Perfectly Ruined

Nic will steal your heart. He seems like a typical bad boy but then the layers are peeled and you find the damage that sent him down a path even he can't always explain. He returns to Italy and runs into his first crush, Karina, realizing those feelings for her never faded. Karina, duty bound to take care of her mother and the olive groves finds herself engaged to someone she doesn't love. I loathed Angelo as he pushed all my buttons with his conceited behavior. Karina seeing Nic again is electric, you can tell right away that they had a strong history. Emily Jane Trent takes you on their journey as they are both trying to find themselves and what their futures hold. Will they be able to find love at the same time?

Set in Italy I knew right away I would love this book. From the culture to the food and of course the gorgeous sophistication of the Italian male. Niccolo returns to Italy after a 4 year absence. His father figured moving him back to Italy would set him on the right path but it wasn't the place as much as it was a person. Karina and Niccolo were childhood friends and he returns to find that she has grown into a beautiful woman with many responsibilities. A business she must keep afloat and a mother who lives with a temperamental disease. It seems it was perfect timing on Nic's part and thanks to his stubbornness or his love for the girl it changed not just his life but hers as well. Nic no longer wondering aimlessly through life has found happiness with the girl he loves and in a profession he is now making a very good living at. Which I think is all his father ever wanted for him to just have some direction and to learn to grow up. I wish I had a man who would fight to not just keep me in his life but protect my family at the same time. I love how all the childhood moments the will he or won't he came full circle. The moments on the bridge touch my heart (especially the ending). After all the betrayal and thoughts of not being good enough they finally found a home and a love in each other. What touched me most is the fact the her mother seems to be doing much better. I know how fickle a disease like that can be and the fact that Karina would have given up happiness to make sure her mother got the help she deserved...well I can see why Nic fell in love with her.

There is no denying Nic Romano is a Bad Boy. Drinking, partying, drugs, and generally not caring where his life is going, he is totally lost and confused as to his future. Lucky for him, his uncle in Tuscany is willing to take him in so he can evaluate his priorities and get away from his dad.

In this setting that is primed for change and new resolutions, Nic reconnects with his childhood friend Karina. The attraction he felt as a teenager growing up with her is once again ignited. Backdraft! This is when oxygen is reintroduced to a smoldering fire and the result is explolsive and a raging fire. The passion that ignites between Karina and Nic has these pages melting from the heat.

In addition to the love affair, we have a nefarious figure involved - Angelo. He is Karina's fiance and believe me, he is a man you will love to hate. I wanted to punch him out while I was reading how carelessly he was treating Karina. That, plus the fact he was man-handling her, drove the point home that this man could not possibly end up marrying sweet Karina.

The plot thickens and our lovers work together to uncover the mystery behind Angelo. You will have to read this book to find out how they outsmart this jerk.

As always, Emily Jane Trent delivers a gripping story full emotion and angst. The descriptions of the landscape and people of the region alone make this book worth reading. Tonight, I will dream of Tuscany, wine, and of course... Nic!