What do you think?
Rate this book
Needed: The World's Most Eligible Billionaires #2
The Italian Duke's Virgin Mistress
Charley would do anything to keep her wages coming in and support her impoverished sisters and nephews—even if that meant working in Italy for the demanding and commanding Duke Raphael Della Striozzi…. Raphael couldn't understand why a woman like Charley dressed in dime-store clothes.It was going to be straight off to a designer boutique for her! But it was in Raphael's bedroom that Charlotte's complete transformation took place—from shy, dowdy virgin to confident, beautiful…mistress!
191 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 1, 2010
48 people are currently reading
364 people want to read
About the author
Penny Jordan
1,129 books670 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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
July 31, 2023
OK, so I'm a guy who occasionally reads romance novels, no big deal. Many are written with tight structure and polished prose, and this one's no exception.
The trouble with this book isn't the fact that, like every other romance novel I've ever read, there isn't the slightest shred of romance - every relationship is based entirely on wet, panting carnal lust and absolutely nothing else - nor that the characters are the usual smart independent woman reduced to a pathetic quivering heap by the non-attentions of a taciturn, arrogant, and extremely shallow hunk of meat. Those are par for the course.
No, the trouble here is that in every other Harlequin romance, the couple always does the dirty deed between pages 85 and 87 (yes, I have actually taken notes, and the formula is normally that strictly adhered to), whereas in this tome they don't get down to business until around page 95. Yes, a full ten extra pages - 12 percent extra time of waiting and anticipation and enduring the by now seemingly endless beating around the bush before achieving the climax (har har) of the story.
Sorry for the spoiler, but after all, there are no surprises in such novels. We read them for their descriptive prose about lips and eyes and hard muscles and all the clutching and nibbling that goes on, and in that respect, this novel is well above average. Read it.
The trouble with this book isn't the fact that, like every other romance novel I've ever read, there isn't the slightest shred of romance - every relationship is based entirely on wet, panting carnal lust and absolutely nothing else - nor that the characters are the usual smart independent woman reduced to a pathetic quivering heap by the non-attentions of a taciturn, arrogant, and extremely shallow hunk of meat. Those are par for the course.
No, the trouble here is that in every other Harlequin romance, the couple always does the dirty deed between pages 85 and 87 (yes, I have actually taken notes, and the formula is normally that strictly adhered to), whereas in this tome they don't get down to business until around page 95. Yes, a full ten extra pages - 12 percent extra time of waiting and anticipation and enduring the by now seemingly endless beating around the bush before achieving the climax (har har) of the story.
Sorry for the spoiler, but after all, there are no surprises in such novels. We read them for their descriptive prose about lips and eyes and hard muscles and all the clutching and nibbling that goes on, and in that respect, this novel is well above average. Read it.
September 28, 2021
Meh. Not really good. The hero and the heroine has an affair, he’s cold and really determined not to have children because he thinks he has a genetic disease.
He falls in love with her though and decides to let her go because he can’t give her children.
Of course there’s a final surprise, and so we can have our hea.
Not so satisfied with this book because I didn’t feel any angst and I missed the emotional connection between the characters.
He falls in love with her though and decides to let her go because he can’t give her children.
Of course there’s a final surprise, and so we can have our hea.
Not so satisfied with this book because I didn’t feel any angst and I missed the emotional connection between the characters.
February 6, 2011
Readers in the right mood may enjoy this for its high angst level, but I found it just embarrassingly stupid. The heroine is the typical Penny Jordan Passive Martyred Doormat (tm). The hero is cold and harsh throughout the entire book, making her passionate love for him baffling. The conflict is ridiculous superstition, and the wrap of it implausible and unsatisfying. I'll give an extra star because I did read the whole damn thing and because the hero steps up and redeems himself at the very end.
July 23, 2015
I like it when romance authors include condoms. I have a huge problem when the heroine tells the hero, "oh, I'm on the pill so we are safe without them." What the fuck? No! No you're not! You've known Generic Supposedly Alpha Male for less than a week. You don't know what he's carrying. Same for him. Even if you are a Tomboy Turned Butterfly, he doesn't know where you've been! Damn you, Jordan, responsibility please.
Also, the book sucked. So much angst. So boring. Not impressed.
Also, the book sucked. So much angst. So boring. Not impressed.
June 10, 2017
Silly, unmemorable, not worth the time I took to read it so I won't waste time on writing a proper review. Tons of other better Penny J novels to sink your teeth into.
July 28, 2020
This one should have been entitled "The Italian Duke's Virgin Doormat" because poor Charlotte was just toooooo desperate for Raphael and acted accordingly. I'm all for passionate love, but not at the expense of one's emotional health and self respect.
What about Raphael's reason for keeping Charlotte at a distance? I won't spoil it here, but it seemed OTT to me. Despite the book's flaws the angst levels were high if one likes that sort of thing (I do), and Raphael wasn't an ass, just misguided.
What about Raphael's reason for keeping Charlotte at a distance? I won't spoil it here, but it seemed OTT to me. Despite the book's flaws the angst levels were high if one likes that sort of thing (I do), and Raphael wasn't an ass, just misguided.
June 16, 2013
The heroine was a sweetheart Cinderella type and the hero was your typical alpha male but he wasn't that harsh. Still the reason behind the drama and angst was beyond ridiculous for a modern book.
February 28, 2018
2.75 Stars
April 27, 2018
Boring. First half the book H and h hardly talked at all. I think they didn't say more than a dozen sentences to each other. It was all about musings and hot thoughts they had about each other which was repetitive and kind of repellent when there was no communication between them.
As I stopped giving 1 stars this one gets 2 too which is my lowest grading nowadays.
As I stopped giving 1 stars this one gets 2 too which is my lowest grading nowadays.
Read
December 10, 2020I'm sorry but I just can't finish this book nor the series. boring for me
March 24, 2016
:) lol, mais uma "novela" desta vez com algum drama do passado a assombrar o presente e a comprometer o futuro.
impôs de alguma forma um maior ritmo de acção que a historia anterior, ja com alguma preocupação com a noção espaço/tempo de modo a que o leitor não se "perca".
não vou a ponto de dizer que é "banal" e que o único objectivo é a satisfação sensual dos personagens mas tambem nao anda longe disso.
curiosamente neste tipo de historias é onde me dá mais "vontade" de dissecar o seu conteúdo, apesar de não ter a pretensão de fazer critica :) mas pronto é o meu ponto de vista.
a irmã do meio é uma artista que teve de "sacrificar" a sua arte em prol do bem estar das irmãs.
Em Florencia tem a seu cargo a restauração de um jardim, doado pelo Il Duce :) , que obviamente como não poderia deixar de ser, é um alfa male no seu melhor e claro que a nossa "heroína" fica a "babar" :)
para quem aprecia de vez em quando uma historiazinha "aguinha com açucar" esta cumpre o papel.
impôs de alguma forma um maior ritmo de acção que a historia anterior, ja com alguma preocupação com a noção espaço/tempo de modo a que o leitor não se "perca".
não vou a ponto de dizer que é "banal" e que o único objectivo é a satisfação sensual dos personagens mas tambem nao anda longe disso.
curiosamente neste tipo de historias é onde me dá mais "vontade" de dissecar o seu conteúdo, apesar de não ter a pretensão de fazer critica :) mas pronto é o meu ponto de vista.
a irmã do meio é uma artista que teve de "sacrificar" a sua arte em prol do bem estar das irmãs.
Em Florencia tem a seu cargo a restauração de um jardim, doado pelo Il Duce :) , que obviamente como não poderia deixar de ser, é um alfa male no seu melhor e claro que a nossa "heroína" fica a "babar" :)
para quem aprecia de vez em quando uma historiazinha "aguinha com açucar" esta cumpre o papel.
June 7, 2021
Charley would do anything to keep her wages coming in and support her impoverished sisters and nephews--even if that meant working in Italy for the demanding and commanding Duke Raphael Della Striozzi.... Raphael couldn't understand why a woman like Charley dressed in dime-store clothes.It was going to be straight off to a designer boutique for her! But it was in Raphael's bedroom that Charlotte's complete transformation took place--from shy, dowdy virgin to confident, beautiful...mistress!
November 29, 2021
This book is so annoying, and the only reason I’m giving it 2 stars is because I’ve certainly read much worse, and to be fair, Jordan isn’t a terrible writer.
Charley/Charlotte is your standard Mills and Boon character. She’s so thin she'd get lost behind a pencil, isn’t the most attractive person in the world, constantly putting herself down and wishing she could be like the women she assumes her love interest would date. However, despite how plain she may be written as, the prickly love interest is inexplicably mesmerised by her, but nothing happens until she’s out of her ill fitting clothing, with her hair and makeup done, because a swan can’t actually love or be involved with an “ugly duckling". She must transform first, she’s just merely a late bloomer. They're also poor, naive, inexperienced (I don’t think I’ve ever read a M&B book where the women aren’t virgins before they meet their very experienced love interest), she’s passionate about this or that, which always amazes the guy, and I’m sure there's many more points, but I can’t be bothered listing them all.
In this particular tale, Charley would be amazing in some teen romantic comedy with her clumsiness. She'd nearly fallen 3 times in as many chapters – with Raphael there to catch her twice. But according to Mr Grumpy pants, she's “too slender” to be clumsy... What the heck has size got to do with it?
Some nice descriptive work, but I feel that’s all it is. There's painfully little dialogue between any of the characters, especially Charley and Raphael, their relationship being built mostly through exposition.
I’m not the biggest fan of love at first sight/insta-love types stories, and this is no exception. There's also very little between them other than the stories they have of each other in their heads. It's a ridiculous cringe fest with little substance.
Charley/Charlotte is your standard Mills and Boon character. She’s so thin she'd get lost behind a pencil, isn’t the most attractive person in the world, constantly putting herself down and wishing she could be like the women she assumes her love interest would date. However, despite how plain she may be written as, the prickly love interest is inexplicably mesmerised by her, but nothing happens until she’s out of her ill fitting clothing, with her hair and makeup done, because a swan can’t actually love or be involved with an “ugly duckling". She must transform first, she’s just merely a late bloomer. They're also poor, naive, inexperienced (I don’t think I’ve ever read a M&B book where the women aren’t virgins before they meet their very experienced love interest), she’s passionate about this or that, which always amazes the guy, and I’m sure there's many more points, but I can’t be bothered listing them all.
In this particular tale, Charley would be amazing in some teen romantic comedy with her clumsiness. She'd nearly fallen 3 times in as many chapters – with Raphael there to catch her twice. But according to Mr Grumpy pants, she's “too slender” to be clumsy... What the heck has size got to do with it?
Some nice descriptive work, but I feel that’s all it is. There's painfully little dialogue between any of the characters, especially Charley and Raphael, their relationship being built mostly through exposition.
I’m not the biggest fan of love at first sight/insta-love types stories, and this is no exception. There's also very little between them other than the stories they have of each other in their heads. It's a ridiculous cringe fest with little substance.
August 4, 2021
Really disliked this one. I really hate the whole belief that genetics of bad people will mean their descendants will also be bad or that genes can be cursed, it's so so ludicrous to me. I was so sickened that hero said that if heroine got pregnant that she would be required to terminate pregnancy, that's so disgusting. Np.
May 22, 2018
Uh well that was odd. The book had a very strong beginning and if it was longer it would have been good and ended strong. The length of the book squished the ending and middle making the hero and heroine look very changeful. Skip because it doesn't end strongly enough.
June 30, 2018
Its an old mills and boon book and I find these most addictive for some reason but really they are no different to usual romance novels.
Nice read not perfect didn't warm to hero which is unusual for me for a penny jordan book.
Nice read not perfect didn't warm to hero which is unusual for me for a penny jordan book.
September 8, 2021
4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Bonita, entretenida y bueno muy corta pero más me vale el poder ver en dos personajes ( más en ella) como se puede superar las inseguridades dadas de parte de los padres desde niños, para mi es algo importante de resaltar... Por eso me gustó mucho
Bonita, entretenida y bueno muy corta pero más me vale el poder ver en dos personajes ( más en ella) como se puede superar las inseguridades dadas de parte de los padres desde niños, para mi es algo importante de resaltar... Por eso me gustó mucho
July 4, 2019
So sad for him to think he was someone who should never have children only to realise he isn't who he thinks he is. Now he can enjoy the love he feels for her and go forward.
September 30, 2019
More inner monologue than dialogue. The actually story could have been reduced to 2 chapters.
October 25, 2019
Una volta adoravo i libri di Penny Jordan, tanto tanto tempo fa.....
Ora non riesco a trovarne uno che mi piace, questa serie poi è davvero pessima
Ora non riesco a trovarne uno che mi piace, questa serie poi è davvero pessima
July 19, 2022
It was fascinating. The dialogues were great.
March 23, 2023
This one was quite dull.
January 10, 2025
Just like the first book in this trilogy, it’s another love story full of passion; yet I liked how the author includes feelings anyone can relate to (like being the ugly duckling).
March 14, 2017
Sebenarnya ceritanya agak gak masuk akal dan lebay,untuk bacaan ringan not bad lah
Awalnya tertarik dgn karakter tokoh ceweknya,mandiri,tegas,keras kepala,walaupun sebenarnya merasa minder yah..itu juga karena salah ortunya sih yg selalu ngehina dan menganggap remeh sejak dia kecil
Tapi kok ya diakhir2 ni cewek karakternya jadi berubah lebay gitu,terlalu menuntut,galau gitu deh
Awalnya tertarik dgn karakter tokoh ceweknya,mandiri,tegas,keras kepala,walaupun sebenarnya merasa minder yah..itu juga karena salah ortunya sih yg selalu ngehina dan menganggap remeh sejak dia kecil
Tapi kok ya diakhir2 ni cewek karakternya jadi berubah lebay gitu,terlalu menuntut,galau gitu deh
March 4, 2017
Charley needs money to support her family - so she needs her job. When Il Duce, Raphael, shows up at her job site where she's reconstructing a garden and threatens her job, she'll do just about anything to keep it: including working for the duke himself. Raphael, at first, is motivated entirely by his desire to reconstruct the garden exactly as it was. But before long, he is motivated by desire for Charley. However, Raphael cannot think of a future with a woman, knowing the issues he has and how he must sacrifice love to prevent the spread of his darkness.
So this was an average, quick and easy read. It was also a very cliched story. This earned a few chuckles and eye rolls. I agree with other reviewers that Raphael's reasons for turning the heroine away are laughable and difficult to take seriously...especially given potential alternatives. Evidently he has a family history of sadism and doesn't want to pass that on to a child, nor does he want to have a wife who would have to put up with his own darkness when it comes time for his rage/evil/whatever to set in. And so, he refuses to settle down and be happy with Charley because he knows she'll be miserable with him...not having a child and all that. Since, you know, adopting and artificial insemination are so impossible. I will say though, that I did not find Raphael all that much of an asshole. It blew hot and cold and seemed a bit moody, but he never really reached real asshat levels. I actually found him quite enjoyable.
But the lengths he goes to avoid passing on his "inheritance"...at first he insists that he wear a condom during sex. But Charley MUST feel him naturally and insists that he not use one (which is a whole other eek! because they've known each other for a week or so and she has no idea where he's put that thing). So Raphael agrees but then adds a disclaimer that if she does conceive, depsite being on the pill, that she'll have to terminate the pregnancy. Yikes! Just put on the damn condom then. But I guess she agreed by not saying anything because the sex commences. That would have been such a mood killer for me...
So this was an average, quick and easy read. It was also a very cliched story. This earned a few chuckles and eye rolls. I agree with other reviewers that Raphael's reasons for turning the heroine away are laughable and difficult to take seriously...especially given potential alternatives. Evidently he has a family history of sadism and doesn't want to pass that on to a child, nor does he want to have a wife who would have to put up with his own darkness when it comes time for his rage/evil/whatever to set in. And so, he refuses to settle down and be happy with Charley because he knows she'll be miserable with him...not having a child and all that. Since, you know, adopting and artificial insemination are so impossible. I will say though, that I did not find Raphael all that much of an asshole. It blew hot and cold and seemed a bit moody, but he never really reached real asshat levels. I actually found him quite enjoyable.
But the lengths he goes to avoid passing on his "inheritance"...at first he insists that he wear a condom during sex. But Charley MUST feel him naturally and insists that he not use one (which is a whole other eek! because they've known each other for a week or so and she has no idea where he's put that thing). So Raphael agrees but then adds a disclaimer that if she does conceive, depsite being on the pill, that she'll have to terminate the pregnancy. Yikes! Just put on the damn condom then. But I guess she agreed by not saying anything because the sex commences. That would have been such a mood killer for me...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 16, 2013
Contemporary office romance with a virgin family-centric young woman who is helping raise her huge family with her salary so she is very careful to keep her job... Huh, there is so much wrong in the premise of this short book that I had to read it just to get up on my high second wave feminist horse!
Charlotte Wareham 'Charley' is on a working trip to Italy for a simple garden renovation that becomes complicated really quickly when Duke Raphael Della Striozzi enters the picture.
Raphael has too many internal conversations that are about anger/rage and his awful genetic heritage like we never got pas Eugenics! This whole angry genetic hog wash threw me out of the story which could have been a cute sexy office romance in romantic Italy.
There was too much nonsense for me to like this story and I recognized the family of sisters and I already read the youngest sister with the twin boys story in Marriage: To Claim his Twins before this one and the series is stand alone except they are three adult virgin sisters. I didn't like the themes or the silly people in this story but it was well edited.
187 pages and bought off the Mills & Boon Internet site that has a total deal with a fixed rate shipping price so I bought twenty books.
2 stars
Charlotte Wareham 'Charley' is on a working trip to Italy for a simple garden renovation that becomes complicated really quickly when Duke Raphael Della Striozzi enters the picture.
Raphael has too many internal conversations that are about anger/rage and his awful genetic heritage like we never got pas Eugenics! This whole angry genetic hog wash threw me out of the story which could have been a cute sexy office romance in romantic Italy.
There was too much nonsense for me to like this story and I recognized the family of sisters and I already read the youngest sister with the twin boys story in Marriage: To Claim his Twins before this one and the series is stand alone except they are three adult virgin sisters. I didn't like the themes or the silly people in this story but it was well edited.
187 pages and bought off the Mills & Boon Internet site that has a total deal with a fixed rate shipping price so I bought twenty books.
2 stars
May 29, 2019
This was my first Penny Jordan book. It was everything I needed today in a book: fast read, romance, alpha male, sexual tension... and the resulting release lol I read it in a couple of hours and like a finely brewed cup of coffee it really hit the spot and now I can move on with my day.
Rating: 4 stars for a nice spicy typical HP book!
My Ratings:
5*****I loved this book, consider it an all time favorite
4**** Thoroughly enjoyed the book and will recommend it
3*** I liked it well enough,
2** Brain Candy - It was okay. Writing mediocre, will
keep/re-read if part of a series
1* didn't like/possibly not finished. (less)
Rating: 4 stars for a nice spicy typical HP book!
My Ratings:
5*****I loved this book, consider it an all time favorite
4**** Thoroughly enjoyed the book and will recommend it
3*** I liked it well enough,
2** Brain Candy - It was okay. Writing mediocre, will
keep/re-read if part of a series
1* didn't like/possibly not finished. (less)
September 30, 2013
Set in beautiful Italy this is the second book in the series.
Raphael is a wonderfully gorgeous alpha male torn apart by his family's history. Charley is a determined woman hell bent on keeping her job. Together sparks start flying.
I enjoyed this book though I did think that some of the characters mental agonising was long winded and unnesisary; other than that it was grand.
Raphael is a wonderfully gorgeous alpha male torn apart by his family's history. Charley is a determined woman hell bent on keeping her job. Together sparks start flying.
I enjoyed this book though I did think that some of the characters mental agonising was long winded and unnesisary; other than that it was grand.
February 17, 2015
Meh! It's not a good thing when I fall asleep during the books first love scene. The entire story was just so unlikely that I never felt any connection to the characters. I just didn't believe this story. I love your work, Penny Jordan, but this one left me flat.
December 10, 2015
First, I enjoy Penny Jordan's writing quite a bit. That being said this story was to much about the heroine not feeling good about herself and it "took a man" to make her to see her worth. Gag. He doesn't like her. He likes her. He doesn't. Just to much in this story
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews