The Italian's Ruthless Seduction

Rich, Ruthless and Renowned #1

by Miranda Lee, Maggie Cox

The Italian’s Ruthless Seduction What his billions can’t buy… If Sergio Morelli wants something, he takes it. Only he never allowed himself to have his stunning stepsister Bella Cameron, no matter how much she drove him wild with desire. Now, as Bella seeks refuge at their secluded family home, Sergio decides it’s finally time to quench the fire. But their one night together only in flames their passion – and now he wants more! Required to Wear the Tycoon’s Ring
A pleasurable proposition! Seth Broden needs one deal to fulfill his ambitions – but to close it he must have a wife! After meeting pretty but penniless Imogen, Seth proposes a mutually beneficial arrangement… Imogen vowed to save herself for her wedding night – but she never expected to be walking down the aisle towards Seth! Will Imogen succumb to the tycoon’s charm and be his wife in more than name only?

Genres: Harlequin, Harlequin Presents, Romance, Contemporary Romance, Audiobook, Fiction

384 pages, Paperback

First published February 16, 2016

About the author

Maureen Mary was born on 1945 at Port Macquarie, a popular seaside town on the Mid-North Coast of New South Wales, Australia, and is the youngest of four children. Her sister was the novelist Wendy Brennan (Emma Darcy). Her father was a country school teacher and brilliant sportsman. Her mother was a talented dressmaker. When Miranda was ten, her father was transferred to Gosford, another coastal town in the countryside, much closer to Sydney. After leaving her convent school, she briefly studied the cello before moving to Sydney, where she embraced the emerging world of computers. Her career as a programmer ended after she married, had three daughters and bought a small acreage in a semi-rural community. Following this, she attempted greyhound training, as well as horse and goat breeding, but was left dissatisfied.

Miranda yearned to find a creative career from which she could earn money. When her sister suggested writing romances, it seemed like a good idea. She could do it at home, and it might even be fun! It took a decade of trial and error before her first romance, After the Affair, was accepted and published. At that time, Miranda, her husband Tony, and her three daughters had moved back to the Central Coast, where they could enjoy the sun and the surf lifestyle once again. Not long into her writing career, Miranda committed herself to writing a six-book series entitled, The Hearts of Fire, with a deadline of just nine short months. Bravely, her husband left his executive position to stay home and support Miranda’s writing career. He learned to cook and to clean, two invaluable household skills. Numerous successful stories followed, each embodying Miranda’s trademark style: pacy and sexy rhythms; passionate, real-life characters; and enduring, memorable story lines. She has one credo when writing romances: Don’t bore the reader! Millions of fans world-wide agree she never does.

Miranda was the sister of the late author, Emma Darcy.

Reviews

[Alex is The Romance Fox · Rating 3 out of 5]

2,5 stars

I don’t often read books by this author but decided …why not!!!
The Italian’s Ruthless Seduction by Miranda Lee was not an exciting story for me.

Sergio Mancini has always wanted his stepsister, Bella but had never given in to his feelings because he thought her to be a gold digger like her mother, who had married his father for money and left him broken-hearted.

When Bella asks Sergio to help her escape the paparazzi…..she’s since become a famous actress/singer…..she goes to his family home in Lake Como.

Sergio decides that this time he will give in to his attraction to Bella.
I kind of found Bella rather likeable……even though she has gone through a lot of guys in her life……….hey, wait, I am not a prude……..but I totally understand her falling for Sergio………after all, he’s the first man to ever give her an O……..!! And yes, I liked Sergio too!!!

This wasn’t exactly an awful book………..it was more like just OK….certainly not one that I will ever reread again.

[🐝 Shaz 🐝 · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars 🌟
This book was just okay, nothing exciting about it. Most of the books was about him trying to get her into his bed and her wanting to be in it. 💤

[seton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Series: first of a trilogy about three college friends
Sensuality: PG-13

35 yr old Italian billionaire finally gets his hands on his 30 yr old ex-stepsister and has a 2 week affair. Nothing really to say about it. Lots of sex but still meh.

[Jacqueline J · Rating 3 out of 5]

So another newer author. This one did fall into the trap of the book taking place over just a few days with really long scenes. I don't mind a non virgin HP heroine but if you do then this one is really going to push some buttons. There was a lot of sex here. I felt like maybe this would have fit better into the Blaze line? I would rather have had more story and less explicit sex. I'm not a prude but I can read about sex in other books. That's not why I read Harlequin Presents. I want some angst, some hero asshatery, some makeovers and Bugattis , an evil Other Woman or interfering Mother-in-law and what not. Too much sex doesn't leave enough room for all that other more important stuff;)

These 2 had known each other about 15 years in the past but that still makes them virtually strangers. So the fast pace of the book was a little forces. The hero at least had always kind of wanted her but not enough to go after her when she got old enough. Still pretty readable for all that.

