That's Amore

The Billionaire Series #1

by Carol Grace

In this delicious contemporary romance, Carol Grace whisks readers away to Italy's sunny Amalfi Coast, where whitewashed villas and fragrant lemon trees sit high atop craggy cliffs...and romance is always in the air. Ever since high school, Anne Marie Jackson has dreamed of visiting Italy -- a dream no doubt enflamed by Giovanni, the dashing exchange student with whom she shared her first kiss. Twenty-three years, one divorce, and one postcard from Giovanni later, Anne Marie decides to follow her heart to Italy, where her former flame has promised to show her the sights.

Giovanni proves elusive but Marco Moretti -- a mysterious, handsome Italian -- seems to be everywhere she is. Anne Marie doesn't know why the persistent, irresistible Marco wants to find Giovanni as badly as she does, or if her old friend's in some kind of trouble -- but she soon discovers that it's her own heart that's in danger...of falling head-over-heels for the man who insists on being her personal tour guide to true love!

A Bon Voyage romance!

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Italy, Ebooks, Amazon, Contemporary Romance, Chick Lit

368 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

Carol Grace is the author of over 35 romance novels. In her former life she worked as a translator and an ESL teacher. She has traveled the world from Africa to Singapore for work and pleasure. Carol speaks French whenever she can, and sails the seas on cruise ships. When not on deck sipping tropical drinks and brainstorming ideas for her next novel, she gives writing classes. It's a tough job but somebody has to do it.
What do the critics say about Carol Grace?
"Carol Grace is best known for her humor, witty dialog, compelling characters and touching romance."
"Read one of Carol's books and you're transported to San Francisco Bay or a ranch in Montana or even faraway romantic Italy. Wherever you go, you'll find love in the air by choosing a Carol Grace novel."

Reviews

[Dorel · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is the 3rd book I read by Carol Grace. I was into story at first but as I keep reading this story became boring, slow, & confusing. Sorry this one wasn't for me.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Took me a while to get into the story. It's a bit slow and drawn out in the beginning and middle, then picks up the fast at the end, which almost just makes it seem that the author needed to quickly wrap up everything. A few times early on I nearly sat the book aside, but was hooked enough to keep reading to see if my prediction of the plot was correct. It's a sweet little romance despite the slow start and I am glad I finished it.

[Barbara "Cookie" Serfaty Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Her Italian Billionaire (The Billionaire Series Book1)

The love story of Anne Marie and Marco. Anne Marie is an American Librarian, who come to Italy to get way from her ex-husband's wedding. She has come to see the sign and meet up with Giovanni. Marco is a uncover cop who is looking for a stolen diamond. He believes Anne Marie had it. Will he find the diamond on Anne Marie? Ok story.

[Cheri Lajaunie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome Read

I really loved this book. I couldn't put the book down. I read and read until I was at the end.

[Paulina Robbins van Rijn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting

Loved the Italian info. But find she was portraying as to naif, bordering stupid.woman, even Americans, are better and stronger please.

[Destiny Parrish · Rating 3 out of 5]

i liked this book it was nicely written just really predictable but it was a sweet little romantic mystery.

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the novel. It sometimes got a little confusing on which POV it was in every so often, but it was a sweet HEA. However, after the "ah-ha" moment as I call it on Marco's side, it seemed to have a rushed ending.

[Italo Italophiles · Rating 4 out of 5]

An entertaining, fantasy-filled, romantic suspense novel, with some racy love scenes, so, not for children. While racy, the scenes do not cross the line into pornographic, in my humble opinion. If you enjoy light, female protagonist, romantic suspense films, you should enjoy this novel.

Anne Marie, a forty-one-year-old U.S. American has been ditched by her husband for a much younger woman. To heal her feelings of abandonment and her damaged self-esteem, Anne Marie seeks out a high-school crush, an Italian exchange student, Giovanni, in Italy!

From the start of her trip, her flight, things do not go as planned, setting off a chain of events that put Anne Marie in danger. Luckily for her, handsome, forty-year-old Marco dogs Anne Marie every step of her way to meet the old friend. In well-written segments, often rich with humor, from both Anne Marie's perspective and Marco's perspective, we follow the romantic adventure to it's romantic ending.

An adventure, a romance, a fantasy for a divorced, forty-one-year-old woman, in Italy, trailed by a handsome Italian man: Her Italian Millionaire is a fun read. Don't expect literature or a complicated plot. This is a light read, a beach read, a guilty pleasure read.

Midway in the novel, Anne Marie finally reunites with her childhood crush, Giovanni, without the hoped for earth-moving results. Alone again with Marco, Anne Marie and Marco begin to get to know each other, and to realize their mutual attraction, including two racy sex scenes, and a few tongue-twisting kissing sessions! I think the author could have toned down the language used for these scenes, and they would have fit better with the overall tone of the book.

Read the full and illustrated review at Italophile Book Reviews:
http://italophilebookreviews.blogspot...

[Debby · Rating 1 out of 5]

Anne Marie Jackson has dreamed of going to Italy and meeting up with former H.S. exchange student Giovanni for 20+ years. When her marriage disintegrates after 20 years, her friend Evie talks her into taking the trip and meeting Giovanni to give him his yearbook. He's really part of the mob and she is unwittingly carrying a stolen diamond in a chocolate. When Giovanni fails to meet her, Marco Moretti, who's an undercover cop trying to collar his old nemesis, volunteers himself a her tour guide. They have some weird experiences, become lovers, have lots of car problems, wind through the countryside and end up in Rome where the diamond is found. Anne Marie is a wimpy librarian from CA who periodically tries to assert herself, but is TSTL. At 41, you'd think she'd be a little more savvy and as a cop he also has real stupid moments. Interesting Italian facts, but not an outstanding book. Mild sex.

[Na Deela · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really cute story. I've always wanted to go to Italy and I swear this book made me want to sell everything I have to go! I could almost sense everything Anne Marie sensed on her vacation. I love that in the midst of everything that was happening, she still got to experience Italy and see things most tourists wouldn't. The book got a 4/5 from me for two reasons. Number one, I suspected the true culprits nearly from the start (though that could be because I'm such a naturally paranoid person and I'm suspicious of everything). Number two, I felt the ending was lacking a little bit. I don't know, I guess I expected more. I was left with a few unanswered questions. Anyway, overall I did enjoy the story (the characters, the plot, and mostly, the scenery). I felt like I got a little glimpse of Italy. Now I need to save up so I can see it through my own eyes!

[Snur Ahmed · Rating 3 out of 5]

So to be honest, i cant say that i liked the book or hated it, I am just in between, and i would give it a 2.5 stars to be precise...
There was some pages that i was skipping because there were really boring details to be mentioned and in my opinion the book was too long. The author could summed up the whole story in 200 pages.

So, Anne maria is forty-something who decides after getting divorced to visit Italy to see her best friend from high school days (Giovanni ) after getting a postcard from him. But to her surprise, she gets involved in something, she wasn't even aware of ( a stolen diamond being in her possession).

She gets emotionally involved with an undercover agent who plays the role of a tour guide, and when she discover the truth behind him, it will be too late for both of them.

It was a quick read for me, and i recommend it to the fan of romance. Enjoy !

[Shermel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading the back cover blurb was typically a bad idea, it caused me to place this book on the shelve for a year. Until recently a session of spring cleaning uncovered the book. Before giving it away, I decided to read the first two chapter. Good decision. I finished this book in two days. A lesson to book publishers 'write better blurbs'.

Ann Marie and Marco are two characters that are likable to the end. Carol Grace made Italy and Rome part of the must travel list. Toward the end I wish their was a book on Isabella.

[Lori · Rating 3 out of 5]

Her Italian Millionaire was a cute read... it kept me on the edge of my seat right up until the end where it totally crashed and burned. Now personally I read books mostly because I'm obsessed with the romance aspect... You get this huge build up and they finally realize their feelings for each other and when those feelings come out... bam... the end. I was left unsatisfied. With that said, I would read the book again. Everything else about this book was great... it was thrilling, it was hot, cute, and most of all it was entertaining!

[Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Marco and Anne Marie. She was pitiful to me. Forty-something divorced woman goes to Italy. People she thought were friends actually weren't, spent a lot of time thinking about ex-husband. She was just pitiful (I know I said that already). She always thought in worse case scenarios, wasn't especially likable. Marco lied throughout the entire book and then suddenly decides he can't live without her. And actually, the fact that he had money doesn't come into play in this book at all, so the title was misleading.

[Dorothy Gagnon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finding Love In Italy

Anne Marie, recently divorced, traveled to Italy to see her former Italian boyfriend, Giovanni. He promised to show her the sights, where is he? And...who is Marco, this Italian, so handsome but constantly showing up everywhere she goes. Does he have feelings for her?

What she doesn't know is he is an Agent hoping Ann Marie leads him to Giovanni. Did Giovanni meet her and bring her true love? Why does she enjoy Marco's attention, he is charming?

Great story on relationships and where life leads you.

[C Jia Ming · Rating 5 out of 5]

The perfect balance of trust and suspicion, love and hatred and romance and friendship.

Wonderful to see how Anne Marie goes through hardships and trying to get a breath of freedom in Italy, meeting Marco instead.
Setting of Italy creates an atmosphere of the possibility of starting over and the presence of hope. No? Yes.

Ending got me so happy, I don't even know why XD

5/5 stars!! This was so good :D

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although this story didn't have the most complex plot or characters, I enjoyed reading it. The romance had some nice touches and the red herrings in the plot kept me reading and guessing. The main characters were likeable and their relationship developed at a nice pace. This makes a satisfying summer vacation/beach read.

[Avis]

Quite interesting and cute book.
At first I thought that the action in the book will be developed one way - as a typical romantic novel. But suddenly appeared and criminal thread. Quite surprised, but pleasantly.
I recommend it to all who want to indulge in a little romance. Or just want to relax. =)

[Paige · Rating 2 out of 5]

I can't say that I entirely liked this book. I didn't completely hate it either. I just couldn't relate to a woman who was so down on herself and so utterly naive. She goes to Italy to see a man she had a crush on twenty years ago? I don't think so. She didn't catch on to Marco's lie or anything else really. I just don't see how this pair works as a couple, even in fiction.

[Mauaqui · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full of twists and turns

I enjoyed reading Her Italian Billionaire. Marco and Ana Marie met coincidently at her hotel in Italy. She could not get rid of him, he was every where she went. Marco is an undercover Italian agent and he believes Ana Marie is a jewel thief's courier. Things are about to get very interesting.

[Dawn ♥ romance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Exciting story with plenty of action; it's like a fantasy vacation romance that ends in true love but I wish the characters didn't ruminate so much especially near the end. Anne Marie vacations in Italy avoiding ex-husbands remarriage and meets Marco who seems to be everywhere.

[Poonam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing love story with a mystery in Italy!!! Loved the sexy hero Marco Moretti.:D The ending was short.Was expecting a more different ending where they get married with the entire family too.Anyway I enjoyed reading it.Hoping to get more books by this author Carol Grace.

[Sarah Snyder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mystery and Romance

This book was intriguing and very romantic. THe story was spellbinding and held one's interest through the very last word. I highly recommend it to anyone who really wants to be carried away by a spellbinding story.

[Dianne D. Reed · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love Italian Style

A newly divorced librarian travels to Italy to recover and clear her head. She also plans to meet an old friend. She talks with a tour guide and then her world is turned upside down! I loved it!

[Anne Turnley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Italian lover and jewel thief?

Italian trip to see a high school exchange student she liked 20 years ago turns into a real adventure. Anna Maria has trouble connecting with her old friend. Instead she meets Marco to whom she is attracted.

[yoli · Rating 2 out of 5]

Even divorced librarians can find amore. And I want to go and see Italy again, but, with a personal tour guide. ;)

[Starla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great romance in Italy. Yea. Really liked this one.

[Dannielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good Book! Made me want to go to Italy. :)

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good story! I usually don't read romance novels, but this one was entertaining...and HOT!

[LadyTechie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm on a weird reading binge. I'm looking for foreign travel that actually has a good story and is a travel log.