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The Christmas Love-Child
It's Christmastime in London, and unwittingly Grace is swirled into the sumptuous and scandalous world of Prince Maksim Rostov. When the unworldly secretary learns he took her innocence in exchange for a business deal, she flees broken-hearted.
But when Maksim discovers Grace's pregnancy secret, the ruthless Russian drags her to his guarded mansion in snowy Moscow. There he'll keep her as his captive bride and unwilling princess....
But when Maksim discovers Grace's pregnancy secret, the ruthless Russian drags her to his guarded mansion in snowy Moscow. There he'll keep her as his captive bride and unwilling princess....
192 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2009
49 people are currently reading
620 people want to read
About the author
Jennie Lucas
559 books331 followersJennie Lucas had a tragic beginning for any would-be writer: a very happy childhood. Her parents owned a bookstore, and she grew up surrounded by books, dreaming about faraway lands. Her mother read aloud to her in French when she was little; when she was ten, her father secretly paid her a dollar for every classic novel (Jane Eyre, War and Peace) that she read. As a chubby teenager, Jennie covered her bedroom with travel posters and always had her nose in a book.
At fifteen, she went to a Connecticut boarding school on scholarship. She took her first solo trip to Europe at sixteen, then put off college and traveled around the U.S., supporting herself with jobs as diverse as gas station cashier and newspaper advertising assistant.
At 22, she met the man who would be her husband. For the first time in her life, she wanted to stay in one place, as long as she could be with him. After their marriage, she graduated from Kent State University with a degree in English, and started writing books a year later.
Jennie was a finalist in the Romance Writers of America’s Golden Heart contest in 2003 and won the award in 2005. A fellow 2003 finalist, Australian author Trish Morey, read Jennie’s writing and told her that she should write for Harlequin Presents. It seemed like too big a dream, but Jennie took a deep breath and went for it. A year later, after seven years of writing and eight finished manuscripts, Jennie got the magical call from London that turned her into a published author.
Since then, life has been hectic, juggling a writing career, a sexy husband and two young children, but Jennie loves her crazy, chaotic life. Who needs a clean house? Every day, Jennie gets swept into drama, glamour and passion. Now if she can only figure out how to pack up her family and live in all the places she’s writing about!
At fifteen, she went to a Connecticut boarding school on scholarship. She took her first solo trip to Europe at sixteen, then put off college and traveled around the U.S., supporting herself with jobs as diverse as gas station cashier and newspaper advertising assistant.
At 22, she met the man who would be her husband. For the first time in her life, she wanted to stay in one place, as long as she could be with him. After their marriage, she graduated from Kent State University with a degree in English, and started writing books a year later.
Jennie was a finalist in the Romance Writers of America’s Golden Heart contest in 2003 and won the award in 2005. A fellow 2003 finalist, Australian author Trish Morey, read Jennie’s writing and told her that she should write for Harlequin Presents. It seemed like too big a dream, but Jennie took a deep breath and went for it. A year later, after seven years of writing and eight finished manuscripts, Jennie got the magical call from London that turned her into a published author.
Since then, life has been hectic, juggling a writing career, a sexy husband and two young children, but Jennie loves her crazy, chaotic life. Who needs a clean house? Every day, Jennie gets swept into drama, glamour and passion. Now if she can only figure out how to pack up her family and live in all the places she’s writing about!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
December 15, 2011
Wow. A really good Harlequin Presents novel is a great tension-releaser for me. This one counts on my list. Plus, brownie points for the sexy Russian hero. Okay, he was a jerk at times, but he was a jerk who fell in love, had to deal with his conscience kicking in after twenty years, and manned up when he was supposed to. That's my kind of jerk.
I've noticed that Ms. Lucas has the heroes who are really into the whole, "I'll fix you. I'll marry you and make you pay," school of revenge. Okay, I think that's hilarious. Why would you want to marry someone you can't stand to make them suffer? Because you're totally in denial and you want her to be yours, but you're having a temper tantrum until you get over yourself. Yup, that was Maksim, alright.
At times, I thought Grace was a little too wide-eyed innocent to be believed, but I went with it. This is high drama, soap opera. You have to suspend some disbelief. This is Harlequin Presentsland, where everything is larger than life. That's part of why I read these books, so I can't complain. She was a good person, definitely into self-sacrificing. I do have to admit when Maksim offered her a job, I would have said, "Hell, yeah!" Sorry for the bad language. I'm just keeping it real. Did I tell you I have a thing for sexy Russian heroes? This guy puts the Russian in sexy!
The love scenes were steamy. Not super descriptive, but very steamy. You could feel the sexual tension coming off this book in waves. High five, Ms. Lucas. Maksim was hot, in all his steely-gray eyed, hard muscled, ruthless because he was so poor that he almost froze one really bad Philadelphia winter, self. The man was always trying to buy outrageously expensive stuff for her, like oh, I don't know, a Maserati to go with her hair. He bought his sister a platinum tiara with diamonds, which she gave to Grace as a party favor. What's up with that? Reminder to self: Harlequin Presents novel. It's supposed to be over the top. Anyway, this was a hot book.
Did I mention that part of this book takes place in Moscow? Awesome! When Grace runs away the second time, she takes the Trans-Siberian railroad. How cool is that? Of course, Maksim shows up in his armor-plated SUV, swooping down on her like the angel of darkness to declare his love. They kiss at the train station surrounded by various eastern Russian peasantry. Sigh!
I really liked this one. Very enjoyable as long as you go into it remembering that Harlequin Presents novels are not real life, and they are not supposed to be. They are a few hours of entertainment where heroes give out Maseratis and diamond tiaras like you might hand your friend a pack of gum. Oh, I forgot to mention that Maksim has a Bugatti Veyron! (I didn't even know what that was before last year, but now I know that's a million dollar sports car thanks to reading Dark Desires After Dusk by Kresley Cole last year.)
Nice job, Ms. Lucas. Thumbs up on this one!
I've noticed that Ms. Lucas has the heroes who are really into the whole, "I'll fix you. I'll marry you and make you pay," school of revenge. Okay, I think that's hilarious. Why would you want to marry someone you can't stand to make them suffer? Because you're totally in denial and you want her to be yours, but you're having a temper tantrum until you get over yourself. Yup, that was Maksim, alright.
At times, I thought Grace was a little too wide-eyed innocent to be believed, but I went with it. This is high drama, soap opera. You have to suspend some disbelief. This is Harlequin Presentsland, where everything is larger than life. That's part of why I read these books, so I can't complain. She was a good person, definitely into self-sacrificing. I do have to admit when Maksim offered her a job, I would have said, "Hell, yeah!" Sorry for the bad language. I'm just keeping it real. Did I tell you I have a thing for sexy Russian heroes? This guy puts the Russian in sexy!
The love scenes were steamy. Not super descriptive, but very steamy. You could feel the sexual tension coming off this book in waves. High five, Ms. Lucas. Maksim was hot, in all his steely-gray eyed, hard muscled, ruthless because he was so poor that he almost froze one really bad Philadelphia winter, self. The man was always trying to buy outrageously expensive stuff for her, like oh, I don't know, a Maserati to go with her hair. He bought his sister a platinum tiara with diamonds, which she gave to Grace as a party favor. What's up with that? Reminder to self: Harlequin Presents novel. It's supposed to be over the top. Anyway, this was a hot book.
Did I mention that part of this book takes place in Moscow? Awesome! When Grace runs away the second time, she takes the Trans-Siberian railroad. How cool is that? Of course, Maksim shows up in his armor-plated SUV, swooping down on her like the angel of darkness to declare his love. They kiss at the train station surrounded by various eastern Russian peasantry. Sigh!
I really liked this one. Very enjoyable as long as you go into it remembering that Harlequin Presents novels are not real life, and they are not supposed to be. They are a few hours of entertainment where heroes give out Maseratis and diamond tiaras like you might hand your friend a pack of gum. Oh, I forgot to mention that Maksim has a Bugatti Veyron! (I didn't even know what that was before last year, but now I know that's a million dollar sports car thanks to reading Dark Desires After Dusk by Kresley Cole last year.)
Nice job, Ms. Lucas. Thumbs up on this one!
July 26, 2015
I loved this story.
Well-written, great story line and fabulous settings.
Whilst I felt at times that Grace was a bit of a twit and Prince Maksim a bit of a twit as well…..I did like them.
I am not a huge fan of Russian heroes but Prince Maksim was more than just the usual brooding, dark and over the top domineering billionaire. He turned out to be a really lovable guy.
And even Grace, the heroine, falls under his spell despite thinking that she’s in love with her boss, who is actually Maksim’s arch enemy.
Okay, you get where the story goes..right??? Revenge….but falls in love with beautiful and innocent heroine and off they go into the sunset …HEA!!!! Of course.
Another great read from Jennie Lucas.
Well-written, great story line and fabulous settings.
Whilst I felt at times that Grace was a bit of a twit and Prince Maksim a bit of a twit as well…..I did like them.
I am not a huge fan of Russian heroes but Prince Maksim was more than just the usual brooding, dark and over the top domineering billionaire. He turned out to be a really lovable guy.
And even Grace, the heroine, falls under his spell despite thinking that she’s in love with her boss, who is actually Maksim’s arch enemy.
Okay, you get where the story goes..right??? Revenge….but falls in love with beautiful and innocent heroine and off they go into the sunset …HEA!!!! Of course.
Another great read from Jennie Lucas.
November 8, 2016
Oh dear. Martyr alert.
We have a sweetheart on our hands. A sweet little rabbit with a big bad Russian wolf at her door. To make matters worse, Grace the h isn't even love with him (yet). She's in love with the other asshat in the story; her boss and the Russian wolf's ache enemy and stealer of trophy fiancees. The asshat boss that Grace loves has her live in his basement so she's available to fax 24/7, and still has her pay rent. And listen Grace, clothes count when you are an Executive Assistant to tycoon. You are in London, for crying out loud, go find yourself a good consignment store and buy something decent.
Update 1:
Hallelujah, there is a God! The worm has turned and our little sweetheart has not only grown a spine, but sharpened her brain. A night out on the town with the Russian wolf who treats Grace like a princess, nope a Czarina, not to mention a smarm attack from her asshat boss makes Grace realize she is worth something, and she asks for a raise.
PLOT:
Grace has been in love with her skeevy user of a boss. She also has major financial commitments back home. When Maksim, our Russian hero, sees her he thinks she is ripe for the picking as her boss has stolen his oil deal and his fiancee. Grace, as stated before, is a sweetheart but more than a little clueless. You can practically see Maks twirl his evil villain mustache as he tries to decide if he should bribe her or simply seduce her. To misquote Fiddler on the Roof, "She's pretty. She's young! Alright, she's 22, but she's a nice girl, a good catch, true?" True. On her own, Grace vacillates between martyred doormat and 21st century woman, 21st century virginal woman.
She succumbs to Maks as we all know she will, but she keeps her integrity intact. Through a slip of the tongue she gives Maks the info he will need to gain control over the oil deal again. His moral dilemma is should he use it as the cold-hearted bastard that he is or keep true to the ideal that Grace sees in him?
Failure to communicate and a big misunderstanding tears the two apart for about 24 hours. This is when it went off the rails for me and dropped to two stars. Up until this point, the two characters were so sweet together. He's a great, big cold Russian wolf who thinks of nothing but money except when it comes to his beloved little sister, or when it comes to protecting Grace as Maks realizes how innocent, sweet and honorable she really is or...whatever. He's big marshmallow when it comes to Grace. In the other corner, is Miss Sweetness and Light, I mean really she is. She takes nothing from him, but opens him up to the possibilities that life can be good.
We have a sweetheart on our hands. A sweet little rabbit with a big bad Russian wolf at her door. To make matters worse, Grace the h isn't even love with him (yet). She's in love with the other asshat in the story; her boss and the Russian wolf's ache enemy and stealer of trophy fiancees. The asshat boss that Grace loves has her live in his basement so she's available to fax 24/7, and still has her pay rent. And listen Grace, clothes count when you are an Executive Assistant to tycoon. You are in London, for crying out loud, go find yourself a good consignment store and buy something decent.
Update 1:
Hallelujah, there is a God! The worm has turned and our little sweetheart has not only grown a spine, but sharpened her brain. A night out on the town with the Russian wolf who treats Grace like a princess, nope a Czarina, not to mention a smarm attack from her asshat boss makes Grace realize she is worth something, and she asks for a raise.
PLOT:
Grace has been in love with her skeevy user of a boss. She also has major financial commitments back home. When Maksim, our Russian hero, sees her he thinks she is ripe for the picking as her boss has stolen his oil deal and his fiancee. Grace, as stated before, is a sweetheart but more than a little clueless. You can practically see Maks twirl his evil villain mustache as he tries to decide if he should bribe her or simply seduce her. To misquote Fiddler on the Roof, "She's pretty. She's young! Alright, she's 22, but she's a nice girl, a good catch, true?" True. On her own, Grace vacillates between martyred doormat and 21st century woman, 21st century virginal woman.
She succumbs to Maks as we all know she will, but she keeps her integrity intact. Through a slip of the tongue she gives Maks the info he will need to gain control over the oil deal again. His moral dilemma is should he use it as the cold-hearted bastard that he is or keep true to the ideal that Grace sees in him?
Failure to communicate and a big misunderstanding tears the two apart for about 24 hours. This is when it went off the rails for me and dropped to two stars. Up until this point, the two characters were so sweet together. He's a great, big cold Russian wolf who thinks of nothing but money except when it comes to his beloved little sister, or when it comes to protecting Grace as Maks realizes how innocent, sweet and honorable she really is or...whatever. He's big marshmallow when it comes to Grace. In the other corner, is Miss Sweetness and Light, I mean really she is. She takes nothing from him, but opens him up to the possibilities that life can be good.
September 25, 2017
This book was passionate, heart-wrenching and poignant. Yes the hero was a jerk at times but also complex. The heroine was the most lovable sweet and honest heroine I've ever read. I loved how opposites these two were and how in the end Grace's unconditional selfless love pulled him out of darkness changed him completely and made him a better man/father. The angst, the fighting, the revenge, the heartbreak and finally the HEA had me on the edge of my seat. I didn't want it to end. Really amazing love story melted my heart!
June 18, 2018
Tropes: virgin heroine is in love with her worthless boss, who has tried to double cross the hero by stealing his evil fiance (OW) and his merger deal. Hero targets the boss's secretary for either bribery or seduction or both.
For her part, the virgin heroine thankfully has found a ruthless alpha to first break her heart (he seduced and then seemingly discarded her) and then to keep in her (and her family) in the manner that all innocent and defenseless creatures should be kept. She will be cossetted and loved and adored, just for being the virgin heroine that this alpha fell for against his ruthless judgment.
Thank goodness the hero is manipulative and cruel (for one whole week!) otherwise this would have been too sweet and fluffy for my tastes. But JL didn't disappoint. The H/h are the right blend of sweet and ruthless.
Even I, a Christmas Grinch, enjoyed the train station scene in Siberia on Epiphany. Just a nice ending all around.
For her part, the virgin heroine thankfully has found a ruthless alpha to first break her heart (he seduced and then seemingly discarded her) and then to keep in her (and her family) in the manner that all innocent and defenseless creatures should be kept. She will be cossetted and loved and adored, just for being the virgin heroine that this alpha fell for against his ruthless judgment.
Thank goodness the hero is manipulative and cruel (for one whole week!) otherwise this would have been too sweet and fluffy for my tastes. But JL didn't disappoint. The H/h are the right blend of sweet and ruthless.
Even I, a Christmas Grinch, enjoyed the train station scene in Siberia on Epiphany. Just a nice ending all around.
July 31, 2020
"The Christmas Love-Child" is the story of Grace and Maksim.
Pleasant read!
The book has a Russian prince playboy hero, planning to seduce the heroine- the secretary to his enemy in order to destroy him. Things do not go his way, and he soon realizes the heroine is a kind soul.
The heroine has been in love with her boss,even when the oblivious man stole his nemesis' fiance, and continues to treat her like dirt. She needs money to save her family from financial ruin. Her life changes when the hero enters her life, and even though she knows he might use her for revenge, he successfully convinces her otherwise until her illusions are shattered.
What follows is betrayal, a hasty marriage, hero behaving like an ass and the heroine crying and fighting for her place, some OW drama, hot lovemaking and HEA.
Likable characters, equal parts romance and angst.
Not bad! Well bred epilogue with sweetness overload.
Safe for me/SWE for some
3/5
Pleasant read!
The book has a Russian prince playboy hero, planning to seduce the heroine- the secretary to his enemy in order to destroy him. Things do not go his way, and he soon realizes the heroine is a kind soul.
The heroine has been in love with her boss,even when the oblivious man stole his nemesis' fiance, and continues to treat her like dirt. She needs money to save her family from financial ruin. Her life changes when the hero enters her life, and even though she knows he might use her for revenge, he successfully convinces her otherwise until her illusions are shattered.
What follows is betrayal, a hasty marriage, hero behaving like an ass and the heroine crying and fighting for her place, some OW drama, hot lovemaking and HEA.
Likable characters, equal parts romance and angst.
Not bad! Well bred epilogue with sweetness overload.
Safe for me/SWE for some
3/5
September 13, 2016
PA Grace is returning from a lingerie shopping expedition when she has an unfortunate adventure. She ends up drenched in slush, and the lingerie is ruined. It’s run over by a bus, oh no! That lingerie is the most expensive lingerie in the world from a posh London shop. And it was to be a present from her boss to his new fiancée, and it just destroyed Grace to buy it because a) she is a pure virgin person, and b) she considers luxuries the devil’s work and c) she has a huge crush on her boss. He will never love her because she is plain. He doesn’t remember the time he snogged her at the Halloween party before he collapsed in a drunken stupor, but she loves him anyway! He’s not paying her commensurate to her responsibilities, and therefore her family are about to be destitute, but she loves him anyway! He makes her do all his work, and errands, and she lives in his basement, and she pays rent, and he’s going to marry someone else, but she loves him anyway!
Grace is a ninny.
Fortunately: Prince Maksim. He’s the most handsome Russian billionaire in the world. He makes her insides go funny. But he’s also her boss’s fiancée’s ex, and her boss’s business rival, so she should probably have nothing to do with him. Except: he’s so nice. He takes her back to the shop and they have a Pretty Woman moment, and he buys the lingerie (and later surprises her with other fancy clothes, just for her), and he commences the assertive wooing.
Maksim is not a nice man. He’s dragged himself up to an insanely large fortune on the backs of his father and his grandfather’s profligate spending. They left his family destitute and freezing in Philadelphia! He will never be poor again, and nothing will stand in his way. And he won’t lose a nasty red-head and a big oil deal to the lesser lifeform that is Grace’s boss. That’s not how the world works. Lucky for him, on closer inspection Grace isn’t as plain as her ugly clothes suggest. She has a nice rack and a good head of naturally blonde hair. And she’s a down-trodden ninny. He can definitely work with this.
So Grace is wined and dined and kissed. Her appearance is transformed by a 10,000 pound black shearling coat, and her cheeks attain that beautiful glow that comes, not from a $300 jar of moisturiser, but from turning down expensive jewellery and Maseratis.
She even works up the courage to ask her boss for the back pay that will save her family from the streets. The back-story here is that Grace’s dad died of cancer and Grace left college at 20 to get a job. Her mother and three brothers (12 – 17) have been living on the dad’s life insurance for three years, but now the mother has suddenly realised she has no money and needs $10,000 to make the next mortgage payment, and then money to buy Christmas presents and Christmas foods. Whatever with this family. There is nothing adorable about how a teenage boy will maybe cry because he has to return his new guitar. Teenage boys smell, and could have gone out and got fast food jobs, or joined gangs to buy their own guitars. Get into the right gang, and maybe you can buy yourself a Stratocaster!
Her boss agrees to the salary stuff, and also lets slip that his engagement to nasty red-head Lady Francesca is fake. Francesca had a dummy spit because Maksim wouldn’t ask her to marry him, so she orchestrated the whole thing so that Maksim would lose the oil deal, because she knew just how much this would get up his aristocratic nose.
Grace keeps dating Maksim on the sly and they go to his empty country house and there’s a big roaring fire and a thick blanket to lie on, and Grace lets slip both her hymen and the fake engagement story.
And even though Maksim isn’t nice, he decides to be noble. Honour is in his blood, after all, and Grace is cuddly. But it makes no difference because Grace’s boss loses the deal and sacks Grace, and when she runs to Maksim, he’s cosying up with Francesca, so off she tearfully flies to California, to spend a guilt-ridden Christmas not telling her family that there is no money.
Then, Grace takes a pregnancy test and Maksim shows up to explain that he didn’t betray her, and to discover that Grace is pregnant and had no intention of telling him. He’s cross. She’s cross because she didn’t really believe him, and when he made his bid for reconciliation his offer was a job as his secretary in Moscow, which Grace turned her nose up at. She doesn’t want a job, she wants a declaration of undying love! But now 5 seconds of secret baby have blighted any chance of love between them, and they must get married and move to Moscow so that Maksim can keep Grace a prisoner in his big mansion. He will overwhelm her with luxury and body guards!
Sure it’s controlling and if she’d been a dog he would have microchipped her, but it’s not like Grace was doing much with personal freedom anyway. Her future plans were crashing on a relative’s couch until she was inevitably thrown into the streets, and then to have her baby in a gutter and weep, etc so sad.
This is all very crazy and over the top and I loved the plot. I thought Maksim was a lot of alpha fun, and I enjoyed cheerfully hating on Grace. She ticks the heroine boxes I find most irritating. She’s a virgin, and she fetishizes that status herself: on several occasions she accuses Maksim of taking her innocence, like it’s some big thing and he should apologise. Woman, please. Own your sexy times. Learn that a sex thank you is an orgasm, not a promise to eternally bow to your purity and honour.
She also does that thing where she consistently refuses luxury gifts so that Maksim can eventually put it together that she’s a good person because she’s not after his money. Not that he’d really committed to the idea that she was after his money? He hadn’t really thought about it until she’d been really blatant about not spending his cash.
The 5 seconds of secret baby is fine. Grace gets a pass because she could have maybe come to her senses, and it’s pretty traumatic to discover you’re pregnant and then have the man you never want to see again just show up. I’m less comfortable with her blurting out her boss’s fake engagement after sexy times, and believing that it’s all Maksim’s fault when she’s sacked. I don’t care if he’s made a blood oath to not use their relationship to his advantage, if you’re going to blurt something like that out, you should at least feel that it was a bit oopsie on your part.
I’d been desperately hoping that we’d get an encounter with Francesca, since everyone in the book talks about how beautiful she is, and how she’s such a bitch. It happens, and although it’s pretty late in the book, it’s fun. Francesca turns up at the Moscow mansion on the night when Grace is to be introduced to society as the Princess, and pulls out her cheque book. How much does Grace want to divorce Maksim?
Of course, Grace is an idiot about it. She leaves a note telling Maksim that she faked the pregnancy, and he shouldn’t try to find her. She then takes a train to Siberia. I give her total props for being a drama queen, because although she’d set up that she’d always wanted to take the trans-Siberian railway, it’s just so fantastic that she symbolically takes herself through this beautiful and snowy landscape full of prisons and death, and it perfectly reflects the desolation and heartbreak she’s experiencing. She is a ninny, but an entertaining one.
Although, I do kind of wish she’d laughed in Francesca’s face. I mean, she’s a princess, she’s preggers, and there’s no pre-nup. Such a missed opportunity! Does Francesca know how many zeros there are in 500 million? Of course, Grace will settle for 200 million, she’s not greedy. And this doesn’t negate Maksim’s divorce settlement, maintenance and child support because: suck it rich people. How about you both make some insane payouts that might cause you a little twinge in the pocket pain for your Grand Romance?
Then, to really stick the knife in, Grace can invest it all in clean energy and any other causes that exist solely to annoy aristocrats.
This is my fourth Jennie Lucas, and I’ve been reading her on Emona’s recommendation. I’m not sure I’ll ever manage to find her ninny virgin heroines likable, but I do enjoy despising them. And Maksim is alpha and does a great smoulder and he’s entertaining and the plot was a lot of fun.
Grace is a ninny.
Fortunately: Prince Maksim. He’s the most handsome Russian billionaire in the world. He makes her insides go funny. But he’s also her boss’s fiancée’s ex, and her boss’s business rival, so she should probably have nothing to do with him. Except: he’s so nice. He takes her back to the shop and they have a Pretty Woman moment, and he buys the lingerie (and later surprises her with other fancy clothes, just for her), and he commences the assertive wooing.
Maksim is not a nice man. He’s dragged himself up to an insanely large fortune on the backs of his father and his grandfather’s profligate spending. They left his family destitute and freezing in Philadelphia! He will never be poor again, and nothing will stand in his way. And he won’t lose a nasty red-head and a big oil deal to the lesser lifeform that is Grace’s boss. That’s not how the world works. Lucky for him, on closer inspection Grace isn’t as plain as her ugly clothes suggest. She has a nice rack and a good head of naturally blonde hair. And she’s a down-trodden ninny. He can definitely work with this.
So Grace is wined and dined and kissed. Her appearance is transformed by a 10,000 pound black shearling coat, and her cheeks attain that beautiful glow that comes, not from a $300 jar of moisturiser, but from turning down expensive jewellery and Maseratis.
She even works up the courage to ask her boss for the back pay that will save her family from the streets. The back-story here is that Grace’s dad died of cancer and Grace left college at 20 to get a job. Her mother and three brothers (12 – 17) have been living on the dad’s life insurance for three years, but now the mother has suddenly realised she has no money and needs $10,000 to make the next mortgage payment, and then money to buy Christmas presents and Christmas foods. Whatever with this family. There is nothing adorable about how a teenage boy will maybe cry because he has to return his new guitar. Teenage boys smell, and could have gone out and got fast food jobs, or joined gangs to buy their own guitars. Get into the right gang, and maybe you can buy yourself a Stratocaster!
Her boss agrees to the salary stuff, and also lets slip that his engagement to nasty red-head Lady Francesca is fake. Francesca had a dummy spit because Maksim wouldn’t ask her to marry him, so she orchestrated the whole thing so that Maksim would lose the oil deal, because she knew just how much this would get up his aristocratic nose.
Grace keeps dating Maksim on the sly and they go to his empty country house and there’s a big roaring fire and a thick blanket to lie on, and Grace lets slip both her hymen and the fake engagement story.
And even though Maksim isn’t nice, he decides to be noble. Honour is in his blood, after all, and Grace is cuddly. But it makes no difference because Grace’s boss loses the deal and sacks Grace, and when she runs to Maksim, he’s cosying up with Francesca, so off she tearfully flies to California, to spend a guilt-ridden Christmas not telling her family that there is no money.
Then, Grace takes a pregnancy test and Maksim shows up to explain that he didn’t betray her, and to discover that Grace is pregnant and had no intention of telling him. He’s cross. She’s cross because she didn’t really believe him, and when he made his bid for reconciliation his offer was a job as his secretary in Moscow, which Grace turned her nose up at. She doesn’t want a job, she wants a declaration of undying love! But now 5 seconds of secret baby have blighted any chance of love between them, and they must get married and move to Moscow so that Maksim can keep Grace a prisoner in his big mansion. He will overwhelm her with luxury and body guards!
Sure it’s controlling and if she’d been a dog he would have microchipped her, but it’s not like Grace was doing much with personal freedom anyway. Her future plans were crashing on a relative’s couch until she was inevitably thrown into the streets, and then to have her baby in a gutter and weep, etc so sad.
This is all very crazy and over the top and I loved the plot. I thought Maksim was a lot of alpha fun, and I enjoyed cheerfully hating on Grace. She ticks the heroine boxes I find most irritating. She’s a virgin, and she fetishizes that status herself: on several occasions she accuses Maksim of taking her innocence, like it’s some big thing and he should apologise. Woman, please. Own your sexy times. Learn that a sex thank you is an orgasm, not a promise to eternally bow to your purity and honour.
She also does that thing where she consistently refuses luxury gifts so that Maksim can eventually put it together that she’s a good person because she’s not after his money. Not that he’d really committed to the idea that she was after his money? He hadn’t really thought about it until she’d been really blatant about not spending his cash.
The 5 seconds of secret baby is fine. Grace gets a pass because she could have maybe come to her senses, and it’s pretty traumatic to discover you’re pregnant and then have the man you never want to see again just show up. I’m less comfortable with her blurting out her boss’s fake engagement after sexy times, and believing that it’s all Maksim’s fault when she’s sacked. I don’t care if he’s made a blood oath to not use their relationship to his advantage, if you’re going to blurt something like that out, you should at least feel that it was a bit oopsie on your part.
I’d been desperately hoping that we’d get an encounter with Francesca, since everyone in the book talks about how beautiful she is, and how she’s such a bitch. It happens, and although it’s pretty late in the book, it’s fun. Francesca turns up at the Moscow mansion on the night when Grace is to be introduced to society as the Princess, and pulls out her cheque book. How much does Grace want to divorce Maksim?
Of course, Grace is an idiot about it. She leaves a note telling Maksim that she faked the pregnancy, and he shouldn’t try to find her. She then takes a train to Siberia. I give her total props for being a drama queen, because although she’d set up that she’d always wanted to take the trans-Siberian railway, it’s just so fantastic that she symbolically takes herself through this beautiful and snowy landscape full of prisons and death, and it perfectly reflects the desolation and heartbreak she’s experiencing. She is a ninny, but an entertaining one.
Although, I do kind of wish she’d laughed in Francesca’s face. I mean, she’s a princess, she’s preggers, and there’s no pre-nup. Such a missed opportunity! Does Francesca know how many zeros there are in 500 million? Of course, Grace will settle for 200 million, she’s not greedy. And this doesn’t negate Maksim’s divorce settlement, maintenance and child support because: suck it rich people. How about you both make some insane payouts that might cause you a little twinge in the pocket pain for your Grand Romance?
Then, to really stick the knife in, Grace can invest it all in clean energy and any other causes that exist solely to annoy aristocrats.
This is my fourth Jennie Lucas, and I’ve been reading her on Emona’s recommendation. I’m not sure I’ll ever manage to find her ninny virgin heroines likable, but I do enjoy despising them. And Maksim is alpha and does a great smoulder and he’s entertaining and the plot was a lot of fun.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 21, 2015
This was an awesome story. The hero was jerk almost all the way but some moments he was sweet. The end has them both coming together in a scene that was something out of a classic movie except she does not leave on a plane. Wow she was so strong and he was so confused by his emotions. I loved it another winner for Jennie.
September 25, 2017
A typical HP.
#TSTLheroine
#HeroAssholeManipulative
#OWDrama
At the end, An average read.
#TSTLheroine
#HeroAssholeManipulative
#OWDrama
At the end, An average read.
November 15, 2010
Another enjoyable read by Jennie Lucas. She has become a favorite hp author of mine. Her books keep my interest where I don't want to put them down. That makes a good one for me.
The heroine, Grace was a bit of a doormat and she knew it but it didn't annoy me enough to dislike her. I didn't like her constant belief that Maksim was cheating on her with Francesca. However, she was sweet, kind and selfless.
Maksim seemed pretty hard in the beginning but he had a crappy childhood that made him bitter. I liked how Grace made him a better man.
It made me sad when they were at odds during the book after the pregnancy reveal. They were so sweet and cute together when they weren't fighting.
All in all a good, quick read.
The heroine, Grace was a bit of a doormat and she knew it but it didn't annoy me enough to dislike her. I didn't like her constant belief that Maksim was cheating on her with Francesca. However, she was sweet, kind and selfless.
Maksim seemed pretty hard in the beginning but he had a crappy childhood that made him bitter. I liked how Grace made him a better man.
It made me sad when they were at odds during the book after the pregnancy reveal. They were so sweet and cute together when they weren't fighting.
All in all a good, quick read.
June 26, 2012
Good read,it was intense emotional full of tension,the story was good but i had problems with characters,i wish Grace was shown to be a little strong character instead of such a doormat.Maksim's cruelty and cold behaviour sometimes was unreasonable,yes Grace insulted him and did not believe him but how can he be angry at her,he lied and when later things changed for him he should have come clean but he never did which resulted in so many misunderstandings.But inspite of all the hurdles they manage to get their HEA.
December 26, 2009
The heroine was a twit with no self esteem and the hero was an ass. Parts of the story were okay but others were kind of dumb and could have been written better.
February 6, 2017
Jennie Lucas has a way of making you feel in a place you're lost in brooding emotions and suspense, but left satisfied amidst this roller-coaster of passion and sentiments of hate, anger and revenge.
You actually relate to the characters, and feel their chemistry.
If you are looking for a sweet story to just curl up with, I would definitely recommend
The Christmas Love-Child.
You actually relate to the characters, and feel their chemistry.
If you are looking for a sweet story to just curl up with, I would definitely recommend
The Christmas Love-Child.
September 18, 2013
1.5 stars
This rating does not mean that the book was awful, it was in fact wonderfully written with 3-dimensional characters who make mistakes and a very well-though out plot with lots of twists and turns and angst. It's just that I didn't find this book to my liking.
Reading this book, I found myself so confused and conflicted regarding the characters and the plot. I loved Grace's innocence and her good heart, yet I hated that she was so infatuated with her boss (not the hero. He was an ass, and not in the hot-possessive-hero way. He was discourteous, impolite and had the manners of a donkey. I don't even know what she saw in him.
But I also loved how she didn't allow her love for said asshole to cloud her judgment, and wasn't as blind and dense and tantrum-y as your regular HP heroine. She was practical. She was also extremely loyal, a trait I admire, however misplaced the loyalty.
I also liked how, when the hero comes along, she realises that this is true love and opens her eyes with no idiotic denials or plain stubbornness.
THEN when she finds the hero with OW, she runs away. This part I hated. She should have stayed and asked him for an explanation. Yes, she was on her way to do exactly that when she sees him with OW, but she really shouldn't have run away. There is an explanation for everything.
AND THEN WHEN THE HERO COMES AFTER HER, SHE HIDES HER PREGNANCY FROM HIM. For me, this was the damning action. I don't care if he's an ass or if he doesn't love you, it's his child too, and he has a right to know! And when he asks her if she's pregnant, she lies to him! God, HP heroines.
But still. She was a lot better than she could have been.
Now we move onto the hero. I can't say that this one struck a particular cord, but I did like how he was willing to give up his revenge vendetta for the heroine. I loved that, in fact. It redeemed him in my eyes.
The rest of the story was a roller coaster of ups and downs. I liked how Grace loved him enough to let him go, hated how she didn't want to stay and fight. Loved how her love for him was so deep, hated how she lies to him and runs away to 'set him free'. Like I said, I was really, really conflicted.
It wasn't at all a bad read, I just didn't find it to my liking. Although the writing was great, the dialogue was superb, and the little details the author added made the book seem very realistic. Another point in favour of the author - her characters were flawed, had their own growing up and grovelling to do, were less-than-perfect and completely unlike regular HP characters. But I suppose that's why I didn't like the book very much - I like rainbows and unicorns and perfection. It's the reason I read romance.
This rating does not mean that the book was awful, it was in fact wonderfully written with 3-dimensional characters who make mistakes and a very well-though out plot with lots of twists and turns and angst. It's just that I didn't find this book to my liking.
Reading this book, I found myself so confused and conflicted regarding the characters and the plot. I loved Grace's innocence and her good heart, yet I hated that she was so infatuated with her boss (not the hero. He was an ass, and not in the hot-possessive-hero way. He was discourteous, impolite and had the manners of a donkey. I don't even know what she saw in him.
But I also loved how she didn't allow her love for said asshole to cloud her judgment, and wasn't as blind and dense and tantrum-y as your regular HP heroine. She was practical. She was also extremely loyal, a trait I admire, however misplaced the loyalty.
I also liked how, when the hero comes along, she realises that this is true love and opens her eyes with no idiotic denials or plain stubbornness.
THEN when she finds the hero with OW, she runs away. This part I hated. She should have stayed and asked him for an explanation. Yes, she was on her way to do exactly that when she sees him with OW, but she really shouldn't have run away. There is an explanation for everything.
AND THEN WHEN THE HERO COMES AFTER HER, SHE HIDES HER PREGNANCY FROM HIM. For me, this was the damning action. I don't care if he's an ass or if he doesn't love you, it's his child too, and he has a right to know! And when he asks her if she's pregnant, she lies to him! God, HP heroines.
But still. She was a lot better than she could have been.
Now we move onto the hero. I can't say that this one struck a particular cord, but I did like how he was willing to give up his revenge vendetta for the heroine. I loved that, in fact. It redeemed him in my eyes.
The rest of the story was a roller coaster of ups and downs. I liked how Grace loved him enough to let him go, hated how she didn't want to stay and fight. Loved how her love for him was so deep, hated how she lies to him and runs away to 'set him free'. Like I said, I was really, really conflicted.
It wasn't at all a bad read, I just didn't find it to my liking. Although the writing was great, the dialogue was superb, and the little details the author added made the book seem very realistic. Another point in favour of the author - her characters were flawed, had their own growing up and grovelling to do, were less-than-perfect and completely unlike regular HP characters. But I suppose that's why I didn't like the book very much - I like rainbows and unicorns and perfection. It's the reason I read romance.
August 17, 2015
Rating: 5 stars.
This is my most reread Harlequin book to date. Since 2011, I always read the from chapter 9 and onwards. I would read this at least 4-5 times a month! And before that, I would read it every other day. Why, you ask? Well, chapters 9 and onwards are where most of the angst, jerkiness and pain filled moments are in. By Chapter 10 and 11 the waterworks have started and tears really flow. This shows how great this book.
Grace was a wonderful, sweet and self sacrificing heroine, the type who will inflict pain on herself rather than the hero. Her love for Maksim really endeared her to me. Over and over again she had begged for Maksim's love, something that she had earlier in the story, but had 'lost' after he felt betrayed. It was beautiful.
Maksim on the other hand.. He was an almost sweetie at the start of the book, but that quickly changes after chapter 9 and onwards. But the pain he dealt Grace gave me a beautiful ache in my chest and made me tear up. It still does!
I won’t go into anymore details about the book, as there are many wonderful reviews about it, but all I want to say is that the book is worth a try.
This is my most reread Harlequin book to date. Since 2011, I always read the from chapter 9 and onwards. I would read this at least 4-5 times a month! And before that, I would read it every other day. Why, you ask? Well, chapters 9 and onwards are where most of the angst, jerkiness and pain filled moments are in. By Chapter 10 and 11 the waterworks have started and tears really flow. This shows how great this book.
Grace was a wonderful, sweet and self sacrificing heroine, the type who will inflict pain on herself rather than the hero. Her love for Maksim really endeared her to me. Over and over again she had begged for Maksim's love, something that she had earlier in the story, but had 'lost' after he felt betrayed. It was beautiful.
Maksim on the other hand.. He was an almost sweetie at the start of the book, but that quickly changes after chapter 9 and onwards. But the pain he dealt Grace gave me a beautiful ache in my chest and made me tear up. It still does!
I won’t go into anymore details about the book, as there are many wonderful reviews about it, but all I want to say is that the book is worth a try.
June 1, 2013
I loved the buildup of this story and the characters. Most books I read jumps straight into the story, this story however was like a slow walk in a beautiful park. It gave lots of details, and the suspense was really great. There were a few times I wanted to jump ahead to see what happened, but I was a good girl, and waited.
The budding romance between Grace and Maksim was so sweet. He wanted to buy her gifts, and spend money on her, and the only thing she ever wanted was his love.
They had a fight, so I was disappointed that I didn’t get to see him pamper her throughout the pregnancy. They were both so mean and cruel to one another for awhile. I was thankful that in the end their strong love for one another won out!
One of my favorite lines from the book: Their eyes were interlocked, and in that moment she could hardly say where her soul ended and his began.
The budding romance between Grace and Maksim was so sweet. He wanted to buy her gifts, and spend money on her, and the only thing she ever wanted was his love.
They had a fight, so I was disappointed that I didn’t get to see him pamper her throughout the pregnancy. They were both so mean and cruel to one another for awhile. I was thankful that in the end their strong love for one another won out!
One of my favorite lines from the book: Their eyes were interlocked, and in that moment she could hardly say where her soul ended and his began.
December 15, 2011
3.5 stars. Another quick easy read. My main problem was that Maksim didn't tell her how he felt about her. She left him cause she thought he'd betrayed her and she saw him with his ex. Rather than trying to make her believe him, he chose to storm off. But wait! He changed his mind and insisted they get married cause he found she was preggo. Did he tell her he loved her? No. Did he try to convince her what she saw wasn't how it was? No. Did he even act like he likes her? No. He was a prideful jerk. Thankfully he finally pulled his head out of his ass and went after her after she left him for a second time. This time he admitted how he felt and all was good in their world :)
April 28, 2019
It's Christmastime in London, and unwittingly Grace is swirled into the sumptuous and scandalous world of Prince Maksim Rostov. When the unworldly secretary learns he took her innocence in exchange for a business deal, she flees broken-hearted. But when Maksim discovers Grace's pregnancy secret, the ruthless Russian drags her to his guarded mansion in snowy Moscow. There he'll keep her as his captive bride and unwilling princess.... (
October 29, 2013
Read this years back, the hero was a first class idiot at times but oh did he make my heart and the heroines go pitter patter. Definitely a worthy read.
January 21, 2014
Fairly decent. It started slow. The heroine was a bit too naïve for words. The hero made some over reacting leaps. But all in all readable.
December 9, 2018
I have joined Manali Dey, a friend on Bookstagram, for the #MillsandBoonReadathon for which we are reading 18 books, coz it's '18! This is Book 4.
Prince Maksim Rostov helps Grace Cannon after she falls down due to his car splashing her. Grace is the secretary of Alan Barrington, a sworn enemy/rival of Maksim (in the gas/oil industry) for having stolen both his fiancee and his merger. What Grace didn't know was that Maksim had designs on this twenty-five-year-old virgin. He planned to use her to get his revenge from Alan. Maksim is in full seduction mode, and Grace can't help it in spite of the warning bells ringing in her head. From the first page itself, this book is hotness.
Since the day Grace's father died, she's worked hard to make ends meet for her family. With three younger brothers and a mother to care for, she's had her work cut out. Maksim was no different, he also had worked hard for his fortune, which his father and grandfather had ran to dust.
An interesting start to this book is that Grace is in love with Alan, or she thinks she is in love with him. Alan, in spite of being rich, doesn't increase her pay nor gives her a bonus while working her to the ground. That's really cheap of him. Ugh... Moreover, he thinks that he can use her against Maksim, too. Poor Grace, she doesn't have a clue about how she is becoming a pawn in these rich people's games. And then she commits the sin of blurting out Alan and his new fiancee's truth in front of Maksim, which he plans to use to his advantage. Whereas she ends up pregnant, knowing that Maksim only used her to get to Alan. She is fired from her job, tossed out of the house Alan rented to her, and that too on Christmas Eve! Not only that, she sees Maksim and Francesca (the other woman) getting all cosy. Betrayed from all sides, she leaves for her home in California, and her mother's comforting arms.
This was an emotional and angsty read. Did Maksim really betray her? I'm not gonna give any spoilers here. But as soon as he comes to know about her pregnancy, which is right after she comes to know about it, he orders her to marry him. They move to Moscow. A book published in 2009, I loved the glimpses it gave of Moscow, Russia. I can't even imagine how harrowing it must be to constantly fear for your life, travelling in armoured vehicles, indeed! I loved Elena, Maksim's elderly housekeeper in Moscow, more than Maksim at a certain point in the book. Humph... But he does let her stew in her misconceptions. Maksim has his heart in the right place, he just realises things very late. It would have got a five-star rating from me if not for the hollow feeling towards the end. There were too few scenes of them together, it seems. They were mostly alone, with their thoughts. At last, Maksim's house count stood at a measly six. Haha! Though it had a cuddly ending, again it was with only Grace and no Maksim in the picture, which made it a bit lonely. He's there, but not actually there.
P.S. I have read eleven of Jennie Lucas' books, including this one, and I'm in awe of her stories. I have three of her paperbacks, and except two, have loved all her works!
This book had a passing mention of Maksim's friend, Greek tycoon Nikos Stavrakis, of The Greek Billionaire's Baby Revenge. It was also a four-star read for me.
I learned a bit of Russian too...solnishka mayo...meaning exactly - my dear sunlight? I'm still not sure.
Prince Maksim Rostov helps Grace Cannon after she falls down due to his car splashing her. Grace is the secretary of Alan Barrington, a sworn enemy/rival of Maksim (in the gas/oil industry) for having stolen both his fiancee and his merger. What Grace didn't know was that Maksim had designs on this twenty-five-year-old virgin. He planned to use her to get his revenge from Alan. Maksim is in full seduction mode, and Grace can't help it in spite of the warning bells ringing in her head. From the first page itself, this book is hotness.
Since the day Grace's father died, she's worked hard to make ends meet for her family. With three younger brothers and a mother to care for, she's had her work cut out. Maksim was no different, he also had worked hard for his fortune, which his father and grandfather had ran to dust.
An interesting start to this book is that Grace is in love with Alan, or she thinks she is in love with him. Alan, in spite of being rich, doesn't increase her pay nor gives her a bonus while working her to the ground. That's really cheap of him. Ugh... Moreover, he thinks that he can use her against Maksim, too. Poor Grace, she doesn't have a clue about how she is becoming a pawn in these rich people's games. And then she commits the sin of blurting out Alan and his new fiancee's truth in front of Maksim, which he plans to use to his advantage. Whereas she ends up pregnant, knowing that Maksim only used her to get to Alan. She is fired from her job, tossed out of the house Alan rented to her, and that too on Christmas Eve! Not only that, she sees Maksim and Francesca (the other woman) getting all cosy. Betrayed from all sides, she leaves for her home in California, and her mother's comforting arms.
This was an emotional and angsty read. Did Maksim really betray her? I'm not gonna give any spoilers here. But as soon as he comes to know about her pregnancy, which is right after she comes to know about it, he orders her to marry him. They move to Moscow. A book published in 2009, I loved the glimpses it gave of Moscow, Russia. I can't even imagine how harrowing it must be to constantly fear for your life, travelling in armoured vehicles, indeed! I loved Elena, Maksim's elderly housekeeper in Moscow, more than Maksim at a certain point in the book. Humph... But he does let her stew in her misconceptions. Maksim has his heart in the right place, he just realises things very late. It would have got a five-star rating from me if not for the hollow feeling towards the end. There were too few scenes of them together, it seems. They were mostly alone, with their thoughts. At last, Maksim's house count stood at a measly six. Haha! Though it had a cuddly ending, again it was with only Grace and no Maksim in the picture, which made it a bit lonely. He's there, but not actually there.
P.S. I have read eleven of Jennie Lucas' books, including this one, and I'm in awe of her stories. I have three of her paperbacks, and except two, have loved all her works!
This book had a passing mention of Maksim's friend, Greek tycoon Nikos Stavrakis, of The Greek Billionaire's Baby Revenge. It was also a four-star read for me.
I learned a bit of Russian too...solnishka mayo...meaning exactly - my dear sunlight? I'm still not sure.
November 19, 2018
Standalone/Cliffhanger: Standalone but part of a series.
Ages of H and h: h is 25 and H is 35ish
Multi-Luv'n/Ménages:
Was There Descriptive Sex:
Descriptive Sex &/Or Drama Between H/h With OW/OM:
>>If So, Before or After H/h Hookup:
Contains Cheating:
Amount of Sex In The Book:
HEA/HFN/etc Ending:
Will This Meet My 'Safety Gang' Buddies' Approval:
Any Triggers/Warnings: No
>>Detail: N/A
Do You Recommend This Book: Yes.
Will You Re-read This Book: No
Would You Read More Books By This Author: Yes
My Thoughts
oh there was lots going on in this book! it was well paced and very enjoyable. the ex definitely tries to cause drama, and maksim doesn't help in reassuring grace's concerns.
Ages of H and h: h is 25 and H is 35ish
Multi-Luv'n/Ménages:
Was There Descriptive Sex:
Descriptive Sex &/Or Drama Between H/h With OW/OM:
>>If So, Before or After H/h Hookup:
Contains Cheating:
Amount of Sex In The Book:
HEA/HFN/etc Ending:
Will This Meet My 'Safety Gang' Buddies' Approval:
Any Triggers/Warnings: No
>>Detail: N/A
Do You Recommend This Book: Yes.
Will You Re-read This Book: No
Would You Read More Books By This Author: Yes
My Thoughts
oh there was lots going on in this book! it was well paced and very enjoyable. the ex definitely tries to cause drama, and maksim doesn't help in reassuring grace's concerns.
June 20, 2017
those 2 made me cry
January 29, 2017
2.5 Stars
This Christmas story made me feel like Scrooge - bah humbug!
Grace had an affair with her Maoism, boss' rival, and told him sensitive information that led to him winning a huge business deal. After first finding out that Maksim betrayed her, Grace learned that she was pregnant. Maksim forces her to marry him but goes out of his way to make her miserable.
I didn't love this book. I wanted to, but the story just didn't catch my attention. I didn't like either of the characters and the story felt like fluff. Not one I will read again.
This Christmas story made me feel like Scrooge - bah humbug!
Grace had an affair with her Maoism, boss' rival, and told him sensitive information that led to him winning a huge business deal. After first finding out that Maksim betrayed her, Grace learned that she was pregnant. Maksim forces her to marry him but goes out of his way to make her miserable.
I didn't love this book. I wanted to, but the story just didn't catch my attention. I didn't like either of the characters and the story felt like fluff. Not one I will read again.
July 26, 2017
Ummm. This is the first book i have read from the publisher. It was casually mentioned by a close one and got my attention and so i decided to give it a shot. :P
Well, its a light reading erotica. It's well written and the story has a a good flow. I enjoyed the colorful and descriptive writing style. It did get predictable at times, but then again, its a romantic novel written a long time ago...
A good read at the end, i enjoyed it ;)
Well, its a light reading erotica. It's well written and the story has a a good flow. I enjoyed the colorful and descriptive writing style. It did get predictable at times, but then again, its a romantic novel written a long time ago...
A good read at the end, i enjoyed it ;)
May 30, 2017
Maksim is determined to take back his fiance and the deal that belonged to him and to do that, he'll do anything- even seduce his enemy's innocent secretary. Grace believes that Maksim cares for her as he introduces her to pleasure, only to find out that he was using her.
Very intense, very emotional story. I really didn't like Maksim at first, but then as the story went on, I learned more about him and his soul.
Very intense, very emotional story. I really didn't like Maksim at first, but then as the story went on, I learned more about him and his soul.
May 24, 2019
This book was life changing and I’ve had the pleasure of meeting the author. Check out the book “The secret the Italian claims”, it was dedicated to me. I read this book in 2011, one of the lower points in my life, and for unknown reasons, I felt an immediate connection with the characters and the author’s writing. I now follow Jennie Lucas’ writing career and throughly treasure each of her books.
January 4, 2014
Very Good.
I just started reading Harlequin novels. And I must say that this is a very good one. The dark, brooding, passionate man in this story pushed his emotions to the limit. He pushed hers even further. I loved every minute of this story and finished it in less than 3 hours.
I just started reading Harlequin novels. And I must say that this is a very good one. The dark, brooding, passionate man in this story pushed his emotions to the limit. He pushed hers even further. I loved every minute of this story and finished it in less than 3 hours.
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