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The Anetakis Tycoons #3
The Affair
The story of a boss's big surprise by #1 NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR MAYA BANKS
It was only supposed to be a vacation romance: passionate, exciting—and short-lived. But when Jewel Henley arrived for her first day of work at a new job, she realized her exotic lover was in fact Piers Anetakis, her boss. A boss who had a strict rule about not getting involved with his employees. Before she knew it, Jewel found herself without a job…and pregnant.
Now, five months later, Piers finally tracks down his one-night lover. Determined to explain the mistakes he made, he is confronted with an undeniable truth: Jewel is carrying his child. The only honorable solution is to marry. Yet is there more between them than lust? Because attentive as he is, Jewel knows he still doesn't trust her. And until he does, all they have…is an affair.
Top Pick!…An extraordinarily moving romance with wonderfully charismatic protagonists."
—RT Book Reviews on The Affair
THE AFFAIR was originally published as The Tycoon's Secret Affair
139 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 1, 2009
574 people are currently reading
1739 people want to read
About the author
Maya Banks
250 books21.6k followersMaya Banks is the #1 New York Times, #1 USA Today and international bestselling author of over 50 novels. A wife and mother of three, she lives in Texas.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 211 reviews
November 1, 2022
***4.50 Stars***
Read this book so many times and I love it more each time. It took me a while to get used to how the Greeks are portrayed and the type of personalities they have. Very much like the Sheikhs that tend to feel ownership over their girlfriend, fiancee or wife.
Jewel Henley had no idea that she had just spent the night in the arms of her new boss, not until she arrived for her first and last day of work at Anetakis Hotels. When she fled the hotel with an empty wallet and a broken heart, she wasn't alone. She unknowingly carried Piers Anetakis's child.
Piers Anetakis has been doing his best to track down Jewel Henley, his one-night lover, without any success. He is determined to locate and explain to Jewel the mistakes that were made in her release from employment. Five months after their night together, he receives an unexpected call...from Jewel. She is ill and in the hospital. He comes quickly to her aid and discovers she is pregnant...but after a traumatic deception and scam that one woman pulled on him, he refuses to believe the child is his.
It takes Piers no time at all to realize there is more between them than mere lust. If she had truly been a one night stand, why had he spent five months searching for her? His strong Greek honor has him demanding marriage even though he thinks she is pregnant by another man.
I absolutely adored this book! I highly recommend you read this. I have read the other books in this series and loved Mistress but didn't care much for Bride.
Read this book so many times and I love it more each time. It took me a while to get used to how the Greeks are portrayed and the type of personalities they have. Very much like the Sheikhs that tend to feel ownership over their girlfriend, fiancee or wife.
Jewel Henley had no idea that she had just spent the night in the arms of her new boss, not until she arrived for her first and last day of work at Anetakis Hotels. When she fled the hotel with an empty wallet and a broken heart, she wasn't alone. She unknowingly carried Piers Anetakis's child.
Piers Anetakis has been doing his best to track down Jewel Henley, his one-night lover, without any success. He is determined to locate and explain to Jewel the mistakes that were made in her release from employment. Five months after their night together, he receives an unexpected call...from Jewel. She is ill and in the hospital. He comes quickly to her aid and discovers she is pregnant...but after a traumatic deception and scam that one woman pulled on him, he refuses to believe the child is his.
It takes Piers no time at all to realize there is more between them than mere lust. If she had truly been a one night stand, why had he spent five months searching for her? His strong Greek honor has him demanding marriage even though he thinks she is pregnant by another man.
I absolutely adored this book! I highly recommend you read this. I have read the other books in this series and loved Mistress but didn't care much for Bride.
July 28, 2019
I loved the heroine. She had an awful unhappy childhood but she is full of goodness. You feel her vibrancy, her spirit and her heart of gold. She and the hero had great chemistry but I felt like the book wasn't focused enough on their relationship and towards the end I was skipping the pages because I was bored. It really went down hill and fell flat in the last pages.
June 23, 2020
Fluffy fantasy of a former foster child heroine who had a one night stand with a man who turned out to be her new boss. From there she got fired, fell pregnant, and only contacted hero when she needed help. Hero forced her to marry him within the week.
The heroine quickly forgave the hero for firing her and settled into married life. Hero tries to be nice. He bought the heroine jewelry, a house, and a chef. But he blew hot and cold. He was jealous of an OM. He was mistrustful because another woman did him wrong.
The hero's brothers from the first two books in the series show up several times with their wives. All was well until . . .
The heroine quickly forgave the hero for firing her and settled into married life. Hero tries to be nice. He bought the heroine jewelry, a house, and a chef. But he blew hot and cold. He was jealous of an OM. He was mistrustful because another woman did him wrong.
The hero's brothers from the first two books in the series show up several times with their wives. All was well until . . .
July 7, 2009
Third and last book in the Anetakis series.
Jewel is a woman w/o roots. She lands on some tropical isle and instantly lands some lucrative temp job. While waiting for her job to start, she has a one nite stand with some dude and finds out the next morning that he is her new boss. He may be some hotel tycoon gazillionaire but still too cheap, obviously, to buy some good quality condoms because she gets knocked up from their night together. Can two strangers make this marriage work?
Piers is a fantasy figure, a generous gazillionaire who showers Jewel with diamonds and posh homes. The book is likable enough and certainly readable.
Both Jewel and Piers come to the marriage with emotional baggage and I was a bit impatient with both since Pier's baggage got precedence and Jewel's backstory gets shortchanged as a result.
There is an invisible villain in the book (besides the makers of crappy condoms, that is) whose presence is strongly felt throughout the story. It's disappointing that she never showed up to answer some questions that was never resolved and to provide closure for the H/H and this reader. Very, very disappointing.
Fans of the series (I am not one of them) will be happy to know that the H/Hs of the first two bks have plenty of presence in this novel.
Grade: B-
Jewel is a woman w/o roots. She lands on some tropical isle and instantly lands some lucrative temp job. While waiting for her job to start, she has a one nite stand with some dude and finds out the next morning that he is her new boss. He may be some hotel tycoon gazillionaire but still too cheap, obviously, to buy some good quality condoms because she gets knocked up from their night together. Can two strangers make this marriage work?
Piers is a fantasy figure, a generous gazillionaire who showers Jewel with diamonds and posh homes. The book is likable enough and certainly readable.
Both Jewel and Piers come to the marriage with emotional baggage and I was a bit impatient with both since Pier's baggage got precedence and Jewel's backstory gets shortchanged as a result.
There is an invisible villain in the book (besides the makers of crappy condoms, that is) whose presence is strongly felt throughout the story. It's disappointing that she never showed up to answer some questions that was never resolved and to provide closure for the H/H and this reader. Very, very disappointing.
Fans of the series (I am not one of them) will be happy to know that the H/Hs of the first two bks have plenty of presence in this novel.
Grade: B-
May 21, 2018
3.5 stars!
December 12, 2025
Simple, old school angst
Nothing special, but a good and short audiobook to listen to while too busy to read.
Some predictable angst, not too keen, and some sweet moments.
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🕮⋆˚࿔✎𓂃 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰𝐬
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Nothing special, but a good and short audiobook to listen to while too busy to read.
Some predictable angst, not too keen, and some sweet moments.
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🕮⋆˚࿔✎𓂃 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰𝐬
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October 23, 2019
My Thoughts:
This one was my least favorite of the Anetakis series. In the past books, Piers was the most standoffish and he doesn’t improve in his own book. He was also the biggest jerk to his heroine. He was always jumping to assumptions and thinking and saying the worst things. Wish Jewel wouldn’t have been so needy or easy to forgive. The guy called her a liar, a thief, questioned the paternity of her baby and was all around a total a$$ to her and he didn’t even grovel! 1.5 Stars.
SAFETY INFO:
This one was my least favorite of the Anetakis series. In the past books, Piers was the most standoffish and he doesn’t improve in his own book. He was also the biggest jerk to his heroine. He was always jumping to assumptions and thinking and saying the worst things. Wish Jewel wouldn’t have been so needy or easy to forgive. The guy called her a liar, a thief, questioned the paternity of her baby and was all around a total a$$ to her and he didn’t even grovel! 1.5 Stars.
SAFETY INFO:
June 17, 2012
Banks' usual category formula: hero is a mistrustful asshat, he makes the heroine suffer, that makes him suffer, then there are babies. Fortunately, I love this formula, and Banks usually adds enough original plot to keep it from getting stale. This is the last in a series and somewhat overloaded with the previous two couples being shmoopy all over the place -- and I will never quite get the "gazillionaire willingly spending vast amounts of money on women he thinks is out to cheat him" plotline. (See Breath of Magic by Theresa Medeiros for another prime example.) Still, a very entertaining read, with some surprises.
January 7, 2025
I don't know why, but I like this f'd up book.
Don't judge me ;)
Don't judge me ;)
August 10, 2019
I was expecting a bit more from Maya Banks. This story was just so so for me. I couldn't seem to care about either of these characters at all.
March 20, 2018
This was the third time I read this book, and loved it as much as I did the first time I read.
Jewels, and Piers met, and spent one sizzling night together before Jewels started her new job. I’m not sure who was more shocked when jewels showed up to work. Piers, or Jewels. Neither thought their paths would cross again. Now Jewels was there to be the assistant for Piers. He left on a trip and called his personal department and had her fired.
Five months later Jewels is in the hospital. Jewels is pregnant with his daughter. She is having complications. The hospital will not discharge her until they are certain Jewels will have someone with her to care for her. She only has one friend, and he can’t come. She had no choice but to call Piers.
Maya banks really knows how to write an emotional story that pulls at your heart. This story was beautiful written. I loved the Happy ending that they all got. The other characters really enriched this story. I loved the sister in laws. It was also nice to see the three brothers and how much they loved and dotted on their wife's. This book has been placed on my books of favorite's.
Jewels, and Piers met, and spent one sizzling night together before Jewels started her new job. I’m not sure who was more shocked when jewels showed up to work. Piers, or Jewels. Neither thought their paths would cross again. Now Jewels was there to be the assistant for Piers. He left on a trip and called his personal department and had her fired.
Five months later Jewels is in the hospital. Jewels is pregnant with his daughter. She is having complications. The hospital will not discharge her until they are certain Jewels will have someone with her to care for her. She only has one friend, and he can’t come. She had no choice but to call Piers.
Maya banks really knows how to write an emotional story that pulls at your heart. This story was beautiful written. I loved the Happy ending that they all got. The other characters really enriched this story. I loved the sister in laws. It was also nice to see the three brothers and how much they loved and dotted on their wife's. This book has been placed on my books of favorite's.
August 18, 2019
3 ⭐⭐⭐ - OK decent reads.
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“You think this is a scheme to extort money from you. You think that Kirk is the father, and that I’m some whore sleeping with both of you.”
sucked in her breath. “And you believed her?”
A derisive sound escaped his lips. “No, I didn’t believe her. But to make a long story short, her lover who she was involved with when she and I met had devised the perfect plan to milk me for all they could. Several months and a paternity test later, it was proved that Eric wasn’t my son. Joanna took him and a great deal of my money, and I haven’t seen either since.”
June 25, 2020
3 stars for the narration - The narrator, Lily Bask, has a very husky voice that sounds much older than the heroine. After a while you can tune it out, but I hate it when the voice does not match the character.
3.5 stars for the story
3.5 stars for the story
August 24, 2014
This is the third in the series and not unlike the 1st in the secret baby trope. Jewel is a girl with no home who travels from place to place working her way around the world. When she meets Piers, she finds a strange connection with him and they share a memorable night.
Only trouble is that Piers doesn't do workplace relationships and her new job is as his PA. In his haste to get rid of her, he accidentally gets her fired and chucked off the resort when he only intended her to be moved or paid out.
Broke Jewel goes back to San Francisco, to camp out in her only friends apartment while he's away. Five months later she is forced to call Piers for help.
Piers has a history that means any woman showing up pregnant and claiming it to be his is going to face an uphill battle. Piers is obviously fighting his attraction to Jewel while trying to do the right thing.
This was a bit more angsty than the others in my opinion. Both Jewel and Piers had real heartbreak in thier history and a lot to overcome. The ending was very satisfying.
Only trouble is that Piers doesn't do workplace relationships and her new job is as his PA. In his haste to get rid of her, he accidentally gets her fired and chucked off the resort when he only intended her to be moved or paid out.
Broke Jewel goes back to San Francisco, to camp out in her only friends apartment while he's away. Five months later she is forced to call Piers for help.
Piers has a history that means any woman showing up pregnant and claiming it to be his is going to face an uphill battle. Piers is obviously fighting his attraction to Jewel while trying to do the right thing.
This was a bit more angsty than the others in my opinion. Both Jewel and Piers had real heartbreak in thier history and a lot to overcome. The ending was very satisfying.
Read
December 24, 2017I am still deciding!
January 26, 2021
Re-read
-no ow/om drama
-unknown if hero was with others during separation
-no virgins
-no violence
-epilogue about 5 months later
-no ow/om drama
-unknown if hero was with others during separation
-no virgins
-no violence
-epilogue about 5 months later
December 22, 2015
Piers and Jewell had a one-night-stand and then when he found out she was his new assistant (and due to a series of improbable errors such as only found in Romancelandia) he had her unceremoniously fired afterwards. Dick. She calls him five months later, pregnant (of course) and with a complicated medical condition because she needs his financial support because she's in over her head. He takes it one step further and fairly easily convinces her to marry him, with a pre-nup contingent on the child being his (this isn't him just being a dick; they did have a ONS so it isn't like they knew each other that well and they used protection. Plus, he barely knows her).
Most of the book is the two of them getting to know each other. We find out that Piers has Reasons for being as mistrustful as he is of the situation (as if marrying someone you barely know isn't reason enough) and Jewell falls in love with him pretty freaking swiftly. She has her own set of insecurities, so when things happen, toward the end of the book, the fit hits the shan.
Here's the thing. I enjoy a good grovel. But the bottom line is, Piers and Jewell didn't know each other -- like at all -- when they got married. (Spoilers to follow.)
I liked The Tycoon's Pregnant Mistress more than I liked this one, and I skipped The Tycoon's Rebel Bride (kinda wishing I hadn't now that I heard the recap of some of Bella's hijinks in that book) and I will admit that "Mistress" had some issues, but I dunno, this one just never really connected with me. I thought the Big Misunderstanding was, well, a little too understandable and that the characters were a little unfair to Piers. Maybe that's the cynic in me, but whatever. Opinions and assholes and all the rest of that proverb.
Either way, not a favorite. Not sure if I'd want to read it again, but I probably wouldn't avoid it. I doubt I'll remember it for long beyond this review.
Most of the book is the two of them getting to know each other. We find out that Piers has Reasons for being as mistrustful as he is of the situation (as if marrying someone you barely know isn't reason enough) and Jewell falls in love with him pretty freaking swiftly. She has her own set of insecurities, so when things happen, toward the end of the book, the fit hits the shan.
Here's the thing. I enjoy a good grovel. But the bottom line is, Piers and Jewell didn't know each other -- like at all -- when they got married. (Spoilers to follow.)
I liked The Tycoon's Pregnant Mistress more than I liked this one, and I skipped The Tycoon's Rebel Bride (kinda wishing I hadn't now that I heard the recap of some of Bella's hijinks in that book) and I will admit that "Mistress" had some issues, but I dunno, this one just never really connected with me. I thought the Big Misunderstanding was, well, a little too understandable and that the characters were a little unfair to Piers. Maybe that's the cynic in me, but whatever. Opinions and assholes and all the rest of that proverb.
Either way, not a favorite. Not sure if I'd want to read it again, but I probably wouldn't avoid it. I doubt I'll remember it for long beyond this review.
March 9, 2016
I got this as a free kindle download attached to a purchase. I've read Maya Banks before, and I knew this was a re-published book with new cover from the Harlequin line. In other words, I knew what I was getting into before reading it and read it anyway. It's not bad. The romance and family relationships have potential but are significantly underdeveloped. It's tame for a Banks. As those who've read any of my previous romance reviews know, I can suspend much belief when it comes to a relationship - 28 year old billionaire falls in love with coffee shop waitress? Sure! Vampires exist and one wants to marry a police detective? Why not!? It is the everyday way the world works that must be correct for me to enjoy a story. HR rules in the work place, foster care system procedures, etc. must be followed for me to enjoy a story, and each is violated here. It isn't that these things make it a bad book. It just keeps it from being good.
October 4, 2021
Novel ketiga Anetakis ini msh gak greget walau yg ini adalah penutupnya. Piers hero di novel ini punya masalah besar dgn trust issue in relationship. Piers tidur dgn Jewel krn one night standing dan 5 bln kemudian Piers sontak gembira krn dihubungi wanita yg sdh disingkirkannya itu dan mendapati kabar wanita ini mengandung anaknya.
Lelah juga mengikuti mood swing Piers ini walau traumatiknya logis yg membuatnya kesulitan utk mencintai sekaligus mempercayai Jewel. Tapi di lain pihak saya juga gak suka dgn karakter Jewel ini. Jewel itu tipe wanita emosional (mungkin juga krn bawaan hamil) dan impulsif, juga baperan sih mnrt saya. Cuma empatinya lumayan besar makanya dia bisa memaafkan mulu kesalahan Piers.
Secara keseluruhan lumayan enak dibaca, cuma terlalu dramatis dan kekeluargaannya kelewat kental. Not my cup of tea romance.
Lelah juga mengikuti mood swing Piers ini walau traumatiknya logis yg membuatnya kesulitan utk mencintai sekaligus mempercayai Jewel. Tapi di lain pihak saya juga gak suka dgn karakter Jewel ini. Jewel itu tipe wanita emosional (mungkin juga krn bawaan hamil) dan impulsif, juga baperan sih mnrt saya. Cuma empatinya lumayan besar makanya dia bisa memaafkan mulu kesalahan Piers.
Secara keseluruhan lumayan enak dibaca, cuma terlalu dramatis dan kekeluargaannya kelewat kental. Not my cup of tea romance.
July 28, 2019
This book starts of so well but goes downhill in the second half. While having the makings of a great plot, it somehow doesn't delve into the detail. This one, like the 2nd book, missed the mark for me. I found Piers to be cold and Jewel did deserve better treatment. Best part of the story was the epilogue.
August 11, 2017
cortita sin mucha expectativa, considero que no me aporto nada
June 29, 2025
Third book’s a charm
In this final book of the Anetakis brothers trilogy. Not only do you get to find out about the two prior couple and get to watch the third brother fall in love.
And it’s quite a journey but they get there eventually and get their own HEA!
In this final book of the Anetakis brothers trilogy. Not only do you get to find out about the two prior couple and get to watch the third brother fall in love.
And it’s quite a journey but they get there eventually and get their own HEA!
April 27, 2022
Audiobook is just titled, “The Affair”. This is book 3 in the Anetakis Tycoons series. They are best experienced in order as events in previous books impact this one.
Banks tried to pack way too much into such a short book. Second chance, surprise pregnancy (at least it was from birth control failure and not stupidity), damaged hero with trust issues, damaged heroine with abandonment issues, too many breakups, accusations, & an adoption.
The two biggest issues were:
*Piers is, while understandably hesitant to trust, a complete jerk to Jewel. Often, repeatedly, and after apologizing numerous times still turns right around again and accuses her of heinous things.
* The wrap it up in a tidy bow ending needs to make some sense.
I have very little faith these two are actually going to have an HEA.
Narration:
Lily Bask’s voice lends well to both female and male characters. Accents, emotions, and distinct voices made this series an easy listen.
Banks tried to pack way too much into such a short book. Second chance, surprise pregnancy (at least it was from birth control failure and not stupidity), damaged hero with trust issues, damaged heroine with abandonment issues, too many breakups, accusations, & an adoption.
The two biggest issues were:
*Piers is, while understandably hesitant to trust, a complete jerk to Jewel. Often, repeatedly, and after apologizing numerous times still turns right around again and accuses her of heinous things.
* The wrap it up in a tidy bow ending needs to make some sense.
I have very little faith these two are actually going to have an HEA.
Narration:
Lily Bask’s voice lends well to both female and male characters. Accents, emotions, and distinct voices made this series an easy listen.
May 4, 2017
Jewel Henley has just made a big mistake the exotic stranger she met in a bar last night and shared a bed with turns out to be her new boss. Piers Anetakis is a billionaire hotel owner along with his two brothers and when he finds out that the mysterious woman that he shared a wonderful night of passion with is also his new employee he fires her, he's been here before and he knows for a painful fact that business and pleasure just don't mix until 5 months later he receives a phone call from Jewel who is now broke and coping with a high risk pregnancy and needs the help of the babies father Piers Anetakis. This was a short story with a typical billionaire, secrets, distrust and lies. The characters were pretty boring along with the sex and the predictable story line. Good if you like old style Harlequin Romances.
February 26, 2013
well i could even have rated it 2 stars as i was so disappointed after reading "the tycoon's rebel bride", theron's story. how i loved theron and bella !! i frankly did not see how piers and jewel eventually fell in love with each other. i did not feel the love at all and the sex was not great. i gave 3 star finally because the story was well written and not that bad compared to others i read or i gave 3 stars. it was a rather nice one but compared to theron and bella's, it was not good at all. if you are reading my comment, do read "the tycoon's rebel bride" in the series. don't miss it
January 17, 2013
H acts like a mistrustful jerk most of the time cuz he had been badly hurt in the past. But he has a tender streak and - the most important thing - he knows how to grovel and beg h forgiveness. And h is no one doormat. She stands for herself and gives as much as she gets. This is the third and last book in the Anetakis Tycoons series and it is always fun to revisit old characters and to see them living their HEA.
November 7, 2015
Easy and fast read - not my favorite in this series. H has issues that causes him to constantly distrust h. However, there are a few instances if she provided more information then there might not have been so much distrust or angst. H handled things badly and did not let too much time elapse before trying to resolve. Of course, his family call him on it. 3 not bad stars.
September 9, 2016
I admit i find the Greek terms of endearment are very cheesy but it is still a nice book. It does make me wonder how there can be so many foreign millionaires who keep on accidentally knocking up women and then falling madly in love with them.
October 27, 2019
Fluffy and feel good, this book was low on angst with a H/h that I loved.
Safety: Neither virgins, both celibate during separation.
Safety: Neither virgins, both celibate during separation.
March 8, 2020
This was marginally the best in the trilogy but I couldn't engage. Sorry - just not my cup of tea.
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