His Mistress for a Million

 His Mistress for a Million

Trish Morey

Reviewed by Helen

I needed a book that was released in 2010, so I went to the bookshelf and I found this one, I love Trish Morey’s stories, tick and I am very partial to a Greek hero, tick and I am so glad I picked this one, I loved it from start to finish.

Aussie, Cleo Taylor has made a mistake, she jets off to London to meet, Kurt only he is not the guy she though he was, she is now working as a cleaner in a dingy hotel and living pretty much in the broom cupboard, when billionaire Andreas Xenides walks in and offers her a job for one month, come to Santorini and pretend to by my mistress, he will give her a million dollars for it, will she be able to convince anyone that she is a mistress?

Andreas has finally got his revenge, now to look to the future and when he meets the beautiful cleaner, she is just the person he needs to take back home with him, he is more than happy to give lessons on being a mistress, but Cleo is not going to be easy to convince but a contract is written including her stipulation that there will be no sex, he will do what he can to change that.

This is such a great story with a Cinderella vibe, I loved Cleo, she is strong and caring and beautiful and you can see why Andreas lost his heart to her, and Andreas a fabulous hero Cleo made him see what love could be, they had a very sensual journey it was beautiful even if there was another party doing her best to put a stop to their relationship, but love won over and of course what a setting the beautiful Santorini.

I would highly recommend this one to any romance reader.

5 stars

February 23, 2010 by Harlequin Presents

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

Eloping With Emmy

Eloping With Emmy

Liz Fielding

Reviewed by Helen

This is one of those stories that will make you laugh and smile throughout

Tom Brodie has been made partner in a very prestigious law firm he has worked hard to get where is he was not born with a silver spoon in his mouth, but when the other partners are away Tom is called out to help with one of the top clients and is shocked by what he is asked to do he must stop a marriage that appears to be going to happen to Emerald Carlisle Emmy as she is known to most this is going to be a fun journey for Tom and their first meeting will have you laughing out loud.

Emmy Carlisle is trying very hard to outwit her father she is an heiress and her father does a lot to keep tabs on her and stop her from getting into trouble, but when things go wrong right from the beginning of this plan, Emmy's journey is starting to be a very big roller coaster ride of ups and downs and the unwitting Tom Brodie is pulled into it.

This is such a fun fabulous story from start to finish talk about laugh and smile as Emmy and Tom journey across the UK and France falling just a little bit in love along the way there are many scrapes that Tom has to rescue Emmy from, Emmy and Tom are so alive and real you will feel like you are there with them, truly I can highly recommend this one you will not be sorry it will bring you a few hours of total pleasure and keep you smiling tis one is a total joy to read.

I have embarked on a challenge to read all of Liz Fieldings stories and am enjoying them immensely and lucky me I have a lot to catch up on. 

5/5 stars for a fun fabulous story

 Published May 3rd 2012 by Classic Romance Publishing (first published 1998)                   

An Image of You by Liz Fielding

Reviewed by Helen

I really enjoyed this story it is Liz Fielding's first book for Harlequin Mills & Boon released in 1992 and wow have heroes and heroines changed a lot over the years it is beautifully written I loved the setting in Africa and MS Fielding pulled me in from the first page with the strong characters and the push and pull between the hero and heroine.

Georgette Bainbridge comes from a wealthy family and is 22 but is a bit of a rebel in her out spoken ways and her wish to stand up for the under dog and protest when needed and this gets her in a few sticky situations here and there like throwing a bag of flour over a photographer and although she escapes unscathed that time it stay firmly entrenched in her mind so when she lands up in the newspaper again her father cuts her off and sends her to Africa on a photo shoot needless to say who with, this could be a bit of a worry if he remembers her.

Lukas yes only Lukas is a photographer in his early 30's and a very good one but he sticks to himself and does a calendar for George's father once a year at various locations this time in Africa but when his assistant is injured he is sent another one none other than George and is stunned when George turns out to be female and he has the distinct feeling that he has met her before. Lukas is known to be stubborn and pig headed at times and boy does he give George a hard time but in saying that he does it more because of the attraction her feels I think and she can give just as good back at times.

There were times I could have yelled at both Lukas and George but then I remembered that this book had been released a long time a go and this type of hero and heroine and age difference were very common back then. All in all though I thoroughly enjoyed this one from start to finish Liz Fielding is a natural story teller who keeps the reader turning the pages and feeling attuned to all of the characters and their emotions in the story, this one will have you smiling as you journey with George and Lukas to a wonderful HEA and as I said I loved the setting and the story fabulous.

4/5 stars for a great story

Published February 15th 2010 by Linford (first published 1992)

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.