Love is sometimes a fickle emotion.  It can tear at our hearts and souls.  But, when the right person enters our lives, it is amore tenero.  It will cleanse and heal even the most broken of hearts.  Creating emotions beyond our wildest dreams – in a realm of lovers.  This is such a story – an erotic tale of love, with a twist of wicked mirth.

Lisa Russo and Tony Mancuso have been lovers since college.  Their dream of owning a top accounting firm is finally coming to pass, in the form of Mancuso, Mancuso & Russo, in New York City.  After their yearly end of tax season celebration, they fall into bed, like usual.  Only this time, Tony does something a little different; touching a place Lisa has guarded well, her heart.  When she confesses her love to Tony, he does nothing, says nothing, just like a typical man.  Now Lisa is totally confused and hurt. 
In steps, Gianni Loren, a suave and sexy billionaire from Europe.  He hires their firm, and starts working closely with Lisa.  Gianni is a little more than interested in Lisa, and Tony knows this.  How will Tony handle all the attention Gianni is giving to Lisa?  This story really gets interesting when Lisa agrees to go to Milan with Gianni to work. 

Mutual Holdings is by author Susan DiPlacido. First off, let this reader say to Ms. DiPlacido, “Hail, Caesar.”  Ms. DiPlacido is a thoroughly seasoned author, and it shines through, with this outstandingly written book.  Ms. DiPlacido let’s Lisa do the talking, and what a talker Lisa is.  She relates her tale of confused and frustrated love, leaving the readers in stitches.  Lisa’s dry humor is biting at times.  You will come away from this story; feeling like a friendship has developed.  The closeness only a good writer can achieve and deliver to its fullest degree.  The only thing you might not like about this book is your inability to put it down.

Lisa has spent the last five years struggling with her, some time lover and business partner, Tony, to make something of their accounting firm, to a point where the lines of their relationship have started to become blurred – becoming indefinable.   Lisa’s mind has developed on the mental level, but the sensual, feminine side, is still untapped.  She is having trouble balancing the two.  The goal for monetary wealth, between Lisa and Tony, has pushed the meaning of love to the wayside.   Lisa knows she is in love with Tony, but he still cannot commit.  Can Lisa find her true pot of gold; the one that only love can provide? When she and Tony meet Gianni, he will open up a whole new world for Lisa.  Gianni will wine and dine Lisa, showing her a true taste of romance.   Giving her a glimpse of what she has been missing all a long.  Will Tony realize in time that he loves her, or will Gianni win the prize, Lisa?

Read on to learn how one woman finds the female empowerment available to all of us.

Mutual Holdings is a very entertaining book, with all the right erotic elements and emotional ranges to keep the pace brisk and moving.  This reviewer highly recommends this book!

Reviewed by Janalee Ruschhaupt for The Road to Romance

November 12, 2005