Joaquin Luis Sola is true to his Argentinean heritage — proud and passionate. He has rebuilt his family's fortunes from nothing. Although beautiful Nicole Ashton left him five years ago, Quin still yearns to possess her.
Now there is an opportunity to settle this old score. Nicole is offering twenty-six nights of lovemaking, if he will pay her debts. Quin is already wealthy through smart investments, and this proposition promises a most satisfying return....
Emma Darcy is the pseudonym created by the married writing team of Wendy (1940-2020) and Frank Brennan (1936-1995). Their life journey has taken as many twists and turns as the characters in their stories, whose international popularity has resulted in over sixty-million book sales. With more than a hundred titles, Emma Darcy appeared regularly on the Waldenbooks bestseller lists in the U.S.A. and in the Nielson BookScan Top 100 chart in the U.K.
Wendy was born 28 November 1940 in Australia. Her sister was the novelist Maureen Mary (Miranda Lee). Her father was a country school teacher and brilliant sportsman. Her mother was a talented dressmaker. She obtained an Honours degree in Latin and initially worked as a high school English/French teacher. She married Frank Brennan, an Australian businessman born in 1936. She changed careers to computer programming before marriage and motherhood settled her into a community life. She was reputedly the first woman computer programmer in the southern hemisphere.
As voracious readers, the step to writing their own books seemed a natural progression and the challenge of creating exciting stories was soon highly addictive. They were published since 1983. In 1993, for the Emma Darcy pseudonym's 10th anniversary, they created the "Emma Darcy Award Contest" to encourage authors to finish their manuscripts. After the death of Frank Brennan in 1995, Wendy wrotes books on her own. She lived in a beachside property on the central coast of New South Wales, and liked to travel extensively to research settings and increase her experience of places and people.
Wendy Brennan passed away on December 21, 2020. She is survived by her children, grandchildren, and sister, writer Miranda Lee.
Ok, so maybe this book wasn't that bad but it definitely made me explode. This is not the first time I read about the heroine hiding a baby from the hero and let me tell you, I hate it. She claims it to be for the child's benefit but she's actually hurt because the hero didn't love her, well, get over it! How can they say they're good mothers when they keep the child apart from the father, if the father were a criminal then they'd be right, but that's never the case in this kind of books. Anyway, I hate that kind of heroine, hope will never read one of those again.
Una novela cortísima, simple, sin ninguna pretensión, y que utiliza tópicos y fórmulas usadas hasta el cansancio en el género. Absolutamente prescindible.
A very sexy and well-written read. The characters were like-able and thought out with an understandable plot and conflict and a very enjoyable ending. Quin sounded totally gorgeous and manly lol and Nicole was very independent and I loved how she refused to be swayed no matter how sexy and compelling he became. I also found it very unusual and actually kinda refreshing how Zoe was not a very important character in the storyline. Usually in stories of the man finding out he had a long-lost child, that child is the focus for a large portion of the book, whereas in this the girl was almost irrelevant. Not that they didn't love or spend time with her, they did, but this story was more focused on the parents developing a real relationship with real emotion instead of them all just becoming family and living happily ever after like in other books. The butterfly tree and all the little butterfly references was very cute and added a personal level to the story which I loved lol all in all it was a very book and I definitely recommend it :)
Leaving the work-a-holic invester, Quin Luis Sola, 5 years ago was the best thing Nicole Ashton could do for herself. She was never his top priority and he was always in control. But when their paths cross one night at a bar, Nicole uses the oppertunity to save her mother's dance studio from going under. Making a deal that if Quin pays off their debt, Ashley will be his for the taking for 26 nights. At first, Quin thinks this is the best way to get Ashley back into his life, which he really does want. But a lot has happened in the past 5 years, and both Quin and Ashley must forgive each other and learn what it really takes to make a relationship work. Very enjoyable story. I enjoyed the fact that this time it was the man that got dumped and was wanting the woman back.
I felt there was more lust than love between Joaquin and Nicole. For Nicole, the only other emotion that eclipsed the lust was bitterness. She spent the majority of the book stewing in this state, even after five years apart. Quin did hurt her, but I thought his mistake didn't justify the magnitude of the anger she felt. Nicole was shortchanged a bit at the end though by having to wait to hear Quin's declaration of love for the first time the way she did. The timing made it seem less romantic and special.
So, an overly bitter heroine and lackluster emotion between the protagonists made for a humdrum read.
El libro no está mal, pero es demasiado previsible. Me hubiera gustado que la autora ahondara más en los sentimientos de Quin, pero no hay mucho más que añadir.
I've come to the conclusion that this particular author is a very good writer of emotional drama, but she doesn't include the romance that I read for. For nearly 80% of the book, the heroine is emotionally distraught and in no place to feel romanced. For that matter, the hero isn't particularly romantic either - as to him, lust is a reason to marry.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I read this book years ago, recently found it again and had to re-read it. It's a great story. Well written with characters that you can empathize with.
I also loved the banter between Quin and Nicole when they met again at the club. It was obvious from that witty repartee, that these two still had a helluva spark burning for each other.
It was a fun read and I'm glad that I kept my copy and was able to read it again.
Acabo de terminar el libro y aún tengo sentimientos encontrados, de lo que estoy segura es que la forma de la autora de llevar a cabo la relación no me convenció y lo único que me pareció un tanto verosímil fue el dramatismo que rodeaba a los personajes. A pesar de que sí se veía el amor detrás, Nicole y Quin resultaron bastante ciegos y testarudos para mi gusto. Si hubiera querido ver más de la pequeña Zoe. Es una novela bastante recomendable para pasar el rato, eso sí.
Joaquin Luis Sola is true to his Argentinean heritage -- proud and passionate. He has rebuilt his family's fortunes from nothing. Although beautiful Nicole Ashton left him five years ago, Quin still yearns to possess her. Now there is an opportunity to settle this old score. Nicole is offering twenty-six nights of lovemaking, if he will pay her debts. Quin is already wealthy through smart investments, and this proposition promises a most satisfying return....
Leer ese libro no ha sido una de las mejores experiencias de mi vida... Estaba bien la narrativa y todo el aspecto técnico, pero la trama era aburrida y predecible. Personalmente, llegar al final fue toda una prueba (que no me importaría haber fallado).
"The Secret Baby Revenge" is the story of Nicole and Quin.
The book begins with the hero encountering the heroine again, and becoming obsessed with having her again. Five years ago, she had dumped him after a passionate affair, but he has not forgotten her. The heroine is in desperate need of funds, and agrees to be his bedmate in exchange for much needed money. Midway through their passionate interlude, a secret from the past is revealed, shattering him. Will he be able to win the heroine's heart again?
I like the remorse the hero faced in the second half. He was not threatening or obnoxious, instead honest, welcoming and accepted the errors of his past. Enjoyed it!
I thought Quin was an amazing man. Yes he made mistakes but nothing compared to Nicole's selfishness. He had a right to know about his baby. She was really quick to ask him for the money (a lot of money) but she still wasn't going to tell him about Zoe. Four stars - one less than it deserved because I didn't like Nicole.
La historia de amor de reencuentro y dulce venganza paulatina, circunstancias de sobre vivencia que conllevan a tratos que cambian toda la vida. A su vez es una historia que describe el erotismo fruto del amor y la chispiante química entre los personajes Quin y Nicole.
Las razones por las que la venganza de uno a otro obró del tal manera por causa del pasado, se desliza suavemente a un ritmo adecuado. Las decisiones y reparos que en un momento dado de la vida debemos asumir, muchas veces nos alejan de las cosas más preciosas e importantes.
Hay detalles que la autora describe que hacen a la historia darle un toque especial, como simbolos importantes en la relación y vida de ambos personajes y terceros también. Al final las razones son válidas y pueden ser ampliamente entendidas o acpetadas.
Finalmente, una reflezión muy bella que nos deja Quin, la principal base de del amor es la confianza y el amor debe atesorarse y nunca descuidarse.
No le doy un cinco porque creo que la escritora pudo agregarle al menos dos capítulos más con un poco de más detalles sobre el background de los personajes.
Quin and nicole part ways when Nicole finds herself pregnant and dosent see any indication of Quin committment to raise a family. They meet years later when nicole is in desperate need of money to save a livelihood/pride of her mother who has been through tough personal times but always been supportive of Nicole as they jointly try to raise Nicole's daughter. Quin meanwhile is stinking rich but lonely and he is determined to win Nicole back. Nicole sets a price on a sexual relationship with him for three months only to which he readily agrees. He discovers and regrets that in his single minded devotion to duty as a son he lost the love of his woman and missed the birth of his daughter. As the story unwinds misunderstandings are cleared up and love triumphs. This is a beautifully written romance with solid storyline where the characters are strong, values portrayed are higher. I loved this book.
Vai que é um 2,5*... o início arrastou-se, pareceu-me que indefinidamente, e o final estragou um bocado a coisa com o Quin a adoptar uma postura de 'eu quero, posso e mando' e Nicole a acatar tudo para não o perder, numa atitude passiva e submissa de uma forma forçada. Tem um carácter erótico, se bem que não o classifico como tal. A autora poderia ter desenvolvido mais nesta parte - mas como sempre acontece nos HQ, é tudo numa correria-e-troca-o-passo. Foi um livrinho que me entreve por umas horas, cumpriu o objectivo, já que sabia não ir encontrar nenhum nobel.
It was an easy read, but lacked a couple of key elements found in a romance novel. There was not description of the feelings of the characters. When you read a book, you gain a new experience from the lives of the characters, but here I could not connect with them. Also, the book ended way too soon for my liking. It was a good pastime, however it needs to make a few changes to stand out.
2,5* pelo beneficio da duvida. apesar de ter um inicio da historia, meio "cliche", o seu desenrolar dá-nos uma historia mais credivel, tornando-se mais doce e com uma melhor caracterização dos personagens.