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The Greek Billionaire's Baby Revenge
His mistress...
Working for Nikos Stavrakis was exhilarating--until one night, when he made love to Anna....
His baby...
Anna believes Nikos is unfaithful, and flees. Nine months later, she is left nursing a tiny baby....
His wife?
Nikos is furious when he discovers Anna's taken his son. He vows to seek retribution! He will make Anna his bride, and teach her who's boss!
Working for Nikos Stavrakis was exhilarating--until one night, when he made love to Anna....
His baby...
Anna believes Nikos is unfaithful, and flees. Nine months later, she is left nursing a tiny baby....
His wife?
Nikos is furious when he discovers Anna's taken his son. He vows to seek retribution! He will make Anna his bride, and teach her who's boss!
192 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2007
143 people are currently reading
485 people want to read
About the author
Jennie Lucas
558 books331 followersJennie Lucas had a tragic beginning for any would-be writer: a very happy childhood. Her parents owned a bookstore, and she grew up surrounded by books, dreaming about faraway lands. Her mother read aloud to her in French when she was little; when she was ten, her father secretly paid her a dollar for every classic novel (Jane Eyre, War and Peace) that she read. As a chubby teenager, Jennie covered her bedroom with travel posters and always had her nose in a book.
At fifteen, she went to a Connecticut boarding school on scholarship. She took her first solo trip to Europe at sixteen, then put off college and traveled around the U.S., supporting herself with jobs as diverse as gas station cashier and newspaper advertising assistant.
At 22, she met the man who would be her husband. For the first time in her life, she wanted to stay in one place, as long as she could be with him. After their marriage, she graduated from Kent State University with a degree in English, and started writing books a year later.
Jennie was a finalist in the Romance Writers of America’s Golden Heart contest in 2003 and won the award in 2005. A fellow 2003 finalist, Australian author Trish Morey, read Jennie’s writing and told her that she should write for Harlequin Presents. It seemed like too big a dream, but Jennie took a deep breath and went for it. A year later, after seven years of writing and eight finished manuscripts, Jennie got the magical call from London that turned her into a published author.
Since then, life has been hectic, juggling a writing career, a sexy husband and two young children, but Jennie loves her crazy, chaotic life. Who needs a clean house? Every day, Jennie gets swept into drama, glamour and passion. Now if she can only figure out how to pack up her family and live in all the places she’s writing about!
At fifteen, she went to a Connecticut boarding school on scholarship. She took her first solo trip to Europe at sixteen, then put off college and traveled around the U.S., supporting herself with jobs as diverse as gas station cashier and newspaper advertising assistant.
At 22, she met the man who would be her husband. For the first time in her life, she wanted to stay in one place, as long as she could be with him. After their marriage, she graduated from Kent State University with a degree in English, and started writing books a year later.
Jennie was a finalist in the Romance Writers of America’s Golden Heart contest in 2003 and won the award in 2005. A fellow 2003 finalist, Australian author Trish Morey, read Jennie’s writing and told her that she should write for Harlequin Presents. It seemed like too big a dream, but Jennie took a deep breath and went for it. A year later, after seven years of writing and eight finished manuscripts, Jennie got the magical call from London that turned her into a published author.
Since then, life has been hectic, juggling a writing career, a sexy husband and two young children, but Jennie loves her crazy, chaotic life. Who needs a clean house? Every day, Jennie gets swept into drama, glamour and passion. Now if she can only figure out how to pack up her family and live in all the places she’s writing about!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
November 2, 2016
Heavens to Betsy, how did this man become a billionaire?
I don't think I can even call this a hot mess.
The H is a sneaky, control freak, and the heroine, an ex-Russian princess, who is supposedly the best secretary EVER is dumber than dirt. Wait, they both are. Who takes on a 35% rate on a loan. Someone who's dumber than dirt, that's who.
Angsty McWoe is me. Wait for it, toss in an evil other man who practically twirls his evil mustache that for some reason the heroine keeps running to. The only thing that redeemed it was when the H's bouncer SS troop gets excited about a throw down with the evil OM's much less effective bouncer SS troop(it has to be boring watching after tiny h's all the time), and the wedding was nice.
I don't think I can even call this a hot mess.
The H is a sneaky, control freak, and the heroine, an ex-Russian princess, who is supposedly the best secretary EVER is dumber than dirt. Wait, they both are. Who takes on a 35% rate on a loan. Someone who's dumber than dirt, that's who.
Angsty McWoe is me. Wait for it, toss in an evil other man who practically twirls his evil mustache that for some reason the heroine keeps running to. The only thing that redeemed it was when the H's bouncer SS troop gets excited about a throw down with the evil OM's much less effective bouncer SS troop(it has to be boring watching after tiny h's all the time), and the wedding was nice.
October 24, 2022
Both H & h were dumbs. In spite of unbelievable incidents and a cartoon villain, I’ve read without break. I love JL. She is angst queen of modern HPs.
December 13, 2023
12/13/2023
Another read
I have been thinking about this book for a couple of days and finally remembered the name. I love this story but the heroine did annoy me a time or two but so did the hero but the ending was just awesome. I loved when the nanny actually explained to him what love really was. I liked that. And I liked how much the hero wanted her. And the ending was very sweet. He saved her from the evil villain.
4/22/22
Second read
I probably would have scored it lower this time because the heroine annoyed the neck out of me! I swear the hole Victor thing, and her reluctance to marry the hero even after she found out he hadn't cheated was just irritating. Yes he didn't love her, but the way he wanted her was hot. I am so easy. Lol. I really did like it because he really did love her, he just didn't know what love was. Thank the nanny for educating him. Great ending and I wish there was a story about her sister. I really liked her too. Safe and wonderful!
Another read
I have been thinking about this book for a couple of days and finally remembered the name. I love this story but the heroine did annoy me a time or two but so did the hero but the ending was just awesome. I loved when the nanny actually explained to him what love really was. I liked that. And I liked how much the hero wanted her. And the ending was very sweet. He saved her from the evil villain.
4/22/22
Second read
I probably would have scored it lower this time because the heroine annoyed the neck out of me! I swear the hole Victor thing, and her reluctance to marry the hero even after she found out he hadn't cheated was just irritating. Yes he didn't love her, but the way he wanted her was hot. I am so easy. Lol. I really did like it because he really did love her, he just didn't know what love was. Thank the nanny for educating him. Great ending and I wish there was a story about her sister. I really liked her too. Safe and wonderful!
November 20, 2014
I love a good revenge story, but this barely qualified. The hero was very angry and quite vengeful but it didn't last very long. He got over it fairly quickly once he learned all the facts about why the heroine left him when she was almost 9 months pregnant. Personally I was a bit disappointed in that turn-about. Then again, I LOVE revenge stories and from the level of pure dickishness he displays in the first chapter or two, I thought this was going to be a doozy.
This was mostly a story about a guy who doesn't really know what love is. He obviously loves the h, but doesn't really recognize it. He justifies his desire to marry her in terms of sex and wanting to protect and care for the mother of his child.
The heroine was interesting. She was beautiful and talented, but had her faults as well. She feared conflict and tended to run away from her problems or (in the villain's case) pussy foot around and never make her true feelings known.
One interesting thing is it was never mentioned (that I remember) if the heroine was a virgin when she first slept with the h. I got the impression that she wasn't highly experienced, but since it was never spelled out and she was a bit older I assumed she probably had some experience. It's only notable because HP's usually make a big deal out of the virginity or lack thereof of the heroine.
This was mostly a story about a guy who doesn't really know what love is. He obviously loves the h, but doesn't really recognize it. He justifies his desire to marry her in terms of sex and wanting to protect and care for the mother of his child.
The heroine was interesting. She was beautiful and talented, but had her faults as well. She feared conflict and tended to run away from her problems or (in the villain's case) pussy foot around and never make her true feelings known.
One interesting thing is it was never mentioned (that I remember) if the heroine was a virgin when she first slept with the h. I got the impression that she wasn't highly experienced, but since it was never spelled out and she was a bit older I assumed she probably had some experience. It's only notable because HP's usually make a big deal out of the virginity or lack thereof of the heroine.
January 2, 2011
It turns out that I have actually read this book once before. As I started to read it became more familiar to me. Apparently, I either gave it away or lost it somewhere because I didn't think I had this book. Anyway, I did enjoy reading this book.
I like Jennie Lucas because her heroes aren't always jerks and many times the H and h are seen as happy together in many parts of the story. I like when they aren't always at each others throats.
There was a part in this book I did not like but I felt better after the hero, Nikos, "confessed" to it the next morning even if he was a total heel by doing it. It showed that he did love Anna.
The villians in Jennie Lucas's books always seem to be a bit over the top but it really doesn't take away from the story. Actually, this villian wasn't as over the top as the others. He was mean and nasty and abusive towards the heroine.
This was a cute love story although it isn't one of my favorite Jennie Lucas books.
I like Jennie Lucas because her heroes aren't always jerks and many times the H and h are seen as happy together in many parts of the story. I like when they aren't always at each others throats.
There was a part in this book I did not like but I felt better after the hero, Nikos, "confessed" to it the next morning even if he was a total heel by doing it. It showed that he did love Anna.
The villians in Jennie Lucas's books always seem to be a bit over the top but it really doesn't take away from the story. Actually, this villian wasn't as over the top as the others. He was mean and nasty and abusive towards the heroine.
This was a cute love story although it isn't one of my favorite Jennie Lucas books.
February 27, 2018
This story starts out in Russia with great intensity and then fizzles as the hero brings back the escaped heroine and his 4 month-old son. By chapter four hero realizes the heroine left him because she thought he was having an affair while she was pregnant. Hero tells her no and fires the woman and that is that.
Then it just gets stupid. Heroine doesn't want to marry the hero because he doesn't love her. She thinks she can get the villain of the story (the one who charged her parents 34% interest on loans) to help her get custody. The guy had been perving on her for ten years, but she thinks he will help her without any payback?
Eventually the H/h fall into bed together and for the black moment
The Las Vegas/ Russia settings were interesting, but the H/h were both too ridiculous for this to be enjoyable.
Then it just gets stupid. Heroine doesn't want to marry the hero because he doesn't love her. She thinks she can get the villain of the story (the one who charged her parents 34% interest on loans) to help her get custody. The guy had been perving on her for ten years, but she thinks he will help her without any payback?
Eventually the H/h fall into bed together and for the black moment
The Las Vegas/ Russia settings were interesting, but the H/h were both too ridiculous for this to be enjoyable.
October 12, 2019
Recommended.
October 8, 2011
I rolled my eyes the entire time and kept asking myself, "Why am I still reading this?" It just wasn't really well written...I don't know....some things just didn't match up. I mean...to be a billionaire, you have to be smart. If he was smart enough to notice and lure someone as capable as Anna to be his secretary...how could he have fallen so low as to then hire someone like Lindsey who could barely type? Doesn't make much sense. Or when everything Anna thought badly about Nikos came to be false, why the hell did she still kept fighting him? And worst of all...the morning after! What the f*%& was that! Total disappointment, but very typical of these types of book (secret babies). Always because the women is selfish, stubborn with too much pride, or communication problems.
October 30, 2014
I'm sorry Nikos but I couldn't finish this. I tried but Anna made it impossible for me. >.<
I still can't believe the women that call themselves the best mothers ever but prefer to maintain their pride than to give their children a happy steady family. I mean, really? ¬¬'
Even after her so called "good reasons" to leave him turned out to be false she still held on to her pride and kept rejecting Nikos ¬¬'
I stopped where Nikos and Anna were talking about Nikos's father wanting to give money to support Nikos's mother but she refused (Anna should have seen herself in that and should have stopped her stupidity right then).
I loved Natalie, it seems that she is the only one in her family that actually uses her brain.
I hoped Anna went and married Victor and lived miserably ever after while Nikos and Misha lived happily...
I'm so disappointed because I really liked other JL books -.-
I still can't believe the women that call themselves the best mothers ever but prefer to maintain their pride than to give their children a happy steady family. I mean, really? ¬¬'
Even after her so called "good reasons" to leave him turned out to be false she still held on to her pride and kept rejecting Nikos ¬¬'
I stopped where Nikos and Anna were talking about Nikos's father wanting to give money to support Nikos's mother but she refused (Anna should have seen herself in that and should have stopped her stupidity right then).
I loved Natalie, it seems that she is the only one in her family that actually uses her brain.
I hoped Anna went and married Victor and lived miserably ever after while Nikos and Misha lived happily...
I'm so disappointed because I really liked other JL books -.-
September 15, 2015
At the beginning of this novel I really, really hated the hero, I distasted domineering jerk.
The way he used their baby against the heroine; yuck. But after that he got better and redeems himself.
Enjoyable novel.
The way he used their baby against the heroine; yuck. But after that he got better and redeems himself.
Enjoyable novel.
February 13, 2013
Not bad but nothing special. I didn't get into the romance and the drama/kidnapping at the end kind of ruined this for me.
March 20, 2014
I found the emotions in this book to be very intense. The author did an excellent job writing this romance. I could feel the passion from Anna, and Nikos. There were some misunderstandings, that added to the suspense of the book. Anna was a strong Heroine. She had a backbone, and her pride. She came off all most too strong. It worked well in this story, because of how controlling Nikos was. He needed someone to stand up to him.
Sample from chapter 2 - She felt the warmth of his breath. She could smell his skin, a scent of soap and hot desert sun and something more - something she couldn't describe but made her yearn for him with all the ferocity of her heart, as she'd once hungered for Christmas as a child. But Nikos was in no hurry. The seconds it took before his lips finally touched hers were exquisite torture. And when he finally kissed her the world seemed to whirl around them, making her dizzy, making her knees weak.
Sample from chapter 2 - She felt the warmth of his breath. She could smell his skin, a scent of soap and hot desert sun and something more - something she couldn't describe but made her yearn for him with all the ferocity of her heart, as she'd once hungered for Christmas as a child. But Nikos was in no hurry. The seconds it took before his lips finally touched hers were exquisite torture. And when he finally kissed her the world seemed to whirl around them, making her dizzy, making her knees weak.
March 4, 2022
Re-read and dayum i’m gonna bump it up to 4 stars bc this was so steamy and a little on the darker side. I don’t remember the last time a Harlequin book actually made me feel hot & bothered. The more recent JL books (and harlequin books in general) are so vanilla and boring. I wish Jennie Lucas still wrote like this!
The H was a lil bit of an ahole but the right balance, and he was obsessed with the h and spent most of the book begging her to marrying him while denying to himself that he loves her.
——ORIGINAL REVIEW——
3.5 stars. I believe this was my first JL book and i remember really liking it the first time but am annoyed at the h in during a re-read. I didn’t understand her mindset of running away from the H and let herself run to someone way worse.
The H was a lil bit of an ahole but the right balance, and he was obsessed with the h and spent most of the book begging her to marrying him while denying to himself that he loves her.
——ORIGINAL REVIEW——
3.5 stars. I believe this was my first JL book and i remember really liking it the first time but am annoyed at the h in during a re-read. I didn’t understand her mindset of running away from the H and let herself run to someone way worse.
August 19, 2013
Anna is a whiny, spoiled, weak, illogical, selfish idiot. It was painful to finish. The only character I liked was Anna's sister for pointing out what was obvious but even that and after some thinking nothing changed. Still she hung on toher selfishness and damnthe consequences. I would have liked Nikos better too if he didn't retract his opinion about Anna's motherhood. He got it perfectly right first chapter. I don't know why he felt the need to reverse his opinion. I might have symphatize more with him about his revelation if he didn't.
December 31, 2009
Awww :) Such a sweet ending :)
This story had way more angst, action, and UST than I'm used to in this type of novel, which is great :D
I'm really glad that the whole "cheating" thing got cleared up early -- that's SO not something I enjoy in my romance novels and it really would've put a huge dampener on the whole story had it been dangling over our heads the entire time.
I can see that I'm going to be a fan of Jennie Lucas, and hope to read more of her works in the future.
This story had way more angst, action, and UST than I'm used to in this type of novel, which is great :D
I'm really glad that the whole "cheating" thing got cleared up early -- that's SO not something I enjoy in my romance novels and it really would've put a huge dampener on the whole story had it been dangling over our heads the entire time.
I can see that I'm going to be a fan of Jennie Lucas, and hope to read more of her works in the future.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 13, 2013
I love this author usually but kidnapping stories are not my thing at all...
March 3, 2014
This review does contain major spoilers
This is the debut book of Jennie Lucas's. Though I have read many, many Jennie Lucas books in the past, but this was my first time reading her debut novel that has been out quite some time. What was I waiting for because this was a stellar debut. Jennie Lucas really hit the mark with this one, and I know why Harlequin Presents wanted to snap this book up and put it out for publication because it really was well done and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
It just fit all my criteria of what I want in a Presents/romance novel with lots of sizzling passion, romance, tension, and very emotional. I couldn't ask for better really out of a debut or really any Harlequin Present novels. I really don't have a single complaint about this book that just sucked me into the story of Anna and Nikos with me experiencing a range of emotions from the very first page to the last one, which what any great love story should do while getting me to root for both characters and for them getting their happily ever after that they both deserved. I was glad to take the journey right along with them. Plus throw in the evil bad guy Victor rounded out the story to make a really great book.
And the love scenes in this book. OMG. Talk about scorching hot. Not just the love scenes, but just the whole sexual tension vibe going on was just make it even more steamy that I could feel ooze off the page. They had some powerful chemistry together that lead to a hot lovemaking scenes that it made me sweat a bit. There were just so well written and passionate and I enjoyed every single one of them because I could tell it wasn't just about physical there was some emotional going on as well even if they didn't want to admit it. Even though they only have one scene where they go all the way, it worked because Jennie Lucas threw in these little scenes here and there where they would make out or just pleasure each other and they hot in of themselves and got me wonder was this the moment that they would finally give into their passions or not. There was definitely delayed gratification and anticipation the entire book to see if when they did finally make love if it would be as hot as the tension and the other scenes showed or preparing the readers for. I'll admit that I was wondering when they would finally give into their passion for one another and it didn't disappoint with it being just as passionate or more than I was expecting. It was hot! Hot! Hot! Made me fan myself a couple times because the damn finally broke for both of them. And even though he lied (though he didn't really lie, he loved her, but didn't want to admit it to himself yet) that he loved her as well as her admitting she loved him just upped the scene up to another degree with lots of emotions. For Anna, she felt joy because she was finally with the man that she loved and who admitted to love her so her lovemaking reflected that and caused her to give more of herself than she would have if he hadn't said he loved her. She began to trust him. While on his side, he felt guilty and bad that he lied especially after seeing her elation when he told her that he loved and saw immediately what that confession did to her, and even though he knew he shouldn't make love with her, he couldn't help himself because he needed her not only physically and emotionally as well and their lovemaking reflected that. But it was just the perfect culmination of what was leading up to that moment. Great scene.
Now speaking of hot. Let's talk about hottie Nikos. He was yummy, yummy on so many levels. Yes, he didn't act particular kind to Anna in the beginning, but I couldn't blame him really after Anna disappeared with her unborn child, making him think they were kidnapped and possibly killed and that scared him. But once he found out she was alive then anger took over. Anger that she kept his son away from him for four months of his life. So he was understandably upset. And he vowed to punish her in anyway possible (he decided to use her feelings against him when he saw in fact she still wanted him after all and still had feelings for him). Was that right? No. Could I understand where he was coming from. Yes. Especially since he felt like that his son was the only family that he had left and she took his son away from him. And even though he did plan to punish her in the beginning, he never really went through it or at least not in a serious way especially when he began to understand that she left because she thought he slept with someone else and felt that he rejected her the latter stages of her pregnancy with her seeing the reason behind it that he didn't find her attractive anymore and didn't want her and made her feel abandoned because he no longer came near her or touched, which caused her to flee. So, he kind softens to her once he learned the truth, but he still wanted to get his way with her by getting her to marry him so he would always have access to his son and another man couldn't take his place if she married him. So he did all he could to convince, and he was sneaky about it, using every trick in the book to get her comply. The worst one being the lie that he loved her so he could get her to agree, but like I said he really did love her but just didn't admit it to himself. Plus he never forced her into marriage once he realized what he was doing wrong and let her go, wanting her happy. I never found him to be overly jerky or mean to Anna, and he had a right to be angry after she ran and took their son with him and he did display that anger at the beginning when he found them in Russia.
Which by the way was an exciting way to start off the book and packed quite a punch with Anna coming home to find Nikos on her doorstep while her baby was gone from its crib and in the hands of Nikos's people causing much distress on her part. But it just got right into the nitty gritty of the story and filling in information in here and there about what went down between them and what the whole setup was instead of just having this blob of information thrown at us in one chapter to create the set up. This book began right with the action, which was really good, and it got me into the story immediately.
Anyway I really did like Nikos. Did he always do the right thing? No. Did he come to realize that he wasn't doing the right thing? Yes. Did he make mistakes? Yes. Did he make up for them? Absolutely. Did he really love her? Without a doubt, which I could tell pretty early otherwise he wouldn't have been upset by her leaving him. Now of coarse that had to do with her taking his son away, but I knew there was more to it that to display that type of anger towards her. But he really was a likeable character and I felt for him. Plus it didn't hurt that he was a sexy Alpha male, which I enjoy in romance novels, but I really believed that he cared about her the entire time and wanted what was best for her and his son. He wanted a family. Who could blame him for that? And even though he acted like a jerk, I never thought of him as an ass the entire time of the book. I just thought he was trying to get his way so he had his family by his side.
And Anna, who was a good fit for him and loved him deeply always had, had more emotional baggage then he had, at least in my opinion, to get through. First off, she didn't trust anyone especially after the way Nikos treated Anna during her pregnancy and ignoring her while she was absolutely in love with him and when she found out that he wasn't she was devastated by that she contended to keep her guard up around him. Plus she always took care of everyone else instead of herself. She was self-sacrificing trying to do the right thing by her family, which resulted in her not standing up for herself and kind of taking it on the chin. She never let her problems go and just handled it herself. She didn't really give people control instead she just handled it on her own. And if there was an issue that she couldn't deal with then she ran and ran some more so she wouldn't have to deal with it. I think it was a beautiful moment when she came to realize that she could trust Nikos and should have trusted him in a situation that proved dangerous thanks to the nasty villain Victor, who always wanted her and wanted to marry her and was the reason that her family was in such dire straights as they were. She had to deal with those issues and let go, and when she finally did in that love scene was another beautiful moment though it was ruined when Nikos told her that he didn't love her and lied to her that he did, breaking her heart as well as my heart breaking for her. I could see where she was in totally despair and hurt over that little revelation especially since she finally just overcame that hump by trusting him and spelling out his feelings for him.
I liked the whole love-hate thing as well, even though it was really more love than hate, with that being one my favorite themes/tropes in a romance novel because of all the back and forth between the two that created that great tension, which therefore increases their want and passion for one another. I love that because usually then there would be this build up leading up to the love scene that would be nearly combustible and this book was no exception of that. I love when characters wait a bit before giving into their passion because it just makes that all a more powerful scene when they do finally give in and let the damn burst so to speak. Add in the tension then you got an explosive and passionate ride. I think the buildup and tension is my favorite thing in romance novels. It's all about the anticipation. And Jennie Lucas did it so well in this book that it made me anticipating when they would do the deed right along with them and Jennie Lucas created the scene so it made my blood pressure soar because not only was it physically powerful, but emotionally powerful as well and I just love that.
Plus since their relationship was development and had a history to it (she worked for him for five years before they slept together the first time) that made the story even more powerful as well. Plus it felt more realistic and believable that they were falling in love with each other. I hate when love stories are rushed and just become about the physical without really any back up of the emotion until they very end, which makes it so unbelievable that it makes me not enjoy the story. But that wasn't the case here, and like I said the build up of sexual tension is what makes a great love story great and interesting while creating this believability to it because they aren't rushing into a physical relationship despite the fact they want each other and are taking time to get to know one another. Will there be misunderstandings along the way? Of coarse, but that's what makes it fun. And that's what this book had as well along with hot passion and likable characters that I could feel for and hurt for right along with them in the progression of the story.
I just really liked Anna and Nikos together and once they got their stuff together then they made this perfect couple that was made for one another. They've had this strong connection for awhile and finally came to realize how special that connection was at the end. I really liked the ending with his revelation and him coming after her. Just that was just a really powerful scene. It was just a really good love story.
Jennie Lucas created yet again another winner in my book, and it's so interesting that this book was her debut book and she nailed it. And though she has similar themes in all her books and follows a formula, which I am really into and why I enjoy her books so much because they're passionate reads yet very emotional ones too plus does the whole love-hate thing really well, but I kind of wish that in some of her others book she would put more of a villain in them like Victor was in this one because it just made the book more interesting and more dynamic because they couple wasn't just dealing with their own issues, but outside forces as well who want to pull them apart, and I think that works really well and think she should do more of that. Not that not having a jerky villain in her book won't make me love her books any more, but it would just add another element to it as well as create even more conflict and tension in the story. That's only suggestion not a requirement. Who doesn't love a hateful villain that our heroes have to defeat, right? But anyway by adding that dimension made me enjoy it more and love it more.
I really did love this book on every single level and am very impressed that this was her debut book. This book just had a special spark for me that made this such an enjoyable read that I immediately got into and enjoyed the ride that it took me on. Just something about it did it for me and it was no one thing it was just everything combined that worked together perfectly in tandem. What can I say I loved the story, the characters, romance, and practically everything about it. Bravo Jennie Lucas. Definitely can't wait to read more from her in the future and hope that she writes for Presents for many, many more years to come, which I will immediately pick up and devour. I want to read as many of her books as I can. Hopefully more will come out in 2014.
Side Note: I didn't read this edition pictured, though the story is very much the same from the edition that I read. I read the edition that was in an anthology that included this story as well as The Sheikh's Bartered Bride by Lucy Monroe that I've read, but didn't review or mark as read on my Goodreads, and don't know if I will review Lucy Monroe's book in the future or not, but I have read it (a long time ago in fact) and it was another winner just like this one. I thoroughly enjoyed it and devoured it much like this one and would probably give it five stars as well. Loved the plot and the story and the characters. So that's my little mini-review there, and I would definitely say to go check it out as well as this book. The anthology is part of Harlequin Showcase and was published in March 2011. You can find the cover and the listing here on Goodreads and though I could have posted my review there, I decided to post it here so I knew when in fact I read The Greek Billionaire's Baby Revenge and keep the two stories separate.
This is the debut book of Jennie Lucas's. Though I have read many, many Jennie Lucas books in the past, but this was my first time reading her debut novel that has been out quite some time. What was I waiting for because this was a stellar debut. Jennie Lucas really hit the mark with this one, and I know why Harlequin Presents wanted to snap this book up and put it out for publication because it really was well done and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
It just fit all my criteria of what I want in a Presents/romance novel with lots of sizzling passion, romance, tension, and very emotional. I couldn't ask for better really out of a debut or really any Harlequin Present novels. I really don't have a single complaint about this book that just sucked me into the story of Anna and Nikos with me experiencing a range of emotions from the very first page to the last one, which what any great love story should do while getting me to root for both characters and for them getting their happily ever after that they both deserved. I was glad to take the journey right along with them. Plus throw in the evil bad guy Victor rounded out the story to make a really great book.
And the love scenes in this book. OMG. Talk about scorching hot. Not just the love scenes, but just the whole sexual tension vibe going on was just make it even more steamy that I could feel ooze off the page. They had some powerful chemistry together that lead to a hot lovemaking scenes that it made me sweat a bit. There were just so well written and passionate and I enjoyed every single one of them because I could tell it wasn't just about physical there was some emotional going on as well even if they didn't want to admit it. Even though they only have one scene where they go all the way, it worked because Jennie Lucas threw in these little scenes here and there where they would make out or just pleasure each other and they hot in of themselves and got me wonder was this the moment that they would finally give into their passions or not. There was definitely delayed gratification and anticipation the entire book to see if when they did finally make love if it would be as hot as the tension and the other scenes showed or preparing the readers for. I'll admit that I was wondering when they would finally give into their passion for one another and it didn't disappoint with it being just as passionate or more than I was expecting. It was hot! Hot! Hot! Made me fan myself a couple times because the damn finally broke for both of them. And even though he lied (though he didn't really lie, he loved her, but didn't want to admit it to himself yet) that he loved her as well as her admitting she loved him just upped the scene up to another degree with lots of emotions. For Anna, she felt joy because she was finally with the man that she loved and who admitted to love her so her lovemaking reflected that and caused her to give more of herself than she would have if he hadn't said he loved her. She began to trust him. While on his side, he felt guilty and bad that he lied especially after seeing her elation when he told her that he loved and saw immediately what that confession did to her, and even though he knew he shouldn't make love with her, he couldn't help himself because he needed her not only physically and emotionally as well and their lovemaking reflected that. But it was just the perfect culmination of what was leading up to that moment. Great scene.
Now speaking of hot. Let's talk about hottie Nikos. He was yummy, yummy on so many levels. Yes, he didn't act particular kind to Anna in the beginning, but I couldn't blame him really after Anna disappeared with her unborn child, making him think they were kidnapped and possibly killed and that scared him. But once he found out she was alive then anger took over. Anger that she kept his son away from him for four months of his life. So he was understandably upset. And he vowed to punish her in anyway possible (he decided to use her feelings against him when he saw in fact she still wanted him after all and still had feelings for him). Was that right? No. Could I understand where he was coming from. Yes. Especially since he felt like that his son was the only family that he had left and she took his son away from him. And even though he did plan to punish her in the beginning, he never really went through it or at least not in a serious way especially when he began to understand that she left because she thought he slept with someone else and felt that he rejected her the latter stages of her pregnancy with her seeing the reason behind it that he didn't find her attractive anymore and didn't want her and made her feel abandoned because he no longer came near her or touched, which caused her to flee. So, he kind softens to her once he learned the truth, but he still wanted to get his way with her by getting her to marry him so he would always have access to his son and another man couldn't take his place if she married him. So he did all he could to convince, and he was sneaky about it, using every trick in the book to get her comply. The worst one being the lie that he loved her so he could get her to agree, but like I said he really did love her but just didn't admit it to himself. Plus he never forced her into marriage once he realized what he was doing wrong and let her go, wanting her happy. I never found him to be overly jerky or mean to Anna, and he had a right to be angry after she ran and took their son with him and he did display that anger at the beginning when he found them in Russia.
Which by the way was an exciting way to start off the book and packed quite a punch with Anna coming home to find Nikos on her doorstep while her baby was gone from its crib and in the hands of Nikos's people causing much distress on her part. But it just got right into the nitty gritty of the story and filling in information in here and there about what went down between them and what the whole setup was instead of just having this blob of information thrown at us in one chapter to create the set up. This book began right with the action, which was really good, and it got me into the story immediately.
Anyway I really did like Nikos. Did he always do the right thing? No. Did he come to realize that he wasn't doing the right thing? Yes. Did he make mistakes? Yes. Did he make up for them? Absolutely. Did he really love her? Without a doubt, which I could tell pretty early otherwise he wouldn't have been upset by her leaving him. Now of coarse that had to do with her taking his son away, but I knew there was more to it that to display that type of anger towards her. But he really was a likeable character and I felt for him. Plus it didn't hurt that he was a sexy Alpha male, which I enjoy in romance novels, but I really believed that he cared about her the entire time and wanted what was best for her and his son. He wanted a family. Who could blame him for that? And even though he acted like a jerk, I never thought of him as an ass the entire time of the book. I just thought he was trying to get his way so he had his family by his side.
And Anna, who was a good fit for him and loved him deeply always had, had more emotional baggage then he had, at least in my opinion, to get through. First off, she didn't trust anyone especially after the way Nikos treated Anna during her pregnancy and ignoring her while she was absolutely in love with him and when she found out that he wasn't she was devastated by that she contended to keep her guard up around him. Plus she always took care of everyone else instead of herself. She was self-sacrificing trying to do the right thing by her family, which resulted in her not standing up for herself and kind of taking it on the chin. She never let her problems go and just handled it herself. She didn't really give people control instead she just handled it on her own. And if there was an issue that she couldn't deal with then she ran and ran some more so she wouldn't have to deal with it. I think it was a beautiful moment when she came to realize that she could trust Nikos and should have trusted him in a situation that proved dangerous thanks to the nasty villain Victor, who always wanted her and wanted to marry her and was the reason that her family was in such dire straights as they were. She had to deal with those issues and let go, and when she finally did in that love scene was another beautiful moment though it was ruined when Nikos told her that he didn't love her and lied to her that he did, breaking her heart as well as my heart breaking for her. I could see where she was in totally despair and hurt over that little revelation especially since she finally just overcame that hump by trusting him and spelling out his feelings for him.
I liked the whole love-hate thing as well, even though it was really more love than hate, with that being one my favorite themes/tropes in a romance novel because of all the back and forth between the two that created that great tension, which therefore increases their want and passion for one another. I love that because usually then there would be this build up leading up to the love scene that would be nearly combustible and this book was no exception of that. I love when characters wait a bit before giving into their passion because it just makes that all a more powerful scene when they do finally give in and let the damn burst so to speak. Add in the tension then you got an explosive and passionate ride. I think the buildup and tension is my favorite thing in romance novels. It's all about the anticipation. And Jennie Lucas did it so well in this book that it made me anticipating when they would do the deed right along with them and Jennie Lucas created the scene so it made my blood pressure soar because not only was it physically powerful, but emotionally powerful as well and I just love that.
Plus since their relationship was development and had a history to it (she worked for him for five years before they slept together the first time) that made the story even more powerful as well. Plus it felt more realistic and believable that they were falling in love with each other. I hate when love stories are rushed and just become about the physical without really any back up of the emotion until they very end, which makes it so unbelievable that it makes me not enjoy the story. But that wasn't the case here, and like I said the build up of sexual tension is what makes a great love story great and interesting while creating this believability to it because they aren't rushing into a physical relationship despite the fact they want each other and are taking time to get to know one another. Will there be misunderstandings along the way? Of coarse, but that's what makes it fun. And that's what this book had as well along with hot passion and likable characters that I could feel for and hurt for right along with them in the progression of the story.
I just really liked Anna and Nikos together and once they got their stuff together then they made this perfect couple that was made for one another. They've had this strong connection for awhile and finally came to realize how special that connection was at the end. I really liked the ending with his revelation and him coming after her. Just that was just a really powerful scene. It was just a really good love story.
Jennie Lucas created yet again another winner in my book, and it's so interesting that this book was her debut book and she nailed it. And though she has similar themes in all her books and follows a formula, which I am really into and why I enjoy her books so much because they're passionate reads yet very emotional ones too plus does the whole love-hate thing really well, but I kind of wish that in some of her others book she would put more of a villain in them like Victor was in this one because it just made the book more interesting and more dynamic because they couple wasn't just dealing with their own issues, but outside forces as well who want to pull them apart, and I think that works really well and think she should do more of that. Not that not having a jerky villain in her book won't make me love her books any more, but it would just add another element to it as well as create even more conflict and tension in the story. That's only suggestion not a requirement. Who doesn't love a hateful villain that our heroes have to defeat, right? But anyway by adding that dimension made me enjoy it more and love it more.
I really did love this book on every single level and am very impressed that this was her debut book. This book just had a special spark for me that made this such an enjoyable read that I immediately got into and enjoyed the ride that it took me on. Just something about it did it for me and it was no one thing it was just everything combined that worked together perfectly in tandem. What can I say I loved the story, the characters, romance, and practically everything about it. Bravo Jennie Lucas. Definitely can't wait to read more from her in the future and hope that she writes for Presents for many, many more years to come, which I will immediately pick up and devour. I want to read as many of her books as I can. Hopefully more will come out in 2014.
Side Note: I didn't read this edition pictured, though the story is very much the same from the edition that I read. I read the edition that was in an anthology that included this story as well as The Sheikh's Bartered Bride by Lucy Monroe that I've read, but didn't review or mark as read on my Goodreads, and don't know if I will review Lucy Monroe's book in the future or not, but I have read it (a long time ago in fact) and it was another winner just like this one. I thoroughly enjoyed it and devoured it much like this one and would probably give it five stars as well. Loved the plot and the story and the characters. So that's my little mini-review there, and I would definitely say to go check it out as well as this book. The anthology is part of Harlequin Showcase and was published in March 2011. You can find the cover and the listing here on Goodreads and though I could have posted my review there, I decided to post it here so I knew when in fact I read The Greek Billionaire's Baby Revenge and keep the two stories separate.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 22, 2017
Wow would have given it a 0 star rating if I can. So unbelievably bad I actually develop an headache reading this. We have totally unlovable characters with convoluted logic and an over the top plot development. None of anything makes sense to me to be honest, it’s just like I’m being dumped in the middle of a madhouse…
Our h really is a real piece of work. She is so self absorbed and unrealistic in her expectations I really cannot believe it. Being a newborn mother, she “claimed” she will do her best by her child, yet none of her actions showed that. She ran away with a barely borne babe and traipse across 2 continents knowing there’s no money, no one to help take care of her child and no job security. She then insists she wants to work, with a newborn baby, it’s really a full time job to have to take care of its needs, I understand while there were a lot of working mums, I cannot understand nor forgive her insistence in this main bone of contention, especially when she knows why this is a big deal for the H. She doesn’t need to, in fact H insists she not do it, and her reason behind this? To pay off a 6million debt. Wow seriously, does she ever think she can pay this plus a 35% interest off based on her working class salary? Knowing what a bad decision it is, she also still went on ahead and lead another man on, ok seriously if you’re not interested in a guy, you will NOT be wearing a skimpy outfit and go all dirty dancing with him, just so you can talk to him, a direct I need to talk to you sentence already did that job. Seriously…*roll eyes* None of her decisions or reasonings make a lick of sense to me, and it gives me a headache seeing her dither between stupid actions (should I, should I not, then she bravely went ahead and did the stupid option). She is waiting for the H to love her and then thought once that happens, all will be well. Girl, you didn’t do anything to warrant his love, to be honest, and get real, just being in love doesn’t mean all problems can be solved if you’re not being reasonable.
The H is just as annoying. He’s not as hateful as the h, but I cannot tell he really cares for the h with all his planned maneuvers all filled with ulterior motives. All his actions are based on getting him something or out maneuvering the h, granted, all of this was because he love the h, but wasn’t aware of it, yet it just still is not to my taste, especially when he also didn’t seem to care for her much for much of the book until probably the 95% mark, too little too late for me by then to have any fuzzy feelings for his arseholeness.
The plot is just as incredibly unreal. Seriously, I would have handed this h over and even paid them for getting rid of her, so cannot fathom 2 guys running after her to be honest. Cannot stop rolling my eyes at this stupid development. I think the real reason for this book to be such an epic fail for me is that I never see this couple being happy together. Most of the pages were spent on their childish bickerings, a lot of which are such minor issues and should have been sorted out if they really care for each other, willing to talk things through and make a few adjustments. Their happy times are just glossed over by a sentence or two, making this book so imbalanced I was rolling my eyes when the grand I love you part came around and was just glad I can finish this torture.
Our h really is a real piece of work. She is so self absorbed and unrealistic in her expectations I really cannot believe it. Being a newborn mother, she “claimed” she will do her best by her child, yet none of her actions showed that. She ran away with a barely borne babe and traipse across 2 continents knowing there’s no money, no one to help take care of her child and no job security. She then insists she wants to work, with a newborn baby, it’s really a full time job to have to take care of its needs, I understand while there were a lot of working mums, I cannot understand nor forgive her insistence in this main bone of contention, especially when she knows why this is a big deal for the H. She doesn’t need to, in fact H insists she not do it, and her reason behind this? To pay off a 6million debt. Wow seriously, does she ever think she can pay this plus a 35% interest off based on her working class salary? Knowing what a bad decision it is, she also still went on ahead and lead another man on, ok seriously if you’re not interested in a guy, you will NOT be wearing a skimpy outfit and go all dirty dancing with him, just so you can talk to him, a direct I need to talk to you sentence already did that job. Seriously…*roll eyes* None of her decisions or reasonings make a lick of sense to me, and it gives me a headache seeing her dither between stupid actions (should I, should I not, then she bravely went ahead and did the stupid option). She is waiting for the H to love her and then thought once that happens, all will be well. Girl, you didn’t do anything to warrant his love, to be honest, and get real, just being in love doesn’t mean all problems can be solved if you’re not being reasonable.
The H is just as annoying. He’s not as hateful as the h, but I cannot tell he really cares for the h with all his planned maneuvers all filled with ulterior motives. All his actions are based on getting him something or out maneuvering the h, granted, all of this was because he love the h, but wasn’t aware of it, yet it just still is not to my taste, especially when he also didn’t seem to care for her much for much of the book until probably the 95% mark, too little too late for me by then to have any fuzzy feelings for his arseholeness.
The plot is just as incredibly unreal. Seriously, I would have handed this h over and even paid them for getting rid of her, so cannot fathom 2 guys running after her to be honest. Cannot stop rolling my eyes at this stupid development. I think the real reason for this book to be such an epic fail for me is that I never see this couple being happy together. Most of the pages were spent on their childish bickerings, a lot of which are such minor issues and should have been sorted out if they really care for each other, willing to talk things through and make a few adjustments. Their happy times are just glossed over by a sentence or two, making this book so imbalanced I was rolling my eyes when the grand I love you part came around and was just glad I can finish this torture.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 14, 2008
Jennie Lucas is a rising star and she certainly demonstrates it her December release of The Greek Billionaire’s Baby Revenge.
The book begins on an almost violent note when Anna Rostoff and her sister realize that Nikos Stavrakis, Anna’s ex-lover and father of her baby has come all the way to Russia and has taken possession of her infant son.
Nikos is one determined father, he will have and raise his son and he’s angry, angry that he has for months been deprived of his son and silently angry that his mistress Anna left him. He wants revenge, he wants his son and most of all he desires and is determined that he and Anna will marry and raise their son together.
How will he convince her? Your heart will stop as you read about this very sexy and determined man’s plan, a plan to have that family of his own, to be the father he himself had never had. However, his plan did not include love because Nikos believed to love would make him weak!
Anna can’t believe Nikos wants to marry her. How can he think it would work when she left him months before because she thought he was having an affair with his new secretary? Anna had once been Nikos PA and loved the job and working for him. She didn’t count on falling in love with him, becoming his mistress and expecting his baby. When she found out she was pregnant, everything changed…..Nikos insisted she quit her job and stay at home until the baby was born. When she thought he was having an affair, she left and had her baby on her own.
There are other issues involved as well…….her father had worked for Nikos and one learns later that he stole from Nikos, was badly in debt and also owed money to a family friend and Anna’s past employer, Victor. To top it off, Anna’s mother has also been borrowing money from Victor and the debt is astronomical.
In the end, many lessons are learned by both Niko and Anna as to what really matters in life……mainly love and family. The Greek Billionaire’s Baby Revenge is action packed, very sensual and passionate, an all around outstanding and exceedingly pleasing read, one the reader will remember for a long time.
Book Description:
His mistress...
Working for Nikos Stavrakis was exhilarating -- until one fateful night when the Greek tycoon made love to Anna Rostoff...
His baby....
But then Nikos installed a new mistress, and Anna fled to the last place he would think to find her. Nine months later, Anna is left nursing a tiny baby and a broken heart...
His wife?
Nikos is furious when he discovers Anna's taken HIS son -- he vows to seek retribution! He will possess Anna as his bride, and make her learn who's boss
The book begins on an almost violent note when Anna Rostoff and her sister realize that Nikos Stavrakis, Anna’s ex-lover and father of her baby has come all the way to Russia and has taken possession of her infant son.
Nikos is one determined father, he will have and raise his son and he’s angry, angry that he has for months been deprived of his son and silently angry that his mistress Anna left him. He wants revenge, he wants his son and most of all he desires and is determined that he and Anna will marry and raise their son together.
How will he convince her? Your heart will stop as you read about this very sexy and determined man’s plan, a plan to have that family of his own, to be the father he himself had never had. However, his plan did not include love because Nikos believed to love would make him weak!
Anna can’t believe Nikos wants to marry her. How can he think it would work when she left him months before because she thought he was having an affair with his new secretary? Anna had once been Nikos PA and loved the job and working for him. She didn’t count on falling in love with him, becoming his mistress and expecting his baby. When she found out she was pregnant, everything changed…..Nikos insisted she quit her job and stay at home until the baby was born. When she thought he was having an affair, she left and had her baby on her own.
There are other issues involved as well…….her father had worked for Nikos and one learns later that he stole from Nikos, was badly in debt and also owed money to a family friend and Anna’s past employer, Victor. To top it off, Anna’s mother has also been borrowing money from Victor and the debt is astronomical.
In the end, many lessons are learned by both Niko and Anna as to what really matters in life……mainly love and family. The Greek Billionaire’s Baby Revenge is action packed, very sensual and passionate, an all around outstanding and exceedingly pleasing read, one the reader will remember for a long time.
Book Description:
His mistress...
Working for Nikos Stavrakis was exhilarating -- until one fateful night when the Greek tycoon made love to Anna Rostoff...
His baby....
But then Nikos installed a new mistress, and Anna fled to the last place he would think to find her. Nine months later, Anna is left nursing a tiny baby and a broken heart...
His wife?
Nikos is furious when he discovers Anna's taken HIS son -- he vows to seek retribution! He will possess Anna as his bride, and make her learn who's boss
April 29, 2011
Review by Jen:
I generally shy away from titles like this one. They seem too hokey for me. But last fall I went to the Emerald City Romance Writers conference book fair in Seattle. While waiting in line to buy my books, I found myself standing behind Jennie Lucas. We exchanged a few words, but it wasn't until a couple weeks later that I discovered that she was an author. So, when I saw her book in a Wal-Mart store soon after, I decided to try it.
Nikos is a rich casino owner who ends up having an affair with his secretary, Anna. She discovers she's pregnant and when Nikos is unfaithful to her, she runs away. Nikos hunts her down and tries to take his son away from her. After realizing that isn't going to work, he decides that Anna is just going to have to be his wife and then he can teach her a lesson.
I'm finding it hard to really put my feelings about this book into words. I didn't particularly like the character of Nikos and found his relationship with Anna quite unsatisfying, and perhaps underdeveloped. Maybe if the book was a little longer and their relationship was explored a little more, it might have been a more enjoyable read. And outside of the romance, the plot was too weak for my tastes. My suggestion is that if you really want to read this book, go find it in a used bookstore or borrow it from someone.
I generally shy away from titles like this one. They seem too hokey for me. But last fall I went to the Emerald City Romance Writers conference book fair in Seattle. While waiting in line to buy my books, I found myself standing behind Jennie Lucas. We exchanged a few words, but it wasn't until a couple weeks later that I discovered that she was an author. So, when I saw her book in a Wal-Mart store soon after, I decided to try it.
Nikos is a rich casino owner who ends up having an affair with his secretary, Anna. She discovers she's pregnant and when Nikos is unfaithful to her, she runs away. Nikos hunts her down and tries to take his son away from her. After realizing that isn't going to work, he decides that Anna is just going to have to be his wife and then he can teach her a lesson.
I'm finding it hard to really put my feelings about this book into words. I didn't particularly like the character of Nikos and found his relationship with Anna quite unsatisfying, and perhaps underdeveloped. Maybe if the book was a little longer and their relationship was explored a little more, it might have been a more enjoyable read. And outside of the romance, the plot was too weak for my tastes. My suggestion is that if you really want to read this book, go find it in a used bookstore or borrow it from someone.
June 4, 2021
His mistress...Working for Nikos Stavrakis was exhilarating--until one night, when he made love to Anna.... His baby...Anna believes Nikos is unfaithful, and flees. Nine months later, she is left nursing a tiny baby....His wife? Nikos is furious when he discovers Anna's taken his son. He vows to seek retribution! He will make Anna his bride, and teach her who's boss! He treats her pretty bad when they reunite.
February 12, 2015
It was very good. Okay, this is the 3rd book that I have read from JL and she still never fails me! I love Nikos (which btw, my hero's name on my latest submitted manuscript so every time his name was there, I felt giddy). Nikos was protective to Anna and so what? He had reasons. And it was okay for me...
October 20, 2015
The heroine is pretty annoying and clueless and the hero is a butthead. They deserve each other. It is also good to note that most times I disagree with the whole not letting the father vist/be with/know the child so yerp. Her reasons were lame at best and selfish.
May 22, 2017
well, i am always fond to the jennie lucas writing style. it is always to the point without a long preambule, full with angst and drama too. this one is not bad tho.
September 18, 2023
Loved the tension, the drama, couldn't put it down for the life of me.
December 27, 2014
Didn't even finish this one. Couldn't stand the characters at all.
December 26, 2025
Anna & Nikos.
With a 3.5 rating, my expectations weren't high, but it was a second chance story, and I was curious.
It's an older HP, and it shows. Structured as just 9 chapters (that cover a lot of ground). No trite epilogue to trying to sell an artificial HEA. Other woman/other man plot lines. Violence. For better or worse, definitely different from the cookie cutter stories that HP has converged on in contemporary stories.
But that wasn't my issue. My primary issue was that the FMC was a wet noodle. Like no backbone. Her ex shows up, kidnaps her baby, threatens to separate them permanently, they both clearly mistrust/hate each other, she thinks he's left her for another woman....yet as soon as they're back at his place, she's like, "I can't control my body's reactions to him." Like, they've barely walked in the door. He makes threats, denies her what she wants professionally, makes her emotionally feel like crap...but any time he gets physical, she's all in. No backbone. For such an allegedly competent former executive assistant, this lady was a weak, rash, impulsive mess.
To be fair, the MMC is not much better, believing himself equally, if not more, betrayed, but almost immediately wanting to sleep with her again. He does have some willpower though--enough to try to use sex as a bargaining chip to manipulate her into marriage. What a catch! This MMC was also of the "I don't/can't love anyone" flavor, which was a major disappointment. His emotional intelligence is allegedly so lacking that he needs his own feelings "nanny-splained" to him. What?!
So that's the characters. As for the plot....the misunderstandings that led to their separation are quickly dispensed with. (Begging the question, why couldn't they just have had that conversation 6 months earlier and spared themselves the grief?) It was weird to me how quickly hate turned back into resuming a quasi-romantic relationship.
Then the bulk of the story focused on the central conflict of him trying to secure his son & the mother of his child in marriage, while she, no longer in love with him--and not wanting to marry someone who doesn't love her, keeps refusing to marry him.
You expect that conflict to come to a head...and it just as it does....the author throws in plot twist out of left field involving international kidnapping, threats of sexual violence, physical violence. Dramatic, but it felt completely unnecessary.
Not to mention a cop-out. It was bad enough that the MMC needed his nanny to set him straight. Having the adrenaline and urgency of the danger/kidnapping situation made it really easy for him to confess his feelings. Everything is just blurted out in a rush. In the absence of that late plot addition....it would have been more challenging for him to have to find her, go to her with his tail between his legs and without any distractions spell out that'd he'd been a blind ass and that he wanted her to take him back. Less drama, but more grovel.
Stronger characters would have made this a lot more viable.
With a 3.5 rating, my expectations weren't high, but it was a second chance story, and I was curious.
It's an older HP, and it shows. Structured as just 9 chapters (that cover a lot of ground). No trite epilogue to trying to sell an artificial HEA. Other woman/other man plot lines. Violence. For better or worse, definitely different from the cookie cutter stories that HP has converged on in contemporary stories.
But that wasn't my issue. My primary issue was that the FMC was a wet noodle. Like no backbone. Her ex shows up, kidnaps her baby, threatens to separate them permanently, they both clearly mistrust/hate each other, she thinks he's left her for another woman....yet as soon as they're back at his place, she's like, "I can't control my body's reactions to him." Like, they've barely walked in the door. He makes threats, denies her what she wants professionally, makes her emotionally feel like crap...but any time he gets physical, she's all in. No backbone. For such an allegedly competent former executive assistant, this lady was a weak, rash, impulsive mess.
To be fair, the MMC is not much better, believing himself equally, if not more, betrayed, but almost immediately wanting to sleep with her again. He does have some willpower though--enough to try to use sex as a bargaining chip to manipulate her into marriage. What a catch! This MMC was also of the "I don't/can't love anyone" flavor, which was a major disappointment. His emotional intelligence is allegedly so lacking that he needs his own feelings "nanny-splained" to him. What?!
So that's the characters. As for the plot....the misunderstandings that led to their separation are quickly dispensed with. (Begging the question, why couldn't they just have had that conversation 6 months earlier and spared themselves the grief?) It was weird to me how quickly hate turned back into resuming a quasi-romantic relationship.
Then the bulk of the story focused on the central conflict of him trying to secure his son & the mother of his child in marriage, while she, no longer in love with him--and not wanting to marry someone who doesn't love her, keeps refusing to marry him.
You expect that conflict to come to a head...and it just as it does....the author throws in plot twist out of left field involving international kidnapping, threats of sexual violence, physical violence. Dramatic, but it felt completely unnecessary.
Not to mention a cop-out. It was bad enough that the MMC needed his nanny to set him straight. Having the adrenaline and urgency of the danger/kidnapping situation made it really easy for him to confess his feelings. Everything is just blurted out in a rush. In the absence of that late plot addition....it would have been more challenging for him to have to find her, go to her with his tail between his legs and without any distractions spell out that'd he'd been a blind ass and that he wanted her to take him back. Less drama, but more grovel.
Stronger characters would have made this a lot more viable.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 23, 2021
This story certainly starts off in a very intense way, and they kept the pot boiling through most of it, but I had a hard time connecting with either character.
Anna, who is (of course) supposed to be smart and resourceful, acts really dopey. I get that Nikos seems at first like a big a$$hat, but the more you see of them together, the more you realize that she's got just as many issues as he does. He might have said he wouldn't "Love" her, but he did a darn good job of acting like he did, even before she ran off. Her insecurities really bugged me -- as did her propensity to jump from the frying pan into the fire with a blatant disregard for logic.
So, it's a little difficult to get behind either one of them. One's a dope that's supposed to be intelligent, and the other is an over-protective hulk that needs a better HR recruiter.
Anna, who is (of course) supposed to be smart and resourceful, acts really dopey. I get that Nikos seems at first like a big a$$hat, but the more you see of them together, the more you realize that she's got just as many issues as he does. He might have said he wouldn't "Love" her, but he did a darn good job of acting like he did, even before she ran off. Her insecurities really bugged me -- as did her propensity to jump from the frying pan into the fire with a blatant disregard for logic.
So, it's a little difficult to get behind either one of them. One's a dope that's supposed to be intelligent, and the other is an over-protective hulk that needs a better HR recruiter.
June 5, 2018
Have you ever read a book where the two main characters were both so infuriating in different ways you wondered why you continued to read? That was such a book for me.
Let's start with Nikos, the hero. I want to know how this guy actually became a billionaire, as it's never explicitly stated to my knowledge. Did he really just inherit the money? He didn't seem smart enough to make that kind of money on his own and I did not like how he constantly used his own son as a bargaining chip against the heroine.
The heroine, Anna, also just makes one dumb choice after another, so it's hard to root for her either. First, she moves around two continents with a newborn with zero money, and doesn't offer him a very stable life. She doesn't want to marry Nikos, since she thinks that he doesn't love her. Okay, fine. So, then, she turns to the villain of the story for help. This is the same guy who has been lusting after her for a decade, while charging her parents a 35% interest rate on a loan. Yes, you read that right. I know this is fiction, but on what planet would someone actually take out a loan with that kind of interest rate??? Well, I guess it makes sense since this is the same universe in which Nikos became a billionaire.
I didn't mind the heroine's sister, though. At least she was willing to call Anna out on her choices, which she felt were foolish.
Let's start with Nikos, the hero. I want to know how this guy actually became a billionaire, as it's never explicitly stated to my knowledge. Did he really just inherit the money? He didn't seem smart enough to make that kind of money on his own and I did not like how he constantly used his own son as a bargaining chip against the heroine.
The heroine, Anna, also just makes one dumb choice after another, so it's hard to root for her either. First, she moves around two continents with a newborn with zero money, and doesn't offer him a very stable life. She doesn't want to marry Nikos, since she thinks that he doesn't love her. Okay, fine. So, then, she turns to the villain of the story for help. This is the same guy who has been lusting after her for a decade, while charging her parents a 35% interest rate on a loan. Yes, you read that right. I know this is fiction, but on what planet would someone actually take out a loan with that kind of interest rate??? Well, I guess it makes sense since this is the same universe in which Nikos became a billionaire.
I didn't mind the heroine's sister, though. At least she was willing to call Anna out on her choices, which she felt were foolish.
July 19, 2021
Reading this was torture. I give it two stars (instead of one) because somehow I kept reading. It could be I’m a masochist.
It’s all about the h. The h made me cringe. She begs him to take her (sexually), she begs him to give her a job. He only has to kiss her and she gets all sexually agressive and she throws her top off to get naked. Ugggh.
There’s a villain in the book. In the end of the book she asks the villain - who charges 35% intrest for the loan he gave to her parents - to be friends.
I can go on and on about this h. She is dumber than dumb and annoying AF.
I read that some of the other reviewers are also talking about how stupid she is. So only read this book at your own peril.
It’s all about the h. The h made me cringe. She begs him to take her (sexually), she begs him to give her a job. He only has to kiss her and she gets all sexually agressive and she throws her top off to get naked. Ugggh.
There’s a villain in the book. In the end of the book she asks the villain - who charges 35% intrest for the loan he gave to her parents - to be friends.
I can go on and on about this h. She is dumber than dumb and annoying AF.
I read that some of the other reviewers are also talking about how stupid she is. So only read this book at your own peril.
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