Praise for
by Sandra Marton
âThis first book of the OâConnell series, Keir OâConnellâs Mistress, vibrates with charismatic characters and a tight, page-turning plot. No one delivers consistent must-reads like Sandra Marton!â
âRomantic Times on Keir OâConnellâs Mistress
âRomance does not get better than a Sandra Marton story. The Sicilian Surrender has power and passion evident in the strength and compassion of an exquisite hero and the heroineâs courage to create a new life. Together they are a formidable couple.â
âRomantic Times on The Sicilian Surrender
âClaiming His Love-Child by Sandra Marton is a truly remarkable love storyâ¦Marton crafts a compelling tale filled with emotional highs and lows for her protagonists.â
âRomantic Times on Claiming His Love-Child
More praise for Sandra Marton
âWhen passion ignites in the tale it is really hot enough to burn!â
âA Romance Review on Marriage on the Edge
âPowerful characterizations, intense emotions, sizzling sensual chemistry and a flair for the unexpected all combine to make this novel a highly entertaining romance. Ms. Marton has a unique way of pulling readers deep into the story right from the beginning.â
âThe Best Reviews on Cole Cameronâs Revenge
Dear Reader,
How quickly time passes! I can hardly believe weâve reached the end of my family saga, The OâConnells. Iâm going to miss them. From your notes and e-mails, I know youâll miss them, too, but what better way to say goodbye to these brothers and sisters than to know theyâve all followed their dreams? That each of themâKeir, Cullen and Sean, Fallon, Megan and now Brianaâhave found love?
After my last book, the one about Sean, you started asking me about Briana. Said one of you, âSean needed a special woman, but Briana needs a man who might not even exist.â Ah, but he does. His name is Gianni Firelli, and heâs one of the most exciting heroes Iâve ever created. Gianni wants Bree the minute he sees her. She treats him badly, but that doesnât turn him off. And when theyâre finally alone (but in a rather public place) Bree goes into Gianniâs arms and returns his passion with fiery heat. After that, they avoid each other. Itâs for the best, they think, until a terrible accident robs Bree of her best friend, Gianni of hisâ¦and a baby of its parents.
Come with me as Briana OâConnell and Gianni Firelli try to find a way past duty, past passion, and toward deep and abiding love.
I hope you enjoy this final book about the OâConnells. Itâs hard for me to say goodbye to them, but Iâm pleased to have found happiness for them all.
With love,
Sandra
GIANNI FIRELLI was restless.
It was six oâclock on a warm May evening and heâd been trapped at the party celebrating the birth of Stefano Lucchesiâs child for what seemed forever.
The room was too crowded, the voices too loud, and if anyone stuck one more squalling baby under his nose, he was going to forget that the expected response to such an affront on a manâs eardrums was a smile. Between babies-in-bellies and babies-in-blankets, there were almost enough kids here to field a football team.
It looked as if Stefano had married into a fertile clan.
As if that werenât enough, an hour ago, Tomasso Massini, one of Gianniâs oldest friends, had shown up with his wife. His extremely pregnant wife.
You, too, Tommy? Gianni had thought even as he shook his hand, kissed the wife and said all the right things.
The sexy blonde with the endless legs was the only diversion Gianni had seen, but sheâd turned out to be as rude as she was easy on the eyes.
Sighing, he cast a surreptitious glance at his watch. Another few minutes and he could make a polite exit. Until then, heâd smile, say the right things, and try to figure out what in Godâs name had impelled Stefano to give up his freedom and become not just a husband but also a daddy.
Gianni had nothing against marriage or babies. Someday, he supposed, heâd settle down, marry and have a couple of children of his own, but that was way in the future.
Not yet, though. It was much too soon.
Stefano and Tomasso seemed happy enough, but that didnât keep him from puzzling over why two sane men would give up their freedom when they were only in their thirties.
Was it something in the air?
Heâd almost said that to Tomasso, but you didnât joke with a man whose wife had a belly the size of a boulder, not even if youâd known him since you were ten. He, Tommy and Stefano had grown up together on the crowded streets of Manhattanâs Little Italy. Their paths didnât cross often anymore but they were there for each other when it mattered.
Obviously babies mattered.
Somebodyâone of Stefanoâs new brothers-in-lawâbrushed past him, a screaming infant in his arms. A smell wafted from the child.