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The Gabrielli Man
He disarmed her with his charm
In Claudia's book Nico Gabrielli was no better than a murderer. Two years ago he'd so upset her cousin Maris that she'd lost control of her car, killing herself and Claudia's brand-new husband.
Thoughts of revenge sustained Claudia during her recovery. But when she returned to Italy to repay the Gabrielli man, she found vengeance was a dangerous game.
"You and I are going to be friends," Nico informed her not long after her arrival. "It's too early for me to say lovers."
In Claudia's book Nico Gabrielli was no better than a murderer. Two years ago he'd so upset her cousin Maris that she'd lost control of her car, killing herself and Claudia's brand-new husband.
Thoughts of revenge sustained Claudia during her recovery. But when she returned to Italy to repay the Gabrielli man, she found vengeance was a dangerous game.
"You and I are going to be friends," Nico informed her not long after her arrival. "It's too early for me to say lovers."
186 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 1985
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
June 5, 2022
“You’ve tricked me, pawed me about - take your hands off me at once - and got me so I don’t know whether I’m on my head or my heels. You’ve even arranged a marriage for me! Who the hell do you think you are, a superior being? I said take your hands off me! You don’t own me, not yet!”
That summarizes the book more or less.
She’s a virgin widow. He is a besotted alpha male and determined to marry her, whatever she says or does. It was amusing. He talked about their future children and family life as if she had accepted his marriage proposal.
It’s a Harlequin Romance from 1985. He says to her that he’ll first wed her and then bed her, so it doesn’t go further between them than kissing.
The end with all the needless drama with his nephew, that shouldn’t have been in the book. That was a shame.
That summarizes the book more or less.
She’s a virgin widow. He is a besotted alpha male and determined to marry her, whatever she says or does. It was amusing. He talked about their future children and family life as if she had accepted his marriage proposal.
It’s a Harlequin Romance from 1985. He says to her that he’ll first wed her and then bed her, so it doesn’t go further between them than kissing.
The end with all the needless drama with his nephew, that shouldn’t have been in the book. That was a shame.
May 6, 2022
It was enjoyable because he is a determined alpha male. She only has half a braincell, but even that couldn’t spoil the amusement of how stubborn he is.
But the story with his nephew was strange, as if the writer had to fill the pages and then came up with some ridiculous plot with his nephew.
But the story with his nephew was strange, as if the writer had to fill the pages and then came up with some ridiculous plot with his nephew.
October 5, 2016
The plot seemed intriguing, but in the end I was rather disappointed. It somehow reminded me of Twisting Shadows, but it wasn't as passionate and angsty as Emma Darcy's novel.
August 21, 2024
4½ Stars
Though the back story is tragic, Ms. Murrey has penned a fun romance with a marvelous hero. He's shown to be a clichéd alpha Italian, who decides that he and the heroine share an instant bond that just cannot be denied, and that they will marry. He makes this announcement practically days after their reunion.
Two years before, Claudia had seen Nico arguing with her cousin, she'd assumed he was Maris' lover and he had just rejected her. Maris' upset, immediately resulted in a horrific car accident that took both Maris' life and Claudia's brand-new husbands, leaving Claudia who had been thrown from the car, barely alive and lying in a ditch. It's taken Claudia two years to physically recover, and outwardly the scars have been surgically hidden. But through those years, she'd held on to her hatred of the man who had rejected Maris so brutally and she vows to avenge her death and the death of her husband. What Claudia doesn't know is that no one had known she'd been in the car, and authorities assumed the two bodies found were the only ones. It was Nico, who remembered the third person and went back to the crash site and found her near death. Now as Claudia faces the past back in Italy, Nico introduces himself with the claim that as he has saved her life, she is his responsibility.
This story becomes a whirlwind, with Claudia seeing Nico's amourous attentions as a means for her revenge, and Nico disarming all her resolves with his charismatic determination. I admired Nico's good nature, he took all of Claudia's rejecting taunts and let them roll off his back. Their banter is delightful. This one is on the keeper shelf, to be enjoyed again.
Though the back story is tragic, Ms. Murrey has penned a fun romance with a marvelous hero. He's shown to be a clichéd alpha Italian, who decides that he and the heroine share an instant bond that just cannot be denied, and that they will marry. He makes this announcement practically days after their reunion.
Two years before, Claudia had seen Nico arguing with her cousin, she'd assumed he was Maris' lover and he had just rejected her. Maris' upset, immediately resulted in a horrific car accident that took both Maris' life and Claudia's brand-new husbands, leaving Claudia who had been thrown from the car, barely alive and lying in a ditch. It's taken Claudia two years to physically recover, and outwardly the scars have been surgically hidden. But through those years, she'd held on to her hatred of the man who had rejected Maris so brutally and she vows to avenge her death and the death of her husband. What Claudia doesn't know is that no one had known she'd been in the car, and authorities assumed the two bodies found were the only ones. It was Nico, who remembered the third person and went back to the crash site and found her near death. Now as Claudia faces the past back in Italy, Nico introduces himself with the claim that as he has saved her life, she is his responsibility.
This story becomes a whirlwind, with Claudia seeing Nico's amourous attentions as a means for her revenge, and Nico disarming all her resolves with his charismatic determination. I admired Nico's good nature, he took all of Claudia's rejecting taunts and let them roll off his back. Their banter is delightful. This one is on the keeper shelf, to be enjoyed again.
July 10, 2024
Such an odd story. Heroine (with a reconstructed face) returns to Italy and the scene of a car accident that killed her husband of a few hours and her cousin. Heroine was also in the car, but hero saved her life and stayed by her side for weeks until she was transferred back to England to recover.
It's two years later and heroine is bent on revenge against . . . the hero? She thinks her cousin was driving erratically because hero rejected her. She has a half-formed idea of letting the hero fall in love with her and then rejecting him.
When hero does fall in love with her, heroine is terrible at rejecting him. In fact, she ends up engaged and going to wedding dress fittings.
There's a last minute relative who shows up to become the villain in the last act - and to clear the hero of any involvement with her cousin's death.
None of it makes much sense. The accident. The heroine's revenge idea. The hero falling in love with the shrill heroine. The crazy relative.
It's a nice travelogue of Italy and Rome and if you like Italian settings, I suppose. Still, not recommended.
It's two years later and heroine is bent on revenge against . . . the hero? She thinks her cousin was driving erratically because hero rejected her. She has a half-formed idea of letting the hero fall in love with her and then rejecting him.
When hero does fall in love with her, heroine is terrible at rejecting him. In fact, she ends up engaged and going to wedding dress fittings.
There's a last minute relative who shows up to become the villain in the last act - and to clear the hero of any involvement with her cousin's death.
None of it makes much sense. The accident. The heroine's revenge idea. The hero falling in love with the shrill heroine. The crazy relative.
It's a nice travelogue of Italy and Rome and if you like Italian settings, I suppose. Still, not recommended.
abrierto-to-read-hr-other
April 5, 2023He disarmed her with his charm
In Claudia's book Nico Gabrielli was no better than a murderer. Two years ago he'd so upset her cousin Maris that she'd lost control of her car, killing herself and Claudia's brand-new husband.
Thoughts of revenge sustained Claudia during her recovery. But when she returned to Italy to repay the Gabrielli man, she found vengeance was a dangerous game.
"You and I are going to be friends," Nico informed her not long after her arrival. "It's too early for me to say lovers."
In Claudia's book Nico Gabrielli was no better than a murderer. Two years ago he'd so upset her cousin Maris that she'd lost control of her car, killing herself and Claudia's brand-new husband.
Thoughts of revenge sustained Claudia during her recovery. But when she returned to Italy to repay the Gabrielli man, she found vengeance was a dangerous game.
"You and I are going to be friends," Nico informed her not long after her arrival. "It's too early for me to say lovers."
July 20, 2017
This author has written a lot of my old favorites that I keep for rereading when I need a happy boost.
I remember reading this waaaay back when it was first published and being kind of shocked by the story line. Now, this all seems so sweet in comparison to the newly published stuff. Yes, there's some fundamental lack of consent issues, but they're so tame. And, did I mention sweet? (I'm old, I guess.)
The quality of writing in these old paperbacks is so astoundingly much more better as well. I'm struck by the difference each time I reread one of these favorites.
I remember reading this waaaay back when it was first published and being kind of shocked by the story line. Now, this all seems so sweet in comparison to the newly published stuff. Yes, there's some fundamental lack of consent issues, but they're so tame. And, did I mention sweet? (I'm old, I guess.)
The quality of writing in these old paperbacks is so astoundingly much more better as well. I'm struck by the difference each time I reread one of these favorites.
Read
June 25, 2018He disarmed her with his charm
In Claudia's book Nico Gabrielli was no better than a murderer. Two years ago he'd so upset her cousin Maris that she'd lost control of her car, killing herself and Claudia's brand-new husband.
Thoughts of revenge sustained Claudia during her recovery. But when she returned to Italy to repay the Gabrielli man, she found vengeance was a dangerous game.
"You and I are going to be friends," Nico informed her not long after her arrival. "It's too early for me to say lovers."
In Claudia's book Nico Gabrielli was no better than a murderer. Two years ago he'd so upset her cousin Maris that she'd lost control of her car, killing herself and Claudia's brand-new husband.
Thoughts of revenge sustained Claudia during her recovery. But when she returned to Italy to repay the Gabrielli man, she found vengeance was a dangerous game.
"You and I are going to be friends," Nico informed her not long after her arrival. "It's too early for me to say lovers."
abrierto-to-read-hr-other
March 3, 2021He disarmed her with his charm
In Claudia's book Nico Gabrielli was no better than a murderer. Two years ago he'd so upset her cousin Maris that she'd lost control of her car, killing herself and Claudia's brand-new husband.
Thoughts of revenge sustained Claudia during her recovery. But when she returned to Italy to repay the Gabrielli man, she found vengeance was a dangerous game.
"You and I are going to be friends," Nico informed her not long after her arrival. "It's too early for me to say lovers."
In Claudia's book Nico Gabrielli was no better than a murderer. Two years ago he'd so upset her cousin Maris that she'd lost control of her car, killing herself and Claudia's brand-new husband.
Thoughts of revenge sustained Claudia during her recovery. But when she returned to Italy to repay the Gabrielli man, she found vengeance was a dangerous game.
"You and I are going to be friends," Nico informed her not long after her arrival. "It's too early for me to say lovers."
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews