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Three Rich Husbands #1
The Billionaire's Bride of Vengeance
Though he's superrich and supereligible, marriage hasn't been on Russell McClain's agenda. Instead the handsome Sydney tycoon is focused on personal revenge—and Nicole Power, his sworn enemy's daughter, is central to his plan. She will pay for her fraudster father's sins. Russell will ruthlessly seduce her, bed her and discard her….
But when Russell's desire for Nicole becomes very real and very strong, one night is not enough. However, making Nicole his willing wife might just satisfy his need for vengeance….
But when Russell's desire for Nicole becomes very real and very strong, one night is not enough. However, making Nicole his willing wife might just satisfy his need for vengeance….
192 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published October 1, 2009
30 people are currently reading
295 people want to read
About the author
Miranda Lee
815 books237 followersMaureen Mary was born on 1945 at Port Macquarie, a popular seaside town on the Mid-North Coast of New South Wales, Australia, and is the youngest of four children. Her sister was the novelist Wendy Brennan (Emma Darcy). Her father was a country school teacher and brilliant sportsman. Her mother was a talented dressmaker. When Miranda was ten, her father was transferred to Gosford, another coastal town in the countryside, much closer to Sydney. After leaving her convent school, she briefly studied the cello before moving to Sydney, where she embraced the emerging world of computers. Her career as a programmer ended after she married, had three daughters and bought a small acreage in a semi-rural community. Following this, she attempted greyhound training, as well as horse and goat breeding, but was left dissatisfied.
Miranda yearned to find a creative career from which she could earn money. When her sister suggested writing romances, it seemed like a good idea. She could do it at home, and it might even be fun! It took a decade of trial and error before her first romance, After the Affair, was accepted and published. At that time, Miranda, her husband Tony, and her three daughters had moved back to the Central Coast, where they could enjoy the sun and the surf lifestyle once again. Not long into her writing career, Miranda committed herself to writing a six-book series entitled, The Hearts of Fire, with a deadline of just nine short months. Bravely, her husband left his executive position to stay home and support Miranda’s writing career. He learned to cook and to clean, two invaluable household skills. Numerous successful stories followed, each embodying Miranda’s trademark style: pacy and sexy rhythms; passionate, real-life characters; and enduring, memorable story lines. She has one credo when writing romances: Don’t bore the reader! Millions of fans world-wide agree she never does.
Miranda was the sister of the late author, Emma Darcy.
Miranda yearned to find a creative career from which she could earn money. When her sister suggested writing romances, it seemed like a good idea. She could do it at home, and it might even be fun! It took a decade of trial and error before her first romance, After the Affair, was accepted and published. At that time, Miranda, her husband Tony, and her three daughters had moved back to the Central Coast, where they could enjoy the sun and the surf lifestyle once again. Not long into her writing career, Miranda committed herself to writing a six-book series entitled, The Hearts of Fire, with a deadline of just nine short months. Bravely, her husband left his executive position to stay home and support Miranda’s writing career. He learned to cook and to clean, two invaluable household skills. Numerous successful stories followed, each embodying Miranda’s trademark style: pacy and sexy rhythms; passionate, real-life characters; and enduring, memorable story lines. She has one credo when writing romances: Don’t bore the reader! Millions of fans world-wide agree she never does.
Miranda was the sister of the late author, Emma Darcy.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
August 26, 2021
Surprisingly I really enjoyed this book.
It was not what I expected.
I expected A story of revenge, where a dark hero treats the heroine unfairily but this was not the case.
The hero's father committed suicide and the H devoted his life to his revenge on the h's father, who he considered responsible for his father's death.
He financially ruins the man.
The heroine is the stepdaughter.
When they meet it is obvious and clear that H is smitten and in insta lust with the heroine.
He decides that it would be a very good thing for his revenge if he bedded the heroine, especially if he defiled her on the evil man's bed.
Actually the heroine has broken up with her sf and has recently been to Thailand where she is helping an orphanage, so she doesn't really care for her sf or the loss of his fortune.
She's also broken her engagement with a rich man who cheated on her, so she now thinks all rich men are shallow and mean.
The hero is really fascinated by her, he isn't cruel or mean. At first he thinks she's an experienced socialite without a conscience, a party girl always having fun, but he believes her when she tells him how inexperienced she is and how her life really is.
He's not a stubborn man who thinks the worst of her and he's able to understand how the heroine really is.
Despite his plans of revenge, he falls in love with her in a couple of days and wants to marry her, thinking it would be a perfect revenge if he married his enemy's daughter (but we know he wants to marry her because he's mad about her and can't think of losing her)
Sadly for him, he's more in love with her than she's with him, and she prefers to go back for some weeks to Thailand, to think about their relationship.
He is not even able to wait one month, after 3 weeks he goes to Thailand and proposes.
At this point he's madly in love with her and his revenge has been long forgotten, and when he finds out she's not his enemy's daughter, but only his stepdaughter he feels really bad, filled with guilt and distraught.
I liked this part because he's so shocked by this revelation that he's driving his car and doesn't even know what to do and where to go. He just keeps driving and driving!
Eventually the truth comes out, but there's not so much angst or drama because the hero is so ashamed of himself, and actually he forgot his revenge very early in their relationship, that the heroine is ready to forgive him because she understands how much he loves her.
Everybody understood it.
Cute story, I recommend it, it was long time since I read a book with such a smitten hero.
He has it really bad and doesn't even try to fight his feelings.
He's not a wordly man, he's a quiet and honest businnesman, and his self-mocking thoughts are really amusing.
I liked the heroine too, she's not clueless, and I liked that she was careful and not immediately in love with the hero, she was very sensible in my opinion.
Safe of course, even if they were both experienced, after their meeting there was no thought of om/ow for both of them.
It was not what I expected.
I expected A story of revenge, where a dark hero treats the heroine unfairily but this was not the case.
The hero's father committed suicide and the H devoted his life to his revenge on the h's father, who he considered responsible for his father's death.
He financially ruins the man.
The heroine is the stepdaughter.
When they meet it is obvious and clear that H is smitten and in insta lust with the heroine.
He decides that it would be a very good thing for his revenge if he bedded the heroine, especially if he defiled her on the evil man's bed.
Actually the heroine has broken up with her sf and has recently been to Thailand where she is helping an orphanage, so she doesn't really care for her sf or the loss of his fortune.
She's also broken her engagement with a rich man who cheated on her, so she now thinks all rich men are shallow and mean.
The hero is really fascinated by her, he isn't cruel or mean. At first he thinks she's an experienced socialite without a conscience, a party girl always having fun, but he believes her when she tells him how inexperienced she is and how her life really is.
He's not a stubborn man who thinks the worst of her and he's able to understand how the heroine really is.
Despite his plans of revenge, he falls in love with her in a couple of days and wants to marry her, thinking it would be a perfect revenge if he married his enemy's daughter (but we know he wants to marry her because he's mad about her and can't think of losing her)
Sadly for him, he's more in love with her than she's with him, and she prefers to go back for some weeks to Thailand, to think about their relationship.
He is not even able to wait one month, after 3 weeks he goes to Thailand and proposes.
At this point he's madly in love with her and his revenge has been long forgotten, and when he finds out she's not his enemy's daughter, but only his stepdaughter he feels really bad, filled with guilt and distraught.
I liked this part because he's so shocked by this revelation that he's driving his car and doesn't even know what to do and where to go. He just keeps driving and driving!
Eventually the truth comes out, but there's not so much angst or drama because the hero is so ashamed of himself, and actually he forgot his revenge very early in their relationship, that the heroine is ready to forgive him because she understands how much he loves her.
Everybody understood it.
Cute story, I recommend it, it was long time since I read a book with such a smitten hero.
He has it really bad and doesn't even try to fight his feelings.
He's not a wordly man, he's a quiet and honest businnesman, and his self-mocking thoughts are really amusing.
I liked the heroine too, she's not clueless, and I liked that she was careful and not immediately in love with the hero, she was very sensible in my opinion.
Safe of course, even if they were both experienced, after their meeting there was no thought of om/ow for both of them.
April 6, 2018
"Revenge lite" story that kicks off a series of three billionaire friends. The H/h of this story actually attend the wedding of the couple from book three, setting up their marriage in trouble story.
The hero is a real estate developer who hates the heroine's stepfather because his predatory loans caused his father's suicide when the hero was 16. Hero's mother never blamed the stepfather and has moved on with a new husband, but hero confronted the stepfather when he was hot tempered teen and has ever since burned for revenge.
He bought the mansion the socialite heroine grew up in. She has just returned from her Eat,Pray, Love tour of Thailand after finding her ex having sex with his PA in his office. She is in the shower when the hero investigates what he thinks is a squatter in his new digs. It's insta-lust for the H/h.
Hero decides to seduce the heroine as part of his revenge and the rest of the story is the hero realizing he's misjudged the heroine and the heroine falling in love and getting over the betrayal of her ex. Hero treats her well and there isn't a lot of angst.
The hero isn't in revenge mode very long - and the black moment - when the heroine's mother recognizes him as the angry 16 year-old from long ago - lasts all of a second. Heroine isn't buying it. HEA
The "I assuage my guilt for my privilege by handing out water bottles to orphans" is simplistic and glib - so skip if that kind of thing rankles.
The hero is a real estate developer who hates the heroine's stepfather because his predatory loans caused his father's suicide when the hero was 16. Hero's mother never blamed the stepfather and has moved on with a new husband, but hero confronted the stepfather when he was hot tempered teen and has ever since burned for revenge.
He bought the mansion the socialite heroine grew up in. She has just returned from her Eat,Pray, Love tour of Thailand after finding her ex having sex with his PA in his office. She is in the shower when the hero investigates what he thinks is a squatter in his new digs. It's insta-lust for the H/h.
Hero decides to seduce the heroine as part of his revenge and the rest of the story is the hero realizing he's misjudged the heroine and the heroine falling in love and getting over the betrayal of her ex. Hero treats her well and there isn't a lot of angst.
The hero isn't in revenge mode very long - and the black moment - when the heroine's mother recognizes him as the angry 16 year-old from long ago - lasts all of a second. Heroine isn't buying it. HEA
The "I assuage my guilt for my privilege by handing out water bottles to orphans" is simplistic and glib - so skip if that kind of thing rankles.
June 21, 2017
Steamy and sweet love story with loving characters but it needed more angst and an epilogue!
November 9, 2009
This one really had me going "huh?" First off, the plot was all over the place. Then when we finally get to a point when there should be a big dramatic payoff... betrayal revealed, heartbreak just waiting to happen... nothing happens. Everything's hunky dory and finished off in a paragraph. NOT what I read Harlequin Presents for!
May 27, 2021
Rating: **3.5 stars**
Sweet straightforward story with almost negligible angst. The ML didn't initially plan to exact vengeance on the FL even after meeting her but a callous remark by his friend set him on this path. The vengeance did not factor much in the story except for his thoughts, the ML was enamored since the beginning and with each interaction fell deeper and deeper in love with her. The FL was a "rich girl giving up her lifestyle to turn philanthropist" and was sweet and understanding. Overall a pleasant read with no unnecessary and mind boggling twists.
Sweet straightforward story with almost negligible angst. The ML didn't initially plan to exact vengeance on the FL even after meeting her but a callous remark by his friend set him on this path. The vengeance did not factor much in the story except for his thoughts, the ML was enamored since the beginning and with each interaction fell deeper and deeper in love with her. The FL was a "rich girl giving up her lifestyle to turn philanthropist" and was sweet and understanding. Overall a pleasant read with no unnecessary and mind boggling twists.
February 12, 2020
2.5/3🌟
Just wasn’t feeling this one a bit meh. Felt rushed...
Just wasn’t feeling this one a bit meh. Felt rushed...
September 2, 2009
To quote a friend, "meh" on this one.
September 10, 2016
it was actually abt vengeance but russell never did anything ruthless or bad. he was no bastard nor ass, actually a sweet guy. marriage is the supposed revenge plan but wid no intention of making her life hell, or of using her n then publicly jilting her. so it's laughable bcoz this is no revenge plan ! he just wants nicole as his wife, full stop ! he fell in love at 1st sight. at one point, we have even hugh thinking how a man cud easily be enchanted by a stunning girl like nicole. she was very pretty n gorgeous, n add 2 dat easy-going, warm, generous n fun:-) russell did not seem thirsty 4 revenge. i think miranda missed the point or smthg ! lol:P he was an absolute sweetie ! n dats y the book got only 3 stars, i prefer books wid more drama n lots of angst !
October 1, 2018
De las cortitas que te lees en un abrir y cerrar de ojos...Russel pasa los años con un deseo de venganza que lo motiva a ser uno de los hombres mas millonarios del pais...cuando finalmente cree sentir la satisfaccion de vengar la muerte de su padre, el amor entra en juego de la forma menos esperada pero tambien de la mas satisfactoria y romantica!!!
June 19, 2020
The Billionaire's Bride of Vengeance
This started out with him wanting revenge on the man who tore his family apart. She was just a stepping stone towards his own vengeance on her father. But along the way lines became blurred. This is one of three books in this series.
This started out with him wanting revenge on the man who tore his family apart. She was just a stepping stone towards his own vengeance on her father. But along the way lines became blurred. This is one of three books in this series.
June 1, 2019
Nicely written with good steam factor lol
July 25, 2019
Γάμος από εκδίκηση...
October 26, 2022
Lots of graphic bedroom scenes in first half get in the way of the story.
October 21, 2023
vlot, no brainer, tussendoortje.
Read
March 4, 2015Driven by his father's death, Russell works himself to the bone to become the real estate tycoon he is today. Motivated to destroy the man he holds responsible for his death Russell feels strangely empty when the moment finally comes. Meeting his enemies daughter and being completely and utterly blown away by her Russell thinks maybe that will cure his empty feeling and pursues Nicole with a vengeance.
Nicole is far far far removed from the person the press describes her as, from the reputation she holds and from the two somewhat heartless people who have raised her. All she knows about Russell is that he's the man who bought her stepfathers house and that the more she gets to know Russell the more she's falling head over heels in love.
Miranda Lee is a must buy for me and when I saw her book in the back of the second hand store I had to have it. I wasn't disappointed, this is a classically written revenge seeking trying to be heartless hero story who's actually a bloody good guy when he's not being blinded by his drive for revenge. Nicole is lovable and I really like her. She's a ray of sunshine next to Russell's cloud of thunder. Russell does some pretty heartless things sometimes but overall I still really liked him and hoped for his happy ever after.
Written in 2010, a very enjoyable read. Love the cover and love the emotion Miranda Lee is an absolute legend at delivering. I will be looking up Book Two and Three in this series.
Nicole is far far far removed from the person the press describes her as, from the reputation she holds and from the two somewhat heartless people who have raised her. All she knows about Russell is that he's the man who bought her stepfathers house and that the more she gets to know Russell the more she's falling head over heels in love.
Miranda Lee is a must buy for me and when I saw her book in the back of the second hand store I had to have it. I wasn't disappointed, this is a classically written revenge seeking trying to be heartless hero story who's actually a bloody good guy when he's not being blinded by his drive for revenge. Nicole is lovable and I really like her. She's a ray of sunshine next to Russell's cloud of thunder. Russell does some pretty heartless things sometimes but overall I still really liked him and hoped for his happy ever after.
Written in 2010, a very enjoyable read. Love the cover and love the emotion Miranda Lee is an absolute legend at delivering. I will be looking up Book Two and Three in this series.
August 22, 2013
The Billionaire’s Bride of Vengeance is the first book in the Three Rich Husbands series by popular Australian romance author Miranda Lee. When handsome Sydney real estate tycoon Russell McClain first encounters Nicole Power, he thinks she’s a squatter. After all, she’s obviously living in the house he has just acquired. Nicole just thinks he’s rude and obnoxious, although there is definitely an attraction there that seems to go both ways. But Nicole is the daughter of Alistair Power, the man on whom Russell has vowed to exact revenge driving his father to suicide. Having already exposed Power’s shonky business practices, forcing him to flee the country, he thinks the perfect icing on the revenge cake will be to take Power’s beloved daughter from him. But by the time he realises that Nicole is not at all what he thought, he is besotted. Perhaps not the most original plot, but the characters manage to pull it off, and Lee also introduces the characters for the other books in the series. A sweet romance.
August 10, 2016
Bacaan ringan buat mengisi waktu. Ceritanya so so aja tentang sakit hati dan balas dendam seorang pemuda miskin yang akhirnya menjadi taipan real estate di Sydney. Objek balas dendam, sang putri musuhnya ternyata tidak seburuk seperti yang dikiranya, tertebak sudah kisah dendam jadi cinta yang endingnya tentu saja kebut ekspress ala HQ. Aku memberi rating 3,5 karena kisahnya yang mudah diikuti dan adegannya yang lumayan wow untuk kategori sebuah HQ.
September 13, 2012
I think my star rating says enough!
March 11, 2013
meh. Even though it's a quick read like most Harlequins, I fell asleep twice while reading it. I just couldn't bring myself to care one way or the other about this one.
March 21, 2013
very fast read
April 11, 2016
Bueno me han parecido ligeritas y muy recomendables para pasar el rato.
December 30, 2016
Easy to read - enjoyable - good book to take on a trip.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews