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Sparks Fly with the Billionaire
The brooding banker and the Amazing Miss Mischka!Banker Mathew Bond is more used to boardroom antics than circus ones. The king of emotional detachment wouldn't normally foreclose on a loan in person, but Sparkles Circus meant a lot to him once….
Big mistake! Because feisty Allie (aka the Amazing Mischka) has more acumen than her pink-spangled bodysuit suggests. She won't allow a man in a suit to evict her family, no matter how gorgeous he is!
Yet underneath the cold exterior, Allie's about to discover this brooding billionaire's heart of gold.…
Big mistake! Because feisty Allie (aka the Amazing Mischka) has more acumen than her pink-spangled bodysuit suggests. She won't allow a man in a suit to evict her family, no matter how gorgeous he is!
Yet underneath the cold exterior, Allie's about to discover this brooding billionaire's heart of gold.…
- GenresRomance
256 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2013
5 people are currently reading
49 people want to read
About the author
Marion Lennox
777 books137 followersWriting romance sounds fascinating. Huh?
I'm a writer. I'm boring. Day after day I sit behind a word processor making up people in my head. Why do I do it? I love it. My husband, Dave, gets up in the morning, puts on a suit and heads out into the ice and cold of Ballarat's winter. (Sadly I live in one of the tiny parts of Australia that qualifies as cold.) I make myself another cup of coffee, head up to my study, choose what music I want and sit and daydream. And I get paid for doing it. Hooray!
My first attempt at writing romance, 'Dare To Love Again', a Medical Romance, was published by Harlequin Mills and Boon in 1990. It still stands today as a monument to my family's ability to survive on cheese sandwiches and spaghetti.
Since then I've written over 80 Romances for Harlequin Mills and Boon, with more on the drawing board. (I used a pseudonym - Trisha David - for the first few Romances but suffered with a split personality and have since reverted to being Marion Lennox all the time.) In between romances, I've co-authored a non-fiction history, (I love local history) done the odd (very odd) spot of housework and done a heap of travelling - research :-)
I come from a farming community. You can probably tell this from my books. There's not a skyscraper in sight. I'm very much a pets person. Chloe and Harry were my constant canine companions for many years as I wrote, demanding walks and air freshener at frequent intervals. Sadly I lost them, and for a while I vowed not to get another. My heart was broken and my study smelled so clean! But.. The cat and I missed them so badly we weakened and bought Mitzi. Mitzi's a black and silver mini-schnauzer who makes me and the cat laugh. Expect to find her in future stories.
If you're interested in formalities, I hold a Bachelor of Commerce degree and a teaching diploma. I have a couple of kids and a huge extended family who look on me with affectionate tolerance. Marion? The crazy one who talks to people in her head... I've had nine nominations for the Rita, winning twice, and fourteen for the Australian Book of the Year. After years of thinking of my writing as a hobby I guess I finally now qualify as a `real' writer.
Thank your for taking the trouble to check out my web page. Now try my books. We might even end up having fun together. And write to me. I show my family - `See? Real people do like the things that go in in my head.'
I'm a writer. I'm boring. Day after day I sit behind a word processor making up people in my head. Why do I do it? I love it. My husband, Dave, gets up in the morning, puts on a suit and heads out into the ice and cold of Ballarat's winter. (Sadly I live in one of the tiny parts of Australia that qualifies as cold.) I make myself another cup of coffee, head up to my study, choose what music I want and sit and daydream. And I get paid for doing it. Hooray!
My first attempt at writing romance, 'Dare To Love Again', a Medical Romance, was published by Harlequin Mills and Boon in 1990. It still stands today as a monument to my family's ability to survive on cheese sandwiches and spaghetti.
Since then I've written over 80 Romances for Harlequin Mills and Boon, with more on the drawing board. (I used a pseudonym - Trisha David - for the first few Romances but suffered with a split personality and have since reverted to being Marion Lennox all the time.) In between romances, I've co-authored a non-fiction history, (I love local history) done the odd (very odd) spot of housework and done a heap of travelling - research :-)
I come from a farming community. You can probably tell this from my books. There's not a skyscraper in sight. I'm very much a pets person. Chloe and Harry were my constant canine companions for many years as I wrote, demanding walks and air freshener at frequent intervals. Sadly I lost them, and for a while I vowed not to get another. My heart was broken and my study smelled so clean! But.. The cat and I missed them so badly we weakened and bought Mitzi. Mitzi's a black and silver mini-schnauzer who makes me and the cat laugh. Expect to find her in future stories.
If you're interested in formalities, I hold a Bachelor of Commerce degree and a teaching diploma. I have a couple of kids and a huge extended family who look on me with affectionate tolerance. Marion? The crazy one who talks to people in her head... I've had nine nominations for the Rita, winning twice, and fourteen for the Australian Book of the Year. After years of thinking of my writing as a hobby I guess I finally now qualify as a `real' writer.
Thank your for taking the trouble to check out my web page. Now try my books. We might even end up having fun together. And write to me. I show my family - `See? Real people do like the things that go in in my head.'
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
September 20, 2021
Didn't like it, I found it to be extremely boring and I felt little chemistry between the hero and heroine. Np.
July 15, 2018
Read for #smutathon 2018
This wasn’t bad, I just didn’t really enjoy it. The plot seemed slightly far fetched, I definitely was pushing myself to carry on. Plus, I thought it was going to be a “smutty book” but it really wasn’t.
This wasn’t bad, I just didn’t really enjoy it. The plot seemed slightly far fetched, I definitely was pushing myself to carry on. Plus, I thought it was going to be a “smutty book” but it really wasn’t.
December 3, 2020
Loved a book set in a circus!
February 21, 2013
4 Stars
The title does fit this book pretty good. It has warmth about it,humor,lots of animals in it. Some romance too.
Who does not want to run away to the circus? It is a fun fast read.
Allie is a circus performer who's Grandparents raised her and own the circus. Allie love's animals. She also helps them to manage the books.
Mathew Bond is owner of the bank. As a favor to his Aunt Margot he has come to let the circus know that they are bankrupt and have to be sold. As Mathew tells the owner minutes before the show. Allie's grandfather collasps but he still wants to go on. Allie talks Mathew into steping into the roll of ringmaster for the show. Mathew feels guilty so he agrees.
The circus should never gotten this loan but his Aunt asked her father for this one thing. Mathew's family all died when he was young. His grandfather raised him to take over the bank. His only childhoo he really got was two weeks with his Aunt Margot every year. She always took him to this circus. His Aunt Margot loved this circus.
Mathew is away from the bank and come down to visit his Aunt Margot who is now 80 and plans to die. Her dog died and she feels her time is up. She has quit eating. When Allie comes to ask Mathew if the circus can at least finsh out the two week booking that they have already sold a lot of tickets. Also would he fill in again till her grandfather gets out of hospital?
Margot is now interested in seeing Mathew be ringmaster and agrees to eat if he will do it and take her everyday to see the circus. Mathew agrees.
Instead of buying a cottage for their retirement his grandparents got in debt because Allie when she was a teenager asked them to retire the large circus animals. She thought that they were sold. Not being fed by her grandparents. The elephants alone eat a lot of food. The place that took them spent all of the money he had and was callling it quits. They could no longer feed all the animals and were going to have to put them to sleep no one could afford to take them.
After reading this book I want to go to a circus. Have not been for a few years. This is a fun quick read.
I was given this ebook to read in exchange of honest review by Netgalley.com
Expected publication: April 2nd 2013 by Harlequin Imprint Harlequin Romance 256 pages ISBN:0373742363
Description
The brooding banker and the Amazing Miss Mishka!
Banker Mathew Bond is more used to boardroom antics than circus ones. The king of emotional detachment wouldn’t normally foreclose on a loan in person, but Sparkles Circus meant a lot to him once....
Big mistake! Because feisty Allie (aka the Amazing Mishka) has more acumen than her pink-spangled bodysuit suggests. She won’t allow a man in a suit to evict her family, no matter how gorgeous he is!
Yet underneath the cold exterior, Allie’s about to discover this brooding billionaire’s heart of gold.…
The title does fit this book pretty good. It has warmth about it,humor,lots of animals in it. Some romance too.
Who does not want to run away to the circus? It is a fun fast read.
Allie is a circus performer who's Grandparents raised her and own the circus. Allie love's animals. She also helps them to manage the books.
Mathew Bond is owner of the bank. As a favor to his Aunt Margot he has come to let the circus know that they are bankrupt and have to be sold. As Mathew tells the owner minutes before the show. Allie's grandfather collasps but he still wants to go on. Allie talks Mathew into steping into the roll of ringmaster for the show. Mathew feels guilty so he agrees.
The circus should never gotten this loan but his Aunt asked her father for this one thing. Mathew's family all died when he was young. His grandfather raised him to take over the bank. His only childhoo he really got was two weeks with his Aunt Margot every year. She always took him to this circus. His Aunt Margot loved this circus.
Mathew is away from the bank and come down to visit his Aunt Margot who is now 80 and plans to die. Her dog died and she feels her time is up. She has quit eating. When Allie comes to ask Mathew if the circus can at least finsh out the two week booking that they have already sold a lot of tickets. Also would he fill in again till her grandfather gets out of hospital?
Margot is now interested in seeing Mathew be ringmaster and agrees to eat if he will do it and take her everyday to see the circus. Mathew agrees.
Instead of buying a cottage for their retirement his grandparents got in debt because Allie when she was a teenager asked them to retire the large circus animals. She thought that they were sold. Not being fed by her grandparents. The elephants alone eat a lot of food. The place that took them spent all of the money he had and was callling it quits. They could no longer feed all the animals and were going to have to put them to sleep no one could afford to take them.
After reading this book I want to go to a circus. Have not been for a few years. This is a fun quick read.
I was given this ebook to read in exchange of honest review by Netgalley.com
Expected publication: April 2nd 2013 by Harlequin Imprint Harlequin Romance 256 pages ISBN:0373742363
Description
The brooding banker and the Amazing Miss Mishka!
Banker Mathew Bond is more used to boardroom antics than circus ones. The king of emotional detachment wouldn’t normally foreclose on a loan in person, but Sparkles Circus meant a lot to him once....
Big mistake! Because feisty Allie (aka the Amazing Mishka) has more acumen than her pink-spangled bodysuit suggests. She won’t allow a man in a suit to evict her family, no matter how gorgeous he is!
Yet underneath the cold exterior, Allie’s about to discover this brooding billionaire’s heart of gold.…
October 22, 2016
She….
She is Allie. A circus trapeze artist. Granddaughter of the ringmaster of the circus. The circus ‘Sparkle’ is not only her livelihood but also her life. From her childhood, she has been in love with each member of the circus, whether the animals or the other artists.Her grandparents were becoming old and she was looking forward to take over the circus and look after her old grandparents. That was till Mathew did not walk into her life and rock her world.
He ….
He is Mathew Bond, a banker by profession and attitude. A tragic accident had taken away his parents and he had been brought up by his grandfather. His grandfather,having lost his son, had become a hard man and had taught him all about banking but little about love. Mathew who was lovingly called Matt by his sister, became the hard banker Mathew, who knew only about business and nothing else.He did not want anyone to get close to him for the fear of losing them. His protective, emotional armor was broken chip by chip by a pink dressed trapeze artist.
The Love Story….
This love story is one of the most unique stories I have ever read. It is not a sizzling love story which we nowadays see as a trend. There is a kiss or two but the emotions have been highlighted rather than the passions.
Matthew had gone to declare foreclosure of the circus but he had never imagined that he would end up as the ringmaster of the circus. On one hand he had to do his duty but on the other hand, his humane side, did not like the pain Allie was going through. So taking off his banker attitude, he performs as a ringmaster and wins the heart of his lady love. [Well, that's after saving some runaway camels and dogs and of course a damsel in distress]
But will he be able to save the circus and if he doesn’t will he be able to still win the love of Allie? Well, read on. You might just be surprised!
What I liked...
I loved the romance in this story. There was passion, but the emotional factor was more superior. This is one kind of relationship which can sustain any turbulence life throws at them. Mathew is a character, who would not think twice before going all out to make his lady love happy, asking nothing in return.
What I didn’t like...
As you can see, I have rambled about Mathew and said very little of Allie. I like that girl but I do feel that the way she felt about her circus, the animals – that passion she had for them could have been bit more focused on Mathew.
She is Allie. A circus trapeze artist. Granddaughter of the ringmaster of the circus. The circus ‘Sparkle’ is not only her livelihood but also her life. From her childhood, she has been in love with each member of the circus, whether the animals or the other artists.Her grandparents were becoming old and she was looking forward to take over the circus and look after her old grandparents. That was till Mathew did not walk into her life and rock her world.
He ….
He is Mathew Bond, a banker by profession and attitude. A tragic accident had taken away his parents and he had been brought up by his grandfather. His grandfather,having lost his son, had become a hard man and had taught him all about banking but little about love. Mathew who was lovingly called Matt by his sister, became the hard banker Mathew, who knew only about business and nothing else.He did not want anyone to get close to him for the fear of losing them. His protective, emotional armor was broken chip by chip by a pink dressed trapeze artist.
The Love Story….
This love story is one of the most unique stories I have ever read. It is not a sizzling love story which we nowadays see as a trend. There is a kiss or two but the emotions have been highlighted rather than the passions.
Matthew had gone to declare foreclosure of the circus but he had never imagined that he would end up as the ringmaster of the circus. On one hand he had to do his duty but on the other hand, his humane side, did not like the pain Allie was going through. So taking off his banker attitude, he performs as a ringmaster and wins the heart of his lady love. [Well, that's after saving some runaway camels and dogs and of course a damsel in distress]
But will he be able to save the circus and if he doesn’t will he be able to still win the love of Allie? Well, read on. You might just be surprised!
What I liked...
I loved the romance in this story. There was passion, but the emotional factor was more superior. This is one kind of relationship which can sustain any turbulence life throws at them. Mathew is a character, who would not think twice before going all out to make his lady love happy, asking nothing in return.
What I didn’t like...
As you can see, I have rambled about Mathew and said very little of Allie. I like that girl but I do feel that the way she felt about her circus, the animals – that passion she had for them could have been bit more focused on Mathew.
April 28, 2013
This book tell the story of Matthew, founder of Bond’s Bank, who met with his borrower’s granddaughter, Allie at the family owned circus. He was there to meet her grandfather for the settlement of the loan that the Bank has granted to him. The loan was granted to the circus on the request from his aunt Margot. But Allie’s grandfather collapse just minutes before their schedule performance and as he insisted to continue with the circus, Allie have demanded Matt to be the ringmaster in view that he is responsible for her grandfather’s condition. Being raised with a strict upbringing after the death of his parent and sister by his grandfather, Matthew has never know to enjoy other from the sense of achievement that he felt whenever he make money for his family business. Hence, although he was cautious, he enjoyed playing the role in the circus. Allie, knows that it is time for the circus to packed up for good as they did struggle to meet ends and as the age is catching up for her grandparent. She accepted that Matthew’s bank decision to foreclose the circus but she requested that they were allow to open till end of the season as she doesn’t want to disappoint those who have bought the tickets which is only two weeks away and have also requested Matthew to continue to be the ringmaster for the duration.
I like the transformation of Matthew from someone who is workaholic to someone who is carefree and the impersonation that he did at the circus really gave me the impression that he really enjoyed what he is doing. I also like the compassionate feeling that he have for Allie especially trying to find places to house all her animals when the circus is close for good in the near future. Overall, it is a fun reading book for me and I am thoroughly enjoyed reading it.
I like the transformation of Matthew from someone who is workaholic to someone who is carefree and the impersonation that he did at the circus really gave me the impression that he really enjoyed what he is doing. I also like the compassionate feeling that he have for Allie especially trying to find places to house all her animals when the circus is close for good in the near future. Overall, it is a fun reading book for me and I am thoroughly enjoyed reading it.
June 14, 2013
Review Posted on HarlequinJunkie.com
I’ve never been the biggest fan of circuses. I’ve been twice, and both times my expectations weren’t met. However, after reading Sparks Fly with the Billionaire by Marion Lennox, I kinda want to go again.
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I’ve never been the biggest fan of circuses. I’ve been twice, and both times my expectations weren’t met. However, after reading Sparks Fly with the Billionaire by Marion Lennox, I kinda want to go again.
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March 19, 2013
Allie is a circus performer, whose grandfather owns a circus that is now bankrupt; Mathew Bond is owner of the bank, who came to deliver the message. These two characters seem like the last two people in the world that could build a relationship together. The story is sweet and will melt your heart. Loved the idea of the story, the storyline was easy to follow and made a good book. Enjoy!!
April 22, 2014
this is a lovely story - though I wouldn't have picked it up at all if it hadn't been in a 2 - 1 volume, massively reduced in "The Works" (a British remainder shop). The blurb made it sound exactly the sort of story I wouldn't have enjoyed. And yet I did. I recommend people give it a try in spite of the rather lacklustre blurb.
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December 29, 2014Category: Contemporary Romance
May 7, 2013
Another fun one from Marion Lennox. There's a likable couple, fun secondary characters and a menagerie of personable animals.
September 30, 2016
3.5 stars
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews