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The Marakaios Brides #1
The Marakaios Marriage
The tycoon's runaway wife!
One magical week was all it took for shy Lindsay Douglas to fall for charismatic Antonios Marakaios. After a whirlwind marriage, the pressure and loneliness of life as the proud Greek's wife proved too much for Lindsay. Her only option was to leave.
Now her determined husband returns with one last demand: attend a family gathering in exchange for a final severing of ties. But Antonios's voice still sends shivers down her spine and reminds her how devastating their desire is. Could one week be enough to fall back in love?
One magical week was all it took for shy Lindsay Douglas to fall for charismatic Antonios Marakaios. After a whirlwind marriage, the pressure and loneliness of life as the proud Greek's wife proved too much for Lindsay. Her only option was to leave.
Now her determined husband returns with one last demand: attend a family gathering in exchange for a final severing of ties. But Antonios's voice still sends shivers down her spine and reminds her how devastating their desire is. Could one week be enough to fall back in love?
256 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published April 17, 2015
37 people are currently reading
143 people want to read
About the author
Kate Hewitt
874 books1,684 followersKate is the USA Today-bsetselling author of many books of both historical and contemporary fiction. Under the name Katharine Swartz, she is the author of the Tales from Goswell books, a series of time-slip novels set in the village of Goswell.
She likes to read women's fiction, mystery and thrillers, as well as historical novels. She particularly enjoys reading about well-drawn characters and avoids high-concept plots.
Having lived in both New York City and a tiny village on the windswept northwest coast of England, she now resides in a market town in Wales with her husband, five children, and two Golden Retrievers.
She likes to read women's fiction, mystery and thrillers, as well as historical novels. She particularly enjoys reading about well-drawn characters and avoids high-concept plots.
Having lived in both New York City and a tiny village on the windswept northwest coast of England, she now resides in a market town in Wales with her husband, five children, and two Golden Retrievers.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
April 20, 2015
Kate Hewitt tackles yet another issue that affects so many people today and does it so well.
Antonios Marakaios married Lindsay Douglas within weeks of meeting her and falling deeply in love with each other.
Taking her to his home in Greece, she soon began feeling lost and pressured, without any support from his family and their being apart from each other due to his business pressures.
She decides that the only way she can survive is to leave her husband and go back home.
Antonios is still devastated and in love with his wife and he’s determined to bring her back home as his mother is very ill.
She agrees to return with the guarantee that he will agree to a divorce!!!
But as soon as she arrives at his family home, her fears rise up again..
Antonios begins to notice that there is something wrong with Lindsay and all she tells him when he asks her to tell him…
But does she tell him??? No, she whines instead….
I felt for Antonios…here’s this man, still so in love with his wife, wanting to do anything, anything at all to make her happy…even when he tries to make things better, she continues to tell him….
After much of a wasted time, she finally tells him her secret. And that she’s still in love with him and is prepared to give their marriage a second chance. Now, for a genius academic she showed very little sense in her personal life!! Why did she not tell him before? Why go through all this angst and emotional rollercoaster all that time????
And just when I thought things were going along very nicely with these two, Antonios begins with his nonsense!!!! He’s now the one keeping secrets from his newly found wife!!!! Shit, that would have driven me up the wall….so is it any wonder that Lindsay gives him an ultimatum!!!
A well-written story of finding each other again and overcoming all the sadness and obstacles they faced to finding their HEA.
I did find the ending a bit abrupt but it looks as if there’s a follow-up to this story, which I am so looking forward to.
Antonios Marakaios married Lindsay Douglas within weeks of meeting her and falling deeply in love with each other.
Taking her to his home in Greece, she soon began feeling lost and pressured, without any support from his family and their being apart from each other due to his business pressures.
She decides that the only way she can survive is to leave her husband and go back home.
Antonios is still devastated and in love with his wife and he’s determined to bring her back home as his mother is very ill.
She agrees to return with the guarantee that he will agree to a divorce!!!
But as soon as she arrives at his family home, her fears rise up again..
Antonios begins to notice that there is something wrong with Lindsay and all she tells him when he asks her to tell him…
But does she tell him??? No, she whines instead….
I felt for Antonios…here’s this man, still so in love with his wife, wanting to do anything, anything at all to make her happy…even when he tries to make things better, she continues to tell him….
After much of a wasted time, she finally tells him her secret. And that she’s still in love with him and is prepared to give their marriage a second chance. Now, for a genius academic she showed very little sense in her personal life!! Why did she not tell him before? Why go through all this angst and emotional rollercoaster all that time????
And just when I thought things were going along very nicely with these two, Antonios begins with his nonsense!!!! He’s now the one keeping secrets from his newly found wife!!!! Shit, that would have driven me up the wall….so is it any wonder that Lindsay gives him an ultimatum!!!
A well-written story of finding each other again and overcoming all the sadness and obstacles they faced to finding their HEA.
I did find the ending a bit abrupt but it looks as if there’s a follow-up to this story, which I am so looking forward to.
December 24, 2016
A lot of people found the heroine bitchy and selfish, sorry I don't agree.
The hero was a patronising chauvinistic douchebag.
He married an academic, took her to Greece and given her the charge of social life, WTF was he thing?! I am really sorry but I refuse to agree with my friends here.
She shouldn't have given the marriage a second chance on his terms because that boat has already sailed, the mother in law has already hinted that the second chance should be on the heroines term and I agree.
I feel for the authors, I really do, poor creatures can't seem to do anything right with the heroine, anything opposed to a doormat, automatically becomes bitchy, whiney and selfish to half the readers :(
The hero was a patronising chauvinistic douchebag.
He married an academic, took her to Greece and given her the charge of social life, WTF was he thing?! I am really sorry but I refuse to agree with my friends here.
She shouldn't have given the marriage a second chance on his terms because that boat has already sailed, the mother in law has already hinted that the second chance should be on the heroines term and I agree.
I feel for the authors, I really do, poor creatures can't seem to do anything right with the heroine, anything opposed to a doormat, automatically becomes bitchy, whiney and selfish to half the readers :(
April 3, 2015
Not a bad angsty read but it was a typical KH book which means the heroine was impossible to like. She was so bitter, so selfish I wanted hero to just move on with his life away from her. also the ending was awful. were was the epilogue? all the author did was castrate the hero and all their marital problems and stresses magically disappeared. I'm not buying that.
December 6, 2022
3.5 Star Review
I had read book two in this duo and figured it was time for me to read book one and see what I thought about it.
I liked it. I think I liked the second book the best but it didn't beat book one by much.
I won't be reading the Marakaios Duo again - although I liked the books they leave me much to sad for days after completing. The storyline themselves are heart-wrenching.
I had read book two in this duo and figured it was time for me to read book one and see what I thought about it.
I liked it. I think I liked the second book the best but it didn't beat book one by much.
I won't be reading the Marakaios Duo again - although I liked the books they leave me much to sad for days after completing. The storyline themselves are heart-wrenching.
July 22, 2018
I liked our heroine, she came out of a situation that was doing her harm and causing her panic attacks to return. Our hero was devoting himself to his work and not noticing her unhappiness.
The poor hero was facing his own problems with a company on the verge of bankruptcy and his own secrets. In addition to his mother was dying.
A good story that hooked me from start to finish.
The poor hero was facing his own problems with a company on the verge of bankruptcy and his own secrets. In addition to his mother was dying.
A good story that hooked me from start to finish.
July 4, 2022
לא ציפיתי לחבב את הספר הזה, אבל הוא היה ממש נחמד ומרגש בעיניי.
לינדסי היא מתמטיקאית. היא חוותה ילדות לא פשוטה שהשפיעה עליה מבחינה נפשית, ולאחרונה אביה נפטר. היא פוגשת את אנטוניוס היווני בניו יורק, ובסופו של שבוע מלא אושר ותשוקה, היא נישאת לו ועוברת לגור איתו באחוזה המשפחתית שלו ביוון. מסתבר כי החיים המשותפים והבדידות באחוזה משפיעים עליה מאוד לרעה והיא עוזבת וחוזרת לניו יורק. לאחר שלא התראו במשך שישה חודשים, אנטוניוס מגיע לניו יורק, מספר לה שאימו גוססת ודורש ממנה להגיע בחזרה ליוון כדי להשתתף במסיבה לכבוד אימו, שלא יודעת שהם נפרדו, כדי לשמח אותה בשבועות חייה האחרונים. האם לינדסי ואנטוניוס יצליחו לשקם את מערכת היחסים ביניהם או שיפרדו סופית?
ספר קצת קיטשי אבל בדיוק במידה הנכונה, ולטעמי, כאמור, מוצלח ומרגש.
לינדסי היא מתמטיקאית. היא חוותה ילדות לא פשוטה שהשפיעה עליה מבחינה נפשית, ולאחרונה אביה נפטר. היא פוגשת את אנטוניוס היווני בניו יורק, ובסופו של שבוע מלא אושר ותשוקה, היא נישאת לו ועוברת לגור איתו באחוזה המשפחתית שלו ביוון. מסתבר כי החיים המשותפים והבדידות באחוזה משפיעים עליה מאוד לרעה והיא עוזבת וחוזרת לניו יורק. לאחר שלא התראו במשך שישה חודשים, אנטוניוס מגיע לניו יורק, מספר לה שאימו גוססת ודורש ממנה להגיע בחזרה ליוון כדי להשתתף במסיבה לכבוד אימו, שלא יודעת שהם נפרדו, כדי לשמח אותה בשבועות חייה האחרונים. האם לינדסי ואנטוניוס יצליחו לשקם את מערכת היחסים ביניהם או שיפרדו סופית?
ספר קצת קיטשי אבל בדיוק במידה הנכונה, ולטעמי, כאמור, מוצלח ומרגש.
June 8, 2015
I love a good reunion story, and when told by the brilliant Kate Hewitt it's an epic tale of romance and stunning revelations.
In this her latest read we meet Lindsay Douglas, it only took one magical week for her to fall for charismatic Antonios Marakaios. But after a whirlwind marriage, the pressure of loneliness of life as the wife of a proud Greek, proves too much for her, she sees only one option, leave and never look back.
However Antonios has other plans, he returns to Lindsay's life with a deal, attend a family gathering in exchange for a final severing of ties. It's the final break to freedom Lindsay needs, but there's a problem. Antonios still sends shivers down her spine and it's not the cold, spine chilling kind!
He reminds her how devastating their desire is and within in one week she yet again finds herself in love, but will she be able to endure the life of loneliness again, or will Antonios come around to showing her the love and attention she truly deserves instead of passion only in the bedroom?
This read was as close to reality as they come, the extreme sadness both characters have to face and then the hurt of losing each other because of the the very things that caused them so much hurt, and then the absolute stunning happiness that springs forth when the sadness is overcome. The entire read blended the reality of the lack of communication, the hardships of death and the loneliness of dealing with problems on your own. I teared up on almost each and every single page. My heart truly broke for these characters.
Both characters were strong willed and dead set in making sure they achieve their individual goals, but as all romance readers know there is always a little something to shake up the couple's best laid plans, and shaken up it was ! From the very start I was made aware that hero and heroine really love each other, but that there are obviously secrets they both are hiding, and that it's those very secrets that tore them apart the first time and I was really fearing that it would again.
The depth of emotion in this read, was truly remarkable, I experienced every single bit of emotion that poured from both characters, I felt the angst, the heartache, the pain, the anger and the happiness, which made my heart soar to the heights of romance.
Compelling, intriguing, laced with such clarity that it will leave you breathless and thinking that if only life was this book, so many marriages would end up has happy ever after instead of in court. I am taking away a message of communication is vital in any relationship, but even when the communication leads to being made fully aware of all aspects that make a person tick, it all really comes down to being able to take what you have learned and being able to understand it. If you simply only see things your way and do not take the time to for just a single moment step into the other person's shoes, you will never be able to find true happiness.
I highly recommend this read for all fans of reunion romance reads. Earth shattering emotion, reality so close to truth it will knock your socks off and leave your mind whirling with understanding and best of all as hot and sexy as they come!
5/5 star review
" The contract binds them, their desire enslaves them, but can their love tie them for life"
In this her latest read we meet Lindsay Douglas, it only took one magical week for her to fall for charismatic Antonios Marakaios. But after a whirlwind marriage, the pressure of loneliness of life as the wife of a proud Greek, proves too much for her, she sees only one option, leave and never look back.
However Antonios has other plans, he returns to Lindsay's life with a deal, attend a family gathering in exchange for a final severing of ties. It's the final break to freedom Lindsay needs, but there's a problem. Antonios still sends shivers down her spine and it's not the cold, spine chilling kind!
He reminds her how devastating their desire is and within in one week she yet again finds herself in love, but will she be able to endure the life of loneliness again, or will Antonios come around to showing her the love and attention she truly deserves instead of passion only in the bedroom?
This read was as close to reality as they come, the extreme sadness both characters have to face and then the hurt of losing each other because of the the very things that caused them so much hurt, and then the absolute stunning happiness that springs forth when the sadness is overcome. The entire read blended the reality of the lack of communication, the hardships of death and the loneliness of dealing with problems on your own. I teared up on almost each and every single page. My heart truly broke for these characters.
Both characters were strong willed and dead set in making sure they achieve their individual goals, but as all romance readers know there is always a little something to shake up the couple's best laid plans, and shaken up it was ! From the very start I was made aware that hero and heroine really love each other, but that there are obviously secrets they both are hiding, and that it's those very secrets that tore them apart the first time and I was really fearing that it would again.
The depth of emotion in this read, was truly remarkable, I experienced every single bit of emotion that poured from both characters, I felt the angst, the heartache, the pain, the anger and the happiness, which made my heart soar to the heights of romance.
Compelling, intriguing, laced with such clarity that it will leave you breathless and thinking that if only life was this book, so many marriages would end up has happy ever after instead of in court. I am taking away a message of communication is vital in any relationship, but even when the communication leads to being made fully aware of all aspects that make a person tick, it all really comes down to being able to take what you have learned and being able to understand it. If you simply only see things your way and do not take the time to for just a single moment step into the other person's shoes, you will never be able to find true happiness.
I highly recommend this read for all fans of reunion romance reads. Earth shattering emotion, reality so close to truth it will knock your socks off and leave your mind whirling with understanding and best of all as hot and sexy as they come!
5/5 star review
" The contract binds them, their desire enslaves them, but can their love tie them for life"
June 5, 2015
THE MARAKAIOS MARRIAGE by author Kate Heawitt is a May 2015 release by Harlequin Presents series.
Lindsay Douglas had left her husband of a few months and her marriage. She went back to New York from Greece. But Antonios Marakaios wants her back. His demand is for one week together if she wants a divorce.
Staying together for one week brings them closer than ever before. Because now they are communication as Lindsay is sharing her deep dark secrets as she has nothing to lose.
Would knowing all of Lindsay's secrets bring Antonio's protective self to the fore? Could he let her leave now that he found her again? Because the sizzling chemistry between them is still as potent as it ever was!
THE MARAKAIOS MARRAIGE is a romance shimmering with emotions and sensuality. Author Kate Hewitt brought to life a gorgeous but tortured hero who couldn’t give his all because of past hurts and a broken heroine looking at the hero to make her whole. The chemistry and sensuality between Antonio and Lindsay sizzles. The emotions depicted in the story would touch readers heart.
Highly recommended for all lovers of romance.
Lindsay Douglas had left her husband of a few months and her marriage. She went back to New York from Greece. But Antonios Marakaios wants her back. His demand is for one week together if she wants a divorce.
Staying together for one week brings them closer than ever before. Because now they are communication as Lindsay is sharing her deep dark secrets as she has nothing to lose.
Would knowing all of Lindsay's secrets bring Antonio's protective self to the fore? Could he let her leave now that he found her again? Because the sizzling chemistry between them is still as potent as it ever was!
THE MARAKAIOS MARRAIGE is a romance shimmering with emotions and sensuality. Author Kate Hewitt brought to life a gorgeous but tortured hero who couldn’t give his all because of past hurts and a broken heroine looking at the hero to make her whole. The chemistry and sensuality between Antonio and Lindsay sizzles. The emotions depicted in the story would touch readers heart.
Highly recommended for all lovers of romance.
April 22, 2015
The Marakaios Marriage by Kate Hewitt was a well written second chance romance with tons of angst and sadness. There is a HEA but the main characters have to go through a lot before getting to their HEA.
Lack of communication and family secrets create a divide between the couple and they are finally able to sort everything out on their second try. Lindsay is a strong heroine who has been left bitter after her marriage failed. Antonios is an alpha hero weighed down by his family secrets and his separation from Lindsay. I could empathize with both the characters and their awesome chemistry made their romance an emotional ride. An epilogue in my opinion would have summed up everything better because the story ended a little abruptly for me personally.
Overall, The Marakaios Marriage by Kate Hewitt was a well written romance and would be loved by everyone who likes a well earned HEA after tackling lots of obstacles.Read more
Lack of communication and family secrets create a divide between the couple and they are finally able to sort everything out on their second try. Lindsay is a strong heroine who has been left bitter after her marriage failed. Antonios is an alpha hero weighed down by his family secrets and his separation from Lindsay. I could empathize with both the characters and their awesome chemistry made their romance an emotional ride. An epilogue in my opinion would have summed up everything better because the story ended a little abruptly for me personally.
Overall, The Marakaios Marriage by Kate Hewitt was a well written romance and would be loved by everyone who likes a well earned HEA after tackling lots of obstacles.Read more
Read
January 12, 2016"Hewitt’s emotional roller coaster of a romance is about joyful reunions and painful goodbyes, and about the debilitating power of secrets. Readers will love the enigmatic co-stars, and bounce between empathizing and wanting to shake them" (RT Book Reviews, 4 1/2 stars).
Miniseries: The Marakaios Brides
Miniseries: The Marakaios Brides
May 23, 2015
3.5 stars.
This book talked about reality of relationship. It didn't matter if you're a hot genius mathematician and a hot Greek millionaire, without communication there's no HEA. This is where just love is not enough but if you're willing to fight, love can conquer all.
This book talked about reality of relationship. It didn't matter if you're a hot genius mathematician and a hot Greek millionaire, without communication there's no HEA. This is where just love is not enough but if you're willing to fight, love can conquer all.
August 2, 2015
Lindsay's condition is very well explained and the author made a nice research of it... But the author fails because Lindsay was overacting with her situation and irritating sometimes. The hero... Nothing new for Greek HP heroes.
Also, the story starts very slow and finishes too abruptly. The interactions between hero and heroine are flat and the chemistry is a bit forced IMO. The secondary characters were nice (so sad that Antonios's mother died :( ), but I didn't buy the thing that Antonios's sisters were intimidated by Lindsay. This book was one that was supposed to be great. Too bad KH didn't reached the goal.
And book 2 of this series is worse... :/
Also, the story starts very slow and finishes too abruptly. The interactions between hero and heroine are flat and the chemistry is a bit forced IMO. The secondary characters were nice (so sad that Antonios's mother died :( ), but I didn't buy the thing that Antonios's sisters were intimidated by Lindsay. This book was one that was supposed to be great. Too bad KH didn't reached the goal.
And book 2 of this series is worse... :/
April 29, 2015
Underwhelming romance. Heroine's insecurities caused all the trouble. Also this was a hasty marriage. Not much conversation. Then heroine leaves. She failed to communicate her issues with hero.
I did like the hero was a bit ruthless. Unfortunately that didn't last.
I did like the hero was a bit ruthless. Unfortunately that didn't last.
Read
January 12, 2016received 4 1/2 stars @ RT Book Reviews
Miniseries: The Marakaios Brides
Miniseries: The Marakaios Brides
January 18, 2019
I sincerely appreciated that the 'fix' to the heroine's social anxiety was not 'love' but her husband learning to be considerate of her needs. That's a huge thing for me.
Read
June 20, 2020Speak the truth of your heart, because it doesn't really matter if you ruffle a few feathers.
Brahms Concerto in A Minor.
Frei aber einsam-Free but lonely
Brahms Concerto in A Minor.
Frei aber einsam-Free but lonely
May 14, 2023
3.6***
dnf
October 10, 2024DNFed at 39%
July 10, 2025
The miscommunication trope was insane in this. So painful for it to be repeated over and over again. Just talk and don’t be babies. Jesus!
February 17, 2017
Good
Unfortunately, I read the 2 installment before this one. I found that like that one there was a lot of unnecessary angst and secrets. What kept me reading was the fact that they really loved each other, and they admitted it fairly early in the story. Will definitely read again.
Unfortunately, I read the 2 installment before this one. I found that like that one there was a lot of unnecessary angst and secrets. What kept me reading was the fact that they really loved each other, and they admitted it fairly early in the story. Will definitely read again.
July 22, 2015
A story of second chances, Lindsay Douglas fell in love with Antonios Marakaios in one week . After a whirlwind marriage she finds herself alone so often as he is a greek determined to run his empire. She tries to make him realize but he doesn't so her only option is to go, so she leaves. In time when she wants to finally sever the ties she confronts him, but the only way he will let her go is if she attends a family gathering. She doesn't think she can do that even for a short period of time as her fears are not unfounded as she suffers from severe anxiety attacks. Lack of communications that broke the marriage down and loneliness are the things that must be addressed. Its a wonderful story and a heart wrenching one as their walk softly over their fears and heartbreak. a lovely story..by a wonderful author Kate Hewitt truly twists your heartstrings...
June 4, 2021
The tycoon's runaway wife!
One magical week was all it took for shy Lindsay Douglas to fall for charismatic Antonios Marakaios. After a whirlwind marriage, the pressure and loneliness of life as the proud Greek's wife proved too much for Lindsay. Her only option was to leave.
Now her determined husband returns with one last demand: attend a family gathering in exchange for a final severing of ties. But Antonios's voice still sends shivers down her spine and reminds her how devastating their desire is. Could one week be enough to fall back in love?
One magical week was all it took for shy Lindsay Douglas to fall for charismatic Antonios Marakaios. After a whirlwind marriage, the pressure and loneliness of life as the proud Greek's wife proved too much for Lindsay. Her only option was to leave.
Now her determined husband returns with one last demand: attend a family gathering in exchange for a final severing of ties. But Antonios's voice still sends shivers down her spine and reminds her how devastating their desire is. Could one week be enough to fall back in love?
August 7, 2015
I really enjoy books set in Greece and I have a real soft spot for Greek heroes and this gave me both a hero who was troubled by a secret a heroine who also kept a secret that caused lots of problems for this couple that fell in love on first sight married and things fell apart but their reunion is heart-warming emotional and very sensual. I loved the way they finally opened up to each other and when the truths were out their love blossomed even more a great read I loved it.
April 5, 2015
Social anxiety and panic attacks is a novel concept in these type of books. It is written extremely true to life. The romance works well, although like with most books in the genre, it could have been resolved much earlier if they had just talked to each other.
August 23, 2015
Incredible! Lindsay has a secret. One secret that caused her to destroy her marriage when she left her handsome husband, Antonios. Will family traditions bring these two back together? Will Antonios reveal his own secret? Will their love conquer everything. A beautiful story and a must read!
April 14, 2015
i love that it also included the H's POV but i admit, the h was a little selfish, couldn't live in Sicily.
May 11, 2015
It was ok, and I might read the next one
May 21, 2015
3.5
different
the couple are separated but they admit that they love each other from almost the start
different
the couple are separated but they admit that they love each other from almost the start
May 27, 2015
Perfect second chance story! I loved both Lindsay and Antonios!
September 15, 2015
I really enjoyed reading this.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews