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Irresistible Sicilians #1
What a Sicilian Husband Wants
On his terms only!
After moving countries, cutting all ties and giving birth to her baby alone, Grace Holden is desperately hiding from her past. But just when she thinks she might have broken free it catches up with her – in the form of her millionaire Sicilian husband!
Grace has sworn that her daughter won’t grow up amongst the dark power and money of his family…but no one walks away from Luca Mastrangelo. Now, back within his reach, Grace is surprised to see new depths to the man she married – and each crack in his armour makes it harder to fight the desire still blazing between them.
After moving countries, cutting all ties and giving birth to her baby alone, Grace Holden is desperately hiding from her past. But just when she thinks she might have broken free it catches up with her – in the form of her millionaire Sicilian husband!
Grace has sworn that her daughter won’t grow up amongst the dark power and money of his family…but no one walks away from Luca Mastrangelo. Now, back within his reach, Grace is surprised to see new depths to the man she married – and each crack in his armour makes it harder to fight the desire still blazing between them.
192 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 1, 2014
77 people are currently reading
731 people want to read
About the author
Michelle Smart
707 books257 followersMichelle Smart is a Publishers Weekly bestselling romance author with a slight-to-severe coffee addiction. With over four million copies of her books sold worldwide, Michelle is now embracing the indie book world to write the passionate romance books she knows her readers love whilst continuing to write for Harlequin Mills & Boon. She is also the author of Butterflies, a standalone romantic and humorous time travel novel set in the 1990s.
A bookworm since birth, Michelle can usually be found hiding behind a paperback, or if it’s an author she really loves, a hardback.
Michelle loves hearing from readers and can be contacted directly via her website.
A bookworm since birth, Michelle can usually be found hiding behind a paperback, or if it’s an author she really loves, a hardback.
Michelle loves hearing from readers and can be contacted directly via her website.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 112 reviews
June 25, 2017
Wow…….JUST................ 
Before going any further, I want to thank my good GR friend Vashti……after reading your review on book #2, I decided to start all over again with this author’s books. If not for you, I would have missed out on a great and amazing read…..so, again…THANK YOU V!!
I am a Mills & Boon addict…yes, I am. Since I discovered these “gems” many many years ago, my love for the stories has not abated. Of course, I have my favorite authors and I am always searching for new writers that can excite me with their stories. I am thrilled discovering Michelle Smart (although I vaguely remember giving up on a book of hers a while ago!!)...but after reading What a Sicilian Husband Wants, she’s now a member of my M&B favorite authors group!!!
Grace & Luca were a happily married couple who began drifting apart. Grace believes that Luca has become a gangster since going into business with a partner who has dubious connections to the M……….afia!!!
Finding herself pregnant and afraid for her child’s safety, she escapes from Sicilian and has been on the run for over a year, just one step ahead of being found by Luca and his “goons”
He finally catches up to her at her hideout in Cornwall. Wow, this meeting certainly did not go as I expected!!
Hell, Grace is somewhat feisty and kickass…believe me!!!
She actually shoots Luca..no, she does not kill the gorgeous Sicilian…just nicks his shoulder…Wheww!!
And this all happens in the first two chapters!!!! Grace is not playing around…
I really liked Luca. I knew right from the start that he never stopped loving his wife and his heartbroken about what has happened between them. Even though he’s playing the high hand in forcing Grace back to Sicily, I still felt how much he cares for her and the baby.
I really did not like Grace in the beginning – in fact throughout most of the book. She was so hard and cold towards Luca. It took her a very long time to understand what he had gone through. At times, I felt like saying to Luca – give her up…she’s just not worth it. But she did redeem herself – finally.
This is a dark and emotional story and both Luca & Grace go through many traumatic and sad paths but in the end, love does conquer all….does it not????
Brilliantly written, emotional and uplifting.
Can’t wait for Pepe’s book…I hate that name….an Italian with the unfortunate name of Pepe!!!!
Before going any further, I want to thank my good GR friend Vashti……after reading your review on book #2, I decided to start all over again with this author’s books. If not for you, I would have missed out on a great and amazing read…..so, again…THANK YOU V!!
I am a Mills & Boon addict…yes, I am. Since I discovered these “gems” many many years ago, my love for the stories has not abated. Of course, I have my favorite authors and I am always searching for new writers that can excite me with their stories. I am thrilled discovering Michelle Smart (although I vaguely remember giving up on a book of hers a while ago!!)...but after reading What a Sicilian Husband Wants, she’s now a member of my M&B favorite authors group!!!
Grace & Luca were a happily married couple who began drifting apart. Grace believes that Luca has become a gangster since going into business with a partner who has dubious connections to the M……….afia!!!
Finding herself pregnant and afraid for her child’s safety, she escapes from Sicilian and has been on the run for over a year, just one step ahead of being found by Luca and his “goons”
He finally catches up to her at her hideout in Cornwall. Wow, this meeting certainly did not go as I expected!!
Hell, Grace is somewhat feisty and kickass…believe me!!!
She actually shoots Luca..no, she does not kill the gorgeous Sicilian…just nicks his shoulder…Wheww!!
And this all happens in the first two chapters!!!! Grace is not playing around…
I really liked Luca. I knew right from the start that he never stopped loving his wife and his heartbroken about what has happened between them. Even though he’s playing the high hand in forcing Grace back to Sicily, I still felt how much he cares for her and the baby.
I really did not like Grace in the beginning – in fact throughout most of the book. She was so hard and cold towards Luca. It took her a very long time to understand what he had gone through. At times, I felt like saying to Luca – give her up…she’s just not worth it. But she did redeem herself – finally.
This is a dark and emotional story and both Luca & Grace go through many traumatic and sad paths but in the end, love does conquer all….does it not????
Brilliantly written, emotional and uplifting.
Can’t wait for Pepe’s book…I hate that name….an Italian with the unfortunate name of Pepe!!!!
August 15, 2020
Re-read August 2020. Still 4 stars
Great opening scene! The heroine had really worked herself into some grade A paranoia and that gun shot shockingly discharged it right back at the hero. Lots of drama and emotion, but one of the quieter scenes remains in my mind - the flashback of how they met when she inadvertently trespassed on his land with her land. Whatever it was about that scene made me believe their HEA when they got to it.
This is the first in the series and we meet or hear about the heroes and heroine of the next two books, but they never felt like sequel bait. They belonged to this story. Well done, Michelle Smart!
Great opening scene! The heroine had really worked herself into some grade A paranoia and that gun shot shockingly discharged it right back at the hero. Lots of drama and emotion, but one of the quieter scenes remains in my mind - the flashback of how they met when she inadvertently trespassed on his land with her land. Whatever it was about that scene made me believe their HEA when they got to it.
This is the first in the series and we meet or hear about the heroes and heroine of the next two books, but they never felt like sequel bait. They belonged to this story. Well done, Michelle Smart!
April 15, 2014
So,I finally finished this book after a 2 day break.I struggled to finish it,why ,because of the heroine.My goodness she was a "bitchy" thing.For the majority of the book until chapter 11,this heroine was hard! I never warmed to her and it made the read a chore.
Grace leaves Luca approx 10 months ago pregnant with his child.She can't live his lifestyle any longer with the constant security,bodyguards,and Luca's change in personality.He also seems to be embracing a mob attitude with certain deadbeat customers of his casinos who have cheated .She should have known better,when they first meet he was carrying a gun which she thought normal for every Sicilian.
Ten months later, Luca shows up on her doorstep in snowy Cornwall.Grace's answer to this suprise visit is to shoot him in the shoulder,thank goodness he travels with his personal physician to take care of him,cause don't we all travel with our personal medic in attendance.Anyways,a baby cries,upon seeing baby girl Lily,Luca is yes,that's my baby.
With multiple threats to his errant wife,the family heads to the Sicilian stronghold complete with armed guards.
For the entire book,I could tell that Luca loved his wife underneath all his posturing,Grace,not so much.It was not until chapter 11 that she finally defrosted on the dance floor with Luca sensually dancing with her.From that moment on,Grace became softer,having second thoughts about Luca and having a long awaited conversation about Luca's "business".
I was happy to finish this book and get the HEA for this couple.3.5***
I read this book after Pepe's and Cara's ,and I have to say, book #2 in this duet was my favorite.
Grace leaves Luca approx 10 months ago pregnant with his child.She can't live his lifestyle any longer with the constant security,bodyguards,and Luca's change in personality.He also seems to be embracing a mob attitude with certain deadbeat customers of his casinos who have cheated .She should have known better,when they first meet he was carrying a gun which she thought normal for every Sicilian.
Ten months later, Luca shows up on her doorstep in snowy Cornwall.Grace's answer to this suprise visit is to shoot him in the shoulder,thank goodness he travels with his personal physician to take care of him,cause don't we all travel with our personal medic in attendance.Anyways,a baby cries,upon seeing baby girl Lily,Luca is yes,that's my baby.
With multiple threats to his errant wife,the family heads to the Sicilian stronghold complete with armed guards.
For the entire book,I could tell that Luca loved his wife underneath all his posturing,Grace,not so much.It was not until chapter 11 that she finally defrosted on the dance floor with Luca sensually dancing with her.From that moment on,Grace became softer,having second thoughts about Luca and having a long awaited conversation about Luca's "business".
I was happy to finish this book and get the HEA for this couple.3.5***
I read this book after Pepe's and Cara's ,and I have to say, book #2 in this duet was my favorite.
July 19, 2019
Hmmm a highly rated book so a case of great expectations.
It's good, mind you - especially the beginning but it gets in the rut as does the h.
She escapes from a husband, a happy marriage when she suspects her Sicilian husband to be a mafioso. They were deliriously happy and one day she just vanishes into thin air.
Now in the present, he's found her and their infant daughter. An explosive beginning to the book. I had to admire the h for her brainy worked out escape and hiding away - and he impresses with a cool, menacing entry into her cottage. No wonder she thought what she thought.
And then she shoots him!
So, of course she gets dragged back to Sicily, where she swore her daughter would never have to live. There's hate, there's distrust and there's the attraction.
The guy is - nice. She is - paranoid and inflexible.
More!
The villainous partner turns H for the sequel. Now that one I may read...especially as she thinks him a 'vulture' and he 'makes her skin crawl' and she wants to 'disinfect' her hand after shaking hands with him. Wow!
I didn't like the vague-but-there vilifying of the whole region of Sicily. She makes the H leave his land and settle in Rome. Could it really be 'What a Sicilian husband wants'?
Certainly, I can't believe his very Sicilian mother was as happy and okay about it as she lets on!
It's good, mind you - especially the beginning but it gets in the rut as does the h.
She escapes from a husband, a happy marriage when she suspects her Sicilian husband to be a mafioso. They were deliriously happy and one day she just vanishes into thin air.
Now in the present, he's found her and their infant daughter. An explosive beginning to the book. I had to admire the h for her brainy worked out escape and hiding away - and he impresses with a cool, menacing entry into her cottage. No wonder she thought what she thought.
And then she shoots him!
So, of course she gets dragged back to Sicily, where she swore her daughter would never have to live. There's hate, there's distrust and there's the attraction.
The guy is - nice. She is - paranoid and inflexible.
More!
The villainous partner turns H for the sequel. Now that one I may read...especially as she thinks him a 'vulture' and he 'makes her skin crawl' and she wants to 'disinfect' her hand after shaking hands with him. Wow!
I didn't like the vague-but-there vilifying of the whole region of Sicily. She makes the H leave his land and settle in Rome. Could it really be 'What a Sicilian husband wants'?
Certainly, I can't believe his very Sicilian mother was as happy and okay about it as she lets on!
June 10, 2020
"What a Sicilian Husband Wants" is the story of Grace and Luca.
Aww!
The plot revolves around an estranged couple. A year ago, the heroine learns a harsh truth about the hero's life while realizing she is pregnant, and runs away. As he finally tracks her down, he is forced to blackmail her back into his home to finally claim his daughter. The book begins at present, as the couple deals with the aftermath of their separation.
We see the couple fighting, the smitten hero being confused and genuinely hurt by the heroine's actions, the heroine struggling to make the hero understand why she did it, how their family is affected by their action, and if their love could survive all the upheaval.
I really, REALLY liked the hero- perfect combination of alpha and caring, the heroine was strong and determined, the baby was hella cute and the plot engaging. Their love and passion was so strong, and I'm glad they went through the tribulations they did, because it certainly opened their eyes.
Thoroughly enjoyed it!
Safe
4.5/5
Aww!
The plot revolves around an estranged couple. A year ago, the heroine learns a harsh truth about the hero's life while realizing she is pregnant, and runs away. As he finally tracks her down, he is forced to blackmail her back into his home to finally claim his daughter. The book begins at present, as the couple deals with the aftermath of their separation.
We see the couple fighting, the smitten hero being confused and genuinely hurt by the heroine's actions, the heroine struggling to make the hero understand why she did it, how their family is affected by their action, and if their love could survive all the upheaval.
I really, REALLY liked the hero- perfect combination of alpha and caring, the heroine was strong and determined, the baby was hella cute and the plot engaging. Their love and passion was so strong, and I'm glad they went through the tribulations they did, because it certainly opened their eyes.
Thoroughly enjoyed it!
Safe
4.5/5
March 4, 2015
If I could give six stars I would...my first from this author but won't be my last. I always wondered
whether any criminal aspect of a hero would be explored in an HP--really well done, Hero POV was superb...the depth of his love (notwithstanding his threats and claimed indifference) really shone through the story like a beam. LOVE his fidelity, even when he wants revenge. Also love this strong, individualistic heroine...so tired of doormats.
whether any criminal aspect of a hero would be explored in an HP--really well done, Hero POV was superb...the depth of his love (notwithstanding his threats and claimed indifference) really shone through the story like a beam. LOVE his fidelity, even when he wants revenge. Also love this strong, individualistic heroine...so tired of doormats.
August 5, 2016
When the going gets tough the tough gets going right? Not always as in this case the going took off running and the tough does not give up until they are reunited.
But once reunited it does not mean the going is simply going to back down and let the tough handle every single aspect of life, again. The going in this read is Grace and the tough her crawl-onto-my-lap-and-I'll-show-you-just-how-much-control-I-have-over-you husband Luca.
She dared to run away from him and their semi blissful marriage, all he needs to know is why, that is until he sees his daughter for the first time and walking away with only 'why-did-you-run' answers is no longer what he seeks. Answers he will have, but first he's taking back what is rightfully his.
The character of Luca was a true wonder of creativity, like most hero's he is arrogant and you do want to smash his skull with the nearest rock but, you also know there is more to this man and just exactly what makes him tick.
And when that awesome truth is revealed moment popped it completely blew me away. The entire time the author truly let me think the absolute worst of this character and towards the end I was starting to doubt he was ever going to redeem himself. But this is exactly what I love about this author's writing, she keeps you the edge of your seat all the way till the end. Through the character of Luca the author showed how the pressure of success can steer us away from our original goals and blind us to what is really happening around us.
The character of Grace was kick-ass! She did everything a true love your child to bits mother would do. I could see how Luca could fault her for her actions but if I were in her shoes I would have done the exact same thing. But as the author let Grace develop more I could see how in actual fact her actions might have seemed right at the time but if she has stopped for a moment to confront Luca before disappearing from his life, she would have saved herself from a whole lot of heartache. It all comes down to, hasty decisions will give you a lifetime of regret.
The author wrote a stunning story, and with such brutal honesty it brought me to tears. The author never once backed down from getting to the heart of the problem, letting the characters force-fight out emotions they never knew existed, truly fantastic conflict!
I'm taking away two messages from this read, firstly never jump to conclusions, what you see is not always what you are really looking at. Sometimes there are more layers hidden under the outside image and to find them you'll need to suck it up and dig deep. Secondly, never let the price of success stand in the way of what is truly important.
I highly recommend this read for all HP fans, explosive, passionate, scrumptious and dripping with exquisite romantic perfection!
"His power binds her, her's brings him to his knees"
But once reunited it does not mean the going is simply going to back down and let the tough handle every single aspect of life, again. The going in this read is Grace and the tough her crawl-onto-my-lap-and-I'll-show-you-just-how-much-control-I-have-over-you husband Luca.
She dared to run away from him and their semi blissful marriage, all he needs to know is why, that is until he sees his daughter for the first time and walking away with only 'why-did-you-run' answers is no longer what he seeks. Answers he will have, but first he's taking back what is rightfully his.
The character of Luca was a true wonder of creativity, like most hero's he is arrogant and you do want to smash his skull with the nearest rock but, you also know there is more to this man and just exactly what makes him tick.
And when that awesome truth is revealed moment popped it completely blew me away. The entire time the author truly let me think the absolute worst of this character and towards the end I was starting to doubt he was ever going to redeem himself. But this is exactly what I love about this author's writing, she keeps you the edge of your seat all the way till the end. Through the character of Luca the author showed how the pressure of success can steer us away from our original goals and blind us to what is really happening around us.
The character of Grace was kick-ass! She did everything a true love your child to bits mother would do. I could see how Luca could fault her for her actions but if I were in her shoes I would have done the exact same thing. But as the author let Grace develop more I could see how in actual fact her actions might have seemed right at the time but if she has stopped for a moment to confront Luca before disappearing from his life, she would have saved herself from a whole lot of heartache. It all comes down to, hasty decisions will give you a lifetime of regret.
The author wrote a stunning story, and with such brutal honesty it brought me to tears. The author never once backed down from getting to the heart of the problem, letting the characters force-fight out emotions they never knew existed, truly fantastic conflict!
I'm taking away two messages from this read, firstly never jump to conclusions, what you see is not always what you are really looking at. Sometimes there are more layers hidden under the outside image and to find them you'll need to suck it up and dig deep. Secondly, never let the price of success stand in the way of what is truly important.
I highly recommend this read for all HP fans, explosive, passionate, scrumptious and dripping with exquisite romantic perfection!
"His power binds her, her's brings him to his knees"
May 25, 2021
Huh? Who knew HP actual does the mafia/mob trope. We get corrupt dads and business partners, I’ve never read a truly gangster-esque hero. My first, there’s probably others, but 🤷♀️
She finds out her husband has people who cheat and steal from his casinos beat up. Doesn’t like this and hates being under constant protection, caged. And, she escapes, takes her pregnant self back to England, buys an illegal gun and shoots him when he tracks her down.
180 pages later, he realizes she’s right, hates the casino business and has his thug partner buy him out. And is willing to let the heroine and their baby daughter leave. She loves him and is willing to compromise.
HEA, of course now I need to read the thug partners book 🤦♀️
She finds out her husband has people who cheat and steal from his casinos beat up. Doesn’t like this and hates being under constant protection, caged. And, she escapes, takes her pregnant self back to England, buys an illegal gun and shoots him when he tracks her down.
180 pages later, he realizes she’s right, hates the casino business and has his thug partner buy him out. And is willing to let the heroine and their baby daughter leave. She loves him and is willing to compromise.
HEA, of course now I need to read the thug partners book 🤦♀️
February 2, 2014
Unequivocally loved this book, from the first page. And she totally shot her husband. SHOT HIM. With a gun. Which... tickled me to death! He got over it, btw. It didn't get anywhere near his important parts. And he totally needed a good shot to wake him up. Besides, who hasn't wanted to shoot their husband at one point? :)
April 3, 2015
At first I wasn't too sure I was going to like this one, but it turned out to be a good one.
The h leaves her husband when she discovers she's pregnant. This is during a rough patch in their marriage where the H is drinking too much, working long/late hours, and appears to be involved in some Sicilian mobster-like activities.
I thought this would be a case of the stupid, naive heroine realizes she misunderstood and is brought back into the fold. Actually, she did understand what was going on. The H was involved in some shady dealings, which he wasn't quite comfortable with (hence the drinking). It was interesting how his thought process was revealed and how he'd tried to justify his unsavory business partnership with a childhood friend. Usually the alpha heroes never make mistakes in their personal lives (aside from being an ass to the heroine). I was impressed how the author was able to show the H as flawed/human yet still a strong alpha.
The heroine had her part in it too, which was not confronting the situation and running instead.
In the end they both recognized their mistakes and made changes to make their marriage work. Great gestures on the H's part to show he was truly sorry.
The h leaves her husband when she discovers she's pregnant. This is during a rough patch in their marriage where the H is drinking too much, working long/late hours, and appears to be involved in some Sicilian mobster-like activities.
I thought this would be a case of the stupid, naive heroine realizes she misunderstood and is brought back into the fold. Actually, she did understand what was going on. The H was involved in some shady dealings, which he wasn't quite comfortable with (hence the drinking). It was interesting how his thought process was revealed and how he'd tried to justify his unsavory business partnership with a childhood friend. Usually the alpha heroes never make mistakes in their personal lives (aside from being an ass to the heroine). I was impressed how the author was able to show the H as flawed/human yet still a strong alpha.
The heroine had her part in it too, which was not confronting the situation and running instead.
In the end they both recognized their mistakes and made changes to make their marriage work. Great gestures on the H's part to show he was truly sorry.
July 5, 2021
Too much poison in the well for my taste.
May 22, 2021
Secretly pregnant wife abandons marriage to surprise!gangster husband. When he tracks her down 10 months later and discovers the baby, his love is instantly transformed to hate and he blackmails her into returning to him by threatening to take the baby away. Her punishment will be to be molded into the role of the deferential Sicilian wife raising his child while he takes mistresses because he'll never touch her again.
The first 50% of the book is mutual resentment and verbal stabbing (and one shooting!) until love for the baby and desire for his wife effects a transformation in the hero and he divests himself of the shadier business interests. Then it's the heroine's turn to recognize that her loving but distant relationship with her parents had left her without the confidence to ask her husband to choose between their marriage and his shady business. He tries to set her free; she asks him to go with her. They wind up compromising on a living arrangement that gives them 6 months of freedom in Rome and 6 months of oppressive security on the family estate in Sicily. HEA.
I'm giving this book 4 stars because I think it's a really well-constructed narrative with some refreshing elements. (It isn't a big misunderstanding; the hero actually is/was a gangster-lite. The hero's description of his despair when she left without a note or phone call is heartrending. As St M notes in her review, the secondary characters are organic to the story and don't smell of sequel-bait.) But for some reason I don't find it an emotionally satisfying read. Maybe it's the amount of hate they spew at each other in the first half of the book, or the fact that Sicily is blamed for the hero's condoning his business partner's thuggish behavior, or maybe it's that the heroine spends more time mooning over the not-beige dress than fuming over her husband flirting with the shop assistant in the shopping-as-punishment scene. The book impressed me, but it didn't leave me happy.
The first 50% of the book is mutual resentment and verbal stabbing (and one shooting!) until love for the baby and desire for his wife effects a transformation in the hero and he divests himself of the shadier business interests. Then it's the heroine's turn to recognize that her loving but distant relationship with her parents had left her without the confidence to ask her husband to choose between their marriage and his shady business. He tries to set her free; she asks him to go with her. They wind up compromising on a living arrangement that gives them 6 months of freedom in Rome and 6 months of oppressive security on the family estate in Sicily. HEA.
I'm giving this book 4 stars because I think it's a really well-constructed narrative with some refreshing elements. (It isn't a big misunderstanding; the hero actually is/was a gangster-lite. The hero's description of his despair when she left without a note or phone call is heartrending. As St M notes in her review, the secondary characters are organic to the story and don't smell of sequel-bait.) But for some reason I don't find it an emotionally satisfying read. Maybe it's the amount of hate they spew at each other in the first half of the book, or the fact that Sicily is blamed for the hero's condoning his business partner's thuggish behavior, or maybe it's that the heroine spends more time mooning over the not-beige dress than fuming over her husband flirting with the shop assistant in the shopping-as-punishment scene. The book impressed me, but it didn't leave me happy.
February 4, 2014
Reunion romance...I am so there. Luca is the epitome of the dark Sicilian male. He's had the responsibility of his family business since he was 21 and he's made a success of it. Falling for a wacky free spirited artist wasn't in his plan. Grace is everything he didn't know he needed but after a blissful first year of marriage things aren't going to plan.
Luca's new business ventures are taking time away from his marriage he didn't expect and bringing stresses he doesn't need. Grace can see him growing away from her and when she realises what his business dealings involve, she assumes the worst and runs.
Ten months later, she is in hiding with her daughter when Luca finds her. All the predictable stuff happens but the whole shooting him. That I didn't expect. Such a great opening scene for their first meeting after all this time.
At times I was reminded of Jane Porter's "A Dark Sicilian Secret." One of my favourite reads. But while the plot has similarities this is a different story. Loved Luca and once Grace eased up a bit I loved her too. The ending made me cry so of course it gets 5 stars.
Luca's new business ventures are taking time away from his marriage he didn't expect and bringing stresses he doesn't need. Grace can see him growing away from her and when she realises what his business dealings involve, she assumes the worst and runs.
Ten months later, she is in hiding with her daughter when Luca finds her. All the predictable stuff happens but the whole shooting him. That I didn't expect. Such a great opening scene for their first meeting after all this time.
At times I was reminded of Jane Porter's "A Dark Sicilian Secret." One of my favourite reads. But while the plot has similarities this is a different story. Loved Luca and once Grace eased up a bit I loved her too. The ending made me cry so of course it gets 5 stars.
June 23, 2017
2 Decepcionadas STARS
Aunque el libro no es malo, si me decepcionó. Teniendo en cuenta que yo pensé que sería de Mafia y que la Siciliana Mafia es una de las más violentas del mundo, esperaba algo mucho más trágico, o al menos con un poco más de drama.
Parece más un drama juvenil, te quiero, pero no te perdono es todo el drama que contiene.
En perspectiva supongo que la portada y el hecho que es de Harlequin ya mostraba mucho sobre el tipo de libro que era.
Quizá continúe con la serie, cuando quiera algo sencillo para pasar el rato.
Aunque el libro no es malo, si me decepcionó. Teniendo en cuenta que yo pensé que sería de Mafia y que la Siciliana Mafia es una de las más violentas del mundo, esperaba algo mucho más trágico, o al menos con un poco más de drama.
Parece más un drama juvenil, te quiero, pero no te perdono es todo el drama que contiene.
En perspectiva supongo que la portada y el hecho que es de Harlequin ya mostraba mucho sobre el tipo de libro que era.
Quizá continúe con la serie, cuando quiera algo sencillo para pasar el rato.
May 13, 2020
3.5 Stars.
It was OK.
I was surprised by the hero's business ethics. Till now, I didn't read an HP Hero who was doing something shady in their business dealing. He wasn't criminal but he wasn't a saint either. And Because of that heroine runs away when she discovered she is pregnant.
I understand the bitchiness and run away the behavior of heroine but I felt like she could have dealt some of the things differently. They were very happy together despite some of the shortcomings. They trusted and loved each other so, lots of things could have been solved if they tried to communicate a little bit more. She wanted answers but she just asked once and didn't push the hero again. Things got a little bit tense. So, when your marriage got hit by a wind you just run away. And the hero never understood his too much protective behavior is scaring the heroine. But, The good thing is at the end he realized all of the things by himself.
At Last, they compromised a little and HEA.
Safety Issue: Perfectly Safe.
It was OK.
I was surprised by the hero's business ethics. Till now, I didn't read an HP Hero who was doing something shady in their business dealing. He wasn't criminal but he wasn't a saint either. And Because of that heroine runs away when she discovered she is pregnant.
I understand the bitchiness and run away the behavior of heroine but I felt like she could have dealt some of the things differently. They were very happy together despite some of the shortcomings. They trusted and loved each other so, lots of things could have been solved if they tried to communicate a little bit more. She wanted answers but she just asked once and didn't push the hero again. Things got a little bit tense. So, when your marriage got hit by a wind you just run away. And the hero never understood his too much protective behavior is scaring the heroine. But, The good thing is at the end he realized all of the things by himself.
At Last, they compromised a little and HEA.
Safety Issue: Perfectly Safe.
August 20, 2023
H was cruel at the beginning but not enough to cause angst! 😢
April 4, 2015
I'm really happy to have found a new HP author that works for me. This takes a classic, intense plot and adds some original aspects that keep it fresh and interesting. And everything does not turn out to have been a huge misunderstanding; the drama was valid. Looking forward to the next in the series.
February 3, 2014
A jaw dropping opening chapter - I never thought the heroine would actually do what she does. Brilliant!Sicily, shady corners,scintillating sex and simmering hatred ticked all my Modern/Presents boxes. It's a goody.
January 22, 2015
3.5 stars
Felt like reading a reunion/second chance love story already married angst romance read, and let me tell you I was a little bit underwhelmed by this book and definitely disappointed. I thought it would have been a lot more emotional and more angst read than it was. Something that would have ripped out my guts and made my heart clench along the way. Plus add the whole secret baby angle then I was expecting this to be a real, raw emotional ride and unfortunately it wasn't. Or I should say it wasn't as much as I was expecting, there needed to be so much more I thought especially with the setup perfectly in place.
Yes, setup was good and was interesting in different. When was the last time you've read about a hero in Harlequin Presents that was gangster, who allowed horrible beating to occur when someone wronged him along with his business partner Francesco? So the heroine once she learned of her husband occupation that was clouded in darkness, Grace knew she couldn't risk bringing her baby in that dangerous of environment or allow a monster, who she viewed Luca to be, to raise her child and possibly hurt her. She didn't want that darkness to pollute her innocent baby's life. So Grace, in love with her husband still and pregnant, left her husband without a single note of where she going and spent the rest of the time hiding from him and his goons and just escape that lifestyle. Unfortunately she couldn't remain hidden forever and her husband found her and there was where the story began and the conflict arouse. Plus Luca, who still desired his wife and loved her, gained new knowledge that Grace was pregnant and had the baby while she was separated for him for ten months, and he wasn't happy and vowed never to trust her again and make her pay for taking his child away from her. Thus adding another level to the conflict.
So you would think this would have been a angst and emotional read where I would feel ripped from the inside out and just feel so much going on during this emotional roller coaster of a ride along with them, right? I mean the denial of the desire was there as was the love-hate relationship that they had once they returned to Sicily. So a lot should have been felt and felt for with the characters, but it just wasn't. I didn't feel that soul sucking feeling that I get from reading great romances. I didn't really feel passionate about the characters and wasn't exactly rooting for them either.
In fact I didn't care for either one of them and felt there were sort flat and conflict with him being a gangster just didn't feel genuine to me either. Okay, that was Grace's view of him as a gangster and monster for what he did in his business and she wanted protect her daughter from that, and I totally understand that and believed it was a valid argument, however I think there needed to more examples of Luca's gangster's lifestyle to believe he was actually the bad guy where she felt her child wouldn't be safe in that lifestyle. If he had drug dealers coming to the house or suspicious men coming to the house to make deals or possibly having a man that owed Luca money to come to house to pay him back, shaking in his boots or something like that not just she walked in on him and allowing Francesco's men beating a man to punish him from stealing from the casino. Yes, Luca was becoming more distant with her and drinking more, but I still don't think it was enough for me at least to view him as a bad guy because I didn't see him that way.
For one, Luca protected his family and made sure that no one retaliated against his family so he provided the best protection possible for them by basically living in Fort Knox. Was a little extreme? Maybe, even though that kind of showed that he was an upstanding citizen since he needed protection, it came off more of being possessive and wanting to control everything of Grace's life. Granted he came from a good place in heart, but they way he went about it was not the best to say the least.
Secondly Luca didn't seem like such a bad guy because he never did bring his work home with him, though it might have been better to be shown by me as the reader, and tried to keep it as far away from Grace as possible. He didn't want her involved in his business at all and wanted to keep her away from the dangerous aspects of his life. Yeah, he did that because he loved and I am sure any other man would do the same thing in his position, but still. I just never viewed him as the devil at any time and I didn't think he was that a bad guy unless I saw more examples.
Now I get why Michelle Smart did what she did in creating Luca and not making him into a bad guy. It was kind of a catch 22, Michelle Smart needed a reason for Grace to flee and it had to be so bad that she left him without telling him that she was pregnant and also leaving without a word and basically hiding him, and Michelle Smart couldn't make Luca so bad that the reader wouldn't be rooting for him or him to get his happily ever after. If he did something like kill man for instance, could a reader forgive that? Or if he showed cruelness to the men he punished, would a reader forgive that? Or could he, himself, personally beat a man until he was bloody and bruised and barely could walk, could forgive that? Possibly depending on the circumstances, but if it wasn't a good enough reason than reader would go against him and therefore no one would root for him. So the problem was that Luca had to be bad, but not too and it was a very thin line that could be travelled.
But from my point of view, he just never felt monstrous or the gangster type. Never. Even when he was determined to punish Grace for the sin of hiding his child, I never felt he was a bad guy. I thought he had a right angry for what she did to him and not having that knowledge she was pregnant as soon as she found out. But when he set out to punish her, it didn't feel real and it was just lot of hot air due to hurt he felt at the knowledge she hit their child's existence. I totally understand that, but I just thought that he would have "punished" her for a little bit longer in the book to up the ante and drive up the angst and emotion of the story. Really it just felt haphazard in his "punishment" of her and didn't seem real. There was just so much potential for the angst and emotions to build and build until they came to a breaking point and finally exploded. And that's what I wanted to feel when reading this book, that build up, and I just didn't get it.
Another thing I was impressed with was the romance/reconnecting that would have made this book stronger emotionally in my opinion. Instead, it just kind of felt blah, and it just seemed to drag and drag until they shared a kiss and their first love scene occurred. Now I am all for drawing it out and increasing the anticipation and tension between the characters until I feel like that both characters are going to exploded from all the hot tension, which the reader feels right along with them. But the case, I just wasn't feeling it and just feel like it was too long. It was like, "C'mon already, kiss." I get they were denying themselves and try to push this attraction that they still felt for one another away, but still just the anticipation wasn't quite there for me. It just felt they were repeating over and over again why they shouldn't get involved again. That's not exciting or interesting or thrilling. It was more of a mental mind game for each of them. Even the chemistry didn't quite do it for me either, sorry to say. Again it wasn't exciting.
Now the love scenes were okay. They were passionate and full of lust for sure, but I wasn't as thrilled with them. I guess I was sick the whole waiting game since the first time they kissed again was that night. There needed to be more of a spark there, and I'm not talking chemistry wise, but I am talking about after waiting all this time for those scene there needed to be a flair about them or something different that would have upped the game. Even if it was emotional intensity or something like that then I think it would have been more exciting. They needed extra oomph to them to make them special and worth the wait. Yes, they were giving into their attraction that they couldn't contain anymore and finally have what they both craved, but it really felt more like lust than anything. They just needed a good lay instead of needing each other. Now the second love scene was a bit more satisfying because there was a lot behind emotional and it was definitely less about the physical and more about the emotional. The slowness and the sweetness of that moment that they shared together, but I wasn't overwhelmed by it, and I didn't feel what he characters were feeling which was emotional to say the least. It was more told to me than felt by me. And I wished there was at least one more love scene between them, I don't what or how that would helped the story, but I just felt two wasn't enough. I guess the reason being that I would felt more of the romance and passion in the story was focused on than in this book, which summed up was just them denying their attraction for one another. It was like, "That was it?" kind of disappointment that I had after finishing the book.
Also I wanted more of the emotional roller coaster ride kind of vibe, and I definitely didn't get that here. There was so much potential for there to be angst and have a rawness to it, but it kind of petered out for me. It didn't feel very emotional, or I at least didn't feel emotional while reading instead I just felt like I was reading words and that was it. No, spark or excitement to add flavor to the story instead I felt like I was just reading on and on about how they were denying their feelings for one another and that was about it. And it was a shame because there was just so much potential there and there could been many ways to up the emotional ante, in my opinion. A big thing I think that could have been used was the issue with Grace feeling neglected and unloved by her parents, who were only concerned about themselves and their life goals and not her. They didn't even seem to care about her, though she claimed they did but in their way, but that didn't make her hurt any less by their actions. I think if that was delved into more and going deep layer wise I think that would have made it a more powerful story especially in how it related to her love story to Luca. Just that feeling of unwantedness and unlovableness that she had as a child and relate that back to Luca when he was pulling away from her or how important her love for Luca and his love for her meant to her. Something like that, but the whole parent's issue felt totally glossed over in my opinion when it could have been an opportunity to do more with the story. That was interesting to me than anything else. The emotional component to the story. That's what interesting me.
Actually what really interested me more than anything was the relationship of Cara and Pepe, who are featured in the next book in the series. There was just tension oozing off the pages they were on when they were together in one scene. It surrounded them, and it just made me so interested in the story as well speculate what Pepe did in order to get Cara's phone away from her so they could track down Grace and find her. I felt they were the more interesting of a couple and they were just on a page and half if that. That made me feel a spark more than this story combined, so that's saying something. And I hope to read their story very soon, we will see when I get to it, but I definitely want more of them.
Anyway this story was slightly disappointing to me, which was a shame because I was really looking forward to the whole married couple reunion trope that was presented here. I was expecting a more raw story that was more of a roller coaster than anything. I expected to be broken at some point in he book expecting that the backstory would have provided that more and just upping the layers of the story. The history to up the emotional angst that would be accompanied by a wife running away from her husband. Something like that to provide the spark that was needed here. I needed more emotionally and I just didn't get it here. That was my main complaint about the story otherwise it was just okay, but nothing great, great or exciting. It definitely not one my favorite Harlequin Presents stories.
Hopefully Michelle Smart's next book featuring Pepe and Cara will be better and more exciting. I think it might since I'm interested by them already. There's a spark there. We will see. I will say I am looking forward to it. Hopefully no disappointment with that one, and more going on from a emotional stand point, and more intensity and rawness to the novel that I so much enjoyed from these types of books.
Felt like reading a reunion/second chance love story already married angst romance read, and let me tell you I was a little bit underwhelmed by this book and definitely disappointed. I thought it would have been a lot more emotional and more angst read than it was. Something that would have ripped out my guts and made my heart clench along the way. Plus add the whole secret baby angle then I was expecting this to be a real, raw emotional ride and unfortunately it wasn't. Or I should say it wasn't as much as I was expecting, there needed to be so much more I thought especially with the setup perfectly in place.
Yes, setup was good and was interesting in different. When was the last time you've read about a hero in Harlequin Presents that was gangster, who allowed horrible beating to occur when someone wronged him along with his business partner Francesco? So the heroine once she learned of her husband occupation that was clouded in darkness, Grace knew she couldn't risk bringing her baby in that dangerous of environment or allow a monster, who she viewed Luca to be, to raise her child and possibly hurt her. She didn't want that darkness to pollute her innocent baby's life. So Grace, in love with her husband still and pregnant, left her husband without a single note of where she going and spent the rest of the time hiding from him and his goons and just escape that lifestyle. Unfortunately she couldn't remain hidden forever and her husband found her and there was where the story began and the conflict arouse. Plus Luca, who still desired his wife and loved her, gained new knowledge that Grace was pregnant and had the baby while she was separated for him for ten months, and he wasn't happy and vowed never to trust her again and make her pay for taking his child away from her. Thus adding another level to the conflict.
So you would think this would have been a angst and emotional read where I would feel ripped from the inside out and just feel so much going on during this emotional roller coaster of a ride along with them, right? I mean the denial of the desire was there as was the love-hate relationship that they had once they returned to Sicily. So a lot should have been felt and felt for with the characters, but it just wasn't. I didn't feel that soul sucking feeling that I get from reading great romances. I didn't really feel passionate about the characters and wasn't exactly rooting for them either.
In fact I didn't care for either one of them and felt there were sort flat and conflict with him being a gangster just didn't feel genuine to me either. Okay, that was Grace's view of him as a gangster and monster for what he did in his business and she wanted protect her daughter from that, and I totally understand that and believed it was a valid argument, however I think there needed to more examples of Luca's gangster's lifestyle to believe he was actually the bad guy where she felt her child wouldn't be safe in that lifestyle. If he had drug dealers coming to the house or suspicious men coming to the house to make deals or possibly having a man that owed Luca money to come to house to pay him back, shaking in his boots or something like that not just she walked in on him and allowing Francesco's men beating a man to punish him from stealing from the casino. Yes, Luca was becoming more distant with her and drinking more, but I still don't think it was enough for me at least to view him as a bad guy because I didn't see him that way.
For one, Luca protected his family and made sure that no one retaliated against his family so he provided the best protection possible for them by basically living in Fort Knox. Was a little extreme? Maybe, even though that kind of showed that he was an upstanding citizen since he needed protection, it came off more of being possessive and wanting to control everything of Grace's life. Granted he came from a good place in heart, but they way he went about it was not the best to say the least.
Secondly Luca didn't seem like such a bad guy because he never did bring his work home with him, though it might have been better to be shown by me as the reader, and tried to keep it as far away from Grace as possible. He didn't want her involved in his business at all and wanted to keep her away from the dangerous aspects of his life. Yeah, he did that because he loved and I am sure any other man would do the same thing in his position, but still. I just never viewed him as the devil at any time and I didn't think he was that a bad guy unless I saw more examples.
Now I get why Michelle Smart did what she did in creating Luca and not making him into a bad guy. It was kind of a catch 22, Michelle Smart needed a reason for Grace to flee and it had to be so bad that she left him without telling him that she was pregnant and also leaving without a word and basically hiding him, and Michelle Smart couldn't make Luca so bad that the reader wouldn't be rooting for him or him to get his happily ever after. If he did something like kill man for instance, could a reader forgive that? Or if he showed cruelness to the men he punished, would a reader forgive that? Or could he, himself, personally beat a man until he was bloody and bruised and barely could walk, could forgive that? Possibly depending on the circumstances, but if it wasn't a good enough reason than reader would go against him and therefore no one would root for him. So the problem was that Luca had to be bad, but not too and it was a very thin line that could be travelled.
But from my point of view, he just never felt monstrous or the gangster type. Never. Even when he was determined to punish Grace for the sin of hiding his child, I never felt he was a bad guy. I thought he had a right angry for what she did to him and not having that knowledge she was pregnant as soon as she found out. But when he set out to punish her, it didn't feel real and it was just lot of hot air due to hurt he felt at the knowledge she hit their child's existence. I totally understand that, but I just thought that he would have "punished" her for a little bit longer in the book to up the ante and drive up the angst and emotion of the story. Really it just felt haphazard in his "punishment" of her and didn't seem real. There was just so much potential for the angst and emotions to build and build until they came to a breaking point and finally exploded. And that's what I wanted to feel when reading this book, that build up, and I just didn't get it.
Another thing I was impressed with was the romance/reconnecting that would have made this book stronger emotionally in my opinion. Instead, it just kind of felt blah, and it just seemed to drag and drag until they shared a kiss and their first love scene occurred. Now I am all for drawing it out and increasing the anticipation and tension between the characters until I feel like that both characters are going to exploded from all the hot tension, which the reader feels right along with them. But the case, I just wasn't feeling it and just feel like it was too long. It was like, "C'mon already, kiss." I get they were denying themselves and try to push this attraction that they still felt for one another away, but still just the anticipation wasn't quite there for me. It just felt they were repeating over and over again why they shouldn't get involved again. That's not exciting or interesting or thrilling. It was more of a mental mind game for each of them. Even the chemistry didn't quite do it for me either, sorry to say. Again it wasn't exciting.
Now the love scenes were okay. They were passionate and full of lust for sure, but I wasn't as thrilled with them. I guess I was sick the whole waiting game since the first time they kissed again was that night. There needed to be more of a spark there, and I'm not talking chemistry wise, but I am talking about after waiting all this time for those scene there needed to be a flair about them or something different that would have upped the game. Even if it was emotional intensity or something like that then I think it would have been more exciting. They needed extra oomph to them to make them special and worth the wait. Yes, they were giving into their attraction that they couldn't contain anymore and finally have what they both craved, but it really felt more like lust than anything. They just needed a good lay instead of needing each other. Now the second love scene was a bit more satisfying because there was a lot behind emotional and it was definitely less about the physical and more about the emotional. The slowness and the sweetness of that moment that they shared together, but I wasn't overwhelmed by it, and I didn't feel what he characters were feeling which was emotional to say the least. It was more told to me than felt by me. And I wished there was at least one more love scene between them, I don't what or how that would helped the story, but I just felt two wasn't enough. I guess the reason being that I would felt more of the romance and passion in the story was focused on than in this book, which summed up was just them denying their attraction for one another. It was like, "That was it?" kind of disappointment that I had after finishing the book.
Also I wanted more of the emotional roller coaster ride kind of vibe, and I definitely didn't get that here. There was so much potential for there to be angst and have a rawness to it, but it kind of petered out for me. It didn't feel very emotional, or I at least didn't feel emotional while reading instead I just felt like I was reading words and that was it. No, spark or excitement to add flavor to the story instead I felt like I was just reading on and on about how they were denying their feelings for one another and that was about it. And it was a shame because there was just so much potential there and there could been many ways to up the emotional ante, in my opinion. A big thing I think that could have been used was the issue with Grace feeling neglected and unloved by her parents, who were only concerned about themselves and their life goals and not her. They didn't even seem to care about her, though she claimed they did but in their way, but that didn't make her hurt any less by their actions. I think if that was delved into more and going deep layer wise I think that would have made it a more powerful story especially in how it related to her love story to Luca. Just that feeling of unwantedness and unlovableness that she had as a child and relate that back to Luca when he was pulling away from her or how important her love for Luca and his love for her meant to her. Something like that, but the whole parent's issue felt totally glossed over in my opinion when it could have been an opportunity to do more with the story. That was interesting to me than anything else. The emotional component to the story. That's what interesting me.
Actually what really interested me more than anything was the relationship of Cara and Pepe, who are featured in the next book in the series. There was just tension oozing off the pages they were on when they were together in one scene. It surrounded them, and it just made me so interested in the story as well speculate what Pepe did in order to get Cara's phone away from her so they could track down Grace and find her. I felt they were the more interesting of a couple and they were just on a page and half if that. That made me feel a spark more than this story combined, so that's saying something. And I hope to read their story very soon, we will see when I get to it, but I definitely want more of them.
Anyway this story was slightly disappointing to me, which was a shame because I was really looking forward to the whole married couple reunion trope that was presented here. I was expecting a more raw story that was more of a roller coaster than anything. I expected to be broken at some point in he book expecting that the backstory would have provided that more and just upping the layers of the story. The history to up the emotional angst that would be accompanied by a wife running away from her husband. Something like that to provide the spark that was needed here. I needed more emotionally and I just didn't get it here. That was my main complaint about the story otherwise it was just okay, but nothing great, great or exciting. It definitely not one my favorite Harlequin Presents stories.
Hopefully Michelle Smart's next book featuring Pepe and Cara will be better and more exciting. I think it might since I'm interested by them already. There's a spark there. We will see. I will say I am looking forward to it. Hopefully no disappointment with that one, and more going on from a emotional stand point, and more intensity and rawness to the novel that I so much enjoyed from these types of books.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 6, 2014
Well hell, Ms Smart, what a book! And hello Luca, you delicious Sicilian you! Are you sure it's Grace you want? Really? Damn!
I LOVE a hero who can snag my attention and keep it held throughout a book and that is exactly what Luca did, in all his super sexy gangster glory. Grace was certainly chilly up front - armed and loaded with enough inner angst to set off any trigger-happy finger - but I adored her mama-bear instincts, the way she was ready to protect her daughter at all costs. What ensued was a battle of wills and a highly intense, passionate reunion story that pushed all of my HP buttons. Just awesome! Take a bow, Ms Smart :)
I LOVE a hero who can snag my attention and keep it held throughout a book and that is exactly what Luca did, in all his super sexy gangster glory. Grace was certainly chilly up front - armed and loaded with enough inner angst to set off any trigger-happy finger - but I adored her mama-bear instincts, the way she was ready to protect her daughter at all costs. What ensued was a battle of wills and a highly intense, passionate reunion story that pushed all of my HP buttons. Just awesome! Take a bow, Ms Smart :)
February 3, 2014
This author wrote a cheating heroine in her previous book so I was very reluctant to read this book. I enjoyed this one though. Pregnant heroine run away from her gangster husband but he tracks her down, brings her back to Sicily and he demands to know her reasons for walking away.
I liked that both hero and heroine remained celibate while they were apart and that heroine was a good mother. What I didn't like was heroine's coldness and cruelty during the first half of the book. She even shot the hero for god's sake! Still it was an intense and passionate read.
I liked that both hero and heroine remained celibate while they were apart and that heroine was a good mother. What I didn't like was heroine's coldness and cruelty during the first half of the book. She even shot the hero for god's sake! Still it was an intense and passionate read.
January 22, 2021
Αναπάντεχη έκπληξη για μένα η νέα είσοδος της Michelle Smart..Νέο φαβορι στις εκδόσεις των Αρλεκιν. Ξεχειλίζει απο πάθος ένταση συναίσθημα .Βλέπουμε και τις 2 πλευρες στην πορεία του βιβλίου και έτσι έχουμε μια πιο ολοκληρωμένη άποψη χωρίς να χρειάζεται να φτάσουμε στο τέλος του βιβλϊου...Καθαρό 5 απο εμένα.
June 12, 2014
I have no idea why new writers write the heroine so heartless and stupid. Michelle Smart your heroine is cold you use words to show emotions but there is no emotion to feel and i couldn't connect with any of your characters. To get your audience involve you have to create the scene with heat , love, clarity and a sense of understanding of each of your characters. Go back and read some authors book who have been writing awhile now and you will get a sense of how to connect with your readers. We need to love and hate your characters, also modern women still needs a strong man not whimps. Your editor lied to you.
June 11, 2018
I like the opening. it's so different with the usual Harlequin novel.
February 6, 2014
The first 2 pages were interesting but What the Sicilian Husband Wants went downhill from there due to the heroine. I found her to be quite unlikeable, cold and couldn't get past her unprovoked shooting of the hero.
I like the secret baby plot, the wealthy hero trope but a heroine engaging in unprovoked violence is just a no. Not attractive. Not what a strong woman should be. Doesn't make me giggle. Just no.
I like the secret baby plot, the wealthy hero trope but a heroine engaging in unprovoked violence is just a no. Not attractive. Not what a strong woman should be. Doesn't make me giggle. Just no.
July 27, 2018
***2.5 Stars***
I really didn't care for this book. I know I will struggle with my rating when I don't like the hero or heroine and for me, the hero just didn't pass muster. I think he was portrayed as an uncaring husband to even consider making the choices he did. I wouldn't have blamed her if she never went back to him. The only reason I gave it 2.5 stars is because he really came around in the end. There was nothing more that I enjoyed and I'm sorry but I can't recommend it.
I really didn't care for this book. I know I will struggle with my rating when I don't like the hero or heroine and for me, the hero just didn't pass muster. I think he was portrayed as an uncaring husband to even consider making the choices he did. I wouldn't have blamed her if she never went back to him. The only reason I gave it 2.5 stars is because he really came around in the end. There was nothing more that I enjoyed and I'm sorry but I can't recommend it.
October 14, 2016
ok but immensely forgettable.
December 30, 2014
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The first chapter of 'What a Sicilian Husband Wants' is full of suspense and more than a little menace. Not the usual start for a glamorous romance but it intrigued me. Grace is afraid of her own shadow and is reluctant to help the unexpected caller at her door. Her compassionate nature triumphs over her fear but by letting down her guard, she unwittingly lets her past crash into her present existence.
Luca Grace's estranged husband tracks her down. His presence at their explosive reunion is almost that of a Gothic hero, especially when he discovers Grace's hidden treasure. Sicily is a picturesque setting but it's easy to see why free spirited Grace ran away from her beautiful prison.
The flashbacks are insightful and the chemistry between Grace and Luca easy to imagine. Luca, though flawed has some wonderful qualities. Grace is a strong woman, who escapes from the man she loves because his world is sucking the life out of her. Can these two be together when it seems everything but their physical attraction pulls them apart? The ending assures us of happy ever after and is worth the angst.
I am looking forward to meeting the next irresistible Sicilian.
Michelle Smart
June 21, 2014
A solid book. I thought the whole gangster thing was quite original. I haven't seen that before in a HP novel. I liked Luca almost from the beginning. He wasn't a pushover but he also wasn't cruel except when his back was to the wall. And he always relented once he cooled down. I actually respected both of the lead characters. Grace was a wonderful mother who wasn't afraid to take matters into her own hands or to speak her mind. She put Luca in his place time and time again. I also liked the fact that Grace had her own life outside of Luca both before and after their marriage estrangement. She seemed like a real person, not just a character in a book. I'm glad I bought this book.
October 10, 2016
3.5 stars, I enjoyed but not as dramatic as I thought it would be.
I mean it is dramatic, but I was expecting something different. Something like Diana Palmer's book; Hero being super mean he's borderline sadistic or something like that. It's awful, sure, but at least it's different than 'classic' tsundere Hero. But overall I enjoyed this book so much, especially because I always love secret baby theme. Look forward to read more from Smart! :)
I mean it is dramatic, but I was expecting something different. Something like Diana Palmer's book; Hero being super mean he's borderline sadistic or something like that. It's awful, sure, but at least it's different than 'classic' tsundere Hero. But overall I enjoyed this book so much, especially because I always love secret baby theme. Look forward to read more from Smart! :)
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