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Dynasties: The Barones #8

The Librarian's Passionate Knight

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THE DAMSEL IN DISTRESS...
When she saw the man who rescued her from a stalker ex-boyfriend, librarian Phoebe Richards couldn't believe her eyes. Only in books -- and in her fantasies -- had she seen a sexy-as-sin man like Daniel Barone. He was everything a hero should be -- brave, gorgeous, wealthy...and totally out of her league.

MEETS THE HANDSOME KNIGHT
Daniel Barone, international thrill seeker, thought he'd seen it all. But nothing had prepared him for the rush of Phoebe's guileless smile. Nothing shocked him more than the unfamiliar desire to stay with her. For the first time, Daniel felt real fear: Would he survive an affair with the innocent, bespectacled librarian?

192 pages, Mass Market Paperback

Published August 1, 2003

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About the author

Cindy Gerard

159 books1,624 followers
The only thing Cindy had in mind when she started writing her first book was finishing it. The issue of actually selling it came much later. Only after she made that life-altering first sale did she realize that one book would never be enough. Now, over 20 books and numerous awards later, Cindy laughingly admits that she can barely remember life before...well, was there life before writing?

Actually, yes there was, and still is. A professional career woman, Cindy is a trainer for the Iowa Department of Human Services, a position she states is both challenging and rewarding. "Human Services is a front-line, real-life event. Everything about the job is immediate, from serving families in crisis, to assisting staff with difficult situations, to meeting tension-fraught deadlines."

Cindy's career has taught her much about the human condition, its frailties, its strengths, and its spirit. The evocative emotions that pour from the pages of her books are a reflection of some of her work experiences. Her writing celebrates life's richness and trials, offering a wide range of emotions — hope and elation, anger and indecision, laughter and, of course, love. And, according to her readers, her powerful love scenes run the gamut from steamy to tender to lusty to just plain fun.

Cindy's writing has netted her spots on bestseller lists, numerous RT nominations and awards, the Colorado Romance Writers Award of Excellence, a National Reader's Choice Award and two RITA nominations.

Between writing and working full time you wouldn't think Cindy would have much time for anything else. And while she does find her work and her writing rewarding, there does have to be more. Cindy has more. Much more. She is happily married to the perfect man. Tom's a cowboy, ladies!

Yes, even Iowa has its share of that saddle-straddling, Wrangler-wearing species who love their horses almost as much as they love their women. As a matter of fact, recently a whole herd of Texans gathered at the Gerard "Ranch" to treat their little ones to real horseback rides. Go figure.

Cindy has a passion for pink depression glass — she always has her eye out for the special piece to add to her collection. Cindy's down time often takes the form of the classic "busman's holiday." She loves to read and most of all, she loves to read at their summer place, a cabin in the woods on Lake Kabetogama in northern Minnesota.

Both Tom and Cindy enjoy gardening and have recently expanded their annual beds into a perennial garden. Cindy says she can hardly wait for spring and the promise of all that reawakening and the colorful blooms.

In addition to the horses, the Gerards have two dogs, Ellie and Boomer, who pretty much get anything they want. Tom and Cindy have one son, Kyle, who, after years of keeping them in suspense, found Eileen, the perfect woman.

http://us.macmillan.com/author/cindyg...

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5 stars
57 (20%)
4 stars
61 (21%)
3 stars
104 (37%)
2 stars
51 (18%)
1 star
6 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
Profile Image for Analia.
803 reviews
November 12, 2023
5/5⭐

"Enamorarse era asombrosamente sencillo. Desenamorarse era sencillamente espantoso."

📚 ¡Qué bonita novela romántica que me ha durado un suspiro! (y eso que ando con los ojos cansados) pero… LA AMÉ porque Cindy Gerard crea en Phoebe Richards a la mujer que todas las lectoras de romance soñamos con ser: rescatada por un hombre REAL que se parezca a los protagonistas de esas novelas que leemos, esas que devoramos a un ritmo de dos o tres por semana.
📚Daniel Barone es un joven hombre guapísimo a ojos de Phoebe. No es alto, mide menos de dos metros, pero aun así para ella es alto porque tiene que levantar la barbilla para poder mirarlo. Tampoco es especialmente musculoso, sino que su constitución física parece a la de los corredores o los nadadores. La camiseta negra y los pantalones cortos le dejaban ver unas extremidades delgadas fuertes y bronceadas. Pero Daniel no parece ser un trabajador porque en su presencia hay algo que delata dinero. Y para Phoebe es tan obvio como el azul de sus ojos en aquel rostro de póster para provocar el máximo impacto. Sin embargo, aquella belleza masculina de corte clásico tenía los suficientes rasgos de dureza como para salvarse de ser perfecta.
📚Lo que Daniel no entiende es por qué aquella mujer que está comiendo helado le llama tanto la atención, si no es más que un gramo de arena perdido entre los brillantes colores del mercado en el centro de Boston.
📚Phoebe es bibliotecaria, tiene el cuerpo como cualquiera de nosotras, usa gafas, tiene un problema con su autoestima, no se siente una mujer preciosa para un hombre como Daniel y está siendo acosada por su ex novio Jason que está enfermo de alcoholismo violento. Y es una situación donde entra en escena el caballero de la brillante armadura. “Aquel hombre era todo, absolutamente todo lo que tenía que ser un héroe: Valiente, guapísimo y rico. A Phoebe le dio un vuelco el corazón y regresó a la realidad. Ella no era una heroína que valiese la pena.” Ah: Es tres años mayor que nuestro héroe.
📚Y a partir de aquí comienza a nacer una amistad hasta llegar a tener derechos a roce con Daniel el cual es uno de los herederos de los famosos helados Baronessa de la familia Barone de Boston; Será él quien le enseñe defensa personal; La familia de Daniel es italiana, de la dinastía del helado que es toda una leyenda no sólo en la Costa Este, sino en todo el mundo. La heladería original todavía funcionaba en el North End de Boston, y los deliciosos helados de Baronessa habían convertido a todos los que llevaban el apellido Barone en multimillonarios.
📚La cuestión es que Daniel se da cuenta que Phoebe empieza a enamorarse de él y, él también está sintiendo algo por ella, el tema es que no está dispuesto sacrificar su libertad por nada ni por nadie, porque ambos son diferentes, sus mundo no colisionarían ni aunque hubiera una explosión cósmica en el universo, pero poco a poco Daniel irá descubriendo que estar con Phoebe le da paz, le da alegría y lo más importante: ella no quiere que él cambie o que siente cabeza. Phoebe no es mujer para un hombre como Daniel.
📚En fin, recomiendo ésta novela para las que amamos leer novelas de romántica. Acabo de enterarme que pertenece a una saga multiautor pero se puede leer sin drama así como lo hice yo. Lo más bello es que el héroe mira más allá de la ropa y la apariencia exterior y encontrar así a la persona maravillosa y única que en verdad todos somos por dentro.

"Las lágrimas le nublaron la visión. Estaba medio enamorada desde la primera noche que lo vio. Su caballero andante. Su cazador de dragones."
Profile Image for Denise.
220 reviews
September 1, 2011
Being a librarian, I couldn't pass this one up. I liked that the hero was willing to look beyond the clothes and outside appearance to find that wonderful, unique person everybody really is on the inside.
Profile Image for Katie M.
13 reviews
July 29, 2024
I had never read a proper romance book before this, and I can't see myself reading many after this. I like that it was more cute, rather than sexy, as that seems more realistic to me and I personally prefer just a bit of realism in my romance stories. The heterosexual sex was incredibly mediocre, but that is to be expected, especially since I'm used to reading queer love stories lol. I did like this book though, it made for a good laugh and a good vacation entertainment read.
Profile Image for Greg Bem.
Author 12 books26 followers
June 14, 2025
My first romance (other than Twilight) featuring:
1) Patriarchal norms
2) Misogyny
3) Lack of consent
4) Very minimal focus on the librarian aspect of the main character

And yet it was a page turner, which probably says more about me than the book.
Profile Image for Laurie.
55 reviews
June 15, 2019
I had to. It was a gift! 😆 Super-cheesy, light ‘n fluffy to start off the summer reading session!
Profile Image for Patty.
2,741 reviews118 followers
January 31, 2017
Since romances are the equivalent to dessert in my reading world, I have been working on a comparison between these books and ice cream sundaes.

This book was fine. Nothing spectacular. Not even the librarian stereotype was too annoying.

So, IMHO, Gerard has written the equivalent of a dish of vanilla ice cream with a little chocolate sauce.
Profile Image for Dalimar.
514 reviews27 followers
November 11, 2012
Tenemos aquí a Daniel Barone,un chico guapo y libre como el viento.No le gustan las ataduras,de hecho se dedica a viajar por el mundo y disfrutar de los deportes extremos y de la libertad de no tener que depender de nada ni de nadie,hasta que una noche ve a Phoebe comiendo helado y le llama la atención a pesar de ella no ser su tipo de mujer.Es una mujer con un cuerpo con unas libritas de mas,que usa espejuelos(lentes,gafas).Al rato se da cuenta que esta siendo acosada por su ex novio Jason.Un alcohólico violento que no acepta que Phoebe haya terminado con el.

De ahí comienza una amistad y Daniel la ayuda dándole clases de defensa personal hasta que naturalmente llegan a ser amigos con derecho a roce.Eso esta bien hasta que Daniel se da cuenta que Phoebe esta enamorada de el y el también esta sintiendo algo por ella,pero aun no esta dispuesto sacrificar su libertad por nada ni por nadie.Con un final completamente predecible sigo pensando que esta Saga no tiene nada del otro mundo.Espero a ver que me trae el 9no libro.Bien distinto a las Hermanas Balfour que fue una serie multi autor excelente,yo pensé que seria igual pero es mas de lo mismo.Aquí sale Emily y parece que se le olvido comunicarle a la autora que ella había perdido la memoria porque nunca han mencionado nada sobre su perdida ni siquiera si la ha recuperado.Todo sigue como si nada le hubiera sucedido a su personaje.ya le traeré mas noticias sobre esta Saga,que me tiene muy desilusionada.
Profile Image for Gramedia Pustaka Utama.
275 reviews197 followers
September 20, 2008
Phoebe bertemu dengan Daniel secara tidak sengaja, ketika pria itu menyelamatkannya dari Steve mantan pacarnya. Dan Phoebe langsung jatuh cinta pada pandangan pertama pada Daniel, tapi karena Daniel berasal dari keluarga Barone yang kaya raya, Phobe berusaha menghindarinya.
Daniel pun sama sekali tidak mengerti apa yang terjadi pada dirinya, karena dirinya tidak dapat melupakan Phoebe dari pikirannya. Padahal Phoebe adalah seorang gadis yang biasa biasa saja, tapi Daniel tetap tidak dapat melepaskan sosok Phoebe dari pikirannya.
Ketika Daniel tidak juga mau mengakui cintanya pada Phoebe, Phoebe pun tidak menyerah, dia berusaha menaklukan Daniel. Bahkan ketika Daniel berusaha menghidari Phoebe dengan pergi dari sisinya, Phoebe pun hampir menyerah.
Entah apa yang harus dilakukan Daniel untuk membuat Phoebe kembali mempercayainya bahwa ia mencintai Phoebe dengan tulus.
Profile Image for Ariel.
1,350 reviews64 followers
May 7, 2011
The thing about being a librarian is that life can occasionally be pretty boring. So the idea of a gorgeous wealthy hunk of beef coming in to sweep said librarian off her feet = awesome.

The book jumped around a lot, and the scenes were short, but I suppose that is to be expected when the book is under 200 pages. Over all, I really enjoyed it! Haven't decided yet if I want to know more about the Barone family, and if I'll bother reading the other books.
Profile Image for Delacey.
1,204 reviews8 followers
Want to Read
October 31, 2019
3.5 stars. Well this book sounded interesting, and had some cute and funny spots, but overall it was just OK. The tension that should have been developed with the ex never really manifested. I also didn't really get why he figured he had to keep traveling/stay single- no good reason was thought or discussed. An OK story.
Profile Image for Limecello.
2,567 reviews47 followers
March 30, 2012
Felt like re-reading this book - like the heroine and her sense of humor
Hero is kinda an idiot... but also a good hero [interesting mix]

Also liked the Barones stories - this one was near the top of the (12?) Maybe 3rd?
Totally didn't remember Cindy Gerard wrote it!
Profile Image for Christian.
Author 32 books841 followers
September 7, 2007
Cukup seksi ya judulnya? Huhuhuhu... librarian dan cowok italia... what else we need? Hehehehe. Awalnya rada 'maksa' sih, tapi ke belakangnya lumayan enak flow ceritanya.
Profile Image for Rachel Yuska.
Author 9 books245 followers
Read
November 30, 2009
belum selesai baca niy...masih awal2...hmmm...ini buku harlequin pertama yg gw baca, biasanya ga pernah baca romance...
Profile Image for Kel.
797 reviews
March 7, 2010
3 stars only because of the library part.
Profile Image for Tammy.
45 reviews
November 21, 2012
An enjoyable read and Phoebe has a good sense of humor.
1,021 reviews1 follower
December 2, 2014
She was a little too door-mat-ish. However, the writing was good. Everything was wrapped up a little too quickly for my taste.
Profile Image for karen.
1,636 reviews
October 17, 2016
This was too corny. Also I had great hopes for this series with the 1st book. It has become disjointed. What about all the problems happening within the family and curse????
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews