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Sicilian Gambrellis' Saga #1
The Sicilian's Ruthless Marriage Revenge
For Sicilian billionaire Cesare Gambrelli, the death of his sister was the fault of reckless Simon Ingram. The feud between the two families could only be settled by vengeance!
It was Ingram's sister Robin who would pay the price. Cesare's plan of revenge demanded marriage and motherhood. It was the last part Cesare savored--with passionate pleasure....
It was Ingram's sister Robin who would pay the price. Cesare's plan of revenge demanded marriage and motherhood. It was the last part Cesare savored--with passionate pleasure....
192 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published December 1, 2007
57 people are currently reading
246 people want to read
About the author
Carole Mortimer
1,306 books911 followersI have written almost 250 romance novels in contemporary and Regency.
I am a USA Today Bestselling Author and recipient of the 2015 RWA Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2014 I received a Pioneer of Romance Award from Romantic Times in the US and in 2012 I was recognised by Queen Elizabeth II for my 'outstanding service to literature'.
I am very happily married to Peter with six sons, and live on the Isle of Man
I am a USA Today Bestselling Author and recipient of the 2015 RWA Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2014 I received a Pioneer of Romance Award from Romantic Times in the US and in 2012 I was recognised by Queen Elizabeth II for my 'outstanding service to literature'.
I am very happily married to Peter with six sons, and live on the Isle of Man
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
March 3, 2018
This revenge story has been done before - heroine must marry the hero as revenge for her brother killing his sister in a head on car crash or else he'll ruin her father's business. Oh, she'll be mother to his now orphaned nephew and bear his children. The twists?
Author makes it clear that both the brother and the sister were suicidal when they drove their cars into each other. That's the opening of the book.
The heroine is divorced and not a virgin and falls in love with the hero's nephew at first sight. She never thought she'd have a baby to love because she thinks she's infertile.
From there the revenge souffle collapses as the H/h are attracted to each other.
As you can see all the ingredients are here, but it falls a little flat. Hero starts out strong, but then evolves into a puddle of goo. Heroine never really took his threats seriously.
Author makes it clear that both the brother and the sister were suicidal when they drove their cars into each other. That's the opening of the book.
The heroine is divorced and not a virgin and falls in love with the hero's nephew at first sight. She never thought she'd have a baby to love because she thinks she's infertile.
From there the revenge souffle collapses as the H/h are attracted to each other.
As you can see all the ingredients are here, but it falls a little flat. Hero starts out strong, but then evolves into a puddle of goo. Heroine never really took his threats seriously.
July 14, 2014
Meh.
Just didn't do it for me. I've enjoyed this trope before, but this one simply didn't grab me. I found myself skimming.
The hero's sister and the heroine's gambling brother both crash on a curvy road and die. Both were contemplating missing the next curve and killing themselves when they collide and both die. The H's sister because she was left with a baby and her lover wouldn't leave his wife. The h's brother because he'd just gambled away controlling stock in the family business.
The hero buys up all the brother's debts and the stock with the plan of ruining the father. Then he sees the heroine, Robin, who he'd assumed from his background check was a male due to the name. Nope, she's a pretty, divorcee in her late twenties. Suddenly he decides not to ruin the family financially, but to marry her and force her to be a mother to his nephew and give him kids all while hanging her father's ruination over her head. Like another Mortimer book I've read the title was somewhat misleading, however.
.
Just didn't do it for me. I've enjoyed this trope before, but this one simply didn't grab me. I found myself skimming.
The hero's sister and the heroine's gambling brother both crash on a curvy road and die. Both were contemplating missing the next curve and killing themselves when they collide and both die. The H's sister because she was left with a baby and her lover wouldn't leave his wife. The h's brother because he'd just gambled away controlling stock in the family business.
The hero buys up all the brother's debts and the stock with the plan of ruining the father. Then he sees the heroine, Robin, who he'd assumed from his background check was a male due to the name. Nope, she's a pretty, divorcee in her late twenties. Suddenly he decides not to ruin the family financially, but to marry her and force her to be a mother to his nephew and give him kids all while hanging her father's ruination over her head. Like another Mortimer book I've read the title was somewhat misleading, however.
.
March 23, 2012
I didn't enjoy this. Pretty stupid reason for revenge. The whole thing did not hold together for me. This time I just couldn't get over the whole why would she fall for this jerk thing. The ending was too abrupt also.
March 16, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
Refreshing read with hot banter of the mcs and a controlling alpha H. Their chemistry was burning and they fanned it quite intensely so no complains there, but it was still a bit of a miss. The h and H start off great with the h not bending for the H but soon enough she got slightly needy and agreeable. The H comes up with the most ridiculous of threats to compel the h to marry him. The h also had a bit of an independent streak and wasn’t too ready to take a house wife role and insisted on returning to work post marriage.
To start off with the h’s brother has died and so has the H’s sister. They died at the same time in an accident and the H blames and hates the h’s family for this tragedy. The sister also leaves a little baby whom the H had adopted as his own son. He pledges to force the h to marry him and take care of this baby and just bring her and her father to their knees.
The mcs have explosive chemistry and are almost there to get married when big reveal. This douses their OG plan with water and the H doesn’t have a reason to pursue his plan of making the h his wife. They both back off and eventually, with another reveal down, there’s sweet HEA with 3 girls to their family. That’s a first in HP as far as I can recall. The h had been married before and wasn’t holding on to her v card obv. Nice reading these CM oldies.
Refreshing read with hot banter of the mcs and a controlling alpha H. Their chemistry was burning and they fanned it quite intensely so no complains there, but it was still a bit of a miss. The h and H start off great with the h not bending for the H but soon enough she got slightly needy and agreeable. The H comes up with the most ridiculous of threats to compel the h to marry him. The h also had a bit of an independent streak and wasn’t too ready to take a house wife role and insisted on returning to work post marriage.
To start off with the h’s brother has died and so has the H’s sister. They died at the same time in an accident and the H blames and hates the h’s family for this tragedy. The sister also leaves a little baby whom the H had adopted as his own son. He pledges to force the h to marry him and take care of this baby and just bring her and her father to their knees.
The mcs have explosive chemistry and are almost there to get married when big reveal. This douses their OG plan with water and the H doesn’t have a reason to pursue his plan of making the h his wife. They both back off and eventually, with another reveal down, there’s sweet HEA with 3 girls to their family. That’s a first in HP as far as I can recall. The h had been married before and wasn’t holding on to her v card obv. Nice reading these CM oldies.
March 24, 2012
I have enjoyed reading Carole Mortimer’s books since the early 80”s and amazed how long she has been writing for Mills & Boon....and what a popular author she is...but this is not surprising....she has her own distinctive style of writing, good characters that one can engage with and there are always these romantic twists in the tales.
This is the first book of in The Sicilians Trilogy, not my favourite one in the series but still enjoyable.
Cesare Gambrelli, a full blooded Sicilian...it’s all about revenge, retribution and all that....believes that Simon Ingram is responsible for his death and more importantly his sister’s, which has left him to take care of their son Marco.
Determined to get his revenge on the Ingram family, he blackmails Robin, Simon’s sister, into marrying him and look after his nephew.
Of course Robin is not going to agree to this mad proposal and being a strong and rational woman fights the intense attraction she feels for him. I admit that their chemistry is pretty hot. She of course falls deeply in love with Cesare and ultimately agrees to marry him.
They have obstacles to overcome- a huge one regarding the truth about his sister’s life which is nothing that he imagined... but in the end their do find their HEA, together with the delightful Marco.
This is the first book of in The Sicilians Trilogy, not my favourite one in the series but still enjoyable.
Cesare Gambrelli, a full blooded Sicilian...it’s all about revenge, retribution and all that....believes that Simon Ingram is responsible for his death and more importantly his sister’s, which has left him to take care of their son Marco.
Determined to get his revenge on the Ingram family, he blackmails Robin, Simon’s sister, into marrying him and look after his nephew.
Of course Robin is not going to agree to this mad proposal and being a strong and rational woman fights the intense attraction she feels for him. I admit that their chemistry is pretty hot. She of course falls deeply in love with Cesare and ultimately agrees to marry him.
They have obstacles to overcome- a huge one regarding the truth about his sister’s life which is nothing that he imagined... but in the end their do find their HEA, together with the delightful Marco.
September 15, 2012
3 1/2 Stars ~ On a mountain road outside of Monte Carlo two lost souls met a tragic death. Now three months later, their families are still picking up the pieces. Cesare has been plotting revenge for his sister's death and attending this charity dinner he's about to set his plan in motion. Simon Ingram had recklessly caused the accident that had left his infant nephew motherless; and so, the Ingram family must pay. The man across the room was disturbingly attractive and kept staring at Robin. When her father tells her to stay clear of the man, she's intrigued. And then she discovers he's the brother of the woman whose car had collided with her brother's resulting in both their deaths. Simon had been a gambler and the night before his death, he'd just signed over his shares in Ingram Publishing to cover his debts. Cesare now possesses those shares and he's holding them hostage. Robin is to marry him and become a mother to his nephew and to bear his children. With her father frail since Simon's death she has to be convincing that they are marrying for love. Being a mother to the adorable baby Marcos will be a pleasure, but being a wife to Cesare is another matter. Their attraction may be explosive, but how can she guard her heart and yet give her body.
I had a laugh out loud moment when Cesare declares, "I am a Sicilian, and in my country a blood feud such as ours can only be settled in one way! Blood for blood." Of course, Cesare was deadly serious but I had to chuckle anyway because we all know he's going to regret his feud. Robin is speechless. I was a little disappointed with how quickly she fell in love with him. Cesare actually sees Robin as a person, and he comes to admire her. Though this is not the best from Ms. Mortimer, I enjoyed their sizzle and the bite to their banter. We're introduced to Cesare's cousin Wolf whose story is next.
I had a laugh out loud moment when Cesare declares, "I am a Sicilian, and in my country a blood feud such as ours can only be settled in one way! Blood for blood." Of course, Cesare was deadly serious but I had to chuckle anyway because we all know he's going to regret his feud. Robin is speechless. I was a little disappointed with how quickly she fell in love with him. Cesare actually sees Robin as a person, and he comes to admire her. Though this is not the best from Ms. Mortimer, I enjoyed their sizzle and the bite to their banter. We're introduced to Cesare's cousin Wolf whose story is next.
April 11, 2014
Cesare and Robin met at a charity party by chance. Soon after Cesare'd known that Robin's Simon Ingram's sister, he added another revenge plot to Ingram family. He vowed to have her, marry her and make her his now-orphaned-nephew's mom.
Now, about Simon and his sister & Marco's mom, Carla.
Simon's desperate because he lost all his money to his gambling addiction. Carla's devastated after she met Pierre (the jerk) and Pierre told her, he wouldn't leave his wife for her and Marco. Simon decided to suicide by falling to the sea with his car. Carla decided the same. Both met at the corner, BAM, both cars fell. The end.
Cesare didn't know that, of course. His mind'd already set on Simon's fault, because Simon's a loser and Carla's happy after had dinner with the jerk and the jerk's wife (this only an alibi, anyway).
If I've ever found the most ridiculous reason to a revenge and the most ridiculous way to blackmail the heroine, this is it.
Fortunately, the author is an experienced romance author so the story is quite well-written. I still enjoyed it.
Now, about Simon and his sister & Marco's mom, Carla.
Simon's desperate because he lost all his money to his gambling addiction. Carla's devastated after she met Pierre (the jerk) and Pierre told her, he wouldn't leave his wife for her and Marco. Simon decided to suicide by falling to the sea with his car. Carla decided the same. Both met at the corner, BAM, both cars fell. The end.
Cesare didn't know that, of course. His mind'd already set on Simon's fault, because Simon's a loser and Carla's happy after had dinner with the jerk and the jerk's wife (this only an alibi, anyway).
If I've ever found the most ridiculous reason to a revenge and the most ridiculous way to blackmail the heroine, this is it.
Fortunately, the author is an experienced romance author so the story is quite well-written. I still enjoyed it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 17, 2023
Another revenge-by-marriage story with far too much shorthand emotional development, lots of explicit scenes and very little character development
On the plus side h is not a doormat and doesn’t put up with his arrogance. He’s so bossy I almost wonder whether author meant him to be a caricature. That’s why two stars and not one
Reread 2 years later and did not remember. Liked less and skimmed part.
On the plus side h is not a doormat and doesn’t put up with his arrogance. He’s so bossy I almost wonder whether author meant him to be a caricature. That’s why two stars and not one
Reread 2 years later and did not remember. Liked less and skimmed part.
June 8, 2016
Hero growls and thumps his chest quite a bit.
Heroine gives as good as she gets.
But it's still bo-ring.
Heroine gives as good as she gets.
But it's still bo-ring.
December 10, 2018
Blink. Blink. Why did the hero want to punish the heroine and her family soooooo much? Jeez it was an accident dude, use your brain. The heroine's brother needed to have hurt his sister cause the blackmail reasoning is very weak which makes the entire story weak. Very much disliked the ending, just too over the top, they needed to raise the baby and be a family but the kid gets held like 3 times, he isn't a big plot point though the hero pretends it is and the heroine thinks she fell in love with the baby. Just a messy half-baked idea through and through.
July 9, 2024
"The Sicilian's Ruthless Marriage Revenge" is the story of Robin and Cesare.
Hero marries the heroine to seek revenge as their siblings died in an accident. He wishes to cause their family distress, and the divorced heroine is the perfect victim. He seeks a parent for his deceased sisters son, and my favorite moment was the heroine falling in love with the baby.
Rest of the book is average.
Safe
2/5
Hero marries the heroine to seek revenge as their siblings died in an accident. He wishes to cause their family distress, and the divorced heroine is the perfect victim. He seeks a parent for his deceased sisters son, and my favorite moment was the heroine falling in love with the baby.
Rest of the book is average.
Safe
2/5
April 5, 2021
A very sexy romance
This is another super story by Carole Mortimer. I love Cesare and the way he was with Robin. Having been brought together by a tragedy and a vendetta. Great characters and a wonderfully happy story I am now going to read Wolf’s story and hope to see Robin and Cesare make an appearance. I recommend this book.
This is another super story by Carole Mortimer. I love Cesare and the way he was with Robin. Having been brought together by a tragedy and a vendetta. Great characters and a wonderfully happy story I am now going to read Wolf’s story and hope to see Robin and Cesare make an appearance. I recommend this book.
April 2, 2026
Maggie
I throughly enjoyed this book Carole Mortimer has done it again. I was so sad for the FMC when she carried her supposed infertility as a huge stone on her heart. But all ended well for both of them.
I throughly enjoyed this book Carole Mortimer has done it again. I was so sad for the FMC when she carried her supposed infertility as a huge stone on her heart. But all ended well for both of them.
November 2, 2019
Hedefimi tamamladığıma göre istediğim kadar harlikuvin okuyabilirim yeeeey fjhkjgh
December 4, 2021
Me ha encantado aunque había cosas que no he acabado de cuajar
February 3, 2021
The story makes a promising start. 2 strangers, a man and a woman are driving on a narrow unsafe path in their respective cars. Both are terribly upset, tempted to commit suicide. He is a compulsive gambler, has lost his father's inheritance. She has just discovered that her lover is a cheating scumbag. Both drive recklessly, hit each other and fall into the deep gorge, and die. 2 completely unrelated , sad deaths.
The girl who died in the hero's sister. The guy is the heroine's brother. Hero thinks that the guy is responsible for his sister's death, and plots revenge. All well until here.
After this, the story loses steam. Because the author chooses to put the emotional tension in the back burner.
Instead she focusses entirely on the instant sexual pull that the leads have towards each other. And that is presented in crude terms. How many times can a reader read about nipples hardening, thighs getting wet and warm !@?!@?!@?!?@ I was positively yawning after the 375th time ;))))
She doesn't mind the marriage for revenge idea with the hero because she is a childless divorcee and the hero has the orphan nephew to care for. That's enough reason for her. Though they start a strained relationship, they are soon kissing and making out like crazy. And soon also discover that their respective siblings were totally unrelated. That's it, conflict resolved. HEA.
And the heroine who couldn't have a baby even after 3 years of desperate trying with her first husband. Now she is pregnant at first attempt with the hero. Man!! I am so totally impressed with the virility levels of the heroes in HP land. Studs indeed ! Authors across the board never compromise on this aspect, a non-negotiable character trait I suppose ;)
The girl who died in the hero's sister. The guy is the heroine's brother. Hero thinks that the guy is responsible for his sister's death, and plots revenge. All well until here.
After this, the story loses steam. Because the author chooses to put the emotional tension in the back burner.
Instead she focusses entirely on the instant sexual pull that the leads have towards each other. And that is presented in crude terms. How many times can a reader read about nipples hardening, thighs getting wet and warm !@?!@?!@?!?@ I was positively yawning after the 375th time ;))))
She doesn't mind the marriage for revenge idea with the hero because she is a childless divorcee and the hero has the orphan nephew to care for. That's enough reason for her. Though they start a strained relationship, they are soon kissing and making out like crazy. And soon also discover that their respective siblings were totally unrelated. That's it, conflict resolved. HEA.
And the heroine who couldn't have a baby even after 3 years of desperate trying with her first husband. Now she is pregnant at first attempt with the hero. Man!! I am so totally impressed with the virility levels of the heroes in HP land. Studs indeed ! Authors across the board never compromise on this aspect, a non-negotiable character trait I suppose ;)
May 9, 2012
debo decir que esperaba otra cosa de este libro, digo la sinopsis me llamo la atencion y me lo recomendaron pero dejo mucho que desear, primero como que no hay mucho argumento, me refiero a que tenemos la venganza, en donde Cesare odia profundamente a la familia Ingram por lo que cree que paso con su hermana Carla, planea todo para vengarse de ellos utilizando a Robin, para casarse con él y ser la madre de Marcos pero desde que ellos se ven hay una increible atraccion en donde ninguno de los dos se puede resistir.
Robin, esta dispuesta a aceptar el trato que le propone Cesare por su padre y claro al final por ella misma pero debo decir que es un poco masoquista por que entre las discusiones y la pelea del poder uno asi no se puede enamorar, pero contra toda logica ellos de enamoran y mas cuando Robin se da cuenta que puede hacer su sueño realidad de tener un hijo.
Le falto mucho a esta historia, hubo personajes que si salian unas 2 veces fue poco, las situaciones entre ellos eran pelea o deseo de ahi no pasaban, hasta que al final logro pedir perdon, hacer su sueño realidad y vivir felices para siempre, creo que fue muy sobrevalorada.
Robin, esta dispuesta a aceptar el trato que le propone Cesare por su padre y claro al final por ella misma pero debo decir que es un poco masoquista por que entre las discusiones y la pelea del poder uno asi no se puede enamorar, pero contra toda logica ellos de enamoran y mas cuando Robin se da cuenta que puede hacer su sueño realidad de tener un hijo.
Le falto mucho a esta historia, hubo personajes que si salian unas 2 veces fue poco, las situaciones entre ellos eran pelea o deseo de ahi no pasaban, hasta que al final logro pedir perdon, hacer su sueño realidad y vivir felices para siempre, creo que fue muy sobrevalorada.
August 18, 2022
The author sure had loved the hero's name, cause almost in every line of the heroine, she put Cesar.. Cesar .. Cesar..
Why in every book the hero needs to blackmail the heroine? Why the hero needs to be so arrogant? Why they need to have tragic backgrounds which make them selfish, bully and arrogant? And always demeaning the female characters. In the hero's mind, the heroines are always gold digging opportunist, self centered, body conscious, no moral etc. etc. etc. If a female writer presents these kind of point of view from the male perspective, lord save us from the male writers.
Why in every book the hero needs to blackmail the heroine? Why the hero needs to be so arrogant? Why they need to have tragic backgrounds which make them selfish, bully and arrogant? And always demeaning the female characters. In the hero's mind, the heroines are always gold digging opportunist, self centered, body conscious, no moral etc. etc. etc. If a female writer presents these kind of point of view from the male perspective, lord save us from the male writers.
own-but-wont-read-or-wallbanger
May 24, 2020Their siblings crash into each other at start of the book and are killed. For Sicilian billionaire Cesare Gambrelli, the death of his sister was the fault of reckless Simon Ingram. The feud between the two families could only be settled by vengeance!
It was Ingram's sister Robin who would pay the price. Cesare's plan of revenge demanded marriage and motherhood. It was the last part Cesare savored--with passionate pleasure.
It was Ingram's sister Robin who would pay the price. Cesare's plan of revenge demanded marriage and motherhood. It was the last part Cesare savored--with passionate pleasure.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 1, 2011
This is the first book in the series The Sicilians. I liked this one, but I did enjoy At The Sicilian Count's Command even more. Looking forward to reading the third book, The Sicilian's Innocent Mistress.
July 28, 2020
Synopsis:
For Sicilian billionaire Cesare Gambrelli, the death of his sister was the fault of reckless Simon Ingram. The feud between the two families could only be settled by vengeance!
It was Ingram's sister Robin who would pay the price. Cesare's plan of revenge demanded marriage and motherhood. It was the last part Cesare savoured - with passionate pleasure....
For Sicilian billionaire Cesare Gambrelli, the death of his sister was the fault of reckless Simon Ingram. The feud between the two families could only be settled by vengeance!
It was Ingram's sister Robin who would pay the price. Cesare's plan of revenge demanded marriage and motherhood. It was the last part Cesare savoured - with passionate pleasure....
November 27, 2012
Another emotional novel. I found myself relating to the heroine throughout the entire novel. I felt her ups and downs. heck, at one point I even broke down and cried in frustration and sadness of what the heroine went through. It definitely was written well.
December 22, 2015
انتقام عديم الرحمة - لعنة جامبرلي
April 5, 2016
The hero sucked. I don't know why the heroine assumed she was forever infertile when that's explicitly not what her doctor's told her. The kid was really cute.
October 18, 2019
dnf, dude is too much of an actual rapist for this to work as a rape fantasy.
March 28, 2014
رواية انتقام عديم الرحمة
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