Bought By Her Husband by Sharon Kendrick

Bought By Her Husband
by Sharon Kendrick

Review by TashNz

This book went to Kindle yesterday, so I thought it would be great to write a review.

Clearly known and remembered for the opening chapter, I have to say, this book must have been considered quite racy for a Harlequin Mills and Boon in 2006 when it was published.  It probably belongs in the Blaze category.  Quite funny reading Sharon's little notes about it on her facebook page here.

Fast paced, racy and full of angst, anger and revenge Bought By Her Husband is a quick read, an emotional read and one where you're left not sure quite of what to make of what one has read. (in a good way)

It's been seven years since her seperation and Victoria is in some serious debt and needs to find a way out, the only way is to get a divorce from her billionaire husband and hope the nice little sum of money she needs from it will settle everything. Alexi demands she come to Greece to settle and when she arrives it all goes haywire from there for both parties.

I like this book.  Alexi is one of the most arrogant and assholey hero's I've read in a while, and each page you do hope he redeems himself and the good side of him will shine through... He's hard to like and He's definitely unique and right up there with the toughest of tough.  I think the point of him is that his separation from Victoria has left him hard-hearted and the return of Victoria has him questioning everything he has tried to be and portray to the world.  Reluctantly agreeing to be his mistress for a week in order to secure the paltry settlement Victoria re-enters the world she has left far behind.

If I was to do anything different I would perhaps make Alexi a slightly more forgiving person, touch less assholey and I'd focus on the week they were together becasue they went from being mortal enemies to lovey lovey and we kind of missed that part of their journey as a reader.

I loved the angst, the emotion, it was a heck of a ride.

4.5 stars

His Diamond of Convenience by Maisey Yates

Review by Tash Nz

A shelf keeper!

A fanastic beginning to the story sees high society Vicoria click clack into ex MMA fighter Dimiri's gym and propose marriage, laying it out like the clear business transacion it is. Dimitiri has somehing Victoria wants and she can, in return, help him with what he needs.

Exciting story with exciting charachters. Dimitri is a hero like no other and adds an extra something to make the story unique. The complete opposite to Victoria who appears ice cold and quite snobbby as the story evolves it's clearly just her self imposed protecive layer.

With back stories that show why each person is broken and running His Diamond of Convenience is throughly enjoyable as two lost souls find their way to each other. It is a page turner and the break up is heartbreakingly emotional.

A shelf keeper!

4.5 stars for me

More Precious Than a Crown by Carol Marinelli

More Precious Than a Crown
by Carol Marinelli

I adore Carol Marinelli's ability to find the perfect balance of emotion. I have to re use the well worn sentance: I was hooked by page one. I was whisked away from the beautiful sunny day outside, I forgot about the pile of washing to fold and I lost track of time I almost didn't care I was going to be late to meet friends.  That's how much More Precious than a Crown grabbed me, distracted me and whisked me away from my day.

Trinity seems on the outside a trouble making spoilt little rich girl, her Daddy a politician and her Mother full of plastic smiles, on the inside though she is a damaged little girl, her hopes and dreams of a normal life and escaping her family reality just not meant to be.  Her brothers best friend (or is he) Prince Zahid is the only small light in her day at family functions but even he is about to turn his back on the family.  But the one kiss they shared 10 years ago won't go away and when Zahid reluctantly agree's to be the best man at Trinity's brothers wedding, they're once again forced to face each other.

Trinity can't reveal her secret hell, Zahid can't do more than really offer a night, he's got a bride to chose and family duties he's bound to. But life isn't full of black and white and the grey's are a plenty.

Zahid is the perfect character. He's tall, dark and handsome and honour bound.  He's not used to having someone tug on his heart strings, in fact he didn't even really know he had one!  Trinity is the perfect example of why books should not be judged by their cover. She's absolutely delightful even though she's been through her own personal hell.  As each page is turned you wish and hope for nothing but their happy ever after.

I give this book 5 stars because there's not one fault to find and I LOVE emotion in the way it was in this book. I'm delighted to see there's a book for Zahid's sister.  I'm also thanking my lucky stars I came across this book in my local second hand store.  I've rescued it because it will definitely be read again!

Harlequin | Kindle Published September 2014

5 Stars
Review by TashNz

The Kouros Marriage Revenge by Abby Green

The Kouros Marriage Revenge
Abby Green

When shipping magnate Alexandros Kouros needs a convenient wife he has workaholic Kallie Demarchis in his sights and he refuses to take No for an answer.

Seven years ago Kallie was the sole reason he lost a very important merger and although he's buried the fury he felt at the time when she betrayed him as only a close family friend can betray him he's completely floored when he spots her across the room.  She is absolutely stunning and Alexandros has no doubt he will enjoy the marriage in the traditional sense and enjoy throwing her to the curb even more, like she deserves.  How convenient Kallie's uncle has approached him to bail him out financial difficulties and Alexandros doesn't hesitate to use this as the leverage to have her just where he wants her.

Kallie has always loved Alexandros.  Her schoolgirl crush grew into love, or so she thought the night she chose to declare it to him. Alexandros thought he'd kindly let her down until the morning papers were full of private conversations he'd only had with Kallie.  Alexandros rejects Kallie's pleas of innocence, back then and now.  Kallie doesn't want to see her Uncle fail and agree's to marriage.

What neither Kallie nor Alexandros bank on is the intensity of their attraction to each other.  Alexandros can't understand why he has to struggle to remember his marriage is supposed to be over within two weeks.  It's thoroughly enjoyable watching him turn from an alpha bear with a sore head to a passionate man with feelings.  Kallie also has to fight with herself to remember the marriage isn't meant to last and is constantly trying to dampen down her genuine feelings for Alexandros,  I really really liked Kallie, she had a genuine heart of gold and she stood her own very well which is really admirable given how long ago The Kouros Marriage Revenge was written.

Back Cover

Alexandros is a gorgeous and growly alpha and I loved how even though Kallie is broken but spirited, she single handedly brings Alexandros to his knees.  I loved the secondary character of Thea who is Alexandros's fiercely loyal housekeeper and the importance of her few scenes.

From beautiful France across to exotic Greece, Abby Green weaves an intense, totally capturing and timeless story of two people who need to forgive and grab their chance with love by both hands!  Although this story is almost 10 years old it's a timeless tale.  I love that even back then Abby's heroines are strong and career minded women.  They are feisty and deserving of the love from their heroes. Kalllie is no different.

The locations of Kouros Marriage Revenge are beautiful and described in such a way I'm right there with them! The prologue sets the scene and mood for the story and Chapter One is straight into the action which continues to deliver all the way until the end.  I couldnt put it down and enjoyed lying in sun on a sunny spring Sunday and will find out tomorrow if I'm sunburnt because I was completely captured until the end.  There's emotion, intensity, passion, fab characters and I highly recommend if you're an alpha hero fan!

Published October 2007 by Harlequin Mills and Boon
Amazon
Abby Green

5 Star Review by TashNz

Forged in the Desert Heat by Maisey Yates

Forged in the Desert Heat
Maisey Yates

Forged in the Desert Heat is a powerfully written story about Ana and her rescuer; powerfully dark, delightfully strong, incredibly
beautiful Sheikh Zafar.

Making his way back to his palace of birth after the death of his evil uncle, ready to take the throne of his kingdom Sheikh Zafar purchases Ana off bandits and takes her with him back to the palace, realising that as the betrothed to the Sheikh of his neighbouring kingdom, he needs to keep her secret or war will break out.

Brave Ana is curious as to who this dark specimen of a man is but feels safe in his care.  She goes with him and agrees to keep quiet as to her whereabouts until he's announced to his people.  During the time together Ana teaches Zafar how to be come civilized.  It's been 15 years since he's been in noble company.  An attraction ensues and they do their best to fight it. Ana is engaged to Sheikh Tariq and the last thing Zafar wants is war.

Forged in the Desert Heat is an exciting love story between two people who are the complete opposite in nature and breed and yet they share similar parallels between their stories of their life.  If you're a Sheikh fan Zafar is sigh-worthy.  He is tall, dark and handsome, he is strong and he is protective.  He's still haunted by his past and Ana is the one who can fix this for him.

Ana is the light to Zafar's dark.  She's so pale Zafar thinks she'll almost combust in the desert but her will and her determination makes up more than enough strength to parallel Zafar's strength.  She takes on her duties of civilizing Zafar with good humor and seriousness while fighting her attraction.  She knows as time goes on she's only doing what she's doing to keep her father happy and the more time she has to think the more she realises this is the wrong thing to do.

As she throws caution to the wind and as Zafar caves there's a small moment in time where everything freezes and for the first time in many many years everything feels right but Zafar, being the loyal person he is demands she returns home and he takes her back out into the desert. The journey back to Sheikh Tariq's lands is an incredible journey for both.

Maisey Yates is one of my top 5 fave authors so I may be biased but I have to say, as a fan of Sheikh stories this one is right up there.  I love Maisey's ability to write such amazing dialogues between her two parties. I loved the descriptions of the lands and Zafar's world.  I love the flow, the excitement of Zafar purchasing Ana, hoping it went smoothly, I loved that Zafar was so honest when he asks Ana to tell him "he can do it"... I just loved being swept away to worlds unknown.  The morning I read this this was exactly what I needed, to forget real life and be immersed in Ana and Zafars.

Check out another review here: http://rbh-contemporary.blogspot.co.nz/2013/11/forged-in-desert-heat-by-maisey-yates.html

Mills and Boon
Originally published December 2013
My Kindle edition: January 2014
Purchase here at Amazon

Reviewed by TashNz

Valentino's Love Child by Lucy Monroe

Lucy Monroe's Valentino's Love-Child

Valentino's Love Child is as rich as a fine red wine on a winters evening... well that's how it made me feel when I was curled up on an icy Auckland night.

Tino and Faiths story offered me everything I love about a Harlequin Presents - truck loads of emotion and lashings of passion mixed in with page-turning wonder at what will happen next.  I also found Valentino's story to be one where you just don't want it to end, you want to keep going.

Tall dark and handsome Sicilian Valentino, or Tino as his lover Faith calls him has his life compartmentalized into boxes.  His wine-making business in one box, his family and precious 8 year old son in one box and his beautiful artist girlfriend/lover/not-mistress Faith in another quite square shaped box and the business and family do NOT stray into the other or combine in anyway.

The lines become blurred when, as all small towns do, everyone knows everyone and it's not long before Valentino realises his no-commitment-no-marriage-no-nothing-else lover is also his sons Art Teacher and his mothers closest companion.  Valentino doesn't want to merge his worlds together, he feels that if he does he's breaking his graveside promise to his first wife of never replacing her.  He enjoys Faith immensely but keeps her at arms length at all times except in bed. He doesn't want to get attached and when he needs a mother for his son he'll find a nice Sicilian wife to settle down with and who can teach him the traditional Sicilian family ways.

Faith doesn't want to blur the lines either although she realised earlier on in the piece where everyone in the puzzle fits.  She's more than happy with the arrangement she has with Tino because she too doesn't want to replace the losses she's suffered in the past.  Essentially Faith and Tino are using each other (in a delectable way) to satisfy their needs in a safe and commitment free and exclusive way

Faith's world is rocked when she discovers she's pregnant and a whole new world of worries come crashing down on her.  How on earth does she tell Tino when she knows she's the very last person he's looking for to replace his wife and mother of his adorable son Gio.  Can she keep the baby given her past tragedies and how does this place her with her graveside promise to her husband?  In the bravest way she walks away telling Tino it's over!

I loved Tino, he's a strong and honor bound man and as the story goes on it's endearing watching his walls be slowly chipped away and as hard as he tries to patch them back up they keep crumbling down.  He's a good man and totally lovable Alpha.  He's very black and white and doesn't do blurred.  Faith is a great heroine, hides her feelings well because she loves what she has with Tino and it works well for her but when her heart starts talking to, growing louder and louder and shutting out her mind she agonizes with the inner battles she's feeling and facing.  There's truck loads of both verbal interaction and both points of view shared along with plenty of lovin to be had!

I got teary and I smiled, I was completely captured.  Published in 2009 it was clearly before the technological era took hold of the world so  references to PDAs like that made me giggle but apart from that this story is quite timeless.  I have a few of Lucy's books and I love the emotional tug she captures mixed in with the typical Alpha male crossed with a story that so rewarding for a Harlequin Presents fan.

I have read and re-read Valentino's Love Child over the years, it's a definite shelf keeper for me.  I will definitely be reading it again in the future and recommend it to all Harlequin Presents or Mills and Boon Sexy fans!

First Published Harlequin Presents 2009 then M&B Sexy 2010

The Spaniard's Marriage Bargain by Abby Green

Abby Green, The Spainard's Marriage Bargain 

The Spaniard's Marriage Bargain is one of the many reasons I have Abby Green  as an Auto Buy and in my top 6 fave authors list.

My heart was thumping within the first couple of pages when Rowan, the heroine, is in a hotel waiting for her lawyer, sees a little boy trip and rescues him, upon which she stares into eyes the same as her own unique colour.  Could this be her son??? Enter Isandro who's about to thank the stranger for helping his son when, seeing Rowan, the whole world comes crashing down on him.  What an exceptional start to the book, my curiosity was hooked and wondering what on earth was going on.  As the saying goes, I was had at hello.

Rowan left her newborn son with her husband and disappeared off the face of the earth for two years.  Now she's back and desperate to get to know her son but to do so she first has to convince her ex husband Isandro that she's back and all she wants in the world is to reunite with Zac.  Since theirs was a marriage of convenience neither expect their feelings for each other to rise up to the level they do.

From London and Paris to Seville Isandro reluctantly lets Rowan back into Zac's life and a wonderfully written, highly emotional tale unfolds.  Reading The Spaniard's Marriage Bargain evoked feelings of emotion like no other, my heart was tugged all over the show, sometimes I was Team Rowan and other times Team Isandro.  Abby Green writes the tortured alpha like no other and yes he was a 10 on the bastard scale but with the incredible way Isandro was written, mixed in with the faultless tale that Abby weaves, I enjoyed the way the ice was slowly chipped away from his heart.  And then when you dont think any more tension can be packed in there was lashings of drama where only Isandro can save the day.

I couldn't imagine what Rowan went through (which is slowly revealed through the story) and combined with her desperate desire to reunite with her son mixed with her love for her ex husband she's a beautiful tortured ex wife.  The first time I read this book when the full reason was finally revealed I honestly got tears in my eyes and that's one of the reasons why this story has stayed on my bookshelf for many years.  She's so empty she does anything to keep the peace so she can spend time with Zac.

Abby Green has always been the fashion forward equivalent for writers.  Remembering this book was released in 2008 I think it'd be hard to find a similar story line from the same era or even today.

I don't recommend this story because it made me teary, I recommend it because it made an impact on me, it held my attention from start to finish and reminds me why I read these for the escape from Abby Green is on my auto buy list.

Published November 2008 but timeless.

5 Stars