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Affair in Venice
When Erica went to work in Venice she had never dreamed that she would end up by falling in love with the attractive, immensely rich Conte Filippo Rosetti.
And Filippo's close friend Claudia Medina, it soon appeared, was going to see to it that it remained only a dream!
And Filippo's close friend Claudia Medina, it soon appeared, was going to see to it that it remained only a dream!
186 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1975
About the author
Rachel Lindsay
66 books64 followersRachel Lindsay is the pen name of an author who also published as Roberta Leigh, Janey Scott, and Rozella Lake. See the "Roberta Leigh" entry for full biographical information.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
July 30, 2022
'No!' he cried fiercely. 'I won't let you go. You are mine. Mine! I'll never let you go again. These past days have been hell! You do not know what they did to me. But I had to give you time… it wasn't fair to rush you - to force you into something you might regret'
"Affair in Venice" is the story of Erica and Fillipo.
Extremely enjoyable old school romance with an obsessed hero and a lovely heroine.
The heroine works as a jeweler's apprentice, and spends her time designing her own pieces and assisting in running a high end shop. When a stranger tries to sell an expensive looking brooch, circumstances lead her to meet the hero, the actual hero of the piece.
After some misunderstandings, he is taken with her and tries to woo her. But there is ample miscommunication, reluctance, and catty OW to spoil their fun. But they're in love, and love conquers all.. doesn't it?
I loved the strong and feisty heroine, her boss was amazing and the hero was pretty insane too. They are crazy obsessed, and I would have rated higher if the hero hadn't slept around trying to get over his feelings for the heroine.
Unsafe
4.25/5
"Affair in Venice" is the story of Erica and Fillipo.
Extremely enjoyable old school romance with an obsessed hero and a lovely heroine.
The heroine works as a jeweler's apprentice, and spends her time designing her own pieces and assisting in running a high end shop. When a stranger tries to sell an expensive looking brooch, circumstances lead her to meet the hero, the actual hero of the piece.
After some misunderstandings, he is taken with her and tries to woo her. But there is ample miscommunication, reluctance, and catty OW to spoil their fun. But they're in love, and love conquers all.. doesn't it?
I loved the strong and feisty heroine, her boss was amazing and the hero was pretty insane too. They are crazy obsessed, and I would have rated higher if the hero hadn't slept around trying to get over his feelings for the heroine.
Unsafe
4.25/5
December 19, 2017
Pretty decent oldie. It had a different structure than most HPs. The I love yous came early then there were complications.
October 3, 2015
Heroine lacked self-confidence and was a shrew for most of the story. Hero was delightful. I thought he deserved much better. He should have married OW, even though she was a money grubbing thief.
February 20, 2023
literally zero plot and nothing but vibes until the VERY LAST chapter. only reason for the extra star is the really quotable one-liners.
this was also a rare harlequin because the h’s work was made very central to the story (the very little there was of it anyway), so that was pleasantly surprising as i never see harlequins do this.
52 Book Club Challenge: a city or country name in the title
this was also a rare harlequin because the h’s work was made very central to the story (the very little there was of it anyway), so that was pleasantly surprising as i never see harlequins do this.
52 Book Club Challenge: a city or country name in the title
March 15, 2018
I see in a lot of the reviews that the h got on readers' nerves because she was so brittle and self-protective. I actually thought that was very realistic -- she was young, middle-class, and not wealthy, and she was being pursued by a nobleman who was the epitome of sophisticated old money. Throw in the fact that she was navigating not just high society but an entirely different culture, and you end up with a situation where a lot of young women would find themselves putting up a few walls. The H was arrogant, but genuinely in love with her, and I felt the author captured both the world of jewelry design and Venetian society very well.
October 2, 2015
Another win from Rachel Lindsay.
I always love the beautiful and strong heroine of hers. Erica added the dimensions by her insecurities, which was fit for her character's age and background.
And the besotted hero, Filippo, although his arrogance was sometimes annoying but with all the wealth and power he had it was to be expected. And there was really no doubt of his love for her.
I always love the beautiful and strong heroine of hers. Erica added the dimensions by her insecurities, which was fit for her character's age and background.
And the besotted hero, Filippo, although his arrogance was sometimes annoying but with all the wealth and power he had it was to be expected. And there was really no doubt of his love for her.
May 29, 2025
Not very memorable.
February 22, 2020
Delightful vintage HP!
June 13, 2011
Very good book and much as I remembered it. I think this was a HPresents that I read more than once back in the day and it brings good memories even though it is old fashioned in tone the way the heroine makes a token stab at being an independent woman. She is until the big strong man comes along and promises to takes care of her.
August 27, 2017
Liked most of the book but the heroine was too insecure at times.
April 4, 2022
Affair in Venice was about Erica, the daughter of the Professor of Archaeology at a university in England, and the immensely rich Conte Filippo Rosetti.
Erica was in Venice to work with Signora Botelli, a jewelry store owner, where she designed, repaired, and sold jewelry. When someone brought in a piece of jewelry to sell, Erica's employer recognized it immediately as one from the famous collection owned by Conte Rosetti and made arrangements for him to retrieve it. The first encounter between Filippo and Erica did not go well, but he managed to arrange several other meetings after they had bumped into each other at a public viewing of modern jewelry. After that, Filippo continued offering invitations for the two of them to spend time together, but Erica was skittish, especially as she knew that he already had a mistress who had taken an instant dislike to her.
I didn't care for Filippo's attitude sometimes. He could be an overbearing bully when he chose to be, and sometimes he threatened to strike Erica, which was a huge red flag to me that he had violent tendencies that might get out of control from time to time. Not a great example of a romantic Hero in my opinion.
Even though Filippo had told her several times that he loved her, Erica frequently vacillated between hot and cold quite in her emotions. Filippo's friend, Claudia Medina, didn't help matters either. Some said she was his mistress, but he said she wasn't...but even Claudia said she was...and that she would be his wife instead of Erica.
This was the perfect example of old-school Harlequin characters. The main male character was an overbearing tyrant, the main female character was a scared, witless, virginal miss who didn't know her own mind and was afraid of her own shadow.
When a theft was discovered of a very valuable gemstone that belonged to Filippo, it was blamed on Erica, for she was the last known person to have it in her possession. Upon discovering its location by an inspector who was a friend of Filippo's, all things pointed again at Erica.
The angst and drama of this book were unrealistic and too hyped-up. The chemistry and passion were illogical from the first moment these two met. Going from accusation to attraction almost instantly (if the characters were to be believed) just didn't make sense either. The twists and turns were mind-blowing but drab rather than attention-grabbing. This was definitely not with a five-star rating. If a romance reader were to admit to liking the book, it would be because they were a novice and had nothing better to compare to it.
Erica was in Venice to work with Signora Botelli, a jewelry store owner, where she designed, repaired, and sold jewelry. When someone brought in a piece of jewelry to sell, Erica's employer recognized it immediately as one from the famous collection owned by Conte Rosetti and made arrangements for him to retrieve it. The first encounter between Filippo and Erica did not go well, but he managed to arrange several other meetings after they had bumped into each other at a public viewing of modern jewelry. After that, Filippo continued offering invitations for the two of them to spend time together, but Erica was skittish, especially as she knew that he already had a mistress who had taken an instant dislike to her.
I didn't care for Filippo's attitude sometimes. He could be an overbearing bully when he chose to be, and sometimes he threatened to strike Erica, which was a huge red flag to me that he had violent tendencies that might get out of control from time to time. Not a great example of a romantic Hero in my opinion.
Even though Filippo had told her several times that he loved her, Erica frequently vacillated between hot and cold quite in her emotions. Filippo's friend, Claudia Medina, didn't help matters either. Some said she was his mistress, but he said she wasn't...but even Claudia said she was...and that she would be his wife instead of Erica.
This was the perfect example of old-school Harlequin characters. The main male character was an overbearing tyrant, the main female character was a scared, witless, virginal miss who didn't know her own mind and was afraid of her own shadow.
When a theft was discovered of a very valuable gemstone that belonged to Filippo, it was blamed on Erica, for she was the last known person to have it in her possession. Upon discovering its location by an inspector who was a friend of Filippo's, all things pointed again at Erica.
The angst and drama of this book were unrealistic and too hyped-up. The chemistry and passion were illogical from the first moment these two met. Going from accusation to attraction almost instantly (if the characters were to be believed) just didn't make sense either. The twists and turns were mind-blowing but drab rather than attention-grabbing. This was definitely not with a five-star rating. If a romance reader were to admit to liking the book, it would be because they were a novice and had nothing better to compare to it.
April 22, 2024
I really like this one.
The heroine's got some stick from some reviewers but I think her feelings are understandable in the circumstances. She's, young, inexperienced, from a relatively ordinary family and she's being pursued by an incredibly wealthy, handsome and titled foreigner. She doesn't think she'd fit into his lifestyle, particularly having seen the kind of women he's normally takes around.
H is unsurprisingly arrogant given his background but lovely and unlike some books where h is accused of something, he doesn't doubt her for a moment, knows that she is innocent and very cleverly proves it. Oh and the real culprit, while not ending up in jail certainly gets punished. ☺️
The heroine's got some stick from some reviewers but I think her feelings are understandable in the circumstances. She's, young, inexperienced, from a relatively ordinary family and she's being pursued by an incredibly wealthy, handsome and titled foreigner. She doesn't think she'd fit into his lifestyle, particularly having seen the kind of women he's normally takes around.
H is unsurprisingly arrogant given his background but lovely and unlike some books where h is accused of something, he doesn't doubt her for a moment, knows that she is innocent and very cleverly proves it. Oh and the real culprit, while not ending up in jail certainly gets punished. ☺️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 1, 2019
When Erica went to work in Venice she had never dreamed that she would end up by falling in love with the attractive, immensely rich Conte Filippo Rosetti.
And Filippo's close friend Claudia Medina, it soon appeared, was going to see to it that it remained only a dream!
And Filippo's close friend Claudia Medina, it soon appeared, was going to see to it that it remained only a dream!
June 3, 2020
Ok. I know this is an early 70’s novel so there is much I can overlook. But the h being completely unlikable is not one of them. Rude. Nasty. Obnoxious. Down right bitch, is not one of them.
Also, sooooooo boring. Skimmed most of it because there is so much waffle.
Also, sooooooo boring. Skimmed most of it because there is so much waffle.
January 17, 2022
3.5 stars - Received as a gift at Christmas. I've never read a Harlequin...I guess this is technically a Harlequin Presents.. book. Romance...intrigue...royalty...jewelry theft...and true love with a controlling and obsessive and rich Venetian Conte.
June 27, 2017
Dear lord these two were exhausting. Erica with her endless games and Filippo with his insecurities (which come and go as the plot requires). They deserve each other.
October 10, 2022
3.5 stars
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March 2, 2024Old books
August 19, 2015
Another sweet romance by miss. Lindsay. Both the hero and heroine were good. this is one of those rare stories in which I can't be partial towards any of them. Heroine was very sweet and hero wad obviously smitten by her after the initial misunderstanding. what a beautiful read! it definitely lightened my mood.
June 17, 2011
a good entertaining quick read. Has a nice little twist.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews