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

The Count of Castelfino by Christina Hollis

Review by TashNz

Nice story.  Meg arrives at her new job only to discover the Counte di Castelfino has died and his son is the new count.  Meg is there to help the old count with his tropical plants and gardens and help him realise his dreams but Gianni has no interest and wants out with the old and in with the new.  Meg really is an english rose and her warm ways help change Gianni for the better.

I liked Meg's career choice, it's not often you have a plant curator as a character and I think the setting worked perfectly to help the two fall in love.  I thought the author did a great job of bringing the two together and getting Meg to take the sting out of Gianni's view of life.

Good story which I'd recommend to those who love a bit of conflict but the heroine is just lovely.

3.5 stars
Published December 2009
Mills and Boon Sexy

The Italian Count's Command by Sara Wood

Taking it back to 2005

The Italian Count's Command
by Sara Wood

Ahhh!  Misunderstandings that could only be made in 2005.  Evil side charaters consisting of Dante's brother and Miranda's lazy and selfish sister...  A handsome and firey tempered Italian Count and beautiful Miranda, who selflessly loves her Count but is fighting tooth and nail to get her beloved son home with her.  Archaic demands... I Love it!  The perfect makings of a classic Retro read.

Caught in the worst compromising position Miranda could be caught in causes her husband to walkout, taking their son with him.  Exhausted from searching worldwide for them Miranda is stunned to receive a call two weeks later.  Dante summons her to Lake Como with a proposition she has not choice but to accept if she wishes to ever see her son again.

Facing a life of loveless marriage, kind hearted Miranda is sure she will be able to prove her innocence one day and decides to set about showing Dante they can be happy ever after and despite her advances being constantly thrown back in her face, Miranda hangs in there.

A great read which proably would score 1stars by everyone in this day and age, but this formula is what used to make these stories so good - the absolute opposite of my reality.  A brave heroine gosh darn it was determined to fight for what she believed in.

Loved it!  purchased for 50c at my local second hand store and worth every cent.

Blackmailed Into The Greek Tycoon's Bed - Secrets of the Greek Isles by Carol Marinelli

Blackmailed into the Greek Tycoon's Bed
by Carol Marinelli

Blackmailed Into The Greek Tycoon’s Bed

Review by TashNz
6 Stars

If there is one book I can beg you to read, recommend for reading or shout from the rooftops you MUST read, this is it!

A fantastic beginning catapulted me into the most perfect story.  I had tears more than once (not even a slight exaggeration), I was moved, I was continually blown away by each path the story twisted and turned, I was NOT putting it down until I finished, no matter how early in the A.M it was (work next day), I absolutely loved the characters and I thought if this is the last book I ever read I will be truly happy!

The feeling one feels that they couldn't possibly start a new book until the feelings and memories of the current book fade - that was THIS book!  I have had this book on my to buy list for a long time but in my part of the world it hasn't been for sale on Kindle so I had it saved and received an email alert when it was put on sale and purchased it secondhand on a website we have in NZ called Trade Me.

Xante is a self made billionaire who is hosting the English Rugby Team at one of his hotels.  In his possession is a beautiful jeweled rose which once belonged to an English Rugby Legend.  Karin desperately wants the rose back, it's the only thing left that she has of her beloved grandfather and when the opportunity presents itself she runs like the wind... with the rose... only the wind is knocked out of her when the captain of the English rugby team sees her and hauls her back to Xante.  From there the most beautifully crafted story winds it way around my heart and completely flew me away to the world of Xante and Karin.  He saves her from scandal and they mutually help each other achieve what they want.

Twice I was brought to tears with Karin, one of those times is when he's standing in her home, discovering the sess-pit she actually lives in... another was when she describes her history, who she is, and how she's come to basically live in the library of her home.  She's so misjudged by Xante but even though there are times he is livid with her he still somehow knows there's something not quite right. I loved Xante, 100%!  The backstories were fantastic and the two completely opposite characters had spark and chemistry like no other.

I actually need to read a thesaurus so I can word this better, but from the bottom of my heart, if you love the emotional - broken - brilliant plot featuring a super duper alpha and beautifully broken heiress who you just want to have her hea, don't go past this one.

Timeless story which I give 6 stars.

