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Greek Tycoons #8
La esposa del griego
¿Se atrevería ella a rechazar las condiciones impuestas para su matrimonio?
Ariston Spiridakou había tenido una razón y solo una para casarse con Chloe: necesitaba una novia para conseguir un heredero. Pero la actitud retadora de ella los había hecho separarse…
Paradójicamente, unos años después del divorcio, Chloe se encontró a merced de Ariston una vez más y él exigió un precio perverso por ayudar a su familia. De hecho, no tomaría en consideración tal petición a menos que compartiese su cama… y tuviese un hijo con él.
Ariston Spiridakou había tenido una razón y solo una para casarse con Chloe: necesitaba una novia para conseguir un heredero. Pero la actitud retadora de ella los había hecho separarse…
Paradójicamente, unos años después del divorcio, Chloe se encontró a merced de Ariston una vez más y él exigió un precio perverso por ayudar a su familia. De hecho, no tomaría en consideración tal petición a menos que compartiese su cama… y tuviese un hijo con él.
144 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 2012
106 people are currently reading
1069 people want to read
About the author
Lucy Monroe
613 books1,581 followersI write spicy romance books that end in an HEA. Contemporary romance, historical romance, paranormal romance…I write it all. The two things my books all have in common is lots of emotion and spice. Last year, I fell in love with a new subgenre: mafia romance. Since I write what I love to read, I started a new standalone series, Syndicate Rules where you’ll meet over the top alpha heroes in the Italian and Greek mafias as well as the Irish mob. There are arranged marriages, forced marriages, enemies to lovers, stalkers, forced proximity and lots of mafia intrigue. Morally gray is my new favorite color.
Follow me on BookBub for alerts on my next release: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/lucy-...
I’ve been published a while and most of my 90+ books have hit the Nielson Bookscan bestseller list, a few ended up on the USA Today bestseller list and some even hit national bestseller lists in the UK and Australia. My books have been translated into numerous languages and are for sale in dozens of countries around the world. I’ve won awards and been published with most of the big houses in New York, but my greatest achievement is touching readers’ hearts. When I hear from a reader who got caught up in one of my books, I know I’m doing what I’m meant to do.
I love writing emotionally deep stories with snappy dialogue and solid plots. I’m more grateful than I’ll ever be able to express that so many readers have taken my stories into their hearts and put my books on their reread and keeper shelves.
Follow me on BookBub for alerts on my next release: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/lucy-...
I’ve been published a while and most of my 90+ books have hit the Nielson Bookscan bestseller list, a few ended up on the USA Today bestseller list and some even hit national bestseller lists in the UK and Australia. My books have been translated into numerous languages and are for sale in dozens of countries around the world. I’ve won awards and been published with most of the big houses in New York, but my greatest achievement is touching readers’ hearts. When I hear from a reader who got caught up in one of my books, I know I’m doing what I’m meant to do.
I love writing emotionally deep stories with snappy dialogue and solid plots. I’m more grateful than I’ll ever be able to express that so many readers have taken my stories into their hearts and put my books on their reread and keeper shelves.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews
September 30, 2012
Ms Monroe, what has gone wrong here? Your M&Bs used to be full of awesome angst and h's with a spine and most importantly self respect, you used to follow my code of romance rather awesomely...
Now i'm getting h's who just fall into bed with the H due to being overwhelmed by the magic pens, h's who let their H's treat them like dirt because they are so gosh damned understanding and everything really isn't the H's fault, it's because of whatever childhood trauma they can't build a bridge and get over so its totally okay to treat the person they're supposed to love like s@!t. I thought the last sheikh book was pretty bad but this one is only slightly better ... no worse ... no better - because at least with this one you're getting a passionate response out of me and not just a yawn.
I really can't understand why the h who divored the H after realising that he never saw her as a person and would never love her, agrees to have a baby with him and remarry the doofus again just to save her family's company and sister's marriage... Oh and btw if you were hurt when you left me last time it was all your fault for expecting that you could have love in your marriage (and she bought it!)
Seriously, the H talks her into remarrying him after telling her that it was always going to be a contract and that he would never fall in love and the h shows her amazing lack of self respect and says okay... Apparently where one sided love wasn't enough before it was magically okay now because she had gone too long without the magic pen. and to my absolute joy but mostly horror i was forced to sit there and read all about how she rationalised why this settling for less marriage was a good thing.
I'm also going to site BS on her just forgiving dear old manipulating dad after one phone call. No, he really didn't manipulate the events and lead her to the divorce and then tell her that she should give him her divorce settlement in the same sentance as telling her that he's found her another hubby and this time it's cool he only wants a trophy wife all for for his own business means, it was because he really was trying to be a good parent and loved her... my (and everyone else in the book's) mistake...
So then we come to the end of the book where we find to our shock and horror that the H was a major contributor to the fact that the family business was going bankrupt all to get her back into his life and bed... Here's the kicker - apparently he loved her all along, but this didn't stop him from sleeping with other women while they were divorced (a big huge fat no-no in my romance fantasy world), he gives her some sob story about one of his favourite step mothers suicide attempts after his father left her being the reason he couldn't say i love you and badda bing badda boom our spineless and now i'm definately branding her TSTL h eats it up with a spoon and gives him a happy ending.
ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME?
Now i'm getting h's who just fall into bed with the H due to being overwhelmed by the magic pens, h's who let their H's treat them like dirt because they are so gosh damned understanding and everything really isn't the H's fault, it's because of whatever childhood trauma they can't build a bridge and get over so its totally okay to treat the person they're supposed to love like s@!t. I thought the last sheikh book was pretty bad but this one is only slightly better ... no worse ... no better - because at least with this one you're getting a passionate response out of me and not just a yawn.
I really can't understand why the h who divored the H after realising that he never saw her as a person and would never love her, agrees to have a baby with him and remarry the doofus again just to save her family's company and sister's marriage... Oh and btw if you were hurt when you left me last time it was all your fault for expecting that you could have love in your marriage (and she bought it!)
Seriously, the H talks her into remarrying him after telling her that it was always going to be a contract and that he would never fall in love and the h shows her amazing lack of self respect and says okay... Apparently where one sided love wasn't enough before it was magically okay now because she had gone too long without the magic pen. and to my absolute joy but mostly horror i was forced to sit there and read all about how she rationalised why this settling for less marriage was a good thing.
I'm also going to site BS on her just forgiving dear old manipulating dad after one phone call. No, he really didn't manipulate the events and lead her to the divorce and then tell her that she should give him her divorce settlement in the same sentance as telling her that he's found her another hubby and this time it's cool he only wants a trophy wife all for for his own business means, it was because he really was trying to be a good parent and loved her... my (and everyone else in the book's) mistake...
So then we come to the end of the book where we find to our shock and horror that the H was a major contributor to the fact that the family business was going bankrupt all to get her back into his life and bed... Here's the kicker - apparently he loved her all along, but this didn't stop him from sleeping with other women while they were divorced (a big huge fat no-no in my romance fantasy world), he gives her some sob story about one of his favourite step mothers suicide attempts after his father left her being the reason he couldn't say i love you and badda bing badda boom our spineless and now i'm definately branding her TSTL h eats it up with a spoon and gives him a happy ending.
ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 29, 2017
Bland second chance story. The heroine left the hero because he had divorce papers drawn up and she felt she should go before he had a chance to serve them. The hero had the divorce papers drawn up because he found her birth control pills. Their arranged marriage was about providing an heir, so he was livid that she reneged on their agreement.
Now, two years later the heroine is back asking the hero to bail out her father's company for her sister's sake. The hero agrees if she will bear his child.
The rest of the story is the H/h getting married and going on an extended honeymoon cruise. There were all kinds of details about the business merger, the marriage contact, and the logistics of moving the heroine from the west coast to the east coast that could have been cut with no impact on the rather flimsy romance.
The H/h obviously care for each other, but each had to be prodded to say those magic words - I Love You. When that spell was recited, the author could finally end the story and I could go to sleep zzzzzzzzzzzzz.
Now, two years later the heroine is back asking the hero to bail out her father's company for her sister's sake. The hero agrees if she will bear his child.
The rest of the story is the H/h getting married and going on an extended honeymoon cruise. There were all kinds of details about the business merger, the marriage contact, and the logistics of moving the heroine from the west coast to the east coast that could have been cut with no impact on the rather flimsy romance.
The H/h obviously care for each other, but each had to be prodded to say those magic words - I Love You. When that spell was recited, the author could finally end the story and I could go to sleep zzzzzzzzzzzzz.
October 24, 2015
2.5 to 3 Stars...review to come...
December 19, 2012
Monroe's ping-pong conversations really spiral out of control in this book, to mix a metaphor:
"She shook her head, but her thoughts refused to settle as they spun endlessly around one simple fact. 'I don't understand how you could know.'
'I found your pills.'
'In my jewelry armoire?' But he never went through her things.
Only he must have. At least once.
'Yes.'
'Why?'
'Does it matter?"
'Maybe it shouldn't... but I feel like it does.' If he had never trusted her and had spied on her, that put their marriage in a different light, even for her, didn't it?
'I was planning a gift for you.'
'And you needed something in my jewelry armoire?' she asked with a fatalistic sense of doom. [Why? She already knows what happened and what he did about it!]
'Yes.'
'When?'
'Is that really important?'
'Probably not.' The fact that he has known was the only thing that really mattered." [So why did you have two pages of pointless conversation about it?! All this conversation happens long after the fact.]
Add in a whole bunch more dialog about their business dealings, which I would only type in if my Ambien prescription ran out, and this book is simply tedious beyond belief. Although there is a plot point that interested me -- Chloe has trouble eating and has gotten too thin to safely get pregnant -- the book overall was so dull I could only skim the last half, and pretty much nothing happens with that issue anyway.
"She shook her head, but her thoughts refused to settle as they spun endlessly around one simple fact. 'I don't understand how you could know.'
'I found your pills.'
'In my jewelry armoire?' But he never went through her things.
Only he must have. At least once.
'Yes.'
'Why?'
'Does it matter?"
'Maybe it shouldn't... but I feel like it does.' If he had never trusted her and had spied on her, that put their marriage in a different light, even for her, didn't it?
'I was planning a gift for you.'
'And you needed something in my jewelry armoire?' she asked with a fatalistic sense of doom. [Why? She already knows what happened and what he did about it!]
'Yes.'
'When?'
'Is that really important?'
'Probably not.' The fact that he has known was the only thing that really mattered." [So why did you have two pages of pointless conversation about it?! All this conversation happens long after the fact.]
Add in a whole bunch more dialog about their business dealings, which I would only type in if my Ambien prescription ran out, and this book is simply tedious beyond belief. Although there is a plot point that interested me -- Chloe has trouble eating and has gotten too thin to safely get pregnant -- the book overall was so dull I could only skim the last half, and pretty much nothing happens with that issue anyway.
February 12, 2013
First Lucy Monroe book I hated. It was extremely dull and boring! The romance was nowhere to be found. Endless conversations about business and money which I didn't get or even care to understand. The characters were one dimensional, lacking depth and complexity. I didn't care about their reactions or their emotions. Talk about cardboard characters... Still can't believe this is a L. Monroe book!
September 18, 2012
3.5 Stars
I did enjoy this one but will say that I felt like I had read it many times before. It is the classic case of Greek girl married off by her father to rich man as part of a business deal.
Chloe always felt that Ariston never had feelings for her and thought he was gonna divorce her after the time that the business contract allowed him to do so, so she flew the coop first. They did divorce and spent 2 years apart but then her father's company was sinking so she went to Ariston for help. He agreed to bail the company out if she became his mistress for 3 years and gave him a child on the provision that if she carried his child and successfully gave birth to it he would marry her again. Needless to say they both did love each other but never said and after a little angst and heartbreak they got their HEA.
There were two things that made it a bit different to others of that storyline. The first is that she didn't want her family company saved for her father, who she had been estranged from for the last two years, but for her sister who now had the burden of running it and her marriage was in serious trouble because of the workload and stress levels. The other thing was that it very soon lost its blackmail theme as after it was issued Chloe quickly realised that she still desperately loved Ariston and didn't wanted to continue living without him and this was her chance to go back to him even though she knew he didn't love her.
I did enjoy this one but will say that I felt like I had read it many times before. It is the classic case of Greek girl married off by her father to rich man as part of a business deal.
Chloe always felt that Ariston never had feelings for her and thought he was gonna divorce her after the time that the business contract allowed him to do so, so she flew the coop first. They did divorce and spent 2 years apart but then her father's company was sinking so she went to Ariston for help. He agreed to bail the company out if she became his mistress for 3 years and gave him a child on the provision that if she carried his child and successfully gave birth to it he would marry her again. Needless to say they both did love each other but never said and after a little angst and heartbreak they got their HEA.
There were two things that made it a bit different to others of that storyline. The first is that she didn't want her family company saved for her father, who she had been estranged from for the last two years, but for her sister who now had the burden of running it and her marriage was in serious trouble because of the workload and stress levels. The other thing was that it very soon lost its blackmail theme as after it was issued Chloe quickly realised that she still desperately loved Ariston and didn't wanted to continue living without him and this was her chance to go back to him even though she knew he didn't love her.
September 24, 2012
This was a better read for me than some of her recent HP offerings .But,this book had something lacking for me.I did not really connect well with these characters and their love scenes were more like clinical sex scenes.The first part of the book just felt so cold and I thought that the later part was trying to be more of a romantic read,but missed.Still,a better read for me than as previously stated.
April 5, 2013
I honestly don't know how to begin to describe how bad this book was.
I really dislike how these novels took a huge downfall. They used to be a good guilty pleasure, not really useful but certainly a good time spent. But now it's guilt with no pleasure at all. I feel guilty wasting my time and money on them.
This novel was stupid to say the least. Both leads were horrible. The text was filled with narration, and when there's no narration it's the same conversation over and over again.
I cant fathom the issue with fathers in these novels. For years now, it has been a necessity to have a father who is a jerk and a husband who's not. A husband that is much better than the father. A father that the h chooses willfully to cut off while never thinking of doing the same to the glorious husband.
And what's with Mediterranean tycoons? They're in every novel. I have a feeling that I can go down the street and stumble on my own tycoon. Mediterranean tycoon mind you. Because tycoons can be of no other descent!
I really dislike how these novels took a huge downfall. They used to be a good guilty pleasure, not really useful but certainly a good time spent. But now it's guilt with no pleasure at all. I feel guilty wasting my time and money on them.
This novel was stupid to say the least. Both leads were horrible. The text was filled with narration, and when there's no narration it's the same conversation over and over again.
I cant fathom the issue with fathers in these novels. For years now, it has been a necessity to have a father who is a jerk and a husband who's not. A husband that is much better than the father. A father that the h chooses willfully to cut off while never thinking of doing the same to the glorious husband.
And what's with Mediterranean tycoons? They're in every novel. I have a feeling that I can go down the street and stumble on my own tycoon. Mediterranean tycoon mind you. Because tycoons can be of no other descent!
August 17, 2014
Really liked the dialogue and heroine's maturity, as well as the communication between the H and h once it started. But other women in the 2 yrs while trying to gain the means to blackmail his wife back to him? Instead of just showing up to talk and find out whether his divorce papers or failure to declare his love (in fact, declaring he would not love her) caused her to leave, especially in light of his knowledge that she loved him? Just not consistent with the supposedly happy marriage where he supposedly fell in love with her prior to his learning of her secret. Hard to see his love. He loved the fact that his grandfather loved her and her sweetness and devotion. Notwithstanding the final declaration, he didn't really love her.
November 30, 2020
I loved the hero’s tenacity in getting back the heroine even though they were divorced and he believed she betrayed his trust.
It was clear from the first moment itself, when all his carefully laden plans started to change, that he was still smitten with her. I liked the heroine too. Secondary characters complimented the story nicely.
I would’ve given this more stars if only the hero was celibate during separation. There wasn’t too much information about it (thankfully).
Recommended.
It was clear from the first moment itself, when all his carefully laden plans started to change, that he was still smitten with her. I liked the heroine too. Secondary characters complimented the story nicely.
I would’ve given this more stars if only the hero was celibate during separation. There wasn’t too much information about it (thankfully).
Recommended.
October 19, 2012
This book is not my cuppa. Firstly, I have a problem with romances which the heroine plays a doormat to someone: 1) because they love them and this is the best they can get, 2) they are rich and this solves all ills. Sorry, I never really bought the rationalizations (see above) and think this type of situation (He divorced her for her use of birth control, without really finding out any reasons -which were that she wanted them to have time for him to come to love her) requires a bit of remorse and atonement from the person with the power. She accepted him back with, a better-something-rather-than-nothing philosophy. This strains my own sensibilities around women's roles, but will admit that that is personal.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 15, 2025
This book was good. Not the BEST but I still did find it enjoyable.
March 11, 2023
LM has some very angsty books that are in my top list and that I often re read.
Others are basically angst free and I find it difficult to even remember what they are about.
I think it depends on her writing style.
She’s a good writer, no doubt about that, but sometimes her narrative is flimsy and weak.
And if the narrative is weak it takes off the angst and it flattens those emotions that should be raw and deep.
This is an example.
The heroine and the hero had been married for three years and divorced for the last two.
It was a sort of moc, where they had an agreement with her family for business but they also sort of liked each other so there was great sex.
But both had secrets.
She was on the pill, without telling her husband, and he had divorce paper already drawn, without meaning though because he wanted to stay married.
It was all a big misunderstanding.
If only the talked.
She left him and filed for divorce. So two years later she’s back to him for the usual matter of money.
And he accept to help her if she will give him the child he wanted from their marriage.
He tells her he will marry her if she gets pregnant, and she accepts.
That’s it.
Oh, they have sex five minutes after they meet again two years after the divorce, without recriminations too, because they both admit that they are attracted to each other.
The truth is that he never wanted to divorce her and he has been planning to have her back for two years.
There’s not much poetry or romance here, they are both so very sensible and unromantic and as I said, the prose is too emotionally flat to be really angsty, where it could have been much more.
For example.
If you’re talking about how much the heroine suffered from their divorce, so much that she fell depressed and almost anorexic, the dialogue must be focused on this, and she has to convey pain, hurt, and angst, while when the characters are involved in serious matter they often digress.
- you know, I stopped eating and almost died when we parted.
- really. By the way, how is your sister?
- oh fine, she’s fine thank you. She got married and has a new car.
- do tell me. What model? Ford? Chevrolet?
This is the pattern of their interaction.
Of course the angst is lost.
You have to focus on the drama if you want the book to be emotional.
Both admits their faults and I was very uninterested in everything that happened.
About celibacy.
She was celibate, he never explained.
I know some readers think he wasn’t but when she asks he never admits nor deny, and I think it was because the heroine implied she had other lovers during their separation.
Imo he was very focused on winning her back and it seems probable he has been celibate.
But it doesn’t change the fact that the book was very ecologic. Zero impact on me.
Others are basically angst free and I find it difficult to even remember what they are about.
I think it depends on her writing style.
She’s a good writer, no doubt about that, but sometimes her narrative is flimsy and weak.
And if the narrative is weak it takes off the angst and it flattens those emotions that should be raw and deep.
This is an example.
The heroine and the hero had been married for three years and divorced for the last two.
It was a sort of moc, where they had an agreement with her family for business but they also sort of liked each other so there was great sex.
But both had secrets.
She was on the pill, without telling her husband, and he had divorce paper already drawn, without meaning though because he wanted to stay married.
It was all a big misunderstanding.
If only the talked.
She left him and filed for divorce. So two years later she’s back to him for the usual matter of money.
And he accept to help her if she will give him the child he wanted from their marriage.
He tells her he will marry her if she gets pregnant, and she accepts.
That’s it.
Oh, they have sex five minutes after they meet again two years after the divorce, without recriminations too, because they both admit that they are attracted to each other.
The truth is that he never wanted to divorce her and he has been planning to have her back for two years.
There’s not much poetry or romance here, they are both so very sensible and unromantic and as I said, the prose is too emotionally flat to be really angsty, where it could have been much more.
For example.
If you’re talking about how much the heroine suffered from their divorce, so much that she fell depressed and almost anorexic, the dialogue must be focused on this, and she has to convey pain, hurt, and angst, while when the characters are involved in serious matter they often digress.
- you know, I stopped eating and almost died when we parted.
- really. By the way, how is your sister?
- oh fine, she’s fine thank you. She got married and has a new car.
- do tell me. What model? Ford? Chevrolet?
This is the pattern of their interaction.
Of course the angst is lost.
You have to focus on the drama if you want the book to be emotional.
Both admits their faults and I was very uninterested in everything that happened.
About celibacy.
She was celibate, he never explained.
I know some readers think he wasn’t but when she asks he never admits nor deny, and I think it was because the heroine implied she had other lovers during their separation.
Imo he was very focused on winning her back and it seems probable he has been celibate.
But it doesn’t change the fact that the book was very ecologic. Zero impact on me.
did-not-finish
March 9, 2021Stopped reading at 33%
The author's prose is remarkably good. Her vocabulary and syntax are a bit stilted and more "formal" than I'm used to seeing in a contemporary romance, but clearly, Lucy Monroe knows how to write. Within a few pages, I was quite excited, because my most frequent complaint with Harlequin categories is poor writing and copyediting.
Unfortunately, the author loves to write, but she wallows in exposition. A Presents novel needs to be sharp, snappy, and to-the-point. The author needs to come in strong with big feelings and sweeping drama. But at the point where I stopped, one-third into the book, the entire text had taken place between two scenes: a meeting at the hero's office, and then a dinner at a restaurant the same evening. It was just a lot of talk-talk-talk and navel-gazing. If the first third of your (very short) book is being used to set the stage, perhaps you and your editor need to sit down and think about how you can more effectively cut into the meat of the story.
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The author's prose is remarkably good. Her vocabulary and syntax are a bit stilted and more "formal" than I'm used to seeing in a contemporary romance, but clearly, Lucy Monroe knows how to write. Within a few pages, I was quite excited, because my most frequent complaint with Harlequin categories is poor writing and copyediting.
Unfortunately, the author loves to write, but she wallows in exposition. A Presents novel needs to be sharp, snappy, and to-the-point. The author needs to come in strong with big feelings and sweeping drama. But at the point where I stopped, one-third into the book, the entire text had taken place between two scenes: a meeting at the hero's office, and then a dinner at a restaurant the same evening. It was just a lot of talk-talk-talk and navel-gazing. If the first third of your (very short) book is being used to set the stage, perhaps you and your editor need to sit down and think about how you can more effectively cut into the meat of the story.
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October 2, 2012
I loved reading this story! It had everything that I love about Lucy Monroe's books! A super Alpha male, a heroine who was in love with her man..and a conflict that took her away from him.Lucy knows how to write great love stories with Happily Ever Afters that make me feel great after reading them.
September 2, 2012
Okay, so I know that this is supposed to be a romantic book, but is it bad that instead of feeling "romanced" I just laughed out loud?
November 29, 2014
Have a bunch of reviews to do, and attempting to get them all done tonight. We will see how far I get. With that being said I'm going to try to keep these reviews fairly short and just give my thoughts on the books. But if you've read my reviews in the past you know how well that goes. Anyway let's get started:
First thoughts:
I absolutely loved this book, and it reminded me why I love Lucy Monroe books and her style of writing. This book was brilliant on so many levels there was not a single thing wrong with it. And I would happily read this over and over again as well as I recommend this book to anyone who loves Lucy Monroe, Harlequin Presents, or just romance in general. This is definitely the book for you.
More detail thoughts and comments on the book:
Now this may have to do with the mood I've been in lately, but I am really digging second chance romances at the moment. You know where the hero and heroine are married or have been married before and giving a second chance at romance. And that was exactly what this book was about and it was hot, scorching romance filled with lots of passion and residual feelings left over after the breakdown of their previous relationship. I think that's why I am coming to love this trope is because of all the backstory and unresolved feelings in the story that just adds to the drama and angst to story. And you know me I love me some angst and heartbreak.
In this particular story, we follow the second chance love story of Greek billionaire Ariston Spiridakou and Chloe. These two happen to be divorced now with Chloe leaving. The marriage to Ariston began as a business arrangement between her ex and her father with the expectation that Chloe would produce an heir within a certain time frame as per the contract. Chloe knew nothing about the contract of coarse, and was thrilled with the marriage to Ariston thinking him handsome and kind and just a great spouse that she could have asked for and she pretty much fell right from the start for Ariston, and she wanted to give him everything including children, but she wanted to wait in order to ensure that Ariston would care about her for herself instead of just caring her for providing him heirs. As a result, she took birth control and never told Ariston about it. Of coarse Ariston found out about it and felt completely betrayed by his wife for "sabotaging" their marriage by not doing to one thing that he really wanted and required from his wife so in a fit of anger he drew up divorce papers, but never filed them. Chloe's father got wind of Ariston's petition and later told his daughter about it and even set about arranging her next marriage for it. Well, Chloe felt betrayed by Ariston by learning of his intentions to divorce and she believed that he would end up filing for them and divorce her. The knowledge devastated Chloe but instead of talking and communicate to Ariston, Chloe decided to leave and beat him to the punch, thinking that it would hurt less that if she was the one to end the relationship instead of him. Of coarse it didn't hurt any less and she was broken for a quite while trying to get over Ariston after he sent the divorce papers to her and signed them. And never really quite got over him and still yearned for him, but slowly started working her way through and living again and dealing with the deep love that she still felt for her ex, and I could feel her pain at the same time.
Three years had passed by the time the book began again, and it was with her coming face to face to with Ariston in order to ask him not to liquefy her family's company, which her sister was in charge of and stressed about keeping it a float and was only doing so because Ariston had shares in the company as per the marriage contract. Rumors had it that he was about to divest these shares therein by crippling the company, and Chloe's job was to get him to change his mind and have him help her family's company, and her sister, to be able to stay a float. So Chloe was meeting with him and begging for him to keep the company so Ariston blackmailed Chloe into becoming his mistress until she conceived and had his heir, the one she denied him all those years ago. And then the story really took off with sparks flying and passions a heating and emotions flaring high as some misconceptions of their previous marriage get cleared up with Ariston and Chloe learning the motives of the other at the time of their marriage.
And it was so fun to watch it all play out before my eyes. Oh boy was it fun. I loved all the tension and the angst and the hurt feelings and just everything that went on. They each hurt in their own ways with the either not knowing how much they were hurting the other. And I like the whole misunderstandings thing and they get cleared up in romance because there usually some deep emotions going on around those misunderstandings and I just love seeing how all that adds to the emotional picture to create this powerful love story and the story of Chloe and Ariston was no exception. I hurt for both them. I care for both of them. I wanted them to get together. And I believed they deserved their happily ever after, after what heartbreak they faced during their time apart. Again adding to the tension, angst, and just emotion turmoil that I love to see in romance.
The chemistry. Can you say off the charts? I mean these two were sparking from the moment they stepped onto the page together and it didn't stop all the way through. Yes they deeply hungered for each other, but it was more than just physical but emotional as well. They were desperate to be together and be close after all that time separated and apart. They could finally let loose and let go, exposing their emotions to the fray while being drowned in red hot passion. Their first love scene was during that meeting in Ariston's office on his couch because they couldn't help themselves and needed to be in each others arms again and let their desires go. And it was hot and sexy and just a great scene that was filled with longing as well. Usually I'm not a big proponent of early love making in a book, but there was so much tension and history between them that just sizzled between them from the moment she sat down and they had their little meeting that it was bound to explode pretty quickly, and it totally worked because the angst and build up was there so I was ready for the love scene to come early on. As long as there is emotions, angst, and build up and not just too characters going at it because they can and more based on lust then anything that is what I don't like and frown upon. I have to have something behind the lust to support a love scene so early on otherwise it nothing but physical for me, and that's not really okay with me even in this fantasy fictional setting, but Lucy Monroe didn't do anything like that. Thank goodness. I was ready for the scene and anticipating it and just the way it was written was perfectly done. Lots yummy passion and I loved second of it. And of coarse the passion didn't stop there and carried throughout and made me as the reader that their lovemaking was based on the fact that they loved each other and wanted no one else and wanted to be close to one another in special bonding moment. There were two other love scenes in the book, one was in his limo. Again hot scene and showed how they couldn't keep their passions under wraps nor their hands off one another. And the last one was more romantic and slow and beautiful yet no less passionate and it was on their second honeymoon after they decided to get married again. I just loved that scene because it showed how much they loved and cared about each other and how they made love with the intents of purposes of being close to one another not just with the intents and purposes of getting off. Not to say that the other two scenes were like that because they weren't, there was more than lust going on in those scenes as well, but the last one just kind of cemented and showed more of their love and bond to one another. That special connection that they had with one another, and I love seeing that. I liked seeing the contrast in the love scenes because it showed just how much depth and emotions going on in their relationship and it was beautiful to watch. I think also the love scene showed their progression in their relationship and just where they were emotional at that point. And that was great. That's what the purpose of love scenes are in romance novels, at least in view, though it doesn't hurt if they are steamy and full of passion that just explodes on the page.
I loved both character equally and I understood why they acted though it could have been avoided if they just communicated, but what's the fun in that? That's what makes the story. Those misunderstandings and complications that make a story interesting and sucks the readers in. Now here there were huge misunderstandings on both parts and causing havoc, chaos and hurt along the way. Chloe's pain was the one I felt the most and I just wanted to give her a big hug. All she wanted Ariston to love her like she loved him before starting a family with him, though she did later change her mind though too late and decided she wanted a family with him anyway despite the fact that he apparently in her eyes didn't love her. So my heart broke for her. I loved her vulnerability, her sweetness, and kindness and really just yearning for someone to love her for herself because she never got that from her father. So I understood why she wanted Ariston's love, but even despite that she loved him regardless and fell hard for him and didn't stop. I just really felt for her. I like vulnerability romance on both sides. It shows how human they truly are.
Him. I really loved. He was definitely an alpha and knew what he wanted and what to do to get it (Chloe) and would make heaven and earth move t ensure go it. But even if was a little sneaky and manipulation the situation in his favor so he could blackmail Chloe back into his bed, he wasn't a cruel man or became a jerk at any point book. Did he hold his emotions from Chloe? Yes, but that was because he was genuinely hurt by her betrayal in taking birth control then later on when she left him so I got where he was coming from. And though it may briefly flashed into his mind to use the blackmail for revenge against Chloe for leaving him, but that was all it was what he really wanted was just to have her in his life again and hold her and make love to her and just be with her. I never thought he had ill motives towards her at any point. He just loved her, but he just wasn't ready to say so. I loved how sweet was yet commanding at the same time without coming off as a jerk you want to slap. I cheered for him, as well as Chloe. I just couldn't help. Plus it didn't hurt that he was sexy, viral Greek man that just had beefcake written all over him. There's nothing like sexy hero in a story that has you drooling right along with the heroine and that was much with the case with Ariston. So hot.
As you can see, I have nothing but praise for this book, and much love for it. Lucy Monroe created a great emotional, angst filled, passionate, second chance love story that really had every element that I love from romance novels. It just worked and worked so well from the writing style to the story to the characters to the passion. It was just the complete package. And in fact this reminded me of one of Lucy Monroe's earlier book, The Sicilian's Marriage Arrangement that I absolutely love and have read multiple over since I've purchased probably a couple years. Just I loved that book so much and with this book reminded me of that book it definitely made it to my favorites list, as are some others of Lucy Monroe's other books too many to list here, and I will probably be reading this one multiple times over. Just everything meshed well and that's key in my eyes. So bravo Lucy and keeping creating stories like this one because I will definitely buy them, read them, re-read them, and put them on my favorite's list. Can't say enough good things about this one.
Sorry didn't keep this short like I wanted but hey that's me and once I get going I can't seem to stop. I just have a real passion for books and what I love, like or don't like that I just need to express myself. Hopefully my other reviews will be shorter, but don't count on it. And to those of you that have read my views god bless and you deserve a medal for doing so.
Highly Recommended
First thoughts:
I absolutely loved this book, and it reminded me why I love Lucy Monroe books and her style of writing. This book was brilliant on so many levels there was not a single thing wrong with it. And I would happily read this over and over again as well as I recommend this book to anyone who loves Lucy Monroe, Harlequin Presents, or just romance in general. This is definitely the book for you.
More detail thoughts and comments on the book:
Now this may have to do with the mood I've been in lately, but I am really digging second chance romances at the moment. You know where the hero and heroine are married or have been married before and giving a second chance at romance. And that was exactly what this book was about and it was hot, scorching romance filled with lots of passion and residual feelings left over after the breakdown of their previous relationship. I think that's why I am coming to love this trope is because of all the backstory and unresolved feelings in the story that just adds to the drama and angst to story. And you know me I love me some angst and heartbreak.
In this particular story, we follow the second chance love story of Greek billionaire Ariston Spiridakou and Chloe. These two happen to be divorced now with Chloe leaving. The marriage to Ariston began as a business arrangement between her ex and her father with the expectation that Chloe would produce an heir within a certain time frame as per the contract. Chloe knew nothing about the contract of coarse, and was thrilled with the marriage to Ariston thinking him handsome and kind and just a great spouse that she could have asked for and she pretty much fell right from the start for Ariston, and she wanted to give him everything including children, but she wanted to wait in order to ensure that Ariston would care about her for herself instead of just caring her for providing him heirs. As a result, she took birth control and never told Ariston about it. Of coarse Ariston found out about it and felt completely betrayed by his wife for "sabotaging" their marriage by not doing to one thing that he really wanted and required from his wife so in a fit of anger he drew up divorce papers, but never filed them. Chloe's father got wind of Ariston's petition and later told his daughter about it and even set about arranging her next marriage for it. Well, Chloe felt betrayed by Ariston by learning of his intentions to divorce and she believed that he would end up filing for them and divorce her. The knowledge devastated Chloe but instead of talking and communicate to Ariston, Chloe decided to leave and beat him to the punch, thinking that it would hurt less that if she was the one to end the relationship instead of him. Of coarse it didn't hurt any less and she was broken for a quite while trying to get over Ariston after he sent the divorce papers to her and signed them. And never really quite got over him and still yearned for him, but slowly started working her way through and living again and dealing with the deep love that she still felt for her ex, and I could feel her pain at the same time.
Three years had passed by the time the book began again, and it was with her coming face to face to with Ariston in order to ask him not to liquefy her family's company, which her sister was in charge of and stressed about keeping it a float and was only doing so because Ariston had shares in the company as per the marriage contract. Rumors had it that he was about to divest these shares therein by crippling the company, and Chloe's job was to get him to change his mind and have him help her family's company, and her sister, to be able to stay a float. So Chloe was meeting with him and begging for him to keep the company so Ariston blackmailed Chloe into becoming his mistress until she conceived and had his heir, the one she denied him all those years ago. And then the story really took off with sparks flying and passions a heating and emotions flaring high as some misconceptions of their previous marriage get cleared up with Ariston and Chloe learning the motives of the other at the time of their marriage.
And it was so fun to watch it all play out before my eyes. Oh boy was it fun. I loved all the tension and the angst and the hurt feelings and just everything that went on. They each hurt in their own ways with the either not knowing how much they were hurting the other. And I like the whole misunderstandings thing and they get cleared up in romance because there usually some deep emotions going on around those misunderstandings and I just love seeing how all that adds to the emotional picture to create this powerful love story and the story of Chloe and Ariston was no exception. I hurt for both them. I care for both of them. I wanted them to get together. And I believed they deserved their happily ever after, after what heartbreak they faced during their time apart. Again adding to the tension, angst, and just emotion turmoil that I love to see in romance.
