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The Castelli Brothers #2
Castelli's Virgin Widow
"Saint Kate is a myth…"
Reckless magnate Luca Castelli thinks he knows everything about his late father's widow, Kathryn. He won't be fooled by the tabloids' adoration—to his mind, this young, achingly beautiful woman is no saint! So when terms of the will force Luca to become Kathryn's boss, he resolves to push her to her very limits…
But as Kathryn rises to his challenge, the fire between them that burns with equal parts hatred and lust only grows hotter! Until one night, Luca discovers Kathryn's innocence runs deeper than he could ever have imagined… She belongs to him, and him alone!
Reckless magnate Luca Castelli thinks he knows everything about his late father's widow, Kathryn. He won't be fooled by the tabloids' adoration—to his mind, this young, achingly beautiful woman is no saint! So when terms of the will force Luca to become Kathryn's boss, he resolves to push her to her very limits…
But as Kathryn rises to his challenge, the fire between them that burns with equal parts hatred and lust only grows hotter! Until one night, Luca discovers Kathryn's innocence runs deeper than he could ever have imagined… She belongs to him, and him alone!
192 pages, Mass Market Paperback
Published January 19, 2016
97 people are currently reading
223 people want to read
About the author
Caitlin Crews
1,098 books595 followersCaitlin Crews discovered her first romance novel at the age of twelve, in a bargain bin at the local five and dime. It involved swashbuckling pirates, grand adventures, a heroine with rustling skirts and a mind of her own, and a seriously mouthwatering and masterful hero. The book (the title of which remains lost in the mists of time) made a serious impression. Caitlin was immediately smitten with romances and romance heroes, to the detriment of her middle school social life. And so began her life-long love affair with romance novels, many of which she insists on keeping near her at all times, thus creating a fire hazard of love wherever she lives.
Caitlin has made her home in places as far-flung as York, England and Atlanta, Georgia. She was raised near New York City, and fell in love with London on her first visit when she was a teenager. She has backpacked in Zimbabwe, been on safari in Botswana, and visited tiny villages in Namibia. She has, while visiting the place in question, declared her intention to live in Prague, Dublin, Paris, Athens, Nice, the Greek Islands, Rome, Venice, and/or any of the Hawaiian islands. Writing about exotic places seems like the next best thing to actually moving there.
She currently lives in Oregon with her animator/comic book artist husband and their menagerie of ridiculous animals.
Caitlin has made her home in places as far-flung as York, England and Atlanta, Georgia. She was raised near New York City, and fell in love with London on her first visit when she was a teenager. She has backpacked in Zimbabwe, been on safari in Botswana, and visited tiny villages in Namibia. She has, while visiting the place in question, declared her intention to live in Prague, Dublin, Paris, Athens, Nice, the Greek Islands, Rome, Venice, and/or any of the Hawaiian islands. Writing about exotic places seems like the next best thing to actually moving there.
She currently lives in Oregon with her animator/comic book artist husband and their menagerie of ridiculous animals.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
February 23, 2016
2,5 stars
Unwrapping The Castelli Secret, by Caitlin Crews ….my review https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
here……was Rafael Castelli’s book and CASTELLI’S VIRGIN WIDOW is the follow up of Luca Castelli, his younger brother’s story.
Wow!! The Castelli men really keep things in the family!!!! Rafael finds his HEA with his stepsister and now we have Luca making eyes at his ……..stepmother!!!!! And if I thought Rafael was an ass how he behaved towards Lily……hell, he was an “angel” compared to how Luca treats Kathryn, their father’s young….and I mean very young…she’s in her twenties and their father in his 80”s….(shades of Ann Nicole Smith and J Howard Marshall!!!!).
Luca is beyond furious when he discovers that in terms of his father’s will, he will have to work with the evil and gold digging stepmother!!! Horrors!!! He spends almost 80% of the book being a total bastard. He’s disrespectful, calls her a whore, and tries to sabotage her position in the family winery …..in between all of that, he finds himself attracted to her…..no, he’s not falling in love with her!!! He just wants to “bang” her….anyway, he doesn’t believe in love because???? No one has ever loved him!!!! Really!!!!!!
Kathryn was the only reason I finished this book. I found myself really liking her a lot. She stood up to Luca, had a backbone and even though she did slap Luca’s face once – she should have smacked it more times, I felt – she never lowered herself to his level. I liked her determination and grit……….just wish she had kicked her horrible mother’s butt sooner!!! Talk about a mother from hell!!!
As Luca begins to getting to know Kathryn, he thinks he may have been wrong about her…after all, she was a virgin and he was her “first” one!!!! But no, he reverts back to his “whorish” comments once again….on and on…..
“Kathryn….give this guy a miss, please! You’re too good for him.” I kept saying that over and over again!!!
But no, the girl is just too good!!! Me, I would have kick him out ……….let me tell you that there was no groveling on his part…..he kept making excuses for his loathsome behavior!!!! His arrogance!!!
His term of endearment for Kathryn is “cucciola mia”……my little doggie/puppy!! Kathryn is not crazy about it…..”I don’t think you have a choice!!!!” he tells her!!!!!
Luca Castelli has to be one of my least favorite heroes of the Mills & Boon books I have read!!!
Unwrapping The Castelli Secret, by Caitlin Crews ….my review https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
here……was Rafael Castelli’s book and CASTELLI’S VIRGIN WIDOW is the follow up of Luca Castelli, his younger brother’s story.
Wow!! The Castelli men really keep things in the family!!!! Rafael finds his HEA with his stepsister and now we have Luca making eyes at his ……..stepmother!!!!! And if I thought Rafael was an ass how he behaved towards Lily……hell, he was an “angel” compared to how Luca treats Kathryn, their father’s young….and I mean very young…she’s in her twenties and their father in his 80”s….(shades of Ann Nicole Smith and J Howard Marshall!!!!).
Luca is beyond furious when he discovers that in terms of his father’s will, he will have to work with the evil and gold digging stepmother!!! Horrors!!! He spends almost 80% of the book being a total bastard. He’s disrespectful, calls her a whore, and tries to sabotage her position in the family winery …..in between all of that, he finds himself attracted to her…..no, he’s not falling in love with her!!! He just wants to “bang” her….anyway, he doesn’t believe in love because???? No one has ever loved him!!!! Really!!!!!!
Kathryn was the only reason I finished this book. I found myself really liking her a lot. She stood up to Luca, had a backbone and even though she did slap Luca’s face once – she should have smacked it more times, I felt – she never lowered herself to his level. I liked her determination and grit……….just wish she had kicked her horrible mother’s butt sooner!!! Talk about a mother from hell!!!
As Luca begins to getting to know Kathryn, he thinks he may have been wrong about her…after all, she was a virgin and he was her “first” one!!!! But no, he reverts back to his “whorish” comments once again….on and on…..
“Kathryn….give this guy a miss, please! You’re too good for him.” I kept saying that over and over again!!!
But no, the girl is just too good!!! Me, I would have kick him out ……….let me tell you that there was no groveling on his part…..he kept making excuses for his loathsome behavior!!!! His arrogance!!!
His term of endearment for Kathryn is “cucciola mia”……my little doggie/puppy!! Kathryn is not crazy about it…..”I don’t think you have a choice!!!!” he tells her!!!!!
Luca Castelli has to be one of my least favorite heroes of the Mills & Boon books I have read!!!
December 10, 2017
Nope. I wanted a trainwreck and instead I got this.
This is a virgin widow story as you can tell from the title. The "hero" was the heroine's stepson for two years. When his father dies, the heroine inherits either a sum of money or a position in the family empire. The heroine chooses a position in the empire to please her bitter, demanding mother whose career aspirations were thwarted when she fell pregnant with the heroine.
The hero hides his sexual attraction to the heroine behind a facade of verbal abuse. Lots and lots of verbal abuse. He gives her a position as his PA, hoping to break her.
The heroine obviously equates verbal abuse with love because her bitter wheelchair-bound mother has only given her verbal abuse her whole life.
As you can see, this is a match made in heaven - the hero never tires of abusing the heroine - and it's not just verbal. He threatens to hit her at one point. His early memories are of being a raging child looking for attention. He thinks of himself as unlovable and he acts that way. The heroine has the same hangups, although her feelings of being unlovable were channeled into people pleasing.
I didn't believe the happy ending. I *couldn't* believe that any good could come out of this toxic relationship without years of therapy for both. The author did a great job of showing not telling how messed up these two people were - for 95% of the story - with no grovel from the hero. This wasn't a romance, it was a case study.
This is a virgin widow story as you can tell from the title. The "hero" was the heroine's stepson for two years. When his father dies, the heroine inherits either a sum of money or a position in the family empire. The heroine chooses a position in the empire to please her bitter, demanding mother whose career aspirations were thwarted when she fell pregnant with the heroine.
The hero hides his sexual attraction to the heroine behind a facade of verbal abuse. Lots and lots of verbal abuse. He gives her a position as his PA, hoping to break her.
The heroine obviously equates verbal abuse with love because her bitter wheelchair-bound mother has only given her verbal abuse her whole life.
As you can see, this is a match made in heaven - the hero never tires of abusing the heroine - and it's not just verbal. He threatens to hit her at one point. His early memories are of being a raging child looking for attention. He thinks of himself as unlovable and he acts that way. The heroine has the same hangups, although her feelings of being unlovable were channeled into people pleasing.
I didn't believe the happy ending. I *couldn't* believe that any good could come out of this toxic relationship without years of therapy for both. The author did a great job of showing not telling how messed up these two people were - for 95% of the story - with no grovel from the hero. This wasn't a romance, it was a case study.
July 16, 2017
Well, the title says it all.
We don't just need a two by four, we need many, many two by fours to beat the ever loving hell out of Luca. Better yet, let's organize a posse to lynch the so-called hero aka cruel, ass-hat SOB.
Luca is the second son of an Italian magnate who has just died leaving wife number six a widow rather than just an ex. Luca HATES this one even though she's not the youngest or the skankiest of dear old dad'ss wives. Problem is part of the will states she gets to work at the family business and under Luca's reign. Reign of terror is more like it; he sets her up at the git-go so all the other minions will hate her as a money-grubbing, gold-digging woman who finagles a job due to who she wedded and bedded.
The slurs keep coming, and poor little Kathryn grits and bears it probably because she's heard almost as denigrating and nasty comments from her mummy dearest who had to abandon a career and work fingers to the bone for her worthless daughter, boo effin hoo. To say Kathryn's a stoic and a martyr is putting it mildly.
Passionate and punishing kisses alternated with greedy slut accusations reallydid not win my heart over although it seems to work for the tiny h.
They finally have sex. We all know she's a virgin (just look at the title) so it's not a surprise to us as readers when she has a painful time of it.
I had high hopes for this as it is obvious that Luca is seriously over the top crazy about Kathryn, but his grotesque cruelty was unredeemable, and the reason Kathryn married the father was a little weak. Heck, Kathryn is weak. This is so pathetic, the big handsome jerk really bummed me out. Like totally man.
Re-read
This did not improve on reacquaintance.
I know what she needs to do. Kill him. Forget the 2 by 4's and skillets, get a gun sweetie. No jury would find you guilty after all the emotional and verbal abuse you took although they may order court mandated counseling.
Take your pick: gun, knife or poison. Since he's Italian, I recommend poison or a stiletto.
We don't just need a two by four, we need many, many two by fours to beat the ever loving hell out of Luca. Better yet, let's organize a posse to lynch the so-called hero aka cruel, ass-hat SOB.
Luca is the second son of an Italian magnate who has just died leaving wife number six a widow rather than just an ex. Luca HATES this one even though she's not the youngest or the skankiest of dear old dad'ss wives. Problem is part of the will states she gets to work at the family business and under Luca's reign. Reign of terror is more like it; he sets her up at the git-go so all the other minions will hate her as a money-grubbing, gold-digging woman who finagles a job due to who she wedded and bedded.
The slurs keep coming, and poor little Kathryn grits and bears it probably because she's heard almost as denigrating and nasty comments from her mummy dearest who had to abandon a career and work fingers to the bone for her worthless daughter, boo effin hoo. To say Kathryn's a stoic and a martyr is putting it mildly.
Passionate and punishing kisses alternated with greedy slut accusations really
They finally have sex. We all know she's a virgin (just look at the title) so it's not a surprise to us as readers when she has a painful time of it.
I had high hopes for this as it is obvious that Luca is seriously over the top crazy about Kathryn, but his grotesque cruelty was unredeemable, and the reason Kathryn married the father was a little weak. Heck, Kathryn is weak. This is so pathetic, the big handsome jerk really bummed me out. Like totally man.
Re-read
This did not improve on reacquaintance.
I know what she needs to do. Kill him. Forget the 2 by 4's and skillets, get a gun sweetie. No jury would find you guilty after all the emotional and verbal abuse you took although they may order court mandated counseling.
Take your pick: gun, knife or poison. Since he's Italian, I recommend poison or a stiletto.
July 6, 2016
This would have been a 5 star if he had given her at least one I am sorry I am an ass! I needed him to grovel big time!!!! I mean after the way he took her virginity and how poorly he treated her before they went to bed, after and after she told him that she is pregnant. What is with that?
He was damaged goods for no real reason. His dad was not great but he did not beat the shit out of him or did his step mom do that either! He was an ass and he continued to be an ass the whole way!
Also, I found that all the characters in her book are always just two dimensional except for the heroine. The background story goes on like a vague background that is fake and disconnected from the hero and heroine. It's like they are only on an island and people visit them from time to time.
The co worker from hell was over kill for me personally no way in real life would any self respecting employer tolerate that kind of behavior because they would have more lawsuits then they could handle if they allowed that to happen under their supervision.
The author needed to do more research on this cause it all made it sound like it was just a tool so show how sweet and innocent the heroine is. In reality lit made her sound like a doormat and martyrs are so boring.
I totally lost it when the hero asked her how she gave it to his father! That was gross and how would he have reacted if someone had asked him how he gets his rocks off. And how about if she had answered "your dad likes it hard and fast and can go all night". Just for the LOLs. Sorry this read like a cheep attempt at titillation and it failed for me big time. I mean honestly if you have no respect for her why are you sleeping with her? (She did not sleep with the father even though they are married, and she would have been within her rights if she had).
Still I gave this 3.5 stars so I have to say it was a good story because I got lost in it. I was transported to another world for a time. The hero while a big jerk was also well executed by the author and the martyr heroine was very sympathetic.
I would have loved to have had more of a grovel from the hero but that was not his deal.
She was a great person and deserved way more than she received from all the characters in this book.
I may reread this book one day, but not anytime soon. My blood pressure is great now and I want to keep it that way.
Happy reading!
He was damaged goods for no real reason. His dad was not great but he did not beat the shit out of him or did his step mom do that either! He was an ass and he continued to be an ass the whole way!
Also, I found that all the characters in her book are always just two dimensional except for the heroine. The background story goes on like a vague background that is fake and disconnected from the hero and heroine. It's like they are only on an island and people visit them from time to time.
The co worker from hell was over kill for me personally no way in real life would any self respecting employer tolerate that kind of behavior because they would have more lawsuits then they could handle if they allowed that to happen under their supervision.
The author needed to do more research on this cause it all made it sound like it was just a tool so show how sweet and innocent the heroine is. In reality lit made her sound like a doormat and martyrs are so boring.
I totally lost it when the hero asked her how she gave it to his father! That was gross and how would he have reacted if someone had asked him how he gets his rocks off. And how about if she had answered "your dad likes it hard and fast and can go all night". Just for the LOLs. Sorry this read like a cheep attempt at titillation and it failed for me big time. I mean honestly if you have no respect for her why are you sleeping with her? (She did not sleep with the father even though they are married, and she would have been within her rights if she had).
Still I gave this 3.5 stars so I have to say it was a good story because I got lost in it. I was transported to another world for a time. The hero while a big jerk was also well executed by the author and the martyr heroine was very sympathetic.
I would have loved to have had more of a grovel from the hero but that was not his deal.
She was a great person and deserved way more than she received from all the characters in this book.
I may reread this book one day, but not anytime soon. My blood pressure is great now and I want to keep it that way.
Happy reading!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 24, 2016
I don't normally read the newer HP's anymore as I find them lacking in terms of the hero's, I must admit to loving the old skool ones more. This one though was actually pretty good with a strong heroine, enjoyed it.
December 1, 2016
Super Cute Book!!!
I really really enjoyed this book. What's hidden gem. I was pleasantly surprised by this story. I had a knot in my throat the entire time I read it because of the sense of hurt and abandonment you feel for the main characters. Lovely book.
I really really enjoyed this book. What's hidden gem. I was pleasantly surprised by this story. I had a knot in my throat the entire time I read it because of the sense of hurt and abandonment you feel for the main characters. Lovely book.
March 14, 2017
I edited, then it wasn't saved and re-edited this ¬¬'
I was in need of angst and clearly Luca didn't want to disappoint. Can't blame him that much, the first time he saw Kath he wanted her for himself but no, she was his new stepmom (the sixth wife). Add that he practically didn't have a relationship with his really old father and you get more than enough ammunition for an alpha-jerk to make an appearance.
Luca's business strength is his creativity, obviously that wasn't confined to business. No, he was very creative in the ways he insulted Kath, gotta give him that. He was also very creative with the twisted sexual theories about Kath he liked torturing himself with.
Luca's reasons for being cold/mean/love-phobic/paranoic were not so convincing for me, I've read Heroes with really tortured childhoods that are less jerks than Luca. At least he didn't cheat like his brother.
I wanted to marry Saint Kath myself. Having to endure that mother, Luca and her coworkers, I would have gone mad! Yet she never stepped down to their level, she didn't let them walk all over her either, she chose her battles, definitely a class of her own.
I couldn't understand why the tabloids loved Kath. She was the poor twenty-something marrying the rich eighty-something. Tabloids in other stories (and real life) crucify heroines for way less than that.
October 24, 2019
I was all set to give this book a A- or at the very least, a B+, I liked the beginning so much. It is always a cause for celebration in all my years of reading Harlequin Presents whenever I come across a heroine I like a lot more than I like the hero. It's sad, but true. It's seldom I find an HP heroine who can dish out as good as she got and doesn't cower before the hero, awed by his gorgeous magnificence. Oh, gurrrl, please. Heck, this time, I almost didn't want the heroine to end up with the hero. Not because I was jealous and wanted him for myself or anything, but because he was such a disrespectful dickbag to her for 70% of the book, becomes nice to her only when he's proven wrong, then reverts to being said dickbag behavior the last twenty pages of the book because he's a scared, stupid little boy who thinks other people are always out to get him because no one paid attention to him or gave him a hug when he was a kid. IMHO, he doesn't deserve her. Fortunately, our heroine Kathryn gives as good as she gets, stands her ground, and makes the reading of this novel worthwhile even when Luca Castelli is acting like a spoiled brat and is at the pinnacle of his douchebaggery. I just wished Kathryn gave him a couple of good kicks right square in the nuts whenever he threw a hissy fit. That would have set him right.
Your Heroine: At first glance, Kathryn might seem like a run-of-the-mill, self-sacrificing virgin out to martyr herself for the greater good. Sure, one of her motives for marrying Luca’s father is to have the means to give her disabled, arthritic mother a stable home and much needed home-care. She also did it to please her mother: unable to advance on her own due to her self-perceived lack of smarts, Kathryn thought it was time to use her good looks to help herself advance in the business world. She thought she was just trying to fulfill her mother's dream for her because her mother worked very hard and sacrificed her own chance of happiness to be able to give Kathryn the chance she herself was denied; which, of course, she never failed to remind Kathryn every day of her life. Her mother had been a successful investment banker, but Kathryn got through her business degree by the skin of her teeth, so the MBA program for her is sheer torture. She studied hard all hours, forsaking dating or any kind of social life at all for that matter, but she still struggled like a fish on a hook.
Meeting Luca’s father was a blessing; he owned a successful, internationally-renowned winery (or whinery, if Luca were in charge). All the old man needed was companionship, nothing more; if Kathryn were to stay with him for two years--- maybe less, since he's dying---it would ensure Kathryn an important, executive spot in an international company. Her mother tells her to look upon it as an internship. Kathryn agrees, if only to get away from her termagant mother.
But Kathryn does not receive the warmest reception in Italy. The servants are cold to her, her husband's eldest son Rafael politely ignores her and is ambivalent toward her at best, but the younger son, Luca, is openly hostile to her face and there is something beneath his anger that makes Kathryn superbly uncomfortable. It’s a little more than disdain or disgust at his father marrying for the sixth time a woman a third of his age. Kathryn can't figure it out, but whenever Luca looks at her, her skin suddenly feels like it's two sizes too small.
When her husband dies, everything comes to a head. His will dictates that she must have a position in the company, but Kathryn is quick to point out that she doesn't want a useless, figurehead position; she wants to learn everything about the business. Luca and Rafael think it's merely a ploy on her part to get a bigger stake in the company, so they offer her a generous lump sum to go away and disappear forever. It's a tempting offer, since nobody seems to want her around, but she sticks to her guns and tells them she wants to work. She doesn't want to work with Rafael, who is the CEO and does all the boring stuff like running the company, keeping it going, making sure people are getting paid… She chooses to work with Luca, who is the creative arm of the company, and takes care of stuff like marketing, publicity, schmoozing with society and business folk, and pretending to be a cool, bon vivant playboy who gives zero fucks about the serious things in life (when he is really a ruthless shark, you guys).
Daddy Castelli isn’t even cold in his grave when Luca begins assaulting her in the study, calling her a variety of names that all rhyme with “old digger” and “bore” and when that doesn’t ruffle her feathers any, decides to manhandle her person by shoving his tongue down her throat and his hand down the front of her dress. What a charmer. To her own surprise and perhaps consternation, Kathryn responds enthusiastically and with passion until Luca realizes he’s kissing the most evil hooor who ever lived and shoves her away again. Kathryn openly asks him, “Why do you hate me?” And he’s all, “Coz you’re a whore, just like the others. Shut up. I don’t like talking to you” before he stomps away, slamming the door after him. Kathryn, I assume, has a look on her face at this point that says, “Okay… that guy is nuts… but he sure can kiss.”
But Kathryn remains solid and untouchable, even through Luca’s many attempts to humiliate and mortify her. At work, Luca basically paints a target on her back by destroying a merit-based promotion process that the employees have held to and respected for many years by making Kathryn his new executive assistant instead of promoting someone from within the ranks. As if that’s not enough, he more or less orders his staff to treat her like garbage. He’s hoping she won’t last the week, take the lump sum they offered her, and go away. But Kathryn wants what Daddy Castelli promised her and she’s gonna get it. Like a boss, she grits her teeth, bears down, and does what needs to be done until Luca notices that she’s actually the best executive assistant he’s ever had. But does that change his opinion about her? Of course not. He ramps up the abuse and thinks to himself that a whore is a whore even if she is a brilliant secretary. Plus she’s a bad person who possibly drowns puppies for fun.
Your Hero: Luca is... a hard man to understand. Or tolerate. He has some good points and I can mostly understand why he is the way he is, but he's just so damned stubborn and thick-headed that he makes you want to shake him like a rattle and scream in his face. He believes his mother killed herself from the heartbreak of losing his father and his father treats women like Pokemon: gotta catch ‘em all. When he was child, he was starved for attention so he acted up and threw tantrums until one of his well-meaning stepmoms pulled him aside and told him to stop being acting like a little bitch because in this world, you gotta look out for Number One coz ain't nobody else gonna do it for you. Luca takes this advice to heart and develops an “I give less than zero fucks” persona of the ne’er-do-well younger brother who only cares about himself and the next target for a notch on his bedpost. But as it turns out, his act is actually a part of the Castelli business model because he's really good at hobnobbing, schmoozing, and making contacts at parties, so the company reaps the benefits of his magnificent Italian charisma. Thus he becomes Luca Castelli, International Playboy, tabloid darling, and Giver of Zero Fucks.
And then he meets his father’s new wife and completely loses his shit. It was actually a pretty vivid, evocative scene. Daddy Castelli announces he’s brought a new bride home and summons his sons over for a meet-and-greet. Luca prepares himself say hello and immediately dismiss the nineteen-year-old child bride his father must have surely brought home, but he is almost brought down to his knees at his very first sight of Kathryn and all he could think of was “Not her, not her, not her.” At that moment, he becomes completely and totally obsessed with her, but convinces himself that she is just another one of his father’s whores, out to fleece the old man for his money. He teaches himself to hate her, to seek ulterior motives behind her every action, to be suspicious of every word that comes out of her luscious, beautiful mouth. There is just no way she is as innocent as she looks---hell, the tabloids have taken to calling her “Saint Kate.” No woman would marry a man three times her age out of the goodness of her heart. The gold-digging ho wants as much as she can get and there’s no chance in hell she’d be able to convince him otherwise. He will not nor will he ever condescend himself to go after his own father’s leavings.
Oh, but one of Luca’s redeeming qualities? Lover-boy is generous and not stingy about going downtown.
Preach it, Girlfriend: "Whorish behavior always adds up to two whores, Luca. Not one dirty whore and an innocent with dirty hands by accident, almost but not quite corrupted by doing the exact same thing. No matter what lies you tell yourself.”
Oh My Word: I was 80% finished with this book (and thus far, enjoying the hell out of it) when it occurred to me---hold up, wait a minute: he only comes to believe that she’s not a lying, cheating ho or the most evil skank in the universe because her vagina is still vacuum-sealed and has never been opened? What kind of fuckery is this? It certainly brings a whole new level to the virgin/whore dichotomy: I couldn’t love you because I thought you were a skank, but now that I’ve discovered you’re pure and thus, good, you are worthy of my love and I will treat you like a precious thing from now on. Which brings me to another wrinkle in the storyline that really irked me. Once Luca decides she is an object worthy of being cherished, he begins to refer to her as “cucciola mia” which means “my pet” (or “my puppy”). When Kathryn demurs on the nickname, he says, “I don’t think you have much choice in the matter” (or something to that effect). Dude!
But the biggest thing that made me want to reach in and yank Kathryn out of the book for her own protection was this: when she confesses to him the BIG MAJOR THING that freaks him the hell out and makes him lose his mind (again), he reverts to complete dickbag behavior and accuses her AGAIN of being a manipulative, scheming whore. In her defense, Kathryn says YOU DUMBASS, I WAS A VIRGIN. YOU WERE THERE. WHAT THE HELL. No amount of logic could knock the wind out of Luca’s outraged sails, however, and he retorts: Oh yeah? What kind of woman would hold on tightly to her virginity for her twenty-five years only to lose it in the backseat of a car to a guy she can barely even stand? Seriously, I was surprised Kathryn didn’t gut-punch him right then and there and left him for the ants. HE SLUT-SHAMES HER when he is the one who devirginized her? Oh, Lordy, I need my smelling salts. Never mind the salts, give me vodka.
Oh and for you fans of groveling out there: there’s like, maybe, an eighth of an ounce of it. He doesn’t beg for her forgiveness, doesn’t throw himself at her feet even though he was absolutely abominable to her for 70% of the book and only becomes nice to her because she has a hymen. What he does do is throw himself a pity party, so that Kathryn is basically manipulated into forgiving him. Luca, you wily piece of shit. The only thing that comforts me about the HEA is that throughout the book, Kathryn shows signs of having a backbone made of some hard stuff and that she knows exactly how to fight back. While I think Luca should be locked up in a dog crate for a week and fed only dog food to see how he likes being “my pet,” I think Kathryn could probably handle the guy just fine.
The previous book of this series is about the older brother, Rafael, who is in love with a former step-sister and searches the world to find her. Schyeah, I’m going to read it. Man, these Castelli dudes sure like to keep it in the family!
Your Heroine: At first glance, Kathryn might seem like a run-of-the-mill, self-sacrificing virgin out to martyr herself for the greater good. Sure, one of her motives for marrying Luca’s father is to have the means to give her disabled, arthritic mother a stable home and much needed home-care. She also did it to please her mother: unable to advance on her own due to her self-perceived lack of smarts, Kathryn thought it was time to use her good looks to help herself advance in the business world. She thought she was just trying to fulfill her mother's dream for her because her mother worked very hard and sacrificed her own chance of happiness to be able to give Kathryn the chance she herself was denied; which, of course, she never failed to remind Kathryn every day of her life. Her mother had been a successful investment banker, but Kathryn got through her business degree by the skin of her teeth, so the MBA program for her is sheer torture. She studied hard all hours, forsaking dating or any kind of social life at all for that matter, but she still struggled like a fish on a hook.
Meeting Luca’s father was a blessing; he owned a successful, internationally-renowned winery (or whinery, if Luca were in charge). All the old man needed was companionship, nothing more; if Kathryn were to stay with him for two years--- maybe less, since he's dying---it would ensure Kathryn an important, executive spot in an international company. Her mother tells her to look upon it as an internship. Kathryn agrees, if only to get away from her termagant mother.
But Kathryn does not receive the warmest reception in Italy. The servants are cold to her, her husband's eldest son Rafael politely ignores her and is ambivalent toward her at best, but the younger son, Luca, is openly hostile to her face and there is something beneath his anger that makes Kathryn superbly uncomfortable. It’s a little more than disdain or disgust at his father marrying for the sixth time a woman a third of his age. Kathryn can't figure it out, but whenever Luca looks at her, her skin suddenly feels like it's two sizes too small.
When her husband dies, everything comes to a head. His will dictates that she must have a position in the company, but Kathryn is quick to point out that she doesn't want a useless, figurehead position; she wants to learn everything about the business. Luca and Rafael think it's merely a ploy on her part to get a bigger stake in the company, so they offer her a generous lump sum to go away and disappear forever. It's a tempting offer, since nobody seems to want her around, but she sticks to her guns and tells them she wants to work. She doesn't want to work with Rafael, who is the CEO and does all the boring stuff like running the company, keeping it going, making sure people are getting paid… She chooses to work with Luca, who is the creative arm of the company, and takes care of stuff like marketing, publicity, schmoozing with society and business folk, and pretending to be a cool, bon vivant playboy who gives zero fucks about the serious things in life (when he is really a ruthless shark, you guys).
Daddy Castelli isn’t even cold in his grave when Luca begins assaulting her in the study, calling her a variety of names that all rhyme with “old digger” and “bore” and when that doesn’t ruffle her feathers any, decides to manhandle her person by shoving his tongue down her throat and his hand down the front of her dress. What a charmer. To her own surprise and perhaps consternation, Kathryn responds enthusiastically and with passion until Luca realizes he’s kissing the most evil hooor who ever lived and shoves her away again. Kathryn openly asks him, “Why do you hate me?” And he’s all, “Coz you’re a whore, just like the others. Shut up. I don’t like talking to you” before he stomps away, slamming the door after him. Kathryn, I assume, has a look on her face at this point that says, “Okay… that guy is nuts… but he sure can kiss.”
But Kathryn remains solid and untouchable, even through Luca’s many attempts to humiliate and mortify her. At work, Luca basically paints a target on her back by destroying a merit-based promotion process that the employees have held to and respected for many years by making Kathryn his new executive assistant instead of promoting someone from within the ranks. As if that’s not enough, he more or less orders his staff to treat her like garbage. He’s hoping she won’t last the week, take the lump sum they offered her, and go away. But Kathryn wants what Daddy Castelli promised her and she’s gonna get it. Like a boss, she grits her teeth, bears down, and does what needs to be done until Luca notices that she’s actually the best executive assistant he’s ever had. But does that change his opinion about her? Of course not. He ramps up the abuse and thinks to himself that a whore is a whore even if she is a brilliant secretary. Plus she’s a bad person who possibly drowns puppies for fun.
Your Hero: Luca is... a hard man to understand. Or tolerate. He has some good points and I can mostly understand why he is the way he is, but he's just so damned stubborn and thick-headed that he makes you want to shake him like a rattle and scream in his face. He believes his mother killed herself from the heartbreak of losing his father and his father treats women like Pokemon: gotta catch ‘em all. When he was child, he was starved for attention so he acted up and threw tantrums until one of his well-meaning stepmoms pulled him aside and told him to stop being acting like a little bitch because in this world, you gotta look out for Number One coz ain't nobody else gonna do it for you. Luca takes this advice to heart and develops an “I give less than zero fucks” persona of the ne’er-do-well younger brother who only cares about himself and the next target for a notch on his bedpost. But as it turns out, his act is actually a part of the Castelli business model because he's really good at hobnobbing, schmoozing, and making contacts at parties, so the company reaps the benefits of his magnificent Italian charisma. Thus he becomes Luca Castelli, International Playboy, tabloid darling, and Giver of Zero Fucks.
And then he meets his father’s new wife and completely loses his shit. It was actually a pretty vivid, evocative scene. Daddy Castelli announces he’s brought a new bride home and summons his sons over for a meet-and-greet. Luca prepares himself say hello and immediately dismiss the nineteen-year-old child bride his father must have surely brought home, but he is almost brought down to his knees at his very first sight of Kathryn and all he could think of was “Not her, not her, not her.” At that moment, he becomes completely and totally obsessed with her, but convinces himself that she is just another one of his father’s whores, out to fleece the old man for his money. He teaches himself to hate her, to seek ulterior motives behind her every action, to be suspicious of every word that comes out of her luscious, beautiful mouth. There is just no way she is as innocent as she looks---hell, the tabloids have taken to calling her “Saint Kate.” No woman would marry a man three times her age out of the goodness of her heart. The gold-digging ho wants as much as she can get and there’s no chance in hell she’d be able to convince him otherwise. He will not nor will he ever condescend himself to go after his own father’s leavings.
Oh, but one of Luca’s redeeming qualities? Lover-boy is generous and not stingy about going downtown.
Preach it, Girlfriend: "Whorish behavior always adds up to two whores, Luca. Not one dirty whore and an innocent with dirty hands by accident, almost but not quite corrupted by doing the exact same thing. No matter what lies you tell yourself.”
Oh My Word: I was 80% finished with this book (and thus far, enjoying the hell out of it) when it occurred to me---hold up, wait a minute: he only comes to believe that she’s not a lying, cheating ho or the most evil skank in the universe because her vagina is still vacuum-sealed and has never been opened? What kind of fuckery is this? It certainly brings a whole new level to the virgin/whore dichotomy: I couldn’t love you because I thought you were a skank, but now that I’ve discovered you’re pure and thus, good, you are worthy of my love and I will treat you like a precious thing from now on. Which brings me to another wrinkle in the storyline that really irked me. Once Luca decides she is an object worthy of being cherished, he begins to refer to her as “cucciola mia” which means “my pet” (or “my puppy”). When Kathryn demurs on the nickname, he says, “I don’t think you have much choice in the matter” (or something to that effect). Dude!
But the biggest thing that made me want to reach in and yank Kathryn out of the book for her own protection was this: when she confesses to him the BIG MAJOR THING that freaks him the hell out and makes him lose his mind (again), he reverts to complete dickbag behavior and accuses her AGAIN of being a manipulative, scheming whore. In her defense, Kathryn says YOU DUMBASS, I WAS A VIRGIN. YOU WERE THERE. WHAT THE HELL. No amount of logic could knock the wind out of Luca’s outraged sails, however, and he retorts: Oh yeah? What kind of woman would hold on tightly to her virginity for her twenty-five years only to lose it in the backseat of a car to a guy she can barely even stand? Seriously, I was surprised Kathryn didn’t gut-punch him right then and there and left him for the ants. HE SLUT-SHAMES HER when he is the one who devirginized her? Oh, Lordy, I need my smelling salts. Never mind the salts, give me vodka.
Oh and for you fans of groveling out there: there’s like, maybe, an eighth of an ounce of it. He doesn’t beg for her forgiveness, doesn’t throw himself at her feet even though he was absolutely abominable to her for 70% of the book and only becomes nice to her because she has a hymen. What he does do is throw himself a pity party, so that Kathryn is basically manipulated into forgiving him. Luca, you wily piece of shit. The only thing that comforts me about the HEA is that throughout the book, Kathryn shows signs of having a backbone made of some hard stuff and that she knows exactly how to fight back. While I think Luca should be locked up in a dog crate for a week and fed only dog food to see how he likes being “my pet,” I think Kathryn could probably handle the guy just fine.
The previous book of this series is about the older brother, Rafael, who is in love with a former step-sister and searches the world to find her. Schyeah, I’m going to read it. Man, these Castelli dudes sure like to keep it in the family!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 7, 2016
Arc from Netgalley.
Intense, that is the word that comes to mind with these two.
Our heroine Kathryn is step-mother to our hero Luca.
Kathryn escaped a domineering and controlling mother by marrying Gianni's, Luca's Father. Gianni's was ill and also had dementia. Kathryn had felt she could be assist and care for Gianni and he in turn promised her the opportunity to work in the business at some point.
Gianni has passed away and we begin the story with Luca being advised by his brother that he will be training and working along side Kathryn. That she want to learn the business and become involved in what he does with the company.
Luca had a strong reaction to Kathryn when he first met the cool, proper, English women. The women that was his fathers wife and his step-mother. He's never really tried to figure out why the strong reaction and he strove to stay away from any contact with her. Kathryn's first encounter with Luca was etched in her memory. She couldn't explain her response to him and she could definitely feel is strong and negative reaction to her.
The development of each characters thought's and feelings start to evolve as they both begin to get past the misconceptions and misunderstandings. We see Luca's struggle with the death of his mother and the many marriage his father had and how it effected his view in women and relationships. Kathryn has been dominated by her mother but yet is a strong, tender, sweet and determined women. She too is dealing with baggage and how it's effecting her and her view on men/relationships.
This story pacts a lot of feelings , emotions, angst and intensity. Just the way I like it. I thought both main characters were well developed and liked able. Good pacing but was a little disappointed that the ending was a little too quick.
Again a good intense and emotional read.
Intense, that is the word that comes to mind with these two.
Our heroine Kathryn is step-mother to our hero Luca.
Kathryn escaped a domineering and controlling mother by marrying Gianni's, Luca's Father. Gianni's was ill and also had dementia. Kathryn had felt she could be assist and care for Gianni and he in turn promised her the opportunity to work in the business at some point.
Gianni has passed away and we begin the story with Luca being advised by his brother that he will be training and working along side Kathryn. That she want to learn the business and become involved in what he does with the company.
Luca had a strong reaction to Kathryn when he first met the cool, proper, English women. The women that was his fathers wife and his step-mother. He's never really tried to figure out why the strong reaction and he strove to stay away from any contact with her. Kathryn's first encounter with Luca was etched in her memory. She couldn't explain her response to him and she could definitely feel is strong and negative reaction to her.
The development of each characters thought's and feelings start to evolve as they both begin to get past the misconceptions and misunderstandings. We see Luca's struggle with the death of his mother and the many marriage his father had and how it effected his view in women and relationships. Kathryn has been dominated by her mother but yet is a strong, tender, sweet and determined women. She too is dealing with baggage and how it's effecting her and her view on men/relationships.
This story pacts a lot of feelings , emotions, angst and intensity. Just the way I like it. I thought both main characters were well developed and liked able. Good pacing but was a little disappointed that the ending was a little too quick.
Again a good intense and emotional read.
May 9, 2021
"Castelli's Virgin Widow" is the story of Kate and Luca.
A forbidden romance between the hero and his much hated stepmother. The heroine married the hero's dying father for a better life, not realizing the trouble it would bring on her from his sons. When her husband dies and she decides to take an interest in his business, her stepsons are not happy.. especially the younger one. There has always been hatred between the two, but now he decides to declare a war. Vowing to make her life a living hell, he proceeds to do exactly that, calling her a whore in a thousand ways. Yet he cannot keep his hands away from her, or stop being disgusting at his illicit attraction. Loads of pushing and pulling, a pregnancy post de-hymenation, hero behaving like an absolute ass because he has daddy issues and heroine forgiving him.. ages later- book ends in a HEA.
Enjoyed in parts
SWE/Unsafe
3/5
A forbidden romance between the hero and his much hated stepmother. The heroine married the hero's dying father for a better life, not realizing the trouble it would bring on her from his sons. When her husband dies and she decides to take an interest in his business, her stepsons are not happy.. especially the younger one. There has always been hatred between the two, but now he decides to declare a war. Vowing to make her life a living hell, he proceeds to do exactly that, calling her a whore in a thousand ways. Yet he cannot keep his hands away from her, or stop being disgusting at his illicit attraction. Loads of pushing and pulling, a pregnancy post de-hymenation, hero behaving like an absolute ass because he has daddy issues and heroine forgiving him.. ages later- book ends in a HEA.
Enjoyed in parts
SWE/Unsafe
3/5
January 18, 2016
So - this hero is intense. Whew. He is a jerk - through pretty much the entire book. He says horrible things to the heroine (his former stepmother)
But she falls in love with him anyway.
I don't mind a jerky hero - but he needs to be redeemed - and this hero was still a total jerk in the end.
Review coming
But she falls in love with him anyway.
I don't mind a jerky hero - but he needs to be redeemed - and this hero was still a total jerk in the end.
Review coming
November 8, 2015
I am always going to be a sucker for a romance with the word Virgin in the title. And she's a widow. This is bound to be angsty.
We heard about Kathryn in the previous Crews title "Unwrapping the Castelli Secret" when the brothers refer to "the Child Bride" The latest in their father Gianni's numerous marriages.
Now Gianni is dead and Kathryn wants to work in the business. Specifically in the Rome office which is Luca's domain. What makes this tricky is that from their first meeting when she arrived as Gianni's new bride there has been a strong animosity between Luca and Kathryn. Mostly from Luca's side because Kathryn doesn't quite understand what the dark current of feeling between the two of them means. As readers of course, we understand perfectly. *rubs hands*
Luca is, to be honest, an absolute b*stard when it comes to "welcoming" Kathryn into his office. But she is a strong woman and prepared to do what it takes. Because she has REASONS.
Luca has a lot to learn about Kathryn and by making her his personal assistant, he is in a perfect position to do so.
This is kind of an enemies to lovers, boss/ personal assistant trope combination. I really enjoyed it.
I received the arc from Netgalley for review and this had no impact except on the speed of my review.
We heard about Kathryn in the previous Crews title "Unwrapping the Castelli Secret" when the brothers refer to "the Child Bride" The latest in their father Gianni's numerous marriages.
Now Gianni is dead and Kathryn wants to work in the business. Specifically in the Rome office which is Luca's domain. What makes this tricky is that from their first meeting when she arrived as Gianni's new bride there has been a strong animosity between Luca and Kathryn. Mostly from Luca's side because Kathryn doesn't quite understand what the dark current of feeling between the two of them means. As readers of course, we understand perfectly. *rubs hands*
Luca is, to be honest, an absolute b*stard when it comes to "welcoming" Kathryn into his office. But she is a strong woman and prepared to do what it takes. Because she has REASONS.
Luca has a lot to learn about Kathryn and by making her his personal assistant, he is in a perfect position to do so.
This is kind of an enemies to lovers, boss/ personal assistant trope combination. I really enjoyed it.
I received the arc from Netgalley for review and this had no impact except on the speed of my review.
November 2, 2015
This story was insanely good. The tension, the conflict, the drama, the chemistry - it all worked. I was genuinely captivated from beginning to end.
Rating: 4.5/5
Recommend: Yes
Rating: 4.5/5
Recommend: Yes
March 12, 2016
4.5-5 stars
I've been looking forward to read this story since I finished book one featuring Lily and Rafael and with the introduction of Luca(the hero). Plus the concept for this book was very interesting when I read the synopsis awhile back. Kathryn for a time was Luca's stepmother for two years, which if not done right could have been really creepy. Thankfully it wasn't and done in a way that created lots of yummy tension between Luca and Kathryn. I loved seeing it all play out on the pages.
The story took off immediately with Luca's "hate" for Kathryn being very clear. His father had just died and she was widowed. Luca's father put her in his will stipulating either she get a huge chunk of money or she would be granted a position in the family business. She took the latter, enraging Luca because she would now be working for him. Let the games begin.
Then it just took off from there. I loved seeing their friction and battle of will with neither surrendering easily. I really enjoyed seeing Kathryn stand up and gave out what he dished even though he hurt her terribly with all his unfair judgements of her. And he was a class one jerk. His intent was to make her life miserable and doing anything to get her to quit and exit his life. He was definitely a stereotypical alpha, which at times I liked but other times he went a tad too far especially at the end.
But with all this animosity between them boiled something more and utterly delicious. It was really fun to watch. There were sizzle streaks coming off the pages. It was that hot and scorching and I just couldn't look away for a single second nor did I want to. It was consuming. It had the whole will they win't they vibe that I love witnessing. I couldn't wait to see them give in. All that sexual tension was hot and was the driving force for the book.
And all their passionate scenes together were even hotter than the tension, and I am not just talking about the love scenes but all the passionate scenes that lead up to that. That first kiss between them was a lit match that just started to light the flames between them as they finally gave into their attraction for one another. The second scene was a full blown all out foreplay scene in the depths of moonlight that was oh my goodness. Loved it and only built up my anticipation for the full blown love scene. It was hot and passionate. Full of longing and intense emotions that were in the background that just hinted of what was to come. It was so yummy and good. Then when the full blown scene came by pulse was practically jumping out of my skin. It was so beyond hot and emotional that I don't think there were words to describe it. Their first time scene upped the ante for first time scenes in romance. First of all the location of the limo was brilliant not because it was done in a limo but the fact that it was done in a limo and her first time and his reaction to it. He was so tender and sweet towards her once he realized his mistake about and treated her accordingly. It was such a monumental shift in him that it was a game change, and I absolutely loved that and it showed he wasn't the heartless brute he was portrayed as thus far in the story. I just really loved that scene in the limo as well as the aftermath which was beyond sweet and tender that showed that he cared. And the scene was hot too as he tenderly tended to her then made love to her. Just those two scenes combined made all the pain ensued on the pages worth it because the pay off was worth it. It was just so good and really did show each of them as their true character instead the facade they shared the world. It was good. There were more passionate scenes along the way, which were good but less detailed but showed their passion and caring never went away. They had that special connection. I would have minded a couple more detailed scenes but it didn't ruin my enjoyment that there were not.
My heart did go out to Kathryn and all she suffered in her life and not just from Luca, but from her mother as well. That woman gave her some deep emotional scars that I could help feeling bad for our heroine. They ran deep and effected her life monumentally. I wanted to give her hug for a majority of the book. She just suffered so much abuse she deserved happiness.
And unfortunately one of these people that was issuing this abuse was Luca. I had a love-hate relationship with him because of that. He was unfair for a majority of the book and it wasn't right and caused much unnecessary pain for poor Kathryn, and it wasn't right. It made it drama/tension filled with lots of angst that I loved but he did take it a tad too far at times. But once the first love scene happened that was the turning point for me because then his softer side was on displayed and it was very much needed. Otherwise I would have not liked him at all. Again not condoning what he did, but it helped to see the tender side come out.
Overall I really did enjoy this book. It was intense, full of angst, emotional and full of passion that I love and enjoy in a romance. I was engrossed with the story and the chapters and full invested in their romance. I loved seeing how everything play out between them. It was fun. It gutted me at times. I felt the pain of the heroine like it was my own and admired her for standing up to Luca and not let him win. I loved her backbone, but also her vulnerability. It was just really good and I don't have that much to say that isn't positive. It met my expectations, and it was definitely worth the wait.
I've been looking forward to read this story since I finished book one featuring Lily and Rafael and with the introduction of Luca(the hero). Plus the concept for this book was very interesting when I read the synopsis awhile back. Kathryn for a time was Luca's stepmother for two years, which if not done right could have been really creepy. Thankfully it wasn't and done in a way that created lots of yummy tension between Luca and Kathryn. I loved seeing it all play out on the pages.
The story took off immediately with Luca's "hate" for Kathryn being very clear. His father had just died and she was widowed. Luca's father put her in his will stipulating either she get a huge chunk of money or she would be granted a position in the family business. She took the latter, enraging Luca because she would now be working for him. Let the games begin.
Then it just took off from there. I loved seeing their friction and battle of will with neither surrendering easily. I really enjoyed seeing Kathryn stand up and gave out what he dished even though he hurt her terribly with all his unfair judgements of her. And he was a class one jerk. His intent was to make her life miserable and doing anything to get her to quit and exit his life. He was definitely a stereotypical alpha, which at times I liked but other times he went a tad too far especially at the end.
But with all this animosity between them boiled something more and utterly delicious. It was really fun to watch. There were sizzle streaks coming off the pages. It was that hot and scorching and I just couldn't look away for a single second nor did I want to. It was consuming. It had the whole will they win't they vibe that I love witnessing. I couldn't wait to see them give in. All that sexual tension was hot and was the driving force for the book.
And all their passionate scenes together were even hotter than the tension, and I am not just talking about the love scenes but all the passionate scenes that lead up to that. That first kiss between them was a lit match that just started to light the flames between them as they finally gave into their attraction for one another. The second scene was a full blown all out foreplay scene in the depths of moonlight that was oh my goodness. Loved it and only built up my anticipation for the full blown love scene. It was hot and passionate. Full of longing and intense emotions that were in the background that just hinted of what was to come. It was so yummy and good. Then when the full blown scene came by pulse was practically jumping out of my skin. It was so beyond hot and emotional that I don't think there were words to describe it. Their first time scene upped the ante for first time scenes in romance. First of all the location of the limo was brilliant not because it was done in a limo but the fact that it was done in a limo and her first time and his reaction to it. He was so tender and sweet towards her once he realized his mistake about and treated her accordingly. It was such a monumental shift in him that it was a game change, and I absolutely loved that and it showed he wasn't the heartless brute he was portrayed as thus far in the story. I just really loved that scene in the limo as well as the aftermath which was beyond sweet and tender that showed that he cared. And the scene was hot too as he tenderly tended to her then made love to her. Just those two scenes combined made all the pain ensued on the pages worth it because the pay off was worth it. It was just so good and really did show each of them as their true character instead the facade they shared the world. It was good. There were more passionate scenes along the way, which were good but less detailed but showed their passion and caring never went away. They had that special connection. I would have minded a couple more detailed scenes but it didn't ruin my enjoyment that there were not.
My heart did go out to Kathryn and all she suffered in her life and not just from Luca, but from her mother as well. That woman gave her some deep emotional scars that I could help feeling bad for our heroine. They ran deep and effected her life monumentally. I wanted to give her hug for a majority of the book. She just suffered so much abuse she deserved happiness.
And unfortunately one of these people that was issuing this abuse was Luca. I had a love-hate relationship with him because of that. He was unfair for a majority of the book and it wasn't right and caused much unnecessary pain for poor Kathryn, and it wasn't right. It made it drama/tension filled with lots of angst that I loved but he did take it a tad too far at times. But once the first love scene happened that was the turning point for me because then his softer side was on displayed and it was very much needed. Otherwise I would have not liked him at all. Again not condoning what he did, but it helped to see the tender side come out.
Overall I really did enjoy this book. It was intense, full of angst, emotional and full of passion that I love and enjoy in a romance. I was engrossed with the story and the chapters and full invested in their romance. I loved seeing how everything play out between them. It was fun. It gutted me at times. I felt the pain of the heroine like it was my own and admired her for standing up to Luca and not let him win. I loved her backbone, but also her vulnerability. It was just really good and I don't have that much to say that isn't positive. It met my expectations, and it was definitely worth the wait.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 28, 2016
Falling in love with one's stepmother isn't something we usually read in HP books. What to say about Luca "the jackass hero" who was so mean to his former stepmother who happens to be fully in love with him.
I don't know what to say about this book. I did love the beginning of this story . Although Luca treated Kathryn in a very bad way yet there were very beautiful and hot events gathering the two stubborn characters, but I really got confused with the ending scene. I couldn't figure out what was going on. we couldn't know what was Rafael's reaction to their relationship nor how the word about her pregnancy did spread out.
I would definitely recommend this book and Caitlin Crews is an amazing author.
I don't know what to say about this book. I did love the beginning of this story . Although Luca treated Kathryn in a very bad way yet there were very beautiful and hot events gathering the two stubborn characters, but I really got confused with the ending scene. I couldn't figure out what was going on. we couldn't know what was Rafael's reaction to their relationship nor how the word about her pregnancy did spread out.
I would definitely recommend this book and Caitlin Crews is an amazing author.
May 4, 2019
Book Two of The Castelli Brothers Series starts with Rafael and Luca heatedly discussing Kathryn Merchant, their deceased father's twenty-three-years-old widow (who had been his sixth wife and found specific mention in his will). The story opens about three years after the incidents of the first book.
Kathryn and Luca have a standoffish beginning. A beginning which started two years back when Kathryn married Gianni Castelli. Luca doesn't miss any chance to taunt her or sneer at her and call her stepmother. Kathryn has been a disappointment for her mother her whole life in spite of trying to be the best version of herself. And it hurt her so much that she went along with her mother's brilliant plan of her marrying Castelli Senior with the condition that after they separate she would be doing a job at their corporate offices.
I just couldn't wrap my head around Kathyn's agenda. I mean, really, just to prove her mother otherwise, she had to marry Gianni so that she could get a job in a large corporation to prove her mother wrong! Umm...who does that? When gradually Kathryn's mother's story was revealed, I did feel sad for her but she shouldn't have treated her child the way she did, she shouldn't have practically pushed her to do something so strange. Though I must say, Luca and Kathryn hit it off from the start. In all that hatred, there's a passion so intense that it burns the pages (in my case, my Kindle!). But Luca is anything but merciful. He sends her straight to the gallows as soon as she steps foot in his office.
And Luca is an entirely different story. At first, it's not clear why he hates Kathryn so much. But then, isn't hatred a strong emotion which sometimes speaks of hidden love, or attraction, maybe. And Kathryn is funny.
Also, Luca has had a neglected childhood. It doesn't justify his later meanness but, well, he is a character after all.
I read many reviews where Luca is painted all black for insulting Kathryn so much. But I really enjoyed reading this story, because Kathryn almost always gave back what she got. And it was total fun to read them bickering.
Like I said in the review of Book One - sordid.
Not related by blood, but one brother romancing stepsister and the other their stepmother is definitely sordid.
All I can say is: Read at your own risk!
P.S. I loved the parts that Rafael and Lily, from Book One - Unwrapping the Castelli Secret, had in this one.
Kathryn and Luca have a standoffish beginning. A beginning which started two years back when Kathryn married Gianni Castelli. Luca doesn't miss any chance to taunt her or sneer at her and call her stepmother. Kathryn has been a disappointment for her mother her whole life in spite of trying to be the best version of herself. And it hurt her so much that she went along with her mother's brilliant plan of her marrying Castelli Senior with the condition that after they separate she would be doing a job at their corporate offices.
I just couldn't wrap my head around Kathyn's agenda. I mean, really, just to prove her mother otherwise, she had to marry Gianni so that she could get a job in a large corporation to prove her mother wrong! Umm...who does that? When gradually Kathryn's mother's story was revealed, I did feel sad for her but she shouldn't have treated her child the way she did, she shouldn't have practically pushed her to do something so strange. Though I must say, Luca and Kathryn hit it off from the start. In all that hatred, there's a passion so intense that it burns the pages (in my case, my Kindle!). But Luca is anything but merciful. He sends her straight to the gallows as soon as she steps foot in his office.
And Luca is an entirely different story. At first, it's not clear why he hates Kathryn so much. But then, isn't hatred a strong emotion which sometimes speaks of hidden love, or attraction, maybe. And Kathryn is funny.
She told herself she was starting to find that scowl on his face almost charming. Like a love song from an ogre.
Also, Luca has had a neglected childhood. It doesn't justify his later meanness but, well, he is a character after all.
I read many reviews where Luca is painted all black for insulting Kathryn so much. But I really enjoyed reading this story, because Kathryn almost always gave back what she got. And it was total fun to read them bickering.
Like I said in the review of Book One - sordid.
Luca wasn’t sure he found his latest stepmother’s obvious manipulation of the press to be in the same realm as the stories Rafael and his wife, Lily—who also happened to be their former stepsister, because the Castelli family tree was nothing if not tangled and bent back on itself—had told to explain the fact she’d been thought dead for five years.
Not related by blood, but one brother romancing stepsister and the other their stepmother is definitely sordid.
All I can say is: Read at your own risk!
P.S. I loved the parts that Rafael and Lily, from Book One - Unwrapping the Castelli Secret, had in this one.
February 21, 2016
This is one of those books that is hard to rate. This is my thoughts, any author that is able to bring out strong emotions in the reader is talented. The hero in this books was a jackass through most of the books. Kathryn was a better person than myself. She only slapped him once. He needed to be slapped more than just once.
Kathryn's mom was a single mother, and worked hard to provide for Kathryn. She sometimes worked 3 jobs. She never let Kathryn forget how hard she worked, or how much she gave up for her daughter. Kathryn felt she was always a disappointment. Her mother pushed Kathryn into marrying a man that was in his 80's, so her mother could benefit from his wealth. Kathryn enjoyed his company, and the two were friends, but never consummated the marriage. After he died it was stated in his will, that Kathryn would work for his company for 3 years.
Luca thought his step mother was a gold digging whore. He was mad that she had to work for him. The two were enemy's, with passion burning between them. He painted a target on her back before she even started working at the office. I loved the way she smiled, and kept her head held high. She didn't let the whispers behind her back pull her down. She worked harder than anyone trying to prove herself. The best way to describe the relationship between Kathryn, and Lucca was fire, and ice. He was attracted to her, but hated himself, and her, for his attraction. The way he called her step mother one moment, and kissed her the next really messed with my moral compass. She was a 25 year old virgin, and her character drew me into the story.
Kathryn's mom was a single mother, and worked hard to provide for Kathryn. She sometimes worked 3 jobs. She never let Kathryn forget how hard she worked, or how much she gave up for her daughter. Kathryn felt she was always a disappointment. Her mother pushed Kathryn into marrying a man that was in his 80's, so her mother could benefit from his wealth. Kathryn enjoyed his company, and the two were friends, but never consummated the marriage. After he died it was stated in his will, that Kathryn would work for his company for 3 years.
Luca thought his step mother was a gold digging whore. He was mad that she had to work for him. The two were enemy's, with passion burning between them. He painted a target on her back before she even started working at the office. I loved the way she smiled, and kept her head held high. She didn't let the whispers behind her back pull her down. She worked harder than anyone trying to prove herself. The best way to describe the relationship between Kathryn, and Lucca was fire, and ice. He was attracted to her, but hated himself, and her, for his attraction. The way he called her step mother one moment, and kissed her the next really messed with my moral compass. She was a 25 year old virgin, and her character drew me into the story.
March 23, 2016
Castelli's Virgin Widow...ok I don't mind the virgin widow trope. I thought I would love this book. I was wrong.
So I started reading and couldn't stand the heroine. I found her to be too dumb. She marries a man old enough to be her grandfather and is bewildered she is hated by his grown sons. So I tried to warm to the heroine but she kept playing dumb! That she was somehow a victim of unfair reactions....I think I rolled my eyes so much a headache started to form. Around chapter 5 maybe chapter 6 I gave up reading. The heroine got on my nerves.
So I started reading and couldn't stand the heroine. I found her to be too dumb. She marries a man old enough to be her grandfather and is bewildered she is hated by his grown sons. So I tried to warm to the heroine but she kept playing dumb! That she was somehow a victim of unfair reactions....I think I rolled my eyes so much a headache started to form. Around chapter 5 maybe chapter 6 I gave up reading. The heroine got on my nerves.
February 18, 2016
This is a follow up from the last book 'Unwrapping the Castelli's secret' I was looking forward to this one and I was not disappointed!!!! Loved it!
March 13, 2016
Luca and Rafael are Kathryn's stepsons.Rafael is married to Lily (once-their stepsister).Their late father Gianni had married several times.Now,in his will, he expects his sons to give Kathryn a job in the family business -for 3 years.
Rafael, the older brother, orders Luca to provide Kathryn with work, against his will.Luca, a rebel as a child, dislikes "Saint Kate", thinks she is a worthless,grabbing gold-digger.Luca makes Kathryn his
PA, hoping she'll get bored and leave.He won't listen to her at all- no suggestions or explanations
of her reasons for the marriage to Gianni.
Kathryn is the daughter of Rose, a bitter single mother,who keeps harping about her sacrifice for her
child.So Kathryn feels guilty about being born and is obliged to her parent.Gianni promised her a chance of a better future.If only Luca would change his attitude towards her...and stop fighting the
attraction.
The story is about prejudice , on taking everything on face value and looking deep into a person's
character.Luca never knew love from his parents, being "the spare".
It's certainly a different kind of a story about a stepmother and stepson..
Rafael, the older brother, orders Luca to provide Kathryn with work, against his will.Luca, a rebel as a child, dislikes "Saint Kate", thinks she is a worthless,grabbing gold-digger.Luca makes Kathryn his
PA, hoping she'll get bored and leave.He won't listen to her at all- no suggestions or explanations
of her reasons for the marriage to Gianni.
Kathryn is the daughter of Rose, a bitter single mother,who keeps harping about her sacrifice for her
child.So Kathryn feels guilty about being born and is obliged to her parent.Gianni promised her a chance of a better future.If only Luca would change his attitude towards her...and stop fighting the
attraction.
The story is about prejudice , on taking everything on face value and looking deep into a person's
character.Luca never knew love from his parents, being "the spare".
It's certainly a different kind of a story about a stepmother and stepson..
January 25, 2016
I'm usually a huge fan of Ms. Crews' writing and giving two stars just because I still love her writing so much. But this book just didn't work for me at all. Luca just felt more and more abusive in his behavior toward Kate. And then it seemed Kate's worth to Luca increased a hundred fold the moment he found she was a virgin. I kept thinking she will bring him back, he will redeem himself but his asking for forgiveness was pretty much nothing...I wanted Kate to walk away from him because honestly I didn't believe Luca was the right guy for her at all...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 9, 2016
It usually takes me less than an hour to finish a Harlequin Presents. Castelli's Virgin Widow took me twice as long as I savoured every single word, line, paragraph, page and chapter.
If you like romances full of angst, the types that make your heart ache, I would say that Caitlin is the Queen of it at Harlequin. This is making it to my Desert Island Keeper's shelf along with her Traded to the Desert Sheikh and Katrakis' Last Mistress. There is nothing in the world like the feeling you get when you have just read an excellent romance. And I just did!
If you like romances full of angst, the types that make your heart ache, I would say that Caitlin is the Queen of it at Harlequin. This is making it to my Desert Island Keeper's shelf along with her Traded to the Desert Sheikh and Katrakis' Last Mistress. There is nothing in the world like the feeling you get when you have just read an excellent romance. And I just did!
January 5, 2016
Soooooooooooooooooooooooo close to being a five star read! Literally just the last couple of pages too! The ending felt rushed and forced and I was left so confused as to what just happened. I mean, the entire book was slow burn, following a great pace that kept me entertained throughout the wild hate-love journey but ugh. The ending could have been done well better.
February 14, 2016
Found the hero to be a pain in the neck at times but otherwise an excellent romantic read.
February 11, 2017
Luca no me gusto para nada, por la manera de maltratar a Kathryn... :o :#
June 20, 2022
Castelli's Virgin Widow, Book 2 of The Castelli Brothers series, was about Luca Castelli, brother to Rafael Castelli, and Kathryn "Kate" Castelli, their sixth stepmother, and their late father's widow.
After the death of their father, Luca and Rafael were forced to give their latest stepmother, Kathryn, a position in their family business for a minimum of three years. Rafael, being the CEO of the company and head of the family, informed Luca that she would be placed in his office in Rome, thus making him her boss...much to Luca's dismay. The tabloids had given Kathryn the nickname "Saint Kate", though Luca believed her to be nothing more than a gold-digging wh*re, having married his father, a man who was at least three times her age. He planned to "push her to her very limits" and not allow her to make a fool of him.
When he confronted her about her "position" in his section of the family business, told her she would do what he said, how he said, and when he said without so much as an argument from her, she went ballistic in his face for the first time since she had met him, telling Luca that she didn't understand why he detested her so much, but she was tired of dealing with his anger and hatred towards her and that she would prove herself to him. Kate went so far as to repeatedly poke him in the chest with her fingers, even after he told her to remove her hand. When she didn't, he moved so fast it took her by surprise...and kissed her. When the kiss ended, she looked at him stunned, and he told her not to "try that innocent game" on him, that he knew the difference between a virgin and a wh*re, that he could taste it. He then told her he would not be her next target, to which she responded that she wasn't some weapon aiming at a target. But then he told her he didn't accept his father's "leftovers" and that he wouldn't let her pollute his team in Rome.
When Kate arrived for work the first day, the receptionist delayed letting Luca know she was there, thus making him think she had arrived late. He then let her know that he had deliberately "painted a target" on her back with his staff and made them dislike her before she had even gotten started...thus began her time as "the most hated employee" in Luca's office. He was that determined she wouldn't last three days, let alone three years, and oh did her co-workers make it just as hard on her as Luca did. And she bore it all with a smile and a stiff spine, "because she was well aware that the less she reacted, the more it annoyed her coworkers".
Three weeks later, boarding the company plane, Luca's first comment to her was, “You’re still here...”. After arriving in California for a company ball, Luca was enraged by the dress she had chosen to wear, to the point he said, "This...is what a wh*re wears when she wishes to announce she’s available again. Discreetly, I grant you. But the message is the same." She replied, "What’s your plan, Luca?...Are you going to prove I’m a wh*re by acting like one yourself? Do you think that’s how it’s done?" That not only put him in his place, but it made him question his emotions around her. Instead, he responded, "I don’t need to prove the truth...It simply is, no matter how you pad it out and pretend otherwise to make yourself look better." But it was her final response that won the moment, "I think you’ll find that math doesn’t work...Wh*rish behavior always adds up to two wh*res, Luca. Not one dirty wh*re and an innocent with dirty hands by accident, almost but not quite corrupted by doing the exact same thing. No matter what lies you tell yourself.". For the rest of the ball, Luca treated her like a child, "you do not speak unless spoken to directly. Just smile and look pretty and make sure you remember every detail of every conversation we have so we can compare notes later".
But as the days passed, Luca couldn't help but admit to himself, even if done grudgingly, that Kate was good at her job...even to the point of being far better than his previous assistant. At one point during their trip, Kate told him, "I told you I could do the job...Any job...But don’t worry, Luca...I won’t let that get in the way of all my wh*ring around. I know you need that to feel better about yourself and, of course, my only aim is to please you.”. That angered him. He asked her why she married his father. She told him that "I married him because I wanted to marry him. He was rich and I was struggling with my degree and some personal issues, and he told me he could make all my troubles go away. I liked that. I wanted that...Is that what you wanted to hear?". He said it wasn't a surprise, but then she asked him what he thought marriages were, and he said not what she had just described. Then she struck again, "Who are you to judge?... We were happy with our arrangement. We fulfilled the promises we made to each other.". But that only made him act cruelly as well as crude and start referring to her as a wh*re again and ask what kind of sexual maneuvers his father had made her do. Although her response was just to tell him that it wasn't his place to ask...or even know what had happened in her marriage. Oh, but he didn't like that response either. But that was all he got and had no response.
However, they were both unable to sleep that night and ended up on the same terrace...where Lucas gave in to his urges to kiss her again...and they ended up in her bed. However, when he reached for a condom...surely she had them in her nightstand...or perhaps she was on birth control...he realized what he was doing and stopped before it went too far, only to become scathing with her afterward.
Another business dinner later, and Luca was fit to be tied after watching Kate conversing with another man seated next to her across the table from him. After it was over, he ushered her quickly to the car then started in on her again about being a wh*re and how she plied her trade. That earned him a hard slap to the face. He told her if she hit him again, they would finish what they started the night before. Then he kissed her again, then one thing led to another...and Luca found out in the worst way possible that there was no way that Kate was a wh*re. Not when he had just taken her virginity.
When they returned to Rome, their affair continued. As Kate proved herself time and again at work, she finally started winning over the team that Luca had set up to be against her. But as for Luca, he didn't believe in "too good to be true". His past relationships showed him that. He was used to no one paying attention to him unless he was acting out...and that was never positive attention. He just didn't know how to believe that Kate wanted him...just for himself. He was waiting for the other shoe to drop "and crush him where he stood"...and then, it did. Kate was pregnant. He believed she had deceived him...trapped him. So he turned cruel again and demanded a paternity test. He informed her he would get all of the necessary lawyers and doctors gathered together..." for the typical workup". Then he told her that, due to his father's will, he couldn't fire her, but that she would start telecommuting rather than going into the office. Then he put her to the test, "I’m sorry if this does not live up to your fantasies of melodrama, Stepmother...You should be aware that eighty percent of the women who make these claims do not return for the appointment that would prove them, liars. The other twenty percent must imagine that I’m kidding when I say I’ll run these tests. I’m not. Which will you be, I wonder?”. When she reminded him that she had been a virgin, he harshly replied, "I know that’s what you wanted me to think...But who can say what is true and what is one more bit of theater from one such as you? A DNA test is far more straightforward.". But she surprised him with her comeback, "Let me make this simple, then...I quit. I’ll contact Rafael and let him know I’d prefer the bulk sum your father left me, and you’ll never see me again. Are you happy now?." He responded by kissing her, letting her go, and saying, "Get out...And, Kathryn...Don’t come back here. Ever.".
Three days later, sh*t hit the fan. The tabloids had caught wind of their affair...and he blamed Kathryn. Luca got a text from Rafael, "Fix it..." which "was succinct and to the point, and did nothing at all to soothe the raging thing inside Luca that was too angry, too ferocious to be a simple beast. This thing wanted blood. This thing wanted payback. This time, he vowed, he wouldn’t rest until he’d destroyed her, too.".
Nine days later in Yorkshire, Luca caught up with Kate...her "nightmare come to life". He demanded to know what she wanted. She said she wanted nothing from him. He didn't believe her, just accused her of trying to pass someone else's baby off as his and, if he denied it, that she would then try to pass it off as his father's child. "You can’t lose, can you?... If I do nothing, the way I would with any other woman who tried to claim I’d impregnated her, the world will assume the child is my father’s. You’ve guaranteed yourself a payday for the rest of your mercenary little life.”. At that point, he broke her. She broke down and cried, telling him he knew it was his baby because he knew she had been a virgin. He demanded to know why, after 25 years and then marriage, she had given him her virginity in the back of a limo. With nothing else to lose, she told him it was because she loved him...and he said, "Then, you are the only one who ever has"...and her heart that had already broken once before...broke a second time. He said he didn't know what love was. Then he admitted to being a horrible man, one who was "terrible enough to let you take me back, because I want you too much. Terrible enough to keep you when I know I should let you go. What would you call that if not crazy?" She told him it was love, and he responded that she would have to show him what she meant. It wasn't until June that they got married. By that time, she had won the respect of most of her co-workers, having stood firm with Luca that she wanted to continue working on the marketing side of the business.
This was a messed-up kind of story. It had so much angst and drama that it was definitely over the top. There was very little humor, so the tension was never eased. While chemistry and passion were high, they seemed a bit ill-placed, as though the wrong couple was the focal point of the story. There were a ton of emotions woven into the fabric of this book, but mostly dark, dramatic emotions that left the reader feeling a touch tainted and in need of a shower to wash them away. The twists and turns of the story were enough to shake the stomach to the point of being ill...and not in a good way.
While Kate's character was mature and steady, with strength and backbone that would put most other Heroines to shame, Luca's character was lacking...in every way. He was caught up too much in his past to really be a participant in the present. He had such a hold on his inner child that was wronged and unloved, that he couldn't be the adult he should have been. His war with Kate had been a petty, childish fight that had started with his father, worked its way through each of his stepmothers, ending with Kate to the point that, when they began their affair, he couldn't separate the child who yearned for attention and love from the man who had found in Kate what that child had been seeking all along. It took him forever to finally piece himself together and allow the child to grow up and accept what Kate had to offer...and what Luca, the man, could offer her in return.
No, this wasn't a book worthy of a five-star rating. It was just a bit too dark, and the way Luca treated Kate for 90% of the story was definitely not worth a four-star rating either. This was definitely not a good ending to the series...but then again, the first book wasn't much better.
After the death of their father, Luca and Rafael were forced to give their latest stepmother, Kathryn, a position in their family business for a minimum of three years. Rafael, being the CEO of the company and head of the family, informed Luca that she would be placed in his office in Rome, thus making him her boss...much to Luca's dismay. The tabloids had given Kathryn the nickname "Saint Kate", though Luca believed her to be nothing more than a gold-digging wh*re, having married his father, a man who was at least three times her age. He planned to "push her to her very limits" and not allow her to make a fool of him.
When he confronted her about her "position" in his section of the family business, told her she would do what he said, how he said, and when he said without so much as an argument from her, she went ballistic in his face for the first time since she had met him, telling Luca that she didn't understand why he detested her so much, but she was tired of dealing with his anger and hatred towards her and that she would prove herself to him. Kate went so far as to repeatedly poke him in the chest with her fingers, even after he told her to remove her hand. When she didn't, he moved so fast it took her by surprise...and kissed her. When the kiss ended, she looked at him stunned, and he told her not to "try that innocent game" on him, that he knew the difference between a virgin and a wh*re, that he could taste it. He then told her he would not be her next target, to which she responded that she wasn't some weapon aiming at a target. But then he told her he didn't accept his father's "leftovers" and that he wouldn't let her pollute his team in Rome.
When Kate arrived for work the first day, the receptionist delayed letting Luca know she was there, thus making him think she had arrived late. He then let her know that he had deliberately "painted a target" on her back with his staff and made them dislike her before she had even gotten started...thus began her time as "the most hated employee" in Luca's office. He was that determined she wouldn't last three days, let alone three years, and oh did her co-workers make it just as hard on her as Luca did. And she bore it all with a smile and a stiff spine, "because she was well aware that the less she reacted, the more it annoyed her coworkers".
Three weeks later, boarding the company plane, Luca's first comment to her was, “You’re still here...”. After arriving in California for a company ball, Luca was enraged by the dress she had chosen to wear, to the point he said, "This...is what a wh*re wears when she wishes to announce she’s available again. Discreetly, I grant you. But the message is the same." She replied, "What’s your plan, Luca?...Are you going to prove I’m a wh*re by acting like one yourself? Do you think that’s how it’s done?" That not only put him in his place, but it made him question his emotions around her. Instead, he responded, "I don’t need to prove the truth...It simply is, no matter how you pad it out and pretend otherwise to make yourself look better." But it was her final response that won the moment, "I think you’ll find that math doesn’t work...Wh*rish behavior always adds up to two wh*res, Luca. Not one dirty wh*re and an innocent with dirty hands by accident, almost but not quite corrupted by doing the exact same thing. No matter what lies you tell yourself.". For the rest of the ball, Luca treated her like a child, "you do not speak unless spoken to directly. Just smile and look pretty and make sure you remember every detail of every conversation we have so we can compare notes later".
But as the days passed, Luca couldn't help but admit to himself, even if done grudgingly, that Kate was good at her job...even to the point of being far better than his previous assistant. At one point during their trip, Kate told him, "I told you I could do the job...Any job...But don’t worry, Luca...I won’t let that get in the way of all my wh*ring around. I know you need that to feel better about yourself and, of course, my only aim is to please you.”. That angered him. He asked her why she married his father. She told him that "I married him because I wanted to marry him. He was rich and I was struggling with my degree and some personal issues, and he told me he could make all my troubles go away. I liked that. I wanted that...Is that what you wanted to hear?". He said it wasn't a surprise, but then she asked him what he thought marriages were, and he said not what she had just described. Then she struck again, "Who are you to judge?... We were happy with our arrangement. We fulfilled the promises we made to each other.". But that only made him act cruelly as well as crude and start referring to her as a wh*re again and ask what kind of sexual maneuvers his father had made her do. Although her response was just to tell him that it wasn't his place to ask...or even know what had happened in her marriage. Oh, but he didn't like that response either. But that was all he got and had no response.
However, they were both unable to sleep that night and ended up on the same terrace...where Lucas gave in to his urges to kiss her again...and they ended up in her bed. However, when he reached for a condom...surely she had them in her nightstand...or perhaps she was on birth control...he realized what he was doing and stopped before it went too far, only to become scathing with her afterward.
Another business dinner later, and Luca was fit to be tied after watching Kate conversing with another man seated next to her across the table from him. After it was over, he ushered her quickly to the car then started in on her again about being a wh*re and how she plied her trade. That earned him a hard slap to the face. He told her if she hit him again, they would finish what they started the night before. Then he kissed her again, then one thing led to another...and Luca found out in the worst way possible that there was no way that Kate was a wh*re. Not when he had just taken her virginity.
When they returned to Rome, their affair continued. As Kate proved herself time and again at work, she finally started winning over the team that Luca had set up to be against her. But as for Luca, he didn't believe in "too good to be true". His past relationships showed him that. He was used to no one paying attention to him unless he was acting out...and that was never positive attention. He just didn't know how to believe that Kate wanted him...just for himself. He was waiting for the other shoe to drop "and crush him where he stood"...and then, it did. Kate was pregnant. He believed she had deceived him...trapped him. So he turned cruel again and demanded a paternity test. He informed her he would get all of the necessary lawyers and doctors gathered together..." for the typical workup". Then he told her that, due to his father's will, he couldn't fire her, but that she would start telecommuting rather than going into the office. Then he put her to the test, "I’m sorry if this does not live up to your fantasies of melodrama, Stepmother...You should be aware that eighty percent of the women who make these claims do not return for the appointment that would prove them, liars. The other twenty percent must imagine that I’m kidding when I say I’ll run these tests. I’m not. Which will you be, I wonder?”. When she reminded him that she had been a virgin, he harshly replied, "I know that’s what you wanted me to think...But who can say what is true and what is one more bit of theater from one such as you? A DNA test is far more straightforward.". But she surprised him with her comeback, "Let me make this simple, then...I quit. I’ll contact Rafael and let him know I’d prefer the bulk sum your father left me, and you’ll never see me again. Are you happy now?." He responded by kissing her, letting her go, and saying, "Get out...And, Kathryn...Don’t come back here. Ever.".
Three days later, sh*t hit the fan. The tabloids had caught wind of their affair...and he blamed Kathryn. Luca got a text from Rafael, "Fix it..." which "was succinct and to the point, and did nothing at all to soothe the raging thing inside Luca that was too angry, too ferocious to be a simple beast. This thing wanted blood. This thing wanted payback. This time, he vowed, he wouldn’t rest until he’d destroyed her, too.".
Nine days later in Yorkshire, Luca caught up with Kate...her "nightmare come to life". He demanded to know what she wanted. She said she wanted nothing from him. He didn't believe her, just accused her of trying to pass someone else's baby off as his and, if he denied it, that she would then try to pass it off as his father's child. "You can’t lose, can you?... If I do nothing, the way I would with any other woman who tried to claim I’d impregnated her, the world will assume the child is my father’s. You’ve guaranteed yourself a payday for the rest of your mercenary little life.”. At that point, he broke her. She broke down and cried, telling him he knew it was his baby because he knew she had been a virgin. He demanded to know why, after 25 years and then marriage, she had given him her virginity in the back of a limo. With nothing else to lose, she told him it was because she loved him...and he said, "Then, you are the only one who ever has"...and her heart that had already broken once before...broke a second time. He said he didn't know what love was. Then he admitted to being a horrible man, one who was "terrible enough to let you take me back, because I want you too much. Terrible enough to keep you when I know I should let you go. What would you call that if not crazy?" She told him it was love, and he responded that she would have to show him what she meant. It wasn't until June that they got married. By that time, she had won the respect of most of her co-workers, having stood firm with Luca that she wanted to continue working on the marketing side of the business.
This was a messed-up kind of story. It had so much angst and drama that it was definitely over the top. There was very little humor, so the tension was never eased. While chemistry and passion were high, they seemed a bit ill-placed, as though the wrong couple was the focal point of the story. There were a ton of emotions woven into the fabric of this book, but mostly dark, dramatic emotions that left the reader feeling a touch tainted and in need of a shower to wash them away. The twists and turns of the story were enough to shake the stomach to the point of being ill...and not in a good way.
While Kate's character was mature and steady, with strength and backbone that would put most other Heroines to shame, Luca's character was lacking...in every way. He was caught up too much in his past to really be a participant in the present. He had such a hold on his inner child that was wronged and unloved, that he couldn't be the adult he should have been. His war with Kate had been a petty, childish fight that had started with his father, worked its way through each of his stepmothers, ending with Kate to the point that, when they began their affair, he couldn't separate the child who yearned for attention and love from the man who had found in Kate what that child had been seeking all along. It took him forever to finally piece himself together and allow the child to grow up and accept what Kate had to offer...and what Luca, the man, could offer her in return.
No, this wasn't a book worthy of a five-star rating. It was just a bit too dark, and the way Luca treated Kate for 90% of the story was definitely not worth a four-star rating either. This was definitely not a good ending to the series...but then again, the first book wasn't much better.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 24, 2015
ARC from NetGalley
3.5 stars
In this follow up to Unwrapping The Castelli Secret, Rafael’s brother Luca, who is also a very intense, work driven man must employ his late father’s widow. Kathryn was the last of the “child brides” their father, Gianni, seemed to favor over his children and their welfare. Luca has always had an extreme reaction to Kathryn since their first meeting. Kathryn married his father to escape her domineering mother who was never satisfied with her no matter how hard she worked. Kathryn’s mother is quite a nasty piece of work as well as being very manipulative.
Kathryn uses her stiff upper British lip to deflect Luca’s hostility after becoming his assistant. She wants to prove that she has a good mind and can be an asset to the family company. Luca and Kathryn share a strong attraction, but he rejects her constantly being quite nasty to her in the beginning. As they work together, Luca is powerfully drawn to Kathryn, but he sees it as purely lust. Luca doesn’t really believe in love because other than his brother, no one has ever truly loved him. They are both very wounded people who eventually give into to their mutual attraction. And to Luca’s surprise, Kathryn is much more innocent than he ever thought.
Luca’s poor behavior does not make him a very attractive hero even though there are obvious reasons for it. I enjoyed watching Kathryn stand up to him, and finally to her obnoxious mother. Even after they come together, it’s a bumpy ride when Luca thinks Kathryn has been deceiving him after a revelation.
3.5 stars
In this follow up to Unwrapping The Castelli Secret, Rafael’s brother Luca, who is also a very intense, work driven man must employ his late father’s widow. Kathryn was the last of the “child brides” their father, Gianni, seemed to favor over his children and their welfare. Luca has always had an extreme reaction to Kathryn since their first meeting. Kathryn married his father to escape her domineering mother who was never satisfied with her no matter how hard she worked. Kathryn’s mother is quite a nasty piece of work as well as being very manipulative.
Kathryn uses her stiff upper British lip to deflect Luca’s hostility after becoming his assistant. She wants to prove that she has a good mind and can be an asset to the family company. Luca and Kathryn share a strong attraction, but he rejects her constantly being quite nasty to her in the beginning. As they work together, Luca is powerfully drawn to Kathryn, but he sees it as purely lust. Luca doesn’t really believe in love because other than his brother, no one has ever truly loved him. They are both very wounded people who eventually give into to their mutual attraction. And to Luca’s surprise, Kathryn is much more innocent than he ever thought.
Luca’s poor behavior does not make him a very attractive hero even though there are obvious reasons for it. I enjoyed watching Kathryn stand up to him, and finally to her obnoxious mother. Even after they come together, it’s a bumpy ride when Luca thinks Kathryn has been deceiving him after a revelation.
February 22, 2022
The H was similar to one of those indolent rakes in regency novels who put up a front and charm everyone in the Ton with their foppish behavior, careless humor and clever witticisms but secretly are brilliant and cold. I found his character and that of his brother absolutely fascinating.
The premise was a bit awkward, but I can forgive that in a harlequin to a point, especially because of the the high angst which I LOVE in romances.
I will freely admit that I grabbed this on impulse and was very lucky to have started reading immediately; if I had taken the time to read the description on the back I would have avoided it like the plague.
There is one thing I have to say about the ending. Very mild and general spoilers with no specific information below.
I love Harlequins, but they are so formulaic that it is very refreshing when one of the books deviates even slightly from the norm.
I was fully prepared for the last few pages to follow the same-old-same-old formula where the H/h have the obligatory “let’s go over every hurtful thing that happened in the book in past tense and apologize/justify each item then at the end declare undying love for each other” talk…
…but it was not done that way at all.
Instead there was a quick mention of the past, no more than a couple short paragraphs, followed by a “show, not tell” epilogue that was, again, for a harlequin, quite clever and enjoyable. Probably the first time ever I was not tempted to skim-read a harlequin epilogue.
Five stars.
The premise was a bit awkward, but I can forgive that in a harlequin to a point, especially because of the the high angst which I LOVE in romances.
I will freely admit that I grabbed this on impulse and was very lucky to have started reading immediately; if I had taken the time to read the description on the back I would have avoided it like the plague.
There is one thing I have to say about the ending. Very mild and general spoilers with no specific information below.
I love Harlequins, but they are so formulaic that it is very refreshing when one of the books deviates even slightly from the norm.
I was fully prepared for the last few pages to follow the same-old-same-old formula where the H/h have the obligatory “let’s go over every hurtful thing that happened in the book in past tense and apologize/justify each item then at the end declare undying love for each other” talk…
…but it was not done that way at all.
Instead there was a quick mention of the past, no more than a couple short paragraphs, followed by a “show, not tell” epilogue that was, again, for a harlequin, quite clever and enjoyable. Probably the first time ever I was not tempted to skim-read a harlequin epilogue.
Five stars.
March 29, 2016
The Castelli brothers are something else. This is the story of the Raphael's brother Luca and Kathryn the child bride of their father. This happens a few years after Raphael's story was resolved. The patriach is dead and the terms of his will ensure that the wife will have a place in the Castelli organization. Luca will work with Stepmother and they just rub each other the wrong way. He makes work hell for Kathryn. But she soldiers on. I like her, she had spunk and takes it and really is determined to earn her keep. You just know all the resentment hides and attraction . And Luca is attracted and acts on it. An affair ensues. And there is a consequence to their love. There is a great misunderstanding but it gets resolved.
The good thing about this story is the heroine, she was one of the shining hope of this read. Luca was such a bad character. But hey he learned and loved. So it's good .
The good thing about this story is the heroine, she was one of the shining hope of this read. Luca was such a bad character. But hey he learned and loved. So it's good .
April 24, 2016
hero is bully, daddy little boy who was spoiled, got everything he wanted and now he without shame and remorse belittles a woman. he is no gentleman and no man. in my country we call men like him 'seljačine' or in english I could use word 'cad'. he's disgusting.
and through whole book I don't see a reason why heroine loves him. I mean, he bullies her and she falls in love with him. come on!
also, the way she lost her virginity....seriously? = very romantic -.- (sarcasm)
and through whole book I don't see a reason why heroine loves him. I mean, he bullies her and she falls in love with him. come on!
also, the way she lost her virginity....seriously? = very romantic -.- (sarcasm)
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