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Bedded or Wedded?
He'll bed her, expose her then destroy her...Lissa works hard to help her sister...even if that means having to put on false eyelashes and flatter wealthy men... Xavier Lauran has pursued Lissa from the moment he walked into the Soho casino. The last thing she needs is the dark, lethal sexuality of the Frenchman. But she can't resist... Xavier has woven a web of deceit to catch her! And now he's trapped her--;he'll ruin her!
192 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2007
22 people are currently reading
225 people want to read
About the author
Julia James
724 books163 followersJulia 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!
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!
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
May 26, 2017
C0uld have been a four star but the hero needed to do much more in terms of either suffering or groveling.
All in all a nice romance with a heroine with a spine of steel until the bitter end. Despite inexcusable accusations by the H, she lets him get away with a minimal apology.
He needed either a separation from the heroine or a more extended grovel.
Re-Read
Great recap reviews out there. Reading in One-Click Buy: December Harlequin Presents I had completely forgotten the climactic scene when the hero throws verbal filth at the heroine. You are a gold-digging ho in a smarmy French accent. His rant is horrible; it's epic, and she just sits there horrified.
I can handle that. What I can't handle is her letting him off the hook so easily. When he finds out what a Mary Sue Martyr she is instead of a gold digging slut all he can blab out is, Why didn't you tell me? like it's her fault. Come on! He should have been shunned and had to crawl across broken glass (per boogenhagen's helpful suggestion). At least drink for a couple of weeks and have a hero's decline into pale and wan.
P.S.
It's apparent that Julia James has taken a page from Penny Jordan and Sara Craven and levels maximum angst at her Harlequin tiny h's.
The Greek's Ultimate Revenge
Baby of Shame
His Penniless Beauty
All in all a nice romance with a heroine with a spine of steel until the bitter end. Despite inexcusable accusations by the H, she lets him get away with a minimal apology.
He needed either a separation from the heroine or a more extended grovel.
Re-Read
Great recap reviews out there. Reading in One-Click Buy: December Harlequin Presents I had completely forgotten the climactic scene when the hero throws verbal filth at the heroine. You are a gold-digging ho in a smarmy French accent. His rant is horrible; it's epic, and she just sits there horrified.
I can handle that. What I can't handle is her letting him off the hook so easily. When he finds out what a Mary Sue Martyr she is instead of a gold digging slut all he can blab out is, Why didn't you tell me? like it's her fault. Come on! He should have been shunned and had to crawl across broken glass (per boogenhagen's helpful suggestion). At least drink for a couple of weeks and have a hero's decline into pale and wan.
P.S.
It's apparent that Julia James has taken a page from Penny Jordan and Sara Craven and levels maximum angst at her Harlequin tiny h's.
The Greek's Ultimate Revenge
Baby of Shame
His Penniless Beauty
February 1, 2021
Billionaire hero seduces cocktail waitress heroine in order to save his brother from her goldigging ways. As per usual, the investigating firm got it wrong. (Brother was pursuing the heroine's crippled sister whom he met in the hospital while visiting a friend).
JJ does a good job in keeping the sister out of the heroine's narrative until the last two thirds of the book so the casual reader will wonder if she's really stringing two guys along at once (as the hero wonders). I say casual reader not in a pejorative way - I mean someone who hasn't read hundreds of these and knows the "code" about cheating heroines. (They are more rare than extended grovels).
So that might make the heroine's sudden ability to see the hero's side in the misunderstanding more palatable than it was to this hard-core reader. Hero needed to feel more pain for his misunderstanding, but JJ was running out of pages. I liked the heroine in this one. She turned down the hero until she knew her sister's future was taken care of - then she approached him for her shot of romantic happiness. That was a nice twist.
JJ does a good job in keeping the sister out of the heroine's narrative until the last two thirds of the book so the casual reader will wonder if she's really stringing two guys along at once (as the hero wonders). I say casual reader not in a pejorative way - I mean someone who hasn't read hundreds of these and knows the "code" about cheating heroines. (They are more rare than extended grovels).
So that might make the heroine's sudden ability to see the hero's side in the misunderstanding more palatable than it was to this hard-core reader. Hero needed to feel more pain for his misunderstanding, but JJ was running out of pages. I liked the heroine in this one. She turned down the hero until she knew her sister's future was taken care of - then she approached him for her shot of romantic happiness. That was a nice twist.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 26, 2014
Xavier gets an email from his half-brother that’s all: hey, bro, found the woman of my dreams, you’ll probably think she’s unsuitable, but this time, don’t interfere, thanks, see ya when I’m back from America!
Xavier naturally treats this as the most alarming thing ever, because last time his brother was in love, the woman was a filthy gold-digger who’d spun some hard luck story. Xavier’s investigators turned up the Truth about her, and little brother was heart-broken but lucky to escape.
I’m not sure whether Xavier has hired the same investigators to dig up dirt on his brother’s lady this time, and if he has, whether they decided to give his case to the work experience kid, because they do a crap job. Basically, the investigator’s report is: one afternoon I followed your brother to this address, saw him hug this woman, her name’s Lissa and she works as a hostess at this casino. Here’s a picture! Where’s my outrageously high fee? I mean, usually when a rich guy has his ‘security team’ ‘compile a dossier’ on a lady, it’s hugely and irritatingly complete. Rich guy gets her family details, her criminal record (even the stuff that was suppressed because she was a minor, gasp), her entire education and employment history, how much money she has and how much debt she’s in, a list of every person she’s had sex with and how they rated her performance … I mean, everything. Sometimes within about 15 minutes, because it was all on fictional Facebook, which knows everything about everyone.
Xavier, however, decides that Lissa is clearly the hussy who is out to destroy his brother, and is clearly unsuitable because she’s a hostess in a casino, so he decides to go annoy her in her workplace. Lissa is wearing much makeup and a slutty dress and has hard eyes, so Xavier thinks she’s an unattractive tramp, until he sees her in her jeans with her face clean and her eyes full only of the tired sorrow of waiting for the bus. Then he realises she’s gorgeous and he wants her.
Here’s something else that will just do my head in when reading romances: the implied immorality of personal enhancement. Heroes and heroines frequently damn women for wearing anything more than minimal makeup, colouring their hair, using anything to halt the appearance of aging, or having boob jobs. Any and all of those things are generally signs that the woman is shallow, venal, stupid and a villain. I just want to throw something when I have to read about how any character in the book approves of the heroine because she is naturally blonde and has naturally large boobs (or ‘assets’) as though this is some sign that she is morally superior. Why was it ok for Xavier to not find Lissa hot when she was made up and wearing a cheap slutty dress? Why couldn’t he have seen through that, the way countless other heroes are expected to see the beauty of other heroines beneath the daggy clothes, bad hairstyles and glasses?
And that’s not my only soapbox moment about this book.
Xavier follows Lissa around for a little while, saying, sex now, oui? In his sexy French accent. His new plan is to get her into bed, because that’s win win for his male bits and proving to his brother that she’s a no good hussy. Lissa keeps confounding this plan by claiming she has ‘commitments.’ Conveniently, that sounds to Xavier as though she means her relationship with his brother. Lissa view points to the reader a bit about the brother as well, because far be it for the reader not to think they are maybe involved, maybe.
Then, Something Happens, and Lissa can quit her sleazy job and ring Xavier and tell him, oui sex, oui! He’s on the next plane to London, and then he’s whisking her off to his island for two weeks of the rumpy and the pumpy. There are feelings embedding themselves firmly in the breasts of our hero and heroine, but they are not prompting any desires to have any frank and open chats about what’s going on in their lives and any back story stuff that may be even slightly pertinent.
In Xavier’s case, this is understandable. There’s no easy way to slip into casual conversation that you came on to a woman because you thought she was a gold digging hussy after your brother’s millions. There’s also no easy way to let your brother know that you’re now shagging his ex-girl, so Xavier is very careful to make no contact with family, either.
In Lissa’s case … it’s less so. Her big secret is secret because the plot demands it to be so. She’s not concealing anything from the hero because he’s into some weird stuff and she has to go along with it for reasons. She thinks he’s a sexy French executive who may have been a bit intense to begin with, but has given her some pretty spectacular bedtimes to more than make up for it. I’m trying not to be spoilery, but what’s just happened in her life is big, should be making her happy and nervous, and why not talk about it with the guy you’re starting to think you’re in love with?
The plot then demands that Xavier overhear Lissa talking to his brother, and then have a crazy head explosion where he says many Awful Things and she Keeps Silent. Look, it’s all going to work out ok and the hero is going to have to grovel at the base of the heroine’s tower of moral superiority, and I’m usually super thrilled when it works out this way, but that pointless plot, and … soapbox again.
The effect of the plot is to make what’s actually going on present itself as a secret, and one kept because the brother’s beloved is ‘unsuitable.’ She’s not. It’s perhaps not intended for me to read that she herself is unsuitable, more that her economic circumstances are a grey area, and accepting financial assistance from a generous benefactor is … perhaps a little grey? But keeping what is really going on a secret, and there are enough hints that mean you can work out what it is pretty quickly, does make it feel that there is perhaps some stigma attached to the beloved herself in her situation, one that can only be spoken of now that it has been rectified.
I do still have a soft spot for this story. I’m tickled by the idea that the heroine had no idea that the hero was such a bastard, and was perfectly happy to go off to him and have nice bedtimes on his little French island, because mostly heroines on nice little islands having nice bedtimes are completely devastated by the hero’s bad feelings and how she can’t reveal the truth about stuff, but must love him and let him go when her heart is well and truly broken beyond repair. And honestly, nothing wrong with a good opportunity to soapbox, either.
Xavier naturally treats this as the most alarming thing ever, because last time his brother was in love, the woman was a filthy gold-digger who’d spun some hard luck story. Xavier’s investigators turned up the Truth about her, and little brother was heart-broken but lucky to escape.
I’m not sure whether Xavier has hired the same investigators to dig up dirt on his brother’s lady this time, and if he has, whether they decided to give his case to the work experience kid, because they do a crap job. Basically, the investigator’s report is: one afternoon I followed your brother to this address, saw him hug this woman, her name’s Lissa and she works as a hostess at this casino. Here’s a picture! Where’s my outrageously high fee? I mean, usually when a rich guy has his ‘security team’ ‘compile a dossier’ on a lady, it’s hugely and irritatingly complete. Rich guy gets her family details, her criminal record (even the stuff that was suppressed because she was a minor, gasp), her entire education and employment history, how much money she has and how much debt she’s in, a list of every person she’s had sex with and how they rated her performance … I mean, everything. Sometimes within about 15 minutes, because it was all on fictional Facebook, which knows everything about everyone.
Xavier, however, decides that Lissa is clearly the hussy who is out to destroy his brother, and is clearly unsuitable because she’s a hostess in a casino, so he decides to go annoy her in her workplace. Lissa is wearing much makeup and a slutty dress and has hard eyes, so Xavier thinks she’s an unattractive tramp, until he sees her in her jeans with her face clean and her eyes full only of the tired sorrow of waiting for the bus. Then he realises she’s gorgeous and he wants her.
Here’s something else that will just do my head in when reading romances: the implied immorality of personal enhancement. Heroes and heroines frequently damn women for wearing anything more than minimal makeup, colouring their hair, using anything to halt the appearance of aging, or having boob jobs. Any and all of those things are generally signs that the woman is shallow, venal, stupid and a villain. I just want to throw something when I have to read about how any character in the book approves of the heroine because she is naturally blonde and has naturally large boobs (or ‘assets’) as though this is some sign that she is morally superior. Why was it ok for Xavier to not find Lissa hot when she was made up and wearing a cheap slutty dress? Why couldn’t he have seen through that, the way countless other heroes are expected to see the beauty of other heroines beneath the daggy clothes, bad hairstyles and glasses?
And that’s not my only soapbox moment about this book.
Xavier follows Lissa around for a little while, saying, sex now, oui? In his sexy French accent. His new plan is to get her into bed, because that’s win win for his male bits and proving to his brother that she’s a no good hussy. Lissa keeps confounding this plan by claiming she has ‘commitments.’ Conveniently, that sounds to Xavier as though she means her relationship with his brother. Lissa view points to the reader a bit about the brother as well, because far be it for the reader not to think they are maybe involved, maybe.
Then, Something Happens, and Lissa can quit her sleazy job and ring Xavier and tell him, oui sex, oui! He’s on the next plane to London, and then he’s whisking her off to his island for two weeks of the rumpy and the pumpy. There are feelings embedding themselves firmly in the breasts of our hero and heroine, but they are not prompting any desires to have any frank and open chats about what’s going on in their lives and any back story stuff that may be even slightly pertinent.
In Xavier’s case, this is understandable. There’s no easy way to slip into casual conversation that you came on to a woman because you thought she was a gold digging hussy after your brother’s millions. There’s also no easy way to let your brother know that you’re now shagging his ex-girl, so Xavier is very careful to make no contact with family, either.
In Lissa’s case … it’s less so. Her big secret is secret because the plot demands it to be so. She’s not concealing anything from the hero because he’s into some weird stuff and she has to go along with it for reasons. She thinks he’s a sexy French executive who may have been a bit intense to begin with, but has given her some pretty spectacular bedtimes to more than make up for it. I’m trying not to be spoilery, but what’s just happened in her life is big, should be making her happy and nervous, and why not talk about it with the guy you’re starting to think you’re in love with?
The plot then demands that Xavier overhear Lissa talking to his brother, and then have a crazy head explosion where he says many Awful Things and she Keeps Silent. Look, it’s all going to work out ok and the hero is going to have to grovel at the base of the heroine’s tower of moral superiority, and I’m usually super thrilled when it works out this way, but that pointless plot, and … soapbox again.
The effect of the plot is to make what’s actually going on present itself as a secret, and one kept because the brother’s beloved is ‘unsuitable.’ She’s not. It’s perhaps not intended for me to read that she herself is unsuitable, more that her economic circumstances are a grey area, and accepting financial assistance from a generous benefactor is … perhaps a little grey? But keeping what is really going on a secret, and there are enough hints that mean you can work out what it is pretty quickly, does make it feel that there is perhaps some stigma attached to the beloved herself in her situation, one that can only be spoken of now that it has been rectified.
I do still have a soft spot for this story. I’m tickled by the idea that the heroine had no idea that the hero was such a bastard, and was perfectly happy to go off to him and have nice bedtimes on his little French island, because mostly heroines on nice little islands having nice bedtimes are completely devastated by the hero’s bad feelings and how she can’t reveal the truth about stuff, but must love him and let him go when her heart is well and truly broken beyond repair. And honestly, nothing wrong with a good opportunity to soapbox, either.
July 13, 2011
When the hero Xavier learns that his half brother is supposedly in love and plans to marry he is immediately suspicious of the woman in question. He arranges to have his brother investigated and discovered this woman to be Lissa, the heroine. He sees her as a gold digger and completely unsuitable to be part of the family. He plans to expose her for what he believes she is in order to save his brother from humiliation. Lissa is actually nothing like what Xavier thinks, instead she is working herself to exhaustion to try and pay for treatment for her sister. When Xavier and Lissa meet, orchestrated by Xavier, they are immediately attracted to one another and Xavier is shocked by Lissa's gentle nature. He pursues her for an affair and she initially turns him down but eventually succumbs to her desire. They spend two seemingly blissful weeks together but they are both keeping secrets.
One thing I have found with Julia James's books is that they are always very emotional right from the beginning. This is certainly the case in this book as well. I really liked how the author hinted at Lissa's story and revealed it in tiny bits, it kept me reading and wondering what was going to be revealed, and this was executed perfectly. Both characters are really well developed; Lissa is very honest but not at all a martyr and Xavier was wonderfully arrogant and powerful. The conflict between them was so intense I almost had tears in my eyes. And that made the HEA much more special.
This is a beautifully written romance with some really deep emotional moments. A perfect Modern/Presents!
Originally posted at http://everyday-is-the-same.blogspot....
One thing I have found with Julia James's books is that they are always very emotional right from the beginning. This is certainly the case in this book as well. I really liked how the author hinted at Lissa's story and revealed it in tiny bits, it kept me reading and wondering what was going to be revealed, and this was executed perfectly. Both characters are really well developed; Lissa is very honest but not at all a martyr and Xavier was wonderfully arrogant and powerful. The conflict between them was so intense I almost had tears in my eyes. And that made the HEA much more special.
This is a beautifully written romance with some really deep emotional moments. A perfect Modern/Presents!
Originally posted at http://everyday-is-the-same.blogspot....
June 5, 2015
Estuvo bien,sólo bien. El problema para mi fue,que el protagonista le habla demasiado feo a la protagonista y como es lo obvio por costumbre y por lo cortas que son estas novelas,la reconciliación fue casi instantanea. Además la protagonista no pudo decirle de una vez que ella trabajaba en ese casino para ayudar a su hermana y él tan todopoderoso que todo lo sabe o lo manda a investigar no pudo conseguir quien le informara mejor lo que en realidad ocurria y que su hermano se iba a casar con la hermana de Lissa y no con ella.
August 8, 2020
3,5 stars - a serious case of the-hero-didn’t-grovel-enough. Had he groveled, it would’ve been 4.
March 25, 2014
I actually read the manga first and liked it so I thought I'd check the book and it was really good. Xavier was thick headed , acted like a jerk sometimes and needed to get his head out of his arse but then again so is the majority of Harlequin heroes .. I either despise them or like them .. Xavier managed to win me over , Lissa is just incredible .. the sacrifices she made for her sister .. she's a great person and exactly the opposite of everything that Xavier thought she was .. as usual the misunderstanding scene ends with tears and screams .. then the fun realization scene and then my favorite *grins* "the grovelling" Xavier needed to grovel just a little bit more but other than that I enjoyed reading this.
April 8, 2023
No - this hero is just awful and repents far too late. There is nothing to redeem him. Hated it.
I dislike authors who deliberately mislead their readers and this was very much the case here. Trying to blur the reality of Lisa’s relationship with Armand.
The level of cruelty and abuse by both h/H was so bad that no one could have come back from it.
I dislike authors who deliberately mislead their readers and this was very much the case here. Trying to blur the reality of Lisa’s relationship with Armand.
The level of cruelty and abuse by both h/H was so bad that no one could have come back from it.
August 6, 2012
Que coraje! definitivamente Lis debio hacerlo sufrir mas! todo lo que Xavier le hizo! y solo lo perdono asi como asi, de buenas a primeras....en fin todo lo demas me encanto! :)
September 13, 2014
Me gusto mucho mas de lo que esperaba, lo mejor? los ultimos capitulos donde se descubre todo.
3.5 Estrellas!!
3.5 Estrellas!!
March 1, 2013
El libro es regular, pero la peor parte es casi al final cuando el protagonista masculino le saca un pasaje a la chica después de decirle que iban a estar juntos, porque piensa que ella se va a casar al final con su hermano, la trata de puta, de interesa en su dinero, la obliga a que se mantenga lejos de su hermano pero la reacción de ella es quedarse helada escuchándolo sin decir nada, sin defenderse aunque permite que la bese!!
Al final el hermano del prota se casa con la hermana de ella (quien estaba semi-lisiada) y ella lo perdona muy fácilmente.
Citas:
—¿Que por qué perseguí tener un romance contigo? Para proteger a mí hermano… ¿por qué si no? Cuando él me contó la locura que pretendía hacer y la investigación a la que te sometí reveló que trabajabas como chica de alterne en un lugar que estaba a un paso de ser un burdel, naturellement di algunos pasos para protegerle. Te busqué en el casino con esa intención y decidí que la mejor manera de apartarte de él era seduciéndote yo mismo. Tú me respondías y eso era todo lo que yo necesitaba para llevar a cabo mi plan.
La voz de Xavier cambió levemente al decir aquello, pero volvió a controlarla al instante.
—También me sirvió para confirmar que la primera impresión que me llevé de ti era cierta… no eres digna de casarte con mi hermano. Una mujer que se va a la cama tan rápidamente con otro hombre no puede tener sentimientos hacia Armand. Sólo… por su riqueza. Dime una cosa… ¿cuánto dinero le has sacado ya? Seguro que lo has hecho, pero me pregunto cuánto.
Lissa se quedó mirándolo mientras el horror le carcomía por dentro. Xavier comenzó a andar hacia ella, quien quería moverse, correr, huir… pero no podía. No era capaz de mover las piernas. Entonces él se puso a su lado, provocando que ella sintiera la calidez de su cuerpo y oliera el aroma de su piel.
También vio el oscuro brillo que reflejaban sus ojos.
El se acercó a tocarla. Le acarició la mejilla con gran delicadeza.
—Eras muy buena en la cama, cherie. Muy buena —dijo con aprobación. Con aprecio—. Quizá te habría llevado conmigo.
Entonces le sonrió y ella se sintió enferma.
—Ya sabes… —dijo él pensativamente— podrías haber sacado un buen partido de ello. Yo habría sido generoso contigo, cherie. Tu falta de interés en gastar mi dinero fue muy convincente, conmovedora. Podría haberme gastado una fortuna en ti, aunque tú preferías la seguridad del matrimonio, ¿no es así? Pero mi hermano no es tan rico como yo. ¿No te diste cuenta? ¿No? Armand tiene dinero, evidement pero no se puede comparar, cherie, al que tengo yo.
Al final el hermano del prota se casa con la hermana de ella (quien estaba semi-lisiada) y ella lo perdona muy fácilmente.
Citas:
—¿Que por qué perseguí tener un romance contigo? Para proteger a mí hermano… ¿por qué si no? Cuando él me contó la locura que pretendía hacer y la investigación a la que te sometí reveló que trabajabas como chica de alterne en un lugar que estaba a un paso de ser un burdel, naturellement di algunos pasos para protegerle. Te busqué en el casino con esa intención y decidí que la mejor manera de apartarte de él era seduciéndote yo mismo. Tú me respondías y eso era todo lo que yo necesitaba para llevar a cabo mi plan.
La voz de Xavier cambió levemente al decir aquello, pero volvió a controlarla al instante.
—También me sirvió para confirmar que la primera impresión que me llevé de ti era cierta… no eres digna de casarte con mi hermano. Una mujer que se va a la cama tan rápidamente con otro hombre no puede tener sentimientos hacia Armand. Sólo… por su riqueza. Dime una cosa… ¿cuánto dinero le has sacado ya? Seguro que lo has hecho, pero me pregunto cuánto.
Lissa se quedó mirándolo mientras el horror le carcomía por dentro. Xavier comenzó a andar hacia ella, quien quería moverse, correr, huir… pero no podía. No era capaz de mover las piernas. Entonces él se puso a su lado, provocando que ella sintiera la calidez de su cuerpo y oliera el aroma de su piel.
También vio el oscuro brillo que reflejaban sus ojos.
El se acercó a tocarla. Le acarició la mejilla con gran delicadeza.
—Eras muy buena en la cama, cherie. Muy buena —dijo con aprobación. Con aprecio—. Quizá te habría llevado conmigo.
Entonces le sonrió y ella se sintió enferma.
—Ya sabes… —dijo él pensativamente— podrías haber sacado un buen partido de ello. Yo habría sido generoso contigo, cherie. Tu falta de interés en gastar mi dinero fue muy convincente, conmovedora. Podría haberme gastado una fortuna en ti, aunque tú preferías la seguridad del matrimonio, ¿no es así? Pero mi hermano no es tan rico como yo. ¿No te diste cuenta? ¿No? Armand tiene dinero, evidement pero no se puede comparar, cherie, al que tengo yo.
January 5, 2016
As it is, I am completing all the books written by Julia James. I can't get enough of her stories. They are different from others.
About this one - Xavier is very protective of his brother. Last time, his brother fell in love, it was with a wrong woman who wanted just his money. He doesn't want his brother to be falling for a gold digger again. So when Armand, his brother emails him about his girlfriend and tells him he is going to Marry her, Xavier starts his investigation.
Lissa on the other hand, is working hard, really hard to pay the bills and to take care of her sister. Her sister, Lila can't walk.
Xavier and Lissa's story is not your usual one, there is suspicion from both the sides. Both fall in love but Lissa can't be with him for a reason.
Xavier realises that Lissa actually loves his brother but what about his love? He makes the right decision and tells her about his feelings. Lissa feels the same for him.
Then, there is a big misunderstanding, a huge one.
What I really like about this novel was the end!
Oh not because it finally ended but because Xavier finally comes to know the truth.
Four stars...:)
About this one - Xavier is very protective of his brother. Last time, his brother fell in love, it was with a wrong woman who wanted just his money. He doesn't want his brother to be falling for a gold digger again. So when Armand, his brother emails him about his girlfriend and tells him he is going to Marry her, Xavier starts his investigation.
Lissa on the other hand, is working hard, really hard to pay the bills and to take care of her sister. Her sister, Lila can't walk.
Xavier and Lissa's story is not your usual one, there is suspicion from both the sides. Both fall in love but Lissa can't be with him for a reason.
Xavier realises that Lissa actually loves his brother but what about his love? He makes the right decision and tells her about his feelings. Lissa feels the same for him.
Then, there is a big misunderstanding, a huge one.
What I really like about this novel was the end!
Oh not because it finally ended but because Xavier finally comes to know the truth.
Four stars...:)
June 26, 2012
Nothing memorable and won't hold on to this book to read again...but it filled the requirements "Nice, quick (2+hours), easy read, decent characters and a guaranteed happy ending"...something that seems to be sadly lacking in these books these days :-)
November 5, 2014
Thought he knew everything and jumped to conclusions before seeing the picture. I just loved the way it all backfired on him. Hahaha. She let him off too easy, but that's love for you.
July 12, 2015
I read this in manga format and tried reading the written version. It wasn't for me.
February 9, 2016
Cute. A good pick for a relaxing reading!
October 17, 2013
very nice read...loved xavier and lissa.
August 10, 2014
I really enjoyed this book
May 25, 2020
I'll give it 4 stars because I like this story.
True. I disliked a hormone filled romance but in this story, both Xavier and Lissa didn't depended on their hormones to make decisions. And how I love Lissa's strong headedness throughout this story. Yes, she had her moment of weakness, but she's still strong as heck.
While I agree that Xavier need to do more grovelling, I still like his character. Like, he's an alpha male for goodness sake. He's stay true with his character while maintaining a bit gentlemanness. I had read far much worse alpha male that don't deserve any forgiveness and deserved several punches in the face.
I love how Lissa accepted his behaviour and understood where he came from. Because in a way, both of them are similar. They both were an older siblings that wanted the best for their younger siblings and one of the become overly protective in that regards. In this case, I believe that Lissa was not a fool that easily forgives. She forgives after learning that both of them are in fact suffering from Xavier's actions (haha). And she kind of wanted everything to get over because, well, the man still wanted her right? So, why bother with all the angst if she could just grab her price right? Or am I too much a masochist?
P/S: I was totally intrigued on Armand and Lila's story. Like, I need some fluff~
There must be some angst amongst them because Lila was like that right? And Armand must have need really patient with both Lila and Lissa right? I mean...dang that was a good setting
True. I disliked a hormone filled romance but in this story, both Xavier and Lissa didn't depended on their hormones to make decisions. And how I love Lissa's strong headedness throughout this story. Yes, she had her moment of weakness, but she's still strong as heck.
While I agree that Xavier need to do more grovelling, I still like his character. Like, he's an alpha male for goodness sake. He's stay true with his character while maintaining a bit gentlemanness. I had read far much worse alpha male that don't deserve any forgiveness and deserved several punches in the face.
I love how Lissa accepted his behaviour and understood where he came from. Because in a way, both of them are similar. They both were an older siblings that wanted the best for their younger siblings and one of the become overly protective in that regards. In this case, I believe that Lissa was not a fool that easily forgives. She forgives after learning that both of them are in fact suffering from Xavier's actions (haha). And she kind of wanted everything to get over because, well, the man still wanted her right? So, why bother with all the angst if she could just grab her price right? Or am I too much a masochist?
P/S: I was totally intrigued on Armand and Lila's story. Like, I need some fluff~
There must be some angst amongst them because Lila was like that right? And Armand must have need really patient with both Lila and Lissa right? I mean...dang that was a good setting
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 23, 2022
It was an amazing book until it wasn't.
As it started I loved how it progressed. The characters were amazing, the plot was amazing and I was so excited to see how everything was going to unfold. Even though I felt that a lot of the things were repeated over and over in one breath, I still didn't mind it much. That was knew to me, I don't like repetition. At all. But the story was exciting so I didn't care.
However! It changed at the end. When the main 'mystery' of the story was revealed, and when apologies and love confessions. The same thing was repeated over and over and over again that I skimmed through the love declarations. Which was the main scene I'd been waiting for from the beginning. It's a romance novel after all! But it was ruined.
Oh well.
*Spoiler Alert!*
But the main thing that frustrated the hell out of me was the author kept on avoiding revealing who Lissa was taking care of. I mean I could tell from the first time they brought it up that 'Oh! It's got to be a sister and H's brother is marrying her not h!' But the author kept delaying it and delaying it until I lost interest in it. I mean I already knew it. It was obvious. So it got boring and frustrating how it was stalled as a 'mystery' of sorts when, in fact, it was obvious. Again, just frustrated the hell out of me.
The three stars I gave are because the first half (more than the first half actually) of the book was amazing. Loved it. I wish I could say that about the rest of it.
As it started I loved how it progressed. The characters were amazing, the plot was amazing and I was so excited to see how everything was going to unfold. Even though I felt that a lot of the things were repeated over and over in one breath, I still didn't mind it much. That was knew to me, I don't like repetition. At all. But the story was exciting so I didn't care.
However! It changed at the end. When the main 'mystery' of the story was revealed, and when apologies and love confessions. The same thing was repeated over and over and over again that I skimmed through the love declarations. Which was the main scene I'd been waiting for from the beginning. It's a romance novel after all! But it was ruined.
Oh well.
*Spoiler Alert!*
But the main thing that frustrated the hell out of me was the author kept on avoiding revealing who Lissa was taking care of. I mean I could tell from the first time they brought it up that 'Oh! It's got to be a sister and H's brother is marrying her not h!' But the author kept delaying it and delaying it until I lost interest in it. I mean I already knew it. It was obvious. So it got boring and frustrating how it was stalled as a 'mystery' of sorts when, in fact, it was obvious. Again, just frustrated the hell out of me.
The three stars I gave are because the first half (more than the first half actually) of the book was amazing. Loved it. I wish I could say that about the rest of it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 5, 2018
This was great, mostly because the heroine, while self-sacrificing, is not absurdly so - she’s made her choices and she’s comfortable with them - and at the various points when the hero is a complete asshole, she . The overarching plot is completely ridiculous () but so what?
Read
June 7, 2019This book is forgetting that the hero not only hurt the heroine but completely backstabbed his brother. And it’s totally ignored! Heroine forgives way way waaay too quickly “it was a mixup” no it wasn’t it was the hero a)not doing any research b) not asking her any questions about anything ever(oh he did ask if she would sleep with him on the first date) c) ignoring what a trash person he is for doing what he did, luckily it wasn’t what he thought! But still no mixup, just a trash person. Liked the brother and the sister’s story though! That’s worth reading.
August 30, 2024
For many books the cover page is always the advantage but I guess for this book the cover page could be of disadvantage, as this cover page doesn't allow the regular readers to pick this book as they might feel it's in the erotic series. What i found in this book was a very apt and interesting story which remains a twist till the last chaper, which makes us feel curious to know what exactly happens. The title of the book also could have been different as it doesn't suit the story . On the whole it was an entertaining book
January 16, 2021
Better than 2 stars but not quite 3. There is story here but it's not crisp or completely believable. I liked the heroine and the hero was OK too, but the the author telegraphed the set up and mix up almost from the beginning.
February 14, 2018
Got pretty boring after second half.
June 11, 2023
I immediately knew this book would have a plot twist. But I still enjoyed the read very much.
June 4, 2021
He'll bed her, expose her then destroy her...Lissa works hard to help her sister... even if that means having to put on false eyelashes and flatter wealthy men... Xavier Lauran has pursued Lissa from the moment he walked into the Soho casino. The last thing she needs is the dark, lethal sexuality of the Frenchman. But she can't resist....Xavier has woven a web of deceit to catch her! And now he's trapped her--he'll ruin her!
Want to read
October 30, 20193.5. An emotional read, you even felt the h weariness at the beginning of the book. However, I found the "secret" to be very obvious from the moment she got home from work. That being said I was hooked to the end of the story. H needed a head check during his win her back speech, as he goes in "why didn't you tell me??" maybe a "sorry" would have been more appropriate.
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