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The Housekeeper and the Brooding Billionaire
Discover this twist on a Beauty and the Beast–inspired romance by USA TODAY bestselling author Annie West!
Is this forbidden Cinderella…
The key to his redemption?
Rumors surround the reclusive Alessio, Conte Dal Lago, yet Charlotte Symonds isn’t intimidated. Housekeeping for such a prestigious aristocrat will help fulfill her dreams of running her own business. But she isn’t prepared for her unexpected attraction to her new boss…
Wracked with guilt since his tragic loss, Alessio runs his billion-euro empire from his secluded Italian castello. Until Charlotte opens his eyes to the world he’s been missing—and to a long-forgotten desire. But can he hope to maintain his impenetrable, emotional walls once their powerful chemistry is unleashed?
From Harlequin Escape to exotic locations where passion knows no bounds.
Is this forbidden Cinderella…
The key to his redemption?
Rumors surround the reclusive Alessio, Conte Dal Lago, yet Charlotte Symonds isn’t intimidated. Housekeeping for such a prestigious aristocrat will help fulfill her dreams of running her own business. But she isn’t prepared for her unexpected attraction to her new boss…
Wracked with guilt since his tragic loss, Alessio runs his billion-euro empire from his secluded Italian castello. Until Charlotte opens his eyes to the world he’s been missing—and to a long-forgotten desire. But can he hope to maintain his impenetrable, emotional walls once their powerful chemistry is unleashed?
From Harlequin Escape to exotic locations where passion knows no bounds.
204 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 28, 2023
About the author
Annie West
967 books558 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Hello! I love writing passionate, intense love stories about sexy alpha men and the women who are their perfect match. Look out for my books with Harlequin (Presents) or Mills & Boon (Modern/Sexy) and for my indie stories, full of passion and intense emotion with a touch of glamour. My latest stories are my Hot Italian Nights series including 'Bound to the Italian Boss' June '17, 'The Italian's Bold Reckoning' July '17, 'At the Italian's Bidding' August '17 and 'Falling for the Brooding Italian' September '17.
Yes, I do like a dark, handsome hero!
You can catch up with my news at www.annie-west.com (where you can also sign up for my exclusive reader newsletter with giveaways and behind the scenes info). I'm on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/anniewest.au... and I adore hearing from readers. You can also contact me at annie(at)annie-west(dot)com
I live with my family at beautiful Lake Macquarie on the east Coast of Australia and my favourite things when not writing are good food, good company, great books, getting outside in nature and travel.
Bookwise, I'm a multi USA Today bestselling author with millions of books sold, in English as well as in lots of other languages. I've won the Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Award and the Romantic Book of the Year (Romance Writers of Australia). One of my favourite review quotes is from Romantic Times which said in its review of The Sheikh's Ransomed Bride 'This is what a love story could be.'.
Hello! I love writing passionate, intense love stories about sexy alpha men and the women who are their perfect match. Look out for my books with Harlequin (Presents) or Mills & Boon (Modern/Sexy) and for my indie stories, full of passion and intense emotion with a touch of glamour. My latest stories are my Hot Italian Nights series including 'Bound to the Italian Boss' June '17, 'The Italian's Bold Reckoning' July '17, 'At the Italian's Bidding' August '17 and 'Falling for the Brooding Italian' September '17.
Yes, I do like a dark, handsome hero!
You can catch up with my news at www.annie-west.com (where you can also sign up for my exclusive reader newsletter with giveaways and behind the scenes info). I'm on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/anniewest.au... and I adore hearing from readers. You can also contact me at annie(at)annie-west(dot)com
I live with my family at beautiful Lake Macquarie on the east Coast of Australia and my favourite things when not writing are good food, good company, great books, getting outside in nature and travel.
Bookwise, I'm a multi USA Today bestselling author with millions of books sold, in English as well as in lots of other languages. I've won the Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Award and the Romantic Book of the Year (Romance Writers of Australia). One of my favourite review quotes is from Romantic Times which said in its review of The Sheikh's Ransomed Bride 'This is what a love story could be.'.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
April 9, 2023
Oh... girl, why did you take him back?!
H and h met on a dig in Greece eight years ago. h fell madly in love with H. After a few months, H left h because her dad paid him off. She didn't think he knew who she was (daughter of a rich Greek businessman).
H didn't want the h told, but dad told her anyway because h was heartbroken.
Not sure if she was celibate, but H definitely wasn't and that just ticked me off... it's not like he was waiting to be worthy of her, but just have enough money, which seemed a poor reason.
Turns out H wanted the money as revenge because h's dad had paid a low price for his grandma's olive grove.
Poor excuse for taking the money and running, if you ask me.
H meets h at her dad's party in Greece and decides to woo her again. Dad (who apparently doesn't put names together) wants H to marry his daughter to take over the business.
Dad conveniently has major heart attack and surgery, so h agrees to marry H. Then waits until AFTER they are married to tell H she knows about the payoff and how it broke her heart. She flees.
H doesn't go after her, but meets her after a couple weeks to take her back to the island where they met. Does anything in Greece actually take place on land? Greece is apparently filled with billionaires and choked by islands.
I wouldn't have taken him back, but she does because he says he loves her now... she, of course, never stopped... but WHEN and WHY? They barely spend any time together.
No reason these two characters are together except their mutual attractiveness and the sex.
Disappointing.
H and h met on a dig in Greece eight years ago. h fell madly in love with H. After a few months, H left h because her dad paid him off. She didn't think he knew who she was (daughter of a rich Greek businessman).
H didn't want the h told, but dad told her anyway because h was heartbroken.
Not sure if she was celibate, but H definitely wasn't and that just ticked me off... it's not like he was waiting to be worthy of her, but just have enough money, which seemed a poor reason.
Turns out H wanted the money as revenge because h's dad had paid a low price for his grandma's olive grove.
Poor excuse for taking the money and running, if you ask me.
H meets h at her dad's party in Greece and decides to woo her again. Dad (who apparently doesn't put names together) wants H to marry his daughter to take over the business.
Dad conveniently has major heart attack and surgery, so h agrees to marry H. Then waits until AFTER they are married to tell H she knows about the payoff and how it broke her heart. She flees.
H doesn't go after her, but meets her after a couple weeks to take her back to the island where they met. Does anything in Greece actually take place on land? Greece is apparently filled with billionaires and choked by islands.
I wouldn't have taken him back, but she does because he says he loves her now... she, of course, never stopped... but WHEN and WHY? They barely spend any time together.
No reason these two characters are together except their mutual attractiveness and the sex.
Disappointing.
April 8, 2023
They dragged the reason for the 8 year separation out so long, by the time I got to it, I didn’t care. 😒
January 3, 2024
❌ Un Amor De Verano (Spanish Version)
July 12, 2026
This romance didn't quite work for me💔📖
At the beginning, I really enjoyed the chemistry between the two main characters, and I thought their relationship had a lot of potential. However, as the story progressed, I felt that chemistry slowly faded, and everything started moving at double speed. Because of that, the romance didn't feel as natural or well-developed as I had hoped.
Overall, the story felt a bit unrealistic, which made it difficult for me to fully connect with the characters and their relationship.
That said, I can't say I didn't enjoy my time reading it. It was a light, easy read, and since it's quite short, I finished it in a single day. Sometimes that's exactly the kind of book you're in the mood for📚✨
At the beginning, I really enjoyed the chemistry between the two main characters, and I thought their relationship had a lot of potential. However, as the story progressed, I felt that chemistry slowly faded, and everything started moving at double speed. Because of that, the romance didn't feel as natural or well-developed as I had hoped.
Overall, the story felt a bit unrealistic, which made it difficult for me to fully connect with the characters and their relationship.
That said, I can't say I didn't enjoy my time reading it. It was a light, easy read, and since it's quite short, I finished it in a single day. Sometimes that's exactly the kind of book you're in the mood for📚✨
April 19, 2026
“The Housekeeper and the Brooding Billionaire” is the story of Charlotte and Alessio.
I really really enjoyed this book. It has a grieving, depressed, introverted widowed billionaire living in a secluded castle, and his very smart, efficient and caring housekeeper who brings him out of his shell and steals his heart.
Very mature characters, sweet gestures of romance and I liked how the author delved into both their pasts without making things too sad. Heartwarming ending.
Safe
4/5
I really really enjoyed this book. It has a grieving, depressed, introverted widowed billionaire living in a secluded castle, and his very smart, efficient and caring housekeeper who brings him out of his shell and steals his heart.
Very mature characters, sweet gestures of romance and I liked how the author delved into both their pasts without making things too sad. Heartwarming ending.
Safe
4/5
September 19, 2024
This is a compelling romance. From the very first page when Alessio wonders if he is seeing a ghost in the mist of the lake, only to discover not the ghost of his dead wife, but the very disturbing golden haired Charlotte, the temporary housekeeper he has yet to meet. Just as Alessio is stunned by Charlotte, she too is taken aback by the vitality of her new employer. Their's is an instant attraction that simmers behind their mutual masks. Alessio's mask hides his painful self torture of failure to save his wife, and Charlotte's mask hides the scars left from a bullying and rejecting father. From that first scene of their meeting, I knew that Charlotte was going to wreck havok with the walls poor Alessio had built around himself
Ms West is a talented author, and this is another romance for the keeper shelf.
Ms West is a talented author, and this is another romance for the keeper shelf.
March 29, 2023
This was a beautiful romance with two beautiful people as H&H. A marriage between a 'Cinderella' and a 'Beauty & the Beast' trope, complete with castle... Attention grabbing from page one, where Alessio's pain is so tangible, to the Epilogue, which was very special. Thanks Annie West for a complete winner!
June 15, 2023
I enjoyed reading this story! Love how Alessio first meets Charlotte and she tells him she is his temporary housekeeper.His housekeeper Anna hired Charlotte because she has to leave to go to her daughter is having complication with the pregnancy. The is a immediate attraction between them and i love reading how they deal with it. Love how this ends. I recommend this book !
March 6, 2023
A good but slow burn reunion story with a sweet heroine and a sexy hero!
safety info: heroine was a virgin when they met, during their 8 years apart they were not celibate. this is the impression i got at least.
safety info: heroine was a virgin when they met, during their 8 years apart they were not celibate. this is the impression i got at least.
February 27, 2025
Absolutely fabulous - one of Annie’s best!
April 24, 2023
Good story, but it didn’t make sense why he didn’t want to be with her, like so many of these story. The H always seems confused on my he can’t be with the woman. 🤦🏽♀️
July 29, 2023
Snoozefest 🥱
August 13, 2023
Tortured hero is one of my favorite plots
August 28, 2023
It was okay, nothing special. A bit repetitive, characters that are not particularly likeable. An average romance which for me means it's not really worth reading.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews