The Tycoon's Rebel Bride (The Anetakis Tycoons, 2)

Tycoon and playboy Theron Anetakis has a plan. Since deciding to help his brother by taking over Anetakis International's New York office, Theron has come to the conclusion that he is reading to settle down. Having looked at several young women of good standing and important families, he has decided to marry a nice Greek girl and start a family. His future bride has been selected and all he has to do is propose. Theron's plans are falling in place until he receives notice that his family's ward is on her way to New York for a visit. Theron figures he can show her to her hotel and then forget about her.

Isabella Caplan, his ward, has other plans. She is in New York for a reason and it isn't just to see the sights from her hotel room. She has her heart set on making Theron Anetakis fall in love with her. She knows he finds her attractive - but making him act on his attraction is much harder. Bella's independence screams `rebel' and clash horribly with Theron's old world Greek values. Bella knows she has her work cut out for her. She just doesn't expect it to be so hard to become The Tycoon's Rebel Bride.

The Tycoon's Rebel Bride is excellent. I was intrigued by Theron after reading The Tycoon's Pregnant Mistress and I wanted to know what made this man tick and act the way he does. Fortunately, what made him tick was also the best thing to ever come into his life - Bella Caplan. She is a charming, somewhat irreverent vixen who knew what she wanted and was willing to sacrifice everything to get it. She wanted Theron. Failure wasn't an option. Their love scenes were steamy hot but romantic. Theron's world was turned upside down by this enigmatic and beautiful woman. I loved watching his head spin with the intense emotions and the internal fight he was having of loving Bella but wanting to do `the right thing'.

Maya Banks could write a novel on toilet paper and I would read it. She could write a novel on the sidewalk and I would knock people out of the way to read it. Her ability to take me away to the world of her characters thrills me every single time I read one of her books. Bold, beguiling and thoroughly enchanting, The Tycoon's Rebel Bride will make you sweat, sigh, and maybe even get teary eyed. Most of all, it will make you feel. I can't ask for a better read than that and so I joyfully recommend The Tycoon's Rebel Bride. Do NOT miss it!

Talia
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

Theron Anetakis has taken over the New York offices of Anetakis International but that isn't the only responsibility he finds himself saddled with. He'd been unaware of his family's responsibility toward a young ward since his brother Chrysander's always taken care of her needs. He's on the precipice of making major decisions about his future and he's hoping that Miss Bella won't interfere with them.

Isabella `Bella' Caplan has recently graduated from college and already has plans for her future - though she certainly can't tell Theron all the nitty gritty details. She'd originally planned to spend the summer in Europe where she'd make a nuisance of herself in order to gain his attention, but now that he's in New York, that's where she'll remain as well.

Theron has decided that it's time to settle down and start a family. He's even picked out his future wife. Alannis comes from a sold Greek family. They'd make a good match - even though he's the first to admit that there really isn't any passion or love between them, but perhaps that will come with time. The last thing he needs or wants is Bella distracting him from following through with his plans. The last time he'd seen her she'd been a gangly teenager but now she's a vivacious woman and his mind's consumed with thoughts of her and the tattoo that he's only caught a glimpse of - and wants to see so much more. Bella's decision to remain in New York puts Theron in a real quandary. Alannis is due to arrive in New York in a few days and he already has the proposal all planned out, meanwhile he's fighting an attraction to Bella. If he'd had more insight into Bella's personality and determined nature he'd realize that fighting his desire for her is futile - she's already got him pegged as her future husband.

TYCOON'S REBEL BRIDE is the perfect follow up to THE TYCOON'S PREGNANT MISTRESS. Bella's such an unassuming character while still maintaining a fiery quality that readers won't be able to help but admire her. You could almost feel sorry for Theron because he has no clue what Bella's really up to, she keeps him on his toes and that's exactly what a man like him needs - even if he doesn't realize it.

Maya Banks engages all the reader's emotions with this charming story. I was able to empathize with the characters and laughed and cried along with them. I have to confess I got a real kick out of how Bella managed to get Theron's full attention - it came at such a critical point in the story that I was in awe of how it played out. In addition to the growing relationship between Bella and Theron, we also get to revisit the rest of Theron's family - and they're just as lovable now as they were in the first story.

I'm looking forward to the next Anetakis book and finding out more about Piers. He's so elusive, insightful and quiet that I just have a feeling that the woman who captures his heart is going to be very special. I just checked Maya Banks' website and THE TYCOON'S ELUSIVE LOVER is due to be released in September 2009.

Chrissy Dionne (courtesy of Romance Junkies)