Header PromotionSpanish Billionaire, Innocent Wife - Kate Walker
My 18th book! This time it's for Kate Walker's Spanish Billionaire, Innocent Wife.
Two years ago she left Raul without one word of regret. Now chance has thrown them together once more, and the proud Spanish aristocrat will see that Alannah pays for her mistake!
He wanted Alannah Redfern the first moment he saw her. Her unique combination of purity and passion intrigued, then intoxicated him. And Raul Esteban was a man used to getting everything he wanted.
Now Raul knows that beautiful Alannah is no longer a naive girl. Until their one night of passion proves that Alannah is still an innocent! Raul will do whatever it takes to keep her at his mercy...
Kate has succeeded yet again in writing a great alpha hero. He's tough. He's really tough. BUT he also has this vulnerable side. And I think this is part of what makes her such a success. Her heroes still have all the trademarks of the romance novel "Alpha" and yet there is something that we empathize with. The characters remain relatable. I love that. I still might be a Guido woman, but her Raul is a very close second. :-)
Donna
THE RANCHER'S RUNAWAY PRINCESS, Romance, January 09
HIRED: THE ITALIAN'S BRIDE, Romance, June 09
http://www.donnaalward.com
http://www.donnaalward.blogspot.com
Did We Read the Same Book?
Hi Donna:
Did we read the same book? I think this just proves my contention that when a man and a woman read the same book, they are not reading the same book.
Raul is the nicest Presents hero I can ever remember reading. Kate Walker is known for having nice Alpha heroes. I think this one is a saint.
You wrote: “Raul will do whatever it takes to keep her at his mercy...”. What?
She left him! She has a good job and a bigger apartment. He hasn’t even tried to reach her in two years. One of the times she ran out on him, (I think he made a phone call too soon after getting out of bed –which proved he didn’t really love her) – I think that time he just waited where he was standing until she came back into the flat. Only a saint could put up with this heroine.
I hope everyone reads "Spanish Billionaire, Innocent Wife". and then reads both our reviews. Wow! That’s definitely worth the price of admission.
BTW, what is a “Guido woman”? Are you talking about the hero in Donna Leon’s Venice mysteries? He’s a great hero.
Thanks, Vince
“Romances are the emotional vitamins of the soul.” Vince
LOL Vince!
Actually the part that is in italics is the back blurb from the book...so it wasn't me that did it!
And Guido is Kate's hero from Sicilian Husband, Blackmailed Bride. I really loved him.
It is so funny that we're differing in opinion so soon after the whole Black Moment topic and the his fault/her fault thing. As a reader I knew that Raul was *mostly* innocent of the injustices heaped upon him. However as a woman and reader I could also put myself in her shoes and feel what she was feeling. Imagine trying to keep some shred of pride around you when you know the only reason the man you love....deeply...wants to marry you is for an heir. Of course you're going to want to cut him and so she mentions another man. You're gonna hurt my pride...I'm going to hit you square in yours.
So Alannah has to deal with the fallout from that...as well as the grief for her brother and friend...AND realize she still loves Raul...AND then realize that she truly believes his feelings for her are still the same...that she loves him more than he loves her.
I think put that way, her actions were understandable. And when you are trying for a baby...every month it doesn't happen brings doubts. It was doubly hurtful because she truly doubted he'd marry her without it.
Your point about the opening is well taken. Being me, I would have blurted it out and ducked. But I did believe her motivations for drawing it out.
Donna
THE RANCHER'S RUNAWAY PRINCESS, Romance, January 09
HIRED: THE ITALIAN'S BRIDE, Romance, June 09
http://www.donnaalward.com
http://www.donnaalward.blogspot.com
Hmmmm .... now I'm intrigued ....
I think I'm going to have to pull this one up the TBR ... and thanks for the heads up on Sicilian Husband, Blackmailed Bride ... I'll be sure to read that one first to see if I'm a Guido woman too! :D
KatherineT-eHarlequin ~ Book Challenge Host
I'm a Harlequin Addict, and I'm proud of it! ~ Quiet Canadians Blog
A More Mature Heroine....
Hi Donna:
I know “Spanish Billionaire, Innocent Wife” is a romance but here’s what I would expect of a level-headed heroine. She has a billionaire lover who is crazy about her. She is madly in love with him. He wants an heir. This is what my heroine would say: “Raul, I love you, I would be proud to be your wife and the mother of your children but I could never marry a man who did not love me. Do you think there is any hope that our relationship could lead to you coming to love me as a wife deserves to be loved?”
Raul is just a man and he needs a little help in expressing his feelings. He also has to know what the problem is. But then I am not a romance writer. The above solution doesn’t produce a story. HRs are so much easier to understand.
BTW, blurbs are written by copywriters who are “forbidden” to read the books.
Trish Wylie had a really funny blurb comment on her romance back cover that was published in England and then when they did the Presents version of the book, one copywriter just copied the English version blurb and made it even more inappropriate for the book. The copywriter trusted the other copywriter but wouldn’t think of checking the book itself. 
I don’t know how you authors do it! They change your titles and write blurbs without even reading the book. I think romance writers are like mothers: they are not appreciated enough. 
Well, now I have to read the “Guido” book: “Sicilian Husband, Blackmailed Bride”.
If you like mysteries, you might try a Donna Leon book. Her hero, Guido is one of the best in the mystery genre. He has a wife who teaches English Lit. at college in Venice and they are a very loving couple. Their comments about Americans and the English are very interesting. I keep thinking: “Do Italians really think that about us?”
Thanks,
Vince
“Romances are the emotional vitamins of the soul.” Vince