This is the story of Maria Barone and Steven Conti. If you are familiar
with the Barone series, the Barones blame the Contis for a string of
misfortunes that has plagued their family because of a curse that Lucia
Conti placed on the Barones when their grandmother eloped with her
fiance years ago. Maria and Steven met at a wedding reception months ago and fell
in love. When they met, they had no idea that they came from the families that are feuding - when Steven found out, he didn't care, but Maria did. When Maria found out she was pregnant she fled out of fear of
what her family will think, and also afraid of the the curses effect on the baby. Steven doesn't understand why Maria left,
she claimed to love him but panicked when he asked her to marry him.
When Steven finds Maria and realizes she is pregnant, he is overjoyed
and upset that she didn't tell him. He insists that they marry
immediately, Maria refuses and asks him to walk away but Steven will
not take no for an answer.
This could have been a better story if Maria was more likeable. She
comes of as petty and immature because she is afraid of a curse and
that her family will be mad at her for getting involved with a Conti. We are supposed to believe she is some logical, stellar businesswomen, yet would behave this way?
The selfishness of her actions asking Steven to walk away from his own
child made it hard for me to accept her as a likeable heroine. Steven,
however, was a great character. He was willing to stand up to his
family and be a man and was very patient with her, knowing she loved him but was afraid.
"There must be something in books, things we can't imagine, to make a woman stay in a burning house; there must be something there. You don't stay for nothing." (fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury)
