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The Italian's Ruthless Marriage Command
Taylor Adamson has just come face-to-face with the man with whom she must share custody of her orphaned nephew--the infamously arrogant Dante d'Alessandri! And he won't let Taylor out of his sight!At first Dante sees Taylor as just a nanny. But soon he realizes this ripe young beauty could fill another, more pleasurable role--in the bedroom. The ruthless Italian wants to see how far Taylor will go to keep caring for her little nephew. Dante is going to raise the stakes!
192 pages, Paperback
First published April 3, 2009
About the author
Helen Bianchin
384 books231 followersHelen Shirley was born on February 20 1939 in New Zealand, where she grew up, an only child possessed by a vivid imagination and a love for reading. She wrote stories for amusement in her early teenage years, and when she left leaving school, she took a secretarial job at a father-and-son legal firm.
At age twenty-one Helen joined a girlfriend and embarked on a working holiday in Australia, travelling via cruise ship from Auckland to Melbourne. Alas, no shipboard romance, as she spent all four days in her cabin suffering from sea-sickness! After fifteen months working in Melbourne, Helen and her friend bought a vehicle and took three months to drive the length and breadth of Australia, choosing to work in Cairns in order to fund the final leg of our journey to Sydney.
It was in Cairns that Helen met her future husband, Danilo Bianchin, an Italian immigrant from Treviso. He was a tobacco sharefarmer from the tobacco farming community of Mareeba. His English was pitiful, and her command of Italian was nil. Six months later they married, and Helen was flung into cooking for up to nine tobacco pickers, stringing tobacco, feeding 200 chickens, a few turkeys, ducks... plus killing, cleaning and cooking the same! Her knowledge of Italian improved, and there were hilarious moments in retrospect. Some of what she endured was cooking on a wood-burning stove, having no running hot water, a primitive shower and toilet facilities, washing uniforms for two soccer teams during the soccer season... floods, horrendous hailstone damage to tobacco crops, hardship, and the stillbirth of their first child. Then, to their joy, Helen's daughter, Lucia, was born. Three years later the couple returned to New Zealand, where they settled for sixteen years. During those early years, they added two sons, Angelo and Peter, to the family.
With multiple anecdotes of farm life in an Italian community to friends, the idea of writing a book occurred. A romance, set on a tobacco farm in Australia's far north, Queensland, featuring an Italian hero. Helen says, "the background was authentic, believe me!" However the hero was rich and owned the farm artistic license! It took her a year to complete a passable manuscript, typed on a portable typewriter at the dining room table. That first effort was deemed too short with insufficient detail. Helen rewrote it. This time it was considered too long with too much extraneous detail. She revised, then sent it to London. Four months later she received a telegram from Alan Boon (Mills & Boon) to say they intended to publish and a contract would be sent in the mail. It was the most wonderful news!
Helen wrote ten more books while living in New Zealand, then in 1981, her family resettled in Australia, on Queensland's Gold Coast. She has since published twenty-five more books. Today, with computer technology, the mechanics of writing are much easier. However, the writing process doesn't change. Helen says that she's having a good day if she can achieve 5 good pages, which she is likely to change, edit and rewrite the following day.
She loves creating characters, giving them life and providing a situation where their emotions are tested and love wins out. For her, the greatest praise is for a reader to say they couldn't put the book down... then Helen knows that she has achieved what she set out to do -- "create a moving enjoyable story which holds the reader entertained from beginning to end."
Helen's hobbies are tennis, table-tennis, judo, reading. She loves movies, and leads an active social life.
At age twenty-one Helen joined a girlfriend and embarked on a working holiday in Australia, travelling via cruise ship from Auckland to Melbourne. Alas, no shipboard romance, as she spent all four days in her cabin suffering from sea-sickness! After fifteen months working in Melbourne, Helen and her friend bought a vehicle and took three months to drive the length and breadth of Australia, choosing to work in Cairns in order to fund the final leg of our journey to Sydney.
It was in Cairns that Helen met her future husband, Danilo Bianchin, an Italian immigrant from Treviso. He was a tobacco sharefarmer from the tobacco farming community of Mareeba. His English was pitiful, and her command of Italian was nil. Six months later they married, and Helen was flung into cooking for up to nine tobacco pickers, stringing tobacco, feeding 200 chickens, a few turkeys, ducks... plus killing, cleaning and cooking the same! Her knowledge of Italian improved, and there were hilarious moments in retrospect. Some of what she endured was cooking on a wood-burning stove, having no running hot water, a primitive shower and toilet facilities, washing uniforms for two soccer teams during the soccer season... floods, horrendous hailstone damage to tobacco crops, hardship, and the stillbirth of their first child. Then, to their joy, Helen's daughter, Lucia, was born. Three years later the couple returned to New Zealand, where they settled for sixteen years. During those early years, they added two sons, Angelo and Peter, to the family.
With multiple anecdotes of farm life in an Italian community to friends, the idea of writing a book occurred. A romance, set on a tobacco farm in Australia's far north, Queensland, featuring an Italian hero. Helen says, "the background was authentic, believe me!" However the hero was rich and owned the farm artistic license! It took her a year to complete a passable manuscript, typed on a portable typewriter at the dining room table. That first effort was deemed too short with insufficient detail. Helen rewrote it. This time it was considered too long with too much extraneous detail. She revised, then sent it to London. Four months later she received a telegram from Alan Boon (Mills & Boon) to say they intended to publish and a contract would be sent in the mail. It was the most wonderful news!
Helen wrote ten more books while living in New Zealand, then in 1981, her family resettled in Australia, on Queensland's Gold Coast. She has since published twenty-five more books. Today, with computer technology, the mechanics of writing are much easier. However, the writing process doesn't change. Helen says that she's having a good day if she can achieve 5 good pages, which she is likely to change, edit and rewrite the following day.
She loves creating characters, giving them life and providing a situation where their emotions are tested and love wins out. For her, the greatest praise is for a reader to say they couldn't put the book down... then Helen knows that she has achieved what she set out to do -- "create a moving enjoyable story which holds the reader entertained from beginning to end."
Helen's hobbies are tennis, table-tennis, judo, reading. She loves movies, and leads an active social life.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
April 14, 2019
HB put an angsty scenario (Heroine’s sister and brother-in-law die leaving her with her three-year-old nephew while also battling trauma from assault and attempted rape.) into one of her HB showers and metaphorically cleansed away any real emotions.
How did she do this?
*Focus on the three-year-old and all the puppies and kittens he met between two locations in Australia and three locations in Italy.
*Focus on the heroine’s writing career (Even after pages of description of the heroine writing into the late hours I had no idea what she was writing or what genre. It was only when she goes to a police station for research that I can assume she’s writing a mystery/thriller)
*Focus on endless packing and unpacking from all those trips to different locations.
*A very closed-mouthed hero who rarely talks to the heroine – and whose only thoughts are how it might be a challenge to get the heroine in bed.
*Hero is physically absent most of the time.
Hey, but heroine was assaulted *again* and now hero loves her.
There was only a half page of OW and she was barely catty. *pout*
On the other hand, the nephew says “cool” and can ride a bike at three. So there’s that for fantasy world.
For diehard HB fans only.
How did she do this?
*Focus on the three-year-old and all the puppies and kittens he met between two locations in Australia and three locations in Italy.
*Focus on the heroine’s writing career (Even after pages of description of the heroine writing into the late hours I had no idea what she was writing or what genre. It was only when she goes to a police station for research that I can assume she’s writing a mystery/thriller)
*Focus on endless packing and unpacking from all those trips to different locations.
*A very closed-mouthed hero who rarely talks to the heroine – and whose only thoughts are how it might be a challenge to get the heroine in bed.
*Hero is physically absent most of the time.
Hey, but heroine was assaulted *again* and now hero loves her.
There was only a half page of OW and she was barely catty. *pout*
On the other hand, the nephew says “cool” and can ride a bike at three. So there’s that for fantasy world.
For diehard HB fans only.
June 16, 2023
Great comfort reading. The h and H had great chemistry potential but the h held back the whole length of the book. She was cold, way too involved in her work and just not ready to encompass what life had laid in her plate. Tbh she wasn’t made for being a stay at home mom or even a house wife.
The h and and H are god parents to their nephew. The boys parents have passed away in an accident and there’s a brief custody dispute. The H devises a brilliant plan where the h would move in with him and she has to agree to keep the boy.
The H was hot and assertive and totally took control of every situation. The h was slow and not very emotionally expressive. I felt she was also a little cold to the young boy. The H was like a 90 in their relationship effort. He was indulgent and attentive and a sensual lover while the h was some where zoned out on the sidelines.
While her husband was keeping her up high on a pedestal and even slaying dragons for her (he picks on a past physical violence incident with the h and pursues the perpetrator), the h was indifferent because he hadn’t said the 3 magic words.
Why do writers insist on this frivolous utterance before things are set in stone. I felt this was a really good man trying his best to make this marriage blossom while the wife sat back uninvolved and unloving.
Could’ve been better with better suited MCs. But still a pleasurable read as most times from HB.
The h and and H are god parents to their nephew. The boys parents have passed away in an accident and there’s a brief custody dispute. The H devises a brilliant plan where the h would move in with him and she has to agree to keep the boy.
The H was hot and assertive and totally took control of every situation. The h was slow and not very emotionally expressive. I felt she was also a little cold to the young boy. The H was like a 90 in their relationship effort. He was indulgent and attentive and a sensual lover while the h was some where zoned out on the sidelines.
While her husband was keeping her up high on a pedestal and even slaying dragons for her (he picks on a past physical violence incident with the h and pursues the perpetrator), the h was indifferent because he hadn’t said the 3 magic words.
Why do writers insist on this frivolous utterance before things are set in stone. I felt this was a really good man trying his best to make this marriage blossom while the wife sat back uninvolved and unloving.
Could’ve been better with better suited MCs. But still a pleasurable read as most times from HB.
June 12, 2017
Just ok. H and h share joint custody of their nephew which leads to a marriage of convenience. Minor OW craziness as compared to her other books. Heroine survives an attack which leads H into declaring himself.
May 31, 2018
Don't I like the descriptions in certain M&B books:
Dante, what can I say about him, such a genteel character - the little gestures, the gentle kisses, the hand-holding - it all warmed me to him. Taylor, who was abused, and still has nightmares from the incident, learns to finds a soulmate in Dante. And from where she comes, nothing happens between them until half the book is gone by, though there is a sizzling chemistry to keep the readers hooked!
And Ben, their nephew, isn't he the most well-behaved/adorable kid ever!
And the title is so not okay, because Dante is so, so, so caring, not even once he displays any ruthless streak; sure, it can be called persuasive, but definitely not ruthless.
No..., I so want an epilogue, the story reads incomplete otherwise.
The green flecks in her hazel eyes became more evident, and reminded Dante of the lush green foliage protecting the succulent grapes ripening in his Tuscan vineyard.
Dante, what can I say about him, such a genteel character - the little gestures, the gentle kisses, the hand-holding - it all warmed me to him. Taylor, who was abused, and still has nightmares from the incident, learns to finds a soulmate in Dante. And from where she comes, nothing happens between them until half the book is gone by, though there is a sizzling chemistry to keep the readers hooked!
And Ben, their nephew, isn't he the most well-behaved/adorable kid ever!
And the title is so not okay, because Dante is so, so, so caring, not even once he displays any ruthless streak; sure, it can be called persuasive, but definitely not ruthless.
No..., I so want an epilogue, the story reads incomplete otherwise.
August 23, 2019
Protagonistas: Dante & Taylor
Profesiones: Empresario & Escritora
Paises: Italia & Australia
Profesiones: Empresario & Escritora
Paises: Italia & Australia
May 5, 2014
There is really nothing special to say about this story, except ... boring!
April 13, 2019
I did not like this one that much. It was the narrative that bored me, I think. There is an essence of a good story in here, it just didn't capture me.
I did not like how the author wrote things, her style. A lot of telling going on, etc.
I also feel like there was some false advertisement going on.
Because of this, I ended up skimming the last few chapters.
The Italian's Ruthless Marriage Command
My issue: "ruthless" and "marriage command"
It wan't. He wasn't.
He mentioned, during the meeting with the lawyer in the beginning of the book, taking Ben to Italy and basically cutting her out of his life (or him having in for 1/2 year, her the other). But he also said/implied that he threw that out there so she'd see the logic in his lets-live-together and co-raise Ben suggestion. I do not believe he had any real intention to cut her out of Ben's life. He knew how important she was to Ben.
Also, marriage was not even mentioned until they went to Italy and there was some misunderstandings on the part of others (his Italian family). He did not correct the assumption (mentioned in the newspapers and gossip). He did not bring marriage up to her as a condition of staying in Ben's life, it wasn't forced upon her. It was a logical progression of things and made sense. She resisted it at first. But he never said anything like marry me or else get hell out of Ben's life. That would have been "ruthless."
Blurb: "At first Dante sees Taylor as just a nanny. "
I disagree with this. I feel like he understood that she was a mother figure for Ben and that she loved Ben as her own. He understood the bond they had and I don't feel like he ever saw her as merely a nanny or lesser role. Sure he made some decisions without her input, but he didn't act like she didn't have a say in Ben's upbringing.
I have read other books with this same theme and in those, yes, the hero sees the heroine as a nanny and basically expendable. In one - I forget the title - he was surprised that the child she cared for for like 5 years, she'd love like her own. Like what a douche - no shit she'd love her niece/nephew she raised for the child's whole life, as her own. In those books, the hero does think and try to separate heroine and child. Those heroes would be "ruthless." Dante was not like that.
Dante was not a ruthless alpha asshole. He was actually level-leaded and agreeable.
He knew something was off her her - that something bad happened to her in the past and did not act like a lusty prick on her apart from kissing and such. So he had restraint and understanding of her situation and feelings, more so than some other Presents/Modern heroes exhibit! It was more slow burn.... They were attracted to each other, but it took time for things to be acted upon for real.
Also, there is no way that Ben was acting like a 3.5 year old child. He was too smart. Too wordy. It just didn't ring true to a kid that age. I felt he was more like a 4.5-6 year old.
I did not like how the author wrote things, her style. A lot of telling going on, etc.
I also feel like there was some false advertisement going on.
Because of this, I ended up skimming the last few chapters.
The Italian's Ruthless Marriage Command
My issue: "ruthless" and "marriage command"
It wan't. He wasn't.
He mentioned, during the meeting with the lawyer in the beginning of the book, taking Ben to Italy and basically cutting her out of his life (or him having in for 1/2 year, her the other). But he also said/implied that he threw that out there so she'd see the logic in his lets-live-together and co-raise Ben suggestion. I do not believe he had any real intention to cut her out of Ben's life. He knew how important she was to Ben.
Also, marriage was not even mentioned until they went to Italy and there was some misunderstandings on the part of others (his Italian family). He did not correct the assumption (mentioned in the newspapers and gossip). He did not bring marriage up to her as a condition of staying in Ben's life, it wasn't forced upon her. It was a logical progression of things and made sense. She resisted it at first. But he never said anything like marry me or else get hell out of Ben's life. That would have been "ruthless."
Blurb: "At first Dante sees Taylor as just a nanny. "
I disagree with this. I feel like he understood that she was a mother figure for Ben and that she loved Ben as her own. He understood the bond they had and I don't feel like he ever saw her as merely a nanny or lesser role. Sure he made some decisions without her input, but he didn't act like she didn't have a say in Ben's upbringing.
I have read other books with this same theme and in those, yes, the hero sees the heroine as a nanny and basically expendable. In one - I forget the title - he was surprised that the child she cared for for like 5 years, she'd love like her own. Like what a douche - no shit she'd love her niece/nephew she raised for the child's whole life, as her own. In those books, the hero does think and try to separate heroine and child. Those heroes would be "ruthless." Dante was not like that.
Dante was not a ruthless alpha asshole. He was actually level-leaded and agreeable.
He knew something was off her her - that something bad happened to her in the past and did not act like a lusty prick on her apart from kissing and such. So he had restraint and understanding of her situation and feelings, more so than some other Presents/Modern heroes exhibit! It was more slow burn.... They were attracted to each other, but it took time for things to be acted upon for real.
Also, there is no way that Ben was acting like a 3.5 year old child. He was too smart. Too wordy. It just didn't ring true to a kid that age. I felt he was more like a 4.5-6 year old.
May 3, 2020
The Italian's Ruthless Marriage Command
They had a connection between them. His brother was married to her sister. The married couple were killed and their son was given into care of his god parents, his aunt and uncle. He is able to get her married for the same of their nephew. Will the chemistry between them ignite or sizzle?
They had a connection between them. His brother was married to her sister. The married couple were killed and their son was given into care of his god parents, his aunt and uncle. He is able to get her married for the same of their nephew. Will the chemistry between them ignite or sizzle?
January 18, 2021
Did not like it. I didn't feel The connection between the hero and heroine at all. Felt like hero was pursuing an unwilling women and she only agreed to marry because of nephew. I get she was attracted to hero but she was seemed not really into him unless he was kissing her, then always reverted to being distant. Np.
February 11, 2020
Hmm le hubiera puesto un mayor puntaje de no ser por el hecho de que las últimas escenas fueron muy Rápidas y con espacios que dejan mucho que decir, no hubo una buena narrativa a partir de la boda se sintió como "ya quiero acabar esto así que escribiré como sea"
November 22, 2024
I do enjoy a book that is not filled with a lot of arguing and existence hanging in the back ground trying to cause trouble for that reason alone I would recommend this book it was relaxing and enjoyable
May 31, 2025
Excepttional
Started a little slow, but as it proceeded , it became more difficult to put down. Became more steamy and more in-depth. Would suggest it to anyone who likes it a LITTLE STEAMY, with a good story line.
Started a little slow, but as it proceeded , it became more difficult to put down. Became more steamy and more in-depth. Would suggest it to anyone who likes it a LITTLE STEAMY, with a good story line.
February 1, 2026
A Kindle Unlimited read
I borrowed this book from Kindle Unlimited. I am voluntarily reviewing this book. These books are always a quick interesting read. Maybe not realistic but I enjoy the views of different countries. This is a sweet story things of sadness. 3.5 stars
I borrowed this book from Kindle Unlimited. I am voluntarily reviewing this book. These books are always a quick interesting read. Maybe not realistic but I enjoy the views of different countries. This is a sweet story things of sadness. 3.5 stars
January 12, 2018
Despite the title, the book was sensitively romantic.
August 26, 2019
Leitura básica de tarde de praia...
September 22, 2019
Great read!
There was never a dull moment with this story. I could not stop reading it. It was over way too quickly.
There was never a dull moment with this story. I could not stop reading it. It was over way too quickly.
November 28, 2022
Boring. If angst is your jam; you'll be disappointed.
April 11, 2026
What a great storyline. A love that started to grow only to be shattered by an event, then their second chance comes, but only after tragedy. Loved it.
February 24, 2013
I was a little bit wary of this book, because of the word "ruthless" in the title. Sorry, but the title doesn't sound very romantic. Still, good romance novels sometimes have very bad titles, so I decided to give this one a shot. For such a skinny book, it took me forever to get through - I just couldn't settle down and enjoy it.
First, I didn't really like the writing. I can't quite say what it was about Bianchin's writing that put me off, but there were areas that felt like they could have been better worded or just cut out altogether. I kept getting the urge to mark annoying passages, an urge that made it hard to get into the story and try to like the characters. For instance, here's a quote from page 135: "Sex, she viewed logically, then qualified...very good sex, was one of nature's aphrodisiacs." An aphrodisiac is something that increases sexual desire, so Taylor is basically thinking here that sex is one of nature's ways of increasing sexual desire. Was this sentence really necessary? Or was it maybe meant to show that sex decreased Taylor's brain cells, making her think stupid things?
Second, I disliked Dante - it's never a good thing when I'm reading a romance novel and don't like the hero. It wasn't until after Taylor and Dante were married that I was able to think of Dante as more than just an overbearing jerk - he saw how much his presence upset Taylor at times, did he really have skulk around her so much? The only reason I didn't think of him as a total monster was because he didn't force himself on her, at least not with sex, although he did kiss her without it being truly clear that she wanted and was ready for him to kiss her.
I should be fair, though: I didn't really like Taylor, either. I don't know what it was like for Ben, living with her, but to me she seemed moody, damaged, and capable of sucking the fun and life out of everything. Although I understood why she was like that, what with the recent death of people she cared about and the attack she survived (which I initially thought involved rape), understanding didn't translate into liking. After a while, I had enough of her frightened/cornered animal reaction to Dante and her insistence that only she knew what was truly right for Ben.
I never really ended up liking Taylor, although I tended to dislike Dante more than I disliked her - I just couldn't stand how overbearing he behaved around her. Their marriage, the joining of two characters I didn't really like, wasn't much fun either. While Taylor and Dante are on their honeymoon, doing a little shopping, Taylor refuses to let Dante pay for things she wants to buy (even though there's not a peep out of her when he pays for their room, their room service, and their food). Dante's thoughts on this: "Any other woman of his acquaintance would expect him to pick up the tab for anything that took her whim...most often angle prettily for an expensive item" (p. 137). I found Taylor's spotty adherence to her "I'll pay for myself" rule somewhat annoying, but I really hated this thought of Dante's, because I felt it showed that he still thought of Taylor in the same way as all the arm candy he used to date and sleep with.
Supposedly, Taylor grows more comfortable with Dante, and this is apparently exemplified in her reaction to seeing her attacker again. All Taylor knew was that Dante...did something to or with the guy - she didn't know if he just talked to him, or if he beat him up. And yet, she feels safe, because Dante makes her feel safe. Even though he spent a good chunk of the book skulking around her and frightening her. Right.
Overall, there was just too much "too little" going on - too little of the book was from Dante's perspective, making it even harder to like him and connect with him emotionally than it already was. What little of the book was from Dante's perspective was too shallow, making him seem like a flatter, less fleshed out character than Taylor. The whole thing with "Dante's many former lovers" could have been fun, but, since it was so brief and formulaic, it just came across as cliched. Even if Bianchin had done that part better, it would probably have been too little, too late.
I felt that the book got a bit better as it progressed, but that, unfortunately, isn't saying much. This is not going on my "keeper" pile.
(Original review, with read-alikes, posted on A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions.)
First, I didn't really like the writing. I can't quite say what it was about Bianchin's writing that put me off, but there were areas that felt like they could have been better worded or just cut out altogether. I kept getting the urge to mark annoying passages, an urge that made it hard to get into the story and try to like the characters. For instance, here's a quote from page 135: "Sex, she viewed logically, then qualified...very good sex, was one of nature's aphrodisiacs." An aphrodisiac is something that increases sexual desire, so Taylor is basically thinking here that sex is one of nature's ways of increasing sexual desire. Was this sentence really necessary? Or was it maybe meant to show that sex decreased Taylor's brain cells, making her think stupid things?
Second, I disliked Dante - it's never a good thing when I'm reading a romance novel and don't like the hero. It wasn't until after Taylor and Dante were married that I was able to think of Dante as more than just an overbearing jerk - he saw how much his presence upset Taylor at times, did he really have skulk around her so much? The only reason I didn't think of him as a total monster was because he didn't force himself on her, at least not with sex, although he did kiss her without it being truly clear that she wanted and was ready for him to kiss her.
I should be fair, though: I didn't really like Taylor, either. I don't know what it was like for Ben, living with her, but to me she seemed moody, damaged, and capable of sucking the fun and life out of everything. Although I understood why she was like that, what with the recent death of people she cared about and the attack she survived (which I initially thought involved rape), understanding didn't translate into liking. After a while, I had enough of her frightened/cornered animal reaction to Dante and her insistence that only she knew what was truly right for Ben.
I never really ended up liking Taylor, although I tended to dislike Dante more than I disliked her - I just couldn't stand how overbearing he behaved around her. Their marriage, the joining of two characters I didn't really like, wasn't much fun either. While Taylor and Dante are on their honeymoon, doing a little shopping, Taylor refuses to let Dante pay for things she wants to buy (even though there's not a peep out of her when he pays for their room, their room service, and their food). Dante's thoughts on this: "Any other woman of his acquaintance would expect him to pick up the tab for anything that took her whim...most often angle prettily for an expensive item" (p. 137). I found Taylor's spotty adherence to her "I'll pay for myself" rule somewhat annoying, but I really hated this thought of Dante's, because I felt it showed that he still thought of Taylor in the same way as all the arm candy he used to date and sleep with.
Supposedly, Taylor grows more comfortable with Dante, and this is apparently exemplified in her reaction to seeing her attacker again. All Taylor knew was that Dante...did something to or with the guy - she didn't know if he just talked to him, or if he beat him up. And yet, she feels safe, because Dante makes her feel safe. Even though he spent a good chunk of the book skulking around her and frightening her. Right.
Overall, there was just too much "too little" going on - too little of the book was from Dante's perspective, making it even harder to like him and connect with him emotionally than it already was. What little of the book was from Dante's perspective was too shallow, making him seem like a flatter, less fleshed out character than Taylor. The whole thing with "Dante's many former lovers" could have been fun, but, since it was so brief and formulaic, it just came across as cliched. Even if Bianchin had done that part better, it would probably have been too little, too late.
I felt that the book got a bit better as it progressed, but that, unfortunately, isn't saying much. This is not going on my "keeper" pile.
(Original review, with read-alikes, posted on A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions.)
November 10, 2014
(sex, swearing in Italian) I only picked this book because it began with an "I". I suppose the plot was okay and but it was written with omniscience. I don't like books that take this view because they keep flipping from the head of the hero to the head of the heroine without a break. In this one, it made it difficult to follow. Then, there was the fact that the hero could literally read the mind of the heroine. Seriously, she was either more expressive than an open book or the hero had mental telepathy. Then there was the occasional flip in time,
April 17, 2015
Poor character development, weak plot (if any), if anything this was a list of locations, descriptions of the alpha-hero and a clinical description of going from Sydney to Italy, from the kitchen to the library and so on. There are no major conflicts and the heroine is spineless - she doesn't draw any boundaries though she seems to want to and keeps thinking about them. I found the style outdated for today's contemporary woman who is looking for stronger heroines and independent types. This didn't come across in the character's actions, though it was implied. In fact the title is mis-leading because the hero isn't ruthless at all - that would imply resistance from the heroine - but she just falls into his plans without any real voiced complaint.
July 14, 2015
Hacia bastante que no le daba tantas estrellas a una novela de Harlequin, será porque no me han gustado mucho que digamos las de años anteriores.
De esta todo estuvo maravilloso y de nuevo recordé a mi hombre favorito de carne y hueso (que se me hace que aquí mismo me respondo al cuestionamiento de arriba). Aunque sí me hizo muchísima más falta tener la interacción y pensamientos de Dante en la historia.
Lo único que si me pareció un poco fuera de lugar, fue la mentalidad que tiene Ben...No tengo ni idea de como son los niños a la edad de 3 años, pero no me parece que sean así como él, sus expresiones y de más, quizás por allá los niños sí crecen así de rápido, pero bueno, supongo que algún día lo sabré.
Una historia muy recomendable para pasar una tarde agradable y entretenida.
De esta todo estuvo maravilloso y de nuevo recordé a mi hombre favorito de carne y hueso (que se me hace que aquí mismo me respondo al cuestionamiento de arriba). Aunque sí me hizo muchísima más falta tener la interacción y pensamientos de Dante en la historia.
Lo único que si me pareció un poco fuera de lugar, fue la mentalidad que tiene Ben...No tengo ni idea de como son los niños a la edad de 3 años, pero no me parece que sean así como él, sus expresiones y de más, quizás por allá los niños sí crecen así de rápido, pero bueno, supongo que algún día lo sabré.
Una historia muy recomendable para pasar una tarde agradable y entretenida.
October 2, 2012
Anla Beni Helen Bianchin
Bayılıyorum bu yazara ne yazsa okurum o derece seviyorum...Anla Beni çok sevdim konusunu...Romandaki kahramanların kardeşleri birbiri ile evilik idi...Üçbuçuk yaşında dünya tatlısı çocukları vardı..Fakat bu çocuk birden bire bir trafik kazası sonucunda anne ve babasız kaldı...Teyze Taylor Admson amca Dante d'Alessandri bu dünya tatlısı çocuğun velayetini almak için bir birleri ile savaşacaklar mıydı? Yoksa anlaşacaklar mıydı?..Aralarındaki çekim onları nereye götürecekti...Tavsiye ederim....
Bayılıyorum bu yazara ne yazsa okurum o derece seviyorum...Anla Beni çok sevdim konusunu...Romandaki kahramanların kardeşleri birbiri ile evilik idi...Üçbuçuk yaşında dünya tatlısı çocukları vardı..Fakat bu çocuk birden bire bir trafik kazası sonucunda anne ve babasız kaldı...Teyze Taylor Admson amca Dante d'Alessandri bu dünya tatlısı çocuğun velayetini almak için bir birleri ile savaşacaklar mıydı? Yoksa anlaşacaklar mıydı?..Aralarındaki çekim onları nereye götürecekti...Tavsiye ederim....
April 11, 2011
Bland. MOC. nothing remarkable that even that trivial incident with the blade assault stood out (if you speed read, you'd miss that part). No angst.
January 27, 2012
Sometimes it is good to read a quiet, less angst story. I enjoyed the story where the H is not a jerk and the h is not overreacting with her emotions.
June 9, 2021
Dante d'Alessandri was intrigued by Taylor Adamson when they met at the wedding of their respective siblings. Now upon the siblings death they have joint custody of their nephew.
September 28, 2014
The title of this book is a bit misleading. The marriage proposal wasn't a demand and was not ruthless.
January 2, 2019
Nice read but not that great.
I liked their romance and it was slow building but not burning passionate flames
I liked their romance and it was slow building but not burning passionate flames
August 25, 2014
Is he supposed to be commanding and irresistible, because all he is is a control freak. boo.
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