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Claiming My Bride of Convenience
It was a marriage in name only …
But now my wife wants more!
My terms were clear: a luxurious Greek island sanctuary in exchange for Daisy becoming Mrs. Matteo Dias.
Until my convenient wife’s not-so-convenient arrival at a glittering charity ball ... with a startling proposal of her own!
Her heart is set on creating a family, but love is something I can’t give. Yet Daisy’s spirit captivates me completely, and claiming our wedding night is a delicious pleasure …
But am I able to become the husband Daisy truly wants?
ebook
First published September 1, 2019
About the author
Kate Hewitt
907 books1,755 followersKate is the USA Today-bsetselling author of many books of both historical and contemporary fiction. Under the name Katharine Swartz, she is the author of the Tales from Goswell books, a series of time-slip novels set in the village of Goswell.
She likes to read women's fiction, mystery and thrillers, as well as historical novels. She particularly enjoys reading about well-drawn characters and avoids high-concept plots.
Having lived in both New York City and a tiny village on the windswept northwest coast of England, she now resides in a market town in Wales with her husband, five children, and two Golden Retrievers.
She likes to read women's fiction, mystery and thrillers, as well as historical novels. She particularly enjoys reading about well-drawn characters and avoids high-concept plots.
Having lived in both New York City and a tiny village on the windswept northwest coast of England, she now resides in a market town in Wales with her husband, five children, and two Golden Retrievers.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
September 3, 2019
2.5 stars.
...Greece’s most eligible bachelor was in fact secretly wed...Matteo was married, but I hadn’t tamed him. I haven’t even spoken to him. All I knew about my husband of three years was what I’d read in the tabloids—that he was ruthless in ambition, amazing in bed, and highly desired by almost all women... https://bookshout.com/store/books/220...
A very unconventional marriage is the basis for this novel's storyline ! The story's also told via alternating first person narrators.
Matteo and Daisy have been married for almost 4 years, yet they've never kissed, hugged or exchanged any verbal affection. They don't even wear wedding rings, don't phone, text or email each other and both live in different countries.
They're not, and never have been, in love with each other, at the start of the story...
Theirs is a 💯% platonic, business arrangement. Matteo pays her to be his wife and she plays her part by letting him live his life as if he's an unencumbered bachelor. In case you're wondering: yes, this means that he's free to have his penis polishers and c*ck connoisseurs, at his beck and call..
OK then, I'll let you adjust to the fact that he's been banging his other women for the entire duration of their marriage...
Normally, this kinda shit would bother the hell out of me ! It's the primary reason why I cussed and ranted like a demented moron, in my review of The Unfaithful Wife.
Surprisingly enough, it didn't bother me so much in this book, because it didn't bother the heroine, Daisy. Daisy met Matteo in New York, right after she'd been fired for insulting a customer who'd grabbed her butt.
She owed rent and had no savings. She had just a High School diploma, no training for any form of skilled employment and no options. The heroine was an impoverished girl from a small town in Kentucky and her only remaining relative ( her grandmother ) had died.
Matteo was also in a difficult situation. His grandfather refused to cede control of the family's business empire unless he got married. The H hated his grandfather and was too happy being serviced by all the models and socialites that fawned all over him.
Marriage was the last thing he wanted - especially marriage to a woman who had romantic expectations. When he met Daisy, he realized that she's desperate enough to agree to his terms. After all, she'd get a ton of money and be allowed to live in his luxurious mansion on his small Greek island.
The Deal: they'd never have to see each other and his grandfather, who was battling cancer, would be too sick to care.
And so, that's how they ended up as basic strangers locked in a weird business marriage. But the story begins when Daisy becomes dissatisfied with the arrangement. She wants her freedom to go out into the world and meet someone who's ready for a real marriage. She also wants a baby:
‘I want an annulment. I want out of this sham of a marriage. And I’ll give you all your money back to prove it.’ https://bookshout.com/store/books/220...
Of course, the H is suddenly attracted to her, when she turns up and makes her demands. She no longer looks like the exhausted, dowdy little diner waitress he'd met all those years ago. Her fresh, innocent and natural beauty, stirs his jaded libido, because he's kinda bored with the plastic fantastic, penis polishing mistresses who'd been warming his bed.
Now, he's got a whole new plan: he wants to be a real husband to Daisy and, he thinks it's time he had an heir as well, since he's already 36 years old. That's basically what the novel deals with. She agrees to give the marriage a trial run. It helps that she's also suddenly developed a sexual interest in him too.
