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In Bed with Her Italian Boss by Kate Hardy, a Harlequin Presents that seems to have started life as a Mills & Boon called Breakfast at Giovanni's, wasn't what I would have expected given that title. That title conjures visions of a dubiously-appropriate workplace romance with a hot-blooded man. This book is not that. Not at all. Rather, it's a story of two people trying to find their way when their careers take unexpected turns, with a side order of fond family interactions.

Francesca has been a customer at Giovanni's coffeehouse for a while before she loses her job due to downsizing after a merger. And while Giovanni, the owner of the coffeehouse, has noticed her, she hasn't ever really noticed him. So when he brings her a consoling treat and they get to talking, she doesn't realize right away that he's the owner. But they talk about her previous job and her skills and he offers her an office management position at his small, but growing chain. And if it just so happens that they've got a little bit of chemistry, well, that's okay because they're not going to act on it.

Of course, they do act on it. But not until after Francesca has been persuaded to be Giovanni's fake girlfriend in addition to being his office manager, a set up that should have sent me running for the hills, but worked because pretty much everything else in this book is so spectacularly plausible and normal. The characters, the setting, the business details, and the coworker and family relationships all formed a steady foundation for this otherwise precarious plot. Both characters have emotional limitations that keep them apart even while circumstance keeps pushing them together. And at every step, their internal conflicts seemed genuine.

Giovanni is a perfect example of where romance's alpha and beta hero distinctions break down. Here's a hero who is good at his job, loves his family, plays classical guitar and feels all the feels right from the beginning of the novel. He rides in on his white horse (er, cargo van), gives the heroine a shot at a new career and helps out when her apartment gets flooded. And get this: he does it without being dictatorial or condescending. He just acts like a real friend would. Um, a tall, olive-skinned, dreamboat of a real friend, but who doesn't have those? (Okay, none of us have those, but that's part of why romance is fun.)

And Francesca is equally grounded and sensible. She is sad when she's is downsized. She gets angry and frustrated with Giovanni when he's being obtuse. She takes time to make decisions, handles her work challenges like a professional and doesn't go to pieces except right at the end when a lack of communication puts the breaks on the romance. However, because the entire story is about two people learning to work together, like each other, trust each other and eventually love each other, that breakdown in understanding didn't feel forced like it sometimes can in romance. There are no distractions in the form of lecherous villains or evil competitors. There's no murder plot, dying family member or other dramatic, trauma-inducing situation to keep the plot moving.

In Bed With Her Italian Boss is just a couple of people fumbling their way through life and landing safely in each other's laps. And how nice is that?

It's great book! It's great to read!

Francesca "Fran" Marsden is having a terrible day. She's just lost a job she loved due to a merger and she feels like a complete failure. Giovanni "Gio" Mazetti spots her at the coffeehouse/cafe he owns and recognizes her office talents immediately. It's a match made in heaven for the well organized Fran and the workaholic Gio. But what happens when their working relationship starts to turn into mutual attraction?

I have to admit that I tend to steer away from the Harlequin Presents line. However, having enjoyed a Harlequin Medical Romance by Kate Hardy, I thought I'd give this one a try. And what an enjoyable story IN BED WITH HER ITALIAN BOSS proves to be!

Gio is a phenomenal hero. Yes, he is commitment shy but so is Fran. In fact, she is the pricklier of the two characters as Gio is far more open than she is. It is easy to imagine this working relationship growing and developing into a strong, lasting love as Kate Hardy creates such realistic characters.

I can't say enough about Gio's family. So much warmth and love shines through his family members that it just makes the atmosphere of the entire book friendly and inviting. In fact, I really like the way Kate Hardy portrays family as a whole. She brings such joy to her story that it is hard to stop reading.

COURTESY OF CK2S KWIPS AND KRITIQUES

This is the first Kate Hardy book I've ever read and I'm so glad I did! It's a little like Prince Charming meets Sleeping Beauty. Gio is one handsome, sexy and talented Italian. He believes in commitment and family and is a man who made sacrifices for that family. At one time he dreamed of being a musician. However when his father became ill, he rose to the cause and took over the family coffee business giving up his dream.

Fran, is the oldest in her family and was adopted when her parents thought they couldn't have any children which was inaccurate as they eventually had twins boys and a girl. Fran always felt awkward, a sense of not belonging as her siblings excelled at everything they attempted; where Fran definitely was not an academic as the rest of her family.

Fran frequents the Mazetti coffee shop and one particular day stops in feeling a little off as she's just been told her job is being eliminated. She feels comfortable talking with Gio and in the end, Gio offers Fran a job as his office manager as he needs someone to organize his business because he wants to expand.

What both Fran and Gio don't count as their working relationship and friendship progress is their attraction for each other. Gio's family adore him and want him happy so when they learn of Fran they believe her to be more than his office manager. This situation works well for Gio as his Nonna is soon to visit so he asks Fran to pose as his girlfriend for the entire family. What they both don't count on is how their relationship develops from friendship to lovers. What Fran doesn't count on is for the very first time, she actually feels she belongs

This is one sweet and tender love story......an awakening of sorts for both Gio and Fran and one you definitely will not want to miss thanks to Kate Hardy's storytelling ability!

It was a cute story, Giovanni had a crush on Fran before he met her it was just a cute story to me.

This wasn't your typical HP with arrogant H and beautiful yet cool/shy h. Incredibly sweet romance with good people. Made me smile.