Italian Knights Series by Billy London

Don't touch the hot Italian was a mantra Gina Robinson had spent the last ten years repeating to herself about her best friend, Nick Da Canaveze. She had to repeat it often, as Nick was hot beyond all reason. With a crazy-built body, a wicked sense of humour, and brains, he was the kind of man who could bring a woman pleasure with little more than a sideways glance. She had to give herself a slap on the wrist whenever she caught herself looking. And she looked...a lot... moreDon't touch the hot Italian was a mantra Gina Robinson had spent the last ten years repeating to herself about her best friend, Nick Da Canaveze. She had to repeat it often, as Nick was hot beyond all reason. With a crazy-built body, a wicked sense of humour, and brains, he was the kind of man who could bring a woman pleasure with little more than a sideways glance. She had to give herself a slap on the wrist whenever she caught herself looking. And she looked...a lot. Looking at Nick made her eyes feel good; being with Nick made her feel good. And she needed to feel good considering the state of her life. Her father had recently passed away, she was drowning in debt, and she was being hounded for money at every turn. It wasn’t the creditors who had her worried...it was those other guys. Deep down, she knew Nick could make everything better, but she wasn’t going to ruin their friendship. She really wanted to...but she couldn't. While she might playfully call him “Soprano,” Nick was her sweet dude. She could look...and fantasize...and drool discreetly, but she must not touch. Everyone knew how Nick felt about Gina. Everyone except for Gina. Ten years was a long time to wait for the girl you love to get a clue, especially when it only took him a month to realise he wanted to worship at the altar of her body every day for the rest of his life. He’d dated other women, but all along he’d known Gina was the one for him. Gina wasn’t just good for him, she was perfect for him. She met all the requirements for the sort of woman his family would approve of: a) she could cook Italian better than his mother (don’t tell his mother) and b) she spoke Italian beautifully. The only problem was c) she wasn’t a nice Italian girl who would walk ten paces behind him, do everything he commanded and ask no questions. He knew C wasn’t going to happen in this lifetime, and he wouldn’t have it any other way. All she needed to do was meet his own two requirements: love sex and love him. While he wasn’t sure if she loved sex, he’d spent many nights imagining just how much she could do. Did her beautiful chocolate skin taste as good as it looked? Would she moan his name or scream it when he brought her to climax? Best friends for a decade, they shared everything...except what his family really did for a living. Impatient at the best of times, Nick kept telling himself to wait for the right time to reveal the truth. Then an incident that put Gina in real danger made him realise he was done waiting around. It also made him admit what everyone else already knew: Gina was unequivocally his. No one else was going to sweep in and take what belonged to him. Da Canavezes never let anyone take from them, and only those who wanted to meet God sooner rather than later attempted such a thing. Once he got around the whole Hi, Soprano!, Bye, Soprano!, Can you make me a cup of tea, Soprano? platonic-friendship nonsense that had up to now categorized their relationship, Nick vowed to get around to teaching her new phrases like Harder, Soprano!, Deeper, Soprano!, You're going to make me break the sound barrier when I scream out your name, Soprano! Knowing just how independent Gina was, he decided he’d give her space to accept that being Mrs. Da Canaveze was what the future held. Of course, he’d keep giving her his intense lovemaking until he’d convinced her. After he’d “convinced” her, maybe then he'd mention what he and his family really did for a living. It might make a difference with everyone else, but he wouldn't let Gina use that to keep him away from her. He would explain it. She would definitely yell. He would put his foot down. She was his. End of story. And then all hell broke loose in the guise of his mother. Nick finally found his hands full. He had a woman to try to keep hold of, an overbearing mother to calm down, and “business” to deal with. Gina might see the Da Canaveze name simply as the surname that would soon be hers, but that name was whispered with respect. Gina might think of him as her “dude” but those who’d crossed him populated more than a few unmarked graves. And he’d already reserved one for the man who’d dared to send his goons after his woman. London is one hell of a big city, but is it big enough to contain the romance of Gina and Nick? Gina might want Nick, but the fiercely independent Londoner is going to make Nick earn her. Being a determined, sexy male, Nick is more than up for the challenge. He’s going to make Gina his wife, and no one is going to get in the way. Not even the future Mrs. De Canaveze. less

Tony Caristo was just minding his own business, waiting for his selfish bullet-magnet of a best friend to get out of surgery, when the sexiest nurse he'd ever seen walked right up to him, all luscious figured. All she was missing was a fig leaf and a snake around her shoulders. Rather than offering him the knowledge of the gods, she told him off with an Irish-lilted wit. His interest absolutely piqued, he realised he'd have to do something about her, pretty damn quick... moreTony Caristo was just minding his own business, waiting for his selfish bullet-magnet of a best friend to get out of surgery, when the sexiest nurse he'd ever seen walked right up to him, all luscious figured. All she was missing was a fig leaf and a snake around her shoulders. Rather than offering him the knowledge of the gods, she told him off with an Irish-lilted wit. His interest absolutely piqued, he realised he'd have to do something about her, pretty damn quick. Tony wasn't a man given to waiting around for good things to happen to him. And Lydia was all good, every single, five foot eight, double F-cupped inch of her. When Lydia asks Nick for a favour, Nick reminds him just what a good friend he is by letting Tony handle it. And he can't wait. Lydia Mills hasn't the time for nonsense, especially being in sole charge of her younger brother. All she needs to do is get him into university without getting him killed. She's spent the last month literally trying to kick some sense into her ex-boyfriend so he wouldn't get back at her through her brother. Now, Lydia decides to use a bigger stick to change said ex-boyfriend's mind. Turning to Nick Da Canaveze for help is a last resort, but it was like someone had gifted her with a nuclear weapon. Nick handed over Tony to do the hard work, completely convinced that Lydia would come through her troubles in one piece. If Tony didn't behave himself, there was no telling the same could be said for him. Always the protector and never the protected, Lydia is surprised by just how much she has in common with the Giant. For all his stealth, intelligence and inappropriate wit, Tony is undeniably, irresistibly unforgettable. On Caristo's Watch is a tale featuring characters from Windows, now part of the Italian Knights Collection, showing that behind every criminal mastermind is a woman who will drive him to distraction with a look, a quip and a dress made to start all sorts of trouble. less

Rocco Mamione has possibly the best wingman in the world—his grandmother. He had no idea that when his nonna was fired from the job she’d had for thirty years, she’d demand the best employment lawyer in London. And that lawyer just happens to be his ex-girlfriend. His Nonna had been giving him the “where are my great-grandbabies goo-goo eyes for some time now. The only person he’d ever imagined having those with was Anna... moreRocco Mamione has possibly the best wingman in the world—his grandmother. He had no idea that when his nonna was fired from the job she’d had for thirty years, she’d demand the best employment lawyer in London. And that lawyer just happens to be his ex-girlfriend. His Nonna had been giving him the “where are my great-grandbabies goo-goo eyes for some time now. The only person he’d ever imagined having those with was Anna. To get her back will be the ultimate challenge, but Rocco is nothing if not Sicilian resilient. Anna Taylor is not an Ice Princess. She was just burned pretty badly, and anyone can talk about it, if they want a biro in their eye. Smart enough to avoid further heartbreak and a potential conviction for murder, Anna is sure that nothing will take her down the Mamione path again. Definitely not his crazy grandmother or her crack-addictive cakes. Not Rocco’s hard body underneath those tailor-made suits. And absolutely not the fact that she’s still in love with him. The truth could just about do it. The third book in the Italian Knights series encompasses a good sponge, endurance, redemption, and letting go so you can get what you need. If he happens to be Sicilian, then so be it. less

If someone is too good to be true, it’s usually because they’re trying to keep the doors shut on a closet straining with skeletons. That’s always rung true with Francesca Abbey, even though she doesn’t want to be a sceptic. It doesn’t help that she’s in the wrong profession, her past relationships have been disastrous and her mother? Hardly Claire Cosby. But there’s something about Luca, a gentle giant who enters stage left as if he was just waiting for the right time... moreIf someone is too good to be true, it’s usually because they’re trying to keep the doors shut on a closet straining with skeletons. That’s always rung true with Francesca Abbey, even though she doesn’t want to be a sceptic. It doesn’t help that she’s in the wrong profession, her past relationships have been disastrous and her mother? Hardly Claire Cosby. But there’s something about Luca, a gentle giant who enters stage left as if he was just waiting for the right time. He’s ridiculously gorgeous with questionable taste in shirts but impeccable taste in food. Every woman’s walking fantasy. He makes her want to believe life can be the Disney Channel every day with all the sensual, explicit and downright dirty parts of HBO thrown in. Gianluca Caristo liked to think he was a practical man. It came with the territory of his current profession and certainly helped with his former. He wasn’t given to flights of fancy or madcap ideas, but he would never forget the vivid dream he had when he faced being locked up on the lies of his ex-girlfriend. When he comes face to face with his dream girl two years later, he’s sold on fate, karma, serendipity—all of it. Francesca is his future. His reward in exchange for his solemn vow to never do violence again. It’s a shame that everyone is testing the limits of that promise. As their pasts threaten to interfere with Luca and Frankie’s fledgling relationship, the future they so badly want happens a lot faster than either of them intended. The fourth in the Italian Knights series is a front-row seat to fools rushing in, enjoying it far too much, ignoring all advice and knowing you’d do it all over again if you had the chance. less

Belinda Afriyie is only in the Neapolitan Riviera for the wedding of her best friend’s daughter, never mind the fact that she bullied her way into it, mostly out of guilt for not being the mother figure that she should have been. At the very least, she had to make sure that Gina Robinson did her Ghanaian duty in marrying Nick Da Canaveze, even if Belinda had to get on a plane, pay excess baggage and suffer the heat for it... moreBelinda Afriyie is only in the Neapolitan Riviera for the wedding of her best friend’s daughter, never mind the fact that she bullied her way into it, mostly out of guilt for not being the mother figure that she should have been. At the very least, she had to make sure that Gina Robinson did her Ghanaian duty in marrying Nick Da Canaveze, even if Belinda had to get on a plane, pay excess baggage and suffer the heat for it. There would be no time for sightseeing, lounging around infinity pools and definitely no time for flirting with anyone. Especially not The Big Man, who was as troublesome as his son. The twinkle in Massimo Da Canaveze’s eyes told her that he was more than just trouble. He was a huge, fat God-like sign of what was missing from her life. Of just how glorious life could be with someone like him in it... But a man like him would never give her a side glance. It was fine. The wedding celebrations would last all of four days and she’d be off home. No looking. No touching. No flirting. None of that was good for her or her ego. Massimo Da Canaveze is not enjoying his status as widower. He’s lonely. Feeling that way had become a way of life and his son’s wedding at his 800 year old family villa would hopefully put that to a stop. He would be surrounded by people he loved. What he didn’t expect was the shrill voiced, authoritative, all commanding, arresting personality that was Belinda Afriyie to blaze through Italy in figure hugging, traditional African dresses and floaty kaftans that left little to the imagination. There hadn’t been an ample bosomed challenge like her to cross his path since his late wife. With a little music, a little sunshine, more than a bit of whiskey, he and Belinda were going to become very good friends. Four Italian named puppet masters sit on the sideline of this play, throwing pizza pies to hit two half-centenarians in the eye. The Da Canaveze family is about to add to their growing number and no one is more shocked about it, than the puppets… less