I always snatch up Maya Blake's Presents releases, and The Commanding Italian's Challenge is a perfect example of why. The book opens with Maceo Fiorenti at a graveside, practically drowning in his stoicism, guilt and burdens. And I was HOOKED. Maceo is reserved and aloof, and a fierce protector of his company as it's all he has. He doesn't believe he deserves happiness or love. And when Faye Bishop enters his life, all rainbows and sunshine, she threatens his cold but familiar world.

I loved this book in all the ways. The Commanding Italian's Challenge is a fairy tale of passion, romance, redemption, healing and happily ever after. From the first page, I fell for Maceo. Though he appears aloof, he's so tortured. And Lawd, how I love a tortured hero! And Maya Blake writes some of the best! Faye was his perfect foil--light, vulnerable yet strong and passionate. Every time they were on the page together was crackling with sexual tension, heartfelt emotion and magic. And the romance? Sigh. Just beautiful. Once again Maya Blake proves why she's an auto-buy author for me.5 s Susan in Perthshire1,860 94

I have such mixed views about this book. Maceo’s ‘secret’ is hardly a secret when the author reveals it in a FB post but in case others haven’t seen that reveal, I’ll put spoiler tags on my review.

The story is really well written and I loved the development of their story and the way the relationship became irresistible to them both.

However, the angst which was supposed to drive both the hero and heroine was just unbelievable.

Faye has come to Italy to find out why her stepfather Luigi left her and her mother. Maceo has just buried his much older wife (who had first been married to Luigi) and treats Faye with the usual dismissive and aggressive behaviour that these ridiculously alpha heroes meet out with monotonous regularity. But that’s typical of the genre and it’s not a real problem since Maceo soon starts to appreciate Faye as a person.

There are constant allusions to some deep dark secret related to Faye’s birth which she felt made her unacceptable. I had mentally anticipated all kinds of really awful scenarios and then discovered it was that her mother had been raped. I was - what? Why should that be something which would be seen as reflecting badly on Faye? I just couldn’t believe she would be so stupid as to have taken the vicious words of an ex seriously. I mean - ‘an abomination?’ Seriously?

Secondly - Maceo’s secret was his virginity. Guilty about his supposed role in his family’s death had made him decide he wasn’t entitled to enjoy his life and so he gave up on sex, love, relationships and to protect Carlotta, entered into a platonic marriage of convenience. Sorry, I’m just not buying it. When he finally succumbs to desire - he manages to still be a super stud and turn into a brilliant lover straightaway. Really?

The only other virgin hero I’ve come across in Mills and Boon was Tarek in Maisey Yates ‘Bound to the Warrior King’. That scenario was brilliantly credible and understandable and Tarek’s attitude to preparation for his marriage to Olivia was so touching. I believed in Tarek’s situation whereas I just couldn’t believe in Maceo’s. However I found it easier to suspend disbelief with him than with Faye.

I’m sorry to be so critical because MB is a good writer and I really enjoyed this story in spite of the flaws - and that is indeed a tribute to the quality of her writing.This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.Show full review2 s Ann40

This one kind of dragged for me, although it had a more interesting plot than most HPs. Maybe a bit too much talk and introspection? But I d the locations and I d the characters.1 TashNz727 21

The Commanding Italian’s Challenge is a Harlequin Presents December 2020 release which is surprising in more ways than one. One surprise about the dark and mysterious hero Maceo is something I’m not sure I’ve read before and I’m not going to spoil it although I suspect other might mention it. I thought it was quite well handled. I’m always up for an author being brave and trying to look for fresh and innovative ways to deliver the same troupe to their readers.

I’m a huge fan of Maya Blake. I was looking forward to her latest release and I was won over by the first page which the first clue this story wasn’t going to take the usual path. Immediate questions were triggered, such as why is Maceo at a graveside present day? A very good surprise twist was the outcome and I d the idea. A lot of detail went into Maceo and I loved his gruff standoffishness. He really was captured as a dark and commanding grump, I loved it. He really was CEO and had no time for anyone to mess him around.

I love it when a heroine is the complete opposite and it causes the hero to wake up and smell the roses. Faye was delightful and strong and had questions about the past only Maceo could answer but used her brains to go about trying to tap into Maceo’s knowledge. She was very able and enjoyable to read about.

As per Maya’s other stories, the plot is imaginative and next level. The passion that drives Maceo is true Presents style and Faye is intelligent and really is the rainbow Maceo describes her as. Fave quote of the story is when Faye’s mother tells her “You’ve settled your past Faye, now go fight for your future”. And as per all good Presents, she does. maya-blake Martha534 1 follower

This was a really good read and I enjoyed this book immensely. Maceo is trying to protect his company as well as his heart as he doesn't believe he should be happy. Faye Bishop is a stepdaughter he never knew his Godfather had and he leaves her a small share in his will, Maceo wants to make sure she works in the business an understands. I would reread.harlequin-presents Caro512 40

Podría haber sido un plot interesante, de hecho por eso elegí leerlo. Pensé que sería una lectura rápida para descomprimir luego de tanto dark romance, pero pasa sin pena ni gloria. La verdad, no sentí nada de química entre los protagonistas y quise terminar la novelita apenas avancé unas pocas páginas.virgin-hero wtf Mattie1,663 8

I wanted to it, it was interesting up until they got together and all the secrets started coming out. Then heroine got so annoying and unreasonable when she found out her history, her being mad at hero made zero sense to me. I d the hero, I especially d that he was a virgin (heroine wasn't). Rebecca743 2

Love it Louise28

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