The Maid's Best Kept Secret

The Marchetti Dynasty #1

by Abby Green

The secret’s out…
…but the scandal’s still to come!

Shy housekeeper Maggie Taggart considers herself immune to rich, powerful men – her tycoon father’s rejection has taught Maggie to avoid them at all costs. Until she meets enigmatic billionaire Nikos Marchetti, and is totally enthralled by his potent masculinity! The pleasure that virgin Maggie finds in his arms is astonishing – as are the consequences…

Maggie is determined her newborn son won’t want for anything. But when Nikos uncovers her secret, and their sizzling chemistry explosively reignites, it’s clear they have unfinished business…and Nikos is determined to claim them both!

Genres: Harlequin, Romance, Harlequin Presents, Contemporary Romance

174 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2020

About the author

Abby Green spent her teens reading Mills & Boon romances. She then spent many years working in the Film and TV industry as an Assistant Director. One day while standing outside an actor's trailer in the rain, she thought: "there has to be more than this". So she sent off a partial to Mills & Boon. After numerous rewrites, they accepted her first book and an author was born.
She lives in Dublin, Ireland and you can find out more here www.abby-green.com

Reviews

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this so much. All my favorite tropes are here. Alpha hero, virginal heroine, secret baby, unexpected pregnancy (not once but twice!) and marriage of convenience. I loved the heroine she was so loving and kind and a great mother and hero was tortured but vulnerable a true alpha male. The sweet ending with their kids made me cry I loved seeing hero as a doting father and husband and the beautiful family they created. ❤️

Totally safe: virgin heroine, no cheating plus both hero and heroine were celibate during their one year separation.

[Vashti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Congratulations Abby Green on your 50th M/B book ,what a milestone!
The young redheaded housekeeper, and the Greek Italian billionaire.
Heroine with daddy issues,he never claimed her as his daughter.
Hero with Daddy issues,he was neglected by his father who shipped him off to his deceased mothers unloving family and then to boarding school.He has a loathing for sweets and his birthday.
They first meet when the hero goes to his Irish estate to spend the night,a place he brought sight unseen and is the only home he actually owns.
They have an instant sexual attraction to each other and decide to act on it
A night of uninhibited sex and the next morning he leaves leaving a note to the heroine to notifiy his team if she needs anything.
Of course with such uninhibited sex...the heroine gets pregnant and she goes to the hero's place of business to inform him,but she gets stopped by his PA,the PA promises to deliver her note but she never does.The heroine thinks that the hero does not what to know of her pregnancy and goes on with her life.
A year later,the hero still cannot get the heroine out of his mind,he goes back to his country house in Ireland where they first met and he goes to a house party by one if his friends.
And who is serving the cannapes but the heroine looking more beautiful than ever.He corners her in the garden and within minutes they are all over each other...but wait...A surprise is in store when the nanny comes with a baby...the heroine's and his...he is in shock thinking that she moved on so quick from him...but as he keeps on thinking the lightbulb goes off in his head...wait a minute..that is my baby and I will have a DNA to make sure.
DNA done and confirmed... He does not want his child to suffer as he did as a young child so he tells the heroine they are to marry.
I enjoyed this sweet romance that was low on the angst scale and high on the passion scale.
This was a lovely couple and their story delivered what I was looking for in my read tonight.
I am looking forward to the rest of the brother's books and possibly the younger sister's.

[StMargarets · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid secret baby story that is well-described in the title.

Heroine is acting as housekeeper after her mother dies. Hero shows up one night - his first visit to the house. There is insta-attraction. There is a one night stand. Hero does not offer to see her again. Virgin heroine falls pregnant and visits his office in London, only to be turned away.

Hero finds out about his secret son when he visits a neighbor and sees the heroine as part of the catering staff.

The usual recriminations, marriage proposal and exchanging of backstories ensues.

Not a lot of angst, but AG gets the job done. For lovers of secret baby stories.

[Debbie DiFiore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very passionate romance

Nikos might have been a jerk but he was so hot!! The passion between these two was off the charts. I liked how he didn't sleep with any one else in the year they were apart and how much he wanted her. Of course there is the secret baby trope and I loved how he was starting to be the devoted family man but then he ruined it. His cruelty to her in Monaco broke my heart. I felt so bad when he treated her like dirt. She was strong though and left him. He deserved it. What a jerk. But then there was that Harlequin epilogue and I bought the whole scenario. And I felt that aah feeling and I was done for. Did I say how passionate this was too? It was smoking hot. I really did like it a lot. Great ending too.

[lily · Rating 5 out of 5]

God finally...
This month was a disaster for hp but this book saved the day, all I am gonna say is great job AG 👏 I loved it and enjoyed it alot, I LOVE it when the h bring the grumpy tortured ass of a H !!!!!! to his knees 😌

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 - "Don’t give yourself a hard time… I’m quite irresistible." Stars!

Virgin Housekeeper + Aloof Billionaire = Sign Me Up!

Nikos and Maggie’s story isn’t a new one, and I have to admit I struggle to take reviewers that bemoan that fact seriously. The Mills & Boon/Harlequin brand is built on giving readers the same type of read time and time again, and while I can agree that not all characters and writing styles agree with every reader, if you aren’t a fan of a certain set of tropes the first time you read them, then chances are you won’t the next time.

"I can’t read you and it makes me nervous…"

For me, Abby Green ticked all of my romance requirements, I read these books for escapism, and I like that they are far-fetched, deliciously decadent, and they give me a break from the day-to-day goings on in the world.

"Are you really going to pretend you don’t feel it too..?"

I’m glad that this is the first book in a series, I really enjoyed it, and I cannot wait for the rest of the Marchetti Dynasty books to be released.

ARC generously provided via Netgalley, in exchange for the above honest review.

[Carol Storm · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Abby Green, but this book felt rushed. Maggie and Nikos get together for sex after they've known each other for half an hour. Then they don't see each other for a year. Then he suddenly finds out she's had his baby, so they get married right away. Then they hit about five European cities in three days.

All during this time, we're getting to know Nikos, and frankly I just wasn't impressed. The hero's angst should be heroic, not stuff like "babies weird me out. Birthdays weird me out. Families weird me out." I like a hero with real scars, from a real battle. Not a guy who spends all his time feeling frightened and vulnerable.

The problem with Maggie is that she has no problems. Nikos calls her a "Viking queen," because she's over six feet, with a stunning figure. Plus she's warm, friendly, adaptable, and gets along with everyone. Couldn't she do better than being a housekeeper? Couldn't she do better than Nikos?

Abby Green is an awesome writer, and she's written over fifty Harlequins in the last thirteen years. That's four books a year. I bet if she slowed down a little she could write three keepers every year!

[Mtve41 · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not feeling my luck these days. Was hoping for this to be a windfall but was just another average joe of a book. The housekeeper title already had me churned in for a feel good fiery Cinderella story. Nope.

Maggie is a housekeeper working as replacement for her late mother. The owner of the house has never shown face and so she lives freely without a schedule. One night the H shows up and there’s a very brief mix of chemistry.

My expectation next was some high and flighty attitude by the H and insubordination by the h. Instead there’s a tiny meet cute, followed by sex. Next there’s a baby and a second meet. My problem with the plot was again its top speed without any hot sparring between the mc’s. There’s no chase and barely half a scene where the h agrees to come live with the H and accept his proposal of marriage.

Unfortunately I’ve read way better from AG as well as better books with the housekeeper plot. Maggi the h was also as boring as the noodles. Sorry. She’s a tall bean pole and has zero defiant bones. The H isn’t funny or imposing and rather obliging. Not the best from this writer!

[RomLibrary · Rating 2 out of 5]

The secret’s out…

But the scandal’s still to come!

Shy housekeeper Maggie Taggart considers herself immune to rich, powerful men—her tycoon father’s rejection has taught Maggie to avoid them at all costs. Until she meets enigmatic billionaire Nikos Marchetti and is totally enthralled by his potent masculinity! The pleasure that virgin Maggie finds in his arms is astonishing—as are the consequences…

Maggie is determined her newborn son won’t want for anything. But when Nikos uncovers her secret, and their sizzling chemistry explosively reignites, it’s clear they have unfinished business…

[Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

"You’ve enslaved me, Maggie—does that make you happy? I haven’t been able to look at another woman since I met you."

This was a sweet story. Of a maid, Maggie, and her boss, Nikos, who fall in lust the moment they meet each other, and the misunderstandings that kept them apart. Nikos had a hard life growing up, and all his past demons come between them to break them away. But with Maggie's patience, she overcomes those obstacles and shows Nikos the true meaning of love

"I’ve never had a home. Not a real, proper home, Maggie. But when you opened that door, something inside me went quiet for the first time in my life. I was home."

"I’ve fallen in love with you, in spite of all your warnings. Because you let me in to see someone that no one else knows. And I think you’re pushing me away because of that.."

Rating 3 stars 🌟

[Lena Papanikolaou · Rating 2 out of 5]

Σε ολες τις προσφατες εκδοσεις υπαρχει !Μαντεψτε τι!Εγκυμοσυνη!Ενω η προστασια υπαρχει κατι γινεται και τελικα προκυπτει εγκυμοσυνη!
ΝΑ ΑΠΟΣΥΡΟΥΝ ΤΙΣ ΠΑΡΤΙΔΕΣ ΜΕ ΤΑ ΕΛΛΑΤΩΜΑΤΙΚΑ ΠΡΟΦΥΛΑΚΤΙΚΑ!
Δεν μας εφταναν οι παρθενες που εδω στο Ελλαδα ειναι δυσευρετες 🤣 εχουμε και τις παρτιδες με τα ελλατωματικα προφυλακτικα!Ασε που ολοι οι ηρωες ειναι προβληματικοι..Θα ηθελα να ηξερα ποιος επιλεγει τις συγκεκριμενες ιστοριες για εκδοση!Απορω!Εχει καταντησει φασον,εχει χαθει καθε φαντασια!Το συγκεκριμενο ευτυχως δεν το αγορασα!Πληρης απογοητευση και βλεπω και υψηλη βαθμολογια!...
P.s
Aκομη ψαχνω να βρω το μυστικο !
Πιο παραπλανητικος τιτλος πεθαινεις!

[Heidi Rice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Abby Green's 50th book is an AG classic - full of passion, power, emotional intensity and heart-breaking romance... It will sweep you away into a world of drama, delight and glorious settings as emotionally cold Greek billionaire Nikos Marchetti falls for sweet Irish housekeeper Maggie Taggart. The opening of the book is one of Green's best - and that's saying something - as Nikos turns up at an Irish country house he bought years before and discovers Maggie the housekeeper, who's never met the boss, demanding he proves who he is. This sets us up for a delightful scene in which Nikos - taken aback by her gall, but also charmed by the fact she has no idea who he is - has to do quite a lot of work to persuade her to let him into his own house. The night they spend together then ignites the story as Maggie begins to fall in love with this charming, gorgeous, unbelievably sexy but intensely guarded man. But it's Nikos' reaction to that night which is the more intriguing in many ways. A man used to sleeping with women and then instantly forgetting them, Nikos can't forget Maggie, which disturbs him on so many levels he can't really cope with the emotional fall out. There's nothing I love more than seeing an arrogant billionaire playboy brought to his knees by an emotionally smart woman, but Nikos, even at his most taciturn is never that, right from the start we see a vulnerability in him which eventually broke my heart in the pivotal and exceptionally powerful scene later in the book when he picks up his son for the first time... (Spoiler alert, that one night stand has some life-changing repercussions that go way beyond the emotional fall out for both of them!!)... Pick up this book, escape from all the madness in the world at the moment, into a luxurious tale of exhilarating passion and heartbreaking emotion.... You won't regret it... And BTW wear a mask while you're at it as you may be breathing heavily during some scenes!!

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

An OK story and yes, I enjoyed it, but it was the same story I've read a hundred times, just with the names changed. I kept hoping the author would add something to it to distinguish it from every other billionaire has a one-night stand ending in pregnancy, marriage then problems before he realises he loves his wife books that have come before it.

[Shatarupa Dhar · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is Abby Green's fiftieth book (Congratulations!) while it is the ninth book of hers that I'm reading. My favourite book of hers till now is The Spaniard's Marriage Bargain. And this just became the next one! After reading some of the reviews, I knew I had to get this one. The blurb also helped.

Maggie Taggart left her job as a commis chef in a Dublin restaurant to help her sick mother in the latter's housekeeping job. But after her mother's death three months back, she is there all alone. She wants to do something more, seeing that the rich owner of the property has never set foot on the premises after buying it, to keep herself busy. The twenty-three-year-old has some serious daddy issues.

Half-Italian, Half-Greek Nikos Marchetti decides to finally visit his Irish property, but what he didn't expect was to fall into insta-lust with the young housekeeper of Kildare House. The Scottish beauty is as inexperienced as they come in the Mills and Boon world.

