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Moon of Aphrodite
She was the chosen bride of a Leandros
Helen's mother had almost been forced into an arranged marriage, but she'd managed to escape. Now Helen was in a similar situation: she was expected to marry Damon Leandros!
When she first came to her grandfather's Greek island, Helen intended to avoid the arrogant Damon. Soon, however, she knew she couldn't deny his powerful attraction.
Regardless, Helen's pride rankled at the though' that everyone on the island expected her to give in to the ridiculous arrangement. But as Helen discovered, pride goes before a fall....
Helen's mother had almost been forced into an arranged marriage, but she'd managed to escape. Now Helen was in a similar situation: she was expected to marry Damon Leandros!
When she first came to her grandfather's Greek island, Helen intended to avoid the arrogant Damon. Soon, however, she knew she couldn't deny his powerful attraction.
Regardless, Helen's pride rankled at the though' that everyone on the island expected her to give in to the ridiculous arrangement. But as Helen discovered, pride goes before a fall....
187 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published November 1, 1980
3 people are currently reading
101 people want to read
About the author
Sara Craven
494 books269 followersAnne Bushell was born on October 1938 in South Devon, England, just before World War II and grew up in a house crammed with books. She was always a voracious reader, some of her all-time favorites books are: "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen, "Middlemarch" by George Eliot, "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë, "Gone With the Wind" by Margaret Mitchell and "The Code of the Woosters" by P. G. Wodehouse.
She worked as journalist at the Paignton Observer, but after her marriage, she moved to the north of England, where she worked as teacher. After she returned to journalism, she joined the Middlesbrough Writers' Group, where she met other romance writer Mildred Grieveson (Anne Mather). She started to wrote romance, and she had her first novel "Garden of Dreams" accepted by Mills & Boon in 1975, she published her work under the pseudonym of Sara Craven. In 2010 she became chairman of the Southern Writers' Conference, and the next year was elected the twenty-six Chairman (2011–2013) of the Romantic Novelists' Association.
Divorced twice, Annie lives in Somerset, South West England, and shares her home with a West Highland white terrier called Bertie Wooster. In her house, she had several thousand books, and an amazing video collection. When she's not writing, she enjoys watching very old films, listening to music, going to the theatre, and eating in good restaurants. She also likes to travel in Europe, to inspire her romances, especially in France, Greece and Italy where many of her novels are set. Since the birth of her twin grandchildren, she is also a regular visitor to New York City, where the little tots live. In 1997, she was the overall winner of the BBC's Mastermind, winning the last final presented by Magnus Magnusson.
She worked as journalist at the Paignton Observer, but after her marriage, she moved to the north of England, where she worked as teacher. After she returned to journalism, she joined the Middlesbrough Writers' Group, where she met other romance writer Mildred Grieveson (Anne Mather). She started to wrote romance, and she had her first novel "Garden of Dreams" accepted by Mills & Boon in 1975, she published her work under the pseudonym of Sara Craven. In 2010 she became chairman of the Southern Writers' Conference, and the next year was elected the twenty-six Chairman (2011–2013) of the Romantic Novelists' Association.
Divorced twice, Annie lives in Somerset, South West England, and shares her home with a West Highland white terrier called Bertie Wooster. In her house, she had several thousand books, and an amazing video collection. When she's not writing, she enjoys watching very old films, listening to music, going to the theatre, and eating in good restaurants. She also likes to travel in Europe, to inspire her romances, especially in France, Greece and Italy where many of her novels are set. Since the birth of her twin grandchildren, she is also a regular visitor to New York City, where the little tots live. In 1997, she was the overall winner of the BBC's Mastermind, winning the last final presented by Magnus Magnusson.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
March 24, 2018
A little bit like Pride and Prejudice meets HPlandia. The English heroine is prejudiced against anything Greek, especially her grandfather and the hero, because her Greek mom was completely shunned after marrying an Englishman.
The Greek hero fell in love at first sight and has to bite back his pride when the heroine makes his life hell which is 24 hrs/day.
The Wickham character is an English expat living in the village down the hill from the villa owned by heroine's Greek grandfather. He is quite easily disposed of but not before he causes mischief between h and H.
I will remember this one for the cute scenes at the ruins of a temple to Aphrodite, where h and H finally overcome their misunderstandings and let the Love Goddess do her thing :)
The Greek hero fell in love at first sight and has to bite back his pride when the heroine makes his life hell which is 24 hrs/day.
The Wickham character is an English expat living in the village down the hill from the villa owned by heroine's Greek grandfather. He is quite easily disposed of but not before he causes mischief between h and H.
I will remember this one for the cute scenes at the ruins of a temple to Aphrodite, where h and H finally overcome their misunderstandings and let the Love Goddess do her thing :)
August 22, 2019
Ah, the ol’ evil-grandpa-has-had-a-heart-attack-and-therefore-must-be-less-evil trope! Grampy disowned his daughter when she ran off with an Englishman instead of marrying his hand-picked choice for husband. His daughter died, but there is still a granddaughter to marry off, our heroine.
Heroine is convinced to visit her now chastened grandfather by the hero, younger brother to the jilted hand-picked choice. Heroine doesn’t know that the hero is the next hand-picked choice when she arrives in Greece of course. She just knows she is wildly attracted to the hero and she is fighting it all the way to the bitter end.
She is a heroine run amok in the best Anne Hampson tradition. She gives herself heatstroke when she sneaks off to visit the Acropolis in the middle of the day. She refuses to learn Greek. She sulks in her room, the beach and anywhere else she is allowed to go. She takes up with a slimy English taverna owner (OM). She tries to browbeat servants into taking her to the village. She wanders around at night.
She would have been annoying if it wasn’t so comical how she kept cutting off her nose to spite her face.
Finally after many, many heavy petting encounters, including one at the temple of Aphrodite, the hero convinces her that he is in love with her and theirs won’t be just a marriage of convenience but a love match.
I do think the hero was smitten (why else would he put up with this heroine?) but evil grandpa was the real winner in the end.
Heroine is convinced to visit her now chastened grandfather by the hero, younger brother to the jilted hand-picked choice. Heroine doesn’t know that the hero is the next hand-picked choice when she arrives in Greece of course. She just knows she is wildly attracted to the hero and she is fighting it all the way to the bitter end.
She is a heroine run amok in the best Anne Hampson tradition. She gives herself heatstroke when she sneaks off to visit the Acropolis in the middle of the day. She refuses to learn Greek. She sulks in her room, the beach and anywhere else she is allowed to go. She takes up with a slimy English taverna owner (OM). She tries to browbeat servants into taking her to the village. She wanders around at night.
She would have been annoying if it wasn’t so comical how she kept cutting off her nose to spite her face.
Finally after many, many heavy petting encounters, including one at the temple of Aphrodite, the hero convinces her that he is in love with her and theirs won’t be just a marriage of convenience but a love match.
I do think the hero was smitten (why else would he put up with this heroine?) but evil grandpa was the real winner in the end.
November 14, 2020
'I don't need them, agapi mou. I need you, as I need breath in my body.'
"Moon of Aphrodite" is the story of Helen/Eleni and Damon.
A classic HQN plot, in which a much older hero is sent to England to retrieve the 19 year old heroine. Years ago, her Greek mother had eloped with her English father, causing her orthodox Greek grandfather to disown all of them. On his deathbed, he wants to meet the heroine at last. She outright refuses, until the hero, her grandfather's "employee", is sent to convince her. He basically bullies her into travelling, until she soon realizes there might be a nefarious plan for her to fulfill a life her mother was once being forced into..
'I should have married him when I had the chance. I should have taken him on his own terms. He wanted me, and perhaps in time I could have made him love me. If I'd had his child, he might have loved me then—Greeks adore children.'
-Our darling heroine, having a tantrum in her room
A very childish and temperamental heroine, who is equally fierce, stupid and impulsive. The hero is very macho and mocking. There are a hot of heated kisses, scheming family members, baseless OW/ OM drama, yearning and eventual confessions with HEA. Nobody bothered to be honest- instead hostility was the key and then going back to their rooms and having a fit was the go to move. The whole offering to the Aphrodite moon.. made me laugh. This was a ridiculous trainwreck, and I utterly enjoyed it!
'No offering was needed,' he said gently. 'I was yours already. Since time began, and until it ends.' It was like a marriage vow.
Safe
4.5/5
"Moon of Aphrodite" is the story of Helen/Eleni and Damon.
A classic HQN plot, in which a much older hero is sent to England to retrieve the 19 year old heroine. Years ago, her Greek mother had eloped with her English father, causing her orthodox Greek grandfather to disown all of them. On his deathbed, he wants to meet the heroine at last. She outright refuses, until the hero, her grandfather's "employee", is sent to convince her. He basically bullies her into travelling, until she soon realizes there might be a nefarious plan for her to fulfill a life her mother was once being forced into..
'I should have married him when I had the chance. I should have taken him on his own terms. He wanted me, and perhaps in time I could have made him love me. If I'd had his child, he might have loved me then—Greeks adore children.'
-Our darling heroine, having a tantrum in her room
A very childish and temperamental heroine, who is equally fierce, stupid and impulsive. The hero is very macho and mocking. There are a hot of heated kisses, scheming family members, baseless OW/ OM drama, yearning and eventual confessions with HEA. Nobody bothered to be honest- instead hostility was the key and then going back to their rooms and having a fit was the go to move. The whole offering to the Aphrodite moon.. made me laugh. This was a ridiculous trainwreck, and I utterly enjoyed it!
'No offering was needed,' he said gently. 'I was yours already. Since time began, and until it ends.' It was like a marriage vow.
Safe
4.5/5
January 25, 2014
"No offering was needed. I was yours already. Since time began and until it ends."
Awww gotta love a smitten hero! Such a romantic love story! Vintage Harlequins are the best hands down!
Awww gotta love a smitten hero! Such a romantic love story! Vintage Harlequins are the best hands down!
May 25, 2018
Eh. It was ok.
Helen was made to go to Greece to meet her estranged grandfather. The person sent to take her there is the handsome Damon. He is a typical Greek alpha male. There is dislike from the start and it didn’t get better.
Helen did not like Damon because her grandfather expected her to marry him because her mother did not marry Damon’s older brother. Weird.
The book was somewhat slow. The characters annoying and predictable. But the story was well written and it kept me reading until the end. So 3 Stars for you for keeping me reading until the end.
Helen was made to go to Greece to meet her estranged grandfather. The person sent to take her there is the handsome Damon. He is a typical Greek alpha male. There is dislike from the start and it didn’t get better.
Helen did not like Damon because her grandfather expected her to marry him because her mother did not marry Damon’s older brother. Weird.
The book was somewhat slow. The characters annoying and predictable. But the story was well written and it kept me reading until the end. So 3 Stars for you for keeping me reading until the end.
July 15, 2014
i'm such a huge fan of sara craven but this one disappointed me. it had her usual elements but the heroine spoiled it for me. helen was a monstrosity of immaturity! she behaved like such a kid throughout the book! i also did not buy it dat she had fallen in love wid damon! it was too sudden and she disliked him so profoundly, it was overdone! she simply cud not be in love!
August 30, 2012
I really do not know what to type for this novel. I did not like the heroine at all. She had a poor attitude and was a spoiled brat. I really wanted to slap her silly most of the book and I did at times feel horribly sorry that the hero got stuck with her.
/facepalm
/facepalm
May 23, 2019
So much dubious consent.
March 3, 2018
First book read for the love month... it's a Pride and Prejudice meets Mythology...
“Without love, there could not, should not be any giving.”
“I was yours already. Since time began, and until it ends.”
Pride and Prejudice fans will ig this one. It’ revolves around Helen, a daughter to a runaway-bride from a very rich family. Her mother eloped with her father before her arranged marriage. Several years later her grandad wants to meet her and with ulterior motive sent Leandros to fetch her. Now, imagine Liz meeting Darcy, then plunge in Craig (the Wickham)... and there is the cute addition of Aphrodite.
I like Craven’s writing style, it resembles modern style of writing, given that it is written before I was born. Hehe. The characters convey the right emotion to the reader. Although the protagonist is a childish brat. She is so immature, especially when she is trying to get Leandros lost on their way to her grandad’s island.
I’m really not into reading pocketbooks, It so happens that someone gave me a bunch of mills & Boon and I’m looking for a quick fix that would set me into reading romance since it’s the so-called love month (february). I’m glad to pick this up.
“Without love, there could not, should not be any giving.”
“I was yours already. Since time began, and until it ends.”
Pride and Prejudice fans will ig this one. It’ revolves around Helen, a daughter to a runaway-bride from a very rich family. Her mother eloped with her father before her arranged marriage. Several years later her grandad wants to meet her and with ulterior motive sent Leandros to fetch her. Now, imagine Liz meeting Darcy, then plunge in Craig (the Wickham)... and there is the cute addition of Aphrodite.
I like Craven’s writing style, it resembles modern style of writing, given that it is written before I was born. Hehe. The characters convey the right emotion to the reader. Although the protagonist is a childish brat. She is so immature, especially when she is trying to get Leandros lost on their way to her grandad’s island.
I’m really not into reading pocketbooks, It so happens that someone gave me a bunch of mills & Boon and I’m looking for a quick fix that would set me into reading romance since it’s the so-called love month (february). I’m glad to pick this up.
January 7, 2023
3.5
I liked this one. Very possibly because it reminded me of some of my very earliest forays into M&B Greek tycoon territory. I was very susceptible to a Greek dom/virgin h in those days. Can't think why 😂 Also it's a totally miserable wet, winter night and reading about a Greek island in those circumstances is bound to imbue it with rosiness.
She is Helen (Eleni), only daughter of a deceased Greek mother who escaped a proposed dynastic marriage to marry a poor English artist. Now her estranged grandfather wants a reconciliation and Damon Leandros turns up to persuade and accompany her back to the Greek island of her mother's birth. She initially believes him to be an uppity employee and is fairly imperious about the liberties he is taking with her. There is decent sexual chemistry between them and a reasonable level of angst. She is very young and innocent. She rejects his proposal as she believes it is due purely to business and goes through agonies of doubt, regret and jealousy which I remember well from back in the day.
Anyway, om, ow, gothic aunt with machinations for her God-daughter, business as usual really but very pleasant overall.
I liked this one. Very possibly because it reminded me of some of my very earliest forays into M&B Greek tycoon territory. I was very susceptible to a Greek dom/virgin h in those days. Can't think why 😂 Also it's a totally miserable wet, winter night and reading about a Greek island in those circumstances is bound to imbue it with rosiness.
She is Helen (Eleni), only daughter of a deceased Greek mother who escaped a proposed dynastic marriage to marry a poor English artist. Now her estranged grandfather wants a reconciliation and Damon Leandros turns up to persuade and accompany her back to the Greek island of her mother's birth. She initially believes him to be an uppity employee and is fairly imperious about the liberties he is taking with her. There is decent sexual chemistry between them and a reasonable level of angst. She is very young and innocent. She rejects his proposal as she believes it is due purely to business and goes through agonies of doubt, regret and jealousy which I remember well from back in the day.
Anyway, om, ow, gothic aunt with machinations for her God-daughter, business as usual really but very pleasant overall.
August 3, 2021
Helen's mother had almost been forced into an arranged marriage, but she'd managed to escape but she was disinherited and never saw her family again. Now Helen was in a similar situation: she was expected to marry Damon Leandros who had tracked her down in London to convince her to go see her dying grandfather.
When she first came to her grandfather's Greek island, Helen intended to avoid the arrogant Damon who she thought was her grandfather employee. Soon, however, she knew she couldn't deny his powerful attraction.
Regardless, Helen's pride rankled at the though' that everyone on the island expected her to give in to the ridiculous arrangement. But as Helen discovered, pride goes before a fall...
When she first came to her grandfather's Greek island, Helen intended to avoid the arrogant Damon who she thought was her grandfather employee. Soon, however, she knew she couldn't deny his powerful attraction.
Regardless, Helen's pride rankled at the though' that everyone on the island expected her to give in to the ridiculous arrangement. But as Helen discovered, pride goes before a fall...
February 10, 2019
I'm only giving it three and a half stars because the heroine was insufferable. She was tolerable for about 25% of the book. She came across as immature, illogical, conceited and closed-minded... intolerably obstinate.
One can only hope she gains some sophistication with age for the Hero's sake. (*eye roll)
Someone mentioned it already but her love for the Hero wasn't all that believable at the end. All in all I liked the premise of the story and the island did seem to come alive. Plus the Hero, Damon, was very agreeable. He was well mannered and well spoken with a sort of intrigue about him.
One can only hope she gains some sophistication with age for the Hero's sake. (*eye roll)
Someone mentioned it already but her love for the Hero wasn't all that believable at the end. All in all I liked the premise of the story and the island did seem to come alive. Plus the Hero, Damon, was very agreeable. He was well mannered and well spoken with a sort of intrigue about him.
December 5, 2025
Helen's Greek grandfather sent a letter asking her to go to Greek and meet him after the death of her beloved mother who eloped twenty years ago with her father. Helen refused point blank to go and if it wasn't for the interference of domineering Demon Leandres, she would never have changed her mind. He infuriated her all along the journey to Greek and she was so determined to fight him all the way!
A fine story, but I felt the first half is much better then the second one.
A fine story, but I felt the first half is much better then the second one.
January 26, 2021
3,5 stara rounded down.
As far as UST goes, I like this one. The heroine is feisty, but not TSTL (almost, but not quite yet, which, given her age, was still making sense).
Rounded down because the too large age gap. The heroine was 19 and the hero was much older (I dunno the hero's exact age, but it was quite possible that he was 35-ish).
"We could be uncle and niece, you know."
EWWW. NO.
As far as UST goes, I like this one. The heroine is feisty, but not TSTL (almost, but not quite yet, which, given her age, was still making sense).
Rounded down because the too large age gap. The heroine was 19 and the hero was much older (I dunno the hero's exact age, but it was quite possible that he was 35-ish).
"We could be uncle and niece, you know."
EWWW. NO.
October 9, 2017
Pretty much your standard Harlequin romance. I found the main character Helen Brandon to be quite annoying. She seemed very immature and whiny.
November 4, 2017
There are moments were the Heroine takes it too far.
March 27, 2019
3.5 stars
January 20, 2021
"Πρόσκληση για γάμο"- Σάρα Κρέιβεν, Συλλογή 211, έτος έκδοσης: 1980
Η μητέρα της Έλεν για ν' αποφύγει το γάμο με τον άντρα που ήθελε να της επιβάλει ο αυταρχικός πατέρας της, ο πάμπλουτος Έλληνας Μιχαήλ Κοριέλης, αναγκάστηκε να φύγει κρυφά στην Αγγλία, κόβοντας κάθε δεσμό με τον τόπο και την οικογένειά της. Μετά από χρόνια η Έλεν επισκέπτεται τον παππού της κι η ιστορία μοιάζει να επαναλαμβάνεται, καθώς διαπιστώνει ότι προσπαθούν να την παγιδέψουν, για να παντρευτεί τον πλούσιο Δάμων Λέανδρο, τον αδερφό εκείνου που προόριζαν για άντρα της μητέρας της.
Μόνο που ο γοητευτικός Δάμων, κάνει την Έλεν να μην ξέρει πιά, αν θέλει πραγματικά να ξεφύγει από την παγίδα....
Η μητέρα της Έλεν για ν' αποφύγει το γάμο με τον άντρα που ήθελε να της επιβάλει ο αυταρχικός πατέρας της, ο πάμπλουτος Έλληνας Μιχαήλ Κοριέλης, αναγκάστηκε να φύγει κρυφά στην Αγγλία, κόβοντας κάθε δεσμό με τον τόπο και την οικογένειά της. Μετά από χρόνια η Έλεν επισκέπτεται τον παππού της κι η ιστορία μοιάζει να επαναλαμβάνεται, καθώς διαπιστώνει ότι προσπαθούν να την παγιδέψουν, για να παντρευτεί τον πλούσιο Δάμων Λέανδρο, τον αδερφό εκείνου που προόριζαν για άντρα της μητέρας της.
Μόνο που ο γοητευτικός Δάμων, κάνει την Έλεν να μην ξέρει πιά, αν θέλει πραγματικά να ξεφύγει από την παγίδα....
January 10, 2011
She was the chosen bride of a Leandros
Helen's mother had almost been forced into an arranged marriage, but she'd managed to escape. Now Helen was in a similar situation: she was expected to marry Damon Leandros!
When she first came to her grandfather's Greek island, Helen intended to avoid the arrogant Damon. Soon, however, she knew she couldn't deny his powerful attraction.
Regardless, Helen's pride rankled at the though' that everyone on the island expected her to give in to the ridiculous arrangement. But as Helen discovered, pride goes before a fall....
MILLS AND BOON BACK COVER:
Helen's Greek mother had run away from an unwanted, arranged marriage and cut herself off from her tyrannical father for ever. Now that father, Helen's grandfather, was insisting that she go to Greece to visit him, and had sent the overbearing Damon Leandros to talk her into it. Unwillingly Helen had been persuaded to go - and once there, she realised that the two of them had set a trap for her. That they intended to ensure that a chosen bride of the Leandros family did not escape a second time .....
Helen's mother had almost been forced into an arranged marriage, but she'd managed to escape. Now Helen was in a similar situation: she was expected to marry Damon Leandros!
When she first came to her grandfather's Greek island, Helen intended to avoid the arrogant Damon. Soon, however, she knew she couldn't deny his powerful attraction.
Regardless, Helen's pride rankled at the though' that everyone on the island expected her to give in to the ridiculous arrangement. But as Helen discovered, pride goes before a fall....
MILLS AND BOON BACK COVER:
Helen's Greek mother had run away from an unwanted, arranged marriage and cut herself off from her tyrannical father for ever. Now that father, Helen's grandfather, was insisting that she go to Greece to visit him, and had sent the overbearing Damon Leandros to talk her into it. Unwillingly Helen had been persuaded to go - and once there, she realised that the two of them had set a trap for her. That they intended to ensure that a chosen bride of the Leandros family did not escape a second time .....
October 26, 2015
Helen had never met her Greek Grandfather, he had disowned her mother when she ran off and married an Englishman instead of the Greek he had arranged for her to marry.
She only planned on a month’s stay since she was told her grandfather was very ill maybe dying she felt she wanted to meet him before it was too late. Michael had other plans for his granddaughter, first she found out he wasn’t going to allow her to off the grounds of his villa, his employees had strict orders to watch her every move. He has arranged for her to marry the younger brother of the man he had arranged for her mother to marry. Now that Helen has met Damon Leandros she has no plans to stay on her grandfather’s Greek island! She must find away to return to London.
She only planned on a month’s stay since she was told her grandfather was very ill maybe dying she felt she wanted to meet him before it was too late. Michael had other plans for his granddaughter, first she found out he wasn’t going to allow her to off the grounds of his villa, his employees had strict orders to watch her every move. He has arranged for her to marry the younger brother of the man he had arranged for her mother to marry. Now that Helen has met Damon Leandros she has no plans to stay on her grandfather’s Greek island! She must find away to return to London.
December 26, 2013
Jeez. ಠ▃ಠ
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews