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The Italian's Rags-to-Riches Wife
Allesandro di Vincenzo is a perfect male specimen. There's no woman he can't have—until Laura Stowe crosses his path. Laura is plain, poor and hides behind her homely appearance to avoid getting close to people. But Allesandro needs her family connections to open the door to ultimate corporate power. So he must woo the ugly duckling into his bed—where she will learn what it is to be a beautiful, desired swan.
192 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2007
116 people are currently reading
181 people want to read
About the author
Julia James
721 books164 followersJulia lives in England with her family. Mills and Boon novels were Julia's first "grown up" books she read as a teenager ("Alongside Georgette Heyer and Daphne du Maurier."), and she's been reading them ever since.
Julia adores the English countryside ("And the Celtic countryside!"), in all its seasons, and is fascinated by all things historical, from castles to cottages. She also has a special love for the Mediterranean ("The most perfect landscape after England!") — she considers both are ideal settings for romance stories! In between writing she enjoys walking, gardening, needlework and baking "extremely gooey chocolate cakes" — and trying to stay fit!
Julia adores the English countryside ("And the Celtic countryside!"), in all its seasons, and is fascinated by all things historical, from castles to cottages. She also has a special love for the Mediterranean ("The most perfect landscape after England!") — she considers both are ideal settings for romance stories! In between writing she enjoys walking, gardening, needlework and baking "extremely gooey chocolate cakes" — and trying to stay fit!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
March 20, 2017
I liked this much better on a re-read. It’s an ugly duckling, enemies-to-lovers story that has something to say about identity as well.
The heroine is an ugly duckling who was rejected before birth by her father and raised by her maternal grandparents who did everything in their power to keep the heroine away from the “bright lights” or more frivolous aspects of life (such as plucking one’s eyebrows).
When the heroine’s father dies, her paternal grandfather becomes aware of her existence and wishes to meet her. He sends the Italian god hero to bring her back to Italy.
It doesn’t go well.
Heroine is struggling to keep the family home going after her grandparents deaths and is worried about paying the tax bill. The hero thinks she is unattractive and rude and lacking in personality.
Which she is.
I’m cutting out lots of plot, but the upshot is that the heroine goes to Italy and gets a makeover and doesn’t recognize herself in the mirror. Neither does the hero, but he recovers quickly and takes her to a party where she basks in male attention. Then they have a magical night out in Rome with some travelogue thrown in.
They become lovers.
You know where this is going, right? Eventually, the heroine finds out the grandfather wanted the H to marry her and his reward would be control of the company. So she throws away her tweezers and returns to England.
The hero is hurt that she walked out on him without an explanation and only tracks her down when he finds out new info about the heroine’s father.
So the H/h have a discussion about identity and living your truth and the hero convinces her that her truth is that she is beautiful – her grandparents had been lying to her to keep her unattractive. He loves her and thinks her beautiful. Now they will condition their hair together and live in England in the summer at the renovated house. HEA.
I’m usually not too keen on makeover stories but I thought JJ tried to show that the h’s lack of interest in her appearance was from self-esteem issues and that by changing her appearance she was doing something for herself. She had to catch a man for this to be a romance – but the H was already attracted to her body before the makeover so there’s that.
Woman, appearances, the male gaze, the beauty industry - all discussions of these issues are fraught with problems and pitfalls. And it's intensely personal for every woman. Let's face it, we live in a culture that elevates physical perfection in women to a crazy degree. I salute Julia James for going there with this topic - even though it may bother many readers.
The heroine is an ugly duckling who was rejected before birth by her father and raised by her maternal grandparents who did everything in their power to keep the heroine away from the “bright lights” or more frivolous aspects of life (such as plucking one’s eyebrows).
When the heroine’s father dies, her paternal grandfather becomes aware of her existence and wishes to meet her. He sends the Italian god hero to bring her back to Italy.
It doesn’t go well.
Heroine is struggling to keep the family home going after her grandparents deaths and is worried about paying the tax bill. The hero thinks she is unattractive and rude and lacking in personality.
Which she is.
I’m cutting out lots of plot, but the upshot is that the heroine goes to Italy and gets a makeover and doesn’t recognize herself in the mirror. Neither does the hero, but he recovers quickly and takes her to a party where she basks in male attention. Then they have a magical night out in Rome with some travelogue thrown in.
They become lovers.
You know where this is going, right? Eventually, the heroine finds out the grandfather wanted the H to marry her and his reward would be control of the company. So she throws away her tweezers and returns to England.
The hero is hurt that she walked out on him without an explanation and only tracks her down when he finds out new info about the heroine’s father.
So the H/h have a discussion about identity and living your truth and the hero convinces her that her truth is that she is beautiful – her grandparents had been lying to her to keep her unattractive. He loves her and thinks her beautiful. Now they will condition their hair together and live in England in the summer at the renovated house. HEA.
I’m usually not too keen on makeover stories but I thought JJ tried to show that the h’s lack of interest in her appearance was from self-esteem issues and that by changing her appearance she was doing something for herself. She had to catch a man for this to be a romance – but the H was already attracted to her body before the makeover so there’s that.
Woman, appearances, the male gaze, the beauty industry - all discussions of these issues are fraught with problems and pitfalls. And it's intensely personal for every woman. Let's face it, we live in a culture that elevates physical perfection in women to a crazy degree. I salute Julia James for going there with this topic - even though it may bother many readers.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 29, 2019
Okay I wrote a scathingly brilliant review and it just disappeared. My brilliance was fleeting and therefore this review is going to be shorter and less fabulous.
I loved the story. I like Cinderella and makeover stories and this was perfect. I took one star away because of the terrible thoughts of the hero for 30% of the book thinking about how ugly and disgusting the heroine was. He took her to get a makeover and he was thinking you can't put lipstick on a pig! I hated him at this point and deducted a star simply for that. I loved the scene where she saw this beautiful woman in the mirror and didn't know it was her. She almost fainted. She couldn't believe it. That whole section from when he dropped her off at the spa until she saw herself in the mirror was my favorite part. As she was leaving the spa, she apologized to the staff because they were looking at her funny and she thought it was because they were disappointed that they couldn't 'fix' her. She was programmed as a young girl to think she was unattractive and therefore she never tried, except for once and everyone laughed at her. Her Grandparents raised her after her Mom died young. She had met a playboy and got pregnant and they were ashamed of her. They didn't want the granddaughter to do the same. And the reason the Father wouldn't acknowledge her or even respond to the Mother's pleas was quite a stunner for me. Very different. I really loved the story for some reason and I will re-read it again. The hero did redeem himself at the end. I loved the epilogue.
5/28/2019
Re-read and still loved it. Except for the lipstick on a pig comment. That was a one star deduction for sure. But I am loving my re-reads this week! Need to jump start my reading libido!! 😘
I loved the story. I like Cinderella and makeover stories and this was perfect. I took one star away because of the terrible thoughts of the hero for 30% of the book thinking about how ugly and disgusting the heroine was. He took her to get a makeover and he was thinking you can't put lipstick on a pig! I hated him at this point and deducted a star simply for that. I loved the scene where she saw this beautiful woman in the mirror and didn't know it was her. She almost fainted. She couldn't believe it. That whole section from when he dropped her off at the spa until she saw herself in the mirror was my favorite part. As she was leaving the spa, she apologized to the staff because they were looking at her funny and she thought it was because they were disappointed that they couldn't 'fix' her. She was programmed as a young girl to think she was unattractive and therefore she never tried, except for once and everyone laughed at her. Her Grandparents raised her after her Mom died young. She had met a playboy and got pregnant and they were ashamed of her. They didn't want the granddaughter to do the same. And the reason the Father wouldn't acknowledge her or even respond to the Mother's pleas was quite a stunner for me. Very different. I really loved the story for some reason and I will re-read it again. The hero did redeem himself at the end. I loved the epilogue.
5/28/2019
Re-read and still loved it. Except for the lipstick on a pig comment. That was a one star deduction for sure. But I am loving my re-reads this week! Need to jump start my reading libido!! 😘
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Currently reading
December 9, 2014I'm having serious trouble getting through this. So many awful depictions of how ugly and repellent the heroine is, really she is described as some sort of freak. Ok so her hair is pulled back, she has thick eyebrows and wears loose clothes over her "sturdy" body. But a day in a spa and she's stunning? Not sure even major plastic surgery could do it but some lotion and makeup? Ok, a good tweeze and makeover lworks wonders, maybe you can go from a 4 to a 7, but from a 1 to a 9???
November 10, 2019
It was ok.
It didn’t blew my mind or emotions as expected. I had problems with hero only attracted to heroine after she got the makeover. So his attachment and later love to her felt rather abrupt. Atleast there was an epilogue.
It didn’t blew my mind or emotions as expected. I had problems with hero only attracted to heroine after she got the makeover. So his attachment and later love to her felt rather abrupt. Atleast there was an epilogue.
June 22, 2015
This was a three star read with moments that stretched to 4 stars for me. It was sort of different in that the heroine was not attractive. The hero didn't fall for her until she'd had a make over which is fairly typical in HP land. Still he tried not to hurt her feelings. And one of the elements that worked for me was that her makeover was very much a make over of her self confidence and I really think that the hero was responding to her new feelings about herself more than to her new looks. And I watched enough episodes of What Not to Wear back in the day to realize that a spa type makeover can really change a person's appearance.
October 15, 2021
simply terrible.
I read some awful reviews on this book, so I was well warned. But I can be a bit stubborn and I need to find out for myself if something is as bad as everyone else says it is, because sometimes I end up loving what everyone else hates.
This isn’t one of those times.
This book truly was awful from start to finish. And where to start in its terribleness?
How about the fact that the heroine is not just made ugly in appearance, but in her personality as well? Why did the hero even fall in love with her? He didn’t. She goes to a spa makeover and she looks hot enough to f$ck, so he does. Makes sense for a gross man, but what’s her excuse? She didn’t like him at all and at the slightest hint of attention she’s spreading her legs and letting him rut into her body. No emotional connection, no feelings of
Love whatsoever, just “hey a guy finds me desirable! Let me give him a ride!”
Not only does the heroine sleep with the hero for the WORST reasons, but afterwards she wakes up in bed alone, he’s ditched her and she’s GRATEFUL. Because apparently letting a guy get off in ones body is a gift…TO HER.
I wanted to throw up.
If all that wasn’t horrible enough, when there’s a misunderstanding and she “reverts” back to her ugly duckling ways, then the hero has to close his eyes to kiss her. Like seriously, what’s gonna happen when she isn’t wearing makeup? If she gets sick? When she gets older? There was absolutely no true love between these two.
On top of all that hot mess, then there’s the references to his mistress that he can’t wait to get back to and condom use. This book doesn’t even deserve one star.
Horrible manwhore hero, virgin heroine, condom use, references to OW, no abuse or cheating but no swoon and no real HEA (he has to close his eyes to kiss her..I think that says it all)
I read some awful reviews on this book, so I was well warned. But I can be a bit stubborn and I need to find out for myself if something is as bad as everyone else says it is, because sometimes I end up loving what everyone else hates.
This isn’t one of those times.
This book truly was awful from start to finish. And where to start in its terribleness?
How about the fact that the heroine is not just made ugly in appearance, but in her personality as well? Why did the hero even fall in love with her? He didn’t. She goes to a spa makeover and she looks hot enough to f$ck, so he does. Makes sense for a gross man, but what’s her excuse? She didn’t like him at all and at the slightest hint of attention she’s spreading her legs and letting him rut into her body. No emotional connection, no feelings of
Love whatsoever, just “hey a guy finds me desirable! Let me give him a ride!”
Not only does the heroine sleep with the hero for the WORST reasons, but afterwards she wakes up in bed alone, he’s ditched her and she’s GRATEFUL. Because apparently letting a guy get off in ones body is a gift…TO HER.
I wanted to throw up.
If all that wasn’t horrible enough, when there’s a misunderstanding and she “reverts” back to her ugly duckling ways, then the hero has to close his eyes to kiss her. Like seriously, what’s gonna happen when she isn’t wearing makeup? If she gets sick? When she gets older? There was absolutely no true love between these two.
On top of all that hot mess, then there’s the references to his mistress that he can’t wait to get back to and condom use. This book doesn’t even deserve one star.
Horrible manwhore hero, virgin heroine, condom use, references to OW, no abuse or cheating but no swoon and no real HEA (he has to close his eyes to kiss her..I think that says it all)
April 18, 2014
❤♡♡♡♡
I really didn't like this book. Alessandro was self-centered, mean-spirited and shallow. He didn't like Laura only because she seemed ugly to him. Some might say it was because she was harsh with him but, in fact, she only responded to his rudeness. He was focused solely on her appearances. The minute she was revealed as a beautiful woman, she became interesting to him and he slept with her that same night. A real gentleman !!!
As for Laura, she was no better than him. She was so passive and naive that I wanted to shake her or worse. And she had that bullshit theory she built her whole vision of life on. According to her, beautiful people are nicer than ugly ones because life was sweeter to them. It's a lot of crap and so simplistic that the book became ridiculous. She was so stupid that she felt grateful to Alessandro after their first night together, even after he abandoned her while she was sleeping.
This book really pissed me off.
I really didn't like this book. Alessandro was self-centered, mean-spirited and shallow. He didn't like Laura only because she seemed ugly to him. Some might say it was because she was harsh with him but, in fact, she only responded to his rudeness. He was focused solely on her appearances. The minute she was revealed as a beautiful woman, she became interesting to him and he slept with her that same night. A real gentleman !!!
As for Laura, she was no better than him. She was so passive and naive that I wanted to shake her or worse. And she had that bullshit theory she built her whole vision of life on. According to her, beautiful people are nicer than ugly ones because life was sweeter to them. It's a lot of crap and so simplistic that the book became ridiculous. She was so stupid that she felt grateful to Alessandro after their first night together, even after he abandoned her while she was sleeping.
This book really pissed me off.
September 13, 2014
Tipica historia harlequin, pero la razon de que le de tan poca puntuacion es porque me molesto mucho la actitud del protagonista y que fuera tan superficial.
May 22, 2022
An ugly duckling retelling.
June 6, 2019
This was a pretty good book. The story itself is good but the story dragged in many places causing me to fight to remain interested.
Allesandro di Vincenzo can have any woman he wants, and believe me he does...repeatedly! (Although no sex with another during this book.) This story is about Laura, the poor, homely, overweight, and just plain ugly grand-daughter of the man who holds Vincenzo's career in his hands. He is sent to retrieve her and take her to the grandfather she has never met. Allesandro was so embarrassed to be seen with her and dropped her off at a spa for a makeover he is sure will not help. He was taking her out (at the grandfather's request) that evening and he had no hope she would look anything but mud ugly.
Wow, was he ever wrong! She was in front of a mirror and kept looking behind her to see who the men were staring at having no idea it was her. The men went gaga over her but she hears really bad things about Allesandro and decided to go back to her old life.
Will our hero go after her or go back to his man-whoring ways?
Allesandro di Vincenzo can have any woman he wants, and believe me he does...repeatedly! (Although no sex with another during this book.) This story is about Laura, the poor, homely, overweight, and just plain ugly grand-daughter of the man who holds Vincenzo's career in his hands. He is sent to retrieve her and take her to the grandfather she has never met. Allesandro was so embarrassed to be seen with her and dropped her off at a spa for a makeover he is sure will not help. He was taking her out (at the grandfather's request) that evening and he had no hope she would look anything but mud ugly.
Wow, was he ever wrong! She was in front of a mirror and kept looking behind her to see who the men were staring at having no idea it was her. The men went gaga over her but she hears really bad things about Allesandro and decided to go back to her old life.
Will our hero go after her or go back to his man-whoring ways?
December 15, 2015
it was an okay read, I really didn't warm up to Laura until the transformation, i mean her philosophy that more attractive people are nicer then ugly people is messed up and you see it in her behaviour as well. She was also too much of a screaming shrew for me like would it kill you to be nice to someone?!,
SPOILER
and in the beginning when she gives a poor old man a heart attack and goes back to thinking about herself rather then feeling sorry for almost killing an old man just really didnt warm her up to me
SPOILER
and in the beginning when she gives a poor old man a heart attack and goes back to thinking about herself rather then feeling sorry for almost killing an old man just really didnt warm her up to me
June 4, 2021
Allesandro di Vincenzo is a perfect male specimen. There's no woman he can't have--until Laura Stowe crosses his path.Laura is plain, poor and hides behind her homely appearance to avoid getting close to people.But Allesandro needs her family connections to open the door to ultimate corporate power. So he must woo the ugly duckling into his bed--where she will learn what it is to be a beautiful, desired swan
September 1, 2020
I really thought, at the beginning, that the book was setting up for the guy to be the one who changes. He was such an arrogant, heedless, user. At the end, when the heroine is temporarily transformed back into her ugly duckling self, he had to close his eyes to kiss her! So, not much growth or internal transformation there.
September 28, 2014
repeated a lot.
February 3, 2016
From ugly duckling to super beautiful. Lame storyline.
January 1, 2026
To be fair, I was drawn to this book because I share the same name as the FMC.
However, I did enjoy this read. It was fast-paced, but it was also very surface-level. Because it is a category romance, it's to be expected that the characters aren't as developed as they could have been.
But Allesandro's complete disgust of Laura's natural appearance, to the point he believes she is irredeemable, until the beauty salon works their magic and suddenly men are falling at her feet. We're supposed to believe he loves her, even when he reverts to this view when she returns home.
Like it makes him morally profound to still love her even though she's back to being a bog troll.
Overall, I enjoyed this, but it was spoiled by the MMC superficial perspective.
However, I did enjoy this read. It was fast-paced, but it was also very surface-level. Because it is a category romance, it's to be expected that the characters aren't as developed as they could have been.
But Allesandro's complete disgust of Laura's natural appearance, to the point he believes she is irredeemable, until the beauty salon works their magic and suddenly men are falling at her feet. We're supposed to believe he loves her, even when he reverts to this view when she returns home.
Like it makes him morally profound to still love her even though she's back to being a bog troll.
Overall, I enjoyed this, but it was spoiled by the MMC superficial perspective.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 3, 2016
Sigh...
Wow...from the start till the end, this book was heaven.
Where both the leads, Laura and Allesandro was equally independent, stubborn and easy to fall in love with.
The story starts in Italy, where Tomaso comes to know about his granddaughter after his Son's death. He asks Allesandro to get her. Here, the story starts. The heroine is not the usual shy beauty but adamant not really beautiful British girl who is broke. The bills and taxes are piling up and she has no one to turn to. Just then Allesandro comes at her doorstep with a news.
Laura has nothing to do with her grandfather, her father never cared for her and her feelings for her father's side of family are none. But Allesandro brings her to Italy with a bribe. Allesandro is doing it to get the resignation letter from Tomaso so that he can finally be the CEO of the company. Tomaso is not a lost player, he knows how to turn the game in his favour. He also wants what is best for Laura, thus he makes a bargain with Alessandro...
Five stars!
June 26, 2017
I really loathed this! Laura equated beauty with kindness (ie beautiful people were kind because they were surrounded by beauty) and nothing in the book refuted this totally unrealistic world view. Allesandro was a total jerk from beginning to end, seeing her only after she underwent a forced make-over.
Allesandro let his eyes rest on her a moment, taking in the full extent of her unprepossessingness. The girl wasn’t just plain—she was ugly. Unkind it might be, but there was no other word for her appearance.
The ending was so preposterous that it was almost as if the author just *had* to throw in something over-the-top.
Allesandro let his eyes rest on her a moment, taking in the full extent of her unprepossessingness. The girl wasn’t just plain—she was ugly. Unkind it might be, but there was no other word for her appearance.
The ending was so preposterous that it was almost as if the author just *had* to throw in something over-the-top.
April 11, 2020
An "ugly woman" (according to the book) turned into an extremely beautiful goddess. Ha!! What a joke. Honestly, this could have been better if it was realistically done. The reaction to the heroine's transformation was over the top. I cringe.
Also, I think the asshat hero only likes the heroine for her looks. He even points out at the end how she lets go of herself again and how she turns back to an old Laura that he didn't want and no man could want. Seriously!? Way to go. I don't believe in their HEA. There's nothing much going on their relationship.
Also, I think the asshat hero only likes the heroine for her looks. He even points out at the end how she lets go of herself again and how she turns back to an old Laura that he didn't want and no man could want. Seriously!? Way to go. I don't believe in their HEA. There's nothing much going on their relationship.
Read
July 27, 2011Allesandro helps to bring about the transformation that turns plain, ugly Laura in to a beautiful woman. The realization that she was always beautiful, just hidden escapes Laura, until finally, Allesandro shows her what love can bring about.
A very sweet and endearing story.
A very sweet and endearing story.
Read
July 27, 2011So Adorable but a little redundant at times
April 6, 2016
I really struggled with this book but I'm glad I read to the end as it turned out well.
October 5, 2022
ok…
A good plot and a good story… but… could the main male character be any more of a jerk? So caught up in looks that when she wasn’t at her best he had to close his eyes.
Then there is the deceased father. Who blew off all of his obligations to his daughter because of his sexual orientation? Wow just wow! He could have still provided child support. You don’t have to tell the world your sexual preferences to be a parent. The maternal grand parents sounded like a piece of work as well, brain washing her into thinking the way they did about herself so she would not repeat their daughters choices.
So we have the female main character still strong but searching for acceptance. The fact she embraced the Cinderella factor is not surprising and given her lack of self esteem she was still amazing.
Reading this book I got lost in the Cinderella trope ad it’s one of my favourites but the other characters made me so angry.
The author did write a decent story just pushes buttons.
A good plot and a good story… but… could the main male character be any more of a jerk? So caught up in looks that when she wasn’t at her best he had to close his eyes.
Then there is the deceased father. Who blew off all of his obligations to his daughter because of his sexual orientation? Wow just wow! He could have still provided child support. You don’t have to tell the world your sexual preferences to be a parent. The maternal grand parents sounded like a piece of work as well, brain washing her into thinking the way they did about herself so she would not repeat their daughters choices.
So we have the female main character still strong but searching for acceptance. The fact she embraced the Cinderella factor is not surprising and given her lack of self esteem she was still amazing.
Reading this book I got lost in the Cinderella trope ad it’s one of my favourites but the other characters made me so angry.
The author did write a decent story just pushes buttons.
July 15, 2017
cerita bak cinderella, dari itik si buruk rupa menjadi angsa nan cantik jelita. Bercerita tentang laura yang sebatang kara, tiba2 dijemput oleh seorang asing untuk menemui kakek yang dianggapnya tak mau mengakuinya. Alessandro yang awalnya tidak tertarik dengan Laura (disamping karena penampilannya begitu berantakan dan lusuh juga sikap laura yang sangat tidak ramah)kemudian karena adanya tekanan dari kakek Laura, Alessandro membawa Laura ke Roma, disana dia didandani sehingga menjadi cantik sampai Laura sendiri kaget dengan penampilan barunya itu.
Dan yaaah, seperti cerita klasik lainnya sang pangeran pun jatuh hati. Tidak ada yang istimewa, sebenarnya malah terasa dangkal karena, Alessandro terpikat pada laura setelah gadis itu berubah cantik dan dibalik pakaiannya yang sama sekali tidak memikat itu tersembunyi tubuh seindah gitar spanyol.
Anyway, jalinan kata2ya bagus dan gak picisan jadi gak bikin eneg yang baca.
Dan yaaah, seperti cerita klasik lainnya sang pangeran pun jatuh hati. Tidak ada yang istimewa, sebenarnya malah terasa dangkal karena, Alessandro terpikat pada laura setelah gadis itu berubah cantik dan dibalik pakaiannya yang sama sekali tidak memikat itu tersembunyi tubuh seindah gitar spanyol.
Anyway, jalinan kata2ya bagus dan gak picisan jadi gak bikin eneg yang baca.
March 20, 2021
She is “ugly”. Then after in a day in a Spa she suddenly becomes the most beautiful woman ever.
He only falls for her after she had the makeover. Before her makeover it was his biggest nightmare only thinking about being with her. After her makeover he sleeps with her that same night.
He tells her that the ugly woman she was, was not who she really was. Okay. But is the woman after the makeover, the woman with the hair done by the hairdresser and the makeup and the fake nails and the clothes she hasn’t chosen herself and the other stuff, then who she really is? I don’t believe in that.
This is a story about the importance that society (and especially men) give to the looks of a woman. It’s actually quite depressing for all the women who aren’t a beautiful swan, not even after a day in a Spa.
He only falls for her after she had the makeover. Before her makeover it was his biggest nightmare only thinking about being with her. After her makeover he sleeps with her that same night.
He tells her that the ugly woman she was, was not who she really was. Okay. But is the woman after the makeover, the woman with the hair done by the hairdresser and the makeup and the fake nails and the clothes she hasn’t chosen herself and the other stuff, then who she really is? I don’t believe in that.
This is a story about the importance that society (and especially men) give to the looks of a woman. It’s actually quite depressing for all the women who aren’t a beautiful swan, not even after a day in a Spa.
August 20, 2018
"The Italian`s Rags to Riches Wife" really humored me with an unique taste of trope-as i usually don`t get very excited by it.The Ugly Duckling who turns out to be a beautiful Swan.(not turns into it,as the hero begins to see the beauty in her when she choose to).
A very charming romantic tale that leaves unforgotten,and not bad for being my very first book by the popular Harlequin Author Julia James.
Laura Stowe grew up thinking herself unattractive as everyone around her made it blunt for her.Always known that she was born a bastard from the powerful Italian family,and abandoned by her Italian father,she has most of her life despised her italian roots and wanted nothing to do with them.In enter the ambitious Italian Tyccon Allesandro di Vincenzo to tell her that her grandfather wants to meet her...Allesandro dislikes her instantly for her bitter and hateful mood,and finds her ugly in view...but an unexpeted transformation will enchant Allessandro as he will soon get to know the real Laura Stowe!
A very charming romantic tale that leaves unforgotten,and not bad for being my very first book by the popular Harlequin Author Julia James.
Laura Stowe grew up thinking herself unattractive as everyone around her made it blunt for her.Always known that she was born a bastard from the powerful Italian family,and abandoned by her Italian father,she has most of her life despised her italian roots and wanted nothing to do with them.In enter the ambitious Italian Tyccon Allesandro di Vincenzo to tell her that her grandfather wants to meet her...Allesandro dislikes her instantly for her bitter and hateful mood,and finds her ugly in view...but an unexpeted transformation will enchant Allessandro as he will soon get to know the real Laura Stowe!
June 28, 2020
I have the Apr Bundle of 12 HP books thru Amazon. But wanted to rate each book here also. This book has a lot of negative reviews because of the negativity of Laura's looks. Both she and Allesandro didn't think her worthy of a second look due to the way she dressed. And her mother and father were part of the "beautiful people". That said once she was 'polished' enough for a charity event both he and her were very blown away. Then he wanted her. Not before. So here is the question: Aren't all people beautiful when dressed the way society wants? Or is it the inner beauty that counts? Oh well the book was just ok for my reading enjoyment.
August 31, 2018
It was...
I liked the story line. It was a good one to read but I did not care for the style it was written. It is hard to explain...the style was just off for me. However, I still enjoyed it.
I liked the story line. It was a good one to read but I did not care for the style it was written. It is hard to explain...the style was just off for me. However, I still enjoyed it.
November 2, 2019
Only because I don't go around marking books as one star unless it's absolutely unreadable. The extra star is for the fact that it's Harlequin and I began with very very low expectations. This book is Too. Damn. Superficial. If I have to describe this book in one word, it would be "PROBLEMATIC".
April 4, 2022
Very superficial
I would have loved it first if the hero had start liking the heroine in her "ugly" state..
Like it was all about her looks.
The story had potential but it was like "she look ugly, he is handsome". Got played out n boring I skip through some parts
I would have loved it first if the hero had start liking the heroine in her "ugly" state..
Like it was all about her looks.
The story had potential but it was like "she look ugly, he is handsome". Got played out n boring I skip through some parts
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