LynneC’s review of Untouched Until Marriage by Chantelle Shaw
Novel released by Mills and Boon Modern Romance 6 August 10, Harlequin Presents March 2011
A fairly good read, with some rough edges
In terms of plot, Chantelle Shaw writes pretty standard Harlequin Mills and Boon books with hot millionaires and innocent heroines. Well, somebody has to. There were one or two things that put me off slightly, although Shaw worked hard to make it acceptable, and anyone less squeamish than me will have no problem with it.
Let me explain. Raul meets Libby in the slum of a seaside gift shop, where she is looking after his baby brother. He believes she was his father’s mistress, and bore his son, whereas she is the baby’s half-sister. Her mother, a wild child and latterly lap dancer, met his adoptive father on a cruise and was only made aware of his son’s existence shortly before his own death.
So Raul decides to marry Libby and fancies the pants off her despite believing that she was his father’s mistress. Now Raul is adopted and Libby isn’t related to him in any way, so it’s quite all right for them to hop into bed together. No problem there. But the thought of anyone sharing a woman with his father, for his man-thing to go into the same place as his father’s man-thing made me shudder. Is that wrong of me? Probably, and of course the misunderstanding is sorted out on their wedding night when he discovers that she is a virgin.
I think Shaw missed an opportunity here. I’d have had him squeamish, but forced into compliance by his need to control his father’s business, half of which was left to the baby Gino in his father’s will, with his mother controlling the shares until the baby came of age. Then he discovers his wife is a virgin, realises he’s her first, and feels relief. Instead he goes into the usual alpha-fueled rage that she lied to him. Boring. I wanted more of him and his feelings, not just his immediate reactions to Libby. He goes through all the usual reactions, disbelief, betrayal, fury, and then adoration. No surprises there.
Libby was a devoted foster mother, and the baby was her reason for accepting him. She doesn’t care about his money, only what it will bring to Gino, and when he tries to buy her expensive things, only accepts reluctantly. She dresses in clashing colours and has red hair, which didn’t really endear me to her, because she is supposed to be an artist, and I thought she might have a better sense of colour. My bad. But what really didn’t work for me was Libby being 22 years old. I know some 22 year olds, and while they’re capable of being mothers, and indeed caring for 36 year old men, I found it sad that she didn’t have a chance to be properly young and feckless.
It is a hallmark of HMB heroines that they don’t, in general, ever have a wild past. Unlike Blaze heroines, who have been known to kick out the jams on occasion. Even dressed in garish clothes Libby was too staid for me, and her artistry didn’t permeate into her character, only into her appearance.
The other thing that squicked me a tad was the age difference, but then it always has. I know there are successful May/December romances, but when I read Heyer as a teenager, in my mind I always made the heroine older or the hero younger, so there wasn’t a massive age difference between them. It just seems a bit sad that anyone misses such a big chunk of experience and rushes straight into One True Love and marries. But that is some people’s ideal, so you might love it. The fantasy of the older protector is a strong one, and HMB has used the trope highly successfully for years, so it might be just what you’re looking for.
However their emotions and reactions were predictable, and pretty standard. Except for the wedding night, which I thought was much more realistic than many I’ve read in this line. Libby is a virgin, and her reaction to Raul’s lovemaking is much closer to how it must be for a young woman to have as her first an older, more experienced man who assumes she knows what she’s doing.
One of the best things about the book, and the reason I keep reading Chantelle Shaw is her writing ability. She had a great way with words and some of the best parts of the book are her descriptions of the villa in Italy and its appearance by day and by night. She has a real talent for drawing a reader into a scene. The sex is hot and explicit, and the connection between Raul and Libby, after the first trauma, is fun to read. I can’t help thinking just how explicit the Presents/Modern line has grown in the last few years. My mother would have been shocked.
Grade: CSummary:
Mother of the Carducci heir…or innocent virgin?
When infamous Raul Carducci learns that a little baby may challenge his inheritance he will stop at nothing – a new Carducci heir will not take away what is rightfully his.
To safeguard baby Gino, unassuming Libby Maynard has been forced to pretend she is his mother – but she hasn’t counted on having to convince the wolfish Raul Carducci of her deception.
And when Raul, with his achingly seductive voice, asks her to marry him, Libby is powerless to refuse…even if their wedding night will blow her cover!
