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Marrying a Tycoon #2
The Tycoon's Outrageous Proposal: The Tycoon's Outrageous Proposal (Marrying a Tycoon) / at the Ruthless Billionaire's Command
"There's nothing more desirable than a woman who wants you, despite herself."
Australian tycoon and international playboy Byron Maddox is used to getting what he wants. And for some reason, he wants shy PA Cleo Shelton.
Cleo is sure it's only because she turned him down—finally free of an abusive marriage, Cleo is enjoying her independence, and has no intention of being under the thumb of another man! Especially a man she finds irresistibly alluring…
But Byron won't be thwarted so easily—and when he proposes one sizzling night together, Cleo's resistance crumbles under the force of his expert seduction!
Australian tycoon and international playboy Byron Maddox is used to getting what he wants. And for some reason, he wants shy PA Cleo Shelton.
Cleo is sure it's only because she turned him down—finally free of an abusive marriage, Cleo is enjoying her independence, and has no intention of being under the thumb of another man! Especially a man she finds irresistibly alluring…
But Byron won't be thwarted so easily—and when he proposes one sizzling night together, Cleo's resistance crumbles under the force of his expert seduction!
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About the author
Miranda Lee
815 books237 followersMaureen Mary was born on 1945 at Port Macquarie, a popular seaside town on the Mid-North Coast of New South Wales, Australia, and is the youngest of four children. Her sister was the novelist Wendy Brennan (Emma Darcy). Her father was a country school teacher and brilliant sportsman. Her mother was a talented dressmaker. When Miranda was ten, her father was transferred to Gosford, another coastal town in the countryside, much closer to Sydney. After leaving her convent school, she briefly studied the cello before moving to Sydney, where she embraced the emerging world of computers. Her career as a programmer ended after she married, had three daughters and bought a small acreage in a semi-rural community. Following this, she attempted greyhound training, as well as horse and goat breeding, but was left dissatisfied.
Miranda yearned to find a creative career from which she could earn money. When her sister suggested writing romances, it seemed like a good idea. She could do it at home, and it might even be fun! It took a decade of trial and error before her first romance, After the Affair, was accepted and published. At that time, Miranda, her husband Tony, and her three daughters had moved back to the Central Coast, where they could enjoy the sun and the surf lifestyle once again. Not long into her writing career, Miranda committed herself to writing a six-book series entitled, The Hearts of Fire, with a deadline of just nine short months. Bravely, her husband left his executive position to stay home and support Miranda’s writing career. He learned to cook and to clean, two invaluable household skills. Numerous successful stories followed, each embodying Miranda’s trademark style: pacy and sexy rhythms; passionate, real-life characters; and enduring, memorable story lines. She has one credo when writing romances: Don’t bore the reader! Millions of fans world-wide agree she never does.
Miranda was the sister of the late author, Emma Darcy.
Miranda yearned to find a creative career from which she could earn money. When her sister suggested writing romances, it seemed like a good idea. She could do it at home, and it might even be fun! It took a decade of trial and error before her first romance, After the Affair, was accepted and published. At that time, Miranda, her husband Tony, and her three daughters had moved back to the Central Coast, where they could enjoy the sun and the surf lifestyle once again. Not long into her writing career, Miranda committed herself to writing a six-book series entitled, The Hearts of Fire, with a deadline of just nine short months. Bravely, her husband left his executive position to stay home and support Miranda’s writing career. He learned to cook and to clean, two invaluable household skills. Numerous successful stories followed, each embodying Miranda’s trademark style: pacy and sexy rhythms; passionate, real-life characters; and enduring, memorable story lines. She has one credo when writing romances: Don’t bore the reader! Millions of fans world-wide agree she never does.
Miranda was the sister of the late author, Emma Darcy.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
September 29, 2025
לסקירה מפורטת בעברית, קישור לבלוג שלי -
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August 4, 2017
Lame. All heroine did was blaming hero that he wanted to get her pregnant on purpose and she hated him for it. Not romantic at all. Book and author to avoid for sure.
August 14, 2017
what the hell I've just read?
June 16, 2019
Byron and Cleo were ... I want to say fun but they aren't weren't XD
However - I enjoyed this book. I've been in the mood for "boss/secretary" romances - mostly because those usually end up with the guy [because let's be honest that's generally how these books are written] doesn't appreciate his assistant until she goes and then he realizes how wonderful she is and he goes on a HUGE wooing spree.
ANYWAY.
This book, Cleo is NOT Byron's assistant! And in fact she's not so much "the assistant" as her boss's second hand so .... :D
Gosh. Cleo's history. O_O I think ... even though the "whole book" is about it... her abuse she suffered is totally glossed over. As was that by her MiL.
So ... Cleo has I S S U E S. And really I wish she'd have seen a therapist ... (although maybe therapy would totally cancel the premise of ... >.> "all" HPs? :|)
ANYWAY. I loved that Byron actually wants to get married and is a romantic.
Really wish he'd used a bit of his brain but ... meh. Like - he does try. And is sweet, albeit a bit spoiled (not as much as Gabriel in the previous book I read...)
Really cute engagement scene, I liked the parts with the other women ... and Cleo's makeover (gosh there was one for the heroine in the previous book too in part... no wonder books run together for me!)
BUT ANYWAY - this one read kinda almost like a sequel book - I'm half tempted to look up the other(s) - but I missed Miranda Lee's books/writing :)
C maybe C+
However - I enjoyed this book. I've been in the mood for "boss/secretary" romances - mostly because those usually end up with the guy [because let's be honest that's generally how these books are written] doesn't appreciate his assistant until she goes and then he realizes how wonderful she is and he goes on a HUGE wooing spree.
ANYWAY.
This book, Cleo is NOT Byron's assistant! And in fact she's not so much "the assistant" as her boss's second hand so .... :D
Gosh. Cleo's history. O_O I think ... even though the "whole book" is about it... her abuse she suffered is totally glossed over. As was that by her MiL.
So ... Cleo has I S S U E S. And really I wish she'd have seen a therapist ... (although maybe therapy would totally cancel the premise of ... >.> "all" HPs? :|)
ANYWAY. I loved that Byron actually wants to get married and is a romantic.
Really wish he'd used a bit of his brain but ... meh. Like - he does try. And is sweet, albeit a bit spoiled (not as much as Gabriel in the previous book I read...)
Really cute engagement scene, I liked the parts with the other women ... and Cleo's makeover (gosh there was one for the heroine in the previous book too in part... no wonder books run together for me!)
BUT ANYWAY - this one read kinda almost like a sequel book - I'm half tempted to look up the other(s) - but I missed Miranda Lee's books/writing :)
C maybe C+
October 28, 2017
Byron Maddox is a very rich man and used to women throwing themselves at him. Two failed engagements down the drain and he still can not find a woman to love and settle down with and start a family. Someone more interested him than the size of his bank account. And Cleo Shelton is interested in his money. Just as far as having him invest in the company she works for.
Cleo is not interested in getting involved with a man again. One abusive marriage that ended when her husband finally dies from cancer was not something she was willing to risk again. But Byron has more than enough sex appeal to make her consider a brief affair. She rally is not the type of woman he dates.
A little lacking in actual details about what 'abuse' she suffered in her first marriage that made her overreact when things went sideways after her refusal to marry Byron. A lot of him pushing, and her just getting angry and shutting down.
Overall, an ok story.
Cleo is not interested in getting involved with a man again. One abusive marriage that ended when her husband finally dies from cancer was not something she was willing to risk again. But Byron has more than enough sex appeal to make her consider a brief affair. She rally is not the type of woman he dates.
A little lacking in actual details about what 'abuse' she suffered in her first marriage that made her overreact when things went sideways after her refusal to marry Byron. A lot of him pushing, and her just getting angry and shutting down.
Overall, an ok story.
June 30, 2019
I've partially read this before. I knew that when I got it and the Libby app started nearly at the finish. I didn't remember it very well, so I started over. And I just got to the reason why I didn't finish it the first time: It is not having "a hissy fit" to be upset when a man fails to use a condom when he was the one handling the contraception. That is actually a criminal act.
Two different people, one of whom is a woman and a lawyer, tell the woman that she's overreacting. And no, no she is not. That's gaslighting. Shit like that is why women get trapped in abusive relationships. Both 'friends' and the woman herself downplay how awful what he did was.
The guy does apologize, and he seems to get what he did wrong and why it was wrong. Which is something, I suppose.
I really had been genuinely enjoying the story up to that point, even with the compressed timeline. So this hard right turn into gaslighting and violation was a real bummer.
Two different people, one of whom is a woman and a lawyer, tell the woman that she's overreacting. And no, no she is not. That's gaslighting. Shit like that is why women get trapped in abusive relationships. Both 'friends' and the woman herself downplay how awful what he did was.
The guy does apologize, and he seems to get what he did wrong and why it was wrong. Which is something, I suppose.
I really had been genuinely enjoying the story up to that point, even with the compressed timeline. So this hard right turn into gaslighting and violation was a real bummer.
March 13, 2018
The Tycoon's Outrageous Proposal is a book in the Marrying a Tycoon series by Australian romance author, Miranda Lee. Widow Cleo Shelton has vowed never to marry again. Her husband was cruel and controlling, and she isn’t going to go there again. But when her boss leaves her in charge, and she has to handle the potential investor, tycoon Byron Maddox, she’s stunned by her attraction to him. Despite her vow, she finds herself having a makeover and going to a party with this man.
After two recent engagements ended in his disillusionment, Byron still wants to marry, but he’s going to be more circumspect. But Cleo doesn’t want anything to do with him, and that piques his interest. The more he sees of Cleo, the more he wants to pop the question. Romance in the world of the rich and beautiful.
After two recent engagements ended in his disillusionment, Byron still wants to marry, but he’s going to be more circumspect. But Cleo doesn’t want anything to do with him, and that piques his interest. The more he sees of Cleo, the more he wants to pop the question. Romance in the world of the rich and beautiful.
December 12, 2021
Delightfully bonkers!
My first Miranda Lee and I thoroughly enjoyed it!
Overall, I really enjoyed Byron and Cleo's chemistry from the beginning. The heroine had a lot of baggage from the first marriage but it made for an interesting story. Byron was funny at times and alpha just the way I like em! The only thing that would have made this more perfect was more angst, but I still loved it!
My first Miranda Lee and I thoroughly enjoyed it!
Overall, I really enjoyed Byron and Cleo's chemistry from the beginning. The heroine had a lot of baggage from the first marriage but it made for an interesting story. Byron was funny at times and alpha just the way I like em! The only thing that would have made this more perfect was more angst, but I still loved it!
September 14, 2017
Review Posted at HarlequinJunkie.com
Cleo Shelton has a difficult task ahead of her in convincing Byron Maddox to invest in her boss’s mining company. Luckily, there’s something Byron wants that may make him amenable to agreeing to go into business with her boss. However, Cleo isn’t looking to get involved with another man, not after being free of the abuse she suffered at the hands of her late husband. Can Byron convince Cleo to take a chance on him, or will her past continue to haunt her too much to ever consider giving happy ever after another chance? Read More
February 16, 2021
It was so refreshing to have a hero who wants to get married and have kids. Byron's forthright manner in looking for love was charming even though it led him astray a couple of times. I felt for Cleo and the trauma she had from her marriage to a controlling man. Both characters had reason to be cautious and yet, I love that they both were swept away by their feelings for each other. This is a fast read of a very nice HP. A lot of my 4 star reviews are really more 3.5 but this book is a 4.25 in my book.
August 20, 2017
Superb read.
September 4, 2017
A great read! Although hard to believe insta attraction to a drably dressed woman like herself is sincere, Byron jumps at the opportunity to woo Cleo.
January 18, 2018
Enjoyable read
November 25, 2020
This was fine. I think the hero actually saved it as he was more romantic than her but even then this felt a bit boring at the end of it.
July 26, 2023
Could have been a lot better. Good bones, but it just made me tired. Meh. Insta attraction (lust), adult content, but not detailed at all. But it just... The chemistry didn't work.
September 11, 2024
I didn't like it. P.
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September 1, 2017Miniseries: Marrying a Tycoon
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September 1, 2017Miniseries: Marrying a Tycoon
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews