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The Martinez Marriage Revenge
One woman discovers that you can’t keep secrets from a billionaire without expecting payback—of the most pleasurable kind . . .When Shannay’s marriage to billionaire Marcello Martinez ended, she returned home carrying with her a precious secret.Now, four years later, Marcello has tracked his wife down and discovered she has kept knowledge of his child from him!Marcello will make Shannay pay for her deception by returning her to their marital home—and their marriage bed . . .
241 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 2007
120 people are currently reading
354 people want to read
About the author
Helen Bianchin
380 books228 followersHelen Shirley was born on February 20 1939 in New Zealand, where she grew up, an only child possessed by a vivid imagination and a love for reading. She wrote stories for amusement in her early teenage years, and when she left leaving school, she took a secretarial job at a father-and-son legal firm.
At age twenty-one Helen joined a girlfriend and embarked on a working holiday in Australia, travelling via cruise ship from Auckland to Melbourne. Alas, no shipboard romance, as she spent all four days in her cabin suffering from sea-sickness! After fifteen months working in Melbourne, Helen and her friend bought a vehicle and took three months to drive the length and breadth of Australia, choosing to work in Cairns in order to fund the final leg of our journey to Sydney.
It was in Cairns that Helen met her future husband, Danilo Bianchin, an Italian immigrant from Treviso. He was a tobacco sharefarmer from the tobacco farming community of Mareeba. His English was pitiful, and her command of Italian was nil. Six months later they married, and Helen was flung into cooking for up to nine tobacco pickers, stringing tobacco, feeding 200 chickens, a few turkeys, ducks... plus killing, cleaning and cooking the same! Her knowledge of Italian improved, and there were hilarious moments in retrospect. Some of what she endured was cooking on a wood-burning stove, having no running hot water, a primitive shower and toilet facilities, washing uniforms for two soccer teams during the soccer season... floods, horrendous hailstone damage to tobacco crops, hardship, and the stillbirth of their first child. Then, to their joy, Helen's daughter, Lucia, was born. Three years later the couple returned to New Zealand, where they settled for sixteen years. During those early years, they added two sons, Angelo and Peter, to the family.
With multiple anecdotes of farm life in an Italian community to friends, the idea of writing a book occurred. A romance, set on a tobacco farm in Australia's far north, Queensland, featuring an Italian hero. Helen says, "the background was authentic, believe me!" However the hero was rich and owned the farm artistic license! It took her a year to complete a passable manuscript, typed on a portable typewriter at the dining room table. That first effort was deemed too short with insufficient detail. Helen rewrote it. This time it was considered too long with too much extraneous detail. She revised, then sent it to London. Four months later she received a telegram from Alan Boon (Mills & Boon) to say they intended to publish and a contract would be sent in the mail. It was the most wonderful news!
Helen wrote ten more books while living in New Zealand, then in 1981, her family resettled in Australia, on Queensland's Gold Coast. She has since published twenty-five more books. Today, with computer technology, the mechanics of writing are much easier. However, the writing process doesn't change. Helen says that she's having a good day if she can achieve 5 good pages, which she is likely to change, edit and rewrite the following day.
She loves creating characters, giving them life and providing a situation where their emotions are tested and love wins out. For her, the greatest praise is for a reader to say they couldn't put the book down... then Helen knows that she has achieved what she set out to do -- "create a moving enjoyable story which holds the reader entertained from beginning to end."
Helen's hobbies are tennis, table-tennis, judo, reading. She loves movies, and leads an active social life.
At age twenty-one Helen joined a girlfriend and embarked on a working holiday in Australia, travelling via cruise ship from Auckland to Melbourne. Alas, no shipboard romance, as she spent all four days in her cabin suffering from sea-sickness! After fifteen months working in Melbourne, Helen and her friend bought a vehicle and took three months to drive the length and breadth of Australia, choosing to work in Cairns in order to fund the final leg of our journey to Sydney.
It was in Cairns that Helen met her future husband, Danilo Bianchin, an Italian immigrant from Treviso. He was a tobacco sharefarmer from the tobacco farming community of Mareeba. His English was pitiful, and her command of Italian was nil. Six months later they married, and Helen was flung into cooking for up to nine tobacco pickers, stringing tobacco, feeding 200 chickens, a few turkeys, ducks... plus killing, cleaning and cooking the same! Her knowledge of Italian improved, and there were hilarious moments in retrospect. Some of what she endured was cooking on a wood-burning stove, having no running hot water, a primitive shower and toilet facilities, washing uniforms for two soccer teams during the soccer season... floods, horrendous hailstone damage to tobacco crops, hardship, and the stillbirth of their first child. Then, to their joy, Helen's daughter, Lucia, was born. Three years later the couple returned to New Zealand, where they settled for sixteen years. During those early years, they added two sons, Angelo and Peter, to the family.
With multiple anecdotes of farm life in an Italian community to friends, the idea of writing a book occurred. A romance, set on a tobacco farm in Australia's far north, Queensland, featuring an Italian hero. Helen says, "the background was authentic, believe me!" However the hero was rich and owned the farm artistic license! It took her a year to complete a passable manuscript, typed on a portable typewriter at the dining room table. That first effort was deemed too short with insufficient detail. Helen rewrote it. This time it was considered too long with too much extraneous detail. She revised, then sent it to London. Four months later she received a telegram from Alan Boon (Mills & Boon) to say they intended to publish and a contract would be sent in the mail. It was the most wonderful news!
Helen wrote ten more books while living in New Zealand, then in 1981, her family resettled in Australia, on Queensland's Gold Coast. She has since published twenty-five more books. Today, with computer technology, the mechanics of writing are much easier. However, the writing process doesn't change. Helen says that she's having a good day if she can achieve 5 good pages, which she is likely to change, edit and rewrite the following day.
She loves creating characters, giving them life and providing a situation where their emotions are tested and love wins out. For her, the greatest praise is for a reader to say they couldn't put the book down... then Helen knows that she has achieved what she set out to do -- "create a moving enjoyable story which holds the reader entertained from beginning to end."
Helen's hobbies are tennis, table-tennis, judo, reading. She loves movies, and leads an active social life.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
September 7, 2021
Secret baby/second chance story between a Spanish billionaire and his pharmacist wife who escaped to Perth (Australia) after she was convinced hubby was cheating with a socialite OW. Heroine then found out she was pregnant and decided to hide from the hero. There have been no divorce papers drawn up and her daughter is now in kindergarten.
The heroine is found out when a friend of the H's sees her with her daughter. Hero finally hunts her down with demands for a paternity test and a forced trip back to Spain so his grandfather can meet the child before he dies.
Most of the story is from the heroine's POV and the hero says very little. He hangs around with his daughter. Tells the heroine he never cheated. Pours out wine. Buys her clothes. Announces their social calendar. Picks her up out of her own bed and puts her in his - every night. It's all kind of mechanical and yet it's an oddly soothing contrast to the heroine's dramatic thinking.
For the third act of the story, the little girl is
There were hardly any showers or clothes descriptions and the OW was barely credible - so not a typical Helen Bianchin. I liked that the hero compromised at the end and that the heroine kept her job. You never know with these Spanish Billionaire types who didn't bother to find you the first time you left.
The heroine is found out when a friend of the H's sees her with her daughter. Hero finally hunts her down with demands for a paternity test and a forced trip back to Spain so his grandfather can meet the child before he dies.
Most of the story is from the heroine's POV and the hero says very little. He hangs around with his daughter. Tells the heroine he never cheated. Pours out wine. Buys her clothes. Announces their social calendar. Picks her up out of her own bed and puts her in his - every night. It's all kind of mechanical and yet it's an oddly soothing contrast to the heroine's dramatic thinking.
For the third act of the story, the little girl is
There were hardly any showers or clothes descriptions and the OW was barely credible - so not a typical Helen Bianchin. I liked that the hero compromised at the end and that the heroine kept her job. You never know with these Spanish Billionaire types who didn't bother to find you the first time you left.
March 11, 2014
i really liked the fact that the hero didn't get involved with another woman during the time of separation with heroine.
i mean in most of the harlequin books, the hero gets involves with other women when they r not with the heroine, n says that " I'm not a monk."
and meanwhile they expect the heroine to be faithful to them,
that's the height of hypocrisy , which was not there in this book, thats why i'm giving 1 extra star, to this book..
other wise it was a 4 star book for me..
i mean in most of the harlequin books, the hero gets involves with other women when they r not with the heroine, n says that " I'm not a monk."
and meanwhile they expect the heroine to be faithful to them,
that's the height of hypocrisy , which was not there in this book, thats why i'm giving 1 extra star, to this book..
other wise it was a 4 star book for me..
December 8, 2016
marriage in trouble + separated + heroine in love + hero coveted by another woman + ex lover bitch + describes parties and clothes of the rich in detail.
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Story full of holes that left a lot unanswered.
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Story full of holes that left a lot unanswered.
October 31, 2020
All (lust, revenge, love) was said, not felt by the MCs.
July 31, 2015
2.5 stars
I picked up this book after reading on a thread that it had the most evil other woman. Well, I guess those readers haven't read many of the books I have. The OW is a bitch but she doesn't even come close to many others. In reality, there are not as much interaction between the three and the reader can easily see Marcello is hardly even tolerating the other woman. Also, the aunt that was suppose to be so bad really wasn't. I didn't warm up to Shannay much. I found her cold and very demanding. She had no living family and hardly had a friend
I picked up this book after reading on a thread that it had the most evil other woman. Well, I guess those readers haven't read many of the books I have. The OW is a bitch but she doesn't even come close to many others. In reality, there are not as much interaction between the three and the reader can easily see Marcello is hardly even tolerating the other woman. Also, the aunt that was suppose to be so bad really wasn't. I didn't warm up to Shannay much. I found her cold and very demanding. She had no living family and hardly had a friend
May 3, 2014
Marcello is an annoying son of a gun.
Personally, that's what I think. There are so many gaps in this book, like why in the world Shannay didn't file for divorce as soon as she left Madrid and only to wait until Marcello finds her? Or why Marcello's aunt is a bitch but not being blamed for her running? How about Estella too?
That's why I can't force myself to like this book. I think it's enjoyable but not my favorite. I wish there's more angst than this.
Overall good storyline.
Personally, that's what I think. There are so many gaps in this book, like why in the world Shannay didn't file for divorce as soon as she left Madrid and only to wait until Marcello finds her? Or why Marcello's aunt is a bitch but not being blamed for her running? How about Estella too?
That's why I can't force myself to like this book. I think it's enjoyable but not my favorite. I wish there's more angst than this.
Overall good storyline.
September 28, 2018
I am so getting sick of reading about weak heroines!!
February 3, 2020
It's my first book by Helen Bianchin and I'm pleasantly surprised. This was a decent read and I enjoyed it quite a lot.
This is the story of Shannay and Marcello and how they rediscover themselves and learn to be a family. Almost 4 years ago Shannay left Marcello because she thought he was having an affair; to be fair, his ex-OW was making some mischief and his great-aunt wasn't helping matters. I'm not sure why he didn't do more to convince his wife he wasn't having an affair (I guess he was too proud to do it and thought his word would be enough) or why he didn't do more to ease his young wife's insecurities. But I guess their time apart taught him to fight for her a bit more, although he's still very tight with verbal declarations of love.
What was a big plus for me: both were celibate during their separation. When there's more than one year of separation, I'm always a bit stressed about the MCs staying celibate.
This is the story of Shannay and Marcello and how they rediscover themselves and learn to be a family. Almost 4 years ago Shannay left Marcello because she thought he was having an affair; to be fair, his ex-OW was making some mischief and his great-aunt wasn't helping matters. I'm not sure why he didn't do more to convince his wife he wasn't having an affair (I guess he was too proud to do it and thought his word would be enough) or why he didn't do more to ease his young wife's insecurities. But I guess their time apart taught him to fight for her a bit more, although he's still very tight with verbal declarations of love.
What was a big plus for me: both were celibate during their separation. When there's more than one year of separation, I'm always a bit stressed about the MCs staying celibate.
July 16, 2015
wow, ithought that this book was fabulous!!! lol the plot seemed very well thought out and for once the conflict of the their past was very plausible. as much as i love the harlequin presents series (and i do, i definitely do), the conflict of most of the books is a little hard to relate to or even imagine as possible, sometimes its just ridiculous. but this was definitely not. its easy to understand her leaving him if his entire family and his former lover are constantly tormenting her and attempting to dismiss and diminish her, and force her to believe he was cheating on her. the characters chemistry was a powerful thing and the sex was hot lol and im very happy she wasnt a woman who simply gave into the man, no matter how sexy and tempting he may be ;) she actually resisted, for as long as she could and even after she gave in the first time, she continue to fight her passions. the ending was excellent, both the way they reconciled and the way she left off in their growing family. i have greatly enjoyed reading this and do recommend it :)
August 29, 2015
If you like a super fierce heroine who won't give in to the hero and resist him till the end you will ADORE this book! I found the heroine very cold but I know readers who like fierce heroines will adore her and this book!
October 28, 2021
I don’t understand that she hides his child from him for 4 years - without having a good reason - and that she is angry and mad throughout the book. Shouldn’t he be the angry one that he has lost out on seeing the first 4 years of his child.
She knows he would love his child and that’s why she didn’t tell him.
She knows he would love his child and that’s why she didn’t tell him.
November 11, 2019
Protagonistas: Marcos & Shannay
Profesiones: Farmaceutica & Empresario
Pais: Australia
Profesiones: Farmaceutica & Empresario
Pais: Australia
August 29, 2012
Again - nothing special. I think the main issue I had with this book is that the story never really has time to flesh out it's potential. I enjoyed the father meeting his young daughter for the first time and the developing relationship but never felt like I knew enough about the reasons that made the heroine leave in the first place to really get into the story.
*purchased in box of books from the end of the lifeline bookfest*
*purchased in box of books from the end of the lifeline bookfest*
January 22, 2014
this was too cliched 4 me. u no a storyline can be cliched but well done. this one was boring, it was like reading smthg i've read too many times ! add 2 dat, marcello's insane idea of revenge, getting shannay back !? is dat revenge !? lol. it wud have made more sense 4 him 2 snatch the child if he wanted revenge. he also let her go n did not pursue her in the 4 years.
April 11, 2015
In Spain women retain their maiden names even when they get married so the h would not have been introduced as Shannay Martinez.
December 27, 2020
There are Spoilers......The book moved pretty quickly and I enjoyed this 2nd chance love story...Mainly told from the heroine’s POV. We see glimpses of the Hero’s thoughts...usually indicating he loves her.
Hero...your typical Spanish alpha heart throb with caveman tactics...likes to carry or throw heroine over his shoulder, he was not cruel...he indicated that he was set on revenge but he didn’t follow typical revenge hero story lines...no flaunting of fake ow’s or threats of destroying her and taking the child
Heroine: likable, independent, raised a loving well adjusted daughter, she really needed the hero to confess his undying love for her and all the drama might have been avoided...Absence might have been what she needed to grow a backbone...I mean we hear that the ow taunted her but the hero denied a relationship (she never witnessed ow with hero) there was an aunt in cahoots with the ow, BUT the grandfather and other family members seemed fine...so not sure why she didn’t trust the hero except it sounds like he didn’t say I love you...she left...wanted to be chased but wasn’t...although he called, left messages set up bank accounts(which she didn’t touch) and had a good reason for staying in Spain...she then secretly had his daughter...she should have told him when she found out IMO ...but again I think our heroine needed time to mature
OW- She wants to be the Mrs of the hero’s kisses, but alas he has no interest in her...she makes the h think otherwise...however in the absence of the h the OW moves on and marries another...when the h re enters the H’s sphere, the ow is ready to resume her barbs, but first the hero basically gives her a hands off message...AND now with her backbone in alignment, the h basically tells the ow that the H could have married her but didn’t.....finally seems the h has this woman’s number and she is letting her messages go to voicemail!
Secret baby...who is now 3 and some odd months...not a brat...seems to love unconditionally, is brave, and listens to her elders...she gets kidnapped near the end of the story, but is quickly rescued because the bodyguard and father have measures in place....this event puts in motion a change of venue
HEA....after the kidnapping, hero lets h go back to Perth where threats of kidnapping are less rampant....he calls his daughter everyday and finds that the h is sick...pregnancy????He takes a flight out to Perth almost immediately...arranges babysitting for his daughter, and carries his wife over his shoulder from her place of business...whisks her to hotel where he proceeds to show her real estate near Perth and express his undying love....yes the hero is willing to relocate for the love of his family....the heroine says she loves him too...but should forgo the champagne celebration....husband is ecstatic that his swimmers met with success again! They renew their vows...set up house...and baby Ramon is born!
Now if only Carlos the bodyguard could get his own story...I think there’s some fantasies left to explore there😜
Hero...your typical Spanish alpha heart throb with caveman tactics...likes to carry or throw heroine over his shoulder, he was not cruel...he indicated that he was set on revenge but he didn’t follow typical revenge hero story lines...no flaunting of fake ow’s or threats of destroying her and taking the child
Heroine: likable, independent, raised a loving well adjusted daughter, she really needed the hero to confess his undying love for her and all the drama might have been avoided...Absence might have been what she needed to grow a backbone...I mean we hear that the ow taunted her but the hero denied a relationship (she never witnessed ow with hero) there was an aunt in cahoots with the ow, BUT the grandfather and other family members seemed fine...so not sure why she didn’t trust the hero except it sounds like he didn’t say I love you...she left...wanted to be chased but wasn’t...although he called, left messages set up bank accounts(which she didn’t touch) and had a good reason for staying in Spain...she then secretly had his daughter...she should have told him when she found out IMO ...but again I think our heroine needed time to mature
OW- She wants to be the Mrs of the hero’s kisses, but alas he has no interest in her...she makes the h think otherwise...however in the absence of the h the OW moves on and marries another...when the h re enters the H’s sphere, the ow is ready to resume her barbs, but first the hero basically gives her a hands off message...AND now with her backbone in alignment, the h basically tells the ow that the H could have married her but didn’t.....finally seems the h has this woman’s number and she is letting her messages go to voicemail!
Secret baby...who is now 3 and some odd months...not a brat...seems to love unconditionally, is brave, and listens to her elders...she gets kidnapped near the end of the story, but is quickly rescued because the bodyguard and father have measures in place....this event puts in motion a change of venue
HEA....after the kidnapping, hero lets h go back to Perth where threats of kidnapping are less rampant....he calls his daughter everyday and finds that the h is sick...pregnancy????He takes a flight out to Perth almost immediately...arranges babysitting for his daughter, and carries his wife over his shoulder from her place of business...whisks her to hotel where he proceeds to show her real estate near Perth and express his undying love....yes the hero is willing to relocate for the love of his family....the heroine says she loves him too...but should forgo the champagne celebration....husband is ecstatic that his swimmers met with success again! They renew their vows...set up house...and baby Ramon is born!
Now if only Carlos the bodyguard could get his own story...I think there’s some fantasies left to explore there😜
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 20, 2022
De esas historias cortitas y con final feliz, para desconectar aunque en un principio parece poco interesante despues te enganchas hasta que la terminas!!! Vaya intensidad la de Marcos 😉...el un Millonario heredero Español y ella una sencilla chica Australiana ella despues de haberse marchado y haber dejado a su marido esconde un secreto que sera develado casualmente Cuatro años despues y en pocos dias Marcos tocara a su puerta en busca de una explicacion y de venganza!!!
November 7, 2024
Nice read.
Good chemistry between Marcello and Shanney, they make a cute couple. But of course outside people think they know what is better for them and it is not each other, so they set out to destroy their marriage. Four years on they are reunited over a little secret Shanney walked away with. I like how Shanney actually had a professional job with a degree and brains. Marcello of course is a gorgeous rich hero. Published in 2008.
Good chemistry between Marcello and Shanney, they make a cute couple. But of course outside people think they know what is better for them and it is not each other, so they set out to destroy their marriage. Four years on they are reunited over a little secret Shanney walked away with. I like how Shanney actually had a professional job with a degree and brains. Marcello of course is a gorgeous rich hero. Published in 2008.
July 25, 2020
So...why didn't the hero move to get the heroine before? He was really lazy and wasn't interested until he found out he had a kid. Why did he let her go in the first..you know what I guess it's just whateves. Read it but there are a ton of easily fixable issues that aren't really addressed.
January 2, 2023
The book was just okay. There was nothing bad about it, but I won't remember anything about it in a few weeks.
They acted like they hated each other then I'd blink and they were having sex. No transition, tension or anything. It was more like couples roleplaying then actual disdain.
They acted like they hated each other then I'd blink and they were having sex. No transition, tension or anything. It was more like couples roleplaying then actual disdain.
June 22, 2023
I haven’t enjoyed most of this author’s books, too much like gawking at really rich people and I don’t care. This one has some of the clothes and food and social events but it’s mild. Decent story but not much revenge.
June 27, 2020
Good read
February 27, 2021
Excellent
Warm and sensual story. The characters were fresh and though the storyline is familiar it was very well done. I couldn’t put this one down.
Warm and sensual story. The characters were fresh and though the storyline is familiar it was very well done. I couldn’t put this one down.
May 29, 2021
رواية جميلة واحداث القصة مترابطة والقراءة ممتعة جدا
استمتعت بقراءتها الصراحة
قريتها مرتين عشان ما أظلم الرواية وعشان أفهم أحداثها أكثر
أنصح بقراءتها
استمتعت بقراءتها الصراحة
قريتها مرتين عشان ما أظلم الرواية وعشان أفهم أحداثها أكثر
أنصح بقراءتها
Read
February 20, 2022I love shanny maybe she like me pharmacist.This book abou secret baby and fake price and prid.
October 26, 2022
No excuse for what she did.
July 28, 2023
it was a good read
It had many twists and turns, and it was a very entertaining book
I could read it again and enjoy it thoroughly
It had many twists and turns, and it was a very entertaining book
I could read it again and enjoy it thoroughly
August 22, 2023
Comparativamente à última novela que li, esta foi mais interessante. Contudo, em relação a outras já lidas, o drama foi pouco imaginativo.
November 21, 2024
Wonderful Story
Loved this story of two lost souls who finally came together in love. They finally got to their HEA which is great
Loved this story of two lost souls who finally came together in love. They finally got to their HEA which is great
November 24, 2024
A good read
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews