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Count Valieri's Prisoner
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Hardcover
First published January 1, 2013
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About the author
Sara Craven
493 books268 followersAnne Bushell was born on October 1938 in South Devon, England, just before World War II and grew up in a house crammed with books. She was always a voracious reader, some of her all-time favorites books are: "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen, "Middlemarch" by George Eliot, "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë, "Gone With the Wind" by Margaret Mitchell and "The Code of the Woosters" by P. G. Wodehouse.
She worked as journalist at the Paignton Observer, but after her marriage, she moved to the north of England, where she worked as teacher. After she returned to journalism, she joined the Middlesbrough Writers' Group, where she met other romance writer Mildred Grieveson (Anne Mather). She started to wrote romance, and she had her first novel "Garden of Dreams" accepted by Mills & Boon in 1975, she published her work under the pseudonym of Sara Craven. In 2010 she became chairman of the Southern Writers' Conference, and the next year was elected the twenty-six Chairman (2011–2013) of the Romantic Novelists' Association.
Divorced twice, Annie lives in Somerset, South West England, and shares her home with a West Highland white terrier called Bertie Wooster. In her house, she had several thousand books, and an amazing video collection. When she's not writing, she enjoys watching very old films, listening to music, going to the theatre, and eating in good restaurants. She also likes to travel in Europe, to inspire her romances, especially in France, Greece and Italy where many of her novels are set. Since the birth of her twin grandchildren, she is also a regular visitor to New York City, where the little tots live. In 1997, she was the overall winner of the BBC's Mastermind, winning the last final presented by Magnus Magnusson.
She worked as journalist at the Paignton Observer, but after her marriage, she moved to the north of England, where she worked as teacher. After she returned to journalism, she joined the Middlesbrough Writers' Group, where she met other romance writer Mildred Grieveson (Anne Mather). She started to wrote romance, and she had her first novel "Garden of Dreams" accepted by Mills & Boon in 1975, she published her work under the pseudonym of Sara Craven. In 2010 she became chairman of the Southern Writers' Conference, and the next year was elected the twenty-six Chairman (2011–2013) of the Romantic Novelists' Association.
Divorced twice, Annie lives in Somerset, South West England, and shares her home with a West Highland white terrier called Bertie Wooster. In her house, she had several thousand books, and an amazing video collection. When she's not writing, she enjoys watching very old films, listening to music, going to the theatre, and eating in good restaurants. She also likes to travel in Europe, to inspire her romances, especially in France, Greece and Italy where many of her novels are set. Since the birth of her twin grandchildren, she is also a regular visitor to New York City, where the little tots live. In 1997, she was the overall winner of the BBC's Mastermind, winning the last final presented by Magnus Magnusson.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
March 5, 2013
The dunb, convoluted, meandering plot makes no sense @ all. Italian hero lures career-oriented heroine into his den, known as the House of Wolf (well, shiver me timbers !). The ensuing pages & pages of what she's forced to wear & minutiae details of doing nuffink whatsoevah during her captivity literally put me into sleep. She initially shows her personalities as a bit feisty & not a pushover, but somehow as the story goes on, she becomes more passive & a typical damsel in distress, needing hero to rescue her after her close encounters w/ a reptile & a wolf during her half-assed escape. Stupidly, after neon light signs that her doormat fiance is not as innocent as he seems to be, she still contemplates going thru' w/ her wedding, knowing it's an uphill battle against her domineering future in-laws. Any good psychologist would tell her after her ordeal, that when your fiance didn't have the balls to show up & assigned a messenger instead, to bring the confession letter from dirtbag daddy that he had framed his BFF (hero's dad), then it's a safe bet that he's really not that into U & U'd be bettah off w/ your hawt kidnapper, stockholm syndrome be damned. I'm still scratching my wig over the hawt mess. How would kidnapping innocent bystander heroine be beneficial to hero's family revenge dwama ? 1 has got nuffink to do w/ the otha. Only in Zanyville we get to see non-virginal heroine used as an instrument of revenge w/out making the real evil villain pay for his crime @ the end. It's an exercise in futility. U can see where it's headed from miles away. Yeah, of course the infamous singer she was supposed to track down, turns out to be his mom. Of course isolation breeds fondness for captor. And of course, I'm a big sucka for SC that I stuck to it, knowing it's so ludicrous that I just had to know how it's gonna end. Big surprise, he uses his mom again to lure her back. He pops in & outta the story just like a convenient prop. 1 minute he's there to suck the juices outta her, next min he's outtie again. If U could get over the non-sensical, skeleton plot threaded w/ a sliver of romance, U might like it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
dnf
October 10, 2022Boring - insufferable characters.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 11, 2015
Short version: deprived of her underwear and given only peignoirs and negligees to wear, Maddie is held prisoner in a trompe l’oeil fantasy castle.
Long version:
Maddie is engaged to Jeremy, and Jeremy has serious daddy issues. Jeremy’s dad is determined that no daughter in law of his will work like a commoner, and Maddie and Jeremy will not sleep over at Jeremy’s place until they are married, and Maddie will genuflect to Jeremy’s step mother in all matters concerning the arrangement of a posh British wedding.
Although keen on Jeremy, Maddie is not keen on any of this stuff, so when, for her job, she has a chance to go hunt down an Italian Opera singer who hasn’t been seen for thirty years, she takes it. Jeremy and Jeremy’s daddy are displeased.
In Italy, Maddie is kidnapped by Andrea for reasons. She will be released when Jeremy’s daddy responds to Andrea’s ransom demands. At this point I should mention that if as a reader you think about how this is a crime and it’s not going to matter why Andrea has done it, and how luxurious a prison he provides makes no difference, and Stockholm Syndrome would tend to negate any romantic authenticity , and this is all more than a little disturbing: I agree. And yet … there’s no point being sensible. This is modernised gothic fantasy and adorable. Plus, Stockholm Syndrome probably needs longer and maybe some completely awful things to happen to work properly, and Andrea is very attractive, has a sense of humour, is sweet to his mother, and has a gorgeous castle.
When Maddie wakes up, she’s stuck in a bedroom in a very swanky nightie and robe. She has none of her own clothes or things, nothing to read, and because the walls are all painted with murals she can’t work out where the damn door is. She’s understandably most cranky about this, because being mostly naked and scared and bored are all annoying things, but a room that makes you feel like an idiot is completely unacceptable.
She gets to snark at her kidnapper, Andrea, for a bit, and it takes her a number of encounters to work out that he is also Count Valieri. Andrea is one of those awesome aristos who is so removed from reality that he wanted to get Maddie’s measure by seeing how she would react to him if she thought him beneath her social status. Aristos love these social experiments, like when they pretend to be a peasant rather than a prince to see if a girl will fall in love with them. Maddie attempts to point out that she’s more annoyed about being kidnapped than anything else, but this is all too alien to Andrea’s understanding of how aristocracy works, so he ignores her complaint.
Andrea starts out with the appearance of grim remoteness. He seems more than vaguely threatening in the first chapter, but he lightens up considerably. Craven has this thing with heroes, where they get all deadpan and elliptical when they talk, and the reader has to assume that, even if she’s busy being completely cranky with him, the heroine has a subconscious sense that he’s not creepy dangerous, just sexy dangerous.
They flirt. I will mention once again that Maddie is not wearing any underwear, because neither Andrea or Maddie mention it when they flirt, so it’s important to know that this is subtext to every single conversation they have. ‘You are very beautiful (and I know you aren’t wearing panties, and I am thinking about how you are not wearing panties all the time)’ says Andrea. ‘I am going to turn you into the police (I cannot conceal how pointy you make me, but as soon as I find a bra I’m going to escape)!’ says Maddie.
Maddie’s escape is pure gothic styling and I adored it. Maddie herself is a great character – she’s very plucky and English about being kidnapped, and about planning her escape. When I used to read ‘The Famous Five’ and Anne would get kidnapped all the time I would imagine that Anne would eventually get pretty blasé about the whole deal, and would start flirting with the young cute kidnapper and have almost managed to get him to help her escape by the time Julian shows up with the police, much to George’s eventual disgust. I had this whole fan fic thing in my head, about what Anne was getting up to and how interesting it was, because I refused to admire George. That girl was trying way too hard. Maddie’s main flaw is her engagement to Jeremy. It meant that when the flirting got more heated, I had to firmly tell myself that kidnapping is a bit like time travel – partners are sort of Schrodinger’s cats until you get home.
I know it’s wrong, but I really do love this kind of book. It’s over the top and so much fun.
Long version:
Maddie is engaged to Jeremy, and Jeremy has serious daddy issues. Jeremy’s dad is determined that no daughter in law of his will work like a commoner, and Maddie and Jeremy will not sleep over at Jeremy’s place until they are married, and Maddie will genuflect to Jeremy’s step mother in all matters concerning the arrangement of a posh British wedding.
Although keen on Jeremy, Maddie is not keen on any of this stuff, so when, for her job, she has a chance to go hunt down an Italian Opera singer who hasn’t been seen for thirty years, she takes it. Jeremy and Jeremy’s daddy are displeased.
In Italy, Maddie is kidnapped by Andrea for reasons. She will be released when Jeremy’s daddy responds to Andrea’s ransom demands. At this point I should mention that if as a reader you think about how this is a crime and it’s not going to matter why Andrea has done it, and how luxurious a prison he provides makes no difference, and Stockholm Syndrome would tend to negate any romantic authenticity , and this is all more than a little disturbing: I agree. And yet … there’s no point being sensible. This is modernised gothic fantasy and adorable. Plus, Stockholm Syndrome probably needs longer and maybe some completely awful things to happen to work properly, and Andrea is very attractive, has a sense of humour, is sweet to his mother, and has a gorgeous castle.
When Maddie wakes up, she’s stuck in a bedroom in a very swanky nightie and robe. She has none of her own clothes or things, nothing to read, and because the walls are all painted with murals she can’t work out where the damn door is. She’s understandably most cranky about this, because being mostly naked and scared and bored are all annoying things, but a room that makes you feel like an idiot is completely unacceptable.
She gets to snark at her kidnapper, Andrea, for a bit, and it takes her a number of encounters to work out that he is also Count Valieri. Andrea is one of those awesome aristos who is so removed from reality that he wanted to get Maddie’s measure by seeing how she would react to him if she thought him beneath her social status. Aristos love these social experiments, like when they pretend to be a peasant rather than a prince to see if a girl will fall in love with them. Maddie attempts to point out that she’s more annoyed about being kidnapped than anything else, but this is all too alien to Andrea’s understanding of how aristocracy works, so he ignores her complaint.
Andrea starts out with the appearance of grim remoteness. He seems more than vaguely threatening in the first chapter, but he lightens up considerably. Craven has this thing with heroes, where they get all deadpan and elliptical when they talk, and the reader has to assume that, even if she’s busy being completely cranky with him, the heroine has a subconscious sense that he’s not creepy dangerous, just sexy dangerous.
They flirt. I will mention once again that Maddie is not wearing any underwear, because neither Andrea or Maddie mention it when they flirt, so it’s important to know that this is subtext to every single conversation they have. ‘You are very beautiful (and I know you aren’t wearing panties, and I am thinking about how you are not wearing panties all the time)’ says Andrea. ‘I am going to turn you into the police (I cannot conceal how pointy you make me, but as soon as I find a bra I’m going to escape)!’ says Maddie.
Maddie’s escape is pure gothic styling and I adored it. Maddie herself is a great character – she’s very plucky and English about being kidnapped, and about planning her escape. When I used to read ‘The Famous Five’ and Anne would get kidnapped all the time I would imagine that Anne would eventually get pretty blasé about the whole deal, and would start flirting with the young cute kidnapper and have almost managed to get him to help her escape by the time Julian shows up with the police, much to George’s eventual disgust. I had this whole fan fic thing in my head, about what Anne was getting up to and how interesting it was, because I refused to admire George. That girl was trying way too hard. Maddie’s main flaw is her engagement to Jeremy. It meant that when the flirting got more heated, I had to firmly tell myself that kidnapping is a bit like time travel – partners are sort of Schrodinger’s cats until you get home.
I know it’s wrong, but I really do love this kind of book. It’s over the top and so much fun.
March 17, 2013
This one started out very interesting. Andrea wanted some vengeance for a wrong committed against his family years ago. Typical of these types of stories, after all, got to get the h/H together. It maintained the interest until we discover why Andrea kidnapped Madeleine “Maddie”. It made no sense whatsoever. Also if Andrea knew so much about his target why did he even think that they would give in to his whole plot without more pressure? Maddie seemed to know more about the character of Andrea’s target than he did and yet she had no idea about her fiancé??
Once she is kidnapped she is more concerned with her body being of interest to her kidnapper (Andrea) than her predicament. Are you kidding me? Okay she does threaten to see justice done for what he has done to her, but you know she will quickly change her mind there when that wick comes in to play. Andrea claimed she held no interest for him and yet….well I guess there are no other women around. However, he did say that he has “never in my life taken a woman against her will” problem being he did take her against her will!! Oh he meant something else. Well what’s the difference? It’s still not honorable. Oh then he tells her that if she were his she wouldn’t be allowed out of his sight. Okay, well technically while kidnapped she is his and guess what….yep out of his sight cause she manages to escape! You know it got rather annoying that he kidnaps her and then thinks she should willingly go to bed with him. Who is the nut here?
Seemed like Andrea painted himself to be so great and yet he really wasn’t. He was seeking retribution for a wrong committed against his family, but he sought to gain that from an innocent party and then he wonders why she doesn’t fall in with him. He plays games with her and this silly woman quickly believes all that he and his mother spill out to her. What does that say about her? She knew future FIL was a POS but she trusted and “loved” fiancé right? Why else should they marry? Then it comes to light that Andrea’s family had more information, and I am wondering why they didn’t just go down legal channels and WTH didn’t Maddie ask this? Oh yes, the crooked cops, but surely they aren’t all still there it has been YEARS now.
There were lots of filler in this story that seemed to lose my interest rather quickly. Andrea and his manipulative mother aren’t even concerned with Maddie opening her mouth and pressing charges against them…unbelievable! Andrea just wanted an admission of guilt and keeping the future FIL from his place of honor! They committed a crime for that!! WOW!! How does that NOT make them equal to the other guy?
Andrea repeatedly lies to Maddie and I’m not sure what is true. Yes, rose colored glass wearer wants to believe him but the doubting Debbie says hold the fort. This guy told her that he was going to where Maddie believes his mistress is…yeah later he says something else. Why lie? Makes you wonder what else he and his mother lied about because they seem to roll right off his tongue.
If her fiancé knows all and the future FIL knows that she is now aware of or even suspects that she is aware of all, I wonder why Maddie doesn’t have a little accident. And the big question at the end how in the hell did these two fall in love? There was no chemistry and the guy constantly lied, manipulated, and spun things to his benefit.
Once she is kidnapped she is more concerned with her body being of interest to her kidnapper (Andrea) than her predicament. Are you kidding me? Okay she does threaten to see justice done for what he has done to her, but you know she will quickly change her mind there when that wick comes in to play. Andrea claimed she held no interest for him and yet….well I guess there are no other women around. However, he did say that he has “never in my life taken a woman against her will” problem being he did take her against her will!! Oh he meant something else. Well what’s the difference? It’s still not honorable. Oh then he tells her that if she were his she wouldn’t be allowed out of his sight. Okay, well technically while kidnapped she is his and guess what….yep out of his sight cause she manages to escape! You know it got rather annoying that he kidnaps her and then thinks she should willingly go to bed with him. Who is the nut here?
Seemed like Andrea painted himself to be so great and yet he really wasn’t. He was seeking retribution for a wrong committed against his family, but he sought to gain that from an innocent party and then he wonders why she doesn’t fall in with him. He plays games with her and this silly woman quickly believes all that he and his mother spill out to her. What does that say about her? She knew future FIL was a POS but she trusted and “loved” fiancé right? Why else should they marry? Then it comes to light that Andrea’s family had more information, and I am wondering why they didn’t just go down legal channels and WTH didn’t Maddie ask this? Oh yes, the crooked cops, but surely they aren’t all still there it has been YEARS now.
There were lots of filler in this story that seemed to lose my interest rather quickly. Andrea and his manipulative mother aren’t even concerned with Maddie opening her mouth and pressing charges against them…unbelievable! Andrea just wanted an admission of guilt and keeping the future FIL from his place of honor! They committed a crime for that!! WOW!! How does that NOT make them equal to the other guy?
Andrea repeatedly lies to Maddie and I’m not sure what is true. Yes, rose colored glass wearer wants to believe him but the doubting Debbie says hold the fort. This guy told her that he was going to where Maddie believes his mistress is…yeah later he says something else. Why lie? Makes you wonder what else he and his mother lied about because they seem to roll right off his tongue.
If her fiancé knows all and the future FIL knows that she is now aware of or even suspects that she is aware of all, I wonder why Maddie doesn’t have a little accident. And the big question at the end how in the hell did these two fall in love? There was no chemistry and the guy constantly lied, manipulated, and spun things to his benefit.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 12, 2013
Okay, for the record, this is a 3.5 stars read for me. This was a light read, which I could easily see myself reading while lounging on the beach; not great but good enough.
"Count Valieri's Prisoner"s blurb could be "Guy kidnaps girl, girl falls for guy, guy falls for girl and -bam- we have a HEA in our hands". I think that this could be the only way to describe this book.
Personally, I read that in, like, 4 or 5 hours, so it felt kinda sorta like a novella to me.
This book was an okay book, but I felt that the story fell short at some point, almost like I just finished it because I've already read 80% of it. I can't say that I loved or related to the heroine which is why I dropped a star. You know, I think I'm kinda tired with the whole "I'll not admit my feelings even to myself" thing, so maybe that's where I started having second thoughts. Although I am a sucker for Italian guys who happen to be filthy-rich counts, I just felt that Maddie's and Andrea's relationship was the "in lust then hopelessly in love" kind of relationship that truly doesn't do it for me.
I also think that Maddie was completely ignorant about Jeremy's sucking up his dad which kinda pissed me off because it was that obvious.
And was the plot really predictable, or was it just me?
Overall, I'm giving this 3.5 stars because the guy was Italian and because I learned some words in italian. But if you're looking for a light, summer read, then you should totally read this.
"Count Valieri's Prisoner"s blurb could be "Guy kidnaps girl, girl falls for guy, guy falls for girl and -bam- we have a HEA in our hands". I think that this could be the only way to describe this book.
Personally, I read that in, like, 4 or 5 hours, so it felt kinda sorta like a novella to me.
This book was an okay book, but I felt that the story fell short at some point, almost like I just finished it because I've already read 80% of it. I can't say that I loved or related to the heroine which is why I dropped a star. You know, I think I'm kinda tired with the whole "I'll not admit my feelings even to myself" thing, so maybe that's where I started having second thoughts. Although I am a sucker for Italian guys who happen to be filthy-rich counts, I just felt that Maddie's and Andrea's relationship was the "in lust then hopelessly in love" kind of relationship that truly doesn't do it for me.
I also think that Maddie was completely ignorant about Jeremy's sucking up his dad which kinda pissed me off because it was that obvious.
And was the plot really predictable, or was it just me?
Overall, I'm giving this 3.5 stars because the guy was Italian and because I learned some words in italian. But if you're looking for a light, summer read, then you should totally read this.
November 18, 2017
Had some good plot points but I did not like the execution.
October 29, 2016
I’ve been in a bit of a reading slump lately, so I decided to try a little mind candy: a bit of romance-novel fluff with a deliciously ludicrous kidnapping plot. Or at least it seemed delicious at first. Unfortunately, it quickly turned sour.
The plot is ridiculous, of course, but that’s what is supposed to be entertaining about the formula: the suspension of disbelief as the tall, dark and sardonic hero engages in a battle of wits with the spirited, but oh-so-tempted-to-surrender heroine. Unfortunately, this heroine forgot to bring her wits, and the author forgot to construct a plot that made suspension of disbelief a possibility. To begin with, there turned out to be no reason for the hero to kidnap the heroine. He had all the ammunition necessary to extort his revenge from the heroine’s prospective father-in-law without the kidnapping. (Eventually, when the heroine hears the whole story, even she points out that what the count has done makes no sense—and believe me, if this heroine can see that your actions make no sense, you are headed down a wrong path). Even then, I probably could have overlooked the contrived kidnapping if there had been an emotionally satisfying love story, but the author failed there too. The attraction between the hero and heroine never goes beyond lust, which leaves their (lengthy!) declarations of undying love at the end hollow and unconvincing.
Sadly, it was the saccharin of mind candy. It went down easy but left an unpleasant taste behind.
The plot is ridiculous, of course, but that’s what is supposed to be entertaining about the formula: the suspension of disbelief as the tall, dark and sardonic hero engages in a battle of wits with the spirited, but oh-so-tempted-to-surrender heroine. Unfortunately, this heroine forgot to bring her wits, and the author forgot to construct a plot that made suspension of disbelief a possibility. To begin with, there turned out to be no reason for the hero to kidnap the heroine. He had all the ammunition necessary to extort his revenge from the heroine’s prospective father-in-law without the kidnapping. (Eventually, when the heroine hears the whole story, even she points out that what the count has done makes no sense—and believe me, if this heroine can see that your actions make no sense, you are headed down a wrong path). Even then, I probably could have overlooked the contrived kidnapping if there had been an emotionally satisfying love story, but the author failed there too. The attraction between the hero and heroine never goes beyond lust, which leaves their (lengthy!) declarations of undying love at the end hollow and unconvincing.
Sadly, it was the saccharin of mind candy. It went down easy but left an unpleasant taste behind.
January 1, 2016
This one I really liked. I think storytelling is more important then the actual story. Here I was caught in the heroes' story from the start. And I liked it. Maybe it's not perfect but my mind draw the missing lines to get a nice whole picture.
I liked heroine. I liked how she tried to do the right thing even if she sensed that smth was very wrong. I liked how she fought for her freedom and tried to escape. I liked that hero put her in the different wing after their return. That was very significant for me.
I liked that hero let her go even if it was the hardest thing ever did. I also liked how he came after her. And I didn't like her fiancé at all.
The only thing that made me sad is that the story was so short.
I liked heroine. I liked how she tried to do the right thing even if she sensed that smth was very wrong. I liked how she fought for her freedom and tried to escape. I liked that hero put her in the different wing after their return. That was very significant for me.
I liked that hero let her go even if it was the hardest thing ever did. I also liked how he came after her. And I didn't like her fiancé at all.
The only thing that made me sad is that the story was so short.
January 15, 2017
Kidnap ME, please!
Seriously. Why is HPLandia so much more exciting than the real world? I want a sexy, rich, and kind Count to kidnap me and dress me in sexy lingerie. Sadly, in the real world, kidnappings are bad. But this isn't the real world, and all the negative reviewers seem to forget that reading allows us forms of escapism. Alternative reality is good, fantasies are good.
This story was so over the top, but that's what makes me love it. I might also have a thing for Stockholm Syndrome romances.
Seriously. Why is HPLandia so much more exciting than the real world? I want a sexy, rich, and kind Count to kidnap me and dress me in sexy lingerie. Sadly, in the real world, kidnappings are bad. But this isn't the real world, and all the negative reviewers seem to forget that reading allows us forms of escapism. Alternative reality is good, fantasies are good.
This story was so over the top, but that's what makes me love it. I might also have a thing for Stockholm Syndrome romances.
January 22, 2021
This is not one of Sara Craven's best books but it somehow sucked me in and I read it. The plot is over the top nuts but Craven manages to make us feel right along with Maddie and her adventures. Lots of fun, but suspend your common sense while you read this.
Here is my longer review: https://www.morebooksthantime.com/cou...
Maddie is neither stupid nor a doormat and she tells Count Valieri she's going to see him in jail, Hmmm. Love it.
Here is my longer review: https://www.morebooksthantime.com/cou...
Maddie is neither stupid nor a doormat and she tells Count Valieri she's going to see him in jail, Hmmm. Love it.
March 6, 2013
I really was shocked with this novel. SC, and the hero was nice! Who could believe it.
The theme was typical for Sara's books, other than that the novel was completely different to the point that I kept returning to the cover to make sure that this is actually one of her book.
I loved it a lot, really nice read.
The theme was typical for Sara's books, other than that the novel was completely different to the point that I kept returning to the cover to make sure that this is actually one of her book.
I loved it a lot, really nice read.
March 3, 2013
Despite this being a kidnapping novel and the rogue hero being the kidnapper, I couldn't fully get into this novel.
April 7, 2022
The plot makes no sense whatsoever. I confess to giving up almost as soon as I started reading it and went to see if the ending would turn out to be better but it was worse. The h’s fiancé is in cahoots with his father who is a scumbag who framed H’s father after committing fraud. To wring a confession he kidnaps h but then he also had evidence that he destroys so he could return the h and get the confession that he destroys! Its like a Dumb and Dumber movie and the h is equally dumb and even when her fiancé sends a messenger and doesn’t seem interested in her well being and more in whether or not H destroyed the confession she doesn’t break off the engagement. It takes his stepmother mentioning her fiancé is as bad as his father to break it off.
November 1, 2022
Not one of her best by a long way. Held captive in the House of the Wolf by mysterious Italian count Andrea Valieri in a revenge plot that was as crackers as Christmas. The h, Maddie, changes her glamorous negligee many times and eats lots of delicious food then makes one escape attempt. It's pretty slow. Slightly out of time gothicky feel but not terribly exciting. He does give her a fantastic oral orgasm on a straw mattress (she's still technically engaged to another man at this point so they don't get a chance at full piv). Don't judge Sara Craven by this one.
November 6, 2017
I really enjoyed this book, don't know why it! The story from the first chapter to the last was just well written. This book could have been longer and I would have kept right on reading it! I had to read it in a couple of days because I just did not want it to end--but it did and I still wanted more.
My true rating would be 4.85 stars
My true rating would be 4.85 stars
August 22, 2018
Love it
November 25, 2018
3.5 Stars...
October 13, 2020
Protagonista: Andrea & Maddie
Profesiones: Periodista & Conde
Pais: Italia
Profesiones: Periodista & Conde
Pais: Italia
November 15, 2021
Boring
There is no tension and it had so much potential!! Rather than keeping me biting my nails, I was fighting to stay awake.
There is no tension and it had so much potential!! Rather than keeping me biting my nails, I was fighting to stay awake.
July 24, 2022
If eroticism is premised on a power difference, this book is a perfect erotic specimen.
April 23, 2013
This is a book so full of craziness I couldn't help but enjoy it a little more than I should have. I mean who would not love a book where the hero kidnaps the heroine and keeps her as his prisoner in rooms with fifty doors? Seriously so crazy I kind of loved it.
Maddie was engaged to some guy whose name escapes me but she was determined to be independent and have a career (how novel). Of course the fiance and his family thought that was ridiculous and wanted her to be the 'little woman'. She ran off to Italy to research a reclusive opera singer but was abducted by Count Valieri and kept prisoner.
Apparently Count Valieri wanted something from the fiance's family and he was holding her hostage in order to get it. The maids and servants all seem to accept this event in their lives with no questions or reservations about keeping a woman prisoner. Seriously what was up with that? I would at least question the sanity of my boss if they said, "hey let's keep this chick until the ransom comes in...cool?" I would be a little affected.
I was amazed how deep this hostage situation ran when it came to family, servants, etc. The reader knew from the get-go how slimy the fiance was and I had to wonder what Maddie saw in him in the first place. The guy was an absolute slimeball and didn't have any similar values. It seemed unbelievable but whatever.
I think I loved the craziness of the whole story. The romance was unbelievable. The abduction was unbelievable. The fiance was unbelievable.
If you have a chance, pick it up and relax with the ridiculousness.
2 Stars
Published by Harlequin
March 19, 2013
192 Pages
Provided by--Me
Maddie was engaged to some guy whose name escapes me but she was determined to be independent and have a career (how novel). Of course the fiance and his family thought that was ridiculous and wanted her to be the 'little woman'. She ran off to Italy to research a reclusive opera singer but was abducted by Count Valieri and kept prisoner.
Apparently Count Valieri wanted something from the fiance's family and he was holding her hostage in order to get it. The maids and servants all seem to accept this event in their lives with no questions or reservations about keeping a woman prisoner. Seriously what was up with that? I would at least question the sanity of my boss if they said, "hey let's keep this chick until the ransom comes in...cool?" I would be a little affected.
I was amazed how deep this hostage situation ran when it came to family, servants, etc. The reader knew from the get-go how slimy the fiance was and I had to wonder what Maddie saw in him in the first place. The guy was an absolute slimeball and didn't have any similar values. It seemed unbelievable but whatever.
I think I loved the craziness of the whole story. The romance was unbelievable. The abduction was unbelievable. The fiance was unbelievable.
If you have a chance, pick it up and relax with the ridiculousness.
2 Stars
Published by Harlequin
March 19, 2013
192 Pages
Provided by--Me
June 4, 2021
Things like this just don't happen to Maddie Lang! She grew up in a sleepy little English village, so never expected a research trip to Italy would end in her being held captive by the infamous Count Valieri.
His price? Her innocence!
Holding her under lock and key in his luxurious casa, the count is ready to strike a deal—one with an unconventional method of payment! As much as Maddie wills her traitorous body not to respond, his practiced touch sparks the first flickers of what could become dangerously addictive flames
His price? Her innocence!
Holding her under lock and key in his luxurious casa, the count is ready to strike a deal—one with an unconventional method of payment! As much as Maddie wills her traitorous body not to respond, his practiced touch sparks the first flickers of what could become dangerously addictive flames
July 4, 2013
Well, that was disappointing. I mean, Ms. Craven's works always ride that fine line for me between love and hate. Ironically, I usually hate the hero. But Andrea was actually pretty great, which was refreshing. Unfortunately I hated Maddie. There just wasn't much redeeming about her, and I couldn't understand why they fell in love with each other besides lust. Ah well, I wanted something fluffy that I didn't have to think about, so I guess this delivered....
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December 29, 2014Category: Passion
April 11, 2013
This book was very good, wished the ones in the wrong would have been publicly outed, but otherwise very good storyline.
November 16, 2013
I thought it was a but drawn out but I'm a sucker for a cute ending and a decent male main character and a strong female... Which I thought this story had!
July 4, 2014
it was ... not bad :)
March 11, 2015
The blurb doesn't really describe the book at all. The heroine is no innocent and the hero hardly demands it!
January 2, 2025
Boring, boring, boring. I didn't really buy the sexual tension between them.
January 18, 2016
Mediocre - the hostage and Stockholm syndrome just doesn't work for me personally.
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