The Sheikh's Ransomed Bride by Annie West

Title: The Sheikh's Ransomed Bride

Author: Annie West

Line: Modern/Sexy/Presents

Release month: UK - Apr 07/ Aus May 07/ USA - Jul 07

The S-Factor: Sizzling!

Back-Blurb:

Kidnapped by rebels, Belle Winters discovers her rescuer is actually Rafiq al Akhtar, Sovereign Prince of the desert kingdom of Q’aroum. Whisked away to his exotic palace, she is astounded to learn that Rafiq himself paid the ransom to save her life – and that he expects her to show her gratitude…by marrying him!

Rafiq intends for Belle to carry out her royal duties – both in public and in private. And it isn’t long before she succumbs to the sultry heat of the desert and to Rafiq’s seduction. No longer his unwilling wife, Belle has become the Sheikh’s very willing lover…

Review:

From the very beginning, I was captivated, intrigued and on edge as this story begins with a kidnapping, a ferocious storm and two very captivating characters Rafiq (ruler and monarch) and Belle, a marine archaeologist who along with her co-worker was kidnapped and held for ransom. Immediately the stage is set as Belle and Rafiq are thrown together, he her protector and Belle with everything she’s been through, her strength and courage shows throughout in this desert tale.

Belle’s homeland was Australia; she and her sister were for the most part, raised by her mother. Belle is strong, beautiful, hard working and proud. She has come to Q’aroum to explore and excavate a sunken first century trading ship. She and her co-worker are kidnapped by Rafiq’s cousin and the ransom demanded is the “Peacock’s Eye” not only very valuable but of importance to the people of Q’aroim. For generations it has been the gift of the Sheikh to his bride and Rafiq has given it up in order to save Belle and her co-worker!

Rafiq, is like no other sheikh or monarch…….his character reminds me of something out of “The Arabian Nights”. He’s handsome, intelligent, fearsome and very proud and he wants Belle……he wants her for his bride! Sparks fly off of these two characters as they both fight their attraction to each other and along the way find their way into a romance you won’t forget. A tale of East and West, two such different cultures and people who find a bond, mutual respect and love!
This is Annie West’s first "sheikh" book and I personally feel was exceptional, full of intrigue, chemistry and a wonderful romance set on a desert isle.

Reviewed by: Marilyn

Hero Hotness Factor ♥♥♥♥♥
Heroine Lovability Factor ♥♥♥♥♥
Awww Factor ♥♥♥♥♥
Stickability Factor ♥♥♥♥♥
Weepy Factor ♥

Did you know that before meeting her husband, Annie at one time met a man who offered her a proposal with a herd of camels in the offering! To find out more visit her website ...

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Sicilan Husband, Blackmailed Bride by Kate Walker

Title: Sicilian Husband, Blackmailed Bride

Author: Kate Walker

Line: Presents

Release month: USA - April 07

The S-Factor: Sizzling!

Back-Blurb:

Dark, proud and sinfully gorgeous, Guido Corsentino is determined to reclaim his wife! Outwardly, Amber is perfect and untouchable, but Guido knows the passionate woman inside. One kiss and he's certain she'll give him whatever he demands.

But Guido is also certain of something else: Amber ran away from him once—so she won't be given the opportunity to run again. He'll protect her from the consequences of her actions…in his bed!

Review:

Again, Kate Walker has written a spellbinding story, one that took this reader on such an emotional journey.

Like so many of us who have attended formal wedding’s and heard the clergy say “if anyone knows just cause why these two should not be joined…….”, this is exactly how this story begins and I believe where Ms. Walker got her particular idea for this story. Just think about it for a minute, how would you react if someone spoke out? Well, our handsome, sexy alpha Guido does just that and then some, taking everyone present at the wedding by surprise.

When Amber met Guido in Las Vegas, there was an immediate attraction, strong emotions, and longing. So when Guido realized he had to have her, there was only one choice and that was to ask her to marry him. Amber’s feelings for him were so strong that she immediately said yes and wanted to marry immediately; they did! However, their relationship was based on one of misunderstanding, lack of communication and secrets. When Amber realized she married him and did not know him she ran and with a man she later promised to marry. At this wedding, the story begins.

Guido arrives at the wedding just in time and forces Amber to leave her wedding, confront the groom, admit she is married to Guido and leaves for Sicily and his home. It is there, she finds out his secret…….he’s wealthy, they are married and will remain so and he has not been honest with her. It is here, they both examine themselves, their past, and present and where Amber realizes that she has loved him always, is vulnerable to him and loves him with desperation. And Guido? He believes Amber had never been strong enough to believe in him. He also realizes that he is the only person that has ever stood by her.

I actually felt like I was caught in the eye of a storm. While reading Guido and Amber’s story I was on edge, anticipating at every turn, the outcome, wishing and wanting them to resolve their differences and find love again.

The Sicilian Husband, Blackmailed Bride is the first book in the duo Corsentino’s brother’s series, with Vito’s story being next (The Sicilian's Red-Hot Revenge) . These Sicilian men are strong, hard working and love intensely. I cannot begin to tell you how much I loved this first book and I am looking forward to next

Reviewed by: Marilyn

Hero Hotness Factor ♥♥♥♥♥
Heroine Lovability Factor ♥♥♥♥♥
Awww Factor ♥♥♥♥♥
Stickability Factor ♥♥♥♥♥
Weepy Factor ♥♥♥♥♥

Did you know that the “seed” for this book was two fold……ideas from a friend she met at an RWA Conference and “What if?”.

“And then there was the ‘what if’ moment. For some time I had also had an opening scene in my head. A scene in which a wedding is taking place and that moment comes – you know the one – the one where the priest says, ‘If anyone here knows of any reason why these two people should not be joined together, let him speak now of forever hold his peace.’ I’ve been to lots of weddings and no one ever steps forward at that moment and says anything.” (Kate Walker’s Blog) To find out more, why not visit her website or her Blog?

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The Greek's Convenient Mistress by Annie West

Title: The Greek's Convenient Mistress

Author: Annie West

Line: Modern /Sexy/ Presents

Release month: Jan/Feb/TBC 2007

The S-Factor: Sizzling & Simmering

Back-Blurb:

A handsome Greek millionaire, a little girl who needs help...Sophie can't say no...!
Sophie Paterson is shocked when Costas Palamidis turns up on her Sydney doorstep. Costas's wife is dead, and his precious little girl's life is in grave danger - Sophie is the only person who can help...even if it means returning to the long-lost family who turned their backs on her...

Costas wastes no time in moving Sophie into his luxurious Greek villa. She struggles to fight the explosive attraction that fizzes between them while they also battle to save Eleni's life. When their forced proximity leads to a night of unforgettable passion, Sophie has to make a choice: aware that Costas's priority will only ever be his daughter, she can leave the man she has fallen in love with...or stay, knowing she will never be more than the Greek's mistress!"

Review:

This book absolutely consumed me from the very beginning to the end……. that’s how incredible it was…….powerful, so intense it absolutely made me breathless. Riveting, emotional, sad, just a wonderful story, not only about love, but also about healing hearts, healing an extremely ill child and mending family hurts and old wounds. But most important about finding peace, joy and love!

Costa’s made Sophie feel like a tart. He didn’t want nor need her, well he actually did need her, and he needed her bone marrow for a transplant in order to heal his sick child. However, this beautiful young woman was related to his deceased wife and reminded him of her and her inability to be a good wife and mother. Despite all of this, both Costa’s and Sophie were attracted to each other both by body and soul. Whenever he was near, she felt alive and despite herself, she still wanted him. Lust and Sex? Of course and Sophie knew where she stood and in the end could not resist him.

For Costa’s he fought his attraction for Sophie every inch of the way. He was always in control and tried not to weaken. In the end, he acts on his attraction and does he feel he’s taking advantage of her? Absolutely not! He can’t help himself, can’t trust himself and his attraction. He’s afraid to trust, to believe.To say anymore would ruin the story for the reader. But let me just say this, first and foremost, Annie West again pens another wonderful love story set on a lovely isle in Greece. She again delivers and entertains her reader’s with a powerful and intense reading experience. I promise, you won’t be sorry reading the Greek’s Convenient Mistress.

Reviewed by: Marilyn

Hero Hotness Factor ♥♥♥♥♥
Heroine Lovability Factor ♥♥♥♥♥
Awww Factor ♥♥♥♥♥
Stickability Factor ♥♥♥♥♥
Humour Factor ♥
Weepy Factor ♥♥♥♥♥

Did you know that Annie once had a would-be suitor try to impress her with the fact that he owned a herd of camels? Surprisingly she still said 'no'. To find out more, why not visit her website

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The Santorini Bride - Anne McAllister

Title: The Santorini Bride

Author: Anne McAllister

Line: Presents / Modern

Release month: Feb 07

The S-Factor: Sweet & Sizzling!

Back-Blurb:

Nowhere could be more perfect than the breathtaking island of Santorini to fall in love – but its whispering winds, azure seas and innate tranquility belie the blazing passion the island evokes in all who arrive on its idyllic shores…

Heiress Martha Antonides is stunned when she arrives at her ancestral family home on the Greek island of Santorini – to find that the villa has been taken over by billionaire Theo Savas… Forced together, they indulge in a scorchingly hot affair. But Theo Savas will never marry. Martha knows she must leave, but her heart and body will not obey her head. Mistress or wife – she’s Theo’s for the taking!

Review:

Again, Anne McAllister has penned a wonderful story, the second in a Greek family series; however, The Santorini Bride is a stand alone book. It's a passionate and a very sweet story in finding love by two strong and spirited people, Theo Savas and Martha Antonides.

In April 2006 Anne's book The Antonides Marriage Deal debuted and the reader is introduced to the Antonides and Savas family. The head of the Antonides family has not only wagered his Santorini family home in Greece but also a major share of his ship building business in the USA.

In the Santorini Bride, you are introduced to Martha Antonides who is running away from her cheating boyfriend to Greece to heal her wounds. Then throw into the mix, sexy Theo Savas who is hiding out at his newly family’s acquired Greek retreat to hide from women and the press as he was named the world's sexist sailor. Theo doesn’t “do relationships” nor does he commit; instead he goes from one relationship to another. Why? Theo at one time was married and hurt badly so he plays the field and when Martha arrives on his doorstep in Greece, he wants to send her packing. Want sparks; well you'll get them and then some!

Martha being a strong willed woman will have none of it and firmly plants herself into Theo’s life. When Theo’s interfering mother sends two beautiful models to Santorini, Theo decides he needs Martha to play the part of his girlfriend and little does either of them realize how attracted they have become to each other. However, Theo gets cold feet and leaves Greece to think about his life and then again runs into Martha at the Savas/Antonides wedding of their respective siblings. Boy, does Theo get a surprise…..Martha is pregnant with his child. Martha makes it very clear that she doesn’t need Theo in her life nor require marriage. So she leaves and goes West to live alone with her dog “Ted” but not for long as Theo follows her with a plan to convince Martha to marry him. This is probably my favorite part of the book……..Theo being attentive, patient, kind and loving. Plain and simply, it’s a lovely love story.

I can’t begin to tell you how much I enjoyed The Santorini Bride. Anne McAllister never disappoints her readers and this book is an exceptional example. I look forward to many more stories involving both of these interesting and powerful Greeks.

Reviewed by: Marilyn

Hero Hotness Factor = ♥♥♥♥♥
Heroine Lovability Factor = ♥♥♥♥♥
Awww Factor = ♥♥♥♥♥
Stickability Factor = ♥♥♥♥♥
Humour Factor = ♥♥♥
Weepy Factor = ♥♥♥


Did you know that Anne's friend contributed her French bulldog to the cause. Ted is 'real' and he was supposed to get a dedication in the book, but editorial left it out. So he will get his acknowledgement in the next book which has nothing to do with him, but what can you do? To find out more, why not visit her website or her Blog

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The Greek's Virgin - Trish Morey

Title: The Greek's Virgin

Author: Trish Morey

Line: Presents / Modern / Sexy

Release month: USA & Canada - Jan 07 / UK & AUS - Feb 07

The S-Factor: Sizzling!

Back-Blurb:
When Alexander Koutoufides seduced the young Saskia Prentice it was for revenge! Now she is back and Alex decides to finish what he started…for pleasure!

Saskia cannot forgive the sexy Greek who nearly stole her innocence, or forget the stormy passion they shared! She knows Alex wants her, his ruthless reputation confirms that he will have her. The only uncertainty is…how long can she resist him?

Review:

Again, Trish Morey has written an incredible love story. It's passionate, hot, intense and extremely entertaining. There are absolutely no words to describe how emotional and fabulous this story has been penned by this author.How can one man be so stubborn? How can one jump to conclusions and not know the facts? Well one hot Greek by the name of Alex has played havoc with the beautiful and talented Saskia and on top of everything, he has taken her virginity.

As one begins their journey, you will learn that this couple not only have a business and family history, but a personal history…..one that was ended abruptly 10 years earlier when Alex’s emotion and revenge were directed at Saskia for transgressions he believed her father enacted against his sister, Marla.

Now years later, Saskia is trying to take care of her father who is ill and short of funds. To do this she must earn a promotion by doing a profile on Alex Koutoufides and compete against a fellow co-worker. Will Alex comply? Only if he gets his way and can save his sister Marla from the press and the spotlight and Alex will do anything to protect her……even agreeing to the profile and using Saskia to divert the press. Yes and Alex, this stubborn and blind Alpha surprises everyone by announcing that they are getting married in order to divert the press from his sister…..hoping that she’ll get her act together, heal and find herself.

As their story enfolds you will find yourself weeping, clenching your fists, wanting to throw items, shake the handsome Alex, yell……it’s so full of emotion and such a wonderful storyline, you won’t be able to put this particular book down…..I promise! You will absolutely adore and weep both for Sasika and Marla. I’m hopeful that Trish will write Marla and Jake’s book…..please?

Since Trish began writing, I’ve enjoyed every book written but this one is exceptional and a real winner!

Reviewed by: Marilyn

Hero Hotness Factor = ♥♥♥♥♥
Heroine Lovability Factor = ♥♥♥♥♥
Awww Factor = ♥♥♥♥♥
Stickability Factor = ♥♥♥♥♥
Humour Factor = ♥
Weepy Factor = ♥♥♥

Did you know that Trish Morey spent a few days at Lake Tahoe in 2005 and knew it would make the most wonderful setting for a romance??? To find out more, why not visit her website

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The Italian Billionaire's Virgin - Christina Hollis

Title: The Italian Billionaire’s Virgin

Author: Christina Hollis

Line: Mills and Boon Modern Romance

Release month: Jan 2007

The S-Factor: Simmering

Back-Blurb:

An innocent for the taking…

When he finds out that Contessa Larissa Alfere-Tiziano has inherited a ruined Tuscan palace, gorgeous, ruthless, Italian property magnate Antonio Michaeli-Isola is determined to reclaim his birthright and make the palazzo his own! And if that means seducing and then discarding the beautiful, spoilt Contessa…then he will.

But Rissa is keeping up a pretence that her title has forced upon her. Though Antonio thinks she’s no better than a gold-digging adventuress, in reality the vulnerable virgin is struggling to make ends meet. As she gives him her innocence, will Antonio realise his misapprehension…before it’s too late?

Review:

The Italian Billionaire’s Virgin is a fantastic debut novel by Christina Hollis. Romantic, moving and engrossing, The Italian Billionaire’s Virgin is an unmissable tale which no Mills and Boon Modern Romance reader should miss!

Italian property magnate Antonio Michaeli-Isola is absolutely furious when he sees the Contessa Larissa Alfere-Tiziano move into the ruined Tuscan palazzo which is his birthright. How dare such a vapid gold digging bimbo take away the home he’s coveted ever since he was a child? Antonio vows to take back what is rightfully his and he decides to seduce and marry Larissa and then dump her once he gets his hand on the palazzo.

However, when Antonio meets Larissa, he realizes that she’s anything but the shallow air head he thought her to be and he soon realizes that he wants her in his bed and by his side as his wife – for life!

The Italian Billionaire’ s Virgin is a fantastic page-turner written by an up and coming star of the genre! Christina Hollis has created two wonderful characters which leap off the pages and which will live in the reader’s mind long after the last page is turned.

The Italian Billionaire’s Virgin is a wonderful tale that has got it all – a sexy Latin hero, a resolute heroine, steamy romance, powerful emotion and a narrative which will eagerly keep you turning the pages late into the night!

Reviewed by: Julie

Hero Hotness Factor = ♥♥♥♥♥

Heroine Lovability Factor = ♥♥♥♥♥

Awww Factor = ♥♥♥♥♥

Stickability Factor = ♥♥♥♥♥

Humour Factor = ♥

Weepy Factor = ♥♥♥♥♥

Did you know that Christina Hollis was inspired to set The Italian Billionaire’s Virgin in Tuscan after spending a holiday in Tuscany? To find out more why not visit her Website...

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