Review: The Reluctant Wife

Title: The Reluctant Wife
Author: Bronwen Evans
Publisher: Entangled Publishing (Indulgence)
Release Date: December 18, 2012
Buy Links: Amazon (Kindle)

Blurb:

Abby Taylor walked out on her irresistible husband three years ago. Now she has no choice but to return to Italy to ask him for a favor. To pay for her grandmother's heart operation she needs his money, but it comes with strings attached.

Conte Dante Lombardi has it all—an Italian villa, a successful family business, and a noble title. But he needs a child to carry on his legacy and time is running out. He also hopes to satisfy the desire Abby rouses in him.

As Abby uncovers why he’s in such a hurry for a child, she falls in love with him again … just as she realizes it might be impossible to keep her end of the deal.

Review

"Everyone dies. Some sooner than others. But it's how you live and love while on this earth that counts."

I am so glad I chose this book among the books I was sent to select from for an honest review. This book was so good, I read it in two days!

"I'm stupido. I know. What do you expect? I'm a man."

Dante thought he was doing the right thing but pushing his wife away because he thought he wouldn't be alive much longer. Ridiculous. How could he not have known his wife loved him? Abby, on the other hand, walked out because she wasn't ready and she got scared. Well, I suppose that's understandable given she was just a teenager when they married.

One big problem they had was that they had no communication and they thought very separate from each other. They were definitely not ready to get married when they did, so their marriage ended up in shambles.

I really enjoyed the sexual tension, though. At some points, I got so frustrated with Dante because he just kept pushing Abby away, breaking her heart over and over just so she wouldn't fall in love with him. Kind of impossible when she's already fallen, don't you think? I did enjoy Dante's incredible appeal to Abby :)

   Ignoring the alcohol sitting in the decanter, he made his way through the villa, nodding to Pietro as he neared the sun terrace.

   "The contessa is swimming, and your mother has taken Mrs. Taylor for a drive and to visit friends." Pietro's words were followed by an insinuating smile.

   Dante's pulse kicked up a gear. He was alone in the house with Abby. No mother, sisters, or grandmother.

   "When do you expect them to return?" The gruffness in his voice betrayed his eagerness.

   "Not until six. You have at least four hours. I've persuaded Rachele to accompany me to the markets for supplies. We will be gone all afternoon, too."

   "Remind me to pay you a bonus, Pietro." Dante said to his smiling majordomo.

Anyway, towards the middle, Abby finds that she also had something to hide from Dante. I don't know why but for some reason, Abby hiding a secret from Dante irritated me more than when Dante hid his secret from Abby.

The climax of the book was really good. Shocking and intense. I love me some happy ever after :) This book is a must-read.

Check out this funny scene :)

   Nana wiped a tear from her eye. "Look at me, I'm a mess. Getting old is no fun. I must look a hundred."

   "Nonsense. You look young enough to be Abby's mother, Mrs. Taylor."

   "Still so smooth and sexy, I see. Come here, my boy. I haven't seen you since the wedding. You're more handsome than ever. I might be old but I'm still susceptible to your Italian charm."

   With mixed emotions she watched Dante hugging her grandmother and kissing her cheek.

   "He smells nice too. All man. Lucky girl." Abby's face flooded with heat. "Nana!"