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His Poor Little Rich Girl
Sleeping rough not your thing any more, little rich girl?' Alessandro Vallini once made the mistake of proposing to spoiled princess Rachel McCulloch. Her rejection scored his soul. But now the tables have turned: bad-boy-made-good Alessandro now holds Rachel's future in the palm of his hand! He needs a temporary housekeeper, and she needs money – it's a perfect opportunity to taunt her with what she turned down... Riches-to-rags Rachel is very different from the glittering socialite Alessandro remembers. He's laid his trap – with himself as bait! – but who's catching who in this web of desire?
Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 2011
15 people are currently reading
164 people want to read
About the author
Melanie Milburne
1,167 books394 followersI grew up on a small farm on the outskirts of Sydney and as a keen horse rider, often competed in local gymkhanas and even broke in a few horses from time to time. As I was surrounded by animals, I decided at an early age to become a nurse, however I couldn’t stand the sight of blood and so opted for a career in teaching. It’s a bit ironic that I married a surgeon.
I read my first Mills & Boon novel when I was 17 and that encouraged me to continue reading romance novels; the lure of the tall dark handsome hero, who in reality I fell in love with and knew I was going to marry on our second date! After marrying a year later, we moved to Scotland with our six week old baby so my husband could work and study for his MD in surgery. After the birth of our second son we came back to Australia to settle in Tasmania.
I went back to University and up-graded my teaching diploma to a degree and then went on to do a Masters but still I felt as if something was missing. I sat down one day and began writing and everything clicked into place - I had finally found ‘my brilliant career’! I used to write from instinct rather than a specific plan, but now, so many books later I find a loose plan doesn't go astray. An idea will pop into my head, sometimes it will be just a simple phrase or a what if question and I'm away.
Writing is a skill that can be learned and the best way to learn it is to read and to write. So many people feel they have a novel in them and very probably they are right-the only trick is to get it out. My advice to ‘would be’ writers is to write, write, and write even more. Carry a notebook at all times and jot down ideas. And like any other activity the more you do, the more it feels comfortable.
I hope you enjoy my stories and look forward to hearing from you.
I read my first Mills & Boon novel when I was 17 and that encouraged me to continue reading romance novels; the lure of the tall dark handsome hero, who in reality I fell in love with and knew I was going to marry on our second date! After marrying a year later, we moved to Scotland with our six week old baby so my husband could work and study for his MD in surgery. After the birth of our second son we came back to Australia to settle in Tasmania.
I went back to University and up-graded my teaching diploma to a degree and then went on to do a Masters but still I felt as if something was missing. I sat down one day and began writing and everything clicked into place - I had finally found ‘my brilliant career’! I used to write from instinct rather than a specific plan, but now, so many books later I find a loose plan doesn't go astray. An idea will pop into my head, sometimes it will be just a simple phrase or a what if question and I'm away.
Writing is a skill that can be learned and the best way to learn it is to read and to write. So many people feel they have a novel in them and very probably they are right-the only trick is to get it out. My advice to ‘would be’ writers is to write, write, and write even more. Carry a notebook at all times and jot down ideas. And like any other activity the more you do, the more it feels comfortable.
I hope you enjoy my stories and look forward to hearing from you.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
March 1, 2018
Yet another (now rich) hero who won't forgive the (now poor) heroine for jilting him in the past. That her father threatened to disown her wasn't enough of a reason to forgive, so several years later the hero is now in the position to enact a bit of light revenge.
I say "light" because the hero didn't plan for the heroine to lose her financial backing for her fledgling clothing line. Nor did he plan for her to lose her luggage and have her credit card frozen while she was in Italy. But once she is in his clutches, he can insult her at his leisure, make her sign non-disclosure agreements, be his housekeeper and his temporary mistress. Too bad he's temporarily paralyzed from Guillain-Barré syndrome.
Heroine just wants to be loved for herself (see title).
Unfortunately, both of these characters aren't very likable and I found myself not caring if they got together or not. The revenge thing didn't work because he didn't care enough to *plan* a revenge - so his ever changing demands felt half-assed. Heroine isn't even sure if she loved him in the past because her father broke them up before they could establish a relationship. All of these lukewarm feelings lead to a lukewarm romance.
I say "light" because the hero didn't plan for the heroine to lose her financial backing for her fledgling clothing line. Nor did he plan for her to lose her luggage and have her credit card frozen while she was in Italy. But once she is in his clutches, he can insult her at his leisure, make her sign non-disclosure agreements, be his housekeeper and his temporary mistress. Too bad he's temporarily paralyzed from Guillain-Barré syndrome.
Heroine just wants to be loved for herself (see title).
Unfortunately, both of these characters aren't very likable and I found myself not caring if they got together or not. The revenge thing didn't work because he didn't care enough to *plan* a revenge - so his ever changing demands felt half-assed. Heroine isn't even sure if she loved him in the past because her father broke them up before they could establish a relationship. All of these lukewarm feelings lead to a lukewarm romance.
December 26, 2012
This book just didn't do it for me. She was definitely a spoiled little rich girl when she was dating Alessandro. I understand how she didn't want to lose the only family she had (her father) but he never wanted much to do with her anyway and she had a young, albeit, poor man who loved her and was willing to marry her. I think we were supposed to feel sorry for her, but I didn't.
I liked Alessandro in the beginning but by the end I didn't feel as sorry for him.
This book didn't work all that well for me. It wasn't terrible but it wasn't anything to write home about either. I am usually a big fan of Melanie Milburne's but this is one of her books that I just didn't care about.
I liked Alessandro in the beginning but by the end I didn't feel as sorry for him.
This book didn't work all that well for me. It wasn't terrible but it wasn't anything to write home about either. I am usually a big fan of Melanie Milburne's but this is one of her books that I just didn't care about.
November 7, 2012
'His Poor Little Rich Girl' turned out to be the complete opposite of what I thought it would be like. A beautifully romantic story.
Rachel grew up in a rich girl's world, with wealthy parents and an overpowering father, the very best of education, clothes and luxuries some people would kill for. With workers milling in and out of her family mansion on a day to day basis, it was hard for her to not deny the attentions from Alessandro Vallini, one of her father's workers. Alessandro slowly began to fall in love with this luxurious princess, and began to fall even deeper when she didn't reject his advances. Until the night when he proposed to Rachel. Instead of giving him her answer, Rachel's "perfect match" 'Craig announces to Alessandro that they are celebrating their engagement. Before Rachel has chance to explain Alessandro flees from Rachel's home, and that was the last time that she saw him. Until now...
The tables have most definitely turned, and this time, in favour of Alessandro. Rachel is desperately trying to find the funds to back her business proposal, her own clothes collection. After being turned down by the big dogs, due to an anonymous claim that her business really isn't worth investing in, Rachel can only think of one man who may be able to help her. As she makes her way to Alessandro's holiday home in Italy, she begins to wonder if Alessandro will still hold the fact that she married someone else against her, but he doesn't why the truth, the truth behind why she chose Craig.
Once inside and face to face with Alessandro, Rachel drinks in the sight of the Italian God calmly seated in front of her.
After tossing cutting remarks back and forth between each other, Alessandro agrees to give Rachel a sum of money. He doesn't want to know how she's doing, where's she's been, he wants her out, and the longer she stays sitting in front of him, the longer the clock keeps ticking while she's in his presence, the sum of money will keep getting smaller...
After Rachel leaves his office, he recieves a call from his housekeeper Lucia. She informs him that Rachel was close to collapse once she'd been taken outside, so Lucia has taken her in and given her a bed in the one of the guest rooms, and that's where she will remain until she is feeling better.
After having Rachel in his presence, even for such a short amount of time, Alessandro feels the connection between them that there was there 5 years ago. As he sits and thinks about the opportunities that have arisen in less that a few hours, his mind begins to tick overtime.
Is it payback time?
FANTASTIC BOOK
October 19, 2011
The heroine Rachel is in Italy trying to get funding to launch her fashion label in Europe. However, when her plans fall through she suspects that Alessandro, the hero. might be behind it. Rachel and Alessandro go back a long way, but they have not spoken since Rachel turned down his proposal five years ago and got engaged to a man her father chose. Rachel has changed a lot over the last five years; after a disastrous engagement and her fathers fall from grace she is no longer the spoilt, superficial girl she once was. Alessandro finds this difficult to believe, but agrees to help her business on the condition that she act as his current partner at an upcoming meeting. All the resentment, betrayal and bottle up desire from five years ago comes bubbling up to the surface and it's not long before they give in to their desire. Rachel soon realises what a mistake she made letting Alessandro go five years ago, and with her growing feelings towards him she hopes that they can have a future. However Alessandro sees this as his perfect chance for revenge.
As usual from this author, this is a very passionate, intense, and emotional book. The writing is spectacular, it really draws you into the story. The characters are both fantastic. Alessandro is a brilliant 'self made' alpha male - this is something Melanie always excels at. I had a bit of an issue with Rachel, her moods seemed to swing almost constantly, and she came out as rather immature.
Another thing Melanie Milburne excels at is the revenge trope. And that is my main problem with this book - it's too similar to some of her other books (The Venadicci Marriage Vengeance, Bedded and Wedded for Revenge, The Greek's Bridal Bargain), it does put me off a little when some authors seem to stick to the same structure. And Melanie Milburne has proved that she can do a lot of variety in her books so I was a little disappointed with this one.
What saves this book is the wonderful flow of the story, some great chemistry between the hero and heroine, and the brilliant writing. Just wish it had been a little different...
Originally posted at http://everyday-is-the-same.blogspot....
July 22, 2011
Good book and great story once again
May 27, 2012
Review also available on : www.romancing-the-book.com
We all know the type ,those spoiled rich girls who believe they can wrap anyone around their fingers and with mere snaps of the fingers can have anything they want. Fancy cars,designer clothes,gorgeous jewels and servants who meet their every needs.
Rachel McCulloch fits the description perfectly,until she meets that one special man that she actually does manage to wrap around her finger . Alessandro Vallini is the one man that makes Rachel’s temperature sore with a thousand degrees and makes her feel emotions she never knew even existed. But with no choice in the matter she must dispose of him,so for the sake of her family she lets him down in one of the most hurtful manners I have ever read about.
Fast forward to a few years into the future and the tables have turned,Alessandro is now a rich,powerful,successful business man,and Rachel ,well the spoiled little rich girl is no longer that. Rachel has lost everything and her only hope of saving her self made company is a substantial financial backing from a big corporate firm. Which she looses and the only reason she can think of is that it must be the work of the one man she betrayed and made a enemy of…… Alessandro!
So Rachel decides it best to confront the man face to face. Only when in the same room with him again she is faced with the same feelings of raw,emotional feelings of love,passion and that all out good old fashioned feeling of lust. But she must resits and make the point she needs and to try to apologise for what she did and in turn get him to recommend the financial backing from the firm or her life will be over and so will those of her employees.
But Alessandro will have none of it , he first of all insists that he is not the one who advised the board to turn her down and secondly he does not want her apology,for all feeling he has for her is pure hatred ,well that ‘s what he wants to convince himself of.
So instead he with a twist of fate needs her to be his housekeeper for a few days and in turn will pay her for her services. Of course we can tell this will take us up to the part where they fall into bed and with the hot sex scenes we have all come to know and love Melanie Milburne for you can already tell the book is good.
But what Melanie Milburne has so very well surprised us with in this book is the big secret that Alessandro hides and does not want revealed to the outside world. Not to mention the delicious,powerfully packed scenes used to take us up to the part of Rachel and Alessandro making it to the world of pure bliss,lust and true love.
Rachel and Alessandro’s story is not your typical employee to employer / old flame plot it is filled with a delicious sets of twists that’s nothing less other than spectacular!
**** Review can also be found on Romancing the Book
We all know the type ,those spoiled rich girls who believe they can wrap anyone around their fingers and with mere snaps of the fingers can have anything they want. Fancy cars,designer clothes,gorgeous jewels and servants who meet their every needs.
Rachel McCulloch fits the description perfectly,until she meets that one special man that she actually does manage to wrap around her finger . Alessandro Vallini is the one man that makes Rachel’s temperature sore with a thousand degrees and makes her feel emotions she never knew even existed. But with no choice in the matter she must dispose of him,so for the sake of her family she lets him down in one of the most hurtful manners I have ever read about.
Fast forward to a few years into the future and the tables have turned,Alessandro is now a rich,powerful,successful business man,and Rachel ,well the spoiled little rich girl is no longer that. Rachel has lost everything and her only hope of saving her self made company is a substantial financial backing from a big corporate firm. Which she looses and the only reason she can think of is that it must be the work of the one man she betrayed and made a enemy of…… Alessandro!
So Rachel decides it best to confront the man face to face. Only when in the same room with him again she is faced with the same feelings of raw,emotional feelings of love,passion and that all out good old fashioned feeling of lust. But she must resits and make the point she needs and to try to apologise for what she did and in turn get him to recommend the financial backing from the firm or her life will be over and so will those of her employees.
But Alessandro will have none of it , he first of all insists that he is not the one who advised the board to turn her down and secondly he does not want her apology,for all feeling he has for her is pure hatred ,well that ‘s what he wants to convince himself of.
So instead he with a twist of fate needs her to be his housekeeper for a few days and in turn will pay her for her services. Of course we can tell this will take us up to the part where they fall into bed and with the hot sex scenes we have all come to know and love Melanie Milburne for you can already tell the book is good.
But what Melanie Milburne has so very well surprised us with in this book is the big secret that Alessandro hides and does not want revealed to the outside world. Not to mention the delicious,powerfully packed scenes used to take us up to the part of Rachel and Alessandro making it to the world of pure bliss,lust and true love.
Rachel and Alessandro’s story is not your typical employee to employer / old flame plot it is filled with a delicious sets of twists that’s nothing less other than spectacular!
**** Review can also be found on Romancing the Book
December 8, 2011
Review by Desere:
We all know the type ,those spoiled rich girls who believe they can wrap anyone around their fingers and with mere snaps of the fingers can have anything they want. Fancy cars,designer clothes,gorgeous jewels and servants who meet their every needs.
Rachel McCulloch fits the description perfectly,until she meets that one special man that she actually does manage to wrap around her finger . Alessandro Vallini is the one man that makes Rachel's temperature sore with a thousand degrees and makes her feel emotions she never knew even existed. But with no choice in the matter she must dispose of him,so for the sake of her family she lets him down in one of the most hurtful manners I have ever read about.
Fast forward to a few years into the future and the tables have turned,Alessandro is now a rich,powerful,successful business man,and Rachel ,well the spoiled little rich girl is no longer that. Rachel has lost everything and her only hope of saving her self made company is a substantial financial backing from a big corporate firm. Which she looses and the only reason she can think of is that it must be the work of the one man she betrayed and made a enemy of...... Alessandro!
So Rachel decides it best to confront the man face to face. Only when in the same room with him again she is faced with the same feelings of raw,emotional feelings of love,passion and that all out good old fashioned feeling of lust. But she must resits and make the point she needs and to try to apologise for what she did and in turn get him to recommend the financial backing from the firm or her life will be over and so will those of her employees.
But Alessandro will have none of it , he first of all insists that he is not the one who advised the board to turn her down and secondly he does not want her apology,for all feeling he has for her is pure hatred ,well that 's what he wants to convince himself of.
So instead he with a twist of fate needs her to be his housekeeper for a few days and in turn will pay her for her services. Of course we can tell this will take us up to the part where they fall into bed and with the hot sex scenes we have all come to know and love Melanie Milburne for you can already tell the book is good.
But what Melanie Milburne has so very well surprised us with in this book is the big secret that Alessandro hides and does not want revealed to the outside world. Not to mention the delicious,powerfully packed scenes used to take us up to the part of Rachel and Alessandro making it to the world of pure bliss,lust and true love.
Rachel and Alessandro's story is not your typical employee to employer / old flame plot it is filled with a delicious sets of twists that's nothing less other than spectacular!
We all know the type ,those spoiled rich girls who believe they can wrap anyone around their fingers and with mere snaps of the fingers can have anything they want. Fancy cars,designer clothes,gorgeous jewels and servants who meet their every needs.
Rachel McCulloch fits the description perfectly,until she meets that one special man that she actually does manage to wrap around her finger . Alessandro Vallini is the one man that makes Rachel's temperature sore with a thousand degrees and makes her feel emotions she never knew even existed. But with no choice in the matter she must dispose of him,so for the sake of her family she lets him down in one of the most hurtful manners I have ever read about.
Fast forward to a few years into the future and the tables have turned,Alessandro is now a rich,powerful,successful business man,and Rachel ,well the spoiled little rich girl is no longer that. Rachel has lost everything and her only hope of saving her self made company is a substantial financial backing from a big corporate firm. Which she looses and the only reason she can think of is that it must be the work of the one man she betrayed and made a enemy of...... Alessandro!
So Rachel decides it best to confront the man face to face. Only when in the same room with him again she is faced with the same feelings of raw,emotional feelings of love,passion and that all out good old fashioned feeling of lust. But she must resits and make the point she needs and to try to apologise for what she did and in turn get him to recommend the financial backing from the firm or her life will be over and so will those of her employees.
But Alessandro will have none of it , he first of all insists that he is not the one who advised the board to turn her down and secondly he does not want her apology,for all feeling he has for her is pure hatred ,well that 's what he wants to convince himself of.
So instead he with a twist of fate needs her to be his housekeeper for a few days and in turn will pay her for her services. Of course we can tell this will take us up to the part where they fall into bed and with the hot sex scenes we have all come to know and love Melanie Milburne for you can already tell the book is good.
But what Melanie Milburne has so very well surprised us with in this book is the big secret that Alessandro hides and does not want revealed to the outside world. Not to mention the delicious,powerfully packed scenes used to take us up to the part of Rachel and Alessandro making it to the world of pure bliss,lust and true love.
Rachel and Alessandro's story is not your typical employee to employer / old flame plot it is filled with a delicious sets of twists that's nothing less other than spectacular!
November 10, 2013
Rachel McCulloch needs financial backing for her evening wear clothing label. She is about to meet with the financial backer when the finance company now changes it's mind and can no longer help her. There is only one person she can think of who would put a stop to this and that would be Alessandro Vallini. Rachel had been seeing Alessandro when he had worked for her father's company. Alessandro had asked Rachel to marry him but she turned him down when her father made her choose another man her father favoured. Rachel goes to Alessandro at his villa to get answers from him. He denies any involvement but instead makes a proposal to help her. Be his housekeeper for a while, his usual housekeeper has a family crisis. And he will give her the financial backing she desperately needs.
It took a little while for me to get into the story but once the relationship between the hero and heroine starting moving I could not put the book down. They have a strong attraction together which grows the more the time they spend with one another. Their relationship gets intimate. Alessandro is closing a deal with a Sheikh and he needs Rachel to accompany him to Paris. Once the trip is over their fling is over and Alessandro wants them both to go back to their own lives. Rachel does not. The couples relationship is written well by Melanie Milburne, though the story ended too quickly and the ending was too cliched. A very glamorous British front cover which I love because it is pure escapism.
This review is also on my blog.
It took a little while for me to get into the story but once the relationship between the hero and heroine starting moving I could not put the book down. They have a strong attraction together which grows the more the time they spend with one another. Their relationship gets intimate. Alessandro is closing a deal with a Sheikh and he needs Rachel to accompany him to Paris. Once the trip is over their fling is over and Alessandro wants them both to go back to their own lives. Rachel does not. The couples relationship is written well by Melanie Milburne, though the story ended too quickly and the ending was too cliched. A very glamorous British front cover which I love because it is pure escapism.
This review is also on my blog.
January 3, 2012
This book got much better the more it went along. The first couple of chapters were a bit rough for me especially in regards to Rachel's character and actions. At times I couldn't help thinking WTF because of her attitude or what she says.
I totally didn't get her hostility towards Alessandro at the beginning. What I knew of their backstory didn't give me any reason why she should have been the one angry with him. He was treating her much kinder than I thought he should given their history.
As the story moved on and their present relationship grew I warmed up more towards Rachel. The writing was engaging and kept me turning the pages.
Definitely a pleasant read although not perfect.
I totally didn't get her hostility towards Alessandro at the beginning. What I knew of their backstory didn't give me any reason why she should have been the one angry with him. He was treating her much kinder than I thought he should given their history.
As the story moved on and their present relationship grew I warmed up more towards Rachel. The writing was engaging and kept me turning the pages.
Definitely a pleasant read although not perfect.
August 29, 2013
I liked this story, but at the same time I found it a bit disjointed. The two main characters had chemistry, but at the same time there was a level of game-playing to their characters that I didn't like and half the time didn't understand. Even with both of Alessandro and Rachel's POVs being given, I still couldn't have told you why they acted in the way they did. Also, given how damaged both of them were by their histories, they seemed to fall back in love and forgive and forget rather quickly. Still, this was an enjoyable short read although I don't think it's going to be one of favourites.
Something to read to pass the time. 3 stars.
Something to read to pass the time. 3 stars.
October 8, 2011
This was a good read,liked Alexandro-Rachel very much,both share a history,Rachel is a changed person but Alexandro does'nt wants to risk his heart again but as time goes by they both fall deeply in love but still Alexandro pushes Rachel away for medical reason but later goes to Rachel,he is scared of rejection but Rachel accepts him and his love with open arms and they have their HEA.The epilogue was cute
Overall a good read
Overall a good read
April 27, 2012
My rating is really 1.5. Didn't feel chemistry between hero and heroine. Didn't enjoy writing style. Disappointing for me to read but others may still very much enjoy.
January 23, 2012
Really, I need to just stop reading the Presents. All of this author's novels are starting to look the same.
Over and over.
Redundant.
Over done.
Do the editors not see this?
Over and over.
Redundant.
Over done.
Do the editors not see this?
January 24, 2012
A nice quick read with a happy ending. This book is perfect to read while on a long trip. You can finish it in one sitting.
March 7, 2012
Ugh, couldn't get in to this book, never cared about the characters and thought it was a waste of time.
June 10, 2012
it was ok... not sure if i will read again
February 13, 2015
yo amo las historias de Melanie... Nunca me aburren siemprwn encuentra la manera de hacer hiatoriaa interesantes
July 17, 2015
Simple read. Great for improving the mood.
December 30, 2011
too much 'angry'
December 17, 2018
è talmente osceno che non so da che parte cominciare. sentimenti che si modificano a ogni voltar di pagina. scelte assurde. sesso senza precauzioni. felice happy end con matrimonio ed erede (non si svolge durante la trama, ma si intuisce). situazioni improponibili tipo una ex viziata principessina che si presta a fare da governante. vendette inutili per scopi risibili. l'ho finito solo per inerzia, complice una mattina di ozio casalingo causa neve. lo sconsiglierei al mio peggior nemico e per questo non assegno le due stelle del "non piaciuto", ma la singola che in genere riservo all'abbandono. non si classifica.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
not-for-me
September 19, 2018"Sleeping rough not your thing anymore, little rich girl?" Rachel is on the verge of making her fashion dreams a reality when her financial backing is suddenly pulled out from under her. She quickly discovers that it's thanks to the dealings of her estranged lover, the newly wealthy Alessandro Vallini. Years ago, he was the gardener, and she his master. But now she must become his housekeeper in order to keep her business afloat. Will Alessandro always see her as his poor little rich girl, or will both their lives be quickly and irrevocably altered by this strange new setup?
July 11, 2021
Lots of cliches that had me rolling my eyes.
No build up, quick and immediate conflict resolution.
The characters were boring and their actions were inconsistent with their character.
I liked the premise and the backstory.
No build up, quick and immediate conflict resolution.
The characters were boring and their actions were inconsistent with their character.
I liked the premise and the backstory.
November 11, 2011
I always enjoy Melanie Milburne's books and this one was great - lots of chemistry between the H&H and tons of conflict :)
Read
March 6, 2019Bad bad bad. The main characters are SO inconsistent and pretty awful people all around. Didn't want them to get together, didn't want them to succeed, didn't want to know anything about them. Skip.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews