From just neighbors…to a forever family?
Everyone's heard of Matteo De Luca: tycoon, soccer player
and international thrill seeker. Until an injury sees him permanently benched
-- and bored! So bored that when his neighbor's kid drives off another nanny,
Matteo volunteers to step in, adding "manny" to his CV. After
unexpectedly becoming her nephew's guardian, it's clear Porsha's defenses are
high. But as Matteo gets to know the woman beneath, a startlingly intense
connection emerges… Could this be his biggest adventure yet?
Emotional story of an unwillingly retired football
(soccer) player, a frazzled executive, and the seven-year-old boy who brings
them together.
The story opens with Matteo attempting to relax in his
backyard. The loss of his soccer career has left him looking for something to
fill the hole in his life. He is bored until a frilly item of lingerie sails
over the fence and lands on his head. When he heads next door to return said
item, he is nearly bowled over by a woman in a hurry to leave, followed by one
begging her to stay.
Porsha became guardian to her nephew, Fin, two years ago
when her sister was killed in a tragic accident. She does her best to give him
a good life while keeping her job, but Fin is hard on his nannies. This was the
fifteenth nanny in as many months.
I loved this first meeting between Matteo and Porsha. The
flying bra, the water balloon, and Fin's starstruck recognition of Matteo made
me laugh out loud. Fin and Matteo's immediate connection gave him a chance to relieve
his boredom. I loved his shock when he heard himself offer to watch Fin while
Porsha works, becoming, in essence, a "manny." The scenes with Fin
and Matteo were terrific as they bonded over their love of football.
Matteo had a difficult childhood and refused to open up
to the potential hurt of loving someone. He is attracted to Porsha but tries to
resist. Porsha's childhood was spent with a family that flew by the seat of
their pants, taking risks and living day by day. As a result, she thinks
everything through, often focusing on the negatives, resulting in very little
fun in her life. Matteo is determined to help her learn to let go. He invites
her and Fin to his island home near Capri. I loved watching Porsha learn to
have fun, with Matteo and Fin encouraging her. There were some intensely emotional
scenes as Porsha worked through the fears that have kept her prisoner, and I
loved seeing the changes in her.
Spending that much time together gave the sparks between
them a chance to grow. I ached for Porsha, who knew she was falling for Matteo
but also that he didn't believe in lasting love. It is also evident that Matteo
is falling for her, but he refuses to accept it. Everyone around them can see how
they belong together. But both have fears and insecurities to overcome, and the
path to their HEA hits a few bumps. The ending was terrific, and I loved the
epilogue.
