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Rafael's Suitable Bride
Billionaire Rafael Rocchi always has a woman in his bed, but never in his heart. Now he needs a suitable wife...
When he meets Cristina, she is an ideal candidate: her plain-Jane looks mean she won't be tempted to stray - and she's a virgin!
Cristina is devastated to learn that Rafael's proposal was one of convenience. But whilst Rafael makes it clear their marriage isn't based on love, he intends for it to be authentic in every other respect...
When he meets Cristina, she is an ideal candidate: her plain-Jane looks mean she won't be tempted to stray - and she's a virgin!
Cristina is devastated to learn that Rafael's proposal was one of convenience. But whilst Rafael makes it clear their marriage isn't based on love, he intends for it to be authentic in every other respect...
184 pages
First published January 1, 2008
24 people are currently reading
216 people want to read
About the author
Cathy Williams
1,310 books200 followersCathy Williams, born in Trinidad and Tobago, is a British author who has written romance novels for Mills & Boon since 1990. She lives in Chiswick, London, with her three daughters and continues to craft engaging, heartfelt love stories.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
June 27, 2019
4.25 rom-com stars!
A Simple but charmingly written ‘opposites attract’ story and if you enjoy a devious and patronising ratfink getting his suitable comeuppance from a sweet and unassuming girl, then this is definitely the book for you.
So the H is a competitive and supremely arrogant businessman, clearly not lacking in confidence or female company..
He liked them tall, blonde, obliging and, most important of all, temporary.
While the h’s a sweet and trusting virgin with an open sunny personality – but not the ditsy, dazzling variety. Rather she is like a gentle ray of sunshine and is believably sweet and adorable. She owns a flower shop, and dreams to landscape and coach a girl’s football team. Like she says she loves to dream. Don't you?
They meet on the road when her car breaks down on way to his mother’s place where they both were invited to a party. The H’s not impressed..
…little over five-three. Short and dumpy from the looks of it. Which did nothing for his diminishing patience levels. Had she been willowy and beautiful, his charm-gene might have automatically been kick-started. As it was, he looked down at her with a frown of displeasure.
He unwillingly offers her a lift and she chatters on good naturedly..
not to mention a vibrant ability to overlook the fact that he clearly didn’t feel inclined to spend the rest of the short trip chatting to her
A change of dress and voila, the little round ball turns voluptuous.
He had some nebulous thoughts of settling down, and now egged on by his matchmaking mother, he realizes that the h is perfect..
Sweet natured, naive and from the right background. She would never demand anything, and would never see him as a bank balance in need of depleting.
So he sets on a cold-blooded campaign/seduction.
He would court her the good old-fashioned way. Marriage as a business proposition would not be her style, and he wouldn’t blame her. But it certainly would work for him. Love was a complication, and after years of unforeseen complications in his dealings with women he was ready to concede that what he needed was a marriage of convenience.
But it’s novel experience..
Are you flirting with me?’
‘I beg your pardon?’
‘Are you flirting with me?’
Rafael, taken aback by the directness of the question, was stumped for words. ‘What if I were?’ He finally answered her question with one of his own.
‘I would ask you why.’
This was not a conversation Rafael had ever conducted with a woman before..
Aaand the poor h is predictably reeled in ..
Having no experience on which to fall back, Cristina contented herself with some pleasurable fantasies in which Rafael played the starring role.
When he emerged, dressed, they had already had two children and a couple of dogs.
But the scales fall off her eyes when his mother lets out something about her efforts bearing fruit, and when confronted, the H owns up but doesn’t see the problem.
He was the man who had a stone for a heart even if he did manage to give a very good impression of a living, breathing, normal human.
The h breaks off the engagement to the H’s incredulity but then he shrugs and walks away.
Six weeks later, he’s dating but bored and wonders if the h’s out looking for her perfect man...or maybe she needs help.
Feeling benevolent, he invites her to a party, a party he’s just beginning to plan..
Rafael drawled, ‘You’re not scared of seeing me, are you?’
‘Don’t be silly.’
‘Good. I’ll see you then. And Cristina …?’
‘What.’
‘Feel free to bring a date.’
Of course, she goes….and of course, the ow is there as well!
But things don’t go as the H had planned in his magnanimity.
This is not a hugely angsty story, but has a charming tone and is a fun read. The ending could have been better and more of an upturn. But I enjoyed how the H, a true blue jerk, is gradually but completely blindsided by love from the most unexpected quarters!
A Simple but charmingly written ‘opposites attract’ story and if you enjoy a devious and patronising ratfink getting his suitable comeuppance from a sweet and unassuming girl, then this is definitely the book for you.
So the H is a competitive and supremely arrogant businessman, clearly not lacking in confidence or female company..
He liked them tall, blonde, obliging and, most important of all, temporary.
While the h’s a sweet and trusting virgin with an open sunny personality – but not the ditsy, dazzling variety. Rather she is like a gentle ray of sunshine and is believably sweet and adorable. She owns a flower shop, and dreams to landscape and coach a girl’s football team. Like she says she loves to dream. Don't you?
They meet on the road when her car breaks down on way to his mother’s place where they both were invited to a party. The H’s not impressed..
…little over five-three. Short and dumpy from the looks of it. Which did nothing for his diminishing patience levels. Had she been willowy and beautiful, his charm-gene might have automatically been kick-started. As it was, he looked down at her with a frown of displeasure.
He unwillingly offers her a lift and she chatters on good naturedly..
not to mention a vibrant ability to overlook the fact that he clearly didn’t feel inclined to spend the rest of the short trip chatting to her
A change of dress and voila, the little round ball turns voluptuous.
He had some nebulous thoughts of settling down, and now egged on by his matchmaking mother, he realizes that the h is perfect..
Sweet natured, naive and from the right background. She would never demand anything, and would never see him as a bank balance in need of depleting.
So he sets on a cold-blooded campaign/seduction.
He would court her the good old-fashioned way. Marriage as a business proposition would not be her style, and he wouldn’t blame her. But it certainly would work for him. Love was a complication, and after years of unforeseen complications in his dealings with women he was ready to concede that what he needed was a marriage of convenience.
But it’s novel experience..
Are you flirting with me?’
‘I beg your pardon?’
‘Are you flirting with me?’
Rafael, taken aback by the directness of the question, was stumped for words. ‘What if I were?’ He finally answered her question with one of his own.
‘I would ask you why.’
This was not a conversation Rafael had ever conducted with a woman before..
Aaand the poor h is predictably reeled in ..
Having no experience on which to fall back, Cristina contented herself with some pleasurable fantasies in which Rafael played the starring role.
When he emerged, dressed, they had already had two children and a couple of dogs.
But the scales fall off her eyes when his mother lets out something about her efforts bearing fruit, and when confronted, the H owns up but doesn’t see the problem.
He was the man who had a stone for a heart even if he did manage to give a very good impression of a living, breathing, normal human.
The h breaks off the engagement to the H’s incredulity but then he shrugs and walks away.
Six weeks later, he’s dating but bored and wonders if the h’s out looking for her perfect man...or maybe she needs help.
Feeling benevolent, he invites her to a party, a party he’s just beginning to plan..
Rafael drawled, ‘You’re not scared of seeing me, are you?’
‘Don’t be silly.’
‘Good. I’ll see you then. And Cristina …?’
‘What.’
‘Feel free to bring a date.’
Of course, she goes….and of course, the ow is there as well!
But things don’t go as the H had planned in his magnanimity.
This is not a hugely angsty story, but has a charming tone and is a fun read. The ending could have been better and more of an upturn. But I enjoyed how the H, a true blue jerk, is gradually but completely blindsided by love from the most unexpected quarters!
May 30, 2016
Cute story with a voluptuous heroine who develops a spine.
Rafael realizes it's time to get married in part to please his Italian mama. He meets Cristina who is not like the usual toothpicks he dates. For one she has a personality, and two, she has an appetite. Most importantly, she's mama approved and comes from a nice family and adores Rafael. All nice touches for a man in need of a "suitable wife".
The two end up in an affair and shortly after are engaged. Cristina is a little disappointed in a rather lackluster proposal, but, hey, he's just not an emotive kind of guy. Inadvertently, the h finds out he only proposed because she's "suitable". Well, that and the fact Rafael can not keep his hands off of her. She breaks off the engagement.
This is when it gets fun as Rafael, arrogant asshat that he is, can not accept that his lovely presence is not enough for Cristina. Who needs love when you have Rafael. Under the guise of "checking on her", Rafael proceeds to engage in Cristina's life.
The h does a good job protecting herself to a point, but Rafael hurts her one last time. Our H actually chases down out little heroine only to find out that she has developed a spine of steel.
Groveling ensues. HEA.
Rafael realizes it's time to get married in part to please his Italian mama. He meets Cristina who is not like the usual toothpicks he dates. For one she has a personality, and two, she has an appetite. Most importantly, she's mama approved and comes from a nice family and adores Rafael. All nice touches for a man in need of a "suitable wife".
The two end up in an affair and shortly after are engaged. Cristina is a little disappointed in a rather lackluster proposal, but, hey, he's just not an emotive kind of guy. Inadvertently, the h finds out he only proposed because she's "suitable". Well, that and the fact Rafael can not keep his hands off of her. She breaks off the engagement.
This is when it gets fun as Rafael, arrogant asshat that he is, can not accept that his lovely presence is not enough for Cristina. Who needs love when you have Rafael. Under the guise of "checking on her", Rafael proceeds to engage in Cristina's life.
The h does a good job protecting herself to a point, but Rafael hurts her one last time. Our H actually chases down out little heroine only to find out that she has developed a spine of steel.
Groveling ensues. HEA.
July 30, 2018
Adorable courtship story between a virgin heroine of the same social status as the workaholic, cynical hero. Hero's mother wants him to settle down and find a "suitable" wife. Hero realizes after a weekend party and a long drive to London that the perfectly pleasant heroine might just be the one.
He seduces her over the course of a few months and then they are engaged. All is well until the hero's mother mentions how suitable the heroine is for the hero and the heroine begins to realize the hero might not be as besotted with her as she is with him.
They break up for six weeks and the hero tries to move on with an OW. (No sex) Heroine wallows and then *finally* gets angry when the hero invites her to a party because he wants to make sure she's all right.
Hero is so clueless about how he feels. LOL Heroine doesn't make it easy for him at the end, and he does grovel (along with shaking hands) - but some might find it too short.
The fun of this story is how well-matched the H/h are.
Some details to help me remember this one:
H/h meet when heroine is blocking the road looking for her contact on her way to the hero's mother's party.
H/h are Italian, living in London. Heroine's parents own a chain of high end jewelry stores.
Heroine has a flower shop, wants to design gardens, and coaches girls' football (soccer)
Heroine is "curvy" and hero loves her boobs.
He seduces her over the course of a few months and then they are engaged. All is well until the hero's mother mentions how suitable the heroine is for the hero and the heroine begins to realize the hero might not be as besotted with her as she is with him.
They break up for six weeks and the hero tries to move on with an OW. (No sex) Heroine wallows and then *finally* gets angry when the hero invites her to a party because he wants to make sure she's all right.
Hero is so clueless about how he feels. LOL Heroine doesn't make it easy for him at the end, and he does grovel (along with shaking hands) - but some might find it too short.
The fun of this story is how well-matched the H/h are.
Some details to help me remember this one:
H/h meet when heroine is blocking the road looking for her contact on her way to the hero's mother's party.
H/h are Italian, living in London. Heroine's parents own a chain of high end jewelry stores.
Heroine has a flower shop, wants to design gardens, and coaches girls' football (soccer)
Heroine is "curvy" and hero loves her boobs.
August 7, 2018
Not enough grovelling to cover the second last chapter alone.
Hero was like a bad pimple. Was a whore himself. And slut shamed heroine.
Just not enough grovelling.
Would have been 3 stars if heroine put him through wringer for a whole chapter when he came crawling back.
Simple stupidity inflicted injuries were not enough.
Hero was like a bad pimple. Was a whore himself. And slut shamed heroine.
Just not enough grovelling.
Would have been 3 stars if heroine put him through wringer for a whole chapter when he came crawling back.
Simple stupidity inflicted injuries were not enough.
August 4, 2018
3.5 stars
I don't like when the H was married previously but at least she was awful and wasn't fond of his trying to move on.
Vintage and StMargarets saved me the trouble to get deeper into this so I'll move on to the next review to write.
I don't like when the H was married previously but at least she was awful and wasn't fond of his trying to move on.
Vintage and StMargarets saved me the trouble to get deeper into this so I'll move on to the next review to write.
September 7, 2017
I wanted to slap H more than once, And the sad thing is h felt sorry for the single time she slapped him, I only felt it could have been a little more harder , so you understand he is a complete jerk. And h has been obedient, too obedient for my tastes even after their breakup she let him rule her life. I just hated the H, and not enough grovelling , he got off the hook too easily. Its sad, It could have been so much better with just little more grovelling.
May 7, 2020
He made me jerk tears when he was jealous and cold and slutshaming h, love it. (sigh)
August 5, 2018
This was a decent read but I felt the hero could have tempered himself more than he did. For me the story moved a bit slowly and they spent too much time apart.
October 29, 2017
This was a nice read. The h was so sweet and inocent..its like she was borrowed from the pages of a fairy tale.. but the girl was a spine, yes sir..The H was the typical H in this kind of stories.. so no surprise here. A + for him was that at the end the grovelled.
April 25, 2016
sweet heroine but sadly it didn't hold my interest.
March 26, 2021
3.5 stars
March 30, 2021
Billionaire Rafael Rocchi always has a woman in his bed, but never in his heart. Now he needs a suitable wife...
When he meets Cristina, she is an ideal candidate: her plain-Jane looks mean she won't be tempted to stray - and she's a virgin!
Cristina is devastated to learn that Rafael's proposal was one of convenience. But whilst Rafael makes it clear their marriage isn't based on love, he intends for it to be authentic in every other respect...
When he meets Cristina, she is an ideal candidate: her plain-Jane looks mean she won't be tempted to stray - and she's a virgin!
Cristina is devastated to learn that Rafael's proposal was one of convenience. But whilst Rafael makes it clear their marriage isn't based on love, he intends for it to be authentic in every other respect...
September 5, 2020
H was a jerk, but he ended up acting like a classic besotted, bewildered fool at the end.
January 23, 2021
The "hero" was an absolutely awful person for...according to my Kindle...96% of the book!
I looked at other reviews and thought that there would be some sort of comeuppance, but there really wasn't. He just somehow realized his feelings and we had a last-minute happy ending.
I looked at other reviews and thought that there would be some sort of comeuppance, but there really wasn't. He just somehow realized his feelings and we had a last-minute happy ending.
July 2, 2013
i'm not even sure why i liked it but sure as hell i was laughing a lot while reading it...I enjoyed the snappy dialogues.
September 18, 2020
Sweetest heroine ever (5 ⭐️) but too slow, I skipped a lot.
August 18, 2017
It was ok
I liked the heroine. She was sweet, funny at times and unassuming. The hero though was ok until towards the end when he was being a jerk. He may not have cheated since they were broken up but he still dated another woman and kissed her. I don't like hero's going with other women after his been with the heroine. It's very off putting!
I liked the heroine. She was sweet, funny at times and unassuming. The hero though was ok until towards the end when he was being a jerk. He may not have cheated since they were broken up but he still dated another woman and kissed her. I don't like hero's going with other women after his been with the heroine. It's very off putting!
January 1, 2020
On the one hand, the text clearly shows the man is full of himself and lying to himself about his feelings. On the other hand, he actually did do things that were super shitty and while he did eventually realize he was being a fuckwit, his groveling was brief, late, and insufficient IMO.
I liked the woman somewhat, but she was a little. Simple. I sincerely hope that there are no real women that uncomplex.
But I didn't loathe it.
I liked the woman somewhat, but she was a little. Simple. I sincerely hope that there are no real women that uncomplex.
But I didn't loathe it.
September 19, 2020
I didn't much like this. It's not the worst read I've had from HP, but one of the most disappointing. This story's heroine was curvy, not at all concerned with the hero's money, sporty and ambitious. I even think I felt a little current of feminism (the kind of feminism that doesn't chastise women for being feminine and liking pink) in there. All things I usually enjoy in my readings.
Unfortunately the book just didn't live up to my expectations. The hero never had his comeuppence for his arrogance. The heroine all throughout acted far too reasonably for someone who was so offended at being called 'suitable'. Seeing her behavior, I would've expected her to take this adjective as the biggest compliment ever.
All in all, this was a pretty boring read with an uninspiring heroine and a unredeemed hero.
There was one scene in particular that irked me: when she's cooking and he doesn't help her but sit and watch her work. I don't really have a problem with very traditional gender roles, what I have a problem with is a hero revellig in the spectacle of it all. The scene felt like a not so subtle piece of propaganda. But I might be reading too much into it.
Unfortunately the book just didn't live up to my expectations. The hero never had his comeuppence for his arrogance. The heroine all throughout acted far too reasonably for someone who was so offended at being called 'suitable'. Seeing her behavior, I would've expected her to take this adjective as the biggest compliment ever.
All in all, this was a pretty boring read with an uninspiring heroine and a unredeemed hero.
There was one scene in particular that irked me: when she's cooking and he doesn't help her but sit and watch her work. I don't really have a problem with very traditional gender roles, what I have a problem with is a hero revellig in the spectacle of it all. The scene felt like a not so subtle piece of propaganda. But I might be reading too much into it.
April 6, 2023
Had potential
I loved the concept that the heroine was plain. What was frustrating was the missed dialogue that could have happened instead of the thought life of the characters. The lack of interaction was a struggle to get through so had to skip the repetitive thought life. The ending was a bit of a let down too abrupt. However if you are someone who likes the heroine to not be perfect then it is worth a read. Those books are few and far between. Most heroines are always stunning, gorgeous so this is more romantic to read in that the hero sees her as plain but as they get to know each other he starts to see her differently because he likes her.
I loved the concept that the heroine was plain. What was frustrating was the missed dialogue that could have happened instead of the thought life of the characters. The lack of interaction was a struggle to get through so had to skip the repetitive thought life. The ending was a bit of a let down too abrupt. However if you are someone who likes the heroine to not be perfect then it is worth a read. Those books are few and far between. Most heroines are always stunning, gorgeous so this is more romantic to read in that the hero sees her as plain but as they get to know each other he starts to see her differently because he likes her.
October 31, 2021
The first half of the book was boring. And she was annoying because she was babbling too much.
I skimmed through all her babbling, because I couldn’t stand it. I can’t believe that he didn’t get tired of all her babbling.
She was described by the writer as having a sunny, chatty nature. I didn’t see her sunny side (because she was worrying about everything like her clothes, her body, etc), but I did see her chatty side.
The second half of the book was better.
I like that she is a little bit chubby and that she doesn’t first have to lose weight before he is attracted to her.
I skimmed through all her babbling, because I couldn’t stand it. I can’t believe that he didn’t get tired of all her babbling.
She was described by the writer as having a sunny, chatty nature. I didn’t see her sunny side (because she was worrying about everything like her clothes, her body, etc), but I did see her chatty side.
The second half of the book was better.
I like that she is a little bit chubby and that she doesn’t first have to lose weight before he is attracted to her.
June 6, 2022
I read this book due to a mention about how it was a good read while I was reading a review of a Lynne Graham novel.
Anyhow, it was a slow start and I really didn't like the heroine. She was constantly saying she was sorry but I guess the author was trying to make her sound and look pathetic and meek.
But the final chapters of the book were good after she grew a backbone and make the hero chase after her and grovel and declare his love. I don't think it will be a reread for me though.
I gave it four stars for a good ending.
Anyhow, it was a slow start and I really didn't like the heroine. She was constantly saying she was sorry but I guess the author was trying to make her sound and look pathetic and meek.
But the final chapters of the book were good after she grew a backbone and make the hero chase after her and grovel and declare his love. I don't think it will be a reread for me though.
I gave it four stars for a good ending.
July 22, 2021
The h on learning that the H considers her a suitable bride because she is rich, plump and virgin and not likely to attract male attention, she has the courage to leave him. The H comes across as arrogant and judgemental but the h holds her own. Thankfully there wasn’t a typical pregnancy as the plot convenience in this book.
October 16, 2023
This one wasn't bad, but completely goes off the rails at the end. We get a proposal, with no answer, then poof baby baptism...guess the couple worked it all out? Yeah just cause the hero admitted what was wrong, and he was wrong, and his feelings didn't really solve their issues. Eh, read it but the last two chapters will upset you.
May 25, 2021
It was a nice book but omg, so many twists and turn.
May 3, 2025
Lovely.
Lovely story. Humourous but romantic. MFC strong and no pushover. Wish there were more like this. Highly recommend for entertaining read .
Lovely story. Humourous but romantic. MFC strong and no pushover. Wish there were more like this. Highly recommend for entertaining read .
August 10, 2017
I'm not sure why i liked it but sure as hell i was laughing a lot while reading it. I enjoyed it a lot.
September 1, 2023
This was sweet and good fun and not at all angsty, which was just what I was in the mood for after a few too many melodramas.
Heroine goes from overweight, to dumpy, through curvy and voluptuous to absolutely drop-dead irresistible in the Hero's eyes, which is fun. She falls for him, gives him her long-cherished virginity without a backwards glance, they have a fantastic time in bed together, they have a connection but he just doesnt recognise his feelings for what they are and asks her to marry him because she is "suitable" and it will make his mum happy. She finds out he doesn't love her (oh yes, he does!) and there are some fun antics as his jealousy takes over, but in a rather sweet way.
They are both Italian. She is from a rich family so isnt impressed by his money. Sweet, but short epilogue.
Heroine goes from overweight, to dumpy, through curvy and voluptuous to absolutely drop-dead irresistible in the Hero's eyes, which is fun. She falls for him, gives him her long-cherished virginity without a backwards glance, they have a fantastic time in bed together, they have a connection but he just doesnt recognise his feelings for what they are and asks her to marry him because she is "suitable" and it will make his mum happy. She finds out he doesn't love her (oh yes, he does!) and there are some fun antics as his jealousy takes over, but in a rather sweet way.
They are both Italian. She is from a rich family so isnt impressed by his money. Sweet, but short epilogue.
July 18, 2015
La verdad es que me gustó mucho porque la personalidad de los protagonistas me recordaron mucho a como era un chico conmigo, y yo con él, ¡en verdad! ¡ya nos podía ver a ambos en esas situaciones!
La diferencia es que no somos de familia tan acaudalada, pero fuera de ahí, todo similar.
Es algo triste e incluso algo patético, pero hubiera estado muy bien que nosotros terminaremos así, excepto quizás por la boda y la bebé, (o quizás sí, pero muchos, muchoooos años después) ¡Hasta el nombre de la niña es el que a él le gustaría ponerle!
En fin, basta de ñoñadas, una hermosa historia.
La diferencia es que no somos de familia tan acaudalada, pero fuera de ahí, todo similar.
Es algo triste e incluso algo patético, pero hubiera estado muy bien que nosotros terminaremos así, excepto quizás por la boda y la bebé, (o quizás sí, pero muchos, muchoooos años después) ¡Hasta el nombre de la niña es el que a él le gustaría ponerle!
En fin, basta de ñoñadas, una hermosa historia.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews