Forgotten Mistress, Secret Love-Child

Alessandro feels drawn to Carys when he sees her photo in a brochure, although he doesn't remember their affair due to amnesia following an accident. When he discovers Carys has had his child, he strong-arms her into marrying him by threatening to get sole custody. Carys is a well developed character, but Alessandro is the typical Harlequin alpha male. His background story and motivations are clichéd: A past betrayal causes him to distrust Carys's loyalty. The reasons for Carys's problems in the relationship are more unique and interesting. Despite the stock hero, the novel is enjoyable because the couple works out their issues in a (more or less) believable manner, and the wedding night sex scene is spicy. The novel is not without its bad lines, though--my favorite being, "Her skin tasted clean and sweet, like spring flowers made of flesh." [SPOILER] I have a small problem with the plot: The author never explains why Alessandro didn't get any of the messages Carys left on his private number or the emails she sent regarding the baby. But this is a minor omission, and I think Harlequin fans will find the book quite satisfying.

Forgotten Mistress, Secret Love-Child was one powerful and emotional romance that shimmered with a sensuality that will melt your heart. It was author Annie West's first reunion love story which began with a twist when the handsome Alessandro Mattani who was suffering from a form of amnesia recognized a woman in a Melbourne hotel brochure. He's certain he's known her sometime in his past and that they were lovers. Sandro has learned from a very early age to guard his heart, neither to trust nor love. He's a hardworking and ruthless millionaire and he's determined to get to the bottom of how he knows this woman and why he's certain she walked out on him. So he leaves Italy and goes to Melbourne hoping that by seeing her it will help him to remember the missing pieces of his life. Carys Wells is one strong, lovely and caring mother and she's determined to make a good life her for son no matter the personal cost. Even though she has asked her family for their support, they ignore her as they have for most of her life. She was different from them all and not accomplished like her siblings due to being dyslexic. Now she's working in a limited position at an upscale Melbourne hotel and is shocked when she's approached by her ex-lover and the father of her baby. The sexy and very same man who sent her away and broke her heart. She's also shocked when she learns he doesn't remember their time together. And then to make matters worse, when he learns he has a son and demands marriage her emotions are all over the place. From the very beginning I knew in my heart this couple deserved a happy ending because of everything they had been through and everything they eventually overcame. Sandro's mother left him at an early age and he had to toughen up and keep his emotions in check. As for Carys, not only the rejection from her family when her entire life she just wanted to be accepted for who she was; also Alessandro's rejection and accusations before he cast her out of his life. The emotions in this book are up and down for this couple and the sensual tension between the two leaps off of the pages. And then the realization that Sandro might not ever remember how he once felt about her, how compatible they were, how much fun they had was heart breaking. On top of everything else a conniving step mother, misconceptions about an old family friend, a wicked cousin, just added to the strength of Carys love for Sandro. This engaging romance was exactly what I expected from author Annie West; one with a twist, secrets, passion which leapt off the pages and powerful emotions. Its one love story I won't soon forget because even though they for the most part had to start over, it was in the end the realization they loved each other more than life that was undeniable. Per the author, this is her first reunion story.

A somewhat familiar story line, but told well. The hero has lost part of his memory, but is irresistably drawn to an ordinary girl snapped in a hotel brochure. He flies half way around the world to find this girl and discovers that he is also the father of a baby boy. As the story continues to unfold, he is disturbed to learn that their previous relationship had been closer than he had ever expected to have with anyone, or that he could believe his cynical self capable of. The heroine also has her own strengths and gets stronger as the story progresses. This hero does almost everything right, and always acts with honour. A real keeper.