The Blackmailed Bride’s Secret Child

~ Silhouette Desire
North America – January 2010
~ HM&B Desire
Australia & New Zealand – February 2010

ISBN-10: 0373730117 ISBN-13: 978-0373730117

Nico Jordan is about to face the woman who ripped his heart out. When he was twenty-two, he loved Beth utterly and completely – and sheleft him without a word, for his older, richer half-brother. In the intervening seven years, Beth has borne his brother a son, and Nico has become wealthy in his own right, and a renowned playboy. But the torment of knowing she belongs to his brother, Kent, has never dimmed.

Beth Jordan is relieved when Kent, the man who blackmailed her into marriage, dies – she’ll finally be free. Unfortunately her freedom won’t extend to reclaiming her lost love. Seven years ago, she left the only man she’d ever loved, Nico, to protect him. But now Nico has arrived on her doorstep, wanting to see his nephew for the first time. How will she face him once he realizes he’s the father of her son?

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CataRomance.com

"A superb story."

Sensuality Rating: Sultry
Star Rating: 5 Stars

Nico Jordan lost the will to love when his lover, Beth, left him to marry his older brother but now Nico’s brother is dead and the family wants to reconcile with Beth and her child, the only thing they have left. But Nico has an ulterior motive for being there, he wants one more night with Beth, the woman he has never forgotten, the only problem is will one night be enough to get her out of his system? And what will happen when he discovers the secrets she has been hiding from him?

Beth has always loved Nico and leaving him was the hardest thing she ever did, although she thought it was for the best. Now Nico is back and keeping the truth from him will become impossible. What will happen to them when the truth is revealed? And will they find the strength to survive the upheaval of one deranged man?

An unforgettable read of what befalls those who think that protecting someone they love from the truth is better than knowing; The Blackmailed Bride’s Secret Child is a bittersweet romance and one worth perusing. I thoroughly enjoyed Nico and Beth, their haunting passion and the child that joins them were the key to their union. Reading about their relationship and the steps that Beth took to shield Nico from learning the truth endeared me to her but I know that I wouldn’t have taken that path because blackmail can only be effective when those paying the price allow it. In the end it was all for naught because Nico discovered it anyway. The struggle to find a way to repair their lives and to create their future was well worth reading for me. I loved this book and all the intricacies of life within its pages. Thank you Ms Bailey for writing such a superb story for this reader.

Pink Heart Society

Hero Hotness Factor *****
Heroine Lovability Factor *****
Awww Factor *****
Stickability Factor *****
Weepy Factor ***
Reviewed by: Marilyn

Author Rachel Bailey has written an extremely heated and entertaining romance in The Blackmailed Bride's Secret Child. It's about secrets, betrayal and second chances set in beautiful New Zealand's wine country.

As I began reading this wonderful romance I asked myself would I be able to walk away from the love of my life, to sacrifice happiness to keep a secret that I knew would destroy him. Well that's what Beth did because her lover Nico's brother Kent, blacked mailed her into marrying him and whisked her away from Australia and took her to New Zealand. Now the very evil step-brother Kent has passed away and who should arrive on her doorstep but Nico himself to provide his condolences from his father and him.

Nico Jordan is determined to have Beth in his bed again. He's here on his father's behalf for two reasons, to meet his nephew, persuade Beth to allow access to his father to see his grandchild and to attend the launch of a new Jordan wine. However, his main goal is to bed Beth. And then walk away. He doesn't give her much of a choice because unbeknown to him, Beth still loves him. He taunts her, demands to take her to the launch and then keeps touching her and she succumbs to his charms and spends the night with him. Always first and foremost in her mind is that she can't let Nico meet Marco because when he does, he'll realize he's Marco's father.

There were so many secrets to the fabulous love story. For Nico, Beth still takes his breath away even though he fights it because he feels so betrayed that she left him for his brother and he can't seem to let it go. For Beth, she needs to find the papers her deceased husband has left hidden so that Nico and his father aren't hurt by that secret she's been keeping. Also, the fact that Marco is Nico's son and she still loves Nico.

When the inevitable happens, and Nico accidentally meets Marco, well everything changes. Their meeting will have you weeping, Ms. Bailey's has written such and sweet and moving meeting of father and son. However, it's the heartache for Beth, seeing father and son and knowing they would probably never be a family unit because of her betrayal and hurt she caused Nico. Be prepared for this roller coaster romance because you'll wonder if Nico will ever be able to forgive Beth and give her a second chance.

The Blackmailed Bride's Secret Child more then satisfies readers by giving them a fully developed love story in a short contemporary romance.

Copyright © 2010 by Harlequin Enterprises Limited
Cover Art used by arrangement with Harlequin Enterprises Limited
® and TM are trademarks owned by Harlequin Enterprises Limited or its affiliated companies, used under licence.

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