If 'The Ice Prince' was great,'The Real Rio D'Aquila' was amazing/ Thank God! I didn't get dissuaded by my friend's constant warning- "The book is damn boring!"Well,I found the book lovely, emotional, elusive and charming. The story was so different and it was hard not to fall for the couple.The heroine- Izzy was kind of dumb at first. C'mon, when you've signed on an important client whom you haven't met, you can at least check the world wide web. Or did Sandra Marton write the novel at a time when the internet wasn't available? But as the story progressed, I came to endear Isabella. First, she was different from normal m&b heroines who are generally strong, straight-forward and sassy. Izzy was sweet, soft and chaste and for a moment you might wish that she were an understanding elder sister. Second, she was quick to fall in love and trust a perfect stranger. She felt so normal and represented a class of women who believe in love at first sight. Not everyone is feisty like most harlequin heroines.Rio D'Aquila's childhood intrigued me, his intense love for Izzy enthused me and his looks interested me- I guess! The beautiful way he muttered Izzy's name in soft Italian words with a tone of eloquence makes him a cherish-able hero. The book was funny at parts especially the scene where he became confused with Anna, Joey and Gaby- or the place where Anna kept nagging Isabella about Rio's methods of seduction.Finally, the ending was miraculously wonderful. The time when Cesare and Sophia Orsini revealed about their match-making qualities was exhilarating. But the cover sucks! The writing was serene and romantic whereas the cover shows unemotional faces of two models. Other than the bad cover, the book was...beautiful.P.S. This was the first m&b that made me cry. Man, the cover stinks on this book. Good thing I read the description before looking at it!! yikes! Anyway, I really enjoyed this book despite wondering what planet these people were from at times. Ok. She probably wouldn't have researched him because she is an outdoorsy type, but c'mon!Letting it go. He was a rather drool worthy hero, btw. A good, satisfying read. I kinda wish I had read the rest of the books in the series, but I don't think you really need to do that unless you are like I am normally-must read the series in order.
What do You think about The Real Rio D'Aquila (2011)?
3.5 starsIt was a good book, enjoyable read.
—Jenna
