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Her Brooding Italian Boss

Since his wife’s betrayal, artist Antonio Bartulocci has been unable to paint. But, suddenly, captivated by his new employee Laura Beth’s guileless beauty, he wonders if he might have met the woman to inspire him again…

Kindle Edition

First published January 16, 2015

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About the author

Susan Meier

615 books456 followers
Good morning! It's a beautiful sunny beginning to the day here in Western, Pennsylvania. I'm working on my 75th book. 75th! I'm very excited about that.

I've written some fun things ... those are the Silhouette Romance titles. I especially liked SNOWBOUND BABY which was book 3 of the Bryant Baby Bonanza series which also included BABY BEFORE BUSINESS and PRINCE BABY. But my favorites for Silhouette where the books of the Brewster Baby Boom series THE BABY BEQUEST, BRINGING UP BABIES and OH, BABIES! Where three bachelors inherit triplets. Those were fun to write. I go back every now and again and read them myself for a laugh!

My Harlequins are a little (sometimes a lot) more serious than my Silhouettes, but I always deliver a heart warming story that reminds readers that family and love go hand in hand.

You'll especially see that in FALLING FOR THE PREGNANT HEIRESS where Trent Sigmund decides to help his best friend Seth's baby sister Sabrina McCallan hunt down her on-again/off-again boyfriend, Pierre, to tell him he's about to be a father. Trent tries not to fall. So does Sabrina. Who knew real love had been in their backyard all along.

Sexy or sweet, funny or sad, my characters make some serious lemonade out of their lemons! :)

Because that's how I see life. I have three kids...one of whom has epilepsy. Raising him taught me (and my husband and our other two kids) that sometimes a situation that seems bad can have its blessings.

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5 stars
27 (24%)
4 stars
32 (28%)
3 stars
37 (33%)
2 stars
15 (13%)
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0 (0%)
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
Profile Image for ReadToBreathe.
894 reviews34 followers
Read
September 2, 2020
DNF at Chapter 5
I can't take it anymore.
There is Alot of Spoilers so be prepared.

The only positive thing that I can say about this book is that it is a fast paced book that can be finished in few hours but even this could not force me to spend more time with the couple in it.

The story is about a pregnant woman who most of the time thinks of how she wants to kiss the hero who is by the way not the child's father.

This book is so repetitive that if I had it as an actual book instead of an epub format I will probably burn it and save my self from the torture of seeing it.

How many times does a woman need to insult herself by saying she is nothing but a common person who is in no comparison to the dead wife of the hero who was a hot perfect woman, and I'm suppose to believe that the hot, sexy, wonderful billionaire will fell for her in the end, for what? She already thinks she is a plain Jane .

This is a typical Harlequin book and not in a good way. The heroine is too weak, she doesn't have a job and about to be kicked out of her apartment because her two roommates found their careers and got married to another two billionaires. She needs a job to be able to afford a living and to think of what will she say to her parents.

The hero had a cheating dead wife, a gold digger model who all what she cared about was making her self appear on the news and for people to talk about her and the poor hero is now so angry that he lost his desire for painting.

I used to love sweet heroes who need a kind woman who will change everything for them but this is getting really old. Give me a strong heroine who is confident in herself, who already have a job and knows how to do it professionally not a woman with no self-confidence who keeps referring to herself as Plain.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Kathy.
2,741 reviews5,978 followers
July 14, 2015


Content: Mild language, mild innuendo, sexual references (she's pregnant and not married) but no sex scenes.
Profile Image for Paula Legate.
Author 13 books25 followers
April 22, 2015

This book was really good. The passion between Laura Beth, and Antonio was felt throughout the pages of the book. Laura Beth, and Antonio and his father had been friends for many years. There had always been a spark of chemistry between Antonio and Laura Beth but the two had never acted on it.
Laura Beth had been sharing an apartment with her college roommates, and friends. Her friends had both found true love, and was getting married, and moving on. Laura Beth tried to be happy for her friend while attending the wedding. She knew she couldn't afford to stay in the apartment, and had nowhere to go. She couldn't find a full time job. The day of the wedding she also found out she was pregnant by a looser. The weight of the world was on her shoulders.

Antonio's father, Constanzo saw the sadness in her eyes. Constanzo got Laura Beth to open up. She told him that she was suppose to move out of her apartment the next day, but had no place to live, and told him she was looking for a full time job. Constanzo knew his son Antonio needed a personal assistant. He had been morning the loss of his wife for two years, and had stopped painting. He son was a very talented artist, but lost his zest for life. He thought a personal assistant could organize his life, and help his son find his passion once again. He was also playing match maker. He didn't tell his son that he hired Laura Beth for him, so the sparks flew once they got to Italy.

Both Laura Beth, and Antonio had demons to face, before they could unleash the passion that burned between them. The romance was slow and sweet. If you want a good, clean, romance, with little to no sex then you will enjoy this story. I was kind of hoping the two would tear off each other's clothes and go a little wild, while he was painting , but they both restrained against the wild burning passion that sizzled between them.
Profile Image for Maria.
1,366 reviews69 followers
February 11, 2015
I received Her Brooding Italian Boss by author Susan Meier from Goodreads First Reads for free to review.

I enjoyed this story immensely. It went by very quickly and was an easy read.

Antonio's character was very interesting and wish more time had been spent going into his past. Raised in foster homes, he was found by his rich father later in his life. He is a world famous artist but hadn't created any new works since his wife died. The world assumes he's in morning. But really he's still reeling and grieving over his wife's secrets and betrayals. His father believes he could do with some organization in his life and hires old family friend Laura Beth to be Antonio's personal assistant -without running it by Antonio first. Antionio is furious and thinks they've taken advantage of Laura Beth. He's also adorably trying to fight his growing attraction to Laura Beth. He's a very strong independent character and needs to distance himself from everyone including woman afraid of being betrayed again.

Laura was a sympathetic character. She's penniless, pregnant, and about to be evicted. This job offer would be a chance of a new start and to get back on her feet. She's thrilled about the job - until she finds out she's not wanted, then rises to the challenge of proving herself to Antonio.

Sparks fly between these main characters and the romance is hot hot hot. Also some great laughs whenever Antonio's father is around! I can't wait to read more by Susan Meier!
Profile Image for SuperWendy.
1,135 reviews268 followers
Did Not Finish
August 27, 2015
Very heavy on The Rescue Fantasy, which is generally not my thing - but this author has written some very good angst in the past that I have enjoyed. However I ended up quitting on this book at 30% once I learned more about the hero's Evil First Wife. Her 15 minutes were almost up, so she married the hero - a rising star in the art world. She then played around on him, got pregnant (presumably with his child....), didn't tell him, then had an abortion. Not only did I find this insulting, I found it cartoonishly Old School. And I. Was. Out. Moving on....
Profile Image for Isha Coleman.
9,788 reviews178 followers
February 5, 2015
Her Brooding Italian Boss by: Susan Meier Susan Meier has done it again. She has a knack for creating engrossing and heartwarming reads. Her Brooding Italian Boss is a story of finding your way when you least expect it to happen. With a little bit of love thrown in. I loved this story. You will too.
Profile Image for HÜLYA.
1,144 reviews46 followers
November 5, 2015
Çok güzeldi etkili bir hikaye idi. Bu tür romanlar ümitlendiriyor beni..
Profile Image for Pauline Frost.
1,517 reviews5 followers
December 3, 2017
A quick read but well written and perfectly paced pulling you in from the start. A second chance love that you do not want to miss. Love of family and friends get you through the hard parts of life.
Profile Image for Nancy Luebke.
1,466 reviews63 followers
February 14, 2019
I loved this romance. It had a few twists to it and a bit of traveling. Lots going on for this. I voluntarily chose to review it after a library sale. It was a real page turner for me and a few tears. I've given it a 5 * rating.
Profile Image for Njkinny (Njkinny's Blog).
758 reviews187 followers
December 8, 2014
http://njkinny.blogspot.in/2014/12/ar...

"From his assistant…to his muse! " is what Laura Beth Mathews becomes when she takes up the job as personal assistant to the dark and brooding, famous artist Antonio Bartulocci who is haunted by demons of his past and antsy about keeping the beautiful and pregnant Laura Beth as his secretary who reminds him of the life and talent he once had and lost.
But Laura Beth is desperate for a job.
What will happen when these two collide, one desperate to earn enough to support herself and her unborn child and one running from a past which is all the more unbearable with Laura in his house?

I have to confess that I love stories with intense and brooding heroes and feisty heroines. Give me a conflict filled romance with headstrong characters and I know I will have an entertaining time with the book! :)

Her Brooding Italian Boss by Susan Meier appealed to me because it promised me conflict, a brooding artist as hero (very sexy, by the way), the beautiful settings of Italy and a strong willed heroine. I loved the blurb and the cover reminded me of the evergreen vintage romance covers.

First of all, I got all that I had been promised and so much more in this book. There was a strong character driven story, well drawn out characters, beautiful settings, engaging emotional play and a drama that kept me hooked to the book until the very end.

The writing style of the author is engaging as well as simple so it will appeal to everyone. I admired her portrayal of Antonio and his father, Constanzo's relationship which is complex. Constanzo loves playing matchmaker and cant help meddling in the lives of those he cares about. Although when confronted about his meddling he always gets away by saying, "I don't meddle. I anticipate."
I loved Constanzo who is a strict and savvy businessman but also a warm, funny and caring person. Having lost some great opportunities in his own life, he wants the best for his son, Antonio, even if it means nudging him in the right direction!

Antonio, on the other hand, is a simple and straightforward man who doesn't believe in mincing words. Passionate about his art, he is devastated by the loss of his passion which is a direct result of some harsh events in his past.

Laura Beth came to New York with stars in her eyes and while she tried her best to make a place for herself in the elite class where her two room mates have found permanent standing, she is still not one of them. With no permanent job, a boyfriend who ditched her when she told him of her pregnancy and no place to stay, she is desperate for a job.

The sparks that fly between Antonio and Laura had me feeling giddy and very anticipatory of the smoldering and intense romance between them. There relationship is complex, full of conflicts and the emotional play here is worth noting. Both these people are hurt, broken and running from their own demons. The story sensitively narrates the journey of the healing of their souls to find a happily-ever-after.

All in all, a very interesting and enjoyable story that had me thoroughly entertained, I give Her Brooding Italian Boss 4.5 out of 5 and recommend it to all romance lovers. I loved Susan's style and will be checking out her other works now.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and the Publishers and I am very thankful to them. The above review is my honest and unbiased opinion and in no way influenced.
Profile Image for Italo Italophiles.
528 reviews40 followers
February 2, 2015
I was pleasantly surprised by this book. To be honest, with that silly title I wasn't expecting much. It is a well-written clean contemporary romance featuring an Italian-American man, Antonio, and his Italian father. The young woman who falls for Antonio's honest charms and not and just his good looks, Laura Beth, benefits from the relationship just as much Antonio does.

"He was a good man, with a big heart and so much talent she almost couldn't fathom it."

That Antonio is in line to inherit his father's millions, and that he lives the life of a millionaire, is not really that important of a factor in the couple's growing relationship. This is very refreshing in a genre seemingly flooded with women prostituting themselves to be with millionaires and billionaires. (I received this book as a review-copy.)

We see the story from two points of view, Antonio's and Laura Beth's, with a third-person limited narration. But at times the author uses an omniscient narrator. Both characters are given interesting back stories, shaping their present selves into convincing people. For my tastes, I found the book spent too much time in the characters' minds, growing repetitive at times, and there was too little action taking place, but that is often the style with this genre.

The couple have known each other for years, and have always felt an attraction, but the timing of life's events has always been off. This makes their inevitable coupling seem more convincing than in those stories that want us to believe in a couple's happily-ever-after, after only a few weeks of knowing each other.

Part of the story takes place in the States, and part of the story happens in Italy's region of Tuscany. We even have a quick jaunt to Barcelona, Spain. The author gives us a satisfying finish. But there are several themes left unresolved after the abrupt ending of this novella-length book: Antonio's painting and his career, her career, where the couple will live... One more chapter would have completed the story of this modern Mr. Rochester/Jane Eyre nicely for me.

Please read my full and illustrated review at Italophile Book Reviews.
http://italophilebookreviews.blogspot...
Profile Image for Tony Parsons.
4,156 reviews104 followers
April 29, 2015
Laura Beth Mathews (personal assistant) has been left high/dry. She finds out that she has a bun in the oven. She was headed for her friend’s wedding.

Eloise (former roomate) was getting married to Ricky Richard Langley.
Olivia Prentiss Engle (former roommate, Antonio’s manager) was the matron of honor & Tucker Engle (husband) was the best man.
Antonio Bartulocci (son, artist) & Constanzo Bartulocci (father, billionaire) also knew the bride/groom.
Antonio wife Gisella Bartulocci had passed away some time ago.
Laura & Antonio met, & Constanzo lets her know his son needs a PA. She accepts but Antonio makes it clear this job is not going not last. It was not his idea.

What will happen between Laura & Antonio?
Will Laura have the baby?

I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review. Only an honest one.

A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very well written Italian romance book. It was very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make great Italian romance movie, or mini TV series. There is no doubt in my mind this is a very easy rating of 5 stars.

Thank you for the free Goodreads; Harlequin Romance; Autographed; paperback book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
Profile Image for LadyTechie.
787 reviews53 followers
January 20, 2015
Friends help friends in need. Laura Beth finds herself in a bit of spot when she is pregnant, about to lose her apartment and the father of the baby has walked away. Oh did I forget to mention that she still has not found her place in the job market after college graduation when her college roommates have not only found their niches but have also found men with whom to share their lives. There is one of their group that is still unattached and is a brilliant artist living in one of the most amazing places in the world. The problem is he needs an assistant but doesn't want one as he is in an extremely bad mood since his wife betrayed him. She is hired to do the job but she is very much unwanted. The story unfolds and we see the relationship between the bitter boss and his assistant. Despite Antonio's outbursts and prickly manner we still like him and hope for a future between Laura Beth and Antonio. Antonio's father also plays a big part of the story and you have to love him. This is a great read with a colorful location in Italy and colorful characters.
Profile Image for LadyTechie.
787 reviews53 followers
January 20, 2015
Friends help friends in need. Laura Beth finds herself in a bit of spot when she is pregnant, about to lose her apartment and the father of the baby has walked away. Oh did I forget to mention that she still has not found her place in the job market after college graduation when her college roommates have not only found their niches but have also found men with whom to share their lives. There is one of their group that is still unattached and is a brilliant artist living in one of the most amazing places in the world. The problem is he needs an assistant but doesn't want one as he is in an extremely bad mood since his wife betrayed him. She is hired to do the job but she is very much unwanted. The story unfolds and we see the relationship between the bitter boss and his assistant. Despite Antonio's outbursts and prickly manner we still like him and hope for a future between Laura Beth and Antonio. Antonio's father also plays a big part of the story and you have to love him. This is a great read with a colorful location in Italy and colorful characters.
3,223 reviews
May 24, 2015
Laura Beth finds herself pregnant and homeless. Antonio is widower and a painter and his dad hires her to be his PA. So she goes to his home in Italy and he wants to keep her at arms length. His wife was a adulterous narcissist. He doesn't trust easily. It's a fair story but what I didn't like was Laura Beth was constantly putting herself down. They would also repeat things that had already been told. Like why he didn't trust. Her going to give up hanging with rich people and then turn around and try to get his love.
Profile Image for Laura Hannaway.
956 reviews
February 24, 2015
review This was a nice little read. This was both a good and a bad thing. It was well written and the characters were enjoyable, but there wasn't really any plot to speak of and the main characters were pretty bland. It was a nice way to pass a couple of hours, but there was nothing that really stood out or was particularly memorable.

* ARC provided by NetGalley in return for an honest review *
Profile Image for Laura Hannaway.
956 reviews
January 26, 2015
This was a nice little read. This was both a good and a bad thing. It was well written and the characters were enjoyable, but there wasn't really any plot to speak of and the main characters were pretty bland. It was a nice way to pass a couple of hours, but there was nothing that really stood out or was particularly memorable.

* ARC provided by NetGalley in return for an honest review *
142 reviews3 followers
February 10, 2015
I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads. It is a very sweet, heartfelt love story that includes friendship, love, loss, and how by facing your fears can put you in a better place. The couple is very sweet and easy to relate to. If you're looking for a sweet romantic love story this is it.
Profile Image for Jessica.
2,227 reviews50 followers
January 26, 2015
There is enough drama and romance to keep any reader wanting more. I loved the connection between Laura and Antonio. The book was well written and I really enjoyed the characters but there was something missing. I was hoping for a little bit more. Overall I enjoyed this book.
Profile Image for Harlequin Books.
18.4k reviews2,813 followers
Read
February 1, 2015
"What a heartwarming and unforgettable love story! One can’t help but adore the journey Laura and Antonio endure to find happiness again. Meier’s creativity and talent shine" (RT Book Reviews, 4 1/2 stars).
802 reviews
February 4, 2015
An easy read romance novel. I enjoyed the tension between the characters I even enjoyed the plot twists. I won this book on good reads.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews