HER BROODING ITALIAN BOSS by Susan Meier is the book immediately following The Twelve Dates of Christmas. This series by Susan Meier follows three friends as life leads them down different paths toward love. One of the things that I really like in HER BROODING ITALIAN BOSS, that isn't made clear in the book's description, is that Laura Beth and Antonio are friends rather than strangers. For me, this makes all the difference. They are friends who have harbored a secret attraction to each other but haven't acted on it because the timing never seemed right.

Laura Beth is a stronger woman than she thinks she is. At the opening of HER BROODING ITALIAN BOSS, she is in a very tough spot -- pregnant and alone. I like that, in spite of her difficulties, Laura Beth tries her hardest to make the smartest decisions for both her and her unborn baby. She strikes a great balance between being a thoughtful expectant mother, and a woman trying to improve herself. In spite of his flaws, I found Antonio to be a likeable character as well. Even with psychological scars caused by his late wife, I never thought he ever struck out at Laura Beth in a cruel way. They are both complex characters trying to sort out their emotional baggage. However, happily for me, I don't believe the drama ever rises to the level of melodrama.

For me, the romance that develops between Laura Beth and Antonio is hotter because of their prior interactions as friends and their secret attraction. Antonio's being an artist and his painting Laura Beth also adds another level of eroticism to the relationship. Susan Meier does a fabulous job of capturing the frustration they both feel, as well as the simmering attraction. I also like Antonio's father as a supporting character. I think he adds some lighter moments to the story as well as acting as a catalyst to get things moving along.

HER BROODING ITALIAN BOSS is a sexy and emotionally intense romance. The main characters both have flaws and scars from past relationships. I love the romance of two people meeting years before, almost missing their chance at love, and then getting a second chance years later. I look forward to reading more stories by Susan Meier.