The Passion Bargain by Michelle Reid (HP 2404)

Reviewed by Janet85 on June 3rd, 2008, 1:01am

by Michelle Reid

Format: Print Books

Series: Harlequin Presents

Back Cover:

The marriage persuasion...
Businessman Carlo Carlucci won't take no for an answer. The passionate Italian has set his sights on British tour guide Francesca Bernard, who stirs him with her beauty and innocence more than any other woman...
But Francesca is also an heiress, and already engaged to a man whom Carlo believes is a gold-digger. There's only one way he can protect Francesca—and fulfil his desire—and that's to claim her for himself, as his wife. So begins Carlo's slow, but intense, and incredibly sensual, seduction to persuade Francesca to become his bride...  

Favourite Scene: (aw, he is unsteady seeing her cry)

'I h-hate you,' she sobbed.
 
'Si' he agreed with a touch of unsteadiness. 'I am a monster. Shout at me. Slap my face. But don't weep; I'm not worth it.' 

Yet Another Fav Scene:

'You said you weren't going to stop me from leaving,' she murmured warily.
 
'I changed my mind.' He began to unbutton his shirt.  

My Review:

The hero and heroine are both from Italian families, and they meet socially a few times.  They strike sparks off each other and argue.  I love that the hero enjoyed antagonizing the heroine, it makes a lovely fiesty little love/hate relationship and makes the sexual tension grow nicely as they get closer and closer to falling into each other's arms.  She's engaged to a fortune hunter, and he wants her for himself, when she finds out about her fiance's cheating lying ways, he's there to pick up the pieces and she willingly jumps into his arms.  They have an affair, but he wants marriage, and she won't marry him because she doesn't trust the hero (after all her last fiance wanted to marry her for her inheritance).  The trust issue is a big deal and it's tough to get over.  I love how the hero won't let her go, any story where the hero wants to hold onto his heroine is great by me!  Too often, the silly hero lets his heroine walk away and they spend long wasted years apart, bitterness and sadness growing.  I love to see the hero realize seconds after angry words are spoken that he was too hasty, that he won't let her walk away angry. 

Rating: 3.5/5 stars, I enjoyed this book, it was a kick to read, but I have read so many good Michelle Reid books lately, that I'm putting this half a point lower than the other books, because the other books were slightly more intense and had slightly more fathoms-deep-in-love heroes.