The Wedding Arrangement

The Rinucci Brothers Trilogy by Lucy Gordon Hope Martin Rinucci is now in her fifties and looking forward to the day when her sons will all marry. Hope has six sons. Primo is a stepson from her first marriage, and Luke is adopted from that marriage. Francesco is a love child from an affair. Ruggiero and Carlo are twins from Hope's present marriage. Hope's sixth son is missing. When she was 15 she gave birth and was told her child died, but later she found out that the baby had been abandoned on a church doorstep. The Wedding Arrangement by Lucy Gordon Harlequin Romance # 3887 - April 2006 Luke Cayman is Hope Rinucci's adopted son from her first marriage. He's off to Rome to investigate a tenement building in a struggling area of the city, that a debtor has given him title to in way of clearing his debt. Luke's already received alot of correspondence about the condition of the building from a lawyer for the tenants and he's not looking forward to the meeting in person. Minnie Pepino is a success as a lawyer and represents her neighbours for free in their battle with the landlord for repairs. She was widowed four years ago, and can't seem to move on. Luke poses an intriguing challenge. Not only is he handsome and charming, but he fits in the neighbourhood easily when he moves into a vacant apartment in the building. Minnie finds herself drawn to him but can't seem to open her heart until an accident injures Luke and she cradles him in her arms fearing the worse. I've really come to appreciate Ms. Gordon's talent. Again she weaves an emotional story. Luke, the forever bachelor, finds himself wanting to share his life with Minnie, if only her husband's ghost wasn't always in the way. The secondary characters are delightful and humorous. The Rinucci Brothers trilogy #1 ... Wife and Mother Forever - HR-3879 - February 2006 Her Italian Boss's Agenda - HR-3883 - March 2006 The Wedding Arrangement - HR-3887 - April 2006 The Rinucci Brothers trilogy #2 ... The Italian's Wife By Sunset - HR-3968 - August 2007 The Mediterranean Rebel's Bride - HR-3980 - October 2007 The Millionaire Tycoon's English Rose - HR-3992 - December 2007

A light romance, appealing; not steamy...but I like the emotions to be steamy -- and the characters to be mostly respectible. Main characters Luke and Minnie are likeable. Minnie is a widow in her early 30s. Luke is the new landlord of her building. They are at odds because of Minnie's guilt over the death of her husband 4 years ago ... and because they've established a tense relationship as landlord and building manager before they even meet. Luke takes it slow with Minnie and the best portion of the book is the confiding they do with each other.