Customer Reviews

The Latin Lover: The Greek Tycoon's Inherited Bride\Back in the Spaniard's Bed (Harlequin Presents)

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The first story is about Phoebe and Spiro it was ok, it's a short story about two Greek families who arranged a marriage between Phoebe and Spiro's older brother Dimitri- She is in love with Spiro and vice versa but she can't get out of the engagement because the grooms family is going to help her dads corporation. I like her because she's a strong, not wimpy lady with a degree from a college in the USA- like I said both stories were ok but it didn't wow me.

The Latin Lover: The Greek Tycoon's Inherited Bride\Back in the Spaniard's Bed (Harlequin Presents) This review is focused on The Latin Lover. Both versions of the books made me wonder if the writers were drinking when they wrote the stories because the MALES in the story had no character. The Lucy Monroe book is about Phoebe and Spiros --the counter to the other book she writes about xandra and Dimitri. The book about Xandra and Dimitri was a good, very good one...but this one was not. Do read the Xandra Dimitri story--highly recommend it. This book, the Latin Lover with Phoebe and Spiros will frustrate you because it will show you a Spiros who has no character and comes across as weak. Trish Morey's aversion of the Latin lover is close to hard porno and not what I'm looking for in a harlequin romance novel. She crossed a line and the plot almost got lost in the porn. Added to that the Hero is a jerk and not at all appealing. Why anyone would create this type of character as a hero is beyond my comprehension...it really makes you wonder who these writers are. Three stars for Monroe's version and one star for Morey's (and shame on you Morey and Harlequin publishers for being lazy and using porn as a story as opposed to giving us a quality romance between the characters).

THE GREEK TYCOON'S INHERITED BRIDE - Lucy Monroe

To say I loved The Greek Tycoon's Inherited Bride by Lucy Monroe is an understatement.....it was fantastic.

It had all the makings of a super romance, a Greek alpha, family honor, an arranged marriage plus the girl he knew he couldn't have, his best friend who was promised to marry his brother. The arranged marriage by two proud Greek friends the Petronides and Leonides, a marriage not taking into consideration the participants feelings.

Spiros Petronides is the sort of Greek every woman would die to have in her life. He's not only gorgeous; he's rich and he very sexy. From afar he's always fancied Phoebe Leonides but due to both of their families being close, he's thought of her brotherly best friend. However, for Phoebe, it's quite the opposite, she not only adores Spiros, she's secretly loved him her entire life.

Phoebe has a serious problem because as a teen she agreed to an arranged marriage her family and the Petronides family made years earlier. On top of everything else, her fathers business is in trouble and will go under unless Phoebe married Dimitri, the oldest son. She's sincerely upset because she feels her family has literally sold her into a loveless marriage when she secretly loves the younger brother, Spiros. On top of everything else, when Spiros visits her and they share a kiss which leads to passion so volcanic it scares them both, she's sure she cannot go through with the marriage.

There were so many emotions to this love story, Spiros and his overdeveloped sense of honor where Phoebe was concerned to the point of letting love go and even lying about his feelings. He was so afraid he would be weak like his father as far as relationships went that he would go to any length not to become like his parents. Spiros fought his love and his need for Phoebe but in the end you will tear up at how he goes about proving his love and his desire to marry her.

As for Phoebe, one literally reads and watches her become a strong woman when she stands up to both families, forgives Dimitri for choosing another to marry, forgives the scandal that incurs due to Dimitri's mistress, forgives Spiros for hurting and lying to her about his feelings. It's truly an incredible love story as only Lucy Monroe can intensely pen.





BACK IN THE SPANIARD'S BED - Trish Morey

Be prepared for a sensual journey based on blackmail and such a sexual need that defies all reason in Back in the Spaniard's Bed by the extremely talented author, Trish Morey. It's a journey that both troubled me at first and then swept me along with Alejandro and Leah.

Leah made an important decision months earlier when she walked away from her affair with the billionaire and impossibly sexy Alejandro Rodriguez because she loved him and knew it was only a matter of time until he replaced her in his bedroom. She was finally becoming independent and stronger. Now months later she's faced with the man himself who is determined to have her back and then make her pay by dumping her. He holds all the cards because he's aware her brother is in financial trouble and so he blackmails her into coming back to him and pays off her brother's debt to the loan sharks. He's like a drug to her and she can't help herself. For that matter, neither of them can help themselves and can't seem to get enough of each other.

Alejandro Rodriguez was probably one of the most sexy alphas I've read lately because of author Trish Morey's description of the man himself. I swear, he was the devil in disguise and her description of him and his relationship with Leah, well lets just say it will have you thinking and dreaming about this hero. What I loved about his character was that he was so self assured until the rug was pulled out from under him and when he had to take a close look at himself, his feelings, their relationship in the past and as it stood in the present; very emotional indeed. It was an affair that was so incredible and entertaining to read, one I will remember for some time.

As for Leah, the emotion she had to hide, mainly her love for him, her feelings that she wasn't good enough for him nor wife material plus the fact she had to endure the harshness of his sister, well have some tissue ready, you'll need them. Leah's feeling of being temporary and convenient and finally giving up difficult to read as well. However, in the end, Alejandro's realization that he loved her, probably had always loved her redeemed him for me. Back in the Spaniard's Bed plain and simply was magnifico!

When I started reading the first story, I kept wondering why the names looked so familiar. I literally stopped and thought for a little too long. As I kept reading, it hit me - these are characters from Lucy Monroe's Harlequin Presents from 5 years ago "The Billionaire's Pregnant Mistress" (http://www.amazon.com/Billionaires-Pregnant-Mistress-Millionaire-Harlequin/dp/0373124384/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1256579504&sr=8-1). Who knew my memory could be that good?

Fast paced, not sluggish and thoroughly enjoyable. I had always wondered about Phoebe and Spiros and the story behind them. I don't think it would've made for a good full length HP and I'm glad that it came to this 2 for 1 kind of thing.

As for the second story, I had a hard time getting into it. It was all right and pleasant enough, but not one that I can actually remember. In fact, as I write this, I can barely recall what the story is about - some girl named Leah walked out on a Spanish man named Alejandro and he wanted revenge. There you go. I vaguely remembered.

Had I enjoyed this 2 for 1 completely, I'd have given it 5 stars, but as it stands only Lucy Monroe's story merits it a 4 out of 5.