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Secret Heirs of Billionaires #29
L'enfant d'une folle nuit
Coming soon! Cinderella's Scandalous Secret by Melanie Milburne will be available Oct 01, 2019.
- GenresHarlequin
Kindle Edition
Published April 1, 2020
102 people are currently reading
62 people want to read
About the author
Melanie Milburne
1,147 books392 followersI grew up on a small farm on the outskirts of Sydney and as a keen horse rider, often competed in local gymkhanas and even broke in a few horses from time to time. As I was surrounded by animals, I decided at an early age to become a nurse, however I couldn’t stand the sight of blood and so opted for a career in teaching. It’s a bit ironic that I married a surgeon.
I read my first Mills & Boon novel when I was 17 and that encouraged me to continue reading romance novels; the lure of the tall dark handsome hero, who in reality I fell in love with and knew I was going to marry on our second date! After marrying a year later, we moved to Scotland with our six week old baby so my husband could work and study for his MD in surgery. After the birth of our second son we came back to Australia to settle in Tasmania.
I went back to University and up-graded my teaching diploma to a degree and then went on to do a Masters but still I felt as if something was missing. I sat down one day and began writing and everything clicked into place - I had finally found ‘my brilliant career’! I used to write from instinct rather than a specific plan, but now, so many books later I find a loose plan doesn't go astray. An idea will pop into my head, sometimes it will be just a simple phrase or a what if question and I'm away.
Writing is a skill that can be learned and the best way to learn it is to read and to write. So many people feel they have a novel in them and very probably they are right-the only trick is to get it out. My advice to ‘would be’ writers is to write, write, and write even more. Carry a notebook at all times and jot down ideas. And like any other activity the more you do, the more it feels comfortable.
I hope you enjoy my stories and look forward to hearing from you.
I read my first Mills & Boon novel when I was 17 and that encouraged me to continue reading romance novels; the lure of the tall dark handsome hero, who in reality I fell in love with and knew I was going to marry on our second date! After marrying a year later, we moved to Scotland with our six week old baby so my husband could work and study for his MD in surgery. After the birth of our second son we came back to Australia to settle in Tasmania.
I went back to University and up-graded my teaching diploma to a degree and then went on to do a Masters but still I felt as if something was missing. I sat down one day and began writing and everything clicked into place - I had finally found ‘my brilliant career’! I used to write from instinct rather than a specific plan, but now, so many books later I find a loose plan doesn't go astray. An idea will pop into my head, sometimes it will be just a simple phrase or a what if question and I'm away.
Writing is a skill that can be learned and the best way to learn it is to read and to write. So many people feel they have a novel in them and very probably they are right-the only trick is to get it out. My advice to ‘would be’ writers is to write, write, and write even more. Carry a notebook at all times and jot down ideas. And like any other activity the more you do, the more it feels comfortable.
I hope you enjoy my stories and look forward to hearing from you.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
September 8, 2019
Steamy and passionate love story. Isla and Rafe are having a fling but she leaves him when she finds out she is pregnant. Months later hero finds her again and when he finds out she is pregnant he is determined to marry her. Heroine loves him but she doesn’t want a duty marriage. Plus how will they cope with the shame of her past splashed over every paper?
Loved this couple. They have amazing chemistry and they are both nice and loving. Ηeroine is feisty. Hero is caring and protective even when he finds out about her past. Both are experienced so sadly no virgins here. Both were celibate during separation. Heroine’s past is kind of shady and scandalous. She was a lingerie waitress plus topless photos of her are coming out. Not something I would read but MM is one of my favorite authors so I’m glad I gave this a try. My only problem is the lack of an epilogue. Come on I need to know did they have a boy or a girl? Other than that great read! If it had an epilogue I would have given it 5 stars for sure!
Loved this couple. They have amazing chemistry and they are both nice and loving. Ηeroine is feisty. Hero is caring and protective even when he finds out about her past. Both are experienced so sadly no virgins here. Both were celibate during separation. Heroine’s past is kind of shady and scandalous. She was a lingerie waitress plus topless photos of her are coming out. Not something I would read but MM is one of my favorite authors so I’m glad I gave this a try. My only problem is the lack of an epilogue. Come on I need to know did they have a boy or a girl? Other than that great read! If it had an epilogue I would have given it 5 stars for sure!
September 11, 2019
Very underwhelming!
The story lagged in parts and I found the whole "scandalous" topless pics thing to be blown out of proportion. Heroine was the only one who made a big deal out of it because she's so ashamed of her sleazy past working in a "gentlemen's club". The H was a good guy.
The story lagged in parts and I found the whole "scandalous" topless pics thing to be blown out of proportion. Heroine was the only one who made a big deal out of it because she's so ashamed of her sleazy past working in a "gentlemen's club". The H was a good guy.
September 4, 2019
A Scottish heroine with a scandal and a Sicilian hero with huge daddy issues. Their first meeting sparked the spitfire passion connected between them. They spent all waking hours together within the 2 months they spared. Rafe was all Sicilian filled with hate for his father, loving his deceased mother, a Billionaire by his own making but compassionate and considerate. Isla was the consistent rejected one, her parents foster parents the two past boyfriends made her feel unlovable and undeserving. She was also selfless and considerate. She made errors when she was young,poor and desperate to which almost ruin her happiness when she decided to end her 'Fling' with Rafe as soon as she found out about her pregnancy. Rafe hatred for lies and deceit due to his father, ignored Isla when she left despite experiencing the pain in losing her. Sicilian pride evoked and caused him to stay away. Fatefully, they met again and Rafe soon discovered why she left and soon the mystery unravelled. Rafe was Sicilian possessive and considerate also understanding and was determined to change their future. Both MC had a sad example of love as children therefore it was obvious to the ppl ard them and the reader how much they loved each other. The story started a bit slow but tapered off then picked up towards the end. The hero was almost beta with some Alpha issues. The heroine was courageous and self sacrificing....Not as entertaining as I associate with Sicilian heroes but all other characteristics were there, seems very different from this author not her usual style. I hope Lauren's story has more angst! A 3.5 🌟 for me
February 4, 2021
"Cinderella's Scandalous Secret" is the story of Isla and Rafe.
Pretty sweet love story between rich hero/ poor heroine, who have a wild two month love affair. She gets pregnant and leaves him. They meet again five months later, where the hero pursues her only to realize he's going to be a baby daddy. Some classic blackmail stuff happens, an almost wedding, loads of past trauma is unearthed, some unnecessary drama takes place leading to a nice HEA.
Very sedate with likable MCs. Enjoyed how the heroine's past never became an issue.
Safe
3/5
Pretty sweet love story between rich hero/ poor heroine, who have a wild two month love affair. She gets pregnant and leaves him. They meet again five months later, where the hero pursues her only to realize he's going to be a baby daddy. Some classic blackmail stuff happens, an almost wedding, loads of past trauma is unearthed, some unnecessary drama takes place leading to a nice HEA.
Very sedate with likable MCs. Enjoyed how the heroine's past never became an issue.
Safe
3/5
Want to read
October 14, 2020"Silencios del pasado"
September 10, 2019
This couple didn't work for me ! I was not interested in their story which was boring by the way!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 18, 2019
The Cinderella troupe is one of my favourites and MS Milburne has rocked the pages with this one I want Rafe for myself he truly is an outstanding hero one who knows how to cherish and love his heroine, even if he doesn’t think he can love.
Isla McBain grew up in foster homes and feeling very unloved when she meets gorgeous Sicilian Rafe Angeleri and they spend two months together in a very sensual and passionate affair, Isla discovers she is pregnant and decides that it will be best if she leaves Rafe because of her past. Three months later they meet again and the heat sizzles between them still but Rafe is now determined to marry her.
Rafe had a life that made him think that he could never love but his heart soars whenever he is with Isla she makes him happy and the three months she was gone he felt different, but now he has found her again he is determined to keep her with him and to provide a good life for her and their baby.
Secrets from the past can cause so much damage to a couple and Isla is determined that her scandalous secret should not hurt Rafe in anyway but she loves him so much even if she cannot tell him, and Rafe will do anything to show how much he cares for Isla and when he realizes that it is love aww the smiles and sighs, this is such a fabulous story, MS Milburne knows how to set about writing a sensual sizzling story that has all of the feels that a romance reader will love, I do highly recommend it, thank you MS Milburne for another keep.
Isla McBain grew up in foster homes and feeling very unloved when she meets gorgeous Sicilian Rafe Angeleri and they spend two months together in a very sensual and passionate affair, Isla discovers she is pregnant and decides that it will be best if she leaves Rafe because of her past. Three months later they meet again and the heat sizzles between them still but Rafe is now determined to marry her.
Rafe had a life that made him think that he could never love but his heart soars whenever he is with Isla she makes him happy and the three months she was gone he felt different, but now he has found her again he is determined to keep her with him and to provide a good life for her and their baby.
Secrets from the past can cause so much damage to a couple and Isla is determined that her scandalous secret should not hurt Rafe in anyway but she loves him so much even if she cannot tell him, and Rafe will do anything to show how much he cares for Isla and when he realizes that it is love aww the smiles and sighs, this is such a fabulous story, MS Milburne knows how to set about writing a sensual sizzling story that has all of the feels that a romance reader will love, I do highly recommend it, thank you MS Milburne for another keep.
September 10, 2019
I liked this story but I really wanted an epilogue. I think there maybe a book for Layla so hopefully we see more of Isla and Rafe.
June 30, 2021
Another Great quick read. I read it overnight.
September 8, 2019
This book had it all for me and the heroine in the story was almost Alpha as well which gave it an interesting plot twist. Would like like to say a huge thank you to Melanie Milburne for drawing my name for an advance copy and this is defo one for my keeper shelf,
March 11, 2023
Firstly, I hate stories where the woman refuses to tell the baby’s father about her pregnancy. Even a one night stand, it’s not on, unless the heroine has no way of tracing the father, and in a relationship that has gone on for a couple of months - it’s absolutely unacceptable. So first strike against Isla.
I really disliked Isla, the heroine, and her subsequent behaviour, once Rafe, the hero found out about the baby was just so ridiculously over the top and unbelievable that I wanted to slap her despite not believing in violence!
Her constant pity party (woe is me, I am not good enough, no one can love me, I am not worthy, I am bad and unlovable and he will hate me) was just too over the top and so utterly unbelievable.
The way she constantly argued, attacked, resisted and rejected him was just tiresome and frustrating.
I am totally fed up with stories about heroines who experience bad fostering and whose emotional wounds are caused by the lack of love in childhood. The reality is that a child who is unloved in the first five years of its life, rarely learns how to love. The psychological damage is far worse than anything a writer comes up with. For it to be used as a convenient but implausible would for the heroine is just horrid.
Sorry, the author writes well and there were the makings of a good story here but I was disappointed in the execution. I liked the hero and was impressed with how hard he tried to take on his responsibilities.
The heroine was simply in a pain in the butt. Her angst about the topless photos was just so stupid and totally insufficient for her fears. I half expected she’s been working as a prostitute for several years considering how fearful she was about the story coming out.
Sorry - not my cup of tea. I like stories that are more subtle, more nuanced and more emotionally satisfying!
I really disliked Isla, the heroine, and her subsequent behaviour, once Rafe, the hero found out about the baby was just so ridiculously over the top and unbelievable that I wanted to slap her despite not believing in violence!
Her constant pity party (woe is me, I am not good enough, no one can love me, I am not worthy, I am bad and unlovable and he will hate me) was just too over the top and so utterly unbelievable.
The way she constantly argued, attacked, resisted and rejected him was just tiresome and frustrating.
I am totally fed up with stories about heroines who experience bad fostering and whose emotional wounds are caused by the lack of love in childhood. The reality is that a child who is unloved in the first five years of its life, rarely learns how to love. The psychological damage is far worse than anything a writer comes up with. For it to be used as a convenient but implausible would for the heroine is just horrid.
Sorry, the author writes well and there were the makings of a good story here but I was disappointed in the execution. I liked the hero and was impressed with how hard he tried to take on his responsibilities.
The heroine was simply in a pain in the butt. Her angst about the topless photos was just so stupid and totally insufficient for her fears. I half expected she’s been working as a prostitute for several years considering how fearful she was about the story coming out.
Sorry - not my cup of tea. I like stories that are more subtle, more nuanced and more emotionally satisfying!
October 18, 2019
Gawd! I cannot believe I actually finished this ... book.
I disliked both main characters. The “scandalous secret” was ridiculous. The whining was annoying. I never felt any tiny bit of connection/sympathy/empathy for either of the characters. They seemed like paper cutouts. Their characters were flat and boring. Tedious.
Ok, maybe I’m being harsh and my cold meds are having a nasty effect ... nah! This really did suck. Luckily, I fell asleep in between chapters to break up the boredom. I’ll put this one down as a bad dream and forget it exists.
I disliked both main characters. The “scandalous secret” was ridiculous. The whining was annoying. I never felt any tiny bit of connection/sympathy/empathy for either of the characters. They seemed like paper cutouts. Their characters were flat and boring. Tedious.
Ok, maybe I’m being harsh and my cold meds are having a nasty effect ... nah! This really did suck. Luckily, I fell asleep in between chapters to break up the boredom. I’ll put this one down as a bad dream and forget it exists.
January 6, 2026
I rate this 1.5 stars.
Another HP novel with an annoying female character. Whyyy?! She claimed she ran away to protect his reputation, but it seemed that she did it for selfish reasons, as in she was afraid of being rejected like in the past. I can understand she had a rough childhood but that doesn't mean I can't hate her. In many of these romance novels the heroines are so blind in their supposed "unrequited love" that they don't even see the obvious signs of love from the hero's actions. True, you don't want to embarrass yourself or be heartbroken by saying I love you and finding out the other person thinks he doesn't feel the same way until later like in some novels or by finding out that the person likes you but not in that way, but the heroine's ignorance annoyed me here more than in any other novel. The explanation on why she couldn't see it near the end of the novel was ok but come on, it's stupid, she's an adult so she should know by now that love can be expressed by actions, actions speak louder than words after all. His actions obviously showed his love for her yet she kept thinking he didn't love her. Then why the hell is he so caring and wants to protect you and support you so much. If that isn't love then I don't know what is. Also, just because someone says I love you, doesn't always mean they actually feel that way.
Isla also obsesses over everything the housekeeper says to and about her like she (Isla) has nothing better to do, this also got really annoying.
Also, her scandalous past wasn't as bad as she made it out to seem. Sure it was bad, but it's not like she was running through a town naked or committed murder or stole the Queen's jewels. She kept obsessing over this and Rafe not saying I love you throughout the whole novel and it got annoying real fast. I may not be an expert when it comes to the paparazzi, but I'm pretty sure that if you act like their questions and the crap they write doesn't bother you, then they end up getting bored and usually another story will pop up soon. Here's what her best friend (I'm wondering if she has her own novel) says, " If I made a drinking game out of how many times she refers to and obsesses over her past, I would be really really sick.
I've noticed that in these novels people act like these businessmen are the most famous people in the world (it makes sense that people would know some royalty). Most normal people don't even know what the CEOs of famous companies even look like, let alone everything about their life and being obsessed with who they're going to marry. I don't even care about royal weddings, unless their in fantasy novels or shows or movies. Isla was acting like the whole world or at least all of Italy was interested in them, that her "scandalous" past will be everywhere. I'm pretty sure there are more interesting things in the news and that many people just don't care who this guy is. The only ones I know of are Bill Gates, Steve Jobs and the CEO of Disney.
Here's a sentence that appears in a lot in young adult novels and many people hate it. It doesn't bother me, I can see how that can happen, plus there are other things that bother me and seem way more annoying than this. "Rafe let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding." This is the first time I've seen this in a non young adult novel.
"Couldn't you have waited until I got home from New York to speak to me face to face?"
I understand why he's angry about her breaking up with him by a note, it's like breaking up with someone by text. She didn't even wait for him to come home. Like I said, I know why she did this, but it's not a good enough reason for this behaviour.
There were also a few times where Isla makes it sound like he was forcing her to do stuff and treating her as a toy, to which he replied that he didn't make her do anything, it was her desicion to sleep with him, which is true. She blamed him just because she was embarrassed and looking for an excuse.
There's a quote in the book about abortion and they each say that they don't judge other woman for it, but she would never do it. While I am prochoice, it's a more complicated than that. I believe that the only times abortion is ok is if it's a life or death situation where only one person can be saved (that would be selfish to give up your life because then the kid would be motherless), if it's a rape situation. Yes it's not the kid's fault, but do you really think it's fair to tell someone who has been through hell and then discovers she's pregnant and knowing the government and a bunch of other people she's never met saying that she's not allowed to do something that could help her forget the worst moment of her life and worse what if the kid ends up looking like his/her father and then when he/she is oder and finds out their father is a rapist, how do you think they will feel? Another time abortion is ok in my opinion is if the boyfriend or husband left and the woman finds out she's pregnant and already has other kids and doesn't have enough money to feed everybody including herself. That would be unfair to the mom because then she would eat less so that all her kids have food and in some countries it costs a lot of money to give birth and stay in the hospital, including medicine, which would shrink her funds for food and shelter even more. These are the things that these pro"life" people don't think about. What's the point if the child ends up being malnourished because mom couldn't afford enough food or produce milk just because some strangers said so voted without thinking much on the subject.
On the other hand, the times when it's disgusting is if you are not happy with the gender (it's evil that people still do this nowadays) and if you think your excuse is that it will ruin your figure, this is such a stupid and superficial reason, then use a condom or don't have sex.
Anyways, sorry getting off topic, I just had to give my two cents on this never ending subject.
Another thing I found annoying about Isla is that she jumps to conclusions about people's life (especially of Rafe's childhood). How stupid is she? Just because it said online what someone's childhood was like, doesn't always mean it's the truth and even if it is you don't really know how everything in their past was like, here's an example from the book, "You grew up with. I grew up in poverty. You have a mother and a father and siblings. I have no one." Just because someone is ruch doesn't mean they don't ever have problems. To be honest, I can see Rafe's past from both sides. It was cruel to his mom that his father ditched them, but it was also cruel to his stepmother that her husband was having an affair. If I was married and found out my husband was doing that, I would be furious too and heartbroken (I know his dad wasn't in love with his wife, that still doesn't make it ok, you vowed to be with that person for life), so I'm actually more on the stepmother's side on this one.
There were also points in the book where it felt like Isla was mad over everything. Yes always telling your spouse what to do is not good, but neither is never listening to them. Marriage isn't just about living together, it's about trust, faith. working together and negotiating with each other. Sometimes one person gets their way, sometimes the other. If you are always defiant, that doesn't make a strong woman, that makes you someone very few people can stand and someone very few or no one would want to hang around with. At some points she sounded like the kind of person that people call nowadays, Karens and everybody hates Karens.
A quote from the book on some of Isla's beliefs. |Marriage is for people who love each other and want to spend the rest of their lives together."
I always find it funny that there are such naive people in the world who think that the only people who get married are in love and that they have to be in love before the proposal. Isla thinks this and so does Lizzie from the web show The Lizzie Bennet Diaries. It's like they don't know anything about countries that they don't live in. More countries have arranged marriages more common than the other way around even now. The people I know of (my parents, cousins, etc) who had arranged marriages all developed feelings after, feelings that probably stronger than many love marriages. Marraige should be for love but sometimes love develops after.
There's a pert where Rafe says that they should continue in the privacy of their bed and then Isla gets annoyed and says, "I remember a time when nothing would have stopped you making love to me, no matter where we were." She makes it sound like she wants to have sex on a table or on the streets. I hate sex obsessed people like this, like calm down! What's wrong with doing it only in the bedroom?
It's also funny that in these novels they say that they're marriage will never be a fairy tale. You don't want your life to be like a fairy tale, trust me, those stories are brutal, example: like the original Sleeping Beauty story (Talia, Sun and Moon), the original Snow White, etc.
I'm glad that Isla told Rafe off when he was having double standards for a second about her past love life, which I think was only two men, whereas he's slept with plenty of women in the past and realized his mistake right away.
I'm wondering if the job lingerie waitress actually exists in real life or if the author just made it up for the sake of a stupid thing for the heroine to obsess over.
If the dress on the cover is the one she is describing near the end of the book, it's disappointing because it's not as pretty as she described it. Or maybe that's because I'm a South Asian Canadian and my traditional clothes, especially for parties are really fancy so I can't be impressed easily when it comes to beautiful clothes. That could also be part of the reason why I love some historical clothing so much (among other reasons).
I read the ebook so I have so many highlighted parts I want to talk about. It's late so I will continue later.
Full review to come soon.
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Another HP novel with an annoying female character. Whyyy?! She claimed she ran away to protect his reputation, but it seemed that she did it for selfish reasons, as in she was afraid of being rejected like in the past. I can understand she had a rough childhood but that doesn't mean I can't hate her. In many of these romance novels the heroines are so blind in their supposed "unrequited love" that they don't even see the obvious signs of love from the hero's actions. True, you don't want to embarrass yourself or be heartbroken by saying I love you and finding out the other person thinks he doesn't feel the same way until later like in some novels or by finding out that the person likes you but not in that way, but the heroine's ignorance annoyed me here more than in any other novel. The explanation on why she couldn't see it near the end of the novel was ok but come on, it's stupid, she's an adult so she should know by now that love can be expressed by actions, actions speak louder than words after all. His actions obviously showed his love for her yet she kept thinking he didn't love her. Then why the hell is he so caring and wants to protect you and support you so much. If that isn't love then I don't know what is. Also, just because someone says I love you, doesn't always mean they actually feel that way.
Isla also obsesses over everything the housekeeper says to and about her like she (Isla) has nothing better to do, this also got really annoying.
Also, her scandalous past wasn't as bad as she made it out to seem. Sure it was bad, but it's not like she was running through a town naked or committed murder or stole the Queen's jewels. She kept obsessing over this and Rafe not saying I love you throughout the whole novel and it got annoying real fast. I may not be an expert when it comes to the paparazzi, but I'm pretty sure that if you act like their questions and the crap they write doesn't bother you, then they end up getting bored and usually another story will pop up soon. Here's what her best friend (I'm wondering if she has her own novel) says, " If I made a drinking game out of how many times she refers to and obsesses over her past, I would be really really sick.
I've noticed that in these novels people act like these businessmen are the most famous people in the world (it makes sense that people would know some royalty). Most normal people don't even know what the CEOs of famous companies even look like, let alone everything about their life and being obsessed with who they're going to marry. I don't even care about royal weddings, unless their in fantasy novels or shows or movies. Isla was acting like the whole world or at least all of Italy was interested in them, that her "scandalous" past will be everywhere. I'm pretty sure there are more interesting things in the news and that many people just don't care who this guy is. The only ones I know of are Bill Gates, Steve Jobs and the CEO of Disney.
Here's a sentence that appears in a lot in young adult novels and many people hate it. It doesn't bother me, I can see how that can happen, plus there are other things that bother me and seem way more annoying than this. "Rafe let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding." This is the first time I've seen this in a non young adult novel.
"Couldn't you have waited until I got home from New York to speak to me face to face?"
I understand why he's angry about her breaking up with him by a note, it's like breaking up with someone by text. She didn't even wait for him to come home. Like I said, I know why she did this, but it's not a good enough reason for this behaviour.
There were also a few times where Isla makes it sound like he was forcing her to do stuff and treating her as a toy, to which he replied that he didn't make her do anything, it was her desicion to sleep with him, which is true. She blamed him just because she was embarrassed and looking for an excuse.
There's a quote in the book about abortion and they each say that they don't judge other woman for it, but she would never do it. While I am prochoice, it's a more complicated than that. I believe that the only times abortion is ok is if it's a life or death situation where only one person can be saved (that would be selfish to give up your life because then the kid would be motherless), if it's a rape situation. Yes it's not the kid's fault, but do you really think it's fair to tell someone who has been through hell and then discovers she's pregnant and knowing the government and a bunch of other people she's never met saying that she's not allowed to do something that could help her forget the worst moment of her life and worse what if the kid ends up looking like his/her father and then when he/she is oder and finds out their father is a rapist, how do you think they will feel? Another time abortion is ok in my opinion is if the boyfriend or husband left and the woman finds out she's pregnant and already has other kids and doesn't have enough money to feed everybody including herself. That would be unfair to the mom because then she would eat less so that all her kids have food and in some countries it costs a lot of money to give birth and stay in the hospital, including medicine, which would shrink her funds for food and shelter even more. These are the things that these pro"life" people don't think about. What's the point if the child ends up being malnourished because mom couldn't afford enough food or produce milk just because some strangers said so voted without thinking much on the subject.
On the other hand, the times when it's disgusting is if you are not happy with the gender (it's evil that people still do this nowadays) and if you think your excuse is that it will ruin your figure, this is such a stupid and superficial reason, then use a condom or don't have sex.
Anyways, sorry getting off topic, I just had to give my two cents on this never ending subject.
Another thing I found annoying about Isla is that she jumps to conclusions about people's life (especially of Rafe's childhood). How stupid is she? Just because it said online what someone's childhood was like, doesn't always mean it's the truth and even if it is you don't really know how everything in their past was like, here's an example from the book, "You grew up with. I grew up in poverty. You have a mother and a father and siblings. I have no one." Just because someone is ruch doesn't mean they don't ever have problems. To be honest, I can see Rafe's past from both sides. It was cruel to his mom that his father ditched them, but it was also cruel to his stepmother that her husband was having an affair. If I was married and found out my husband was doing that, I would be furious too and heartbroken (I know his dad wasn't in love with his wife, that still doesn't make it ok, you vowed to be with that person for life), so I'm actually more on the stepmother's side on this one.
There were also points in the book where it felt like Isla was mad over everything. Yes always telling your spouse what to do is not good, but neither is never listening to them. Marriage isn't just about living together, it's about trust, faith. working together and negotiating with each other. Sometimes one person gets their way, sometimes the other. If you are always defiant, that doesn't make a strong woman, that makes you someone very few people can stand and someone very few or no one would want to hang around with. At some points she sounded like the kind of person that people call nowadays, Karens and everybody hates Karens.
A quote from the book on some of Isla's beliefs. |Marriage is for people who love each other and want to spend the rest of their lives together."
I always find it funny that there are such naive people in the world who think that the only people who get married are in love and that they have to be in love before the proposal. Isla thinks this and so does Lizzie from the web show The Lizzie Bennet Diaries. It's like they don't know anything about countries that they don't live in. More countries have arranged marriages more common than the other way around even now. The people I know of (my parents, cousins, etc) who had arranged marriages all developed feelings after, feelings that probably stronger than many love marriages. Marraige should be for love but sometimes love develops after.
There's a pert where Rafe says that they should continue in the privacy of their bed and then Isla gets annoyed and says, "I remember a time when nothing would have stopped you making love to me, no matter where we were." She makes it sound like she wants to have sex on a table or on the streets. I hate sex obsessed people like this, like calm down! What's wrong with doing it only in the bedroom?
It's also funny that in these novels they say that they're marriage will never be a fairy tale. You don't want your life to be like a fairy tale, trust me, those stories are brutal, example: like the original Sleeping Beauty story (Talia, Sun and Moon), the original Snow White, etc.
I'm glad that Isla told Rafe off when he was having double standards for a second about her past love life, which I think was only two men, whereas he's slept with plenty of women in the past and realized his mistake right away.
I'm wondering if the job lingerie waitress actually exists in real life or if the author just made it up for the sake of a stupid thing for the heroine to obsess over.
If the dress on the cover is the one she is describing near the end of the book, it's disappointing because it's not as pretty as she described it. Or maybe that's because I'm a South Asian Canadian and my traditional clothes, especially for parties are really fancy so I can't be impressed easily when it comes to beautiful clothes. That could also be part of the reason why I love some historical clothing so much (among other reasons).
I read the ebook so I have so many highlighted parts I want to talk about. It's late so I will continue later.
Full review to come soon.
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August 10, 2022
I didn't like it. The heroine annoyed me, she wasn't a doormat but she came off as very selfish, as much as she says/thinks she didn't tell hero about baby for his sake it very much felt more about her. I felt she was very cold and I just did not like her. Hero wasn't awful. I did like that the hero was celibate during the 3 month separation. P.
dnf
September 28, 2019I couldn't take this one. I was getting pissed off because the guy kept telling the woman what to do, ordering her to marry him, ordering her to his home in Sicily. He was so damn condescending and so damn determined to ignore what she wanted. I got too pissed off to read anymore of it.
Read
October 1, 2019Categories
Romance, Contemporary Romance
Miniseries
Secret Heirs of Billionaires
Romance, Contemporary Romance
Miniseries
Secret Heirs of Billionaires
Read
October 1, 2019Categories
Romance, Contemporary Romance
Miniseries
Secret Heirs of Billionaires
Romance, Contemporary Romance
Miniseries
Secret Heirs of Billionaires
June 29, 2023
Totally loved it
December 27, 2023
Puntuacion final: 3.0
January 3, 2020
This book made for a very nice, relaxing read. I'm glad that there wasn't a lot of miscommunication going on (I don't mind the trope but I don't like it when it's overly dragged out) between the MCs. I didn't really fault the h for keeping the pregnancy from the H . The h at the start is working as a housekeeper back in Scotland to make ends meet and she runs into him again as she miraculously gets assigned his room. They spend a good chunk of the book visiting his villa in Italy and figuring out where they stand with one another. He was an alpha, but too much of one (read: overbearing) and was very kind towards the h as he doesn't judge what she had to do to survive
They both acted like mature adults and talked almost everything out. The H is of course mad when he finds out but I like that he takes responsibility
safe:
Overall, a very enjoyable book to read
September 17, 2019
4 1/2 STARS!
CINDERELLA'S SCANDALOUS SECRET by Melanie Milburne is the latest addition to the Secret Heirs of Billionaires series and brings us a yummy reunion story of a maid/artist and the hotelier she had a fling with ... and lets not forget the surprise baby she's bringing into the picture!
Isla is a complicated character. I started out feeling a little resentful of her secret keeping, but then the author did a good job of showing us her endearing side that led her to run instead of confronting the issue. In the end, I enjoyed their connection.
Rafe might have enjoyed living up the fun times in life, but as soon as he heard he was going to be a father, he was determined to be there every step of the way. His past only made me sympathize with him more. Really enjoyed seeing him get that happily ever after!
Overall, this was a really great story that I would recommend to anyone enjoying a reunion between past loves and/or a surprise baby joining the family. I felt like the ending was very abrupt and would have wanted just a tad more to their HEA, but overwhelming loved Rafe and Isla!
CINDERELLA'S SCANDALOUS SECRET by Melanie Milburne is the latest addition to the Secret Heirs of Billionaires series and brings us a yummy reunion story of a maid/artist and the hotelier she had a fling with ... and lets not forget the surprise baby she's bringing into the picture!
Isla is a complicated character. I started out feeling a little resentful of her secret keeping, but then the author did a good job of showing us her endearing side that led her to run instead of confronting the issue. In the end, I enjoyed their connection.
Rafe might have enjoyed living up the fun times in life, but as soon as he heard he was going to be a father, he was determined to be there every step of the way. His past only made me sympathize with him more. Really enjoyed seeing him get that happily ever after!
Overall, this was a really great story that I would recommend to anyone enjoying a reunion between past loves and/or a surprise baby joining the family. I felt like the ending was very abrupt and would have wanted just a tad more to their HEA, but overwhelming loved Rafe and Isla!
October 2, 2019
CINDERELLA’S SCANDALOUS SECRET by author Melanie Milburne is an October 2019 release by Harlequin Presents series.
Isla McBain had secrets in her past which she was determined to hide at all costs. So when she became pregnant she walked away from Rafe Angeleri.
Rafe had no idea why Isla had dumped him and when he meets her again, he was determined to find out. But what will happen he finds the consequences of fling with her. And then the real reason she had walked away. Would he still want her?
CINDERELLA’S SCANDALOUS SECRET is a story which gives insight to what happens when you have something online. Once online, it is always there. And it will come back to haunt you at inappropriate times. Author Melanie Milburne always has some deeper meaning to her stories. And this issue is the most pressing one we have at the moment. How much should we safely share online? Melanie Milburne’s attempt to make readers understand the social consequences of our actions is applaudable.
Highly recommended for all readers of romance.
Isla McBain had secrets in her past which she was determined to hide at all costs. So when she became pregnant she walked away from Rafe Angeleri.
Rafe had no idea why Isla had dumped him and when he meets her again, he was determined to find out. But what will happen he finds the consequences of fling with her. And then the real reason she had walked away. Would he still want her?
CINDERELLA’S SCANDALOUS SECRET is a story which gives insight to what happens when you have something online. Once online, it is always there. And it will come back to haunt you at inappropriate times. Author Melanie Milburne always has some deeper meaning to her stories. And this issue is the most pressing one we have at the moment. How much should we safely share online? Melanie Milburne’s attempt to make readers understand the social consequences of our actions is applaudable.
Highly recommended for all readers of romance.
September 26, 2019
Another wonderful story by the fabulous Melanie Milburne. In "Cinderella's Scandalous Secret (Secret Heirs of Billionaires)," we meet Isla McBain and Rafe Angeleri. These two have pasts that haunt them, and even though they didn't know much about each other they had an affair that lasted a couple of months and resulted in an unexpected surprise. When Isla found out she was pregnant she left billionaire Rafe. They reconnected when she was cleaning his hotel room and neither of them knew what to do. Isla took a questionable job in the past where if photos come out can hurt Rafe's business. Neither of them grew up in a loving environment and they really don't know how to say what they feel to each other. It's a great story of growth, and love between these two.
October 6, 2019
Another delightful Sunday read that is started and not wanted to be put down.
I really loved the concept of the plot and the developing of the characters mixed with the location and emotions of both parties. Both likeable characters and all of this combined made you really want then to find a way to be together as a family. I enjoyed the sass of Isla, although she wasn't sassy in the true sense, I just can't think of the correct word. She was real. I iked how Rafe tried to do the right thing by all and how he stood by Isla during the tough time.
I'm not sure how I felt about no epilogue but that doesn't change my thoughts of the book, just a personal thought.
Such a delightful read, I really enjoyed it and would recommend.
I really loved the concept of the plot and the developing of the characters mixed with the location and emotions of both parties. Both likeable characters and all of this combined made you really want then to find a way to be together as a family. I enjoyed the sass of Isla, although she wasn't sassy in the true sense, I just can't think of the correct word. She was real. I iked how Rafe tried to do the right thing by all and how he stood by Isla during the tough time.
I'm not sure how I felt about no epilogue but that doesn't change my thoughts of the book, just a personal thought.
Such a delightful read, I really enjoyed it and would recommend.
September 26, 2019
This book was phenomenal. Isla’s character was very relatable and she was a fierce heroine. Her backstory of being a foster child was heartbreaking and I loved she was an artist and that Rafe indulged her passsion. Rafe was also an amazing hero with a great back story too. Their love was fire and I enjoyed the character of his housekeeper Concetta. Wished there would have been an epilogue and we would have read about the wedding and the name of their baby and the sex of the baby. I get disappointed when books that have babies and pregnancies don’t reveal th sex or name of the baby! Definitely would recommend this!
own-but-wont-read-or-wallbanger
November 13, 2019And it’s getting harder to hide!
Isla McBain’s affair with Rafe Angeleri was meant to be temporary, a chance to explore their passionate connection—but now she’s carrying the famous hotelier’s baby! This pregnancy will make headlines, but no one can know. Isla can’t risk anyone digging into her heartbreaking past and ruining Rafe’s impeccable reputation.
After learning about her pregnancy, Rafe is intent on sweeping her away to Sicily and marrying her! Isla is tempted beyond desire, but dare she step into the spotlight as Mrs. Angeleri?
Isla McBain’s affair with Rafe Angeleri was meant to be temporary, a chance to explore their passionate connection—but now she’s carrying the famous hotelier’s baby! This pregnancy will make headlines, but no one can know. Isla can’t risk anyone digging into her heartbreaking past and ruining Rafe’s impeccable reputation.
After learning about her pregnancy, Rafe is intent on sweeping her away to Sicily and marrying her! Isla is tempted beyond desire, but dare she step into the spotlight as Mrs. Angeleri?
January 25, 2020
Isla McBain had a rough life. Did things she wasn’t proud of. She had an affair will wealthy hotelier. She left him because she didn’t want him to ruin his impeccable reputation. Once she left, she found out she was pregnant but didn’t want to say anything to ruin his businesses. Once Rafe Angelico finds out she’s having his baby, he whisk her off to Sicily and demands to marry him. He’s never had a woman leave him. He still doesn’t understand why. Will she tell him? Can he protect her and the baby? Will his businesses survive? It’s an awesome read
November 5, 2019
Isla McBain and Rafe Angeleri spend a few months together resulting in Isla being pregnant. She decides the best thing is to leave Rafe and not tell him. Fast forward a few months and they meet again when Isla is cleaning Rafe’s hotel room. Now that Rafe knows about the baby he is determined to be a parent to his child, Isla is determined to keep him at arms length as there are things in her past that could damage his reputation.
Great characters and a great read.
Great characters and a great read.
October 8, 2024
Meh, just a book to fill up my time. Sometimes you need a no brainer book, and this is one of it. I do not overthink about it, and it's just the usual does he love me or not?
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November 4, 2019A steamy & emotional read that will have you cheering for Isla and Rafe to find the HEA!
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