Liviania’s review of Greek Tycoon, Wayward Wife by Sabrina Philips
Contemporary romance released by Harlequin Presents 1 June 2010
In my infinite wisdom, I pick Harlequin Presents titles to read almost at random. But not Greek Tycoon, Wayward Wife. I chose it because I enjoyed Prince of Montéz, Pregnant Mistress by Sabrina Philips. Unfortunately, my confidence in Philips was misplaced. Greek Tycoon, Wayward Wife is the worst sort of Big Misunderstanding novel.
Libby and Orion – Rion – Delikaris have not seen each other in five years despite being married. She believed he loved work more than her, plus he wouldn’t allow her to find something to occupy herself while he was working. She felt that he didn’t even enjoy having sex with her, and she was useless and unloved. Rion worked to become rich and successful because Libby was the daughter of motor tycoon Lord Ashford and he believed she didn’t consider him worthy of her. In short, they both believed the other to be the worst sort of person.
Greek Tycoon, Wayward Wife begins promisingly. Libby agrees to give Rion two weeks to convince her to stay with him instead of getting a divorce. Libby now works for a company that gives tours all around the world. She’s got life experience and a fulfilling job and thinks she and Rion can now make the marriage work since they’re adults instead of impulsive, infatuated kids. Rion never wanted to separate, so he should be amendable to making things work. I expected that they would talk and spend their two weeks getting to really know each other.
Nope. They just spend the time making more and more assumptions, resulting in even more unflattering portraits. At one point Rion questions what kind of person he must be to be in love with such an awful woman. I wonder about them too, since they both claim to be in love despite persistently seeing their significant other as scum. But they do eventually work all their misunderstandings out. On page 181. Of 184 pages.
I give their happy cohabitation a week.
And you want to know what makes it even worse? That job that Libby loved at the beginning of the book? It turns out she’s been missing something the entire time. Her life has been a hollow sham without Rion. Y’know, she could remain happy and fulfilled with the life she built for herself and just think that Rion improves it. But no. In retrospect, it was terrible and wretched, because she wasn’t living with a man who has a knack for making her miserable.
Despite Prince of Montéz, Pregnant Mistress, I’m not sure I’m giving Philips another chance. I like her writing, but I loath the Big Misunderstanding plot. Greek Tycoon, Wayward Wife was a steaming pile of terrible.
Grade: F
Summary:
Trembling with trepidation, Libby Delikaris braves the lion’s den to ask her Greek husband for a divorce. But he’s more merciless than Libby remembers and she suddenly finds her plan has crumbled.The infamous Rion Delikaris knew Libby would return before long. He’s been patiently waiting. No longer the boy from the slums, he’s ready to show his wife what she’s been missing!Rion’s offer: a two-week reconciliation…and he’ll make sure she honors all her wedding vows!
Read an excerpt here.
Wow, I thought my reviews were harsh! But yes, I agree with you on this one. Sadly. I gave them six months, but maybe your week is closer. It was a DNF for me, so i didn’t review it. I will review a DNF if I think I have something interesting to say, but this one, no. I’ll be looking for her next, though, because many authors have a bad one. Perhaps someone who adores the Big Mis will like it.
I’m more harsh when I’m disappointed. Now that I’m calmer, I can say I will read a Sabrina Philips in the future. Authors do have off novels, but it had to be the Big Mis plot. It annoys me even more than false love triangles.
I think your review was nasty and unkind. I read the book and had an entirely different opinion. I used to come here to read reviews, but after this one NEVER again.
I remember reading reading this book. The characters did annoy me. Not my favourite book by any means but no worse than, say another thousand books I’ve read. Although the characters did make me want to scream at them , at least I did feel something, and I did finish it. I have a VERY big TBR pile so that says something in its favour.
It’s important to remember that a review is an individual view. I know I don’t always agree with reviews. Sometimes I hate the book a reviewer loved.
LOL Lynne I don’t see it as all that harsh just an honest opinion.
That is unfortunate Sue, as a someone who used to come here I am sure you know we allow reviews that run from A to F and don’t expect everyone to agree. Where would the fun be in that? Hope to see you again, if not there are many places on the web that only post positive reviews. You might enjoy them more.
Laine that is very important to remember and something you can see from the reviews yesterday. Sandy gave Shadows at Midnight by Elizabeth Jennings an A and Ash gave it a D. Glad you enjoyed the book more than Liv did.
Word to Laine. My review is not gospel, nor do I think it is such. It’s what *I* thought about the book. I tried to be detailed about why I didn’t like it so people could pick it up if it had qualities that appealed to them.
LIv, I didn’t mean to upset you or anything. Your review was entirely fair, because you said specifically what it was you didn’t like about it and explained it. It’s always YMMV, isn’t it? I mean I hate books where children play an important part, especially the cute kind, but other readers love them. If the cover has a toddler on it, I’m out of there.
It’s unfortunate that not everyone can feel the same about a book, but this one, sadly, I agree with most of your points. One of those books where you keep asking yourself “why?”
Haha, I wasn’t upset. See, children I don’t mind in a story. I will note if they don’t act like children since I’ve been involved in childcare for nine years now. Although I will admit that babies on the cover do not entice me to read a story. They just don’t make me run in fear.