I like box sets and this one didn't disappoint since they're both set in exotic locales with lots of love and romance.
LOVE IN VENICE is a warmly romantic story set mainly in Venice. When Maggie and Mauro unexpectedly meet upon her arrival in Venice it was pure happenstance after she was robbed by gypsies. He comes to her rescue and she trusts him even when she's thinking, "What am I doing?" The characters have a depth to them and we peel back their layers a little at a time. She has her reasons for being in Venice, vacationing alone. I loved that their hearts seem to speak to each other almost from their first meeting.
There is a wonderful flow to the story and beautiful and vivid descriptions of the city, his business and his home. Imagery was created throughout and I could envision myself in Venice - seeing the canal, the cobblestoned streets, the architecture and more. There are family and friends and lots of heart to heart moments between Maggie and Mauro. He showed another side of himself to her that he normally keeps hidden and he's not himself even with the person he's promised to through a family arrangement. There is sadness and tears along with euphoria, loving, romance and love. There is also art brought in - both music and painting that touched their souls as well as mine. There is a happily ever after that was portrayed better than I hoped. I love that we get to see how their lives unfold and the beautiful love they have for each other with the epilogue that really adds an additional layer to the story and brings in characters briefly whom we've met in other books. I love the detail of the cover.
I gave it 4.5 stars but rounded to 5 stars here and on other sites.
Claimed by the Sheikh was a fast paced read that held my interest from the first page to the last. The story had a depth to the characters and strong imagery due to the author's attention to details. Watching two worlds collide, as well as two strong characters fight for what they each believe is right, just added another layer to the story.
I enjoy books that are set in the desert with desert royalty or sheikhs. Claimed by the Sheikh was a strong story with a depth to the characters of both Tariq and Melanie who we get to know a little at a time as well as their history from three years before. They seem to have unresolved issues and feelings for each other but given their differences will it be any different this time around? There was very strong imagery due to the vivid descriptions of the scenery, the palace and Melanie's drawings, which made me feel that I was there. Tariq's rescue of endangered animals and his philanthropy was a nice addition to the story. I liked how the child, Salim, was brought into the story as well as his importance to the story line.
The was a nice flow to the story but it did get a little choppy at times. There was strong character development and we saw both the characters strengths and their weaknesses and what caused some of their doubts about their feelings, their past and even maybe their future. There was nice closure with a better than expected played out happily ever after.
The story was reminiscent to me of the Hot Arabian Nights series by Marguerite Kaye, another favorite author.
Ms. Mathews is an author whose books I enjoy and she's fast becoming a favorite author. She always transports me to someplace new with a cast of characters I grow to love. I enjoy her writing style and how much she packs in to her shorter stories. Claimed by the Sheikh is the first of her full length novels that I've read. I look forward to reading more of her stories. Give her books a try if you haven't already!
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- Reviewed in the United States on July 26, 2022Format: Kindle
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