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Kito karto gali ir nebūti
Nors Stefanas Ziakas yra nekenčiamiausias jos tėvo verslo varžovas, šalia jo vienintelio Selena Antaks pasijunta esanti tikra moteris. Todėl, nusprendusi pradėti savarankišką gyvenimą, sumanioji Selena kreipiasi pagalbos būtent į Stefaną.
Tik beširdis magnatas visai nepanašus į gerąjį riterį, kokį ji prisimena iš praeities. Per kelias dienas suvedžiota, įviliota į lovą ir išduota, Selena suvokia, kad už Stefaną blogesnis gali būti tik velnias.
Tik beširdis magnatas visai nepanašus į gerąjį riterį, kokį ji prisimena iš praeities. Per kelias dienas suvedžiota, įviliota į lovą ir išduota, Selena suvokia, kad už Stefaną blogesnis gali būti tik velnias.
192 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2013
123 people are currently reading
854 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Morgan
697 books7,201 followersAbout Sarah
USA Today and #1 Sunday Times bestselling author Sarah Morgan writes romance and contemporary women's fiction and her trademark humour and warmth have gained her fans across the globe. Sarah lives near London, England, and when she isn't reading or writing she loves being outdoors.
Look out for Sarah's latest novel - All Together for Christmas (UK title)/ A Merry Little Lie (US/Canadian title)
Join Sarah on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorSarahM...
Follow Sarah on Twitter: https://twitter.com/SarahMorgan_
Follow Sarah on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahmorgan...
Website: www.sarahmorgan.com
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
USA Today and #1 Sunday Times bestselling author Sarah Morgan writes romance and contemporary women's fiction and her trademark humour and warmth have gained her fans across the globe. Sarah lives near London, England, and when she isn't reading or writing she loves being outdoors.
Look out for Sarah's latest novel - All Together for Christmas (UK title)/ A Merry Little Lie (US/Canadian title)
Join Sarah on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorSarahM...
Follow Sarah on Twitter: https://twitter.com/SarahMorgan_
Follow Sarah on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahmorgan...
Website: www.sarahmorgan.com
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 172 reviews
December 8, 2022
This is one of those books that I never tire of. I read this every month or two. Something great and familiar in between all those new books.
Fourteen times now that I have read this lovely story and I'm not done with it yet! There is something about it that just draws me in each time I read it and I don't want to put it down. The first time I read it I did so twice in the same day. A story has to really grab me for that to happen. I just can't seem to put it down! I find the Goodreads rating is not all that great but it is absolutely a FIVE-STAR READ for this reader! I love this book and there is quite a bit of humor that had laughing tears rolling down my face.
This book was so much more than I expected after reading the reviews. I thought it was fabulous and definitely underrated, very underrated! Our Hero was a major man-whore and was determined never to love or commit thinking he would save himself from the pain it caused him and his father when his mother left them for another man who then held her prisoner. He expects a loved one to always walk away. (After meeting or becoming reacquainted with the heroine he is never with another woman again. He definitely had his reasons but shared them with no one. On the day the heroine showed up at his company dressed as a nun he doesn't realize it yet but Cupid just let go with another arrow and the hero no longer has any desire for other women. I loved him to pieces. He was a touch alpha male but there was something about him that was so lovable.
I absolutely recommend this book. There is no cheating and the few times they were briefly apart there was celibacy.
I have read this nine times and each time I read it I love it more and more!!
Fourteen times now that I have read this lovely story and I'm not done with it yet! There is something about it that just draws me in each time I read it and I don't want to put it down. The first time I read it I did so twice in the same day. A story has to really grab me for that to happen. I just can't seem to put it down! I find the Goodreads rating is not all that great but it is absolutely a FIVE-STAR READ for this reader! I love this book and there is quite a bit of humor that had laughing tears rolling down my face.
This book was so much more than I expected after reading the reviews. I thought it was fabulous and definitely underrated, very underrated! Our Hero was a major man-whore and was determined never to love or commit thinking he would save himself from the pain it caused him and his father when his mother left them for another man who then held her prisoner. He expects a loved one to always walk away. (After meeting or becoming reacquainted with the heroine he is never with another woman again. He definitely had his reasons but shared them with no one. On the day the heroine showed up at his company dressed as a nun he doesn't realize it yet but Cupid just let go with another arrow and the hero no longer has any desire for other women. I loved him to pieces. He was a touch alpha male but there was something about him that was so lovable.
I absolutely recommend this book. There is no cheating and the few times they were briefly apart there was celibacy.
I have read this nine times and each time I read it I love it more and more!!
January 12, 2015
Another really good Sarah Morgan book. This really reminded me of the story of Red Ridinghood and the big Bad Wolf. Selene is sweet as pie and very innocent, with incredible belief in Stefan, based on their chance meeting five years prior. He is the glimmer of hope that she can escape from the figurative and literal prison where her father has kept her and her mother. She sneaks out and meets him and asks for a business loan for her company. To which Stefan agrees, but he also wants to exploit the association to revenge a past insult against his family by her father. Selene believes only the best about Stefan, and when they go to bed together, she is completely willing, excited to experience passion for the first time with a man she views as the only friend she's ever had. But everything backfires when a picture of them ends up in the press and her father finds out about it. Selene realizes that her knight in shining armor is actually the Big Bad Wolf, and her poor innocent heart is broken. Stefan realizes he wronged Selene in his quest for revenge and he wants to make it right.
Selene is such a sweetie! She cracked me up how excited she was with Stefan that first night. I could see how she was putting tiny cracks in Stefan's armor and making the Bad Wolf into her very own adoring Wolf Protector. Stefan was the first to admit he had no conscience, but the truth is that he had turned his conscience off to achieve his goals of success. Selene made him come back to life, but he did it kicking and screaming. He really doesn't want the vulnerability of love, but Selene reached his heart. And when she loses faith in him, it really bothers him. I liked that Stefan has to win back Selene's trust and show him that he was worthy of her faith in him. At the same time, Selene gains a balanced view of him, that he is neither an angel or a demon, but a human being.
As usual, the dialogue is a huge draw to this story. The sometimes inane things that the characters chat about feels realistic. Sometimes you do have strange conversations with people and they know what you're saying, even if it comes out of your mouth in a very bizarre way, because they know you. I think that Selene's parents were less developed, moreso her mother. Her father seems so sinister, and he's clearly an abusive lowlife. But Selene is able to put him into perspective as well . It helps that she has a faithful Wolf to guard her, and she's one Red Ridinghood who can take care of herself, gaining needed independence, that is not compromised but facilitated through her relationship with Stefan.
Selene is such a sweetie! She cracked me up how excited she was with Stefan that first night. I could see how she was putting tiny cracks in Stefan's armor and making the Bad Wolf into her very own adoring Wolf Protector. Stefan was the first to admit he had no conscience, but the truth is that he had turned his conscience off to achieve his goals of success. Selene made him come back to life, but he did it kicking and screaming. He really doesn't want the vulnerability of love, but Selene reached his heart. And when she loses faith in him, it really bothers him. I liked that Stefan has to win back Selene's trust and show him that he was worthy of her faith in him. At the same time, Selene gains a balanced view of him, that he is neither an angel or a demon, but a human being.
As usual, the dialogue is a huge draw to this story. The sometimes inane things that the characters chat about feels realistic. Sometimes you do have strange conversations with people and they know what you're saying, even if it comes out of your mouth in a very bizarre way, because they know you. I think that Selene's parents were less developed, moreso her mother. Her father seems so sinister, and he's clearly an abusive lowlife. But Selene is able to put him into perspective as well . It helps that she has a faithful Wolf to guard her, and she's one Red Ridinghood who can take care of herself, gaining needed independence, that is not compromised but facilitated through her relationship with Stefan.
January 26, 2022
"I've just told you that I love you."
"But you don't want to. You don't want to feel that way and I can't be with a man who always holds part of himself back. Even though I understand all your reasons and I'm sympathetic, I want more. I know love makes a person vulnerable but I want a man who is prepared to risk everything because the love is more important than protecting himself."
THIS!!!!!!!!!!
I really liked Sarah Morgan's contemporary Harlequin Sold to the Enemy and this speech by the heroine is the reason why romance fans like to lose themselves in the genre.
The book, as ridiculous as the premise is, hooked me from the start when the heroine dressed up as a nun to sweet-talk her way past the hero's barracuda personal assistant. In other hands, this kind of silly farce would be cringe-worthy but the author made it work here. It was hilarious and endearing.
H looked like your typical Harlequin tycoon Alpha but up close, he was just a sweet weetle pootycat, yes he was. Didn't stand a chance before the heroine wrapped him around her little finger.
There were some major plot holes (h's abused mom just disappears from the story; the heroine, penniless, bloody, and probably suffering from a concussion after being beaten by her father, miraculously finds a job and an apartment within HOURS of running away from home; Hero miraculously discovers her as if Athens is a quaint little village with one taverna on the main road that h would inevitably end up waitressing at, etc.) but this is all part of HPlandia fantasty, yes?
That title though... It had nothing whatsoever to do with the story. Yes, there is an enmity between the H and h's father but h never sold herself to the hero, this wasn't some mistress/marriage of convenience contract (not that there's anything wrong with that, haha!) and there was nothing oppressive about their relationship. h might have been the proverbial 22 year old virgin that HPlandia is saturated with, but she did not let herself be forcibly seduced or blackmailed by H, far from it. She was actually the seducer and their scenes together were HOT AS HELL.
"But you don't want to. You don't want to feel that way and I can't be with a man who always holds part of himself back. Even though I understand all your reasons and I'm sympathetic, I want more. I know love makes a person vulnerable but I want a man who is prepared to risk everything because the love is more important than protecting himself."
THIS!!!!!!!!!!
I really liked Sarah Morgan's contemporary Harlequin Sold to the Enemy and this speech by the heroine is the reason why romance fans like to lose themselves in the genre.
The book, as ridiculous as the premise is, hooked me from the start when the heroine dressed up as a nun to sweet-talk her way past the hero's barracuda personal assistant. In other hands, this kind of silly farce would be cringe-worthy but the author made it work here. It was hilarious and endearing.
H looked like your typical Harlequin tycoon Alpha but up close, he was just a sweet weetle pootycat, yes he was. Didn't stand a chance before the heroine wrapped him around her little finger.
There were some major plot holes (h's abused mom just disappears from the story; the heroine, penniless, bloody, and probably suffering from a concussion after being beaten by her father, miraculously finds a job and an apartment within HOURS of running away from home; Hero miraculously discovers her as if Athens is a quaint little village with one taverna on the main road that h would inevitably end up waitressing at, etc.) but this is all part of HPlandia fantasty, yes?
That title though... It had nothing whatsoever to do with the story. Yes, there is an enmity between the H and h's father but h never sold herself to the hero, this wasn't some mistress/marriage of convenience contract (not that there's anything wrong with that, haha!) and there was nothing oppressive about their relationship. h might have been the proverbial 22 year old virgin that HPlandia is saturated with, but she did not let herself be forcibly seduced or blackmailed by H, far from it. She was actually the seducer and their scenes together were HOT AS HELL.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 14, 2013
I love reading Sarah Morgan’s books. Her characters are always endearing. Gorgeous alpha males and beautiful and irresistible heroines.
Okay, a short synopsis - beautiful and shy virgin meets rich and gorgeous Greek hero, who uses her for the purpose of revenge as a means to get back at her miserable father , who years before had caused much pain in heroes’ life. Yes, we've read this plot before in dozens of other books…but before I give you the wrong idea…let me just say that the author gives it a fresh “look”
So, we have Selene, kept isolated from the world by her monster father and she stays in his isolated island b because of her mother, who she protects, at any cost, from his cruelty. She realizes she will have to flee to the mainland, get her business plan (I loved it….soaps and candles!!!) into gear and once she’s made enough money, will come back to rescue her mother……allright…it does sound a bit melodramatic in this day and age…but let’s just remember…this is Mills & Boon and ANYTHING is POSSIBLE!!
Let’s continue…Selena needs help to escape and she finds it in Stefan Ziakis, the only man (apart from her father, that is.) she has ever spoken to in her life. She had met him a few years before and he had been very kind to her, so naturally, when he arrives on the island (for some kind of quest her father has devised), she knows that it’s the right time and the right person. Well, well….little did she know that Stefan had ulterior motives being there…no no...nothing to do with Selene…well not at this stage!!! Stefan is out for revenge and it’s her father who will be the victim!!!
Naturally, he helps her albeit reluctantly, and begins thinking that Selene might just be another way to bringing her father down.
But things never go the way we want..right???? LOVE JUST GETS IN THE WAY….and what a nice obstacle it is!!!
I loved these two together. Selene is innocent, smart and so endearing, with her heart in the right place that just had me fall in love with her from the very beginning. And Stefan turns out…he’s not as twisted as he thinks and acts...in fact he’s a pretty decent guy….and gorgeous and rich…what is not to love about this man!!!!!
There were some parts that were kind of OTT….and what…no I can’t believe that!!!
But it’s wonderful how you get lost in a book that nothing matters but that two people meet, fall in love, have some misunderstandings, have fabulous sex together and go off into the sunset ….and get the anticipated HEA you so wanted!!!
I loved this book…its romance all the way!!!
Okay, a short synopsis - beautiful and shy virgin meets rich and gorgeous Greek hero, who uses her for the purpose of revenge as a means to get back at her miserable father , who years before had caused much pain in heroes’ life. Yes, we've read this plot before in dozens of other books…but before I give you the wrong idea…let me just say that the author gives it a fresh “look”
So, we have Selene, kept isolated from the world by her monster father and she stays in his isolated island b because of her mother, who she protects, at any cost, from his cruelty. She realizes she will have to flee to the mainland, get her business plan (I loved it….soaps and candles!!!) into gear and once she’s made enough money, will come back to rescue her mother……allright…it does sound a bit melodramatic in this day and age…but let’s just remember…this is Mills & Boon and ANYTHING is POSSIBLE!!
Let’s continue…Selena needs help to escape and she finds it in Stefan Ziakis, the only man (apart from her father, that is.) she has ever spoken to in her life. She had met him a few years before and he had been very kind to her, so naturally, when he arrives on the island (for some kind of quest her father has devised), she knows that it’s the right time and the right person. Well, well….little did she know that Stefan had ulterior motives being there…no no...nothing to do with Selene…well not at this stage!!! Stefan is out for revenge and it’s her father who will be the victim!!!
Naturally, he helps her albeit reluctantly, and begins thinking that Selene might just be another way to bringing her father down.
But things never go the way we want..right???? LOVE JUST GETS IN THE WAY….and what a nice obstacle it is!!!
I loved these two together. Selene is innocent, smart and so endearing, with her heart in the right place that just had me fall in love with her from the very beginning. And Stefan turns out…he’s not as twisted as he thinks and acts...in fact he’s a pretty decent guy….and gorgeous and rich…what is not to love about this man!!!!!
There were some parts that were kind of OTT….and what…no I can’t believe that!!!
But it’s wonderful how you get lost in a book that nothing matters but that two people meet, fall in love, have some misunderstandings, have fabulous sex together and go off into the sunset ….and get the anticipated HEA you so wanted!!!
I loved this book…its romance all the way!!!
June 16, 2017
Not one of my favorites by this author. I found the heroine's backstory distressing and I couldn't believe that she could be so bouncy after suffering that kind of isolation and mental and physical abuse for *years.*
Her business plan also defied belief. There are at least two people peddling homemade soap at every farmer's market in our little town. The competition for landing a contract with high end spas and hotels must be intense and it's only with the hero's name and backing that she stood a chance at all. Because of this ease, I wasn't feeling the hard-headed independent business woman who rose out of the ashes of her father's derision. Maybe the author could have let her struggle longer than a few weeks?
After I re-read this I think it's the abrupt tone changes I have trouble with. SM ladles on the angst with the abuse story, then brings in some farce with the nun impersonation, then a smidgen of betrayal/revenge, then Working Girl confidence, then cringing at the mean daddy, then worldly wisdom of knowing just what kind of love she expects from the hero. Yes - all that can happen - but the compressed timeline worked against any steady evolution of this character.
The heroine is the memorable character in this story. Hero is your standard alpha with the inability to love or stay with someone longer than 10 mins after sex until the heroine wormed her innocent way into his heart.
Her business plan also defied belief. There are at least two people peddling homemade soap at every farmer's market in our little town. The competition for landing a contract with high end spas and hotels must be intense and it's only with the hero's name and backing that she stood a chance at all. Because of this ease, I wasn't feeling the hard-headed independent business woman who rose out of the ashes of her father's derision. Maybe the author could have let her struggle longer than a few weeks?
After I re-read this I think it's the abrupt tone changes I have trouble with. SM ladles on the angst with the abuse story, then brings in some farce with the nun impersonation, then a smidgen of betrayal/revenge, then Working Girl confidence, then cringing at the mean daddy, then worldly wisdom of knowing just what kind of love she expects from the hero. Yes - all that can happen - but the compressed timeline worked against any steady evolution of this character.
The heroine is the memorable character in this story. Hero is your standard alpha with the inability to love or stay with someone longer than 10 mins after sex until the heroine wormed her innocent way into his heart.
June 17, 2017
Thank you Sarah, you know just the way to entertain me. Innocent heroine trying to save her mother and herself from an abusive father goes to her father's worst enemy seeking help.
(I think there is a apart of my review missing... Or maybe I was too lazy... Or both, in any case, read Emona, Vintage or Naksed reviews, they pretty much reflect my feelings for this book).
(I think there is a apart of my review missing... Or maybe I was too lazy... Or both, in any case, read Emona, Vintage or Naksed reviews, they pretty much reflect my feelings for this book).
January 2, 2013
A good HP to start the new year makes me very happy. Honestly, this book was so refreshing and even though the heroine was so sweet and naive, she didn't annoy me. She had grown up with an abusive father and now at 22 she wants to escape with her mother, so she goes to her father's rival, the hero, a man who treated her with kindness at the age of 17. She knows about his reputation with women and business but doesn't care.
The hero is shocked at her innocence and keeps telling her he is not sweet but he kind of is since he doesn't take advantage of her drunken state even when she is throwing herself at him. He knows her father is a bastard but doesn't know how much until she accuses him of using her and takes off terrified, then he finds out about the abuse and helps her and her mother get away. The heroine though is in no mood for gratitude. Even though the heroine could be extreme in hate and love sometimes, I ended up liking her and even the hero.
The hero is shocked at her innocence and keeps telling her he is not sweet but he kind of is since he doesn't take advantage of her drunken state even when she is throwing herself at him. He knows her father is a bastard but doesn't know how much until she accuses him of using her and takes off terrified, then he finds out about the abuse and helps her and her mother get away. The heroine though is in no mood for gratitude. Even though the heroine could be extreme in hate and love sometimes, I ended up liking her and even the hero.
August 25, 2014
It's perhaps not fair for me to rate this the way I have, but I blame the author/publisher for a misleading title and description and myself for not reading other reviews to get a better picture of the story.
Truth is, if I'd have known what this was truly about I wouldn't have read. This story isn't my cuppa and the rating likely reflects that. I just couldn't get into it and skimmed quite a bit here and there.
The title/description made it look like one of my favorite HP tropes. Ruthless family member basically sells the heroine to the ruthless hero for a Greek Shipping line or something similar. I was expecting some good ole blackmail or other familiar (and much loved) tropes.
This book is about a young woman who has been physically/emotionally abused by her father and kept a virtual prisoner on his private island. She escapes with a plan to start her own business and then go back for her mother who is equally as abused. She goes to her father's rival, because she feels he won't be afraid of her father and will lend her money. Also she'd met him once five years earlier when she was 17. He was nice to her and spent quite a bit of time talking to her and, for someone as sheltered as her, it was a big deal.
The description misleads by portraying the H as a heartless betrayer. He's not. That part is a misunderstanding. He's actually one of the most decent HP tycoons out there when it comes down to it (yawn).
So, my opinion is Ms. Morgan (or more likely Harlequin) screwed up big time in promoting this one. They were attracting the wrong sort of reader when they should have been going for a different audience entirely.
Truth is, if I'd have known what this was truly about I wouldn't have read. This story isn't my cuppa and the rating likely reflects that. I just couldn't get into it and skimmed quite a bit here and there.
The title/description made it look like one of my favorite HP tropes. Ruthless family member basically sells the heroine to the ruthless hero for a Greek Shipping line or something similar. I was expecting some good ole blackmail or other familiar (and much loved) tropes.
This book is about a young woman who has been physically/emotionally abused by her father and kept a virtual prisoner on his private island. She escapes with a plan to start her own business and then go back for her mother who is equally as abused. She goes to her father's rival, because she feels he won't be afraid of her father and will lend her money. Also she'd met him once five years earlier when she was 17. He was nice to her and spent quite a bit of time talking to her and, for someone as sheltered as her, it was a big deal.
The description misleads by portraying the H as a heartless betrayer. He's not. That part is a misunderstanding. He's actually one of the most decent HP tycoons out there when it comes down to it (yawn).
So, my opinion is Ms. Morgan (or more likely Harlequin) screwed up big time in promoting this one. They were attracting the wrong sort of reader when they should have been going for a different audience entirely.
January 13, 2013
I loved the story. The heroine was strong and sweet. Her innocence and enthusiasm was disarming. Amazing to read about a heroine who is not whiny and cranky all the time because the big bad hero doesn't love her. On the contrary she saw right through him and tore down his defenses with her loving generous spirit.
I loved the hero as well. He was not a jerk. He loved the heroine and his actions proved it. He showed in so many ways that he cared and was there for her. 4.5 stars :)
I loved the hero as well. He was not a jerk. He loved the heroine and his actions proved it. He showed in so many ways that he cared and was there for her. 4.5 stars :)
October 8, 2018
"Sold to the Enemy" is the story of Selene and Stefan.
The Antaxos and Ziakis clans are business rivals, mostly due to the misdeeds of Stavros Antaxos, who has a "perfect" life.
When his daughter Selene finally decides to escape from his crutches in order to set her own candle making business and eventually rescue her mother, she decides to take help from the kind stranger who had once sat with her and talked all night at the moonlit deck.
Tracing down Stefan Ziakas on a Greek island in a nun disguise, Selene approaches him with propositions, and a heart filled with dreams. Relentlessly persuasive and hopelessly naive, she lets herself finally soar in the glimpses of freedom Stefan provides- dressing up, drinking champagne, dancing all night, making love..
But she is soon confronted with a rude awakening when photos appear in the newspaper, and she realizes blindly trusting a stranger might have been detrimental to her plans, and her heart..
Very, very well written romance with a strong heroine who has a zest for life, and goes after what she wants. The hero has a (#duh) traumatic past connected to the heroine's father, which initially makes him ruthless, but as the book progresses, he comes off as a caring and helpful. Of course he is afraid of commitment and the whole drama, but one hiccup and he is all for love.
Loved the book and wished it had an epilogue too!
Safe
4.5/5
The Antaxos and Ziakis clans are business rivals, mostly due to the misdeeds of Stavros Antaxos, who has a "perfect" life.
When his daughter Selene finally decides to escape from his crutches in order to set her own candle making business and eventually rescue her mother, she decides to take help from the kind stranger who had once sat with her and talked all night at the moonlit deck.
Tracing down Stefan Ziakas on a Greek island in a nun disguise, Selene approaches him with propositions, and a heart filled with dreams. Relentlessly persuasive and hopelessly naive, she lets herself finally soar in the glimpses of freedom Stefan provides- dressing up, drinking champagne, dancing all night, making love..
But she is soon confronted with a rude awakening when photos appear in the newspaper, and she realizes blindly trusting a stranger might have been detrimental to her plans, and her heart..
Very, very well written romance with a strong heroine who has a zest for life, and goes after what she wants. The hero has a (#duh) traumatic past connected to the heroine's father, which initially makes him ruthless, but as the book progresses, he comes off as a caring and helpful. Of course he is afraid of commitment and the whole drama, but one hiccup and he is all for love.
Loved the book and wished it had an epilogue too!
Safe
4.5/5
January 16, 2018
Loved the heroine
Showing up in a nun costume? That was priceless and so was the heroine. I loved her honesty, her rose colored glasses, her openness and her love for the hero. Her Father was horrid and I can't believe she kept hope and innocence alive in those circumstances at all. I loved that part of her. But I hated it when she turned against the hero. It made me take off one star for that. The ending was sweet and I would read this again for sure.
Showing up in a nun costume? That was priceless and so was the heroine. I loved her honesty, her rose colored glasses, her openness and her love for the hero. Her Father was horrid and I can't believe she kept hope and innocence alive in those circumstances at all. I loved that part of her. But I hated it when she turned against the hero. It made me take off one star for that. The ending was sweet and I would read this again for sure.
October 10, 2016
A 3.5, almost 4 star due to an all-out, sweet and quirky heroine and a yummy, wannabe brooding Greek hero.
Selene sneaks off her father's island in search of financial help from his arch-nemesis. No, she doesn't try and sell herself into a MOC or be his mistress until he tires of her. Selene asks the H for business advice on what will probably earn a $1.50 an hour. Candles and soap. Oh well. You can't have everything.
The H agrees to help her and put the moves on her. Despite being a virgin, she enthusiastically embraces all debauching efforts from dressing in red, over-imbibing in champagne then passing out before anything can happen. They fix that situation the next morning after which the h finds out that pictures of her kissing the H have popped up on the internet.
Furious him for what she sees as a setup to get back at her father, Selene rushes home in a panic. The H dismisses her panicking as baby heiress drama until he recalls some bruising on her arms and back. He arrives at the island to rescue her after her father has slapped her around for disgracing the family name. Turns out he has abused the h and her mother for years. The H rescues mom and daughter, but the h is still furious at what she sees as the H's betrayal.
Th h runs out again, but eventually the two get back together. Selene decides to go all in with both her business and an affair with the emotionally stopped up H. He's not a brooder, but he has your typical abandoned tycoon backstory that makes him leery of commit...my eyes just rolled out of my head.
Selene is a keeper. She's sweet and open about her feelings without being a weepy doormat. Harley authors, we need more heroines like her. The H is actually quite a good guy. Yep, he was a man-whore, but little to no ass-hat behavior.
Selene sneaks off her father's island in search of financial help from his arch-nemesis. No, she doesn't try and sell herself into a MOC or be his mistress until he tires of her. Selene asks the H for business advice on what will probably earn a $1.50 an hour. Candles and soap. Oh well. You can't have everything.
The H agrees to help her and put the moves on her. Despite being a virgin, she enthusiastically embraces all debauching efforts from dressing in red, over-imbibing in champagne then passing out before anything can happen. They fix that situation the next morning after which the h finds out that pictures of her kissing the H have popped up on the internet.
Furious him for what she sees as a setup to get back at her father, Selene rushes home in a panic. The H dismisses her panicking as baby heiress drama until he recalls some bruising on her arms and back. He arrives at the island to rescue her after her father has slapped her around for disgracing the family name. Turns out he has abused the h and her mother for years. The H rescues mom and daughter, but the h is still furious at what she sees as the H's betrayal.
Th h runs out again, but eventually the two get back together. Selene decides to go all in with both her business and an affair with the emotionally stopped up H. He's not a brooder, but he has your typical abandoned tycoon backstory that makes him leery of commit...my eyes just rolled out of my head.
Selene is a keeper. She's sweet and open about her feelings without being a weepy doormat. Harley authors, we need more heroines like her. The H is actually quite a good guy. Yep, he was a man-whore, but little to no ass-hat behavior.
February 19, 2013
The heroine made the book for me. Selene is a delightful heroine. She lives with an abusive father and a helpless mother in an isolated island. But she lets nothing beat her spirits and her optimism. She has got a plan to start a business and take herself and her mother to live away from her cruel father. But her father is a feared man, no one will help her except her father business rival, Stefan Ziakas. He has starred in her fantasies for 5 years, since she met him when she was 17 y old. No one knows that Selene' father had played a horrible role in Stefan's past. They only know that he is dangerous, cynical and ruthless in his business and in his private life. A big bad wolf to her naive Red Riding Hood. She is innocent, inexperienced and he is "sculpted by the devil to tempt women to the dark side".
You can't find two people as opposed as these two. And as we all know, opposites attract. And the explosion of attraction is instant and blazing hot. Is this a case of out of the frying pan and into the fire? Or is Selene the one who will break through Stefano' defenses ?
You can't find two people as opposed as these two. And as we all know, opposites attract. And the explosion of attraction is instant and blazing hot. Is this a case of out of the frying pan and into the fire? Or is Selene the one who will break through Stefano' defenses ?
January 24, 2013
I so anticipated the release of this book. Maybe I just overhyped it in my mind. It wasn't bad, but I just couldn't get into the hero. In her efforts to soften him up a bit and round out his edges, he ended up being too one dimensional. Unlike her other heroes, he just felt flat. Consequently, I didn't feel that electrifying chemistry that buzzes between H/h that I have come to expect from this author. Their relationship felt a little forced to me. The only thing that fizzed between the two of them was the champagne they drank.
It's not bad, but for some reason, it just didn't quite measure up to the Sarah Morgan yardstick I have.
It's not bad, but for some reason, it just didn't quite measure up to the Sarah Morgan yardstick I have.
September 27, 2016
Sarah Morgan seems to be an author filling my favourite shelf, take for example The Twelve Nights of Christmas, The Prince’s Waitress Wife, Sale or Return Bride, and Powerful Greek, Unworldly Wife.
Selene Antaxos is scheming a way to leave her isolated Greek island home and travel to Athens without her father finding out. Selene and her mother are virtual prisoners in a house that doubles as a fortress – they are victims of a man who insists on complete control over their lives in order to present to the world the picture of a perfect, virtuous family.
He keeps them in penury and watches their every move, but Selene has turned a flair for creating handmade soaps and candles into a potential business opportunity.
She uses her annual convent retreat as a means of leaving the island and approaching Stefanos Ziakas, who is her father’s enemy in business, but whom she remembers warmly because he was kind to her at one of her rare public outings - and it doesn’t hurt that he’s gorgeous.
Selene isn’t badly off financially or an orphan, but her circumstances are pretty dire.
Selene maybe naïve, but she is definately not immature, being brought up in a secluded and oppressive way, she had almost no exposure to the outside world because of her tyrannical and abusive father.
When she finally escapes out into the real world she is quite unprepared and very over eager to try all the things that she had never had a chance to do and try, leading to some funny moments between both of them.
Stefanos Ziakas is annoyed with his personal assistant, Maria, for letting Selene in to see him, but his annoyance dissipates as he is intrigued and attracted to her - he hears out her business plans and decides to offer her the loan she seeks.
Stefan isn’t really sure what to make of Selene.
He thinks she’s spoiled, once he realises that she is the Antaxos daughter he had met when she was just seventeen, but he is never nasty to her!
Even more impulsively, he invites her to accompany him to a party that night. Selene can’t resist; she’s never been to a party where she can just enjoy herself, free from her father’s threatening presence.
The only problem is that she has nothing to wear, but Stefan quickly arranges a way to overcome that obstacle. One thing leads to another and Selene and Stefan wind up in a mutually agreed-upon and passionate one-night stand.
The morning after brings guilt, but not for the obvious reasons.
Selene’s realisation that the party was attended by guests who then plastered her picture all over the tabloids makes her outraged with Stefan and leads to her flight back to Antaxos, where she correctly fears her father waiting for her.
Stefan rescues Selene just in time, but once she is safely away she escapes him too, angry that he took advantage of her to get an advantage over her father and fearful she’s traded one uncaring man for another.
When Stefan is finally able to convince her that he wasn’t behind the photos and that his rivalry with her father is about more than business, Selene decides to go all-in with Stefan and he is more than happy to have her back.
Stefan has spent his adult life avoiding anything that looks remotely like a relationship, because of his traumatic past, but Selene is even better.
She wants more than anything else, to be her own person, and you get the sense that as much as she wants Stefan, she won’t compromise until she’s finally achieved to keep him!
Stefan has all the wonderful qualities of a memorable hero (a word used so often in this book).
He is taken back by Selene’s optimistic and happy personality, he has a conscience and is very protective of her although he struggles throughout the book with his feelings for her - more than that, he was deductive, smart, and all alpha, and there was an amazing balance where he works to keep Selene safe through Takis, his head of security, another great character, while allowing her live freely for once in her life.
The scene where Stefan has to make the choice to finally stop holding himself back and allow himself to love Selene unless he wants her to leave him was another emotional twist, then came the sweetest marriage proposal!
There are however two things that got me -
1. The title of this book really isn’t accurate to the story.
When I started out, I was thinking it was more like the “Sale Or Return Bride”, by the end, I realised that there is no selling of anyone even once mentioned!
2. Whatever happened to her mother? At least the last scene could include her mother too!
Nevertheless the exuberant actions and the thoughts and words expressed made me smile.
From the moment she descends upon Stefan, in his office, camouflaged as a nun, I was captivated by the story.
From then on, the ball was set rolling and what follows is seduction, chaos, betrayal, and pandemonium,
All of which make for an engaging and entertaining read.
And, oh, I must not forget the champagne scene, there was so much of humour between the lines, and every time champagne was mentioned throughout the book, you can bet there is something that would make you laugh!
The secondary characters (Maria, Takis and a few others) mentioned in the book were also great, the last scene was incredible, I could not help but smile!
This one here was one my favourite excerpts:
Estafanía, gracias por la recomendación!!
Selene Antaxos is scheming a way to leave her isolated Greek island home and travel to Athens without her father finding out. Selene and her mother are virtual prisoners in a house that doubles as a fortress – they are victims of a man who insists on complete control over their lives in order to present to the world the picture of a perfect, virtuous family.
He keeps them in penury and watches their every move, but Selene has turned a flair for creating handmade soaps and candles into a potential business opportunity.
She uses her annual convent retreat as a means of leaving the island and approaching Stefanos Ziakas, who is her father’s enemy in business, but whom she remembers warmly because he was kind to her at one of her rare public outings - and it doesn’t hurt that he’s gorgeous.
Selene isn’t badly off financially or an orphan, but her circumstances are pretty dire.
Selene maybe naïve, but she is definately not immature, being brought up in a secluded and oppressive way, she had almost no exposure to the outside world because of her tyrannical and abusive father.
When she finally escapes out into the real world she is quite unprepared and very over eager to try all the things that she had never had a chance to do and try, leading to some funny moments between both of them.
Stefanos Ziakas is annoyed with his personal assistant, Maria, for letting Selene in to see him, but his annoyance dissipates as he is intrigued and attracted to her - he hears out her business plans and decides to offer her the loan she seeks.
Stefan isn’t really sure what to make of Selene.
He thinks she’s spoiled, once he realises that she is the Antaxos daughter he had met when she was just seventeen, but he is never nasty to her!
Even more impulsively, he invites her to accompany him to a party that night. Selene can’t resist; she’s never been to a party where she can just enjoy herself, free from her father’s threatening presence.
The only problem is that she has nothing to wear, but Stefan quickly arranges a way to overcome that obstacle. One thing leads to another and Selene and Stefan wind up in a mutually agreed-upon and passionate one-night stand.
The morning after brings guilt, but not for the obvious reasons.
Selene’s realisation that the party was attended by guests who then plastered her picture all over the tabloids makes her outraged with Stefan and leads to her flight back to Antaxos, where she correctly fears her father waiting for her.
Stefan rescues Selene just in time, but once she is safely away she escapes him too, angry that he took advantage of her to get an advantage over her father and fearful she’s traded one uncaring man for another.
When Stefan is finally able to convince her that he wasn’t behind the photos and that his rivalry with her father is about more than business, Selene decides to go all-in with Stefan and he is more than happy to have her back.
Stefan has spent his adult life avoiding anything that looks remotely like a relationship, because of his traumatic past, but Selene is even better.
She wants more than anything else, to be her own person, and you get the sense that as much as she wants Stefan, she won’t compromise until she’s finally achieved to keep him!
Stefan has all the wonderful qualities of a memorable hero (a word used so often in this book).
He is taken back by Selene’s optimistic and happy personality, he has a conscience and is very protective of her although he struggles throughout the book with his feelings for her - more than that, he was deductive, smart, and all alpha, and there was an amazing balance where he works to keep Selene safe through Takis, his head of security, another great character, while allowing her live freely for once in her life.
The scene where Stefan has to make the choice to finally stop holding himself back and allow himself to love Selene unless he wants her to leave him was another emotional twist, then came the sweetest marriage proposal!
There are however two things that got me -
1. The title of this book really isn’t accurate to the story.
When I started out, I was thinking it was more like the “Sale Or Return Bride”, by the end, I realised that there is no selling of anyone even once mentioned!
2. Whatever happened to her mother? At least the last scene could include her mother too!
Nevertheless the exuberant actions and the thoughts and words expressed made me smile.
From the moment she descends upon Stefan, in his office, camouflaged as a nun, I was captivated by the story.
From then on, the ball was set rolling and what follows is seduction, chaos, betrayal, and pandemonium,
All of which make for an engaging and entertaining read.
And, oh, I must not forget the champagne scene, there was so much of humour between the lines, and every time champagne was mentioned throughout the book, you can bet there is something that would make you laugh!
The secondary characters (Maria, Takis and a few others) mentioned in the book were also great, the last scene was incredible, I could not help but smile!
This one here was one my favourite excerpts:
Estafanía, gracias por la recomendación!!
Read
November 24, 2018I just can't finish this book...I tried many times.. I think is me not the book...................................or is the book😂😂
July 25, 2016
I couldn't help but root for Selene, a sweet and courageous heroine. It was refreshing to see how Selene hadn't had her spirit completely stamped out even though she had cause to feel that way. The fact that she found both true love and business success with her longtime crush made the icing-on-the-fantasy-cake even sweeter. Sexy Stefan reluctantly played knight in shining armor at first, but then after falling for Selene discovered he would do anything for her after all—which included conquering his own personal demons so they could have a future together.
Although not terribly angsty or outrageously fun, I still liked this. Another sweet and sexy modern fairy tale from Sarah Morgan!
Although not terribly angsty or outrageously fun, I still liked this. Another sweet and sexy modern fairy tale from Sarah Morgan!
November 12, 2018
Thoroughly enjoyed all the twists and turns this wonderful story took.
Recommended.
Recommended.
June 26, 2021
One argument about not keeping books on your shelves for years and years is that when you eventually get to reading the, that type of book might not work for you anymore. Maybe it will again someday, but that was a lot of the case here.
But also--DO listen to people when they tell you what's right for them!
Owned ebook 2/2 for the month
Overall owned book 3/5 for the month
But also--DO listen to people when they tell you what's right for them!
Owned ebook 2/2 for the month
Overall owned book 3/5 for the month
July 15, 2019
4 1/2 Stars ~ Growing up on an isolated Greek island with a controlling abusive father, Selene struggles to find an escape for her and her mother. While her father is away and with the help of nuns from a neighbouring island, Selene is able to leave and she goes to the only man she's confident will help her. Stefan's family had been ruined by Selene's father and as he grew into a man and built his own dynasty they became sworn enemies. When Selene turns up at his office dressed as a nun and asks for his backing in her business venture, he's flabbergasted. Selene knows she has a viable business and with Stefan's backing and knowledge she can build a life for her and her mother. Stefan had befriended her once when she was 17, and after a lifetime of always being on the outside watching, Selene's honed instincts had told her that he was a man she could trust. She'd remembered him as tremendously handsome and he'd told her that she should look him up in five years. Now with the passing of time, she finds him just as devastatingly attractive and she lets him know it. Stefan's impressed with her business plan and agrees to back her, and then with her encouragement proceeds to sweep her off her feet. A party, champagne, and a daring new dress, and Selene is living her dream on the arm of the handsomest man she's ever met. Giving herself freely to Stefan has also been part of her dream, but in the morning when she sees the press photo of herself in Stefan's arms she realizes that he's just like her father. He's used her to get back at his enemy. And worst of all, she knows that if her father sees the photo before she can return to the island and get her mother, they will both suffer terribly and it will be impossible to ever leave. Stefan doesn't understand why Selene is feeling betrayed, press photos of him are common, but cold realization comes when he remembers how brutal her father could be, explaining the terror in Selene's eyes.
Selene is a truly refreshing heroine and there were moments I laughed out loud at her charming and open expressions of delight. She enchants Stefan with her innocent optimism and her surprising candor. He protests adorably when Selene calls him her hero and that she knows that he's a good man that she can trust. He's shocked at how easily she sees below his surface and it unnerves him. When he realizes how his own callous lifestyle has brought danger to her, he races to her rescue. This lovestory is so wonderfully written. It swept me along, eager to read what would happen next. I'm sure I'll be enjoying this keeper again and again
Selene is a truly refreshing heroine and there were moments I laughed out loud at her charming and open expressions of delight. She enchants Stefan with her innocent optimism and her surprising candor. He protests adorably when Selene calls him her hero and that she knows that he's a good man that she can trust. He's shocked at how easily she sees below his surface and it unnerves him. When he realizes how his own callous lifestyle has brought danger to her, he races to her rescue. This lovestory is so wonderfully written. It swept me along, eager to read what would happen next. I'm sure I'll be enjoying this keeper again and again
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 20, 2016
Stephan and Selene. Not sure where the title comes from, because her father didn't sell her. In fact he was pretty pissed when he found out that Selene had contacted Stephan. Stephan and Selene's father have a dark and violent history as well as being business rivals. Selene is counting on Stephan's dislike of her father to make him willing to help her. She and her mother live a life in terror, while her father makes them project the fabrication of the perfect family to the world. She is trapped and wants to escape, but needs money to start a business to support her and her mother after they escape. Stephan promises to help but then apparently uses her to piss of her father. Little does he realize just how pissed her father will be. Almost too late, he puts two and two together and runs to make amends. Can Selene trust him again?
I really enjoyed this one. Stephan is the usual asshat harlequin hero at first, but he doesn't stay that way for long. Selene is the usual sheltered miss but with passion and pride. She doesn't just fall at his feet when he comes back, and she never imagined him as happily ever after material either. She actually plays him like a fiddle... but in a good way. Best of all, it is OW free.
I listened to this one on audio and the reader did a good job.
I really enjoyed this one. Stephan is the usual asshat harlequin hero at first, but he doesn't stay that way for long. Selene is the usual sheltered miss but with passion and pride. She doesn't just fall at his feet when he comes back, and she never imagined him as happily ever after material either. She actually plays him like a fiddle... but in a good way. Best of all, it is OW free.
I listened to this one on audio and the reader did a good job.
February 28, 2021
2 stars. This isn’t a bad book but I just couldn’t get over the feeling that the hero was taking advantage of the heroine. It really creeped me out. He may have been described as extremely good looking, attractive, all that fun stuff... but the image in my head was somehow of a 40 year old man with the heroine (who was 22). Thinking about the timeline in this book, the hero’s mother left when he was 8 and that was far before the heroine’s parents even met. There was very likely a 10-15 year age gap. Then taking into account how totally naive and innocent the heroine was, and how she looked at the hero like an actual HERO..... yikes. He’s been with tons and tons of women and he instantly pulls this young virgin girl into his bed without a second thought. It was disturbing and ruined the romance for me in a big way. Tbh, I felt like she was such a sweet character, and she just deserved someone equally as wonderful. The plus side is that she definitely showed a great deal of backbone and didn’t let the hero walk all over her.
Safety is fine, but like I said, it gave me that ick feeling while reading. No cheating, no OM/OW, but hero’s past is mentioned plenty. They did meet the first time when she was a teenager, so he was obviously with lots of OW after originally meeting her.
Safety is fine, but like I said, it gave me that ick feeling while reading. No cheating, no OM/OW, but hero’s past is mentioned plenty. They did meet the first time when she was a teenager, so he was obviously with lots of OW after originally meeting her.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 29, 2024
I tried to read this before but couldn’t get past the plot chasms, choppy writing style, the insta-lust and endless emoting. After reading Naksed’s review I decided to try again. Same ugh factor so I read last 2 chapters. Still ugh, bleh. Not for me.
Too bad. I read some drippy HPs lately and hoped for a ray of sanity. I’m not looking for Marketing 601 - this is not an MBA text, but some basic reality would be appreciated.
Retried yet again and found it choppy, much too far fetched, graphic but managed to skim part. I tried again because it is in an anthology but nope.
Too bad. I read some drippy HPs lately and hoped for a ray of sanity. I’m not looking for Marketing 601 - this is not an MBA text, but some basic reality would be appreciated.
Retried yet again and found it choppy, much too far fetched, graphic but managed to skim part. I tried again because it is in an anthology but nope.
October 28, 2021
This is one-day-reading book. Sweet love story where you can run away from your daily problems. Reading it, you just want to believe that somewhere still exist sexy prince on a white horse :)
February 7, 2013
I just couldn't get into this one. I got to about 55% through the book and found myself rolling my eyes way too much so I decided that I didn't need to finish it.
Selene (h) is the daughter of a wealthy businessman living on a Greek island. Everyone views her as a spoiled princess but that is just the image her father has master minded. In reality her mother and herself are prisoners and the victims of domestic abuse. She has come up with a plan to get them both of the island and away from her father, she just needs her father's worst enemy to agree to her business proposal.
Stephen (H) has worked his way up from nothing to become the wealthy and powerful businessman that he is today. Vowing revenge on the man who once took everything from him, he couldn't believe it when the daughter of that very man walked into his office ,in a Nun's habit no less , and offered herself along with a business proposal. She was an obvious innocent , the revenge on his enemy would be so easy.
I didn't finish this one but I did get far enough to know that Stephen really was a good guy, tried really hard to NOT take advantage of Selene and was always read to rescue her. The writing in this just felt too amateurish and there wasn't' enough good stuff happening to make me over look it. =)
Selene (h) is the daughter of a wealthy businessman living on a Greek island. Everyone views her as a spoiled princess but that is just the image her father has master minded. In reality her mother and herself are prisoners and the victims of domestic abuse. She has come up with a plan to get them both of the island and away from her father, she just needs her father's worst enemy to agree to her business proposal.
Stephen (H) has worked his way up from nothing to become the wealthy and powerful businessman that he is today. Vowing revenge on the man who once took everything from him, he couldn't believe it when the daughter of that very man walked into his office ,in a Nun's habit no less , and offered herself along with a business proposal. She was an obvious innocent , the revenge on his enemy would be so easy.
I didn't finish this one but I did get far enough to know that Stephen really was a good guy, tried really hard to NOT take advantage of Selene and was always read to rescue her. The writing in this just felt too amateurish and there wasn't' enough good stuff happening to make me over look it. =)
June 22, 2016
This one was a lot better than the trash that was released late last year (2012) I actually quite enjoyed the heroine, she was brave despite being abused and her character was strong as well. The hero was a cynic but well written. He had a tragic past that made me like him even more, especially when he confessed his love. I would of loved to see the villain go to jail or get his though.
June 21, 2014
A fun little story. There was some angst. The heroine was super sweet and was trying to get away from her abusive father to save her mother. She thought the hero was better than he was and he eventually lived up to her expectations. He could have done it a little quicker to suit me.
August 4, 2016
Not the Best
I am probably in the minority here, but I did not care for this book. I found the heroine to be very childish. It was a good story, though.
I am probably in the minority here, but I did not care for this book. I found the heroine to be very childish. It was a good story, though.
February 9, 2018
ça mérite même pas une étoile !
déception
l'histoire est quasi plate , pas de rebondissements,
déception
l'histoire est quasi plate , pas de rebondissements,
January 24, 2013
I picked this up because of the 4.5* review in the RT Times. It appeared to be a great recommendation. The h was refreshingly honest and upfront, the H is an emotionally closed off piece of hotness. The basic plot is typically Harlequin, and the abuse angle is different and could have been compelling.
It has all the elements to make a good Harlequin romance, but as a whole I struggled to finish this and it was only in the last third of the book that I felt it got into its stride. I had problems with what felt like fractured scenes, like the party and the general flow of the story.
I'm struggling to explain myself yet if I say that the constant thought throughout most of this book was 'what utter drivel', you'll understand why I gave it the rating that I did.
It has all the elements to make a good Harlequin romance, but as a whole I struggled to finish this and it was only in the last third of the book that I felt it got into its stride. I had problems with what felt like fractured scenes, like the party and the general flow of the story.
I'm struggling to explain myself yet if I say that the constant thought throughout most of this book was 'what utter drivel', you'll understand why I gave it the rating that I did.
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