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Bound by the Billionaire's Vows
“I have a condition…”
Can she agree to her husband’s terms? When heiress Skye learns her marriage to Matteo was built on lies, she demands a divorce. A pawn in his revenge, Skye’s heart shattered when she discovered her husband’s game. The clock is ticking; she needs his signature. But Matteo is not willing to let Skye go so easily—the price of her freedom is one last night together!
Can she agree to her husband’s terms? When heiress Skye learns her marriage to Matteo was built on lies, she demands a divorce. A pawn in his revenge, Skye’s heart shattered when she discovered her husband’s game. The clock is ticking; she needs his signature. But Matteo is not willing to let Skye go so easily—the price of her freedom is one last night together!
208 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 1, 2018
53 people are currently reading
134 people want to read
About the author
Clare Connelly
517 books406 followersFor all things Clare Connelly, please see www.clareconnelly.co.uk, the official home of Clare Connelly on the web.
Clare Connelly grew up in a small country town in Australia. Surrounded by rainforests, and rickety old timber houses, magic was thick in the air, and stories and storytelling were a huge part of her childhood.
From early on in life, Clare realised her favourite books were romance stories, and read voraciously. Anything from Jane Austen to Georgette Heyer, to Mills & Boon and (more recently) 50 Shades, Clare is a romance devotee. She first turned her hand to penning a novel at fifteen (if memory serves, it was something about a glamorous fashion model who fell foul of a high-end designer. Sparks flew, clothes flew faster, and love was born.)
Clare has a small family and a bungalow near the sea. When she isn't chasing after energetic little toddlers, or wiping fingerprints off furniture, she's writing, thinking about writing, or wishing she were writing.
Clare Connelly grew up in a small country town in Australia. Surrounded by rainforests, and rickety old timber houses, magic was thick in the air, and stories and storytelling were a huge part of her childhood.
From early on in life, Clare realised her favourite books were romance stories, and read voraciously. Anything from Jane Austen to Georgette Heyer, to Mills & Boon and (more recently) 50 Shades, Clare is a romance devotee. She first turned her hand to penning a novel at fifteen (if memory serves, it was something about a glamorous fashion model who fell foul of a high-end designer. Sparks flew, clothes flew faster, and love was born.)
Clare has a small family and a bungalow near the sea. When she isn't chasing after energetic little toddlers, or wiping fingerprints off furniture, she's writing, thinking about writing, or wishing she were writing.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
July 5, 2018
3.5 stars.
A poignant, romantic tale of deception, love lost and found again...
This is a story about a H who cold bloodedly and ruthlessly seduces, then marries the heroine in order to get access to his family's old hotel in Rome: Il Grande Fortuna. Just for the record, I must mention that the H and the heroine are both billionaires and he's not a fortune hunter or gold digger. The hotel was the prized possession in the H's family portfolio of properties. It had been in his family for 4 generations when the heroine's father ruthlessly ruined the H's grandfather's empire, bought the hotel and then closed it down. Matteo, the H, was raised by his grandparents after his parents died when he was a child and he's filled with a burning obligation to acquire this abandoned hotel and restore it to its previous grandeur. Skye, the 22 yr old heroine, knows nothing about the family feud between the H's grandfather and her dad. It had all started when the H's mother broke off her engagement to Skye's father in order to marry the H's dad. The heroine's father was obsessed with the woman and filled with so much vengeance that he deliberately set out to ruin the H's father; he ended up ruining the H's grandfather since the latter was the one in charge of the Vin Santo corporate empire. Matteo had been trying for years to get Skye's father to sell the abandoned hotel back to him, without luck. After the heroine's father dies, she becomes a billionaire heiress and Matteo thinks that if he asks her to sell then she might also be told, by her dad's lawyers, to refuse all his offers. That's when Matteo schemed up his plan to marry her and use his sexy husbandly persuasive skills to make her sell.
When Skye discovered that Matteo had only married her in order to get her to sell the hotel, she leaves him. It was heart breaking to read the scene where she confronts him about his actions and he couldn't deny any of her accusations. Sky also finds out she's pregnant and since she wants to be divorced from Matteo, she offers to sell him the hotel if he signs the divorce papers. At first he refuses to sign the papers but when he sees that she's not budging, he eventually gives in. Soon afterwards, he looks out from his office window and sees that she's fainted and fallen into the nasty waters of the Venice canal. The revelation of her pregnancy changes things for the H because he tears up the divorce papers and takes her back with him to their old home. Skye goes with him because she's still a little ill but she obstinately refuses to be nice to him. This part of the story started to stagnate a little bit because they keep going over the same old argument and nothing much happens except for the couple of times they end up having spontaneous hot sex. The author didn't create any drama with other minor characters so the bulk of the storyline deals with the MC's living alone in their home, fighting, making up, fighting again and then having sex.
Things only changed after Skye has a miscarriage. This was a rather depressing and sad part of the story because both MC's were filled with anguish for the loss of the child that they hadn't even planned. The H goes through a lot of emotional pain and he deserved it ! After she recovers from the miscarriage, Skye decides to leave him for good because there's no longer a baby to bind them together anymore. This is when the H really started to change and to grovel. He finally realized how much he loved her and the best part was that he no longer cared about the hotel anymore. He only wanted his wife to stay with him. He grovelled, begged, apologized and declared his love and his desire for them to have other children in the future. But the heroine was skeptical because she'd been hurt very badly by this man's deception and she was unsure whether she should trust him. I felt very sorry for him when she left him this time because the man was suffering so badly and I'm such a bleeding heart for heroes experiencing the pain of unrequited love. Skye really put him through some harsh punishment:
OK, so he got more than 2 minutes punishment... Lol
He got a few weeks punishment and the poor man lost weight because he couldn't eat, he refused to accept her deal to buy back the hotel and he was filled with depression as he waited to see when new divorce papers would arrive. Eventually, they meet at the lawyer's office and reconcile:
‘Then tell me what you need, bella. Tell me what will make you happy and I will do it.’
