"interesting contemporary romance"

In Atlanta, Amelia Parker is depressed because she believed her former boyfriend Will was going to propose, but instead told her he loved someone else. Burying herself at her job at Bellagio, Amelia realizes she needs to get a life, but would like to start her new life living on a beach. She at least obtains some of her new life when she is chosen to accompany the firm's matriarch Lillian Bellagio to her home in the Keys.

At a Tiki Bar, Amelia meets the mysteriously handsome Jack "The Shark" O'Connell, who sees an opportunity to make some easy money off of Bellagio as he feels they owe him big time. When she shows him her list of things to do to bring élan into her life he turns it around and challenges her to use her time away from Georgia to try things that until Will gave her the boot three weeks ago she would never have considered since she is a reticent person. She falls in love with Jack, but fears this venture capitalist is a shark about to hurt Lillian and Bellagio as she believes he is using her to get at them.

The Bellagio shoe story is an interesting contemporary romance starring a capable female and a fascinating lead male who has to choose between his love for his "Magnolia" and thirst for vengeance because he hates the Bellagio family. A late twist to the story line will surprise Amelia and the readers as they learn why Jack detests the Bellagios. Footwear has never been considered romantic until Leanne Banks designed her miniseries (See FEET FIRST and UNDERFOOT).

Harriet Klausner

Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted August 25, 2006

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Summary

Think working for a leading international shoe company sounds like a dream job? Not if you're Amelia Parker, an overworked, downtrodden temp working for Bellagio, Inc.'s grande dame, Lillian Bellagio. But things are looking up for Amelia. She's just been given the assignment of accompanying Ms. Bellagio to her estate in the Keys. Trading pumps for flip-flops and a cell phone for a conch shell—could be worse, right?

Especially when life on the island includes her very own mystery man—one Jack "The Shark" O'Connell, dashing venture capitalist. He dares Amelia to use this time to do something wild: drink a hurricane, go skinny-dipping...have an affair with a dangerously attractive man. Now Amelia will have to decide whether to step into that glass slipper.