HIRED: THE ITALIAN'S BRIDE

Author: Donna Alward ISBN: 9780373184507 6/2009 CONTEMPORARY Publisher: HARELEQUIN

Dream job - enter hot new Italian boss! Mariella Ross has built a new life for herself at the Fiori Cascade hotel, and she isn't going to allow the new owner's devil-may-care attitude to disrupt her hard work! Even if secretly she finds Luca Fiori's laid-back charm infectious and his smile intoxicating... Luca's showing Mari a side of life she's almost forgotten. Overcoming her dark past won't be easy, but with Luca by her side, Mari's beginning to feel like anything might be possible...

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

HIRED: THE ITALIAN'S BRIDE is such a pleasant read! True escapist romance, well-written and with wonderfully realistic characters, it is the perfect way to spend an idle afternoon.

The Cascade is a hotel in an idyllic setting. It's not surprising that Mariella would find it a refuge from the unpleasantness of her life. She works hard, keeps to herself, and takes pride in the job she does at the hotel. When Luca arrives on the scene and begins to make changes to the place, she feels trapped. Will she lose everything she's fought so hard for, just because some rich man has nothing better to do than put his nose in where it doesn't belong?

For a while I wonder if Luca and Mari will ever find a way to truly see each other, but Ms. Alward, as usual, doesn't disappoint on this front. While this couple has a number of obstacles in their paths, they grow and change, and begin to see beyond the "public" persona each projects. This is a tale about discovery, finding peace and letting love show the way home.

There is a pivotal scene in the hotel attic that especially touched me. It is the first time that Mari is selfless toward this man who threatens her happy existence. It is also the point where the hot businessman sees that there is much more to Mari than she shows on the surface. I felt this was the moment when their story began to change. I enjoyed watching this revealing encounter.

I loved this story, and I believe others will, too. I heartily recommend HIRED: THE ITALIAN'S BRIDE to anyone looking for a solid, satisfying contemporary romance. Well done!

Kay James