Flora's Defiance
Flora's Defiance
Publisher: Mills & Boon (21 Jan 2011), Harlequin (Apr 2011). ISBN-10: 026388628X, ISBN-13: 978-0263886283
Women fall over themselves to say yes to anything Angelo van Zaal wants - so he's shocked when proud redhead Flora Bennett says no to his plans! Flora is determined to adopt her baby niece, despite Angelo's assumption that he will have guardianship. And, although he's annoyed with himself for wanting her, Flora annoys Angelo even more by avoiding the shimmer of sexual attraction between them. There has to be a way to make Flora obey all his wishes, and there is - only it involves an unexpected pregnancy and three more babies...
(From the Secretly Pregnant, Conveniently Wed trilogy).
5 Stars - Mills & Boon
Rubcale
In the current surfeit of Mediterranean and desert settings it was highly refreshing to have a story set in the Netherlands - I can't even remember any since the late great Betty Neels.
Admittedly Angelo is half-Spanish but the Dutch Spanish mix makes for a highly intriguing character and as so often Mrs Graham's heroine Flora is quirky and able to give as good as she gets!
Although the "accidently pregnant" plot is becoming very familiar now, with her slightly different take on it and written with her trademark humour this provided a few hours great escapism!
5 Stars - Mills & Boon
Susie
This was a lovely book. The main charactors were nice and the story was an easy read.
5 Stars - Amazon Customer Reviews
Katie Howe
This is the second in the 'Secretly Pregnant' trilogy which began with Naive Bride, Defiant Wife. It tells the story of Flora who has sworn off men since she was sexually harrassed in the work place and lost her high flying job as a result.
There's no nonsense with Flora. She's intelligent, capable, independant and has built a new life for herself running a Bed and Breakfast in a small village in England. She's hoping to adopt her niece Mariska who has lost both her parents to a car crash. Angelo, step brother of Mariska's father is also hoping to adopt the child and this is the basis of the story. There's confusion... Angelo has a false impression of Flora due to a less than favourable Private Investigator report. Flora is well aware that he doesn't like her but doesn't know why. She decides that since he dislikes her for no reason, then she's perfectly within her rights to dislike him too. The sparks fly between them and the sexual tension is hot. When Flora gets pregnant she discovers the real Angelo and vice versa.
Angelo is the typical Alpha make but I loved the way that Lynne concentrated on his nurturing side with this story. I also loved Flora's independance, she had no need of either Angelo's money or his position in society. They get to know each other gradually over the course of the story and the ending is pure romance. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and I'm looking forward to the final part of the trilogy.
5 Stars - Amazon Customer Reviews
Uenna
The second book in the `secretly pregnant' series from LG sees two unlikely pair united by tragedy and had to put aside their dislikes and prejudice of one another for the best interest of the little girl Mariska orphaned by the tragedy that claimed her parents. Her father was step-brother to the Hero Angelo van Zaal, the multibillionaire and aristocratic business man based in Amsterdam and her mother was the step-sister of Flora Bennet who runs a bed and breakfast business in a little English village Chalbury St Helen where she now lives following the trauma of losing her high flying city job.
Both wanted to adopt Mariska individually, already Angelo had been involved in her care long before the accident that claimed her parents. Flora on the other hand could not compete with his wealth but can give her niece a loving home and being a woman she felt that she was the better candidate. Did they ever hear of working together to give her the best that both of them could? Events came to their aid when in a moment of weakness or lust they ended up in each others arms, the result was that they were now forced to put aside their own dislikes and personal agenda and think of what was best for Mariska and their unborn children.
Both characters were well matched, Flora was no shrinking willow, she gave Angelo a run for his money in the obstinacy stakes, sometimes her stubbornness made her look like she was cutting off her nose to spite her face. Angelo was also very impressive in the way he showed his caring and patient side. Despite being portrayed as ruthless, he was very gentle, patient, understanding and willing to do whatever was necessary for the best interest of those under his care. This is a common M&B theme where two people have to come together in a marriage of convenience to look after an orphan. I liked the fact that LG did not take that route with this couple but allowed them to work through their differences and get to know each other before cupid took over and gave them a romantic and deserving ending. It was refreshing but there was not enough intrigue and high drama which one has come to expect from LG'S books, but it made up for it with some hilarious banter and quirky oneliners. I look forward to the last book in the series.
5 Stars - Mills & Boon
Butterfly
Thank goodness for another Lynne Graham book. I was not keen on the Netherlands setting, but that aside, loved the book.
