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Petronides Brothers Duo #2 (The Greek Tycoon's Inherited
The Latin Lover
The Greek Tycoon's Inherited Bride by Lucy Monroe
Phoebe's betrothal to Spiros Petronides' brother meant she was forbidden, and honor was the code the Greek billionaire lived by. But with one kiss Spiros knew he had to claim her as his!
Back in the Spaniard's Bed by Trish Morey
Leah left Alejandro Rodriguez because she'd overstepped the boundaries of a mistress and fallen in love! The Spaniard's arrogance angered her, but his touch ignited her. So when Alejandro storms back into her life, how can Leah deny him?
Phoebe's betrothal to Spiros Petronides' brother meant she was forbidden, and honor was the code the Greek billionaire lived by. But with one kiss Spiros knew he had to claim her as his!
Back in the Spaniard's Bed by Trish Morey
Leah left Alejandro Rodriguez because she'd overstepped the boundaries of a mistress and fallen in love! The Spaniard's arrogance angered her, but his touch ignited her. So when Alejandro storms back into her life, how can Leah deny him?
192 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
About the author
Lucy Monroe
627 books1,486 followersI write spicy romance books that end in an HEA. Contemporary romance, historical romance, paranormal romance…I write it all. The two things my books all have in common is lots of emotion and spice. Last year, I fell in love with a new subgenre: mafia romance. Since I write what I love to read, I started a new standalone series, Syndicate Rules where you’ll meet over the top alpha heroes in the Italian and Greek mafias as well as the Irish mob. There are arranged marriages, forced marriages, enemies to lovers, stalkers, forced proximity and lots of mafia intrigue. Morally gray is my new favorite color.
Follow me on BookBub for alerts on my next release: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/lucy-...
I’ve been published a while and most of my 90+ books have hit the Nielson Bookscan bestseller list, a few ended up on the USA Today bestseller list and some even hit national bestseller lists in the UK and Australia. My books have been translated into numerous languages and are for sale in dozens of countries around the world. I’ve won awards and been published with most of the big houses in New York, but my greatest achievement is touching readers’ hearts. When I hear from a reader who got caught up in one of my books, I know I’m doing what I’m meant to do.
I love writing emotionally deep stories with snappy dialogue and solid plots. I’m more grateful than I’ll ever be able to express that so many readers have taken my stories into their hearts and put my books on their reread and keeper shelves.
Follow me on BookBub for alerts on my next release: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/lucy-...
I’ve been published a while and most of my 90+ books have hit the Nielson Bookscan bestseller list, a few ended up on the USA Today bestseller list and some even hit national bestseller lists in the UK and Australia. My books have been translated into numerous languages and are for sale in dozens of countries around the world. I’ve won awards and been published with most of the big houses in New York, but my greatest achievement is touching readers’ hearts. When I hear from a reader who got caught up in one of my books, I know I’m doing what I’m meant to do.
I love writing emotionally deep stories with snappy dialogue and solid plots. I’m more grateful than I’ll ever be able to express that so many readers have taken my stories into their hearts and put my books on their reread and keeper shelves.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
May 6, 2017
This is a over-before-it's-begun novella concerning the sudden elopement of the jilted fiance of the hero from The Billionaire's Pregnant Mistress. Our heroine is a good Greek girl who agreed to an arranged marriage four years before. Unfortunately, during that time she fell for her fiance's younger brother whom she has known all of her life.
The story opens with the heroine's father telling her that she has to marry her fiance soon - his business is in trouble. When the heroine tries to tell the hero that she doesn't want to marry his brother, he freezes her out because of family honor. He is also in love with the h, but can't indulge in any more kisses with her.
Luckily the fiance jilts her because his mistress is pregnant and missing.
The heroine is relieved, but her father's business still needs money. The hero offers to marry her with the same conditions of merging the two family companies. The heroine doesn't know how he really feels. So she sets a few conditions of her own. One being that they have sex before marriage to make sure they're compatible and a place on the board for her, etc. . .
They do elope and end up happy by page 82. Like I said, this was very short, so not a lot of time to become invested in the characters. I'm glad the good Greek girl got her happiness - but it just wasn't as interesting of a story as The Billionaire's Pregnant Mistress.
The story opens with the heroine's father telling her that she has to marry her fiance soon - his business is in trouble. When the heroine tries to tell the hero that she doesn't want to marry his brother, he freezes her out because of family honor. He is also in love with the h, but can't indulge in any more kisses with her.
Luckily the fiance jilts her because his mistress is pregnant and missing.
The heroine is relieved, but her father's business still needs money. The hero offers to marry her with the same conditions of merging the two family companies. The heroine doesn't know how he really feels. So she sets a few conditions of her own. One being that they have sex before marriage to make sure they're compatible and a place on the board for her, etc. . .
They do elope and end up happy by page 82. Like I said, this was very short, so not a lot of time to become invested in the characters. I'm glad the good Greek girl got her happiness - but it just wasn't as interesting of a story as The Billionaire's Pregnant Mistress.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 30, 2011
I liked this book but did'nt enjoyed as i had enjoyed Dimitri's story,in between i was irritated but then when Phoebe made Spiros work to show her how much he loves her and wants her cause he has kept lying about his feelings i liked that part and the melodrama when the pics are in papers of Dimitri- Xandra i liked that part also
Spiros Petronides is the sort of Greek every woman would die to have in her life. He's not only gorgeous; he's rich and he very sexy. From afar he's always fancied Phoebe Leonides but due to both of their families being close, he's thought of her brotherly best friend. However, for Phoebe, it's quite the opposite, she not only adores Spiros, she's secretly loved him her entire life.
