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Awakening His Innocent Cinderella
An Italian billionaire discovers an innocent expat on his luxurious estate—and lures her into his sumptuous sheets—in this "sexy yet endearing" romance (Harlequin Junkie).
Gracie James is mortified when Rafael Vitale finds her accidentally trespassing on his luxurious Lake Como estate! She's heard the gossip about his decadent lifestyle—yet she can't refuse his teasing demand that she attend an exclusive party with him.
From the dangerous intensity in his eyes, Gracie knows she's playing with fire—after all, the outrageous playboy is only promising a temporary liaison. But she cannot deny the power of his raw sensuality.
Gracie James is mortified when Rafael Vitale finds her accidentally trespassing on his luxurious Lake Como estate! She's heard the gossip about his decadent lifestyle—yet she can't refuse his teasing demand that she attend an exclusive party with him.
From the dangerous intensity in his eyes, Gracie knows she's playing with fire—after all, the outrageous playboy is only promising a temporary liaison. But she cannot deny the power of his raw sensuality.
214 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 13, 2018
About the author
Natalie Anderson
683 books552 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Natalie Anderson is a USA TODAY bestselling author. She writes emotional contemporary romances full of sparkling banter, sizzling heat and uplifting endings—perfect for readers who love to escape with everyday empowered heroines and arrogant alphas who are too sexy for their own good.
With over five million books sold, her stories are translated into more than a dozen languages, she’s been a Romantic Times Award nominee and a finalist for the R*BY (Romantic Book of the Year).
When she’s not writing, you’ll find her wrangling her four fab kids, walking Alfie, the mini schnauzer and laughing with her husband at the end of the day–unless they’ve taken Romeo, the Campervan for a spin. She lives in Christchurch, New Zealand.
Natalie Anderson is a USA TODAY bestselling author. She writes emotional contemporary romances full of sparkling banter, sizzling heat and uplifting endings—perfect for readers who love to escape with everyday empowered heroines and arrogant alphas who are too sexy for their own good.
With over five million books sold, her stories are translated into more than a dozen languages, she’s been a Romantic Times Award nominee and a finalist for the R*BY (Romantic Book of the Year).
When she’s not writing, you’ll find her wrangling her four fab kids, walking Alfie, the mini schnauzer and laughing with her husband at the end of the day–unless they’ve taken Romeo, the Campervan for a spin. She lives in Christchurch, New Zealand.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
January 7, 2019
Reviews lately are short, sorry. Just been a bit busy. Hopefully in a week or so here back to my GR friends and reviews.
Rating 3.5
This was cute and sweet. It had a different feel to it, not a normal HP. Not saying it was bad or good. Just felt different.
Was a little slow at times in certain areas. Loved that the heroine was a baker and had friends that were elderly. Liked the hero, a little cold at times.
Nice read to pass the time.
Rating 3.5
This was cute and sweet. It had a different feel to it, not a normal HP. Not saying it was bad or good. Just felt different.
Was a little slow at times in certain areas. Loved that the heroine was a baker and had friends that were elderly. Liked the hero, a little cold at times.
Nice read to pass the time.
December 30, 2018
What I like about Natalie Anderson is that she is on the same wavelengths as I am, because she loves a happy ending just like I do.
December 18, 2018
While I did enjoy the story, this book didn't read like a HP. I like my plots a bit darker, and with a fair amount of angst. This was a feel good type of book. And spoiler alert... no epilogue.
December 22, 2018
This is such a cute book. Amazing couple. I loved them both from the start and I desperately wanted them to be together. Gracie is a very sweet, loving and bubbly h, who melts our grumpy H's cold heart. He is that way because of the sad childhood he had. My heart broke when I read his parents story... It was so sad 😔
Gracie on the other hand had always lived a nomadic life and finally wants to settle down. She really wants to make it on her own and live life on her own terms. I loved that about her.
The H, Rafael was a kind hero but had a well-deserved, deep hatred for his older half-brother. It's difficult to forgive such a person and I liked that the pity he felt for the old man made him get over his hatred.
They meet, they get to know each other and then they fall in love. I loved that too. So yeah... I loved this story.
Natalie Anderson is slowly becoming another of my fav HP authors.
Gracie on the other hand had always lived a nomadic life and finally wants to settle down. She really wants to make it on her own and live life on her own terms. I loved that about her.
The H, Rafael was a kind hero but had a well-deserved, deep hatred for his older half-brother. It's difficult to forgive such a person and I liked that the pity he felt for the old man made him get over his hatred.
They meet, they get to know each other and then they fall in love. I loved that too. So yeah... I loved this story.
Natalie Anderson is slowly becoming another of my fav HP authors.
January 5, 2019
A good book with good characters, but nothing special, no angst and no epilogue .
May 10, 2019
An enchanting story that is a lot of fun to read.
I adored the main characters: Gracie and Rafe. Their attraction was immediate and led to some hot sex and in between, they talked to each other. Learned about each other and was really supportive of each other. They made a great couple, until Rafe got scared, ran away and realized that he’s a bit of a coward.
I kinda devoured this book like it was a bar of chocolate. I couldn’t put it down. If that’s not a ringing endorsement I don’t know what is. :D
I adored the main characters: Gracie and Rafe. Their attraction was immediate and led to some hot sex and in between, they talked to each other. Learned about each other and was really supportive of each other. They made a great couple, until Rafe got scared, ran away and realized that he’s a bit of a coward.
I kinda devoured this book like it was a bar of chocolate. I couldn’t put it down. If that’s not a ringing endorsement I don’t know what is. :D
December 15, 2018
This is a pure feel good book . Pure love .
July 2, 2020
Summertime in Lake Como, there’s fireworks, commuting to work on a bicycle, and patio seating at a bakery, if you’re a seasonal reader this is ideal for warm weather, especially since it’s lighter in the angst department than Presents novels often are.
Watering roses for an elderly friend, baker Gracie meets cute with the property’s new owner. Wealthy businessman Rafe is very much a playboy with no interest in settling down, however, no strings with Gracie isn’t quite as easy to abide by as it has been with other women.
The flirty banter and even just really any other bit of dialogue had a natural quality to it that I really appreciated.
I thought the pacing for this one was well done, whether its the rate at which they moved from attraction to more or Rafe’s personal growth, even the sex scenes were written in a way where they start off as purely physical but gradually each encounter is increasingly tangled up in emotion.
The other thing that stood out to me about this one is how open and honest Rafe and Gracie are with one another. There isn’t a lot of mind-games, each of them have baggage and they talk about it, a pivotal moment of the book comes about because Gracie simply decides to say how she’s feeling despite knowing that it won’t be well received. There isn’t a lot of saying one thing here while inside feeling something else and in a genre that sometimes (not always) seems like it specializes in misunderstandings, a romance where there’s genuine communication involved felt kind of refreshing.
Watering roses for an elderly friend, baker Gracie meets cute with the property’s new owner. Wealthy businessman Rafe is very much a playboy with no interest in settling down, however, no strings with Gracie isn’t quite as easy to abide by as it has been with other women.
The flirty banter and even just really any other bit of dialogue had a natural quality to it that I really appreciated.
I thought the pacing for this one was well done, whether its the rate at which they moved from attraction to more or Rafe’s personal growth, even the sex scenes were written in a way where they start off as purely physical but gradually each encounter is increasingly tangled up in emotion.
The other thing that stood out to me about this one is how open and honest Rafe and Gracie are with one another. There isn’t a lot of mind-games, each of them have baggage and they talk about it, a pivotal moment of the book comes about because Gracie simply decides to say how she’s feeling despite knowing that it won’t be well received. There isn’t a lot of saying one thing here while inside feeling something else and in a genre that sometimes (not always) seems like it specializes in misunderstandings, a romance where there’s genuine communication involved felt kind of refreshing.
January 5, 2019
I love Harlequin novels. I preordered this book because the synopsis sounded like I would enjoy it very much . A Cinderella esc . storyline . which I liked to a point.
When i started reading I was intrigued by the female lead Gracie a baker at a pastry shop and why she persistently needed to show up to check in on flowers , but as it kept happening it felt redundant , but was it for the hot guy or another hidden reason all together ??
The male lead Rafael Vitale (sounds like he belongs in a mafia romance ) reads like every dominant male in any romance book you've ever read. Which I would have loved , but certain parts felt to
de ja vu to me .
The sex scenes were steamy and I enjoyed the angst and mystery element to their storyline.
When i started reading I was intrigued by the female lead Gracie a baker at a pastry shop and why she persistently needed to show up to check in on flowers , but as it kept happening it felt redundant , but was it for the hot guy or another hidden reason all together ??
The male lead Rafael Vitale (sounds like he belongs in a mafia romance ) reads like every dominant male in any romance book you've ever read. Which I would have loved , but certain parts felt to
de ja vu to me .
The sex scenes were steamy and I enjoyed the angst and mystery element to their storyline.
January 18, 2019
The heroine Gracie is a very kind hearted person. She is caught trespassing on Rafaele's property. She is watering the roses for the elderly gardener as he is ill. Rafaele catches her on his property and invites her to a party of all parties on the island. He holds a grudge against his family due to his and his mother's treatment at their hands and bought the property as revenge. He and Gracie begin an affair and she falls for him, but the feelings are not returned or so she thinks as he has a hard time recognizing true love. A good read and is funny. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
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April 4, 2020Su Inocente Cenicienta (Versión)
May 18, 2021
Thank you Natalie. Finally, a HP worthy of it's category and themes. It was perfect.
Anderson manages to create two character who perfectly compliment and contrast each other. It was a fun, exciting romance. The hero was so likable and the herione was perfectly strong, flirty, and way too much for him to handle. The best part was I didn't feel oversexed with it was over. I actually wanted an epilogue, which is rare.
The book was paced well, and there wasn't some big jumble of a solved romance hastily at the end. Bravo, Natalie! It's one that I will read again, and that NEVER happens!
Anderson manages to create two character who perfectly compliment and contrast each other. It was a fun, exciting romance. The hero was so likable and the herione was perfectly strong, flirty, and way too much for him to handle. The best part was I didn't feel oversexed with it was over. I actually wanted an epilogue, which is rare.
The book was paced well, and there wasn't some big jumble of a solved romance hastily at the end. Bravo, Natalie! It's one that I will read again, and that NEVER happens!
February 22, 2022
While I am not a fan of 21st century version of virgin h, this story was very unique. The h was radically candid and in your face honest about her emotions, motivations and it was refreshing. The H was a tycoon but you can see the changes in his behavior as he gets involved with the H. His interface with others around him, the way he evolves as a character and grows and becomes a better version of himself was well written. The character development, interesting secondary characters, simple but effective plot twist makes for good reading.
September 27, 2019
As Luscious as the Roses in the Garden!
Really well-written, with interesting and engaging protagonists and a real sense of their humanity. Not a typical read at all, but more rewarding for it. Great job!
Really well-written, with interesting and engaging protagonists and a real sense of their humanity. Not a typical read at all, but more rewarding for it. Great job!
September 30, 2019
I enjoyed the story, bat sadly no epilogue....
April 3, 2020
A bit long winded for me but otherwise a good story.
July 10, 2021
Sweet
The storyline knocked it out of the park. I loved both the main characters. Super sweetheart Grace, and Rafe. Adult content. But I loved their dynamic and their story.
The storyline knocked it out of the park. I loved both the main characters. Super sweetheart Grace, and Rafe. Adult content. But I loved their dynamic and their story.
May 3, 2022
Just a nice overall read.
August 11, 2024
sometimes, you just need a romance. And this is definitely a romance!!!
March 10, 2019
I gave this one 2 stars which is probably an injustice to the author as I've read other Anderson books that were very entertaining. This HQ Presents read more like a HQ Romance, it was long on the sweet side without the higher action, higher maintenance heroes I'm used to in the Presents line.
I liked the setting and I liked both the heroine and hero but their childhood issues were a damper on the story. Which isn't a fair comment because each one's childhood is what molded each of them into the adult they turned out to be.
It was simply that that special "spark" was missing, and I don't mean monkey sex and an OTT overbearing hero. Anderson is a long-established author, I've enjoyed her a lot in the past, and since I'm unbelievably behind in reading through my Presents collection I know I'll be reading moe Andersons in the months to come.
I liked the setting and I liked both the heroine and hero but their childhood issues were a damper on the story. Which isn't a fair comment because each one's childhood is what molded each of them into the adult they turned out to be.
It was simply that that special "spark" was missing, and I don't mean monkey sex and an OTT overbearing hero. Anderson is a long-established author, I've enjoyed her a lot in the past, and since I'm unbelievably behind in reading through my Presents collection I know I'll be reading moe Andersons in the months to come.
May 22, 2019
4.25 stars
Easy ready with no angst but very enjoyable. I've re-read more than once and would re-read again.
Easy ready with no angst but very enjoyable. I've re-read more than once and would re-read again.
July 19, 2019
When gracie and rafael find that one thing that to quote rafe have been starved of from their own family members yet ultimately find thay develops from an initimate relationship. Love.
September 23, 2019
I liked the woman a lot, the guy wasn't bad/monstrous just messed up. It was a little overly sweet but other than that it was likable.
hq-to-read
January 2, 2019Will she resist his scandalous proposition…
Or succumb to mindless pleasure?
Softhearted Gracie James is mortified when Rafael Vitale finds her accidentally trespassing on his luxurious Italian estate! She can’t refuse Rafe’s teasing demand that she attend an exclusive party with him. From the dangerous intensity in his eyes, virgin Gracie knows she’s playing with fire—after all, outrageous playboy Rafe is only promising a temporary liaison. Can she resist the power of his raw sensuality?
Be seduced by this spellbinding Cinderella story!
Or succumb to mindless pleasure?
Softhearted Gracie James is mortified when Rafael Vitale finds her accidentally trespassing on his luxurious Italian estate! She can’t refuse Rafe’s teasing demand that she attend an exclusive party with him. From the dangerous intensity in his eyes, virgin Gracie knows she’s playing with fire—after all, outrageous playboy Rafe is only promising a temporary liaison. Can she resist the power of his raw sensuality?
Be seduced by this spellbinding Cinderella story!
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews