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Marconi Brides #2
A Crazy Kind of Love: Mike's Story
Lucas Gallagher is the geek who bought the land Michaela "Mike" Marconi wanted for her dream house. She thinks he's infuriating, annoying and totally rude. Yet, he gets to her more than any other man ever has. But though Lucas may be a scientist, he's the rock star of scientists. His inventions have made him millions, his research is reshaping the study of medicine and he holds patents for numerous technological marvels. But now, when it means everything, he's failed. His younger brother, the family's 'golden child' is dying of cancer and Lucas, despite his brilliance, can't help him. In Chandler, he tries to hide from the world he knows.
Mike tried running away from her problems when she was a kid. When her mother lay dying, Mike ran. When her world crumbled, Mike hid. And she's learned that the only way to win is to stand your ground and keep trying. She doesn't understand what Lucas is talking about half the time, but she knows exactly what he's feeling. And while criticizing his complete lack of architectural ability, and remaking the house he's trying to build, Mike finds herself slipping into Lucas Gallagher's life.
She wakes him up and he shakes her up: the two of them are complete opposites, and nothing can keep them apart. Until Lucas's brother Justin comes home to die.
Mike tried running away from her problems when she was a kid. When her mother lay dying, Mike ran. When her world crumbled, Mike hid. And she's learned that the only way to win is to stand your ground and keep trying. She doesn't understand what Lucas is talking about half the time, but she knows exactly what he's feeling. And while criticizing his complete lack of architectural ability, and remaking the house he's trying to build, Mike finds herself slipping into Lucas Gallagher's life.
She wakes him up and he shakes her up: the two of them are complete opposites, and nothing can keep them apart. Until Lucas's brother Justin comes home to die.
337 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published December 28, 2004
About the author
Maureen Child
1,175 books549 followersUSA Today best selling author Maureen Child is the author of more than ninety romance novels and novellas. Maureen is a five time nominee for the prestigious Rita award from Romance Writers of America.
One of her novels, A Pocketful Of Paradise, was made into a CBS-TV movie called The Soul Collector, starring Melissa Gilbert, Bruce Greenwood and Ossie Davis.
Over the years, she’s written under lots of different names and she prefers the term ‘pseudonym’ to ‘alias’. As Ann Carberry, she wrote western historical romances. As Kathleen Kane, she wrote not only Americana romances, but western paranormal romances as well. As Sarah Hart, she wrote one really spectacular western paranormal that is still one of her favorites. And once, Ann Carberry even wrote a Victorian historical which she absolutely loved doing.
Under her own name, Maureen writes short contemporary novels for Silhouette Desire—books she loves to write because of their fast pace and condensed story telling. Maureen is also writing funny, contemporary paranormal romances for NAL and darker paranormal stories for Silhouette Nocturne.
Maureen writes paranormal romance novels under the pesudonym of Regan Hastings
One of her novels, A Pocketful Of Paradise, was made into a CBS-TV movie called The Soul Collector, starring Melissa Gilbert, Bruce Greenwood and Ossie Davis.
Over the years, she’s written under lots of different names and she prefers the term ‘pseudonym’ to ‘alias’. As Ann Carberry, she wrote western historical romances. As Kathleen Kane, she wrote not only Americana romances, but western paranormal romances as well. As Sarah Hart, she wrote one really spectacular western paranormal that is still one of her favorites. And once, Ann Carberry even wrote a Victorian historical which she absolutely loved doing.
Under her own name, Maureen writes short contemporary novels for Silhouette Desire—books she loves to write because of their fast pace and condensed story telling. Maureen is also writing funny, contemporary paranormal romances for NAL and darker paranormal stories for Silhouette Nocturne.
Maureen writes paranormal romance novels under the pesudonym of Regan Hastings
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
November 7, 2012
In the second installment of Maureen Child's Marconi Sisters Trilogy (after AND THEN CAME YOU), the story focuses on the youngest sister, "Mike" Michaila Marconi. All ready reeling from the fact that her dream property was bought by someone else, Mike has insinuated herself into the owner's life--by changing the way things are constructed in his house, and dropping by constantly to make helpful suggestions.
For Lucas Gallagher, the owner of the property Mike still considers her own, Mike is a thorn in his side. She's bossy, demanding, and somehow gets him to make changes on his own house that he never even considered. Added to that is the mutual sexual attraction that seems to ignite sparks whenever she's around, and the whole situation is a messy one.
I loved this second installment of the series! Mike's wild past comes back to haunt her, Lucas's brother Justin is barging back into his life, and the secondary characters truly make this book enjoyable. As Lucas and Mike fight to discover if they have the kind of sparks that can last a lifetime, lives are changed forever for each and every member of the Marconi family--and their added friends and community members.
I can't wait to get started on the final book in the series, TURN MY WORLD UPSIDE DOWN, which centers on oldest sister Jo!!
For Lucas Gallagher, the owner of the property Mike still considers her own, Mike is a thorn in his side. She's bossy, demanding, and somehow gets him to make changes on his own house that he never even considered. Added to that is the mutual sexual attraction that seems to ignite sparks whenever she's around, and the whole situation is a messy one.
I loved this second installment of the series! Mike's wild past comes back to haunt her, Lucas's brother Justin is barging back into his life, and the secondary characters truly make this book enjoyable. As Lucas and Mike fight to discover if they have the kind of sparks that can last a lifetime, lives are changed forever for each and every member of the Marconi family--and their added friends and community members.
I can't wait to get started on the final book in the series, TURN MY WORLD UPSIDE DOWN, which centers on oldest sister Jo!!
April 2, 2012
Loving this series!
April 7, 2018
Mike Marconi's turn. She had plans for the land that Lucas Gallagher bought and has built his house on. Now she can't stop intruding in his life, trying to make his house in to her vision, telling him that she'll thank him. Never mind that he end sup liking all her decisions, it's his opinion that she has no business butting into his life and his house. But he's surprised to find himself missing her when she's not there and even more surprised to find great things are when they finally fall into bed together. But things aren't smooth sailing for Mike and Lucas. Mike learns some pretty upsetting things about her father and Lucas's past has come back in the form of his twin brother, who is dying. Both will have to learn to forgive and put the past behind them, especially if they want to have a future together.
This was a fairly angsty little story, but unfortunately the angst was not really centered around the couple. In fact, it seemed like the focus was more on the family, as Mike learns has to deal with her own and her sister's reaction to and Lucas's coming to terms with his brother's impending death and trying to forgive him. There was so much dealing with external angst that it didn't feel like Mike and Lucas had enough time to really come to know each other and fall in love. And then Jo got a lot of extra time in this story, preparing readers for her story up next. There's a lot of foreshadowing about her having secrets.
As for the external angst - Mike's situation with her father and what he did and how her family deals with it...had me on the edge of my seat. I had anticipated a lot more conflict than there actually was, but Jo is still a hold out so I'm guessing it will be resolved in the next book. As for Lucas's issues with his brother - given how much he was resisting talking to Justin, I expected Justin to have completely unforgivable, like marry Lucas's love or something. As it turns out, Lucas realizes that he'd been holding onto anger for a lot of nothing... So then I thought maybe the whole girlfriend leaving him for Justin would have been it (even though Justin never did anything with her), but then Lucas himself mentions that he didn't miss her when she'd left. So why was Lucas really so angry with Justin? It didn't quite add up for me. But it was definitely an emotional episode. Hard to keep a dry eye when Justin finally passes...
This was a fairly angsty little story, but unfortunately the angst was not really centered around the couple. In fact, it seemed like the focus was more on the family, as Mike learns has to deal with her own and her sister's reaction to and Lucas's coming to terms with his brother's impending death and trying to forgive him. There was so much dealing with external angst that it didn't feel like Mike and Lucas had enough time to really come to know each other and fall in love. And then Jo got a lot of extra time in this story, preparing readers for her story up next. There's a lot of foreshadowing about her having secrets.
As for the external angst - Mike's situation with her father and what he did and how her family deals with it...had me on the edge of my seat. I had anticipated a lot more conflict than there actually was, but Jo is still a hold out so I'm guessing it will be resolved in the next book. As for Lucas's issues with his brother - given how much he was resisting talking to Justin, I expected Justin to have completely unforgivable, like marry Lucas's love or something. As it turns out, Lucas realizes that he'd been holding onto anger for a lot of nothing... So then I thought maybe the whole girlfriend leaving him for Justin would have been it (even though Justin never did anything with her), but then Lucas himself mentions that he didn't miss her when she'd left. So why was Lucas really so angry with Justin? It didn't quite add up for me. But it was definitely an emotional episode. Hard to keep a dry eye when Justin finally passes...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 10, 2020
3.5 stars
To the author and editor, may I suggest a more original title, something more unique to meet the story and/or characters?
I would read others in this series
To the author and editor, may I suggest a more original title, something more unique to meet the story and/or characters?
I would read others in this series
June 8, 2024
Was not expecting that ending, made me cry for a few minutes
June 5, 2013
Originally posted on Sarahsbookshelf.com:
I get a little excited sometimes when I find new authors, especially ones with a big backlist. This kind of glorious discovery doesn’t happen as often as I think it should, but I feel very grateful nonetheless. Maureen Child is the latest author to make this special list. I’m a fan of mass-market paperback series, and although this story is an oldie, it’s definitely a goodie.
This story is actually the second book of the Marconi sisters’ series. We are introduced to Michaela “Mike” Marconi, who is driving her current client nuts with her complete disregard for his specifications or previous architectural plans–Mike’s got her own ideas for Lucas’s home. Lucas Gallagher is a research scientist attempting to build his dream home in the small town of Chandler, CA. Never one to get emotional or worked up, Mike drives Lucas nuts. Her incessant changes and general presence drive him crazy and these two just keep getting into fights all the time–you know it’s going to be a great story when all these stars align, right?
Besides the fact that these two had some pretty explosive and hysterical fights, I loved the gender switching that Child did in this book. Besides the obvious swap with the names (Mike has two sisters, Sam and Jo), they are also owners of Marconi Construction, which they run with their father. This heroine also is a little more worldly than many heroine of late. She’s been around the block, but not in a bad way. Lucas is also a different kind of hero. Although they have some epic verbal sparring, Lucas is a thinker at heart. He’s a research scientist and is actually quite cerebral. I think all these things make the two of them getting together a more interesting story.
I loved this book and I will most definitely be checking out the others in this series. There are quite a few, I’m happy to say. She writes different styles under a few pseudonyms, so be sure to give her a shot if you are looking for something funny to read.
I get a little excited sometimes when I find new authors, especially ones with a big backlist. This kind of glorious discovery doesn’t happen as often as I think it should, but I feel very grateful nonetheless. Maureen Child is the latest author to make this special list. I’m a fan of mass-market paperback series, and although this story is an oldie, it’s definitely a goodie.
This story is actually the second book of the Marconi sisters’ series. We are introduced to Michaela “Mike” Marconi, who is driving her current client nuts with her complete disregard for his specifications or previous architectural plans–Mike’s got her own ideas for Lucas’s home. Lucas Gallagher is a research scientist attempting to build his dream home in the small town of Chandler, CA. Never one to get emotional or worked up, Mike drives Lucas nuts. Her incessant changes and general presence drive him crazy and these two just keep getting into fights all the time–you know it’s going to be a great story when all these stars align, right?
Besides the fact that these two had some pretty explosive and hysterical fights, I loved the gender switching that Child did in this book. Besides the obvious swap with the names (Mike has two sisters, Sam and Jo), they are also owners of Marconi Construction, which they run with their father. This heroine also is a little more worldly than many heroine of late. She’s been around the block, but not in a bad way. Lucas is also a different kind of hero. Although they have some epic verbal sparring, Lucas is a thinker at heart. He’s a research scientist and is actually quite cerebral. I think all these things make the two of them getting together a more interesting story.
I loved this book and I will most definitely be checking out the others in this series. There are quite a few, I’m happy to say. She writes different styles under a few pseudonyms, so be sure to give her a shot if you are looking for something funny to read.
April 30, 2014
A few years ago I read the first one in this series and really enjoyed it. Recently I had the opportunity of grabbing book number two and I couldn't let it pass. I am happy to report that I did enjoy it although I was a bit worried in the beginning.
Mike is the youngest Marconi sister. She is saving money to buy her dream property when suddenly someone else comes along and buys it. My problems with the beginning of the book was precisely because I couldn't understand Mike and Lucas's relationship. If he was the new owner why did she keep changing his orders for the house and why didn't he do something about it? They supposedly had a business relationship only and it's not very sound for business if you keep thwarting the one who is paying you no matter how much you think you have better ideas.
Once I got past that - meaning once I felt they had more than just a business relationship - I was OK with how they dealt with each other. I could totally see how Mike was good for Lucas!
But they both have events from their past who threaten to shadow their lives and their relationship. Once again I enjoyed how they supported each other and helped each other processing what was happening. I think the final twist was unnecessary as I could totally get a HEA without it but it also didn't bother me so all is well.
This is only my second Maureen Child book but I find that I really like her writing style and that she portrays the relationships in a very realistic way. I can't wait to get my hands on the third book of this series and I'm thinking I must check out the rest of her back list.
Grade: 4/5
Mike is the youngest Marconi sister. She is saving money to buy her dream property when suddenly someone else comes along and buys it. My problems with the beginning of the book was precisely because I couldn't understand Mike and Lucas's relationship. If he was the new owner why did she keep changing his orders for the house and why didn't he do something about it? They supposedly had a business relationship only and it's not very sound for business if you keep thwarting the one who is paying you no matter how much you think you have better ideas.
Once I got past that - meaning once I felt they had more than just a business relationship - I was OK with how they dealt with each other. I could totally see how Mike was good for Lucas!
But they both have events from their past who threaten to shadow their lives and their relationship. Once again I enjoyed how they supported each other and helped each other processing what was happening. I think the final twist was unnecessary as I could totally get a HEA without it but it also didn't bother me so all is well.
This is only my second Maureen Child book but I find that I really like her writing style and that she portrays the relationships in a very realistic way. I can't wait to get my hands on the third book of this series and I'm thinking I must check out the rest of her back list.
Grade: 4/5
September 23, 2007
From the start I liked this story much better than And Then Came You. I enjoyed the chemistry between Lucas and Mike. I enjoyed that she was always seemed to be invading his space. They had heated disagreements and then suddenly the story got heated in a very different direction. And I mean heated. This was Mike and Lucas’s story, but there were also a lot of interactions from Jo and Sam (Mike’s sisters) as was as the Candellano family (prior series set in the same town as this series), but not so much interaction that it took away from the story.
I’d say this was Good ~ I don’t know if I’d read it again but I wasn’t disappointed by this story at all. It was definitely worth the time to read.
I’d say this was Good ~ I don’t know if I’d read it again but I wasn’t disappointed by this story at all. It was definitely worth the time to read.
January 6, 2011
Master plumber Michaela Marconi has been driving Lucas Gallaher nuts. Every time he turns around she's in *his* house, messing with his design for *his* house and the worst thing about it is she's always right. Mike doesn't do long term relationships but Lucas has gotten under her skin. Part of it is his house. It should have been her house. She had coveted that land and had planned a dream house. His house. Sometimes striking sparks is the best way to get a flame. This book has hot sex, lots of humor, plenty of sweetness and a tight grip on family. Although 2nd in a trilogy, it stands comfortably by itself. Definitely worth reading.
August 29, 2008
It was fun to continue the story of the Marconi family. I felt like this character, Mike, was very familiar. I finally figured out that she must have been in the Candellano trilogy which I read several years ago. There was a little surprise at the end of this book. I can't wait to see how that turns out in the 3rd book of the trilogy.
August 3, 2017
Mike had mastered the art of running and hiding. Lucas, on the other hand, is a novice in the field. Individually, they’re lost. Together, they learn how to face adversities.
Rating: warm as a wool sweater.
Rating: warm as a wool sweater.
September 25, 2009
Modern
March 6, 2014
What do you do when a woman takes over the construction of your house? Fall in love with her of course!
July 1, 2016
Wonderful!!
I loved this book. It made me laugh, it made me cry. The characters are wonderful. The story is wonderful. Cannot wait to read more of her books.
I loved this book. It made me laugh, it made me cry. The characters are wonderful. The story is wonderful. Cannot wait to read more of her books.
January 7, 2016
Good read
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews