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Housekeeper in the Headlines
Reunited by front-page news, bound by a shocking revelation! USA TODAY bestselling author Chantelle Shaw’s secret baby romance is steeped in passion and scandal.
The tabloids revealed her shocking secret… He’ll reignite their extraordinary desire!
Carlos tennis legend, businessman… father ! At least that’s what the headlines tell him. Now the steel-hearted Spaniard has no choice. He must find the unforgettable woman at the center of the story and demand answers!
Onetime housekeeper Betsy Miller chose to keep her son from Carlos. Their one night is scorched onto her heart…and so is the way Carlos dismissed their life-changing encounter. But his return leaves Betsy—and the world!—wondering what the next headline will read…
From Harlequin Escape to exotic locations where passion knows no bounds.
The tabloids revealed her shocking secret… He’ll reignite their extraordinary desire!
Carlos tennis legend, businessman… father ! At least that’s what the headlines tell him. Now the steel-hearted Spaniard has no choice. He must find the unforgettable woman at the center of the story and demand answers!
Onetime housekeeper Betsy Miller chose to keep her son from Carlos. Their one night is scorched onto her heart…and so is the way Carlos dismissed their life-changing encounter. But his return leaves Betsy—and the world!—wondering what the next headline will read…
From Harlequin Escape to exotic locations where passion knows no bounds.
224 pages, Mass Market Paperback
Published September 29, 2020
49 people are currently reading
52 people want to read
About the author
Chantelle Shaw
660 books158 followersI grew up without a TV, let alone DVD’s, computer games etc that my kids spend so much time engrossed in, but I learned to read at an early age and from then on I was always entertained – so much so that my friends used to hide their books when I visited them because all I wanted to do was read!
When I was a teenager I discovered Mills & Boon romances in my local library, and so began a lifelong love affair. I still remember that feeling of anticipation when I settled down with a pile of books - all bearing the famous rose logo - knowing that I would be drawn into a world of love, passion and emotional intensity that I have never found in any other books. I enjoy reading a wide range of books, especially historical novels, and I am a big fan of Agatha Christie, mainly I think because her characters seem so real, but I love romances and unashamedly admit that I only want to read books with a guaranteed happy ending. Reading is my joy and pleasure and I don’t want to cry buckets at the end of a book or have my sleep disturbed by its gruesome content.
For me, the characters in Harlequin Mills & Boon romances are the key. I love reading and writing about strong, alpha heroes and feisty, independent heroines who find that they can’t fight the blazing attraction between them.
When I married my own tall, dark, but sadly not wealthy hero, we moved out of London to the Kent coast and started a family that grew and grew. I adore my six children, and when they were small I loved being a stay-at-home mum, but there can be days, as I’m sure many of you know, when you feel isolated and – dare I say it – bored of conversing with three-year-olds. Harlequin Mills & Boon romances were my life-line and my sanity and I read them whenever I had a spare five minutes (in the bath, pacing the floor at three am with colicky baby on one shoulder and a book in the other hand!)
My imagination soared and I decided to try and write a book myself. My first attempt was typed up on a manual type-writer with the full-stop key and the letter p missing. Luckily my hero and heroine were not called Paul and Poppy, but it still meant going over my manuscript with a pen to fill in the gaps!
That first book was duly rejected as were my next two. I suppose I was disheartened and by now I had four small children and very little spare time, so although I continued to read romances, I gave up writing. It wasn’t until my youngest son started school that I tried writing again. I was struggling to come to terms with the death of my darling mum Gabrielle and writing became my therapy. Mum had always nagged me to get on and write a book and had an unshakeable belief that I would one day be published – I’m so glad that she was proved right and my biggest regret is that she isn’t here to share my success with me.
I wrote two more books which were both rejected by HM&B, but I was given some advice on my writing from the editorial team that encouraged me to try again. Third time lucky certainly applied to me – the day I received ‘the call’ was exactly four years after Mum had died. It was one of the most exciting moments of my life - but instead of chatting to the editor about contracts I had to dash off and pick my sick daughter up from school. Reality is never far away in my house!
I have now had nine books published - At the Sheikh's Bidding was released in September 08. My next book, Argentinian Playboy, Unexpected Love-Child will be out in the UK in July 09, and The Greek Billionaire's Innocent Princess in the UK in August 09. I have just had my twelfth book accepted and am already busy on my thirteenth. Now that my children are growing up I am able to write every day between 9 am and 3 pm, but often I become so involved with my characters that I sneak off to write again in the evening!
I feel I must be one of the luckiest people in the world to be doing something that I love, but I work hard at my luck and I believe that w
When I was a teenager I discovered Mills & Boon romances in my local library, and so began a lifelong love affair. I still remember that feeling of anticipation when I settled down with a pile of books - all bearing the famous rose logo - knowing that I would be drawn into a world of love, passion and emotional intensity that I have never found in any other books. I enjoy reading a wide range of books, especially historical novels, and I am a big fan of Agatha Christie, mainly I think because her characters seem so real, but I love romances and unashamedly admit that I only want to read books with a guaranteed happy ending. Reading is my joy and pleasure and I don’t want to cry buckets at the end of a book or have my sleep disturbed by its gruesome content.
For me, the characters in Harlequin Mills & Boon romances are the key. I love reading and writing about strong, alpha heroes and feisty, independent heroines who find that they can’t fight the blazing attraction between them.
When I married my own tall, dark, but sadly not wealthy hero, we moved out of London to the Kent coast and started a family that grew and grew. I adore my six children, and when they were small I loved being a stay-at-home mum, but there can be days, as I’m sure many of you know, when you feel isolated and – dare I say it – bored of conversing with three-year-olds. Harlequin Mills & Boon romances were my life-line and my sanity and I read them whenever I had a spare five minutes (in the bath, pacing the floor at three am with colicky baby on one shoulder and a book in the other hand!)
My imagination soared and I decided to try and write a book myself. My first attempt was typed up on a manual type-writer with the full-stop key and the letter p missing. Luckily my hero and heroine were not called Paul and Poppy, but it still meant going over my manuscript with a pen to fill in the gaps!
That first book was duly rejected as were my next two. I suppose I was disheartened and by now I had four small children and very little spare time, so although I continued to read romances, I gave up writing. It wasn’t until my youngest son started school that I tried writing again. I was struggling to come to terms with the death of my darling mum Gabrielle and writing became my therapy. Mum had always nagged me to get on and write a book and had an unshakeable belief that I would one day be published – I’m so glad that she was proved right and my biggest regret is that she isn’t here to share my success with me.
I wrote two more books which were both rejected by HM&B, but I was given some advice on my writing from the editorial team that encouraged me to try again. Third time lucky certainly applied to me – the day I received ‘the call’ was exactly four years after Mum had died. It was one of the most exciting moments of my life - but instead of chatting to the editor about contracts I had to dash off and pick my sick daughter up from school. Reality is never far away in my house!
I have now had nine books published - At the Sheikh's Bidding was released in September 08. My next book, Argentinian Playboy, Unexpected Love-Child will be out in the UK in July 09, and The Greek Billionaire's Innocent Princess in the UK in August 09. I have just had my twelfth book accepted and am already busy on my thirteenth. Now that my children are growing up I am able to write every day between 9 am and 3 pm, but often I become so involved with my characters that I sneak off to write again in the evening!
I feel I must be one of the luckiest people in the world to be doing something that I love, but I work hard at my luck and I believe that w
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
September 11, 2020
3.5 stars.
October 23, 2023
Good story but lacked energy
One of my favorite tropes, a secret baby where both the h and H both were celibate, and there was no other woman drama, and I just liked it. Even the epilogue was just okay. No aaah feelings of any kind. Just satisfied. Great hero, great heroine, passion, cute baby, and there were twins in the epilogue. Twins and all felt was okay. Something must be wrong with me today. It's everything I want in a book but it kind of dragged on the middle. It probably is just me because Carlos sounded like a hot tennis God. There were some Father issues and it just all seemed bland. I am glad I read it and it's better than most of the fare Harlequin seems to be pushing out lately so I will take it.
One of my favorite tropes, a secret baby where both the h and H both were celibate, and there was no other woman drama, and I just liked it. Even the epilogue was just okay. No aaah feelings of any kind. Just satisfied. Great hero, great heroine, passion, cute baby, and there were twins in the epilogue. Twins and all felt was okay. Something must be wrong with me today. It's everything I want in a book but it kind of dragged on the middle. It probably is just me because Carlos sounded like a hot tennis God. There were some Father issues and it just all seemed bland. I am glad I read it and it's better than most of the fare Harlequin seems to be pushing out lately so I will take it.
September 5, 2020
Good read. Likable characters, both celibate while apart, virginal heroine and super adorable epilogue!
September 8, 2020
3,5 stars just because unbelievably the celibate H caused a tiny angst at the end.
September 3, 2020
This book is part of the harlequin series which is trying to revive virginal h's who are so blown away by passion that they have an one night stand and become pregnant. None of these h's are ever materialistic but truly would be martyrs who would choose never to be tempted by riches, fame, glory etc., The H's who are part of the series also have a stereotypical role to play that of a billionaire (as millionaires are obviously so 20th century) playboy who stop being a playboy and choose not to have any more sex no matter how many years it takes between the H and h to come back together. There is emotional resistance to commitment from H who haven't understood the importance of being with h despite unconsciously choosing a celibate life without realizing the significance after their one night stands with the virginal h's!
September 8, 2020
This was a good read , didn't like the H he was so cold 😑 liked the h and their son , the epilogue was so sweet .
June 10, 2022
Wow, this was so much better than I had expected. There was so much angst between the main characters, their chemistry was fire and the slow burn was to die for. But at some moments, I felt like the author lost continuity like when they'd fight in one scene and just...wed each other the next. This would have been a 5 star for me if that wasn't the case but still, really good for a romance I am generally wary of.
January 18, 2021
Dreadfully boring. Or dreadful. Or boring. Really but this is how CS filled up her book this time. This was the most mundane HP book I could’ve read based on an underwhelming couple.
Betsy was the housekeeper who’d already had Carlos’ baby as the book begins. There is no chase or sparring between the h and H. The couple were chatty and discussed quite comfortably their future plans, there was absolutely no friction of interest.
I also loathed how Betsy who had otherwise remained celibate since having Carlos’s baby chose to sleep naked in their first second-chance meet. Like maybe she could’ve hung on to some minuscule basic dignity and left her underwear on. She wasn’t feeding the baby either and was sleeping in a temporary place (hotel) for a night and then decided to shed all inhibition along with her clothes to get some shut eye.
Nope. Betsy did not deserve my time. I absolutely abhor those unclassy, cheap and needy ploys of supposedly independent women who didn’t need a baby daddy. I’m hating HP new releases lately.
Betsy was the housekeeper who’d already had Carlos’ baby as the book begins. There is no chase or sparring between the h and H. The couple were chatty and discussed quite comfortably their future plans, there was absolutely no friction of interest.
I also loathed how Betsy who had otherwise remained celibate since having Carlos’s baby chose to sleep naked in their first second-chance meet. Like maybe she could’ve hung on to some minuscule basic dignity and left her underwear on. She wasn’t feeding the baby either and was sleeping in a temporary place (hotel) for a night and then decided to shed all inhibition along with her clothes to get some shut eye.
Nope. Betsy did not deserve my time. I absolutely abhor those unclassy, cheap and needy ploys of supposedly independent women who didn’t need a baby daddy. I’m hating HP new releases lately.
September 6, 2020
Betsy was the housekeeper for the rental that famed tennis star Carlos Segarra stayed at while playing in a famed competition. Their friendly relationship soon became a ONS.
Betsy was half in love with Carlos when she heard him tell a journalist that it was just a fling. Hurt and angry, she left him a nasty note and left for the day. When she returned he was gone and she was pregnant.
Sometime later in a small, sleepy village, that same journalist saw her with her sone who look exactly like his daddy. Unbeknownst to her, he writes an article about Carlos’ love child that so enraged Carlos that he jumps in his private jet, and heads down to said sleepy village to confront the woman who sold her story to the tabloids.
Surprisingly, the child is his. He forces poor Betsy to abandon everything and everyone she knows and move to Spain where he will marry her for the sake of their bebeh.
Overall, an ok read. Lots of angst from both characters. Awful parenting by both characters parents but it will all turn out beautifully.
My love/hate addiction to HP’s has got to stop. I will find a way to fight it.
Maybe.
Betsy was half in love with Carlos when she heard him tell a journalist that it was just a fling. Hurt and angry, she left him a nasty note and left for the day. When she returned he was gone and she was pregnant.
Sometime later in a small, sleepy village, that same journalist saw her with her sone who look exactly like his daddy. Unbeknownst to her, he writes an article about Carlos’ love child that so enraged Carlos that he jumps in his private jet, and heads down to said sleepy village to confront the woman who sold her story to the tabloids.
Surprisingly, the child is his. He forces poor Betsy to abandon everything and everyone she knows and move to Spain where he will marry her for the sake of their bebeh.
Overall, an ok read. Lots of angst from both characters. Awful parenting by both characters parents but it will all turn out beautifully.
My love/hate addiction to HP’s has got to stop. I will find a way to fight it.
Maybe.
November 28, 2020
I enjoyed this one, it was very well written and flowed really smoothly with great descriptive prose, sparky dialogue and illuminating insights into both hero and heroine’s POV. I liked both main characters, Betsy and Carlos who both had the usual tortured backstories to explain their inability to love /low self esteem. However I thought CS handled this one rather well and I thoroughly enjoyed my trips to Toledo and Majorca in the company of this lovely couple. The sexy scenes were rather lovely as well as steamy.
December 13, 2020
Pretty good one from CS ... I did like that they had a nice bonding before they fell into bed ... which made what happens later pretty angsty ..
December 3, 2020
Kept Getting Better!
My first read from Chantelle Shaw and I really enjoyed it.
I love a secret baby romance as well as heroes who play sports so this was just what I needed. The beginning was slow and at first I felt pretty meh about the book. Once Betsy and Carlos got to Spain, the romance was like a rollercoaster that kept increasing speed!
I'm still on my HP research and CS hits all the beats for this category. The hero is alpha without being over the top, which I love! The heroine Betsy has a hilarious job: pet portraits. I mean you gotta love romance heroine jobs.
This was a very sexy and intriguing read. Loved the Spain setting and desperately wish I could swap places with the characters.
My first read from Chantelle Shaw and I really enjoyed it.
I love a secret baby romance as well as heroes who play sports so this was just what I needed. The beginning was slow and at first I felt pretty meh about the book. Once Betsy and Carlos got to Spain, the romance was like a rollercoaster that kept increasing speed!
I'm still on my HP research and CS hits all the beats for this category. The hero is alpha without being over the top, which I love! The heroine Betsy has a hilarious job: pet portraits. I mean you gotta love romance heroine jobs.
This was a very sexy and intriguing read. Loved the Spain setting and desperately wish I could swap places with the characters.
June 20, 2021
The love story between Betsy Miller and Carlo Segarra had a great ending. As result of their one night and birth of their son helped heal both of their families. Betsy is a single mother and let portrait artist while Carlos is a retired champion tennis player. The meet where she is his housekeeper and he is in Britain to play a championship. He wins and gets the girl.
Unfortunately, they both part ways after the one and come back together after he hears he has a young child. As a dominant male he tracks her, meets his son, married her, and eventually falls or better yet realized he loves her. Their love heals each of their old women as well as being them closer to their parents.
Quick read and great book.
Unfortunately, they both part ways after the one and come back together after he hears he has a young child. As a dominant male he tracks her, meets his son, married her, and eventually falls or better yet realized he loves her. Their love heals each of their old women as well as being them closer to their parents.
Quick read and great book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 27, 2022
It was ok, I feel like there was a connection there and that they still might have ended up together if there wasn't a baby. He was still thinking about her 2 years later and was celibate.
I liked the hero and that he wasn't a manwhore during the 2 year separation. He was a pretty good guy most of the time however in the beginning he was selfish by constantly thinking about himself and protecting his emotions. He brought heroine to a new country that she doesn't know language and left her alone constantly.
The heroine was ok, she overreacted and cried alot though and she didn't feel as bad as she should have for not telling hero he was a father. They slept together and he left, he was never cruel to her. P.
I liked the hero and that he wasn't a manwhore during the 2 year separation. He was a pretty good guy most of the time however in the beginning he was selfish by constantly thinking about himself and protecting his emotions. He brought heroine to a new country that she doesn't know language and left her alone constantly.
The heroine was ok, she overreacted and cried alot though and she didn't feel as bad as she should have for not telling hero he was a father. They slept together and he left, he was never cruel to her. P.
October 11, 2020
Synopsis:
Carlos Segarra: tennis legend, businessman…father! At least that’s what the headlines tell him. Now the steel-hearted Spaniard has no choice. He must find the unforgettable woman at the center of the story and demand answers!
Onetime housekeeper Betsy Miller chose to keep her son from Carlos. Their one night is scorched onto her heart…and so is the way Carlos dismissed their life-changing encounter. But his return leaves Betsy—and the world!—wondering what the next headline will read…
Carlos Segarra: tennis legend, businessman…father! At least that’s what the headlines tell him. Now the steel-hearted Spaniard has no choice. He must find the unforgettable woman at the center of the story and demand answers!
Onetime housekeeper Betsy Miller chose to keep her son from Carlos. Their one night is scorched onto her heart…and so is the way Carlos dismissed their life-changing encounter. But his return leaves Betsy—and the world!—wondering what the next headline will read…
August 13, 2021
Harlequin mixed with a retired tennis player!
I haven’t read many Harlequins books in the last year, but Housekeeper in the Headlines attracted my attention because it mixed sports with romance.
Miscommunication between artist Betsy Miller and retired tennis player Carlos Segarra and his interview saying he never wanted children leads to Betsy not telling Carlos he was a father. But as in all Harlequins everything gets worked out in the end with a few bumps in the road before realizing they are in love with each other!
I haven’t read many Harlequins books in the last year, but Housekeeper in the Headlines attracted my attention because it mixed sports with romance.
Miscommunication between artist Betsy Miller and retired tennis player Carlos Segarra and his interview saying he never wanted children leads to Betsy not telling Carlos he was a father. But as in all Harlequins everything gets worked out in the end with a few bumps in the road before realizing they are in love with each other!
September 8, 2020
The story was fine. The heroine had a traumatic experience as a child and the hero's father blamed him for his mother's death, so he was kind of fucked up. The heroine hid their son because she was afraid of what the hero might do, as also the hero just left her after one night. He gave her a bracelet along with his contact but she never received, that's why she never told him until there was a headline and the hero found out.
hq-to-read
September 12, 2020Carlos Segarra: tennis legend, businessman…father! At least that’s what the headlines tell him. Now the steel-hearted Spaniard has no choice. He must find the unforgettable woman at the center of the story and demand answers!
Onetime housekeeper Betsy Miller chose to keep her son from Carlos. Their one night is scorched onto her heart…and so is the way Carlos dismissed their life-changing encounter. But his return leaves Betsy—and the world!—wondering what the next headline will read…
Onetime housekeeper Betsy Miller chose to keep her son from Carlos. Their one night is scorched onto her heart…and so is the way Carlos dismissed their life-changing encounter. But his return leaves Betsy—and the world!—wondering what the next headline will read…
November 5, 2020
Overall an OK story. The ending seemed a little off and rushed, but still good overall.
March 14, 2021
3.75 stars
June 26, 2022
yeah, this book style is not for me. the POV, the characters, as irritating as hell.
May 19, 2025
What a daft book!
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews