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Royal Brides #3
The Prince's Virgin Wife
"If I find you naked in my bed, I will fire you on the spot." Maggie didn't need warning. She knew that Principe Tomasso Scorsolini, her gorgeous Italian boss, was way out of her league. But now Tomasso needs to marry. He's had enough of gold diggers -- innocent Maggie will be the perfect convenient wife! Maggie doesn't know exactly what her new royal duties will be. Though being naked in the prince's bed is no longer a firing offense -- it's a requirement!
192 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2006
124 people are currently reading
985 people want to read
About the author
Lucy Monroe
607 books1,567 followersI write spicy romance books that end in an HEA. Contemporary romance, historical romance, paranormal romance…I write it all. The two things my books all have in common is lots of emotion and spice. Last year, I fell in love with a new subgenre: mafia romance. Since I write what I love to read, I started a new standalone series, Syndicate Rules where you’ll meet over the top alpha heroes in the Italian and Greek mafias as well as the Irish mob. There are arranged marriages, forced marriages, enemies to lovers, stalkers, forced proximity and lots of mafia intrigue. Morally gray is my new favorite color.
Follow me on BookBub for alerts on my next release: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/lucy-...
I’ve been published a while and most of my 90+ books have hit the Nielson Bookscan bestseller list, a few ended up on the USA Today bestseller list and some even hit national bestseller lists in the UK and Australia. My books have been translated into numerous languages and are for sale in dozens of countries around the world. I’ve won awards and been published with most of the big houses in New York, but my greatest achievement is touching readers’ hearts. When I hear from a reader who got caught up in one of my books, I know I’m doing what I’m meant to do.
I love writing emotionally deep stories with snappy dialogue and solid plots. I’m more grateful than I’ll ever be able to express that so many readers have taken my stories into their hearts and put my books on their reread and keeper shelves.
Follow me on BookBub for alerts on my next release: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/lucy-...
I’ve been published a while and most of my 90+ books have hit the Nielson Bookscan bestseller list, a few ended up on the USA Today bestseller list and some even hit national bestseller lists in the UK and Australia. My books have been translated into numerous languages and are for sale in dozens of countries around the world. I’ve won awards and been published with most of the big houses in New York, but my greatest achievement is touching readers’ hearts. When I hear from a reader who got caught up in one of my books, I know I’m doing what I’m meant to do.
I love writing emotionally deep stories with snappy dialogue and solid plots. I’m more grateful than I’ll ever be able to express that so many readers have taken my stories into their hearts and put my books on their reread and keeper shelves.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
August 20, 2011
The hero is a prince, the heroine was his housekeeper living with him to pay her way through college. When she wasn't picking up after him she spent all her time studying. Despite this they became friends. She was in love with him but she wasn't beautiful and he only dated supermodels. One day they almost fall into bed together but she calls a halt to it and reminds him that he told her if he found her in his bed he'd fire her. Before she can leave he tells her that if he found her naked in his bed he wouldn't fire her.
The heroine debates the issue in her head and decides she should take a chance so she climbs naked into his bed to let him know that she's okay with going further. But of course, the hero comes back with a super hot model for some hot sex. The hero is totally in love with the hot model and marries her. The heroine does not go to the wedding because she's just his housekeeper, her words.
Enter years later and the heroine is a nanny who gets hired to look after the children of a prince. She's already fallen in love with the children like she never has with any of the others. Meanwhile the dad is really the hero out of disguise. He hunted her down because she was super domesticated, not beautiful and basically the complete opposite of his wife. Turns out the wife didn't like him, shock, but just wanted to marry him because she knew he was a prince. So hero uses children and convinces her to marry him. She agrees because she loves him and loves the children and HEA.
No really. Not a lot else happened. And that's why this book sucked so much. He basically was using her as a stop gap inbetween women, led her on a bit to think he really wanted her and then found someone else that he loved and cared for so much more. The heroine was his fall back. He only wanted her because she fit his requirements. She was everything opposite of his ex/deceased wife so it was a perfect arrangement. And the heroine loves him and his wonderful children and wants a family so just agrees with it. I'm supposed to believe that he loved her? That he loved her all along? Gag me with a spork. If that's love I don't want any part of it.
So he loved the heroine, and he didn't love the other woman, but he ignored the heroine when she was all set to start a relationship, didn't even think about trying to have a relationship with her, was so much more into the other woman that he believed he loved her until she turned out to be a horrible person. Did he love the heroine, no. He loved the idea that she represented. This is the worst book in the set, but reading this book first made me like the second book so much more than it probably deserved.
The heroine debates the issue in her head and decides she should take a chance so she climbs naked into his bed to let him know that she's okay with going further. But of course, the hero comes back with a super hot model for some hot sex. The hero is totally in love with the hot model and marries her. The heroine does not go to the wedding because she's just his housekeeper, her words.
Enter years later and the heroine is a nanny who gets hired to look after the children of a prince. She's already fallen in love with the children like she never has with any of the others. Meanwhile the dad is really the hero out of disguise. He hunted her down because she was super domesticated, not beautiful and basically the complete opposite of his wife. Turns out the wife didn't like him, shock, but just wanted to marry him because she knew he was a prince. So hero uses children and convinces her to marry him. She agrees because she loves him and loves the children and HEA.
No really. Not a lot else happened. And that's why this book sucked so much. He basically was using her as a stop gap inbetween women, led her on a bit to think he really wanted her and then found someone else that he loved and cared for so much more. The heroine was his fall back. He only wanted her because she fit his requirements. She was everything opposite of his ex/deceased wife so it was a perfect arrangement. And the heroine loves him and his wonderful children and wants a family so just agrees with it. I'm supposed to believe that he loved her? That he loved her all along? Gag me with a spork. If that's love I don't want any part of it.
So he loved the heroine, and he didn't love the other woman, but he ignored the heroine when she was all set to start a relationship, didn't even think about trying to have a relationship with her, was so much more into the other woman that he believed he loved her until she turned out to be a horrible person. Did he love the heroine, no. He loved the idea that she represented. This is the worst book in the set, but reading this book first made me like the second book so much more than it probably deserved.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 26, 2019
It's apparent that Claudio, the older brother, received the nice genes. Tommaso is kind of a pig.
He hires the heroine to be nanny to his kids because she was such a good housekeeper years before. His kind of bad, dead wife wasn't such a great mother, and he wants a sure deal this time. Lucky for him, the poor heroine is in love with him for some reason. Tommaso's arrogance knows no bounds, and he accuses the heroine of playing her virginity off to be a Princess. She should have since he failed HP devirginization 101, and it was painful for the girl.
He finally wears the h down and she accepts his MOC. Taking a page from Boogenhagen, I think we have to be happy the heroine is happy.
Lucy Monroe pulls a surprise HEA and an "I love you" out at the last minute, but it's not as believable as I would like.
He hires the heroine to be nanny to his kids because she was such a good housekeeper years before. His kind of bad, dead wife wasn't such a great mother, and he wants a sure deal this time. Lucky for him, the poor heroine is in love with him for some reason. Tommaso's arrogance knows no bounds, and he accuses the heroine of playing her virginity off to be a Princess. She should have since he failed HP devirginization 101, and it was painful for the girl.
He finally wears the h down and she accepts his MOC. Taking a page from Boogenhagen, I think we have to be happy the heroine is happy.
Lucy Monroe pulls a surprise HEA and an "I love you" out at the last minute, but it's not as believable as I would like.
August 15, 2023
-Trigger warning. Sick person, description of illness, cursing. This is for the review, not for the book.
-she was his housekeeper and for years she saw him with other women. She was in love with him but she’s a plain Jane and he only dated gorgeous women. I’m feeling nauseous.
- they become friends. he tried to have sex with her after dumping his latest gf. She was a virgin, she stopped him because he called her Bella and she thought that Bella was a name of one of his gf (it means beautiful in Italian) He never makes a move afterwards, so no wooing her at all. More nauseous.
- since he told her he wouldn’t fire her if he found her naked in his bed, she waits for him in his bed, one night not long after the almost sex, and he comes in his bedroom with his latest gf. Puking in my mouth.
- he tells her that he’s sorry but now he has a gf. He asks her to stay as his housekeeper. She stays because she needs the money. She’s in love with him and she’s hurt, she serves him and his gf dinners, she sees them sleeping together. Eventually he proposes. He invites the heroine to his marriage. Actually retching now, big chunks.
- after six years he’s a widow and plans to marry her, after deceiving her into being his children’s nanny. He considers her proper mother for them and proper wife since he’s been unhappy and doesn’t want a beautiful wife. He wants a plain one. Easier, cheaper. Now I’m definitely hurling.
- she has sex with him as soon as he is in bed, since once again she’s sleeping in his bed. She was a virgin. Im heaving now. I don’t have anything more in my stomach.
- he accuses her to be promiscuous. Dry heaving now.
- he wants to marry her, and he tells her he regrets marrying his very hot and beautiful woman because it was too high a price. Now he can settle with a plain and more sedated woman. Im crying now. Because my stomach hurts and I’m feeling very sad and depressed because I thought this was a romance.
- eventually he tries to tell her he was in love with her but took her for granted, was annoyed because she didn’t want him and was in lust with his beautiful wife. I am laughing hysterically, with tears and stomach ache, it’s a very unpleasant sensation.
-ok. Now, hours later, with some Prozac and booze near me, and much calmer than before I must say something about this book.
- first thing, this is not a romance. Not at all. It’s a book about how to be humiliated, debased and disrespected by a man and to accept it all and be insanely happy. This woman was in love with an asshole who not only dated women while she was in love with him, but tried to seduce her and went immediately afterwards to another more beautiful one, married her, had children with her and wanted to marry her because she made a good mother and wasn’t attractive enough to be a socialite. He never wanted a divorce, he only went to her because he was widowed and needed s nanny for his children. And she was a virgin. Why. Why a writer who is a woman treats women with such a disrespect? Why does she hate women so much? Why a woman has to settle to be the stepmother of the children the man she was in love with and who dumped her without remorse years before had with the woman he married instead of her? Why is this book published? Why is such a book considered a romance? It’s a tragedy! I was really feeling sick all the time for everything the heroine had to suffer from the hero, not only years before but also in the present. It was never about her. He never wanted her first. She was second best when he was without a gf and kissed her because he was feeling alone, she was definitely an afterthought when he met his wife, because he wanted his wife and not her, she was second best after his wife died.
He never chose her first. And he wanted her always for the wrong reasons.
Because he was out of girls.
Because he needed a housekeeper.
Because he needed a stepmom for his children.
Because she was not as beautiful as his first wife. But how the fuck is this romantic?
That a hero wants a woman because she’s not beautiful or glamorous? Are you insane?
And. She. Was. A. Fucking. Virgin. While. He. Was. Married. And. Reproducing. His. Fucking. Self. With. Another. Woman.
Please. This is even worse than a cheating book. Because the heroine was never first choice and the hero was never remorseful. Even Diana palmer does better. Her heroes do huge mistakes as marry other women but they are always remorseful and always secretly pining for the heroine, even when they are married to ow. This doesn’t happen here. The hero was happy in the beginning and never pined for the heroine.
Of course he only hired her because he wanted a mother for his children, this is made clear several times, because he didn’t want to marry again, never ever, he only did it for his children.
So if he hadn’t had children he would have never looked for her.
I recommend this book to all those who wants to lose some weight. You read it again and again and you will surely puke your innards out until you have lost the weight you desire. Success guaranteed.
-she was his housekeeper and for years she saw him with other women. She was in love with him but she’s a plain Jane and he only dated gorgeous women. I’m feeling nauseous.
- they become friends. he tried to have sex with her after dumping his latest gf. She was a virgin, she stopped him because he called her Bella and she thought that Bella was a name of one of his gf (it means beautiful in Italian) He never makes a move afterwards, so no wooing her at all. More nauseous.
- since he told her he wouldn’t fire her if he found her naked in his bed, she waits for him in his bed, one night not long after the almost sex, and he comes in his bedroom with his latest gf. Puking in my mouth.
- he tells her that he’s sorry but now he has a gf. He asks her to stay as his housekeeper. She stays because she needs the money. She’s in love with him and she’s hurt, she serves him and his gf dinners, she sees them sleeping together. Eventually he proposes. He invites the heroine to his marriage. Actually retching now, big chunks.
- after six years he’s a widow and plans to marry her, after deceiving her into being his children’s nanny. He considers her proper mother for them and proper wife since he’s been unhappy and doesn’t want a beautiful wife. He wants a plain one. Easier, cheaper. Now I’m definitely hurling.
- she has sex with him as soon as he is in bed, since once again she’s sleeping in his bed. She was a virgin. Im heaving now. I don’t have anything more in my stomach.
- he accuses her to be promiscuous. Dry heaving now.
- he wants to marry her, and he tells her he regrets marrying his very hot and beautiful woman because it was too high a price. Now he can settle with a plain and more sedated woman. Im crying now. Because my stomach hurts and I’m feeling very sad and depressed because I thought this was a romance.
- eventually he tries to tell her he was in love with her but took her for granted, was annoyed because she didn’t want him and was in lust with his beautiful wife. I am laughing hysterically, with tears and stomach ache, it’s a very unpleasant sensation.
-ok. Now, hours later, with some Prozac and booze near me, and much calmer than before I must say something about this book.
- first thing, this is not a romance. Not at all. It’s a book about how to be humiliated, debased and disrespected by a man and to accept it all and be insanely happy. This woman was in love with an asshole who not only dated women while she was in love with him, but tried to seduce her and went immediately afterwards to another more beautiful one, married her, had children with her and wanted to marry her because she made a good mother and wasn’t attractive enough to be a socialite. He never wanted a divorce, he only went to her because he was widowed and needed s nanny for his children. And she was a virgin. Why. Why a writer who is a woman treats women with such a disrespect? Why does she hate women so much? Why a woman has to settle to be the stepmother of the children the man she was in love with and who dumped her without remorse years before had with the woman he married instead of her? Why is this book published? Why is such a book considered a romance? It’s a tragedy! I was really feeling sick all the time for everything the heroine had to suffer from the hero, not only years before but also in the present. It was never about her. He never wanted her first. She was second best when he was without a gf and kissed her because he was feeling alone, she was definitely an afterthought when he met his wife, because he wanted his wife and not her, she was second best after his wife died.
He never chose her first. And he wanted her always for the wrong reasons.
Because he was out of girls.
Because he needed a housekeeper.
Because he needed a stepmom for his children.
Because she was not as beautiful as his first wife. But how the fuck is this romantic?
That a hero wants a woman because she’s not beautiful or glamorous? Are you insane?
And. She. Was. A. Fucking. Virgin. While. He. Was. Married. And. Reproducing. His. Fucking. Self. With. Another. Woman.
Please. This is even worse than a cheating book. Because the heroine was never first choice and the hero was never remorseful. Even Diana palmer does better. Her heroes do huge mistakes as marry other women but they are always remorseful and always secretly pining for the heroine, even when they are married to ow. This doesn’t happen here. The hero was happy in the beginning and never pined for the heroine.
Of course he only hired her because he wanted a mother for his children, this is made clear several times, because he didn’t want to marry again, never ever, he only did it for his children.
So if he hadn’t had children he would have never looked for her.
I recommend this book to all those who wants to lose some weight. You read it again and again and you will surely puke your innards out until you have lost the weight you desire. Success guaranteed.
March 4, 2017
This book irked me quite a bit. Maggie's pain at the beginning was heartwrenching. She's Tomasso's part-time housekeeper and friend and she's desperately in love with him. After nearly having sex with Tomasso, but getting cold feet because she's a virgin, he hints that if she changes her mind, he wouldn't fire her for showing up in his bed naked. Well, she does. And unfortunately, she picks the night he's brought home Liana. Awkward moment there. She flees and he has sex with Liana. No apologies, nothing. Just, "It was unfortunate timing." What a sleaze.
So later, after this girl turned out to be an awful wife and had died, Maggie is hired to take care of the kids that he's had with this woman (she doesn't know this yet). He's set it all up so that she can be the calm, respectable wife that Liana never was. Her background has been checked and he'll be home shortly to personally test her suitability for being his wife. It's all very business-like. Only by this time of course, she's bonded with the kids and isn't about to leave them...which was his plan all along. Manipulative prick.
Well, he comes home near drunk and she's sleeping in his bed because of some circumstance or other and he practically rapes her. She's crying and sore and hies off back to her room. When he wakes up he remembers that they had a fantastic little bout of sex (not that she enjoyed it or anything), but he never realized she was a virgin. All that blood on the sheets and on his willy, it must be from her period. He confronts her and accuses her of all manner of promiscuous and deceitful behavior (even though he started it all) He accuses her of lying about not having her period because she couldn't have been a virgin at 26! (Why would someone lie about that? and its ridiculously easy to prove besides) Well she finally manages to convince him that she was in fact a virgin and that the experience was not one she'd like to repeat and he then accuses her of trading her virginity for a chance at a crown. At this point I'm rolling my eyes because the hero who has decieved her into working for him so she'll have to marry him is determined to believe the worst of her. She says she wouldn't marry him if he were the last man on earth and he reminds her that they just had sex without protection and there's a high chance she's pregnant. So of course, she'll be marrying him. He, by the way, never apologizes for the rapey like sex and he only apologizes for all these accusations after she forces it out of him and he doesn't take the apology seriously. Piece of shit.
So the rest of the book is spent manipulating and seducing. Then after a glorious night of passion he tells the kids they're getting married - even though she never agreed. Well that's just manipulation again because now the kids are all excited about having Maggie for a Mom. How the hell is she supposed to say no now? She argues with him about this, reminding him that she never said yes and he claims her body said yes. WTF?? Oh please! Meanwhile, she's been saying no to this marriage because he's approached it all like a business and she wants love (especially given that she's inexplicably in love with him and doesn't want a marriage with one-sided love). Despite this she actually agrees to marry him! On the last page of the book he says he's loved her all along and just didn't realize it. The End. Thank God.
So later, after this girl turned out to be an awful wife and had died, Maggie is hired to take care of the kids that he's had with this woman (she doesn't know this yet). He's set it all up so that she can be the calm, respectable wife that Liana never was. Her background has been checked and he'll be home shortly to personally test her suitability for being his wife. It's all very business-like. Only by this time of course, she's bonded with the kids and isn't about to leave them...which was his plan all along. Manipulative prick.
Well, he comes home near drunk and she's sleeping in his bed because of some circumstance or other and he practically rapes her. She's crying and sore and hies off back to her room. When he wakes up he remembers that they had a fantastic little bout of sex (not that she enjoyed it or anything), but he never realized she was a virgin. All that blood on the sheets and on his willy, it must be from her period. He confronts her and accuses her of all manner of promiscuous and deceitful behavior (even though he started it all) He accuses her of lying about not having her period because she couldn't have been a virgin at 26! (Why would someone lie about that? and its ridiculously easy to prove besides) Well she finally manages to convince him that she was in fact a virgin and that the experience was not one she'd like to repeat and he then accuses her of trading her virginity for a chance at a crown. At this point I'm rolling my eyes because the hero who has decieved her into working for him so she'll have to marry him is determined to believe the worst of her. She says she wouldn't marry him if he were the last man on earth and he reminds her that they just had sex without protection and there's a high chance she's pregnant. So of course, she'll be marrying him. He, by the way, never apologizes for the rapey like sex and he only apologizes for all these accusations after she forces it out of him and he doesn't take the apology seriously. Piece of shit.
So the rest of the book is spent manipulating and seducing. Then after a glorious night of passion he tells the kids they're getting married - even though she never agreed. Well that's just manipulation again because now the kids are all excited about having Maggie for a Mom. How the hell is she supposed to say no now? She argues with him about this, reminding him that she never said yes and he claims her body said yes. WTF?? Oh please! Meanwhile, she's been saying no to this marriage because he's approached it all like a business and she wants love (especially given that she's inexplicably in love with him and doesn't want a marriage with one-sided love). Despite this she actually agrees to marry him! On the last page of the book he says he's loved her all along and just didn't realize it. The End. Thank God.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 14, 2015
Cute love story! LM always writes the sweetest heroines so i wasn't surprised that Maggie was so flawless. When in college she meets Prince Tomasso. She falls hard and fast even though she doesn't know he is a royal. But they don't last and decide to remain friends instead.
Six years later Tomasso is a widower with two small kids. He hires Maggie and she is the perfect nanny but he believes she will also be the perfect wife. He is determined to bind her to a marriage of convenience but Maggie is passionately in love with him and she wants his heart as well.
Loved the characters. Tomasso is your typical alpha sexy Italian male and Maggie your typical lovable warm LM heroine. Great chemistry all it needed was an epilogue! :(
Six years later Tomasso is a widower with two small kids. He hires Maggie and she is the perfect nanny but he believes she will also be the perfect wife. He is determined to bind her to a marriage of convenience but Maggie is passionately in love with him and she wants his heart as well.
Loved the characters. Tomasso is your typical alpha sexy Italian male and Maggie your typical lovable warm LM heroine. Great chemistry all it needed was an epilogue! :(
February 2, 2020
"The Prince's Virgin Wife" is the story of Maggie and Tom.
Hmm.
A book where the H wants to marry the h because he thinks she a good nanny and housekeeper, makes his penis erect and not bad to look at is utterly revolting..and that is what this is.
This POS H is an utter dbag, and not only does he marry OW after meeting the h, he immediately has sex with her the next night after the h stops him from dehymenating her. Anyways, now he's busy and can't take care of his two brats.. Guess what? Find a convenient woman from his past and totally seduce her.
Arrogantly despicable H, doormat h and infuriating plot. The only reason this is not a zero is because the kids were sweet.
Yuk.
Unsafe
1/5
Hmm.
A book where the H wants to marry the h because he thinks she a good nanny and housekeeper, makes his penis erect and not bad to look at is utterly revolting..and that is what this is.
This POS H is an utter dbag, and not only does he marry OW after meeting the h, he immediately has sex with her the next night after the h stops him from dehymenating her. Anyways, now he's busy and can't take care of his two brats.. Guess what? Find a convenient woman from his past and totally seduce her.
Arrogantly despicable H, doormat h and infuriating plot. The only reason this is not a zero is because the kids were sweet.
Yuk.
Unsafe
1/5
July 22, 2016
I don't know why I thought this book was boring. Maybe because the beginning was slow, or because I wasn't in the mood to read when I started it (I paused and watched Central Intelligence. Awesome movie, btw).
So I got back to reading it last night, and I couldn't put it down. In fact, I liked it so much, and I was so intrigued by the brother and sister-in-law's story, that I went and looked up their books too. Apparently I'd already read it 4 years ago or something, and I do vaguely remember reading their story, but I'd only given it 2.5 stars. WAIT THIS IS NOT THAT BOOK'S REVIEW. I digress.
So, anyhoo, this book was a very nice read, with perfect characters, a gentle, warm, strong and loving and soft-hearted heroine, with an arrogant, know-it-all hero that was too lovable. They made such a great couple, and the public display of affection of their relationship made me go awww
The only thing missing was an epilogue! Yes, we do see them again in the other books, but an epilogue always makes things better.
All in all, a great read, and recommended for those of you who love the unrequited love theme (from the h's side) and me-love-you-from-afar-since-forever theme. That sort of theme always promises the best sort of angst.
Also, the kids were adorable. I loved them!
So I got back to reading it last night, and I couldn't put it down. In fact, I liked it so much, and I was so intrigued by the brother and sister-in-law's story, that I went and looked up their books too. Apparently I'd already read it 4 years ago or something, and I do vaguely remember reading their story, but I'd only given it 2.5 stars. WAIT THIS IS NOT THAT BOOK'S REVIEW. I digress.
So, anyhoo, this book was a very nice read, with perfect characters, a gentle, warm, strong and loving and soft-hearted heroine, with an arrogant, know-it-all hero that was too lovable. They made such a great couple, and the public display of affection of their relationship made me go awww
The only thing missing was an epilogue! Yes, we do see them again in the other books, but an epilogue always makes things better.
All in all, a great read, and recommended for those of you who love the unrequited love theme (from the h's side) and me-love-you-from-afar-since-forever theme. That sort of theme always promises the best sort of angst.
Also, the kids were adorable. I loved them!
April 8, 2012
Maggie Thomson worked as Tom Prince's housekeeper six years ago. She fell in love with him but they parted ways after he decided to marry the beautiful Liana. Unbeknownst to Maggie, Tom Prince is actually Principe Tomasso Scorsolini, the second son of a royal family. Tomasso comes to regret his marriage to Liana who turns out to be shallow and selfish. After she dies, he remembers Maggie who made his home calm and comfortable. He decides to hire her as his nanny to see if she is still as he remembers her. If she is, he wants to marry her.
This is the first book of Lucy Monroe's Scorsolini Princes (or Royal Brides) series. It was horrible.
Tomasso is cold-hearted, arrogant and selfish. Six years ago he almost had sex with Maggie, but she ends up changing her mind because she doesn't want a one-night stand with him. He knows that she is a virgin, but still gets so mad at her rejection that less than a week later he brings home Liana. Maggie had decided to sleep with him after all, and goes to his bed to wait for him, when he shows up undressing and making out with Liana. She leaves his room in shame, and he goes ahead and has sex with Liana. Then in the morning he has breakfast with Maggie and doesn't understand what she is so upset about. Six years later he still doesn't know why she was so upset. He tells Maggie that he was in love with her six years ago and treasured her friendship, but got swept away in lust by Liana. He thought by having Liana and keeping Maggie's friendship he could "have the best of both worlds". So in other words, just having Maggie isn't enough. He repeatedly makes it clear that he doesn't think Maggie is beautiful, telling her that he had decided he is no longer interested in outer beauty. Sure, outer beauty isn't everything, but does he have to make it so obvious that Maggie can't compete physically? It bothers her, but she still let's him bully her into marrying him. Maggie was basically a total pushover. She's fine with being chosen for what she herself terms her "Girl Scout" attributes. She's fine with being mother to Liana's children. Tomasso gets mad at her for rejecting their friendship after he rejected her, and she accepts that.
Overall, I've got to say, yuck yuck yuck. Tomasso is a selfish insensitive jerk and Maggie doesn't mind.
This is the first book of Lucy Monroe's Scorsolini Princes (or Royal Brides) series. It was horrible.
Tomasso is cold-hearted, arrogant and selfish. Six years ago he almost had sex with Maggie, but she ends up changing her mind because she doesn't want a one-night stand with him. He knows that she is a virgin, but still gets so mad at her rejection that less than a week later he brings home Liana. Maggie had decided to sleep with him after all, and goes to his bed to wait for him, when he shows up undressing and making out with Liana. She leaves his room in shame, and he goes ahead and has sex with Liana. Then in the morning he has breakfast with Maggie and doesn't understand what she is so upset about. Six years later he still doesn't know why she was so upset. He tells Maggie that he was in love with her six years ago and treasured her friendship, but got swept away in lust by Liana. He thought by having Liana and keeping Maggie's friendship he could "have the best of both worlds". So in other words, just having Maggie isn't enough. He repeatedly makes it clear that he doesn't think Maggie is beautiful, telling her that he had decided he is no longer interested in outer beauty. Sure, outer beauty isn't everything, but does he have to make it so obvious that Maggie can't compete physically? It bothers her, but she still let's him bully her into marrying him. Maggie was basically a total pushover. She's fine with being chosen for what she herself terms her "Girl Scout" attributes. She's fine with being mother to Liana's children. Tomasso gets mad at her for rejecting their friendship after he rejected her, and she accepts that.
Overall, I've got to say, yuck yuck yuck. Tomasso is a selfish insensitive jerk and Maggie doesn't mind.
August 26, 2019
3 ⭐⭐⭐ - OK decent reads.
======================
==>Reread July, 2019
==> Re-read March, 15 2016
==> Read september, 05 2012
======================
==>Reread July, 2019
==> Re-read March, 15 2016
==> Read september, 05 2012
According to her past employers, she was efficient, content in the domestic environment and peaceful to be around. Traits he hadn’t appreciated nearly enough at the time. He’d been too interested in outward beauty to understand how much her presence meant to him…until it was gone.
Liana had been jealous of his relationship with Maggie and quite vocal in her desire for him to sever ties completely with the other woman. The unreasonable jealousy had flattered him at the time.
He refused to be like his father, finding sexual solace outside the marriage bed.
Since then, his father had had a string of mistresses.
Unfortunately, just like the man on the screen, Tom Prince had married another woman. A beautiful, sophisticated, sexy woman. The kind of woman that drew every male eye when she walked into a room. The kind of woman Maggie knew she would never be.
“Why is your housekeeper sleeping in your bed?” she asked Tom, her voice laced with suspicion.
If she’d been naked, she wasn’t sure she could have survived the humiliation.
She’d been so stupid to think he really wanted her. She’d thought he was avoiding her because he couldn’t handle the fact she’d said no, when in fact he’d simply found another woman and had been spending time with her. Her foolish dreams mocked her with painful indictment.
“Liana doesn’t know you came to my bed to make love. She believed my excuse last night.”
When he wanted Liana to dine with him, she made the extra portions without complaint, but never shared another meal with him herself. Not even breakfast.
When he asked the other woman to marry him, Maggie was not surprised, but being prepared for it did not soften the blow, and her heart bled.
Maggie hadn’t been his type back then. She was too ordinary, too innocent and sweet. He went for gorgeous women with sophisticated tastes and a similar outlook on life. He’d thought that was what he wanted, but he’d learned that kind of woman came with a cost.
It didn’t hurt quite so much anymore, but a sense of incompletion gnawed at her. It was horrible, as if a huge crystal promise of pleasure had shattered into jagged edges that were cutting at her nerve endings. She couldn’t believe she’d waited twenty-six years to experience this.
What woman turned over in bed and invited a man she hadn’t seen in six years into her arms? A promiscuous one, the logical albeit cynical side of his brain insisted. She’d climbed into his bed six years ago, too…she’d said she was a virgin then, but what if that had been a lie?
“Perhaps you are concerned I will fire you for the blatant promiscuity you exhibited last night, but my children are much too attached to you for me to take such a drastic measure before I assess the situation completely.”
“You were a virgin?” He looked well and truly horrified by that prospect. “Yes. Not that it matters. It’s not an experience I plan to repeat anytime soon.”
“Or maybe this whole ‘it was a dream’ story is a ruse and you exchanged your virginity for the hope of a crown? You thought to trade on the guilt you knew I would feel when you told such a story? It was a good gambit, and may yet work.”
She’d learned six years ago that she could not even hold it for a couple of weeks.
She was his nanny…his servant. But then, when had she ever been anything else?
“A plan to find an acceptable mother for my children. An acceptable wife. When I met Liana, I was swept away. I married her because she was a beautiful, glamorous woman, but she was not a natural mother, nor did she take on the responsibilities of her position. I could not risk another such mistake by setting out to ‘marry for love’ again.”
He wanted to marry her, but he did not want to love her and he made it clear that what he wanted her for most was her Girl Scout loyalty and willingness to serve.
Passion, not love. He’d loved the beautiful Liana, now he wanted a marriage of convenience with the ordinary Maggie. “Then why didn’t you?”
Six years ago, Liana’s beauty and charm dazzled me, but I am not so easily swayed by a pretty face now.”
“Let me make sure I have this straight. You had me brought here to the island so you could try me out as wife material?” Just saying the words offended her.
“In other words, you really wanted a nanny who was willing to sign a longer contract than two years.”
“You’re only thinking about what is best for you and trying to convince me that it is what is best for me too.”
March 4, 2021
Zero stars would be appropriate for the H, a cold, arrogant, manipulative, self-absorbed pig. He never learned anything and his very last-minute so-called declaration of love was not believable and self-serving. There’s one sex (not love) scene that is dismal.
The one section of value is when the H completely breaks the heart of the h. Gut-wrenching and so well written. He was a total a** and never redeemed himself.
This story is part of the Royal Brides series but I’m not sure that makes it worth reading.
** 3/21 Made the mistake of re-reading part of this one and had to reiterate that he’s one of the worst HP “heroes” ever. Not one redeeming quality. He was so selfish and superficial, it’s actually shocking. He doesn’t love her, she’s not important to him as more than a servant, and he never did counteract the numerous times he told her she was NOT beautiful. He felt she was beneath him (‘he was used to gorgeous, sophisticated women’) and acted that way through the whole book. In a rare HP moment, there’s a rape-y scene when he takes her virginity, and he falls asleep on her with her only experiencing great pain and no “completion.” That was him in a nutshell... as long as he was satisfied, she was meaningless.
Seriously, there’s very few books I think this about but I’m sorry we can’t give zero stars to have it bring down the overall rating. He’s *that* bad.
The one section of value is when the H completely breaks the heart of the h. Gut-wrenching and so well written. He was a total a** and never redeemed himself.
This story is part of the Royal Brides series but I’m not sure that makes it worth reading.
** 3/21 Made the mistake of re-reading part of this one and had to reiterate that he’s one of the worst HP “heroes” ever. Not one redeeming quality. He was so selfish and superficial, it’s actually shocking. He doesn’t love her, she’s not important to him as more than a servant, and he never did counteract the numerous times he told her she was NOT beautiful. He felt she was beneath him (‘he was used to gorgeous, sophisticated women’) and acted that way through the whole book. In a rare HP moment, there’s a rape-y scene when he takes her virginity, and he falls asleep on her with her only experiencing great pain and no “completion.” That was him in a nutshell... as long as he was satisfied, she was meaningless.
Seriously, there’s very few books I think this about but I’m sorry we can’t give zero stars to have it bring down the overall rating. He’s *that* bad.
December 14, 2012
Okay, I tried to like it. I honestly did, but everything from the characters to the plot line was horrible. The only saving grace was the writing style - and even then, it didn't do much to save this book. The H was spoiled, controlling, and completely arrogant (which I know some of us readers - including myself - love in our Hs) BUT as much as I love dominant men in my romance, this H fell short.
As for the h. OMG. WHAT A COMPLETE IDIOT. She's everything I hate in an h. No self respecting woman would put up with the shit this h does. She has no backbone, no forgiving character, na-da. Nothing. She's plain, boring, staid....I don't know how many synonyms I can put down to stress just how awfully bland she was.
Every time the H did something the h didn't like, instead of talking about it, she let him get away with it! Or even worse, she got SWEPT AWAY WITH LUST. UGH. I'M LITERALLY GAGGING. The entire time spent reading this book was also spent scoffing out loud at the complete idiocy of all the characters involved...
As for the h. OMG. WHAT A COMPLETE IDIOT. She's everything I hate in an h. No self respecting woman would put up with the shit this h does. She has no backbone, no forgiving character, na-da. Nothing. She's plain, boring, staid....I don't know how many synonyms I can put down to stress just how awfully bland she was.
Every time the H did something the h didn't like, instead of talking about it, she let him get away with it! Or even worse, she got SWEPT AWAY WITH LUST. UGH. I'M LITERALLY GAGGING. The entire time spent reading this book was also spent scoffing out loud at the complete idiocy of all the characters involved...
April 22, 2012
This is part of the Royal series by Lucy Monroe. Tomasso and Maggie knew each other in college. She worked as his housekeeper, but they became friends and had a rather casual romantic relationship. Tomasso is pursued by gold diggers and before he hires her tells her "IF I find you in my bed naked, I will fire you". Since this is the last thing on Maggie's mind she accepts. But somewhere along the line as friendship develops, she falls in love with him. But Tomasso is more interested in sexier, elegant women and they part ways. The story picks up later, when she becomes the nanny to his children..once he is widowed. I didn't like Tomasso, he felt very one dimensional ....and he was extremely self centered.
The Scorsolini Marriage Bargain is from this series and a much better read!
The Scorsolini Marriage Bargain is from this series and a much better read!
July 16, 2013
i did not even finish the book. i hated tomasso. after 6 years he wanted her back after rejecting her callously bcoz he considered her too ordinary, too unsophisticated 4 him. ok this happens.it's common 4 people 2 judge by appearance. but what the hell maggie after 6 years is still a virgin !? she waited 4 some1 who rejected her. i have more pride than that.could never be in the heroine's shoes. i simply disliked the plot
October 19, 2011
it was ok but nothing more. It lacked in passion, IMO. Even if I understand him, a man, a prince with children should be cautions choosing a wife, I understand her less. She was in love with him but I think her feelings were more those of a 18 girl (the age she was when she met him the first time) than those of an adult woman.
Not bad, I'm already reading 2nd one.
Not bad, I'm already reading 2nd one.
March 15, 2017
Enjoyed it! I loved both Tomasso and Maggie.
February 5, 2018
I finished it, barely. Giving that this is a Harlequin Presents (HP), I expect a heartless (sometimes cruel) rich, handsome hero who somehow against all odds falls in love with the plain Jane, poor girl who is often in some subordinate position (ie. he has the power such as her boss or has some blackmail over her)...but love wins in the end. We all know such a girl would never capture a rich, gorgeous man's attention in real life much less that he would fall for her. So saying this goes too far in that direction says something about this book. The bottom line, despite what you already expect in suspension of disbelief you need for HP, you cant simply extend it to a level to believe that Tom ever falls in love with Maggie and that is a big problem for a category romance novel.
Warning: Potential Spoilers Ahead...Proceed with caution.
The male lead (he is not a hero) is a prince who moves to America to go to college under a fake name (Tom Prince). He meets Maggie, a poor orphan needing a job and a place to stay, when he interviews her to be his live in housekeeper. When he decides to hire her, he warns her that if she ever comes on to him he will fire her immediately. She agrees and ends up working for him for 2 years never knowing he is royalty or apparently where he lived before college...so really nothing of substance about him.
They become friends which is odd based on their interactions in the book seeing how he keeps his real identity secret...which means their interactions are shallow. Then, for no conceivable reason, she falls madly in love with Tom. Maybe she is just immature and definitely inexperienced (she is a virgin while he has lots of girlfriends) and doesn't know what love is? It seems she has rose colored glasses for Tom. He constantly brings beautiful women home which clearly shows he is only interested in Maggie as a servant and how smoothly she runs his household. Sadly, Maggie suffers from unrequited love and never tries to meet other people.
One night Tom comes home without plans and ends up kissing Maggie. Things get a bit heated and he attempts to persuade her to have sex. She denies him fearing he will fire her. He assures her he wont. Ironically, what stops her in the heat of passion is Tom calls her bella but she thinks he is calling her by some other girl's name, not realizing he is complimenting her. She is supposed to be smart and well read. Surely she would know that word.
In response to what Tom views as a rebuff, he starts dating the woman he eventually marries while Maggie sits home wondering if she should give him her virginity. Without giving spoilers there is an embarrassing incident for poor Maggie. I cringed when I read the scene and even the scene between Tom and Maggie later is incredibly uncomfortable. In a typical romance or even in real life, the girl in Maggie's shoes would move out to stay with family or a friend until she can find a place, but poor Maggie doesn't have another place to go. So she stays there, her heart breaking, as Tom woos his beautiful girlfriend. Soon, Tom graduates and moves back to his country but not before Maggie learns of his impending marriage to the beautiful girl. (the book says he invites her to the wedding so I assume it was verbal which makes no sense otherwise because she would discover his identity not to mention where did he plan to marry--I would assume his home country or it would be a big deal--but this is not explained in the book which is a key factor for this book because Tom relies on Maggie not knowing that Prince Tomasso Scorsolini is in fact Tom Prince when he hires her to be his nanny)
Several years later, Prince Scorsolini (Tom/Tomasso) is a widow with 2 children. He wants a wife but not a marriage of love and commitment. Instead, he wants a marriage based in practicality. He remembers Maggie and how she made his life smoother when she was his housekeeper. He decides that he will hire her as a nanny and then decide if he wants to offer her a more permanent position as his convenient wife. She is of course in the states working as a live in nanny; so he uses his wealth and influence to make her jobless/homeless and then extends a job interview offer through a former employer. He obviously doesn't care about Maggie's needs, wants or dreams. Hell, I don't even think he likes or respects her as a person at this point.
Maggie goes to the interview and meets Tomasso's sister in law (obvious reason that she may not accept the job otherwise not to mention he would have to explain his 2 year lie as Tom Prince). Maggie accepts the job. This I found unbelievable. Would any 26 year old college educated single woman agree to move to another country to become a live in nanny before meeting her employer (father of the children and head of the household). She never even looks him up?? She knows nothing about him. He could be violent/abusive or it could be a sham. She just moves no questions asked? She never tries to find out additional information about the man or the position she is interviewing for? Even a minor search on the internet would reveal who he is. That part seemed unfathomable, especially if she is signing a contract to live in the residence with this unknown man for 2 years in another country where she knows no one. Once she arrives other equally fantastical events ensue.
Even when shown from his perspective, Tomasso never pines for Maggie. She is a convenience-- a babysitter with benefits. She seems to love him no matter what and when he insists she marry him (at least he doesn't lie by explaining it as a marriage of convenience but hey she will finally have a home and family) her biggest concern is that she doesn't look or have the bearing of royalty. Umm, what? How about having someone love and respect you and maybe care about your needs and wishes?
It is not until the very last few pages of the book, Tomasso tells her he loves her and the scene...well he never potentially lost her like other HP stories where the hero begins to regret and pine for the girl and realize he does love her. Nope, Tom decides when she goes with her sister in law shopping, knowing she was coming back, that he missed her so he must love her. What? I miss friends but that doesn't mean I am in love with them. Nothing about how this is written will even hint that Tomasso even cares for Maggie as a friend much less loves her. He used her plenty though. I felt pity for her. And he was manipulative, especially seeing how he knew her past and how desperately she wanted a family to love.
Ironically, he talks of being unhappy with his dead wife because he felt she saw their kids as bargaining chips but then he forces Maggie to his will by using emotional blackmail with her and his kids. How is he any different? At least his dead wife didn't set people up like Tomasso did Maggie with having her let go by her former employer and getting her stranded in another country and emotionally tied to his kids. In my book, he is worse than his dead wife ever was. Not to mention that throughout the book he loved his dead wife for most of his marriage but his ardor seemed to cool because she wasn't affectionate toward him enough and didn't put the children first. Basically, she didn't fawn over him like Maggie did. She didn't give up identity to mold to him and their children entirely. Maggie did. She gave up her dream of owning a daycare to do Tomasso's bidding. Tomasso never, not even in the end, showed interest in what Maggie wanted or needed. Not once. She accepts what she can get from him and he gets exactly what he wants and just pays a little lip service to her. That was my take on it. This is as far from romance as you can get. It was downright depressing!
Warning: Potential Spoilers Ahead...Proceed with caution.
The male lead (he is not a hero) is a prince who moves to America to go to college under a fake name (Tom Prince). He meets Maggie, a poor orphan needing a job and a place to stay, when he interviews her to be his live in housekeeper. When he decides to hire her, he warns her that if she ever comes on to him he will fire her immediately. She agrees and ends up working for him for 2 years never knowing he is royalty or apparently where he lived before college...so really nothing of substance about him.
They become friends which is odd based on their interactions in the book seeing how he keeps his real identity secret...which means their interactions are shallow. Then, for no conceivable reason, she falls madly in love with Tom. Maybe she is just immature and definitely inexperienced (she is a virgin while he has lots of girlfriends) and doesn't know what love is? It seems she has rose colored glasses for Tom. He constantly brings beautiful women home which clearly shows he is only interested in Maggie as a servant and how smoothly she runs his household. Sadly, Maggie suffers from unrequited love and never tries to meet other people.
One night Tom comes home without plans and ends up kissing Maggie. Things get a bit heated and he attempts to persuade her to have sex. She denies him fearing he will fire her. He assures her he wont. Ironically, what stops her in the heat of passion is Tom calls her bella but she thinks he is calling her by some other girl's name, not realizing he is complimenting her. She is supposed to be smart and well read. Surely she would know that word.
In response to what Tom views as a rebuff, he starts dating the woman he eventually marries while Maggie sits home wondering if she should give him her virginity. Without giving spoilers there is an embarrassing incident for poor Maggie. I cringed when I read the scene and even the scene between Tom and Maggie later is incredibly uncomfortable. In a typical romance or even in real life, the girl in Maggie's shoes would move out to stay with family or a friend until she can find a place, but poor Maggie doesn't have another place to go. So she stays there, her heart breaking, as Tom woos his beautiful girlfriend. Soon, Tom graduates and moves back to his country but not before Maggie learns of his impending marriage to the beautiful girl. (the book says he invites her to the wedding so I assume it was verbal which makes no sense otherwise because she would discover his identity not to mention where did he plan to marry--I would assume his home country or it would be a big deal--but this is not explained in the book which is a key factor for this book because Tom relies on Maggie not knowing that Prince Tomasso Scorsolini is in fact Tom Prince when he hires her to be his nanny)
Several years later, Prince Scorsolini (Tom/Tomasso) is a widow with 2 children. He wants a wife but not a marriage of love and commitment. Instead, he wants a marriage based in practicality. He remembers Maggie and how she made his life smoother when she was his housekeeper. He decides that he will hire her as a nanny and then decide if he wants to offer her a more permanent position as his convenient wife. She is of course in the states working as a live in nanny; so he uses his wealth and influence to make her jobless/homeless and then extends a job interview offer through a former employer. He obviously doesn't care about Maggie's needs, wants or dreams. Hell, I don't even think he likes or respects her as a person at this point.
Maggie goes to the interview and meets Tomasso's sister in law (obvious reason that she may not accept the job otherwise not to mention he would have to explain his 2 year lie as Tom Prince). Maggie accepts the job. This I found unbelievable. Would any 26 year old college educated single woman agree to move to another country to become a live in nanny before meeting her employer (father of the children and head of the household). She never even looks him up?? She knows nothing about him. He could be violent/abusive or it could be a sham. She just moves no questions asked? She never tries to find out additional information about the man or the position she is interviewing for? Even a minor search on the internet would reveal who he is. That part seemed unfathomable, especially if she is signing a contract to live in the residence with this unknown man for 2 years in another country where she knows no one. Once she arrives other equally fantastical events ensue.
Even when shown from his perspective, Tomasso never pines for Maggie. She is a convenience-- a babysitter with benefits. She seems to love him no matter what and when he insists she marry him (at least he doesn't lie by explaining it as a marriage of convenience but hey she will finally have a home and family) her biggest concern is that she doesn't look or have the bearing of royalty. Umm, what? How about having someone love and respect you and maybe care about your needs and wishes?
It is not until the very last few pages of the book, Tomasso tells her he loves her and the scene...well he never potentially lost her like other HP stories where the hero begins to regret and pine for the girl and realize he does love her. Nope, Tom decides when she goes with her sister in law shopping, knowing she was coming back, that he missed her so he must love her. What? I miss friends but that doesn't mean I am in love with them. Nothing about how this is written will even hint that Tomasso even cares for Maggie as a friend much less loves her. He used her plenty though. I felt pity for her. And he was manipulative, especially seeing how he knew her past and how desperately she wanted a family to love.
Ironically, he talks of being unhappy with his dead wife because he felt she saw their kids as bargaining chips but then he forces Maggie to his will by using emotional blackmail with her and his kids. How is he any different? At least his dead wife didn't set people up like Tomasso did Maggie with having her let go by her former employer and getting her stranded in another country and emotionally tied to his kids. In my book, he is worse than his dead wife ever was. Not to mention that throughout the book he loved his dead wife for most of his marriage but his ardor seemed to cool because she wasn't affectionate toward him enough and didn't put the children first. Basically, she didn't fawn over him like Maggie did. She didn't give up identity to mold to him and their children entirely. Maggie did. She gave up her dream of owning a daycare to do Tomasso's bidding. Tomasso never, not even in the end, showed interest in what Maggie wanted or needed. Not once. She accepts what she can get from him and he gets exactly what he wants and just pays a little lip service to her. That was my take on it. This is as far from romance as you can get. It was downright depressing!
August 22, 2011
This one left me disappointed
Maggie was Tomasso's housekeeper,he is a prince but Maggie does'nt knows it later she comed to know when he leaves and when he employed he even warned her that he will fire her if he finds her in his bed but still Maggie fell in love with him and both are attracted to each other the day Maggie decides to be with Tomasso she goes in his bed naked but at the same time Tomasso is also seeing a model whom he brings the same night at his bed and both are shocked,Maggie is really embarrased and humiliated and she leaves the job immediately,he marries and later she just is a gold digger who wanted to be princess but she left when she came to knew being princess is not about shopping and living life king size but to attend to many duties,they divorce and they have 2 children now Tomasso is searching for Maggie cause he wants to get married again and this time he does'nt wants to repeat the mistake by going for skin beauty who later turn out to be gold diggers
Then Tomasso remembers Maggie the innocent housekeeper and appoints her as his children's nanny which was only a way to bring Maggie back and then he will seduce her and marry her
Both characters Tomasso and Maggie were weak and shallow for me,Maggie after the way her heart was broken (i know Tomasso did'nt promised her anything at that time) but still and then after few years meeting him and immediately falling in bed with him,the bond between Maggie and children were good to read
Okay read
Maggie was Tomasso's housekeeper,he is a prince but Maggie does'nt knows it later she comed to know when he leaves and when he employed he even warned her that he will fire her if he finds her in his bed but still Maggie fell in love with him and both are attracted to each other the day Maggie decides to be with Tomasso she goes in his bed naked but at the same time Tomasso is also seeing a model whom he brings the same night at his bed and both are shocked,Maggie is really embarrased and humiliated and she leaves the job immediately,he marries and later she just is a gold digger who wanted to be princess but she left when she came to knew being princess is not about shopping and living life king size but to attend to many duties,they divorce and they have 2 children now Tomasso is searching for Maggie cause he wants to get married again and this time he does'nt wants to repeat the mistake by going for skin beauty who later turn out to be gold diggers
Then Tomasso remembers Maggie the innocent housekeeper and appoints her as his children's nanny which was only a way to bring Maggie back and then he will seduce her and marry her
Both characters Tomasso and Maggie were weak and shallow for me,Maggie after the way her heart was broken (i know Tomasso did'nt promised her anything at that time) but still and then after few years meeting him and immediately falling in bed with him,the bond between Maggie and children were good to read
Okay read
July 23, 2013
this one goes into my " so bad it made my teeth hurt" pile. the hero is a pompous ass. he is selfish, arrogant and completely insensitive to others. he does not seem to possess even one redeeming quality. the heroine is a door mat and even the hero seems to think so. she spends all her time yakking about how it's the 21st century but behaves like it's the 14th century. she allows the hero to step all over her and every time she wants to protest he kisses her and she goes brain dead. what a disgusting message that sends. the plot is horrible and sets women back 500 years - the main message being "better to have an ugly yet capable wife than a gorgeous bitch. and yes, all beautiful women are bitches and all ugly women should forever be grateful to have been married in the first place." gag and double gag.
April 16, 2021
"If I find you naked in my bed, I will fire you on the spot." Maggie didn't need warning. She knew that Principe Tomasso Scorsolini, her gorgeous Italian boss, was way out of her league. But now Tomasso needs to marry. He's had enough of gold diggers -- innocent Maggie will be the perfect convenient wife! Maggie doesn't know exactly what her new royal duties will be. Though being naked in the prince's bed is no longer a firing offense -- it's a requirement!
February 12, 2020
Surprisingly a nice read after the recurrent mediocre books I’d been picking up. Maggie and Tomasso were friends six years ago. Strange friendship imo, they’re both attending university and Tom puts up an add for a housekeeper and Maggie responds. Tom is a few years older/ ahead of her at uni. She’s a sophomore and he’s graduating.
And so the h and H fall into comfortable friendship with this boss/ housekeeper relationship. Tom has a secret that he hasn’t let anyone in on it. Atleast Maggie has no Idea that Tom is actually a prince! They are attracted to each other and one day Tom just breaks Maggie’s heart.
Book moves to the present where Tom’s wife has passed away and he needs a nanny for his two children. He instantly investigates and the only woman fit to be a nanny to his children can be Maggie, his long lost love.
They meet again and sparks fly. Maggie is very cute with Tom’s children until she swaps her personality and becomes annoying AF.
Tom ever the gentleman (and the prince) lays his soul out for her, but this woman would respond back with scratching her nails on the wall. I started hating her. Tom was so tender and passionate with her but Maggie was stuck on her pointless whine of being left heart broken by Tom all these years ago so she won’t risk it again.
This woman did not stop her whine fest and ultimately to me she just sounded as an ungrateful, spiteful B. She turned typically American and started having problems if Tom would choose to show his possessive side with her. (What woman dislikes a man - a gorgeous f’in prince - to be possessive about her??)
Maggie turns argumentative and the last quarter of the book is just painful to read Maggie’s venomous accusations from years ago.
But overall a nice enough book. Their chemistry was certainly hot except for Maggie to see. She kept whining about Tom not using the “love” word with her. Super annoying.
And so the h and H fall into comfortable friendship with this boss/ housekeeper relationship. Tom has a secret that he hasn’t let anyone in on it. Atleast Maggie has no Idea that Tom is actually a prince! They are attracted to each other and one day Tom just breaks Maggie’s heart.
Book moves to the present where Tom’s wife has passed away and he needs a nanny for his two children. He instantly investigates and the only woman fit to be a nanny to his children can be Maggie, his long lost love.
They meet again and sparks fly. Maggie is very cute with Tom’s children until she swaps her personality and becomes annoying AF.
Tom ever the gentleman (and the prince) lays his soul out for her, but this woman would respond back with scratching her nails on the wall. I started hating her. Tom was so tender and passionate with her but Maggie was stuck on her pointless whine of being left heart broken by Tom all these years ago so she won’t risk it again.
This woman did not stop her whine fest and ultimately to me she just sounded as an ungrateful, spiteful B. She turned typically American and started having problems if Tom would choose to show his possessive side with her. (What woman dislikes a man - a gorgeous f’in prince - to be possessive about her??)
Maggie turns argumentative and the last quarter of the book is just painful to read Maggie’s venomous accusations from years ago.
But overall a nice enough book. Their chemistry was certainly hot except for Maggie to see. She kept whining about Tom not using the “love” word with her. Super annoying.
July 23, 2017
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
This review explains it all. Read this a couple of years ago and it pissed it me off and re-reading it now has pissed me off
This review explains it all. Read this a couple of years ago and it pissed it me off and re-reading it now has pissed me off
July 14, 2019
4 Stars! ~ Maggie Thompson's dream is to own her own daycare center. She'd grown up in the foster system and knows personally the pain of losing all those that she has come to care for. Maggie's got a huge heart. She gave it to her friend Tom Prince six years ago when she was in college. Then she was his live-in housekeeper, and they shared a unique friendship. Just when Maggie thought perhaps Tom was beginning to love her as she loved him, he hurt her by becoming involved with a gorgeous woman, one he claimed to be in love with and married. Prince Tomasso Scorsolini is a widower with two young children. He remembers his college years with longing. That's when he lived under a common name and Maggie was a part of his life. Now he creates an opportunity for Maggie to come to work for him as nanny to his children. The contract is for two years with a huge bonus at the end of the term that will enable Maggie her dream of her daycare center. Only Maggie isn't aware that the Prince is really her college love as she was hired by the Prince's sister-in-law, or that Tomasso has created the job of nanny as a rouse to get Maggie back in his life again. He remembers Maggie's passionate response to his kisses and how her inner beauty and strength had brought peace to his life. He is determined that she will be his wife and mother to his children.
Tomasso is most definitely an alpha hero. Maggie calls him arrogant and stubborn throughout the book. What sets apart Ms. Monroe's alpha males is the way she allows us to see his point of view. Tomasso knows clearly what he wants and is certain he will have it. He is a loving and dedicated father and he shows right from that start that Maggie means a great deal to him, though he vows he will never love again. Maggie has such inner strength, and doesn't hesitate to state her mind when Tomasso's arrogance and pride comes forward. She's a wonderful match for Tomasso. This is a love story through and through
Tomasso is most definitely an alpha hero. Maggie calls him arrogant and stubborn throughout the book. What sets apart Ms. Monroe's alpha males is the way she allows us to see his point of view. Tomasso knows clearly what he wants and is certain he will have it. He is a loving and dedicated father and he shows right from that start that Maggie means a great deal to him, though he vows he will never love again. Maggie has such inner strength, and doesn't hesitate to state her mind when Tomasso's arrogance and pride comes forward. She's a wonderful match for Tomasso. This is a love story through and through
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 21, 2012
The Prince's Virgin Wife by Lucy Monroe is the first in a trilogy based on the Scorsolini princes. Maggie worked as Tomasso's housekeeper back in college but he'd been “Tom Prince” then as he was desperate to receive his education while no one knew about his royal status. Despite his rule of “if I catch you naked in my bed, I'll fire you” Tom Price started to befriend Maggie and eventually, they crossed the line of employer and employee causing her hurt and embarrassment when one night he brought home a new girlfriend. Six years later, she's now working for Tomasso and harbouring old feelings for Tom Price but she doesn't know that the two men are the same.
The story is a little dry here and there but it does have amazing romance, great characters and has left me wanting to read the final two of the trilogy.
The story is a little dry here and there but it does have amazing romance, great characters and has left me wanting to read the final two of the trilogy.
February 6, 2011
Loved it read it in a day and can't wait to read the other brothers....
I love romance novels that have to do with kings, prince's & shiekhs its a little fantasy that helps you to get carried away.
This was a good book Maggie and Tomasso were greet together.. I thought it would be interesting to see Tomasso's older brother's(Claudio Scorsolini) story he and his wife (Therese) was acting a little weird in the book makes you think if their marriage is also a marriage of convenience even though they have been married for a while.....GET IT YOU'LL LOVE IT
I love romance novels that have to do with kings, prince's & shiekhs its a little fantasy that helps you to get carried away.
This was a good book Maggie and Tomasso were greet together.. I thought it would be interesting to see Tomasso's older brother's(Claudio Scorsolini) story he and his wife (Therese) was acting a little weird in the book makes you think if their marriage is also a marriage of convenience even though they have been married for a while.....GET IT YOU'LL LOVE IT
June 29, 2009
This was a touching read. Recommend. Harlequin stories are always more emotionally intense than most romance books. Plus, the cover says it all.. 4/5 stars.
July 22, 2010
My expectations were fairly low. They were met.
September 16, 2024
رواية صدمات ملكية
February 10, 2022
I think down with Lucy Monroe.
Ok so I got caught reading something I hate again and I couldn't stop simply because I didn't want to leave the book unfinished but I feel so scarred by this book. I don't recommend it to anyone.
This was not romance. It was abuse. And I'd like to note I consider what happened here a form of cheating. If you're not ok with that type of thing DONT READ THIS.
I nearly died crying, I tell you.
There is a difference between male arrogance and just a person's selfish determination to please themselves no matter what it does to anyone else.
Maggie comes to work for Tomasso as a housekeeper while they are in college I believe. She doesn't know he's a prince and he warns her immediately to never try to seduce him.
Yet it is him who comes on to her when he has a bout of no girlfriends available. She's innocent and overcome by his seduction. He takes her virginity with his hand and then because she gets scared and doesn't want to have sex.... he isn't seen as much in the following days.
Maggie is in love because before then he'd treated her so well so she decides she'll wait in his bed for him and sex will sort it all out. He'll be nice to her again.
Only, he comes to bed with another woman.
It's not been so long since he had his hand inside her. THIS is a big no no for me. I don't read books where the female has to watch the guy with other women AFTER he's initiated their relationship.
The next morning she is hurt, rightfully so but this jerk tells her he broke no promises to her and they had no relationship.
You would think that this disregard and disrespect for her innocence would rectified later but it isn't. I kept hoping it would be.
She leaves. He get married to the girl he went to bed with and ACTUALLY invites Maggie to the wedding. Proving further that he is just cruel. The woman he marries is a right problem.
She wants the lifestyle but not the duties of a mother or royalty. On one of her solo trips enjoying the lifestyle, she dies in an accident, leaving Tomasso with two little kids.
OBVIOUSLY, Maggie has to pay for this because he didn't hurt her enough by taking her virginity and then marrying someone prettier six years ago.
AND THEN WALKING AWAY FOR SIX YEARS with no contact as if that oneost importantoment in her life meant nothing to him.
I really hated this character.
He orchestrates Maggie getting hired as his children's nanny without her knowing who's kids they are. He will TEST her suitability before marrying her because six years ago she was the perfect little homemaker and homebody.
Only he comes home drunk, gets in bed with a half sleeping Maggie and finishes taking her virginity. And so roughly she ONLY feels pain. Then he just rolls over and goes to sleep, leaving her todwal with the pain allby herself.
IN THE MORNING he accuses her of seducing him or trying to use her virginity to trap him. This guy is f*cking disgusting. Blood is still on the sheets while he's humiliating her.
And all the while she has to take it because she's signed a two year contract plus she doesn't want to leave the kids as they seem fragile afterl osing their mother. Her leaving would hurt them too.
This man relentlessly USES his CHILDREN to strong arm her into marrying him, whilst simultaneously dropping hints that she isn't like the woman he married. Not as flashy or pretty or anything.
He's attracted to her intellect though.
He made her feel so ugly and unworthy. But still WANTED her to love him even though he expressly said this marriage would be not about love but a duty to find a good mother for his children WHO COULD OF COURSE, warm his bed too everynight.
He wanted a servant to have sex with and take care of his children, is the vibe I was getting.
I just couldn't hate the CHARACTERS, plural, or the story more. After the first humiliation this whole book felt like a rape scene I had to endure. I couldn't understand why Maggie kept letting him demean her and still have sex with her.
No flowery words. Just sex, veiled insults and using his kids shamelessly to manipulate her because he knew she didn't want to hurt the kids.
I think he deserved his bad wife of before more for his behaviours.
Ok so I got caught reading something I hate again and I couldn't stop simply because I didn't want to leave the book unfinished but I feel so scarred by this book. I don't recommend it to anyone.
This was not romance. It was abuse. And I'd like to note I consider what happened here a form of cheating. If you're not ok with that type of thing DONT READ THIS.
I nearly died crying, I tell you.
There is a difference between male arrogance and just a person's selfish determination to please themselves no matter what it does to anyone else.
Maggie comes to work for Tomasso as a housekeeper while they are in college I believe. She doesn't know he's a prince and he warns her immediately to never try to seduce him.
Yet it is him who comes on to her when he has a bout of no girlfriends available. She's innocent and overcome by his seduction. He takes her virginity with his hand and then because she gets scared and doesn't want to have sex.... he isn't seen as much in the following days.
Maggie is in love because before then he'd treated her so well so she decides she'll wait in his bed for him and sex will sort it all out. He'll be nice to her again.
Only, he comes to bed with another woman.
It's not been so long since he had his hand inside her. THIS is a big no no for me. I don't read books where the female has to watch the guy with other women AFTER he's initiated their relationship.
The next morning she is hurt, rightfully so but this jerk tells her he broke no promises to her and they had no relationship.
You would think that this disregard and disrespect for her innocence would rectified later but it isn't. I kept hoping it would be.
She leaves. He get married to the girl he went to bed with and ACTUALLY invites Maggie to the wedding. Proving further that he is just cruel. The woman he marries is a right problem.
She wants the lifestyle but not the duties of a mother or royalty. On one of her solo trips enjoying the lifestyle, she dies in an accident, leaving Tomasso with two little kids.
OBVIOUSLY, Maggie has to pay for this because he didn't hurt her enough by taking her virginity and then marrying someone prettier six years ago.
AND THEN WALKING AWAY FOR SIX YEARS with no contact as if that oneost importantoment in her life meant nothing to him.
I really hated this character.
He orchestrates Maggie getting hired as his children's nanny without her knowing who's kids they are. He will TEST her suitability before marrying her because six years ago she was the perfect little homemaker and homebody.
Only he comes home drunk, gets in bed with a half sleeping Maggie and finishes taking her virginity. And so roughly she ONLY feels pain. Then he just rolls over and goes to sleep, leaving her todwal with the pain allby herself.
IN THE MORNING he accuses her of seducing him or trying to use her virginity to trap him. This guy is f*cking disgusting. Blood is still on the sheets while he's humiliating her.
And all the while she has to take it because she's signed a two year contract plus she doesn't want to leave the kids as they seem fragile afterl osing their mother. Her leaving would hurt them too.
This man relentlessly USES his CHILDREN to strong arm her into marrying him, whilst simultaneously dropping hints that she isn't like the woman he married. Not as flashy or pretty or anything.
He's attracted to her intellect though.
He made her feel so ugly and unworthy. But still WANTED her to love him even though he expressly said this marriage would be not about love but a duty to find a good mother for his children WHO COULD OF COURSE, warm his bed too everynight.
He wanted a servant to have sex with and take care of his children, is the vibe I was getting.
I just couldn't hate the CHARACTERS, plural, or the story more. After the first humiliation this whole book felt like a rape scene I had to endure. I couldn't understand why Maggie kept letting him demean her and still have sex with her.
No flowery words. Just sex, veiled insults and using his kids shamelessly to manipulate her because he knew she didn't want to hurt the kids.
I think he deserved his bad wife of before more for his behaviours.
October 6, 2025
September Readathon
Dismal.
Heroine crushing on the hero and being a dumb pushover when they’re younger can work. Her falling into allowing him to do this to her years later (after he tracks her down) when she’s “mature” and finally has her own ambitions does not.
Her confusion over the hero saying “bella” during their youthful intimate encounter is dumb, She’s not that obtuse or unworldly. Him initiating the encounter after warning her off ever doing so — and then spending years taking her for granted and letting her fill his loneliness gaps while parading other women around — is caddish at best.
Then he punishes her for the encounter not ending as he wanted, and winds up marrying the “wrong” woman because of it (no less than he deserves). Despicable.
Present day, immediate drugged sex. Great.
He’s so tiresome; wants her every way he wants, but still taking her for granted and including mostly to be a “mother” to his children. But he decides she’s promiscuous based on nothing at all; at least kind of fights back.
Then he finds out she’s a virgin, is briefly sorry, but then right back on track that she’s angling for something — the crown.
They get past that — thanks to her continuing to accept mistreatment and caring about the children. Which, ha-ha, he talks bitterly about his dead wife using the kids to get her way, and that’s all he does in this whole book to manipulate the heroine.
Then it’s yes you will no I won’t seduction and the heroine forgetting everything, including her self worth, whenever the hero kisses her.
She’s already in love him in love and not wanting to know it. He’s arrogant and arranging things, very satisfied to get things exactly as he wants. She’s gussied up, accepts simply being with him, he admits it’s ~love, but I’m not sure I believe it.
One of those you hate the hero, can’t root for the heroine, and you turn into the “…I Guess” guy when it ends. And abruptly it ends too; Monroe isn’t one for caring about giving long endings, even when the characters are terrible, the love story unbelievable, and the HEA a heavy sigh of assumptions rather than anything made-good.
Dismal.
Heroine crushing on the hero and being a dumb pushover when they’re younger can work. Her falling into allowing him to do this to her years later (after he tracks her down) when she’s “mature” and finally has her own ambitions does not.
Her confusion over the hero saying “bella” during their youthful intimate encounter is dumb, She’s not that obtuse or unworldly. Him initiating the encounter after warning her off ever doing so — and then spending years taking her for granted and letting her fill his loneliness gaps while parading other women around — is caddish at best.
Then he punishes her for the encounter not ending as he wanted, and winds up marrying the “wrong” woman because of it (no less than he deserves). Despicable.
Present day, immediate drugged sex. Great.
He’s so tiresome; wants her every way he wants, but still taking her for granted and including mostly to be a “mother” to his children. But he decides she’s promiscuous based on nothing at all; at least kind of fights back.
Then he finds out she’s a virgin, is briefly sorry, but then right back on track that she’s angling for something — the crown.
They get past that — thanks to her continuing to accept mistreatment and caring about the children. Which, ha-ha, he talks bitterly about his dead wife using the kids to get her way, and that’s all he does in this whole book to manipulate the heroine.
Then it’s yes you will no I won’t seduction and the heroine forgetting everything, including her self worth, whenever the hero kisses her.
She’s already in love him in love and not wanting to know it. He’s arrogant and arranging things, very satisfied to get things exactly as he wants. She’s gussied up, accepts simply being with him, he admits it’s ~love, but I’m not sure I believe it.
One of those you hate the hero, can’t root for the heroine, and you turn into the “…I Guess” guy when it ends. And abruptly it ends too; Monroe isn’t one for caring about giving long endings, even when the characters are terrible, the love story unbelievable, and the HEA a heavy sigh of assumptions rather than anything made-good.
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