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At His Service #6
Indecente indiscreción
Sin darse cuenta, comenzó a desear que su nueva prometida compartiera su cama, en vez de hacérsela…
Emma Hayes había pasado de trabajar en uno de los hoteles del magnate Cesare Falconeri a hacer personalmente la cama de su mansión, dirigir el funcionamiento de su casa e, incluso, entregarles los regalos de despedida a sus numerosas conquistas. Sin embargo, cada una de aquellas aventuras de su jefe era un golpe a su corazón. Hasta que, una rara noche de desinhibición, alargó los brazos y tomó lo que siempre había querido…
Cesare Falconeri se había jurado que nunca volvería a casarse.
Sin embargo, cuando su aventura con Emma tuvo consecuencias, se vio obligado a incumplir sus promesas…
Emma Hayes había pasado de trabajar en uno de los hoteles del magnate Cesare Falconeri a hacer personalmente la cama de su mansión, dirigir el funcionamiento de su casa e, incluso, entregarles los regalos de despedida a sus numerosas conquistas. Sin embargo, cada una de aquellas aventuras de su jefe era un golpe a su corazón. Hasta que, una rara noche de desinhibición, alargó los brazos y tomó lo que siempre había querido…
Cesare Falconeri se había jurado que nunca volvería a casarse.
Sin embargo, cuando su aventura con Emma tuvo consecuencias, se vio obligado a incumplir sus promesas…
164 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2013
93 people are currently reading
436 people want to read
About the author
Jennie Lucas
559 books331 followersJennie Lucas had a tragic beginning for any would-be writer: a very happy childhood. Her parents owned a bookstore, and she grew up surrounded by books, dreaming about faraway lands. Her mother read aloud to her in French when she was little; when she was ten, her father secretly paid her a dollar for every classic novel (Jane Eyre, War and Peace) that she read. As a chubby teenager, Jennie covered her bedroom with travel posters and always had her nose in a book.
At fifteen, she went to a Connecticut boarding school on scholarship. She took her first solo trip to Europe at sixteen, then put off college and traveled around the U.S., supporting herself with jobs as diverse as gas station cashier and newspaper advertising assistant.
At 22, she met the man who would be her husband. For the first time in her life, she wanted to stay in one place, as long as she could be with him. After their marriage, she graduated from Kent State University with a degree in English, and started writing books a year later.
Jennie was a finalist in the Romance Writers of America’s Golden Heart contest in 2003 and won the award in 2005. A fellow 2003 finalist, Australian author Trish Morey, read Jennie’s writing and told her that she should write for Harlequin Presents. It seemed like too big a dream, but Jennie took a deep breath and went for it. A year later, after seven years of writing and eight finished manuscripts, Jennie got the magical call from London that turned her into a published author.
Since then, life has been hectic, juggling a writing career, a sexy husband and two young children, but Jennie loves her crazy, chaotic life. Who needs a clean house? Every day, Jennie gets swept into drama, glamour and passion. Now if she can only figure out how to pack up her family and live in all the places she’s writing about!
At fifteen, she went to a Connecticut boarding school on scholarship. She took her first solo trip to Europe at sixteen, then put off college and traveled around the U.S., supporting herself with jobs as diverse as gas station cashier and newspaper advertising assistant.
At 22, she met the man who would be her husband. For the first time in her life, she wanted to stay in one place, as long as she could be with him. After their marriage, she graduated from Kent State University with a degree in English, and started writing books a year later.
Jennie was a finalist in the Romance Writers of America’s Golden Heart contest in 2003 and won the award in 2005. A fellow 2003 finalist, Australian author Trish Morey, read Jennie’s writing and told her that she should write for Harlequin Presents. It seemed like too big a dream, but Jennie took a deep breath and went for it. A year later, after seven years of writing and eight finished manuscripts, Jennie got the magical call from London that turned her into a published author.
Since then, life has been hectic, juggling a writing career, a sexy husband and two young children, but Jennie loves her crazy, chaotic life. Who needs a clean house? Every day, Jennie gets swept into drama, glamour and passion. Now if she can only figure out how to pack up her family and live in all the places she’s writing about!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 97 reviews
September 18, 2020
Whew!! I’m totally in the minority of this one, but….
Cesare was a straight up Manwhore, screwing women left and right. One night stands ONLY, never caring about any of these women and refusing to ever get into a relationship with any of them. Emma, secretly (and stupidly) falls in love with Cesare, working closely with him over the years, despite the fact that part of her job entailed escorting these one night stands (with their present in hand) out the door the morning after their evening encounters with Cesare.
I’m not sure how Emma could fall for such a manwhorish cad like Cesare, watching him for years as he callously screwed multiple women and then discarded them without another thought.
And that was just the beginning of this Unrequited Love Story. There was plenty more angstiness between these two. Emma, who only wants Cesare’s love, and Cesare, who refuses to ever love another woman again. Jennie Lucas has an amazing gift for writing hurtful heroes. I savored every second of this awesome story!
February 28, 2016
I see I'm in the minority in rating this book, but I just did a re-read and there were several things that bugged me that knocked it from a three star to a two.
I normally like Jennie Lucas's writing, but this one didn't work for me for personal reasons. It obviously worked for many readers, so don't let me put you off reading it.
I normally like Jennie Lucas's writing, but this one didn't work for me for personal reasons. It obviously worked for many readers, so don't let me put you off reading it.
June 28, 2019
3 stars
I applaud the h for leaving after trying to tell H about the pregnancy. She gets another job to support her child. She loves him. He proposes a MOC - and she leaves him at the altar?! I knocked it down a star for that. Also, for the h listening to the BIL - like he has no agenda.
Thanks Nikki - it got my blood pressure up😉🤷
I applaud the h for leaving after trying to tell H about the pregnancy. She gets another job to support her child. She loves him. He proposes a MOC - and she leaves him at the altar?! I knocked it down a star for that. Also, for the h listening to the BIL - like he has no agenda.
Thanks Nikki - it got my blood pressure up😉🤷
August 11, 2018
This started out pretty good as the heroine exhibits evidence of spine and bone structure after her BIG FAT JERK O.N.S. lover tells her he can never love her and essentially belittles her feelings. She leaves him. Yes, it's a secret baby, but he makes it kind of clear after they have sex he's not up for fatherhood.
She goes downhill after he finds out about the "consequences".
She tells the H again and again how he would be such a rotten father that despite loving him she would never give such a worthless father to her son. All right already.
They both vacillate about their desire and the MOC to the point a skillet would not be amiss. They decide to have a MOC, but one without sex despite this is the one thing they have in common. Ye gods.
Stupid as he is, he is an HP tycoon after all, he at least wants to provide a family for his son. The heroine does too, little sacrificial lamb, but does something inexcusable that made me lose all sympathy.
My evidence....
The hero when he sees her again with a 4 month old baby that looks exactly like him. Duh.
“So who is the father? Let me guess. Your new boss?”
“No,” she said in a low voice. Slowly she lifted her eyes to his. “My old one.”
He snorted. “Your old—” Cesare gave an intake of breath as he looked down at the chubby black-haired baby.
He asks the ex-virgin for a paternity test then changes his mind.
His voice took on an edge. “I’m Sam’s father.”
“Oh, you’re suddenly sure about that now, are you?”
“Emma—”
“I can’t believe you asked me for a paternity test! When you know perfectly well you’re the only man I’ve ever slept with in my whole life!”
Why he can't do love. Among other things his mother died of cancer when he was young; his father fell apart and committed suicide. Then he married very poorly. You can fill in the blanks on that one.
“Because all my love affairs have ended badly.”
She swallowed. “Mine, too.”
He begins to cave....
He’d sworn he’d never have a child. Then he’d found out about Sam. He’d sworn he’d never marry again. Then he’d proposed to Emma. He’d sworn their marriage would be in name only. Then he’d swept her straight into bed last night. What was next? What fresh vow would he break?
Initially strong heroine vacillates between standing up for herself and throwing epic pity party.
She needed to feel her baby in her arms. She needed to remind herself what she was doing this for—marrying a man who was forever in love with his dead wife. His real wife.
Because, of course, she can never be his REAL WIFE.
She goes downhill after he finds out about the "consequences".
She tells the H again and again how he would be such a rotten father that despite loving him she would never give such a worthless father to her son. All right already.
They both vacillate about their desire and the MOC to the point a skillet would not be amiss. They decide to have a MOC, but one without sex despite this is the one thing they have in common. Ye gods.
Stupid as he is, he is an HP tycoon after all, he at least wants to provide a family for his son. The heroine does too, little sacrificial lamb, but does something inexcusable that made me lose all sympathy.
My evidence....
The hero when he sees her again with a 4 month old baby that looks exactly like him. Duh.
“So who is the father? Let me guess. Your new boss?”
“No,” she said in a low voice. Slowly she lifted her eyes to his. “My old one.”
He snorted. “Your old—” Cesare gave an intake of breath as he looked down at the chubby black-haired baby.
He asks the ex-virgin for a paternity test then changes his mind.
His voice took on an edge. “I’m Sam’s father.”
“Oh, you’re suddenly sure about that now, are you?”
“Emma—”
“I can’t believe you asked me for a paternity test! When you know perfectly well you’re the only man I’ve ever slept with in my whole life!”
Why he can't do love. Among other things his mother died of cancer when he was young; his father fell apart and committed suicide. Then he married very poorly. You can fill in the blanks on that one.
“Because all my love affairs have ended badly.”
She swallowed. “Mine, too.”
He begins to cave....
He’d sworn he’d never have a child. Then he’d found out about Sam. He’d sworn he’d never marry again. Then he’d proposed to Emma. He’d sworn their marriage would be in name only. Then he’d swept her straight into bed last night. What was next? What fresh vow would he break?
Initially strong heroine vacillates between standing up for herself and throwing epic pity party.
She needed to feel her baby in her arms. She needed to remind herself what she was doing this for—marrying a man who was forever in love with his dead wife. His real wife.
Because, of course, she can never be his REAL WIFE.
December 19, 2013
Emma and Cesare ,one who loves and one who is burned by love.What a great read by Jennie Lucas,I love this author's writing style.Her books are so emotional and filled with angst that I simply devour them in one sitting.
This book took me on an armchair journey to London,Paris, and Lake Cuomo . There was smoking hot love scenes that literally scorched this reader's Nook!
This was a sweet,classic HP with a lovely if somewhat naive heroine and the debonair playboy hero.There was also the secret baby and attempt at moc plot which I love.
Enjoyed the epilogue which showed this couple as a loving family.All I can say is that her pregnancies were truly a miracle,but that only happens in HP land,but what the heck,I loved it.5*** read for me as this author has yet to disappoint me with any of her books.No hidden suprises to mar my enjoyment .
This book took me on an armchair journey to London,Paris, and Lake Cuomo . There was smoking hot love scenes that literally scorched this reader's Nook!
This was a sweet,classic HP with a lovely if somewhat naive heroine and the debonair playboy hero.There was also the secret baby and attempt at moc plot which I love.
Enjoyed the epilogue which showed this couple as a loving family.All I can say is that her pregnancies were truly a miracle,but that only happens in HP land,but what the heck,I loved it.5*** read for me as this author has yet to disappoint me with any of her books.No hidden suprises to mar my enjoyment .
October 4, 2013
I love Jennie Lucas, she never disappoints. Once again great writing and likable, sweet, honorable characters - plus a wonderful Paris setting! No cheating whatsoever and a lovely ending make this a must read! At the end, it left me feeling all warm and fuzzy inside!
December 14, 2021
Re-read Dec. 2021
Downgrading rating a bit. It was okay…I didn’t enjoy it as much the second time around and that’s disappointing. I don’t think I’ll be reading it again.
3-4 Stars
Original Review:
4.5 Stars (rounding up)
"I"m going to love you for the rest of my life."
Emma & Cesare
I loved the author's writing style. It pulled me in immediately and kept me hooked throughout. Emma--our heroine--was also easy to love. I admired how she'd stand up for herself and her dreams. She knew the kind of future she hoped for and wouldn't settle for anything less. Though she came close to compromising her heart, she found her strength at the end. Phew, she didn't disappoint me. I also massively enjoyed the setting of this story. London, Paris, and Cesare's home in Lake Como gave me serious heart eyes<3 But Paris...Le sigh. I walked the streets of Paris along with Emma and Cesare. It just so happened that while I was reading, the movie Sabrina was playing in the background, and listening to Sabrina rhapsodize about Paris helped set the mood even more. Le soupir, how I wished I was there.
"Across the street someone is playing La Vie En Rose. They do it for the tourists but I'm always surprised at how it moves me. It means seeing life through rose-coloured glasses. Only in Paris where the light is pink, does that song make sense."
Sabrina (1995)
HEA? Yes. There is no epilogue but it does have a time jump with a gorgeous scene of Emma and her precious growing family; there was so much love. I'm happy her dreams came true. She got everything she wanted. And I did too from this book.
"Love was what lasted. Love triumphed over death. And anyone who truly loved, and was loved in return, would always live on—in this endlessly beautiful world."
*****Other Notes*****
One of my favorite secret baby romance books. So good!
Cheating? No. Not at all.
Got this book as a freebie from my public library. It was part of a bundle: Harlequin Presents November 2013 - Bundle 1 of 2: Million Dollar Christmas Proposal / The Consequences of That Night / A Dangerous Solace / Visconti's Forgo. I'm reviewing this title separately.
Downgrading rating a bit. It was okay…I didn’t enjoy it as much the second time around and that’s disappointing. I don’t think I’ll be reading it again.
3-4 Stars
Original Review:
4.5 Stars (rounding up)
"I"m going to love you for the rest of my life."
Emma & Cesare
I loved the author's writing style. It pulled me in immediately and kept me hooked throughout. Emma--our heroine--was also easy to love. I admired how she'd stand up for herself and her dreams. She knew the kind of future she hoped for and wouldn't settle for anything less. Though she came close to compromising her heart, she found her strength at the end. Phew, she didn't disappoint me. I also massively enjoyed the setting of this story. London, Paris, and Cesare's home in Lake Como gave me serious heart eyes<3 But Paris...Le sigh. I walked the streets of Paris along with Emma and Cesare. It just so happened that while I was reading, the movie Sabrina was playing in the background, and listening to Sabrina rhapsodize about Paris helped set the mood even more. Le soupir, how I wished I was there.
"Across the street someone is playing La Vie En Rose. They do it for the tourists but I'm always surprised at how it moves me. It means seeing life through rose-coloured glasses. Only in Paris where the light is pink, does that song make sense."
Sabrina (1995)
HEA? Yes. There is no epilogue but it does have a time jump with a gorgeous scene of Emma and her precious growing family; there was so much love. I'm happy her dreams came true. She got everything she wanted. And I did too from this book.
"Love was what lasted. Love triumphed over death. And anyone who truly loved, and was loved in return, would always live on—in this endlessly beautiful world."
*****Other Notes*****
One of my favorite secret baby romance books. So good!
Cheating? No. Not at all.
Got this book as a freebie from my public library. It was part of a bundle: Harlequin Presents November 2013 - Bundle 1 of 2: Million Dollar Christmas Proposal / The Consequences of That Night / A Dangerous Solace / Visconti's Forgo. I'm reviewing this title separately.
February 2, 2021
"The Consequences of That Night" is the story of Emma and Cesare.
OOOOOO. Major annoyance with this one.
Heroine is a massive, dust laden doormat madly in love with her boss/ hero. He is a playboy, she is his housekeeper/ nanny/ girlfriend dumper. She still craves him because who doesn't want that herpes?
Anyways, her stepmom dies and he sleeps with her. He then proceeds to ignore her while she realizes she is pregnant. She is a honest woman who tries to tell him the truth but he sexes her again and tells her the old cr@p- I need only a mistress/ you are not wife material/ im allergic to marriage/ You're not it. She then goes away and has a baby. Out of the blue he wants her booty, realizes he has a baby, now wants both, marries her, continues treating her like a punching bag while she takes it all in.. She has a moment of realization pre marriage but of course the hero gives his utterly stupid love confession and she accepts it.
I am sure she has an STI and I can offer her free checkup in my clinic.
Gross.
Unsafe
2/5
OOOOOO. Major annoyance with this one.
Heroine is a massive, dust laden doormat madly in love with her boss/ hero. He is a playboy, she is his housekeeper/ nanny/ girlfriend dumper. She still craves him because who doesn't want that herpes?
Anyways, her stepmom dies and he sleeps with her. He then proceeds to ignore her while she realizes she is pregnant. She is a honest woman who tries to tell him the truth but he sexes her again and tells her the old cr@p- I need only a mistress/ you are not wife material/ im allergic to marriage/ You're not it. She then goes away and has a baby. Out of the blue he wants her booty, realizes he has a baby, now wants both, marries her, continues treating her like a punching bag while she takes it all in.. She has a moment of realization pre marriage but of course the hero gives his utterly stupid love confession and she accepts it.
I am sure she has an STI and I can offer her free checkup in my clinic.
Gross.
Unsafe
2/5
September 13, 2021
As long as love continued, life continued. Love had made them what they were. It had created Emma and created Cesare. It had created Sam, and soon, their daughter. Love was what lasted. Love triumphed over death. And anyone who truly loved, and was loved in return, would always live on—in this endlessly beautiful world.
As usual, it was a great and delightful read from Jennie Lucas. Well, I can't say that all of her works are great because I haven't read all of them. Actually, this was the second book I've ever read from her but based on my experience, and I can honestly say that she knows how to write an excellent story. The kind of book that will hook you from the first page up to the last because of the compelling plot and very likable characters that will surely have you rooting for them to get their much-deserved happy-ever-after. And this book was no exception!
September 21, 2016
Love, Lust, Love, Lust – yeah, that's the theme of this whole book, which one prevails, which one lasts?
If you're an HP reader, you know the answer!
Emma Hayes is the housekeeper to Cesare Falconeri, a self-made, hotel magnate billionaire.
Cesare is used to one night stands with models and actresses, all of whom are portrayed as being too thin and vapid – they all want sex from him, and then it always leads to something more, they want marriage.
Part of Emma’s daily tasks, aside from ironing the bedding, is escorting Cesare’s latest conquest out the door and presenting her with a parting gift.
As his housekeeper, she was the one responsible for arranging morning-after gifts for his one night stands, which were usually Cartier watches that were bought in bulk.
Cesare depends on Emma — she's the only one who knows the real him - well, not why he is who he is, just him.
Still, Emma is acutely aware that she’s just his employee — even if she’s been in love with him from afar for 7 years.
When Cesare finds Emma sobbing over the death of her stepmother one night, he comforts her and that comfort leads them to the bed.
Emma says they can skip the protection because she’s infertile (she once had ovarian cancer and was told she would never be able to have a baby), however, after their one night of reckless passion, Emma becomes pregnant.
a knows that she has to move on because Cesare can never be the father her baby needs.
He made that very clear before she quit, that he will never fall in love, never have a wife and vowed that he would surely never father a child, only he did not know that she was already pregnant with his baby!
He wanted something temporary; she wanted picket fences.
After listening to his woes of love, she decides she must quit, before she causes more trouble - she tells him that she’s quitting and he has a fit because she was the one woman he didn’t expect to get all emotional and ridiculous after sex.
She has only her lovesick self to blame for giving in physically to her commitment and love-phobic boss.
Cesare knows he should let her go, but Emma was more than his housekeeper, he found a friend in her, and her leaving has only left a void in his life.
Emma is emotionless and rational in Cesare’s world of sobbing, clingy females.
Emma moves to Paris, taking another job with another billionaire, who apparently is Cesare's wife's brother (you can say they are at loggerheads, because the brother-in-law blames Cesare for the death of his sister, but Cesare is innocent).
Then, 10 months later, Cesare runs into her in France and realizes her baby is his and …...
When the consequences of their actions are revealed, will it lead to love or war?
Cesare really never wanted to lose Emma, but he needed to be shoved off his easy road and start to break through his walls, and that's where Emma fits in.
Cesare insists Emma move in with him and live a marriage 'in name only' just for the sake of their child.
In the meantime.... he vows to seduce and win her back, and Emma?...well, it's a dilemma, is it love or is it lust again?
Well, maybe at the beginning it would seem a little bland, but by Chapter 7, it takes a whole new turn, it is filled with angst, and deep intense passion!!
Jenny: thanks for your recommendation (in a way you did, when I asked whether it would be my kind)
Overall Rating: 4.5/5.0
If you're an HP reader, you know the answer!
Emma Hayes is the housekeeper to Cesare Falconeri, a self-made, hotel magnate billionaire.
Cesare is used to one night stands with models and actresses, all of whom are portrayed as being too thin and vapid – they all want sex from him, and then it always leads to something more, they want marriage.
Part of Emma’s daily tasks, aside from ironing the bedding, is escorting Cesare’s latest conquest out the door and presenting her with a parting gift.
As his housekeeper, she was the one responsible for arranging morning-after gifts for his one night stands, which were usually Cartier watches that were bought in bulk.
Cesare depends on Emma — she's the only one who knows the real him - well, not why he is who he is, just him.
Still, Emma is acutely aware that she’s just his employee — even if she’s been in love with him from afar for 7 years.
When Cesare finds Emma sobbing over the death of her stepmother one night, he comforts her and that comfort leads them to the bed.
Emma says they can skip the protection because she’s infertile (she once had ovarian cancer and was told she would never be able to have a baby), however, after their one night of reckless passion, Emma becomes pregnant.
a knows that she has to move on because Cesare can never be the father her baby needs.
He made that very clear before she quit, that he will never fall in love, never have a wife and vowed that he would surely never father a child, only he did not know that she was already pregnant with his baby!
He wanted something temporary; she wanted picket fences.
After listening to his woes of love, she decides she must quit, before she causes more trouble - she tells him that she’s quitting and he has a fit because she was the one woman he didn’t expect to get all emotional and ridiculous after sex.
She has only her lovesick self to blame for giving in physically to her commitment and love-phobic boss.
Cesare knows he should let her go, but Emma was more than his housekeeper, he found a friend in her, and her leaving has only left a void in his life.
Emma is emotionless and rational in Cesare’s world of sobbing, clingy females.
Emma moves to Paris, taking another job with another billionaire, who apparently is Cesare's wife's brother (you can say they are at loggerheads, because the brother-in-law blames Cesare for the death of his sister, but Cesare is innocent).
Then, 10 months later, Cesare runs into her in France and realizes her baby is his and …...
When the consequences of their actions are revealed, will it lead to love or war?
Cesare really never wanted to lose Emma, but he needed to be shoved off his easy road and start to break through his walls, and that's where Emma fits in.
Cesare insists Emma move in with him and live a marriage 'in name only' just for the sake of their child.
In the meantime.... he vows to seduce and win her back, and Emma?...well, it's a dilemma, is it love or is it lust again?
Well, maybe at the beginning it would seem a little bland, but by Chapter 7, it takes a whole new turn, it is filled with angst, and deep intense passion!!
Jenny: thanks for your recommendation (in a way you did, when I asked whether it would be my kind)
Overall Rating: 4.5/5.0
December 19, 2013
I always count on JL to deliver an emotional, angst-loaded read, with great characters and a heart-warming HEA.
Emma is a great heroine, with a heart as big as Texas , sweet but strong in face of H arrogance. Cesare is your typical arrogant playboy, but the insight JL gives to his inner turmoil and his true feelings for Emma, make him more human and more vulnerable.
Emma is a great heroine, with a heart as big as Texas , sweet but strong in face of H arrogance. Cesare is your typical arrogant playboy, but the insight JL gives to his inner turmoil and his true feelings for Emma, make him more human and more vulnerable.
July 17, 2022
I enjoyed the angst but I found the h to be desperate and pathetic. She was self-righteous about hiding the H’s paternity from him and it wasn’t right. It was an entertaining read, though.
February 9, 2017
3.5 #NYCSnowDay! Stars
A lovely story of a housekeeper in love with her billionaire boss. The share one delicious night together and the following morning he was gone. Three months later she learns the consequences of that night.
When she goes to share the news she finds him in a hotel room with a scantily clad model. She leaves and moves to Paris. Eleven months later the meet in Paris and he learns the truth.
I loved the H's desire to look past the H's bank balance and want real love in her life. She preferred to raise her child alone rather than have him feel like a burden to a parent that didn't want him - shades of her childhood affecting her decision making here.
The H had his own demons that he needed to battle before he came to the realization that he'd been telling "alternative facts" to himself all along.
A fun read on a cozy snow day from work. Thanks Snow Storm 2017!!
A lovely story of a housekeeper in love with her billionaire boss. The share one delicious night together and the following morning he was gone. Three months later she learns the consequences of that night.
When she goes to share the news she finds him in a hotel room with a scantily clad model. She leaves and moves to Paris. Eleven months later the meet in Paris and he learns the truth.
I loved the H's desire to look past the H's bank balance and want real love in her life. She preferred to raise her child alone rather than have him feel like a burden to a parent that didn't want him - shades of her childhood affecting her decision making here.
The H had his own demons that he needed to battle before he came to the realization that he'd been telling "alternative facts" to himself all along.
A fun read on a cozy snow day from work. Thanks Snow Storm 2017!!
October 2, 2017
Emma has been Cesare's housekeeper for years, secretly in love with him. She knows Cesare doesn't do anything but one-night-stands, yet when he seeks to console her after a traumatic family event, she thinks that *maybe* she's different to him. Unfortunately, she isn't and has to leave him without telling him the secret he is determined not to hear.
I liked Emma; I liked that she had the courage to stand up to Cesare and leave his employ when he acted like an a**. I had a hard time liking Cesare, though I could understand what he was going through as you "read" his thoughts. I really liked .
The epilogue (though not labeled that) was so beautiful!
I liked Emma; I liked that she had the courage to stand up to Cesare and leave his employ when he acted like an a**. I had a hard time liking Cesare, though I could understand what he was going through as you "read" his thoughts. I really liked .
The epilogue (though not labeled that) was so beautiful!
November 8, 2013
2.5 stars
December 31, 2013
Jennie Lucas did it again, creating a book that I really, really enjoyed and was fully sucked into. It just had the perfect balance of romance, passion, character development, emotional development, relationship development, growth of the characters, angst and tension, and just overall an enjoyable story to read. I really thought it was very well done, and I really have no complaints about it.
I loved both of the main characters with each of them needing love and yearning for that love (though Cesare didn't recognize that till the end) that had been missing from their lives and left this gaping whole in both of their hearts. Emma had loved Ceasre for years and dreamed and hoped that one day that he would see her and notice her and fall in love with her then they could create a future together, and yearned badly for it while Ceasre was the complete opposite believing he didn't need love and a family, and went to great lengths to ensure that it didn't happen for him by only having one night stands where all the focus was on the physical and not the emotional. Once he was done with those women, he was done and sent them on their way with a parting gift for their night together with his reliable housekeeper Emma being the one to do so, so Emma witnessed it all. Emma was his loyal housekeeper and friend for years and considered her his friend, and she was the one that was there for him and she filled that emotional piece for him, though again he didn't admit that till the end, so he came to depend on her and despite the fact that he wanted her refused, fearing he would loose her in the process, thinking she would fall in love with him. It was too late for that, though he didn't know that. Then one day he gave into his passion for her after he found her crying in the kitchen then after he was over he left totally freaked out.
And of coarse that one night of passion resulted in her getting pregnant. Emma was shocked and she wanted to tell him, but didn't know if she could. And she doesn't because when she confronted him right after she found out she was having baby, he was very cruel. And when I say he was deadly cruel especially since she was totally in love with him and him basically saying to her that he would never love her, marry her, or have a baby with her, but he still wanted her as his housekeeper as long as she didn't love him or show him that she loved him. And let the conflict and tension ensue after that, which really pulled this story along.
It was also gut wrenching to watch where it was obvious that she loved him, but he kept bashing her down and warning her not to love him or he would throw her out of his life. And he didn't do so nicely either, and was a little mean at times too, breaking her heart in the process it was no wonder she didn't tell him about his child. And it was hard for especially when they made love the second time, thinking she could show him how much she loved him and what they had between them was love and not lust through lovemaking. And then when that didn't work that broke her even more, and I felt so bad for her because it was so obvious that she really cared about him.
She would have to right to give her virginity to a playboy like that and seeing how he casted his former lovers off? Emma witnessed it, and some would have said she was stupid for getting involved with him at all, knowing what he was like, and if it was real life I would say the same thing, but in this context it just made me feel for her because she tried so hard. I really did like Emma, and she was doing the best that she could with the emotions that she had. But that being said she always put others before herself and worried about their needs instead of her own. She didn't want to hurt the people that she cared about and would make sure they were okay and do what they needed even in detriment to herself. She was just this caring woman, who really all she wanted was his love, and that was it yet knowing he would never be able to give it to her like she wanted.
Cesare needed Emma and liked and respected her and just liked her in his life. He wanted her too. He just didn't want her to care or love him. He didn't believe in love, seeing first hand what it could do to a man. Destroy them. His father killed himself after his mother died because he couldn't live without him, and his wife, who never loved him, but he loved her desperately cheated on him and wanted to leave him so she could be with her lover. So he hadn't had the great examples of love in his life. All he knew was love hurt. And though he didn't admit that he loved Emma till the end, he knew he felt something special for her since the very beginning, though he didn't admit that. He just had this hardened heart. A wall up around him with Emma really being the only one to really crack it. He was a jerk to her and cruel with some of his words no doubt, but he acted more out of fear than anything else because he didn't want to feel deeply for her because he thought that would bring him pain. But he got that pain anyway when she left, feeling like something was missing without her in his life anymore. He didn't sleep with any more woman after they first slept together. But he just felt broken at her loss, showing that yeah he did care about her more than he was letting on. But just to witness his desolation was hard to watch because it was obvious that she was it for him. And I really felt for him, and liked him. He was the quintessential alpha male that I love in these books.
I loved the push and pull and tension in their relationship, showing how their was friction between the two as well as a lot of emotions going on for each of them. That's what I love about love story is the back and forth and tension, which adds to the anticipation of finally giving into passion as well as their emotions. And Jennie Lucas did brilliantly with this book. It was just enough back and forth without having to drag out the entire thing or having everything happen so quick. The balance was there and it was great. Between the confrontation between them in the beginning where Emma was going to let him know she was pregnant to second time they make love and he asked her to stay as his mistress while she was yearning for more because she was pregnant with his baby. It just really worked well, and that was one of the compelling this about this book. Just that's what I like and enjoy that tension and friction. I guess kind of the love/hate thing with emotions running high through the situation that I like to read about, which was in full supply in this book. Believe me. That just sucked me in immediately.
Also the passion between these two was hot. Really hot! It probably had to do with the emotions that were running between them that made it passionate and hot or just the history between the two of them with each of them having feelings for the other. I don't know what it was, but their passion was sizzling and very enjoyable to watch. But it wasn't about just the physical part of their relationship, but the emotional part too where it was beautiful to watch. The second time they were together, their were moments when they were holding each other closely and having that connection while looking at one another, showing that there was more going on than just sex. I could feel it as I was reading it, and I could see how special it was for the two of them, and of coarse Emma knew that because she was in love with him and knew it was an act of love for her, and he recognized it too though didn't label it as love, he just recognized as that he was just consumed with her and not anything else. He was a peace afterwards and made him realize that he didn't want to see her go from his life and wanted to have her around a little bit longer. Now granted he only offered for her to be his mistress and nothing more, but at that time emotionally that was a lot of him, and he wasn't quite ready for full emotional commitment to her (love), but it was something though it wasn't enough for her, which I understand especially since she was in love with him and he told her outright that he would never love her or want a child with her. What was a girl to do? She had to leave. But also she felt that he would never give her more and that she would just be a warm body in his bed until he got bored with her, and she couldn't do that. It would hurt too much when he discarded her. The point was that emotional intimacy was very in that scene was there, even if he didn't admit it, and it was what made that passion between them so much hotter because it was just so much more. And it showed in both their actions and thoughts during that scene. They savored every moment together in that scene and only wanting to be with each other at the moment and enjoying the pleasure they could give each other. Letting their guards down and trusting one another during that scene that they could trust like no other person. It was just a beautiful scene, and I liked the part where she was sitting in his lap with both their arms wrapped around each other while looking into each other's arms while making love. It was truly a lovemaking scene filled with lots of emotion.
This book was great and there was nothing really to dislike about it. It was passion filled, angst filled, emotional ride that Emma and Ceasre took to get to their happily ever after, and I loved going on the ride. It was sweet. It was emotional. It gut wrenching at times. It passionate. It was everything a great romance should be with great characters who needed to get their happy ending that would be filled with love. Which was just what happened to these two likable characters. Jennie Lucas did it again with another great tale that she seems to have down to a science and creating these great characters that we want to root for in the end and see them get that most deserved ending. I think Emma and Cesare were characters that you could do nothing, but root for them in the end and tell them everything would work out for them in the end. Cesare may have been a little mean and needed some sense knocked into him, but I didn't hate him, feeling his vulnerability along the way and just how empty he was without her, which was so heartbreakingly obvious to me even if it wasn't to him. These characters were just perfect for one another and finally got there at the end, and I think that was what worked most in this story was the two of them, and just who they were as people. And this book did them justice, which I applaud Jennie Lucas on.
It's funny even though Jennie Lucas books are pretty formulaic to some of her other books, but the feeling while reading them is very different. It probably has to do with the likability of these characters or maybe even more growth seems to be had here or even that I felt the sexual tension and push and pull was really well done, but this book just had a different feel to me, in a very favorable way. And I guess that can be said of other authors for Presents too where they do have this formula to them and that it had been seen before, but it can still feel differently while reading them, well at least for me anyway, and whether you like and certain books over others. You can't put your finger to it, but when everything comes together and a balance has being had and gets meshed together that's when the story works and you can really enjoy the ride, at least in my view, just like I did for this one. Because this had a similar formula to other books I have read by Jennie Lucas, but it just felt different and I really did enjoy it hence the higher score I have given this one than I have given others of hers in the past. Not that I haven't liked her other book, but like I said just everything in this one really worked for me. Hopefully that will be true in the next book that I read from her, and I am definitely going to be reading more by her in the future. How can I not especially when I really loved this one so much?
I loved both of the main characters with each of them needing love and yearning for that love (though Cesare didn't recognize that till the end) that had been missing from their lives and left this gaping whole in both of their hearts. Emma had loved Ceasre for years and dreamed and hoped that one day that he would see her and notice her and fall in love with her then they could create a future together, and yearned badly for it while Ceasre was the complete opposite believing he didn't need love and a family, and went to great lengths to ensure that it didn't happen for him by only having one night stands where all the focus was on the physical and not the emotional. Once he was done with those women, he was done and sent them on their way with a parting gift for their night together with his reliable housekeeper Emma being the one to do so, so Emma witnessed it all. Emma was his loyal housekeeper and friend for years and considered her his friend, and she was the one that was there for him and she filled that emotional piece for him, though again he didn't admit that till the end, so he came to depend on her and despite the fact that he wanted her refused, fearing he would loose her in the process, thinking she would fall in love with him. It was too late for that, though he didn't know that. Then one day he gave into his passion for her after he found her crying in the kitchen then after he was over he left totally freaked out.
And of coarse that one night of passion resulted in her getting pregnant. Emma was shocked and she wanted to tell him, but didn't know if she could. And she doesn't because when she confronted him right after she found out she was having baby, he was very cruel. And when I say he was deadly cruel especially since she was totally in love with him and him basically saying to her that he would never love her, marry her, or have a baby with her, but he still wanted her as his housekeeper as long as she didn't love him or show him that she loved him. And let the conflict and tension ensue after that, which really pulled this story along.
It was also gut wrenching to watch where it was obvious that she loved him, but he kept bashing her down and warning her not to love him or he would throw her out of his life. And he didn't do so nicely either, and was a little mean at times too, breaking her heart in the process it was no wonder she didn't tell him about his child. And it was hard for especially when they made love the second time, thinking she could show him how much she loved him and what they had between them was love and not lust through lovemaking. And then when that didn't work that broke her even more, and I felt so bad for her because it was so obvious that she really cared about him.
She would have to right to give her virginity to a playboy like that and seeing how he casted his former lovers off? Emma witnessed it, and some would have said she was stupid for getting involved with him at all, knowing what he was like, and if it was real life I would say the same thing, but in this context it just made me feel for her because she tried so hard. I really did like Emma, and she was doing the best that she could with the emotions that she had. But that being said she always put others before herself and worried about their needs instead of her own. She didn't want to hurt the people that she cared about and would make sure they were okay and do what they needed even in detriment to herself. She was just this caring woman, who really all she wanted was his love, and that was it yet knowing he would never be able to give it to her like she wanted.
Cesare needed Emma and liked and respected her and just liked her in his life. He wanted her too. He just didn't want her to care or love him. He didn't believe in love, seeing first hand what it could do to a man. Destroy them. His father killed himself after his mother died because he couldn't live without him, and his wife, who never loved him, but he loved her desperately cheated on him and wanted to leave him so she could be with her lover. So he hadn't had the great examples of love in his life. All he knew was love hurt. And though he didn't admit that he loved Emma till the end, he knew he felt something special for her since the very beginning, though he didn't admit that. He just had this hardened heart. A wall up around him with Emma really being the only one to really crack it. He was a jerk to her and cruel with some of his words no doubt, but he acted more out of fear than anything else because he didn't want to feel deeply for her because he thought that would bring him pain. But he got that pain anyway when she left, feeling like something was missing without her in his life anymore. He didn't sleep with any more woman after they first slept together. But he just felt broken at her loss, showing that yeah he did care about her more than he was letting on. But just to witness his desolation was hard to watch because it was obvious that she was it for him. And I really felt for him, and liked him. He was the quintessential alpha male that I love in these books.
I loved the push and pull and tension in their relationship, showing how their was friction between the two as well as a lot of emotions going on for each of them. That's what I love about love story is the back and forth and tension, which adds to the anticipation of finally giving into passion as well as their emotions. And Jennie Lucas did brilliantly with this book. It was just enough back and forth without having to drag out the entire thing or having everything happen so quick. The balance was there and it was great. Between the confrontation between them in the beginning where Emma was going to let him know she was pregnant to second time they make love and he asked her to stay as his mistress while she was yearning for more because she was pregnant with his baby. It just really worked well, and that was one of the compelling this about this book. Just that's what I like and enjoy that tension and friction. I guess kind of the love/hate thing with emotions running high through the situation that I like to read about, which was in full supply in this book. Believe me. That just sucked me in immediately.
Also the passion between these two was hot. Really hot! It probably had to do with the emotions that were running between them that made it passionate and hot or just the history between the two of them with each of them having feelings for the other. I don't know what it was, but their passion was sizzling and very enjoyable to watch. But it wasn't about just the physical part of their relationship, but the emotional part too where it was beautiful to watch. The second time they were together, their were moments when they were holding each other closely and having that connection while looking at one another, showing that there was more going on than just sex. I could feel it as I was reading it, and I could see how special it was for the two of them, and of coarse Emma knew that because she was in love with him and knew it was an act of love for her, and he recognized it too though didn't label it as love, he just recognized as that he was just consumed with her and not anything else. He was a peace afterwards and made him realize that he didn't want to see her go from his life and wanted to have her around a little bit longer. Now granted he only offered for her to be his mistress and nothing more, but at that time emotionally that was a lot of him, and he wasn't quite ready for full emotional commitment to her (love), but it was something though it wasn't enough for her, which I understand especially since she was in love with him and he told her outright that he would never love her or want a child with her. What was a girl to do? She had to leave. But also she felt that he would never give her more and that she would just be a warm body in his bed until he got bored with her, and she couldn't do that. It would hurt too much when he discarded her. The point was that emotional intimacy was very in that scene was there, even if he didn't admit it, and it was what made that passion between them so much hotter because it was just so much more. And it showed in both their actions and thoughts during that scene. They savored every moment together in that scene and only wanting to be with each other at the moment and enjoying the pleasure they could give each other. Letting their guards down and trusting one another during that scene that they could trust like no other person. It was just a beautiful scene, and I liked the part where she was sitting in his lap with both their arms wrapped around each other while looking into each other's arms while making love. It was truly a lovemaking scene filled with lots of emotion.
This book was great and there was nothing really to dislike about it. It was passion filled, angst filled, emotional ride that Emma and Ceasre took to get to their happily ever after, and I loved going on the ride. It was sweet. It was emotional. It gut wrenching at times. It passionate. It was everything a great romance should be with great characters who needed to get their happy ending that would be filled with love. Which was just what happened to these two likable characters. Jennie Lucas did it again with another great tale that she seems to have down to a science and creating these great characters that we want to root for in the end and see them get that most deserved ending. I think Emma and Cesare were characters that you could do nothing, but root for them in the end and tell them everything would work out for them in the end. Cesare may have been a little mean and needed some sense knocked into him, but I didn't hate him, feeling his vulnerability along the way and just how empty he was without her, which was so heartbreakingly obvious to me even if it wasn't to him. These characters were just perfect for one another and finally got there at the end, and I think that was what worked most in this story was the two of them, and just who they were as people. And this book did them justice, which I applaud Jennie Lucas on.
It's funny even though Jennie Lucas books are pretty formulaic to some of her other books, but the feeling while reading them is very different. It probably has to do with the likability of these characters or maybe even more growth seems to be had here or even that I felt the sexual tension and push and pull was really well done, but this book just had a different feel to me, in a very favorable way. And I guess that can be said of other authors for Presents too where they do have this formula to them and that it had been seen before, but it can still feel differently while reading them, well at least for me anyway, and whether you like and certain books over others. You can't put your finger to it, but when everything comes together and a balance has being had and gets meshed together that's when the story works and you can really enjoy the ride, at least in my view, just like I did for this one. Because this had a similar formula to other books I have read by Jennie Lucas, but it just felt different and I really did enjoy it hence the higher score I have given this one than I have given others of hers in the past. Not that I haven't liked her other book, but like I said just everything in this one really worked for me. Hopefully that will be true in the next book that I read from her, and I am definitely going to be reading more by her in the future. How can I not especially when I really loved this one so much?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 2, 2014
I found this one to be very moving, with great character development...morivations actually make sense given their histories. Given heroine's illness, followed by her love for the hero, her virginity made sense despite her age, although 7 years of unrequited love and listening to him with other women in the next room was really very sad...and not in keeping with what we learn of her relationship with her father and resulting belief in love and self-respect. That was the only thing that kept it from being 5 star for me, and it was pretty close.
It was difficult to believe heroine accepting his playboy ways for so many years given her feelings for him (masochistic behavior like in The Pregnancy Shock) and ultimately accepting the idea of an unfaithful spouse, although she does worry over the impact on her son, she plans to go through with it. (I always think it's very short-sighted of these heroines to agree to such self-destructive deals, as they are not in their children's best interests. In real life these men would become less faithful, not more faithful!).
I didn't hate the hero, he was honest, if harsh with her, but heroine's planned acceptance of the MOC is what did not make sense given the strength of her father's love for her and his promise for her future. I think most of these heroines who settle for less do so because of poor self-esteem, not "love" for the heroes, because they don't know hero's underlying character when they fall into bed with them. This heroine seemed to have feelings for hero based on more than a chemical reaction, and stuck to her guns for at least a while about deserving love and fidelity and a stable father devoted to her son. So it didn't make sense that she would accept the barren marriage he was proposing, or after they slept together, her belief that he planned infidelity. I guess that's why it was so great that she stood up for herself at the end,
It was difficult to believe heroine accepting his playboy ways for so many years given her feelings for him (masochistic behavior like in The Pregnancy Shock) and ultimately accepting the idea of an unfaithful spouse, although she does worry over the impact on her son, she plans to go through with it. (I always think it's very short-sighted of these heroines to agree to such self-destructive deals, as they are not in their children's best interests. In real life these men would become less faithful, not more faithful!).
I didn't hate the hero, he was honest, if harsh with her, but heroine's planned acceptance of the MOC is what did not make sense given the strength of her father's love for her and his promise for her future. I think most of these heroines who settle for less do so because of poor self-esteem, not "love" for the heroes, because they don't know hero's underlying character when they fall into bed with them. This heroine seemed to have feelings for hero based on more than a chemical reaction, and stuck to her guns for at least a while about deserving love and fidelity and a stable father devoted to her son. So it didn't make sense that she would accept the barren marriage he was proposing, or after they slept together, her belief that he planned infidelity. I guess that's why it was so great that she stood up for herself at the end,
January 6, 2014
This is almost an old school HP but the hero's point of view gives insight into his motivations.
What I liked- secret baby plot; playboy hero; likable heroine who is sometimes too naive; the drama as the heroine is in love with the hero but he not so much with her; I liked reading what made the hero into who he is and I liked seeing him grow as a character; I liked that the hero & heroine dealt with their issues towards the last chapters. I really believed in their hea; I liked the ending.
I didn't like the heroine's reasoning for not telling the hero she's pregnant. I thought it was ridiculous that the heroine expected more from the hero after they hooked up but then the heroine could be annoyingly naive at times. I didn't really feel the chemistry between the hero & heroine. I wasn't hooked immediately.
Overall this was a good read. Hope the author does books for the secondary characters.
What I liked- secret baby plot; playboy hero; likable heroine who is sometimes too naive; the drama as the heroine is in love with the hero but he not so much with her; I liked reading what made the hero into who he is and I liked seeing him grow as a character; I liked that the hero & heroine dealt with their issues towards the last chapters. I really believed in their hea; I liked the ending.
I didn't like the heroine's reasoning for not telling the hero she's pregnant. I thought it was ridiculous that the heroine expected more from the hero after they hooked up but then the heroine could be annoyingly naive at times. I didn't really feel the chemistry between the hero & heroine. I wasn't hooked immediately.
Overall this was a good read. Hope the author does books for the secondary characters.
September 26, 2020
Read in 2014.
Reread in 2020. ( Because a reference is made to the MC’s in another book, Claiming The Virgin's Baby)
No change in rating. Just added a few more shelves. :)
Reread in 2020. ( Because a reference is made to the MC’s in another book, Claiming The Virgin's Baby)
No change in rating. Just added a few more shelves. :)
May 25, 2019
Emma worked as Cesare's housekeeper for 7 years, watching his parade of one-night stands come in and escorting them off premises in the morning. And all this time, she's been in love with him. Which is how her own one-night stand happens and she's pretty upset that Cesare disappears afterwards for several months. But by then she's learned that she's pregnant and, while trying to tell him, she learns that he will never want marriage, home or family...so she leaves without telling him. So he's pretty surprised to come face-to-face with her and his son 10 months later. And he's determined to keep her and his son with him by convincing Emma to marry him for convenience sake. He's done the whole love and marriage thing and it didn't work, so even though he wants Emma more than his next breath, he'll keep things platonic so he won't fall in love with her and destroy their incredible friendship. But Emma dreams of a loving family and the closer the wedding gets, the more she realizes loving Cesare and not having that love returned will destroy her.
This was more like a 3.5, but I didn't round up, so I guess more like a 3.4. Anyway, Cesare is not an asshole. He does some boorish, borderline asshat stuff and says some pretty cruel stuff, but the reader knows that he's saying all of it out of fear, because he doesn't want to love Emma and he knows that she's different and he could fall for her. And while I'd say that she has backbone, especially being willing to walk away from him not once, but twice her willingness to stay for 7 years and listen to him have sex to countless other women while she's supposedly in love with him, doesn't suggest a backbone. So I'm not sure about that. I suspect that she had a sort of puppy love thing going on and the feelings she starts to feel for him the second go round were more realistic ones. The author doesn't go there with that though. Her mental torture over her decision to marry Cesare was delightfully angsty...even Cesare's torment at the idea of going through with it. All of that and the confrontation at the end was handled very nicely...except for the rewriting of history. You know how that goes, when the hero thinks back to all the decisions (good and bad) and realizes that he made them all because he loved the heroine all along and just didn't know it. He even suggests that it's why he had unprotected sex with her because his body knew he loved her and wanted to have a way to keep her. I don't feel that was necessary here and would have been perfectly content with an "I just now realized I love you." I totally believed the HEA and their being in love since it was clear all the time they were in Italy that Cesare was falling for her.
This was more like a 3.5, but I didn't round up, so I guess more like a 3.4. Anyway, Cesare is not an asshole. He does some boorish, borderline asshat stuff and says some pretty cruel stuff, but the reader knows that he's saying all of it out of fear, because he doesn't want to love Emma and he knows that she's different and he could fall for her. And while I'd say that she has backbone, especially being willing to walk away from him not once, but twice her willingness to stay for 7 years and listen to him have sex to countless other women while she's supposedly in love with him, doesn't suggest a backbone. So I'm not sure about that. I suspect that she had a sort of puppy love thing going on and the feelings she starts to feel for him the second go round were more realistic ones. The author doesn't go there with that though. Her mental torture over her decision to marry Cesare was delightfully angsty...even Cesare's torment at the idea of going through with it. All of that and the confrontation at the end was handled very nicely...except for the rewriting of history. You know how that goes, when the hero thinks back to all the decisions (good and bad) and realizes that he made them all because he loved the heroine all along and just didn't know it. He even suggests that it's why he had unprotected sex with her because his body knew he loved her and wanted to have a way to keep her. I don't feel that was necessary here and would have been perfectly content with an "I just now realized I love you." I totally believed the HEA and their being in love since it was clear all the time they were in Italy that Cesare was falling for her.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 12, 2020
Hero is a yucky manwhore. Heroine a housekeeper who was mopping his house and buying gifts to his one night stands for EIGHT years, never had a vacation or time off because she loooved him. That’s not romance, it’s just stupid.
June 30, 2020
I didn’t like this one at all. Cesare is a totally unpleasant, unappealing, selfish jerk who continues having sex with other women the whole time Emma, the heroine is working for him (and deep in love with him.), despite the fact he claims to have wanted her all that time! She is so boring - naive and stupid and eventually goes off to work for the b-in- law in Paris - who hates Cesar. How convenient is that.
The angst, the nastiness, the bitterness goes on forever. The only thing they do well is the sex but agree a MoC without sex! Then she walks out of the wedding because the bil steps in to stop it. The characters were awful. The story was awful and Cesare’s excuse for not telling the bil what a trollop his sister was - did not make any sense to me at all.
Despite not being able to have kids because of the cancer - she manages two. I know it’s fantasy land - but still! Very disappointing!
The angst, the nastiness, the bitterness goes on forever. The only thing they do well is the sex but agree a MoC without sex! Then she walks out of the wedding because the bil steps in to stop it. The characters were awful. The story was awful and Cesare’s excuse for not telling the bil what a trollop his sister was - did not make any sense to me at all.
Despite not being able to have kids because of the cancer - she manages two. I know it’s fantasy land - but still! Very disappointing!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 29, 2014
amazing one! refreshing and the sex was so good! emma had loved cesare from afar for so long, cesare wanted her too but they both hid their innermost feelings which culminated in one night of hot passionate sex! the book had the most common plot possible: one night stand, heroine left pregnant, hero's commitment-phobic and does not want to assess his true feelings until it's too late. however, the narration was different and so greatly done! it depicted a level of maturity which is not there in other books. they behaved like two adults instead of two overgrown teenagers which is so common in HP land! emma left cesare very early in the book. she did not wait for her comeuppance but made her point right away!she took the right initiative and very quickly at dat. she cut at her losses and went away for the best ! it left cesare to do all the pursuing!
June 8, 2021
Emma Hayes has gone from making hotel magnate Cesare Falconeri's bed to running his household, including handing out expensive parting gifts to his numerous conquests! But each time, it's chipped away at her heart. Until one night, inhibitions lowered, she reaches for what she's always wanted….
With one disastrous marriage behind him Cesare vows never to go there again. But when his indiscretion with Emma has consequences, Cesare must break his own vow—and say I do for the sake of his heir. Now he'll expect his new bride to share his bed, instead of making it!
With one disastrous marriage behind him Cesare vows never to go there again. But when his indiscretion with Emma has consequences, Cesare must break his own vow—and say I do for the sake of his heir. Now he'll expect his new bride to share his bed, instead of making it!
September 10, 2013
Pretty standard HP fare - which is why I read them. Hot alpha hero. I liked Emma for the most part, though Cesare was a bit of a jerk, even for an HP hero. But they got together and seemed to smooth out most of the rough edges. I'll look forward to reading more of Ms. Lucas's work.
October 3, 2013
Maybe it was just me. Maybe I wasn't in the right mood but this one really didn't even make 3*'s for me. I never really felt the love connection and didn't like the 7 years of unrequited love.
April 29, 2019
3.5 stars
Emotional, angsty read.
Both H and h have believable feelings and reactions, considering their past.
H makes mistakes and fights against feelings - no chance!
Chemistry is sizzling, H is so passionate... love scenes are really steamy.
Emotional, angsty read.
Both H and h have believable feelings and reactions, considering their past.
H makes mistakes and fights against feelings - no chance!
Chemistry is sizzling, H is so passionate... love scenes are really steamy.
April 13, 2020
Loved this book . I enjoyed Cesare and Emma's relationship. Yes Cesare does have all the hallmark of Jennie's typical hero ( alpha commitment phobia and not wanting a baby.) but I enjoyed his transformation to family man and Emma's true love
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August 26, 2022DNF, so I won’t rate it.
Why, oh why, do all the more modern HP’s start with a one night stand without birth control and a pregnancy as a result from it?
I’m just tired of that same plot every time.
When the h recalls herself telling him that protection is not necessary: how dumb can you be. She has worked for him for 7 (!!) years, she has seen how many women he has been with.
Protection is not only meant against getting pregnant but also against getting STD’s, you stupid woman.
Why, oh why, do all the more modern HP’s start with a one night stand without birth control and a pregnancy as a result from it?
I’m just tired of that same plot every time.
When the h recalls herself telling him that protection is not necessary: how dumb can you be. She has worked for him for 7 (!!) years, she has seen how many women he has been with.
Protection is not only meant against getting pregnant but also against getting STD’s, you stupid woman.
September 3, 2020
Superhousekeeper Emma and Cesare Falconeri, their long suppressed, never expressed passion is unleashed one night, and the inevitable baby ensues. She leaves without telling him, he follows her to Paris without admitting to himself his true reasons why he's in the city. He spots her in the street (!) because that can happen in one of the largest cities in the world, and convinces her to get married for the baby's sake, etc, etc.
The h was admirable, the H was meh, it was fine overall and kept me distracted for a couple of hours, but as others have mentioned, I didn't like the burger and chips episode in the restaurant and I didn't like the jilting at the altar, even if it was just for half an hour.
The h was admirable, the H was meh, it was fine overall and kept me distracted for a couple of hours, but as others have mentioned, I didn't like the burger and chips episode in the restaurant and I didn't like the jilting at the altar, even if it was just for half an hour.
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