I haven’t read a Kim Lawrence book in a long time and was really excited to start this one. Sadly, it didn’t live up to expectations. It was tedious. I haven’t read a Kim Lawrence book in a long time and was really excited to start this one. Sadly, it didn’t live up to expectations. It was tedious. The characters never convinced me that they truly belonged together. There was no passion, not even in the arguments.
It took me a while to drag myself through the book. At one point I wondered if it’s because I didn’t read the first installment, but nooo, it just wasn’t a interesting read for me.
I was considering giving the first installment a try, and my still do so, but I have another book or two to finish before I commit myself to possible tedium.
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I haven’t read a Kim Lawrence book in a long time and was really excited to start this one. Sadly, it didn’t live up to expectations. It was tedious. The characters never convinced me that they truly belonged together. There was no passion, not even in the arguments.
It took me a while to drag myself through the book. At one point I wondered if it’s because I didn’t read the first installment, but nooo, it just wasn’t a interesting read for me.
I was considering giving the first installment a try, and my still do so, but I have another book or two to finish before I commit myself to possible tedium....more
A very emotional read. The H is forced to marry the daughter of a man who is basically blackmailing his family. The daughter is an innocent in it all A very emotional read. The H is forced to marry the daughter of a man who is basically blackmailing his family. The daughter is an innocent in it all but the H is angry and takes his anger out on her.
He walks out on her the day after their wedding and told her to find a way to live on her own. And she did.
A year later, he finds his missing wife in Bora Bora and learns that she had given birth to his son. He insists that she return to Athens with him. She does because she has a secret that she does not want him to know. She returned so he can get to know and love his infant son because she would have to leave them soon.
The h was brilliantly written. She is independent, strong and a fighter. I really loved her character. The H was sexy as hell. He was a bit of a d*ck to the h at the start of the book, but is was understandable. He soon turned out to be my version of my HEA; juuuust right!
The h’s condition and that not so hidden fear that permeated the story is one that so many of us can relate to. I just wish every woman facing challenges like that and living with that fear had the same HEA.
All in all, a darned good read.
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A very emotional read. The H is forced to marry the daughter of a man who is basically blackmailing his family. The daughter is an innocent in it all but the H is angry and takes his anger out on her.
He walks out on her the day after their wedding and told her to find a way to live on her own. And she did.
A year later, he finds his missing wife in Bora Bora and learns that she had given birth to his son. He insists that she return to Athens with him. She does because she has a secret that she does not want him to know. She returned so he can get to know and love his infant son because she would have to leave them soon.
The h was brilliantly written. She is independent, strong and a fighter. I really loved her character. The H was sexy as hell. He was a bit of a d*ck to the h at the start of the book, but is was understandable. He soon turned out to be my version of my HEA; juuuust right!
The h’s condition and that not so hidden fear that permeated the story is one that so many of us can relate to. I just wish every woman facing challenges like that and living with that fear had the same HEA.
A delightfully good story. I didn’t expect to lover the characters or enjoy the story as much as I did. This is a winner for Lynne Graham.
Jai meets WA delightfully good story. I didn’t expect to lover the characters or enjoy the story as much as I did. This is a winner for Lynne Graham.
Jai meets Willow, his favorite old headmaster’s daughter at his funeral. He remembered her as a child and felt some responsibility for her now that her father has died. What he learned was that she was left improvised and homeless because of her father’s carelessness.
In attempting to comfort her, they end up spending one amazing night together. A night that he ruined by being a total tool in the morning. That night led to a pregnancy that Willow was not prepared for but fought for regardless. She stayed with a friend for as long as she could but ended up in a homeless shelter while waiting for council housing for her and her son, Hari.
This is where Jai finds her. He is the ruler of his Indian province and extremely wealthy. He is angry to learn that his child is living in a homeless shelter and blames Willow. He quickly marries her and moves her to India.
The relationship between them develops in ways that is foreign to Jai. And with his complicated background, he doesn’t recognize the signs for what they are until it’s almost too late.
This was a really good read to start my February off with. ❤️
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A delightfully good story. I didn’t expect to lover the characters or enjoy the story as much as I did. This is a winner for Lynne Graham.
Jai meets Willow, his favorite old headmaster’s daughter at his funeral. He remembered her as a child and felt some responsibility for her now that her father has died. What he learned was that she was left improvised and homeless because of her father’s carelessness.
In attempting to comfort her, they end up spending one amazing night together. A night that he ruined by being a total tool in the morning. That night led to a pregnancy that Willow was not prepared for but fought for regardless. She stayed with a friend for as long as she could but ended up in a homeless shelter while waiting for council housing for her and her son, Hari.
This is where Jai finds her. He is the ruler of his Indian province and extremely wealthy. He is angry to learn that his child is living in a homeless shelter and blames Willow. He quickly marries her and moves her to India.
The relationship between them develops in ways that is foreign to Jai. And with his complicated background, he doesn’t recognize the signs for what they are until it’s almost too late.
This was a really good read to start my February off with. ❤️...more
This stared promising but lost me less than halfway in. The h worked as the H’s PA. She had a bad experience with sexual harassment at her last job soThis stared promising but lost me less than halfway in. The h worked as the H’s PA. She had a bad experience with sexual harassment at her last job so she made herself look dowdy for this one. The H has no desire for her until he took her to a “work” weekend function and she showed him what she truly looked like.
That was great until her ex-boss, the sexual harasser” shows up at the weekend function. Then there’s the odd relationship with the older woman who owns the business competing with her boss’s.
There was just too much crammed into this story and it was boring as hell. I dragged myself through the book, all the way till the end, and still didn’t feel satisfied.
It was too long, too many characters that really weren’t needed for the story. It was tedious.
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This stared promising but lost me less than halfway in. The h worked as the H’s PA. She had a bad experience with sexual harassment at her last job so she made herself look dowdy for this one. The H has no desire for her until he took her to a “work” weekend function and she showed him what she truly looked like.
That was great until her ex-boss, the sexual harasser” shows up at the weekend function. Then there’s the odd relationship with the older woman who owns the business competing with her boss’s.
There was just too much crammed into this story and it was boring as hell. I dragged myself through the book, all the way till the end, and still didn’t feel satisfied.
It was too long, too many characters that really weren’t needed for the story. It was tedious....more
My first Harlequin Romance in a while and I chose a good one. It was an easy, enjoyable read.
Housekeeper Maggie is still mourning the loss of her mumMy first Harlequin Romance in a while and I chose a good one. It was an easy, enjoyable read.
Housekeeper Maggie is still mourning the loss of her mum when the owner of the house shows up for the first visit to his house. The attraction between Maggie and Nikos was immediate. That explains why the were in bed bumping uglies on the very first night they met.
In the morning she finds a “thanks for the great sex, but that’s all it will ever be” note. Humiliated, she leaves his employ and takes a job not far away. There she learns she’s knocked up after one night of hot and sexy.
A year later, she’s working as a waitress for her boss’s party when who walks in? Yup. Nikos. He spits her, wants to give it another go cause he hasn’t been able to get her out of his head for a year. It’s all hot and sexy smooching until the babysitter show up with a hungry infant. Then Maggie’s dirty little secret comes to light.
Nikos is a traditional HP Alpha and demands marriage to calm his company’s board members. Cause that’s what you do when you find that you have a secret baby.
The story pretty much goes as expected, but it’s wonderfully written and gets you engrossed immediately. You fall in love with the characters and feel hurt for them. It was a lovely way to spend a rainy morning.
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My first Harlequin Romance in a while and I chose a good one. It was an easy, enjoyable read.
Housekeeper Maggie is still mourning the loss of her mum when the owner of the house shows up for the first visit to his house. The attraction between Maggie and Nikos was immediate. That explains why the were in bed bumping uglies on the very first night they met.
In the morning she finds a “thanks for the great sex, but that’s all it will ever be” note. Humiliated, she leaves his employ and takes a job not far away. There she learns she’s knocked up after one night of hot and sexy.
A year later, she’s working as a waitress for her boss’s party when who walks in? Yup. Nikos. He spits her, wants to give it another go cause he hasn’t been able to get her out of his head for a year. It’s all hot and sexy smooching until the babysitter show up with a hungry infant. Then Maggie’s dirty little secret comes to light.
Nikos is a traditional HP Alpha and demands marriage to calm his company’s board members. Cause that’s what you do when you find that you have a secret baby.
The story pretty much goes as expected, but it’s wonderfully written and gets you engrossed immediately. You fall in love with the characters and feel hurt for them. It was a lovely way to spend a rainy morning....more
Betsy was the housekeeper for the rental that famed tennis star Carlos Segarra stayed at while playing in a famed competition. Their friendly relationBetsy was the housekeeper for the rental that famed tennis star Carlos Segarra stayed at while playing in a famed competition. Their friendly relationship soon became a ONS.
Betsy was half in love with Carlos when she heard him tell a journalist that it was just a fling. Hurt and angry, she left him a nasty note and left for the day. When she returned he was gone and she was pregnant.
Sometime later in a small, sleepy village, that same journalist saw her with her sone who look exactly like his daddy. Unbeknownst to her, he writes an article about Carlos’ love child that so enraged Carlos that he jumps in his private jet, and heads down to said sleepy village to confront the woman who sold her story to the tabloids.
Surprisingly, the child is his. He forces poor Betsy to abandon everything and everyone she knows and move to Spain where he will marry her for the sake of their bebeh.
Overall, an ok read. Lots of angst from both characters. Awful parenting by both characters parents but it will all turn out beautifully.
My love/hate addiction to HP’s has got to stop. I will find a way to fight it.
I love classic Lynne Graham. She was my favorite HP author at one time. Now, I have to drag myself through her books. And this one is no different.
AnI love classic Lynne Graham. She was my favorite HP author at one time. Now, I have to drag myself through her books. And this one is no different.
An unexpected ONS leads to an unexpected pregnancy. Fast forward a bit and a nine month old baby is left ON THE DOORSTEP of the H’s house with a note claiming the child is his.
The H is all “not my bebeh” until the h shows up and claims that the baby is his after a ONS. She was a virgin so no other potential baby daddies in the picture.
As I said earlier, I had to draaag myself through this book. It just went on and on. I had very little love for the characters in the book. And the h’s piece of shit brother needed to go to jail for leaving his nephew on some rando’s doorstep. WTF?! Plus he stole his sister’s inheritance and gambled it away, got his butt kicked by the mob types that he owed gambling money to. A real winner, this one. But his sister loves him and wanted to help him.
Ummmmm .... he left your beloved baby on someone doorstep. Nope. We are done.
The father was my favorite character. I guessed from the start that he knew the way the H felt for the h, but that he would need a pushA lovely read.
The father was my favorite character. I guessed from the start that he knew the way the H felt for the h, but that he would need a push. And boy did he push him!
The h and H spent one Magic night together before the H’s world fell apart. A few weeks later, the h shows up at his office with news of her pregnancy.
The H does the guy thing and questions the paternity. The h was a virgin on the night the hit together. After insulting her, he tells her he has to leave for an important and to wait for him.
She bounced! And did a damn good job disappearing. A year later, she shows up with her infant son. She has come to claim the inheritance that the H’s father left her. She gets insulted by the H’s sister and realized that she doesn’t want this bs in her son’s life. She tries to leave but is stopped by the H.
There’s drama. Arguments. And unpleasantness. Until there was sex. Then all goes well. Until it doesn’t. Then things fall apart.
Until the H mans up and finally fixes it. And HEA.
The letter in the epilogue was wonderfully sweet and the perfect ending.
Wow! This book was heart wrenching. It was such a sad but beautiful story. I loved every character. Even Sophia at the end.
Orla, the h, met Tonino, tWow! This book was heart wrenching. It was such a sad but beautiful story. I loved every character. Even Sophia at the end.
Orla, the h, met Tonino, the H while on a trip to Sicily in an attempt to meet the father she didn’t know. She fell heads over heel with Tonino and all was well until...Sophia.
Learning what she did after her meeting with Sophia, she left Sicily and returned to Ireland. She then learned she was pregnant and chose not to tell Tonino since she believed he lied to her.
Four years later she is back in Sicily for her half sister Aislin’s wedding. Her half sister who is marrying her half brother, Dante. Aislin and Dante are not related. While at the wedding, who does she see, Tonino. Tonino, watching over her son Finn. His son. The one he knows nothing about.
What takes place during the rest of the book had me engrossed in their story and hoping for the HEA that I know is coming. But hoping it comes without any more pain and heartache for everyone involved.
I read Aislin and Dante’s story and didn’t fall in with it like I did for Orla and Tonino (hate that name btw). But God, Aislin is an angel who deserves her own happiness and a better review. I will have to read her book all over again and see if I was wrong.
This story will stay with me for a long time. Well played Ms. Smart. ...more
This book had me researching a trip to Iceland. I’m a tropical girl, I don’t like the cold. But I want to go visit Iceland now.
Other than making me dThis book had me researching a trip to Iceland. I’m a tropical girl, I don’t like the cold. But I want to go visit Iceland now.
Other than making me dream of hot rivers, glacial waterfalls and hot blond godlike men, this book was a really wonderfully done “reunion/secret baby from a one night stand” book.
I adored everything about Ragnar. Even his robotic like personality. His reasoning for shutting down his emotions when he did was completely understandable, if annoying af!
Lottie made him have all the feels though. She heated that cool boy up and he didn’t know how to deal with it. She was also such a great character. I could totally relate to her.
The book was truly based on these two characters attempting to work out their differences and create a relationship for their child. Spoiler: it’s harder than it sounds. :D
Great book. Wonderfully written. Left me with decisions to make about my future Icelandic vacay. ...more
Pascal Furlani’s trip through the Dolomites brought him to an abbey clinic after a car crash that almost killed him. After being cared for and broughtPascal Furlani’s trip through the Dolomites brought him to an abbey clinic after a car crash that almost killed him. After being cared for and brought back to health by the nuns and novitiates, he thanked them by seducing and abandoning the one novitiate that everyone loved the most, Cecilia.
Six years later, on a whim, he returns to the Dolomites and the little village only to find Cecilia had his child. A son named Dante. The arrogant SOB blackmail her into marrying him by threatening to take her son away from her.
Pascal annoyed the hell out of me at first. But as I continued reading, his insecurities and pain became so evident and he hid it all under his arrogance and bluster. Still, I considered Cecilia an angel for putting up with his crap.
A sure sign that this was a great book was my reacting to the characters as though they were real people. I absolutely enjoyed getting all worked up over Pascal’s unfairness to Cecilia and that he was a total butthead. I was mumbling advice to Cecilia throughout the book. It was sad.
I obviously enjoyed this one. It’s a great read. ...more
A lot of angst and hurt for a Christmas book, but it worked.
Holly met Stavros at her sister’s wedding to the man that was Holly’s boss and who was inA lot of angst and hurt for a Christmas book, but it worked.
Holly met Stavros at her sister’s wedding to the man that was Holly’s boss and who was in love with. Stavros was the owner of the company she worked for and the groom was his cousin.
Stavros, dealing with some traumatic new he received the day before, convinced Holly to spend the night with him. He proposes to her and told her he wants a baby with her.
After a night of passion, Stavros tells her he made a mistake and kicks her out of his life.
A year later, Holly has been happily living in Switzerland, when Stavros shows up at her door. She’s had his baby and he wants his child. And maybe, Holly too.
Stavros was a butt throughout the book. It was somewhat understandable because of the trauma he survived, however, it just became too easy for him to hide behind.
I really enjoyed this book. It was a Christmas themed, sometimes over the top Christmas, but at the core, it was a really good storyline. The struggles, the highs and lows. The ultimate HEA. A well written love story. ...more
Sweet story. The H was a jerk and played with the h’s feelings like they were dice.
The h needed a kick in the behind for her loyalty to this guy. SheSweet story. The H was a jerk and played with the h’s feelings like they were dice.
The h needed a kick in the behind for her loyalty to this guy. She’s strong and sassy, except when it came to him. Even protected him when she got pregnant and had her baby alone after her parents kicked her out.
Thanks to the kindness of her boss she was given a place to stay and a way to earn money to prepare for the birth of her child. The boss’s husband was a total prick. Glad he got what he deserved.
A good read but my only complaint was the H’s affect on the h. Her doubts in his love really made me sad. How could she be secure after he treated her the way he did? ...more
The H and h met when they were kidnapped and placed in the same little run down hut together. The H is the Sheikh of his country and the h a geologistThe H and h met when they were kidnapped and placed in the same little run down hut together. The H is the Sheikh of his country and the h a geologist working in the area.
Fearing the worst would happen in the morning, the spent the night in each other’s arms. When morning came, they were separated and although they both escaped/survived, they believed the worst happened to each other.
Fifteen months later, the Sheikh learns that the h is alive and well and living in Australia with his infant son. He heads to Australia to claim his baby and his baby momma.
A nice read with a great beginning. It had good characters and a storyline that kept me interested. ...more
Sadly, no fireworks in this book. It was a good story, but not very exciting.
The H was a seemingly cold, bitter, controlling alpha. He had too many isSadly, no fireworks in this book. It was a good story, but not very exciting.
The H was a seemingly cold, bitter, controlling alpha. He had too many issues to count. But deep down he was a good guy. He just didn’t see himself that way.
The h was waaay to meek for my liking. She spent her life trying to please everyone at the expense of her happiness. She made me sad for her. God gave you a perfectly good backbone Matilda, use it girl!
I am looking forward to the second book about Dante, this H’s little brother. I’m hoping that it will be...more. ...more
Firstly - this book has a prologue and and epilogue. It’s like finding a unicorn!
Secondly - I really enjoyed it. I loved Frankie. Her strength, her biFirstly - this book has a prologue and and epilogue. It’s like finding a unicorn!
Secondly - I really enjoyed it. I loved Frankie. Her strength, her big heart, her fierceness where her son was concerned. She did care that Matt was a king, she was ready to take him for causing her son pain.
Matt has his own demons to fight and they were big ones. He did his best to be a husband and father while still protecting his heart from more pain. It’s clear to the reader why he did that. He was destroyed by the death of his family, but the true horror of what he experienced would have broken the strongest adult. Matt survived the only way he could.
Finally - if you live a great story with lots of emotional pain and baggage, but with a bright shining light at the end of the tunnel, then read this book. I enjoyed it. ...more
A sweet secret baby tale that has you guessing who the daddy really is.
When Tina’s best friend Sarah died, she made Tina guardian t3 and a half stars
A sweet secret baby tale that has you guessing who the daddy really is.
When Tina’s best friend Sarah died, she made Tina guardian to her infant daughter. Tina decides to make sure baby Bonnie’s father takes some responsibility for taking care of her, so she sets off to the office of the man she believes to be the daddy.
Dominic was shocked to have a strange woman walk into his office claiming that he was her baby’s father, so he had her thrown out. But he soon found out that she was determined and resourceful. And she was sexy as hell. Before he realized it, she was ensconced in his home, baby and all, and had burrowed her way into his heart. And the baby right along with her.
I like that sweetness of this story. Ida, Dominic’s mom, is a peach! She made the story with her remarks about her son. She loves him dearly, but is not blind to his faults. I loved her big reveal at the end. She sent the other two into shock.
I have to applaud Caitlin Crews for making her heroine real.
Shona was abandoned outside of a nightclub as a baby. She grew up in the foster care systI have to applaud Caitlin Crews for making her heroine real.
Shona was abandoned outside of a nightclub as a baby. She grew up in the foster care system from birth, never getting adopted, being moved from one foster home after another. Never having the security that every child needs to grow into a secure adult. Never seeing herself as nothing more than trash that her mother threw away.
Just imagining the horrors and constant fear she lived with explains her personality and attitude in the book. Coming out of foster care does not leave you a happy serene person. Unless you were fortunate and found a foster home where you were care for and loved. And how often does that really happen?
Shona’s insecurities and bitterness was completely understandable, imho. She fought her way through life to achieve everything she had. Even her dinky apartment that she made into a home for her son. She did the best she could with no handouts and no assistance from anyone.
I really appreciated the realism that the author gave this character. Going from her life to a palace would seem absolutely unreal. And being used to having anything good or positive taken away, she was literally trying to protect herself by not allowing herself to become comfortable, to enjoy what was there, to look upon it a home. She didn’t believe that it could actually be hers.
Maybe I’m reading too much into the character, but having friends who have lived this life, who are roughly around the edges because of circumstances , but with the sweetest hearts. I saw them in Shona. I saw the hurt, the reluctance to trust, the walls of steel you have to fight past before you see the real person. The walls of steel that most people take for hostility and never try to breach.
I loved this book for all the Shona’s out there who will never find a prince and are still fighting to do right for their babies and themselves.
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