Phoebe has a serious problem because as a teen she agreed to an arranged marriage her family and the Petronides family made years earlier. On top of everything else, her fathers business is in trouble and will go under unless Phoebe married Dimitri, the oldest son. She's sincerely upset because she feels her family has literally sold her into a loveless marriage when she secretly loves the younger brother, Spiros. On top of everything else, when Spiros visits her and they share a kiss which leads to passion so volcanic it scares them both, she's sure she cannot go through with the marriage.
Spiros was so afraid he would be weak like his father as far as relationships went that he would go to any length not to become like his parents. Spiros fought his love and his need for Phoebe but in the end you will tear up at how he goes about proving his love and his desire to marry her.
Phoebe is one strong woman who stands up and supports Dimitri's decision of not going ahead with the arrangement,both Dimitri-Phoebe are being blackmailed by their grandfather n parents and they agree with with Xandra(Dimitri's love) goes missing n he comes to know his mistakes he is really ashamed of his behaviour n decides to bring his child n love in his life
He declares his love for Xandra in front of his grandfather n refuses marry only Phoebe supports him as she also understands his pain of losing love, when Spiros sense of honor is sleeping Spiros-Phoebe's scenes are cute n fun to read,the way he cares for her,never missed any accomplishment like the graduation n all which was important for Phoebe he was always there to share her happiness and Phoebe felt homesick he would come to cheer her up,but then he will get the sense of honor attack n everything spoils
There are melodramas here also but still i loved the story,Spiros over developed sense of honor irritated me like anything ,Dimitri's story is more fun to read then this i gave 5 stars cause i loved the fact in both the stories the heroines are head strong and make the heros work for forgiveness
Good read
Recommend it
Spiros Petronides is the sort of Greek every woman would die to have in her life. He's not only gorgeous; he's rich and he very sexy. From afar he's always fancied Phoebe Leonides but due to both of their families being close, he's thought of her brotherly best friend. However, for Phoebe, it's quite the opposite, she not only adores Spiros, she's secretly loved him her entire life.
Phoebe has a serious problem because as a teen she agreed to an arranged marriage her family and the Petronides family made years earlier. On top of everything else, her fathers business is in trouble and will go under unless Phoebe married Dimitri, the oldest son. She's sincerely upset because she feels her family has literally sold her into a loveless marriage when she secretly loves the younger brother, Spiros. On top of everything else, when Spiros visits her and they share a kiss which leads to passion so volcanic it scares them both, she's sure she cannot go through with the marriage.
Spiros was so afraid he would be weak like his father as far as relationships went that he would go to any length not to become like his parents. Spiros fought his love and his need for Phoebe but in the end you will tear up at how he goes about proving his love and his desire to marry her.
Phoebe is one strong woman who stands up and supports Dimitri's decision of not going ahead with the arrangement,both Dimitri-Phoebe are being blackmailed by their grandfather n parents and they agree with with Xandra(Dimitri's love) goes missing n he comes to know his mistakes he is really ashamed of his behaviour n decides to bring his child n love in his life
He declares his love for Xandra in front of his grandfather n refuses marry only Phoebe supports him as she also understands his pain of losing love, when Spiros sense of honor is sleeping Spiros-Phoebe's scenes are cute n fun to read,the way he cares for her,never missed any accomplishment like the graduation n all which was important for Phoebe he was always there to share her happiness and Phoebe felt homesick he would come to cheer her up,but then he will get the sense of honor attack n everything spoils
There are melodramas here also but still i loved the story,Spiros over developed sense of honor irritated me like anything ,Dimitri's story is more fun to read then this i gave 5 stars cause i loved the fact in both the stories the heroines are head strong and make the heros work for forgiveness
Good read
Recommend it
May 3, 2020
I enjoyed this book but it would have been better if the hero had been celibate. He was not because the heroine was promised in marriage to his brother while he was secretly in love with her. Personally, I think it could have easily been settled and would have saved two couples so much angst, hurt and heartbreak. She remained celibate because she couldn't bear to be with anyone while she loved the hero so much.
Him sleeping around so much put a dent in it for me.
Him sleeping around so much put a dent in it for me.
September 27, 2009
I've never encountered an anthology so "nicely" proportioned.
The first story was the absolute worst I've read recently (and that's saying a lot). It didn't sound like something happening in this century, no matter how traditionalist Greeks can be. The hero was an idiot and the heroine even worse. I literally wanted to jump into the story and slap her silly, and grab her by the shoulders and shake her until her teeth rattled.
I hated this story.
The second one was the complete opposite. I loved it, despite the traditional hero-bent-on-revenge-because-she-dumped-him theme Harlequin Presents authors are so fond of.
It was a combination of several elements that made me like it despite the cheesy and so overly-done theme. The writing was good, the story flowed nicely, the H/h had a great chemistry together, the hero was simply drool-worthy (all tall, dark, handsome with a Spanish accent that makes you all tingly inside), and the bitchy sister was just bitchy enough for me to dislike her with a passion and gloat when all her well-laid plans went up in smoke.
So let's make some rudimentary math... 1 star and 4 stars make an average of 2.5 stars, but since the second story is still so fresh and nice in my mind, I'll give this unfortunate two-story collection a 3 stars and add a note to self that the next time (if that time comes) I read this, I'll skip directly to Ms. Morey's story.
The first story was the absolute worst I've read recently (and that's saying a lot). It didn't sound like something happening in this century, no matter how traditionalist Greeks can be. The hero was an idiot and the heroine even worse. I literally wanted to jump into the story and slap her silly, and grab her by the shoulders and shake her until her teeth rattled.
I hated this story.
The second one was the complete opposite. I loved it, despite the traditional hero-bent-on-revenge-because-she-dumped-him theme Harlequin Presents authors are so fond of.
It was a combination of several elements that made me like it despite the cheesy and so overly-done theme. The writing was good, the story flowed nicely, the H/h had a great chemistry together, the hero was simply drool-worthy (all tall, dark, handsome with a Spanish accent that makes you all tingly inside), and the bitchy sister was just bitchy enough for me to dislike her with a passion and gloat when all her well-laid plans went up in smoke.
So let's make some rudimentary math... 1 star and 4 stars make an average of 2.5 stars, but since the second story is still so fresh and nice in my mind, I'll give this unfortunate two-story collection a 3 stars and add a note to self that the next time (if that time comes) I read this, I'll skip directly to Ms. Morey's story.
March 25, 2021
The Greek Tycoon's Inherited Bride by Lucy Monroe
Phoebe's betrothal to Spiros Petronides' brother meant she was forbidden, and honor was the code the Greek billionaire lived by. But with one kiss Spiros knew he had to claim her as his!
Back in the Spaniard's Bed by Trish Morey
Leah left Alejandro Rodriguez because she'd overstepped the boundaries of a mistress and fallen in love! The Spaniard's arrogance angered her, but his touch ignited her. So when Alejandro storms back into her life, how can Leah deny him?
Phoebe's betrothal to Spiros Petronides' brother meant she was forbidden, and honor was the code the Greek billionaire lived by. But with one kiss Spiros knew he had to claim her as his!
Back in the Spaniard's Bed by Trish Morey
Leah left Alejandro Rodriguez because she'd overstepped the boundaries of a mistress and fallen in love! The Spaniard's arrogance angered her, but his touch ignited her. So when Alejandro storms back into her life, how can Leah deny him?
August 22, 2021
It was quite nice to find out about the fiancee and brother form book 1 got together and it was very short and sweet.
The h and H have known each other forever since kids and h has fancied the pants off him since puberty. He is a few years older and since she is engaged to his brother he kind of feels same way they are best friends and he also tries to be a good brother by resisting but its futile. h is well aware of brothers mistress and doesn't want to marry him the H is more than happy to step into the breech as he feel his families honour has been compromised by the bro from book 1 as he dumps for his missing pregnant mistress.
in the end true love wins and he is all about supporting the h and can't wait to have a family of his own.
The h and H have known each other forever since kids and h has fancied the pants off him since puberty. He is a few years older and since she is engaged to his brother he kind of feels same way they are best friends and he also tries to be a good brother by resisting but its futile. h is well aware of brothers mistress and doesn't want to marry him the H is more than happy to step into the breech as he feel his families honour has been compromised by the bro from book 1 as he dumps for his missing pregnant mistress.
in the end true love wins and he is all about supporting the h and can't wait to have a family of his own.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
April 14, 2022Since this contained two books in one, this review will cover both, so please forgive the fact that it will be inordinately longer than usual.
_____
The Greek Tycoon's Inherited Bride by Lucy Monroe, Book 2 of the Petronides Brothers Duo series, was about Spyro Petronides, Dimitrious' younger brother, and Phoebe Leonides, Dimitri's fiancee'.
In order to save her father's company, Phoebe was expected to marry Dimitri Petronides, the grandson of her father's best friend. Though the two rarely ever saw each other, rarely ever spoke when in the same room, they had been united in an arranged betrothal since she was 18, even though she was in love with Dimitri's brother, Spyros. However, when Spyros refused to do anything about it but tell her his brother would make her happy, it broke her heart and she shut him out of her life in order to be able to follow through with the wedding she didn't want.
Spyros, for his part, had tried to talk both his grandfather and his brother out of the marriage. But when he overheard his grandfather telling Dimitri that he would not go through a life-saving heart surgery unless Dimitri married the girl and started work on giving him great-grandbabies, Spyros felt he had to do the honorable thing and back off, allowing the wedding to go through, even though it was breaking his heart.
While attending the engagement dinner, Spyros became angry when he learned that, not only had his brother not seen his betrothed since being home, he hadn't seen her in over a year. He didn't like how Phoebe was being treated, but there was nothing he could do to change it...was there? When Dimitri and his grandfather still had not shown up, Spyros called, only to find out that the old man had suffered another heart attack. Phoebe, through all of this, learned that both she and Dimitri were being basically blackmailed by her father and his grandfather into the marriage, and became extremely angry with the two older men.
Rushing to the hospital, Dimitri told both Spyro and Phoebe it was his fault that the old man had a heart attack...because he had informed his grandfather that he would not be marrying Phoebe, causing her to collapse into the nearest chair. After explaining that the reason he would not was because he had fallen in love with the woman who had been his mistress for the last year, and who was pregnant with his baby, Spyro, in anger, punched him in the face.
With all of the drama and angst filling so much of this book, it was surprising how much introspection went on as well. There were more pages of inner battles for Phoebe and Spyros than there were of the entire relationship. Thoughts of what-ifs, what-might-have-been, and what-should-be done. There was also plenty of recriminations, accusations, outrage, and hurt feelings that indicated someone felt betrayed...and that last one was from Spyros.
This book was relatively short, only seven chapters, so it moved at a lightning pace. It didn't leave a lot of room for a romance to bloom, so much of that had to be left to the reader's imagination. Although they were good friends, that didn't necessarily translate well to being lovers. The chemistry between them wasn't very obvious but, then again, that could be due to the shortness of the novella not allowing time for it to be portrayed to the reader. But even the passion was muted when the author allowed it to finally appear in the story, although the HEA was pretty well done and romantic. Still, it wasn't enough to garner this story a five-star rating. The author just did not honor these main characters with enough story to merit it. They deserved better.
________________
*Spoiler Alert* This review does have major spoilers because it called for it.
Back in the Spaniard’s Bed (also under the title of Back in her Spaniard's Bed by the same author), was about Alejandro Rodriguez and Leah Mitchell.
After having been Alejandro's mistress for six months, Leah, knowing she had broken the cardinal rule of "don't fall in love with your lover", after realizing that her time as his mistress was nearly up (for he didn't keep them long and she was just one in a long line of mistresses), walked out of his home in Spain and returned to Sydney. To say it was an unpleasant parting would have been putting it mildly. However, two months later, Alejandro walked into her dressmaking shop with nothing more than vengeance on his mind. He would take her back, use her, and then drop her on a whim...at his time of choosing.
When Alejandro confronted Leah and told her why he was there, she laughed in his face, reminding him that she was the one who walked out and that she neither needed nor want his “second chance. But Alejandro was ruthless enough to blackmail her by threatening her brother, Jordan. He would pay her brother's debts, but she had to return to his bed and stay for as long as he chose. His way of describing the "deal", was, "Consider it a business proposition, if you will. Your services in exchange for your brother’s debts paid in full." Basically, he turned her into a high-priced prostitute. For how long? "...It will take as long as it takes." And then, after having her acquiesce to his blackmail, he literally forced her to eat, even when she said no.
Side Note: There was almost a hint of incest from the way the author introduce Catalina, Alejandro's sister. Considering the way she greeted her brother? That was just a bit...awkward to read: "Alejandro,’ she gushed... She wrapped one arm around his neck and pulled him in tight, kissing his cheeks and keeping her arm there. Possessively? Leah couldn’t help but think so as his sister angled him ever so slightly away."
When he was ready to pull his revenge and dump on Leah, he made the mistake of asking her why she had left him...and was floored when she said because she had loved him. He wasn't expecting that. He flew into a smoldering rage, rushing her around and not talking to her. When she asked him why he asked if he didn't want to know the answer, telling him he would have traded her in sooner or later, his response was: ‘That was my decision to make!’ Seriously?! HE was the only one allowed to call time on their relationship? What utter arrogance! He was also angry because she HAD fallen in love with him...telling himself in his head that falling in love hadn't been part of the deal. Well then...LET HER GO! His "in his head" argument was she was supposed to stay until he was tired of her...not decide on her own that time was up on their relationship. He was angry because "He hadn’t had time to grow tired of her, she’d left him before he was ready to let her go." A$$h*le! And he did all this because his pride was hurt...because "Nobody had ever walked out on me before."
Oh, but as she is walking away, saying goodbye...again...he suddenly had a "...a pain that felt like his chest had been ripped open, the beast tearing its way out from the inside..." and then...OH MY! "I LOVE HER!" revelations. again I ask...SERIOUSLY?! Does the author really think this worked as a love story?
Though this book was short and definitely NOT sweet, it was way too full of angst and drama...or was it melodrama? Whatever. It was not a good story. It was not well-written nor well-thought-out. The plot made no sense. Just because his pride was injured, he needed revenge against his former mistress, whom he did NOT love, but suddenly realized he did love. What utter tripe! To use an old teenage saying, "don't make me barf!" This was all because he missed his sex toy and was deprived of it...I can't even finish that thought it's so utterly stupid!
Having already given my opinion on Alejandro's character, Leah's was a bit more understandable. She loved her brother and didn't want to see him hurt, so she allowed herself to be blackmailed back into the "love of her life's" bed for however long it took to repay him. This girl had no backbone...well she did in order to walk out on him repeatedly, but where her grown-up adult brother was concerned, she was a bleeding heart...and she loved Alejandro...the why was unfathomable.
This was not a love story. This was a sick book about a man obsessed with his mistress and the need for revenge because she dared to be a free thinker and independent of him. She wasn't the sex slave he had hoped for and was able to walk away before he was ready. No, this was a poorly written piece of garbage that doesn't even deserve a one-star rating. It deserved twenty thousand thumbs down.
_____
The Greek Tycoon's Inherited Bride by Lucy Monroe, Book 2 of the Petronides Brothers Duo series, was about Spyro Petronides, Dimitrious' younger brother, and Phoebe Leonides, Dimitri's fiancee'.
In order to save her father's company, Phoebe was expected to marry Dimitri Petronides, the grandson of her father's best friend. Though the two rarely ever saw each other, rarely ever spoke when in the same room, they had been united in an arranged betrothal since she was 18, even though she was in love with Dimitri's brother, Spyros. However, when Spyros refused to do anything about it but tell her his brother would make her happy, it broke her heart and she shut him out of her life in order to be able to follow through with the wedding she didn't want.
Spyros, for his part, had tried to talk both his grandfather and his brother out of the marriage. But when he overheard his grandfather telling Dimitri that he would not go through a life-saving heart surgery unless Dimitri married the girl and started work on giving him great-grandbabies, Spyros felt he had to do the honorable thing and back off, allowing the wedding to go through, even though it was breaking his heart.
While attending the engagement dinner, Spyros became angry when he learned that, not only had his brother not seen his betrothed since being home, he hadn't seen her in over a year. He didn't like how Phoebe was being treated, but there was nothing he could do to change it...was there? When Dimitri and his grandfather still had not shown up, Spyros called, only to find out that the old man had suffered another heart attack. Phoebe, through all of this, learned that both she and Dimitri were being basically blackmailed by her father and his grandfather into the marriage, and became extremely angry with the two older men.
Rushing to the hospital, Dimitri told both Spyro and Phoebe it was his fault that the old man had a heart attack...because he had informed his grandfather that he would not be marrying Phoebe, causing her to collapse into the nearest chair. After explaining that the reason he would not was because he had fallen in love with the woman who had been his mistress for the last year, and who was pregnant with his baby, Spyro, in anger, punched him in the face.
With all of the drama and angst filling so much of this book, it was surprising how much introspection went on as well. There were more pages of inner battles for Phoebe and Spyros than there were of the entire relationship. Thoughts of what-ifs, what-might-have-been, and what-should-be done. There was also plenty of recriminations, accusations, outrage, and hurt feelings that indicated someone felt betrayed...and that last one was from Spyros.
This book was relatively short, only seven chapters, so it moved at a lightning pace. It didn't leave a lot of room for a romance to bloom, so much of that had to be left to the reader's imagination. Although they were good friends, that didn't necessarily translate well to being lovers. The chemistry between them wasn't very obvious but, then again, that could be due to the shortness of the novella not allowing time for it to be portrayed to the reader. But even the passion was muted when the author allowed it to finally appear in the story, although the HEA was pretty well done and romantic. Still, it wasn't enough to garner this story a five-star rating. The author just did not honor these main characters with enough story to merit it. They deserved better.
________________
*Spoiler Alert* This review does have major spoilers because it called for it.
Back in the Spaniard’s Bed (also under the title of Back in her Spaniard's Bed by the same author), was about Alejandro Rodriguez and Leah Mitchell.
After having been Alejandro's mistress for six months, Leah, knowing she had broken the cardinal rule of "don't fall in love with your lover", after realizing that her time as his mistress was nearly up (for he didn't keep them long and she was just one in a long line of mistresses), walked out of his home in Spain and returned to Sydney. To say it was an unpleasant parting would have been putting it mildly. However, two months later, Alejandro walked into her dressmaking shop with nothing more than vengeance on his mind. He would take her back, use her, and then drop her on a whim...at his time of choosing.
When Alejandro confronted Leah and told her why he was there, she laughed in his face, reminding him that she was the one who walked out and that she neither needed nor want his “second chance. But Alejandro was ruthless enough to blackmail her by threatening her brother, Jordan. He would pay her brother's debts, but she had to return to his bed and stay for as long as he chose. His way of describing the "deal", was, "Consider it a business proposition, if you will. Your services in exchange for your brother’s debts paid in full." Basically, he turned her into a high-priced prostitute. For how long? "...It will take as long as it takes." And then, after having her acquiesce to his blackmail, he literally forced her to eat, even when she said no.
Side Note: There was almost a hint of incest from the way the author introduce Catalina, Alejandro's sister. Considering the way she greeted her brother? That was just a bit...awkward to read: "Alejandro,’ she gushed... She wrapped one arm around his neck and pulled him in tight, kissing his cheeks and keeping her arm there. Possessively? Leah couldn’t help but think so as his sister angled him ever so slightly away."
When he was ready to pull his revenge and dump on Leah, he made the mistake of asking her why she had left him...and was floored when she said because she had loved him. He wasn't expecting that. He flew into a smoldering rage, rushing her around and not talking to her. When she asked him why he asked if he didn't want to know the answer, telling him he would have traded her in sooner or later, his response was: ‘That was my decision to make!’ Seriously?! HE was the only one allowed to call time on their relationship? What utter arrogance! He was also angry because she HAD fallen in love with him...telling himself in his head that falling in love hadn't been part of the deal. Well then...LET HER GO! His "in his head" argument was she was supposed to stay until he was tired of her...not decide on her own that time was up on their relationship. He was angry because "He hadn’t had time to grow tired of her, she’d left him before he was ready to let her go." A$$h*le! And he did all this because his pride was hurt...because "Nobody had ever walked out on me before."
Oh, but as she is walking away, saying goodbye...again...he suddenly had a "...a pain that felt like his chest had been ripped open, the beast tearing its way out from the inside..." and then...OH MY! "I LOVE HER!" revelations. again I ask...SERIOUSLY?! Does the author really think this worked as a love story?
Though this book was short and definitely NOT sweet, it was way too full of angst and drama...or was it melodrama? Whatever. It was not a good story. It was not well-written nor well-thought-out. The plot made no sense. Just because his pride was injured, he needed revenge against his former mistress, whom he did NOT love, but suddenly realized he did love. What utter tripe! To use an old teenage saying, "don't make me barf!" This was all because he missed his sex toy and was deprived of it...I can't even finish that thought it's so utterly stupid!
Having already given my opinion on Alejandro's character, Leah's was a bit more understandable. She loved her brother and didn't want to see him hurt, so she allowed herself to be blackmailed back into the "love of her life's" bed for however long it took to repay him. This girl had no backbone...well she did in order to walk out on him repeatedly, but where her grown-up adult brother was concerned, she was a bleeding heart...and she loved Alejandro...the why was unfathomable.
This was not a love story. This was a sick book about a man obsessed with his mistress and the need for revenge because she dared to be a free thinker and independent of him. She wasn't the sex slave he had hoped for and was able to walk away before he was ready. No, this was a poorly written piece of garbage that doesn't even deserve a one-star rating. It deserved twenty thousand thumbs down.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 31, 2022
The Greek Tycoon's Inherited Bride.
Came here straight form Dimitri's book. I don't know if it's because this book is a little shorter but the duty to family thing was very pronounced and annoying to me.
It could also be because this book was so much softer. The hero had a very sweet relationship with the heroine. Playful. Calling her baby girl.
I loved it but it made it all the more hard to read when Spiros decided to step back and let his brother marry Pheobe simply because of family duty and honor.
I too would be very distrustful of someone who could just step away from his feelings for me like that. Though I had problems with that aspect, the book was exceptionally sweet.
Back in the Spaniard's bed.
If I could give one star here for this I would. I did on the seperate profile for this book.
This book felt like it had no climax for me.
Leah left Alejandro because she was falling in love and was only supposed to be his mistress. She was afraid he would soon discard her for another and thought leaving might be better or safer to her emotions.
The book starts off where Alejandro has come to her after months and blackmailed her into being his mistress again.
Either she agrees to sleep with him or he doesn't help her brother who has loan sharks gunning for him.
That scenario alone was too close to rape for me. All the little paragraphs proclaiming suddenly that she could now "let her feelings go" and enjoy the circumstance... felt forced in just to justify his actions.
I went into every sex scene hoping it would not happen. That finally she would stand up for herself or feelings would be resolved.
This is a short book so after mercilessly sleeping with her whilst knowing she was only there because of his blackmail and even seeing her cry on one of those instances...
Even looking at her sleeping form and thinking he would prefer marrying another who is more biddable and initiating them into "wedded bliss...."
After all of this ridiculous, over the top emotional abuse ... within the span of one second he suddenly realises he isn't done sleeping with her and can't dump her as he had intended to get revenge....
So OBVIOUSLY, he must be in love with her.
I felt no relief or happy ending. There was not one moment or scene I enjoyed in this book. The male character was just too harsh and unfeeling... so much so that the female lead went back to him in the end but I don't trust him. I don't feel the happy ending.
I really feel like I could have done without this read.
Came here straight form Dimitri's book. I don't know if it's because this book is a little shorter but the duty to family thing was very pronounced and annoying to me.
It could also be because this book was so much softer. The hero had a very sweet relationship with the heroine. Playful. Calling her baby girl.
I loved it but it made it all the more hard to read when Spiros decided to step back and let his brother marry Pheobe simply because of family duty and honor.
I too would be very distrustful of someone who could just step away from his feelings for me like that. Though I had problems with that aspect, the book was exceptionally sweet.
Back in the Spaniard's bed.
If I could give one star here for this I would. I did on the seperate profile for this book.
This book felt like it had no climax for me.
Leah left Alejandro because she was falling in love and was only supposed to be his mistress. She was afraid he would soon discard her for another and thought leaving might be better or safer to her emotions.
The book starts off where Alejandro has come to her after months and blackmailed her into being his mistress again.
Either she agrees to sleep with him or he doesn't help her brother who has loan sharks gunning for him.
That scenario alone was too close to rape for me. All the little paragraphs proclaiming suddenly that she could now "let her feelings go" and enjoy the circumstance... felt forced in just to justify his actions.
I went into every sex scene hoping it would not happen. That finally she would stand up for herself or feelings would be resolved.
This is a short book so after mercilessly sleeping with her whilst knowing she was only there because of his blackmail and even seeing her cry on one of those instances...
Even looking at her sleeping form and thinking he would prefer marrying another who is more biddable and initiating them into "wedded bliss...."
After all of this ridiculous, over the top emotional abuse ... within the span of one second he suddenly realises he isn't done sleeping with her and can't dump her as he had intended to get revenge....
So OBVIOUSLY, he must be in love with her.
I felt no relief or happy ending. There was not one moment or scene I enjoyed in this book. The male character was just too harsh and unfeeling... so much so that the female lead went back to him in the end but I don't trust him. I don't feel the happy ending.
I really feel like I could have done without this read.
September 13, 2021
I loved Phoebe and Spiros story. It was one of the sweetest reads. Lucy Monroe really knows how to keep her readers interested with her wonderful characters, funny/sweet/witty dialogues, hot sexy scenes, and happy ever after.
Phoebe's feelings for Spiros bloomed from hero-worship to love. Yes. She's in love with her best friend. But resigned to the knowledge that he will probably never love her, she agreed to marry Dimitri, Spiros older brother, in the future but still hoping he will realize that she belonged to him. Spiros. I liked the name as much as I liked the man. Since his parent's death, he vowed that he would never be weak as his father, and he damn well was not going to be as deceptive as his mother. So he had maintained a certain emotional distance, even from his older brother and grandfather. But Phoebe had climbed the walls around his heart as surely as she had climbed his body like a jungle gym when he was a boy, and she was just a toddling baby girl. Her friendship meant so much to him.
He was ashamed with the knowledge that he betrayed his brother by kissing his fiancéé. So he decided to forget and even begged Phoebe to forget the passionate kiss they've shared. He owed it to Dimitri. He owed it to his grandfather, the one constant in his life. He owed it to his own honor. I loved him, really, even though he's acting like an idiot most of the time. But I still admired him for being honorable and his willingness to sacrifice his own happiness for the sake of the people he loves.
But the question now is which brother she will end up with?
The Latin Lover is a novel with all the elements that will surely make you love it. Highly recommended to those who love best friend turned lovers.
Phoebe's feelings for Spiros bloomed from hero-worship to love. Yes. She's in love with her best friend. But resigned to the knowledge that he will probably never love her, she agreed to marry Dimitri, Spiros older brother, in the future but still hoping he will realize that she belonged to him. Spiros. I liked the name as much as I liked the man. Since his parent's death, he vowed that he would never be weak as his father, and he damn well was not going to be as deceptive as his mother. So he had maintained a certain emotional distance, even from his older brother and grandfather. But Phoebe had climbed the walls around his heart as surely as she had climbed his body like a jungle gym when he was a boy, and she was just a toddling baby girl. Her friendship meant so much to him.
He was ashamed with the knowledge that he betrayed his brother by kissing his fiancéé. So he decided to forget and even begged Phoebe to forget the passionate kiss they've shared. He owed it to Dimitri. He owed it to his grandfather, the one constant in his life. He owed it to his own honor. I loved him, really, even though he's acting like an idiot most of the time. But I still admired him for being honorable and his willingness to sacrifice his own happiness for the sake of the people he loves.
But the question now is which brother she will end up with?
The Latin Lover is a novel with all the elements that will surely make you love it. Highly recommended to those who love best friend turned lovers.
November 20, 2014
These were okay but nothing too memorable.
I mostly read it because I was curious about "The Greek Tycoon's Inherited Bride" by Lucy Monroe the mini follow-up to The Billionaire's Pregnant Mistress which told the story of the jilted bride from the first novel. I sometimes feel sorry for the traditional, virginal, Greek bride-to-be who always gets tossed aside for the mistress heroine. I had a feeling that there was more to her elopement with the hero from the first book's brother than just 'family honor and duty'. That one was a cute story.
The second story - "Back in the Spaniard's Bed" by Trish Morey - could have been a good trainwreck, wallbanger if it had been longer. Unfortunately it was too short for me to feel very involved or believe in the H's turnaround.
I mostly read it because I was curious about "The Greek Tycoon's Inherited Bride" by Lucy Monroe the mini follow-up to The Billionaire's Pregnant Mistress which told the story of the jilted bride from the first novel. I sometimes feel sorry for the traditional, virginal, Greek bride-to-be who always gets tossed aside for the mistress heroine. I had a feeling that there was more to her elopement with the hero from the first book's brother than just 'family honor and duty'. That one was a cute story.
The second story - "Back in the Spaniard's Bed" by Trish Morey - could have been a good trainwreck, wallbanger if it had been longer. Unfortunately it was too short for me to feel very involved or believe in the H's turnaround.
September 6, 2014
Qualifier: I've only read Lucy Monroe's novel.
Meh. It was okay. To be honest, Spiros annoyed me. While I admire a strong sense of honour, I felt that Spiros used it to justify his spineless indecision. And then to avoid admitting what he really felt.
The first novel The Billionaire's Pregnant Mistress (which I actually read second) was much better.
Meh. It was okay. To be honest, Spiros annoyed me. While I admire a strong sense of honour, I felt that Spiros used it to justify his spineless indecision. And then to avoid admitting what he really felt.
The first novel The Billionaire's Pregnant Mistress (which I actually read second) was much better.
December 20, 2011
This one didn't have a lot of oomph or dramatic tension. I liked the characters though -- they actually seemed like people you might actually like in real life (as opposed to the arrogant alpha-males you'd probably hate). The story didn't grab me that much, though I thought the sex scenes were pretty steamy.
May 17, 2019
The Greek Tycoon’s Inherited Bride - Lucy Monroe - 3.5/5 - I admit to being puzzled at why this story about two Greek’s is included in an anthology about “Latin” lovers. Nevertheless, I did enjoy this read. If you read the book before this, you know about Spiros and Phoebe. This kinda branches off the beginning of that book when Spiros’s grandfather holds Spiros’s brother, Dimitri to his promise to marry Phoebe. Only problem is that Phoebe is in love with Spiros and he considers her his best friend (he’s repressing how much he loves her). Phoebe’s father forces the issue and Phoebe, livid that her family would try to sell her, goes to Spiros for some support and maybe a declaration of love and an offer to fight for her. Only he lets her down in his valiant attempt to be uphold his personal and family honor. So Phoebe agrees to the wedding and more or less cuts Spiros out of her life. But we know what happened in the previous story...Dimitri is madly in love with his mistress and frantically searching for her, so he calls off the wedding. Phoebe is relieved, but her parents still need her to marry for some investment capital, so they broker a deal with Spiros. Although Phoebe may be finally getting what she wants, she isn’t about to go meekly down the aisle with the man she loves if he doesn’t love her in return.
Very angsty and an interesting commentary on honor versus doing what’s right, which apparently aren’t always the same thing. Spiros was a bit of a clueless douchebag, but he realizes what a dolt he’s been...but I was slightly bothered by the fact that he never really stands up for Phoebe or fights for her. In the end he makes a grand romantic gesture, but he let her go on believing it was all a business deal right up to the end. But I absolutely loved that Phoebe came into the “deal” with conditions of her own and I think her father and Spiros should have felt more shame at what they were doing because of it. She’d lamented to Spiros about being sold in marriage and he ends up marrying her through the same process. Stupid manly honor. The angst was quite nice though.
Back in the Spaniard’s Bed - Trish Morey - 2/5 - This one involves an actual “latin” lover, Alejandro Rodriguez whose mistress, Leah, left him two months earlier to return to her seamstress work, which he definitely considers a step down. He’s all in a dither and plotting his revenge because she ended things before HE was done with HER. He considered it HIS decision to make, not hers. So he comes back into her life with some blackmail to force her back in his bed so he can do things right this time. He’ll make her desperate for him and then HE will dump her, the way it’s supposed to be. But the longer they spend in bed together the less he wants to go through with it.
Alejandro was a 5 year old in a man’s body...that was my impression of him. He had a tantrum about being dumped by his mistress. It wasn’t that he lost the woman he loved, it wasn’t that he desperately missed her - it was because she did it first and he wanted to be the one to do it when he was ready. So he blackmails her and I couldn’t get over his behavior here. He finally gets Leah back where she belongs and he settles from his tantrum because things are finally set right in his little world. And now he’s back in the position of power. And unfortunately, all of these selfish, childish traits kept popping up and I just couldn’t figure out why someone would love this man-child. In the end, he realizes he loves her, but then she finds out about his original plans and runs. He’s furious again and rushes off to convince her, but she’s difficult to convince. As I saw it, I couldn’t blame her for doubting his intentions and not wanting to trust him. She’d just gotten a glimpse into his character and it didn’t look good. Now the heroine wasn’t a whole lot better with her complete inability towards self-preservation in the face of her enthusiastic lust for the hero. It doesn’t matter that he’s just blackmailed her into a position she doesn’t want to be in, she jumps his bones quite happily and loves every minute of their sex together, never really caring that she’s a temporary diversion. Gah. This still did have quite a bit of angst and I did engage throughout the read, so I can’t say it was awful and terrible or any of that. I just couldn’t stand the hero really.
Very angsty and an interesting commentary on honor versus doing what’s right, which apparently aren’t always the same thing. Spiros was a bit of a clueless douchebag, but he realizes what a dolt he’s been...but I was slightly bothered by the fact that he never really stands up for Phoebe or fights for her. In the end he makes a grand romantic gesture, but he let her go on believing it was all a business deal right up to the end. But I absolutely loved that Phoebe came into the “deal” with conditions of her own and I think her father and Spiros should have felt more shame at what they were doing because of it. She’d lamented to Spiros about being sold in marriage and he ends up marrying her through the same process. Stupid manly honor. The angst was quite nice though.
Back in the Spaniard’s Bed - Trish Morey - 2/5 - This one involves an actual “latin” lover, Alejandro Rodriguez whose mistress, Leah, left him two months earlier to return to her seamstress work, which he definitely considers a step down. He’s all in a dither and plotting his revenge because she ended things before HE was done with HER. He considered it HIS decision to make, not hers. So he comes back into her life with some blackmail to force her back in his bed so he can do things right this time. He’ll make her desperate for him and then HE will dump her, the way it’s supposed to be. But the longer they spend in bed together the less he wants to go through with it.
Alejandro was a 5 year old in a man’s body...that was my impression of him. He had a tantrum about being dumped by his mistress. It wasn’t that he lost the woman he loved, it wasn’t that he desperately missed her - it was because she did it first and he wanted to be the one to do it when he was ready. So he blackmails her and I couldn’t get over his behavior here. He finally gets Leah back where she belongs and he settles from his tantrum because things are finally set right in his little world. And now he’s back in the position of power. And unfortunately, all of these selfish, childish traits kept popping up and I just couldn’t figure out why someone would love this man-child. In the end, he realizes he loves her, but then she finds out about his original plans and runs. He’s furious again and rushes off to convince her, but she’s difficult to convince. As I saw it, I couldn’t blame her for doubting his intentions and not wanting to trust him. She’d just gotten a glimpse into his character and it didn’t look good. Now the heroine wasn’t a whole lot better with her complete inability towards self-preservation in the face of her enthusiastic lust for the hero. It doesn’t matter that he’s just blackmailed her into a position she doesn’t want to be in, she jumps his bones quite happily and loves every minute of their sex together, never really caring that she’s a temporary diversion. Gah. This still did have quite a bit of angst and I did engage throughout the read, so I can’t say it was awful and terrible or any of that. I just couldn’t stand the hero really.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 23, 2019
The Latin Lover
This is two books in one. The first is the second part of two brothers who are Greek. The oldest has his story told in another book. This is about the younger brother who is in love with the woman his brother is engaged to and how they find love. The second is about the H wanting revenge on his mistress for walking out on him first. How he plotted her downfall just because she left him before he dumped her. Two books with strong alpha males.
This is two books in one. The first is the second part of two brothers who are Greek. The oldest has his story told in another book. This is about the younger brother who is in love with the woman his brother is engaged to and how they find love. The second is about the H wanting revenge on his mistress for walking out on him first. How he plotted her downfall just because she left him before he dumped her. Two books with strong alpha males.
December 16, 2019
The rating is ONLY for the first of the two stories: The Greek Tycoon's Inherited Mistress. That was enjoyable and a nice capstone to the other Petronides story.
Back in the Spaniard's Bed is a steaming pile of crap and I would personally set the man on fire if I could. What a worthless, rapist, asshole. No stars for it.
Back in the Spaniard's Bed is a steaming pile of crap and I would personally set the man on fire if I could. What a worthless, rapist, asshole. No stars for it.
July 27, 2021
I agree with the others that the second story was better than the first. Phoebe was too good for her family and they treated her very poorly. I was glad to see that she made Spiro prove himself and refused to sacrifice herself on the alter of family business.
August 12, 2019
Protagonistas: Spiros & Phoebe
Profesiones: Empresario & Empresaria
Paises: Grecia & Francia
Profesiones: Empresario & Empresaria
Paises: Grecia & Francia
February 12, 2020
After loving Dimitri's story it was great to read Spiros and Phoebe's.
August 12, 2024
Phoebe and Spiros book is too short!!!! I need more ugh
June 20, 2011
Lucy Monroe's was a story connected to a full length and was quite nice to read 'the other side'.
The second story by Trish Morey was just as good as the Lucy Monroe.
Both about 90 pages long, short short stories.
The second story by Trish Morey was just as good as the Lucy Monroe.
Both about 90 pages long, short short stories.
October 27, 2009
I loved Spiros' charater, and Phoebe's simple yet real outlook. It makes it easier to familiarize yourself with her.
August 23, 2011
Two great stories by two of the Harlequin Presents masters.
August 29, 2011
Dimitri and Xandra's Story can be found here: The Billionaire's Pregnant Mistress
June 10, 2012
This was an ok read.....However, both stories were a little too short for either to be a very compelling story.
May 25, 2013
i've only read greek tycoon's inherited bride and frankly the angst was good but there was not much in d way of story
October 13, 2014
"Back in the Spaniard's Bed **
"The Greek Tycoon's Inherited Bride" ****
Lucy Monroe's story is the best out of this bundle
"The Greek Tycoon's Inherited Bride" ****
Lucy Monroe's story is the best out of this bundle
October 13, 2014
This rating is only for the first story by Lucy Monroe.
December 16, 2015
a sweet biddable good virgin Greek bride. Mild angst as compared to that of Spiros's elder Brother Dimitri. Over all not bad.
September 25, 2009
Modern
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