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Society Weddings! #2
The Impatient Groom
Marrying in haste!
No sooner had Sophia Charlton discovered she was the descendant of an Italian count and heiress to a fortune - than she was whisked away to Venice by the sultry
Prince Rozzano di Barsini - having consented to be his bride!
Dazed by the strength of his desire, she'd also agreed to a lavish wedding in just four weeks' time!
Once she could catch her breath, however, Sophia began to question Rozzano's impatience. Rumour had it that he urgently needed an heir. Was she to become his beloved wife - or just a means of making babies?
-----
SOCIETY WEDDINGS
They're gorgeous, they're glamorous . . . and they're getting married!
No sooner had Sophia Charlton discovered she was the descendant of an Italian count and heiress to a fortune - than she was whisked away to Venice by the sultry
Prince Rozzano di Barsini - having consented to be his bride!
Dazed by the strength of his desire, she'd also agreed to a lavish wedding in just four weeks' time!
Once she could catch her breath, however, Sophia began to question Rozzano's impatience. Rumour had it that he urgently needed an heir. Was she to become his beloved wife - or just a means of making babies?
-----
SOCIETY WEDDINGS
They're gorgeous, they're glamorous . . . and they're getting married!
187 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 1999
14 people are currently reading
79 people want to read
About the author
Sara Wood
254 books35 followersSara Wood was born in England. She has wonderful memories of her childhood. Her parents were desperately poor but their devotion to family life gave her a feeling of great security. Sara's father was one of four fostered children and never knew his parents, hence his joy with his own family. Birthday parties were sensational her father would perform brilliantly as a Chinese magician or a clown or invent hilarious games and treasure hunts. From him she learnt that working hard brought many rewards, especially self-respect. During her degree course she met her husband, a kind, thoughtful, attentive man who is her friend and soulmate. At 21, she married and had her first son at 22. Now she has another three children. She loved teaching in Sussex which she did for twelve years.
Her switch into writing came about in a peculiar way. Richie, her elder son, had always been nuts about natural history and had a huge collection of animal skulls. At the age of fifteen he decided he'd write an information book about collecting. Heinemann and Pan, prestigious publishers, eagerly fell on the book and when it was published it won the famous Times Information Book award. Interviews, TV and magazine articles followed. Encouraged by his success, she thought she could write too and had several information books for children published. Then she saw Charlotte Lamb being wined and dined by Mills & Boon on a television programme and decided she could do Charlotte's job! But she'd rarely read fiction before, so she bought twenty books and analysed them carefully, then wrote one of her own. Amazingly it was accepted and she began writing full time.
Sara and her husband moved to a small country estate in Cornwall which was a paradise. Her sons visited often; Richie being married to Heidi and with two daughters; Simon rushing in after some danger- filled action in Alaska or Hawaii etc, protecting the environment with Greenpeace. Sara qualified as a homeopath, caring for the health of her family and friends. But Paradise is always fleeting. Sara's husband became seriously ill and it was clear that they had to move somewhere less demanding on time and effort. After a nightmare year of worrying about him, nursing and watching him like a hawk, she was relieved when they'd sold up and moved back to Sussex. Their current house is large and thatched and sits in the pretty rolling downs with wonderful walks and views all around. They live nearer to the boys (men!) and see them often. Richie and Heidi are expecting another baby, Simon has a baby son and a new, dangerous, passion flinging himself off mountains (paragliding). The three hills nearby frequently entice him down. She adores seeing her family (mother, mother-in-law too) around the table at Christmas. Sara feels fortunate that although she's had tough times and has sometimes been desperately unhappy, she is now surrounded by love and feels she can weather any storm to come.
Her switch into writing came about in a peculiar way. Richie, her elder son, had always been nuts about natural history and had a huge collection of animal skulls. At the age of fifteen he decided he'd write an information book about collecting. Heinemann and Pan, prestigious publishers, eagerly fell on the book and when it was published it won the famous Times Information Book award. Interviews, TV and magazine articles followed. Encouraged by his success, she thought she could write too and had several information books for children published. Then she saw Charlotte Lamb being wined and dined by Mills & Boon on a television programme and decided she could do Charlotte's job! But she'd rarely read fiction before, so she bought twenty books and analysed them carefully, then wrote one of her own. Amazingly it was accepted and she began writing full time.
Sara and her husband moved to a small country estate in Cornwall which was a paradise. Her sons visited often; Richie being married to Heidi and with two daughters; Simon rushing in after some danger- filled action in Alaska or Hawaii etc, protecting the environment with Greenpeace. Sara qualified as a homeopath, caring for the health of her family and friends. But Paradise is always fleeting. Sara's husband became seriously ill and it was clear that they had to move somewhere less demanding on time and effort. After a nightmare year of worrying about him, nursing and watching him like a hawk, she was relieved when they'd sold up and moved back to Sussex. Their current house is large and thatched and sits in the pretty rolling downs with wonderful walks and views all around. They live nearer to the boys (men!) and see them often. Richie and Heidi are expecting another baby, Simon has a baby son and a new, dangerous, passion flinging himself off mountains (paragliding). The three hills nearby frequently entice him down. She adores seeing her family (mother, mother-in-law too) around the table at Christmas. Sara feels fortunate that although she's had tough times and has sometimes been desperately unhappy, she is now surrounded by love and feels she can weather any storm to come.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
May 25, 2019
Re The Impatient Groom - Sara Wood is back with another overwrought HPlandia angstfest drama.
Going back to her favorite surprise heiress h who is lassoed into marriage with an aristocratic Italian trope, Sara Wood drops the H is a gold digger subtrope in this revamp of her 1994 Mask of Deception.
Instead, this H has his own money and aristocratic title to maintain, but he has a lot of seriously skeezy relatives - the biggest one being his own slime slurping nematode parasite brother. The H's first wife died after a botched termination when she discovered she was carrying the H's brother's child instead of the H's and got subpar medical care in S. America.
The H had a very repressed childhood, his father would isolate and confine him any time he showed any emotion other than cool disdain. This has led to the H's very enigmatic persona around people, but SW gives us lots and lots of his emo drama chaotic inner thoughts.
The h is the daughter of a small town vicar. But unbeknownst to her, her mum ran off from her own aristocratic and wealthy Italian family when her father tried to force her into an arranged marriage and there has been no contact since.
Cause Rich Italian Grampa just can't help himself, the H is selected to wander over to England and drag the unknowing granddaughter h back.
Grampa wants another female to bully and arrange a marriage for, while the H wants to put paid to his family's freeloading and parasite behaviors once and for all by having a whole football team full of heirs to cut the rest of his family out.
Our Rich Italians find they can both meet their objectives if the H marries the h. The grandpa gets his doormat heiress and a nice old skool business marriage and the H gets a virgin who won't be a golddigger, has an equal bloodline and should make an excellent broodmare. Cause the H believes that English child minders are very cuddly with little kids and that is important in his estimations, only his English nanny every hugged him as a child.
So the H goes to England and duly sweeps the h off her feet. They are both madly passionate about each other, but mostly keepin' it chaste until the wedding vows can be spoken. The h is all about adoring her grandpa and shortly after their return to Italy, we have seekrit grampa surprise wedding plans in place.
The H wants to keep the forthcoming nuptials on the down low until execution as well, his nematode parasite brother is on the loose and wrecking havoc with the ladies, much to the dismay of his equally slime slurping parasitic wife.
The wedding day arrives and the h, who had some doubts when several people mentioned the H was looking for broodmare, is all that is lovely and adoring.
But SW just can't stay away from the angstfest wrecky drama as she sets up the h and one of Italian speaking BFF's to hear the H shouting he doesn't love the h, he needs a heir incubator and the h spies the H handing his mistress her underwear through the open door.
The H's brother is all about trying to exploit the situation, but the h has a bit of blood thirsty vengeance in mind and she threatens the taken aback wimp to keep his mouth shut. The H and h leave for the honeymoon and there is the inevitable denial of conjugal rights.
The h is mopeying about, the H is despondent and then the H's mistress shows up - except she isn't the H's mistress, she was having it on with the H's nematode parasite brother and the H interrupted them.
The h overhears the wedding banger apologizing for getting her groove on with the H's brother in the reception antechamber and then the h gets to hear the H's big time love declaration for the h - he only lied because he was trying to throw his brother off the scent of seducing the h.
The mistress leaves, the h runs out shouting her love and we all get to experience another SW trip to the Golden Shores of Purple Passion Transcendent Bliss. In the afterglow of lurve, the h and H renew their fervent protestations of eternal devotion and the h declare they are having at least four kids for the big HEA.
This one was a lot better that SW's previous Mask of Deception- it was her typical emotionally overwrought and dramatic style, but at least we can be sure the H really loved the h - he just wasn't any good at showing it.
The h was typical SW too, she was all over the place and came off as a bit shrill, but there are worse HP excursions out there, so you don't have to run away if you run into this.
Going back to her favorite surprise heiress h who is lassoed into marriage with an aristocratic Italian trope, Sara Wood drops the H is a gold digger subtrope in this revamp of her 1994 Mask of Deception.
Instead, this H has his own money and aristocratic title to maintain, but he has a lot of seriously skeezy relatives - the biggest one being his own slime slurping nematode parasite brother. The H's first wife died after a botched termination when she discovered she was carrying the H's brother's child instead of the H's and got subpar medical care in S. America.
The H had a very repressed childhood, his father would isolate and confine him any time he showed any emotion other than cool disdain. This has led to the H's very enigmatic persona around people, but SW gives us lots and lots of his emo drama chaotic inner thoughts.
The h is the daughter of a small town vicar. But unbeknownst to her, her mum ran off from her own aristocratic and wealthy Italian family when her father tried to force her into an arranged marriage and there has been no contact since.
Cause Rich Italian Grampa just can't help himself, the H is selected to wander over to England and drag the unknowing granddaughter h back.
Grampa wants another female to bully and arrange a marriage for, while the H wants to put paid to his family's freeloading and parasite behaviors once and for all by having a whole football team full of heirs to cut the rest of his family out.
Our Rich Italians find they can both meet their objectives if the H marries the h. The grandpa gets his doormat heiress and a nice old skool business marriage and the H gets a virgin who won't be a golddigger, has an equal bloodline and should make an excellent broodmare. Cause the H believes that English child minders are very cuddly with little kids and that is important in his estimations, only his English nanny every hugged him as a child.
So the H goes to England and duly sweeps the h off her feet. They are both madly passionate about each other, but mostly keepin' it chaste until the wedding vows can be spoken. The h is all about adoring her grandpa and shortly after their return to Italy, we have seekrit grampa surprise wedding plans in place.
The H wants to keep the forthcoming nuptials on the down low until execution as well, his nematode parasite brother is on the loose and wrecking havoc with the ladies, much to the dismay of his equally slime slurping parasitic wife.
The wedding day arrives and the h, who had some doubts when several people mentioned the H was looking for broodmare, is all that is lovely and adoring.
But SW just can't stay away from the angstfest wrecky drama as she sets up the h and one of Italian speaking BFF's to hear the H shouting he doesn't love the h, he needs a heir incubator and the h spies the H handing his mistress her underwear through the open door.
The H's brother is all about trying to exploit the situation, but the h has a bit of blood thirsty vengeance in mind and she threatens the taken aback wimp to keep his mouth shut. The H and h leave for the honeymoon and there is the inevitable denial of conjugal rights.
The h is mopeying about, the H is despondent and then the H's mistress shows up - except she isn't the H's mistress, she was having it on with the H's nematode parasite brother and the H interrupted them.
The h overhears the wedding banger apologizing for getting her groove on with the H's brother in the reception antechamber and then the h gets to hear the H's big time love declaration for the h - he only lied because he was trying to throw his brother off the scent of seducing the h.
The mistress leaves, the h runs out shouting her love and we all get to experience another SW trip to the Golden Shores of Purple Passion Transcendent Bliss. In the afterglow of lurve, the h and H renew their fervent protestations of eternal devotion and the h declare they are having at least four kids for the big HEA.
This one was a lot better that SW's previous Mask of Deception- it was her typical emotionally overwrought and dramatic style, but at least we can be sure the H really loved the h - he just wasn't any good at showing it.
The h was typical SW too, she was all over the place and came off as a bit shrill, but there are worse HP excursions out there, so you don't have to run away if you run into this.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 25, 2012
The heroine Sophia is shocked when she is called to meet her local solicitor and learns that she is the granddaughter of an Italian count. The hero Razzano is also there, he is a good friend of Sophia's grandfather and fills Sophia in about her mother's family. Razzano is intrigued by Sophia's innocence and honesty, and he wants to protect her from the shallow, almost seedy society she is about to become a part of. Razzano has spent his life hiding his true feelings from the cruel world he inhabits, but Sophia makes him feel happiness like he has never felt before. He decides to get Sophia to marry him, therefore not only will he be able to protect her, he also gets a 'suitable' marriage. Their whirlwind romance sweeps naive Sophia off her feet and she falls completely in love with Razzano. But when he finally takes her to Venice, she is overwhelmed by her new life, as well as confused by Razzano's constant distance from her.
There were moments in this book that I really didn't like, but overall I really enjoyed it. The hero and heroine work well together and there is a lot of entertaining interaction between them. Sara Wood's dialogue and interaction between her characters is something I have found particularly enjoyable in the two books of her's that I have read. The hero is a little bit manipulative and this did not sit well with me, as a result I didn't truly believe his love for the heroine. The heroine is a great character; refreshingly naive and amusing and at 31 years old, a much more relatable age - in my opinion!
The plot is well written and absorbing. plus there is plenty of passion. One tiny moan though - the heroine wanted to sleep with the hero but didn't want to get pregnant so she kicked him out of her bed ... ever heard of contraception?!
Anyway, a good read.
Originally posted at http://everyday-is-the-same.blogspot....
There were moments in this book that I really didn't like, but overall I really enjoyed it. The hero and heroine work well together and there is a lot of entertaining interaction between them. Sara Wood's dialogue and interaction between her characters is something I have found particularly enjoyable in the two books of her's that I have read. The hero is a little bit manipulative and this did not sit well with me, as a result I didn't truly believe his love for the heroine. The heroine is a great character; refreshingly naive and amusing and at 31 years old, a much more relatable age - in my opinion!
The plot is well written and absorbing. plus there is plenty of passion. One tiny moan though - the heroine wanted to sleep with the hero but didn't want to get pregnant so she kicked him out of her bed ... ever heard of contraception?!
Anyway, a good read.
Originally posted at http://everyday-is-the-same.blogspot....
March 20, 2011
Just completed the book must say what a story though Sophia, a tall heavy-set blonde, thinks she is just the daughter of a deceased small town vicar. She's in dire financial straits when her family's solicitor summons her to his office for the shock of her life. Sophia learns that her maternal grandfather is an Italian count who tried to force her mother into a loveless marriage, causing her to disappear from his life forever. He's sent his friend Rozzano, an Italian prince, to retrieve his last living relative. Sophia and the widowed Rozzano are instantly drawn to each other and are engaged before they leave England. Unfortunately, both are insecure about their relationship. Rozzano is reluctant to reveal his love for Sophia openly. He tells people that he cares nothing about her, trying to protect himself from a womanizing brother who has devastatingly betrayed him in the past. In Venice, Sophia finds out what Rozzano has been saying and thinks she's mistaken his passion for love, becoming doubtful of his intentions. Aristocratic Italians marry for heirs and keep mistresses for sex, she's told. Sophia gives Rozzano the benefit of the doubt, though, and continues with their plans for a surprise wedding, much to her grandfather's delight. After the ceremony, however, Sophia peeks in on Rozzano just as he is handing his alleged mistress her underwear. On their wedding night Sophia finally tells Rozzano how hurt and used she feels and banishes him from her bed. That's when secrets that should have been disclosed up front come spilling out. Will those secrets serve as bridges or walls between them? Rozzano's persistent secrecy is frustrating, but the healing strength of their relationship in the end is heart-warming.
i was frustrated cause of Rozanno's lies and Sophia's mistrust but at the end when all is revealed you can't blame both of them,Rozanno had to lie so that Sophia is safe and Sophia listening to all lies she mistrusts him
This is one of those few stories where both characters completely confess their love for eachother but the fact that they keep secrets that creates problem between them
But all in all a gr8 story,excelent plot,Good moral principled hero and a head strong heroin
Recommend it
i was frustrated cause of Rozanno's lies and Sophia's mistrust but at the end when all is revealed you can't blame both of them,Rozanno had to lie so that Sophia is safe and Sophia listening to all lies she mistrusts him
This is one of those few stories where both characters completely confess their love for eachother but the fact that they keep secrets that creates problem between them
But all in all a gr8 story,excelent plot,Good moral principled hero and a head strong heroin
Recommend it
May 12, 2018
I loved this little story and had all the feels for our hunky H who was a really nice guy who'd been treated pretty darn shabbily.you can see why out h got the wrong idea but she should have grown a spine and confronted her new hubby rather than being a bit of a cow. Still she did a pretty good grovel but only after overhearing a conversation that put her new hubby in the clear rather than trusting him.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 12, 2015
Too cheesy, way to unbelievable!
July 20, 2020
I read this story before reading the reviews the synopsis sounded okay.
The heroine is poor wearing chain store clothes, shock horror seriously, so when she discovers that she’s the granddaughter to a Venetian nobleman she’s gobsmacked. Her grandfather has sent a prince no less to return her to meet grandad. It’s designer clothes all the way now, and in double quick time the Prince has persuaded her to marry him, the wedding to be in a few weeks no less, he’s obviously in a rush.
The trouble begins when they arrive, now he wants the engagement kept hush hush, so now in public he behaves like a stranger to the heroine. While in private he’s passionate and has trouble keeping his hands to himself, at one point they go to a party and he spends the whole evening with another woman hanging all over him. He’d also told everyone before he brought her to Venice that she looked like a horse! But our dopey heroine always believes his vows of love. So suddenly it’s their wedding day, it was odd as there was no transition in the story how their relationship was no longer a secret to the frail grandfather as he was giving the bride away. The secrecy was mainly because the hero feared that if they announced their engagement on their arrival the old chap might have keeled over.
During their wedding reception a scene occurs that the heroine overhears and sees where the hero announces that he doesn’t love her and has only married her as he wants heirs, (a friend translates for her) all this he said while he was with a half naked woman the same woman who had been hanging on him at the party. Who the heroine assumes is his mistress. She immediately refuses to consummate the marriage.
Suffice to say it all gets sorted in the end, another reviewer commented that this was cheesy and too unbelievable I have to agree.
The heroine is poor wearing chain store clothes, shock horror seriously, so when she discovers that she’s the granddaughter to a Venetian nobleman she’s gobsmacked. Her grandfather has sent a prince no less to return her to meet grandad. It’s designer clothes all the way now, and in double quick time the Prince has persuaded her to marry him, the wedding to be in a few weeks no less, he’s obviously in a rush.
The trouble begins when they arrive, now he wants the engagement kept hush hush, so now in public he behaves like a stranger to the heroine. While in private he’s passionate and has trouble keeping his hands to himself, at one point they go to a party and he spends the whole evening with another woman hanging all over him. He’d also told everyone before he brought her to Venice that she looked like a horse! But our dopey heroine always believes his vows of love. So suddenly it’s their wedding day, it was odd as there was no transition in the story how their relationship was no longer a secret to the frail grandfather as he was giving the bride away. The secrecy was mainly because the hero feared that if they announced their engagement on their arrival the old chap might have keeled over.
During their wedding reception a scene occurs that the heroine overhears and sees where the hero announces that he doesn’t love her and has only married her as he wants heirs, (a friend translates for her) all this he said while he was with a half naked woman the same woman who had been hanging on him at the party. Who the heroine assumes is his mistress. She immediately refuses to consummate the marriage.
Suffice to say it all gets sorted in the end, another reviewer commented that this was cheesy and too unbelievable I have to agree.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 13, 2019
The Impatient Groom
When a young English woman finds out that she is an Italian heiress life changes. The man who has come to get her for her grandfather is also royal descent. His past has been shrouded with betrayal and loss. So he finds it hard to trust and love. But she has been lied to also. Who can she trust? Did he rush her too much? What about all of the brother's secrets?
When a young English woman finds out that she is an Italian heiress life changes. The man who has come to get her for her grandfather is also royal descent. His past has been shrouded with betrayal and loss. So he finds it hard to trust and love. But she has been lied to also. Who can she trust? Did he rush her too much? What about all of the brother's secrets?
October 11, 2017
Honest?
I liked him and her. There was a point where you feel you had to suspend belief to follow the plot. If he had been honest instead of trying to be clever the whole story would be better. Who would let someone that they love walk into the snake pit of their family's life without warning?
I liked him and her. There was a point where you feel you had to suspend belief to follow the plot. If he had been honest instead of trying to be clever the whole story would be better. Who would let someone that they love walk into the snake pit of their family's life without warning?
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March 22, 2024Old books
December 10, 2024
Princess bride
There were grammatical mistakes but not too many. I would have liked a much ending
but they both did have their HEA.
There were grammatical mistakes but not too many. I would have liked a much ending
but they both did have their HEA.
July 21, 2016
4 Stars! ~ When her father dies, Sophia learns from his lawyer that her mother had been an Italian heiress, and that as her sole survivor she in now the next Contessa D'Antiga. Until Sophia's existence had become known, Prince Rozzano di Barsini had been her grandfather's heir. Meeting Sophia he instantly recognizes her inner beauty and innocence, and takes her under his wing. Rozzano's pregnant wife had died a number of years before, and though he truly wishes not to give his heart again, he knows he needs to marry and produce an heir. Sophia is appealing in all regards. She has her own wealth, desires children of her own, and appeals to him in ways he thought no one could ever again. Sophia can't help her attraction to Rozzano and finds herself easily swept off her feet. Believing he loves her as deeply as she loves him, she agrees to a speedy wedding. Through the bitterness of Rozzano's brother, Sophia learns that her new husband only married her for the children she would bear him.
Both Rozzano and Sophia are wonderful characters. Rozanno makes a near fatal mistake in not confiding in Sophia early in their courtship. Sophia had lead a simple life and was innocent, however she has a strength and intelligence that quickly allows her to adapt to her new situation. This is a lovely love story, one I enjoyed very much.
Both Rozzano and Sophia are wonderful characters. Rozanno makes a near fatal mistake in not confiding in Sophia early in their courtship. Sophia had lead a simple life and was innocent, however she has a strength and intelligence that quickly allows her to adapt to her new situation. This is a lovely love story, one I enjoyed very much.
June 14, 2019
Marrying in haste!
No sooner had Sophia Charlton discovered she was the descendant of an Italian count and heiress to a fortune than she was whisked away to Venice by the sultry Prince Rozzano di Barsini—having consented to be his bride! Dazed by the strength of his desire, she'd also agreed to a lavish wedding in just four weeks' time!
Once she could catch her breath, however, Sophia began to question Rozzano's impatience. Rumour had it that he urgently needed an heir. Was she to become his beloved wife—or just a means of making babies?
No sooner had Sophia Charlton discovered she was the descendant of an Italian count and heiress to a fortune than she was whisked away to Venice by the sultry Prince Rozzano di Barsini—having consented to be his bride! Dazed by the strength of his desire, she'd also agreed to a lavish wedding in just four weeks' time!
Once she could catch her breath, however, Sophia began to question Rozzano's impatience. Rumour had it that he urgently needed an heir. Was she to become his beloved wife—or just a means of making babies?
September 5, 2008
Cerita dalam novel ini seperti tipikal kisah roman biasa.
seorang gadis bernama Sophie menemukan bahwa dirinya masih keturunan dari sebuah kaum bangsawan di italia, dan pangeran rozzano datang menjemput dirinya untuk dijadikan pengantinnya. Semua berjalan terlalu lancar hingga sophie curiga bahwa pangeran rozzano hanya memanfaatkan status dirinya saja. Selanjutanya buku ini akan mengungkapkan apakah dugaan sophie tersebut benar, dan bagaimana rozzano menjelaskan situasi yang sebenarnya.
seorang gadis bernama Sophie menemukan bahwa dirinya masih keturunan dari sebuah kaum bangsawan di italia, dan pangeran rozzano datang menjemput dirinya untuk dijadikan pengantinnya. Semua berjalan terlalu lancar hingga sophie curiga bahwa pangeran rozzano hanya memanfaatkan status dirinya saja. Selanjutanya buku ini akan mengungkapkan apakah dugaan sophie tersebut benar, dan bagaimana rozzano menjelaskan situasi yang sebenarnya.
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December 3, 2012Una trama bien tradicional del drama, bastante rosa y romántica. Muy linda en verdad.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews