The Scarletti Curse audiobook

What a spell that was woven within this gothic romance! to the young, free-spirited beauty Nicoletta to the enigmatic, dark, handsome Don Giovanni, you will be glued to the mystery and tragedy of what occurs in this tale. What I truly enjoy about the two books I have read by Christine Feehan is how she skillfully alludes the reader into believing this is a paranormal horror/love story; but not all is what it may be. I loved her cute and adorable friends Ketisa and Sophie, such sweet girls; to the hilarious and matronly Mia Pia always to give Nicoletta motherly advice. It is truly sorrowful what happens to a lot of the characters in this story so please be ready to rage and cry like I felt at parts during the story. Despite the dark overtone of the book, the humor and strength of the female characters really pulled this story through (except two in particular that I disliked greatly). Overall I recommend this book if you want a good chill through the bones and a few specks of light in the gothic romance realm.

The Scarletti Curse , is the first stand-alone book I've read from the wonderful imagination of Christine Feehan. If you are a regular follower of my blog, you will no doubt remember that I am a big fan of Feehan's Dark Carpathian series. Within the palazzo of the great Scarletti family, evil appears to lurk around every corner, in every carving, inside each secret passageway. But even more deadly than a metaphysical unnamed maleficence, beastly family secrets endure and threaten to be the doom of any woman who dares to become a Scarletti bride.Don Giovanni Scarletti has vowed never to marry, to stop the Scarletti curse of jealousy and murder from touching a new generation. But when a young healer from the villagio is sent to the pallazo to save the lives of the don and his young niece Sophie, he is inexplicably drawn to the wild and beautiful woman.Enigmatic and free-spirited, Nicoletta did not fear the ancient whispers of the Scarletti curse, until Don Giovanni invoked the "Bridal Covenant" and chose her as his bride. Nicolatta must uncover the truth behind the rumors she has grown up with, in order to face and defeat the Scarletti curse.The Scarletti Curse did not have the vampires or legendary Carpathian hunters of Feehan's Dark Carpathian series, but despite that fact, it was a wonderful and a quick read. As with the other books I've read from this author, her secondary characters are written just as well as her central characters - most were multi-dimensional and worthy of their own stories. This was truly a fantastic paranormal romance with a palpable Gothic feel to it. The Scarletti Curse is a satisfying and entertaining read, complete with the passion and intrigue of Feehan's other work.

Tjonge jonge ik ben ècht dom geweest !! ik had dit boek al jaren liggen en schoof het steeds weer opzij voor iets wat ik liever wilde lezen . Op de rug van het boek staat dat het een gothic romance is en na al die tanden afbrokkelende suikerzoete kerst boeken en films dacht ik bij mijzelf : ok. nu is het een x tijd voor dit boek . Nou .. ik had geen betere keuze kunnen maken uit mijn stapel nog ( door mij ) ongelezen boeken . Het verhaal heeft alles wat je verwachten mag van een gothic : een kasteel met zowel aan de buiten- als binnenkant sinistere beeldhouwwerken , donkere gangen , norse onvriendelijk ogende bedienden enz. en natuurlijk onverklaarbare gebeurtenissen . En daar komt dan nog een heerlijk sexy kasteelheer bij . 4.5 *Ik heb dit boek ooit samen met een stapeltje andere boeken van deze schrijfster overgenomen en ga nu gauw er weer een van lezen .

Beauty, the supposed Beast, and the Palace of Death This story started out intense and scary. Listening to the audio was like watching the beginning of a horror movie, so much so I wasn't sure I would be able to finish it. As the story progressed I got confused. From some of the reviews I had read I thought the Don was going to be a cruel beast of a man. Perhaps it was the reading interpretation of the narrator, but I did't find the Don that way at all. Authoritative, yes, but not cruel. I'm not a fan of historical romance, so it took some doing on my part to get past the oldworld customs and superstitions. The oldworld customs made me very angry. The plot was developed in such a way that I became fascinated. The story started out with a sick near death child, then there was the creepy mansion and all the deaths, and last but not least the mystery of the Don's mind melding capabilities. I kept replaying the audio to be sure I didn't miss a word. I was totally captured by this tale. It's been a while since a story has gripped me totally like this one did. I was adrenalized from the beginning to the end. One of the wonderful things about this story is I was pulled into the characters as if I knew them personally. I was frustrated with our heroine so many times. Nicoletta was not stupid by any stretch, but between her distrust of Giovanni, the superstitions that she had, and not speaking up to share some facts made me crazy. I felt emotionally invested in the characters. I loved this story. It had intrigue, mystery, suspense, and falling in love. Excellent storytelling.

I don't like this book as much as I like Lair of the Lion, but it's still a good read. I like that Feehan really addresses maidenly modesty here. Too often in historical romance novels the heroines are perfectly comfortable to strip naked for their men - or any discomfort they feel at being naked and wanton is soon forgotten in the glory of the Big O. But that isn't realistic - a woman's sense of modestly, especially during historical times, isn't so easy to overcome. Feehan really showcases the issue here, leaving the heroine with regrets, doubts and many self-recriminations for her sexual behavior. She doesn't take it overboard, but it inserts just the touch of reality into the story.I also like the practicality the heroine, Nicoletta, shows. She isn't given a choice about her marriage, but she does her best to work with what she's got. I did find myself becoming frustrated with the way the hero, Giovanni, acted, however. His "me man, you woman" routine got old early in the book, as did the way he constantly brushed her aside, ignoring her concerns and fears. He was redeemed in the end, however, because once he opened up and committed himself, he was all in.This is a dark read, so don't go into it expecting something light. There are also paranormal elements and things that go bump in the night..all of which make for a fascinating, if at times frustrating, tale.4 out of 5This review was originally posted by Holly on Book Binge at http://thebookbinge.com/2011/01/light....

Wow.. the author truly has magic in her writing. For me the star of this book was it’s writing style. I absolutely enjoyed each page. I didn’t particularly care for the hero. Heroine was more likable than him. More than se* this book concentrated on the suspense and mystery aspect. I enjoyed that too even though my guess about killer’s identity was spot on. I also felt cheated as killer didn’t suffer for all the atrocities he did. There was also a bucket load of triggers. Domestic violence, murder, off the page se*ual assualt so on. There were some truly spooky scenes that I enjoyed. Recommended.

4.5 starsAn old favorite. I am not a historical romance fan but this one works for me. It has some mystery, a tiny bit of paranormal and a lot of romance. If you are fan of Christine Feehan's books than I would recommend this one.HEA (view spoiler)[Yes (hide spoiler)]Cheating/OW/OM (view spoiler)[ No cheating or scenes with OW/OM (hide spoiler)]Any push/pull (view spoiler)[Not really (hide spoiler)]Any couple separation (view spoiler)[No (hide spoiler)]Angst Level: LowHeat Level: Medium

I had read some of Ms. Feehan's short stories in anthologies, but this was my first venture into her own novels, and I was rewarded with a great tale of olde world Carpathian romance with enough darkness to hint at danger and intrigue, and enough romance to swell the heart of many readers, especially women. I wonder if any men would really like these sorts of books or is it just too much for them? I must say, I've yet to meet any guys who remotely resemble the heart-throb characters that are so carefully crafted by female writers. More's the pity.Anyhow, back on track, this is no modern romance novel, with characters straight oout of the middle ages. Nicoletta is a young healer with talents that could well endanger her as being branded and burnt as a witch in many of the nearby villages, which are all under the protection of the mysterious and fearsome Don Scarletti. However, the Scarlettis all bear some fondness for this particular village, with the locals craftsmanship in weaving the most beautiful fabrics, much sought after by the aristocratic family. Myth and legend have surrounded the Scarletti family for many years especially when several family members and villagers have either disappeared or died in suspicious circumstances. The dilemma for the village elders is the protection of their folk whilst appeasing the wishes and whims of the ruling aristocracy. When Giovanni Scarletti decides to invoke the Bridal Covenant (an agreement reached in previous generations) and chooses Nicoletta, the village elders struggle with their consciences and duties to their village and to their patron.The imposing castle where the Scarlettis reside is dark, frightening with it gargoyles and strange architecture and statuary. It had been nicknamed Palazzo del Morte (Palace of Death) by the locals, and fuelled the imaginations and legends surrounding this powerful Don. How would Nicoletta survive this marriage when she knew that her own mother and aunt had perished while working within its dark forbidding walls? At least 6 people were believed to have died in strange manners, and her only family Maria Pia feared for her wellbeing. Read on!

Nicoletta is the healer of her village, with astounding talent that is revered and feared among those around her. She is then summoned up to the "Palazzo" to heal a little girl, who is gravely sick as well as her unucle who is Don Scarletti. Having heard some viscous rumors about the man. Nicoletta fears him from the beginning, but there is something about him that puts a pause in her fears. Done Giovanni Scarletti has grown up being trained to be the leader of his people. He takes much responsibility on his shoulders, after Nicoletta heals him, he feels warmth and a sensual possesion of her and he knows that he must claim her. When he demands that Nicletta must marry him, she refuses him, yearning for freedom...not knowing that the power of love she will find in his embrace can be the most empowering freedom of all.As this is the only one of the dark series (apart from the newer ones that I have yet to read)I feel in love with this one. The Scarletti Curse has a connection to Dark Possesion. This is definitely one of my favorites of Christine Feehan. Even though Giovanni has "Alpha" characteristics, there is also a gentle nature about him as well, that we see spreads throughout the book. Nicletta has a passionate nature in everything that she does, she aches for the freedom that she has been given most of her life. She has a strong will and spirit that just made me fall in love with this heroine. She has such spirit and not afraid to stand up to her man (which I love the spirited heroines the most :)] She doesn't want any man to dictate to her. Throughout this story we see these two strong willed characters go through a journey that definitely evokes a strong emotional response in the reader, and its pages are filled with danger, passion, intrigue and a love THAT CONQUERS NO MATTER THE DANGER definitely a read you don't EVER want to miss out on!!!!

Original review 2011: I don't like this book as much as I like Lair of the Lion, but it's still a good read. I like that Feehan really addresses maidenly modesty here. Too often in historical romance novels the heroines are perfectly comfortable to strip naked for their men - or any discomfort they feel at being naked and wanton is soon forgotten in the glory of the Big O. But that isn't realistic - a woman's sense of modestly, especially during historical times, isn't so easy to overcome. Feehan really showcases the issue, leaving the heroine with regrets, doubts and many self-recriminations for her sexual behavior. She doesn't take it overboard, but it adds just the right flair of reality into the story. I also like the practicality the heroine shows. She isn't given a choice about her marriage, but she does her best to work with what she's got. I did find myself becoming frustrated with the way the hero acted, however. His "me man, you woman" routine got old early in the book, as did the way he constantly brushed her aside, ignoring her concerns and fears. He was redeemed in the end, however, because once he opened up and committed himself, he was all in.

I really loved this one. Reading this book made me want to read more novels by Christine Feehan.

I read this book during my vacation in Montana. I liked it, but by itself slightly confusing. So I recommend reading Dark Symphony first. All in all excellent book. THe characters were vivid. Bold. Like most of Feehan's male characters, Don Giovanni (spelling?) was very dominant and overprotective. \And like many of the females, Nicola is very stubborn and a survivor.

Essentially a paranormal, historical romance, the Scarletti Curse should be read before you start the Dark or Carpathian series as it eventually ties into both series. Drama, tension, and architecture all play a part.

I enjoy Feehan's few standalone novels, they are always intriguing and not repetitive in nature. Although there is a 2nd book in series it doesn't actually appear to a "series" and that book follows more along the repetitive lines of the Dark Series. I also really enjoy the gothic style of this book and the Lair of the Lion, it's intriguing, spooky and gives it and all around dramatic feel. In this book you have Nicoletta, the untamed free spirited healer who's gift could mark her as a witch. And Giovanni the Don who has sworn to never take a wife due to the family curse, that is until he meets Nicoletta and realizes the woman he dreams of is actually real. I am not going to go too much more into it, I have been enjoying going into books blind these days so I don't want to give to much away. I do wish Feehan would write some more novels such as this that aren't in a series... maybe I will have to look again and see if there are any floating around.

This is a second read but by audiobook. Enjoyed it also this go around.

Reviewed for Book Chick Cityhttp://www.bookchickcity.com/2012/05/...* ‘The Scarletti Curse’ by Christine Feehan is billed as a ‘prequel to Dark Symphony’ on the cover, but is very much considered a stand alone novel by the author. Personally, having never read anything by Feehan before, I felt the book was perfectly okay to read by itself, with no particular loose ends to suggest a sequel. *Now that issue has been cleared up, we can move on to the plot! ‘The Scarletti Curse’ has an interesting mix of fantasy elements, with our introduction to main character, Nicoletta, consisting of a scenario in which her healing abilities are used. It is never explained how or why Nicoletta can heal, she is just able to feel the pain of others and to channel her energy into healing them. She also has the preternatural ability of knowing when someone is dying or in mortal peril before it happens, allowing her to act quickly. This healing ability is called upon by the aristocratic Scarletti family when young Sophie is poisoned and on the brink of death, bringing Nicoletta and her guardian, Maria Pia, into the presence of Don Giovanni Scarletti. He is instantly taken with Nicoletta, later invoking the ancient right of the Don that allows him to choose any eligible maiden from the surrounding villages for his bride. She is taken from her home with Maria Pia as her guardian to ensure nothing should happen to her before her wedding day. It is then that the ancient Scarletti Curse rears its head, which states that all Scarletti men are to lose their brides, as proved by the death of Vincente’s wife, Giovanni’s brother, and the death of his grandmother. These deaths are often caused by the husbands, creating the mystery of how and why. With this rumoured curse affecting all Scarletti women, will Nicoletta survive the aftermath of her marriage? Our main female protagonist is the free spirit of the village, feeling most at home roaming the hills and tending to her garden of healing plants. I liked her a lot as a heroine, as she is very headstrong, and not afraid to stand up to the men in her life. She has the feminine naivety of youth, with the running gag throughout the book surrounding her shoes, as she often forgets to wear them, providing elements of comic relief with her being frequently chastised. Comedy is also present in her interactions with elderly Maria Pia, with Nicoletta being reprimanded for not being as devoutly religious as her elder, sometimes mocking the older woman for her faith. As for Don Giovanni Scarletti, Feehan has created a typical Italian passionate alpha male, describing him as ‘strong and capable, utterly confident, invincible. A dark sorcerer casting his spell’. He is very masculine and dominating, casting a commanding presence over all of the other characters. Similarly to Nicoletta he appears to have a paranormal gift, and is able to speak directly into the minds of people, particularly his bride. His lust for Nicoletta is present throughout the novel, drawn to her whenever they get a moment alone together. Giovanni is very protective over his new wife, but I think that in most cases this is entirely justified, with there only being a couple of moments in which his jealousy was a bit over the top.I found the plotline to be very good at combining elements from different genres together, with the mystery of the Scarletti curse intertwined with the romance of the Don and Nicoletta and the paranormal elements of their unique gifts. There are some unexpected twists towards the end of the book when the source of the mystery and the curse is revealed, and the romance plotline is very well developed considering how Nicoletta is effectively trapped in the palazzo by the Don. However, there were some little elements of the book that I didn’t get along with, particularly the use of Italian throughout the book to refer to family members, and Nicoletta being constantly referred to as ‘piccola’, which I take to mean young girl. When her husband refers to her in this way it makes him seem more derogatory and possessive over her, which I personally don’t like in a male protagonist. I also felt like the author detracted from the main mystery plot after the marriage occurs, as the focus then moves onto their relationship and their passionate exploits. When the mystery is resolved towards the end, it is wrapped up in a few pages before Feehan returns to the Don and Nicoletta’s romance. Overall, I did really enjoy reading this book and, having never read anything by Feehan before, I would definitely consider reading something by her again. The book is passionate, mysterious and supernatural, containing a strong hero and heroine, a perfect blend for a novel.