What do you think?
Rate this book
In the Italian's Sights
"An impossible temptation Her fiancé has been stolen by her sister, she’s lost in the remote country lanes of Italy and her hire car has broken down! Wondering what else will go wrong, Cherry Gibbs looks up to meet the searing gaze of Vittorio Carella. Despite his having everything she has sworn to avoid – easy charm and dazzling good-looks – Cherry finds herself staying at her rescuer’s villa. Soon she’s intoxicated by the stunning surroundings and seduced by Vittorio’s skilful touch. But this isn’t reality. Vittorio could have his pick of Italy’s social elite – so why has he set his sights on her…?"
192 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2012
About the author
Helen Brooks
415 books123 followersRita Bradshaw was born on 1949 in Northampton, England, where she was educated as a good Christian. She met Clive, her husband, at the age of 16 andnow the magic is still there. They have three lovely children, Cara, Faye, and Benjamin, and have always had a menagerie of animals in the house, which at the present is confined to two endearing and very comical dogs who would make a great double act on TV! The children, friends, and pets all keep the house buzzing and the food cupboards empty but Helen wouldn't have it any other way. She still lives today in Northampton with her family. Although having enjoyed some wonderful holidays abroad she has never been tempted to live anywhere else, although she rather likes the idea of a holiday home close to the sea one day.
Being a committed Christian and fervent animal lover she finds spare time is always at a premium, but long walks in the countryside with her husband and dogs, meals out followed by the cinema or theatre, reading, swimming, and having friends over for dinner are all fitted in somehow. She also enjoys sitting in her wonderfully therapeutic, rambling old garden in the sun with a glass of red wine, (under the guise of resting while thinking of course!)
For years, she was a secretary. She began writing in 1990 as she approached that milestone of a birthday 40! She realized her two teenage ambitions (writing a novel and learning to drive) had been lost amid babies and hectic family life, so set about resurrecting them.
Her first novel was for Mills and Boon and was accepted after one rewrite in 1992 as Helen Brooks, and she passed her driving test (the former was a joy and the latter an unmitigated nightmare!) She has written 50 novels as well as several sagas as Rita Bradshaw.
Since becoming a full-time writer she has found her occupation one of pure joy and often surprised when her characters develop a mind of their own but she loves exploring what makes people tick and finds the old adage "truth is stranger than fiction" to be absolutely true. She would love to hear from any readers care of Mills & Boon.
Being a committed Christian and fervent animal lover she finds spare time is always at a premium, but long walks in the countryside with her husband and dogs, meals out followed by the cinema or theatre, reading, swimming, and having friends over for dinner are all fitted in somehow. She also enjoys sitting in her wonderfully therapeutic, rambling old garden in the sun with a glass of red wine, (under the guise of resting while thinking of course!)
For years, she was a secretary. She began writing in 1990 as she approached that milestone of a birthday 40! She realized her two teenage ambitions (writing a novel and learning to drive) had been lost amid babies and hectic family life, so set about resurrecting them.
Her first novel was for Mills and Boon and was accepted after one rewrite in 1992 as Helen Brooks, and she passed her driving test (the former was a joy and the latter an unmitigated nightmare!) She has written 50 novels as well as several sagas as Rita Bradshaw.
Since becoming a full-time writer she has found her occupation one of pure joy and often surprised when her characters develop a mind of their own but she loves exploring what makes people tick and finds the old adage "truth is stranger than fiction" to be absolutely true. She would love to hear from any readers care of Mills & Boon.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
June 27, 2021
Sweet, very, very sweet.
This wasn’t so much HP romance as old Hollywood romance with a charming Italian hero who is such a stock character in his Italianness that he’s almost a parody. Gentlemanly, charming as he slaughters English phrases, urbane, handsome, grey-eyed, and nice… what’s not to love.
I kept thinking of Ricardo Montalban.
Oops, not that one. This one.
The heroine is okay too. She’s deals with a boyfriend stealing sister and an indifferent mother by taking a vacation to Italy. Luckily for her, her car runs out of gas at just the right moment and just the right place. I think the most important thing about her is her name is Cherry, middle name Blossom and is a virgin.
There is an underage, shotgun wedding and an evil OW that glares and flounces around and was just interesting enough to make me want to read her husband’s story after he, hopefully, dumps her.
This wasn’t so much HP romance as old Hollywood romance with a charming Italian hero who is such a stock character in his Italianness that he’s almost a parody. Gentlemanly, charming as he slaughters English phrases, urbane, handsome, grey-eyed, and nice… what’s not to love.
I kept thinking of Ricardo Montalban.
Oops, not that one. This one.
The heroine is okay too. She’s deals with a boyfriend stealing sister and an indifferent mother by taking a vacation to Italy. Luckily for her, her car runs out of gas at just the right moment and just the right place. I think the most important thing about her is her name is Cherry, middle name Blossom and is a virgin.
There is an underage, shotgun wedding and an evil OW that glares and flounces around and was just interesting enough to make me want to read her husband’s story after he, hopefully, dumps her.
November 11, 2020
HAIKU BOOK REVIEW: In the Italian’s Sights, by Helen Brooks.
English waif, sexy
Italian, guess good girls
do win after all.
English waif, sexy
Italian, guess good girls
do win after all.
March 25, 2014
I am a big fan of Helen Brooks. I especially love her heroes. They are alpha to the core, but never asshats. A trait very difficult to pull off in HP land.
However, this book just fell flat which was surprising given it had all the elements for a great story. The book was primarily based upon the heroine's insecurities which got overplayed and became tiring. Granted, she had reason to feel burned having found her fiancé and sister in bed together. Having lived a life where she was continually put down by her mother and expected to give everything of value to her sister (including her toys and men) I could see why she had developed such an inferiority complex. However, the author really didn't do anything with that element of the story other than give us the backdrop and then have the heroine spur every kind gesture the hero made. Not every man can be painted with the same brush so the heroine just came off as childish and ungracious.
1) The author should have developed the evil OW (plural) more into the main thread of the story. They were all there just waiting to be tapped into: Ex-fiancee, evil sister, mother from hell. Yet, they were just placed around the periphery. I would have loved to see them test the hero's character a bit. That would have made for some nice and delicious angst.
2) I also needed to understand the hero's POV better. Some authors don't ever "tell" you, but they do a great job of "showing" you and that helps fill in the blanks. Unfortunately, not this time and I felt it made him rather one-dimensional. Which was a shame because he had all the makings of being rather delicious, but the author never developed him enough.
Somewhat disappointing read from one of my most favorite authors.
However, this book just fell flat which was surprising given it had all the elements for a great story. The book was primarily based upon the heroine's insecurities which got overplayed and became tiring. Granted, she had reason to feel burned having found her fiancé and sister in bed together. Having lived a life where she was continually put down by her mother and expected to give everything of value to her sister (including her toys and men) I could see why she had developed such an inferiority complex. However, the author really didn't do anything with that element of the story other than give us the backdrop and then have the heroine spur every kind gesture the hero made. Not every man can be painted with the same brush so the heroine just came off as childish and ungracious.
1) The author should have developed the evil OW (plural) more into the main thread of the story. They were all there just waiting to be tapped into: Ex-fiancee, evil sister, mother from hell. Yet, they were just placed around the periphery. I would have loved to see them test the hero's character a bit. That would have made for some nice and delicious angst.
2) I also needed to understand the hero's POV better. Some authors don't ever "tell" you, but they do a great job of "showing" you and that helps fill in the blanks. Unfortunately, not this time and I felt it made him rather one-dimensional. Which was a shame because he had all the makings of being rather delicious, but the author never developed him enough.
Somewhat disappointing read from one of my most favorite authors.
May 9, 2012
When the heroines jealous tramp of a sister stole her boyfriend by sleeping with him, the heroine decided to go to Italy. It was in Italy she met the hero and his young sister, entirely by accident. It was then, that the hero welcomed her to stay at his villa. Little did she know the problems she'd face. Secret affairs and pregnancies. Old fiancees and lovers. A jealous sister intent on stealing any man in sight. A rushed wedding and a proposal.
This novel is action packed with all sorts of drama that turns out great. I loved that there was something going on in this novel, no time to be bored. It wasn't cluttered either, so you weren't confused at all. In fact it was written pretty perfectly. Easy to fell the emotions and fall in love with the characters you were reading about. Excellent read!
This novel is action packed with all sorts of drama that turns out great. I loved that there was something going on in this novel, no time to be bored. It wasn't cluttered either, so you weren't confused at all. In fact it was written pretty perfectly. Easy to fell the emotions and fall in love with the characters you were reading about. Excellent read!
November 5, 2012
2.5 stars
This book has the vibe of an old harlequin. It is too tame to be considered an H Presents, it belongs more to H Romance. Sweet romance, gentle attraction, virgin heroine, no Hero' point of view, no angst & no conflict whatsoever. Lots of description of Italy & the Italian's food.
I am particularly disappointed by the absence of the H's POV and the absence of any signs of his love towards the h, which make him appear one-dimensional, with no emotional depth. Cherry is sweet & kind, within the confines of the traditional h's criteria.
This book has the vibe of an old harlequin. It is too tame to be considered an H Presents, it belongs more to H Romance. Sweet romance, gentle attraction, virgin heroine, no Hero' point of view, no angst & no conflict whatsoever. Lots of description of Italy & the Italian's food.
I am particularly disappointed by the absence of the H's POV and the absence of any signs of his love towards the h, which make him appear one-dimensional, with no emotional depth. Cherry is sweet & kind, within the confines of the traditional h's criteria.
May 9, 2012
Good read,adored Vittorio more then Cherry,liked the bonding between Sophia-Cherry,no big issues between main characters,it was a simple sweet story.
March 19, 2019
.. it was what I expected it to be. Awkwardly cheesy and poorly written.The protagonist had no idea what she wanted to the point it was almost like she had multiple personalities.
April 21, 2025
Sięgałam po "Włoskie wakacje", głównie dlatego, że chciałam przeczytać coś lekkiego, niezobowiązującego, nawet jeśli miałoby to być głupkowate romansidło, nad którym później bym się mogła popastwić.
Mój wybór padł na historię Cherry Gibbs, dwudziestopięciolatki, która po rozstaniu z niejakim Liamem przyjeżdża do Apulli we Włoszech. Trochę, żeby odpocząć, trochę żeby zapomnieć, a trochę żeby "odnaleźć siebie na nowo". Pech chce, że dziewczynie psuje się samochód. Nie ruszy dalej! Cherry została więc sama, na jakimś niemal kompletnym pustkowiu, w obcym państwie, w dodatku zaczyna myśleć o wszystkich tych natrętnych włoskich mężczyznach, którzy mogliby się napatoczyć, i jeszcze nie wiadomo czy nie napastować! I kiedy tak odchodzi od zmysłów, pojawia się facet, zabójczo przystojny, niczym wyjęty z żurnala. Zajeżdża on swoim ferrari, przy którym jej fiat wygląda jak niepozorne dzidzi. Mężczyzna przedstawia się jako Vittorio Carella. Okazuje się, że jest spadkobiercą rodzinnego biznesu produkującego we Włoszech oliwki, a ścieżka na której wynajęty samochód biednej Cherry zakończył podróż należy do niego i właśnie tarasuje mu przejazd. Cherry, nieświadoma że wjechała na czyjąś prywatną posesję obiecuje, że się wyniesie najszybciej jak tylko się da, ale Vittorio proponuje jej aby zatrzymała się u niego, bo naprawa samochodu, tudzież przyjazd kogoś z firmy wynajmującej może trwać zbyt długo i chyba nie chce ona spędzić nocy na tym pustkowiu....
Co wyniknie z tej znajomości? Czy Vittorio ma dobre zamiary? Jak zakończy się ta historia? Odpowiedzi na te i wiele innych pytań należy szukać w książce.
Już jakieś kilkanaście lat temu przestałam czytać regularnie harlequiny, a przeczytany w lutym romans "Instynkt i rozsądek" można nazwać pierwszym po wielu latach rozłąki z tego typu literaturą. Zresztą szczęśliwej rozłąki. Jak więc odebrałam tę historię? Ku mojemu zaskoczeniu nie tak najgorzej. I choć widzę wady w postaci wielu przewidywalnych sytuacji i zachowań bohaterów, choć ta historia jest naiwna jak każda tego typu, to jednak pozytywnie się zaskoczyłam.
Jest to historia, w którym bajecznie bogaty, nieziemsko przystojny Włoch zabiera przypadkową Angielkę w podróż po włoskich miastach, a przy okazji po zakamarkach jego włoskiego serca. Ciepła opowieść, utrzymana w klimacie włoskich uliczek, restauracji i nawyków, z dozą dramatyzmu w postaci krnąbrnej siostry głównego bohatera - Sophii, z nutą romansu, którego nikt nie chciał, a on i tak wisi w powietrzu. Typowe ona go nie chce, chociaż go pragnie i "kto się czubi ten się lubi" - zwłaszcza mając na uwadze niektóre rozmowy głównych bohaterów. Rozmowy, które niekiedy bywają irytujące i to właśnie nie pasowało mi najbardziej w tej historii. Te poważne rozmowy o stereotypach i spoufalanie się obojga, praktycznie w ten sam dzień, jakby znali się przynajmniej od kilku miesięcy. Trochę za szybko to wszystko, nawet jak na harlequinowe romansidło.
Ostatecznie jednak to romansidło spełniło swoją rolę: było niezłą, lekką, niezobowiązującą historią, jakiej po nim oczekiwałam. Nie zirytowała mnie głupkowatymi scenami. Nikt bez sensu nie zatańczył nago na grobie żadnego wodza, a nawet udało mi się wyłuskać kilka cytatów, co mnie samą osobiście dziwi, że w takiej literaturze udało się znaleźć coś mądrzej napisanego. I choć romans, jak wspomniałam wcześniej, "wisiał w powietrzu" przez długi czas, to nie specjalnie mnie to obeszło. Było to nawet na swój sposób ładne.
Jeśli ktoś lubi takie lekkie obyczajówki, albo chce na chwilę odpłynąć myślami do Włoch, poczuć klimat słonecznej Italii i liczy na przeczytanie czegoś szybko i w miarę przyjemnie, to ta historia jest dla niego.
Opinia opublikowana na moim blogu:
https://literackiepodrozebooki.blogsp...
Mój wybór padł na historię Cherry Gibbs, dwudziestopięciolatki, która po rozstaniu z niejakim Liamem przyjeżdża do Apulli we Włoszech. Trochę, żeby odpocząć, trochę żeby zapomnieć, a trochę żeby "odnaleźć siebie na nowo". Pech chce, że dziewczynie psuje się samochód. Nie ruszy dalej! Cherry została więc sama, na jakimś niemal kompletnym pustkowiu, w obcym państwie, w dodatku zaczyna myśleć o wszystkich tych natrętnych włoskich mężczyznach, którzy mogliby się napatoczyć, i jeszcze nie wiadomo czy nie napastować! I kiedy tak odchodzi od zmysłów, pojawia się facet, zabójczo przystojny, niczym wyjęty z żurnala. Zajeżdża on swoim ferrari, przy którym jej fiat wygląda jak niepozorne dzidzi. Mężczyzna przedstawia się jako Vittorio Carella. Okazuje się, że jest spadkobiercą rodzinnego biznesu produkującego we Włoszech oliwki, a ścieżka na której wynajęty samochód biednej Cherry zakończył podróż należy do niego i właśnie tarasuje mu przejazd. Cherry, nieświadoma że wjechała na czyjąś prywatną posesję obiecuje, że się wyniesie najszybciej jak tylko się da, ale Vittorio proponuje jej aby zatrzymała się u niego, bo naprawa samochodu, tudzież przyjazd kogoś z firmy wynajmującej może trwać zbyt długo i chyba nie chce ona spędzić nocy na tym pustkowiu....
Co wyniknie z tej znajomości? Czy Vittorio ma dobre zamiary? Jak zakończy się ta historia? Odpowiedzi na te i wiele innych pytań należy szukać w książce.
Już jakieś kilkanaście lat temu przestałam czytać regularnie harlequiny, a przeczytany w lutym romans "Instynkt i rozsądek" można nazwać pierwszym po wielu latach rozłąki z tego typu literaturą. Zresztą szczęśliwej rozłąki. Jak więc odebrałam tę historię? Ku mojemu zaskoczeniu nie tak najgorzej. I choć widzę wady w postaci wielu przewidywalnych sytuacji i zachowań bohaterów, choć ta historia jest naiwna jak każda tego typu, to jednak pozytywnie się zaskoczyłam.
Jest to historia, w którym bajecznie bogaty, nieziemsko przystojny Włoch zabiera przypadkową Angielkę w podróż po włoskich miastach, a przy okazji po zakamarkach jego włoskiego serca. Ciepła opowieść, utrzymana w klimacie włoskich uliczek, restauracji i nawyków, z dozą dramatyzmu w postaci krnąbrnej siostry głównego bohatera - Sophii, z nutą romansu, którego nikt nie chciał, a on i tak wisi w powietrzu. Typowe ona go nie chce, chociaż go pragnie i "kto się czubi ten się lubi" - zwłaszcza mając na uwadze niektóre rozmowy głównych bohaterów. Rozmowy, które niekiedy bywają irytujące i to właśnie nie pasowało mi najbardziej w tej historii. Te poważne rozmowy o stereotypach i spoufalanie się obojga, praktycznie w ten sam dzień, jakby znali się przynajmniej od kilku miesięcy. Trochę za szybko to wszystko, nawet jak na harlequinowe romansidło.
Ostatecznie jednak to romansidło spełniło swoją rolę: było niezłą, lekką, niezobowiązującą historią, jakiej po nim oczekiwałam. Nie zirytowała mnie głupkowatymi scenami. Nikt bez sensu nie zatańczył nago na grobie żadnego wodza, a nawet udało mi się wyłuskać kilka cytatów, co mnie samą osobiście dziwi, że w takiej literaturze udało się znaleźć coś mądrzej napisanego. I choć romans, jak wspomniałam wcześniej, "wisiał w powietrzu" przez długi czas, to nie specjalnie mnie to obeszło. Było to nawet na swój sposób ładne.
Jeśli ktoś lubi takie lekkie obyczajówki, albo chce na chwilę odpłynąć myślami do Włoch, poczuć klimat słonecznej Italii i liczy na przeczytanie czegoś szybko i w miarę przyjemnie, to ta historia jest dla niego.
Opinia opublikowana na moim blogu:
https://literackiepodrozebooki.blogsp...
October 4, 2022
Sweet and I like that she was not afraid to tell him she loved him, didn5 try to hang on to false pride.
December 17, 2019
Leí en otro review que la historia debería haberse centrado en la OW (en este caso son dos, la hermana de la protagonista y una ex prometida del héroe), porque el resultado es algo plano con los condimentos de un HP viejo y pasado de moda.
El héroe es muy correcto y la heroína es una histérica nerviosa que no duerme porque se le rompe una uña o él no la tocó, pero cuando la toca se resiste... Vamos, lo clásico de Helen Brooks. Igual tampoco es que me desagrade y me gustó mucho la descripción del norte de Italia.
El héroe es muy correcto y la heroína es una histérica nerviosa que no duerme porque se le rompe una uña o él no la tocó, pero cuando la toca se resiste... Vamos, lo clásico de Helen Brooks. Igual tampoco es que me desagrade y me gustó mucho la descripción del norte de Italia.
August 4, 2022
An impossible temptation Her fiancé has been stolen by her sister, she’s lost in the remote country lanes of Italy and her hire car has broken down! Wondering what else will go wrong, Cherry Gibbs looks up to meet the searing gaze of Vittorio Carella. Despite his having everything she has sworn to avoid – easy charm and dazzling good-looks – Cherry finds herself staying at her rescuer’s villa. Soon she’s intoxicated by the stunning surroundings and seduced by Vittorio’s skilful touch. But this isn’t reality. Vittorio could have his pick of Italy’s social elite – so why has he set his sights on her…?
November 26, 2015
2.5 estrellas
Italianos al rescate. De vez en cuando estas novelas rosas me vienen como anillo al dedo... pero esta me indigestó un poquito. Creo que deberé regresar a Linda Howard o Judith McNaught.
Italianos al rescate. De vez en cuando estas novelas rosas me vienen como anillo al dedo... pero esta me indigestó un poquito. Creo que deberé regresar a Linda Howard o Judith McNaught.
August 7, 2019
This was an ok read. The heroine has too little self confidence but I guess it's because of how her evil sister and mother treated her. Also a bit too much introspection and uncontrolled hormones (but no sex) on part of the heroine.
June 28, 2026
A passionate and comforting international romance filled with sharp chemistry and lush backdrops. It is a must-read for category romance enthusiasts who love high-stakes emotional healing and strong alpha heroes.
I love love loved it
I love love loved it
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 9, 2019
Insipid.
February 14, 2023
It's a great one! Brooks can write, that’s for sure.
October 23, 2013
It's so lovely to read a Mills & Boon novel where the conflict is more normal drama, rather than unbelievable melodrama. Vittorio and Cherry's developing romance was really sweetly written and surprisingly innocent despite some of the conversation (I think this is one the first M&B I've read with no sex in it). In terms of relaxing reads, this is definitely one of them. The plot doesn't move along particularly fast, but with it's descriptions of Italy (and in particular Italian food) I get the feeling that this would be a great book to take on holiday and relax on a beach with. It's a very pleasant read, and while I wasn't getting all overwrought along with the characters, I don't think the tone of the book made me enjoy it any less.
4 stars for a great holiday read, which was read in the middle of autumn.
4 stars for a great holiday read, which was read in the middle of autumn.
August 7, 2012
This book was so sweet! Everything I wanted and more!
February 2, 2014
a good reads ....just too tame ....
September 11, 2020
3 de 5
Leer reseña de Bodas en Italia, aquí:
Cami's Blog
(https://enlamentedecam.blogspot.com/2...)
Leer reseña de Bodas en Italia, aquí:
Cami's Blog
(https://enlamentedecam.blogspot.com/2...)
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews