A Ring to Secure His Heir

Graham's use of Greek endearments did not add to the book. They were clichéd terms that added a sickly sweet overtone to an already "roll-my-eyes" overview.

Jason kicked the dog out of his path. Rosie loosed a shriek of horror as Bas flew up in the air and hit the wall before falling in a limp heap by the skirting board. ‘Oh, my Lord, Jason … you’ve killed Bas!’ she sobbed, surging forward. ‘Don’t upset yourself,’ Alexius advised, pulling Rosie back from the dog to take her place, sliding a hand under the tiny still body, grimacing as he noted that one of Bas’s legs was definitely broken, stuck out as it was at an unnatural angle. ‘His heart’s still beating. He’s been knocked out. We’ll get him straight to a vet—’ Why shouldn't she be upset? Her dog was abused, badly, in front of her eyes by a brute that could have killed him!

Last night he had dreamt about her, had actually wakened sweating and hard, and any woman capable of rousing him to that extent was worthy of his full attention. - God, this guy sounds like an arrogant, conceited douche...

Dismayed to realise that Jason had followed her home the night before, Rosie turned dazed eyes to Alexius and muttered anxiously, ‘Let’s get Bas to the vet first. He’s the most important thing here—’ ‘No, you are,’ Alexius corrected, shooting Jason a look of bitter animosity. - no, the dog is most important actually. Would Graham be fine writing that about a toddler? Should Alex saying that render him more lovable to the reader? Animals are sentient beings with emotions and conscience. We do them a HUGE disservice by stating otherwise.

Rosie stared down at the chihuahua’s still little body, noticed the blood at his nose and her lower lip quivered. ‘I love him so much it’s ridiculous. He’s not very well trained and Jason teased him so much when I lived with Mel that he hates men.’ ‘He bit me as well,’ Alexius volunteered. ‘At least you didn’t kick him,’ Rosie muttered. Alexius surveyed Bas and suppressed a sigh, wondering if that was all he had in his favour. Saving Bas to bite another day was clearly a priority when the mother of his child was so deeply attached to him. His own mother had had several pet dogs and had appeared fond of them, a great deal fonder than she had ever been of her son. - Some people prefer 4-legged animals to those on two legs, doesn't make them (4-legs) less important...

‘Oh, my goodness,’ Rosie mumbled, lifting her arms to break his hold and scramble off him again. ‘I’m sorry, I’m so selfish … I didn’t do anything for you—’ - yeah that made me laugh! 😂😂😂

"ROSIE sat on the wonderfully comfortable seat, buckled up for take-off. The seat was comfy but she was not. The sheer opulence of the private jet spooked her. Bas lay in his basket on the seat beside her, slumped in an awkward pose, one front leg enclosed in a cast. He was quieter since the assault, more nervous too," - individuals who abuse animals and children deserve a special place in hell.

Had she snored while she was asleep? A school friend had once told her that she had snored on a sleepover. Inwardly, she cringed. - everyone snores occasionally just like women sh*t... This nonsensical lens women were forced to view themselves through is rubbish and demeaning to mental health and self-esteem.

Alexius studied her as she opened the doors of the giant double refrigerator to pull out cold meat, which she ate where she stood. - "cold meat"? Nope. Dead, rotting flesh that was once a sentient life. Let's get the facts straight.

Maybe the baby likes protein.’ - no again. These cravings aren't due to the baby who lives on any nourishment provided by the mother. Protein, sustainable protein that does not harm other lifeforms can be easily gained through some of the cheapest foods around e.g. rice and beans eaten together.

He didn’t mean it. He couldn’t mean it. They could not be over when only minutes earlier he had been ready to make love to her. He couldn’t simply switch off like that … Could he? ' that's a bully and a conceited one.

‘He followed me into my bedroom and started chewing one of my shoes,’ Alexius delivered grimly, choosing not to admit that he had been relieved that his ankle was not the target again. ‘He does have bad habits. He wasn’t very well trained when he was a puppy,’ Rosie explained. ‘You spoil him. He’s an animal, not a human being.’ - Sorry Alex but your (and by extension), and Graham's views on animal life is woefully outdated and unsupported by science... Animals and young children experience life THE SAME WAY!

… It was a priceless quality for a highly sexed male to find in a partner. - this is incredibly insulting...

He had even taken her out fishing, - oh goody, fishing for sport, much like hunting is a despicable and barbaric act. FISH ARE SENTIENT.

He had liked her simplicity, her unashamed lack of glamour and vanity. He didn’t like her putting her pregnancy-enhanced breasts on display or showing off her slender, shapely legs, which would only encourage men to wonder what it would be like to lie between them. - his thoughts liken her to an object. This isn't any different from how we view inanimate objects we desire...

‘It’s the truth,’ he declared, a slight flush highlighting his amazing cheekbones. - Jesus, this is ridiculous. Are we supposed to swoon at the 50th mention of his 'amazing cheekbones'??...

He laid her down on his big wide bed with tremendous care. ‘I know I love you and I’ll never stop loving you. But it unnerves me to think that we might never have met.’ - so he's done a 180-degree turn on an outlook he's held for much of his adult life? Or perhaps Graham just got tired of writing such drivel...

‘Your present,’ Alexius explained, bending down to unlock the door of the carrier just as a shrill little bark sounded within. - Buying a dog (likely those sourced through despicable puppy mills, ending up at pet stores etc. ) isn't a way to show love. It shows a soul remarkably out of touch with the kind of life his wife had led for much of her existence. Badly written book.