This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Genres: Romantic Suspense
Published by Indie/Self Published
Released on April 12, 2014
Pages: 316
Format: eARC
Source: Author
I read the first book in this series and was intrigued by Linda’s brother, Giovanni, so I was thrilled when I got a chance to continue on and read Giovanni’s own story.
Successful, Italian businessman, Giovanni Coriola is in London just before the Christmas holidays for his sister’s wedding. He decides to practice his gun marksmanship skills so signs up for sessions with a target-shooting specialist and trainer, Sonia Galsworthy. He is impressed by her skill and attracted to her immediately.
Sonia is very good at what she does and is slightly defensive when she has to constantly defend her chosen vocation. She is not the domestic sort and can’t imagine herself in a situation with home, husband and children. She likes her life and is content until handsome and hot Giovanni not only accepts her as she is, but wants to be with her. Sonia knows he must be popular with the ladies and will want nothing permanent so she accepts his presence in her life knowing there is an expiration date on it when Linda gets married and Giovanni goes home. Only, she’s wrong because the man she has come to love claims to love her back and wants something lasting. Now she must decide whether she’ll take Giovanni at his word and trust that he cares for her as much as she has come to care for him.
It was fascinating how the two stories took different tones and reflected somewhat the feel of the personality of the characters. Giovanni’s story was more incisive, heated and grittier with less of an enchanted feel though there is a bit of the inexplicable to it as well when it comes to the amulet. Giovanni’s love interest matched him well too. Sonia was independent, capable and somewhat set apart from life until she encountered Giovanni.
Their romance sparked and flamed quickly. They were thinking of hearts, love, and long term before several days had passed. Love at first sight and fast commitments are a bit of a stretch for me, but I went with it because I was enjoying the story. These two came together with a great deal of heat and passion reflecting their strong personalities. Things weren’t all ease though because Sonia has preconceived notions about what type a person she thinks Giovanni is and Giovanni has to learn that he now has a partner when tough times come.
The story was told in two parts with the romance developing in the beginning section giving the story a gentle pacing and then it continued in the latter half as it was no longer isolated, but set into the greater circle of family and daily life. The second half was augmented by the suspense element too that got pretty exciting and picked up the pace with danger stalking them from an unknown source.
All in all, I enjoyed all the elements put together in this story: characters, backdrop, and plot. I would recommend it for those who enjoy Contemporary Romance and Romantic Suspense with a slight paranormal element to it.
My thanks to the author for providing the book in exchange for an honest review.
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That sounds so good Sophia! Especially with the added suspense on the second part. I love some rom-suspense. Insta love isn’t my favorite of things either but great she was able to pull it off and keep you enjoying the story and okay with it. On the list it goes!
I love a good rom-suspense too and got to read several this past month. This is more of a sedate version, but still good.
Thank you very much for your review, and your post, Sophia!
Melinda De Ross
You’re so welcome! Thanks for stopping by! 😉