Lily Chase had been living with Vito Salvatore for five months when she discovered she was pregnant. Theirs was a temporary affair, however, she never expected that he would to throw her out into the night with nowhere to stay when she told him of her pregnancy.

Nearly broke Lily returns to London and bunks with an old girlfriend. When Vito comes across her giving a sales presentation at one of his subsidiary companies, he is livid. Vito needs a baby to please his grandfather and charms Lily into marrying him.

The story takes place in Venice and Ms. Rivers does a great job describing the city. Vito is portrayed as a self-centered egotistical man always wanting to be in control. Lily is just the opposite at first trusting and then accepting even though she is aware of his faults. The question is what could possibly make marriage work between these two?

I had a bit of a problem believing any woman could put up with Vito for any reason. ( )