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Billionaire Brothers #2
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A secretária Darcy Lennox sabe que seu chefe é bastante exigente. Afinal, a ambição de Maximiliano Fonseca Roselli é lendária. Porém, casar-se com ele para que consiga fechar um acordo de negócio vai muito além de suas funções… Mas ninguém diz não para Max. Em seu mundo, todos têm um preço, e ele está determinado a descobrir o de Darcy. Contudo, depois de um beijo ardente, Max percebe que os riscos de ir adiante com esse plano são muito maiores do que poderia imaginar.
A secretária Darcy Lennox sabe que seu chefe é bastante exigente. Afinal, a ambição de Maximiliano Fonseca Roselli é lendária. Porém, casar-se com ele para que consiga fechar um acordo de negócio vai muito além de suas funções… Mas ninguém diz não para Max. Em seu mundo, todos têm um preço, e ele está determinado a descobrir o de Darcy. Contudo, depois de um beijo ardente, Max percebe que os riscos de ir adiante com esse plano são muito maiores do que poderia imaginar.
183 pages, Paperback
Published November 1, 2016
45 people are currently reading
415 people want to read
About the author
Abby Green
991 books603 followersAbby Green spent her teens reading Mills & Boon romances. She then spent many years working in the Film and TV industry as an Assistant Director. One day while standing outside an actor's trailer in the rain, she thought: "there has to be more than this". So she sent off a partial to Mills & Boon. After numerous rewrites, they accepted her first book and an author was born.
She lives in Dublin, Ireland and you can find out more here www.abby-green.com
She lives in Dublin, Ireland and you can find out more here www.abby-green.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
November 11, 2017
Rating: 2 1/2 stars
Darcy and Max were two of the most annoying, insecure MCs I've had the displeasure of reading about in HPlandia in a while. For one, Darcy was a real cocktease. What I mean by that is, she was one of those heroines who kept letting things go from first base, then second base, and so on. Then exclaiming, "This should never have happened!" or "It won't happen again!" Of course, she kept putting herself in seductive scenarios with the H and agreed to his MOC after they had a heated moment of making out. Thankfully, the H didn't force himself on her like the old skool Hs from the 70's and 80's HPlandia. Oh yes, this was a redeeming quality for Max and made him more likable than her.
The H was still carrying issues from his childhood about his parents (the same ones as the h). Tell me why these two shouldn't be in couples therapy together? It was obvious they both wanted one another. Yet, the h would throw tantrums and fits whenever she felt the H threatened her well-being --like taking her shopping!--instead of talking things out a like a grown woman. She also had issues with her body type which was petite and voluptuous but by no means overweight. So she was silly in comparing herself to very tall statuesque women that the H dated. The H would use his tragic past as a crutch whenever he felt his emotions softening his resolve to be a ruthless world conqueror. He also had something to prove to their former peers, the wealthy elite, as well as his dysfunctional family. Still, he did not scream and throw fits like the h, which gave him a few points over her.
How they end up together is rather lame. It truly is. Usually, Abby Green knocks me out with her HEAs but this pair were a couple of losers and psychos. They only inspired me to feel a combo of contempt, pity, and disbelief for them. MOC is one of my favorite tropes when it's done right and well. Max and Darcy were just a joke together and that's putting it nicely. Thankfully, Abby Green is a great writer which is the only reason I was able to finish this book.
Darcy and Max were two of the most annoying, insecure MCs I've had the displeasure of reading about in HPlandia in a while. For one, Darcy was a real cocktease. What I mean by that is, she was one of those heroines who kept letting things go from first base, then second base, and so on. Then exclaiming, "This should never have happened!" or "It won't happen again!" Of course, she kept putting herself in seductive scenarios with the H and agreed to his MOC after they had a heated moment of making out. Thankfully, the H didn't force himself on her like the old skool Hs from the 70's and 80's HPlandia. Oh yes, this was a redeeming quality for Max and made him more likable than her.
The H was still carrying issues from his childhood about his parents (the same ones as the h). Tell me why these two shouldn't be in couples therapy together? It was obvious they both wanted one another. Yet, the h would throw tantrums and fits whenever she felt the H threatened her well-being --like taking her shopping!--instead of talking things out a like a grown woman. She also had issues with her body type which was petite and voluptuous but by no means overweight. So she was silly in comparing herself to very tall statuesque women that the H dated. The H would use his tragic past as a crutch whenever he felt his emotions softening his resolve to be a ruthless world conqueror. He also had something to prove to their former peers, the wealthy elite, as well as his dysfunctional family. Still, he did not scream and throw fits like the h, which gave him a few points over her.
How they end up together is rather lame. It truly is. Usually, Abby Green knocks me out with her HEAs but this pair were a couple of losers and psychos. They only inspired me to feel a combo of contempt, pity, and disbelief for them. MOC is one of my favorite tropes when it's done right and well. Max and Darcy were just a joke together and that's putting it nicely. Thankfully, Abby Green is a great writer which is the only reason I was able to finish this book.
March 6, 2016
I enjoyed this one better than the last Abby Green I read. An Heir Fit for a King. This is an office romance, with an engagement and marriage of convenience thrown in for good measure.
The story opens when the heroine applies for a job as the billionaire hero's PA. She knows him from their brief attendance at the same boarding school in France. Although younger, she had jumped in front of him to save him from a pack of bullies. He remembers her, and seems a bit hostile at first (since he hated his days at boarding school) but hires her because he knows she won't come on to him like his other PAs. (Apparently he's so hot no woman can keep her clothes on around him. *rolls eyes*)
So yeah - kind of mixed narrative bag. There are some lovely full scenes strung together with lots of telling, not showing.
As far as the characters go - well - heroine is no doormat and I quite liked her until she got the sulks at the end just in time for some conflict. The hero is more problematic. He isn't a beta, necessarily, but we're invited to think of him as a victim one too many times. And we see him being bullied by the client in real time which is a really odd thing to read in an HP.
All the sequel characters were wasted on me and kind of took me out of the story because I was trying to remember if I knew any of them. I imagine the Abby Green diehards were quite happy to be reacquainted with old friends.
The story opens when the heroine applies for a job as the billionaire hero's PA. She knows him from their brief attendance at the same boarding school in France. Although younger, she had jumped in front of him to save him from a pack of bullies. He remembers her, and seems a bit hostile at first (since he hated his days at boarding school) but hires her because he knows she won't come on to him like his other PAs. (Apparently he's so hot no woman can keep her clothes on around him. *rolls eyes*)
So yeah - kind of mixed narrative bag. There are some lovely full scenes strung together with lots of telling, not showing.
As far as the characters go - well - heroine is no doormat and I quite liked her until she got the sulks at the end just in time for some conflict. The hero is more problematic. He isn't a beta, necessarily, but we're invited to think of him as a victim one too many times. And we see him being bullied by the client in real time which is a really odd thing to read in an HP.
All the sequel characters were wasted on me and kind of took me out of the story because I was trying to remember if I knew any of them. I imagine the Abby Green diehards were quite happy to be reacquainted with old friends.
September 29, 2025
לסקירה מפורטת בעברית, קישור לבלוג שלי -
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https://sivi-the-avid-reader.com/the-...
January 12, 2021
Slow burn. Boring. Unlikable heroine who acts like a petulant child.
January 10, 2021
Even the books written 5-6 years ago were better than nowadays' bland HPs.
August 1, 2015
This story was pricelessly hilarious. Green has shown yet again that love, although never easy, can be fun and definitely fly at you out of left field. She tells a one of a kind tale about two lovers coming together in a marriage of convenience gone wrong (or is it right?) The story is vividly real, allowing readers to imagine themselves right into this wildly romantic and laugh inducing tale. Green took me from Rome to Lake Como, London, & back without missing a beat. There are also some very emotional moments that brought tears to my eyes.
The main characters in this novel both have very different yet no less difficult pasts to contend with throughout. The chemistry between Darcy and Max is unmistakable. The way that their individual pasts affect them really interprets how they view this chemistry and its effect on their lives was heart wrenching. And if you didn’t love them from all of this, the way that these two first met will definitely tug at your heart.
Green has created another work of art that will capture you heart and soul. It is a fantastic marriage of convenience tale that proves that true love really does exist.
Please note that I received a complimentary copy of this work in exchange for an honest review.
The main characters in this novel both have very different yet no less difficult pasts to contend with throughout. The chemistry between Darcy and Max is unmistakable. The way that their individual pasts affect them really interprets how they view this chemistry and its effect on their lives was heart wrenching. And if you didn’t love them from all of this, the way that these two first met will definitely tug at your heart.
Green has created another work of art that will capture you heart and soul. It is a fantastic marriage of convenience tale that proves that true love really does exist.
Please note that I received a complimentary copy of this work in exchange for an honest review.
March 25, 2015
I liked this story, but I did not love it. The underlying and then very obvious chemistry was certainly present between the protagonists, however, the emotional flip flop that each character showed was a bit off putting. With that said, I am satisfied in how their story of love concluded, and I am glad that they were both able to overcome their past personal challenges together.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 9, 2019
Una lectura por demás de aburrida, con personajes para nada queribles. Se me hizo difícil continuarla y aun más llegar al final. La protagonista es una mercenaria, el héroe otro idiota; la verdad que no sé por qué gasté mi tiempo en esta novela.
May 11, 2015
Everyone has a price. That's the motto, billionaire financier, Max Fonseca has lived by since making a name for himself after a bout of living on the streets. He's consumed by his work and willing to do anything to succeed, even if that means taking a fake wife in order win over a potential client.
Darcy Lennox has had her fair share of bad luck. Coming from a broken family with no true place to call home, she applies for a job as a PA with her old school friend, Max, hoping the security of full time and stable employment will help her fulfill the dream of purchasing her own flat. Never in those dreams, though, did she imagine to get swept up in Max's bid for a client and become his fake bride.
First, let me say, this is my third Abby Green book and I absolutely love her style. She's quickly become one of my favorite authors and The Bride Fonseca Needs did not disappoint.
A bride of convenience is a common trope for the Harlequin Presents imprint and while the idea is farfetched and unrealistic to most of us normal everyday folks, I find that they give me a break from the harsh reality of everyday struggles and take me to places in the world I've never visited. No matter where the setting takes you, Ms. Green makes you feel as if you are there. Her descriptions are full of small details, but not so heavily loaded that it drags the story along and her characters are always flawed just enough so that we can connect with and like them. What I especially enjoyed about The Bride Fonseca Needs was the diverse heroine. Unlike most perfectly sculpted heroines of this line, Darcy was short and curvy. But where her figure may have lacked, her personality more than made up for it. This is one of those reads that you breeze through. I literally read it in a span of less than twenty-four hours.
Spicy with a lot of sexual tension and characters that you just love, this a quick and refreshing story that I couldn't put down.
Darcy Lennox has had her fair share of bad luck. Coming from a broken family with no true place to call home, she applies for a job as a PA with her old school friend, Max, hoping the security of full time and stable employment will help her fulfill the dream of purchasing her own flat. Never in those dreams, though, did she imagine to get swept up in Max's bid for a client and become his fake bride.
First, let me say, this is my third Abby Green book and I absolutely love her style. She's quickly become one of my favorite authors and The Bride Fonseca Needs did not disappoint.
A bride of convenience is a common trope for the Harlequin Presents imprint and while the idea is farfetched and unrealistic to most of us normal everyday folks, I find that they give me a break from the harsh reality of everyday struggles and take me to places in the world I've never visited. No matter where the setting takes you, Ms. Green makes you feel as if you are there. Her descriptions are full of small details, but not so heavily loaded that it drags the story along and her characters are always flawed just enough so that we can connect with and like them. What I especially enjoyed about The Bride Fonseca Needs was the diverse heroine. Unlike most perfectly sculpted heroines of this line, Darcy was short and curvy. But where her figure may have lacked, her personality more than made up for it. This is one of those reads that you breeze through. I literally read it in a span of less than twenty-four hours.
Spicy with a lot of sexual tension and characters that you just love, this a quick and refreshing story that I couldn't put down.
January 1, 2016
Maximiliano Fonseca came from a wealthy family but was literally living on the streets after his parents split. He drove himself to become successful and became a well known billionaire financier by living by the motto "Everyone has a price". He had a personal need to prove himself so he worked constantly, doing whatever it took to succeed.
Darcy Lennox needed a job so, against her better judgement, she applied for the opening of PA to Max. Darcy knew Max from school when she had a major crush on him. Her feelings for him never went away.
Darcy got the job and everything went well for a few months until Darcy accompanied Max to a client meeting where he told the client they were engaged! Pretty angry about being a fake wife to Max, Darcy went along with it because she wanted the money to buy her own flat.
I enjoyed the sexual chemistry and emotions that Abby Green illustrates in this book. I liked the characters and that they both came from broken homes which left them cautious about getting involved with anyone. Understandably, Max was a bit of a jerk at the beginning of the story but, thanks to Darcy, he became much more pleasant.
Please note that I won this book in a Goodreads Firstreads giveaway. The Bride Fonseca Needs is an easy to follow, well written novel that I recommend.
Darcy Lennox needed a job so, against her better judgement, she applied for the opening of PA to Max. Darcy knew Max from school when she had a major crush on him. Her feelings for him never went away.
Darcy got the job and everything went well for a few months until Darcy accompanied Max to a client meeting where he told the client they were engaged! Pretty angry about being a fake wife to Max, Darcy went along with it because she wanted the money to buy her own flat.
I enjoyed the sexual chemistry and emotions that Abby Green illustrates in this book. I liked the characters and that they both came from broken homes which left them cautious about getting involved with anyone. Understandably, Max was a bit of a jerk at the beginning of the story but, thanks to Darcy, he became much more pleasant.
Please note that I won this book in a Goodreads Firstreads giveaway. The Bride Fonseca Needs is an easy to follow, well written novel that I recommend.
May 12, 2015
I've enjoyed Abby Green's HP stories in the past and this one was no different. I didn't love it but I did enjoy it. I wish for more contrast with their feelings though. It seemed like both of them are adamant not to get involved and they ended up pushing each other apart too many times. I did appreciate Max's POV though.
ARC courtesy of Harlequin.
ARC courtesy of Harlequin.
July 1, 2021
2.5 ⭐
Better that the first one but ag wrote better
Better that the first one but ag wrote better
April 25, 2022
Notice: Before reading this series, you might want to start with the DePiero Siblings series, for the two are linked together.
The Bride Fonseca Needs, Book 2 of the Billionaire Brothers series, was about Maximiliano Fonseca Roselli (is that a mouthful or what?!), a self-made billionaire entrepreneur, and Darcy Lennox, his secretary.
Darcy, a former classmate of Max's in school, was in dire need of a job. When his business placed an ad for a Personal Assistant, she took the chance of applying...not really expecting either him to remember her or to offer her the position, both of which he did.
Three months later, Max was expecting to have dinner with a potential client who was, for all intents and purposes, holding out on him for whatever reason. Max believed the man was just stringing him along because the man didn't think he was suited for his business...mainly because Max was not married and the gentleman preferred to work with other men who were more "settled" than Max. When he talked to Darcy about the upcoming dinner, she suggested he take his current mistress in order to garner a better reputation with the man, but he informed her that the woman was no longer his mistress. But that got him to thinking about his suitability...and focusing more on Darcy and her potential than he had ever allowed himself to do before. He then informed her that she would be the one to attend the dinner with him.
Having stayed late at work the night before the dinner to go over all of the necessary paperwork for the deal Max hoped to land, they somehow ended up in a clinch. Darcy, ending the kiss abruptly, to him she would be handing in her notice the following morning. He refused to let her, going so far as to threaten her future job prospects if she did.
Having stayed late the night before the business dinner that would secure the "deal of a lifetime", Max couldn't keep from kissing Darcy. When she came to her senses and pushed him away, she told him she would hand in her notice the next morning. For some reason, he felt panicked and threatened her with the loss of future job prospects. (Not much different than his twin brother, eh, what with the threat of a little blackmail.)
As the discussion during dinner finally turned towards the much-hoped-for deal, the client told Max his only concern about making the agreement was the fact of Max's well-earned playboy reputation and how it would affect the man's family-oriented business' future. Desperate to gain this man's trust, Max made the last-ditch appeal...by saying that he and Darcy had been secretly engaged for weeks and that the man and his wife should be the first to publicly congratulate them...thereby flooring Darcy.
After the dinner, Darcy exploded on Max...and walked away, but to his panic. He couldn't let her leave..."Not when everything was at stake.". So he went after her. Max took her back to his apartment and floated his idea across her. Marry him for as long as it took to seal the deal with his client. "We only need to be married for as long as it takes the deal to be done, then we’ll divorce and you can get on with your life. No harm done. It’s just an extension of your job, and I’ll make sure that you get a job wherever you want in the world after this.’" No harm done? Was he for real? Divorce, no matter how mutual, is never a "no harm, no foul" deal. It's a lifetime label that hurts...especially for two people both from broken homes who have felt the sting of divorce before, only from the child's perspective, not that there were children involved, but they should each be able to see how divorce does hurt.
When Darcy asked Max why he wanted the deal so badly that he would enter into a temporary marriage, his response was, "Because if Montgomery hands me his fund I’ll have proved that even when you have your birthright stripped away it’s still possible to regain your dignity and get respect.’" Darcy told him she needed time to think it over. Max backed off because he knew not to push her too hard, but his parting words were, "Just think of your price, Darcy." But...was he right? Did she HAVE a price? The answer was yes, she did. She wanted a home of her own..."a base" that she never had to worry about losing...or leaving. Her "price"...Security. Stability. So, the next morning, she named her price...and they flew to Paris for a ring. On the way, she told him it would definitely be an "in-name-only" marriage and that he could, discreetly...look elsewhere for any "extracurricular activity". He wasn't happy about that. When she told him only the slightest affection to be shown in public only, his silent response to himself was "Max said nothing, but vowed right then to make sure they were in public as much as possible." The cheek! LOL
When Darcy asked Max if they really needed to go so far as to actually get married, his response was, "It’s just a piece of paper, Darcy. Neither of us really believes in marriage, do we?" There were times during the charity event that they attended that Darcy felt Max was going over the top with the PDA and called him on it. He didn't like that she didn't want to engage in it, even though he normally wasn't into it himself. But he hated it more that she kept pulling away from him...because he was NOT used to a woman who wasn't "in to him". Plus..."...every time he touched Darcy he felt her resistance even as she melted against him. It was a potent mix of push and pull, and right now he wanted to touch her.".
Once they were married, Max finally said a "thank you" for the enormous favor she had done him by marrying him. She told him she still wouldn't sleep with him, but he said he wouldn't stop trying to change her mind about that.
Side Note: I have to admit that, though the book was only 10 chapters long, it had way too much fluff, causing it to be an easily set aside book. Normally, I like to read a book that I just can't seem to put down until I've finished it. This was nothing at all like that. I was too easily bored with it and looking for something else to do...even tempted to pick up another book instead. Now that's saying something about this book that's not at all flattering to it...or the author.
This was an unusual book. There was the usual angst and drama, but it wasn't from the usual sources like villains, rivals, and such. Instead, they were caused by the sexual tension between Max and Darcy, along with their emotional tug-of-war with their past that surrounded each of the parent's divorces. I do have to hand it to Max, though. When he decided to woo Darcy, even if it was just to get her into bed and not out of love, he certainly didn't hold back.
And then...he had to ruin it by reiterating that Darcy was just a means to an end...and he was ready to rip her to shreds emotionally without caring that he would be doing so. He got what he wanted...Darcy in his bed...and then he dropped her like a hot coal burning his hand, and it was a brutal, crushing fall for her, for she had already fallen in love with him.
This was a hard book to review. Not because it had a difficult subject or issues. But because it was so different from most romance novels. There weren't any antagonists, no rivals, no real enemies. It was just Darcy and Max struggling to be a couple. It was more real than fantasy, to be honest. It was like looking into a couple's relationship and watching them learn how to BE a couple...one that had to deal with a ton of excess childhood baggage.
Thankfully, both Max and Darcy's characters were written as mature adults. Neither played childish games, neither tried to make the other jealous...and while they did hide their feelings from each other, they didn't tell each other a bunch of lies.
The book had the usual twists and turns, but they weren't annoying as one would normally expect. The emotions included anger, fear, wariness, distrust, pain, humor, tension, joy, and, yes, even love. There were surprises throughout the book that made the reader fall in love with whichever character touched them the most at the moment...as well as making the reader want to reach out and slap the back of the character's head at other times for being dumb or pulling a stupid maneuver. It was like watching a really good rom-com. So...yes, I did give this book a five-star rating after all. At first, I was just ready to get the story over with...but then it hit me that it wasn't like the other books before it...those in both series that were linked together. I think it was the best of them all in the end...if you can get past the push/pull of the characters because they did tend to go hot and cold quite often. I put that down to them both having come from a broken home and not really understanding what their emotions were doing to them...but that's MY interpretation. I'll let the next reader make that decision for themselves. Enjoy...or not! ;)
The Bride Fonseca Needs, Book 2 of the Billionaire Brothers series, was about Maximiliano Fonseca Roselli (is that a mouthful or what?!), a self-made billionaire entrepreneur, and Darcy Lennox, his secretary.
Darcy, a former classmate of Max's in school, was in dire need of a job. When his business placed an ad for a Personal Assistant, she took the chance of applying...not really expecting either him to remember her or to offer her the position, both of which he did.
Three months later, Max was expecting to have dinner with a potential client who was, for all intents and purposes, holding out on him for whatever reason. Max believed the man was just stringing him along because the man didn't think he was suited for his business...mainly because Max was not married and the gentleman preferred to work with other men who were more "settled" than Max. When he talked to Darcy about the upcoming dinner, she suggested he take his current mistress in order to garner a better reputation with the man, but he informed her that the woman was no longer his mistress. But that got him to thinking about his suitability...and focusing more on Darcy and her potential than he had ever allowed himself to do before. He then informed her that she would be the one to attend the dinner with him.
Having stayed late at work the night before the dinner to go over all of the necessary paperwork for the deal Max hoped to land, they somehow ended up in a clinch. Darcy, ending the kiss abruptly, to him she would be handing in her notice the following morning. He refused to let her, going so far as to threaten her future job prospects if she did.
Having stayed late the night before the business dinner that would secure the "deal of a lifetime", Max couldn't keep from kissing Darcy. When she came to her senses and pushed him away, she told him she would hand in her notice the next morning. For some reason, he felt panicked and threatened her with the loss of future job prospects. (Not much different than his twin brother, eh, what with the threat of a little blackmail.)
As the discussion during dinner finally turned towards the much-hoped-for deal, the client told Max his only concern about making the agreement was the fact of Max's well-earned playboy reputation and how it would affect the man's family-oriented business' future. Desperate to gain this man's trust, Max made the last-ditch appeal...by saying that he and Darcy had been secretly engaged for weeks and that the man and his wife should be the first to publicly congratulate them...thereby flooring Darcy.
After the dinner, Darcy exploded on Max...and walked away, but to his panic. He couldn't let her leave..."Not when everything was at stake.". So he went after her. Max took her back to his apartment and floated his idea across her. Marry him for as long as it took to seal the deal with his client. "We only need to be married for as long as it takes the deal to be done, then we’ll divorce and you can get on with your life. No harm done. It’s just an extension of your job, and I’ll make sure that you get a job wherever you want in the world after this.’" No harm done? Was he for real? Divorce, no matter how mutual, is never a "no harm, no foul" deal. It's a lifetime label that hurts...especially for two people both from broken homes who have felt the sting of divorce before, only from the child's perspective, not that there were children involved, but they should each be able to see how divorce does hurt.
When Darcy asked Max why he wanted the deal so badly that he would enter into a temporary marriage, his response was, "Because if Montgomery hands me his fund I’ll have proved that even when you have your birthright stripped away it’s still possible to regain your dignity and get respect.’" Darcy told him she needed time to think it over. Max backed off because he knew not to push her too hard, but his parting words were, "Just think of your price, Darcy." But...was he right? Did she HAVE a price? The answer was yes, she did. She wanted a home of her own..."a base" that she never had to worry about losing...or leaving. Her "price"...Security. Stability. So, the next morning, she named her price...and they flew to Paris for a ring. On the way, she told him it would definitely be an "in-name-only" marriage and that he could, discreetly...look elsewhere for any "extracurricular activity". He wasn't happy about that. When she told him only the slightest affection to be shown in public only, his silent response to himself was "Max said nothing, but vowed right then to make sure they were in public as much as possible." The cheek! LOL
When Darcy asked Max if they really needed to go so far as to actually get married, his response was, "It’s just a piece of paper, Darcy. Neither of us really believes in marriage, do we?" There were times during the charity event that they attended that Darcy felt Max was going over the top with the PDA and called him on it. He didn't like that she didn't want to engage in it, even though he normally wasn't into it himself. But he hated it more that she kept pulling away from him...because he was NOT used to a woman who wasn't "in to him". Plus..."...every time he touched Darcy he felt her resistance even as she melted against him. It was a potent mix of push and pull, and right now he wanted to touch her.".
Once they were married, Max finally said a "thank you" for the enormous favor she had done him by marrying him. She told him she still wouldn't sleep with him, but he said he wouldn't stop trying to change her mind about that.
Side Note: I have to admit that, though the book was only 10 chapters long, it had way too much fluff, causing it to be an easily set aside book. Normally, I like to read a book that I just can't seem to put down until I've finished it. This was nothing at all like that. I was too easily bored with it and looking for something else to do...even tempted to pick up another book instead. Now that's saying something about this book that's not at all flattering to it...or the author.
This was an unusual book. There was the usual angst and drama, but it wasn't from the usual sources like villains, rivals, and such. Instead, they were caused by the sexual tension between Max and Darcy, along with their emotional tug-of-war with their past that surrounded each of the parent's divorces. I do have to hand it to Max, though. When he decided to woo Darcy, even if it was just to get her into bed and not out of love, he certainly didn't hold back.
And then...he had to ruin it by reiterating that Darcy was just a means to an end...and he was ready to rip her to shreds emotionally without caring that he would be doing so. He got what he wanted...Darcy in his bed...and then he dropped her like a hot coal burning his hand, and it was a brutal, crushing fall for her, for she had already fallen in love with him.
This was a hard book to review. Not because it had a difficult subject or issues. But because it was so different from most romance novels. There weren't any antagonists, no rivals, no real enemies. It was just Darcy and Max struggling to be a couple. It was more real than fantasy, to be honest. It was like looking into a couple's relationship and watching them learn how to BE a couple...one that had to deal with a ton of excess childhood baggage.
Thankfully, both Max and Darcy's characters were written as mature adults. Neither played childish games, neither tried to make the other jealous...and while they did hide their feelings from each other, they didn't tell each other a bunch of lies.
The book had the usual twists and turns, but they weren't annoying as one would normally expect. The emotions included anger, fear, wariness, distrust, pain, humor, tension, joy, and, yes, even love. There were surprises throughout the book that made the reader fall in love with whichever character touched them the most at the moment...as well as making the reader want to reach out and slap the back of the character's head at other times for being dumb or pulling a stupid maneuver. It was like watching a really good rom-com. So...yes, I did give this book a five-star rating after all. At first, I was just ready to get the story over with...but then it hit me that it wasn't like the other books before it...those in both series that were linked together. I think it was the best of them all in the end...if you can get past the push/pull of the characters because they did tend to go hot and cold quite often. I put that down to them both having come from a broken home and not really understanding what their emotions were doing to them...but that's MY interpretation. I'll let the next reader make that decision for themselves. Enjoy...or not! ;)
May 25, 2015
*ARC courtesy of Netgalley and Harlequin*
First of all, I want to say something to Harlequin Books. And I know there's a lot of people who has the same thinking I have. We, old school HP readers, are TIRED AND EXAUSTED of this stories about this highly experimented heroines that wanted us to think that they're more saints than Mother Theresa (I'm not saying that this heroine, Darcy, is like that). They cheat, bedded a lot of men, and they try to look soooo sweet and with a big heart. And the heroes that are more weak than a feather, lazy, ridiculous and boring ones. We. Don't. Like. Them. Period. The new policy that Harlequin brings us with this stories is lack of the romance of years ago. What about the vengeance? What about the blackmailing? What we now see is this "psychology" books that they're not credible at all. We don't see ROMANCE anymore. Except a few authors (Lynne Graham --my number 1 fetish author--, Maisey Yates and Jennie Lucas, for example), the rest of them sold their souls to the devil only to sell books. I'm not saying that you don't have to publish them at all, what I'm saying is that, if you're publishing those books, publish them in another collection and LEAVE HP INTACT, THE WAY IT WAS. If I want a psychological book, I go to the library and bought it, or I go to the psychologist. WE. WANT. ROMANCE. Not that bull that you're bringing us lately. Thank you for your attention.
That said, now I'll make the review of this story. A serious and honest one.
The book is slow, specially in the first half. The events went fluid and the transition between scenes wasn't forced. The chemistry between hero and heroine is perfect, based in their adolescent years when they study together in a broad school and got strong by a fake marriage, though it starts as the story, very slow. Max mentioned that he's friend of a few of the heroes Abby wrote before and that was a HUGE mistake. Because she made me think of those books and (specially The Mediterranean billionaire's blackmail bargain) I compare them, and saw the magic on those books that lacks in this one.
Max is a tortured man because of his past. He thinks if he shows his emotions his life will be, as he said, a big chaos. The issues between him and Luca (Fonseca's fury) are based in what he lived with his mother, a mother that leaves him homeless at age of 17 when she follows the lover of the moment. His life is marked by that and his parents' divorce.
Darcy is marked by her parents' divorce, too. She's trying to make her own path and have a place to settle. She's not a virgin, but at least she didn't comes with this drama shows and is coherent (no flushed cheeks as she were an innocent nun, thank God!!) The way she decided to leave him, after the cruel way he dismissed her in front of a full crowd in a huge party, when he finally gets what he wants, had this dignity that was perfect. The ending was fine, but I wanted that the author talked more about the twins' relationship and how the reconcile. A forgiving scene maybe between Max and Luca?? Just thinking out loud, you know.
In conclusion, a nice story but without the magic of Abby's first books. Slow and a bit flat. Although I'm still reading her (and will defend Serena with everything I have), I miss the Abby Green of her first books. I hope she comes back soon... I'll give this book 3 1/2 stars. It's a good book, but not impressionable.
First of all, I want to say something to Harlequin Books. And I know there's a lot of people who has the same thinking I have. We, old school HP readers, are TIRED AND EXAUSTED of this stories about this highly experimented heroines that wanted us to think that they're more saints than Mother Theresa (I'm not saying that this heroine, Darcy, is like that). They cheat, bedded a lot of men, and they try to look soooo sweet and with a big heart. And the heroes that are more weak than a feather, lazy, ridiculous and boring ones. We. Don't. Like. Them. Period. The new policy that Harlequin brings us with this stories is lack of the romance of years ago. What about the vengeance? What about the blackmailing? What we now see is this "psychology" books that they're not credible at all. We don't see ROMANCE anymore. Except a few authors (Lynne Graham --my number 1 fetish author--, Maisey Yates and Jennie Lucas, for example), the rest of them sold their souls to the devil only to sell books. I'm not saying that you don't have to publish them at all, what I'm saying is that, if you're publishing those books, publish them in another collection and LEAVE HP INTACT, THE WAY IT WAS. If I want a psychological book, I go to the library and bought it, or I go to the psychologist. WE. WANT. ROMANCE. Not that bull that you're bringing us lately. Thank you for your attention.
That said, now I'll make the review of this story. A serious and honest one.
The book is slow, specially in the first half. The events went fluid and the transition between scenes wasn't forced. The chemistry between hero and heroine is perfect, based in their adolescent years when they study together in a broad school and got strong by a fake marriage, though it starts as the story, very slow. Max mentioned that he's friend of a few of the heroes Abby wrote before and that was a HUGE mistake. Because she made me think of those books and (specially The Mediterranean billionaire's blackmail bargain) I compare them, and saw the magic on those books that lacks in this one.
Max is a tortured man because of his past. He thinks if he shows his emotions his life will be, as he said, a big chaos. The issues between him and Luca (Fonseca's fury) are based in what he lived with his mother, a mother that leaves him homeless at age of 17 when she follows the lover of the moment. His life is marked by that and his parents' divorce.
Darcy is marked by her parents' divorce, too. She's trying to make her own path and have a place to settle. She's not a virgin, but at least she didn't comes with this drama shows and is coherent (no flushed cheeks as she were an innocent nun, thank God!!) The way she decided to leave him, after the cruel way he dismissed her in front of a full crowd in a huge party, when he finally gets what he wants, had this dignity that was perfect. The ending was fine, but I wanted that the author talked more about the twins' relationship and how the reconcile. A forgiving scene maybe between Max and Luca?? Just thinking out loud, you know.
In conclusion, a nice story but without the magic of Abby's first books. Slow and a bit flat. Although I'm still reading her (and will defend Serena with everything I have), I miss the Abby Green of her first books. I hope she comes back soon... I'll give this book 3 1/2 stars. It's a good book, but not impressionable.
May 13, 2015
Max Fonseca, a billionaire financier, has lived by since making a name for himself and lives after the motto: everyone has a price. He's consumed by his work and willing to do anything to succeed.
Darcy Lennox has had her fair share of bad luck. Coming from a broken family she longs for a true place to call home. She applies for a job as a PA with her old school colleague, Max, hoping the security of full time and stable employment will help her fulfill her dream.
in order to secure a client, Max introduce her as his fake bride and soon both of them learn that things are not as they assumed ...
"The Bride Fonseca Needs" is my first book by Abby Green and I really did enjoy it. and I will definitely read books by this author again! Nevertheless this book is quite hard for me to review as there were some things in it with which I had some troubles. But let me give you the good points first:
the chemistry, the sexual tension and the emotions of this book are everything one could want in a romance. Both characters are quite interesting as they had not a real great upbringing (although due to different reasons) and both have the "scars" to bear. the plot is not very original or special but it is well done. and I loved it that we see both their POVs
what I disliked a bit was Darcys "one step forward, two steps back" mentality in the first half. it was a bit disappointing and exhausting to follow that.
but what was really frustrating (especially for me) was the Epilogue ... I never thought I would ever say that but this Epilogue was not what I hoped for. it was more like a re-counting and not like the rest of the story, which took out a bit of my enjoyment with this story.
all in all, it was a good read and I recommend it to everyone who is in need of a hot, romantic story for rainy days
Disclaimer: I got an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
Darcy Lennox has had her fair share of bad luck. Coming from a broken family she longs for a true place to call home. She applies for a job as a PA with her old school colleague, Max, hoping the security of full time and stable employment will help her fulfill her dream.
in order to secure a client, Max introduce her as his fake bride and soon both of them learn that things are not as they assumed ...
"The Bride Fonseca Needs" is my first book by Abby Green and I really did enjoy it. and I will definitely read books by this author again! Nevertheless this book is quite hard for me to review as there were some things in it with which I had some troubles. But let me give you the good points first:
the chemistry, the sexual tension and the emotions of this book are everything one could want in a romance. Both characters are quite interesting as they had not a real great upbringing (although due to different reasons) and both have the "scars" to bear. the plot is not very original or special but it is well done. and I loved it that we see both their POVs
what I disliked a bit was Darcys "one step forward, two steps back" mentality in the first half. it was a bit disappointing and exhausting to follow that.
but what was really frustrating (especially for me) was the Epilogue ... I never thought I would ever say that but this Epilogue was not what I hoped for. it was more like a re-counting and not like the rest of the story, which took out a bit of my enjoyment with this story.
all in all, it was a good read and I recommend it to everyone who is in need of a hot, romantic story for rainy days
Disclaimer: I got an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
May 26, 2015
Abby Green creates a beautifully crafted love story in The Bride Fonseca Needs. Max and Darcy have been hurt in the past by the people that were supposed to protect and love them. Despite trust issues, bitterness, pain and betrayal Max has managed to become a force to be reckoned with in the business arena. Darcy has followed her own path to success that ultimately leads her to Max's door. Striving to be better than what they left behind each has to learn how to let go of the past and look ahead to the future. Failure is not an option. The bride Fonseca Needs is an exceptional story about moving forward and not looking back. I received this book for an honest review.
June 8, 2021
Everyone has a price…I've just told you mine. Name yours."
Secretary Darcy Lennox knows how demanding her billionaire boss, Maximiliano Fonseca Roselli, can be. His fierce ambition is legendary. But marrying him to secure the deal of the century is beyond the call of duty!
Except Max is not a man to say no to. He's undaunted by Darcy's reluctance to enter a fake marriage. In his world, everyone has a price, and he will entice Darcy to reveal hers. But after only one searing�and very public�kiss he realizes the stakes are far higher than either of them imagined
Secretary Darcy Lennox knows how demanding her billionaire boss, Maximiliano Fonseca Roselli, can be. His fierce ambition is legendary. But marrying him to secure the deal of the century is beyond the call of duty!
Except Max is not a man to say no to. He's undaunted by Darcy's reluctance to enter a fake marriage. In his world, everyone has a price, and he will entice Darcy to reveal hers. But after only one searing�and very public�kiss he realizes the stakes are far higher than either of them imagined
March 14, 2015
*ARC courtesy of Netgalley and Harlequin*
October 24, 2017
For a majority of this book, I just could not connect with it not with the characters nor with the story. I mean it wasn't bad and it was a typical story of a convenient marriage to close a big deal paired with a boss/secretary relationship with an underlying attraction beneath the surface, but there was nothing exciting about it.
In fact at times the story was dull for me until the last third of the book than it got really good, but up and to that point not so much. There wasn't a lot angst nor a lot of rawness with that gut wrenching emotion until again near the end and by that point I felt like things were being thrown at me and I wasn't prepared at all for it. I think if those things were explored early on in the story than I think the story would have been so much better. Those issues were pretty huge but were added like an afterthought or not all. A lot of it was their issues with their parents and shaped them for who they were and they were just glossed over. I didn't like that.
Also I am all for build up and anticipation with a couple in a romance and them fighting their attraction for one another but Darcy and Max took the cake. It took them so long until they succumbed to their passions. It was way too long and drawn out, and I just didn't like how it developed. As stated in the book, it felt very much a game between two hard headed people than two passionate individuals that were denying this intense connection they had with one another. And at times it felt very cruel especially on Darcy's part. I understand that she was scared and didn't want to be vulnerable and exposed to Max, fearing he would hurt but the way it came off when she pulled was very off putting and not attractive at all. It really turned me off of her and the story. This wasn't a fun cat and mouse game, which I usually find entertaining but here not so much. It annoyed me really.
The highlight for me was the honeymoon scenes then the story dramatically shifted. It became romantic and tender. It showed they had more going for them aside from unrequited lust. This was where the caring really emerged. I loved the hot air ballon scene and Max teaching Darcy how to swim after a traumatic childhood event. It just showed that gat he cared about her and her needs in that moment. Yes, he was trying to woo her, but it was no less romantic. I could see their potential as a couple during their honeymoon and that the could in fact have a loving relationship.
I wasn't quite there with the romantic declarations because I didn't believe it. They spent so much time playing games with one another that it overtook the book. It was just about their lust and that it hadn't been slake yet. There needed to be more in terms of emotional and romantic development that just wasn't there for me. There needed to be more scenes like honeymoon scenes where that should have been the focus than the game because then it would have been more believable that they were in love by book's end instead of feeling flat and unrealistically. I just needed more.
Overall aside from the last third of this book, there wasn't a lot to connect with or get enmeshed in. I needed more all on every front in more of the book not just the last third. It took them too long to connect, which made it very drawn out, instead of creating great anticipation like it was meant to. It just felt like cruel game that just didn't sit right with me. Plus I wasn't feel love nor the angst. There could have been so more of their raw vulnerabilities were more on display instead of the lust game. I needed more than that. I needed substance for me to real connect and get it. Max and Darcy deserved more in this story than they got especially considering Luca's story, which was so much better and made me expect great things with this book that I just didn't get. It was not my favorite Abby Green book, but this wasn't the worst book I have ever read either. I just needed more.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 13, 2023
Darcy Lennox has faced her fair share of misfortune, growing up in a broken family without a true place to call home. To pursue her dream of owning her own flat, she applies for a job as a personal assistant to her old school friend, Max, seeking the stability of full-time employment. Little did she expect, however, to find herself caught up in Max's scheme to win over a client by pretending to be his bride.
Maximiliano Fonseca, hailing from a wealthy family, found himself living on the streets following his parents' separation. Determined to prove himself, he worked tirelessly and became a renowned billionaire financier, living by the mantra "Everyone has a price." Driven by personal motivations, he dedicated himself to constant work, doing whatever it took to succeed.
This book delivers everything one could desire in a romance, from the sizzling chemistry and tantalizing sexual tension to the depth of emotions between the characters. Both Darcy and Max have intriguing backgrounds, marked by challenging upbringings and emotional scars, albeit for different reasons.
Maximiliano Fonseca, hailing from a wealthy family, found himself living on the streets following his parents' separation. Determined to prove himself, he worked tirelessly and became a renowned billionaire financier, living by the mantra "Everyone has a price." Driven by personal motivations, he dedicated himself to constant work, doing whatever it took to succeed.
This book delivers everything one could desire in a romance, from the sizzling chemistry and tantalizing sexual tension to the depth of emotions between the characters. Both Darcy and Max have intriguing backgrounds, marked by challenging upbringings and emotional scars, albeit for different reasons.
November 1, 2017
Series overall: really enjoying. The ugly backgrounds are not a deterrent, as there has to be something to generate the Heartache, Angst & Drama that I love so well. It pleases my Schadenfreude greatly to see the rich (ala what you see on "Millionaire Matchmaker") having way more f-ed-up lives than most of us regular folks, and then having to heroically overcome their personal tragedies--unlike what happens in real-life, where they devolve into drug-addiction.)
My personal reading order (nearly everybody is connected via siblings or half-brothers)
# 01.0--The Legend of De Marco (Rocco DePiero-de Marco/Gracie O'Brien)
# 02.0--Forgiven but Not Forgotten? (BlueBlood Siena DePiero/Richguy Andreas Xenakis )
# 03.0--Fonseca’s Fury (Luca Fonseca /Serena DePiero) (Billionaire Brothers #1)
# 04.0--The Bride Fonseca Needs (Darcy Lennox/Maximiliano Fonseca Roselli) (Billionaire Brothers #2)
My personal reading order (nearly everybody is connected via siblings or half-brothers)
# 01.0--The Legend of De Marco (Rocco DePiero-de Marco/Gracie O'Brien)
# 02.0--Forgiven but Not Forgotten? (BlueBlood Siena DePiero/Richguy Andreas Xenakis )
# 03.0--Fonseca’s Fury (Luca Fonseca /Serena DePiero) (Billionaire Brothers #1)
# 04.0--The Bride Fonseca Needs (Darcy Lennox/Maximiliano Fonseca Roselli) (Billionaire Brothers #2)
October 30, 2018
I liked the heroine of this one; she actually gave as good as she got, as opposed to the author just telling us she did while showing us a doormat. I think it helps that Darcy comes from a similar background - privileged, well-off parents; her reason for working is that she wants to be independent and doesn't want to financially rely on her parents when she knows very well that she can't emotionally rely on them - and the whole "fake marriage" thing seems much less overwrought as a result; Darcy is not doing this to put food on the table or save her aged aunt from a lifetime of prostitution or whatever. All of the characters (not that there are many) are drawn with shades of gray.
July 7, 2021
"4.5/5"
Παρά πολύ ωραία η δεύτερη ιστορία της διλογίας "Δεσμοί αίματος".... Η ιστορία του δεύτερου αδερφού, του Μαξ (Μασιμιλιάνο) Φονσέκα Ροσέλι, που μεγάλωσε στους δρόμους της Ιταλίας και της πολύ ιδιαίτερης και γοητευτικής Ντάρσι Λένοξ.... Η γνώση πως η ζωή είναι τόσο απρόβλεπτη, όσο το ρίξιμο μιας ζαριάς που καθορίζει το μέλλον σου! Όλα μπορούν να αλλάξουν.... και μαζί η δύναμη να καθορίζεις τα πάντα και να είσαι ο μεγάλος νικητής του σεβασμού και της εκτίμησης των άλλων.. Με συγκίνησε πολύ και μου άρεσε ιδιαίτερα!!!!
Παρά πολύ ωραία η δεύτερη ιστορία της διλογίας "Δεσμοί αίματος".... Η ιστορία του δεύτερου αδερφού, του Μαξ (Μασιμιλιάνο) Φονσέκα Ροσέλι, που μεγάλωσε στους δρόμους της Ιταλίας και της πολύ ιδιαίτερης και γοητευτικής Ντάρσι Λένοξ.... Η γνώση πως η ζωή είναι τόσο απρόβλεπτη, όσο το ρίξιμο μιας ζαριάς που καθορίζει το μέλλον σου! Όλα μπορούν να αλλάξουν.... και μαζί η δύναμη να καθορίζεις τα πάντα και να είσαι ο μεγάλος νικητής του σεβασμού και της εκτίμησης των άλλων.. Με συγκίνησε πολύ και μου άρεσε ιδιαίτερα!!!!
January 26, 2023
A decent read
This is the 2nd book in the series and it was okay. The h was a good person, she sometimes came off as whiny and insecure. They knew each other from school and she had been attracted to him back then. She comes to work for the H and ends up marrying him to seal a business deal. The H was cocky, arrogant and handsome, his childhood was very toxic. Both parties had childhood trauma that sometimes dragged on and on. Good ending.
This is the 2nd book in the series and it was okay. The h was a good person, she sometimes came off as whiny and insecure. They knew each other from school and she had been attracted to him back then. She comes to work for the H and ends up marrying him to seal a business deal. The H was cocky, arrogant and handsome, his childhood was very toxic. Both parties had childhood trauma that sometimes dragged on and on. Good ending.
October 12, 2018
Brilliant! Nice end to the two series. I've thoroughly enjoyed reading about these families (DePieros and Fonsecas).
Nice ending, the reactions and how the characters were after a couple of months felt realistic.
Now...to go read about the friends mentioned ("Sadiq" in The Sultan's Choice and "Rafaele" in When Falcone's World Stops Turning).
Nice ending, the reactions and how the characters were after a couple of months felt realistic.
Now...to go read about the friends mentioned ("Sadiq" in The Sultan's Choice and "Rafaele" in When Falcone's World Stops Turning).
September 22, 2017
Well written but the baseline plot just seemed too mercenary for me. It was also too similar to one of Melanie Melburne's plots, I'd recently read. Basically a blue print. Please read other reviews for a balanced view.
May 17, 2019
I liked this a bit better than the first book in the series. I liked the woman quite a bit. I appreciate that the author used 'they' to refer to the unborn child. It gets so incredibly tedious when authors use 'he or she'.
March 2, 2019
Endingnya sesuatuuu.. Max plis ya jangan tukar anakmu.. 🤣
Ceritanya simple juga dan karakter para tokoh cukup konsisten lah dari awal hingga akhir..
Ceritanya simple juga dan karakter para tokoh cukup konsisten lah dari awal hingga akhir..
December 27, 2019
🤦🏼♀️🤦🏼♀️🤦🏼♀️🤦🏼♀️🤦🏼♀️
September 17, 2020
2,5 stars this one.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews