The Scarletti Curse by Christine Feehan
- Pub. Date: November 2008
- Publisher: Books in Motion
- Format: Mass Paperback, 375pp
The Beast
Strange, twisted carvings and hideous gargoyles adorned the palazzo of the great Scarletti family, but a more fearful secret lurked within its storm-tossed turrets. Every bride who entered its forbidding walls was doomed to leave in a casket.
The Bride
Mystical and unfettered, Nicoletta had no terror of ancient curses and no fear of marriage...until she looked into the dark, mesermizing eyes of Don Scarletti. She had sworn no man would command her, had thought of her gift healing set her apart, but his was the right to choose a bride from among his people. And he had chosen her.
The Bargain
Compelled by duty, drawn by desire, Nicoletta gave her body into his keeping...and prayed the powerful, tormented don would be her heart's destiny and not her soul's demise.
My Review- I never picked up a Christine Feehan book until The Scarletti Curse. It was one of those days where I was awaiting for some books to come in the mail but needed my fix so stopped by the local grocery store and this one grabbed my attention.
I do not regret purchasing this book. I have now re-read the book twice and it has become one of my favorite paranormal romance novels. This book is mystery,thriller,romance, all combined in one.
Nicoletta is the local healer for her village. She was born with gifts that would label her a witch amongst outsiders. One day the Don Scarletti who owns all the lands summons the local village healer to his Palace due to the illness of his brother (Vincente's) little daughter Sophie falling ill with food poisoning. Not to give herself away she takes caution and has Maria Pia ( another main character whom you will grow to love and slightly get annoyed with) pretend to be the healer and herself just a lowly dumb servant to the healer.
There is a lot of death surrounding the Don Scarletti's palace. Every bride who has walked through those doors have fallen a horrible death along with many of the woman workers in the palace. The villagers believe that the Scarletti family worships evill, that they are cursed and has labeled the Scarletti home as pallazo della morte. Unfortunately for Nicoletta the don has eyes only for her.
Nicoletta has deep history with the palace as well through her mother and aunty who were violently killed working in the palace, so you can only expect the heroine of the book to be very fearful of the don and their relationship which is in the beginning forced upon her.
The book was very well written, the characters were also well developed. You grew to hate and love many characters. The relationship between the Don and Nicoletta was entertaining. There was more than enough mystery to keep me from putting this book down. The novel definitely has it's share of death,romance,evil all packed in one but there is also innocence and a slight bit of humor as well.
