REVIEW: Alexei’s Passionate Revenge by Helen Bianchin

Alexei’s Passionate Revenge by Helen Bianchin is a slow burning, sensual, second chance romance.

Alexei Delandros is out for revenge. He’d been in love with Natalya Montgomery but their relationship had come to an abrupt end, one that also resulted in him being unceremoniously removed from his job and her orbit. Years later, he’s become a wealthy businessman and has bought her father’s company in a takeover. For her part in shunning him all those years ago, he’ll blackmail her into being his personal assistant by promising to keep certain details of her father’s life out of the press.

Natalya has no choice but to go along with Alexei’s plans, though she is equally bitter over how their relationship ended. As far as she knows, Alexei dropped out of her life with no explanation, leaving her with a broken heart. Why he wants to torment her now by keeping her at his beck and call is a mystery. The attraction that brought them together in the first place flares again, and their long days together eventually spill over into passionate nights. Can they find their way back to what they once had?

This is my first time reading this author. I enjoyed the characters and the plot idea. It’s made clear right away that Natalya’s father is the reason for their initial breakup and that both think the other is at fault. It’s a matter of waiting for them to bring it out into the open. In this, the pacing of the story was slow. I didn’t really find much of a build up of sexual tension as Natalya and Alexei go about their business days, and there’s a lot of detail about their meetings, and Natalya’s time spent at the gym, and general minutiae that, while somewhat interesting, did nothing to bring them together. It’s not until well into the the second half of the story that they confront their past, engage in some sensual and intimate scenes (which were well written and enjoyable) and then coast to their happy ever after. I’m not sure if this is typical of the author’s writing so while this one fell flat for me, there were enough things I enjoyed to try reading another of her works.
 

Book Info:

Publication: Dec 19, 2017 | Harlequin Presents |

Reunited…Natalya Montgomery thought she was over Alexei Delandros, but working with him again rekindles old feelings and promises of the intense ardor they once shared. But if Natalya once held Alexei’s heart, now she only holds his contempt…For revenge!Natalya’s love almost destroyed Alexei; their lust blinded him to the truth about her. But the formidable Greek won’t be fooled again! Natalya will pay for her betrayal in the most passionate way Alexei knows, and his vengeance will be all the more sweet…