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The Dante Legacy #1

Dante's Blackmailed Bride

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Jump into the fire

Severo Dante and his brothers had always dismissed rumors of the Inferno--an explosive desire that overtakes Dante men when they first see their soul mates. Then Severo met jewelry designer Francesca Sommers and was astonished by their raw, urgent, mutual attraction. A rising star at a rival company, Francesca has crafted a dazzling new collection that could ruin Severo's plans to rebuild the Dante empire. His solution: blackmail her into becoming his employee--and his fiancee--until their smoldering affair runs its course. But some fires, once lit, can never be extinguished...."

192 pages, Mass Market Paperback

Published February 12, 2008

175 people are currently reading
433 people want to read

About the author

Day Leclaire

463 books274 followers
I love family first and foremost, which is why writing family sagas and stories that involve family is so much fun. Maybe you can tell that from my books since they always feature the warmth and joy and ridiculousness that comes from having a close-knit family.

I also love animals and have taken in rescue dogs and cats and fostered dogs for the local animal shelter.

And of course, I love writing. All I need is a functioning brain (batteries not included), a pen, and paper, and I can write anywhere. Please don’t let a conversation with me lag because my imagination takes over and I. Am. Checked. Out!

USA Today bestselling author, Day Leclaire is the author of more than 60 novels and has received an impressive eleven nominations for the romance industry's most prestigious award, Romance Writers of America RITA© Award. Day lives in Charlotte, NC and spends her days obsessively writing while vaguely remembering to pay attention to her adorable husband, busy son and daughter-in-law, two tiny grandchildren, and two even tinier Teddy Bear dogs. Not to mention a whole lot of dust!

Thank you so much for taking the time to read my books. If you'd leave a review, I'd very much appreciate it. Authors are dependent on reviews in order to obtain ads and garner new readers. I love hearing from my readers. For a personal response, please contact me at Day@DayLeclaire.com.

And be sure to visit my website (www.DayLeclaire.com). Sign up for my newsletter for my latest releases and to receive a FREE book!

You can also find me on Facebook and Twitter.

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5 stars
179 (33%)
4 stars
167 (31%)
3 stars
141 (26%)
2 stars
35 (6%)
1 star
11 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
Profile Image for Sophia Triad.
2,241 reviews3,769 followers
January 10, 2020
“You’re going to blackmail me now, aren’t you?”
“Yes.”
She closed her eyes. Oh, God. He made it seem so simple. So obvious and acceptable. “You’re a total bastard, you know that?”
“When it comes to taking care of my family, you’re right.”


Severo Dante has always taken care of his family and his family's jewelry business. So when he meets Francesca a very gifted designer who works for a rival company, he will try everything to convince her to work for him - even blackmailing her.

What Severo doesn't know before he meets Fracesca is that Dantes are slaves to a curse or maybe to a blessing according to his grandfather: Inferno
Inferno is an explosive desire that overtakes Dante men when they first see and touch their soul mates. 

So far, Severo's grandfather chose wisely and thus he created a successful family. But his father chose poorly, he denied his true love and he had a tragic death.

Severo will feel Inferno when he meets Francesca. They will both try to resist futilely. In the end Severo will win both a great designer but also a his true soulmate.

This is a nice love story with a teeny-tiny paranormal twist. Severo is the classic stubborn male who does everything to win the girl. Francesca could resist a little bit more. I think she was too easy.

Overall very enjoyable and entertaining book.
Profile Image for Coco.V.
50k reviews129 followers
August 20, 2020
I liked this book overall. I thought the storyline was good and well-written and it held my interest the whole time. I was pleased with the way things turned out for these two. I'll definitely read Marco's Stolen Wife, book 2 in the Series, to experience once more the scorching connection of The Inferno. Overall rating: 3.5 stars!






🎁 FREE on Amazon & on iBooks today (7/13/2020)! 🎁
Profile Image for Julie (jjmachshev).
1,069 reviews292 followers
April 11, 2008
Enjoyed this first book in the Dante's Legacy series.

The Legacy refers to The Inferno. An instant zap of electricity and instant attraction for a Dante male when he meets "The One" for him. But these Dante heirs believe it just a fairy tale.

Severo is the eldest Dante brother and has no time for fairy tales. He's too busy rebuilding the jewelry empire his father almost destroyed. He does, however, always have time for a beautiful woman...and one just walked in that he can't seem to take his eyes off of. And what in the heck is that itch in his chest and palm?

Francesca is so close to living her dream of designing new jewelry and working close to her father (although he doesn't know she exists). On what should have been the biggest night of her life, she somehow lost her mind and ended up burning up the sheets with a stranger due to some irrefutable attraction! It's not until later she finds out who her mysterious stranger was...and boy, is she NOT happy.

This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Dallass.
2,302 reviews
April 24, 2019
I am so beyond steamed at this story.

The main character rips the female protagonists life to shreds - he bullies, blackmails, betrays and beds her to get his way - and after all that she endures, and it’s a lot, it’s freaking over in a few pages. He sees the “error of his ways”, and without having contacted her in months, Sev organizes for a huge public launch of the jewellery line she designed, but it seems more of a self congratulatory bash for Sev as he springs this on Francesca. The author also uses this event to conveniently tie up all the threads regarding her family/employer estrangement, but it just comes across as one big pat on the back for Sev. Of course, the book wraps up when El Douchecanoe makes some asshole statements, Francesca forgives him and they’re in love... hrrrrp, where the bucket. It’s just complete and utter bullshit!

Don’t bother reading this unless you’re in the mood to get righteously pissed off 😤

1 star for the diamond.
Profile Image for Christine (KizzieReads).
1,805 reviews105 followers
January 14, 2024
While I like the premise of this, I think Sev went a bit overboard with the way he blackmailed her. I know it's in the title, but this was a bit much. Sev's main ideal in life is to keep his grandfather's business going in spite of his father doing his best to sink it. Francesca is a jewellery designer working for another company in the hopes of getting to know her father, without him knowing that she is her daughter. Sev blackmails her into working for him with threats to ruin her life. That's not love. His brother does point out a few things to him, but he goes overboard with the blackmail.
Profile Image for Cheesecake.
2,800 reviews514 followers
March 5, 2016
Sev and Francesca. I wasn't sure I'd finish this one but I'm glad I did. At first Sev is such a cold calculating SOB I didn't see any hope. But Francesca is no push over even if they can't keep their hands off each other.
The Dante's own a jewelry empire and Sev is the CEO and oldest. He wants to re-acquire a smaller Jewelry company, 'TH' that Francesca is a new designer for. Francesca works for TH because her long lost father is part owner. He doesn't know he has a daughter from his brief affair with her mother, and Francesca can't tell him because it would ruin his happy marriage. Such a soap opera! Now add in the twist that the Dante family is afflicted/gifted/cursed with 'the inferno'. When each Dante male becomes a man, sooner or later they will meet the woman they are destined for by 'the inferno' and be unable to resist their allure. Should they resist, they will live an unhappy life of misfortune etc. Guess who's inferno is Sev's?? It would all be so simple if Francesca would just defect from TH and work for his company. He plans to make this happen by one means or another without considering the consequences for her. He didn't earn his reputation by being mr. Niceguy. But he finds that in getting what he wants, he has hurt the woman he loves. It's all rather convoluted, but comes together nicely in the end with remorse and lovely grovelling. I just wish there had been a bit of an epilogue, but I guess that would be addressed by reading the next book!
Profile Image for Canan .
1,092 reviews72 followers
December 21, 2011
Dante yangını neymiş bir bakayım diyerekten patron Danteyle tanıştım.
Dante yangınına değinecek olursak bir kutsanma yada lanet olarak nitelendirilen bir durum.Dante erkeklerini ve sevdikleri kadını etkileyen bir çekim gücü.Genelde her ne şart altında olurlarsa olsunlar, o kadını elde etmelidirler.
Yeni nesil Dantelerden bazıları buna inansada büyük kardeş Severo bu konuda pekte emin değildir..Taki adını bile bilmediği Francesca ile karşılaşana kadar...
Mücevher sektöründe çalışan Dante kardeşler, babalarının vefatı üzerine Severo'yu patron konumuna getirmişlerdir.Francesca ise Danlelerle çalışma hayali olmasına rağmen kendince önemli nedenleriolan rakip şirkette çalışan başarılı bir tasarımcıdır..Yolları kesişen bu çiftin arasında o an bir çekim olmuş ve bunu koparmak imkansızlaşmıştır.Francescanın Severo'nun iş teklifini reddetmesi patronu durduramamış ve şantajlada olsa Francescayı ekibine katmıştır.Peki kızımızın vicdanı rahat mıdır?Hayır.Hem iş hemde aşkı bir arada yürütebilecekler midir?Belki...Peki sonuç mutlu mu?Eee yani o.O
Ben beğendim..konu pek alışıldık değil...yada alıştığım tarzda değildi o.O
232 reviews
June 6, 2018
DNF. The “hero” is a selfish manipulative jerk. Falling into bed together in virtually the first chapter was written so unbelievably that I couldn’t read any more.
Profile Image for MzAnn.
690 reviews14 followers
July 2, 2022
Dantes

The writing felt kind of... stuffy...stiff...pretentious. I rolled my eyes at more than one "turn of phrase."

The story itself wasn't bad. I like the idea of "The Inferno." I've always liked fated-mates stories. The thing I didn't like was the selfishness and/or stupidity of some of the characters--Sev and Francesca, specifically--that allowed them to make decisions that affected other people without giving thought about how their decisions would affect other people. (I got really tired of reading "I hadn't thought about that" or some similar phrase.)

There are supposed to be about 10 more books in this series. If the writing has this same feel in the rest of the books, I will not become acquainted with the rest of the Dante clan. (See what I did there?)
Profile Image for James .
372 reviews12 followers
December 21, 2023
James' rating: 4 out of 5 “tesoro mio” stars! ✨

I really liked this one! The main characters Severo and Francesca had an excellent chemistry and the book had a fairytale feel to it. It also had an insta-lust with a fated mates twist to it which I loved!

Sev had this charisma and had a full alpha vibe going on. Francesca was kind of damaged tbh which I felt could have been addressed more and I did feel frustrated with some of her ridiculous decisions which were the byproduct of the trauma she went through.

The end was tied up really well though… a bit too well really because I really didn't like a certain make up because it felt kind of rushed and I wanted a bit more groveling from a certain couple.

Happy Reading!
2,000 reviews38 followers
November 19, 2022
Sev's obsessed with rebuilding the family jewelery empire his father nearly destroyed. First stop in that plan of conquest is acquiring the struggling Timeless Heirlooms, one of the companies they'd lost. It looks like a simple undertaking until he meets TH's newest designer and the Dante Inferno strikes and both their worlds are changed forever.
This billionaire story is a romance with just enough conflict and drama to keep it from being too sweet.
A perfect beach or apres ski read that will have you dreaming of fire diamonds and precious gems.
624 reviews9 followers
January 17, 2026
Introducing The Inferno
The moment Severino sees Francesca across the room he doesn’t know it, but The Dante Inferno awakes in his body. Fortunately, it’s a two way street and she is unable to resist his wish to retreat to a room in the hotel. They discover each other’s identity the next morning and with it all kinds of complications before they can have their HEA. Extremely romantic, with childhood trauma on both sides, betrayal of trust that hurt and a lot of steamy scenes. Wonderful!
Profile Image for Lesley.
2,476 reviews19 followers
July 11, 2022
This romance sparkles like the jewellery Francesca designs. Even after a lifetime of rejection, Francesca is a strong woman and more than a match for Sev, even though initially the power all seems on his side, eventually she evens things up in her bid for fairness. I cannot wait to read the next brother’s meeting with The Inferno.
Profile Image for Quinn Fforde.
3,306 reviews15 followers
November 13, 2022
I really enjoyed this story. Sev and Francesca have no business being together. There are some major conflicts of interest. But they cannot escape the Inferno between them. I liked that they were both sensible people with definite goals who could not defy the magic that had chosen them to be together. The chemistry kept me turning pages.
Profile Image for Mattie.
1,990 reviews8 followers
April 20, 2021
Did not like it, I thought hero was too ruthless and he never would have gotten away with his demands if not for the inferno, I felt that the inferno took away heroines free will. I don't really like the whole "Dantes inferno" theme. Np.
Profile Image for Meg Barber.
Author 19 books8 followers
June 22, 2025
I loved this. The story was inventive, the couple wonderfully drawn, and the background exciting. I wouldn't mind slipping out of a do wearing a couple of mils worth of jewels! As for finding a loyal and faithful mate, every woman's dream. Especially when he is gorgeous.
Profile Image for *Weebles*.
403 reviews7 followers
May 2, 2018
It was OK I guess, but it wasn't my thing.
1,748 reviews36 followers
June 17, 2019
Loved the overall premise of the story. Severo was wow. I mean he was very seductive and I found myself saying daaaayum. I liked that the female lead was independent and talented in her designs.
Profile Image for Dawn Mcclain.
16 reviews
June 23, 2021
Amazing

I started this book hoping for something different and I got it I loved it I can’t wait to read the rest in the series
91 reviews
July 1, 2021
Beautiful

A wondrous lesson of following the heart. No matter the ups and downs, the love ignited by the inferno is eternal.
Profile Image for  Priya.
51 reviews
February 21, 2022
loved reading! deserves way more than five stars. the best part there are more stories like this one and busy going through them. the best find!
37 reviews
July 31, 2020
"Sev's Blackmailed Bride"........What a story! I loved it. The Inferno is a Dante Family Legend. To fight The Inferno is to invite calamity into their life. To accept it, well, to accept it would bring a once-in-a-lifetime passionate love. Sev Dante heads up a jewelry empire. After a great loss followed by years of endless hard work, Sev is about to reclaim something that used to belong to his family, a competitor's jewelry store. Francesca loves her job as a jewelry designer (for Sev's competitor). One of the reasons is that it brings her in close contact with her father, even if her father is not aware of their relationship.

Sev and Francesca meet and - boom! - instant fireworks. Sev discovers The Inferno is real, and is more determined to reclaim his family's former jewelry store. Francesca discovers Sev is irresistible, but she is determined to protect her father's jewelry store. Sev forces Francesca into coming to work for his family's jewelry company, putting her budding relationship with her father at risk. She ends up doing something to help protect her father's store, but will it cost her the most passionate relationship she'll ever have?

The Inferno - passionate legend or total disaster?
Profile Image for Yazmin.
523 reviews11 followers
October 19, 2012
Severo Dante has always believed that the Inferno is only a fairy tale made up by their grandfather.Until he runs into Francesca at a jewelry show by Timeless Heirlooms, a company that used to be part of Dante's Jewelry and one he wants to get back. The instant he lays eyes on her everything in him demands that he claim her as his. Even if he doesn't know why, until he touches her and the Inferno seals the bond. When he was little he thought that the Inferno was Love At First Sight, now he knows it's Lust at First Sight. But Severo thinks that Francesca is a model hired for the show, not their top jewelry designer. Now he will do just about anything to steal her away for his company and to keep her in his bed.

I can't say how much I LOVE this series. It's fun, sexy, and with lots of twist and turns that keep you wondering if they will be able to find their HEA at the end. A very enjoyable read that will keep you wanting more.
387 reviews5 followers
October 8, 2014
Jump into the fire

Severo Dante and his brothers had always dismissed rumors of the Inferno--an explosive desire that overtakes Dante men when they first see their soul mates. Then Severo met jewelry designer Francesca Sommers and was astonished by their raw, urgent, mutual attraction. A rising star at a rival company, Francesca has crafted a dazzling new collection that could ruin Severo's plans to rebuild the Dante empire. His solution: blackmail her into becoming his employee--and his fiancée--until their smoldering affair runs its course. But some fires, once lit, can never be extinguished....

I have enjoyed the "Dante Legacy" story lines very much. I read many historicals, but when I need to cleanse my palate with a contemporary, Day Leclaire is one of my go to authors. The story is VERY sensual. Severo is caustically enticing.
Profile Image for Sweety.
174 reviews16 followers
July 7, 2010
Hmm yang ini SBM dan bkn V sich
tp ceritanya menarik, cewenya terjebak di tengah2, kalo berpihak ke cowonya dia menghianati ayahnya kalo dia pilih ke pihak ayahnya malah jd menghianati severo.

cewenya juga pinter design, jd iri, gw gambar aja ga bisa

severo ini percaya banget yang namanya inferno,
begitu dia merasakan dia langsung bertekad agar fransesca jadian ama dia
ya,menghalalkan segala cara sich, sampe gw berpikir nih cowo ga da perasaan bgt, ya dia begitu krn sejak ortunya meninggal severo hrs jalanin bisnis keluarganya dgn tangan dingin sich jd kadang segala cara yang menurut dia tepat bakal dia pake tanpa peduli perasaan orang lain.

tp endingnya gw suka kok, setelah dia paham kalo fransesca bukannya bermaksud menghianati dia
Profile Image for Katherine.
Author 2 books81 followers
May 31, 2011
The premise is very cool. The men of the Dantes family, when they found their soul mate, they feel the Inferno (Hell). And if they don't stay together with the person they love, they'll suffer forever.
I've NEVER, NEVER, NEVER, NEVER read a man that can make so many mistakes, and still think he's right. And when she did something stupid on her own, he treated her like shit. I was like C'moooooon!! You kidding me?? in half of the book. He was an ass, and she was an idiot. I gave 2 stars because the book could be good, and there's some parts that I liked, but I only could think about slap those two upside the head.
I'll in the future read the rest of the series (Just more 7 books lol). But I don't think it'll be soon!
Profile Image for Adriana Fogaça.
560 reviews6 followers
July 13, 2013
Os Dantes 01
A Noiva Chantageada
Day Leclaire.
H. Dueto 07.1
2009

O Inferno dos Dantes, muito bem bolado, Day foi muito feliz na escolha do enredo e na descendência dos personagens masculinos, porque os italianos são machistas por natureza.

E é simplesmente adorável vê-los sucumbir.

Severo com certeza é o pior machista e arrogante que já li em todos esses anos de leitura.

Ele pensa que pode fazer de um tudo.

Mas quando Francesca se mostra mais esperta que ele e o coloca em seu devido lugar... é sem duvida a melhor passagem que já li...rs.

ADORO!!!

RECOMENDADÍSSIMO!!!
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