LynneC’s review of Untamed Italian, Blackmailed Innocent by Jacqueline Baird
Contemporary Romance published by Harlequin Presents 1 Apr 10

The second of my standard HMB Modern/Presents read, and I liked this one better. Just. Zac is a big bruiser of a man, and he used his fighting skills to get the money for his first business venture. While fighters often invest in businesses, they usually do it at a distance, but I could stretch my disbelief enough to take this one in. The heroine, Sally, has red hair and the minute Zac sees her, he wants her. But she brushes him off and awakens his interest.

I liked that Sally despised her pig of a father, but of course there’s a sick mother in the background, who loves her husband with a pathetic devotion and Sally doesn’t want to hurt her. Baird does a lot of these heroines, who are forced to do something, usually have sex with the hero, because they’re sick or they’ve done something wrong. I found this one reasonably realistic, particularly since Sally knows her mother hasn’t long to live. But she lets Zac push her around a little too much for my liking. I liked her reasons for rejecting him, and I liked that Zac didn’t have everything his way, but there is a series of misunderstandings that outstay their welcome somewhat. First Zac thinks Sally is a society miss who lives on shopping and parties, on the money her father has embezzled from the company he’s just bought. Then she thinks he was born with a silver spoon in his mouth. When that’s sorted out, something else comes up.

They don’t really fall in love, they fall in lust. I really enjoy reading about a couple falling in love, but I never really got that here. They sparked sexually, they had sex, hey, they’re in love and they can’t live without each other. The level of heat required these days is sometimes pushing that part out, but it doesn’t have to. Scenes of a couple talking, sharing each other’s company, agreeing on something mean more than lusty holidays in exotic places.

But this book kept me company in a tense situation (the dentist, if you must know) and so I can’t condemn it. I can’t say I’ll remember it in a month’s time, though. A pleasant read, but not completely engrossing.

Grade: C

Summary:

No woman has ever shunned wicked Italian tycoon Zac Delucca! But sweet, studious Sally is in a world of her own, looking after her sick mother. Little does she realize her unfocused disinterest is driving Zac’s fury! Especially as her father is responsible for embezzling millions from his company.

There’s a debt to be paid. Zac will offer Sally an ultimatum – become his mistress on demand or risk ruin! He’s confident she’ll make the right choice.

Read an excerpt.