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The Price of a Bride
Forced to marry!
When Mia Frazier agreed to her father's demand to marry Greek millionaire Alexander Doumas, she knew both men stood to gain from the deal--Alex would win back his family's island, and Mia's father would get the grandson and heir he so desperately longed for. But what about Mia?
She had her own reason for agreeing to be Alex's wife--which was not financial gain, as Alex cynically believed. But how could the truth stay hidden, when she shared such intense passion with her new husband...and was now carrying his child?
When Mia Frazier agreed to her father's demand to marry Greek millionaire Alexander Doumas, she knew both men stood to gain from the deal--Alex would win back his family's island, and Mia's father would get the grandson and heir he so desperately longed for. But what about Mia?
She had her own reason for agreeing to be Alex's wife--which was not financial gain, as Alex cynically believed. But how could the truth stay hidden, when she shared such intense passion with her new husband...and was now carrying his child?
187 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published October 1, 1998
248 people are currently reading
1701 people want to read
About the author
Michelle Reid
388 books637 followersHi, my name is Michelle Reid and I’ve been writing for Harlequin Mills & Boon for the last twenty years, and the crazy part about it is that I only realised it had been twenty years while updating this page!
So, hang on for a minute while I take this huge milestone in....
Twenty years with almost forty books published or in the pipeline ... I know it isn’t a great average when compared with some authors but it sounds pretty good to me!
So what was I doing twenty years ago before I wrote books? Well, I did the all of the usual things, like growing up and attending school, finishing at secretarial college, which I hated, then spent the next several years wandering aimlessly from job to job. Eventually I met my husband, we married and produced two daughters who then grew up and between them presented us with two gorgeous grandsons and one beautiful granddaughter. But I’m getting ahead of myself. Somewhere in between my girls growing up and the grandchildren arriving on the scene, I started writing. To this day I don’t know why, unless it was a natural progression from my never being without a book close by—often several—because books have always been an important part of my life for as far back as I can recall.
So, I started to write, by hand at first, scribbling short stories in notebooks which never saw the light of day. At some point I discovered Mills & Boon Romance books and that was pretty much it for me. I’d found my new love, as in reading romantic fiction and inevitably writing it too.
So twenty years on and almost forty books on, here I am still writing and still loving it!
So, hang on for a minute while I take this huge milestone in....
Twenty years with almost forty books published or in the pipeline ... I know it isn’t a great average when compared with some authors but it sounds pretty good to me!
So what was I doing twenty years ago before I wrote books? Well, I did the all of the usual things, like growing up and attending school, finishing at secretarial college, which I hated, then spent the next several years wandering aimlessly from job to job. Eventually I met my husband, we married and produced two daughters who then grew up and between them presented us with two gorgeous grandsons and one beautiful granddaughter. But I’m getting ahead of myself. Somewhere in between my girls growing up and the grandchildren arriving on the scene, I started writing. To this day I don’t know why, unless it was a natural progression from my never being without a book close by—often several—because books have always been an important part of my life for as far back as I can recall.
So, I started to write, by hand at first, scribbling short stories in notebooks which never saw the light of day. At some point I discovered Mills & Boon Romance books and that was pretty much it for me. I’d found my new love, as in reading romantic fiction and inevitably writing it too.
So twenty years on and almost forty books on, here I am still writing and still loving it!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 214 reviews
November 23, 2021
Re-read. I'm again struck by how well MR folded in the backstory and the heroine's motivations. I'm also struck by the hero's amazing turn around to protector.
Re-read. This is an amazing story - even as a re-read. It's a forced marriage story between two people who were initally interested in each other and then were trapped by the heroine's evil dad. Their motivations for entering into this very distasteful agreement weren't clear at the beginning, but they had their reasons and they are heart-rendering.
Both the H/h are *fierce* as they begin their marriage and baby-making duties - wanting to inflict as much hurt on the other. The hero humiliates the heroine with his taunts of cheating (he doesn't cheat), by keeping her isolated, by never staying after sex. The heroine responds in a way that keeps the hero coming back for more and by never - ever - letting him see her searing pain.
That first half of the story - angst and anger and hot sex - so dysfunctional - so human.
But the second half of the story, as secrets are revealed, is what lifts this from trainwreck to love story. The hero, a man of action, finally sees his opportunity for agency and steps up to protect the heroine and the innocents under his care. The heroine - a woman who has never let herself be vulnerable - who has no trust or love left - lets herself trust, lets herself love - and it takes all of her considerable courage to get to that point.
The hero comes through for her as he gives up what motivated him to agree to the deal with the heroine's evil father. He gives up the past for the future. The heroine's father gets his comeuppance (I wanted more suffering - but I'm a bit bloodthirsty after such a harrowing story) and the H/h get their believable HEA. What more could you want in an HP?
If you like an intense story - this one is for you.
Re-read. This is an amazing story - even as a re-read. It's a forced marriage story between two people who were initally interested in each other and then were trapped by the heroine's evil dad. Their motivations for entering into this very distasteful agreement weren't clear at the beginning, but they had their reasons and they are heart-rendering.
Both the H/h are *fierce* as they begin their marriage and baby-making duties - wanting to inflict as much hurt on the other. The hero humiliates the heroine with his taunts of cheating (he doesn't cheat), by keeping her isolated, by never staying after sex. The heroine responds in a way that keeps the hero coming back for more and by never - ever - letting him see her searing pain.
That first half of the story - angst and anger and hot sex - so dysfunctional - so human.
But the second half of the story, as secrets are revealed, is what lifts this from trainwreck to love story. The hero, a man of action, finally sees his opportunity for agency and steps up to protect the heroine and the innocents under his care. The heroine - a woman who has never let herself be vulnerable - who has no trust or love left - lets herself trust, lets herself love - and it takes all of her considerable courage to get to that point.
The hero comes through for her as he gives up what motivated him to agree to the deal with the heroine's evil father. He gives up the past for the future. The heroine's father gets his comeuppance (I wanted more suffering - but I'm a bit bloodthirsty after such a harrowing story) and the H/h get their believable HEA. What more could you want in an HP?
If you like an intense story - this one is for you.
April 1, 2024
Well, now I know where Natasha Anders got her inspiration for her Unwanted Wife. The plot is almost completely similar to Michelle Reid's very satisfying Harlequin romance The Price of a Bride.
The author managed to redeem her hero after making the reader hate him. She did it without having him do a simpering grovel but through concrete actions that he took to undo all the evil he and others heaped upon the heroine. The heroine was not a passive victim either, she was very relatable and sympathetic. Finally, the villain gets his just comeuppance, on the page, instead of being let off the hook.
All in all, I thought that Michelle Reid's The Price of a Bride was a very well executed Harlequin that shows, even within the constraints of a category romance, you can make your story compelling and feel fresh as if these tropes haven't been done a million times before.
The author managed to redeem her hero after making the reader hate him. She did it without having him do a simpering grovel but through concrete actions that he took to undo all the evil he and others heaped upon the heroine. The heroine was not a passive victim either, she was very relatable and sympathetic. Finally, the villain gets his just comeuppance, on the page, instead of being let off the hook.
All in all, I thought that Michelle Reid's The Price of a Bride was a very well executed Harlequin that shows, even within the constraints of a category romance, you can make your story compelling and feel fresh as if these tropes haven't been done a million times before.
January 8, 2024
2 🤔🤔⭐️s
It was going to be a great read, until it wasn’t… 🥺
I enjoyed the toxicity of the mcs but after a point it became boring. There was so much telling and not showing.
Their I-love-yous came out of nowhere, fully unsupported and without buildup.
The only thing that connected them was the night sex. Any communication between them was absent.
And yet they had fallen in love with each other!!! 😳
It was going to be a great read, until it wasn’t… 🥺
I enjoyed the toxicity of the mcs but after a point it became boring. There was so much telling and not showing.
Their I-love-yous came out of nowhere, fully unsupported and without buildup.
The only thing that connected them was the night sex. Any communication between them was absent.
And yet they had fallen in love with each other!!! 😳
May 4, 2019
Re The Price of a Bride - I have to be honest here, I really don't like this book all that much. I have read this one multiple times and ever single time my stomach turns.
Even multiple Captain Consults and a case of Tim Tam's aren't enough to overcome my revulsion at this H, his family and the circumstances in which the h is forced into association with them. But I like this h, I feel terrible for her and what she is willing to do for the sake of her child is absolutely a tribute to HPlandia motherhood.
Plus there is a semi-redemption of the H in this, in a way that very few HP authors ever manage to achieve. Michelle Reid proves that she has all the talent and all the gut wrenching ability to twist a trope and run with it.
That puts this book on the HP required reading list and a must read for anyone who proclaims themselves an HP Veteran voyager.
HUGE SPOILER WARNING FOLLOWS:
Part of the impact of this book is why the h is willing to do what she does, it isn't understandable for the first several chapters and if you have a problem with massive tart shaming or a man who is an utter nematode, maybe cheating slime snot swiller, I suggest you read the rest of this spoilerization through before picking up the book.
But if you want a real roller coaster of a Whacktastic HPlandia Trainwreck adventure, stop reading this now and go find yourself a copy of this HP outing.
The book starts with the H, Alexander, who is the typical HP Greek Tycoon, being offered an ancient family island that his father had sell off years before. Alex made a death bed promise to his father that he would do everything he could to get the family isle back.
Generations of his family are buried there and Alex, whose fortune comes from high end resorts, has plans to build a gem of a resort there and keep his ancestors graves and his father's dreams safe forevermore.
The only thing he has to do is marry an unscrupulous nouveau riche businessman's daughter and conceive a son. The businessman, Jack, treats his daughter like a prostitute broodmare for hire and if Alex will do the studly honors, the family isle will be his for the taking - Jack is willing to write a contract on it.
Mia has been the object of Alex's come hither lust for some time, despite doing everything to freeze him out. Whenever Alex has seen Mia at various functions and social events, he tries to get her into bed and she EMPHATICALLY tells him NO. But he thinks she is just playing hard to get and so he finds himself in Jack's trap.
Jack recently lost Mia's brother and his heir to a car accident, now Jack wants a replacement and apparently Mia is willing to go along with it. Mia and Alex get into a bitter verbal battle, because for an interesting forced marriage trope twist in HPlandia, it is Alex who is being forced and blackmailed into marriage - or at least it appears that way.
Mia claims that she will be paid a large sum of cash at the conclusion of this venture and the only thing she requires from Alex is his manly motilators and his promise that she will get custody of the son they produce together.
Alex is infuriated that he is being treated like a tart for hire and he imposes a heinous marital contract on Mia - he will have a mistress, she will live isolated in purdah and if she tries to leave the marriage without his consent, he will take her child from her. The child must be born in Greece and Mia will get nothing and is to expect nothing for as long as this union lasts.
Mia agrees to this, tho it absolutely horrifies her and there is a passionate roofie kissing moment thrown in to show that they do have the Lurve Force Mojo. Then Mia goes off to visit her little sister Suzanna, to explain to the tearful little girl that she is getting married and won't be able to see her as much for the next year or so.
Mia and Alex marry and Mia's imprisonment and use as a sex toy is begun. Alex's staff are total snot snarfer pond sewage globules towards Mia and Alex is an utter, slime gulping, nematode rat bastard for all of this. But neither of them can help the tremendous physical passion that they share between them.
It is exquisitely painful to read as Alex has Mia hauled around and uses her like a Tart. Then Mia finds herself pregnant and tho she waits to tell Alex, because she is staring to fall for him and the physical passion they share is her only comfort, she finally shares the news and figures that her and Alex's association will soon be over.
But Alex doesn't run back off to his mistress, who Mia assumes he has been sleeping with on her off days and instead decides that he wants to take her out for a picnic instead. Mia refuses to go because Alex has also brought the news that her sister is in hospital and Mia has a major fit, she tells Alex she has to go to Suzanna instead.
Ales gets nasty about Mia staying put and for some reason can't understand why Mia isn't really connecting with the guards, (his snotty staff,) she is imprisoned by or making any effort to ingrate herself to his life and needs.
Mia is determined to leave no matter what, so Alex tells Mia that if she leaves, she loses custody of her unborn child. Mia takes a long look at Alex and says fine, she is going back to London.
Alex is flabbergasted, I guess cause he thought Mia would just be dying to crawl at his feet to keep her baby and asks her why she is willing to give up the only thing she was determined upon keeping when this whole fiasco started.
That is when Mia finally reveals the truth of why she subjected herself to this ongoing degradation that has been going on for almost half the book. Suzanna is Mia's daughter, not her sister and her father has been using the child as a hostage to ensue Mia does his will in his vainglorious quest for a replacement heir.
It seems Jack probably can't have kids and Mia and her brother were most likely the products of Mia's mother's affair with an incredibly rich electronics magnate. Mia's mum was very upper class, but her family was very poor and Jack had money, so she provided him with a dubious heritage heir and Jack could lie to himself and claim the boy as his.
Jack had no use for Mia, but when Mia's mum died, Mia ran a little wild and hooked up with some rock star in a sad search for some kind of acceptance she had been denied her whole life. She got preggers at 17 and then alone and desperate, had to ask her father Jack for help. Jack forced her to sign away custody of the little girl and Jack has used the child as a way to manipulate Mia ever since.
Alex is stunned at this revelation, to say the very least. But he does take Mia to London and we do meet Alex's brother and his slime snot bovine sister in law and Mia and Suzanna are reunited. The scenes with Mia and Suzanna are heartbreaking, especially when Jack shows up to taunt both Mia and Suzanna with how close Suzanna came to dying.
(Suzanna had appendicitis and Jack accused her of faking things, so she did not get treatment until a very late stage. Mia is worried because if Jack finds out she told Alex the truth about Suzanna being her daughter, she is convinced Jack will spirit Suzanna away.
The price for Mia to get Suzanna back is to deliver a boy for Jack's heir, then Jack will sign over custody back to Mia. As Mia has a small amount of money from her mother, she plans to build a new life from that and get her and Suzanna far, far away.)
Alex gets Jack to let Suzanna and Mia stay together while Suzanna recovers and then when Suzanna is supposed to go back to school and both Mia and Suzanna are heartbroken over the prospect, Alex arranges for Suzanna to be kidnapped back to Greece with them. Mia panics again and Alex starts to show that he isn't an utter slime pustule nematode parasite after all.
He waits for Jack to chase, after the escaping Mia and Suzanna duo make it safely to his home in Greece and in a scene reminiscent of the first scene of the book, Alex and his brother face Jack down in highly explosive showdown.
Mia is dismissed from the confrontation, but she manages to listen in. Jack is told that his custody papers of Suzanna are fake, so he has no claim on the child. (Which is true, Jack made up a bunch of legal gibberish and faked out a 17 yr old Mia into signing.)
Then Alex produces blood groupings of Mia, Mia's mum's other lover and Jack and proves that Mia is not his daughter, therefore Mia's child can't possibly be related to him and he has no claim. Jack tries to get Alex to use Suzanna to force Mia to bear his heir, but Alex tells him off and sends him away.
Mia is in shock but overwhelmed with the knowledge that Alex is ready to give up his deathbed promise to his father and abdicate the familial legacy to save her and Suzanna. Alex turns up in Mia's bedroom shortly after the big showdown. We find out Mia is having a girl and not a boy, but Alex doesn't care, cause he now loves Mia and they have a big declaration of Mutual True Love Forever for the big HEA.
This book is a huge emotional roller coaster, but I can't help thinking that even tho Jack is dispatched by Alex, Alex still really isn't losing anything. The Snot Sister in Law claims that at one point Alex will just keep impregnating Mia until he gets a son and the contract with Jack is never torn up or legally disclaimed.
I tend to think that Alex will wind up with the island one way or another. He just may have to maneuver things a little longer, but by far the easiest way for him is to get Mia pregnant again and have that baby boy and then go back and offer Jack a deal. The rest of the world thinks that Mia is Jack's and as long as the boy carries Jack's name, he isn't going to complain.
So what did Alex really lose here? Nothing, and that marital agreement he forced Mia to sign was never torn up either. So Mia is now in the throes of Purple Passion Stockholm syndrome and willing to stay because Alex is really the only security she has ever known and he is kind to Suzanna.
To be fair Alex does seem to really care about Mia, he makes a really great True Love Declaration and he also seriously admires her dedication to her children, but he never really makes up for his earlier treatment and his judgmental cow of a sister in law should be staked to an anthill.
The question of Alex's mistress is never fully resolved either, he claims he gave her up before he married Mia, his sister in law claims otherwise, we have to take it on shaky faith that the illustrious mistress isn't waiting in the wings somewhere- cause Alex's veracity is very questionable about many things and the housekeeping staff is never replaced.
The right thing for Alex to have done would be to offer Mia a divorce and time with her daughter while living on her own, then he could have wooed Mia back while visiting his new baby girl and he could have torn up all those really nasty contracts.
But ML was limited on page count, so this is what we got. Nevertheless, it is still one EPIC Trainwreck of an HP outing and this little spoilerization really doesn't do full justice to the sheer emotional turmoil when you read it.
Even multiple Captain Consults and a case of Tim Tam's aren't enough to overcome my revulsion at this H, his family and the circumstances in which the h is forced into association with them. But I like this h, I feel terrible for her and what she is willing to do for the sake of her child is absolutely a tribute to HPlandia motherhood.
Plus there is a semi-redemption of the H in this, in a way that very few HP authors ever manage to achieve. Michelle Reid proves that she has all the talent and all the gut wrenching ability to twist a trope and run with it.
That puts this book on the HP required reading list and a must read for anyone who proclaims themselves an HP Veteran voyager.
HUGE SPOILER WARNING FOLLOWS:
Part of the impact of this book is why the h is willing to do what she does, it isn't understandable for the first several chapters and if you have a problem with massive tart shaming or a man who is an utter nematode, maybe cheating slime snot swiller, I suggest you read the rest of this spoilerization through before picking up the book.
But if you want a real roller coaster of a Whacktastic HPlandia Trainwreck adventure, stop reading this now and go find yourself a copy of this HP outing.
The book starts with the H, Alexander, who is the typical HP Greek Tycoon, being offered an ancient family island that his father had sell off years before. Alex made a death bed promise to his father that he would do everything he could to get the family isle back.
Generations of his family are buried there and Alex, whose fortune comes from high end resorts, has plans to build a gem of a resort there and keep his ancestors graves and his father's dreams safe forevermore.
The only thing he has to do is marry an unscrupulous nouveau riche businessman's daughter and conceive a son. The businessman, Jack, treats his daughter like a prostitute broodmare for hire and if Alex will do the studly honors, the family isle will be his for the taking - Jack is willing to write a contract on it.
Mia has been the object of Alex's come hither lust for some time, despite doing everything to freeze him out. Whenever Alex has seen Mia at various functions and social events, he tries to get her into bed and she EMPHATICALLY tells him NO. But he thinks she is just playing hard to get and so he finds himself in Jack's trap.
Jack recently lost Mia's brother and his heir to a car accident, now Jack wants a replacement and apparently Mia is willing to go along with it. Mia and Alex get into a bitter verbal battle, because for an interesting forced marriage trope twist in HPlandia, it is Alex who is being forced and blackmailed into marriage - or at least it appears that way.
Mia claims that she will be paid a large sum of cash at the conclusion of this venture and the only thing she requires from Alex is his manly motilators and his promise that she will get custody of the son they produce together.
Alex is infuriated that he is being treated like a tart for hire and he imposes a heinous marital contract on Mia - he will have a mistress, she will live isolated in purdah and if she tries to leave the marriage without his consent, he will take her child from her. The child must be born in Greece and Mia will get nothing and is to expect nothing for as long as this union lasts.
Mia agrees to this, tho it absolutely horrifies her and there is a passionate roofie kissing moment thrown in to show that they do have the Lurve Force Mojo. Then Mia goes off to visit her little sister Suzanna, to explain to the tearful little girl that she is getting married and won't be able to see her as much for the next year or so.
Mia and Alex marry and Mia's imprisonment and use as a sex toy is begun. Alex's staff are total snot snarfer pond sewage globules towards Mia and Alex is an utter, slime gulping, nematode rat bastard for all of this. But neither of them can help the tremendous physical passion that they share between them.
It is exquisitely painful to read as Alex has Mia hauled around and uses her like a Tart. Then Mia finds herself pregnant and tho she waits to tell Alex, because she is staring to fall for him and the physical passion they share is her only comfort, she finally shares the news and figures that her and Alex's association will soon be over.
But Alex doesn't run back off to his mistress, who Mia assumes he has been sleeping with on her off days and instead decides that he wants to take her out for a picnic instead. Mia refuses to go because Alex has also brought the news that her sister is in hospital and Mia has a major fit, she tells Alex she has to go to Suzanna instead.
Ales gets nasty about Mia staying put and for some reason can't understand why Mia isn't really connecting with the guards, (his snotty staff,) she is imprisoned by or making any effort to ingrate herself to his life and needs.
Mia is determined to leave no matter what, so Alex tells Mia that if she leaves, she loses custody of her unborn child. Mia takes a long look at Alex and says fine, she is going back to London.
Alex is flabbergasted, I guess cause he thought Mia would just be dying to crawl at his feet to keep her baby and asks her why she is willing to give up the only thing she was determined upon keeping when this whole fiasco started.
That is when Mia finally reveals the truth of why she subjected herself to this ongoing degradation that has been going on for almost half the book. Suzanna is Mia's daughter, not her sister and her father has been using the child as a hostage to ensue Mia does his will in his vainglorious quest for a replacement heir.
It seems Jack probably can't have kids and Mia and her brother were most likely the products of Mia's mother's affair with an incredibly rich electronics magnate. Mia's mum was very upper class, but her family was very poor and Jack had money, so she provided him with a dubious heritage heir and Jack could lie to himself and claim the boy as his.
Jack had no use for Mia, but when Mia's mum died, Mia ran a little wild and hooked up with some rock star in a sad search for some kind of acceptance she had been denied her whole life. She got preggers at 17 and then alone and desperate, had to ask her father Jack for help. Jack forced her to sign away custody of the little girl and Jack has used the child as a way to manipulate Mia ever since.
Alex is stunned at this revelation, to say the very least. But he does take Mia to London and we do meet Alex's brother and his slime snot bovine sister in law and Mia and Suzanna are reunited. The scenes with Mia and Suzanna are heartbreaking, especially when Jack shows up to taunt both Mia and Suzanna with how close Suzanna came to dying.
(Suzanna had appendicitis and Jack accused her of faking things, so she did not get treatment until a very late stage. Mia is worried because if Jack finds out she told Alex the truth about Suzanna being her daughter, she is convinced Jack will spirit Suzanna away.
The price for Mia to get Suzanna back is to deliver a boy for Jack's heir, then Jack will sign over custody back to Mia. As Mia has a small amount of money from her mother, she plans to build a new life from that and get her and Suzanna far, far away.)
Alex gets Jack to let Suzanna and Mia stay together while Suzanna recovers and then when Suzanna is supposed to go back to school and both Mia and Suzanna are heartbroken over the prospect, Alex arranges for Suzanna to be kidnapped back to Greece with them. Mia panics again and Alex starts to show that he isn't an utter slime pustule nematode parasite after all.
He waits for Jack to chase, after the escaping Mia and Suzanna duo make it safely to his home in Greece and in a scene reminiscent of the first scene of the book, Alex and his brother face Jack down in highly explosive showdown.
Mia is dismissed from the confrontation, but she manages to listen in. Jack is told that his custody papers of Suzanna are fake, so he has no claim on the child. (Which is true, Jack made up a bunch of legal gibberish and faked out a 17 yr old Mia into signing.)
Then Alex produces blood groupings of Mia, Mia's mum's other lover and Jack and proves that Mia is not his daughter, therefore Mia's child can't possibly be related to him and he has no claim. Jack tries to get Alex to use Suzanna to force Mia to bear his heir, but Alex tells him off and sends him away.
Mia is in shock but overwhelmed with the knowledge that Alex is ready to give up his deathbed promise to his father and abdicate the familial legacy to save her and Suzanna. Alex turns up in Mia's bedroom shortly after the big showdown. We find out Mia is having a girl and not a boy, but Alex doesn't care, cause he now loves Mia and they have a big declaration of Mutual True Love Forever for the big HEA.
This book is a huge emotional roller coaster, but I can't help thinking that even tho Jack is dispatched by Alex, Alex still really isn't losing anything. The Snot Sister in Law claims that at one point Alex will just keep impregnating Mia until he gets a son and the contract with Jack is never torn up or legally disclaimed.
I tend to think that Alex will wind up with the island one way or another. He just may have to maneuver things a little longer, but by far the easiest way for him is to get Mia pregnant again and have that baby boy and then go back and offer Jack a deal. The rest of the world thinks that Mia is Jack's and as long as the boy carries Jack's name, he isn't going to complain.
So what did Alex really lose here? Nothing, and that marital agreement he forced Mia to sign was never torn up either. So Mia is now in the throes of Purple Passion Stockholm syndrome and willing to stay because Alex is really the only security she has ever known and he is kind to Suzanna.
To be fair Alex does seem to really care about Mia, he makes a really great True Love Declaration and he also seriously admires her dedication to her children, but he never really makes up for his earlier treatment and his judgmental cow of a sister in law should be staked to an anthill.
The question of Alex's mistress is never fully resolved either, he claims he gave her up before he married Mia, his sister in law claims otherwise, we have to take it on shaky faith that the illustrious mistress isn't waiting in the wings somewhere- cause Alex's veracity is very questionable about many things and the housekeeping staff is never replaced.
The right thing for Alex to have done would be to offer Mia a divorce and time with her daughter while living on her own, then he could have wooed Mia back while visiting his new baby girl and he could have torn up all those really nasty contracts.
But ML was limited on page count, so this is what we got. Nevertheless, it is still one EPIC Trainwreck of an HP outing and this little spoilerization really doesn't do full justice to the sheer emotional turmoil when you read it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 17, 2018
Uffff...
Feeling all the after effects of a roller coaster ride!
This was certainly.... something. I loved it- I hated some and throughout the book I cheered for Mia. She was so fantastic. One of the strongest female characters in HP history with a vulnerability she hides from whole world.
The story starts with Mia and Alexander being pushed in to marriage a of convenience by Mia’s cruel /wretched father. Oh how i hated him. From there its the beginning of Mia’s new life.
Mia wasn’t just fearless , she was mentally strong. The stinging replies she gives the hero is work of art!😉
I dont want to give any spoilers as there are so many unexpected twists and turns which are totally enjoyable.
Whole book is in Mia’s POV which made me constantly guess Alexander’s reason and feelings. And he was a very honorable hero who loved Mia and proved it! (Oh how he proved it)
There wasn’t any epilogue but as I enjoyed it so much I decided on 5 ⭐️.
There was one sentence which made me sigh:
“I adore you”, he murmured against her clinging mouth “you crept in to my heart, without me even knowing it. Now I can’t seem to take a breath without being made aware that you are there, right inside me”.
Feeling all the after effects of a roller coaster ride!
This was certainly.... something. I loved it- I hated some and throughout the book I cheered for Mia. She was so fantastic. One of the strongest female characters in HP history with a vulnerability she hides from whole world.
The story starts with Mia and Alexander being pushed in to marriage a of convenience by Mia’s cruel /wretched father. Oh how i hated him. From there its the beginning of Mia’s new life.
Mia wasn’t just fearless , she was mentally strong. The stinging replies she gives the hero is work of art!😉
I dont want to give any spoilers as there are so many unexpected twists and turns which are totally enjoyable.
Whole book is in Mia’s POV which made me constantly guess Alexander’s reason and feelings. And he was a very honorable hero who loved Mia and proved it! (Oh how he proved it)
There wasn’t any epilogue but as I enjoyed it so much I decided on 5 ⭐️.
There was one sentence which made me sigh:
“I adore you”, he murmured against her clinging mouth “you crept in to my heart, without me even knowing it. Now I can’t seem to take a breath without being made aware that you are there, right inside me”.
July 19, 2018
I re-read due to other GR reviewers, but I am still not quite on board with these two. Ick factor times two.
The ultimate MOC with an incredibly strong heroine who takes anything and everything dished out to her from her evil, may-he-rot- and-writhe-in-hell father to the hateful scorn of the hero and even the flippant remarks by her irritating new SIL who is frivolous and dismissive about what the heroine has to do in her MOC. For once a heroine takes it on the chin repeatedly for a family member and it is not only understandable but noble. She's humiliated, scorned, and isolated to the point of abuse in my opinion. Nobody is nice to her!
What really creeps me out and makes me wonder why I am even reading HP, is the OTT visceral reaction the heroine has to the hero every time they have sex. Exploding lady parts are part and parcel of the Harlequin universe, but this chick really ups the ante. And when did they fall in love? They NEVER talk. Does snarling count?
Sooo, keeping the wimpy, non-threatening three stars out there.
This is a definite 4 stars for those that love the angsty rocky road to romance.
Ironically, when you open the book on Open Library, the title shows as Physics Analysis of the Juggernaut Reactor. Not totally inappropriate.
The ultimate MOC with an incredibly strong heroine who takes anything and everything dished out to her from her evil, may-he-rot- and-writhe-in-hell father to the hateful scorn of the hero and even the flippant remarks by her irritating new SIL who is frivolous and dismissive about what the heroine has to do in her MOC. For once a heroine takes it on the chin repeatedly for a family member and it is not only understandable but noble. She's humiliated, scorned, and isolated to the point of abuse in my opinion. Nobody is nice to her!
What really creeps me out and makes me wonder why I am even reading HP, is the OTT visceral reaction the heroine has to the hero every time they have sex. Exploding lady parts are part and parcel of the Harlequin universe, but this chick really ups the ante. And when did they fall in love? They NEVER talk. Does snarling count?
Sooo, keeping the wimpy, non-threatening three stars out there.
This is a definite 4 stars for those that love the angsty rocky road to romance.
Ironically, when you open the book on Open Library, the title shows as Physics Analysis of the Juggernaut Reactor. Not totally inappropriate.
August 19, 2020
Mia and Alexander are forced in to a marriage of convenience.
Mia is particularly bitchy for her own reasons, while Alexander is reluctant but ready.
“Yes, we will marry. We will do everything expected of us to meet your father’s filthy terms! But don’t,” he warned, “let yourself think for a moment that it is going to be a pleasure.”
I loved the twists and turns in this story and what a strong lead female character Mia is.
Alexander is great for several reasons and I loved the fact that he supports Mia when she needs support, without accusing her for the mistakes she did at the past and without taking into account the sacrifices he needs to make.
Overall a great old time classic romance read.
Mia is particularly bitchy for her own reasons, while Alexander is reluctant but ready.
“Yes, we will marry. We will do everything expected of us to meet your father’s filthy terms! But don’t,” he warned, “let yourself think for a moment that it is going to be a pleasure.”
I loved the twists and turns in this story and what a strong lead female character Mia is.
Alexander is great for several reasons and I loved the fact that he supports Mia when she needs support, without accusing her for the mistakes she did at the past and without taking into account the sacrifices he needs to make.
Overall a great old time classic romance read.
June 24, 2017
I can see why people would hate the heroine. But I was so disgusted by the hero that I didn't have much time to hate the heroine.
Hero baldly stated he'll keep a mistress throughout the marriage and won't honour the vows. Leaves a distraught heroine on their wedding night saying he needs to go soothe his mistress now. Comes back implying he had sex with OW, and is coming back straight from her bed to heroine's bed (let me go puke pls, how he could make himself do that if had a shred of decency is beyond me) and basically rapes her. Even though he had NO right because basically HE was heroine's bought whore, or breeding stud, whatever you wanna call him. Yet because he had a penis, he thought his actions was justified rather than hers. Pretty much every sexual encounter after that was violating and abusive. He kept implying going to OW straight from her or coming to her straight from OW. Yet kept on whinging about her lack of trust on him throughout the whole book like a hormonal teenager! Give me a break! What have you done to her to earn her trust? Oh let me see? You have shown her how affectionate you are towards your mistress. Surely that should have restored her trust towards you, you bastard! I mean you can't even stay faithful to your mistress for a whole night, yet she is to trust YOU? Let me just share the universally acknowledged statement and tweak it a bit "trust and respect need to earned, not given" he had done nothing to earn it. Not only that, he had shared the state of his marriage with the family and the heroine was beyond humiliated by the SIL.
People had problem with the heroine, but can someone tell me why she should trust this guy with her worst enemy's life? I'm open to discussion.
Hero baldly stated he'll keep a mistress throughout the marriage and won't honour the vows. Leaves a distraught heroine on their wedding night saying he needs to go soothe his mistress now. Comes back implying he had sex with OW, and is coming back straight from her bed to heroine's bed (let me go puke pls, how he could make himself do that if had a shred of decency is beyond me) and basically rapes her. Even though he had NO right because basically HE was heroine's bought whore, or breeding stud, whatever you wanna call him. Yet because he had a penis, he thought his actions was justified rather than hers. Pretty much every sexual encounter after that was violating and abusive. He kept implying going to OW straight from her or coming to her straight from OW. Yet kept on whinging about her lack of trust on him throughout the whole book like a hormonal teenager! Give me a break! What have you done to her to earn her trust? Oh let me see? You have shown her how affectionate you are towards your mistress. Surely that should have restored her trust towards you, you bastard! I mean you can't even stay faithful to your mistress for a whole night, yet she is to trust YOU? Let me just share the universally acknowledged statement and tweak it a bit "trust and respect need to earned, not given" he had done nothing to earn it. Not only that, he had shared the state of his marriage with the family and the heroine was beyond humiliated by the SIL.
People had problem with the heroine, but can someone tell me why she should trust this guy with her worst enemy's life? I'm open to discussion.
March 8, 2013
Super angsty. Wonderful read. This book was wonderfully complex. Even though it was a short category read, it felt really full. The plot was well developed as were the wonderfully complex characters. The story was told totally in the POV of the heroine but you were pretty sure what the hero was feeling all along. I loved how concerned the hero was about the heroine after she became pregnant and seemed so fragile. The heroine was no mealy mouthed wimp either. She was realistically snappish to the hero's SIL. She stood up to the hero but she didn't do it to the point where she was cutting off her own nose to spite her face. And it was refreshing that she wasn't the only one who couldn't keep her hands off the other. He was just as in thrall physically as she was.
Totally loved it. All you HP reading friends of mine need to give this a go if you haven't already.
Totally loved it. All you HP reading friends of mine need to give this a go if you haven't already.
January 23, 2013
One of my all time favorites by Michelle Reid and one of the first HP's I read last year. I think it was this book that set me off on my HP craze.
The strength of this book rests on the insanity of the story, coupled with the amazing characters. The tension sizzles and both the H/h are absolute equals in this HP angst fest. Our heroine is no shrinking violet and can dish out whatever he throws at her and at times had him running in circles.
So if you like strong heroines, lots of angst, a great story with twists and turns, then this one is for you.
I absolutely loved it and it remains in the top 3 HP's I have ever read. Michelle Reid at her finest.
The strength of this book rests on the insanity of the story, coupled with the amazing characters. The tension sizzles and both the H/h are absolute equals in this HP angst fest. Our heroine is no shrinking violet and can dish out whatever he throws at her and at times had him running in circles.
So if you like strong heroines, lots of angst, a great story with twists and turns, then this one is for you.
I absolutely loved it and it remains in the top 3 HP's I have ever read. Michelle Reid at her finest.
May 4, 2021
3.5 HQ Stars
December 28, 2014
I read this because the premise is one of my favorite guilty pleasures (arranged marriage) and because it was mentioned in a thread about 'wtf, train wreck, OTT HPs'. It was an enjoyable read, but wasn't what I would consider a train wreck (at least not in HP land, which is a TOTALLY separate world with another set of rules and possibly different laws of physics).
The H was your typical arrogant Greek tycoon, but he was far from being the most OTT. In fact, he turns out to be a pretty decent guy. I would recommend this book if you like HPs. It was interesting because it took some of the common plot points and gave them a new twist. For example, the H was blackmailed into marrying the heroine by her evil father, but she knew about it and he knew she knew. Often the h is in the dark, but it was made clear up front that this was arranged/forced on both parties. Of course, the reasons each were going along with the evil father's plot made up the big misunderstanding that could have been solved by 5 minutes of honest conversation. Of course, if those sorts of shenanigans started happening frequently, hqn would go out of business.
The H was your typical arrogant Greek tycoon, but he was far from being the most OTT. In fact, he turns out to be a pretty decent guy. I would recommend this book if you like HPs. It was interesting because it took some of the common plot points and gave them a new twist. For example, the H was blackmailed into marrying the heroine by her evil father, but she knew about it and he knew she knew. Often the h is in the dark, but it was made clear up front that this was arranged/forced on both parties. Of course, the reasons each were going along with the evil father's plot made up the big misunderstanding that could have been solved by 5 minutes of honest conversation. Of course, if those sorts of shenanigans started happening frequently, hqn would go out of business.
December 14, 2025
Oh, the angst~
If I were to complain about the miscommunication trope in a Harlequin, it'd be like reading a mafia romance and complaining about all the crime going on.
There are 'good' reasons for a character to lie/withhold information and 'bad' reasons. In this case,
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🕮⋆˚࿔✎𓂃 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐲 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰
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If I were to complain about the miscommunication trope in a Harlequin, it'd be like reading a mafia romance and complaining about all the crime going on.
There are 'good' reasons for a character to lie/withhold information and 'bad' reasons. In this case,
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🕮⋆˚࿔✎𓂃 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐲 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰
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August 18, 2021
Trigger Warnings:
A HUGE HUGE HUGE thank you to Fay the Books fanatics for recommending this book.
I have honestly been on my The Unwanted Wife obsession phase where I’m looking for any book that’ll give me similar feels to that book. This book was clearly the original that started it all, it was interesting to see similar events happen in this book but in a different way. The Unwanted Wife had a heroine who was confused and unaware of the circumstances they were put under. Whereas in this, the heroine is fully aware of what is going on and is more aware than the hero. This book did have a lotta exclamation marks in so many sentences, I wasn’t the hugest fan of the writing style. But I loved the story, I still like The Unwanted Wife more but this definitely hits close, especially since The Unwanted Wife was probably inspired by this book. I mean the similarities are insane even though there are many differences. I also liked that the characters were different and similar in many ways.
So this follows Mia and Alex, two people who are pushed into a marriage of convenience. Alex wants his family’s island back and in order to do so, he needs to get it from the seller, who is Mia’s father. Mia’s father doesn’t want money, he wants a grandson. So in order for Alex to get his island back, he needs to marry Mia and have a son with her. Alex despises this idea and to make it worse, Mia is on board with her father’s plan.
Do y’all catch the similarities with The Unwanted Wife? Imma get more into detail with that in the spoilers.
Now for spoilers
I am really glad I got the chance to read this, once again, thank you Fay for telling me about this, it was fun. I’ll be off, stay safe folks :)
A HUGE HUGE HUGE thank you to Fay the Books fanatics for recommending this book.
I have honestly been on my The Unwanted Wife obsession phase where I’m looking for any book that’ll give me similar feels to that book. This book was clearly the original that started it all, it was interesting to see similar events happen in this book but in a different way. The Unwanted Wife had a heroine who was confused and unaware of the circumstances they were put under. Whereas in this, the heroine is fully aware of what is going on and is more aware than the hero. This book did have a lotta exclamation marks in so many sentences, I wasn’t the hugest fan of the writing style. But I loved the story, I still like The Unwanted Wife more but this definitely hits close, especially since The Unwanted Wife was probably inspired by this book. I mean the similarities are insane even though there are many differences. I also liked that the characters were different and similar in many ways.
So this follows Mia and Alex, two people who are pushed into a marriage of convenience. Alex wants his family’s island back and in order to do so, he needs to get it from the seller, who is Mia’s father. Mia’s father doesn’t want money, he wants a grandson. So in order for Alex to get his island back, he needs to marry Mia and have a son with her. Alex despises this idea and to make it worse, Mia is on board with her father’s plan.
Do y’all catch the similarities with The Unwanted Wife? Imma get more into detail with that in the spoilers.
Now for spoilers
I am really glad I got the chance to read this, once again, thank you Fay for telling me about this, it was fun. I’ll be off, stay safe folks :)
June 23, 2017
Just re-read it and loved it! Ha!
Clearly I did not like this one the first time I read it, but I really enjoyed it for the re-read. The hero made some super heroic actions at the end and made me fall in love with him.
I am giving this 5 stars on the re-read!
Old review...
Not my favorite. Will probably not re-read.
Almost DNFed. Had a HUGE secret and misunderstandings. All the love scenes were based on anger, lies, secrets, so no real loving and emotional connection between them.
The end picked up, and the hero turned into a good guy after being an incredible asshole at the beginning.
This was a pretty frustrating read for me.
Clearly I did not like this one the first time I read it, but I really enjoyed it for the re-read. The hero made some super heroic actions at the end and made me fall in love with him.
I am giving this 5 stars on the re-read!
Old review...
Not my favorite. Will probably not re-read.
Almost DNFed. Had a HUGE secret and misunderstandings. All the love scenes were based on anger, lies, secrets, so no real loving and emotional connection between them.
The end picked up, and the hero turned into a good guy after being an incredible asshole at the beginning.
This was a pretty frustrating read for me.
January 20, 2018
I’m not even sure where to begin with this book. Even though it’s your standard length Harlequin Presents book, it gave off the feeling of being a much longer book. It should be noted that you cannot just skim through this book, you need to read every single word so that you can get the heroine’s backstory. What the heroine had to go through, due to her despicable father, is truly heartbreaking. I know that the heroine isn’t liked by a lot of readers and feel as though she was way too argumentative however, considering what she went and was going through, I think her responses were reasonable.
Now the hero, he ends up being a good guy in the end however, I thought he was especially cruel to the heroine at the beginning of the story with his taunts about his mistress while virtually keeping the heroine captive in his home. I wanted to know where he spent his time and ate his meals every night before the heroine got pregnant. Yes, he changed and became super protective and started staying at home a lot more when the heroine got pregnant however, what about all the time before her pregnancy? The hero could be as cruel and manipulative as the heroine’s father, so he’s not going to get off easy with me. Did he redeem himself? You bet he did and I loved him for everything he did especially when he broke the promise he made to his father, on his father’s deathbed, in order to make the heroine happy and not subject anyone the heroine loved to the torment inflicted by her father. I’d like to think that the hero was able to gain ownership of his family’s island. I hate that Michelle Reid never reconciled this at the end of the book to give everyone (the hero, heroine and their family members) a happy ending plus the heroine’s father never really got punished for his sins.
This book was definitely driven by the heroine and because of that, I felt as though we never really got to know the hero. I love Michelle Reid but this book had so much angst in it for the heroine. I also didn’t like how the hero and heroine didn’t have a whole lot of dialogue that we could read. We are told about them going on picnics and having meaningful conversations but we never get to hear those conversations outside of when they are having a sexual encounter or when they are arguing. It really wasn’t until the last chapter, maybe the last two chapters where we get to see them having a normal conversation.
I was surprised how much I liked this book, especially considering how much inner dialogue the book had. I liked trying to figure out why the heroine accepted the deal her father arranged for her; that was an intriguing yet very angst filled backstory. If you don’t like angst, don’t read this book. This is definitely one of the more “heavier” books I’ve read. I ended up giving this book 3.5 Stars because of the inner dialogue and Michelle Reid not allowing the reader to actually read the dialogue between the hero and heroine. I do believe this is a book that should be definitely read even for the simple fact that the it doesn’t have the usual Michelle Reid tropes in it.
Now the hero, he ends up being a good guy in the end however, I thought he was especially cruel to the heroine at the beginning of the story with his taunts about his mistress while virtually keeping the heroine captive in his home. I wanted to know where he spent his time and ate his meals every night before the heroine got pregnant. Yes, he changed and became super protective and started staying at home a lot more when the heroine got pregnant however, what about all the time before her pregnancy? The hero could be as cruel and manipulative as the heroine’s father, so he’s not going to get off easy with me. Did he redeem himself? You bet he did and I loved him for everything he did especially when he broke the promise he made to his father, on his father’s deathbed, in order to make the heroine happy and not subject anyone the heroine loved to the torment inflicted by her father. I’d like to think that the hero was able to gain ownership of his family’s island. I hate that Michelle Reid never reconciled this at the end of the book to give everyone (the hero, heroine and their family members) a happy ending plus the heroine’s father never really got punished for his sins.
This book was definitely driven by the heroine and because of that, I felt as though we never really got to know the hero. I love Michelle Reid but this book had so much angst in it for the heroine. I also didn’t like how the hero and heroine didn’t have a whole lot of dialogue that we could read. We are told about them going on picnics and having meaningful conversations but we never get to hear those conversations outside of when they are having a sexual encounter or when they are arguing. It really wasn’t until the last chapter, maybe the last two chapters where we get to see them having a normal conversation.
I was surprised how much I liked this book, especially considering how much inner dialogue the book had. I liked trying to figure out why the heroine accepted the deal her father arranged for her; that was an intriguing yet very angst filled backstory. If you don’t like angst, don’t read this book. This is definitely one of the more “heavier” books I’ve read. I ended up giving this book 3.5 Stars because of the inner dialogue and Michelle Reid not allowing the reader to actually read the dialogue between the hero and heroine. I do believe this is a book that should be definitely read even for the simple fact that the it doesn’t have the usual Michelle Reid tropes in it.
April 21, 2013
4.5 rounded up
This was a great story, even without giving it allowances for being a Harley! (Heh!) The heroine made the story, another surprise, even though the hero was still deliciously dark and ruthless (my favorite ;D).
There were oodles of angst and anger, especially in the beginning with that mistress business. There was an uber nasty father (her's) who has to be one of the most evil I've read in Harleyland.
The story is based on the evil daddy blackmailing the hero and heroine into marrying and producing him a grandson. The dude could've done it the usual way and just let her meet someone and have kids. But nooo! Never one to miss an opportunity to bully the heroine, mean, evil daddy had to conjure up a wicked plan, and force her to marry someone, just so he can get his jollies out of emotionally torturing her. SSDD in the life of father and daughter.
However, despite the lifetime of emotional abuse, this was no wimpy, cowed heroine. We got to know the person underneath(which was vulnerable, of course), but for the most part, she never lets anyone put her in her place (more or less, unless you want to get technical)--not the dad, not the hero, not the irritating (but likeable) sister-in-law. Very relateable character.
I loved that the hero was salivating after the heroine something fierce in the beginning and she just blew him off. Of course he did a total 180 once he got snared in old daddy's trap, but that was loads of fun. He did evil quite well, himself.
There's some other little tidbits, but I'll leave them to be discovered. Some WTFery but no real trainwreckiness. Just a well done Harley. Definitely worth the read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 19, 2018
***TWO AND A HALF STARS***
I REALLY wanted to love this story. I just knew I would. So many other reviewers compared it to my favorite story The Unwanted Wife. I didn't realize their comparison of these two stories was just the reasoning for the marriage of convenience. and that is where the similarities ended. Alex wasn't nearly asshole enough for me, especially after the way Mia treated him through the entire story. Mia was one of the most unlikable female characters I have ever read before. I detested her from the beginning of the story, kept putting this one down to read other stories in between, then would pick this one back up again, and I never could truly warm up to her. She just came off as rude and prickly to everyone around her, especially Alex who was helping her get what she wanted. And I never felt the connection between Alex and Mia, or the angst that had me wanting to see them come together as a real loving couple. I wish I could have enjoyed this one a bit more.
I REALLY wanted to love this story. I just knew I would. So many other reviewers compared it to my favorite story The Unwanted Wife. I didn't realize their comparison of these two stories was just the reasoning for the marriage of convenience. and that is where the similarities ended. Alex wasn't nearly asshole enough for me, especially after the way Mia treated him through the entire story. Mia was one of the most unlikable female characters I have ever read before. I detested her from the beginning of the story, kept putting this one down to read other stories in between, then would pick this one back up again, and I never could truly warm up to her. She just came off as rude and prickly to everyone around her, especially Alex who was helping her get what she wanted. And I never felt the connection between Alex and Mia, or the angst that had me wanting to see them come together as a real loving couple. I wish I could have enjoyed this one a bit more.
May 20, 2015
This is one of my less favorite book by MR. It's so sad, I don't want to be sad when I finish to read a HPs. The MAIN thing didn't like me was that hate/love realitonship between the hero and the heroine. I can't explain it... I felt their marriage was bitter than romantic :/ I hate it!
There was a time when I pushed myself to read SAD romance stories to made me stronger and be able to read kind of stories like this. However, I am VERY, VERY romantic and I will be romantic until the END of my life. This story can be well written, angsty... etc but it didn't work for me :P
Updated
March/24/2015
I used to confuse the cover of this book with the cover of a book by Lynne Graham LOL
Look:
AND
I don't know... both covers look alike in my opinion ñ_ñ
There was a time when I pushed myself to read SAD romance stories to made me stronger and be able to read kind of stories like this. However, I am VERY, VERY romantic and I will be romantic until the END of my life. This story can be well written, angsty... etc but it didn't work for me :P
Updated
March/24/2015
I used to confuse the cover of this book with the cover of a book by Lynne Graham LOL
Look:
AND
I don't know... both covers look alike in my opinion ñ_ñ
November 10, 2022
⭐️⭐️⭐️ three stars -
Not one bit ashamed to shout it loud and proud that that I’ve been off on an old school Harlequin Presents binge over the last few weeks. It’s been a joy to revisit this type of romance, and I’ve been enjoying the reprieve from reality these easy-to-read romances offer 📖
A sure bonus for me has been that these older HQ (and sometimes old Mills & Boon) books now qualify as historical. How funny is that? It’s like a trip back in time, reading about the later 1970s. This reader is enjoying the meandering trip down memory lane - bring on the Old School Romance 🪄📖
During this HQ love-fest, I’ve discovered the joy of the author here, Michelle Reid. She’s quite talented, and also brings the bonus of being a highly productive author, so there’s lots of offerings in her HQ bibliography to make your way through. Win-win for me 👍
“The Price of a Bride” was fairly good. This was one of the newer ones I’ve read recently by her, as it was first published in 1998. I would in no means say that this was her best; it was competent and formulaic, but a fairly competent escape into romance land.
My main issue with this story is the heroine. I just didn’t like her. While she has a back story that explains her bitterness, she’s just not a nice enough person to me. Even the Hero here complains about her cold personality, which is shocking when he does, since even he was a caricature to me up until that point.
Overall, a typical HQ romance. Not Reid’s best, by any means. A passable way to spend a few hours.
For me, I’ll be sourcing more of these escapist reads for my own reading enjoyment 📖
Three solid stars for more-than-competent, cookie cutter HQ Presents classic romance.
Not one bit ashamed to shout it loud and proud that that I’ve been off on an old school Harlequin Presents binge over the last few weeks. It’s been a joy to revisit this type of romance, and I’ve been enjoying the reprieve from reality these easy-to-read romances offer 📖
A sure bonus for me has been that these older HQ (and sometimes old Mills & Boon) books now qualify as historical. How funny is that? It’s like a trip back in time, reading about the later 1970s. This reader is enjoying the meandering trip down memory lane - bring on the Old School Romance 🪄📖
During this HQ love-fest, I’ve discovered the joy of the author here, Michelle Reid. She’s quite talented, and also brings the bonus of being a highly productive author, so there’s lots of offerings in her HQ bibliography to make your way through. Win-win for me 👍
“The Price of a Bride” was fairly good. This was one of the newer ones I’ve read recently by her, as it was first published in 1998. I would in no means say that this was her best; it was competent and formulaic, but a fairly competent escape into romance land.
My main issue with this story is the heroine. I just didn’t like her. While she has a back story that explains her bitterness, she’s just not a nice enough person to me. Even the Hero here complains about her cold personality, which is shocking when he does, since even he was a caricature to me up until that point.
Overall, a typical HQ romance. Not Reid’s best, by any means. A passable way to spend a few hours.
For me, I’ll be sourcing more of these escapist reads for my own reading enjoyment 📖
Three solid stars for more-than-competent, cookie cutter HQ Presents classic romance.
March 23, 2017
Hateful heroine!
October 12, 2017
"The Price of A Bride" is the story of Mia and Alex.
When Alex is blackmailed by Jack Frazier, Mia's father to marry and impregnate her for rights to his ancesteral land, he is infuriated. He believes Mia to be a conniving gold digger, and sets out to punish her for the same. But soon the marriage of convinience turns into passion, and the secrets are exposed...
I had read this a few years ago and apparently loved it- but since I didn't remember the same decided to reread again.
Full of drama, passion, angst and revelations, this was a truly engaging read. There is a lot of name calling and slut shaming in the first half when things are hidden, but the book significantly picks up and touches your heart in the second half.
I liked the dynamic between Mia-Alex-Suzanna, and the ending to the Jack saga.
Enjoyed it.
Safe
4/5
P.S. Guy on cover reminds me of Rhett Butler!
When Alex is blackmailed by Jack Frazier, Mia's father to marry and impregnate her for rights to his ancesteral land, he is infuriated. He believes Mia to be a conniving gold digger, and sets out to punish her for the same. But soon the marriage of convinience turns into passion, and the secrets are exposed...
I had read this a few years ago and apparently loved it- but since I didn't remember the same decided to reread again.
Full of drama, passion, angst and revelations, this was a truly engaging read. There is a lot of name calling and slut shaming in the first half when things are hidden, but the book significantly picks up and touches your heart in the second half.
I liked the dynamic between Mia-Alex-Suzanna, and the ending to the Jack saga.
Enjoyed it.
Safe
4/5
P.S. Guy on cover reminds me of Rhett Butler!
May 4, 2022
Reread: May 2022
Not as entertaining as the first time. Too much inner-monologue. I was bored. Even the characters felt lackluster. Mia annoyed me. Downgrading to 3.5 Stars.
Original Review
*****4.5 Stars*****
Marriage of Convenience
Hate to Love--Done to perfection!
Alpha Hero--to the max! <3
This is my 3rd Harlequin romance and I've been lucky so far, choosing ones that have worked out wonderfully. The Price of a Bride is my second HR by the author—Michelle Reid. The first review that appears under 'Community Reviews' is by Naksed. And as soon as I read in that review that this book might have been where Natasha Anders got her inspiration for The Unwanted Wife, I knew immediately I was giving this one a shot. The Unwanted Wife is one of my all-time favorite romances and I wanted to see for myself how this one compared. I was not disappointed. I still prefer Ander's version but this one was, nonetheless, gratifying. Perfectly angsty with redeeming characters, just the way I love 'em ;)
Naksed's review describes my thoughts on this book exactly. Please check out that review!
HEA: Yes
Purchased ebook on Amazon. I broke my self-imposed rule to only read KindleUnlimited books or freebies from my public library, and I'm not even sorry. My last few reads have been disappointingly boring and I got desperate.
>>>>>>>>>>SPOILER AHEAD>>>>>>>>>>
Infidelity: No. There is mention of a mistress but the hero was lying about it just to spite the heroine. He NEVER cheated on her, physically or emotionally.
Not as entertaining as the first time. Too much inner-monologue. I was bored. Even the characters felt lackluster. Mia annoyed me. Downgrading to 3.5 Stars.
Original Review
*****4.5 Stars*****
Marriage of Convenience
Hate to Love--Done to perfection!
Alpha Hero--to the max! <3
This is my 3rd Harlequin romance and I've been lucky so far, choosing ones that have worked out wonderfully. The Price of a Bride is my second HR by the author—Michelle Reid. The first review that appears under 'Community Reviews' is by Naksed. And as soon as I read in that review that this book might have been where Natasha Anders got her inspiration for The Unwanted Wife, I knew immediately I was giving this one a shot. The Unwanted Wife is one of my all-time favorite romances and I wanted to see for myself how this one compared. I was not disappointed. I still prefer Ander's version but this one was, nonetheless, gratifying. Perfectly angsty with redeeming characters, just the way I love 'em ;)
Naksed's review describes my thoughts on this book exactly. Please check out that review!
HEA: Yes
Purchased ebook on Amazon. I broke my self-imposed rule to only read KindleUnlimited books or freebies from my public library, and I'm not even sorry. My last few reads have been disappointingly boring and I got desperate.
>>>>>>>>>>SPOILER AHEAD>>>>>>>>>>
Infidelity: No. There is mention of a mistress but the hero was lying about it just to spite the heroine. He NEVER cheated on her, physically or emotionally.
May 25, 2012
4.5 stars.
This is another one of those talked about 'classic' Harlequin Presents, so I knew I had to read it. And... A Classic it most certainly is!
The angst levels in this book are seriously sky high, I didn't have a clue where Michelle Reid was going to take me next, it kept me reading that's for sure.
Yes, this book is a little, well OK a lot, over dramatic but somehow it works. It keeps you guessing and feeling like you are holding your breath as you turn the page.
The hero acts appallingly at times, and I actually had a difficult time getting into this book at the beginning, but Michelle Reid is a master at somehow pulling this back from the brink. The heroine also acts badly, so the two characters kind of level each other out.
They certainly don't make Presents like this anymore! You couldn't ask for more to be crammed into this book - it has blackmail, betrayal, abuse, secrets, passion, pregnancies, etc.
It should be a headache of a read, at it is! But it is also unputdownable!
Like I said, a Classic.
Originally posted at http://everyday-is-the-same.blogspot....
This is another one of those talked about 'classic' Harlequin Presents, so I knew I had to read it. And... A Classic it most certainly is!
The angst levels in this book are seriously sky high, I didn't have a clue where Michelle Reid was going to take me next, it kept me reading that's for sure.
Yes, this book is a little, well OK a lot, over dramatic but somehow it works. It keeps you guessing and feeling like you are holding your breath as you turn the page.
The hero acts appallingly at times, and I actually had a difficult time getting into this book at the beginning, but Michelle Reid is a master at somehow pulling this back from the brink. The heroine also acts badly, so the two characters kind of level each other out.
They certainly don't make Presents like this anymore! You couldn't ask for more to be crammed into this book - it has blackmail, betrayal, abuse, secrets, passion, pregnancies, etc.
It should be a headache of a read, at it is! But it is also unputdownable!
Like I said, a Classic.
Originally posted at http://everyday-is-the-same.blogspot....
March 12, 2022
5+ joyous stars
Wow, that was actually pretty darn good.
Ok, so maybe I inhaled this book, so what? lol
Marriage of convenience is my fave trope. This one is done really well, it has some nicely thought out plot, a good heroine who actually has a brain, a lot of good steam and a hero who is a total douche at first but he does redeem himself nicely.
All in all, that's actually one of the best harlequins I've read.
Wow, that was actually pretty darn good.
Ok, so maybe I inhaled this book, so what? lol
Marriage of convenience is my fave trope. This one is done really well, it has some nicely thought out plot, a good heroine who actually has a brain, a lot of good steam and a hero who is a total douche at first but he does redeem himself nicely.
All in all, that's actually one of the best harlequins I've read.
October 21, 2014
My favorite HP of all time. And I read a lot of them...this one hit the emotions, not a light read but very passionate. Hero redeems himself.
July 11, 2021
Boring 🥱
April 23, 2021
The Price of a Bride is a “classic HP” that I read before I had the adulting thing down, that I wanted to revisit as a grown up. Going in, I remembered the bones, but didn’t really read any reviews. I did notice that my GR friends are all over the place with their ratings. There’s not a ton I can add, so I’ll just focus on the highlights. **I’ll try to be vague, but there’ll be some spoilers.**
This book has been compared to The Unwanted Wife, but honestly other than it being an arranged marriage so the H could reclaim a property… I didn’t see a ton of similarities. The biggest difference being that the h is aware of the arrangement (and a willing participant), and the H doesn’t absolutely hate her. In other words, she’s not a spineless doormat being kicked like a puppy asking for another.
This is a heavier, more complex/serious HP, and I think the character’s personalities (specifically Mia’s) will probably determine whether you find it enjoyable. The couple gets off to a rough start, and Alex is no peach initially, BUT, IMO Mia was the bigger instigator of his negative behavior. She approached their first meeting with a “the best defense is a good offense” mindset with a frontal attack that set the tone for their early interactions. For example, one of my friends hated that Alex’s prenup said he could have a mistress, and do what he pleased with Mia just being a willing body. BUT, this happens after the meeting where she told him he was a stud she planned to use to conceive then she’d leave with that child giving him zero parental rights…and if he didn’t agree, she’d just shop for another stud.
So I am telling you that you agree to my having full custody or the deal is off! This may also be a good moment for me to remind you of the shortlist of other names waiting to be called upon at a moment’s notice,’ she added, playing what she saw as her trump card.
At this point I was still good. She launched the first attack, but he struck back. I’ll admit, she’s certainly not what I’d call friendly. She snaps, snarks, shrills and not only at just him. I also didn’t love that she always expected the worst in everybody, projecting her father’s actions onto others, and constantly called herself a whore, but then acted all disappointed when she was treated like one.
‘You are your own salesman,’ he said. ‘Don’t blame others for believing what you place in front of them.’
What bothered me was her coldness. In life and most romance novels, men are not super emotional talking about feelings all the time, so we need the females to be the heart… have some emotions… to give us the feels. Mia is like ice, even how she approached the “agreement”. I was more bothered about her attitude towards her children, and actually felt sorry for baby #2 because she felt like an item to check off, so she could get back to what was really important. It may be a double standard, but I expect more out of the h’s, especially when it comes to being a loving parent.
Bottom Line- I thought it was ok, but wouldn’t recommend to readers with limited patience for prickly h’s. Alex gets a reboot about 50% in, and I could “feel” his affection, but I never really felt it from Mia. She was doubting him up until the very end, (seriously just say thank you and shut up) so I wasn’t feeling any epic love feelings from her. I actually felt like her feelings sort of just poofed into existence after listening to her rant about her hate for chapters. I would have really liked an epilogue showing that she ended up satisfied, and actually loved her kid. I needed it to believe that these two could make it, and that #2 didn’t end up needing buckets of therapy.
This book has been compared to The Unwanted Wife, but honestly other than it being an arranged marriage so the H could reclaim a property… I didn’t see a ton of similarities. The biggest difference being that the h is aware of the arrangement (and a willing participant), and the H doesn’t absolutely hate her. In other words, she’s not a spineless doormat being kicked like a puppy asking for another.
This is a heavier, more complex/serious HP, and I think the character’s personalities (specifically Mia’s) will probably determine whether you find it enjoyable. The couple gets off to a rough start, and Alex is no peach initially, BUT, IMO Mia was the bigger instigator of his negative behavior. She approached their first meeting with a “the best defense is a good offense” mindset with a frontal attack that set the tone for their early interactions. For example, one of my friends hated that Alex’s prenup said he could have a mistress, and do what he pleased with Mia just being a willing body. BUT, this happens after the meeting where she told him he was a stud she planned to use to conceive then she’d leave with that child giving him zero parental rights…and if he didn’t agree, she’d just shop for another stud.
So I am telling you that you agree to my having full custody or the deal is off! This may also be a good moment for me to remind you of the shortlist of other names waiting to be called upon at a moment’s notice,’ she added, playing what she saw as her trump card.
At this point I was still good. She launched the first attack, but he struck back. I’ll admit, she’s certainly not what I’d call friendly. She snaps, snarks, shrills and not only at just him. I also didn’t love that she always expected the worst in everybody, projecting her father’s actions onto others, and constantly called herself a whore, but then acted all disappointed when she was treated like one.
‘You are your own salesman,’ he said. ‘Don’t blame others for believing what you place in front of them.’
What bothered me was her coldness. In life and most romance novels, men are not super emotional talking about feelings all the time, so we need the females to be the heart… have some emotions… to give us the feels. Mia is like ice, even how she approached the “agreement”. I was more bothered about her attitude towards her children, and actually felt sorry for baby #2 because she felt like an item to check off, so she could get back to what was really important. It may be a double standard, but I expect more out of the h’s, especially when it comes to being a loving parent.
Bottom Line- I thought it was ok, but wouldn’t recommend to readers with limited patience for prickly h’s. Alex gets a reboot about 50% in, and I could “feel” his affection, but I never really felt it from Mia. She was doubting him up until the very end, (seriously just say thank you and shut up) so I wasn’t feeling any epic love feelings from her. I actually felt like her feelings sort of just poofed into existence after listening to her rant about her hate for chapters. I would have really liked an epilogue showing that she ended up satisfied, and actually loved her kid. I needed it to believe that these two could make it, and that #2 didn’t end up needing buckets of therapy.
October 24, 2011
Maybe I’m being ornery or maybe I’m menopausal but there were just some things that bugged me about this book.
1. the odd almost unnatural mix of naivete and carnality about her. At day, she would be cool, untouched and detached, then at night, she would be writhing in lust for him. She’d protest that she wasn’t a whore but they both knew that each time he took her to bed for the expressed goal of impregnating her with an heir, she was essentially servicing him. Really! Her only difference from a high-class prostitute was that she enjoyed the coupling, too. Then, to top it all, after already having given birth to one daughter, she had the absurdity to question how was it possible that she conceived a daughter instead of a son when the guy’s “family only makes male babies.” Huh? Even as a rhetorical question, that was pretty dumb. Psssst, sweetheart. It definitely wasn’t through immaculate conception. How about two X-chromosomes? XX.
2. for me, the detailed account of their first copulation was particularly distasteful because of the lack of contrast to their sexual intimacy after they’ve discovered their love for each other. I can’t bleach it out of my head that all his controlled unrelenting stimulation of her mouth, breast and “crevice” so he would get her frenzied reactions, complete with panting, screaming and begging, was MEANT TO humiliate her into submission to whoring her body. Puke. This wasn't even forced seduction. Had there been an opposite view of him cherishing her, in a “with my body, I thee worship” kind of way, then maybe what he did to her in the early months of their marriage could be forgiven.
3. the high-handedness of the hero. Like, really? He couldn’t spare 30 minutes to explain to her why he was whisking her away and why he was confronting her bête noire, her father? The issue here is consent. Out of hatred, the father took away her consent by blackmailing her into giving up her child and then into marrying the hero. Now, the hero’s also taking away her consent by keeping her in the dark – albeit out of desire to protect her. The father treated her like a chattel; he treated her like a lapdog.
Anyway, just my 2 cents. Generally, I liked angst in Michelle Reid's books but there's something off about this book.
1. the odd almost unnatural mix of naivete and carnality about her. At day, she would be cool, untouched and detached, then at night, she would be writhing in lust for him. She’d protest that she wasn’t a whore but they both knew that each time he took her to bed for the expressed goal of impregnating her with an heir, she was essentially servicing him. Really! Her only difference from a high-class prostitute was that she enjoyed the coupling, too. Then, to top it all, after already having given birth to one daughter, she had the absurdity to question how was it possible that she conceived a daughter instead of a son when the guy’s “family only makes male babies.” Huh? Even as a rhetorical question, that was pretty dumb. Psssst, sweetheart. It definitely wasn’t through immaculate conception. How about two X-chromosomes? XX.
2. for me, the detailed account of their first copulation was particularly distasteful because of the lack of contrast to their sexual intimacy after they’ve discovered their love for each other. I can’t bleach it out of my head that all his controlled unrelenting stimulation of her mouth, breast and “crevice” so he would get her frenzied reactions, complete with panting, screaming and begging, was MEANT TO humiliate her into submission to whoring her body. Puke. This wasn't even forced seduction. Had there been an opposite view of him cherishing her, in a “with my body, I thee worship” kind of way, then maybe what he did to her in the early months of their marriage could be forgiven.
3. the high-handedness of the hero. Like, really? He couldn’t spare 30 minutes to explain to her why he was whisking her away and why he was confronting her bête noire, her father? The issue here is consent. Out of hatred, the father took away her consent by blackmailing her into giving up her child and then into marrying the hero. Now, the hero’s also taking away her consent by keeping her in the dark – albeit out of desire to protect her. The father treated her like a chattel; he treated her like a lapdog.
Anyway, just my 2 cents. Generally, I liked angst in Michelle Reid's books but there's something off about this book.
March 27, 2022
I have no idea why I had only two stars on this! It is one of my favorite HPs and I haven't read it in years. The hero was kind of cruel at first but you could see him falling in lust, and then love with her. The Suzanna story line was heartbreaking. Heart rending and totally made me cry. But that ending, that beautiful wonderful unicorn filled ending, only needed one thing. An epilogue a few years down the road. I would have loved that. It was still an amazing book. I can't believe this is the same author that wrote Lost in Love!
I just wish I could read it again for the first time. 💕💕
I just wish I could read it again for the first time. 💕💕
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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