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A review by theeditorreads
Unwrapping the Castelli Secret by Caitlin Crews
4.0
Book One of The Castelli Brothers Series, this is the story of the older one, Rafael. The story opens with Rafael Castelli regretting the day he lost his stepsister Lily in a car crash. It's been five years, and he hasn't got closure since the body had not been found. He blames his selfishness for the status of their relationship even before the crash. Now in Charlottesville, Virginia to scout for some vineyards to add to his family's historic wine business, away from his native Italy, he spots her again. Lily was the daughter of his father's fourth wife, and they had been having a secret affair which Rafael didn't want to be made public, and thus the self-blame. He finally finds her, Lily Holloway, his Lily, now all of twenty-four. But she refuses that name and instead introduces herself as Alison Herbert. What a smashing introduction it is!
Why do they have to say, stepsister? It sounds so damn sordid! Luca (of [b:Castelli's Virgin Widow|25897417|Castelli's Virgin Widow (The Castelli Brothers #2)|Caitlin Crews|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1444077757s/25897417.jpg|45780389] - the younger brother) and Rafael, both are there and both recognise Lily. And when he discovers Lily has a son - his son! (Arlo) - they all have to become a family, though Lily still maintains she is Alison. And Rafael can't seem to fathom why she's still denying everything. The make-believe and the pretend in the story is so funny. The author provides humour in spades in this one.
It was senseless, the way both Rafael and Lily trying to hurt each other. And this was the first M&B I read where the heroine does something this drastic as to make the hero believe she's dead, and living with another identity. Ugh... in the end, it makes sense why Lily would want to hurt him. The reason made me cringe, yuck!
There's something in the book, finally, that I agree with. Though definitely not under the circumstances.
The cover is just perfect. As is the ending. A whole chapter is given to it.
Why do they have to say, stepsister? It sounds so damn sordid! Luca (of [b:Castelli's Virgin Widow|25897417|Castelli's Virgin Widow (The Castelli Brothers #2)|Caitlin Crews|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1444077757s/25897417.jpg|45780389] - the younger brother) and Rafael, both are there and both recognise Lily. And when he discovers Lily has a son - his son! (Arlo) - they all have to become a family, though Lily still maintains she is Alison. And Rafael can't seem to fathom why she's still denying everything. The make-believe and the pretend in the story is so funny. The author provides humour in spades in this one.
It was senseless, the way both Rafael and Lily trying to hurt each other. And this was the first M&B I read where the heroine does something this drastic as to make the hero believe she's dead, and living with another identity. Ugh... in the end, it makes sense why Lily would want to hurt him. The reason made me cringe, yuck!
Books and dogs and absolute and total freedom. What could be better?
There's something in the book, finally, that I agree with. Though definitely not under the circumstances.
The cover is just perfect. As is the ending. A whole chapter is given to it.