I picked up this novel knowing I would likely hate it, but one star is all I can handle giving The Infamous Italian’s Secret Baby (and yeah, I totallyI picked up this novel knowing I would likely hate it, but one star is all I can handle giving The Infamous Italian’s Secret Baby (and yeah, I totally grabbed it because of the title, sue me).
Sometimes a girl just wants to read the book equivalent of a Lifetime Movie, okay?
I had to check multiple times that this book was not labeled “urban fantasy”, because the way Bella was rooted to the spot whenever Gabriel approached her spoke of some creepy vampire hypnosis or fae enchantments.
Bella could feel the heat radiating from his body, could smell his tangy aftershave, the male scent of him that invaded and claimed the senses, filling her with a warm lethargy, a need to move closer to all that heady maleness.
A need Bella was unable to resist as she felt herself swaying towards himk. She made an effort at the last moment not to do so … What was happening to her?
She never reacted to men like this. At least, she never had before …
IT’S BECAUSE HE’S NOT A MAN, BELLA, HE’S SOME SORT OF SEX DEMON, OUT TO STEAL YOUR LIFE FORCE.
Or maybe just to accidentally impregnate you and never call ever again. How pedestrian.
Bella’s reasoning for not informing Gabriel about their son is shaky at best, incredibly self-centered at worst. He promised to call, with what seemed to be relative sincerity, when he left her in his bed to work. It was that day that he was involved in a horrific racing accident that killed two other drivers and left him in a short-term coma, where he then had to deal with the possibility of life-long paralysis and recovery from severe burns. Contacting a one night stand, especially when you’re unable to actually pony up the booty for a booty call, seems like an incredibly low priority under those circumstances. I usually despise the male counterpart in this genre, but dude, give him a break.
Bella may as well just be a stubborn pair of surprisingly full, yet sensitive breasts, for all the character she was ascribed. Outside of my brief sense of sympathy for his situation, I didn't like Gabriel much more. A bundle of alpha male stereotypes, his clear disregard for a woman’s personal boundaries and his tendency to fall into Broodmeister 9000 mode made him far more unattractive than any of his scars could have. Truly, a match made in heaven.
Spoiler alert: In the end, they have three more kids, but these ones aren’t a secret.
NEW THINGS I LEARNED: You can buy a Caribbean island complete with a picturesque bungalow for the low, low price of $3.5 million dollars. According to the website, it's "not often that a picture postcard private island is offered for sale and rarer still at an affordable price." Jump on this bargain while you still can!...more
I just couldn't handle the presentation of the prose. Stream-of-consciousness is wasted on me. I just couldn't handle the presentation of the prose. Stream-of-consciousness is wasted on me. ...more
There's just something about all of Steinbeck's writing that turns me off completely. I have never read something of his that I liked.There's just something about all of Steinbeck's writing that turns me off completely. I have never read something of his that I liked....more
It makes me upset that I liked this book when I was a young, impressionable girl. The heroine is drugged (without the hero's sayso, because that somehIt makes me upset that I liked this book when I was a young, impressionable girl. The heroine is drugged (without the hero's sayso, because that somehow makes it better?) with an aphrodisiac that, of course, makes her hot n' horny. He obliges her needs, because he's such a gentleman. (This is not to mention the second time she's drugged ON HIS ORDERS because she refused to sleep with him again. What chutzpah she has to do such a thing to him!)
He then proceeds to kidnap and sail her to another country, on the off chance that she is actually a lady of influence - his defilement of her could cause a political incident. After being raped, kidnapped, physically and mentally abused by his domineering aunt, the heroine is finally able to return home and mope about never seeing him again, with the added bonus of bearing his child. She does have a moment or two of righteous fury, but they are few and far between and never last nearly as long as he deserves.
If I were to just go by the facts provided herein, this was a fairly interesting book. I could not get over the tone of the author. His misogyny was pIf I were to just go by the facts provided herein, this was a fairly interesting book. I could not get over the tone of the author. His misogyny was pretty blatant, though he unsuccessfully tried to couch it in vapid humour. He even implied that he was a misogynist at least once, throwing it in there in a shrugging "oh well, what are you gonna do?" sort of manner.
I found the chapter about the morality of the rape of a nun vs. the rape of a prostitute particularly repugnant. Here's a man, who has already thrown in little demeaning comments about any of the "unattractive" female experts he's spoken to, asking another man about the morality of rape of a woman! ...more
If you don't do what your parents say, you'll eventually end up in a coma. This is what I learned.If you don't do what your parents say, you'll eventually end up in a coma. This is what I learned....more
I disliked this one so much that I blotted it out of my memory for some time. I picked it up during my first year of college and almost immediately seI disliked this one so much that I blotted it out of my memory for some time. I picked it up during my first year of college and almost immediately set it back down. I couldn't find anything redeeming about the character (perhaps purposely) and the writing was not strong enough to draw me in spite of that lapse....more
My rating is based on reading this book when I was fourteen. I was so appalled at Hester's treatment that I could not fathom giving The Scarlet LetterMy rating is based on reading this book when I was fourteen. I was so appalled at Hester's treatment that I could not fathom giving The Scarlet Letter any credit based on plot, writing or tone.
I should probably read it again. I'll still be appalled, but maybe I will notice other things the second time around....more
It's hard for me to enjoy a book if I desperately hate the main character. I tried, Mr. Salinger. I really did. Maybe Franny and Zooey will work out bIt's hard for me to enjoy a book if I desperately hate the main character. I tried, Mr. Salinger. I really did. Maybe Franny and Zooey will work out better for us....more