This is one of those romance novels that reminds me of why I usually avoid romance novels and instead read meatier fare. Grace is just too self-obsessed with her good looks being a detriment to her own happiness, while Matteo's intense attraction to her while still entangled with her friend is implausible. Matteo knew Julia had a thing for him (gold digger or not) and should not have been using her as a vehicle to get to know Grace better, and Grace should have had more backbone. With his immense wealth, he should have extricated himself from the friend, given it a brief period of time, and then manufactured a bunch of excuses to go visit her museum or buy artwork for it or something to woo her once he was 'clear' of the gold digging girlfriend. A waste of my time. ( )