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Needed: The World's Most Eligible Billionaires #1
The Wealthy Greek's Contract Wife
In his hand was a contract to prove she owed him thousands...Ilios Manos wasn't interested in Elizabeth Wareham's sob story. So what if she was broke and had nowhere to stay? He wanted his money back and his revenge, and he would exact his price from her however it suited him....
But when Ilios looked closely, he sensed Lizzie's innocence and knew he couldn't take that from her lightly. So he chose the next best thing--he was a man in need of a wife....
He would show her mercy...and she would take his name!
But when Ilios looked closely, he sensed Lizzie's innocence and knew he couldn't take that from her lightly. So he chose the next best thing--he was a man in need of a wife....
He would show her mercy...and she would take his name!
192 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published February 1, 2010
62 people are currently reading
495 people want to read
About the author
Penny Jordan
1,125 books668 followersPenelope Jones Halsall
aka Caroline Courtney, Annie Groves, Lydia Hitchcock, Melinda Wright
Penelope "Penny" Jones was born on November 24, 1946 at about seven pounds in a nursing home in Preston, Lancashire, England. She was the first child of Anthony Winn Jones, an engineer, who died at 85, and his wife Margaret Louise Groves Jones. She has a brother, Anthony, and a sister, Prudence "Pru".
She had been a keen reader from the childhood - her mother used to leave her in the children's section of their local library whilst she changed her father's library books. She was a storyteller long before she began to write romantic fiction. At the age of eight, she was creating serialized bedtime stories, featuring make-believe adventures, for her younger sister Prue, who was always the heroine. At eleven, she fell in love with Mills & Boon, and with their heroes. In those days the books could only be obtained via private lending libraries, and she quickly became a devoted fan; she was thrilled to bits when the books went on full sale in shops and she could have them for keeps.
Penny left grammar school in Rochdale with O-Levels in English Language, English Literature and Geography. She first discovered Mills & Boon books, via a girl she worked with. She married Steve Halsall, an accountant and a "lovely man", who smoked and drank too heavily, and suffered oral cancer with bravery and dignity. Her husband bought her the small electric typewriter on which she typed her first novels, at a time when he could ill afford it. He died at the beginning of 21st century.
She earned a living as a writer since the 1970s when, as a shorthand typist, she entered a competition run by the Romantic Novelists' Association. Although she didn't win, Penny found an agent who was looking for a new Georgette Heyer. She published four regency novels as Caroline Courtney, before changing her nom de plume to Melinda Wright for three air-hostess romps and then she wrote two thrillers as Lydia Hitchcock. Soon after that, Mills and Boon accepted her first novel for them, Falcon's Prey as Penny Jordan. However, for her more historical romance novels, she adopted her mother's maiden-name to become Annie Groves. Almost 70 of her 167 Mills and Boon novels have been sold worldwide.
Penny Halsall lived in a neo-Georgian house in Nantwich, Cheshire, with her Alsatian Sheba and cat Posh. She worked from home, in her kitchen, surrounded by her pets, and welcomed interruptions from her friends and family.
aka Caroline Courtney, Annie Groves, Lydia Hitchcock, Melinda Wright
Penelope "Penny" Jones was born on November 24, 1946 at about seven pounds in a nursing home in Preston, Lancashire, England. She was the first child of Anthony Winn Jones, an engineer, who died at 85, and his wife Margaret Louise Groves Jones. She has a brother, Anthony, and a sister, Prudence "Pru".
She had been a keen reader from the childhood - her mother used to leave her in the children's section of their local library whilst she changed her father's library books. She was a storyteller long before she began to write romantic fiction. At the age of eight, she was creating serialized bedtime stories, featuring make-believe adventures, for her younger sister Prue, who was always the heroine. At eleven, she fell in love with Mills & Boon, and with their heroes. In those days the books could only be obtained via private lending libraries, and she quickly became a devoted fan; she was thrilled to bits when the books went on full sale in shops and she could have them for keeps.
Penny left grammar school in Rochdale with O-Levels in English Language, English Literature and Geography. She first discovered Mills & Boon books, via a girl she worked with. She married Steve Halsall, an accountant and a "lovely man", who smoked and drank too heavily, and suffered oral cancer with bravery and dignity. Her husband bought her the small electric typewriter on which she typed her first novels, at a time when he could ill afford it. He died at the beginning of 21st century.
She earned a living as a writer since the 1970s when, as a shorthand typist, she entered a competition run by the Romantic Novelists' Association. Although she didn't win, Penny found an agent who was looking for a new Georgette Heyer. She published four regency novels as Caroline Courtney, before changing her nom de plume to Melinda Wright for three air-hostess romps and then she wrote two thrillers as Lydia Hitchcock. Soon after that, Mills and Boon accepted her first novel for them, Falcon's Prey as Penny Jordan. However, for her more historical romance novels, she adopted her mother's maiden-name to become Annie Groves. Almost 70 of her 167 Mills and Boon novels have been sold worldwide.
Penny Halsall lived in a neo-Georgian house in Nantwich, Cheshire, with her Alsatian Sheba and cat Posh. She worked from home, in her kitchen, surrounded by her pets, and welcomed interruptions from her friends and family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
February 26, 2016
It wasn't until I hit chapter four that I thought to flip back and see who had written this little piece of floss. Yep. Penny Jordan. If she doesn't hate women she certainly hates her heroines with a passion. Inflicting pain is simply not enough; humiliation and debasement must follow.
The hero AND the heroine were without any sense of humor or personality. They never exchange any conversation, exhibit any sense of humor, show a mutual connection. The h and, yes, she deserves the lower case h like no one else, is stupid enough to admit she loves the hero who is not an H by any stretch. They have sex, hmm, once I think. Apparently she falls for him due to the awesome sex. The magic penis at work. She even tells him before that she is sexually attracted to him so he needs to stay away. He does not.
He is cruel. She runs. He follows. She capitulates.
I have never seen a book more in need of either one more chapter or an epilogue.
Snnnnzzzzzzzzzzzz.
The hero AND the heroine were without any sense of humor or personality. They never exchange any conversation, exhibit any sense of humor, show a mutual connection. The h and, yes, she deserves the lower case h like no one else, is stupid enough to admit she loves the hero who is not an H by any stretch. They have sex, hmm, once I think. Apparently she falls for him due to the awesome sex. The magic penis at work. She even tells him before that she is sexually attracted to him so he needs to stay away. He does not.
He is cruel. She runs. He follows. She capitulates.
I have never seen a book more in need of either one more chapter or an epilogue.
Snnnnzzzzzzzzzzzz.
October 21, 2019
H/h meet when interior designer travels to Greece to clear up a misunderstanding about her role in the hero’s cousin’s latest development. She hasn’t been paid for her work, but she is promised ownership in two units of the apartment block. When she arrives, she only finds rubble. Seems the hero had the building knocked down.
Heroine has no money for a hotel (she was going to stay in one of the units) so the hostile hero offers her a room at his place. (Along with threats to hold her liable for all of the debt his cousin has incurred)
Since this is all nonsense, I couldn’t take hero too seriously. Heroine trembled from fear, fatigue, and lust. The order changed depending on the scene - but these sensations plagued her throughout the novel.
They strike up a marriage of convenience to thwart the cousin. The heroine falls pregnant. The hero claims he doesn’t want her or the baby because he has a Tragic Backstory(TM). Heroine leaves, but hero stops her a the airport. He’s loved her all along. HEA.
The hero did have a few cruel speeches, but he was so obviously smitten (those clueless legal threats!) from the get-go that I couldn’t take him seriously.
It took me two days to get through this story – I think because there was a lot about Greek/Venetian architecture that didn’t interest me. Also the hero’s family obsession with the crumbling villa didn’t interest me.
There was a first in this one: instead of the hero turning over the villa to the government or orphans, he’s going to open a school for artisans to learn old-world techniques. Then he can hire them for his construction business. Win/win.
Heroine has no money for a hotel (she was going to stay in one of the units) so the hostile hero offers her a room at his place. (Along with threats to hold her liable for all of the debt his cousin has incurred)
Since this is all nonsense, I couldn’t take hero too seriously. Heroine trembled from fear, fatigue, and lust. The order changed depending on the scene - but these sensations plagued her throughout the novel.
They strike up a marriage of convenience to thwart the cousin. The heroine falls pregnant. The hero claims he doesn’t want her or the baby because he has a Tragic Backstory(TM). Heroine leaves, but hero stops her a the airport. He’s loved her all along. HEA.
The hero did have a few cruel speeches, but he was so obviously smitten (those clueless legal threats!) from the get-go that I couldn’t take him seriously.
It took me two days to get through this story – I think because there was a lot about Greek/Venetian architecture that didn’t interest me. Also the hero’s family obsession with the crumbling villa didn’t interest me.
There was a first in this one: instead of the hero turning over the villa to the government or orphans, he’s going to open a school for artisans to learn old-world techniques. Then he can hire them for his construction business. Win/win.
January 21, 2025
DNF. Very boring. The H was cold and the h had a one track mind. She goes to Greece to check on her investments and then falls madly in lust with the H and can literally think of nothing else. The H on the other hand, is determined to keep her at arms length and misses no opportunity to humiliate her by reminding her how attracted she is to him (and that he feels nothing of that kind for her). This doesn't feel like PJ at all.
1 star!
1 star!
March 10, 2017
He wanted revenge because she owned two apartments in an apartment complex his cousin has built using his construction company name on his land. She owned the two apartment because her client didn't pay her for the interior design job she did. He bulldozed the building and asked her to pay for the entire building cost instead of going after his cousin or his main business partner. She had 50 pounds in her wallet and was taking care of her two younger sister and her twin nieces.
June 10, 2017
I hadn't read Penny J for a long while so when I stumbled upon this it was like saying hello to a good friend and I've been on a roll now rediscovering old favorites and new ones like this. She just delivers on drama, angelic heroines and best of all the strong, dark, sexy, virile, brooding, self-made man with a painful past that you just want to kiss and heal. I fell head over heels with this hero unlike some of the other reviewers. Mmm, yummy, I enjoyed this guilty pleasure.
July 31, 2019
Ilios Manos starts the story with him reminiscing about a piece of land in Thessaloniki, Greece that's been handed down over generations of Manos'. All of thirty-six, he finally regains ownership of the land which had been lost and razes the apartment building that his cousin, Tino, had illegally built. He has also sent Lizzie a threatening letter in order to resolve some pending financial matters. Ilios' parents' story is horrifying.
Elizabeth Wareham is an interior designer who owned two apartments in that building and is the eldest of the three sisters whose stories are narrated in 'Needed: The World's Most Eligible Billionaires' trilogy. The ownership of the apartments was granted to her by Tino in lieu of payment for her work.
Lizzie, Charley, and Ruby had lost their parents six years ago to a freak accident. And being the eldest at twenty-seven, Lizzie had taken it upon herself to provide for them. So that Charley could complete her studies and Ruby could get to be a full-time Mum to her five-year-old twin boys. But their parents had left them with huge debts and her business wasn't doing well. She didn't even have the airfare to answer the summons of Ilios Manos. She was looking forward to the gains to be made from selling the two apartments, which have now been razed by Ilios. Yikes! No place for her to stay, and no money to be made from selling the non-existent apartments.
As usual, both of them on first sight have been bitten by the 'desire' bug. But he detests her for he believes she was in on the fraud carried out by his cousin. And now, by a bad twist of fate, she owes him money rather than getting to make some. Moreover, she has to face Ilios' wrath which he couldn't take out on his cousin. Huh... And then they have a dirty deal. Of marriage. Due to the conditions of a will.
Thus begins their charade of acting like the perfect couple. And I have to give it to them, they didn't jump on each other at the first instance. This story lacked warmth. But I think one has to consider from Ilios' past.
P.S. "Nevertheless, the way Ilios’s cousin was looking at her made Lizzie feel like crossing her arms over her chest, to protect her body from his unwanted visual inspection. It was strange how you could sometimes know the minute you met a person whether or not you were going to like them, Lizzie reflected, and tried not to show how desperately she wanted to escape."
In our country, every second man stares in the same way described above. It's disconcerting, to say the least!
Elizabeth Wareham is an interior designer who owned two apartments in that building and is the eldest of the three sisters whose stories are narrated in 'Needed: The World's Most Eligible Billionaires' trilogy. The ownership of the apartments was granted to her by Tino in lieu of payment for her work.
Lizzie, Charley, and Ruby had lost their parents six years ago to a freak accident. And being the eldest at twenty-seven, Lizzie had taken it upon herself to provide for them. So that Charley could complete her studies and Ruby could get to be a full-time Mum to her five-year-old twin boys. But their parents had left them with huge debts and her business wasn't doing well. She didn't even have the airfare to answer the summons of Ilios Manos. She was looking forward to the gains to be made from selling the two apartments, which have now been razed by Ilios. Yikes! No place for her to stay, and no money to be made from selling the non-existent apartments.
As usual, both of them on first sight have been bitten by the 'desire' bug. But he detests her for he believes she was in on the fraud carried out by his cousin. And now, by a bad twist of fate, she owes him money rather than getting to make some. Moreover, she has to face Ilios' wrath which he couldn't take out on his cousin. Huh... And then they have a dirty deal. Of marriage. Due to the conditions of a will.
Love could hurt the human heart—badly—but surely it was also woven into the weft and warp of human life in a way that made it as essential as air and water.
Thus begins their charade of acting like the perfect couple. And I have to give it to them, they didn't jump on each other at the first instance. This story lacked warmth. But I think one has to consider from Ilios' past.
P.S. "Nevertheless, the way Ilios’s cousin was looking at her made Lizzie feel like crossing her arms over her chest, to protect her body from his unwanted visual inspection. It was strange how you could sometimes know the minute you met a person whether or not you were going to like them, Lizzie reflected, and tried not to show how desperately she wanted to escape."
In our country, every second man stares in the same way described above. It's disconcerting, to say the least!
August 9, 2020
This is a decent read about the redemptive power of love. Ilios is one damaged hero because of childhood trauma. He's a bit mean to Lizzie, but in spite of his shortcomings she falls for him. In Lizzie's case, love is truly blind. Ilios redeems himself from being a total heel with his heartfelt and romantic declaration of love at the end.
January 20, 2015
This is a really modern Mills & Boon with changing attitudes clearly visible in the story. The story is as follows:
Lizzie, an interior designer, is in loads of debt but responsible for her sisters and her twin nephews. The house is about to be repossessed and they’re struggling to put food on the table. It’s all down to the credit crunch, you see, and Lizzie’s business failing during that time (who needs an interior designer when everybody’s skint?) One of Lizzie’s ex-clients can’t pay her and offers her a deal in a Greek apartment block instead. It turns out to be a fraudulent deal and she ends up face to face with Ilios Manos, with him saying she owes him a lot of money (money she hasn’t got). How is she to pay him? We-e-e-lll…. it’s a Mills and Boon, so quelle surprise! Ilios decides he needs a wife and that she’ll do. He’ll also pay her £100k to pretend to be his wife until he has concocted some dealings of his own and then to go away again. This seems like a better option than the local food bank/homeless shelter to Lizzie, so she accepts. The problem is that Lizzie finds Ilios very attractive – the inevitable happens and she ends up pregnant (probably with twins). There’s no spoiler here when I say that by p. 189, they’re all set to live happily ever after.
It sounds like a traditional romance – but there is something a bit different about this one. Whereas previous Jordan heroines would have gone all out to fabricate fibs about their desire for the hero, Lizzie is a truly modern woman, embracing her animal nature and admitting she wants him. She’s not afraid to admit her emotions either telling Ilios she loves him and not obsessing about it. Indeed, Ilios is the damaged one in this text – reluctant to accept love from anyone and hating her (briefly) when she gets pregnant. (Apparently that was all her fault.) In fact, it’s hard to see why Lizzie loves Ilios so much. Okay, he looks like a Greek god, but he’s just not very nice. He admits he’s done time in prison, and has basically cheated his way to being a billionaire. He repeatedly accuses her of having no honour and harping on and on about what an honourable chap he is; but really, it’s a case of the pot calling the kettle black. When he does eventually admit his love for Lizzie, she really has redeemed him and saved him from himself. In that case, this is no longer such a patriarchal romance (as Mills and Boons tend to be), but is, in fact, a feminist text. Amazing, hey? Who would have thought it? And what it does show is the adaptability of Jordan to be a thoroughly modern author – she may have written 187 novels across three decades but she adapted her heroines and plots to change with the times. It’s just one of the reasons why I like her work so much. This is a great example of her work – the romance in it is well developed and one can really relate to Lizzie’s heartaches. Great for a good emotional read. (Just one criticism – the kindle edition has LOADS of typos in it – annoying, but it’s still a good story)
Lizzie, an interior designer, is in loads of debt but responsible for her sisters and her twin nephews. The house is about to be repossessed and they’re struggling to put food on the table. It’s all down to the credit crunch, you see, and Lizzie’s business failing during that time (who needs an interior designer when everybody’s skint?) One of Lizzie’s ex-clients can’t pay her and offers her a deal in a Greek apartment block instead. It turns out to be a fraudulent deal and she ends up face to face with Ilios Manos, with him saying she owes him a lot of money (money she hasn’t got). How is she to pay him? We-e-e-lll…. it’s a Mills and Boon, so quelle surprise! Ilios decides he needs a wife and that she’ll do. He’ll also pay her £100k to pretend to be his wife until he has concocted some dealings of his own and then to go away again. This seems like a better option than the local food bank/homeless shelter to Lizzie, so she accepts. The problem is that Lizzie finds Ilios very attractive – the inevitable happens and she ends up pregnant (probably with twins). There’s no spoiler here when I say that by p. 189, they’re all set to live happily ever after.
It sounds like a traditional romance – but there is something a bit different about this one. Whereas previous Jordan heroines would have gone all out to fabricate fibs about their desire for the hero, Lizzie is a truly modern woman, embracing her animal nature and admitting she wants him. She’s not afraid to admit her emotions either telling Ilios she loves him and not obsessing about it. Indeed, Ilios is the damaged one in this text – reluctant to accept love from anyone and hating her (briefly) when she gets pregnant. (Apparently that was all her fault.) In fact, it’s hard to see why Lizzie loves Ilios so much. Okay, he looks like a Greek god, but he’s just not very nice. He admits he’s done time in prison, and has basically cheated his way to being a billionaire. He repeatedly accuses her of having no honour and harping on and on about what an honourable chap he is; but really, it’s a case of the pot calling the kettle black. When he does eventually admit his love for Lizzie, she really has redeemed him and saved him from himself. In that case, this is no longer such a patriarchal romance (as Mills and Boons tend to be), but is, in fact, a feminist text. Amazing, hey? Who would have thought it? And what it does show is the adaptability of Jordan to be a thoroughly modern author – she may have written 187 novels across three decades but she adapted her heroines and plots to change with the times. It’s just one of the reasons why I like her work so much. This is a great example of her work – the romance in it is well developed and one can really relate to Lizzie’s heartaches. Great for a good emotional read. (Just one criticism – the kindle edition has LOADS of typos in it – annoying, but it’s still a good story)
March 23, 2016
:/ wellll
super previsivel, mas teve o seu "k" de engraçado.
nada de grandes desenvolvimentos em termos de trama ou de personagens.
um ou outro momento com uma maior "introspeção" por parte dos personagens, mas acaba por não ser nada elaborado.
a noção espaço/tempo está muito "nublada" pelo que nao se percebe bem, onde e quando a ação ocorre.
mas pronto estas "historias" são isso mesmo, fáceis de ler e nao para "questionar" lol! :)
devo ser um pouco masoquista porque vou continuar a historia destas 3 irmãs! fiquei curiosa no minimo :) :P
super previsivel, mas teve o seu "k" de engraçado.
nada de grandes desenvolvimentos em termos de trama ou de personagens.
um ou outro momento com uma maior "introspeção" por parte dos personagens, mas acaba por não ser nada elaborado.
a noção espaço/tempo está muito "nublada" pelo que nao se percebe bem, onde e quando a ação ocorre.
mas pronto estas "historias" são isso mesmo, fáceis de ler e nao para "questionar" lol! :)
devo ser um pouco masoquista porque vou continuar a historia destas 3 irmãs! fiquei curiosa no minimo :) :P
June 7, 2021
In his hand was a contract to prove she owed him thousands...Ilios Manos wasn't interested in Elizabeth Wareham's sob story. So what if she was broke and had nowhere to stay? He wanted his money back and his revenge, and he would exact his price from her however it suited him....
But when Ilios looked closely, he sensed Lizzie's innocence and knew he couldn't take that from her lightly. So he chose the next best thing--he was a man in need of a wife....
He would show her mercy...and she would take his name! (less).
But when Ilios looked closely, he sensed Lizzie's innocence and knew he couldn't take that from her lightly. So he chose the next best thing--he was a man in need of a wife....
He would show her mercy...and she would take his name! (less).
June 29, 2015
The ending made up for the slow beginning.
Ilios' past was so tragic, so it's understandable that he turned out the way he was. Although his action towards Lizzie was sometimes cruel, but it's just a defence mechanism, didn't make it right though.
What's refreshing was how Lizzie owned her desire. I think it's very brave.
Ilios' past was so tragic, so it's understandable that he turned out the way he was. Although his action towards Lizzie was sometimes cruel, but it's just a defence mechanism, didn't make it right though.
What's refreshing was how Lizzie owned her desire. I think it's very brave.
May 12, 2019
Uh, no. Hell no. The hero did nothing. Showing up in the last 2 pages doesn't make up for his completely passive aggressive treatment of the heroine. She needed to board that plane, cause nope. Love? When? When did he 'love you'? This book is like an outline of a story that doesn't have all the other pieces fleshed out yet. Skip.
August 8, 2021
Good
I'm a sucker for the trope of marriage of convenience by blackmail... Smile. Lizzie was adorable and cute and awesome. Ilios deserved to be beat over the head, the big lunk. Glad for the HEA, but I always want to see these stories a bit more depth.
I'm a sucker for the trope of marriage of convenience by blackmail... Smile. Lizzie was adorable and cute and awesome. Ilios deserved to be beat over the head, the big lunk. Glad for the HEA, but I always want to see these stories a bit more depth.
April 26, 2024
I had hoped another Penny Jordan novel after Man-Hater wouldn't be so bitter, but Man-Hater was an early-career novella for Jordan. This is apparently one of the last she ever wrote before plopping, and boy was it still bitter. Our lead male bears a cartoonish "prode-matters-before-anything" attitude which comes off as so pretentious and robotic it feels unrealistic, specifically because of his pseudo-Shakespearean dialogue hiding behind a Greek heritage because "foreign English," and our heroine here is a textbook copy of the lady from Man-Hater, with the only difference being that she's dealing with legal issues. Otherwise, it's exactly the same. And of course, sex makes everything better in the end, apparently. Whoopdy-freakin-doo.
There are some merits to the novel, though. The Greek setting is well-described, bringing to mind gorgeous visuals, and the prose is greatly improved from the other Penny Jordan book I've read thanks to having 36 more years of practice. But this isn't a book I would feel comfortable reading again.
There are some merits to the novel, though. The Greek setting is well-described, bringing to mind gorgeous visuals, and the prose is greatly improved from the other Penny Jordan book I've read thanks to having 36 more years of practice. But this isn't a book I would feel comfortable reading again.
January 16, 2022
Usually, I love the transformation from the bitter male to loving but most of the transformation happens only in his thinking. The female doesn't get to experience it.
And what made it worst was that as soon as he realizes he's in love the book just... ends.
I really wasn't emotionally satisfied with this read. At all.
For the hate he spewed when the pregnancy was found out... there should at least have been an extra chapter to make amends.
And what made it worst was that as soon as he realizes he's in love the book just... ends.
I really wasn't emotionally satisfied with this read. At all.
For the hate he spewed when the pregnancy was found out... there should at least have been an extra chapter to make amends.
September 23, 2021
It was okay, and a good idea plot wise, but there was a lot of unneeded introspection, and some aspects didn’t get wrapped up at the end. I would have liked to see the scene when her sisters come to Greece to meet their new brother in law, or even with Lizzie fighting with herself to confide in them about her feelings as they developed. Also, do they end up getting the inheritance?
January 10, 2025
It’s a love story, like many others that have been told, that makes you feel that “love energy” and the passion that comes with it; but also includes some emotional issues that anyone can relate to, something I liked.
March 4, 2017
The hero wasn't a happy guy and I hated his attitude and the way he behaved so the love between the two wasn't very believe able ....so not as satisfying as it could have been
July 6, 2019
The ending was not enough for me. I have to go and find the last story to find out what happened to the sisters in the first two stories.
October 23, 2019
Proprio brutto
April 7, 2021
Penny Jordan is one of my favourite romance novelists. Once again, she's written a master piece. Wonderful story.
September 18, 2024
Delicious. A bit short and needed a little more meandering to be perfect but I did learn a little more about Greek history.
April 8, 2012
Ilios Manos, the wealthy greek of the title, needs a wife to prevent his cousin Tino from claiming their ancestral home. English interior designer Elizabeth (Lizzie) Wareham has looked after her two younger sisters and her two nephews after the death of her parents six years ago. Ilios offers to ignore the debt Lizzie inadvertently owes him, as well as give her £100,000 if she agrees to marry him for as long as it takes for Tino to back off.
Ahh yes, another "Blackmailed Into Marriage" story. It never ceases to amaze me how many reasons wealthy men can come up with to blackmail women into marrying them, and how easily the women in question are coerced. I guess the idea is that these women have too much integrity to be seduced by the men's billions or undeniable sex appeal, and therefore need some other inducement. It's generally imperative for the reader to not look too deeply into the reason for the marriage or the blackmail employed, because they are flimsy and not really believable. The Wealthy Greek Contract's Wife is no exception. Apparently Tino wishes to challenge Ilios' right to inherit the family home due to the fact that he isn't married and has no heirs. I seriously doubt Tino has any hope at all of winning, and Ilios' lawyers agree, though they warn Ilios against a lengthy drawn out legal battle. Considering the fact that Ilios is a billionaire whilst his cousin is practically bankrupt, I think it's clear that Tino is the one who can't afford the dispute, not Ilios. Lizzie gets mixed up with Ilios when a client offers her 20% ownership of an apartment block she was hired to decorate, in lieu of payment. Unbeknownst to her, not only was this apartment block built illegally and fraudulently, but under the partnership agreement she is also liable for the debts of the whole partnership. I find it hard to believe that Lizzie's solicitor would have advised her to accept an agreement like this; who accepts 100% liability for only 20% ownership? Ilios sends a threatening legal letter to Lizzie demanding her presence in Thessalonica to deal with undisclosed legal and financial matters. Instead of calling her lawyer, or calling Ilios or his lawyer, she flies out with no idea what is going on... I wondered if she had ever heard of a telephone, but it turns out she has a mobile. Lizzie and Ilios agree to marry, yet there's no mention of a pre-nuptial agreement which I find hard to swallow considering how deliberate and calculating Ilios is. Anyway, if you can suspend your disbelief over the setup of the plot, this was a good read.
Ilios grew up without any love but with a strong sense of duty. Unlike many heroes, he is not cruel and arrogant, and he isn't a serial womaniser. In fact, he hasn't had sex in over a year. It's so refreshing to have a Greek tycoon hero who doesn't have a string of mistresses to make the heroine's life hell. The only time Ilios is cruel is right at the end when he says some nasty things in the heat of the moment to create the conflict that makes him admit his love. Cheesy yes, but acceptable under the circumstances, and he regrets it almost immediately.
Lizzie was nice, too. She is a genuinely loving person and doesn't play any weird games with Ilios. She does have a couple clichéd romance heroine responses to things namely
1. Upon realising her love for Ilios, Lizzie "realises" that she must never let him know;
2. Upon finding out she is pregnant, Lizzie decides she wants to go from the "Blackmailed Into Marriage" plot to the "Secret Baby" plot. She doesn't want to tell Ilios that she is pregnant, but would rather go home to her sisters and raise her baby secretly.
Nevertheless, I actually liked Lizzie. She's just nice and refreshingly honest with Ilios about her desire for him and we have none of that annoying, "I hate him but I want him" angst so often seen in other heroines.
Overall, I recommend this book. I liked the characters and it was an enjoyable way to pass the time.
Ahh yes, another "Blackmailed Into Marriage" story. It never ceases to amaze me how many reasons wealthy men can come up with to blackmail women into marrying them, and how easily the women in question are coerced. I guess the idea is that these women have too much integrity to be seduced by the men's billions or undeniable sex appeal, and therefore need some other inducement. It's generally imperative for the reader to not look too deeply into the reason for the marriage or the blackmail employed, because they are flimsy and not really believable. The Wealthy Greek Contract's Wife is no exception. Apparently Tino wishes to challenge Ilios' right to inherit the family home due to the fact that he isn't married and has no heirs. I seriously doubt Tino has any hope at all of winning, and Ilios' lawyers agree, though they warn Ilios against a lengthy drawn out legal battle. Considering the fact that Ilios is a billionaire whilst his cousin is practically bankrupt, I think it's clear that Tino is the one who can't afford the dispute, not Ilios. Lizzie gets mixed up with Ilios when a client offers her 20% ownership of an apartment block she was hired to decorate, in lieu of payment. Unbeknownst to her, not only was this apartment block built illegally and fraudulently, but under the partnership agreement she is also liable for the debts of the whole partnership. I find it hard to believe that Lizzie's solicitor would have advised her to accept an agreement like this; who accepts 100% liability for only 20% ownership? Ilios sends a threatening legal letter to Lizzie demanding her presence in Thessalonica to deal with undisclosed legal and financial matters. Instead of calling her lawyer, or calling Ilios or his lawyer, she flies out with no idea what is going on... I wondered if she had ever heard of a telephone, but it turns out she has a mobile. Lizzie and Ilios agree to marry, yet there's no mention of a pre-nuptial agreement which I find hard to swallow considering how deliberate and calculating Ilios is. Anyway, if you can suspend your disbelief over the setup of the plot, this was a good read.
Ilios grew up without any love but with a strong sense of duty. Unlike many heroes, he is not cruel and arrogant, and he isn't a serial womaniser. In fact, he hasn't had sex in over a year. It's so refreshing to have a Greek tycoon hero who doesn't have a string of mistresses to make the heroine's life hell. The only time Ilios is cruel is right at the end when he says some nasty things in the heat of the moment to create the conflict that makes him admit his love. Cheesy yes, but acceptable under the circumstances, and he regrets it almost immediately.
Lizzie was nice, too. She is a genuinely loving person and doesn't play any weird games with Ilios. She does have a couple clichéd romance heroine responses to things namely
1. Upon realising her love for Ilios, Lizzie "realises" that she must never let him know;
2. Upon finding out she is pregnant, Lizzie decides she wants to go from the "Blackmailed Into Marriage" plot to the "Secret Baby" plot. She doesn't want to tell Ilios that she is pregnant, but would rather go home to her sisters and raise her baby secretly.
Nevertheless, I actually liked Lizzie. She's just nice and refreshingly honest with Ilios about her desire for him and we have none of that annoying, "I hate him but I want him" angst so often seen in other heroines.
Overall, I recommend this book. I liked the characters and it was an enjoyable way to pass the time.
February 17, 2015
I love Penny Jordan's work and though this is not my favorite book, I was still a great read. Ilios was a man tormented by his childhood. He shut himself off from the world emotionally. Lizzie is the eldest of three sisters and provider for her family. Sis summoned tonGreece by Ilios because of an illegal contract by his cousin.
Lizzie is so sweet and meeting Ilios and his threats are a shock to her. She is blackmailed into marriage to a man who see her as a cheat and gold digger. Over time she learns of his childhood and falls for him, but Ilios is a hard man and fought his feelings for Lizzie to the very end.
I love the strong alpha male characters, but Ilios was a bit too cruel. Even his childhood traumas did not excuse him of bring a horses behind. Lizzie should be nominated for sainthood for putting up with him and not losing her temper once. I would have beaten him upside the head with a throw pillow! But as always, love conquers all and, OMG! They both confess their love and live happily ever after. I love a happy ending!!!
Lizzie is so sweet and meeting Ilios and his threats are a shock to her. She is blackmailed into marriage to a man who see her as a cheat and gold digger. Over time she learns of his childhood and falls for him, but Ilios is a hard man and fought his feelings for Lizzie to the very end.
I love the strong alpha male characters, but Ilios was a bit too cruel. Even his childhood traumas did not excuse him of bring a horses behind. Lizzie should be nominated for sainthood for putting up with him and not losing her temper once. I would have beaten him upside the head with a throw pillow! But as always, love conquers all and, OMG! They both confess their love and live happily ever after. I love a happy ending!!!
March 4, 2017
Ilios is set on revenge against his cousin, who had roped Lizzie into some scheme of his. She didn't even realize she was involved in something illegal until face-to-face with Ilios and being accused of being a gold-digger and an awful person. He threatens to see her ruined or she can take the "easy" way out and become his wife, thus stopping Tino in his tracks. She agrees to marry him and is forthright in her attraction to him.
Ilios makes it clear that he does not want a woman being a mother to his eventual heirs - they will be artifically conceived to a surrogate and raised without a lying woman in their lives. But when Lizzie gets pregnant - Ilios gets cruel. Yes, he had a tough childhood, but that cruelty was totally uncalled for. And sadly, we did not get nearly enough grovel. I found myself wondering how Lizzie could forgive him, let alone love him.
Ilios makes it clear that he does not want a woman being a mother to his eventual heirs - they will be artifically conceived to a surrogate and raised without a lying woman in their lives. But when Lizzie gets pregnant - Ilios gets cruel. Yes, he had a tough childhood, but that cruelty was totally uncalled for. And sadly, we did not get nearly enough grovel. I found myself wondering how Lizzie could forgive him, let alone love him.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 18, 2013
not a good book. i didn't have a problem with the writing style. what i didn't like is the story itself. the pacing of the story was very slow. i only found a few scenes in the story and only fewer interesting ones. didn't like the ending. it was rushed. so what, the guy realized his mistake so he'd just apologize and say he loves her and everything's okay after all the things he told her? also, there wasn't any REAL character development in here.
February 20, 2021
I loved Penny Jordan. I enjoyed reading some of her books. But this... I wouldn't say I like the way the hero treated the heroine. And I don't like the heroine for allowing the hero to treat her that way. And the hero was a jerk! I can't believe that he kicked her out after knowing that she's pregnant with his child and told her that she and the baby mean nothing to him. What an asshole! He's not redeemable at all.
February 2, 2012
"Despite his repulsion for her on their first meeting, Ilios promptly decides that the most obvious thing to do in this situation is marry this stranger – oh and grab her boob. He does that too...."
Read the whole review here: http://pulpbitchin.wordpress.com/2011...
Read the whole review here: http://pulpbitchin.wordpress.com/2011...
November 18, 2013
she got pregnant, he kicks her out and than finds her and tells her: 'No, it happened because I allowed it to happen—because secretly I wanted it to happen, even if I wouldn’t let myself recognise that fact at the time. Something in me, something stronger and braver than I was, knew what I most needed'
oh please.... --*
oh please.... --*
August 16, 2016
If you need a quick fix, - if you're a romance junkie - this is a good book.
Typical romance, good to read.
I read this and others like this when I am trying to clear my palette- mind's palette - before I read a book that has more depth and soul.
Typical romance, good to read.
I read this and others like this when I am trying to clear my palette- mind's palette - before I read a book that has more depth and soul.
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