This epic series invites you into the life of Rafaella Salvaggio and all of the people in her life, from family and friends to lovers and enemies. Her life has been full of tragedy, secrets, and betrayals. Lately, everything has been spiraling out of control. The past is catching up with her, and she will have to fight to get her life back. In her struggle to win back the woman she just can't live without, her mettle will be tested. She will be up against her own inner demons as well as a fundamentalist group whose mission it is to separate her from her ex-partner and their daughter.
For Rafe Salvaggio, meeting Eden Kingsley was the best thing in her life, but now it was all lost. It seems she is constantly reminded it was no one’s fault but her own. Rafe still hasn’t moved on from Eden, but with the help of her friend Julia, she is getting back into the dating scene again.
For Eden Kingsley, the past eight months have been spent caring for her daughter and trying to fit into her new life with Jake. Seeing Rafe date again was unexpectedly hard for Eden to see, but she is determined to do better about giving Rafe time with Bronte. The arrival of a mysterious envelope sends Eden into a panic. It holds a secret that threatens her and her daughter, and she is confronted with a reality she might not survive.
Will they be able to overcome the events that led to the end of their relationship? Will they be able to just get along for the sake of their daughter? Will the secrets, lies, and betrayal pull them further apart or will true love help them see the truth?
I don't know how I came across this read but I did...I mean its has "Epic" in the title so it's gotta be good. It actaully was ok if you can tolerate reading through a ton of backstory that doesn't really have an real meaning in tje current story. Also, you will get ver frustrated with all the characters...and I mean all the characters. They are, I would guess mid to late 30s and act as if they are early to mid 20s which there is nothong wrong with it per se but it felt abit wrong and even petty in certain situations. Anyway, the first book in the series is free with kU and the others aren't. Im gonna hold out from the to become available as I didn't like enough to purchase the first one so it would be an incomplete set.
This is a review for the whole series (books 1 to 10).
One thing has to be said : this author’s imagination as to ways to keep characters apart when they’re obviously meant to be together knows no limit. After I read the first book in this serial, I was concerned I’d get bored really fast because it felt the author was telling most of the story and not showing much. But the writing is much better in the following books, and there’s so much happening, I didn’t have time to get bored! Then halfway through, the story gets even darker. The first books were ok, but I liked the second half much more. It deals with PTSD, depression and anxiety but although it’s a bit repetitive sometimes, it’s never without hope. Lessons learned: never assume anything is impossible and don’t let miscommunication ruin your relationship. I hope the MCs can remember these, especially the second one ;)
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This was a good start to what promises to be an interesting series. I enjoyed the storyline. It is an interesting mix of drama and suspense. Although the book is well wrapped up, some points are left un-concluded so I hope these are carried through to the next instalment. Fast paced plot with a lot of drama, interesting characters with intriguing backgrounds and stories of their own that link to main character Rafe and Eden.
The only thing that threw me slightly was dialogue in Italian, because at first I found it difficult to read and make sense of. The author has referenced all this dialogue with translation at the end of the book which helped to make sense of what was going on.
Rafe Salvaggio is a very strong woman and confident. At the beginning of the story, she is the owner of an architectural firm that she'd built, herself with the help of her father and was very successful. This brought back good memories of when I worked for architectural firms. She is a go-getter and gets what she wants even if she has to step on other's toes. She writes letters that are never sent to let off steam when she is upset. However, she enjoys the finer things in life and will fight for the right things. She is detail-oriented. Rafe isn't afraid to step outside her boundaries for things that are important to her. She is used to getting her way and wants to be part of her daughter, Bronte's, life.
Eden is the other protagonist and is a good mother to Bronte. She is cautious and quick to anger. She suffers from chronic anxiety and often shuts down. She is on the shy side and does what others expect her to do. She has a boyfriend but I'm not too sure she loves him. She enjoys solitary activities. A secondary character needs to be mentioned. Julia. She is Rafe's best friend from boarding school. I feel some of the things she says to Rafe are not in her best interest and she could have offered better support at times.
Greer is a love interest for Rafe. Although she is older, it is not a factor for Rafe. Rafe likes her as herself and appreciates the work she does. Greer is kind, but I feel a jealous vibe in her. I like how she interreacts with Bronte. I love how she teaches the tot how to communicate in sign language. On the other hand, there is a secret side to her. You'll see what I mean in the book.
A few unneeded points of view were not needed. The story has enough with the protagonists and doesn't need to see into the heads of certain secondary players. This is a bit distracting from the plot. There is a lot of sexual energy peppered in the story. The sex scenes are exciting without being graphic. What one of the leads does is very daring and she pulls it off naturally. If you love sex scenes there are plenty here.
What I like is that both protagonists have their own lives during the story. They each have to find their own way and it is beautiful watching them both grow. I feel this aspect adds depth to the story and makes it more interesting.
The pace of the story is a little slow in the beginning. But don't stop. It picks up and the flow is balanced and the descriptions are awesome. You will feel like you are at the places described in the book. There is some great drama between Eden and another secondary character. It is amazing watching Eden take back her power and come out of her shell. A twist materializes part-way through the book that will grab your attention. It is a page-turner to the end. You may feel an array of emotions as the story progresses. I am recommending this book to everyone.
I was in a readers block when I came across this book. I wasn't sure what to think at first. But the more I read the more I really liked it. I like how every characters has a purpose in the storyline. I love Rafaelle she know what she wants and goes after it. I still trying to decide about Eden. But someone in their group is a bad guy. Towards the middle of the book I kept thinking omg we know about this, but then I realized is your getting more background. I just downloaded book 2 Blue Inferno. I definitely recommend this book.
What an amazing story! This was a riveting story! I was hooked from start to finish and can't wait for the next book in this series! I loved the complex characters (Rafa and Eden) not to mention their supporting cast. Talk about two people that clearly love each other yet pushed each other away to the point that now it's almost irreparable damage to their relationship if not for their daughter Bronte. What will it take for the damage to be replaced by love again. Can't wait for the next book in the series! This is an awesome author and look forward to her other novels!