"Foreign-Flavored Contemporary Erotic Romance"

Casey doesn't know the first thing about soccer, or about soccer stars, but to help her former boss she's willing to hotfoot it across town and interview the big soccer star Alessandro Sottini. After all, she had just moved to Torino, Italy, where Sottini's squad was located. She didn't know what she was expecting, but whatever it was, it wasn't witty, charming Alessandro -- or his offer of an interview over dinner.

Flattered by Alessandro's open-heartedness, Casey pushes aside the pain of her late husband's death, and the guilt she feels for leaving her in-laws to travel across the world and fulfill her dreams. She begins to heal, but all too soon she'll realize that dating a star is not everything that it's cracked up to be. Fighting jealous fans and her own insecurities, can Casey ever let herself be the woman that she wants to be -- Alessandro's woman?

GRAND PASSION is a foreign-flavored contemporary erotic romance -- with the emphasis on romance. Alessandro is not only handsome, but also fun. The sexual scenes in the novel are well-written, but it is truly the romantic part of the story that draws the reader's attention. Casey has some real problems committing to a romance with Alessandro -- problems that can't be solved by a discussion or a pat on the head. Alex's devoted commitment to her helps her to recover from her own past, but the growth she makes is her own. Casey is a strong woman, and though Alex is sexy, she is the character that captures the reader's attention. GRAND PASSION is a story that any romance lover should read, and Samantha Winston is truly an author to watch for!

Sensuality Level: The publisher has rated this book Hard R/Borderline NC-17.

Reviewed by Ann Leveille
Courtesy Sensual Romance
Posted March 10, 2003

Summary

Casey Hatter thought Turin would be a peaceful reprieve, time to heal from her loss. She'd study art, learn Italian, maybe even learn to cook. Meeting a man was the farthest thing from her mind. But when her tyrannical ex-boss Greta pressures her into interviewing the fabulously wealthy and charming Italian soccer sensation, Alessandro Sottini, sparks fly.

Alessandro's nothing like her first love, a gentleman with tame ambitions. He's vibrant with unruly passions, quixotically philosophical, desperately sexy...in a word, Italian. No woman alive could say no to him. And the woman Alessandro wants is Casey...

Genre: contemporary.