What do you think?
Rate this book
The Marriage Bargain #1
The Spaniard's Marriage Bargain
Rowan had been Isandro Salazar's bride of convenience. But knowing that the Spanish billionaire would never love her as she loved him, her choice was to make her unborn child her priority and then, once he was born, make her dark journey by herself….
But in Isandro's eyes, Rowan's decision rendered her a gold digger who had committed the worst possible crime. However, he couldn't stop her seeing her baby son—or deny that the passion between them was as raw and intense as ever….
But in Isandro's eyes, Rowan's decision rendered her a gold digger who had committed the worst possible crime. However, he couldn't stop her seeing her baby son—or deny that the passion between them was as raw and intense as ever….
192 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published July 1, 2008
77 people are currently reading
1628 people want to read
About the author
Abby Green
979 books601 followersAbby Green spent her teens reading Mills & Boon romances. She then spent many years working in the Film and TV industry as an Assistant Director. One day while standing outside an actor's trailer in the rain, she thought: "there has to be more than this". So she sent off a partial to Mills & Boon. After numerous rewrites, they accepted her first book and an author was born.
She lives in Dublin, Ireland and you can find out more here www.abby-green.com
She lives in Dublin, Ireland and you can find out more here www.abby-green.com
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 162 reviews
October 28, 2017
Rowan is in London wanting to see her two-year-old son Zac. Estranged husband Isandro is against this, but as Zac's mother she has her rights. (Rowan walked away from Zac and Isandro right after the birth of Zac and Isandro hasn't seen Rowan since. Unknown to Isandro, Rowan had her reasons...)
They come to an agreement---Isandro tells Rowan she can stay with Zac and himself in his Seville home and get to know Zac, for a certain amount of time, with supervision.
Rowan accepts his terms. But they are finding themselves attracted to each other (they originally had a marriage-of-convenience). And they are both trying to do what is best for Zac.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Isandro was quite cruel at the beginning, but then he didn't know the reason Rowan left, and he was just trying to protect his son. (Even though there were clues that all wasn't well with Rowan and she obviously went through something bad). Rowan was a sweet, strong, and selfless heroine. I felt so bad for what she had to go through alone. I was happy when they all got their happy-ever-after! Little Zac was adorable.
This was a very lovely and touching romance by Abby Green. I highly recommend it!
They come to an agreement---Isandro tells Rowan she can stay with Zac and himself in his Seville home and get to know Zac, for a certain amount of time, with supervision.
Rowan accepts his terms. But they are finding themselves attracted to each other (they originally had a marriage-of-convenience). And they are both trying to do what is best for Zac.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Isandro was quite cruel at the beginning, but then he didn't know the reason Rowan left, and he was just trying to protect his son. (Even though there were clues that all wasn't well with Rowan and she obviously went through something bad). Rowan was a sweet, strong, and selfless heroine. I felt so bad for what she had to go through alone. I was happy when they all got their happy-ever-after! Little Zac was adorable.
This was a very lovely and touching romance by Abby Green. I highly recommend it!
June 27, 2020
Re-read. We had a violent storm in the night that woke me up, so I re-read this to pass the time. I was struck by how self-pitying the heroine was and I didn't mind it because she really did have something to feel bad about. AG does this with all her heroines, but this is the only heroine of hers I can tolerate.
Just had a re-read.
While knowing the ending lessened the emotional impact, I was able to appreciate what a masterful job Abby Green did weaving in the backstory while also keeping the tension alive in every scene. The backstory and what was going on in real time were both angsty and full of pain. One didn't fight the other. I also appreciate how angry the hero was in this story and how he kept fueling the flames of his anger every time the h got under his skin. He pulled no punches and it wasn't until the very last chapter that he finally, finally got the truth drilled into his thick head. I really like when the author takes you all the way to the end with heightened emotions.
AAAAAngst. It was delicious. Heroine returns after mysteriously leaving her newborn child and husband just days after giving birth. Her longing for her child leaps off the page, as does the hero's contempt for his MIA wife. When AG eventually reveals the heroine's true reason for leaving, the angst meter goes off the charts until the hero finally comes to his senses. If you like drama and heartbreak that eases with a happy ending, you'll like this one.
Just had a re-read.
While knowing the ending lessened the emotional impact, I was able to appreciate what a masterful job Abby Green did weaving in the backstory while also keeping the tension alive in every scene. The backstory and what was going on in real time were both angsty and full of pain. One didn't fight the other. I also appreciate how angry the hero was in this story and how he kept fueling the flames of his anger every time the h got under his skin. He pulled no punches and it wasn't until the very last chapter that he finally, finally got the truth drilled into his thick head. I really like when the author takes you all the way to the end with heightened emotions.
AAAAAngst. It was delicious. Heroine returns after mysteriously leaving her newborn child and husband just days after giving birth. Her longing for her child leaps off the page, as does the hero's contempt for his MIA wife. When AG eventually reveals the heroine's true reason for leaving, the angst meter goes off the charts until the hero finally comes to his senses. If you like drama and heartbreak that eases with a happy ending, you'll like this one.
March 17, 2021
The angst whore in me rejoiced but... the martyr heroine with her nonsense made me want to effectively finish her. Lol.
February 6, 2016
The Spaniard's Marriage Bargain is one of my favorites and loved it just as much as the first time I read it.
It’s such an emotional story. Filled with sadness, angst, love, and anguish and being given a second chance in your life. And finding happiness too.
This is Isandro
& Rowan’s
I found Isandro’s attitude to Rowan incredibly cruel in the beginning, and it put me off him even though he was an incredible father to their adorable son Zac.
I loved this……
It’s such an emotional story. Filled with sadness, angst, love, and anguish and being given a second chance in your life. And finding happiness too.
This is Isandro
& Rowan’s
love story and how two people find each other again despite the obstacles and pain they both went through.
I found Isandro’s attitude to Rowan incredibly cruel in the beginning, and it put me off him even though he was an incredible father to their adorable son Zac.
But you realize that he did not understand the reason for her abandoning their child at birth and leaving him without an explanation.
I loved this……
This was the first day of the rest of her life. A new page, a new chapter.Adored the Paris setting so much…love, romance and so beautiful.
A new beginning. And perhaps…a tiny alien bird of hope fluttered in her chest, perhaps another chance at happiness? Even though in truth, she’d had precious little happiness in her life so far…
The love and passion that Isandro & Rowan had never died and I loved seeing them finding happiness together with each other and their son.
A beautiful story!!!!
August 25, 2015
I ABSOLUTELY LOVED THIS BOOK. I LOVED IT, LOVED IT, LOVED IT. OH. MY. GOD.
IT HAD EXACTLY MY KIND OF HEROINE, SWEET, SELF-SACRIFICING MARTYR WITH A TRUCKLOAD OF INNER STRENGTH. I
It was just so beautiful :') The anguish the poor heroine went through, the pain, and on top of that, all the barbs and insults the hero kept throwing at her - it made me want to weep. I almost cried :'(
I also loved the hero. Seeing his protective, sweet side, the way he behaved with his son, absolutely stole my heart. In fact, both the characters' emotions towards their son was so deep, so amazingly described by Green, that you could practically feel their love. I don't think I liked Abby Green before this, but after this book - my opinion has turned 360° (actually, 360 degrees just brings me around to the same spot - it should be a 180° since it's at the opposite end, right? Correction: my opinion changed 180°)
This story is a beautiful reunion, second-chances, married couple story. No, I have never liked them, but I changed my mind about 2 weeks ago. I stand by my changed mind - I love them.
The story starts as the h comes back 2 years after walking out on her MOC husband and newborn son, because and comes back, determined to see her son. What she doesn't expect is the bitterness and complete hatred in her husband's eyes for her.
And that's how the story goes.
IT HAD EXACTLY MY KIND OF HEROINE, SWEET, SELF-SACRIFICING MARTYR WITH A TRUCKLOAD OF INNER STRENGTH. I
It was just so beautiful :') The anguish the poor heroine went through, the pain, and on top of that, all the barbs and insults the hero kept throwing at her - it made me want to weep. I almost cried :'(
I also loved the hero. Seeing his protective, sweet side, the way he behaved with his son, absolutely stole my heart. In fact, both the characters' emotions towards their son was so deep, so amazingly described by Green, that you could practically feel their love. I don't think I liked Abby Green before this, but after this book - my opinion has turned 360° (actually, 360 degrees just brings me around to the same spot - it should be a 180° since it's at the opposite end, right? Correction: my opinion changed 180°)
This story is a beautiful reunion, second-chances, married couple story. No, I have never liked them, but I changed my mind about 2 weeks ago. I stand by my changed mind - I love them.
The story starts as the h comes back 2 years after walking out on her MOC husband and newborn son, because and comes back, determined to see her son. What she doesn't expect is the bitterness and complete hatred in her husband's eyes for her.
And that's how the story goes.
March 5, 2017
Wow, Isandro is one big meanie. Okay, he believes that his wife left their baby hours after his birth so she could go party (she didn't), but once she shows up he makes it clear he is not a turn the cheek kind of guy.
Typically, the heroine does not make any attempt to explain where she was which in the real world is inexplicable, but in Harlequinland is par for the course.
If you like cruel, alpha heroes then this is the book for you. He is somewhat redeemable with a semi grovel when he finds the truth of the situation. He could have amped it up a bit, but that's just me.
A couple of side notes: the heroine is a redhead, not the ubiquitous blonde while our Spanish tycoon happens to be blonde. An alpha hunk, but a blonde one.
Typically, the heroine does not make any attempt to explain where she was which in the real world is inexplicable, but in Harlequinland is par for the course.
If you like cruel, alpha heroes then this is the book for you. He is somewhat redeemable with a semi grovel when he finds the truth of the situation. He could have amped it up a bit, but that's just me.
A couple of side notes: the heroine is a redhead, not the ubiquitous blonde while our Spanish tycoon happens to be blonde. An alpha hunk, but a blonde one.
April 11, 2012
I felt this was one of Abby Green's better books. Though, I must say I did NOT like the Hero! Even at the end, when I am typically willing to forgive all heros for their sins, I couldn't forgive this one! He was too darn self-centered, ruthless and abusive. Also, the heroine was a little too much of a martyr for my tastes. However, the story is incredible, intense, well written and kept me turning the pages halfway into the night. The sex scenes are some of the most explosive and passionate scenes ever written and you can cut the tension between H/h with a knife. I truly felt her pain, suffering, loss and LOVE for her son.
The premise is that the heroine comes back into the life of her family after disappearing for two years to fight cancer. She comes back knowing that her husband will never forgive her and will make her pay in blood for abandoning their son. However, she needs to see her son and be part of his life again, whatever the price. The author keeps you in suspense as to why she won't tell her husband what happened, why she leaves him in the first place rather than battle the disease together. Everything is deliciously wrapped up at the end with no loose strings....
And though, I could not find one darn thing redeeming about the Hero, I could not take away from the passion of the story. It was well worth my time.
The premise is that the heroine comes back into the life of her family after disappearing for two years to fight cancer. She comes back knowing that her husband will never forgive her and will make her pay in blood for abandoning their son. However, she needs to see her son and be part of his life again, whatever the price. The author keeps you in suspense as to why she won't tell her husband what happened, why she leaves him in the first place rather than battle the disease together. Everything is deliciously wrapped up at the end with no loose strings....
And though, I could not find one darn thing redeeming about the Hero, I could not take away from the passion of the story. It was well worth my time.
July 30, 2015
I need to do a reread of this one soon.
February 28, 2010
AG really hit this 1 outta the ballpark. I’m such a bleeding heart when it comes to HPs. I know that every book should be judged by its own merit, but it’s hard not to compare when I just read a book by a different author w/ a similar premise months ago. In my humble opinion, TSMB has a much more superior execution in terms of plotting, pacing, characterizations & in making a fanatic reader experience the H/H’s undeniable red-hawt passion, the intense highs & lows of emotions, heroine’s love for her son, the repercussions of her past actions (she has a much more serious illness than the previous book). All the delish factors made it such an excellent & memorable read. Luved the angst, the big misunderstanding (thanx to a bitchy sis-in-law from hell) that caused the unbridgeable rift , the silent, tense dinners, the miscommunication, the revelation of the heroine’s big mystery illness & how H/H interact w/ Zac. It’ll make U believe in romance, 2nd chances & HEA all over again, seeing the trials, tribulations & how H/H react to situations / make their choices in grappling w/ things beyond their control. It’ll really make U appreciate having a good health & count your blessings while U still can & believe there’s a light @ the end of a long, dark tunnel when it seems like your life is falling apart.
Isandro lashes out ‘cuz he’s still smarting from Rowan’s abandonment & like a knee-jerk reaction, he says hurtful things to Rowan in the heat of the moment. He lacerates & burns her as he keeps reminding her that she had inexplicably walked out on him & their newborn son right after birth (w/ only a Dear John letter). He’s still unable to rise above his bitterness & suspicions. He feels vulnerable & doesn’t like being made to feel this way. He doesn’t have a clue that some of his pointy zingers really hit too close to home, ‘cuz he has no idea the nitemare heroine went thru’ when she was MIA. He notices from the get-go that his long-lost wife is thinner & senses her frailty, but he switches onto his over-protective mode towards Zac whenever she’s in the vicinity, hurling dire threats if she so much as stirs a hair in his head. He has the upper hand & Rowan knows that beggars can’t be choosers, she knows she has her rights & prerogatives as the biological mother but she faces an uphill battle. He scrutinizes her every movement & reaction during Rowan’s bonding time w/ Zac, before he admits that she’s the genuine article. Rowan really goes above & beyond in her herculean effort to protect & rebuild the link to Zac. He second & triple guesses her real motives, but he grudgingly admires the way she carries herself around him & their son, especially how calm, cool, collected Rowan is during their baby’s health scare & again, how resourceful she is, as her mother instinct kicks in when another unexpected event occurs to Rowan & Zac. U gotta luv fiercely protective mommie & daddy like Rowan & Isandro. He rubs it in Rowan’s face that mayhap this time around she can be a better mistress than a wife. His pride took a big dent when she left him 2 years ago. It’s no wonder that this temporary arrangement of allowing Rowan to be a mother again, just nosedives into a pure living hell. He still finds her as hawt & desirable as before & the dynamite attraction between ‘em is still mutual.
Both H/H were unsure of the other’s feelings but knew going in, that their holy matrimoney was merely a marriage of mutual benefits. Rowan has been groomed by her dad to be the future ideal trophy wife. She’s aware that Isandro is a gazillionaire & she’s the 1-way ticket to the upper echelons of the much-coveted financial community. What she didn’t bargain for, was she’s gonna fall in luv w/ her hubby & that cruel fate would strike a blow to their tenuous marriage. She has to convince Isandro that she’s not after his chunky piggy bank. She’s here to stay & will fight to the bitter end for a chance to be a mother to their son, after getting denied for the 1st 2 years. There are enuff twists & turns in the H/H’s journey to HEA that rival the crooked Lombard street. Isandro thinks sooner / later she’ll drop her pretense in wanting their son back ‘cuz he suspects she already went thru’ her inheritance money. He’s proven wrong as he learns the valuable lesson of ‘don’t judge a book by its cover’. He finally comes to terms w/ his own feelings & flogs himself in remorse that he never thinks outside the box.
If U dislike HP books featuring a toddler & another bundle of joy @ the end, this isn’t your cuppa. If U like drama, conflict, tension between H/H & a hero who’s celibate during estrangement, knock yourself out. It’s a home run ;^2
Isandro lashes out ‘cuz he’s still smarting from Rowan’s abandonment & like a knee-jerk reaction, he says hurtful things to Rowan in the heat of the moment. He lacerates & burns her as he keeps reminding her that she had inexplicably walked out on him & their newborn son right after birth (w/ only a Dear John letter). He’s still unable to rise above his bitterness & suspicions. He feels vulnerable & doesn’t like being made to feel this way. He doesn’t have a clue that some of his pointy zingers really hit too close to home, ‘cuz he has no idea the nitemare heroine went thru’ when she was MIA. He notices from the get-go that his long-lost wife is thinner & senses her frailty, but he switches onto his over-protective mode towards Zac whenever she’s in the vicinity, hurling dire threats if she so much as stirs a hair in his head. He has the upper hand & Rowan knows that beggars can’t be choosers, she knows she has her rights & prerogatives as the biological mother but she faces an uphill battle. He scrutinizes her every movement & reaction during Rowan’s bonding time w/ Zac, before he admits that she’s the genuine article. Rowan really goes above & beyond in her herculean effort to protect & rebuild the link to Zac. He second & triple guesses her real motives, but he grudgingly admires the way she carries herself around him & their son, especially how calm, cool, collected Rowan is during their baby’s health scare & again, how resourceful she is, as her mother instinct kicks in when another unexpected event occurs to Rowan & Zac. U gotta luv fiercely protective mommie & daddy like Rowan & Isandro. He rubs it in Rowan’s face that mayhap this time around she can be a better mistress than a wife. His pride took a big dent when she left him 2 years ago. It’s no wonder that this temporary arrangement of allowing Rowan to be a mother again, just nosedives into a pure living hell. He still finds her as hawt & desirable as before & the dynamite attraction between ‘em is still mutual.
Both H/H were unsure of the other’s feelings but knew going in, that their holy matrimoney was merely a marriage of mutual benefits. Rowan has been groomed by her dad to be the future ideal trophy wife. She’s aware that Isandro is a gazillionaire & she’s the 1-way ticket to the upper echelons of the much-coveted financial community. What she didn’t bargain for, was she’s gonna fall in luv w/ her hubby & that cruel fate would strike a blow to their tenuous marriage. She has to convince Isandro that she’s not after his chunky piggy bank. She’s here to stay & will fight to the bitter end for a chance to be a mother to their son, after getting denied for the 1st 2 years. There are enuff twists & turns in the H/H’s journey to HEA that rival the crooked Lombard street. Isandro thinks sooner / later she’ll drop her pretense in wanting their son back ‘cuz he suspects she already went thru’ her inheritance money. He’s proven wrong as he learns the valuable lesson of ‘don’t judge a book by its cover’. He finally comes to terms w/ his own feelings & flogs himself in remorse that he never thinks outside the box.
If U dislike HP books featuring a toddler & another bundle of joy @ the end, this isn’t your cuppa. If U like drama, conflict, tension between H/H & a hero who’s celibate during estrangement, knock yourself out. It’s a home run ;^2
July 11, 2012
4.5 stars
This was very well written and full of angst which is just what I like when reading a HP. Halfway through the second chapter I realised that I had read this a few years ago and remembered the story very well. Despite that I still continued to read it again.
We realise right from the start that the heroine has been through something very horrible but that she didn't tell her husband, she just disappeared leaving a note with words to the effect that she didn't want a to be married or have a child and wanted to be free and have a good time. All throughout the book the husband 'punishes' his wife for abandoning him and their son within hours of giving birth and re-appearing nearly 2 years later. Quite a few times I felt that he was a bit harsh, but then I already knew the outcome so perhaps that clouded my view but it was obvious that he didn't understand why she had come back when she didn't want to be with them before. We continue to discover more and more but don't get the full picture until the end of the book, whereby I would challenge anyone who said it wasn't extremely emotional and that they were unaffected by what we discovered.
This is a book that I would definitely read again!
This was very well written and full of angst which is just what I like when reading a HP. Halfway through the second chapter I realised that I had read this a few years ago and remembered the story very well. Despite that I still continued to read it again.
We realise right from the start that the heroine has been through something very horrible but that she didn't tell her husband, she just disappeared leaving a note with words to the effect that she didn't want a to be married or have a child and wanted to be free and have a good time. All throughout the book the husband 'punishes' his wife for abandoning him and their son within hours of giving birth and re-appearing nearly 2 years later. Quite a few times I felt that he was a bit harsh, but then I already knew the outcome so perhaps that clouded my view but it was obvious that he didn't understand why she had come back when she didn't want to be with them before. We continue to discover more and more but don't get the full picture until the end of the book, whereby I would challenge anyone who said it wasn't extremely emotional and that they were unaffected by what we discovered.
This is a book that I would definitely read again!
September 26, 2020
1.5 stars
So much angst one could figuratively bathe in it. However, I couldn't get into the story because of the unsympathetic characters and the lackluster writing style.
Let's talk specifics. Rowan? Boo hoo. I don't think I have come across a more self-pityingwimp heroine in recent memory. I think she secretively liked playing the martyr. Her thoughts ran something along these selfish lines (and I'm paraphrasing): He doesn't love me so I will go away! He won't listen to me so I will let us both suffer! Get over yourself, Rowan. You have a baby to think of.
As for Isandro, his character development felt paper-thin as he seemed stuck in a perpetual state of rage. I understand he was hurting but some warmth and affection at the end would have been nice.
The book's final nail in the coffin was the flat chemistry. The sex scenes felt just like sex, not making love.
Not my cup of tea.
So much angst one could figuratively bathe in it. However, I couldn't get into the story because of the unsympathetic characters and the lackluster writing style.
Let's talk specifics. Rowan? Boo hoo. I don't think I have come across a more self-pitying
As for Isandro, his character development felt paper-thin as he seemed stuck in a perpetual state of rage. I understand he was hurting but some warmth and affection at the end would have been nice.
The book's final nail in the coffin was the flat chemistry. The sex scenes felt just like sex, not making love.
Not my cup of tea.
December 14, 2025
The book was going great until the ending
The author planted the mystery of
・
・
・
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
🕮⋆˚࿔✎𓂃 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐲 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
The author planted the mystery of
・
・
・
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
🕮⋆˚࿔✎𓂃 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐲 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
June 10, 2017
I thought I was getting jaded. My book choices just weren't giving me the satisfaction I craved. Then I came across this one and my faith has been restored. Yes, there are still good romance authors around. I think I may have neglected my family that day! I just had to finish the book!
Heroine has done the unforgivable. Deserted her baby and left a note for the husband basically telling him she wasn't cut out for motherhood. The reason becomes apparent as we read but for at the moment, it's two years after and she wants to reconnect with her son. Of course, our dear H is having no part in this, telling her in no uncertain terms to go screw herself thinking all she wants to do is manipulate them and cash in on a pre-nup.
Our dear h stands firm and insists on her rights to see her son. And so the battle of wills begin. I love how the writer paints the heroine in such delightful contrasts. She's fragile, yet strong. She understands her husbands's standpoint and yet holds her own ground. She's hungry to hold her child and yet knows she has to tread carefully not to scare him away.
The writer captures H's emotions perfectly too. His anger, the unwilling but unstoppable attraction for her, his growing respect for his wife and his internal conflicts. All described without resorting to long-winded introspection or reminiscing and irritating overthinking.
I just love how they didn't immediately fall into bed together or kiss uncontrollably at every opportunity. The way how they made love together finally was a nice culmination of angst, tension, irresistible attraction, not to mention a beautiful stormy weather.
I just adore this book. It reminds me of Penny Jordan's Falcon Prey. The storylines are very different, of course, but it was the execution, the way how it's written to make you fall in love with the characters and just get lost in their world.
There were so many good moments in this book but I don't want to ruin it for the reader. It takes a LOT to make me shed tears, I'm such a cynic, but with this book, I shed a few. I highly recommend it for those who like alpha males who can be endearingly tender and gentle heroines who are not doormates.
Heroine has done the unforgivable. Deserted her baby and left a note for the husband basically telling him she wasn't cut out for motherhood. The reason becomes apparent as we read but for at the moment, it's two years after and she wants to reconnect with her son. Of course, our dear H is having no part in this, telling her in no uncertain terms to go screw herself thinking all she wants to do is manipulate them and cash in on a pre-nup.
Our dear h stands firm and insists on her rights to see her son. And so the battle of wills begin. I love how the writer paints the heroine in such delightful contrasts. She's fragile, yet strong. She understands her husbands's standpoint and yet holds her own ground. She's hungry to hold her child and yet knows she has to tread carefully not to scare him away.
The writer captures H's emotions perfectly too. His anger, the unwilling but unstoppable attraction for her, his growing respect for his wife and his internal conflicts. All described without resorting to long-winded introspection or reminiscing and irritating overthinking.
I just love how they didn't immediately fall into bed together or kiss uncontrollably at every opportunity. The way how they made love together finally was a nice culmination of angst, tension, irresistible attraction, not to mention a beautiful stormy weather.
I just adore this book. It reminds me of Penny Jordan's Falcon Prey. The storylines are very different, of course, but it was the execution, the way how it's written to make you fall in love with the characters and just get lost in their world.
There were so many good moments in this book but I don't want to ruin it for the reader. It takes a LOT to make me shed tears, I'm such a cynic, but with this book, I shed a few. I highly recommend it for those who like alpha males who can be endearingly tender and gentle heroines who are not doormates.
April 4, 2011
I swear hubris is going to be my downfall because I want to improve on perfection.
IMHO the ending could be tweaked. After surviving the big misunderstanding, the emotional isolation and the big C scare, nope! the honeymoon suite at Georges V isn't compelling reason for her to acquit, err, I mean, to forgive the hero.
It's partly because I lived in Paris and my husband takes me and my children to Paris every three years and he's not even a billionaire like the hero. LOL. So, no, a one-night Paris getaway wouldn't equal grovelling to me. Pah! I want un grand geste de reconciliation, d'amour. Something that meant that he did more organizing than calling room reservation(and his secretary probably did the dialing). Something like renewing their wedding vows or planting flowers for everyday that she was gone and facing her fears by herself or even just tattooing her name on his silly behind without anaesthesia.
I shed tears reading this book and bloodthirsty witch that I am, I want the hero to fear her loss, her possible demise, and regret not being there for her.
IMHO the ending could be tweaked. After surviving the big misunderstanding, the emotional isolation and the big C scare, nope! the honeymoon suite at Georges V isn't compelling reason for her to acquit, err, I mean, to forgive the hero.
It's partly because I lived in Paris and my husband takes me and my children to Paris every three years and he's not even a billionaire like the hero. LOL. So, no, a one-night Paris getaway wouldn't equal grovelling to me. Pah! I want un grand geste de reconciliation, d'amour. Something that meant that he did more organizing than calling room reservation(and his secretary probably did the dialing). Something like renewing their wedding vows or planting flowers for everyday that she was gone and facing her fears by herself or even just tattooing her name on his silly behind without anaesthesia.
I shed tears reading this book and bloodthirsty witch that I am, I want the hero to fear her loss, her possible demise, and regret not being there for her.
April 10, 2021
4.5 stars
See V's review. She hit on all the high points!
See V's review. She hit on all the high points!
March 23, 2015
Short version: is there ever a good reason to leave your newborn infant with your judgemental husband?
Long version:
Rowan really had nothing else going on with her life at the time, so she married Isandro. It was all part of a deal with her father, so that Isandro would bail out Rowan’s dad’s bank before people started panicking about how it was going down, and Isandro in return got access to posh business people, probably so that he can make even more money. Rowan is miserable. She is not decorative, she is not charming, and without either quality she is of no value to men like Isandro and her father. Her relationship with her father hasn’t been particularly close. She’s been lonely for a long time.
Not much really changes for Isandro and Rowan with marriage, there’s no slowly developing intimacy, just some timely development of mutual recognition of each other’s hotness. Rowan and Isandro get it on. Rowan gets pregnant, has a baby, and walks out. She abandons her tiny infant son within hours (I think?) of giving birth to him, and leaves Isandro a ‘don’t try to find me’ note. Hooray for the note! It was brief and expressively mendacious, but still an actual written note, and it’s so rare for a heroine to leave any written communication when she flits off to be sad that it’s worth a shout out.
Then nearly two years later, Rowan’s back. Isandro’s furious. Yes, she has rights to know their child, but only on his terms, dag nab it. He’s convinced she’s been fluffing around the world spending it up, getting into nasty men and drugs and wild parties. He has such a great imagination, getting all that from his prior exposure to Rowan’s personality.
This is some emotionally charged stuff right here, and I would like to say that there is even a one percent chance that Rowan left to do a frivolous thing, but I can’t. Romance heroines just don’t pull this kind of act without a really good romance heroine reason. A romance heroine can abandon her husband for any number of perfectly legitimate but completely spurious reasons, but a romance heroine can only abandon a baby for a genuine life and death reason. I knew going in that Rowan was highly unlikely to be a spy heroine being hunted by an evil underworld organisation with no choice but to run. There wasn’t a coma or amnesia, because she’d left that note, which narrowed it down to what it was.
Rowan quietly endures in the face of Isandro’s accusations. Her inner strength is admirable. She takes the first tentative steps towards establishing a relationship with her son, and that’s some emotional gold right there, what with missing out on that mother and baby thing where the baby imprints on the mother and all the rest of it. As well as the ‘where was Rowan’ question, there’s a kidnapping, and Isandro’s really horrible sister to keep the tension levels high. There’s the balancing sweetness of Isandro recognising Rowan’s love for their child, and that there is something more beneath the surface of his undeniable attraction to her.
I really do love this kind of story, and it’s got a long romantic tradition. There are lots of stories of women who decide to nobly endure their fates or conceal their secrets without love or any degree of comfort, believing their loneliness will spare their beloved from heartbreak. I can get really wrapped up in this kind of story, because it’s all super emotional and high stakes and there’s people enduring all range of harms and injustices.
The problem is … Rowan didn’t think that Isandro would be heartbroken. She isn’t sparing him awful pain, she’s sparing him a mild inconvenience, and sparing herself the suffering of enduring his mild inconvenience in the face of her major unrequited love. And if you look at it that way, she’s actually taken the easy option and been pretty selfish.
Long version:
Rowan really had nothing else going on with her life at the time, so she married Isandro. It was all part of a deal with her father, so that Isandro would bail out Rowan’s dad’s bank before people started panicking about how it was going down, and Isandro in return got access to posh business people, probably so that he can make even more money. Rowan is miserable. She is not decorative, she is not charming, and without either quality she is of no value to men like Isandro and her father. Her relationship with her father hasn’t been particularly close. She’s been lonely for a long time.
Not much really changes for Isandro and Rowan with marriage, there’s no slowly developing intimacy, just some timely development of mutual recognition of each other’s hotness. Rowan and Isandro get it on. Rowan gets pregnant, has a baby, and walks out. She abandons her tiny infant son within hours (I think?) of giving birth to him, and leaves Isandro a ‘don’t try to find me’ note. Hooray for the note! It was brief and expressively mendacious, but still an actual written note, and it’s so rare for a heroine to leave any written communication when she flits off to be sad that it’s worth a shout out.
Then nearly two years later, Rowan’s back. Isandro’s furious. Yes, she has rights to know their child, but only on his terms, dag nab it. He’s convinced she’s been fluffing around the world spending it up, getting into nasty men and drugs and wild parties. He has such a great imagination, getting all that from his prior exposure to Rowan’s personality.
This is some emotionally charged stuff right here, and I would like to say that there is even a one percent chance that Rowan left to do a frivolous thing, but I can’t. Romance heroines just don’t pull this kind of act without a really good romance heroine reason. A romance heroine can abandon her husband for any number of perfectly legitimate but completely spurious reasons, but a romance heroine can only abandon a baby for a genuine life and death reason. I knew going in that Rowan was highly unlikely to be a spy heroine being hunted by an evil underworld organisation with no choice but to run. There wasn’t a coma or amnesia, because she’d left that note, which narrowed it down to what it was.
Rowan quietly endures in the face of Isandro’s accusations. Her inner strength is admirable. She takes the first tentative steps towards establishing a relationship with her son, and that’s some emotional gold right there, what with missing out on that mother and baby thing where the baby imprints on the mother and all the rest of it. As well as the ‘where was Rowan’ question, there’s a kidnapping, and Isandro’s really horrible sister to keep the tension levels high. There’s the balancing sweetness of Isandro recognising Rowan’s love for their child, and that there is something more beneath the surface of his undeniable attraction to her.
I really do love this kind of story, and it’s got a long romantic tradition. There are lots of stories of women who decide to nobly endure their fates or conceal their secrets without love or any degree of comfort, believing their loneliness will spare their beloved from heartbreak. I can get really wrapped up in this kind of story, because it’s all super emotional and high stakes and there’s people enduring all range of harms and injustices.
The problem is … Rowan didn’t think that Isandro would be heartbroken. She isn’t sparing him awful pain, she’s sparing him a mild inconvenience, and sparing herself the suffering of enduring his mild inconvenience in the face of her major unrequited love. And if you look at it that way, she’s actually taken the easy option and been pretty selfish.
June 23, 2021
WOW! This story made me rethink some stars I handed out recently. I tend to star up. I haven’t run across a story like this with so much emotion in awhile, that I think I forgot and accepted what I was reading as better than 3’s. So this is the type of story where you don’t answer your texts and you growl at anyone who wants to talk to you. Just give me 3 uninterrupted hours!
Ok, so we know that the heroine leaves her newborn son and husband shortly after his birth. She leaves a note that basically says she is unprepared to be a mother and wants to be free. Well this isn't my first HP, so I know that there is more to it, but I decide to let the story unfold.
Heroine-27-Self sacrificing, loving married the hero over 2 years ago. IT was supposed to be a marriage of convenience but she fell in love with the hero. After giving birth to her son she leaves for almost 2 years. She is back and wants to be part of her son’s life(maybe even her husbands)and will do what it takes to make that happen.
Hero-36- Married the heroine to get some notoriety in the English banking world. He tells her that it is a moc an that if and when they take lovers it should be discreet. He thinks that the marriage will only need to be about a year long. However, feelings overwhelm him on their wedding night. They consummate the union and in the process the virgin bride becomes pregnant. Love is never discussed or expressed, yet he is thrown for a loop when his wife leaves him shortly after giving birth(leaves the hospital).
Our hero is cruel for most of the book. He is pretty sure that she is back under the 2 year limit to cancel abandonment so she can claim the money from their prenuptial agreement. He wastes no time in getting divorce papers drawn up. The h understands this and realizes the dream of a happy little family is not going to happen. She is ok with the divorce as long as she can have access to her son.
I understand his anger. He is angry over her leaving but he is even more angry for the ways she can still make him feel. He has to also think of his son. If the son forms an attachment and she leaves again???? Since he believes the worse of her then of course he isn’t going to trust her.
I am not including spoilers because one should just read this. There were some surprises along the way. HOWEVER, I will reassure the readers that both the h and H have been celibate for the last 2 years. There is no OW. The hero’s mom and sister are not fans of the h, but they stay in the background for most of the book. The sister shows up briefly at a party with a little venom but then she disappears.
The ending is full of emotion. There is an epilogue 4 years in the future. Happy sigh!
Ok, so we know that the heroine leaves her newborn son and husband shortly after his birth. She leaves a note that basically says she is unprepared to be a mother and wants to be free. Well this isn't my first HP, so I know that there is more to it, but I decide to let the story unfold.
Heroine-27-Self sacrificing, loving married the hero over 2 years ago. IT was supposed to be a marriage of convenience but she fell in love with the hero. After giving birth to her son she leaves for almost 2 years. She is back and wants to be part of her son’s life(maybe even her husbands)and will do what it takes to make that happen.
Hero-36- Married the heroine to get some notoriety in the English banking world. He tells her that it is a moc an that if and when they take lovers it should be discreet. He thinks that the marriage will only need to be about a year long. However, feelings overwhelm him on their wedding night. They consummate the union and in the process the virgin bride becomes pregnant. Love is never discussed or expressed, yet he is thrown for a loop when his wife leaves him shortly after giving birth(leaves the hospital).
Our hero is cruel for most of the book. He is pretty sure that she is back under the 2 year limit to cancel abandonment so she can claim the money from their prenuptial agreement. He wastes no time in getting divorce papers drawn up. The h understands this and realizes the dream of a happy little family is not going to happen. She is ok with the divorce as long as she can have access to her son.
I understand his anger. He is angry over her leaving but he is even more angry for the ways she can still make him feel. He has to also think of his son. If the son forms an attachment and she leaves again???? Since he believes the worse of her then of course he isn’t going to trust her.
I am not including spoilers because one should just read this. There were some surprises along the way. HOWEVER, I will reassure the readers that both the h and H have been celibate for the last 2 years. There is no OW. The hero’s mom and sister are not fans of the h, but they stay in the background for most of the book. The sister shows up briefly at a party with a little venom but then she disappears.
The ending is full of emotion. There is an epilogue 4 years in the future. Happy sigh!
July 19, 2020
1.5 stars Zzzzz
Review to come...
Updated
July 19th/2020
Review to come...
Updated
July 19th/2020
I couldn't finish it completely, I skipped pages, I found the writing style hard to read and didn't feel the chemistry between the main characters or believed they love each other at the end. I respect other readers liked it.
November 14, 2008
Every once in a while a book stands out for a reader and The Spaniard's Marriage Bargain, well let's just say it's brilliant and I personally think it's Abby Green's best! It is about deep, abiding and selfless love.
Rowan Carmichael grew up knowing she was not very important in her parents lives; however her mother on her death bed made her father promise to see Rowan married. Her father fulfills that promise and makes arrangements with the handsome businessman from Spain, Isandro Salazar. All Rowan knew was that she was a naive rich girl totally enamoured with this handsome man and she also knew she was out of her league. What she didn't count on was she would consummate her marriage on her wedding night and fall madly in love with her husband.
Isandro Salazar's business was successful. However, he needed acceptance in the London financial community. To do this he needed to accept Mr. Carmichael's offer to marry his daughter in a marriage of convenience. What he didn't anticipate was his attraction to Rowan and he actually enjoyed her company. Months later they found out they were expecting a baby which was not part of the plan. As fate would intervene, Rowan overhears a conversation between her husband and his sister where he declares it's just that, "a marriage of convenience" and confirms their marriage will only be that...........a loveless marriage.
As the story unfolds, Rowan and Isandro's son is born, a beautiful boy named Zac. Rowan realizes that to survive she must leave her husband and son. While reading this story you will need to prepare yourself as it will rip your heart out! To say any anymore would ruin the reader's experience.
Three years later, Rowan shows up at a London hotel where she plans to meet her attorney and as fate would have it, it's the very hotel her husband owns. Of course, who's on the premises, none other than her husband and son! It's an emotional powder keg! Islandro doesn't trust Rowan or her motives and insists they all return to Isandro's estate in Spain to work out parental and custody issues. Of course, there's the fact they both have to deal with the personal side of their relationship. It's extremely painful to read as the emotion is very strong between the two of them and cruel at times, especially what Rowan has to endure.
It's a love story filled with secrets, twists and turns, misunderstandings, intense sexuality......it sizzles! Prepare yourself for an outstanding story and reading experience by contemporary author Ms. Green. I can't begin to tell you how much I enjoyed the Spaniard's Marriage Bargain. It just intensifies how important communication is in a relationship along with truth, honesty and trust.
BOOK DESCRIPTION:
Back in her husband’s bed…
Rowan had discovered two things that would change her life for ever. The first filled her with joy – she was pregnant! The second was something that she felt compelled to keep to herself – even from her husband…
Rowan had been Isandro Salazar’s bride of convenience. But, knowing that he would never love her as she loved him, her choice was to make her unborn child her priority and then, once he was born, make her dark journey by herself…
But in Isandro’s eyes Rowan’s decision rendered her a gold-digger who had committed the worst possible crime. However, he couldn’t stop her seeing her baby son – or deny that the passion between them was as raw and intense as ever…
Rowan Carmichael grew up knowing she was not very important in her parents lives; however her mother on her death bed made her father promise to see Rowan married. Her father fulfills that promise and makes arrangements with the handsome businessman from Spain, Isandro Salazar. All Rowan knew was that she was a naive rich girl totally enamoured with this handsome man and she also knew she was out of her league. What she didn't count on was she would consummate her marriage on her wedding night and fall madly in love with her husband.
Isandro Salazar's business was successful. However, he needed acceptance in the London financial community. To do this he needed to accept Mr. Carmichael's offer to marry his daughter in a marriage of convenience. What he didn't anticipate was his attraction to Rowan and he actually enjoyed her company. Months later they found out they were expecting a baby which was not part of the plan. As fate would intervene, Rowan overhears a conversation between her husband and his sister where he declares it's just that, "a marriage of convenience" and confirms their marriage will only be that...........a loveless marriage.
As the story unfolds, Rowan and Isandro's son is born, a beautiful boy named Zac. Rowan realizes that to survive she must leave her husband and son. While reading this story you will need to prepare yourself as it will rip your heart out! To say any anymore would ruin the reader's experience.
Three years later, Rowan shows up at a London hotel where she plans to meet her attorney and as fate would have it, it's the very hotel her husband owns. Of course, who's on the premises, none other than her husband and son! It's an emotional powder keg! Islandro doesn't trust Rowan or her motives and insists they all return to Isandro's estate in Spain to work out parental and custody issues. Of course, there's the fact they both have to deal with the personal side of their relationship. It's extremely painful to read as the emotion is very strong between the two of them and cruel at times, especially what Rowan has to endure.
It's a love story filled with secrets, twists and turns, misunderstandings, intense sexuality......it sizzles! Prepare yourself for an outstanding story and reading experience by contemporary author Ms. Green. I can't begin to tell you how much I enjoyed the Spaniard's Marriage Bargain. It just intensifies how important communication is in a relationship along with truth, honesty and trust.
BOOK DESCRIPTION:
Back in her husband’s bed…
Rowan had discovered two things that would change her life for ever. The first filled her with joy – she was pregnant! The second was something that she felt compelled to keep to herself – even from her husband…
Rowan had been Isandro Salazar’s bride of convenience. But, knowing that he would never love her as she loved him, her choice was to make her unborn child her priority and then, once he was born, make her dark journey by herself…
But in Isandro’s eyes Rowan’s decision rendered her a gold-digger who had committed the worst possible crime. However, he couldn’t stop her seeing her baby son – or deny that the passion between them was as raw and intense as ever…
January 20, 2016
This book should be made into a movie! All I can say is WOW! The emotions I felt while reading this book was intense.
There were a lot of secrets, suspense, Love, and romance.
Rowan left after she gave birth to her son Zac leaving her husband to be a single parent. She came back almost 2 years later wanting to see her son. Isandro said that she would only see their son on his terms. She had to move in with him, so Zac’s schedule would not be disturbed. She was only allowed to see Zac a few hours a day, and she was always supervised. Isandro hurled all kinds of insults Rowan’s way, and she just took it with her chin held high. At the end of the book when I finally found out why Rowan left for 2 years, My heart ached for her, and everything she had gone though alone. This was a very emotional read.
I’m not sure if you have ever seen the movie, Steel Magnolias, but most people cry when Sally field’s has her melt down. If this book was made into a movie, there would be a lot of tears shed in parts of the book/movie, and tissues would be needed. The author is very talented!
There were a lot of secrets, suspense, Love, and romance.
Rowan left after she gave birth to her son Zac leaving her husband to be a single parent. She came back almost 2 years later wanting to see her son. Isandro said that she would only see their son on his terms. She had to move in with him, so Zac’s schedule would not be disturbed. She was only allowed to see Zac a few hours a day, and she was always supervised. Isandro hurled all kinds of insults Rowan’s way, and she just took it with her chin held high. At the end of the book when I finally found out why Rowan left for 2 years, My heart ached for her, and everything she had gone though alone. This was a very emotional read.
I’m not sure if you have ever seen the movie, Steel Magnolias, but most people cry when Sally field’s has her melt down. If this book was made into a movie, there would be a lot of tears shed in parts of the book/movie, and tissues would be needed. The author is very talented!
June 5, 2018
***FOUR STARS***
I enjoyed this story way more than I thought I would, considering the mixed reviews. This story had a decent amount of angst. Not sure I agree with the heroine's reasoning for walking away from her husband and newborn baby, but I definitely enjoyed the punishing treatment that was dealt out to her by her husband as soon as she got back. All of that would have been completely avoided if she had just explained exactly why she left as soon as she got back, but I guess that would have made a much shorter, and less entertaining story.
