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Petronides Brothers Duo #1
Vidas secretas (Bianca)
Cuando el millonario griego Dimitri Petronides se vio obligado a abandonar a Xandra Fortune, su hermosa amante, estaba seguro de que ella no sufriría demasiado. A pesar de toda la pasión que habían compartido, Xandra no le había permitido llegar hasta su corazón. Una mujer tan reacia al compromiso nunca podría ser su esposa.
Pero después de la separación, Dimitri descubrió que Xandra Fortune no era quien él pensaba… y además estaba embarazada de un hijo suyo. ¡Ahora debía encontrarla y convertir a su antigua amante en su esposa!
143 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 1, 2003
324 people are currently reading
2641 people want to read
About the author
Lucy Monroe
609 books1,572 followersI write spicy romance books that end in an HEA. Contemporary romance, historical romance, paranormal romance…I write it all. The two things my books all have in common is lots of emotion and spice. Last year, I fell in love with a new subgenre: mafia romance. Since I write what I love to read, I started a new standalone series, Syndicate Rules where you’ll meet over the top alpha heroes in the Italian and Greek mafias as well as the Irish mob. There are arranged marriages, forced marriages, enemies to lovers, stalkers, forced proximity and lots of mafia intrigue. Morally gray is my new favorite color.
Follow me on BookBub for alerts on my next release: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/lucy-...
I’ve been published a while and most of my 90+ books have hit the Nielson Bookscan bestseller list, a few ended up on the USA Today bestseller list and some even hit national bestseller lists in the UK and Australia. My books have been translated into numerous languages and are for sale in dozens of countries around the world. I’ve won awards and been published with most of the big houses in New York, but my greatest achievement is touching readers’ hearts. When I hear from a reader who got caught up in one of my books, I know I’m doing what I’m meant to do.
I love writing emotionally deep stories with snappy dialogue and solid plots. I’m more grateful than I’ll ever be able to express that so many readers have taken my stories into their hearts and put my books on their reread and keeper shelves.
Follow me on BookBub for alerts on my next release: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/lucy-...
I’ve been published a while and most of my 90+ books have hit the Nielson Bookscan bestseller list, a few ended up on the USA Today bestseller list and some even hit national bestseller lists in the UK and Australia. My books have been translated into numerous languages and are for sale in dozens of countries around the world. I’ve won awards and been published with most of the big houses in New York, but my greatest achievement is touching readers’ hearts. When I hear from a reader who got caught up in one of my books, I know I’m doing what I’m meant to do.
I love writing emotionally deep stories with snappy dialogue and solid plots. I’m more grateful than I’ll ever be able to express that so many readers have taken my stories into their hearts and put my books on their reread and keeper shelves.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 299 reviews
June 8, 2021
Such fun angst with two fun characters: A Greek hero who puts his loyalty to his grandfather over the woman he has been with for year. A European supermodel with a secret American identity who is working to keep her impoverished, socialite mother in twinsets and pearls.
Things have gone swimmingly between the H/h until
(1)the H's grandfather needs heart surgery and demands the H marry a Greek virgin before he'll sign the consent forms.
(2) The h finds out she's pregnant.
If you like "I'm your mistress?" type stories, this is not one to be missed.
Things have gone swimmingly between the H/h until
(1)the H's grandfather needs heart surgery and demands the H marry a Greek virgin before he'll sign the consent forms.
(2) The h finds out she's pregnant.
If you like "I'm your mistress?" type stories, this is not one to be missed.
March 7, 2022
So my confession for today is... I occasionally love a good melodramatic WTF-ery plot. And boy did this one have it in SPADES.
WTF 1) Xandra Fortune is a European model. Gosh, can't tell you how easy THOSE are to relate to. It's a good thing she wasn't a supermodel yet because I never would have been able to relate to that.
WTF 2) But she's a model with a secret identity. (Again, good thing she wasn't a supermodel because the superhero/supermodel jokes would fly.) You see, Xandra Fortune is really... DUN DUN DUUUNNNN!... Alexandra Dupree, a convent-raised blue-blood with a conservative, snotty mother, so she creates a whole new identity for herself as Xandra Fortune and becomes a model to support her ungrateful parent, as the family fortune (heh heh) is now nil. While in her secret life, she meets and begins a year-long relationship with the "hero," Dimitri Petrodines.
WTF 3) Alex/Xandra gets preggers just as Dimitri has decided to dump her for a "proper" woman selected by his grandfather to marry. Said grandfather is basically refusing to have life-saving heart treatment if Dimitri doesn't marry the woman he's chosen, so it's literally a case of life-and-death, y'all.
WTF 4) Dimitri, as any good Harlequin Presents hero would, takes the news of A/X's pregnancy as you might imagine: he essentially calls her a whore and throws her out of their apartment. She takes the opportunity to leave all her clothes there, along with the pregnancy test, but she stays in town hoping he'll come back to her. Because, like all good HP heroines, A/X's other job is Doormat. And seriously, she's done her job at this point. Every HP heroine knows that when you find yourself pregnant by the love of your life, you either A) leave immediately without telling him after he behaves like an asshat, with no intention of collecting child support even though he's a gazillionaire and she generally has very little discernible income, or B) tell him and immediately leave after he behaves like an asshat, with no intention of collecting child support even though he's a gazillionaire and she has very little discernible income. A/X chooses option B, but only after giving him several more chances to treat her like scum.
WTF 5, 6, & 7) A/X finally takes the hint and leaves Paris and dumps the Xandra Fortune secret identity, effectively "killing" the persona. (I'm not kidding here - several times, characters make the rather melodramatic sweeping statement that Xandra is dead, rather than, you know, completely fictional. It's to the point, where A/X and members of her family refer to Xandra as a separate entity from Alexandra. Several times during these conversations, I thought to myself Ask your doctor if Schizophrenia is right for you...) This leads to the hero believing for several heart-stopping minutes that his ex and baby have both died. I feel that this WTF-ery should get extra points, so it's actually WTF 5, 6, and 7.
WTF 8) The hero has wised up and realized this is the chick for him enough to come get her and make her marry him because No Baby Ever Should Ever Have Separated Parents EVER! is pretty much the motto in all HP pregnancy storylines.
And honestly, that's just 1-8, which occurs in just the first few chapters (which is why I did not do a spoiler warning). There is much more to be had in this story, including more of the wily grandfather, the ungrateful mother, and most importantly, enough weirdly phrased miscommunications and misunderstandings to make for a British sit-com.
And okay, for all of my giving this one a hard time, I thoroughly enjoyed it, and went through it in one sitting, even as I mentally ripped it apart and wanted to scream at the characters, which is why it gets 4 stars. I'm not proud of that. It's just the way it is.
WTF 1) Xandra Fortune is a European model. Gosh, can't tell you how easy THOSE are to relate to. It's a good thing she wasn't a supermodel yet because I never would have been able to relate to that.
WTF 2) But she's a model with a secret identity. (Again, good thing she wasn't a supermodel because the superhero/supermodel jokes would fly.) You see, Xandra Fortune is really... DUN DUN DUUUNNNN!... Alexandra Dupree, a convent-raised blue-blood with a conservative, snotty mother, so she creates a whole new identity for herself as Xandra Fortune and becomes a model to support her ungrateful parent, as the family fortune (heh heh) is now nil. While in her secret life, she meets and begins a year-long relationship with the "hero," Dimitri Petrodines.
WTF 3) Alex/Xandra gets preggers just as Dimitri has decided to dump her for a "proper" woman selected by his grandfather to marry. Said grandfather is basically refusing to have life-saving heart treatment if Dimitri doesn't marry the woman he's chosen, so it's literally a case of life-and-death, y'all.
WTF 4) Dimitri, as any good Harlequin Presents hero would, takes the news of A/X's pregnancy as you might imagine: he essentially calls her a whore and throws her out of their apartment. She takes the opportunity to leave all her clothes there, along with the pregnancy test, but she stays in town hoping he'll come back to her. Because, like all good HP heroines, A/X's other job is Doormat. And seriously, she's done her job at this point. Every HP heroine knows that when you find yourself pregnant by the love of your life, you either A) leave immediately without telling him after he behaves like an asshat, with no intention of collecting child support even though he's a gazillionaire and she generally has very little discernible income, or B) tell him and immediately leave after he behaves like an asshat, with no intention of collecting child support even though he's a gazillionaire and she has very little discernible income. A/X chooses option B, but only after giving him several more chances to treat her like scum.
WTF 5, 6, & 7) A/X finally takes the hint and leaves Paris and dumps the Xandra Fortune secret identity, effectively "killing" the persona. (I'm not kidding here - several times, characters make the rather melodramatic sweeping statement that Xandra is dead, rather than, you know, completely fictional. It's to the point, where A/X and members of her family refer to Xandra as a separate entity from Alexandra. Several times during these conversations, I thought to myself Ask your doctor if Schizophrenia is right for you...) This leads to the hero believing for several heart-stopping minutes that his ex and baby have both died. I feel that this WTF-ery should get extra points, so it's actually WTF 5, 6, and 7.
WTF 8) The hero has wised up and realized this is the chick for him enough to come get her and make her marry him because No Baby Ever Should Ever Have Separated Parents EVER! is pretty much the motto in all HP pregnancy storylines.
And honestly, that's just 1-8, which occurs in just the first few chapters (which is why I did not do a spoiler warning). There is much more to be had in this story, including more of the wily grandfather, the ungrateful mother, and most importantly, enough weirdly phrased miscommunications and misunderstandings to make for a British sit-com.
And okay, for all of my giving this one a hard time, I thoroughly enjoyed it, and went through it in one sitting, even as I mentally ripped it apart and wanted to scream at the characters, which is why it gets 4 stars. I'm not proud of that. It's just the way it is.
May 23, 2023
Absolutely loved and adored this book so much that today was my twelfth time through.
Greek billionaire, Dimitri Petronides, is forced to give up Xandra Fortune, his girlfriend/mistress, to marry the woman his Greek grandfather had chosen for him. Xandra was devastated because she had just taken a pregnancy test and the result was positive. She leaves the day he kicked her out but she does call him and asks to meet him but he doesn't believe she's pregnant.
He finally realized after a week that she was telling the truth and desperately tries to find her. But find her he could not. He was told Xandra was dead but what the person meant was that Xandra, the model, had exited her career and went back to her given name.
This was a great read in my opinion! I definitely recommend this book.
Greek billionaire, Dimitri Petronides, is forced to give up Xandra Fortune, his girlfriend/mistress, to marry the woman his Greek grandfather had chosen for him. Xandra was devastated because she had just taken a pregnancy test and the result was positive. She leaves the day he kicked her out but she does call him and asks to meet him but he doesn't believe she's pregnant.
He finally realized after a week that she was telling the truth and desperately tries to find her. But find her he could not. He was told Xandra was dead but what the person meant was that Xandra, the model, had exited her career and went back to her given name.
This was a great read in my opinion! I definitely recommend this book.
May 15, 2020
Re-Read
In all fairness, since I've now read this twice, at least, I need the stars to reflect that. The H is still a little lacking, but he does suffer towards the end. Or at least he says he does.
Read this a while back and never did the review.
Xandra is a model in France and is afflicted with two major problems.
He of the magical Greek P gets his way of course.
Ugh. Okay. He does love her, and goes through some poor-baby, petulant moments when he thinks she still hates him even though she jumps him every chance she can. Not enough 2' by 4's for this crowd. That mother was a real piece of work. No wonder the h is such a doormat.
Mother is still the worst.
In all fairness, since I've now read this twice, at least, I need the stars to reflect that. The H is still a little lacking, but he does suffer towards the end. Or at least he says he does.
Read this a while back and never did the review.
Xandra is a model in France and is afflicted with two major problems.
He of the magical Greek P gets his way of course.
Ugh. Okay. He does love her, and goes through some poor-baby, petulant moments when he thinks she still hates him even though she jumps him every chance she can. Not enough 2' by 4's for this crowd. That mother was a real piece of work. No wonder the h is such a doormat.
Mother is still the worst.
May 5, 2021
The spinelessness of HP heroines is a source of constant amusement for me.
November 25, 2020
***FIVE STARS!***
Oh my hell. I'm a sucker for these asshole heroes who cast out their pregnant girlfriends, denying the child their girlfriend is carrying could possibly be theirs. This story was perfection. Dimitri was a gigantic asshole of epic proportions, when he devastatingly broke up with Xandra to marry someone else. And the way he evicted her from his apartment was cold as hell. I LOVED every second of this story, from the heartbreaking devastation, to the groveling by the ending. It was all delicious!!
May 30, 2011
Absolutely loved every second of this book,all my questions were answered and absoluetely loved Alexandra -Dimitri both of them,both are stubborn and cute in their own ways,enjoyed and loved every second of their journey towards HEA
Dimitri Petronides is an Italian tycoon and Xandra(Alexandra) is his mistress but he has to break it up with her cause his granfather is sick and he refuses to undergo the surgery till Dimitri agress to marry Phoebe who is a Greek girl and moves around their family circle,Dimitri is blackmailed by his Grandfather so he gives Xandra a jewel and informs her its over and he is going to marry a Greek girl and he also says some hurtful things to her
Alexandra is so shocked by Dimitri informing her of his upcoming marriage,that day she was going to inform him she is pregnant but recieves this shocker but then again she calls him but he refuses her calls but eventually agress to meet her and asks her to meet at a cafe,there she informs him she is pregnant to which he reacts pretty badly also accuses her of trapping him and also rejects paternity,thus leaving Xandra more shattered
same day itself Dimitri's ppl come and ask her vacate the house in the night,she leaves and takes only her things leaves all other gifts n things he had brought and also leaves the pregnancy test which is did with the dresses and gifts and starts her new life
She goes back to her mother n sister,again takes her original name and starts working with her sister-brother in law its been 5 months now and Dimitri is searching for Xandra,but when he comes for a business meeting there he meets Xandra and from there starts Dimitri's grovelling and his journey of winning his love n child back
I absolutely loved the story and liked the way Alexandra does'nt gives in easily asks for proofs and how all questions are answered as to why she changed her name,Dimitri apologising for his behaviour and when n how his grandfather comes to know and what happens to Phoebe,but it takes some time to build the trust but eventually after a small misunderstanding they have their HEA
Good read,a keeper for me
Recommend it
Dimitri Petronides is an Italian tycoon and Xandra(Alexandra) is his mistress but he has to break it up with her cause his granfather is sick and he refuses to undergo the surgery till Dimitri agress to marry Phoebe who is a Greek girl and moves around their family circle,Dimitri is blackmailed by his Grandfather so he gives Xandra a jewel and informs her its over and he is going to marry a Greek girl and he also says some hurtful things to her
Alexandra is so shocked by Dimitri informing her of his upcoming marriage,that day she was going to inform him she is pregnant but recieves this shocker but then again she calls him but he refuses her calls but eventually agress to meet her and asks her to meet at a cafe,there she informs him she is pregnant to which he reacts pretty badly also accuses her of trapping him and also rejects paternity,thus leaving Xandra more shattered
same day itself Dimitri's ppl come and ask her vacate the house in the night,she leaves and takes only her things leaves all other gifts n things he had brought and also leaves the pregnancy test which is did with the dresses and gifts and starts her new life
She goes back to her mother n sister,again takes her original name and starts working with her sister-brother in law its been 5 months now and Dimitri is searching for Xandra,but when he comes for a business meeting there he meets Xandra and from there starts Dimitri's grovelling and his journey of winning his love n child back
I absolutely loved the story and liked the way Alexandra does'nt gives in easily asks for proofs and how all questions are answered as to why she changed her name,Dimitri apologising for his behaviour and when n how his grandfather comes to know and what happens to Phoebe,but it takes some time to build the trust but eventually after a small misunderstanding they have their HEA
Good read,a keeper for me
Recommend it
July 16, 2017
Why this book is popping on my feed again I do not know, must be some punishment for scorning the neighbor's cat!
But let me remind myself: remember Kiki, he came to his sense conveniently AFTER the fiancée ran off and married the brother and started to look for her AFTER she was evicted and AFTER she left Paris which was actually one week after him throwing his tantrum because she had the brains to think she needs to give him time to cool down. Also he neither apologised nor explained the reason for so brutally evicting her when she was pregnant when he's claiming he always loved her. Die you pathetic dog of a SOB! Die a thousand violent death
=====
After re-read: it's down to 2 star for heroine's backbone! 1 star down for chauvinist manipulative relative. One star down for chauvinist Neanderthal cruel SOB hero. One star down for heroine ever forgiving him no matter how much she loved him and the fact he was baby daddy after he EVICTED her off their apartment.
The fiancée ran off and married the brother so of course NOW he's free to pursue her, and why do we believe him? He can of course say all the bullshit about how he was never going to go through with the marriage and how he was looking for her straightaway. However there was no proof and it all conveniently started AFTER she was evicted and AFTER she left Paris which was actually one week after him throwing his tantrum because she had the brains to think she needs to give him time to cool down. So he VERY conveniently starts believing her and desperately searches her on the seventh night the precise moment she exits Paris. Yeah, just peachy. I trust him as far as I can throw him, which is not far at all. He's actions were unforgivable and unredeemable. And I don't think he redeemed himself either. All he did was sulk, brood, and then yell at the heroine saying how it was all her fault and then she went an apologise.
Thanks but no thanks. I suddenly realised why I prefer to be single!
Previous review:
3 Star simply for the parts where heroine stood up for herself!
Hero however, was a complete freaken jerk!
But let me remind myself: remember Kiki, he came to his sense conveniently AFTER the fiancée ran off and married the brother and started to look for her AFTER she was evicted and AFTER she left Paris which was actually one week after him throwing his tantrum because she had the brains to think she needs to give him time to cool down. Also he neither apologised nor explained the reason for so brutally evicting her when she was pregnant when he's claiming he always loved her. Die you pathetic dog of a SOB! Die a thousand violent death
=====
After re-read: it's down to 2 star for heroine's backbone! 1 star down for chauvinist manipulative relative. One star down for chauvinist Neanderthal cruel SOB hero. One star down for heroine ever forgiving him no matter how much she loved him and the fact he was baby daddy after he EVICTED her off their apartment.
