Review: How could you not fall in love with Rafael the eleven year old and the man he is today….
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 05 8, 2014
I was not sure what to expect when starting this book.  But just a little into the first few chapters and I was hooked.  The characters are unique and intriguing.  The backdrop of Venice with Opera and love is breathtaking and that is just the icing on the cake.  This book has mystery, intrigue, love, hate, blackmail, death, lust, music, lost love found again, friendship and the bonds of family that extend further then mere blood lines.We get to meet Sophia and Lilli.  They are sisters who recently lost their father and their mother is dead as well.  Sophia is doing her best to give Lilli everything she needs.  This entails keeping the house running, working on her Opera career, trying to reopen her mother’s restaurant, start a part time job, and deal with large amounts of debt left from her dad without much money left in the bank.  Sophia is the definition of a strong and determined woman.  The only problem is she tries to do it all by herself, she has difficulty asking for and accepting help when she needs it.  Some would say she is very stubborn.  That is until she meets Rafael.Rafael is a gorgeous unique individual with a very dark side that Sophia is drawn too.  Sophia is quick to find out that there are reasons that she is so drawn to Rafael.  He has a past that he is not proud of and many secrets that he finds hard to bare to Sophia.  But he is determined to keep her in his life and make good on his promise that he made to her when he was 11 years old.  He stated, “I’m going to marry you one day,” and she replied “I will wait for you”.  Raphael is a very complex individual that had a rough childhood, with loss and difficulty with his learning disabilities.When Rafael and Sophia come face to face for the first time in years, there is an automatic attraction that they both feel.  The only problem is that Sophia doesn’t have any idea who Rafael is or why she should already know him, all she knows is that he is amazing at what he does and is amazing to look at.This story is great; it captures you in the story of love and the struggle to recapture the connection that was begun so many years ago.  The domination, alpha male tendencies that are exhibited in Rafael would make any girl stop in her tracks.  Then to top that off with his undying love for Sophia and you have a story that must be read and cherished.  Some of the ways he expresses himself are just so moving , but one part that was so unbelievably touching was when Sophia was at his house for the first time and saw the ceiling (sky) of stars in his bedroom.  There was an inscription that read, “You showed me the stars, and filled my life with light when I was full of darkness and despair. August 1989.”  How could you not fall in love with Rafael the eleven year old and the man he is today….