Bound by the Marcolini Diamonds by Melanie Milburne is a book that begins with a tragedy followed closely by a marriage of convenience that ends with a happily-ever-after to tug at any readers’ heartstrings. There were times within this book that I really detested the hero, especially his chauvinist views and when he learns the truth about Sabrina I couldn’t help but cheer even though, at the end, Mario did finally earn his redemption in my eyes. And I felt for Sabrina but I’m not sure I would have put up with his autocratic attitude for as long as she did, even though she felt that she was protecting innocents with her refusal to tell the truth. Ms Milburne has created characters that readers will love or hate and for me I enjoyed the aspects they portrayed even when they exasperated me. Kudos Ms Milburne for an engaging story.

Five years ago, Lara Meadows had fallen head over heels in love with the suave, charismatic, sophisticated and staggeringly handsome Italian Alessandro Vincenti. Lara couldn’t believe that someone like Alessandro – who could have any woman he wanted – could have fallen in love with somebody like her, but the gorgeous Italian had had his heart stolen by the beautiful Australian girl and he was looking forward to spending the rest of his life with her. But harsh reality soon put a stop to their fairy-tale romance and Alessandro had been forced to return to Italy, whereby he had been compelled to do his duty as an aristocrat and marry another woman, leaving a broken-hearted Lara behind pregnant with his baby….

Lara had been shocked when she had found out about Alessandro’s marriage, but she was determined to give their baby the best start in life. Being a single mother is not easy, but with her mother’s help, Lara can juggle the demands of career and motherhood and give baby Vivi the best possible childhood. Her busy life leaves her no time for romance and men are certainly not in the agenda. But just when Lara thinks that she has finally got her life sorted, she walks into work and gets the surprise of her life when she meets her new boss…Alessandro!

Alessandro had never managed to forget Lara Meadows. His marriage had been a complete disaster and despite his best efforts to move on from his past, he had been unable to get Lara out of his mind. When he finds out that Lara is now one of his employees, Alessandro is determined to pick up where he left off, but Lara is adamant that she wants nothing to do with him – nor can she risk him finding out that he is the father of her daughter.

But Alessandro is not about to let Lara slip through his fingers again. He wants to have her in his bed and he won’t stop pursuing her until he gets what he wants. However, when Alessandro finds out about Lara’s secret, his ardor turns to bitter anger. He vows to make her pay for keeping Vivi a secret from him – and what better place is there to wreak his revenge in than in his bedroom?

Anna Cleary’s At the Boss’s Beck and Call is simply outstanding! Liberally spiced with wonderful characterization, wicked repartee, spicy love scenes, brilliant dialogue and a believable conflict, At the Boss’s Beck and Call is a dazzling tale of secrets, new beginnings and passionate romance that will keep you riveted from the first page till the last and hold you in thrall until the final full stop!

Fast-paced, sassy and romantic, At the Boss’s Beck and Call is a fabulous romance you just cannot miss!

Luke Holloway doesn’t like clutter. He likes his office to be clean, slick and professional, but when his personal assistant goes on maternity leave, Luke suddenly finds himself faced with a barrage of unsuitable replacements who seem unable to do anything right! Luke cannot go on like this. He’s reached the end of his tether and if he doesn’t find a suitable replacement for his old secretary, he knows that his reputation could be on the line. Luckily, for him, his best friend’s wife, Lily, hands Luke a business card that changes his life forever…

Sara Fleet is not strictly a PA. She’s renowned for her organizational skills, and when she hears of Luke’s quandary, she accepts the challenge fully aware that she’ll soon transform Luke’s office and turn it around. Sara’s organizational prowess impresses Luke – but he’s even more impressed by her gorgeous figure, sharp wit and sexy eyes.

Luke doesn’t do relationships. A messed up childhood has made him wary of both families and commitment. However, the one thing Luke isn’t wary of is sex, and working side by side with his efficient new PA, he cannot help but wish that he and Sara would move away from the boardroom and straight into the bedroom. But Sara has issues of her own. An old boyfriend had treated her abysmally and she had sworn never to get involved with another man ever again. Yet, she cannot help but be bowled over by Luke’s charisma and gorgeous body!

A steamy affair soon ensues and Sara realizes that she’s done the unthinkable and fallen in love with her boss. Luke has made it quite clear that relationships are not – nor ever will be – part of his agenda. However, a future without Sara is one which he cannot bear to think about.

Then Sara discovers she’s pregnant with his baby…

As addictive as ever, Kate Hardy’s latest novel, Playboy Boss, Pregnancy of Passion, is a spellbinding tale that sizzles with wonderful sexual tension, palpable emotion and tender romance. Featuring a sexy hero and a resourceful heroine, Playboy Boss, Pregnancy of Passion is another keeper by the fantastic award-winning author Kate Hardy!

At five-and-twenty, Lady Maude Templeton is considered by the Ton to be already an old maid, destined for a lifetime of wretched spinsterhood. However, little does the Ton realize that Maude’s spirit refuses to be cowed. Rather than resigning herself to a life of desolate indifference, Maude is determined to keep on searching for that one special man who will love her for the rest of her life. Rather than set her sights at eligible bachelors, wicked rakes or hopeless younger sons, Lady Templeton has decided that Mr. Eden Hurst shall be the man whom she shall marry. However, Maude soon realizes that convincing Mr. Hurst to marry her is not as easy as she thought it would be.

For one thing, Eden Hurst has got no clue who Maude is. Secondly, he’s not a member of the aristocracy, but a theatre owner whose reputation for bedding the married women of the Ton is legendary; and thirdly he’s the illegitimate love-child of an Italian prince! An eligible bachelor Mr. Hurst is not. But Maude is not to be deterred. She is determined to make Eden see that she is the woman for him – and what better way to get to know him than to invest in The Unicorn, the theatre which he manages.

Eden is initially taken aback by Maude’s insistence that she becomes involved with the running of his theatre. What young and unmarried lady of good breeding could possibly wish to get involved in the often seamy and seedy world of theatre? But Maude won’t be put off and Eden soon finds himself agreeing to her demands – and welcoming her into the business with a passionate kiss that takes Maude’s breath away.

As the two are thrown in close proximity together, Maude begins to fall head over heels in love with Eden. Charismatic, intelligent and as handsome as sin, Eden is everything she has always wanted in a man and much more besides. But Eden had sworn never to marry. Having spent most of his childhood being treated no better than a servant by his embittered father, Eden has never allowed anyone to get close to him and to break down the defenses which he has built around him. Yet, the more time he spends with Maude, the more he realizes that he just cannot bear to think about his life without her in it!

Eden has never allowed his heart to rule his head. But soon he realizes that letting Maude go would be impossible. Is Eden about to let his pride and his past demons get in the way of his future happiness?

From the outstanding pen of the hugely talented Louise Allen comes a wonderfully romantic tale that will make your heart soar! Passionate, witty, dramatic and imbued with meticulous period detail which will take you straight back to the Regency era, readers will not be able to resist falling in love with spirited Maude, dashing Eden and, of course, the wonderful supporting cast of Ravenhurst cousins whom readers have grown to love from previous stories about this enchanting family!

The Notorious Mr. Hurst is the latest in a long line of spellbinding historical romances from a writer who is in a class of her own: Louise Allen!

Italian nobleman Salvatore Veretti is absolutely furious. He cannot believe that the company that should be rightfully in his possession is now owned by a dim-witted British beauty who does not know the first thing about business! Helena might have conned his cousin, Antonio, into marrying her and leaving her his entire fortune, but determined Salvatore is not going to let her stand in his way and take from under his nose the company which he has coveted for years!

Helena is well aware that people have always thought of her as a ruthless gold-digger who had pursued the much older Antonio until he had let her worm her way into his life in order to get her greedy hands over his money and large fortune. But Helena never cared about what other people thought of her. The former supermodel had been happy and content being a companion to the ebullient Italian and she still cannot believe that the man she had loved has passed over. Helena thinks that going to Italy is the right thing to do. She wants to feel closer to Antonio and get to know the people whom he cared about the most. However, Helena is in for a shock when she encounters the ruthlessly determined Salvatore…

Despite his better judgment, Salvatore finds himself drawn to the enigmatic British beauty. He had expected somebody brash, hardnosed and merciless, but instead is surprised to find a woman who is caring and sensitive and who seems to genuinely care about the glass factory which she has inherited. Helena wants to make the business the most profitable in the district. But if she thinks that Salvatore is going to let her get too comfortable, then she has got another think coming…

Salvatore cannot deny that he is attracted to Helena. When the two kiss under the beautiful Venetian sky, Salvatore realizes that Helena has awakened feelings within him which he had thought long buried. But Salvatore never mixes business with pleasure and he will not let Helena get under his skin.

But it’s too late. The Italian nobleman has fallen in love with Helena. Can their strictly professional relationship ever give way to something deeper? And does Helena reciprocate these feelings towards him? Or is she still in love with Antonio?

Veretti’s Dark Vengeance is a wonderfully romantic story that shall go down a treat with fans of Harlequin Presents. A mature, engaging and thoroughly engrossing story, in Veretti’s Dark Vengeance, Lucy Gordon has penned an absolute gem of a tale replete with a gorgeous Italian hero, a strong, determined and engaging heroine, believable drama, tender love scenes and highly emotional and deeply heartfelt pathos.

Whether it’s a Harlequin Romance or Harlequin Presents, Lucy Gordon’s name on the front cover is a guarantee of high quality romantic fiction!