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Secretly Pregnant…Conveniently Wed #1
Η Ώρα της Τιμωρίας - Χρυσά Άρλεκιν #1583
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Ο Αλεχάντρο Ναβάρο Βάσκεθ, ο κόμης Ολιβάρες, διψούσε για εκδίκηση ... Η γυναίκα του τον είχε προδώσει με έναν τρόπο που ο κώδικας της τιμής του υπερήφανου Ισπανού δεν του επέτρεπε να συγχωρήσει. Ο γάμος τους είχε διαλυθεί κι αυτή η πικρή πραγματικότητα είχε αμαυρώσει κάθε πλευρά της ζωής του.
Η ευκαιρία για να αποδοθεί δικαιοσύνη έρχεται για τον Αλεχάντρο όταν ο ιδιωτικός ντετέκτιβ που είχε προσλάβει ανακαλύπτει πού βρίσκεται τώρα η Τζεμάιμα και του αναφέρει ότι ζει μαζί με τον δύο χρονών γιο της. Προφανώς η έκλυτη ζωή της είχε σαν αποτέλεσμα τη γέννηση ενός εξώγαμου παιδιού! Αλλά αυτό δεν αλλάζει τίποτα –ο Αλεχάντρο είναι αποφασισμένος να τακτοποιήσει μια και καλή τους λογαριασμούς του με τη δραπέτισσα σύζυγό του …
Ο Αλεχάντρο Ναβάρο Βάσκεθ, ο κόμης Ολιβάρες, διψούσε για εκδίκηση ... Η γυναίκα του τον είχε προδώσει με έναν τρόπο που ο κώδικας της τιμής του υπερήφανου Ισπανού δεν του επέτρεπε να συγχωρήσει. Ο γάμος τους είχε διαλυθεί κι αυτή η πικρή πραγματικότητα είχε αμαυρώσει κάθε πλευρά της ζωής του.
Η ευκαιρία για να αποδοθεί δικαιοσύνη έρχεται για τον Αλεχάντρο όταν ο ιδιωτικός ντετέκτιβ που είχε προσλάβει ανακαλύπτει πού βρίσκεται τώρα η Τζεμάιμα και του αναφέρει ότι ζει μαζί με τον δύο χρονών γιο της. Προφανώς η έκλυτη ζωή της είχε σαν αποτέλεσμα τη γέννηση ενός εξώγαμου παιδιού! Αλλά αυτό δεν αλλάζει τίποτα –ο Αλεχάντρο είναι αποφασισμένος να τακτοποιήσει μια και καλή τους λογαριασμούς του με τη δραπέτισσα σύζυγό του …
160 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2010
91 people are currently reading
497 people want to read
About the author
Lynne Graham
1,763 books1,448 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Lynne Graham was born on July 30, 1956 of Irish-Scottish parentage. She has livedin Northern Ireland all her life. She grew up in a seaside village with herbrother. She learnt to read at the age of 3, and haven't stopped since then.
Lynne first met her husband when she was 14. At 15, she wrote her firstbook, but it was rejected everywhere. Lynne married after she completed adegree at Edinburgh University. She started writing again when she was athome with her first child. It took several attempts before she sold herfirst book in 1987 and the delight of seeing that first book for sale in thelocal newsagents has never been forgotten. Now, there are over 10 million ofher books in print worldwide.
Lynne always wanted a large family and has five children. Her eldest and heronly natural child is 19 and currently at university. Her other fourchildren, who are every bit as dear to her heart, are adopted. She has two9-year-olds adopted from Sri Lanka and a 5- and a 3-year-old adopted fromGuatemala. In Lynne's home, there is a rich and diverse cultural mix, whichadds a whole extra dimension of interest and discovery to family life. Thefamily lives in a country house surrounded by a woodland garden, which iswonderfully private. The family has two pets. Thomas, a very large andaffectionate black cat, bosses the dog and hunts rabbits. The dog is Daisy,an adorable but not very bright white West Highland terrier, who loves beingchased by the cat. At night, dog and cat sleep together in front of thekitchen stove. Lynne loves gardening, cooking, collects everything from oldtoys to rock specimens and is crazy about every aspect of Christmas.
Lynne Graham was born on July 30, 1956 of Irish-Scottish parentage. She has livedin Northern Ireland all her life. She grew up in a seaside village with herbrother. She learnt to read at the age of 3, and haven't stopped since then.
Lynne first met her husband when she was 14. At 15, she wrote her firstbook, but it was rejected everywhere. Lynne married after she completed adegree at Edinburgh University. She started writing again when she was athome with her first child. It took several attempts before she sold herfirst book in 1987 and the delight of seeing that first book for sale in thelocal newsagents has never been forgotten. Now, there are over 10 million ofher books in print worldwide.
Lynne always wanted a large family and has five children. Her eldest and heronly natural child is 19 and currently at university. Her other fourchildren, who are every bit as dear to her heart, are adopted. She has two9-year-olds adopted from Sri Lanka and a 5- and a 3-year-old adopted fromGuatemala. In Lynne's home, there is a rich and diverse cultural mix, whichadds a whole extra dimension of interest and discovery to family life. Thefamily lives in a country house surrounded by a woodland garden, which iswonderfully private. The family has two pets. Thomas, a very large andaffectionate black cat, bosses the dog and hunts rabbits. The dog is Daisy,an adorable but not very bright white West Highland terrier, who loves beingchased by the cat. At night, dog and cat sleep together in front of thekitchen stove. Lynne loves gardening, cooking, collects everything from oldtoys to rock specimens and is crazy about every aspect of Christmas.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
February 14, 2021
The first half of the story was extremely frustrating because of all the misunderstandings. I really wanted to slap the hero, Alejandro, with a brick! He was very controlling, prideful and unwilling to believe anything the heroine, Jemima, said. So half the time I was left feeling sorry for her. How do you enter in a marriage with that amount of pride and stubbornness?!
