The Italian Count's Command

by Sara Wood

Dante was on his way home and called his home, his brother answered the phone and told him his wife was having sex with another man, and she was drunk, and their son was crying in another room. Dante our super rich alpha male, got home saw the condition of his wife and took off to Italy with his son. I never really warmed up to Dante, he was kind of a jerk. Miranda his beautiful wife could barely get up, and he was violently sick but Dante saw two glasses and the bottle of booze and assumed his brother was telling the truth.

Genres: Harlequin, Second Chance, Contemporary Romance, Romance, Harlequin Presents

192 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2005

About the author

Sara Wood was born in England. She has wonderful memories of her childhood. Her parents were desperately poor but their devotion to family life gave her a feeling of great security. Sara's father was one of four fostered children and never knew his parents, hence his joy with his own family. Birthday parties were sensational her father would perform brilliantly as a Chinese magician or a clown or invent hilarious games and treasure hunts. From him she learnt that working hard brought many rewards, especially self-respect. During her degree course she met her husband, a kind, thoughtful, attentive man who is her friend and soulmate. At 21, she married and had her first son at 22. Now she has another three children. She loved teaching in Sussex which she did for twelve years.

Her switch into writing came about in a peculiar way. Richie, her elder son, had always been nuts about natural history and had a huge collection of animal skulls. At the age of fifteen he decided he'd write an information book about collecting. Heinemann and Pan, prestigious publishers, eagerly fell on the book and when it was published it won the famous Times Information Book award. Interviews, TV and magazine articles followed. Encouraged by his success, she thought she could write too and had several information books for children published. Then she saw Charlotte Lamb being wined and dined by Mills & Boon on a television programme and decided she could do Charlotte's job! But she'd rarely read fiction before, so she bought twenty books and analysed them carefully, then wrote one of her own. Amazingly it was accepted and she began writing full time.

Sara and her husband moved to a small country estate in Cornwall which was a paradise. Her sons visited often; Richie being married to Heidi and with two daughters; Simon rushing in after some danger- filled action in Alaska or Hawaii etc, protecting the environment with Greenpeace. Sara qualified as a homeopath, caring for the health of her family and friends. But Paradise is always fleeting. Sara's husband became seriously ill and it was clear that they had to move somewhere less demanding on time and effort. After a nightmare year of worrying about him, nursing and watching him like a hawk, she was relieved when they'd sold up and moved back to Sussex. Their current house is large and thatched and sits in the pretty rolling downs with wonderful walks and views all around. They live nearer to the boys (men!) and see them often. Richie and Heidi are expecting another baby, Simon has a baby son and a new, dangerous, passion flinging himself off mountains (paragliding). The three hills nearby frequently entice him down. She adores seeing her family (mother, mother-in-law too) around the table at Christmas. Sara feels fortunate that although she's had tough times and has sometimes been desperately unhappy, she is now surrounded by love and feels she can weather any storm to come.

Reviews

[Vanessa · Rating 1 out of 5]

Dante has been relegated for however long w/ rumors of his wife’s neglect of their child, her use of recreational drugs, and partying ways w/ OM. But he has never been forced to face the evidence of these rumors, until now. His loving brother informs Dante that Miranda, his wife of four years, is drunk, out cold and there is evidence of her entertaining another man in their bedroom! Yep, it doesn’t look good for Miranda after all why would Dante’s brother lie?

But then it suddenly doesn’t look good for Dante either. He believes what he sees and walks out of the house, his marriage, and wife taking their three year old child, w/ no direction for Miranda. She gets to search relentlessly for her precious child until her estranged husband finally calls and invites her to come to them to help settle their boy as he is unsettled w/out her around. However, it is remarked upon that the child is settled – confusing that. Does Dante question the rumors at that point? Nope. Miranda has to point things out to him and he finally relents on the neglect aspect, but not the cheating portion. Apparently four years of marriage did NOT breed any trust into their r/s!

