Review: Romeo, Romeo by Robin Kaye

A self-made millionaire, gorgeous and sexy, who also loves to cook and clean? Is this every woman’s fantasy or what?

Rosalie Ronaldi, high-powered corporate turnaround expert, doesn’t have a domestic bone in her body. Surviving on take-out and dirty martinis, she keeps her shoes under the dining room table, her bras on the towel rack in the bathroom, and her clothes on the couch.

Macho Nick Romeo loves an independent woman because it means no commitment. Until he meets Rosalie and discovers that all he wants to do is take care of her… Before too long, he’s moved in, cleaned up her apartment, stocked her refrigerator, and adopted her dog.

But things turn complicated when her job puts her in charge of a dealership Nick has been secretly trying to take over for years, and telling him the truth would blow her whole career, and blow up their relationship too …

Usually when I receive new books in the mail I crack them open and read the first page or two just to get a basic feel for the book. When I got Romeo, Romeo by Robin Kaye, I cracked it open to read the first page and didn’t set it down again until I’d read the entire thing.

Nick isn’t looking for a relationship when he sees Rosalie stranded on the side of the road and stops to help her. As a matter of fact, he just broke it off with a girl because she wanted more than he was willing to give. But he wouldn’t mind a roll in the hay, and Rosalie is attractive. So he asks her on a date..only he doesn’t exactly tell her he’s Nick Romeo, self-made millionaire and childhood friend – and troublemaker – to her brother.

Rosalie isn’t interested in a relationship at all. She swore off men and love a long time ago, and is perfectly content with her life as is. She’s definitely attracted to Nick, and they do have some great chemistry, but she doesn’t want him thinking she’s looking for more than a one-night-stand. Each is pretty much overjoyed when they learn the other is looking for exactly what they want. But things get complicated pretty fast.

Rosalie gets sick a few days after they meet and Nick moves in with her so he can take care of her. Then he realizes she’s been brought in to fix a dealership he’s been secretly trying to purchase – and sabotage – for years. But even worse, he finds he’s really starting to care for her – which is definitely against the rules they set up in the beginning.

I think the thing I loved best about this novel is that the characters were totally real. Rosalie is a strong, independent woman who isn’t secretly pining for a man. She’s really content to live her life alone. Sure, she misses the sex sometimes, but when she says she never wants to get married and become a baby factory (which is what her big Italian family is really pushing her towards) she means it. When she and Nick start seeing each other, she isn’t secretly hoping it’ll turn into more. She’s also independent without being obnixous about it. She realizes her limitations and accepts them, but also knows her own strengths and refuses to be pushed around.

Nick grew up dirt poor, and though he’s now a self-made millionaire, he’s still the same neighborhood boy he was before – only richer. He likes getting dirty in the garage and cooking. And he cleans when he’s stressed or upset. No joke, he actually uses vacuuming as a stress reliever. He’s just a real, down-to-earth guy. He doesn’t flaunt his wealth or have major hang-ups because of some incident in his past. He likes sports and breasts and Rosalie’s dog. He was just a regular guy. Well, ok, a regular guy who also happened to be rich and gorgeous, but still.

The secondary characters really enhanced the story, too. Rosalie’s assistant and best friend, sister, mother and aunt. Nick’s cousins, mom and employees. They all added just the right touch of humor, emotion and depth.

I did become frustrated by a couple “big misunderstandings”. I really felt one of them was drug out way too long, and another seemed somewhat contrived. Things really could have been easily cleared up if only they’d talked to each other. But in the end I was able to overlook them and enjoy the story.

If you’re looking for a sweet, light, straight-up contemporary romance, I’d highly recommend this one. This is one novel I’ll re-read again and again. Even though I had a couple issues with it, they didn’t take away from my overall enjoyment, so I have to give it a:

4.5 out of 5

I also heard that Robin Kaye has at least two more novels planned for this series and I can’t wait to get them.

This book is available from Sourcebooks Casablanca. You can buy it here or here in e-format.

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