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

The Sheikh's Last Gamble by Trish Morey

Bahir Al-Qadir is a man who has a past that has troubled him since he was a child growing up in the desert and part of a Bedouin Tribe he learnt a lot from his parents but he was a bright boy so he was sent away to England to study to make something of himself but tragedy strikes and Bahir’s life changes forever. He is placed in the care of a very cruel man and finally leaves and makes something of himself as a gambler and he never loses he has made a lot of money and it very wealthy travels the world visiting many casinos but he never returns to his homeland either it is too hard for him.

Marina Peshwah is a Princess but is very rebellious and does everything she can to not confirm to rules she is beautiful and also travels a lot but when she meets Bahir there is an instant attraction and they have a very sensual affair and when she arrives to see him one day with news he tells her he never wants a family and he then breaks their relationship and Marina goes her own way and settles down but never forgets Bahir.

Years later Marina is the unwed mother of two children and Bahir is asked by his friend to help save the spoilt princess after she has been kidnapped he also has never forgotten Marina even those he has tried hard to, he agrees only to help out his best friend and when they meet again there is no re-kindling of their relationship and they go their separate ways ignoring each other until again Bahir is asked to escort Marina back to her home to keep her safe.

Although not happy Bahir ends up escorting Marina home and the journey is tense but when he meets her son he realizes that Chakir is his son and although he has always said he did not want children he is determined to be a father to his son.

This starts an incredible journey that is both heart-warming and very sensual as they journey back to the place that Bahir lived as a child and has never returned to until this time and when he opens up to Marina you will need the tissues.

This is a beautiful story of re-kindled love and passion of two people opening up and learning about themselves and each other and of secrets being revealed and the setting is wonderful I do love a story about a Sheikh and a beautiful strong heroine. I highly recommend this one and gave it 5 stars, one not to be missed.

Helen Sibbritt

September 18^th 2012 published 

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

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