‘Even if that means leaving? And never seeing me again?’
A muscle jerked in his cheek but he nodded. ‘Yes, Skye.’ She saw him swallow and brace himself, and she understood the emotions that were spreading through him. The pain and fear and miserable acceptance. But he continued bravely. ‘I will never not love you. I will never not need you. But I will leave you alone...if this is what you want.’
And, finally, she smiled. A smile that spread over her face and through her body. A smile that was definitely not matched by Matteo’s expression.
‘Why would I want you to leave me alone?’
He frowned, his confusion understandable. ‘Oh, Matteo.’ His name quivered against her mouth. ‘I wish everything between us had been different.’ She chewed on her lower lip thoughtfully.
‘I wish there was no family feud, no hotel. No anger and hatred. But, even with things the way they were, I still loved you.’
His lips were grim. ‘Because you are all that is kind and good. Only you could love a man like me...’
She held a hand up to silence him, pressing her fingertip to his lips.
‘I married you because I loved you. I left you because I loved you too much to live with you, when you didn’t feel the same way about me.’
‘Only I did, cara. I’ve been such a damned fool.’
‘Yes,’ Skye murmured, narrowing her eyes thoughtfully. ‘But, seeing as you’ve seen the light and are prepared to spend the rest of your life showing me each and every day just how much I mean to you, it would be rather foolish for me to make either of us suffer a moment longer. Right?’ She lifted a hand to his cheek.
Clare Connelly. Bound by the Billionaire's Vows (Kindle Locations 2384-2401). HarlequinUKLtd. Kindle Edition.
Maybe I rated this a little too high, because the middle of the story did stagnate for a bit but the H's suffering, punishment and the lovely epilogue served to elevate my overall impression of the novel. The MC's ended up, in the epilogue, having twin toddlers ( a boy and girl ) and the Il Grande Fortuna hotel is refurbished in a more magnificent manner and re-opened for business.
The hero, Matteo:
The heroine, Skye:
A poignant, romantic tale of deception, love lost and found again...
This is a story about a H who cold bloodedly and ruthlessly seduces, then marries the heroine in order to get access to his family's old hotel in Rome: Il Grande Fortuna. Just for the record, I must mention that the H and the heroine are both billionaires and he's not a fortune hunter or gold digger. The hotel was the prized possession in the H's family portfolio of properties. It had been in his family for 4 generations when the heroine's father ruthlessly ruined the H's grandfather's empire, bought the hotel and then closed it down. Matteo, the H, was raised by his grandparents after his parents died when he was a child and he's filled with a burning obligation to acquire this abandoned hotel and restore it to its previous grandeur. Skye, the 22 yr old heroine, knows nothing about the family feud between the H's grandfather and her dad. It had all started when the H's mother broke off her engagement to Skye's father in order to marry the H's dad. The heroine's father was obsessed with the woman and filled with so much vengeance that he deliberately set out to ruin the H's father; he ended up ruining the H's grandfather since the latter was the one in charge of the Vin Santo corporate empire. Matteo had been trying for years to get Skye's father to sell the abandoned hotel back to him, without luck. After the heroine's father dies, she becomes a billionaire heiress and Matteo thinks that if he asks her to sell then she might also be told, by her dad's lawyers, to refuse all his offers. That's when Matteo schemed up his plan to marry her and use his sexy husbandly persuasive skills to make her sell.
When Skye discovered that Matteo had only married her in order to get her to sell the hotel, she leaves him. It was heart breaking to read the scene where she confronts him about his actions and he couldn't deny any of her accusations. Sky also finds out she's pregnant and since she wants to be divorced from Matteo, she offers to sell him the hotel if he signs the divorce papers. At first he refuses to sign the papers but when he sees that she's not budging, he eventually gives in. Soon afterwards, he looks out from his office window and sees that she's fainted and fallen into the nasty waters of the Venice canal. The revelation of her pregnancy changes things for the H because he tears up the divorce papers and takes her back with him to their old home. Skye goes with him because she's still a little ill but she obstinately refuses to be nice to him. This part of the story started to stagnate a little bit because they keep going over the same old argument and nothing much happens except for the couple of times they end up having spontaneous hot sex. The author didn't create any drama with other minor characters so the bulk of the storyline deals with the MC's living alone in their home, fighting, making up, fighting again and then having sex.
Things only changed after Skye has a miscarriage. This was a rather depressing and sad part of the story because both MC's were filled with anguish for the loss of the child that they hadn't even planned. The H goes through a lot of emotional pain and he deserved it ! After she recovers from the miscarriage, Skye decides to leave him for good because there's no longer a baby to bind them together anymore. This is when the H really started to change and to grovel. He finally realized how much he loved her and the best part was that he no longer cared about the hotel anymore. He only wanted his wife to stay with him. He grovelled, begged, apologized and declared his love and his desire for them to have other children in the future. But the heroine was skeptical because she'd been hurt very badly by this man's deception and she was unsure whether she should trust him. I felt very sorry for him when she left him this time because the man was suffering so badly and I'm such a bleeding heart for heroes experiencing the pain of unrequited love. Skye really put him through some harsh punishment:
OK, so he got more than 2 minutes punishment... Lol
He got a few weeks punishment and the poor man lost weight because he couldn't eat, he refused to accept her deal to buy back the hotel and he was filled with depression as he waited to see when new divorce papers would arrive. Eventually, they meet at the lawyer's office and reconcile:
‘Then tell me what you need, bella. Tell me what will make you happy and I will do it.’
‘Even if that means leaving? And never seeing me again?’
A muscle jerked in his cheek but he nodded. ‘Yes, Skye.’ She saw him swallow and brace himself, and she understood the emotions that were spreading through him. The pain and fear and miserable acceptance. But he continued bravely. ‘I will never not love you. I will never not need you. But I will leave you alone...if this is what you want.’
And, finally, she smiled. A smile that spread over her face and through her body. A smile that was definitely not matched by Matteo’s expression.
‘Why would I want you to leave me alone?’
He frowned, his confusion understandable. ‘Oh, Matteo.’ His name quivered against her mouth. ‘I wish everything between us had been different.’ She chewed on her lower lip thoughtfully.
‘I wish there was no family feud, no hotel. No anger and hatred. But, even with things the way they were, I still loved you.’
His lips were grim. ‘Because you are all that is kind and good. Only you could love a man like me...’
She held a hand up to silence him, pressing her fingertip to his lips.
‘I married you because I loved you. I left you because I loved you too much to live with you, when you didn’t feel the same way about me.’
‘Only I did, cara. I’ve been such a damned fool.’
‘Yes,’ Skye murmured, narrowing her eyes thoughtfully. ‘But, seeing as you’ve seen the light and are prepared to spend the rest of your life showing me each and every day just how much I mean to you, it would be rather foolish for me to make either of us suffer a moment longer. Right?’ She lifted a hand to his cheek.
Clare Connelly. Bound by the Billionaire's Vows (Kindle Locations 2384-2401). HarlequinUKLtd. Kindle Edition.
Maybe I rated this a little too high, because the middle of the story did stagnate for a bit but the H's suffering, punishment and the lovely epilogue served to elevate my overall impression of the novel. The MC's ended up, in the epilogue, having twin toddlers ( a boy and girl ) and the Il Grande Fortuna hotel is refurbished in a more magnificent manner and re-opened for business.
The hero, Matteo:
The heroine, Skye:
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 12, 2018
Too much angst
I did give this four stars simply because of the epilogue. Otherwise it would be three. The heroine annoyed me for some reason. It kind of dragged on around the 80% mark and I just wanted it over. Yes tragic stuff happened but it seemed she just wanted to hurt him at the end. I know he hurt her but wow did he grovel near the end. His words were beautiful. I really would love a man who told me that. Check I'd probably love anyone that told me that. I definitely did not like the hero at the beginning but he grew on me. I really did like this book but I wouldn't read it again.
I did give this four stars simply because of the epilogue. Otherwise it would be three. The heroine annoyed me for some reason. It kind of dragged on around the 80% mark and I just wanted it over. Yes tragic stuff happened but it seemed she just wanted to hurt him at the end. I know he hurt her but wow did he grovel near the end. His words were beautiful. I really would love a man who told me that. Check I'd probably love anyone that told me that. I definitely did not like the hero at the beginning but he grew on me. I really did like this book but I wouldn't read it again.
November 25, 2018
Intense, angsty story that dives deep into the H/h's feelings after the heroine finds out the hero only married her to get possession of a hotel that had been in his family for generations. The H/h refer to this as revenge, but it's really not that dark of a motivation. Even the heroine can see that her now deceased father was wrong in acquiring the hotel and then letting it fall into ruins.
The heroine was a virgin when the hero wooed her and then married her. They had only been married five weeks, with the heroine blissfully in love, when she discovered the hero's true reasons for their marriage. She left him for five weeks and the story opens with the heroine delivering divorce papers to the hero at his place of business.
Heroine still loves the hero, but she can't forgive that he lead her on and made her think he loved her. Hero is glad the heroine is back because he wanted to stay married, is sad that she is sad, and realizes he should sign the divorce papers because he has treated her poorly. All that changes when the heroine faints and the hero finds out she is pregnant. From that point on he will fight to keep their marriage intact.
So all the drama of betrayal and shattered hearts takes place before the events of this story. *sigh*
The angst is still here - don't worry. This is an angst fest as the heroine comes to the painful conclusion that the hero will never love her the way she yearns and the hero grapples with what he really feels. Then
So this really isn't a revenge story as it is a long grovel with the heroine not trusting the hero and the hero frantically trying to get her back on his terms - and then later - on any terms at all. By the end of the story he is a broken man without her. "I'm ruined" he tells her.
This reminded me a lot of A Husband's Regret (although this hero was never that cruel) in that it's the hero running after the aggrieved, hurt heroine.
Ivy has the details in her excellent review.
The heroine was a virgin when the hero wooed her and then married her. They had only been married five weeks, with the heroine blissfully in love, when she discovered the hero's true reasons for their marriage. She left him for five weeks and the story opens with the heroine delivering divorce papers to the hero at his place of business.
Heroine still loves the hero, but she can't forgive that he lead her on and made her think he loved her. Hero is glad the heroine is back because he wanted to stay married, is sad that she is sad, and realizes he should sign the divorce papers because he has treated her poorly. All that changes when the heroine faints and the hero finds out she is pregnant. From that point on he will fight to keep their marriage intact.
So all the drama of betrayal and shattered hearts takes place before the events of this story. *sigh*
The angst is still here - don't worry. This is an angst fest as the heroine comes to the painful conclusion that the hero will never love her the way she yearns and the hero grapples with what he really feels. Then
So this really isn't a revenge story as it is a long grovel with the heroine not trusting the hero and the hero frantically trying to get her back on his terms - and then later - on any terms at all. By the end of the story he is a broken man without her. "I'm ruined" he tells her.
This reminded me a lot of A Husband's Regret (although this hero was never that cruel) in that it's the hero running after the aggrieved, hurt heroine.
Ivy has the details in her excellent review.
August 31, 2018
Short review here.
Well this was an emotional read, but very satisfying.
This one was filled with angst. Hero marries for ulterior motives (revenge, ability to gain access to hotel that was his grandfathers), heroine fall in love with hero and believes in happily ever after. She learns the truth and is devastated. Disappears for a while but returns to asks for a divorce. She's pregnant and hero learns about it and is determined they will stay marries. Tragedy strikes but love prevails in the end.
Really liked these two characters. Hero at first comes across cold but as the story unfolds he develops into a likable and true hero. Heroine was sweet, strong and determined. Appreciate that she stood up to him and had a back bone but yet came across and as a sweet and caring individual.
Nice story line, good pacing, lots of emotion, nicely developed characters and a very happy ending.
Well this was an emotional read, but very satisfying.
This one was filled with angst. Hero marries for ulterior motives (revenge, ability to gain access to hotel that was his grandfathers), heroine fall in love with hero and believes in happily ever after. She learns the truth and is devastated. Disappears for a while but returns to asks for a divorce. She's pregnant and hero learns about it and is determined they will stay marries. Tragedy strikes but love prevails in the end.
Really liked these two characters. Hero at first comes across cold but as the story unfolds he develops into a likable and true hero. Heroine was sweet, strong and determined. Appreciate that she stood up to him and had a back bone but yet came across and as a sweet and caring individual.
Nice story line, good pacing, lots of emotion, nicely developed characters and a very happy ending.
May 19, 2020
Enjoyable story. Nice way to spend the afternoon.
July 12, 2018
This heroine had zero maternal feelings and she wanted to lose her child. I hate cold and unfeeling heroines. Hero deserved better.
July 6, 2018
that was emotional! loved the h and my heart broke for her when she miscarried , that jerk don't deserve her , loved the epilogue.
September 4, 2018
MS Connelly writes a fabulous story with words that pull you in and heroes that will make you melt, and this one takes us to Venice where love is sure to bloom when estranged couple Matteo and Skye go through a journey of discovery and open up about lies and their feelings and past lives, make sure you are comfortable because I am sure that you will not want to put this one down once you pick it up.
Skye walks out on her marriage of a few weeks when she discovers that Matteo did not marry her for love that he did it for revenge against her father, Skye is devastated because she truly loves her husband but is a strong woman and has been alone most of her life so she will move forward as soon as he signs the divorce papers, but the secret she is keeping becomes not a secret so things are going to change.
Matteo had always been after the hotel and Skye was the way to get it, but he didn’t count on the fact that together they sizzled and their short marriage was sensual and he was not happy when she left, so when she arrives in Venice with divorce papers, and that spark is still there he sets a few conditions and is determined to stay in her life even if he does not love her.
This is a passionate story where two people discover emotions that neither knew they had and to see Matteo realize his love was just fabulous, I was a bit wary of Matteo in the beginning but wow did he grow on me he really has the best heart and Skye she is beautiful inside and out with what she has been through and seeing them come together was just joy and bliss. This is a story that I highly recommend emotional, moving and beautiful, thank you MS Connelly for another fantastic story, it is a real page turner.
Skye walks out on her marriage of a few weeks when she discovers that Matteo did not marry her for love that he did it for revenge against her father, Skye is devastated because she truly loves her husband but is a strong woman and has been alone most of her life so she will move forward as soon as he signs the divorce papers, but the secret she is keeping becomes not a secret so things are going to change.
Matteo had always been after the hotel and Skye was the way to get it, but he didn’t count on the fact that together they sizzled and their short marriage was sensual and he was not happy when she left, so when she arrives in Venice with divorce papers, and that spark is still there he sets a few conditions and is determined to stay in her life even if he does not love her.
This is a passionate story where two people discover emotions that neither knew they had and to see Matteo realize his love was just fabulous, I was a bit wary of Matteo in the beginning but wow did he grow on me he really has the best heart and Skye she is beautiful inside and out with what she has been through and seeing them come together was just joy and bliss. This is a story that I highly recommend emotional, moving and beautiful, thank you MS Connelly for another fantastic story, it is a real page turner.
May 27, 2022
Bound by the Billionaire's Vows was a problematic read. So problematic I lost interest while reading the first chapter. The issues: using the flashback scene to show an argument but not show how the hero and heroine met and fell in love. The heroine was a bitch & a shrew. I wish chapter one began showing this reader how the heroine & hero met; what her background was; then the dramatic separation. Unfortunately I didn't get that in chapter one so I was left underwhelmed, not liking the heroine, not moved by the bickering and deciding to abandon this romance.
January 13, 2019
3.5 stars
Typical HP with an arrogant hero who can make the heroine melt with one look. I did like how the heroine made him really grovel and fight to get her back.
Typical HP with an arrogant hero who can make the heroine melt with one look. I did like how the heroine made him really grovel and fight to get her back.
September 28, 2018
I loved this second chance story. This was romance at Venice, I fell in love with Clare's description of the place. Matteo was an Italian alpha with revenge and hate and he manipulated innocent Skye to marry him to 'steal' back his family's property stolen from Skye's father, who was indeed a bastard.Both loved each other except Skye was always honest from the beginning. Later Skye found out the true reason for her marriage she had a meltdown and she left. She matured and was able to camouflage her pain, she returned to him requesting a divorce. This was emotionally high, lots of justified angst, I felt her pains and his. I loved the characters! I loved his expression of love without saying the for word...It is the BEST description I've ever heard...love it love it this is a 10+ star book....Congrats Clare Connelly you've won me with this one!
May 15, 2020
4 Stars!
August 10, 2018
Four stars for Skye. She was the only really great thing about this book because Matteo was such a pile of shit until the last like 10 pages. This book takes the standard Clare Connelly angst and ramps it up even more. I really liked Skye. I thought she was strong, especially for how young she was and how sheltered her life was growing up. I totally understood her feelings of devastation over finding out that the one person who she thought loved her, turned out to be lying to her about everything and made a fool of her love. She was no pushover, and she loved HERSELF enough to walk away-- twice. I wish that Matteo had come to realize his feelings for Skye sooner, and hadn't referred to their whole marriage being about sex. That cheapened everything, and the author never quite fully overcame that for me. I saw another review say that Matteo deserves better. That's laughable. Lying to and deceiving Skye in the worst way-- he let her think he loved her so she would marry him, so he could have an object.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 20, 2018
Matteo, the H, pursued and married Skye, the h, for a hotel that was bought by her father, which has been in his family for generations until his grandfather went bankrupt. It turns out that her father was in love with his mother but she rejected him, opting to marry the H's father instead. So when the family business starts to struggle the vindictive man buys up their assets including this hotel, and horror of horrors, he shuts it down.
Poor Skye thought Matteo was in love with her although he never said so... Matteo never told Skye about the history between their families evenue though she deserved to know. Do you see the pattern here? COMMUNICATION, people. But if they did actually talk to each other, HP LAND would be a boring place 😴
So, in summary, we have a family feud, a MOC, a seperation, a secret baby and tragically a miscarriage. Very heartbreaking, and a rather good read.
Poor Skye thought Matteo was in love with her although he never said so... Matteo never told Skye about the history between their families evenue though she deserved to know. Do you see the pattern here? COMMUNICATION, people. But if they did actually talk to each other, HP LAND would be a boring place 😴
So, in summary, we have a family feud, a MOC, a seperation, a secret baby and tragically a miscarriage. Very heartbreaking, and a rather good read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 28, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
''And she'd been his prey''
Safety warnings:
- H 32 / h 22
- No cheating
- No OW/OM drama
- Blackmail
- Manipulation
- BBS
- Miscarriage
- Mention of loss of loved ones
- HEA
SPOILERS BELOW ⬇️
SPOILERS BELOW ⬇️
SPOILERS BELOW ⬇️
SPOILERS BELOW ⬇️
The book starts right off the bat with Skye going to see her estranged husband Matteo and demanding he sign over the divorce papers after being separated for over a month.
We find out what went wrong with them, and it reveals that Matteo only pursued her to get the hotel his family lost to her father after he made it his mission to destroy Matteo's family for decades all because of a love feud.
When Skye finds out the truth about their entire relationship and marriage she walks away and leaves him. She hides away and he is unable to find her but then she shows up demanding he sign the divorce papers and in return he will get the hotel free and without strings....you would expect her to want revenge for his lies but she is doing this because she is pregnant and does not wish to have the baby with him or be around him.
Well, her plan fails, and he finds out about her pregnancy after she faints, he demands she stay married to him and basically blackmails her and threatens her over it. Scaring her with custody battles etc.
During his POV you find out how he feels guilty about all the lies and wishes he never had to hurt her, but the hotel was a promise he made, and he needed to see it through.
Did he grovel enough? Not really. He did attempt to make her see reason and show his need for her. He admitted to being with her in ways he never was with anyone else but it's not enough and she is hesitating to let herself let him in again BUT she does have a case of BBS...so yeah.
Sadly though, a few weeks after that she has a miscarriage and is left believing there is nothing left for him to want in this marriage and again walks away.
HOWEVER, he admits his feelings for her and how much she means to him, which is everything and that the hotel etc. means NOTHING without her. He basically begs for her to stay and be with him and make another attempt at their marriage and a family, but she refuses until she spends weeks away and realizes he deserves the hotel and meets him again.
He once again shows his feelings and finally reveals his love for her.
This confession and reveal let her make the decision to try again as she loves him, and he has proven himself to her.
We know for certain he never cheated on her as that was never something in his mind and he admits she meant something to him from the moment they met. She even admits that if he had told her the truth about his intentions from the beginning, she would have given him the hotel.
And before we wonder why she never found out earlier about him, well her father died when she was a child and she only found out about the truth from her lawyer when Matteo handed her a contract and it unraveled the lies.
We see them a few years later and they have twins and are still in love.
''And she'd been his prey''
Safety warnings:
- H 32 / h 22
- No cheating
- No OW/OM drama
- Blackmail
- Manipulation
- BBS
- Miscarriage
- Mention of loss of loved ones
- HEA
SPOILERS BELOW ⬇️
SPOILERS BELOW ⬇️
SPOILERS BELOW ⬇️
SPOILERS BELOW ⬇️
The book starts right off the bat with Skye going to see her estranged husband Matteo and demanding he sign over the divorce papers after being separated for over a month.
We find out what went wrong with them, and it reveals that Matteo only pursued her to get the hotel his family lost to her father after he made it his mission to destroy Matteo's family for decades all because of a love feud.
