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The Russian's Acquisition
Hoort Clair haar nieuwe baas nu goed? Eerst doet Aleksy Dmitriev uitgesproken vijandig, en nu biedt hij haar een fortuin om het bed met hem te delen! En dat omdat hij denkt dat zij ooit het liefje was van zijn gezworen vijand. Hoewel het geld haar gestolen kan worden, twijfelt ze. Ze voelt zich namelijk enorm tot de machtige tycoon aangetrokken. Zal ze dan toch, uit nieuwsgierigheid...Aleksy heeft zijn leven laten bepalen door wraak. Nu zijn grootste vijand is overleden, kan hij eindelijk alles bezitten wat die ooit bezat, waaronder de beeldschone Clair Daniels. Hij is niet verbaasd dat ze meteen akkoord gaat met zijn voorstel - deze vrouw doet immers alles voor geld. Maar zodra hij haar in zijn armen houdt, verandert er iets...
192 pages, Mass Market Paperback
Published October 21, 2014
73 people are currently reading
799 people want to read
About the author
Dani Collins
693 books1,180 followersUSA Today Bestselling author Dani Collins thrives on giving readers emotional, compelling, heart-soaring romance with laughter and heat, just like real life.
Mostly she writes contemporary romance, but she has also writes Historical Western, erotic romance, and romcom.
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Mostly she writes contemporary romance, but she has also writes Historical Western, erotic romance, and romcom.
Want to be notified of Dani's latest release along with getting sneak peeks, price drops, behind the scene's gossip and other special offers? Join Dani's VIP list. Join Now!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews
June 11, 2015
I have not read a Harlequin Presents in what seems like months.The newer books and some of the authors simply held no appeal to me what so ever.I grew up on these books like so many romance readers.But this book lately has been popping up on my feeds and it looked like a read that I might enjoy.It had a Russian hero ,scarred ,and bent on revenge for wrongs done to his family.The heroine was sweet,young,a virgin ,and the supposed mistress of the man who wrecked havoc on the hero's life while he was a young teen. There was also the blackmail / mistress trope.
When Aleksy and Claire meet for the first time,it was a chemistry that leaped off the pages.Their interactions with each other positively sizzled.Each had their own petsonal share of baggage and the belief that love and family was not for them,Claire ,an orphan at age 4, and Aleksy loosing his father at a young age and his mother at age 20.Claire wants to make a better place for children who grew up like her and was never picked for a family.When her supposed" benefactor" dies ,in swoops Aleksy with revenge on his mind against the dead man,his company ,and his family.He would have prefered him to be alive,but he wants atonement for his family. Here begins this couple's journey that took them from London,Paris ,and Russia and back to London.
What a read,I could not put this down.So full of angst and emotion.The sex scenes were so full of passion,sometimes tender,sometimes not.I wanted this couple to have their HEA so bad and when they finally,finally had their moment and ILY's,I was a puddle.Great story that is a keeper for me,well worth the read.
When Aleksy and Claire meet for the first time,it was a chemistry that leaped off the pages.Their interactions with each other positively sizzled.Each had their own petsonal share of baggage and the belief that love and family was not for them,Claire ,an orphan at age 4, and Aleksy loosing his father at a young age and his mother at age 20.Claire wants to make a better place for children who grew up like her and was never picked for a family.When her supposed" benefactor" dies ,in swoops Aleksy with revenge on his mind against the dead man,his company ,and his family.He would have prefered him to be alive,but he wants atonement for his family. Here begins this couple's journey that took them from London,Paris ,and Russia and back to London.
What a read,I could not put this down.So full of angst and emotion.The sex scenes were so full of passion,sometimes tender,sometimes not.I wanted this couple to have their HEA so bad and when they finally,finally had their moment and ILY's,I was a puddle.Great story that is a keeper for me,well worth the read.
October 8, 2014
Aleksy Dmitriev is determined to avenge the lives of his beloved parents. He decides to make his enemy's lover his own mistress and make her pay for the sins of her former boss. He has scars inside and out. Innocent Clair gets under his skin and when he realizes she is not the gold digger he thought she was he falls fast and hard for her.
Clair realizes Aleksy is not the monster he claims he is but a lonely tortured man and she can't help but love him. But will her connection to the man who ruined Aleksy's life be always between them?
Great read. I loved the sweet viginal heroine, the alpha dark and vulnerable Russian hero and the chemistry between Aleksy and Clair. Not many authors write hard alpha strong heroes anymore and that's the way I like my heroes! Dark and tortured! Heroine's love brought him to the light, healed his wounds and erased his ugly sad past.
My only complaint is that we didn't get an epilogue with cute little babies! I would love to see them with their own family!
Clair realizes Aleksy is not the monster he claims he is but a lonely tortured man and she can't help but love him. But will her connection to the man who ruined Aleksy's life be always between them?
Great read. I loved the sweet viginal heroine, the alpha dark and vulnerable Russian hero and the chemistry between Aleksy and Clair. Not many authors write hard alpha strong heroes anymore and that's the way I like my heroes! Dark and tortured! Heroine's love brought him to the light, healed his wounds and erased his ugly sad past.
My only complaint is that we didn't get an epilogue with cute little babies! I would love to see them with their own family!
December 16, 2017
I had a hard time warming up to the H/h, but Dani Collins won me over by the end.
The heroine was a naive virgin who didn't mind that everyone in her office thought she was the boss's mistress. She didn't have a lot of self-esteem and she really did think that the only thing (now that her deal with the recently deceased boss was over) she had to offer in service of the orphanage was her body. (Oh, and she had the hots for the hero - so it wasn't too big of a sacrifice.)
The hero bears scars from a traumatic incident from his teens that were caused by the evil business dealings of the heroine's (now dead) boss. The hero has spent all of his days acquiring businesses and making money so he can have his revenge. Unfortunately, the man is dead and the hero can't get the emotional closure - so he decides to target the heroine - the last "possession" of the evil man.
It's the heroine's v-card which saves them both. The hero is horrified that he's taken her virginity and the heroine realizes she can feel something for a man. These competing feelings - remorse and awakening - eventually turn to understanding and love.
The scenes in Russia were a welcome change of pace from Greek islands, Sicilian castles, and Italian villas. The hero's thirst for revenge was understandable - as was his chagrin at the ineffectiveness of revenge on his inner peace. Both the H/h had a lot to learn about love and hope and they learned it together. I liked them together.
The heroine was a naive virgin who didn't mind that everyone in her office thought she was the boss's mistress. She didn't have a lot of self-esteem and she really did think that the only thing (now that her deal with the recently deceased boss was over) she had to offer in service of the orphanage was her body. (Oh, and she had the hots for the hero - so it wasn't too big of a sacrifice.)
The hero bears scars from a traumatic incident from his teens that were caused by the evil business dealings of the heroine's (now dead) boss. The hero has spent all of his days acquiring businesses and making money so he can have his revenge. Unfortunately, the man is dead and the hero can't get the emotional closure - so he decides to target the heroine - the last "possession" of the evil man.
It's the heroine's v-card which saves them both. The hero is horrified that he's taken her virginity and the heroine realizes she can feel something for a man. These competing feelings - remorse and awakening - eventually turn to understanding and love.
The scenes in Russia were a welcome change of pace from Greek islands, Sicilian castles, and Italian villas. The hero's thirst for revenge was understandable - as was his chagrin at the ineffectiveness of revenge on his inner peace. Both the H/h had a lot to learn about love and hope and they learned it together. I liked them together.
November 19, 2014
This book really surprised me!!!
You see, I am not exactly “mad” about Russian heroes!!!! Yes, I admit it here…I so much prefer Greek & Italian heroes….but somehow, Alesky Dmitriev spun a web in my heart….yes, truly….here is this dark and tortured man who has this kind and lovable side to him. Never mind that he blackmailed the heroine, Clair Daniels……to becoming his lover…forget the word mistress…it’s just so passé!!!!
He did this because he wanted to get back at her boss….who, just by the way, had died and gone to heaven….or maybe hell!!!!
Here we have Alesky believing that Clair had been his enemy’s lover…but no, not even….because Clair is still a virgin..in this day and age!!!! Right!!!! But I kid you not!!! She’s truly an untouched virgin!!!! And we know how much these alpha-males those that!!!!!! Let me just add that despite being a virgin, Clair Daniels takes no nonsense….a strong and lively woman who goes after what she wants. And of course, that would be????? Alesky Dmitriev!!!!!
Talk about passion and heat and tension between these two!!!!! I totally engaged with them and found them very likeable.
A lovely romance of two damaged people who find something special in each other that enables them to find their HEA together.
You see, I am not exactly “mad” about Russian heroes!!!! Yes, I admit it here…I so much prefer Greek & Italian heroes….but somehow, Alesky Dmitriev spun a web in my heart….yes, truly….here is this dark and tortured man who has this kind and lovable side to him. Never mind that he blackmailed the heroine, Clair Daniels……to becoming his lover…forget the word mistress…it’s just so passé!!!!
He did this because he wanted to get back at her boss….who, just by the way, had died and gone to heaven….or maybe hell!!!!
Here we have Alesky believing that Clair had been his enemy’s lover…but no, not even….because Clair is still a virgin..in this day and age!!!! Right!!!! But I kid you not!!! She’s truly an untouched virgin!!!! And we know how much these alpha-males those that!!!!!! Let me just add that despite being a virgin, Clair Daniels takes no nonsense….a strong and lively woman who goes after what she wants. And of course, that would be????? Alesky Dmitriev!!!!!
Talk about passion and heat and tension between these two!!!!! I totally engaged with them and found them very likeable.
A lovely romance of two damaged people who find something special in each other that enables them to find their HEA together.
did-not-finished-or-abandoned
July 5, 2015I don't know... I decided to abandon the book because I didn't feel the chemistry with the main characters :(
The story started a little slow for me and I didn't feel connected with it.
I will try to read it later ñ_ñ
The story started a little slow for me and I didn't feel connected with it.
I will try to read it later ñ_ñ
Read
March 9, 2022It’d be an unfair rating because I haven’t read much from this writer. I disliked the premise of the story. No matter whatever the circumstance but no woman should agree to a workplace clause of this kind and insist that they’re virginal in any way. The v-card status is beyond the physical.
Clair is the oldest non-mistress in the books / PA to her boss who is wealthy and elderly. Her repertoire around the work place is that she sleeps with the boss and Claire is pretty okay with that and holds her head up high. For restitution she’s given the company’s penthouse apartment and a high figure salary.
One day the boss passes away and Clair isn’t welcome to attend his funeral or see his family. Understandably they consider her a hoe like they should..
Enters new boss. Claire gives him a bold once-over and she also catches his eye. New boss has standing vengeance for old boss and the grapevine and employee clause disclose that Claire was indeed the old man’s mistress.
The H wants to get in the h’s pants to avenge the harm caused by the ex-owner of the company. The h and H spar but the h is rather snappy and bold. She’s breathing heavy and checking out the H at all the wrong places and yet wants to argue her point home that she was maidenly.
Clair may still have her v-card but she was an old horse in her ways. I hated her. There wasn’t anything sweet or adorable about the h who was almost negotiating her salary and boarding with a chance to roll in the hay with the new boss. I’ll stop here. Not for me and I do not recommend.
Clair is the oldest non-mistress in the books / PA to her boss who is wealthy and elderly. Her repertoire around the work place is that she sleeps with the boss and Claire is pretty okay with that and holds her head up high. For restitution she’s given the company’s penthouse apartment and a high figure salary.
One day the boss passes away and Clair isn’t welcome to attend his funeral or see his family. Understandably they consider her a hoe like they should..
Enters new boss. Claire gives him a bold once-over and she also catches his eye. New boss has standing vengeance for old boss and the grapevine and employee clause disclose that Claire was indeed the old man’s mistress.
The H wants to get in the h’s pants to avenge the harm caused by the ex-owner of the company. The h and H spar but the h is rather snappy and bold. She’s breathing heavy and checking out the H at all the wrong places and yet wants to argue her point home that she was maidenly.
Clair may still have her v-card but she was an old horse in her ways. I hated her. There wasn’t anything sweet or adorable about the h who was almost negotiating her salary and boarding with a chance to roll in the hay with the new boss. I’ll stop here. Not for me and I do not recommend.
September 18, 2019
Why do I even bother anymore?
September 30, 2014
The Russian's Acquistion is my first keeper by Dani Collins. I have no complaints.
What worked- The prose was very compelling. It was intense. The chemistry between the hero and heroine leapt off the page. For the first time in awhile with an HP I actually read thru all the smexy scenes instead of skimming them.
The hero- out for revenge due to a tortured past. He sees the heroine and like a warrior from history views her as the spoils of war. I liked how one saw his emotional undoing once involved with the heroine. She cracked all his barriers and his admission of love was so believable.
The heroine- she was strong, challenged the hero when needed but she wasn't annoying in doing so. Her history was one of loss just like the hero's. She built walls to keep people out even to the point of denying herself the romantic relationships. Loved, loved loved how she meets the hero and is sucker punched by the emotions he creates inside her.
A very good romance about two damaged characters finding love.
What worked- The prose was very compelling. It was intense. The chemistry between the hero and heroine leapt off the page. For the first time in awhile with an HP I actually read thru all the smexy scenes instead of skimming them.
The hero- out for revenge due to a tortured past. He sees the heroine and like a warrior from history views her as the spoils of war. I liked how one saw his emotional undoing once involved with the heroine. She cracked all his barriers and his admission of love was so believable.
The heroine- she was strong, challenged the hero when needed but she wasn't annoying in doing so. Her history was one of loss just like the hero's. She built walls to keep people out even to the point of denying herself the romantic relationships. Loved, loved loved how she meets the hero and is sucker punched by the emotions he creates inside her.
A very good romance about two damaged characters finding love.
June 15, 2018
I love Russian heroes 😍 but i wanted an epilogue with babies.
May 21, 2017
¡Me encantó! Y eso que no le daba mucho crédito, pero esta autora me sorprende a veces para bien y devoro sus libros o para mal, no me deja indiferente. Es una escritora nueva de las Harlequin y rápidamente se está convirtiendo en una de mis elegidas... Es como un soplo fresco entre las de siempre, sus historias son trilladas pero la química de sus protagonistas y las escenas donde los sitúa son verdaderamente muy atractivas.
Comencé a leer pensando cómo la prota no me caía bien y de repente me gustó mucho. Él, Aleksy, es di-vi-no, esos personajes que me encantan, con sus ocurrencias y a la vez debilidades. Interactúan y todo se prende fuego. ¿Qué más quiero después de días estresantes doce horas fuera de casa? Ayudaron a mi evasión y por eso me gustaron muchísimo.
Comencé a leer pensando cómo la prota no me caía bien y de repente me gustó mucho. Él, Aleksy, es di-vi-no, esos personajes que me encantan, con sus ocurrencias y a la vez debilidades. Interactúan y todo se prende fuego. ¿Qué más quiero después de días estresantes doce horas fuera de casa? Ayudaron a mi evasión y por eso me gustaron muchísimo.
September 13, 2021
Ever since reading Vow of Revenge, I’ve been a fan of Ms. Collins. And with this book, she has proven once again how talented she is. She can create flawed yet relatable characters; with couples that make you want to root for. Aleksy and Clair are no exception. This story may at first appear a bit cliché because of the common mistress-o-blackmail plot, but the background and the character are so well-developed that it immediately draws you in. It has everything that I needed and wanted in my romance novel – angst, passion, sadness, jealousy, redemption, hotness… and the list goes on. To say that this book hit all the right spots for me would be an understatement. Everything just worked.
