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Last Breath: A gripping romantic suspense
Only the truth – or a ruthless killer – can tear them apart.
Jett Randall has never felt at home anywhere. By his own rules, he should have left his job driving for the Barbarani family years ago, but something – or someone – has kept him there.
Nella Barbarani believes she doesn't deserve a happily ever after. Since her family fell apart, she's avoided anyone she’s related to and embraced her nepo-baby label. But when a rival wine-making family hits the Barbarani Estate with a lawsuit that could destroy Nella's life, she's forced to let Jett bring her home.
When the Barbaranis' lawyer is found dead in Nella's law firm offices, Jett has to step in as her bodyguard while she takes over the case. As Nella digs into the lawsuit, buried family secrets emerge. The closer Nella gets to the truth, the more she dreads confirming her worst fears, and she refuses to drag Jett into their corruption – or onto a killer’s radar.
Can the villain in everyone else's story become the hero in her own?
Last Breath is a gripping and steamy opposites-attract romantic suspense that is perfect for fans of Lucy Score, Devney Perry and Catherine Cowles.
Jett Randall has never felt at home anywhere. By his own rules, he should have left his job driving for the Barbarani family years ago, but something – or someone – has kept him there.
Nella Barbarani believes she doesn't deserve a happily ever after. Since her family fell apart, she's avoided anyone she’s related to and embraced her nepo-baby label. But when a rival wine-making family hits the Barbarani Estate with a lawsuit that could destroy Nella's life, she's forced to let Jett bring her home.
When the Barbaranis' lawyer is found dead in Nella's law firm offices, Jett has to step in as her bodyguard while she takes over the case. As Nella digs into the lawsuit, buried family secrets emerge. The closer Nella gets to the truth, the more she dreads confirming her worst fears, and she refuses to drag Jett into their corruption – or onto a killer’s radar.
Can the villain in everyone else's story become the hero in her own?
Last Breath is a gripping and steamy opposites-attract romantic suspense that is perfect for fans of Lucy Score, Devney Perry and Catherine Cowles.
404 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 23, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
August 18, 2025
Big thanks to Penguin for sending us a copy to read and review.
The second book in the Blood Wine Dynasty series, Last Breath is a romantic suspense read with a mystery thrown in and a hint of crime.
Following on from the dramatic events of the first book we continue the saga that is the Barbarani family but with Nella and Jett at the centre of the story.
Lawyer Nella has avoided the family after the previous incident has rocked the family.
When a new danger appears and a lawyer is found dead, Jett is sent to bring her home while she takes on the case.
As Nella investigates, family secrets arise and Jett somehow gets dragged into the mess.
Can they reveal who the killer is before their worst fears come true….
An opposites attract narrative, the return of many familiar faces, a little suspense, a little intrigue, a little tension and a whole lot of fun against the backdrop of the exotic family wine property.
Emma masterfully captures the dynamics of a hot blooded Italian dynasty and brings the spice and charm to the pages.
Let’s hope there’s more family tales to bring to her audience.
The second book in the Blood Wine Dynasty series, Last Breath is a romantic suspense read with a mystery thrown in and a hint of crime.
Following on from the dramatic events of the first book we continue the saga that is the Barbarani family but with Nella and Jett at the centre of the story.
Lawyer Nella has avoided the family after the previous incident has rocked the family.
When a new danger appears and a lawyer is found dead, Jett is sent to bring her home while she takes on the case.
As Nella investigates, family secrets arise and Jett somehow gets dragged into the mess.
Can they reveal who the killer is before their worst fears come true….
An opposites attract narrative, the return of many familiar faces, a little suspense, a little intrigue, a little tension and a whole lot of fun against the backdrop of the exotic family wine property.
Emma masterfully captures the dynamics of a hot blooded Italian dynasty and brings the spice and charm to the pages.
Let’s hope there’s more family tales to bring to her audience.
March 30, 2025
Couldn't have been more excited to read Nella's story after loving her in Last Shot. All I can say is Last Breath didn't disappoint. Complex characters, gorgeous settings and the most evocative language. And then there's Jett. I adored him. I'm crossing my fingers that Luca and Ariana get their book next. Highly recommend.
May 31, 2025
When I got this to read I didn’t realise there was a first book in the series, so of course I haven’t read the first book, but I enjoyed this book. A romance story which also has a murder. I love that it wasn’t a traditional romance book and it wasn’t a traditional murder mystery book. The characters were interesting, with Nella coming from a very privileged background and a wine making family and Jett coming from a completely different background, but they have known each other for a lot of years. The mystery surrounding the death played out along with the romance which I enjoyed.
April 21, 2025
3½ stars
Last Breath continues the story of the Barbarani family, through Nella, the eldest daughter of the family, and Jett, driver for the Barbarani's.
I struggled a bit with this rating because for a lot of the book it was a 4 star read for me, but that ending just didn't hit right.
In terms of the romance part of this novel, I really enjoyed myself. I thought the two main characters of Nella and Jett were great, and I loved their chemistry and attraction to one another. I really looked forward to their moments together, and I thought the character development for both of them was done really well. Jett's backstory was really interesting and tugged on my heartstrings, and Nella's helped explain more about why she acted how she did with the other characters. She was spiky and tricky to side with at times, but I still liked her.
In terms of the suspense angle, I thought it fell a bit flat. I didn't fully understand the twist at the end, and it seemed a little bit unbelievable. I found the villains backstory to be quite upsetting, and while it helped paint a picture of their motivations on a surface level, the suspense angle of the story seemed to be a little bit of a convenient plot device that didn't feel fully resolved.
I think this author writes really well, and I really enjoy her style of writing. She crafts stories with believable, sizzling romance between characters but in terms of the suspense part of the novel, it leaves a little to be desired, for me.
Thank you so much to Netgalley and Penguin Random House for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Last Breath continues the story of the Barbarani family, through Nella, the eldest daughter of the family, and Jett, driver for the Barbarani's.
I struggled a bit with this rating because for a lot of the book it was a 4 star read for me, but that ending just didn't hit right.
In terms of the romance part of this novel, I really enjoyed myself. I thought the two main characters of Nella and Jett were great, and I loved their chemistry and attraction to one another. I really looked forward to their moments together, and I thought the character development for both of them was done really well. Jett's backstory was really interesting and tugged on my heartstrings, and Nella's helped explain more about why she acted how she did with the other characters. She was spiky and tricky to side with at times, but I still liked her.
In terms of the suspense angle, I thought it fell a bit flat. I didn't fully understand the twist at the end, and it seemed a little bit unbelievable. I found the villains backstory to be quite upsetting, and while it helped paint a picture of their motivations on a surface level, the suspense angle of the story seemed to be a little bit of a convenient plot device that didn't feel fully resolved.
I think this author writes really well, and I really enjoy her style of writing. She crafts stories with believable, sizzling romance between characters but in terms of the suspense part of the novel, it leaves a little to be desired, for me.
Thank you so much to Netgalley and Penguin Random House for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
June 20, 2025
Jett Randall should have left his job driving for the Barbarani family years ago, but something - or someone - has kept him there. Since her family fell apart, Nella Barbarani has avoided anyone she's related to and embraced her nepo-baby label. But when a rival wine-making family hits the Barbarani Estate with a lawsuit that could destroy Nella's life, she's forced to let Jett bring her home. Can the villain in everyone else's story become the hero in her own?
I’m glad I didn’t have to wait long after reading (and loving) Last Shot to see the continuation of the Barbarani family’s story. I was happy to see Nella’s story here, as she wasn’t your usual meek female main character. Nella was assertive, smart and sometimes ruthless, deserving her title as the Barbarani family leader.
While Nella didn’t take over Max’s position as my favourite, she wasn’t far behind. It was obvious she and Jett had a lot of off-screen history prior to the book (some of which I wish had been featured), so we didn’t have to waste time building chemistry as it was already there from the beginning.
The suspense towards the end was really good. I didn’t guess the major twist - I actually did a minor gasp when it was revealed, and I loved the conclusion!
See my bookstagram review.
I’m glad I didn’t have to wait long after reading (and loving) Last Shot to see the continuation of the Barbarani family’s story. I was happy to see Nella’s story here, as she wasn’t your usual meek female main character. Nella was assertive, smart and sometimes ruthless, deserving her title as the Barbarani family leader.
While Nella didn’t take over Max’s position as my favourite, she wasn’t far behind. It was obvious she and Jett had a lot of off-screen history prior to the book (some of which I wish had been featured), so we didn’t have to waste time building chemistry as it was already there from the beginning.
The suspense towards the end was really good. I didn’t guess the major twist - I actually did a minor gasp when it was revealed, and I loved the conclusion!
See my bookstagram review.
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May 22, 2025Literally a book to pop open a glass of wine with!🍷
This one is called a ROMCRIME(I love it) - because it’s part romance, part murder mystery, and 100% set against a charmingly Australian backdrop. Think Devney Perry or Catherine Cowles, but with more vineyard drama and a bit more local flair.
While this particular story didn’t quite hit the mark for me personally (sometimes it’s just a vibe thing, right?), I can still appreciate what it brought to the table:
🍇 A fiery heroine from a privileged wine dynasty
🛡️ A protective, rugged bodyguard MMC with history
🖤 Childhood friends to lovers tension
🔪 A murder mystery that runs parallel to the romance
🍷 And of course… WINE.
💕Opposites attract and He Falls First
Nella and Jett’s dynamic had those classic “it’s always been you” feels, and I loved that the romance didn’t follow a cookie cutter path. It was refreshing to see a book break genre molds and combine love and suspense in its own unique way.
If you enjoy a blend of heart, heat, and whodunit with a side of Aussie charm this should be on your TBR!
This one is called a ROMCRIME(I love it) - because it’s part romance, part murder mystery, and 100% set against a charmingly Australian backdrop. Think Devney Perry or Catherine Cowles, but with more vineyard drama and a bit more local flair.
While this particular story didn’t quite hit the mark for me personally (sometimes it’s just a vibe thing, right?), I can still appreciate what it brought to the table:
🍇 A fiery heroine from a privileged wine dynasty
🛡️ A protective, rugged bodyguard MMC with history
🖤 Childhood friends to lovers tension
🔪 A murder mystery that runs parallel to the romance
🍷 And of course… WINE.
💕Opposites attract and He Falls First
Nella and Jett’s dynamic had those classic “it’s always been you” feels, and I loved that the romance didn’t follow a cookie cutter path. It was refreshing to see a book break genre molds and combine love and suspense in its own unique way.
If you enjoy a blend of heart, heat, and whodunit with a side of Aussie charm this should be on your TBR!
January 9, 2026
3.5 ⭐
I thoroughly enjoy this series! I love how easy it is to read, how invested I am in the characters and how much I am rooting for the family to win!
If you're looking for something easy to read but with substance, check this series out.
I would recommend reading the books in order.
I thoroughly enjoy this series! I love how easy it is to read, how invested I am in the characters and how much I am rooting for the family to win!
If you're looking for something easy to read but with substance, check this series out.
I would recommend reading the books in order.
April 13, 2025
Great blend of sizzling romance missed with murder, mystery and mayhem!
May 31, 2025
DNF…thought I would give it a go after finding the first one pretty meh, but I’m just not liking it. Feels a bit soap opera-ey to me.
October 30, 2025
Fabulous. Kept me guessing to the end.
June 11, 2025
🩷 Book Review 🩷
📚 Last Breath
✒️ Emma Pignatiello
💫💫💫
Thank you Netgalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
I loved the romance and the chemistry but unfortunately the 'suspense' was not suspenseful for me.
It felt like the villain was not really a villain and that also affected the big finale.
But the authors writing is really good and she weaves an amazing story and I would like to read more of her writing.
📚 Last Breath
✒️ Emma Pignatiello
💫💫💫
Thank you Netgalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
I loved the romance and the chemistry but unfortunately the 'suspense' was not suspenseful for me.
It felt like the villain was not really a villain and that also affected the big finale.
But the authors writing is really good and she weaves an amazing story and I would like to read more of her writing.
December 25, 2025
2.5-3* Much better than the first book yet, still, the sexual arousal of the ‘Mills & Boon’ romantic erotica technique needs to be tapered down. It takes over from the criminal plot too much… and of course, once again, the ending goes off with a bang!
Instead of Grayson (the family ‘fixer’) and Maxella, we now have Jett (the ‘saved’ family driver) and the B family daughter, Nella. Her father, the head of the family, is no longer alive but siblings etc are on the scene. And truths have been revealed.
The plot line continues between the two feuding wine families over a secret wine recipe. We meet new characters and stories and follow the who, what, where, when, why aspects as per usual.
Indeed, the plot was more appealing this time but takes too long to develop due to the OTT sex and the main focus it seems. I prefer subdued suspense when the crime(s) and police procedural processes are the main focus.
In my review on Long Shot I recommended reading the Maeve Kerrigan series by UK author, Jane Casey.
I just don’t have the inclination to follow this family.
Instead of Grayson (the family ‘fixer’) and Maxella, we now have Jett (the ‘saved’ family driver) and the B family daughter, Nella. Her father, the head of the family, is no longer alive but siblings etc are on the scene. And truths have been revealed.
The plot line continues between the two feuding wine families over a secret wine recipe. We meet new characters and stories and follow the who, what, where, when, why aspects as per usual.
Indeed, the plot was more appealing this time but takes too long to develop due to the OTT sex and the main focus it seems. I prefer subdued suspense when the crime(s) and police procedural processes are the main focus.
In my review on Long Shot I recommended reading the Maeve Kerrigan series by UK author, Jane Casey.
I just don’t have the inclination to follow this family.
September 8, 2025
You can feel the a sense of Australia and Italy in the writing. An engaging plot with deep characters. It’s not my usual genre to read but I am glad I picked it up.
July 20, 2025
“Only the truth – or a ruthless killer – can tear them apart”
Having loved Emma Pignatiello’s debut novel Last Shot, I was thrilled to discover I wouldn’t have to wait long for the follow up book Last Breath. This second book in the Blood Wine Dynasty again focuses on the Barbarani family, but this time it’s Nella at the centre of the story. Following on from the events of book one, Nella has been avoiding her family and anything to do with their estate. However, when a rival wine-making family hits them with a lawsuit, she’s forced to return home. What follows is a steamy romantic suspense read which kept me guessing.
I loved the tension and opposites attract vibe of this book. Nella is the tough and fierce lawyer determined to help her family and Jett, the family’s driver, is her loyal protector with secrets of his own. I loved that this book again played on the rivalry between two wine making families and that we saw a reappearance of the main characters from book one.
There were plenty of people to suspect in the pages of the book which kept the mystery at the heart of the story from unravelling too quickly. I loved the way Emma balanced this suspense with the will they - won’t they tension between Jett and Nella. Their history and banter kept me fully engaged waiting to find out where their relationship would go and I was thrilled with the way everything wrapped up.
Having loved Emma Pignatiello’s debut novel Last Shot, I was thrilled to discover I wouldn’t have to wait long for the follow up book Last Breath. This second book in the Blood Wine Dynasty again focuses on the Barbarani family, but this time it’s Nella at the centre of the story. Following on from the events of book one, Nella has been avoiding her family and anything to do with their estate. However, when a rival wine-making family hits them with a lawsuit, she’s forced to return home. What follows is a steamy romantic suspense read which kept me guessing.
I loved the tension and opposites attract vibe of this book. Nella is the tough and fierce lawyer determined to help her family and Jett, the family’s driver, is her loyal protector with secrets of his own. I loved that this book again played on the rivalry between two wine making families and that we saw a reappearance of the main characters from book one.
There were plenty of people to suspect in the pages of the book which kept the mystery at the heart of the story from unravelling too quickly. I loved the way Emma balanced this suspense with the will they - won’t they tension between Jett and Nella. Their history and banter kept me fully engaged waiting to find out where their relationship would go and I was thrilled with the way everything wrapped up.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews