Jessica and Loukas have a past. They would have been happy together until one day Loukas disappears from her life. Jessica's career as a tennis star comes to a halt but being a brand ambassador for a timepiece brand helps pay the bills. Then one day suddenly Loukas is back in her life and he is very different from the person she used to know. Sparks fly as anger and grudges come to the surface. But soon secrets are revealed to the both of them that will change their lives forever. The art is very well done.

Book Review
Title: The Ruthless Greek’s Return
Author: Tomomi Yamashita
Genre: Manga
Rating: ***
Review: Honestly this synopsis gave my goosebumps and I couldn’t wait to get into it: “Jessica was once a professional tennis player, but after her parents died, her life changed completely. She took in her half-sister and became a model for a timepiece brand. Then that brand was bought out and the new boss called Jessica in for a meeting. She worried about losing her contract, but when she entered the CEO’s office, the man standing before her was Loukas, her ex-boyfriend! They had broken up eight years earlier because her father objected to their relationship. Loukas used to be poor, but he had since made a great success of himself. When he saw Jessica, a sardonic smile came to his face—it was clear he held a grudge about their past and that he planned on getting his revenge.”
Jessica is an interesting characters from the beginning she just to be a tennis player who was rising through the ranks when she began a relationship with her bodyguard Loukas. Her father greatly disapproved of any relationship but when Loukas proposed he went mad and drove the two apart. Jessica’s father and step-mother were killed in a car accident leaving Jessica to take care of her step-sister Hannah leading to her getting a job as a model.
On the other hand, Loukas was just a poor boy looking for a job when he meet Jessica. Because of his lower status he has nothing to give her but himself but when Jessica’s father interfered in their relationship, he told Loukas a lot of lies which he believes as a young man. He went on to study under a jewel expert leading to wealth and success on his part completely reversing their roles from when they were younger.
Jessica is sure Loukas wants some kind of revenge, but she can’t deny the fact that she still has some feelings for the boy she was going to marry but neither knows what the other is thinking or what the other was told. However, Jessica tries to make the best of her current situation because she needs the money since she is still supporting Hannah who she believes is on drugs.
During a shoot in Venice the truth is finally revealed but things get complicated when Jessica believes Loukas is seeing somebody else and she was just a conquest, however, this turns out to be Loukas’ twin brother. In the middle of all this mess Jessica takes a break from work and takes a vacation all the while Loukas is preparing to leave the country. It is only because of Hannah’s friend who happens to be Alec’s girlfriend does she finally realise her mistake and rushes to stop Loukas before he disappears from her life again. Obviously in Harlequin Manga fashion to couple make up, confess and all is right with the world.

Two youths from very different backgrounds fall in love and would elope despite conventions, if the girl’s bride did not step in. Years later it is time for reckoning, and a second chance at a love thwarted by deceipt.

Alas! This wasn't one of my favourites.

Jessica and Loukas fell in love when Jessica was 18. She was a tennis star with a bright future before her and he was her body guard. Her father split them up even though they had promised to get married.

Years later Jessica is struggling to hold onto her modelling career. Her father has died and she is responsible for her step sister and then Loukas comes back into her life because he has brought up the firm she works for.

Their reuniting was quite acrimonious and both of them had made assumptions about the other which didn't help. Finally each of them has an epiphany when confronted with the truth of the past and the present.

I really liked the artwork but the story seemed a bit clunky and angsty. I think the nuances of the story were lost because the graphic version tells the story in pictures. Jessica also had a foolish habit of listening to spiteful gossip from other people and some of it was a bit over the top.

Anyway they managed to make it to their happy ending but they went through the wringer first.

Not a favourte of mine.

Copy reveived by Harlequinn/SB Creative via Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.

This time the topoi is the misunderstandig who leads to a lost love that it is hard to conquer again. Another all time classic.

Stavolta il classicone é il fraintendimento che porta alla rottura della coppia che sará difficile poi rimettere assieme, un altro dei miei favoriti di tutti i tempi.

THANKS NETGALLEY FOR THE PREVIEW!

I received an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) from NetGalley and Harlequin/SB Creative as the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Book title :  The Ruthless Greek Return

Author : Sharon Kendrick; Illustrator : Tomomi Yamashita

Release Date :9 December 2018

Jessica is a former tennis player who was secretly and romantically involved with her bodyguard Loukas. With the dominant father and her fame, she was then separated from Loukas leaving a huge misunderstanding. Jessica later could no longer continue her carrier after a bad accident. In that lamentable situation, she found out that the father used the money from her winning in an unwise way.

Years have passed and Jessica worked in an office to support her spoiled little sister Hannah and herself. It was a surprise for her knowing that she was asked to work for Loukas who became a diamond businessman now.  They later would have to go to Venice for a work. That is where all their old but "new" relationship begins. 

The story evokes my emotion. I almost wanted to choke Loukas' neck till death when he mistreated Jessica. I also wanted to shoot him when I read the elevator incident in which he slapped Jessica. I knew that he was doing it out of anger and disappointment of their old love. Yet still, a real man will never hit a woman right. The illustration came as an interesting part. It amazed me knowing that the illustrator could portray the story well and turned it into a cute manga-style. 

Review: https://literatureisliving.wordpress.com/2018/12/15/the-ruthless-greek-return-harlequin-manga-by-sharon-kendrick/

I received this manga from Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.

Only 3 more Harlequin Manga to go (counting this one), and then I am all out of them again. *sighs* I will miss them, I tried pacing myself when I got to 10, but I just want to read them all, in one go. Help me! Send help!

I was a bit worried about this one due to the revenge part. I mean, it is not like it was her fault that her dad didn't want them to have a relationship (+ later that we find out the dad also called our guy very mean names and did some more crappy poopy things). You should rage against the dad (though he isn't alive, but eh). Oh well, I hoped it wasn't too dramatic, and that maybe the revenge would be called off.

Dang, that dad was terrible. Good grief, controlling your daughter's life to that point, and then also break off any relationships + spend all her money on stuff and leave her with an enormous debt. How could you. What kind of father does that to his child. Bah.

The past parts were pretty hard to read, not only because it featured the terrible controlling dad but also seeing two people who were so in love being broken apart due to some horrible man. Of course, I also had fun reading them as the romance just flowed out of the pages. You could see that these two had a very amazing connection, an amazing love.

I was a bit uncomfortable at how Loukas thought he could just possess our MC. No, just no. That elevator scene made me uncomfortable. You can't just pounce on a girl like that. Have some respect. But he did show some sweet things when in Venice he saved her and also told her a certain thing about the watch she was wearing.

Venice! Ah, I still so hope to go one day, but I think it will remain a dream for a bit longer. I loved seeing Venice in this mangaka's style, she can draw humans so well, but her backgrounds are also drop dead beautiful.

Yay, they had a chance to talk! Apparently dad did a bit more than be a potty mouth. I had a suspicion, come on this trope has been used to death. Dad doesn't approve of guys dating his daughter, does x and y, causes all sorts of misunderstandings and hate.

Ha, and there is more drama. Good grief, can't we just have a happy time for our couple? Does it really need to be filled with so much drama? Urgh. And the drama is just so dumb and stupid and ridiculous. If they argued about something that actually made sense I wouldn't mind, but oh no.

Um, why did it take her so long to see who Loukas was and not that other guy? He has a scar. A big one even. People, please. Check your eyes. Now.

The ending was really sweet though, it did feel tad rushed, but I am still very happy and no, these aren't tears, it is just cold here and my eyes sting. Yes, that is it. *wipes at her eyes*

The art is just gorgeous. I had high hopes because of the cover, and all my hopes turned into reality.

All in all, there was some stupid drama, but I was shipping these two together as soon as Loukas showed he could be a bit less bossy and less possessive. I was rooting for these two to connect again.

I wish I had the chance to read the book but the publisher didn't include a Kindle version. My PC doesn't read acsm files. I can't a review for this. I hate that. Please change this in the future.