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Blackmailed Into the Greek Tycoon's Bed
Innocent English rose…
Bookish, mousy heiress Karin has failed in her first act of defiance! She’s tried to take back the symbol of everything she holds dear in her life, but ruthless billionaire Xante Rossi has caught her red-handed!
…bedded by a Greek tycoon
Why is this shy beauty stealing from him? Xante is intrigued. Her innocence belies the corruption her family name represents. To save her from scandal and get to the truth he’ll offer his terms. If Karin wants her precious heirloom, she’ll have to earn it back in his bedroom!
Bookish, mousy heiress Karin has failed in her first act of defiance! She’s tried to take back the symbol of everything she holds dear in her life, but ruthless billionaire Xante Rossi has caught her red-handed!
…bedded by a Greek tycoon
Why is this shy beauty stealing from him? Xante is intrigued. Her innocence belies the corruption her family name represents. To save her from scandal and get to the truth he’ll offer his terms. If Karin wants her precious heirloom, she’ll have to earn it back in his bedroom!
192 pages, Hardcover
Published June 1, 2009
50 people are currently reading
142 people want to read
About the author
Carol Marinelli
1,397 books450 followersCarol Marinelli was born in England to Scottish parents, then emigrated to Australia, where there are loads of Scottish and English people who did exactly the same, so she’s very at home there.
She lives in the outer suburbs of Melbourne—pretty much in her car, driving her three children to their various commitments.
Carol writes for the Harlequin Presents and Medical lines and she also writes contemporary women's fiction (with a dark twist).
When she's not writing she's reading, when she's not reading she's writing.
She lives in the outer suburbs of Melbourne—pretty much in her car, driving her three children to their various commitments.
Carol writes for the Harlequin Presents and Medical lines and she also writes contemporary women's fiction (with a dark twist).
When she's not writing she's reading, when she's not reading she's writing.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
December 25, 2017
Ignore the blurb on this one. The descriptions of the characters don’t do them justice.
This is a surprisingly thoughtful, well-constructed story. It starts out a bit slow. The billionaire Greek hero is in his London hotel hosting some kind of gala/convention for the English rugby team. The heroine, granddaughter of a rugby legend, catches his eye. He is smitten with this “ice queen” from the beginning.
The heroine has finally tracked down the jeweled rose (a rugby prize/award) that was her grandfather’s. It was her prized possession and her brother had it auctioned off to support his dissolute lifestyle. The heroine can’t afford to buy it back. She has no plans. Her trip to the hotel was an impulse. When the hero offers to show it to her, she indulges in another impulse and walks off with it when the hero is distracted. One of the rugby players sees her leaving and tackles her.
The hero declines to call the police. Instead he pretends they are a couple and the rugby player
apologizes for getting it wrong. The hero blackmails the heroine into being his date at a rugby event that night. The heroine numbly goes along with it. She’s attracted to the hero, but she’s very stressed by the strain of keeping up the family’s reputation while her brother is spending all of their money. She’s trying to hang on for another year for her sister to finish at boarding school. (She seems to think her sister will suffer if the family loses its fortune and status.)
Surprisingly, the H/h enjoy their outing. The hero is accepted by the rugby players because of who the heroine is. The heroine relaxes because no one is hitting on her because she’s with the hero.
The hero takes the heroine home without pressuring her for sex as part of his more subtle campaign to get her in his bed. The heroine has no intention of seeing the hero again – but she calls him after she has been invited to yet another rugby event where she is supposed to bring her grandfather’s rose. This is where the hero blackmails her – she can have the rose if she accompanies him to Greece where he has to attend a baptism as a godfather to the baby. She will warm his bed for the duration of their stay and then she can have the rose.
I'm not really doing this one justice. The heroine is a complicated character and the hero is so smitten with her. He makes a lot of mistakes, but he keeps coming back. The line in the letter he writes to her says it all. He loves her, but he is only half of a whole - they can't have a relationship without her help, without her cooperation.
I don't know a thing about rugby, but there must be some sort of metaphor I'm missing. I'm guessing it's about teamwork and sacrifice and pain.
For once, it's not the hero's money that solves the heroine's financial problems. She works it out herself. And for once, a breakup is actually a catalyst for change (rather than wallowing). The H/h learn to break out of the roles they cast themselves at an early age. It is only then that they can be together with hope for the future.
This is a surprisingly thoughtful, well-constructed story. It starts out a bit slow. The billionaire Greek hero is in his London hotel hosting some kind of gala/convention for the English rugby team. The heroine, granddaughter of a rugby legend, catches his eye. He is smitten with this “ice queen” from the beginning.
The heroine has finally tracked down the jeweled rose (a rugby prize/award) that was her grandfather’s. It was her prized possession and her brother had it auctioned off to support his dissolute lifestyle. The heroine can’t afford to buy it back. She has no plans. Her trip to the hotel was an impulse. When the hero offers to show it to her, she indulges in another impulse and walks off with it when the hero is distracted. One of the rugby players sees her leaving and tackles her.
The hero declines to call the police. Instead he pretends they are a couple and the rugby player
apologizes for getting it wrong. The hero blackmails the heroine into being his date at a rugby event that night. The heroine numbly goes along with it. She’s attracted to the hero, but she’s very stressed by the strain of keeping up the family’s reputation while her brother is spending all of their money. She’s trying to hang on for another year for her sister to finish at boarding school. (She seems to think her sister will suffer if the family loses its fortune and status.)
Surprisingly, the H/h enjoy their outing. The hero is accepted by the rugby players because of who the heroine is. The heroine relaxes because no one is hitting on her because she’s with the hero.
The hero takes the heroine home without pressuring her for sex as part of his more subtle campaign to get her in his bed. The heroine has no intention of seeing the hero again – but she calls him after she has been invited to yet another rugby event where she is supposed to bring her grandfather’s rose. This is where the hero blackmails her – she can have the rose if she accompanies him to Greece where he has to attend a baptism as a godfather to the baby. She will warm his bed for the duration of their stay and then she can have the rose.
I'm not really doing this one justice. The heroine is a complicated character and the hero is so smitten with her. He makes a lot of mistakes, but he keeps coming back. The line in the letter he writes to her says it all. He loves her, but he is only half of a whole - they can't have a relationship without her help, without her cooperation.
I don't know a thing about rugby, but there must be some sort of metaphor I'm missing. I'm guessing it's about teamwork and sacrifice and pain.
For once, it's not the hero's money that solves the heroine's financial problems. She works it out herself. And for once, a breakup is actually a catalyst for change (rather than wallowing). The H/h learn to break out of the roles they cast themselves at an early age. It is only then that they can be together with hope for the future.
June 21, 2014
4 Stars ~ In English rugby circles Karin's grandfather was a legend, as he lead the English team to a season undefeated. The ruby-encrusted rose was awarded to each member of the team, and was her grandfather's most prized possession. Now her grandfather long gone, and Karin's parents as well, the Wallis family money was quickly dwindling, especially as her brother, Mathew carried on the party hearty tradition set by her parents. Karin struggles to keep up the family name until her younger sister is finally in university, all she needs from the estate is enough to pay for her education. But when she learns that Mathew had sold the ruby rose and had since spent the money, Karin is desperate to get it back. It's the only treasure of her grandfather's that has meaning. Tracking down the purchaser is a difficult task, but finally her hunt brings her to Xante Rossi's Twinkenham hotel. Xanti has a penchant for sports memorabilia and as his hotel is hosting the English rugby team during their training, he has graced the hotel foyer with various treasures to commemorate the sport.
Xanti's appreciative eyes immediately hone in on the gorgeous blond who has entered his hotel. She has grace and an air about her that says she belongs amoung the elite of the sports world who are gathered there. He spies her admiring the ruby rose that is locked behind glass, and he uses this as his approach. Opening the case, he hands her the rose to admire, and then is called away. Karin can't believe her luck to just be handed the rose, and she hesitates on what to do. Spying the emergency exit she makes her break, only to be tackled just outside the door by the captain of the rugby team. Karin now finds herself totally in Xante's hands, and to protect her family name she agrees to his terms. At first it was only to attend a charity gala with him, but Xante is quite intrigued by Karin and intends to seduce her. He makes her a deal, she'll accompany him to Greece to attend a family christening, pretend to be his current love interest and she'll spend her nights in his bed, in exchange she'll receive the rose. Karin surprises him by agreeing. She's actually relieved to leave England and hellish life her brother has inflicted on her, though intimacy with Xante does trouble her. She can't deny her attraction to him but fears that he too will be repulsed by the horrendous scars she bears.
This is one of those stories that once you read the first pages you're completed compelled to read on to know what will happen next. Karin is a heroine with a tortured past that she can't shake. Xante is a man used to getting what he wants, and is amazed when Karin doesn't seem to want him in return. At first she's a challenge, and then he finds himself wanting to protect her and it's obvious in the little things he does to make her life easier that he's coming to care for her. While he's anxious to know the past that seems to haunt Karin, he doesn't pursue it until his ex-fiancee makes a point of hinting that the past involves criminal charges. Confronting Karin, she ends their affair but not before she sets Xante straight on all those tidbits he's unearthed. Very angsty moments! I loved the HEA that Ms. Marinelli writes for these two.
Xanti's appreciative eyes immediately hone in on the gorgeous blond who has entered his hotel. She has grace and an air about her that says she belongs amoung the elite of the sports world who are gathered there. He spies her admiring the ruby rose that is locked behind glass, and he uses this as his approach. Opening the case, he hands her the rose to admire, and then is called away. Karin can't believe her luck to just be handed the rose, and she hesitates on what to do. Spying the emergency exit she makes her break, only to be tackled just outside the door by the captain of the rugby team. Karin now finds herself totally in Xante's hands, and to protect her family name she agrees to his terms. At first it was only to attend a charity gala with him, but Xante is quite intrigued by Karin and intends to seduce her. He makes her a deal, she'll accompany him to Greece to attend a family christening, pretend to be his current love interest and she'll spend her nights in his bed, in exchange she'll receive the rose. Karin surprises him by agreeing. She's actually relieved to leave England and hellish life her brother has inflicted on her, though intimacy with Xante does trouble her. She can't deny her attraction to him but fears that he too will be repulsed by the horrendous scars she bears.
This is one of those stories that once you read the first pages you're completed compelled to read on to know what will happen next. Karin is a heroine with a tortured past that she can't shake. Xante is a man used to getting what he wants, and is amazed when Karin doesn't seem to want him in return. At first she's a challenge, and then he finds himself wanting to protect her and it's obvious in the little things he does to make her life easier that he's coming to care for her. While he's anxious to know the past that seems to haunt Karin, he doesn't pursue it until his ex-fiancee makes a point of hinting that the past involves criminal charges. Confronting Karin, she ends their affair but not before she sets Xante straight on all those tidbits he's unearthed. Very angsty moments! I loved the HEA that Ms. Marinelli writes for these two.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 23, 2023
Loved it especially when the H first realized he loved h!
Read
December 3, 2015Lugemispäevik (tegelt pole ma veel alustanudki, aga leian, et kangelastegu väärib kajastamist):
Hulk raamatuid oli veega kahjustada saanud ja ootas äraviskamist, kui juhataja ytles, et tulgu ma vaadaku, ehk tahan midagi ajaviiteks lugemiseks võtta. Paraku märkasin kohe, et enamik oli sellest kõige jubedamast naistekasarjast, aga kuna ma seal juba olin, siis viisakusest vaatasin nad läbi ja kuna mul oli piinlik ylbe snoob olla, siis mõtlesin, et no las ma siis yhe võtan.
Võtsin raamatu Kreeka ärihaist ja saateks käis selline tõsine vestlus: mina: "Ma võtan siis selle, ehk õpin midagi uut (mõeldes maad)" ja tema: "Jah, ikkagi tuttav teema (mõeldes ka maad, ma väga loodan)". Pärast alles mõtlesin, naersin ja häbenesin.
Naistekatega on natuke nii nagu õudusfilmidega: mulle meeldivad õudukate treilerid ja tihti häirib mind, et nad on tehtud hästi ja põnevalt (nagu tänapäeva treilerid ikka), sest, hmh, ma ju ei vaata neid (ja siis tuleb meelde, et vaevalt ma viitsikski neid treilerist kauem vaadata). Naistekate puhul loen ma meelsasti nende tagakylgi ja mõnikord mõtlen, et kahju, et ma selliseid ei loe, sest kõik need nurjatud mägilased ja hukutavad hertsogid tunduvad nii jaburad (ja no mine tea, äkki ongi lõbustav, kaanepildid ju kyll lõbustavad), aga siis tuleb meelde, et vaevalt ma tegelikult tagakaanest rohkem lugeda viitsiks.
Ma pole siiski naistekatest täiesti puutumata: kuna ma kirjutan maniakaalselt kõiki loetud raamatuid yles juba aastast 1994, siis ma tean, et olen lugenud yht Barbara Cartlandi ("Mu sydames säravad tähed", 1995. a sygisel), aga kahjuks (või õnneks) ei mäleta ma sellest enam miskit.
Niisiis asusin eeltööd tegema. Goodreadsis on sel paar kiitvat arvustust, mis tundus kummaline (kas neil raamatuil on võimalik vahet teha, et neid kiita või laita?) ja suundusin Amazoni, kus sain esimese jahmatuse, kui pyydsin seda "greek tycooni" järgi yles leida. Naistekaid, mille pealkirjas on Kreeka ärihaid, on kymneid, kui mitte sadu! Neid on olemas terved sarjad! Sealjuures annab "greek billionaire" otsingus veel paarsada tulemust lisaks! On vähemalt neli raamatut, mille pealkiri on "Greek tycoon's ...(mingi omadussõna)... bride"! Neist joonistatakse mangasid!
Mis toimub maailmas?????????????
(No yks tark inimene syydistas Onassist, kõlab tõenäoliselt)
***
Alustuseks lugesin veelkord tagakaane yle: esiteks on ärihail monsternimi – Xante Rossi – ilmselgelt itaalia perekonnanimi ja ilmselgelt naisterahva eesnimi. Teiseks: romantika läbi pealesunnitud seksi – jei?
Ma pean ikka veel tublisti julgust koguma.
***
Kahe peatyki järel ytlen, et sisu on igav ja segane, kirjutatud on paiguti lihtsalt arusaamatult (või jääb mu kujutlusvõime nõrgaks) - kaunitar läheb õhtul peole beežis maani velvetkleidis (ja värk ei toimu 70ndatel) ja kaunishärrat kirjeldades õhatakse ta "kuklal täisnurkse juukselõikuse" üle (ja värk ei toimu ka kusagil dystoopia-Capitolis). Kogu oma sisemist Will Grahamit kokku võttes pyyan aru saada, miks selliseid kirjutatakse (sadade kaupa!) ja mida sellest saama peaks, aga võib-olla on mul puudulikud algteadmised... no millegi osas.
Edasi lugemiseks läheb vaja kannatlikkust, mitte julgust.
***
Läbi lugesin (ehkki enamasti diagonaalpilgul)! Asi muutus veidi arusaadavamaks, kui tegevus jõudis Kreekasse ja tekkis mingigi võrdluspunkt pärismaailmaga. Kõik oli aga veidike nihu - nagu oleks Kreeka, aga pisiasjades täiesti valesti; samamoodi ka yksikud kreeka sõnad või fraasid, mis olid mõnikord nii valesti kirjutatud kui ka veits vale tähendusega (täielikuks mysteeriumiks jääb, kui mees vihastab ja ytleb kreeka keeles: "Komotakia!" - kummutikesed!). Tundus, nagu oleks autor eemalt Kreekat näinud või kuulnud sellest räägitavat ja tegelikult on terve raamat selline. Ju on selliste raamatute eesmärk pakkuda unistusmaterjali argipäevade sekka, aga nagu Kreekagagi, tundub, et autor on eemalt näinud või lasknud endale jutustada, kuidas mingid armuunelmad käima peaksid ja siis selle enam-vähem kirja pannud. Isegi "Videvik" töötab sellest paremini.
Yhesõnaga: erakordselt halb raamat.
Hulk raamatuid oli veega kahjustada saanud ja ootas äraviskamist, kui juhataja ytles, et tulgu ma vaadaku, ehk tahan midagi ajaviiteks lugemiseks võtta. Paraku märkasin kohe, et enamik oli sellest kõige jubedamast naistekasarjast, aga kuna ma seal juba olin, siis viisakusest vaatasin nad läbi ja kuna mul oli piinlik ylbe snoob olla, siis mõtlesin, et no las ma siis yhe võtan.
Võtsin raamatu Kreeka ärihaist ja saateks käis selline tõsine vestlus: mina: "Ma võtan siis selle, ehk õpin midagi uut (mõeldes maad)" ja tema: "Jah, ikkagi tuttav teema (mõeldes ka maad, ma väga loodan)". Pärast alles mõtlesin, naersin ja häbenesin.
Naistekatega on natuke nii nagu õudusfilmidega: mulle meeldivad õudukate treilerid ja tihti häirib mind, et nad on tehtud hästi ja põnevalt (nagu tänapäeva treilerid ikka), sest, hmh, ma ju ei vaata neid (ja siis tuleb meelde, et vaevalt ma viitsikski neid treilerist kauem vaadata). Naistekate puhul loen ma meelsasti nende tagakylgi ja mõnikord mõtlen, et kahju, et ma selliseid ei loe, sest kõik need nurjatud mägilased ja hukutavad hertsogid tunduvad nii jaburad (ja no mine tea, äkki ongi lõbustav, kaanepildid ju kyll lõbustavad), aga siis tuleb meelde, et vaevalt ma tegelikult tagakaanest rohkem lugeda viitsiks.
Ma pole siiski naistekatest täiesti puutumata: kuna ma kirjutan maniakaalselt kõiki loetud raamatuid yles juba aastast 1994, siis ma tean, et olen lugenud yht Barbara Cartlandi ("Mu sydames säravad tähed", 1995. a sygisel), aga kahjuks (või õnneks) ei mäleta ma sellest enam miskit.
Niisiis asusin eeltööd tegema. Goodreadsis on sel paar kiitvat arvustust, mis tundus kummaline (kas neil raamatuil on võimalik vahet teha, et neid kiita või laita?) ja suundusin Amazoni, kus sain esimese jahmatuse, kui pyydsin seda "greek tycooni" järgi yles leida. Naistekaid, mille pealkirjas on Kreeka ärihaid, on kymneid, kui mitte sadu! Neid on olemas terved sarjad! Sealjuures annab "greek billionaire" otsingus veel paarsada tulemust lisaks! On vähemalt neli raamatut, mille pealkiri on "Greek tycoon's ...(mingi omadussõna)... bride"! Neist joonistatakse mangasid!
Mis toimub maailmas?????????????
(No yks tark inimene syydistas Onassist, kõlab tõenäoliselt)
***
Alustuseks lugesin veelkord tagakaane yle: esiteks on ärihail monsternimi – Xante Rossi – ilmselgelt itaalia perekonnanimi ja ilmselgelt naisterahva eesnimi. Teiseks: romantika läbi pealesunnitud seksi – jei?
Ma pean ikka veel tublisti julgust koguma.
***
Kahe peatyki järel ytlen, et sisu on igav ja segane, kirjutatud on paiguti lihtsalt arusaamatult (või jääb mu kujutlusvõime nõrgaks) - kaunitar läheb õhtul peole beežis maani velvetkleidis (ja värk ei toimu 70ndatel) ja kaunishärrat kirjeldades õhatakse ta "kuklal täisnurkse juukselõikuse" üle (ja värk ei toimu ka kusagil dystoopia-Capitolis). Kogu oma sisemist Will Grahamit kokku võttes pyyan aru saada, miks selliseid kirjutatakse (sadade kaupa!) ja mida sellest saama peaks, aga võib-olla on mul puudulikud algteadmised... no millegi osas.
Edasi lugemiseks läheb vaja kannatlikkust, mitte julgust.
***
Läbi lugesin (ehkki enamasti diagonaalpilgul)! Asi muutus veidi arusaadavamaks, kui tegevus jõudis Kreekasse ja tekkis mingigi võrdluspunkt pärismaailmaga. Kõik oli aga veidike nihu - nagu oleks Kreeka, aga pisiasjades täiesti valesti; samamoodi ka yksikud kreeka sõnad või fraasid, mis olid mõnikord nii valesti kirjutatud kui ka veits vale tähendusega (täielikuks mysteeriumiks jääb, kui mees vihastab ja ytleb kreeka keeles: "Komotakia!" - kummutikesed!). Tundus, nagu oleks autor eemalt Kreekat näinud või kuulnud sellest räägitavat ja tegelikult on terve raamat selline. Ju on selliste raamatute eesmärk pakkuda unistusmaterjali argipäevade sekka, aga nagu Kreekagagi, tundub, et autor on eemalt näinud või lasknud endale jutustada, kuidas mingid armuunelmad käima peaksid ja siis selle enam-vähem kirja pannud. Isegi "Videvik" töötab sellest paremini.
Yhesõnaga: erakordselt halb raamat.
July 21, 2017
At first I wasn't feeling this book in the beginning, I really had to dig in until I really got into it and enjoyed it. It just didn't grab me right away not until I got into the part where they were visiting his family in Greece then got really romantic and really deep with the revelation of what happened in Karin's past. It got really heart wrenching and angst after that then I was into Xante and Karin as a couple.
Just the beginning felt like the same old trope that I have read time and time again. It was a little predictable and not exciting. I didn't feel like they had a lot of chemistry or heat between them. I wasn't exactly rooting for them as a couple. I just wanted to get to the good stuff.
Once the good stuff came then the story really took off, and I really got them as a couple after that. I loved their time in Greece. It was sweet and romantic and just lovely as they were starting to fall in love. It had some of the most sensual love scenes that I have read in quite awhile, and they were full meaning in those moments. It revealed so much to what they had together. Plus there was just much behind those scenes and added depth and dimension to their relationship because though the were intimate, she was still hiding from him. She was hiding a part of herself from him both her physical and emotional scars. And she had lot going on emotionally.
Her past really gutted me. I understand why she acted like an ice queen like her reputation suggested. She suffered a lot and the only way that she could make it through was to hide and keep everyone at arms length because she didn't have a lot of trust in people. And who could blame her really? It was rough past, but she was willing to let Xanthe in and trust him with her. And it was really beautiful. I loved the moment that she finally revealed her physical scars to him because that was the last barrier between them. Again it was just a sensual and sweet moment between them. I loved that.
Once it got good, it got really good. I just needed to dig deeper between surface just like they had to do in the book. When the emotions came into play and they really got to know each other then it was really good. I wish that the story was like that all the way through and flowed a little easier. I enjoyed seeing them fall in love and get closer and closer. That was worth it in the end. I was so happy with the Greece part and onwards then it took off for me. So good.
Just the beginning felt like the same old trope that I have read time and time again. It was a little predictable and not exciting. I didn't feel like they had a lot of chemistry or heat between them. I wasn't exactly rooting for them as a couple. I just wanted to get to the good stuff.
Once the good stuff came then the story really took off, and I really got them as a couple after that. I loved their time in Greece. It was sweet and romantic and just lovely as they were starting to fall in love. It had some of the most sensual love scenes that I have read in quite awhile, and they were full meaning in those moments. It revealed so much to what they had together. Plus there was just much behind those scenes and added depth and dimension to their relationship because though the were intimate, she was still hiding from him. She was hiding a part of herself from him both her physical and emotional scars. And she had lot going on emotionally.
Her past really gutted me. I understand why she acted like an ice queen like her reputation suggested. She suffered a lot and the only way that she could make it through was to hide and keep everyone at arms length because she didn't have a lot of trust in people. And who could blame her really? It was rough past, but she was willing to let Xanthe in and trust him with her. And it was really beautiful. I loved the moment that she finally revealed her physical scars to him because that was the last barrier between them. Again it was just a sensual and sweet moment between them. I loved that.
Once it got good, it got really good. I just needed to dig deeper between surface just like they had to do in the book. When the emotions came into play and they really got to know each other then it was really good. I wish that the story was like that all the way through and flowed a little easier. I enjoyed seeing them fall in love and get closer and closer. That was worth it in the end. I was so happy with the Greece part and onwards then it took off for me. So good.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 12, 2019
3.5
Karin comes from a wealthy, socialite family, but there are scars beneath the surface...a darkness in her family that she'll do anything to keep from coming to light. And because of their increasing debt, her brother sold off her grandfather's prized rugby award - to Greek tycoon, Xante Rossi. She's caught trying to steal it from him. But Xante is intrigued by the "ice queen" and offers her a deal. She pose as his girlfriend and he won't press charges. He's surprised at how much they enjoy each other, even though he believes the press about her - that she's spoiled and selfish and just like her snobbish wealthy family. However, he starts seeing more to her and starts to fall for her, believing she has much more substance and vulnerability than he could have ever expected. But then he learns about her past and those scars and he bungles things. He'll have to put his heart on the line to earn back her love, but more importantly her trust.
I didn't immediately love this going in. I was turned off by Xante's motivations in blackmailing Karin - all he wanted was to thaw her "ice queen" exterior and his thoughts are pretty grubby...completely disrespectful of her as a person. Thankfully, she keeps him at a distance and doesn't let lust rule. Even still, his double standard disturbed me. After the rugby parade where she begged to be able to use the rose (the award) and for him to accompany her, he walked away complaining about how used he'd felt...yet he has every intention of using her in a different way. I wanted him to realize that. What follows though is a gradual awakening for him, as he starts to change and see her as more. I liked their tension and their chemistry, as well as her emotional distance in the face of his wanting more. But Xante doesn't change enough before confronting her about her past. That smacks him in the face and I'm glad he suffered. He needed to in order to grow and realize how deeply he loved Karin.
But I also had a problem with this too. He confronts her with evidence that she drove drunk as a 17-year-old and was rehabbed and tried to commit suicide. She confronts him with the truth that . So of course, she walks out and leaves him to be contrite and guilty for the next few months. My question is though, what if she really had just driven drunk, tried to commit suicide and gone to rehab. Was that really enough for him to feel justified in treating her like shit and walking away from her? I almost wish that had been the case to see him really grapple with the fact that she may have changed and was STILL worthy of his love despite her past actions. I think that would have been even better character development on his part. Nevertheless, she makes him suffer for it, which I appreciated. He doesn't do any major-league grovelling, but he does make himself vulnerable to her in his own way. And she forgives him. But what I REALLY appreciated is the fact that she doesn't trust him again right away. She forgives him, loves him and marries him, but it isn't until months later that she realizes she trusts him again as well. That felt like a more realistic way of doing things.
Karin comes from a wealthy, socialite family, but there are scars beneath the surface...a darkness in her family that she'll do anything to keep from coming to light. And because of their increasing debt, her brother sold off her grandfather's prized rugby award - to Greek tycoon, Xante Rossi. She's caught trying to steal it from him. But Xante is intrigued by the "ice queen" and offers her a deal. She pose as his girlfriend and he won't press charges. He's surprised at how much they enjoy each other, even though he believes the press about her - that she's spoiled and selfish and just like her snobbish wealthy family. However, he starts seeing more to her and starts to fall for her, believing she has much more substance and vulnerability than he could have ever expected. But then he learns about her past and those scars and he bungles things. He'll have to put his heart on the line to earn back her love, but more importantly her trust.
I didn't immediately love this going in. I was turned off by Xante's motivations in blackmailing Karin - all he wanted was to thaw her "ice queen" exterior and his thoughts are pretty grubby...completely disrespectful of her as a person. Thankfully, she keeps him at a distance and doesn't let lust rule. Even still, his double standard disturbed me. After the rugby parade where she begged to be able to use the rose (the award) and for him to accompany her, he walked away complaining about how used he'd felt...yet he has every intention of using her in a different way. I wanted him to realize that. What follows though is a gradual awakening for him, as he starts to change and see her as more. I liked their tension and their chemistry, as well as her emotional distance in the face of his wanting more. But Xante doesn't change enough before confronting her about her past. That smacks him in the face and I'm glad he suffered. He needed to in order to grow and realize how deeply he loved Karin.
But I also had a problem with this too. He confronts her with evidence that she drove drunk as a 17-year-old and was rehabbed and tried to commit suicide. She confronts him with the truth that . So of course, she walks out and leaves him to be contrite and guilty for the next few months. My question is though, what if she really had just driven drunk, tried to commit suicide and gone to rehab. Was that really enough for him to feel justified in treating her like shit and walking away from her? I almost wish that had been the case to see him really grapple with the fact that she may have changed and was STILL worthy of his love despite her past actions. I think that would have been even better character development on his part. Nevertheless, she makes him suffer for it, which I appreciated. He doesn't do any major-league grovelling, but he does make himself vulnerable to her in his own way. And she forgives him. But what I REALLY appreciated is the fact that she doesn't trust him again right away. She forgives him, loves him and marries him, but it isn't until months later that she realizes she trusts him again as well. That felt like a more realistic way of doing things.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 22, 2012
This book is the last one I had to read in the International Billionaire’s Series and it’s one of my favorite ones. I am not that crazy about rugby, which is the theme of the books but there wasn’t too much about rugby mania in it making the story of Karin Wallis, a beautiful titled English woman and Xanthus Rossi, a beyond gorgeous, rich and powerful Greek tycoon.
Karin has been labeled by the tabloids as the “Ice Queen” who jets around the world doing nothing but living the high life and they couldn’t be more wrong. She has been trying to keep her family together since the death of her beloved grandfather, a rugby legend and it seems that things are not really going well. Her drug-addicted parents had been killed after blowing most of the family’s fortune and now her horrible brother is continuing the saga which has her having to sell off the last of the family’s heirlooms to pay for her younger sister’s education.
Xanthe has clawed his way out of the Athens alleys to become a very rich man, who can have anything or anyone he wants. From the first moment he lays eyes on Karin, in one of his hotel’s foyer, he is totally smitten. But before he can make his move, she has flown away with one of his prized rugby mementos….the rugby rose which had belonged to her grandfather before her snarky brother had sold it without her knowledge. She needs it badly.
I just loved these two. Xanthe is really an amazing hero…yes alpha-male all the way but with such HEART.!! I couldn’t believe how beneath this hard exterior, was a gentle, caring person who goes out of his way to help Karin…on the way falling totally in love with her.
Karin seemed so bowed down by the things that had happened in her life, the terrible things she experienced with her parents before their death, the responsibility she feels for her sister, the result of her scars from an accident…I just wanted to cry for her. The feeling that you can’t trust or believe in anyone. But wow….does that mean she just gives in???? Absolutely not!!! She shows such courage and determination. She fights all the way…including the chemistry that is so sizzling between her and Xanthe. She can bite….some of the things she says to Xanthe…hurtful and spiteful…so cold at times…but I felt this was the way she believed she could remain strong and not be hurt again. Afraid to trust, to love. The patience Xanthe showed…really did me…I mean, here is this guy being snubbed, disrespected, bluntly told to go somewhere else…and what does he do??? He does everything possible to help her, to care for her, to love her!!!!! This is one of my most amazing heroes…..he has heart and soul!!!!!!! One of the things I think he learnt was that you cannot force anyone to love you….you have to believe and trust in them….something he also had an issue about. And that letter he sent Karin……..if that’s not poignant, romantic…then nothing else is!!!!!!
There were so many surprises in this book….even in the last few pages you learnt something new in their lives. You just had to keep reading page after page because you needed, wanted to know more.
This is just a wonderful love story, filled with hope, forgiveness, learning to trust and to love. It just made me feel so good after I finished reading and I could have quite happily continued reading about their life together.
Karin has been labeled by the tabloids as the “Ice Queen” who jets around the world doing nothing but living the high life and they couldn’t be more wrong. She has been trying to keep her family together since the death of her beloved grandfather, a rugby legend and it seems that things are not really going well. Her drug-addicted parents had been killed after blowing most of the family’s fortune and now her horrible brother is continuing the saga which has her having to sell off the last of the family’s heirlooms to pay for her younger sister’s education.
Xanthe has clawed his way out of the Athens alleys to become a very rich man, who can have anything or anyone he wants. From the first moment he lays eyes on Karin, in one of his hotel’s foyer, he is totally smitten. But before he can make his move, she has flown away with one of his prized rugby mementos….the rugby rose which had belonged to her grandfather before her snarky brother had sold it without her knowledge. She needs it badly.
I just loved these two. Xanthe is really an amazing hero…yes alpha-male all the way but with such HEART.!! I couldn’t believe how beneath this hard exterior, was a gentle, caring person who goes out of his way to help Karin…on the way falling totally in love with her.
Karin seemed so bowed down by the things that had happened in her life, the terrible things she experienced with her parents before their death, the responsibility she feels for her sister, the result of her scars from an accident…I just wanted to cry for her. The feeling that you can’t trust or believe in anyone. But wow….does that mean she just gives in???? Absolutely not!!! She shows such courage and determination. She fights all the way…including the chemistry that is so sizzling between her and Xanthe. She can bite….some of the things she says to Xanthe…hurtful and spiteful…so cold at times…but I felt this was the way she believed she could remain strong and not be hurt again. Afraid to trust, to love. The patience Xanthe showed…really did me…I mean, here is this guy being snubbed, disrespected, bluntly told to go somewhere else…and what does he do??? He does everything possible to help her, to care for her, to love her!!!!! This is one of my most amazing heroes…..he has heart and soul!!!!!!! One of the things I think he learnt was that you cannot force anyone to love you….you have to believe and trust in them….something he also had an issue about. And that letter he sent Karin……..if that’s not poignant, romantic…then nothing else is!!!!!!
There were so many surprises in this book….even in the last few pages you learnt something new in their lives. You just had to keep reading page after page because you needed, wanted to know more.
This is just a wonderful love story, filled with hope, forgiveness, learning to trust and to love. It just made me feel so good after I finished reading and I could have quite happily continued reading about their life together.
June 20, 2020
Read this cover to cover in one sitting... it was that compelling. Angst!
Two people with flawed backgrounds who found each other. (Other reviews explain the story well...)
Some of the twists were unexpected and I was rooting for them long before the end.
I love that he was celibate during their separation. (She was too, but he’d been clearly defined as a constant womanizer so it seemed important in showing how he felt about her.)
Absolutely one of her better books IMHO.
Two people with flawed backgrounds who found each other. (Other reviews explain the story well...)
Some of the twists were unexpected and I was rooting for them long before the end.
I love that he was celibate during their separation. (She was too, but he’d been clearly defined as a constant womanizer so it seemed important in showing how he felt about her.)
Absolutely one of her better books IMHO.
December 10, 2017
Olihan se hyvä :)
August 21, 2018
deduct one star the heroine is not a virgin ...
May 19, 2013
I was a little disappointed in this book, only because of in parts of the book, only half the page would load on my kindle.
The book that I was able to read was good. The world saw Karin as someone who had it all. She had a good background, and wealth, was sent to the best school. Karin was carrying around a lot of emotional baggage that she never shared with anyone. When she was finally able to talk about it, and start dealing with it, she was able to let her heart love.
This was a romance, that tugged on my heartstrings.
The book that I was able to read was good. The world saw Karin as someone who had it all. She had a good background, and wealth, was sent to the best school. Karin was carrying around a lot of emotional baggage that she never shared with anyone. When she was finally able to talk about it, and start dealing with it, she was able to let her heart love.
This was a romance, that tugged on my heartstrings.
January 4, 2021
Really torn whether I liked it or not. I started out liking it til like chapter 6 then hated it, the actions of heroine started not meshing with how she was before (around chapter 6 she agreed to prostitute herself to hero for the Ruby Rose and hero was treating her as if she was so messy that she needed lots of help to be presentable to his family when she was previously well bred and everyone liked her). I really liked last chapter when hero was very devoted to heroine and was celibate during 4* month separation. I feel like it could have been great had it been longer though. P.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 24, 2023
Started a little slow, but over all it was good. There was more focus on the plot than many HQPs I've read recently. Some minor twists & turns, but I really liked Karin.
October 4, 2023
Mmmmmhm 2.5 ⭐️
I expected better from the title. It should be called extorted into the tycoons bed, not blackmailed.
Blackmail is demanding payment in exchange for secrecy; extortion is getting something through threats or other forms of coercion.
Xante is coercing Karin into being his mistress by dangling the rose over her head. There is no threat of sharing her shameful secrets to the general public.
Stupid.
I expected better from the title. It should be called extorted into the tycoons bed, not blackmailed.
Blackmail is demanding payment in exchange for secrecy; extortion is getting something through threats or other forms of coercion.
Xante is coercing Karin into being his mistress by dangling the rose over her head. There is no threat of sharing her shameful secrets to the general public.
Stupid.
November 20, 2025
The ruthless Magnate's virgin mistress is so much better, Abbey is the best MC for real, Nikolai is my childhood crush, the book is on much higher quality than this shit, he reminds me of the teacher I fuck, fuck this Greek shit my Russian daddy Nikolai Arlov is the best motherfucker there is
#Liav #Arik #Racist #SmutFetish
#Liav #Arik #Racist #SmutFetish
January 24, 2020
Letto 2 volte. Mi piace sempre tanto
July 15, 2024
I normally love this author’s books. She is one of my favourite M&B authors and I re-read many of her books. However this was a rare disappointment.
I think CM pushed the boundaries just too far in this story, for me. This is one of CM’s older books and it feels it.
The heroine is loaded down with deep wounds and angst. Her parents were immoral drunks whose neglect saw one of their party guests spike her drink and attack her. She then drives away, crashes, is badly scarred and arrested for drunk driving. It’s never made clear if she was raped but it seems pretty clear to me that she was. So Karin has a million reasons for distrusting everyone and being the ‘ice queen’ everyone calls her. But the problem is that doesn’t really grow or change and her volte face comes too late for me. My sympathies were entirely with Xante.
Unfortunately I didn’t like Karin. The hero on the other hand was much more understandable in his behaviour - although the blackmailing for sex wouldn’t be accepted today. The wannabe OW was a one dimensional, cardboard cut out and totally unbelievable.
The premise on which the hero Xante and Karin come together is her attempt to retrieve a jewel belonging to her rugby playing grandfather, which her brother had fooled her into selling. This side of the story bored me stupid and I couldn’t empathise with Karin at all.
Karin’s attitude and behaviour towards Xante was really nasty and unpleasant a lot of the time. I couldn’t actually see the love developing even though we were constantly told it was happening.
I didn’t see why the hero had to grovel and whilst I appreciated the separation gave Karin the chance to grow up a bit - I thought it was all very unequal.
Parts of this books were so well written, I wanted to give 5 plus stars. However I think the author pushed Karin’s character so far out of my sympathy zone, that other parts of the book were a one star read. It’s not a bad read but I didn’t enjoy this half as much as most of CM’s books.
I think CM pushed the boundaries just too far in this story, for me. This is one of CM’s older books and it feels it.
The heroine is loaded down with deep wounds and angst. Her parents were immoral drunks whose neglect saw one of their party guests spike her drink and attack her. She then drives away, crashes, is badly scarred and arrested for drunk driving. It’s never made clear if she was raped but it seems pretty clear to me that she was. So Karin has a million reasons for distrusting everyone and being the ‘ice queen’ everyone calls her. But the problem is that doesn’t really grow or change and her volte face comes too late for me. My sympathies were entirely with Xante.
Unfortunately I didn’t like Karin. The hero on the other hand was much more understandable in his behaviour - although the blackmailing for sex wouldn’t be accepted today. The wannabe OW was a one dimensional, cardboard cut out and totally unbelievable.
The premise on which the hero Xante and Karin come together is her attempt to retrieve a jewel belonging to her rugby playing grandfather, which her brother had fooled her into selling. This side of the story bored me stupid and I couldn’t empathise with Karin at all.
Karin’s attitude and behaviour towards Xante was really nasty and unpleasant a lot of the time. I couldn’t actually see the love developing even though we were constantly told it was happening.
I didn’t see why the hero had to grovel and whilst I appreciated the separation gave Karin the chance to grow up a bit - I thought it was all very unequal.
Parts of this books were so well written, I wanted to give 5 plus stars. However I think the author pushed Karin’s character so far out of my sympathy zone, that other parts of the book were a one star read. It’s not a bad read but I didn’t enjoy this half as much as most of CM’s books.
June 23, 2021
Pertama kali lihat sampul edisi terjemahan di rak Gramedia, langsung samber aja. Judulnya menarik perhatian walaupun belum punya feeling cerita ini bakalan bagus.
Build characters dalam cerita sangat bagus, slow dan enggak terburu-buru. Amanlah dari indikasi DNF di pertengahan meskipun di awal-awal Xante Rossi cukup nyebelin. Seandainya karakter dia enggak ada perkembangan, udah kulempar novelnya ke gudang belakang rumah 😅
This book gave the viewpoints of both hero and heroine. Karin nyimpen banyak beban emosi tapi enggak bisa dibagiin ke orang lain. Xante pun enggak jauh beda. Tapi akhirnya bisa bernapas lega waktu mereka saling terbuka.
Twist yang enggak pernah kupikirkan sama sekali, bikin cerita ini tambah menarik. Niat DNF bener-bener padam walaupun di pertengahan, gejala bosen mulai timbul. This story is quite good if you love happy ending and struggling.
Build characters dalam cerita sangat bagus, slow dan enggak terburu-buru. Amanlah dari indikasi DNF di pertengahan meskipun di awal-awal Xante Rossi cukup nyebelin. Seandainya karakter dia enggak ada perkembangan, udah kulempar novelnya ke gudang belakang rumah 😅
This book gave the viewpoints of both hero and heroine. Karin nyimpen banyak beban emosi tapi enggak bisa dibagiin ke orang lain. Xante pun enggak jauh beda. Tapi akhirnya bisa bernapas lega waktu mereka saling terbuka.
Twist yang enggak pernah kupikirkan sama sekali, bikin cerita ini tambah menarik. Niat DNF bener-bener padam walaupun di pertengahan, gejala bosen mulai timbul. This story is quite good if you love happy ending and struggling.
March 31, 2010
Karin's family is supposed to be a great and famous one. Her grandfather was a well-known and well-payed rugby player and her parents a gorgeous couple. But appearances can be deceiving.
When Xante first sees Karin, he wants to melt the Ice Queen himself.
The challenge is set.
And when Karin tries to steal something she claims it's rightfully hers, the motive is found.
The book was modest but it contained many inadequacies. I'm from Greece and therefore, I could say that some of the terms used in this book were not spelled correct or were inacuarate...
When Xante first sees Karin, he wants to melt the Ice Queen himself.
The challenge is set.
And when Karin tries to steal something she claims it's rightfully hers, the motive is found.
The book was modest but it contained many inadequacies. I'm from Greece and therefore, I could say that some of the terms used in this book were not spelled correct or were inacuarate...
March 17, 2022
Bookish heiress Karin has failed in her first act of defiance! She's tried to take back the symbol of everything good in her life, but ruthless billionaire Xante Rossi has caught her red-handed!Why is this shy beauty stealing from him? Xante is intrigued. Karin's purity belies the corruption her family name represents. To save her from scandal and uncover the truth, he'll make a proposal. If Karin wants her precious heirloom, she'll have to earn it back in his bedroom! (l
January 22, 2016
I wasn't very keen on the blurb from the start but I read on anyway. Unfortunately, I was right with the disconnect regardless of who the author is. In this case, someone I really like. I just feel when this happens.
December 17, 2012
Rugby, poor gal, stolen trinket, into rugby circles.
September 9, 2015
This book was quite good. I didn't like Xante in the beginning but he grew on me. I really liked the ending.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews