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Smokescreen Marriage
Kate's marriage to Michalis Theodakis is in the past--in all but name. She knows he married her only to cover up his affair with his mistress, so how dare he expect her to play the dutiful wife? And now Michalis wants to escort her to his sister's wedding! Kate has no intention of returning to Greece--until Michalis blackmails her: if she'll attend the wedding, he'll set her free.
Only, Kate soon finds she doesn't want to be free of Michalis, or the intense sensuality between them. If they still burn for each other's touch, can their marriage really be a sham?
Only, Kate soon finds she doesn't want to be free of Michalis, or the intense sensuality between them. If they still burn for each other's touch, can their marriage really be a sham?
186 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published August 1, 2002
50 people are currently reading
196 people want to read
About the author
Sara Craven
493 books266 followersAnne Bushell was born on October 1938 in South Devon, England, just before World War II and grew up in a house crammed with books. She was always a voracious reader, some of her all-time favorites books are: "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen, "Middlemarch" by George Eliot, "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë, "Gone With the Wind" by Margaret Mitchell and "The Code of the Woosters" by P. G. Wodehouse.
She worked as journalist at the Paignton Observer, but after her marriage, she moved to the north of England, where she worked as teacher. After she returned to journalism, she joined the Middlesbrough Writers' Group, where she met other romance writer Mildred Grieveson (Anne Mather). She started to wrote romance, and she had her first novel "Garden of Dreams" accepted by Mills & Boon in 1975, she published her work under the pseudonym of Sara Craven. In 2010 she became chairman of the Southern Writers' Conference, and the next year was elected the twenty-six Chairman (2011–2013) of the Romantic Novelists' Association.
Divorced twice, Annie lives in Somerset, South West England, and shares her home with a West Highland white terrier called Bertie Wooster. In her house, she had several thousand books, and an amazing video collection. When she's not writing, she enjoys watching very old films, listening to music, going to the theatre, and eating in good restaurants. She also likes to travel in Europe, to inspire her romances, especially in France, Greece and Italy where many of her novels are set. Since the birth of her twin grandchildren, she is also a regular visitor to New York City, where the little tots live. In 1997, she was the overall winner of the BBC's Mastermind, winning the last final presented by Magnus Magnusson.
She worked as journalist at the Paignton Observer, but after her marriage, she moved to the north of England, where she worked as teacher. After she returned to journalism, she joined the Middlesbrough Writers' Group, where she met other romance writer Mildred Grieveson (Anne Mather). She started to wrote romance, and she had her first novel "Garden of Dreams" accepted by Mills & Boon in 1975, she published her work under the pseudonym of Sara Craven. In 2010 she became chairman of the Southern Writers' Conference, and the next year was elected the twenty-six Chairman (2011–2013) of the Romantic Novelists' Association.
Divorced twice, Annie lives in Somerset, South West England, and shares her home with a West Highland white terrier called Bertie Wooster. In her house, she had several thousand books, and an amazing video collection. When she's not writing, she enjoys watching very old films, listening to music, going to the theatre, and eating in good restaurants. She also likes to travel in Europe, to inspire her romances, especially in France, Greece and Italy where many of her novels are set. Since the birth of her twin grandchildren, she is also a regular visitor to New York City, where the little tots live. In 1997, she was the overall winner of the BBC's Mastermind, winning the last final presented by Magnus Magnusson.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
April 19, 2017
Story opens with the H/h estranged. This is their backstory:
Heroine is a tour guide. Hero is a Greek billionaire locked in a battle of the alphas with his aging father. They meet when the hero is touring one of his hotels and sees a guy slip a date rape drug in her drink. He brings her back to his suite so she can sleep it off safely. (The guy ends up in jail).
Our virgin heroine doesn’t remember anything but a vivid sex dream starring the hero and now she’s worried something sexual happened. Hero is offended and is withering in his sarcasm. Heroine apologizes. Hero is appeased until she tells him she is going to be married. And that’s the end of that. They go their separate ways.
Heroine broke it off with her fiancé, though, realizing she was more attracted to the H.
A few weeks later the H turns up. He can’t forget her. A whirlwind romance and marriage ensues. They move to New York for six months and are happy until the aging alpha father summons his son home to Greece.
And that’s where the trouble starts. Seems the aging father lured the H’s mistress away a few years ago. Father is living at his villa with the H’s ex and heroine has to put up with being under the same roof as her. The mistress is tired of the old guy and tells the h that she is going to get the hero back. Hero is away on business a lot. Heroine is miserable. Mistress stages a scene where it looks like she and the H had just finished having sex. (Hero was asleep.)
Heroine leaves a note, returns to London and begins divorce proceedings. It’s been two months and now the hero wants the heroine to return to Greece for his sister’s wedding. If she play-acts as his wife, he’ll give her the quick divorce – otherwise he’ll drag it out.
While in Greece, the H/h finally work out what went wrong (and actually have a good time at the wedding).
What lifted this from a three star to a four star rating was the showdown with the mistress. I don’t ever remember a hero who is this *sarcastic * outside of a Regency novel. This guy is cutting. And when he turns the big guns on the mistress it is a scene to cheer.
I really liked the H/h in this. As the hero said, they both made mistakes because they had never been married before and didn’t know how it’s done. (That first year is rough – even without ex-mistresses hanging around). I also liked how he let her cool off for awhile but kept their separation short to just two months.
Heroine is a tour guide. Hero is a Greek billionaire locked in a battle of the alphas with his aging father. They meet when the hero is touring one of his hotels and sees a guy slip a date rape drug in her drink. He brings her back to his suite so she can sleep it off safely. (The guy ends up in jail).
Our virgin heroine doesn’t remember anything but a vivid sex dream starring the hero and now she’s worried something sexual happened. Hero is offended and is withering in his sarcasm. Heroine apologizes. Hero is appeased until she tells him she is going to be married. And that’s the end of that. They go their separate ways.
Heroine broke it off with her fiancé, though, realizing she was more attracted to the H.
A few weeks later the H turns up. He can’t forget her. A whirlwind romance and marriage ensues. They move to New York for six months and are happy until the aging alpha father summons his son home to Greece.
And that’s where the trouble starts. Seems the aging father lured the H’s mistress away a few years ago. Father is living at his villa with the H’s ex and heroine has to put up with being under the same roof as her. The mistress is tired of the old guy and tells the h that she is going to get the hero back. Hero is away on business a lot. Heroine is miserable. Mistress stages a scene where it looks like she and the H had just finished having sex. (Hero was asleep.)
Heroine leaves a note, returns to London and begins divorce proceedings. It’s been two months and now the hero wants the heroine to return to Greece for his sister’s wedding. If she play-acts as his wife, he’ll give her the quick divorce – otherwise he’ll drag it out.
While in Greece, the H/h finally work out what went wrong (and actually have a good time at the wedding).
What lifted this from a three star to a four star rating was the showdown with the mistress. I don’t ever remember a hero who is this *sarcastic * outside of a Regency novel. This guy is cutting. And when he turns the big guns on the mistress it is a scene to cheer.
I really liked the H/h in this. As the hero said, they both made mistakes because they had never been married before and didn’t know how it’s done. (That first year is rough – even without ex-mistresses hanging around). I also liked how he let her cool off for awhile but kept their separation short to just two months.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 29, 2017
It's not often, ever, that the Greek tycoon is the sympathetic character in a Harlequin. Mick definitely has his hands full with a tstl heroine who freaks and, honestly, simply does not react like real human being. More about that in a second.
The h and H met and married in a whirlwind marriage. Essentially eloping which keeps Mick's controlling alpha Greek father out of his hair for a while. They finally get back to the old Greek villa by the sea in Kefalonia. Here is a pic of Kefalonia. Not too shabby!
In place at the villa are the bossy dad, the kind of bratty little sister, and da da dum, the evil witch mistress. Evil witch was Mick's side piece first and is now with his dad. Let's all say "YUCK" together! Makes me wonder, and not for the first time, about Sara Craven. Harlequin Greek alpha romero men are supposed to be uptight and protective of the little women, wives and sisters. What decent father sets up a mistress with his daughter in the house? But I digress.
Evil witch is vile to everyone, well everyone with XX chromosomes, but it's okay because the H and h are loving it up. The H has to leave for New York and the little woman wants to go as well. He says no; they argue; they have sex; he leaves. The h comes home early the day he gets back from the States to find the evil witch in a towel and the husband sleeping. Honest to Pete, what would any real woman do in this scenario?
Yell and scream?
Throw things?
Slap the other woman.
Slap the husband?
Slap the other woman AND the husband?
Calmly, or not, ask what in the ever living hell is going on here?
Get a 2' by 4'?
Get a gun?
The stupid, stupid, stupid h does none of these things. She runs for England and ends up in a dweeby little bedsit.
To go from this
to this...
Not smart.
We pick up when the H's sister is getting married and wants the h to come back for the wedding. It's only been a month or so since the h left so explanations aren't really needed.
The H is so confused as he thinks the h left him because he went on the business trip, and is apologetic. I can't help but wonder what he thought of her accusations of inexcusable behavior, breaking her trust and OH MY GOD blah, blah, blah. The h refuses any apologies. The evil mistress swans through and is nasty although the h gets out a few slurs, but she has conceded the field to a wilier foe.
Nice confrontation with the H, h, the bossy dad and evil witch where she is put down, but not enough for me to get over the completely unrealistic response from the heroine.
The h and H met and married in a whirlwind marriage. Essentially eloping which keeps Mick's controlling alpha Greek father out of his hair for a while. They finally get back to the old Greek villa by the sea in Kefalonia. Here is a pic of Kefalonia. Not too shabby!
In place at the villa are the bossy dad, the kind of bratty little sister, and da da dum, the evil witch mistress. Evil witch was Mick's side piece first and is now with his dad. Let's all say "YUCK" together! Makes me wonder, and not for the first time, about Sara Craven. Harlequin Greek alpha romero men are supposed to be uptight and protective of the little women, wives and sisters. What decent father sets up a mistress with his daughter in the house? But I digress.
Evil witch is vile to everyone, well everyone with XX chromosomes, but it's okay because the H and h are loving it up. The H has to leave for New York and the little woman wants to go as well. He says no; they argue; they have sex; he leaves. The h comes home early the day he gets back from the States to find the evil witch in a towel and the husband sleeping. Honest to Pete, what would any real woman do in this scenario?
Yell and scream?
Throw things?
Slap the other woman.
Slap the husband?
Slap the other woman AND the husband?
Calmly, or not, ask what in the ever living hell is going on here?
Get a 2' by 4'?
Get a gun?
The stupid, stupid, stupid h does none of these things. She runs for England and ends up in a dweeby little bedsit.
To go from this
to this...
Not smart.
We pick up when the H's sister is getting married and wants the h to come back for the wedding. It's only been a month or so since the h left so explanations aren't really needed.
The H is so confused as he thinks the h left him because he went on the business trip, and is apologetic. I can't help but wonder what he thought of her accusations of inexcusable behavior, breaking her trust and OH MY GOD blah, blah, blah. The h refuses any apologies. The evil mistress swans through and is nasty although the h gets out a few slurs, but she has conceded the field to a wilier foe.
Nice confrontation with the H, h, the bossy dad and evil witch where she is put down, but not enough for me to get over the completely unrealistic response from the heroine.
June 29, 2020
4,5 stars for meaningless angst. Lol
January 18, 2019
The drama and angst in this one was very good. I loved the way hero reacted to heroine’s accusations in the end. Most cases, arrogant hero denies the cheating and that’s enough for heroines but here hero dragged heroine to the OW and forced the confrontation. I loved that so much.
Overall an enjoyable read.
Recommended.
Overall an enjoyable read.
Recommended.
January 21, 2019
I thought Kate and Michalis, "Mick", experienced believable conflicts. Poor communication mixed with pride resulted in heartache and misunderstandings, although I felt the Big Misunderstanding overstayed its welcome a little.
Kate and Mick were realistically flawed yet likable characters. I felt the passion and sexual chemistry which pulsed between them. I especially felt Kate's longing for Mick. There were brief moments where I empathized with his pain at their estrangement as well. But I did think Mick callously disregarded Kate's feelings regarding the presence of his ex-mistress. Even though he wasn't used to explaining his actions, I had a difficult time believing Mick could be so clueless to Kate's inevitable discomfort, regardless of their estrangement. Oh well, you live and learn.
Kate and Mick were realistically flawed yet likable characters. I felt the passion and sexual chemistry which pulsed between them. I especially felt Kate's longing for Mick. There were brief moments where I empathized with his pain at their estrangement as well. But I did think Mick callously disregarded Kate's feelings regarding the presence of his ex-mistress. Even though he wasn't used to explaining his actions, I had a difficult time believing Mick could be so clueless to Kate's inevitable discomfort, regardless of their estrangement. Oh well, you live and learn.
October 13, 2014
I really liked this one. Loved the chemistry between the H/h; the conflicts within their marriage and their eventual reconciliation seemed very real and not at all contrived... The book also had a couple of the best romantic dialogues I've heard in a long time.
February 14, 2015
The first 60% was pretty bad and contrived. This was not a very fleshed out story - neither were the characters. It did pick up toward the end after the author contrived to maneuver events to get where the story needed to go. Not one of her best. I will not re-read.
March 8, 2023
Very good Hp from an author I seldom appreciate.
She has too often heroes that are really creepy and sometimes definitely sociopath.
She also has cheating heroes and double standard as if there’s no tomorrow.
Surprisingly here we have a very decent hero, I might say a honest and caring one.
He’s the usual Greek billionaire but the first time they meet he saves her from two creeps who drugged her.
She’s engaged to another man but the chemistry is there, powerful.
The heroine leaves her fiancé as soon as she’s back home and some weeks later the hero is back to her, trying to woo her.
