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Después del «sí, quiero»
No le había dado tiempo a decir «Sí, quiero» cuando ella recuperó la memoria y se acordó de todo…
Después de enamorarse de un conocido magnate italiano, Marnie Clarke, camarera, se sintió horrorizada al enterarse de que, en el mundo de este, era solo su «sucio secretito». Con el corazón roto decidió marcharse con su dignidad a otra parte… ¡y con un hijo en el vientre!
Leandro se negaba a creer que el niño pudiese ser suyo hasta que una prueba de paternidad le demostró lo contrario. La pérdida de memoria de Marnie, causada por un accidente, hizo que decidiese convencerla de que estaban prometidos e iban a casarse. Era el único modo que Leandro tenía de asegurarse un heredero.
148 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 10, 2014
111 people are currently reading
374 people want to read
About the author
Chantelle Shaw
659 books158 followersI grew up without a TV, let alone DVD’s, computer games etc that my kids spend so much time engrossed in, but I learned to read at an early age and from then on I was always entertained – so much so that my friends used to hide their books when I visited them because all I wanted to do was read!
When I was a teenager I discovered Mills & Boon romances in my local library, and so began a lifelong love affair. I still remember that feeling of anticipation when I settled down with a pile of books - all bearing the famous rose logo - knowing that I would be drawn into a world of love, passion and emotional intensity that I have never found in any other books. I enjoy reading a wide range of books, especially historical novels, and I am a big fan of Agatha Christie, mainly I think because her characters seem so real, but I love romances and unashamedly admit that I only want to read books with a guaranteed happy ending. Reading is my joy and pleasure and I don’t want to cry buckets at the end of a book or have my sleep disturbed by its gruesome content.
For me, the characters in Harlequin Mills & Boon romances are the key. I love reading and writing about strong, alpha heroes and feisty, independent heroines who find that they can’t fight the blazing attraction between them.
When I married my own tall, dark, but sadly not wealthy hero, we moved out of London to the Kent coast and started a family that grew and grew. I adore my six children, and when they were small I loved being a stay-at-home mum, but there can be days, as I’m sure many of you know, when you feel isolated and – dare I say it – bored of conversing with three-year-olds. Harlequin Mills & Boon romances were my life-line and my sanity and I read them whenever I had a spare five minutes (in the bath, pacing the floor at three am with colicky baby on one shoulder and a book in the other hand!)
My imagination soared and I decided to try and write a book myself. My first attempt was typed up on a manual type-writer with the full-stop key and the letter p missing. Luckily my hero and heroine were not called Paul and Poppy, but it still meant going over my manuscript with a pen to fill in the gaps!
That first book was duly rejected as were my next two. I suppose I was disheartened and by now I had four small children and very little spare time, so although I continued to read romances, I gave up writing. It wasn’t until my youngest son started school that I tried writing again. I was struggling to come to terms with the death of my darling mum Gabrielle and writing became my therapy. Mum had always nagged me to get on and write a book and had an unshakeable belief that I would one day be published – I’m so glad that she was proved right and my biggest regret is that she isn’t here to share my success with me.
I wrote two more books which were both rejected by HM&B, but I was given some advice on my writing from the editorial team that encouraged me to try again. Third time lucky certainly applied to me – the day I received ‘the call’ was exactly four years after Mum had died. It was one of the most exciting moments of my life - but instead of chatting to the editor about contracts I had to dash off and pick my sick daughter up from school. Reality is never far away in my house!
I have now had nine books published - At the Sheikh's Bidding was released in September 08. My next book, Argentinian Playboy, Unexpected Love-Child will be out in the UK in July 09, and The Greek Billionaire's Innocent Princess in the UK in August 09. I have just had my twelfth book accepted and am already busy on my thirteenth. Now that my children are growing up I am able to write every day between 9 am and 3 pm, but often I become so involved with my characters that I sneak off to write again in the evening!
I feel I must be one of the luckiest people in the world to be doing something that I love, but I work hard at my luck and I believe that w
When I was a teenager I discovered Mills & Boon romances in my local library, and so began a lifelong love affair. I still remember that feeling of anticipation when I settled down with a pile of books - all bearing the famous rose logo - knowing that I would be drawn into a world of love, passion and emotional intensity that I have never found in any other books. I enjoy reading a wide range of books, especially historical novels, and I am a big fan of Agatha Christie, mainly I think because her characters seem so real, but I love romances and unashamedly admit that I only want to read books with a guaranteed happy ending. Reading is my joy and pleasure and I don’t want to cry buckets at the end of a book or have my sleep disturbed by its gruesome content.
For me, the characters in Harlequin Mills & Boon romances are the key. I love reading and writing about strong, alpha heroes and feisty, independent heroines who find that they can’t fight the blazing attraction between them.
When I married my own tall, dark, but sadly not wealthy hero, we moved out of London to the Kent coast and started a family that grew and grew. I adore my six children, and when they were small I loved being a stay-at-home mum, but there can be days, as I’m sure many of you know, when you feel isolated and – dare I say it – bored of conversing with three-year-olds. Harlequin Mills & Boon romances were my life-line and my sanity and I read them whenever I had a spare five minutes (in the bath, pacing the floor at three am with colicky baby on one shoulder and a book in the other hand!)
My imagination soared and I decided to try and write a book myself. My first attempt was typed up on a manual type-writer with the full-stop key and the letter p missing. Luckily my hero and heroine were not called Paul and Poppy, but it still meant going over my manuscript with a pen to fill in the gaps!
That first book was duly rejected as were my next two. I suppose I was disheartened and by now I had four small children and very little spare time, so although I continued to read romances, I gave up writing. It wasn’t until my youngest son started school that I tried writing again. I was struggling to come to terms with the death of my darling mum Gabrielle and writing became my therapy. Mum had always nagged me to get on and write a book and had an unshakeable belief that I would one day be published – I’m so glad that she was proved right and my biggest regret is that she isn’t here to share my success with me.
I wrote two more books which were both rejected by HM&B, but I was given some advice on my writing from the editorial team that encouraged me to try again. Third time lucky certainly applied to me – the day I received ‘the call’ was exactly four years after Mum had died. It was one of the most exciting moments of my life - but instead of chatting to the editor about contracts I had to dash off and pick my sick daughter up from school. Reality is never far away in my house!
I have now had nine books published - At the Sheikh's Bidding was released in September 08. My next book, Argentinian Playboy, Unexpected Love-Child will be out in the UK in July 09, and The Greek Billionaire's Innocent Princess in the UK in August 09. I have just had my twelfth book accepted and am already busy on my thirteenth. Now that my children are growing up I am able to write every day between 9 am and 3 pm, but often I become so involved with my characters that I sneak off to write again in the evening!
I feel I must be one of the luckiest people in the world to be doing something that I love, but I work hard at my luck and I believe that w
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 81 reviews
December 24, 2021
Uh oh. To quote Obi Wan Kenobi, I have a bad feeling about this.
He's Italian; she's blonde.
He's a $$$ tycoon; she's a waitress.
She buys a dress she can't afford for one of the H's office parties, a dress that is surprisingly tighter than it should have been (eye roll). To make matters worse on the heels of one of the Leandro's exec's telling her she's "Leandros' dirty little secret" she finds out that she wasn't even invited to the party in the first place.
Ouch.
Update #1:
She's studying astronomy and has an offer to go to NASA. Nice!
Abandonment issues. Rotten relative/bad parents alert on both sides. There is little hope.
Major violation of the billionaire/mistress trope. Apparently when he jettisons one of his mistresses, he gives flowers instead of the ubiquitous diamond bracelet. So not only is he an ass-hat billionaire, he's a cheap ass-hat billionaire. The upside is he orders them himself rather than some poor but voluptuous put-upon PA he will later have an affair with and get pregnant. Wait, that's a different Italian bazillionaire.
Update #2 OMG, he's so machiavellian. Awful. Terrible. Devious. Epically so. Some Harley-land readers are going to love all this ANGST. We are heading into some good stuff, but I'm going into spoiler lockdown.
There better be an epic GROVEL.
Spoiler # 2
Okay. Spoilers stop here. If you have read my reviews, I will slam down a 1 star review if the H is a total unrepentant ass-hat and the h is worthy of the title of tiny h aka door-mat. The resolution here does not fall under either category so a solid 3 to 3.5 stars for me.
He's Italian; she's blonde.
He's a $$$ tycoon; she's a waitress.
She buys a dress she can't afford for one of the H's office parties, a dress that is surprisingly tighter than it should have been (eye roll). To make matters worse on the heels of one of the Leandro's exec's telling her she's "Leandros' dirty little secret" she finds out that she wasn't even invited to the party in the first place.
Ouch.
Update #1:
She's studying astronomy and has an offer to go to NASA. Nice!
Abandonment issues. Rotten relative/bad parents alert on both sides. There is little hope.
Major violation of the billionaire/mistress trope. Apparently when he jettisons one of his mistresses, he gives flowers instead of the ubiquitous diamond bracelet. So not only is he an ass-hat billionaire, he's a cheap ass-hat billionaire. The upside is he orders them himself rather than some poor but voluptuous put-upon PA he will later have an affair with and get pregnant. Wait, that's a different Italian bazillionaire.
Update #2 OMG, he's so machiavellian. Awful. Terrible. Devious. Epically so. Some Harley-land readers are going to love all this ANGST. We are heading into some good stuff, but I'm going into spoiler lockdown.
There better be an epic GROVEL.
Spoiler # 2
Okay. Spoilers stop here. If you have read my reviews, I will slam down a 1 star review if the H is a total unrepentant ass-hat and the h is worthy of the title of tiny h aka door-mat. The resolution here does not fall under either category so a solid 3 to 3.5 stars for me.
September 16, 2016
One of the better new HPs I've read in a long time. It's a basic, time honored HP plot that I happen to love - Mistress who thinks she's a girlfriend until cruelly set straight by the hero. It had a lot of positives.
*The heroine acted like a responsible adult and went to H to tell him she was pregnant even though he was a giant ass.
*Amnesia!!!
*The heroine did not insta-forgive after the "I'll just marry her while she has amnesia and doesn't know I'm a shithead." plot is revealed
*Hero was a shit, but come on we wouldn't read HPs if that was a no-go. We love to hate on our cruel heroes. Plus, he really did show a lot of growth in the end and had to work for forgiveness.
*Amnesia!!! (just in case I forgot to list that one)
A note on the controversy re: the stay-at-home dad epilogue
*The heroine acted like a responsible adult and went to H to tell him she was pregnant even though he was a giant ass.
*Amnesia!!!
*The heroine did not insta-forgive after the "I'll just marry her while she has amnesia and doesn't know I'm a shithead." plot is revealed
*Hero was a shit, but come on we wouldn't read HPs if that was a no-go. We love to hate on our cruel heroes. Plus, he really did show a lot of growth in the end and had to work for forgiveness.
*Amnesia!!! (just in case I forgot to list that one)
A note on the controversy re: the stay-at-home dad epilogue
September 9, 2016
Well this one starts out bad, gets a bit worse and then really excels in h assertiveness at the end. I was proud of the lady, she stood up when she needed to and got that emergency backbone transplant right.
The H on the other hand, well I've made it through Robyn Donald books with more horrible H's but not that many. Still there is a decent H redemption at the end and so overall I liked this book.
CS usually writes the most doormatty h's in all of HPLandia, but she got it right this time and I can only say It Is About Time and also, this was very well done. I am almost liking the new HPlandia again.
The H on the other hand, well I've made it through Robyn Donald books with more horrible H's but not that many. Still there is a decent H redemption at the end and so overall I liked this book.
CS usually writes the most doormatty h's in all of HPLandia, but she got it right this time and I can only say It Is About Time and also, this was very well done. I am almost liking the new HPlandia again.
February 17, 2018
Lots of great reviews on this more-than-a-mistress-now-that-she's pregnant story, so I won't go into details. Suffice it to say that I really enjoyed the amnesia twist so the heroine could get mad at the hero twice. :) He really was a stinker with all of his secrets and distrustful nature. That NASA would want an undergrad in astrophysics from England so bad was kind of a stretch - but then so is retrograde amnesia. :)
Chantelle Shaw's style kind of reminds me of Jessica Steele. She's not the most lyrical writer, but she's logical, shows clear character motivations and always ties off her plot threads.
Chantelle Shaw's style kind of reminds me of Jessica Steele. She's not the most lyrical writer, but she's logical, shows clear character motivations and always ties off her plot threads.
October 14, 2024
This story was just as awesome as the last time.
This was a sweet little gem for me, that ticked off so many of my favorite themes in an asshole hero story. Leandro was definitely an Asshole Supreme, wanting absolutely NOTHING more than sex from his mistress Marnie. He's very indifferent towards her and never asks anything personal of her or her background, nor offers her any of his own. Leandro just wants Marnie available 24/7, and at his beck and call whenever he's needing sex. Leandro's secretary accidentally invites Marnie to an office party, and when she shows up, everybody is chittering to each other and making it obvious they are talking about her. When one of Leandro's office buddies lets Marnie know she's Leandro's "Dirty Little Secret", the fun starts off from there. Leandro shows up late to the party and he's irritated as hell that Marnie is there, and he tells her straight up he would never have invited her. Marnie is both pissed and mortified by Leandro's treatment of her in front of everybody so she leaves. Later he lets her know she's only his mistress for sex and nothing else, and they end up parting ways. I was in heaven. The angst was so good!
This story had it all:
This was a sweet little gem for me, that ticked off so many of my favorite themes in an asshole hero story. Leandro was definitely an Asshole Supreme, wanting absolutely NOTHING more than sex from his mistress Marnie. He's very indifferent towards her and never asks anything personal of her or her background, nor offers her any of his own. Leandro just wants Marnie available 24/7, and at his beck and call whenever he's needing sex. Leandro's secretary accidentally invites Marnie to an office party, and when she shows up, everybody is chittering to each other and making it obvious they are talking about her. When one of Leandro's office buddies lets Marnie know she's Leandro's "Dirty Little Secret", the fun starts off from there. Leandro shows up late to the party and he's irritated as hell that Marnie is there, and he tells her straight up he would never have invited her. Marnie is both pissed and mortified by Leandro's treatment of her in front of everybody so she leaves. Later he lets her know she's only his mistress for sex and nothing else, and they end up parting ways. I was in heaven. The angst was so good!
This story had it all:
August 4, 2016
This book had drama, angst, passion and I was about to give it 5 stars! Then I read the epilogue where our very successful ruthless tycoon decided to become a stay at home dad so that his super brilliant wife, our heroine, could work for NASA. Hero was emasculated and they lived happily ever after. This book could be titled "The Happy Feminist Manifesto." Not what I like when I read a Harlequin Presents.
February 24, 2018
2.5 stars
Marnie, Marnie, Marnie… After a year of living together you’re surprised you’re only his mistress… But how can you be surprised? He never took you out to socialize, you’ve never met his parents, you don’t even know who they are or if he has siblings. Besides, it looks like you’re not into sharing your life with him, you’ve never told him you have siblings or your sad past or your life’s dreams.
If she had made the effort of communicating him about her life I would have felt deeply betrayed by the pig hero but she didn’t make the effort so din’t even feel sorry for her.
I’m not saying he wasn’t despicable, just that I didn’t care for her. And I’m not ranting about him because there are great reviews detailing his pigginess, so I’ll save my effort.
I don’t know if I’m way too dumb or what but I honestly can’t understand this heroine’s logic, which applies to many other HP heroines:
“Her only regret was that Leandro still had not told her he loved her, and she had held back from saying the words to him. But she was sure he cared for her. [...]
She told herself it wasn’t surprising that he found it hard to express his feelings. He had felt unloved by his father and had been abandoned by his mother when he was a boy.”
His duplicity aside… So, you know his issues and still are expecting him to be the one to say “I love you” when you are the emotional woman who feels deeply the feelings and you haven’t expressed them verbally to him ever (she kind of did, but can’t remember because amnesia).
Honestly, how can the heroines demand to hear first the three little words form their closed up heroes when they claim themselves to be the emotionally opened up ones and haven’t ever said a thing.
In the end it looks like the H totally forgot about poor Henry, who's on the way to become a H for a future HP. And the H's half-sister what? She wasn't formally introduced to the h but she was at the attempt of wedding just there completely forgotten.
My favorite line:
“He almost laughed out loud at his arrogance. What he ‘deserved’ was to rot in hell.”
The bonus:
He was celibate (or at least I wanted to believe that) and she made him work for it not a few seconds but a few months.
Marnie, Marnie, Marnie… After a year of living together you’re surprised you’re only his mistress… But how can you be surprised? He never took you out to socialize, you’ve never met his parents, you don’t even know who they are or if he has siblings. Besides, it looks like you’re not into sharing your life with him, you’ve never told him you have siblings or your sad past or your life’s dreams.
If she had made the effort of communicating him about her life I would have felt deeply betrayed by the pig hero but she didn’t make the effort so din’t even feel sorry for her.
I’m not saying he wasn’t despicable, just that I didn’t care for her. And I’m not ranting about him because there are great reviews detailing his pigginess, so I’ll save my effort.
I don’t know if I’m way too dumb or what but I honestly can’t understand this heroine’s logic, which applies to many other HP heroines:
“Her only regret was that Leandro still had not told her he loved her, and she had held back from saying the words to him. But she was sure he cared for her. [...]
She told herself it wasn’t surprising that he found it hard to express his feelings. He had felt unloved by his father and had been abandoned by his mother when he was a boy.”
His duplicity aside… So, you know his issues and still are expecting him to be the one to say “I love you” when you are the emotional woman who feels deeply the feelings and you haven’t expressed them verbally to him ever (she kind of did, but can’t remember because amnesia).
Honestly, how can the heroines demand to hear first the three little words form their closed up heroes when they claim themselves to be the emotionally opened up ones and haven’t ever said a thing.
In the end it looks like the H totally forgot about poor Henry, who's on the way to become a H for a future HP. And the H's half-sister what? She wasn't formally introduced to the h but she was at the attempt of wedding just there completely forgotten.
My favorite line:
“He almost laughed out loud at his arrogance. What he ‘deserved’ was to rot in hell.”
The bonus:
He was celibate (or at least I wanted to believe that) and she made him work for it not a few seconds but a few months.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 5, 2016
Another good HP (spoilers may be below)
I truly hated the H through 80 percent of this book. He was arrogant, cruel and demeaning. He really didn't deserve Marnie. She loved him and he just thought of her as a commodity. He could take her or leave her. And when she left the first time he was thinking that he had no desire for the women he had taken out to dinner that week and I was like he was dating already???? What a pig. And then the amnesia started and I really don't like amnesia books at all but I stuck with it and he still was oinking like a pig the whole time so I almost didn't finish it. It wasn't a wall denter but it was just too much. Then when he found her and watched her give birth I saw him change but it was almost a little too late for me. He became a great Father of course to little, and I hate this name, Stella! (I just kept picturing Marlon Brando screaming it in the street.) And he loves loves loves (I hope I gave it enough loves) Marnie and they live happily ever after. And ride off in the California sunset and she becomes an Astronaut or something. Typical HP and I liked it but it just wasn't great. Maybe I need to move to something non HP for awhile.
I truly hated the H through 80 percent of this book. He was arrogant, cruel and demeaning. He really didn't deserve Marnie. She loved him and he just thought of her as a commodity. He could take her or leave her. And when she left the first time he was thinking that he had no desire for the women he had taken out to dinner that week and I was like he was dating already???? What a pig. And then the amnesia started and I really don't like amnesia books at all but I stuck with it and he still was oinking like a pig the whole time so I almost didn't finish it. It wasn't a wall denter but it was just too much. Then when he found her and watched her give birth I saw him change but it was almost a little too late for me. He became a great Father of course to little, and I hate this name, Stella! (I just kept picturing Marlon Brando screaming it in the street.) And he loves loves loves (I hope I gave it enough loves) Marnie and they live happily ever after. And ride off in the California sunset and she becomes an Astronaut or something. Typical HP and I liked it but it just wasn't great. Maybe I need to move to something non HP for awhile.
December 24, 2021
So sorry. My very long and detailed review vanished.
December 16, 2016
Thoroughly satisfying Hp read. It had amnesia, yeah! Totally differently set up so double yeah! Well written, kept me interested. The hero was quite dastardly. But he he got what was coming to him and had to struggle to get the heroine back. Heroine eventually had a nice bit of backbone. Fun OTT read all around.
December 21, 2021
3.5 Tropey Stars
This has an unknowing mistress h, an accidental pregnancy, a jaded H, with a hint of amnesia. There’s plenty going on that kept me entertained. Marnie and Leandro have been an item for a year when her blinders are ripped off. The book opens with Marnie sitting at a company party waiting for Leandro. She’s super excited because this is the first time he’s invited her to anything. Unfortunately, she quickly learns that her invite was a mistake and drama ensues.
Bottom Line- I liked it. Marnie has a spine, and Leandro grows a heart.
This has an unknowing mistress h, an accidental pregnancy, a jaded H, with a hint of amnesia. There’s plenty going on that kept me entertained. Marnie and Leandro have been an item for a year when her blinders are ripped off. The book opens with Marnie sitting at a company party waiting for Leandro. She’s super excited because this is the first time he’s invited her to anything. Unfortunately, she quickly learns that her invite was a mistake and drama ensues.
Bottom Line- I liked it. Marnie has a spine, and Leandro grows a heart.
January 17, 2019
3 - 3.5 stars
I didn't dislike this one but it isn't a fave. While the amnesia worked for the plot, as used many time in HP world, why couldn't the H try to win h back without amnesia? I was a little let down about this one thing and hence my rating.
I didn't dislike this one but it isn't a fave. While the amnesia worked for the plot, as used many time in HP world, why couldn't the H try to win h back without amnesia? I was a little let down about this one thing and hence my rating.
December 28, 2017
“The Sicilian’s Mistress” “The Greek Tycoon’s Convenient Mistress” and “A Tempestuous Reunion” are Lynne Graham books that Chantelle Shaw has obviously read before and got inspiration from for this book. “Trapped by Vialli’s Vows” is a combination of all three (if not more) of these three earlier Lynne Graham books.
This book had all the tropes that I like in romance novels however, I can’t get over how much Chantelle Shaw appeared to borrow from Lynne Graham’s earlier books. This book had a good Alpha hero who at the end became weak and beta, which was disappointing.
The book was enjoyable because it reminded me of some of my favorite Lynne Graham books however, it lacked originality. I understand that it can be hard to be truly original in HPlandia however, this book borrowed way too much from Lynne Graham.
This book had all the tropes that I like in romance novels however, I can’t get over how much Chantelle Shaw appeared to borrow from Lynne Graham’s earlier books. This book had a good Alpha hero who at the end became weak and beta, which was disappointing.
The book was enjoyable because it reminded me of some of my favorite Lynne Graham books however, it lacked originality. I understand that it can be hard to be truly original in HPlandia however, this book borrowed way too much from Lynne Graham.
October 15, 2024
I like this particular
trope and plot
and all the angst that comes with it ...
The innocent mistress (who doesn't really know that she's one) and cold, manipulative a-h who's basically lapping up all the love and affection that she bestows on him, but at the same time denying that love exists and keeping her separate from his real life.
So, basically 'good for bedding but not wedding' trope.
Add in amnesia and an unplanned pregnancy.
And the author has done a fair job with it.
But...
The constant effort to relate or tie down everything - their actions, emotions (or lack of ), relationship issues, perspectives- to their past or rather their respective parents' marital disharmony and psychological issues starts getting old pretty soon.
Every small itty bitty matter or reaction is because of some deep seated insecurity or lesson learned in the past courtesy a said parent's behavior. :/
trope and plot
and all the angst that comes with it ...
The innocent mistress (who doesn't really know that she's one) and cold, manipulative a-h who's basically lapping up all the love and affection that she bestows on him, but at the same time denying that love exists and keeping her separate from his real life.
So, basically 'good for bedding but not wedding' trope.
Add in amnesia and an unplanned pregnancy.
And the author has done a fair job with it.
But...
The constant effort to relate or tie down everything - their actions, emotions (or lack of ), relationship issues, perspectives- to their past or rather their respective parents' marital disharmony and psychological issues starts getting old pretty soon.
Every small itty bitty matter or reaction is because of some deep seated insecurity or lesson learned in the past courtesy a said parent's behavior. :/
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 19, 2024
I almost gave this 4*'s, because this was so involving, but I disliked how much of a doormat Marnie was, and she was content to be his mistress (yes, despite what she said & thought, their relationship was based *only* on sex). Somehow it didn't seem realistic for them to be living together for a whole year and yet they knew absolutely nothing about each other beyond the bedroom. Did Leandro really have no contact with her except the physical one?
That said, I liked the whole scene when she I'm still not sure that he grovelled enough for me, but it was close at the end.
That said, I liked the whole scene when she I'm still not sure that he grovelled enough for me, but it was close at the end.
July 13, 2022
4 ⭐️’s this gets a ⭐️ for angst, another ⭐️ for cruel hero, then another ⭐️ for a heroine with a spine, and lastly a ⭐️ for the sexy times.
Sometimes a person can be book-smart and totally miss the social cues. Our heroine, Marnie has no clue she is a mistress. She has lived with Leandro the hero for a year, but knows nothing about him except that he is a sexual dynamo in the bedroom, hallway, etc…He doesn’t take her to any of his functions or on any of his business trips. She accidentally gets invited to a work party, shows up and one of the employees mentions how she is the boss’s “dirty little secret”Her alarm bell should be deafening.
Yet she still isn’t totally convinced as the H has a way of soothing her with sex…again!
Plus she has all the symptoms of a pregnancy but since she is taking birth control she figures it is all good….doesn’t officially get tested til 4 months into the pregnancy.
Meanwhile, the H is busy telling himself that he doesn’t love the h, even though she has been with him a year, and he thinks of her often. Nope it is just sex!
When the h starts coming on too clingy by asking him some questions. He responds, removing no doubt that she is a mistress…
‘The right?’ he said softly, dangerously. ‘If you were my wife I concede that you might have the right to question me, but you are not and never will be my wife. You are my mistress.’
Leandro’s words dropped like pebbles into a pool, causing ripples to disturb the smooth surface. Tension knotted in the pit of Marnie’s stomach. She stood up and turned to face him, conscious of her heart beating painfully hard beneath her ribs.”.
Ok so I think I will stop here. There is so much more to happen in this story… Secrets to be revealed…Let me assure you our h gets a backbone, then gets some amnesia, then gets a titanium backbone where she calls out the H in front of a whole bunch of witnesses.
By the end of the story we have an ott in love hero who has been losing sleep, losing weight, and losing time he could have had with the pregnant h. I so love a sickly looking groveling H by the end of the story!!!
We also get an epilogue 👏
Sometimes a person can be book-smart and totally miss the social cues. Our heroine, Marnie has no clue she is a mistress. She has lived with Leandro the hero for a year, but knows nothing about him except that he is a sexual dynamo in the bedroom, hallway, etc…He doesn’t take her to any of his functions or on any of his business trips. She accidentally gets invited to a work party, shows up and one of the employees mentions how she is the boss’s “dirty little secret”Her alarm bell should be deafening.
Yet she still isn’t totally convinced as the H has a way of soothing her with sex…again!
Plus she has all the symptoms of a pregnancy but since she is taking birth control she figures it is all good….doesn’t officially get tested til 4 months into the pregnancy.
Meanwhile, the H is busy telling himself that he doesn’t love the h, even though she has been with him a year, and he thinks of her often. Nope it is just sex!
When the h starts coming on too clingy by asking him some questions. He responds, removing no doubt that she is a mistress…
‘The right?’ he said softly, dangerously. ‘If you were my wife I concede that you might have the right to question me, but you are not and never will be my wife. You are my mistress.’
Leandro’s words dropped like pebbles into a pool, causing ripples to disturb the smooth surface. Tension knotted in the pit of Marnie’s stomach. She stood up and turned to face him, conscious of her heart beating painfully hard beneath her ribs.”.
Ok so I think I will stop here. There is so much more to happen in this story… Secrets to be revealed…Let me assure you our h gets a backbone, then gets some amnesia, then gets a titanium backbone where she calls out the H in front of a whole bunch of witnesses.
By the end of the story we have an ott in love hero who has been losing sleep, losing weight, and losing time he could have had with the pregnant h. I so love a sickly looking groveling H by the end of the story!!!
We also get an epilogue 👏
September 8, 2017
This book had heart break, passion, amnesia, and a surprise pregnancy. The hero was a jerk most of the book, but he won me over the last few chapters. The book cover says the heroine is a waitress, but it didn’t say she was going to college to be a scientist. She was a smart heroine, that ended up falling in love with a super-rich guy. He was arrogant, and mean until she left him. Loved the fact she had a backbone. Once she was gone, he realized how much he really loved her, even tho he didn’t believe in love… eye roll. I’m glad he finally found out what was important to him. Good book.
December 14, 2019
This is one of the better HP that I have read in recent years. It had all the ingredients of a fantastic book: Mistress to a billionaire, Unplanned pregnancy , Huge disparity in wealth, Supposed other woman, Needy siblings, Terrible relationships with parents, H having a bad past relationship & punishing the h, as a result; and Amnesia, of course! And the best part? It delivered!
With all of the drama and different plot points, one would expect the book to feel rushed but it was rather well paced. I liked the fact that even though Marnie had a tough early life, she pursued a career she was passionate about. The emotions in the latter part of the story leap of the page and both MCs grow and evolve into better people, Marnie stands up for herself and Leandro learns what it is to love.
I really enjoyed Trapped by Vialli's vows so it gets ☆☆☆☆☆ Good job, Miss Shaw!
With all of the drama and different plot points, one would expect the book to feel rushed but it was rather well paced. I liked the fact that even though Marnie had a tough early life, she pursued a career she was passionate about. The emotions in the latter part of the story leap of the page and both MCs grow and evolve into better people, Marnie stands up for herself and Leandro learns what it is to love.
I really enjoyed Trapped by Vialli's vows so it gets ☆☆☆☆☆ Good job, Miss Shaw!
February 18, 2019
This was typical Harlequin fare and despite the amnesia plotline, I really enjoyed myself. It had a terrific romance with an alphahole H, a strong but sweet h and plenty of angst, a cruel untrusting hero, a heroine who makes him work for it, some amazing grovel, and a beautiful HEA.
Side note: I learned a new word in this book, "disorientated" which is the British form of the word "disoriented" .
This was 100% safe for me.
Side note: I learned a new word in this book, "disorientated" which is the British form of the word "disoriented" .
This was 100% safe for me.
August 8, 2016
I enjoyed this one tremendously! The H was harsh and cruel but he repented and what a way to grovel! We saw the evolution of a waitress to an astrophysicist. A weak pathetic women to a strong protective mother.I loved this one and wouldn't mind reading it again
September 3, 2018
I enjoyed reading what a jerk the hero was and how she gets rid of him ....and then how he gets her back once he realizes he's out ...better grovel was required so ...three stars
March 7, 2019
Major plot spoilers ahead. There lots of spoilers in this review, and this tended be a summary of the main events in the book. If you don’t want to know what happens in this book, do not read this review. You have been warned.
The story started off with a bang and got immediately into the action, and it was very interesting place to start the story. Marnie was waiting for Leandro, the man that she had been with for a year, at bar at his company party after Leandro had been away for two weeks for a business trip in New York. Marnie believed that Leandro invited her to attend this event with him even though he never had in the past, or anyway in public for that matter, and it thrilled her because she believed that this was showing how far they were coming in their relationship, and that they were getting closer. Well, things didn’t go as expected. For one, one his co-workers referred to Marnie as Leandro’s dirty little secret because Leandro never talked about her, or invited to her to things like this in past, causing massive hurt feelings in Marnie, as she reflected that in fact they were right, and the only time she spent with Leandro was in the bedroom. And to make matters worse when Leandro did show up, he wasn’t exactly happy to see her and was a bit accusatory of why she came to the party, causing even more hurt feelings for poor Marnie, so she left the party really upset. Though the lovers weren’t part for long because Leandro went after her and they had sensual encounter in the limo that lead to the apartment only to be interrupted and once again causing hurt feelings because Leandro stopped the passionate interlude to take a call, which he shut her out of. Again more hurt feelings.
Quite the setup, isn’t it? And that was just the first few chapters, but it became very clear that their were cracks in that relationship. Mainly they were in the relationship for two different reasons. Marnie was in love with Leandro, opening her heart and soul to him and being everything that he would want. She didn’t push him, or expect things from him, but just was there for whatever he needed without demanding anything. While in Leandro he only considered her his mistress and her only function to him was sex and nothing more. He kept her at distance in his regular life, never sharing any information about himself or even inquiring about her life, never really initialing anything aside from bedroom activities especially emotionally, not wanting to be hurt like he was by his father, ex-wife, and mother that never really loved him, though he yearned for them. So, he closed himself off to that type of caring and refused to let Marnie be anything more than his bedroom partner.
Talk about issues, and that was only the beginning, and the journey got even more gut wrenching. It became very clear that Marnie was in it with her whole heart while Leandro wasn’t, or at least dying the fact he was in it. He was happy to explore the passion between them, but that was about it, and once misunderstandings came their way then conclusions were drawn and just a mess happened and loads of pain and hurt feelings wafted off the pages, mostly from poor Marnie side.
It killed me to see what Marnie had to go through with Leandro, and it was unfair. Her pain was so deep, and I she was devastated after blow after blow that Leandro delivered to her. One was just his mistrust of her, and how he believe the worst of her right away without talking about it. Then he downgraded their association, not even calling what they had a relationship, as just sex and sex alone, breaking Marnei’s heart and mine too because it was clear that he stabbing her in the heart with his words, and it was hard to read. She kept getting knocked down again and again, and I didn’t know how more blows she could take before she would collapse because he did a lot to her with not only his actions but words as well. For him, she was just a sexual convenience, at least that was what was shown. It was utterly heartbreaking to witness. Yes, she allowed him to treat her that way, which she acknowledged later on in the book, but she deserve what was thrown at her. It was so painful, and it was hard to see how they would wind up onto the track for happily ever.
If that wasn’t enough there was still more happened. A lot happened in this book. She fled when he accused her of being a cheater, thief, and a liar when she told him she was pregnant with his child, who he didn’t even believe was his, though he had past history with his ex that colored his judgement on that one. During the time she fled to comfort her brother about the missing jewels from Leandro’s vault, she was in an accident and got amnesia. Not totally amnesia because she still remembered Leandro just not what had happened the last few months or so. So, she had no idea that they had this horrible separation and the things he accused of. All she remembered was that she was with Leandro and that she loved him, and unfortunately Leandro used that his advantage to get her to agree to marry him in order for him to have access to his child after learning the child was in fact his, which totally messed up. It was just another horrible thing that he did, and he knew it was wrong but did it anyway. It was very manipulative of him.
However after convincing her that they were in fact engaged, he took her to Florence, and some of the most romantic scenes happened during their time their. Of coarse, it wasn’t on the up and up because he was pretending that he was in love with her, charming her, and just putting on act for her in order to go through with he marriage. However even though it was a ruse on his part, it became very real very quickly and soon I could see it wasn’t a ruse after all, even if convinced himself it was. This was the first time in their relationship that it became something more than sex. They got know each other. The close to each other. They learned more about each other in the space of a month than they did for the entire year. This was when Marnie’s true self was really emerging, and Leandro could see what an incredible woman that she was and began to crave her more than just a sex partner. He believed that he would be happy with his marriage to her and wanted to marry her. This was where the emotional side of their relationship really began, and it was less about him charming her and more her charming him, and suddenly he wanted her not just the baby.
Of coarse, Marnie got her memory back the day of the wedding before they officially wedded and all the painful memories and things he said came flooding back to the surface. I could feel everything that she was feeling not only about the past, but realizing that he used her amnesia as a ploy to get her to that point. And it hurt a lot to realize how low he would go in order to claim his child while not wanting her. He never loved her, or ever wanted more with her aside from sex, but ironically after their time in Florence he did want more. He might not have acknowledged that he loved her, but he wanted to marry her, and I could feel his desperation ooze from the pages as he begged her to listen to him. I could feel his drive and his feelings for in droves. He really wanted this marriage with her and not just because she was mother of his child, but he wanted her. He was in such turmoil at the thought of the loss of her, and he totally deserved it because he did this, but it was very clear that love was on the horizon for him. Again very gut wrenching and painful to watch, but it was so good to watch and finally see him put in his place and realize all that he did to her and just how much he really messed up. This was really the wake up call that he needed.
Leandro groveled, as needed to, and groveled good. I don’t think I have seen a grovel this hard before, but again after all the stuff he did to Marnie he needed to grovel epically, and epically he did. That was when the new Leandro came on the page because he finally made it about Marnie and not himself. He wanted to take care of her. He wanted to close to her. He wanted to be with her, even if that meant just being friends that was what he did. It was beautiful the way that he took care of her. I never would have expected him to do so at the beginning of the book or just how changed he became once he hit this point. Again it was so beautiful. And what was more was that he became more of an open book and revealed things to her that he never revealed to anyone else. He wanted her to know the true him and not just the selfish jerk he was in their relationship. He showed he did have feelings, and he felt things deeply, though hide them away so no one could use it against him. His heart was on sleeve, and it was very apparent that he was totally in love with her and would do anything to win her back. And wooed to his heart content, and he wooed good. He defiantly made up for what he did with his actions later on the book. He really was changed.
She changed too, refusing to be a doormat and just do everything in her power to please him and make him happy while making herself miserable and ignoring her own needs in the process to be what he needed. She learned that she just couldn’t do that, and she became stronger because of that. She finally grew up an came into her own as she dealt with her own issues, and deciding what she wanted that she was in fact worthy love. She made Leandro work for it in order to come back into her life, and she had every right to do that. She shouldn’t have made it easy for him because of all the crap that he put her through and all the hurt feelings that she had to experience was raw and rough, and it was quite the intense journey for her, but survived.
There was just so much goodness to this book and just so much that happened that it was really engrossing and engaging from moment one. I took my time to savor every single moment of the book because it was that good. It just seemed to be non-stop and very fast paced throughout the book because so much happens. The one put Leandro and Marine through the emotional wringer, and it was very intense, painful, and very angsty. Just all the tension between them was yummy as was the passion that they had for each other. It was clear that they had very intense relationship with neither of them knowing how to handle it and handled it both ways. Leandro kept his distance while Marnie wanted to be close to him and in doing so did everything in her power to please him just so she could be in his life.
It was just an incredible journey to go on, and there wasn’t a second where I wasn’t engaged with it as I got sucked into the story of Leandro and Marnie. This one was so freaking emotionally intense, and it was so, so good. It was freaking amazing, and I loved every single second of it. It had everything I could want in romance. It had intensity. It was emotional. It was angsty. It was painful. It was gut wrenching. It was romantic. It was full of so much lovely tension. It had a ton of misunderstandings, which lead to a lot of hurt feelings along the way. It gave me like a ton of feels, and I mean a ton. There was just so much going on along the way. This story was truly and up and down roller coaster ride that was on crazy ride, and I loved every single second of it. I could go on and on about it because it really was that amazing. I don’t think I could articulate just how amazing it was because there was so much. The experience reading this was utterly incredible and I just loved it. It was utterly delicious, and I will be rereading this one over and over again.
Highly recommend for Presents lovers. Lovers of intense, angsty, painful romance will really enjoy this book.
The story started off with a bang and got immediately into the action, and it was very interesting place to start the story. Marnie was waiting for Leandro, the man that she had been with for a year, at bar at his company party after Leandro had been away for two weeks for a business trip in New York. Marnie believed that Leandro invited her to attend this event with him even though he never had in the past, or anyway in public for that matter, and it thrilled her because she believed that this was showing how far they were coming in their relationship, and that they were getting closer. Well, things didn’t go as expected. For one, one his co-workers referred to Marnie as Leandro’s dirty little secret because Leandro never talked about her, or invited to her to things like this in past, causing massive hurt feelings in Marnie, as she reflected that in fact they were right, and the only time she spent with Leandro was in the bedroom. And to make matters worse when Leandro did show up, he wasn’t exactly happy to see her and was a bit accusatory of why she came to the party, causing even more hurt feelings for poor Marnie, so she left the party really upset. Though the lovers weren’t part for long because Leandro went after her and they had sensual encounter in the limo that lead to the apartment only to be interrupted and once again causing hurt feelings because Leandro stopped the passionate interlude to take a call, which he shut her out of. Again more hurt feelings.
Quite the setup, isn’t it? And that was just the first few chapters, but it became very clear that their were cracks in that relationship. Mainly they were in the relationship for two different reasons. Marnie was in love with Leandro, opening her heart and soul to him and being everything that he would want. She didn’t push him, or expect things from him, but just was there for whatever he needed without demanding anything. While in Leandro he only considered her his mistress and her only function to him was sex and nothing more. He kept her at distance in his regular life, never sharing any information about himself or even inquiring about her life, never really initialing anything aside from bedroom activities especially emotionally, not wanting to be hurt like he was by his father, ex-wife, and mother that never really loved him, though he yearned for them. So, he closed himself off to that type of caring and refused to let Marnie be anything more than his bedroom partner.
Talk about issues, and that was only the beginning, and the journey got even more gut wrenching. It became very clear that Marnie was in it with her whole heart while Leandro wasn’t, or at least dying the fact he was in it. He was happy to explore the passion between them, but that was about it, and once misunderstandings came their way then conclusions were drawn and just a mess happened and loads of pain and hurt feelings wafted off the pages, mostly from poor Marnie side.
It killed me to see what Marnie had to go through with Leandro, and it was unfair. Her pain was so deep, and I she was devastated after blow after blow that Leandro delivered to her. One was just his mistrust of her, and how he believe the worst of her right away without talking about it. Then he downgraded their association, not even calling what they had a relationship, as just sex and sex alone, breaking Marnei’s heart and mine too because it was clear that he stabbing her in the heart with his words, and it was hard to read. She kept getting knocked down again and again, and I didn’t know how more blows she could take before she would collapse because he did a lot to her with not only his actions but words as well. For him, she was just a sexual convenience, at least that was what was shown. It was utterly heartbreaking to witness. Yes, she allowed him to treat her that way, which she acknowledged later on in the book, but she deserve what was thrown at her. It was so painful, and it was hard to see how they would wind up onto the track for happily ever.
If that wasn’t enough there was still more happened. A lot happened in this book. She fled when he accused her of being a cheater, thief, and a liar when she told him she was pregnant with his child, who he didn’t even believe was his, though he had past history with his ex that colored his judgement on that one. During the time she fled to comfort her brother about the missing jewels from Leandro’s vault, she was in an accident and got amnesia. Not totally amnesia because she still remembered Leandro just not what had happened the last few months or so. So, she had no idea that they had this horrible separation and the things he accused of. All she remembered was that she was with Leandro and that she loved him, and unfortunately Leandro used that his advantage to get her to agree to marry him in order for him to have access to his child after learning the child was in fact his, which totally messed up. It was just another horrible thing that he did, and he knew it was wrong but did it anyway. It was very manipulative of him.
However after convincing her that they were in fact engaged, he took her to Florence, and some of the most romantic scenes happened during their time their. Of coarse, it wasn’t on the up and up because he was pretending that he was in love with her, charming her, and just putting on act for her in order to go through with he marriage. However even though it was a ruse on his part, it became very real very quickly and soon I could see it wasn’t a ruse after all, even if convinced himself it was. This was the first time in their relationship that it became something more than sex. They got know each other. The close to each other. They learned more about each other in the space of a month than they did for the entire year. This was when Marnie’s true self was really emerging, and Leandro could see what an incredible woman that she was and began to crave her more than just a sex partner. He believed that he would be happy with his marriage to her and wanted to marry her. This was where the emotional side of their relationship really began, and it was less about him charming her and more her charming him, and suddenly he wanted her not just the baby.
Of coarse, Marnie got her memory back the day of the wedding before they officially wedded and all the painful memories and things he said came flooding back to the surface. I could feel everything that she was feeling not only about the past, but realizing that he used her amnesia as a ploy to get her to that point. And it hurt a lot to realize how low he would go in order to claim his child while not wanting her. He never loved her, or ever wanted more with her aside from sex, but ironically after their time in Florence he did want more. He might not have acknowledged that he loved her, but he wanted to marry her, and I could feel his desperation ooze from the pages as he begged her to listen to him. I could feel his drive and his feelings for in droves. He really wanted this marriage with her and not just because she was mother of his child, but he wanted her. He was in such turmoil at the thought of the loss of her, and he totally deserved it because he did this, but it was very clear that love was on the horizon for him. Again very gut wrenching and painful to watch, but it was so good to watch and finally see him put in his place and realize all that he did to her and just how much he really messed up. This was really the wake up call that he needed.
Leandro groveled, as needed to, and groveled good. I don’t think I have seen a grovel this hard before, but again after all the stuff he did to Marnie he needed to grovel epically, and epically he did. That was when the new Leandro came on the page because he finally made it about Marnie and not himself. He wanted to take care of her. He wanted to close to her. He wanted to be with her, even if that meant just being friends that was what he did. It was beautiful the way that he took care of her. I never would have expected him to do so at the beginning of the book or just how changed he became once he hit this point. Again it was so beautiful. And what was more was that he became more of an open book and revealed things to her that he never revealed to anyone else. He wanted her to know the true him and not just the selfish jerk he was in their relationship. He showed he did have feelings, and he felt things deeply, though hide them away so no one could use it against him. His heart was on sleeve, and it was very apparent that he was totally in love with her and would do anything to win her back. And wooed to his heart content, and he wooed good. He defiantly made up for what he did with his actions later on the book. He really was changed.
She changed too, refusing to be a doormat and just do everything in her power to please him and make him happy while making herself miserable and ignoring her own needs in the process to be what he needed. She learned that she just couldn’t do that, and she became stronger because of that. She finally grew up an came into her own as she dealt with her own issues, and deciding what she wanted that she was in fact worthy love. She made Leandro work for it in order to come back into her life, and she had every right to do that. She shouldn’t have made it easy for him because of all the crap that he put her through and all the hurt feelings that she had to experience was raw and rough, and it was quite the intense journey for her, but survived.
There was just so much goodness to this book and just so much that happened that it was really engrossing and engaging from moment one. I took my time to savor every single moment of the book because it was that good. It just seemed to be non-stop and very fast paced throughout the book because so much happens. The one put Leandro and Marine through the emotional wringer, and it was very intense, painful, and very angsty. Just all the tension between them was yummy as was the passion that they had for each other. It was clear that they had very intense relationship with neither of them knowing how to handle it and handled it both ways. Leandro kept his distance while Marnie wanted to be close to him and in doing so did everything in her power to please him just so she could be in his life.
It was just an incredible journey to go on, and there wasn’t a second where I wasn’t engaged with it as I got sucked into the story of Leandro and Marnie. This one was so freaking emotionally intense, and it was so, so good. It was freaking amazing, and I loved every single second of it. It had everything I could want in romance. It had intensity. It was emotional. It was angsty. It was painful. It was gut wrenching. It was romantic. It was full of so much lovely tension. It had a ton of misunderstandings, which lead to a lot of hurt feelings along the way. It gave me like a ton of feels, and I mean a ton. There was just so much going on along the way. This story was truly and up and down roller coaster ride that was on crazy ride, and I loved every single second of it. I could go on and on about it because it really was that amazing. I don’t think I could articulate just how amazing it was because there was so much. The experience reading this was utterly incredible and I just loved it. It was utterly delicious, and I will be rereading this one over and over again.
Highly recommend for Presents lovers. Lovers of intense, angsty, painful romance will really enjoy this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 10, 2021
I really liked this one, especially the non-doormat heroine who forces H to grovel major big time. But let's get real, how does she afford his favorite booze, not to mention some of the groceries and her schoolbooks, tuition, etc., while working one evening a week waitressing? Even a scholarship won't cover all that. When she's in a graduate degree program she only has course work and studying a few days a week? OK, I'm splitting hairs here and worrying about reality (??!?) in an HP??!? (OK, time to go get a cup of tea and forget about ahem, reality.)
I love seeing a smart h who is something other than a writer, marketing/PR, or accountant. Astro physics may be a bit esoteric but I am glad to see authors challenging the usual job stereotypes. But the best part was her taking H apart by the seams for his extreme nasty mind, complete selfish, self-centered world view, vicious assumption, so on. Loved that.
Now back to H. In what universe do you demand a paternity test for a little boy born during your marriage whom you love? And then allowing ex-wife to take kid away because he's not "yours". What a dummy.
This is the same guy who tells his girl friend who's lived with him for over a year that she's just his mistress, that all he wants is sex, that she is not and never will be his wife,that they don't have a relationship, there is no "us", that there's no point in having a mistress who isn't available all the time and that he's never given her any indication that he wanted a future with her.
It's not that he's our typical HP super alpha big cheese, but that he's completely uncaring of anything other than his own convenience and immediate wants. He compartmentalizes everything to minimize the impact to himself and if she doesn't fit the compartment, too bad.
Can we believe that he's actually changed at the HEA? Maybe. He even is willing to quit his business tycoon role and be a house husband. I don't think H will house hubby forever, he's too fond of challenge and winning. Of course this house hubby won't have to dust and vacuum and clean bathrooms, and even cooking can be a bit of a hobby instead of a necessity.
I love seeing a smart h who is something other than a writer, marketing/PR, or accountant. Astro physics may be a bit esoteric but I am glad to see authors challenging the usual job stereotypes. But the best part was her taking H apart by the seams for his extreme nasty mind, complete selfish, self-centered world view, vicious assumption, so on. Loved that.
Now back to H. In what universe do you demand a paternity test for a little boy born during your marriage whom you love? And then allowing ex-wife to take kid away because he's not "yours". What a dummy.
This is the same guy who tells his girl friend who's lived with him for over a year that she's just his mistress, that all he wants is sex, that she is not and never will be his wife,that they don't have a relationship, there is no "us", that there's no point in having a mistress who isn't available all the time and that he's never given her any indication that he wanted a future with her.
It's not that he's our typical HP super alpha big cheese, but that he's completely uncaring of anything other than his own convenience and immediate wants. He compartmentalizes everything to minimize the impact to himself and if she doesn't fit the compartment, too bad.
Can we believe that he's actually changed at the HEA? Maybe. He even is willing to quit his business tycoon role and be a house husband. I don't think H will house hubby forever, he's too fond of challenge and winning. Of course this house hubby won't have to dust and vacuum and clean bathrooms, and even cooking can be a bit of a hobby instead of a necessity.
September 3, 2016
He was too cruel. Probably need to read again
I really hated the H. Do human beings really speak so callously and without respect and caring to someone they expect to keep on sleeping with? She was without doubt the biggest floor cloth you could find. This chick was so weak. She actually unwittingly encouraged his behaviour. He had nothing to lose. He was certainly having his cake and eating it. Note; after all the cruel things he did and said to her, she could not allow herself to be close to him because she could still be "charmed" by him. What a load of crap.
I actually read the whole book because I was curious to see when she would stand up to him and give him a dose of his own medicine, and mean it . Sadly, she needed to have more self-respect and a backbone.
I really hated the H. Do human beings really speak so callously and without respect and caring to someone they expect to keep on sleeping with? She was without doubt the biggest floor cloth you could find. This chick was so weak. She actually unwittingly encouraged his behaviour. He had nothing to lose. He was certainly having his cake and eating it. Note; after all the cruel things he did and said to her, she could not allow herself to be close to him because she could still be "charmed" by him. What a load of crap.
I actually read the whole book because I was curious to see when she would stand up to him and give him a dose of his own medicine, and mean it . Sadly, she needed to have more self-respect and a backbone.
Read
July 23, 2023Leandro was a supreme jerk. And although his change of heart is almost unbelievable, this is an HP so I rolled with it, but boy was it an emotional read. I felt for Marlie, and I also felt for Leandro (despite his cluelessness, arrogance, and ruthlessness). I'm also glad that Marlie didn't give in so easily and we had a grovel. :)
--- update 07/23/2023
OMG, I was looking for this book forever. Will reread soon.
--- update 07/23/2023
OMG, I was looking for this book forever. Will reread soon.
July 31, 2022
I don’t know what the title has to do with this story. No one was trapped by any vows. The numb nut/MMC may have stated he was never going to marry but it wasn’t a “vow”. Smdh. Honestly the only likable character was that poor confused kid Henry! The MMC as a jerk off who literally treated the FMC like a blowup doll and the FMC was too stupid to even notice!! The FMC fell in “love” with a dream not a real man. The MMC never fell in love in my opinion. He got caught up in having a kid again and later a real family with a good woman that he f’ked over and felt guilty about.
It wasn’t a bad story just shallow. I didn’t feel any emotions from the characters. Not even during the two separate betrayal scenes, which are usually my favorite points in a book. The book held my attention. I definitely wanted to see what happened but it wasn’t a great story. Well written enough to hold your attention only. Good luck.
It wasn’t a bad story just shallow. I didn’t feel any emotions from the characters. Not even during the two separate betrayal scenes, which are usually my favorite points in a book. The book held my attention. I definitely wanted to see what happened but it wasn’t a great story. Well written enough to hold your attention only. Good luck.
April 5, 2018
Nice plot, likeable characters and an overall enjoyable read. I guess it deserves a better rating.
But.
Eeesh. I was waiting for that tug, that emotional reaction or anger or something when the hero was an ass, but sadly got nothing. I know me and Harlequins don’t mesh well, so I will just stop trying. Sorry.
But.
Eeesh. I was waiting for that tug, that emotional reaction or anger or something when the hero was an ass, but sadly got nothing. I know me and Harlequins don’t mesh well, so I will just stop trying. Sorry.
June 30, 2019
I enjoyed it.
February 12, 2021
Marnie is Leandro's dirty little secret, but she doesn't know! She thinks they are in a relationship, but when she tells him she will go to work for NASA institute for 9 months he tells her that she can go but they are finished and he will find another mistress. She is appalled by his words and she leaves him. Afterwards she finds out she's pregnant, and tells him. His reaction is awful and he asks for a DNA test, then he accuses her of stealing his jewels (it was her brother's doing but she didn't know): DNA is positive but she refuses to have anything to do with him. She falls, hits her head and loses her memory. He tells her they are engaged and they are going to marry, hoping she never gets her memory back, because he wants to be a good father to their baby. Unfortunately for him she recovers her memories and jilts him at the altar. Eventually, after a big grovel, they are back and happy together. He was a real jerk in the first part of the book, but in the second part of the book the heroine shows her backbone and makes him bite his dust. I liked her more than the hero. He has to change completely to have her back again, but I couldn't forget how he treated her: he was a coward and a stupid when he couldn't realize that she was not the kind of person who could trick him or steal from him. Anyway I enjoyed this book, the pace was bright and I read it without stopping because the story was interesting and well articulated. I recommend it.
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