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Brides of L'Amour #1
The Frenchman's Love-Child
Seduction and Passion Guaranteed
Will the Frenchman discover he has a secret son?
Tabby fell in love with Christien Laroche, but then tragedy struck and Christien wanted nothing more to do with her. How could Tabby confess to the arrogant Frenchman that she was expecting his baby? Now Tabby has made a new life for herself and her son. But Christien is back What if he discovers little Jake's existence?
Will the Frenchman discover he has a secret son?
Tabby fell in love with Christien Laroche, but then tragedy struck and Christien wanted nothing more to do with her. How could Tabby confess to the arrogant Frenchman that she was expecting his baby? Now Tabby has made a new life for herself and her son. But Christien is back What if he discovers little Jake's existence?
192 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 2, 2003
74 people are currently reading
458 people want to read
About the author
Lynne Graham
1,763 books1,450 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Lynne Graham was born on July 30, 1956 of Irish-Scottish parentage. She has livedin Northern Ireland all her life. She grew up in a seaside village with herbrother. She learnt to read at the age of 3, and haven't stopped since then.
Lynne first met her husband when she was 14. At 15, she wrote her firstbook, but it was rejected everywhere. Lynne married after she completed adegree at Edinburgh University. She started writing again when she was athome with her first child. It took several attempts before she sold herfirst book in 1987 and the delight of seeing that first book for sale in thelocal newsagents has never been forgotten. Now, there are over 10 million ofher books in print worldwide.
Lynne always wanted a large family and has five children. Her eldest and heronly natural child is 19 and currently at university. Her other fourchildren, who are every bit as dear to her heart, are adopted. She has two9-year-olds adopted from Sri Lanka and a 5- and a 3-year-old adopted fromGuatemala. In Lynne's home, there is a rich and diverse cultural mix, whichadds a whole extra dimension of interest and discovery to family life. Thefamily lives in a country house surrounded by a woodland garden, which iswonderfully private. The family has two pets. Thomas, a very large andaffectionate black cat, bosses the dog and hunts rabbits. The dog is Daisy,an adorable but not very bright white West Highland terrier, who loves beingchased by the cat. At night, dog and cat sleep together in front of thekitchen stove. Lynne loves gardening, cooking, collects everything from oldtoys to rock specimens and is crazy about every aspect of Christmas.
Lynne Graham was born on July 30, 1956 of Irish-Scottish parentage. She has livedin Northern Ireland all her life. She grew up in a seaside village with herbrother. She learnt to read at the age of 3, and haven't stopped since then.
Lynne first met her husband when she was 14. At 15, she wrote her firstbook, but it was rejected everywhere. Lynne married after she completed adegree at Edinburgh University. She started writing again when she was athome with her first child. It took several attempts before she sold herfirst book in 1987 and the delight of seeing that first book for sale in thelocal newsagents has never been forgotten. Now, there are over 10 million ofher books in print worldwide.
Lynne always wanted a large family and has five children. Her eldest and heronly natural child is 19 and currently at university. Her other fourchildren, who are every bit as dear to her heart, are adopted. She has two9-year-olds adopted from Sri Lanka and a 5- and a 3-year-old adopted fromGuatemala. In Lynne's home, there is a rich and diverse cultural mix, whichadds a whole extra dimension of interest and discovery to family life. Thefamily lives in a country house surrounded by a woodland garden, which iswonderfully private. The family has two pets. Thomas, a very large andaffectionate black cat, bosses the dog and hunts rabbits. The dog is Daisy,an adorable but not very bright white West Highland terrier, who loves beingchased by the cat. At night, dog and cat sleep together in front of thekitchen stove. Lynne loves gardening, cooking, collects everything from oldtoys to rock specimens and is crazy about every aspect of Christmas.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews
February 20, 2018
Heroine's name is Tabby, the perfect moniker for the quintessential sex kitten. French aristocrat hero was a smitten kitten the minute he laid on eyes her swimming naked late at night in her family's rented French villa's pool. Unfortunately, the heroine was 17 at the time and the hero didn't find out until they were in the middle of a blazing affair. To further complicate events that long, hot summer, the heroine's father drove drunk and killed and injured several people - one of them being the hero's father.
The pregnant heroine lost all contact with the hero until after her baby was born and she saw him at the inquest. He wouldn't talk to her then, so she gave up trying and concentrated on raising her son as a single mom in England.
When the story opens four years later, the heroine has just inherited a small cottage on the hero's family estate. His great-aunt really liked her and wanted the H/h to get together, so this was her way of bringing the heroine back to France.
Hero wants to pay her off. Heroine is quivering mass of hormones around him, but refuses to give up the cottage.
That's about all she refuses because these two can't go two seconds without falling into bed or ripping each other's clothes off. LOL - he's as bad as she is.
There's some drama when the hero finds out about the boy,
This plot line - with the deaths of both their father's and the disruption of the heroine's friends' lives - should have been an angst fest. But the heroine didn't dwell on any negative feelings and has put all of her energy into her cute little boy. The hero's mother turns out to be a nice person and the heroine is welcomed with open arms, rather than the hostility of a good angst-fest.
This is really a romp - with the H/h matched in their immaturity and passion. Thank goodness he has money of his own and they are surrounded by people who can babysit. These two can't seem to turn it off.
The pregnant heroine lost all contact with the hero until after her baby was born and she saw him at the inquest. He wouldn't talk to her then, so she gave up trying and concentrated on raising her son as a single mom in England.
When the story opens four years later, the heroine has just inherited a small cottage on the hero's family estate. His great-aunt really liked her and wanted the H/h to get together, so this was her way of bringing the heroine back to France.
Hero wants to pay her off. Heroine is quivering mass of hormones around him, but refuses to give up the cottage.
That's about all she refuses because these two can't go two seconds without falling into bed or ripping each other's clothes off. LOL - he's as bad as she is.
There's some drama when the hero finds out about the boy,
This plot line - with the deaths of both their father's and the disruption of the heroine's friends' lives - should have been an angst fest. But the heroine didn't dwell on any negative feelings and has put all of her energy into her cute little boy. The hero's mother turns out to be a nice person and the heroine is welcomed with open arms, rather than the hostility of a good angst-fest.
This is really a romp - with the H/h matched in their immaturity and passion. Thank goodness he has money of his own and they are surrounded by people who can babysit. These two can't seem to turn it off.
December 9, 2017
Tabby had a short affair with Christien when she was seventeen and ended up pregnant. Christien loved her so much he wanted to marry her even when he found out the truth about her age. But when he sees her kissing another young guy of her group of friends he thinks she is unfaithful. In addition Tabby's father killed Christien's father while drunk driving which and that damages their relationship even more. His great aunt's will leaves a cottage on Christien's family's estate to Tabby and the heroine goes to live there with her son Jake when the hero enters the picture again and the attraction between them is once again instant and hot!
Their story was romantic, funny and heartbreaking. It made me swoon, laugh and cry when Tabby remembers how she tried to talk to the hero one last time before she left and the evil other woman threw her out. At the same time the hero is drinking himself to death trying to overcome Tabby and the drama that his life has become.
I loved the heroine. She was smart, strong and a dedicated mother. She didn't stand for shit from people. She stood up for herself if things didn't feel right. Moving to France gave her the chance to spread her wings away from her aunt and the expectations of her old life.
I LOVED Christien! He was a sweet, romantic guy who carried a lot of emotional baggage and then the shock that he has a three year old son. He’s fiercely loyal to Jake and Tabby and their needs which is sigh worthy. He was strong and sexy and protective and you could tell exactly what being with Tabby meant to him.
Great chemistry and great story! 5 stars!
Their story was romantic, funny and heartbreaking. It made me swoon, laugh and cry when Tabby remembers how she tried to talk to the hero one last time before she left and the evil other woman threw her out. At the same time the hero is drinking himself to death trying to overcome Tabby and the drama that his life has become.
I loved the heroine. She was smart, strong and a dedicated mother. She didn't stand for shit from people. She stood up for herself if things didn't feel right. Moving to France gave her the chance to spread her wings away from her aunt and the expectations of her old life.
I LOVED Christien! He was a sweet, romantic guy who carried a lot of emotional baggage and then the shock that he has a three year old son. He’s fiercely loyal to Jake and Tabby and their needs which is sigh worthy. He was strong and sexy and protective and you could tell exactly what being with Tabby meant to him.
Great chemistry and great story! 5 stars!
March 9, 2017
N'est pas possible -.-
I'm so angry at Tabby!
I went to this book with high expectations because my goodreads friends gave it 3 or plus stars, it didn't work at all for me though.
There are so many things in this book that are just not for me BUT:
1. I couldn't stop reading it so that's 1/2 of a star,
2. Another 3/4 of a star for Christien (I'll explain later why not a whole star for him)
3. This scene was worth another 1/2 of a star:
“Christien woke to find his three-year-old son staring at him from the foot of the bed.
‘What are you doing in Mummy’s bed?’ Jake asked, wide-eyed.
‘She had a nightmare,’ Christien responded glibly.
‘What happened to her nightie?’ Jake demanded.
‘It fell off…when she was having the nightmare,’ Christien told him boldly, but a faint flush of colour underscored his superb cheekbones.”
Aaaawwww, so cute!
Let's start with a good thing: Christien.
What a surprise! Frenchmen are way more possessive than Greeks or Italians, or at least this one was.
He was almost the kind of hero I fall for in books: Alphas that don't do love/feelings, that are ruthlessly practical but without noticing make romantic gestures, that are caring without giving it much importance, that have mastered the art of self control but lose it when near the heroine, etc.
What bothered me about him was the easy way he called the heroine a whore (in multiple ways multiple times during the first half of the book) and this:
The heroine told him“'...You’d told me that you disliked condoms—'”
And later in the book he was thinking to himself “Why? In certain situations condoms were inconvenient and he had thought of his pleasure rather than her protection."
So it's a miracle he's not plagued with STDs
Now for Tabby... first of all why had she to be 17? Just as justification for her stupidity? (I'll get back to her stupidity in a few lines).
At first I try to calm myself insisting that her 'white' lies and reckless behavior were due to her grief on losing her mom, having to deal with the step-mother from hell and her age, and then losing her dad in that horrible accident. So I did really try to justify all her behavior but I just couldn't.
I can't believe she went through college, worked half time and took care of Jake all by herself (with a little help from her aunt), I just can't. There was so little in the book indicating that she was a good mother to Jake, there was a mention of her art work but I felt like she didn't cook or do housework or work on her art or anything, it felt as if she only existed to have sex with the hero and that was that.
Then her intellect... I couldn't justify her, not after she confessed that she thought she was protected from pregnancy even though she stopped taking the pill. Sorry but I just can't get over it!
Also I hate secret babies when the reason for the secrecy doesn't convince me and here I wasn't convinced at all.
She behaved too immature, sometimes I felt that little Jake was the adult there. Also she changed her mind every five seconds and most of times it wasn't for the better. She was all contradictions.
“'I love you, ma belle. I love you like crazy.’
Tabby heaved an ecstatic sigh. She had not even dared to hope and there he had been sneakily hiding his feelings from her. ‘You should have told me that ages ago—'”
Really? She NEVER said 'I love you' to him, so she should have told him that ages ago too!
In short, I hated this book.
I'm so angry at Tabby!
I went to this book with high expectations because my goodreads friends gave it 3 or plus stars, it didn't work at all for me though.
There are so many things in this book that are just not for me BUT:
1. I couldn't stop reading it so that's 1/2 of a star,
2. Another 3/4 of a star for Christien (I'll explain later why not a whole star for him)
3. This scene was worth another 1/2 of a star:
“Christien woke to find his three-year-old son staring at him from the foot of the bed.
‘What are you doing in Mummy’s bed?’ Jake asked, wide-eyed.
‘She had a nightmare,’ Christien responded glibly.
‘What happened to her nightie?’ Jake demanded.
‘It fell off…when she was having the nightmare,’ Christien told him boldly, but a faint flush of colour underscored his superb cheekbones.”
Aaaawwww, so cute!
Let's start with a good thing: Christien.
What a surprise! Frenchmen are way more possessive than Greeks or Italians, or at least this one was.
He was almost the kind of hero I fall for in books: Alphas that don't do love/feelings, that are ruthlessly practical but without noticing make romantic gestures, that are caring without giving it much importance, that have mastered the art of self control but lose it when near the heroine, etc.
What bothered me about him was the easy way he called the heroine a whore (in multiple ways multiple times during the first half of the book) and this:
The heroine told him“'...You’d told me that you disliked condoms—'”
And later in the book he was thinking to himself “Why? In certain situations condoms were inconvenient and he had thought of his pleasure rather than her protection."
So it's a miracle he's not plagued with STDs
Now for Tabby... first of all why had she to be 17? Just as justification for her stupidity? (I'll get back to her stupidity in a few lines).
At first I try to calm myself insisting that her 'white' lies and reckless behavior were due to her grief on losing her mom, having to deal with the step-mother from hell and her age, and then losing her dad in that horrible accident. So I did really try to justify all her behavior but I just couldn't.
I can't believe she went through college, worked half time and took care of Jake all by herself (with a little help from her aunt), I just can't. There was so little in the book indicating that she was a good mother to Jake, there was a mention of her art work but I felt like she didn't cook or do housework or work on her art or anything, it felt as if she only existed to have sex with the hero and that was that.
Then her intellect... I couldn't justify her, not after she confessed that she thought she was protected from pregnancy even though she stopped taking the pill. Sorry but I just can't get over it!
Also I hate secret babies when the reason for the secrecy doesn't convince me and here I wasn't convinced at all.
She behaved too immature, sometimes I felt that little Jake was the adult there. Also she changed her mind every five seconds and most of times it wasn't for the better. She was all contradictions.
“'I love you, ma belle. I love you like crazy.’
Tabby heaved an ecstatic sigh. She had not even dared to hope and there he had been sneakily hiding his feelings from her. ‘You should have told me that ages ago—'”
Really? She NEVER said 'I love you' to him, so she should have told him that ages ago too!
In short, I hated this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 19, 2019
I had high hopes going into this even though LG's stories are a hit or miss for me. This one is absolutely a miss. Tabby is the dumbest heroine I think I've ever read in a story.
She gets pregnant because, well, she honesty had no idea that going off the pill for a couple of weeks would make the pill ineffective and get her pregnant. Wow. Really??
And Tabby was a liar too. She lied about how young she was when she started letting Christien screw her. She lied by omission by not telling him she was a virgin the first time they had sex (leaving him to believe she was just that easy of a lay). Tabby was caught riding a motorcycle and kissing another dude, and when called on it, she tried to lie about that too:
"I didn't see anybody else, oh wait, you SAW ME KISSING HIM??? Okay since you saw it and I can't deny it then I guess I DID do that."
Then after years apart Tabby and Christien reunite again, and Tabby immediately drops her knickers and has sex with him multiple times, conveniently forgetting to tell him that, Oh yeah, BTW I had your baby a few years ago. Surprise! You're a daddy!" Waiting weeks before telling Christien the truth about having his kid.
Everything Tabby did pissed me off. And Tabby had no resistance when it came to Christien's magic penis. As soon as she was within his vicinity, she automatically spread her legs, despite the way she was inexplicably and humiliatingly cast out of his life years ago in front of all of his friends and family, and then again despite the things he would call her or say to her. Yuck. I hated everything about this doormat, lying heroine. As the story progressed it just kept getting more and more cringy and embarrassing. I felt like I lost a few brain cells by the time I finished this story.
She gets pregnant because, well, she honesty had no idea that going off the pill for a couple of weeks would make the pill ineffective and get her pregnant. Wow. Really??
And Tabby was a liar too. She lied about how young she was when she started letting Christien screw her. She lied by omission by not telling him she was a virgin the first time they had sex (leaving him to believe she was just that easy of a lay). Tabby was caught riding a motorcycle and kissing another dude, and when called on it, she tried to lie about that too:
"I didn't see anybody else, oh wait, you SAW ME KISSING HIM??? Okay since you saw it and I can't deny it then I guess I DID do that."
Then after years apart Tabby and Christien reunite again, and Tabby immediately drops her knickers and has sex with him multiple times, conveniently forgetting to tell him that, Oh yeah, BTW I had your baby a few years ago. Surprise! You're a daddy!" Waiting weeks before telling Christien the truth about having his kid.
Everything Tabby did pissed me off. And Tabby had no resistance when it came to Christien's magic penis. As soon as she was within his vicinity, she automatically spread her legs, despite the way she was inexplicably and humiliatingly cast out of his life years ago in front of all of his friends and family, and then again despite the things he would call her or say to her. Yuck. I hated everything about this doormat, lying heroine. As the story progressed it just kept getting more and more cringy and embarrassing. I felt like I lost a few brain cells by the time I finished this story.
December 16, 2021
"The Frenchman's Love-Child" is the story of Tabby and Christein.
Let's recap, shall we.
Hero is a rich playboy. He immidiately assumes heroine is a slut because she's blonde and poor. He then seduces her and abandons her. She finds out she's pregnant, and when she gets no help from him and his family runs away. Three years pass, and a relative leaves her a home in his estate. Hero wants it, and knows for sure gold digger hoe heroine will give it. She refuses, but he does succeed in seducing her. She is also addicted to his magical phallus and gives in. After back and forth, secret baby is revealed, the hero behaves like more of an a$$, more back and forth before the torture ends.
Despicable hero, doormat heroine. The cherry on the top was ofcourse not only was he not celibate in separation, he also had a fiancé whom he breaks up with in afterthought.
Lastly he calls his son "stunted" because he's asthmatic and then mocks his curly hair for being girlie? keep your macho self to yourself.
Hated it.
Unsafe
1.5/5
Let's recap, shall we.
Hero is a rich playboy. He immidiately assumes heroine is a slut because she's blonde and poor. He then seduces her and abandons her. She finds out she's pregnant, and when she gets no help from him and his family runs away. Three years pass, and a relative leaves her a home in his estate. Hero wants it, and knows for sure gold digger hoe heroine will give it. She refuses, but he does succeed in seducing her. She is also addicted to his magical phallus and gives in. After back and forth, secret baby is revealed, the hero behaves like more of an a$$, more back and forth before the torture ends.
Despicable hero, doormat heroine. The cherry on the top was ofcourse not only was he not celibate in separation, he also had a fiancé whom he breaks up with in afterthought.
Lastly he calls his son "stunted" because he's asthmatic and then mocks his curly hair for being girlie? keep your macho self to yourself.
Hated it.
Unsafe
1.5/5
February 16, 2023
I’m so very sorry and disappointed by this book, but honestly I couldn’t find it in me to rate it more.
Yes, LG is a good writer, maybe one of the best in hp world, and it’s always a pleasure to read her books.
This one though.
I know she had her standard hero and heroine, the heroine must be innocent and naive and the hero must be rich handsome and good in bed but extremely dumb.
I think that her model for her heroines are boxers, you only want to see how much they can take before being knocked out, and this one takes it like a champ.
She met the hero when she was 17 and he was in his 20s, they had sex the first time they dated.
After 6 weeks of great sex he saw her kissing another man (the man was a friend and he kissed her goodbye only) and basically ghosted her, when ghosting was not even a word.
She finds out she’s pregnant and tries to get in touch with him, he not only ghosts her but also refuses to speak to her when they meet at a funeral.
Four year later his granny dies and leaves the heroine a cottage near the hero’s house, he tries to buy her out.
They have sex, because the heroine is a pushover with the worst case of TBS known in history, and he offers her to be his paid mistress.
She refuses and is back to the cottage, this time with his child.
When she tells him he’s a father he’s furious and blames her because she didn’t try to tell him hard enough! Here is where I lost it
She was 17, orphaned and penniless and tried to tell him but he had made it impossible for her with her meager means to get in touch with him and stil it’s her fault.
I just can’t.
So he offers her again to be his mistress And to live with him and the child.
When she refuses he proposes marriage and she basically accepts immediately.
I was like, oh my god. Stop it just stop it.
In the end there is a sad declaration of love from him that left me almost crying with frustration.
No apology no sorry nothing.
No grovel.
He basically used her for sex when she was a minor, dumped her without asking for explanation, ghosted her for four years during which he had the time of his life screwing women as if there’s no tomorrow and on top of this he was engaged very happily with evil ow when he met the heroine, while the poor idiot struggled to end her studies with a lil child and had no sex life, no life at all.
I can’t see any love here, only a strong chemistry because he didn’t even bat a lid to change women and even to plan his future with another woman and was really happy with it because evil ow offered him an open marriage where he could have all the women he wanted.
Where is a woman self esteem? Where is her dignity? Her pride? Her self respect? The heroine took him back after five minutes and wasn’t even angry for his behavior and he was completely unapologetic. No, big no no!
So sorry if I don’t rate it more but for me this book is a complete disappointment.
Safety of course very bad.
She was virgin and then celibate for four years while he screwed around with plenty of women and was even engaged for 6 months, and there’s nothing about him being intimate with his fiancée, it seems she wasn’t into sex so I suppose they didn’t sleep together but it’s not sure. Whatever. Sad double standard.
Yes, LG is a good writer, maybe one of the best in hp world, and it’s always a pleasure to read her books.
This one though.
I know she had her standard hero and heroine, the heroine must be innocent and naive and the hero must be rich handsome and good in bed but extremely dumb.
I think that her model for her heroines are boxers, you only want to see how much they can take before being knocked out, and this one takes it like a champ.
She met the hero when she was 17 and he was in his 20s, they had sex the first time they dated.
After 6 weeks of great sex he saw her kissing another man (the man was a friend and he kissed her goodbye only) and basically ghosted her, when ghosting was not even a word.
She finds out she’s pregnant and tries to get in touch with him, he not only ghosts her but also refuses to speak to her when they meet at a funeral.
Four year later his granny dies and leaves the heroine a cottage near the hero’s house, he tries to buy her out.
They have sex, because the heroine is a pushover with the worst case of TBS known in history, and he offers her to be his paid mistress.
She refuses and is back to the cottage, this time with his child.
When she tells him he’s a father he’s furious and blames her because she didn’t try to tell him hard enough! Here is where I lost it
She was 17, orphaned and penniless and tried to tell him but he had made it impossible for her with her meager means to get in touch with him and stil it’s her fault.
I just can’t.
So he offers her again to be his mistress And to live with him and the child.
When she refuses he proposes marriage and she basically accepts immediately.
I was like, oh my god. Stop it just stop it.
In the end there is a sad declaration of love from him that left me almost crying with frustration.
No apology no sorry nothing.
No grovel.
He basically used her for sex when she was a minor, dumped her without asking for explanation, ghosted her for four years during which he had the time of his life screwing women as if there’s no tomorrow and on top of this he was engaged very happily with evil ow when he met the heroine, while the poor idiot struggled to end her studies with a lil child and had no sex life, no life at all.
I can’t see any love here, only a strong chemistry because he didn’t even bat a lid to change women and even to plan his future with another woman and was really happy with it because evil ow offered him an open marriage where he could have all the women he wanted.
Where is a woman self esteem? Where is her dignity? Her pride? Her self respect? The heroine took him back after five minutes and wasn’t even angry for his behavior and he was completely unapologetic. No, big no no!
So sorry if I don’t rate it more but for me this book is a complete disappointment.
Safety of course very bad.
She was virgin and then celibate for four years while he screwed around with plenty of women and was even engaged for 6 months, and there’s nothing about him being intimate with his fiancée, it seems she wasn’t into sex so I suppose they didn’t sleep together but it’s not sure. Whatever. Sad double standard.
February 9, 2017
At first, there were a few things that set me off and raised my 'ick' factor.
1. Tabby's age when she first starts 'dating' Christien and how fast she drops her panties for him
2. The excessive misunderstandings and interference from more people than I could keep up with
3. Christien's deceptions when he first reunites with Tabby (but he does redeem himself)
4. Tabby's delay in telling Christien about their son, and not getting legal council or having the sense to realize taking the child to France without a solid plan was dumb, dumb, dumb
5. Tabby 's characterization as a quintessential 'dizzy blonde bimbette' with little commonsense as a young girl (including about birth control), and later as an adult, an impoverished idealistic hippie-esque bimbo with no self control and who doesn't ask the right questions when she should.
Still, once all the muck is sorted out, misunderstandings, assumptions, lies, manipulations etc., I liked Christien and his family better than expected. Tabby has a temper (always) and later, a spine. She cuts loose on her baby's daddy, too.
Little Jake is adorable, and a 'stealing the spotlight' character. The dialogue is pretty good and the words used and language adds flavor the characters personalities.
I found myself swept into the story , reading the entire book in less than a day because I wanted to see what happened next with this pair. I enjoyed their fights, and how intense their sexual and personal chemistry was. What endeared me to Christien, away from his arrogant, self-absorbed, self-righteous entitled attitude, was his dedication to family, his heritage, and powerful sense of duty to his child. His love for Tabby was passionate and unrelenting as everything else.
The whirlwind plot swept two star-crossed lovers together and the fairy-tale ending was sheer HEA done HP style. It was a fun book to read overall.
1. Tabby's age when she first starts 'dating' Christien and how fast she drops her panties for him
2. The excessive misunderstandings and interference from more people than I could keep up with
3. Christien's deceptions when he first reunites with Tabby (but he does redeem himself)
4. Tabby's delay in telling Christien about their son, and not getting legal council or having the sense to realize taking the child to France without a solid plan was dumb, dumb, dumb
5. Tabby 's characterization as a quintessential 'dizzy blonde bimbette' with little commonsense as a young girl (including about birth control), and later as an adult, an impoverished idealistic hippie-esque bimbo with no self control and who doesn't ask the right questions when she should.
Still, once all the muck is sorted out, misunderstandings, assumptions, lies, manipulations etc., I liked Christien and his family better than expected. Tabby has a temper (always) and later, a spine. She cuts loose on her baby's daddy, too.
Little Jake is adorable, and a 'stealing the spotlight' character. The dialogue is pretty good and the words used and language adds flavor the characters personalities.
I found myself swept into the story , reading the entire book in less than a day because I wanted to see what happened next with this pair. I enjoyed their fights, and how intense their sexual and personal chemistry was. What endeared me to Christien, away from his arrogant, self-absorbed, self-righteous entitled attitude, was his dedication to family, his heritage, and powerful sense of duty to his child. His love for Tabby was passionate and unrelenting as everything else.
The whirlwind plot swept two star-crossed lovers together and the fairy-tale ending was sheer HEA done HP style. It was a fun book to read overall.
January 23, 2022
Updated:
May/27/2015
I loved this story. It was really good :)
From 1 to 10 (My personal rating scale): 8.5
May/27/2015
I loved this story. It was really good :)
From 1 to 10 (My personal rating scale): 8.5
March 8, 2017
I really enjoyed reading this one!!the hero was really bestowed with the heroine,and heroine was feisty yet adorable!the hero was your typical alpha but fortunalety not a jerk!loved to see the heroine stand up for herself and she didn't let the hero run over her.it was so much fun reading how jealous and possessive the hero was,he was abosolutely dreamy and so romantic!plus their little son jake was an added bonus!!I adored the little boy!it was heartbreaking to read about the circumstances in which they parted,hero assuming she cheated on him and heroine losing her father and being treated like trash by everybody around coz her father was responsible for the accident.upon that she had to deal with an unexpected pregnancy at such a young age and trying circumstances,but she was brave and dealt with all this wonderfully.though their parting was heartbreaking their reunion was magical!they were meant to be together!
July 6, 2016
An amazing read.
Unable to resist the strong sexual pull between them Christien and Tabby embarked on a 6 week whirlwind affair four years ago in France. When Tabby's lie about her young age comes to light, Christien informs her he needs to think. Tabby is left afraid then tragedy strikes....leaving 5 families in mourning and Tabby feeling left out in the cold.
Trying to be brave and mature Tabby tries to let him know about the baby believing that Christien really loves her. But unable to comprehend his jealously and pride she leaves brokenhearted.
Time passes and they meet again and low and behold the passion is still there.....they just can't resist each other or even think. Very hot and sexy. More misunderstandings come to light but this time Tabby is not going to let anything get in the way of the truth......not realizing Christien is hiding a secret.
What can I say this book has everything: passion to die for, romance, love, jealously, pain, and a happy ending.
Christien is a guy women dream about; sexy, charming, romantic, handsome, and sees his dream woman when he looks at Tabby that all other women fail to matter....so sweet!
And you just have to love Tabby; naive, sweet, pretty, caring, and how she matures into a thoughtful, understanding, and forgiving young woman.
A nicely written romantic read.....just the way they are supposed to be.
Unable to resist the strong sexual pull between them Christien and Tabby embarked on a 6 week whirlwind affair four years ago in France. When Tabby's lie about her young age comes to light, Christien informs her he needs to think. Tabby is left afraid then tragedy strikes....leaving 5 families in mourning and Tabby feeling left out in the cold.
Trying to be brave and mature Tabby tries to let him know about the baby believing that Christien really loves her. But unable to comprehend his jealously and pride she leaves brokenhearted.
Time passes and they meet again and low and behold the passion is still there.....they just can't resist each other or even think. Very hot and sexy. More misunderstandings come to light but this time Tabby is not going to let anything get in the way of the truth......not realizing Christien is hiding a secret.
What can I say this book has everything: passion to die for, romance, love, jealously, pain, and a happy ending.
Christien is a guy women dream about; sexy, charming, romantic, handsome, and sees his dream woman when he looks at Tabby that all other women fail to matter....so sweet!
And you just have to love Tabby; naive, sweet, pretty, caring, and how she matures into a thoughtful, understanding, and forgiving young woman.
A nicely written romantic read.....just the way they are supposed to be.
August 14, 2016
The hero and heroine had a brief but passionate love affair when the heroine was only seventeen. After her father drove drunk and killed the heroes father, there relationship broke up. The hero never knew at seventeen the hero had his son, went to college and worked numerous jobs to provide for his son. Four years have passed and now they have met again and the hero is about to find out the truth behind everything.
August 21, 2023
Not a good sample of LG’s work but still better than new HPs!
April 17, 2022
It’s been a while since I’ve read a Lynne Graham. She always has the same story line, that’s why.
This story is the same too. Blonde h has sex almost immediately after she sees the H for the first time. No birth control, unplanned pregnancy, secret baby, bla bla bla.
This h was TSTL. She thought that even with her not taking the pill anymore, she would still be protected against pregnancy. Her excuse is that she was 17. 🙄
What I especially didn’t like about the h was how ungrateful she was to her aunt who had given her and her son a home for years and who had babysat her son whenever she was away.
The h never said ‘Thank you’ to her aunt. She just declared that she and her son would leave for France. She saw her aunt was hurt by it, but the h did or said nothing to soften the blow. That’s cold.
So I tried, but LG is too factory like.
This story is the same too. Blonde h has sex almost immediately after she sees the H for the first time. No birth control, unplanned pregnancy, secret baby, bla bla bla.
This h was TSTL. She thought that even with her not taking the pill anymore, she would still be protected against pregnancy. Her excuse is that she was 17. 🙄
What I especially didn’t like about the h was how ungrateful she was to her aunt who had given her and her son a home for years and who had babysat her son whenever she was away.
The h never said ‘Thank you’ to her aunt. She just declared that she and her son would leave for France. She saw her aunt was hurt by it, but the h did or said nothing to soften the blow. That’s cold.
So I tried, but LG is too factory like.
October 7, 2019
Not the worst. Got boring towards the end. Way too much sex in the book. The h was a notch too extroverted for my liking. The H sees her first time while she's bathing naked in a pool. I lost most of all respect for her right there.
When h and H meet, h is young. They both seem immature. Second chance meeting was also too far fetched. The H's aunt leaves a cottage on the H's vast property to the h. h upheaves all the way from England to France to make use of this cottage. H and h meet again.
Way too much sex without much weight to the book. But it wasn't rushed or badly written. I just didn't like Tabby enough at the end of the day.
When h and H meet, h is young. They both seem immature. Second chance meeting was also too far fetched. The H's aunt leaves a cottage on the H's vast property to the h. h upheaves all the way from England to France to make use of this cottage. H and h meet again.
Way too much sex without much weight to the book. But it wasn't rushed or badly written. I just didn't like Tabby enough at the end of the day.
May 20, 2020
one of my LG faves! i love how christian was totally head over heals with tabby the moment he saw her again, and the love scenes were so hot!!
lots of cute moments too. you could tell they actually loved and cared for one another beyond just lust—like christian redoing her whole house, being worried about her health when she told him they needed a serious talk, holding her hands when they went outside, etc. Their kid was also just the cutest with them!
lots of cute moments too. you could tell they actually loved and cared for one another beyond just lust—like christian redoing her whole house, being worried about her health when she told him they needed a serious talk, holding her hands when they went outside, etc. Their kid was also just the cutest with them!
February 3, 2020
With affection, these two are dumber than a box of rocks and it's very fortunate that the woman is pretty and the man is rich because they would NOT survive without those cushions.
That said, this story was amusing and charming and I absolutely believed that these two fools were so utterly obsessed with each other. Someone else called this a romcom in their review, and yeah that fits the bill. So many ridiculous misunderstandings and wildly improbable events. Somewhat mild on the angst, but just enough to make it good.
It was a fun, mostly silly, romp. It would really behoove them, and the future, to get joint sterilized though. So dumb. :D
That said, this story was amusing and charming and I absolutely believed that these two fools were so utterly obsessed with each other. Someone else called this a romcom in their review, and yeah that fits the bill. So many ridiculous misunderstandings and wildly improbable events. Somewhat mild on the angst, but just enough to make it good.
It was a fun, mostly silly, romp. It would really behoove them, and the future, to get joint sterilized though. So dumb. :D
Read
September 6, 2020Holy cow! For HP this is one lusty couple! 😆 🤦♀️ 😳 😆
August 17, 2018
What do you do when you like a book, in this case books, from the word go? You just read them as fast as you can, because you can’t get enough of it! And that’s what happened to me, so much so, that after reading the soft copies, I ordered the hard copies, for keepsakes.
This M&B Trilogy, 'Brides of L'Amour' by Lynne Graham consists of the following books:
1. The Frenchman's Love-Child
2. The Italian Boss's Mistress
3. The Banker's Convenient Wife
This series is about four childhood friends, Tabby, Pippa, Hilary, and Jen who went their separate ways when tragedy struck one fine French day (the books are about them, in that order, except the fourth one who has vanished from the face of the Earth. Planning on a romantic suspense, Harlequin?)
This series had me in splits!
This book is about Tabby, how she comes into contact with her baby daddy, and the big reveal (that he is the baby’s daddy!). It takes you through a journey, where their past of young love is shown through flashbacks.
This one’s hilarious for most of the part, and young Jake is absolutely delightful. The author has done a great job, some of the lines are permanently etched on my brain.
Christien is a sweetheart (and I hardly say that about any M&B male characters). The way he surprises Tabby on her return is charming. I loved Tabby’s sass, and also the male-bonding scenes between father and son.
Laughed my head off when Tabby’s friend, Pippa, quips about Christien accepting his son without any question:
And of course, the entire nightie episode, a glimpse of which is as follows (there is more of where this comes from):
Originally posted on:
https://sassyshaina.wordpress.com/201...
This M&B Trilogy, 'Brides of L'Amour' by Lynne Graham consists of the following books:
1. The Frenchman's Love-Child
2. The Italian Boss's Mistress
3. The Banker's Convenient Wife
This series is about four childhood friends, Tabby, Pippa, Hilary, and Jen who went their separate ways when tragedy struck one fine French day (the books are about them, in that order, except the fourth one who has vanished from the face of the Earth. Planning on a romantic suspense, Harlequin?)
This series had me in splits!
This book is about Tabby, how she comes into contact with her baby daddy, and the big reveal (that he is the baby’s daddy!). It takes you through a journey, where their past of young love is shown through flashbacks.
This one’s hilarious for most of the part, and young Jake is absolutely delightful. The author has done a great job, some of the lines are permanently etched on my brain.
Christien is a sweetheart (and I hardly say that about any M&B male characters). The way he surprises Tabby on her return is charming. I loved Tabby’s sass, and also the male-bonding scenes between father and son.
Laughed my head off when Tabby’s friend, Pippa, quips about Christien accepting his son without any question:
‘Your son is the mirror image of his very handsome papa. And Christien Laroche is not the male I took him for if he does not relish the sight of himself reprised in miniature,’ Pippa opined drily. ‘Furthermore, when Jake reveals his meteoric IQ and his deeply boring current obsession with fast cars Christien will experience such a shocking sense of soul-deep recognition that he will be flattered to death.’
And of course, the entire nightie episode, a glimpse of which is as follows (there is more of where this comes from):
‘Christien woke to find his three-year-old son staring at him from the foot of the bed.
‘What are you doing in Mummy’s bed?’ Jake asked, wide-eyed.
‘She had a nightmare,’ Christien responded glibly.
‘What happened to her nightie?’ Jake demanded.
‘It fell off…when she was having the nightmare,’ Christien told him boldly, but a faint flush of colour underscored his superb cheekbones.
Tabby, who had woken up too, started to laugh.
‘You’re supposed to be supporting me here,’ Christien breathed in a meaningful undertone out of the corner of his handsome mouth.
‘You’ll have to do better than that to get support!’ Tabby spluttered, for she was in the grip of helpless giggles.’
Originally posted on:
https://sassyshaina.wordpress.com/201...
March 14, 2016
I love this book. I can reread it lots of times. They were crazy in love for each other when Tabby was 17 (she hid that fact from him) and they had a summer romance. Christien was older, rich and super good looking. They loved deeply, but jealousy and family tragedy seperated them . Help that there was evil /friend of the guy that truly made it happen.
Tabby was left pregnant , alone but she got on with her life. She had the baby and was living her life. When Christien aunt includes her in her will. They meet again and you can be sure sparks will fly. Turns out Tabby and son will move to France to the cottage. You just know when they are within 10 feet of each other sparks and lots more will fly. And they just can't help love and fight. Secrets will unravel and they will sort it out. But how they do it is the fun part. They have HEA of course.
I love this two characters. They love so deeply and yet they just work. I enjoyed this book so much. Tabby was just a fun, she was not the typical doormat heroine.
I have a feeling this L'Amour characters are going to be a favorite series for me. They just are enjoyable and different in their unique ways.
Tabby was left pregnant , alone but she got on with her life. She had the baby and was living her life. When Christien aunt includes her in her will. They meet again and you can be sure sparks will fly. Turns out Tabby and son will move to France to the cottage. You just know when they are within 10 feet of each other sparks and lots more will fly. And they just can't help love and fight. Secrets will unravel and they will sort it out. But how they do it is the fun part. They have HEA of course.
I love this two characters. They love so deeply and yet they just work. I enjoyed this book so much. Tabby was just a fun, she was not the typical doormat heroine.
I have a feeling this L'Amour characters are going to be a favorite series for me. They just are enjoyable and different in their unique ways.
April 20, 2019
Tabby at 17 years old, had a summer affair with Christian, a sexy Frenchman who didn't realize how innocent she was. When Tabby's father killed Christian's parents & others in a drunk driving accident, Christian cut off all communication with Tabby, not realizing that she was carrying a secret. When Christian's great-aunt dies, she leaves a small cottage on the family estate to Tabby who is delighted to leave London and all the polluted air behind. Misunderstandings, angst....
This was close to a 4* for me, but I just couldn't round it up. Nothing major, just not quite there.
However, this is my favorite passage:
This was close to a 4* for me, but I just couldn't round it up. Nothing major, just not quite there.
However, this is my favorite passage:
November 22, 2016
A fun read!
I love Tabby and Christien and the way they interact with each other. Tabby is a straight talker who does not hesitate to call Christien on his bulls*it. While it seems like his fascination with Tabby is purely physical, his need to be with her and to make her happy suggests otherwise.
This book had all the things I adore in a HP - it's a secret baby book, the H and h are somewhat mature enough to work through their problems with too much bloodshed, the "other woman" is deviously despicable, and the HEA made me feel good. A perfect combination for a good read!
I love Tabby and Christien and the way they interact with each other. Tabby is a straight talker who does not hesitate to call Christien on his bulls*it. While it seems like his fascination with Tabby is purely physical, his need to be with her and to make her happy suggests otherwise.
This book had all the things I adore in a HP - it's a secret baby book, the H and h are somewhat mature enough to work through their problems with too much bloodshed, the "other woman" is deviously despicable, and the HEA made me feel good. A perfect combination for a good read!
September 15, 2013
3.5 stars
September 4, 2020
Ya me puse en onda masoquista asi que vengo a ponerle 5 estrellas ☺
March 21, 2023
I was struck by a desperate need for a nostalgia break so picked up one of my favorite type of books when I was a tween: old-school secret baby Harlequin. Despite the old-fashioned language (and ideas about women, etc.) and euphemistic sex scenes, I really enjoyed this blast from the past with its super possessive hero and the clear bonfire chemistry between the two all the way through.
3.5-3.75⭐️
3.5-3.75⭐️
June 4, 2021
Tabby fell in love with Christien Laroche, but then tragedy struck and Christien wanted nothing more to do with her. How could Tabby confess to the arrogant Frenchman that she was expecting his baby?
Now Tabby has made a new life for herself and her son. But Christien is back! What if he discovers little Jake's existence?
Brides of L'Amour -- the mother, the mistress and the forgotten wife...Lynne Graham's exciting new three-part serial begins
Now Tabby has made a new life for herself and her son. But Christien is back! What if he discovers little Jake's existence?
Brides of L'Amour -- the mother, the mistress and the forgotten wife...Lynne Graham's exciting new three-part serial begins
February 19, 2011
ก็อ่านได้เพลิน ๆ ดี
แต่หมั่นไส้ทั้งนางเอก พระเอก
พระเอกก็โมโหหึง หน้ามืดตามัวไปหน่อย
ส่วนนางเอกก็ เห็นพระเอกไม่ได้ ละลายตลอด
อ่านไปก็ขัดใจตัวละคร เฮ้อ ..
แต่ก็ยังอ่าน ไม่รู้ทำไม :)
ภาษาไทยชื่อว่า "โซ่ห้วใจ"
สำนักพิมพ์แก้วกานต์
แต่หมั่นไส้ทั้งนางเอก พระเอก
พระเอกก็โมโหหึง หน้ามืดตามัวไปหน่อย
ส่วนนางเอกก็ เห็นพระเอกไม่ได้ ละลายตลอด
อ่านไปก็ขัดใจตัวละคร เฮ้อ ..
แต่ก็ยังอ่าน ไม่รู้ทำไม :)
ภาษาไทยชื่อว่า "โซ่ห้วใจ"
สำนักพิมพ์แก้วกานต์
June 3, 2013
A very good, classic Lynne Graham story. I enjoyed the way the hero couldn't stay away, and the couple's angsty history. Very enjoyable read.
June 15, 2013
I did not care for how the book kept skipping back and forth between past and present.
July 29, 2017
loved it loads ♡ and I adored their boy jake , he is adorable.
January 20, 2024
As usual with Lynne Graham: enjoyable story coupled with irritating dialog.
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