The Bride's Proposition

This series of books about 6 brothers just gets better, especially this one. Stefano is a twin to Marco. Nellie, as Stef calls her is in need of a husband. She walks into his office, across the road from hers & proposes marriage to him. His answer is to throw her out of his office. Of course that doesn't put her of. She walks right back in. After listening to her proposal Stef thinks it over & discusses it with his brothers. Now this is where the fun begins. Mistaking Marco for Stef she start discussing what they were talking about earlier in his office, poor Marco, who in the past has got blamed for something Stef has done explains to his wife Hanna that he's never seen her before. Nellie is mortified when she turns round & see's Stef she realises her mistake. These mistakes keep happening through the story & they had me in stitches laughing. There was the sheer underwear incident in the office, the time she kissed him. And then the last one involves all the workers at Salvatore's & a pair of binoculas. Aside from all the funny incidents with the presents they give each other, there is a more serious side to this story. Someone has ruined Stef's reputation is is hell bent on finishing of the job by ruining Salvatore's. It's not dificult to see who it is when you start reading the book. I haven't laughted so much in ages while reading this book. It's great. Next story is "The Baby Gift", Alessandro's story.

Although it's a bit more, um, torrid than the stuff I usually enjoy, this book's basic plot is so irresistibly great that I'm willing to cut it a lot of slack. Penelope, the heroine, is a serious, logical businesswoman (or so she tries to convince herself) who finds herself with a sudden extremely urgent (business-related) need to get married. Her best bet is (tall, dark, handsome, charming) fellow business magnate Stefano Salvatore. Although Stefano's been accused of some shady business dealings, Penelope's investigations have convinced her that he's innocent. So, she thinks, surely he'll welcome her proposal of a business-only marriage in exchange for help clearing his name. But Stefano is one of those only-marry-for-love, don't-mess-with-my-family, Italian-muttering, honorable-to-the-core, totally irresistible Salvatores, and poor Penelope's logical heart doesn't stand a chance. Neither, frankly, does the reader's. Four-and-a half stars; would've been five if only everybody had managed to stay fully dressed a little more consistently. Packs a tremendous message about real honor and loyalty, and Stefano's about ten times as likeable as his twin brother Marco from "Bridegroom on Approval" (whom poor Penelope repeatedly mistakes for him in the beginning!).

I am in love! Stefano Salvatore is the best hero I've read in a long, long time. Where are these kind of guys in real life?? That's what I want to know, cuz I want one. Nellie is SO adorable. She reminds me a little of a Jane Ann Krentz type, only tons better. Not quite all the same, if you know what I mean. Lots of cute moments. I laughed. I cried. And then I got mad cuz it ended. The bottom line is that this is a great book. That's it, guys, I'm gonna check out the rest of hers. I'm sold!