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Married by Arrangement
Antonio Rocha saw Sophie Cunningham as a tramp--she was raising his orphaned baby niece in a trailer!
However, Antonio didn't appreciate that though she might not be a lady, Sophie had plenty of love to give. And she was a virgin.
Antonio soon found himself attracted to Sophie, and he knew how to indulge this passion: a marriage arrangement on his terms...
192 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2005
About the author
Lynne Graham
1,821 books1,464 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Lynne Graham was born on July 30, 1956 of Irish-Scottish parentage. She has livedin Northern Ireland all her life. She grew up in a seaside village with herbrother. She learnt to read at the age of 3, and haven't stopped since then.
Lynne first met her husband when she was 14. At 15, she wrote her firstbook, but it was rejected everywhere. Lynne married after she completed adegree at Edinburgh University. She started writing again when she was athome with her first child. It took several attempts before she sold herfirst book in 1987 and the delight of seeing that first book for sale in thelocal newsagents has never been forgotten. Now, there are over 10 million ofher books in print worldwide.
Lynne always wanted a large family and has five children. Her eldest and heronly natural child is 19 and currently at university. Her other fourchildren, who are every bit as dear to her heart, are adopted. She has two9-year-olds adopted from Sri Lanka and a 5- and a 3-year-old adopted fromGuatemala. In Lynne's home, there is a rich and diverse cultural mix, whichadds a whole extra dimension of interest and discovery to family life. Thefamily lives in a country house surrounded by a woodland garden, which iswonderfully private. The family has two pets. Thomas, a very large andaffectionate black cat, bosses the dog and hunts rabbits. The dog is Daisy,an adorable but not very bright white West Highland terrier, who loves beingchased by the cat. At night, dog and cat sleep together in front of thekitchen stove. Lynne loves gardening, cooking, collects everything from oldtoys to rock specimens and is crazy about every aspect of Christmas.
Lynne Graham was born on July 30, 1956 of Irish-Scottish parentage. She has livedin Northern Ireland all her life. She grew up in a seaside village with herbrother. She learnt to read at the age of 3, and haven't stopped since then.
Lynne first met her husband when she was 14. At 15, she wrote her firstbook, but it was rejected everywhere. Lynne married after she completed adegree at Edinburgh University. She started writing again when she was athome with her first child. It took several attempts before she sold herfirst book in 1987 and the delight of seeing that first book for sale in thelocal newsagents has never been forgotten. Now, there are over 10 million ofher books in print worldwide.
Lynne always wanted a large family and has five children. Her eldest and heronly natural child is 19 and currently at university. Her other fourchildren, who are every bit as dear to her heart, are adopted. She has two9-year-olds adopted from Sri Lanka and a 5- and a 3-year-old adopted fromGuatemala. In Lynne's home, there is a rich and diverse cultural mix, whichadds a whole extra dimension of interest and discovery to family life. Thefamily lives in a country house surrounded by a woodland garden, which iswonderfully private. The family has two pets. Thomas, a very large andaffectionate black cat, bosses the dog and hunts rabbits. The dog is Daisy,an adorable but not very bright white West Highland terrier, who loves beingchased by the cat. At night, dog and cat sleep together in front of thekitchen stove. Lynne loves gardening, cooking, collects everything from oldtoys to rock specimens and is crazy about every aspect of Christmas.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
July 25, 2018
They met at her sisters and his brothers wedding and he liked her but he thought he saw her coming back from a beach rendevous later that day and thought she was a tart and that was the end of that. Three years later both their siblings are dead and there is a baby and they get made co-guardians but he thinks she is a tramp and beneath him in social status. He wants to take the kid away. She has always had a crush on him and he proposes a marriage of convenience and she agrees. There is a lot going on in here and they agreed to no sex etc. and they blow that the first night. She is very sweet and naive and I liked that everyone loved her. There are a couple of twists I didn't see coming and it made for a very good read. For safety people he broke up with his mistress right before he married her so I don't know if he was celibate or not from the time they got engaged until their wedding night. I don't think so though. He was gone for like 8 days after they were married and he said that was the longest he had ever been celibate. So gross. And they never hooked up at the wedding but he definitely wasn't celibate during the separation. It wasn't a dealbreaker for me but I don't like it but it would be totally unreasonable since they never even kissed. Just were going to. He is pretty mean to her. I am not going to lie. There were a couple of scenes that I really didn't like him and I felt sorry for her. She loved him so much. She still had a backbone though and for that I liked her. I would read this again even.
Just as good on re-read!!!
Just as good on re-read!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 11, 2018
A classic LG with a poor but feisty h and a judgmental, stuffy H!
It had just the right amount of drama, angst and asshattery from the (basically nice) H to make it enjoyable and entertaining.
Her later offerings might disappoint but this one delivers in the time honored LG way!
It had just the right amount of drama, angst and asshattery from the (basically nice) H to make it enjoyable and entertaining.
Her later offerings might disappoint but this one delivers in the time honored LG way!
November 7, 2018
Ok, so I've finally decided to add a review to this read after weeks of procrastination, so here goes:
I've rated this three stars (barely) and only for the hero. Lynne Graham's heroes generally fall into either of two categories - cruel or cold. Antonio seemed a prime example of the latter category in the beginning. However, he redeemed himself as the book progressed by transforming into a warm and sensible guy - sensitive to the feelings of his loved ones and willing to listen and compromise.
The heroine Sophie was a different story. Here was another destitute, helpless h with a traumatic back story that's custom-written to invoke sympathy in even the most unsympathetic of minds and hearts. Except that it failed. For me at least. While I can certainly sympathise with all she had gone through, I found it extremely surprising and incredible when she changed from an awkward caravan cleaner into a society sensation almost overnight. I'm all for rags to riches stories; but this just seemed much too contrived. She also, transformed from a shy virgin into a sultry seductress (at similar speed) who was completely comfortable socialising with experienced playboys and oglers alike (i.e.; when she wasn't playing dutiful aunt to her baby niece Lydia).
I would have probably gotten over all of this had the story been gripping enough. But unfortunately, I believe Ms. Graham has found a 'formula' that she believes will work every time. There's the poor h with a heart of gold (who's loyal to a fault - even to abusive, neglectful, dishonest relatives) and then there's a H who's not very likeable initially but redeems himself (mostly) towards the end. And of course, there's the baby - don't get me wrong, I love babies (especially since I happen to have one at home). But if you're reading about the same thing every time, you're bound to lose interest.
LG was one of my favourite authors in the past, but lately her offerings have left me somewhat dissatisfied. It's almost as though she's writing the same stories over and over again and featuring the same lacklustre protagonists and hoping that people will not notice that it's the same old story in new packaging. There was nothing spectacular about this read and so, it becomes more difficult for me to review it - especially since I've enjoyed her novels so much in the past - so I delayed this for a while. And no, I won't be recommending this.
I've rated this three stars (barely) and only for the hero. Lynne Graham's heroes generally fall into either of two categories - cruel or cold. Antonio seemed a prime example of the latter category in the beginning. However, he redeemed himself as the book progressed by transforming into a warm and sensible guy - sensitive to the feelings of his loved ones and willing to listen and compromise.
The heroine Sophie was a different story. Here was another destitute, helpless h with a traumatic back story that's custom-written to invoke sympathy in even the most unsympathetic of minds and hearts. Except that it failed. For me at least. While I can certainly sympathise with all she had gone through, I found it extremely surprising and incredible when she changed from an awkward caravan cleaner into a society sensation almost overnight. I'm all for rags to riches stories; but this just seemed much too contrived. She also, transformed from a shy virgin into a sultry seductress (at similar speed) who was completely comfortable socialising with experienced playboys and oglers alike (i.e.; when she wasn't playing dutiful aunt to her baby niece Lydia).
I would have probably gotten over all of this had the story been gripping enough. But unfortunately, I believe Ms. Graham has found a 'formula' that she believes will work every time. There's the poor h with a heart of gold (who's loyal to a fault - even to abusive, neglectful, dishonest relatives) and then there's a H who's not very likeable initially but redeems himself (mostly) towards the end. And of course, there's the baby - don't get me wrong, I love babies (especially since I happen to have one at home). But if you're reading about the same thing every time, you're bound to lose interest.
LG was one of my favourite authors in the past, but lately her offerings have left me somewhat dissatisfied. It's almost as though she's writing the same stories over and over again and featuring the same lacklustre protagonists and hoping that people will not notice that it's the same old story in new packaging. There was nothing spectacular about this read and so, it becomes more difficult for me to review it - especially since I've enjoyed her novels so much in the past - so I delayed this for a while. And no, I won't be recommending this.
July 11, 2018
A marriage of convenience story for the sake of an orphaned child. Hero is a Spanish Marquis who has beautiful manners. He keeps his thoughts to himself while the volatile heroine can't hold her temper or her tongue.
They first met three years before at the wedding of the heroine's half-sister and the hero's younger brother. They were both attracted but a misunderstanding caused the hero to reject the 18 year-old heroine and she was so heart-broken that she is still a virgin at 21.
They meet again after they were both appointed guardians of their little niece. The conflict during this section of the story is who will have physical custody of the baby. A neighbor tells the hero that the heroine is With that info, the hero backs down and they eventually decide on a marriage of convenience. Heroine wears a hot pink floral dress with matching hat and finds herself a tabloid darling. That's one of the fantasy elements of this story - the lower class heroine is embraced by Spanish society with not much effort on her part.
The second conflict is the hero not wanting to fall for his wife and the black moment revolves around the DNA testing of the baby.
It's all very predictable with some LG touches. That is not damning with faint praise. This was a solid HP story, even if it is one I've read before in different iterations.
They first met three years before at the wedding of the heroine's half-sister and the hero's younger brother. They were both attracted but a misunderstanding caused the hero to reject the 18 year-old heroine and she was so heart-broken that she is still a virgin at 21.
They meet again after they were both appointed guardians of their little niece. The conflict during this section of the story is who will have physical custody of the baby. A neighbor tells the hero that the heroine is With that info, the hero backs down and they eventually decide on a marriage of convenience. Heroine wears a hot pink floral dress with matching hat and finds herself a tabloid darling. That's one of the fantasy elements of this story - the lower class heroine is embraced by Spanish society with not much effort on her part.
The second conflict is the hero not wanting to fall for his wife and the black moment revolves around the DNA testing of the baby.
It's all very predictable with some LG touches. That is not damning with faint praise. This was a solid HP story, even if it is one I've read before in different iterations.
March 3, 2025
It's unbelievable but loved it anyway.
February 12, 2014
Our hero Antonio is a Spanish marquis. Sophie, who works as a cleaner, is raising his orphaned baby niece alone after the death of her sister who never really cared for her child to begin with. Antonio suggests a marriage of convenience so as to protect his brother’s child and give his niece a mother and a stable home. Sophie accepts because she can’t stay away from her niece plus she is infertile after her battle with leukemia so her future seems pretty bleak. What she doesn't count on is Antonio picking her up after her dreams come crashing down and giving her a home and the love she craves.
A very sweet, intense love story! Antonio is a man to die for! He’s reserved and formal and he’s got fantastic manners. He is a true gentleman. Heroine is sweet yet sassy and wears her heart on her sleeve. They compliment each other in the most fabulous ways. The ending is super adorable and just perfect for them. I'm bonkers for books with babies.
A very sweet, intense love story! Antonio is a man to die for! He’s reserved and formal and he’s got fantastic manners. He is a true gentleman. Heroine is sweet yet sassy and wears her heart on her sleeve. They compliment each other in the most fabulous ways. The ending is super adorable and just perfect for them. I'm bonkers for books with babies.
October 4, 2018
***3.75 Stars***
My favorite thing about this story. I don't like having to try and figure out if a couple was celibate while apart or in-between engagement and marriage. I refuse to read a book until I know if there is celibacy and cheating. After the wedding of this couple (MOC) the Hero had to go on a lengthy business trip. Upon arriving home after several weeks he assured his marriage-of-convenience-wife that for the first time in his adult life he was living a celibate lifestyle, other than her, of course! That made my day because I had read the reviews where others stated it celibacy was unclear, questionable. Others had thought he was celibate after the marriage had taken place but they didn't think he was celibate through the engagement. Either way I'm choosing to believe he was. I can hardly nitpick when the hero spells it out pretty clearly.
My favorite thing about this story. I don't like having to try and figure out if a couple was celibate while apart or in-between engagement and marriage. I refuse to read a book until I know if there is celibacy and cheating. After the wedding of this couple (MOC) the Hero had to go on a lengthy business trip. Upon arriving home after several weeks he assured his marriage-of-convenience-wife that for the first time in his adult life he was living a celibate lifestyle, other than her, of course! That made my day because I had read the reviews where others stated it celibacy was unclear, questionable. Others had thought he was celibate after the marriage had taken place but they didn't think he was celibate through the engagement. Either way I'm choosing to believe he was. I can hardly nitpick when the hero spells it out pretty clearly.
June 13, 2020
I don't remember too much of this as I read it a while ago, but very Lynne Graham as many of the excellent reviews below summarize.
I do remember that the heroine is a live wire and keeps the hero on his toes, but the real love story is the h's love for her niece.
‘I love her so much and she loves me. You can’t just throw me out of her life as though I’m nothing just because I’m poor.’
I do remember that the heroine is a live wire and keeps the hero on his toes, but the real love story is the h's love for her niece.
‘I love her so much and she loves me. You can’t just throw me out of her life as though I’m nothing just because I’m poor.’
September 20, 2010
this was fairly decent. It kept my interest. I thought that it was vague in spots and there were bits that bothered me more than they should have because of my own life experiences. He seemed to be all over the place as a character and so he wasn't as fun to read about as some heros.
April 4, 2021
Antonio and Sophie's story was a classic one to read! A nice, kinda sweet book to read and kill some time. The translated Greek edition is as good as the original English one.
Re-Read: 4/2021
Re-Read: 4/2021
October 24, 2018
One of my favorite Lynn Graham book.
I adored Sophie and Antonio’s passionate love story.
Recommended.
I adored Sophie and Antonio’s passionate love story.
Recommended.
August 14, 2022
Another LG slightly ditzy kittenish young heroine. Sophie is left with her widowed dead sister's baby, Lydia (an obliging baby ofc). The will has her sharing custody with her brother in law Antonio. Cue MoC complicated by instalust and actual feelings.
Lots of sexual chemistry. Spoiler ahead...
She is poss infertile due to leukaemia but the epilogue sees them blessed with another daughter and twin boys. It's not infertility, it's M&B infertility. (Niche British advertisement joke).
Lots of sexual chemistry. Spoiler ahead...
She is poss infertile due to leukaemia but the epilogue sees them blessed with another daughter and twin boys. It's not infertility, it's M&B infertility. (Niche British advertisement joke).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 24, 2013
I don't know how I missed this one -- I thought I'd read all of LG's backlist. Good, basic LG story. I do get a kick out of her heroes -- so smug believing they're in total control, but quickly their feelings are revealed to be out of control, like when they see the heroine with another man. Anyway, satisfying read.
October 14, 2021
This languished on my TBR for a very long time. I read it a few days ago and it’s already forgotten.
November 18, 2023
Classic LG romance from 2005
Three years ago, Sophie and Antonio, who is a billionaire Spanish marquis, met at a lavish marriage ceremony between her older half-sister and his older brother. Since that time, both his brother and her sister have died, leaving behind an orphaned baby girl. Sophie has been taking care of her niece since her birth, when her sister basically abandoned the baby. Sophie is poor but absolutely dedicated to the baby, whom she adores as much as if she were Sophie's own child. Not long after her sister's death, Sophie learns to her shock that her sister left a will granting joint custody of the baby to Sophie and Antonio, who have diametrically opposed ideas of what is in the best interests of the child.
One of my favorite romance tropes involves the romantic protagonists involved in a marriage of convenience in order to jointly care for an orphaned baby belonging to a relative who has died. This delightful romance is a passionate and enjoyable example of that plotline.
LG also uses this same trope in Bond of Hatred, one of my all-time favorite books by her.
Reread 11/18/23: I previously checked this book out of the library, but I was able to purchase the Kindle version yesterday on sale for $1.99. I enjoyed it just as much on the second read. It will definitely become one of my LG comfort reads.
Three years ago, Sophie and Antonio, who is a billionaire Spanish marquis, met at a lavish marriage ceremony between her older half-sister and his older brother. Since that time, both his brother and her sister have died, leaving behind an orphaned baby girl. Sophie has been taking care of her niece since her birth, when her sister basically abandoned the baby. Sophie is poor but absolutely dedicated to the baby, whom she adores as much as if she were Sophie's own child. Not long after her sister's death, Sophie learns to her shock that her sister left a will granting joint custody of the baby to Sophie and Antonio, who have diametrically opposed ideas of what is in the best interests of the child.
One of my favorite romance tropes involves the romantic protagonists involved in a marriage of convenience in order to jointly care for an orphaned baby belonging to a relative who has died. This delightful romance is a passionate and enjoyable example of that plotline.
LG also uses this same trope in Bond of Hatred, one of my all-time favorite books by her.
Reread 11/18/23: I previously checked this book out of the library, but I was able to purchase the Kindle version yesterday on sale for $1.99. I enjoyed it just as much on the second read. It will definitely become one of my LG comfort reads.
March 29, 2015
Ah, those harlequin couples can be so silly with their ridiculous ideas, false theories, and back-and-forth misunderstandings. Lynne Graham continues her usual strange virginity and baby obsession. Still, it was enjoyable as the story moved along quickly, had spunk/spark, and I dug the mains. Sophie was sweet, different, fun, and feisty. The hero was a good one as well, liked his traditional approaches and sense of humor. Not particularly steamy but I wasn't that interested with that for this story, so that didn't deter from the story. Lydia as the existing baby wasn't annoying and was cute, kept well in the story. The beginning especially shone. Not a big fan of the arranged marriage but here it works well enough.
October 20, 2015
3.5 stars.
Sophie was a an unpolished heroine. She grew up poor with little education and she acted like it. But that didn't mean she's stupid, she could match Antonio anytime, but she had a temper and Antonio just loved to bait her.
In the beginning Antonio was an arrogant jerk whose coolness made me wanted to slap him, but he redeemed himself nicely.
The drama and angst mostly come from both of them, no present evil family member or evil other woman. Just the two of them, growing up through out the story. And the author manage to wrote it nicely.
A bit spoiler ahead.
I like how the author handled Sophie's fertility issue. From the beginning it was stressed that she might be infertile, and it took time for her to conceived after being with Antonio.
Sophie was a an unpolished heroine. She grew up poor with little education and she acted like it. But that didn't mean she's stupid, she could match Antonio anytime, but she had a temper and Antonio just loved to bait her.
In the beginning Antonio was an arrogant jerk whose coolness made me wanted to slap him, but he redeemed himself nicely.
The drama and angst mostly come from both of them, no present evil family member or evil other woman. Just the two of them, growing up through out the story. And the author manage to wrote it nicely.
A bit spoiler ahead.
I like how the author handled Sophie's fertility issue. From the beginning it was stressed that she might be infertile, and it took time for her to conceived after being with Antonio.
November 11, 2025
Married by Arrangement by Lynne Graham is classic Harlequin drama at its finest, an emotionally charged blend of arrogance, misunderstanding, and slow-burning passion. This one features the kind of hero only Graham can pull off: coldly aristocratic, maddeningly controlling, and yet somehow impossible not to fall for. It is the quintessential “marriage of convenience with emotional chaos” setup, and she executes it with the flair that she is well known and loved for.
Antonio Rocha, Marques de Salazar, is a thirty-year-old Spanish nobleman whose sense of duty and family pride runs as deep as his arrogance. When his late brother’s child is discovered to be in the care of her young English aunt, Sophie Cunningham, Antonio storms into her life determined to take charge. Sophie, just twenty-two, has been raising her niece in a caravan, scraping by while holding onto her fierce love and dignity. She is brash, outspoken, and entirely unimpressed by Antonio’s wealth or status. But for all their clashes, their chemistry is undeniable; volatile, electric, and irresistibly combustible.
What begins as a battle of wills soon turns into an uneasy alliance. Antonio needs a caretaker for his niece to which he admits albeit reluctantly and Sophie needs security and refuses to lose the child she loves as her own. Their solution is classic, a marriage of arrangement, which ought to be purely practical. But neither of them can ignore the simmering attraction that threatens to upend every sensible boundary they have drawn. It is a relationship built on mistrust, misunderstandings, and pride, yet the tension between them makes every scene pulse with energy. Graham is at her sharpest when writing about these emotional power struggles that somehow transform into love.
Sophie’s backstory adds depth to her character; her difficult childhood, her battle with leukemia when she was young and her inability to have children, all of which makes her bond with her niece deeply moving. Antonio, meanwhile, evolves beautifully from a rigid, condescending aristocrat into a man undone by genuine affection and remorse. His journey from control to vulnerability is gradual but satisfying, even if he remains infuriatingly pompous for much of the ride. And Sophie? She is fire, impulsive, proud, sometimes reckless, but utterly endearing.
If there is one thing to fault, it is that the melodrama occasionally goes overboard; the accusations, the misunderstandings, the endless pride wars. But that is also part of the charm. Graham’s writing thrives on heightened emotion, and when the inevitable reconciliation comes, it is the kind that leaves you sighing in contentment. Their love story is tumultuous, passionate, and unapologetically dramatic, ending on a note of hard-won tenderness that makes up for it all.
Recommended for: fans of classic Harlequin angst, alpha heroes with a redemption arc, and heroines who love fiercely even when pride is on the line.
Final Verdict: A wildly addictive romance full of fire, pride, and passion; Lynne Graham at her dramatic best.
Rating = 4/5
For more reviews and quotes, please visit A Maldivian's Passion for Romance
Antonio Rocha, Marques de Salazar, is a thirty-year-old Spanish nobleman whose sense of duty and family pride runs as deep as his arrogance. When his late brother’s child is discovered to be in the care of her young English aunt, Sophie Cunningham, Antonio storms into her life determined to take charge. Sophie, just twenty-two, has been raising her niece in a caravan, scraping by while holding onto her fierce love and dignity. She is brash, outspoken, and entirely unimpressed by Antonio’s wealth or status. But for all their clashes, their chemistry is undeniable; volatile, electric, and irresistibly combustible.
What begins as a battle of wills soon turns into an uneasy alliance. Antonio needs a caretaker for his niece to which he admits albeit reluctantly and Sophie needs security and refuses to lose the child she loves as her own. Their solution is classic, a marriage of arrangement, which ought to be purely practical. But neither of them can ignore the simmering attraction that threatens to upend every sensible boundary they have drawn. It is a relationship built on mistrust, misunderstandings, and pride, yet the tension between them makes every scene pulse with energy. Graham is at her sharpest when writing about these emotional power struggles that somehow transform into love.
Sophie’s backstory adds depth to her character; her difficult childhood, her battle with leukemia when she was young and her inability to have children, all of which makes her bond with her niece deeply moving. Antonio, meanwhile, evolves beautifully from a rigid, condescending aristocrat into a man undone by genuine affection and remorse. His journey from control to vulnerability is gradual but satisfying, even if he remains infuriatingly pompous for much of the ride. And Sophie? She is fire, impulsive, proud, sometimes reckless, but utterly endearing.
If there is one thing to fault, it is that the melodrama occasionally goes overboard; the accusations, the misunderstandings, the endless pride wars. But that is also part of the charm. Graham’s writing thrives on heightened emotion, and when the inevitable reconciliation comes, it is the kind that leaves you sighing in contentment. Their love story is tumultuous, passionate, and unapologetically dramatic, ending on a note of hard-won tenderness that makes up for it all.
Recommended for: fans of classic Harlequin angst, alpha heroes with a redemption arc, and heroines who love fiercely even when pride is on the line.
Final Verdict: A wildly addictive romance full of fire, pride, and passion; Lynne Graham at her dramatic best.
Rating = 4/5
For more reviews and quotes, please visit A Maldivian's Passion for Romance
May 26, 2021
Tatlı klişelere bayılıyorummmmmm ❤
September 16, 2017
A shelf that I should have - Guardian / guardians to a child.
Cast of Main Characters -
Antonio Rocha, Marquis de Salazar - Hero of our story
Dona Ernesta - Antonio's Grandmother
Pablo - Antonio's deceased younger brother
Belinda - Pablo's English Girlfriend whom he married 3 years ago and divorced; now deceased
Baby Lydia - Belinda's infant daughter
Sophie Cummingham - Belinda's secret half sister (That fact that she's the result of their mother's extra-marital indiscretion is the secret)
In my review of another Lynne Graham book. I have given what I perceive to be a template of her books - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show....
Antonio and Sophie meet at Pablo's and Belinda's wedding for the 1st time. MISUNDERSTANDING -because of the fact that Sophie was forced to maintain her silence over the fact that Belinda's actually her half sister, Antoino on seeing her with her father's girlfriend's son assumes the worst. Add the fact that she's got a tattoo. so in his books she's a slut!!!!
Fast forward 3 years. Antonio and Sophie are named Joint guardians to Baby Lydia. Antonio propes a marriage of convenience and Sophie accepts. Then we have the Insta-Lust and scorching-the sheets-chemistry followed by a honeymoon.
TROUBLE IN PARADISE - A DNA test reveals that Baby Lydia is not Pablo's daughter.
The usual war of words follow and ....then they resolve their differences at the end.
A sweet, hearts and roses epilogue nicely rounds up the story.
Lynne Graham's brand of imagery --
"provocative appeal", "infuriatingly inappropriate", "provocative accusations", "aristocratic detachment", "creative ingenuity", "unashamed expertise", "drowning sweetness" and finally "convulsive pleasure"........ I just love it when she uses words like these.
Terms used to describe the Hero’s physical characteristics --
"spectacular cheekbones", "superb slant of his fabulous cheekbones", "intimidating height", "immaculate appearance", "masculine thumb", "scorching golden eyes", "long powerful legs", " strong brown torso" and one more "rock hard flatness of abdomen".... Ooohh....yummy....
Terms used to describe the Heroine’s physical characteristics --
"sexy and intensely feminine", "toffee blond hair", "riotous mass of corkscrew curls", "delicately pointed chin", "wide green eyes", "sweet cupid's bow mouth", "heart shaped face", and lastly "heart shaped derriere".....
An enjoyable read.
Cast of Main Characters -
Antonio Rocha, Marquis de Salazar - Hero of our story
Dona Ernesta - Antonio's Grandmother
Pablo - Antonio's deceased younger brother
Belinda - Pablo's English Girlfriend whom he married 3 years ago and divorced; now deceased
Baby Lydia - Belinda's infant daughter
Sophie Cummingham - Belinda's secret half sister (That fact that she's the result of their mother's extra-marital indiscretion is the secret)
In my review of another Lynne Graham book. I have given what I perceive to be a template of her books - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show....
Antonio and Sophie meet at Pablo's and Belinda's wedding for the 1st time. MISUNDERSTANDING -because of the fact that Sophie was forced to maintain her silence over the fact that Belinda's actually her half sister, Antoino on seeing her with her father's girlfriend's son assumes the worst. Add the fact that she's got a tattoo. so in his books she's a slut!!!!
Fast forward 3 years. Antonio and Sophie are named Joint guardians to Baby Lydia. Antonio propes a marriage of convenience and Sophie accepts. Then we have the Insta-Lust and scorching-the sheets-chemistry followed by a honeymoon.
TROUBLE IN PARADISE - A DNA test reveals that Baby Lydia is not Pablo's daughter.
The usual war of words follow and ....then they resolve their differences at the end.
A sweet, hearts and roses epilogue nicely rounds up the story.
Lynne Graham's brand of imagery --
"provocative appeal", "infuriatingly inappropriate", "provocative accusations", "aristocratic detachment", "creative ingenuity", "unashamed expertise", "drowning sweetness" and finally "convulsive pleasure"........ I just love it when she uses words like these.
Terms used to describe the Hero’s physical characteristics --
"spectacular cheekbones", "superb slant of his fabulous cheekbones", "intimidating height", "immaculate appearance", "masculine thumb", "scorching golden eyes", "long powerful legs", " strong brown torso" and one more "rock hard flatness of abdomen".... Ooohh....yummy....
Terms used to describe the Heroine’s physical characteristics --
"sexy and intensely feminine", "toffee blond hair", "riotous mass of corkscrew curls", "delicately pointed chin", "wide green eyes", "sweet cupid's bow mouth", "heart shaped face", and lastly "heart shaped derriere".....
An enjoyable read.
January 30, 2018
Entah kenapa jadi capek bacanya. Sophie selalu berburuk sangka pada Anthonie, dan marah pada setiap apa yang dikatak Anthony. Sebaliknya Anthony tidak belajar dari kesalahan. Dia tetap saja selalu mengeluarkan pernyataan yang membuat Sophie marah. Dan ya...seperti HQ pada umumnya apapun masalahnya kalau di antara Hero dan Heroine-nya sudah ada chemistry yang meledak-ledak, tetap saja mereka bakal bersama.
July 22, 2023
Antonio Rocha and Sophie Cunningham are designated as co-guardians of their orphaned niece after the death of his brother and her sister. Marriage seems like a logical solution to custody.
January 5, 2015
Los libros de Lynne Graham son geniales, libro que lees y libro que te encanta
December 18, 2016
Good story. Spunky heroine. Great banter with stuffed shirt H. Enjoyable read.
February 3, 2018
Should have had a stronger beginning. That this couple had a 'past' didn't add anything. Strong ending.
December 22, 2021
Reread: 2 stars
First read: 3 stars
When I read this for the first time three years ago, I liked it alright. It wasn't great but also not as awful as other Harlequins I had read so far. Now I think that I maybe just liked it because I read it as a free serial, one chapter a week, and that created suspense ...
Antonio was a jackass for never believing Sophie when she explained a situation but sticking to his pre-made bad impressions of her instead. He thought the worst of her based on assumptions only and got offended whenever she, justifiably, thought the worst of him.
She on the other hand was too explosive sometimes about things that didn't need to be made up so big. (But mostly, I appreciated that she stood up to him.) And she was especially stupid for
They reminded me a lot of Alexandros and Katie from Reluctant Mistress, Blackmailed Wife, also by Lynne Graham. A powerful, rich hero with dark hair and golden eyes who doesn't take the heroine seriously and a small, slender 23 year old heroine with a hot temper and a stubborn streak who loves him despite not wanting to. Now, I haven't read anything else by this author, but I'm definitely starting to see a pattern here. At least Alexandros and Katie and their story were still lovable despite their flaws.
First read: 3 stars
When I read this for the first time three years ago, I liked it alright. It wasn't great but also not as awful as other Harlequins I had read so far. Now I think that I maybe just liked it because I read it as a free serial, one chapter a week, and that created suspense ...
Antonio was a jackass for never believing Sophie when she explained a situation but sticking to his pre-made bad impressions of her instead. He thought the worst of her based on assumptions only and got offended whenever she, justifiably, thought the worst of him.
She on the other hand was too explosive sometimes about things that didn't need to be made up so big. (But mostly, I appreciated that she stood up to him.) And she was especially stupid for
They reminded me a lot of Alexandros and Katie from Reluctant Mistress, Blackmailed Wife, also by Lynne Graham. A powerful, rich hero with dark hair and golden eyes who doesn't take the heroine seriously and a small, slender 23 year old heroine with a hot temper and a stubborn streak who loves him despite not wanting to. Now, I haven't read anything else by this author, but I'm definitely starting to see a pattern here. At least Alexandros and Katie and their story were still lovable despite their flaws.
September 29, 2020
Bueno la verdad este libro me aburrió un poco al final, no fue por algo en específico, de hecho, me encantó el final, supongo que fue más la forma en comida agregaron malentendidos entre los protagonistas solo por sus personalidades explosivas.
La historia gira en torno a Sophie, una plebeya y Antonio, el marqués de Salazar.
El hermano menor de Antonio estuvo casado con la hermana de Sophie y lograron concebir a la pequeña Lydia pero ambos murieron y la custodia quedó compartida entre Antonio y Sophie.
Como todos sabemos llega el macho alpha que se siente atraído por la chica desde que la conoció hace unos años pero que por un malentendido ella tiene la imagen de fulana frente a él. Se casan porque él es no le da otra opción y ella piensa que lo odia cuando en realidad lo ama a morir. Entran en un matrimonio turbulento en donde lo único constante es el sexo y poco a poco llega la autora y empieza a agregar malentendidos 🙂
Es así como vemos el tira y afloja entre los protagonistas donde Antonio es un tipo din tacto y Sophie es demasiado intensa y sensible.
El punto aquí es que resuelven todo y viven felices para siempre, como siempre.
Mi problema como tal creo que fue el hecho de que los dramas no estaban justificados, Sophie es una persona muy impulsiva e infantil que inventa excusas y estupideces para salvar su orgullo pero Antonio es tan obtuso que se las cree y luego se dice a si mismo "Ah caray, ella solo intenta alejarme, regresaré de mi viaje de varias semanas para remendar el error" y yo tipo "👍".
¿Lo recomiendo? Nah, demasiado drama innecesario para mi gusto.
Adiós.
La historia gira en torno a Sophie, una plebeya y Antonio, el marqués de Salazar.
El hermano menor de Antonio estuvo casado con la hermana de Sophie y lograron concebir a la pequeña Lydia pero ambos murieron y la custodia quedó compartida entre Antonio y Sophie.
Como todos sabemos llega el macho alpha que se siente atraído por la chica desde que la conoció hace unos años pero que por un malentendido ella tiene la imagen de fulana frente a él. Se casan porque él es no le da otra opción y ella piensa que lo odia cuando en realidad lo ama a morir. Entran en un matrimonio turbulento en donde lo único constante es el sexo y poco a poco llega la autora y empieza a agregar malentendidos 🙂
Es así como vemos el tira y afloja entre los protagonistas donde Antonio es un tipo din tacto y Sophie es demasiado intensa y sensible.
El punto aquí es que resuelven todo y viven felices para siempre, como siempre.
Mi problema como tal creo que fue el hecho de que los dramas no estaban justificados, Sophie es una persona muy impulsiva e infantil que inventa excusas y estupideces para salvar su orgullo pero Antonio es tan obtuso que se las cree y luego se dice a si mismo "Ah caray, ella solo intenta alejarme, regresaré de mi viaje de varias semanas para remendar el error" y yo tipo "👍".
¿Lo recomiendo? Nah, demasiado drama innecesario para mi gusto.
Adiós.
February 16, 2019
Baca di #GramediaDigital
Antonio Rocha adalah seorang bangsawan dari Spanyol yang tertarik dengan Sophia Cunningham.
Alasan pernikahannya sih sepele..
Untuk menyelamatkan keponakannya.
Menurut isu.. keponakannya tersebut lahir dari hubungan adik laki-lakinya dengan kakaknya Sophia.
Namanya bangsawan dan orang kaya. Gak mau dong jatuh gitu aja terjerat sama Sophia yang gak punya apa-apa.
Makanya, dibuatlah peraturan pernikahan pura-pura ini. Untuk melegalitas sahnya keponakannya dalam keluarga Rocha.
Dan supaya mudah juga mengurus keponakannya.
Sophia yang pernah bertemu Antonio di masa mudanya ini. Tidak mau begitu saja jatuh dalam pesona Antonio.
Berkat campur tangan mak comblang (tetangga Sophia). Pernikahan pura-pura ini bisa berlangsung. Walaupun kedua belah pihak menaruh curiga yang sangat besar.
Seiring berjalannya waktu, rasa kecurigaan pun menumpuk dan menumpuk yang menyebabkan kerusakan yang sangat parah.
Saran:
Sebelum terlanjur parah...
Harusnya Antonio dan Sophia membuka rahasia masing-masing.
Masalah sepele jadi gede...
Beruntungnya baca di ebook #GramediaDigital gak berasa rugi karena ceritanya biasa aja...
Antonio Rocha adalah seorang bangsawan dari Spanyol yang tertarik dengan Sophia Cunningham.
Alasan pernikahannya sih sepele..
Untuk menyelamatkan keponakannya.
Menurut isu.. keponakannya tersebut lahir dari hubungan adik laki-lakinya dengan kakaknya Sophia.
Namanya bangsawan dan orang kaya. Gak mau dong jatuh gitu aja terjerat sama Sophia yang gak punya apa-apa.
Makanya, dibuatlah peraturan pernikahan pura-pura ini. Untuk melegalitas sahnya keponakannya dalam keluarga Rocha.
Dan supaya mudah juga mengurus keponakannya.
Sophia yang pernah bertemu Antonio di masa mudanya ini. Tidak mau begitu saja jatuh dalam pesona Antonio.
Berkat campur tangan mak comblang (tetangga Sophia). Pernikahan pura-pura ini bisa berlangsung. Walaupun kedua belah pihak menaruh curiga yang sangat besar.
Seiring berjalannya waktu, rasa kecurigaan pun menumpuk dan menumpuk yang menyebabkan kerusakan yang sangat parah.
Saran:
Sebelum terlanjur parah...
Harusnya Antonio dan Sophia membuka rahasia masing-masing.
Masalah sepele jadi gede...
Beruntungnya baca di ebook #GramediaDigital gak berasa rugi karena ceritanya biasa aja...
November 11, 2020
3.5 stars
quite enjoyable. She thought she was infertile, well kinda, she knew she still got a chance of being pregnant but it was slim. Both MCs met 3 years back at their sis and bro's wedding. They were attracted to each other and flirted for a while but the H thought she was a tramp since he saw her with a guy walking away from the beach with rumpled appearances not knowing the truth he insulted and implied to her that she was a slut. yes, he slut shamed her after 3 years of not meeting each other. Drama here and there, I just didn't really feel the love that grow between them. The h claimed she had loved the H since 3 years ago until they met again. misunderstanding that was so common in HPlandia. The ending was quite nice. It was an okay read, not a fav but thankfully not dragging.
quite enjoyable. She thought she was infertile, well kinda, she knew she still got a chance of being pregnant but it was slim. Both MCs met 3 years back at their sis and bro's wedding. They were attracted to each other and flirted for a while but the H thought she was a tramp since he saw her with a guy walking away from the beach with rumpled appearances not knowing the truth he insulted and implied to her that she was a slut. yes, he slut shamed her after 3 years of not meeting each other. Drama here and there, I just didn't really feel the love that grow between them. The h claimed she had loved the H since 3 years ago until they met again. misunderstanding that was so common in HPlandia. The ending was quite nice. It was an okay read, not a fav but thankfully not dragging.
December 13, 2019
Antonio meets Sophie at the marriage of their siblings. They like each other, but Antonio jumps to conclusions about Sophie and she doesn't correct him, so they end their acquaintance on bad terms. Three years later they meet again when they're both named guardians to the baby resulted from their siblings' marriage (both of whom are dead now).
Of course the solution the hero comes up with is a marriage of convenience so they could both be in the baby's life (but it's actually just an excuse to tie the heroine to him because he's so obsessed with her).
It was a nice read - I really love it when the hero has to make amends at the end.
Of course the solution the hero comes up with is a marriage of convenience so they could both be in the baby's life (but it's actually just an excuse to tie the heroine to him because he's so obsessed with her).
It was a nice read - I really love it when the hero has to make amends at the end.
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