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.

Harlequin Hottie: Vintage Collection

Clark Gable as Rhett Butler in GWTW

Gone with the Wind is a timeless classic, as is its dastardly dashing male lead Clark Gable, this week’s Vintage Harlequin Hottie!

If you don’t already know the story of GWTW you need to Netflix it pronto (or read the epic novel it was based on).

There’s never been such a seductively attractive bad boy as Rhett Butler (Clark’s character). He’s a bootlegging badass who decides to make his fortune on the black market rather than fighting for the Confederate cause during the American Civil War. He’s got money, influence and power and he’s not at all what a seemingly respectable girl like Scarlett O’Hara (Vivien Leigh in the movie) should want in a gentleman caller or a husband. His devilishly handsome good looks and his wicked charm prove ultimately irresistible.

Watch the trailer to see Clark in action. Swoooooooon.

Close runner-up: Christopher Plummer circa the Sound of Music years.

Who’s your favourite vintage hottie? 

Bad Boys and Baby Drama

The Sabbides Secret Baby

By: Jacqueline Baird

The Setting: Modern times, Split between: Athens, Greece and Dorsetshire, England   

The Happy Couple:

Phoebe Brown – a naïve young girl in love, turned baby mama

Jed Sabbides – a multimillionaire hotel magnate with a bad boy appeal

The Set-Up: Phoebe meets Jed when she’s in her early twenties, working at one of his hotels to put her way through university. She immediately falls for his good looks and charm. She thinks its love. 

When she tells him she’s pregnant, she expects Jed to get down on one knee. He splits instead and she miscarries, and poor Phoebe is left with a broken heart.

The Issue: As Phoebe flees Athens to seek comfort back home in England, Jed is certain he’ll never see her again. And good riddance, right? Its not like he was ready to give up his playboy ways. As Phoebe settles back into life in Dorsetshire, she gets a surprise…of the baby kind. 

Turns out she was pregnant with twins and only one miscarried (a medical rarity and convenient plot point).

Happily Ever After: Phoebe can’t disguise her panic (or her arousal) when she runs into Jed five years later. He has no idea that Ben, their son, exists. When he comes to her house to rekindle the fire, he realizes the baby he thought miscarried is alive and well.  

A lot has changed for Jed, he’s no longer the bad boy philanderer he used to be. He’s ready to be a family man, but how can he make Phoebe see he’ll never break her heart again?

Scandalous Scale: Hot n’ Heavy

BONUS: Bad Boy Appeal

Jed Sabbides is a total classic when it comes to bad boys. He’s controlling, he likes to get his way, and he’ll stop at almost nothing to get what he wants. But we can’t exactly hate him. 

We should hate all bad boys on principle. But we rarely do. Why? Because bad boys are usually SO. DAMN. SEXY. Especially fictional ones.

My total swoonfest? Damon Salvatore in the Vampire Diaries.

Who’s your favourite fictional bad boy?