He wants a shotgun wedding… She’s holding the trigger!

Independent Ann-Sophie’s secret liaison with playboy tycoon Alessandro Carandini was very out of character and very indulgent.

Then he walked away, leaving behind the ghost of his caress…plus a nine-month consequence!

Finding Ann-Sophie with a bump, Alessandro demands stability for his child. Although she rips unwelcome emotions from him, a convenient union is the only option.

Her rejection of his proposal is unacceptable!

Whisking Ann-Sophie to his Italian castle, Alessandro has two weeks to seduce her to the altar—without relinquishing his own control…

Titles in The Carandini Legacy series/duo include:  Convenient Wife Conditions ~ Heir to Italian Altar ~

This story may contain language, violence, and/or sexual situations intended for an adult 18+ audience.

Title:  Heir to Italian Altar
Series:  The Carandini Legacy #2
Author:  Rebecca Hunter
Published:  April 28, 2026
Publisher:  Harlequin Presents
My Rating:  4.5 stars

Heir to Italian Altar is the second title in The Carandini Legacy duo/series, and oh, I’ve been waiting to watch this stubborn man fall.  Yes, I have.  We met Alessandro through his twin brother Massimo’s romance.  And while Massimo and Catarina were hot in Convenient Wife Conditions, wait until you see Alessandro and Ann-Sophie in action.  I can easily say that Alessandro has met his match in stubbornness in Ann-Sophie… and a whole lot more.

From what I’d observed in Massimo’s story, I knew that Alessandro would need a strong woman in her own right, someone who wouldn’t put up with his… let’s be kind and say, attitude.  Yet someone who would get why he is the way he is… which is sometimes (ok, usually) an entitled jerk.  And from the start, I will say that Alessandro (and Massimo) had very good reasons for how they turned out, given how they were raised.  The point is, they didn’t have to remain that way once adults; that is a choice.  Massimo was able to change his stripes; now Alessandro has to learn the same lesson, and Ann-Sophie is just the right woman to show him a different way of life.

Their initial encounters were on fire.  The spark between them had no hope of ever becoming anything less than a full-blown fire.  Which rattled them both since Ann-Sophie is a very independent woman who needs no man to complete her.  Unfortunately, Alessandro did what he always does when strong, unwanted emotions dared to try to enter his life.  He turned on the entitled jerk persona that he’s so good at, and tried to walk away.  This time, there was more to walk away from than he could have imagined.

Watching Alessandro do everything possible, except the one thing necessary to win back Ann-Sophie, was an emotional journey for them both.  Ann-Sophie won’t put up with his attitude.  I loved how she showed Alessandro that it’s okay not to be in tight control all the time.  They both come from family dynamics that need to be unlearned so they can choose their own paths forward, especially when it comes to their child.  

 Their story is well-written, emotional on different layers, and definitely passionate.  I’ve always enjoyed Rebecca Hunter’s work, but she shines in the Harlequin Presents imprint.  I’m looking forward to more HP titles from her in the future.  If you love a romance with a stubborn, entitled man finally falling from that lofty tower into a love that nurtures and supports, then you’re going to love Ann-Sophie and Alessandro.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the author or the author’s team via Booksprout, and I sincerely thank them for their trust. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

 

This title is available at Amazon