GENRE: Contemporary romance

 

BLURB:

When Gaby Conte’s Italian husband, Danieli, abandons her for a young Peruvian waitress at a restaurant they co-own in San Francisco, Gaby seeks refuge in Rome with her best friend Maria.

There, she swears off romance for a long while and Italian men forever. That’s until she meets Silvio, who belongs to an old, aristocratic Roman family and lives in a palace alongside the best private art collection in Rome.

Silvio, who is the cousin of Maria’s husband, is going through his own divorce. He’s gorgeous, of course, which Gaby doesn’t tell him. And arrogant and condescending, which she does. The last thing Gaby needs is more Italian trouble, but the attraction is instant and powerful, and against the backdrop of one of the world’s most romantic cities, both try—and fail—to resist the chemistry between them.

But both Gaby and Silvio have made a rule never to make the mistake of trusting in love again. Will they realize some rules are made just to be broken?

My Review:

I found this book very attractive from more than one point of view. The love story between Gaby and Silvio is very beautiful, descriptions of historical places in Rome and as well the magnificent culinary experience give it that interesting touch.

From the romance perspective, I am more than pleased of what I read. I mean, both characters are strong and independent and try to make it out of their failed marriages. While Gaby struggles to get over her husband’s infidelity with a waitress, Silvio is trying to move on after his wife cheated on him with his best friend. These similar circumstances shape them in different ways. She is not willing to sit around and cry her heart out for a man who did not deserve her affection so she is looking forward to her time with her best friend, so she can relax and come back with a new perspective over her professional future. Silvio on the other hand is adamant on not letting any other woman close to his heart again and dedicates his life to his son. Neither of them seems prepared for a new relationship. Still they cannot avoid the attraction.

We get to experience divorce from husband and wife perspective, and I think this is quite interesting. Also, when Gaby and Silvio meet, sparks go off. All the scenes with both of them are so well created that the reader feels he is right there, in one of their shoes. J the way both of them compare the other with the ex gives the feeling of reality too.

All in all, I rate this book a 4 out of 5 stars. I believe the book has a great love story that gives you butterflies, but there are some small details that could have been better constructed, like the relationship between Gaby and her daughters. Congratulations to the author for a lovely novel !

Excerpt:

Silvio lifted Gaby’s face to his with his finger. “So, you try to make me jealous?”

“Did it work?”

“No.” Silvio’s eyes glittered in the dark.

Gaby grinned. “You mean yes.”

“No. I mean no. Well, okay, maybe a little.”

Gaby grinned again and lowered her head to his shoulder.

“What did Massimo want with you all this time, dancing? What was all that whispering between you?”

“He wanted a date.”

Silvio went very still. “Excuse me?”

Gaby lifted her head up and looked at him. “He wants to take me out on a date when we get back to Rome.”

Silvio’s arms fell away and his eyes grew cool. “The kid’s barely out of college. You could be his mother.”

Gaby’s head snapped to the side. “I beg your pardon? He’s twenty-eight. I would have to have given birth to him when I was twelve.”

“Well, he looks like he’s twelve.” Silvio yanked Gaby toward him and they began to move to the music again. “You said no, right?” he murmured against her face.

“As a matter of fact, I said yes. He asked me if I was dating anyone and I said no.” Gaby added this last part for fun.

And boy was it fun when Silvio’s eyes immediately went from cool to frosty. “So,” he said, stepping back. “You’re not dating anyone?”

Gaby cocked her head to one side and suppressed a smile. “No. Who would I be dating?”

A tic started up in Silvio’s jaw and he pulled her to him, pressing his body against hers. He seemed so agitated over her admission, but why did he think he could stake any claim to her? “I thought maybe . . .” His voice trailed off weakly.

“You thought what?”

Silvio shook his head. “Nothing.”  He buried his face in her neck lighting charges all through her body. “It’s just that it looked like you felt a bit awkward dancing with Massimo.”

“Awkward? How do you mean?”

Silvio’s tongue laved the nape of her neck. “Well, for one, you didn’t have your arms around his neck like you have them around mine, nor were your legs entwined with his as they are with mine.”

Gaby immediately sprang back. The image he was drawing was highly sexual. But he caught her.

“Come back here,” he commanded.

 

About the author:

Mandi Benet grew up in England and published her first piece of fiction when she was twelve years old. She has been scribbling away ever since, as an award-winning journalist covering everything from the Democratic Convention to the Oscars—and an author, writing contemporary romance and women’s fiction with rich, original characters.

LINKS

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http://www.mandibenet.com/

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Giveaway:

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