Julia James

3.5 Stars.  Laura-'Ugly duckling' turn into 'Swan' & then back, oops.  Allesandro-he fell in love with her when she became a swan.  Even though he's stressed that he would always love her, if one day she was sad/angry (ugly duckling), would he leave her?  I am not sure why did she fell in love with him. NFM

5 out of 5 stars for this first book in the bundle.  I am  not too keen on the other 2 books.  NFM

Well, I must say this book was different for sure!

I can say that I did enjoy the ending of it.

Back Cover:

The marriage barter
Rachel Vaile is still haunted by Vito Farneste's cruel public rejection of her, just hours after she surrendered her virginity to him. Now tragic circumstances mean that Rachel must contact Vito once more—she desperately needs a marriage of convenience.
She comes armed with Vito's most prized possession so surely he'll drop everything to be her bridegroom? But Vito won't be blackmailed by anyone, especially not a cheap little gold-digger like Rachel.  The prey has been caught in his web at long last
  

Favourite Scene:

'I want you,’ she breathed. He smiled. The smile of a fallen angel.
"Then you shall have me, cara mia. You shall have me.' He led her away, to his bed, and she went with him.
At the threshold to his room he paused, and with a sudden sweep lifted her into his arms and carried her inside.  

Laura was considered an ugly duckling and she hid behind her looks from the world until one day Allesandro showed up and told her that her grandfather wanted to see her.  However Laura reacted violently and threw him out of her crumbling mansion.  Then he blackmailed her to come to Italy by offering her enough money to pay off the taxes on her mansion, so she accepted.

NFM

Back Cover:

Allesandro di Vincenzo is a perfect male specimen. There's no woman he can't have—until Laura Stowe crosses his path.
Laura is plain, poor and hides behind her homely appearance to avoid getting close to people.

But Allesandro needs her family connections to open the door to ultimate corporate power. So he must woo the ugly duckling into his bed—where she will learn what it is to be a beautiful, desired swan.
 

My Reivew:

I'm not usually a fan of ugly duckling stories, because I like to see the hero attracted to the heroine at first sight, I don't like her having to get a makeover before he thinks she's beautiful.  This book could get on your nerves if you dislike hearing the hero talk about how the heroine lacks or hides her looks.  The chemistry was great in this book though!

Back Cover:

As the illegitimate grandaughter of a famous Greek billionaire, Andrea Fraser was disowned at birth and grew up in poverty. Now, at the age of twenty-five, she is unexpectedly called to Greece, where shocking news awaits her....

Andrea's grandfather has found her a husband! She's promised to tycoon Nikos Vassilis as part of a business deal. But Andrea is strongly independent and has no intention of meekly accepting a marriage of convenience. Nikos may be the most sophisticated man she's ever met, but she'll be leaving him the first chance she gets...won't she?

Another keeper. Another plain Jane. Boy how I can relate and dream. A good quick read. Love this author.