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The Greek's Virgin Bride
Promised to the Greek tycoon…as his brideAs the illegitimate granddaughter of a famous Greek billionaire, Andrea Fraser was disowned at birth and grew up in poverty. Now, at the age of twenty-five, she is unexpectedly called to Greece, where shocking news awaits her…Andrea's grandfather has found her a husband! She's promised to tycoon Nikos Vassilis as part of a business deal. But Andrea is strongly independent and has no intention of meekly accepting a marriage of convenience. Nikos may be the most sophisticated man she's ever met, but she'll be leaving him the first chance she gets…won't she?
192 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 1, 2003
52 people are currently reading
439 people want to read
About the author
Julia James
721 books164 followersJulia lives in England with her family. Mills and Boon novels were Julia's first "grown up" books she read as a teenager ("Alongside Georgette Heyer and Daphne du Maurier."), and she's been reading them ever since.
Julia adores the English countryside ("And the Celtic countryside!"), in all its seasons, and is fascinated by all things historical, from castles to cottages. She also has a special love for the Mediterranean ("The most perfect landscape after England!") — she considers both are ideal settings for romance stories! In between writing she enjoys walking, gardening, needlework and baking "extremely gooey chocolate cakes" — and trying to stay fit!
Julia adores the English countryside ("And the Celtic countryside!"), in all its seasons, and is fascinated by all things historical, from castles to cottages. She also has a special love for the Mediterranean ("The most perfect landscape after England!") — she considers both are ideal settings for romance stories! In between writing she enjoys walking, gardening, needlework and baking "extremely gooey chocolate cakes" — and trying to stay fit!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
May 26, 2020
Still love it! May 2020 re-read.
**********
Really enjoyed this. The villain in this one is the heroine's grandfather who has the hero on the hook to marry his granddaughter.
Heroine only agrees to meet her grandfather for the first time because she wants to pay off her debts and move her mother, who has asthma, out of the council estate to Spain. She has no idea she is part of a business deal. When she objects to being married off, her grandfather hits her and advises the hero to beat her once they are married.
The hero is as shocked as the heroine, and he does step in between them, but some reviewers found his reaction to be too neutral. I thought that scene was to show how dangerous the grandfather was and how both the H/h were trapped by him. In a lovely reversal at the end of the story the H/h stand together and the hero traps the grandfather in a spate of bad publicity.
The H/h do marry and the heroine is healed of some emotional wounds. The hero, for his part, changes the most. He goes from playboy of the western world with two mistresses to a protective, smitten alpha. He also changes his views of money and power and how he looks at the world. He's a great character, as is the heroine.
I think I'll like this even more on a re-read. It's that kind of a story.
It's at Open Library for those who are interested.
**********
Really enjoyed this. The villain in this one is the heroine's grandfather who has the hero on the hook to marry his granddaughter.
Heroine only agrees to meet her grandfather for the first time because she wants to pay off her debts and move her mother, who has asthma, out of the council estate to Spain. She has no idea she is part of a business deal. When she objects to being married off, her grandfather hits her and advises the hero to beat her once they are married.
The hero is as shocked as the heroine, and he does step in between them, but some reviewers found his reaction to be too neutral. I thought that scene was to show how dangerous the grandfather was and how both the H/h were trapped by him. In a lovely reversal at the end of the story the H/h stand together and the hero traps the grandfather in a spate of bad publicity.
The H/h do marry and the heroine is healed of some emotional wounds. The hero, for his part, changes the most. He goes from playboy of the western world with two mistresses to a protective, smitten alpha. He also changes his views of money and power and how he looks at the world. He's a great character, as is the heroine.
I think I'll like this even more on a re-read. It's that kind of a story.
It's at Open Library for those who are interested.
November 29, 2018
Yuck..yuck..yuck!!!!
Oh my god the hero! I’m literally sick now. One of the worst manwhore hero. He is manho in the highest sense. Just read the first page where he is thinking of his current mistress ,when grandfather of the heroine is proposing marriage.
I was like I dont trust this author do I continue?
And I did. My BLOODY mistake.
Now I’m on page 41 and eventhough he is engaged to heroine who he never met yet..he sets aside Esme the current mistress and spend the previous night with another mistress Xanthe who is greek and available right now because she always was responsive and sweet to him and know how to pleasure a greek man, what he needss blah blah.. and Esme is American ,certainly a catch and queen of catwalks but sometimes it gets on his nerve that ‘As an American she have that internal affliction of thinking that a woman had a right to give a man hard if she choose’.! His words.
Forget being woman , I’m offended on behalf of Americans. Still he can make her purr anytime(and I assure you he already made me growl and puke).
It didn’t finish even there,he made more plans with Xanthe tonight and was thinking how pleasurable it will feel. Then ..surprise some more disgusting thoughts.
Oh did I forget to mention him fondly remembering another of Esme’s many predecessor calling him stud after he ‘exhausted and sated’ her? For which he laughed wickedly and turned her so..Or the instance where he thought now that he is getting married he will have to keep his affairs discreet. Or another where he thinks surely heroine’s mother had trained her to be a biddable Greek wife who knows husbands strays and a wife’s duty is blah blah... and now I feel sympathy for said biddable Greek wives.
Ughhhhhh...
Anyway I will complete reading this (though not sure how ) as I have this twisted sense of thinking where I dont want to demean authors efforts. This rule was relatively new and one this book is making me rethink!
Oh my god the hero! I’m literally sick now. One of the worst manwhore hero. He is manho in the highest sense. Just read the first page where he is thinking of his current mistress ,when grandfather of the heroine is proposing marriage.
I was like I dont trust this author do I continue?
And I did. My BLOODY mistake.
Now I’m on page 41 and eventhough he is engaged to heroine who he never met yet..he sets aside Esme the current mistress and spend the previous night with another mistress Xanthe who is greek and available right now because she always was responsive and sweet to him and know how to pleasure a greek man, what he needss blah blah.. and Esme is American ,certainly a catch and queen of catwalks but sometimes it gets on his nerve that ‘As an American she have that internal affliction of thinking that a woman had a right to give a man hard if she choose’.! His words.
Forget being woman , I’m offended on behalf of Americans. Still he can make her purr anytime(and I assure you he already made me growl and puke).
It didn’t finish even there,he made more plans with Xanthe tonight and was thinking how pleasurable it will feel. Then ..surprise some more disgusting thoughts.
Oh did I forget to mention him fondly remembering another of Esme’s many predecessor calling him stud after he ‘exhausted and sated’ her? For which he laughed wickedly and turned her so..Or the instance where he thought now that he is getting married he will have to keep his affairs discreet. Or another where he thinks surely heroine’s mother had trained her to be a biddable Greek wife who knows husbands strays and a wife’s duty is blah blah... and now I feel sympathy for said biddable Greek wives.
Ughhhhhh...
Anyway I will complete reading this (though not sure how ) as I have this twisted sense of thinking where I dont want to demean authors efforts. This rule was relatively new and one this book is making me rethink!
July 10, 2018
Reading two JJ's back to back was not a wise decision.
MOC story where yet another Greek patriarch blackmails a granddaughter AGAIN. As AvidReader said, the H starts out as a real oinker thinking about his two mistresses and how good the sex is and how he needs some more soon; he’s glad his soon-to-be Greek wife will have been schooled by her mother in the fine art of averting eyes to cheating (BARF), and his hormonal excitement when the h turns out to be a hot babe. Of course, the H has to struggle with the initial Oh noes when he thinks the 25 yo old babe is the creepy grandfather’s SOB's mistress instead of the plain greek girl he has been led to believe.
The grandfather is now rotting in HP hell and deservedly so. He beat his son, refused to help his granddaughter for other reasons you’ll have to suffer the beginning to find out.
The heroine is pretty feisty and leads the H on a merry dance when she tells him she is as in it for the money as he is. That doesn’t go over well as apparently only Greek alpha types can marry for money. She also defies gramps in a showdown that the H deplores for her acting like an uppity female (barf again) but admires her for her courage as few men including him could do that.
The ONLY, I mean the only, thing that saves this is that once the H gets a look at the heroine he turns into a big old softie and is quite sweet if you can look over his inner monologue about how spoiled she must be growing up in the lap of luxury. She didn't. Yawn.
I need a break.
My recommendation for maintaining sanity is start reading around Chapter 6. You’ll miss where the heroine puts the screws to her grandfather, but you will miss some major yucky misogynistic drama.
MOC story where yet another Greek patriarch blackmails a granddaughter AGAIN. As AvidReader said, the H starts out as a real oinker thinking about his two mistresses and how good the sex is and how he needs some more soon; he’s glad his soon-to-be Greek wife will have been schooled by her mother in the fine art of averting eyes to cheating (BARF), and his hormonal excitement when the h turns out to be a hot babe. Of course, the H has to struggle with the initial Oh noes when he thinks the 25 yo old babe is the creepy grandfather’s SOB's mistress instead of the plain greek girl he has been led to believe.
The grandfather is now rotting in HP hell and deservedly so. He beat his son, refused to help his granddaughter for other reasons you’ll have to suffer the beginning to find out.
The heroine is pretty feisty and leads the H on a merry dance when she tells him she is as in it for the money as he is. That doesn’t go over well as apparently only Greek alpha types can marry for money. She also defies gramps in a showdown that the H deplores for her acting like an uppity female (barf again) but admires her for her courage as few men including him could do that.
The ONLY, I mean the only, thing that saves this is that once the H gets a look at the heroine he turns into a big old softie and is quite sweet if you can look over his inner monologue about how spoiled she must be growing up in the lap of luxury. She didn't. Yawn.
I need a break.
My recommendation for maintaining sanity is start reading around Chapter 6. You’ll miss where the heroine puts the screws to her grandfather, but you will miss some major yucky misogynistic drama.
October 14, 2017
Okay once the H saw the heroine, he was smitten. He says he didn't touch anyone since the day he met her. But I had to sit through his disgusting sexual memories of his two mistresses. It was just gross. I took off one star for that. He was a pig. And he had plans for the greek mistress on the day he met the h. But maybe he really didn't touch anyone else. He was an awesome hero otherwise. The scene where she shows him her legs made me cry. He was wonderful. Swoon worthy actually. But the scene when he just watched when her grandfather hit her was deplorable and I almost stopped reading. That was before the honeymoon scene above so I forgave him after that. He was so in love with her on the ship it was wonderful. I loved him from that point forward. His actions at the end of the book were so romantic. I loved the epilogue too. Did i mention that the steamy scenes were very steamy!!?? I loved this book except for that horrible mistress stuff at the beginning. It was Like two different heroes. I might just might have to white out those scenes in the book. Yeah that will work!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
avoid
October 13, 2017A manwhore who has not one but two mistresses gets a virgin wife.
Now of course heroine didn’t have the luxury to see the world but there is NO balance of power here.
It is written not because that’s how it happens.
It’s written because the author and publisher feel that’s how it “should” happen.
And the belief that no matter how soiled the male protagonist is the female protagonist has to be untouched is actually rather disgusting than romantic and I’d like to avoid it no matter how much he reforms and how good the book is.
Now of course heroine didn’t have the luxury to see the world but there is NO balance of power here.
It is written not because that’s how it happens.
It’s written because the author and publisher feel that’s how it “should” happen.
And the belief that no matter how soiled the male protagonist is the female protagonist has to be untouched is actually rather disgusting than romantic and I’d like to avoid it no matter how much he reforms and how good the book is.
September 18, 2011
Andrea has every reason to loathe her wealthy Greek grandfather; he's never done anything to help her or her English mother, even when Andrea was in dire straits after an accident. But when he summons her to Greece, she can't resist the possibility of getting money to help her ailing, exhausted mother. Even if it means marrying a man who will undoubtedly come to hate her if he ever realizes she's not the wealthy heiress he expected.
I feel kind of bummed that I didn't like this more. There were some good aspects of it: cynical Nikos learns to become tender and protective, and comes to see the downside of ruthlessly seeking wealth and power. And I liked that Andrea's injury is really quite serious and disfiguring, because I was expecting one of those obnoxious "I have a scar, every man thinks I'm a freak" pity parties. But I was put off at the beginning by Nikos' extreme sluttiness (he earned himself a whole new shelf!), and when Andrea's grandfather hit her and Nikos didn't react immediately, it just kind of killed the romance for me.
The writing is more restrained and the book overall less over-the-top than recent James. If you like HPs, it's probably worth a try.
I feel kind of bummed that I didn't like this more. There were some good aspects of it: cynical Nikos learns to become tender and protective, and comes to see the downside of ruthlessly seeking wealth and power. And I liked that Andrea's injury is really quite serious and disfiguring, because I was expecting one of those obnoxious "I have a scar, every man thinks I'm a freak" pity parties. But I was put off at the beginning by Nikos' extreme sluttiness (he earned himself a whole new shelf!), and when Andrea's grandfather hit her and Nikos didn't react immediately, it just kind of killed the romance for me.
The writing is more restrained and the book overall less over-the-top than recent James. If you like HPs, it's probably worth a try.
February 8, 2017
I had many issues with this one; especially the part where the heroine Andrea is thrashed by her grandfather while the hero looks on without doing anything about it. I just couldn't take to the hero after that, not even when he discovers her disfigurement and looks after her. The heroine's character was ok, although she seemed to have a tendency to bait danger. But what was worse was the writing; it seemed overly dramatic and boring. I found myself skimming pages rather than actually reading the book. This is a 1.5 stars for me
January 24, 2013
I thought this book would be similar to "The Virgin's secret" by Abby Green but oh my god this book was nothing like that. It was way better! The heroine is a young hard working woman who was suffered a lot and the hero a complicated control addicted millionaire. Andrea and Nikos have a connection right from the start and the romantic tension is intense. I loved how near the end it was Nikos who became the vulnerable one cause of his love for Andrea and it was he who exorcised her demons. Reading about Andrea's accident, her disability and her strength to overcome all obstacles touched me deeply. Julia James is amazing!
December 29, 2018
Update: 28.12.18
I decided to read this one just to check how a safe author turns unsafe for me.
Avid-reader was right. The hero is gross. Man-whore word won’t do justice; He is a sex maniac (Read Avid Reader Review). He is always thinking about sex even after engaging to the heroine (it was a business merger, and he didn’t see the heroine). He was thinking to continue his sex masquerade even after the marriage but he will respect the heroine. As if cheating is not disrespecting.
The first 65% was worse but the scene changes after that. The last 35% were very good and if the whole book was like that I would have rated this book 4+ ratings.
1 star is for hero’s good behavior toward heroine in the last part of the book. He was good, trust me.
1 star is for A Strong Heroine. (A strong heroine is an Alien in HP’s)
--------------------------------
Date: 20.12.18
I like Julia James but how she wrote this?
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I decided to read this one just to check how a safe author turns unsafe for me.
Avid-reader was right. The hero is gross. Man-whore word won’t do justice; He is a sex maniac (Read Avid Reader Review). He is always thinking about sex even after engaging to the heroine (it was a business merger, and he didn’t see the heroine). He was thinking to continue his sex masquerade even after the marriage but he will respect the heroine. As if cheating is not disrespecting.
The first 65% was worse but the scene changes after that. The last 35% were very good and if the whole book was like that I would have rated this book 4+ ratings.
1 star is for hero’s good behavior toward heroine in the last part of the book. He was good, trust me.
1 star is for A Strong Heroine. (A strong heroine is an Alien in HP’s)
--------------------------------
Date: 20.12.18
I like Julia James but how she wrote this?
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
November 5, 2021
I wanted loads of ow drama …but he was boring and nice. He had 2 mistresses before he met the h, so……where is the drama? I wanted something to happen with the ow since he was suppose to be a huge whore., and the author did vomit so much sexual crap about the mistresses in the beginning…but we get no ow drama.😏
She has messed up legs with scars.
When he sees her legs for the first time on their wedding night, he’s stunned, and she goes, “ I know no man can want me….”🙄 and he starts kissing her scarred legs to show her he wants her still…it made me feel like it was a pity fuck scene. Why would anyone say such degrading and self pitying thing to a man? Was he suppose to say, you’re right, no man will want you? Of course a half decent man will try to make you feel better…
Didn’t care for this book at all.
She has messed up legs with scars.
When he sees her legs for the first time on their wedding night, he’s stunned, and she goes, “ I know no man can want me….”🙄 and he starts kissing her scarred legs to show her he wants her still…it made me feel like it was a pity fuck scene. Why would anyone say such degrading and self pitying thing to a man? Was he suppose to say, you’re right, no man will want you? Of course a half decent man will try to make you feel better…
Didn’t care for this book at all.
September 3, 2018
My first ever mills and boon/ harlequin book I read which made me discover category romance novels in the library and set of my craze I my teens. I loved this book and just as much when I reread it ten years later. Sadly I haven't read another book by James that was just as good.
May 25, 2012
One of my favorite Julia James!
December 25, 2013
the book was a complete flop ! andrea was physically scarred n off men due 2 dat complex n a bad experience she had when she was 22. she had been through very hard times; lost her dad, involved in a tragic accident which nearly cost her her legs, n rejected by her vicious grandfather who, let me remind you, actually hit her/beat her right in front of nikos. nikos actually thought she deserved it !! bcoz what ? she's a pampered lil heiress !? dats disgusting ! or bcoz she deigned 2 answer back bcoz u dunt arrange some1's marriage without asking/informing her 1st. the old man had no courtesy !! nikos did redeem himself afterwards but the book just did not do 4 me
April 8, 2012
Nikos Vassilis has clawed his way up from the gutter to become a successful (and very wealthy) businessman. Acquiring Coustakis Inudstries will be the pinnacle of his achievements, but in order to do this he must marry Yiorgos Coustakis' grand-daughter. Andrea Fraser has never met her grandfather who cast her mother aside when his son made her pregnant, until she receives a letter summoning her to his home. Andrea decides to see him in the hopes of getting enough money to pay off her family debts and to move her sick mother to a better home.
Yes, this is indeed yet another "Blackmailed Into Marriage" plot, but it's a good one. Nikos is very annoying at the beginning: arrogantly accepting marriage to a woman he has never even seen or heard of; contemplating the need to be more discreet with his mistresses once he is married so as not to shame his wife etc. He does intend to be a good husband in his own way, but he's obviously completely clueless as to what lies ahead for him.
Yiorgos is simply awful. He is a horrid man who finally gets his comeuppance; no cheesy happy ending with him suddenly realising the error of his ways. He actually hits Andrea twice in front of Nikos, who unfortunately doesn't do anything about it apart from reprimanding Andrea for provoking her grandfather. It takes Nikos a whole day to finally get mad about Andrea being struck which really didn't endear him to me. Sure it's a different culture, but for a man to allow someone to beat on his fiancée in front of him is just not on, and I think most cultures would not find this acceptable (even if they would find it all right for the husband/fiancé to be doing the hitting). Nikos assumes that Andrea has been brought up with her grandfather's wealth, and is simply wilful and spoilt. He can't comprehend how she can be so unappreciative of her good fortune and so disrespectful to Yiorgos even if he is an ass. Once he finds out the truth of her background and Yiorgos' treatment of her and her mother, everything changes, and I found myself cheering him on.
Andrea was great. She actually plans ahead. She knows that she can't trust Yiorgos, and smartly makes plans to ensure her own well-being. She's not afraid to stand up to him. It's great to have a heroine with some brains. Of course she does the usual, "I've just realised I'm in love with my husband! He must never know!" trick which I have never understood, and runs away as soon as Nikos turns his back on her. I kind of understand that it was difficult for her to talk to him since she was fully aware that he married her to get her grandfather's business, but the way she leaves him is kind of odd and forced. It's clearly done to force the resolution of the story and get everyone declaring their undying love for each other. I would have found it much more natural if Andrea had just opened up and explained everything to Nikos before running away, or at the very least explaining it in her farewell letter. It probably wouldn't have been as exciting, but it would have been a lot more natural and still given Nikos his chance to shine.
I loved this book. It doesn't quite make my Must read pile, but it is definitely worth taking a look at.
Yes, this is indeed yet another "Blackmailed Into Marriage" plot, but it's a good one. Nikos is very annoying at the beginning: arrogantly accepting marriage to a woman he has never even seen or heard of; contemplating the need to be more discreet with his mistresses once he is married so as not to shame his wife etc. He does intend to be a good husband in his own way, but he's obviously completely clueless as to what lies ahead for him.
Yiorgos is simply awful. He is a horrid man who finally gets his comeuppance; no cheesy happy ending with him suddenly realising the error of his ways. He actually hits Andrea twice in front of Nikos, who unfortunately doesn't do anything about it apart from reprimanding Andrea for provoking her grandfather. It takes Nikos a whole day to finally get mad about Andrea being struck which really didn't endear him to me. Sure it's a different culture, but for a man to allow someone to beat on his fiancée in front of him is just not on, and I think most cultures would not find this acceptable (even if they would find it all right for the husband/fiancé to be doing the hitting). Nikos assumes that Andrea has been brought up with her grandfather's wealth, and is simply wilful and spoilt. He can't comprehend how she can be so unappreciative of her good fortune and so disrespectful to Yiorgos even if he is an ass. Once he finds out the truth of her background and Yiorgos' treatment of her and her mother, everything changes, and I found myself cheering him on.
Andrea was great. She actually plans ahead. She knows that she can't trust Yiorgos, and smartly makes plans to ensure her own well-being. She's not afraid to stand up to him. It's great to have a heroine with some brains. Of course she does the usual, "I've just realised I'm in love with my husband! He must never know!" trick which I have never understood, and runs away as soon as Nikos turns his back on her. I kind of understand that it was difficult for her to talk to him since she was fully aware that he married her to get her grandfather's business, but the way she leaves him is kind of odd and forced. It's clearly done to force the resolution of the story and get everyone declaring their undying love for each other. I would have found it much more natural if Andrea had just opened up and explained everything to Nikos before running away, or at the very least explaining it in her farewell letter. It probably wouldn't have been as exciting, but it would have been a lot more natural and still given Nikos his chance to shine.
I loved this book. It doesn't quite make my Must read pile, but it is definitely worth taking a look at.
August 28, 2016
Interesting .
February 16, 2022
He’s a flawed H.
When she got hit in the face by her grandfather, I thought he would immediately step in between her and her grandfather. But he didn’t. He kept on looking at them.
Only after it became worse with the physical abuse from her grandfather, he stepped in.
What all good HP alpha males have in common: the moment their woman is physically abused by somebody else, they protect her immediately. This H didn’t. At least not immediately.
I find that unforgivable to look on while a woman gets a beating. That’s why the low rating. He becomes very sweet later in the book, but I couldn’t get over that scene.
She was annoyingly slow in thinking. She asked so many times if she is betrothed to the H by her grandfather that I wondered when she would finally get it.
But I like the story line and I kept reading. So 2 or 3 stars.
When she got hit in the face by her grandfather, I thought he would immediately step in between her and her grandfather. But he didn’t. He kept on looking at them.
Only after it became worse with the physical abuse from her grandfather, he stepped in.
What all good HP alpha males have in common: the moment their woman is physically abused by somebody else, they protect her immediately. This H didn’t. At least not immediately.
I find that unforgivable to look on while a woman gets a beating. That’s why the low rating. He becomes very sweet later in the book, but I couldn’t get over that scene.
She was annoyingly slow in thinking. She asked so many times if she is betrothed to the H by her grandfather that I wondered when she would finally get it.
But I like the story line and I kept reading. So 2 or 3 stars.
July 28, 2024
Reminded me of
, but with some unique twists. I loved that Nikos Vassilis had determined to be a good husband to his forced wife, Andrea, and was so loving to her after the wedding. I didn't like that he thought she had no right to stand up to her grandfather and be disrespectful to him & that he didn't do anything to help her when her evil grandfather hit her.
The language sometimes was very flowery, which can be good in small doses, but it went overboard to the point where it was too much.
Over all, I thought this was an OK book & Nikos' actions toward his wife went a long way to making this a better book than otherwise.
*******************
Re-read 9/17/2018- Really, really loved it! The language I thought was "overboard" really touched my heart today.
, but with some unique twists. I loved that Nikos Vassilis had determined to be a good husband to his forced wife, Andrea, and was so loving to her after the wedding. I didn't like that he thought she had no right to stand up to her grandfather and be disrespectful to him & that he didn't do anything to help her when her evil grandfather hit her.The language sometimes was very flowery, which can be good in small doses, but it went overboard to the point where it was too much.
Over all, I thought this was an OK book & Nikos' actions toward his wife went a long way to making this a better book than otherwise.
*******************
Re-read 9/17/2018- Really, really loved it! The language I thought was "overboard" really touched my heart today.
November 20, 2015
Comencé la novela sin grandes expectativas y sin ellas la acabé xD. Ella es una heroína virgen sólo porque a los veintidós decidió deshacerse de la carga pero a su novio de ese momento le desagradó ver lo desfigurado que estaba su cuerpo luego de un accidente y huyó despavorido. Dicho esto, no es gran cosa. Igual, la actitud de la protagonista me gustó en el sentido de ser tan mercenaria como el héroe para conseguir lo que necesitaba. Ambos sufrieron muchas privaciones y piensan lo peor del otro; a lo largo de la novela van descubriéndose y aunque esto es uno de esos escritos que hacen mucho ruido y pocas nueces, el desenlace es predecible y satisfactorio. Para leer en un compilado de tres novelas, como lo vende Harlequin, no está mal.
December 24, 2012
it was pretty good, i really like the all greek thing but it was kinda short
January 9, 2023
Grandfather from hell!
January 20, 2020
I would have rated this book a 4-star, but a couple of scenes sealed the deal for me: how Nikos deals with Andrea's insecurities about her body and his reaction to Andrea's revelations about her past.
The 2 MCs are forced to enter into an arranged marriage, each for their own reasons.
Andrea is the 24 year old illegitimate grand-daughter of a horrible man. She and her mother never had an easy life and furthermore, at 15, she suffers a terrible accident that leaves her disfigured.
Nikos is a self made billionaire who wants to buy the grandfather's company as proof to himself that he's gotten far in life. And that's his reason to agreeing to marry Andrea, sight unseen, while her reason is more altruistic: getting enough money to get her mother out of debt and settled somewhere warm.
The 2 MCs are forced to enter into an arranged marriage, each for their own reasons.
Andrea is the 24 year old illegitimate grand-daughter of a horrible man. She and her mother never had an easy life and furthermore, at 15, she suffers a terrible accident that leaves her disfigured.
Nikos is a self made billionaire who wants to buy the grandfather's company as proof to himself that he's gotten far in life. And that's his reason to agreeing to marry Andrea, sight unseen, while her reason is more altruistic: getting enough money to get her mother out of debt and settled somewhere warm.
November 20, 2013
If you read the blurb than you got the gist of this no need to recap the summary.....
Pretty good story. I really like the heroine she was tough and didn't back down from her evil grandfather, not even when. She sticks to her original plans pretty fiercely and does not change her mind because she is in such a state of lust she doesn't know up from down(which is what we get so often with these hp books)....lol. I hate the grandfather, he is the VILLIAN for sure! I was really hoping he would soften towards the h, but I think he got worse. As far as the hero I was not crazy about him although he did redeem himself. He pissed me off when he kept all in all it was a good books. The lead characters were enjoyable enough although the romance scenes were more poetic than descriptive.
Pretty good story. I really like the heroine she was tough and didn't back down from her evil grandfather, not even when. She sticks to her original plans pretty fiercely and does not change her mind because she is in such a state of lust she doesn't know up from down(which is what we get so often with these hp books)....lol. I hate the grandfather, he is the VILLIAN for sure! I was really hoping he would soften towards the h, but I think he got worse. As far as the hero I was not crazy about him although he did redeem himself. He pissed me off when he kept all in all it was a good books. The lead characters were enjoyable enough although the romance scenes were more poetic than descriptive.
May 28, 2020
Pretty good Julia James.
Both characters were decent people although they kept misunderstanding each ones motives, however even that was understandable since they didnt know each other at all.
I liked the Hero, he was basically a good guy. Even if he was slutty, he had 2 mistresses at the same time. Even before he met the heroine, He had decided that he would treat his future wife decently and respectfully, and not to humiliate her in public. Then when he married the heroine, he really wanted to try and make the marriage work.
He really didnt know her back story and assumed she was raised as an heiress. When he found out about the deprivations she and her mother went though because of the mean grandfather, he put his dreams for a bigger company aside and stood by his wife.
Both characters were decent people although they kept misunderstanding each ones motives, however even that was understandable since they didnt know each other at all.
I liked the Hero, he was basically a good guy. Even if he was slutty, he had 2 mistresses at the same time. Even before he met the heroine, He had decided that he would treat his future wife decently and respectfully, and not to humiliate her in public. Then when he married the heroine, he really wanted to try and make the marriage work.
He really didnt know her back story and assumed she was raised as an heiress. When he found out about the deprivations she and her mother went though because of the mean grandfather, he put his dreams for a bigger company aside and stood by his wife.
May 16, 2016
re-read 2015
- العروس المتمرده / جوليا جيمس
حرمت اندريا من ميراثها منذ ان ولدتها امها فترعرت في الفقر و الحرمان لكن عندما بلغت الخامسة و العشرين من عمرها استدعيت على جناح السرعة لليونان حيث كانت بانتظارها صدمة ...
لم تدر اندريا ما يحصل لها الا و هي خطيبة رجل فاحش الثراء . كان جدها قد خطط لهذا الزواج كجزء من صفقة تجارية بصرف النظر عن مشاعرها الا ان الحرمان الذي عانته اندريا جعلها منيعة و مستقلة و قادرة على الرفض حتى لو كان نيكوس فاسيلي اشد الرجال الذين قابلتهم سحرا و جاذبية و اكثرهم ثراء .
لكن ما سبب رفضها هل تريد الانتقام من جدها ام ان العريس لم يعجبها او ان السر الذي لا يعرفه سواها يقف حائلا امام السعادة التي طالما حلمت بها .
- العروس المتمرده / جوليا جيمس
حرمت اندريا من ميراثها منذ ان ولدتها امها فترعرت في الفقر و الحرمان لكن عندما بلغت الخامسة و العشرين من عمرها استدعيت على جناح السرعة لليونان حيث كانت بانتظارها صدمة ...
لم تدر اندريا ما يحصل لها الا و هي خطيبة رجل فاحش الثراء . كان جدها قد خطط لهذا الزواج كجزء من صفقة تجارية بصرف النظر عن مشاعرها الا ان الحرمان الذي عانته اندريا جعلها منيعة و مستقلة و قادرة على الرفض حتى لو كان نيكوس فاسيلي اشد الرجال الذين قابلتهم سحرا و جاذبية و اكثرهم ثراء .
لكن ما سبب رفضها هل تريد الانتقام من جدها ام ان العريس لم يعجبها او ان السر الذي لا يعرفه سواها يقف حائلا امام السعادة التي طالما حلمت بها .
October 18, 2013
الاشياء الثمينة ليست ف الذهب والفضة ..انها موجودة بداخلنا
April 19, 2014
Good story.
really liked the hero,he followed his heart and he gave first priority to heroine than his business.
which is very atypical for a greek H.
nicely written
really liked the hero,he followed his heart and he gave first priority to heroine than his business.
which is very atypical for a greek H.
nicely written
January 7, 2016
Different. The evil pushing character wasn't the male in this one but a horrible grandfather. Male character was kind and considerate to her every need and insecurity.
February 15, 2023
This wasn't bad, but had a lot of wasted potential I think. The grandfather was such a piece of work, but the heroine getting dragged to a different country and attempted to be married off, abused by her grandfather but still goes through with the wedding...it was just a bit much. Like she needed the money for her mom, and knew what she was getting into would have been better. Why does the hero love the heroine? Just don't feel it on his side, and after he finds out about the accident...everything else feels kinda pity on his end. Maybe it wasn't but it read that way. I say read it if you are out of other suggestions.
September 3, 2024
This was written twenty years ago and it really illustrates how our social attitudes have altered in that time - and very much for the better.
I cannot imagine a M&B author writing a book now where the hero watched the heroine being assaulted viciously by her grandfather.
Neither can I imagine one where the hero displays such misogynistic, sexist views towards his two mistresses and other women in his life.
The author is a brilliant writer. This book is full of powerful and entertaining prose but - it is so dated.
I loved the way Andrea stood up for herself.
I hated the fact she kept the truth from the hero for so long.
I hated the fact that Nikons immediately assumed Andrea was the old man’s mistress.
I hated the way Andrea called Nikons a lunatic when he let her know about the marriage. She behaved like a two year old.
I hated the way he assumed she was a spoilt heiress.
So much of this plot was based on misunderstandings, lack of communication and pretence. I hate that kind of external conflict.
The second half of the book after they got on the boat was so much better and JJ really let herself fly free. Nikons was revealed as a sensitive, tender thoughtful man.
I would have given the last half 5 stars but the first half was so dreadfully dated and ridiculous that I can’t rate the book as a whole as anything higher than 2.5 stars. An interesting read some 20 years too late!
I cannot imagine a M&B author writing a book now where the hero watched the heroine being assaulted viciously by her grandfather.
Neither can I imagine one where the hero displays such misogynistic, sexist views towards his two mistresses and other women in his life.
The author is a brilliant writer. This book is full of powerful and entertaining prose but - it is so dated.
I loved the way Andrea stood up for herself.
I hated the fact she kept the truth from the hero for so long.
I hated the fact that Nikons immediately assumed Andrea was the old man’s mistress.
I hated the way Andrea called Nikons a lunatic when he let her know about the marriage. She behaved like a two year old.
I hated the way he assumed she was a spoilt heiress.
So much of this plot was based on misunderstandings, lack of communication and pretence. I hate that kind of external conflict.
The second half of the book after they got on the boat was so much better and JJ really let herself fly free. Nikons was revealed as a sensitive, tender thoughtful man.
I would have given the last half 5 stars but the first half was so dreadfully dated and ridiculous that I can’t rate the book as a whole as anything higher than 2.5 stars. An interesting read some 20 years too late!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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