I really enjoyed the characters and plot twists in this book. It certainly made me reach for the tissues towards the end! I felt certain bits were perhaps a little slow and overlong, but that might just be a symptom of my own desire for the quick-fix action these days! It's a beautifully crafted book, and I will definitely be reading more of Santa Montefiore soon. She seems much more 'grown up' than some of the other romance writers around at the moment. This is just the type of book I like - a mystery linked with romance and a family story. It took a while to draw me into the book completely, but towards the end I just couldn't put it down.It was interesting how the author began with two completely different stories, and it tantalised the reader - how are these people linked? They seemed to get no closer until suddenly the earlier story reached an exciting cliffhanger. From this point I couldn't stop turning pages.The main characters are well-drawn, and most have emotional journeys to travel. However, I would have like to know more about Marina and Grey's romance. It was a strong focus in the novel, but I felt that I needed to know more to really understand what had brought them together, especially when the book reached its conclusion and drew all the strands together.
What do You think about Villa Magdalena (2011)?
Excellent read! Montefiore does NOT disappoint!
—vdlover
