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The Outrageous Sisters #1
Deserving of His Diamonds?
His not-so-perfect fiancée�
Emilio Andreoni’s goal is perfection: a corporate king and Italy’s most eligible bachelor, he craves only one more thing to complete his phenomenally successful life � the perfect woman! Once he thought that woman was shy Gisele Carter � until her scandalous goings-on became headline news and he called off their seemingly perfect engagement.
But now Emilio is faced with proof of Gisele’s innocence! He’s determined to win back the only woman who ever truly satisfied him, but first he must persuade Gisele she’s worthy of wearing his diamonds again�
Don’t miss this first installment in Melanie Milburne’s The Outrageous Sisters duet!
Emilio Andreoni’s goal is perfection: a corporate king and Italy’s most eligible bachelor, he craves only one more thing to complete his phenomenally successful life � the perfect woman! Once he thought that woman was shy Gisele Carter � until her scandalous goings-on became headline news and he called off their seemingly perfect engagement.
But now Emilio is faced with proof of Gisele’s innocence! He’s determined to win back the only woman who ever truly satisfied him, but first he must persuade Gisele she’s worthy of wearing his diamonds again�
Don’t miss this first installment in Melanie Milburne’s The Outrageous Sisters duet!
Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2012
56 people are currently reading
472 people want to read
About the author
Melanie Milburne
1,117books388followersI grew up on a small farm on the outskirts of Sydney and as a keen horse rider, often competed in local gymkhanas and even broke in a few horses from time to time. As I was surrounded by animals, I decided at an early age to become a nurse, however I couldn’t stand the sight of blood and so opted for a career in teaching. It’s a bit ironic that I married a surgeon.
I read my first Mills & Boon novel when I was 17 and that encouraged me to continue reading romance novels; the lure of the tall dark handsome hero, who in reality I fell in love with and knew I was going to marry on our second date! After marrying a year later, we moved to Scotland with our six week old baby so my husband could work and study for his MD in surgery. After the birth of our second son we came back to Australia to settle in Tasmania.
I went back to University and up-graded my teaching diploma to a degree and then went on to do a Masters but still I felt as if something was missing. I sat down one day and began writing and everything clicked into place - I had finally found ‘my brilliant career�! I used to write from instinct rather than a specific plan, but now, so many books later I find a loose plan doesn't go astray. An idea will pop into my head, sometimes it will be just a simple phrase or a what if question and I'm away.
Writing is a skill that can be learned and the best way to learn it is to read and to write. So many people feel they have a novel in them and very probably they are right-the only trick is to get it out. My advice to ‘would be� writers is to write, write, and write even more. Carry a notebook at all times and jot down ideas. And like any other activity the more you do, the more it feels comfortable.
I hope you enjoy my stories and look forward to hearing from you.
I read my first Mills & Boon novel when I was 17 and that encouraged me to continue reading romance novels; the lure of the tall dark handsome hero, who in reality I fell in love with and knew I was going to marry on our second date! After marrying a year later, we moved to Scotland with our six week old baby so my husband could work and study for his MD in surgery. After the birth of our second son we came back to Australia to settle in Tasmania.
I went back to University and up-graded my teaching diploma to a degree and then went on to do a Masters but still I felt as if something was missing. I sat down one day and began writing and everything clicked into place - I had finally found ‘my brilliant career�! I used to write from instinct rather than a specific plan, but now, so many books later I find a loose plan doesn't go astray. An idea will pop into my head, sometimes it will be just a simple phrase or a what if question and I'm away.
Writing is a skill that can be learned and the best way to learn it is to read and to write. So many people feel they have a novel in them and very probably they are right-the only trick is to get it out. My advice to ‘would be� writers is to write, write, and write even more. Carry a notebook at all times and jot down ideas. And like any other activity the more you do, the more it feels comfortable.
I hope you enjoy my stories and look forward to hearing from you.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 105 reviews
September 18, 2020
Holy Hell!! I had no clue what an angst fest this story would be when I started this baby. The title doesn't do this amazing story justice. This story broke my heart and put it a back to pieces again by the ending. It's been a long time since I misted up over a story this sad. I adored every second of this story and will definitely reread it again in the near future. This story is total....
July 27, 2012
I started this because I was in the mood for a really juicy, angsty Harlequin Presents, but I may have gotten more than I bargained for, since I sobbed pretty much non-stop for the last quarter of the book.
The story starts off with a bang, as tycoon architect Emilio discovers that his ex-fiance had a long-lost twin sister and was not in fact the star of a porno flick. Aghast at having tossed Gisele out undeservedly (let's not think about that too hard�) Emilio rushes off to apologize to her, in the hopes they can put the ugly breakup behind them and move on. But when he sees Gisele again, he realizes that it would be far more pleasant to simply resume their engagement.
Gisele is furious at Emilio, however, and only the lure of two million dollars plus revenge gets her to agree to spend a month with him. (Let's not think about that too hard, either.) And she's determined not to fall back under his spell.
The first half of the story is pretty much a bickerfest, as Gisele whines and pouts and acts so much like an immature teen, it's hard to believe she was ever intended to be someone's trophy wife. But then we get into the rest of the backstory: Gisele's loss of their baby. It's deeply moving, and believably cements their previously contentious relationship. Gisele's reunion with her adoptive mother, whom she had never felt loved her, is also very touching.
This is the first of a two-part series -- the second story will be about the long-lost twin sister, Sienna. That's some great sequel baiting, because I'm dying to find out the history of the porno flick.
(reviewed from e-arc provided by netGalley.)
The story starts off with a bang, as tycoon architect Emilio discovers that his ex-fiance had a long-lost twin sister and was not in fact the star of a porno flick. Aghast at having tossed Gisele out undeservedly (let's not think about that too hard�) Emilio rushes off to apologize to her, in the hopes they can put the ugly breakup behind them and move on. But when he sees Gisele again, he realizes that it would be far more pleasant to simply resume their engagement.
Gisele is furious at Emilio, however, and only the lure of two million dollars plus revenge gets her to agree to spend a month with him. (Let's not think about that too hard, either.) And she's determined not to fall back under his spell.
The first half of the story is pretty much a bickerfest, as Gisele whines and pouts and acts so much like an immature teen, it's hard to believe she was ever intended to be someone's trophy wife. But then we get into the rest of the backstory: Gisele's loss of their baby. It's deeply moving, and believably cements their previously contentious relationship. Gisele's reunion with her adoptive mother, whom she had never felt loved her, is also very touching.
This is the first of a two-part series -- the second story will be about the long-lost twin sister, Sienna. That's some great sequel baiting, because I'm dying to find out the history of the porno flick.
(reviewed from e-arc provided by netGalley.)
February 18, 2016
This was a very angsty read. Gisele got thrown out by Emilio when a sex tape surfaces. He doesn't believe that she's innocent, and cuts her out out of his life. When it becomes clear that it's Gisele's newly discovered twin sister and Emilio becomes aware of that fact, he decides that he will make amends and get her back. Soon, he realizes that he can't just go back to what things were. Gisele has lost too much in the past to be the same adoring, biddable fiancee he had in the past.
Gisele's heartbreak is tangible. I cried for what she lost. I could understand why she was hard to deal with emotionally by Emilio. He needed to deal with what he'd done and realize it wasn't right and he couldn't expect all that to go away. While Emilio wasn't hateful, what he did was pretty rotten, and I'm glad that was never glossed over. I also appreciate that he had to deal with the consequences of his lack of trust in Gisele and he has to work through a shared heartbreak as well.
Milburne's writing really has evolved and I feel that her later books have a lot of depth, with complex characters. While her heroes can be typical HP arrogant, they aren't hateful about it where you want them to jump off a cliff, like a few of her older male characters I won't mention and some other HP heroes.
I liked this more than Gisele sister's Sienna's book, , but that was also good.
Gisele's heartbreak is tangible. I cried for what she lost. I could understand why she was hard to deal with emotionally by Emilio. He needed to deal with what he'd done and realize it wasn't right and he couldn't expect all that to go away. While Emilio wasn't hateful, what he did was pretty rotten, and I'm glad that was never glossed over. I also appreciate that he had to deal with the consequences of his lack of trust in Gisele and he has to work through a shared heartbreak as well.
Milburne's writing really has evolved and I feel that her later books have a lot of depth, with complex characters. While her heroes can be typical HP arrogant, they aren't hateful about it where you want them to jump off a cliff, like a few of her older male characters I won't mention and some other HP heroes.
I liked this more than Gisele sister's Sienna's book, , but that was also good.
March 4, 2012
When the book opens our really proud hero finds out that he made a terrible mistake and the woman he has spent the past two years trying to forget had been innocent and not the person featured in a sex tape, so he immediately goes to make amends and finds her working in a baby shop.
Actually the heroine owns the shop and she has changed in the two years since he broke their engagement and cast her out of his life. She discovered she had a twin and went through the heart-ache of losing her baby, she does not want the hero back in her life, she is coping the best way she can.
Of course the hero is arrogant and refuses to go away and dangles two million dollars and the opportunity for her to expand her business, to get her to spend a month with him. She wants to refuse but she agrees but she does not want a reconciliation like the hero is hoping instead she wants to make his life miserable and make him see that she is not the naive, innocent virgin who fell in love with him and did whatever he said.
For most of the book the hero infuriated me, he was so arrogant and yes he wanted to make up for the past but he expected the heroine to just forget it and instead try and make a fresh start. He sees that she has changed and seems sad and he wants to make up for it.
I liked the heroine, of course I wish there is a heroine in HP-land who doesn't melt when the hero touches her, but well I did like she refused to give in to his old plans of getting back together and having babies, instead she was vehement that she did not want children and that they would have only one month together.
When they were together before, the hero thought she was perfect, he didn't love her, but she kind of went together with what he wanted from life after coming up from the streets. The second time around he does open up to her about his past after he find out about their baby and finally realizes that extent of his mistakes and that like the heroine said, you can't reset time.
And of course he whored around quite a bit in the past two years while she dealt with the death of her child. I didn't hate the book but it could have been so much better if the hero had been more apologetic from the start instead of trying to insinuate himself back into the heroine's life but then again the heroine might not have seen him again.
The best part for me was that she screams and walks away from him at the end, ready to re-start her life and it is the hero who has to chase her.
Actually the heroine owns the shop and she has changed in the two years since he broke their engagement and cast her out of his life. She discovered she had a twin and went through the heart-ache of losing her baby, she does not want the hero back in her life, she is coping the best way she can.
Of course the hero is arrogant and refuses to go away and dangles two million dollars and the opportunity for her to expand her business, to get her to spend a month with him. She wants to refuse but she agrees but she does not want a reconciliation like the hero is hoping instead she wants to make his life miserable and make him see that she is not the naive, innocent virgin who fell in love with him and did whatever he said.
For most of the book the hero infuriated me, he was so arrogant and yes he wanted to make up for the past but he expected the heroine to just forget it and instead try and make a fresh start. He sees that she has changed and seems sad and he wants to make up for it.
I liked the heroine, of course I wish there is a heroine in HP-land who doesn't melt when the hero touches her, but well I did like she refused to give in to his old plans of getting back together and having babies, instead she was vehement that she did not want children and that they would have only one month together.
When they were together before, the hero thought she was perfect, he didn't love her, but she kind of went together with what he wanted from life after coming up from the streets. The second time around he does open up to her about his past after he find out about their baby and finally realizes that extent of his mistakes and that like the heroine said, you can't reset time.
And of course he whored around quite a bit in the past two years while she dealt with the death of her child. I didn't hate the book but it could have been so much better if the hero had been more apologetic from the start instead of trying to insinuate himself back into the heroine's life but then again the heroine might not have seen him again.
The best part for me was that she screams and walks away from him at the end, ready to re-start her life and it is the hero who has to chase her.
August 21, 2012
I must just be a hard-hearted Hannah but I didn't get all weepy over this book. I can see where I was supposed to care but it just wasn't written in a way that tugged on my emotions at all. Plus in the first half of the book the heroine spent so much time being led around by her lady bits that I was disgusted with her. I was continually thinking Why aren't you standing up to him? He needs the rough edge of your tongue at the very least. Pull your arm away! Crap! Now you're apologizing! I have never spent so much time figuring out what the heroine really should have been saying to the hero instead of just enjoying what the author wrote.
Just didn't work for me.
Just didn't work for me.
November 23, 2017
Such a sad tale of grieving and forgiveness. The heroine had been kicked out by the hero after a sex tape of her identical twin surfaced. The heroine didn't know she had an identical twin and she had no way to defend herself. She fled Italy and had their secret baby in Australia. The little girl only lived six hours.
When the story opens, the hero has learned the truth about the sex tape and wants to make it up to the heroine. In true alpha fashion he offers her two million dollars to spend a month with him in Italy.
And it goes from there as the hero discovers he had and lost a child and the heroine discovers the hero's sad backstory. Oh, and lots of healing sex.
Read this one when you're in mood for a tear-jerker. No high drama or wrecky angst, unfortunately.
When the story opens, the hero has learned the truth about the sex tape and wants to make it up to the heroine. In true alpha fashion he offers her two million dollars to spend a month with him in Italy.
And it goes from there as the hero discovers he had and lost a child and the heroine discovers the hero's sad backstory. Oh, and lots of healing sex.
Read this one when you're in mood for a tear-jerker. No high drama or wrecky angst, unfortunately.
October 1, 2014
I had to laugh when I came on to review and saw that this book was on the list for "Heroes you'd run from in real life if they tried to date you". How true--and I normally love the seemingly betrayed hero being all cruel and horrible. I wanted to love this story--a sex tape leading to misunderstanding and a break-up? What an awesome plot device, fraught with possibility. Unfortunately, it just didn't deliver that at all...it's just a backstory, used in reference to the break-up but it would have been far more powerful had story started there or had those scenes been illustrated in flashbacks. The guilt of H was good, but it became repetitive, and honestly his past never really explained how harsh he was to the heroine--it was also clear he didn't love her when he originally proposed, and that bugged me a lot (the only excuse I can accept for harshness is when his love and therefore his pain at the betrayal is so overpowering...that isn't the case here. He threw her out of his life and moved on to other women immediately. (Contrast , a much better book, where the hero similarly does not love heroine during proposal, is even honest with her about that before the wedding, but even though Duarte believes his wife betrayed him, it turns out he really did love her and he stays celibate for more than a year, including 11 months since the "betrayal").
There were two huge, gaping holes that brought the read down for me:
There were two huge, gaping holes that brought the read down for me:
May 20, 2018
Another book that has a misleading blurb. From the tone, I thought this was going to be a frothy little number where the H grovels his way back to nirvana. Nope, this is sad and angsty with a dry hope of an HEA. That said, why 3 stars? It is very well done and having read many, many GR reviews, there are readers who revel in angst.
Giselle is kicked to curb right before her wedding to Emilio due to a sex tape that comes out. We never learn just how much sex or how detailed it was, but the H wants nothing to do with his fiancee. And, in a very un-HarleyLand turn, the hero's business is adversely affected by the scandal. This has all occurred before the story starts so nothing more than recall drama here. Turns out that the heroine has a twin sister who was responsible for the sex tape. Emilio, the H, being a very buttoned up perfectionist MUST make good to Giselle so off to Australia he goes.
Another anti-trope moment when the h really wants nothing to do with Emilio. I mean NOTHING! The h is quite bitter and wants nothing to do with the H. Looking good up until here when the H threatens to close her business then makes her an offer she should and could refuse but doesn't, and we are slammed right back into Harley trope #5. The H offers her a million pounds/euros or dollars to stay with him for a month so he can make good. She ups it to to $2 mill which I was quite impressed with then ruins it by saying he'll have her body but not her heart. Really? I think there may be some editing issues as one minute she says he can only have her body then in Italy (of course) she says no sex. Who cares because of course they have sex. Angry sex.
The H is pretty much a creep. Not so much for the initial brutal end to the relationship although that does not favor him at all, but his inner monologue that he thought it was so quaint how much she loved him. He kinda misses that utter adoration even if he didn't reciprocate. Hard to fight for the man when you read that.
The h's little secret comes to light, and the H is angry for a while.
As the h ends back in Australia, the H has an epiphany about love and HEA.
Giselle is kicked to curb right before her wedding to Emilio due to a sex tape that comes out. We never learn just how much sex or how detailed it was, but the H wants nothing to do with his fiancee. And, in a very un-HarleyLand turn, the hero's business is adversely affected by the scandal. This has all occurred before the story starts so nothing more than recall drama here. Turns out that the heroine has a twin sister who was responsible for the sex tape. Emilio, the H, being a very buttoned up perfectionist MUST make good to Giselle so off to Australia he goes.
Another anti-trope moment when the h really wants nothing to do with Emilio. I mean NOTHING! The h is quite bitter and wants nothing to do with the H. Looking good up until here when the H threatens to close her business then makes her an offer she should and could refuse but doesn't, and we are slammed right back into Harley trope #5. The H offers her a million pounds/euros or dollars to stay with him for a month so he can make good. She ups it to to $2 mill which I was quite impressed with then ruins it by saying he'll have her body but not her heart. Really? I think there may be some editing issues as one minute she says he can only have her body then in Italy (of course) she says no sex. Who cares because of course they have sex. Angry sex.
The H is pretty much a creep. Not so much for the initial brutal end to the relationship although that does not favor him at all, but his inner monologue that he thought it was so quaint how much she loved him. He kinda misses that utter adoration even if he didn't reciprocate. Hard to fight for the man when you read that.
The h's little secret comes to light, and the H is angry for a while.
As the h ends back in Australia, the H has an epiphany about love and HEA.
March 12, 2023
Just no for me.
The hero received a video where the heroine had sex with another man and divorced her and sent her packing.
Two years later he finds out she had a twin she didn’t know she has been having and that was her!
Ok, I can’t blame the hero because if I saw my husband’s twin that he doesn’t know he has having sex with another woman of course I would think it’s him, if they are identical.
It’s a bit stretched to expect he believed it wasn’t her if the video wasn’t contrived.
But he was cruel and unapologetic so I agree with the heroine’s opinion that he didn’t love her enough.
Then he wants her back.
The heroine has been through a lot during those two years while the hero has been happily screwing around like there’s no tomorrow.
And when he offers her two million for a month together she accepts and she’s like nothing happened.
Pleasant conversation, emotions, empathy.
To the man who threw you away without a single thought.
Really?
After all she went through?
I don’t think so.
It was very unlikely and not well done with a shallow psychological approach.
Nobody forgives like that after all those traumas.
In such a short time!
So I couldn’t feel any emotion and angst.
And I hated the hero that admitted without blinking that he had plenty ows.
Go and hang yourself, thank you very much.
The heroine had no self respect.
She should have left him without remorse.
He’s not reliable nor trustworthy.
There are plenty of men in the world and seen how low is this hero it shouldn’t be difficult to find a better one.
The hero received a video where the heroine had sex with another man and divorced her and sent her packing.
Two years later he finds out she had a twin she didn’t know she has been having and that was her!
Ok, I can’t blame the hero because if I saw my husband’s twin that he doesn’t know he has having sex with another woman of course I would think it’s him, if they are identical.
It’s a bit stretched to expect he believed it wasn’t her if the video wasn’t contrived.
But he was cruel and unapologetic so I agree with the heroine’s opinion that he didn’t love her enough.
Then he wants her back.
The heroine has been through a lot during those two years while the hero has been happily screwing around like there’s no tomorrow.
And when he offers her two million for a month together she accepts and she’s like nothing happened.
Pleasant conversation, emotions, empathy.
To the man who threw you away without a single thought.
Really?
After all she went through?
I don’t think so.
It was very unlikely and not well done with a shallow psychological approach.
Nobody forgives like that after all those traumas.
In such a short time!
So I couldn’t feel any emotion and angst.
And I hated the hero that admitted without blinking that he had plenty ows.
Go and hang yourself, thank you very much.
The heroine had no self respect.
She should have left him without remorse.
He’s not reliable nor trustworthy.
There are plenty of men in the world and seen how low is this hero it shouldn’t be difficult to find a better one.
April 9, 2022
3-3.5 Stars
Deserving of His Diamonds is a second-chance romance for Emilio and Gisele. The two were engaged two years earlier when he ruthlessly cut her out of his life after a sex tape was released and the scandal nearly destroyed his company. The book opens with Emilio reading an article about identical twins that were separated at birth due to an illegal adoption. Realizing he made a terrible mistake; he sets off to find Gisele.
Gisele has been through hell and doesn’t immediately forgive Emilio. I like my h with a spine, but this does set things up for quite a lot of bickering. The last 35% is very angsty, my issue was the other 65% which dragged a smidge for me.
Other than the far-fetched details surrounding their breakup (that a sex tape of a fiancé of an architecture firm CEO would make national news and actually starred her long-lost identical twin sister) the rest is low key and tame. It’s definitely sad/serious but not OTT dramatic.
Bottom Line- This was a 3 ⭐for me, but I’m easily bored and not very emotional� I’m also sick which makes me a bit of a grump. 😊 I say this because I read this with two friends, and they LOVED it� in an angsty tearjerker way.
Deserving of His Diamonds is a second-chance romance for Emilio and Gisele. The two were engaged two years earlier when he ruthlessly cut her out of his life after a sex tape was released and the scandal nearly destroyed his company. The book opens with Emilio reading an article about identical twins that were separated at birth due to an illegal adoption. Realizing he made a terrible mistake; he sets off to find Gisele.
Gisele has been through hell and doesn’t immediately forgive Emilio. I like my h with a spine, but this does set things up for quite a lot of bickering. The last 35% is very angsty, my issue was the other 65% which dragged a smidge for me.
Other than the far-fetched details surrounding their breakup (that a sex tape of a fiancé of an architecture firm CEO would make national news and actually starred her long-lost identical twin sister) the rest is low key and tame. It’s definitely sad/serious but not OTT dramatic.
Bottom Line- This was a 3 ⭐for me, but I’m easily bored and not very emotional� I’m also sick which makes me a bit of a grump. 😊 I say this because I read this with two friends, and they LOVED it� in an angsty tearjerker way.
April 20, 2012
This is such an emotional, poignant, gut wrenching and so powerful story. At times I was so moved I felt my eyes moisten as I felt the heartache and sadness in Giselle’s life.
She is now living in Australia trying to pick up the pieces of her life and the man she has never forgotten.
Emilio had thrown Giselle into the streets after he believed that she was not the person he thought he knew after a story broke out that she was in a porn movie. Despite her denial that it was not her, he had abandoned her and cruelly told her that she was never to contact him again.
Two years later he discovers the truth and knows he has to apologize to her and try and make amends. He flies to Australia where he soon realizes that Giselle is not the person he thought. She does not want anything to do with him and she lets him know how much she hates him.
But seeing Giselle again, Emilio realizes that he wants her back and he is going to do everything to get her trust and belief in him back again. But she is not interested in going through the pain again and shuts him off. He then blackmails her to go back to Italy with him for a month to find if they should be together again. Wasn’t crazy that he had to resort to blackmail�.offering her $2million dollars if she stayed with him for the month, during which he will make her fall in love with him again. What he doesn’t realize is that Giselle decides to go along with the proposal but her plan is not reconciliation but vengeance.
I loved Giselle. Going through so much in her life, she has become stronger but still has a softness about her that is truly amazing. Emilio I liked�.he was prepared to grovel and beg for forgiveness, even though he had no idea of the consequences caused to Giselle through his heartlessness. To see his tears when he discovers the real suffering she went through really tore me apart.
I was so emotionally involved in their story that I was really sad when I got to the last page. I wanted to continue knowing more about them.
She is now living in Australia trying to pick up the pieces of her life and the man she has never forgotten.
Emilio had thrown Giselle into the streets after he believed that she was not the person he thought he knew after a story broke out that she was in a porn movie. Despite her denial that it was not her, he had abandoned her and cruelly told her that she was never to contact him again.
Two years later he discovers the truth and knows he has to apologize to her and try and make amends. He flies to Australia where he soon realizes that Giselle is not the person he thought. She does not want anything to do with him and she lets him know how much she hates him.
But seeing Giselle again, Emilio realizes that he wants her back and he is going to do everything to get her trust and belief in him back again. But she is not interested in going through the pain again and shuts him off. He then blackmails her to go back to Italy with him for a month to find if they should be together again. Wasn’t crazy that he had to resort to blackmail�.offering her $2million dollars if she stayed with him for the month, during which he will make her fall in love with him again. What he doesn’t realize is that Giselle decides to go along with the proposal but her plan is not reconciliation but vengeance.
I loved Giselle. Going through so much in her life, she has become stronger but still has a softness about her that is truly amazing. Emilio I liked�.he was prepared to grovel and beg for forgiveness, even though he had no idea of the consequences caused to Giselle through his heartlessness. To see his tears when he discovers the real suffering she went through really tore me apart.
I was so emotionally involved in their story that I was really sad when I got to the last page. I wanted to continue knowing more about them.
July 6, 2012
This book packed quite the emotional punch for me.This was not a nice and fluffy read.At times towards the end of the story ,my eyes literally welled up and I felt a tightness in my chest.It reminded me of another emotional read ,ONCE A FERRARA WIFE.Two years ago,Emilio threw Giselle out on the streets after a sex tape came to light.Mistakenly,he thought it was her,it turns out that it was her twin that even she did not know about.Fast forward two years and Emilio comes to realize his mistake and goes to Australia to try and appolige to Giselle.Giselle is just a shell of a woman now,she has seen such tradgey since she left Emilio and is just barely hanging on.She now owns a baby shop which I guess must be her form of theraphy.I felt for these two wounded characters,when Emilio told Giselle of his background,my heart just broke for him ,and whem Giselle broke down,well,lets just say,glad to have some tissues handy.Their reconcilation at the airport was such a moving scene and was so glad that these two wounded and broken souls were able to at least put the past behind and try to move forward.I wished that MM had put in an epilogue .The sister Sienna's story is next...This was a def 4.5**** read for me
December 29, 2014
If you love heavy-duty angst that centers around real-life loss, then this would be a favorite.
Personally, it was a bit too on the depressing side for me to love it. It was, however, well written and a definite tear jerker.
In this case I couldn't condemn the hero completely (which is something I perversely enjoy doing). Seriously, the guy didn't know he was in an HP. For real people, anticipating the existence of an unknown identical twin sister who happens to be a porno-actress is a bit of a stretch. I'm sure the heroine would have been angry yet much less bitter and vindictive if it hadn't been for the incredibly sad "big secret". I'm not saying he didn't act like a jackass, but I'd have to say that most men in his place probably would pitch a fit. Most women too.
Personally, it was a bit too on the depressing side for me to love it. It was, however, well written and a definite tear jerker.
In this case I couldn't condemn the hero completely (which is something I perversely enjoy doing). Seriously, the guy didn't know he was in an HP. For real people, anticipating the existence of an unknown identical twin sister who happens to be a porno-actress is a bit of a stretch. I'm sure the heroine would have been angry yet much less bitter and vindictive if it hadn't been for the incredibly sad "big secret". I'm not saying he didn't act like a jackass, but I'd have to say that most men in his place probably would pitch a fit. Most women too.
December 19, 2018
I've read a year ago I think. It was nice but no enough angst for me. But I hate the blurb because of the sentence below:
he must persuade Gisele she’s worthy of wearing his diamonds again.
WTF! He dismissed his fiancee without a hesitation and after learning her innocence he thought that ???
he must persuade Gisele she’s worthy of wearing his diamonds again.
WTF! He dismissed his fiancee without a hesitation and after learning her innocence he thought that ???
May 5, 2012
This was an average read for me,though it was emotional but two things somewhat spoiled the story,Emilio and his arrogance,when it came to Emilio-Gisele was a little weak otherwise the loss of her child had made her more stronger and financially independent,also Gisele's health and sleeping pills addiction,also her fear about being mother again these issue were not tackled which left me disappointed.The story started out well but it seemed rushed towards the end.
March 18, 2012
The hero Emilio has just discovered that the reason he kicked the heroine Gisele out of his life two years ago was wrong. In fact it has just been revealed that Gisele has a twin sister she has never met or known about after they were separated at birth. Emilio knows that he needs to apologise for all that he accused her of, but when he goes to see her Gisele is not at all pleased to see him. Gisele doesn't want Emilio's empty apologies, he broke her heart when he refused to believe that she was innocent and the trauma she had to deal with, alone, when her precious baby died has left her harder. Emilio knows the minute he sees Gisele again that he wants to win her back so they can have the life together they had planned but she doesn't want anything to do with him. However Emilio convinces her to spend a month with him in return for her financial security and he hopes to seduce her into once again falling in love with him.
This is a very powerful story and a nice twist on the reconciliation/revenge theme. The plot is well thought out and gripping right from the start, and full of plenty of emotion. The heroine's journey is particularly poignant - she went through so much and came through the other side still sad but strong, and refused to give in to the hero like she had done in the past.
I could have done without the blackmail+offer-of-money part of the story, as plot elements go this felt a little lazy.
But this is a roller coaster of emotion and passion, and a very absorbing read.
Originally posted at
This is a very powerful story and a nice twist on the reconciliation/revenge theme. The plot is well thought out and gripping right from the start, and full of plenty of emotion. The heroine's journey is particularly poignant - she went through so much and came through the other side still sad but strong, and refused to give in to the hero like she had done in the past.
I could have done without the blackmail+offer-of-money part of the story, as plot elements go this felt a little lazy.
But this is a roller coaster of emotion and passion, and a very absorbing read.
Originally posted at
August 21, 2012
Wow...this was definitely the tale of two books. In the first half, I thought it was going to end up a DNF or a wall banger. But in the second half, I couldn't put it down and needed a box of tissue.
Emilio and Gisele are engaged. But a few days before the wedding a scandal breaks out where she is featured nude in a sex video. All Hell breaks loose, and he calls off their engagement, throws her out like trash, and then moves on to other women.
Gisele returns to Australia devastated. Two years later Emilio returns wanting her back because he realizes that the video was not Gisele. He knows the road will be tough, so he offers her $2m to stay (and sleep with him) for a month, in the hopes that she will warm back up to him.
So here is where I was disappointed in the first half of the book.
1) His brutal reaction to the video. I just couldn't work past the fact that she would have anything more to do with him.
2) His acknowledgement (and her belief) that he really didn't love her. She was just the perfect trophy wife and when she was no longer perfect, he just moved on.
3) The fact that she does accept his $2M and sleeps with him. Given everything that happened to her, her ability to even consider this, much less do it, really lessened her in my eyes.
However, the second half is what blows this out of the park and I found I could not put it down. I didn't think they had a snowballs chance in hell of working through all this, but they did. A great read..but not for the emotionally faint at heart.
Emilio and Gisele are engaged. But a few days before the wedding a scandal breaks out where she is featured nude in a sex video. All Hell breaks loose, and he calls off their engagement, throws her out like trash, and then moves on to other women.
Gisele returns to Australia devastated. Two years later Emilio returns wanting her back because he realizes that the video was not Gisele. He knows the road will be tough, so he offers her $2m to stay (and sleep with him) for a month, in the hopes that she will warm back up to him.
So here is where I was disappointed in the first half of the book.
1) His brutal reaction to the video. I just couldn't work past the fact that she would have anything more to do with him.
2) His acknowledgement (and her belief) that he really didn't love her. She was just the perfect trophy wife and when she was no longer perfect, he just moved on.
3) The fact that she does accept his $2M and sleeps with him. Given everything that happened to her, her ability to even consider this, much less do it, really lessened her in my eyes.
However, the second half is what blows this out of the park and I found I could not put it down. I didn't think they had a snowballs chance in hell of working through all this, but they did. A great read..but not for the emotionally faint at heart.
May 27, 2012
Review also on :
By now I have learned that in a Melanie Milburne book there is always some twist that you do not see coming and ends in sometimes disastrous consequences and other times with a delicious ending.
In the first installment of the stories of duet sisters we meet Gisele, years ago she lost it all, the man she loved, her pride and good name and also the most precious gift she ever knew. Now she is a well established business woman taking each day at a time and trying not to think of the one man that she loved with all her heart and in the end nearly destroyed her.
Suddenly the man himself, Emilio, makes a comeback. He has come to apologize but one look at Gisele and he develops a sudden change of plans. He will gain her trust and prove she is worthy of being his woman again. He blackmails and emotionally tortures her into submission, but what will he do when Gisele’s secret is revealed. Will he throw her out and walk away from her again or will he stand by her? Right here is where you will be hanging onto your seat just as I did. I could not wait to see what he would do and the result was a wonderful new and fresh reaction that I have not come across in other similar book before.
In true Melanie Milburne form, she weaves a story of passion, intrigue, romance and love with a fabulous twist. I loved how the author takes us back into the past in order to reveal the future of Emilio and Gisele. I also loved how the author made the book feel so real, as sometimes when reading a romance novel the characters and their stories feel so fake. Yes, I know they are but sometimes it just feels so out of touch with reality. Melanie Milburne created a story that had me so emotionally involved that I actually cried real tears right along with Gisele and the terrible pain she goes through.
5/5
March 27, 2014
I'm in the minority here but I hated this book. Heroine was extremely cold bitchy and unfeeling so I couldn't relate to her at all. The death of her baby girl was tragic it broke my heart and the author didn't even give us a happy epilogue to make up for it.
April 18, 2013
Emilio thought that his “perfect wife-to-be� Gisele had starred in a sex tape and so he tossed her to the curb telling her not to attempt contact w/ him�..EVER!! Truth is exposed and Emilio who thought of Gisele non-stop for two years � well in between banging OW and working to strengthen his company, shows up to apologize to her. Emilio felt that all he needed to do was say sorry, okay but in his mind he knew it would take more. However, he still clung to the hope that Gisele would fall back in line the way she had been before. Which to me personified some of these Hs in these books, the easiest thing should be getting the girl and she should just fall in line and accept placating the placating sorry no matter what! But she didn’t! She fought him�.well as much as these hs do fight that is. I LOVED the drama and the angst and really wished that she didn’t always melt for him, but hey she did jerk away that one time, right? Emilio believes he knows what she is up too making him pay for his mistake when she returns w/ him � they always do that don’t they? Pull out some money, okay a LOT of money, and then bam off to wherever H wants to be.
I felt at some points during the story Emilio really was just paying lip service to Gisele. He truly felt that an “I’m sorry� is all it takes to heal what had happened, but then he didn’t know everything and that is where all the emotions come in in this story. I was ANNOYED that Emilio didn’t answer Gisele about the OW, if they had even been at his home or not, or if he changed the décor for one of them. She should have attempted OM at least once if only to try and rid herself of all that guilt eating at her for her other loss.
He’s not very open w/ his emotions either but he seems to be concerned about her. He does run hot and cold sometimes�.take it one day at a time, then wanting it back like it was before the ugly sex tape, then slow again, push pull, I suppose.
Overall it was quite an emotional read and I loved that they got their HEA. No, Emilio is not perfect and neither is Gisele, but I think they have a better basis for a r/s now.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 28, 2012
4.5 stars
This is one very intense read. It kept me on edge from start to finish. Heart- wrenchingly sad, full of angesty, tension & depressing gamut of emotions. There no dull moment in this train wreck of a book. And it is always satisfying to see an arrogant H not only admit his mistake but also apologise, grovel & shed tears to win the love of his life back.
This is one very intense read. It kept me on edge from start to finish. Heart- wrenchingly sad, full of angesty, tension & depressing gamut of emotions. There no dull moment in this train wreck of a book. And it is always satisfying to see an arrogant H not only admit his mistake but also apologise, grovel & shed tears to win the love of his life back.
March 28, 2018
Oh God, I don't think I've got a tear left to cry. Wow, that was emotional.
April 14, 2025
I'm clearly in a minority because I disliked this story and I really disliked the heroine. The hero started off as an 'a...hole' but actually redeemed himself pretty quickly. The heroine was just awful and I'm sorry whilst the loss of her baby was clearly meant to be a tearjerker - I found it difficult to engage with her.
If she's really hated Emilio and wanted to hurt him - all she had to say was "not only did you throw me out, but I was pregnant at the time and the baby died and I had to deal with it all alone - of course I truly hate you and there is no point carrying on".
Of course, if that had happened, then there would not be a book would there? I'm all for using old tropes, but please tell a story that feels real and don't turn your heroine into the prize bitch of the year who'll happily insist on 2 million instead of 1 but then insist on paying for her own dress. Really - is that supposed to denote she has pride? I don't think so. When women behave badly, they should be called out on it.
Sorry but this one just did not work for me and neither did the other 2 in the trilogy. I don't think this writer is my cup of tea sadly.
If she's really hated Emilio and wanted to hurt him - all she had to say was "not only did you throw me out, but I was pregnant at the time and the baby died and I had to deal with it all alone - of course I truly hate you and there is no point carrying on".
Of course, if that had happened, then there would not be a book would there? I'm all for using old tropes, but please tell a story that feels real and don't turn your heroine into the prize bitch of the year who'll happily insist on 2 million instead of 1 but then insist on paying for her own dress. Really - is that supposed to denote she has pride? I don't think so. When women behave badly, they should be called out on it.
Sorry but this one just did not work for me and neither did the other 2 in the trilogy. I don't think this writer is my cup of tea sadly.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 17, 2016
I really liked this book, it was a totally different theme than other books. Usually it has forgiveness for a wrong at the end but this forgiveness started at the start of the book. It was really sweet and beautiful that it was able to work like that. The book was an emotional roller coaster as well. It was a delightful read for me and I was generally really impressed with it. Especially since the newer books have been such a let down to me and a lot of other dedicated harlequin readers.
September 29, 2012
I want to ask all the ladies out there if you ever suffered the injustice of being unceremoniously ditched by a man you adored. Well, hopefully, you didn't, but you may have had a friend who did, someone you had to support. Because it does happen at times, unfortunately. And when it did, either to you or your friend, did you (or your friend) ever wonder what you would do if the concerned man realized his mistake and came back asking for forgiveness and wanting you back in his life? Tell me, what would you do? Would you run back into his arms again? Or would you walk away, your head held high and your pride intact?
This is exactly the dilemma facing the heroine, Gisele. Two years before, she had been living in Italy, blissfully in love, the adored fiance of a wealthy and respected man. Next thing, she was out of his life and on a one way plane journey back to Australia, for absolutely now fault of her own. She had to start her life all over again. But before she could even do that, she had to face a huge personal problem, one of the results of her break up.
So Emilio realizes his mistake and wants her back. He's ready to do anything, even pay her a huge amount of money, to come back to him for a month. He hopes he will be able persuade her, during that time, to relent and forgive him. But no matter how sorry he is or how wrong he knows he has been, Emilio (well, he's a man after all) has to learn that he can't just kiss the whole mistake better. It is not just a matter of showering Gisele with diamonds and making passionate love to her and everything will be fine. This woman has been to hell and back and this man is going to have to learn exactly what she has been through, not to mention his role in the whole matter. It's not going to be easy.
This is category romance at its best. Melanie Milburne, an author at the height of her craft, gives the reader an emotional, touching and sometimes surprising read. I'm not trying to give away too much of the plot, but I don't mind telling that she touched on several sensitive issues in the telling of this story. One issue is the matter of homeless youngsters and the problem of helping them find a future for themselves. Emilio comes from such a background, you see. She also touches on the sensitive and difficult issue of neonatal death and does so beautifully. This sad matter has been experienced in my own family and I was moved to tears by the scene where Emilio learns the truth and has to deal with the fact that he and Gisele had brought a little life into the world who unfortunately could not survive for long. No matter how difficult certain situations may be, if the people involved don't become too hard hearted as a result of their experiences, the healing power of love can work its magic and that is what this book is about. Hope and love. As another favourite romance author of mine often says, the wonderful thing about writing romance is that it can give readers a message of hope. That's always a wonderful message.
April 22, 2018
Interesting twist on love gone wrong and mistaken identity. I thought the heroine should've come clean with the outcome of their breakup a lot sooner, but I guess that would've made the book a lot shorter. The ending was sweetly genuine when the H finally went in pursuit. Loved his declaration, it seemed really sincere.
May 9, 2012
Posted on Romancing the Book's blog
Reviewed by~Desere
Review Copy Povided by~the Author
By now I have learned that in a Melanie Milburne book there is always some twist that you do not see coming and ends in sometimes disastrous consequences and other times with a delicious ending.
In the first installment of the stories of duet sisters we meet Gisele, years ago she lost it all, the man she loved, her pride and good name and also the most precious gift she ever knew. Now she is a well established business woman taking each day at a time and trying not to think of the one man that she loved with all her heart and in the end nearly destroyed her.
Suddenly the man himself, Emilio, makes a comeback. He has come to apologize but one look at Gisele and he develops a sudden change of plans. He will gain her trust and prove she is worthy of being his woman again. He blackmails and emotionally tortures her into submission, but what will he do when Gisele’s secret is revealed. Will he throw her out and walk away from her again or will he stand by her? Right here is where you will be hanging onto your seat just as I did. I could not wait to see what he would do and the result was a wonderful new and fresh reaction that I have not come across in other similar book before.
In true Melanie Milburne form, she weaves a story of passion, intrigue, romance and love with a fabulous twist. I loved how the author takes us back into the past in order to reveal the future of Emilio and Gisele. I also loved how the author made the book feel so real, as sometimes when reading a romance novel the characters and their stories feel so fake. Yes, I know they are but sometimes it just feels so out of touch with reality. Melanie Milburne created a story that had me so emotionally involved that I actually cried real tears right along with Gisele and the terrible pain she goes through.
Reviewed by~Desere
Review Copy Povided by~the Author
By now I have learned that in a Melanie Milburne book there is always some twist that you do not see coming and ends in sometimes disastrous consequences and other times with a delicious ending.
In the first installment of the stories of duet sisters we meet Gisele, years ago she lost it all, the man she loved, her pride and good name and also the most precious gift she ever knew. Now she is a well established business woman taking each day at a time and trying not to think of the one man that she loved with all her heart and in the end nearly destroyed her.
Suddenly the man himself, Emilio, makes a comeback. He has come to apologize but one look at Gisele and he develops a sudden change of plans. He will gain her trust and prove she is worthy of being his woman again. He blackmails and emotionally tortures her into submission, but what will he do when Gisele’s secret is revealed. Will he throw her out and walk away from her again or will he stand by her? Right here is where you will be hanging onto your seat just as I did. I could not wait to see what he would do and the result was a wonderful new and fresh reaction that I have not come across in other similar book before.
In true Melanie Milburne form, she weaves a story of passion, intrigue, romance and love with a fabulous twist. I loved how the author takes us back into the past in order to reveal the future of Emilio and Gisele. I also loved how the author made the book feel so real, as sometimes when reading a romance novel the characters and their stories feel so fake. Yes, I know they are but sometimes it just feels so out of touch with reality. Melanie Milburne created a story that had me so emotionally involved that I actually cried real tears right along with Gisele and the terrible pain she goes through.
July 10, 2013
3 Stars!!!
This was an "Okay" read for me. The story was 120 odd pages long. As promised, the billionaire, Emilio arrives at Giselle's baby clothing store to apologize and make good after horribly rejecting her in the past.
You see Giselle, was an identical twin....that no one knew about including Giselle. And that twin had participated in a sex tape. Emilio refused to believe her despite her always being honest, decent and having come to him a virgin. He simply could not consider that there was something afoul here and brutally ended the relationship.
Giselle has gone through hell, being rejected she finds she is pregnant and after going through a difficult pregnancy all alone, the baby dies shortly afterward. She never tells Emilio. She sleeps with the baby's blanket and is devastated. She lost everything and is now trying to put together her life when it is discovered that she has an identical twin...and it explains the sex tape. When Emilio comes charging back into her life, she is bitter towards him and wants nothing to do with him.
He is repentant, has missed her and realizes that he should have stood by her and believed her. He has experienced a difficult upbringing himself and thought she was manipulating and lying to him. propositions her to give her two million dollars to spend a month with him in Italy and in his bed. He will help her with her store and if she wants to leave him at the end of the month he will let her go.
There is no denying that there are feelings between these two and sex appeal. But it is the time spent together rediscovering and learning new things about each other, including the child they created and lost, that brings them together. Would have liked a little more angst between them and a little longer story....but it was an okay read.
This was an "Okay" read for me. The story was 120 odd pages long. As promised, the billionaire, Emilio arrives at Giselle's baby clothing store to apologize and make good after horribly rejecting her in the past.
You see Giselle, was an identical twin....that no one knew about including Giselle. And that twin had participated in a sex tape. Emilio refused to believe her despite her always being honest, decent and having come to him a virgin. He simply could not consider that there was something afoul here and brutally ended the relationship.
Giselle has gone through hell, being rejected she finds she is pregnant and after going through a difficult pregnancy all alone, the baby dies shortly afterward. She never tells Emilio. She sleeps with the baby's blanket and is devastated. She lost everything and is now trying to put together her life when it is discovered that she has an identical twin...and it explains the sex tape. When Emilio comes charging back into her life, she is bitter towards him and wants nothing to do with him.
He is repentant, has missed her and realizes that he should have stood by her and believed her. He has experienced a difficult upbringing himself and thought she was manipulating and lying to him. propositions her to give her two million dollars to spend a month with him in Italy and in his bed. He will help her with her store and if she wants to leave him at the end of the month he will let her go.
There is no denying that there are feelings between these two and sex appeal. But it is the time spent together rediscovering and learning new things about each other, including the child they created and lost, that brings them together. Would have liked a little more angst between them and a little longer story....but it was an okay read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 27, 2012
DESERVING OF HIS DIAMONDS? By author Melanie Milburne is Mills & Boon Modern and Harlequin Presents release of April 2012.
Emilio Andreoni had made a dreadful mistake when he had thrown Gisele, the woman he had proposed to, out on the streets when he saw a scandalous tape starring her. But it was not her, was it? Gisele had kept protesting her innocence but he didn't listen to her. So he had betrayed her by not having faith in her and trusting her enough.
Now when he found out his mistake, he wanted his Gisele back but would she come back? After all there was that awful consequences as a result of her tension. Maybe Emilio was to blame. Then he embarked on a wild idea to woo Gisele back. Would it work?
DESERVING OF HIS DIAMONDS? is a beguiling romance that tugged at my heartstrings and kept me on the edge of my seat. Author Melanie Milburne has written this spectacular romance with such depth, sensitivity and heart that readers will not be able to resist devouring this outstanding contemporary romance in a single sitting.
Emilio Andreoni had made a dreadful mistake when he had thrown Gisele, the woman he had proposed to, out on the streets when he saw a scandalous tape starring her. But it was not her, was it? Gisele had kept protesting her innocence but he didn't listen to her. So he had betrayed her by not having faith in her and trusting her enough.
Now when he found out his mistake, he wanted his Gisele back but would she come back? After all there was that awful consequences as a result of her tension. Maybe Emilio was to blame. Then he embarked on a wild idea to woo Gisele back. Would it work?
DESERVING OF HIS DIAMONDS? is a beguiling romance that tugged at my heartstrings and kept me on the edge of my seat. Author Melanie Milburne has written this spectacular romance with such depth, sensitivity and heart that readers will not be able to resist devouring this outstanding contemporary romance in a single sitting.
September 11, 2012
İyi güldüm gece gece :D
Emilio ground his teeth as he pulled out a chair for her. ‘Sit.�
She gave him a castigating look. ‘You know you could have saved yourself a heap of money by buying a dog to obey your commands.�
‘I thought it would be much more fun training you,� he said through tight lips. ‘Now, sit and eat.�
She sat with a toss of her head. ‘At least I don’t pee on the carpet,� she said.
‘I wouldn’t put it past you,� he muttered.
‘So did you sleep?� she asked. ‘You don’t look like it. You look like hell.�
‘Thank you.�
She stabbed the bacon with her fork. ‘You’re welcome.�
Emilio ground his teeth as he pulled out a chair for her. ‘Sit.�
She gave him a castigating look. ‘You know you could have saved yourself a heap of money by buying a dog to obey your commands.�
‘I thought it would be much more fun training you,� he said through tight lips. ‘Now, sit and eat.�
She sat with a toss of her head. ‘At least I don’t pee on the carpet,� she said.
‘I wouldn’t put it past you,� he muttered.
‘So did you sleep?� she asked. ‘You don’t look like it. You look like hell.�
‘Thank you.�
She stabbed the bacon with her fork. ‘You’re welcome.�
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