REVIEW: Tempted by Her Boss by Karen Erickson

Tempted by Her Boss by Karen Erickson: The Renaldis, Book 1 is a terrific book. Twenty-three year-old Paige Stewart is a wonderful nanny. She has enriched and positively impacted the lives of the children she has cared for, in addition to endearing herself to their extended family members. Presently, she takes care of Matty Renaldi, the three-year-old son of widower and billionaire accessory tycoon Matteo Renaldi. Paige was down on her luck and ready to return to her parent’s home in the Midwest with her tail between her legs when she was hired by Claudia Renaldi, Matteo’s mother.

Paige adores Matty and loves taking care of him. Living in New York City is a dream come true and Paige thanks her lucky stars everyday for the job that has enabled her to maintain her city status.

Paige and Matteo come from different worlds, but nevertheless, their chemistry is magical and tangible. They lust after each other and no amount of denial can keep them apart. Paige runs the house while Matteo runs the bedroom. Their lovemaking is scorching hot and slowly but surely, their feelings evolve from lust into love. They spend the nights in their own secured cocoon, yearning for each other when they are apart. However, Matteo’s prior relationship with his deceased wife is not something he wants to repeat, so he is uncertain about any future with Paige. Paige is a strong young woman, but her insecurities about her naivete and unworldliness sometimes overwhelm her.

Paige and Matteo attend their first public event together, along with Mateo’s sister and two brothers. They all have a wonderful evening. The paparazzi snap a ton of pictures that end up in the newspaper the following day. A gossip rag then republishes some of the pictures, along with some vicious and untrue commentary from Paige’s former employer, who despises Paige and seeks revenge. Matteo is furious and confronts Paige, because the reputation of his company and his family are now on the line. Paige denies everything but Mateo does not believe her. She takes off, deciding that Matteo could not possibly love her because he does not trust her. Luckily Mateo finds Paige and their love continues to blossom.

It is the perfect balance of storyline, angst and steam. I read it from cover to cover because I could not put it down. I am a big fan of Karen Erickson and look forward to Book 2 in the series.

Book Info

Publisher: Samhain Publishing, Ltd. (July 2, 2013)

Business? Meet pleasure…

The Renaldis, Book 1

Paige Stewart has committed the ultimate nanny sin—she’s fallen in love with her boss. She adores Matteo Renaldi’s sweet, precocious son. Who wouldn’t? But it’s torture going about her day-to-day tasks, catching fleeting glimpses of the boy’s enigmatic father. Chastising herself for fantasizing she’s in the Renaldi master bed…

It’s ridiculous, pointless. After all, soon little Matty won’t need her anymore and she’ll move on.

Matteo has no interest in dating. He’s consumed by work, his son…and his son’s nanny. She’s everything he’s not: young, carefree, trusting, maybe a little naïve. She deserves better than an embittered widower. Yet when she accidentally falls into his arms, he can’t resist drawing her in for a kiss that quickly spirals out of control.

As they travel to his family’s home in Italy and slowly fall in love, the whispers start. And when one particularly ugly story blows up in their faces, their reputations might escape unscathed, but their hearts may not…

Warning: The sexy, grumpy Italian hero is finally won over by his son’s sweetly beautiful nanny—though it was quite the challenge for her to catch him. Watch for lots of high drama, passionate love and malicious rumors before these two can find their HEA.