Back In Her Husband's Bed

by Melanie Milburne

Back in her Husband's Bed by Melanie Milburne released on Dec 27, 2005 is available now for purchase.

Genres: Harlequin, Romance, Contemporary Romance, Second Chance, Harlequin Presents, Divorce, Contemporary

192 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published November 1, 2005

About the author

I grew up on a small farm on the outskirts of Sydney and as a keen horse rider, often competed in local gymkhanas and even broke in a few horses from time to time. As I was surrounded by animals, I decided at an early age to become a nurse, however I couldn’t stand the sight of blood and so opted for a career in teaching. It’s a bit ironic that I married a surgeon.

I read my first Mills & Boon novel when I was 17 and that encouraged me to continue reading romance novels; the lure of the tall dark handsome hero, who in reality I fell in love with and knew I was going to marry on our second date! After marrying a year later, we moved to Scotland with our six week old baby so my husband could work and study for his MD in surgery. After the birth of our second son we came back to Australia to settle in Tasmania.

I went back to University and up-graded my teaching diploma to a degree and then went on to do a Masters but still I felt as if something was missing. I sat down one day and began writing and everything clicked into place - I had finally found ‘my brilliant career’! I used to write from instinct rather than a specific plan, but now, so many books later I find a loose plan doesn't go astray. An idea will pop into my head, sometimes it will be just a simple phrase or a what if question and I'm away.

Writing is a skill that can be learned and the best way to learn it is to read and to write. So many people feel they have a novel in them and very probably they are right-the only trick is to get it out. My advice to ‘would be’ writers is to write, write, and write even more. Carry a notebook at all times and jot down ideas. And like any other activity the more you do, the more it feels comfortable.

I hope you enjoy my stories and look forward to hearing from you.

Reviews

[StMargarets · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy a good second chance story and this one captured a relationship-in-peril really well. The H/h, both lawyers, meet five years after their divorce at a family law conference. They are stuck together in an elevator and they end up having a one night stand with an argument to round out the evening.

Four months later the heroine finds she is pregnant. She tells the hero, who wants her to move in with him so he can care for her and the baby. The heroine is terrified of being dependent on a man Her father left when she was ten and her mother was so lost without him that she committed suicide when the heroine was 16. That was part of their problem the first time around in their marriage.

The hero blackmails her into his house by offering to drop the divorce case of one of their friends. Heroine thinks he'll destroy her friend in the proceedings, so she gives in. This other disintegrating marriage was an interesting juxtaposition to the H/h who didn't have infidelity or children in their divorce mix.

As the story progresses the H/h learn more about each other and learn to trust. They have both grown up a lot since they were first starting out.

What I liked about this was that they were each to blame for the breakdown of their marriage. Because they were both trained as lawyers, neither one would back down from an argument. There is a bit of bickering, but the author keeps the story moving and they do show their loving sides to each other, so the HEA is believable. I also liked the hero's older secretary who had his number from the beginning. Her common sense kept these two drama queens grounded.

Edited to address celibacy during their divorce:


He wasn't celibate, but I only remember him thinking about how he had been half alive while divorced, I don't remember him throwing it in her face. Just one of those "would you care?" kind of coyness. He wasn't dating anyone when he and the heroine had that ONS - and he was celibate for the four months after the ONS until he saw the heroine again.

Heroine was - of course - celibate for five years.

[Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 1/2 Stars ~ Theirs had been a turbulent marriage, wrought with misunderstandings and barely leashed passions. They'd always wanted each other; chemistry had never been an issue. Xavier was proving his worth as a family law trial attorney, and Carli was finishing law school. The more Carli protested his working 80 hour weeks, the more Xavier thought she sounded childish and unreasonable. And when his family made her look foolish, he'd seen it as a deliberate move on her part to embarrass him. When the divorce was final they both were determined never to see each other again, and they don't for five years. Getting stuck in an elevator together at a conference, leads them to a couple of hours of talking and a promise of one last drink together. Going to Xavier's hotel suite for that drink, Carli is anxious. No matter how broken their relationship had become she'd always desired her husband. They enjoy their last drink and Carli's almost out the door when Xavier asks for one last kiss. One last kiss, leads to passion, leads to frantic love making. Still they part ways, vowing never to seek the other out. Until three months later and a pregnancy test proves positive. Xavier's shocked but he grasps at this opportunity for another chance with Carli and he cons her into moving back in with him for the duration of the pregnancy.

This is one of those delightful reunion journeys that keeps you on the edge wondering what is going to happen next. Ms. Milburne weaves a love story filled with passion. Not once did I doubt these two were made for each other. Xavier is surprised at how much he didn't know about his ex-wife and how little effort he had taken while they were married to learn. Carli's always loved Xavier, but allowed insecurities from her childhood to colour her perspectives. Theirs is an intense passion that neither seem able to control. I found myself totally hooked on this story. Xavier and Carli are great characters and I so wanted them to have a spectacular HEA. Ms. Milburne did not disappoint.

[Kiki]

Self note:
They were divorced so I know I cannot demand celibacy however if she can remain celibate so can he. Since she did and he didn’t I no longer believe in his love. And what’s romance without love?

However StM did an excellent review for people who aren’t as unhinged as I am and are regularly wired in their head:

Read StMargarets's 4-star review of Back in Her Husband's Bed by Melanie Milburne
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Booklover · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book but there are also few things i did'nt like were Carli's weakness when it came to Xavier and Xavier braging about how Carli needs him but she does not wants to accept it to herself

Xavier-Carli both loved each other but their love came crashing down with hurdles and manupalations and misunderstandings created by others including their huge prides and ego ,Xavier was always in office working and his parents and sister made life hell for Carli always taunting and calling her names
when Carli tries to tell Xavier about it he takes his folks side leaving Carli totally alone and shattered however after the divorce Carli now has become strong woman i liked that about her but still she was shown a little weak when it came to Xavier

Xavier is one idiot jerk who behaved badly with his wife whom he claimed to love and always left her alone siding with his folks -ignoring Carli and being angry at her and accusing her without even once listening to Carli,i was left wondering what kind of lawyer is he

this is yet another romance which tells us Love is not enough,though Xavier-Carli loved each other but the lack of trust and understanding with their gigantic prides and ego shattered their love

Good read for once
Recommend it but not a keeper

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

The heroine Carli and the hero Xavier end up spending a very passionate night together, after being stuck in a broken down elevator for some time. Although that night should never have happened, as all the issues around their divorce five years ago are stirred up. Carli has changed significantly from the shy, weak girl she was when married to Xavier and she is now a strong and successful lawyer. But that doesn't make her any less nervous about having to tell Xavier that she is pregnant. Xavier recognises the changes in Carli, and finds them very appealing, but he also realises that Carli is still very drawn to him even though she tries to hide it, and uses their shared desire for one another to convince her to come back into his life. Xavier knows that first time around he didn't treat Carli right and he tries to make it up to her, but they are both determined not to back down and this causes friction, as well as desire, in their very tentative reconciliation.

I'm a big fan of Melanie Milburne's book, but this is not one of her best. In my opinion, anyway. I enjoyed the sort-of battle of wills surrounding the hero and heroine's reconciliation, and I think that the journey of the two of them learning to compromise and work as a couple, rather than as obstinate individuals, was written really well. There is plenty of chemistry between the hero and heroine, this really moves the story along.
The hero is a bit of a jerk at times, and I really hate that in so many reconciliation stories authors use the 'hero-has-spent-the-whole-time-apart-sleeping-with-as-many-women-as-possible-and-then-brags-to-the-heroine-about-it' trope, it is a little off putting. Also, the almost constant arguing between the hero and heroine became a little grating after a while.

Overall though, I did enjoy reading this one.

Originally posted at http://everyday-is-the-same.blogspot....

[Kace | The Booknerd · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading Carli and Xavier's book and their second chance at love with a baby on the way! Loved the epilogue, too!

[Alexis-Morgan Roark · Rating 1 out of 5]

Egads, this book really irked me. So many things left unrsolved or glossed over. And the too quick, too neat wrap-up after a seemingly silly divorce and over the top "reconciliation." I don't know. These are just two immature, unlikable characters.

[Debby · Rating 4 out of 5]

This h was like a lunatic. She was throwing vases and cups with hot coffee in it at the H, she kept insulting him, yelling at him. She was annoying. She doesn’t deserve him.

