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The Purchased Wife
Xander Pascalis can buy anything...including a wife! At millions of dollars, Helen is lavishly expensive. But Xander thinks he knows a good deal when he sees one.... However, when Helen refuses to share his bed, Xander is forced to take his headstrong wife to his private Greek island to tame her into keeping her marriage vows. He wants value for she will give him the wedding night that, so far, she's denied him....
288 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2005
About the author
Michelle Reid
395 books639 followersHi, my name is Michelle Reid and I’ve been writing for Harlequin Mills & Boon for the last twenty years, and the crazy part about it is that I only realised it had been twenty years while updating this page!
So, hang on for a minute while I take this huge milestone in....
Twenty years with almost forty books published or in the pipeline ... I know it isn’t a great average when compared with some authors but it sounds pretty good to me!
So what was I doing twenty years ago before I wrote books? Well, I did the all of the usual things, like growing up and attending school, finishing at secretarial college, which I hated, then spent the next several years wandering aimlessly from job to job. Eventually I met my husband, we married and produced two daughters who then grew up and between them presented us with two gorgeous grandsons and one beautiful granddaughter. But I’m getting ahead of myself. Somewhere in between my girls growing up and the grandchildren arriving on the scene, I started writing. To this day I don’t know why, unless it was a natural progression from my never being without a book close by—often several—because books have always been an important part of my life for as far back as I can recall.
So, I started to write, by hand at first, scribbling short stories in notebooks which never saw the light of day. At some point I discovered Mills & Boon Romance books and that was pretty much it for me. I’d found my new love, as in reading romantic fiction and inevitably writing it too.
So twenty years on and almost forty books on, here I am still writing and still loving it!
So, hang on for a minute while I take this huge milestone in....
Twenty years with almost forty books published or in the pipeline ... I know it isn’t a great average when compared with some authors but it sounds pretty good to me!
So what was I doing twenty years ago before I wrote books? Well, I did the all of the usual things, like growing up and attending school, finishing at secretarial college, which I hated, then spent the next several years wandering aimlessly from job to job. Eventually I met my husband, we married and produced two daughters who then grew up and between them presented us with two gorgeous grandsons and one beautiful granddaughter. But I’m getting ahead of myself. Somewhere in between my girls growing up and the grandchildren arriving on the scene, I started writing. To this day I don’t know why, unless it was a natural progression from my never being without a book close by—often several—because books have always been an important part of my life for as far back as I can recall.
So, I started to write, by hand at first, scribbling short stories in notebooks which never saw the light of day. At some point I discovered Mills & Boon Romance books and that was pretty much it for me. I’d found my new love, as in reading romantic fiction and inevitably writing it too.
So twenty years on and almost forty books on, here I am still writing and still loving it!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 90 reviews
March 24, 2013
Book Overview: Xander Pascalis can buy anything...including a wife! At millions of dollars, Helen is lavishly expensive. But Xander thinks he knows a good deal when he sees one....
However, when Helen refuses to share his bed, Xander is forced to take his headstrong wife to his private Greek island to tame her into keeping her marriage vows. He wants value for money: she will give him the wedding night that, so far, she's denied him....
Another story about the consequences of miscommunication. If only Xander & Helen were open and trusted each other, they would not have to go through such heartache, pain and more. But no, both have to keep their secrets to themselves which results in keeping them apart.
What I liked about Xander was that despite being the usual hard-assed, rich and gorgeous billionaire, never once did I doubt his love for Helen. Although at times I really wanted to smack him….all those damn threats – but then I could in some way understand the reason after all he did not have a good example from his parents – his mother was such a selfish creature (on the surface…at the end I realized there was more to her than I initially thought!!!),
I felt that Helen to be a bit immature and totally out of her depth when it came to Xander. She loved him so desperately so why the hell she came out and tell him the truth was beyond me. Of course I only realized half-way through that she was quite much younger than Xander, so she could be forgiven for being so naive and stupid at times. However, she soon grew some backbone and fought back!!!!!!!!! The seduction beach scene was quite sweet.
The chemistry between the two sizzles and the passion they both feel is very apparent.
There’s a twist at the end that totally surprised me. Nothing at all prepared me for it. But thankfully things are smoothed out and everyone is happy ever after.
Michelle Reid writes emotional and seductive stories and this book is certainly one of those.
However, when Helen refuses to share his bed, Xander is forced to take his headstrong wife to his private Greek island to tame her into keeping her marriage vows. He wants value for money: she will give him the wedding night that, so far, she's denied him....
Another story about the consequences of miscommunication. If only Xander & Helen were open and trusted each other, they would not have to go through such heartache, pain and more. But no, both have to keep their secrets to themselves which results in keeping them apart.
What I liked about Xander was that despite being the usual hard-assed, rich and gorgeous billionaire, never once did I doubt his love for Helen. Although at times I really wanted to smack him….all those damn threats – but then I could in some way understand the reason after all he did not have a good example from his parents – his mother was such a selfish creature (on the surface…at the end I realized there was more to her than I initially thought!!!),
I felt that Helen to be a bit immature and totally out of her depth when it came to Xander. She loved him so desperately so why the hell she came out and tell him the truth was beyond me. Of course I only realized half-way through that she was quite much younger than Xander, so she could be forgiven for being so naive and stupid at times. However, she soon grew some backbone and fought back!!!!!!!!! The seduction beach scene was quite sweet.
The chemistry between the two sizzles and the passion they both feel is very apparent.
There’s a twist at the end that totally surprised me. Nothing at all prepared me for it. But thankfully things are smoothed out and everyone is happy ever after.
Michelle Reid writes emotional and seductive stories and this book is certainly one of those.
May 31, 2020
The Purchased Wife - alternate title: Two Immature People Get Married and Spare the Rest of the World Their Drama.
This had a good premise: heroine is in love with hero when they are engaged and then sees him with an OW before the wedding. Instead of talking to him about it, she marries him, confronts him on their wedding night and when he doesn't explain himself, withholds sex for a year. The hero doesn't try talking to the h or even seducing her, he just reminds her that he married her as a business deal and then leaves her alone with security guards for a year. The couple is brought back together when the heroine is injured in a car accident after fleeing the guarded house. Hero goes ballistic when he finds out there was an OM in the car.
To get this out of the way the OM was and the OW was
Hero decides to finally consummate their marriage by taking his bruised and battered bride to his island in Greece. But he sees her injuries and leaves her for 2 weeks to be attended by his kindly auntie. Hero returns to a heroine with a golden tan and a combative attitude. His mother also shows up to make sure we know the hero has secrets that he isn't spilling right now. The H/h finally do the deed. This doesn't cure the hero's jealousy of the OM and the heroine refuses to tell him anything about the man, but they have a wonderful 3 weeks until the phone rings and it's the OW. The hero has to leave.
And on it goes - this is where I felt the action got repetitious. They had the same arguments in England that they did on the island, but this time the heroine is pregnant and throwing up at key moments.
Finally hero's mama tells the whole story about the OW and heroine explains her convoluted family history. Then she makes the hero make up with his mother (which is a nice touch). There's an epilogue with baby, hero's mother, heroine's father, and another baby on the way.
After reading this I was exhausted from all of the conflict. The H/h were a bit too combative for my taste. You just know their children are going to be quiet little buggers who leave home to photograph war zones or stage diplomatic treaties because they will be looking to find peace somewhere - anywhere - away from their parents.
This had a good premise: heroine is in love with hero when they are engaged and then sees him with an OW before the wedding. Instead of talking to him about it, she marries him, confronts him on their wedding night and when he doesn't explain himself, withholds sex for a year. The hero doesn't try talking to the h or even seducing her, he just reminds her that he married her as a business deal and then leaves her alone with security guards for a year. The couple is brought back together when the heroine is injured in a car accident after fleeing the guarded house. Hero goes ballistic when he finds out there was an OM in the car.
To get this out of the way the OM was and the OW was
Hero decides to finally consummate their marriage by taking his bruised and battered bride to his island in Greece. But he sees her injuries and leaves her for 2 weeks to be attended by his kindly auntie. Hero returns to a heroine with a golden tan and a combative attitude. His mother also shows up to make sure we know the hero has secrets that he isn't spilling right now. The H/h finally do the deed. This doesn't cure the hero's jealousy of the OM and the heroine refuses to tell him anything about the man, but they have a wonderful 3 weeks until the phone rings and it's the OW. The hero has to leave.
And on it goes - this is where I felt the action got repetitious. They had the same arguments in England that they did on the island, but this time the heroine is pregnant and throwing up at key moments.
Finally hero's mama tells the whole story about the OW and heroine explains her convoluted family history. Then she makes the hero make up with his mother (which is a nice touch). There's an epilogue with baby, hero's mother, heroine's father, and another baby on the way.
After reading this I was exhausted from all of the conflict. The H/h were a bit too combative for my taste. You just know their children are going to be quiet little buggers who leave home to photograph war zones or stage diplomatic treaties because they will be looking to find peace somewhere - anywhere - away from their parents.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 5, 2015
I should have loved this, but I spent so much time hating the hero and not in a "fun way". But MR kept me reading as usual and I was emotionally involved, so that's worth 3 stars. Maybe even more. I'm just mad (which proves I was emotionally involved)
I guess I couldn't get past all the death threats and his overall rough treatment of her. I can handle and even be amused by a bunch of BS from these alpha heroes, but threats of violence (or actual violence) is hard for me not to take seriously. I did get it that he felt guilty afterwards, but I just never understood why he was so hard on her. Okay, he was jealous. I get it. But once he realized she was still a virgin he should have chilled out. Obviously there wasn't much to her grand "affair" if she hadn't slept with anyone. And he treated her like a prisoner. In fact she was a prisoner.
Besides, he kept seeming to forget that she had every reason to hate and mistrust him. And I couldn't excuse him for humiliating her the way he did even if things weren't entirely as they seemed. Your wife should be your priority and you shouldn't keep such secrets from her.
Then the heroine had no pride and that pissed me off even more. She believed he was bed hopping and still couldn't resist him? Oh, hell no.
I guess I couldn't get past all the death threats and his overall rough treatment of her. I can handle and even be amused by a bunch of BS from these alpha heroes, but threats of violence (or actual violence) is hard for me not to take seriously. I did get it that he felt guilty afterwards, but I just never understood why he was so hard on her. Okay, he was jealous. I get it. But once he realized she was still a virgin he should have chilled out. Obviously there wasn't much to her grand "affair" if she hadn't slept with anyone. And he treated her like a prisoner. In fact she was a prisoner.
Besides, he kept seeming to forget that she had every reason to hate and mistrust him. And I couldn't excuse him for humiliating her the way he did even if things weren't entirely as they seemed. Your wife should be your priority and you shouldn't keep such secrets from her.
Then the heroine had no pride and that pissed me off even more. She believed he was bed hopping and still couldn't resist him? Oh, hell no.
April 19, 2021
If I recall correctly then getting the truth from hero was like pulling my own teeth with a spanner.
And I had some problems with him deserting heroine after the accident and before it. But it was a plus point that he was faithful from day one, smitten too, eventhough he tried the hardest to not let anyone know. And I applaud the heroine for trying to leave him. I liked that alot.
Recommended for the angst and heroine.
And I had some problems with him deserting heroine after the accident and before it. But it was a plus point that he was faithful from day one, smitten too, eventhough he tried the hardest to not let anyone know. And I applaud the heroine for trying to leave him. I liked that alot.
Recommended for the angst and heroine.
April 17, 2014
Why so flawless MR? She gives me everything I want. Innocent but strong heroine, super possessive and crazy jealous alpha hero, passionate love scenes and plenty of angst! Oh and epilogue was all kinds of adorable!
April 6, 2022
I'm planning to reread it soon, so I will add more shelves later.
Reread
September 14/2020
I read it for the first time years ago. I have just finished to re-read it and still like the book. A lot of secrets, miscommunication, misunderstandings, which is more of the time Michelle Reid's formula, but enjoyable in my opinion. I could say one of my favorite epilogues 💖.
P.S.: I will add more shelves later.
Reread
April 6th/2022
I still love this book, even though the angst and the top secret were too much 🤗😻😍🤩💕 After my second reread, I'll officially add it in my favorite books list, since the whole story has the main "ingredients" I like in my fantasy romance world 💖
Note: I have forgotten about hero's age in my last reread, he is older than the heroine, and I also added more tags to my review.
There is one thing I think it wasn't explain in the book and is why the heroine has two names? 🤷🏻♀️ He calls her Helen/Nell, if someone knows, please comment below 😅
Reread
September 14/2020
I read it for the first time years ago. I have just finished to re-read it and still like the book. A lot of secrets, miscommunication, misunderstandings, which is more of the time Michelle Reid's formula, but enjoyable in my opinion. I could say one of my favorite epilogues 💖.
P.S.: I will add more shelves later.
Reread
April 6th/2022
I still love this book, even though the angst and the top secret were too much 🤗😻😍🤩💕 After my second reread, I'll officially add it in my favorite books list, since the whole story has the main "ingredients" I like in my fantasy romance world 💖
Note: I have forgotten about hero's age in my last reread, he is older than the heroine, and I also added more tags to my review.
There is one thing I think it wasn't explain in the book and is why the heroine has two names? 🤷🏻♀️ He calls her Helen/Nell, if someone knows, please comment below 😅
March 31, 2018
"The Purchased Wife" is the story of Xander and Nell, and has got to be one of the worst stories Ive ever read.
A marriage of convinience filled with supposed cheating, egostistical controlling hero and a doormat heroine- this has all the jealousy of a roaring alpha male and none of the spine of the lioness.
The book begins when the estranged heroine is running away from the cheating b******d of a hero- who she thinks has kept a mistress since hes been married- and as she running away with a man- the hero presumes hes her lover and kidnaps her.
He then proceeds to seduce her- as its his right as hes a GREEK BILLIONAIRE and shes his wife but he can sleep around, how dare she do the same!!
He is verbally abusive and filled with manipulation and double standards, she is trapped and filled with futile anger.
Ofc there is a surprise reveal at the end , but by then I had already given up on this toxic, non communicative love story.
A big nope.
Safe..ish
1/5
A marriage of convinience filled with supposed cheating, egostistical controlling hero and a doormat heroine- this has all the jealousy of a roaring alpha male and none of the spine of the lioness.
The book begins when the estranged heroine is running away from the cheating b******d of a hero- who she thinks has kept a mistress since hes been married- and as she running away with a man- the hero presumes hes her lover and kidnaps her.
He then proceeds to seduce her- as its his right as hes a GREEK BILLIONAIRE and shes his wife but he can sleep around, how dare she do the same!!
He is verbally abusive and filled with manipulation and double standards, she is trapped and filled with futile anger.
Ofc there is a surprise reveal at the end , but by then I had already given up on this toxic, non communicative love story.
A big nope.
Safe..ish
1/5
May 2, 2012
This one was nice. There was plenty of POV from the hero so you knew all along that he loved her and felt guilty about marrying her so young and forcing her to do this or that. Lots of angst on his part. In fact you really knew the hero much better than the heroine. The biggest problem I had with it was the hero kept threatening to kill the heroine if she ever slept with another man or even let one see her naked or what have you. That's just not right. Sure threaten to kill the other man, I'm behind you all the way (well in Romancelandia anyway) but he should always be aware that he would never seriously hurt the heroine.
January 13, 2018
What I loved: The super alpha, possessive hero. The heroine who could go for to toe with the hero. There was no infidelity and the hero got trashed in the media for being stupid and keeping a big secret from the heroine. The hero didn't actually do what he was accused of, but he deserved to be trashed for keeping this secret.
What I hated: The secrets! Seriously, if the hero and heroine truly loved each other, why start off their marriage or even their engagement with these two big secrets that they both had. The hero's treatment of his mother upset me as well. As was proven in the book, the hero did not know everything that went on in his parents relationship. And, it was ultimately up to his father how things got handled. Dear old dad made those final decisions, not his mom. What about the little boy Alex at the end? What type of relationship did he have with the hero and heroine at the end of the book? Michelle Reid never reconciled his story and considering the role he played in 2 different marital relationships, MR should have given some time to fleshing out his story and that of his mother's. I was also upset that the heroine's father never called or visited her while she was in the hospital or recovering on the island. And the heroine's secret, why was that not fully explained? How are we to believe in her price for the supposed OM when she kept him a secret from her fiance and eventually her husband?
This story had so much potential but Michelle Reid's decision not to fully write about and explain the hero and heroine's secrets made this book at the most 3 Stars. I feel if a writer is going to introduce themes, plot points, characters etc... the writer should at least fully explain everything and tie up any loose ends at the end of the book. Also, at the end of the book Alex is swimming in the pool and I had a million more questions, not to mention the child's name!?!?
Michelle Reid you are so much better a writer than this, to leave so many unfinished plot points at the end of this story.
What I hated: The secrets! Seriously, if the hero and heroine truly loved each other, why start off their marriage or even their engagement with these two big secrets that they both had. The hero's treatment of his mother upset me as well. As was proven in the book, the hero did not know everything that went on in his parents relationship. And, it was ultimately up to his father how things got handled. Dear old dad made those final decisions, not his mom. What about the little boy Alex at the end? What type of relationship did he have with the hero and heroine at the end of the book? Michelle Reid never reconciled his story and considering the role he played in 2 different marital relationships, MR should have given some time to fleshing out his story and that of his mother's. I was also upset that the heroine's father never called or visited her while she was in the hospital or recovering on the island. And the heroine's secret, why was that not fully explained? How are we to believe in her price for the supposed OM when she kept him a secret from her fiance and eventually her husband?
This story had so much potential but Michelle Reid's decision not to fully write about and explain the hero and heroine's secrets made this book at the most 3 Stars. I feel if a writer is going to introduce themes, plot points, characters etc... the writer should at least fully explain everything and tie up any loose ends at the end of the book. Also, at the end of the book Alex is swimming in the pool and I had a million more questions, not to mention the child's name!?!?
Michelle Reid you are so much better a writer than this, to leave so many unfinished plot points at the end of this story.
January 8, 2021
A perfect 5 star read from MR. She’s one of the few writers who really can deliver on an alpha H. Xander here is territorial, crazy jealous and acts like a total bully to the h. Except when he’s loving of course. Going on a keeper shelf. There is some funky family business at the end of the book that caused much misunderstanding between the h and H. A little far fetched, the one involving the H’s mother, but these two have their sweet HEA.
June 6, 2019
Michelle Reid has done it again . . . and used the secrets trope. The author is a fan of this device, but I'm not. I find it difficult to rally behind characters who deliberately mislead or withhold information from their partners particularly when doing so damages their relationship. Helen and Xander each had their own reasons for doing so, but it got old really fast because it made Helen appear petty and Xander stupid. If only they had been honest with each other. *shakes head*
Adding onto this cluster of lies was Xander's volatile jealousy, stemming from unrequited love for Helen (of course). He threatened to kill her if she ever dared to have an affair and even shook her roughly during her recovery in a hospital bed. Miraculously, I didn't hate Xander for this because he seemed decent overall and didn't repeat it. He also calmed down considerably once he had Helen in his clutches. Let's hope Helen never ditches him—or else!
These two clearly loved each other, they had great chemistry, but I'm not completely sold on characters who instigate their own troubles with unnecessary deceptions.
Adding onto this cluster of lies was Xander's volatile jealousy, stemming from unrequited love for Helen (of course). He threatened to kill her if she ever dared to have an affair and even shook her roughly during her recovery in a hospital bed. Miraculously, I didn't hate Xander for this because he seemed decent overall and didn't repeat it. He also calmed down considerably once he had Helen in his clutches. Let's hope Helen never ditches him—or else!
These two clearly loved each other, they had great chemistry, but I'm not completely sold on characters who instigate their own troubles with unnecessary deceptions.
September 18, 2022
5 stars for three sheer angst, passion and drama ... and the H and h who believe in giving as good as they get
He is 11 years older than her ... and supposed sophisticated while she is less worldly wise ... but believe me ... she runs rings around him and can make him regret his actions
He is 11 years older than her ... and supposed sophisticated while she is less worldly wise ... but believe me ... she runs rings around him and can make him regret his actions
March 10, 2013
I don't think this is the best of Michelle Reid's work, but I think it's still a 5-star read compared to the bulk of the HPs out there. Very angsty reunion story. I love this kind of premise where the heroine is physically injured at the outset, forcing the hero to reveal (subtly) his feelings despite harboring whatever misconceptions he has about her. Downsides were that the hero was overly jealous (repeatedly telling the heroine he would kill her if she ever went to another man) and controlling (refusing to allow the heroine even to make phone calls, much less leave the secluded Greek island where he had her trapped). Normally I can just chalk these kinds of things up to romance-land drama, but they were more severe than usual in this story, which did give the hero a crazy stalker, eventually-I'll-murder-my-wife kind of feeling. Not so bad that I couldn't enjoy the story a lot, but it would have been better without that feeling.
Overall though, Michelle Reid writes such great angsty romances, so 5 stars!
Overall though, Michelle Reid writes such great angsty romances, so 5 stars!
January 11, 2023
Ow misunderstanding, but the h believes he has a mistress.
- doormat h with a raging betraying body issues. No matter what he does ( in her mind) if he kisses her, it’s game over for her. She turns into a nympho. What human being acts like this, except in romance novels?
She thinks he ditched her - the new wife- to be with his secret mistress, but he’s soooooo hot. 🙄
3 stars for the angst ow/om drama, other wise the bratty h just got on my friggin nerves.
- doormat h with a raging betraying body issues. No matter what he does ( in her mind) if he kisses her, it’s game over for her. She turns into a nympho. What human being acts like this, except in romance novels?
She thinks he ditched her - the new wife- to be with his secret mistress, but he’s soooooo hot. 🙄
3 stars for the angst ow/om drama, other wise the bratty h just got on my friggin nerves.
January 2, 2019
I have joined Manali Dey, a friend on Bookstagram, for the #MillsandBoonReadathon for which we are reading 18 books, coz it's '18! This is Book 17.
The story starts with Xander (Alexander) Pascalis facing a barrage of questions from reporters about the accident his wife has been in, and they're quite uncomfortable questions. He married Nell (Helen) Garrett a year ago, in a big society wedding, but their marriage didn't progress from there. Not only her, but he also blames it on the affair he had with Vanessa DeFriess until a week before the wedding. And now, he had been photographed with her, on the heels of which Helen's accident happened. Though apparently, she was not only running away from him but, running to her French lover, Marcel Dubois.
As soon as she's ready to travel, Xander takes her to his Greek island, where they're met with his great-aunt Sophia Theodora Pascalis (she is such a darling). His sole aim for taking her there is full-blown seduction.
I felt really bad for Nell, two emotionally closed off men in her life (daddy, then hubby). Sigh! Moreover, Xander plunged the knife in further when, to preserve his ego, he casually admitted that he was still seeing his mistress. He abandons her again, and again, whatever the reasons he gives. It gave me great pleasure when his Thea Sophia gave him hell for the way he treated Nell! But, such is their insecurity that each time they are intimate, it's as if they are having revenge sex. Ugh... To top it off, half the book, they fought like cats and dogs. Never have I enjoyed reading fight scenes more. Coz Michelle Reid certainly has a fiery way to write them!
The Purchased Wife, an apt title much? Xander had loaned her father fifty million pounds for his business, whereas Nell had married him for love. I would have loved to see her father get some comeuppance though. And all the above is only a series of misunderstandings which get cleared at the end, though none of it is evident at first.
Recommended only and only for the funny dialogues, as well as the reveal about his and her, lovers! And also for the picture-perfect ending.
P.S. I read this book as a part of the author's paperback collection titled 'Bridal Bargains'.
The story starts with Xander (Alexander) Pascalis facing a barrage of questions from reporters about the accident his wife has been in, and they're quite uncomfortable questions. He married Nell (Helen) Garrett a year ago, in a big society wedding, but their marriage didn't progress from there. Not only her, but he also blames it on the affair he had with Vanessa DeFriess until a week before the wedding. And now, he had been photographed with her, on the heels of which Helen's accident happened. Though apparently, she was not only running away from him but, running to her French lover, Marcel Dubois.
As soon as she's ready to travel, Xander takes her to his Greek island, where they're met with his great-aunt Sophia Theodora Pascalis (she is such a darling). His sole aim for taking her there is full-blown seduction.
I felt really bad for Nell, two emotionally closed off men in her life (daddy, then hubby). Sigh! Moreover, Xander plunged the knife in further when, to preserve his ego, he casually admitted that he was still seeing his mistress. He abandons her again, and again, whatever the reasons he gives. It gave me great pleasure when his Thea Sophia gave him hell for the way he treated Nell! But, such is their insecurity that each time they are intimate, it's as if they are having revenge sex. Ugh... To top it off, half the book, they fought like cats and dogs. Never have I enjoyed reading fight scenes more. Coz Michelle Reid certainly has a fiery way to write them!
The Purchased Wife, an apt title much? Xander had loaned her father fifty million pounds for his business, whereas Nell had married him for love. I would have loved to see her father get some comeuppance though. And all the above is only a series of misunderstandings which get cleared at the end, though none of it is evident at first.
Recommended only and only for the funny dialogues, as well as the reveal about his and her, lovers! And also for the picture-perfect ending.
P.S. I read this book as a part of the author's paperback collection titled 'Bridal Bargains'.
October 21, 2010
This was a true DNF. It would have been a wallbanger except it was electronic. I picked it up after reading raves about this author's work on Dear Author - Jane is a big fan. Maybe I picked the wrong book to start (I have 2 others on my reader which I haven't been brave enough to read so far) but this "alpha hero" took a wrong turn RIGHT AT THE START OF THE BOOK into asshatville and I couldn't see him redeeming himself. Apparently there is world class grovel at the end of the book but I didn't want to read it. The heroine is in hospital after a car accident and our hero comes in and leans over her and threatens her ("I'll hurt you") with physical violence if she doesn't do (something which I now can't recall and don't care enough to look up quite frankly). That was the last of a number of straws and I shut it down. Not sexy or heroic. Just yuk. Not my kind of hero. Others have disagreed though, so YMMV.
April 28, 2016
While there were moments the H was extra harsh and controlling, you could always tell it was because of his fear of losing the h. And you could always tell how strongly he loved her.
One thing that bugs me is
One thing that bugs me is
October 11, 2021
Michelle Reid is my favourite HP writer, so although there were flaws in the story, I still loved it. She writes with such emotional intensity and the characters just jump out of the book. Hero seemed like a nasty piece of work at the start but I loved how crazily obsessed he was with the h. As another reviewer said, there was never any doubt in the whole book how much he loved her, though it did make him nuts with jealousy. The h was vulnerable and sweet but not stupid. I love how she stood up for herself. Despite the difference in power and experience between them it seemed to me that she still had the upper hand in the relationship. Despite all his arrogant blustering he was figuratively on his knees with her.
The epilogue was the icing on the cake.
The epilogue was the icing on the cake.
September 13, 2021
All the misunderstanding, hurtful words, and all those months of separation could have been avoided if they only talked. But where's the fun in that, right? And besides, I’m a sucker for this kind of book. I love the jerky possessive hero, strong, sassy heroine, jealousy, lots of misunderstanding, angst, great grovels, and this book had it all. I was on the roller coaster with this book and loving it! And the epilogue... pretty much killed me with its sweetness! Lovely!
February 4, 2021
great miscomunication here... The heroine thinks H has a lover, and actually he is often seen and pictured with a young beautiful woman. H is innocent but there's a big huge secret he has to protect. He is in love with heroine since the beginning and eventually the truth is revealed. I don't like that H kept this secret from his wife, if he was in love with her, and I don't like the trope with OW, I think that the truth is always preferable to lies even when it's to protect other.
December 22, 2018
This was disappointing...had all the "good" stuff:
- possessive arrogant alpha Greek hero
- secrets and misunderstandings
- ow
- om
- private Greek island and snazzy expensive 'come get me' clothes
But the issues I had was the H keeping the h a prisoner - first in England and then on the Greek island.
Whenever they fought or she was protesting he would forcibly cover his mouth with hers (supposedly a kiss...but er no that is NOT a kiss...it was just a way to shut her up...and she liked it!!!)
The H's secret about the OW shouldn't have been a kept secret, well at least not to his own wife who he knew had the completely wrong idea about what was happening and was the reason why she was unhappy. The only positive thing was that she also was keeping him in the dark about her own mysterious OM which was driving him around the bend...tit for tat.
- possessive arrogant alpha Greek hero
- secrets and misunderstandings
- ow
- om
- private Greek island and snazzy expensive 'come get me' clothes
But the issues I had was the H keeping the h a prisoner - first in England and then on the Greek island.
Whenever they fought or she was protesting he would forcibly cover his mouth with hers (supposedly a kiss...but er no that is NOT a kiss...it was just a way to shut her up...and she liked it!!!)
The H's secret about the OW shouldn't have been a kept secret, well at least not to his own wife who he knew had the completely wrong idea about what was happening and was the reason why she was unhappy. The only positive thing was that she also was keeping him in the dark about her own mysterious OM which was driving him around the bend...tit for tat.
October 26, 2017
Después de haberle sido entregado a cambio de 50 mil libras Alexander Pascalis al fin desposa a la bella Helen. Un año después de haber estado encerrada en la lujosa jaula de cristal que él construyó para ella, la bella esposa se estrella contra un árbol en su intento de escapar de él. ¿Dónde estaba él todo ese tiempo? ¿Calentando la cama de una amante? El accidente le hace reaccionar y regresa decidido a convertir ese papel en realidad y tomar a su esposa como se debe.
Ésta es una verdadera joya, el resentimiento que siente ella hacia él. La culpabilidad pero a la vez el orgullo que no le deja admitir que se equivocó. La tensión de amantes de ambos lados. Y ese final explisivo que hace que te quedes D: y pienses: demonios, al diabio, no sabía nada. JAJAJAJA
En serio te sorprende gratamente.
Ésta es una verdadera joya, el resentimiento que siente ella hacia él. La culpabilidad pero a la vez el orgullo que no le deja admitir que se equivocó. La tensión de amantes de ambos lados. Y ese final explisivo que hace que te quedes D: y pienses: demonios, al diabio, no sabía nada. JAJAJAJA
En serio te sorprende gratamente.
March 16, 2024
Reread 3/16/2024
Reread 1/18/2021. I liked it more this time around, both have mommy and daddy issues and though told from both their POVs, they’re somewhat unreliable narrators as they weren’t completely honest with each other nor with the reader, we were all in the dark.
This had one had an edge to both the heroine and hero, angry heroine, arrogant hero. Not a miscommunication story, it’s a complete lack of communication story, outright lying and lying by omission.
Reread 1/18/2021. I liked it more this time around, both have mommy and daddy issues and though told from both their POVs, they’re somewhat unreliable narrators as they weren’t completely honest with each other nor with the reader, we were all in the dark.
This had one had an edge to both the heroine and hero, angry heroine, arrogant hero. Not a miscommunication story, it’s a complete lack of communication story, outright lying and lying by omission.
September 27, 2022
Man, what a journey! I was ready to reach into the book and strangle this hero... and sometimes this heroine.
I know that there are ALOT of far more toxic couples out here in HPland, but I wasn't convinced that these two are meant to be together. They may have loved each other, but they definitely don't like each other.
Michelle Reid is a firm favourite of mine, but this one is not. Sorry.
I know that there are ALOT of far more toxic couples out here in HPland, but I wasn't convinced that these two are meant to be together. They may have loved each other, but they definitely don't like each other.
Michelle Reid is a firm favourite of mine, but this one is not. Sorry.
July 5, 2020
the chemistry and sexual tension was so good 🔥
December 16, 2024
I know most reviewers have hated it.
It’s very very old fashioned. The hero is very masculine. The author has left no stone unturned to describe his beauty. Not in the way perhaps that Robyn Donald does. RD is all about telling.
Michelle Reid is all about showing. She shows us through the heroine’s seduced love struck eyes.
Story is simple.
Hero and heroine see each other and it is love at first sight.
The hero is investing in the heroine’s father’s business.
He asks for her hand too and signs a pre nuptial agreement for the heroine’s hand in marriage.
They have a beautiful wedding.
But a week before wedding the hero’s picture with his mistress across the Atlantic breaks in the tabloids. The woman was actually his father’s mistress. Hero committed to his father he would take care of her.
Anyway. The heroine does not break the engagement.
She goes ahead with the marriage and then on their honeymoon or even before tells the hero to get lost. She won’t have anything to do with him.
The hero leaves her alone for a year. At a country estate. With body guards. He comes from time to time to take her to society events or on her birthday.
Then another picture breaks of him and other woman and heroine crashes her car and almost dies.
Hero finds that she was leaving with a lover. (Her half brother in reality ).
He decides he’s given her enough time .
Takes her away to his island. Consummates the marriage.
That’s very well written. How he takes her fishing and takes her to climb a rock and dive. It’s truly so obvious how much they love each other.
Anyway. That’s as far as I’ve reached.
I’ve read it before. Know a bit what’ll come.
But older. Wiser. I’m upgrading it by one star. To five stars.
I like how MR writes.
So that’s my review.
Might write the latter part later.
Oh. One more thing. They’re both very young. Unwise.
A reviewer commented on how they are young and stupid.
I don’t think they were stupid. Just not wise enough to sort out the differences.
Frankly I’m totally invested in both and I really like both of them.
It’s very very old fashioned. The hero is very masculine. The author has left no stone unturned to describe his beauty. Not in the way perhaps that Robyn Donald does. RD is all about telling.
Michelle Reid is all about showing. She shows us through the heroine’s seduced love struck eyes.
Story is simple.
Hero and heroine see each other and it is love at first sight.
The hero is investing in the heroine’s father’s business.
He asks for her hand too and signs a pre nuptial agreement for the heroine’s hand in marriage.
They have a beautiful wedding.
But a week before wedding the hero’s picture with his mistress across the Atlantic breaks in the tabloids. The woman was actually his father’s mistress. Hero committed to his father he would take care of her.
Anyway. The heroine does not break the engagement.
She goes ahead with the marriage and then on their honeymoon or even before tells the hero to get lost. She won’t have anything to do with him.
The hero leaves her alone for a year. At a country estate. With body guards. He comes from time to time to take her to society events or on her birthday.
Then another picture breaks of him and other woman and heroine crashes her car and almost dies.
Hero finds that she was leaving with a lover. (Her half brother in reality ).
He decides he’s given her enough time .
Takes her away to his island. Consummates the marriage.
That’s very well written. How he takes her fishing and takes her to climb a rock and dive. It’s truly so obvious how much they love each other.
Anyway. That’s as far as I’ve reached.
I’ve read it before. Know a bit what’ll come.
But older. Wiser. I’m upgrading it by one star. To five stars.
I like how MR writes.
So that’s my review.
Might write the latter part later.
Oh. One more thing. They’re both very young. Unwise.
A reviewer commented on how they are young and stupid.
I don’t think they were stupid. Just not wise enough to sort out the differences.
Frankly I’m totally invested in both and I really like both of them.
November 2, 2016
4 Stars! ~ Helen thought she was marrying Xander for love. But weeks before the wedding she discovers that she's signed a prenuptial agreement that more or less has said that her father sold her to Xander. And on top of that she discovers tabloid articles of her soon-to-be husband's exploits with a mistress while he's on a trip to the US. So on her wedding night, she refuses to sleep with him. Xander was taken with Nell's beauty the moment he first seen her. Her innocence enthralled him and he had to make her his. He gives into his brides demands only because she seems so young and not ready. Xander's very wealthy and in the lime light. He surrounds himself with bodyguards. He assigns a bodyguard for Nell and then pretty much leaves Nell alone for a whole year. When another tabloid story comes out that Xander is seen with his mistress, Nell fires her bodyguard and tires to run away. Only to be in a horrific car accident that could have taken her life. Xander comes to his wife only to find she despises him, but he's more determined now than before to make their marriage real. When he discovers there is another man involved with Nell's attempt to escape him, he's consumed with jealousy and he takes her away to his family's Greek island. And the seduction begins. But who's doing the seducing, because Xander's finding his bride has him going in circles.
This being a Presents, of course the hero has to be Alpha. Xander is that and then some! His arrogance and often disregard for the feelings of others almost put me off the story. But he redeems himself when the truth of the mistress comes out. I liked the way Nell's strength and confidence grew and she learnt to fight back. This is a passionate one!
This being a Presents, of course the hero has to be Alpha. Xander is that and then some! His arrogance and often disregard for the feelings of others almost put me off the story. But he redeems himself when the truth of the mistress comes out. I liked the way Nell's strength and confidence grew and she learnt to fight back. This is a passionate one!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 8, 2016
Another wonderful classic HP where the H is an overbearing alpha and it's his way or the highway. I hated him through the beginning of the book, however, he became more like able as the book progresses.
We meet in h in hospital after she crashed her car into a tree. She may seem meek and biddable at first, buuut she soon shows her true colors. She doesn't come off as being a strong woman/ character until you read a bit further. The H refers to her a witch quite a few times during the book and she can certainly meet that criteria.
The battles between the h and H were intense. They pulled no punches and it usually led to awesome sex. Win/win all around!
We meet in h in hospital after she crashed her car into a tree. She may seem meek and biddable at first, buuut she soon shows her true colors. She doesn't come off as being a strong woman/ character until you read a bit further. The H refers to her a witch quite a few times during the book and she can certainly meet that criteria.
The battles between the h and H were intense. They pulled no punches and it usually led to awesome sex. Win/win all around!
October 30, 2015
Xander took notice of his wife when she was caught in a vehicular accident only to find out things about her that opened his eyes. Its time to make their marriage a real one.
This MR book is absolutely in my hall of famer simply because it was well written. The emotions of both characters were so vivid that you can feel their anguish. I love the fact that Xander was so possessive that I would probably choke on it if this happens I real life. But I love it on the basis that its only fiction.
This MR book is absolutely in my hall of famer simply because it was well written. The emotions of both characters were so vivid that you can feel their anguish. I love the fact that Xander was so possessive that I would probably choke on it if this happens I real life. But I love it on the basis that its only fiction.
August 11, 2012
Liiiiiinda ❤ aunque Xander es un mandón. Obvio... Es griego xD
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