Customer Reviews

The Sparkling One (The Marcelli Sisters of Pleasure Road, Book 1)

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I think Susan Mallery has really come into her own in with this new series. I enjoyed the story very much and can't wait to read the other 2 books.

I come from a large family but I found the Marcellis a bit off-putting. The grandfather, especially, is pretty unlovable. I hope he gets better in the next books. The older Marcelli women are kind of cute. I liked how they all pulled together to help Katie out in a major crisis.

However, it was the story of Zach and Katie that I enjoyed the most. I like that the story unfolded over months rather than a week or two. (One of my pet peeves is forever after occuring in just a few days). The respect they had for each other from the beginning was wonderful. Even as they disagreed on what to do about the young engaged couple. Her sister, his son. Both 18. Yikes!

Another thing I like was the progression of the relationship of the youngsters. It was presented in a pretty lifelike manner, I feel. I don't want to spoil the story for anyone who hasn't read the book so I won't detail the outcome of their engagement. Let's just say I'm glad things worked out the way they did. It was nice to see the women working together the way they did. Gramps could learn a lesson there. Not a likeable man.

It was good to see that Katie didn't back down in the face of Zach's unsubtle attempt at blackmail. She is my kind of heroine. Smart and determined without falling into the TSTL category. (Another pet peeve) She has her fears and that makes her very human and easy to relate to.

All in all, I do recommend reading this book. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Event coordinator, Katie Marcelli has just landed a major coup - to organize a huge charity fund raiser. As an added bonus, the man in charge is a sexy lawyer named Zach Stryker. Nothing can take her off her high; not even her loud boisterous family when she gathers with them for her youngest sister's engagement party. To guard from the numerous pleas to settle down and find herself a man, Katie mentions a possible romance with her new client. Imagine her surprise (or horror) to find that Zach is the father of the groom, and of course her family manages to further humiliate her when they mention that they have heard all about Zach, to his amusement.

Zach also has a secret up his sleeve - he hired Katie in hopes she'd be indebted to him enough to help him break up the engagement of his 18 year old son (who was born when Zach was 17). Katie doesn't bow to his threats, and they suddenly find themselves attracted to each other. While she doesn't agree with Mia's choice to get married so young, she doesn't want Zach interfering.

The first Marcelli saga is a really engaging and sizzling story that probes into the relationships between Katie and Zach; Zach and David; David and Mia; as well as the entire extended Marcelli family headed by the staunch patriarch "Gramps", who wants nothing more than a male heir to whom he can pass on the family vineyard.

Katie Marcelli has just launched her own party-planning business, and she knows that landing a big contract would put Organization Central on the map. When that contract practically lands in her lap, Katie's stunned and excited. Then she meets Zach Stryker, one of the partners of the large firm footing the bill for her organizational efforts, and she realizes the real reason she was chosen for the job: Zach hopes to persuade her (by any means necessary) that Katie's sister's upcoming marriage to Zach's son is a very bad idea.

Zach's the only one who believes that two 18-year olds shouldn't wed. The Marcelli clan embraces the idea, as does Katie herself, not to mention the recently engaged couple. Can Zach persuade Katie that these two young people shouldn't be allowed to make a mistake that will ruin their lives forever? And can he keep his hands off Katie in the process?

THE SPARKLING ONE has a solid plot which stems from enough internal and external conflict to keep it moving at a rapid pace. Unfortunately, the Marcelli family is so overwhelming and annoying, it's hard to really feel for any of the characters. With the exception of Zach, who is arrogant and cynical, but also charming, sexy, and kind, the rest of the characters have few redeeming qualities.

Ms. Mallery's intent must have been the thorough depiction of an Italian-American family, but the characterization falls short of eliciting a humorous reaction. Instead, the boisterous grandmothers, domineering grandfather, and off-kilter sisters come off as stereotypical and infinitely unlovable. I kept expecting Katie to come to her senses and finally run off for good. I also couldn't understand the reason for Zach's sudden acceptance of the family.

Overall, a sharply plotted tale that fails to deliver due to shoddy characterization.

Albeit this is the first book of the trilogy I read it the third one. I knew what was going to happen though, the book is a good one. As I was reading the book I already knew what was going to happen to Mia and the rest of the family and still have a good time. Nevertheless the best book for me was the book No. 3 "The Seductive One".

I am a huge fan of Susan Mallery - anything she writes or has written i will purchase. This is a great book continuing the storyline of the Marcelli Sisters in Wine Country. Be sure to check out all the books regarding the Marcelli's, you will not be disappointed. EXCELLENT BOOK!!

The Sparkling One by Susan Mallery is a great introduction to a great series. I have read them out of order and it gives a little away but not enough. This is series tells the story of four sisters who are from a Italian/Irish wine making family. This story tells the story of Katie the oldest sister who falls for Mia's fiance father. Great dialogue -- I love the family.
Check out the whole series; The Sparkling One (1),The Sassy One (2),The Seductive One (3), The Marcelli Bride (4),The Marcelli Princess (5 coming out 2007).

If you enjoy reading as a break from the everyday chalenges of the world, this series is perfect. There is typical family interaction, great characters, huge amounts of humor that will make you laugh out loud, and sufficient romance to make you feel good at the end. Enjoy!

I really enjoy novels by Susan Mallery. This was the exception. I thought her portrayal of traditional Italian and Irish families was beyond stereotypical, and quite frankly offensive at times. There was nothing lovable about the Marcelli clan and I kept hoping Katie would tell them all where they could go stick their pushy, nosy, and persistent demands. This is one family I would hate to be a member of.
The chemistry between Zach and Katie was less than scintillating and I had to force myself to read the last few chapters. I doubt I'll be reading the remaining novels in the series.

In Los Angeles, Kate Marcelli knows that if Organization Central successfully pulls off the event for the client it will make her firm. Her company will handle a large law firm's annual fundraiser for local family charities. When Kate meets one of the partners, Zach Stryker her hormones go into overdrive, but she contains them as sex and business do not mix.

Kate attends an estrogen feast at the family estate. Also expected there are her mother, two grandmothers, her married sister, her widowed sister, and her teenage youngest sibling Mia besides two embattled males. Mia announces that she is engaged and that her fiancé David and his father will soon arrive. Mia's family is ecstatic, but also concerned with the single status of Kate, who says she found her client to be hot and bothersome. David and his father Zach arrive. Zach gave the fund-raiser project to Kate in hopes of an ally to stop these kids from marrying, but his future in-laws embrace the idea. As Kate and Zach work together they fall in love, but will he force his beloved to decide between him and her family?

Though the Marcelli clan can be hormonally overwhelming, readers will enjoy this contemporary romance. The story line is fun as her family matchmake Kate and Zach not fully grasping he feels strongly against David and Mia marrying as both are too young though Marcelli women marry as teens except for Kate. The ensemble cast display individual traits so that the audience receives a warm Italian-American tale that is often humorous especially when the estrogen levels go off the Richter scale.

Harriet Klausner

I tried to like this book. I really did. I just didn't find Katie very interesting. There were to many sisters to keep track of. Not to mention sorry, I did NOT care for the plot very much. Why the heck is Zack, going to Katie to try to help with the issue of the wedding? Sorry but he needed to talk to the parents. Sorry, I just didn't like this book at all.