They get married and some months later they move to Greece where his father lives, with his mistress that is, not so accidentally, the hero’s ex mistress.
Yuk.
The heroine heard some rumors about their former affair and thinks he’s still madly in love with her.
The mistress is typical evil ow, so standard and evil that we can hear her cackling whenever she sees the heroine.
The first scene with ow is priceless, when she meets the hero and kisses him on the lips telling him he always tastes good. Cringe.
The hero starts behaving differently and the heroine thinks he’s in love with ow and resents her for being there. She thinks he married as a smokescreen for his affair with ow.
Things get bad and the hero is always more distant and tense, and ow always behaves like ow do, making subtle and not hints to the poor heroine that feels always worse.
Eventually she finds ow naked in their bedroom while the hero is sleeping.
She leaves and asks for divorce.
Some weeks later he’s back to her, asking her to attend his lil sister’s marriage.
He tries in every way to win her back and asks her to forgive him.
Eventually we understand the big misunderstanding.
He apologized for being a jerk and leaving her to work, while she thought he apologized for his cheating.
When he understands what ow did, he does what very few heroes do, a confrontation with ow and his father:
Turns out ow lied because she was pissed that hero dumped her, long before he met the heroine. She wanted to win him back but the hero did not care for her at all.
The book is really good, there’s a lot of angst and explanations about how and why the heroine didn’t trust the hero at all.
The hero is quite a good guy and the heroine is a strong character for once, she doesn’t give up and doesn’t accept what she thinks he did. Kudos.
All is well in the end and I was quite content that this couple was happy eventually while evil ow was thrown out of the island without much fuss. Out you go!
Both were celibate and both were besotted. The hero wasn’t cruel or unfair, he was alpha but was always caring and I could feel his love. Quite predictable plot, this was the reason for my 3 stars, otherwise it could have been four.
She has too often heroes that are really creepy and sometimes definitely sociopath.
She also has cheating heroes and double standard as if there’s no tomorrow.
Surprisingly here we have a very decent hero, I might say a honest and caring one.
He’s the usual Greek billionaire but the first time they meet he saves her from two creeps who drugged her.
She’s engaged to another man but the chemistry is there, powerful.
The heroine leaves her fiancé as soon as she’s back home and some weeks later the hero is back to her, trying to woo her.
They get married and some months later they move to Greece where his father lives, with his mistress that is, not so accidentally, the hero’s ex mistress.
Yuk.
The heroine heard some rumors about their former affair and thinks he’s still madly in love with her.
The mistress is typical evil ow, so standard and evil that we can hear her cackling whenever she sees the heroine.
The first scene with ow is priceless, when she meets the hero and kisses him on the lips telling him he always tastes good. Cringe.
The hero starts behaving differently and the heroine thinks he’s in love with ow and resents her for being there. She thinks he married as a smokescreen for his affair with ow.
Things get bad and the hero is always more distant and tense, and ow always behaves like ow do, making subtle and not hints to the poor heroine that feels always worse.
Eventually she finds ow naked in their bedroom while the hero is sleeping.
She leaves and asks for divorce.
Some weeks later he’s back to her, asking her to attend his lil sister’s marriage.
He tries in every way to win her back and asks her to forgive him.
Eventually we understand the big misunderstanding.
He apologized for being a jerk and leaving her to work, while she thought he apologized for his cheating.
When he understands what ow did, he does what very few heroes do, a confrontation with ow and his father:
Turns out ow lied because she was pissed that hero dumped her, long before he met the heroine. She wanted to win him back but the hero did not care for her at all.
The book is really good, there’s a lot of angst and explanations about how and why the heroine didn’t trust the hero at all.
The hero is quite a good guy and the heroine is a strong character for once, she doesn’t give up and doesn’t accept what she thinks he did. Kudos.
All is well in the end and I was quite content that this couple was happy eventually while evil ow was thrown out of the island without much fuss. Out you go!
Both were celibate and both were besotted. The hero wasn’t cruel or unfair, he was alpha but was always caring and I could feel his love. Quite predictable plot, this was the reason for my 3 stars, otherwise it could have been four.
April 12, 2016
Heroine thinks her husband is cheating on her with his father's mistress, she abandons him and he is determined to win her back. Good story but not this author's best work.
June 28, 2023
The heroine, Kate, is a tour guide. She’s working in Greece. It’s her last working day. Her colleague, Lisa I think her name was, her colleague persuades her to go to an upscale night club attached to a hotel. The hotel is very luxurious and the heroine has several times marked it from outside.
When they’re inside, with the colleague and her boyfriend plus boyfriend’s friend, a cocktail is ordered forcibly for heroine. Or she orders it. Can’t remember.
She is sitting with these three outrageous and cheap people and feeling ashamed at the raised eyebrows of people around. She looks up and her eyes clash with the hero’s.
The hero Mick or Michaelis owns the whole hotel chain and many other businesses besides.
He notices that the girl’s drink is being spiked. He gets her drawn away from her table. Rest of her group are arrested. Not the other girl.
The heroine passes out. Hero takes her to his room. Next morning they talk a bit over breakfast. She leaves.
Few days later the hero is in London. Why? To have an affair. But. Of course he marries her.
Takes her to New York. It’s idyllic. Then hero’s father calls him back to their private island.
They go back. Heroine realises that the woman who only a year ago was hero’s bedmate is suddenly his father’s mistress.
She is stunned but they’re so in love. Neither can see anything.
Hero’s mother had died after child birth. So he’s scared of Katie’s becoming pregnant.
They have an argument. He leaves. On. Business trip. He comes back after several days. He falls on the bed. Goes to sleep. Heroine hears hero is back. Runs to him. Finds him asleep and the other woman is doing her make up at dressing table. Looks like they slept together.
Heroine doesn’t say a word. Leaves. Two months later hero brings her back for a wedding. His sister’s.
They adore each other of course. Sort out their differences.
I upgraded it to five stars this time. Go ahead read it. Hurry.
Sorry couldn’t write better. Will correct it later.
When they’re inside, with the colleague and her boyfriend plus boyfriend’s friend, a cocktail is ordered forcibly for heroine. Or she orders it. Can’t remember.
She is sitting with these three outrageous and cheap people and feeling ashamed at the raised eyebrows of people around. She looks up and her eyes clash with the hero’s.
The hero Mick or Michaelis owns the whole hotel chain and many other businesses besides.
He notices that the girl’s drink is being spiked. He gets her drawn away from her table. Rest of her group are arrested. Not the other girl.
The heroine passes out. Hero takes her to his room. Next morning they talk a bit over breakfast. She leaves.
Few days later the hero is in London. Why? To have an affair. But. Of course he marries her.
Takes her to New York. It’s idyllic. Then hero’s father calls him back to their private island.
They go back. Heroine realises that the woman who only a year ago was hero’s bedmate is suddenly his father’s mistress.
She is stunned but they’re so in love. Neither can see anything.
Hero’s mother had died after child birth. So he’s scared of Katie’s becoming pregnant.
They have an argument. He leaves. On. Business trip. He comes back after several days. He falls on the bed. Goes to sleep. Heroine hears hero is back. Runs to him. Finds him asleep and the other woman is doing her make up at dressing table. Looks like they slept together.
Heroine doesn’t say a word. Leaves. Two months later hero brings her back for a wedding. His sister’s.
They adore each other of course. Sort out their differences.
I upgraded it to five stars this time. Go ahead read it. Hurry.
Sorry couldn’t write better. Will correct it later.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 14, 2019
I remember reading this one before. Nice angst, evil other woman, enjoyable read.
June 24, 2024
3.5 I bought this because I thought I hadn't read it but I was wrong. Although it took me a few pages to realize because I was sure the h and her "friend" had been in a nightclub when she met the H, not one of his hotels. I must have conflated two similar set-ups. Anyhow, when Kate wakes up naked in a strange bed having had an erotic dream featuring the H Michaelis, and then he wanders in in a towel (SC loves her Greek Hs naked or in their towels, she is my queen) she accuses/quizzes him. When he asked what she can remember: "did you come?" I suddenly realized I'd read this one, because I had been shocked at the terminology. Not shocked (myself) but that it was the first time I'd read an old style HP where such a bald expression was used. It's usually a lot more euphemistic! Anyway, when the bitch OW Victorine appears (his former mistress, now his father's 🤢 Ikr) I knew for sure and just settled in for the ride. The structure is flashbacky, which can make for confusion so we get their earlier loved upness and marriage followed by her flight when she catches Mick and Victorine in flagrante (the old 'H passed out cold, OW brushing her hair in nothing but a towel and a smug smile' scenario. And I mean old. How many of these have there been?!) Then him forcing her back to beautiful Kefalonia 8 weeks later for his sister's wedding as a condition to not contesting her wish for divorce. He thinks she fled because they'd rowed about him not wanting to start a family and being a workaholic who didn't take her with him on business. In fairness, they had only been married a few months so they were both still finding their way. These two were a nice couple and the OW got her comeuppance so cheers all round really.
July 18, 2023
3.5 stars
This is a typical "wife is tricked into believing husband's infidelity and flees hysterically, demanding a divorce." Nothing groundbreaking, but I enjoyed the execution, particularly the courtship flashbacks. It helped that the estrangement was only two months long and that the hero thought she was pissed for other reasons. The ending where the hero totally loses it and confronts the lie was great. Kinda repetitive but I like SC's writing too much to be annoyed by that. Read via library.
This is a typical "wife is tricked into believing husband's infidelity and flees hysterically, demanding a divorce." Nothing groundbreaking, but I enjoyed the execution, particularly the courtship flashbacks. It helped that the estrangement was only two months long and that the hero thought she was pissed for other reasons. The ending where the hero totally loses it and confronts the lie was great. Kinda repetitive but I like SC's writing too much to be annoyed by that. Read via library.
August 12, 2014
A wonderful read......these two lovers share an intense overwhelming passion that leaves them open to misunderstandings & deception. Neither of them mentions love when they get married so this leads to a lot of insecurties & pain when they move back to Greece.......especially since her husband's ex-lover is now his father's lover.....& our hero shows no understanding of how tough this is on his wife by offering no explainations of this past romance. Having an ex-lover living in the same household causes lots of tension for everyone....an interesting added element.
October 18, 2016
A good story with a confused hero, a gullible heroine and a really nasty villain. Lots of drama and conflict. It kept me turning the pages.
P.S. I read the English version. Just couldn't find it on Goodreads.
P.S. I read the English version. Just couldn't find it on Goodreads.
June 5, 2024
? Ik heb dit boekje gekozen uit de verzameling bouquetreeksboekjes van mijn vrouw (die ze nog niet weggedaan heeft) nadat ik een beoordeling geschreven had over Normale mensen. Daar gaf ik toen aan dat ik vond dat dit boek leek op de boeken van Danielle Steel en de bouquetreeksboekjes..wel wetende dat het lang geleden was dat ik een bouquetreeksboekje helemaal gelezen had...Mijn vrouw vroeg zich dus af of ik ooit wel een boekje helemaal gelezen had. Ik denk zelf dat ik er meerdere gelezen heb, maar deze discussie zette me wel aan om er toch weer eens 1 te lezen, ook omdat ik vind dat als ik een vergelijking maak met andere boekjes uit een reeks ik dan zeker er zelf ook 1 helemaal gelezen moet hebben....
🤔 Nou ja, ik had geen hoge verwachtingen en misschien ook daardoor viel het boekje me niet tegen, was wel boeiend tot het einde. Ik irriteerde me soms wel aan de grote woorden, die er gebruikt worden in zo'n boekje... woorden die je zelf niet gauw zegt, maar wellicht wel vaak denkt.. Dus het viel me mee. Daarbij kijk ik zelf ook graag romantische films en "romkoms", dus mijn conclusie was eigenlijk dat dit boekje niet zo erg buiten mijn voorkeuren valt dan ik in het begin gedacht had ;-)
Wat me wel soms stoorde, is dat het soms voor mijzelf onduidelijk was in welke tijd een hoofdstuk of verhaaltje speelde...was de gebeurtenis van het betrappen van haar man nu wel of niet al gebeurd...BIj Het geheim vond ik dat zoeken naar de periode waarin een hoofdstuk zich afspeelt juist wel leuk, hier vond ik het juist wat minder: lag het aan de vertaling of moest ik het maar gaandeweg het hoofdstuk raden?
=> Bij mijn leeskring Zoetermeer staan er dit jaar nog boeken op de lijst van Nicholas Sparks en Lucinda Riley. Als die binnenkort niet gelezen gaan worden en zij van de lijst van volgend jaar verdwijnen...ga ik dit jaar nog beginnen aan mijn eerste Lucinda Riley...
MW 5/6/22
Ik had De olijfboom bij mijn bieb geleend, maar het is er toch weer niet van gekomen ;-) Inmiddels wel mijn eerste boek van Gerda van Wageningen gelezen ;-)
MW 5/6/24
🤔 Nou ja, ik had geen hoge verwachtingen en misschien ook daardoor viel het boekje me niet tegen, was wel boeiend tot het einde. Ik irriteerde me soms wel aan de grote woorden, die er gebruikt worden in zo'n boekje... woorden die je zelf niet gauw zegt, maar wellicht wel vaak denkt.. Dus het viel me mee. Daarbij kijk ik zelf ook graag romantische films en "romkoms", dus mijn conclusie was eigenlijk dat dit boekje niet zo erg buiten mijn voorkeuren valt dan ik in het begin gedacht had ;-)
Wat me wel soms stoorde, is dat het soms voor mijzelf onduidelijk was in welke tijd een hoofdstuk of verhaaltje speelde...was de gebeurtenis van het betrappen van haar man nu wel of niet al gebeurd...BIj Het geheim vond ik dat zoeken naar de periode waarin een hoofdstuk zich afspeelt juist wel leuk, hier vond ik het juist wat minder: lag het aan de vertaling of moest ik het maar gaandeweg het hoofdstuk raden?
=> Bij mijn leeskring Zoetermeer staan er dit jaar nog boeken op de lijst van Nicholas Sparks en Lucinda Riley. Als die binnenkort niet gelezen gaan worden en zij van de lijst van volgend jaar verdwijnen...ga ik dit jaar nog beginnen aan mijn eerste Lucinda Riley...
MW 5/6/22
Ik had De olijfboom bij mijn bieb geleend, maar het is er toch weer niet van gekomen ;-) Inmiddels wel mijn eerste boek van Gerda van Wageningen gelezen ;-)
MW 5/6/24
June 3, 2025
HOLY COW
A second chance story about what happens when we let evil into our lives. Of course, the story would have been completed very quickly if once again communication between the two main characters would have been made a priority.
I really liked the ending not only did our couple get their happily ever after but evil got what it deserved as well.
An enjoyable read from one of my favourite tropes.
Post script March 19 - Reread this book and loved it even more the second time!
June 2nd, 2025 third time reading and it’s better than the time before.
A second chance story about what happens when we let evil into our lives. Of course, the story would have been completed very quickly if once again communication between the two main characters would have been made a priority.
I really liked the ending not only did our couple get their happily ever after but evil got what it deserved as well.
An enjoyable read from one of my favourite tropes.
Post script March 19 - Reread this book and loved it even more the second time!
June 2nd, 2025 third time reading and it’s better than the time before.
August 17, 2013
Not sure about this one. I thought the whole point in asking her to go back is to try to win her back. Though he did try a couple of times to talk to her he didn't do all that much to win her back. Plus we never know why he was pulling away already before the big misunderstanding. I do like the secondary characters though the h seem to spend more time with them than the H.
March 1, 2020
Too much back story, and way too long to resolve conflict.
March 18, 2019
Tema favorit, sepasang suami istri yang terpisah trus balikan lagi. Sara Craven mengemasnya dengan baguuus sekali. Gemeeeez kenapa susah amat Kate menjelaskan alasannya meninggalkan Mick.
June 6, 2019
3.5 stars
December 18, 2024
Sara Craven debe ser una de las pocas autoras de esa época que escribía a una protagonista con autoestima y amor propio.
August 29, 2017
OMG what a complete douche bag of a man. Seriously? people actually find that attractive? She has just woken up from being roofied and is naked and confused and instead of showing any understanding, he makes her vulnerable by striping the bed sheet so she's naked and then threatens her? OMG, did any of you read that? What kind of acceptable behavior is that? i could only skim after that. by 15% His behavior doesn't seem to improve in anyway all misogynistic, manipulative and threatening/domineering, there is NOTHING sexy about that. Trust me, I love - no CRAVE - a dominant male, but this isn't domination in a sexy kind of way, this is complete arsehole bully mean nasty rude, creepy, disgusting, inhumane kind of way.
I cant believe i'm going to continue to try with this but will try again tomorrow. I'd be really surprised if I make it to 50%. I've had 2 DNF so far and neither were because of the hero, this is the first hero that I've been completely appalled at and do not understand how anyone can still be reading it?
ok finished it and my thoughts have not improved. The writing was shit. no depth. the continuous thoughts of the h were meant to emphasis the drama and her being so hard done by, but by the 3rd time was enough but the author must have gone over the same shit about 30 times.
I DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS BOOK AT ALL.
I cant believe i'm going to continue to try with this but will try again tomorrow. I'd be really surprised if I make it to 50%. I've had 2 DNF so far and neither were because of the hero, this is the first hero that I've been completely appalled at and do not understand how anyone can still be reading it?
ok finished it and my thoughts have not improved. The writing was shit. no depth. the continuous thoughts of the h were meant to emphasis the drama and her being so hard done by, but by the 3rd time was enough but the author must have gone over the same shit about 30 times.
I DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS BOOK AT ALL.
June 8, 2021
Kate's marriage to Michalis Theodakis is in the past--in all but name. She knows he married her only to cover up his affair with his mistress, so how dare he expect her to play the dutiful wife? And now Michalis wants to escort her to his sister's wedding! Kate has no intention of returning to Greece--until Michalis blackmails her: if she'll attend the wedding, he'll set her free.
Only, Kate soon finds she doesn't want to be free of Michalis, or the intense sensuality between them. If they still burn for each other's touch, can their marriage really be a sham?
Only, Kate soon finds she doesn't want to be free of Michalis, or the intense sensuality between them. If they still burn for each other's touch, can their marriage really be a sham?
March 27, 2020
Ick. You can't call a human being a "Creole" and doing that with a character whose role is a mercenary slut is just HUGELY racist and sexist. I skimmed ahead but the story itself was grossly rapey from the attempted date rape to the 'rescuer' getting angry and almost sexually assualting the woman for daring to be worried about waking up naked in his bed. I mean BARF. And it just got worse from there.
Read
July 31, 2011A definite not to read kind of book. As soon as you start getting into the rhythm of the book it shoots to the past...would have been so much better if it started out with the past and worked to the future...not going back and forth.
November 14, 2016
Star Rating: ★★½☆☆
Read
October 14, 2025The premise for this one is flimsy.
First off, the MCs have been dramatically, tragically, forever separated for.... checks notes... ~ six WEEKS.
Not 6 years, not even 6 months, 6 weeks.
And the grand event that separated them was FMC walking in on MMC passed out on his bed, with OW sitting half dressed at his vanity (IDK why he had a vanity in his bedroom or why they weren't in the same bedroom, but anyway), and lied that they'd slept together or something. Damning, sure. So FMC runs away, literally. Then she creeps back after not confronting him/them, OW is gone and he's still passed out on the bed, she wakes him up, and he says "I love you" (in Greek because this was the ??s and for some reason everyone was craaaaazy for Greek men and the greek language i have no idea why), which for some reason condemns him utterly, FMC flees to England, gets a crappy apartment and tries to get a divorce.
But still. All this happened 6 weeks prior to the setting of this novel. 6. weeks. The MMC has caught up with FMC, and she's just like how find me after all this time?!?!? I thought I was safe forever!!!!
And that's when I noped out haha.
First off, the MCs have been dramatically, tragically, forever separated for.... checks notes... ~ six WEEKS.
Not 6 years, not even 6 months, 6 weeks.
And the grand event that separated them was FMC walking in on MMC passed out on his bed, with OW sitting half dressed at his vanity (IDK why he had a vanity in his bedroom or why they weren't in the same bedroom, but anyway), and lied that they'd slept together or something. Damning, sure. So FMC runs away, literally. Then she creeps back after not confronting him/them, OW is gone and he's still passed out on the bed, she wakes him up, and he says "I love you" (in Greek because this was the ??s and for some reason everyone was craaaaazy for Greek men and the greek language i have no idea why), which for some reason condemns him utterly, FMC flees to England, gets a crappy apartment and tries to get a divorce.
But still. All this happened 6 weeks prior to the setting of this novel. 6. weeks. The MMC has caught up with FMC, and she's just like how find me after all this time?!?!? I thought I was safe forever!!!!
And that's when I noped out haha.
March 21, 2019
4 bintang karena alurnya walau maju-mundur syantik tapi nggak bikin bingung. Karakter Kate yang rasional lumayanlah walau sebenarnya kurang dramatis dikit lagi, meski sebenarnya mengaduk-aduk perasaan juga. Wah, pokoknya emosi saya kebawa baca kisah rumah tangga mereka dari sudut pandang Kate. Terus si Mick ini tipe cowok sok tak acuh tapi bikin kasihan, bikin aku berempati mendalam juga akhirnya. Coba aja sisi misteriusnya Mick ini dikasih porsi lebih banyak, tambah bikin simpati pasti buatku. Hq yang sisi karakternya dapet, alurnya rapi walau maju mundur syantik, dan emosinya juga dapet. Makanya berhak deh kukasih 4 bintang, meski mungkin masih tergolong hq yang berpeluang kecil kubaca dua kali, atau sama sekali tak berpeluang kubaca lagi. Mending coba baca karangan Sara Craven lainnya. Wkwk
April 24, 2018
Semua flashbacknya ngga ada yang kubaca, tapi terbukti tidak mengurangi kenikmatan membacanya. Memang, alurnya maju-mundur, dan kalau mau memahami konfliknya, harus membaca bagian masa lalunya, tapi aku memilih menskip semuanya. Kebetulan aku tetap bisa mengerti dan menikmati membaca buku ini.
Konfliknya c salah paham (bukannya hampir semua buku romance itu konfliknya salah paham atau masa lalu? Yah, namanya juga menyatukan dua kepala dalam satu lembaga bernama pernikahan, tanpa konflik mah mustahil), tapi seru! Seru dari awal sampai akhir, dan si hero-nya menggemaskan! xD
Konfliknya c salah paham (bukannya hampir semua buku romance itu konfliknya salah paham atau masa lalu? Yah, namanya juga menyatukan dua kepala dalam satu lembaga bernama pernikahan, tanpa konflik mah mustahil), tapi seru! Seru dari awal sampai akhir, dan si hero-nya menggemaskan! xD
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