No Way to Begin by Michelle Reid (HP 1478)

Reviewed by Janet85 on July 9th, 2008, 8:24pm

by Michelle Reid

Format: Print Books

Series: Harlequin Presents

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.   

Another Fav Scene:

'My Greek breeding demands total commitment from my wife, Nina. Remember that,' he'd advised. 'It will hold you in good stead if you ever consider cheating on me.'
 
'But I am not to demand the same of you, I suppose?' 'Before we met? No,' he'd said. 'The double standard raising its ugly head,' he had admitted drily. 'But since we met?' He'd pressed a final kiss to her lips before moving away from her. 'I give you leave to beat me to within an inch of my life if you ever catch me with another woman.'    

Yet Another Fav Scene:

'As I have just confessed-to my eternal folly, I should imagine-I am your slave for life to do with as you will. I will be content to sit at your feet if that is all you will allow me to do.'
 

My Review:

The heroine's father has a heart attack and the heroine thinks it's the hero's fault.  It's not: the hero is actually the man the father went to for help, because the heroine's fiance is blackmailing him.  The hero is totally whipped by the heroine and has been stalking her like prey socially for months and months.  He wants her badly and just by looking at him the heroine knows this and is scared of how he makes her feel.  With the father's ill health, and the pressure of the heroine having a fiance the hero wants to get rid of, the hero blackmails her into marrying him.  Once they are married, the passion between them bonds them and the heroine really grows as a confident woman.  The heroine's father's health deteriorates though, and when he dies, the rules of their bargain will change... will their marriage end?         

Whew to intense passion.  I was pleased that the hero wasn't with anyone else from the moment he met the heroine, when he fell for her.  He fell like a ton of bricks for her, and I loved how at the end he said the heroine must be the only one who didn't know that the hero was in love with her, everyone else in their circle did.  Throughout the book he showed the depth of his feelings: when he got drunk that time at the start it was because of her, he kissed the finger he'd placed his ring on with such tenderness, and he won't let her leave him even when he knows he should.  I loved the intensity of this book, passions were flying high and gosh, I had like fifteen favourite scenes, there were so many good parts.  I love Michelle Reid books, so passionate, always faithful once the H/h meet.           

I got a slight nasty taste in my mouth when the hero so casually dismissed his past lovers by saying "there were probably a hundred and one other women before you, but there won't be anyone else now".  Yeesh.  The hero made such a big deal about being possessive and being his heroine's only lover ever (she was a virgin) but it's ok for him to casually tell his innocent bride that she can't be jealous that he's bedded women nearing the triple digit mark?  Not ok and just spoiled the hero's possessiveness for me.  I actually would have rather had the hero have had only a dozen other lovers and have him in a steady relationship with the Louisa character, rather than have him imply to the heroine that he slept around so casually when she's not allowed to be so casual.   

My Rating: 4/5 stars, huge passion, wow.