Raul the rich sexy Italian with a painful past had revenge on his mind when he met Lydia. There are turns and misunderstandings but I liked the story. I wish the story hadn't dragged so much but the ending was worth it. I did review this book on Amazon & Goodreads but I guess I'd missed the deadline for Netgalley.

DNF. I just couldn't get into this one. Plus it didn't help that the heroine was so naive that up until she meets the "hero" she allowed life to plow over her. But why I stopped reading it really was because I couldn't find the chemistry between them at all ... it was mostly about the hero trying to best the other dude.

A buy buy buy book. Okay, I readily admit this is NOT one of the authors I normally like or read. However, I was totally surprised by this book. I was captivated in the story. It opens from the first with pathos and betrayal of friendship as well as deep hurt and infamy of relationships. It continues as it matures with characters that are bold as well as likable. Life in all its quirks were brought out with passion, and lust and romance. Relationships of past and understanding of mistakes as well as rectifying for the future caught my imagination and attention. The author does a superb work with this book. I was perhaps a little disappointed at the end but when I thought on it, how else could it be really with that type of story. It has suspense, life, passion, weakness, strength, lust and most of all love. A great read. I was given this book in return for an honest review. Anna Swedenmom

Gorgeous romance – emotional and evocative keeper!

The intense hero and heroine interaction of the first half–together with the intense conflict–held my attention and I didn’t want to put it down even then. Raul, the tortured hero, is gorgeous and yummy and I fell for him the same way Lydia did. The heroine, Lydia, is lovely and easy to identify with and root for.

Oh, and Rome!

Marinelli’s gorgeous voice is showcased to perfection; from how the love scenes are un-skippable and unique to the characters, and how they’re interwoven with emotion, conflict and characterisation; from the deep emotion and how the universal emotions experienced have to resonate at some level with the reader; and her unique take on conflict, and…

One of my pet peeves is where the hero and heroine are about to do or say something important. And are only prevented from doing so by interruption of the phone or another character arriving at a vital moment. I think heroes and heroines should decide to stop or not stop etc without the decision conveniently taken out of their hands to serve the dictates of plot. So I LOVED it when the telephone wasn’t allowed to interruptus and how Marinelli played with it and then when it did, it didn’t get in the way of their decisions/motivations.

Oh, and the Venice scenes *sigh* are romance personified. Atmospheric Venice, Murano glass, gondolas. Lydia and Raul’s romance matched the romance and sensuality and atmosphere of the setting and the one enhanced the other.

One of only a couple of slight blips for me was SPOILER the discovery of the photograph of herself and Raul on the net delivered by her stepfather. This felt a bit of a Presents’ cliché (or classic depending on your point of view) but it does fit. And it was kept low key, even if a classic Presents key to be turned to detonate the relationship. END OF SPOILER

But this, and suspending my disbelief everso slightly over another crucial plot point, didn’t tarnish any of the stars of this five star plus read. Even when Lydia and Raul are apart it doesn’t affect the perfect pacing or fail to hold my attention, which was riveted on how they would be able to remake something so precious, their relationship beautifully embodied in the work of art that SPOILER got broken but was better because of it END OF SPOILER. If I haven’t already mentioned, I adored the deep emotion, characterisation and the uniqueness of their romance, and cried as Raul confronted his past, because of Lydia, and when they were mending their relationship.

Received from NetGalley & Harlequin, but I’m going to buy my own print copy for my keeper shelves once I’ve tracked down if Gabi and Salim get their own story. And what about Bastiano – who my heart has already broken a little bit for.

This is apparently the author's 100th book for Harlequin. That is a HELL of a lot of words any way you cut it. Knowing that most category romances run around the 40,000 word mark, that makes it over 4 million published words for Carol Marinelli.

And in those 4 million words, she has absolutely perfected the art of romantic storytelling.

I've read a fair few secret baby books, and the story always seems to start off the same way - with the heroine agonizing guiltily over how she's going to tell the hero, or worse, with him finding out and storming in on her to autocratically take over her life and generally act like a gigantic ass. This one changes all that by starting in the right place... at the very beginning, before the hero and heroine even meet.

We get to know Raul and his reasoning for wanting to take Lydia away from her potential suitor before the two of them even speak, and that makes his motivations much more understandable, his entire position much more reasonable, than if his Tragic Past had been slowly revealed over the course of the book. Instead, we're rooting for him to find happiness right from the beginning, hoping for him to be able to open his heart to Lydia.

Of course, the book's title gives away what's coming, but I still found myself wincing as Lydia found herself in a situation with no easy way out. Or rather, there was an easy way out - I won't spoiler the story by telling you what - but she chose not to take it, and to fight for what she wanted.

Carol Marinelli does a great job of flipping a tired trope on its head and giving it a fresh new story, and I absolutely recommend you give The Innocent's Secret Baby a try. Five stars.

This is your genuine Harlequin story. Rich handsome man who is arrogant and out for revenge. Innocent leading lady who ends up expecting. Carol Marinelli has written numerous books for Harlequin and this is the start of a new series (Billionaires and One-Night Heirs. ) This is a long standing theme for this publisher and I enjoy reading one every now and then.

Raul Salvo uses Lydia Hayward as the subject of his revenge not caring about any damage to her. Unfortunately as is often the case in such situations, her innocence takes him by surprise. For a stone hearted business man he is strangely affected by Lydia's plight and soon wings her off to his lair in Venice, a willing partner in lust.

Perhaps the lust would have burned off but Lydia discovers his deception and storms out of his life not knowing that consequences from their tryst will force them back together. Raul also is strangely determined to find Lydia despite her imitation of a gold digger. Can they find a way to bridge their differences and learn to share the child that their brief fling has created?

Harlequin romances are light hearted escapes for me. In today's day and age where virginity flies out of the window before a girl is in college, the heroines are always virgins. Tall, dark and disillusioned men of the world forget the most basic of precautions when faced with the beautiful virgin. I love the parry and thrust as the two find their way to happily ever after. This one was a bit more serious than most with the baggage they both carry from their childhoods.

This is Lydia and Raul's story. He is trying to thwart his enemy. He knows she is here for Bastiano. He decides to take her. She finds out that he lied. She leaves and finds out she is pregnant. They have to work it out. It was a great read.

Do I even dare attempt to read this authors book.

ARC from NetGalley and Harlequin for an honest review.

Well I need to start of by saying this Author surprised me and in a good way.

We open with our hero, Raul DiSavo at the funeral of his Mother. It's a scene filled with angst, heart ache and anger. His father was not in attendance but his mother's suppose "lover" was. And that only added to the drama and angst as it was Raul's best friend growing up. The two families were suppose to be rivals but the forged a friendship. But the betrayal was too much for Raul and when he learns Bastiano was in attendance Raul could not contain his anger or hurt any longer. Raul and Bastiano come to blows with some physical as well as emotional scars they will carry for life.

Years later we find Raul at a Hotel Restaurant having breakfast. He is considering purchasing the five star Hotel when he observes an older, obnoxious man sitting a couple tables away. He's disgusted by the man treatment of the waiter and staff. And then in walks a beautiful and regal young woman that Raul notices and is drawn too immediately. Unfortunately she sits down to breakfast with the obnoxious man and Raul dismisses her as he's revolted by her company. But a name in their conversations catches Raul's attention, Bastiano.

Lydia is having breakfast with her step-father and put off by is request. She can't believe he's manipulating her to have dinner with this wealthy playboy. And Lydia is picking up on some underlining message that her step-father is requesting, surly he's not suggesting she sleep with this playboy if need be to save the family home???

Lydia is a strong young women who's tried to help her mother and step-father with their business of event planning at the castle/home. She is somewhat of a people pleasure and seeks her mothers love and approval, but yet tries to be independent and her own person. But lately she's been dissatisfied with where her life is going and where it's been, she's ready to step out on her own.

When Lydia stepped into the restaurant for breakfast with her stepfather she couldn't help but notice the very handsome man sitting a couple tables away. Lydia refuses her stepfathers request that she have dinner with Bastiano and leaves the restaurant. When she steps outside she's halted by the handsome gentleman, he was concerned because she seemed upset as he over heard some of her conversation with her stepfather. He asks if she would like to go to breakfast and she left so hastily and missed the meal and she decided to accept his invitation.

And as you probably guessed or surmised Raul wants revenge and Lydia might just be the key or avenue to Bastiano. Lydia is ready for an new start or a different path and Raul might just be her start down that road.

And so begins their love story. I have to say these two characters had depth, were multiply layered and they had some major chemistry too boot. I find them both very likable and strong. Lydia had back bone but yet came across and sweet too. Raul was a alpha male with some angst added on to make a very likable hero. As their relationship seems physically at first it does blossom into a emotional one with a heart. Their secrets that become revealed, past hurst each is carrying, as well a trust issues that need to be overcome/revealed. This story had it all for sure, angst, chemistry, sexual tension, revenge and redemption, pregnancy and finally love and romance.

Carol Marinelli's 100th book for HP is a winner. Raul DiSavo is known for spending only one night with a woman. Even so, there is no shortage of women willing to take the chance that he might change his mind. He's also known for his hatred of Bastiano, his boyhood best friend. When he learns, quite by accident, that Lydia is being offered up to Bastiano in exchange for his help restoring her family's castle, Raul sees one more way to tweak his enemy's nose. By stealing Lydia away, he takes something that Bastiano evidently wants. As he spends time with her, however, keeping his heart locked away becomes a top priority. When she discovers his duplicity, can she forgive? I read quite a few HP books every month. This was the best I've read in a while. I definitely recommend, especially to readers who love the HP line.

I'm not sure what it was about this book, but I just didn't enjoy it. It didn't give me the "feels" that I look for in my romance books.

Quick Summary: Short and sweet
Rating: 3/5
Recommend: Yes
Status: M
Chemistry/Intensity: Yes
Conflict/Drama: Yes
Family Dysfunction: Yes
Likable Characters: Yes
HEA: Yes
Favorite Scene: The making of the statue

3.5 Stars

This one was missing something. I think it was the hero-i just had a hard time liking this guy. He sets out to seduce the heroine out of revenge. She is meant for his business nemesis. Then when he gets her pregnant he gives up so easily. She tries to keep things on a business level with her and he lets her! I want my alpha's to fight harder for their woman.

3.5 Stars

Whilst this story is the usual 'accidental pregnancy' plot, I enjoyed it probably because I liked both Raul and Lydia. Their dialogue felt more modern than the usual M&B dialogue. Lydia was not a simpering little virgin. She knew what she wanted and she took it! Raul was not the usual cool and distant hero.

Raul has issues from his childhood and he's out for revenge. He doesn't do relationships nor does he want marriage or kids. Lydia has never felt loved. But they have a connection. The author portrayed the chemistry between them well.

This had a much more modern feel to it, even in the epilogue.

Another interesting Harlequin romance. Raul and Lydia spend a passionate few days together without her realizing that he is using her for revenge.

Another enjoyable read this author. The characters were both very likable, the story just flowed beautifully. The couple didn't keep playing their actions over and over in their heads as in some other novels, I enjoyed the book very much.

Read in one sitting, I couldn't put Raul and Lydia's story down for a variety of reasons. 

The story was intense and had me on the edge of my seat. The locations and setting was beautiful and the storytelling was unique.  It was written differently to what I was used to and I think this is what made the story intense for me.  Raul was quite intense and Lydia was like a flower starting to bloom, Raul being her sunlight. 

Throw in a good mixture of revenge and I was hooked!  I loved the glassblowing and I really liked the stubborn side of Raul because it made the read all the more interesting.

Hearty congrats to Carol Marinelli for reaching 100, I'm a long time fan and enjoy every read!