He's got his tragic childhood backstory, that's revealed as the story unfolds. She's also got her own insecurities, including an emotionally traumatic experience with a lecherous casting agent who tried to pull a Harvey Weinstein on her, in exchange for a singing contract. Both MC's were sympathetic, but I just couldn't love this book.
I wished there'd been an epilogue too. It would've been heartening to see that their marriage was definitely on firm ground, five years into the future - at the very least. It's a well written book, though, so that's why I'm not giving it a low rating.
I also gave points for the H's reconciliation with his grandfather and for the heroine's entrepreneurial efforts. She used the money, from the marriage contract, to start a textiles company on the small Greek island.
Safety: The H had numerous other women during the first 3 years of the marriage, as per his contractual agreement with the heroine. But he didn't have eyes for anyone else after they decided to give their marriage a trial run. There's even a little scene where he insults his former OW, in public, after she makes bitchy comments about the heroine. The heroine was a virgin.
...Greece’s most eligible bachelor was in fact secretly wed...Matteo was married, but I hadn’t tamed him. I haven’t even spoken to him. All I knew about my husband of three years was what I’d read in the tabloids—that he was ruthless in ambition, amazing in bed, and highly desired by almost all women... https://bookshout.com/store/books/220...
A very unconventional marriage is the basis for this novel's storyline ! The story's also told via alternating first person narrators.
Matteo and Daisy have been married for almost 4 years, yet they've never kissed, hugged or exchanged any verbal affection. They don't even wear wedding rings, don't phone, text or email each other and both live in different countries.
They're not, and never have been, in love with each other, at the start of the story...
Theirs is a 💯% platonic, business arrangement. Matteo pays her to be his wife and she plays her part by letting him live his life as if he's an unencumbered bachelor. In case you're wondering: yes, this means that he's free to have his penis polishers and c*ck connoisseurs, at his beck and call..
OK then, I'll let you adjust to the fact that he's been banging his other women for the entire duration of their marriage...
Normally, this kinda shit would bother the hell out of me ! It's the primary reason why I cussed and ranted like a demented moron, in my review of The Unfaithful Wife.
Surprisingly enough, it didn't bother me so much in this book, because it didn't bother the heroine, Daisy. Daisy met Matteo in New York, right after she'd been fired for insulting a customer who'd grabbed her butt.
She owed rent and had no savings. She had just a High School diploma, no training for any form of skilled employment and no options. The heroine was an impoverished girl from a small town in Kentucky and her only remaining relative ( her grandmother ) had died.
Matteo was also in a difficult situation. His grandfather refused to cede control of the family's business empire unless he got married. The H hated his grandfather and was too happy being serviced by all the models and socialites that fawned all over him.
Marriage was the last thing he wanted - especially marriage to a woman who had romantic expectations. When he met Daisy, he realized that she's desperate enough to agree to his terms. After all, she'd get a ton of money and be allowed to live in his luxurious mansion on his small Greek island.
The Deal: they'd never have to see each other and his grandfather, who was battling cancer, would be too sick to care.
And so, that's how they ended up as basic strangers locked in a weird business marriage. But the story begins when Daisy becomes dissatisfied with the arrangement. She wants her freedom to go out into the world and meet someone who's ready for a real marriage. She also wants a baby:
‘I want an annulment. I want out of this sham of a marriage. And I’ll give you all your money back to prove it.’ https://bookshout.com/store/books/220...
Of course, the H is suddenly attracted to her, when she turns up and makes her demands. She no longer looks like the exhausted, dowdy little diner waitress he'd met all those years ago. Her fresh, innocent and natural beauty, stirs his jaded libido, because he's kinda bored with the plastic fantastic, penis polishing mistresses who'd been warming his bed.
Now, he's got a whole new plan: he wants to be a real husband to Daisy and, he thinks it's time he had an heir as well, since he's already 36 years old. That's basically what the novel deals with. She agrees to give the marriage a trial run. It helps that she's also suddenly developed a sexual interest in him too.
He's got his tragic childhood backstory, that's revealed as the story unfolds. She's also got her own insecurities, including an emotionally traumatic experience with a lecherous casting agent who tried to pull a Harvey Weinstein on her, in exchange for a singing contract. Both MC's were sympathetic, but I just couldn't love this book.
I wished there'd been an epilogue too. It would've been heartening to see that their marriage was definitely on firm ground, five years into the future - at the very least. It's a well written book, though, so that's why I'm not giving it a low rating.
I also gave points for the H's reconciliation with his grandfather and for the heroine's entrepreneurial efforts. She used the money, from the marriage contract, to start a textiles company on the small Greek island.
Safety: The H had numerous other women during the first 3 years of the marriage, as per his contractual agreement with the heroine. But he didn't have eyes for anyone else after they decided to give their marriage a trial run. There's even a little scene where he insults his former OW, in public, after she makes bitchy comments about the heroine. The heroine was a virgin.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 7, 2019
First person again?
What is with all this first person harlequins? I am not sure I like the trend. Honestly I don't like it at all. It's just weird. But I read this book knowing the hero was a cheating jerk. It really didn't bother me at first because I thought they had never met. They did however and he was very cruel to her. He called her unremarkable and was like I don't want you staring at her in horror?!?!? What a schmuck. So for three years she is tucked away on an island while he has sex with any woman that's interested. I would have wanted a certificate saying he was disease free. Yuk. She goes to him for an annulment at a party and herewith good woman who he is sleeping with but can't remember her name. Just gross. No he didn't sleep with her or anyone else once the heroine showed up. But just the thought of it was enough to turn me off the story. He is not and cold. He is cruel and I do believe he ended up caring for her. But love? I don't think so. It didn't feel like it to me. I doubt he will be faithful in the future. Even though the author wanted us to think he changed. I just didn't feel it. His childhood story was quite bad but that didn't mean he had to be a cruel man-ho. Just not my idea of a hero.
What is with all this first person harlequins? I am not sure I like the trend. Honestly I don't like it at all. It's just weird. But I read this book knowing the hero was a cheating jerk. It really didn't bother me at first because I thought they had never met. They did however and he was very cruel to her. He called her unremarkable and was like I don't want you staring at her in horror?!?!? What a schmuck. So for three years she is tucked away on an island while he has sex with any woman that's interested. I would have wanted a certificate saying he was disease free. Yuk. She goes to him for an annulment at a party and herewith good woman who he is sleeping with but can't remember her name. Just gross. No he didn't sleep with her or anyone else once the heroine showed up. But just the thought of it was enough to turn me off the story. He is not and cold. He is cruel and I do believe he ended up caring for her. But love? I don't think so. It didn't feel like it to me. I doubt he will be faithful in the future. Even though the author wanted us to think he changed. I just didn't feel it. His childhood story was quite bad but that didn't mean he had to be a cruel man-ho. Just not my idea of a hero.
September 5, 2019
The H and plot seemed great for me but I couldn't feel the love & angst, the HEA was not believable unfortunately. (the older, the more cynic)
September 14, 2019
3.5 stars
A lovely read and a lovely couple I just wanted an epilogue with babies!
A lovely read and a lovely couple I just wanted an epilogue with babies!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 17, 2021
Interesting MOC—Alternating 1st person POV, very unusual for an HP.
September 15, 2019
And this right here is why I gave up years ago reading HP... Hero is a cheater & heroine is frozen. Yeah..no.
May 16, 2021
Interesting storytelling. The fourth star is for that
January 7, 2020
So much to unpack with this one.
The H proposes a MOC to the h after he sees her get fired from her job as a waitress for defending herself from a groping customer.
He married her and dropped her off on his Greek island where she lived for 3 years without ever seeing him again. Until she got tired of the status quo, decided she wanted more and tracked him down to a fancy party to confront him.
There was a lot of hurt in this book. The H’s family were total pieces of shite! He survived extreme cruelty. It’s no wonder he’ emotionally crippled. The h mainly lacked self esteem. Especially where the H is concerned.
It took them sixteen chapters to work their crap out and they were looong chapters sometimes. This wasn’t a bad book, it was ok. I just didn’t fall in love with the characters. I didn’t really care what happened to them.
The H proposes a MOC to the h after he sees her get fired from her job as a waitress for defending herself from a groping customer.
He married her and dropped her off on his Greek island where she lived for 3 years without ever seeing him again. Until she got tired of the status quo, decided she wanted more and tracked him down to a fancy party to confront him.
There was a lot of hurt in this book. The H’s family were total pieces of shite! He survived extreme cruelty. It’s no wonder he’ emotionally crippled. The h mainly lacked self esteem. Especially where the H is concerned.
It took them sixteen chapters to work their crap out and they were looong chapters sometimes. This wasn’t a bad book, it was ok. I just didn’t fall in love with the characters. I didn’t really care what happened to them.
March 21, 2022
This was my very first time reading a harlequin book with a first person POV.
A bit surprised but once I'd gotten over my shock, it was okay.
I liked both characters.
The story was you know, the typical ... Hero married heroine in a marriage of convenience, left her for three years in his estate and then heroine had a change of heart; she wanted "love" - hence she went and find him to tell him she wanted OUT because she wanted to have a real marriage, with children along the way with the man she loves.
Then Hero realized he could do with an heir (different thinking than that of the heroine's but he could care less) so he refused her plea and pursued her instead.
I don't understand the low rating.
I enjoyed this book very much.
A bit surprised but once I'd gotten over my shock, it was okay.
I liked both characters.
The story was you know, the typical ... Hero married heroine in a marriage of convenience, left her for three years in his estate and then heroine had a change of heart; she wanted "love" - hence she went and find him to tell him she wanted OUT because she wanted to have a real marriage, with children along the way with the man she loves.
Then Hero realized he could do with an heir (different thinking than that of the heroine's but he could care less) so he refused her plea and pursued her instead.
I don't understand the low rating.
I enjoyed this book very much.
Read
September 11, 2019Many would discover that the story was slow and somewhat dragged. However I disagree. I enjoyed th build up and the emotional sense in the ending. The healing, the loving, and the hoping all came together. The man-whore hero was tormented one and he suffered dearly, he's !manifested as the bastard and rejected one. He is the type any woman would be tempted to try to heal including me. Oooooh he just routed so much appeal and charisma. I adore his wife Daisy, sweet soft and empathic. She knew his pain and suffering and she endured it for him too. Lovely to see a h soft and yet without the doormat syndrome. I simply adore it all.
August 4, 2021
This book felt like it ended fairly quickly. You get all the standard romance novel trapping. The couple is in a marriage of convenience. The male lead is a billionaire. The female lead is a poor girl with a heart of gold. Yadda yadda yadda.
The problem is I don't buy their love story. I do think they have chemistry but I don't think they fell in love in 2 weeks. I also don't feel like the depth of their feelings are genuine and I'm not sure why. There are many random details in the story that seemingly don't need to be there. Like who cares that the female lead made a business? It barely has anything to do with them falling in love other than for her to be "different" and slightly more impressive to the male lead. It's weird. It could have been woven into the story more effectively. There's also the issue of the male lead not forgiving his grandfather and then granting him forgiveness after a few days. Like... wut? It was too easy. Not to say that he shouldn't have forgiven him, but I feel like it should have been more difficult. The female lead can sing and she has a sad backstory about her voice. It does nothing more than to earn her sympathy points with the male lead. The list goes on and on. I found myself hoping that these small details would be woven more interictally into the story but it wasn't.
The book was ok, but I probably wouldn't read it again.
The problem is I don't buy their love story. I do think they have chemistry but I don't think they fell in love in 2 weeks. I also don't feel like the depth of their feelings are genuine and I'm not sure why. There are many random details in the story that seemingly don't need to be there. Like who cares that the female lead made a business? It barely has anything to do with them falling in love other than for her to be "different" and slightly more impressive to the male lead. It's weird. It could have been woven into the story more effectively. There's also the issue of the male lead not forgiving his grandfather and then granting him forgiveness after a few days. Like... wut? It was too easy. Not to say that he shouldn't have forgiven him, but I feel like it should have been more difficult. The female lead can sing and she has a sad backstory about her voice. It does nothing more than to earn her sympathy points with the male lead. The list goes on and on. I found myself hoping that these small details would be woven more interictally into the story but it wasn't.
The book was ok, but I probably wouldn't read it again.
June 11, 2020
This one is very enjoyable. The hero married the heroine to claim his inheritance because his grandfather was dying, then chose someone from lower class to annoy his grandfather. He was a very broken man because his mother left him in his grandfather's doorstep and his grandfather never liked him. Even he was abused by his nanny when he was little, without his grandfather consent.
The heroine was a waitress from Manhattan. After 3 years of marriage without anything at all, she finally had enough and wanted to have a real family instead. So she went to his husband to ask for an annulment. The hero didn't agree because he also thought about having an heir. He convinced her to have a real marriage instead, the heroine didn't agree at first because she didn't trust him.
After more convincing, the heroine agreed. There they started to opened up for each other, though the hero never really revealed much about his past.
The heroine was also amazing because despite all the money that her husband had given her for the past few years, she was able to build a small textile company made some profut out of it.
The heroine was a waitress from Manhattan. After 3 years of marriage without anything at all, she finally had enough and wanted to have a real family instead. So she went to his husband to ask for an annulment. The hero didn't agree because he also thought about having an heir. He convinced her to have a real marriage instead, the heroine didn't agree at first because she didn't trust him.
After more convincing, the heroine agreed. There they started to opened up for each other, though the hero never really revealed much about his past.
The heroine was also amazing because despite all the money that her husband had given her for the past few years, she was able to build a small textile company made some profut out of it.
April 21, 2022
The story was okay. It works as a romance novel. The switching of POVs was also fun to read as you got to know both characters' psyche as their relationship progressed. I blitzed through some parts as I felt some passages were becoming repetitive and overbearing.
There's something "unremarkable" about their relationship. The way everything just fell along in a neat row of matching puzzles was a little anticlimactic and... Convenient. There's little reason for them to love each other, although that may be the truth about reality. Love stories are, most probably, hardly ever spectacular and dramatic. There's no absolute formula when it comes to attractions after all.
Still, I wanted the characters to be more. And their relationship to be more... Novel-worthy.
There's something "unremarkable" about their relationship. The way everything just fell along in a neat row of matching puzzles was a little anticlimactic and... Convenient. There's little reason for them to love each other, although that may be the truth about reality. Love stories are, most probably, hardly ever spectacular and dramatic. There's no absolute formula when it comes to attractions after all.
Still, I wanted the characters to be more. And their relationship to be more... Novel-worthy.
will-not-read
July 8, 2022Did Not Read. Refuse to Read. Not My Cuppa. My decision was based on other reviews regarding the state of marriage. The couple married for 3-plus years but never lived together or consummated the marriage. Hubby cheated the whole time apart (per agreement?!), but when the wife wanted to divorce and seek out love, hubby wanted to stay married. Didn't sound interesting At. All.
September 14, 2019
Great story and an interesting couple, but this story needed an epilogue to tie a few things together. Also note that this book is written in a first person POV so it does take a bit of getting used to. Overall, an enjoyable read.
February 4, 2020
Little weird as it is written in 1st person for both the male / female leads; it can sometimes get a little confusing when it switches between characters as to who is thinking/saying that. I wouldn't re-read again.
April 19, 2020
I loved the beginning of the book. Unfortunately the more I read the less I seemed to like this book. Which is upsetting because I love marriage by convenience stories, but this one seemed a little rush. I love that it took place in Greece. It went bad, I enjoyed it, but I wanted more. 3 stars
September 24, 2019
This really needed an epilogue, especially as she never even got to meet the half brother.
October 6, 2019
I want that cheesy epilogue 😅
Hence, a 3 star rating for me because no epilogue even though the writings are excellent.
Hence, a 3 star rating for me because no epilogue even though the writings are excellent.
Read
November 12, 2019No fault of the book - just didn't know HPs were also in first person and wasn't in the mood for it
March 5, 2020
Not a bad story but I am never keen of stories told in the first person.
hq-to-read
November 6, 2019It was a marriage in name only …
But now my wife wants more!
My terms were clear: a luxurious Greek island sanctuary in exchange for Daisy becoming Mrs. Matteo Dias.
Until my convenient wife’s not-so-convenient arrival at a glittering charity ball ... with a startling proposal of her own!
Her heart is set on creating a family, but love is something I can’t give. Yet Daisy’s spirit captivates me completely, and claiming our wedding night is a delicious pleasure …
But am I able to become the husband Daisy truly wants?
But now my wife wants more!
My terms were clear: a luxurious Greek island sanctuary in exchange for Daisy becoming Mrs. Matteo Dias.
Until my convenient wife’s not-so-convenient arrival at a glittering charity ball ... with a startling proposal of her own!
Her heart is set on creating a family, but love is something I can’t give. Yet Daisy’s spirit captivates me completely, and claiming our wedding night is a delicious pleasure …
But am I able to become the husband Daisy truly wants?
June 1, 2024
A bit blah!…. It needed an epilogue but otherwise, quite enjoyable. I thought the heroine was out of order expecting the hero to forgive the horrid grandfather. He really was the worst.
September 29, 2019
Superb read well worth the effort.
October 5, 2019
The meaning of love
Daisy felt sorrow that Mateo could not admit that he wanted to be loved. Mateo and Daisy struggled to have a real marriage.
Daisy felt sorrow that Mateo could not admit that he wanted to be loved. Mateo and Daisy struggled to have a real marriage.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews