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In Italia con il milionario
Incontrare e perdere l’amore nell’arco di una notte. Mary Jenkins non avrebbe mai creduto che potesse succedere proprio a lei. Bloccati dopo una slavina in una baita semidistrutta in attesa dei soccorsi, Mary ha trovato conforto tra le braccia forti e rassicuranti di Renzo… almeno fino a quando lui non viene inghiottito in quella immensa distesa bianca. Nonostante di lui conoscesse soltanto il nome, sapeva che non le sarebbe bastata una vita intera per dimenticare il suo fascino intrigante e il dolce profumo della sua pelle. Oggi, a distanza di un anno, Mary ha ricevuto una notizia sconvolgente: Renzo Ruffini, il facoltoso imprenditore italiano con cui ha trascorso quella dolcissima notte d’amore, dal giorno dell’incidente ha perso la memoria. Il timore di leggere un rifiuto nei suoi splendidi occhi la frena ma, per aiutarlo a riappropriarsi del passato, Mary è pronta a rischiare il tutto per tutto. Persino il suo fragile cuore.
154 pages, Mass Market Paperback
Published January 1, 2010
About the author
Lucy Gordon
696 books91 followersChristine Sparks was born in England, UK. She wanted to be a writer all her life, and began by working on a British women's magazine. As a features writer, she gained a wide variety of experience. She interviewed some of the world's most attractive and interesting men, including Warren Beatty, Richard Chamberlain, Charlton Heston, Sir Roger Moore, Sir Alec Guiness.
Single life was so enjoyable that she put marriage, and even romance, on the back burner, while she went about the world having a great time. Then, while on vacation in Venice, she met a tall, dark handsome Venetian artist, who changed all her ideas in a moment, and proposed on the second day. Three months later they were married. Her friends said a whirlwind romance would never last, but they celebrated their 25 anniversary, they are still married, still happy and in love.
After 13 years on the magazine Christine decided that it was now or never if she was ever going to write that novel. So she wrote Legacy of Fire which became a Silhouette Special Edition, followed by another, Enchantment in Venice. Then she did something crazy gave up her job. Since then she has concentrated entirely on writing romances for Mills & Boon, Harlequin and Silhouette and has written over 75 books. Her settings have been European and her heroes mainly English or Italian. Christine now claims to be an expert on one particular subject. Italian men are the most romantic in the world. They are also the best cooks.
A few years ago she and her husband returned to Venice and lived there for a couple of years. This proved the perfect base for exploring the rest of Italy, and she has given many of her books Italian settings: Venice (of course), Rome, Florence, Milan, Sicily, Tuscany. She has also used the Rhine in Germany for Song of the Lorelei, for which she won her first RITA Award, in 1991. Her second RITA came in 1998, with His Brother's Child, set in Rome.
Eventually Christine Fiorotto and her husband returned to England, where they now live. She write and he paints, they have no children, but have a cat and a dog.
Single life was so enjoyable that she put marriage, and even romance, on the back burner, while she went about the world having a great time. Then, while on vacation in Venice, she met a tall, dark handsome Venetian artist, who changed all her ideas in a moment, and proposed on the second day. Three months later they were married. Her friends said a whirlwind romance would never last, but they celebrated their 25 anniversary, they are still married, still happy and in love.
After 13 years on the magazine Christine decided that it was now or never if she was ever going to write that novel. So she wrote Legacy of Fire which became a Silhouette Special Edition, followed by another, Enchantment in Venice. Then she did something crazy gave up her job. Since then she has concentrated entirely on writing romances for Mills & Boon, Harlequin and Silhouette and has written over 75 books. Her settings have been European and her heroes mainly English or Italian. Christine now claims to be an expert on one particular subject. Italian men are the most romantic in the world. They are also the best cooks.
A few years ago she and her husband returned to Venice and lived there for a couple of years. This proved the perfect base for exploring the rest of Italy, and she has given many of her books Italian settings: Venice (of course), Rome, Florence, Milan, Sicily, Tuscany. She has also used the Rhine in Germany for Song of the Lorelei, for which she won her first RITA Award, in 1991. Her second RITA came in 1998, with His Brother's Child, set in Rome.
Eventually Christine Fiorotto and her husband returned to England, where they now live. She write and he paints, they have no children, but have a cat and a dog.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
October 6, 2018
Not really 5 stars but it just 'hit the spot' for me ; )
Renzo, the happy go lucky debonair mountain climber and Mandy, the alluring researcher.
I loved how the MCs were both adults and although there were miscommunications, they were a part of their getting to know each other.
Renzo and Mandy meet in a rather 'pink panther' scenario. Then later she finds that he is actually leading the mountain climbing excursion she has booked.
The story is in 2 parts;
Before they are trapped on the mountain..
and afterwards... (36% onwards)
I don't want to spoil too much, but as you can see in the blurb, they are rescued separately and he is pronounced dead. Two years later, the truth comes out that he survived and the person who dies was falsely identified as him. Meanwhile, Mandy gave birth to their child and is raising him as she grieves. When she reads in the paper, two years after the accident, that he is alive, she leaves for Italy to see him again.
He doesn't recognize her at first, because he suffered amnesia...
I really enjoyed this story about two adults who were tantalized by each other, then formed a once in a lifetime bond during a time of strife. After being pulled apart by nature (and the actions of an idiot) they come together again and rediscover their HEA.
So in a sense, you get two HEA's in one book !!!
My only complaint is that his formidable physical injuries are kind of brushed to the side by the time they start to come together again. Like the author felt they couldn't have a true HEA if he was still busy recovering from grievous injuries.
But I still really enjoyed it.
Safety is good
Renzo, the happy go lucky debonair mountain climber and Mandy, the alluring researcher.
I loved how the MCs were both adults and although there were miscommunications, they were a part of their getting to know each other.
Renzo and Mandy meet in a rather 'pink panther' scenario. Then later she finds that he is actually leading the mountain climbing excursion she has booked.
The story is in 2 parts;
Before they are trapped on the mountain..
and afterwards... (36% onwards)
I don't want to spoil too much, but as you can see in the blurb, they are rescued separately and he is pronounced dead. Two years later, the truth comes out that he survived and the person who dies was falsely identified as him. Meanwhile, Mandy gave birth to their child and is raising him as she grieves. When she reads in the paper, two years after the accident, that he is alive, she leaves for Italy to see him again.
He doesn't recognize her at first, because he suffered amnesia...
I really enjoyed this story about two adults who were tantalized by each other, then formed a once in a lifetime bond during a time of strife. After being pulled apart by nature (and the actions of an idiot) they come together again and rediscover their HEA.
So in a sense, you get two HEA's in one book !!!
My only complaint is that his formidable physical injuries are kind of brushed to the side by the time they start to come together again. Like the author felt they couldn't have a true HEA if he was still busy recovering from grievous injuries.
But I still really enjoyed it.
Safety is good
May 3, 2011
Not really a true secret baby. Fairly decent story. Writing puts the reader at a bit of a distance. You never seemed to be right down in the story. There is more telling than showing. The author almost says 'dear reader". The dialog was okay, light and fluffy. It wasn't realistic perhaps more like an old witty movie from the 30s. It wasn't bad but I wouldn't want to read a steady diet of books written this way. The plot was fun. Kind of amnesia lite. He remembered her but as a sort of dream.
March 11, 2025
Very low angst reading.
The hero has a fling with the heroine while they climb monte Bianco. There’s a tragedy and several people dies, she thinks he’s dead but he’s badly hurt instead. She finds out that years later that he’s alive, his memory is quite murky and he doesn’t remember everything about her. She had his son.
Basically the hero is a decent person, he’s hurt and maimed and maybe he won’t be able to be 100% as he was before, but he’s not a cruel or devious person.
And when he finds out she’s had his son he becomes a cutie.
Nothing else to say, some misunderstanding but not lasting. Both were celibate during their separation.
The hero has a fling with the heroine while they climb monte Bianco. There’s a tragedy and several people dies, she thinks he’s dead but he’s badly hurt instead. She finds out that years later that he’s alive, his memory is quite murky and he doesn’t remember everything about her. She had his son.
Basically the hero is a decent person, he’s hurt and maimed and maybe he won’t be able to be 100% as he was before, but he’s not a cruel or devious person.
And when he finds out she’s had his son he becomes a cutie.
Nothing else to say, some misunderstanding but not lasting. Both were celibate during their separation.
March 3, 2021
The wedding vows were perhaps the best I’ve ever read.
The beginning and end were really engaging. Perhaps a little iffy in the middle for a short time... but totally worth the read. She took a while to tell him about the secret son... could have sped that up a little.
A real romance between an H and h who belonged together and deserved an HEA.
Great characters. Unusual story. Very enjoyable read.
The beginning and end were really engaging. Perhaps a little iffy in the middle for a short time... but totally worth the read. She took a while to tell him about the secret son... could have sped that up a little.
A real romance between an H and h who belonged together and deserved an HEA.
Great characters. Unusual story. Very enjoyable read.
November 26, 2011
Original plot & wonderful characters. Usually I don't like to read about Italians, because very often non-italian authors tend to exaggerate with italianisms, but Lucy did a great job. Brava!
July 11, 2020
Italian Tycoon, Secret Son
The first time she saw him, he was running with another woman. But later she saw him jump to get room getting away from the woman's husband. They had a connection between them even then. But when they were separated by nature two years pass. Now she has found out that he is alive. But with a memory loss. Can they overcome the forces of nature to get to the truth? Will he accept that they belong together?
The first time she saw him, he was running with another woman. But later she saw him jump to get room getting away from the woman's husband. They had a connection between them even then. But when they were separated by nature two years pass. Now she has found out that he is alive. But with a memory loss. Can they overcome the forces of nature to get to the truth? Will he accept that they belong together?
October 1, 2025
For the record, this has much better character drama and writing than the average bitter, resentful and just plain annoying Harlequin novel. The drama is based in more romantic cheese, but there seems to be reasons for things and a good amount of charisma between the two leads, no matter which Renzo we're dealing with. Still, the first half is much better, as the econd has some filler and predictability.
June 2, 2018
The first half - in which the hero and heroine fall in love while arguing and mountain-climbing in Switzerland - was great. The second half, in which the hero is a stereotypical asshole tycoon with intermittent amnesia and the heroine is a self-sacrificing whiner, is less so.
June 12, 2017
Enjoyable read but should've been more detailed
June 27, 2015
It was a good romantic read. Regretfully, this isn’t one of my Lucy Gordon’s favourite. Yet I enjoyed some parts of it immensely. First of all, the premise is so hilarious and enticing that it gripped my attention right away.
The book starts with Mandy, the heroine, at a hotel restaurant where she stayed on her Alps holiday, enjoying her meal and also taking interest in one particular couple. The way she sees the things unfold in front of her eyes is amusing and extremely accurate as well. The heroine gives precise, realistic and also witty remarks about the man and the woman as a couple and the situation on the whole. Later on she returns to her room, hears a commotion and finds the man she has seen in a restaurant jumping from one balcony to another finally landing on hers. I had a good laugh reading this part. I’m not going to reveal here what was the matter with him and spoil the pleasure for other readers. I can only add that two other characters appeared on the scene and the heroine dealt with this shocking but very realistic situation admirably, making an indelible impression on the hero. This scene gave me a good laugh too.
On meeting the hero next morning, the heroine is definitely taken aback finding out that Renzo, the hero, is going to be a mountaineering instructor of the group she joined. As it happens, they immediately get attracted to each other and the relationship building starts. Taking into consideration that both the hero and the heroine are spirited, strong-willed, imaginative and intelligent people the relationship development is captivating as it is well-written. Their witty banters and mind meeting dialogues are smooth, substantial and meaningful. It was exciting to see two beautiful and bright people falling in love with each other. Then inexorable fate intrudes and snatches everything they’ve reached.
Alas! The second half left me very disappointed and frustrated. It was so sad to see something, that could be beautiful, fading into drab, dull and superficial.
The book starts with Mandy, the heroine, at a hotel restaurant where she stayed on her Alps holiday, enjoying her meal and also taking interest in one particular couple. The way she sees the things unfold in front of her eyes is amusing and extremely accurate as well. The heroine gives precise, realistic and also witty remarks about the man and the woman as a couple and the situation on the whole. Later on she returns to her room, hears a commotion and finds the man she has seen in a restaurant jumping from one balcony to another finally landing on hers. I had a good laugh reading this part. I’m not going to reveal here what was the matter with him and spoil the pleasure for other readers. I can only add that two other characters appeared on the scene and the heroine dealt with this shocking but very realistic situation admirably, making an indelible impression on the hero. This scene gave me a good laugh too.
On meeting the hero next morning, the heroine is definitely taken aback finding out that Renzo, the hero, is going to be a mountaineering instructor of the group she joined. As it happens, they immediately get attracted to each other and the relationship building starts. Taking into consideration that both the hero and the heroine are spirited, strong-willed, imaginative and intelligent people the relationship development is captivating as it is well-written. Their witty banters and mind meeting dialogues are smooth, substantial and meaningful. It was exciting to see two beautiful and bright people falling in love with each other. Then inexorable fate intrudes and snatches everything they’ve reached.
Alas! The second half left me very disappointed and frustrated. It was so sad to see something, that could be beautiful, fading into drab, dull and superficial.
January 12, 2016
i totally agree with other readers that this book wasnt titled properly. it was an ok fluff read i suppose but lacked the depth that draws a reader in. there was no real character development and the romantic scenes were incredibly shallow in such a way that when they progressed to i love you it was like ice water to the face. not something i regret reading but not one ill read again
September 27, 2012
Read in 2010.
I really do hate when the authors don't title their novels properly. There was nothing really 'secret' about this novel or the pregnancy involved. I was actually disappointed that the author mislead me so.
I really do hate when the authors don't title their novels properly. There was nothing really 'secret' about this novel or the pregnancy involved. I was actually disappointed that the author mislead me so.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews