Review

Greek billionaire, gorgeous, a tad domineering, likes kids. Heart of gold.

If this is your job description of the perfect romance hero, you will not be disappointed by Michelle Reid’s latest Harlequin Presents. 

Fans of the subgenre that I call “Billionaire Fiction” will love the devilishly handsome playboy tycoon (who does not hesitate to change a diaper—love that!), the courageous, grief-stricken astrophysics-major heroine tough in the face of tragedy, and the lavish Greek mansion by the sea he whisks her off to (in his private jet of course), complete with new wardrobe and full-time nanny for her infant brother.

Calgon, take me away!  This is a Cinderella story in the Greek islands.  Zoe Kanellis is a woman who realizes her entire life has changed in a heartbeat, or as Reid tells us, “Life as she knew it had just taken a hike.”

Anton Pallis (our hero) is on a mission.  To find Theo Kanellis’s half-British heirs and bring them back to Greece after Theo’s long-estranged son has died tragically in an auto accident.  What he finds is a twenty-two year old woman caring for her baby brother in a very modest home struggling to keep it all together. 

Zoe is in dire straits.  Mourning the death of her parents, she finds herself her brother’s sole caretaker.  Their house is not paid off and is being swarmed by media eager for the news about the Kanellis fortune.

We know from the beginning that Anton controls the business interests of the ailing Theo, but he is not his heir.  Zoe, however, does not know that, and she has other reasons not to trust Anton Pallis.  He is the man who stepped into her estranged father’s shoes in the Kanellis business enterprises.  Here is how Zoe thinks of him (the wonderful British tone of the story really comes out here):

“tall and gorgeous sex-icon and seriously clever CEO of the heavyweight Pallis Group, the man who had reaped the rewards of her father’s exile.”

Anton offers Zoe sanctuary from the insistent press by offering to take her to his own home—but he accidentally-on-purpose doesn’t tell her it’s in Greece.

But then, Anton is your typical Greek tycoon, taking matters into his own hands.  Here is how he thinks:

“He was a liar and he knew it.  And the only reason why he was determined to let this continue was his belief that what he was doing was for hers and the boy’s own good.” 

When Zoe falls asleep from exhaustion, Anton takes over the baby’s care.  The baby tinkles on his expensive suit.  And when he changes the baby, the brilliant billionaire can’t figure out the snaps on the sleepsuit.  You’ve got to love a man so eager to learn—and who can’t help falling in love with the baby as well as Zoe, who affects him like no other woman.  

Reid has a real knack of describing Toby, the baby.  It’s very appealing and totally true to life.  Take this passage, for example:

 “He was wet and he was grizzly but he recognized her voice and opened his eyes when she said softly, “No one is taking you away from me, my darling.”   The baby has a “waving starfish hand” and he “utters a quivery sigh.”  These were apt and perfect descriptions that brought Toby to life. 

Reid also describes family tragedy gallantly. She accurately portrays a curmudgeony old tycoon who lost his son and his wife in the midst of a battle of wills.  He is filled with regret for having disowned his son.  Zoe responds kindly to him despite his meanness to her and I really liked that.

Reviewed by Miranda