Series: International Billionaire's #7 (if you're familiar with the series, the Six Nations rugby tournament is the common link.  I did forget to mention, the rugby coverage in this story was top notch and I could totally imagine the scene when they watched the game at Twickenham (especially after just watching our mighty All Blacks win the Bledisoe Cup in the weekend) but I'm not sure the changing room scene would work today because there are cameras in there nowadays)

I have read the other two stories in this book but will add their review another time (they are 5 stars too).

This edition published June 2015, original story July 2009

Kindle: here

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

The Proud Wife by Kate Walker

The Proud Wife
Kate Walker

Review by TashNz
5 Stars

My autographed copy of The Proud Wife came down off the shelf yesterday when Kate's Facebook page shared yesterday that the Kindle version was currently free at the AmazonUK website.  I recalled loving it but couldn't remember why until I opened the first page and started reading... not putting it down until the very last page.

Pietro, a Sicilian billionaire Prince of ages old ancestry, summons his ex wife Marina back to Sicily to discuss the terms of their divorce.  Left with no option but an immediate return Marina flies back to the country she once loved much and lost so much.  She walked into the boardroom, armed with nothing but her copy of the divorce settlement... ready to fling the papers in Pietro's face because she wanted noth-ing-at-all!

Seeing Marina again after 2 years hits Pietro hard in the solarplex - bam! It wasn't his choice to end the marriage, Marina left, never looking back.  He thought it was time to wrap up the marriage once and for all but how can he when seeing Marina brings back so many memories, of dampening down his feelings for her, of painful memories buried in the past of the pain they've both suffered when they lost their baby and desperately trying to cool down the heat he feels in her presence.

Sometimes I thought the title of this book should be The Proud Husband because that's what Pietro is, Proud! Proud of his heritage, proud of his beliefs, proud of his country and somewhere deep proud of his wife.  It's some of this proudness he has when he stands tall and decides he doesn't want to let his runaway wife go and he spends the book convincing her what she's throwing away is worth the world.  If I had to be on a team I'd want to be on Pietro's fighting for me.

Marina is broken.  The loss of their baby early on in their marriage left Marina with a broken heart and soul.  She convinced herself when she lost the baby her marriage was also lost.  People grow alot in two years and now looking back (with the help of Pietro) she wonders whether she shut him, locked him out, instead of unlocking herself and letting him in to help her through such a tragic time, and in turn help him through his grief too.  All Marina knows is the longer she spends in his company the harder it is to keep her feelings locked away.

What's great about this book is that all the cards are laid on the table in the first chapter.  The marriage was a whirlwind one, with Marina falling pregnant Pietro rushed her down the isle, he was a Prince after all, his children would not be born out of wedlock.  They were dynamite in bed and a match made in heaven until the loss of the baby. Marina left and two years later she's standing in his boardroom flinging divorce papers at him. The rest of the book is two people who have lost in love battling to find their way back to each other.  It's full of angst, lost love, second chances, dealing with their painful past and broken hearts and the chances of history repeating itself.  There's tons of dialogue and things move quickly.  I am hooked until the last heart-wrenching (in a beautiful way) page.

*sigh* Now I remember why I loved The Proud Wife :)

Published by Mills and Boon Modern 2011
At writing date free at Amazon.Co.UK
Amazon.Com

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

A Seal's Seduction by Tawny Weber (Uniformly Hot Seals Book 1)

5 Stars

A Seal's Seduction by Tawny Weber

You know that feeling you get when you've had a book sit on your kindle or bookshelf for so long that you finally sit down and have a read?  You then mentally kick yourself hard because you feel like you've deprived yourself of a bloody good story wrapped up in loads of deliciousness?

Well that's what happened when I read Tawny Weber's A Seal's Seduction!

Blake and Alexia randomly meet on the beach but Blake has other things on his mind so he's shocked, as is Alexia, to meet up in what's known as the local Naval club.  Giving into the electricity between them they spend a long and hot (as in Blaze all the way) weekend together only to reluctantly part ways due to a prior engagement that night.  At that engagement they discover who each other is and are both furious for various reasons.  Scoot to 8 months later when Navy Seal Blake is missioned to rescue Alexia from a terrorist kidnapping.

What I dont share with you is the build up to the meeting and the feelings they have and the point of views of each character.  They are both strong minded, strong willed and the stars and planets are not aligned for them to have a happy ever after.  Alexia's father is to blame for her thoughts but then on the other hand he's trying to get Blake interested in Alexia. None of this will make sense until you read this.

I give it 5 stars because I wasted my whole Saturday devouring this story.  Not wasted but gave up time to do anything else.  It's truely a fantastic story, ticks all the boxes and I will be reading Cade's story which I forgot I also had.

A bonus it being free but now that I've read it I would have paid top dollar!

Published  by Harelequin Blaze 22 January 2013
Purchased Amazon for free the day I purchased it

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

A Bargain With The Enemy by Carole Mortimer

A Bargain With the Enemy by Carole Mortimer

Review by TashNz

A Bargain with the Enemy is book one of three in The Devilish D'Angelos" mini series.  Three brothers who own the infamous and prestigious Archangel Art Galleries in Europe.

Five years ago middle brother Gabriel was the main prosecution witness whose testimony helped imprison a fraudulent art dealer.  The fraudster died in jail a few months later and the entire fall out for his family was devastating. 

We start the book five years later with older brother Michael pouring over a detailed security report regarding Bryn Jones, an entrant for Archangel's New Comers Gallery  which will displays  new comers work to their exclusive clientele.  Bryn is the daughter of the jailed fraudster but she's completely altered her appearance and changed her name and she's desperately hoping she wont be recognised as an entrant.  The last thing she wants is Gabriel to recognise her, wrongly assuming this will cause her entry to be tossed out the window.  However, Bryn's art is incredible and she's chosen as one of the final finalists to display her work.  Middle brother Raphael doesn't hesiate to tell Gabriel about Bryn and so begins an engaging and exciting story about two people, one trying to hide her identity from her enemy and the other trying to hide his feelings (and failing miserably at it) while both are trying to ignore what the past meant to each of them.

A Bargain with the Enemy is filled with action packed interaction between Gabriel and Bryn.  I thought Carole Mortimer did a great job of Gabriel's character.  He's clearly a man in charge of his world but when it comes to Bryn, she's his one weakness where he's chosen to stay away because of his involvement of her fathers imprisonment and untimely death.  He plays the game until he's had enough of the game because at heart he's as straight up as they come and throws a couple of curve balls Bryn's way where you really hold your breath and go Uh Oh, how's this going to pan out?

Bryn was tough and feisty, although a lil more feisty than I perhaps would have picked her to be given the desperate circumstances she was facing but in saying that if she wasn't feisty and Gabriel hadn't met his match it would make for a boring read wouldn't it!  

The only thing I would change if i wrote this book would be the overuse of the word nubbin. Also Gabriel and Bryn also didn't fully consummate their relationship within the story (but got very close a couple of times) but to be honest I didn't actually notice until I finished.  It wasn't like you were sitting there waiting for it to happen because there was so much detail packed into the story that it was a fulfilling read regardless because it was a fast paced enjoyable read that I read in one three hour sitting.

I adore linked books and The Devilish D'Angelo's promises to be a great one.  It's quite clear through the little parts youngest brother Raphael makes appearances that he is the mischievous will-forever-be-a-fun-loving-bachelor type of guy so I'm looking forward to downloading his story soon.

Published by Mills & Boon / Harlequin February 2014

The Greek's Marriage Bargain by Sharon Kendrick

Review by TashNz

4 Stars

The Greek's Marriage Bargain
Sharon Kendrick

I was looking in my Amazon wish list and came across Sharon Kendrick's the Greek's Marriage Bargain, purchased it and wasn't disappointed.

If you've read any of my reviews before you'll know I adore second chance stories and this was a brilliant one. 

Xenon arrives unannounced on his ex-wife's doorstep surprised at his Lexi's appearance. Lexi is now the complete opposite of who he married. No longer is she the bright and shiny pop-star starlet he once married, she's just a jeans and t-shirt kinda girl who's happy hiding away from the limelight in a quaint lil Devon, making jewellery. 

Like all good Greek Alpha's Xenon bribes her back into his life and with the life of her little brother in her hands Lexi reluctantly agrees to attend a family function that's important to Xenon. So away we're swept with lots of fireworks and drama on the way. 

I really liked Xenon, he was an Alpha but on a scale of one to 10 he was probably an eight because he was open about his feelings from the start. However, given the reason they broke up the one thing I would have changed if I wrote the story was the family occasion he wanted his wife to attend, although I understand that it gave plenty of scope for drama and tension. 

Lexi was a lovely heroine and I really felt her loss with her. 

From Devon, England to Rhodes to Hollywood The Greek's Marriage Bargain had plenty of great locations.

Another Sharon Kendrick winner :D

Published October 1 2013 by Mills and Boon Sexy