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Baby of Shame
Will one night of unforgettable pleasure lead to a lifetime of hatred and desire...?
Rhianna has struggled against the odds to survive since that fateful night. But she knows that, one day soon, the secret she carries will cost her....
Sure enough, Greek tycoon Alexis Petrakis has discovered that their shame-filled night created something beautiful...a baby that he will do anything to reclaim....
192 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published December 1, 2005
92 people are currently reading
757 people want to read
About the author
Julia James
718 books164 followersJulia lives in England with her family. Mills and Boon novels were Julia's first "grown up" books she read as a teenager ("Alongside Georgette Heyer and Daphne du Maurier."), and she's been reading them ever since.
Julia adores the English countryside ("And the Celtic countryside!"), in all its seasons, and is fascinated by all things historical, from castles to cottages. She also has a special love for the Mediterranean ("The most perfect landscape after England!") — she considers both are ideal settings for romance stories! In between writing she enjoys walking, gardening, needlework and baking "extremely gooey chocolate cakes" — and trying to stay fit!
Julia adores the English countryside ("And the Celtic countryside!"), in all its seasons, and is fascinated by all things historical, from castles to cottages. She also has a special love for the Mediterranean ("The most perfect landscape after England!") — she considers both are ideal settings for romance stories! In between writing she enjoys walking, gardening, needlework and baking "extremely gooey chocolate cakes" — and trying to stay fit!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 116 reviews
October 25, 2016
3 Best Title Ever Stars
So first off, I wanna give a shout out award to the title maker for this bad boy, whomever that may be.
Because AWESOME.
"Baby of Shame."
Then I would like to take a shout out award away from myself for continuously reading books with titles like "Baby of Shame" - and spending $4.50 on them to boot.
Idiocy, I tell you.
But what can I say...
#INeedMyFix
Now, enough of that.
On to my "review."
*snort*
This was one of those books which employs what I like to call the "Soap Opera Stare."
Meaning, there is constant build-up to all of these little moments - in this case, when that shameful baby is revealed - where the characters come together and there should be an "aha!" moment.
But instead of starting to scream, yell - or passive aggressively "discuss" the issue, depending upon your own personal damage - as they would in REAL life...
...That moment comes, and we are forced to read 3-5 more pages of narration describing what each fucking character is thinking...
...while I imagine them silently and awkwardly standing there staring at each other like this:
*camera panning*
*camera panning*
*camera panning*
Now typically, the "Soap Opera Stare" is followed by one of the following:
The "Classic Soap Opera" Smack Down
The "How Dare You Fuck My Husband, Ouch I Hurt My Hand" Smack Down
The "Yeah That's Right, I'm Sleeping With My Ex-Flame aka Your Wife" Smack Down
The "I Can't Believe You Banged My Sister" Smack Down
And MY personal favorite...
The "I Found Out You Cheated, Pushed You, Knocked Myself Out From the Fall, and Am Now In A Coma While You Pine At My Bedside" Smack Down.
BOOM.
Now, mind you, while we DID get a couple smack downs...most of the Soap Opera Stares in this book were followed by moments like this:
Sails, say goodbye to that wind you were just enjoying.
That, in combination with some less than stellar fade-to-black sexy times left me feeling a little disappointed with this one.
Find me at:
So first off, I wanna give a shout out award to the title maker for this bad boy, whomever that may be.
Because AWESOME.
"Baby of Shame."
Then I would like to take a shout out award away from myself for continuously reading books with titles like "Baby of Shame" - and spending $4.50 on them to boot.
Idiocy, I tell you.
But what can I say...
#INeedMyFix
Now, enough of that.
On to my "review."
*snort*
This was one of those books which employs what I like to call the "Soap Opera Stare."
Meaning, there is constant build-up to all of these little moments - in this case, when that shameful baby is revealed - where the characters come together and there should be an "aha!" moment.
But instead of starting to scream, yell - or passive aggressively "discuss" the issue, depending upon your own personal damage - as they would in REAL life...
...That moment comes, and we are forced to read 3-5 more pages of narration describing what each fucking character is thinking...
...while I imagine them silently and awkwardly standing there staring at each other like this:
*camera panning*
*camera panning*
*camera panning*
Now typically, the "Soap Opera Stare" is followed by one of the following:
The "Classic Soap Opera" Smack Down
The "How Dare You Fuck My Husband, Ouch I Hurt My Hand" Smack Down
The "Yeah That's Right, I'm Sleeping With My Ex-Flame aka Your Wife" Smack Down
The "I Can't Believe You Banged My Sister" Smack Down
And MY personal favorite...
The "I Found Out You Cheated, Pushed You, Knocked Myself Out From the Fall, and Am Now In A Coma While You Pine At My Bedside" Smack Down.
BOOM.
Now, mind you, while we DID get a couple smack downs...most of the Soap Opera Stares in this book were followed by moments like this:
Sails, say goodbye to that wind you were just enjoying.
That, in combination with some less than stellar fade-to-black sexy times left me feeling a little disappointed with this one.
Find me at:
October 20, 2017
It's been a while since I had such fun with a Harlequin. This book brought tears to my eyes. And not because it was sad. I honestly was laughing so hard with the dialogues and the ridiculousness of the situations.
The girl was totally naive. She is trying to save her father's company and she sleeps with the guy who doesn't realise that she is completely innocent but he thinks that she is a seductress. And then oops she is pregnant. And he doesn't know anything because she never told him.
After 5 years they meet again because she and his son have an accident and the first thing that crosses his mind is how ugly she looks. What a jerk!
Then he thinks that she is on drugs, although she was only using medicines.
Misunderstandings, talking and talking explaining situations that do not need explanation, stupid reasoning, tears of sadness and tears of happiness, over the top behaviour and misbehaviour etc.
They basically spend all their time together hating each other until they realise that he has mommy issues and she has daddy issues.
Finally he admits that she is the best mother for his kid and she admits that he is the best father for her kid. And they live happily ever after. Oh, and she is pretty again.
I will definitely read this again!
The girl was totally naive. She is trying to save her father's company and she sleeps with the guy who doesn't realise that she is completely innocent but he thinks that she is a seductress. And then oops she is pregnant. And he doesn't know anything because she never told him.
After 5 years they meet again because she and his son have an accident and the first thing that crosses his mind is how ugly she looks. What a jerk!
Then he thinks that she is on drugs, although she was only using medicines.
Misunderstandings, talking and talking explaining situations that do not need explanation, stupid reasoning, tears of sadness and tears of happiness, over the top behaviour and misbehaviour etc.
They basically spend all their time together hating each other until they realise that he has mommy issues and she has daddy issues.
Finally he admits that she is the best mother for his kid and she admits that he is the best father for her kid. And they live happily ever after. Oh, and she is pretty again.
I will definitely read this again!
March 1, 2017
This is my "review of shame" because I really liked this one - even after a re-read. The misunderstandings and lies began the minute these two met and then are compounded five years after their one night stand by a meddling social worker who assumes the h is a drug addict and the H should be informed of his paternity.
They have to leave the real world for a Greek island for the H/h to finally clear up these issues (and create some new ones with the H's bone-headed "tests"). And that takes half the page time, which I appreciated. These kinds of hard feelings just don't evaporate overnight. That they didn't just fall into bed together was an added bonus, because the h had good reason to distrust the H after some of the antics he pulled. He gave a great grovel after a great tirade by the heroine. Julia James has done this in some of the other books - she should teach a grovel class.
The epilogue reminded me of those Disney World commercials after the Super Bowl. In this case it was "I just cleared up all the psychological baggage from my past - I'm going to Disney World." It set the tone and was the actual event of the epilogue.
They have to leave the real world for a Greek island for the H/h to finally clear up these issues (and create some new ones with the H's bone-headed "tests"). And that takes half the page time, which I appreciated. These kinds of hard feelings just don't evaporate overnight. That they didn't just fall into bed together was an added bonus, because the h had good reason to distrust the H after some of the antics he pulled. He gave a great grovel after a great tirade by the heroine. Julia James has done this in some of the other books - she should teach a grovel class.
The epilogue reminded me of those Disney World commercials after the Super Bowl. In this case it was "I just cleared up all the psychological baggage from my past - I'm going to Disney World." It set the tone and was the actual event of the epilogue.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 2, 2019
If you’ve read one one-night-stand turned you-tramp-here’s-the-money-for-your-services followed by a secret-pregnancy and 'grinding-poverty', then you’ve read them all. And we know the h will face some more accusations, trials, sneering before the sperm donor will deign to offer marriage. But our girl will throw it back in his face once for the record before all’s well in parents-make-best-mates-topia.
This book had nothing new to offer but for the description for the h when she’s sick and scrawny on the re-meet. The H finds her repulsive and looking like a ‘death’s head’ (first I’ve heard this one) with ‘sickly sour cheese/cream’ complexion. He cannot imagine he went to bed with this creature 5 years ago. (Then she had been a blonde siren.) This new avatar ‘screeches’ in a ‘thin’ voice repeatedly to further cement the image. She trembles, rants, shakes her fist, faints and repeats sequence for ¾ of the book.
Post some meat-on-bones, new clothes and make up, he's salivating again!
One strike she manages for fellow falsely-accused-ons-turned-mommy hs ….
”You thought me a drug addict—but addicts can love their children. You thought me no better than a whore—but whores can love their children. You thought me vindictive enough to keep your son from you—but mothers who do that can love their children. My God, murderers can love their children!’ Her voice rose. ‘But what cause had you to think I was lower than any, any of those? That I would sell my child for cash? What mother would do that?’’
But he had an answer (I’m sure his voice trembled with righteous pain and rage).
‘My Mother!’
Finito!
QED!
This book had nothing new to offer but for the description for the h when she’s sick and scrawny on the re-meet. The H finds her repulsive and looking like a ‘death’s head’ (first I’ve heard this one) with ‘sickly sour cheese/cream’ complexion. He cannot imagine he went to bed with this creature 5 years ago. (Then she had been a blonde siren.) This new avatar ‘screeches’ in a ‘thin’ voice repeatedly to further cement the image. She trembles, rants, shakes her fist, faints and repeats sequence for ¾ of the book.
Post some meat-on-bones, new clothes and make up, he's salivating again!
One strike she manages for fellow falsely-accused-ons-turned-mommy hs ….
”You thought me a drug addict—but addicts can love their children. You thought me no better than a whore—but whores can love their children. You thought me vindictive enough to keep your son from you—but mothers who do that can love their children. My God, murderers can love their children!’ Her voice rose. ‘But what cause had you to think I was lower than any, any of those? That I would sell my child for cash? What mother would do that?’’
But he had an answer (I’m sure his voice trembled with righteous pain and rage).
‘My Mother!’
Finito!
QED!
March 13, 2022
This book was as fantastically awful as we expected. I only read it because we found it at work and the title was too much. Baby of Shame? Really.
The heroine, and I use that lightly, is quite frankly a moron. We start out with a disjointed scene where she is waking up in a hospital after being in a hit and run. We find out(flashbacks) that five years ago she has a (stupid) plan to accost a business tycoon (Alexis Petrakis) at a charity dinner with a business plan only to fall into bed with him. And, of course no one uses protection. And surprise! Out comes Nicky.
While she is in the hospital a social worker going through her things finds a note saying that Alexis Petrakis is her son's father and contacts him to take over his care. Um, wtf? Social workers CANNOT go through your shit, and none of them would believe a random note clipped to a birth certificate saying Baby-Daddy. But whatever. He swoops in and collects the child and the mother and wisks them away to his private island in Greece. Which could totally happen. There he is super nice to Nicky and a cruel abusive bastard to Rhianna. And she's annoying. At times spineless at others a "venomous snake."
The story was repetitive and predictable. The author uses the same descriptions over and over. Neither of the characters is likable, and very little of the story is believable even if you stretch your imagination. The title never really comes into it either. There was very little shame. I feel cheated. Oh, and I'm pretty sure he's related to the 50 shades guy. No bondage, but he was a brooding ass with a 'tortured' past who's mommy didn't love him.
The heroine, and I use that lightly, is quite frankly a moron. We start out with a disjointed scene where she is waking up in a hospital after being in a hit and run. We find out(flashbacks) that five years ago she has a (stupid) plan to accost a business tycoon (Alexis Petrakis) at a charity dinner with a business plan only to fall into bed with him. And, of course no one uses protection. And surprise! Out comes Nicky.
While she is in the hospital a social worker going through her things finds a note saying that Alexis Petrakis is her son's father and contacts him to take over his care. Um, wtf? Social workers CANNOT go through your shit, and none of them would believe a random note clipped to a birth certificate saying Baby-Daddy. But whatever. He swoops in and collects the child and the mother and wisks them away to his private island in Greece. Which could totally happen. There he is super nice to Nicky and a cruel abusive bastard to Rhianna. And she's annoying. At times spineless at others a "venomous snake."
The story was repetitive and predictable. The author uses the same descriptions over and over. Neither of the characters is likable, and very little of the story is believable even if you stretch your imagination. The title never really comes into it either. There was very little shame. I feel cheated. Oh, and I'm pretty sure he's related to the 50 shades guy. No bondage, but he was a brooding ass with a 'tortured' past who's mommy didn't love him.
August 5, 2011
High drama. Vitriolic, conclusion leaping hero. Heroine fell in bed with him at first sight and now 5 years later, she doesn't melt at his touch! What's up with that? I enjoyed how she didn't just tumble back t into his arms. He says hateful things to her and she defends herself and doesn't let him touch her even though she is very ill. The end bit was a bit contrived since only a true moron would say what he did to her after finally getting her in bed. But he does a bunch of grovelling so it's all good.
February 9, 2016
No bueno.
If you love insta-love, cruel ass hats that won't listen to reason, heroines who shriek, heroines that roll over at the first kiss then this is the book for you.
The H is so horrible to the heroine it is scary. I just don't know where to go with this as for some readers it would be a 4 star due to the angst. Angst can be okay, even great, but there has to be something more than a one night stand to get you through it. I never bought it from either side.
Plus, there was a serious case of moppet.
If you love insta-love, cruel ass hats that won't listen to reason, heroines who shriek, heroines that roll over at the first kiss then this is the book for you.
The H is so horrible to the heroine it is scary. I just don't know where to go with this as for some readers it would be a 4 star due to the angst. Angst can be okay, even great, but there has to be something more than a one night stand to get you through it. I never bought it from either side.
Plus, there was a serious case of moppet.
August 10, 2016
2.5 stars.
It was not until after her illness when she started looking better (clothes and make-up) that he realized he still had feelings for her. I really dislike that plot element.
It was not until after her illness when she started looking better (clothes and make-up) that he realized he still had feelings for her. I really dislike that plot element.
April 5, 2016
First of all who those who care heroine's virginity is unclear. It is implied that she is not. Other than that neither of the characters is likable and the hatred, the bitterness between them was too much.
Wow all the latest harlequins I've read are 1 star books. Fingers crossed my luck will change.
Wow all the latest harlequins I've read are 1 star books. Fingers crossed my luck will change.
February 26, 2023
4 Stars
Tropes and Themes:
Secret Baby (4 yr old boy)
daddy/mommy issues
abandonment issues
This was a very satisfying read. I'm not sure I can say it was amazing or that I loved it as a whole, but I also don't have any complaints either. It wasn't terribly angsty, but angsty enough. The heroine wasn't annoyingly doormatish; I'd go as far as saying she wasn't a doormat. I did enjoy the grovel from the hero towards the end. I approved. 😆 It truly was love at first sight for both of them.
The HEA was 5 Stars. Even before the epilogue I thought it had a wonderful and heartfelt, happy ending. The epilogue was just extra, and I loved it too. It was so wholesome! Gah, those final scenes in the book made my heart swell. I personally connected with them.
"Happy families" 💓
"Dear God," he said into her hair, "how can we be so happy?" 💓
Note: read on Open Library
Tropes and Themes:
Secret Baby (4 yr old boy)
daddy/mommy issues
abandonment issues
This was a very satisfying read. I'm not sure I can say it was amazing or that I loved it as a whole, but I also don't have any complaints either. It wasn't terribly angsty, but angsty enough. The heroine wasn't annoyingly doormatish; I'd go as far as saying she wasn't a doormat. I did enjoy the grovel from the hero towards the end. I approved. 😆 It truly was love at first sight for both of them.
The HEA was 5 Stars. Even before the epilogue I thought it had a wonderful and heartfelt, happy ending. The epilogue was just extra, and I loved it too. It was so wholesome! Gah, those final scenes in the book made my heart swell. I personally connected with them.
"Happy families" 💓
"Dear God," he said into her hair, "how can we be so happy?" 💓
Note: read on Open Library
August 8, 2011
My first Julia James and I'm not disappointed. It's a very intense book, truly, and I was most impressed at how believable Ms. James made all the emotions and motivations we get from our leads. Both of them are scarred and hurt by their parents and those old wounds create GIANT problems for their future.
I might admit that the HEA came a little suddenly (it felt that way a bit), but really, at < 60,000 words, and with the low opinions both leads had of each other at the beginning, there would have had to be a miracle to make it any more agreeable.
The changing of opinions held by both leads was a gradual process (despite what one review or more here have said) especially in the case of Alexis. There was no big 'oh my god you're innocent of everything' moment, one by one his misconceptions were cleared away.
Honestly, it was the best effort by a modern writer I've come across in a while, and I'll be trying out more from her soon. I hear For Pleasure... Or Marriage has great reviews.
I might admit that the HEA came a little suddenly (it felt that way a bit), but really, at < 60,000 words, and with the low opinions both leads had of each other at the beginning, there would have had to be a miracle to make it any more agreeable.
The changing of opinions held by both leads was a gradual process (despite what one review or more here have said) especially in the case of Alexis. There was no big 'oh my god you're innocent of everything' moment, one by one his misconceptions were cleared away.
Honestly, it was the best effort by a modern writer I've come across in a while, and I'll be trying out more from her soon. I hear For Pleasure... Or Marriage has great reviews.
December 28, 2017
***FOUR STARS!***
I devoured this baby in one sitting, and I loved the entire thing! Alexis was a gigantic asshole through 95% of this story. And the scathing hate he threw at Rhianna was over the top. She was a total dumbass when she fell in bed with him in the beginning, but she owned that, and refused to let it happen again. And the angst in this story was delicious. From all the hate and distrust emanating from Alexis, as well as the horribly wrong accusations slung at Rhianna, to the very sad childhoods of both the main characters that were revealed, it was all so good!!
May 3, 2012
I actually had a little bit of trepidation about reading this one, but I am glad that I did. Mostly because Alexis is just one ruthless and obnoxious Hero, and I typically shy away from those types of books. If I don't, I quickly wish I had! But somehow this novel worked for me. Alexis really grows and you get to see how he grapples with all his ill conceived opinions. I really admired how he admits to having gone too far and that his actions have ultimately damaged and ruined his chances of ever getting the heroine to love and trust him again. He recognizes how hard he has to fight to win her back..and he really does put forth the effort.
I particularly liked that the heroine was not some silly spineless doormat. She sees Alex for what he is, and she doesn't swoon or melt into his bed. Instead she respects herself and her son..recognizing that caving to Alex emotionally or physically would just damage the boy.
Enjoyable read by Julia James.
I particularly liked that the heroine was not some silly spineless doormat. She sees Alex for what he is, and she doesn't swoon or melt into his bed. Instead she respects herself and her son..recognizing that caving to Alex emotionally or physically would just damage the boy.
Enjoyable read by Julia James.
October 10, 2021
Burnedout h (who's been taking care of her illegitimate 5-yr-old son & emotionally-unavailable father who recently died after long illness) is traumatized by a car accident that left her hospitalized & her son being taken away by suspicious social worker who thinks she's a drug addict & neglecting her son. She feel even worse when her son's father H (who she didn't want to know about their son after his accusation of her prostituting herself for her father's business after their passionate night together) tries to take custody of her son away from her but later he tries to reach a more amenable proposal when he finds out the truth of how she'd been living her life the past 5 yrs,
Excellent writing/pacing. Gripping emotionality. Great characters & character development, esp for a short book. Sizzling sexual chem/sex scenes.
Great groveling by H.
Excellent writing/pacing. Gripping emotionality. Great characters & character development, esp for a short book. Sizzling sexual chem/sex scenes.
Great groveling by H.
October 4, 2010
I wanted to jump in this book with my rocket launcher and wipe them all out! Ok. Not really, but pretty darn close. My goodness, talk about people who are simply TSTL!
March 8, 2020
3.7 stars.
When reading this book, I couldn't help wondering:
If the existence of the heroine and her 5 years old son inconvenient the billionaire hero ALL THAT MUCH, shouldn't he be thinking of ways to finish her off instead of, you know, ?
Sorry, it's just my usual train of logical thoughts. XD
I mean, come on........he had enough money and for hell's sake, a private island at his disposal!
I also remember, in crime&mystery novels, a private island usually means locked room mystery and stuff, but I guess in romance novels, it means something different entirely. LOL
When reading this book, I couldn't help wondering:
If the existence of the heroine and her 5 years old son inconvenient the billionaire hero ALL THAT MUCH, shouldn't he be thinking of ways to finish her off instead of, you know, ?
Sorry, it's just my usual train of logical thoughts. XD
I mean, come on........he had enough money and for hell's sake, a private island at his disposal!
I also remember, in crime&mystery novels, a private island usually means locked room mystery and stuff, but I guess in romance novels, it means something different entirely. LOL
October 9, 2025
Despite the book bonkers title, it must be one of the best secret child/ second chance romances out there!
A book published between 2000-2005 in my Bingo Reading Challenge!
25⭕ ┃37⭕┃87┃13┃68⭕┃40⭕┃32┃59┃76┃44
10⭕┃86┃4 ┃45⭕┃47┃98┃50⭕┃14⭕┃85┃75
88┃51┃ 9⭕┃2┃42⭕┃29⭕┃ 24┃92⭕┃ 82┃1⭕
100┃34⭕┃17⭕┃96┃43⭕┃49┃64⭕┃70┃15⭕┃38⭕
84⭕┃31⭕┃ 62⭕┃7⭕┃21┃73┃28⭕┃46⭕┃90⭕┃77
3⭕┃12⭕┃80⭕┃ 69⭕┃52⭕┃ 65⭕┃54⭕┃ 91⭕┃23⭕┃ 72⭕
18┃95┃ 22┃99┃93┃74⭕┃41⭕┃8┃35⭕┃ 58⭕
57⭕┃94┃ 16⭕┃56┃ 5⭕┃60⭕┃78⭕┃ 26┃81┃ 61
97┃48⭕┃ 79⭕┃67┃ 53⭕┃30⭕┃ 6⭕┃36⭕┃89⭕┃ 33⭕
71⭕┃19⭕┃ 39⭕┃66⭕┃ 55⭕┃27⭕┃ 20⭕┃63┃ 11┃83
A book published between 2000-2005 in my Bingo Reading Challenge!
25⭕ ┃37⭕┃87┃13┃68⭕┃40⭕┃32┃59┃76┃44
10⭕┃86┃4 ┃45⭕┃47┃98┃50⭕┃14⭕┃85┃75
88┃51┃ 9⭕┃2┃42⭕┃29⭕┃ 24┃92⭕┃ 82┃1⭕
100┃34⭕┃17⭕┃96┃43⭕┃49┃64⭕┃70┃15⭕┃38⭕
84⭕┃31⭕┃ 62⭕┃7⭕┃21┃73┃28⭕┃46⭕┃90⭕┃77
3⭕┃12⭕┃80⭕┃ 69⭕┃52⭕┃ 65⭕┃54⭕┃ 91⭕┃23⭕┃ 72⭕
18┃95┃ 22┃99┃93┃74⭕┃41⭕┃8┃35⭕┃ 58⭕
57⭕┃94┃ 16⭕┃56┃ 5⭕┃60⭕┃78⭕┃ 26┃81┃ 61
97┃48⭕┃ 79⭕┃67┃ 53⭕┃30⭕┃ 6⭕┃36⭕┃89⭕┃ 33⭕
71⭕┃19⭕┃ 39⭕┃66⭕┃ 55⭕┃27⭕┃ 20⭕┃63┃ 11┃83
July 29, 2016
A decent novel but let us face it the hero was the biggest asshole out there. He tortured and abused the heroine so much she had a fricken mental break down. I was all exciting for this novel because it was on of the 'pregnant' ones but I have to admit, some of this novel was hard to stomach due to all the rudeness.
Read
August 30, 2022How dumb are you to have sex with a man within an hour of meeting him for the first time while you were going to him with a business request.
She was too much in awe of his looks over and over and over again. Couldn’t stand her worship of the way he looks. Couldn’t stand her weak mentality. Couldn’t stand her. DNF. No rating.
She was too much in awe of his looks over and over and over again. Couldn’t stand her worship of the way he looks. Couldn’t stand her weak mentality. Couldn’t stand her. DNF. No rating.
March 24, 2015
Short version: Rhianna sleeps with billionaire Alexis, who curses her existence for daring to discuss business after coitus. Alexis discovers their secret baby when Rhianna almost dies!
Long version:
In a last ditch effort to win her father’s love, Rhianna buys a fancy dress and goes to London to persuade Greek billionaire Alexis not to block the sale of her father’s yacht building company to a company he’s buying. She’s capable enough to wrangle an invite to a fancy dinner, and alter the seating plan so she’s next to Alexis, but one look at him and her brain liquefies. She cannot speak. She can only stare and blush.
This is a huge turn on for Alexis, who, when Rhianna finally discovers she still has a working tongue and asks for a private meeting, knows he is IN. Their night of passion commences with a rather ambiguous conversation about contraception. Alexis asks ‘is this ok?’ meaning ‘may I leave my hat off when I enter your body?’ but what Rhianna hears is ‘do you consent to my being inside you?’ and yes, indeedy, she does.
The next morning Rhianna remembering she arrived with a mission, starts in on her business case, and Alexis rears back in disgust. With her business talk, Rhianna has perverted the whole coitus experience into something transactional, just like every woman before her! Alexis, naturally, has copious issues with women stemming from his childhood. He is not rational when he gets that hint of feels, and he will now ensure that the complete opposite of what she wants will happen!
Five years later Rhianna is hit by a car, and a horribly nosy social worker contacts Alexis to come get his son. Yes, Rhianna had a secret baby, but pinned a note naming Alexis as the daddy on some important papers, just in case something bad happened to her. Rhianna has been having a terrible time of it. She’s been on government benefits, caring for her ingrate of a father and her baby. Her father has died, she’s been sick for ages, and somewhere in the middle of all that her nosy social worker decided that Rhianna was dangerous, because Rhianna yelled at her while brandishing the kitchen knife she was using to chop carrots, and a drug addict, because Rhianna was taking flu powder, and some of it spilled. I spent ages trying to work out what flu powder was. I couldn’t think of any way to take a powder that didn’t involve snorting it, or melting it in a teaspoon and shooting it into a vein. I couldn’t think of any flu medicine that would be snorted. I wondered if the powder was something Julia James had made up, so it could be more conveniently mistaken for hard drugs. I finally worked out that Rhianna must have been taking something like Lemsip, which made me feel much better, and gave me a deeper empathy for judgemental and stupid characters in romance novels. I bet that social worker identified the teaspoon Rhianna had used to stir the Lemsip as ‘drug paraphernalia’ in her report.
Alexis first sees Rhianna again in her hospital bed and she looks like a zombie. He takes the nosy social worker’s story at face value, and he decides that he will have to tolerate druggie Rhianna the bad mother so that he can possess His Son. This is a departure from the usual hero trick of threats with lawyers – this is an alternate universe to standard Romancelandia UK, where even a mother who appears to be quite capable of supporting herself and her child is persuaded that there is no way she can win a custody battle against a billionaire. Alexis, now very into the concept of His Son, decides that he will whisk them both off to his Greek island, along with a nanny for the boy and a nurse for Rhianna.
Rhianna’s pretty reluctant about going to Greece, and she thrilled me by vaguely thinking she needed an exit strategy. She didn’t actually come up with a plan, but she was clearly planning to have a plan, which is quite a significant thing for a romance heroine to do. She thinks Alexis is up to some horribleness, because in her experience all daddies are bastards. See, mostly heroines are the better adjusted ones in the couple and are prepared to accept that just because they’ve been mistreated by men, it doesn’t mean that all men are terrible. Rhianna, bless her, isn’t having any of that. She and Alexis have so much in common. I liked that she was suspicious and angry, even though it meant she spent a lot of the story as a screechy zombie, whereas I think she should have been a gaspy whispery zombie, given she was recovering from ugly lung complaint.
I have a thing for lung diseases. It goes back to Jane Eyre, when Helen had consumption. Then I read all sorts of other novels where women had consumption and for some reason, I got it into my head that girls and women with consumption, or indeed any lung complaint, are rendered luminously beautiful by fatal and near fatal diseases. Apparently though, serious illness makes you look terrible and Alexis spends some time dwelling on how Rhianna’s degradation and descent into drug addiction has rendered her completely unsexy, and he is now not into her at all.
Rhianna catches some of this in his expression, and accepts it as further evidence of what a vile, disgusting monster Alexis is. Even though she STILL wants to sleep with him, which she takes as proof that there is something wrong with her. Alexis is really, really awful. He tries to buy His Son for a huge sum of money. Rhianna tears up the contract and starts calling him names. Alexis is all ‘congratulations, you have passed my test!’ Rhianna tells him where he can shove his test. In fact, she keeps getting to tell Alexis where to shove it, because he keeps accusing her of stuff, and then consulting others to check that she’s told him the truth, and then telling her about it later and wondering why she gets all furious again. They are both so adorably self-righteous.
Initially, telling Alexis to shove it has a somewhat detrimental effect on Rhianna’s health, but sunshine and sea air and good food has her returning to her pre-curse beauty, and telling Alexis to shove it starts to add an attractive glow to her skin. Alexis notices, and starts plotting to keep Rhianna as well as His Son.
Rhianna’s continuing rage at Alexis’s appalling behaviour is intensely emotional and so satisfying. The only obvious problem is that it makes the romance between them a difficult concept. They’re both attracted to each other, and both impressed by each other’s commitment to The Son. It’s not a bad start, but I’m left to rely on the hope that after they’ve resolved their issues about their horrible parents they start competing to be the most sunshine and lollipops to the other, and live happily ever after.
Long version:
In a last ditch effort to win her father’s love, Rhianna buys a fancy dress and goes to London to persuade Greek billionaire Alexis not to block the sale of her father’s yacht building company to a company he’s buying. She’s capable enough to wrangle an invite to a fancy dinner, and alter the seating plan so she’s next to Alexis, but one look at him and her brain liquefies. She cannot speak. She can only stare and blush.
This is a huge turn on for Alexis, who, when Rhianna finally discovers she still has a working tongue and asks for a private meeting, knows he is IN. Their night of passion commences with a rather ambiguous conversation about contraception. Alexis asks ‘is this ok?’ meaning ‘may I leave my hat off when I enter your body?’ but what Rhianna hears is ‘do you consent to my being inside you?’ and yes, indeedy, she does.
The next morning Rhianna remembering she arrived with a mission, starts in on her business case, and Alexis rears back in disgust. With her business talk, Rhianna has perverted the whole coitus experience into something transactional, just like every woman before her! Alexis, naturally, has copious issues with women stemming from his childhood. He is not rational when he gets that hint of feels, and he will now ensure that the complete opposite of what she wants will happen!
Five years later Rhianna is hit by a car, and a horribly nosy social worker contacts Alexis to come get his son. Yes, Rhianna had a secret baby, but pinned a note naming Alexis as the daddy on some important papers, just in case something bad happened to her. Rhianna has been having a terrible time of it. She’s been on government benefits, caring for her ingrate of a father and her baby. Her father has died, she’s been sick for ages, and somewhere in the middle of all that her nosy social worker decided that Rhianna was dangerous, because Rhianna yelled at her while brandishing the kitchen knife she was using to chop carrots, and a drug addict, because Rhianna was taking flu powder, and some of it spilled. I spent ages trying to work out what flu powder was. I couldn’t think of any way to take a powder that didn’t involve snorting it, or melting it in a teaspoon and shooting it into a vein. I couldn’t think of any flu medicine that would be snorted. I wondered if the powder was something Julia James had made up, so it could be more conveniently mistaken for hard drugs. I finally worked out that Rhianna must have been taking something like Lemsip, which made me feel much better, and gave me a deeper empathy for judgemental and stupid characters in romance novels. I bet that social worker identified the teaspoon Rhianna had used to stir the Lemsip as ‘drug paraphernalia’ in her report.
Alexis first sees Rhianna again in her hospital bed and she looks like a zombie. He takes the nosy social worker’s story at face value, and he decides that he will have to tolerate druggie Rhianna the bad mother so that he can possess His Son. This is a departure from the usual hero trick of threats with lawyers – this is an alternate universe to standard Romancelandia UK, where even a mother who appears to be quite capable of supporting herself and her child is persuaded that there is no way she can win a custody battle against a billionaire. Alexis, now very into the concept of His Son, decides that he will whisk them both off to his Greek island, along with a nanny for the boy and a nurse for Rhianna.
Rhianna’s pretty reluctant about going to Greece, and she thrilled me by vaguely thinking she needed an exit strategy. She didn’t actually come up with a plan, but she was clearly planning to have a plan, which is quite a significant thing for a romance heroine to do. She thinks Alexis is up to some horribleness, because in her experience all daddies are bastards. See, mostly heroines are the better adjusted ones in the couple and are prepared to accept that just because they’ve been mistreated by men, it doesn’t mean that all men are terrible. Rhianna, bless her, isn’t having any of that. She and Alexis have so much in common. I liked that she was suspicious and angry, even though it meant she spent a lot of the story as a screechy zombie, whereas I think she should have been a gaspy whispery zombie, given she was recovering from ugly lung complaint.
I have a thing for lung diseases. It goes back to Jane Eyre, when Helen had consumption. Then I read all sorts of other novels where women had consumption and for some reason, I got it into my head that girls and women with consumption, or indeed any lung complaint, are rendered luminously beautiful by fatal and near fatal diseases. Apparently though, serious illness makes you look terrible and Alexis spends some time dwelling on how Rhianna’s degradation and descent into drug addiction has rendered her completely unsexy, and he is now not into her at all.
Rhianna catches some of this in his expression, and accepts it as further evidence of what a vile, disgusting monster Alexis is. Even though she STILL wants to sleep with him, which she takes as proof that there is something wrong with her. Alexis is really, really awful. He tries to buy His Son for a huge sum of money. Rhianna tears up the contract and starts calling him names. Alexis is all ‘congratulations, you have passed my test!’ Rhianna tells him where he can shove his test. In fact, she keeps getting to tell Alexis where to shove it, because he keeps accusing her of stuff, and then consulting others to check that she’s told him the truth, and then telling her about it later and wondering why she gets all furious again. They are both so adorably self-righteous.
Initially, telling Alexis to shove it has a somewhat detrimental effect on Rhianna’s health, but sunshine and sea air and good food has her returning to her pre-curse beauty, and telling Alexis to shove it starts to add an attractive glow to her skin. Alexis notices, and starts plotting to keep Rhianna as well as His Son.
Rhianna’s continuing rage at Alexis’s appalling behaviour is intensely emotional and so satisfying. The only obvious problem is that it makes the romance between them a difficult concept. They’re both attracted to each other, and both impressed by each other’s commitment to The Son. It’s not a bad start, but I’m left to rely on the hope that after they’ve resolved their issues about their horrible parents they start competing to be the most sunshine and lollipops to the other, and live happily ever after.
January 30, 2018
nothing new here..you have a hp you get a hp..so there is no space for logic...and its ok.. after all this is hp..
We have all the elements here: the angts, the misunderstandings, he is a jerk she talk but in her mind.. and out loud only panics,he has childhood traumas she has childhood traumas.. its all good:)
The thing that drag down the story for me was the H thinks that h is repulsive and others adj when he sees her in the hospital and he CONTINUES to thinking it afterwards and until she is not all dressed up in designers clothes and full on makeup he does not think of her as a woman.. (wtf?!?!?!?!)
We have all the elements here: the angts, the misunderstandings, he is a jerk she talk but in her mind.. and out loud only panics,he has childhood traumas she has childhood traumas.. its all good:)
The thing that drag down the story for me was the H thinks that h is repulsive and others adj when he sees her in the hospital and he CONTINUES to thinking it afterwards and until she is not all dressed up in designers clothes and full on makeup he does not think of her as a woman.. (wtf?!?!?!?!)
June 21, 2014
I can totally understand the criticism that heroine wasn't very logical and was a big martyr but so what? I'm looking for angst, drama, passion, and there was plenty of each...very few HPs are realistic. The implausible plot points of social worker entering her home and her raising her request the morning after allowed H to think ill of her and be harsh, so he would later have to apologize. He thought she was a gold digger and drug addict. His misinterpreting of their night together was even a little understandable. I loved the injustice of h's suffering and H's harsh words as much as the fiery fights and ultimate grovel. Very fulfilling read for me. One unexplained point...why she didn't get a caretaker and seek a job as an accountant!
October 12, 2014
3.5 stars
She had daddy issues, He had both mommy and daddy issues. He was an idiot for 2/3 of the book but he grow in character and admitted all the wrongs he did. She was a mom in true form. The case worker part was a bit unrealistic or at least I hope it was. Nicky was the best part of the book and I was super happy for him
She had daddy issues, He had both mommy and daddy issues. He was an idiot for 2/3 of the book but he grow in character and admitted all the wrongs he did. She was a mom in true form. The case worker part was a bit unrealistic or at least I hope it was. Nicky was the best part of the book and I was super happy for him
April 11, 2023
Typical Julia James, but amped up to 11. The H is pathologically distrusting due to past trauma. The heroine is pathologically distrusting due to the H’s behavior and past trauma.
The heroine definitely does not trust him for the vast majority of the book, something I admire about her. However, I questioned why she she was unable to earn a living or take advantage of available social services, so I couldn’t have a lot of respect for her ultimately. She definitely makes the H apologize multiple times, and I would consider it to be a C+ grovel.
The heroine definitely does not trust him for the vast majority of the book, something I admire about her. However, I questioned why she she was unable to earn a living or take advantage of available social services, so I couldn’t have a lot of respect for her ultimately. She definitely makes the H apologize multiple times, and I would consider it to be a C+ grovel.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 1, 2010
After one night with Alexis Petrakis, Rhianna Davies became pregnant. Never telling Alexis the truth, he is shocked when a social worker calls to tell him they have his son b/c his mother is a drug addict and is violent. Right away he takes Rhianna and his son to a private Greek island. Alexis has no patience for Rhianna, believing right away what the social worker said about her. He threaten to take their son and makes sure she knows that she is only around for their son and under his control. Even when the evidence points to Rhianna being nothing like he thinks, Alexis continues being nasty to her. Then suddenly he wants her again and turns his attitude around. I didn't feel the deep connection and love between these two in this story.
January 13, 2014
This book is ridiculous.
I know I know, I brought this to myself from the moment I purchased this kind of Harlequin. Well, I just can't help it! I even have a very own 'forced' shelf which contains this kind of books.
I always love angst. Especially stories about misunderstanding and hero-hurting-heroine. I enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed gooey romance.
But this book is simply ridiculous. Why? Because the hero is a douche who refuse to believe the truth and the heroine is a weak lady with a meek heart and annoying to read.
Sure I enjoyed it but seriously. I don't know how many times my eyes rolled while reading it. But please don't let my opinion stands against your will to read this book. ;)
I know I know, I brought this to myself from the moment I purchased this kind of Harlequin. Well, I just can't help it! I even have a very own 'forced' shelf which contains this kind of books.
I always love angst. Especially stories about misunderstanding and hero-hurting-heroine. I enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed gooey romance.
But this book is simply ridiculous. Why? Because the hero is a douche who refuse to believe the truth and the heroine is a weak lady with a meek heart and annoying to read.
Sure I enjoyed it but seriously. I don't know how many times my eyes rolled while reading it. But please don't let my opinion stands against your will to read this book. ;)
June 12, 2015
2.5 I read this thinking it was a grovelling book because those are my favs...lol Bleh* it wasn't. I actually dislike it when the heroine doesn't tell the hero about having a kid together, I think the father has a right to know if he has a kid even if he is an a**. That is unless he specifically said go have an abortion then I'm totally for the heroine keeping the kid away from the Dad. This story I thought the heroine and the hero both made mistakes, and nothing especially interesting happened. The title is also terrible, I mean really? So it was just an okay read for me.
January 12, 2024
Other romance in Spanish is a good way to practice your language
February 17, 2015
Book – Baby of Shame
Author – Julia James
Publication Date – February 28th 2006
Type – Harlequin Presents
Genre – Contemporary Romance
Rating – 4 out of 5 Stars
In an attempt to save her father's failing company after his heart attack, Rhianna Davies decided to talk to the only man who could help her save it, Alexis Petrakis. She attends a charity dinner where she meets the gorgeous Alexis. She is overwhelmed by her reaction to him and unwisely, has a tad too much to drink. She asks him for a private meeting and he readily agrees. Nervous, she accompanies him to his suite, thinking that she is getting the opportunity to speak with him regarding her father's company. Instead, she is plied with more champagne and instead of discussing the company, she ends up sharing an incredible night of passion with a man she has known for only a few hours. The next morning she attempts to discuss the company, however, thinking she is a gold digger, Alexis verbally destroys her vowing to pul out of the deal that would have saved her father's company.
Five years later, Alexis receives a call regarding Rhianna Davies and a son he knew nothing about. Due to the prejudices of a unkind social worker, Alexis is left to believe that Rhianna is a drug addict who is incapable of caring for their child and leaves him in dangerous situation. Rhianna was hit by a speeding car, leaving her son Nikki, in foster care. Alexis steps in and takes Rhianna and Nicky to his private Greek island where he vowed to do whatever he needed to do to protect his son, even if that meant decimating his son's mother at every turn.
These are two of the most damaged characters I have read about in a long time! The anger and hatred the feel toward each other is toxic. It made this book almost painful to read at times. Especially knowing that mixed in the middle of all this vitriol is an innocent child, who, they are both trying to protect from each other. All the anger and hatred tearing through this book made it a compelling read. I couldn't put it down. I needed to see how this mess would be resolved.
Rhianna was recovering from a long term illness and car accident and was in no condition to defend herself against Alexis. His attacks on her were cruel and vicious. You had to admire her fighting spirit. She repeatedly defended herself from Alexis's volleys, even though they literally wore her out. She never gave in to him and fought tooth and nail for her son believing Alexis to be uncaring, like her father.
The truth behind Alexis mistrust and anger is just heartbreaking. I wanted to reach in and comfort him, then smack him upside his head for letting his own demons color his view of Rhianna. His underlying motives, like Rhianna's, were to protect his son for a woman her beloved the worst of. He allowed his childhood experiences to affect the way he saw and dealt with Rhianna and in the process, did much more damage than good.
There are very few Harlequin romances that I remember after reading them, this is one that will be hard to forget.
Author – Julia James
Publication Date – February 28th 2006
Type – Harlequin Presents
Genre – Contemporary Romance
Rating – 4 out of 5 Stars
In an attempt to save her father's failing company after his heart attack, Rhianna Davies decided to talk to the only man who could help her save it, Alexis Petrakis. She attends a charity dinner where she meets the gorgeous Alexis. She is overwhelmed by her reaction to him and unwisely, has a tad too much to drink. She asks him for a private meeting and he readily agrees. Nervous, she accompanies him to his suite, thinking that she is getting the opportunity to speak with him regarding her father's company. Instead, she is plied with more champagne and instead of discussing the company, she ends up sharing an incredible night of passion with a man she has known for only a few hours. The next morning she attempts to discuss the company, however, thinking she is a gold digger, Alexis verbally destroys her vowing to pul out of the deal that would have saved her father's company.
Five years later, Alexis receives a call regarding Rhianna Davies and a son he knew nothing about. Due to the prejudices of a unkind social worker, Alexis is left to believe that Rhianna is a drug addict who is incapable of caring for their child and leaves him in dangerous situation. Rhianna was hit by a speeding car, leaving her son Nikki, in foster care. Alexis steps in and takes Rhianna and Nicky to his private Greek island where he vowed to do whatever he needed to do to protect his son, even if that meant decimating his son's mother at every turn.
These are two of the most damaged characters I have read about in a long time! The anger and hatred the feel toward each other is toxic. It made this book almost painful to read at times. Especially knowing that mixed in the middle of all this vitriol is an innocent child, who, they are both trying to protect from each other. All the anger and hatred tearing through this book made it a compelling read. I couldn't put it down. I needed to see how this mess would be resolved.
Rhianna was recovering from a long term illness and car accident and was in no condition to defend herself against Alexis. His attacks on her were cruel and vicious. You had to admire her fighting spirit. She repeatedly defended herself from Alexis's volleys, even though they literally wore her out. She never gave in to him and fought tooth and nail for her son believing Alexis to be uncaring, like her father.
The truth behind Alexis mistrust and anger is just heartbreaking. I wanted to reach in and comfort him, then smack him upside his head for letting his own demons color his view of Rhianna. His underlying motives, like Rhianna's, were to protect his son for a woman her beloved the worst of. He allowed his childhood experiences to affect the way he saw and dealt with Rhianna and in the process, did much more damage than good.
There are very few Harlequin romances that I remember after reading them, this is one that will be hard to forget.
October 12, 2013
An intensely passionate romance full of misunderstandings and the struggle to defeat them to win true love and a happy family.....
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