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The Ruthless Magnate's Virgin Mistress (2008)

by Lynne Graham(Favorite Author)

3.67 of 5 Votes: 5

ISBN

0373127871 (ISBN13: 9780373127870)

languge

English

genre

Romance

publisher

Harlequin

series

Virgin Brides, Arrogant Husbands

review 1: I do enjoy a feisty Lynne Graham read, although I ration them because I know she'll do anything to make the heroine a virgin, even if she was married or even is a mother, and it just gets annoying. (I rarely read all her series because what are the odds that 3 women in their mid-twenties or even 30s who have never met are all virgins...plus she often writes books with characters who have zero morality...if I have to read about a 25-35 year old virgin I'd like her to at least have some ideals about it, not be a pathetic, dysfunctional person who has no sexual feelings but falls into bed with a wild man who does threesomes and essentially treats women like prostitutes or blow-up dolls that move). So it was semi-refreshing to meet virgin widow Abbey, who was at least hold... moreing herself to her perception of an ideal love (but of course there is really no good reason articulated why she hasn't started dating nice men after six years of widowhood...she intends to wither away her whole life in fidelity to a memory of love from her age 19 who died on their wedding day, conveniently pre-consummation, which makes her pretty pathetic...I better believe the dysfunctional, abused virgin who feels so bad about herself she can't imagine undressing for a guy). Even though hero was a womanizer and there was not much morality in his treatment of women or in heroine's giving herself to this guy just like that (basically, she's finally horny after all these years), he's the kind I can believe will change (he can't emotionally connect because his childhood damaged him...the manwhores with decent upbringings don't work for me because I can't escape the reality that they will NOT transform into faithful guys just because they come into contact with a hymen). And there is some evidence that his innate decency causes him to genuinely care about heroine after he outs her first husband as a cheater...hero can actually be seen growing to care for heroine and wanting to be worthy of her. So a bit formulaic (all a womanizer needs is a challenge for a few days and he'll fall into lifelong love and fidelity). But fun dialogue and great to see hero be a fairly decent guy who really has to work for heroine at first and deals with jealousy of her feelings for another (albeit deceased) guy. I found the idea of juxtaposing a virgin heroine with an offer by 3 women to be used by him at once to be...gross, not hot. I hate when Lynne Graham and other HP authors insist on a heroine with no prior sexuality but include hot scenes for a manwhore hero with other women...don't they realize they are just underscoring that no such "hotness" will ever happen with the virgin heroine. Men who indulge in such things DO NOT become faithful husbands. They are the married guys hitting on girls at a bar....I see them all the time :). Sounds like he didn't indulge but still, that was sad for those bright, accomplished women and a jarring note in the book. I liked heroine's connection to the talented PAs and the way she shared credit...hate that he has to get rid of them because he couldn't create an appropriate working environment. Tired of the sexed up PA lacking in professionalism...it's just a way to demonize all non-virgins (they must be whores).
review 2: I liked this story right off the bat! Heroine Abbey was more than just another Harlequin Presents doormat and she wasn't overly spunky where she bit off everyone's head just to appear strong. Nikolai was the generic Harlequin Presents hero but I like how Ms. Graham gave him a reason for his coldness. The story started out pretty promising but took a quick turn down to the usual generic HP storyline and ultimate ending. I liked seeing the subplot with the heroine's brother fighting a gambling addiction. This was a nice enjoyable book to pass the time but I probably won't be adding it to my keeper shelf. less

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