The second half of the story was where the story started to pick up. There were so many secrets that Alejandro and Jemima were keeping from each other but at the same time, they were both put between a rock and a hard place. Finally when everything came to light, it was as if everything was able to fall into place.
Overall, I do think this was a good depiction of a deteriorating marriage. And I really enjoyed seeing the main characters give their marriage a second chance. Alejandro's development as a character made me appreciate him more in the end and I like that Jemima became less meek. They had sizzling chemistry and it was nice to see that blossom into a beautiful romance. Their kid, Alfie, was also definitely one of the highlights of this story!
If you don't like stories that are based on misunderstandings then steer clear of this one! I can see how readers may find Jemima's Secret very frustrating.
Rating: 3.75/5
The second half of the story was where the story started to pick up. There were so many secrets that Alejandro and Jemima were keeping from each other but at the same time, they were both put between a rock and a hard place. Finally when everything came to light, it was as if everything was able to fall into place.
Overall, I do think this was a good depiction of a deteriorating marriage. And I really enjoyed seeing the main characters give their marriage a second chance. Alejandro's development as a character made me appreciate him more in the end and I like that Jemima became less meek. They had sizzling chemistry and it was nice to see that blossom into a beautiful romance. Their kid, Alfie, was also definitely one of the highlights of this story!
If you don't like stories that are based on misunderstandings then steer clear of this one! I can see how readers may find Jemima's Secret very frustrating.
Rating: 3.75/5
February 10, 2018
He tried not to love her, y'all. That's why he was so quick to believe she had an affair with his half-brother. That's why he was so quick to not believe her secret baby was his son. That's why he didn't call and canceled plans when they were dating. What's a Spanish billionaire/millionaire supposed to do with all that emotion?
Heroine not only kept her baby a secret, but the fact that the half-brother
But it's all okay now. The H/h have cleared up all misunderstandings. The hero has learned to live with his obsessive love. Neither one was unfaithful during their separation. It's all good.
Heroine not only kept her baby a secret, but the fact that the half-brother
But it's all okay now. The H/h have cleared up all misunderstandings. The hero has learned to live with his obsessive love. Neither one was unfaithful during their separation. It's all good.
September 17, 2019
Not awful, but I've read better second-chance romances by Lynne Graham. Alejandro and Jemima caused too many of their own troubles for me to completely sympathize with them. Alejandro had jealousy and trust issues, but he wasn't all to blame for his troubled marriage. Jemima also shared equal responsibility. She had been a young, insecure 20-year-old when she married Alejandro. Adding to this volatile mix was the interference of self-serving relatives and, most importantly, the failure to communicate openly with each other over many crucial matters.
In this case, I felt the misunderstandings dragged on for too long. I also wasn't a fan of Jemima sacrificing her marriage for the sake of someone else, especially when revealing that secret to Alejandro wouldn't damage their marriage but save it. It seemed asinine to have kept quiet.
It ended happily for Alejandro and Jemima of course, but my reading experience wasn't as happy.
In this case, I felt the misunderstandings dragged on for too long. I also wasn't a fan of Jemima sacrificing her marriage for the sake of someone else, especially when revealing that secret to Alejandro wouldn't damage their marriage but save it. It seemed asinine to have kept quiet.
It ended happily for Alejandro and Jemima of course, but my reading experience wasn't as happy.
December 23, 2016
Didn't even start chapter 4.
Why? Because I hate it when the heroine runs away and has a secret baby just because things ended bitterly between H and her.
And then with her memories I found that she was too stupid to marry him. He was playing around and expecting her to be exclusive, what a jerk. If she doesn't respect herself, neither will I.
Hope Flora doesn't disappoint.
Why? Because I hate it when the heroine runs away and has a secret baby just because things ended bitterly between H and her.
And then with her memories I found that she was too stupid to marry him. He was playing around and expecting her to be exclusive, what a jerk. If she doesn't respect herself, neither will I.
Hope Flora doesn't disappoint.
July 21, 2016
One of the most appalling heros ever. He didn't just leap to conclusions, he actively looked for erroneous conclusions to leap to. He accused her of everything under the sun. And he NEVER shut up about them. It was nerve wracking.
Feb 2012 So I just picked up a copy of this titled Naive Bride Defiant Wife thinking I hadn't read it. Turns out it must have been retitled as Jemima's Secret. Hmmm...
Feb 2012 So I just picked up a copy of this titled Naive Bride Defiant Wife thinking I hadn't read it. Turns out it must have been retitled as Jemima's Secret. Hmmm...
February 14, 2023
I was wondering when the h was going to hit her husband. He kept insisted she had had an affair with his brother . Annoying, but all comes good in the end.
April 21, 2021
Enjoyed the angst but I was appalled by the protagonists behavior. Still happy that they got it right the second time.
November 18, 2011
the extremely proud Spaniard, Alejandro Navarro Vasquez. Stubborn doesn't even describe this man who takes the word of his half brother that he was having an affair with Jemima, Alejandro's wife.
Now two years later, Jemima is living back in her native England with her two year old son Alfie, the son she thought she had miscarried when she left her husband after a bitter argument, However, her doctor confirmed she was definitely pregnant and had probably lost a twin. Still married to Alejandro, she was running a florist shop and raising her son. What she didn't count on was for her ex to make an appearance and demand a divorce. there was a DNA test and which proved Alejandro was the father. Demands, more demands and finally they agreed that they would give their marriage a three month trial, for their son's sake. And so, the three of them returned to Spain and the Castle where Alejandro's wicked stepmother and sweet sister resided.
Accusation, after accusation kept being sent Jemima's way. Her husband wouldn't believe her concerning her relationship with his brother. However, the physical attraction and sensual awareness for both of them was still strong.I wondered how much Jemima would endure for the sake of her son? It was obvious his statements hurt her and that he would believe his brother over her. However, he did get rid of his stepmother when he finally realized all of the things his wife told him about her were true. Each of them, in their own way tried to get along, make the marriage work but they both were keeping secrets. Jemima about her abusive upbringing and about all of the money she had been blackmailed into given her father shortly after they were married.
It was obvious to me that Jemima still loved her husband and was hoping he would believe her. I sincerely thought he loved her from the time they met because he finally agreed for their relationship to be exclusive. Then when he asked this young woman to marry him. But I also felt for her living in a strange country, being treated so poorly by her in-law, having her husband working long hours and not paying attention to her. So I could understand why she sought out the friendship with his step-brother Marco. But as the three month period came to a close, there was a chain of events that set in motion suffering and pain for them both. However, when both of their secrets were revealed and Alejandro finally learned the truth about his brother and let down his guard, this couple got their amazing happy ending
Seriously i don't even want to speak anything abt the couple,Alexjandro my god this man said all the worse things that degrades a woman even went to the xtent of saying Jemima was a unfit mother,kept mistrusting Jemina hurting her humiliating her and believing everyone else but his wife and Jemima one door step woman kept taking all pain,hurt ,humiliation though for her son's sake she had take few things i understand that but my god there has to be a limit
somehow i completed it but cannot recommend it
okay read
Now two years later, Jemima is living back in her native England with her two year old son Alfie, the son she thought she had miscarried when she left her husband after a bitter argument, However, her doctor confirmed she was definitely pregnant and had probably lost a twin. Still married to Alejandro, she was running a florist shop and raising her son. What she didn't count on was for her ex to make an appearance and demand a divorce. there was a DNA test and which proved Alejandro was the father. Demands, more demands and finally they agreed that they would give their marriage a three month trial, for their son's sake. And so, the three of them returned to Spain and the Castle where Alejandro's wicked stepmother and sweet sister resided.
Accusation, after accusation kept being sent Jemima's way. Her husband wouldn't believe her concerning her relationship with his brother. However, the physical attraction and sensual awareness for both of them was still strong.I wondered how much Jemima would endure for the sake of her son? It was obvious his statements hurt her and that he would believe his brother over her. However, he did get rid of his stepmother when he finally realized all of the things his wife told him about her were true. Each of them, in their own way tried to get along, make the marriage work but they both were keeping secrets. Jemima about her abusive upbringing and about all of the money she had been blackmailed into given her father shortly after they were married.
It was obvious to me that Jemima still loved her husband and was hoping he would believe her. I sincerely thought he loved her from the time they met because he finally agreed for their relationship to be exclusive. Then when he asked this young woman to marry him. But I also felt for her living in a strange country, being treated so poorly by her in-law, having her husband working long hours and not paying attention to her. So I could understand why she sought out the friendship with his step-brother Marco. But as the three month period came to a close, there was a chain of events that set in motion suffering and pain for them both. However, when both of their secrets were revealed and Alejandro finally learned the truth about his brother and let down his guard, this couple got their amazing happy ending
Seriously i don't even want to speak anything abt the couple,Alexjandro my god this man said all the worse things that degrades a woman even went to the xtent of saying Jemima was a unfit mother,kept mistrusting Jemina hurting her humiliating her and believing everyone else but his wife and Jemima one door step woman kept taking all pain,hurt ,humiliation though for her son's sake she had take few things i understand that but my god there has to be a limit
somehow i completed it but cannot recommend it
okay read
August 24, 2012
I had enjoyed this book as it had loads of angst which I love, but as we got close to the end of the story I got really angry. Alejandro had treated his Jemima really badly, accused her of having an affair with his brother, called her foul names, refused to believe that her child was his and had made her life hell. At the end he should have been on his knees begging for forgiveness but that didn’t happen. He got away far too light and never even said sorry and Jemima just instantly forgave him. I know that she loved him and was finally relieved that he believed her, but at this stage but she should have been angry and raging that she had suffered a couple of years of heartbreak. Good story, shame about the ending!
June 17, 2024
I really didn't like the hero at first. He believed the worst of his wife without listening to her so they separated for two years. They are both celibate it says but when he was dating her, he did sleep with other women. Until he saw her on a date with someone else. Then he was faithful. The little boy was not a big part of the story really. He was just there. The evil stepmother and he half brother were both evil. He let his brother suffer for two years thinking his wife cheated on him when she didn't. She didn't tell him about the baby either which was wrong. The ending was okayokat with two kids and an HEA but it didn't give me the sparklies like a Lynne graham novel usually does. But it was still better than any that are written nowadays!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 17, 2011
This is the UK version of
Decent enough read. The hero was awful to the heroine of course and refused to believe her about his brother for most of the novel. Only when she revealed that the brother was did he start to believe her. Then he then of course, felt bad about how he treated her.
There were some sweet moments in the story. A cute little epilogue ended the story.
Decent enough read. The hero was awful to the heroine of course and refused to believe her about his brother for most of the novel. Only when she revealed that the brother was did he start to believe her. Then he then of course, felt bad about how he treated her.There were some sweet moments in the story. A cute little epilogue ended the story.
December 26, 2010
One of the worst books LG has ever written counting Dark Angel.
November 23, 2013
The heroine and hero were both despicable and hateful!
February 11, 2018
2.5 stars
another f...#$&% arrogant and stubborn hero! !
another f...#$&% arrogant and stubborn hero! !
January 19, 2021
Ok, no. This was really annoying. Heroine leaves hero when she's pregnant and has his baby. He finds her and wants his baby ( and her if she wants to stay with the baby) We have the parents from hell (hers and his), a brother-in-law who is selfish and spoilt, a father who is a criminal and the h tries to protect them all ruining her marriage. I want to know why. The hero is always thinking the worst of her without giving her any chance to explain. He was a womanizer since the beginning, he dated other woman when he started to date her because he didn't want commitment but was angry when she started to date other men... but was celibate during their separation. Not very likely... In the end they could have been happy without all this fuss if they had been able to talk...
May 8, 2011
The hero started off acting like the west end of an east bound skunk, while a little more humility wouldn't have been remiss, in the end I would say he might have been about half way redeemed by the end of the book.
I love this author's stories but sometimes she carries the hero just a tad to far past arrogant donkey's butt for me. I particularly like it better when the heroine is nobody's doormat, unfortunately this heroine was a bit of one, and while I will say she was abused and had no self esteem in the beginning she was a believable character. It would have been nicer to have a bit more backbone.
I love this author's stories but sometimes she carries the hero just a tad to far past arrogant donkey's butt for me. I particularly like it better when the heroine is nobody's doormat, unfortunately this heroine was a bit of one, and while I will say she was abused and had no self esteem in the beginning she was a believable character. It would have been nicer to have a bit more backbone.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 29, 2016
The hero and heroine belonged together, plain and simple. The hero believed a lot of false crap about the heroine and the heroine was way too immature when they first met, however after a couple years being apart, when they came together again, it was magical.
February 13, 2025
h easily forgave H, the mistrustful husband! 🤷🏻♀️
March 28, 2023
Separation due to misunderstandings. Stupid misunderstandings that could be cleared up with a 5 min convo is grist for the romance mill. If one can ignore the annoying drama that pulls them apart, this wasn’t terrible. The heroine is keeping secrets from her husband. The hero is full of tortured emotions and thinks his wife cheated on him. Then throw in a secret baby, and bam! We got ourselves an angsty little read.
Both were celibate during separation, so yayyy for that! I think the hero could’ve been a bit more cold and cruel before he melts, but we can’t have it all, can we?
Safe-ish. Hero’s past is mentioned, former manwhore. Faithful during separation. Heroine is a virgin and belongs only to her hero. No others, no cheating or sharing or abuse. HEA with epilogue
Both were celibate during separation, so yayyy for that! I think the hero could’ve been a bit more cold and cruel before he melts, but we can’t have it all, can we?
Safe-ish. Hero’s past is mentioned, former manwhore. Faithful during separation. Heroine is a virgin and belongs only to her hero. No others, no cheating or sharing or abuse. HEA with epilogue
March 4, 2017
If Alejandro were my husband, I would have shot him and then probably stabbed him before burning his body. Every time Jemima wants to talk, he says he's too busy, or that he has to go somewhere or that he's tired. She wants to have some reasonable communication about their marriage and he doesn't feel like talking. So naturally, every time some miscommunication can be cleared up, it isn't because he didn't want to talk about it. It's beyond frustrating! Oh and then there are all the accusations, sly comments about a event that never happened (but Alejandro believes it did and nothing Jemima says can convince him otherwise), threats to sue for custody of their son, blah, blah. And yet Alejandro is supposedly quite sensitive and very devoted...he's just a dick as well.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 3, 2016
Too much arguments between H & h, H just refused to listen to h for more than 50% of the book.
h was so doormat. It shouldn't be consider as modern romance. Stopped @ Chapter 5.
One of the worse LG's book I've ever read!
h was so doormat. It shouldn't be consider as modern romance. Stopped @ Chapter 5.
One of the worse LG's book I've ever read!
June 28, 2013
I didn't fall in love with this book, but it was nice quick read to get through, and very Presenty. There were some common present themes like hidden baby, a less than stellar marriage, misunderstandings, trust issues, and hate among the hero against the heroine for some of the misunderstanding throughout making Alejandro unlike with his harsh judgments against Jemima that she didn't deserve.
The book began with Alejandro finding out the location of where his estranged wife was living from a private detective, but that was not the only thing that he learned, but the fact that she had a young son too, which made him furious thinking that the child wasn't his in fact he thought it was his brother, who he thought Jemima was having an affair, leading to their marriage to break down and Jemima walked out on him to. And he was furious because not only did he think the child was not his, but the fact that she miscarried their baby only a few weeks before she left, but now supposedly had a baby with someone else so he decided to go confront her.
Jemima was living in a small town in England, where she had a good life with her son, friends, and a stable career, gaining her much self-confidence that she needed after lacking it her entire life. She had negligent parents, one being an alcoholic while the other was a jail bird who put her down constantly saying she wasn't good enough, making me feel very bad for Jemima and all the stuff she had to go through at such a young age and just all the abuse she face and needed desperately for some love, which was reason she fell for Alejandro so quickly even though believing she wasn't good enough for him and that he didn't love her. And when her marriage ended she was devastated, but knew she couldn't stay in that distrustful, loveless marriage forever that was slowly killing as well as Alejandro's neglect as well. So, she felt she really good about her life and her son and was completely content with even men asking her out like crazy though she didn't accept because she didn't want to fall in the same situation that she was in with Alejandro. So, when Alejandro came into the picture it knocked her for a loop and wondered what he could possibly want after two years. She was scared what Alejandro would do once he learned he had a son, but he didn't even seem interested in the little boy, only the fact that he wanted a divorce.
Jemima knew that Alejandro didn't believe that Alfie was his son, but had it confirmed when he outright said it, harping on the fact that she had an affair with his brother and it must have been his brothers not his, which devastated Jemima that he still believed she betrayed him as well as the fact that they were both still fiercely attracted to one another that they almost couldn't keep a lid on it.
Eventually though after hearing Jemima state again and again Alfie was his son, he agreed to have a DNA test to see if it was true. Jemima was humiliated by this fact that he wouldn't believe her and make her and her son go through with the testing just so he would have the proof that Alfie was his son, and she felt betrayed.
Of coarse it came to light that Alfie was his son and he wanted to be the father to that little boy after he had seen the proof himself. And in typical Harlequin Presents fashion he demanded that she and Alfie come back to Spain with him, resuming their marriage or she would loose her son for good. Predicable right? (but it's what part of Harlequin Presents charm is and why people love to read them, and I am one of them). So, of coarse she agreed to his terms though was still unsure of him and whether she could go back to that place and be his wife, which was nothing but pain for her especially when he wasn't hearing her words of how horrible it was for her and how much pain she suffered in those days.
So, they went to Spain and back to their marriage, and even though the passion was still there the emotions were not and the same problems they faced before came back in full force mainly their distrust of each other with Alejandro not willing to listen to her at all through most of the book, and in my opinion it was really annoying and made me not like him more especially after reading all the pain that she went through during that time. But they both needed to more honest with each other and not hide things, which lead to their marriage breaking down.
Things they learned throughout the book was the fact that Alejandro's stepmother was being a witch to Jemima and basically degrading her for not only being a lower class of society, but also undermining her authority as Alejandro's wife and making the decision herself, making Jemima feel incompetent and like she was a tenant instead of the lady of the house. Alejandro solved that problem by kicking his stepmother out of the house so she could no longer make Jemima miserable.
Second, Jemima learned that back when they were married, Alejandro's business wasn't doing too well and he had to work hard in order to make it succeed and not going bankrupt, throwing them out on the street, and he worked day and night to accomplish that while Jemima thought he was using work as an excuse so he didn't have to be with her anymore because he was bored with her and wanted to be rid of her.
Thirdly, Jemima learned that her pregnancy, which at first she didn't want because she was too young but got over quickly enough once Alfie came into the picture, was very dangerous and that she needed to be carefully with some of her activities since it was high risk, which she was told by the doctor, but in Spanish which she barely spoken any so she didn't understand, but Alejandro did and the warning that the doctor gave him personally. The doctor instructed that the two could not make love until she was in the safe zone so Alejandro stayed away from her, showing no affection and moving out of their bed. Jemima believed he did this because he found her pregnant body unattractive and he no longer wanted her anymore, and he was content to ignore when in reality he wanted her so much he wasn't sure if he could keep his hands off of her so he stayed away from instead, not trusting himself to abide by the doctor's orders.
And lastly, which was the bone of contention in the whole book with Jemima nearly stating until she was blue in the face that she hadn't had an affair with Marco. Alejandro continued not to believe her until she revealed that Marco was in fact, making an affair between them impossible. In fact, this piece of information was revealed when Jemima had enough after Marco came to see her and threatened to tell Alejandro if he didn't tell Alejandro himself. But he doesn't, and before she could reveal the truth to Alejandro, who was upset with her because he thought that she betrayed him by seeing Marco when she specifically promised not to, but Marco came anyway despite her telling him to stay away. So, this led to the big argument and the big revelation about Marco. As soon as Alejandro found out and finally believed her, he was devastated and all the pain he caused her over this misunderstanding and wanted to make it up to her.
Now I would think that things would have cleared up between the two of them after that, but one big problem remained and that was Jemima being completely honest with Alejandro about her past and her background, being utterly ashamed by it and thinking that Alejandro would think less of her because of it. But the problem arose when her father began calling her asking her for money like he did two years before, which she gave him to shut him up about his connection to her, but now it was beginning all over again, however this time she wasn't giving in to him despite his threats. And even still she wouldn't tell Alejandro, who knew something was going on but not knowing what exactly. So, when her father came to the house, seeking money she wasn't devastated and just wanted him out of her home, but he started to steal precious items from the house and when she tried to stop him he attacking causing her to fly across the coffee table and hit her head. Of coarse, Alejandro came to save the day, protecting her from her father and getting his items out before promptly throwing him out. Then finally the honest conversation was had where everything was revealed between her background, his jealousy over other men being with her, and the fact that he loved her very much and couldn't imagine being with out her ever which was the reason he married her. Then all was forgiven with their love true as they get their happily ever after.
Like I said it was a quick read and it was okay not the best Lynne Graham book I've read, but not horrible either. I think what bothered me the most was Alejandro, and I don't know if I totally believed he was a hundred percent that he was in love with her or not or if was just words. I get he wanted her, but I don't know if there was a moment where I was like "Oh, he definitely loves her." I just didn't see it, I think because it was taking so long for him to totally believe her over everything and her trying to convince him over and over again the it got a little tedious. And I also think when Alejandro threatened to take Alfie was a little cruel especially with everything that she went through in her life and how she had finally found love and now it would be taken away again (of coarse he didn't know about her background still), and I know other Presents books have this theme, but this one it just seemed totally cruel to me and I get why Jemima put herself in hell again just so she didn't loose her son. Just Alejandro just didn't do it for me, and I didn't tender feeling towards him. Also I get they have physical chemistry and stuff though truthfully I didn't believe it because it seemed like every two seconds she was turned on by him, but didn't want to be it was almost too much and not realistic especially his mistrust of her so blatant that it made me question her and her values on herself a bit. If a guy doesn't trust you that much, why would you trust him and give yourself to him when your most vulnerable. Again this isn't new in Harlequin Presents, but in this book it just didn't feel right to me. Plus it was more physical than emotion, which in the beginning of these books that's what it is but by the last love scene the reader could feel the emotions coming through and that it was more than just physical. Again didn't feel it here. And it just took Alejandro so long to finally believe that she didn't have an affair that there was barely any tenderness between the pair, which I like to see and usually happen in these books, but again didn't feel it. I almost felt like they didn't belong together as a couple or meant to be, but circumstances with their son that brought them back together again otherwise I don't think either would have reached out to the other to reconnect again. If Alejandro loved Jemima as much as he said and said he had from the beginning why not go after her, call her, contact her, or something, but instead he let his pride take over and not doing anything including divorcing, which I guess was suppose to be the first clue. But like I said I didn't like him so much like I have other heroes in these types of books, seeing really no showing of tender emotions or not really any vulnerability either, he was jerk plain and simple and I don't know if he deserved Jemima even though that was what Jemima wanted, but she could have done better with someone more loving and tender towards her.
That being said this was an enjoyable read, and I will pick up another Lynne Graham book in the future hopefully with me connecting to both the hero and heroine and sucking me into their love story in the book where I'm rooting for them to get their happily ever after and believing that they both deserve it unlike with this one where I wasn't totally convinced. But I still gave them a generous rating despite my lack of connection to the characters because it was Lynne Graham and hopefully read a better one of hers in the future.
The book began with Alejandro finding out the location of where his estranged wife was living from a private detective, but that was not the only thing that he learned, but the fact that she had a young son too, which made him furious thinking that the child wasn't his in fact he thought it was his brother, who he thought Jemima was having an affair, leading to their marriage to break down and Jemima walked out on him to. And he was furious because not only did he think the child was not his, but the fact that she miscarried their baby only a few weeks before she left, but now supposedly had a baby with someone else so he decided to go confront her.
Jemima was living in a small town in England, where she had a good life with her son, friends, and a stable career, gaining her much self-confidence that she needed after lacking it her entire life. She had negligent parents, one being an alcoholic while the other was a jail bird who put her down constantly saying she wasn't good enough, making me feel very bad for Jemima and all the stuff she had to go through at such a young age and just all the abuse she face and needed desperately for some love, which was reason she fell for Alejandro so quickly even though believing she wasn't good enough for him and that he didn't love her. And when her marriage ended she was devastated, but knew she couldn't stay in that distrustful, loveless marriage forever that was slowly killing as well as Alejandro's neglect as well. So, she felt she really good about her life and her son and was completely content with even men asking her out like crazy though she didn't accept because she didn't want to fall in the same situation that she was in with Alejandro. So, when Alejandro came into the picture it knocked her for a loop and wondered what he could possibly want after two years. She was scared what Alejandro would do once he learned he had a son, but he didn't even seem interested in the little boy, only the fact that he wanted a divorce.
Jemima knew that Alejandro didn't believe that Alfie was his son, but had it confirmed when he outright said it, harping on the fact that she had an affair with his brother and it must have been his brothers not his, which devastated Jemima that he still believed she betrayed him as well as the fact that they were both still fiercely attracted to one another that they almost couldn't keep a lid on it.
Eventually though after hearing Jemima state again and again Alfie was his son, he agreed to have a DNA test to see if it was true. Jemima was humiliated by this fact that he wouldn't believe her and make her and her son go through with the testing just so he would have the proof that Alfie was his son, and she felt betrayed.
Of coarse it came to light that Alfie was his son and he wanted to be the father to that little boy after he had seen the proof himself. And in typical Harlequin Presents fashion he demanded that she and Alfie come back to Spain with him, resuming their marriage or she would loose her son for good. Predicable right? (but it's what part of Harlequin Presents charm is and why people love to read them, and I am one of them). So, of coarse she agreed to his terms though was still unsure of him and whether she could go back to that place and be his wife, which was nothing but pain for her especially when he wasn't hearing her words of how horrible it was for her and how much pain she suffered in those days.
So, they went to Spain and back to their marriage, and even though the passion was still there the emotions were not and the same problems they faced before came back in full force mainly their distrust of each other with Alejandro not willing to listen to her at all through most of the book, and in my opinion it was really annoying and made me not like him more especially after reading all the pain that she went through during that time. But they both needed to more honest with each other and not hide things, which lead to their marriage breaking down.
Things they learned throughout the book was the fact that Alejandro's stepmother was being a witch to Jemima and basically degrading her for not only being a lower class of society, but also undermining her authority as Alejandro's wife and making the decision herself, making Jemima feel incompetent and like she was a tenant instead of the lady of the house. Alejandro solved that problem by kicking his stepmother out of the house so she could no longer make Jemima miserable.
Second, Jemima learned that back when they were married, Alejandro's business wasn't doing too well and he had to work hard in order to make it succeed and not going bankrupt, throwing them out on the street, and he worked day and night to accomplish that while Jemima thought he was using work as an excuse so he didn't have to be with her anymore because he was bored with her and wanted to be rid of her.
Thirdly, Jemima learned that her pregnancy, which at first she didn't want because she was too young but got over quickly enough once Alfie came into the picture, was very dangerous and that she needed to be carefully with some of her activities since it was high risk, which she was told by the doctor, but in Spanish which she barely spoken any so she didn't understand, but Alejandro did and the warning that the doctor gave him personally. The doctor instructed that the two could not make love until she was in the safe zone so Alejandro stayed away from her, showing no affection and moving out of their bed. Jemima believed he did this because he found her pregnant body unattractive and he no longer wanted her anymore, and he was content to ignore when in reality he wanted her so much he wasn't sure if he could keep his hands off of her so he stayed away from instead, not trusting himself to abide by the doctor's orders.
And lastly, which was the bone of contention in the whole book with Jemima nearly stating until she was blue in the face that she hadn't had an affair with Marco. Alejandro continued not to believe her until she revealed that Marco was in fact, making an affair between them impossible. In fact, this piece of information was revealed when Jemima had enough after Marco came to see her and threatened to tell Alejandro if he didn't tell Alejandro himself. But he doesn't, and before she could reveal the truth to Alejandro, who was upset with her because he thought that she betrayed him by seeing Marco when she specifically promised not to, but Marco came anyway despite her telling him to stay away. So, this led to the big argument and the big revelation about Marco. As soon as Alejandro found out and finally believed her, he was devastated and all the pain he caused her over this misunderstanding and wanted to make it up to her.
Now I would think that things would have cleared up between the two of them after that, but one big problem remained and that was Jemima being completely honest with Alejandro about her past and her background, being utterly ashamed by it and thinking that Alejandro would think less of her because of it. But the problem arose when her father began calling her asking her for money like he did two years before, which she gave him to shut him up about his connection to her, but now it was beginning all over again, however this time she wasn't giving in to him despite his threats. And even still she wouldn't tell Alejandro, who knew something was going on but not knowing what exactly. So, when her father came to the house, seeking money she wasn't devastated and just wanted him out of her home, but he started to steal precious items from the house and when she tried to stop him he attacking causing her to fly across the coffee table and hit her head. Of coarse, Alejandro came to save the day, protecting her from her father and getting his items out before promptly throwing him out. Then finally the honest conversation was had where everything was revealed between her background, his jealousy over other men being with her, and the fact that he loved her very much and couldn't imagine being with out her ever which was the reason he married her. Then all was forgiven with their love true as they get their happily ever after.
Like I said it was a quick read and it was okay not the best Lynne Graham book I've read, but not horrible either. I think what bothered me the most was Alejandro, and I don't know if I totally believed he was a hundred percent that he was in love with her or not or if was just words. I get he wanted her, but I don't know if there was a moment where I was like "Oh, he definitely loves her." I just didn't see it, I think because it was taking so long for him to totally believe her over everything and her trying to convince him over and over again the it got a little tedious. And I also think when Alejandro threatened to take Alfie was a little cruel especially with everything that she went through in her life and how she had finally found love and now it would be taken away again (of coarse he didn't know about her background still), and I know other Presents books have this theme, but this one it just seemed totally cruel to me and I get why Jemima put herself in hell again just so she didn't loose her son. Just Alejandro just didn't do it for me, and I didn't tender feeling towards him. Also I get they have physical chemistry and stuff though truthfully I didn't believe it because it seemed like every two seconds she was turned on by him, but didn't want to be it was almost too much and not realistic especially his mistrust of her so blatant that it made me question her and her values on herself a bit. If a guy doesn't trust you that much, why would you trust him and give yourself to him when your most vulnerable. Again this isn't new in Harlequin Presents, but in this book it just didn't feel right to me. Plus it was more physical than emotion, which in the beginning of these books that's what it is but by the last love scene the reader could feel the emotions coming through and that it was more than just physical. Again didn't feel it here. And it just took Alejandro so long to finally believe that she didn't have an affair that there was barely any tenderness between the pair, which I like to see and usually happen in these books, but again didn't feel it. I almost felt like they didn't belong together as a couple or meant to be, but circumstances with their son that brought them back together again otherwise I don't think either would have reached out to the other to reconnect again. If Alejandro loved Jemima as much as he said and said he had from the beginning why not go after her, call her, contact her, or something, but instead he let his pride take over and not doing anything including divorcing, which I guess was suppose to be the first clue. But like I said I didn't like him so much like I have other heroes in these types of books, seeing really no showing of tender emotions or not really any vulnerability either, he was jerk plain and simple and I don't know if he deserved Jemima even though that was what Jemima wanted, but she could have done better with someone more loving and tender towards her.
That being said this was an enjoyable read, and I will pick up another Lynne Graham book in the future hopefully with me connecting to both the hero and heroine and sucking me into their love story in the book where I'm rooting for them to get their happily ever after and believing that they both deserve it unlike with this one where I wasn't totally convinced. But I still gave them a generous rating despite my lack of connection to the characters because it was Lynne Graham and hopefully read a better one of hers in the future.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 1, 2024
Passionate, enemies-to-lovers, secret-baby, reunion romance from 2010
Alejandro Navarro Vasquez, the Conde Olivares, has not seen his runaway wife, Jemima, in over two years. During that whole time, he has had private investigators searching for her. When, at long last, one of them finally shows up with information as to her location, he is shocked to learn that his errant wife has a 2-year-old child. He is convinced it could not possibly be his child, because he was under the impression that she miscarried before she left him.
This is a classic, HP, angry-Alpha romance and, as is always and inevitably the case in these plots, because an HP FMC can never be an anti-hero, Alejandro's extremely bad opinion of Jemima is absolutely incorrect. In this case, he has been maliciously led to believe that she has betrayed their marriage vows, and her child is not his.
This novel is very much in keeping with the tone of the intense, "enemies to lovers" romances that LG wrote from the beginning of her career in the late '70s up through most of the '90s, and which she doesn't write anymore. Fans of this author, who miss the intensity of her earlier romances, which is lacking in most of her novels of the past 14 years or so, will enjoy this novel very much. Romance readers who are not fond of Alpha heroes and/or the "enemies to lovers" trope in general, may not particularly enjoy this novel. I personally found it to be a quick and entertaining read, because I'm a big fan of LG, who is the only HP author that I read.
I rate this novel 3.5 stars, rounded to 4 stars.
Alejandro Navarro Vasquez, the Conde Olivares, has not seen his runaway wife, Jemima, in over two years. During that whole time, he has had private investigators searching for her. When, at long last, one of them finally shows up with information as to her location, he is shocked to learn that his errant wife has a 2-year-old child. He is convinced it could not possibly be his child, because he was under the impression that she miscarried before she left him.
This is a classic, HP, angry-Alpha romance and, as is always and inevitably the case in these plots, because an HP FMC can never be an anti-hero, Alejandro's extremely bad opinion of Jemima is absolutely incorrect. In this case, he has been maliciously led to believe that she has betrayed their marriage vows, and her child is not his.
This novel is very much in keeping with the tone of the intense, "enemies to lovers" romances that LG wrote from the beginning of her career in the late '70s up through most of the '90s, and which she doesn't write anymore. Fans of this author, who miss the intensity of her earlier romances, which is lacking in most of her novels of the past 14 years or so, will enjoy this novel very much. Romance readers who are not fond of Alpha heroes and/or the "enemies to lovers" trope in general, may not particularly enjoy this novel. I personally found it to be a quick and entertaining read, because I'm a big fan of LG, who is the only HP author that I read.
I rate this novel 3.5 stars, rounded to 4 stars.
May 27, 2018
I like it!!!
January 29, 2018
Skipped pages that should tell you something. It started very promising I love when the book starts and the couple is already married. I like to know what happened and how they going to find their way back to each other. Once she moved back in the book went downhill and what happened to the two year he was barely mentioned. Disappointed I gave it three stars because of the beginning and the epilogue
June 4, 2023
HP romance from 2011 with an early 90s type of Alpha hero
Alejandro is a 32-year-old Spanish count from an ancient, wealthy family. Three years ago, when poorly educated, working-class, British Jemima was only 19 years old, these two absolutely gorgeous people fell madly in love with each other. Because virginal Jemima refused to have sex without a commitment, Alejandro rushed her to the altar in a quickie marriage. At the time, neither of them admitted they were in love. Alejandro because he was afraid of being in love, due to the loss of control involved, and Jemima because Alejandro didn't confess his love to her first. After a miserable year of marriage, due to a series of misunderstandings, the most significant being that Alejandro wrongly assumed that his wife was having an affair with his younger brother, Jemima left Alessandro, with no forwarding address, and returned to England. At the time, Jemima was pregnant, but she and Alejandro had both mistakenly assumed she had miscarried. In fact, she had not, and five months after leaving her husband, Jemima had a little boy named Alfie. She started her own small business, was comfortable with her new life in a small, quiet village, and never bothered to inform Alejandro he was a father. During the following two years, Alejandro continuously had a PI searching for Jemima, and when the PI finally locates her, Alejandro wastes no time before showing up on her doorstep demanding a divorce.
Alejandro is a classic, harsh, domineering, D&D (dark and dangerous), HP, tycoon hero, which LG has rarely included in her novels since the late 90s. This secret-baby, reunion romance is very melodramatic in a particular way that is not my personal preference. Secrets and lies are staples of darker romance novels, and this book abounds with them. However, the relationship between Alejandro and Jemima is extremely passionate, both emotionally and sexually, which makes the melodrama more bearable. In my personal opinion, as a very jaded romance reader, the worst novel LG ever wrote is far better than 90% of other sexy, short contemporary romances I've encountered over the years. She always manages to provide plenty of battle-of-the-sexes, emotional fireworks, while reliably offering sensual heat that avoids crudely graphic descriptions.
Alejandro is a 32-year-old Spanish count from an ancient, wealthy family. Three years ago, when poorly educated, working-class, British Jemima was only 19 years old, these two absolutely gorgeous people fell madly in love with each other. Because virginal Jemima refused to have sex without a commitment, Alejandro rushed her to the altar in a quickie marriage. At the time, neither of them admitted they were in love. Alejandro because he was afraid of being in love, due to the loss of control involved, and Jemima because Alejandro didn't confess his love to her first. After a miserable year of marriage, due to a series of misunderstandings, the most significant being that Alejandro wrongly assumed that his wife was having an affair with his younger brother, Jemima left Alessandro, with no forwarding address, and returned to England. At the time, Jemima was pregnant, but she and Alejandro had both mistakenly assumed she had miscarried. In fact, she had not, and five months after leaving her husband, Jemima had a little boy named Alfie. She started her own small business, was comfortable with her new life in a small, quiet village, and never bothered to inform Alejandro he was a father. During the following two years, Alejandro continuously had a PI searching for Jemima, and when the PI finally locates her, Alejandro wastes no time before showing up on her doorstep demanding a divorce.
Alejandro is a classic, harsh, domineering, D&D (dark and dangerous), HP, tycoon hero, which LG has rarely included in her novels since the late 90s. This secret-baby, reunion romance is very melodramatic in a particular way that is not my personal preference. Secrets and lies are staples of darker romance novels, and this book abounds with them. However, the relationship between Alejandro and Jemima is extremely passionate, both emotionally and sexually, which makes the melodrama more bearable. In my personal opinion, as a very jaded romance reader, the worst novel LG ever wrote is far better than 90% of other sexy, short contemporary romances I've encountered over the years. She always manages to provide plenty of battle-of-the-sexes, emotional fireworks, while reliably offering sensual heat that avoids crudely graphic descriptions.
January 7, 2023
The h is a martyr for the secret of his brother. She has sworn she’ll keep it a secret. She even sacrifices her marriage to the H and her son’s right to know his dad just to keep the brother’s secret a secret.
Everyone - except the child - was annoying, but it was an okay read, so three stars.
Everyone - except the child - was annoying, but it was an okay read, so three stars.
May 20, 2013
This book doesn't have many great reviews but I really like it. With HP you pretty much know the format and storyline that you are going to get. I did like the growth of the characters.
April 24, 2014
A good read.....lots of emotion and anger keeps the story rolling along at a fast pace....but for all the pain he made her suffer he should have been begging on his knees for forgiveness.
September 30, 2022
😍
I do love Lynne Graham book especially her Mediterranean and sheikh ones so I have enjoyed this one it's great when they are frivolous
I do love Lynne Graham book especially her Mediterranean and sheikh ones so I have enjoyed this one it's great when they are frivolous
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