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The Tycoon's Forced Bride
Malcolm McKenzie will never forget that night in New York when he put Ava Galvan in a taxi following a heated argument, and the Argentine beauty was involved in an horrific accident—one that ended her career as an acclaimed soloist with the Manhattan Ballet, and impaired her memory and ability to live an independent life.
The Scottish tycoon and philanthropist lives with his guilt, and another consequence: Ava was pregnant with his child the night of the accident. Ever since that night, Malcom has raised Jack as a single father.
But Ava is stronger now, and Jack wants his mommy to come home. Malcolm has never stopped wanting her and he’s determined to do whatever it takes to claim Ava—with or without her consent.
The Scottish tycoon and philanthropist lives with his guilt, and another consequence: Ava was pregnant with his child the night of the accident. Ever since that night, Malcom has raised Jack as a single father.
But Ava is stronger now, and Jack wants his mommy to come home. Malcolm has never stopped wanting her and he’s determined to do whatever it takes to claim Ava—with or without her consent.
164 pages, ebook
First published January 1, 2016
38 people are currently reading
211 people want to read
About the author
Jane Porter
617 books2,052 followersBorn in Visalia, California, I'm a small town girl at heart. I love central California's golden foothills, oak trees, and the miles of farmland. In my mind, there's nothing sweeter in the world than the heady fragrance of orange blossoms on a sultry summer night.
As a little girl I spent hours on my bed, staring out the window, dreaming of far off places, fearless knights, and happy-ever-after endings. In my imagination I was never the geeky bookworm with the thick coke-bottle glasses, but a princess, a magical fairy, a Joan-of-Arc crusader.
My parents fed my imagination by taking our family to Europe for a year when I was thirteen. The year away changed me (I wasn't a geek for once!) and overseas I discovered a huge and wonderful world with different cultures and customs. I loved everything about Europe, but felt especially passionate about Italy and those gorgeous Italian men (no wonder my first very Presents hero was Italian).
I confess, after that incredible year in Europe, the travel bug bit, and bit hard. I spent much of my high school and college years abroad, studying in South Africa, Japan and Ireland. South Africa remains a country of my heart, the people, the land and politics complex and heart-wrenching.
After my years of traveling and studying I had to settle down and earn a living. With my Bachelors degree from UCLA in American Studies, a program that combines American literature and American history, I've worked in sales and marketing, as well as a director of a non-profit foundation. Later I earned my Masters in Writing from the University of San Francisco and taught jr. high and high school English.
I now live in Seattle and Hawaii with my three sons. I never mind a rainy day, either, because that's when I sit at my desk and write stories about far-away places, fascinating people, and most importantly of all, love. I like a story with a happy ending. We all do.
As a little girl I spent hours on my bed, staring out the window, dreaming of far off places, fearless knights, and happy-ever-after endings. In my imagination I was never the geeky bookworm with the thick coke-bottle glasses, but a princess, a magical fairy, a Joan-of-Arc crusader.
My parents fed my imagination by taking our family to Europe for a year when I was thirteen. The year away changed me (I wasn't a geek for once!) and overseas I discovered a huge and wonderful world with different cultures and customs. I loved everything about Europe, but felt especially passionate about Italy and those gorgeous Italian men (no wonder my first very Presents hero was Italian).
I confess, after that incredible year in Europe, the travel bug bit, and bit hard. I spent much of my high school and college years abroad, studying in South Africa, Japan and Ireland. South Africa remains a country of my heart, the people, the land and politics complex and heart-wrenching.
After my years of traveling and studying I had to settle down and earn a living. With my Bachelors degree from UCLA in American Studies, a program that combines American literature and American history, I've worked in sales and marketing, as well as a director of a non-profit foundation. Later I earned my Masters in Writing from the University of San Francisco and taught jr. high and high school English.
I now live in Seattle and Hawaii with my three sons. I never mind a rainy day, either, because that's when I sit at my desk and write stories about far-away places, fascinating people, and most importantly of all, love. I like a story with a happy ending. We all do.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 105 reviews
July 26, 2019
The hero is a first class bastard.
He told his five month pregnant girlfriend he doesn't want anything to do with her OR the kid.
Only when she almost dies along with the baby does he believe that she is in fact really pregnant and suddenly wants both of them - bullshit. This is guilt talking!
Then he's an extreme cruel jerk to the heroine who has brain injury throughout the book and throws insults at her by telling her she won't remember anything. Yep. True love speaking there.
Then he accuses her of not being forgiving. So he agrees that he was a damaging bastard. But he claims that he has apologised and she's hanging onto the past, yet not a single time do we see him say the word sorry sincerely or say "I love you" when he doesn't want to fuck the heroine. Yet he's surprised heroine doesn't want to move forward with him.
He suggests she only remembers the bad side of the relationship. WHO hangs onto the memories of meaningless no-strings attached hookups after a guy tells them they don't want their baby? Please do tell! This guy needs his head checked!
After ALL this, after his stupidity almost killing her, he confesses that he still doesn't trust the heroine and believes she got pregnant deliberately to trap him in a relationship. Yet he expects AFTER this confession heroine would still blindly trust him and his superficial declaration of love and start playing house with him.
I don't really blame him because she clear does! Why? I wouldn't know if my life depended on it!
He thoroughly deserved his ex wife!
And everything aside the way he insults his handicapped wife using her inability to remember things as an insult is just disgusting and unforgivable!
And he does it a number of time!
He told his five month pregnant girlfriend he doesn't want anything to do with her OR the kid.
Only when she almost dies along with the baby does he believe that she is in fact really pregnant and suddenly wants both of them - bullshit. This is guilt talking!
Then he's an extreme cruel jerk to the heroine who has brain injury throughout the book and throws insults at her by telling her she won't remember anything. Yep. True love speaking there.
Then he accuses her of not being forgiving. So he agrees that he was a damaging bastard. But he claims that he has apologised and she's hanging onto the past, yet not a single time do we see him say the word sorry sincerely or say "I love you" when he doesn't want to fuck the heroine. Yet he's surprised heroine doesn't want to move forward with him.
He suggests she only remembers the bad side of the relationship. WHO hangs onto the memories of meaningless no-strings attached hookups after a guy tells them they don't want their baby? Please do tell! This guy needs his head checked!
After ALL this, after his stupidity almost killing her, he confesses that he still doesn't trust the heroine and believes she got pregnant deliberately to trap him in a relationship. Yet he expects AFTER this confession heroine would still blindly trust him and his superficial declaration of love and start playing house with him.
I don't really blame him because she clear does! Why? I wouldn't know if my life depended on it!
He thoroughly deserved his ex wife!
And everything aside the way he insults his handicapped wife using her inability to remember things as an insult is just disgusting and unforgivable!
And he does it a number of time!
Read
February 12, 2020Should have listened to my GR friends! SHOULD HAVE LISTENED!
I am sure the hero was as horrible as everyone has written, but I never got that far. DNF'd very, very early. Apologies to anyone who feels/knows that this improves because this is a case of "It's me, not you".
This one star is for the heroine, the loser mom. Okay, amnesia and TBI are nothing to sneeze at. Nor is forgetting your child at the mall or wherever, but is that reason to turn your back and abandon your little plot moppet? I am sure the heroine felt guilty, but never seeing your child again is beyond stupid and selfish.
Let us look at the title, Tycoon's Forced Bride. TYCOON! He could have hired a nanny, a companion, a minder while you deal with ...everything. Better a mommy with TBI and a nanny than no mommy at all.
The problem with having a couple being a mother and father at the gitgo, is you have a child to deal with as mother/father seem somehow to go hand in hand with moppets. Angst, damaging histrionics and desperate actions are fine and dandy when you are a footloose and fancy free tycoon putting your mistress/virgin/bride through her paces or heroine trying to teach her H a lesson, but they lose their appeal when you abandon a toddler in order to feel sorry for yourself. In this case, from what I could tell it had been a year since the heroine had seen her child or the hero because she was just too torn up.
Like I said: nanny.
I am sure the hero was as horrible as everyone has written, but I never got that far. DNF'd very, very early. Apologies to anyone who feels/knows that this improves because this is a case of "It's me, not you".
This one star is for the heroine, the loser mom. Okay, amnesia and TBI are nothing to sneeze at. Nor is forgetting your child at the mall or wherever, but is that reason to turn your back and abandon your little plot moppet? I am sure the heroine felt guilty, but never seeing your child again is beyond stupid and selfish.
Let us look at the title, Tycoon's Forced Bride. TYCOON! He could have hired a nanny, a companion, a minder while you deal with ...everything. Better a mommy with TBI and a nanny than no mommy at all.
The problem with having a couple being a mother and father at the gitgo, is you have a child to deal with as mother/father seem somehow to go hand in hand with moppets. Angst, damaging histrionics and desperate actions are fine and dandy when you are a footloose and fancy free tycoon putting your mistress/virgin/bride through her paces or heroine trying to teach her H a lesson, but they lose their appeal when you abandon a toddler in order to feel sorry for yourself. In this case, from what I could tell it had been a year since the heroine had seen her child or the hero because she was just too torn up.
Like I said: nanny.
February 3, 2016
3 More Than the Title Stars * * *
This was a quick novella which had quite a few hurdles for the main characters to over come. In the end they did, but there were serious challenges.
We were treated to a acclaimed ballerina who had a long time relationship without the strings of commitment to a self-made man who always got what he wanted.
He wasn’t crass or evil, just determined and that was part of his charm. She was equally determined to be the best and was....and when they were together....everything fit.
What both of them didn't count on was her falling in love with him and becoming pregnant. When she shares this news, he flashes back to a past she knows nothing about accusing her of trying to trap him and not wanting the baby.
Next the worst thing happens for the both of them...her cab is hit and she is severely injured. She is rushed to the hospital and somehow she is saved and so is the unborn child.
The set up is now years later. She is struggling to live a life. She has been stripped of her ability to dance....but she can teach. She has to deal with Brain Trauma...meaning short term memory loss, long term memory loss and a sense of not feeling like who she was.
He wants her back where he feels she belongs; she needs to be with him and her son Jack. Only problem is she fears she will hurt them both.
This story brought to light the complexities of this type of injury....how it impacts both the one trying to handle the recovery....but also those who love them.
It covered alot for a quick read.
A gifted copy was provided via NetGalley for an honest review.
This was a quick novella which had quite a few hurdles for the main characters to over come. In the end they did, but there were serious challenges.
We were treated to a acclaimed ballerina who had a long time relationship without the strings of commitment to a self-made man who always got what he wanted.
He wasn’t crass or evil, just determined and that was part of his charm. She was equally determined to be the best and was....and when they were together....everything fit.
What both of them didn't count on was her falling in love with him and becoming pregnant. When she shares this news, he flashes back to a past she knows nothing about accusing her of trying to trap him and not wanting the baby.
Next the worst thing happens for the both of them...her cab is hit and she is severely injured. She is rushed to the hospital and somehow she is saved and so is the unborn child.
The set up is now years later. She is struggling to live a life. She has been stripped of her ability to dance....but she can teach. She has to deal with Brain Trauma...meaning short term memory loss, long term memory loss and a sense of not feeling like who she was.
He wants her back where he feels she belongs; she needs to be with him and her son Jack. Only problem is she fears she will hurt them both.
This story brought to light the complexities of this type of injury....how it impacts both the one trying to handle the recovery....but also those who love them.
It covered alot for a quick read.
A gifted copy was provided via NetGalley for an honest review.
February 13, 2020
The pregnant ballerina heroine had an argument with her billionaire lover and stormed off in a taxi that had an accident which left her in a coma. When she came out of the coma, her baby had been delivered prematurely, her leg was crippled, and she has anterograde amnesia. Three years later, it's clear that every day is a terrible struggle of physical, emotional, and psychological pain for her.
I am spoiler cutting this out of respect for you, a potential reader, NOT out of respect for the narrative, which has no real spoilers but -- because of the amnesia -- presents itself in an obscure way that pretends it has spoilers to offer. (I blame Memento.) Every plot element here is predictable and overused.
That spoiler-within-a-spoiler is what changes the heroine's mind and...it just doesn't work for me. Partly because the excuse is so banal but mostly because all Porter shows us is a seriously impatient, pushy, judgmental, and self-righteous hero who doesn't deny he feels guilty for the accident, didn't love or respect the heroine when they were lovers in the past, and is *so tired* of trying to push their relationship up the hill. Well, boo-effing-hoo for you, honey. That woman who is trying to cut you loose is so tired just walking out the door every morning with her leg, career, and memory in tatters.
There may be an uplifting story to be told about a man who falls in love with a woman because of the resilience she demonstrates after a personal catastrophe, but Porter spares not a single word for the process by which this hero supposedly fell in love with the heroine, leaving me to feel it's nothing but guilt and sex and their son binding him to her.
Jane Porter is just not for me. She seems to enjoy wallowing in the heads of anxious, neurotic heroines on the verge of nervous breakdowns while simultaneously focusing on the destructive or demeaning impact of romantic love (The Fallen Greek Bride, The Good Wife). And I don't even know WHAT to say about Hollywood Husband, Contract Wife.
This is not why I read romance.
I am spoiler cutting this out of respect for you, a potential reader, NOT out of respect for the narrative, which has no real spoilers but -- because of the amnesia -- presents itself in an obscure way that pretends it has spoilers to offer. (I blame Memento.) Every plot element here is predictable and overused.
That spoiler-within-a-spoiler is what changes the heroine's mind and...it just doesn't work for me. Partly because the excuse is so banal but mostly because all Porter shows us is a seriously impatient, pushy, judgmental, and self-righteous hero who doesn't deny he feels guilty for the accident, didn't love or respect the heroine when they were lovers in the past, and is *so tired* of trying to push their relationship up the hill. Well, boo-effing-hoo for you, honey. That woman who is trying to cut you loose is so tired just walking out the door every morning with her leg, career, and memory in tatters.
There may be an uplifting story to be told about a man who falls in love with a woman because of the resilience she demonstrates after a personal catastrophe, but Porter spares not a single word for the process by which this hero supposedly fell in love with the heroine, leaving me to feel it's nothing but guilt and sex and their son binding him to her.
Jane Porter is just not for me. She seems to enjoy wallowing in the heads of anxious, neurotic heroines on the verge of nervous breakdowns while simultaneously focusing on the destructive or demeaning impact of romantic love (The Fallen Greek Bride, The Good Wife). And I don't even know WHAT to say about Hollywood Husband, Contract Wife.
This is not why I read romance.
January 28, 2016
*** ARC kindly provided by the publisher Tule Publishing, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. ***
This is the story of Ava, Colm and Jack. This family lost several years which should have been happy. When Ava was pregnant with Jack she had a terrible accident which she barely survived. After healing she still had to deal with memory issues, balance problems and pain. She does remember Jack but she doesn’t remember marrying Colm. She doesn’t feel adequate to be the mom little Jack deserves. Malcolm thinks she has had enough time and the doctor’s suggestion to give her time isn’t working. He starts fighting to have his family where they belong … together!
I really loved this idea and the story was nice but unfortunately is wasn’t a wow for me. I admired Jack’s relentlessness, how he raised Jack alone and how he took Care of Ava for all those years without her knowing about it but I couldn’t understand Ava. Being a mother myself I couldn’t imagine not wanting to spend every available second with my children. But I don’t have the issues Ava has so it’s difficult to connect with her.
The story also dragged a little bit for me and seemed a little repetitive. I also would have loved some more interaction between Ava and Jack when they finally got back together but overall I enjoyed it this book.
This is the story of Ava, Colm and Jack. This family lost several years which should have been happy. When Ava was pregnant with Jack she had a terrible accident which she barely survived. After healing she still had to deal with memory issues, balance problems and pain. She does remember Jack but she doesn’t remember marrying Colm. She doesn’t feel adequate to be the mom little Jack deserves. Malcolm thinks she has had enough time and the doctor’s suggestion to give her time isn’t working. He starts fighting to have his family where they belong … together!
I really loved this idea and the story was nice but unfortunately is wasn’t a wow for me. I admired Jack’s relentlessness, how he raised Jack alone and how he took Care of Ava for all those years without her knowing about it but I couldn’t understand Ava. Being a mother myself I couldn’t imagine not wanting to spend every available second with my children. But I don’t have the issues Ava has so it’s difficult to connect with her.
The story also dragged a little bit for me and seemed a little repetitive. I also would have loved some more interaction between Ava and Jack when they finally got back together but overall I enjoyed it this book.
March 9, 2016
4 "homecoming" stars
Ava's life as Manhattan Ballet principal ballerina has been shattered by a car accident. She fell into a coma and has suffered since from its after-effects, severe memory loss and dizziness. After years of therapy, she feels broken and has walked away from those who love her.
But one man refuses to give up on her : her husband, Malcolm. In business life, he always gets what he wants, in his private life, things have not been easy for him since Ava's accident. He made mistakes and has paid for them. He is determined to be patient and figure out a way to start again as a family.
I enjoyed this bittersweet and emotional story of second chance. The title doesn't do it justice though, nothing is "forced" in Malcolm's behaviour towards Ava. I loved both characters, my only complaint is that the story was too short and could have been developped more. I give it 4 solid stars.
I received an ARC, courtesy of Tule Publishing, via NetGalley.
Ava's life as Manhattan Ballet principal ballerina has been shattered by a car accident. She fell into a coma and has suffered since from its after-effects, severe memory loss and dizziness. After years of therapy, she feels broken and has walked away from those who love her.
But one man refuses to give up on her : her husband, Malcolm. In business life, he always gets what he wants, in his private life, things have not been easy for him since Ava's accident. He made mistakes and has paid for them. He is determined to be patient and figure out a way to start again as a family.
I enjoyed this bittersweet and emotional story of second chance. The title doesn't do it justice though, nothing is "forced" in Malcolm's behaviour towards Ava. I loved both characters, my only complaint is that the story was too short and could have been developped more. I give it 4 solid stars.
I received an ARC, courtesy of Tule Publishing, via NetGalley.
February 20, 2021
DNF at 75%
I came across this book yesterday as I needed sth quick, nice and fluffy to listen to while cleaning my house. And so I checked the synopsis and decided to give it a go. But this book made no sense to me tbh.
Summing up quickly.
1. The hero and our heroine hook up for a while before the story starts and as a result she gets preggo.
2. Then our hero tells her he wants her to abort the pregnancy and accuses her of getting pregnant on purpose only to entrap him.
3. They have an argument, he gets her into a taxi and she has an accident after which she is partly disabled and can't dance anymore (she's a ballerina) and she is kept in a coma for a while (if I remember correctly). Oh, and the kid is born through a c-section.
4. After the accident she suffers from anterograde amnesia and the hero suffers from a slight case of guilt trip.
5. He doesn't love her (he states that firmly) but guilt-trips himself to marry her..???
6. They somehow try to make it work until she goes shopping and forgets her baby and leaves the kid in a mall. And that was the point where I started laughing because he is as rich as Midas and yet knowing she has a brain injury, he couldn't hire someone to look after her and the unwanted baby???
7. After the incident she abandons her child and her dumb husband and spends 4 years sulking over her lost career as a ballerina. NOT the child she abandoned, nope, but her career.
8. Then our hero gets tired of raising his unwanted kid on his own and comes back to get that selfish bitch to come back. Ugh.
9. They fight a lot and he still doesn't know if he loves her or not but he feels guilty so he tells her he does. Ugh..
10. They hook up and then fight some more while he tries to convince her to go and see her baby.
She claims to love her son and yet hasn't seen or called him in 4 years (!!!) and still doesn't want to see him because she thinks she will somehow put the kid in danger? That dumb selfish bitch apparently never heard of a thing called babysitting. *eye roll
And at this point I lost any interest in how the story ends because the characters are selfish idiots and I only felt sorry for the kid.
THE END
I came across this book yesterday as I needed sth quick, nice and fluffy to listen to while cleaning my house. And so I checked the synopsis and decided to give it a go. But this book made no sense to me tbh.
Summing up quickly.
1. The hero and our heroine hook up for a while before the story starts and as a result she gets preggo.
2. Then our hero tells her he wants her to abort the pregnancy and accuses her of getting pregnant on purpose only to entrap him.
3. They have an argument, he gets her into a taxi and she has an accident after which she is partly disabled and can't dance anymore (she's a ballerina) and she is kept in a coma for a while (if I remember correctly). Oh, and the kid is born through a c-section.
4. After the accident she suffers from anterograde amnesia and the hero suffers from a slight case of guilt trip.
5. He doesn't love her (he states that firmly) but guilt-trips himself to marry her..???
6. They somehow try to make it work until she goes shopping and forgets her baby and leaves the kid in a mall. And that was the point where I started laughing because he is as rich as Midas and yet knowing she has a brain injury, he couldn't hire someone to look after her and the unwanted baby???
7. After the incident she abandons her child and her dumb husband and spends 4 years sulking over her lost career as a ballerina. NOT the child she abandoned, nope, but her career.
8. Then our hero gets tired of raising his unwanted kid on his own and comes back to get that selfish bitch to come back. Ugh.
9. They fight a lot and he still doesn't know if he loves her or not but he feels guilty so he tells her he does. Ugh..
10. They hook up and then fight some more while he tries to convince her to go and see her baby.
She claims to love her son and yet hasn't seen or called him in 4 years (!!!) and still doesn't want to see him because she thinks she will somehow put the kid in danger? That dumb selfish bitch apparently never heard of a thing called babysitting. *eye roll
And at this point I lost any interest in how the story ends because the characters are selfish idiots and I only felt sorry for the kid.
THE END
July 26, 2023
Not teary as I hope but little bit angsty!
April 30, 2016
This is a superb, stupendous, emotively written short story of heartbreaking sadness following a traumatic accident which robbed a talented ballet soloist of her career, much of her memory and life. At the time she was pregnant and, although she gave birth to her son, Jack, it is her husband, Malcolm McKenzie (Colm) who has been raising him. Colm is a wealthy Scottish tycoon and has been helping Ava recover but without her knowing it as she wanted her independence. Now she’s improving, Jack wants his Mum and Colm wants his beloved wife back. Can love and perseverance overcome all the obstacles in their journey to their HEA?
This is a poignant story, one which takes the reader on a journey into the depths of despair and heartbreak and shows how consistent love and support - together with equal measures of patience and obstinate determination - can help overcome the fears, obstacles and trauma. It highlights how such injuries impact not only on the injured person but on all those around them. It is a carefully crafted novel, taking the reader with the characters on this emotional roller coaster ride to their HEA.
Thanks to the publishers for gifting me an ARC of this novel, via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review.
This is a poignant story, one which takes the reader on a journey into the depths of despair and heartbreak and shows how consistent love and support - together with equal measures of patience and obstinate determination - can help overcome the fears, obstacles and trauma. It highlights how such injuries impact not only on the injured person but on all those around them. It is a carefully crafted novel, taking the reader with the characters on this emotional roller coaster ride to their HEA.
Thanks to the publishers for gifting me an ARC of this novel, via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review.
March 20, 2021
If you’d like a story about brain trauma and romance, sex, and love, I’d suggest watching Adam Sandler’s 50 First Dates instead.
This had an a**hat rich man on a guilt trip (he was controlling and cold) and a physically, emotionally, and brain-damaged woman who couldn’t remember all of the past but wasn’t interested or able to see anything positive in the future or present. Due to her drastically changed circumstances, she was extremely self-focused. She circled back to the bad memories over and over and over. Since his Emotional Quotient was -10, he wasn’t helpful to her at all.
It should have been a better story when you talk about a man raising his little son after she’d nearly died in an accident while 5 months pregnant but his choices were so illogical that it made no sense. It lacked all the emotional punch it could have, probably because he came off as so detached.
He hadn’t loved her during their physical affair, and he’d said a lot of horrible things directly before her accident took place. He believed she’d gotten pregnant to trap him. Their son was now 3, but they’d married 13 months before the start of the story... a marriage she didn’t remember and had walked out of in a befuddled state. So when he made a big deal about not being with anyone else during that 13 months, it seemed to imply he was probably with other women all the other months while she was injured. Otherwise, why not say he’d been faithful to her since they got together in the first place? My opinion was that he’d never been that invested in her beyond the affair... making their so-called romance now seem unbelievable. Like, he didn’t love her when she talented, beautiful, and brain functional but now that she’s completely damaged on multiple levels he falls deeply in love with her? The way it was written, very very doubtful.
Depressing and not a well-executed story. It could’ve been something but it was wrong in so many ways. Not seeing the HEA here.
This had an a**hat rich man on a guilt trip (he was controlling and cold) and a physically, emotionally, and brain-damaged woman who couldn’t remember all of the past but wasn’t interested or able to see anything positive in the future or present. Due to her drastically changed circumstances, she was extremely self-focused. She circled back to the bad memories over and over and over. Since his Emotional Quotient was -10, he wasn’t helpful to her at all.
It should have been a better story when you talk about a man raising his little son after she’d nearly died in an accident while 5 months pregnant but his choices were so illogical that it made no sense. It lacked all the emotional punch it could have, probably because he came off as so detached.
He hadn’t loved her during their physical affair, and he’d said a lot of horrible things directly before her accident took place. He believed she’d gotten pregnant to trap him. Their son was now 3, but they’d married 13 months before the start of the story... a marriage she didn’t remember and had walked out of in a befuddled state. So when he made a big deal about not being with anyone else during that 13 months, it seemed to imply he was probably with other women all the other months while she was injured. Otherwise, why not say he’d been faithful to her since they got together in the first place? My opinion was that he’d never been that invested in her beyond the affair... making their so-called romance now seem unbelievable. Like, he didn’t love her when she talented, beautiful, and brain functional but now that she’s completely damaged on multiple levels he falls deeply in love with her? The way it was written, very very doubtful.
Depressing and not a well-executed story. It could’ve been something but it was wrong in so many ways. Not seeing the HEA here.
March 19, 2019
I made a mistake and bought the audio version of this book. It was not that good. The “fake” Scottish accent of the narrator just annoyed me.
Anyway, I did like the story itself it was very emotional considering the trauma the heroine went through. I did feel the constant re-hashing of the past was a bit over done, but I guess this is in line with the heroine suffering from short term memory loss.
The author does a good job portraying the trials she goes through just to get on with her day, it’s truly horrific.
I kept waiting for the little son to make an appearance and he finally does at 80% mark. I wonted them to have more interaction with him, to see them more as a normal family enjoying family life, but well.
Anyway it was an interesting and enjoyable read.
Anyway, I did like the story itself it was very emotional considering the trauma the heroine went through. I did feel the constant re-hashing of the past was a bit over done, but I guess this is in line with the heroine suffering from short term memory loss.
The author does a good job portraying the trials she goes through just to get on with her day, it’s truly horrific.
I kept waiting for the little son to make an appearance and he finally does at 80% mark. I wonted them to have more interaction with him, to see them more as a normal family enjoying family life, but well.
Anyway it was an interesting and enjoyable read.
October 30, 2019
I thought that this book was good
January 30, 2016
This was a short story, short of 100 pages. But what a delightful story, this was despite a couple of things I had issues with. The story starts off with out hero, who has quite a bit of money and power but he needs his wife. His wife, Ava a professional dancer, ends up injured in a car accident, and she receives brain damage. Loses her memory at various moments and in one fatal day, their son she forgets about while out shopping. From that moment, she left her husband and son, her heart full of regret and guilt and knowing that she is a danger to her son. Its been a few years now, and her husband has come back for her. Malcolm misses his wife, but his priority is his son. He will do anything for him, and what his son wants and mostly needs is a mother.
Malcolm is a bit of a alpha male but with a mix of a beta, he takes charge when its needs to happen. What was most intriguing was the set up of the story. Seeing a married couple, go through some rough times, and get back together and begin reconnecting with each other. I loved that, and the sweet reunion with her son was quite poignant. I almost cried, it was too sweet. The romance is explosive and not just in the bedroom. They tend to argue (a lot) and to be honest it got a bit too much for me. It seemed a bit repetitive constantly, it was over the same issue. The heroine is so stubborn and prideful. I understand her reasons behind it, and my heart did ache for her as I was reading. But I also admired Malcolm for sticking to his guns, and standing firm against her reasons.
A likeable romance of a journey of guilt, regret and a healing love.
Malcolm is a bit of a alpha male but with a mix of a beta, he takes charge when its needs to happen. What was most intriguing was the set up of the story. Seeing a married couple, go through some rough times, and get back together and begin reconnecting with each other. I loved that, and the sweet reunion with her son was quite poignant. I almost cried, it was too sweet. The romance is explosive and not just in the bedroom. They tend to argue (a lot) and to be honest it got a bit too much for me. It seemed a bit repetitive constantly, it was over the same issue. The heroine is so stubborn and prideful. I understand her reasons behind it, and my heart did ache for her as I was reading. But I also admired Malcolm for sticking to his guns, and standing firm against her reasons.
A likeable romance of a journey of guilt, regret and a healing love.
January 27, 2016
A fantastic story that proves you never know where life will take you! Ava Galvan is a woman who has known great passion and great loss. Once a beautiful ballerina, now fighting her way back to a normal life after being involved in a horrific accident that left her with impaired memory. Malcolm McKenzie remembers the night he put Ava in that taxi after they had argued only to get a call a few hours later about the accident. Since that time he has grown and matured and now realizes just how much he loves her and wants to put his family back together. Putting Ava's fears to rest won't be easy though.
I definitely recommend this one.
I definitely recommend this one.
February 21, 2016
The book picks up in the present and we learn along the way about what happened several years ago to create a separation between Ava and Colm. Ava was hurt in a car accident after a fight with Colm the night she told him she was pregnant. Physically she can no longer be a ballerina and mentally she frequently loses her short term memory. She didn't always remember she was a mother and at one point left her 2 year old son in a shopping center. Ava has a lot of doubts about her capabilities as a mother (from herself as well as Colm when he was angry), so she's been living away from them for the past 13 months. Colm has decided it's time to bring his family back together. The book takes place over a short time when he takes her away to his Caribbean home and talk about the good and bad. We learn little pieces of their relationship before the accident and after. There's a somber tone to the book and you feel for both sides of the story as there is no simple or easy solution. The novella is told from dual points of view and is a standalone.
I received a copy of this book through NetGalley from Tule Publishing for an honest review.
I received a copy of this book through NetGalley from Tule Publishing for an honest review.
February 6, 2016
I received this book through Tule Publishing and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Actual rating: 3.5 stars
Actual rating: 3.5 stars
November 10, 2019
An interesting story.
Reconciliation marriage.
Reconciliation marriage.
June 12, 2016
Reviewed at Keeper Bookshelf
I am often in awe of the ability of a writer to take words and create such a heartfelt, emotional and completely satisfying glimpse into their character’s lives. Jane Porter is one of my “go to” authors, yet in The Tycoon’s Forced Bride she has created such an emotional read that has enough reality, consequences and passion in such a short length that I am simply blown away.
After a heated argument where things that should never have been said were spoken, Malcolm put Ava in a taxi and send her back home. It only takes an instant for our lives to be changed forever – that one, beyond their control moment happened when Ava’s taxi was involved in a life changing accident.
Ava survived, along with her unborn child – but the consequences of that night would linger on for this couple. Ava’s injuries would strip away her ability to dance with the Manhattan Ballet. Eventually she would be able to teach dance, but her career was over. Yet more devastating is the brain injury – the one that affects her short and long term memories. The one that will place her son in danger. The one that will make the decision to stay away from the man she loves and the child she’d give her life for a necessity.
Malcolm has kept watch over Ava from a distance. She’s getting stronger and it’s time. Their son, Jack, wants his mom. Malcolm needs the love of his life back with him ��� he needs his family whole again.
Put aside the money and prestige of this couple, those are beside the point. Look at what changes a brain injury has done to them. There are thousands of people living their life every single day with a brain injury. All that we really are, what makes us “us” are our experiences and our memories of those events. I cannot fathom not having those bits and pieces of what makes me unique in all the world stripped away from me… or the precious memories gone forever. Battling back from something like that would be exhausting, frightening and heartbreaking. Yes, they are a fiery couple who argue a lot, but some couples are like that – not abusive, simply they feel and express through words and emotions that get very heated, but the love remains.
Before I picked up this story, I believed I had read Jane Porter’s best – I was wrong. In a short story, with very decisive words and emotions, Ms Porter has given us a glimpse into the hell of dealing with, living with, and loving someone with a brain injury. Something beyond control is made clear and real. And I have to thank her for that experience. I don’t think I can give a rating or a recommendation high enough to fit what this story delivers.
*I received an e-ARC of The Tycoon’s Forced Bride from the publisher, Tule Publishing and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. That does not change what I think of this novel.*
I am often in awe of the ability of a writer to take words and create such a heartfelt, emotional and completely satisfying glimpse into their character’s lives. Jane Porter is one of my “go to” authors, yet in The Tycoon’s Forced Bride she has created such an emotional read that has enough reality, consequences and passion in such a short length that I am simply blown away.
After a heated argument where things that should never have been said were spoken, Malcolm put Ava in a taxi and send her back home. It only takes an instant for our lives to be changed forever – that one, beyond their control moment happened when Ava’s taxi was involved in a life changing accident.
Ava survived, along with her unborn child – but the consequences of that night would linger on for this couple. Ava’s injuries would strip away her ability to dance with the Manhattan Ballet. Eventually she would be able to teach dance, but her career was over. Yet more devastating is the brain injury – the one that affects her short and long term memories. The one that will place her son in danger. The one that will make the decision to stay away from the man she loves and the child she’d give her life for a necessity.
Malcolm has kept watch over Ava from a distance. She’s getting stronger and it’s time. Their son, Jack, wants his mom. Malcolm needs the love of his life back with him ��� he needs his family whole again.
Put aside the money and prestige of this couple, those are beside the point. Look at what changes a brain injury has done to them. There are thousands of people living their life every single day with a brain injury. All that we really are, what makes us “us” are our experiences and our memories of those events. I cannot fathom not having those bits and pieces of what makes me unique in all the world stripped away from me… or the precious memories gone forever. Battling back from something like that would be exhausting, frightening and heartbreaking. Yes, they are a fiery couple who argue a lot, but some couples are like that – not abusive, simply they feel and express through words and emotions that get very heated, but the love remains.
Before I picked up this story, I believed I had read Jane Porter’s best – I was wrong. In a short story, with very decisive words and emotions, Ms Porter has given us a glimpse into the hell of dealing with, living with, and loving someone with a brain injury. Something beyond control is made clear and real. And I have to thank her for that experience. I don’t think I can give a rating or a recommendation high enough to fit what this story delivers.
*I received an e-ARC of The Tycoon’s Forced Bride from the publisher, Tule Publishing and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. That does not change what I think of this novel.*
January 29, 2016
My Review:
OMG...this book. It's short on pages, but is REALLY not short on story. This is an incredibly emotional and heartbreaking story. My heart stayed clenched and hurt through the entire book. Poor Ava...I just wanted to bundle her up and force Colm to love her.
3 years ago, Ava suffered a horrific traumatic brain injury when her taxi was hit. She was recovering. She was, but she still had horrible issues with short term memory. Something happened and she was out shopping with her son and forgot him...walked away from him and spent 12 hours lost herself. It WASN'T her fault. She never should have been left alone with him, but after so many hours terrified, Colm reacted badly and said things he shouldn't have said. Trauma and stress makes her condition so much worse. The events of that day set her back so much farther.
Since then, she's stayed away from Colm and her little boy...for their safety. She doesn't trust herself anymore...and she's so, so alone. She doesn't realize that Colm watches over her in every way that he can, just waiting for her to decide to come back to him. But it's been a year. No one makes Colm wait and his patience is gone.
Seriously, there is so much truly deep emotion and hurt in this story. I loved the way the author wrote it. There are times when a deeply angsty book is just perfect. This is one of the best I've ever read. I loved it and hope to re-read it over and over and over again.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in return for an honest review.
OMG...this book. It's short on pages, but is REALLY not short on story. This is an incredibly emotional and heartbreaking story. My heart stayed clenched and hurt through the entire book. Poor Ava...I just wanted to bundle her up and force Colm to love her.
3 years ago, Ava suffered a horrific traumatic brain injury when her taxi was hit. She was recovering. She was, but she still had horrible issues with short term memory. Something happened and she was out shopping with her son and forgot him...walked away from him and spent 12 hours lost herself. It WASN'T her fault. She never should have been left alone with him, but after so many hours terrified, Colm reacted badly and said things he shouldn't have said. Trauma and stress makes her condition so much worse. The events of that day set her back so much farther.
Since then, she's stayed away from Colm and her little boy...for their safety. She doesn't trust herself anymore...and she's so, so alone. She doesn't realize that Colm watches over her in every way that he can, just waiting for her to decide to come back to him. But it's been a year. No one makes Colm wait and his patience is gone.
Seriously, there is so much truly deep emotion and hurt in this story. I loved the way the author wrote it. There are times when a deeply angsty book is just perfect. This is one of the best I've ever read. I loved it and hope to re-read it over and over and over again.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in return for an honest review.
January 25, 2016
This book reminds us that love is a very strong and powerful thing.
Reading this, I felt sympathy for what this family is going through. The sex scenes were pretty good. This was story was kind of heartbreaking. I could feel their pain caused by her accident and memory issues , especially when it came to their son and the incident. I could't imagine having to through what she went through every day. She was a strong woman for still fighting every day. I really admired and liked the hero in this book because of how hard he fought for her,his son, and for their love. He made sure she was taken care of and protected, but still was able to be independent. I loved his gift to her at the end. This was a sad story, but a good one.
The bonus book, Take Me, Cowboy, was good as well.
I received an ARC of this story for an honest review.
Reading this, I felt sympathy for what this family is going through. The sex scenes were pretty good. This was story was kind of heartbreaking. I could feel their pain caused by her accident and memory issues , especially when it came to their son and the incident. I could't imagine having to through what she went through every day. She was a strong woman for still fighting every day. I really admired and liked the hero in this book because of how hard he fought for her,his son, and for their love. He made sure she was taken care of and protected, but still was able to be independent. I loved his gift to her at the end. This was a sad story, but a good one.
The bonus book, Take Me, Cowboy, was good as well.
I received an ARC of this story for an honest review.
October 10, 2019
This is a really fast read. I found it as an audiobook and it only lasted about 3 hours and 38 Minutes. It was deff a nice cleanser from the 11 hour books that take me almost 3 working days to get through (as this is usually when I listen to my audiobooks.
I had no real problem with this book when it comes to the story line or how the characters treat or treated each other. They had an agreement and someone got fucked over in the past. This is problems that many people face in out day. I just couldn't get into it. At a certain point I just had it as background noise and stopped listening to the story. Its just not for me, but maybe its for you?..
I had no real problem with this book when it comes to the story line or how the characters treat or treated each other. They had an agreement and someone got fucked over in the past. This is problems that many people face in out day. I just couldn't get into it. At a certain point I just had it as background noise and stopped listening to the story. Its just not for me, but maybe its for you?..
October 19, 2019
I've found this audiobook on youtube, and since I like listening to random free audiobooks, gave it a try. I have to say it's unfortunately really not worth it. He is pretty much an asshole until the last few moments and she is (in my opinion) really annoying and repeats herself over and over again. Of course I have no idea how it is to live with a traumatic brain injury, and I imagine it must be terrible to not know, what you will remember the next day. But in this book, I really couldn't like the two of them, the whole thing seemed forced and the erotic scenes seemed (while hot, hence the two stars and not one), out of place.
September 12, 2017
Toxic relationship and problems that are never resolved :(
November 8, 2017
The second Jane Porter novella that I thoroughly enjoyed reading. In a way it is actually quite similar to the first one, One Christmas Night in Venice. Also shades of 50 First Dates with this one as the heroine, Ava, has a brain injury which causes her short term memory to suffer
(albeit, her memory is not wiped clean every night but she does forget things she doesn't write down).
From a distance Malcolm watches over Ava, yearning to be part of her life but she is scarred by an incident that happened thirteen months prior, when she was looking after her son. She has moved forward with her life, blocking out/forgetting that she and Malcolm were more than a couple (they are married) who shared a son. The book begins with Malcolm/Colm, deciding that he is sick of waiting on the sidelines for his wife to return to their family. He whisks Ava away from a freezing, snowbound Manhattan to his sunny Caribbean home where they work on their relationship.
(albeit, her memory is not wiped clean every night but she does forget things she doesn't write down).
From a distance Malcolm watches over Ava, yearning to be part of her life but she is scarred by an incident that happened thirteen months prior, when she was looking after her son. She has moved forward with her life, blocking out/forgetting that she and Malcolm were more than a couple (they are married) who shared a son. The book begins with Malcolm/Colm, deciding that he is sick of waiting on the sidelines for his wife to return to their family. He whisks Ava away from a freezing, snowbound Manhattan to his sunny Caribbean home where they work on their relationship.
July 2, 2019
I have never read Yule books before but I love Jane Porter and synopsis drew me in. Imagine my surprise when I started reading that it just like my other romance books, only better. Two damaged individuals trying to protect their heart, while trying not betray their real feelings for each other.
She felt guilty about her past, pieces of which she can not remember due to a car accident and him trying to protect her from behind the shadows. He feels guilty because they argued and he put her in the cab. I won't spoil the plot to much but I will say it was superbly written. I was hooked from the get go. The author writes in such away that you feel you are there with the characters. Feeling every high and low moment. And the sex scenes.... they steamed up my glasses
Kind of glad my mum didn't know what was happening.
I will be definitely reading some more by this author.
She felt guilty about her past, pieces of which she can not remember due to a car accident and him trying to protect her from behind the shadows. He feels guilty because they argued and he put her in the cab. I won't spoil the plot to much but I will say it was superbly written. I was hooked from the get go. The author writes in such away that you feel you are there with the characters. Feeling every high and low moment. And the sex scenes.... they steamed up my glasses
Kind of glad my mum didn't know what was happening.
I will be definitely reading some more by this author.
November 1, 2023
Malcolm McKenzie will never forget that night in New York when he put Ava Galvan in a taxi following a heated argument, and the Argentine beauty was involved in an horrific accident—one that ended her career as an acclaimed soloist with the Manhattan Ballet, and impaired her memory and ability to live an independent life.
The Scottish tycoon and philanthropist lives with his guilt, and another consequence: Ava was pregnant with his child the night of the accident. Ever since that night, Malcom has raised Jack as a single father.
But Ava is stronger now, and Jack wants his mommy to come home. Malcolm has never stopped wanting her and he’s determined to do whatever it takes to claim Ava—with or without her consent.
The Scottish tycoon and philanthropist lives with his guilt, and another consequence: Ava was pregnant with his child the night of the accident. Ever since that night, Malcom has raised Jack as a single father.
But Ava is stronger now, and Jack wants his mommy to come home. Malcolm has never stopped wanting her and he’s determined to do whatever it takes to claim Ava—with or without her consent.
April 5, 2020
I remember of reading this book last year I think I had updated it to my read list it was not there don't know goodreads bug or something.
Don't have much to say about this book it was just a typical book where girl had an accident and lost her memory and the guy really loved her and then forced her to fall in love with him again. I picked this book up because it was a sort book and I think at that time I don't really wanted to read long book.
Don't have much to say about this book it was just a typical book where girl had an accident and lost her memory and the guy really loved her and then forced her to fall in love with him again. I picked this book up because it was a sort book and I think at that time I don't really wanted to read long book.
January 4, 2018
If you're expecting this book to be a run-of-the-mill HEA Romance story, you're in for a big surprise. Spoilers! It will grab your heart and squeeze it for all its worth. Very real, very human characters; with nothing going for them, but the shear strength of pain and the conviction of their stubbornness.
September 2, 2019
Two and a half stars. I listened to this book on audio. The narrator was pretty good. The only real problem was with the heroine. Even though she went through the accident. She was still kind of annoying with constantly repeating herself. It was short and sweet just enough time to clean my house.
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