REVIEW: Her Brooding Italian Boss by Susan Meier

Her Brooding Italian Boss by Susan Meier: Laura Beth Matthews just finds out she’s pregnant on the same day that she is losing the apartment she had shared with her two best friends. So, when Constanzo offers her a job as a live-in personal assistant to his son, Antonio, she jumps at the opportunity. Laura Beth is determined to find a way to make the most of this job to support herself and her baby, even though she’s been attracted to Antonio for years.

Antonio is struggling to get back into life and painting since the death of his wife. While he desperately needs an assistant, he can’t stand the thought of someone discovering the truth of his marriage. He is less than pleased to learn his father hired Laura Beth without his permission.

“I’m a man. Right now I have no idea if it’s appropriate to say congratulations or offer sympathy. I mean, I know this is trouble for you, but babies are wonderful.” He shook his head. “And my dad? He goes bananas over babies. Boy or girl. It doesn’t matter. He’s a cuddler.”
A laugh bubbled up. Not just from relief. He’d made her think about the baby as a baby. A little girl. Or a little boy. She wasn’t just going to be a mother; she was getting a baby.
“Congratulations are what I want.”

Laura Beth and Antonio are clearly attracted to each other, but they are reluctant to act on that attraction for their own reasons. Antonio hasn’t painted in two years and he’s afraid that he won’t be able to paint again. Laura Beth makes Antonio feel again and she inspires him to paint her. Laura Beth switches between being meek and very mindful of what she considers to be her place to being more determined to enjoy and make the most out of life. She doesn’t believe that she belongs in the world that her best friends, along with their husbands and Antonio live in.

“Hello?”
“I need a coach.”
“Excuse me.”
“You sent me a Cinderella dress but it came too late for me to go to the opening. Antonio’s long gone with the limo. I can’t go with him to the gallery.”
“I will call the driver and have him come back for you.”
“I want the Jag.”
Constanzo laughed. “Excuse me.”
“I want the Jag. If I’m going to go to the trouble of getting all dolled up…I’m making an entrance.”
Constanzo laughed with glee. “That’s my girl. I’ll call the doorman and tell him to have the keys waiting for you when you get downstairs.”

Her Brooding Italian Boss is a good contemporary story of two acquaintances falling in love when in forced proximity. Susan Meier created two independent characters that needed each other to face their fears. Ms. Meier also provided a very determined matchmaker in Constanzo. Constanzo was a great fairy godmother and pushed Laura Beth and Antonio together.

Book Info:

Publication: February 3rd 2015 by Harlequin Romance

From his assistant to his muse!

Pregnant and broke, Laura Beth’s only option is to take a job with brooding yet brilliant artist Antonio Bartulocci. He may be darkly handsome, but the fiery Italian proves to be a difficult boss!

Since his wife’s betrayal, Antonio has been unable to pick up a brush. But captivated by Laura Beth’s guileless beauty, he wonders if she could be the woman to unlock the talent he thought he’d lost forever. It’s a miracle which reminds him of all that’s now good in this life: Laura Beth!