Customer Reviews

The Marcelli Princess (The Marcelli Sisters of Pleasure Road, Book 5)

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(9)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I usually love Susan Mallery's books, and have loved the others in this series about the Marcellis. The best part of this one is the updates on all the characters from the previous books. I still liked Mia in this book, but Rafael was unlikeable, and his sudden change in behavior at the end did not ring true to his personality in the rest of the book.

Also, I know this is nitpicking, but where was the Secret Service?? Joe is married to the President's daughter, and they live on the same property, yet this Prince broke into the house, and his bodyguards roamed freely with guns. For some reason I could not get past that, and it hindered my enjoyment of the story somewhat. Wouldn't the President's daughter have Secret Service protection?

It was not a bad book, just not one of her best.

When former CIA agent Mia Marcelli wakes up to find a stranger in her bed, she's shocked to learn that he's the lover she mourned for the last five years. Instead of being an international thief named Diego, he's actually crown prince of the tiny principality of Calandria (think Monaco), who assumed Diego's identity to trap his band of merry thieves. Mia has a surprise for Prince Rafael - in the form of their four year old son Danny. But Rafael already knows about Danny; in fact, he was sent by the King to retrieve Danny so that he can take his place in Calandrian society as heir to the throne. He is not above bribery or seduction to get his way. When Mia finds out about his true intentions, will her love for him (or is it Diego?) be strong enough to forgive his treachery?

Mallery's final installment in the Marcelli family series is a major let down. Never mind the suspension of time (less than a year since the last book in the series was published, and she wasn't even an agent yet), the children that age faster than in a soap opera, and the lack of chemistry between the two main characters. The plot starts out interesting, but the execution is rather boring, the dialogue stilted, and the "hero" so unsympathetic (and his sudden change of heart unconvincing), that I'm sure more than one reader wished she got back with her teen fiance, David instead of investing further tears on her Euro-trash prince. Let's just hope there's no story for Kelly in the works to further tarnish the Marcelli name.

I had pretty high expectations going in, particularly since the previous novel was so good. Rather than going out with a bang telling the most colorful of the Marcelli children's stories, Mallery instead ends the series on a sour note. I was also disappointed in another Mallery release ("Sizzling" from the Buchanan series) this year; perhaps Mallery needs to worry more about quality and less about churning out quantity.

Susan Mallery is becoming one of those hit or miss writers for me. Either she does it really well (i.e. The Sassy One, The Seductive One) or she completely throws you for a loop (Sizzling, The Marcelli Princess). I was really disappointed in The Marcelli Princess because I love this series, but the hero and heroine in this last installment are both annoying. I literally forced myself to keep reading. For an independent woman Mia relies too much on her family, lovely as they are, and Rafael's archaic sensibility makes him almost irredeemable. In my opinion, the best thing about this book is the chemistry that happens when the two are alone and the fact that we get to see how the beloved Marcellis from previous installments have fared. My recommendation: Get it from the library if you must, but don't buy it.

I do enjoy Mallery's books - particularly her recent ones. But this one was painful.

The other reviewer was polite when referring to "Rafael's firm belief in duty above all else." I would have called him a manipulative, overgrown child who thinks the world exists to serve him and his family. For example, Rafael objects that 3-year-old Danny isn't the lead in the school play, but instead plays a tree. And he also tells Mia that she "shouldn't discourage Danny from knowing his own importance" after the boy whines that he is the best.

That said, Rafael seems ultimately redeemable for the first half. Then Mia - and the reader - discover just how deceptive his plans are. And it was so truly vile that I found it impossible to get past.

There's also a sub-plot involving a Marcelli-by-marriage that seems to exist solely for the purpose of having another book in the series. Two and a half stars (barely)

I hated it!! For one reason only the lead male character had no depth, he was completely one dimensional. He didn't even do the arrogant prince role well.His feelings for Mia appeared to be completely sexual there was really zero chemistry.. I'm sure that his alter ego Diego has to have been much much more fascinating. All the other characters in the book had much much more depth. The book had such great potentiial!

Mia Marcelli has spent the last four years mourning the love of her life. Working as an undercover agent who ferrets out art thieves, Mia went against everything she had been taught when she fell in love with the one man that she shouldn't; an antiquities thief named Diego. Awakening one morning and finding the man she knew as Diego beside her, Mia panics and doesn't allow herself to believe his declarations. Her lover is dead! So why does the man in her bedroom look and sound like Diego? And how can she possibly accept his assertion that his real name is Rafael, the Crown Prince of Calandria?

Rafael has finally found Mia after searching for her for years. Told by his sources that she was deceased, he had pretty much given up all hope until he spotted her picture in an American newspaper showing her alive and well. It is then and there that Rafael knows that he has to find her. Failure is not an option. When he discovers that he has a son, all his plans for the future change in an instant.

I can't rave enough about THE MARCELLI PRINCESS. I wholeheartedly adored this book. I enjoyed the intrigue, I got angry at Rafael, and then I fell in love with him. Mia earned my respect for her strong independence and unwavering fortitude. Raising a child alone is a difficulty in itself; but she was raising a future heir to a throne and didn't even know it.

I did not read anything in THE MARCELLI PRINCESS that I didn't like. It is books like this, written by wonderful authors like Susan Mallery, that keep me reading and craving romance! I look forward to, and anticipate, each and every new release Ms. Mallery offers!

After her first mission as a secret agent went horribly wrong, Mia Marcelli returned to the Marcelli Vineyard once she found her herself pregnant by her deceased lover. Four years later, "Diego" is back from the dead intent on claiming Mia and their son, Danny. "Deigo" is actually Rafael, Prince of Calandria.

Those who have read the previous Marcelli novels will enjoy the family dynamics of the Marcelli clan. In fact, that's the only strong point of this novel. Throughout most of the novel Rafael is painted as a deceitful and arrogant. The reader is never given an opportunity to see past Rafael's firm belief in duty above all else to believe he is human enough to love Mia and build a relationship with her.

It was great to revisit the Marcelli Clan, but The Marcelli Princess was a bit disappointing compared to the other novels in this series.

I am a devoted Susan Mallery fan and the Marcelli family has kept me coming back time and again for the story of each sibling, but this one....errrr....I had a bit of trouble with it. For starters, I have never quite bought into the "dynamic" that Mia Marcelli is reported to possess. She struck me from first introduction as cocky, brazen, annoying and uncouth. For someone with a genuis iq, she came across as incredibly immature in some ways. She developed further in The Marcelli Princess, but Rafael/Prince Of Calandria was a one note, cardboard cutout of an annoyance throughout almost 3/4th of the story. His "I am Crown Prince Of Blah Blah, and that makes me SPECIAL!" schtick grated on my nerves from the get go. Even more so when his son picked up the royal chant. There were several points where I put the book aside for lack of ability to follow along. Unlike her three older sisters and brother, Mia and her story just never took hold with me. A rarity for me when it comes to the books of Susan Mallery. I would be so disappointed however to see the Marcelli family album end with this story. In fact, I would love to see Mallery introduce a "prequel" series, detailing the life and romantic back stories of Lorenzo/Tessa, and Marco/Colleen. Or a flash foward to the stories of the Marcelli Great Grandchildren. Please give us more Susan!!

split in the middle liked it felt it could be much more but still a good read gave it a 4 but would give 3.75 stars

This is the last of the Marcelli family books. After reading the previous ones in this series, I was hopeful that this would match the caliber of the others. Unfortunately, that was not the case. Mia is an accomplished and talented woman, but her love interest is not worthy of her. He is not a likeable guy even though he is a prince (literally). I usually enjoy reading Susan Mallery's books, but this is the one I liked the least of all those I have read (including those not in the Marcelli series). All in all, a disappointing read.

The other books in the series in chronological order are: 1. The Sparkling One; 2. The Sassy One; 3. The Seductive One; 4. The Marcelli Bride; and 5. The Marcelli Princess.