Marrying the “Sex Magnet” Magnate

This British invasion is less racy than the last

An Offer She Can’t Refuse

By: Emma Darcy    

The Setting: Modern times, Dubai/Santorini/Sydney   

The Happy Couple:

Chris(tina) Savalas – an aspiring model turned mother with a guarded heart

Ari Zavros – a sexy Greek business magnate (who’s used to getting what he wants)

The Set-Up: Four years ago, Ari met Christina in Sydney while on business. She was an impressionable 18-year-old model wannabe; he was a suave older man who stole her heart (and her virginity)! The two lost touch, only to meet again years later at a hotel in Dubai. Ari thinks Christina looks beautiful as always, but is shocked to learn she has a five-year-old son who looks exactly like him.

The Issue: Tina never thought she’d see Ari again. When their eyes lock across the Dubai restaurant, she realizes she must finally come clean about the paternity of her son, Theo. Ever the traditional Greek man, Ari believes in upholding the traditional gender roles, believing they should marry to provide a stable family environment for Theo. But how can Tina marry the man that broke her heart?

Happily Ever After: Tina can’t deny she’s still physically attracted to Ari. The wedding, honeymoon, and first months of marriage pass by in a blur, as Tina all the while keeps her heart guided against a man she still doesn’t fully trust. When tragedy strikes, and Tina’s life hangs in the balance, she finally learns she means everything to Ari.

Scandalous Scale: Getting Steamy  

The Verdict: At first, this story kept reminding me of Bad Boys and Baby Drama, they both had bad boys and surprise kid drama. Ari and Jed seem to be cut from the same cloth, both used to getting their own way, no matter what their lady loves think about anything. If you’re looking for character development, good writing, or an interesting plot, look elsewhere. The settings are beautiful though, especially the description of Burj Al Arab, the seven star hotel in Dubai.

Naughty Times in Northumberland

Different cover, same great romance. 

Secretary by Day, Mistress by Night

By: Maggie Cox   

The Setting: Modern times, Northumberland, England  

The Happy Couple:

Maya Hayward – a quiet brunette bombshell with a dark and tragic past

Blaise Walker – a playboy playwright with a violent upbringing  

The Set-Up: When Blaise saves Maya from a handsy encounter with her horny boss, she feels like she can’t say no to his request that she come work for him instead. When the pair travels to Blaise’s stately home in Northumberland, he can’t wait to start work on his new play with the beautiful Maya researching by his side.

The Issue: To say Maya has daddy issues would be a severe understatement. Her father was a world-renowned yet incredibly unstable and depressed painter who committed suicide when she was just 17. She’s had some trouble fully trusting men ever since. Blaise is afraid to commit fully to a relationship after seeing the violent streak in his parent’s marriage.

Happily Ever After: The sexual chemistry between the pair is fierce, and just cannot be denied. What starts off as a casual, no strings attached affair, quickly turns to more. On an afternoon stroll along Hadrian’s Wall, troubled pasts are revealed and the two begin to fall in love.

Scandalous Scale: Getting Steamy  

The Verdict: This is not your typical Harlequin as…dare I say it? There’s CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT! Maya and Blaise (such stupid names) each have rich and storied pasts that explain their current temperaments. There’s also an interesting subplot about the play Blaise writes. It actually sounds like a play I’d want to see. Also the setting sounds super pretty. 

The Language of Love (and Flowers!)

The Playboy’s Plain Jane

By: Cara Colter   

The Setting: The 90s (judging by the fashion sense), Hillsboro, Ontario, Canada

The Happy Couple:

Katie Pritchard: divorced, overall-wearing (think Andie McPhee circa Dawson’s Creek) florist

Dylan McKinnon: former Blue Jay, current playboy 

The Set-Up: Katie’s got a crush…and on the most unsuitable person. Dylan is the best looking guy in Hillsboro with the worst reputation. Every time he comes into her flower shop she can’t help but swoon, even as he buys flowers for his newest conquest(s).

The Issue: Dylan grew up believing in true love, but the dream died the day his dad put his mom in a nursing home. Love was supposed to conquer all, but it couldn’t conquer Alzheimer’s. Dylan decided then and there he wasn’t looking for commitment, only casual flings. Katie is just trying to put her life together after miscarrying a baby and getting a divorce. She thinks Dylan’s cute, but she sees the steady stream of girls on his arm.

Happily Ever After: When Dylan asks Katie out, she vehemently opposes. She knows his playboy ways and doesn’t want to be another notch in his belt. It takes several woo-ing attempts and a few grand gestures before she agrees to a date. But it’s when the pair babysits Dylan’s baby nephew that Katie really begins to see Dylan’s sensitive side. Could it be truly be love? 

Scandalous Scale: Tame

The Verdict: If you want to learn a lot about flowers and what they mean, than this book is certainly for you. If every time you kiss someone you feel like they’ve “unlocked the wild call that had been tamed” and you feel like “an eagle, soaring, proud, hungry, fierce” than you will probably like this book. If not, I’d pass; it’s a bit of a snooze.