[Jackie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Dnf at 60% . Bored

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this one. I am surprised I did not read it before.

There is no other woman or other man drama. This is about two people realizing they never communicated effectively. Kept to much locked away. It took a surprise pregnancy to have them re-examine the actions of the other person and themselves and realize the mistakes that were made.

I liked that they were equal, one was not a door mat and the other not a jerk. Their dialogue was funny as they tried to out do their sarcasm.

I can see myself reading this again.

[Paula Legate · Rating 2 out of 5]

Carli and Xavier got a divorce 5 years ago. They are both lawyers. It was stressful trying to build up career's and be married. 5 years later they get trapped in a elevator. Afterwards they shared a steamy encounter. Not long after Carli finds out she is pregnant. Carli does not give in much. Xavier wants to take care of her, and pamper her. She resist at every turn. It was just annoying. It turned out in the end to be a okay book.

[Mariateresa Carone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dopo la grande Diana Palmer, è lei la regina indiscussa del romance in casa Harmony. E' da molto tempo (2 o 3 anni) che avevo adocchiato questo romanzo, un po' per la sua autrice e un po' per questo genere di trama che adoro e sempre mi incuriosisce. E finalmente dopo tutto questo tempo ho avuto la possibilità di acquistarlo e se le mie aspettative erano da 5 dopo aver letto fino all'ultimo punto confermo che è un libro INDIMENTICABILE. Carlie e Xavier sono una coppia divorziata, ma la passione non è mai scemata, e questa passione che li fa passare una notte insieme e un mese dopo la notizia dell'attesa di un bambino. Carli è turbata, Xavier sotto sotto ci ha sperato fino alla fine. Dopo un ricatto riesce a convincerla a trasferirsi da lui e qui ne vediamo delle belle. Si perché finalmente dopo 5 anni di separazione riescono a chiarire le ombre del passato e grazie a loro anche una coppia di amici in crisi riesce a risolvere le amarezze e a riscoprire il vecchio amore. Nell'epilogo veniamo a conoscenza che non solo i genitori di Xavier si sono addolciti, ma anche che gli amici seguono il loro esempio e ci vogliono riprovare. Che dire, ripeto un libro INDIMENTICABILE, proprio come tutti quelli della Milburne.

[ANGELIA · Rating 1 out of 5]

What a ridiculous book! Two people who definitely did NOT belong together, who had nothing in common except orgasms, who kept major issues and childhood traumas to themselves and never confided in each other throughout their three-year joke of a marriage, who meet again after five years apart and have elevator sex, she gets knocked up, so he wants to get together again form the baby that she doesn't want, but does want, never wanted kids but does want kids, hates him but loves him, (though she won't tell him) while he doesn't love her just wants her body, really does love her but lets her think it's just her great blow jobs he craves, she almost loses the kid but not really...

Get the picture? Then skip the book!

[Nina Yaleb · Rating 3 out of 5]

Moves along nicely. It was a realistic portrait of a marriage that broke down due to mistrust/poor communication but the love was still there. The stubbornness of the MCs was a bit tedious after a certain point. Also, it’s clear the author doesn’t think much of feminism and the message seems to be that feministic ideas ruin marriages. At times I felt like I was reading a critique of feminism. Nevertheless, the author was fair to both sides.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Honestly, the h got on my nerves. For someone so educated and career oriented, she made some terrible assumptions and acted on them without verification. Only with her best friend did you follow her gut and act with strength.

I feel if this woman does not get some counseling that the marriage will be as rocky in the future as it was in the past.

[Ginny Rodenberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Carli and Xavier were divorced 5 years ago basically because of a lack of communication. They meet up at a conference and end up in his hotel room. After discovering she's pregnant she goes to see him and things go on from there.

[Delfina Posse · Rating 2 out of 5]

Arrancó bien, voy a admitirlo. Aparte me gustan las historias de segundas chances porque es como que salteo la intro de que se conozcan y se enamoren: ya se conocen, ya se aman y algo completamente solucionable en 90 páginas se interpuso la primera vez. Hasta ahí excelente. El tema de que él se "haga" tanto el frío me cansó, la deja a ella en una situación bastante patética de a ratos, siendo siempre la que cede. Y el feminismo forzado permanentemente también me hizo rodar los ojos en un par de ocasiones. En general buen plot, me falló un poco el desarrollo.

[Desi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Leído en Enero 2013

[nm · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75.

[Yanira · Rating 3 out of 5]

De las cortitas con final feliz, donde todo se resuelve rapido, pero que te entretiene y desconecta....Solo que un tanto cabezotas ambos protagonistas 😉

[Maura · Rating 2 out of 5]

So the story starts with Carli and Xavier, divorced for the past 5 years, getting off being stuck in an elevator together and falling into bed. Fast forward 3 months and Carli is pregnant and dreading having to tell Xavier, whom she has a rather contentious relationship with. But tell him she does and he decides he'll have her back in his life somehow, since he's never stopped loving her. But Carli makes sure he never stops arguing with her too. That's because as much as she loves Xavier, she can't let him close enough to break her heart.

So this author is hit and miss for me and this one was mostly a miss. The writing was great and what not, but the characters and their immaturity just irritated me. Xavier is the slightly more mature character, but he's downright nasty at times and certainly has no idea how to deal with Carli and her crazy moods. It's like every time they get together he does the totally wrong thing and sets her off...and sometimes it feels like he does it on purpose. Especially the way he almost mocks her feelings. I like that we get a full section of him realizing what an ass he's being and trying to figure out how to fix it, but a bit more grovel on his part would be fine. And about a half a books worth of grovel on the heroines part would be nice. Now Carli really is moody. She'll go from happy to angry in a split second and then, like the mature woman she is, she throws crockery, vases, menus, etc. She flounces and stomps about in her anger, she's passive aggressive and she brings up every last mistake that Xavier has ever made and flings it back in his face. And when it comes to sex, she's like a preying mantis, biting off Xavier's head after each round because she suddenly feels vulnerable and he doesn't take it seriously enough. There's just no way I could believe that these two had any chance at a HEA given their explosive personalities. They spend the majority of the book arguing and being angry with each other.

There were also one or two really glaring discrepancies that bugged me a bit. The first was with the secondary character Aidan, who was unhappy with his wife and how crazy she'd gotten and was divorcing her and getting custody of the kids because he worried for their safety in his wife's care. And that is surely why he moved out, abandoned said kids to his crazy wife's care for the duration and stopped showing up enough that his 5-year-old daughter commented on it...and kept insisting he just needed out of the marriage. Not a stellar guy really to not even worry about his wife's personality transplant and to abandon his kids that way. Not sure why Xavier was friends with him. And lastly there was Carli's hypocritical bullshit about Xavier being such a privileged, white-collar lawyer defending all those rich people when real people needed lawyers too. She got on his case for that and the nepotism, criticizing the fact that he never had to work to get his position at the firm. Then, Xavier finishes out the story by offering her a partnership at his firm and she accepts it.

[RomLibrary · Rating 1 out of 5]

He wants her back--but on" his" terms!" By agreeing to a meeting with Xavier Knightly, her handsome ex-husband, Carli realizes that the passion is still there. Three months later, she has some shocking news for him! But Xavier isn't considered one of the best lawyers in Sydney for nothing: here's a golden opportunity to blackmail his wife back into his bed. However, he also wants her to love him again like she used to, and that's where he'll face the biggest trial of his life..

[Tina White · Rating 5 out of 5]

Andrea Laurence does it again.  She always writes strong women characters and Annie the "Barracuda" is no different.  Realistic characters in the modern world is Andrea's forte.  If you haven't read Andrea Laurence before you are missing out.  This book is another excellent read by an up and coming author you don't want to miss.

[More Books Than Time · Rating 1 out of 5]

I finished this but did not like it. Both h and H were full of psychobabble and dishonest with each other. Far too many graphic scenes.

Reborrowed from hoopla, not at all familiar. This is bad and I couldn’t finish.

[Debbie "Buried in Her TBR Pile" · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars - the bickering got a little old. They divorced because neither would back down because of pride - they just didn't know how to communicate besides fighting (they are both lawyers.)

[Kaley Davies · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book!~ Loved the characters and the *hot steamy parts too would love to read another Melanie Milburne book

[Anitha]

Good

[Bella Marley · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.7