In order to secure the Greek island resort he’s always wanted, ruthless tycoon Zander Volakis needs to change his image—fast!

The only person who can help him is the woman who betrayed him five years ago: his wife!

But Lauranne O’Neill refuses to work with Zander. He has the power to ruin her life again.

To play with Zander is to play with fire . . . ! Her refusal leaves Zander with only one choice: he will buy her back and blackmail her until she’s his.

This title is a standalone within the Greek Tycoons line of Harlequin Presents.  The series page at Amazon for these titles (that are at this time in the Kindle Unlimited subscription) can be found here:  Greek Tycoons (22 books)

This story may contain language, possible violence, and/or sexual situations geared to an adult 18+ audience.

Title:  The Greek’s Blackmailed Wife
Series:  ~Standalone~ in the Greek Tycoons mini-series
Author:  Sarah Morgan
Published:  2004 Original, Reissue November 2022
Publisher:  Harlequin Presents
My Rating:  4 stars

The Greek’s Blackmailed Wife is an intense standalone Contemporary Romance in the Harlequin Presents line.  It was originally published in 2004, yet it reads as though it could have taken place yesterday.  I have to say that I’m grateful that so many Harlequin titles are now within Kindle Unlimited.  My book budget only goes so far (you, too?), and being able to read some of my favorite authors’ earlier works or even new-to-me authors is a delight.

Lauranne and Zander married quickly in the heat of passion. For Lauranne, it was love, intense in all of its emotions.  For Zander, it was intense passion, obsession even.  Zander has no clue how to identify love; he’d deny he’s even capable of it.  Their passionate marriage lasted a little more than two months before outside manipulation would have them both believing the other had cheated on them, destroying what emotional commitment they had made to each other.  Zander lashed out immediately.  He demanded she leave at once. He fired Lauranne on the spot, in front of his staff, people she had worked with, tossed her away like yesterday’s garbage, destroying her reputation, her chance at a livelihood, ripping apart her dreams… but he never divorced her.

And five long years later, when he needed her talent at recreating his image almost instantly, he didn’t see why she would say no.  The passion was still there between them, easily proven, and when Zander didn’t get his way, of course, he blackmailed her into the recreation of his image.  The billionaire who owned an island that Zander has tried to purchase for years has tossed down the gauntlet, and unless Zander cleans up his act, he’ll never have that island.  Lauranne was going to help him… one way or another.

I firmly believe that every single reader reads a different version of the same book.  I’ve read the reviews for Lauranne and Zander’s story, and there is a very wide range of stars, varying opinions, and, perhaps surprisingly, I believe that each one was right for that person.  Yes, there were so many “Greek men act this way” stereotypes that I soon ignored them.  She remained celibate for five years, from the trauma and the wish to disappear… remember, Zander destroyed her, so she wasn’t up to dating ever again, even if she was still technically married.  I read those statements as the fact that she still loved the guy, and had no interest in men, period, simply kept her head down and recreated her life from almost scratch for herself.  I think that the varying reviews for The Greek’s Blackmailed Wife prove my point that no two people ever read the same book.

Frankly, I enjoyed their story.  Even if Zander didn’t know how to speak love words due to his upbringing, he showed love.  They were torn apart by one manipulative woman, and one jealous action simply intensified those false beliefs.  The fact that Lauranne was the only person he ever spoke to about his grandmother and his connection to this particular island speaks volumes (to me) about his feelings for his wife.  I liked the story, I’d recommend it… with the comment that everyone is going to take away something different from this passionate, intricate romance.

I read this title through my Kindle Unlimited subscription.

This title is available at Amazon (affiliate link)