When Skye finds out the truth about their entire relationship and marriage she walks away and leaves him. She hides away and he is unable to find her but then she shows up demanding he sign the divorce papers and in return he will get the hotel free and without strings....you would expect her to want revenge for his lies but she is doing this because she is pregnant and does not wish to have the baby with him or be around him.
Well, her plan fails, and he finds out about her pregnancy after she faints, he demands she stay married to him and basically blackmails her and threatens her over it. Scaring her with custody battles etc.
During his POV you find out how he feels guilty about all the lies and wishes he never had to hurt her, but the hotel was a promise he made, and he needed to see it through.
Did he grovel enough? Not really. He did attempt to make her see reason and show his need for her. He admitted to being with her in ways he never was with anyone else but it's not enough and she is hesitating to let herself let him in again BUT she does have a case of BBS...so yeah.
Sadly though, a few weeks after that she has a miscarriage and is left believing there is nothing left for him to want in this marriage and again walks away.
HOWEVER, he admits his feelings for her and how much she means to him, which is everything and that the hotel etc. means NOTHING without her. He basically begs for her to stay and be with him and make another attempt at their marriage and a family, but she refuses until she spends weeks away and realizes he deserves the hotel and meets him again.
He once again shows his feelings and finally reveals his love for her.
This confession and reveal let her make the decision to try again as she loves him, and he has proven himself to her.
We know for certain he never cheated on her as that was never something in his mind and he admits she meant something to him from the moment they met. She even admits that if he had told her the truth about his intentions from the beginning, she would have given him the hotel.
And before we wonder why she never found out earlier about him, well her father died when she was a child and she only found out about the truth from her lawyer when Matteo handed her a contract and it unraveled the lies.
We see them a few years later and they have twins and are still in love.
August 30, 2018
I give it a 4.5.
August 2, 2018
Bound by the Billionaire’s Vows by Clare Connelly is a passionate romance for a married couple on the verge of divorce who find themselves with a second chance to make things right.
Skye was devastated to learn that her husband has pursued her not for love, but for revenge. Leaving him for several weeks, she comes back to ask for a divorce, but is thwarted when her husband finds out she’s pregnant.
Matteo should have been willing to let Skye go. His goal in marrying her was to regain control of the hotel that is his family legacy. Though he didn’t intend to hurt Skye, he didn’t love her either. When she offers him the divorce in exchange for the hotel, it should make him happy. But discovering she’s pregnant changes everything. He believes they can make something of their marriage for the sake of the child, even if love doesn’t come into play. But when they reconnect in the bedroom, the desire that is never far from the surface leads to more. Will Matteo realize his real feelings for Skye before it’s too late?
For more of this review please visit Harlequin Junkie: http://harlequinjunkie.com/review-bou...
A copy of this story was provided by the publisher for review.
Skye was devastated to learn that her husband has pursued her not for love, but for revenge. Leaving him for several weeks, she comes back to ask for a divorce, but is thwarted when her husband finds out she’s pregnant.
Matteo should have been willing to let Skye go. His goal in marrying her was to regain control of the hotel that is his family legacy. Though he didn’t intend to hurt Skye, he didn’t love her either. When she offers him the divorce in exchange for the hotel, it should make him happy. But discovering she’s pregnant changes everything. He believes they can make something of their marriage for the sake of the child, even if love doesn’t come into play. But when they reconnect in the bedroom, the desire that is never far from the surface leads to more. Will Matteo realize his real feelings for Skye before it’s too late?
For more of this review please visit Harlequin Junkie: http://harlequinjunkie.com/review-bou...
A copy of this story was provided by the publisher for review.
March 30, 2021
I enjoyed this book very much. The hero marries heroine to have a hotel back. Not very smart this one, but since heroine's father destroyed his family because hero's mother married hero's father and not him, hero promised his grandfather to have the hotel that was his family's for generations back at any cost. And the cost is that he marries the heroine. When h finds out she leaves the hero and some weeks later she's back with divorce paper. Accidentally hero finds out she's pregnant and she was going to leave him hiding his son. He wants her back. Hero and heroine have magic sex and heroine tries to keep herself emotionally detached since she knows hero never loved her and only married her for the hotel. Hero becomes more and more emotionally involved until he's head over heels for h. Some drama happens. Heroine leaves hero because she doesn't trust him any more, hero gives her the hotel back because nothing makes sense if he doesn't have her. I loved this book , the hero is a little dumb and slow because he is so obsessed with this hotel that he fails to notice that he's in love with heroine. In the beginning I really didn't like him because he seemed cold and detached. The whole hotel obsession was really too much and I loved that the heroine told him so repeatedly. But as the story goes on, he realises he's been wrong to marry the sweet and caring heroine because of the hotel and that his deception was no better that her father's . I liked how the hero step by step realises that what he thought was only sex is the love of his life, and that he really can't be happy without heroine in his life. I loved the heroine, she was very hurt in the beginning when she found out that the hero deceived her,and I loved that she didn't give up immediately to hero's explanation and declaration of love. He has to wait several weeks and then when she comes back to him she realises that the hero is really in love with her and that they can be really happy together. I loved that the hero didn't try to justify what he had done and that he admitted he was a horrible person. Well done.
January 7, 2021
Not bad. This one reminds me of Natasha Anders’ The Unwanted Wife. Same trope, Hero marries the heroine on a revenge plot. The heroine is in love and has no clue, until she finds out.
Lots of angst, the heroine tries to ask for a divorce, but then the Hero finds out she is pregnant so they have to stay together for the baby. The Hero doesnt mind since the sex is good, but the heroine is bitter snd feeling betrayed (well, naturally, cant blame her)
Anyway its a lot of angst for a book that focuses completely on the main characters. There arent even any secondary characters in this book, just a few periferal ones.
The author managed to keep the angst level high, despite there being only the 2 main characters who were constantly in each other’s presence. So that was quite a feat.
Lots of angst, the heroine tries to ask for a divorce, but then the Hero finds out she is pregnant so they have to stay together for the baby. The Hero doesnt mind since the sex is good, but the heroine is bitter snd feeling betrayed (well, naturally, cant blame her)
Anyway its a lot of angst for a book that focuses completely on the main characters. There arent even any secondary characters in this book, just a few periferal ones.
The author managed to keep the angst level high, despite there being only the 2 main characters who were constantly in each other’s presence. So that was quite a feat.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 26, 2020
"I have a condition..." Can she agree to her husband's terms? When heiress Skye learns her marriage to Matteo was built on lies, she demands a divorce. A pawn in his revenge, Skye's heart shattered when she discovered her husband's game. The clock is ticking; she needs his signature. But Matteo is not willing to let Skye go so easily--the price of her freedom is one last night together!
July 29, 2018
When I heard the premise for this book, I was really excited. I’ve been really into the second chance romance especially when it features an estranged married couple that comes back together again. They tend to be full of delicious drama, hurt, angst and misunderstanding between the couple especially when there’s unrequited love on the one side, and this book exactly all the that and some other things thrown in there to add flair to the story. I really enjoyed it, and I did tear up just like I thought I would just something was missing that I didn’t get the full blown feels like I was expecting. I don’t know exactly what it was, but it was something, which was why I couldn’t give this a five stars.
This story was fraught with emotion from the very beginning. Skye was broken-hearted and hurt over the state of her marriage especially when she found out about the circumstances surrounding her marriage. I didn’t blame her for feeling the way she did, and how much she had loved Matteo, but only married her for access to a hotel that her family owned. It hurt her. Bad. And she didn’t want to be in a marriage when she felt she was unwanted and unloved. She had enough in her life and she didn’t need anymore. And once she found out she was pregnant, that just really set things into motion with ending her marriage.
Then they had a battle and the butted heads about ending their marriage especially when Matteo learned that she was pregnant. He never put his heart out there while she did, and it was hard to witness because her love for him was very clear and she wasn’t getting it back. Their relationship tended to focus on the passion side instead of the emotional side, not until much later anyway. It was an uphill battle and a fight.
There were some tender moments between them as they worked through their marriage. They had some little romantic moments here and there, which were really sweet. Matteo showed his tender loving care in his own way. He got to know her, and really started to understand why she felt the way she felt about the marriage, and how unfair he had been to her. I wish they discussed more about her childhood in more detail which shaped why she kept resisting this second chance they were given and kept him at arm’s length for quite awhile. Then I think he would have understood fully then and see where she was coming from. He knew she didn’t have a happy childhood, but he didn’t know the extent or her feelings on that. I wish it was more explored so I could see them connecting more on a mental level.
I think what really touched me the most was when Matteo basically groveled and put his heart and soul into that declaration. It was beautiful. It was heartbreaking. It was breathtaking. It was touching. Just so much emotion was in that scene when he put all his feelings out on the table, and I really loved that. I really could see where his heart was in that moment, and just how much it was breaking him that she was leaving him for the final time. It crushed him. I don’t think I have read a hero that broken up over losing his girl, the love of his lie. I may have been unsure, a little bit, about his feelings in the beginning, but at this moment I was totally sure that he was totally in love with her, and it was beautiful to see. This really was a bittersweet moment, but he didn’t fail to impress with this moment and later on where he poured out his soul again when they were reunited once more.
Overall it was a good story. It could have been a little more angsty for my liking, and there could have been more exploration of the pain of her past not only in her marriage but her childhood as well, but it was nice little romance between Matteo and Skye. They went through the emotional wringer to work through their marriage and get it back on track. It was a struggle, but they learned how important they were to each other and how much they needed each other in each other’s lives especially on Matteo’s part. He did some major groveling, romantic gestures, and poured out his heart and soul to Skye, and it was heartbreaking to watch because his heart was breaking that she was leaving him. He impressed me at the end. He really did. He ripped out my heart just like his heart was ripped out. It was breathtakingly beautiful. I really appreciated that. I really enjoyed it and will probably will reread it again sometime in the future.
This story was fraught with emotion from the very beginning. Skye was broken-hearted and hurt over the state of her marriage especially when she found out about the circumstances surrounding her marriage. I didn’t blame her for feeling the way she did, and how much she had loved Matteo, but only married her for access to a hotel that her family owned. It hurt her. Bad. And she didn’t want to be in a marriage when she felt she was unwanted and unloved. She had enough in her life and she didn’t need anymore. And once she found out she was pregnant, that just really set things into motion with ending her marriage.
Then they had a battle and the butted heads about ending their marriage especially when Matteo learned that she was pregnant. He never put his heart out there while she did, and it was hard to witness because her love for him was very clear and she wasn’t getting it back. Their relationship tended to focus on the passion side instead of the emotional side, not until much later anyway. It was an uphill battle and a fight.
There were some tender moments between them as they worked through their marriage. They had some little romantic moments here and there, which were really sweet. Matteo showed his tender loving care in his own way. He got to know her, and really started to understand why she felt the way she felt about the marriage, and how unfair he had been to her. I wish they discussed more about her childhood in more detail which shaped why she kept resisting this second chance they were given and kept him at arm’s length for quite awhile. Then I think he would have understood fully then and see where she was coming from. He knew she didn’t have a happy childhood, but he didn’t know the extent or her feelings on that. I wish it was more explored so I could see them connecting more on a mental level.
I think what really touched me the most was when Matteo basically groveled and put his heart and soul into that declaration. It was beautiful. It was heartbreaking. It was breathtaking. It was touching. Just so much emotion was in that scene when he put all his feelings out on the table, and I really loved that. I really could see where his heart was in that moment, and just how much it was breaking him that she was leaving him for the final time. It crushed him. I don’t think I have read a hero that broken up over losing his girl, the love of his lie. I may have been unsure, a little bit, about his feelings in the beginning, but at this moment I was totally sure that he was totally in love with her, and it was beautiful to see. This really was a bittersweet moment, but he didn’t fail to impress with this moment and later on where he poured out his soul again when they were reunited once more.
Overall it was a good story. It could have been a little more angsty for my liking, and there could have been more exploration of the pain of her past not only in her marriage but her childhood as well, but it was nice little romance between Matteo and Skye. They went through the emotional wringer to work through their marriage and get it back on track. It was a struggle, but they learned how important they were to each other and how much they needed each other in each other’s lives especially on Matteo’s part. He did some major groveling, romantic gestures, and poured out his heart and soul to Skye, and it was heartbreaking to watch because his heart was breaking that she was leaving him. He impressed me at the end. He really did. He ripped out my heart just like his heart was ripped out. It was breathtakingly beautiful. I really appreciated that. I really enjoyed it and will probably will reread it again sometime in the future.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 16, 2019
Meh. I thought this would be another spinoff of The Unwanted Wife but alas, no. Started alright and then had no direction whatsoever. The h was immature and relentlessly unforgiving. Like ok, you've beyond driven the point home that you were "duped" into mistaking a business deal for love and got married to a hot blooded, good looking wealthy guy and can't wait to be free of all this.
The H was a nice man, he grovelled more than enough and kept repeating how he preferred to have his wife in his life but the wife was a rigid, unfeeling and ungrateful toddler who kept repeating how she was used blah blah. Her whining just does NOT end.
Epilogue is rushed and I think the H could've done better. He was a sweet and caring husband, not deserving of this woman.
The H was a nice man, he grovelled more than enough and kept repeating how he preferred to have his wife in his life but the wife was a rigid, unfeeling and ungrateful toddler who kept repeating how she was used blah blah. Her whining just does NOT end.
Epilogue is rushed and I think the H could've done better. He was a sweet and caring husband, not deserving of this woman.
March 26, 2020
Wow, some of the best groveling by a Hero ever seen in an HP. What a turnaround! This groveling should be studied in “How You Redeem an Alpha Jerk” class.
While the Hero had done a terrible thing, I can say it appeared he’d experienced a true and convincing change of heart. As others have stated, he came off better at the end than the heroine did.
There’s a few heart-wrenching scenes that did not make this a 100% escapist novel. The heroine wasn’t one of my favorites... at times, her actions didn’t make sense or seemed immature... but I’m still glad I read it... and I’d read it again.
While the Hero had done a terrible thing, I can say it appeared he’d experienced a true and convincing change of heart. As others have stated, he came off better at the end than the heroine did.
There’s a few heart-wrenching scenes that did not make this a 100% escapist novel. The heroine wasn’t one of my favorites... at times, her actions didn’t make sense or seemed immature... but I’m still glad I read it... and I’d read it again.
January 6, 2024
Parts are 5 stars. Beginning makes one want the really big skillet (thanks, Boogenhagen for yours!), middle cycles through the H’s emotions without resolving anything and ending features a superb H grovel then asks her humbly to come back to him.
The beginning is encapsulated by the little glimpse we get of H's thoughts: Essentially he cares nothing for his wife, doesn't think she's important, his duty is to his family - who are all dead by the way - not to the lady he courted and married who is alive. That is a good definition of JERK. His wife, the h, realizes her place on his hierarchy and left, which kicks off the story.
The beginning is encapsulated by the little glimpse we get of H's thoughts: Essentially he cares nothing for his wife, doesn't think she's important, his duty is to his family - who are all dead by the way - not to the lady he courted and married who is alive. That is a good definition of JERK. His wife, the h, realizes her place on his hierarchy and left, which kicks off the story.
November 3, 2018
Bound by the Billionaire's Vows
The story revolves around two people, one out for revenge, the other needing to be loved for herself. When she finds out that the only reason he married her was for a hotel. Her world crashed and burned. She is back to acquire his signature on the divorce papers. He should be happy. He never wanted to be married in the first place. Can they connect on an even level? Can he open up enough for her and the child that they created?
The story revolves around two people, one out for revenge, the other needing to be loved for herself. When she finds out that the only reason he married her was for a hotel. Her world crashed and burned. She is back to acquire his signature on the divorce papers. He should be happy. He never wanted to be married in the first place. Can they connect on an even level? Can he open up enough for her and the child that they created?
May 26, 2019
The story was good, you had Matteo the sexy handsome billionaire who married Skye for a hotel feud. I would have liked it more if the story started with the wedding that way there would have been less internal dialogue which I hate. You know, more showing and less telling. I also like the women to have more of a backbone, Skye finally found hers but she seemed really powerless over Matteo. It drove me nuts but at least I finished the whole book.
March 25, 2025
I skimmed this one when I was having trouble falling asleep since I loved these HP books in elementary school and still find them comforting. I've definitely outgrown them now but I did like that the heroine gave the hero some hard truths about how he had hurt her and we got to see him be in pain in return instead of a quick forgiveness situation like usual.
July 15, 2018
Strong emotional read, loved it
March 16, 2019
2.5 stars
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