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Master of Bella Terra
Kira Banks far prefers plants to people—after a heartbreaking affair, she lives alone in the beautiful Italian Bella Terra Valley. But her peaceful existence is shattered forever when restless, self-made billionaire Stefano Albani arrives home by helicopter.
Notoriously charming but weary of worldly women, Stefano is fascinated by cautious, shy Kira—this seduction will be unforgettable! However, his polished routine goes awry. Could it be that the tycoon, who can have anything or anyone he wants, might need someone for the very first time… Kira?
Notoriously charming but weary of worldly women, Stefano is fascinated by cautious, shy Kira—this seduction will be unforgettable! However, his polished routine goes awry. Could it be that the tycoon, who can have anything or anyone he wants, might need someone for the very first time… Kira?
192 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published November 1, 2010
About the author
Christina Hollis
169 books61 followersI've been reading and writing all my life, and January 2007 saw the paperback publication of my first Mills and Boon Modern Romance, The Italian Billionaire's Virgin. I really hope you enjoy my books!
I love romance, and meeting my husband on a blind date was one of the best things that has ever happened to me. We live in Gloucestershire, England, with our son, daughter, varying numbers of livestock and a very independent cat called Jynx.
I love romance, and meeting my husband on a blind date was one of the best things that has ever happened to me. We live in Gloucestershire, England, with our son, daughter, varying numbers of livestock and a very independent cat called Jynx.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
February 12, 2015
DNF!
This book has a good premise, I like the story BUT the romance it just too slow!! They both were attracted to each other, but Kira feels like she wasn't good enough for Stefani, or is it Stefano? see?? I don't even remember the hero's name.
Ugh! I like this but the main reason I can't continue is because it's....
This book has a good premise, I like the story BUT the romance it just too slow!! They both were attracted to each other, but Kira feels like she wasn't good enough for Stefani, or is it Stefano? see?? I don't even remember the hero's name.
Ugh! I like this but the main reason I can't continue is because it's....
November 22, 2011
This review is also posted on Always a Booklover.
I couldn’t like this book, I just couldn’t. Don’t ask me why, because I really don’t know. I mean, the plot was pretty good, the characters pretty likable, and overall, the story was not too bad! But, somehow, I just didn’t like the book. I found myself reading for the sake of reading, instead of reading because I truly enjoyed it, which is what reading is supposed to be about, isn’t it?
But as to why I feel that way, I cannot think of any concrete reason. I mean, I could sense the love between them, especially after they separated and could not find themselves thinking of anything else. The plot was believable and even their attraction to each other was understandable. I think the main reason why I dislike the book was because the dialogue was rather flat and I had no emotional connection with the characters. Instead of being affected by what the characters did, it was more of a whatever kind of feeling.
Both the characters were likable, if a bit unrealistic. I’m sorry, their names just slipped my mind… Again. So, she’s a pretty strong woman, bad past, he’s a workaholic, bad past… Yeah, I couldn’t understand the characters and hence, I could not feel for them or with them. Its like, I know that they have a bad past, but I can’t see how their past really shaped them into who they are. For example, Kira (yes, I finally remembered her name!! I think…) had a very bad relationship in the past which caused her to be very reluctant to get into relationships involving feelings. As for him, (I only remember his name starts with S), he had a very difficult childhood? He was bad or something. You see, the problem is, I felt that their pasts aren’t really well elaborated and a person’s past really shapes their character. For Kira, it was more obvious, perhaps also because we got to see more of her feelings throughout the book. For him, I completely had no idea what his past was like. It was brushed across very lightly and I know it really shaped him. But because I don’t know what really went on in his past, I cannot truly understand him. For me, its very important that I understand the characters in order to have an emotional attachment to them during the book. This book failed to do that, in my opinion.
Overall, the plot was pretty simple. Guy and girl meet, wild attraction, sleep with each other, quarrel, one party leaves, fall in love, have a happily ever after ending. The only difference is that in this case, its him who leaves. (I keep getting the feeling that his name is related to Stephen somehow.) I liked the pace of the book, each scene was elaborated enough.
As I said, my main problem with this is the dialogue. It wasn’t exactly interesting, he wasn’t THAT seductive, it was pretty boring to be honest. Or at least, it was for me. All in all, I didn’t really enjoy the book. It was quite a dread while I was reading it. I guess, it’s a 2 stars! I was hoping that the book would improve along the way, but it didn’t. Oh well, can’t do anything I guess.
I couldn’t like this book, I just couldn’t. Don’t ask me why, because I really don’t know. I mean, the plot was pretty good, the characters pretty likable, and overall, the story was not too bad! But, somehow, I just didn’t like the book. I found myself reading for the sake of reading, instead of reading because I truly enjoyed it, which is what reading is supposed to be about, isn’t it?
But as to why I feel that way, I cannot think of any concrete reason. I mean, I could sense the love between them, especially after they separated and could not find themselves thinking of anything else. The plot was believable and even their attraction to each other was understandable. I think the main reason why I dislike the book was because the dialogue was rather flat and I had no emotional connection with the characters. Instead of being affected by what the characters did, it was more of a whatever kind of feeling.
Both the characters were likable, if a bit unrealistic. I’m sorry, their names just slipped my mind… Again. So, she’s a pretty strong woman, bad past, he’s a workaholic, bad past… Yeah, I couldn’t understand the characters and hence, I could not feel for them or with them. Its like, I know that they have a bad past, but I can’t see how their past really shaped them into who they are. For example, Kira (yes, I finally remembered her name!! I think…) had a very bad relationship in the past which caused her to be very reluctant to get into relationships involving feelings. As for him, (I only remember his name starts with S), he had a very difficult childhood? He was bad or something. You see, the problem is, I felt that their pasts aren’t really well elaborated and a person’s past really shapes their character. For Kira, it was more obvious, perhaps also because we got to see more of her feelings throughout the book. For him, I completely had no idea what his past was like. It was brushed across very lightly and I know it really shaped him. But because I don’t know what really went on in his past, I cannot truly understand him. For me, its very important that I understand the characters in order to have an emotional attachment to them during the book. This book failed to do that, in my opinion.
Overall, the plot was pretty simple. Guy and girl meet, wild attraction, sleep with each other, quarrel, one party leaves, fall in love, have a happily ever after ending. The only difference is that in this case, its him who leaves. (I keep getting the feeling that his name is related to Stephen somehow.) I liked the pace of the book, each scene was elaborated enough.
As I said, my main problem with this is the dialogue. It wasn’t exactly interesting, he wasn’t THAT seductive, it was pretty boring to be honest. Or at least, it was for me. All in all, I didn’t really enjoy the book. It was quite a dread while I was reading it. I guess, it’s a 2 stars! I was hoping that the book would improve along the way, but it didn’t. Oh well, can’t do anything I guess.
March 17, 2016
Reminded me of A Deal Sealed by Passion...
Storyline is smiliar, and way tooo slow...
Storyline is smiliar, and way tooo slow...
May 6, 2017
Leído el 26/10/2011
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May 22, 2021ni siquiera merece una estrella
May 2, 2024
***AUDIOLIBRO***
August 14, 2013
Stefano is missing something in his life, but he doesn’t know what it is. He continually buys properties thinking that will fill the whole of family abandonment that he experienced early on in his life. Seeing Kira’s home he feels that she can make his a home instead of just a house.
Kira is leery of people and prefers to be a loner, minding her own business and making a living working w/ plants. She has agreed to show her late neighbor’s property to the rich man, but she never bargained on the instant attraction that would ignite b/w the two of them.
This one was really boring! There wasn’t a lot of angst in the story for me. It was more of Stefano and Kira fighting them-selves more than anything.
Stefano came across as smarmy and slightly creepy w/ his come-ons early on in the story for me, and I couldn’t get over it. Not sure why he thought he needed to solve the mystery of Kira so quickly. He, of course, likes to hold himself back and the minute he asks for more than he thought he should of is the minute he backs off!
Kira had her own hard childhood as she was adopted, and they weren’t the best parents. I couldn’t understand why she continually called them STEPPARENTS it just seemed to imply something else. Stefano gets to hear all her little secrets and advises her on dealing w/ her stepparents, but one wonders why this business woman couldn’t come up w/ that on her own, it was so obvious! Still couldn’t figure out how her name would be all over the papers w/ her past indiscretion either and why anyone would have been interested let alone blamed her for the fiasco. Stefano is appalled or appears to be when he says, “How could anyone treat you like that?” Kira says, “It’s what people do. They use you, and then walk away.” Stefano agrees that life is hard for the weak. Felt like what Kira said is exactly what Stefano was doing w/ Kira….using her!! He gets an urgent call, but for some reason it seemed more like a lie! Why would that be so urgent? Really you must jump on this available property NOW before it’s no longer there!! What happened to money can buy you anything? Of course, Kira wants to leave but Stefano doesn’t want her too. Despite the fact that he asked for too much and wants to get away from her, he still wants to know where she is at! The nerve of this guy! He runs hot and cold periodically through the story and their separation….Yeah I was fine w/ the story ending there. I didn’t even want the two of them to get together. There was no chemistry! Nothing. They could’ve just been one another’s bridge to their true loves for all I cared.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 9, 2014
It was okay... there was definitely chemistry between the hero and heroine but the HEA was a little rushed and some plot threads were left hanging.
Recommended for those who don't mind predictable, disposable* romance novels.
*designed for being thrown away after a single use.
Recommended for those who don't mind predictable, disposable* romance novels.
*designed for being thrown away after a single use.
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December 24, 2014Miniseries: From Rags to Riches
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December 24, 2014Miniseries: From Rags to Riches
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews