Will Gianni’s thirst for revenge on the sweet Issy backfire on him? Check out this hot romance read!

This was interesting, I liked the escapism aspect of it, that was super great. I didn't always love the dynamics between the hero and heroine though

This is the first book in the Billion-Dollar Revenge. Two sister believe that the hero and his cousin destroy their Father's business and in turn he died an early death due to their actions. The plan involves taking the cousins' corporation down from the inside. The successful outcome for the sisters depends on taking Gianni out of the arena during his annual two-week retreat to the Caribbean. Issy reinvents herself to attract Gianni's attention with far-reaching consequences that make her question her life to date. Gianni takes Issy to his island and try to uncovered/revealed about what happened to Issy's Father's company, why and the truth both perspectives is disclosed. In the meantime the two encounter an attraction and feelings for each other. Issy reinvents herself to attract Gianni's attention with far-reaching consequences that make her question her life to date. What can be said is that the heart wants what it wants.

Despite lots of ribbing from my friends, I have been a reader of Harlequins for more than 40 years. They have taken a more modern turn to their writing and are no longer the corny romances I remember from my youth.

Michele Smart is one of my favorites as she writes intrigue as well as humor in her stories. Issy and Gianni are both multi faceted characters. Enemies with difference agendas they are both out to outsmart the other. Issy thinks she's clever, but Gianni is on to her from the start. Who doesn't love a little cat and mouse game?

I thought the ending unraveled a little bit, but I think the author was setting up a story for Issy's sister. Sometimes it's hard to see why things aren't completely tied up in neat little bows. I will have to check out the next book and she if there is any mention of Issy and Gianni.

Issy transformed herself into a blonde bombshell who would attract a billionaire like Giani Rossi. Turns out she and her sister want revenge on the Rossi brothers (or is cousins) for destroying their father and their happy home life. Despite Issy's plans, Gianni is on to her and tricks her onto his yacht where he confiscates her phone and proceeds to hold her hostage.
It comes as a big surprise to him when he finds himself married to Issy and surprisingly falling in love with her despite how it all started. Issy is completely different from the character she portrays, and it is interesting to hear Gianni honestly admitting that perhaps he can be called shallow, but the real Issy would have never appealed to him but now he can't wait to see her revert back to herself.
I have mixed feelings about this story. I usually read this genre as an escape, so I look for lighthearted fun but somehow this story just did not appeal to me.

The H destroyed the h’s family, so she and her sister plan revenge on the H and his cousin. The H discovers the h’s plan, and thwarts her plans, as well as her cousin’s.
I received an ARC from net galley.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Presents for the eARC. I am voluntarily reviewing this book. This was pretty far fetched for me, but I still thought it was fun to read. It did make me laugh. I found the ending (before the epilogue) was an odd way to end. Sort of a cliff hanger. 3.5 stars

In Bound by the Italian's "I Do", by Michelle Smart, both main characters have been on difficult emotional journeys.. When Izzy and Gianni meet their complicated pasts temporarily blind them to potential future happiness. This is a particularly well written series romance with an intense emotional arc, nuanced characters that the reader cares deeply about and a clever, fast moving plot. I can't wait for the second in the series!

ARC provided by NetGalley and Harlequin in exchange for an honest review. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Rating 3.5

Revenge plot.
Two sister believe that the hero and his cousin destroy their Father's business and in turn he died an early death due to their actions.
They have both been planning for years for their retaliation and destruction of their company.

Issy's part in the "revenge" plot was to transform herself into the type of woman that Gianni (one of the cousin's) was attracted to and always had on his arm. That entails becoming a blond bombshell.

The time came for Issy to enact their "meeting" which was at a bar that Gianni was at. Her hope was he would notice her and approaches her at the bar and make a play for her. Well everything played out beautifully and Gianni was snared. Issa played the part of flirtatious and hard to get at the same time. During their encounter his hope was for a ONS but she unfortunately had a "meeting" with a friend and was sad their encounter had to be cut short. But what Izzy shared how she was going on vacation in a couple months and wouldn't it be great if they could meet up then (she new he vacationed yearly at this place so that was part of the girls revenge plan). Gianni was then shared how he actually would be there and that the two can meet up then see where this attraction went.

Issy's sister works for the cousins in their company and this was also part of their plan for years, for her to get a job there. They have devised a plan to destroy company from within. But that entails Issy getting Gianni isolated on the yacht. Reason being is it's Gianni's job in the company to go through contracts/deals with a fine tooth comb to make sure everything lines up and is legal. So keeping Gianni on the yacht, isolated and away from communication while the deal goes through. And that deal is what will put the company under. A deal that is fake and designed to destroy them.

Issy meets and enacts her plan. But what she didn't prepare for or expect was her strong pull and attractions to Gianni. And another unexpected development is Gianni finds out about their plan and then devises his own to see what and why she and her sister did this.

Gianni ends up taking Issy to his island and getting to the bottom of why her sister and her are trying to destroy his and his cousins company. A lot is uncovered/revealed about what happened to Issy's Father's company, why and the truth both perspectives is disclosed. In the meantime the two encounter an attraction and feelings for each other. A relationship begins to develop between them.

What takes place is an emotional and angsty relationship with a lot of insecurity. What I found frustrating is Issy's issues of who she really is and the belief the Gianni would never love her for true self.

And this is my struggle with this book. Issy spent a long time in "loosing weight" exercising and transforming herself. What Gianni liked and was attracted to were women who were tall, thin, blond and beautiful. We hear snippets of her being the opposite of that he's always been attracted, that she is more plump, with mousey chestnut hair and nothing he would have normally looked at. And there are a couple scenes in the book that just added to my disbelief of them getting together to be honest. In one scene is he get's a hold of her phone at the beginning of their yacht trip and he see's a picture of her and her sister (this where he realizes his definitely been played) and is shocked to see what she really looks like and thinks she's plain if I remember correctly. Another is he and Issy are having a discussion and he tells her honestly that if they passed each other in the street a few years back he would never have given her a second glance. But he then goes on to explain he realized how shallow he was back then and she's opened his eyes to what really matters now. This is an underlying theme throughout the book. It just didn't ring true and didn't feel like that was really who Gianni was and totally out of character of his life style. And another question I constantly had was how does she transform herself so drastically, from one extreme to the other??I struggled with that issue throughout the story and in the end it didn't sit well with me. Also the story line of his character was off and the revenge plot just didn't work either. Oh one more thing, the cover for this HP was a major Pet peeve for me, the heroine was the blond bombshell, that just added to the irritation.

The epilogue saved this from being a 2 rating.

Quick Summary: An enemies to lovers romance

My Review: Bound by the Italian's "I Do" by Michelle Smart was perfect. It was explosive and sweet. The depth of emotion that Issy and Gianni experienced was moving. In the end, all that can be said is that the heart wants what it wants.

My Final Say: This love story was epic, in my opinion. It was special.

Rating: 5/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: A
Re-read: Yes
Keeper: Yes
Favorites Shelf: Yes

I voluntarily read this book via NetGalley. The words I have shared are my own. Thanks to the author and to the publisher, who provided access to this title in exchange for an honest review.

* A Goodreads review has been posted.