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The Saunderson Legacy #1
The Secret He Must Claim
An illicit encounter with the Spaniard…
Heiress Elin Saunderson is instantly seduced by mysterious stranger Cortez. But after their sinful night together she's left alone…and pregnant! A year later, she learns that Cortez is the rightful successor to her adoptive father's fortune, and penniless Elin finds herself at risk of losing everything—including her son!
Cortez Ramos is set on claiming the secret Elin kept from him—but Elin proves as protective a mother as she is a torturous temptation. His solution: demand a marriage of convenience, which will legitimize his heir and return Elin to his bed!
187 pages, Paperback
Published August 1, 2017
About the author
Chantelle Shaw
701 books161 followersI grew up without a TV, let alone DVD’s, computer games etc that my kids spend so much time engrossed in, but I learned to read at an early age and from then on I was always entertained – so much so that my friends used to hide their books when I visited them because all I wanted to do was read!
When I was a teenager I discovered Mills & Boon romances in my local library, and so began a lifelong love affair. I still remember that feeling of anticipation when I settled down with a pile of books - all bearing the famous rose logo - knowing that I would be drawn into a world of love, passion and emotional intensity that I have never found in any other books. I enjoy reading a wide range of books, especially historical novels, and I am a big fan of Agatha Christie, mainly I think because her characters seem so real, but I love romances and unashamedly admit that I only want to read books with a guaranteed happy ending. Reading is my joy and pleasure and I don’t want to cry buckets at the end of a book or have my sleep disturbed by its gruesome content.
For me, the characters in Harlequin Mills & Boon romances are the key. I love reading and writing about strong, alpha heroes and feisty, independent heroines who find that they can’t fight the blazing attraction between them.
When I married my own tall, dark, but sadly not wealthy hero, we moved out of London to the Kent coast and started a family that grew and grew. I adore my six children, and when they were small I loved being a stay-at-home mum, but there can be days, as I’m sure many of you know, when you feel isolated and – dare I say it – bored of conversing with three-year-olds. Harlequin Mills & Boon romances were my life-line and my sanity and I read them whenever I had a spare five minutes (in the bath, pacing the floor at three am with colicky baby on one shoulder and a book in the other hand!)
My imagination soared and I decided to try and write a book myself. My first attempt was typed up on a manual type-writer with the full-stop key and the letter p missing. Luckily my hero and heroine were not called Paul and Poppy, but it still meant going over my manuscript with a pen to fill in the gaps!
That first book was duly rejected as were my next two. I suppose I was disheartened and by now I had four small children and very little spare time, so although I continued to read romances, I gave up writing. It wasn’t until my youngest son started school that I tried writing again. I was struggling to come to terms with the death of my darling mum Gabrielle and writing became my therapy. Mum had always nagged me to get on and write a book and had an unshakeable belief that I would one day be published – I’m so glad that she was proved right and my biggest regret is that she isn’t here to share my success with me.
I wrote two more books which were both rejected by HM&B, but I was given some advice on my writing from the editorial team that encouraged me to try again. Third time lucky certainly applied to me – the day I received ‘the call’ was exactly four years after Mum had died. It was one of the most exciting moments of my life - but instead of chatting to the editor about contracts I had to dash off and pick my sick daughter up from school. Reality is never far away in my house!
I have now had nine books published - At the Sheikh's Bidding was released in September 08. My next book, Argentinian Playboy, Unexpected Love-Child will be out in the UK in July 09, and The Greek Billionaire's Innocent Princess in the UK in August 09. I have just had my twelfth book accepted and am already busy on my thirteenth. Now that my children are growing up I am able to write every day between 9 am and 3 pm, but often I become so involved with my characters that I sneak off to write again in the evening!
I feel I must be one of the luckiest people in the world to be doing something that I love, but I work hard at my luck and I believe that w
When I was a teenager I discovered Mills & Boon romances in my local library, and so began a lifelong love affair. I still remember that feeling of anticipation when I settled down with a pile of books - all bearing the famous rose logo - knowing that I would be drawn into a world of love, passion and emotional intensity that I have never found in any other books. I enjoy reading a wide range of books, especially historical novels, and I am a big fan of Agatha Christie, mainly I think because her characters seem so real, but I love romances and unashamedly admit that I only want to read books with a guaranteed happy ending. Reading is my joy and pleasure and I don’t want to cry buckets at the end of a book or have my sleep disturbed by its gruesome content.
For me, the characters in Harlequin Mills & Boon romances are the key. I love reading and writing about strong, alpha heroes and feisty, independent heroines who find that they can’t fight the blazing attraction between them.
When I married my own tall, dark, but sadly not wealthy hero, we moved out of London to the Kent coast and started a family that grew and grew. I adore my six children, and when they were small I loved being a stay-at-home mum, but there can be days, as I’m sure many of you know, when you feel isolated and – dare I say it – bored of conversing with three-year-olds. Harlequin Mills & Boon romances were my life-line and my sanity and I read them whenever I had a spare five minutes (in the bath, pacing the floor at three am with colicky baby on one shoulder and a book in the other hand!)
My imagination soared and I decided to try and write a book myself. My first attempt was typed up on a manual type-writer with the full-stop key and the letter p missing. Luckily my hero and heroine were not called Paul and Poppy, but it still meant going over my manuscript with a pen to fill in the gaps!
That first book was duly rejected as were my next two. I suppose I was disheartened and by now I had four small children and very little spare time, so although I continued to read romances, I gave up writing. It wasn’t until my youngest son started school that I tried writing again. I was struggling to come to terms with the death of my darling mum Gabrielle and writing became my therapy. Mum had always nagged me to get on and write a book and had an unshakeable belief that I would one day be published – I’m so glad that she was proved right and my biggest regret is that she isn’t here to share my success with me.
I wrote two more books which were both rejected by HM&B, but I was given some advice on my writing from the editorial team that encouraged me to try again. Third time lucky certainly applied to me – the day I received ‘the call’ was exactly four years after Mum had died. It was one of the most exciting moments of my life - but instead of chatting to the editor about contracts I had to dash off and pick my sick daughter up from school. Reality is never far away in my house!
I have now had nine books published - At the Sheikh's Bidding was released in September 08. My next book, Argentinian Playboy, Unexpected Love-Child will be out in the UK in July 09, and The Greek Billionaire's Innocent Princess in the UK in August 09. I have just had my twelfth book accepted and am already busy on my thirteenth. Now that my children are growing up I am able to write every day between 9 am and 3 pm, but often I become so involved with my characters that I sneak off to write again in the evening!
I feel I must be one of the luckiest people in the world to be doing something that I love, but I work hard at my luck and I believe that w
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
July 10, 2017
This was a deliciously angst and passionate filled read that had me turning the pages for more ,more,more.As of late,few books are holding my attention span for more than a few chapters untill I close and reopen another in search for that perfect elusive read.But perfection is rare ,and while this book may not rank as perfection,it came very close to it for me.Perfection in this case would have been an epilogue which this book lacked.I so badly wanted an epilogue for this couple.
Cast of characters......Elin,heroine,beautiful blond and blue eyed Bosnian orphan who at age four,along with her older brother was adopted by a wealthy titled English husband and wife.She is now a 25 year old still mourning the loss of her adopted Mother to a robber in a botched jewelry store hold up months prior.Her adopted father is still alive,but pays her no attention,and has not been a loving parent to either children.Elin's passion is to carry on her adoptive Mother's dream of producing world class sparkling wines at the family's estate winery.Has the reputation of a party girl.
Cortez....the hero,half Spanish,half English. The bastard son of the heroine's father unknown untill recently.A huge chip on his shoulder from his bastard birth,his Mum dying at an early age from overwork at the small vineyard she owned in Andalucia.He has huge trust issues in women as the woman he thought he loved as a young man lied to him and aborted his baby.He is described as a total alpha and sexy as all get out.He is also a major a..hole to the heroine all stemming from his lack of trust in women.
These two collide on the night of the heroine's 25th birthday and it was instant lust that leads to a ons that sees the hero leaving in the morning without a backward glance.The heroine wakes up to shame and despair that she gave up her virginity in a seemingly ons.Unknown to the heroine she was given the "daterape" drug in a spiked drink from one of the guests who was later arrested.Needless to say,heroine winds up pregnant and delivers a baby boy,but the heroine had major post partum complications and almost died also developing chronic kidney infections.
They meet up 1 year later when the Father dies and the truth of the hero's parentage comes to light during the will reveal.The heroine and her brother only gets 2 cottages on the estate and the whole kit and caboddle goes to Cortez,the bastard son.The heroine must also marry in 1 year to provide her son with a father or she looses her 50%share of the vineyard.Shocks all around.The hero finds out that the heroine has a baby,but who is the father,he is certain that he is not the baby daddy and accuses the heroine of lying to him.After all,she is a promiscuous, partyying drug taking socialite who is always in the gossip rags stumbling drunk out of nightclubs.
When he finally finds out the truth,he whisks baby,baby's nanny,and ill heroine off to sunny Southern Spain to his hacienda.
From here on end we are on the rocky road in this couple's journey to love and happy families. I really enjoyed this one,but the lack of an epilogue was really missing.
The brother,Jarek I belive has a story and will definely be reading that when it comes out,he was an intense ,tortured character in this one.
4.5 stars...
Cast of characters......Elin,heroine,beautiful blond and blue eyed Bosnian orphan who at age four,along with her older brother was adopted by a wealthy titled English husband and wife.She is now a 25 year old still mourning the loss of her adopted Mother to a robber in a botched jewelry store hold up months prior.Her adopted father is still alive,but pays her no attention,and has not been a loving parent to either children.Elin's passion is to carry on her adoptive Mother's dream of producing world class sparkling wines at the family's estate winery.Has the reputation of a party girl.
Cortez....the hero,half Spanish,half English. The bastard son of the heroine's father unknown untill recently.A huge chip on his shoulder from his bastard birth,his Mum dying at an early age from overwork at the small vineyard she owned in Andalucia.He has huge trust issues in women as the woman he thought he loved as a young man lied to him and aborted his baby.He is described as a total alpha and sexy as all get out.He is also a major a..hole to the heroine all stemming from his lack of trust in women.
These two collide on the night of the heroine's 25th birthday and it was instant lust that leads to a ons that sees the hero leaving in the morning without a backward glance.The heroine wakes up to shame and despair that she gave up her virginity in a seemingly ons.Unknown to the heroine she was given the "daterape" drug in a spiked drink from one of the guests who was later arrested.Needless to say,heroine winds up pregnant and delivers a baby boy,but the heroine had major post partum complications and almost died also developing chronic kidney infections.
They meet up 1 year later when the Father dies and the truth of the hero's parentage comes to light during the will reveal.The heroine and her brother only gets 2 cottages on the estate and the whole kit and caboddle goes to Cortez,the bastard son.The heroine must also marry in 1 year to provide her son with a father or she looses her 50%share of the vineyard.Shocks all around.The hero finds out that the heroine has a baby,but who is the father,he is certain that he is not the baby daddy and accuses the heroine of lying to him.After all,she is a promiscuous, partyying drug taking socialite who is always in the gossip rags stumbling drunk out of nightclubs.
When he finally finds out the truth,he whisks baby,baby's nanny,and ill heroine off to sunny Southern Spain to his hacienda.
From here on end we are on the rocky road in this couple's journey to love and happy families. I really enjoyed this one,but the lack of an epilogue was really missing.
The brother,Jarek I belive has a story and will definely be reading that when it comes out,he was an intense ,tortured character in this one.
4.5 stars...
November 10, 2017
To my fellow GB reviewers, I’m sorry, but I could not handle this.
In the first place it has two of the three tropes I hate the most:
The first one is the heroine who poses as a flashy, slutty socialite to deflect the press off something or someone. If you have to create a false persona, this is the best you can do?
Second bad trope is the heroine who literally falls into bed at one kiss with trembling body parts despite the fact that she may or may not hate the hero. Really? Is it the word count or the fact that the chicks are so overwhelmed by the magic penis of the H?
