What do you think?
Rate this book
Best Friend to Wife and Mother?
Stepping out of the friend zone…!
Leo Zaccharelli is a gorgeous TV chef, but to Amy Driver he's just her best friend. Yet when he saves her from a disastrous near miss down the aisle, Amy escapes to Tuscany with Leo and his adorable baby daughter, Ella. Spending time with this beautiful little family, which suffered so much tragedy after Leo's wife's death, opens Amy's eyes to the joys of being a mother…and a wife!
Now she's seen Leo in a whole new light, can their friendship lead to forever…?
252 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 16, 2015
12 people are currently reading
51 people want to read
About the author
Caroline Anderson
533 books64 followersCaroline Anderson's first romance novel was published in 1991 by Mills & Boon, and she specializes in medical romances. Her most long and popular series is "The Audley Memorial Hospital", where romance is the best medicine of all. In 2002, she published the original Double Destiny Duology, where Fran Williams lives two different lifes and loves. Now, she has created a new successful series, Yoxburgh, a tycoons's series.
Caroline Anderson continues to write her romances from her home in Suffolk, England, UK.
Caroline Anderson continues to write her romances from her home in Suffolk, England, UK.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
January 28, 2020
I have heaps of romances I’ve picked up for free or very cheap and I decided to read some this year. My mini challenge is to read them by A-Z by the author’s name. So, this is A for Caroline Anderson.
I’m also trying to make each chosen read a different type of romance. This one is a Mills & Boon Cherish edition which, according to their website, means a contemporary romance which puts a new twist on the more traditional romance tropes/plots and features relatable characters. Well…
I’ve never read any of Anderson’s books (that I remember) but apparently she usually writes for the Mills & Boons’ Medical line. With this Cherish book, however, she’s taken a break from the hospital -- with mixed success, really.
The book started well. Our heroine, Amy, is about to head off down the aisle. Giving her away is her [alleged] best friend, Leo. At the last minute, she and her fiance change their minds. Leo gallantly steps in with a job offer which will get her out of the country while she sorts herself out following the non-wedding.
I sort of thought this was more original than the usual ‘jilted at the altar’ romances. That is, it made a nice change that Leo wasn’t something along the line of a bridesmaid’s brother. Leo also didn’t immediately offer himself as a replacement hubby (which I’ve read a few times!). So, really, it did tick the boxes with the contemporary twist initially.
Leo is a celebrity chef who is travelling to Tuscany. There, he is staying with the Valtieri family who have obviously appeared in previous books by Anderson and her regular readers probably got a kick out of this. Anyway, the plan is, whilst in Tuscany, Amy will tend to Leo’s baby.
I think this is where the contemporary with a twist, and relatable characters unravels somewhat. I mean, it’s a modern book, first published in 2015, I kind of expected some less traditional roles for the leads. Amy still becomes the model of the little woman by taking on the motherly duties whilst Leo pursues his career. Leo’s sad backstory is still blame-it-on-the-bitchy-ex. The baby is always good and sleeping and never giving the couple any sleep deprivation like babies tend to do in real life (Lords, I’m glad those days are behind me!). And Leo is still a multi millionaire who can charter his own private plane and build a hillside mansion with a custom-made kitchen.
I was a little disappointed in the foodporn. I thought there’d be more decadent. I also wasn’t that excited by the descriptions of the Italian landscape. I don’t think rich descriptive passages are Anderson’s strong point.
The sex scenes were pretty tame but Anderson did an okay job at the couple’s chemistry.
Maybe the book needed something more to happen; more conflict. The lead couple just end up talking a lot. It never becomes completely boring though, I guess.
Oh, I really need to bring up Amy’s bridesmaids. Their scenes were unintentionally hilarious. Even though they feature at the wedding, they are just collectively called ‘the bridesmaids’ and none are referred to individually by name. They don’t really help in any way either during or after the non-wedding; that’s up to Leo. They pop up again later in the book but they’re still just ‘the bridesmaids’. I found it kind of weird but funny.
I also had a chuckle at the title. I mean, the question mark is somewhat redundant, isn’t it? After all, no one ever thinks for a minute there’ll be no HEA.
Anyway, even though I have whined a little in this review, the book was pleasant enough and probably worthy of a 3 out of 5.
I’m also trying to make each chosen read a different type of romance. This one is a Mills & Boon Cherish edition which, according to their website, means a contemporary romance which puts a new twist on the more traditional romance tropes/plots and features relatable characters. Well…
I’ve never read any of Anderson’s books (that I remember) but apparently she usually writes for the Mills & Boons’ Medical line. With this Cherish book, however, she’s taken a break from the hospital -- with mixed success, really.
The book started well. Our heroine, Amy, is about to head off down the aisle. Giving her away is her [alleged] best friend, Leo. At the last minute, she and her fiance change their minds. Leo gallantly steps in with a job offer which will get her out of the country while she sorts herself out following the non-wedding.
I sort of thought this was more original than the usual ‘jilted at the altar’ romances. That is, it made a nice change that Leo wasn’t something along the line of a bridesmaid’s brother. Leo also didn’t immediately offer himself as a replacement hubby (which I’ve read a few times!). So, really, it did tick the boxes with the contemporary twist initially.
Leo is a celebrity chef who is travelling to Tuscany. There, he is staying with the Valtieri family who have obviously appeared in previous books by Anderson and her regular readers probably got a kick out of this. Anyway, the plan is, whilst in Tuscany, Amy will tend to Leo’s baby.
I think this is where the contemporary with a twist, and relatable characters unravels somewhat. I mean, it’s a modern book, first published in 2015, I kind of expected some less traditional roles for the leads. Amy still becomes the model of the little woman by taking on the motherly duties whilst Leo pursues his career. Leo’s sad backstory is still blame-it-on-the-bitchy-ex. The baby is always good and sleeping and never giving the couple any sleep deprivation like babies tend to do in real life (Lords, I’m glad those days are behind me!). And Leo is still a multi millionaire who can charter his own private plane and build a hillside mansion with a custom-made kitchen.
I was a little disappointed in the foodporn. I thought there’d be more decadent. I also wasn’t that excited by the descriptions of the Italian landscape. I don’t think rich descriptive passages are Anderson’s strong point.
The sex scenes were pretty tame but Anderson did an okay job at the couple’s chemistry.
Maybe the book needed something more to happen; more conflict. The lead couple just end up talking a lot. It never becomes completely boring though, I guess.
Oh, I really need to bring up Amy’s bridesmaids. Their scenes were unintentionally hilarious. Even though they feature at the wedding, they are just collectively called ‘the bridesmaids’ and none are referred to individually by name. They don’t really help in any way either during or after the non-wedding; that’s up to Leo. They pop up again later in the book but they’re still just ‘the bridesmaids’. I found it kind of weird but funny.
I also had a chuckle at the title. I mean, the question mark is somewhat redundant, isn’t it? After all, no one ever thinks for a minute there’ll be no HEA.
Anyway, even though I have whined a little in this review, the book was pleasant enough and probably worthy of a 3 out of 5.
January 26, 2018
This was basically a cozy romance. Two very nice people who have been friends forever realize they're attracted to each other and angst about whether they should risk their friendship by pursuing a relationship. Neither of them ever did anything bad and they were falling all over themselves to be polite and thoughtful and respectful to each other (Heck, Leo needlessly apologized about a thousand times over the course of the book). All the secondary characters were super nice too, even the guy the heroine jilted at the alter at the very beginning.
My one complaint about the book is that nothing much happens. There's no suspense. No threat. No dark secret that might wreck everything. No OW or OM. Nothing. So it was a sweet friends to lovers romance but kind of dull for my tastes.
My one complaint about the book is that nothing much happens. There's no suspense. No threat. No dark secret that might wreck everything. No OW or OM. Nothing. So it was a sweet friends to lovers romance but kind of dull for my tastes.
December 14, 2019
Protagonistas: Leo & Amy
Profesiones: Chef & Fotografa
Paises: Italia & Londres
Profesiones: Chef & Fotografa
Paises: Italia & Londres
March 26, 2018
I read the first chapter with a struggle. Flicked through the book and didn't like it-don't know if it was because it wasn't a medical book, but I hated it. I do love Caroline Anderson medical books though.
October 9, 2015
First book I have read by this author. A thrift store find for .39 Well worth the price. I love friends to lovers romances. And I loved Leo Zaccharelli and Amy Driver. But what woman wouldn't love a gorgeousman that cooks and speaks Italian and is a loving dad? Different than most books I read, in that it's set in England and Italy. Leo rescues his best friend, Amy on her wedding day, from making the mistake of marrying the wrong guy. Then, whisk her away to Tuscany, with him and his baby daughter, Ella, where he has business. Seeing each other in New lights, things turn romantic. Can their friendship lead to lead to forever? A sweet, romantic story. Very enjoyable.
May 18, 2015
Took them long enough to realize they were meant for one another! Another cooking novel, I guess it's the new trend. But I thoroughly enjoyed it though!
December 26, 2017
Food, sun-drenched Tuscany, a runaway bride and the best friends to lovers theme. Win win win win. Sweetly done.
February 9, 2020
This book was totally 80’s!
May 29, 2022
Meh!
She should of made him grovel more at the end!
She should of made him grovel more at the end!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews