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A Dangerous Solace
Stripped of her defenses...
Italy's most desirable playboy, Gianluca Benedetti, might not initially recognize Ava Lord as the beautiful bridesmaid who stole his breath and shared his bed all those years ago, but one glimpse of the curves beneath her buttoned-up clothes and it all comes rushing back!
When a steamy kiss between them ignites a media firestorm, Gianluca whisks Ava off to the Amalfi Coast to minimize the PR scandal. Exploring the reignited passion between them, Ava realizes the danger of opening her heart. Because the closer Gianluca gets...the more cracks in her carefully constructed armor appear.
256 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published June 1, 2013
33 people are currently reading
49 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
December 15, 2013
I spent a lot of this book thinking that I'd missed something and it felt like the story went off track then got back on track but went a completely different direction. So the second part iof the book was much better than the first. But I like Lucy Ellis a lot and that her heroines are always more complex than they seem at first. I appreciated having a very successful, business woman as the heroine. It was refreshing for an HP.
September 25, 2013
Couldn't finish. Heroine was too prickly and I didn't care to read about her lackluster sex life with her ex-fiancé.
I need to like a heroine to finish a book and this book had a heroine I didn't find likable.
I need to like a heroine to finish a book and this book had a heroine I didn't find likable.
December 2, 2013
Ava was a strong independent woman, with a penchant for running when nothing went her way. This little habit did start to annoy me, luckily Gianluca had the habit of giving chase.
March 1, 2018
Presents. I have missed you!!!! Not quite my Sarah Morgan peaks, but still this was similar. Going to see what else my library has from Lucy Ellis.
March 27, 2015
Ava Lord was going to Rome to accept a proposal from her dull safe boyfriend of two years. Ava planned where he would propose, bought and paid for the ring, reserved the hotel, and purchased a driving tour of Tuscany for the honeymoon. Her boyfriend did not show up in Rome instead he called her on the phone and broke their engagement.
Ava did not feel any heartbreak over losing her boyfriend. Seven years ago, Ava had a one night stand with a Italian football player that had taken her innocence and her heart. When he did not come after her the next day she realized what a fool she had been and got on with her life. She finished school, worked for other companies then started her own. She had taken care of her mother and her brother. Now her brother was married, her mother was dead and Ava was lonely in her corporate world of dark pant suits and silk blouses. Only in dreams did she think of the young man who took her innocence but did. Not want her.
Gianluca Benedetti was the heir to an old Italian family where expectations and traditions had weighted him down to a life style of responsibility. Women were abundant along with the wealth and title he possessed. Luca had learned the harsh realities of life early when his father died young. There was a time seven years ago when he had dreamed of a possibility of marriage and family for him but she had run from him in the night and he never got her name or where she was staying. Before he could conduct a search his father's death overwhelmed him with obligations. Just as well as he had no desire to repeat the mistakes of his Father's marriage and his cousin could supply an heir. He was a Beneditti and women did not run away from him in the night.
Stopping for a quick coffee in Rome, Luca heard a woman fighting with a tour company about a refund. The shoes she wore touched some long hidden response in him and he stepped forward to offer his assistance. Using his influence he persuaded them to refund her money. Ava was very unappreciative of his patronizing assistance and called him a gigglo and servicer of women among other things. Luca left thinking he was crazy to even have allowed himself to get involved but then when he did a u turn in the traffic and went back to her he knew he was crazy.
Calling her Evie, he knew she was the one who got away and he needed to finish this painful part of his past. He invited her to a small private party and decided that if she came they would talk.
Ava spent the afternoon in indecision. What to wear, should she go, why open herself to heartbreak from his type. Rich, spoiled and entitled. A real Neanderthal with women. Drinking wine for Dutch courage she went only to see him with a scantily clad, thin woman at his side.
Drinking more wine Ava decided to approach him only to see him go out the edit door. Leaving her coat behind, Ava ran after him. Drink had robbed her caution and he was amazed that she came. With the paparazzi around, Luca decided in his craziness to kiss her. The kiss brought all the feelings to the surface. Realizing what had happened, Ava began to plan her retreat from this God's-gift-to-women type of man. When her chance came she tried to run for a cab but Luca was angry and declared that she would not run away again. He caught her, literally caught her as she passed out dead drunk.
Luca took Ava to his home and in the night they kissed. The next thing Ava was aware of was a fully dressed Luca awakening her calling her Signoria Lord. Confused as to how he knew her name and his sudden formality as well as his obvious desire that last night never happened, Luca tells her that his brother-in-law had called and his mother. The sister of the brother-in-law had not arrived at the villa and had turned her phone off. This was probably because the family had not been very nice to her seven years ago at the wedding. Luca was to go and get her from her hotel and bring her to the villa. Her name was Ava Lord.
Ava did not feel any heartbreak over losing her boyfriend. Seven years ago, Ava had a one night stand with a Italian football player that had taken her innocence and her heart. When he did not come after her the next day she realized what a fool she had been and got on with her life. She finished school, worked for other companies then started her own. She had taken care of her mother and her brother. Now her brother was married, her mother was dead and Ava was lonely in her corporate world of dark pant suits and silk blouses. Only in dreams did she think of the young man who took her innocence but did. Not want her.
Gianluca Benedetti was the heir to an old Italian family where expectations and traditions had weighted him down to a life style of responsibility. Women were abundant along with the wealth and title he possessed. Luca had learned the harsh realities of life early when his father died young. There was a time seven years ago when he had dreamed of a possibility of marriage and family for him but she had run from him in the night and he never got her name or where she was staying. Before he could conduct a search his father's death overwhelmed him with obligations. Just as well as he had no desire to repeat the mistakes of his Father's marriage and his cousin could supply an heir. He was a Beneditti and women did not run away from him in the night.
Stopping for a quick coffee in Rome, Luca heard a woman fighting with a tour company about a refund. The shoes she wore touched some long hidden response in him and he stepped forward to offer his assistance. Using his influence he persuaded them to refund her money. Ava was very unappreciative of his patronizing assistance and called him a gigglo and servicer of women among other things. Luca left thinking he was crazy to even have allowed himself to get involved but then when he did a u turn in the traffic and went back to her he knew he was crazy.
Calling her Evie, he knew she was the one who got away and he needed to finish this painful part of his past. He invited her to a small private party and decided that if she came they would talk.
Ava spent the afternoon in indecision. What to wear, should she go, why open herself to heartbreak from his type. Rich, spoiled and entitled. A real Neanderthal with women. Drinking wine for Dutch courage she went only to see him with a scantily clad, thin woman at his side.
Drinking more wine Ava decided to approach him only to see him go out the edit door. Leaving her coat behind, Ava ran after him. Drink had robbed her caution and he was amazed that she came. With the paparazzi around, Luca decided in his craziness to kiss her. The kiss brought all the feelings to the surface. Realizing what had happened, Ava began to plan her retreat from this God's-gift-to-women type of man. When her chance came she tried to run for a cab but Luca was angry and declared that she would not run away again. He caught her, literally caught her as she passed out dead drunk.
Luca took Ava to his home and in the night they kissed. The next thing Ava was aware of was a fully dressed Luca awakening her calling her Signoria Lord. Confused as to how he knew her name and his sudden formality as well as his obvious desire that last night never happened, Luca tells her that his brother-in-law had called and his mother. The sister of the brother-in-law had not arrived at the villa and had turned her phone off. This was probably because the family had not been very nice to her seven years ago at the wedding. Luca was to go and get her from her hotel and bring her to the villa. Her name was Ava Lord.
October 2, 2013
People are either going to enjoy this story for what it's worth or really hate it.
Ava Lord is in Rome for a holiday after being dumped by her boyfriend whom she was hoping would propose in her own Hollywood movie moment. She runs into her ex-one night stand she had 7 years ago at her brother's wedding,(the guy she lost her virginity too and is secretly in love a but in MAJOR denial about this fact), ex-football player-come high flying investment billionaire tycoon Prince Gianluca Benedetti. They both get swept up in the attraction that's still there and all the un-answered questions of the past.
Ava drove me nuts. I could empathize with the insecurity and fear she had but the woman was a head case and the story telling was convoluted for the first half of the book that at times made it hard to read. I hated how she just kept fighting with the hero for most of the book. She made a lot of assumptions about Gianluca that were so wrong and due to all her crazy angst just about drove the guy away (and really who could blame him). He wasn't totally without blame either. When he first met her, he didn't exactly treat her the greatest but that was probably just a reaction to her prickliness.
Ava Lord is in Rome for a holiday after being dumped by her boyfriend whom she was hoping would propose in her own Hollywood movie moment. She runs into her ex-one night stand she had 7 years ago at her brother's wedding,(the guy she lost her virginity too and is secretly in love a but in MAJOR denial about this fact), ex-football player-come high flying investment billionaire tycoon Prince Gianluca Benedetti. They both get swept up in the attraction that's still there and all the un-answered questions of the past.
Ava drove me nuts. I could empathize with the insecurity and fear she had but the woman was a head case and the story telling was convoluted for the first half of the book that at times made it hard to read. I hated how she just kept fighting with the hero for most of the book. She made a lot of assumptions about Gianluca that were so wrong and due to all her crazy angst just about drove the guy away (and really who could blame him). He wasn't totally without blame either. When he first met her, he didn't exactly treat her the greatest but that was probably just a reaction to her prickliness.
February 28, 2014
Years ago Ava Lord and Gianluca Benedetti had an one-night stand after she attended a wedding in Rome. Now in Rome hoping to become engaged herself, Ava runs into Gianluca shortly after her boyfriend dumps her and Gianluca doesn't remember her at first! When they are spotted by photographers, he whisks her off down the Amalfi Coast to escape the gossipmongers who always follow the head of Benedetti Enterprises. With her failed relationship in her mind, Ava is convinced that she can't re-capture that one magic night she had with Gianluca again. He, however, is bound and determined to crack through her walls to the passionate woman he finally remembered from the past.
It's a shame this book didn't get better reviews from others because it does deserve it. Sure it starts out very slow and Ava dithers and doubts herself about Gianluca the whole way through the book but, as the end of the book draws near, the truth about the two lovers comes out and it's star-crossed!
It's a shame this book didn't get better reviews from others because it does deserve it. Sure it starts out very slow and Ava dithers and doubts herself about Gianluca the whole way through the book but, as the end of the book draws near, the truth about the two lovers comes out and it's star-crossed!
May 6, 2019
Weird misogyny, uneven writing, nonsensical heroine. Disappointing.
April 24, 2018
7 years ago, at her brother's wedding, Ava Lord gave her virginity to Gianluca Benedetti and then never saw him again. Now, back in Italy, she runs into him and is horrified that he doesn't remember her. What she doesn't realize is that he actually does remember her, but is bitter at how she snuck out that morning and he wants to see her suffer a bit. She remembers him and has held that one night as a fantasy, something unable to be repeated. She wants to know if this man that she fell in love with that night has changed, so she seeks him out and is caught by the paparazzi. In order to avoid a scandal, Luca takes her to his family home, where her brother lives with his wife. Only, on the way, they stop to remember the good old days.
So to start, I was a bit confused about why these two were so angry with each other at first. It wasn't really revealed how much that night meant to Gianluca or why he didn't get in touch with her, so I had no idea why he should have any right to be angry. And Ava had no right to be angry with Luca because she's the one that left in the first place. Only later was it revealed that so only in hindsight did that anger make any sense.
Plenty of reviewers indicate they found Ava hard to like, but I actually kind of liked her. She was very vulnerable and, as the hero describes, a bit like a porcupine, all spiky on the outside with a soft underbelly. There were times that she took her protection against hurt a bit too far, especially there at the end, but I honestly understood where she was coming from, especially with some of the hurtful, assholish things that Luca was randomly throwing out at her. It was kinda nice to see these two mellowing out with each other. The ending, as Luca and Ava sort of hit a plateau and the reader knows they both have a decision to make as time is running out, was probably my least favorite part of this. By that point, the tension and chemistry had kind of fizzled. I did like how Luca redeemed himself but would have liked to see an effort from Ava too.
So to start, I was a bit confused about why these two were so angry with each other at first. It wasn't really revealed how much that night meant to Gianluca or why he didn't get in touch with her, so I had no idea why he should have any right to be angry. And Ava had no right to be angry with Luca because she's the one that left in the first place. Only later was it revealed that so only in hindsight did that anger make any sense.
Plenty of reviewers indicate they found Ava hard to like, but I actually kind of liked her. She was very vulnerable and, as the hero describes, a bit like a porcupine, all spiky on the outside with a soft underbelly. There were times that she took her protection against hurt a bit too far, especially there at the end, but I honestly understood where she was coming from, especially with some of the hurtful, assholish things that Luca was randomly throwing out at her. It was kinda nice to see these two mellowing out with each other. The ending, as Luca and Ava sort of hit a plateau and the reader knows they both have a decision to make as time is running out, was probably my least favorite part of this. By that point, the tension and chemistry had kind of fizzled. I did like how Luca redeemed himself but would have liked to see an effort from Ava too.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 17, 2020
Nopeeeeee
The heroine is terrible.
The hero isn't any better...
He didn't remember sleeping with her?
It just ended up making her sound pathetic pining after him while he slept his way around the country. No thanks. I'd at least like to read that he remembered her even if he carried on sleeping with other people. And well done for making her an insecure woman that happens to be 'curvy' not really something you want to read... Just makes you feel worse about yourself too, at least could have made her a little more confident about her body even if she still mentioned she didn't like 'x' about herself.
The heroine is terrible.
The hero isn't any better...
He didn't remember sleeping with her?
It just ended up making her sound pathetic pining after him while he slept his way around the country. No thanks. I'd at least like to read that he remembered her even if he carried on sleeping with other people. And well done for making her an insecure woman that happens to be 'curvy' not really something you want to read... Just makes you feel worse about yourself too, at least could have made her a little more confident about her body even if she still mentioned she didn't like 'x' about herself.
June 3, 2021
Stripped of her defenses...
Italy's most desirable playboy, Gianluca Benedetti, might not initially recognize Ava Lord as the beautiful bridesmaid who stole his breath and shared his bed all those years ago, but one glimpse of the curves beneath her buttoned-up clothes and it all comes rushing back!
When a steamy kiss between them ignites a media firestorm, Gianluca whisks Ava off to the Amalfi Coast to minimize the PR scandal. Exploring the reignited passion between them, Ava realizes the danger of opening her heart. Because the closer Gianluca gets...the more cracks in her carefully constructed armor appear.
Italy's most desirable playboy, Gianluca Benedetti, might not initially recognize Ava Lord as the beautiful bridesmaid who stole his breath and shared his bed all those years ago, but one glimpse of the curves beneath her buttoned-up clothes and it all comes rushing back!
When a steamy kiss between them ignites a media firestorm, Gianluca whisks Ava off to the Amalfi Coast to minimize the PR scandal. Exploring the reignited passion between them, Ava realizes the danger of opening her heart. Because the closer Gianluca gets...the more cracks in her carefully constructed armor appear.
October 15, 2013
2.5 stars I can't believe I stuck with this one all the way to the end. Here's the basic plot - Ava the heroine hooked up with Italian hottie Gianluca Benedetti 6 years ago at a wedding. Upon encountering him again, all kinds of conflicting emotions come rushing back for her. So far, it seems pretty understandable.
This is a partial review. You can find the complete text here: http://tinyurl.com/ok4o3j6
This is a partial review. You can find the complete text here: http://tinyurl.com/ok4o3j6
July 22, 2014
An ok read. There were emotions, a little humor, plenty of sparks, a little wishy-washy-ness, and a good ending. Not something I would probably read again, but good for passing time. Mostly, the characters got on my nerves, but sometimes it seemed a little valid. This moved along pretty well though and flowed pretty much continuously. Overall, and ok book but not a gripper.
Read
December 29, 2014"The memorable couple shares playful banter, internal struggles and explosive lovemaking. With breathtaking landscapes, Ellis' romance-revisited is an amazing, twisting, page-turning conundrum." RT Book Reviews, rated 4 1/2 stars
August 9, 2014
this had great potential!i really loved the basic plot! however, i found both of the characters lacking in some way. luca was so cold and ava was detached. it was like they both cud not have a real relationship bcoz of their past. i did not feel dat they ever got over it nor dat they fell in love.
May 10, 2015
I loved the hero... But disliked the heroine. She was annoying. That's why the book lost it's first star.
Lost the second because it was too slow and I fell asleep twice. Lost the third one because the story could have been better than what it is.
Overall an OKAY read.
Lost the second because it was too slow and I fell asleep twice. Lost the third one because the story could have been better than what it is.
Overall an OKAY read.
August 19, 2021
Cute
He had me at porcupine. Such a true analogy. Ava and Luca had a rough path to end up together, but I could understand the reason for it. Ava tried so hard to take care of everything and not get hurt. Adult content.
He had me at porcupine. Such a true analogy. Ava and Luca had a rough path to end up together, but I could understand the reason for it. Ava tried so hard to take care of everything and not get hurt. Adult content.
April 21, 2014
Fun short read.
September 24, 2014
I'm pretty sure she was a successful businesswoman, but you'd never know with her behavior. I was disappointed.
September 7, 2015
This book took me forever to finish and it's not even long. Not one of my favourites, it stared to get better at the end but that still wasn't good enough.
October 9, 2013
did-not-finish
,
annoying heroine
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