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Hot-Blooded Husbands #5
Fuego en dos corazones
Muerto de deseo por su mujer...
El magnate griego Leandros Petronades se casó con Isobel arrastrado por la pasión de su romance, pero en menos de un año su matrimonio se vino abajo.
Tres años después, Leandros quería el divorcio, o al menos creía que lo quería. Había encontrado una recatada muchacha griega que se convertiría en la esposa perfecta para él, no como Isobel, que hacía que salieran chispas en cuanto se encontraban juntos. Pero cuando volvió a encontrarse con ella cara a cara, Leandros tuvo que reconocer que la pasión arrolladora que había entre ellos era más fuerte que nunca. De pronto, cambió los planes y decidió que domaría a aquella fierecilla... fuera como fuera...
El magnate griego Leandros Petronades se casó con Isobel arrastrado por la pasión de su romance, pero en menos de un año su matrimonio se vino abajo.
Tres años después, Leandros quería el divorcio, o al menos creía que lo quería. Había encontrado una recatada muchacha griega que se convertiría en la esposa perfecta para él, no como Isobel, que hacía que salieran chispas en cuanto se encontraban juntos. Pero cuando volvió a encontrarse con ella cara a cara, Leandros tuvo que reconocer que la pasión arrolladora que había entre ellos era más fuerte que nunca. De pronto, cambió los planes y decidió que domaría a aquella fierecilla... fuera como fuera...
160 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published December 6, 2002
90 people are currently reading
1053 people want to read
About the author
Michelle Reid
388 books637 followersHi, my name is Michelle Reid and I’ve been writing for Harlequin Mills & Boon for the last twenty years, and the crazy part about it is that I only realised it had been twenty years while updating this page!
So, hang on for a minute while I take this huge milestone in....
Twenty years with almost forty books published or in the pipeline ... I know it isn’t a great average when compared with some authors but it sounds pretty good to me!
So what was I doing twenty years ago before I wrote books? Well, I did the all of the usual things, like growing up and attending school, finishing at secretarial college, which I hated, then spent the next several years wandering aimlessly from job to job. Eventually I met my husband, we married and produced two daughters who then grew up and between them presented us with two gorgeous grandsons and one beautiful granddaughter. But I’m getting ahead of myself. Somewhere in between my girls growing up and the grandchildren arriving on the scene, I started writing. To this day I don’t know why, unless it was a natural progression from my never being without a book close by—often several—because books have always been an important part of my life for as far back as I can recall.
So, I started to write, by hand at first, scribbling short stories in notebooks which never saw the light of day. At some point I discovered Mills & Boon Romance books and that was pretty much it for me. I’d found my new love, as in reading romantic fiction and inevitably writing it too.
So twenty years on and almost forty books on, here I am still writing and still loving it!
So, hang on for a minute while I take this huge milestone in....
Twenty years with almost forty books published or in the pipeline ... I know it isn’t a great average when compared with some authors but it sounds pretty good to me!
So what was I doing twenty years ago before I wrote books? Well, I did the all of the usual things, like growing up and attending school, finishing at secretarial college, which I hated, then spent the next several years wandering aimlessly from job to job. Eventually I met my husband, we married and produced two daughters who then grew up and between them presented us with two gorgeous grandsons and one beautiful granddaughter. But I’m getting ahead of myself. Somewhere in between my girls growing up and the grandchildren arriving on the scene, I started writing. To this day I don’t know why, unless it was a natural progression from my never being without a book close by—often several—because books have always been an important part of my life for as far back as I can recall.
So, I started to write, by hand at first, scribbling short stories in notebooks which never saw the light of day. At some point I discovered Mills & Boon Romance books and that was pretty much it for me. I’d found my new love, as in reading romantic fiction and inevitably writing it too.
So twenty years on and almost forty books on, here I am still writing and still loving it!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 114 reviews
October 15, 2022
*second re-read* I was struck this time by how well MR sprinkled in the backstory while keeping the action in present day. The hero doesn't hear about how awful his family was to the heroine until the last few chapters when they are actually introduced. So many second chance stories begin with a checklist of grievances that the H/h move through like counselling sessions - rather than a story narrative. MR was such a good category writer.
**Re-read** I can't believe I picked this up again almost a year later to the day. Must be February brings out my need to read angsty second chance stories?
It's still good. I still get a kick out of the heroine's mother selling out for AC and then finding her own Greek guy to date. H/h are a well-matched set of cluelessness and volatility.
Original review:
Second chance story of two people who loved not too wisely, but too well - and had terrible family members.
I still love the scene where they see each other for the first time in the boardroom and they are so awful to each other and their lawyers look on in dismay. Then the heroine is sold out by her mother for air-conditioning. LOL (They are booked in a horrible Athens hotel while striking utility workers keep cutting the power. The hero invites them to his home to stay.)
There is little doubt the H/h love each other, but can they build a life together? One good sign is that they have each come to the same conclusion about what went wrong and what parts each of them need to own. I also liked how they had to keep committing to each other. First with the rings, then with the heroine going to the party and the hero standing by her, then with the photoshopped pictures.
In contrast to all of this passion, there is a very cold-blooded, manipulative OW who is determined to bring down the hero's marriage. I liked how our "coward" heroine confronted her and that the H overheard all of it.
One of my favorite Michelle Reids.
**Re-read** I can't believe I picked this up again almost a year later to the day. Must be February brings out my need to read angsty second chance stories?
It's still good. I still get a kick out of the heroine's mother selling out for AC and then finding her own Greek guy to date. H/h are a well-matched set of cluelessness and volatility.
Original review:
Second chance story of two people who loved not too wisely, but too well - and had terrible family members.
I still love the scene where they see each other for the first time in the boardroom and they are so awful to each other and their lawyers look on in dismay. Then the heroine is sold out by her mother for air-conditioning. LOL (They are booked in a horrible Athens hotel while striking utility workers keep cutting the power. The hero invites them to his home to stay.)
There is little doubt the H/h love each other, but can they build a life together? One good sign is that they have each come to the same conclusion about what went wrong and what parts each of them need to own. I also liked how they had to keep committing to each other. First with the rings, then with the heroine going to the party and the hero standing by her, then with the photoshopped pictures.
In contrast to all of this passion, there is a very cold-blooded, manipulative OW who is determined to bring down the hero's marriage. I liked how our "coward" heroine confronted her and that the H overheard all of it.
One of my favorite Michelle Reids.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 4, 2016
PLOT:
The h, a sassy wench, left the H about three years ago after the following tropes were deployed: instal-love, failure to communicate, bad relatives (his), a miscarriage (sad).
With her invalided but shockingly nice and sane mother in tow, the h comes back to Greece, epicenter of all things alpha romero and rotten relatives, only to fling his proposed bazillion $ settlement in his face. The lawyers are not happy about that. Hers because they never had a prenup as they were all lost in lust and she stands to hit big; his because he wants to get things settled quickly. The sexual tension is off the charts as the author, the h, and the H all tell us ad nauseum. Frankly, it was exhausting.
The H zooms up in his Mazerati and sweeps the h, the mom and attorney back to his mansion. Not the old family mansion where his family lived, but the secondary housing mansionette he bought and HAD DECORATED for the h to keep peace in our times. Side note: how any man could not figure out it's a bad idea to not only buy a house but have it decorated without taking his wife into those big decision is just T-S-T-L!
More awesome sex as they get the mom settled and people pop out of the woodwork. People like the butter-won't-melt-in-her-mouth chick the family approved of and the h thought the H was engaged to when they eloped. More makeup/revenge sex. Then off to a party where the H finally gets the idea just how much guff the h was given primarily but not exclusively from his mother and sister. He straightens it out. Nice touch when everyone finds out that the h knew Greek all along which makes quite a few people uncomfortable about previous comments made in front of her. The H has her back, and they both feel hope as well as love is in the air.
The next day all the good is 86'd when some v-e-r-y inappropriate pictures surface with the H and the Greek, family-approved paragon.
Tempers and accusations fly, but the h's photoshopping skills manage to uncover a nasty plot and save the day for a HEA.
OPINION:
I just don't see a HEA for these two. Yes, they have passion and love each other, but they don't give an inch of consideration. The more fun couple, brief as they appear, is the h's mother and the H's rakish, roguish uncle.
The h, a sassy wench, left the H about three years ago after the following tropes were deployed: instal-love, failure to communicate, bad relatives (his), a miscarriage (sad).
With her invalided but shockingly nice and sane mother in tow, the h comes back to Greece, epicenter of all things alpha romero and rotten relatives, only to fling his proposed bazillion $ settlement in his face. The lawyers are not happy about that. Hers because they never had a prenup as they were all lost in lust and she stands to hit big; his because he wants to get things settled quickly. The sexual tension is off the charts as the author, the h, and the H all tell us ad nauseum. Frankly, it was exhausting.
The H zooms up in his Mazerati and sweeps the h, the mom and attorney back to his mansion. Not the old family mansion where his family lived, but the secondary housing mansionette he bought and HAD DECORATED for the h to keep peace in our times. Side note: how any man could not figure out it's a bad idea to not only buy a house but have it decorated without taking his wife into those big decision is just T-S-T-L!
More awesome sex as they get the mom settled and people pop out of the woodwork. People like the butter-won't-melt-in-her-mouth chick the family approved of and the h thought the H was engaged to when they eloped. More makeup/revenge sex. Then off to a party where the H finally gets the idea just how much guff the h was given primarily but not exclusively from his mother and sister. He straightens it out. Nice touch when everyone finds out that the h knew Greek all along which makes quite a few people uncomfortable about previous comments made in front of her. The H has her back, and they both feel hope as well as love is in the air.
The next day all the good is 86'd when some v-e-r-y inappropriate pictures surface with the H and the Greek, family-approved paragon.
Tempers and accusations fly, but the h's photoshopping skills manage to uncover a nasty plot and save the day for a HEA.
OPINION:
I just don't see a HEA for these two. Yes, they have passion and love each other, but they don't give an inch of consideration. The more fun couple, brief as they appear, is the h's mother and the H's rakish, roguish uncle.
April 18, 2023
Update
April 17th/2023
I added more the tags to add information about the story. I still like this book so much, from time to time I reread the whole book or my favorite scenes :) I miss Michelle Reid's writing style :'(
____________________________
Last Update
2020
I LOVE this book 💖💯✨🔥
It deserves a re-reading to post a review. I read this book around 10 years ago.
April 17th/2023
I added more the tags to add information about the story. I still like this book so much, from time to time I reread the whole book or my favorite scenes :) I miss Michelle Reid's writing style :'(
____________________________
Last Update
2020
I LOVE this book 💖💯✨🔥
It deserves a re-reading to post a review. I read this book around 10 years ago.
November 14, 2014
I love this one....very refreshing to see a reconciliation without blackmail or financial need. Just love. The dialogue was a bit melodramatic but still there were some great communication scenes, and the fighting was fiery. Having Leandros's POV was powerful...because his love was as powerful as the heroine's which is actually rare in HPs. The family and villain resolution all a little pat but I still loved the story.
October 24, 2022
10/23/2022 re-read
Read it again for the first time and it was awesome. I hated him the first chapter but thank goodness he remained faithful, except for those stupid Diantha thoughts in the first chapter. But they were both faithful even though separated. I love the passion that flared the first meeting after all those years and I knew they would get back together. Super hot, not graphic, but you felt their passion. Loved this story!
Better upon re-read
I actually liked it better when I re-read it. I loved that they didn't break their marriage vows but I did deduct a point because he thought about marrying that horrid Dianthia after his divorce. The heroine was strong but she was also stubborn. Maybe a little too much for me. I loved the ending but wish there had been an epilogue. Very passionate couple though and I loved the scene at the lawyers office. Especially the wedding ring part. Great love story.
Read it again for the first time and it was awesome. I hated him the first chapter but thank goodness he remained faithful, except for those stupid Diantha thoughts in the first chapter. But they were both faithful even though separated. I love the passion that flared the first meeting after all those years and I knew they would get back together. Super hot, not graphic, but you felt their passion. Loved this story!
Better upon re-read
I actually liked it better when I re-read it. I loved that they didn't break their marriage vows but I did deduct a point because he thought about marrying that horrid Dianthia after his divorce. The heroine was strong but she was also stubborn. Maybe a little too much for me. I loved the ending but wish there had been an epilogue. Very passionate couple though and I loved the scene at the lawyers office. Especially the wedding ring part. Great love story.
November 4, 2019
I could feel the passion and love both Leandros and Isobel still felt for one another. I liked how they remained faithful to each other during their separation. (Hell yeah.) Although painful, their time apart benefitted Isobel by giving her the opportunity to mature and to see how her unwillingness to compromise played a part in the breakdown of their marriage. Leandros stepped up as well by trying to win Isobel over, and by preventing the wannabe other woman from wrecking their marriage, support which Isobel felt had been sorely lacking when they first married.
dnf
May 12, 2017Seriously! Hero's mum is ready to "try" liking the heroine for the hero's sake since he's too stubborn to give her up. Hero's sister says the exact same thing ONLY conveniently AFTER the OW turns out to be evil cold blooded calculating bitch who the sister REALLY wanted for her brother.
If the OW wouldn't have turned out to be evil. Both mother and sister would've "tried" putting up with the heroine for hero's sake and would have hated her guts secretly like they did 3 years ago and would have kept bitching to the OW about what a bitch the heroine was and how they wish she was never born so the hero could have married their beloved the OW, which they ALSO have been doing for the whole duration of marriage and hero doesn't fucking see where things gone wrong where his immediate family and closest friends refused to give his WIFE minimum respect. And he doesn't even give them a verbal rundown. Nope. DNF, avoid, something. Just not reading this.
He indeed has sensitivity of a flea as he has claimed himself!
If the OW wouldn't have turned out to be evil. Both mother and sister would've "tried" putting up with the heroine for hero's sake and would have hated her guts secretly like they did 3 years ago and would have kept bitching to the OW about what a bitch the heroine was and how they wish she was never born so the hero could have married their beloved the OW, which they ALSO have been doing for the whole duration of marriage and hero doesn't fucking see where things gone wrong where his immediate family and closest friends refused to give his WIFE minimum respect. And he doesn't even give them a verbal rundown. Nope. DNF, avoid, something. Just not reading this.
He indeed has sensitivity of a flea as he has claimed himself!
December 9, 2020
Yes, I needed a besotted fool H and got it.
August 23, 2018
***3.5 STARS***
This story wasn't too bad. It had all the trope I enjoy: marriage in crisis, evil family hating on the heroine, evil other woman. It had all the elements I could possibly need, except a likable heroine. Isobel grated on me with all hate spewing from her to Leandros. The spitfire redhead theme got a little redundant after a while. This would have been a 4 Star story for me if I could have liked the heroine a bit more.
April 13, 2014
Loved this book. This marriage was definitely passionate and full of misunderstandings and other ppl who tried to ruin the couple's happiness. Both H/h were likable and fierce and vulnerable and very much in love with each other.
They both made mistakes, they both realized their mistakes and they managed to save their marriage. The ending was kind of abrupt though and the lack of an epilogue was disappointing.
They both made mistakes, they both realized their mistakes and they managed to save their marriage. The ending was kind of abrupt though and the lack of an epilogue was disappointing.
July 26, 2020
Me gustó encontrarme con una novelita un poco vintage, recomendada por la linda de Jasbell ^^. Es la historia del reencuentro de Isobel y Leandros, quienes por varios malentendidos (pero no por la falta de amor) se han distanciado al punto de que uno de los dos, tras unos años, pide el divorcio. Como era de esperarse, la química entre ellos estalla y se vuelve una historia fácil de leer, esperando el HEA un poco, quizá, precipitado.
July 27, 2016
I was hooked for the first half of the book. I loved the heat of the first meeting after 3 years and the misunderstanding and passion. Then it kind of went stale for me. They realized the mistakes made on both sides before their separation, started to communicate honestly, mended fences with family and other things far too quickly for my taste and I lost interest, knowing where it was all headed. I think the 'I love you' came about halfway through. That sort of blew the tension for me and the heroine's feisty temper wore a little thin. I don't blame her for being angry at times, but why was she always threatening/trying to scratch his eyes out? What happened to the famed British sense of reserve?
June 15, 2016
Difficult to find why they were in love with each other, in lust yeah but not in love. But I enjoyed their fights a lot. I liked them recognizing they were both at fault for their failed marriage and that all the misunderstandings were cleared.
October 29, 2014
I couldn't put it down. It was angsty almost to the last page. What I liked about this book was the lead characters started to really communicate. Their issues were not solved in between the sheets as it is in many other books. The story had a clear finality with no hanging loose thread. I might not have been able to identify with the lead characters, but I was given enough information that I could understand where they came from and why they made certain choices.
March 21, 2017
This was a real roller coaster ride of emotions and smexytimes. Leandros and Isobel fell madly into bed and into marriage four years ago. Neither was ready for the intensity of their feelings and when they returned to Greece, they faced the hostility of his family and an entirely new lifestyle for Isobel.
To make things worse, it is only six months since Leandros has had to take over the family business after the death of his father so he is facing long hours trying to grasp control of a multi-billion dollar corporation from the hovering sharks. When things go terribly wrong for Isobel, Leandros wasn't there for her and with only animosity from his family and friends, she runs. He doesn't follow and it is now three years later.
Leandros, from the safety of his yacht, makes a decision to end his marriage, with the intention of looking for another wife who doesn't bust his boiler every time he looks at her. Someone like good family friend Diantha who is calm and serene and everything his wife was not.
His big mistake was to insist Isobel come to Athens to work out the divorce deal. Or was it? He only has to take one look at her for all the passion to burst out and for Isobel it's the same. Only, how to make it work this time, especially when they are faced with all the same issues as before. Family, friends, the subtle snakelike Diantha.
This is a real angstfest. The passion between these two boils over whenever they are close but it's clear that for both of them, no one else counts. This made me very happy. The ending was satisfying and issues resolved suitably.
To make things worse, it is only six months since Leandros has had to take over the family business after the death of his father so he is facing long hours trying to grasp control of a multi-billion dollar corporation from the hovering sharks. When things go terribly wrong for Isobel, Leandros wasn't there for her and with only animosity from his family and friends, she runs. He doesn't follow and it is now three years later.
Leandros, from the safety of his yacht, makes a decision to end his marriage, with the intention of looking for another wife who doesn't bust his boiler every time he looks at her. Someone like good family friend Diantha who is calm and serene and everything his wife was not.
His big mistake was to insist Isobel come to Athens to work out the divorce deal. Or was it? He only has to take one look at her for all the passion to burst out and for Isobel it's the same. Only, how to make it work this time, especially when they are faced with all the same issues as before. Family, friends, the subtle snakelike Diantha.
This is a real angstfest. The passion between these two boils over whenever they are close but it's clear that for both of them, no one else counts. This made me very happy. The ending was satisfying and issues resolved suitably.
April 30, 2018
"A Passionate Marriage" is the story of Isobel and Leandros.
An estranged couple on the verge of divorce falls back into each other's arms due to burning chemistry, and finally clears up long unresolved misunderstandings in this one.
This fabulous read by Michelle has it all
-An independent sassy hero
-An obsessed hero
-A reconcilation filled with lust and passion
-Angst
-OM/OW drama
-Sizzling chemistry
-Witty and sexy banter
-Manipulative secondary characters
-Hot lovemaking
-HEA
This was a thoroughly enjoyable read! A good one because- the H wasnt mean, the h was not a doormat & there was enough love between the two to resolve their drama.
Safe/SWME
4/5
An estranged couple on the verge of divorce falls back into each other's arms due to burning chemistry, and finally clears up long unresolved misunderstandings in this one.
This fabulous read by Michelle has it all
-An independent sassy hero
-An obsessed hero
-A reconcilation filled with lust and passion
-Angst
-OM/OW drama
-Sizzling chemistry
-Witty and sexy banter
-Manipulative secondary characters
-Hot lovemaking
-HEA
This was a thoroughly enjoyable read! A good one because- the H wasnt mean, the h was not a doormat & there was enough love between the two to resolve their drama.
Safe/SWME
4/5
March 7, 2018
3.5 stars
i feel like this book deserves more stars not for the love story but for the way it was written.
I really liked this book. It has angst, second chance trope( that i love) and it has love.. not in the romantic way but love.
The h/h loves each other very much.. you can see through all the book but OH MY GOD ! they are nightmare. They fight all the time.Is their way of loving.
For the first time i dont miss the epilogue. I can imagine it. Them fighting then making love. They will be 80 and still fighting:)))
i feel like this book deserves more stars not for the love story but for the way it was written.
I really liked this book. It has angst, second chance trope( that i love) and it has love.. not in the romantic way but love.
The h/h loves each other very much.. you can see through all the book but OH MY GOD ! they are nightmare. They fight all the time.Is their way of loving.
For the first time i dont miss the epilogue. I can imagine it. Them fighting then making love. They will be 80 and still fighting:)))
January 25, 2021
Reread 1/25/2021
I like this book, just the right amount of angst.
Marriage in trouble: after a 3 year separation he has decided it's time to move on and even has a candidate (though he's not been involved with her or anyone else during that time). Once he sees his wife again, he decides he wants to remain married.
Over the 3 years they matured and realized neither were ready for marriage or the fall out from a miscarriage. Now they're ready.
I like this book, just the right amount of angst.
Marriage in trouble: after a 3 year separation he has decided it's time to move on and even has a candidate (though he's not been involved with her or anyone else during that time). Once he sees his wife again, he decides he wants to remain married.
Over the 3 years they matured and realized neither were ready for marriage or the fall out from a miscarriage. Now they're ready.
August 15, 2018
I should have known there would be problems whenever an evil, conniving, plotting witch of an Other Woman is involved and I rarely have a positive review in these types of situations.
However, I have read books with OW in it but just for a very brief time. This one, however, was in the whole book.
She was simply horrible. Our hero and his wife were separated almost three years but they still loved each other. They married young and then there was an accidental pregnancy that the hero was not happy about and placed all the blame on the heroine and certainly let his wife know on whom he placed the blame. It broke her heart that he didn't want their baby. When the heroine miscarried he only thought of himself and offered her nothing! She was broken by his uncaring attitude and he couldn't even look her in the eye. It was time for her to move on. Then we have the OW appear on the scene. She was a friend of his sisters and he had visited her family some. They were neighbors. But he had no idea what all she had planned. He liked her but I know they were never intimate, in fact I don't believe they even kissed. The hero had given thought about marrying her but never did anything about it. He was pretty stupid for such a bright man that he let this witch stay on his yacht with him for two weeks. Yet he never touched her but she did plenty of damage that almost cost him getting back with his wife.
It was a mess and I felt the story strayed from its path which took me out of the story several times.
Would I recommend this book? No I would not. I also didn't feel the hero was redeemed in the end.
However, I have read books with OW in it but just for a very brief time. This one, however, was in the whole book.
She was simply horrible. Our hero and his wife were separated almost three years but they still loved each other. They married young and then there was an accidental pregnancy that the hero was not happy about and placed all the blame on the heroine and certainly let his wife know on whom he placed the blame. It broke her heart that he didn't want their baby. When the heroine miscarried he only thought of himself and offered her nothing! She was broken by his uncaring attitude and he couldn't even look her in the eye. It was time for her to move on. Then we have the OW appear on the scene. She was a friend of his sisters and he had visited her family some. They were neighbors. But he had no idea what all she had planned. He liked her but I know they were never intimate, in fact I don't believe they even kissed. The hero had given thought about marrying her but never did anything about it. He was pretty stupid for such a bright man that he let this witch stay on his yacht with him for two weeks. Yet he never touched her but she did plenty of damage that almost cost him getting back with his wife.
It was a mess and I felt the story strayed from its path which took me out of the story several times.
Would I recommend this book? No I would not. I also didn't feel the hero was redeemed in the end.
February 24, 2011
Honestly - it seems these days that ALL the foreign-guy, british-lady stories I'm reading have the same theme - love @1st sight - trouble from in-laws - miscarried babies blah blah blah...
There was so much inconsistency between the H/H that it just became BORING! even though they meet after 3 years, its still just physical stuff b/w them and no real emotional depth is shown - the hero just takes the heroine 'there' after every scene which is, frankly, annoying.....
I already read Dark Fate (Chatlotte Lamb, which incidentally is my fave) and this feels like a cheap rip-off of that...Could barely finish this...
There was so much inconsistency between the H/H that it just became BORING! even though they meet after 3 years, its still just physical stuff b/w them and no real emotional depth is shown - the hero just takes the heroine 'there' after every scene which is, frankly, annoying.....
I already read Dark Fate (Chatlotte Lamb, which incidentally is my fave) and this feels like a cheap rip-off of that...Could barely finish this...
September 13, 2021
I’m a sucker for second chance romances, and this book is one of those, and it is so damn well-written! It has all the elements that make this sizzle, crack, and pop. I loved it from the first page up to the last! It was annoying and yet satisfying! I would have enjoyed it a little bit more if there was an epilogue, but other than that, I was pretty happy with this book.
July 14, 2019
I originally read this book in May 2007. I've reviewed this book on Amazon November 2007 I am attempting to post all of my reviews (since 2006) here to GoodReads.
5 Stars! ~ Three years before, Isobel left Greece heartbroken and emotionally battered. Marrying Leandros Petronades had been like a fairy tale until she met the cold reality of the Greek upper crust and then every move she made was ridiculed and deemed totally inappropriate by her husband's family. But Isobel's fiery stubbornness would rise up against the conservative views as a defense against the beating to her self-esteem and to Leandros she became an irritation when he was struggling to fill his recently deceased father's shoes. Leandros has now called Isobel back to Greece to discuss a divorce settlement, however, one look at his estranged wife and he realizes that their intense passion for one another is very much alive. So he demands that Isobel give their marriage another chance.
I absolutely loved this book! Ms. Reid ends her Hot-Blooded Husband series with sparks and sizzling passion. Isobel and Leandros are so richly developed, I could feel their pain, their anger, and their deeply passionate love. Through memories, Ms. Reid gives us wonderful insights in how the fairy tale had fallen apart, and how both Leandros and Isobel, now more mature, come to see things more clearly and from the other's eyes. I loved the way Isobel holds her own, and how Leandros comes to realize how arrogant and selfish his behaviour has been. Leandros becomes the white knight, and Isobel's champion to his family and the Greek society. I couldn't put this one down, and when I finished the last word, I had to start from the beginning all over again.
5 Stars! ~ Three years before, Isobel left Greece heartbroken and emotionally battered. Marrying Leandros Petronades had been like a fairy tale until she met the cold reality of the Greek upper crust and then every move she made was ridiculed and deemed totally inappropriate by her husband's family. But Isobel's fiery stubbornness would rise up against the conservative views as a defense against the beating to her self-esteem and to Leandros she became an irritation when he was struggling to fill his recently deceased father's shoes. Leandros has now called Isobel back to Greece to discuss a divorce settlement, however, one look at his estranged wife and he realizes that their intense passion for one another is very much alive. So he demands that Isobel give their marriage another chance.
I absolutely loved this book! Ms. Reid ends her Hot-Blooded Husband series with sparks and sizzling passion. Isobel and Leandros are so richly developed, I could feel their pain, their anger, and their deeply passionate love. Through memories, Ms. Reid gives us wonderful insights in how the fairy tale had fallen apart, and how both Leandros and Isobel, now more mature, come to see things more clearly and from the other's eyes. I loved the way Isobel holds her own, and how Leandros comes to realize how arrogant and selfish his behaviour has been. Leandros becomes the white knight, and Isobel's champion to his family and the Greek society. I couldn't put this one down, and when I finished the last word, I had to start from the beginning all over again.
January 23, 2019
Michelle Reid writes the best book-husbands imo. This one didn't fall short either. Leandros played a great jealous, possessive husband to his wife he hasn't seen in 3 years thanks to misunderstandings. Now they meet for a divorce which now he doesn't want.
I didn't like the h too much. I despised this attitude of not giving a f and taking off whenever the tide rose in their relationship. Why couldn't she just put it out clear the numerous times Leandros would ask her what her issue was with his family. She'd beat around the bush and then rile up in anger and make presumption. I think he treated her better than she ever did.
This unreasonable snappy attitude in women just puts me off, esp when they're not a bunch of teens. Wayyy too many family issues for me to warm up to this one. But this book was really hot in the beginning with Leandros playing a ruthless alpha husband. No epilogue either.
I didn't like the h too much. I despised this attitude of not giving a f and taking off whenever the tide rose in their relationship. Why couldn't she just put it out clear the numerous times Leandros would ask her what her issue was with his family. She'd beat around the bush and then rile up in anger and make presumption. I think he treated her better than she ever did.
This unreasonable snappy attitude in women just puts me off, esp when they're not a bunch of teens. Wayyy too many family issues for me to warm up to this one. But this book was really hot in the beginning with Leandros playing a ruthless alpha husband. No epilogue either.
January 26, 2021
Some good angst
July 25, 2022
He literally leaves his family and goes away when the heroine leaves him.
Loved that little bit where he gives her jewellery and has a private joke with her about it. “We like to call it the family jewellery”.
There was something nasty his sister? had said to the heroine about that jewellery. Can’t recall exactly what.
Loved how she had learnt Greek while living with his family but never let on.
They were both a bit immature so did not appreciate the value of what they had together.
Loved that they got a second chance.
Cute pair.
Definitely recommend.
Am rereading it.
_____________________
On re-reading I have reached the conclusion that I was not very nice in my tastes earlier. I got happy very quickly and easily.
This hardly reads like a love story or a grand passion.
A couple who cannot talk and whose only mode of communication is going to bed with each other is hardly an example of a good marriage.
They seemed too different from each other.
The hero literally can’t see her point of view. At all. He accuses her of sleeping with someone else when they meet after three years. How come he didn’t follow her when she left him and now suddenly decides he wants her back. Lazy man He’s a spokes person for his family? She’s the outsider. He should have considered her feelings .
I know they reach an understanding later in the book. But I don’t want to read about such stupid people.
They sit with each other at an open air cafe in chapter three or two and I literally felt the wall between them like it was a force field.
Author gave them no meaningful conversation.
The number of times the author used the word sensual.
Sensual sensual sensual. In chapter three I think. It got on my nerves so much that I gave up. Abandoned reading it.
It had a lot of grand purple prose masquerading as grand passion. I am downgrading it to three stars from five.
My God. I really didn’t get things ten years ago.
This is not a love story. Not in my books.
Ok. That’s my second opinion.
If you are a sensible person. I don’t recommend this book.
Loved that little bit where he gives her jewellery and has a private joke with her about it. “We like to call it the family jewellery”.
There was something nasty his sister? had said to the heroine about that jewellery. Can’t recall exactly what.
Loved how she had learnt Greek while living with his family but never let on.
They were both a bit immature so did not appreciate the value of what they had together.
Loved that they got a second chance.
Cute pair.
Definitely recommend.
Am rereading it.
_____________________
On re-reading I have reached the conclusion that I was not very nice in my tastes earlier. I got happy very quickly and easily.
This hardly reads like a love story or a grand passion.
A couple who cannot talk and whose only mode of communication is going to bed with each other is hardly an example of a good marriage.
They seemed too different from each other.
The hero literally can’t see her point of view. At all. He accuses her of sleeping with someone else when they meet after three years. How come he didn’t follow her when she left him and now suddenly decides he wants her back. Lazy man He’s a spokes person for his family? She’s the outsider. He should have considered her feelings .
I know they reach an understanding later in the book. But I don’t want to read about such stupid people.
They sit with each other at an open air cafe in chapter three or two and I literally felt the wall between them like it was a force field.
Author gave them no meaningful conversation.
The number of times the author used the word sensual.
Sensual sensual sensual. In chapter three I think. It got on my nerves so much that I gave up. Abandoned reading it.
It had a lot of grand purple prose masquerading as grand passion. I am downgrading it to three stars from five.
My God. I really didn’t get things ten years ago.
This is not a love story. Not in my books.
Ok. That’s my second opinion.
If you are a sensible person. I don’t recommend this book.
July 30, 2014
A very passionate read full of love & an interferring family plus a very devious woman in the shadows with designs on the hero. But once they meet again to finalize their divorce passion explodes & the husband realizes he still loves his wife & wants her back. His shows fierce determination in getting her back & does not give up.
July 31, 2011
One of my most favorite HPs ever! Leandros is also possibly one of my top three HP heroes too. He is not overbearing (well, not as overbearing) and not mean. Isobel is def one of the top 3 HP heroeines i've read about.
July 6, 2021
Love love love this book! Intense and well written, with probably my most favourite Michelle Reid heroine. A classic.
Read
June 22, 2025Not Michelle Reid's best - there's plenty of tension and angst (did think the "hiding at a luxury resort brooding on my yacht for two years after my bitchy wife left me" bit was funny) but the love side of love-hate is pretty sketchy. But maybe that's just because I don't really like arguing and the main characters argue constantly at the best of times. And the hero didn't have much personality beyond being domineering, horny, Greek, and wealthy, which leaves him interchangeable with any number of Harlequin Presents heroes. The most distinctive thing about him is a weird scene in which Leandros is driving Isobel in his fancy car and it's written, one assumes unintentionally, as though he wants to have a threesome with the car and Isobel.
I was also somewhat distracted by the fact that
The villain is a family friend angling to be the second wife (Greek women don't come off very well in this book in general - so much to be said about culture and gender in 'Mediterranean' HP) who employs some underhanded manipulation to try to get her way. The hero also employs some underhanded manipulation to get his way, but it's fine when men control women so that's not a real obstacle to the happy ending.
Also a notable amount of weird glorification of the heroine's ultrapale superwhite skin. Slightly Victorian approach to race/ethnicity combined with some allusions to maintaining the bloodline and the standard stuff about producing an heir (tbf not actually a priority for either of the main characters).
I was also somewhat distracted by the fact that
The villain is a family friend angling to be the second wife (Greek women don't come off very well in this book in general - so much to be said about culture and gender in 'Mediterranean' HP) who employs some underhanded manipulation to try to get her way. The hero also employs some underhanded manipulation to get his way, but it's fine when men control women so that's not a real obstacle to the happy ending.
Also a notable amount of weird glorification of the heroine's ultrapale superwhite skin. Slightly Victorian approach to race/ethnicity combined with some allusions to maintaining the bloodline and the standard stuff about producing an heir (tbf not actually a priority for either of the main characters).
August 22, 2021
The plot was good, that's what got me hooked in the first place. However, the hero was downright a bully, he was an a**hole-alpha male who kept pressing and cornering the heroine. It happened throughout the story, so my 'annoyance' was carried out the whole I was reading this book. There's also the OW, whom the hero had planned on marrying once he divorced his wife. I would feel betrayed and cheated on (albeit the fact that they did not have sex). It was just the same.
The heroine - unfortunately - was a hot-headed female, she got angry very easily. She'd leave the room, rather than tried to explain her heartache. However, I think she did so because of the many, many disappointments she endured during her brief marriage with the hero; how he dismissed her concerns, ignoring her for favor of his work, and even worse, becoming outraged when she told him she was pregnant and not consoling her when she lost the baby. He was unforgivable. I kept reading wishing I would see some remorse of what he had done in the past, but no. Nothing. Nothing. Not even an apology.
This was a typical harlequin story, where the hero was a complete oppressor and the heroine could not stand up for herself and would succumb to sex every time he as much as touched her. But if you could get past all of these, as I said, the plot was good. It was the execution that was an issue for me.
The heroine - unfortunately - was a hot-headed female, she got angry very easily. She'd leave the room, rather than tried to explain her heartache. However, I think she did so because of the many, many disappointments she endured during her brief marriage with the hero; how he dismissed her concerns, ignoring her for favor of his work, and even worse, becoming outraged when she told him she was pregnant and not consoling her when she lost the baby. He was unforgivable. I kept reading wishing I would see some remorse of what he had done in the past, but no. Nothing. Nothing. Not even an apology.
This was a typical harlequin story, where the hero was a complete oppressor and the heroine could not stand up for herself and would succumb to sex every time he as much as touched her. But if you could get past all of these, as I said, the plot was good. It was the execution that was an issue for me.
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