Aleksy was an intense hero, and I honestly didn’t like him at first, especially the way he treated Clair. He’s dominant who takes what he wants without any questions asked or without caring who will get hurt. He takes bossy and controlling to the next level, and he owns it. He’s also dark and brooding. As for Clair, she’s an amazing heroine. I really admired her strength and determination. She’s already been through so much, and she still didn’t give up and managed to find a way to cope with all the pain she had to go through.
The chemistry between them was off the charts. They might start on shaky ground, but as the story progressed, you could see that they were absolutely perfect for each other. And once Aleksy admits his feelings, the moment was adorable and sigh-worthy.
”A man like me loves for life, and this is it.”
And the way he asked her to marry him was very fitting because Clair grew up in an orphanage where she spent most of her childhood.
”Clair, will you come home with me?”It was lovely to see them get their much deserved HEA.
“I always wanted someone to come here and say that to me It was worth the wait.”
“No more waiting. I’m here now.”
Overall, The Russian Acquisition was a well written, heart-wrenching, heartwarming romance. This book has something in it for everyone. Go pick it up!
April 17, 2017
I didn't work for me.
November 22, 2014
Gonna keep these reviews as short and sweet as can be and just be based on the notes I kept. I probably have others thoughts on this book, but have not included them all here being I have five reviews tonight to do. So let's get started.
4.5 stars
Once again Dani Collins wrote a dark, angsty emotional love story that had plenty of drama to spare. I love those kinds of books, and I love her and her writing. With this book being no exception.
This book ripped out my heart a couple time especially when it came to the character of Clair. At times I wanted to give her a big hug and just comfort her because she didn't deserve what happened to her in her life nor did she deserve how she was treated by Aleksy in the beginning, he was a class one jerk, but it added to the angst and drama to the novel, which I love. Besides he more than made up for it in the end, which is what I like to see, the whole I can't stand you angle and think you're a gold digger to I'm totally in love with you and you're my angel kind of view. I love to see the grovel and how their views just get totally turned on their head, which was the case with Aleksy then his whole attitude changed toward Clair and he became a really sweet hero that was totally in love with her.
The basic premise of the story was that Aleksy wanted revenge on Victor after destroying his family, however before he could carry out his plan of revenge and throw it in Victor's face. Victor died, leaving Aleksy highly unsatisfied until he learned of the existence of Clair, who he thought was Victor's mistress and he vowed to get revenge on her in lieu of Victor not being there. So he stripped her of her job, which Victor gave her, home, and basically everything, which again Victor gave to her and leave her with nothing and basically homeless. Now Clair didn't care about the possession or anything concerning herself, but more the money she was promised by Victor in order to start her charity to an orphanage so that orphans could get the love and support nothing like she got when she was an orphan, which was time she felt worthless. So that was her concern and she tried to appeal to Aleksy about the money though she didn't tell him what the money was for, which made Aleksy believe she was nothing but a money scheming mooch who was out for everything that she could get without earning a penny herself. So he agreed to give her the money as long as she became his mistress and he could have her body and use it whenever he wanted it, and he wanted it and her, though he resented it because of what believed. Knowing what this meant to the children, she agreed, even though it made her feel like a nothing and nothing but a body to him and not a person that he could grow to care about. But her thoughts were with the children first.
And then the affair began and sparks flew not only with their combustible chemistry, but also in learning the truth about one another that weren't always pleasant especially in Aleksy's case when he found out he was all wrong about Clair, who was nothing like a gold digger that he thought but a loyal and caring woman who didn't really have a high opinion of herself.
Having these rich backstories for each character created the drama as well as that emotional angst that I love in romance novels, and how this angst translated into a powerful love story where their love for one another healed the old wounds they were facing and able to move on with one another. That I really enjoyed and I loved how Dani Collins incorporated all that.
As for the chemistry, it was off the charts. From the moment they meet spark flew, and not only because of the hostility and misunderstandings that occurred between them, but hot, hot attraction that I could feel ooze off the pages. They were electric together and that continued on throughout and didn't stop. With the physically attraction went deeper and deeper until emotions took hold of them after every love scene that took place and lead them down the road of love. The physical and emotional were very much apart of the scenes with each becoming more intense as they went. From the first time when Aleksy found out she in fact never had a lover before to the very last. One of my favorite scenes was the one where Clair seduced Aleksy, at first she believed she couldn't do it especially since she was so inexperienced while he was the complete opposite, but he encouraged her to go ahead a seduce him because she very much could. I just loved all the tension and heat in that scene and I could almost hear Aleksy hold his breath every time she touched him and pushed him more and more to the edge and doing everything to keep his control in order for her to gain confidence with the knowledge that she could do this to him as well as the fact that he wanted her not just her body. It was just nice to see him vulnerable and willing to be vulnerable for her. It was a hot scene, but it was also sweet at the same time. One of the highlights.
Just I loved all the heightened emotions in this one, and really tugged at my heart strings especially for Clair. I wanted her to find her prince charming, and Aleksy was her prince charming even if in the beginning he was a frog, a mean frog, but like I said he made up for it and was a sweetheart towards her in the end. Understanding her. Helping her and just trying to show her that she was a wantable woman. I liked when he finally found out the truth and his attitude immediately changed around. I'll admit at first he was harsh and a big old jerk and I wanted to punch him sometimes, but in he end he came through. I like that whole theme in romance I don't know why. I guess it just adds to the emotions and drama of the story.
Overall I really liked this book and found it an enjoyable read, which I got through pretty quickly. Once again Dani Collins created this emotional love story that I immediately got suck into along with characters that I really felt for. I liked that Dani Collins ripped out my heart but then put it back together again and gave Aleksy and Clair the happily ever after they both deserved.
4.5 stars
Once again Dani Collins wrote a dark, angsty emotional love story that had plenty of drama to spare. I love those kinds of books, and I love her and her writing. With this book being no exception.
This book ripped out my heart a couple time especially when it came to the character of Clair. At times I wanted to give her a big hug and just comfort her because she didn't deserve what happened to her in her life nor did she deserve how she was treated by Aleksy in the beginning, he was a class one jerk, but it added to the angst and drama to the novel, which I love. Besides he more than made up for it in the end, which is what I like to see, the whole I can't stand you angle and think you're a gold digger to I'm totally in love with you and you're my angel kind of view. I love to see the grovel and how their views just get totally turned on their head, which was the case with Aleksy then his whole attitude changed toward Clair and he became a really sweet hero that was totally in love with her.
The basic premise of the story was that Aleksy wanted revenge on Victor after destroying his family, however before he could carry out his plan of revenge and throw it in Victor's face. Victor died, leaving Aleksy highly unsatisfied until he learned of the existence of Clair, who he thought was Victor's mistress and he vowed to get revenge on her in lieu of Victor not being there. So he stripped her of her job, which Victor gave her, home, and basically everything, which again Victor gave to her and leave her with nothing and basically homeless. Now Clair didn't care about the possession or anything concerning herself, but more the money she was promised by Victor in order to start her charity to an orphanage so that orphans could get the love and support nothing like she got when she was an orphan, which was time she felt worthless. So that was her concern and she tried to appeal to Aleksy about the money though she didn't tell him what the money was for, which made Aleksy believe she was nothing but a money scheming mooch who was out for everything that she could get without earning a penny herself. So he agreed to give her the money as long as she became his mistress and he could have her body and use it whenever he wanted it, and he wanted it and her, though he resented it because of what believed. Knowing what this meant to the children, she agreed, even though it made her feel like a nothing and nothing but a body to him and not a person that he could grow to care about. But her thoughts were with the children first.
And then the affair began and sparks flew not only with their combustible chemistry, but also in learning the truth about one another that weren't always pleasant especially in Aleksy's case when he found out he was all wrong about Clair, who was nothing like a gold digger that he thought but a loyal and caring woman who didn't really have a high opinion of herself.
Having these rich backstories for each character created the drama as well as that emotional angst that I love in romance novels, and how this angst translated into a powerful love story where their love for one another healed the old wounds they were facing and able to move on with one another. That I really enjoyed and I loved how Dani Collins incorporated all that.
As for the chemistry, it was off the charts. From the moment they meet spark flew, and not only because of the hostility and misunderstandings that occurred between them, but hot, hot attraction that I could feel ooze off the pages. They were electric together and that continued on throughout and didn't stop. With the physically attraction went deeper and deeper until emotions took hold of them after every love scene that took place and lead them down the road of love. The physical and emotional were very much apart of the scenes with each becoming more intense as they went. From the first time when Aleksy found out she in fact never had a lover before to the very last. One of my favorite scenes was the one where Clair seduced Aleksy, at first she believed she couldn't do it especially since she was so inexperienced while he was the complete opposite, but he encouraged her to go ahead a seduce him because she very much could. I just loved all the tension and heat in that scene and I could almost hear Aleksy hold his breath every time she touched him and pushed him more and more to the edge and doing everything to keep his control in order for her to gain confidence with the knowledge that she could do this to him as well as the fact that he wanted her not just her body. It was just nice to see him vulnerable and willing to be vulnerable for her. It was a hot scene, but it was also sweet at the same time. One of the highlights.
Just I loved all the heightened emotions in this one, and really tugged at my heart strings especially for Clair. I wanted her to find her prince charming, and Aleksy was her prince charming even if in the beginning he was a frog, a mean frog, but like I said he made up for it and was a sweetheart towards her in the end. Understanding her. Helping her and just trying to show her that she was a wantable woman. I liked when he finally found out the truth and his attitude immediately changed around. I'll admit at first he was harsh and a big old jerk and I wanted to punch him sometimes, but in he end he came through. I like that whole theme in romance I don't know why. I guess it just adds to the emotions and drama of the story.
Overall I really liked this book and found it an enjoyable read, which I got through pretty quickly. Once again Dani Collins created this emotional love story that I immediately got suck into along with characters that I really felt for. I liked that Dani Collins ripped out my heart but then put it back together again and gave Aleksy and Clair the happily ever after they both deserved.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 8, 2017
I liked it because at the start you think he's gonna be one of those hardass mean alphas, but he's really pretty mushy and gets his misconceptions re: the sweet, innocent, charity-loving orphan heroine straightened out fairly quickly. He's lonely and nice, she's sweet and nice, they keep trying to be nice to each other but keep misunderstanding each other like sillies, but they get a nice HEA anyway.
June 1, 2015
Se disfruta.
August 2, 2015
Dani Collins is turning out to be my favorite of the new crop of HP authors. This was a nice one with a tortured hero and a sweet heroine.
April 3, 2019
Another stellar read from Dani Collins! Almost a 5 star read... but I so wanted an epilogue with lots of babies for these two!
December 23, 2017
This was the first book I’ve read from this author and it will not be the last! This was a great book that came highly recommended by fellow reviewers who I have come to trust. Nothing in the relationship between the hero and heroine felt forced or contrived. You could easily see the main characters slowly falling in love with each other. They both come from unstable backgrounds so they tried to fight their feelings but couldn’t. It was a sweet romance that had some angst while getting steamy in the bedroom.
The one problem I had with the book is that I just could not relate to why the heroine let people think she was the mistress to her former boss. I really tried to understand her rationale and I just couldn’t, so I took away a star and gave the book 4 Stars. This may seem harsh on my part however, the belief that she is the mistress to her boss sets up the entire story and why the hero initially targeted the heroine, so that plot point really needed to be strong and I didn’t find it plausible, relatable or convincing. I also like a good epilogue at the end of books and it would have been nice to see these two characters, who each thought they were undeserving of love, live in wedded bliss.
I’ve been in search of a new author, as I’m very loyal to the authors I like, and Dani Collins has definitely impressed me. If her other books are anything like this one, I’ll be reading and reviewing more of her books.
The one problem I had with the book is that I just could not relate to why the heroine let people think she was the mistress to her former boss. I really tried to understand her rationale and I just couldn’t, so I took away a star and gave the book 4 Stars. This may seem harsh on my part however, the belief that she is the mistress to her boss sets up the entire story and why the hero initially targeted the heroine, so that plot point really needed to be strong and I didn’t find it plausible, relatable or convincing. I also like a good epilogue at the end of books and it would have been nice to see these two characters, who each thought they were undeserving of love, live in wedded bliss.
I’ve been in search of a new author, as I’m very loyal to the authors I like, and Dani Collins has definitely impressed me. If her other books are anything like this one, I’ll be reading and reviewing more of her books.
November 10, 2021
A man tries getting revenge on another only to find his target is dead. So he seizes the dead man’s assets, systematically strips fortunes from his would-be victim’s male inheritors and makes a mistress out of the corpse’s living, luscious, lovely lady. Wait, that’s The Greek’s Pleasurable Revenge. A man confronts a woman and states she’s nothing more than a filthy slut who’s slept her way into a profitable position. No, that’s Bought by her Italian Boss. Or am I thinking about Pursued by the Desert Prince?
Those are the trite scenarios that we get here. Aleksy Dmitriev, business tycoon, was wronged by Victor Van Eych for an unspecified crime. He’s been pursuing vengeance against Victor for a long time, only to find Victor dead shortly before Aleksy acquires the company.
We know that Aleksy is holding a grudge against Victor because Claire Daniels encounters him throwing a childish tantrum. He’s hurling Victor’s trophies into a garbage can, gleefully watching them shatter and break. Then he confronts Claire by stating he’s getting rid of all Victor’s trophies—including her.
Yes, he’s assumed Claire was Victor’s mistress. To be fair, she let everyone think it. Victor was very kind to her when no one else was. In exchange, Claire pretended to be his mistress because Victor was actually impotent and was ashamed to have anyone know it. Because of this well-maintained fiction, Aleksy’s hatred for Victor extends to contempt dumped on poor Claire, too. So what does Aleksy do? To appease his spleen, he demands that Claire become his mistress. Say what?
Aleksy is supposed to be a sharp character. But he comes across as a bullying, tyrannical, sneering, moronic twat who jumps at assumptions and is easily parted from his money. He could have dug into Claire’s assets to see whether she had unusually large funds deposited into her bank account, as one would expect from the mistress of a rich man. But he didn’t. He could have checked Victor’s medical records before accusing Claire; then he would have found out about Victor’s impotency. But he doesn’t do that until after Claire tells him Victor’s secret. He could have checked to see if Claire’s foundation, the burgeoning Brighter Days, was actually a reality before handing over $50,000 to it. But he didn’t do that until after the check cleared.
Then he has the gall to ask her why she would lose her virginity for a charity. Really? This is the part where you grovel and say you’re sorry, you worthless cad, not ask her about her rationales! But Claire is one of those quivering, meek, doubting, damaged, virginal romantic heroines who barely have any personalities of their own. So she constantly answers Aleksy’s questions about matters that are none of his business. She’s lost her job (thank you, Aleksy), she can’t afford her flat and Victor’s promise to fund her charity fell through with the old man’s death. So she’s made a devil’s bargain with Aleksy to sleep with him to get the necessary funds of $100,000. (And this is supposed to make her NOT look like a scheming gold-digger?)
Aleksy’s reasons for his vendetta against Victor aren’t really specified, at least not for four-fifths of the book. Early on, he hands Claire a paper supposedly detailing Victor’s criminal activities. But the reader doesn’t get to see what’s on that paper. Later, Aleksy holds Victor responsible for his father’s death but states that he can’t prove the connection. With such vague statements in play, the reader can be forgiven for being a little skeptical about Victor’s supposed crimes, disinterested in Aleksy’s motivations and angry on Claire’s behalf for being shanghaied into sexual slavery by a man who despises her.
But what does Claire do? She swings immediately from being grateful to Victor to feeling ashamed for having worked for him because he’s turned out to be such a dirtbag. Gee, could it be because you’re falling for your keeper, you pliant little wimp?
Aleksy is a barbaric toad and Claire his willing, submissive doormat. There is nothing holding them together except for their galloping gonads. Maybe there are readers out there who think folks like this make for dreamy, romantic couples. This reader wishes they were both thrown to the bears.
Those are the trite scenarios that we get here. Aleksy Dmitriev, business tycoon, was wronged by Victor Van Eych for an unspecified crime. He’s been pursuing vengeance against Victor for a long time, only to find Victor dead shortly before Aleksy acquires the company.
We know that Aleksy is holding a grudge against Victor because Claire Daniels encounters him throwing a childish tantrum. He’s hurling Victor’s trophies into a garbage can, gleefully watching them shatter and break. Then he confronts Claire by stating he’s getting rid of all Victor’s trophies—including her.
Yes, he’s assumed Claire was Victor’s mistress. To be fair, she let everyone think it. Victor was very kind to her when no one else was. In exchange, Claire pretended to be his mistress because Victor was actually impotent and was ashamed to have anyone know it. Because of this well-maintained fiction, Aleksy’s hatred for Victor extends to contempt dumped on poor Claire, too. So what does Aleksy do? To appease his spleen, he demands that Claire become his mistress. Say what?
Aleksy is supposed to be a sharp character. But he comes across as a bullying, tyrannical, sneering, moronic twat who jumps at assumptions and is easily parted from his money. He could have dug into Claire’s assets to see whether she had unusually large funds deposited into her bank account, as one would expect from the mistress of a rich man. But he didn’t. He could have checked Victor’s medical records before accusing Claire; then he would have found out about Victor’s impotency. But he doesn’t do that until after Claire tells him Victor’s secret. He could have checked to see if Claire’s foundation, the burgeoning Brighter Days, was actually a reality before handing over $50,000 to it. But he didn’t do that until after the check cleared.
Then he has the gall to ask her why she would lose her virginity for a charity. Really? This is the part where you grovel and say you’re sorry, you worthless cad, not ask her about her rationales! But Claire is one of those quivering, meek, doubting, damaged, virginal romantic heroines who barely have any personalities of their own. So she constantly answers Aleksy’s questions about matters that are none of his business. She’s lost her job (thank you, Aleksy), she can’t afford her flat and Victor’s promise to fund her charity fell through with the old man’s death. So she’s made a devil’s bargain with Aleksy to sleep with him to get the necessary funds of $100,000. (And this is supposed to make her NOT look like a scheming gold-digger?)
Aleksy’s reasons for his vendetta against Victor aren’t really specified, at least not for four-fifths of the book. Early on, he hands Claire a paper supposedly detailing Victor’s criminal activities. But the reader doesn’t get to see what’s on that paper. Later, Aleksy holds Victor responsible for his father’s death but states that he can’t prove the connection. With such vague statements in play, the reader can be forgiven for being a little skeptical about Victor’s supposed crimes, disinterested in Aleksy’s motivations and angry on Claire’s behalf for being shanghaied into sexual slavery by a man who despises her.
But what does Claire do? She swings immediately from being grateful to Victor to feeling ashamed for having worked for him because he’s turned out to be such a dirtbag. Gee, could it be because you’re falling for your keeper, you pliant little wimp?
Aleksy is a barbaric toad and Claire his willing, submissive doormat. There is nothing holding them together except for their galloping gonads. Maybe there are readers out there who think folks like this make for dreamy, romantic couples. This reader wishes they were both thrown to the bears.
November 22, 2014
3.5 stars, I enjoyed it but not on my favorite list.
Mostly because I find Alesky's a bit annoying. But overall I enjoyed the storyline. Typical Harlequin but the style of writing is a bit better than any other Harlequin I have read before.
Look forward to read another books from this author!
Mostly because I find Alesky's a bit annoying. But overall I enjoyed the storyline. Typical Harlequin but the style of writing is a bit better than any other Harlequin I have read before.
Look forward to read another books from this author!
Read
September 21, 2016You can catch up with Clair and Aleksy in The Secret Beneath The Veil. There's also a Christmas Epilogue you can download by joining my newsletter at: http://danicollins.com/free-book/
When you join, you'll also get Cruel Summer, a free short story download and some sneak peeks at my other upcoming works.
When you join, you'll also get Cruel Summer, a free short story download and some sneak peeks at my other upcoming works.
June 4, 2021
Aleksy Dmitriev is after the ultimate revenge. Yet his plan backfires when he discovers that his new mistress, Clair Daniels, is a virgin who could not have been her former employer's lover.
Revenge may be out the window, but that won't stop Aleksy from enjoying the perks of his purchase…. But Clair is destined to be more than just this Russian's acquisition!
Revenge may be out the window, but that won't stop Aleksy from enjoying the perks of his purchase…. But Clair is destined to be more than just this Russian's acquisition!
January 2, 2026
Me encantan las novelas Bianca y esta historia es fantastica. Me encanto de principio a fin. El final es muy lindo y emotivo.
December 31, 2019
Protagonistas: Clair & Aleksy
Profesiones: Empresario & Secretaria
Pais: Londres & Rusia
Profesiones: Empresario & Secretaria
Pais: Londres & Rusia
November 9, 2014
To: ClairDaniels@BrighterDaysChildrensFund.org
From: Aleksy.D@DmitrievHoldings.com
Subject: Contractual Offer
You will find $100 000 in your charity's account today, provided I find you in my bed tonight.
Those are the shocking words Clair has to face up to, when the notorious Aleksy Dmitriev enters her life. Alesky is after the ultimate revenge, yet his plan backfires spectacularly when he discovers Clair is a virgin and cannot possibly have been her former employer's lover.
But not all is lost, he is the one and the only Alesky Dmitriev of course and he will not go down that easy.
Revenge is out the window but he will still enjoy the perks of his purchase, only spitfire Clair is destined to be more than just this Russian's acquisition! Let the games begin!
This read is by far the best Dani Collins book ever! The characters were simply perfect from start to finish. Intense, raw, passionate and so realistic it felt as if they were coming alive with each word and action the author played out , I really felt that wow connection with them both and it blew me away!
The character of Alesky was the perfect mix of dark and tortured becomes sweet and kind I adored it. The character of Clair was strong and feisty really stuck it to the hero and I mean really, really stuck it to him.
It was fun, intense and simply remarkable. The one and only complaint I have about this read , was that it ended. I wanted the passion and iintensityof this relationship to continue long after I read the last line.
I am taking away a message of everyone has someone they are willing to die for, the trick is to be able to recognize when such a person enters your life, if you don't then the loss will be more devastating then death itself.
I recommend this read for all fans of romance reads. And if you are not a fan of romance this is the read that will hook you , and suddenly have you believing in love, forever.
5/5 star review
" He takes her to heaven then sends her crashing to hell, will it be too late to bring her back again?"
From: Aleksy.D@DmitrievHoldings.com
Subject: Contractual Offer
You will find $100 000 in your charity's account today, provided I find you in my bed tonight.
Those are the shocking words Clair has to face up to, when the notorious Aleksy Dmitriev enters her life. Alesky is after the ultimate revenge, yet his plan backfires spectacularly when he discovers Clair is a virgin and cannot possibly have been her former employer's lover.
But not all is lost, he is the one and the only Alesky Dmitriev of course and he will not go down that easy.
Revenge is out the window but he will still enjoy the perks of his purchase, only spitfire Clair is destined to be more than just this Russian's acquisition! Let the games begin!
This read is by far the best Dani Collins book ever! The characters were simply perfect from start to finish. Intense, raw, passionate and so realistic it felt as if they were coming alive with each word and action the author played out , I really felt that wow connection with them both and it blew me away!
The character of Alesky was the perfect mix of dark and tortured becomes sweet and kind I adored it. The character of Clair was strong and feisty really stuck it to the hero and I mean really, really stuck it to him.
It was fun, intense and simply remarkable. The one and only complaint I have about this read , was that it ended. I wanted the passion and iintensityof this relationship to continue long after I read the last line.
I am taking away a message of everyone has someone they are willing to die for, the trick is to be able to recognize when such a person enters your life, if you don't then the loss will be more devastating then death itself.
I recommend this read for all fans of romance reads. And if you are not a fan of romance this is the read that will hook you , and suddenly have you believing in love, forever.
5/5 star review
" He takes her to heaven then sends her crashing to hell, will it be too late to bring her back again?"
February 1, 2022
I enjoyed this. Really well executed story of revenge, blackmailed mistress and a scarred Russian hero with a sweet but not submissive heroine. Dani Collins certainly hits the mark again!
Edited February 2022. I have re-read this one several times and I still love it. I think this book shows DC at her best - creating engaging, fascinating characters; putting them in fabulous settings and impossible scenarios - and making the reader care about them. I love the fact that Alex and Clair keep turning up in other books!
Edited February 2022. I have re-read this one several times and I still love it. I think this book shows DC at her best - creating engaging, fascinating characters; putting them in fabulous settings and impossible scenarios - and making the reader care about them. I love the fact that Alex and Clair keep turning up in other books!
April 1, 2023
Can I put into words how amazing this book is? No. Or how much I loved the characters? No. Or how much I hurt for both of them? No.
All I can say is I wanted to give them book hugs multiple times. I'm so so so glad they have each other now. They deserve to be happy.
That's all I can say for now.
All I can say is I wanted to give them book hugs multiple times. I'm so so so glad they have each other now. They deserve to be happy.
That's all I can say for now.
November 18, 2014
I give this 2 just for the author's good writing...Misunderstanding over misunderstanding, Alphahole Jerk Hero who even when he's wrong won't admit it and cardboard, no backbone heroine... nothing in this book worked for me.
August 8, 2015
Didn't like the h or the story but the H was great. I loved his scar and his background story. I wish he would have been more possessive and jealous. You see glimpses of it but it wasn't enough for me.
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