Harlequin Presents Readers discussion
2015 Harlequin Presents Reading
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What HQNs are you reading right now?
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Leona
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Apr 07, 2012 05:36PM
Aruana, I read it and a really liked it....
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Emosionally it was very satisfying. It was better than some of the run of the mill M & B's. I felt his pain.
I used to love Helen Bianchin. I have some of her books that go back to the 80's, but in recent years I've gone off of them. The storyline is always the same, with a past girlfriend/mistress in the background making mischief.I'm reading The Italian's Virgin Princess by Jane Porter. Liking it ....
Just finished
and my head is spinning! Tropophilia!! Just too much. Anyone not wanting trope overloLiving Dangerousad must avoid this, as they're all here. Only unused tropes are "amnesia" and your're dying and I love you (although that's there too, just not for the H and h). Everything else is there. Cinderella story of a poor little rich girl with a learning difficulty, who doesn't know her beauty but has a brilliant talent, is swept away by handsome alpha male with tortuous rags to riches background (and a Prince!)who can't love. Story is complete with wicked other woman and H's protagonist who turns out not to be an enemy,, in the end. Oh did I forget to mention pregnant heroine? Just absolutely too much.
Just bought on my electronic reader based on your recommend. It sounds wonderful..thank you.
message 206:
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Danielle The Book Huntress , Harlequin Presents are my crack!
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Sheila wrote: "I haven't read an Emma Darcy since you wonderful ladies found the book I was looking for last year (Marriage Meltdown, so it was time to read her newest one. I love it when the H/h are married, but the marriage has gone stale and they have to revive it. Very sexy! Miranda Lee has done a couple, I think.
Leona wrote: "Just bought on my electronic reader based on your recommend. It sounds wonderful..thank you."They saved my life while commuting. lol
I am so excited. I went to the second hand bookstore this morning and found a batch of books I have not read, even an "old" Lynne Graham.Here's the list (too lazy to supply links - sorry!):
An Arabian Marriage - Lynne Graham
The Playboy in Pursuit - Miranda Lee
The Twelve Nights of Christams - Sarah Morgan
The Prince's Chambermaid- Sharon Kendrick
Surrender to the Sheikh - Sharon Kendrick
The Italian Groom - Jane Porter
In Dante's Debt - Jane Porter
At the Greek Boss's Bidding - Jane Porter
The Marciano Love-Child - Melanie Millburne
The Wedding Charade - Melanie Millburne
The Savakis Mistress - Annie West
Scandal: His Majesty's Love-Child - Annie West
Passion, Purity and the Prince - Annie West
Forgotten Mistress, Secret Love-Child Annie West
The French Tycoon's Pregnant Mistress - Abby Green
Ruthlessly Bedded, Foribly Wedded - Abby Green
Bride in a Gilded Cage - Abby Green
The Kouros Marriage Revenge - Abby Green
From Dirt to Diamonds - Julia James
Bedded by Blackmail - Julia James
Bought for the Greek's Bed - Julia James
His Weddig Ring of Revenge - Julia James
Royally Bedded, Regally Wedded - Julia James
The Italian's Rags-to-Riches Wife - Julia James
Can anyone direct me to their favourites out of these please?
The Savakis Mistress by Annie West and Ruthlessly Bedded, Forcibly Wedded by Abby Green are two my all time favorites...Very Very Hot, and a lot of angst! I just finished Bride in a Gilded Cage, and it was just okay.....not one of Abby's better ones, so save that for later. I have tried to get my hands on An Arabian Marriage by Lynn Graham...supposedly one of her best...but can't find it where I live in the US. Let us know how you like them. Please write reviews and let us know how you like them.
Thank you, Leona. I'm not very good with reviews, but will do my best.I've started with The Marciano Love-Child
Early days ....
, very nice 4 1/2 stars.
, I liked it, 4 stars.
, I liked that too, 3 1/2 stars.
, 5 stars, mostly because of the great hero.
Thanks Demetra. Just finished The Marciano Love-Child and I really liked it. I would give it a 4 out of 5. It had real emotional punch to it. I liked the H. He was repared to admit he had made a mistake and he had some secrets himself.
message 215:
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Danielle The Book Huntress , Harlequin Presents are my crack!
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Aruana, so glad you like it.. It is one of my all time favorites and as Lady D says, Annie West doesn't disappoint. Especially with this one. I went from wanting to shoot him to wanting to marry him in the end! PS. in the US it titles as The Savakis Merger
Leona, why do the Harlequin Presents titles differ from the Mills & Boon titles?
If I like Michelle Reid, Sharon Kendrick, Lynne Graham, Annie West, Julia James, Sandra Marton - what other authors will I like? I don't want to waste time reading other authors and hating them.
Aruana, that is a great question. I think it has to do with the vast amount of market research Mills & Boon does relative to women in different countries. They target what will appeal to women around the world, which would explain why they have different book covers in different countries with different titles. For example, the Savakis Mistress is a great example. The term mistress really doesn't play well in the US..NOT that we don't have women who are kept by wealthy men, or men/women who cheat on their significant others etc.. It's just that term Mistress is more steeped back to the traditions in countries where wealthy or royal families married for alliances. Since we are a relatively new country, without royalty..it doesn't really play to the average working woman (who I suspect is their audience) BUT ask us about corporate takeovers, mergers and acquisitions...and the average person can relate. Very subtle difference.....but much impact. Mills and Boon are masters at Market Research and have been for years
Aruana, my most read authors are in this order Sarah Morgan, Annie West, Lucy Monroe, Michelle Reid and Abby Green. Though, I like some books better than others, they never disappoint. You might want to browse our bookshelves and explore a little. You can sort by authors, or ratings, etc....that can help you in your decisions. I have really come to rely on this wonderful site and these wonderful women for their help. I can't stand wasting time on a book that is not worth it. Good Luck and Happy Reading!
Mod
Thank you, ladies especially the feedback about the market research.I just came back from the bookstore and got the followihg - very excited:
Return of the Moralis Wife - Jacqueline Baird
Deserving of His Diamonds? - Melanie Millburne
A Deal at the Altar - Lynne Graham
The Legend of de Marco - Abby Green
Undone by His Touch - Annie West
AND I'm still busy with The Savakis Mistress by Annie West.
These authors are automatic buys for me, although Lynne Graham has been very hit and miss recently.
I recently read Girl Behind the Scandalous Reputation by Michelle Conder and loved it. I can't wait to find more of her writing in future.What did you guys think?
I see that Sarah Morgan's The Forbidden Ferrara is being released in May 2012. Can't wait! Loved the first one.
Lisa wrote: "Starting 
by Helen Bianchin"Lisa, I see that the reviews have been brutal. When I was in high school I used to like Helen Bianchin a lot - loved the masterful H's, but now I find her writing very "stiff" and almost archaic - imho.
I just recently started reading Helen Bianchin, and I would definitely say she is more MISS than hit. Somehow her books seem to skip too much detail.. But I did really love "The Italian's Ruthless Marriage Command". Given that you liked Helen Brook's The Greek Tycoon's Bride, I think you will like HB's "The Italian's Ruthless Marriage Command". It remains one of my all time favorite HP's.
Aruana,I really like books by Annie West & Abby Green!
In regards to Helen Bianchin, I have found her older books I enjoyed more. However, at some point they all started to have a very similiar 'feel'. She seems to spend a lot of time with odd details about the characters everyday actions...got dressed, did makeup, at breakfast(w/details), got in car, drove to work (w/details)....over and over again. I think it has taken away from the the emotional feel of her characters.I am just gonna tell you some of my faves as it seems like you like some that I have really liked as well:
Susan Napier
Miranda Lee
Emma Darcy
Mary Lyons
I have to say I have not been as good about noting which of the newer authors I consistantly like - that will have to be a project soon I guess :-) I just got in the habit of reading all of them every month.
Don't forget the massive # of showers, shopping, manicures, social rounds HB heroines do. Lotsa fillers & staccato dialogues to kill trees. Oh and the evah-present fork-tongued, venomous, viperish, stalkerific, predatory OW who got Nuffink bettah to do than to shadow heroines everywhere they go.
See you just wrote the last couple years of Helen Bianchins plots, Verity!
I was wondering why the hell I couldn't stand her books... In
she basically murdered one of my favourite tropes.
Funny I just picked up an old HB the other day and just could not finish it.I used to like her way back in the good olde days,but her writing is still the same with almost identical plots.Ienjoy the authors that Aruana has mentioned and looking forward to reading the Michelle Conder book.BTW,I am now going to eat my fruit and granola with a hot cuppa coffee,then in for a shower before I slip on my heels and head out to the boutique to find a dress for my upcomming social engagement tonete,lol.Just hope that the OW does not show up and slaps me while I am trying on a dress{pls forgive me,I could not help myself}.
Well I got my gals nite out planned out this Friday so I gotta polish my finger & toenails, trim my nose hair & armpits, drown my frizzy hair in buckets of conditioner, polish my knee-high boots, remove the lint from my black net stockings, cut off the hem of my skirt to make a super duper miniskirt (I've maxed out all my credit-cards), pick out my flimsiest thong & I'm ready 2 go. If a psychotic OW tries to harm my whiskers, I got an acidic spray on hand.
lol,we are so bad tonite...still munching on my granola,hehe.
Helen Bianchin gets into the minutiae of the daily grind. Her grasp of technology is a bit dodgy for me. She has all these archaic descriptions of "stuff". I just find it very "old". Which makes sense, because she's been around for yonks. How old is she? It also takes away from the time that is spent between the H/h. She doesn't hold a candle against Melanie Millburne, Miranda Lee etc.
Take the book Sapheron mentioned above. HB heroes are hella weird too. They don't just talk. They drawl. Not just drawl. They drawl mockingly. Then the voice is smooth / silky. The tone is sardonic or velvet-encased steel. The eyes are onyx. The word Grace / gracious have popped out 3 X by a couple of chapters. Trees are gracious. I nevah noticed B4 trees could be gracious. U learn somefink new everyday just from reading HPs.
I almost pee in my granny pants whenevah I read mirth-worthy, over-exaggerated Descriptions of live & dead objects. Must be why I lurve lavender prose so much a la Bertrice Small & Lisa Valdez.
I'm reading An Arabian Marriage (Harlequin Presents, #2271) by Lynne Graham.Just started, but already loving it.
Aruana wrote: "I'm reading An Arabian Marriage (Harlequin Presents, #2271) by Lynne Graham.Just started, but already loving it."
This book sounds good Aruana!
That is an oldie but a goodie by lynne graham
O, my goodness! I just finished it. I give it 5 out of 5. What a satisfying read. I loved the H/h - both. Jaspar wasn't your usual ass Prince and Freddy was sweet, but no pushover. Definitely a keeper. The book is 10 years old, but it's dated brilliantly.I know everyone goes gaga about the "old" Lynne Grahams, and now I know why. There is substance to the story.
My Mom usually doesn't like the Sheikh stories, but she's said she will read this one. Can't wait to hear what she has to say.
I think I'm going to take up on Leona's suggestion and read Ruthlessly Bedded, Forcibly Wedded by Abby Green ......
Aruana wrote: "O, my goodness! I just finished it. I give it 5 out of 5. What a satisfying read. I loved the H/h - both. Jaspar wasn't your usual ass Prince and Freddy was sweet, but no pushover. Definitely..."I thought
was a great read!To me it had everything a HP needs.
I hope you'll like it!
Ladies, I need to ask a favor. I am debating whether or not to read the Markonos Bride by Michelle Reid. There are a lot of 4 and 5 stars on amazon and B&N...but also some pretty negative comments about the H..and the connection between the two. This one seems to be very very heavy. Could you give me your opinions...
Ladies, if this is a dup...I apologize, but I lost the thread I posted this on. I am considering reading the Markonos Bride by Michelle Reid. I love her books, but they can be quite torturous. Could you advise if you read and liked. The reviews are a bit hit or miss. Thanks
Leona, I didn't like it. In fact I didn't finish it. It was not a Michelle Reid-book. Not up to standard imho.
Aruana, Thanks.. based on the reviews I worried that I would like it. Seemed rather torturous..
Leona,I actually just read the book recently. I love Michelle Reid, but not this book. It was just ok for me. There are much better Michelle Reid books to read so I'd skip this one.
Tracie, thank you...both you and Aruana saved.
Harlequin Presents Readers
Books mentioned in this topic
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Enamored (other topics)
He's My Husband (other topics)
A Man to Marry (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Natalie Anderson (other topics)Lorelei James (other topics)
Robyn Donald (other topics)
Lynne Graham (other topics)
