Review: Romance, Darkness, Suspense, Surprise
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 02 6, 2014
Read this and other reviews at [...]I’d not read the first portion of this book, Of Blood and Bone, when it was previously released, and I honestly had no idea what the book was about before I started it, which is rather unlike me. I don’t think I even read the synopsis fully. I knew it was going to be darker, and I knew it was by Courtney Cole–-that alone sold me.I had pretty high expectations going into the story, and overall, I’d say they were met. What I dug most about The Minaldi Legacy? It’s different. The entire trope isn’t what you’re reading now. Yes, it’s a dark romance, which there’s plenty of out there, but I’ve not read anything like this recently. It was dark, it was psychological, in a way, but it also had thriller aspects. I’ll admit, reading late at night, all alone, had me flying through the pages quickly, holding my breath, kinda freaked out.Dr. Evangeline (Eva) Talbot is new to Malta. She’s travelled there to stay for the summer in order to finish her dissertation. Upon arriving, she meets the reclusive and wealthy, Luca Minaldi. After he hires her to assist in the care of his ailing mother, Eva learns there’s a reason Luca hides away in Chessarae, his family’s estate. While they’re both wildly attracted to one another, Luca continually pushes Eva away–stating it’s for her own good."I belong in shadows. I have known that since I was small and as long as I am awake, I feel comfortable".Eva has this unending optimism, and this is definitely the case when it comes to Luca, and her love for him. She will not give up on him. No matter what. Luca, on the other hand, is completely tortured, and rightfully so. He’s has a past unlike any others, and he can’t seem to think he deserves to move forward.“You’re not a monster,” I argue softly. “You’re a man, Luca. A man like any other, you’re made of blood and bone. You’re not a monster. You have a good heart. I can see it in your eyes…"The chemistry between Luca and Eva is hot. Very hot. Even as Luca tries to keep Eva away, they cannot deny their attraction–their love is a driving force behind this story. As for the supporting cast, as usual, Cole does a great job of developing them and including them in the story. They were just as important as Eva and Luca, and I felt a connection right away. No one felt thrown in or without purpose.There was a lot of suspense and mystery in this book. There were a couple times where I swore I saw something coming, and if it did, it was much darker than I anticipated, or it wasn’t that at all. I love being surprised when reading, so I welcomed my shock each and every time. And like I said, this is a darker romance–not necessarily between Eva and Luca, because their dark is different, but just overall, with some of the story arcs, be prepared for something darker, more intense.If I had to say something that I didn’t quite love, it would have to be some repetition. A couple times I felt like things were slowing down, and it’d almost feel redundant, and this was mostly in the first half of the story. But that’s a minor detail, I realize. I’m just a stickler for keeping things fresh and if I feel like I’m reading the same thing too many times, it can slow down how quickly I get into the story.I seriously applaud Cole for creating something unlike what I’ve read as of late. This story kept me on my toes, but had the romance aspect that many want, even in something dark. I definitely recommend The Minaldi Legacy if you’re looking for something different, especially if you’re wanting something full of drama and suspense.