RS Review: Betrayal: A Bella Terra Deception Novel (Scarlet Deception) [Mass Market Paperback]

I've finished "Betrayal" the 3rd book in her Scarlet Deception trilogy series by Christina Dodd.

Product Description


Only New York Times bestseller Christina Dodd could bring you this series about three brothers, tormented by their pasts ...

At nineteen, Noah Di Luca was Bella Terra's golden boy, handsome, confident, and untouched by the shadows that tormented his brothers ... or so it seems. Driven by ambition, beautiful teenage Penelope Alonso fought her way out of the ghettos. During one hot summer, they came together in the sweetness of first love ... until his past reared its ugly head and Noah walked away.

Nine years later, Penelope returns, never imagining she'd see Noah or that one glance would wake their fiery passion. As peril builds around them, Penelope has one choice: to survive, she must once again trust the man who betrayed her.

Even with terror stalking through Bella Terra's streets, love may be the most dangerous choice of all.

About the Author

New York Times bestselling Christina Dodd builds worlds filled with romance and adventure and creates the most distinctive characters in fiction today. Her forty-six novels -- paranormals, historicals and romantic suspense -- have been translated into eighteen languages, featured by Doubleday Book Club, recorded on Books on Tape for the Blind, won Romance Writers of America's prestigious Golden Heart and RITA Awards and been called the year's best by Library Journal. Dodd herself has been a clue in the Los Angeles Times crossword puzzle (11/18/05, # 13 Down: Romance Novelist named Christina.) Publishers Weekly praises her style that "showcases Dodd's easy, addictive charm and steamy storytelling," and her legions of fans always know that when they pick up a Christina Dodd book, they know they've found a story "For the wild at heart!"

Enter Christina's worlds and join her mailing list at christinadodd.com

Product Details
Reading level: Ages 18 and up
Mass Market Paperback: 448 pages
Publisher: Signet Select; Original edition (April 3, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0451413202
ISBN-13: 978-0451413208

My Review:

I highly recommend reading the first two book in this series (Revenge at Bella Terra and Secrets of Bella Terra) so you would be familiar with the characters and the storyline.  

This book had twists and turns, intrigue, suspense and a fiery romance.

Storyline:  Noah didn't meet his mother until he was fifteen and found out she is the ringleader of a band of psychotic thieves who happen to be his cousins.  At nineteen he was the handsome golden boy and was in love with beautiful Penelope Alonso but he walked away from her and broke her heart. 

Penelope Alonso moved away with her mom and got married young.  Her husband died who she loved and has decided to come back to Bella Terra to find and talk to her father Joseph Binchin who she didn't find out after her mother died.  She never expected to see Noah again but once she comes face to face with him again at his sister-in laws house the sparks are still there.  She is hired to be the interior decorator.

Noah comes face to face with his mother again who places a collar around his neck which will detonate and kill him if he doesn't find bother containing pink diamonds.  She wants Noah to take over as leader but he wants nothing to do with his relatives.

Wow all the villains were really psychotic and didn't have any remorse about how they would obtain their goals.
4/5

Other books in series:

1.  Revenge at Bella Terra
2.  Secrets of Bella Terra

Thanks Penguin Canada for sending me this book to review, greatly appreciated!

RS Review: Revenge at Bella Terra: A Scarlet Deception Novel [Paperback]

I've finished "Revenge at Bella Terra" the 2nd book in her Scarlet Deception series by Christina Dodd.

Product Description

Ruthless Eli Di Luca hides the torment of his past beneath a façade of iron control. No one suspects the anguish he suffers, or the reasons why he has sworn never to marry. Only blackmail could change his mind ...

Beautiful young author Chloë Conte's first book zoomed to the top of the bestseller lists. Now, struggling to write her second mystery, she retreats to an isolated cottage in a private vineyard. But with his magnetic appeal and his fascinating tales of Bella Terra's violent past, Eli Di Luca proves an irresistible distraction, and Chloë finds herself falling in love with a man she hardly knows. Soon she discovers that Eli has been keeping secrets from her, and the truth will bring more than heartbreak ... it will put them both in mortal danger.

When murder and peril threaten, the only way Chloe can survive is to trust the man who has betrayed her ... and that's a price her stubborn heart may not be willing to pay.

Product Details
Paperback: 448 pages
Publisher: Signet Select (September 6, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0451413105
ISBN-13: 978-0451413109

My Review:

Storyline: Eli Du Luca is in debt because his good friend and accountant skipped town with all the profits.  A very wealthy man has proposed a way out by asking Eli to seduce and marry his daughter Chloe Robinson.

Chloe comes to Eli's cottage to help her write her next seller since she has writer's block.  Eli takes her to the water tower where they discover the body of Massimo who was introduced in the first book.  They conclude he was killed over pink diamonds which we don't find out about until Eli discovers it.

Characters:  Eli Du Luca is a tortured and tormented young man.  He was a pawn between his parents who didn't want him. His mom was a very violent woman, his dad just threw him away and his family on his mom's side treated him harshly and beat him up.  He only cares for his grandmother, two younger brothers and his winery.  But as Eli spends more time with Chloe he realizes she heals wounds and is the woman for him.  It was so funny when he thinks she would be meek and mild and would cater to all his needs.

Chloe Conte is a young mystery suspense writer who has written a best selling book.  She comes to Eli's cottage because she thinks she is there for a visit to help her write her next book.  At first she believes her dad has thrown Eli at her as a suitor but then she concludes no.  She's a very smart and feisty woman just what Eli needs!  As Chloe spends more time with Eli she falls in love with him and marries him.  When she finds out about his betrayal she is hurt and angry but she needs his help to save her.

Romance:  I really enjoyed the romance between Eli and Chloe because it was very sweet and hot and they need each other.  From the moment they met you can feel the heat between them.

Killer:  The killer is very deadly, cunning and smart by setting up someone else to take the fall.

4/5

Thanks Penguin Canada for sending me this book to review, greatly appreciated!

Secrets of Bella Terra: A Scarlet Deception Novel [Paperback]

I've finished "Secrets of Bella Terra" the first book in her Scarlet Deception series by Christina Dodd.


Product Description

Brooding and sexy Rafe Di Luca has returned to his family's luxurious vineyard resort for one reason: to find out who attacked his beloved grandmother. His homecoming stirs up a decades - old feud, forcing him to work with Brooke Petersson, the woman he once seduced and betrayed ... but never forgot.

Product Details
Paperback: 448 pages
Publisher: Signet Select; Original edition (August 2, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0451413091
ISBN-13: 978-0451413093

My Review:

The book opens up with Sarah being viciously attacked in her own home.  Rafe Di-Luca is security expert who is on a rescue mission who returns home to his family's Bella Terra Vineyard and Resort in Bella Valley, California when he finds out his grandmother has been attacked.  With his two half-brother Eli and Noah they are determined to find out who attacked their grandmother and who is sabotaging the Resort and killing off people.

Brooke has been close to the Di-Luca family since she has been a teen when first moved to Bella Valley.  She was friends with Rafe in elementary school and then fell in love in high school.  They had a huge fight and he left for the military and when he came back Brooke was engaged.  They made love that night and then he left again in the morning without a backwards glance.  He hurt her deeply and she vows never to let him hurt her again when they are forced to work together.  She's a strong and independent woman who is quite stubborn.

Rafe is an alpha male who is broodingly sexy but clueless when it comes to Brooke.  He doesn't understand why she is angry after a conversation with her mother who doesn't really like him for hurting Brooke.

This book is more mystery suspense than romantic suspense because it deals more with the mystery and the romance is secondary.  It was fast paced and well written with such great characters that I can't wait until "Revenge at Bella Terra" comes out in September.

4/5

Thanks Laura from Penguin Canada for sending me this book to review, greatly appreciated!