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Bond of Hatred
'I will pay the price. I will marry you.'
Alex Terzakis's words took Sarah's breath away - marriage was the last thing on her mind! She'd wanted two things when she'd impulsively flung her proposal at him: revenge for her young sister's death and the chance to raise her sister's baby son.
True, Alex would fight tooth and nail to keep his nephew but, in her anger and grief, Sarah had believed her demand would send him packing - she'd never expected him to accept!!
Alex Terzakis's words took Sarah's breath away - marriage was the last thing on her mind! She'd wanted two things when she'd impulsively flung her proposal at him: revenge for her young sister's death and the chance to raise her sister's baby son.
True, Alex would fight tooth and nail to keep his nephew but, in her anger and grief, Sarah had believed her demand would send him packing - she'd never expected him to accept!!
192 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 1995
284 people are currently reading
2652 people want to read
About the author
Lynne Graham
1,763 books1,450 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Lynne Graham was born on July 30, 1956 of Irish-Scottish parentage. She has livedin Northern Ireland all her life. She grew up in a seaside village with herbrother. She learnt to read at the age of 3, and haven't stopped since then.
Lynne first met her husband when she was 14. At 15, she wrote her firstbook, but it was rejected everywhere. Lynne married after she completed adegree at Edinburgh University. She started writing again when she was athome with her first child. It took several attempts before she sold herfirst book in 1987 and the delight of seeing that first book for sale in thelocal newsagents has never been forgotten. Now, there are over 10 million ofher books in print worldwide.
Lynne always wanted a large family and has five children. Her eldest and heronly natural child is 19 and currently at university. Her other fourchildren, who are every bit as dear to her heart, are adopted. She has two9-year-olds adopted from Sri Lanka and a 5- and a 3-year-old adopted fromGuatemala. In Lynne's home, there is a rich and diverse cultural mix, whichadds a whole extra dimension of interest and discovery to family life. Thefamily lives in a country house surrounded by a woodland garden, which iswonderfully private. The family has two pets. Thomas, a very large andaffectionate black cat, bosses the dog and hunts rabbits. The dog is Daisy,an adorable but not very bright white West Highland terrier, who loves beingchased by the cat. At night, dog and cat sleep together in front of thekitchen stove. Lynne loves gardening, cooking, collects everything from oldtoys to rock specimens and is crazy about every aspect of Christmas.
Lynne Graham was born on July 30, 1956 of Irish-Scottish parentage. She has livedin Northern Ireland all her life. She grew up in a seaside village with herbrother. She learnt to read at the age of 3, and haven't stopped since then.
Lynne first met her husband when she was 14. At 15, she wrote her firstbook, but it was rejected everywhere. Lynne married after she completed adegree at Edinburgh University. She started writing again when she was athome with her first child. It took several attempts before she sold herfirst book in 1987 and the delight of seeing that first book for sale in thelocal newsagents has never been forgotten. Now, there are over 10 million ofher books in print worldwide.
Lynne always wanted a large family and has five children. Her eldest and heronly natural child is 19 and currently at university. Her other fourchildren, who are every bit as dear to her heart, are adopted. She has two9-year-olds adopted from Sri Lanka and a 5- and a 3-year-old adopted fromGuatemala. In Lynne's home, there is a rich and diverse cultural mix, whichadds a whole extra dimension of interest and discovery to family life. Thefamily lives in a country house surrounded by a woodland garden, which iswonderfully private. The family has two pets. Thomas, a very large andaffectionate black cat, bosses the dog and hunts rabbits. The dog is Daisy,an adorable but not very bright white West Highland terrier, who loves beingchased by the cat. At night, dog and cat sleep together in front of thekitchen stove. Lynne loves gardening, cooking, collects everything from oldtoys to rock specimens and is crazy about every aspect of Christmas.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 261 reviews
March 19, 2010
I think this is one of my fave Lynne Grahams because of the fact that the heroine truly hates the hero for most of the book, and she doesn't so easily fall for his charms. Her reactions to him are consistent with her strong dislike of him. It annoys me when the heroine falls into bed instantly with a guy she doesn't like. That's so not realistic. Most people I dislike are not attractive to me (such as Tom Cruise--don't find him attractive b/c I can't stand him). The hero had to work to earn her respect and her affections. Hopefully the heroine doesn't sound mean. She really isn't. Based on what happened with her sister, she has her reasons for her antipathy towards the hero. Also I liked the powerful emotions in this book. I love the scene where the heroine is tipsy and she totally tells the hero exactly what she thinks of him. What an ego crusher! Some of these heroes could use an ego deflation. I sound sadistic, huh?
This is a great book!
This is a great book!
May 22, 2020
Just did a re-read. This is one intense story. The heroine was magnificent in her anger and her grief over her sister's death. It was just another day at the office dealing with a gold digger - until the hero got tangled up with the heroine and the dead sister's baby.
It was a stroke of genius for her to propose marriage - and the hero was unconsciously smitten enough to take her up on it. I liked how they were both strong characters and how the heroine didn't care what the hero thought of her for the longest time. I think that was her armor, because when they did finally go to bed together the heroine started to care and then she falters when dealing with the hero. She wanted to *stay* a "bitch," but it really wasn't her character.
The second half - where they are learning to be married to each other - kept the tension simmering (just not on a high boil). I did enjoy the stepmother and her skewed view of marriage and mistresses. I'm glad the baby daddy brother had to confess, but he got off lightly for his sins.
A classic LG and one everyone should read if you like the enemies to lovers trope.
It was a stroke of genius for her to propose marriage - and the hero was unconsciously smitten enough to take her up on it. I liked how they were both strong characters and how the heroine didn't care what the hero thought of her for the longest time. I think that was her armor, because when they did finally go to bed together the heroine started to care and then she falters when dealing with the hero. She wanted to *stay* a "bitch," but it really wasn't her character.
The second half - where they are learning to be married to each other - kept the tension simmering (just not on a high boil). I did enjoy the stepmother and her skewed view of marriage and mistresses. I'm glad the baby daddy brother had to confess, but he got off lightly for his sins.
A classic LG and one everyone should read if you like the enemies to lovers trope.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 2, 2018
Re Bond of Hatred - Lynne Graham brings us a twist on the HP trope of blackmail into marriage with this and she uses that classic trope as a springboard to explore a little of the HPlandia Darkside.
The story starts with Sarah, the h, in hospital mourning the death of her 18 yr old sister, Callie. Callie met a young Greek man and fell in love. She became pregnant and the young man, Damon, proposed.
He and Callie went to Sarah and told her they were in love and Sarah was worried, but did her best to support her sister, even when Damon backed off because his brother threatened to disinherit him. So Damon's older brother, Alex got involved and things went all to pieces.
Alex is the H and he is Greek. In typical Arrogant Nematode H fashion, he denounces both Callie and Sarah as gold digging tarts, tries to pay off Callie with a large check that Sarah tears up, kicks them both to the curb and insists that Callie is lying about her pregnancy to grab the lucrative lifestyle option.
Sarah is LIVID. She is 25 years old and has been Callie's main support both financially and parent wise since her and Callie's parents died when Callie was eleven. Damon disappears into the ether after the big confrontation with Alex and Callie's letters go unanswered.
Callie, firmly believing that Damon will come for her in the end, continues a high risk pregnancy because the baby is a boy. Unfortunately Callie has a heart defect and pregnancy and labor exacerbate it. Callie dies, Sarah is in devastated grief and Alex chooses this moment to impose himself on Sarah's life again.
Naturally Alex is an arrogant sewer gulper about it and Sarah goes ballistic. She confronts Alex on his disdain for the lower classes, his misogynistic chauvinism and the fact that he has the gall to criticize her when her sister lies dead because HIS brother is a lying coprophagic slime pustule.
Alex loses his temper back and tries to threaten Sarah about custody over Nicky, Callie's newborn son. Sarah absolutely won't back down, especially when she learns that Damon has a wife and Sarah assumes that since Alex is very admiring of Damon's wife, she is of a higher social status and Callie was dumped for that. Sarah also shouts that these two men treat women who are not at their social level like pump and dump slags and shame on them for that.
Sarah is outraged, because while she is poor, works at menial jobs and may not have the clothes or the sophistication of a more socially prominent woman, she is very kind, very honest and has very firm morals and values.
So after several knock down drag out fights between Sarah and Alex, Sarah decrees that the only way Alex will ever be allowed around Nicky is if he marries her. If Alex is so down on the lower market, yet thinks he can run amok with demands to buy Callie's child because he is family, he can put himself instead of his money on the line and marry her to have a part in Nicky's life.
Alex fusses a lot, but we can see the gleam of the Lurve Force Mojo in his eye and he agrees to the proposition. As this is HPlandia and no H is willingly roped to the marital stakes, Alex vows that Sarah will be humiliated and begging for a divorce before he is done with her. Then Alex will kick her back to the gutter she crawled out of and keep Nicky for himself.
Sarah doesn't care, as Alex's wife, Nicky gets two parents and a good home and Sarah really loves Nicky, she wants him to have all the advantages she couldn't give Callie and who cares what the Nematode King of the Sewer thinks.
So after an insulting pre-nup, a mini shopping spree and makeover, a registry office in the darkest corner of London and few more insults later, Alex and Sarah are married. Alex wrongly assumes that Sarah wants HIM, because naturally he is the HP God's Greek Gift to the world and EVERYONE bows down before him and scurries to do his bidding.
Sarah busts Alex's bubble rather quickly, he tells her how happy he is she tarted herself up for him and Sarah looks at him like he has grown another head. She has to gently explain that she spent a fortune on clothes and a makeover because she wanted to never embarrass Nicky or give him reason to be ashamed of his mother.
Alex about keels over, because as he claims, " I expected you to show up with half a dress for what you spent." Sarah doesn't quite get the reference, by her terms she spent a ton of money, but at least Alex is prepared to be generous.
Alex lives in France and it is rumored that he has a mistress in Paris and a mistress in Athens, but Sarah doesn't care. She does care about the horrible nanny that Alex hired, but in the rush of arrival at Alex's house, Sarah is astounded to meet Alex's stepmother Vivian.
Vivian is a firecracker, Alex told her Nicky was his and Sarah's child to protect his little brother. We soon learn that apparently Vivian and Alex's father had a very tempestuous marriage. Alex's father was unfaithful and Vivian played his own game against him, until the two of them finally settled down into wedded bliss.
Sarah is a little shocked to hear that. Surely Alex and Damon's father and Vivian should have had the good sense to keep their marital difficulties away from the children? But it appears that they did not and the damage the jealousies and games caused seemed to have impacted Alex to a great degree, no wonder he is always going on about lying, manipulating women.
Sarah becomes even more conscience stricken when it is revealed that Androula, Damon's wife, is Vivian's daughter AND Alex reveals that Callie knew Damon was married when she and he moved in together.
Sarah is mortified and starting to really regret her temper fueled demand that Alex marry her. Even more so when she learns that Alex had initially planned to marry his good friend Elise. Tho Vivian warns that it was a cold blooded arrangement to combine two ancient families and build a dynasty. (Vivian is not a fan of Elise, she claims she is too aristocratically cold,) but Sarah feels even worse for ruining Alex's plans for his life.
Then Alex and Sarah have a huge Lurve Club Passion Moment and consummate their marriage. Sarah is a unicorn groomer and is overwhelmed by the experience, only to crash big time as Alex says some more insulting things and storms off, not be seen except from a distance for two weeks.
Sarah and Nicky settle into a very quiet and happy existence. The nanny is history after a fight with Alex and Alex's chateau staff fall over themselves to help Sara too. So for her, life is just peachy until Alex comes home early one day when Sarah is spending time with Nicky.
He tries to get Sarah to spend some time with him, they are after all married. But Sarah pleads a headache and tries to blow Alex off. She can't get over how much her hormones riot any time Alex gets near her and she wants to keep her self respect. Alex loses it and starts demanding Sarah spend time with him, she reluctantly does it and makes it quite clear that she just doesn't give a damn.
In a very funny moment, Alex claims he wants kids and Sarah suggests IVF, cause she doesn't want to sleep with him. Alex explodes cause he figures out he HATES being ignored and all that tension blows up again into another Purple Passion Event with exploding parts.
The next day Alex has a diamond necklace delivered for Sarah and she feels paid off. Elise picks this most inauspicious time to introduce herself. Elise acts very concerned about Sarah and Sarah is suspicious. That suspicion turns to utter shock as Elise indicates that Alex has been very publicly womanizing every night with a different woman, in a very public bid to humiliate his new wife.
Sarah keeps her bottle tho and smiling like a shark, tells Elise that Vivian did tell her how very impressed Sarah would be to meet Elise and she very deeply is. Sarah then calls the butler to escort Elise out of the house. Elise is upset, but Sarah can't get over the gall the woman has to confront a woman she has never even met about Alex's womanizing.
Sarah gets all the tabloid papers she hadn't seen for the last weeks and then Alex calls. Sarah is beyond furious, hurt and very humiliated and she uses one of my favorite LG words ever when Alex asks her how she feels. Alex is obviously expecting some cute kittenish cuddle talk and Sarah tells him that she is absolutely gobsmacked.
Sarah then goes on to relate that she saw her first newspapers in 13 days and while everyone else knew what Alex had been up to, she did not. Now Sarah vows that the last name of Terzakis will be a by-word for Scarlet Woman and whatever Vivian may have done to Alex's father, Sarah will do even more to Alex and he will be on his knees for a divorce when she is done.
Sarah slams down the phone and storms out for a night on the town with Vivian. As Sarah gets progressively drunker, she lets on that Alex lied to Vivian when he told her that Nicky was his and Sarah's son - she explains about Callie and Damon.
Vivian admits she had already guessed it was something like that. But forewarned is forearmed and now Vivian will be better prepared to support her daughter when she eventually confides in her.
Then Vivian pops up with a handsome escort for Sarah, one that she hired for the night. She also stages a paparazzi picture, so the world can see that Sarah has no intentions of playing the humiliate wife.
Sarah is seriously drunk now and leaves. She doesn't want to go back to Alex's house, so she just has the chauffeur drive around and finally gets home around dawn. Alex is panicked and furious, he claims he never did anything with those women, he was just having a temper tantrum. Sarah has never been drunk before, so she just goes to bed.
Only to be awakened by Alex the next morning, Sarah and Vivian's escort made the papers and Sarah quietly explains. Alex admits that he misjudged her and now he wants to try and make the marriage work. He loves Nicky and thinks that he and Sarah could be compatible. Sarah wants to go the divorce route, but Alex guilts her with Nicky until she gives in and says she will stay until Nicky is 18.
Alex tries to pull out out all of the stops and spends eons of time trying to get Sarah to talk and build a relationship with him. Sarah doesn't like it, mainly because she feels that Alex is just doing his duty and while she is now wildly in love with him, he sees her as a responsibility. Sarah feels inhibited in bed with Alex and she is worried he is contemplating an affair with Elise in frustration.
Then Sarah finds out that Damon did send money to support Callie and Nicky and all of Sarah's illusions about Callie are shattered. Damon did try to do a little of the right thing and Callie continually lied about everything. Alex claims it is because Sarah's moral standards are very high and others might have a hard time meeting them.
Sarah instantly takes that as a criticism of her inability to respond to Alex in bed because she deeply believes that if you don't love someone, you shouldn't be sleeping with them. Then she realizes that she made this bargain herself and that Alex is really trying, even if he isn't in love with her. So Sarah's grand plan o' seduction is on, she heard Alex arrange a rendezvous with Elise in Paris for lunch.
Sarah rushes off to get some scanty knickers and a coat dress to hide what she is wearing underneath. She shows up Alex's office and locks the door and drops the dress and hopes like mad that Alex will take over after Sarah delivers a very roofie kiss. Alex doesn't dissapoint and Sarah has a marvelous time and resolves to play the office drop-in sex bombe card every month if it will keep Alex from straying.
Alex is delighted, he skips out on his date with Elise and he and Sarah are ready to lurve it all up when Damon and Androula show up at Alex's house. Damon finally confesses he panicked and lied about Callie being a tart and admits that he really did propose to Callie and Sarah had been telling the truth all along.
Alex has a huge ranty moment, which Sarah puts a stop to, after all Callie was equally complicit and Damon is never going to grow up. Androula proves that she and Damon are a matched set when she waylays Sarah in the hall and tells her she doesn't really mind about Nicky and that it was all worth it cause she got Damon back.
(I think LG was trying to show Androula is a nice person, but I was pretty shocked that Androula would even say anything to the sister of the woman who died because her beloved husband was piece of excrement and couldn't keep it in his pants. )
Alex finally kicks everyone out and he and Sarah have another Purple Moment of Bliss. As a surpise the next day, which is Sarah's birthday she forgot, Alex gives Sarah a portrait of Callie. Elise painted it and that is why Alex was meeting her, it seems Elise really is just a friend. Alex does a pretty good "I love you and I have since I met you" speech and Sarah joyfully declares her love back for the classic LG HPlandia HEA.
This one is really well done and it is wickedly funny at parts. But there is a really dark undertone that isn't obvious right away and that undertone is what puts this on the HPlandia required reading list.
The bedrock of HPlandia, at this point in it's history, is that the heroines are going to be chaste and usually they are going to be virgins. In HPlandia, virginity is the magic ticket and get out of jail free card that gets you get the guy, the money and the fabulous lifestyle - but you have to follow the HP rules to get it.
Callie and Sarah are both virgins. By all rights, Callie should have gotten her own HP outing and her own HEA. Except for one thing, Callie knowingly gave up her get out of jail free card and unicorn grooming license to a married man.
She conspired in betraying his wife and for that, plus accepting his cash to support herself and her child when he abandoned her, the punishment is literally death. Moreover, Callie's sad betrayal is used as a stepping stone to a wiser HP heroine getting her own HEA.
Callie broke the rules and she had to die, even tho she was exactly what the typical HP h is supposed to be. Sarah on the other hand, acts more like an HP H and blackmails the Alpha Hero into marriage.
Sarah does suffers greatly in public humiliation for her crime, but because her main motivation was to provide a loving and secure home for an orphaned child and only a little for grief fueled revenge, Sarah gets the big sparkly rainbow unicorn and kitten HEA.
It is kind of chilling to really think about what motivations are behind the characterizations in a lot of these stories. Tho I really do love most of the wacky, crazy characters and actions in HPlandia, this one kind of hit me pretty hard.
Callie was really in love with Damon and he certainly did his part in corrupting her, but that is the dark undercurrent that flows through these stories that LG brilliantly points out and warns against.
The lurve mojo force is strong and it isn't a crime to give into it. But if you do go there in HPlandia, be aware that knowingly succumbing to a taken man is a crime that will get you banished forever and another more, worthy heroine will step in to take your place.
Anne Mather aside, the punishments for lapses in HPlandia are fatal, so keep that in the back of your mind as you wander amidst it's byways and as always, may you have an eventful and entertaining HP voyage if you run into this.
The story starts with Sarah, the h, in hospital mourning the death of her 18 yr old sister, Callie. Callie met a young Greek man and fell in love. She became pregnant and the young man, Damon, proposed.
He and Callie went to Sarah and told her they were in love and Sarah was worried, but did her best to support her sister, even when Damon backed off because his brother threatened to disinherit him. So Damon's older brother, Alex got involved and things went all to pieces.
Alex is the H and he is Greek. In typical Arrogant Nematode H fashion, he denounces both Callie and Sarah as gold digging tarts, tries to pay off Callie with a large check that Sarah tears up, kicks them both to the curb and insists that Callie is lying about her pregnancy to grab the lucrative lifestyle option.
Sarah is LIVID. She is 25 years old and has been Callie's main support both financially and parent wise since her and Callie's parents died when Callie was eleven. Damon disappears into the ether after the big confrontation with Alex and Callie's letters go unanswered.
Callie, firmly believing that Damon will come for her in the end, continues a high risk pregnancy because the baby is a boy. Unfortunately Callie has a heart defect and pregnancy and labor exacerbate it. Callie dies, Sarah is in devastated grief and Alex chooses this moment to impose himself on Sarah's life again.
Naturally Alex is an arrogant sewer gulper about it and Sarah goes ballistic. She confronts Alex on his disdain for the lower classes, his misogynistic chauvinism and the fact that he has the gall to criticize her when her sister lies dead because HIS brother is a lying coprophagic slime pustule.
Alex loses his temper back and tries to threaten Sarah about custody over Nicky, Callie's newborn son. Sarah absolutely won't back down, especially when she learns that Damon has a wife and Sarah assumes that since Alex is very admiring of Damon's wife, she is of a higher social status and Callie was dumped for that. Sarah also shouts that these two men treat women who are not at their social level like pump and dump slags and shame on them for that.
Sarah is outraged, because while she is poor, works at menial jobs and may not have the clothes or the sophistication of a more socially prominent woman, she is very kind, very honest and has very firm morals and values.
So after several knock down drag out fights between Sarah and Alex, Sarah decrees that the only way Alex will ever be allowed around Nicky is if he marries her. If Alex is so down on the lower market, yet thinks he can run amok with demands to buy Callie's child because he is family, he can put himself instead of his money on the line and marry her to have a part in Nicky's life.
Alex fusses a lot, but we can see the gleam of the Lurve Force Mojo in his eye and he agrees to the proposition. As this is HPlandia and no H is willingly roped to the marital stakes, Alex vows that Sarah will be humiliated and begging for a divorce before he is done with her. Then Alex will kick her back to the gutter she crawled out of and keep Nicky for himself.
Sarah doesn't care, as Alex's wife, Nicky gets two parents and a good home and Sarah really loves Nicky, she wants him to have all the advantages she couldn't give Callie and who cares what the Nematode King of the Sewer thinks.
So after an insulting pre-nup, a mini shopping spree and makeover, a registry office in the darkest corner of London and few more insults later, Alex and Sarah are married. Alex wrongly assumes that Sarah wants HIM, because naturally he is the HP God's Greek Gift to the world and EVERYONE bows down before him and scurries to do his bidding.
Sarah busts Alex's bubble rather quickly, he tells her how happy he is she tarted herself up for him and Sarah looks at him like he has grown another head. She has to gently explain that she spent a fortune on clothes and a makeover because she wanted to never embarrass Nicky or give him reason to be ashamed of his mother.
Alex about keels over, because as he claims, " I expected you to show up with half a dress for what you spent." Sarah doesn't quite get the reference, by her terms she spent a ton of money, but at least Alex is prepared to be generous.
Alex lives in France and it is rumored that he has a mistress in Paris and a mistress in Athens, but Sarah doesn't care. She does care about the horrible nanny that Alex hired, but in the rush of arrival at Alex's house, Sarah is astounded to meet Alex's stepmother Vivian.
Vivian is a firecracker, Alex told her Nicky was his and Sarah's child to protect his little brother. We soon learn that apparently Vivian and Alex's father had a very tempestuous marriage. Alex's father was unfaithful and Vivian played his own game against him, until the two of them finally settled down into wedded bliss.
Sarah is a little shocked to hear that. Surely Alex and Damon's father and Vivian should have had the good sense to keep their marital difficulties away from the children? But it appears that they did not and the damage the jealousies and games caused seemed to have impacted Alex to a great degree, no wonder he is always going on about lying, manipulating women.
Sarah becomes even more conscience stricken when it is revealed that Androula, Damon's wife, is Vivian's daughter AND Alex reveals that Callie knew Damon was married when she and he moved in together.
Sarah is mortified and starting to really regret her temper fueled demand that Alex marry her. Even more so when she learns that Alex had initially planned to marry his good friend Elise. Tho Vivian warns that it was a cold blooded arrangement to combine two ancient families and build a dynasty. (Vivian is not a fan of Elise, she claims she is too aristocratically cold,) but Sarah feels even worse for ruining Alex's plans for his life.
Then Alex and Sarah have a huge Lurve Club Passion Moment and consummate their marriage. Sarah is a unicorn groomer and is overwhelmed by the experience, only to crash big time as Alex says some more insulting things and storms off, not be seen except from a distance for two weeks.
Sarah and Nicky settle into a very quiet and happy existence. The nanny is history after a fight with Alex and Alex's chateau staff fall over themselves to help Sara too. So for her, life is just peachy until Alex comes home early one day when Sarah is spending time with Nicky.
He tries to get Sarah to spend some time with him, they are after all married. But Sarah pleads a headache and tries to blow Alex off. She can't get over how much her hormones riot any time Alex gets near her and she wants to keep her self respect. Alex loses it and starts demanding Sarah spend time with him, she reluctantly does it and makes it quite clear that she just doesn't give a damn.
In a very funny moment, Alex claims he wants kids and Sarah suggests IVF, cause she doesn't want to sleep with him. Alex explodes cause he figures out he HATES being ignored and all that tension blows up again into another Purple Passion Event with exploding parts.
The next day Alex has a diamond necklace delivered for Sarah and she feels paid off. Elise picks this most inauspicious time to introduce herself. Elise acts very concerned about Sarah and Sarah is suspicious. That suspicion turns to utter shock as Elise indicates that Alex has been very publicly womanizing every night with a different woman, in a very public bid to humiliate his new wife.
Sarah keeps her bottle tho and smiling like a shark, tells Elise that Vivian did tell her how very impressed Sarah would be to meet Elise and she very deeply is. Sarah then calls the butler to escort Elise out of the house. Elise is upset, but Sarah can't get over the gall the woman has to confront a woman she has never even met about Alex's womanizing.
Sarah gets all the tabloid papers she hadn't seen for the last weeks and then Alex calls. Sarah is beyond furious, hurt and very humiliated and she uses one of my favorite LG words ever when Alex asks her how she feels. Alex is obviously expecting some cute kittenish cuddle talk and Sarah tells him that she is absolutely gobsmacked.
Sarah then goes on to relate that she saw her first newspapers in 13 days and while everyone else knew what Alex had been up to, she did not. Now Sarah vows that the last name of Terzakis will be a by-word for Scarlet Woman and whatever Vivian may have done to Alex's father, Sarah will do even more to Alex and he will be on his knees for a divorce when she is done.
Sarah slams down the phone and storms out for a night on the town with Vivian. As Sarah gets progressively drunker, she lets on that Alex lied to Vivian when he told her that Nicky was his and Sarah's son - she explains about Callie and Damon.
Vivian admits she had already guessed it was something like that. But forewarned is forearmed and now Vivian will be better prepared to support her daughter when she eventually confides in her.
Then Vivian pops up with a handsome escort for Sarah, one that she hired for the night. She also stages a paparazzi picture, so the world can see that Sarah has no intentions of playing the humiliate wife.
Sarah is seriously drunk now and leaves. She doesn't want to go back to Alex's house, so she just has the chauffeur drive around and finally gets home around dawn. Alex is panicked and furious, he claims he never did anything with those women, he was just having a temper tantrum. Sarah has never been drunk before, so she just goes to bed.
Only to be awakened by Alex the next morning, Sarah and Vivian's escort made the papers and Sarah quietly explains. Alex admits that he misjudged her and now he wants to try and make the marriage work. He loves Nicky and thinks that he and Sarah could be compatible. Sarah wants to go the divorce route, but Alex guilts her with Nicky until she gives in and says she will stay until Nicky is 18.
Alex tries to pull out out all of the stops and spends eons of time trying to get Sarah to talk and build a relationship with him. Sarah doesn't like it, mainly because she feels that Alex is just doing his duty and while she is now wildly in love with him, he sees her as a responsibility. Sarah feels inhibited in bed with Alex and she is worried he is contemplating an affair with Elise in frustration.
Then Sarah finds out that Damon did send money to support Callie and Nicky and all of Sarah's illusions about Callie are shattered. Damon did try to do a little of the right thing and Callie continually lied about everything. Alex claims it is because Sarah's moral standards are very high and others might have a hard time meeting them.
Sarah instantly takes that as a criticism of her inability to respond to Alex in bed because she deeply believes that if you don't love someone, you shouldn't be sleeping with them. Then she realizes that she made this bargain herself and that Alex is really trying, even if he isn't in love with her. So Sarah's grand plan o' seduction is on, she heard Alex arrange a rendezvous with Elise in Paris for lunch.
Sarah rushes off to get some scanty knickers and a coat dress to hide what she is wearing underneath. She shows up Alex's office and locks the door and drops the dress and hopes like mad that Alex will take over after Sarah delivers a very roofie kiss. Alex doesn't dissapoint and Sarah has a marvelous time and resolves to play the office drop-in sex bombe card every month if it will keep Alex from straying.
Alex is delighted, he skips out on his date with Elise and he and Sarah are ready to lurve it all up when Damon and Androula show up at Alex's house. Damon finally confesses he panicked and lied about Callie being a tart and admits that he really did propose to Callie and Sarah had been telling the truth all along.
Alex has a huge ranty moment, which Sarah puts a stop to, after all Callie was equally complicit and Damon is never going to grow up. Androula proves that she and Damon are a matched set when she waylays Sarah in the hall and tells her she doesn't really mind about Nicky and that it was all worth it cause she got Damon back.
(I think LG was trying to show Androula is a nice person, but I was pretty shocked that Androula would even say anything to the sister of the woman who died because her beloved husband was piece of excrement and couldn't keep it in his pants. )
Alex finally kicks everyone out and he and Sarah have another Purple Moment of Bliss. As a surpise the next day, which is Sarah's birthday she forgot, Alex gives Sarah a portrait of Callie. Elise painted it and that is why Alex was meeting her, it seems Elise really is just a friend. Alex does a pretty good "I love you and I have since I met you" speech and Sarah joyfully declares her love back for the classic LG HPlandia HEA.
This one is really well done and it is wickedly funny at parts. But there is a really dark undertone that isn't obvious right away and that undertone is what puts this on the HPlandia required reading list.
The bedrock of HPlandia, at this point in it's history, is that the heroines are going to be chaste and usually they are going to be virgins. In HPlandia, virginity is the magic ticket and get out of jail free card that gets you get the guy, the money and the fabulous lifestyle - but you have to follow the HP rules to get it.
Callie and Sarah are both virgins. By all rights, Callie should have gotten her own HP outing and her own HEA. Except for one thing, Callie knowingly gave up her get out of jail free card and unicorn grooming license to a married man.
She conspired in betraying his wife and for that, plus accepting his cash to support herself and her child when he abandoned her, the punishment is literally death. Moreover, Callie's sad betrayal is used as a stepping stone to a wiser HP heroine getting her own HEA.
Callie broke the rules and she had to die, even tho she was exactly what the typical HP h is supposed to be. Sarah on the other hand, acts more like an HP H and blackmails the Alpha Hero into marriage.
Sarah does suffers greatly in public humiliation for her crime, but because her main motivation was to provide a loving and secure home for an orphaned child and only a little for grief fueled revenge, Sarah gets the big sparkly rainbow unicorn and kitten HEA.
It is kind of chilling to really think about what motivations are behind the characterizations in a lot of these stories. Tho I really do love most of the wacky, crazy characters and actions in HPlandia, this one kind of hit me pretty hard.
Callie was really in love with Damon and he certainly did his part in corrupting her, but that is the dark undercurrent that flows through these stories that LG brilliantly points out and warns against.
The lurve mojo force is strong and it isn't a crime to give into it. But if you do go there in HPlandia, be aware that knowingly succumbing to a taken man is a crime that will get you banished forever and another more, worthy heroine will step in to take your place.
Anne Mather aside, the punishments for lapses in HPlandia are fatal, so keep that in the back of your mind as you wander amidst it's byways and as always, may you have an eventful and entertaining HP voyage if you run into this.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 16, 2018
Good fun!
A haters to lovers romance and a typical Harlequin Presents story. The main difference to the other similar stories is that the main female character, Sarah, pretty much hates the main male character, Alex, in most of the book. The result is some really interesting, passionate, entertaining dialogues until the end of the story.
Sarah was looking after her younger sister, Callie, since their parents died when they were children. When Callie was 18, she met a handsome Greek billionaire, Damos, who promised that he would marry her. Instead he left her when Callie was pregnant. His older brother, Alex, never believed that she was pregnant and offered Sarah and Callie money to leave Damos alone.
(Here I would like to mentioned that although Alex is a typical Greek name, I have only met Greek men that are called Damos in Harlequin books. Almost no Greek uses this name since B.C. years.)
Unfortunately Callie dies in childbirth. Damos never appears to see his son and Alex after being sure that the little boy is truly his nephew, he demands to take him away from his aunt Sarah.
Alex is last person that Sarah wants to see.
He was Greek to the backbone. What Callie called 'unreconstructed man', what Sarah called a Neanderthal primitive. He belonged in a cave, not a civilised society. Or in a museum alongside the dinosaur display.
(I assure you that Greek men who were born after 1950 are not like this, but I love the way the author thinks hahaha)
Sarah hates Alex, hates Damon, hates Greeks and hates Fates for taking away her sister. But she loves her nephew. So she demands that Alex will marry her if he wants to take her nephew.
Alex of course thinks that Sarah is an opportunist and that she uses her dead sister's child to buy herself a luxurious life.
But he marries her and she still hates him.
Why were you still a virgin?'
'I stayed away from macho pigs like you!'
'Maybe on some level you knew I was in your future,' Alex drawled with unashamed conceit.
'If I'd known,' Sarah practically shrieked at him, 'I'd have come into your office with a shotgun!'
So, basically extra-possessive Alex and extra-feisty Sarah will exchange insults, swears and threats for a lot of time.....
'Where were you? Who were you with?' Alex demanded, dropping her down on to a wonderfully comfortable bed.
'Are you being possessive, Alex?'
'If you've been anywhere near another man, I'll kill you,' he intoned, staring down at her with paint-stripping intensity. 'You're my wife.'
'Yuck,' Sarah responded sleepily, her heavy eyelids dipping as though weights were attached to them.
....until all the misunderstandings are clear, all the ex-mistresses disappear from Alex's life, they fall in love and decide to be a family.
The beginning of the second week he started coming home with giant bunches of flowers and then the meaningful conversations started. He behaved as though everything about her was a source of endless fascination
Overall a very amusing story with a satisfactory happy end.
A haters to lovers romance and a typical Harlequin Presents story. The main difference to the other similar stories is that the main female character, Sarah, pretty much hates the main male character, Alex, in most of the book. The result is some really interesting, passionate, entertaining dialogues until the end of the story.
Sarah was looking after her younger sister, Callie, since their parents died when they were children. When Callie was 18, she met a handsome Greek billionaire, Damos, who promised that he would marry her. Instead he left her when Callie was pregnant. His older brother, Alex, never believed that she was pregnant and offered Sarah and Callie money to leave Damos alone.
(Here I would like to mentioned that although Alex is a typical Greek name, I have only met Greek men that are called Damos in Harlequin books. Almost no Greek uses this name since B.C. years.)
Unfortunately Callie dies in childbirth. Damos never appears to see his son and Alex after being sure that the little boy is truly his nephew, he demands to take him away from his aunt Sarah.
Alex is last person that Sarah wants to see.
He was Greek to the backbone. What Callie called 'unreconstructed man', what Sarah called a Neanderthal primitive. He belonged in a cave, not a civilised society. Or in a museum alongside the dinosaur display.
(I assure you that Greek men who were born after 1950 are not like this, but I love the way the author thinks hahaha)
Sarah hates Alex, hates Damon, hates Greeks and hates Fates for taking away her sister. But she loves her nephew. So she demands that Alex will marry her if he wants to take her nephew.
Alex of course thinks that Sarah is an opportunist and that she uses her dead sister's child to buy herself a luxurious life.
But he marries her and she still hates him.
Why were you still a virgin?'
'I stayed away from macho pigs like you!'
'Maybe on some level you knew I was in your future,' Alex drawled with unashamed conceit.
'If I'd known,' Sarah practically shrieked at him, 'I'd have come into your office with a shotgun!'
So, basically extra-possessive Alex and extra-feisty Sarah will exchange insults, swears and threats for a lot of time.....
'Where were you? Who were you with?' Alex demanded, dropping her down on to a wonderfully comfortable bed.
'Are you being possessive, Alex?'
'If you've been anywhere near another man, I'll kill you,' he intoned, staring down at her with paint-stripping intensity. 'You're my wife.'
'Yuck,' Sarah responded sleepily, her heavy eyelids dipping as though weights were attached to them.
....until all the misunderstandings are clear, all the ex-mistresses disappear from Alex's life, they fall in love and decide to be a family.
The beginning of the second week he started coming home with giant bunches of flowers and then the meaningful conversations started. He behaved as though everything about her was a source of endless fascination
Overall a very amusing story with a satisfactory happy end.
January 10, 2013
WOW, what a ride. It certainly was intense, but I didn't like the way they resolved their issues. It felt like the heroine was always the one to compromise, and accept less than she deserved. It seemed from the moment they married, he got to call all the shots, and it was heartbreaking.
I ALSO didn't like that the hero made a fool of her publicly, and never paid the price for it. That just didn't seem right. She should have charged him with adultery. He certainly left a trail of evidence with his hit parade of women.
I have to knock another star off, cause I didn't really believe in their love....His nor hers. Something just felt a little off.
I ALSO didn't like that the hero made a fool of her publicly, and never paid the price for it. That just didn't seem right. She should have charged him with adultery. He certainly left a trail of evidence with his hit parade of women.
I have to knock another star off, cause I didn't really believe in their love....His nor hers. Something just felt a little off.
April 11, 2017
Both MCs were TSTL.
He was a disgusting swine who actually believes he has the right to rape her because they're married.
Also told her he won't stray because she's a mistress material herself! Wow! Was that a compliment?
Also, calls her a slut, gold digger and fake, and screams at her. Then calls her puritan and too moral and prude and screams at her! Confusion and contradiction right there.
Don't get me started on his double standards.
She was just too much to deal with.
She was all talk.
He rapes her, she melts.
He humiliates her, then seduces her, she melts.
After months of abuse, insult and public humiliation he tells her she's no good at bed and she thinks he's going to his mistress and instead of kicking him on the balls SHE seduces HIM, this is while he STILL believes his brother is an angel her sister seduced and told her in no uncertain terms that they'd never have married if it wasn't for the kid, and he wants her there till the kids 18!
And he wonders why she's not making an effort in bed!
The whole thing was a mess!
He was a disgusting swine who actually believes he has the right to rape her because they're married.
Also told her he won't stray because she's a mistress material herself! Wow! Was that a compliment?
Also, calls her a slut, gold digger and fake, and screams at her. Then calls her puritan and too moral and prude and screams at her! Confusion and contradiction right there.
Don't get me started on his double standards.
She was just too much to deal with.
She was all talk.
He rapes her, she melts.
He humiliates her, then seduces her, she melts.
After months of abuse, insult and public humiliation he tells her she's no good at bed and she thinks he's going to his mistress and instead of kicking him on the balls SHE seduces HIM, this is while he STILL believes his brother is an angel her sister seduced and told her in no uncertain terms that they'd never have married if it wasn't for the kid, and he wants her there till the kids 18!
And he wonders why she's not making an effort in bed!
The whole thing was a mess!
April 27, 2020
An oldie, reissued as an e-book. One of my favorites by Lynne Graham. It's sometimes quite amusing, but not overtly so, and not slapstick. It's a keeper.
Alex feels forced into marrying Sarah. She feels just as forced, all for sweet baby Nikos, the love-child born of her deceased sister and his irresponsible brother.
They marry in some dark corner, and Alex immediately shows her, wining and dining glamour girls in public. Sarah ignores it all, more interested in baby Nikos. "The more she ignores him, the more he seethes." He acts out even worse, to catch her attention. To make her sorry.
Then he's sorry, cuz he is becoming totally crazy about his wife. You know, the one he stomped on.
Time to grovel. See Alex run! Run to the florist! Run to the jewelers! Run, run, run!!
He doesn't make much headway: "I am trying to be patient and sensitive but you don't want to know!"
I do like a good grovel, and some of Graham's grovels are gold. Like in this book.
And in a memorable scene, Sarah makes her feelings known. Wow!! LOVED that scene in his office, when she took him off guard. Surprise! Haha! Loved the scene in bed at the end, when he laughed so hard. Funny!
Loved this book!
I really like Graham's Harlequins, especially the older ones. Some of her more recent releases aren't so great, because she has become too formulaic and includes too much sex, too soon. One of my favorite oldies is this book, even though there are a few things I don't like (she gave in too easily to that toe-rag!).
Alex feels forced into marrying Sarah. She feels just as forced, all for sweet baby Nikos, the love-child born of her deceased sister and his irresponsible brother.
They marry in some dark corner, and Alex immediately shows her, wining and dining glamour girls in public. Sarah ignores it all, more interested in baby Nikos. "The more she ignores him, the more he seethes." He acts out even worse, to catch her attention. To make her sorry.
Then he's sorry, cuz he is becoming totally crazy about his wife. You know, the one he stomped on.
Time to grovel. See Alex run! Run to the florist! Run to the jewelers! Run, run, run!!
He doesn't make much headway: "I am trying to be patient and sensitive but you don't want to know!"
I do like a good grovel, and some of Graham's grovels are gold. Like in this book.
And in a memorable scene, Sarah makes her feelings known. Wow!! LOVED that scene in his office, when she took him off guard. Surprise! Haha! Loved the scene in bed at the end, when he laughed so hard. Funny!
Loved this book!
I really like Graham's Harlequins, especially the older ones. Some of her more recent releases aren't so great, because she has become too formulaic and includes too much sex, too soon. One of my favorite oldies is this book, even though there are a few things I don't like (she gave in too easily to that toe-rag!).
September 11, 2010
This is one of those really irritating romance novel about a shrew, who spends half of the book screaming her hatred of the hero, until his lips touches hers, of course. Then she instantly turns into a wet noodle. A mindless, brainless fool regardless of anything (who later turns into your typical Harlequin doormat). And if that doesnt turn your stomach, she decides she's in love completely out of the blue.
She willingly puts up with and forgives him for everything all because she decides she's in love *rolls eyes*. When she finds out that the hero is planning to sleep with another woman(misunderstanding), her first thought is to worry about him leaving her, instead of revenge, or dumping HIM. I just wanted to shake some sense into this stupid doormat. She was an idiotic, TSTL, clingy mess of a heroine. It also didn't help that I found her love for her nephew obsessive, unhealthy, selfish and self serving. I just didn't care for this heroine at all.
I did not read the last 10 pages. This turned into one of those romance where I didn't believe in the HEA, so I lost all interest.
She willingly puts up with and forgives him for everything all because she decides she's in love *rolls eyes*. When she finds out that the hero is planning to sleep with another woman(misunderstanding), her first thought is to worry about him leaving her, instead of revenge, or dumping HIM. I just wanted to shake some sense into this stupid doormat. She was an idiotic, TSTL, clingy mess of a heroine. It also didn't help that I found her love for her nephew obsessive, unhealthy, selfish and self serving. I just didn't care for this heroine at all.
I did not read the last 10 pages. This turned into one of those romance where I didn't believe in the HEA, so I lost all interest.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 2, 2013
Wow! Crazy intense angsty book! 4.5 stars and I would have given it 5 if there was an epilogue.
The heroine was fierce and totally immune to the hero for most part of the book and even though she said some harsh things I never thought she was mean or immature and a brat like other heroines. Sarah had every reason to be angry and bitter for her loss and her thirst for revenge seemed reasonable at first. Only when she realized how badly she had misjudged her husband she let herself open her heart and love him the way he deserved to be loved.
This book is very similar to "Deceit Of A Pagan" by Carole Mortimer another favorite of mine!
The heroine was fierce and totally immune to the hero for most part of the book and even though she said some harsh things I never thought she was mean or immature and a brat like other heroines. Sarah had every reason to be angry and bitter for her loss and her thirst for revenge seemed reasonable at first. Only when she realized how badly she had misjudged her husband she let herself open her heart and love him the way he deserved to be loved.
This book is very similar to "Deceit Of A Pagan" by Carole Mortimer another favorite of mine!
October 15, 2021
Oh man. If you can get through the first bit, this book is pretty great.
Yes, I hear you. The h is a straight b*tch for the first part of this book. She's so bad that I *almost* stopped reading. I like my heroines sweet and innocent, not screeching shews. I ask you to hold your judgement. And this is coming from the judgiest Mrs.McJudgerson who ever knee-jerk judged. 🤡
Hang tight. At around 30%, things start to take a turn. Important stuff is revealed. The h finds her way back to her real personality. And she's great. 💕 And the H, who is my very favorite kind of calm cool collected asshole, is completely helpless in the face of it. It's *GLORIOUS*. 💕
This book has all the good stuff, if you can stick it out:
- misunderstandings
- ugly duckling and dramatic transformation 🥰
- dramarama 😈
- revenge 😈
- is he CHEATING?? Oh the angst. 😩
- the h is blameless and everyone around the h feels for her and turns on him 😏
- He's soooooooo jealous and possessive - even demands she keep her irresistable bod under wraps so she doesn't tempt all the menfolk (himself). 🤡
- he demands his Marital Rights - Alex is the master at Forced Seduction. 😈
- the H's horrified realization that he's in the wrong and she's blameless and lovely and perfect 💅🏻
- the grovel 💕
Bottom Line? I loved this one. 🤷🏼♀️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⚠️SAFETY SQUAD SPOILERS⚠️
- no cheating or sharing
- OW drama - the h assumes the H is in love with someone else and that he has at least 2 mistresses, prior to meeting the h - plus he's been very publicly out on the town with several women, but it is revealed later that she misunderstood the situation with the OW, and he dumped the mistresses as soon as he decided to marry the h, and those women he was seen out with were just for show.
- dubcon
- h is a 25 year old virgin
- I think the H is in his 30's (can't find exact age) - he is experienced
- no separation
- while this is a far cry from erotica, it is more smexxy than other Harlequins.
Yes, I hear you. The h is a straight b*tch for the first part of this book. She's so bad that I *almost* stopped reading. I like my heroines sweet and innocent, not screeching shews. I ask you to hold your judgement. And this is coming from the judgiest Mrs.McJudgerson who ever knee-jerk judged. 🤡
Hang tight. At around 30%, things start to take a turn. Important stuff is revealed. The h finds her way back to her real personality. And she's great. 💕 And the H, who is my very favorite kind of calm cool collected asshole, is completely helpless in the face of it. It's *GLORIOUS*. 💕
This book has all the good stuff, if you can stick it out:
- misunderstandings
- ugly duckling and dramatic transformation 🥰
- dramarama 😈
- revenge 😈
- is he CHEATING?? Oh the angst. 😩
- the h is blameless and everyone around the h feels for her and turns on him 😏
- He's soooooooo jealous and possessive - even demands she keep her irresistable bod under wraps so she doesn't tempt all the menfolk (himself). 🤡
- he demands his Marital Rights - Alex is the master at Forced Seduction. 😈
- the H's horrified realization that he's in the wrong and she's blameless and lovely and perfect 💅🏻
- the grovel 💕
Bottom Line? I loved this one. 🤷🏼♀️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⚠️SAFETY SQUAD SPOILERS⚠️
- no cheating or sharing
- OW drama - the h assumes the H is in love with someone else and that he has at least 2 mistresses, prior to meeting the h - plus he's been very publicly out on the town with several women, but it is revealed later that she misunderstood the situation with the OW, and he dumped the mistresses as soon as he decided to marry the h, and those women he was seen out with were just for show.
- dubcon
- h is a 25 year old virgin
- I think the H is in his 30's (can't find exact age) - he is experienced
- no separation
- while this is a far cry from erotica, it is more smexxy than other Harlequins.
April 15, 2017
One of the best HP books I've ever read. Holy carumba.
January 9, 2013
4.5 stars
I didn't expect to enjoy this book so much.
I saw some other readers thought of Sarah as a doormat; I did not. She was self sacrificing with her younger sister but she basically raised her and it actually made her hatred for Alex and his family much more believable. The story begins when Sarah's eighteen years old sister has just died while giving birth to her baby boy. Alex Terzakis is there at the hospital demanding complete custody of his new nephew. Alex believes that Sarah's sister had been nothing but a gold digger, sleeping around and looking for an easy meal ticket. The battle is on between two strong characters. I just loved the way Sarah tore into Alex. She gave as good as she got and he deserved it.
I didn't expect to enjoy this book so much.
I saw some other readers thought of Sarah as a doormat; I did not. She was self sacrificing with her younger sister but she basically raised her and it actually made her hatred for Alex and his family much more believable. The story begins when Sarah's eighteen years old sister has just died while giving birth to her baby boy. Alex Terzakis is there at the hospital demanding complete custody of his new nephew. Alex believes that Sarah's sister had been nothing but a gold digger, sleeping around and looking for an easy meal ticket. The battle is on between two strong characters. I just loved the way Sarah tore into Alex. She gave as good as she got and he deserved it.
September 2, 2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️ three stars -
* update to review - 9/1/2023 - with rating change from two to three stars
I think I was too harsh on this on the first go-round 💁♀️ who knows why I do half the things I do? Lol
Re-read this one tonight, and I enjoyed it much more. It’s still not my fave from Graham, but it’s good and is worth the occasional re-read.
It reads as a much more all-around love story on the second read. Maybe it’s because I know that all of our h’s snippiness is about to end, and the romance is just around the corner. All the bitterness gets old fast, but it’s easier to tolerate when you know it’s about to come to a halt. It’s easier to enjoy the sub-plot action, and to feel the fun from our Hero once all of the anger has melted away.
* My favorites from this author remain as:
(in no particular order)
The Italian’s Experienced Mistress - my review 👉 https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Vengeful Husband - 👉 https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Spanish Groom 👉 https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
….. original review follows …..
Just your typical, run-of-the-mill, formulaic Harley here. I can see why it’s received high marks from other reviewers; but for me, it was just transparently a churned-out work from Graham - not her best, by far.
I debated rating it higher, as it did hit a few of my personal buttons:
. Cinderella trope ✔️
. Heartstrings manipulated for sympathetic heroine ✔️
. Enemies to lovers trope ✔️
. Ugly duckling trope ✔️
. Attractively hot, older alpha Hero ✔️✔️
. Strong, confident heroine ✔️
. Heroine with tragic/slightly tragic/dramatic backstory who overcomes adversity due to strong character ✔️
. Graham’s trademark dialogue - witty banter ✔️✔️
. Satisfies my personal quest for old-school Harleys (this book was originally published in 1995) ✔️
Even with all of the dramatic action going on, it still felt like a churned-out bread and butter read to me 💁♀️ not Graham’s best, by far. Her favorite work for this reviewer is her “Vengeful Husband”, and you can read my review of that keeper-shelf Harley here 👉 https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
This review is going to be purposely short, since I feel that there’s really not much more I can add to perspective here. Lots of my fellow romance reviewers do better at summarizing the plot than I do, so I’ll leave them to it.
I will add that I am going to add this to my keeper pile, and will probably re-read at some point.
Would recommend only if you happen to come across a copy, and have nothing else to read. For me, I’m off again on my quest to source another great old-school romance 🏃♀️📖
Two strong stars.
* update to review - 9/1/2023 - with rating change from two to three stars
I think I was too harsh on this on the first go-round 💁♀️ who knows why I do half the things I do? Lol
Re-read this one tonight, and I enjoyed it much more. It’s still not my fave from Graham, but it’s good and is worth the occasional re-read.
It reads as a much more all-around love story on the second read. Maybe it’s because I know that all of our h’s snippiness is about to end, and the romance is just around the corner. All the bitterness gets old fast, but it’s easier to tolerate when you know it’s about to come to a halt. It’s easier to enjoy the sub-plot action, and to feel the fun from our Hero once all of the anger has melted away.
* My favorites from this author remain as:
(in no particular order)
The Italian’s Experienced Mistress - my review 👉 https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Vengeful Husband - 👉 https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Spanish Groom 👉 https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
….. original review follows …..
Just your typical, run-of-the-mill, formulaic Harley here. I can see why it’s received high marks from other reviewers; but for me, it was just transparently a churned-out work from Graham - not her best, by far.
I debated rating it higher, as it did hit a few of my personal buttons:
. Cinderella trope ✔️
. Heartstrings manipulated for sympathetic heroine ✔️
. Enemies to lovers trope ✔️
. Ugly duckling trope ✔️
. Attractively hot, older alpha Hero ✔️✔️
. Strong, confident heroine ✔️
. Heroine with tragic/slightly tragic/dramatic backstory who overcomes adversity due to strong character ✔️
. Graham’s trademark dialogue - witty banter ✔️✔️
. Satisfies my personal quest for old-school Harleys (this book was originally published in 1995) ✔️
Even with all of the dramatic action going on, it still felt like a churned-out bread and butter read to me 💁♀️ not Graham’s best, by far. Her favorite work for this reviewer is her “Vengeful Husband”, and you can read my review of that keeper-shelf Harley here 👉 https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
This review is going to be purposely short, since I feel that there’s really not much more I can add to perspective here. Lots of my fellow romance reviewers do better at summarizing the plot than I do, so I’ll leave them to it.
I will add that I am going to add this to my keeper pile, and will probably re-read at some point.
Would recommend only if you happen to come across a copy, and have nothing else to read. For me, I’m off again on my quest to source another great old-school romance 🏃♀️📖
Two strong stars.
January 16, 2013
Probably a 4.0, but maybe a 3.5 rounded up only because the pretty bow at the end was too big and perfect.
This gist of the story is that the heroine's sister gets pregnant and promptly dies after childbirth(it was rather sad). The heroine and the hero then start fighting over the baby. The bio dad, the H's brother, is still alive but he's not in the picture because he's a big loser. There's then pages and pages of entertaining fighting and mudslinging between the H & h. I thought it would get old but it was rather enjoyable at times.
I'm so surprised that many people didn't like this one. I thought it was great. It had so many of the elements I love in my trashy harleys: angst, a controlling alpha male, a heroine who tells him what's what, OW issues... I even found myself misting up a time or two (don't judge me ;D). I thought it was a fun ride.
The H did get pretty mean, but if you consider his motives, I thought he was pretty forgivable. The h's insecurities got a little tiresome after a while, but I could see why she thought she was dirt.
I think this one is relatively safe for those avoiders of hard subjects out there. But it might be more to the taste of those with an inclination for the big bad alpha.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 15, 2017
1.5 Stars.
What the heck did I just read?
In all fairness I only spent 99c for this so I didn't have anything to lose but my dollar. *Lol*
Anyway in the beginning I liked the heroine, she gave it as good as she got, she was determined not to let the hero take away her nephew, I admired her fight for him, for the first half of the book she was a like a dog with bone she was going strong.. buuuut... He touched her and she became weak and pathetic.
And the hero? Parading women all through Paris, taking them to dinner, dancing, etc, etc, the day after they got married so the paparazzi could take their pictures so she would see them because she ignored his stupid ass. 😒
(He didn't have sex with these women.) but I wanted to hit him in the head.
He mistreated her, insulted her, told her she wasn't a good lay (not in those words) and tried to forced himself on her but she easily gave up her fight when he touched her. 🙄
I wanted him groveling, I needed the grovel but he didn't.
I don't know if all the Harlequin's heroes are like this because I only have read another book and he was exactly like this one was.. An ass.
And she thinks he's going to cheat on her with the woman that he supposedly wanted to marry and he didn't want the wife to find out that he was seeing her but instead she became stupid and she seduced him so he wouldn't have gone to the ow for sex which he didn't btw. The ow painted a portrait so he was seeing her to get the portrait but at this point I was skimming so I can't tell what portrait was about.
I'm more sorry that I wasted my time than my 1$, I could have been reading something more interesting. 😂
What the heck did I just read?
In all fairness I only spent 99c for this so I didn't have anything to lose but my dollar. *Lol*
Anyway in the beginning I liked the heroine, she gave it as good as she got, she was determined not to let the hero take away her nephew, I admired her fight for him, for the first half of the book she was a like a dog with bone she was going strong.. buuuut... He touched her and she became weak and pathetic.
And the hero? Parading women all through Paris, taking them to dinner, dancing, etc, etc, the day after they got married so the paparazzi could take their pictures so she would see them because she ignored his stupid ass. 😒
(He didn't have sex with these women.) but I wanted to hit him in the head.
He mistreated her, insulted her, told her she wasn't a good lay (not in those words) and tried to forced himself on her but she easily gave up her fight when he touched her. 🙄
I wanted him groveling, I needed the grovel but he didn't.
I don't know if all the Harlequin's heroes are like this because I only have read another book and he was exactly like this one was.. An ass.
And she thinks he's going to cheat on her with the woman that he supposedly wanted to marry and he didn't want the wife to find out that he was seeing her but instead she became stupid and she seduced him so he wouldn't have gone to the ow for sex which he didn't btw. The ow painted a portrait so he was seeing her to get the portrait but at this point I was skimming so I can't tell what portrait was about.
I'm more sorry that I wasted my time than my 1$, I could have been reading something more interesting. 😂
March 31, 2015
Wow did I love this book. Just read it and you will not be disappointed!!! It was great how she actually really told him what's what! You go girl.
January 25, 2021
I went to pick this up on Amazon (Thanks to my good friend JP!) and found out I had already bought it years ago. I don't know if I just forgot to read it or if it got buried by a lot of other downloads, but I love when I want to read a book and I find I already have it in my long ass collection. This story was great for me on so many levels. It has so many of my favorite themes in a story:
This story stirred up all sorts of emotions and outrage, then surprised me by giving me a giggle here and there during the spats between these two awesome character. I enjoyed every second of this story.
February 15, 2022
The taunts and baiting between these two was🔝 🔥🔥
November 11, 2017
Wow. This heroine was very strong minded. She knew how to fight for what she felt was right. Her dead sister had misrepresented everything to her so she had a negatively prejudiced view of the hero and his brother. The heroine Sarah, believed her sister was some innocent virginal sweetheart who had been led down the garden path by a wicked evil married man who got her pregnant and then dmped her. Only part of that was true. The teen sister was a promiscuous little Lolita who deliberately schemed to break up the hero's brother's marriage. The sister had been employed as the nanny for the couple. I don't condone the actions of the little marriage wrecking tramp but the hero's brother was equally guilty. After all, his penis didn't fall into her vagina by accident and did he not know about condoms ? That was even more stupid of him; the idiot cheats on his wife with the nanny and doesn't wear a condom. Isn't he even afraid of STD's? Whatever... Suffice it to say that the hero's brother is a grade A douchebag who should be castrated for cheating on his wife.
The hero Alex hates the heroine and her sister in the beginning because he sees his little brother as a victim. However he does marry the heroine because she refuses ( rightfully so ! ) to hand over custody of her nephew.
As time goes by the sexual chemistry between the H and h begins to break down the wall of anger between them. The H's stepmother plays a big role in bringing the 2 together and the heroine eventually realizes that her sister was ( as Britney so famously sang ) not that innocent. LOL. The douchebag brother doesn't really want custody of his son so the hero and heroine decide to adopt him and keep him as theirs. It wasn't my fav by Lynne G but I gave 4 stars because the heroine was such a strong minded woman, which was a bit different for this author.
The hero Alex hates the heroine and her sister in the beginning because he sees his little brother as a victim. However he does marry the heroine because she refuses ( rightfully so ! ) to hand over custody of her nephew.
As time goes by the sexual chemistry between the H and h begins to break down the wall of anger between them. The H's stepmother plays a big role in bringing the 2 together and the heroine eventually realizes that her sister was ( as Britney so famously sang ) not that innocent. LOL. The douchebag brother doesn't really want custody of his son so the hero and heroine decide to adopt him and keep him as theirs. It wasn't my fav by Lynne G but I gave 4 stars because the heroine was such a strong minded woman, which was a bit different for this author.
June 9, 2016
Both of the characters are too mean and hateful.
The H and h are at cross purposes due to the immaturity and lying of two worthless, off set minor characters. The h's little sister gets pregnant by the H's younger brother. She dies in childbirth while he, unfortunately, lives.
At the heart of the contention between the H and h is the baby. Accusations, threats and acrimony abound. Bottom line, the two MC's get into a MOC that includes sex all for the sake of the baby. Secrets are revealed about the two minor characters and, heh they really loved each other all along.
The H and h are at cross purposes due to the immaturity and lying of two worthless, off set minor characters. The h's little sister gets pregnant by the H's younger brother. She dies in childbirth while he, unfortunately, lives.
At the heart of the contention between the H and h is the baby. Accusations, threats and acrimony abound. Bottom line, the two MC's get into a MOC that includes sex all for the sake of the baby. Secrets are revealed about the two minor characters and, heh they really loved each other all along.
June 19, 2018
All the misunderstandings, the secrets, the lies!! I love it all. Lol.
February 7, 2017
I've had this book for a while now and have held off on reading it because the heroine sounded rather harsh. But it is a LG and since she's my fav HP writer I knew I would eventually get to it. I actually liked it rather well. There was a lot of meat to the story. Again, as I've said before, the older HPs seem to be longer/fuller than the new stuff. Oh well. I enjoyed this one. The heroine really stuck up for herself. The hero had legit reasons to be nasty towards her. He had been lied to but in a way which anyone would have believed. Emotions believable overall. Just a fine example of LG at her best.
May 10, 2022
Updated:
May/27/2015
I don't know... this book was OK for me. I didn't recognize the book by its cover, so after I looked up what was the plot about and other details, I found out I already have read the book in 2010, so from 1 to 10 (my personal rating scale) I gave it 7.0 in that time, that means the book didn't emotioned me a lot. I usually don't like books where the heroine has to raise her niece/nephew or the son/daughter of her dead best friend :S
It's the same for the heros, but there are mostly single parent heros, I avoid them too XD
Xx
May/27/2015
I don't know... this book was OK for me. I didn't recognize the book by its cover, so after I looked up what was the plot about and other details, I found out I already have read the book in 2010, so from 1 to 10 (my personal rating scale) I gave it 7.0 in that time, that means the book didn't emotioned me a lot. I usually don't like books where the heroine has to raise her niece/nephew or the son/daughter of her dead best friend :S
It's the same for the heros, but there are mostly single parent heros, I avoid them too XD
Xx
March 31, 2017
¿Por qué el 90% de los protagonistas de los libros de Harlequin tienen que ser griegos? ¿POR QUÉ?
November 23, 2018
3.5 round up to 4 stars.
I did like the book. Alex and Sarah's chemistry was good. What I didn't like is that Sarah forgave Demon to easily. He should be punished for what he did to poor Callie. I really felt bad for Callie.
I did like the book. Alex and Sarah's chemistry was good. What I didn't like is that Sarah forgave Demon to easily. He should be punished for what he did to poor Callie. I really felt bad for Callie.
September 25, 2025
3/5 ⭐️ I enjoyed the last half more than the beginning. The heroine annoyed me so much. It was still pretty good though. It kept me entertained.
April 4, 2011
LG is always my favorite writer...
Somewhere I have read this story. Translate so poorly by unknown publisher. The change the author name so I can't search this story... The translate book didn't iclude the title in English, only translate title..
Years after, I read the synopsis and then TADAAAAAAAAAA.... THIS IS THE STORY.... OMG, also written by my fave author...
After read in ebook, I have a chance to buy the copy (second hand copy). I feel so...
Somewhere I have read this story. Translate so poorly by unknown publisher. The change the author name so I can't search this story... The translate book didn't iclude the title in English, only translate title..
Years after, I read the synopsis and then TADAAAAAAAAAA.... THIS IS THE STORY.... OMG, also written by my fave author...
After read in ebook, I have a chance to buy the copy (second hand copy). I feel so...
August 2, 2021
Blast from the past
I have been re-reading books that I have been seeing updates on, a
But mainly because I can't find anything new that is worth reading lately. This actually was a good book. Half of it reminds me of the Spanish Groom by Ms. Graham, which I love, and the other parts were just typical old skool Harley. I loved the hateful words between them when they first met. I loved how she wouldn't back down. I loved how much she loved her sister. That really touched me. The whole book makes you feel. Anger, amusement, sadness and hate. Damon the little brother was vile to me. Hated his character. I loved Vivian, the MIL. She was hilarious. This book was the first book I ever read That had the word Gobsmacked in it. Thus was years ago but I love that word. I did hate the scene on the wedding night when the hero was so cruel to her. In the beginning they were cruel to each other, but this scene just got me down. I loved the heroine. She had a spine and she was such a loyal loving sister. Who could ask for more? She loved her nephew, she had morals and she stood her ground. I liked that about her. All around entertaining story. I loved watching the hero fall in love. And his reactions to her insults totally made me laugh. He actually was a good man.
I have been re-reading books that I have been seeing updates on, a
But mainly because I can't find anything new that is worth reading lately. This actually was a good book. Half of it reminds me of the Spanish Groom by Ms. Graham, which I love, and the other parts were just typical old skool Harley. I loved the hateful words between them when they first met. I loved how she wouldn't back down. I loved how much she loved her sister. That really touched me. The whole book makes you feel. Anger, amusement, sadness and hate. Damon the little brother was vile to me. Hated his character. I loved Vivian, the MIL. She was hilarious. This book was the first book I ever read That had the word Gobsmacked in it. Thus was years ago but I love that word. I did hate the scene on the wedding night when the hero was so cruel to her. In the beginning they were cruel to each other, but this scene just got me down. I loved the heroine. She had a spine and she was such a loyal loving sister. Who could ask for more? She loved her nephew, she had morals and she stood her ground. I liked that about her. All around entertaining story. I loved watching the hero fall in love. And his reactions to her insults totally made me laugh. He actually was a good man.
December 10, 2022
I actually loved this book. We have another kick ass h who isn't afraid to push the buttons of her H and he is just "gobsmacked"
The h's younger sister just died after giving birth to the H's brothers child. The h hates the H because he called the lil sis a skanky ho and tried to pay her off(and didn't even believe she was preggers).
H turns up at the hospital and offers condolences and to help arrange funeral etc and the feisty h tells him exactly where to get off. While I don't condone violence in my HP's by either H's and most h's this h also lamps him one hard enough to give him a black eye (she couldn't quite reach so she bruised his cheek) I am going to give the h a free pass for this one she was distraught and he should have heeded her warnings to back off and leave her be.
Like a bad penny this H keeps turning up though because the h isn't good enough to look after his nephew. She repeatedly tells him where he can go and in an epic revenge twist tells him the only way he can have him is to marry her. She reckons this is just punishment as he thinks shes an ugly spinster who makes him lose his temper (shes the only one who does make him lose it) and he ungraciously accepts but equally decides it will not be a pleasure for her.
After a crappy secret wedding they disappear off to France with a terrible nanny for the offspring and a H with a bad attitude. He seduced the h on the first night then takes himself off and behaves badly for a couple of weeks.
However, the h has no idea that the H is catting about the continent and he is well miffed that she is ignoring his bad behaviour. It takes a well meaning OW (who is actually very nice) to point it out. The h hits the roof and when she speaks to the H on the phone he realises she had no idea what he was up to and offers to explain. Our h is having none of this tells him what is good for the goose is good for the gander and off she goes for a night on the town and gets hammered.
He isn't impressed but he looks after her and shows signs of jealousy. He is very surprised when the h is honest about everything. It seems his dad was but of a cheater and it created drama in the household so not having to deal with games is new for him. He tells the H he is in this for the long haul and she needs to expect him to behave.
Little brother turns up with his wife and he finally admits the truth he was getting a divorce and asked the sister to marry him so it turns out they both had lying deviant siblings and they are both sorry about not believing the other. (Sis knew he was married and had affair, Brother lied she was a gold digging tramp)
They are both pretty much in love at this point but neither is willing to admit it. When the h hears the H on the phone arranging to meet the OW she brings out the big guns underwear and goes to seduce him in the office and distract him.
Next day its her birthday and he surprises her with a portrait of her sister he had commissioned weeks ago and an love announcement. Turns out the OW is an artist and she painted the pic.
These 2 were 2 cute she really liked to give him hell and play him and he was just totally bamboozled by this woman who completely disrespected him and was actually a total distracting hotty. I wanted an epilogue with half a dozen kids and his business being neglected because he keeps getting seduced in the office.
The h's younger sister just died after giving birth to the H's brothers child. The h hates the H because he called the lil sis a skanky ho and tried to pay her off(and didn't even believe she was preggers).
H turns up at the hospital and offers condolences and to help arrange funeral etc and the feisty h tells him exactly where to get off. While I don't condone violence in my HP's by either H's and most h's this h also lamps him one hard enough to give him a black eye (she couldn't quite reach so she bruised his cheek) I am going to give the h a free pass for this one she was distraught and he should have heeded her warnings to back off and leave her be.
Like a bad penny this H keeps turning up though because the h isn't good enough to look after his nephew. She repeatedly tells him where he can go and in an epic revenge twist tells him the only way he can have him is to marry her. She reckons this is just punishment as he thinks shes an ugly spinster who makes him lose his temper (shes the only one who does make him lose it) and he ungraciously accepts but equally decides it will not be a pleasure for her.
After a crappy secret wedding they disappear off to France with a terrible nanny for the offspring and a H with a bad attitude. He seduced the h on the first night then takes himself off and behaves badly for a couple of weeks.
However, the h has no idea that the H is catting about the continent and he is well miffed that she is ignoring his bad behaviour. It takes a well meaning OW (who is actually very nice) to point it out. The h hits the roof and when she speaks to the H on the phone he realises she had no idea what he was up to and offers to explain. Our h is having none of this tells him what is good for the goose is good for the gander and off she goes for a night on the town and gets hammered.
He isn't impressed but he looks after her and shows signs of jealousy. He is very surprised when the h is honest about everything. It seems his dad was but of a cheater and it created drama in the household so not having to deal with games is new for him. He tells the H he is in this for the long haul and she needs to expect him to behave.
Little brother turns up with his wife and he finally admits the truth he was getting a divorce and asked the sister to marry him so it turns out they both had lying deviant siblings and they are both sorry about not believing the other. (Sis knew he was married and had affair, Brother lied she was a gold digging tramp)
They are both pretty much in love at this point but neither is willing to admit it. When the h hears the H on the phone arranging to meet the OW she brings out the big guns underwear and goes to seduce him in the office and distract him.
Next day its her birthday and he surprises her with a portrait of her sister he had commissioned weeks ago and an love announcement. Turns out the OW is an artist and she painted the pic.
These 2 were 2 cute she really liked to give him hell and play him and he was just totally bamboozled by this woman who completely disrespected him and was actually a total distracting hotty. I wanted an epilogue with half a dozen kids and his business being neglected because he keeps getting seduced in the office.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 26, 2020
FOUR POINT FIVE STARS
Hate to Love Romance
Marriage of Convenience
It felt like I was reading a historical romance. The hero is an old-fashioned misogynistic jerk. This works for me though, because I unashamedly love cavemen in romance books. In real life? I'd have neutered this Greek tycoon on behalf of my fellow feminists. But what can I say, fictional alphas are my guilty pleasure and Alex Terzakis was wonderfully cavemanish. SQUEE.
"He was Greek to the backbone. What Callie called 'unreconstructed man,' what Sarah called a Neanderthal primitive. He belonged in a cave, not a civilised society. Or in a museum alongside the dinosaur display...Dear lord, even the dinosaur display would be too advanced for him!"
I normally don't gravitate to hate-to-love stories because I get frustrated with the constant bickering and the back-and-forth between the leads; however, this Harlequin has good reviews and I was too damn curious. I'm glad I read this!
I loved Sarah's retorts:
"I don't want to be prematurely critical or unfair, but you did about as well as I would have expected, interfering in something about which you know nothing...something I imagine you do with monotonous regularity,' she could not resist stabbing, 'because you are one of those men who always think they know everything."
"He made Neanderthal man look like the very pinnacle of male mental development." LOL
One thing that stood out to me about this tropey romance was the plot twist. I thought I had our hero all figured out, thinking the worst about him, but the twist really helped redeem him in my eyes. I mean, he was still a caveman at the end, but at least he was an improved one. The heat level was also amazingly done. Wow *fans herself* So well written, the passion was palpable. The angst was another considering factor in my rating. I read all night, I couldn't stop myself!
Why not 5 Stars?
Alex's brother sucked. I know he was just a secondary character but his actions were the root of many of the conflicts in the book. And his behavior was just swept under the rug. Excused and dismissed. And that bugged me. I also wish there was an epilogue.
Anyway, I will definitely read this book again.
Hate to Love Romance
Marriage of Convenience
It felt like I was reading a historical romance. The hero is an old-fashioned misogynistic jerk. This works for me though, because I unashamedly love cavemen in romance books. In real life? I'd have neutered this Greek tycoon on behalf of my fellow feminists. But what can I say, fictional alphas are my guilty pleasure and Alex Terzakis was wonderfully cavemanish. SQUEE.
"He was Greek to the backbone. What Callie called 'unreconstructed man,' what Sarah called a Neanderthal primitive. He belonged in a cave, not a civilised society. Or in a museum alongside the dinosaur display...Dear lord, even the dinosaur display would be too advanced for him!"
I normally don't gravitate to hate-to-love stories because I get frustrated with the constant bickering and the back-and-forth between the leads; however, this Harlequin has good reviews and I was too damn curious. I'm glad I read this!
I loved Sarah's retorts:
"I don't want to be prematurely critical or unfair, but you did about as well as I would have expected, interfering in something about which you know nothing...something I imagine you do with monotonous regularity,' she could not resist stabbing, 'because you are one of those men who always think they know everything."
"He made Neanderthal man look like the very pinnacle of male mental development." LOL
One thing that stood out to me about this tropey romance was the plot twist. I thought I had our hero all figured out, thinking the worst about him, but the twist really helped redeem him in my eyes. I mean, he was still a caveman at the end, but at least he was an improved one. The heat level was also amazingly done. Wow *fans herself* So well written, the passion was palpable. The angst was another considering factor in my rating. I read all night, I couldn't stop myself!
Why not 5 Stars?
Alex's brother sucked. I know he was just a secondary character but his actions were the root of many of the conflicts in the book. And his behavior was just swept under the rug. Excused and dismissed. And that bugged me. I also wish there was an epilogue.
Anyway, I will definitely read this book again.
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