April 16, 2013
Just finished the story, and wow, indeed. I'm still in awe since the story's so intense. wow.
i only got one problem here, every time the names Rowan and Isandro came together, i had to stop a moment to remember who's the hero and who's the heroine.
Little silly but in my mind Isandro is like a woman name, Rowan is a man's name. Lol.
Anyway, this book is awesome so i give it a 4.5 stars. why not 5? because i wish to know more about Isandro's life when Rowan left. well. in spite of that, i love this book!
i only got one problem here, every time the names Rowan and Isandro came together, i had to stop a moment to remember who's the hero and who's the heroine.
Little silly but in my mind Isandro is like a woman name, Rowan is a man's name. Lol.
Anyway, this book is awesome so i give it a 4.5 stars. why not 5? because i wish to know more about Isandro's life when Rowan left. well. in spite of that, i love this book!
April 4, 2022
4 Stars
Isandro was so mean! Cruel, insensitive, jerk. I loved it. I wanted him to get his, badly. But of course, Rowan had to be a martyr--one of the biggest ones I've ever read. Doormat heroines tend to ruin a book for me. But somehow, and surprisingly, I wasn't too annoyed with Rowan. Maybe because more than anything, I pitied her. There were several scenes where I felt so overwhelmingly sad for her, I couldn't stop the tears from falling. This made me more desperate to see Isandro suffer with regret. I wanted him on his knees sobbing like a baby, and that would still not have been nearly enough for me. Unfortunately, he groveled for what felt like a minute. And it absolutely did not help that Rowan continued playing the martyr until the very end. Frustrating! It was also disappointing that Isandro never made an effort to search for her--that's not an alpha in my book. My other gripe was the epilogue: it left me wanting more.
Despite some of the issues I had with this book, it was still highly enjoyable. Isandro's cruelty made things deliciously angsty. The rejection Rowan felt before she left Isandro, what she endured while away, and the hatred he threw her way when she came back, added an incredibly emotional aspect to the story. I also enjoyed the sex scenes, they were quite explosive.
Something that was a relief to me--given how Isandro had treated Rowan--was that at least Isandro was celibate during the almost 2 year separation. There was never any other woman for him after he met Rowan.
Isandro was so mean! Cruel, insensitive, jerk. I loved it. I wanted him to get his, badly. But of course, Rowan had to be a martyr--one of the biggest ones I've ever read. Doormat heroines tend to ruin a book for me. But somehow, and surprisingly, I wasn't too annoyed with Rowan. Maybe because more than anything, I pitied her. There were several scenes where I felt so overwhelmingly sad for her, I couldn't stop the tears from falling. This made me more desperate to see Isandro suffer with regret. I wanted him on his knees sobbing like a baby, and that would still not have been nearly enough for me. Unfortunately, he groveled for what felt like a minute. And it absolutely did not help that Rowan continued playing the martyr until the very end. Frustrating! It was also disappointing that Isandro never made an effort to search for her--that's not an alpha in my book. My other gripe was the epilogue: it left me wanting more.
Despite some of the issues I had with this book, it was still highly enjoyable. Isandro's cruelty made things deliciously angsty. The rejection Rowan felt before she left Isandro, what she endured while away, and the hatred he threw her way when she came back, added an incredibly emotional aspect to the story. I also enjoyed the sex scenes, they were quite explosive.
Something that was a relief to me--given how Isandro had treated Rowan--was that at least Isandro was celibate during the almost 2 year separation. There was never any other woman for him after he met Rowan.
January 15, 2024
Ако има мотиви, които да ненавиждам, това са “липса на комуникация” (все едно езици и мозъци не съществуват) и “героиня-мъченица” (страда си на спокойствие момичето, защо да споделя с някоя жива душа и да си накриви нимба). Предполагам, това са отломки от предишни епохи, и - бррр - от старите църковни догми за жените. Ето ти на как днешните любовни романи влизат в контекстуална историческа рамка 😄
Тук авторката добре се е справила с напрежението, но е трябвало да разположи сюжета някъде из средновековието… В съвременността той няма никакво място. Иначе какъв е смисълът на целия напредък от просвещението насам?
2,5⭐️
Тук авторката добре се е справила с напрежението, но е трябвало да разположи сюжета някъде из средновековието… В съвременността той няма никакво място. Иначе какъв е смисълът на целия напредък от просвещението насам?
2,5⭐️
December 9, 2015
Disappointing. This style of book (I've read a lot of them by Lynne Graham) follows a given number of formulas. This one starts with the return of a wife who abandoned her husband and baby within hours of giving birth. The wealthy, powerful husband is angry and bitter about it, but when she insists on getting to know their son, he relents slightly, seeing the legal wisdom in being generous with her despite the situation. She tries to explain her absence to him a few times, but he's too bitter to listen. Gradually, he sees her devotion to their child and although she's already signed the preliminary divorce papers, they're still very attracted to one another and become physically involved. It was originally a marriage of convenience, but both of them have stronger feelings for each other than they're willing to admit, and he finally starts investigating where she's been during the past two years. As it turns, she's been very ill with leukemia, didn't want the child to bond with her when she might be dying soon, and didn't want to burden her husband with her illness when she didn't believe he had any feelings for her.
The biggest thing I dislike about these books is the baby element. I hate it when I feel the author is showing me what a wonderful person the heroine is by showing me her selfless devotion to her child. In these books, the husband is always filthy rich and an intimidating workaholic, while the woman is usually selfless, beautiful, and has few accomplishments other than being a perfect wife and mother. This book took it even further; learning she had leukemia when she was seven months pregnant, she refused all treatment because of what it might do to the baby. She wouldn't even let them induce birth. Maybe I'm spending too much time on feministing.com, but I resent it when a woman's goodness is shown by her putting her unborn child's life above her own. Before he learned of her illness, her husband kept on saying how if she hurt their child in any way, he'd throw her out, so I think this was used to show just how precious their baby's welfare was to her, but still, it didn't work for me.
I also didn't like her simply walking out on her husband. The whole book was built on her doing that, so I won't say she shouldn't have done it, just that the book didn't make me believe it was a realistic choice on her part.
Enjoyable read, but it doesn't stand out that much for me as far as this type of book goes.
The biggest thing I dislike about these books is the baby element. I hate it when I feel the author is showing me what a wonderful person the heroine is by showing me her selfless devotion to her child. In these books, the husband is always filthy rich and an intimidating workaholic, while the woman is usually selfless, beautiful, and has few accomplishments other than being a perfect wife and mother. This book took it even further; learning she had leukemia when she was seven months pregnant, she refused all treatment because of what it might do to the baby. She wouldn't even let them induce birth. Maybe I'm spending too much time on feministing.com, but I resent it when a woman's goodness is shown by her putting her unborn child's life above her own. Before he learned of her illness, her husband kept on saying how if she hurt their child in any way, he'd throw her out, so I think this was used to show just how precious their baby's welfare was to her, but still, it didn't work for me.
I also didn't like her simply walking out on her husband. The whole book was built on her doing that, so I won't say she shouldn't have done it, just that the book didn't make me believe it was a realistic choice on her part.
Enjoyable read, but it doesn't stand out that much for me as far as this type of book goes.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
September 5, 2022I’m at page 37 and I am already running out of patience with this h.
She is too emotional. The first time she saw the H again, she fainted. 🙄
And then the next day she is still an emotional mess while he is not even cruel:
“Rowan struggled through waves of shock”
“Rowan blanched, going even paler”
“Rowan’s anger built with a white hot flash”
“Rowan knew she had to sit or else she’d fall”
“She felt herself flushing”
“Rowan’s throat closed over again”
Etc.
And all that in the same scene, only a few sentences apart.
But I’ve seen that this book gets good reviews, so I’ll stop for now and maybe in a few days come back to this book.
Edit: no, not trying to read further. DNF. No rating.
She is too emotional. The first time she saw the H again, she fainted. 🙄
And then the next day she is still an emotional mess while he is not even cruel:
“Rowan struggled through waves of shock”
“Rowan blanched, going even paler”
“Rowan’s anger built with a white hot flash”
“Rowan knew she had to sit or else she’d fall”
“She felt herself flushing”
“Rowan’s throat closed over again”
Etc.
And all that in the same scene, only a few sentences apart.
But I’ve seen that this book gets good reviews, so I’ll stop for now and maybe in a few days come back to this book.
Edit: no, not trying to read further. DNF. No rating.
January 16, 2015
I liked it very much. The plot is very different than the typical second chance story. The reason I am giving this book 4 stars is because the information about bone marrow transplant was really outdated for the time this book was originally published. Also, Although I absolutely loved Isandro as a father, I wasn't too crazy about him as a husband.
September 13, 2021
The Spaniard's Marriage Bargain was an intense emotional second chance story that kept me glued from first page up to the last. And had me bawling my eyes out. Abby Green is really a good writer. She makes a great emotional love with off-the-charts sexual tension/chemistry and characters you can love and root for. It's my favorite by Ms. Green so far, and I think that it's her best! I loved that it was emotionally charged but with absolutely no stupidity. I might spoil this book for those who haven't read it yet, but I can't stay quiet about it because there are so many things I love about this book.
Rowan Salazar doesn't have a choice but to walk away from her own newborn baby and husband. So she left a note to Isandro telling him she's not yet ready to be a wife and mother and that he shouldn't look for her. After 2 years, Rowan came back to be with her beloved son. Isandro Salazar was beyond angry seeing his estranged wife Rowan for the first time after she had walked out on him and abandoned her own baby just hours after the birth. He reeled with the shock of seeing her. He reeled with the torrent of emotions that seeing her had evoked within him.. and he didn't like it.
So he lashes out, treats her coldly, and says hurtful things to Rowan. And when he learns that Rowan wants to be with his son, he becomes suspicious that she's after his money. Even though he didn't want her near his son, he knew he didn't have a choice but to allow Rowan access to their son's life. But he wouldn't make this easy for her.
Rowan knows that she won't have a choice; she knows she can fight him for her rights as Zac's mother but right now, all she wants is to be with her baby. She felt vulnerable, wary, and hurt whenever Isandro scrutinized her every movement, especially around Zac. But Rowan didn't allow Isandro's contempt and anger to discourage her from spending time with her son. Her only priority is Zac. Her son had always been her only priority, even at the expense of her own life. To see him flouring so beautifully... It justified her decisions.
Isandro Salazar appears to be your typical alpha hero at first glance - devastatingly gorgeous, powerful, mega-rich and ruthless. But it was really hard for me to like him at first, especially the way he coldly, callously, and ruthlessly treated Rowan. But as the book progressed and Ms. Green slowly peeled away the layers to this ruthless, manipulative man, I began to understand him and feel for him. Isandro's bitterness, anger, and distrust were understandable. One thing I loved about the hero Isandro was his fidelity. He didn't sleep with other women during their separation. The thing I don't like about him was when he coldly told Rowan:
"You've been dead to me since you left, Rowan, dead to Zac. And in many ways, I think it might have been preferable if you had died or at least stayed away.
*Crying* My heart broke for Rowan. Isandro doesn't have a clue that his hurtful words really hit too close to home.
Rowan Carmichael is one of my favorite Harlequin heroines. She's such a wonderfully brave and strong woman. I admired her for what she did - fighting cancer on her own. I know it's her choice not to tell Isandro about it, but I still feel for her. I felt her pain, and I felt her healing. I actually understand why she chose not to share it with her husband. Coz the moment she learned her illness was the same time she realized that she'd been living in a fantasy. What they have is not real. Isandro only married her for social acceptance. I thought that Ms. Green created a very vivid heroine in Rowan. I couldn't help but love and feel protective towards her.
In the end, I'm more than happy that they found their happy ending together. The Spaniard's Marriage Bargain is a very emotional love story filled with secrets and lots of twists and turns. Many parts of the book are incredibly serious and emotional and will make you feel like you in a roller coaster ride. I definitely can admit to crying more than once. I honestly hope to see more books like this in the Harlequin Presents.
I really loved it, and it's definitely going down as one of my favorites Harlequin Presents. It has a good plot and characters that will stick to you long after you have finished reading it.
PS: Keep a box of Kleenex beside you because this is a tear-jerker.
March 6, 2014
If I wanted to describe this novel in two word I'd say, "heart wrenching!"
It begins with the heroine going to a meeting with her lawyer, to establish communication with her estrange husband and baby boy. Only to pump into her husband and son. We discover that right after the birth of her baby the heroine took off without leaving any trace. The hero is wounded by her actions and he think that she's nothing more than a grasping opportunist. Which is way, way from the truth behind her disappearing.
I guessed at her resone for doing that from the very beginning, and I was right! But in spite of that reading about it when she did tell it all in the end was heart breaking. I literally felt that my heart is about to stop and I couldn't stop crying. I was sympathetic with the heroine all along but by the end I was so impressed by her, she was so brave. If it was me I wouldn't have took the choices that she took.
I always rave about Abby Green and how good her writing is, this book cemented that for me. Can't wait to read more of her books.
It begins with the heroine going to a meeting with her lawyer, to establish communication with her estrange husband and baby boy. Only to pump into her husband and son. We discover that right after the birth of her baby the heroine took off without leaving any trace. The hero is wounded by her actions and he think that she's nothing more than a grasping opportunist. Which is way, way from the truth behind her disappearing.
I guessed at her resone for doing that from the very beginning, and I was right! But in spite of that reading about it when she did tell it all in the end was heart breaking. I literally felt that my heart is about to stop and I couldn't stop crying. I was sympathetic with the heroine all along but by the end I was so impressed by her, she was so brave. If it was me I wouldn't have took the choices that she took.
I always rave about Abby Green and how good her writing is, this book cemented that for me. Can't wait to read more of her books.
December 3, 2013
This was so Bollywood-ish. You have all the masala. Full of angst. Lots of twists and turns. Yet it failed to strike a chord.
I just couldn't forgive Rowan for abandoning her new born baby. No matter what the circumstances were. Her logic that it would have hurt Zac more if they had bonded for a very short while. Of course it would hurt but it least he would have got the chance to be close to his mother. Her martyr stance didn't go well with me.
I disliked Isandro even more. How could anyone wish someone to be dead? That was despicable. Even if he said those words in a fit of rage and he regretted them immediately, the damage had been done. And it was unforgivable.
Both Rowan and Isandro deserve each other for failing to see beyond their nose.
I just couldn't forgive Rowan for abandoning her new born baby. No matter what the circumstances were. Her logic that it would have hurt Zac more if they had bonded for a very short while. Of course it would hurt but it least he would have got the chance to be close to his mother. Her martyr stance didn't go well with me.
I disliked Isandro even more. How could anyone wish someone to be dead? That was despicable. Even if he said those words in a fit of rage and he regretted them immediately, the damage had been done. And it was unforgivable.
Both Rowan and Isandro deserve each other for failing to see beyond their nose.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 162 reviews