Nikos has two half-brothers, an older one - Sharif and a younger one - Maks. And Maks has a sister Sasha, not Marchetti. I wonder if she would get her own story too. At first, I thought that I had read about the Marchetti's somewhere. But it is only a book and a series I have heard of before, The Temporary Mrs. Marchetti by Melanie Milburne and the Marchetti Siblings Series. It's a popular surname in HPlandia, it seems.

That M&B heroes are highfliers and jet setters were strongly proven in this book, as it jumped not only dozens of places but time as well. From long gaps to short ones, from Dublin to London to Paris to Athens to Rome to Madrid to London again to Cannes to Monte Carlo and back to Dublin. But what impressed me was how real Nikos was presented instead. And how non-manwhore. But not using protection twice in a row and two pregnancies in one book, well that's new and something I loved.

The Marchetti patriarch's coldness and what happened with his mother made Nikos not want children. He feared how he will be a father to Daniel when he himself didn't have much of an example. It made me both sympathise with Nikos and look at his character with hearts in my eyes, especially when this happened...

Nikos looked at her in horror. Hold him? This tiny vulnerable thing? He wanted to turn and run in the other direction but knew he was being ridiculous. It was a baby. Not a bomb.

The same goes for Maggie whose jet-setting father abandoned her mother and her. But there was no mention of whether she came to know about her father or not. Also, I wanted to know what happened to her cooking dreams, which didn't get any mention later in the book. I loved how Nikos always stood by her and supported her, even though he felt it tough to express himself. He was forever the gentleman, even though he did bungle up towards the end though he redeemed himself with the grovelling.

P.S. Luc Barbier and his wife Nessa make an appearance from one of the other books of the author, The Virgin's Debt to Pay.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m rounding up from 3.5 because Abby Green is a talented author (and it’s her 50th book).

This is clearly a set-up book for others, so there’s extra characters shuffling in and out. It was fun to see a few characters from other old stories as well. I liked seeing Luc and Nessa Barbier but didn’t like how fast they were dumped from the story.

The H was really, really, really damaged. And he was often abusive to her. Everything was her fault, even when it clearly wasn’t. The combination of his hot/cold behavior and the constant jet-setting they were doing made this less pleasant to read at times. Any glamour was negated by the constant strife. There was no grounding of this relationship... it was a moving target emotionally, physically, romantically... They weren’t making progress, they were going in circles, and so therefore are we.

Same with the baby... he feared it, he avoided it, he was learning how to care for it, and then it seemed like he backed off again. For a supposedly strong person, he sure was weak. Totally unwilling to grow.

I liked her well enough, and she was pretty tolerant considering what a huge a**hat he was.

He was so bad throughout that I doubt his staying power, and I question their HEA. Based on the view we were given, it’s easy to picture him flying off for business and her constantly alone with the kids. It was a major flaw of the ending that none of his bad impressions were definitively resolved/negated; it was too short to counterbalance all his crap.

The ending was also weak on the 7-month gap from her announcing her second pregnancy before their real wedding takes place? (Why so long if they were happy?) And 2 months after that, she gave birth? Math seems odd... Wouldn’t that be a long pregnancy? The Epilogue also needed him saying to her point-blank, “I love you” and didn’t.

His being celibate was his only redeeming characteristic... that was a good choice by the author, because it truly was his only positive attribute.

I sure hope the characters who follow are less abusive.

[Somia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh

A quick read that didn't requite too much attention just whst I needed on a day of sleep deprivation.

Didn't like the male MC but didn't despise him either. I am going to try and stay away from reads where the heroine is lily white compared to the male lead it's getting a smidge annoying.

Chemistry between MRS didn't sizzle off the page.

Hated the use of the word gauche to describe the heroine. The connotations of that word 😑

99p on amazon.

Not going in my re-read pile.

[Jane Hunt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who doesn't love a little romance? This story has a fairytale quality about it. Recently bereaved Maggie is working in her mother's former role as a housekeeper for an absentee owner. The remote estate is the perfect place to come to terms with her grief. Then she meets Nikos, and the romance begins.
I love the first meeting, so romantic if a little unlikely, but isn't that why we read these stories?
Sensual writing portrays their attraction beautifully, but is this just one night?

The conflict and uncertainty of the inevitable consequences of their passionate night are enjoyable reading. Nikos is vulnerable despite his money and power, and this endears him to the reader. Maggie is courageous and kind you want them to find, the love they deserve.

This is a lovely romantic story with a magical ending. Perfect for those of us who believe in the fairytales.

I received a copy of this book from Mills and Boon via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

[Melody Cox · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 Stars

A decent book that I will probably not reread.

Safe Book. Both celibate during two separations. The first was for over a year and the hero didn't turn back into a playboy/man-whore. He remained true to the heroine. That was a shocker.

[SassyLeg · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars
The start was a little too... INSTA, but the story progressed much better with good insight on the character and a good amount of angst/drama/passion.
Enjoyed it.

[Mou: Fae of Heartfelt ARC · Rating 3 out of 5]

A solid three stars read. The hero was cold but the angsty level was medium. The heroine was ok.

Safety Issue: It was an ONS story and both of them were faithful during their separation time.

[Mg ♥ The Bookishmedialite · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute but cero angsty.

[Caroline · Rating 2 out of 5]

It could have been really goid, but it was too boring. There was no jealous OW, no flirtatious OM, nothing happened except they traveled and the heroine worried she wouldn't fit in. Mostly it was cameo appearances by other characters who were surly for whatever reason.

I mean, she had the broken hero but she did NOTHING with him. He didn't even sleep with another woman during their year apart. The worst he did was stay out all night, and hell I did that at fifteen.

I don't reccomend this one

[Granger McGringot · Rating 3 out of 5]

A H with too many emotional baggage and equally troubled h; but the h managed to get past her demons whilst the H just going on the circle and showed us how arrogant and entitled the riches are. I guess that summarized the whole book. The plot was actually quite decent, if not for the questionable flaw of the H's character and the exhaustive dance (the tug and pull) between MCs.

virgin h, Experienced (playboy) H
No contraception mentioned
Billionaire alphahole H, sweet innocent naive h
Safe read, HEA
Overall score: 2.5 harlequin stars

[Crazyuga · Rating 5 out of 5]

A simple book with a tortured hero and a strong heroine.Its been a good read for me.I always love this author...

[Lynn Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Abby Green's 50th Book and the start of a new series The Marchetti's about 3 half brothers sharing the same father but different mothers. Enjoyable story and characters.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars 🌟

[iamGamz · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first Harlequin Romance in a while and I chose a good one. It was an easy, enjoyable read.

Housekeeper Maggie is still mourning the loss of her mum when the owner of the house shows up for the first visit to his house. The attraction between Maggie and Nikos was immediate. That explains why the were in bed bumping uglies on the very first night they met.

In the morning she finds a “thanks for the great sex, but that’s all it will ever be” note. Humiliated, she leaves his employ and takes a job not far away. There she learns she’s knocked up after one night of hot and sexy.

A year later, she’s working as a waitress for her boss’s party when who walks in? Yup. Nikos. He spits her, wants to give it another go cause he hasn’t been able to get her out of his head for a year. It’s all hot and sexy smooching until the babysitter show up with a hungry infant. Then Maggie’s dirty little secret comes to light.

Nikos is a traditional HP Alpha and demands marriage to calm his company’s board members. Cause that’s what you do when you find that you have a secret baby.

The story pretty much goes as expected, but it’s wonderfully written and gets you engrossed immediately. You fall in love with the characters and feel hurt for them. It was a lovely way to spend a rainy morning.

[Karim Lalani · Rating 5 out of 5]

Utterly superb!

Abby Green has served a treat for her legion of fans around the world with her 50TH title for PRESENTS. The pace never slackens in this well plotted romance and her deftness of touch is evident from the first page. This the first in trilogy about the Marchetti brothers is HUGELY ENJOYABLE. Totally befitting the career landmark that it represents. I have read a lot of Abby
Green over the years and have always enjoyed her books, however this could be one of her most remembered and well loved books of all.

Read this book!!

[Viv “BookVixen” Gutierrez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable, reminiscent of old school HP romances with a cold, cruel hero.

Safe-ish. Hero is a manwhore before meeting heroine. Heroine is a virgin and belongs only to the hero. Faithful during separation. Their first time together a condom is used but later sex scenes are all flesh on flesh, no barriers placed between them. HEA with epilogue

[Zubee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well written and I enjoyed reading ... Although this is a plot the author has used .. or something similar ...
I did like h's physical description ... Tall and full figure, red hair ... I could actually picture her ...