Review: beautiful love story
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 05 29, 2014
An Aria in Venice,  A Musical Interlude Novel , KaSonndra Leigh .Review from jeannie zelos book reviews.This book is connected to the Musical Interlude series, but can be read as a standalone. It focuses mainly on Adriana and Luca, who we met in the first MI book, along with other characters .I'd loved the first book about Erin and Alek, this time we meet and see more of Luca, one of Erin's bosses at the Black Butterfly design com, and Adriana, who is Alek's sister. She's been in love with Nicolai for years it seems, he was brought up with them though, and sees her still as his little sister. So when Luca shows an interest and fed up fo getting rejected once again by Nicolai, she decides to use Luca to make him jealous. That suits Luca, he's really just toying with her and though she plays the part on their family dinner he knows what's behind it, but he wants someone to come with him on a family trip to Venice for almost a week and Adriana will do perfectly. If along the way he manages to seduce her – well, that's just extra bonus. He's well known along with his brothers as a playboy, and the family are typical Italian, loving and emotive and yet always quarreling and full of  jealousises.It's a facinating read, the first half was slow for me though, full of beautiful descriptions and almost poetic revelations about the people, the places and the events. I need to focus on the characters and the story so though this was beautifully written it didn't really capture my imagination in the way it deserved. Thats a personal thing though, and I know others will fully appreciate how this part was scene setting. Then they go on the Venice trip – things heat up, there are secrets slowly coming out of the woodwork, revelations that shock and despair, heart rending some of the things brought in to the open. Nicolai certainly is jealous, furiously so, he wants Adriana fiercely, but thinks he's not good enough. He and Alek are both known killers, have done what's needed in the past and would do it again. The whole family have strong ties not only to the Russian Mafia but to a rival mob too.....and thats slowly heating up over all the novels. Some future drama certainly to come from that angle. Nicolai doesn't think Luca is good enough either, and when he finds out that they've become closer he's furious, looking to grub up any dark secrets he can find, and of course he and Alek have the connections to do just that. Poor Adriana, she needs love, deserves love but will she get it between her brothers, her overbearing,ambitious mother and Luca's warring family.I really enjoyed this once the focus was on the characters rather than theplaces.It'sgreat read, I felt for poor Nicolai but then he just wasn't helping himself, he seemed to want Adriana to be put on a shelf, kept away from men and just admired from a safe distance...and she's a hot blooded Amercian/Russian lady who wanted, needed and deserved more. There were some shocksto come for all of them over what was revealed and some hard looks at behaviours and what they could and couldn't accept..Stars: Four – loved it and though its a stand alone it mentions events and characters that are going to be part of the main series and I think reading this will enhance enjoyment of that.ARC supplied via author.