[L H · Rating 2 out of 5]

there was nothing ruthless about this seduction...if you can call it that!
the heroine basically fill in love with the guy who gave her her first "O"....even though she tried with few guys before.....never found her true love until she found her O
as for the hero? he's too sweet to be anything near ruthless....And he's been basically in love with the heroine since she was 16 and he 21....blaaa

[MJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars
Bella is a singer/actress who heads to Lake Como to her stepbrother Sergio's villa to get some much needed R&R. These two spent a few years as step-siblings but have not stayed in touch during the past decade. This makes their romantic relationship much less creepy. Sergio has been in love/lust with Bella for years and when he gets to chance to pursue her, he goes after her 110%. I like books where the man is bitten by the love bug first and Sergio pined for Bella from afar and for years. He followed her career and her love life closely without being a stalker about it. He disliked Bella's mom for divorcing his dad and using him for his money but he didn't hold it against Bella or blame her for her mom's actions. His seduction of her wasn't very ruthless but it was definitely well thought out and I can't blame the guy. He didn't want to lose his girl so he had to ham up the bad boy image he thought she liked.

I like that Bella was a nice person with her own singing and songwriting career. I also liked that she had boyfriends/lovers in her past. She is thirty years old after all. Unfortunately, we still fall into the HP trope of heroines not enjoying sex/having an orgasm until they meet their HP H but it's some progress, I guess. The sex scenes between Bella and Sergio are passionate and hot. Like I said, he went after her with A+ effort.

[Debora · Rating 5 out of 5]

Davvero molto bello, lei era la sua sorellastra, infatti la madre aveva sposato per soldi suo padre e lo aveva poi lasciato quando lei aveva cominciato a diventare famosa, lui è andato a vivere in Inghilterra per frequentare Oxford e con due suoi amici è riuscito a diventare milionario prima dei 35 anni, suo padre ha ereditato un'azienda di pelletteria che purtroppo non è riuscito a portare avanti e naviga in cattive acque così deve tornare a Milano per sistemare la cosa, dopo anni in cui non si vedevano e lei è diventata molto famosa lo chiama per farsi affittare la sua villa di Como, ma visto che fin da quando lei aveva 16 anni la vuole decide anche lui di andare lì per sedurla.

[Mattie · Rating 1 out of 5]

It wasn't awful but didn't love it, was kind of boring. I did like that the heroine wasn't hung up on the hero for years (hero was hung up on her for 14 years, but it didn't stop him from sleeping with tons of other women). Np.

[Eeeps :) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked this. I don't know, I love romances where one of the leads has been in love with the other one for ages. I was kind of frustrated by neither character having the bravery to admit their feelings and the last minute dramatic misunderstanding, but the ending made up for it.

[The Dragon Den Book Blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got introduced to the romance world reading the graphic novel of this book and went into the actual book itself eventually. I was originally just into young adult and popular fictional reads, but this was an opening to a door that has now led me to the romance reader I am.

[Jenin · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

[Lynn Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of her best for me and certainly the better of the 3 books in this Rich, Ruthless and Renowned series

[TINA WILLIAMS · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just finished this audiobook and I really loved it. It was so good.

[Romance · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s ok. The next book is much better.

[Aly.books_ · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 ⭐️

[Mudpie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did not like Sergio in the beginning because he had dishonourable intentions and a nefarious purpose in letting Bella stay at his Lake Como villa. However things changed and he realised his feelings for Bella went deeper and so did Bella. However both were wondering how the other felt since they supposedly agreed to be "Friends with Benefits" only (cue Mila Kunis-Justin Timberlake movie and Mila's FWB start to her real life relationship with Ashton Kutcher! )

I liked Sergio's friendships with Alex and Jeremy and Miranda Lee does male friends well. I liked her previous Aussie trilogy with three male friends very much! Likewise I enjoyed the end where The Misunderstanding was resolved quickly thanks to the quirky and cute housekeeper Maria. However the part when Bella revealed to Sergio how he was the best lover for her ever...that part felt tacky. I feel it kind of cheapened their love with talk of sex as though that's what makes Bella realise she loves him. The author tried to make it seem right by giving them a back story of step siblings taboo etc. but no way you can avoid saying they had instalust. The first time when Bella saw Sergio at the villa was damn funny! I had a feeling he was posturing to show off his hot bod and true enough you do read from his point of view that THAT was his intention to get her not to see him as an older step-brother haha...

So I was glad after instalust they did fall in love "slowly" (2 weeks is eternity in romanceland) and were open to idea of commitment.

[Harlequin Books]

"Lee’s latest is packed with skillful characterization and sizzling sexual chemistry. Sergio is particularly well depicted in his feelings for Bella and his desire to have her at any cost" (4 stars @ RT Book Reviews).

Miniseries: Rich, Ruthless and Renowned

[Harlequin Books]

received 4 stars @ RT Book Reviews
Miniseries: Rich, Ruthless and Renowned

[Geraldine Sadiku · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read UK paperback version, excellent read

[Helena Cooper · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book wasn't really for me. I didn't really connect to either of the main characters and their internal monologues were repetitive and annoying.

[L · Rating 1 out of 5]

Meh. Bland.
Nothing ruthless about it.

[Lisa (Remarkablylisa) · Rating 1 out of 5]

Omg this book was so boring. DNF at 50%

[Annie Burrows · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great start to a trilogy about billionaire bachelor mates. Looking forward to next in series.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of a trilogy. Liked the characters. Ms Lee never disappoints.

[Vikki Andrews]

Good