What do you think?
Rate this book
Playboys of Sicily #1
Sicilian's Shock Proposal
Schöner Schein - oder tatsächlich Liebe? Als Sophie ihren Jugendfreund Luka Cavaliere bittet, sich als ihr Bräutigam auszugeben, hat sie nur eins im den letzten Wunsch ihres Vaters zu erfüllen. Bis Luka sie in Rom mit einem ungeahnt leidenschaftlichen Kuss überrascht …
192 pages, Mass Market Paperback
Published June 16, 2015
About the author
Carol Marinelli
1,490 books459 followersCarol Marinelli was born in England to Scottish parents, then emigrated to Australia, where there are loads of Scottish and English people who did exactly the same, so she’s very at home there.
She lives in the outer suburbs of Melbourne—pretty much in her car, driving her three children to their various commitments.
Carol writes for the Harlequin Presents and Medical lines and she also writes contemporary women's fiction (with a dark twist).
When she's not writing she's reading, when she's not reading she's writing.
She lives in the outer suburbs of Melbourne—pretty much in her car, driving her three children to their various commitments.
Carol writes for the Harlequin Presents and Medical lines and she also writes contemporary women's fiction (with a dark twist).
When she's not writing she's reading, when she's not reading she's writing.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
September 13, 2016
Having read the books in this 2-part series, I can say I'm conflicted. Much of this book were flashbacks to when the H's were young adults but, there was way too much drama and too many secondary characters for my liking. It also bothered me that the h hadn't achieved more during the separation from the H. She hadn't completed school, didn't learn a vocation but worked as a chambermaid for 5 years much like she was waiting for the H to return and define her existence. Weird....
Honestly, I struggled with the premise of the entire story. The flashbacks were overwhelming and I didn't understand why CM had to keep the h's life on pause for 5 years.
Overall, I liked it because the author put in so much effort and wove an intricate story (which was truly heartrending) yet disliked it because it was just a tad bit too much. Does that make any sense?
Honestly, I struggled with the premise of the entire story. The flashbacks were overwhelming and I didn't understand why CM had to keep the h's life on pause for 5 years.
Overall, I liked it because the author put in so much effort and wove an intricate story (which was truly heartrending) yet disliked it because it was just a tad bit too much. Does that make any sense?
May 12, 2015
awkward storytelling. First half of book was flashback. The transition into it was sudden and no hint that it was a flashback. As a reader I didn't feel a connection between the hero and heroine. And their history was underwhelming. I didnt get why the hero hated the heroine. I didn't feel their love or their angst.
Had the storytelling been more compelling this would have been a 5 star read instead it was stilted, awkward and passionless.
Had the storytelling been more compelling this would have been a 5 star read instead it was stilted, awkward and passionless.
June 23, 2015
The argument was solid and the structure of its writing is flawless, but the family feud and the heroine's attitude (this Sicilian virgin lady was Valentina --Abby Green's "A shadow of guilt"-- Ferrante's twin separated at birth, a virgin bitchy heroine) ruin the story. The chemistry was there, but sometimes the hero/heroine interactions weren't fully credible. A nice ending and idyllic epilogue but the book needed more to be an unforgettable story.
Oh, something I forgot... The summary said 8 years and the book says 5 years Who's to blame about this, the author or the editors??
Oh, something I forgot... The summary said 8 years and the book says 5 years Who's to blame about this, the author or the editors??
April 22, 2015
Sicilian's Shock Proposal was a book fraught with one misunderstanding after another as well as circumstances beyond anyone's control. I received a copy through NetGalley. Honestly, Sophie and Luka's relationship seems doomed from the beginning. They were betrothed to each other by their fathers when Luka and Sophie were children. Due to the age difference between them Sophie has had a crush on Luka since she was a schoolgirl and he has moved on to London to make his own way and try to distance himself from his father's criminal empire. She even loses her virginity to him many years before the timing of this story. Sophie's father works for Luka's father when they are young but the question is does he work for him under duress or because of the money. It is difficult to tell but circumstances grow well out of control and it causes Sophie and Luka to separate. Sicilian's Shock Proposal shows how lack of communication can really have severe ill affects on a relationship. Carol Marinelli does a great job with writing relationship angst. Sophie seems to have remained stagnant. She hasn't grown professionally, educationally or in any way. She has stood by her father even when she was ashamed of him. But, she did nothing to improve her life circumstances other than work. She had a dream and even though she was not able to achieve that because she visited her father so frequently in Rome, she did not do anything else to improve her life. Luka worked very hard to improve his life circumstances and despite having every intention of turning his back on Sophie because he wanted the right to choose who he married he still fell for her and everything went wrong. I kept wishing that there was more to the story where we saw the positive side of their relationship where things were better for them. But, what we did see of them together we just never had a chance to see them grow together though the ending turned out in a way I liked.
April 3, 2015
Good read I liked it but didn't love it. Felt it lacked intensity and focused too much on H/h fathers and family feud.
June 9, 2016
Why did they waste such a hot cover on a dumb book like this.
December 1, 2017
Una historia para recordar buenos tiempos, como cuando solo leía Harlequin ♥ muy buena, corta, intensa, divertida, triste... Me gustó bastante. Ahora a leer el siguiente :D
October 27, 2015
I loved this story, it had the perfect amount of everything for me!
Luka and Sophie are basically kids when their corrupt fathers betrothed them. While the Prologue starts with Sophie in Luka's office, the real story begins in Chapter One beginning with a very young Luka coming back to their small town to break the news to Sophie and his father that they're not going to marry but when he greets Sophie for the first time in years he's astounded by the young woman in-front of him. Their lovemaking is interrupted by the local police and Luka is thrown into prison, along with his father and Sophie's father.
If everything was happy ever after and the court case went well and Sophie said yes to leaving with Luka when he is finally released from prison, there would be no story to read... and skipping ahead to the future, dirt-poor Sophie is standing in Luka's beautiful and luxurious London office, begging him to be her fake fiancee to show her dying father she'll be okay when he passes.
Two kids loved each other and that love never stops into their adult lives but Luka knows things of the past for which he is sure Sophie will never forgive him for and Sophie is convinced the man who called her a pesant will never want to be with her as he once did.
Luka was written with the right amount of everything. He was the right amount of angry at Sophie but yet his love shone through till the very last page. Sophie had the perfect Sicilian fire and pride and together the two were a perfect match... they just had to get their past, present and future sorted before either can love each other again. While Sophie thinks he's abandoned her he's actually doing everything in his power to right all the wrongs his father caused.
I loved the history and their back story, the fathers and how they shaped both Luka and Sophie and I loved that Sophie's father knew what was going on during the great pretend. I also loved how Luka flipped it all back onto Sophie to make the choice of who turned up at the alter.
Well written with fab emotion. There is also the perfect touch of humour which had me giggling away. Luka and Sophie would also have no trouble being in a Blaze novel lol. There was also tons of interest created between Bella and Matteo... I will be looking up their story.
Another winner by Carol Marinelli.
Luka and Sophie are basically kids when their corrupt fathers betrothed them. While the Prologue starts with Sophie in Luka's office, the real story begins in Chapter One beginning with a very young Luka coming back to their small town to break the news to Sophie and his father that they're not going to marry but when he greets Sophie for the first time in years he's astounded by the young woman in-front of him. Their lovemaking is interrupted by the local police and Luka is thrown into prison, along with his father and Sophie's father.
If everything was happy ever after and the court case went well and Sophie said yes to leaving with Luka when he is finally released from prison, there would be no story to read... and skipping ahead to the future, dirt-poor Sophie is standing in Luka's beautiful and luxurious London office, begging him to be her fake fiancee to show her dying father she'll be okay when he passes.
Two kids loved each other and that love never stops into their adult lives but Luka knows things of the past for which he is sure Sophie will never forgive him for and Sophie is convinced the man who called her a pesant will never want to be with her as he once did.
Luka was written with the right amount of everything. He was the right amount of angry at Sophie but yet his love shone through till the very last page. Sophie had the perfect Sicilian fire and pride and together the two were a perfect match... they just had to get their past, present and future sorted before either can love each other again. While Sophie thinks he's abandoned her he's actually doing everything in his power to right all the wrongs his father caused.
I loved the history and their back story, the fathers and how they shaped both Luka and Sophie and I loved that Sophie's father knew what was going on during the great pretend. I also loved how Luka flipped it all back onto Sophie to make the choice of who turned up at the alter.
Well written with fab emotion. There is also the perfect touch of humour which had me giggling away. Luka and Sophie would also have no trouble being in a Blaze novel lol. There was also tons of interest created between Bella and Matteo... I will be looking up their story.
Another winner by Carol Marinelli.
April 3, 2016
I don't know if it's me or what but lately I've been confused by the books I've read. I like and love some things but dislike and hate others so in the end I don't know how I feel about the book as a whole.
I couldn't believe Sophie's stubbornness and ultimately stupidity some times and in Luka's place I would have been more of an asshole to her.
There were moments I felt more attracted to Bella and Matteo, but I've read some reviews and spoilers that have put me off trying to read theire book.
I couldn't believe Sophie's stubbornness and ultimately stupidity some times and in Luka's place I would have been more of an asshole to her.
There were moments I felt more attracted to Bella and Matteo, but I've read some reviews and spoilers that have put me off trying to read theire book.
January 13, 2016
HQR的Presents系列可以统称为霸道总裁爱上我。。。对于最近想用狗血洒洒千疮百孔灵魂的我有治愈奇效（你不
As a rule I seldom read Harlequin Presents, recently I tried them for a change, not bad. Now I'm going to read Bella's.
As a rule I seldom read Harlequin Presents, recently I tried them for a change, not bad. Now I'm going to read Bella's.
August 26, 2017
Too complicated to read. Strong start and then it went into flashbacks without warning, probably this is probably the first Carol Marinelli book I've struggled to finished.
July 7, 2018
Better story than I was expecting.
May 7, 2020
Painful to read and I wonder why I bothered to hope it would get better. He was awful and a complete hoe. She was awful. Poorly written. Unhappy characters galore in an unpleasant story.
February 18, 2024
Me gusto aunque siento que odie mucho al protagonista y al mismo tiempo entendí sus razones, pero no sé no es el mejor libro de Carol
September 7, 2024
Un poco repetitivo a veces, pero una lectura amena.
Sin más… una mini telenovela.
Sin más… una mini telenovela.
June 4, 2015
You see, Sophie, with this you can win every row. You can take the shame of what my father did and give it to me over and over. But I can’t live like that. The reason I will never marry you is this—I have lied under oath to protect your family. It didn’t work. I have lied on the Bible, I have attempted over and over to edit the truth. No more. I will not stand in a church and lie and take you as a temporary wife when the truth is I will love you for ever.’ Anger, rage, fury, hissed at an unknown target. ‘I don’t care if you’re poor. I don’t care if you have lied, cheated...whatever...’ Luka continued. ‘You do what you have to to survive but I know my limits, Sophie. I know I love you. I accept you but I cannot compromise with this. I cannot take more of his shame. I cannot say sorry any more for a person I am not. Know that
----
the reason I'm giving this 4 stars is because it made me cry.. I just wished there's not much back story and book should have been more focused on the H and h. h should have had a better career many years later. she's determined and feisty it should have made her successful.
----
the reason I'm giving this 4 stars is because it made me cry.. I just wished there's not much back story and book should have been more focused on the H and h. h should have had a better career many years later. she's determined and feisty it should have made her successful.
September 26, 2016
Une petite histoire rapide à lire et qui nous fait passer un agréable moment, comme souvent avec la collection Azur de notre partenaire Harlequin.
Luka et Sophie ont un passé douloureux, que ce soit chacun de leur côté ou ensemble également. Les histoires de famille, ce n’est pas souvent simple à gérer, nous en avons encore un bel exemple ici.
L’amour qu’ils ressentent l’un pour l’autre est sincère, mais compliqué de par leur passé. Cela n’est pas simple pour eux, et pourtant il y a une petite lumière au bout du tunnel. Arriveront-ils à l’atteindre cette lumière, ou au contraire, resteront-ils dans les ténèbres en ne donnant aucune deuxième chance à leur amour ?
Cette réponse, c’est à vous de la découvrir
Luka et Sophie ont un passé douloureux, que ce soit chacun de leur côté ou ensemble également. Les histoires de famille, ce n’est pas souvent simple à gérer, nous en avons encore un bel exemple ici.
L’amour qu’ils ressentent l’un pour l’autre est sincère, mais compliqué de par leur passé. Cela n’est pas simple pour eux, et pourtant il y a une petite lumière au bout du tunnel. Arriveront-ils à l’atteindre cette lumière, ou au contraire, resteront-ils dans les ténèbres en ne donnant aucune deuxième chance à leur amour ?
Cette réponse, c’est à vous de la découvrir
July 6, 2015
Over the top. A little unbelievable but nevertheless I loved the book.
Everything that could go wrong in an immature romance went wrong in this story and mistakes got rectified as adults. I see many who have criticized the book and the female lead and some flak is justified but nevertheless it dose t take away the charm. even the factual errors in editing like number of years apart..:)I can forgive. I enjoyed this read...
Everything that could go wrong in an immature romance went wrong in this story and mistakes got rectified as adults. I see many who have criticized the book and the female lead and some flak is justified but nevertheless it dose t take away the charm. even the factual errors in editing like number of years apart..:)I can forgive. I enjoyed this read...
Read
July 1, 2015"Marinelli creates characters with real depth and uses them to populate a story with well-rendered emotional upheavals. Sophie’s distress at having to ask Luka for help is spot-on, as is his reaction to learning deeper secrets about his family" (RT Book Reviews, 4 stars).
Miniseries: Playboys of Sicily
Miniseries: Playboys of Sicily
October 13, 2015
The writing style was done very well. I would try another book from this Author.
What I didn't care for was the story line of I hate you, I love you, I hate you more than I thought possible, let's get married. It didn't work for me. The chemistry was there between the characters though I just didn't care for the love/hate ratio
What I didn't care for was the story line of I hate you, I love you, I hate you more than I thought possible, let's get married. It didn't work for me. The chemistry was there between the characters though I just didn't care for the love/hate ratio
August 5, 2015
Loved the chemistry between the characters in this story about 2 people who were promised as youngsters but have to overcome emotions, history and family problems to be together. Flows really well and loved the story.
October 2, 2015
I liked the book. For once the guy didn't beg the girl. I get tired of reading books that the girl walks all over the guy and he begs for forgiveness. For once the girl was put in her place. Loved it.
Read
September 13, 2015Another great book by Carol Marinelli, but the editing missed the boat. Several errors.
January 23, 2016
This book really gives me hope that someday even I can like to book that gets published!!!! Man it was bad!
February 28, 2017
una historia que al principio me pareció medio Sosa pero que al yo al se redime :)
pdta: espero leerla historia de Bella y Matteo
pdta: espero leerla historia de Bella y Matteo
Read
July 1, 2015received 4 stars @ RT Book Reviews
Miniseries: Playboys of Sicily
Miniseries: Playboys of Sicily
hq-to-read
March 13, 2018He took her virginity, she'll take her revenge!
Standing outside Luka Cavalieri's gleaming office, Sophie Durante's heart is pounding. Eight years ago, being caught in the Sicilian tycoon's bed destroyed her pride and her reputation. He owes her, and now she's come to collect. To placate her ailing father, Luka must become her fake fiancé!
Intrigued, Luka agrees to Sophie's outrageous proposal—one glimpse of the feisty spirit simmering behind her cool exterior and he believes this engagement charade could be pleasurable. But a wedding night is out of the question…until he can entice Sophie to admit just how much she wants one!
Standing outside Luka Cavalieri's gleaming office, Sophie Durante's heart is pounding. Eight years ago, being caught in the Sicilian tycoon's bed destroyed her pride and her reputation. He owes her, and now she's come to collect. To placate her ailing father, Luka must become her fake fiancé!
Intrigued, Luka agrees to Sophie's outrageous proposal—one glimpse of the feisty spirit simmering behind her cool exterior and he believes this engagement charade could be pleasurable. But a wedding night is out of the question…until he can entice Sophie to admit just how much she wants one!
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews