Μια Δελεαστική Πονηρή Πρόταση - Χρυσά Άρλεκιν #1738

by Maggie Cox

Συμφωνία με το διάβολο …

Αυτοδημιούργητος και πάμπλουτος, ο Μάρκο Αγκιλάρ είχε αφήσει πίσω του προ πολλού τα στερημένα παιδικά του χρόνια. Μπορούσε να έχει πλέον ό,τι ήθελε –και αυτό που ήθελε τώρα ήταν η Γκρέις Φόκνερ.
Η όμορφη εθελόντρια, που έκανε τις διακοπές της στην Πορτογαλία, του ζήτησε να ενισχύσει οικονομικά το ορφανοτροφείο στο οποίο προσέφερε τις υπηρεσίες της. Και ο Μάρκο δέχτηκε να τη βοηθήσει, με τον όρο να περάσει τις υπόλοιπες διακοπές της μαζί του… ως ερωμένη του!

Μόνο που η γλυκιά, ανιδιοτελής φύση της και η φωτιά που άναβε μέσα του με το άγγιγμά της τον συγκλόνισαν βαθιά, γκρεμίζοντας τις άμυνές του. Μήπως αυτή η αγγελική ύπαρξη είχε τη δύναμη να τον σώσει από τους δαίμονες του παρελθόντος;

Genres: Harlequin, Romance, Fiction, Contemporary, Harlequin Presents, Adult, Contemporary Romance

160 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2012

About the author

Maggie Cox loved to write almost as soon as she learned to read. Her favorite occupation was daydreaming and making up stories in her head, and this particular pastime has stayed with her through all the years of growing up, starting work, marrying and raising a family. No matter what was going on in her life, whether joy, happiness, struggle or disappointment, she'd go to bed each night and lose herself in her imagination. Through all the years of her secretarial career she kept on filling exercise books and the "joy oh joy" her word processor with her writing, never showing anyone what she wrote and basically keeping her stories for her own enjoyment alone.

It wasn't until she met her second husband and the "love of her life" that she was persuaded to start sharing those stories with a publisher. She settled on Mills & Boon (Harlequin) as she had loved romance novels since she was a teenager and read at least one or two paperbacks a week. After several rejections, the letters that were sent back from the publisher started to become more and more positive and encouraging, and in July 2002 she sold her first book A Passionate Protector. Since then she has continued written.

The fact that she is being published is truly a dream come true; however, each book she writes is still a journey in "courage and hope," and a quest to learn and grow and be "the best writer she can." Her advice to aspiring authors is: "Don't give up at the first hurdle, or even the second, third or fourth, but keep on keeping on until your dream is realized because if you are truly passionate about writing and learning the craft, as Paulo Coehlo states in his book The Alchemist: "The Universe will conspire to help you make it a reality."

Reviews

[Rebecca · Rating 2 out of 5]

The heroine Grace is on holiday in Portugal when she hearts that the well known businessman Marco, the hero, is due to arrive. She decides to try and arrange a meeting with him to ask for a donation to the charity she works for - the charity needs backing in order to build a new orphanage for children in Africa. Although Marco is initially annoyed at Grace's interruption her passion for her cause moves him and he agrees to listen to her proposal. Marco also realises he is very drawn to Grace, both for her passion as well as her honesty. He asks Grace to spend the rest of her holiday with him, and Grace agrees. At first she is nervous and flustered by Marco's attentions but soon realises the attraction is entirely mutual. They start a passionate affair, which quickly becomes more, but Marco is afraid that Grace's refreshing openness will cause him to let down his very guarded heart.

I wanted to like this book, I really did. But I have to be honest and say that I just found it boring. The actual story only takes place over a few days but the pace of the book made it feel like forever, it became a little tedious after a while. I found the heroine to be a little too uptight, way too puritanical, and a bit of a martyr. The hero is a good character though, very complex.

This story just didn't have enough kick to make it really enjoyable, in my opinion. It is a little disappointing.

Originally posted at http://everyday-is-the-same.blogspot....

[Andrea Lujano · Rating 3 out of 5]

Protagonistas: Marco & Grace

Profesiones: Empresario & Asesora

Pais: Portugal & Londres

[Ann Keller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty Grace Faulkner was a woman on a mission! Somehow, she had to get close enough to billionaire Marco Aguilar to make him listen to her plea to help the orphanage in Africa. It seems an impossible task. Aguilar’s security team knows their jobs very well. What she didn’t count on was how appealing she might seem to Marco.

Grace was like a breath of fresh air in a bevy of glamorous, mercenary females anxious to paste themselves to Marco for the publicity it might bring them. Grace asked for nothing for herself - no jewels or fancy clothes, and no dinners at expensive, romantic restaurants where all of the world could see her conquest. Grace’s only desire was to have Marco listen to her cry for assistance for orphans in another land.

Marco well knew the horrors that could abound in an orphanage. Long ago, he’d been an orphan himself and the experience had left him scarred for life. Indeed, he was still hurting from his mother’s untimely death and his father’s rejection to take responsibility for him.

Little by little, Grace’s sweetness soothes Marco’s tortured soul. Marco cannot get enough of her company and asks Grace to become his companion for the duration of her holiday. However, he never anticipates an unexpected turn of events. Can the ruthless businessman find love in such an unexpected place? Can Grace climb past another man’s brutal assault and be healed by a man who views emotion as a weakness?

[Vintage · Rating 2 out of 5]

ZZZZZZZ.

The characters are just too perfect. Grace is soft spoken, beautiful and a self-sacrificing do-gooder, and Marco is a shut down, reserved billionaire. They meet when Grace asks him for money for the African orphanage she supports.

They each have their own emotional issues which don't impede their path to bed and to love, but there is just little passion or chemistry. Their relationship develops over something like a 36 hour time period before she has to jet off to save the world. They were just boring. I thought I read a line that said, "Are you telling me that you will let me tie you to the bed?" Sadly, it read, "Are you telling me that you will let me take you to the bed?"

[Tia · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was cute. The hero had his assholeish moments but for the most part, the heroine stood by him and loved him. The ending was adorable.

[Jenny · Rating 1 out of 5]

I found the heroine's reasons for fear of sex ridiculous. She had sex with her university bf but she just wasn't good enough and so he just dropped her like a hot potato? please! lol

[Maria · Rating 2 out of 5]

Marco Aguilar ha costruito la sua ricchezza da nulla e ora è un uomo di successo. Finanzia anche molti enti benefiche e rimane molto colpito da Grace Faulkner, una donna che si occupa di un'associazione che da assistenza a bambini in africa. Marco è catturato dal fascino di Grace e decide di aiutarla.
I due trascorrono anche una settimana insieme, anche se Grace all'inizio ha molti dubbi, visto che il loro rapporto evolve rapidamente in qualcosa di molto più profondo.
Grace si reca poi in Africa per assistere dei bambini ma si ammala gravemente.
Marco le resterà sempre a fianco capendo poi che è la donna della sua vita.

Senza infamia e senza lode. Una trama che aveva del potenziale ma visto il numero limitato di pagine che hanno questi libri alla fine tutto si svolge alla velocità della luce.
Non è scritto male ma sono libri che sentono gli anni e le dinamiche che andavano bene vent'anni fa ora risultano strane.
Letto perchè obbligata altrimenti ne avrei fatto volentieri a meno.

[Bea Tea · Rating 5 out of 5]

You know what I loved about this one? That the h couldn't give two shits about the H's billionaire lifestyle. In fact she thinks his A-list celebrity friends are a joke, she refuses outright his suggestion of a shopping spree, and nopes out on going to his fancy yacht because she had waaaay more important stuff to deal with. On top of that she's totally open and honest from the get go about her feelings and her reticent attitude to sex, no hiding stuff, no faking it to make him love her, she's like 'I'm not fancy and I don't care to be, take it or leave it'. Meanwhile the H is not cruel or nasty to her, he doesn't treat her like shit, and is happy if a little scared to be falling in love with her. I just loved it! A billionaire romance without feeling like one.

[Justyna · Rating 1 out of 5]

Życzę sobie, żeby zaczęły powstawać ciekawe erotyki. Tak okrutnie banalna, naiwna i głupia historia nie zdarza się często. Chociaż, może w harlequinach czy erotykach, zawsze. Wszystko w fabule boli, ale doceniam, że przynajmniej błędów nie było.
Przeczytałam to, bo w maju chciałam przeczytać coś z motywem Portugalii w tle i coś z gatunku, którego nigdy nie czytam. No i padło na erotyk w słonecznej Portugalii. Aha, polskie tłumaczenie tytułu jest zupełnie inne - "W słonecznej Portugalii" właśnie. I gdyby nie to tłumaczenie, to wyszukiwarka by mi tej książki nie poleciła i nie spędziłabym upojnych chwil z Marco i Grace czekając na opóźniony samolot do Mediolanu.
Wierzę, że może gdzieś istnieją ciekawe, realne erotyki, ale są pewnie tak niszowe, że większość odbiorców nie chce ich czytać.

[Akum]

I had the book for nearly three months but didn’t want to read it as the summary said that the condition imposed for the deal was that she became his mistress. I found that very awful to digest. The deal was something else, that is to spend her holidays with him and see what that will lead to... That was a sweet deal. Sweet deal, sweet read, sweet couple...

[Megan · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was OK.... Mainly leaning towards pretty pants to be honest.

I just didn't feel the connection with them and I wasn't that fussed with Marco - didn't care he was a self made millionaire. I get she was a good person but just too nice and too good.

[Ana · Rating 2 out of 5]

Comparado com a primeira história, a segunda é boa.

[Sara]

Ask for donation
baby diy like storm
had ma fear rest in care
marko and grace
the sound of past go fast
the charity win the end

[Rebecca · Rating 2 out of 5]

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I'm so glad I have finished this book! It really wasn't the type of book that I'd like to re-read some day. The characters were boring, the plot was boring. It didn't live up to the title of the book. The deal that the two characters made was not "devilishly dark" at all. I was bored all the way through. No intimacy, no special connection, no real, raw passion.

Meh. Read it. I dare you.

[RomLibrary · Rating 1 out of 5]

Having made his fortune from nothing, billionaire Marco Aguilar has wiped the dirt of a poverty-stricken childhood from his expensive shoes. Now he can have anything he wants—and his next acquisition is beautiful charity worker Grace Faulkner. He'll finance her beloved orphanage if she agrees to become his mistress!

Only, Grace's sweet, selfless nature and the fire she ignites with her touch shake his iron defences to the core. Tortured Marco has been driven by demons for so long—can he be saved by this innocent angel?

[Sorairo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pensavo molto peggio!!! Non amo molto gli Harmony cui mi sono avvicinata tramite la collana Bluenocturne che pubblica alcuni autori di cui ho sentito parlare.
Certo, questa lettura non brilla per innovazione, è il cliché del cliché eppure l'ho letto velocemente e volentieri. Una lettura senza pensieri e dolce.

[Gemma G. Gegargas · Rating 2 out of 5]

Es un libro sencillo y fácil de leer (Solo me llevo tres horas). Es una historia previsible, sin complicaciones, y con fáciles salidas.

Lo que más me gustó, que era lo que esperaba ese día, una historia fácil.

Lo que menos me gustó, grandes errores como por ejemplo decir que Portugal está bañada por el Mar Mediterráneo.

[Harlequin Books]

Miniseries: A Deal With the Devil
Category: Classic Romance

[Harlequin Books]

Miniseries: A Deal With the Devil
Category: Classic Romance

[Roub · Rating 1 out of 5]

i was so bored i did not finish the book though it was sweet the heroine is so naive that it borders on the ridiculous lol:-P

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice quick read. Good strong Heroine which i enjoy. The hero although had issues was likable. .

[Ada · Rating 4 out of 5]

–Nao chorar, a meu amor, que o bebê e seguro com Deus agora –las palabra salieron de su boca...
Me parecio tierno, ese hombre me enamoro

[Ker ᥫ᭡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

cute, sweet...