The fiancée ran off and married the brother so of course NOW he's free to pursue her, and why do we believe him? He can of course say all the bullshit about how he was never going to go through with the marriage and how he was looking for her straightaway. However there was no proof and it all conveniently started AFTER she was evicted and AFTER she left Paris which was actually one week after him throwing his tantrum because she had the brains to think she needs to give him time to cool down. So he VERY conveniently starts believing her and desperately searches her on the seventh night the precise moment she exits Paris. Yeah, just peachy. I trust him as far as I can throw him, which is not far at all. He's actions were unforgivable and unredeemable. And I don't think he redeemed himself either. All he did was sulk, brood, and then yell at the heroine saying how it was all her fault and then she went an apologise.
Thanks but no thanks. I suddenly realised why I prefer to be single!
Previous review:
3 Star simply for the parts where heroine stood up for herself!
Hero however, was a complete freaken jerk!
December 2, 2018
Again a re-read!
I added one more star this time because hero convinced me of his love and how sorry he was for his rejection and rude words to the heroine. He searched her for a long time. she was so strong. Both infront of her mother and her behavior and against their breakup. I appreciate that they both took responsibility for their actions. The angst level in this was high. And their breakup scene was very hard to read.
Loved the grandfather and all secondary characters.
I strongly recommend.
I added one more star this time because hero convinced me of his love and how sorry he was for his rejection and rude words to the heroine. He searched her for a long time. she was so strong. Both infront of her mother and her behavior and against their breakup. I appreciate that they both took responsibility for their actions. The angst level in this was high. And their breakup scene was very hard to read.
Loved the grandfather and all secondary characters.
I strongly recommend.
January 10, 2015
Did a reread and bumped up to 5***, one of my fav books by LM.I wonder if she ever wrote the sister's love story?
April 10, 2020
This had some GOOD grovel 👌🏼
December 29, 2017
Review of book read years.
I really enjoyed this novel when I read it. I enjoyed this in a demented manner. I remember getting really upset at the heroine for cutting off all her beautiful hair. Wtf ?! Why do authors even do this shit to heroines? Cutting off your beautiful hair because your cold hearted bastard boyfriend dumped you? That's masochistic. That's not a symbolic eradication of your old glamorous life. You can be glamorous and sad at the same time bitch. Never allow a man to make you lose yourself. LOL. Ok Ok. Maybe short hair is easier when one is pregnant... LOL. I really need to read this again to make sure she cut her hair for the reasons I stated above. And what does it say about me that I remember something so weird?
The hero was a cold son of a bitch. He would have gone and married some other woman without having any feelings for her - never mind the fact that his brother had the super hots for his fiancee. But that's the second book in the series, from what I remember.
I do recall the hard hearted hero having to grovel after he found the pregnant heroine though. There was one thing I found interesting though: the heroine's fake name as a model was "Xandra Fortune". That is the stereotypical name one would expect for a cheap, gold digging floozy or an OW. But I suppose the author knew what she was doing because in this novel the hero was engaged to a another woman so the heroine was indeed the "OW", even if she had been a sweet little virgin.
I could have given this more stars but the superficial part of me had to take off points for the cutting off of the heroine's hair. LOL
I really enjoyed this novel when I read it. I enjoyed this in a demented manner. I remember getting really upset at the heroine for cutting off all her beautiful hair. Wtf ?! Why do authors even do this shit to heroines? Cutting off your beautiful hair because your cold hearted bastard boyfriend dumped you? That's masochistic. That's not a symbolic eradication of your old glamorous life. You can be glamorous and sad at the same time bitch. Never allow a man to make you lose yourself. LOL. Ok Ok. Maybe short hair is easier when one is pregnant... LOL. I really need to read this again to make sure she cut her hair for the reasons I stated above. And what does it say about me that I remember something so weird?
The hero was a cold son of a bitch. He would have gone and married some other woman without having any feelings for her - never mind the fact that his brother had the super hots for his fiancee. But that's the second book in the series, from what I remember.
I do recall the hard hearted hero having to grovel after he found the pregnant heroine though. There was one thing I found interesting though: the heroine's fake name as a model was "Xandra Fortune". That is the stereotypical name one would expect for a cheap, gold digging floozy or an OW. But I suppose the author knew what she was doing because in this novel the hero was engaged to a another woman so the heroine was indeed the "OW", even if she had been a sweet little virgin.
I could have given this more stars but the superficial part of me had to take off points for the cutting off of the heroine's hair. LOL
September 10, 2021
I can see why people rave about this book, it’s super emotional and the writing is good. But it still didn’t win me over because of the pathetic spineless doormat h.
Spoilers
This Zero seriously needed a restraining order against this clingy heroine omg..
gurl, just stop!! He dumped your ass like 4 fucking times and then had people literally kicking your pregnant ass out the apt, because he wants to marry his Greek Virgin, but you still waited around the phone hoping he’ll call for a week? Oh and then 2 months later, you stalk his apt and prank his ass hoping he’ll come back! 😂
Holy shit, that’s so desperate!
jeez!
If you don’t like girls chasing guys, skip this book. This book is OTT!
🚩
I didn’t believe in his love for the h. Let’s not confuse a mans love for a woman and his love for his child.
if not for the baby, if he hadn’t gotten caught about the h being preg with his baby and his fiancée finding out, he would be married to his Greek Virgin. No matter what he says.🙄
I also think without the baby, he never wouldve looked for her or had a reason to.
In their relationship, she definitely loved more than him.
The Hero-fucking asshole - was not even worth being called one.
I hated everyone in this book lol. Just your usual HP you know…😂
Spoilers
This Zero seriously needed a restraining order against this clingy heroine omg..
gurl, just stop!! He dumped your ass like 4 fucking times and then had people literally kicking your pregnant ass out the apt, because he wants to marry his Greek Virgin, but you still waited around the phone hoping he’ll call for a week? Oh and then 2 months later, you stalk his apt and prank his ass hoping he’ll come back! 😂
Holy shit, that’s so desperate!
jeez!
If you don’t like girls chasing guys, skip this book. This book is OTT!
🚩
I didn’t believe in his love for the h. Let’s not confuse a mans love for a woman and his love for his child.
if not for the baby, if he hadn’t gotten caught about the h being preg with his baby and his fiancée finding out, he would be married to his Greek Virgin. No matter what he says.🙄
I also think without the baby, he never wouldve looked for her or had a reason to.
In their relationship, she definitely loved more than him.
The Hero-fucking asshole - was not even worth being called one.
I hated everyone in this book lol. Just your usual HP you know…😂
January 28, 2013
This book I just fell in love with. I loved Xandra! She took a lot of grief from Dimitri and yet she never stopped loving him and even though she was angry for the way he treated her she still didn't give up on them. The hero is of course in love with her as well but his insecurities and obligation to his family name force him to break up with Xandra so as to marry a good Greek girl. Soon he realizes his mistake and is determined to grovel and win her back. Some previous misunderstandings and problems were still there so they still fought they made sizzling love and i loved it.
This is a great book and a keeper! Lucy Monroe did a good job of making these characters real and you could feel their emotions leaping off the page. The epilogue was fantastic!
This is a great book and a keeper! Lucy Monroe did a good job of making these characters real and you could feel their emotions leaping off the page. The epilogue was fantastic!
April 6, 2019
I haven't read one of these books in years but because I saw some positive reviews for this book I decided to give it a try......so recap
Dmitri and the Xandra have been lovers for a year, she was a virgin before him and for their time together they've been basically living together in an apartment in Paris. He knows her as the blonde green eyed model Xandra Fortune. When Dmitri's ailing grandfather gives him an ultimatum he has to end his relationship with his mistress/girlfriend? to marry a suitable Greek bride. He goes to end things but Xandra seduces him, he can't resist so they have sex then he gives her the news. But wait Xandra was Just about to tell him she's pregnant, he leaves before she's able but after crying she calls and sets up a meet with him next day. There in a restaurant she breaks the news. He's furious,thinking she's pregnant by another man and is cruel to her, see even though the condom broke once he doesn't think it could possibly be his 🤦
Xandra is crying ,pleading etc. He orders her out of his apartment and when she doesn't leave week later he sends his people to pack her up and move her out. Xandra had been waiting and calling him during that time but upon facing eviction she FINALLY finds her backbone and packs only her stuff,leaving the positive pregnancy test and his previous gifts behind.
She returns to her roots and goes back to her original eye and hair color. Dimitri had no idea of her real name or these aspects of her physical appearance or even that she's been working to support her mom and sister. He actually thinks she's a French orphan 😲 she of course loved him and is devastated to think he actually married the other woman.
Right, so he's had guys looking for her accidentally finds her at her sister's house and within a couple pages they're kissing and such and she agrees to marry him.
Yadda,yadda,yadda we find out his brother married his intended bride after pictures of him and Xandra with the pregnancy test at the restaurant turned up in the papers. Of course it's flipped to appear as he had no intentions of going through with the ceremony but I didn't quite believe him.
Anyways the spineless h gets her hea with her Greek billionaire after a bit more drama with yet another promise to his grandfather.
1* Because they were both celibate and I love babies in my romances in any form I can get them. The h/H? Nope didn't like either!
Dmitri and the Xandra have been lovers for a year, she was a virgin before him and for their time together they've been basically living together in an apartment in Paris. He knows her as the blonde green eyed model Xandra Fortune. When Dmitri's ailing grandfather gives him an ultimatum he has to end his relationship with his mistress/girlfriend? to marry a suitable Greek bride. He goes to end things but Xandra seduces him, he can't resist so they have sex then he gives her the news. But wait Xandra was Just about to tell him she's pregnant, he leaves before she's able but after crying she calls and sets up a meet with him next day. There in a restaurant she breaks the news. He's furious,thinking she's pregnant by another man and is cruel to her, see even though the condom broke once he doesn't think it could possibly be his 🤦
Xandra is crying ,pleading etc. He orders her out of his apartment and when she doesn't leave week later he sends his people to pack her up and move her out. Xandra had been waiting and calling him during that time but upon facing eviction she FINALLY finds her backbone and packs only her stuff,leaving the positive pregnancy test and his previous gifts behind.
She returns to her roots and goes back to her original eye and hair color. Dimitri had no idea of her real name or these aspects of her physical appearance or even that she's been working to support her mom and sister. He actually thinks she's a French orphan 😲 she of course loved him and is devastated to think he actually married the other woman.
Right, so he's had guys looking for her accidentally finds her at her sister's house and within a couple pages they're kissing and such and she agrees to marry him.
Yadda,yadda,yadda we find out his brother married his intended bride after pictures of him and Xandra with the pregnancy test at the restaurant turned up in the papers. Of course it's flipped to appear as he had no intentions of going through with the ceremony but I didn't quite believe him.
Anyways the spineless h gets her hea with her Greek billionaire after a bit more drama with yet another promise to his grandfather.
1* Because they were both celibate and I love babies in my romances in any form I can get them. The h/H? Nope didn't like either!
August 4, 2020
I liked how the author portrayed that it really does take two to make or break a relationship. Both Alexandra and Dimitri contributed to the demise of their dysfunctional relationship because of their emotional baggage and poor communication skills, which created further dysfunction in the form of misunderstandings.
The most gripping part of the story was the beginning (even then it's only moderately angsty as I don't find this author's writing style, although well-written, to be overly emotional). Dimitri dumped Alexandra in a heartless manner so I was glad to see him suffering the aftereffects. But the one thing that was slow in coming was the actual words "I'm sorry", acknowledging his cruel behavior. I felt Dimitri clearly regretted forcing Alexandra to leave him, but his remorse for the way he'd treated her during their breakup seemed murky. So when that admission finally came I breathed a sigh of relief, otherwise I would have kicked this book to the curb!
I liked Alexandra's initial attempts to resist Dimitri after being reunited. I also liked how she always thought of what was best for her unborn child, unlike some heroines who forget that a child needs their father too. (There's no excuse for keeping the baby a secret unless he's abusive, a criminal, or made it clear he has no interest in being a parent.) Once they resumed where they left off the tension and conflict wasn't as intense, but the story does end on a high note.
The most gripping part of the story was the beginning (even then it's only moderately angsty as I don't find this author's writing style, although well-written, to be overly emotional). Dimitri dumped Alexandra in a heartless manner so I was glad to see him suffering the aftereffects. But the one thing that was slow in coming was the actual words "I'm sorry", acknowledging his cruel behavior. I felt Dimitri clearly regretted forcing Alexandra to leave him, but his remorse for the way he'd treated her during their breakup seemed murky. So when that admission finally came I breathed a sigh of relief, otherwise I would have kicked this book to the curb!
I liked Alexandra's initial attempts to resist Dimitri after being reunited. I also liked how she always thought of what was best for her unborn child, unlike some heroines who forget that a child needs their father too. (There's no excuse for keeping the baby a secret unless he's abusive, a criminal, or made it clear he has no interest in being a parent.) Once they resumed where they left off the tension and conflict wasn't as intense, but the story does end on a high note.
March 27, 2015
The story of this book has been playing on my head since forever, guess its time for a re-read :D
September 30, 2011
I bought this one because I was in the mood for an HP where the hero really done the heroine wrong and after she disappears realizes his mistake and searches for her to get her back. This one was right up that alley and was pretty good. The hero was a super super ass to her and she, while she loved him, didn't whimper and melt but stood up to him. Well written with some good angsty scenes. POV from both the hero and the heroine. He was pretty contrite when he wised up so that was nice. Minor spoiler on that point though
May 17, 2019
I just read this book again and I still love it. The hero was such a douche when he had her evicted, and at the restaurant it totally made me cry again. But the scene on the balcony when he heard she is dead is such a great scene. I loved it. He deserved that and more for dumping her so he could marry a nice little Greek girl. He did grovel though at least to me. He really did suffer when he couldn't find her. I loved how he kept the pregnancy test even. One of my all time favorite Harlequins!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
February 20, 2017DNF... Only finished reading chapter 2.
It's my fault because I read Vintage's review and I knew I wasn't going to like it so I erased it from my to-read list but forgot to add it to my will-not-read. My bad.
If the hero is a jerk because he is grieving and/or he wants revenge (even if the heroine is totally innocent and he knows it, or not) I can take it, believe me I've loved really jerks heroes.
But here? Even though he knew he was her first lover and been together for more than a year he's suddenly doubting her faithfulness. Oh, and don't forget he knew there had been a broken preservative... Forgetting about his reasons for marrying the OW, I can't understand why he is such an ass.
She is not blameless, I can get from the H that she wasn't really communicative about her feelings in the 14 months, and she said she had been in love in that time... But still.
Uh and read Vintage's review for hero's further condemnation...
It's my fault because I read Vintage's review and I knew I wasn't going to like it so I erased it from my to-read list but forgot to add it to my will-not-read. My bad.
If the hero is a jerk because he is grieving and/or he wants revenge (even if the heroine is totally innocent and he knows it, or not) I can take it, believe me I've loved really jerks heroes.
But here? Even though he knew he was her first lover and been together for more than a year he's suddenly doubting her faithfulness. Oh, and don't forget he knew there had been a broken preservative... Forgetting about his reasons for marrying the OW, I can't understand why he is such an ass.
She is not blameless, I can get from the H that she wasn't really communicative about her feelings in the 14 months, and she said she had been in love in that time... But still.
Uh and read Vintage's review for hero's further condemnation...
June 1, 2021
Hero dumps heroine when she tells him she's pregnant. He's our usual dumb blockhead billionaire who the reader asks how could ever have made up so much money with a brain so small. She is a model and so, in his opinion, not wife material, only mistress (that is equivalent to slut) He is cruel and nasty but after some says he seems to come to his senses and try to find her. Which turns out to be impossible since she is no longer a model and seems to have vanished in the air. She's at her sister's, and when he finds her he wants to marry her. She accepts but she is still angry. He grovels and grovels and she makes him suffer, which is a good thing since his behaviour was disgraceful. I didn't like this hero, he was really a weak dumb man with no honour at all. This hero was one of the worst ever.
-He used her for sex and left her to marry a proper greek virgin. What a sad bastard chauvinist. If the heroine wasn't pregnant that would have been the end of the book. Hero dumps heroine and marries another. Stop.
- The way he acted when she told him she was pregnant was disgusting. Even if he believed she was pregnant with another man's child he was cruel, mean and rude. Not a gentleman, never a gentleman. Since I think that you can see a man's real worth by his way to cope with problems, he was no man at all, only a complete failure.
- He throws her out of the flat where they lived, that's another sign of his cowardice. What a specimen.
- Am I wrong or he never apologized? That is, say I'm sorry for all the pain I caused you and because I behaved like a sob and a coward, and I'm ashamed of miself? He only tried to justify his behaviour. A brave man must be able to properly apologize when he's wrong.
- i don't believe what he told her in the end, that he was in love with her even when he left her, the writer tried her best but that was unbelievable.
- Why women always have to settle for less? Why they never expect the best? That is, a man who puts YOU first, not his family, his business, his damned grandfather or even his child. I hope that in real life women are different from those poor heroines.
- Anyway, I appreciated that the book was full of angst and I reread many times already, so I cannot give less than 3 stars
-He used her for sex and left her to marry a proper greek virgin. What a sad bastard chauvinist. If the heroine wasn't pregnant that would have been the end of the book. Hero dumps heroine and marries another. Stop.
- The way he acted when she told him she was pregnant was disgusting. Even if he believed she was pregnant with another man's child he was cruel, mean and rude. Not a gentleman, never a gentleman. Since I think that you can see a man's real worth by his way to cope with problems, he was no man at all, only a complete failure.
- He throws her out of the flat where they lived, that's another sign of his cowardice. What a specimen.
- Am I wrong or he never apologized? That is, say I'm sorry for all the pain I caused you and because I behaved like a sob and a coward, and I'm ashamed of miself? He only tried to justify his behaviour. A brave man must be able to properly apologize when he's wrong.
- i don't believe what he told her in the end, that he was in love with her even when he left her, the writer tried her best but that was unbelievable.
- Why women always have to settle for less? Why they never expect the best? That is, a man who puts YOU first, not his family, his business, his damned grandfather or even his child. I hope that in real life women are different from those poor heroines.
- Anyway, I appreciated that the book was full of angst and I reread many times already, so I cannot give less than 3 stars
January 29, 2024
Reread Jan. 2024 - Upgrading to 5 Stars. After a long list of DNFs and low-ratings, this one worked wonderfully. What a relief. The angst was still very much there and that ending got me emotional and teary-eyed. I loved the main characters. No filler or stupid secondary characters highjacking the story, no skimming needed.
Original rating/review:
Read July 2020
4 "agápi mou--my love" Stars
My thoughts?
It was perfectly ridiculous. I loved it. *sighs wistfully* These Harlequin Greek tycoons are just what the doctor ordered--the boost to my immunity I needed.
Note:
Purchased ebook book from Amazon.
Original rating/review:
Read July 2020
4 "agápi mou--my love" Stars
My thoughts?
It was perfectly ridiculous. I loved it. *sighs wistfully* These Harlequin Greek tycoons are just what the doctor ordered--the boost to my immunity I needed.
Note:
Purchased ebook book from Amazon.
January 5, 2021
2010 review: One of my favorite Lucy Monroe's.
2021 review: Still a Lucy Monroe favorite.
2021 review: Still a Lucy Monroe favorite.
August 29, 2023
I just couldn't connect with this, I'm ashamed to say I skimmed through bits of this. I was really wanting to like this after high reviews from friends but this just wasn't for me.
April 30, 2017
What the fuck did I just read? This is pure trash. Independent, career women my ass. The Hero does nothing to redeem his cruel treatment to h.
This is a story of GreekASSHOLE tycoon STUPID NEANDERTHAL Dimitri Arrogant-jerk-face Petronides and model Xandra Alexandra DOORMAT Dumbpree Fortune
It started out great, painful, cruel breakup. YES! I was in one of those mood for a heartache and lots of grovel. After the cruel breakup (which was absolutely amazing!), Xandra decided to cut out Dimitri completely by leaving everything related to him in their apartment in Paris and left without a trace. GREAT! Than cut to 3 months later, Miss Doormat Alexandra bumps into Mr Arrogant-Jerk-Face at a business party than immediately drop in bed with him.........What?......did I miss something? Were you not there when he dump you after calling you a easy fuck and said he wanted to marry a virgin Greek woman, accuse you of infidelity, accuse you of trapping him with a baby, insult your love for him, then cruelly evict you from your apartment by hired help? Must've confuse you with another doormat named Alexandra, my bad.
After realizing his mistake in breaking up with sophisticatedLOL career woman LOL Xandra, he decide to win her back............by forcing himself on her............Riiiiigghtt. Nothing convey love than forcefully kissing her when she said no (oh, it was way more than once or twice), jump her in the shower after breaking into her bathroom, and pressure into marriage............how romantic (Barf).
The whole problem between our tragic hero and heroine was, believe it or not, 3 words. Not I am sorry, or I was wrong or I want you back (okay, that was four words, but whatever), it was big ol cliche I love you ..........
Of course our melodramatic pain-in-the-ass Hero, instead of being like all logical, rational human beings and voicing out his inner feelings when one might want to win their love back, he has to be a Neanderthal. Like for example, instead of TELLING THEM YOU LOVE THEM AND YOU WERE WRONG AND YOU WANT THEM BACK AND BEG FOR MERCY AND REPEATEDLY SHOW YOUR SINCERITY BY ROMANTIC GESTURE. Our hero of course choose simply to have cajole her into sex, pressure her into marriage, question her feelings and blame her for not loving him anymore. Of course, what did I expect?
Seriously, all the misunderstanding could be solved by saying I love you. Instead, they repeatedly play the game of he/she loves me, he/she loves me not, woe is me Urrrggggh
"Hero's big romantic gesture?" you may ask. Buy her back her family mansion for her bitch crazy 18th century mindset mom. No. No. No. No. Just no. Fucking god dammit Alexandra! Material goods aren't romantic! Plus, he only said I love you after she did, which btw wasn't until the last chapter..........
Why did I waste my time with this? This story is a joke, I would've given up half way if this story wasn't so short and I wanted to finish it for completion sake. Didn't buy their HEA. It was such a disappointment, I really liked The Greek's Christmas Baby by Lucy Monroe, hence reading this. Pity.
This is a story of Greek
It started out great, painful, cruel breakup. YES! I was in one of those mood for a heartache and lots of grovel. After the cruel breakup (which was absolutely amazing!), Xandra decided to cut out Dimitri completely by leaving everything related to him in their apartment in Paris and left without a trace. GREAT! Than cut to 3 months later, Miss Doormat Alexandra bumps into Mr Arrogant-Jerk-Face at a business party than immediately drop in bed with him.........What?......did I miss something? Were you not there when he dump you after calling you a easy fuck and said he wanted to marry a virgin Greek woman, accuse you of infidelity, accuse you of trapping him with a baby, insult your love for him, then cruelly evict you from your apartment by hired help? Must've confuse you with another doormat named Alexandra, my bad.
After realizing his mistake in breaking up with sophisticated
The whole problem between our tragic hero and heroine was, believe it or not, 3 words. Not I am sorry, or I was wrong or I want you back (okay, that was four words, but whatever), it was big ol cliche I love you ..........
Of course our melodramatic pain-in-the-ass Hero, instead of being like all logical, rational human beings and voicing out his inner feelings when one might want to win their love back, he has to be a Neanderthal. Like for example, instead of TELLING THEM YOU LOVE THEM AND YOU WERE WRONG AND YOU WANT THEM BACK AND BEG FOR MERCY AND REPEATEDLY SHOW YOUR SINCERITY BY ROMANTIC GESTURE. Our hero of course choose simply to have cajole her into sex, pressure her into marriage, question her feelings and blame her for not loving him anymore. Of course, what did I expect?
Seriously, all the misunderstanding could be solved by saying I love you. Instead, they repeatedly play the game of he/she loves me, he/she loves me not, woe is me Urrrggggh
"Hero's big romantic gesture?" you may ask. Buy her back her family mansion for her bitch crazy 18th century mindset mom. No. No. No. No. Just no. Fucking god dammit Alexandra! Material goods aren't romantic! Plus, he only said I love you after she did, which btw wasn't until the last chapter..........
Why did I waste my time with this? This story is a joke, I would've given up half way if this story wasn't so short and I wanted to finish it for completion sake. Didn't buy their HEA. It was such a disappointment, I really liked The Greek's Christmas Baby by Lucy Monroe, hence reading this. Pity.
May 24, 2020
5 Greek Baby Stars
Soapy-Smut at it’s best!! I was in the mood for an asshole, and Dimitri didn’t disappoint. The key to my maximum S-S enjoyment depends on my H being a prick of epic proportions. I need him to dig his hole so deep that he needs a crane to reach redemption…and throwing his baby mama out on the street… so he could marry another woman??!! We’re talking Berkeley Pit deep. This one went from heartbreak… to groveling… to HEA… Yum
Bottom Line- This book/genre is not for everyone, and will probably be offensive to most. :) Soapy-Smut is for readers that LOVE the drama, and OTT antics of characters behaving badly. It’s not serious, or really realistic…it’s just for fun!!
Soapy-Smut at it’s best!! I was in the mood for an asshole, and Dimitri didn’t disappoint. The key to my maximum S-S enjoyment depends on my H being a prick of epic proportions. I need him to dig his hole so deep that he needs a crane to reach redemption…and throwing his baby mama out on the street… so he could marry another woman??!! We’re talking Berkeley Pit deep. This one went from heartbreak… to groveling… to HEA… Yum
Bottom Line- This book/genre is not for everyone, and will probably be offensive to most. :) Soapy-Smut is for readers that LOVE the drama, and OTT antics of characters behaving badly. It’s not serious, or really realistic…it’s just for fun!!
June 8, 2012
This is definitely one of my favorite HP's of all times and one of my favorites by Lucy Monroe. It is filled with angst and it has an absolutely incredibly strong heroine. I also felt that Dmitri's recognition of his mistake and his grovel throughout the book were what made this so strong.
My only negative, is I think she forgave him too easily. It would have been so much stronger to draw out the reconciliation.
My only negative, is I think she forgave him too easily. It would have been so much stronger to draw out the reconciliation.
December 11, 2025
The angst~~~~
This is so riddled in miscommunication, there's really no space for anything healthy.
↬ However
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🕮⋆˚࿔✎𓂃 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐲 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰
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This is so riddled in miscommunication, there's really no space for anything healthy.
↬ However
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🕮⋆˚࿔✎𓂃 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐲 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰
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February 16, 2013
Jumping right in: from the get go, this book made zero sense. The intro and the premise of the book was just…
and this is coming from someone who has been reading romance novels since (never you mind) and I have forgiven A LOT of odd plot lines in the name of HEA.
The story reminded me of those old Loveswept series circa 1980s. I saw that it was published in 2004 but that can’t be right. It had to be a reprint.
First off, Xandra (Xandra?) Fortune is a French supermodel (working only in Europe) who only took a modeling job because her family’s old money has turned into no money. Her mother is humiliated enough that her daughter even has to work for a living much less as a model who is practically next to being a hooker in her eyes.
So she hooks up with a billionaire Greek hottie (no complaints here) who she gives her virginity to… (huh?) Gets pregnant (hence the title) but he doesn’t believe her so (not cool). Heartbroken (understandably) she goes back to her real persona as a broke American and promptly disappears. Having a change of heart, the Greek Hottie decides to look for her but cannot find her because Xandra is not even her real name and he has no idea who she really is.
Everything in this book was over the top. When I read about the restaurants they ate at, the places they stayed, the sidewalk they trampled I kept hearing Robin Leach in the background. It was BEYOND ridiculous. You can describe opulence without being so….opulent about it.
To top it all off, the Greek Hottie’s grandfather refuses to make a life-saving operation until the Hottie marries a proper girl because the family needs an heir. This was the main reason why he got rid of Xandra in the first place (Xandra not being good wife material because she was a model).
If Mystery Science Theater 3000 did romantic novels, this would have been in it. If I had known the direction this story was going, I would have had a grand old time with it like those old hecklers from The Muppet Show. As it was, all I got was a headache from rolling my eyes so much.
Writing: Don’t get me started.
Dialogue: Archaic (I saw fossils)
Recommend:
and this is coming from someone who has been reading romance novels since (never you mind) and I have forgiven A LOT of odd plot lines in the name of HEA.
The story reminded me of those old Loveswept series circa 1980s. I saw that it was published in 2004 but that can’t be right. It had to be a reprint.
First off, Xandra (Xandra?) Fortune is a French supermodel (working only in Europe) who only took a modeling job because her family’s old money has turned into no money. Her mother is humiliated enough that her daughter even has to work for a living much less as a model who is practically next to being a hooker in her eyes.
So she hooks up with a billionaire Greek hottie (no complaints here) who she gives her virginity to… (huh?) Gets pregnant (hence the title) but he doesn’t believe her so (not cool). Heartbroken (understandably) she goes back to her real persona as a broke American and promptly disappears. Having a change of heart, the Greek Hottie decides to look for her but cannot find her because Xandra is not even her real name and he has no idea who she really is.
Everything in this book was over the top. When I read about the restaurants they ate at, the places they stayed, the sidewalk they trampled I kept hearing Robin Leach in the background. It was BEYOND ridiculous. You can describe opulence without being so….opulent about it.
To top it all off, the Greek Hottie’s grandfather refuses to make a life-saving operation until the Hottie marries a proper girl because the family needs an heir. This was the main reason why he got rid of Xandra in the first place (Xandra not being good wife material because she was a model).
If Mystery Science Theater 3000 did romantic novels, this would have been in it. If I had known the direction this story was going, I would have had a grand old time with it like those old hecklers from The Muppet Show. As it was, all I got was a headache from rolling my eyes so much.
Writing: Don’t get me started.
Dialogue: Archaic (I saw fossils)
Recommend:
April 17, 2011
I'm pretty sure that cutting the lights and breaking into your baby mama's room while she's in the shower is the beginning of a horror scene--not romance.
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