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A Son Hidden from the Sicilian
In this secret-heir romance by Lorraine Hall, the tycoon is about to discover his summer fling had consequences!
Her secret is out…
and now he wants his heir!
Two years after a scorching summer with Brianna Andersen, Lorenzo Parisi discovers the son she’s hidden from him. And the world he’s carefully controlled since his volatile childhood implodes…
It wasn’t until she discovered she was pregnant that Brianna learned of Lorenzo’s billions and his notorious reputation. Wary of his power, she vowed to protect her baby at any cost. But now the Sicilian is back and determined to prove himself as a father. As their blazing chemistry reignites, Brianna must admit the real risk is to her heart…
From Harlequin Escape to exotic locations where passion knows no bounds.
Her secret is out…
and now he wants his heir!
Two years after a scorching summer with Brianna Andersen, Lorenzo Parisi discovers the son she’s hidden from him. And the world he’s carefully controlled since his volatile childhood implodes…
It wasn’t until she discovered she was pregnant that Brianna learned of Lorenzo’s billions and his notorious reputation. Wary of his power, she vowed to protect her baby at any cost. But now the Sicilian is back and determined to prove himself as a father. As their blazing chemistry reignites, Brianna must admit the real risk is to her heart…
From Harlequin Escape to exotic locations where passion knows no bounds.
Kindle Edition
Published August 1, 2023
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24 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
not-interested
August 24, 2023DNF! I don’t want to read about manwhore Hs who had lots of OWs after leaving h due to their commitment phobia.
March 20, 2024
Brianna & Lorenzo
So this is a boiler plate, “MMC has mommy/daddy issues and so “refuses” to “love” a significant other, and so spends the majority of the book keeping the FMC at arms length” story.
The FMC wasn’t much more inspiring. Lady was abandoned by Lorenzo without warning. Decided not to inform him she was pregnant, and then years later, goes to a public event in his home town, risking running into him, as if the only place in the world she could further her career was that place.
Lorenzo blows hot and cold. No one can match Brianna, but they can’t be together. Brianna has no spine. Lorenzo does nothing but treat her shabbily and offer her crumbs, and she keeps coming back for more. Oh, sure, she tells him they have to stop fooling around, or that she’s returning to the US, or that she’s not going to have a marriage of convenience with him….but rather than follow through, she keeps returning for another round of “how can Lorenzo disappoint me this time?”
Particular low points were the one time the couple has sex, which was quasi-anonymous, lacking in intimacy even for our douchey male protagonist, and which ends with the FMC in tears. How romantic. IMO, if the FMC is going to have bad sex, the author has to remedy that with a positive scene later. But that never happened.
Oh, and that scene was preceded by the MMC telling the FMC he was going to marry, but that it couldn’t be her, and showing up to her event with a hot date.
I don’t mind OW plot lines. But the MMC deliberately and repeatedly acting without regard for the FMC’s feelings, all the while supposedly “loving” her…that just doesn’t work. “When someone show you who they are, believe them.”
The FMC should have given up on him, found someone else to be happy with, and if he really loved her, let him live out his life pining in regret, having to navigate his co-parenting relationship watching “the one who got away” be happy with someone else. It’s kind of sad when that kind of an ending seems preferable to the HEA we got.
So this is a boiler plate, “MMC has mommy/daddy issues and so “refuses” to “love” a significant other, and so spends the majority of the book keeping the FMC at arms length” story.
The FMC wasn’t much more inspiring. Lady was abandoned by Lorenzo without warning. Decided not to inform him she was pregnant, and then years later, goes to a public event in his home town, risking running into him, as if the only place in the world she could further her career was that place.
Lorenzo blows hot and cold. No one can match Brianna, but they can’t be together. Brianna has no spine. Lorenzo does nothing but treat her shabbily and offer her crumbs, and she keeps coming back for more. Oh, sure, she tells him they have to stop fooling around, or that she’s returning to the US, or that she’s not going to have a marriage of convenience with him….but rather than follow through, she keeps returning for another round of “how can Lorenzo disappoint me this time?”
Particular low points were the one time the couple has sex, which was quasi-anonymous, lacking in intimacy even for our douchey male protagonist, and which ends with the FMC in tears. How romantic. IMO, if the FMC is going to have bad sex, the author has to remedy that with a positive scene later. But that never happened.
Oh, and that scene was preceded by the MMC telling the FMC he was going to marry, but that it couldn’t be her, and showing up to her event with a hot date.
I don’t mind OW plot lines. But the MMC deliberately and repeatedly acting without regard for the FMC’s feelings, all the while supposedly “loving” her…that just doesn’t work. “When someone show you who they are, believe them.”
The FMC should have given up on him, found someone else to be happy with, and if he really loved her, let him live out his life pining in regret, having to navigate his co-parenting relationship watching “the one who got away” be happy with someone else. It’s kind of sad when that kind of an ending seems preferable to the HEA we got.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 26, 2023
An okay read
This was an okay book, the h and H met 2 years earlier, had a brief affair and he abruptly left. She comes to Rome to display her art and he comes to see her again, wanting to rekindle the affair. He finds out about his son and then everything falls apart. The plot is all over the place, the h is so weak and whiny, she talks about independence and being strong but every time he touches her they have sex. When the H brings a date to her art show, she has sex with him. The man tells her he is going to marry an appropriate wife and she falls apart. The H is bossy, arrogant and it’s hard to like him. The plot and characters could have been better developed. Sometimes just rambling thoughts by both characters. The epilogue was ok.
This was an okay book, the h and H met 2 years earlier, had a brief affair and he abruptly left. She comes to Rome to display her art and he comes to see her again, wanting to rekindle the affair. He finds out about his son and then everything falls apart. The plot is all over the place, the h is so weak and whiny, she talks about independence and being strong but every time he touches her they have sex. When the H brings a date to her art show, she has sex with him. The man tells her he is going to marry an appropriate wife and she falls apart. The H is bossy, arrogant and it’s hard to like him. The plot and characters could have been better developed. Sometimes just rambling thoughts by both characters. The epilogue was ok.
December 21, 2023
ugh
I skim read this. What drivel. One knows harlequin is light reading but this one suspended all belief. Don’t bother
I skim read this. What drivel. One knows harlequin is light reading but this one suspended all belief. Don’t bother
January 12, 2024
I think I need to take a break from these. It may not be the books' fault, it may be mine. The ending felt a little rushed and unresolved.
August 7, 2025
I don't know why I gave this 5 stars. I blame it on the Kindle.
Basic plot is that H and h had a torrid love affair after meeting in Italy, but H abandoned h. Just left.
Because his parents were horrible and he doesn't believe in love.
h, of course, is preggers, and tries to figure out how to reach him, but finds out that H lied to her. He was just a businessman, but a CEO, and that he's been accused of being a ruthless businessman, including hurting children.
So she kept her son a secret. Until, of course, she becomes a famous artist and has to return to the city for an art show. H shows up to see if the spark is still there, is a jerk, and she turns him down.
THEN he finds out about the son and freaks out. Forces h, son, and her entire family to move to Italy. Then proceeds to keep breaking h's heart. Like he brings a date to her art show!
All because his father was horrible to his mother. Dude, get in line.
Luckily, his family shows up to set him right and he finally tells the story and HEA. Ugh.
He was such a jerk and I think she deserved better.
Basic plot is that H and h had a torrid love affair after meeting in Italy, but H abandoned h. Just left.
Because his parents were horrible and he doesn't believe in love.
h, of course, is preggers, and tries to figure out how to reach him, but finds out that H lied to her. He was just a businessman, but a CEO, and that he's been accused of being a ruthless businessman, including hurting children.
So she kept her son a secret. Until, of course, she becomes a famous artist and has to return to the city for an art show. H shows up to see if the spark is still there, is a jerk, and she turns him down.
THEN he finds out about the son and freaks out. Forces h, son, and her entire family to move to Italy. Then proceeds to keep breaking h's heart. Like he brings a date to her art show!
All because his father was horrible to his mother. Dude, get in line.
Luckily, his family shows up to set him right and he finally tells the story and HEA. Ugh.
He was such a jerk and I think she deserved better.
August 17, 2023
I bought this book yesterday from Walmart. I usually like Harlequin for an easy quick read, but TBH, Harlequin has lost some of it's charm for me lately. What with some of the authors they've chosen with terrible plot lines, terrible writing, and then - even worse - barely even editing the books they've been producing, reading from them has become more of a chore than a pleasure and I almost did not buy this book. However, I'm a creature of habit. So I picked this one up anyway, and can I just say..... I'm so glad I bought this one??? Not only was it well written on the technical front, but the writing style was engaging, the story line drew me in, and for once there wasn't an overly, an unnecessarily cheesy, cringe worthy ending. Yes, I love HEA romance (duh!) but the endings don't have to make you vomit, and this one DIDN'T! It was sweet, and vulnerable and realistic. Honestly, I was impressed with Lorraine Hall as an author. She's definitely one of the best Harlequin has ever produced, for sure! Once Amazon stops being stupid, I'd like to leave a review there as well.
My only critique is that I would have liked to have seen just a peek into the man Lorenzo was when he was actively dating Brianna, only because when there is so much angst (OMG I love angst!) it's hard to see what the initial attraction between the couple was. I wanted a taste I guess of the more fun, light hearted side that was hinted at through the book. Now, don't get me wrong. I HATE flashbacks, but maybe a scene where he was relaxed enough or in a more reminiscent mood or something where he flirted with her or she's like hey... this is how he was when i feel in love with him -type of a thing. I don't know if that makes sense here like it does in my mind lol. But something to give us to hold on too and say, "Ahhh okay... that's why she fell for him. He's total sweetheart-flirt-nerd-goofball..." or whatever. Other than that, there was a lot of depth and even emotional intelligence in this book. Not a single character came off as trite or over done. It's obvious Lorriane is an intelligent person, because it comes through in the little hidden nuggets in her writing. Very well done. I really enjoyed this one. Obviously lol. I rarely leave reviews.
My only critique is that I would have liked to have seen just a peek into the man Lorenzo was when he was actively dating Brianna, only because when there is so much angst (OMG I love angst!) it's hard to see what the initial attraction between the couple was. I wanted a taste I guess of the more fun, light hearted side that was hinted at through the book. Now, don't get me wrong. I HATE flashbacks, but maybe a scene where he was relaxed enough or in a more reminiscent mood or something where he flirted with her or she's like hey... this is how he was when i feel in love with him -type of a thing. I don't know if that makes sense here like it does in my mind lol. But something to give us to hold on too and say, "Ahhh okay... that's why she fell for him. He's total sweetheart-flirt-nerd-goofball..." or whatever. Other than that, there was a lot of depth and even emotional intelligence in this book. Not a single character came off as trite or over done. It's obvious Lorriane is an intelligent person, because it comes through in the little hidden nuggets in her writing. Very well done. I really enjoyed this one. Obviously lol. I rarely leave reviews.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews