Book Review: The Last Valentine by Felix Alexander
Today, I will be reviewing The Last Valentine by Felix Alexander, which was an OnlineBookClub.org Book of the Day for July 10th!
About the Book
When Olivia Villalobos finds a bloodstained love letter she endeavors to deliver it before Chief Inspector Sedeño finds it in her possession.
A city along the southern coast of Puerto Rico emerges in the aftermath of the Spanish-American War. Olivia, daughter of a drunkard police investigator who never knew the truth behind her mother’s disappearance, finds a bloodstained love letter in the hidden compartment of her father’s coat. Convinced it belonged to the man recently found dead she sets out to deliver it to the Labyrinth of Love Letters. A mysterious place believed to be an urban legend where the transients of forbidden love leave missives for one another. She enlists the help of Isaac Quintero to find the Labyrinth and they soon realize their quest has opened the door into Old Sienna’s darkest secrets—the perils, madness and depth of tragic love.
I loved following along as Isaac and Olivia went in search of the Labyrinth and I thought the story was brilliantly told as it addressed the secrets and mysteries that were unfolding around them. They were fun and relatable characters and the author has a brilliant style of storytelling that helped bring the world to life around them.
The intrigue was downright fun in this story and I loved following along as the missives were examined and the madness ensued. However, the problem with the story was the sheer lack of editing and number of mistakes that abounded in the text. This one needed a little more work and a few more passes before being released out into the world, and I feel that it is severally holding the author and his book back.
I wanted to love this story, but I could only appreciate it for what the author tried to do rather than what he did. Olivia was my favorite character, and she deserves to have her story told more cleanly so that readers can become engrossed in her world. I can't give this story about a 3-star rating without some more editing to make it readable, though I wish the author luck because he has a lot of talent.
About the Author
Felix Alexander (1976-Present) is a Mexican-born, American-raised novelist and poet of Mexican and Puerto Rican descent.
Acclaimed by readers for his poetic prose, his indie releases include: Dear Love: Diary of a Man's Desire, a collection of love letters and poems; The Romantic: A Love Story; an epic historical fantasy Shadows of Time: The Amulet of Alamin; a mystery-thriller The Secret of Heaven; and most recently The Last Valentine (A Labyrinth of Love Letters novel).
Being third-generation military, after a grandfather and uncle who served in the Korean War and Vietnam War, respectively, Alexander is proud of his service in the U.S. Army and grateful for his experience.
After his honorable discharge from the U.S. Army, his third year served in South Korea, he embarked on the long and arduous journey of a writer. Having made a name for himself during his tenure serving his country, he vowed to himself and his fellow soldiers that he would answer his true calling.
When not spending time with his children, a son and daughter, he journeys through the portals in his extensive, personal library. When he returns, he immerses himself in his writing, and pursues the scent of his muse.
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