BLURB
A fiercely independent interior designer from
America - A charming Italian man with a secret identity - An old villa with its
own secrets
Italy has always fascinated Victoria. Now that the interior designer from America is there to help convert a grand old villa into an inn, it feels like a dream come true – even more so when
she falls head over heels in love with the handsome gardener. The few precious
days she shares with Riccardo make her rethink every decision she’s ever made in life. But just when
Victoria is ready to take a leap of faith, she learns that her irresistible
Italian isn’t who she thinks.
Riccardo Moretti is the heir to a marble empire fortune and definitely not relationship material. But when the fascinating American woman overseeing the villa’s transformation mistakes him for someone else, he seizes the opportunity. With her, he can trulybe himself, removed from scandals and from his family’s claws. He’s lost his closed-off heart to the
talented, outspoken foreigner - but will their love be enough to overcome all
the obstacles and secrets in their way?
Italy has always fascinated Victoria. Now that the interior designer from America is there to help convert a grand old villa into an inn, it feels like a dream come true
Riccardo Moretti is the heir to a marble empire fortune and definitely not relationship material. But when the fascinating American woman overseeing the villa’s transformation mistakes him for someone else, he seizes the opportunity. With her, he can truly
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EXCERPT
Riccardo glanced at the woman
walking next to him, wondering why he felt this strong pull towards her. It
wasn’t merely attraction, though he found
her utterly beautiful. His body was reacting way too powerfully to her
nearness. That moment when he’d had his arm around her and her
curves pressed close, he had felt such longing that it was almost a physical
ache. Another second of her in his embrace and he’d have done something as foolish as kissing her.
“Careful.”
He grabbed her hand to stop her in
her tracks. His short cut had taken them through a small thicket of trees that
loomed like ghostly shapes in the moonlit semi-darkness.
“There’s a small stream running through here,” he explained and saw her lean forward to check why he had stopped her
from strolling on.
“Oh, you’re right!”
Acutely aware that he was still
holding her hand, Riccardo had to push himself to focus on the here and now.
“It’s very narrow here, just a few meters. There are stones you can step on
to cross it, but you have to know where to set your foot.” He turned to her, feeling her fingers tremble in his hold. “I’m sorry, it was stupid to lead you
this way but it’s the short cut I am used to. We can
either walk back a bit and take the normal route or you can let me help you
across.”
She peered at the inky expanse of
water, trickling slowly rather than rushing like a proper stream. “Ah well, what’s a night stroll without a bit of a
risk?” With a chuckle, Victoria shrugged.
Was she aware that she hadn’t pulled her fingers out of his grip
yet? “Let’s do this. But I have a feeling you did this on purpose, so you can be a
gallant knight in shining armor without seeming chauvinistic.”
Yet again, she surprised him.
Riccardo laughed, giving her fingers a squeeze. “No, I swear. I took this familiar path automatically, I wasn’t thinking.” And how could he think straight
when being near her scrambled all his brain cells? “Shall we?”
“Lead the way, fearless knight.”
With another laugh, Riccardo
oriented himself and then pointed at a dark shape by their feet. “Here, see. This is the first stone. They’re all big enough to get a grip but they might be a bit slippery. Just
follow in my footsteps.”
At her nod, he took the first step
and led her cautiously across the few meters of water. She let go of his hand
as soon as they had crossed the brook, and he felt oddly bereft.
“Only five more minutes, then we’re there.” He nodded ahead, at where the
lights were much brighter and closer now.
“Great.” She gave a single shiver, hugging herself.
“You are cold. I’m sorry. It can cool down rapidly here at night.”
He had no idea why he was apologizing
for something clearly out of his control and not his fault. Reacting on
instinct, he slipped out of his leather jacket and draped it around her
shoulders. His hands lingered on her arms for a precious second or two, feeling
her lean into the touch before he stepped away.
“Thank you,” she mumbled, her voice quiet and wobbly. Was she as impacted by their
closeness and the tension shimmering around them as he was?
Calling himself a fool again,
Riccardo lengthened his stride. The sooner he got her home, the better, or he
would really do something stupid and invite her for dinner and a glass of wine.
SERIES
This small-town romance series features novels that each revolve around a bed & breakfast in a different country. The books are sweet romances, set in countries like England, Canada, and Italy. They can
Book 1: Tantalizing Temptations (England) |
Book 2: Hidden Hopes (Canada) |
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Almost as soon as Devika Fernando
could write, she imagined stories and poems. After finishing her education in
Germany and returning to her roots in Sri Lanka, she got a chance to turn her
passion into her profession. Having lived in Germany and in Sri Lanka with her
husband has made her experience the best (and the worst) of two totally
different worlds - something that influences her writing. Her trademark is
writing sweet and sensual, deeply emotional romance stories where the
characters actually fall in love instead of merely falling in lust.
What she loves most about being an
author is the chance to create new worlds and send her protagonists on a journey
full of ups and downs that will leave them changed. She draws inspiration from
everyone and everything in life. Besides being a romance novel author, Devika
is a faithful servant to all the cats and dogs she has adopted. When she's not
writing, she's reading or thinking about writing.
Thank you for hosting my new book, Preethi!
ReplyDeletePleasure, Devika :)
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