The Wedding Ultimatum

I know the plot sounds simple and a bunch of other reviewers disliked this book, but I thought there was just enough juice here to get a straw and start slurping. Ok, so there's the aristocratic Danielle d'Alboa, she is the epitomy of a gentile... Well, not exactly. First of all, after she and her mom landed poor, almost destitute, and all of her so-called-friends conveniently forget even her first name, she doesn't sit around and whine about it, like you would expect from a spoiled brat. No, she does the most logical thing to a woman and asks for help. In this case, she asks her landlord for help. Well, sure, I can't even count how many times I've asked my landlord for a short extension when I'm low on cash. Except in my case, my landlord is a chubby woman with the two fattest cats you've ever seen, and in Danelle's case he is a tall, dark, rich, piece-of-beef hunky with an Australian draw: Rafael Valdez. Some people are just too lucky. Anywho, Rafael proposes the craziest deal you've ever heard (or not... if you read the kinds of books I do). He wants Danielle to marry him and give him an heir and in exchange all her debts will be paid. What's a sensible girl to do? She has a store and a mother to take care of and so she reluctantly agrees. Ah, but she doesn't realize that Rafael isn't just looking for a pretend marriage, he wants it all: the passion, the loyalty, and the obedience... and that's where it gets real interesting. Two very powerful, yet deceptively composed, people clash in a constant pull-a-rope game. Throw in the glitter and glamour of the Australian crème-de-la-crop, and one psychotic ex-girlfriend, who's in a serious need of some tranquilizers and a large dose of a move-on-with-your-life and this is a book that has made me happy enough to take time away from my busy life to write this review. So, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Have fun. PS. If you read the book well enough, you'd learn that Rafael had nothing to do with Danielle's financial predicaments. Don't listen to those Rafael bashers, the guy is hot and a genuinely nice guy.

... this was not her best effort. I still rated it 4 stars, because even an off-par Bianchin is better than most, but I was diappointed in this outing. "The Wedding Ultimatim" bore a distinct resemblance to "The Marriage Arrangement" (July 2001) in some key plot points, and therefore lacked the spontaneity and originality I usually count on this author to deliver.Danielle d'Alboa, scion of an old and aristocratic Spanish dynasty that now finds itself nearly bankrupt, makes a last-chance plea to Rafael Valdez, holder of their major debt, for mercy. Rafael, new money from a rough background, offers to solve Danielle's financial problems in exchange for an heir; his child will be a blue-blood. Set against the backdrop of Australian society, the plot is well-paced and sophistocated.I count on every Bianchin I buy to be a keeper, and often re-read her books over and over. This one did not make that cut, but was entertaining. I certainly recommend it as the best of the Harlequin offerings for April 2002.