Unrated | 251 pages | Montlake | Contemporary | Release Date: 01/28/2020
On Ruth Cardello’s Amazon page she calls her books “bathtub reads” and that is the perfect way to describe this short, swoony, and adventurous romance about two Americans in Paris.
In the midst of a quarter-life crisis, Wren takes a solo trip to Paris and has a chance encounter with Italian-American Billioiniare Mauricio Romano. The two make a deal to spend one steamy week together in the city with no strings attached but life has other plans.
While a steamy affair may have brought them together, family is the key to their happily ever after. Wren and Mauricio have strong central relationships with their parents which instantly bonds them. I liked how Cardello explored the complicated relationships between parents and adult children.
Cardello’s side characters are such a treat in this book, Mauricio and Wren friends are in a super messy friends-with-benefits situation and their arc was blended in with the main plot. I was really hoping Wren’s friend, a confident self-made millionaire was the heroine in another book– I was kind of disappointed she ended up working things out with Maurico’s spoiled friend.
This feels like a modern spin on a Harlequin Presents with its quick pace, billionaires, and international setting. For a billionaire Mauricio is relatively down-to-earth and while Wren is looking for something to jumpstart her life she still has a career and the finances to support herself while searching.
The book starts and ends with scenes referring to an overarching plot about the family legacy that can be confusing for readers like me who are jumping into the series.
A quick delightful romance with a romantic Paris backdrop that goes from steamy penthouse evenings to delightful family dinners.
