An Offer He Can't Refuse [Mass Market Paperback]

Christie Ridgway (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 26, 2005

Meet Californian TÉa Caruso . . . her mother drives her crazy, her sisters give "advice." She has a family just like any other, except for one tiny difference . . .Her grandfather isn't just in the mob . . . he is the mob!

And no one knows this better than Johnny Magee. The Caruso family destroyed his dad. Now, it's payback time—and he's going to need an unsuspecting insider . . . one who won't realize what he's really after.

TÉa loves her family but hates what they do. She's tried to stay far away from her notorious relatives, making a legit name for herself as an interior designer. But her grandfather Cosimo's gala 80th birthday is coming up. Every mobbed-up member of the family from San Francisco to Sarasota will be there—and it's time for TÉa to face the family or face the consequences.

Intent on using TÉa for revenge, Johnny hires her to redo his home, but then she makes him "offers" he can't refuse. Soon he's falling in love with the enemy and when all the secrets are revealed, what will TÉa do . . . and even worse, what will her family?

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Being the eldest granddaughter of SoCal's biggest crime boss isn't as glamorous as it's cracked up to be. Ever since her father disappeared, presumed murdered, when she was 12, Téa Caruso has kept as far from her crooked family as she can. Now trying to eke out a living as an interior designer in highly competitive Palm Springs, Téa is on a mission to gain some professional recognition by landing the business of Vegas high-roller Johnny Magee, who has just bought a house in the area. Red-hot attraction lands Téa in Johnny's bed, and Téa begins to wonder if she's finally met a man she can trust with her heart. But Johnny has two secrets: he hired Téa because of her mob ties, and his own father was rumored to have killed hers. Genuinely funny moments catapult the reader toward this romance's engaging end, but it's the touching subplot about a retired mobster's goth daughter and the vulnerable but strong main characters that give this suspenseful romp a deeper spin. Ridgway (The Thrill of It All) leaves enough loose ends dangling to swing one of Téa's sisters into her own sequel, and readers who enjoyed this solidly written tale will certainly return for the continuing drama. (Aug.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review

“Sexy, smart, sparkling--say yes! to AN OFFER HE CAN’T REFUSE.” (Christina Dodd )

“Ridgway’s smart, peppy style is reminiscent of Jennifer Crusie, but her...heroines stand on her own. ...A charmer.” (Publishers Weekly )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Avon (July 26, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060763485
• ISBN-13: 978-0060763480
• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 4.6 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #966,288 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Christie Ridgway is a California native and author of over thirty contemporary romances. A five-time RITA finalist and USA Today bestselling author, she writes sexy, emotional reads starring determined heroines and the men who can't help but love them. Married to her college sweetheart, Christie lives in Southern California in a house filled with boys and pets. She writes as an escape from sports equipment, football on TV, and dog hair.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Another gem from Ridgway, October 31, 2005

By 

Tracy Vest (Northern California) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: An Offer He Can't Refuse (Mass Market Paperback)

Tea Caruso has tried to live down her connection to her grandpa, the Palm Springs-based Don of a California "family," going so far as to distance herself from everyone but her sisters and mother. She still feels guilt over Sal Caruso, the father who disappeared and is presumed dead, and still holds the key to a long-held secret from his past.

Johnny Magee has ties to Palm Springs as well. He spent two weeks a year with his father, up until his father was rubbed out in a mob hit, rumored to be in retaliation for the death of Sal. Wanting answers (and an end to his nightmares), Johnny purchases his fathers home and hires Tea as his decorator, hoping to get the answers he is searching even if he has to seduce her. He does not count on actually falling for her.

When his duplicity is discovered, Tea is heartbroken and Johnny is drawn into the Caruso family machinations and finally finds the answers to his questions, but at what price?

"An Offer He Can't Refuse" is a humorous romantic comedy with the added hook of a protagonist that wants to break the mob ties that bind her to a life she never asked to be a part of.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining good read, September 16, 2005

By 

Jennifer Banker "Avid reader" (Il United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: An Offer He Can't Refuse (Mass Market Paperback)

What a great book. The plot is a serious one, but it is not the tone of the whole book. It is a very entertaining book, with plenty of opportunity to laugh. The mob, mysterous deaths, revenge, retaliation. The end was not as bad as you would think from the story as you read it. It had its own happy ending. I liked how Tea came out of her shell at the party. You could see Johnny's eyes pop out. Tea was a great character. I liked watching her come into her own. I also liked watching Johnny loose the battle with himself. In the end they both won. I liked the supporting characters, Cal and Rachele too. They had a nice side story. I liked Tea's sisters to, Eve and Joey. Wonder which will get their own story next?? So ya, good book. Recommend to all for a lazy day.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another Fabulous Christie Ridgway tale!, August 17, 2005

By 

M. C. (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: An Offer He Can't Refuse (Mass Market Paperback)

Christie Ridgway is a shining star in contemporary romance, and this story is a perfect example of why. The characters are fascinating--a California mafia daughter and the son of a man who may (or may not) have killed her father and who may (or may not) have been the victim of an avenging hit by her family. The story has a strong thread of intrigue as the events from 16 years before are deciphered. But what makes it sing are the humor, the wonderful characters you want to spend time with, the peppy dialogue, and the incredible chemistry between these two complex, interesting people. I can already see a couple of other stories deriving from this one, as the heroine's two sisters are crying out for heroes of their own. Meanwhile, sit back in the hot summer nights with an icy cold martini (or even an iced tea--you can always imagine it's a martini!), and revel in a terrific story. I promise, you won't be disappointed!