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Romano Family #1

Hold Me at Twilight

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An alternate cover for this ASIN can be found here.

Love might have a chance… if her family stays out of it.

When Knox Campbell goes to Portugal for a short business trip, he never planned on losing his documents. Now he’s stranded in Porto, his passport lost, and his credit cards canceled. Knox turns to the travel agent who suggested the local day attractions for assistance.

Jacinta Romano loves helping her clients set up their dream trips, although she doesn’t usually meet the ones visiting from abroad. But all that changes when a client shows up at the agency while her meddling family are still there. They latch on to him immediately, insisting Jacinta bring him home while he’s stranded. Thankfully, he’s only staying until his new passport arrives and after two weeks of playing hostess, she’ll be glad to send him on his way.

Or will she?


The Romano Family series follows the stories of the Romano cousins of northern Portugal as they find love and their Happily-Ever-Afters.


Current books in the Romano Family series:
- Book 1- Hold Me At Twilight
- Book 2- Meet Me At Sunrise
- Book 3- Love Me At Sunset
- Book 4- Keep Me At Christmas
- Book 5- Kiss Me At Midnight
- Book 6- Marry Me At Dawn

116 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 7, 2017

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About the author

Lucinda Whitney

22 books1,307 followers
Lucinda Whitney was born and raised in Portugal, where she received a Master’s degree from the University of Minho in Braga, in Portuguese/English teaching.
She lives in northern Utah with her husband and four children. When she’s not reading and writing, she can be found with a pair of knitting needles, or tending her herb garden.

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5 stars
86 (40%)
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80 (37%)
3 stars
39 (18%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 97 reviews
Profile Image for Julie Carpenter.
1,690 reviews203 followers
September 1, 2022
~Just listened to the audiobook and loved it! It's short and sweet but a great story. The narrator did a great job!~

Cute and definitely a fun glimpse into the character of Matias for this author's upcoming book Meet Me At Sunrise. If you only have time for a short, sweet and fulfilling read, this one definitely fits the bill. I read it in about an hour(probably less as I paused a few times during that hour) and was wishing for more. It's fairly short and even though I was wishing for more, it still wrapped up nicely and I felt that the characters were as developed as possible for the length.

Knox is stuck in Portugal as his documents were stolen and it'll take two weeks until he can get an emergency passport to get back home. He decides to take a huge risk and contact the travel agent he's been emailing about sightseeing ideas during his trip. Best decision EVER!

As he and Jacinta first meet, he's exposed to her family instantly. He's rushed right along at the beginning of the story into meeting her family and being in the midst of a large family gathering. The question is, will he run away, or will he think they're crazy, or will he actually be okay with the craziness of them all? Jacinta is not sure she will ever find someone who can handle the explosion of life known as her family.

True to her style of writing, Lucinda Whitney offers the readers a glimpse into the life of Portugal. Of course since this is a novella we don't get as big of a glimpse as we do in her other works but it's a little taste that makes me want to go visit(and if I can't visit in person, then I guess reading about it in her books will have to do-for now).

Jacinta is fun and full of life, yet reserved when it comes to introducing anyone to her family. Knox is genuine and down to earth and is open to enjoying life. Combine those two characters together and their personalities create some great chemistry.

There were some funny moments throughout, especially related to the Portuguese language, that I was laughing about. Some moments of rescue, some moments of sadness and some sweet romantic moments too. Lots packed into this short 70 page novella. And let me just say, I am seriously excited for Matias' story. I read a preview of it already and was so hooked that two chapters was just not enough! Lol! But it's coming out soon so I'll be able to immerse myself into it again very soon. Yay! If you haven't read anything else by this author I would recommend reading my favorite book of hers first, One Small Chance, you can read my review here. Or read any of them really. I haven't been disappointed by any of the books I've read by her.

Content: Squeaky clean. Just some sweet kisses!

I received a copy from the author. No review was required. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.

Happy Reading!!!
Profile Image for *❆ Kαɾҽɳ ❆*.
414 reviews89 followers
January 6, 2019
This was a delightful and sweet little novella!

Knox Campbell is an American who has been travelling in Portugual on a business trip, but just before he gets to go home, his wallet is stolen and he has no way of getting home!
The only person who he knows will be glad to help him out is the mysterious traveler agent who he has been emailing to during his trip to help him find some great tourist attractions while he is in Portugal.

Jacinta, a local traveler agent loves to help people, and she has enjoyed helping a Mr Campbell over emails and helping him enjoy the beautiful country she knows. But what she never expected was for the person who she has helped, comes in and asks personally to help him out on his current dilemma

Both Knox and Jacinta are shocked to find out that they're both young and attracted to each other. But even if they can sense a connection between them, are they willing to give it a shot and see what happens, or will they stop themselves from trying due to the family dynamics and the wide ocean that divides them?

Such a sweet and quick read, you'll love learning about the Portuguese culture. It is very brief but you still learn about it and I love seeing how much she talks about family and the importance of being together.
It's so sweet and you'll love everyone mentioned! Especially Jacinta's family

Received a copy from the author herself, for an honest review, thank you!
Profile Image for Mara.
1,292 reviews93 followers
December 9, 2018
It was a fun novella, which I like for a quick afternoon or evening read. Knox Campbell goes to Portugal for business and his wallet is stolen so he has no money, no I.D. and no passport. He goes to the travel agency to see if someone there can help and he meets Jacinta Romano, the person he's been in contact with via email. Knox is stuck in Portugal for 2 weeks until he gets a new passport. Her mother and her aunt happen to be at the travel agency when Knox comes in and when they hear about his problem they invite him to dinner, where he meets the large, crazy Romano family.
There are a few funny moments because of the language issue--her grandparents don't speak English and Knox doesn't speak Portuguese. Knox and Jacinta's story ended too quickly--I wanted a few more chapters. It's a squeaky clean romance (just a couple of kisses). We meet her cousin Matias who has his own story in the next book. I received a complimentary copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Katie (hiding in the pages).
3,290 reviews300 followers
August 21, 2017
This is a short little novella and I was pleasantly surprised at how well the characters and plot were developed in such a tiny blip of time. I would be Knox--in a foreign country with no idea how to speak the language. Luckily for him, he has a travel agent that he's been emailing for things to do who comes to the rescue in translating for him when an unfortunate event occurs. He's such a normal character, which makes him very likable and easy to relate to.

Jacinta, the travel agent, is likable as well, with her helpful ways and large, crazy family (which I loved!). Her emotions are on her sleeve throughout and I was cheering for her to find her happily ever after so hard, especially as this is an attraction-at-first-sight kind of story.

Things don't always turn out the way that I want them to, or even expect them to, but I still had a blast experiencing Northern Portugal through the eyes of these characters.

Content: mild romance

*I won a copy in a giveaway, which didn't influence my opinion at all. All thoughts are my own.*
Profile Image for Margaret Watkins.
3,254 reviews70 followers
September 27, 2017
Another instalment in the romantic lives of the Romano family, Hold me a Twilight is a sweet love story that touches the heart. Knox finds himself stranded after having his documents and wallet stolen, and Jacinta steps up to assist him in reporting the matter to the police. Her family immediately latch onto Knox recognising in him something special and they persuade Jacinta to bring him home for dinner. A sweet love affair develops between the two as they spend days together waiting for Knox's documentation to arrive. Ultimately the time comes when Knox must return home, leaving her behind. I love Lucinda Whitney’s love stories they are clean, romantic and full of family. The story is no less enchanting and left this reader with a smile on her face. Although part of a series, this book is a standalone with a very satisfactory ending. I received a copy of this book as a gift and this is my honest and voluntary review.
Profile Image for Lucinda.
Author 22 books1,307 followers
April 9, 2017
Sometimes you plan stories for years and sometimes a story springs on you in a few short weeks.

Knox and Jacinta turned out to be such a fun surprise!

Things I love about this story:
- Knox is open to new things and is not afraid to ask for help;
- Jacinta is willing to help Knox even when she didn't have to;
- Matias is a good judge of character (unless it's directly related to him; don't miss his story!);
- the large Romano family and how obnoxious and nosy they are, and still how loyal they are to each other;
- the city of Porto!
- a story about cousins; need I say more?

It's short, and cute, and fun, and I love how it turned out!

This is the first story in my new Romano Family series.
142 reviews2 followers
May 25, 2017
I was a voluntary ARC reader of this book. I enjoyed reading this short sweet read. The Romano family is very funny and close knit. This is a cute fast paced read.
Profile Image for Franki.
390 reviews4 followers
January 8, 2020
Knox is traveling in Portugal when his wallet is stolen, which contained his passport and all ID. When no one can understand English at the police station, he decides to enlist the help of the travel agent that he had emailed.
When Jacinta finds out that the man that she has been helping with travel details, she is glad to help. However, her mother and aunt walk into the travel agency and immediately begin ogling Knox and insisting that Jacinta invite him for dinner.
Jacinta’s family take Knox in while he waits to be issued a new passport. He is thrilled by the prospect, but will two weeks be enough time?
A beautiful tale of love, family, and hospitality!
Profile Image for Aimee (Getting Your Read On).
3,047 reviews282 followers
April 28, 2017
This was a sweet, novella length romance. I read it in about 30 minutes. That's not much time to develop a realistic feeling romance but Lucinda Whitney pulls it off. I loved Knox and his easy going attitude. He doesn't let much get to him. Jacinta is sweet and kind but she has a large, nosy and loud family. This is where Knox and his easy going attitude comes in handy! :) I really enjoyed this story and ended it feeling feeling happy. That's so important to me.

In this novella we meet Matias, who is the star of the next book coming out soon. I can't wait to read Meet Me at Twilight! Matias is going to be a fun character!

Content: Clean, a few kisses

- I received a copy of this book from the author. A positive review was not required and all opinions expressed are my own.

Profile Image for Jessie.
1,403 reviews77 followers
May 18, 2017
Cute! I loved the sweet romance, and the big interfering family!
228 reviews1 follower
June 13, 2017
This is a great story!. I loved Jacinta and Knox. The Romano family is awesome! I loved the prank her cousins did on Knox teaching him Portuguese for her Grandparents anniversary. It was great meeting Matias again. ( I read his story first).Her family was so cute how they always showed up to look after Jacnita. It was a sweet short story of love and family closeness.
I received ARC of this book.
Profile Image for Phyllis.
1,288 reviews32 followers
May 13, 2017
What a wonderfully sweet, swoony story. Knox and Jacinta's story was just right. The blossoming of the romance from her helpfulness and her mother and aunt's meddling was fun to follow. And I knew right away when Matias came into the picture that he was worthy of his own book (so glad I am right and that Meet Me at Sunrise will tell his story).

This was my first book by this author, but it won't be the last.
30 reviews1 follower
August 14, 2018
Twilight romance

Fun read of Knox and Jacinta’s courtship. Sweet romance with them meeting when Knox is robbed and enlist Jacinta to help as interpreter. The Romano family is a delight.
Profile Image for Aishwarya.
146 reviews26 followers
June 12, 2017
A fun short read. It was quite cute and I enjoyed how the author described each character and the roles they played.
Profile Image for Teya Teya.
Author 9 books102 followers
December 19, 2017
Loved it! Short but such a sweet story of love. Finding love in a foreign country after his passport is stolen. Loved it!
Profile Image for Isha Coleman.
8,023 reviews158 followers
June 4, 2017
It was the best of times. It was the worst of times. But can these strangers make it last forever? For Knox being stranded in a foreign country is his worst nightmare. He knows no one, has lost any means of looking after himself financially and is on the verge of giving away his heart. Jacinda is the best thing about his rapidly disintegrating vacation. She's helpful, fun and part of a gregarious family that has set their sights on him. Will this matchmaking family, give him the ultimate dream? Hold Me at Twilight is exactly what a romance should be full of humor, laced with love and an inviting, freeing experience.
Profile Image for Ashley.
467 reviews10 followers
January 12, 2020
This was a fun sweet romance story. This was the second I read in the series but I really enjoyed learning about characters in this family and wanted to read more! This story takes place in Portugal between Jacinta Romano and an American named Knox Campbell. Knox is in Portugal on business and reached out to a recommended travel agency. A J. Romano helped give him ideas to fill his spare time. His wallet is stolen (we learn this in about chapter 2 or 3 so not a spoiler) and he reaches out for help for translating to fill out a police report. In his two weeks he must wait to get his passport replaced, he is welcomed by the Romano family (and there are silly accidents with him attempting to speak Portuguese) and Jacinta’s cousin, Matias, even insists that Knox stay at his apartment while he is away at work for eight days. The story follows Jacinta and Knox as they get to know each other, go on walks to get away from the crazy large family, and even a little incident where one of the characters saves the other’s life. This was a super quick read (a couple hours max) but a really fun story. I received it free for signing up for the author’s newsletter after I enjoyed book 4 in this series.
Profile Image for Patty.
4,660 reviews44 followers
March 23, 2019
What happens when your wallet is stolen in a foreign country? Knox Campbell finds out when his wallet is stolen and now he can't leave Portugal to get back to the states. With the help of Jacinta Romano, a travel agent, the retrieval of documents to allow him to travel is put into place, but it will take some time. With no money, ID or a place to stay, Jacinta's family welcomes Knox into their home. For the next several weeks, Knox gets to be part of the true flavors of Portugal. When it's time to leave, will he and Jacinta's time be over? This is a quick and very visual story. The story while predictable is fun, the family is a riot and the romance budding between Knox and Jacinta sweet. It's a clean, fun listen leaving you with some smiles and a happily ever after to fill your heart.

The narration by Mary Jane Conlon is spot on. Her accent, her voices and pronunciations make the story flow, easy to follow and kept my interest the entire time. I enjoyed her comedic timing with the family and the warmth inflected in her voice with Knox and Jacinta. It is an enjoyable listen.
Profile Image for Kim.
137 reviews7 followers
April 18, 2019
Short but sweet .....this is a delightful concoction for a chilly Spring afternoon! I need to read more about this "crazy" family 😁
7 reviews
April 19, 2017
Straight from the beginning I felt I was part of the Romano family and not a reader. I enjoy Lucinda Whitney's books. Easy reading. A sweet romance that has the reader believe, that maybe you too, can have that special somebody.
Profile Image for WonderfulWorlds.
3,415 reviews61 followers
July 24, 2018
A nice little romance. Would be interested in reading other works by this author.
Profile Image for Cassey.
1,329 reviews4 followers
July 16, 2018
A short read with a sweet meet-cute.
5,972 reviews
January 17, 2019
Hold Me at Twilight is the first installment from the Romano Family series. I enjoyed this sweet story. It was fun travelling to Portugal.
I give Hold Me at Twilight four stars and recommend it.
I received this book from the author, but was not required to write a review. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.
Profile Image for Julie.
344 reviews22 followers
December 4, 2018
This is a sweet novella that reads very quickly. I assume its main purpose is to introduce Matias and the Romanos for Matias' full-length novel. I enjoyed Jacinta and Knox's story, but it was over way too fast! I also enjoyed the descriptions of all the Romanos and look forward to reading more about them. My favorite part was that they called him "Noques." As an American who had my maiden name of Parker spelled "Parquer" in a South American country, I could relate to this. :)
Profile Image for Vibliophile.
1,577 reviews128 followers
August 31, 2019
(4.5 stars) Short but sweet

This is a fairly simple story, and somewhat low key, but it's a sweet & fun relationship development romance.

I actually read "Meet Me at Sunrise" first, which has Mattias's love story, and liked it so much that I went ahead & bought this one. I'm enjoying "meeting" his family & seeing them get their happily-ever-afters, too.

Looking forward to reading the rest of the series.

*Clean romance level: sweet kisses
Profile Image for Heidi Robbins (Heidi Reads...).
1,633 reviews554 followers
May 3, 2017
It's always fun to travel to Portugal in Lucinda Whitney's stories! I love the sense of culture and the little tidbits I learn. The Romano family is loud, boisterous and lovable. It was heart-warming to see the sibling-like relationship between Jacinta and her cousin Matias, who will lead in the next book. A sweet romance!
Profile Image for Dalesse.
103 reviews
June 18, 2020
Super short so it's perfect for a single evening's entertainment. The story was fun and sweet but too short to really do much in the way of developing the characters. It did set the stage for the rest of the series so I'd still recommend it as a good read :)
3,947 reviews33 followers
October 21, 2020
I really enjoyed this short story. It is a great introduction to the Romano family. I want more of these characters. Nice character development and a charming love story.
Profile Image for Barbara.
1,186 reviews26 followers
April 10, 2019
I enjoyed this short book but really wish the author had put more into developing the characters. Easy fun read. Easy to listen too.
I received this book for free in exchange of an honest review.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 97 reviews

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