A Passionate Marriage by Michelle Reid (HP 2307)

Reviewed by Janet85 on August 1st, 2008, 12:15am

by Michelle Reid

Format: Print Books

Series: Harlequin Presents

Back Cover:

Greek tycoon Leandros Petronades married Isobel on the heels of a wild affair. But, within a year, the marriage crashed and burned.

Three years later Leandros wants to finalize their divorce. He's found a girl who will make him a suitable wife…so unlike fiery Isobel! But face-to-face again with Isobel in Athens, Leandros is in for a shock: their all-consuming mutual attraction is just as strong as ever! Suddenly, his plan has changed and he's ready to tame his headstrong wife…by whatever means it takes!

Spoiler Warning: All my reviews contain spoilers to some degree  

Favourite Scene:

'Tell me about Clive Sanders.'
There was the reason for it.
She laughed, it was that surreal. He dared to demand an explanation from her after three years of nothing? Walking back to the table, she leaned against it, placed the flat of her palms on its top then looked him hard in the face. 'Sex,' she lied. 'I'm good at it, if you recall. Clive thinks so too. He...'
The table was no obstacle. He was around it before she could say another word. The cat-like analogy had not been conjured up out of nowhere; when he pounced he did it silently. In seconds she was lying flat on her back with him on top of her, and in no seconds at all she was experiencing a different kind of sensation.

Another Fav Scene:  (emotional moment, confronting whether they can take their rings off and say goodbye to the marriage)

Once he had her gaze, he drew it down with the slow lowering of his lashes and let her watch as he worked his own ring free from his finger then placed it next to hers.  

Grovelling Scene: (I love that the hero laid himself down, was vulnerable)

I do not think of you as a trophy, a puppet or a thing of mockery. And I don't stalk you, I follow you like some bloody faithful pet dog who does not want to be anywhere else but where you are.'
He came to a stop in front of her. Her eyes were dark, her mouth small and her hair was stuck in a pony-tail. She was wearing combat trousers and a tough-lady vest top but there were tears sliding down both smooth cheeks.
'If I loved you any more than I do already they would have to put me away because I would be dangerous,' he continued huskily.  

My Review:

This was an intense story about a "passionate" marriage.  They came together in a whirlwind when they first met, then got tested by the stresses of real life and interfering family, and separated for three years after a miscarriage.  Now the hero thinks it's time to end the marriage, get a divorce.  The moment he sees her walk into the boardroom to discuss the divorce with their lawyers, something hits him.  They lock eyes and declare war.  They soon end up alone in the boardroom and cavorting on the table.  In his eyes, the marriage is back on. 

They really understand each other.  The hero has a lot of insight into his heroine and knows who she is and why she does what she does.  He doesn't need to have everything explained to him to vindicate his heroine: he doesn't blame her for the failure of their marriage and wants her treated with respect no matter what went between them.  I really liked that the heroine wasn't a perfect peach of a woman with a calming disposition: the hero calls her a "bitch" but it's not with malice, it's with a laughing grudging admiration.  Her fiery personality turns him on and he loves her for it.  I like that once the hero found out his sister had been telling "unkind rubbish" to his wife, which led to his wife leaving him, he gave her this look that said "I'm going to rake you over the coals".  

Fidelity (for both) during a three year separation was nice: the hero yells at the heroine when he thinks she's having an affair, it's only fair that he himself hasn't had an affair, otherwise I'd call the hypocrisy police. 

My Rating: 4/5 stars, another great MR book, a great H/h who match so well.  I would call this book more realistic than escapist, if that classification means anything in an HP.  They understand and love each other flaws and all.