Yes, I understand that it didn’t help that Miranda seemed to guard her emotions and was not overly fond of displaying her affection, but seriously if one portion of the rumor was questionable shouldn’t he have wondered about other portions? Dante and Miranda’s story held my interest to a point. Once I started questioning the things that Dante believed I found myself frustrated w/ his easy acceptance of something when he and Miranda had been married for so long. Yes, he was probably listening to negative things for several years, but not once did he find any evidence to support those rumors. Then there is the child that is clearly capable of speech and said child didn’t seem to say anything either! No mention of any “uncles” coming to visit or the fact that “mommy is always walking into walls and falling over things” – zilch! Also he must have heard negative things about the other party, but he doesn’t buy them at all.

Dante ran hot and cold several times and it left me wondering what the heck he was thinking to push her away one moment and then reel her in as though nothing is going on just to fling her aside again. He didn’t seem to care to get to the bottom of the mystery night as he wanted to protect himself. I’m still wondering why he didn’t at least seek better care for her at that time rather than leaving her on her own or perhaps w/ his brother

**SPOILERS/QUESTIONS** Why he didn’t finish what he started and if not why something more tragic didn’t befall Miranda? Also we are to believe that bro didn’t do what he set out to do, but instead talked on the phone first? Why? Why would he do that? That doesn’t make sense as he seems to lack a morality chip to begin w/. So perhaps he did do that and he also knew that if he admitted it to his brother he would be dead so what is one more lie in the scheme of things? Miranda also seemed to change her mind as well. At one point she remembers that night as being helpless and unable to really move, but she is thinking no rape occurred then later she is thinking it did. One would think if you are so helpless and unable to move and another person is there then you can’t really give consent thereby it is rape, right?

Dante seemed to show more compassion for the materialistic sister of Miranda than his own wife. Miranda was relegated w/ Dante’s nastiness and user-ness throughout the story only to get a few page scrimpy grovel, that she didn’t care for anyway because she was just so happy that they could be together in the end. Dante had no true defense in the end because there were others that spoke of his brother’s treatment and questionable activities, but instead Dante places his sibling before his wife and there wasn’t a lot of groveling for me to buy into the HEA. Dante is more concerned w/ the way things appear to others, yet he ignored the grumblings about his brother, all at the detriment of his wife and their marriage. The quick forgiveness by Miranda towards Dante is a bit annoying as well. Sure, once people are adults they are responsible for their actions, but so is Dante. He chose to believe the worst of his wife – yes she didn’t believe the best of him either and that isn’t really dealt w/ but appears moot given what she and her sister are subjected to – and he acted accordingly making her pay throughout the story. Sure would be nice if there was equality in these stories!!

[Aou · Rating 3 out of 5]

‘I still don’t understand how you can forgive me so easily,’ he wondered.
You’re not alone dude!

[Debbie DiFiore · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a horrible wonderful book. I was crying with her and hating her with him. He was despicable. Guido is pure evil though. You knew all along what was happening so it was hard for me to listen to Dantes thoughts and behavior. He was so cruel to her kidnapping their child and calling her names and I just hated him. But the ending, that ending was perfect. Saved the whole story I love when HP men realize what idiots They were. He made up just fine and I loved little Carlo

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

The hero is on a trip when suddenly his brother informs him that his wife is at their London home with her lover, drunk out of her mind and on drugs. The hero rushes home to his wife and baby and when he sees the state she is in he takes their son and returns to Italy to make a new life for them that doesn't include his cheating wife. But soon he realizes that neither he nor his son can live without her.

This book had me all over the emotional scale. Pissed, happy, frustrated, sad, and the list goes on! Dante was so dreamy and Miranda was so brave and determined to prove her innocence. She knew all the the evidence were against her but she never stopped fighting for the love of Dante and of her baby boy who is by the way the cutest Harlequin baby ever.

The hero's brother was not only a bastard he was a pure villain. I loved to hate him! Both the hero and the heroine were his victims and I sympathized with both of them. Eventually Miranda learned to open her heart and show her emotions and Dante to see beyond his wife's facade.

The way they learn to let go of their mistakes and embrace the future is the heart and soul of this book, and well worth the journey!

[Fiona Marsden · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a sucker for a marriage in trouble story. This was a very popular trope at one time. I can think of at least two other Presents writers who've used this trope back in the day. Basically it is two brilliantly happy people deeply in love who let someone close to them, usually a brother or sister, lie and twist and in some cases physically assault the heroine in a compromising way in order to destroy everything.

Dante and Marina have a three year old son so it's particularly heinous to have their marriage attacked. The vulnerabilities in both protagonists that make this possible are believable but I will say Dante is a bit of a blind idiot. But hey, no conflict no story.

Overall an enjoyable and angsty read but didn't bring tears so missed out on my "emotional excess star". The ending was satisfying. I also really want to go to Lake Como one day.

[RomLibrary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Miranda still loves her estranged husband, Count Dante Severini, and she would do anything to be with him and their son. But Dante clearly hates her--treating her like an unfaithful gold digger...

Much as it pains him to do so, Dante has had no choice but to believe the evidence against his wife. He had wanted nothing more to do with Miranda--but their son has been missing his mother. So he issues her a dramatic command: Miranda must come to live with him in his Italian palazzo. In exchange for a life of unparalleled luxury she must pretend that they are happily married...that she is his loving, willing wife....

[Daisy Daisy · Rating 3 out of 5]

So put this before I started reading it...
This is the only book left to read in my e-reader by this author and I’ve been putting it off for ages! However my ocd means I have to move it to the rest of the books by this author in the read file so it’s time to suffer it. Some of her H’s are real assholes!
I take it back this was one of the best Sara Wood books I've ever suffered and I have suffered a fair few of them. Don't get me wrong the H is still a total muppet. He believes his asshole brother and lets him poison his mind against his wife and he also basically kidnaps their child and makes her suffer not knowing where he is for a few weeks which is pretty unforgivable.
BUT... This H can't resist his wife, is celibate AND he turns his brother over to the police when he realises what a total and utter creep he is.
The h is pretty traumatised by what the H and his brother (drugged her and attempted rape) do to her and the bro has also being poisoning her mind as well yet despite this she forgives the H VERY easily and does in fact actively try to save her marriage by instigating sexy times.
Be happy the h is happy but applaud the H for the evil bro getting his come uppance!

[Becky · Rating 2 out of 5]

Heroine treated like crap by hero who leaves her drugged and helpless during an assault and then heaps non-stop abuse on her after kidnapping her child. But she's determined to make him love and "forgive" her. I kept picturing weebles, you know how you knock them down and they pop back up? Also kept hearing that song High Hopes...the one about the little ant determined to move the rubber tree plant? Seriously, that song will play in your head....

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rarely does HP rise to the 5 star level, but this one was a 4.5 rounded up. Great angst, great dialogue and a story line that just kept you turning the pages when you should have been asleep 3 hours ago. The h was no doormat but she was caught up in an almost impossible situation. The H was strong and placed too much faith and trust in his evil brother. this set the stage for the brother's manipulations of them both in his hatred and jealousy of not being the heir. He almost succeeded. The H did redeem himself...beautifully. The h learned to relax and express herself without being so stoic. The todler was a joy.

The drama in this story and the angst was well worth the read. The editing was great. The overall story was strong and kept you interested and involved throughout. Highly recommend.

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok the story line was horrable but the way it was written was worth the 4 stars. I was not happy when reading this book by Sara Wood. She did a great job of bringing out my emotions in this story line. Here Miranda is accused of adultry by her husband Dante. She does not remember the incident. She has reaccouring nightmares about that night but nothing she can put her finger on. He has taken their son away from her. But now he needs her back to calm the child. He is hateful and judgmental with her. But not all is what he is led to believe. There was a sinister plot behind her supposed betrayal. Will the truth come out in time or will she never find out what happened that night? Sara Wood seems to bring out emotions that only a great writer should when doing this book. Not a typical HP story line though. HEA ending.

[Booklover · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good book,the plot was nice given by twist n turns

Both hero-heroin were manupalated n circumstances n eveidence were against heroin so perfectly understand why she could'nt defend herself n took heor's all anger n abuses but at end everything falls into pieces,hero is really shamefaced n regrets for what happened to ladies(wife-SIL) n even thinks hoe he is not a good hubby , a nice read

Recommend it

[Raffaella · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good plot for a HP.
The heroine is a victim of her brother in law's machinations.
He tells the hero she's partying with her lover(s) and when the hero comes home he finds her unconscious in bed with champagne all over and suspicious marks on her body, while their son is screaming in another room.
Ok, we know it's all a ruse but hey, italian machoman from 20 years ago and then some, and very jealous and suspicious per se, we ca well understand that he truly believed his brother seeing what he saw.
So he throws the cheating wife out of their house and keep their child, because evil brother is there telling she's always besen a veery bad and veery unloving mother.
After a couple of week our distraught heroine, that in the meantime couldn't even talk to the hero, receives a call from him and then he proposes her to live together as a couple, but of course without sex, since their child isn't doing very well and is always asking where she is.
So he's not a cruel man, because, believing what he believes about her, he prefers having the cheating junkie wife around for his son's sake than never having his son seeing her again.
To understand the book we have to understand how things are: the heroine was made to look very guilty, with also the sign of another man on her, and naked and drunk in bed so the hero is firmly believing she's a crazy gold-digger who didn't care for him and used their son as a means to have her position secured.
He's hurt, because he was in love with her and feels betrayed.
The author manages to convey all the angst and the pain of the heroine who doesn't understand why the hero is treating her like that, she was also told by her bil that the hero only wanted her to have his unlce's inheritance and a son, and now she thinks he wants to get rid of her because he used her and never loved her.
So there's so much angst in the first part of the book.
The hero of course treats her like dirt, but isn't able to keep his hands off her, because he is veeery much still attracted to her, and even if he despises her he is still in love with her.
The heroine is confused. In her mind she has some flashes of a man who was with her in her bed, but she can't remember what happened.
She thinks she had a fever and was delirious but she remembers she had marks on her body so she's scared because she thinks she cheated on the hero, even if she doesn't understand how it happened.
There are evil bil always around and silly heroine's sister who thinks she can marry hero's brother and settle well. Those two are ther preventing the couple from saving their marriage.
Then there's a twist.
The heroine finds out she's pregnant and doesn't want to tell the hero because she actually doesn't know if the child is his.
Eventually we find out she was drugged and almost raped and of course the hero's brother was behind all the scheme, so the hero feels a heel and thinks he lost the heroine forever.
After all, he wasn't there to protect her and believed his brother and not her.
The end was too rushed and in typical hp style, the pages are few and the heroine has to forgive him soon without even making him grovel.
I was disappointed because I felt cheated of my retribution, being a revengeful and unforgiving bitch.
So the hero, after making her life hell and treating her like dirt, not only gets instant forgiveness but also another child from his mistreated wife.
Not fair at all.
There are many inconsistencies, as why bil didn't rape the heroine but stopped before completing the act, (apparently the hero interrupted him but can we trust the bro after all he did?), after all she was unconscious, or what will happen to him, but the book wasn't bad at all, if you like misjudged heroines and evil cruel heroes.
With the right grovel it would have been perfect.

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Miranda still keeps the love that she has for her late husband Count Dante Severini. He wants nothing to do with her but the son that they have together is wanting his mom. Dante knows that he can't be cruel to his son. So he gives Miranda a deal and she has to follow the rules.

This is a book that a husband listens to what someone says or the evidence. The kind of story that a man will find out that he is wrong but he has an alpha male and it will be hard for him to admit he was wrong.

[Missy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liked it....had passion, love, jealously, sorrow, and a twisted plan hatched in hate. The little boy was fun and charming. Great read.