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'Spanish Billionaire, Innocent Wife (Modern Romance)'
He's determined she'll pay his price--with passion!
Raul Esteban has always wanted Alannah.
She is purity and passion combined! But she rejected him, and now the proud Spanish aristocrat is determined that she will pay for her mistake - with her body!
Raul mistakenly believes Alannah is no longer a naive girl - until one night of passion proves he has taken her virginity! Now Raul will do whatever it takes to keep her at his mercy...
Raul Esteban has always wanted Alannah.
She is purity and passion combined! But she rejected him, and now the proud Spanish aristocrat is determined that she will pay for her mistake - with her body!
Raul mistakenly believes Alannah is no longer a naive girl - until one night of passion proves he has taken her virginity! Now Raul will do whatever it takes to keep her at his mercy...
192 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2008
12 people are currently reading
98 people want to read
About the author
Kate Walker
496 books148 followersI was born in Nottinghamshire, England, but I didn't live there for very long. The family moved to West Yorkshire when I was just eighteen months old and so I have always regarded Yorkshire as my home. I grew up there as the middle child in a family of five—all girls—in a home where books were vitally important and I read anything I could get my hands on.
Even before I could write I was making up stories. My mother tells the story of me recounting the tale of the Three Little Raindrops — Drippy, Droppy and Droopy to my two younger sisters when I was four. I can't remember a time when I wasn't scribbling away at something, and I wrote my first 'book' when I was eleven, an adventure story, most of it in secret in lessons at school—particularly maths lessons, which I hated.
But everyone, particularly teachers and my parents, told me that I would never make a living as a writer, and I should work towards a more secure career. So I decided instead that if I couldn't write books, I could at least work with them and so I settled for becoming a librarian. On leaving school, I went to the University College of Wales Aberystwyth where I studied English and Librarianship for my degree.
More importantly, university was also where I met my husband who was also studying English there. We married and moved back north, eventually settling in Lincolnshire. Here I worked as a children's librarian until I left work when my son was born.
After three years of being a full-time housewife and mother, I was ready for a new challenge, but needed something I could do at home, and so I turned to my old love of writing. My first attempts at novels were written on the kitchen table, often late into the night when my son was asleep or during a few snatched hours when he was out at nursery school.
The first two novels sent off to Harlequin Mills & Boon were rejected, but the third attempt was successful. I can still remember the moment that a letter arrived instead of the rejection slip I had been dreading. I think I must have read it over and over at least a hundred times before the reality of what it said sank in, and for days I kept checking it just to make sure I wasn't dreaming. In 1984, THE CHALK LINE was published just in time to be one of my best Christmas presents ever.
Fitting in hobbies around working and being a wife and mother can be difficult, but I always find time to read. I love all sorts of fiction, especially Romance, obviously. I also enjoy historical novels, detective fiction and long, absorbing biographies about fascinating people and I can spend hours in bookshops just browsing. I enjoy knitting and embroidery, but I rarely get time to do either now that I'm a full-time writer. I also love looking round antique fairs or junk shops, hoping to add to my collection of Victorian embroidery. During my working hours my four cats, all adopted from the RSPCA, usually keep me company in my study, though they have to be dissuaded from sitting on the piles of papers that they are convinced are there just for them.
I love to travel and visit new places, especially places with an interesting history, and I always enjoy visiting old castles or stately homes and imagining how the people who used to live there spent their days.
I'm often asked if I'm a romantic sort of person because I specialise in writing Romances. Well, if being romantic means caring about other people enough to make that extra special effort, then yes, I am. Romance is about making the important people in your life feel valued and letting them know that you care. But I also write about relationships and the difficulties people sometimes have in understanding each other, or expressing affection, or overcoming problems.
Sometimes—when the right words won't come, or an idea hasn't worked out as I'd thought, I wonder why I don't have some regular nine to five job, but when the story's flowing and the characters come alive, I really can't imagine a
Even before I could write I was making up stories. My mother tells the story of me recounting the tale of the Three Little Raindrops — Drippy, Droppy and Droopy to my two younger sisters when I was four. I can't remember a time when I wasn't scribbling away at something, and I wrote my first 'book' when I was eleven, an adventure story, most of it in secret in lessons at school—particularly maths lessons, which I hated.
But everyone, particularly teachers and my parents, told me that I would never make a living as a writer, and I should work towards a more secure career. So I decided instead that if I couldn't write books, I could at least work with them and so I settled for becoming a librarian. On leaving school, I went to the University College of Wales Aberystwyth where I studied English and Librarianship for my degree.
More importantly, university was also where I met my husband who was also studying English there. We married and moved back north, eventually settling in Lincolnshire. Here I worked as a children's librarian until I left work when my son was born.
After three years of being a full-time housewife and mother, I was ready for a new challenge, but needed something I could do at home, and so I turned to my old love of writing. My first attempts at novels were written on the kitchen table, often late into the night when my son was asleep or during a few snatched hours when he was out at nursery school.
The first two novels sent off to Harlequin Mills & Boon were rejected, but the third attempt was successful. I can still remember the moment that a letter arrived instead of the rejection slip I had been dreading. I think I must have read it over and over at least a hundred times before the reality of what it said sank in, and for days I kept checking it just to make sure I wasn't dreaming. In 1984, THE CHALK LINE was published just in time to be one of my best Christmas presents ever.
Fitting in hobbies around working and being a wife and mother can be difficult, but I always find time to read. I love all sorts of fiction, especially Romance, obviously. I also enjoy historical novels, detective fiction and long, absorbing biographies about fascinating people and I can spend hours in bookshops just browsing. I enjoy knitting and embroidery, but I rarely get time to do either now that I'm a full-time writer. I also love looking round antique fairs or junk shops, hoping to add to my collection of Victorian embroidery. During my working hours my four cats, all adopted from the RSPCA, usually keep me company in my study, though they have to be dissuaded from sitting on the piles of papers that they are convinced are there just for them.
I love to travel and visit new places, especially places with an interesting history, and I always enjoy visiting old castles or stately homes and imagining how the people who used to live there spent their days.
I'm often asked if I'm a romantic sort of person because I specialise in writing Romances. Well, if being romantic means caring about other people enough to make that extra special effort, then yes, I am. Romance is about making the important people in your life feel valued and letting them know that you care. But I also write about relationships and the difficulties people sometimes have in understanding each other, or expressing affection, or overcoming problems.
Sometimes—when the right words won't come, or an idea hasn't worked out as I'd thought, I wonder why I don't have some regular nine to five job, but when the story's flowing and the characters come alive, I really can't imagine a
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
May 13, 2008
Harlequins are my dirty little secret. I admit I love them. Sometimes I just don’t want to get engrossed in a long story. I just want something short and sweet, so when I had the opportunity to read and review Spanish Billionaire, Innocent Wife by Kate Walker, I was pretty pumped up about it.
Raul and Alannah have a past together. Broken up by misunderstandings and lack of trust, neither have gotten over each other. When tragedy brings them together a couple of years later, both are shocked to see that even though they have anger and resentment for each other, they also have feelings of unrequited love and passion that is under the surface trying to break free.
I liked this book, but it could have been so much better. It definitely had some interesting moments in it. Raul is definitely a sexy Latin hero that kept me interested throughout the book. Alannah is a stubborn, strong heroine in her own right. I did find myself rooting for them to stop the arguing, and find their way back together again.
But, my complaint about Spanish Billionaire, Innocent Wife is that is uses a very common storyline without much originality to it. I felt like I had read this story before, many times over. There is the “big misunderstanding” in the plot that kept Raul and Alannah apart. They also argued a lot and nothing really got resolved until the very last pages of the book. I would liked to have seen them have some funny moments together, maybe even some kinder words to one another would have made me feel like they connected on more than an angry/physical level. There were times I wondered if they really even liked one another, they were so distrustful of each other, but in the end it worked out. I also, kept hoping for some element of surprise, but none ever came.
However, it was a quick and easy read. If you are looking for a book with a pretty basic storyline with an interesting hero, this book is definitely for you. I still enjoyed it, and I look forward to reading more of Kate Walker’s books in the future.
For more information about Kate Walker and her other works try http://eromancewriters.com/AuthorInfo...
Raul and Alannah have a past together. Broken up by misunderstandings and lack of trust, neither have gotten over each other. When tragedy brings them together a couple of years later, both are shocked to see that even though they have anger and resentment for each other, they also have feelings of unrequited love and passion that is under the surface trying to break free.
I liked this book, but it could have been so much better. It definitely had some interesting moments in it. Raul is definitely a sexy Latin hero that kept me interested throughout the book. Alannah is a stubborn, strong heroine in her own right. I did find myself rooting for them to stop the arguing, and find their way back together again.
But, my complaint about Spanish Billionaire, Innocent Wife is that is uses a very common storyline without much originality to it. I felt like I had read this story before, many times over. There is the “big misunderstanding” in the plot that kept Raul and Alannah apart. They also argued a lot and nothing really got resolved until the very last pages of the book. I would liked to have seen them have some funny moments together, maybe even some kinder words to one another would have made me feel like they connected on more than an angry/physical level. There were times I wondered if they really even liked one another, they were so distrustful of each other, but in the end it worked out. I also, kept hoping for some element of surprise, but none ever came.
However, it was a quick and easy read. If you are looking for a book with a pretty basic storyline with an interesting hero, this book is definitely for you. I still enjoyed it, and I look forward to reading more of Kate Walker’s books in the future.
For more information about Kate Walker and her other works try http://eromancewriters.com/AuthorInfo...
August 1, 2025
Hero wasn't that great
He definitely wasn't celibate but she did lie and say she had found someone else.I don't know. I'm sick of non celibate heroes and of.course she was celibate and still a virgin. I was.just.let down on this one. She left him 25 months ago and her brother fell I. Love with his sister and they were killed in a tragic accident at the beginning of the novel. They meet up and it just went down hill from there. It was just a depressing story. I wish I hadn't read it. He finally says I love you at the end and its game over. Needed an epilogue.or something. Oh and a better hero!
He definitely wasn't celibate but she did lie and say she had found someone else.I don't know. I'm sick of non celibate heroes and of.course she was celibate and still a virgin. I was.just.let down on this one. She left him 25 months ago and her brother fell I. Love with his sister and they were killed in a tragic accident at the beginning of the novel. They meet up and it just went down hill from there. It was just a depressing story. I wish I hadn't read it. He finally says I love you at the end and its game over. Needed an epilogue.or something. Oh and a better hero!
December 9, 2010
Another Kate Walker romance that I really enjoyed!
Raul really made this story for me. He's a Spanish aristocrat, and Alannah is the woman he fell in love with two years ago, but she rejected him. The two obviously still loved each other deeply, despite the misunderstanding and the distrust between them.
Ms. Walker gave frequent insights into what Raul was thinking, which I appreciated, because it helped to explain his actions, and for me added to the tension. I didn't only see things from Alannah's point of view, which was often warped from what he was thinking and feeling.
The last few chapters of the book, after Raul asked her to marry him, were particularly engrossing because that's when Raul's feelings became more apparent. It wasn't just about the sexual attraction he felt for her. He was enamored with her and brought her flowers, and the scene where he's watching her out on the balcony and she doesn't see him tugged at my heart strings.
The night before the wedding was also touching. He'd gone to talk to her but she was gone. Instead, he found a half-written note, and as he's reading it, his voice cracks. He was afraid and hurting because of his love for her.
Sometimes it's nice to see the men act vulnerable, and I appreciated the way Ms. Walker told the story and gave insight into Raul's character.
Raul really made this story for me. He's a Spanish aristocrat, and Alannah is the woman he fell in love with two years ago, but she rejected him. The two obviously still loved each other deeply, despite the misunderstanding and the distrust between them.
Ms. Walker gave frequent insights into what Raul was thinking, which I appreciated, because it helped to explain his actions, and for me added to the tension. I didn't only see things from Alannah's point of view, which was often warped from what he was thinking and feeling.
The last few chapters of the book, after Raul asked her to marry him, were particularly engrossing because that's when Raul's feelings became more apparent. It wasn't just about the sexual attraction he felt for her. He was enamored with her and brought her flowers, and the scene where he's watching her out on the balcony and she doesn't see him tugged at my heart strings.
The night before the wedding was also touching. He'd gone to talk to her but she was gone. Instead, he found a half-written note, and as he's reading it, his voice cracks. He was afraid and hurting because of his love for her.
Sometimes it's nice to see the men act vulnerable, and I appreciated the way Ms. Walker told the story and gave insight into Raul's character.
November 4, 2016
3 1/2 Stars! ~ Two years before, when Raul Esteban proposed to Alannah Redfern, she’d rejected him. Alannah had loved Raul with all her heart but Raul, though he desires Alannah, is only interested in marriage to provide an heir. So she invents a story of a fake lover, to forever push Raul away. Fate has brought them back together. Raul’s sister and Alannah’s brother had been lovers and now both are dead because of a tragic car accident. Forced together, they discover that their attraction is as powerful now as it ever had been. In the past Raul had controlled his passion wishing to have an innocent bride, but now he’s intent to seduce her. The magnetic pull to Raul is too much for Alannah and their passion proves to Raul that she was still untouched. Determined to keep Alannah in his life, he proposes again, this time holding the trump card that she may very well be pregnant already.
I read a review just before reading this book and I’m afraid it may have influenced me and I don’t know how to reconcile that with my own views. So I’ve decided to reserve my personal comments for now and revisit this book. I feel that is the only way to be absolutely fair to the author and myself; and perhaps, to the reviewer I’ve noted. I am still going to rate this book with a 3 ½ and hope that I’ll be able to reconcile my views into some sort of clarity to support this rating.
I read a review just before reading this book and I’m afraid it may have influenced me and I don’t know how to reconcile that with my own views. So I’ve decided to reserve my personal comments for now and revisit this book. I feel that is the only way to be absolutely fair to the author and myself; and perhaps, to the reviewer I’ve noted. I am still going to rate this book with a 3 ½ and hope that I’ll be able to reconcile my views into some sort of clarity to support this rating.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 15, 2014
This book was still appreciated for it's romance, but it is unbearably slow and very bitter for a good chunk of the book. Bitter as in the obvious hatrid between the characters, and there were so many points in the book where it could have turned a different way but the author kept the hatrid going for a good chunk of the book and by time the romance and seduction finally came into play, (if you want to call it seduction, it barely is), the book was almost at it's end.
July 16, 2020
He's determined she'll pay his price--with passion. Raul Esteban has always wanted Alannah.
She is purity and passion combined! But she rejected him, and now the proud Spanish aristocrat is determined that she will pay for her mistake--with her body!
Raul mistakenly believes Alannah is no longer a naive girl--until one night of passion proves he has taken her virginity! Now Raul will do whatever it takes to keep her at his mercy....
She is purity and passion combined! But she rejected him, and now the proud Spanish aristocrat is determined that she will pay for her mistake--with her body!
Raul mistakenly believes Alannah is no longer a naive girl--until one night of passion proves he has taken her virginity! Now Raul will do whatever it takes to keep her at his mercy....
Read
April 19, 2013You write the title in english but the description is in spanish.
July 19, 2021
I was hoping for a short, quick feel good romance, instead I was left feeling confused, and not satisfied.
From the beginning of this novel, I instantly disliked the writing style. There would be a whole page or more of characters thoughts, then one word to a short sentence of dialogue. When I got to the next bit of dialogue I had already forgotten what was said before, which was extremely annoying.
When I finished the first chapter, there was nothing substantial that happened, making this book feel cheap and not interesting.
As I quickly skimmed through the rest of the story I noticed how annoying Alannah was, never answering Raul's questions straight away, always beating around the bush, lengthening this book with so many unnecessary thoughts and feelings.
Unfortunately for me, this book was very silly, not really having a proper plot line.
From the beginning of this novel, I instantly disliked the writing style. There would be a whole page or more of characters thoughts, then one word to a short sentence of dialogue. When I got to the next bit of dialogue I had already forgotten what was said before, which was extremely annoying.
When I finished the first chapter, there was nothing substantial that happened, making this book feel cheap and not interesting.
As I quickly skimmed through the rest of the story I noticed how annoying Alannah was, never answering Raul's questions straight away, always beating around the bush, lengthening this book with so many unnecessary thoughts and feelings.
Unfortunately for me, this book was very silly, not really having a proper plot line.
May 16, 2021
It’s very slow. The first 140 pages, so almost the entire book, is about 2-3 days of their lives. It takes her 50 pages to tell him what she wants or needs to tell him about her brother and his sister.
She is a bitter woman and it’s not quite clear why she is so bitter. He proposed to her two years before, there was no OW or something like that.
Even when he does something nice, like bringing her to her home because it rains or giving her flowers, she reacts resentful and bitter. I don’t know why. He doesn’t know why. I think she doesn’t know why. Actually I think even the writer doesn’t know why.
It isn’t a bad read. The book is a lot about what she thinks and feels. I got tired of her. And if this wasn’t HP-landia, the H would have gotten tired of her too.
She is a bitter woman and it’s not quite clear why she is so bitter. He proposed to her two years before, there was no OW or something like that.
Even when he does something nice, like bringing her to her home because it rains or giving her flowers, she reacts resentful and bitter. I don’t know why. He doesn’t know why. I think she doesn’t know why. Actually I think even the writer doesn’t know why.
It isn’t a bad read. The book is a lot about what she thinks and feels. I got tired of her. And if this wasn’t HP-landia, the H would have gotten tired of her too.
June 20, 2023
Absolutely terrible. Only read because my sister and I play a game where we go to the thrift store and pick a random book for the other to read. This book is all about a misunderstanding between the two main characters. Had they just communicated with one another then her brother and his pregnant sister wouldn't have died. The writing is rough, it is super wordy and hard to get through.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 4, 2023
Nothing really happens, based on misunderstandings. Nothing resolved except ILY without any reason.
November 14, 2008
The Spanish Billionaire, Innocent Wife was not only full of passion as only Kate Walker can write; it also was moving, full of tension with extremely believable characters. What touched me the most was Raul, he was so vulnerable with his feelings for Alannah yet intensely angry. Even though he displayed his Alpha characteristics he touched me because his feelings for her were hidden inside from the moment she lied and left him he never really got over the pain or loss. Raul’s love for his sister, his lost brother and his desire to produce an heir for his father will move anyone reading this incredibly beautiful love story.
From the moment one begins reading this story set in a hospital where Alannah mourns her dead brother and friend, Lorena who turns out to be Raul’s sister who has also passed, you just know that when Raul arrives on the scene the tension is going to explode……and it does with seismic force.
As their story unfolds before the reader’s eyes, the sexual tension, the emotion, the pain of their love for each other will rip out your heart especially when Alannah’s feelings about her love for Raul, her wanting to give him an heir and her uncertainly of his feelings for her, well trust me you won’t want to miss reading this wonderful and moving story.
The Spanish Billionaire, Innocent Wife is just another example of the amazing Kate Walker and her sensual and entertaining love stories.
Book Description:
Raul Esteban has always wanted Alannah.
She is purity and passion combined! But she rejected him, and now the proud Spanish aristocrat is determined that she will pay for her mistake—with her body!
Raul mistakenly believes Alannah is no longer a naive girl—until one night of passion proves he has taken her virginity! Now Raul will do whatever it takes to keep her at his mercy….
From the moment one begins reading this story set in a hospital where Alannah mourns her dead brother and friend, Lorena who turns out to be Raul’s sister who has also passed, you just know that when Raul arrives on the scene the tension is going to explode……and it does with seismic force.
As their story unfolds before the reader’s eyes, the sexual tension, the emotion, the pain of their love for each other will rip out your heart especially when Alannah’s feelings about her love for Raul, her wanting to give him an heir and her uncertainly of his feelings for her, well trust me you won’t want to miss reading this wonderful and moving story.
The Spanish Billionaire, Innocent Wife is just another example of the amazing Kate Walker and her sensual and entertaining love stories.
Book Description:
Raul Esteban has always wanted Alannah.
She is purity and passion combined! But she rejected him, and now the proud Spanish aristocrat is determined that she will pay for her mistake—with her body!
Raul mistakenly believes Alannah is no longer a naive girl—until one night of passion proves he has taken her virginity! Now Raul will do whatever it takes to keep her at his mercy….
October 13, 2025
Creo que son tres todas las escenas del libro. O por ahí anda la cosa pero eso hace que las escenas sean tediosas, aburridas y eternas. Son escenas que duran varios capítulos donde todo lo que pasa es ver a un par de personajes lamentarse por el pasado e inferir un millón de cosas que no son así. Me pareció muy denso el libro.
Alannah encuentra a Raúl en un hospital. ¿Por qué están allí? Porque ella perdió a su hermano y él a su hermana... que resulta murieron juntos. Él no lo sabe, y ella sí, pero tarda más de dos capítulos en decírselo. ¡Dile ya mujer!
Otra cosa que me molestó mucho fue ese calentarse que sintieron desde el segundo cero de su encuentro y resulta que ambos estaban de luto. Cualquiera.
Les puedo decir que es un HEA? No lo sé. Porque el final es muy abrupto y no dice nada. Solo que se aman y tenemos que conformarnos con eso.
Nota de color. Estan las voces de ambos personajes.
-Leído de carne y hueso-
Alannah encuentra a Raúl en un hospital. ¿Por qué están allí? Porque ella perdió a su hermano y él a su hermana... que resulta murieron juntos. Él no lo sabe, y ella sí, pero tarda más de dos capítulos en decírselo. ¡Dile ya mujer!
Otra cosa que me molestó mucho fue ese calentarse que sintieron desde el segundo cero de su encuentro y resulta que ambos estaban de luto. Cualquiera.
Les puedo decir que es un HEA? No lo sé. Porque el final es muy abrupto y no dice nada. Solo que se aman y tenemos que conformarnos con eso.
Nota de color. Estan las voces de ambos personajes.
-Leído de carne y hueso-
February 7, 2011
I liked that the characters had a history to build on, rather than meeting and falling in love at first sight. I was, however, kind of disappointing in too many ways for me to rate this any more than a three.
I didn't feel that the characters were well developed enough and the lead female irritated me. I don't really have anything good to point out about this story.
It isn't that it was all bad, because it wasn't. I just don't have a silver lining to it.
It felt rushed and a bit silly, to be honest.
I didn't feel that the characters were well developed enough and the lead female irritated me. I don't really have anything good to point out about this story.
It isn't that it was all bad, because it wasn't. I just don't have a silver lining to it.
It felt rushed and a bit silly, to be honest.
January 26, 2022
Just because.
My first Harlequin romance novel and I sped right through it in two days. The story of a woman and a man whose lives come back together after two years when tragedy strikes both their families. The quick tale of finding love in the most desperate times, just when you feel the weakest, and give up. A quick, to the point story that still leaves you wanting to know what else happens in the end.
My first Harlequin romance novel and I sped right through it in two days. The story of a woman and a man whose lives come back together after two years when tragedy strikes both their families. The quick tale of finding love in the most desperate times, just when you feel the weakest, and give up. A quick, to the point story that still leaves you wanting to know what else happens in the end.
Read
July 27, 2011Alannah turned down Raul's proposal, believing he only wanted a heir and knowing she could never have children. With the death of her brother and his sister bringing them back together, she is again put to the test of rejecting the man she loves.
An OK story.
An OK story.
February 17, 2016
This is one of the worst books I've ever read. The plot has a good basis but the author just didn't give enough to this story. The words and sentiments just repeat, and repeat - saying the same thing in different ways over and over. It could have been much better.
September 13, 2012
The novel was way beyond slow for me. The ending was really cheaply done too. I didn't really like this novel at much at all. I was kind of embarrassed that this was a Kate Walker novel, it was missing all sorts of things that are present in her other novels.
December 17, 2016
I found this book boaring. It was basically one long inner monolog, from both characters POV.
2/3 of the book took place in the space of a few days. And then, all of a sudden, it`s been 4 months. I did`t connect with the characters and skimmed, lik, 70 % of the book.
2/3 of the book took place in the space of a few days. And then, all of a sudden, it`s been 4 months. I did`t connect with the characters and skimmed, lik, 70 % of the book.
April 14, 2009
Read for BBA short contemporary romance contest.
January 24, 2011
Boring!!!! It took me 3 weeks more or less to finish reading this book!
September 21, 2011
quick read as expected, but not a favorite
December 25, 2011
I felt alot was left unsaid in the story, or just plain not dealt with.
April 27, 2012
I loved this book a wonderful story.
June 28, 2008
quick read as expected, but not a favorite
May 14, 2009
reading for Romance Writers contest
April 28, 2017
2.5 stars...
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews