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Marriages #1
An Ideal Marriage?
The trophy wife
When Gabbi married Benedict Nicols, it was the wedding of the decade, uniting two prominent, wealthy families. To the outside world, it seemed the perfect match. No one would guess Gabbi's secret heartache: that she loved her husband, but to him she was simply a social accessory... .
Benedict also expected Gabbi to provide him with a son and heir. If she didn't, her glamorous stepsister was only too eager to give Benedict everything he wanted! Suddenly, Gabbi had a fight on her hands to save her marriage... . And Benedict was definitely a man worth fighting for!
When Gabbi married Benedict Nicols, it was the wedding of the decade, uniting two prominent, wealthy families. To the outside world, it seemed the perfect match. No one would guess Gabbi's secret heartache: that she loved her husband, but to him she was simply a social accessory... .
Benedict also expected Gabbi to provide him with a son and heir. If she didn't, her glamorous stepsister was only too eager to give Benedict everything he wanted! Suddenly, Gabbi had a fight on her hands to save her marriage... . And Benedict was definitely a man worth fighting for!
187 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published June 1, 1997
About the author
Helen Bianchin
383 books231 followersHelen Shirley was born on February 20 1939 in New Zealand, where she grew up, an only child possessed by a vivid imagination and a love for reading. She wrote stories for amusement in her early teenage years, and when she left leaving school, she took a secretarial job at a father-and-son legal firm.
At age twenty-one Helen joined a girlfriend and embarked on a working holiday in Australia, travelling via cruise ship from Auckland to Melbourne. Alas, no shipboard romance, as she spent all four days in her cabin suffering from sea-sickness! After fifteen months working in Melbourne, Helen and her friend bought a vehicle and took three months to drive the length and breadth of Australia, choosing to work in Cairns in order to fund the final leg of our journey to Sydney.
It was in Cairns that Helen met her future husband, Danilo Bianchin, an Italian immigrant from Treviso. He was a tobacco sharefarmer from the tobacco farming community of Mareeba. His English was pitiful, and her command of Italian was nil. Six months later they married, and Helen was flung into cooking for up to nine tobacco pickers, stringing tobacco, feeding 200 chickens, a few turkeys, ducks... plus killing, cleaning and cooking the same! Her knowledge of Italian improved, and there were hilarious moments in retrospect. Some of what she endured was cooking on a wood-burning stove, having no running hot water, a primitive shower and toilet facilities, washing uniforms for two soccer teams during the soccer season... floods, horrendous hailstone damage to tobacco crops, hardship, and the stillbirth of their first child. Then, to their joy, Helen's daughter, Lucia, was born. Three years later the couple returned to New Zealand, where they settled for sixteen years. During those early years, they added two sons, Angelo and Peter, to the family.
With multiple anecdotes of farm life in an Italian community to friends, the idea of writing a book occurred. A romance, set on a tobacco farm in Australia's far north, Queensland, featuring an Italian hero. Helen says, "the background was authentic, believe me!" However the hero was rich and owned the farm artistic license! It took her a year to complete a passable manuscript, typed on a portable typewriter at the dining room table. That first effort was deemed too short with insufficient detail. Helen rewrote it. This time it was considered too long with too much extraneous detail. She revised, then sent it to London. Four months later she received a telegram from Alan Boon (Mills & Boon) to say they intended to publish and a contract would be sent in the mail. It was the most wonderful news!
Helen wrote ten more books while living in New Zealand, then in 1981, her family resettled in Australia, on Queensland's Gold Coast. She has since published twenty-five more books. Today, with computer technology, the mechanics of writing are much easier. However, the writing process doesn't change. Helen says that she's having a good day if she can achieve 5 good pages, which she is likely to change, edit and rewrite the following day.
She loves creating characters, giving them life and providing a situation where their emotions are tested and love wins out. For her, the greatest praise is for a reader to say they couldn't put the book down... then Helen knows that she has achieved what she set out to do -- "create a moving enjoyable story which holds the reader entertained from beginning to end."
Helen's hobbies are tennis, table-tennis, judo, reading. She loves movies, and leads an active social life.
At age twenty-one Helen joined a girlfriend and embarked on a working holiday in Australia, travelling via cruise ship from Auckland to Melbourne. Alas, no shipboard romance, as she spent all four days in her cabin suffering from sea-sickness! After fifteen months working in Melbourne, Helen and her friend bought a vehicle and took three months to drive the length and breadth of Australia, choosing to work in Cairns in order to fund the final leg of our journey to Sydney.
It was in Cairns that Helen met her future husband, Danilo Bianchin, an Italian immigrant from Treviso. He was a tobacco sharefarmer from the tobacco farming community of Mareeba. His English was pitiful, and her command of Italian was nil. Six months later they married, and Helen was flung into cooking for up to nine tobacco pickers, stringing tobacco, feeding 200 chickens, a few turkeys, ducks... plus killing, cleaning and cooking the same! Her knowledge of Italian improved, and there were hilarious moments in retrospect. Some of what she endured was cooking on a wood-burning stove, having no running hot water, a primitive shower and toilet facilities, washing uniforms for two soccer teams during the soccer season... floods, horrendous hailstone damage to tobacco crops, hardship, and the stillbirth of their first child. Then, to their joy, Helen's daughter, Lucia, was born. Three years later the couple returned to New Zealand, where they settled for sixteen years. During those early years, they added two sons, Angelo and Peter, to the family.
With multiple anecdotes of farm life in an Italian community to friends, the idea of writing a book occurred. A romance, set on a tobacco farm in Australia's far north, Queensland, featuring an Italian hero. Helen says, "the background was authentic, believe me!" However the hero was rich and owned the farm artistic license! It took her a year to complete a passable manuscript, typed on a portable typewriter at the dining room table. That first effort was deemed too short with insufficient detail. Helen rewrote it. This time it was considered too long with too much extraneous detail. She revised, then sent it to London. Four months later she received a telegram from Alan Boon (Mills & Boon) to say they intended to publish and a contract would be sent in the mail. It was the most wonderful news!
Helen wrote ten more books while living in New Zealand, then in 1981, her family resettled in Australia, on Queensland's Gold Coast. She has since published twenty-five more books. Today, with computer technology, the mechanics of writing are much easier. However, the writing process doesn't change. Helen says that she's having a good day if she can achieve 5 good pages, which she is likely to change, edit and rewrite the following day.
She loves creating characters, giving them life and providing a situation where their emotions are tested and love wins out. For her, the greatest praise is for a reader to say they couldn't put the book down... then Helen knows that she has achieved what she set out to do -- "create a moving enjoyable story which holds the reader entertained from beginning to end."
Helen's hobbies are tennis, table-tennis, judo, reading. She loves movies, and leads an active social life.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
February 27, 2018
Heroine showers and fixes chignon.
Hero showers and lures heroine in bed.
Evil step-sister leers at hero.
Heroine coolly rises above it
Heroine showers and fixes chignon with pale rose finger nails
Hero showers and lures heroine in shower
Evil step-sister sneers at step-sister
Heroine coolly rises above it and unfortunately resists urge to slap the taste out of the step-sister
Heroine showers and dons bland Chanel suit
Hero showers and laughs off evil step-sister’s advances
Evil step-sister leers and sneers and is cruising for a bruising no one will provide
Heroine’s father is a big fat duped idiot
Heroine coolly rises abov.....JUST DO SOMETHING, DAMN IT!
S
K
I
M
Evil step-sister FINALLY crosses the line
Heroine takes one more shower
Hero zzzzzzzz
Lather, rinse, repeat
Heroine: Does he love me?
For crying out loud, he’s shagged you senseless every other scene you poor senseless idgit.
Hero showers and lures heroine in bed.
Evil step-sister leers at hero.
Heroine coolly rises above it
Heroine showers and fixes chignon with pale rose finger nails
Hero showers and lures heroine in shower
Evil step-sister sneers at step-sister
Heroine coolly rises above it and unfortunately resists urge to slap the taste out of the step-sister
Heroine showers and dons bland Chanel suit
Hero showers and laughs off evil step-sister’s advances
Evil step-sister leers and sneers and is cruising for a bruising no one will provide
Heroine’s father is a big fat duped idiot
Heroine coolly rises abov.....JUST DO SOMETHING, DAMN IT!
S
K
I
M
Evil step-sister FINALLY crosses the line
Heroine takes one more shower
Hero zzzzzzzz
Lather, rinse, repeat
Heroine: Does he love me?
For crying out loud, he’s shagged you senseless every other scene you poor senseless idgit.
December 27, 2018
Re An Ideal Marriage - Helen Bianchin rolls out her standard HP outing of high society marriage that may or may not be more of an MOC and then tosses in her supremely Evil OW.
This is the first book of a two book miniseries called Marriages. It really is the quintessential HB plot of h and H marry when his parents die and he has to take over his half of their families' shared international conglomerate. The h's father was the other half of the firm and soon the wedding is arranged and a High Society MOC is in place.
HB also lets us know that the h's mum died when she was a kid too, so her oblivious father married another woman who brings along a highly competitive stepdaughter. So we get one and a half Evil OW in this, cause the step duo are just nematode parasites waiting to strike.
The h was complemented on winning the H by the stepmother after the wedding and this shocked the h a little. She wasn't aware that it was a competition, but clearly Evil OW step sis and step mom are out for blood.
The h refrains from commenting to her father on this behavior tho, she has had years evading both women's talons and the man seems happy enough, so she just lets things be.
We get nine chapters of showers, purple passion moments, showers, dinner parties complete with h vs Evil OW repartee, showers and a ton of wardrobe changes. We also get high society mini vacations, showers, a rare night of h doing gourmet home cooking, showers and more catty exchanges with the Evil OW - which of course requires another shower.
(All I can say is I will never make it as an HB h. For one, I couldn't handle the change of outfit schedule and for the other- Anytime some snot snarfing trampy tart tried to force me to issue an invitation to my home so she could hang on my husband, I would probably break all kinds of polite social rules by swearing that there is No Way in Hell I would ever have a trampy tart skank taint disturbing the tranquil atmosphere of my home.)
Also, as per usual HB, the H is aware of the OW's antics, but refuses to tell her to stuff off. So we also get nine chapters of the h anxiously awaiting the moment when the H is going to stray. This anxiety produces a lot of nervous h sweat, so of course there needs to be another shower.
It isn't until chapter ten that we finally get to the good stuff, when the Evil OW Step Sis finally makes her move. She tells the h to leave the H and if she doesn't, the h will be sorry. The h doesn't listen and then the h gets attacked in the parking garage by men hired by the Evil OW.
Pictures are taken of the h in a very disheveled state. Tho the h escapes almost intact, but bitten and beaten, the Evil OW calls up threatening to send the supposedly incriminating pictures of the h seemingly in the throes of passion with another man to the H and destroy their marriage.
Unluckily for our deliciously Evil OW, the H was so anxious to reacquaint himself with his and the h's mutual journey to the transcendent shores of golden bliss, he came back from his business trip a day early.
He is on the extension when the Evil OW calls and the H swings his minion app into action. The OW is threatened personally by the H and booted out of the country, after the damning pictures are retrieved.
Minions are sent to rope and corral the guys the OW hired to hurt the h and threats of paternal exposure to the h's father are made. In typical HB fashion, no police arrests are made and the H takes his h on a upscale vacation at the Royal Hawaiian Pink Palace Hotel.
We get the full force HB flowery declarations of True Love and Devotion Forever and leave the two love birds cuddled up and happy for the standard HB HEA.
This one was very average HB - which for any other HP writer would be a two. But HB got wild on the OW attack drama and her books are unique in HPlandia and get a separate rating system, so overall this one is a three.*
*Mainly cause the h did not do enough society charity events, shopping or drink enough coffee to make this a four star HB outing - which is understandable because HB had to introduce this h's BFF as the sequel baiting h for the next book.
This is the first book of a two book miniseries called Marriages. It really is the quintessential HB plot of h and H marry when his parents die and he has to take over his half of their families' shared international conglomerate. The h's father was the other half of the firm and soon the wedding is arranged and a High Society MOC is in place.
HB also lets us know that the h's mum died when she was a kid too, so her oblivious father married another woman who brings along a highly competitive stepdaughter. So we get one and a half Evil OW in this, cause the step duo are just nematode parasites waiting to strike.
The h was complemented on winning the H by the stepmother after the wedding and this shocked the h a little. She wasn't aware that it was a competition, but clearly Evil OW step sis and step mom are out for blood.
The h refrains from commenting to her father on this behavior tho, she has had years evading both women's talons and the man seems happy enough, so she just lets things be.
We get nine chapters of showers, purple passion moments, showers, dinner parties complete with h vs Evil OW repartee, showers and a ton of wardrobe changes. We also get high society mini vacations, showers, a rare night of h doing gourmet home cooking, showers and more catty exchanges with the Evil OW - which of course requires another shower.
(All I can say is I will never make it as an HB h. For one, I couldn't handle the change of outfit schedule and for the other- Anytime some snot snarfing trampy tart tried to force me to issue an invitation to my home so she could hang on my husband, I would probably break all kinds of polite social rules by swearing that there is No Way in Hell I would ever have a trampy tart skank taint disturbing the tranquil atmosphere of my home.)
Also, as per usual HB, the H is aware of the OW's antics, but refuses to tell her to stuff off. So we also get nine chapters of the h anxiously awaiting the moment when the H is going to stray. This anxiety produces a lot of nervous h sweat, so of course there needs to be another shower.
It isn't until chapter ten that we finally get to the good stuff, when the Evil OW Step Sis finally makes her move. She tells the h to leave the H and if she doesn't, the h will be sorry. The h doesn't listen and then the h gets attacked in the parking garage by men hired by the Evil OW.
Pictures are taken of the h in a very disheveled state. Tho the h escapes almost intact, but bitten and beaten, the Evil OW calls up threatening to send the supposedly incriminating pictures of the h seemingly in the throes of passion with another man to the H and destroy their marriage.
Unluckily for our deliciously Evil OW, the H was so anxious to reacquaint himself with his and the h's mutual journey to the transcendent shores of golden bliss, he came back from his business trip a day early.
He is on the extension when the Evil OW calls and the H swings his minion app into action. The OW is threatened personally by the H and booted out of the country, after the damning pictures are retrieved.
Minions are sent to rope and corral the guys the OW hired to hurt the h and threats of paternal exposure to the h's father are made. In typical HB fashion, no police arrests are made and the H takes his h on a upscale vacation at the Royal Hawaiian Pink Palace Hotel.
We get the full force HB flowery declarations of True Love and Devotion Forever and leave the two love birds cuddled up and happy for the standard HB HEA.
This one was very average HB - which for any other HP writer would be a two. But HB got wild on the OW attack drama and her books are unique in HPlandia and get a separate rating system, so overall this one is a three.*
*Mainly cause the h did not do enough society charity events, shopping or drink enough coffee to make this a four star HB outing - which is understandable because HB had to introduce this h's BFF as the sequel baiting h for the next book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 21, 2021
3 ⭐⭐⭐ - OK decent reads
======================
The author has a formula that she always follows.
Marriage of convenience + heroine in love + hero coveted by another woman + stepsister from hell + describes parties and clothes of the rich in detail.
======================
The author has a formula that she always follows.
Marriage of convenience + heroine in love + hero coveted by another woman + stepsister from hell + describes parties and clothes of the rich in detail.
July 3, 2021
Admittedly, I’ve only read a handful or so of H.B. books, and I know she has a “formula” filled with showering, clothing descriptions, food, and social events, but I’ve always enjoyed them… until this one. On paper An Ideal Marriage looks like soapy goodness, but it didn’t work for me. Much is the usual, the couple are already married (arranged) there’s a delusional bat-shit crazy OW…these both check my boxes.
I had 2 issues. First, the showering/social engagement/hair fixing/eating parts were on steroids this time around making the actual plot a side act. It monopolized the plot in a way that I couldn’t even space it out. Second, I didn’t like the dynamic of the couple’s relationship. The way they spoke to each other was so stilted; there wasn’t any feeling or warmth coming through. For example, this is after a night where her sis repeatedly threw herself all over her hubs.
OK. Pick a scenario. Annaliese wants you, you want her. Annaliese wants you, you don’t want her.’ ‘The latter.’
Bottom Line- I needed more. More emotion…more reaction…more feels…just more.
I enjoyed the OW parts, but that was about it. I found much of it very boring. I liked both mc’s as “people”, but I hated the way they interacted with each other.
I had 2 issues. First, the showering/social engagement/hair fixing/eating parts were on steroids this time around making the actual plot a side act. It monopolized the plot in a way that I couldn’t even space it out. Second, I didn’t like the dynamic of the couple’s relationship. The way they spoke to each other was so stilted; there wasn’t any feeling or warmth coming through. For example, this is after a night where her sis repeatedly threw herself all over her hubs.
OK. Pick a scenario. Annaliese wants you, you want her. Annaliese wants you, you don’t want her.’ ‘The latter.’
Bottom Line- I needed more. More emotion…more reaction…more feels…just more.
I enjoyed the OW parts, but that was about it. I found much of it very boring. I liked both mc’s as “people”, but I hated the way they interacted with each other.
January 2, 2018
I have no idea why I continue to read Helen Biachin books (and I have read a lot of her books) because they are ALL the same. Way too much time is spent on describing clothes, food and essentially describing how rich everyone is etc... The hero and heroines are always in love with each other but never actually saw it until after some deranged OW gets involved and attacks or attempts to blackmail the heroine. The only thing I look forward to is to see how deranged each OW is that Helen Biachin writes about in each book.
If you are a Helen Biachin fan, you will like this book. It’s her typical paint by number. I will say that the attack on the heroine is the most aggressive and disturbing one I’ve seen Helen Biachin write. It was very dark and upsetting. Serious jail time was deserved for the OW and her cohorts but that never happens.....unbelievable!!!
If you are a Helen Biachin fan, you will like this book. It’s her typical paint by number. I will say that the attack on the heroine is the most aggressive and disturbing one I’ve seen Helen Biachin write. It was very dark and upsetting. Serious jail time was deserved for the OW and her cohorts but that never happens.....unbelievable!!!
August 1, 2016
Often when I read a book by this author I feel that I'm starting halfway through the story. Usually her couples are already married, so there's no relationship building, there's often the presence of an interfering other woman and the heroine wonders about her husbands fidelity and more importantly does he have any feelings for her.. That was the story set up here. There's no background on how they met or how they came to be married. Surely when you get married there's some conversation about how you feel about one another, instead the heroine is constantly wondering what her husband is thinking, or doing behind her back. In this story the heroines stepsister decides she wants the heroines husband for herself. Both the main characters acknowledge the situation, but instead of giving one another reassurances of their love for each other their conversations are polite like two strangers discussing the weather, so it's hard to believe in the sex scenes between them. The evil stepsister's final ploy to get rid of the heroine was laughable. Add to that the constant descriptions in minute detail of every article of clothing they wear, plus full descriptions of all the food they eat, and they eat a lot I'm surprised they still fit into all their designer outfits. Ultimately this was boring.
June 21, 2013
2.5 stars
This one was pretty bland until the last 20%.
I kept noticing the endless descriptions of clothes and food and venues....to the point that the story line was missing and it was all mostly pointless descriptions.
This one was pretty bland until the last 20%.
I kept noticing the endless descriptions of clothes and food and venues....to the point that the story line was missing and it was all mostly pointless descriptions.
May 9, 2018
80% of this book is hell boring. but I really like the hero. not our typical Harlequin heroes.
July 2, 2022
They live the life of the rich and famous with endless dinner parties, premières, charity events, whatever, to go to and dress up.
The H is a loyal, faithful husband to the h. They have a great sex life, he gives her all his attention, he gives her presents and flowers. They take lots of showers and baths, alone or together, in true Helen Bianchin style.
They haven’t said the L-word to each other, but he is truly dedicated to her. Her moments of anger and jealousy (while he had done nothing to be angry about) were therefore ridiculous and annoying.
Anyway, her stepsister got away too easy with what she had done at the end of the book. That wasn’t satisfactory.
I would have given it 2 stars, but because the H is such a wonderful man it’s 3 stars.
The H is a loyal, faithful husband to the h. They have a great sex life, he gives her all his attention, he gives her presents and flowers. They take lots of showers and baths, alone or together, in true Helen Bianchin style.
They haven’t said the L-word to each other, but he is truly dedicated to her. Her moments of anger and jealousy (while he had done nothing to be angry about) were therefore ridiculous and annoying.
Anyway, her stepsister got away too easy with what she had done at the end of the book. That wasn’t satisfactory.
I would have given it 2 stars, but because the H is such a wonderful man it’s 3 stars.
September 24, 2023
Mhh
The H & h are weak they can't stand against the bitchy OW !!!
The H & h are weak they can't stand against the bitchy OW !!!
October 13, 2025
Beige
Constant descriptions of the H and h's showering, dressing and eating habits interspersed with one line dialogues, events they attend and alot of intimacy.
I read it. But I'm not sure I enjoyed it.
Constant descriptions of the H and h's showering, dressing and eating habits interspersed with one line dialogues, events they attend and alot of intimacy.
I read it. But I'm not sure I enjoyed it.
July 9, 2012
I think maybe I was just in a Helen Bianchin mood, because I found this one pretty readable despite being full of the things about HB's books that annoy me -- never-ending descriptions of clothes, getting ready for parties (getting into shower, drying off, completing toilette, drying hair and sweeping into one style or another, slipping into dress, putting on gigantic diamonds, dabbing perfume, etc. -- described like 20 different times in the book). Also, nothing very dramatic happened plot-wise until the very, very end (but at least something happened, once). And the machinations of the OW were pretty subtle for most of the book -- the heroine would get into a tizzy over some very slight annoyances in conversation. But then of course the OW showed her true, extreme-evil colors at the end. So anyway, if you think you might be in the right mood for HB, this was a decent read.
June 9, 2021
The trophy wife
When Gabbi married Benedict Nicols, it was the wedding of the decade, uniting two prominent, wealthy families. To the outside world, it seemed the perfect match. No one would guess Gabbi's secret heartache: that she loved her husband, but to him she was simply a social accessory... .
Benedict also expected Gabbi to provide him with a son and heir. If she didn't, her glamorous stepsister was only too eager to give Benedict everything he wanted! Suddenly, Gabbi had a fight on her hands to save her marriage... . And Benedict was definitely a man worth fighting for
When Gabbi married Benedict Nicols, it was the wedding of the decade, uniting two prominent, wealthy families. To the outside world, it seemed the perfect match. No one would guess Gabbi's secret heartache: that she loved her husband, but to him she was simply a social accessory... .
Benedict also expected Gabbi to provide him with a son and heir. If she didn't, her glamorous stepsister was only too eager to give Benedict everything he wanted! Suddenly, Gabbi had a fight on her hands to save her marriage... . And Benedict was definitely a man worth fighting for
October 19, 2024
More like a cure for insomnia! This one was BORING, with the exception of the drama toward the end (which I could have done without, since it included violence toward the h, though she managed to give the guy a few good scratches and one well-aimed kick) and the hot sex between the H and h, though after a time it became too repetitive.
It wasn't surprising that the h thought her marriage/business merger was all lust and now love (though she loved him, but kept quiet about it), as that's all they did, besides work, attend business meetings and endless, countless society dinners, parties, charity events, premieres, art shows, etc., everywhere the elite meet to cement deals and show off their finery. ON AND ON AND ON!!!!
There's the OW (the h's horrible stepsister) whose machinations were a waste of time, as she never had a chance with the H to begin with. There could have been the OM, if the author hadn't wasted what could have been a golden opportunity. Before marrying the H, while she had been working in Paris, the h had fallen for a rich, sexy Frenchman (don't they all in La La Land), and was almost persuaded to give him her V card (we're left to assume she saved that for the H). Then he proves himself to be a dutiful son (or a pitiful mama's boy) and marries the girl Mommy chose for him, while still writing letters to the h!!! (I would have sent them back unopened and written on the envelope: "I don't accept letters from married men"). Well, suppose Pierre (or whatever his name was) showed up one day, his marriage kaput, telling the h he never got over her, and with the h thinking her husband doesn't want more than a trophy wife and feeling neglected, enjoys his attentions, the H gets jealous, and the book might have kept you awake instead of putting you to sleep!
We're also apparently being set up for a sequel story, involving the h's BFF which sounds intriguing, but if it's anything like this one, enough said.
One more thing: if you don't have anything interesting to write, substituting scenery, architecture, fashion, and all the trappings of wealth won't make up for it. Just saying.
It wasn't surprising that the h thought her marriage/business merger was all lust and now love (though she loved him, but kept quiet about it), as that's all they did, besides work, attend business meetings and endless, countless society dinners, parties, charity events, premieres, art shows, etc., everywhere the elite meet to cement deals and show off their finery. ON AND ON AND ON!!!!
There's the OW (the h's horrible stepsister) whose machinations were a waste of time, as she never had a chance with the H to begin with. There could have been the OM, if the author hadn't wasted what could have been a golden opportunity. Before marrying the H, while she had been working in Paris, the h had fallen for a rich, sexy Frenchman (don't they all in La La Land), and was almost persuaded to give him her V card (we're left to assume she saved that for the H). Then he proves himself to be a dutiful son (or a pitiful mama's boy) and marries the girl Mommy chose for him, while still writing letters to the h!!! (I would have sent them back unopened and written on the envelope: "I don't accept letters from married men"). Well, suppose Pierre (or whatever his name was) showed up one day, his marriage kaput, telling the h he never got over her, and with the h thinking her husband doesn't want more than a trophy wife and feeling neglected, enjoys his attentions, the H gets jealous, and the book might have kept you awake instead of putting you to sleep!
We're also apparently being set up for a sequel story, involving the h's BFF which sounds intriguing, but if it's anything like this one, enough said.
One more thing: if you don't have anything interesting to write, substituting scenery, architecture, fashion, and all the trappings of wealth won't make up for it. Just saying.
December 6, 2020
¿Que puedo decir?
Que me saco de mi crisis lectora (siempre recurro a Harlequin cuando las tengo) son lecturas amenas que me alegran el día o la noche y nada densas o pesadas.
¿Que tiene la mejor historia? No, la verdad esta historia es un poco más del montón de matrimonios de conveniencia y su ilógica excusa de terminar casados.
No me malinterpreten, entretenida si es, pero lejos de ser una obra maestra, aunque siempre son estas lecturas la que me impulsan a seguir leyendo.
Un placer culpable.
Que me saco de mi crisis lectora (siempre recurro a Harlequin cuando las tengo) son lecturas amenas que me alegran el día o la noche y nada densas o pesadas.
¿Que tiene la mejor historia? No, la verdad esta historia es un poco más del montón de matrimonios de conveniencia y su ilógica excusa de terminar casados.
No me malinterpreten, entretenida si es, pero lejos de ser una obra maestra, aunque siempre son estas lecturas la que me impulsan a seguir leyendo.
Un placer culpable.
May 27, 2019
Very clean and polite heroine. I dont think people talk like this, which made it a bit boring. Very polite even when discussing blackmail and extortion. I dont believe anyone can be as oblivious as the father pretended to be, especially considering hes such a good business man. Even the hero knew in this book what the score was, he also reacted politely because the heroine was always forever polite.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 12, 2020
Is set in the 90's in Australia. Gabbi is married to Benidict, both of their fathers were in business together. Her step mom and sister don't want them together so try to undermine the marriage. Both Gabbi and Benidict haven't talked to each other about how they feel the other. The upper crust and the verbal sparing are what brings me to reread Bianchin's books. You don't get that at present day. Love Bianchin's books.
November 3, 2024
Gabbi's sister is not happy with the arranged marriage to Benedict. She has been attempting to sabotage their relationship. Gabbi has had issues because her sister is constantly lurking in the shadows.
While getting acquainted, neither of them is sure about their true feelings. Over time, they grow closer, and during an incident caused by her sister, he stood by his wife and supported her.
An engaging story that is worth your time.
While getting acquainted, neither of them is sure about their true feelings. Over time, they grow closer, and during an incident caused by her sister, he stood by his wife and supported her.
An engaging story that is worth your time.
February 1, 2024
A wealthy married couple of 1 year with an incredible sex life, who keep their true feelings of each other hidden, finally admit their love after bonding over the crazy antics of the heroine's younger model stepsister villain who is persistent on trying to steal the husband hero.
h is 25 and H is "late 30s"
h is 25 and H is "late 30s"
October 16, 2025
A sophisticated love story that had a loftiness with a kind of indifferent exchanges that hid all of the turmoil inside. She never knew where he was coming from and he didn't know what she actually felt. So I became thankful the OW came along and helped bring it all to a climax! But sheesh, I'd hate to live like that, in a fish bowl strangled by living only on the surface.
November 29, 2025
So good!!!!
I usually don't read hallmark romances, they are just too sappy for me. I like a more serious reads. To my surprise this was a good combination of both. I loved the two main charactors. I'm looking forward to the next installment of this series. Maybe my tastes are changing a bit....
I usually don't read hallmark romances, they are just too sappy for me. I like a more serious reads. To my surprise this was a good combination of both. I loved the two main charactors. I'm looking forward to the next installment of this series. Maybe my tastes are changing a bit....
February 17, 2018
Love her books
I Absolutely love her books. Have all of her books. Including her first book, A Willing Heart. I would suggest her books for anyone who likes a good romantic story.
I Absolutely love her books. Have all of her books. Including her first book, A Willing Heart. I would suggest her books for anyone who likes a good romantic story.
November 25, 2018
Nice cozy read.
Gabbi and Benedict Nicols appear to have a marriage of convenience to cement their two families and their business. There is a scheming stepsister who wants to steal Benedict from Gabbi. Good tension and you walk away feeling good when it is resolved.
Gabbi and Benedict Nicols appear to have a marriage of convenience to cement their two families and their business. There is a scheming stepsister who wants to steal Benedict from Gabbi. Good tension and you walk away feeling good when it is resolved.
February 23, 2020
I love HB's books. Gabbi and Benedict seem to have married for convenience, and they seem to have a tranquil marriage. Until Gabbi's step-sister, Monique, comes back to Australia and causes mischief by trying to attract Benedict's attention and making Gabbi insecure.
July 2, 2022
Like these old books
Evil step sister wanting her husband. Things people will go to and it doesn't matter. I personally would let the father know what kind of step mom he married. Enjoy
Evil step sister wanting her husband. Things people will go to and it doesn't matter. I personally would let the father know what kind of step mom he married. Enjoy
October 26, 2025
I am yours
I beautiful story of emotions not trusted and vindictive and cruel family members desiring to be more than they are and the patience of a man showing what love is and can be.
I beautiful story of emotions not trusted and vindictive and cruel family members desiring to be more than they are and the patience of a man showing what love is and can be.
January 21, 2026
ok yes so not much happens
But it IS a good read. Thoroughly enjoyed this MoC story. An MMC POV would have helped sell it, but I’m convinced of the HEA.
Story notes:
No baies until very end (as discussion, no announcement); FMC attacked; evil stepsister OW. So many showers.
But it IS a good read. Thoroughly enjoyed this MoC story. An MMC POV would have helped sell it, but I’m convinced of the HEA.
Story notes:
No baies until very end (as discussion, no announcement); FMC attacked; evil stepsister OW. So many showers.
February 2, 2026
An old favorite
I borrowed this from Kindle Unlimited. I am voluntarily reviewing this book. I read this book when it first came out. I enjoyed it then and it was still an interesting read 3.5 stars
I borrowed this from Kindle Unlimited. I am voluntarily reviewing this book. I read this book when it first came out. I enjoyed it then and it was still an interesting read 3.5 stars
January 6, 2019
This is a must read
Helen Bianchin has written one of the most compelling romances I've ever encountered in my Harlequin experience with characters so well defined.
Helen Bianchin has written one of the most compelling romances I've ever encountered in my Harlequin experience with characters so well defined.
January 16, 2020
¿Un matrimonio ideal?
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