REVIEW: The Greek’s Blackmailed Mistress by Lynne Graham

In The Greek’s Blackmailed Mistress by Lynne Graham Xan will do anything to have Elvi in his bed, even if it means blackmailing her. In exchange, he’ll drop the theft charges her mom is facing. Knowing she has no choice, Elvi agrees, but soon she finds herself falling in love. Will she be able to show Xan that their relationship is worth giving a real chance or will she walk away before she gets hurt?

”But you’re trying to buy me with a bribe!” Elvi condemned furiously.
“And if the offer suits you, I’ll drop the theft charge. That’s how negotiations work in this world, Elvi. You give, I give. It really is that basic—”
“But it’s blackmail!” Elvi accused heatedly, increasingly unnerved by his shattering level of inhuman self-control.
“No, it’s not. You have a choice. Whether you choose to accept my offer or not is entirely up to you,” Xan pointed out with precision. “Think it over for a week…”

This story had its ups and downs for me because while I found the hero to be cold and callous at various times throughout this story, I really liked the heroine because she’s feisty, resilient and willing to do anything for family, even though it seems she doesn’t have much choice. Not if she wants to protect those she loves. Will she be able to protect her stepmother and brother? However, it was from the moment the hero and heroine come face-to-face for the first time where this story really takes off, as Elvi had me reading quickly, determined to discover what decision she’d make and whether she could hold up her end of the bargain, especially when she’s at a disadvantage in dealing with a man like Xan.

As for the dialogue, it was intense due to the main characters back stories and I could understand why Xan is so ruthless since he’s had to work hard to get to where he is and never had anyone support him the way the heroine has her family. Moreover, the hero is confident and I liked how determined he is to get what he wants. Then again, he knows Elvi is caught between a rock and a hard place and will make the right choice because she’s loyal to those she loves. However, I thought the hero’s treatment of the heroine was absolutely punitive at times in that he expects her to fall in line with everything he says when it comes to the way she dresses and where she lives. Will Elvi agree or fight tooth and nail to get what she wants? Since no way will she ever fit into the hero’s world. They’re too different.

”You were what?” Elvi prompted with frustration.
“”Hurt…Ok? I was hurt!” Xan finally got that word out and grimaced. “Because by the time I got to our wedding today I knew I wanted and needed you round the clock and that somehow you had made me fall passionately in love with you, which explains why I continue to screw everything up. Passion and logic don’t work well together and the way you make me feel often leaves me feeling like I’m clinging to sanity by my fingernails alone.”

Overall, Ms. Graham has delivered a read that I liked in this book where the chemistry between this couple is strong due to the fact that they’re enemies because of what happened and what the hero expects of the heroine; the romance was nicely-detailed and had me liking that the hero went against everything he ever does when it comes to women since he doesn’t do virgins, and yet, he needed Elvi; and the ending had me loving that the hero finally realized that love is a good thing and worth fighting for, especially with the surprise the heroine has. I would recommend The Greek’s Blackmailed Princess by Lynne Graham, if you enjoy the enemy to lovers trope or books by authors Abby Green, Maya Blake, Kate Hewitt and Jennie Lucas.
 

Book Info:

Publication: September 1st, 2018 | Harlequin Presents |

‘I do have an option to offer you.’ Three months between the Greek’s sheets!

Blackmailed into the billionaire’s bed? Elvi can’t believe her attempt to appeal to heartless Xan’s benevolent side has gone so wrong! But to save her step-mother’s job, she nervously agrees to the Greek’s outrageous terms. Xan is gorgeous with a damaged side only Elvi sees – but how will he react when he realises that his new mistress is an innocent virgin?