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Italian millionaire Rafaello di Viscenti vows to marry the first woman he sees--who just happens to be Magda!
She's been desperately trying to make ends meet by cleaning Rafaello's house. His proposal of marriage comes with a large financial reward--all she has to do is spend six months as Rafaello's wife in name only.
But though Rafaello hadn't planned on sleeping with his new wife...he can't resist her!
Mass Market Paperback
First published February 6, 2004
45 people are currently reading
397 people want to read
About the author
Julia James
726 books163 followersJulia lives in England with her family. Mills and Boon novels were Julia's first "grown up" books she read as a teenager ("Alongside Georgette Heyer and Daphne du Maurier."), and she's been reading them ever since.
Julia adores the English countryside ("And the Celtic countryside!"), in all its seasons, and is fascinated by all things historical, from castles to cottages. She also has a special love for the Mediterranean ("The most perfect landscape after England!") — she considers both are ideal settings for romance stories! In between writing she enjoys walking, gardening, needlework and baking "extremely gooey chocolate cakes" — and trying to stay fit!
Julia adores the English countryside ("And the Celtic countryside!"), in all its seasons, and is fascinated by all things historical, from castles to cottages. She also has a special love for the Mediterranean ("The most perfect landscape after England!") — she considers both are ideal settings for romance stories! In between writing she enjoys walking, gardening, needlework and baking "extremely gooey chocolate cakes" — and trying to stay fit!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
January 13, 2021
This hero marries virgin single mom Cinderella in order to take over the company from his father. He has the added bonus of marrying someone so inappropriate it will make his father angry.
The hero really doesn't understand just what a vile pit of voles he is throwing the heroine into until he overhears his father berating the heroine in the worst possible way. Because of the incident, the hero goes out of his way to be kind to the heroine - taking her for a makeover, touring her around Tuscany and bonding with her little boy.
Soon the H/h are sleeping together after the heroine explains that the boy is her friend's from the orphanage who died of cancer.
When the OW swoops in on her broom with a made-up story about the hero's father on his deathbed, the hero having a change of heart about the heroine and a hefty check signed by the hero to back it all up, the heroine flees to England to a dreary caravan park on the sea. There the hero finds her a few weeks later and declares his love. HEA.
As you can see this has everything you need in a one stop HP. Orphans, dingy bed sits, Cinderellas, makeovers, jovial house servants, unfair accusations, an evil OW and a father who finally comes around when he sees the hero's distress at losing his true love.
This is perfect for a rainy afternoon.
The hero really doesn't understand just what a vile pit of voles he is throwing the heroine into until he overhears his father berating the heroine in the worst possible way. Because of the incident, the hero goes out of his way to be kind to the heroine - taking her for a makeover, touring her around Tuscany and bonding with her little boy.
Soon the H/h are sleeping together after the heroine explains that the boy is her friend's from the orphanage who died of cancer.
When the OW swoops in on her broom with a made-up story about the hero's father on his deathbed, the hero having a change of heart about the heroine and a hefty check signed by the hero to back it all up, the heroine flees to England to a dreary caravan park on the sea. There the hero finds her a few weeks later and declares his love. HEA.
As you can see this has everything you need in a one stop HP. Orphans, dingy bed sits, Cinderellas, makeovers, jovial house servants, unfair accusations, an evil OW and a father who finally comes around when he sees the hero's distress at losing his true love.
This is perfect for a rainy afternoon.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 5, 2024
Saccharine sweet Harlequin marriage of convenience story complete with suave Italian tycoon, ugly duckling to swan transformation, and a nasty Disney villain of an OW. All set among the opulent magnificence of the Tuscan countryside. Who could ask for more?
July 16, 2018
Heroine is an orphan a poor bathroom cleaner who is raising her baby alone. Hero needs a wife so as to take control of his father's company. He proposes a marriage for a huge sum of money that would provide a good life for her and her son. After her makeover hero realizes Magda is not so plain and he can't resist his wife in name only.
Very emotional very touching love story. Heroine is the epitome of kindness and goodness, so sweet and warm I wanted to put her in my pocket. Hero was a very arrogant but sexy Italian. He sure had a way with words. Other woman and hero's father were evil and hateful they brought delicious angst!!
Very emotional very touching love story. Heroine is the epitome of kindness and goodness, so sweet and warm I wanted to put her in my pocket. Hero was a very arrogant but sexy Italian. He sure had a way with words. Other woman and hero's father were evil and hateful they brought delicious angst!!
December 21, 2020
I was going to dip into a few of these Harlequins to try and "make" my Reading Challenge but I think I would rather NOT make my challenge than put myself through reading something like this ... I know I used to love these books when I started reading romance, back in the teenage years (and even later on, to be honest) but, dear Lord above, this was quite painful. She was a bit of a doormat and it was a bit cliched ... penniless English girl, working as a cleaner, practically living on the poverty line meets rich Italian man who has to marry to gain his inheritance - it didn't work for me.
September 7, 2018
This was venturing towards a 5 star read. Then came the "Maybelline" moment and it kind of slipped a little for me.
H and h were my favourite type of stereotypes. A gorgeous, arrogant, driven Italian who could see no further than his own tunnel vision of taking the family business international. His father is an asshole who just wants to show him up and prove who is the real head of the family. H is told to get married before his thirtieth birthday or the family business will be sold. The only person who could agree to this sham marriage is his OW cousin, a shrew he despises and his father adores.
H meets the h, a cleaner at his apartment and realises she is the solution to his problem with the welcome bonus that she is the total opposite of what his father would want as a daughter-in-law: someone who cleans the toilets of the rich, a poor, plain, unmarried mother who has probably slept around, and may not even know who the father of her baby is.
He is brutal in his mental assessment of her though he keeps his thoughts private. She cringes as she guesses some of his thoughts and attempts to run away at first sight, instead of doing the usual heroine melting syndrome. But he shrewdly offers a logical solution to her situation: a much better life for her baby if she becomes his wife for a few months. She has the presence of mind and the moral backbone to reject his proposal but he persists and finally she accepts.
I love that the author kept up the non-romantic nature of their relationship for a while, so we get vivid insights into their character and what makes them tick: for her, her baby and nothing else, for him, to not let his overbearing father undermine what he has worked so hard for.
She is pragmatic about the marriage, her circumstances and her attractiveness (I realise I love me a pragmatic heroine, need to find more of those) and though conscious of her status as lowest of the low, takes pride in her work and life choices, has no self-indulgent martyr-like self-pity and though is mostly reticent speaks up for herself when she feels she’s been wronged. Those were the best moments. I adored her.
There is a good supporting cast of a housekeeper, aunt, uncle amidst the explosive showdowns with the father and confrontations with the OW. The story is fleshed out beautifully with both H and h realising they may have bitten off more than they can chew and need to find a way to live with each other.
Then came the cringe-worthy Maybelline moment. The author does a great POV for the H but there was one point where I would have preferred not to be privy to his thoughts
Despite that, it was a beautifully written book and since I’m always a sucker for a Cinderella-style story, I enjoyed it immensely. I wish there were more interactions between H and her baby, I’m not sure they really connected. And I wanted to know more about the h’s life before she had her baby. Despite his conceitedness and being honest to a fault, I liked the H a lot too, there was some clear self-awareness and growth in character. Hopefully his love for her was based on more than just
Highly recommended for those who like fairy-tale romances with a little edge and an adorable baby to boot.
H and h were my favourite type of stereotypes. A gorgeous, arrogant, driven Italian who could see no further than his own tunnel vision of taking the family business international. His father is an asshole who just wants to show him up and prove who is the real head of the family. H is told to get married before his thirtieth birthday or the family business will be sold. The only person who could agree to this sham marriage is his OW cousin, a shrew he despises and his father adores.
H meets the h, a cleaner at his apartment and realises she is the solution to his problem with the welcome bonus that she is the total opposite of what his father would want as a daughter-in-law: someone who cleans the toilets of the rich, a poor, plain, unmarried mother who has probably slept around, and may not even know who the father of her baby is.
He is brutal in his mental assessment of her though he keeps his thoughts private. She cringes as she guesses some of his thoughts and attempts to run away at first sight, instead of doing the usual heroine melting syndrome. But he shrewdly offers a logical solution to her situation: a much better life for her baby if she becomes his wife for a few months. She has the presence of mind and the moral backbone to reject his proposal but he persists and finally she accepts.
I love that the author kept up the non-romantic nature of their relationship for a while, so we get vivid insights into their character and what makes them tick: for her, her baby and nothing else, for him, to not let his overbearing father undermine what he has worked so hard for.
She is pragmatic about the marriage, her circumstances and her attractiveness (I realise I love me a pragmatic heroine, need to find more of those) and though conscious of her status as lowest of the low, takes pride in her work and life choices, has no self-indulgent martyr-like self-pity and though is mostly reticent speaks up for herself when she feels she’s been wronged. Those were the best moments. I adored her.
There is a good supporting cast of a housekeeper, aunt, uncle amidst the explosive showdowns with the father and confrontations with the OW. The story is fleshed out beautifully with both H and h realising they may have bitten off more than they can chew and need to find a way to live with each other.
Then came the cringe-worthy Maybelline moment. The author does a great POV for the H but there was one point where I would have preferred not to be privy to his thoughts
Despite that, it was a beautifully written book and since I’m always a sucker for a Cinderella-style story, I enjoyed it immensely. I wish there were more interactions between H and her baby, I’m not sure they really connected. And I wanted to know more about the h’s life before she had her baby. Despite his conceitedness and being honest to a fault, I liked the H a lot too, there was some clear self-awareness and growth in character. Hopefully his love for her was based on more than just
Highly recommended for those who like fairy-tale romances with a little edge and an adorable baby to boot.
April 18, 2018
4.5 stars
A very beautiful and touching story. Was in tears many times in the first part of the book. My heart really went out to Magda, for the sacrifices she had to make for that little child who turns out wasn't her own, the kind of poverty she was living in because of him. Yet, in spite of all the hardships, Magda was a very strong heroine as well as sweet and compassionate. Which is why, Rafaello deliberately presenting her in her poor, shabby state to his father felt very cruel. He was only thinking about angering his father for giving him no choice but to marry by his thirtieth birthday if he wanted to head the business he'd slogged his arse off. He hadn't anticipated his father taking out his anger out on her. I liked that she let Rafaello know that she didn't deserve the hostility she was getting from his folks.
He caught her arm. 'You must take no notice of Lucia. She is bitter and angry. She lashed out at you. That is all."
'Thank you—but I prefer not to be lashed out at in the first place. You and your cousin know nothing of me or my circumstances—or my son's."
His face darkened at her retort. 'I know that a young girl with a baby and no man to support it means that you were, at the very least, careless about who you chose to sleep with."
Her expression stiffened. 'I think I was more careless, Mr. di Viscenti, about whom I chose to marry yesterday morning. I definitely should have checked out your charming relations."
However, the venom that his father directly unleashed on her was heartbreaking. Loved that scene at the breakfast table. You could feel her pain there as she sat numbed barely registering what was going on and also Rafaello's guilt, remorse and despair, wanting to do something to ease her pain, but completely clueless what to do. I liked his transformation thereafter. How he didn't like what he saw of himself through her eyes, how good and kind he was to her and was also amused at how he kept reminding himself that the child's name is Benjy to avoid Magda pulling him up for not calling the child by his name. I also liked how he bonded with Benjy, who was such an adorable tot.
I also liked the gradual development of feelings and love between H-h. They didn't start panting for each other from the very first moment they met.
The book had everything I liked - an extremely likeable hero-heroine, a MOC with an adorable toddler in the mix, steamy sex scenes, deep emotions, angst brought on by hero's father and OW, also family dynamics especially how Rafaello's aunt & uncle & staff started by being wary about heroine to completely fond of her and Benjy. I would've liked Rafael's father apologizing and making peace with Madga instead of Rafael telling Madga that he'd changed towards her and the book ending with an epilogue
Overall a beautiful story.
A very beautiful and touching story. Was in tears many times in the first part of the book. My heart really went out to Magda, for the sacrifices she had to make for that little child who turns out wasn't her own, the kind of poverty she was living in because of him. Yet, in spite of all the hardships, Magda was a very strong heroine as well as sweet and compassionate. Which is why, Rafaello deliberately presenting her in her poor, shabby state to his father felt very cruel. He was only thinking about angering his father for giving him no choice but to marry by his thirtieth birthday if he wanted to head the business he'd slogged his arse off. He hadn't anticipated his father taking out his anger out on her. I liked that she let Rafaello know that she didn't deserve the hostility she was getting from his folks.
He caught her arm. 'You must take no notice of Lucia. She is bitter and angry. She lashed out at you. That is all."
'Thank you—but I prefer not to be lashed out at in the first place. You and your cousin know nothing of me or my circumstances—or my son's."
His face darkened at her retort. 'I know that a young girl with a baby and no man to support it means that you were, at the very least, careless about who you chose to sleep with."
Her expression stiffened. 'I think I was more careless, Mr. di Viscenti, about whom I chose to marry yesterday morning. I definitely should have checked out your charming relations."
However, the venom that his father directly unleashed on her was heartbreaking. Loved that scene at the breakfast table. You could feel her pain there as she sat numbed barely registering what was going on and also Rafaello's guilt, remorse and despair, wanting to do something to ease her pain, but completely clueless what to do. I liked his transformation thereafter. How he didn't like what he saw of himself through her eyes, how good and kind he was to her and was also amused at how he kept reminding himself that the child's name is Benjy to avoid Magda pulling him up for not calling the child by his name. I also liked how he bonded with Benjy, who was such an adorable tot.
I also liked the gradual development of feelings and love between H-h. They didn't start panting for each other from the very first moment they met.
The book had everything I liked - an extremely likeable hero-heroine, a MOC with an adorable toddler in the mix, steamy sex scenes, deep emotions, angst brought on by hero's father and OW, also family dynamics especially how Rafaello's aunt & uncle & staff started by being wary about heroine to completely fond of her and Benjy. I would've liked Rafael's father apologizing and making peace with Madga instead of Rafael telling Madga that he'd changed towards her and the book ending with an epilogue
Overall a beautiful story.
October 13, 2015
Well, that was just sweet as all get out.
Magda is a poor downtrodden cleaner with a small toddler to raise. Rafaello, confronted by his father's ultimatum, does what any sane man does: marries the first woman he sees.
Poor Magda is so mousy she's beyond plain. There is a little cruelty that was quite well-written then a nice makeover. Who doesn't like makeover. I know I want one especially if it leaves people gasping.
Raphaello is somewhat of an asshat, but sees his own shortcomings and is horrified at his own behavior, a rarity in Harley-land.
Guess what? The live HEA.
Nice seduction scene.
Magda is a poor downtrodden cleaner with a small toddler to raise. Rafaello, confronted by his father's ultimatum, does what any sane man does: marries the first woman he sees.
Poor Magda is so mousy she's beyond plain. There is a little cruelty that was quite well-written then a nice makeover. Who doesn't like makeover. I know I want one especially if it leaves people gasping.
Raphaello is somewhat of an asshat, but sees his own shortcomings and is horrified at his own behavior, a rarity in Harley-land.
Guess what? The live HEA.
Nice seduction scene.
February 17, 2022
It’s been a while since I read one of these
Man… this is throwing me back to my teenage days- back when I used to have a subscription to HP (4 books month lol shhhh… don’t tell my parents!).
Rafaello (29) needs a wife. The book opens up after he’s finishing with his current lover, who he’s proposed to get married to for six month, just enough time to take over his father’s company (if he marries by age 30, then he can take over). His lover wants more than what he’s offering (including the prenup), so he says he’ll marry the next woman he meets… which happens to be his cleaning lady.
Magna (21) cleans house for a living and is a single mother. When Rafaello offers to give her 100,000 pounds to be his wife for six months, she can’t refuse. She’s thrust into a world she’s not used to living in- her modest, conservative life has changed… and she needs to adjust quickly.
This totally gave me Cinderella vibes. At first, Magna wasn’t exactly pretty or appealing, but once she transforms, everyone notices her.
This is also on the slower burn side (first intense kiss at 72% and smexxx at 80%), but man, the few intimate scenes were 🔥. Sure, they could’ve been more detailed, but considering this was written almost 20 years ago, I was impressed lol.
I also liked the little twists that were revealed. I didn’t expect them 😳😅.
I enjoyed it 🤷🏻♀️
⚠️safety squad⚠��
-no cheating/sharing/omd
-opening scene has H with OW- the aftermath
-OW2- upset H married h; H’s dad wanted H to marry OW2, who’s his cousin, creates some drama and misunderstandings
-death of someone with cancer is remembered
-h is a *surprise* v/H is experienced (he mentions he’s been with many women and shouldn’t look down on h if she was pr0miscu0us)
-no c@nd@ms/safety talk- not even mentioned 😳 (considering he was with OW at the beginning of the book and h saw OW leave his place when she was cleaning, I don’t know why it wasn’t even brought up 😒😑)
Man… this is throwing me back to my teenage days- back when I used to have a subscription to HP (4 books month lol shhhh… don’t tell my parents!).
Rafaello (29) needs a wife. The book opens up after he’s finishing with his current lover, who he’s proposed to get married to for six month, just enough time to take over his father’s company (if he marries by age 30, then he can take over). His lover wants more than what he’s offering (including the prenup), so he says he’ll marry the next woman he meets… which happens to be his cleaning lady.
Magna (21) cleans house for a living and is a single mother. When Rafaello offers to give her 100,000 pounds to be his wife for six months, she can’t refuse. She’s thrust into a world she’s not used to living in- her modest, conservative life has changed… and she needs to adjust quickly.
This totally gave me Cinderella vibes. At first, Magna wasn’t exactly pretty or appealing, but once she transforms, everyone notices her.
This is also on the slower burn side (first intense kiss at 72% and smexxx at 80%), but man, the few intimate scenes were 🔥. Sure, they could’ve been more detailed, but considering this was written almost 20 years ago, I was impressed lol.
I also liked the little twists that were revealed. I didn’t expect them 😳😅.
I enjoyed it 🤷🏻♀️
⚠️safety squad⚠��
-no cheating/sharing/omd
-opening scene has H with OW- the aftermath
-OW2- upset H married h; H’s dad wanted H to marry OW2, who’s his cousin, creates some drama and misunderstandings
-death of someone with cancer is remembered
-h is a *surprise* v/H is experienced (he mentions he’s been with many women and shouldn’t look down on h if she was pr0miscu0us)
-no c@nd@ms/safety talk- not even mentioned 😳 (considering he was with OW at the beginning of the book and h saw OW leave his place when she was cleaning, I don’t know why it wasn’t even brought up 😒😑)
October 22, 2020
3 Low Suds Stars
This is a sweet Cinderella-ish HP where a homely orphan with a baby (bet you can’t see that twist coming a mile away) gets a makeover, and the guy. The book opens with our H, Italian millionaire Rafaello di Viscenti looking for a substitute bride when his current choice refused to sign a prenup. His father is pretty much blackmailing him to get married in hopes that Rafe will choose dad’s choice the snooty Lucia. Enraged, Rafe states he’ll marry the next woman he sees, which happens to be the drab Magda currently cleaning his toilet. She’s desperate enough to enter a MOC, though she underestimated what she’d be walking into.
Bottom Line- It really comes down to what kind of mood you’re in. If you want a SLOW burn, (75% for a kiss) low drama-angst give this a try. Personally, I like a little more suds in my soapy reads, so it took me awhile to get into it.
This is a sweet Cinderella-ish HP where a homely orphan with a baby (bet you can’t see that twist coming a mile away) gets a makeover, and the guy. The book opens with our H, Italian millionaire Rafaello di Viscenti looking for a substitute bride when his current choice refused to sign a prenup. His father is pretty much blackmailing him to get married in hopes that Rafe will choose dad’s choice the snooty Lucia. Enraged, Rafe states he’ll marry the next woman he sees, which happens to be the drab Magda currently cleaning his toilet. She’s desperate enough to enter a MOC, though she underestimated what she’d be walking into.
Bottom Line- It really comes down to what kind of mood you’re in. If you want a SLOW burn, (75% for a kiss) low drama-angst give this a try. Personally, I like a little more suds in my soapy reads, so it took me awhile to get into it.
December 4, 2017
3.5 stars.
It was good. One of the things, I liked about this book was that the couple never pretended that it was not a marriage of convenience in front of others which was not so common in HPLandia. Except that we got a single mother, virgin bride, a billionaire alpha hero, a cute toddler, angry father-in-law, Evil OW, a supportive aunt with equally supportive servants, a little bit of secret and a Tuscany countryside romantic set up. In short, this book is full of typical HP flavor.
It was good. One of the things, I liked about this book was that the couple never pretended that it was not a marriage of convenience in front of others which was not so common in HPLandia. Except that we got a single mother, virgin bride, a billionaire alpha hero, a cute toddler, angry father-in-law, Evil OW, a supportive aunt with equally supportive servants, a little bit of secret and a Tuscany countryside romantic set up. In short, this book is full of typical HP flavor.
February 11, 2022
Loved this! It’s very much a Cinderella tale. She’s literally cleaning his toilet when he decides to make her his Wife of Convenience, to p*ss off his father and secure his inheritance. She’s an orphaned ugly duckling with a kid in-tow, who turns into a swan, knocking the H on his @$$. 😍 This gal has *Secrets*. 😉 All is not as it appears. I love how this author ends her books. Very emotional satisfying endings. I’ve cried at the end of both books I’ve read by her, even though the stories are pretty cliche.
Bottom Line? This was a fun read. Highly recommend, if you like this sort of thing. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⚠️SAFETY SQUAD SPOILERS⚠️
- no cheating or sharing
- OW drama - his cousin wanted to marry him (for his money) and she makes trouble - the H isn’t interested in her
- no OM drama
- no dubcon
- h is a 21 year old (surprise) virgin
- H is a 30 yr old experienced man - his sexual background is not belabored - very vague
- condoms and birth control do not even flit through either MC’s mind. 👀😐
Bottom Line? This was a fun read. Highly recommend, if you like this sort of thing. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⚠️SAFETY SQUAD SPOILERS⚠️
- no cheating or sharing
- OW drama - his cousin wanted to marry him (for his money) and she makes trouble - the H isn’t interested in her
- no OM drama
- no dubcon
- h is a 21 year old (surprise) virgin
- H is a 30 yr old experienced man - his sexual background is not belabored - very vague
- condoms and birth control do not even flit through either MC’s mind. 👀😐
April 17, 2014
This was a truly sad book. The "hero" was a cold hearted manipulator who cared about nothing but making a point to his equally cold hearted and manipulative father. I kept reading hoping he would redeem himself but it just never happened. He spent 2/3 of the book looking down, waaayyyy down, on the perfect, selfless, virgin, martyr, doormat of a 'heroine'. He thought nothing of his treatment of her until his father repeated all the nastiness the 'hero' said about the heroine to her face. He then decided to give her a full skin, hair & wardrobe makeover & suddenly he saw her as something other then street trash. "She was transformed from that poor, scrawny, unlovely creature whom no man would look at once, let alone twice, into something...someone... who would turn heads wherever she went." Gag me. After treating her with no care suddenly he wants her and the stupid girl doesn't think for a second, 'so I wasn't good enough for him to even be NICE to before but now...' Bad bad book.
December 26, 2020
3.5 stars
The only sour note was that the hero was not attracted to the heroine at all until after her makeover. One of my least favorite tropes.
The only sour note was that the hero was not attracted to the heroine at all until after her makeover. One of my least favorite tropes.
September 1, 2014
I often like Julia James but this was just a caricature of extremes. The depictions of heroine's unattractiveness were overdone and depressing. Heroine's sainthood and makeover were both extreme and highly unrealistic. True love lies in a box of hair color? 2 stars only for Rafaello's guilt and the angst of Magda's suffering (begging food for her baby from the housekeeper). The love was not at all real or believable and his response to her big secret was so creepy it actually made me feel unclean to read it.
September 8, 2018
One of my favorite plots but before makeover no chemistry and after incredibly strong chemistry? Not liked it.
avoid
November 2, 2021Self note
The h is very unattractive, poor, and has a child. The H is a hot, gorgeous rich guy.🙄
The h is very unattractive, poor, and has a child. The H is a hot, gorgeous rich guy.🙄
March 28, 2022
Very sweet (but "hot") "Cinderella" story. Magda survives and supports her young son by cleaning apartments of rich, "beautiful" people. Rafaello has been told that he marries by his 30th birthday or his father will sell the family company away from him. When Rafaello encounters Magda cleaning his toilet, he "hires" her to be his wife for a month. He knows that when he presents this toilet-cleaning, ugly single mother as his wife, it will not only fulfill his father's requirement, but also stab his father in the heart. There is so much more to Magda than anyone knows!
She stared at him. ‘What part is a lie? Tell me? That Benji has no father? That I dress like something left on a rubbish dump? That I clean toilets for a living? That I am so far from being the sort of female who could be your wife that I might as well be a clod of earth underfoot? What part is a lie?’ A nerve started to tick in his cheek. She was looking at him quite expressionlessly, but he felt emotions surging inside him. One was anger, that same brand of anger that had driven him this morning. But there was more than anger. Guilt. It burned him like acid.
The language in this book was so intense sometimes, sometimes so beautiful.
She stared at him. ‘What part is a lie? Tell me? That Benji has no father? That I dress like something left on a rubbish dump? That I clean toilets for a living? That I am so far from being the sort of female who could be your wife that I might as well be a clod of earth underfoot? What part is a lie?’ A nerve started to tick in his cheek. She was looking at him quite expressionlessly, but he felt emotions surging inside him. One was anger, that same brand of anger that had driven him this morning. But there was more than anger. Guilt. It burned him like acid.
The language in this book was so intense sometimes, sometimes so beautiful.
August 3, 2015
Rating: 4 Stars
August 3, 2019
500 stars for this super sweet and sexy read! First book I read by JJ and it turned out to be amazing.
Magda is a cleaner, who being at the wrong place at the wrong time, (but actually right place/right time) gets into a MOC with the sexiest, hottest, total swoonfest of an alpha H, Raffaello.
Magda is also hapless and raising a young boy as a single mother and tackling a few jobs to make ends meet. Overnight she's had to marry this sexy Italian as a business arrangement of sorts.
Magda was such a sweetheart with her head about her shoulders. Not once does she forget the terms of her marriage and let the fantasy get to her head. I adored her shyness and despite her circumstances, she never plays needy or damsel-in-distress to get attention while taking care of her little boy.
This book is full of sweeeeeeet surprises! And oh lord, Raffaello's love making is so tender and intimate, it made me go jelly in my legs and heart and soul. One of the best sweet love making I've read in an HP without being erotic!
The OW and OM in the book are totally ugly. They played cruelly to Magda's vulnerabilities but thank goodness that Raffaello was always there to protect her. Not once does he let go of his wife once he realizes what others are upto. I can go on but I can't possibly bring justice to this sweet read. Total favorite!!
Magda is a cleaner, who being at the wrong place at the wrong time, (but actually right place/right time) gets into a MOC with the sexiest, hottest, total swoonfest of an alpha H, Raffaello.
Magda is also hapless and raising a young boy as a single mother and tackling a few jobs to make ends meet. Overnight she's had to marry this sexy Italian as a business arrangement of sorts.
Magda was such a sweetheart with her head about her shoulders. Not once does she forget the terms of her marriage and let the fantasy get to her head. I adored her shyness and despite her circumstances, she never plays needy or damsel-in-distress to get attention while taking care of her little boy.
This book is full of sweeeeeeet surprises! And oh lord, Raffaello's love making is so tender and intimate, it made me go jelly in my legs and heart and soul. One of the best sweet love making I've read in an HP without being erotic!
The OW and OM in the book are totally ugly. They played cruelly to Magda's vulnerabilities but thank goodness that Raffaello was always there to protect her. Not once does he let go of his wife once he realizes what others are upto. I can go on but I can't possibly bring justice to this sweet read. Total favorite!!
March 22, 2018
2.5 stars. I liked this novel, especially the heroine. Despite her very unfortunate circumstances and tragic upbringing, she is very strong and determined. I cried a lot and had to stop reading for a while. However, the character development of the hero and the plot would have benefited enormously from an extended period of time. The most significant aspects of the novel take place in less than a week; even in HP land it’s impossible to believe the hero’s change of heart. I would have also loved an epilogue.
June 22, 2023
Liked the tense emotion. Two bad things for the H. He thought she was ugly until she got makeover, wasn’t good enough to even treat with decency and courtesy, zero care, and he stopped the check OW gave her - OW forged it - which means h could be prosecuted for fraud. Hope he made it good for bank and h as otherwise h could have a sticky time.
The H was cruel, completely unthinking about mortifying the h with his family and her awful thrift shop rejects. He makes up for it with heartfelt ILY.
The H was cruel, completely unthinking about mortifying the h with his family and her awful thrift shop rejects. He makes up for it with heartfelt ILY.
April 6, 2021
Italian millionaire Rafaello di Viscenti vows to marry the first woman he sees--who just happens to be Magda!
She's been desperately trying to make ends meet by cleaning Rafaello's house. His proposal of marriage comes with a large financial reward--all she has to do is spend six months as Rafaello's wife in name only.
But though Rafaello hadn't planned on sleeping with his new wife...he can't resist her!
She's been desperately trying to make ends meet by cleaning Rafaello's house. His proposal of marriage comes with a large financial reward--all she has to do is spend six months as Rafaello's wife in name only.
But though Rafaello hadn't planned on sleeping with his new wife...he can't resist her!
July 24, 2010
it remainds me in a qoute
ليس الدنيا لمن جد وجد
إنما الدنيا لمن حضه كعد ;)
ليس الدنيا لمن جد وجد
إنما الدنيا لمن حضه كعد ;)
March 31, 2014
Γλυκό, ρομαντικό έως και συγκινητικό... Δεν ξεφεύγει από κάποια σφάλματα του είδους, αλλά μου άρεσε.
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August 3, 2014معا فوق النجوم ..
جوليا جايمس
لم يكن المليونير الايطالي رافايللو دي ***نتى يملك حلاً فالشركة ستطير من بين يديه تهديد أبيه واضح وصريح تزوج و إلا أبيع الشركة !
وهكذا قطع على نفسه وعداً بأن يتزوج أول امرأة يصادفها وصادف أن تكون ماغي خادمة منزله ..
وكيف لماغي أن ترفض تمثيل دور الزوجة لرافايللو لمدة ستة أشهر مقابل مبلغ كبير من المال و طلاق سريع !
لكن مخطط رافايللو ذهب أدراج الرياح بعد الزواج ..فلم يعد الطلاق وارداً في تفكيره الآن
جوليا جايمس
لم يكن المليونير الايطالي رافايللو دي ***نتى يملك حلاً فالشركة ستطير من بين يديه تهديد أبيه واضح وصريح تزوج و إلا أبيع الشركة !
وهكذا قطع على نفسه وعداً بأن يتزوج أول امرأة يصادفها وصادف أن تكون ماغي خادمة منزله ..
وكيف لماغي أن ترفض تمثيل دور الزوجة لرافايللو لمدة ستة أشهر مقابل مبلغ كبير من المال و طلاق سريع !
لكن مخطط رافايللو ذهب أدراج الرياح بعد الزواج ..فلم يعد الطلاق وارداً في تفكيره الآن
August 21, 2013
La versión Harlequin Manga de esta novela es una de mis favoritas, así que la busqué para leerla también como libro.
Sinceramente, me gustó más la primera. Los personajes novelados se hacen algo redundantes, comportándose y pensando lo mismo una y otra vez. Además, el desarrollo de la relación parece algo forzado. Pero dejando esos detalles aparte, ha sido una lectura bastante entretenida (aunque sigo prefiriendo su versión manga).
Sinceramente, me gustó más la primera. Los personajes novelados se hacen algo redundantes, comportándose y pensando lo mismo una y otra vez. Además, el desarrollo de la relación parece algo forzado. Pero dejando esos detalles aparte, ha sido una lectura bastante entretenida (aunque sigo prefiriendo su versión manga).
March 23, 2019
If this couple had more time and more bonding with the baby it would have been very very sweet. But everything is rushed, so many women wanna lock the hero down, heroine just trying to make it through a day and the hero just storms in. He started liking her after her makeover, eh not a good sign. Overall squandered potential.
December 16, 2015
1.5 Stars!
November 15, 2014
I read the Harlequin manga version first. It is good.
January 12, 2016
I kinda enjoy the book. It's very heart wrenching.
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