The Billionaire's Pregnant Mistress: Mistress to a Millionaire (Harlequin Presents) [Mass Market Paperback]

Lucy Monroe (Author)

Book Description

Series: Harlequin Presents | Publication Date: December 1, 2004

When Greek billionaire Dimitri Petronides is forced to give up Xandra Fortune, his beautiful mistress, he's certain she won't be too distraught. For all the intense passion they've shared she's never let him into her heart, and such a commitment-shy woman could never be his wife... But after their split, Dimitri discovers that Xandra Fortune is not who he thought she was - and she is also pregnant with his child. Now he has to track her down and claim his mistress as his wife!

Editorial Reviews

Review

For a sexy story that sizzles with wicked sensuality and realistic characters, be sure to pick up TBPM! -- The Best Reviews, Leena Hyat

I seriously could not put this book down. -- The Best Reviews, Barb Hicks

Ms Monroe's writing kept me glued to this book. -- CartaRomance Reviews, Dawn Brookes

Throughout the story, sparks fly and ignite the passion between these two strong-willed people. -- Blue Ribbon Reviews, Alane Coppinger

About the Author

Lucy Monroe's books have hit national bestsellers lists in both the US and England. Her highly charged, sensual stories touch on the realities of life while giving the reader a fantasy story not easily forgotten. Whether it's a passionate Harlequin Presents, a sexy single title for Kensington or a steamy historical for Berkley, Lucy's books transport her readers to a special place where the heart rules and love conquers all.Or email her at [e-mail].

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Harlequin (December 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0373124384
• ISBN-13: 978-0373124381
• Product Dimensions: 6.5 x 4.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,314,067 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

With more than 6 million copies of her books in print, USA Today bestseller Lucy Monroe has published more than 50 books and had her stories translated for sale in dozens of countries. While she writes several subgenres of romance (paranormal, historical, single title and short contemporary) for multiple publishers, all of her books are sexy, emotional and show that love will conquer all. She's a passionate devotee of romance and shares her love for the genre with her readers through her books and a policy of open communication. You can find Lucy on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/LucyMonroe.Romance) her blog (http://lucymonroeblog.blogspot.com), her official website (http://lucymonroe.com).

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great book!, November 29, 2004

By 

Anza Carrillo "heavenlyanza" (Ohio, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Billionaire's Pregnant Mistress: Mistress to a Millionaire (Harlequin Presents) (Mass Market Paperback)

French model Xandra Fortune's world came crashing down in a matter of hours. Her lover, Dimitri Petronides, dumps her because he is going to marry another woman, evicts her from their apartment, and denies that he is the father of her child. Heartbroken, Xandra leaves Paris and her modeling career behind, and becomes plain old Alexandra Dupree once more. She doesn't think that she'll ever see the man she loves again - until he shows up at her sister's house, offering marriage!

Dimitri knew he had made a horrible mistake when he threw Xandra out of his life, all in a misguided attempt to appease his ill grandfather. As soon as Xandra leaves Paris, he attempts to find her, but he searches for months and comes up with nothing. It's not until fate, and a little help from Xandra's brother-in-law, brings them together again that he realizes he can't allow Alexandra to leave again. He wants her, he wants their son, and he'll do just about anything to keep them in his life!

Although the little summary on the back of the book intrigued me, I didn't really think I'd like this book too well. Specifically, I didn't think I would like the character of Dimitri, throwing out his pregnant lover so he could marry someone else. But it didn't take me long to realize that there was so much more going on here than meets the eye. There's Dimitri's childhood, his perceptions of love, his grandfather's illness, and emotions that he can't put a name to. There's also Alexandra's belief that love is always conditional, that she must protect herself from being hurt, and that no one will really want her for herself.

There is not a saint in this book - the characters are both flawed, but the reader grows to love them both in spite of those flaws (or, maybe even because of them). The author manages to weave together such a convincing, wonderful romance full of ups and downs, promises and disappointments, that you can't help but fall under the author's spell. What an incredible, emotional book - I didn't want to put it down, and when I finally finished, I immediately wanted to read it again. This book deserves more than 5 stars, and is a wonderful tale of second chances.

19 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Could have been better but he was hard to like IMO, February 16, 2005

By 

baltimore0502 "Hon!" (BALTIMORE, MD USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Billionaire's Pregnant Mistress: Mistress to a Millionaire (Harlequin Presents) (Mass Market Paperback)

Like many readers, I'd never even heard of this author until The Real Deal came out and everyone gushed over it. So I read TRD and I really enjoyed that book and thought I'd check out some of her other books. This one sounded intriguing so I started here. It could have been a good book, but I just never really warmed up to the "hero".

He is Greek tycoon Dimitri Petronides and he has been living with fashion model Xandra Fortune for the past year. They have a very steady but superficial relationship in which the emphasis is on living in the moment, sharing steamy sex and some level of affection. But not sharing each other's deepest thoughts, hopes, dreams or even discussion of respective families, etc. One day Dimitri's ailing grandfather imposes an ultimatum: he will not have life-saving heart surgery until Dimitri agrees to marry Phoebe Leonides the nice Greek girl he has been expected to marry. And so he must end things with Xandra to save his beloved grandfather. He figures she won't be devastated, afterall she's totally focused on her career and often put it ahead of him. No, she'll be just fine - that's what he tells himself, anyway.

But Xandra Fortune is not what or whom he assumes. She's got good reasons for working so hard but she's never shared them with Dimitri. But things change when one day she discovers that she is pregnant. She is in the midst of debating herself over how to tell him when he abruptly (and not too kindly) tells her it's over. That he's getting married and that there is no longer a place in his life for her. Contrary to Dimitri's expectations she is devastated. He walks out before guilt can overwhelm him and leaves her to her tears. Days later they meet again and she tells him about the baby. He freaks out and refuses to believe that the baby is his. The next thing she knows, she's being evicted from their shared apartment, thrown out like so much garbage.

So Xandra, whose real name is Alexandra Dupree quits her job, closes all her accounts and goes home to America leaving no trace of Xandra Fortune behind. Alexandra winds up in NYC living with her sister and brother-in-law. Meanwhile, Dimitri has had second thoughts and is now desperate to find her. But there is no trace of Xandra Fortune - it's like she's dropped off the face of the earth. Will he ever find her and if he does can he ever win her back?

Okay, IMO Dimitri would have been hard to like under any circumstance, but his character really suffers because so little of the story is told from his perspective. We get pages and pages of Alexandra's feelings and thoughts but little of his. The result is that the reader has the impression of an extremely selfish, overbearing, almost cold man determined to have his own way no matter what Alexandra wants. And that's a shame because I think he could have been yummy with a bit more development. I like Alexandra's character, though she did let him push her around a bit more than I would have liked. But she was realistic about the kind of man he was and her feelings for him and she definitely had her pride. If you like pushy alpha's maybe you will like Dimitri's character more than I, but if not, this likely is not the book for you.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great introduction to Lucy Monroe, March 8, 2005

By 

Mary L. Hammes "Mary H." (Milwaukee, WI USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Billionaire's Pregnant Mistress: Mistress to a Millionaire (Harlequin Presents) (Mass Market Paperback)

I'm surprised at the reviewer who didn't think enough was shown from the hero's perspective. That's one reason I liked this book so much--he realizes quickly what he's done, regrets it, and tries to make amends. I liked Alexandra's strength. I thought both of them much more complex than the average romance; both had to realize they contributed to the breakdown of their relationship. My only quibble is that I wish more writers would not use a pregnancy as a deux ex machina so much.