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Leopardi Brothers #1
Captive At The Sicilian Billionaire's Command
Rocco Leopardi's demand is Julie Simmonds must bring his little nephew to Sicily so that the child may take his rightful place as a Leopardi!
At first Rocco thought Julie would be a gold digger, but her unexpected innocence is arousing. When it's proved that Julie is actually the boy's aunt, the sensual Sicilian changes the rules of his game. He's got more than one good reason to keep this inexperienced waif captive—and make her his wife!
At first Rocco thought Julie would be a gold digger, but her unexpected innocence is arousing. When it's proved that Julie is actually the boy's aunt, the sensual Sicilian changes the rules of his game. He's got more than one good reason to keep this inexperienced waif captive—and make her his wife!
192 pages, Mass Market Paperback
Published March 31, 2009
18 people are currently reading
278 people want to read
About the author
Penny Jordan
1,124 books663 followersPenelope Jones Halsall
aka Caroline Courtney, Annie Groves, Lydia Hitchcock, Melinda Wright
Penelope "Penny" Jones was born on November 24, 1946 at about seven pounds in a nursing home in Preston, Lancashire, England. She was the first child of Anthony Winn Jones, an engineer, who died at 85, and his wife Margaret Louise Groves Jones. She has a brother, Anthony, and a sister, Prudence "Pru".
She had been a keen reader from the childhood - her mother used to leave her in the children's section of their local library whilst she changed her father's library books. She was a storyteller long before she began to write romantic fiction. At the age of eight, she was creating serialized bedtime stories, featuring make-believe adventures, for her younger sister Prue, who was always the heroine. At eleven, she fell in love with Mills & Boon, and with their heroes. In those days the books could only be obtained via private lending libraries, and she quickly became a devoted fan; she was thrilled to bits when the books went on full sale in shops and she could have them for keeps.
Penny left grammar school in Rochdale with O-Levels in English Language, English Literature and Geography. She first discovered Mills & Boon books, via a girl she worked with. She married Steve Halsall, an accountant and a "lovely man", who smoked and drank too heavily, and suffered oral cancer with bravery and dignity. Her husband bought her the small electric typewriter on which she typed her first novels, at a time when he could ill afford it. He died at the beginning of 21st century.
She earned a living as a writer since the 1970s when, as a shorthand typist, she entered a competition run by the Romantic Novelists' Association. Although she didn't win, Penny found an agent who was looking for a new Georgette Heyer. She published four regency novels as Caroline Courtney, before changing her nom de plume to Melinda Wright for three air-hostess romps and then she wrote two thrillers as Lydia Hitchcock. Soon after that, Mills and Boon accepted her first novel for them, Falcon's Prey as Penny Jordan. However, for her more historical romance novels, she adopted her mother's maiden-name to become Annie Groves. Almost 70 of her 167 Mills and Boon novels have been sold worldwide.
Penny Halsall lived in a neo-Georgian house in Nantwich, Cheshire, with her Alsatian Sheba and cat Posh. She worked from home, in her kitchen, surrounded by her pets, and welcomed interruptions from her friends and family.
aka Caroline Courtney, Annie Groves, Lydia Hitchcock, Melinda Wright
Penelope "Penny" Jones was born on November 24, 1946 at about seven pounds in a nursing home in Preston, Lancashire, England. She was the first child of Anthony Winn Jones, an engineer, who died at 85, and his wife Margaret Louise Groves Jones. She has a brother, Anthony, and a sister, Prudence "Pru".
She had been a keen reader from the childhood - her mother used to leave her in the children's section of their local library whilst she changed her father's library books. She was a storyteller long before she began to write romantic fiction. At the age of eight, she was creating serialized bedtime stories, featuring make-believe adventures, for her younger sister Prue, who was always the heroine. At eleven, she fell in love with Mills & Boon, and with their heroes. In those days the books could only be obtained via private lending libraries, and she quickly became a devoted fan; she was thrilled to bits when the books went on full sale in shops and she could have them for keeps.
Penny left grammar school in Rochdale with O-Levels in English Language, English Literature and Geography. She first discovered Mills & Boon books, via a girl she worked with. She married Steve Halsall, an accountant and a "lovely man", who smoked and drank too heavily, and suffered oral cancer with bravery and dignity. Her husband bought her the small electric typewriter on which she typed her first novels, at a time when he could ill afford it. He died at the beginning of 21st century.
She earned a living as a writer since the 1970s when, as a shorthand typist, she entered a competition run by the Romantic Novelists' Association. Although she didn't win, Penny found an agent who was looking for a new Georgette Heyer. She published four regency novels as Caroline Courtney, before changing her nom de plume to Melinda Wright for three air-hostess romps and then she wrote two thrillers as Lydia Hitchcock. Soon after that, Mills and Boon accepted her first novel for them, Falcon's Prey as Penny Jordan. However, for her more historical romance novels, she adopted her mother's maiden-name to become Annie Groves. Almost 70 of her 167 Mills and Boon novels have been sold worldwide.
Penny Halsall lived in a neo-Georgian house in Nantwich, Cheshire, with her Alsatian Sheba and cat Posh. She worked from home, in her kitchen, surrounded by her pets, and welcomed interruptions from her friends and family.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
July 8, 2017
Heroine was crazy in love with OM so I abandoned it. Gross she slept with her sister's husband.
February 14, 2022
It’s fine. 🤷🏼♀️ That title is WAAAY more salacious than the actual content. 🙃
⚠️SAFETY SQUAD SPOILERS⚠️
- no cheating or sharing
- no OW drama
- no OM drama
- no dubcon
- h is 22 and had one lover prior to H
- H is 34 and experienced but not a manwhore
- no condoms used or discussed
⚠️SAFETY SQUAD SPOILERS⚠️
- no cheating or sharing
- no OW drama
- no OM drama
- no dubcon
- h is 22 and had one lover prior to H
- H is 34 and experienced but not a manwhore
- no condoms used or discussed
May 7, 2016
The romance between Rocco and Julie seemingly came out of nowhere. They were constantly at odds with each other over the care of Julie's nephew - who may or may not be Rocco's nephew as well. One moment they were hostile with each other, then bam(!), they're in love in the next. So I am not sure when or how they fell in love. They could have fallen in love at first sight, but I don't recall the author exploring such feelings beforehand in the text.
It didn't bother me that Julie had had a serious boyfriend prior meeting to Rocco. I would have preferred Rocco to be her first lover of course, but the way it played out in the story was realistic.
Out of this series the middle book, The Sicilian Boss's Mistress, is the best.
It didn't bother me that Julie had had a serious boyfriend prior meeting to Rocco. I would have preferred Rocco to be her first lover of course, but the way it played out in the story was realistic.
Out of this series the middle book, The Sicilian Boss's Mistress, is the best.
December 27, 2022
Eww. Total looney business. PJ didn’t seem as passionately involved in writing this one. The MCs were boring and clinical and the poor baby Josh had to stand by being tossed about between two passive adults.
The h is taking care of her deceased sister’s baby. She’s soooooooo poor that she’s pawned off her nephew’s stroller and walks in the rain without a rain coat drenched to her bones convulsing while holding a baby. 🙄
Also uhhh used clothing stores?? 👀
She also carries her passports with her so they don’t get stolen while she’s not home. Whatevs. Enters hot loaded H and she hops on to a private plane, baby and all.
There is some long tale of everyone being dead around the MCs. The h lost her sister and BiL. The nephew is apparently not even the Bil’s son. The sister was amorous with some Italian guy and that’s his child. The H is the Italian guy’s brother and so the real uncle to the baby.
The H and h meet and she finds out that the real father of the baby has ALSO died. PJ could take it easy on the dying trope I think here.
Turns out the h isn’t a virgin. She was involved with her BIL and also slept with him before he dumped her for her sister. Tbh I’d hate my sister as well as the BiL post that while here the exalted mary sue was still holding on to her ex (who cheated on her) and caring for their little baby.
Such a load of infidels. There’s a scene on the plane where the h is taking a shower after the baby throws up on her and the H walks in. She doesn’t react in any way and instead puts in a towel and sits down for lunch.
Soon enough they both can’t hold back. I thought it was boring and I disliked both the MCs and got turned off by their sad situation.
The h is taking care of her deceased sister’s baby. She’s soooooooo poor that she’s pawned off her nephew’s stroller and walks in the rain without a rain coat drenched to her bones convulsing while holding a baby. 🙄
Also uhhh used clothing stores?? 👀
She also carries her passports with her so they don’t get stolen while she’s not home. Whatevs. Enters hot loaded H and she hops on to a private plane, baby and all.
There is some long tale of everyone being dead around the MCs. The h lost her sister and BiL. The nephew is apparently not even the Bil’s son. The sister was amorous with some Italian guy and that’s his child. The H is the Italian guy’s brother and so the real uncle to the baby.
The H and h meet and she finds out that the real father of the baby has ALSO died. PJ could take it easy on the dying trope I think here.
Turns out the h isn’t a virgin. She was involved with her BIL and also slept with him before he dumped her for her sister. Tbh I’d hate my sister as well as the BiL post that while here the exalted mary sue was still holding on to her ex (who cheated on her) and caring for their little baby.
Such a load of infidels. There’s a scene on the plane where the h is taking a shower after the baby throws up on her and the H walks in. She doesn’t react in any way and instead puts in a towel and sits down for lunch.
Soon enough they both can’t hold back. I thought it was boring and I disliked both the MCs and got turned off by their sad situation.
January 4, 2015
Reread for me. Didn't find it as annoying this time around.
Found this one pretty purple prosy. I typically enjoy this trope but not so much here. The love scenes were oddly long, too wordy and way too repetitive.
There was nothing new added to the poor girl trying to raise her niece/nephew in poverty who is swept away by the child's dead father's wealthy family trope.
I know many people love this author but she never really shines for me.
Found this one pretty purple prosy. I typically enjoy this trope but not so much here. The love scenes were oddly long, too wordy and way too repetitive.
There was nothing new added to the poor girl trying to raise her niece/nephew in poverty who is swept away by the child's dead father's wealthy family trope.
I know many people love this author but she never really shines for me.
June 4, 2020
I decided to try this one, despite the awful title, because our library's E collection didn't offer much else from Penny Jordan. It is actually surprisingly decent, with considerable plot and setting, an interesting female lead and a guy who has a little more going for him than the usual sex-on-foot stereotype.
January 31, 2012
This was pretty good. It was emotionaly full, humbling, and couragous. I like happy endings, this was a good one. I would read this again. This is a 'passing the time' kinda book. Enjoy
April 26, 2015
there's a reason I'm addicted to HP romances, and her name was Penny Jordan.
February 15, 2017
3.5 Stars
Mistaken for her sister Judy who died in a train collision, Julie and her nephew Josh are whisked to Sicily by Rocco Leopardi. Rocco believes that baby Josh may be his half-brother's child and Julie is his mother.
Believing that Julie is the baby's mother and knowing that woman's lifestyle, Rocco is confused by the differences he see's in Julie. This allows her to get past his reserve and the the man he tries to hide inside.
I enjoyed this book. The characters are likable and there is enough of a spark between them to make the story plausible. Julie's devotion to her nephew is commendable, but Rocco's devotion to them both is beautiful. While not Penny Jordan's best work, it still is an example of her wonderful talent in weaving a good story.
Mistaken for her sister Judy who died in a train collision, Julie and her nephew Josh are whisked to Sicily by Rocco Leopardi. Rocco believes that baby Josh may be his half-brother's child and Julie is his mother.
Believing that Julie is the baby's mother and knowing that woman's lifestyle, Rocco is confused by the differences he see's in Julie. This allows her to get past his reserve and the the man he tries to hide inside.
I enjoyed this book. The characters are likable and there is enough of a spark between them to make the story plausible. Julie's devotion to her nephew is commendable, but Rocco's devotion to them both is beautiful. While not Penny Jordan's best work, it still is an example of her wonderful talent in weaving a good story.
January 23, 2015
I liked it even though there were some common sense errors. The biggest one: How can they have sex and Rocco is kissing Julie everywhere but doesn't notice that she doesn't have a scar from a C-section? He is so smart and everything but completely misses this elephant in the room. That tainted story for me, but otherwise it was really nice.
I liked Rocco and all his "cause I said so" and I liked that he obviously is not afraid of a hard labor and I'm pretty sure he could take of his jacket any minute and start working on that building site himself instead of just administrating it. And I liked that caveman inside him, that was talking from time to time "This is my woman! Hands off!" :)
I also liked Julie even though her misplaced pride sometimes moved her dangerously close to TSTL category. But otherwise her loyalty to the baby and her family is admirable, even though every one of them let her down. And that sister of her was such a b..h! Every chapter just kept bringing some new nasty detail about her.
I liked Rocco and all his "cause I said so" and I liked that he obviously is not afraid of a hard labor and I'm pretty sure he could take of his jacket any minute and start working on that building site himself instead of just administrating it. And I liked that caveman inside him, that was talking from time to time "This is my woman! Hands off!" :)
I also liked Julie even though her misplaced pride sometimes moved her dangerously close to TSTL category. But otherwise her loyalty to the baby and her family is admirable, even though every one of them let her down. And that sister of her was such a b..h! Every chapter just kept bringing some new nasty detail about her.
own-but-wont-read-or-wallbanger
September 5, 2018Rocco Leopardi's demand is nonnegotiable: Julie Simmonds must bring his little nephew to Sicily so that the child may take his rightful place as a Leopardi!At first Rocco thought Julie would be a gold digger, but her unexpected innocence is arousing. When it's proved that Julie is actually the boy's aunt, the sensual Sicilian changes the rules of his game. He's got more than one good reason to keep this inexperienced waif captive--and make her his wife! (
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 22, 2020
It was ok, but was unsettling that the heroine was in love with another man (that left her for her sister). Also was annoying that Heroine lied so freaking much and took over her sisters identity. The hero was a jerk for half the book but with what he knew about the woman who slept with his brother it was understandable how he treated heroine, also he was decent in that he never threatened to take custody from her if the baby was his brothers child. I also liked that hero was celibate for a year before meeting heroine. Np.
August 15, 2025
Captive At The Sicilian Billionaires Command (The Leopardi Brothers Book 1 )
This book is absolutely amazing the story line is exciting and so very easy to get absorb-into with a feeling for experiencing the full intent of actually being there along side the main Caricatures. Thank you, Penny Jordan for once again sharing your absolutely brilliant talent. Your avid reader.
Sunta Kelly 😊🌹
This book is absolutely amazing the story line is exciting and so very easy to get absorb-into with a feeling for experiencing the full intent of actually being there along side the main Caricatures. Thank you, Penny Jordan for once again sharing your absolutely brilliant talent. Your avid reader.
Sunta Kelly 😊🌹
May 22, 2018
This story and characters had a lot(probably too much) going for it. But the book is so short nothing got fleshed out properly. But I liked the elements and the characters' interactions and wished there was more time with it so everything got a proper ending.
October 30, 2018
The beginning was OK and the ending was OK but the bits in between were rather dull. Whore, slut etc were the main thoughts of the males in the story. I prefer book 2 and I am about to read book 3.
June 24, 2017
3,5 stars
May 8, 2019
A little clunky but fun.
September 21, 2022
Tbh these ol'school HP writers wrote shit😂! I don't know how they got away with these plots.
October 18, 2024
Enjoyed this book
November 10, 2025
Need to stop doing this to myself- mills & boon are awful
January 23, 2024
A good read.
A good first novel in this series, well written with an interesting storyline, a good base novel for this three novel series.
A good first novel in this series, well written with an interesting storyline, a good base novel for this three novel series.
April 6, 2013
A typical Harlequin romance
Rocco Leopardi is a filthy rich Sicilian who has been given the distasteful task of retrieving his nephew. Julie Simmonds is our timid heroine whose entire family was killed in a freaky road accident leaving her very poor and the guardian of her sister's child. When Rocco and Julie meet for the first time they mistake each other for somebody else. He thinks Julie's the promiscuous woman who had an affair with his stepfather while Julie thinks Rocco is the Sicilian playboy with whom her sister had a passing fling (why cant people ever introduce themselves properly). So Rocco whisks her off to Sicily and thus their boring love story begins. Story is weak and so are the characters. I've read a lot about Penny Jordan being a great author so I bought this novel thinking it would be an interesting read but it wz a total disappointment.
Rocco Leopardi is a filthy rich Sicilian who has been given the distasteful task of retrieving his nephew. Julie Simmonds is our timid heroine whose entire family was killed in a freaky road accident leaving her very poor and the guardian of her sister's child. When Rocco and Julie meet for the first time they mistake each other for somebody else. He thinks Julie's the promiscuous woman who had an affair with his stepfather while Julie thinks Rocco is the Sicilian playboy with whom her sister had a passing fling (why cant people ever introduce themselves properly). So Rocco whisks her off to Sicily and thus their boring love story begins. Story is weak and so are the characters. I've read a lot about Penny Jordan being a great author so I bought this novel thinking it would be an interesting read but it wz a total disappointment.
July 2, 2021
3,5*
I liked it, I wish heroine wasn't so hung up on her ex (her sister's fiance) but considering how she was treated her whole life I get it.
I liked it, I wish heroine wasn't so hung up on her ex (her sister's fiance) but considering how she was treated her whole life I get it.
February 8, 2015
This is very much a traditional Sicilian Presents title, with a side of I want to hide the heroine from the world because jesus her life sucks. Once the identities are all straightened out (for a good chunk of the novel, the hero thinks that the heroine is her sister whose baby the heroine is raising because everyone else died tragically in a train accident and no I am not making that up), his treatment of her improves considerably, but the inner dialogue from before that reveal was made was a lot to live down. And I'm not sure that it gets there.
March 15, 2014
Zzzzzzz !
This book was soooo boring I had a terrible time staying awake. I found Rocco to be a somewhat likeable guy, but his stupid name killed the vibe. Julie is a twit and half the book is her internal dialogue pining for James and whining about how she never measured up to her prostitute sister (yes really)! The big highlight of the book......It was a library book and I didn't waste money on a really bad read!
This book was soooo boring I had a terrible time staying awake. I found Rocco to be a somewhat likeable guy, but his stupid name killed the vibe. Julie is a twit and half the book is her internal dialogue pining for James and whining about how she never measured up to her prostitute sister (yes really)! The big highlight of the book......It was a library book and I didn't waste money on a really bad read!
June 23, 2016
Quite corny I can't believe it's Penny Jordan. There is so much introspection between the dialogue that at times I lost the trend of conversation. I didn't see much chemistry between the characters except some vague lust and the hero was a jerk to her for the first 3/4 of the book. For the last 1/4th they have a good time for maybe 3 pages then he is cold to her again. The author must have had a contract to fulfill and did a rushed job. Even the title is unfortunate!
April 9, 2024
1⭐ for this book
Sorry just not for me
Sorry just not for me
March 9, 2018
I am sick and tired of this theme. Angelic sister in charge of slutty sister's baby.
Good guy hero comes in search of baby on behalf of good for nothing brother. Then all kind of cliched scenes happen.
Finally the leads decide that they are better at the baby making and rearing business than their worthless siblings !!!
God, give me a break !!!
Good guy hero comes in search of baby on behalf of good for nothing brother. Then all kind of cliched scenes happen.
Finally the leads decide that they are better at the baby making and rearing business than their worthless siblings !!!
God, give me a break !!!
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews