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Once a Ferrara Wife... (The Private Lives of Public Playboys)

by Sarah Morgan (Goodreads Author)

3.86 of 5 stars 3.86 · rating details · 471 ratings · 75 reviews

Laurel Ferrara wouldn't know a happy ending if she fell over it—of course her whirlwind wedding was always going to end in disaster. But it wasn't as simple as just walking away. From the moment she is summoned back to Sicily, the shivers of unease set in.The command comes from legendary billionaire Cristiano Ferrara, the husband she can't forget—but it might as well have...more

Paperback, 192 pages

Published January 24th 2012 by Harlequin

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DABWAHA (Dear Author Bitchery Writing Award for Hella Good Authors) 2013

43rd out of 62 books — 21 voters

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Nov 12, 2011 Booklover rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: celibate-heroes, keepers, dead-child-miscarriage-abortion, divorce-separated-reunion-2nd-chanc, emotional-tear-jerker, engagement-marriage-on-rocks, hospital, italian-greek-spanish-tycoons-royal, love, misunderstanding, parents, journalist-hoteliers, pregnancy-surrogacy, secrets-past-tragedy-abusive-childh, sibblings-best-friends, seduced-seduction

Wonderful heart wrenching intense emotional second chance at love story,its now on my "THE MOST FAVOURITE "shelf,the story progressed really well,all the characters were well developed ,adored both Cristiano-Laurie,you can really feel their love in their tension,anger,contempt.What really made this book extra ordinary was we have Hero who is not shy to express his emotions,it was Laurie who has problems,we have so many books where H has problems with expressing his emotions it was a nice change,...more

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Dec 11, 2011 Marajean rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Laurel meets up with her soon to be ex-husband when she shows up for his sister/her best friend's wedding.

He's very upset and mad at her because she walked away from their marriage without even giving him a chance to fight for it.

She's mad because he still doesn't see where his fault in the problem is but it doesn't matter anyway because there is nothing left of their marriage.

Overall I love this book, it's not my most favorite, but it's really close.

So Laurel is non-confrontational, she always...more

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Jan 25, 2012 Mandi Schreiner rated it 4 of 5 stars

Favorite Quote: Slowly, she turned her head and looked at him.
He turned his head too and his eyes fixed on hers.
Both should have looked away but neither of them did.
The inevitability of it was as sweet and sharp as the desire that stabbed through her body.

Laurel Ferrara is going back to the one place in the world she has no desire to be – Sicily. And she is going to see the one person in the world she has no desire to see – her husband. Two years ago, after a devastating miscarriage, Laurel wal...more Favorite Quote: Slowly, she turned her head and looked at him.
He turned his head too and his eyes fixed on hers.
Both should have looked away but neither of them did.
The inevitability of it was as sweet and sharp as the desire that stabbed through her body.

Laurel Ferrara is going back to the one place in the world she has no desire to be – Sicily. And she is going to see the one person in the world she has no desire to see – her husband. Two years ago, after a devastating miscarriage, Laurel walked out on her marriage. It wasn’t just the miscarriage, but the way her husband, billionaire Cristiano Ferrara handled it.

Laurel had an extremely hard childhood in foster care homes, and grew up knowing the only person she could rely on is herself. So the one time she asks for help, as she is having a miscarriage, Cristiano doesn’t come for her.

Cristiano is an extremely powerful business man and after reassuring Laurel that all would be okay, he makes the decision to turn off his phone and stay out of town, rather than fly home and take care of his scared, hurting wife. After that decision, Laurel fled and they both have been living in pain for the past two years. According to Sicily law, a couple must be separated for three years before a divorce can be final. With two years behind them, Laurel has no desire to see Cristiano, but his sister is getting married, and Laurel still has a relationship with her. When Cristiano and Laurel are finally reunited, all the hurt and pain come back to the surface, along with the intense attraction that has always been between them.

This is the second book I’ve read by Sarah Morgan and I really do enjoy the way she writes. This book is all about two people, learning to communicate with each other, and dealing with the hard issues life sometimes deals you. They both have lessons to learn. Cristiano needs to learn the art of apologizing, and accepting responsibility for his actions. Having taken over the business empire after the death of his father, he has pledged his life to work. And he often times puts work first before his wife.

When Laurel feels trouble brewing, her first thought is to flee, rather than rely on someone else for help. I really liked that these two are so stubborn, and it takes a lot to make them see the other’s side. It wasn’t like they see each other after two years and immediately decided all is okay. All of their conflict rests upon the actions of that one day when Laurel miscarries, and the author creates the scene intensely enough where having their marriage fall apart makes sense.

Of course, Cristiano is extremely sexy. With his wealth, good looks and Sicilian background. *fans self* He is very alpha – very much the caveman, protector and Laurel knows it. I also liked the supporting cast. While Cristiano’s sister is more the clichéd best friend, his brother Santo has no love for Laurel and is really cruel to her. I think it added some nice drama in the background.

Definitely looking forward to more from Sarah Morgan.

Rating: B(less)

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Jun 24, 2012 Desere Steenberg rated it 5 of 5 stars

Review by Desere

This was the first book of two about two absolutely incredible powerful and handsome brothers as created by the very talented Sarah Morgan.

We meet the somewhat weak in her own unique way Laurel ,she left her marriage and life she once knew behind to move on from a terrible miscarriage and the husband who she believed would be there for her when she needed him the most.

Now she is back as a favour to his sister and the man himself is more than persistent in proving that not only c...more

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Nov 13, 2012 Carrie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: category-romance, own, cabin-close-quarters, contemporary, manipulative-friends-family, read-2012, second-chances

3.5*
Grade B

While I didn't absolutely love this book, I did like it. It was a pretty standard HP, but the author managed to do something I've rarely seen in HP's or full-length novels. She has her characters actually struggling to communicate, but they keep at it until they get it right! I was about to get irritated at how often the hero and heroine start conversations only to have them flame out. But they persisted, and they finally ended up really communicating. The author has them talking for...more

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Nov 16, 2011 FeliciaKarenB rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: hated-the-heroin, harlequin, hero-faithful-after-break

The heroine was incredibly unlikeable.I couldn't believe one of the best heroes of Sarah Morgan ended up with this annoying heroine.

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Apr 24, 2013 Victoria Paige rated it 4 of 5 stars

I was hesitant to read this book because harlequin romances tend to be very formulaic, but I saw this recommended in one of the book blogs and the story intrigued me.
Oh my, what angst ... but unlike in most books, the angst in this one was a good experience for the reader.
The story begins with Laurel heading back to Sicily for her best friend’s wedding, whose brother also happens to be her estranged husband, Cristiano. Um ... yummy 6’2” Sicilian tycoon. Laurel has her own demons about abandonme...more

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Apr 05, 2013 Giovanni rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: second-chance, vulnerable-heroine

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. uhm..i can't say this is a good book, nor a bad book.

sometimes i feel our heroine is so unfair. she's trying hard protecting her own feeling and assume that her husband should be there beside her all the time. well, he would if you're not damn stupid not telling him about it.

but then, from her side i can see why she try to hide and conceal everything instead, it's kinda self defense.

their story is pretty much complicated that i jump from one conclusion to another.

"She's stupid. How's he suppose...more

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Feb 11, 2012 Cecilia rated it 3 of 5 stars

This was a nice angsty reconciliation story, but I had some reservations. The story begins when the heroine Laurel returns to Sicily for her BFF's wedding (not at her husband's command, as the blurb says). The BFF happens to be Laurel's estranged husband's sister, and she wants nothing more than to see them reunite. But right from the beginning, there's both of them, feeling really hard-done-by, verbally tearing chunks off each other, then tearing clothes off each other. Eventually, the core iss...more

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Feb 06, 2012 Judy & Marianne from Long and Short Reviews rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary, non-erotic

Originally posted at: http://www.longandshortreviews.blogsp...

This is a romance that’s a real nail-biter. It comes from not knowing who is going to say the one thing that will get these two emotionally bruised lovers to finally be truthful to the other. The author chose the most diametrically opposed people to fall in love; he’s uber-rich and commanding, she’s hard-driven, independent and trusts no one – with good reason. Really dramatic and heart breaking good reasons.

As first, the story start...more Originally posted at: http://www.longandshortreviews.blogsp...

This is a romance that’s a real nail-biter. It comes from not knowing who is going to say the one thing that will get these two emotionally bruised lovers to finally be truthful to the other. The author chose the most diametrically opposed people to fall in love; he’s uber-rich and commanding, she’s hard-driven, independent and trusts no one – with good reason. Really dramatic and heart breaking good reasons.

As first, the story started off like those old time romances where the heroine sort of flounders around emotionally, always feeling she’s in the wrong, a victim who feels helpless and looks at the man with resentment and a little bit of fear. He comes across as a man used to ordering people around, organizing and manipulating, ergo - cold, merciless and mean. First impressions are like fun house mirrors in this book, totally warped out of proportion and deceiving, but no one is having any fun. The truth knocked me for a loop. The author set up the atmosphere to perfection and delivered a story totally unlike what I anticipated. It made what came after truly joyous and a celebration of life. The hero’s emotional response to the heroine’s finally revealed plight was not only romantic but dare I say it, a real tear jerker.

This is a terrific character driven tale because once Ms. Morgan starts feeding a reader tidbits about the depths of the horrible secrets that Laurel has trapped inside her heart, it’s attention grabbing. Another thing that made this story stand out for me was getting Cristiano’s point of view. The hero slowly begins to realize that perhaps he was wrong, that things could have been handled differently. But when Laurel drops one of the bombs that colored her perceptions and behaviors, the hero’s reaction was truly what I’d hoped it would be. Better, in fact. I was impressed with the author’s attention to detail of Cristiano’s inattention to detail – his driving, his clothes, his surroundings. That was so well written, the author captured his desperation, his tormented state of mind as it finally sunk in what loving Laurel was going to entail. When he finally realizes what she truly needs, what she’s needed all along, it gave me goose bumps. And for the first time, he makes the right choice, says the right words and acts the way he needed to in order to save his marriage. Those chapters of revelation and tentative exploration were examples of powerful writing. I was committed to Cristiano and Laurel’s reconciliation.

The editing was perfect. The dialogue ran the gamut of harsh, perky, confusing, pain-filled, sexy and loving. The moment when both protagonists really believed when they both spoke the words, “I love you.” was one of the best moments in the book. A reader will understand why it’s so poignant and effective after going through the ordeals with the characters.

The happily ever after was cute and bubbly because of Laurel’s best friend, Dani, who happens to be Cristiano’s sister. Dani was like a bouncy puppy with a Polly-Anna attitude. Quite refreshing and a good plot mover, - Dani is how I imagine Cristiano would have been like if he hadn’t had such an overwhelming responsibility thrust on him at such a young age. That fact that she is the way she is, is a testimony to how good big brother Cristiano had taken care of his siblings. The ending also had a wonderful and warm wrap up. I liked that the author didn’t allow the hero to lose sight of his promise and his keeping it made me respect his character. Not to mention it proved to me that he really was a changed man. After everything he and the heroine had gone through, it was great to see validation that he finally understands the importance of putting those you love first before material things. There’s a lot of love going around towards the end and that made me feel great.

Once a Ferrara Wife… is a classic romance with a powerful zing. I couldn’t flip the pages fast enough to get to the part when they finally revealed all. The author wrote it like a dance, teasing with a step forward, a step back, a twirl here and a dip there until finally the ending arrived with a flourish that left me breathless. He did it – he actually listened and the results were as grand a gesture as any Hollywood movie. I loved the dramatic entrance and the tender actions afterwards. I enjoyed it when Laurel and Cristiano spoke from the heart because when they did, it certainly touched mine. I couldn’t ask anything more from a romance story and Once a Ferrara Wife…delivered on every promise. Only by picking up a copy will readers know what I mean. It’s worth it.

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Dec 06, 2011 Rudo rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Once a Ferrara Wife goes to truly show why Sarah Morgan is fast becoming my favourite M&B modern romance writer. I read an exerpt of this title off her website and couldnt wait to get my hands on this book. My wait was a little long as I didnt want to buy this in paperback and the Kindle version seemed to take forever to be released.

My absolute favourite part about this book, which made the wait so much worthwhile was Cristiano Ferrara. Sarah Morgan followed the formula that she has used in...more

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Nov 11, 2011 RLA rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The heroine Laurel arrives in Sicily a bag of nerves, to attend her best friend's wedding. She hasn't been back since she walked out on her marriage to Cristiano, the hero. Cristiano has never forgiven Laurel for giving up on them, and when they meet again he doesn't give her an inch. Laurel was deeply hurt by Cristiano's actions, or lack of, when she went through a very difficult experience. Laura grew up in care and having to look after herself, never wanting to be emotionally vulnerable to ot...more The heroine Laurel arrives in Sicily a bag of nerves, to attend her best friend's wedding. She hasn't been back since she walked out on her marriage to Cristiano, the hero. Cristiano has never forgiven Laurel for giving up on them, and when they meet again he doesn't give her an inch. Laurel was deeply hurt by Cristiano's actions, or lack of, when she went through a very difficult experience. Laura grew up in care and having to look after herself, never wanting to be emotionally vulnerable to others. She had begun to trust Cristiano so she was very upset, but not really surprised, when he let her down. Cristiano struggles with his feelings when he and Laurel spend time together again, he both hates her for walking out without talking to him, and desires her so much he can't bear to let her go again. Cristiano's one wish is for Laurel to truly open up to him, but it never happens as Laurel is so used to bottling everything in. But after a fiery argument leads to them giving in to the passion between them, Laurel tells Cristian the truth. He is devastated but also determined to make Laurel love him again.

Oh, what can I say about this book... it really, really blew me away. Seriously. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. Not only is this such a superbly written book with a wonderful love story between the hero and heroine, but Sarah Morgan has also taken so many romance novel conventions and flipped them on their heads. For once we have a hero who actually says 'I love you' before the closing pages and without it being forced out of him... Thank you, Sarah, thank you! Also, it is very refreshing to read about a heroine whom is the more emotionally stilted one in the relationship. Laurel's reasons for being like this and her background are heartbreaking, well thought out and not at all trivial. There is a scene about halfway through the book (the airport scene) that could easily have been the perfect romantic ending but no, Sarah had more and it is spectacular.
This book has so much passion, tension, heartbreak, and tenderness all wrapped up in one of the best stories I have read in a long time.

Simply perfect!

Originally posted at http://everyday-is-the-same.blogspot....(less)

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Oct 21, 2012 Modesty_b rated it 5 of 5 stars

Laurel Ferrara wouldn't know a happy ending if she fell over it—of course her whirlwind wedding was always going to end in disaster. But it wasn't as simple as just walking away. From the moment she is summoned back to Sicily, the shivers of unease set in.The command comes from legendary billionaire Cristiano Ferrara, the husband she can't forget—but it might as well have come from the devil himself. The outrageously gorgeous Cristiano's power is a potent reminder of this Sicilian dynasty's unb...more

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Feb 12, 2012 Dawn rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: morgan-sarah

I have come to realize that one can always count on Sarah Morgan for a good romantic read. And I'm not even a fan of these short category romances. But this is my third Morgan and each one has really been a gem.

That said, I would have given it 5 stars if not for the cover. In the book the heroine's hair color is described as the color of dark chocolate. On the cover she's blond! That's such a blatant mistake. I wish whoever was in charge of such things would at least ask someone who has read the...more

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Feb 05, 2012 Pj rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Any romance reader.

I have to say Thank you to Goodreads Giveways for this book.
This book was a romance between Laurel and Cristiano Ferrara.
It takes place in the rich Sicilian countryside.
Laurel has never had anything in her life turn out well, so why
should a marriage to Cristiano?
When Laurel needed her husband he is always away on business.
So when Laurel is pregnant and loosing the baby she calls for Cristiano,
only he doesn't answer his phone. Cristiano is too busy with work.
Laurel ends up loosing the baby,she...more

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Feb 03, 2012 Susanna Carr added it

Shelves: presents

Laurel Ferrara walked out of her marriage two years ago because Cristiano failed her when she needed him the most. She reluctantly returns to Sicily for a family wedding and must face Cristiano. Their divorce is still being finalized but Cristiano decides he wants to stay married.

Cristiano has no problems showing his emotions, but Laurel does. Abandoned as a newborn and struggling to survive in the system, Laurel has learned to trust no one. She has never relied on anyone but herself. The one ti...more

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Mar 29, 2012 Stephanie rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance

Once a Ferrara Wife… was a tad melodramatic for my tastes, and I suspect that it might have worked better as a short story or novelette than at its present length; I can’t help but feel also that the backstory could also have been worked in in a way that still allowed the present day narrative to progress. It may have been that I was misled by the hilarious tagline (“For better…or for bedding?) on the back of the book, but I was expecting something with a little more levity and a little less pre...more

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Apr 20, 2013 Ashley F rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: category-romance, contemporary-romance, 2013

Reviewed at http://tsukibooks.blogspot.com

I find myself only having mini-rages over books with Sarah Morgan books. She must sprinkle some sort of character rage-inducing dust in there because clearly it is getting ridiculous. Let me be clear I enjoyed the book. Let me repeat: I really liked this book. All I'm saying is I wanted to send the two characters into therapy before I had an emotional melt-down.

Laurel and Cristiano (seriously sexy name) had a passionate marriage. The air caught fire the...more

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Apr 28, 2012 Fiona Marsden rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: People who love reunion stories

Recommended to Fiona by: Author Preference

Well I should probably give myself breathing space before I write a review on Once a Ferrara Wife. Yes. it was that good. I'm still smiling stupidly at the thought of it. I've had this book sitting here for weeks after reading the first few pages and getting dragged away to other things. I've always loved Sarah Morgan's stories so I decided today was the day. Even if it killed me. It nearly did. A sinus attack forced me to put the book down halfway through so you can imagine my angst. A vapour i...more Well I should probably give myself breathing space before I write a review on Once a Ferrara Wife. Yes. it was that good. I'm still smiling stupidly at the thought of it. I've had this book sitting here for weeks after reading the first few pages and getting dragged away to other things. I've always loved Sarah Morgan's stories so I decided today was the day. Even if it killed me. It nearly did. A sinus attack forced me to put the book down halfway through so you can imagine my angst. A vapour inhaler and three hours sleep and I was able to stagger back to my Kindle and continue the journey.

And what a great journey it is. I love a good reunion story and this was perfect in every way. Christiano is the ultimate macho Sicilian male full of overweening arrogance and an overdeveloped sense of responsibility, to family, and most of all to business. The only person who apparently missed out was his wife. On the one day of her life she needed him most, he let her down.

After the emotional desert of her childhood, Laurel had enough of disappointment, of rejection, of hoping, only to be betrayed. Christiano demanded trust and when he failed her two years ago, there were to be no second chances. Laurel left, her emotions, and her marriage, in tatters.

So what was Laurel doing at his sisters wedding, acting as her Matron of Honour, locking eyes with Christiano while Dani and her new husband exchanged vows? She was only there for Dani, her best friend in college. After the wedding she would return to London to await the finalising of the divorce.

Only it wasn't to be so easy. Christiano had always read her heart and when he saw what was in her eyes he determined not to let her go.

This is where the real fun starts. Watching Christiano do what has to be done to win back the love of his life is an emotional rollercoaster. Both of them have to step out of their comfort zone to achieve some kind of reconciliation. Christiano does this in a spectacular way that explains why a crowd of women in an airport are prepared to go into bat for him.

For Laurel the journey is even more painful and as revelation upon revelation comes out, we understand exactly why their marriage has come to this place, and the tremendous amount of work needed to get it back on track.

Right from the start Sarah Morgan invests us in the protagonists. We want to see the happy ending, even though we know the way back will be fraught with difficulty. Sarah doesn't make us wait until the very end for the positives. As in so many relationships it is one step forward, two steps back. Some scenes were incredibly moving and the ending left me both choked up and smiling. A real achievement.

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Apr 12, 2013 Nova rated it 4 of 5 stars

Once a Ferrara wife, always a Ferrara wife...?
That is what the premise of this HP is. Laurel walked away from her marriage/husband/life. Years later she comes back to where she left to attend her best friend's wedding; only the best friend is her estranged husband's sister! She never really told Cristiano why she left, and he doesn't want to get divorced even though she thinks it's a done deal. Can this marriage overcome the reasons why it had problems to begin with, or is it better to just end...more

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Feb 19, 2012 Kate rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary-romance, harlequin-presents, read-in-2012, location-sicily, heat-level-r, rating-4-stars, job-hotel-realestate-magnate, job-coach-personal-trainer, trope-childhood-trauma, trope-infertility-miscarriage, trope-unplanned-pregnancy_child, trope-reunion-reconciliation, trope-orphan-hero_heroine, series-ferrara-brothers

Overall, this is a great book. I really love HPs that allow the hero and heroine work out and overcome problems because that's what real life is about.

However, I had a big problem with one issue that kept this from being a five-star read for me. (view spoiler)...more

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Apr 26, 2012 Sara HarlequinJunkie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites-shelf, top-pick

My Reviews: HarlequinJunkie

‘Once a Ferrara wife’ is an incredibly wonderful reunion story, Laurel Ferrara and Cristiano Ferrara marriage fell apart when Cristiano let Laurel down badly and she ended up walking away from their Marriage. Now 2 years later she ruturns briefly to Sicily to stand as Maid of Honor for Cristiano’s sister’s wedding and settle their divorce, this is where the story picks up.
Once a Ferrara wife is compelling read; full of tension, drama, conflict and angst. There was gr...more

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Feb 16, 2012 Alex Economides rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: romance, romance-reading-challenge-2012, authors-i-o, harlequin-mills-boon

Sarah Morgan is one of my favorite Mills and Boon’s authors and I enjoy most of her books.
I loved the story of Once a Ferrara Wife and would have given it a 5 star review except for one thing that really irritated me (more about this later on).

This is a very intense, compelling and emotional story about Cristiano and Laurel Ferrara and I was captivated from the moment I started page 1 and I was so engrossed in the story that before I realized I had finished the book in one reading.

You are total...more Sarah Morgan is one of my favorite Mills and Boon’s authors and I enjoy most of her books.
I loved the story of Once a Ferrara Wife and would have given it a 5 star review except for one thing that really irritated me (more about this later on).

This is a very intense, compelling and emotional story about Cristiano and Laurel Ferrara and I was captivated from the moment I started page 1 and I was so engrossed in the story that before I realized I had finished the book in one reading.

You are totally drawn into the lives of Cristiano & Laurel Ferrara from page 1 until the Epilogue which is by the way, their second HEA (what a luck having a chance again after their disastrous first and very short HEA, two years previously).
This is such an intense, compelling and emotional story and the author and at times I could feel their pain and anguish. The author has an incredible way of writing dialogue and building up her characters – the interaction between the two is truly amazing. It’s as if you know them personally and you are actually feeling their emotions.

I am irrevocably in love with Cristiano. A beautiful, rich as sin, sexy, gorgeous, strong alpha male, with a hot hot body – an Italian ….no a Sicilian one….that is not afraid to show his heart and emotions….not often seen in these type of men….I was knocked out by the depth of his love for Laurel and how hard he tried to understand her even when he was being rejected …..in such a horrible manner by her.

And the reason I did not give the higher rating is because I found Laurel to be so horrible to Cristiano…okay in the end she discovers that he is not the man who she believed had let her down and that she still loved him. I was irritated by her constant moaning about being let down, how she could take care of herself, how she didn’t need anyone to do anything for her, what a horrible childhood she had – okay she did…but that doesn’t mean that one has to allow that to control your life. Even when she is told by his sister and brother how much Cristiano loves her and how heartbroken he was when she left him, she still continues to give the poor guy a hard time. At times such childish behavior, feeling sorry for myself… and throughout all this drama, Cristiano continues to be caring, loving and understanding never giving up on her.

I adored Cristiano’s sister – who believes in love and fairytales and tries to get Laurel back together with Cristiano. Even his brother, Santo becomes involved – I wonder if there is going to be a book about him? I think he would make a great hero for some lucky heroine out there!!!!!

Settings are stunning – a resort and spa for the rich and famous, you feel the magical, enchanting and mythical atmosphere of Taormina with its winding streets and tiny passages….oh what a man….buying the woman he has always and will always love a medieval castle!!!!!

I was elated that the true love for each other overcame all the misunderstandings and obstacles and found happiness together…and with their growing family.

Second thoughts after writing this review…..i am giving 5 stars because I think it deserves it. It’s a fabulous fabulous book and I can guarantee that anyone who reads it will love it as much as me.
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Mar 23, 2012 Ridley rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: ebook, 4-star, contemporary, read-2012, category-romance, hqn-presents

Funny story with this one. I tweeted DA's Jane to ask if she had any semi-recent Presents to recommend when Sunita suggested this book. Next thing you know, Sarah Morgan tweets "Noooo I'm not ready to be creamed in #dabwaha and by @_ridley_ in the same week."

I had no idea I was so terrifying.

Long story short, she offers me a free copy of the book to show she was only kidding, and I happily accepted. Good thing too, as it was a great source of vitamins A(ngst) and D(rama), and I like to stay hea...more Funny story with this one. I tweeted DA's Jane to ask if she had any semi-recent Presents to recommend when Sunita suggested this book. Next thing you know, Sarah Morgan tweets "Noooo I'm not ready to be creamed in #dabwaha and by @_ridley_ in the same week."

I had no idea I was so terrifying.

Long story short, she offers me a free copy of the book to show she was only kidding, and I happily accepted. Good thing too, as it was a great source of vitamins A(ngst) and D(rama), and I like to stay healthy.

Personal trainer to the stars Laurel Ferrara has reluctantly flown to Sicily to stand up as the maid of honor in her best friend's wedding. She's booked her flights without telling anyone the details and reserved a simple hotel room in the city center. Planning to quietly perform her wedding duties without entangling herself too much with the family, she's nonplussed when the bride's brother meets her at the airport and insists she's staying with him at the family's villa. The only contact she'd hoped to have with Cristiano Ferrara was in a lawyer's office, where they'd be signing divorce paperwork.

If you like second chance romances and angst so thick you could cut it with a knife, this is your book. Something traumatic drove these two to separate two years ago and Morgan does a great job of showing why they split as well as why they've worked things out for good this time. I enjoy how she shows us both characters' points of view on the event. When you're in Cristiano's head, you see the same mistrustful, overreacting Laurel he does. Then from Laurel's eyes you see the callous, stubborn, mansplaining Cristiano she walked out on. Because of this, you work out their problems along with them, and there's no true villain or victim. They were two people who acted out of a place of insecurity rather than communicated with each other.

I loved the main couple. Cristiano was the perfect Presents hero - handsome, successful, stubborn, domineering, protective - and Laurel his perfect counterpart with her boatload of insecurities from an unstable childhood. Both characters have ambition in spades, know what they want, and aren't going to let anyone push them around. Watching them spar was a joy. Seeing them reconcile was immensely satisfying.

A few nit-picky things irked me, including a predictable ending to the infertility plot line, but they were nothing serious. I'd recommend this to anyone looking for an angsty HP to read.(less)

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Dec 29, 2011 sbf20112011 rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

4.5 stars. This one was really well done overall -- great emotional angst, good characters -- but it was one of those stories that was sad to read and left me feeling a little down, even after the end. Even though it ended happily. That's why I took off a half star. It also deals with a subject -- (view spoiler) -- that I don't really enjoy reading about in an HP because it's too much of a downer. Overall though, this was a good rea...more

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Mar 15, 2012 Las rated it 2 of 5 stars

Boring. The whole book was just a constant back and forth argument about ONE event, and while the arguments themselves were well-written and made sense* considering the characters, by the end I just didn't care if this couple got back together. There was nothing romantic about this story.

*Made sense, that is, until the hero suffered from an acute drop in IQ points and said, right when things were starting to look up, "Why do women always turn everything into a major drama?" Really, jackass? Tha...more

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Nov 17, 2012 willaful rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: special-needs-illness, reunited-or-have-history, fertility-or-reproduction-issues, pet-peeve, angsty-goodness, made-me-cry

4 1/2 stars. Usually when a couple in a Harlequin Presents each think the other did them wrong, there's an external reason -- an Evil Other Woman led them astray, or a letter didn't get delivered, or a phone call was misunderstood. This story was interesting because, realistically, both parties are right -- or wrong, as the case may be. It was also interesting as a turnaround of the usual scenario: Laurel, who grew up in foster care, is the one who is emotionally closed off, while her husband Cr...more

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Jun 24, 2012 Ruthie Knox rated it 4 of 5 stars

Great "reunited marriage" story! I loved that they were both furious at each other and certain the other was wrong, and they turned out both to be right about the other and wrong about themselves. Nice setup for emotional growth on both characters' part. I also like that the sexual chemistry was not allowed to take over the story. Both characters knew sex had never been their problem, and Morgan kept it largely at the margins of the story.

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Oct 26, 2011 Bridie Coleman rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

If I could give this book more than 5 stars I would. Passionate, stormy, fiery and emotional - all contained in this story. Great characters particularly Laurel - a trust no one emotional wreck. Christiano starts out as your typical alpha male but changes and he just is a dream to read about. Great scene half way through - won't spoil it.

Now cannot wait to read Christiano's brother Santo's story.

Phew - great work again Sarah.

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Feb 18, 2012 Tabs rated it 5 of 5 stars

A Sarah Morgan book can fall anywhere on the spectrum between love and hate for me. This one was firmly on the "love" side. It's a great angsty reconciliation romance about a separated married couple who are both desperately in love with each other but also desperately afraid of screwing it all up again and getting hurt. This one's full of anguish and pain but in a glorious way.

The main characters have been separated for two years in the wake of a painful miscarriage. The heroine has incredibly...more

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About Sarah Morgan

About Sarah

USA Today bestselling author Sarah Morgan writes lively, sexy stories for Harlequin Presents and is currently hard at work on her first full length contemporary romance novel which will be published October 2013.

As a child Sarah dreamed of being a writer and although she took a few interesting detours on the way, she is now living that dream. With her writing career she has successfully...more

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