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Mentiras Por Amor: (2010)

by Jennie Lucas(Favorite Author)

3.51 of 5 Votes: 1

ISBN

0373897251 (ISBN13: 9780373897254)

languge

English

genre

Romance

publisher

Harlequin

review 1: It was readable... didn't really enjoy it because the 'hero' was a douche bag most of the time. I have a tendency to get emotionally invested in what I read and most of the time, I kept getting more and more irritated by his behaviour - dashing a tray from the hands of a maid because he's irritated that Louisa is not serving him as he ordered, keeping on harping about not wanting to sleep with an employee but doing it anyway (and justifying it in his mind) and finally, in the ultimate act of douchebaggery, he decides to separate Louisa and her son because she had the temerity to disobey his edict regarding his mother. Look, I get it, he has issues, he has traumas, yeah, but thing is, apart from his good looks and riches (all those houses!),it was difficult to find anything... more redeeming or endearing about the man. Yeah, I did see some humility but it felt fake. One bad joke, one prat fall, or even an implied sense of humour... anything to make him seem worth rooting for. And in the end, we don't get an on-his-knees, begging and utterly vulnerable love-sick lug as a pay-off for all his sins. He gets off too easily, and I felt like burning the book. Not that the heroine is all that great, her falling in love with a confirmed jerk and staying in love throughout his unheroic behaviour took away any liking I had for her too. In short, if you like guys who are handsome and rich alpha-males who are damaged, and heroines with an amazing capacity to withstand emotional abuse for their love, I recommend this book, because it is readable and it is enjoyable if you like this sort of thing.
review 2: *Review summarizes bookWhat an intense, emotional roller coaster of a ride love story this book was, and I enjoyed it. There were passionate highs and painful, emotional lows from the beginning to the end, which is what a Presents should be and why I enjoy them and why I read them. This book definitely pulled on the heartstring all the way through with my heart breaking every time the heroine would suffer a heartbreaking blow thanks to alpha hero, Rafael. And the poor girl suffered so much along the way, and she didn't even deserve it, but Rafael didn't care or look deeper only seeing it from his perspective as guidance before lashing out at her and lashing out hard and just being ass to poor, sweet, loving Louisa. He hit her so hard that I didn't think she would get back up, even though I knew cause after all that's the point of a Presents is the happily ever after, right?, especially at the last ten pages or so, and I couldn't blame her because she lost everything she valued in her life and she had nothing, but emptiness, pain, and sadness along with unreturned love. I know people who aren't fond of this genre or don't know what to expect, kind of look at the people who do love these book as being nuts for ever enjoying these stories where the alpha male is a complete jerk to the heroine, and probably ask why we tend to enjoy these types of books. And even question us in why we find these being romantic love stories where the characters fall in love along the way. And I understand from an outsider who just decides to pick up a book, not knowing where it is truly going or seeing the hero as an ass who doesn't deserve the love of the heroine anyway, and why she would even put up with his crap and just leave him and find someone else because she could do much better than him. And outside people may not understand why fans like it so much or even considered it a love story at all, which is kind of the reason why these books get a bad rap or looked down upon. I get all that, but my answer to that question is it doesn't make the journey any less fun or less passionate. And people have to remember this is a fantasy not real life, and no woman would, or should, put up with the characters crap in real life if he did what the hero did to the heroine in the book. No way. These books are just meant be fun and for entertainment purposes only where a reader can enjoy the passionate, romantic journey. Yes, the heroine is usually being unfairly hurt and hurt badly by the hero's treatment of her, but hey that's Presents for ya, and I know it doesn't seem fairly romantic or is fair, but again that's the genre. And the hero eventually makes for his behavior in the end up, declaring his undying devotion and love for her, otherwise my opinion would be vastly different of these books. But as a reader of Presents for many, many, many years, these types of books draw me in as well as countless others and we know pretty much what's going to happen in the end so we can relax and take his behavior as a grain a salt and enjoy the romantic and passionate ride that we are going on, and know going in what to expect. I think, at least for me, the reason why we love the jerky alpha male and the innocent heroine who gets treated unfairly in the beginning of the book by the harsh male is because that it adds to the romantic/sexual tension in the book, which is what all readers of this genre expect and relish. It just the love/hate thing really adds to the tension like I said and the passion later on with some very hot scenes between the couple, which is the reason you read a romance in the first place. It's for the passion and heat leaping off the page, which readers crave and want from romance. Again this is not reality so we can more or less be forgiven of the hero because he learns the error of his ways, redeems himself, and loves the heroine whole heartedly and makes some romantic gesture in the end. It also helps that the alpha male is gorgeous that will give the heroine some passionate nights along the way so that's another plus, and eventually he eats crow, which pretty much all Presents alpha males tend to do and what we like to see. Again its expected of this genre, and even though the hero is cruel and a jerk in the beginning that just adds to the conflict as well as the tension between the pair, and when that tension gives, passion explodes on the page right before our eyes, which is totally the point.I don't know why I went on a big tirade on the subject of Presents book, but I guess I just wanted to clarify why I like these types of books and why I really liked this one as well despite Rafael being very cruel to Louisa, in fact he was one of the cruelest alpha heroes I have read in a long time, but I still enjoyed this book very much despite all that, and it had very much to do with the tension in this book, which really sold it for me especially the further and further it went along. Now, was it perfect, no I had my gripes about it especially with our alpha male and at times I didn't like him much, and who could blame with the crap he pulled on Louisa, but even though I wasn't thrilled with him a lot of the time that still didn't stop my enjoyment of this book and this story, and hurting for Louisa along the way. And the passion between the pair was smoking, which is what every great Presents should had. I probably explained this all in the first paragraph, but I am doing it again because it bears repeating.Anyway this book started off with Louisa in Istanbul, managing Rafael's homes around the globe, basically she was the head housekeeper that kept everything running like a well oiled machine. She had been there for a month, escaping Rafael in the process after their one night stand in Paris, not wanting the embarrassment or having to look at him while he dated tons and tons of women along the way, which would have been tortuous for because she was in love with him (and still was). So she transferred to his house in Istanbul to avoid him and keeping her mind busy so she didn't think about him while working to make the mansion a real home for Rafael. So, she hoped to put him and the one night stand behind her, but wasn't easy especially when she thought she could be pregnant with his child, making her very nervous because she knew he would be livid if he found out and would probably hate her since he made it clear he didn't want to get married or have children. She was freaking out a bit, and it didn't help that he would be arriving in a few short days for a birthday party that she was setting up for him so she knew he was coming. And even though she knew it would be hard for her to see him, she didn't think the same would apply to him, thinking he forgot about her and their night together, figuring he was with a different beautiful woman each night and just found her easily forgettable in her camouflage, baggy clothing and her glasses, making her look plain and geek and resulting in her not attracting any unwanted attention, though she got Rafael's attention at least that one night. So, he arrived and let the tenseness begin. Her heart was breaking because he was very aloof and distant with her, seemingly not having thought about her the entire time she was away, but he was also sad too and Louise could immediate feel his pain despite her still being attracted to him and thinking of their one night together. She even asked what was wrong, but he kept his distance, but ordered her to bring him some lunch, showing her that he just saw her as a servant nothing more, which upset her, and she told herself that she would never fall under his spell again.Of coarse that didn't happen because once she brought up his food and they were alone his sadness along with their sexual tension hit and all time high. He needed her (physical), having thought about her all this time while she was away and still wanting her, to numb the pain of just having come from his father's, who he never met, which he blamed his mother for because she just gave him his name when his father died, funeral, knowing he would never know his true father. So, he needed her and yes he used her and her attraction for her to get his way so he could numb that pain. But the passion was there and it was hot, really hot, which resulted in that month apart and not being each other, so it was pretty desperate, but no less passionate and fun to watch. Rafael convinced Louisa to come away with him on a private Greek Island, who was owed by a man he considered his enemy/competitor, and to be his mistress for the next two days while away from it all. Her still being in love with him agreed because she knew she would never get this opportunity with him again and she wanted to have this one last, sweet, passionate memory of him before the big boom was dropped on her and he would pull away and hate her forever. So, they had a hot steamy liaison on that private island with both enjoying every moment of it, keeping reality away and only focusing on each other. And it was paradise. The climate was hot as well as their love scenes, and it was just idyllic world for them.That quickly came to a crashing halt once they returned to Istanbul and back to reality the night of his birthday party. She found out she was in fact pregnant with his child and planned to tell him after the party was over feeling he had the right to know even if he hated her. He treated her like a servant and nothing more while acting like nothing happened between them on the island, pushing her away. Louisa tried not to show him how much that hurt her by doing her job and acting as the head housekeeper so his party went off without a hitch. She even made him his favorite dessert for him to show how much she did care about him, but he ignored that. And he even degraded her and her outfit when she tried to dress up for him in order to please him, but he didn't take it too kindly, she thought it was because he had more beautiful woman at the party and she couldn't compare to them while he was jealous of every man's eyes on her including that of his Greek rival, who inquired on the availability of Louisa, which made him crazy.And then here was one of my beefs with Rafael was that he took this rivals story to heart about Louisa, and how she and her sister supposedly set up Louisa's boss to bed her sister, despite the fact he was engaged to Louisa, and her sister later got married once her sister got pregnant, which was painful enough for Louisa at the time. So, the Greek rival kind of warned Rafael about her and insinuating that Louisa was a gold digger looking for her pay day and that he needed to be careful around her, which got Rafael, thinking how he never used protection with her because she said she was on the Pill and now he wondered if she was lying and would be looking for a pay day like the Greek said, and this made him livid and felt she lied and betrayed him so he went to confront her. Why the heck would he believe anything his rival said even for a minute without talking to her first, and instead take his word like it was the gospel truth and nothing more. Hello, he was your rival, dummy, who clearly wanted to Louisa for himself, didn't the Greek would have said anything just to cause problems between the pair and in order for Rafael to throw her over then Mr. Greek could take over after that. Why didn't he even question that or thought of that is beyond me, but he didn't and confronted her with his hasty judgments. And the confrontation wasn't a happy one as anyone could imagine and in fact was downright cruel and heartless, making her out to be this merciless woman.While Louisa, who was nervous already to speak to him about the baby, was horrified had to listen to his cruel hurtful words that came out of his mouth, feeling blow after blow to her heart especially with the knowledge that she loved him and even admitted to him that she did and realized the words didn't have and effect on him and he didn't feel the same for her or even care about her in anyway since he was having this conversation with her. He even threatened her when he asked whether or not she was pregnant or not that they would marry, but he would make her life miserable in the process, making her hurt over and over again until she was nearly broken. Who girl wouldn't want to sign up for that especially with the man that she loved? So, after hearing the terms of what he would do if was in fact pregnant with his child, what did she do. She lied, and who could blame not wanting to sign up for that pain throughout the years especially when she didn't do anything wrong and getting accidentally on purpose not understanding the implications of her having the stomach flu and the effectiveness of the Pill, so she believed she was covered and protected. So, yes she lied, but I totally get why she did and had every reason to especially with how he was currently treating her. Rafael felt immense relief at the news and felt slightly guilty for being so unfair to her, realizing how cruel he was and immediately apologized to her. A little too late buddy especially sticking a knife in her heart at his words and how little he thought about her, and response to his harsh words she quit and never wanted to see him ever again, resolving she would raise the baby on her own with much love. Sixteen months go by, and Louisa was in Florida with her sister running a bakery and supporting her eight month old son, Noah and moving on with her life not (or trying to) not to think about Rafael, which was hard since Noah looked like him. She loved her son very much and felt she made the right decision in keeping Rafael in the dark, and she was content.Of coarse Rafael showed up and her world went into a tailspin and she freaked out that he would learn about Noah, and tried to stir him away. But Rafael wasn't going anywhere until he had his say. He apologized of his treatment of her again and then asked her to come back into his life first as his housekeeper then as his mistress, having missed and kept on wanting her the entire time she was gone. He wanted her back in his life, feeling he was missing his friend and lover and didn't really want to live without. He tried to persuade her, feeling desperate to have her back, and did it as gently as possible, but she refused. He was heartbroken and was at loss of what to do, and just sad. But really could he even really blame her for rejecting his offer because even if for him it was a big deal he really wasn't offering her much aside from his body, or at least that's what she believed anyway, but still he felt he should have been able to convince and he couldn't. So he was sad at that point.But boy did all that change and switch got flipped when he found out about having son, and suddenly he was livid and flashing with temper over what she did to him having denied him his son. And even though I understand his point and why he was so upset that he was denied his son for all those months, but he also had to remember how that confrontation came about when he asked if she was pregnant or not. He was cruel, mean, harsh, and just a jerk to her that entire conversation and to add it to all he said he would make her life a living hell if she was pregnant with his child. What women would admit to be being pregnant after that, knowing what would happen to her in the process when she made an honest mistake. Did he really think she would have admitted to it after that? Really? That's crazy, but that was what he expected of her so when he found out the news once again he felt lied to (which he was) and betrayed by her actions and vowed to make her pay and again make her life a living hell. Again she would have be damned if she told him the first time like she was gonna do and damned when he did find out about Noah so she was really in a no win situation. He forced her to marry him otherwise he would take Noah away from her just like he was denied time with his son. She agreed not wanting to be separated from Noah, and knew she was signing up for the same marriage that he told her the first time and even confirmed that saying that he would own her completely, using her body and her household skills while not giving her anything in return including himself, giving her a very lonely marriage where she would be all but broken. And he wanted he broken and hurt her in every way possible, which was really just heartless and cruel in its own right, but with her still loving him it would have been even worse.He used her body, and kept her at an emotional distance, doing what he vowed to do to her, but she refused to cower and let him push her away. So, she did her best to show him her love and devote to him by creating a home for their little family hoping to win him over and she put her heart and soul into it, but he didn't really respond and kept himself closed off. Then his mother came to town, who he still blamed about not giving his father name, and they all had dinner together, but he vowed it would be the last time and made Louise promise not to allow his mother to see Noah ever again or he would take Noah away from Louisa. Louisa disagreed with his view on things, and thought he needed to forgive his mother so his soul could heal, and decided to try to help him forgive his mother and even went to see her along with Noah.Once she told Rafael this, he went ballistic, feeling betrayed once again by her, and needing to get her where it hurts, he did the most cruel thing anyone could do to a mother and that was to take Noah away. And he actually did it, this monstrous thing to Louisa, who was utterly broken once Rafael and Noah left, feeing she had nothing left anymore and curled up on the floor. I hated Rafael for this, I don't care what he thought Louisa did, or how betrayed he felt, he had no right to do that to her. It was just beyond cruel and would be for any mother, and he did it anyway. I just couldn't believe it. It was just wrong on so many levels, and my heart broke for poor Louisa, who thought she lost them both forever. Just that really gutted me, and it was hard to look at him in the same way again, and make likable again, and in my view I am sure he did. Of coarse truths come out and he realized the mistake he made, and sent Noah back to Louisa, realizing what he did to her and regretted it and tried to make it up to her by sending gifts, but she refused them, as she should, but eventually the meet up, and he declared his love for her and she forgave him, which I thought she did too quickly, and he didn't do enough. He could have groveled a lot more than he did, and he deserved to because what he did was really crummy and he had big making ups to do, but he doesn't do much. He should have been on his knees begging for forgiveness, but he doesn't happen. And she forgave him too easily, and they got their happily ever after even though I am not sure he totally deserved quite yet. I think he needed to do a bit more in my opinion, but I give her much credit for forgiving him so easily I don't know if I would have until he really proved it to me as well as his feelings. He needed a big gesture like buying her the house in Istanbul that she liked, but that didn't happen. But it didn't diminish the enjoyment of the book for me either because I thoroughly enjoyed it with Jennie Lucas totally delivering on this emotional, passionate journey that we take with the characters even though he wasn't my favorite hero or liked him that much or even redeemed himself in my eyes. It was still a winner in my view with me drawing me in as I followed them along in their heart wrenching tale of the pair that got their happily ever after. Well done Jennie Lucas, you know how to rip out ones heart, that's for sure. Can't wait to read more in the future by you. less

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