Short but just right for those times you are stuck on a train, having a hard time drifting off to sleep, lazing away and you don't want your brain to work. If you've never read LMR before, don't start with this. It will be like trying to judge whether or not you like Southern French wines by drinking one of those $4 imports from Trader Joe's. You might still luck out and get a good taste of the Rhone style with that distinctive earth, but the short finish will leave you wondering what that was all about.If you're a regular LMR reader, you will have fun knowing what you're going to get: beautiful good artsy heroine, hot alpha male (the Italian), though in this one Stefano can't quite be as physical-alpha, more brainy-alpha(?), since his hands are tied as judge and he has to rely on others to keep himself safe and save the day. Jamie has been looking for some inspiration in Italy while also trying to track down her grandfather’s prized past student who seems to be as elusive as his business practices. When she finally gains access she finds an enigmatic man who sets her blood on fire with every look he sends her way. His touch ignites a passion in Jamie she doesn’t know how to respond to but his commanding presence insists she learn….quickly.It has been years since Stefano has let himself think about anything except bringing closure to his mobster case. He’s finally getting close to taking the operation down and in walks Jamie who represents everything that is right and that he can’t have. Allowing himself to feel again comes easily, letting her go does not.I enjoyed the writing in The Italian but I think the story lacked a thrill. It was too short for me to get invested in the characters and for a romantic suspense there was much, well, suspense. Not much happens in the respect of the mobsters Stefano is so dedicated to taking down, until near the very end. What does happen doesn’t really involve Jamie directly and I was a little let down by that. The mobsters go all the way to the US to terrorize someone else when Stefano’s woman is basically right down the street. Why not just take her and really bring Stefano to his knees?The book is mainly Jamie and Stefano laying low because he can’t go out in public, and sex. Lots of sex. Which is why I added in my own classification as an erotic romance. The sex is plentiful, and decently hot but not in any way original. So while it was nice…I wasn’t having any problems sitting on my couch if you catch my drift.I will try something longer from Ms Rice because the writing was descriptive and I think, given more time, I could have enjoyed these characters on more then just on a surface level.I give The Italian by Lisa Marie Rice 3 stars!
What do You think about The Italian (2012)?
Very enjoyable except for the abrupt ending! Classic LMR read! Alpha hero... very feminine heroine..
—rodney
what did I think? Is that it? is that how it ends? there has got to be another book?
—princess_ezzie
This is a short story novella that I think would have made a great full length book.
—ddweaver42
Too short and the ending could have been better.
—Toye
