Carol Marinelli

This review contain spoilers.

I like reading Carol Marinelli's books because they usually have an added depth that many other Presents don't have, and this book is no exception.

My favorite parts of this book are the little details about the characters. Emma Stephenson doesn't have a female role-model growing up, so she relies on magazines for advice most children get from their mothers. On the other hand, Luca D'Amato is like all of Presents' signature workaholic, billionaire businessmen, show more except he also cares for a pet "geriatric poodle with dementia" he took in three years ago when his ex left him behind.

But what doesn't work for me is this: Luca doesn't want to marry and have children because he is afraid he will be violent towards his family like his father, grandfather and uncle (or uncles) were. He doesn't want to hurt Emma, so he pushes her away without realizing that he is hurting her anyway, just not physically. Only when he learns from his mother that the doctor—and not the person whom his mother married—is his real father does he finally end both his and Emma's misery and have their HEA. To be fair, he is beginning to realize that he is not like the other males in his family, but it's the fact that he doesn't carry any violent genes that propels him to Emma's side. I think the story would have been stronger if Marinelli had Luca accept that he will never become violent towards Emma, instead of making it okay for him to be with her because he doesn't share the same genes as his mother's husband. Seriously, if this weren't fiction, how likely is it that one in a similar situation finds out they have a different father? Besides, what about nature vs. nurture? Since Luca grew up in a violent household, he could have become violent, anyway, despite the different genes because he could have grown up thinking violence and abuse is normal behavior. Sorry for the rant, but I feel like Marinelli took the easy way out by going down this route. This isn't her best work, but I still like reading her books. show less

Sometimes Carol Marinelli works in a big way for me and this was one. You all know I like HPs and I don't feel the need to pretend that they always or even often have great redeeming qualities. I can get behind some tiaras and tycoons, secret babies and blackmail just for the fun of it. Still as a 70 year microcosm of women's fiction you can follow current sentiment on important issues through the stories of some of the greater efforts. This one is a clear example of that. If romances in show more general serve to show and validate that all women are worthy of love then this story is a focus on yes, even a girl who had been sexually abused as a teenager was worthy of love. Romances at their best also show that a woman can overcome difficulties and move on through her own power and self motivation. Sure this hero helped the heroine forgive herself for the past but she had already done most of the work herself. He just gave her a final safe resting place. He was able to do that because he was a sexual abuse survivor himself. If that is not a clear example of romances in general and Harlequins in particular reflecting back social mores I don't know what is. Can you imagine this issue being raised so blatantly in an HP of 30 years ago? These books as I have said before keep a finger on the pulse of important social issues. Abuse is an important topic that is getting more and more exposure and here it is in HP world. If there is some woman somewhere feeling bad about her past or even present and she can glean a little comfort from reading about another woman who made it through this book will have served a greater purpose than an hour's entertainment.

As entertainment though, for me, it succeeded quite well. I loved the quirky heroine who had no filter on her mouth. She just said what she thought, but not in a hurtful way. She just wouldn't let the hero hide in his comfort zone. Here again he needed her just as much as she needed him. There's another good message. The hero was a thoughtful man who grew to realize that he himself had more to offer than he had ever considered. All around well written, well plotted with lovely use of the English language. show less

Maternity nanny Naomi Hamilton comes to New York City during Christmastime to help her friend Merida Devereux (and her husband Ethan) with their newborn baby, Ava. Naomi is excited to be in NYC, since she has never been out of the UK. On her first night, staying at the Devereux family home, she meets Abe Devereux (gorgeous Manhattan tycoon and brother of Ethan). She thinks he is more beautiful than anyone she has ever seen. They both share a pizza and talk for some of the night. Abe is show more usually a very private person and considered cold, but he finds himself wanting company on this night, after just visiting his very sick father (Jobe) in the hospital.

The next day (before Merida comes home with baby Ava and Naomi's nanny duties begin) Naomi is ready to do some sightseeing. She is eager to see the tree at Rockefeller Center, look at the window displays, buy a coat at Macy's, feed the squirrels in Central Park... Abe steps in and offers to be Naomi's tour guide of NYC. I loved Naomi's enthusiasm, seeing New York City's sights for the first time. I also liked how Abe offered to show her around. It was out of character for him to take off work and he was surprised that he enjoyed himself so much.

Eventually they share a kiss, but later Naomi discovers that Abe already has a partner (old girlfriend Candace) though he insists they aren't involved anymore, it's only for show, a contract for business purposes. Naomi finds herself falling for Abe.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I really liked Naomi, she was a very sweet heroine. When her mother had Naomi her father left them, never to be seen again, so her mother gave Naomi up and she has been in foster homes for most of her life, with no relatives that she knows of. Abe was the usual HP hero, arrogant, rich, and handsome. He admired his father but he was never very close to him. (Even though Abe started to get closer to him during his time in the hospital.) Abe's mother passed away years ago. She was a very cruel woman and Abe had to look out for Ethan when they were very young.

I liked how the attraction between Naomi and Abe kept growing and it took a while before they made love, so this built up the sexual tension between them. This book was quite festive. I loved the NYC setting at Christmas. I liked the main couple, Abe and Naomi. I also liked old Jobe. It was sweet how everybody surprised Naomi and went all out for her birthday, which took place on Christmas Eve.

A terrific read for the holidays or anytime! show less

Finally read the second half of this duology. I enjoyed it just as much as the first one. The hero was complex. So often the heroes of novels are supposedly tortured by a bad upbringing but the author doesn't really sell it and you just don't care. Here though CM does a good job of making the hero's backstory compelling without being maudlin. The heroine is a good match for him. And the writing quality is beyond the ordinary for this type of book.