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The Devil to Pay
Rianna Peters is used to struggle. To support her family, she works as both accountant for the town quarry and clerk at the local grocery. Trapped in the small Welsh town, she wonders if love has passed her by. Then a disastrous encounter with a handsome Italian and a packet of washing powder fires her fantasies. However, her dream man has come to close the town's major employer, the money-losing quarry.
Mining CEO Daniel Bracchi is stunned to discover the clumsy but attractive store clerk in the quarry office. Although he's against mixing business with pleasure, the feisty Rianna intrigues him. Despite his feelings, his no-strings romantic approach and the town's potential destruction stand between them.
From green South Wales to glittering Portofino, they fight their attraction as Rianna's small town grit clashes with Daniel's privileged attitude. Between them lie secrets, a community's survival, and their own bruised hearts. Are the stakes too high for even love to overcome?
Mining CEO Daniel Bracchi is stunned to discover the clumsy but attractive store clerk in the quarry office. Although he's against mixing business with pleasure, the feisty Rianna intrigues him. Despite his feelings, his no-strings romantic approach and the town's potential destruction stand between them.
From green South Wales to glittering Portofino, they fight their attraction as Rianna's small town grit clashes with Daniel's privileged attitude. Between them lie secrets, a community's survival, and their own bruised hearts. Are the stakes too high for even love to overcome?
- GenresRomance
186 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 10, 2012
About the author
Rachel Lyndhurst
11 books133 followersRachel lives on the South Coast of England with her partner, two children and a silver Bengal cat.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
November 7, 2012
After having read and really enjoyed Rachel's first book,Kidnapped by the Greek Billionaire, Rachel and I chatted to each other on Twitter and by email about the Welsh-Italian hero and the locations of a South Wales valley town and Portofino in Italy, two nationalities and locations close to both our hearts, while she was still writing this, her second book, The Devil to Pay. So I was excited when I was finally able to read the final product and have it live up to all my expectations.
Rianna Peters lives in a town in the South Wales valleys that's not dissimilar to towns near me. To support her family, she not only works as an accountant at the local quarry but also holds down a weekend job in a local grocery store. It's here that she first meets Daniel Bracchi, Mining CEO, and the man potentially about to wreak huge changes to both Rianna and her hometown. Their first encounter doesn't go that smoothly but she catches Daniel's attention - even if she wishes the ground had swallowed her up! - and shortly after they next meet at the quarry, her life suddenly shifts into a whole different gear.
She's whisked away from everyone and everything she knows to go and plead the case for the quarry's future in front of the Board of Daniel's company. And they're meeting in the glamorous upmarket resort of Portofino on the Italian Riviera. Rianna has a week to prepare her presentation and while she's certainly spirited, hard-working and capable of rising to the challenge, things would be so much easier, if she wasn't also having to fight her growing attraction for her new boss. Meanwhile, Daniel's finding it hard to control the effect Rianna's having on him and is starting to wonder if he even wants to.
As in her first book, Rachel's created a great sense of place for both her locations, whether gritty Valleys town or glamorous Italian resort, and terrific, strong characters in Rianna and Daniel. Despite their vastly different backgrounds and upbringing, they feel like real people each with their fair share of family problems, heartache and past disappointments to deal with and watching them come together makes for a really satisfying read. When they clash, which they frequently do, there's a real energy to it. There's a clear physical attraction and when they spar or fight with one another, it's almost as hot as the later sex scenes. Rachel's great at adding heat to scenes and she's written another brilliantly pacy and sexy read in The Devil to Pay.
Rianna Peters lives in a town in the South Wales valleys that's not dissimilar to towns near me. To support her family, she not only works as an accountant at the local quarry but also holds down a weekend job in a local grocery store. It's here that she first meets Daniel Bracchi, Mining CEO, and the man potentially about to wreak huge changes to both Rianna and her hometown. Their first encounter doesn't go that smoothly but she catches Daniel's attention - even if she wishes the ground had swallowed her up! - and shortly after they next meet at the quarry, her life suddenly shifts into a whole different gear.
She's whisked away from everyone and everything she knows to go and plead the case for the quarry's future in front of the Board of Daniel's company. And they're meeting in the glamorous upmarket resort of Portofino on the Italian Riviera. Rianna has a week to prepare her presentation and while she's certainly spirited, hard-working and capable of rising to the challenge, things would be so much easier, if she wasn't also having to fight her growing attraction for her new boss. Meanwhile, Daniel's finding it hard to control the effect Rianna's having on him and is starting to wonder if he even wants to.
As in her first book, Rachel's created a great sense of place for both her locations, whether gritty Valleys town or glamorous Italian resort, and terrific, strong characters in Rianna and Daniel. Despite their vastly different backgrounds and upbringing, they feel like real people each with their fair share of family problems, heartache and past disappointments to deal with and watching them come together makes for a really satisfying read. When they clash, which they frequently do, there's a real energy to it. There's a clear physical attraction and when they spar or fight with one another, it's almost as hot as the later sex scenes. Rachel's great at adding heat to scenes and she's written another brilliantly pacy and sexy read in The Devil to Pay.
October 14, 2012
I was in a book funk this weekend, and luckily enough, I saw that Rachel added this book and I ran off to buy it. I enjoyed Kidnapped by the Greek Billionaire, so I figured I'd enjoy this one as well. And I really did!
Rianna lives in a small mining town in Wales. Her dad brought her up not to shoot for the stars, she'll just be asking for disappointment. She works full time as an accountant for the quarry, the main source of jobs for her town. She also works weekends at a grocery store.
Daniel is the son of the owner of the quarry. He lives in Portofino, Italy (one of my favorite places in Italy). He's taken over the business and is looking to sell the quarry. Rianna must convince him and the board not to sell the quarry and save the jobs of her friends and coworkers.
Daniel takes Rianna to Portofino to convince the board to keep the quarry. Along the way, sparks fly, and well, you'll just have to read the rest.
I liked Rianna, though clearly stressed and beaten down, she didn't come off as "woe is me, poor me", she was quick to over react,but she was willing to listen to his side of things, which in a lot of romance books is quite rare. Daniel started out bullheaded, but always likeable, and oh so sexy. Love me an Italian Hero!
Overall I really enjoyed the book. There were a few unnecessary things I would have left out, and a few things I would have liked to seen added, but it didn't take away from the book at all. what made it especially enjoyable to me was it being set in Portofino, not only one of my favorite places in Italy, but only a few towns away from where my family is from.
Good job Rachel, can't wait for the next book!!
Rianna lives in a small mining town in Wales. Her dad brought her up not to shoot for the stars, she'll just be asking for disappointment. She works full time as an accountant for the quarry, the main source of jobs for her town. She also works weekends at a grocery store.
Daniel is the son of the owner of the quarry. He lives in Portofino, Italy (one of my favorite places in Italy). He's taken over the business and is looking to sell the quarry. Rianna must convince him and the board not to sell the quarry and save the jobs of her friends and coworkers.
Daniel takes Rianna to Portofino to convince the board to keep the quarry. Along the way, sparks fly, and well, you'll just have to read the rest.
I liked Rianna, though clearly stressed and beaten down, she didn't come off as "woe is me, poor me", she was quick to over react,but she was willing to listen to his side of things, which in a lot of romance books is quite rare. Daniel started out bullheaded, but always likeable, and oh so sexy. Love me an Italian Hero!
Overall I really enjoyed the book. There were a few unnecessary things I would have left out, and a few things I would have liked to seen added, but it didn't take away from the book at all. what made it especially enjoyable to me was it being set in Portofino, not only one of my favorite places in Italy, but only a few towns away from where my family is from.
Good job Rachel, can't wait for the next book!!
January 5, 2013
Another scorchingly hot romance from Rachel Lyndhurst! Daniel Bracchi is the main man - a millionaire business owner and internationally sought after piece of gorgeous manhood. He knows what he's got and he intends to use it whenever he gets the opportunity. He doesn't believe in forever but will an unusual, down-to-earth, honest heroine make him realise that love can conquer all?
Rianna Peters is the working-class girl who is whisked out of her dreary existence in Wales and catapulted into an Italian villa under the premise of a business meeting to save the quarry she works at. But if the gorgeous surroundings don't impress her at first, Daniel certainly does! He's hot, she's willing and these two set the pages on fire!
If you're looking for a steamy romance to settle into then this is for you! 5 Stars!
Rianna Peters is the working-class girl who is whisked out of her dreary existence in Wales and catapulted into an Italian villa under the premise of a business meeting to save the quarry she works at. But if the gorgeous surroundings don't impress her at first, Daniel certainly does! He's hot, she's willing and these two set the pages on fire!
If you're looking for a steamy romance to settle into then this is for you! 5 Stars!
October 3, 2015
Let me start by saying that things get hot in the boardroom with The Devil To Pay...
Rianna is the most loving and caring young woman anyone has ever met. Her family is her priority above all things, even if that means she has to give up her dreams. Her family is going through a very hard time both emotionally and financially, and that forces her to have two jobs in order to make ends meet. Rianna starts her weekend job at the local grocery store, and wears someone else's name tag as hers isn't made yet, when she accidentally crosses paths with a man who first insults her, then apologizes when he realizes she's not a man, and who happens to be very, very handsome. Still, all his handsomeness doesn't make up for the arrogant ass he is, but surely that is the least of Rianna's worries, it's not like she'll ever see him again... yeah right!
Daniel Bracchi is handsome, filthy rich, and a pompous ass. (I don't care, I still love him and all his arrogance!)Being in town, looking after the issues with the quarry is really an inconvenience but he has no choice than to deal with it-- he wants to sell out. When he crosses paths with "Linda", he's very intrigued by the beautiful woman, and he's such a jerk that he figures why not have a little bit of fun while in town. The thing is that when he goes back to the grocery store and asks for "Linda", an old lady lets him into all the gossip. Daniel is a bit disappointed and never expects to lay eyes on her again, until she walks into his office. He can't put two and two together and has a hard time understanding how can the woman in his office be anything like the "Linda", the woman at the grocery, told him all about.
Daniel gives "Linda" a very hard time until he learns he has it all wrong, then he changes tactics, because after all he still wants to bed her.
The sexual tension between Rianna and Daniel grows. Rianna wants to save the quarry. Daniel is drawn in by how passionate she feels about it, he doesn't care much for the quarry but he's willing to give her anything if that means she'll eventually end up in his bed. The problem is, once he has a taste of Rianna, Daniel wants so much more.
Gods... one of my favorite scenes in this book is when Daniel starts going through Rianna's clothes in her beat up suitcase. That is hilarious! And another really hot scene is after dinner, when they're in Rianna's room and she tells him she's "changed her mind" OMG! Now that is such a nice twist, I loved it.
This is such a fun, sexy, fast read, I wanted more when I reached the end.
Blurb:
Rianna Peters is used to struggle. To support her family, she works as both accountant for the town quarry and clerk at the local grocery. Trapped in the small Welsh town, she wonders if love has passed her by. Then a disastrous encounter with a handsome Italian and a packet of washing powder fires her fantasies. However, her dream man has come to close the town's major employer, the money-losing quarry.
Mining CEO Daniel Bracchi is stunned to discover the clumsy but attractive store clerk in the quarry office. Although he's against mixing business with pleasure, the feisty Rianna intrigues him. Despite his feelings, his no-strings romantic approach and the town's potential destruction stand between them.
From green South Wales to glittering Portofino, they fight their attraction as Rianna's small town grit clashes with Daniel's privileged attitude. Between them lie secrets, a community's survival, and their own bruised hearts. Are the stakes too high for even love to overcome?
Rianna is the most loving and caring young woman anyone has ever met. Her family is her priority above all things, even if that means she has to give up her dreams. Her family is going through a very hard time both emotionally and financially, and that forces her to have two jobs in order to make ends meet. Rianna starts her weekend job at the local grocery store, and wears someone else's name tag as hers isn't made yet, when she accidentally crosses paths with a man who first insults her, then apologizes when he realizes she's not a man, and who happens to be very, very handsome. Still, all his handsomeness doesn't make up for the arrogant ass he is, but surely that is the least of Rianna's worries, it's not like she'll ever see him again... yeah right!
Daniel Bracchi is handsome, filthy rich, and a pompous ass. (I don't care, I still love him and all his arrogance!)Being in town, looking after the issues with the quarry is really an inconvenience but he has no choice than to deal with it-- he wants to sell out. When he crosses paths with "Linda", he's very intrigued by the beautiful woman, and he's such a jerk that he figures why not have a little bit of fun while in town. The thing is that when he goes back to the grocery store and asks for "Linda", an old lady lets him into all the gossip. Daniel is a bit disappointed and never expects to lay eyes on her again, until she walks into his office. He can't put two and two together and has a hard time understanding how can the woman in his office be anything like the "Linda", the woman at the grocery, told him all about.
Daniel gives "Linda" a very hard time until he learns he has it all wrong, then he changes tactics, because after all he still wants to bed her.
The sexual tension between Rianna and Daniel grows. Rianna wants to save the quarry. Daniel is drawn in by how passionate she feels about it, he doesn't care much for the quarry but he's willing to give her anything if that means she'll eventually end up in his bed. The problem is, once he has a taste of Rianna, Daniel wants so much more.
Gods... one of my favorite scenes in this book is when Daniel starts going through Rianna's clothes in her beat up suitcase. That is hilarious! And another really hot scene is after dinner, when they're in Rianna's room and she tells him she's "changed her mind" OMG! Now that is such a nice twist, I loved it.
This is such a fun, sexy, fast read, I wanted more when I reached the end.
Blurb:
Rianna Peters is used to struggle. To support her family, she works as both accountant for the town quarry and clerk at the local grocery. Trapped in the small Welsh town, she wonders if love has passed her by. Then a disastrous encounter with a handsome Italian and a packet of washing powder fires her fantasies. However, her dream man has come to close the town's major employer, the money-losing quarry.
Mining CEO Daniel Bracchi is stunned to discover the clumsy but attractive store clerk in the quarry office. Although he's against mixing business with pleasure, the feisty Rianna intrigues him. Despite his feelings, his no-strings romantic approach and the town's potential destruction stand between them.
From green South Wales to glittering Portofino, they fight their attraction as Rianna's small town grit clashes with Daniel's privileged attitude. Between them lie secrets, a community's survival, and their own bruised hearts. Are the stakes too high for even love to overcome?
December 13, 2012
Rianna Peters has worked hard for everything she has, her life hasn’t been easy but she knows the value in striving to succeed. When she accidentally meets Daniel Bracchi at her second job, she has no clue the unfortunate incident would be her first introduction to her new boss.
Even though Daniel has a playboy persona, he does believe in hard work. He is intrigued by Rianna who bristles at his suggestions, but the flare of heat he sees in her has him pushing for what he wants most, her in his bed. Rianna has no doubt that Daniel is looking at what they have as an affair, although her body wants him more than life itself, Rianna struggles with losing her heart in the process.
Full review on Sensual Reads
http://sensualreads.com/?p=11257
Even though Daniel has a playboy persona, he does believe in hard work. He is intrigued by Rianna who bristles at his suggestions, but the flare of heat he sees in her has him pushing for what he wants most, her in his bed. Rianna has no doubt that Daniel is looking at what they have as an affair, although her body wants him more than life itself, Rianna struggles with losing her heart in the process.
Full review on Sensual Reads
http://sensualreads.com/?p=11257
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews