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The Sabbatini Brothers #1
The Unclaimed Baby
Billionaire Luc Sabbatini may have ruthlessly cast Bronte from his life but he'd be lying if he said he'd forgotten this sweet ballerina.
That's why he's back, and ready to reawaken their lost passion. Only this time he finds Bronte isn't quite so biddable!
Her better judgment is urging her to walk away. Bronte has been lured into Luc's lair before
This time, however, the secret she's hiding will have its repercussions!
192 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published October 1, 2010
58 people are currently reading
868 people want to read
About the author
Melanie Milburne
1,146 books392 followersI grew up on a small farm on the outskirts of Sydney and as a keen horse rider, often competed in local gymkhanas and even broke in a few horses from time to time. As I was surrounded by animals, I decided at an early age to become a nurse, however I couldn’t stand the sight of blood and so opted for a career in teaching. It’s a bit ironic that I married a surgeon.
I read my first Mills & Boon novel when I was 17 and that encouraged me to continue reading romance novels; the lure of the tall dark handsome hero, who in reality I fell in love with and knew I was going to marry on our second date! After marrying a year later, we moved to Scotland with our six week old baby so my husband could work and study for his MD in surgery. After the birth of our second son we came back to Australia to settle in Tasmania.
I went back to University and up-graded my teaching diploma to a degree and then went on to do a Masters but still I felt as if something was missing. I sat down one day and began writing and everything clicked into place - I had finally found ‘my brilliant career’! I used to write from instinct rather than a specific plan, but now, so many books later I find a loose plan doesn't go astray. An idea will pop into my head, sometimes it will be just a simple phrase or a what if question and I'm away.
Writing is a skill that can be learned and the best way to learn it is to read and to write. So many people feel they have a novel in them and very probably they are right-the only trick is to get it out. My advice to ‘would be’ writers is to write, write, and write even more. Carry a notebook at all times and jot down ideas. And like any other activity the more you do, the more it feels comfortable.
I hope you enjoy my stories and look forward to hearing from you.
I read my first Mills & Boon novel when I was 17 and that encouraged me to continue reading romance novels; the lure of the tall dark handsome hero, who in reality I fell in love with and knew I was going to marry on our second date! After marrying a year later, we moved to Scotland with our six week old baby so my husband could work and study for his MD in surgery. After the birth of our second son we came back to Australia to settle in Tasmania.
I went back to University and up-graded my teaching diploma to a degree and then went on to do a Masters but still I felt as if something was missing. I sat down one day and began writing and everything clicked into place - I had finally found ‘my brilliant career’! I used to write from instinct rather than a specific plan, but now, so many books later I find a loose plan doesn't go astray. An idea will pop into my head, sometimes it will be just a simple phrase or a what if question and I'm away.
Writing is a skill that can be learned and the best way to learn it is to read and to write. So many people feel they have a novel in them and very probably they are right-the only trick is to get it out. My advice to ‘would be’ writers is to write, write, and write even more. Carry a notebook at all times and jot down ideas. And like any other activity the more you do, the more it feels comfortable.
I hope you enjoy my stories and look forward to hearing from you.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
September 4, 2013
My favorite moment of this book:
"His mouth was still locked on hers as his hands lifted her cock-"
turn the page for "tail dress." And people say print books are better than ereaders!
So this was not a Harlequin Presents with a transgender heroine, but a mostly typical secret baby story. It's still kind of wacky. Bronte is a pretty reasonable human being at first, but then starts flying off the handle at the slightest provocation. Perhaps it's because of crazy-making Luca -- with him, the author seemes to want to have her old school cake and eat it too. He switches from sensitive guy to ruthless tyrant and back again so fast my head swam. And a guy who would rather blackmail and threaten a woman than simply tell her he'd broken her heart because he'd been ill -- seriously? You have to wonder if it was really a physical illness he suffered from or actually a mental health issue.
"His mouth was still locked on hers as his hands lifted her cock-"
turn the page for "tail dress." And people say print books are better than ereaders!
So this was not a Harlequin Presents with a transgender heroine, but a mostly typical secret baby story. It's still kind of wacky. Bronte is a pretty reasonable human being at first, but then starts flying off the handle at the slightest provocation. Perhaps it's because of crazy-making Luca -- with him, the author seemes to want to have her old school cake and eat it too. He switches from sensitive guy to ruthless tyrant and back again so fast my head swam. And a guy who would rather blackmail and threaten a woman than simply tell her he'd broken her heart because he'd been ill -- seriously? You have to wonder if it was really a physical illness he suffered from or actually a mental health issue.
March 2, 2018
Better-than-average secret baby story for several reasons:
1) hero had a good reason for breaking it off after six months with the virgin heroine
2) the heroine did try to inform the hero but she gave up trying after his housekeeper told her he was in LA with his mistress.
3) the heroine is very clear about how much he hurt her. No false pride.
4) the hero tries a bit of blackmailing (buying the building where she had her ballet studio) in order to see her. Yes, it seems counter-intuitive, but blackmailing in HPlandia shows caring. He didn't bump into her in the street and decided impulsively he wanted her back. He went out of his way to find out where she was and what she was doing and then bought the building. That's love, y'all.
5) heroine thinks he had another woman, so we get all the delicious angst of a cheating story without any cheating.
6) H/h were celibate during their three year separation. They had two "slip ups" after seeing each other again and before a complete reconciliation, but sex wasn't their only connection.
7) both mothers of the H/h got to scold them for messing up. The hero got a tongue lashing as did the heroine.
I have to hand it to MM - all her time in the medical line means she can come up with unusual syndromes for amnesia or a bit of brain surgery. I do like those kinds of details in my HPs.
The other stories in this series were also good. The Italy/Australia/England nexus is in all of them.
1) hero had a good reason for breaking it off after six months with the virgin heroine
2) the heroine did try to inform the hero but she gave up trying after his housekeeper told her he was in LA with his mistress.
3) the heroine is very clear about how much he hurt her. No false pride.
4) the hero tries a bit of blackmailing (buying the building where she had her ballet studio) in order to see her. Yes, it seems counter-intuitive, but blackmailing in HPlandia shows caring. He didn't bump into her in the street and decided impulsively he wanted her back. He went out of his way to find out where she was and what she was doing and then bought the building. That's love, y'all.
5) heroine thinks he had another woman, so we get all the delicious angst of a cheating story without any cheating.
6) H/h were celibate during their three year separation. They had two "slip ups" after seeing each other again and before a complete reconciliation, but sex wasn't their only connection.
7) both mothers of the H/h got to scold them for messing up. The hero got a tongue lashing as did the heroine.
I have to hand it to MM - all her time in the medical line means she can come up with unusual syndromes for amnesia or a bit of brain surgery. I do like those kinds of details in my HPs.
The other stories in this series were also good. The Italy/Australia/England nexus is in all of them.
December 5, 2018
Hero treats woman like a child deciding FOR her to break the relation.
No, just because he was terminally ill doesn't mean it was justified.
He CONTROLLED her, and took away her choice and deliberately hurt her and then came back and expected to pick things up where he left them WITHOUT explaining himself.
No, he did not treat her with minimum respect let alone respect a woman loved deserves.
His family blamed HER for not sharing the child with them. Why should she seek the FAMILY of the ex when the ex gave her impression he moved on. A family has no right on kids until their parents decides to give it to them.
No, heroine was not obliged to tell him about the baby even when he returned. He abandoned her without any explanation, and it wasn't like he was explaining things any better now, a mother has every right to spare the child grief from getting attached to an abandoning parent. There is no reason for heroine to trust the hero and his intent to stick around.
No, just because he was terminally ill doesn't mean it was justified.
He CONTROLLED her, and took away her choice and deliberately hurt her and then came back and expected to pick things up where he left them WITHOUT explaining himself.
No, he did not treat her with minimum respect let alone respect a woman loved deserves.
His family blamed HER for not sharing the child with them. Why should she seek the FAMILY of the ex when the ex gave her impression he moved on. A family has no right on kids until their parents decides to give it to them.
No, heroine was not obliged to tell him about the baby even when he returned. He abandoned her without any explanation, and it wasn't like he was explaining things any better now, a mother has every right to spare the child grief from getting attached to an abandoning parent. There is no reason for heroine to trust the hero and his intent to stick around.
February 9, 2020
Hero: It's all about him. Meets the HP standard of arrogant asshole
Heroine: Abandons any concept of self-respect. Meets the standard HP heroine doormat contingency.
Plot moppet: 14 months old and speaks in sentences. Small ones, but still.
Aussie mom: Disapproving man-hater
Italian mamma: Disapproving heroine hater.
Um, heroine! Perhaps when Mamma accused you of denying the familia the plot moppet, you could have mentioned that momma's boy had kicked you to curb, refused your phones calls and even had a mean housekeeper humiliate you further?
Heroine: Abandons any concept of self-respect. Meets the standard HP heroine doormat contingency.
Plot moppet: 14 months old and speaks in sentences. Small ones, but still.
Aussie mom: Disapproving man-hater
Italian mamma: Disapproving heroine hater.
Um, heroine! Perhaps when Mamma accused you of denying the familia the plot moppet, you could have mentioned that momma's boy had kicked you to curb, refused your phones calls and even had a mean housekeeper humiliate you further?
November 13, 2021
In the US this book is titled 'The Unclaimed Baby.' Just wanted to clarify that because I had a difficult time locating it because of its UK title. It was confusing when it failed to come up during my searches.
UPDATE: 10/03/18 - Was wound up last night and couldn't settle down. Something led me to this book for the fifth time since February 2018. I love this story but just couldn't raise my four-star-rating to five. You would think that reading it five times in less than eight months might warrant a raise in the rating. That reason remains the same. Luca had blocked her and his family from finding him at every turn. She even went to another country to seek him out and tell him of his impending fatherhood. She tried everything humanly possible but without any success. When two years have passed and Luca comes to find her wanting her back he then finds out about his daughter...and guess what? It was all her fault. She 'stole' his child from him. She kept her a 'secret' kept her 'hidden!' She didn't try hard enough to find him and tell him. I was infuriated. Luca's mother is a whaco and daily grieves the baby she lost to sudden infant death syndrome more than thirty years ago (she has yet to move on!)...the whole family still grieves as though she passed away only days ago instead of half a lifetime. Then when the evil mommy dearest meets her granddaughter all she can say is that she is a replica of her dead child and God sent her so they could finally get over the death of her own daughter...thirty some odd years earlier. I lost respect for Luca as he tried to blackmail Bronte into marrying him, even threatening that he would take the child away and she would never be allowed to see her again. But I still keep going back!
ORIGINAL REVIEW: Italian billionaire businessman, Luca Sabbatini, ruthlessly kicked Bronte out of his life. They had been dating exclusively for six months and she loved him with her whole heart, beyond measure. He was her world and she would have done anything for him. Then one day out of the blue he sends someone-a staff member I believe-in his stead to drop the bomb that he no longer wants her in his life. She was devastated and broken by his careless treatment and when she finds out she's expecting his child she tried every way she knew how (even traveling to another country to try and see him) to inform him of his impending fatherhood. Unfortunately, he had her blocked at every turn. When she arrives at his villa searching for him to tell him of the pregnancy he went so far as to have his housekeeper tell her he found a new mistress in the US, was there with her and never wanted to see her again! She had to get on with her life and prepare to raise her child alone. She's a ballerina who had won the opportunity to try-out for a big role in a ballet but gave it up because of the pregnancy, because she wanted this child Luca had unknowingly given her.
What I find unbelievable was when he found out about his daughter he had the gall to place all the blame on the heroine because he missed fourteen months of the baby's life. What is it with HP that the males always place the blame on the heroine and seek revenge for something they later find out she did not do. In this case he was going to take her child away from her to punish her for withholding the information that he was a father to a daughter and promised her she would never lay eyes on her baby again! He said he could not live without his child but never gave a thought that the heroine would feel the same way. With billions at his disposal he most assuredly would have been successful. But blaming her when he is the one who refused all contact is just so unrealistic and, well, ignorant to say the least. Because of his wealth he thought his child would have a much better life with him...hello Mr. Billionaire...money and what it can buy does not a happy child make! In fact it can cause just the opposite. This thread ran throughout the whole story...and every other HP that I've read that involves a secret child.
A friend of hers whom she studied ballet with went in together to open a studio for dance classes. It is there that Luca makes his reappearance telling her that he wants her back...after not a word from him in two years. She was furious but immediately he tells her he has purchased the building that houses her dance studio and if she doesn't do what he wants he will raise the rent so high she won't be able to afford to pay it which will force her out of business...I'm just feelin' the love here, ladies! What a gem of a guy! NOT! Is this all these A$$hat Alpha males know how to do...blackmail and threaten to get what they want.
This is the first book of The Sabbatini Brothers. Although there were places and instances where the story made me angry and frustrated (but isn't that how it's supposed to be--the author makes you feel) I would definitely recommend it.
UPDATE: 10/03/18 - Was wound up last night and couldn't settle down. Something led me to this book for the fifth time since February 2018. I love this story but just couldn't raise my four-star-rating to five. You would think that reading it five times in less than eight months might warrant a raise in the rating. That reason remains the same. Luca had blocked her and his family from finding him at every turn. She even went to another country to seek him out and tell him of his impending fatherhood. She tried everything humanly possible but without any success. When two years have passed and Luca comes to find her wanting her back he then finds out about his daughter...and guess what? It was all her fault. She 'stole' his child from him. She kept her a 'secret' kept her 'hidden!' She didn't try hard enough to find him and tell him. I was infuriated. Luca's mother is a whaco and daily grieves the baby she lost to sudden infant death syndrome more than thirty years ago (she has yet to move on!)...the whole family still grieves as though she passed away only days ago instead of half a lifetime. Then when the evil mommy dearest meets her granddaughter all she can say is that she is a replica of her dead child and God sent her so they could finally get over the death of her own daughter...thirty some odd years earlier. I lost respect for Luca as he tried to blackmail Bronte into marrying him, even threatening that he would take the child away and she would never be allowed to see her again. But I still keep going back!
ORIGINAL REVIEW: Italian billionaire businessman, Luca Sabbatini, ruthlessly kicked Bronte out of his life. They had been dating exclusively for six months and she loved him with her whole heart, beyond measure. He was her world and she would have done anything for him. Then one day out of the blue he sends someone-a staff member I believe-in his stead to drop the bomb that he no longer wants her in his life. She was devastated and broken by his careless treatment and when she finds out she's expecting his child she tried every way she knew how (even traveling to another country to try and see him) to inform him of his impending fatherhood. Unfortunately, he had her blocked at every turn. When she arrives at his villa searching for him to tell him of the pregnancy he went so far as to have his housekeeper tell her he found a new mistress in the US, was there with her and never wanted to see her again! She had to get on with her life and prepare to raise her child alone. She's a ballerina who had won the opportunity to try-out for a big role in a ballet but gave it up because of the pregnancy, because she wanted this child Luca had unknowingly given her.
What I find unbelievable was when he found out about his daughter he had the gall to place all the blame on the heroine because he missed fourteen months of the baby's life. What is it with HP that the males always place the blame on the heroine and seek revenge for something they later find out she did not do. In this case he was going to take her child away from her to punish her for withholding the information that he was a father to a daughter and promised her she would never lay eyes on her baby again! He said he could not live without his child but never gave a thought that the heroine would feel the same way. With billions at his disposal he most assuredly would have been successful. But blaming her when he is the one who refused all contact is just so unrealistic and, well, ignorant to say the least. Because of his wealth he thought his child would have a much better life with him...hello Mr. Billionaire...money and what it can buy does not a happy child make! In fact it can cause just the opposite. This thread ran throughout the whole story...and every other HP that I've read that involves a secret child.
A friend of hers whom she studied ballet with went in together to open a studio for dance classes. It is there that Luca makes his reappearance telling her that he wants her back...after not a word from him in two years. She was furious but immediately he tells her he has purchased the building that houses her dance studio and if she doesn't do what he wants he will raise the rent so high she won't be able to afford to pay it which will force her out of business...I'm just feelin' the love here, ladies! What a gem of a guy! NOT! Is this all these A$$hat Alpha males know how to do...blackmail and threaten to get what they want.
This is the first book of The Sabbatini Brothers. Although there were places and instances where the story made me angry and frustrated (but isn't that how it's supposed to be--the author makes you feel) I would definitely recommend it.
August 8, 2019
3 ⭐⭐⭐ - OK decent reads.
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‘I want you back in my bed, Bronte. If you don’t agree then there is nothing more to be said between us. You will have one week to vacate the premises of your studio. If you don’t vacate in one week the rent will increase substantially.’
‘Deal?’ she asked with a scornful look. ‘Don’t you mean the bribe you put on the table, Luca? Money for sex.’
‘That is rather a crude way of putting it,’ he said.
‘It’s the truth, though, isn’t it?’ she asked. ‘You want to turn me into a whore. You open your wallet; I open my legs. That’s the so-called deal, isn’t it?’
‘If you say no to our marriage, you are never going to see your daughter again,’ he said. ‘Have I made myself clear enough?’
‘It’s not been like you think, Bronte. I’ve had other things going on in my life. There has been no one of any significance for quite some time.’
February 12, 2018
3.5 Stars
Exactly what I expected from this surprise baby Harlequin Romance. Brutish hero, shatters the heart of his woman, casting her out of his life inexplicably. Meanwhile, his devastated ex girlfriend tries to move on with her life, raising their child alone. Only thing that could have made it better would have been some psycho ex girlfriend trying to mess things up even more for this couple. Not bad as it is though. Perfect for a Harlequin kind of mood. ;)
Exactly what I expected from this surprise baby Harlequin Romance. Brutish hero, shatters the heart of his woman, casting her out of his life inexplicably. Meanwhile, his devastated ex girlfriend tries to move on with her life, raising their child alone. Only thing that could have made it better would have been some psycho ex girlfriend trying to mess things up even more for this couple. Not bad as it is though. Perfect for a Harlequin kind of mood. ;)
October 21, 2018
3 stars
Quick, fairly standard HP fare with a H and h who both have secrets. This one felt a little rushed and formulaic.
Quick, fairly standard HP fare with a H and h who both have secrets. This one felt a little rushed and formulaic.
May 6, 2011
Excellent Terrific read
I absolutely adored Luca such a humble caring sexy loving man,he is good son,brother,lover,father,husband my heart went out to him cause of wht he suffered and had to miss out on his daughter's Ella's first year of infancy but he gets him happiness
Bronte is a good woman,great mother and good daughter,she loves Luca but the way Luca cruelly cut out of his life shattered not only her heart but also she lost her self-confidence a little
Luca-Bronte both are great characters and their love was so deep and i was really happy finally their love wins and they get their HEA
This is the first book in Sabbatini brothers followed by Giorgio then Nic but among all 3 Luca is the cutest of them
Terrific read,definetely a keeper for me
Recommend it
I absolutely adored Luca such a humble caring sexy loving man,he is good son,brother,lover,father,husband my heart went out to him cause of wht he suffered and had to miss out on his daughter's Ella's first year of infancy but he gets him happiness
Bronte is a good woman,great mother and good daughter,she loves Luca but the way Luca cruelly cut out of his life shattered not only her heart but also she lost her self-confidence a little
Luca-Bronte both are great characters and their love was so deep and i was really happy finally their love wins and they get their HEA
This is the first book in Sabbatini brothers followed by Giorgio then Nic but among all 3 Luca is the cutest of them
Terrific read,definetely a keeper for me
Recommend it
August 12, 2016
I am probably too harsh but having come straight from another book by the same author, I am miffed at the H, who is so not what I expect.
The H is a slimeball from what we know of him in the beginning. He basically slammed bammed thank you maamed the h and refused any communication from her once he has dumped her by the hand of a third party. Ok, I get why he did this early on, but his attitude sucks big time trying to get her back. I even get the heavy treatment he doled out at the beginning but once he got her to be around him, I expect him to do some wooing if not downright grovelling to get her back. Nope didn't happen, not even a teeny please from this douchebag. He just said yea yea what happened happened deal and let us move on. He even has the nerve to blame h for not trying harder to find him when he was the one to dump her arse, excommunicate her and totally evaded her for years. Yup gutter trash. I wanted to smack him upside the head when he smirks and said something to the effect that h is one big blot of lusty putty in his hands. What right does he have to rant and blames her about the child when he is the one that dumps her arse to begin with? He signs off all his rights right then and there to any claim, no matter the reason. Seriously if it were me, he doesn't even deserve a picture of her. He then ruminates on his feelings all through the book what love is but wait by the end we are told it is actually love at first sight and he is giving the h shiat before and after because he loves her so very much, like blackmailing her into giving up family and career and dumping her in a foreign land just to suit his needs. Reeeeeaaaaallllyyy?
Now on to the h, our tstl h, the typical I am so over him but wait my knickers are all wet so now I just have to jump him h. Oh my goodness, she needs to get laid bad if she is still lusting after some user like H. I really hate this I cannot stop falling into his bed type of h, we are human, not animals, I am not reading pnr here where there is some unseen force or divine intervention making it a mandate for a couple to grunt like mindless animals, use your brain and will power woman! argh (I actually paused a few times fighting the urge to check if I am delusional and reading some other genre here, though explaining it away with pnr forces is stretching things real thin and insulting to the genre, which happens to have tons of hot lovescenes without being like we are watching porno with two people that doesn't do it for each other...) I do not get why she tolerates his attitude, I do not get why she is guilty she kept the secret when in essence he was not one that makes this happen, I also do not understand how she can rant, rave against his selfish decisions then just follows long like meek sheep. This is really offensive how she capitulates and virtually becomes his slave.
I really am disappointed with this one. It really has me excited with how things begin but went right down the toilet drain afterwards. The dialogues are a lot of bickering and laying blames, neither are forthcomin with their pasts or feelings, there is hardly any meaningful interaction that helps the relationship along, secrets were not revealed till someone spilt the beans and it is like pulling teeth. The love scenes are so not doing it for me either, they are short with tons of groping then grunts and moans and before you can blink it is over. I feel like this is what two random sex starved strangers will do in a singles bar, not two people that have a strong connection will do.
I feel that given the premise, this can turn out to be a poignant and sweet book where two people learn to forgive and move forward together. Rating here is more a disappointing statement of how good this can be but was totally ruined by the execution than anything else, I guess.
The H is a slimeball from what we know of him in the beginning. He basically slammed bammed thank you maamed the h and refused any communication from her once he has dumped her by the hand of a third party. Ok, I get why he did this early on, but his attitude sucks big time trying to get her back. I even get the heavy treatment he doled out at the beginning but once he got her to be around him, I expect him to do some wooing if not downright grovelling to get her back. Nope didn't happen, not even a teeny please from this douchebag. He just said yea yea what happened happened deal and let us move on. He even has the nerve to blame h for not trying harder to find him when he was the one to dump her arse, excommunicate her and totally evaded her for years. Yup gutter trash. I wanted to smack him upside the head when he smirks and said something to the effect that h is one big blot of lusty putty in his hands. What right does he have to rant and blames her about the child when he is the one that dumps her arse to begin with? He signs off all his rights right then and there to any claim, no matter the reason. Seriously if it were me, he doesn't even deserve a picture of her. He then ruminates on his feelings all through the book what love is but wait by the end we are told it is actually love at first sight and he is giving the h shiat before and after because he loves her so very much, like blackmailing her into giving up family and career and dumping her in a foreign land just to suit his needs. Reeeeeaaaaallllyyy?
Now on to the h, our tstl h, the typical I am so over him but wait my knickers are all wet so now I just have to jump him h. Oh my goodness, she needs to get laid bad if she is still lusting after some user like H. I really hate this I cannot stop falling into his bed type of h, we are human, not animals, I am not reading pnr here where there is some unseen force or divine intervention making it a mandate for a couple to grunt like mindless animals, use your brain and will power woman! argh (I actually paused a few times fighting the urge to check if I am delusional and reading some other genre here, though explaining it away with pnr forces is stretching things real thin and insulting to the genre, which happens to have tons of hot lovescenes without being like we are watching porno with two people that doesn't do it for each other...) I do not get why she tolerates his attitude, I do not get why she is guilty she kept the secret when in essence he was not one that makes this happen, I also do not understand how she can rant, rave against his selfish decisions then just follows long like meek sheep. This is really offensive how she capitulates and virtually becomes his slave.
I really am disappointed with this one. It really has me excited with how things begin but went right down the toilet drain afterwards. The dialogues are a lot of bickering and laying blames, neither are forthcomin with their pasts or feelings, there is hardly any meaningful interaction that helps the relationship along, secrets were not revealed till someone spilt the beans and it is like pulling teeth. The love scenes are so not doing it for me either, they are short with tons of groping then grunts and moans and before you can blink it is over. I feel like this is what two random sex starved strangers will do in a singles bar, not two people that have a strong connection will do.
I feel that given the premise, this can turn out to be a poignant and sweet book where two people learn to forgive and move forward together. Rating here is more a disappointing statement of how good this can be but was totally ruined by the execution than anything else, I guess.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 20, 2021
Who doesn’t love a well-written second-chance love story, especially when cute toddlers are thrown into the mix as well? Well, I can say that I enjoyed this. Though I had my doubts through the first few chapters, the author still managed to pull me in. The reason why I didn't give this more than 2.5 stars is the hero, Luca. This hero is, for lack of a better word, a douche. He had no right to be angry at her. Actually, I still don’t understand why he was. There was not one thing in the book that justified his anger toward Bronte, not one. He was just an asshole, incapable of recognizing his own faults and incapable of saying sorry.
There were portions of the story I did enjoy, but… I was too angry and upset at the hero. He was a complete asshole! But I think it was his own self-loathing and regret that had him lashing out in such a despicable manner. The only reason this book didn't receive a 1 from me is that it was well-written, the characters felt real, and I did have some serious sympathy for the hero because of his illness at first, but halfway through, this all changed.
November 16, 2022
A good book that I read a few times a year.
A Safe Read
No OW
No OM
No cheating during separation.
A Safe Read
No OW
No OM
No cheating during separation.
May 27, 2012
Review also available on : www.romancing-the-book.com
In the world of real life it very seldom happens that a young woman meets the man of her dreams starts up an affair falls in love with him,then just when she is about to tell him how much he takes of without a word,and she is left to pick up the pieces…. yeah right !
In the first book of the Sabbatini Brothers Series we meet Bronte a up and coming ballerina with a zest for life and ready to make a success of her live. That is until she meets the downright sexy Luca Sabbatini. They begin a whirlwind romance and soon she is falling in love with him,but there is something more to the story than him abruptly just deciding it is over and leaving.
Luca has a secret that he does not wish to reveal to Bronte for fear of having her pity him or worse rejecting him for not being perfect. So Luca leaves with the what I think is one of the lowest things a man can do , a parting gift delivered by one of his servants ! Ouch right, but Bronte realizes she must go on if she wants to make a success of her career than that is what she needs to focus on. Easier said then done as when she is about to try out for the London Ballet she finds out she is expecting Luca’s baby.
Faced with the ordeal of not being able to raise a child and have the career she was aiming for Bronte reorganizes her life for nothing is more precious to her than her darling little girl ,and as long as Luca stays away and never finds out about Ella all will just fine.
A year goes by and suddenly we see Luca back on the scene, he is not only back for good but back with vengeance. He wants Bronte back and nothing will stand in his way. With Bronte trying her hardest to hide Ella and trying to fend off her strong feelings of love for Luca ,feelings that have never died, and Luca trying to win Bronte back you know it …the book is one explosive read !!
When Luca does discover the truth he immediately demands that Bronte marry him and they all move to Italy to his family home. Bronte is not sure but with Luca not letting anything get in the way of what he wants , his daughter in his life and a “wife with bedroom benefits” he blackmails her into the deal.
Once in Italy Bronte has a hard time coming to terms as to how she is to hide her own feelings and how she is ever to accept that her husband is merely the man who loves his daughter unconditionally but will never love his wife ,after all she is just his bed partner,and what is the reason why Luca really left her ?
Melanie Milburne delivers a brilliant read ,and at the same time leaves us dying of anticipation as to what happens in book 2. In Scandal: Unclaimed Love-Child we see a couple who’s secrets not only tear them apart but also reunite them.
In the world of real life it very seldom happens that a young woman meets the man of her dreams starts up an affair falls in love with him,then just when she is about to tell him how much he takes of without a word,and she is left to pick up the pieces…. yeah right !
In the first book of the Sabbatini Brothers Series we meet Bronte a up and coming ballerina with a zest for life and ready to make a success of her live. That is until she meets the downright sexy Luca Sabbatini. They begin a whirlwind romance and soon she is falling in love with him,but there is something more to the story than him abruptly just deciding it is over and leaving.
Luca has a secret that he does not wish to reveal to Bronte for fear of having her pity him or worse rejecting him for not being perfect. So Luca leaves with the what I think is one of the lowest things a man can do , a parting gift delivered by one of his servants ! Ouch right, but Bronte realizes she must go on if she wants to make a success of her career than that is what she needs to focus on. Easier said then done as when she is about to try out for the London Ballet she finds out she is expecting Luca’s baby.
Faced with the ordeal of not being able to raise a child and have the career she was aiming for Bronte reorganizes her life for nothing is more precious to her than her darling little girl ,and as long as Luca stays away and never finds out about Ella all will just fine.
A year goes by and suddenly we see Luca back on the scene, he is not only back for good but back with vengeance. He wants Bronte back and nothing will stand in his way. With Bronte trying her hardest to hide Ella and trying to fend off her strong feelings of love for Luca ,feelings that have never died, and Luca trying to win Bronte back you know it …the book is one explosive read !!
When Luca does discover the truth he immediately demands that Bronte marry him and they all move to Italy to his family home. Bronte is not sure but with Luca not letting anything get in the way of what he wants , his daughter in his life and a “wife with bedroom benefits” he blackmails her into the deal.
Once in Italy Bronte has a hard time coming to terms as to how she is to hide her own feelings and how she is ever to accept that her husband is merely the man who loves his daughter unconditionally but will never love his wife ,after all she is just his bed partner,and what is the reason why Luca really left her ?
Melanie Milburne delivers a brilliant read ,and at the same time leaves us dying of anticipation as to what happens in book 2. In Scandal: Unclaimed Love-Child we see a couple who’s secrets not only tear them apart but also reunite them.
December 20, 2012
I didn't feel for the heroine at all and there wasn't much of a plot or drama in my opinion. More importantly I didn't feel the love between them. The hero was sweet and sensitive but the heroine kind of cold.
December 8, 2011
Review by Desere:
In the world of real life it very seldom happens that a young woman meets the man of her dreams starts up an affair falls in love with him,then just when she is about to tell him how much he takes of without a word,and she is left to pick up the pieces.... yeah right !
In the first book of the Sabbatini Brothers Series we meet Bronte a up and coming ballerina with a zest for life and ready to make a success of her live. That is until she meets the downright sexy Luca Sabbatini. They begin a whirlwind romance and soon she is falling in love with him,but there is something more to the story than him abruptly just deciding it is over and leaving.
Luca has a secret that he does not wish to reveal to Bronte for fear of having her pity him or worse rejecting him for not being perfect. So Luca leaves with the what I think is one of the lowest things a man can do , a parting gift delivered by one of his servants ! Ouch right, but Bronte realizes she must go on if she wants to make a success of her career than that is what she needs to focus on. Easier said then done as when she is about to try out for the London Ballet she finds out she is expecting Luca's baby.
Faced with the ordeal of not being able to raise a child and have the career she was aiming for Bronte reorganizes her life for nothing is more precious to her than her darling little girl ,and as long as Luca stays away and never finds out about Ella all will just fine.
A year goes by and suddenly we see Luca back on the scene, he is not only back for good but back with vengeance. He wants Bronte back and nothing will stand in his way. With Bronte trying her hardest to hide Ella and trying to fend off her strong feelings of love for Luca ,feelings that have never died, and Luca trying to win Bronte back you know it ...the book is one explosive read !!
When Luca does discover the truth he immediately demands that Bronte marry him and they all move to Italy to his family home. Bronte is not sure but with Luca not letting anything get in the way of what he wants , his daughter in his life and a "wife with bedroom benefits" he blackmails her into the deal.
Once in Italy Bronte has a hard time coming to terms as to how she is to hide her own feelings and how she is ever to accept that her husband is merely the man who loves his daughter unconditionally but will never love his wife ,after all she is just his bed partner,and what is the reason why Luca really left her ?
Melanie Milburne delivers a brilliant read ,and at the same time leaves us dying of anticipation as to what happens in book 2. In Scandal: Unclaimed Love-Child we see a couple who's secrets not only tear them apart but also reunite them.
In the world of real life it very seldom happens that a young woman meets the man of her dreams starts up an affair falls in love with him,then just when she is about to tell him how much he takes of without a word,and she is left to pick up the pieces.... yeah right !
In the first book of the Sabbatini Brothers Series we meet Bronte a up and coming ballerina with a zest for life and ready to make a success of her live. That is until she meets the downright sexy Luca Sabbatini. They begin a whirlwind romance and soon she is falling in love with him,but there is something more to the story than him abruptly just deciding it is over and leaving.
Luca has a secret that he does not wish to reveal to Bronte for fear of having her pity him or worse rejecting him for not being perfect. So Luca leaves with the what I think is one of the lowest things a man can do , a parting gift delivered by one of his servants ! Ouch right, but Bronte realizes she must go on if she wants to make a success of her career than that is what she needs to focus on. Easier said then done as when she is about to try out for the London Ballet she finds out she is expecting Luca's baby.
Faced with the ordeal of not being able to raise a child and have the career she was aiming for Bronte reorganizes her life for nothing is more precious to her than her darling little girl ,and as long as Luca stays away and never finds out about Ella all will just fine.
A year goes by and suddenly we see Luca back on the scene, he is not only back for good but back with vengeance. He wants Bronte back and nothing will stand in his way. With Bronte trying her hardest to hide Ella and trying to fend off her strong feelings of love for Luca ,feelings that have never died, and Luca trying to win Bronte back you know it ...the book is one explosive read !!
When Luca does discover the truth he immediately demands that Bronte marry him and they all move to Italy to his family home. Bronte is not sure but with Luca not letting anything get in the way of what he wants , his daughter in his life and a "wife with bedroom benefits" he blackmails her into the deal.
Once in Italy Bronte has a hard time coming to terms as to how she is to hide her own feelings and how she is ever to accept that her husband is merely the man who loves his daughter unconditionally but will never love his wife ,after all she is just his bed partner,and what is the reason why Luca really left her ?
Melanie Milburne delivers a brilliant read ,and at the same time leaves us dying of anticipation as to what happens in book 2. In Scandal: Unclaimed Love-Child we see a couple who's secrets not only tear them apart but also reunite them.
March 18, 2011
I am really enjoying Melanie Milburne's Sabbatini brothers!!! This book was just as good as the last. You never feel like its a whirlwind romance since the characters all have a past together and Melanie interweaves their past into the present story. I absolutely loved getting to know Luca and Bronte...he broke her heart while trying to protect her, its almost sickening how romantic the story is. However like the other Sabbatini brother I read about, Nic (can you say hotness!!!), Luca displays nothing but this arrogant macho attitude not really wanting to admit his love for Bronte. This really allows for some interesting reading. Its heavy on the hot and steamy...cant say I blame Bronte for not being able to resist him. Overall great book...lots of depth for such a short well written lil book!!! One to the next Sabbatini brother.......
August 26, 2014
This book irritated me to no end. I usually like Melanie Milburne, but this was a dud. Luca was an a$$hat for leaving w/o telling Bronte why. She did what she had to do and kept living. When Luca came back, I didn't like how she kept hiding their daughter from him. I get that she couldn't contact his irresponsible, noble a$$ while he had run away, but there is no excuse for keeping a baby from its father when the a$$hat is back. They were both annoying idiots and they deserve to make each other miserable.
May 28, 2018
Maybe I'm just burned out on HQP books, but there wasn't anything special about this book. Both had valid reasons for their actions, but a lot more could have been done with proper communication between the two. The ending was ok, but that was about it.
Maybe I'll take a break from HQP and go back to my HR books.
Re-read- Still just OK.
Maybe I'll take a break from HQP and go back to my HR books.
Re-read- Still just OK.
not-interested
March 5, 2018This reviewer’s favorite sentence in the book will have me laughing for a while. I am while writing this.
LMAO 😂🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 🐓 👗
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
LMAO 😂🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 🐓 👗
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
July 16, 2017
This is a reunited/secret baby story.
Luca and Bronte were lovers until he dumped her and cut off all communication. This devastated her when she found out she was pregnant. She got on with her life, built a business with her friend and supported her daughter.
Now Luca unexpectedly shows up at her dance studio making demands he has no right to and saying he wants her back in his life, in his bed.
I loved this story because of Luca. He made the ultimate sacrifice for love and it almost cost him everything. Bronte was strong in making the decisions she did, but only a cold heart could hear Luca's story and not empathize.
This was a winner for me. I am sure I will read it again in the future. It was that good.
Luca and Bronte were lovers until he dumped her and cut off all communication. This devastated her when she found out she was pregnant. She got on with her life, built a business with her friend and supported her daughter.
Now Luca unexpectedly shows up at her dance studio making demands he has no right to and saying he wants her back in his life, in his bed.
I loved this story because of Luca. He made the ultimate sacrifice for love and it almost cost him everything. Bronte was strong in making the decisions she did, but only a cold heart could hear Luca's story and not empathize.
This was a winner for me. I am sure I will read it again in the future. It was that good.
March 17, 2013
Bronte and Luca had a six month relationship when he dumped her. She was heartbroken and scared of failure because of their relationship failure, but Luca left a little something to remember him by. Not a spoiler because it’s in the title :) To be fair, Bronte did try to contact him, but he wouldn’t take any calls, changed his number, and even had his housekeeper believing he had moved on to OW! Still reeling from his refusal to see her and her achy heart, Bronte determined to make it on her own and not ever tell him. However, Luca is back and threatening blackmail to get her back where he wants her!
I am trying not to give spoilers in my review. Right away Luca realizes that his attempt to get her where he wants her is a bad idea and he pulled back, however he reverts to form later on. He discovers her little secret and he is FAR from pleased – blackmail comes in to play again. He has a bit of a double standard going as well with his reluctance to give his reasons for his dine and dash of two years before! Somehow you could almost draw a parallel in the pain between what they each did to the other – okay maybe a stretch, but I saw it for a brief glimpse :D I understood his reasons for leaving and I thought she made a good point for what he did. Then she started to see things from his side and perhaps believed that he didn’t mean to be so hurtful, but more loving in the end. I guess I bought it at the end, and I enjoyed each of them working things out as they both explained their viewpoints well.
August 20, 2011
Very sweet. Luca ( he is Luca inside the book, Luc on the cover ) had dropped Bronte and disappeared for almost two years. He had changed his number, and left the country, leaving Bronte alone in a foreign country and pregnant with his child. He felt justi...fied in his reasons for going, but finding out he had missed out on his child's first fourteen months of life caused him to lash out at Bronte. Bronte had tried to contact Luca, even showing up at his home, but was told he was with a new woman in the states. She had done the best she could, moving back to her home country and in with her mother. She gave up her ballerina dreams and set out to teach dance to be able to support them. Having Luca back in her life brought back so many good memories, but also filled her with dread of not being good enough to make him happy. Of never having him actually love her, as she loved him.
July 9, 2013
It was such a sweet novel.
The hero broken up with heroine and left her so abruptly, the heroine didn't know what's going on and why did he do that without any explanation. After the breakup she found out that she's pregnant. The story kicks off two years after that. Off course it's going to revolve about the baby which I adored. The hero was a lot understanding than the usual heroes in the same position, he was kind and sweet. And the heroine was at some point in the book a total pain in the neck although I gotta say that I liked her too.
Amazing read
The hero broken up with heroine and left her so abruptly, the heroine didn't know what's going on and why did he do that without any explanation. After the breakup she found out that she's pregnant. The story kicks off two years after that. Off course it's going to revolve about the baby which I adored. The hero was a lot understanding than the usual heroes in the same position, he was kind and sweet. And the heroine was at some point in the book a total pain in the neck although I gotta say that I liked her too.
Amazing read
March 21, 2018
Yet another one with the regular theme - rich guy, shy virgin girl, affair breaks abruptly, girl gets pregnant, guy comes back after a few years for round 2.
In this one, the guy vanishes because he is sick. And gets back once he is healed.
Ok read, nothing spectacular.
In this one, the guy vanishes because he is sick. And gets back once he is healed.
Ok read, nothing spectacular.
December 17, 2012
Luc was too much of a bully for my taste but I did like his medical scare storyline. It was something different.
April 1, 2024
This hero dumped coldly the heroine after six months of dating, and he made it through one of his thugs, which made the heroine furious. She was also pregnant and could not reach him because he had blocked her everywhere and she was told he was gone to America with his latest mistress. Two years later he’s back and wants to resume their relationship. The heroine tries to kick him out of her life but he’s relentless and as every good hp billionaire hero in history he blackmails her into a couple of dates, where he also finds out she has a lil daughter that he supposes it’s not his. But she is. When he finds out he’s obviously upset and resentful because he’s a typical hp idiot hero who, even if it was all his fault if the poor heroine wasn’t able to reach him, blames her because she didn’t try harder to reach him, I mean, there’s Oprah, why didn’t the heroine go to her show telling the word he had a daughter? Conceited idiot.
There’s a lot of TBS but the heroine swears it’s only sex because she hates his guts. I wish.
He uses blackmail each time she doesn’t do what he wants and I really hated him for it. He could have explained why he did what he did and tried to be more understanding since the poor heroine had a hard time pregnant and alone with only her mother to help her. Basically the hero didn’t choose to dump her just because he was tired of her, but because he had to have a dangerous surgery to his brain and risked to stay permanently disabled, so he didn’t want her to tie down with a man who could have been a complete burden. He also had complications and was in a coma for some time. He suffered from epilepsy so he had to have a part of his brain removed, poor man. If he had explained this in advance instead of bullying the heroine into dating him first then marrying him later everything would have been simpler. Both were celibate, he went to her because he was in love with her and waited one year to see if his surgery had worked. What a sweetie. So yes, he really loved her all along even if he should have trusted her with the truth, but I can understand that six months together were not that long so he wouldn’t want her to be burdened with a disabled man forever. He was a bit of a bully but in the end all went well and the heroine was not so meek.
There’s a lot of TBS but the heroine swears it’s only sex because she hates his guts. I wish.
He uses blackmail each time she doesn’t do what he wants and I really hated him for it. He could have explained why he did what he did and tried to be more understanding since the poor heroine had a hard time pregnant and alone with only her mother to help her. Basically the hero didn’t choose to dump her just because he was tired of her, but because he had to have a dangerous surgery to his brain and risked to stay permanently disabled, so he didn’t want her to tie down with a man who could have been a complete burden. He also had complications and was in a coma for some time. He suffered from epilepsy so he had to have a part of his brain removed, poor man. If he had explained this in advance instead of bullying the heroine into dating him first then marrying him later everything would have been simpler. Both were celibate, he went to her because he was in love with her and waited one year to see if his surgery had worked. What a sweetie. So yes, he really loved her all along even if he should have trusted her with the truth, but I can understand that six months together were not that long so he wouldn’t want her to be burdened with a disabled man forever. He was a bit of a bully but in the end all went well and the heroine was not so meek.
November 29, 2021
A very strong 3.5 stars.
The heroine really did it for me in this book. It's not common to come across such a strong female lead in these kinds of romance books but the heroine really held her own.
Reasons for the lost stars is because the hero was of course a prominent philandering man-wh**e up until meeting the heroine who is of course an inexperienced little virgin. *Yawn*
There is absolutely no cheating in this book, they both remain celibate during the separation but as for reading more of this author's books; not too sure. The next hero in the series is crappy in this book and even worse in the reviews of his actual story.
It's an okay book.
The heroine really did it for me in this book. It's not common to come across such a strong female lead in these kinds of romance books but the heroine really held her own.
Reasons for the lost stars is because the hero was of course a prominent philandering man-wh**e up until meeting the heroine who is of course an inexperienced little virgin. *Yawn*
There is absolutely no cheating in this book, they both remain celibate during the separation but as for reading more of this author's books; not too sure. The next hero in the series is crappy in this book and even worse in the reviews of his actual story.
It's an okay book.
March 16, 2020
URGH. Hated the H. He was the one who left the h (even though he thought he had good reason to do so) but then used blackmail to get her back. He then got angry with the h for not telling him about their child. Absolutely ridiculous considering that he was the one who cut off contact between them. Hoped that the h would have a spine. Unfortunately that is not the case and she fell back into the H's arms so quickly even though everything was still unresolved between them.
May 7, 2018
It was okay but I didn't feel like there was any romance in the book the main male role was of a guy who went from sensitive to a total jerk in a second.the female leed was still hurt from how he ended their relationship and had a hard time forgiving him mind you he sure didn't make it easy.
November 24, 2019
I like the fact the she didn't just cave in immediately he came back.. Like all the other doormats that most harlequin writers likes so much.. All in all.. The book was a nice read and I enjoyed it... Kudos to Melanie Milburne
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