The third trope, which is not at play here, is an H or h that goes from sibling to sibling, but that’s another story…
PLOT:
The h and H had a one night stand supposedly because she was roofied, but really because he was too hot to handle although she was a virgin. No school like old school where the heroine has to carry all the blame for a one night stand. Hey, I am all for women keeping their knees together until they know they love/trust/respect their heroes, but if they fall down the same rabbit hole as the hero they should not be shamed. But, hey, they are anyway.
I will say this for our little Mat Princess, she tries vociferously to make her case for double standards, but it doesn’t go too far. I hated this heroine as she had no spine, but apparently her nipples had their own time zone. Okay, sorry that is so gross and graphic, but puh-leeze.
The hero was worse, or as bad? I kept looking for the daisies where he could pluck off petals…
“I lust after her; she’s a whore.
I trust her; she’s a drug using socialite.
I love her; she’s a manipulative liar.”
For crying out loud, make up your mind.
Despite evidence time after time after time proving the heroine is the next Mother Teresa and a Madonna (the first one) the hero can not trust. It doesn’t really matter as the heroine is there to take anything he is going to dish out as long as he apologizes then gropes her later.
Lather, rinse, and repeat.
In the first place it has two of the three tropes I hate the most:
The first one is the heroine who poses as a flashy, slutty socialite to deflect the press off something or someone. If you have to create a false persona, this is the best you can do?
Second bad trope is the heroine who literally falls into bed at one kiss with trembling body parts despite the fact that she may or may not hate the hero. Really? Is it the word count or the fact that the chicks are so overwhelmed by the magic penis of the H?
The third trope, which is not at play here, is an H or h that goes from sibling to sibling, but that’s another story…
PLOT:
The h and H had a one night stand supposedly because she was roofied, but really because he was too hot to handle although she was a virgin. No school like old school where the heroine has to carry all the blame for a one night stand. Hey, I am all for women keeping their knees together until they know they love/trust/respect their heroes, but if they fall down the same rabbit hole as the hero they should not be shamed. But, hey, they are anyway.
I will say this for our little Mat Princess, she tries vociferously to make her case for double standards, but it doesn’t go too far. I hated this heroine as she had no spine, but apparently her nipples had their own time zone. Okay, sorry that is so gross and graphic, but puh-leeze.
The hero was worse, or as bad? I kept looking for the daisies where he could pluck off petals…
“I lust after her; she’s a whore.
I trust her; she’s a drug using socialite.
I love her; she’s a manipulative liar.”
For crying out loud, make up your mind.
Despite evidence time after time after time proving the heroine is the next Mother Teresa and a Madonna (the first one) the hero can not trust. It doesn’t really matter as the heroine is there to take anything he is going to dish out as long as he apologizes then gropes her later.
Lather, rinse, and repeat.
October 25, 2017
Angsty secret baby story with lots of twists and turns. The H/h had a one night stand on the heroine's birthday. (She was a virgin under the influence of a spiked drink that the hero did not give her) The hero thought she was an experienced party girl based on the stories written about her in the tabloids. He leaves before she wakes up and the heroine had no idea who he was since she only had his first name and he had gate-crashed her party.
Fast forward one year. The heroine has a 3 month-old baby and her adoptive father has just died. Baby daddy is at the funeral because he is the illegitimate son of her adoptive father and has just inherited everything - cutting the h and her adoptive brother out with a mere pittance.
And how they work it out from there is the rest of the book.
The H/h both have huge trust issues. He was born in poverty and crawled his way to the top. She was born in war-torn Bosnia and lived in an orphanage until age four. You'll have to read this to see who wins the backstory sweepstakes.
There's a lot of momentum in this story, which makes it an enjoyable read. Once one misunderstanding is cleared up, another secret or action must be explained. The baby was also a realistic baby who demanded attention (and got it). So kudos to Chantelle Shaw for writing a fun, tropy story with lots of coincidences and symbolic parallels to the past.
The adoptive brother must be getting a story based on the sub-title. That should be interesting as well and hopefully it will serve as an epilogue for this story, which I wanted.
Fast forward one year. The heroine has a 3 month-old baby and her adoptive father has just died. Baby daddy is at the funeral because he is the illegitimate son of her adoptive father and has just inherited everything - cutting the h and her adoptive brother out with a mere pittance.
And how they work it out from there is the rest of the book.
The H/h both have huge trust issues. He was born in poverty and crawled his way to the top. She was born in war-torn Bosnia and lived in an orphanage until age four. You'll have to read this to see who wins the backstory sweepstakes.
There's a lot of momentum in this story, which makes it an enjoyable read. Once one misunderstanding is cleared up, another secret or action must be explained. The baby was also a realistic baby who demanded attention (and got it). So kudos to Chantelle Shaw for writing a fun, tropy story with lots of coincidences and symbolic parallels to the past.
The adoptive brother must be getting a story based on the sub-title. That should be interesting as well and hopefully it will serve as an epilogue for this story, which I wanted.
July 5, 2017
I don't know how to rate this. CS is such a talented author and once again her writing amazed me! This book was full of angst and melodrama. I couldn't put it down. I liked that heroine was a virgin and that she was celibate after she met the hero. I also liked that hero was not celibate after meeting the heroine. He was a ruthless and sometimes cruel alpha male. I loved that! I wanted him to be worse!!! I couldn't wait for it! Assholes/jerks heroes are my weakness. I loved every scene when he was horrible to her lol
There is one scene especially that broke my heart, I won't spoil it but it has to do with their baby boy. The drama was intense and just great! What I hated was that we didn't get an epilogue. I wanted them to have another baby and a sweet adorable filled with babies HEA but the author didn't deliver. So yes I loved this book but the ending was a huge fail in my opinion!
There is one scene especially that broke my heart, I won't spoil it but it has to do with their baby boy. The drama was intense and just great! What I hated was that we didn't get an epilogue. I wanted them to have another baby and a sweet adorable filled with babies HEA but the author didn't deliver. So yes I loved this book but the ending was a huge fail in my opinion!
August 2, 2017
This is more of a 3.75 rating.
Good read but not great.
No epilogue, that's pretty much a must for me now days.
