Leonardo da Vinci was from Italy and left a large family and came to America for the dream that so enthralled others. He moved into the studio of Ramona’s deceased husband. He soon worked his way into the family life with her and her two boys, William and Bradley. In many ways, he took over the part of their lives that the father had occupied. At their impressionable ages, all they understood was that, finally, their mom was feeling better.

Ms. Malena Lott has taken her readers through a poignant journey through the death of a soul mate and the finding of her way back from the numbed. This was definitely an unusual contemporary romance for me to read. This was more an upscale version of a book with a myriad of information on word origins. I did manage to read this with an exploration into widowhood and had to exercise my brain cells even more to follow the storyline.

The main characters in this book were total opposites­a linguist who had been widowed for two years and an immigrant who idolized his teacher, turned landlord, then bedmate. What a metamorphosis was called for in this relationship. The storyline did not stop there. There were a myriad of sub-characters who played an emotional, as well as important, part in the lives of both main characters.

The characters are solid, the plot was interesting, and it definitely was not a book to take lightly. I recommend you read this book for a look far beyond the superficial romance at which it hints. It’s a story which will capture your attention.

Overall rating:
Sensuality rating: Mildly sensual

Reviewer: Brenda Talley
January 21, 2009