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The Ruthless Devereux Brothers #2
The Billionaire's Christmas Cinderella
She's as pure as winter snow...Can her innocence redeem him?Charismatic Manhattan tycoon Abe Devereux is famed for his cold heart. So meeting compassionate nanny Naomi, who's determined to see the good in him, is a novelty--as is the potency of their undeniable connection! Abe's notoriously merciless, and he wants this shy Cinderella between his sheets by Christmas. But will seducing gentle Naomi be Abe's biggest risk, or his greatest chance of redemption?
The Ruthless Devereux Brothers miniseries Book 1 -- The Innocent's Shock Pregnancy
Book 2 -- The Billionaire's Christmas Cinderella
The Ruthless Devereux Brothers miniseries Book 1 -- The Innocent's Shock Pregnancy
Book 2 -- The Billionaire's Christmas Cinderella
224 pages, Mass Market Paperback
Published November 20, 2018
91 people are currently reading
134 people want to read
About the author
Carol Marinelli
1,400 books450 followersCarol Marinelli was born in England to Scottish parents, then emigrated to Australia, where there are loads of Scottish and English people who did exactly the same, so she’s very at home there.
She lives in the outer suburbs of Melbourne—pretty much in her car, driving her three children to their various commitments.
Carol writes for the Harlequin Presents and Medical lines and she also writes contemporary women's fiction (with a dark twist).
When she's not writing she's reading, when she's not reading she's writing.
She lives in the outer suburbs of Melbourne—pretty much in her car, driving her three children to their various commitments.
Carol writes for the Harlequin Presents and Medical lines and she also writes contemporary women's fiction (with a dark twist).
When she's not writing she's reading, when she's not reading she's writing.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
December 4, 2018
Maternity nanny Naomi Hamilton comes to New York City during Christmastime to help her friend Merida Devereux (and her husband Ethan) with their newborn baby, Ava. Naomi is excited to be in NYC, since she has never been out of the UK. On her first night, staying at the Devereux family home, she meets Abe Devereux (gorgeous Manhattan tycoon and brother of Ethan). She thinks he is more beautiful than anyone she has ever seen. They both share a pizza and talk for some of the night. Abe is usually a very private person and considered cold, but he finds himself wanting company on this night, after just visiting his very sick father (Jobe) in the hospital.
The next day (before Merida comes home with baby Ava and Naomi's nanny duties begin) Naomi is ready to do some sightseeing. She is eager to see the tree at Rockefeller Center, look at the window displays, buy a coat at Macy's, feed the squirrels in Central Park... Abe steps in and offers to be Naomi's tour guide of NYC. I loved Naomi's enthusiasm, seeing New York City's sights for the first time. I also liked how Abe offered to show her around. It was out of character for him to take off work and he was surprised that he enjoyed himself so much.
Eventually they share a kiss, but later Naomi discovers that Abe already has a partner (old girlfriend Candace) though he insists they aren't involved anymore, it's only for show, a contract for business purposes. Naomi finds herself falling for Abe.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I really liked Naomi, she was a very sweet heroine. When her mother had Naomi her father left them, never to be seen again, so her mother gave Naomi up and she has been in foster homes for most of her life, with no relatives that she knows of. Abe was the usual HP hero, arrogant, rich, and handsome. He admired his father but he was never very close to him. (Even though Abe started to get closer to him during his time in the hospital.) Abe's mother passed away years ago. She was a very cruel woman and Abe had to look out for Ethan when they were very young.
I liked how the attraction between Naomi and Abe kept growing and it took a while before they made love, so this built up the sexual tension between them. This book was quite festive. I loved the NYC setting at Christmas. I liked the main couple, Abe and Naomi. I also liked old Jobe. It was sweet how everybody surprised Naomi and went all out for her birthday, which took place on Christmas Eve.
A terrific read for the holidays or anytime!
November 4, 2018
This was a feel good type of heart-warming romance novel, that's suitable for the Christmas season because the main themes that are explored are: Love, Family & Friendship. It's the second novel in the duet that deals with the 2 hottie Devereux brothers. The first novel
The Innocent's Shock Pregnancy
told the story of the younger brother Ethan. This novel focuses on Abe, the older, misanthropic, distant, ruthless, colder and extremely cynical 36 year old brother. In the first novel, when Abe had been introduced, I hadn't liked him very much because he was such a rigid asshole with an extremely poor opinion about women.
I enjoyed this story a lot and it was very well written, but I felt that the romantic storyline was a bit too much of the ultra slow burn type. The smart heroine doesn't give in to the hero too easily and makes him work hard for it because, sometimes:
The MC's romantic storyline was overshadowed, a little, by the other issues such as:
1. Abe's father's terminal cancer.
2. The heroine's duties as a nanny to the Ethan's and Merida's new baby, Ava. Ethan and Merida are the MC's from The Innocent's Shock Pregnancy .
The MC's spent too much time apart and didn't have a lot of sexy interaction until the later stages of the novel. That's why I can't rate this higher, even though it was a sweet and lovely story. I missed the steamy sensual interaction that Carol M's MC's usually share. Abe was understandably preoccupied with his grief over his dad's illness and he kept fighting his attraction to the heroine for a long time. I liked the heroine, Naomi, a lot. She was Merida's best friend and had her own tragic backstory: Naomi had been abandoned as a baby, by her mother, and left to grow up in a series of foster homes. Naomi lived a nomadic type of existence as an adult because she kept moving from one live-in job to another. All she secretly longed for was to have a happy family of her own, with a loving husband and beautiful kids.
This is the heroine, Naomi:
This is the H, Abe:
The MC's were attracted to each other at first sight and spent one romantic, magical but platonic day together but their newfound, tentative relationship was plagued with a few significant obstacles:
1. Abe's anti-relationship, anti-marriage and anti-kids policy.
2. Naomi's insecurities about herself, her weight and her natural desire to protect her emotions from a charming but steely H.
3. They could never find time to be with each other because external stuff and other responsibilities kept intruding. The H was preoccupied with a failing business deal and Naomi wasn't the pushy type of woman to chase after him.
4. The biggest obstacle was the H's contractually obligated girlfriend Candice !
Yep ! Abe had this long term, signed fake relationship contract with an old girlfriend.
Even the cat finds it unbelievable !
LOL.
OK, since the dog is also raising his paw to ask a lot of questions, I will now explain it all...LOL
Abe had been a womanizing playboy in his 20's and the Board members of their billion dollar company had often complaint about the stigma it created for his, and the corporation's, image. Abe's solution to this was to get a former girlfriend Candice to be his fake steady partner. At the time this story is set, Abe was no longer sleeping with Candice; in fact, he had stopped sleeping with her more than 3 years before he even met the heroine. But, Candice was given a hefty allowance, a fancy apartment etc and her job was to be his date at all important social functions, so that the Board members would think that he was no longer jumping from one woman to the next.
I believed that Abe was not sleeping with Candice because he had mentioned this fact to his brother Ethan in The Innocent's Shock Pregnancy , even before he had met the heroine Naomi. Nevertheless, Candice did act as this ominous spectre in the MC's blossoming romance because Naomi was a woman with integrity; the heroine refused to have a relationship with Abe as long as he had his "fake girlfriend contract" with the OW. In Naomi's mind, it didn't matter that Abe wasn't sleeping with Candice. The heroine still felt as if she would be a partner to cheating if she got romantically involved with a man whom the public believed had a steady long time partner. The OW Candice, was just as calculating, mercenary and cold as Abe and she created a lot of problems for the MC's even after Abe terminated the "fake girlfriend contract."
This is why the couple were apart for most of the novel. It was obvious that they wanted to be together and had strong feelings for each other, but Abe waited until the second half of the story to end his arrangement with Candice. I enjoyed the cameo appearances by Ethan, Merida, baby Ava and the sweet old man Jobe, whose newest wish ( before he died ) was for his hard hearted first born son to marry a nice girl like Naomi. The author included some lovely family bonding scenes and there were beautiful, picturesque descriptions of New York city during the Christmas season. I loved the scene where the MC's buy warm roasted peanuts to take to the park and feed the cute squirrels. And, just like in the first novel, the author gave the reader a good insight into the workings of the H's inner thoughts. That helped me a lot to appreciate Abe, because he turned out to be just another guy who used his steely, tough persona to shield his heart from being hurt.
There wasn't much trainwrecky angst in this or any OTT drama. I did like it but I wish the MC's had been able to spend more time together. That's the only reason I can't rate it higher. The other reason is the lack of a proper epilogue. I wanted to see how the MC's were doing a couple years in the future and it would've been great to see how Naomi would be with a little baby of her own. But I guess the author probably felt that such an epilogue might include information about Jobe's death and that might've added a sad element to the ending. However, I am sure that readers who are looking for a light romance that deals with love, friendship and family will totally adore this book ! The cutest thing about this story is that Abe actually waited until after he married Naomi to have sex with her. I guess it was his way of proving that he respected her and her values, even though Naomi had totally wanted to bang him after he'd proposed to her !
Abe's proposal was also very humorous and romantic; it also made me laugh at just how cocky he was as well:
‘Do I have to ask you again?’ Abe checked, when still she hadn’t replied.
‘No,’ Naomi said, because he did not have to ask her twice. ‘I mean yes, oh, yes, Abe, I would love to marry you.’
‘Well, that’s all right, then.’
He slipped the ring onto her newly manicured fingers and when she looked down she didn’t even recognise her own hand, let alone the world he was inviting her into. And when she looked up into those black eyes Naomi knew it would take for ever to know him, but they had for ever now.
‘I love you,’ she told him, and, for Naomi, it was the ultimate luxury to share those words with another.
‘I know you do.’
This is a standalone but I don't think I would've enjoyed it so much if I hadn't read The Innocent's Shock Pregnancy . The foundation for the storyline with the H's dying father had been set in that first novel, so it definitely helps to know about it from before. There are also many other important links between the 2 novels, so I think future readers should read the first book and then move on to this one. The first novel also added extra proof that Abe hadn't been sexually involved with the OW Candice. I did wish that the OW had gotten some comeuppance for the nasty things she said to the heroine though.
Safety: No OM and a fake wannabe OW who had a contract to pretend to be the H's long term girlfriend. The H was not sexually or emotionally involved with the OW so I don't think he was cheating when he starting developing feelings for Naomi.
I also hope that the hottie sheikh who made an appearance in this book, also gets his own story.
I enjoyed this story a lot and it was very well written, but I felt that the romantic storyline was a bit too much of the ultra slow burn type. The smart heroine doesn't give in to the hero too easily and makes him work hard for it because, sometimes:
The MC's romantic storyline was overshadowed, a little, by the other issues such as:
1. Abe's father's terminal cancer.
2. The heroine's duties as a nanny to the Ethan's and Merida's new baby, Ava. Ethan and Merida are the MC's from The Innocent's Shock Pregnancy .
The MC's spent too much time apart and didn't have a lot of sexy interaction until the later stages of the novel. That's why I can't rate this higher, even though it was a sweet and lovely story. I missed the steamy sensual interaction that Carol M's MC's usually share. Abe was understandably preoccupied with his grief over his dad's illness and he kept fighting his attraction to the heroine for a long time. I liked the heroine, Naomi, a lot. She was Merida's best friend and had her own tragic backstory: Naomi had been abandoned as a baby, by her mother, and left to grow up in a series of foster homes. Naomi lived a nomadic type of existence as an adult because she kept moving from one live-in job to another. All she secretly longed for was to have a happy family of her own, with a loving husband and beautiful kids.
This is the heroine, Naomi:
This is the H, Abe:
The MC's were attracted to each other at first sight and spent one romantic, magical but platonic day together but their newfound, tentative relationship was plagued with a few significant obstacles:
1. Abe's anti-relationship, anti-marriage and anti-kids policy.
2. Naomi's insecurities about herself, her weight and her natural desire to protect her emotions from a charming but steely H.
3. They could never find time to be with each other because external stuff and other responsibilities kept intruding. The H was preoccupied with a failing business deal and Naomi wasn't the pushy type of woman to chase after him.
4. The biggest obstacle was the H's contractually obligated girlfriend Candice !
Yep ! Abe had this long term, signed fake relationship contract with an old girlfriend.
Even the cat finds it unbelievable !
LOL.
OK, since the dog is also raising his paw to ask a lot of questions, I will now explain it all...LOL
Abe had been a womanizing playboy in his 20's and the Board members of their billion dollar company had often complaint about the stigma it created for his, and the corporation's, image. Abe's solution to this was to get a former girlfriend Candice to be his fake steady partner. At the time this story is set, Abe was no longer sleeping with Candice; in fact, he had stopped sleeping with her more than 3 years before he even met the heroine. But, Candice was given a hefty allowance, a fancy apartment etc and her job was to be his date at all important social functions, so that the Board members would think that he was no longer jumping from one woman to the next.
I believed that Abe was not sleeping with Candice because he had mentioned this fact to his brother Ethan in The Innocent's Shock Pregnancy , even before he had met the heroine Naomi. Nevertheless, Candice did act as this ominous spectre in the MC's blossoming romance because Naomi was a woman with integrity; the heroine refused to have a relationship with Abe as long as he had his "fake girlfriend contract" with the OW. In Naomi's mind, it didn't matter that Abe wasn't sleeping with Candice. The heroine still felt as if she would be a partner to cheating if she got romantically involved with a man whom the public believed had a steady long time partner. The OW Candice, was just as calculating, mercenary and cold as Abe and she created a lot of problems for the MC's even after Abe terminated the "fake girlfriend contract."
This is why the couple were apart for most of the novel. It was obvious that they wanted to be together and had strong feelings for each other, but Abe waited until the second half of the story to end his arrangement with Candice. I enjoyed the cameo appearances by Ethan, Merida, baby Ava and the sweet old man Jobe, whose newest wish ( before he died ) was for his hard hearted first born son to marry a nice girl like Naomi. The author included some lovely family bonding scenes and there were beautiful, picturesque descriptions of New York city during the Christmas season. I loved the scene where the MC's buy warm roasted peanuts to take to the park and feed the cute squirrels. And, just like in the first novel, the author gave the reader a good insight into the workings of the H's inner thoughts. That helped me a lot to appreciate Abe, because he turned out to be just another guy who used his steely, tough persona to shield his heart from being hurt.
There wasn't much trainwrecky angst in this or any OTT drama. I did like it but I wish the MC's had been able to spend more time together. That's the only reason I can't rate it higher. The other reason is the lack of a proper epilogue. I wanted to see how the MC's were doing a couple years in the future and it would've been great to see how Naomi would be with a little baby of her own. But I guess the author probably felt that such an epilogue might include information about Jobe's death and that might've added a sad element to the ending. However, I am sure that readers who are looking for a light romance that deals with love, friendship and family will totally adore this book ! The cutest thing about this story is that Abe actually waited until after he married Naomi to have sex with her. I guess it was his way of proving that he respected her and her values, even though Naomi had totally wanted to bang him after he'd proposed to her !
Abe's proposal was also very humorous and romantic; it also made me laugh at just how cocky he was as well:
‘Do I have to ask you again?’ Abe checked, when still she hadn’t replied.
‘No,’ Naomi said, because he did not have to ask her twice. ‘I mean yes, oh, yes, Abe, I would love to marry you.’
‘Well, that’s all right, then.’
He slipped the ring onto her newly manicured fingers and when she looked down she didn’t even recognise her own hand, let alone the world he was inviting her into. And when she looked up into those black eyes Naomi knew it would take for ever to know him, but they had for ever now.
‘I love you,’ she told him, and, for Naomi, it was the ultimate luxury to share those words with another.
‘I know you do.’
This is a standalone but I don't think I would've enjoyed it so much if I hadn't read The Innocent's Shock Pregnancy . The foundation for the storyline with the H's dying father had been set in that first novel, so it definitely helps to know about it from before. There are also many other important links between the 2 novels, so I think future readers should read the first book and then move on to this one. The first novel also added extra proof that Abe hadn't been sexually involved with the OW Candice. I did wish that the OW had gotten some comeuppance for the nasty things she said to the heroine though.
Safety: No OM and a fake wannabe OW who had a contract to pretend to be the H's long term girlfriend. The H was not sexually or emotionally involved with the OW so I don't think he was cheating when he starting developing feelings for Naomi.
I also hope that the hottie sheikh who made an appearance in this book, also gets his own story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 29, 2018
The title fits. Heroine was a Cinderella. The hero is a billionaire. It takes place at Christmas. But there is a little more substance to the story than that. And in the end, it's kind of a tear-jerker so be warned.
Our jet-lagged heroine is the bff of the heroine from book one in this series. She arrives in NYC to work - to be a temporary nanny for book one H/h's newborn. Hero is the older brother and is considered even more cold and ruthless than his sibling. We saw his cynicism about his brother's romance in the first book, but he is never cold or cruel to this heroine.
Heroine not only cares for the newborn, but finds herself involved in the domestic dramas of the family as she realizes the hero's father is dying and everyone - staff included - is taking it hard.
But this heroine brings calm and practicality to the house and the hero is so captivated with her that he takes the day off from work and shows her all the sights of New York. He shares his good memories of his father with her. They feed the squirrels. They buy hot pretzels from a cart to warm their hands. He is heroine's first kiss.
The descriptions were gorgeous and reminded me of the best kind of Christmas movie. But that day had to end.
Their budding romance seems to be doomed when the heroine turns the hero down for sex and then finds out hero has a regular escort (OW) he takes to all public events. H/OW don't have sex - it's a front so the board thinks he's in a stable relationship. Hero sees it as a business arrangement. Heroine sees it as a relationship he's cheating on.
Hero realizes he needs to change his ways - and he does.
Now for the Cinderella ending:
*There is a ball where fairy godmothers (at the day spa and the dress boutique) prepare her for the ball.
*At the ball the hero dances with her and lets everyone know she is with him.
*The heroine runs away from the ball after the discarded OW tells her lies. Heroine loses a shoe.
*The hero runs after her and restores her shoe as they sit on a park bench.
Instead of the big proposal scene at the hotel, he ends up taking her to his house and begging her to marry him. They hold off on having sex until after their wedding.
The falling action concerns Christmas with a man dying in the hospital, but also a newborn in the house and the beginning of two romances.
The author sums up the bittersweet feeling of the holiday so well:
And a true family Christmas meant happy bits, amazing bits and more sadness than you dared to show, because grief and its journey was the price of love.
That made me tear up as did the hero's father's offer to the orphaned heroine to give her away for her wedding at the hospital on New Year's Eve.
There is no epilogue - I think because the author knew that she was going to kill of the hero's father and that would be too much of a downer. I really liked him as a character. He had been obsessed with business, but his photo-covered wall going up the stairs in his home showed what engaged his heart. He had trouble expressing himself to his sons and they had trouble opening up to him as well. It took the daughters-in-law and two books to bring them together enough to say good bye.
So there is a bit of melancholy underneath the fairytale Christmas story - but it's not depressing - at least it wasn't to me. The hero's father was ready to go and he got a glimpse of a happy future for his "boys."
*sniff*
I do think you need to read the first book to appreciate this one. I don't usually find that with HPs, but I would recommend it here.
Our jet-lagged heroine is the bff of the heroine from book one in this series. She arrives in NYC to work - to be a temporary nanny for book one H/h's newborn. Hero is the older brother and is considered even more cold and ruthless than his sibling. We saw his cynicism about his brother's romance in the first book, but he is never cold or cruel to this heroine.
Heroine not only cares for the newborn, but finds herself involved in the domestic dramas of the family as she realizes the hero's father is dying and everyone - staff included - is taking it hard.
But this heroine brings calm and practicality to the house and the hero is so captivated with her that he takes the day off from work and shows her all the sights of New York. He shares his good memories of his father with her. They feed the squirrels. They buy hot pretzels from a cart to warm their hands. He is heroine's first kiss.
The descriptions were gorgeous and reminded me of the best kind of Christmas movie. But that day had to end.
Their budding romance seems to be doomed when the heroine turns the hero down for sex and then finds out hero has a regular escort (OW) he takes to all public events. H/OW don't have sex - it's a front so the board thinks he's in a stable relationship. Hero sees it as a business arrangement. Heroine sees it as a relationship he's cheating on.
Hero realizes he needs to change his ways - and he does.
Now for the Cinderella ending:
*There is a ball where fairy godmothers (at the day spa and the dress boutique) prepare her for the ball.
*At the ball the hero dances with her and lets everyone know she is with him.
*The heroine runs away from the ball after the discarded OW tells her lies. Heroine loses a shoe.
*The hero runs after her and restores her shoe as they sit on a park bench.
Instead of the big proposal scene at the hotel, he ends up taking her to his house and begging her to marry him. They hold off on having sex until after their wedding.
The falling action concerns Christmas with a man dying in the hospital, but also a newborn in the house and the beginning of two romances.
The author sums up the bittersweet feeling of the holiday so well:
And a true family Christmas meant happy bits, amazing bits and more sadness than you dared to show, because grief and its journey was the price of love.
That made me tear up as did the hero's father's offer to the orphaned heroine to give her away for her wedding at the hospital on New Year's Eve.
There is no epilogue - I think because the author knew that she was going to kill of the hero's father and that would be too much of a downer. I really liked him as a character. He had been obsessed with business, but his photo-covered wall going up the stairs in his home showed what engaged his heart. He had trouble expressing himself to his sons and they had trouble opening up to him as well. It took the daughters-in-law and two books to bring them together enough to say good bye.
So there is a bit of melancholy underneath the fairytale Christmas story - but it's not depressing - at least it wasn't to me. The hero's father was ready to go and he got a glimpse of a happy future for his "boys."
*sniff*
I do think you need to read the first book to appreciate this one. I don't usually find that with HPs, but I would recommend it here.
December 30, 2019
This was quite sweet, slightly romantic and low on angst. Everything I always ask for. Be careful what you as for as there were a few moments when it was. Still I recommend the read.
It starts out with the hero contemplating the birth of his brother's new baby.
Ethan had married Merida a few months ago, though only because she was pregnant. Abe had, along with his father, signed off on the contract that would ensure that the new Mrs Devereux and her infant would be well provided for when they eventually divorced.
Okay, so less of a romantic, more of a cynic.
Enter stage right, the voluptuous, sweet nanny/friend to the H’s new, “eventually to be divorced” SIL. Little Cinders is an orphan, but we don’t get much detail.
Prince Cynical sees her and takes out for a day in New York which is charming.
Not much happens except she takes care of the new plot moppet which is more difficult than most, and Little Cinders finds out that he has an arrangement with a woman to be his beard. No, not THAT kind of a beard, but a beard to imply he has some sense of stability. It didn’t make much sense, but if it’s sense I wanted, well, huh.
They finally kiss, and he can tell she’s untouched. They kiss some more and he wants to take her to Cabo San Lucas, but she just can’t do it because she’s a good girl and she’s upset about his “sordid” non-sexual affair. She thinks he’s lying, and he grants why she should think he’s lying.
They kiss and grope a little more because they can’t help it.
‘You’ll be telling me soon that you’re saving yourself for marriage.’
She’d never really thought of it like that, but that was what Abe did—he made her explore who she was.
‘I suppose I am.’
He looked suitably aghast.
Prince Cynical leaves her to brood while she pines. Some Christmas magic happens, and the h is given a Cinderella makeover and goes to theball party with theprince hero. The hero gives a speech about his dying father which is quite sweet. Turns out Dad was a rogue with the ladies as well, but he was a gentleman rogue.
‘The roses were Jobe’s idea. He wanted each woman to have a flower from him tonight. He was aware that some of you will have received roses from him personally over the years...’ It was a slight allusion to Jobe’s philandering tendencies, but it was said in the kindest way.
‘He would like you to accept one more, with his love and thanks.’
There was a pause and, Naomi guessed, there might be some women in this room who would be pressing the bloom they held in their hands between pages tonight. She would be, for his was a life to remember, as was this night.
Very low angst. For a dreaded minute I didn’t think we were get any evil OW action except for offpage, then WHAM!
Naomi, with her new and fragile confidence emerging, truly had no idea of the snake pit lurking beneath the well-dressed tables or the daggers that were being thrown from behind frozen smiles.
Prince Cynical appointed a fairy godmother to watch out for the heroine, but she got waylaid by an old beau. While in the ladies room, the evil OW accosts her. I wish I could say she slapped little Cinders, but it was far worse.
she looked down at Naomi’s full figure ‘...he’s scraping the barrel right now. Maybe he’s having a fat phase. Then again, as my friend just said when she saw the two of you dancing, it’s always so much harder to get the vehicle serviced when it’s snowing.’
OUCH! I don’t even know what this, it’s always so much harder to get the vehicle serviced when it’s snowing.’ means, but what a bitch.
She runs, cries off all her makeup which makes me wonder what kind of cut-rate beauty parlor they took her to, loses her shoe, and he proposes. He gets oral gratification and she goes to bed still a virgin. I kind of wish that CM had titled this “She Could Wear White”.
All in all, pretty sweet. The beta disguised as alpha hero goes from Mr. Grumpy to Prince Charming pretty quickly. Are they in love? How and why? All I know is the author said so so I'm going with it.
I found the heroine's friend and the hero's brother a little annoying as they were so protective of the h and judgmental of the H. Are they worth a read? I actually want Felicia's story.
It starts out with the hero contemplating the birth of his brother's new baby.
Ethan had married Merida a few months ago, though only because she was pregnant. Abe had, along with his father, signed off on the contract that would ensure that the new Mrs Devereux and her infant would be well provided for when they eventually divorced.
Okay, so less of a romantic, more of a cynic.
Enter stage right, the voluptuous, sweet nanny/friend to the H’s new, “eventually to be divorced” SIL. Little Cinders is an orphan, but we don’t get much detail.
Prince Cynical sees her and takes out for a day in New York which is charming.
Not much happens except she takes care of the new plot moppet which is more difficult than most, and Little Cinders finds out that he has an arrangement with a woman to be his beard. No, not THAT kind of a beard, but a beard to imply he has some sense of stability. It didn’t make much sense, but if it’s sense I wanted, well, huh.
They finally kiss, and he can tell she’s untouched. They kiss some more and he wants to take her to Cabo San Lucas, but she just can’t do it because she’s a good girl and she’s upset about his “sordid” non-sexual affair. She thinks he’s lying, and he grants why she should think he’s lying.
They kiss and grope a little more because they can’t help it.
‘You’ll be telling me soon that you’re saving yourself for marriage.’
She’d never really thought of it like that, but that was what Abe did—he made her explore who she was.
‘I suppose I am.’
He looked suitably aghast.
Prince Cynical leaves her to brood while she pines. Some Christmas magic happens, and the h is given a Cinderella makeover and goes to the
‘The roses were Jobe’s idea. He wanted each woman to have a flower from him tonight. He was aware that some of you will have received roses from him personally over the years...’ It was a slight allusion to Jobe’s philandering tendencies, but it was said in the kindest way.
‘He would like you to accept one more, with his love and thanks.’
There was a pause and, Naomi guessed, there might be some women in this room who would be pressing the bloom they held in their hands between pages tonight. She would be, for his was a life to remember, as was this night.
Very low angst. For a dreaded minute I didn’t think we were get any evil OW action except for offpage, then WHAM!
Naomi, with her new and fragile confidence emerging, truly had no idea of the snake pit lurking beneath the well-dressed tables or the daggers that were being thrown from behind frozen smiles.
Prince Cynical appointed a fairy godmother to watch out for the heroine, but she got waylaid by an old beau. While in the ladies room, the evil OW accosts her. I wish I could say she slapped little Cinders, but it was far worse.
she looked down at Naomi’s full figure ‘...he’s scraping the barrel right now. Maybe he’s having a fat phase. Then again, as my friend just said when she saw the two of you dancing, it’s always so much harder to get the vehicle serviced when it’s snowing.’
OUCH! I don’t even know what this, it’s always so much harder to get the vehicle serviced when it’s snowing.’ means, but what a bitch.
She runs, cries off all her makeup which makes me wonder what kind of cut-rate beauty parlor they took her to, loses her shoe, and he proposes. He gets oral gratification and she goes to bed still a virgin. I kind of wish that CM had titled this “She Could Wear White”.
All in all, pretty sweet. The beta disguised as alpha hero goes from Mr. Grumpy to Prince Charming pretty quickly. Are they in love? How and why? All I know is the author said so so I'm going with it.
I found the heroine's friend and the hero's brother a little annoying as they were so protective of the h and judgmental of the H. Are they worth a read? I actually want Felicia's story.
November 5, 2018
Sweet Cinderella Christmas story. Wish it had an epilogue with babies. Both hero and heroine are super nice.
November 8, 2018
“the answer’s no.’
He didn’t get it, he just didn’t. ‘I’ve told you, I’m no good at relationships.’
‘Then you’re no good for me.”
I loved the heroine. <3 She was real sweetheart and has a backbone. I liked the hero. He looked cold but not with her. And I loved the book. It’s little bit old fashioned and sugary sweet but it reminded the fairy tales. Maybe I have needed a fairy tale and it came right on time. :)
He didn’t get it, he just didn’t. ‘I’ve told you, I’m no good at relationships.’
‘Then you’re no good for me.”
I loved the heroine. <3 She was real sweetheart and has a backbone. I liked the hero. He looked cold but not with her. And I loved the book. It’s little bit old fashioned and sugary sweet but it reminded the fairy tales. Maybe I have needed a fairy tale and it came right on time. :)
November 10, 2018
ARC provided by NetGalley and Harlequin in exchange for an honest review.
Rating 3.5
Abe was a closed off and cold individual. A Mother who was all about herself and not nurturing at all, she died when Abe was nine years old. And his Father wasn't much better a man who was distant and never really there contributed to the issue that Abe had. Now Abe's Father is terminally ill and he's struggling with the fear of losing his father and what if's.
Naomi is a sweet, caring and strong heroine. She grew up in foster care but she instead of making it a negative she found a passion for baby's/children/family in becoming a nanny for newborns and helping the new Moms. We open with her arriving to help her best friend, Merida, with her new baby. Her best friend is married to Ethan, who is Abe's brother.
Naomi is staying at Ethan and Abe's Fathers home (Ethan and Merida home is being remodel so they are temporarily staying at Ethan's Father's home). Naomi, sweet and caring meets cold and closed off Abe. They meet when she mistakes him for the pizza man. Abe arrives upset as he just visited his father at the hospital. His mood wasn't the best but when he meets Naomi she seemed to lift his spirits. And that is what Naomi does to Abe's she melts his heart and softens him. Naomi finds Abe fascinating and is drawn to him. As the two spend time together feelings develop as well as some issues of a "other woman". Abes fights his feelings and attraction. Naomi works through and finds the truth out about things about Abe.
This was a sweet romance. It was a nice and above average read. Not great but good story line and pacing.
Rating 3.5
Abe was a closed off and cold individual. A Mother who was all about herself and not nurturing at all, she died when Abe was nine years old. And his Father wasn't much better a man who was distant and never really there contributed to the issue that Abe had. Now Abe's Father is terminally ill and he's struggling with the fear of losing his father and what if's.
Naomi is a sweet, caring and strong heroine. She grew up in foster care but she instead of making it a negative she found a passion for baby's/children/family in becoming a nanny for newborns and helping the new Moms. We open with her arriving to help her best friend, Merida, with her new baby. Her best friend is married to Ethan, who is Abe's brother.
Naomi is staying at Ethan and Abe's Fathers home (Ethan and Merida home is being remodel so they are temporarily staying at Ethan's Father's home). Naomi, sweet and caring meets cold and closed off Abe. They meet when she mistakes him for the pizza man. Abe arrives upset as he just visited his father at the hospital. His mood wasn't the best but when he meets Naomi she seemed to lift his spirits. And that is what Naomi does to Abe's she melts his heart and softens him. Naomi finds Abe fascinating and is drawn to him. As the two spend time together feelings develop as well as some issues of a "other woman". Abes fights his feelings and attraction. Naomi works through and finds the truth out about things about Abe.
This was a sweet romance. It was a nice and above average read. Not great but good story line and pacing.
December 10, 2018
This was a lovely seasonal romance that brought about the magic of the New York holiday scene. The 2 MC's were the perfect match.An air of melancholy pervaded the story though with the hero's terminally ill father.
The ending was tender and sweet.
Missed an epilogue :(.
The ending was tender and sweet.
Missed an epilogue :(.
December 29, 2019
So very different and oh so good
I was afraid to read this. I bought it in April but put it off and then I heard what a man#@ he was and I thought no way but this ended up being very sweet. And was such a different hero that I was stunned at the change in him. He had a fake relationship with an ex lover who he paid to be his pretend partner. They stopped sleeping together three years before , before the contract even, and it was just a convenience to him. He did date other women too but Candice was always there. She was not a nice woman of course. They never are but I digress.The heroine is a friend of Abe's brothers wife Merida, from a previous book I did read, and she is to be a nanny. They meet and it's pretty much lust at first sight, on his part and she who is a virgin and never been kissed is enthralled with him. It's very slow moving, not that passionate really but it was so good. He starts to change his life with her in it and she fights it alot. I loved the ending and I definitely will read this again. It's pretty swoonworthy for me and it had the best message about family. It was really well done in spite of his past. And the heroine got to wear white on her wedding day too which I thought was so sweet. I wish there had been a longer epilogue, may be even a second book. I just loved it. Definitely a keeper for me. Just say ahhhh.
I was afraid to read this. I bought it in April but put it off and then I heard what a man#@ he was and I thought no way but this ended up being very sweet. And was such a different hero that I was stunned at the change in him. He had a fake relationship with an ex lover who he paid to be his pretend partner. They stopped sleeping together three years before , before the contract even, and it was just a convenience to him. He did date other women too but Candice was always there. She was not a nice woman of course. They never are but I digress.The heroine is a friend of Abe's brothers wife Merida, from a previous book I did read, and she is to be a nanny. They meet and it's pretty much lust at first sight, on his part and she who is a virgin and never been kissed is enthralled with him. It's very slow moving, not that passionate really but it was so good. He starts to change his life with her in it and she fights it alot. I loved the ending and I definitely will read this again. It's pretty swoonworthy for me and it had the best message about family. It was really well done in spite of his past. And the heroine got to wear white on her wedding day too which I thought was so sweet. I wish there had been a longer epilogue, may be even a second book. I just loved it. Definitely a keeper for me. Just say ahhhh.
November 12, 2018
Sweet but a little slow in the romance department.
November 8, 2018
3.75***
Considering I didn't like the hero Abe Devereux of what was shown of him in the previous book --The Innocent's Shock Pregnancy (TISP) that was about his younger brother Ethan-- to my surprise I liked him a lot in this book. It's because CM did a great job of walking us through his feelings and thoughts that were very emotional and showed us that the most closed-off, cold and ruthless of the Devereux men comprising of him, his father and Ethan, did have a human side. I also loved the deep emotional connection that he and the heroine, Naomi Hamilton, had throughout the book, which made it an enjoyable read even though I found the end too rushed. I would have enjoyed the book much more had the author made the two go through a little angst instead making everything alright in no time.
Nevertheless, in TISP we were told Abe cheated on his girlfriend, Candice, often. It was later we find out that his relationship with Candice was a contract business relationship where she would be available to make a public appearance with him whenever he needed to appease the shareholders. In this book we find out they hadn't had a sexual relationship for years.
Abe's mother, who died when he was nine, was a beautiful but selfish & cruel woman. She only used her two sons only for happy family photo-ops and neglected them otherwise. With his father, Jobe, also not a hands on father, it was Abe who looked out for his brother who was younger to him by four years. In the bargain, he closed himself from everyone and because of his inability to talk he has a strained relationship with his father and brother. Now, his father is terminally ill, but he's not ready to let go of the only person he's admired all his life. His thoughts and fears regarding his father, especially, the scene where he watches him sleep & calls the nurse thinking he'd stopped breathing, moved me to tears.
Naomi too was a very sweet and caring heroine. She is a maternity nanny who helps new mothers until the permanent nanny takes over. Having grown up in foster homes and with a job being such that she's generally required to stay for six to eight weeks with the new family, she's never had a home of her own. All her possessions go wherever she goes in two suitcases. She lives a very lonely, nomadic life and yearns to be loved and belong to a family. Her loneliness was so palpable it moved me deeply. And, yet she was a cheerful person and went with the flow of things.
The book starts off with where TISP ended with both Jobe and Merida in hospital -- Jobe trying out an experimental treatment for his advanced tumour whereas Merida gave birth to a baby girl, Ava. Since Merida is the closest Naomi has for family, she goes to New York to help Merida with the baby although she's not comfortable that Ethan & Merida are insisting on paying her.
Ethan calls his brother and ask him a personal favor --something which both brothers never ask of each other-- to personally pick up Naomi from the airport & bring her to the hospital. However, as Abe is busy with work, he gets his P.A. to arrange a driver to pick up Naomi. They eventually meet when he drops in late at night at his father's place as its closer to the hospital than his place. With Ethan and Merida's house under renovation they're temporarily staying at his father's place.
Having ordered a pizza for herself Naomi was startled when instead of the pizza guy, a gorgeous, sexy, expensively-dressed man walks in through the front door. On realizing who he was, she invites him to share her pizza, but the sullen man refuses. But then, he changes his mind and accepts. Having just returned after visiting his ailing father, Abe is terribly upset and suddenly finds sharing pizza and conversing with the dark-haired beauty dressed in her pyjamas very appealing.
Before he knows it he's doing things he's never done before, sitting in front of the fireplace and talking about things he's never shared with anyone before, even to his own family, and also giving deep consideration to Naomi's query on what kind of uncle he would like to be to Ava when he hadn't bothered to even give his niece a glimpse & had is PA pick up a gift for her. Next day, he's cancelling his meetings so that he plays New York guide to Naomi, shopping with her and teaching her how to warm her fingers with pretzels and indulging her wish to feed squirrels. He even ended up kissing her when he would never even hold hands with his partners in public.
For Naomi, it was her first kiss from a man who is famed for being a playboy. Because of her nature of her work, she never dated and having been a spare part all her life, she feared if she got too involved with the family she worked she'd fall in love with them which would make it even hard on her when it was time to leave. But, here she was not only kissing the man, she was also falling for him. But, then she comes across the devastating truth about him and Candice. I loved that moment when Abe realizes Naomi knew about Candice. And, he, who never bothered explaining his actions to any woman before, wants to tell her the truth but Naomi wants them both to forget what happened between them, which both weren't able to.
Nonetheless, Abe tries to distance himself from Naomi, who misses him and finds herself defending him whenever Merida talks disparagingly about him. Abe too, finds that the only person with whom he can share his fears about his father's health is Naomi and it is she who helps him connect with his new niece. That little night scene where the two were trying to put baby Ava to sleep was very sweet. I also loved the scene where Abe gets a wisp of Naomi going out for the evening and tries his best to pry from her where and with whom she was going, but Naomi refuses to tell him. Also, loved how he ropes in his father's help to get Ethan and Merida on his side as he planned on taking Naomi to the Christmas ball --which also happens to falls on her birthday-- and knew because of his wild reputation, his brother and sister-in-law would never approve of Naomi getting involved with him. And, Jobe, thrilled his son has fallen for sweet Naomi is only too happy to help. Naomi allows herself to spend one evening with the prince of her dreams who gives her a delightful Cinderella evening but then it ends badly when a jealous Candice unleashes her poison on Naomi.
As I said earlier till this part the story was going great for me, but the end was a big let-down. Things got sorted too soon. Moreover, there was no epilogue. Nevertheless, I loved Abe & Naomi and I loved Jobe. Loved the scenes between him, Abe and Naomi and the emotional wedding scene in his hospital room.
Also, liked the appearance of Ethan & Merida, although they were very prickly toward Abe. I also like the other secondary characters in the book - the housekeeper-driver couple, Barb & Bernard, who're very concerned about Jobe's failing health, Felicia - the boutique assistant, and also Ethan's friend, Sheikh Khalid, Prince of Al Kazhan, who physically appears in this book. Looks like the next book in the series is on him, which I'm looking forward to read. By the brief conversation between Felicia & this guy, Leander, at the ball, looks like there's a book on the two of them, too.
Overall, this one was a nice and emotional read that could have had a better ending.
Considering I didn't like the hero Abe Devereux of what was shown of him in the previous book --The Innocent's Shock Pregnancy (TISP) that was about his younger brother Ethan-- to my surprise I liked him a lot in this book. It's because CM did a great job of walking us through his feelings and thoughts that were very emotional and showed us that the most closed-off, cold and ruthless of the Devereux men comprising of him, his father and Ethan, did have a human side. I also loved the deep emotional connection that he and the heroine, Naomi Hamilton, had throughout the book, which made it an enjoyable read even though I found the end too rushed. I would have enjoyed the book much more had the author made the two go through a little angst instead making everything alright in no time.
Nevertheless, in TISP we were told Abe cheated on his girlfriend, Candice, often. It was later we find out that his relationship with Candice was a contract business relationship where she would be available to make a public appearance with him whenever he needed to appease the shareholders. In this book we find out they hadn't had a sexual relationship for years.
Abe's mother, who died when he was nine, was a beautiful but selfish & cruel woman. She only used her two sons only for happy family photo-ops and neglected them otherwise. With his father, Jobe, also not a hands on father, it was Abe who looked out for his brother who was younger to him by four years. In the bargain, he closed himself from everyone and because of his inability to talk he has a strained relationship with his father and brother. Now, his father is terminally ill, but he's not ready to let go of the only person he's admired all his life. His thoughts and fears regarding his father, especially, the scene where he watches him sleep & calls the nurse thinking he'd stopped breathing, moved me to tears.
Naomi too was a very sweet and caring heroine. She is a maternity nanny who helps new mothers until the permanent nanny takes over. Having grown up in foster homes and with a job being such that she's generally required to stay for six to eight weeks with the new family, she's never had a home of her own. All her possessions go wherever she goes in two suitcases. She lives a very lonely, nomadic life and yearns to be loved and belong to a family. Her loneliness was so palpable it moved me deeply. And, yet she was a cheerful person and went with the flow of things.
The book starts off with where TISP ended with both Jobe and Merida in hospital -- Jobe trying out an experimental treatment for his advanced tumour whereas Merida gave birth to a baby girl, Ava. Since Merida is the closest Naomi has for family, she goes to New York to help Merida with the baby although she's not comfortable that Ethan & Merida are insisting on paying her.
Ethan calls his brother and ask him a personal favor --something which both brothers never ask of each other-- to personally pick up Naomi from the airport & bring her to the hospital. However, as Abe is busy with work, he gets his P.A. to arrange a driver to pick up Naomi. They eventually meet when he drops in late at night at his father's place as its closer to the hospital than his place. With Ethan and Merida's house under renovation they're temporarily staying at his father's place.
Having ordered a pizza for herself Naomi was startled when instead of the pizza guy, a gorgeous, sexy, expensively-dressed man walks in through the front door. On realizing who he was, she invites him to share her pizza, but the sullen man refuses. But then, he changes his mind and accepts. Having just returned after visiting his ailing father, Abe is terribly upset and suddenly finds sharing pizza and conversing with the dark-haired beauty dressed in her pyjamas very appealing.
Before he knows it he's doing things he's never done before, sitting in front of the fireplace and talking about things he's never shared with anyone before, even to his own family, and also giving deep consideration to Naomi's query on what kind of uncle he would like to be to Ava when he hadn't bothered to even give his niece a glimpse & had is PA pick up a gift for her. Next day, he's cancelling his meetings so that he plays New York guide to Naomi, shopping with her and teaching her how to warm her fingers with pretzels and indulging her wish to feed squirrels. He even ended up kissing her when he would never even hold hands with his partners in public.
For Naomi, it was her first kiss from a man who is famed for being a playboy. Because of her nature of her work, she never dated and having been a spare part all her life, she feared if she got too involved with the family she worked she'd fall in love with them which would make it even hard on her when it was time to leave. But, here she was not only kissing the man, she was also falling for him. But, then she comes across the devastating truth about him and Candice. I loved that moment when Abe realizes Naomi knew about Candice. And, he, who never bothered explaining his actions to any woman before, wants to tell her the truth but Naomi wants them both to forget what happened between them, which both weren't able to.
Nonetheless, Abe tries to distance himself from Naomi, who misses him and finds herself defending him whenever Merida talks disparagingly about him. Abe too, finds that the only person with whom he can share his fears about his father's health is Naomi and it is she who helps him connect with his new niece. That little night scene where the two were trying to put baby Ava to sleep was very sweet. I also loved the scene where Abe gets a wisp of Naomi going out for the evening and tries his best to pry from her where and with whom she was going, but Naomi refuses to tell him. Also, loved how he ropes in his father's help to get Ethan and Merida on his side as he planned on taking Naomi to the Christmas ball --which also happens to falls on her birthday-- and knew because of his wild reputation, his brother and sister-in-law would never approve of Naomi getting involved with him. And, Jobe, thrilled his son has fallen for sweet Naomi is only too happy to help. Naomi allows herself to spend one evening with the prince of her dreams who gives her a delightful Cinderella evening but then it ends badly when a jealous Candice unleashes her poison on Naomi.
As I said earlier till this part the story was going great for me, but the end was a big let-down. Things got sorted too soon. Moreover, there was no epilogue. Nevertheless, I loved Abe & Naomi and I loved Jobe. Loved the scenes between him, Abe and Naomi and the emotional wedding scene in his hospital room.
Also, liked the appearance of Ethan & Merida, although they were very prickly toward Abe. I also like the other secondary characters in the book - the housekeeper-driver couple, Barb & Bernard, who're very concerned about Jobe's failing health, Felicia - the boutique assistant, and also Ethan's friend, Sheikh Khalid, Prince of Al Kazhan, who physically appears in this book. Looks like the next book in the series is on him, which I'm looking forward to read. By the brief conversation between Felicia & this guy, Leander, at the ball, looks like there's a book on the two of them, too.
Overall, this one was a nice and emotional read that could have had a better ending.
November 19, 2018
The Billionaire’s Christmas Cinderella by Carol Marinelli is a sweet and sensual holiday romance for a hardened businessman and the baby nanny who captures his heart!
Naomi has come to New York to help her friend Merida with her newborn baby. She specializes in care for new babies and has no home base, moving from one job to the next but never sticking around for long. She grew up in a series of foster homes so she knows that getting attached only leads to heartbreak. Staying in the Devereux family home while Merida is in the hospital, she soon meets Merida’s brother-in-law, Abe.
Abe isn’t expecting any visitors when he decides to stay overnight at his father’s house. There have been a lot of changes in his life lately, with his brother getting married and having a baby with his new wife, and his father dying in the hospital. When he discovers it’s Naomi, Merida’s friend and the new nanny, he finds himself intrigued by her. Her innocence and fresh outlook on life strike a chord with him, and he finds himself doing things he never thought he’d enjoy, like shopping for baby gifts and seeing the Christmas sights with her. And he finds himself confiding in her too. Can a sweet lady break the shell of loneliness around a cold billionaire’s heart?
For more of this review please visit Harlequin Junkie: http://harlequinjunkie.com/review-the...
A copy of this story was provided by the publisher for review.
Naomi has come to New York to help her friend Merida with her newborn baby. She specializes in care for new babies and has no home base, moving from one job to the next but never sticking around for long. She grew up in a series of foster homes so she knows that getting attached only leads to heartbreak. Staying in the Devereux family home while Merida is in the hospital, she soon meets Merida’s brother-in-law, Abe.
Abe isn’t expecting any visitors when he decides to stay overnight at his father’s house. There have been a lot of changes in his life lately, with his brother getting married and having a baby with his new wife, and his father dying in the hospital. When he discovers it’s Naomi, Merida’s friend and the new nanny, he finds himself intrigued by her. Her innocence and fresh outlook on life strike a chord with him, and he finds himself doing things he never thought he’d enjoy, like shopping for baby gifts and seeing the Christmas sights with her. And he finds himself confiding in her too. Can a sweet lady break the shell of loneliness around a cold billionaire’s heart?
For more of this review please visit Harlequin Junkie: http://harlequinjunkie.com/review-the...
A copy of this story was provided by the publisher for review.
March 15, 2019
Reading this book as a fairy tale is a dream! Reading it as a Contemporary Romance was not so pleasant. Allow me to explain:
I'm a reader who climbs inside the heroine's mind and goes along for the ride. But with some books, I have to detach myself and read the book as an outside observer. Reading this book as a pure fairy tale with a handsome Hero and a heroine who is good and kind gave me everything I was looking for in a good book. There were issues with the manwhore Hero that ruined this as a CR. I think I'll review this book as each one.
Cinderella Fairy Tale:
Naomi is an orphan and having been brought up in the foster system, she has never really had a home. She is in NY visiting her best friend Merida and is there to take care of Merida's newborn daughter. Naomi is a newborn nanny and her job is to help care for the new mommy and baby and teach the mom how to care for her new baby.
Naomi meets Abe, the brother of the Hero in book 1 The Innocent's Shock Pregnancy. Abe has a bit of a manwhore past and is known to be cold and ruthless in business. But his father is in the hospital dying and he is feeling sad and alone. He meets Naomi while he is staying at his father's house and they strike up a friendship. They can both talk easily to each other, are insanely attracted, and tell each other secrets they have never told anyone. Abe takes Naomi on a day trip around NYC and it turns out to be the best day of her life, ended with a kiss (her first). The author does a great job showing us the magic of NY during Christmas. The next day, Naomi finds out that Abe is in a committed relationship and she feels lied to and betrayed. **Spoilerish**Abe's arrangement with the OW is purely for looks. They are not a couple and only attend events to give the board the illusion that Abe is settled down. Abe confesses the truth about his relationship and Naomi tells him that they can't be together because his relationship is too sordid for her. I loved that she had standards and wouldn't settle and honestly, he was pretty skeevy. She knew what she deserved, and wouldn't settle and I just loved Naomi!
Abe realizes that he needs to change some things in his life and set some things right. He invites Naomi to the annual ball, where she runs out after a run-in with the evil OW, loses her shoe and he chases her down and asks her to marry him. They live HEA. Reading this as a Fairy Tale, was a romantic treat!
The Contemporary Romance:
I was worried about Abe because in book 1 the Hero Ethan, speculates about his brother and that he is a rake, even beyond Ethan's standards. This did not bode well for me. Here is a rundown of my issues with Abe and the romance. I'll put it all in a spoiler tag.
And so, I'm giving the Fairy Tale version of this story 4 stars, the CR version gets 2 stars, averaging out to 3 stars from me.
I'm a reader who climbs inside the heroine's mind and goes along for the ride. But with some books, I have to detach myself and read the book as an outside observer. Reading this book as a pure fairy tale with a handsome Hero and a heroine who is good and kind gave me everything I was looking for in a good book. There were issues with the manwhore Hero that ruined this as a CR. I think I'll review this book as each one.
Cinderella Fairy Tale:
Naomi is an orphan and having been brought up in the foster system, she has never really had a home. She is in NY visiting her best friend Merida and is there to take care of Merida's newborn daughter. Naomi is a newborn nanny and her job is to help care for the new mommy and baby and teach the mom how to care for her new baby.
Naomi meets Abe, the brother of the Hero in book 1 The Innocent's Shock Pregnancy. Abe has a bit of a manwhore past and is known to be cold and ruthless in business. But his father is in the hospital dying and he is feeling sad and alone. He meets Naomi while he is staying at his father's house and they strike up a friendship. They can both talk easily to each other, are insanely attracted, and tell each other secrets they have never told anyone. Abe takes Naomi on a day trip around NYC and it turns out to be the best day of her life, ended with a kiss (her first). The author does a great job showing us the magic of NY during Christmas. The next day, Naomi finds out that Abe is in a committed relationship and she feels lied to and betrayed. **Spoilerish**Abe's arrangement with the OW is purely for looks. They are not a couple and only attend events to give the board the illusion that Abe is settled down. Abe confesses the truth about his relationship and Naomi tells him that they can't be together because his relationship is too sordid for her. I loved that she had standards and wouldn't settle and honestly, he was pretty skeevy. She knew what she deserved, and wouldn't settle and I just loved Naomi!
Abe realizes that he needs to change some things in his life and set some things right. He invites Naomi to the annual ball, where she runs out after a run-in with the evil OW, loses her shoe and he chases her down and asks her to marry him. They live HEA. Reading this as a Fairy Tale, was a romantic treat!
The Contemporary Romance:
I was worried about Abe because in book 1 the Hero Ethan, speculates about his brother and that he is a rake, even beyond Ethan's standards. This did not bode well for me. Here is a rundown of my issues with Abe and the romance. I'll put it all in a spoiler tag.
And so, I'm giving the Fairy Tale version of this story 4 stars, the CR version gets 2 stars, averaging out to 3 stars from me.
November 8, 2018
Abe Devereux is the elder brother of the Ethan Devereux ( H in Innocent's Shocked Pregnancy). Abe was the the brother who protected Ethan from the Mother's neglectful ways as a result his callous attitude on women evolved. He had no heart... He was a gorgeous scrooge. Naomi was the h with a soft heart, precious and rare. She was a Birth Nanny and also a friend of Merida (Ethan's wife). From the moment this couple met life changed for them. Abe's black heart started to heal and Naomi was awoken from dormancy. Abe was her firsts in many ways and I adore they did everything right. Naiomi was a fresh air for everyone. She warmed Abe's heart, she bridge the gap between Jobe and Abe, she was the reason Felicia went to the ball and met Leander (looking fwd to their story) and a friend to Merida's distress over her insecurities of Ethan's love.
Indeed there was a Christmas ball/Naomi's birthday and indeed this Cinderella lost her shoe but it was due to distress when she discovered the OW was still very much involved with Abe, a real bitch. Abe did find the shoe, saw her running from the ball. he found her and slip it back on her feet. Her true Prince Charming! Sigh! I was truly happy that they found love and sex was after marriage and it was the perfect ending of the loneliness to a new beginning of the relationship in the New Year. I'm also grateful, Jobe was able to see his sons healed again and loved the way he wasn't.
Indeed there was a Christmas ball/Naomi's birthday and indeed this Cinderella lost her shoe but it was due to distress when she discovered the OW was still very much involved with Abe, a real bitch. Abe did find the shoe, saw her running from the ball. he found her and slip it back on her feet. Her true Prince Charming! Sigh! I was truly happy that they found love and sex was after marriage and it was the perfect ending of the loneliness to a new beginning of the relationship in the New Year. I'm also grateful, Jobe was able to see his sons healed again and loved the way he wasn't.
October 3, 2018
Naomi is just adorable, ‘oh, I’d love to see it…’ Naomi said, but it came out wrong. ‘I meant Greenwich Village is on my to-do list…’Not the view from his bedroom window." Abe is just a charming man at times, ‘no,’ he said immediately, his voice dripping with sarcasm. ‘We’ll have separate rooms and play charades at night. Of course we’ll sleep together.’ I liked this book, I loved Abe.
July 30, 2019
Cute, but he wasn’t rough and tough enough for me 😂
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 13, 2019
Re -read and it is an okay read, the H has a paid fiancee, so I'm not sure if this is consider cheating for others ( he isn't sleeping with the OW) the h was a virgin. There was a dying father, but their romance drama is low. I still like the 1st book of this series.
The other Devereux story was an enjoyable read, so, i was expecting the same enjoyment with this book. Maybe i need to re-read it some other time to give it a fair review.
I wish the sheikh have his own story, and I'm not sure, but, does felicia and a guy leander in the Christmas ball have their own book? I think I'm more tune up with these characters story than the MC's
The other Devereux story was an enjoyable read, so, i was expecting the same enjoyment with this book. Maybe i need to re-read it some other time to give it a fair review.
I wish the sheikh have his own story, and I'm not sure, but, does felicia and a guy leander in the Christmas ball have their own book? I think I'm more tune up with these characters story than the MC's
November 8, 2018
4.5 stars
I absolutely loved this , the MC's were so great together, the chemistry was so high between them . He was her first in everything and she was his true love ,the other characters described him as a (bastard) but I didn't found him like that he was the opposite he loves his father ,brother and his adorable baby niece (Ava) beautiful name , and he was so good with the h , I loved it and can't wait for Khalid's story (claimed for the Sheikhs shock son)
But I wanted an epilogue 😡 with babies!
C.M next time I want my cute cheesy epilogue!
I absolutely loved this , the MC's were so great together, the chemistry was so high between them . He was her first in everything and she was his true love ,the other characters described him as a (bastard) but I didn't found him like that he was the opposite he loves his father ,brother and his adorable baby niece (Ava) beautiful name , and he was so good with the h , I loved it and can't wait for Khalid's story (claimed for the Sheikhs shock son)
But I wanted an epilogue 😡 with babies!
C.M next time I want my cute cheesy epilogue!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 2, 2018
Abe is a playboy who does not believe in love and Naomi is a very innocent heroine. Naomi comes to work as a nanny to take care of her friend and her friend’s baby. While there, she meets Abe and they start to spend some time together. I liked that Abe never mistreats Naomi or thinks that her innocence is a lie. From the very beginning, Abe starts to fall in love with Naomi and he begins to clean his act. Though he keeps on denying his interest in Naomi, he continuously looks out for her and even misses work to spend time with her. There is a bit of Christmas and New Year’s celebration which makes this read a lot more romantic. I really recommend this book as it was very refreshing to see a strong heroine and a hero willing to go the extra mile for her. Great read. I received a free copy via NetGalley.
November 2, 2018
Abe is a billionaire who doesn't show his emotions. Then he meets, Naomi, his brother's nanny and everything changes. A fun tale of how two people determined never to fall in love found each other. Thank you, Netgalley.
March 25, 2024
I'm unsure how to rate this. I think if I had read this a few years ago I would have found it dull and repetitive (there were obvious errors that would have benefited from an editor but did not bother me to much). Instead this was a bit of a deviation from the romances I've been reading recently. The writing was over the top and romantic. The romance happens quickly. It was nice to go back to the sort of book that I had loved for so long. While I would not read it again, it was a nice fun read.
October 4, 2018
**ARC provided to NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**
Now this was is the type of Harlequin Presents a reader can enjoy. Interesting unique plot and likeable characters with a dash of romance and hot steamy sex. A definite 4 star book.
Now this was is the type of Harlequin Presents a reader can enjoy. Interesting unique plot and likeable characters with a dash of romance and hot steamy sex. A definite 4 star book.
December 29, 2018
Abe Deveraux has a lot going on his life his father is dying and Prince Khalid had just added on millions to their previous business deal. Naomi is Merida's friend, but nanny to her new born baby Ava. When Abe Deveraux comes to talk to his brother Ethan he's in no mood for small talk with nanny Naomi. But then he ends up sharing a pizza, where Naomi talks to Abe about her life. what was remarkable it moved me, Naomi had managed to twist Abe's heart in no way no one else could, and a lot had tried. She twisted a heart that Abe hadn't even known he had. Carol Marinelli is one of my favourite story tellers from Mills and Boon. I recommend The Billionaire's Christmas Cinderella as it has a fabulous storyline attached to it.
November 20, 2018
Enjoyable romantic read.
November 20, 2018
I'm giving this one 4.5 stars because I really just loved it. A Cinderella story set in a snowy New York at Christmas, filled with emotions and heartbreak. Couldn't pull myself away till I finished. Yes, it was a typical M & B romance, yes it was filled with angst, yes it's been done before. ❤❤❤
November 17, 2018
The Billionaire's Christmas Cinderella by Carol is the story of Abe and Naomi.
Abe is a distant cold person due to his mother's lack of love for him and his father who seem to be indifferent to them. Abe did have a brother who he tried to protect. Naomi grew up in foster care but she isn't bitter and has went forward to help new mothers with their babies for the first few months of their birth. When her friend is about to have a baby she goes to help her and meets her friends brother in-law, Abe. Naomi is attracted to Abe but tries to keep her heart in check after being warned that he isn't someone that would be in a relationship. Abe is thrown off by Naomi, who is everything he didn't know he wanted. Abe tries to resit Naomi's lure but its a game he isn't winning.
Abe is a distant cold person due to his mother's lack of love for him and his father who seem to be indifferent to them. Abe did have a brother who he tried to protect. Naomi grew up in foster care but she isn't bitter and has went forward to help new mothers with their babies for the first few months of their birth. When her friend is about to have a baby she goes to help her and meets her friends brother in-law, Abe. Naomi is attracted to Abe but tries to keep her heart in check after being warned that he isn't someone that would be in a relationship. Abe is thrown off by Naomi, who is everything he didn't know he wanted. Abe tries to resit Naomi's lure but its a game he isn't winning.
December 16, 2018
Lame. Lame. Lame.
What an incredibly massive let down.
Mills and Boon "Modern" I don't think so. Virgin bride who marries in white? Come one. This story has been done like a turkey dinner.
For starters the cover image in not even remotely related to the description of the woman in the story.
The MAJOR issue for me what the self fat shaming! Oh my god! Could you send a modern woman any further back? I mean, yeah it's refreshing to see a curvy girl get the billionaire playboy but this was so poorly executed that I spent the afternoon cringing.
Perhaps I'm asking too much of Mills and Boon, but a little more effort, PLEASE. And a lot more respect.
What an incredibly massive let down.
Mills and Boon "Modern" I don't think so. Virgin bride who marries in white? Come one. This story has been done like a turkey dinner.
For starters the cover image in not even remotely related to the description of the woman in the story.
The MAJOR issue for me what the self fat shaming! Oh my god! Could you send a modern woman any further back? I mean, yeah it's refreshing to see a curvy girl get the billionaire playboy but this was so poorly executed that I spent the afternoon cringing.
Perhaps I'm asking too much of Mills and Boon, but a little more effort, PLEASE. And a lot more respect.
May 19, 2025
Zero!
December 28, 2018
This was a sweet and lovely romance between Naomi and Abe that made me swoon quite a few times. This was a very romantic book. One of the most romantic moments of the book, was when Naomi and Abe toured New York City in all its Christmassy glory together. They were very sweet together and it was easy to see them falling for one another the more and more time passed through the book. They shared some sensual moments together that bordered one steamy. I also loved the Cinderella type flavor that the book had near the end with the ball and such. It was quite beautiful and very descriptive and felt like I was really there as could be said for majority of the book.
There were some things that I didn’t care for in this book. One was the scene where she was giving him oral pleasure to him, and his reaction was, yes due to pleasure, to force her head down on him. Yes, he may have been guiding her since she was a virgin, but it didn’t come across that way to me. That whole scene didn’t feel right in that context. It just didn’t feel like that scene fit the story that well. Another thing that wasn’t explored as much as I would have like was the emotional baggage she faced, which were some big issues. Yes, it was discussed but very much glossed over for such a huge issue and I just think that needed to be worked on more in my opinion. The third thing was that there wasn’t a lot of angst in the story. Tension, sure, but not angst, and I love angst so I was disappointed that there wasn’t hardly any in this story.
Otherwise this was a really, lovely Christmas romance with lots of sweetness, tenderness, and sensual scenes that really made the book soar. With Abe in particular I could see him fall deeper and deeper in love with Naomi and acted accordingly. I may thought the ending was a little rushed with the proposal then them getting married shortly thereafter, but I liked the stuff leading up to that with all the romance going on and such. It was a very solid read.
There were some things that I didn’t care for in this book. One was the scene where she was giving him oral pleasure to him, and his reaction was, yes due to pleasure, to force her head down on him. Yes, he may have been guiding her since she was a virgin, but it didn’t come across that way to me. That whole scene didn’t feel right in that context. It just didn’t feel like that scene fit the story that well. Another thing that wasn’t explored as much as I would have like was the emotional baggage she faced, which were some big issues. Yes, it was discussed but very much glossed over for such a huge issue and I just think that needed to be worked on more in my opinion. The third thing was that there wasn’t a lot of angst in the story. Tension, sure, but not angst, and I love angst so I was disappointed that there wasn’t hardly any in this story.
Otherwise this was a really, lovely Christmas romance with lots of sweetness, tenderness, and sensual scenes that really made the book soar. With Abe in particular I could see him fall deeper and deeper in love with Naomi and acted accordingly. I may thought the ending was a little rushed with the proposal then them getting married shortly thereafter, but I liked the stuff leading up to that with all the romance going on and such. It was a very solid read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 3, 2019
Naomi came into town to help her friend take care of her newborn baby but she was also concerned for her friend. She had heard about how her marriage came to be but her friend told her things had changed and they were madly in love. Now here she was getting ready to face the hardest journey in life meeting her partner in life yet they still don’t know it. Abe was supposed to pick up Naomi from the airport but he had other things to do but there is something about Naomi when he first sees her. He can’t stay away and ends up taking her sightseeing something that he has never done before. They spend time together and the more time they spend together the more he wants to know about her. He at time misses her their talks and these feelings that he is starting to have for her are foreign. She knows that she can’t have anything to do with him because he is a liar and already has a relationship even though it is a contract relationship but doesn’t mean that she doesn’t miss him. She misses their talks, their kisses and them just being together. Their journey to a happily ever after will take some time but they will eventually have one.
I totally recommend this read!!
Received ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an Honest Review
I totally recommend this read!!
Received ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an Honest Review
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