as tough as you think, you know." And on that enigmatic note, he left her.
Cat-rescuing is only one of the hero's many virtues in Helen Brooks' The Price of a Wife. He is truly one of the greatest romantic heroes in HPlandia. An Alpha male who is actually nice, with integrity, moral character, and lest you think he sounds boring, incredibly sexy, passionate and intense too. What's not to love? *swooooon*
This is a quasi-office romance, with the heroine being employed by the hero to launch his latest business venture, a fabulous, state-of-the-art, yacht, with a huge party that will take place at his ocean-front villa in the South of France. Hello, where is my VIP invitation?
The heroine, Josie, is extremely prickly and seems cold and unlikable at first. Gradually, the reader realizes this is just a facade she put up to hide her Great, Big, Traumatik Past: An accident in her youth rendered her barren and ever since, she decided to clamp down and live just as barren a love life. She kept up walls against the hero because she felt she was not a whole woman, and loving her and wanting her to be his wife would be too high a price to pay for him, since he expressed how much he dreamed of founding a big, warm, Italian family with lotsa kids running around.
The hero's eventual discovery and reaction to her Big Secret and his declaration of love at the conclusion of the story is one of the Absolute Best ILY Speeches I have ever read in a Harlequin:
"The biological part means nothing, Josie, not really. You only have to look at all the misery in natural families to see that. What counts is the bit between being born and dying. The giving, the sharing, the joys and sorrows, and most of all the love.
When I thought I wasn't going to be able to get through to you, that you were never going to let me in, and later, when you told me there was someone else-" He stopped abruptly and breathed hard, the pain in his eyes visible and fierce. "That was the most terrifying time of my life. I thought I'd go mad, insane. I can't manage without you. I can't hold it all together if you aren't there by my side. You have to believe that, really believe it.
No one else matters but you. It is us at the beginning and it will be us at the end, and if in the time between our family brings us pleasure then that's wonderful, but that is all it is. It isn't life-sustaining. You are.
You are my perfect love, my perfect, perfect love..."
Why not a full five stars? Because Mog the cat isn't part of the otherwise wonderful epilogue! But apart from that one objection, I highly recommend this wonderful read. Happy reading!
"LUKE!" She stood in dazed wonder as he turned, Mog clinging like a monkey around her chest and neck, his two front paws resting either side of her throat as he purred an express train of greeting. "I don't know what to say. How can I ever thank you?". She said shakily. "I-Luke... Thank you.". She wasn't making any sense, but he nodded coolly.
"Goodnight, Josie." He pointed at Mog. "And don't forget, plenty of tender loving care. We males aren't always as tough as you think, you know." And on that enigmatic note, he left her.
Cat-rescuing is only one of the hero's many virtues in Helen Brooks' The Price of a Wife. He is truly one of the greatest romantic heroes in HPlandia. An Alpha male who is actually nice, with integrity, moral character, and lest you think he sounds boring, incredibly sexy, passionate and intense too. What's not to love? *swooooon*
This is a quasi-office romance, with the heroine being employed by the hero to launch his latest business venture, a fabulous, state-of-the-art, yacht, with a huge party that will take place at his ocean-front villa in the South of France. Hello, where is my VIP invitation?
The heroine, Josie, is extremely prickly and seems cold and unlikable at first. Gradually, the reader realizes this is just a facade she put up to hide her Great, Big, Traumatik Past: An accident in her youth rendered her barren and ever since, she decided to clamp down and live just as barren a love life. She kept up walls against the hero because she felt she was not a whole woman, and loving her and wanting her to be his wife would be too high a price to pay for him, since he expressed how much he dreamed of founding a big, warm, Italian family with lotsa kids running around.
The hero's eventual discovery and reaction to her Big Secret and his declaration of love at the conclusion of the story is one of the Absolute Best ILY Speeches I have ever read in a Harlequin:
"The biological part means nothing, Josie, not really. You only have to look at all the misery in natural families to see that. What counts is the bit between being born and dying. The giving, the sharing, the joys and sorrows, and most of all the love.
When I thought I wasn't going to be able to get through to you, that you were never going to let me in, and later, when you told me there was someone else-" He stopped abruptly and breathed hard, the pain in his eyes visible and fierce. "That was the most terrifying time of my life. I thought I'd go mad, insane. I can't manage without you. I can't hold it all together if you aren't there by my side. You have to believe that, really believe it.
No one else matters but you. It is us at the beginning and it will be us at the end, and if in the time between our family brings us pleasure then that's wonderful, but that is all it is. It isn't life-sustaining. You are.
You are my perfect love, my perfect, perfect love..."
Why not a full five stars? Because Mog the cat isn't part of the otherwise wonderful epilogue! But apart from that one objection, I highly recommend this wonderful read. Happy reading!
January 5, 2019
Re The Price of a Wife - Helen Brooks takes the standard Alpha HP H and makes him one of the nicest H's in HPlandia with this one. Plus she gives us an h that a lot of HP Voyagers may think is too difficult for the wonderful H that she is getting in this tenth book of the From Here to Paternity Series
I, on the other hand, like this h a lot. She has an adorable ginger brindled Tabby Cat named Mog and he is her only family. Mog likes salmon and has definite standards. Like all the really awesome cats in HPlandia, Mog likes the H right away and he has serious MOG STARES and MOG DISDAIN for the h when she doesn't leap onto the H's bandwagon right away. (So Well Played Mog, Well Played.)
(Tho I must mention that Mog is a Tom Cat and is given free reign to wander with his own cat doors, I am not happy about that because kitties should NEVER be outside without supervision. So I took off a star. Tho to be fair, HB understands my Cardinal HP Rule - NO cats, dogs or small children should be harmed in the making of HPlandia. So it is all okay in the end.)
Anyhows, the h had a tragic accident at 15 that caused her to have to undergo a hysterectomy. The local bad boy she had a crush on took her out, to her stunned delight, and then tried some nasty moves. The h rejected the evil bad boy and in retaliation, he scared the h badly by racing them both around narrow country lanes in his sports car.
The evil bad boy managed to wreck into a tractor in those narrow lanes and he killed the young man driving it, injured the h extremely badly and then LIED to everyone about the accident. The devastation this slime swiller caused the h was multiplied, because not only did she lose the ability to bear children, her father's utter distress over the news caused so much trauma for him that he died of a heart attack a few months after the accident.
The h's heartbroken mother soon became sick as well, the h spent a year nursing the beloved lady before she too passed. The h was raised to believe that motherhood only happens when you have a functioning womb - and since this is HPlandia and heroine fertility is right next to Alpha H supremacy in the hierarchy, the h knows she has a very lonely future ahead.
But this h isn't one to sit around and bewail the HP fates. She soon establishes herself as one of the best marketing promoters in London. When the story opens, the h is 28 and has been at the top of her marketing game for ten years. She has a job she is really good at and a good friends and Mog.
So when she meets the H for the first time, she doesn't recognize the thrill of attraction for what it is. In many ways he reminds her of the slime swiller that wrecked her life, so the h is a bit less than cordial when he comes across like the typical wealthy playboy on the prowl.
That attitude towards the H doesn't change when she lands the coveted prize of promoting his new luxury yacht launching, the yacht is important to the H as a memorial to his recently passed father.
We get many chapters of the H pursuing and the h firmly resisting any hint of treacherous body syndrome. There are a few roofie kisses, but the h is convinced the H is a lady buffet sampler and she has no intention of putting herself on the menu.
(We also learn that the evil bad boy slime swiller eventually killed himself in another wreck. The h is relieved he is gone and can't hurt anyone else, but fiercely resents that he blamed the h for breaking his heart and causing the first one. So comeuppance was served for once and it was well deserved.)
Plus, in his Alpha Stalker H efforts to get closer to the h, the H is all about his Italian Mama who lives in France and how his future Mrs. H will be expected to provide the family empire heir immédiatement.
The H repeatedly goes on about the joys of a large family, he rightly pegs the h as a seekrit maternal type, but the h has to reject each and everyone of his overtures, because she can never have biological children and the H gives the firm impression that a child of his body is one of his raison d'être.
The h bravely hides the pain each of his utterances causes her and we are ready to write this H off as just another HP Alpha when HB truly makes some magic happen. Mog gets lost and the h is panicked.
The H comes as soon as he learns the very bad news and in true heroic fashion, (because the H is very jealous of Mog being the h's main man, which the H should be, because Mog was awesome,) the H goes out in the middle of the night to look for Mog.
He puts up posters and rewards and when Mog is finally found trapped in a garage and very hungry, the H brings him back for pettings and cuddlings and special salmon from the very relieved h.
( See Naksed's awesome replay of the scene in her review here.)
The now Super Hero Mog Rescuer H also gives the h an emerald pendant to match her eyes, takes her to his house for a special dinner and eloquently confesses he loves and adores her and wants her to marry him.
This panics the h badly, because she loves the H back just as madly, but what kind of love would accept his offer and deny him the pleasures of having his own child?
The panicked h does the only thing she can think of, she lies and tells the H that she is in love with a married man and can't accept his offer. The H is angry and pushes her out of his life.
But the h still has the big boat launch to organize, there is going to be a fair and an elegant ball and the h buries herself in her work, she knows that she will only have her career and Mog to comfort her in her life.
The weeks pass and eventually the big day arrives, the h is forced to stay at the H's chateau. As the h is on the H's private beach after getting everything organized, the H comes up to the h and explains he had investigators dig up the h's past and he now knows the truth.
I had a little crying moment as the H very carefully explains that the h is the only one for him and biological children aren't the only way to be a family, they can adopt, they can foster, but whatever they do, they should do it together and be there for each other all the way.
Then the H delivers what is possibly the best winning his girl line in all of HPlandia. He tells the h:
Of course our h is a really sweet girl at heart and what girl is gonna turn down a line like that delivered in heart-wrenching sincerity. The h agrees to marry the H and avows her love just as completely back and we get a little epilogue for the HEA.
The h and H are married and happy for two years before they get the news of the first of several children they will adopt. They will have a little boy and a little girl at first, then another boy and twin girls and finally another baby girl whose own parent's rejected her because of a facial deformity.
Each of the children were traumatized or damaged but they all found a fertile ground to flower in, buoyed by the great love between the H and h that surrounds and comforts them, for a truly moving and very pink sparkly happy HPlandia HEA.
This book starts out kinda ordinary and then just takes off. Mog is excellent, the h makes the H work really hard to win her hand, (and a part of me that gets tired of these h's just puddling at the feet of a very bad H takes some seriously sadistic pleasure in that,) and the H himself was a total keeper.
Run out and find this book and read it. This the epitome of the perfect, romantic True Love Forever HP outing that we are all searching HPlandia for and there is rarely a better HEA than this one, so much so that I put it on the HP required reading list and wish all HP Voyagers can experience it.
I, on the other hand, like this h a lot. She has an adorable ginger brindled Tabby Cat named Mog and he is her only family. Mog likes salmon and has definite standards. Like all the really awesome cats in HPlandia, Mog likes the H right away and he has serious MOG STARES and MOG DISDAIN for the h when she doesn't leap onto the H's bandwagon right away. (So Well Played Mog, Well Played.)
(Tho I must mention that Mog is a Tom Cat and is given free reign to wander with his own cat doors, I am not happy about that because kitties should NEVER be outside without supervision. So I took off a star. Tho to be fair, HB understands my Cardinal HP Rule - NO cats, dogs or small children should be harmed in the making of HPlandia. So it is all okay in the end.)
Anyhows, the h had a tragic accident at 15 that caused her to have to undergo a hysterectomy. The local bad boy she had a crush on took her out, to her stunned delight, and then tried some nasty moves. The h rejected the evil bad boy and in retaliation, he scared the h badly by racing them both around narrow country lanes in his sports car.
The evil bad boy managed to wreck into a tractor in those narrow lanes and he killed the young man driving it, injured the h extremely badly and then LIED to everyone about the accident. The devastation this slime swiller caused the h was multiplied, because not only did she lose the ability to bear children, her father's utter distress over the news caused so much trauma for him that he died of a heart attack a few months after the accident.
The h's heartbroken mother soon became sick as well, the h spent a year nursing the beloved lady before she too passed. The h was raised to believe that motherhood only happens when you have a functioning womb - and since this is HPlandia and heroine fertility is right next to Alpha H supremacy in the hierarchy, the h knows she has a very lonely future ahead.
But this h isn't one to sit around and bewail the HP fates. She soon establishes herself as one of the best marketing promoters in London. When the story opens, the h is 28 and has been at the top of her marketing game for ten years. She has a job she is really good at and a good friends and Mog.
So when she meets the H for the first time, she doesn't recognize the thrill of attraction for what it is. In many ways he reminds her of the slime swiller that wrecked her life, so the h is a bit less than cordial when he comes across like the typical wealthy playboy on the prowl.
That attitude towards the H doesn't change when she lands the coveted prize of promoting his new luxury yacht launching, the yacht is important to the H as a memorial to his recently passed father.
We get many chapters of the H pursuing and the h firmly resisting any hint of treacherous body syndrome. There are a few roofie kisses, but the h is convinced the H is a lady buffet sampler and she has no intention of putting herself on the menu.
(We also learn that the evil bad boy slime swiller eventually killed himself in another wreck. The h is relieved he is gone and can't hurt anyone else, but fiercely resents that he blamed the h for breaking his heart and causing the first one. So comeuppance was served for once and it was well deserved.)
Plus, in his Alpha Stalker H efforts to get closer to the h, the H is all about his Italian Mama who lives in France and how his future Mrs. H will be expected to provide the family empire heir immédiatement.
The H repeatedly goes on about the joys of a large family, he rightly pegs the h as a seekrit maternal type, but the h has to reject each and everyone of his overtures, because she can never have biological children and the H gives the firm impression that a child of his body is one of his raison d'être.
The h bravely hides the pain each of his utterances causes her and we are ready to write this H off as just another HP Alpha when HB truly makes some magic happen. Mog gets lost and the h is panicked.
The H comes as soon as he learns the very bad news and in true heroic fashion, (because the H is very jealous of Mog being the h's main man, which the H should be, because Mog was awesome,) the H goes out in the middle of the night to look for Mog.
He puts up posters and rewards and when Mog is finally found trapped in a garage and very hungry, the H brings him back for pettings and cuddlings and special salmon from the very relieved h.
( See Naksed's awesome replay of the scene in her review here.)
The now Super Hero Mog Rescuer H also gives the h an emerald pendant to match her eyes, takes her to his house for a special dinner and eloquently confesses he loves and adores her and wants her to marry him.
This panics the h badly, because she loves the H back just as madly, but what kind of love would accept his offer and deny him the pleasures of having his own child?
The panicked h does the only thing she can think of, she lies and tells the H that she is in love with a married man and can't accept his offer. The H is angry and pushes her out of his life.
But the h still has the big boat launch to organize, there is going to be a fair and an elegant ball and the h buries herself in her work, she knows that she will only have her career and Mog to comfort her in her life.
The weeks pass and eventually the big day arrives, the h is forced to stay at the H's chateau. As the h is on the H's private beach after getting everything organized, the H comes up to the h and explains he had investigators dig up the h's past and he now knows the truth.
I had a little crying moment as the H very carefully explains that the h is the only one for him and biological children aren't the only way to be a family, they can adopt, they can foster, but whatever they do, they should do it together and be there for each other all the way.
Then the H delivers what is possibly the best winning his girl line in all of HPlandia. He tells the h:
'No one else matters but you. It is us at the beginning and it will be us at the end, and if in the time between our family brings us pleasure then that's wonderful, but that is all it is. It isn't life-sustaining. You are. Do you believe me?'
Of course our h is a really sweet girl at heart and what girl is gonna turn down a line like that delivered in heart-wrenching sincerity. The h agrees to marry the H and avows her love just as completely back and we get a little epilogue for the HEA.
The h and H are married and happy for two years before they get the news of the first of several children they will adopt. They will have a little boy and a little girl at first, then another boy and twin girls and finally another baby girl whose own parent's rejected her because of a facial deformity.
Each of the children were traumatized or damaged but they all found a fertile ground to flower in, buoyed by the great love between the H and h that surrounds and comforts them, for a truly moving and very pink sparkly happy HPlandia HEA.
This book starts out kinda ordinary and then just takes off. Mog is excellent, the h makes the H work really hard to win her hand, (and a part of me that gets tired of these h's just puddling at the feet of a very bad H takes some seriously sadistic pleasure in that,) and the H himself was a total keeper.
Run out and find this book and read it. This the epitome of the perfect, romantic True Love Forever HP outing that we are all searching HPlandia for and there is rarely a better HEA than this one, so much so that I put it on the HP required reading list and wish all HP Voyagers can experience it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 10, 2019
Really intense story of a tycoon hero who pursues the public relations heroine with a single-minded determination that never comes across as stalker-like, patronizing, or controlling. HB creates a nurturing alpha who loses his temper from frustration a few times, but never crosses lines or wimps out. I don’t know how she did it, but he’s quite a man.
Heroine is having a terrible time resisting him although her heart aches from loneliness, grief and inadequacy. Heroine has never recovered from a life-altering accident at 15 that left her infertile and disdainful of men. The grief from her father’s sudden death the day she got out of the hospital and then her mother’s lingering illness that she died from when heroine was 17 further marked her.
But this hero cuts through her defenses for a beautiful HEA and one of the best epilogue ever.
Heroine is having a terrible time resisting him although her heart aches from loneliness, grief and inadequacy. Heroine has never recovered from a life-altering accident at 15 that left her infertile and disdainful of men. The grief from her father’s sudden death the day she got out of the hospital and then her mother’s lingering illness that she died from when heroine was 17 further marked her.
But this hero cuts through her defenses for a beautiful HEA and one of the best epilogue ever.
August 24, 2017
On the strength of Naksed's review and accolades for a true hero I had to read this. Real, honorable and loving heroes aren't exactly thick in the ground in HarleyLand especially when they are part Italian.
Mary Sue Martyr almost torpedoes her chance of happiness with nice guy hero.
The h is hired to put on a mega opening for a yacht the hero is introducing in honor of his father. It has to be a stupendous event, and the 28 year old heroine is a top notch promoter/marketing expert.
The heroine is p-r-i-c-k-l-y, confrontational and downright rude at times as she pushes the hero away for his own good. A car accident with a rotten to the core boyfriend destroyed her ability to have children and destroyed her ability to be happy, to be a real woman. Uphill battle and some serious work for the hero. I am shocked he persevered as I have/had my doubts she's worth the trouble.
She is one female character that has it ingrained that being a woman is being able to produce biologically. She had wanted children desperately and is now denied. Life/children is an all or nothing proposition for her which was a little draining for me as the reader, but it is a valid point of view for some women.
The H perseveres and there is a nice little epilogue with the problem solved in a very sweet way.
Mary Sue Martyr almost torpedoes her chance of happiness with nice guy hero.
The h is hired to put on a mega opening for a yacht the hero is introducing in honor of his father. It has to be a stupendous event, and the 28 year old heroine is a top notch promoter/marketing expert.
The heroine is p-r-i-c-k-l-y, confrontational and downright rude at times as she pushes the hero away for his own good. A car accident with a rotten to the core boyfriend destroyed her ability to have children and destroyed her ability to be happy, to be a real woman. Uphill battle and some serious work for the hero. I am shocked he persevered as I have/had my doubts she's worth the trouble.
She is one female character that has it ingrained that being a woman is being able to produce biologically. She had wanted children desperately and is now denied. Life/children is an all or nothing proposition for her which was a little draining for me as the reader, but it is a valid point of view for some women.
The H perseveres and there is a nice little epilogue with the problem solved in a very sweet way.
August 13, 2019
I don’t usually read HPs anymore. I lack the rose tinted glasses and they are harmful for my mental health.
But I decided to read this book SPECIFICALLY after finished reading the similar very recent CR The Friend Zone which pissed me off to great end.
Why you ask? Because they deal with the similar issues. Female infertility.
Yes, we don’t get an as loyal and less promiscuous hero as the CR in question in this. But TBH, I’m not sure how promiscuous the HB H really is. Cause I didn’t freaken care.
What I cared most was about the angst and the execution.
Unlike the CR, the h doesn’t tell the H that she does in fact love him and then screams out about her “lack”.
No, this h goes for the jugular. She wasn’t like the other hs, who lets the H go, but the situation is such that she involuntarily let’s them know of their innocence knowing now they’ll fight for them.
No. She lied. Boldly. Painting her in such hateful light that the H would never would’ve looked back at her. Would forever be disgusted by her and loath her existence. He’d have been able sigh in relief that he dodged a bullet and move on. She didn’t subconsciously leave any trails for the H to figure out that she’s the real victim here.
No. And that’s what makes H’s love for her believable. He believes her lies. Yes. For a short time. But then he sets aside his ego and pride, because as good as they are, they cannot replace love if that’s what you want. And he loved the h. So before believing the worst, even if she claims it, he decided to do a complete investigation and find out what exactly is going on.
And then we get his declaration and resolution which is not only shockingly opposite to the one of the CR, but also completely believable of its romantic values because of it.
He tells her that yes, he wants a massive family, just like the h does. He wants kids, just like the h does. And he wants his family and kids with h, and if he can’t have it with her, he doesn’t goddamn want it. Did the CR say something along this line? Vaguely. But where this book vastly differs is the epilogue. Where they adopt. Adopt kids that will need lots of loving. Kids who will give them lots of love. Kids who need a loving home where there is no miraculous pregnancy that might make the h’s declaration of love irrelevant or the adopted kids feel unwelcome. The infertility is there. That will stay. But the love and parenthood does not rely on the working conditions of a couple’s reproductive system.
It is a sad day in the office when a HP conveys better message than a 21st century book.
But I decided to read this book SPECIFICALLY after finished reading the similar very recent CR The Friend Zone which pissed me off to great end.
Why you ask? Because they deal with the similar issues. Female infertility.
Yes, we don’t get an as loyal and less promiscuous hero as the CR in question in this. But TBH, I’m not sure how promiscuous the HB H really is. Cause I didn’t freaken care.
What I cared most was about the angst and the execution.
Unlike the CR, the h doesn’t tell the H that she does in fact love him and then screams out about her “lack”.
No, this h goes for the jugular. She wasn’t like the other hs, who lets the H go, but the situation is such that she involuntarily let’s them know of their innocence knowing now they’ll fight for them.
No. She lied. Boldly. Painting her in such hateful light that the H would never would’ve looked back at her. Would forever be disgusted by her and loath her existence. He’d have been able sigh in relief that he dodged a bullet and move on. She didn’t subconsciously leave any trails for the H to figure out that she’s the real victim here.
No. And that’s what makes H’s love for her believable. He believes her lies. Yes. For a short time. But then he sets aside his ego and pride, because as good as they are, they cannot replace love if that’s what you want. And he loved the h. So before believing the worst, even if she claims it, he decided to do a complete investigation and find out what exactly is going on.
And then we get his declaration and resolution which is not only shockingly opposite to the one of the CR, but also completely believable of its romantic values because of it.
He tells her that yes, he wants a massive family, just like the h does. He wants kids, just like the h does. And he wants his family and kids with h, and if he can’t have it with her, he doesn’t goddamn want it. Did the CR say something along this line? Vaguely. But where this book vastly differs is the epilogue. Where they adopt. Adopt kids that will need lots of loving. Kids who will give them lots of love. Kids who need a loving home where there is no miraculous pregnancy that might make the h’s declaration of love irrelevant or the adopted kids feel unwelcome. The infertility is there. That will stay. But the love and parenthood does not rely on the working conditions of a couple’s reproductive system.
It is a sad day in the office when a HP conveys better message than a 21st century book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 6, 2019
Wow. I am crying. As a woman who has suffered from infertility problems, I found this book (and the wonderful conclusion) very emotional and satisfying. The hero was sexy, devoted. The heroine was struggling with a very painful past and the trauma of infertility. Brooks did a great job with the angst and disappointment.
As the mother of two adopted kids, I absolutely LOVED the HEA with the list of their adopted children. LOVED LOVED LOVED.
I also loved the dramatic moment when the hero tells the heroine he cannot live without HER and she is the love of his life, not her potential as a baby machine. What a great scene.
I really appreciated the pacing of this book, and how the emotional relationship developed between the H/h. It felt real and not forced. Unlike more modern HP novels that are packed with a ton of sex scenes, this book had no sex scenes at all. And I actually found that to be a big bonus. This story was focused on the "romance" and not the sex--although the sexual tension was excellent!
Grade: A
Will def. be re-reading this one a lot!
As the mother of two adopted kids, I absolutely LOVED the HEA with the list of their adopted children. LOVED LOVED LOVED.
I also loved the dramatic moment when the hero tells the heroine he cannot live without HER and she is the love of his life, not her potential as a baby machine. What a great scene.
I really appreciated the pacing of this book, and how the emotional relationship developed between the H/h. It felt real and not forced. Unlike more modern HP novels that are packed with a ton of sex scenes, this book had no sex scenes at all. And I actually found that to be a big bonus. This story was focused on the "romance" and not the sex--although the sexual tension was excellent!
Grade: A
Will def. be re-reading this one a lot!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 6, 2024
On re-read, barely two stars
________________________________
I read this a while back, but for some reason never marked it as read. I re-read it today on my "Sunday End of Summer HP Marathon".
It was a very compassionate story, but the heroine was too OTT. I thought the author took her insecurities too far. This heroine suffered from PTSD and needed serious counseling.
That took away from the story for me.
________________________________
I read this a while back, but for some reason never marked it as read. I re-read it today on my "Sunday End of Summer HP Marathon".
It was a very compassionate story, but the heroine was too OTT. I thought the author took her insecurities too far. This heroine suffered from PTSD and needed serious counseling.
That took away from the story for me.
February 3, 2019
3.5 star story with a 5 star epilogue.
January 3, 2012
Verra predictable & so...so, for lack of bettah explanations. It lacked the intensity & slightly melodwamatic tone that her marriage-in-peril stories have. Made me almost miss her overwrought, juvenile, obnoxious, earplug-wearing heroines. Almost. And the HEA is like those public svc tv plugs that urge peeps to donate 5 cents per day, to be an adoptive parent to some Gawd-4saken kids in far-flung countries. H/h end up w/ more adopted kids than any I've come across in HPlandia. Well I give it a generous rating cuz @ least the ending doesn't have the tarantula-eyebrows-meet-receding-hairlines cure for her damaged self.
May 19, 2025
“The Price of a Wife” is the story of Josie and Luke.
Get ready to weep.
In this heartbreaking tale, the heroine has gone through tragedy as a young child- her parents passed away, the first man she dated led to a car accident where someone lost their life. While the man escaped without repercussions, the heroine suffered.. apart from broken bones, was forced to have a life saving hysterectomy.
She struggles with the unbearable loss and mourns for years.
Gradually she becomes this amazing businesswoman, who lives a pleasant life with her cat Mog. This is when the hero enters her life.
From the first moment, he pursues her. However, he is very open about his Italian bloodline and wish to continue it.
Many times throughout the book we see the heroine lying to maintain a cold facade. She intentionally makes the hero think she prefers her career over marriage and children, so he doesn’t fall for her. But he refuses to give up- from stolen kisses, to love confessions, saving her cat etc etc- we see the hero go above and beyond to win her heart but be disappointed and rejected.
This is a very angsty read. The heroines pain about her loss is palpable, and you see her react every time he mentions kids or taunts her. She tries her best to push him away, but in the end the truth does come out and love wins. It has the most beautiful epilogue with the couple adopting many, many kids in need.
Beautiful book
Safe 4.5/5
Get ready to weep.
In this heartbreaking tale, the heroine has gone through tragedy as a young child- her parents passed away, the first man she dated led to a car accident where someone lost their life. While the man escaped without repercussions, the heroine suffered.. apart from broken bones, was forced to have a life saving hysterectomy.
She struggles with the unbearable loss and mourns for years.
Gradually she becomes this amazing businesswoman, who lives a pleasant life with her cat Mog. This is when the hero enters her life.
From the first moment, he pursues her. However, he is very open about his Italian bloodline and wish to continue it.
Many times throughout the book we see the heroine lying to maintain a cold facade. She intentionally makes the hero think she prefers her career over marriage and children, so he doesn’t fall for her. But he refuses to give up- from stolen kisses, to love confessions, saving her cat etc etc- we see the hero go above and beyond to win her heart but be disappointed and rejected.
This is a very angsty read. The heroines pain about her loss is palpable, and you see her react every time he mentions kids or taunts her. She tries her best to push him away, but in the end the truth does come out and love wins. It has the most beautiful epilogue with the couple adopting many, many kids in need.
Beautiful book
Safe 4.5/5
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 29, 2023
'And each child will be loved and cherished for what it is—a special gift for us. The biological part means nothing, Josie, not really. You only have to look at all the misery in natural families to see that. What counts is the bit between being born and dying. The giving, the sharing, the joys and sorrows, and most of all the love.'
(…)
I can't hold it all together if you aren't there by my side. You have to believe that, really believe it.' 'No one else matters but you. It is us at the beginning and it will be us at the end, and if in the time between our family brings us pleasure then that's wonderful, but that is all it is. It isn't life-sustaining. You are. Do you believe me?'
(Sigh) YES!
(…)
I can't hold it all together if you aren't there by my side. You have to believe that, really believe it.' 'No one else matters but you. It is us at the beginning and it will be us at the end, and if in the time between our family brings us pleasure then that's wonderful, but that is all it is. It isn't life-sustaining. You are. Do you believe me?'
(Sigh) YES!
December 13, 2021
I really loved this.
Both characters were wonderful but the hero was outstanding. He was an alpha without being an arse. It was obvious how smitten he was from the start and he never gave up no matter how many times she pushed him away. His persistence wasn't stalkerish, just a man desperately in love *happy sigh.*
His declaration of love was one of the best in HP.
Oh and the epilogue was adorable. So heartwarming.
Both characters were wonderful but the hero was outstanding. He was an alpha without being an arse. It was obvious how smitten he was from the start and he never gave up no matter how many times she pushed him away. His persistence wasn't stalkerish, just a man desperately in love *happy sigh.*
His declaration of love was one of the best in HP.
Oh and the epilogue was adorable. So heartwarming.
January 28, 2022
It lacks passion. It lacks angst. It lacks desire.
I think this H will appeal to a lot of female readers, because he is polite and nice. He is worried about her safety when she is walking outside on her own. He doesn’t try to seduce her. He’s careful with her. He doesn’t try to overpower her. He’s the perfect gentleman.
The H doesn’t appeal to me because I like them to be alpha male and he isn’t. He’s just a normal nice guy. Their conversation feels as if they are walking on egg shells.
I think they kissed twice in the story until the HEA and that’s it.
Oh, and what I hated, is that when her cat went missing and she was worried the cat could have been hurt in an accident, she wanted to sleep with the H for the first time that same night. Wtf? He turns her down, so nothing happened between them, but who wants to have sex the day you discover your baby is missing. I don’t understand that.
I think this H will appeal to a lot of female readers, because he is polite and nice. He is worried about her safety when she is walking outside on her own. He doesn’t try to seduce her. He’s careful with her. He doesn’t try to overpower her. He’s the perfect gentleman.
The H doesn’t appeal to me because I like them to be alpha male and he isn’t. He’s just a normal nice guy. Their conversation feels as if they are walking on egg shells.
I think they kissed twice in the story until the HEA and that’s it.
Oh, and what I hated, is that when her cat went missing and she was worried the cat could have been hurt in an accident, she wanted to sleep with the H for the first time that same night. Wtf? He turns her down, so nothing happened between them, but who wants to have sex the day you discover your baby is missing. I don’t understand that.
January 7, 2019
Other reviewers have done a good summary so I won’t get into the details anymore.
This was a wonderful angst-filled read, although the emotion all comes from the heroine’s desire to remain single since she is barren. She doesn’t tell the Hero so he is pursuing her in vain. It’s clear that the Hero is very much in love with her, and it’s quite frustrating for him. She stands firm for the whole book so it’s painful for both of them and in fact in the end, the Hero finds out her secret on his own and convinces her that he cannot live without her.
This was a wonderful angst-filled read, although the emotion all comes from the heroine’s desire to remain single since she is barren. She doesn’t tell the Hero so he is pursuing her in vain. It’s clear that the Hero is very much in love with her, and it’s quite frustrating for him. She stands firm for the whole book so it’s painful for both of them and in fact in the end, the Hero finds out her secret on his own and convinces her that he cannot live without her.
August 11, 2019
Fantastic book. Adored this hero so much! And the epilogue was so beautiful. Great way to spend a lazy rainy Sunday afternoon....
October 17, 2018
La protagonista tuvo un accidente en la adolescencia y no puede tener hijos, partiendo de ese tema, ella es insoportable. Ya sé que es un tema delicado para muchas, pero para otras como yo, no tener hijos no es la muerte en vida. Quizá sea la mentalidad retrógrada de Helen Brooks (que debe tener sus buenos años encima...) o el hecho de que esta novelita es de los noventa, pero frases como "No puedo tener hijos y soy una mujer incompleta, que no puede ser perfecta, soy mercancía dañada", ¡chocan demasiado!
Toda, absolutamente toda, la novela es un tira y afloja del héroe que es un santo atrás de la protagonista tarada que no cuenta nada y usa el secretismo para que te den ganas de ir a pegarle un par de cachetazos para que entre en razón.
Las dos estrellas son por el HEA, que me hizo saltar dos ovulation-lagrimitas y me tomó por sorpresa. Quizá ese párrafo escueto sea el que salva todo el libro.
Toda, absolutamente toda, la novela es un tira y afloja del héroe que es un santo atrás de la protagonista tarada que no cuenta nada y usa el secretismo para que te den ganas de ir a pegarle un par de cachetazos para que entre en razón.
Las dos estrellas son por el HEA, que me hizo saltar dos ovulation-lagrimitas y me tomó por sorpresa. Quizá ese párrafo escueto sea el que salva todo el libro.
October 23, 2021
He wanted a family...at any price!
Luke Hawkton was a wildly successful businessman who had it all. His one remaining ambition was to find a wife and start a family....
Josie's dreams of marriage and babies had been shattered by tragedy. She had to live with the knowledge that she'd never experience the joy of holding her own child. Her career was now her life, and she couldn't allow herself to get close to Luke. If he married her, he'd forget his dreams of fatherhood. Surely that was too heavy a price for any man to pay?
From Here to Paternity - men who find their way to fatherhood by fair means, by foul, or even by default!
Luke Hawkton was a wildly successful businessman who had it all. His one remaining ambition was to find a wife and start a family....
Josie's dreams of marriage and babies had been shattered by tragedy. She had to live with the knowledge that she'd never experience the joy of holding her own child. Her career was now her life, and she couldn't allow herself to get close to Luke. If he married her, he'd forget his dreams of fatherhood. Surely that was too heavy a price for any man to pay?
From Here to Paternity - men who find their way to fatherhood by fair means, by foul, or even by default!
May 30, 2017
Beautiful story. Josie's situation and reason for refusing to be involved with Luke were realistic. And I'm glad that instead of glossing over it, Luke made an effort to understand and resolve it. Another Helen Brooks winner!
September 4, 2019
2.75 stars.
What I liked: a clean story that didn't include any OP drama. I liked that the H was all about the h even though she rebuffed him time and again. The cat, Mog. He seemed like a cool cat. (Pun intended.) The epilogue was also a sweet glimpse into their HEA.
What I didn't like: The way that the H showed his attraction to the h would be called sexual harassment nowadays. I get how some readers might have found his gruff, overbearing, and overwhelming masculinity sexy, but I found it gross. Then there was the great imbalance between the MCs in experience. The H admittedly had many liaisons and had "known" many women, though haven't been interested in any one else for a while now. Granted, he's 35, so you can read between the lines. The h is a virgin, of course. Bleh. I guess the fact that he didn't love the OW in his past but loved the h made it all better? Nah.
Finally, I know this was written in the 90s, but surely women thought about adopting children by then, didn't they? The h's hang up on her barrenness was overwhelming and OTT.
Trigger warning
What I liked: a clean story that didn't include any OP drama. I liked that the H was all about the h even though she rebuffed him time and again. The cat, Mog. He seemed like a cool cat. (Pun intended.) The epilogue was also a sweet glimpse into their HEA.
What I didn't like: The way that the H showed his attraction to the h would be called sexual harassment nowadays. I get how some readers might have found his gruff, overbearing, and overwhelming masculinity sexy, but I found it gross. Then there was the great imbalance between the MCs in experience. The H admittedly had many liaisons and had "known" many women, though haven't been interested in any one else for a while now. Granted, he's 35, so you can read between the lines. The h is a virgin, of course. Bleh. I guess the fact that he didn't love the OW in his past but loved the h made it all better? Nah.
Finally, I know this was written in the 90s, but surely women thought about adopting children by then, didn't they? The h's hang up on her barrenness was overwhelming and OTT.
Trigger warning
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 31, 2020
Beautiful, passionate and sad, very readable and captivating.
A nice h and very very likable H complete with a Harley-land hallmark — a black silk shirt. To quote the H — daunting.
Plus finally I come across a HQ author who’s not afraid for her 28 yo h to both be a virgin and have a cat.
A nice h and very very likable H complete with a Harley-land hallmark — a black silk shirt. To quote the H — daunting.
Plus finally I come across a HQ author who’s not afraid for her 28 yo h to both be a virgin and have a cat.
October 20, 2022
Beginning is blah but it gets better and better and the H is what we want our Hs to be, loving and determined and loving.
April 18, 2018
Josie had a tragic accident at 15 and had to live 13 years in agony knowing she won't ever bore a child. Because of this fact, she struggles to keep men at arm's length and to give her job 100% of her attention. Luke Hawkton, a highly powerful businessman, wanted an extraordinary launch to his Father's yacht so he addressed her company and chose her to arrange it.
While reading this novel, I really felt the heroine's pain. Every flicker of emotion and reaction was excused. Her struggle inwardly to handle her supposedly "flawed body" disaster without as much of a father and mother around was harsh in itself. However it was even harder when we read how she tries to protect Luke from any harm even if she becomes cruel while being so attracted to him.
Luke, himself, while ignorant of her dilemma, stayed by her side till the end which shows a beautiful plausible love affection.
I love this story a lot and would really like to recommend it.
While reading this novel, I really felt the heroine's pain. Every flicker of emotion and reaction was excused. Her struggle inwardly to handle her supposedly "flawed body" disaster without as much of a father and mother around was harsh in itself. However it was even harder when we read how she tries to protect Luke from any harm even if she becomes cruel while being so attracted to him.
Luke, himself, while ignorant of her dilemma, stayed by her side till the end which shows a beautiful plausible love affection.
I love this story a lot and would really like to recommend it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 19, 2016
Damn if there isn't something in my eye. Must be dust. Or allergies.
Here's the thing. For a good portion of the book, I found Josie and her event-planning workaholism annoying and Luke overbearing in a Harlequin traditional alpha way.
But once I got to chapter 9 things changed and and then chapter 10 happened. And the epilogue. And the dust. Or allergies.
Best part is it was $1.99 in the massive Harlequin sale.
Least best part - digital typos of which there are more than a few.
Here's the thing. For a good portion of the book, I found Josie and her event-planning workaholism annoying and Luke overbearing in a Harlequin traditional alpha way.
But once I got to chapter 9 things changed and and then chapter 10 happened. And the epilogue. And the dust. Or allergies.
Best part is it was $1.99 in the massive Harlequin sale.
Least best part - digital typos of which there are more than a few.
December 2, 2019
Simple story actually. The girl is a victim of a motor accident in her teenage, cant bear children because of that. Her whole life and identity is scarred by this , she starts to think of herself as inadequate for any man to love.
This much is very real. Happens to a lot of women around us. Scars them mentally for life.
Now bring in the the romantic fiction element. Enter a gorgeous guy - with all the defined qualifications. Half latino, insanely rich, hot and happening. You know the drill.
The rest of the story is just this guy's single minded pursuit of the girl. He tries everything possible, dates, flirts, kisses, aborted making out sessions, emotional blackmail, everything. But she doesn't budge much.
Finally, he digs up her past. And professes undying love, just for her as a person. And her resistance crumbles at last. This guy is one of the most hard working heroes I have ever met. The effort he puts in to get to the girl. Wow !!
In return , I would have loved a heart-felt and intense confession from the heroine for a change. When the roles are reversed, we expect lovely break down scenes from the men. Why not the other way round?
There is an epilogue that talks of lots of children - abandoned, destitute kids - being adopted. It was a bit too much. The author could have toned down the sentiment a bit, and had a more nuanced realistic future scene carved out.
Good one. A bit too sentimental at times. But good nevertheless. Then why not 5 stars you may ask? Simple reason. The poor guy never manages to have a decent sex scene throughout the book, in spite of all the herculean efforts he puts in! Not fair to him I say !!!!!!
This much is very real. Happens to a lot of women around us. Scars them mentally for life.
Now bring in the the romantic fiction element. Enter a gorgeous guy - with all the defined qualifications. Half latino, insanely rich, hot and happening. You know the drill.
The rest of the story is just this guy's single minded pursuit of the girl. He tries everything possible, dates, flirts, kisses, aborted making out sessions, emotional blackmail, everything. But she doesn't budge much.
Finally, he digs up her past. And professes undying love, just for her as a person. And her resistance crumbles at last. This guy is one of the most hard working heroes I have ever met. The effort he puts in to get to the girl. Wow !!
In return , I would have loved a heart-felt and intense confession from the heroine for a change. When the roles are reversed, we expect lovely break down scenes from the men. Why not the other way round?
There is an epilogue that talks of lots of children - abandoned, destitute kids - being adopted. It was a bit too much. The author could have toned down the sentiment a bit, and had a more nuanced realistic future scene carved out.
Good one. A bit too sentimental at times. But good nevertheless. Then why not 5 stars you may ask? Simple reason. The poor guy never manages to have a decent sex scene throughout the book, in spite of all the herculean efforts he puts in! Not fair to him I say !!!!!!
April 22, 2026
I loved Helen Brooks books and this one is really wonderful as Josie is so uncertain about how Luke will be when he will discover the truth. The story is captivating as it is only at the end that the truth prevails
July 5, 2019
It was not bad but a bit repetitive. heroine (in her internal dialogues with herself) repeated her reason of staying away from Hero at least 10 times.
November 24, 2021
I liked it, however, I didn't like the way the author stretched out the ending of the book.
April 4, 2022
the inspiration for black widows character arc in the MCU but written by a woman so obviously most of this book happens in her head
March 1, 2023
Enjoyed reading.
January 3, 2025
This is an older vintage romance I enjoyed it very much.
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