His Little Star

by Michelle Karise

Traveling to Italy for business sounded like a dream. Three glorious weeks of sightseeing and sampling the local nightlife.

Matteo Russo caught my attention from the start.

We met at a crowded nightclub. The gorgeous older man sauntered over, plied me with liquor, and whispered illicit invitations in my ear. It’s no surprise we ended up naked and horizontal in his bed.

The next morning, I made my graceful exit with a kiss, convinced it would be the last time we saw each other.

Imagine my shock when he popped up at the office. Turns out he’s the guy that’s trying to ruin my family’s business.

My job was to use whatever tools in my arsenal to force him to capitulate.

A Roman conquered my heart.

But secrets threatened to destroy us forever.

136 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 18, 2021

About the author

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Michelle Karise is a type-A romance author of stories featuring black female leads and the men who love them. She spends her days organizing, planning, and executing corporate initiatives. When she’s done with her workday, she spends her evenings crafting titillating tales of infatuation, passion, and pleasure. Michelle makes her home in Missouri with her overprotective dog, Rooney.

Reviews

[DeeReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Business and pleasure for Matteo and Naomi felt so GOOD!

Now this little story was an engaging smexy read!

The main characters, Matteo Russo and Naomi Martin both needed to let off a little steam before engaging in a major business deals so when they meet in a nightclub, well it was a chemistry like no other leading to a 🔥 hot, one night stand.

But the next morning they discover they were unknowingly sleeping with the enemy...each other! Luckily, the art of their business and pleasure relationship was played like a game of chess until Emphraim Jackson shows up and Naomi's secret is Out!


I enjoyed how this couple was able to mix business w/pleasure while falling for each other and the culture of Matteo's Italy!

Really looking forward to reading more books by this new author, Michelle Karise!

5+ Smexy, 🔥🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 stars!

[Rosie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short, and Sizzling Hot! Though, I did wonder why Matteo was single at his age, which I'd consider confirmed bachelor. I loved that Naomi was in touch with her sexuality and had experience in the bedroom that Matteo didn't judge her for. I wish this story was longer because I wanted ... more, more, more.

Recommended: Read It!

[lowkeyreader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Michelle Karise is a new-to-me author and I'm so going to read more of her books from now. This is a quick and steamy novella that left me wanting more. I wished it was a full-length book. I enjoyed Matteo and Naomi's story. They have this explosive chemistry, you ow they will not be able to keep their hands off each other. They immediately heat up my kindle.

[Michelle Karise · Rating 5 out of 5]

His Little Star
Release Date: Tuesday, May 18th

💛 Naomi Jackson, 25, New York City, USA
💛 Matteo Russo, 40-something, Rome, Italy

⭐ Romance Abroad
⭐ Young Woman/Older Man
⭐ Business Rivalry
⭐ Interracial Romance
⭐ Happily Ever After? Guaranteed

[Shae · Rating 5 out of 5]

Are you looking for a quick read that will have you falling for the main characters? His Little Star is the one! An inter-racial couple, age-gap romance, steamy and a few twists to keep it exciting. The story is on point and the characters are developed.

Naomi has travelled to Rome for business. She works with her father in his hotel chain. Before meeting with a rival hotel owner while there she decides to party the first night, just to relieve any stress. She is instantly attracted to this older man at the bar, Matteo. This attraction turns into an awesome one night stand!

Matteo, is an older Italian hotel owner. He is well respected in his city and has a major issues with the new hotel being built in the town. Matteo decides to enjoy clubbing tonight before meeting with his rival. At the club, he is instantly attracted to the young and super confident woman who has walked in. They spend the night together and he finds himself wanting to see her again at least while she is visiting his country.

What happens the next morning at the business meeting is shocking! How do you turn off sleep with the gorgeous stranger who now turns out to rival you want out of town?

Since I really enjoyed reading this story, I will be looking for more books from Michelle Karise.



Reasons I enjoyed this book:
Easy-to-read, Entertaining, Happily Ever After, Page-turner, Twisted

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the perfect story to take me away. Matteo and Naomi are two people who are very good at what they do and are on opposite sides of the boardroom when Naomi brings business to the town Matteo is in. When these two meet sparks fly immediately and they don't try to resist their chemistry. Things get more complicated though when they discover they're business rivals. Naomi was such a great character. She was confident, a savvy business woman, and knew what she wanted. Matteo was every bit the alpha male who was used to getting his way. Seeing these two navigate their complicated relationship while still staying true to themselves was such as enjoyable read. I absolutely loved reading about these two and would definitely recommend this story!

[Jennifer Pierson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Matteo & Naomi hooked up one night before they knew that they're work enemies, so that fire they generate will make things quite difficult. See, with the explosive chemistry they have in spades, there's no way that they can keep their hands off of each other no matter what's going on at work. There's so much in their path that had me dropping loud f-bombs, but I also found myself on the edge of my seat trying to figure out how they would find a solution. His Little Star is a short(ish) read that is full of heat, and intrigue against the backdrop of Italy that you seriously don't want to miss out! HIGHLY HIGHLY HIGHLY RECOMMEND TO ALL! 

[Mel Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

His Little Star is a rocket-fueled steamy page-turner romance that you will devour in one sitting. Naomi travels to Italy on a business assignment to save her Family's business. Before starting her difficult job, she gives herself one evening to go into town and enjoy the nightlife. She meets the gorgeous Matteo and these two instantly connect. Their chemistry nearly sets your kindle on fire.
Michele Karise throws twist after twist in their pursuit of a happily ever after. Fake identities, business rivals, family secrets, political intrigue, on and on. This couple has so many hurdles to climb that you have no choice but to keep flipping the pages to see how they handle each one.
What a joyous discovery. Set aside a few hours and get transported to beautiful Italy with a couple you hope to see again in the future.

[T.K. Cherry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two forces from two different continents collide and heat up the pages in this satisfying and quick read. Matteo is sultry and thoughtful, and Naomi is fiery and driven. They are the perfect combination that had me rooting for the best possible scenario for both of them, even though the chips were absolutely stacked against them. The ending was truly worth it. Yet another great read penned by Michelle Karise.

[Em · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this quick novella. The characters were adequately developed for the length of the story and I thought it was sweet overall. The plot was a bit far fetched but I enjoyed it as a quick escape read.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Michelle The Outgoing Bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

A rather quick and very steamy read. Those looking for a hot, age gap romance be sure to check this one out.

Naomi and Matteo didn’t know they were corporate enemies when they hooked up. But once they did it still didn’t stop them from coming together to satisfy their desires.

The characters were likable and the author didn’t go overboard on saying they were 20 years apart and that stood out for me. These two were just meant to be.

* I received this book as an ARC for an honest review.

[Ope' Aweda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this in one sitting

I recommend for a rainy chilled day indoors...  I wished it was a full-length book. I enjoyed Matteo and Naomi's story and their explosive chemistry

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

PS: I need to find my own Matteo STAT!

[Yvette89 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick steamy age gap story. Easy to read and very entertaining. Matteo and Naomi meet in a nightclub. Instant connection and a night of explosive chemistry follow. Business rivals and lovers. These two have to get through secrets, twists and their own way to get their HEA.

[CLorraine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short, sweet read

This is the second book I have read by this author. Each book is unique. I loved this age gap story. Naomi was very mature for her age and Matteo sounded delightful!

[Ka-Bee Brown]

Naomi Father was a total tool, sending his daughter to do his dirty work. I really love The interaction of Matteo and Naomi. There action lead to them eventually fallen in love with each other.

[Alex Davenport · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m pretty certain that this is the first book that I’ve read by this author. It was a cute, rivals turned one night stand turned much more.

Matteo is a much older businessman from Italy. Naomi is a woman in her 20s that works for her father’s company. On a trip to Italy, she meets Matteo and there is instant attraction from both. Matteo doesn’t know that Naomi is the daughter of his primary competitor. When he finds out, things quickly end between the two.

But, Naomi is smart. I won’t spoil the book for you and reveal what happens. I will tell you that there is a happily ever after. Naomi opens her heart to Matteo and expresses her love in words and actions. I could not stand Naomi’s father. I thought that he was a horrible human & father (making him a good villain).

I liked the book and would read another by this author (hoping Rachelle gets a book). I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Rebecca Hefner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story was H-O-T and had such great chemistry between the main characters. I loved every minute of it. Naomi and Matteo start as lovers, then become enemies (kind of), and then realize they just can't keep up the façade. They're both drawn to each other and their acceptance of the fact they're meant to be together was so fun to see unfold on the page. Loved it!

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! Naomi's and Matteo's love story was both hot/sexy & sweet. They were so good together and their chemistry was off the charts! I love how they were both able to get what they wanted in the end. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[G · Rating 4 out of 5]

His Little Star, by Michelle Karise is a delightful novella with creative characters in a beautiful setting. Naomi is an ambitious twenty-something, the right-hand person to the CEO of a hotel conglomerate. Granted, the CEO is her father, but Naomi is great at what she does., and she's ready to open up a new hotel in Rome. Forty-something Matteo runs a small boutique hotel in the heart of Rome, and more importantly, he is deeply tied to the community all around.

Naomi and Matteo don't meet under open circumstances. Wanting to blow off steam, the two meet in a dance club. After a sexy, sultry, no-last-names-one-night stand, of course the two are going to lock horns as their business interests clash.

The fire between the two main characters is strong throughout the story. While they may struggle to meet eye-to-eye when it comes to their hotels, the two struggle even more to keep their chemistry in check. The tension between the two outside of the bedroom keeps the story moving forward, and Karise keeps us glued to the pages with short, sexy interludes throughout.

I thought this was an enjoyable, quick read. Matteo was a complex and well-developed character for a novella. Naomi had sparks of this, but there were still a few holes in her background which would have strengthened her arc as a character. I was drawn to both though, and while it is clear who we ultimately needed to root for in the hotel dominance game, the engaging settings and details about Rome brought forth images of the city and led to great interactions between the couple.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Cavak · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short and sweet read that efficiently cut corners wherever it could. Page turner writing that had an appropriate amount of depth where it was needed. Effective at what it needed to do and get across. I liked the main woman lead for having guts. She balanced the feminine and the professional conduct at a pace that felt about right to me.

Did I fall in love with these characters and the romance? Not really. Too much emphasis on physical chemistry and sex for my tastes. Some bizarre lines here and there that I don't think someone would think, especially from Matteo's perspective in the beginning chapters. He sounds more like a character describing how he is supposed to feel rather than actually feeling that sensation. Character voices were distinct to not sound too much like each other, so that's a plus!

There's only so much you can do in the novella format, I know. I still would've liked a few more descriptions and sensory details about the locale. Why bother setting the story in Rome when I can't taste that amazing food or feel the sights? It may as well have been set in a classy sector of New York.

If you want hearty passages of sex and lust with some tasteful Italian thrown into the mix, try His Little Star. It's easy to binge read and it's a fun ride while it lasts. Think you'll enjoy it more if you appreciate one shot stories.

[Francica Cornwall · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love that word Matteo called Naomi "Mi Stellina." What an effect this had on me every time.

This book was short and very romantic. It is the type of book that you can pick up on a rainy Sunday afternoon when you want to relax. It was a steamy read too. The sex scenes were very passionate. In spite of that however the book was very well written.

On a business trip to Rome to deal with her father's new acquisition "a hotel" in Rome which, upon its grand opening seems to have a lot of controversy surrounding it. Naomi sent to Rome to fix all that wanted to prove to her father that she was capable of handling this big opportunity. Little did he know that a trip to a nightclub and an encounter with a handsome stranger "Matteo" would change her life forever. Matteo looking for a one night stand, was captivated by Naomi's striking good looks and confidence.

Little did Naomi know, Matteo was her father's rival. This revelation set off a chain of events so captivating that it will have you on edge till the very end.
These characters were very well written and their chemistry was off the chain.
I really enjoyed this book. Highly recommend to romance lovers.

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Naomi is trying so hard to win her father's approval, so she's been learning the family business from him since she was a little girl. Naomi and her father have different ways of doing business, and when she sees exactly how her father will go to win the battle for their newest hotel in Italy, she has to make some tough decisions.

There's an almost instant attraction between Matteo and Naomi. After having drinks, they decide to have a no-strings night together. Their chemistry is off the charts, and one night might not be enough for them. They don't yet realize that they're on opposite sides of the new hotel opening soon. Matteo doesn't want the hotel to open for very personal reasons. Naomi's father wants the hotel opening at all costs.

I loved the setting in Italy and how Matteo took Naomi around to see how his life was/is and how the community is such a part of him. As they got to know each other better, they find themselves wanting to spend more time together.

This was a wonderful story.

[Ljay · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a nice little surprise! I really enjoyed Matteo and Naomi. I liked how the emotional way business and personal aspects accidentally mixing affected both of them. Being set at odds against each other for business and the attraction to one another being so strong, the reactions were real; especially from Matteo. His heart was all into actions. Naomi's issues with her father was a work in progress and I felt she could have been more assertive in that area. However, she showed what a big heart she had as well. Their personalities were for the most part confident and meshed well. . I liked that about them. They complemented each other well in that area.

Since I don't want to give too much away, I'll just say a big gesture was made and we get a beautiful ending that had me smiling. A lovely read.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Mary Saou · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a quick read, and a nice escape. There's a bit of a Grey's Anatomy episode 1 feel to it-- the MCs have a one-night-stand and end up realizing they are working together the next day. Well, "together" is generous: they're really on opposite sides of a business deal.

The pacing was great, the chemistry sizzled, and there were lovely moments of enjoying Rome (which brought back memories of my honeymoon there!). I'd like to read a full-length book from Karise, as this novella was delightful.

Many thanks to Booksirens and the author for the free advanced review copy; these opinions are my own.

[mikaela · Rating 2 out of 5]

i was looking forward to reading this book from other reviews, but sadly i must be in the 1% that didn't like it. i tried to finish it page by page, but i ended up skipping chapters. i felt no emotion w/either matteo or "stellina" - they were cookie cutter/cardboard characters. the story set in rome would have been so good, but the story wasn't fleshed out for me to get into. the reason why i gave this a 2 star is because the only part i enjoyed was when ephraim caught them in a compromising position and hit him.

i received this as an arc w/an honest review.

[Zsa Zsa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don't go any further, if you are looking for some escapist fun. I enjoyed this fast paced, instant attraction romance. The moment Naomi and Matteo meet, the attraction is instant, visceral, downright combustible. He is sexy, sophisticated older, she is ambitious, smart, beautiful, and an enchantress. They are also rivals in business. Will their conflict undo the potential for something special? Only one way to find out, give this book a chance, I am glad to have discovered an author new to me.

[Charlene Silvernail · Rating 5 out of 5]

Naomi - Matteo’s little star

This was a great book about father/daughter (Ephraim and Naomi) relationships and expectations and experiences. That filtered in to the relationship of Naomi and Matteo. Naomi was a strong, smart and self-reliant woman who was trained in business by her father…to be ruthless but she was also fair. Matteo was a very wealthy older Italian but Naomi wasn’t concerned with his money, she had money too.
“She was the apple of her father’s eye, but she would always be the star of mine.”

[Arlene D. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading Matt and Naomi’s steamy story! They have great chemistry and they are perfect for each other even with the age gap. Fully developed characters! I loved that both characters are likable and I was able to connect with them. I even got teary-eyed in the end! This is my first Michelle Karise read and I am looking forward to reading more books from her.

I received an advance review copy for free from Book Sirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Deborah · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a nice little read with a POC main character which I'm all for. The male lead was a little bit of a misogynist so that kinda made it a little hard to root for him. I can't fault him too much though, it was the writer's choice to use the words to describe him and it made it a little cringe.

All in all, it's an okay book if you're stressed out and you want something to pass the time.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Destinee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Generic story. His Little Star is a short story that you've probably read already, meaning that there's no outstanding difference between this book and any other random romance story. I love cliche storylines; but coupled with mediocre writing and a loveline that really wasn't that interesting to see progress, I didn't love this story. It was overall alright.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.