Author: Janine Corte Petska

   Sometimes our lives turn out to be completely different than what we believe, and how true this is in this storybook romance about Carina and the Nobleman. It wasn’t until her mother lay on her deathbed that she shared the hidden truth about Carina’s past. Carina had been a product of an affair, and to protect her, her father had brought Carina into their care as an infant. Her father had been a man of great stature, but his wife, enraged with jealousy, threatened to expose Carina’s real mother as a witch. Carina herself, had a special gift, and her nights often filled her head with visions of people and places she didn’t know. Now these dreams were coming to light. The only thing linking Carina to her real family, were the three amulets she and her sisters possessed.

  Now homeless and hungry, Carina was alone in the world, finding herself outside the Il Paradiso Tavern and Inn, hoping to steal a discarded morsel. The establishments owner, Luciano Ruggero, was once a man of good nature, but of late he’d become angry and cruel, his mind lost in his unrelenting search for his missing brother. Desired by many women, he thought were only after his title and good fortune, Luciano had remained unattached. Even Carina had heard the circulating stories of this man. Some even suggested he’d been possessed by the devil, and Carina’s first sight of him left her stiff with fear when she’d been caught eating his food. Carina offered to do dishes to pay for the morsels, but the count refused, taking her home with him to be his servant, and despite her displeasing scent and filthy appearance, the count found himself oddly attracted to her. 

   As Luciano grew to know this woman, his urges for her increased. She touched him in ways no other ‘wench’ had, which only further complicated his position.   

   Carina knew that Luciano’s long lost brother was dead. Her insight when touching the man’s bloody glove; showed her his demise, but it was more than that. It was as if Luciano’s brother had consumed her being in the presence of the count. Now the question was how to explain this? How was she to tell the count of her visions?

  With teasing passion, Carina and Luciano find their way through love and lust, each ultimately finding their happily ever after!

  I was a bit distracted with the era’s dialect, but nonetheless I found this story totally delightful. I enjoyed Carina’s spunky wit, despite her position, and the delayed sexual adventure only entices the reader to keep the pages turning. Despite the small amount of editing errors, this is a great read!

Reviewer: Deanna

Genre: Medieval

ISBN: 978-1-926640-59-4

Publisher: Eternal Press