The chemistry. Can you say off the charts? I mean these two were sparking from the moment they stepped onto the page together and it didn't stop all the way through. Yes they deeply hungered for each other, but it was more than just physical but emotional as well. They were desperate to be together and be close after all that time separated and apart. They could finally let loose and let go, exposing their emotions to the fray while being drowned in red hot passion. Their first love scene was during that meeting in Ariston's office on his couch because they couldn't help themselves and needed to be in each others arms again and let their desires go. And it was hot and sexy and just a great scene that was filled with longing as well. Usually I'm not a big proponent of early love making in a book, but there was so much tension and history between them that just sizzled between them from the moment she sat down and they had their little meeting that it was bound to explode pretty quickly, and it totally worked because the angst and build up was there so I was ready for the love scene to come early on. As long as there is emotions, angst, and build up and not just too characters going at it because they can and more based on lust then anything that is what I don't like and frown upon. I have to have something behind the lust to support a love scene so early on otherwise it nothing but physical for me, and that's not really okay with me even in this fantasy fictional setting, but Lucy Monroe didn't do anything like that. Thank goodness. I was ready for the scene and anticipating it and just the way it was written was perfectly done. Lots yummy passion and I loved second of it. And of coarse the passion didn't stop there and carried throughout and made me as the reader that their lovemaking was based on the fact that they loved each other and wanted no one else and wanted to be close to one another in special bonding moment. There were two other love scenes in the book, one was in his limo. Again hot scene and showed how they couldn't keep their passions under wraps nor their hands off one another. And the last one was more romantic and slow and beautiful yet no less passionate and it was on their second honeymoon after they decided to get married again. I just loved that scene because it showed how much they loved and cared about each other and how they made love with the intents of purposes of being close to one another not just with the intents and purposes of getting off. Not to say that the other two scenes were like that because they weren't, there was more than lust going on in those scenes as well, but the last one just kind of cemented and showed more of their love and bond to one another. That special connection that they had with one another, and I love seeing that. I liked seeing the contrast in the love scenes because it showed just how much depth and emotions going on in their relationship and it was beautiful to watch. I think also the love scene showed their progression in their relationship and just where they were emotional at that point. And that was great. That's what the purpose of love scenes are in romance novels, at least in view, though it doesn't hurt if they are steamy and full of passion that just explodes on the page.
I loved both character equally and I understood why they acted though it could have been avoided if they just communicated, but what's the fun in that? That's what makes the story. Those misunderstandings and complications that make a story interesting and sucks the readers in. Now here there were huge misunderstandings on both parts and causing havoc, chaos and hurt along the way. Chloe's pain was the one I felt the most and I just wanted to give her a big hug. All she wanted Ariston to love her like she loved him before starting a family with him, though she did later change her mind though too late and decided she wanted a family with him anyway despite the fact that he apparently in her eyes didn't love her. So my heart broke for her. I loved her vulnerability, her sweetness, and kindness and really just yearning for someone to love her for herself because she never got that from her father. So I understood why she wanted Ariston's love, but even despite that she loved him regardless and fell hard for him and didn't stop. I just really felt for her. I like vulnerability romance on both sides. It shows how human they truly are.
Him. I really loved. He was definitely an alpha and knew what he wanted and what to do to get it (Chloe) and would make heaven and earth move t ensure go it. But even if was a little sneaky and manipulation the situation in his favor so he could blackmail Chloe back into his bed, he wasn't a cruel man or became a jerk at any point book. Did he hold his emotions from Chloe? Yes, but that was because he was genuinely hurt by her betrayal in taking birth control then later on when she left him so I got where he was coming from. And though it may briefly flashed into his mind to use the blackmail for revenge against Chloe for leaving him, but that was all it was what he really wanted was just to have her in his life again and hold her and make love to her and just be with her. I never thought he had ill motives towards her at any point. He just loved her, but he just wasn't ready to say so. I loved how sweet was yet commanding at the same time without coming off as a jerk you want to slap. I cheered for him, as well as Chloe. I just couldn't help. Plus it didn't hurt that he was sexy, viral Greek man that just had beefcake written all over him. There's nothing like sexy hero in a story that has you drooling right along with the heroine and that was much with the case with Ariston. So hot.
As you can see, I have nothing but praise for this book, and much love for it. Lucy Monroe created a great emotional, angst filled, passionate, second chance love story that really had every element that I love from romance novels. It just worked and worked so well from the writing style to the story to the characters to the passion. It was just the complete package. And in fact this reminded me of one of Lucy Monroe's earlier book, The Sicilian's Marriage Arrangement that I absolutely love and have read multiple over since I've purchased probably a couple years. Just I loved that book so much and with this book reminded me of that book it definitely made it to my favorites list, as are some others of Lucy Monroe's other books too many to list here, and I will probably be reading this one multiple times over. Just everything meshed well and that's key in my eyes. So bravo Lucy and keeping creating stories like this one because I will definitely buy them, read them, re-read them, and put them on my favorite's list. Can't say enough good things about this one.
Sorry didn't keep this short like I wanted but hey that's me and once I get going I can't seem to stop. I just have a real passion for books and what I love, like or don't like that I just need to express myself. Hopefully my other reviews will be shorter, but don't count on it. And to those of you that have read my views god bless and you deserve a medal for doing so.
Highly Recommended
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 12, 2012
This was my first book by this author, and so far, I am interested in reading more from her. What I liked about this book is that you are able to see how Chloe changed since her divorce from Ariston. She may have once been the typical spineless and young Harlequin Presents heroine, but by the time this book starts (after Chloe and Ariston have already divorced), she has made her own life. Not too much, because these books always seem imbalanced in that the girl is always wildly in love with the guy. In this book, Chloe almost starves herself to death. And she's still a typical HP heroine who is innocent and always thinks of others first.
What I found imbalanced was Ariston's character. It seemed that he certainly enjoyed sex and his marriage with Chloe, and you can see why he divorced her in the beginning. What I don't really understand is why he agreed to take her back. He divorced her because their agreement was that he would provide much-needed capital to her father's business and she would have a baby. Only she had secretly been on birth control. She divorces him before he can confront her about it, so I don't know why he would agree to take her back.
On the other hand, there is a lot more communication between Ariston and Chloe than in some other HP books, so you have the feeling that the book is actually moving along for a reason since it doesn't all revolve around lack of communication.
What I found imbalanced was Ariston's character. It seemed that he certainly enjoyed sex and his marriage with Chloe, and you can see why he divorced her in the beginning. What I don't really understand is why he agreed to take her back. He divorced her because their agreement was that he would provide much-needed capital to her father's business and she would have a baby. Only she had secretly been on birth control. She divorces him before he can confront her about it, so I don't know why he would agree to take her back.
On the other hand, there is a lot more communication between Ariston and Chloe than in some other HP books, so you have the feeling that the book is actually moving along for a reason since it doesn't all revolve around lack of communication.
October 8, 2012
Reviewd by: HarlequinJunkie Romance Reviews
Not Just the Greek’s Wife: I really enjoyed this re-union story by Lucy Monroe. It was a great read minus the revenge / angst factors you except to find in re-union stories.
Ariston Spiridakou and Chloe got married as part of a business deal, an arranged marriage with contracted terms of three years. Their marriage fell apart due to misunderstanding and mistrust on both their parts.
Fast-forward two years and Chloe and Ariston re-unite when Chloe approaches Ariston to save her fathers company from bankruptcy. Two years on nothings changed they are still highly attracted to each other and passions run deep.
I really liked this couple, I liked the fact that learnt from their past mistakes and communicated with each other and that they were really vocal about their feelings. I liked the fact that once they decided to give their relationship another chance they weren’t snippy or mean or spiteful towards each other.
This book was really well written; I quite enjoyed all of Chloe's internal dialogues.
If you are looking for an A uber alpha Hero, a heroine with some spunk and a angst free re-union story - Definitely recommend this book.
October 2, 2012
Lucy Monroe has done it again. Not Just The Greek’s Wife is a great book. Ariston and Chloe had been wed as the result of a business deal, but, with each having their own reasons, the marriage ended in divorce. Two years later Chloe approaches Ariston as a favor to her sister to seek out help to save her sister’s failing company. Ariston uses the opportunity to draw Chloe back into his life. You can’t help but fall in love with Chloe and Ariston and their journey back to each other. It’s a fun, great read. You won’t be disappointed!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 9, 2018
True to its title, this book is not about the wife, Chloe, but a business deal. At least for most of the book!
One line, or more specifically one word, was very funny for me. I don't know why:
'She shook hee head. "You are such a shark."
"Guppies do not survive in my world."
"Don't remind me."
"You saw yourself as a guppy?" he couldn't help asking.
"Wouldn't you have, if you were me?"
Lastly, Ariston's grandfather, Takis was a great, great character!
Just one disappointment though, after the buildup through the entire book, I was expecting an epilogue which I didn't get.
One line, or more specifically one word, was very funny for me. I don't know why:
'She shook hee head. "You are such a shark."
"Guppies do not survive in my world."
"Don't remind me."
"You saw yourself as a guppy?" he couldn't help asking.
"Wouldn't you have, if you were me?"
Lastly, Ariston's grandfather, Takis was a great, great character!
Just one disappointment though, after the buildup through the entire book, I was expecting an epilogue which I didn't get.
January 6, 2015
Lucy Monre never fails to deliver! NOT JUST THE GREEK'S WIFE is a fantastic read. Ariston Spiridakou had married Chloe as part of an arranged marriage. He married her for a heir and after three years of marriage and several misunderstandings they divorce. It is two years later and Chloe enters back into Ariston's life for her sisters sake. Passions still run high between the two and they enter into another arrangement and this time they are both playing for keeps
September 22, 2012
I actually adore it when the heroine develops a back bone in these HP books and this one did - took a couple of years but she did!!!!!!!
The hero was no one's fool but did make assumptions about the heroine which when he discovered was untrue he had an arrogant time of apologizing.
I found the ending to be really quick but it was a good book one which I think I will reread so it's a keeper.
The hero was no one's fool but did make assumptions about the heroine which when he discovered was untrue he had an arrogant time of apologizing.
I found the ending to be really quick but it was a good book one which I think I will reread so it's a keeper.
October 14, 2012
Sometimes when you read one of these "revengeful" ex-husband stories from HMB presents series, I lose sympathy with the hero, because he makes too many assumptions. But in this story, Lucy Monroe made the hero intelligent enough to spot where he'd made mistakes, and moderate his behaviour, so that it was far easier to understand why the heroine was so in love with him.
July 22, 2025
Po ostatniej podróży na wyspę Praxos, pozostaję w słonecznej Grecji. Tym razem wzięłam na celownik zupełnie inną, nową harlequinową opowieść z cyklu "Światowe Życie Extra", nie mając wielkich oczekiwań co do kolejnego lekkiego romansidła, ale mając niewielką nadzieję, że Pani Monroe nieco odczaruje mi Grecję, którą przedstawiła mi Susan Stephens w swojej historii.
W książce poznajemy byłe małżeństwo: Chloe i Arystona Spiridakou. Chloe wyszła za Arystona, bo tak chciał jej ojciec Eber Dioletis. Głównie chodziło o to, aby ten związek był zwykłą transakcją biznesową. Warunkiem miało być też spłodzenie potomka, czego życzył sobie dziadek Chloe. Jednak para poróżniła się zarówno w sprawach biznesowych, jak i co do posiadania potomstwa. Doszło do rozwodu. Po niemal dwóch latach Chloe pojawia się w biurze Arystona. Okazuje się, że Rea - siostra Chloe ma problemy małżeńskie, a firma Dioletis Industries również nie najlepiej stoi, wobec czego, najlepszym wyjściem byłoby połączenie firmy z Spiridakou & Sons Enterprises. Cóż z tego wszystkiego wyniknie? Czy dojdzie do porozumienia między byłymi kochankami, a tym samym do fuzji firm? Tego już należy dowiedzieć się z lektury książki Lucy Monroe.
Jak widać po ogólnej ocenie, Lucy Monroe nie odczarowała mi tej Grecji. Co mi się nie podobało? Słaba fabuła, która jest tak bzdurna, że kilkakrotnie kręciłam głową z niedowierzania. Przez pół ksiażki Chloe i Aryston "miotają się" w swoich poczynaniach: od spontanicznego seksu w biurze przez sprzeczki, grzebanie we własnej przeszłości i roztrząsanie dawnych problemów. Co ciekawe, wszystko to dostajemy już w pierwszych dwóch rozdziałach, przy czym drugi rozdział pobił rekord standardów dla harlequinów, będąc tak długim, że ciągnie się do połowy książki. W efekcie rozdział przytłacza problemami małżeństwa i zniechęca do lektury całości. Jeśli ktoś zastanawiałby się czy dalej jest lepiej, to cóż... rozczaruję - jest tylko gorzej. Para kłóci się, nawet przy obcych ludziach, a moja irytacja sięga zenitu, kiedy po raz kolejny roztrząsają kwestię stosowania w przeszłości antykoncepcji przez Chloe, co było przecież głównym powodem, dla którego on podpisał papiery rozwodowe.
W skrócie: on ją kocha i pożąda, ale jest przekonany, że ich małżeństwo było dla niej tylko intratnym biznesem. Nie wie, że ona go tak naprawdę kocha i zawsze kochała przez cały ten czas, kiedy nie byli już razem. Natomiast ona jest przekonana, że on jej nigdy nie kochał i nie kocha, a teraz jedynie zgodził się na połączenie firm, żeby ratować jej rodzinną firmę, bo przecież jest taki interesowny.
Nudna treść, w którą nie warto się zagłębiać, nie polecam. Serio, nawet pośród tych lekkich harlequinów są lepsze (a bywa, że i mądrzejsze) romanse. Sprawdziłam - ten śmiało można sobie odpuścić, chyba, że ktoś lubi torturować się czytaniem o tym, jak dwoje ludzi przez większość książki na zmianę omawia biznesowe sprawy albo kłóci się o bzdety po to, żeby zaraz pogodzić się idąc ze sobą do łóżka/samochodu, czy gdziekolwiek tam jeszcze.
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W książce poznajemy byłe małżeństwo: Chloe i Arystona Spiridakou. Chloe wyszła za Arystona, bo tak chciał jej ojciec Eber Dioletis. Głównie chodziło o to, aby ten związek był zwykłą transakcją biznesową. Warunkiem miało być też spłodzenie potomka, czego życzył sobie dziadek Chloe. Jednak para poróżniła się zarówno w sprawach biznesowych, jak i co do posiadania potomstwa. Doszło do rozwodu. Po niemal dwóch latach Chloe pojawia się w biurze Arystona. Okazuje się, że Rea - siostra Chloe ma problemy małżeńskie, a firma Dioletis Industries również nie najlepiej stoi, wobec czego, najlepszym wyjściem byłoby połączenie firmy z Spiridakou & Sons Enterprises. Cóż z tego wszystkiego wyniknie? Czy dojdzie do porozumienia między byłymi kochankami, a tym samym do fuzji firm? Tego już należy dowiedzieć się z lektury książki Lucy Monroe.
Jak widać po ogólnej ocenie, Lucy Monroe nie odczarowała mi tej Grecji. Co mi się nie podobało? Słaba fabuła, która jest tak bzdurna, że kilkakrotnie kręciłam głową z niedowierzania. Przez pół ksiażki Chloe i Aryston "miotają się" w swoich poczynaniach: od spontanicznego seksu w biurze przez sprzeczki, grzebanie we własnej przeszłości i roztrząsanie dawnych problemów. Co ciekawe, wszystko to dostajemy już w pierwszych dwóch rozdziałach, przy czym drugi rozdział pobił rekord standardów dla harlequinów, będąc tak długim, że ciągnie się do połowy książki. W efekcie rozdział przytłacza problemami małżeństwa i zniechęca do lektury całości. Jeśli ktoś zastanawiałby się czy dalej jest lepiej, to cóż... rozczaruję - jest tylko gorzej. Para kłóci się, nawet przy obcych ludziach, a moja irytacja sięga zenitu, kiedy po raz kolejny roztrząsają kwestię stosowania w przeszłości antykoncepcji przez Chloe, co było przecież głównym powodem, dla którego on podpisał papiery rozwodowe.
W skrócie: on ją kocha i pożąda, ale jest przekonany, że ich małżeństwo było dla niej tylko intratnym biznesem. Nie wie, że ona go tak naprawdę kocha i zawsze kochała przez cały ten czas, kiedy nie byli już razem. Natomiast ona jest przekonana, że on jej nigdy nie kochał i nie kocha, a teraz jedynie zgodził się na połączenie firm, żeby ratować jej rodzinną firmę, bo przecież jest taki interesowny.
Nudna treść, w którą nie warto się zagłębiać, nie polecam. Serio, nawet pośród tych lekkich harlequinów są lepsze (a bywa, że i mądrzejsze) romanse. Sprawdziłam - ten śmiało można sobie odpuścić, chyba, że ktoś lubi torturować się czytaniem o tym, jak dwoje ludzi przez większość książki na zmianę omawia biznesowe sprawy albo kłóci się o bzdety po to, żeby zaraz pogodzić się idąc ze sobą do łóżka/samochodu, czy gdziekolwiek tam jeszcze.
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November 5, 2018
3 ½ Stars
A decent read about a couple who married for convenience five years earlier and divorced after three years per the contract they signed.
The h was in love with her husband but did not feel like he really loved her. Then her manipulative father sent her divorce papers that the H had drawn up so she left him and went across the country and made a life for herself.
Two years later her sister begs for her help. Their family company is in trouble and her ex is the only person that can save it. So the h goes to a meeting with her ex, who then blackmails her into returning to him as his mistress until she has the baby she didn’t give him while they were married.
I really liked how the story took off from there. The H and h were really mature when discussing their past marriage and what went wrong. There was very little fighting. They were able to talk things out without any animosity.
It was a bit of a slower read and played out well. I enjoyed it. It didn’t “WOW!” me, but it was satisfying.
A decent read about a couple who married for convenience five years earlier and divorced after three years per the contract they signed.
The h was in love with her husband but did not feel like he really loved her. Then her manipulative father sent her divorce papers that the H had drawn up so she left him and went across the country and made a life for herself.
Two years later her sister begs for her help. Their family company is in trouble and her ex is the only person that can save it. So the h goes to a meeting with her ex, who then blackmails her into returning to him as his mistress until she has the baby she didn’t give him while they were married.
I really liked how the story took off from there. The H and h were really mature when discussing their past marriage and what went wrong. There was very little fighting. They were able to talk things out without any animosity.
It was a bit of a slower read and played out well. I enjoyed it. It didn’t “WOW!” me, but it was satisfying.
November 18, 2017
This was okay but there really wasn’t enough conflict.
October 9, 2012
3.5 stars > I really wish goodreads would offer a half point rating.
A quick and easy read with the typical formulaic story but it's a formula I happen to love. Add in the fact that the hero is Greek - I'm there! Lucy Monroe is one of my favorite authors to read. I love the fact that she still writes for Harlequin Presents. The first series I read after deciding I wanted to read more "adult" books in my youth.
The sitch is that Ariston & Chloe were once married however it was an arranged marriage and of course due to lack of communication on both parts they broke apart but they never forgot about each other. So crafty Ariston arranges a proposition that would allow for Chloe and him to be together ... as his mistress. Like I said, easy peasy lemon squeezy with a HEA and descriptions of Greek cities that make me long for a vacation to Greece where I will meet a hot Greek & have a whirlwind romance (a girl can dream). The only thing that I missed was a epilogue, I love epilogues and the chance to see the HEA in action somewhere in the future with a kid or two. You want an hour plus of escapism then read this book.
November 26, 2020
I really enjoyed this sappy romance. Ariston, and Chloe had entered into a marriage as a business deal. Chloe walked away three years later, because of misunderstandings. Now three years had gone by, but the chemistry, and passion is still there burning between the two. The First meeting they had after the separation, lead to a hot steamy office encounter.
They agreed to marry again, based on business. This time around they couldn’t hide the love that shined. Ariston was a tentative, and caring husband making her feel loved and cherished.
I do wish the book would have been longer. I would have liked to read more on their marriage. I was a little disappointed that Chloe did not become pregnant by the end of the story.
They agreed to marry again, based on business. This time around they couldn’t hide the love that shined. Ariston was a tentative, and caring husband making her feel loved and cherished.
I do wish the book would have been longer. I would have liked to read more on their marriage. I was a little disappointed that Chloe did not become pregnant by the end of the story.
January 6, 2023
I appreciate the effort H put into reeling h back in. He was a bit rough around the edges for me but decent for a HPlandia hero.
This was so close to being a 5 star for me. It has all the right elements until it didn’t.
H/h were separated for 2 years. It’s never specifically addressed if he was celibate during the two years. He doesn’t confirm or deny when h brings it up saying it’s none of her business. I think he was probably whoring it up while supposedly pining for h. This might have been 5 stars if he’d kept his dick in his pants.
He claims he knew he wanted h back after 6 months and didn’t the next 18 setting up his trap to get her back.
He’s a bit grumpy but 95% marshmallow for her.
This was so close to being a 5 star for me. It has all the right elements until it didn’t.
H/h were separated for 2 years. It’s never specifically addressed if he was celibate during the two years. He doesn’t confirm or deny when h brings it up saying it’s none of her business. I think he was probably whoring it up while supposedly pining for h. This might have been 5 stars if he’d kept his dick in his pants.
He claims he knew he wanted h back after 6 months and didn’t the next 18 setting up his trap to get her back.
He’s a bit grumpy but 95% marshmallow for her.
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