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A Grand Passion
Casey Hatter thought Turin would be a peaceful reprieve, time to heal from her loss. She'd study art, learn Italian, maybe even learn to cook. Meeting a man was the farthest thing from her mind. But when her tyrannical ex-boss Greta pressures her into interviewing the fabulously wealthy and charming Italian soccer sensation, Alessandro Sottini, sparks fly.Alessandro's nothing like her first love, a gentleman with tame ambitions. He's vibrant with unruly passions, quixotically philosophical, desperately sexy. . .in a word, Italian. No woman alive could say no to him. And the woman Alessandro wants is Casey. . .Review quotes for A Grand Passion by Samantha Winston". . .Readers who enjoy hot and passionate physical contact will enjoy A GRAND PASSION. This reviewer, however, enjoyed the emotional content even more than the erotic scenes."~Faith V. Smith, Romantic Times ". . .Winston spells out the details in glorifying descriptive passages. The passages of time within the sheets are steamy. . ."~Brenda Ramsbacher, Scribes World Reviews Five Roses! ". . .". . .I found myself enjoying this story immensely and will be digging up the author`s other work quickly. . .You won`t be disappointed!" ~Lucy, A Romance Review
200 pages, Paperback
First published November 29, 2002
74 people want to read
About the author
Samantha Winston
44 books19 followersSamantha Winston is the pen name for Jennifer Macaire, an American freelance writer/illustrator. She was born in Kingston, NY, and lived in Samoa, California, and the Virgin Islands before moving to France. She attended Parsons school of design for fine art, and Palm Beach Junior College for art and English literature. She worked for five years as a model for Elite. Married to a professional polo player, she has three children.
After settling in France, she started writing full time and published short stories in such magazines as Polo Magazine, PKA's Advocate, The Bear Deluxe, Nuketown, The Eclipse, Anotherealm, Linnaean Street, Inkspin, Literary Potpourri, Mind Caviar and the Vestal Review. One of her short stories was nominated for the Pushcart Prize. In June 2002 she won the 3am/Harper Collins flash fiction contest for her story "There are Geckos".
After settling in France, she started writing full time and published short stories in such magazines as Polo Magazine, PKA's Advocate, The Bear Deluxe, Nuketown, The Eclipse, Anotherealm, Linnaean Street, Inkspin, Literary Potpourri, Mind Caviar and the Vestal Review. One of her short stories was nominated for the Pushcart Prize. In June 2002 she won the 3am/Harper Collins flash fiction contest for her story "There are Geckos".
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
December 13, 2008
Really 3.5 Stars
This is my first book by Samantha Winston. I thought it was an interesting story, but it seemed to hit off the mark for me. I thought the heroine was quite wishy-washy at times, and the hero who is a very handsome sexy, beta hero deserved better.
Casey has moved to Italy to start her life over. She married her high school sweetheart and tragically became a widow 2 short years ago. Her husband's loss had nearly drove her over the edge, but she fought back, and decided to attend Art School at a very pretentious Art Academy in Italy.
When an old friend asks Casey to interview the hottest soccer star, Alessandro Sottini, she reluctantly agrees. Knowing nothing about soccer and very little Italian, she is just hoping to not look like a fool.
Alessandro is immediately taken with Casey. Her beauty and spitfire personality intrigues him. He sets out to seduce her, but is afraid that his less than partying lifestyle will soon bore her. He tries to patiently woo her, and take her romantic places, in hopes that Casey will one day give him her heart and build a life with him.
My problem was Casey's abrupt change. One moment she is the grieving widow, the next she is all over Alessandro even though she had insisted on him taking things slowly. She definately puts him through her flightiness (is that a word?) One moment she wants him...the next she is scared...the next she wants him...the next she is guiltly and breaks up with him...etc.
Alessandro was definately an interesting hero. He is kind, very famous, sexy and has more patience than Casey deserved. I really liked him and he himself was worth reading the book for.
If you are offended by hot sex and dirty words this book is not for you.
This is my first book by Samantha Winston. I thought it was an interesting story, but it seemed to hit off the mark for me. I thought the heroine was quite wishy-washy at times, and the hero who is a very handsome sexy, beta hero deserved better.
Casey has moved to Italy to start her life over. She married her high school sweetheart and tragically became a widow 2 short years ago. Her husband's loss had nearly drove her over the edge, but she fought back, and decided to attend Art School at a very pretentious Art Academy in Italy.
When an old friend asks Casey to interview the hottest soccer star, Alessandro Sottini, she reluctantly agrees. Knowing nothing about soccer and very little Italian, she is just hoping to not look like a fool.
Alessandro is immediately taken with Casey. Her beauty and spitfire personality intrigues him. He sets out to seduce her, but is afraid that his less than partying lifestyle will soon bore her. He tries to patiently woo her, and take her romantic places, in hopes that Casey will one day give him her heart and build a life with him.
My problem was Casey's abrupt change. One moment she is the grieving widow, the next she is all over Alessandro even though she had insisted on him taking things slowly. She definately puts him through her flightiness (is that a word?) One moment she wants him...the next she is scared...the next she wants him...the next she is guiltly and breaks up with him...etc.
Alessandro was definately an interesting hero. He is kind, very famous, sexy and has more patience than Casey deserved. I really liked him and he himself was worth reading the book for.
If you are offended by hot sex and dirty words this book is not for you.
April 4, 2008
Casey is a young (26) widow from Ohio, in Italy to study art after winning a contest where the prize is a chance to study art at a famous Turin, Italy school. When her magazine editor ex-boss from back home calls and asks for a favor, she finds it hard to refuse. Casey is asked to interview Turin's most famous athlete, sexy professional soccer star Alessandro (Alex) Sottini.
Casey knows nothing about soccer or Alex's fame, but since she's already in Italy, she agrees to do it. When she meets Alex, she's far from star-struck, but for the first time since her husband's death, she's attracted to a man.
Alex is smitten as well. When Casey mangles his name and drops her notebook on his feet, he is charmed. Being a celebrity, Alex is used to women throwing themselves at him, but the blushing American with the beautiful hair seems rather shy, and that intrigues him. Alex wants to pursue a relationship, and after some doubts, Casey agrees.
What follows is a rather sweet, romantic, but often erotic courtship. Casey and Alex have some problems to overcome, including the fact that she is older than him, has clinging in-laws, and most notably, the absolute possessiveness of his fans. Alex's celebrity almost comes between the young lovers, until a special gift arrives on Valentine's Day that proves the couples' devotion to one another.
I enjoyed this story very much. Alex and Casey were really sweet and romantic together, and the story gave a lot of insight into what it's like to be a celebrity and to lose all of your privacy. Fame and celebrity often come with a price, and sometimes the price is too high. I also loved the ending--it certainly had me tearing up! This was an interesting, sexy, quick read, and I would definitely look for more stories by this author!
Casey knows nothing about soccer or Alex's fame, but since she's already in Italy, she agrees to do it. When she meets Alex, she's far from star-struck, but for the first time since her husband's death, she's attracted to a man.
Alex is smitten as well. When Casey mangles his name and drops her notebook on his feet, he is charmed. Being a celebrity, Alex is used to women throwing themselves at him, but the blushing American with the beautiful hair seems rather shy, and that intrigues him. Alex wants to pursue a relationship, and after some doubts, Casey agrees.
What follows is a rather sweet, romantic, but often erotic courtship. Casey and Alex have some problems to overcome, including the fact that she is older than him, has clinging in-laws, and most notably, the absolute possessiveness of his fans. Alex's celebrity almost comes between the young lovers, until a special gift arrives on Valentine's Day that proves the couples' devotion to one another.
I enjoyed this story very much. Alex and Casey were really sweet and romantic together, and the story gave a lot of insight into what it's like to be a celebrity and to lose all of your privacy. Fame and celebrity often come with a price, and sometimes the price is too high. I also loved the ending--it certainly had me tearing up! This was an interesting, sexy, quick read, and I would definitely look for more stories by this author!
May 18, 2009
I'm not much on books with athlete heroes but this one was really good. Italian Soccer star Alessandro is harrassed by both fans and paparazzi but when he meets journalist Casey Hatter it's love at first site. This courtship is both sweet and heartbreaking as the fans are brutal to Casey. Is a HEA in the making or will both Casy and Alessandro be heartbroken?
Well written and not as much smut as expected in an Ellora's Cave publication. Well worth the read.
Well written and not as much smut as expected in an Ellora's Cave publication. Well worth the read.
owned-to-read
January 1, 2014*free on ARE
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews