Vettori's Damsel in Distress by Liz Fielding

Review by TashNZ

What a beautiful story!  When I started this book I parked myself up on my back deck in the sun (surprising since it was winter) and read until the sun started setting, I was that captured by Dante and Geli's story.

Lost, alone, devastated Angelica walks into a cafe... the apartment she'd signed up for was non existent, the letting fee she'd paid was gone!  Something about Angelica caught Dante's eye, in fact something about her caught everyone's attention.  Before she (or he) knows it Dante has offered Angelica a place to stay upstairs and basically from there a beautiful story unfolds.  Two opposites attract and the author does a brilliant job of capturing my attention and holding my focus for the rest of the afternoon.

I want to liken this story to the feeling you feel when you're in the middle of winter and you're all snuggled up by the fire or in your duvet and while is blowing and hailing outside, you're absolutely warm and toasty.  THAT is how I feel about Vettori's Damsel in Distress and as someone who's read Anything But Vanilla I love the linkage.

Beautiful story - highly recommended.

Reviewed by Nas

VETTORI’S DAMSEL IN DISTRESS by author Liz Fielding is a July 2015 release by Harlequin Romance series.

Angelica Amery wanted a new start so she went to Italy. But nothing worked out as she found she had been conned by scam artists on internet. She found a development site instead of the apartment she booked. Then to seek shelter from bad weather, she walked in a bar where she came face to face with the most handsome man she had ever seen. 

Dante Vettori couldn’t just leave Geli stranded now, could he? So he took her in and provided a job  for her at his bar. But underneath it all, he also found her to be a stimulating companion and his dormant feelings aroused. He knew Geli was attracted to him as well, but would she still want him when she learned the secret he was hiding?

Read VETTORI’S DAMSEL IN DISTRESS to find out what happened to Dante and Geli. Author Liz Fielding once again astounds her readers with witty dialogue and mesmerizing emotions. 

Highly recommended for all readers of romance.

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Vettori's Damsel In Distress

Reviewed by Helen
This is a beautiful story in a beautiful setting you will be smiling throughout this one it brings warmth and cheers into your heart as Dante and Geli journey to such a great HEA.

Geli has arrived in the small town of Isola in Milan for a fresh start she is a fashion designer and wants to start in the city that is know for fashion she is the youngest Amery sister and now that they are both married with families of their own and her beloved grandmother is settled it is time for Geli to begin hers. But of course nothing seems to run smoothly the weather has tuned very cold when she arrives and the apartment that she has rented is not there and she has rescued a kitten and her Italian is not the best things are not looking good but when she steps into a café that is warm and friendly this will change her life forever Geli is such a positive person full of smiles and love and her rescuer Dante Vettori is drop dead gorgeous.

Dante had been through a lot in his life he loves this town of Isola and is doing what ever he can to keep the old world style and stop the developers he is loved by everyone in the town but after his last relationship turns sour he is single and staying that way that is until a damsel in distress walks into his café covered in snow and in need of help.

As Dante and Geli get to know each other and open up with stories that neither have told anyone the spark and pull just gets stronger and with kittens and injured mother cats to rescue this story is so heart-warming sensual and wonderful you will not want to put it down till you get to the end and then you will want more about these two beautiful people and the town and the other characters that help make this story fantastic the banter between them and the talk about ice-cream and Rosie the ice-cream van will have you smiling.

I loved this one and highly recommend it don't miss this one I need to get the first two stories about Geli's sisters and read them :)

5/5 stars for such an awesome read this is truly one not to be missed

Reviewed by Alexia - 4.5 stars

"Vettori's Damsel in Distress" by Liz Fielding is a light hearted, quick read. Perfect for young adults reading romance or if you just enjoy a good romance story. No graphic sex scenes but it really isn't needed in this story.

Angelica Amery "Geli" to those who know her. She has come to Milan to start a new life away from her sisters, and their family happiness. When she gets there she finds that she's been scammed out of an apartment. She meets Dante Vettori who calls her "Angel" and he comes to her rescue by finding her a place to live.

Much more to the story but it deserves to be read rather than I give more of it away. Solid 4.5 out of 5 stars.


Reviewed by Hina - 5 Stars

Where to begin?

Set in a country that I want to see, this is a story of Love at First Sight. And even that, not just for one of them but both. Sparks fly right, left and centre but Dante and Angelica both consciously make efforts not to give in (Dante more so) because they are not sure if they envisage a future together.

Emotions and sparks flying high, this story talks about emotions and pain that are suppressed behind different layers of indifference and special clothing.

Making themselves vulnerable when the consequences are unknown is a very big leap of faith but they jump in it anyways.

And together they surface in their happily ever after.

Olivero's Outrageous Proposal by Kate Walker

Olivero's Outrageous Proposal
by Kate Walker

Olivero's Outrageous Proposal is a gorgeous April 2015 Harlequin and Mills and Boon release by the incredibly talented Kate Walker.

Lady Alyse is caught between two waring half-brothers, Marcus, the one she's trying her best to avoid and Dario Olivero, the one who Alyse is 100% attracted to, regardless of the fact she's a pawn in Dario's revenge party.  An exciting and heart racing start full of drama sets the rapid pace through out the story.  A delicious tale full of twists and turns, revenge and blackmail, love and heartbreak, Olivero's Outrageous Proposal ticked every box for me.

Alyse is being thrown from pillar to post by all her loved ones and with Marcus on her back about accepting his marriage proposal, she's so desperate to get him to leave her alone she decides to go against everything she knows and in an attempt to make Marcus go away she dances with a handsome and perfectly dashing, drop dead gorgeous Italian.  What she doesn't expect is for him to completely turn her feelings upside down and awaken in such a way she didn't know was possible.  In the taxi on the way back to his place she turns to see Marcus.  Dario doesn't miss the hint of a smile.  Perhaps the hint of the smile helps Dario feel less guilty when Alyse finds it wasn't an accident they meet.

In between the waring brothers, Alyse's family is slowly falling into ruins.  There's two hands offering help, Alyse chose the hand Dario offers.  Marriage of convenience.  What's not convenient is the feelings both Alyse and Dario feels and fights.  Dario has risen from the gutter, he has revenge on his mind and a marriage of convenience will get him what he thinks he wants.  Alyse needs to help her family and get away from Marcus. Dario is the short term answer.  That's not all tho, there's still more secrets to spill.

Kate has an such incredible way with words, they flow right off the page into my imagination, they set the scene, they build in a rising crescendo, they tug at your heart strings, they send you away to beautiful locations, they make you absolutely love the hero and feel for the heroine.  There's a depth and intensity that make Dario and Alyse's story 3D in my mind.

Thank you Kate, I'm so honored to receive an ARC for my honest opinion, I really appreciate it and absolutely adore your work.


5 Stars
Review by TashNz

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Review by Nas
5 Stars

OLIVERO’S OUTRAGEOUS PROPOSAL by author Kate Walker is an April 2015 release by Harlequin Presents.

Alyse Gregory wanted to get away from one persistent suitor so she planned on being seen with another man. But meeting Dario Olivero put the plan put of her mind as she was scorched by desire so hot that there was nothing else on her mind. 

Yet was Dario also hit by desire or had she played in his hands? Then he proposed marriage to her as a way of getting out of her problems, would she accept it? Now that she knew why he came after her in the first place?
What would happen to their super-charged chemistry? Would they give in to their passion? But Dario doesn’t do family, what would he do when Alyse drops the bombshell on him?

OLIVERO’S OUTRAGEOUS PROPOSAL is a sizzling romance. Author Kate Walker once again brought a tale of romance shimmering with emotions and sensuality. A reader would stay hooked to the book till the very last page.

Highly recommended for all readers of romance.

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Reviewed by Maria

When it comes to romance authors, I have some favourites to whom I go every time, knowing that they give exactly what it says on the tin when it comes to romance.  An escape from the everyday monotony, a flight of fantasy and plenty of passion, along with a story firmly grounded in reality.

No one does passion better than Kate Walker.  And her romances always have a touch of the storyteller about them.  Behind this romance is a story of two brothers.  A ‘good’ brother and a ‘bad’ brother.  One born to wealth and entitlement, the other, born on the wrong side of the blanket and therefore, out in the cold.  There is a struggle.  Who will be the winner?

When Dario Olivero proposes to Lady Alyse Gregory,  he’s doing it in the full knowledge that he’s taking the woman his brother wants to marry.  When Alyse accepts, it’s because she wants to avoid Dario’s brother, who’s not her type at all.  But the real reason why both of them marry is because of the instantaneous conflagration of passion which rages between them.

At the end of the day, a woman needs to know she’s being loved because of who she is and what she is, not because she stands for something or brings something to the marriage table like prestige, property or even money.  There has to be real love and desire too.  Kate Walker gets to this conundrum in a way that voices the inner longings of a woman’s heart.  That’s why I loved reading this.

Put simply, I love me a good Kate Walker romance read.  This one checks all the boxes.  Get a  copy.

5*


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Reviewed by Desere


Kate Walker is back and this time it's a real humdinger of a journey ! We have Dario Olivero, he sees Alyse Gregory as a way to reap revenge against his estranged half brother, he 'll use her to get the family acceptance he has always craved and then walk away. But then he discovers Alyse's family debts and realizes he cannot simply walk away.

There is only one solution and it's in true Harlequin Presents fashion.... a marriage proposal ! Of course this is not what Alyse was expecting yet she does see the logic therein and besides her body might be saying yes and her head no, but she can always find her head and steer it in the right direction, right ?

But whilst basking in the Tuscan sun their mutual attraction escalates out of hand and soon they have a whole other inconvenient dilemma to deal with! Oh and did I forget to mention there's also Marcus who wants Alyse all to himself! It's the perfect heart-racing rush to the end of feelings, overpowering emotions, heartache, blackmail and a whole lot of secrets !

This was  the type of book that is so fast paced and emotionally packed that it is impossible to put it down once you start, do not I repeat do not start reading this book when you have to get to bed early for an early start, trust me your thoughts will be whirling around and no sleep will come! Oh and as myself you will end up grabbing it and reading it till the very end and at  am realize you have to get up in an hour! Talk about a long day, but with these characters and the remarkable journey created by a very talented author it was all worth it!

I loved the characters, both strong and passionate and both with that delicious ' Back off, don't mess with me" vs " I am all yours as long as ..." attitude , it gave the read the perfect dark meets light element that I love so much when it comes to romance books.

For those that read my reviews , you will know that this is where  I start digging into the characters and breaking them down bit by bit, but today that is something that will cause a huge injustice to this book. Why? Because this is the number one Kate Walker book! You have to read it for youself Passion. amazing flair, an incredible journey of love, self discover and just so much more that I am finding it really hard to place the exact words

After completing this read I was in a daze for days, and not just because of the lack of sleep no, it was the a state of complete awe, as to just how amazing this author's work is. She took a simple found in so many other romance books plot and changed it into one of the most magical journeys of romance I have ever come across.

I highly recommend this read for all fans of romance. It had the danger vs anger vs passion and betrayal , the this is not over till I say it is and the roller coaster of emotions that completely overwhelmed me! Just perfect!!

5/5 star review
" One problem leads to one solution but then a whole other problem arises"


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Reviewed by Janie




"Olivero's Outrageous Proposal" by Kate Walker was a wonderful, quick read. The more I read from this author I have to put her up into my top 10 list for authors. 

We meet Alyse Gregory who is being pursued by one man that she doesn't care for so she decides to go after another man Dario Olivero. Dario doesn't mind because he is just as taken with her as she is with him. The desire between these two is HOT. There is just one problem...the man that Alyse wants nothing to do with is Dario's brother and Dario knows that his brother wants this woman. Is everything all happy and roses? Well, not quite. Dario wants her but Alyse is looking for love. 

Much more to this book than I wrote about but definitely worth the read.
5 * 

Surrendering All But Her Heart by Melanie Milburne

Reviewed by Desere

Surrendering all but her heart is the latest masterpiece of the perfect lovers reunited romance entwined with passion,intrigue and above all a scandalous secret.

Mrs Milburne has for years entertained readers with stories filled with extreme passion,true love and stories that border so close on real life situations that I have always been able to get completely lost and entranced and be left with the old saying ...that could definitely happen.

In Surrendering all but her heart she has gone even further than I have seen in her other novels. Yes,again she added her trademark tension between her characters Angelo and Natalie that gave the book it's feistyness. And once again I was more than just a little connected to them both,but this time Mrs Milburne surpassed all the expectations I as reader have set.

She took the old tale of lovers reunited to a whole new level,by not only writing a beautiful love story but by giving it such raw emotion it had me reaching for the tissues in no time ( seriously ladies by chapter three already) and this time I really cried my heart out and afterwards I  had to take a deep breath to be able to come out of the magical world of romance she created and back to reality.

Mrs Milburne is famous for her passionate and hot sex scenes,I have only been able to find one other author that has been able to reach the level of passion in sex scenes such as Mrs Milburne does,but this time around Mrs Milburne did so much more,she added a higher and deeper level of understanding,compassion and sensuality to her scenes to the extent that it was if I was experiencing Angelo's every touch and hearing his every unspoken word.

Then last but certainly not least Mrs Milburne is famous for her more than perfect endings,this time around yes she did create the perfect ending we as readers all love,but on such a realistic level it left me with the perfect feeling of warmth,love and happiness and the believe that behind the most explosive of relationships lies the hearts of two people who share that once in a lifetime love that will never die.

Well done Mrs Milburne you have once again proved why your books are best sellers worldwide.

5/5 star review






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Reviewed by Nas

Harlequin Presents December 2012 - Bundle 2 of 2: A Royal World Apart\Woman in a Sheikh's World\Surrendering All But Her Heart
Surrendering All But Her Heart (Harlequin Presents)
Harlequin Presents December 2012 - Bundle 2 of 2: A Royal World Apart\Woman in a Sheikh's World\Surrendering All But Her Heart
Surrendering All But Her Heart (Harlequin Presents)

SURRENDERING ALL BUT HER HEART by USA Bestselling Author Melanie Milburne is a Harlequin Presents release for November 2012.

Natalie Armitage had walked away from her very passionate affair with Angelo Belladini when she had sensed him getting too serious about her. At twenty one, she was not read to commit to marriage.

Now Angelo was back and he was after marriage again, but this time around he was hell bent on revenge!

Natalie had to accept for her family but would he be able to thaw her frozen heart? Though Angelo may have blackmailed her into marrying him, would she be a submissive wife?

After all she had an explosive secret from which she had been running away all her life. Would Angelo still look at her with love in his eyes when he learns her secret?

SURRENDERING ALL BUT HER HEART is a steamy tale which sparkles with plenty of sizzle, sensuality, emotion, passion and romance. A gripping story of second chances, past secrets and unquenchable desires.

Another winner from a fabulous writer, Melanie Milburne, whose name alone is a sure fire guarantee of high quality romantic fiction!

Return to Romance Book Haven


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Review by TashNz


Damaged Natalie walked away from Angelo five years ago and didnt look back until she was forced back into his life as a result of her wayward brother's actions. And so begins such a heartfelt and emotionally charged story that my heart almost broke for Natalie and the secret pain and guilt she was carrying that was figuratively squashing her.

Angelo jumps at the chance that fate has bought Natalie back to him and wastes no time promising her  that if she doesn't want her little brother to see the inside of a prison cell, she needs to comply with his demands which includes marriage in the full sense of the word.  Willing to do anything for her little brother Natalie reluctantly enters back into Angelo's life.  Very soon our passionate and stubborn Italian hero admits to himself he never stopped loving Natalie. He drops his guard and is determined to chip away at Natalie's heart to find out why it's so frozen which in turn leaves him open for a broken heart but he's willing to take the chance.

I loved Natalie.  Even tho she held onto such a burden that almost broke her, she had strength of character and stood up to Angelo with wit and sass. She is funny and passionate and fiercely loyal. 

I'm a huge fan of the passionate and heart-tugging stories Melanie Milburne weaves.  If you like gripping, emotionally charged and heart wrenching love stories, I highly recommend SABHH for you.

4 Stars


Reviewed by Maria

This is one of the darkest romances I've read in this imprint.  The heroine's demons are truly alarming, if understandable.  I liked the redemption in the story and the message that love has healing qualities.

The love scenes were wild and sometimes really shocking.  There seems to be an absence of tenderness and even if it wasn't exactly the specialize in pain type of sex as such, there was this type of need to inflict pain on the partner that I found ever so slightly disturbing.  The love and tender scenes were more reserved for the heroine's new pet than for the hero.

The characters were so well written that I could see them.  The dialogue was interesting, the hero quite up to the mark.  Melanie Milburne is an accomplished writer and delivered the goods as usual. 

This is one novel that made me sit up and take notice.