RITA Reader Challenge Review

His Lost-and-Found Bride by Scarlet Wilson

This RITA® Reader Challenge 2016 review was written by Demi. This story was nominated for the RITA® in the Short Contemporary Romance category.

The summary:

This time it’s forever…

Architect Logan Cascini is on edge when the discovery of an ancient fresco brings Lucia Moretti back to Tuscany. He hasn’t seen his ex since they parted twelve years ago in the most heartbreaking of circumstances…

Facing Logan again unleashes a torrent of emotions that has Lucia’s normally calm and collected heart racing. Perhaps it’s time for Lucia to loosen her grip on the pain of the past and allow them both to rediscover the joy they shared together…

Here is Demi's review:

(TW: pregnancy loss/premature birth)

His Lost-and-Found Bride was my first foray into the world of the Harlequin Romance line. I’m fairly picky about my categories, as I’ve been disappointed in the past by the Presents line. I tend to like Blaze though, so was hoping for the best.

This was certainly different from Blaze – sexy times happen behind the curtain, if you will – but I very much enjoyed it. Getting enough story into a category can be tough but this had just the right amount of background balanced with the current dilemma.

Lucia Moretti is an art restoration expert who works in Venice at the Italian Heritage Board. When her long lost love, Logan Cascini, needs someone to handle a recently discovered fresco on his construction renovation site, just guess whom he “has” to contact. He travels from Tuscany on over to Venice and then the deep dark past gets dug up.

From here it gets spoilery so be ye aware!

Turns out Lucia isn’t super happy to see her still super hot and wonderful and perfect ex, whom she left. They had a whirlwind romance 12 years ago that was torn apart when they lost their premature baby. Lucia couldn’t deal, became withdrawn, and still, 12 years on, won’t talk about it or let anyone else in.

At first, Logan tries to keep his distance, but then, realizing she is still HOT, he has a better idea: I’ll help her heal by getting her to talk about Ariella Rose, with no ulterior motives! Of course.

So of course they get it on, but she still won’t talk, and then a rock concert and poor planning leads to a lack of hotels which means they HAVE to co-habitate, cue more tension, separation, a pink nightgown of rebellion and…final realizations of deep feelings in a gorgeous chapel with a fresco, in the middle of the night (of course). Lucia is finally able to talk about her feelings regarding their daughter, the renovations will happen in time for the big royal wedding, and we get a satisfying HEA! YES!

The drama here was well done, I thought: not too over the top and not full of neverending questions as a narrative device. This could easily have read like: What does he think? Is it too much? How will I continue working as he sleeps in the next room? Why do I continually make poor decisions about footwear? Can’t stilettos and cobblestones coexist? Is it an Italian thing? How do we stuff our faces with cannoli when we are so besotted? Why am I so cute and petite when my diet consists of crisps and chocolate bars and Prosecco?

Thankfully, the story only asked appropriate questions at appropriate times.

Lucia was a likable heroine, and Logan was charming without being overly controlling (I like my alpha males, but usually in a paranormal setting). Their romance was a sweet one, even though it was hard to believe she still couldn’t deal after 12 years. That seemed like a long time for a woman out in the world to keep that bottled up, considering it wasn’t a secret. They’d had a funeral and everything when it happened.

Overall I liked this author and the setting and, being curious about the other books set in the Vineyards of Calanetti, I am planning to read on in the series of loosely connected books.

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His Lost-and-Found Bride by Scarlet Wilson

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  1. Bronte says:

    I’m going to go there and be judgemental and go on a bit of a rant….as someone who has dealt with loss (and I’m sure most of us have) I get very frustrated by heros or heroines who won’t deal with it and behave like ostrich’s and stick their head in the sand. I find it really frustrating so I definitely won’t be reading this book. Loss stays with you forever and yes it will always hurt but if you haven’t dealt with it 12 years later? Auto no buy for me. I’m finding this more and more with books I’m reading. The hero or heroine has some kind of trauma and instead of dealing they hold it close and won’t let go. Just once I’d actually like to read a romance novel where someone had a trauma and they actually dealt with it like a grown up.

  2. Carolyn says:

    Definitely what Bronte said!

  3. SaraLC says:

    Bronte, if you haven’t read it, you might be interested in The Chocolate Touch by Laura Florand – the hero sees a therapist because he knows he has issues due to his traumatic childhood. I really loved that – wish I saw more of that in romance.

  4. Kelly S says:

    I appreciate the less relevant but still mind plaguing questions you ask! I too wonder how heroines can eat rich, calorie loaded foods but be large only in the chest? The weight I gain never settles in my breasts. Ah well, romances are fantasies often.

  5. Demi says:

    @Bronte – agree! I could see her coming to terms with the loss, and then having it re-triggered by Logan’s reemergence, but in this case it felt like more of an excuse for why she doesn’t let herself get too attached. I think she was scared to feel too much.

    The next few books in this series are by different authors and look intriguing – I think there are 3 more. First, a wedding planner; then the Prince and future Princess who are having their wedding at the site Logan is reconstructing; and lastly, Louisa, who appears briefly as the American owner of the site. The one about the Prince/Princess looks especially promising.

    On a random note, I am giddy about having my review posted on SBTB! Woot!

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