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Bound by a One-Night Vow

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“Marry me or lose everything.”

The Italian’s outrageous proposal

Heiress Isabella Byrne is on a deadline. She has twenty-four hours to wed or she’ll lose her inheritance! Her father’s protégé, hotel magnate Andrea Vaccaro, knows she can’t refuse his arrogant proposition for a temporary union. They’ll seal the deal at the altar that very night. But with their ever-smoldering attraction bursting into flames, can Izzy risk surrendering to the temptation that awaits her between Andrea’s sheets?

Indulge in this passionate marriage of convenience!

224 pages, Mass Market Paperback

Published September 18, 2018

58 people are currently reading
56 people want to read

About the author

Melanie Milburne

1,146 books392 followers
I grew up on a small farm on the outskirts of Sydney and as a keen horse rider, often competed in local gymkhanas and even broke in a few horses from time to time. As I was surrounded by animals, I decided at an early age to become a nurse, however I couldn’t stand the sight of blood and so opted for a career in teaching. It’s a bit ironic that I married a surgeon.

I read my first Mills & Boon novel when I was 17 and that encouraged me to continue reading romance novels; the lure of the tall dark handsome hero, who in reality I fell in love with and knew I was going to marry on our second date! After marrying a year later, we moved to Scotland with our six week old baby so my husband could work and study for his MD in surgery. After the birth of our second son we came back to Australia to settle in Tasmania.

I went back to University and up-graded my teaching diploma to a degree and then went on to do a Masters but still I felt as if something was missing. I sat down one day and began writing and everything clicked into place - I had finally found ‘my brilliant career’! I used to write from instinct rather than a specific plan, but now, so many books later I find a loose plan doesn't go astray. An idea will pop into my head, sometimes it will be just a simple phrase or a what if question and I'm away.

Writing is a skill that can be learned and the best way to learn it is to read and to write. So many people feel they have a novel in them and very probably they are right-the only trick is to get it out. My advice to ‘would be’ writers is to write, write, and write even more. Carry a notebook at all times and jot down ideas. And like any other activity the more you do, the more it feels comfortable.

I hope you enjoy my stories and look forward to hearing from you.

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5 stars
39 (23%)
4 stars
39 (23%)
3 stars
50 (30%)
2 stars
21 (12%)
1 star
15 (9%)
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
Profile Image for Aou .
2,042 reviews215 followers
September 7, 2018
This month Harlequin Presents books were really disappointing. :(

Edit : I prefer virgin heroines normally. If the plot was good, it would be ok. But this is Harveyland, it has unique rules different from our ordinary world. Thus it is not absurd.

And i also fed up with political correctness. there is almost no angst in this book. Spoilt rich girl and abused homeless self-made bilionaire were so perfect to each others. That' s boring.

All of these are not just about this book, generally about modern HPs. But this one is not exception. I didn' t like it.
Profile Image for Jenny.
3,160 reviews558 followers
September 13, 2018
It was ok I guess. No virgins here and no pregnancy so not a great read for me. Not a bad read but nothing special really. Melanie Milburne can do so much better.
Profile Image for Xai Xai.
347 reviews28 followers
September 16, 2018
Izzy was feisty and Andreas was barely alpha. Spoilt brat grew up and had her reputation in gutters due to lack of labor and attention from her father. The book started up interesting and eventually to a plateau of first times for the Izzy and Andreas. It's wasn't explosive nor fiesty....👌 read
Profile Image for Helen.
2,900 reviews65 followers
November 21, 2018
Isabella Byrne has to find a husband and fast if she is to inherit from her father’s will she now has twenty four hours to do so and when Andrea Vaccaro insists on going to dinner with her she is not a happy person, Andrea is the last person she would wed but when he makes her a proposition she cannot refuse, Izzy finds herself Mrs Vaccaro a marriage on paper only.

Izzy has never wanted to marry ever after the way her father treated her and her mother, she is happy to stay single but the conditions of her father’s will sees to it that she will marry, but finding the right man has become difficult for the girl known as the party girl, the spoilt brat she has lived a life of parties and was forever in the press but did they know her really and know Andrea the guy she had a crush on when she was a teenager is going to help her get her inheritance and the sparks fly.

Andrea is a self- made billionaire, thanks to his mentor Benedict Byrne, he has always felt a pull towards his daughter Isabella but steered clear of her but now maybe being married to her for six months will help him as well as her, that is if he can control the very sensual pull he has towards her and get her to stop acting like a spoilt brat.

I really loved this story the emotion and sensual feelings throughout left me cheering them both on seeing them open up so honestly with each other was beautiful, you see they are very similar in so many ways both have been treated badly while they were young, neither wanted to find love and have a permanent relationship that is until they were together and then they could not help but realize that love was meant for them both as long as they were together, fabulous story thank you MS Milburne, this is one that I highly recommend.
Profile Image for Craig and Phil.
2,230 reviews130 followers
February 7, 2021
Thank you Harlequin for sending us a copy to read and review.
Everybody dreams of romance and has an ideal in their own mind or fantasy how that looks.
A Mills and Boon offers that fantasy with a story entwined within.
An escape from reality and indulgence into the lives of the super sexy and rich makes a great read.
Isabelle has to marry someone within 24 hours to receive her inheritance from her father.
The deadline to marry has approached and she won’t satisfy her narcissistic fathers wish.
Aware of the inheritance covenants, rich, sexy playboy Andrea Vaccaro proposes at the last minute and they seal deal.
They only have to stay together for six months and the money will be hers to buy her grandmother’s house that means the world to her.
Hearts weren’t the only organs pumping as the two try and live a married life, a facade that doesn’t seem too tedious on paper.
Emotions, desires and being true to yourself add to the drama that unfolds.
This is my first Mills and Boon and I was impressed.
It was sizzling in parts but the general storyline and the depth around real emotion made it interesting and sassy.
A short but action packed introduction to the world of romance where a winning formula sells to a huge eager readership.

Profile Image for Sandra R.
3,345 reviews46 followers
June 17, 2023
Well written as usual, by this author. I thought the romance scenes were beautifully done and very steamy and I loved them. You could feel the H/h's chemistry. This storyline has been done to death over the years :- having to marry to inherit. What threw me out of this particular romance, was the never ending internal narration. Very usual for mills and boon, sadly, and it was a good thing the book was just a smidge longer than novella length. I suppose I've been spoiled by all the newer indy romances that are predominantly dialogue driven. Or, I just wasn't in the mood for this style of book today. Never mind, Melanie is still a favourite author of mine.
710 reviews12 followers
August 31, 2018
What happens when heiress Isabella Byrne was given a time limit to marry or lose her inheritance from her late father. What happens when she waits and is now at the last 24 hours and she desperately needs that money to buy back the Wiltshire home of all her wonderful memories. Enter her fathers protégé Andrea Vaccaro. Andrea only knows Isabella as the wild uncontrolled child of Benedict Byrne, he doesn't know the deep secret that she has lived. He proposes they marry for 6 months. His reason is the daughter of a man he wants to do business with is coming on to him and he has no interest. Marriage to Isabella will end that. So its a win win he gets the business she gets her inheritance. This is an amazing story of discovery on both parts, Andrea finding out all is not always what it seems and Izzy realizing the feelings she had for Andrea as a teen still exist. A truly fantastic book that you will savor from page one.
Profile Image for Kate.
57 reviews
August 2, 2018
The H is one of the most compassionate characters I've come across since reading HP. The H and h have lusted after each other for 7 years so the chemistry is explosive. Although some parts of the book dwell on the H's harsh childhood, this marriage of convenience story was thoroughly enjoyable.
Profile Image for Nas Dean.
835 reviews38 followers
September 21, 2018
BOUND BY A ONE-NIGHT VOW by author Melanie Milburne is an October 2018 release by Harlequin Presents series.

Isabella Byrne had three months to get married to inherit her father’s money. Because she wanted to buy back her maternal family home where she had been happy at one time. But she let the three months pass. Now it was less than twenty four hours to the deadline. Could she find anyone to get married to at this late hour?

Then in walks Andrea Vaccaro with an outrageous proposal. Could she take him up on his proposal? They always had this ignored scorching chemistry between them. What would happen if they did marry? Even if it’s only a contract marriage.

Would Izzy be ever able to buy back her home? And would Andrea stay for the long-haul?

BOUND BY A ONE-NIGHT VOW is empowering and romantic. It is a sensual romance filled with emotions. Author Melanie Milburne doesn’t disappoint. This new romance is a beautifully written tale of family, relationships, betrayals and ultimately the magic of love.

Highly recommended for all readers of romance.
Profile Image for Janie.
1,518 reviews15 followers
September 30, 2018
I love reading Melanie Milburne and her new book "Bound by a One-Night Vow" was really good. Heiress Isabella Byrne's father was a piece of work. When her brother died from Cancer he wished it was her instead, and then when her Mother passed away they became even more apart. When her father dies the stipulation of the will was that in order for her to inherit she needed to be married by a certain time and she needed to stay married for 6 months otherwise a cousin with a gambling problem gets everything. Izzy has never wanted to be married, but she wants to try and save the home where her Mom grew up and where she spent happy memories with her grandparents without her father present. Andrea Vaccaro knew about the stipulation of the will, and had everything planned to marry Izzy within 24 hours of the deadline. Now, neither of them want to be married. Neither of them trust each other. Yet, they are drawn to each other. As they grow closer they learn a little bit more about each other and what made them who they are today because of their past.
Profile Image for Lynn Brooks.
3,516 reviews43 followers
September 30, 2018
A marriage of convenience just might turn into forever! They seem unlikely, but Izzy and Andrea actually fit each other well once they get to know the hidden aspects of each other. Their story was intriguing and satisfyingly real. Enjoyed it!

Isabella Byrne finds herself in desperate need of a husband in order to meet the terms of her inheritance from her father, so even when the last minute offer she gets comes from an unlikely source, she doesn't have much option but to accept!

Hotel magnet Andrea Vaccaro has Izzy's father to thank for some of his early success, so in helping his daughter out, he feels like he's repaying some of  his help. The handy timing of their marriage just so happen to weigh in his favor right now in helping him salvage a risky business deal. The only danger lurking now is the attraction they feel for each other!
Profile Image for Tonya Warner.
1,214 reviews13 followers
October 17, 2018
Andrea Vaccaro owed Isabella's father a huge debt. He had helped him when his life was at it's darkest point. He could not understand the animosity Isabella had towards her father, or himself, but there is just something about her that makes him come to her aid when she needs him most.

Isabella Byrne was left with the undesirable task of marrying in order to inherit the family fortune left to her by her late father. With time running out, the enemy makes her an offer she couldn't refuse. A marriage on paper only to allow her to get her inheritance, and him a chance to push through a merger he had been working for.

It was ok.
Profile Image for Patty Duplechin.
768 reviews9 followers
December 4, 2018
I love this book. Izzy’s father passed away. In his willi, she has to marry to get her inheritance. Andrea Vaccaro is her father’s protege. Andrea offers to marry her even though he thinks she’s a spoiled brat. He has no idea that her father was mean to her. He’ll help her & she will help him. They both dislike one another but have chemistry off the charts. Andrea doesn’t want to be married no more than 6 months. She only wants her inheritance to buy back her grandparents old hone for helping people with cancer or other illnesses. Can they not fall in love with each other. It’s an awesome read.
Profile Image for Amanda.
620 reviews
January 6, 2019
Ultimatum stories have always been a favorite trope of mine in romance novels and I gotta say, Melanie Milburne does a fine job weaving together a plot that propels this trope into an entertaining read from start to end! Isabella must wed in twenty-four hours or she lose her inheritance. Andrea Vaccaro has an outrageous proposal that can save the day...but what starts out as a means to an end spirals into something more untamed and explosive! I loved the drama and the soul-deep emotions poured onto the page. Everything about this story engages you as a reader. Just go read this book. You won’t be disappointed.

Highly Recommended
4.5 Stars
1 review
August 6, 2019
This is a book with same things repeated over 100 times

I really cannot give even a single star to this book. But in order to post my review had to give one. There is nothing no story at all, on top of that narration of it is equally bad. Same thing facts and feelings are repeated all the time. Had to skip so many pages..... No romance or thrill at all....

Am sorry but cannot recommend this book to anyone at all. As it is not worth it......
Profile Image for Ishara.
559 reviews9 followers
September 24, 2018
This book had potential but somehow, it fell short. The one thing that stood out was the H, Andrea. He was one of the kindest heroes I've read in this genre. Would have been 2 stars but Andrea earned the extra star.
Profile Image for More Books Than Time  .
2,514 reviews19 followers
September 11, 2022
Dirty and H doesn’t believe in love for all the usual reasons. Author could have tossed all the common tropes and responses and attitudes and “personalities” into a hat and drawn them out to write this. Wooden.
Profile Image for Bec.
1,659 reviews42 followers
September 23, 2018

Review posted at HarlequinJunkie.com

Heiress Isabella ‘Izzy’ Byrne should have found someone to marry by now, especially since she wants so much to claim her inheritance. However, with the deadline looming, she has no choice but to accept Andrea Vaccaro’s proposal, even though he’s the last person she thought she would ever marry. Yet, the more time she spends in Andrea’s presence, the more she finds herself unable to resist the strong chemistry between them. Will Isabella be able to handle that their marriage will ever only be a marriage of convenience or will she walk away from Andrea because she wants the one thing he can’t give her – love?Read More
Profile Image for Susan in Perthshire.
2,205 reviews115 followers
July 16, 2024
I am not familiar with this writer but I will be reading more of her. I really enjoyed this. Such honest dialogue, and a relationship which developed naturally and felt so real. I loved Andrea and Izzy. Both victims of their upbringing but such a beautiful match. Sensual, satisfying and entertaining.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews

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