Characters were okay. Liked the heroine more then the hero.
A read to pass the time. Not bad.
Good read but not great.
No epilogue, that's pretty much a must for me now days.
Characters were okay. Liked the heroine more then the hero.
A read to pass the time. Not bad.
July 15, 2018
*** Edited to add point number 5 ***
Vashti and StMargarets have the details so I won't bother. Now, I think I must explain why I didn't like it as much as they did but didn't hate it like Vintage. So I'll leave a list:
1. I didn't like the heroine's unusefulness when she's told about her inheritance. She works at the vineyard and has studied, she has the means to survive on her own. So, her dramatics rested points to me and didn't recover enough despite her martyrdom.
2. I can't even hate an ass-hole hero when his name is Cortez. Really, I can't take him seriously.
Let's think CS wanted an original name, so, forget the common names that have translations in every language. What's wrong with Spanish names like Aitor, Fernando (that's what I'll call my son, if I ever have one, my father's orders, his name is Luis Fernando, but if I have a girl then I'll name her Fernanda, anyway...), Íker, Iñaqui, Gonzalo, Xavier, Rodrigo?
I keep thinking that maybe the intention was to name him after Hernán Cortés, México's conqueror, because of the mention of Spanish conquering Aztecs and Incas. But who knows.
3. I thought that having a hero named Cortez was more than enough fun for me... until we met the ex-mistress, which name was... wait for it... Sancha... I'm still laughing, give me a second... Ok, seriously, I don't know if I have to blame CS and HP or maybe it's my ignorance of Spanish culture but who the hell is named Sancha?! Her parents must really have hated her, especially when her sister has a totally normal name (Teresa). (BTW, I googled it and there was a poor royal girl named that, about a thousand years ago).
In my country (maybe in others too), when a married woman (or a woman in a relationship) is having an affair, the man (the lover) is colloquially known as the Sancho. Maybe that was the reason for castigating the ex-mistress with that name. But who knows.
4. Ah, was it me or the nanny took two annual leaves in within weeks?
5. He had sex with other(s) after the ONS with h. He said it wasn't as good as with the h so he stopped exercising his magic p.
As I deviated alot bit in points 2 and 3 I've already forgotten the rest of the issues.
So, I'm curious to find the Spanish version of this to know what the translators did with the names. I've already witnessed a totally unnecessary change in the hero's name, this one could be justifiable.
Vashti and StMargarets have the details so I won't bother. Now, I think I must explain why I didn't like it as much as they did but didn't hate it like Vintage. So I'll leave a list:
1. I didn't like the heroine's unusefulness when she's told about her inheritance. She works at the vineyard and has studied, she has the means to survive on her own. So, her dramatics rested points to me and didn't recover enough despite her martyrdom.
2. I can't even hate an ass-hole hero when his name is Cortez. Really, I can't take him seriously.
Let's think CS wanted an original name, so, forget the common names that have translations in every language. What's wrong with Spanish names like Aitor, Fernando (that's what I'll call my son, if I ever have one, my father's orders, his name is Luis Fernando, but if I have a girl then I'll name her Fernanda, anyway...), Íker, Iñaqui, Gonzalo, Xavier, Rodrigo?
I keep thinking that maybe the intention was to name him after Hernán Cortés, México's conqueror, because of the mention of Spanish conquering Aztecs and Incas. But who knows.
3. I thought that having a hero named Cortez was more than enough fun for me... until we met the ex-mistress, which name was... wait for it... Sancha... I'm still laughing, give me a second... Ok, seriously, I don't know if I have to blame CS and HP or maybe it's my ignorance of Spanish culture but who the hell is named Sancha?! Her parents must really have hated her, especially when her sister has a totally normal name (Teresa). (BTW, I googled it and there was a poor royal girl named that, about a thousand years ago).
In my country (maybe in others too), when a married woman (or a woman in a relationship) is having an affair, the man (the lover) is colloquially known as the Sancho. Maybe that was the reason for castigating the ex-mistress with that name. But who knows.
4. Ah, was it me or the nanny took two annual leaves in within weeks?
5. He had sex with other(s) after the ONS with h. He said it wasn't as good as with the h so he stopped exercising his magic p.
As I deviated a
So, I'm curious to find the Spanish version of this to know what the translators did with the names. I've already witnessed a totally unnecessary change in the hero's name, this one could be justifiable.
October 20, 2018
The Secret He Must Claim was an exhausting read. It was a rollercoaster of drama. A hot mess. Even towards the end, drama. The hero and the heroine keep pushing each other away. They had a hookup one night stand. The heroine and hero should have spent all the book getting closer and closer. The last chapter, the hero pushes the heroine away. I rolled my eyes in frustration.
And the heroine sacrificed herself for her brother who didn't even come to her wedding! I would've stopped reading at that point but I was on the rollercoaster and was too curious what drama would happen next. That's why I gave this book 2 stars
And the heroine sacrificed herself for her brother who didn't even come to her wedding! I would've stopped reading at that point but I was on the rollercoaster and was too curious what drama would happen next. That's why I gave this book 2 stars
September 5, 2022
3.5 nice story, would have liked a epilogue.
August 11, 2018
As a rule, I loathe Secret Baby/pregnancy-centric romances, but the backbone of this couple's story (ie., she's a Bosnian orphan adopted by a rich English couple & he's the half-Spanish bastard of said adoptive father) made me curious to read it. And in terms of that specific aspect, I liked it. Even the dreaded Secret Baby stuff wasn't too bad, so far as those Harley outlines go.
But...
I still can't get over the lack of plot in these post-1985 HPs. I really just CAN'T. Because I want to *see* these good backstories in action, not just rehashed in dialogue-heavy scenes. That's just how I roll. But if you're not gonna use the word-count for action in the past (& I know Harley pages are at a premium, so there's very little time for flashbacks), at least use those pages for action in the present. There's just *so much* diddling of feelz, & the characters can't get out if their own way. Even while they're boinking, they're hashing out their feelz for each other -- verbally AND mentally. Wtf. Enough! Let the reader SEE THESE THINGS THROUGH THE STORY. Don't just spoonfeed every nuance on an endless feedback loop! Old-time Hqn/HP authors like Burchell, Hampson, Macleod, or Craven actually managed to work stories around the condensed cast & epic feelz, so why can't these contemp Harleys follow suit?! D:
/rant
...That being said, I'm willing to give Shaw at least one more shot, as I saw glimmers throughout that were dying to break free. So eventually I'll try another, hopefully with a more plot-heavy ratio. But I'm thinking these newer HPs just aren't for me. Maybe I'll try some Intrigues for my contemp Harley fix.
But...
I still can't get over the lack of plot in these post-1985 HPs. I really just CAN'T. Because I want to *see* these good backstories in action, not just rehashed in dialogue-heavy scenes. That's just how I roll. But if you're not gonna use the word-count for action in the past (& I know Harley pages are at a premium, so there's very little time for flashbacks), at least use those pages for action in the present. There's just *so much* diddling of feelz, & the characters can't get out if their own way. Even while they're boinking, they're hashing out their feelz for each other -- verbally AND mentally. Wtf. Enough! Let the reader SEE THESE THINGS THROUGH THE STORY. Don't just spoonfeed every nuance on an endless feedback loop! Old-time Hqn/HP authors like Burchell, Hampson, Macleod, or Craven actually managed to work stories around the condensed cast & epic feelz, so why can't these contemp Harleys follow suit?! D:
/rant
...That being said, I'm willing to give Shaw at least one more shot, as I saw glimmers throughout that were dying to break free. So eventually I'll try another, hopefully with a more plot-heavy ratio. But I'm thinking these newer HPs just aren't for me. Maybe I'll try some Intrigues for my contemp Harley fix.
July 13, 2017
I cried and wanted to hit the hero in his handsome face! !! God he was mean with her .
no epilogue? seriously?
no epilogue? seriously?
August 2, 2017
The Secret He Must Claim by Chantelle Shaw is the first in a new series about the Saunderson family. It’s a tale of high society, secrets and passion. In this story, Elin and her brother Jarek were adopted as an orphaned brother and sister from war-torn Bosnia by the Saundersons. A new life of luxury and wealth awaited them, but the death of their adopted mother has thrown their lives into turmoil.
To protect her brother’s reputation and job at Saunderson’s bank, Elin has thrown herself into partying mode so as to attract the paparazzi to her and not to him as they cope with their mother’s death. At a late night party with friends and others with not so good intentions, she meets a man whom she can’t take her eyes off of – nor her him either. One night of passion and he’s gone, but the consequences are life changing as Elin winds up pregnant.
A year later their adopted father has died and the man who hasn’t left Elin’s thoughts or memories is back. Cortez Ramos is ready to claim his rightful place as heir to the Saunderson fortune, as it turns out he is the natural born son of Elin and Jarek’s adopted father! The will states that Elin must marry in order to claim her inheritance, and when Cortez finds out that Elin has a baby boy who is his son, he insists she marry him. A marriage of convenience will give them both what they want, but can it also lead to a happy ever after for them both?
For more of this review please visit Harlequin Junkie: http://harlequinjunkie.com/review-the...
A copy of this story was provided by the publisher for review.
To protect her brother’s reputation and job at Saunderson’s bank, Elin has thrown herself into partying mode so as to attract the paparazzi to her and not to him as they cope with their mother’s death. At a late night party with friends and others with not so good intentions, she meets a man whom she can’t take her eyes off of – nor her him either. One night of passion and he’s gone, but the consequences are life changing as Elin winds up pregnant.
A year later their adopted father has died and the man who hasn’t left Elin’s thoughts or memories is back. Cortez Ramos is ready to claim his rightful place as heir to the Saunderson fortune, as it turns out he is the natural born son of Elin and Jarek’s adopted father! The will states that Elin must marry in order to claim her inheritance, and when Cortez finds out that Elin has a baby boy who is his son, he insists she marry him. A marriage of convenience will give them both what they want, but can it also lead to a happy ever after for them both?
For more of this review please visit Harlequin Junkie: http://harlequinjunkie.com/review-the...
A copy of this story was provided by the publisher for review.
February 21, 2018
2.5 stars
I wanted to like this one but just didn't. It was boring. On a second thought it not fair to other books..i just rolled my eyes almost all the book. The ending kinda saved it for me.( and that is angsty)
The plot: 2 people that made the same mistakes over and over again. They don't learn anything from it.
The second book in the series is about her brother. Brother that didnt spark an interest. He was absent in this book except for his 2-3 lines. I wont read it.. maybe just flip through it.
I wanted to like this one but just didn't. It was boring. On a second thought it not fair to other books..i just rolled my eyes almost all the book. The ending kinda saved it for me.( and that is angsty)
The plot: 2 people that made the same mistakes over and over again. They don't learn anything from it.
The second book in the series is about her brother. Brother that didnt spark an interest. He was absent in this book except for his 2-3 lines. I wont read it.. maybe just flip through it.
December 22, 2019
I've been on a HP binge lately and been mostly happy with the books. This story was another winner in HP land, lots of angst and drama, and a decent plot. The heroine's sex life (or lack of) was very unbelievable, but it worked with the story. Other than that gripe I enjoyed this novel.
November 6, 2017
After a promising start, this rapidly went downhill for me, and I took to skim reading the last 30%. Misunderstandings, assumptions and judgements galore seemed to be the theme of this romance. While the H did more than his fair share of them, the h wasn't exempt from this irritating behavior trait. Communication and reasonably adult behaviour seemed sadly lacking, but then we wouldn't have had the book. The h was constantly being threatened with losing custody of her son, and the H was constantly being compared to his father. Am I the only one that thinks that a hook up at a party ending in the H leaving without details being exchanged is somewhat different to what the H's father did? Which is when finding out the woman he's been having an affair with is pregnant, he kicks her to the curb.
July 9, 2017
I didn't think the hero would redeem himself at all to be honest. He was most certainly a dick but the novel ended on a high note. However all that hurt the heroine must of felt had me literally in tears. Overall this novel was a 4/5 stars. But I could definitely be bias, as I adore the secret baby/pregnancies ones the best!
September 5, 2017
First off Jarek's book was so much better than this one. Jarek's book was Book 2 in this duology featuring the Sanderson siblings. His book was freaking amazing and this book so paled in comparison. It just couldn't compare. I loved Jarek and Holly together. Cortez and Elin not so much. Jarek's book was fresh in my mind so I couldn't help but compare the two.
Secondly I wasn't too thrilled with the first time scene not only the fact they slept together so early on after they first met, which I am never, but also the situation setting up. It was really controversial, and I didn't like. It wasn't either of their faults but it kind skewed my view of their romance and story because it didn't feel right. And it wasn't right. It left a sour taste in my mouth. Now I situations with the date rape drug happen in reality but I don't want that in my romance, which is meant to be fantasy. Granted Cortez didn't give her the drug and didn't realize that she was under the influence of the drug especially considering her perceived reputation in the tabloids but still it didn't sit right with me that he slept with her under the influence of the drug. True she was very into it at the time but again her judgment was impaired because of it so she couldn't make a conscious choice either way. OK it wasn't rape per se but it still wasn't right either and again didn't sit well with me. I would have preferred if Cortez rescued her from the guy that gave her the date rape drug and protected her from him by keeping her in his room but not touching her. Then the next day when the drug was out of her system and she came to realize that he saved her and she was more conscious of her thoughts and her attraction to him then physical intimacy could've commenced. Then that would have made me feel better. Technically it wasn't rape but it wasn't truly consensual either. Again Cortez didn't know but still.
Because of how the relationship started when they had there one night stand conceived their son, for me it really set the tone for the entire book and even though it was no one's fault and just was a misunderstanding I didn't root for them as a couple. It was really hard to because that serious issue just hung over their head and kind of consumed the romance at least for me. That was just in the back of my mind the entire time I was reading this book and it kind of was hard to forget and hard to focus on them as a couple as well as their romance. I just kept going back to that and just couldn't get over it so it was hard to get through this book and see it through a happily ever after lens. It's definitely shaped my perception of the book.
They did have some sexy and sensual love scenes throughout the book however I thought there could've been a lot more done to make up for her first time and the fact that she was it conscious of the choice she made because of the drug. It said it felt very much like all he wanted to do was slake his lust for her that was it. I get that he wanted her more than he ever wanted another woman ever and couldn't wait. I don't know maybe if they cut it acknowledged what happens that first time and discussed it more before they went into their second time I would've felt better but it was kind of pushed aside. I think if there was the gesture made where he asked for her could sit through the act that it would've showed that he understood the impact of that first time. Yes she was willing and she never said no in that moment but it would've been so much more meaningful if he asked then I think I would've seen he got it because I don't think he got it even when he found out about the drug. Again it was pushed aside. They could add a discussion about it more than they did. Plus the circumstances of that second time was it an ideal either out the way you came off was a complete jerk because he was kind Black mailing her into it and kind of prove that she still wanted to be his wife before they married. And it was really that attractive at all. He kind it was sitting there like that all alpha male with the intents purpose of degrading her. He already did that once the first time. I didn't need to see it again. His intent and purpose at that moment was to humiliate her and prove that she desired him. Didn't like that at all either. Granted she could've said no but still again it didn't feel right. It was more about owning her and desire nothing more.
The love scene I enjoyed the most was definitely the wedding that scene because for the first time since the book started I felt the emotions pouring off of them in that scene. It wasn't about lust. It was about love, or at least on her side. It was beautifully written and it felt special. Open to that point I felt they didn't have anything special and it really was just about lust and their son. But this was a lovely scene and I was glad it was in there I just wish there was more of this type of scene that the other type of scenes which kind of took over the entire story.
It had some emotional issues going on with a lot of angst thrown in there, and I would have enjoyed that if the first event hadn't happened and if more was explored in depth emotionally. It was there yet some of it was brushed away when it should have been addressed especially that first night. It was touched upon but I thought there could have been more there. There was hurt going on, but it could have be amplified then soothed by him. Cortez really didn't make up for the fact for most of the book that he was a complete jerk and he didn't grovel as he probably should've. But again she forgave him pretty easily too so that was on her. He jumped to conclusions way too easily and he always thought the worst of her. Granted he had some evidence to back that up but once he got to know her that nonsense should've been done with. I just really unfair and never dressed well he should've. He should've comfort her much earlier than he did but I will say I was glad he did near the end. That sort of redeemed a bit but not totally. The moment and the shower was a beautiful moment between them and they had very few of those moments few and far between.
I just couldn't get behind this romance for so many different reasons. One the circumstances of how they got together was totally not OK for me. I get that neither of them was at fault but again it didn't feel right and not the way that I wouldn't begin my romance plus I like a little buildup between the couple before they hit the sheets. That's just a personal opinion but it has to have an exceptionally way of being written that I would be on board with that relationship from the beginning where the couple had it one night stand after they just met. I also didn't like how he treated her. For most the book he was an absolute jerk to her and I was not OK with that because not only did he treat her unfairly but in my eyes he totally didn't make it up to her. He needed to make a grand gesture or an epic grovel for me to be 100% behind him and I wasn't. OK the shower scene it was pretty good but for me it wasn't enough. I needed more from him because she deserved more respect that he gave her. I understood his point of view but it didn't warrant his treatment of her especially her being the mother of his son. I just couldn't get behind their love story. I really liked her though and thought she had been through a lot in her young life and I thought that could've been explored way more than it was in the book. She had some hurt going on and not only did Cortez contributed to it but exasperated it and made it worse. He made her feel so bad about herself that it was unbelievable. Again that's why you need to make it up to her but she made it way too easy for him. There was a lot going on in the relationship almost too much yet I felt like it wasn't dealt with properly. It needed to be explored more.
Again their first time seeing was a big factor of why I couldn't get into this book and why I was not for them as a couple. If it happened differently or if it didn't happen at all then I think I would've been singing a different tune but since it was that just put me off for the rest the book and kept it in the back of my mind. So it was hard to be for this book and its featured romance. It was not my favorite romance but it wasn't the worst one that I have read either.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 22, 2020
Umm. Gutted that this below average book is the work of CS. Maybe she was having a bad month. Thanking my lucky stars that this wasn’t her first book that I’d read, I’d have warded her off for the rest of my reading life.
The whole book is an overly used blame game trope. The H is misguided by rumours and sadly they don’t stand corrected until the h spells them out. Literally spells them out and explains a million times of what happened when. Even their first time sleeping, the h is a virgin and the H has no recollection and/or notes to follow up to concede for a millisecond that she was, in actuality a virgin.
Then there is this other revolting side plot where the h has been cavorting around as a hoe to save face of her brother who was missing in the entire book! She didn’t have to play being a slut for the press to deviate their attention from her brother. Some orphanage baggage and tons of shallow angst.
Unfortunately neither the h or the H hit me up at all. I am pretty stunned. CS always manages to reel me in the other direction and to think, a majority of my book-husbands here are created by CS. The h, despite her health issues, seemed to play a tough cookie and martyr for ANY cause at all (like labouring at the vineyards all night) except for being able to take care of her little baby promptly. For that she either fell sick, or dizzy and/or both.
And guess what. Each time the H assumes that the h was on serious drugs. Such a convenient coincidence. Her trail of illnesses would just not dwindle. She has a hemorrhage, bleeding. Followed by kidney infections and vertigo and she’s barely given birth 3 months ago. She can’t breastfeed her baby cuz of the high dosage of meds she has to take. Every effing excuse under the belt for her being a dippy MIA mother. But her passion for toiling away at the vineyards never gave her a faint spell.
What a joke of a book. I’m mad as hell right now.
The whole book is an overly used blame game trope. The H is misguided by rumours and sadly they don’t stand corrected until the h spells them out. Literally spells them out and explains a million times of what happened when. Even their first time sleeping, the h is a virgin and the H has no recollection and/or notes to follow up to concede for a millisecond that she was, in actuality a virgin.
Then there is this other revolting side plot where the h has been cavorting around as a hoe to save face of her brother who was missing in the entire book! She didn’t have to play being a slut for the press to deviate their attention from her brother. Some orphanage baggage and tons of shallow angst.
Unfortunately neither the h or the H hit me up at all. I am pretty stunned. CS always manages to reel me in the other direction and to think, a majority of my book-husbands here are created by CS. The h, despite her health issues, seemed to play a tough cookie and martyr for ANY cause at all (like labouring at the vineyards all night) except for being able to take care of her little baby promptly. For that she either fell sick, or dizzy and/or both.
And guess what. Each time the H assumes that the h was on serious drugs. Such a convenient coincidence. Her trail of illnesses would just not dwindle. She has a hemorrhage, bleeding. Followed by kidney infections and vertigo and she’s barely given birth 3 months ago. She can’t breastfeed her baby cuz of the high dosage of meds she has to take. Every effing excuse under the belt for her being a dippy MIA mother. But her passion for toiling away at the vineyards never gave her a faint spell.
What a joke of a book. I’m mad as hell right now.
June 8, 2022
Hqn really got me wanting to go to Spain! After London, Madrid would be a dream destination!
Cortez is sexy alpha and honestly kind of mean! I loved him! The melodrama that accompanies HPs is defintely here, but I could tell CS really put in some research with wineries and how that business works. I thought this was a unusal Hp in the sense of the plot. I really enjoyed this from CS and need to find more from the author.
Reading Challenge: purple on the cover
Cortez is sexy alpha and honestly kind of mean! I loved him! The melodrama that accompanies HPs is defintely here, but I could tell CS really put in some research with wineries and how that business works. I thought this was a unusal Hp in the sense of the plot. I really enjoyed this from CS and need to find more from the author.
Reading Challenge: purple on the cover
July 16, 2017
Angst angst angst! Loved it!
October 27, 2017
This book was just too all over the place for me.
September 18, 2017
Hero is an a...hole of the worst kind throughout the book. h was given a date rape drink when she & he first met. They meet & have sex. It was unclear to me as a reader whether or not she would have slept with him or not if she was not under the influence. Throughout the book, he was way too judgemental & quick to jump to conclusions about the heroine. He never really redeemed himself in my eyes and I never felt any chemistry with these two.
When she told him about the date rape drink, it just seemed to go over his head as if it was nothing. When she blasted him for having sex with her and then leaving without at least giving her his name so that she could contact him when she learned she was pregnant & when she had gotten sick & needed his help to step up with the baby, he never really took responsibility or said sorry. When she got very sick again and had to take her medication and was semi-unconscious for a day or two and unable to take care of her baby, did he call a doctor or try to see if he could help her? No. Instead supposedly he picked her up unconscious and put her on a plane - all the time never questioning that it may be something other then a drug habit ad tried to force her to give up her baby to him.
When she leaves with the baby the day before the wedding, he takes the baby from her and leaves her outside of his mansion gate crying her heart out and he doesn't give a crap no matter how much she begs & apologizes. When he does finally let her in, it was a bit too late for me....
After H & h had slept together the 1st time, he goes on to sleep with other women. There was one OW that he slept with for a couple of months who photographed him in bed, nude & smiling. h finds out and is hurt because the OW made it seem that he was still sleeping with her. Did he apologize to h for sleeping with OW after meeting her? No.
Also to add to all this, H had "fallen hard" for another woman when he was out of college and she aborted his baby. Throughout the book, we constantly hear about this relationship and he even told h that he had loved her very deeply before she left & betrayed him.
As a reader, I don't want to hear about other loves. My fictional romance books should be about the main couple and their soulmate-type story. When the author takes that away, they lose me. So add to the fact that with a vile H and a needy h, there was absolutely no romance and enjoyment here. I just wasted my hard earned money for nothing yet again!
When she told him about the date rape drink, it just seemed to go over his head as if it was nothing. When she blasted him for having sex with her and then leaving without at least giving her his name so that she could contact him when she learned she was pregnant & when she had gotten sick & needed his help to step up with the baby, he never really took responsibility or said sorry. When she got very sick again and had to take her medication and was semi-unconscious for a day or two and unable to take care of her baby, did he call a doctor or try to see if he could help her? No. Instead supposedly he picked her up unconscious and put her on a plane - all the time never questioning that it may be something other then a drug habit ad tried to force her to give up her baby to him.
When she leaves with the baby the day before the wedding, he takes the baby from her and leaves her outside of his mansion gate crying her heart out and he doesn't give a crap no matter how much she begs & apologizes. When he does finally let her in, it was a bit too late for me....
After H & h had slept together the 1st time, he goes on to sleep with other women. There was one OW that he slept with for a couple of months who photographed him in bed, nude & smiling. h finds out and is hurt because the OW made it seem that he was still sleeping with her. Did he apologize to h for sleeping with OW after meeting her? No.
Also to add to all this, H had "fallen hard" for another woman when he was out of college and she aborted his baby. Throughout the book, we constantly hear about this relationship and he even told h that he had loved her very deeply before she left & betrayed him.
As a reader, I don't want to hear about other loves. My fictional romance books should be about the main couple and their soulmate-type story. When the author takes that away, they lose me. So add to the fact that with a vile H and a needy h, there was absolutely no romance and enjoyment here. I just wasted my hard earned money for nothing yet again!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 13, 2024
I hated it. Hero was not celibate during 1 year seperation, even had a mistress just 3 months before they met again.
Hero was an absolute jerk to heroine for majority of book and wanted to have full custody of their son.
Upon meeting again he denied he could be the father and threatened to sue her if she said that he was the father one more time. He basically called her a whore and drug user and wanted nothing to do with her. I can't fault her for telling him the wrong birth date for her son after that, I wouldn't want him to be the father and have to be tied for life to him either.
It was sad that heroine was drugged the first night she met hero. Regardless that she was actually attracted to him and he was unaware she was drugged, I wish he showed remorse of some kind that that happened to her. He could have a least felt rage for someone drugging her and being thankful that she wasn't raped by the guy, but no he just finally acknowledged it happened (because he had someone look in police records) and moved on to next thing to talk about. Being drugged is a big deal and the way he handled it showed he didn't actually care for her. He didn't even believe anything she said to him til the very end.
As for their connection, they only ended up together because of their son. He moved onto other women pretty quickly and she had no idea who he was. P.
Hero was an absolute jerk to heroine for majority of book and wanted to have full custody of their son.
Upon meeting again he denied he could be the father and threatened to sue her if she said that he was the father one more time. He basically called her a whore and drug user and wanted nothing to do with her. I can't fault her for telling him the wrong birth date for her son after that, I wouldn't want him to be the father and have to be tied for life to him either.
It was sad that heroine was drugged the first night she met hero. Regardless that she was actually attracted to him and he was unaware she was drugged, I wish he showed remorse of some kind that that happened to her. He could have a least felt rage for someone drugging her and being thankful that she wasn't raped by the guy, but no he just finally acknowledged it happened (because he had someone look in police records) and moved on to next thing to talk about. Being drugged is a big deal and the way he handled it showed he didn't actually care for her. He didn't even believe anything she said to him til the very end.
As for their connection, they only ended up together because of their son. He moved onto other women pretty quickly and she had no idea who he was. P.
July 21, 2017
Elin Saunderson finds herself breaking all the rules. Still struggling from the loss of her adoptive mother, Elin sets eyes on Cortez at her birthday party. Something about him stirs her. Breaking all her rules, she finds herself left after a one night stand, alone and pregnant. Beyond humiliated, she had no way to contact her son's father. Even when she almost died after childbirth, it was her brother that came to her rescue.
Cortez Ramos did not want to be drawn in to the wicked web Elin seemed surrounded by. He had no desire to get involved with a loose, party girl. And one that used drugs and appeared as lazy as she was portrayed by the media. But meeting her, he can not help but lose control. And take what she offered. Finding out their one night together has resulted in a son, Cortez would move heaven and earth to get his son. Only he finds that he wants not just his son, but the mother as well.
A very nice story.
Cortez Ramos did not want to be drawn in to the wicked web Elin seemed surrounded by. He had no desire to get involved with a loose, party girl. And one that used drugs and appeared as lazy as she was portrayed by the media. But meeting her, he can not help but lose control. And take what she offered. Finding out their one night together has resulted in a son, Cortez would move heaven and earth to get his son. Only he finds that he wants not just his son, but the mother as well.
A very nice story.
September 26, 2018
An illicit encounter with the Spaniard...at her birthday party after she’d been drugged, Heiress Elin Saunderson was instantly seduced by mysterious stranger Cortez. But after their sinful night together she was left alone...and pregnant with Harry! A year later, she learns that Cortez is the rightful successor to her adopted father's fortune and penniless Elin finds herself at risk of losing everything – her job, her home, including her son! (Financier/Vineyard) Cortez Ramos is set on claiming the secret Elin kept from him - but Elin proves as protective a mother as she is a tortuous temptation. He has totally preconceived expectations based on her make-believe reputation as a party girl. A reputation she pretended to take the heat off her beloved brother. His solution: demand a marriage of convenience which will legitimize his heir and return Elin to his bed!
March 4, 2018
This was a good book with strong emotions. The heroine was slipped a date rap drug at her very own birthday party. She ended up avoiding the person that slipped it to her. However she did have a one-night stand with Cortez. She ended up pregnant and didn’t know how to find Cortez. Both the hero and heroine had a troubled childhood. They had to work to overcome it. Later Cortez was shocked to find out Elin had a 3-month-old baby. He was more shocked when she said he was the father. This book had a lot of twist and turns, and was a fun read.
November 18, 2020
I didn’t enjoy this one too much. The h was not a complete doormat, even though she did tremble a lot, and the angst was there, but not in the right amount for me to like the story. Everything felt rushed.
July 15, 2017
A passionate intense romance with a strong alpha and heroine who in her own way is perfect for him loved it.
August 25, 2017
Rating 3.85 stars!
A very good story and will start reading the next book in the series
A very good story and will start reading the next book in the series
September 1, 2017
With a roller coaster of emotions, Elin strives to be the best she can. Will it be enough? A fantastic read!
October 10, 2017
Good read. Loved the H, the h not so much.
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