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Her Mediterranean Playboy: An Anthology
Two intense and passionate stories in one special volume by two fabulous Presents authors!
Mistress at the Italian's Command by Melanie Milburne
When a ruthless Italian tycoon appears on Ally Benton's doorstep her instinct is to protect her twin sister. But becoming gorgeous Vittorio Vassallo's mistress is more than she'd bargained for!
Italian Boss, Housekeeper Mistress by Kate Hewitt
A housekeeping job in a crumbling villa on Lake Como was a fresh start for Zoe Clark. But she hadn't bargained on her dangerously sexy boss—Leandro Filametti. As the blazing Mediterranean sun heats up, Leandro realizes his one desire is to claim Zoe….
Mistress at the Italian's Command by Melanie Milburne
When a ruthless Italian tycoon appears on Ally Benton's doorstep her instinct is to protect her twin sister. But becoming gorgeous Vittorio Vassallo's mistress is more than she'd bargained for!
Italian Boss, Housekeeper Mistress by Kate Hewitt
A housekeeping job in a crumbling villa on Lake Como was a fresh start for Zoe Clark. But she hadn't bargained on her dangerously sexy boss—Leandro Filametti. As the blazing Mediterranean sun heats up, Leandro realizes his one desire is to claim Zoe….
192 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2010
8 people are currently reading
74 people want to read
About the author
Melanie Milburne
1,147 books392 followersI grew up on a small farm on the outskirts of Sydney and as a keen horse rider, often competed in local gymkhanas and even broke in a few horses from time to time. As I was surrounded by animals, I decided at an early age to become a nurse, however I couldn’t stand the sight of blood and so opted for a career in teaching. It’s a bit ironic that I married a surgeon.
I read my first Mills & Boon novel when I was 17 and that encouraged me to continue reading romance novels; the lure of the tall dark handsome hero, who in reality I fell in love with and knew I was going to marry on our second date! After marrying a year later, we moved to Scotland with our six week old baby so my husband could work and study for his MD in surgery. After the birth of our second son we came back to Australia to settle in Tasmania.
I went back to University and up-graded my teaching diploma to a degree and then went on to do a Masters but still I felt as if something was missing. I sat down one day and began writing and everything clicked into place - I had finally found ‘my brilliant career’! I used to write from instinct rather than a specific plan, but now, so many books later I find a loose plan doesn't go astray. An idea will pop into my head, sometimes it will be just a simple phrase or a what if question and I'm away.
Writing is a skill that can be learned and the best way to learn it is to read and to write. So many people feel they have a novel in them and very probably they are right-the only trick is to get it out. My advice to ‘would be’ writers is to write, write, and write even more. Carry a notebook at all times and jot down ideas. And like any other activity the more you do, the more it feels comfortable.
I hope you enjoy my stories and look forward to hearing from you.
I read my first Mills & Boon novel when I was 17 and that encouraged me to continue reading romance novels; the lure of the tall dark handsome hero, who in reality I fell in love with and knew I was going to marry on our second date! After marrying a year later, we moved to Scotland with our six week old baby so my husband could work and study for his MD in surgery. After the birth of our second son we came back to Australia to settle in Tasmania.
I went back to University and up-graded my teaching diploma to a degree and then went on to do a Masters but still I felt as if something was missing. I sat down one day and began writing and everything clicked into place - I had finally found ‘my brilliant career’! I used to write from instinct rather than a specific plan, but now, so many books later I find a loose plan doesn't go astray. An idea will pop into my head, sometimes it will be just a simple phrase or a what if question and I'm away.
Writing is a skill that can be learned and the best way to learn it is to read and to write. So many people feel they have a novel in them and very probably they are right-the only trick is to get it out. My advice to ‘would be’ writers is to write, write, and write even more. Carry a notebook at all times and jot down ideas. And like any other activity the more you do, the more it feels comfortable.
I hope you enjoy my stories and look forward to hearing from you.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
March 18, 2018
When a story starts out with a bi-polar twin attempting suicide and the doctor suggesting extensive time in a mental health clinic, it can only go up from there, right?
*sigh* It really doesn't. Hero thinks the heroine was having an affair with his brother-in-law and now he wants her to pose as his mistress so his pregnant sister won't know what a cad her husband is. Heroine agrees because she is angry at how he talked about her sister. She will pretend to be her twin and maybe she'll find out what the brother-in-law did to her sister to cause a breakdown.
It falls into predictable plot lines - the heroine is attracted to the hero who is kinda-sorta mean. He seduces her. She's a virgin. Hero tries to get her to tell the truth after it's obvious she's not her sister (who was divorced).
There was too much going on for a novella. This had the bones of an interesting story, but it was rushed. Not a happy tale and the heroine lied for no reason, really.
*sigh* It really doesn't. Hero thinks the heroine was having an affair with his brother-in-law and now he wants her to pose as his mistress so his pregnant sister won't know what a cad her husband is. Heroine agrees because she is angry at how he talked about her sister. She will pretend to be her twin and maybe she'll find out what the brother-in-law did to her sister to cause a breakdown.
It falls into predictable plot lines - the heroine is attracted to the hero who is kinda-sorta mean. He seduces her. She's a virgin. Hero tries to get her to tell the truth after it's obvious she's not her sister (who was divorced).
There was too much going on for a novella. This had the bones of an interesting story, but it was rushed. Not a happy tale and the heroine lied for no reason, really.
May 9, 2011
Mistress at Italian's command
It is a very intense and emotional read,the dashing Italian Vittorio Vassallo and the lovely Australian girl Ally Benton who fiercely protects her twin sister. From an early age when their mother died because of a suicide, Ally took care of her twin sister. Ally would do anything for her twin Alex, even it it meant trading places in order to protect her and find out exactly what kind of trouble and scandal her sister has caused a prominent Italian family.
Never in a million years does Ally believe her sister stole money, caused a scene and destroyed her lovers brother-in-law's new and very expensive automobile. When her sister was a teen she had to take medications because she was diagnosed with a mental illness; now she has tried to commit suicide. Ally has always taken care of her twin emotionally and financially and now she's determined to get to the bottom of things when she's confronted in Alex's apartment by Vittorio Vassallo. He accuses her sister of many things and so Ally gives him the impression she's Alex and agrees to go back with him to Italy where things can be sorted out. She also agrees to pretend to be his mistress because he won't let her out of his sight. He tells her all sorts of hurtful things about her sister and keep her close. Ally's determined to get answers! But as fate would have it, as they get to know each other, there's an immediate and deep attraction between them even though they try to fight it.
Vito is immediately attracted to Ally but fights it because he doesn't want his brother-in-laws "left overs". They are constantly disagreeing about what happened yet there's a definite attraction between them and then when he can no longer stand it, he takes Ally's virginity and many feelings take place for this strong, virile alpha, she's like no other woman! And then, he suggests out of the blue that they make a real marriage because out of sense of duty from his family, he doesn't want his sister to get hurt by her cheating husband's affairs. She's under full bed rest because she soon to deliver her first child. It if makes theirs a real marriage, because of the scandal and because he and his brother-in-law look so much alike, the press might believe it was Vito who had the affair with Ally who he believes is Alex.
Then the nightmare begins, because Ally's lost her heart to Vittorio, she meets her sister's lover in the flesh and so much more comes out, not just the stolen money and the car incident, but a secret she couldn't believe, and the reason why her sister fled and tried to take her life. When she realizes what a mess everything has become, Ally flees and goes to finally see her sister who was recovering beautifully in Switzerland.
this one was so well written with all sorts of twists and turns and the passion between Ally and Vito absolutely lovely to read. In the end, this Italian certainly when learning the truth and realizing how much this selfless woman gave to her sister and him, brought him to his knees, giving the lovely Ally her happy ever after as well as his.
Italian Boss, Housekeeper Mistress
Leandro Filametti was a handsome and very determined man; he absolutely didn't want to make the same mistakes his father made by seeking out cheap tarts who only wanted one thing, money. His father had not only done that and created a scandal for his family he had also gambled away his fortune and caused Leandro, his mother and sister shame and embarrassment. Now Leandro was at the Filametti villa, working and trying to get it ready to sell. He placed an ad in a newspaper seeking a housekeeper, someone who would not know of his families history.
Zoe Clark is a spirited young woman, who is used to not having a home, moving from city to city, job to job, with no sense of belonging. She's very pretty, sensual and wants to take the job in Italy to get away and enjoy her self for the summer, trying to forget the mistake she recently made by giving herself to a man who used her and called her names, insulting and hurting her in the process.
Now she finds herself with the unfortunate responsibility of trying to get the dilapidated villa in order, cleaning and cooking for the surly Italian who literally accuses her of being as he refers to her "a girl like you" in which he's implying she's a tart. Zoe finds herself attracted to him and so does he to Zoe but he fights it every step of the way. A touch here and there, a look, his referring to her morals because it's always in the back of his mind what his father did to his family. It goes on for weeks, him shutting himself in his study, Zoe cleaning, their swimming together, a few sightseeing trips and then wham! They can't take it anymore and act on their passion.
They decide they can continue to act on their passion for the next two months until the renovations are done. In a way, life becomes easy, they work during the day and love each other at night. Then Zoe realizes she wants something more, her deepest secret......love, a home, a family. When it's confirmed that won't happen, she leaves in the middle of the night and returns back to New York
it was a good read and we have a most charming and sweet happy ending.
Both stories were good
It is a very intense and emotional read,the dashing Italian Vittorio Vassallo and the lovely Australian girl Ally Benton who fiercely protects her twin sister. From an early age when their mother died because of a suicide, Ally took care of her twin sister. Ally would do anything for her twin Alex, even it it meant trading places in order to protect her and find out exactly what kind of trouble and scandal her sister has caused a prominent Italian family.
Never in a million years does Ally believe her sister stole money, caused a scene and destroyed her lovers brother-in-law's new and very expensive automobile. When her sister was a teen she had to take medications because she was diagnosed with a mental illness; now she has tried to commit suicide. Ally has always taken care of her twin emotionally and financially and now she's determined to get to the bottom of things when she's confronted in Alex's apartment by Vittorio Vassallo. He accuses her sister of many things and so Ally gives him the impression she's Alex and agrees to go back with him to Italy where things can be sorted out. She also agrees to pretend to be his mistress because he won't let her out of his sight. He tells her all sorts of hurtful things about her sister and keep her close. Ally's determined to get answers! But as fate would have it, as they get to know each other, there's an immediate and deep attraction between them even though they try to fight it.
Vito is immediately attracted to Ally but fights it because he doesn't want his brother-in-laws "left overs". They are constantly disagreeing about what happened yet there's a definite attraction between them and then when he can no longer stand it, he takes Ally's virginity and many feelings take place for this strong, virile alpha, she's like no other woman! And then, he suggests out of the blue that they make a real marriage because out of sense of duty from his family, he doesn't want his sister to get hurt by her cheating husband's affairs. She's under full bed rest because she soon to deliver her first child. It if makes theirs a real marriage, because of the scandal and because he and his brother-in-law look so much alike, the press might believe it was Vito who had the affair with Ally who he believes is Alex.
Then the nightmare begins, because Ally's lost her heart to Vittorio, she meets her sister's lover in the flesh and so much more comes out, not just the stolen money and the car incident, but a secret she couldn't believe, and the reason why her sister fled and tried to take her life. When she realizes what a mess everything has become, Ally flees and goes to finally see her sister who was recovering beautifully in Switzerland.
this one was so well written with all sorts of twists and turns and the passion between Ally and Vito absolutely lovely to read. In the end, this Italian certainly when learning the truth and realizing how much this selfless woman gave to her sister and him, brought him to his knees, giving the lovely Ally her happy ever after as well as his.
Italian Boss, Housekeeper Mistress
Leandro Filametti was a handsome and very determined man; he absolutely didn't want to make the same mistakes his father made by seeking out cheap tarts who only wanted one thing, money. His father had not only done that and created a scandal for his family he had also gambled away his fortune and caused Leandro, his mother and sister shame and embarrassment. Now Leandro was at the Filametti villa, working and trying to get it ready to sell. He placed an ad in a newspaper seeking a housekeeper, someone who would not know of his families history.
Zoe Clark is a spirited young woman, who is used to not having a home, moving from city to city, job to job, with no sense of belonging. She's very pretty, sensual and wants to take the job in Italy to get away and enjoy her self for the summer, trying to forget the mistake she recently made by giving herself to a man who used her and called her names, insulting and hurting her in the process.
Now she finds herself with the unfortunate responsibility of trying to get the dilapidated villa in order, cleaning and cooking for the surly Italian who literally accuses her of being as he refers to her "a girl like you" in which he's implying she's a tart. Zoe finds herself attracted to him and so does he to Zoe but he fights it every step of the way. A touch here and there, a look, his referring to her morals because it's always in the back of his mind what his father did to his family. It goes on for weeks, him shutting himself in his study, Zoe cleaning, their swimming together, a few sightseeing trips and then wham! They can't take it anymore and act on their passion.
They decide they can continue to act on their passion for the next two months until the renovations are done. In a way, life becomes easy, they work during the day and love each other at night. Then Zoe realizes she wants something more, her deepest secret......love, a home, a family. When it's confirmed that won't happen, she leaves in the middle of the night and returns back to New York
it was a good read and we have a most charming and sweet happy ending.
Both stories were good
abrierto-to-read-hr-other
November 13, 2019Two intense and passionate stories in one special volume by two fabulous Presents authors!
Mistress at the Italian's Command by Melanie Milburne
When a ruthless Italian tycoon appears on Ally Benton's doorstep her instinct is to protect her twin sister. But becoming gorgeous Vittorio Vassallo's mistress is more than she'd bargained for!
Italian Boss, Housekeeper Mistress by Kate Hewitt
A housekeeping job in a crumbling villa on Lake Como was a fresh start for Zoe Clark. But she hadn't bargained on her dangerously sexy boss--Leandro Filametti. As the blazing Mediterranean sun heats up, Leandro realizes his one desire is to claim Zoe.... (less)
Mistress at the Italian's Command by Melanie Milburne
When a ruthless Italian tycoon appears on Ally Benton's doorstep her instinct is to protect her twin sister. But becoming gorgeous Vittorio Vassallo's mistress is more than she'd bargained for!
Italian Boss, Housekeeper Mistress by Kate Hewitt
A housekeeping job in a crumbling villa on Lake Como was a fresh start for Zoe Clark. But she hadn't bargained on her dangerously sexy boss--Leandro Filametti. As the blazing Mediterranean sun heats up, Leandro realizes his one desire is to claim Zoe.... (less)
July 6, 2023
Mistress at the Italian's Command - Melanie Milburne
May 30, 2013
I liked the first story by Melanie Milburne. The characters were interesting and the story was too. There was a great overall flow to it with originality.
I didn't like the second story by Kate Hewitt. I don't know what it was about it, but about halfway through I gave up and it became a DNF.
The three star rating was for the first story.
I didn't like the second story by Kate Hewitt. I don't know what it was about it, but about halfway through I gave up and it became a DNF.
The three star rating was for the first story.
September 15, 2013
Because it's a bundle, it felt like it's rushed. At any rate the stories are lovely. The first book will make you wonder when he'll find out that she's not the right twin and what would he do when he finds out.. yes a bit of suspense here. The second book is great with the way the author described settings...Italy-Lake Como- no George Clooney lol.
August 16, 2014
I give the first story a 5 it was great. the characters were fantastic. i generally enjoy Melanie Melburne's books. the second story was not quite as great a little more development was needed. I have read two short ones by Kate Hewitt and thought the stories could have been great but needed to be full length to make it happen.
July 13, 2010
I picked this up at BEA and I was pleasantly surprised at it. I liked the first short story better than the second, but I did enjoy them both.
January 31, 2012
liked melaine milburne's entry, but wished it was longer and the story more detailed.
March 24, 2015
First story in this is quite good, second one is a disaster, boring.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews