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The Savakis Mistress
From society queen...
Only hours ago she was a tempting stranger. Now Damon Savakis knows who she really is - Callie Manolis, society ice-queen and duplicitous niece of his arch enemy…
...to his unwilling mistress!
Yet when Callie's avaricious uncle loses the Manolis money, she is at Damon's mercy and is forced to become the Savakis mistress. But Damon is unprepared for her bravery, poise and purity in a world full of greed. She's paid her dues as his mistress… he'll take her as his willing wife for free!
Only hours ago she was a tempting stranger. Now Damon Savakis knows who she really is - Callie Manolis, society ice-queen and duplicitous niece of his arch enemy…
...to his unwilling mistress!
Yet when Callie's avaricious uncle loses the Manolis money, she is at Damon's mercy and is forced to become the Savakis mistress. But Damon is unprepared for her bravery, poise and purity in a world full of greed. She's paid her dues as his mistress… he'll take her as his willing wife for free!
192 pages, Hardcover
First published June 1, 2009
24 people are currently reading
279 people want to read
About the author
Annie West
925 books557 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Hello! I love writing passionate, intense love stories about sexy alpha men and the women who are their perfect match. Look out for my books with Harlequin (Presents) or Mills & Boon (Modern/Sexy) and for my indie stories, full of passion and intense emotion with a touch of glamour. My latest stories are my Hot Italian Nights series including 'Bound to the Italian Boss' June '17, 'The Italian's Bold Reckoning' July '17, 'At the Italian's Bidding' August '17 and 'Falling for the Brooding Italian' September '17.
Yes, I do like a dark, handsome hero!
You can catch up with my news at www.annie-west.com (where you can also sign up for my exclusive reader newsletter with giveaways and behind the scenes info). I'm on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/anniewest.au... and I adore hearing from readers. You can also contact me at annie(at)annie-west(dot)com
I live with my family at beautiful Lake Macquarie on the east Coast of Australia and my favourite things when not writing are good food, good company, great books, getting outside in nature and travel.
Bookwise, I'm a multi USA Today bestselling author with millions of books sold, in English as well as in lots of other languages. I've won the Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Award and the Romantic Book of the Year (Romance Writers of Australia). One of my favourite review quotes is from Romantic Times which said in its review of The Sheikh's Ransomed Bride 'This is what a love story could be.'.
Hello! I love writing passionate, intense love stories about sexy alpha men and the women who are their perfect match. Look out for my books with Harlequin (Presents) or Mills & Boon (Modern/Sexy) and for my indie stories, full of passion and intense emotion with a touch of glamour. My latest stories are my Hot Italian Nights series including 'Bound to the Italian Boss' June '17, 'The Italian's Bold Reckoning' July '17, 'At the Italian's Bidding' August '17 and 'Falling for the Brooding Italian' September '17.
Yes, I do like a dark, handsome hero!
You can catch up with my news at www.annie-west.com (where you can also sign up for my exclusive reader newsletter with giveaways and behind the scenes info). I'm on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/anniewest.au... and I adore hearing from readers. You can also contact me at annie(at)annie-west(dot)com
I live with my family at beautiful Lake Macquarie on the east Coast of Australia and my favourite things when not writing are good food, good company, great books, getting outside in nature and travel.
Bookwise, I'm a multi USA Today bestselling author with millions of books sold, in English as well as in lots of other languages. I've won the Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Award and the Romantic Book of the Year (Romance Writers of Australia). One of my favourite review quotes is from Romantic Times which said in its review of The Sheikh's Ransomed Bride 'This is what a love story could be.'.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
April 5, 2018
Nice revenge-by-hero story. Heroine doesn't trust men as she was forced into marriage at 18 with a much older (and impotent) man by her unscrupulous uncle. Now she's a merry widow and has a one night stand with the nameless hero.
Turns out the hero is in the position to make or break her uncle (His father died years ago working for the uncle and his mother was never compensated. Now it's revenge time). The uncle is trying to pimp out his 18 year -old daughter to the wealthy hero. Heroine is horrified because her cousin is sweet and in love with someone else. Hero thinks the heroine is a society woman slumming with anonymous beach bums, so he decides to extend his revenge from the uncle to the heroine. He'll not pursue marriage with the heroine's cousin if she sleeps with him again.
There are some intense scenes with the hero pushing the heroine too far and regretting it. The heroine freaking out on his yacht because her parents drowned in a yachting accident. The heroine is shut down because of past traumas and the hero has to keep revising his opinion of her. His growth to remorse and then love was a nice progression.
What kept this a three star was the heroine's contrived pity party at the end that resulted in the black moment. That seemed out of character for such a strong heroine. Otherwise, this was an intense revenge story with all the emotional elements that make revenge stories fun.
Turns out the hero is in the position to make or break her uncle (His father died years ago working for the uncle and his mother was never compensated. Now it's revenge time). The uncle is trying to pimp out his 18 year -old daughter to the wealthy hero. Heroine is horrified because her cousin is sweet and in love with someone else. Hero thinks the heroine is a society woman slumming with anonymous beach bums, so he decides to extend his revenge from the uncle to the heroine. He'll not pursue marriage with the heroine's cousin if she sleeps with him again.
There are some intense scenes with the hero pushing the heroine too far and regretting it. The heroine freaking out on his yacht because her parents drowned in a yachting accident. The heroine is shut down because of past traumas and the hero has to keep revising his opinion of her. His growth to remorse and then love was a nice progression.
What kept this a three star was the heroine's contrived pity party at the end that resulted in the black moment. That seemed out of character for such a strong heroine. Otherwise, this was an intense revenge story with all the emotional elements that make revenge stories fun.
April 17, 2019
Cruel hero alert! At least for the first half. AW redeems him nicely.
H/h meet on a secluded Greek beach. Hero has been sailing around the island on a modest wooden sailboat. Heroine is a widow, now living with her awful uncle and aunt. She goes to the beach for solace and ends up having sexytimes with the hero. They don’t exchange names.
H/h meet again when hero shows up for a formal dinner party her uncle is throwing. Seems uncle’s business is in trouble and he hopes to marry off his 18 year-old daughter to the tycoon-in-disguise hero.
Heroine is horrified that:
(a) her uncle is still selling off a teenager to shore up his business. He did it to her when she was 18, forcing her to marry an impotent man 35 years her senior.
(b) that the hero is just as awful as all the men she’s known in her life – she was betrayed by her first boyfriend whom she gave her virginity, then her uncle and then her controlling husband.
Hero is horrified that:
(a) He slept with a heroine who is like the rich socialites his mother scrubbed floors for and that she was slumming with him.
(b) He also thinks she has had a string of lovers and that she’s jealous of her 18 year-old cousin (who is truly terrified of him).
Hero tells heroine he won’t marry her cousin (he has no interest in the cousin) if she will sleep with him again. Heroine goes to the guest bungalow and tries to seduce him, but loses her nerve after he is so mean. Hero feels bad about the way he’s treated her until the uncle jumps in the next morning and makes a big deal about the hero seducing his niece while a guest in his home.
Hero thinks the heroine and uncle are working in concert. So hero promises money to the uncle if heroine will be his mistress. (No marriage since she is damaged goods)
There’s a nice angsty scene when the heroine is on the hero’s sailboat and has a panic attack. Her parents died in a sailing accident when she was 14 and she had never been on a boat since. That’s the first crack in her emotionless facade and thus marks when hero turns from cruel alpha to nurturing alpha in the second half of the story.
This has a lot of drama and angst with the hero truly remorseful for his actions.
H/h meet on a secluded Greek beach. Hero has been sailing around the island on a modest wooden sailboat. Heroine is a widow, now living with her awful uncle and aunt. She goes to the beach for solace and ends up having sexytimes with the hero. They don’t exchange names.
H/h meet again when hero shows up for a formal dinner party her uncle is throwing. Seems uncle’s business is in trouble and he hopes to marry off his 18 year-old daughter to the tycoon-in-disguise hero.
Heroine is horrified that:
(a) her uncle is still selling off a teenager to shore up his business. He did it to her when she was 18, forcing her to marry an impotent man 35 years her senior.
(b) that the hero is just as awful as all the men she’s known in her life – she was betrayed by her first boyfriend whom she gave her virginity, then her uncle and then her controlling husband.
Hero is horrified that:
(a) He slept with a heroine who is like the rich socialites his mother scrubbed floors for and that she was slumming with him.
(b) He also thinks she has had a string of lovers and that she’s jealous of her 18 year-old cousin (who is truly terrified of him).
Hero tells heroine he won’t marry her cousin (he has no interest in the cousin) if she will sleep with him again. Heroine goes to the guest bungalow and tries to seduce him, but loses her nerve after he is so mean. Hero feels bad about the way he’s treated her until the uncle jumps in the next morning and makes a big deal about the hero seducing his niece while a guest in his home.
Hero thinks the heroine and uncle are working in concert. So hero promises money to the uncle if heroine will be his mistress. (No marriage since she is damaged goods)
There’s a nice angsty scene when the heroine is on the hero’s sailboat and has a panic attack. Her parents died in a sailing accident when she was 14 and she had never been on a boat since. That’s the first crack in her emotionless facade and thus marks when hero turns from cruel alpha to nurturing alpha in the second half of the story.
This has a lot of drama and angst with the hero truly remorseful for his actions.
June 26, 2022
Swoony 4 stars!
So happy that diving back into the HP world, I got darn lucky with my pick of reading.
A vengeful and prejudiced Greek, a dignified but tormented-past h, a greedy uncle who eyes the main chance once too often.
But all this plays out few hours after they first meet as strangers on a deserted beach - and find paradise together.
So, later reality intrudes quite harshly with suspicions, misconceptions and MUs galore on both sides.
True-blue HP H blackmails the h into being his mistress. And sails off with her in his classy yacht.
Bare bones those - for details read St.M's review.
I can only say the author has cooked up a splendid and satisfying cauldron of heart-wrenching angst, sweetness, tenderness, swoon-worthy moments, well-written sexy times and a great grovel to satisfy my romantic lust.
So happy that diving back into the HP world, I got darn lucky with my pick of reading.
A vengeful and prejudiced Greek, a dignified but tormented-past h, a greedy uncle who eyes the main chance once too often.
But all this plays out few hours after they first meet as strangers on a deserted beach - and find paradise together.
So, later reality intrudes quite harshly with suspicions, misconceptions and MUs galore on both sides.
True-blue HP H blackmails the h into being his mistress. And sails off with her in his classy yacht.
Bare bones those - for details read St.M's review.
I can only say the author has cooked up a splendid and satisfying cauldron of heart-wrenching angst, sweetness, tenderness, swoon-worthy moments, well-written sexy times and a great grovel to satisfy my romantic lust.
September 26, 2016
The h was strong and resilient. Despite being verbally abused by her now deceased husband, she strove for independence and anti-doormat syndrome. She took risks and they all paid off, from chancing romance to business. She was a survivor and lived life to the fullest.The H was hawwt! Ruthless against injustice was blinded by a almost tragic incident of his life as a result he hated socialites, which actually stereotyped him with the h. However, he learns she is strong and vulnerable and nothing like those selfish,greedy, vindictive b$#@.He fell in love and so did she after his attitude changed.A little misunderstanding kept the lovers apart, but they found their way back to each other. A recommended read
December 23, 2017
This hero was in simple word cruel. Even though he might not have realised, he was a misogynist prick. And he was judgemental and he made all his accusations and judgements based on assumptions which had no base except for what he FELT. Now just because he's a Greek male, doesn't make his assumed opinions fact, neither are they all correct.
His actions were dishonourable from the beginning to any woman.
Saying all that, I truly believed he redeemed himself throughout the book. First of all, he didn't feel remorse BECAUSE he was wrong. He felt it throughout his terrible actions. He was instantly sorry for his words and action, it was just his judgement about the heroine was so deeply embedded he didn't know how to control himself. It was either insult her or accept the fact that he has special feelings for her. He didn't leave much room for in between.
He had paid the hardest way an alpha male can ever pay emotionally. When his beliefs were proven wrong and thrown to his face, and he realised the extent of his cruelty. If you know people who have a strong feeling of honour and justice, when they find out they broke those code themselves, the mental punishment could be really heavy to bear. And the fact that he had to compare himself to Callie's ex husband and uncle, as he has done the exact same thing as them and the fact that he scared another woman half to death with an implication of marriage, would have been excruciating. It was probably the best punishment for him, better than any insult thrown at him. Eating a humble pie could be an experience for the alpha.
I loved Callie. She had moments when she truly hated the situation, but she dealt it with tact. She was a really sweet heroine with a backbone.
Altogether I'd say still a 3 star, because the actions and cruelty made me wanna add this book to DNF list a number of time!
His actions were dishonourable from the beginning to any woman.
Saying all that, I truly believed he redeemed himself throughout the book. First of all, he didn't feel remorse BECAUSE he was wrong. He felt it throughout his terrible actions. He was instantly sorry for his words and action, it was just his judgement about the heroine was so deeply embedded he didn't know how to control himself. It was either insult her or accept the fact that he has special feelings for her. He didn't leave much room for in between.
He had paid the hardest way an alpha male can ever pay emotionally. When his beliefs were proven wrong and thrown to his face, and he realised the extent of his cruelty. If you know people who have a strong feeling of honour and justice, when they find out they broke those code themselves, the mental punishment could be really heavy to bear. And the fact that he had to compare himself to Callie's ex husband and uncle, as he has done the exact same thing as them and the fact that he scared another woman half to death with an implication of marriage, would have been excruciating. It was probably the best punishment for him, better than any insult thrown at him. Eating a humble pie could be an experience for the alpha.
I loved Callie. She had moments when she truly hated the situation, but she dealt it with tact. She was a really sweet heroine with a backbone.
Altogether I'd say still a 3 star, because the actions and cruelty made me wanna add this book to DNF list a number of time!
February 1, 2013
For half of this novel I really hated the hero, but after that I fall in love with him, he was an amazing character and the heroine really was lovely.
The two of them couldn’t be more perfect for each other.
The whole story was beautifully written; Annie West really have a great talent.
The two of them couldn’t be more perfect for each other.
The whole story was beautifully written; Annie West really have a great talent.
November 5, 2011
i enjoyed this book. heroine was a beautiful, self sacrificing lady and hero took advantage of that.
August 31, 2022
It takes to the very last page for these two to find their HEA.
June 1, 2013
Good book filled with lots of sexual tension between the two main characters that the book practically steamed. The chemistry between the pair was so tangible I could practically touch it and be burned because it was so hot.
Both of them wanted each other desperately, but did everything in their power to deny that something was between throughout the whole book and fighting for their attraction for one. Well, that didn't last long with Damon coming up with a plan for making Callie his mistress, and feeling satisfied at getting her in the place while denying how special she was to him until the end. And end though Callie made the deal to protect her cousin Angela from the threat of Damon from marrying him (which he wouldn't have done in the fist place because he wanted Callie and not Angela, but found that was the only way to get to Callie)and protecting Angela from a loveless, controlling marriage like the one she'd had suffered for six years and doing everything in her power to protect Angela even if that meant sacrificing herself in the process. Damon and Callie try to stay neutral, trying to keep it all about the physical and the emotional, but soon they can't help themselves from falling in love with one another and wanting to make this a more permanent arrangement with Damon very repentant for practically forcing Callie into being his mistress in the first place Now he wanted her to be in his life forever because he loved her and can't imagine living a life without her in end.
He was genuinely sorry about it unlike some characters can be in these Harlequin Presents books where they say they are sorry, but only to win the heroine with what they should stay instead of what they should feel, but with Damon its completely the opposite, seeing that he tried his best to make it up to her, which made me like the handsome Damon even more.
Though this does cause some misunderstanding between the pair with Callie believing that he is only staying with her and being nice to her because he felt sorry for her, which was so not the case because Damon cares and loves her very much, but she didn't see that at first because she didn't believe he loved her while she loved him so deeply, and it would kill her if she stayed with him loving him while he felt sorry for her or so she thought. So she wanted out of the relationship so she could move on with her life and be an independent woman. So she left him.
And they were separated for six months with it causing both Damon and Callie much pain and longing for one another, but luckily they come back together, issuing their declarations of love, and pledging to get married at the end.
I liked both characters especially Damon, who was a good guy, trying to do the right thing and make up for what he had done to Callie by making that cruel, callous deal for her and also finding retribution for his family, who he also loved so deeply. Would have liked to have seen more interaction between him and his family or just his family in general to see the tight bond that they apparently have. He's handsome and protective and everything that anyone would want in a man. Was he cruel to Callie especially after everything she went through (though he didn't know just thinking her a spoiled socialite that had affairs in order to get material things)? Yes, but he more than made up for in the end and proved that he loved Callie wholeheartedly and wanted to be with her mind, body, and soul and I just loved him.
I also liked Callie too, and someone who more than deserved to find love and happiness in her life after everything she went through in her cruel marriage where she felt less than nothing. So, in the beginning of the book when she's with Damon on the beach, she felt total ecstasy and alive for the first time in her life, feeling like she was on cloud nine until she learned Damon was her family's enemy and supposedly in negotiations for a deal where he would marry her cousin, Angela, which practically dashed her hopes and left her down in the dumps once again, feeling that her life was too be doomed forever, and I felt so bad for her and rooting for her, and it wasn't easy for her to get her happiness back. In fact she got what felt like a slap in the face when Damon made a ruthless deal for him to give her struggling family money and prevent him from marrying Angela if Callie agreed to be his mistress. Which she does, even though she felt like her self-respect was in the toilet, feeling pain so great that it nearly crippled her especially after her parents death and her marriage and she broke down, which I can only imagine, but amazingly Damon(though not really once I realized how good of a guy Damon really was)was thee for her, comforting her all the way, bringing out his soft side for her. She felt vulnerable in that position, but accepted his comfort while vowing never to let him see her in that position again. And she does her best to fight her attraction and need for Damon, but that doesn't happen and gave in to him. But she was happy once she did let her guard down and have this relationship with him, feeling safe and secure with him. Well, until the end when she felt he was just being with her because he felt sorry for her, which I thought was ridiculous because it was so obvious that Damon cared so much for her and loved and made me want to shake her and was really only time I was saying to myself "What are you Callie? You love him You wanted love your whole life where you felt safe and secure and like a person instead of a possession like in your first marriage and want to be loved and you have it with Damon so you should stay with him and be happy." But her vision was cloudy in that regard, probably thinking it was almost too good to be true that he cared for her, but still I just wanted to shake her when she said she wanted to leave and did leave a heartbroken Damon behind. But when she finally got her head on straight and started missing him like crazy, she came to her senses and went to him, where both of them confessed their feelings for one another. Though Damon had to make the first move on that front because Callie was going to chicken out and not tell him when she thought at first she would, which could ruined everything for her and led her to a lonely life. But luckily that didn't happen and they got back together with lots of love and happiness in their future.
I liked the book, which had some steamy moments for sure, and the characters where both likable and the characters redeemed themselves in the end where they could forgive and be in a loving relationship, which I thought was great. Though truthfully I would have liked to see Callie declare her feelings for Damon first and actually step up and say "I love you and I want to be with you for the rest of my life", but she didn't, and luckily that didn't bite her in the butt. She had been through so much that declaring her feelings should have been a piece of cake, though kind of get why she did what she did because she didn't want to get rejected and hurt yet again, but still I just would have liked to see her be more brave and show how strong and independent she had become over the last six months apart, though she was the one to go see Damon first so that was a step in the right direction. But it would have been nice to see her make the first declaration.
But other than that, and wanting Damon's family in it a little bit more, I found this book very enjoyable and another get read by Annie West.
Both of them wanted each other desperately, but did everything in their power to deny that something was between throughout the whole book and fighting for their attraction for one. Well, that didn't last long with Damon coming up with a plan for making Callie his mistress, and feeling satisfied at getting her in the place while denying how special she was to him until the end. And end though Callie made the deal to protect her cousin Angela from the threat of Damon from marrying him (which he wouldn't have done in the fist place because he wanted Callie and not Angela, but found that was the only way to get to Callie)and protecting Angela from a loveless, controlling marriage like the one she'd had suffered for six years and doing everything in her power to protect Angela even if that meant sacrificing herself in the process. Damon and Callie try to stay neutral, trying to keep it all about the physical and the emotional, but soon they can't help themselves from falling in love with one another and wanting to make this a more permanent arrangement with Damon very repentant for practically forcing Callie into being his mistress in the first place Now he wanted her to be in his life forever because he loved her and can't imagine living a life without her in end.
He was genuinely sorry about it unlike some characters can be in these Harlequin Presents books where they say they are sorry, but only to win the heroine with what they should stay instead of what they should feel, but with Damon its completely the opposite, seeing that he tried his best to make it up to her, which made me like the handsome Damon even more.
Though this does cause some misunderstanding between the pair with Callie believing that he is only staying with her and being nice to her because he felt sorry for her, which was so not the case because Damon cares and loves her very much, but she didn't see that at first because she didn't believe he loved her while she loved him so deeply, and it would kill her if she stayed with him loving him while he felt sorry for her or so she thought. So she wanted out of the relationship so she could move on with her life and be an independent woman. So she left him.
And they were separated for six months with it causing both Damon and Callie much pain and longing for one another, but luckily they come back together, issuing their declarations of love, and pledging to get married at the end.
I liked both characters especially Damon, who was a good guy, trying to do the right thing and make up for what he had done to Callie by making that cruel, callous deal for her and also finding retribution for his family, who he also loved so deeply. Would have liked to have seen more interaction between him and his family or just his family in general to see the tight bond that they apparently have. He's handsome and protective and everything that anyone would want in a man. Was he cruel to Callie especially after everything she went through (though he didn't know just thinking her a spoiled socialite that had affairs in order to get material things)? Yes, but he more than made up for in the end and proved that he loved Callie wholeheartedly and wanted to be with her mind, body, and soul and I just loved him.
I also liked Callie too, and someone who more than deserved to find love and happiness in her life after everything she went through in her cruel marriage where she felt less than nothing. So, in the beginning of the book when she's with Damon on the beach, she felt total ecstasy and alive for the first time in her life, feeling like she was on cloud nine until she learned Damon was her family's enemy and supposedly in negotiations for a deal where he would marry her cousin, Angela, which practically dashed her hopes and left her down in the dumps once again, feeling that her life was too be doomed forever, and I felt so bad for her and rooting for her, and it wasn't easy for her to get her happiness back. In fact she got what felt like a slap in the face when Damon made a ruthless deal for him to give her struggling family money and prevent him from marrying Angela if Callie agreed to be his mistress. Which she does, even though she felt like her self-respect was in the toilet, feeling pain so great that it nearly crippled her especially after her parents death and her marriage and she broke down, which I can only imagine, but amazingly Damon(though not really once I realized how good of a guy Damon really was)was thee for her, comforting her all the way, bringing out his soft side for her. She felt vulnerable in that position, but accepted his comfort while vowing never to let him see her in that position again. And she does her best to fight her attraction and need for Damon, but that doesn't happen and gave in to him. But she was happy once she did let her guard down and have this relationship with him, feeling safe and secure with him. Well, until the end when she felt he was just being with her because he felt sorry for her, which I thought was ridiculous because it was so obvious that Damon cared so much for her and loved and made me want to shake her and was really only time I was saying to myself "What are you Callie? You love him You wanted love your whole life where you felt safe and secure and like a person instead of a possession like in your first marriage and want to be loved and you have it with Damon so you should stay with him and be happy." But her vision was cloudy in that regard, probably thinking it was almost too good to be true that he cared for her, but still I just wanted to shake her when she said she wanted to leave and did leave a heartbroken Damon behind. But when she finally got her head on straight and started missing him like crazy, she came to her senses and went to him, where both of them confessed their feelings for one another. Though Damon had to make the first move on that front because Callie was going to chicken out and not tell him when she thought at first she would, which could ruined everything for her and led her to a lonely life. But luckily that didn't happen and they got back together with lots of love and happiness in their future.
I liked the book, which had some steamy moments for sure, and the characters where both likable and the characters redeemed themselves in the end where they could forgive and be in a loving relationship, which I thought was great. Though truthfully I would have liked to see Callie declare her feelings for Damon first and actually step up and say "I love you and I want to be with you for the rest of my life", but she didn't, and luckily that didn't bite her in the butt. She had been through so much that declaring her feelings should have been a piece of cake, though kind of get why she did what she did because she didn't want to get rejected and hurt yet again, but still I just would have liked to see her be more brave and show how strong and independent she had become over the last six months apart, though she was the one to go see Damon first so that was a step in the right direction. But it would have been nice to see her make the first declaration.
But other than that, and wanting Damon's family in it a little bit more, I found this book very enjoyable and another get read by Annie West.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 10, 2012
Wow...one of my favorite Annie West books. I love the way these two come together in spite of all the horrible misunderstandings in the beginning. The passion is incredible. They go from dislike, wariness, passion and ultimately love and you are with them every step of the way!
February 2, 2021
The story is not so original, what’s original is how it is described. Very detailed the emotional issues, the reactions of heroine and her feelings, and hero’s feelings. He is cruel and ruthless in the beginning because he thinks she’s a socialite, a gold digger ready to marry older men to have money. She was forced to wed, by her evil uncle. In the end the hero is besotted and feels guilty for his behavior. Very emotional reading, anyway even if heroine is blackmailed by H, I don’t feel sympathy because you always have a choice, that is to kick his sorry a** and go your way. But obviously she is a masochist martyr and chooses to sell her body for the sake of her relatives... mmmmm....anyway very angsty very emotional I liked it.
August 14, 2021
I did not expect I would come to love this story.
The beginning was a bit hard for me to read; the hero (Damon) was too annoying: blackmailing the heroine (Callie) into sleep with him, otherwise he'd ruin her family.
Damon was out to avenge his family. His dad passed away at work - while working his whole life for this company - who did not compensate his death but threatened to sue his family instead.
Having to climb his way up to be where he was now; a successful businessman, he vowed for retribution.
In Damon's eyes, Callie was just like any social climbing leech the socialite ladies of his ton were. She was poised, sexy as hell, cold as ice ... a total seductress. He hated her upon knowing she was from the family he despised.
A plot with so many secrets, misunderstandings and angst. It was a pleasant read. I really liked it. Hero was not the regular 'jerk' harlequin stories usually were. The heroine was not a doormat, she was not only beautiful but was smart and had a spine. I loved her.
The beginning was a bit hard for me to read; the hero (Damon) was too annoying: blackmailing the heroine (Callie) into sleep with him, otherwise he'd ruin her family.
Damon was out to avenge his family. His dad passed away at work - while working his whole life for this company - who did not compensate his death but threatened to sue his family instead.
Having to climb his way up to be where he was now; a successful businessman, he vowed for retribution.
In Damon's eyes, Callie was just like any social climbing leech the socialite ladies of his ton were. She was poised, sexy as hell, cold as ice ... a total seductress. He hated her upon knowing she was from the family he despised.
A plot with so many secrets, misunderstandings and angst. It was a pleasant read. I really liked it. Hero was not the regular 'jerk' harlequin stories usually were. The heroine was not a doormat, she was not only beautiful but was smart and had a spine. I loved her.
March 2, 2020
I really like Annie West’s stories and this one is another great example of her skill and artistry. Callie and Damon are a fabulous couple who succumb to their mutual attraction, are divided by misunderstandings, and then spend time together through the time honoured trope of blackmail. This part is good but it’s the story once they are together which really becomes an emotional journey and which I thoroughly enjoyed.
I just loved the way their love for each other grew. I was a little puzzled by Callie’s decision to leave Damon but the denouement was good. I would have loved an epilogue - this story really cried out for one. Excellent!
I just loved the way their love for each other grew. I was a little puzzled by Callie’s decision to leave Damon but the denouement was good. I would have loved an epilogue - this story really cried out for one. Excellent!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 10, 2022
I really liked this book. The ending could have been handled better. Still one of Annie West’s best ones.
Recommended.
Recommended.
November 4, 2011
THE SAVAKIS MERGER by author Annie West is a November 2011 release by Harlequin Presents.
For the first time in her life, widow, Calista Manolis indulge in a wild passionate afternoon with a stranger on the beach. Later the stranger is introduced to her as
Damon Savakis, her uncle's business competitor and the man who was planning a takeover of her uncle's company. Daman also has hidden agenda as he wants revenge against the family!
Callie would do anything to stop her uncle forcing her cousin Angela into arranged matrimony with Damon. But will she agree to Damon's condition, and become his mistress?
And what will happen when Damon tires of his mistress, will he just discard her aside?
Annie West did it again! She came through with another winner in THE SAVAKIS MERGER. Her characters come alive on the pages with the use of sharp and humorous dialogue and vivid atmospheric details that the reader is personally involved in their happiness. It is a story with real characters, inspired plot and delightful resolution.
Damon and Callie's story is hugely emotional and highly romantic tale readers will find absolutely impossible to resist. This story has depths to its characters and you can feel all the pain and passion Damon and Callie feel.
This book without a doubt, made it to my favorite list!
For the first time in her life, widow, Calista Manolis indulge in a wild passionate afternoon with a stranger on the beach. Later the stranger is introduced to her as
Damon Savakis, her uncle's business competitor and the man who was planning a takeover of her uncle's company. Daman also has hidden agenda as he wants revenge against the family!
Callie would do anything to stop her uncle forcing her cousin Angela into arranged matrimony with Damon. But will she agree to Damon's condition, and become his mistress?
And what will happen when Damon tires of his mistress, will he just discard her aside?
Annie West did it again! She came through with another winner in THE SAVAKIS MERGER. Her characters come alive on the pages with the use of sharp and humorous dialogue and vivid atmospheric details that the reader is personally involved in their happiness. It is a story with real characters, inspired plot and delightful resolution.
Damon and Callie's story is hugely emotional and highly romantic tale readers will find absolutely impossible to resist. This story has depths to its characters and you can feel all the pain and passion Damon and Callie feel.
This book without a doubt, made it to my favorite list!
November 13, 2011
Damon Savakis has the means to fulfill his revenge within his grasp. Finding out that the passionate woman he had made love to was in reality the conniving niece of his enemy was almost too good to be true. The ice maiden before him would melt and make his victory all the sweeter.
Callie Manolis had already sacrificed herself for the family by becoming the trophy wife of an elderly man. Putting up with his mental abuse, she struggled to hold on to her diginity until she would finally inherit the estate from her parents death. Even after her husband's death, she was not free from the responisiblities her uncle pushed on her. Not wanting to have her young cousin go thru what she had in her own forced marriage, and having an ailing aunt to worry about, she once again gives herself to a man who does not want her, just what he believes she is.
Damon finds that Callie is not as she seems, and the hidden artistic depths draw him even further in to web they both weave. Damon is not the cruel, deceiptful man she had thought, and they both struggle to get past their misconceptions to find a real love.
Callie Manolis had already sacrificed herself for the family by becoming the trophy wife of an elderly man. Putting up with his mental abuse, she struggled to hold on to her diginity until she would finally inherit the estate from her parents death. Even after her husband's death, she was not free from the responisiblities her uncle pushed on her. Not wanting to have her young cousin go thru what she had in her own forced marriage, and having an ailing aunt to worry about, she once again gives herself to a man who does not want her, just what he believes she is.
Damon finds that Callie is not as she seems, and the hidden artistic depths draw him even further in to web they both weave. Damon is not the cruel, deceiptful man she had thought, and they both struggle to get past their misconceptions to find a real love.
February 20, 2021
While I didn't absolutely love this book, I did like it. It was a pretty standard HP with a "revenge-blackmailed-to-be-his-mistress" trope. Half of the book was kind of boring, and I was actually Bout to stop reading it; I'm glad I didn't because the 2nd half had me hooked.
There's something special about Callie and Damon's that had me sucked into their story.
Overall, this was an enjoyable read. Definitely a bit over the top in some ways, and if you like your HP with some drama, a little bit of angst, and revenge, this one will work for you.
There's something special about Callie and Damon's that had me sucked into their story.
Overall, this was an enjoyable read. Definitely a bit over the top in some ways, and if you like your HP with some drama, a little bit of angst, and revenge, this one will work for you.
June 3, 2021
Only hours ago she was a wickedly tempting, sexy stranger.
Now Damon Savakis knows who she really is— Callie Manolis, society ice-queen and duplicitous niece of his arch enemy.
Yet when Callie's avaricious uncle loses the Manolis money, she becomes the bargaining chip in the Savakis merger! Damon is unprepared for her bravery, poise and purity in a world full of greed. Once she's paid her dues in his bed... he'll make her his willing bride for free! (
Now Damon Savakis knows who she really is— Callie Manolis, society ice-queen and duplicitous niece of his arch enemy.
Yet when Callie's avaricious uncle loses the Manolis money, she becomes the bargaining chip in the Savakis merger! Damon is unprepared for her bravery, poise and purity in a world full of greed. Once she's paid her dues in his bed... he'll make her his willing bride for free! (
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December 24, 2014Miniseries: Tall, Dark and Dangerously Sexy
November 8, 2011
I love Harlequin Presents. Started reading Harlequin when I was 17 years old and that would be 47 yrs ago.
May 10, 2023
I think with some tweaks this would be better. The couple spent way too long being mean to each other(but also banging), so when they did confide in each other it felt too late and the heroine leaving didn't make much sense, it just had to happen to get them back together. But even her return made no sense. I say skip, too disjointed.
February 26, 2019
Leído en Abril 2013
March 28, 2021
More than a little contrived, but what do we expect with a Harlequin Presents? Author lets us experience along with the heroine instead of spending the entire book telling us what she thinks.
June 10, 2021
See for your self
Bit slow at first but as I kept reading I stated to enjoy it even more well worth a read
Bit slow at first but as I kept reading I stated to enjoy it even more well worth a read
June 9, 2023
I had to forgive the hero at the end cos i understood his actions a bit.
Its an intense book where the h and H don't trust each other cos of past hurt but they overcome
Its an intense book where the h and H don't trust each other cos of past hurt but they overcome
May 12, 2013
** Disclaimer ** I was given this book through a website giveaway from Annie West. My review is of my honest opinions about the book. You can find out more about her books by clicking here.
"The Savakis Mistress/Merger" is a love story that started with a desire to flirt with temptation for the, "ice princess" like Callie Manolis but for Damon Savakis, it was revenge.
Callie, the socialite who married young, to a man old enough to be her father, is cold, rich and definitely lives a scandalous life style. Thats what Damon thought. All women of that class was like that. Damon, a self made multimillionaire whose lifes goal was to bring the man that ruined his family, down. He got to where he was by building a wall around his heart. Every woman fawns over him at social gatherings while their husbands are trying to make a business deal. These two meet in a casual way... By having sex on the beach in broad daylight.
The first half of the book didn't grab me as I anticipated. But the latter half had me turning pages! Its a good read when you want to spend little time here and there to enjoy a book. The character's are very compatible. I think you'll find that out right away from the descriptions of their feelings every time they are in close proximity of each other. The plot wasn't as strong but it still had some foundation to it. Callie has a great personality. She's loyal and honest. Damon is also an enigma all on his own. He's masculine, protective and charismatic. In the end, I think Annie West wrapped it up nicely. I felt satisfied reading it til the end. My overall rating is a 3.5/5
June 29, 2022
Girl sleeps with guy she has been seeing on the deck of a boat that is moored where she sunbathes.
Sounds stark. But it was written well. No names are exchanged.
That afternoon heroine finds that her one day stand is the target her uncle has brought home to sell his daughter to.
The man will give money. The young girl will become his bride.
The uncle had sold off his niece (heroine) into a horrible marriage in the same way. Heroine is now widowed.
Well the hero wants the heroine. Not the girl being pushed on to him.
The girl is anyway involved with someone else and terrified of the hero.
Heroine finds her uncle has run through her trust fund and now sacrifices must be made.
She agrees to be hero’s mistress.
Hero thinks she’s a slut. He judges her for participating in their one day stand.
But he soon finds her vulnerable side.
They both fall in love.
First half of the book is very good. Second half was a slight let down or I’d have given five stars.
Read it some time back. But it’s good enough to reread.
Hero is on the wrong side of being a blackmailer in the beginning.
But that is of course nothing new for Harlequin Presents heroes.
They blackmail women into their beds with impunity and instead of looking like greasy garden gnomes, they look like men on the cover of GQ magazine.
Strange.
Sounds stark. But it was written well. No names are exchanged.
That afternoon heroine finds that her one day stand is the target her uncle has brought home to sell his daughter to.
The man will give money. The young girl will become his bride.
The uncle had sold off his niece (heroine) into a horrible marriage in the same way. Heroine is now widowed.
Well the hero wants the heroine. Not the girl being pushed on to him.
The girl is anyway involved with someone else and terrified of the hero.
Heroine finds her uncle has run through her trust fund and now sacrifices must be made.
She agrees to be hero’s mistress.
Hero thinks she’s a slut. He judges her for participating in their one day stand.
But he soon finds her vulnerable side.
They both fall in love.
First half of the book is very good. Second half was a slight let down or I’d have given five stars.
Read it some time back. But it’s good enough to reread.
Hero is on the wrong side of being a blackmailer in the beginning.
But that is of course nothing new for Harlequin Presents heroes.
They blackmail women into their beds with impunity and instead of looking like greasy garden gnomes, they look like men on the cover of GQ magazine.
Strange.
February 20, 2021
The passion between these two was incredible. I loved the way their relationship developed. The first part was a little bit slow for my taste, but the second part had me hooked! And I loved the way Annie West wrapped it up. I enjoyed the ending.
June 17, 2019
This book gets a bit lost in the middle and tries to make up for it with giving the heroine stuff to do when it was briefly mentioned. But not terrible overall. And foolish misunderstanding at the end of course. Liked both of their pasts which brought them closer as the story went on. Read.
December 22, 2022
Vibes of misunderstandings
I enjoyed this story. I'm not sure why I seem to enjoy the misconceptions and misunderstandings in a romance when I find them so aggravating any other time, but it worked. Storyline held me. Definitely adult content, but Callie and Damien clicked.
I enjoyed this story. I'm not sure why I seem to enjoy the misconceptions and misunderstandings in a romance when I find them so aggravating any other time, but it worked. Storyline held me. Definitely adult content, but Callie and Damien clicked.
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