Review: Revenge in Rio – Samantha Darling

Calculated revenge, unexpected passion…

Business magnate Luca Venancio is returning to Rio to pay his respects to his late brother, and to seduce his once fiancée, Daniella, back into his bed. Five years ago she left him without so much as a word, shunning him and the rich life he could offer in exchange for his younger, reckless brother. Now Luca wants revenge—seduce her and dump her, that’s all he intends to do.

Blackmailed into a violent farce of a marriage, Daniella had no choice but to comply to protect Luca’s life, even though it meant never being able to see him again. Years later, a twist of fate reunites them, throwing her plans of fleeing Rio out of the window and the love of her life straight back in.

Luca’s flawless plan soon becomes complicated when he discovers Daniella is expecting his brother’s child. It becomes even more complicated when old passions return. Can he actually go through with seducing her, bedding her, and then discarding her?

Series:
Release Date: October 21st 2013
Publisher: Beachwalk Press, Inc.
Source: Provided by Author / Publisher via Manic Readers
Reviewer: Michelle
Rating:

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Reviewer’s Thoughts

Revenge in Rio began with a very interesting storyline. I couldn’t wait to read the story of how one less successful, jealous younger brother stole the fiancee of his older, more successful older brother. I was curious to find out how he convinced the fiancee to give up the older brother and what types of threats/machinations drove them apart. I dove right into the book as soon as I could to be less than thrilled with the details. ***Spoiler Alert***

First, I’ll tackle the main characters. Luca Venancio is the older brother. He is apparently a billionaire with a private investigator that keeps track of Luca’s former fiancee, Daniella, and his younger brother, Miguel’s lives. He is hurt, plots revenge, and after learning that his brother is dead te time for his revenge is at hand. He shows up at the graveside service and whisks Daniella away, and he immediately begins trying to seduce her. I kept thinking to myself…what on earth is going on? Who would show up after five years with no communication and begin kissing and intimately touching Daniella? Granted Daniella had a horrible marriage to Miguel but even at that it made her character look…for lack of a better word…skanky. Did I mention she’s 7 months pregnant with Miguel’s child at the time that she and Luca are leaving the burial and tongue dueling in the back of his limo? I couldn’t relate to him or her for the rest of the book because the beginning just left me feeling like…eeww.

The storyline was a great teaser, but the execution was less than stellar. First, why didn’t Daniella try to get away and use a phone to call Luca to tell him he was in danger? This wasn’t a historical novel. It was a contemporary novel with cell phones and landlines. She could have easily emailed, texted, called, or gotten word to Luca that she was being blackmailed and he was in danger during their time apart. Second, I felt like shaking Luca because he appeared so dense in his disbelief that Miguel his alcoholic, drug addicted, gangbanging, thieving, violent, jealous, and angry brother could hurt Daniella or want to hurt him. There were times that spanish words were used without a definition. I guess I will forever regret choosing French over Spanish in high school.

The story moved along swiftly but I was not able to connect with the characters or become vested in the storyline.