Blackmail

4 Stars! ~~~ This is a fast paced emotional read and I enjoyed it very much

The Kouvaris Marriage by Diana Hamilton

Harlequin Presents # 2614 ~ March 2007

(Alert!! ~~~ spoiler discussion in comments) 

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Back Cover:

Taking over the business was just the first step
 
Anton Lakitos wanted Nina Lovell, too. But she despised him.
 
She was convinced that it was the arrogant Greek property developer who'd ruined her father's health because of his desire to add Lovell's to his list of conquests.
 
When she discovered he was hell-bent on buying her, too, Nina faced the kind of dilemma every loyal daughter dreaded?should she watch Anton ruthlessly break her father's heart, or should she attempt to keep the company in the family. . . by marrying the man she hated?
 

Spoiler Warning: All my reviews contain spoilers to some degree
  

Favourite Scene: (the hero is drunk and thinks he's dreaming)  

'No!' she choked again, 'Get your hands off me, you...'Tut, tut, tut,' he scolded, a long, incredibly sensitive finger coming out to tap her scorching cheek. 'This is my dream,' he announced. 'And I like my nymphs willing, not naughty. Well, maybe a little naughty,' he then amended on a husky little laugh.   

Back Cover:

Life has taught Prince Vereham al a'Karim bin Hakar to control his emotions. Duty to his kingdom drives the enigmatic sheikh.
But one unexpected, intensely sexy encounter with inexperienced Samantha McLellan shakes Vere's steely control. And when he discovers that Sam could be betraying his country, he decides to blackmail her—into being his mistress!

Spoiler Warning: All my reviews contain spoilers to some degree  

Favourite Scene: (she just told him it wasn't likely she was pregnant)

Vere had no idea why Sam’s assertion that she had not conceived his child should make him feel that dark bitterness and pain. All he did know was that it also made him feel angry and alone. Shamefully, it also made him feel that he wanted to take her back in his arms and make love to her until she was crying out to him to possess her. And this time when he did so he wanted to ensure that…That what? That he impregnated her with his seed? That her body, her womb, would ripen with it and with his child? The fierce clutch of savage joy at his heart was giving him a message that was totally at odds with the logical rejection inside his head.  

Back Cover:

He'd raised himself from the depths of poverty to the heights of wealth and power. But Ethan Curtis knew polite society would be forever closed to him. Unless a woman from the most exclusive social circles—namely Mary Kelley—gave him a child.

Mary was stunned by the arrogant millionaire's proposition. But she agreed to give him what he wanted to protect her family. She thought their 'lovemaking' would be as cold and heartless as Ethan seemed to be. Nothing could have prepared her for her sudden desire for this man she'd sworn to hate.  

Spoiler Warning: All my reviews contain spoilers to some degree. 

Favourite Scene:

She put down her napkin and tried not to stare at the lush curve of his lower lip. “I won’t pretend that we’re friends, or even friendly.”
“Fine, but can you really despise me? For wanting a child?”
She laughed, shocked at how obtuse he was being. “Is that a serious question? Of course it’s understandable and wonderful to want a child—blackmailing a woman you know nothing about to get one is not.”
He leaned forward and with a trace of a growl said, “True.”  

Back Cover:

Penny is stuck: her ex-boyfriend Solo Maffeiano owns half her family home, yet she needs to pay off a barrage of debts left by her late father. She has no choice but to agree to Solo's offer: he will pay the debts and restore the dilapidated mansion where they will live - if Penny becomes his wife! She will be his wife, bought and paid for - and he wants a wife in every sense of the word. Their attraction is as strong as ever; their passion is a hundred times more powerful ... Penny discovers she's still in love with Solo - but isn't their marriage just a sham?

Spoiler Warning: All my reviews contain spoilers to some degree     

Favourite Scene:

Solo stopped her by grabbing her wrists and pinning them above her head in one strong hand, and throwing a long leg over her slim hips. 'I'm accepting your offer, Penny.' His grey gaze was intent on her furious face. 'So long as I get exclusive rights to your body for as long as I want.'
'My offer... My body!' she gasped.
'Yes.' His eyes didn't leave her face. 'Starting now,' he insisted with silken emphasis.
 

Back Cover:

Anton Diaz is hell-bent on revenge; he'll seduce and marry the innocent daughter of his enemy. To exact his plan will be no hardship, as Emily Fairfax is as beautiful as she is virginal.

It's only after that Emily realizes Anton is blackmailing her. Yet she can't stop her body betraying her as they spend their days parted in anger and their nights locked in passion..  

Favourite Scene:

‘Ah, Emily, you have been listening to gossip. What was it? I was brought up in a brothel surrounded by willing women,’ he mocked. ‘Sorry to disappoint, but it is not true, though my grandmother did own one,’ he admitted  

Keeper!

Back Cover: 

Can one passionate night mend a marriage?
Luc Sarrazan's marriage to Star had been hasty and brief. They separated almost immediately and Star disappeared, but Luc never filed for divorce.
Eighteen months later, Luc tracks Star down— fearing she's involved in a fraud. When he discovers that Star is the mother of twins, he feels doubly deceived!
Luc demands his price: he will have the fraud charge dropped if Star will spend just one last time in his bed. But he's not prepared for the cost of that fleeting taste of passion— the morning after, he wants more...even to mend their marriage!

Favourite Scene: (I love how they are welded together)

Afterwards, the first thing she was conscious of was the silence. Luc was still holding her, every damp, hard, muscular line of him welded to her smaller, slighter frame. For a moment she luxuriated in that feeling of intimacy and closeness. Then her mind awakened again, and with a sinking heart she recognised her own weakness.
'Star...' Luc husked in an indolent tone of satiation. 'It's never been like that for me.

Anton Diaz is a pure alpa male!  SEXY and hell-bent on revenge, it is no wonder the heroine Emily gets literally swept away.  Not sure if I liked how the misunderstanding is resolved, but this book is hot and the description of the scenes are beautiful.  A very good read!