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The Romantic
ASIN: B00MNM3K3M (ALTERNATE COVER EDITION)
The Romantic is a love story about friendship, passion, and the echo of unrequited love.
Hadriel Alighieri has harbored a secret love in his heart for his entire life. It began in his youth, when he fell in love with his best friend, Sophia Paula. After Sophia leaves for America and is later betrothed to Joshua Abrams, Hadriel is devastated, but he is a hopeless romantic.
In the winter of his life he is haunted by the memory of Sophia Paula. When the Angel of Death comes for Hadriel, the journey begins. From his deathbed, he travels to the day he fell in love. He retraces the steps of his life in search of his unrequited love. For she too harbors a secret love in her heart. But what begins as a journey to fulfill a promise turns into a discovery of the only emotion that defines our lives.
Did she wait for him?
The Romantic is a love story about friendship, passion, and the echo of unrequited love.
Hadriel Alighieri has harbored a secret love in his heart for his entire life. It began in his youth, when he fell in love with his best friend, Sophia Paula. After Sophia leaves for America and is later betrothed to Joshua Abrams, Hadriel is devastated, but he is a hopeless romantic.
In the winter of his life he is haunted by the memory of Sophia Paula. When the Angel of Death comes for Hadriel, the journey begins. From his deathbed, he travels to the day he fell in love. He retraces the steps of his life in search of his unrequited love. For she too harbors a secret love in her heart. But what begins as a journey to fulfill a promise turns into a discovery of the only emotion that defines our lives.
Did she wait for him?
- GenresFiction
248 pages, ebook
First published August 11, 2014
8 people are currently reading
130 people want to read
About the author
Felix Alexander
19 books154 followersFelix Alexander (1976-Present) is a Mexican-born, American-raised novelist and poet of Spanish, Mexican, and Puerto Rican descent.
Acclaimed by readers for his poetic prose, his indie releases include:
* Dear Love: Diary of a Man's Desire, a collection of love letters and poems (Forever Poetic series #1)
* The Romantic: A Love Story (Forever Poetic series #2)
* Romantic Musings (Forever Poetic series #3)
* The Book of Danielle (Forever Poetic series #4)
* Shadows of Time: The Amulet of Alamin
* The Secret of Heaven (Book 1 of the Aiden Leonardo Series)
* The Secret of Scripture (Book 2 of the Aiden Leonardo Series)
* The Secret of God's Banker (Book 3 of the Aiden Leonardo series)
* The Last Valentine (A Labyrinth of Love Letters novel)
* The Last Love Letter (A Labyrinth of Love Letters novel, book 2)
* Her Punishment (Her Erotic Endeavors series #1)
* Her Awakening (Her Erotic Endeavors series #2)
* Her Seduction (Her Erotic Endeavors series #3)
*Her Passion (Her Erotic Endeavors series #4)
* A Uniquely Portable Magic, An Order of the Scribes adventure
* Love Letters to Lora (a short story)
*Cupid’s Up to Something
Being third-generation military, after a grandfather and two uncles who served in the Korean War and Vietnam War, respectively, Alexander is proud of his U.S. Army service and grateful for his experience.
After his honorable discharge from the U.S. Army, he embarked on the long and arduous journey of a writer. Having made a name for himself while serving his country, he vowed to himself and his fellow soldiers that he would answer his true calling.
He currently lives in Chicago, IL—to be closer to his children—a son and daughter.
In the evenings, he journeys through the portals of his extensive personal library. When he returns, he immerses himself in his writing and pursues the scent of his muse.
Acclaimed by readers for his poetic prose, his indie releases include:
* Dear Love: Diary of a Man's Desire, a collection of love letters and poems (Forever Poetic series #1)
* The Romantic: A Love Story (Forever Poetic series #2)
* Romantic Musings (Forever Poetic series #3)
* The Book of Danielle (Forever Poetic series #4)
* Shadows of Time: The Amulet of Alamin
* The Secret of Heaven (Book 1 of the Aiden Leonardo Series)
* The Secret of Scripture (Book 2 of the Aiden Leonardo Series)
* The Secret of God's Banker (Book 3 of the Aiden Leonardo series)
* The Last Valentine (A Labyrinth of Love Letters novel)
* The Last Love Letter (A Labyrinth of Love Letters novel, book 2)
* Her Punishment (Her Erotic Endeavors series #1)
* Her Awakening (Her Erotic Endeavors series #2)
* Her Seduction (Her Erotic Endeavors series #3)
*Her Passion (Her Erotic Endeavors series #4)
* A Uniquely Portable Magic, An Order of the Scribes adventure
* Love Letters to Lora (a short story)
*Cupid’s Up to Something
Being third-generation military, after a grandfather and two uncles who served in the Korean War and Vietnam War, respectively, Alexander is proud of his U.S. Army service and grateful for his experience.
After his honorable discharge from the U.S. Army, he embarked on the long and arduous journey of a writer. Having made a name for himself while serving his country, he vowed to himself and his fellow soldiers that he would answer his true calling.
He currently lives in Chicago, IL—to be closer to his children—a son and daughter.
In the evenings, he journeys through the portals of his extensive personal library. When he returns, he immerses himself in his writing and pursues the scent of his muse.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
December 28, 2015
“The Romantic” is an intelligent, poignant novel about romantic love, missed chances, and a life lived in search of the happiness that comes from finding one’s other half.
Hadriel Alighieri is struck by Sophia Paula’s beauty the moment he sees her—though he’s only twelve years old, it’s love at first sight. When Sophia’s father asks Hadriel to teach Sophia to play the piano, Hadriel jumps at the chance, and over the next six years the two become best friends. Hadriel harbors his deeper feelings until the time for his mandatory military service comes, but his profession of love doesn’t go how he hopes—and as the years pass, both Sophia and Hadriel search for love with others, but never find it in as true a form as they had for each other….
I liked how the novel begins with Hadriel looking back over his life, in the presence of the angel of death; it gives the book an immediate touch of sorrow and heartbreak, as well as some mystery. The reader wonders just what happened to Hadriel and Sophia, and will find out as the story weaves on. I also liked how the author slowly begins to introduce Sophia’s perspective, so that she becomes not just Hadriel’s love object, but a fully developed character in her own right, with her own regrets. And for me, there’s just as much sorrow in Hadriel’s relationship with Celeste—both he and Celeste have pasts too colored by their first loves to truly move forward. The plot moves slowly but beautifully, in large part due to the author’s descriptive, lyrical writing style—lines like Hadriel being “the ghost of her [Sophia’s] heart” are lovely and bear repeat reads.
I’d recommend “The Romantic” to readers who like novels that deal with the complex themes of love, life, and how the choices we make reverberate through both.
Kelsi Grace, Vantage Point Book Reviews
The Romantic
Hadriel Alighieri is struck by Sophia Paula’s beauty the moment he sees her—though he’s only twelve years old, it’s love at first sight. When Sophia’s father asks Hadriel to teach Sophia to play the piano, Hadriel jumps at the chance, and over the next six years the two become best friends. Hadriel harbors his deeper feelings until the time for his mandatory military service comes, but his profession of love doesn’t go how he hopes—and as the years pass, both Sophia and Hadriel search for love with others, but never find it in as true a form as they had for each other….
I liked how the novel begins with Hadriel looking back over his life, in the presence of the angel of death; it gives the book an immediate touch of sorrow and heartbreak, as well as some mystery. The reader wonders just what happened to Hadriel and Sophia, and will find out as the story weaves on. I also liked how the author slowly begins to introduce Sophia’s perspective, so that she becomes not just Hadriel’s love object, but a fully developed character in her own right, with her own regrets. And for me, there’s just as much sorrow in Hadriel’s relationship with Celeste—both he and Celeste have pasts too colored by their first loves to truly move forward. The plot moves slowly but beautifully, in large part due to the author’s descriptive, lyrical writing style—lines like Hadriel being “the ghost of her [Sophia’s] heart” are lovely and bear repeat reads.
I’d recommend “The Romantic” to readers who like novels that deal with the complex themes of love, life, and how the choices we make reverberate through both.
Kelsi Grace, Vantage Point Book Reviews
The Romantic
September 6, 2014
If you like Gabriel Garcia Marquez or Isabel Allende, you must read this beautiful story about the unrequited love Hadriel has for Sophia Paula ever since the age of twelve. They become friends, best friends; Hadriel falls for her, yet she goes away the moment he pronounces love and he loves her for a lifetime.
From the delightful setting of Santa Lucia, in South America, to El Norte, Chicago, in the States, Hadriel carries his broken heart, yet fulfils other dreams.
Felix Alexander is a great story-teller, his writing evocative and delicate, yet sparse, but full of feelings and beautiful descriptions, just to the point and very skilful. This is objective writing which conjures many deep sensations, beyond the words.
Thoroughly enjoyable and recommended...
From the delightful setting of Santa Lucia, in South America, to El Norte, Chicago, in the States, Hadriel carries his broken heart, yet fulfils other dreams.
Felix Alexander is a great story-teller, his writing evocative and delicate, yet sparse, but full of feelings and beautiful descriptions, just to the point and very skilful. This is objective writing which conjures many deep sensations, beyond the words.
Thoroughly enjoyable and recommended...
September 20, 2014
The writer's style is elegant. His voice is confident. The hook makes a promise, and the story delivers.
I can't help but wonder if the style is unique among Latin American authors, because the comparisons to Isabel Allende, Gabo, and Coelho are consistent among other reviews.
The Romantic is wonderfully written with descriptive passages, and insightful views on love. The theme of unrequited love, unbridled passion, and "what if we were meant to be?" is captured perfectly in this story.
But what sets Felix Alexander's The Romantic apart, I believe is his unique style of prose. Very poetic!
Whereas with my sister, the book took a few chapters to get into it, I found myself captivated from the opening page. Yet, we both agree that the beauty of this story is enchanting, and as we delved deeper into the hearts and lives of the main characters: Hadriel, Sophia, Joshua, and Celeste the more we fell in love with the writing.
The story begins in Santa Lucia, moves to Chicago (interesting choice), and shifts back to Santa Lucia.
An adolescent friendship develops into a young adult love, and in some ways becomes... as Felix writes, "a sweet obsession."
The turns of phrase, the narrative, and the dialogue are consistently romantic. At times, I had to stop reading just to recompose myself. The ending, however proved to be a surprisingly emotional climax that is as unforgettable as it is unpredictable.
I encourage anyone who appreciates a good old fashioned love story to read The Romantic.
I can't help but wonder if the style is unique among Latin American authors, because the comparisons to Isabel Allende, Gabo, and Coelho are consistent among other reviews.
The Romantic is wonderfully written with descriptive passages, and insightful views on love. The theme of unrequited love, unbridled passion, and "what if we were meant to be?" is captured perfectly in this story.
But what sets Felix Alexander's The Romantic apart, I believe is his unique style of prose. Very poetic!
Whereas with my sister, the book took a few chapters to get into it, I found myself captivated from the opening page. Yet, we both agree that the beauty of this story is enchanting, and as we delved deeper into the hearts and lives of the main characters: Hadriel, Sophia, Joshua, and Celeste the more we fell in love with the writing.
The story begins in Santa Lucia, moves to Chicago (interesting choice), and shifts back to Santa Lucia.
An adolescent friendship develops into a young adult love, and in some ways becomes... as Felix writes, "a sweet obsession."
The turns of phrase, the narrative, and the dialogue are consistently romantic. At times, I had to stop reading just to recompose myself. The ending, however proved to be a surprisingly emotional climax that is as unforgettable as it is unpredictable.
I encourage anyone who appreciates a good old fashioned love story to read The Romantic.
October 15, 2015
My first ever e-book!! Im not a fan of e-books however I had the privilege of being selected to read this book to give an honest review.. So to be honest.. The best way to describe this story is.. elegant.. well written about a young friendship that develops into an adult love, not a typical cheesy love story, it's a romance story with deep meaning.. A great read.. Thankyou Booktips and Author Felix Alexander!!!
January 11, 2016
There are a handful errors/typos that Mr. Alexander’s editor should have caught. They don’t really distract from the story but were irksome. I was told that this book was along the lines of A Winter’s Tale, but as I couldn’t finish reading that over dramatic book I wasn’t sure what to expect; I didn’t even read the summary. I knew from the title it would be a romance, but I expected it to be the same run of the mill love story that I am used to, and I do like romances.
I could talk about the story, and I will, but first I want to talk about the quality and talent the author has. It wasn’t until I read this novel that I realized how long it has been since I’ve read something that isn’t trite, or geared for light reading. The poetic way that the author paints pictures with his words engages the intellect. He doesn’t just use tired and overused metaphors to paint the same images. Right away I felt the Mexican culture, I knew this was going to be more intriguing as romance was going to be presented to me from the perspective of a culture I am not part of. I loved it. In today’s political disdain for those of Mexican heritage it was lovely to have something that represented Mexicans as something other than a news sound-bite. Yet, it isn’t done with such a heavy hand that I couldn’t relate to it. For the depth of this skill alone I’d give the novel 5 stars.
I love the fact that for the most part this is told from a male’s point of view. I’ve read other romance novels written by males, but always from a female protagonist view. This one is male author male protagonist. I so thoroughly, as a woman, enjoyed this insight to a male psyche. Periodically the story does switch to the perspective of certain female leads, but most is from Hadriel’s (I wish I knew how to pronounce his name. It’s a failing on my part not the author’s but for me as a reader if I can’t say the name there is always distance/disconnect).
I also love that while there is dialogue the majority of the story is in prose that didn’t bore or overwhelm me. For me it added to the depth of Mr. Alexander’s talent. This novel is so full of depth that I know I will need to read again to get some of the things I missed.
Now for the story itself: loved the concept. In fact I think it’s brilliant, HOWEVER, I feel Mr. Alexander drug the arc too long. By that I mean (in my non-gifted writing opinion) what he had here was a perfect love story struggle for characters in their 20s; the fact they were still having the same angst until late 30s to 40s turned the characters from being fully developed people to characters in a story. For me a really good story doesn’t have characters it has people. Once it has characters it is still enjoyable BUT I’m no longer as immersed/involved, I know I’m reading a story (albeit a good one) and something is lost. Mr. Alexander had everything going, I was in and talking to these people until they were stuck in the adolescence of their 20s and they were now in their late 30s/early 40s. This would earn 3 stars from me.
So in the end I took my two reactions and averaged to a 4 out of 5. I would recommend this book with the warning that it loses some of it’s soul by going to long before realization. I would advise that it is such a good book that even with my complaint it deserves a minimum of two reads to understand everything.
Bottom line, I’m so glad I read this.
I could talk about the story, and I will, but first I want to talk about the quality and talent the author has. It wasn’t until I read this novel that I realized how long it has been since I’ve read something that isn’t trite, or geared for light reading. The poetic way that the author paints pictures with his words engages the intellect. He doesn’t just use tired and overused metaphors to paint the same images. Right away I felt the Mexican culture, I knew this was going to be more intriguing as romance was going to be presented to me from the perspective of a culture I am not part of. I loved it. In today’s political disdain for those of Mexican heritage it was lovely to have something that represented Mexicans as something other than a news sound-bite. Yet, it isn’t done with such a heavy hand that I couldn’t relate to it. For the depth of this skill alone I’d give the novel 5 stars.
I love the fact that for the most part this is told from a male’s point of view. I’ve read other romance novels written by males, but always from a female protagonist view. This one is male author male protagonist. I so thoroughly, as a woman, enjoyed this insight to a male psyche. Periodically the story does switch to the perspective of certain female leads, but most is from Hadriel’s (I wish I knew how to pronounce his name. It’s a failing on my part not the author’s but for me as a reader if I can’t say the name there is always distance/disconnect).
I also love that while there is dialogue the majority of the story is in prose that didn’t bore or overwhelm me. For me it added to the depth of Mr. Alexander’s talent. This novel is so full of depth that I know I will need to read again to get some of the things I missed.
Now for the story itself: loved the concept. In fact I think it’s brilliant, HOWEVER, I feel Mr. Alexander drug the arc too long. By that I mean (in my non-gifted writing opinion) what he had here was a perfect love story struggle for characters in their 20s; the fact they were still having the same angst until late 30s to 40s turned the characters from being fully developed people to characters in a story. For me a really good story doesn’t have characters it has people. Once it has characters it is still enjoyable BUT I’m no longer as immersed/involved, I know I’m reading a story (albeit a good one) and something is lost. Mr. Alexander had everything going, I was in and talking to these people until they were stuck in the adolescence of their 20s and they were now in their late 30s/early 40s. This would earn 3 stars from me.
So in the end I took my two reactions and averaged to a 4 out of 5. I would recommend this book with the warning that it loses some of it’s soul by going to long before realization. I would advise that it is such a good book that even with my complaint it deserves a minimum of two reads to understand everything.
Bottom line, I’m so glad I read this.
September 20, 2014
Where does one begin to describe this hidden gem?
First, the writing. Short, tight, concise sentences. The author displays a mastery of the written word with his ability to elicit emotions without frills. Although his style is not often seen in contemporary romance, the rhythms and cadence of his writing allows for the words to flow off the page quite naturally.
I keep seeing comparisons to Garcia Marquez, and although this writer has a ways to go before he should be worthy of such a comparison, I can't help but admit that in terms of style, the comparison is somewhat justified.
The plot. Unrequited love.
How original. (insert sarcasm here)
To be fair, it is a common theme among the most popular love stories.
Hadriel Alighieri becomes a victim of love at first sight, at the tender age of 12. Sophia Paula feels something for him, too, but her feelings are focused on their friendship. Haven't we all been there?
This universal experience is what I believe will appeal to the masses. Everyone know what it feels like to fancy a friend who doesn't fancy you in return.
The story begins near Monterrey, Mexico. (Insert, Frank Sinatra's "It Happened In Monterrey," here)
The setting painted by the author is beautifully written. The experiences that Hadriel and Sophia share depict the innocence of puppy love. But, as with any good story, comes the conflict. Hadriel is forced to leave for mandatory military service, and Sophia migrates to America. On the eve of his departure, Hadriel confesses his feelings, and Sophia runs away.
The story shifts to America, and more layers of conflict emerge.
Sophia is engaged to someone else, while Hadriel's intense longing leads him on a self-destructive course. Their paths cross on a few occasions, and they think of each other often, but neither makes the effort to reach out to the other. They grow, and they grow apart, but always they are somehow connected.
Eventually, Hadriel finds passion with someone else, and is absent when Sophia discovers a heartbreaking secret.
From beginning to end, you will find yourself wondering if and how these two star-crossed lovers will ever be together. Nothing is clear, except for the confusion created by love. This is what makes Felix Alexander's The Romantic an enjoyable read. It's unpredictable. And though his style takes a few pages to warm-up to, you will be drawn into this story because of it's uniquely poetic prose.
To the very end, this story is truly romantic.
First, the writing. Short, tight, concise sentences. The author displays a mastery of the written word with his ability to elicit emotions without frills. Although his style is not often seen in contemporary romance, the rhythms and cadence of his writing allows for the words to flow off the page quite naturally.
I keep seeing comparisons to Garcia Marquez, and although this writer has a ways to go before he should be worthy of such a comparison, I can't help but admit that in terms of style, the comparison is somewhat justified.
The plot. Unrequited love.
How original. (insert sarcasm here)
To be fair, it is a common theme among the most popular love stories.
Hadriel Alighieri becomes a victim of love at first sight, at the tender age of 12. Sophia Paula feels something for him, too, but her feelings are focused on their friendship. Haven't we all been there?
This universal experience is what I believe will appeal to the masses. Everyone know what it feels like to fancy a friend who doesn't fancy you in return.
The story begins near Monterrey, Mexico. (Insert, Frank Sinatra's "It Happened In Monterrey," here)
The setting painted by the author is beautifully written. The experiences that Hadriel and Sophia share depict the innocence of puppy love. But, as with any good story, comes the conflict. Hadriel is forced to leave for mandatory military service, and Sophia migrates to America. On the eve of his departure, Hadriel confesses his feelings, and Sophia runs away.
The story shifts to America, and more layers of conflict emerge.
Sophia is engaged to someone else, while Hadriel's intense longing leads him on a self-destructive course. Their paths cross on a few occasions, and they think of each other often, but neither makes the effort to reach out to the other. They grow, and they grow apart, but always they are somehow connected.
Eventually, Hadriel finds passion with someone else, and is absent when Sophia discovers a heartbreaking secret.
From beginning to end, you will find yourself wondering if and how these two star-crossed lovers will ever be together. Nothing is clear, except for the confusion created by love. This is what makes Felix Alexander's The Romantic an enjoyable read. It's unpredictable. And though his style takes a few pages to warm-up to, you will be drawn into this story because of it's uniquely poetic prose.
To the very end, this story is truly romantic.
September 20, 2014
Where does one begin to describe this hidden gem?
First, the writing. Short, tight, concise sentences. The author displays a mastery of the written word with his ability to elicit emotions without frills. Although his style is not often seen in contemporary romance, the rhythms and cadence of his writing allows for the words to flow off the page quite naturally.
I keep seeing comparisons to Garcia Marquez, and although this writer has a ways to go before he should be worthy of such a comparison, I can't help but admit that in terms of style, the comparison is somewhat justified.
The plot. Unrequited love.
How original. (insert sarcasm here)
To be fair, it is a common theme among the most popular love stories.
Hadriel Alighieri becomes a victim of love at first sight, at the tender age of 12. Sophia Paula feels something for him, too, but her feelings are focused on their friendship. Haven't we all been there?
This universal experience is what I believe will appeal to the masses. Everyone know what it feels like to fancy a friend who doesn't fancy you in return.
The story begins near Monterrey, Mexico. (Insert, Frank Sinatra's "It Happened In Monterrey," here)
The setting painted by the author is beautifully written. The experiences that Hadriel and Sophia share depict the innocence of puppy love. But, as with any good story, comes the conflict. Hadriel is forced to leave for mandatory military service, and Sophia migrates to America. On the eve of his departure, Hadriel confesses his feelings, and Sophia runs away.
The story shifts to America, and more layers of conflict emerge.
Sophia is engaged to someone else, while Hadriel's intense longing leads him on a self-destructive course. Their paths cross on a few occasions, and they think of each other often, but neither makes the effort to reach out to the other. They grow, and they grow apart, but always they are somehow connected.
Eventually, Hadriel finds passion with someone else, and is absent when Sophia discovers a heartbreaking secret.
From beginning to end, you will find yourself wondering if and how these two star-crossed lovers will ever be together. Nothing is clear, except for the confusion created by love. This is what makes Felix Alexander's The Romantic an enjoyable read. It's unpredictable. And though his style takes a few pages to warm-up to, you will be drawn into this story because of it's uniquely poetic prose.
To the very end, this story is truly romantic.
First, the writing. Short, tight, concise sentences. The author displays a mastery of the written word with his ability to elicit emotions without frills. Although his style is not often seen in contemporary romance, the rhythms and cadence of his writing allows for the words to flow off the page quite naturally.
I keep seeing comparisons to Garcia Marquez, and although this writer has a ways to go before he should be worthy of such a comparison, I can't help but admit that in terms of style, the comparison is somewhat justified.
The plot. Unrequited love.
How original. (insert sarcasm here)
To be fair, it is a common theme among the most popular love stories.
Hadriel Alighieri becomes a victim of love at first sight, at the tender age of 12. Sophia Paula feels something for him, too, but her feelings are focused on their friendship. Haven't we all been there?
This universal experience is what I believe will appeal to the masses. Everyone know what it feels like to fancy a friend who doesn't fancy you in return.
The story begins near Monterrey, Mexico. (Insert, Frank Sinatra's "It Happened In Monterrey," here)
The setting painted by the author is beautifully written. The experiences that Hadriel and Sophia share depict the innocence of puppy love. But, as with any good story, comes the conflict. Hadriel is forced to leave for mandatory military service, and Sophia migrates to America. On the eve of his departure, Hadriel confesses his feelings, and Sophia runs away.
The story shifts to America, and more layers of conflict emerge.
Sophia is engaged to someone else, while Hadriel's intense longing leads him on a self-destructive course. Their paths cross on a few occasions, and they think of each other often, but neither makes the effort to reach out to the other. They grow, and they grow apart, but always they are somehow connected.
Eventually, Hadriel finds passion with someone else, and is absent when Sophia discovers a heartbreaking secret.
From beginning to end, you will find yourself wondering if and how these two star-crossed lovers will ever be together. Nothing is clear, except for the confusion created by love. This is what makes Felix Alexander's The Romantic an enjoyable read. It's unpredictable. And though his style takes a few pages to warm-up to, you will be drawn into this story because of it's uniquely poetic prose.
To the very end, this story is truly romantic.
January 20, 2016
Love, in its purest form, is what binds us to this world.
The Romantic opens with the Angel of Death coming for Hadriel and his one thought is finding the love of his life, Sophia. He yearns to be with her and the mood instantly changes to one of heartbreak and pain, pain that only comes when you are apart from your soul mate.
So the journey begins and as Hadriel moves through his life memories, we get an intimate view of Hadriel’s romantic soul and his search for love. He meets his soul mate (or love of his life) at the tender age of twelve. But when he makes his feelings known, she runs away (with her family) to America. Heartbroken, Hadriel spends the rest of his love pining for Sophia and the love he craves to share with her.
I absolutely loved this book. It’s been a long time since I’ve read a literary romance that touched me so deeply. The author understands what it means to give your heart and soul to someone, only to have them desert you. You’re left to pick up the shards of glass that used to be your heart, forever scarred.
The POV is mainly Hadriel but about halfway through, it switches to multiple POVs. It didn’t bother me because it was seamless and I didn’t get lost. It was just a surprise because I wasn’t expecting it. The POV shift does flow with the story and I understand why the author did it.
When I finished the story, I hugged my e-reader to my chest and sighed happily. Poetry danced in my head and the lyrical prose I just read absorbed into my soul.
If you’re a fan of Love in the Time of Cholera and Like Water for Chocolate, you’re going to love this book!
Favorite Character:
Hadriel. He reminded me of myself. Although I didn’t meet my soul mate until I was in my early thirties, I was a heart-broken romantic, always searching for love and only seeming to find anything but love. Hadriel’s poetic soul melded with my own and I could relate to him in so many ways. I cried when he did and I yearned when he did. Even the sex was pure poetry.
Favorite Quote:
“Akin to when he had embarked on his quest to find her, because even though heartache and torment threatened to dissuade him, nothing allowed Hadriel to forget Sophia.”
My Rating: 5 stars
This review first appeared on: https://princessofthelight.wordpress....
The Romantic opens with the Angel of Death coming for Hadriel and his one thought is finding the love of his life, Sophia. He yearns to be with her and the mood instantly changes to one of heartbreak and pain, pain that only comes when you are apart from your soul mate.
So the journey begins and as Hadriel moves through his life memories, we get an intimate view of Hadriel’s romantic soul and his search for love. He meets his soul mate (or love of his life) at the tender age of twelve. But when he makes his feelings known, she runs away (with her family) to America. Heartbroken, Hadriel spends the rest of his love pining for Sophia and the love he craves to share with her.
I absolutely loved this book. It’s been a long time since I’ve read a literary romance that touched me so deeply. The author understands what it means to give your heart and soul to someone, only to have them desert you. You’re left to pick up the shards of glass that used to be your heart, forever scarred.
The POV is mainly Hadriel but about halfway through, it switches to multiple POVs. It didn’t bother me because it was seamless and I didn’t get lost. It was just a surprise because I wasn’t expecting it. The POV shift does flow with the story and I understand why the author did it.
When I finished the story, I hugged my e-reader to my chest and sighed happily. Poetry danced in my head and the lyrical prose I just read absorbed into my soul.
If you’re a fan of Love in the Time of Cholera and Like Water for Chocolate, you’re going to love this book!
Favorite Character:
Hadriel. He reminded me of myself. Although I didn’t meet my soul mate until I was in my early thirties, I was a heart-broken romantic, always searching for love and only seeming to find anything but love. Hadriel’s poetic soul melded with my own and I could relate to him in so many ways. I cried when he did and I yearned when he did. Even the sex was pure poetry.
Favorite Quote:
“Akin to when he had embarked on his quest to find her, because even though heartache and torment threatened to dissuade him, nothing allowed Hadriel to forget Sophia.”
My Rating: 5 stars
This review first appeared on: https://princessofthelight.wordpress....
September 20, 2014
The writer's style is elegant. His voice is confident. The hook makes a promise, and the story delivers.
I can't help but wonder if the style is unique among Latin American authors, because the comparisons to Isabel Allende, Gabo, and Coelho are consistent among other reviews.
The Romantic is wonderfully written with descriptive passages, and insightful views on love. The theme of unrequited love, unbridled passion, and "what if we were meant to be?" is captured perfectly in this story.
But what sets Felix Alexander's The Romantic apart, I believe is his unique style of prose. Very poetic!
Whereas with my sister, the book took a few chapters to get into it, I found myself captivated from the opening page. Yet, we both agree that the beauty of this story is enchanting, and as we delved deeper into the hearts and lives of the main characters: Hadriel, Sophia, Joshua, and Celeste the more we fell in love with the writing.
The story begins in Santa Lucia, moves to Chicago (interesting choice), and shifts back to Santa Lucia.
An adolescent friendship develops into a young adult love, and in some ways becomes... as Felix writes, "a sweet obsession."
The turns of phrase, the narrative, and the dialogue are consistently romantic. At times, I had to stop reading just to recompose myself. The ending, however proved to be a surprisingly emotional climax that is as unforgettable as it is unpredictable.
I encourage anyone who appreciates a good old fashioned love story to read The Romantic.
I can't help but wonder if the style is unique among Latin American authors, because the comparisons to Isabel Allende, Gabo, and Coelho are consistent among other reviews.
The Romantic is wonderfully written with descriptive passages, and insightful views on love. The theme of unrequited love, unbridled passion, and "what if we were meant to be?" is captured perfectly in this story.
But what sets Felix Alexander's The Romantic apart, I believe is his unique style of prose. Very poetic!
Whereas with my sister, the book took a few chapters to get into it, I found myself captivated from the opening page. Yet, we both agree that the beauty of this story is enchanting, and as we delved deeper into the hearts and lives of the main characters: Hadriel, Sophia, Joshua, and Celeste the more we fell in love with the writing.
The story begins in Santa Lucia, moves to Chicago (interesting choice), and shifts back to Santa Lucia.
An adolescent friendship develops into a young adult love, and in some ways becomes... as Felix writes, "a sweet obsession."
The turns of phrase, the narrative, and the dialogue are consistently romantic. At times, I had to stop reading just to recompose myself. The ending, however proved to be a surprisingly emotional climax that is as unforgettable as it is unpredictable.
I encourage anyone who appreciates a good old fashioned love story to read The Romantic.
October 30, 2015
I was given this for free in exchange for a review, it's not something I would normally pick. However I was pleasantly surprised and really enjoyed it. It was written really well and the language was beautiful.
I found the premise of Hadriel talking to the angel of death really interesting and just think it was a shame this wasn't visited more throughout the book. You only hear from them a few times, it is mainly at the beginning and end.
Considering the main character of the book is meant to be a hopeless romantic, I found it actually gave a very bleak outlook on love! I don't want to give away too many spoilers but really the book is about heartbreak. I found it sad that the resounding message about love seemed to be that you only get one love of your life and unfortunately all the characters seemed to miss the opportunity with theirs. Although saying that, it was very refreshing to read something realistic rather than the fluffy romance you often get in books.
I really enjoyed reading the book and looked forward to reading it each day and finding out what had happened to Hadriel and Sophia. I did find the book was slightly too long. Again without giving too much away, I found the section with Hadriel and Celeste went on a bit long, although I did love how this demonstrated that love has endless patience, I would certainly agree with that.
A very solid, enjoyable read that I'm glad I stumbled across. I probably wouldn't read it again but would recommend to somebody who liked the genre.
I found the premise of Hadriel talking to the angel of death really interesting and just think it was a shame this wasn't visited more throughout the book. You only hear from them a few times, it is mainly at the beginning and end.
Considering the main character of the book is meant to be a hopeless romantic, I found it actually gave a very bleak outlook on love! I don't want to give away too many spoilers but really the book is about heartbreak. I found it sad that the resounding message about love seemed to be that you only get one love of your life and unfortunately all the characters seemed to miss the opportunity with theirs. Although saying that, it was very refreshing to read something realistic rather than the fluffy romance you often get in books.
I really enjoyed reading the book and looked forward to reading it each day and finding out what had happened to Hadriel and Sophia. I did find the book was slightly too long. Again without giving too much away, I found the section with Hadriel and Celeste went on a bit long, although I did love how this demonstrated that love has endless patience, I would certainly agree with that.
A very solid, enjoyable read that I'm glad I stumbled across. I probably wouldn't read it again but would recommend to somebody who liked the genre.
January 23, 2019
What a wonderful book! Considering I don't like romances as a rule but I loved this! I loved how the story was written over a lifetime which meant the characters could and were developed so deeply with a real complexity. Which meant you could get to know the characters on a much deeper, more personal level than writer's can always achieve. I found myself really rooting for poor Hadriel and I kept thinking yes! This is it................. only for him to be let down and hurt again. The story and characters were so well written I actually found myself liking the characters that at the same time I disliked!
Hadriel is a deep sensitive, beautiful soul alternatively looking for or waiting for his true love. His lifelong love for his childhood best Sophia Paula remains unrequited for many years. The story follows Hadriel's life and how the lives and love's of Sophia and couple of others such as Celest Williams weave through and with Hadriel's life. It is hard to review The Romantic without giving too much away and it is too good a book to ruin with spoilers.
The Romantic is beautifully and cleverly written. It will draw you in from the beginning keeping a firm hold on you and not releasing you until the end of the book. I cannot recommend The Romantic highly enough and I will certainly be looking out for more books by Felix Alexander ★☆★☆★
Hadriel is a deep sensitive, beautiful soul alternatively looking for or waiting for his true love. His lifelong love for his childhood best Sophia Paula remains unrequited for many years. The story follows Hadriel's life and how the lives and love's of Sophia and couple of others such as Celest Williams weave through and with Hadriel's life. It is hard to review The Romantic without giving too much away and it is too good a book to ruin with spoilers.
The Romantic is beautifully and cleverly written. It will draw you in from the beginning keeping a firm hold on you and not releasing you until the end of the book. I cannot recommend The Romantic highly enough and I will certainly be looking out for more books by Felix Alexander ★☆★☆★
September 25, 2015
Romance novels are one of my least favorite genres; only because, I've tried to read them in the past, and became bored with them. I would lay them aside, not even halfway in, regretting only that I could not finish what I'd started.
I took a chance on this book, as it was being offered for free. I was very, very skeptical. I had a bit of a slow start, but, that pace sped up quickly. I read large chunks at a time. The best thing for me, is that I became an onlooker, as it were, away from reality, watching a play. The story is wonderful. The only negativity that I experienced while reading this book was that the typos brought me out of the story to remind me that I was reading a book; and, then, I would have to make my way back to the intimacy from which I had been plucked.
If you like romance novels, try this one. I think what made it stand out, from my previous attempts at reading this genre, is the story itself. I envisioned the main character to be the author--sensitive, creative, romantic. The story, to me, is of a boy/man longing for a "one true love," versus, longing for a sexual conquest.
I wanted to give five stars for the story; yet, I only give four, due to the typo interruptions.
I took a chance on this book, as it was being offered for free. I was very, very skeptical. I had a bit of a slow start, but, that pace sped up quickly. I read large chunks at a time. The best thing for me, is that I became an onlooker, as it were, away from reality, watching a play. The story is wonderful. The only negativity that I experienced while reading this book was that the typos brought me out of the story to remind me that I was reading a book; and, then, I would have to make my way back to the intimacy from which I had been plucked.
If you like romance novels, try this one. I think what made it stand out, from my previous attempts at reading this genre, is the story itself. I envisioned the main character to be the author--sensitive, creative, romantic. The story, to me, is of a boy/man longing for a "one true love," versus, longing for a sexual conquest.
I wanted to give five stars for the story; yet, I only give four, due to the typo interruptions.
November 6, 2016
Romance novels are one of my least favorite genres; only because, I've tried to read them in the past, and became bored with them. I would lay them aside, not even halfway in, regretting only that I could not finish what I'd started.
I took a chance on this book, as it was being offered for free. I was very, very skeptical. It had a bit of a slow start, but, that pace sped up quickly. I read large chunks at a time. The best thing for me, is that I became an onlooker, as it were, away from reality, watching a play. The story is wonderful. The only negativity that I experienced while reading this book was that the typos brought me out of the story to remind me that I was reading a book; and, then, I would have to make my way back to the intimacy from which I had been plucked.
If you like romance novels, try this one. I think what made it stand out, from my previous attempts at reading this genre, is the story itself. I envisioned the main character to be the author--sensitive, creative, romantic. The story, to me, is of a boy/man longing for a "one true love," versus, longing for a sexual conquest.
I wanted to give five stars for the story; yet, I only give four, due to the typo interruptions.
I took a chance on this book, as it was being offered for free. I was very, very skeptical. It had a bit of a slow start, but, that pace sped up quickly. I read large chunks at a time. The best thing for me, is that I became an onlooker, as it were, away from reality, watching a play. The story is wonderful. The only negativity that I experienced while reading this book was that the typos brought me out of the story to remind me that I was reading a book; and, then, I would have to make my way back to the intimacy from which I had been plucked.
If you like romance novels, try this one. I think what made it stand out, from my previous attempts at reading this genre, is the story itself. I envisioned the main character to be the author--sensitive, creative, romantic. The story, to me, is of a boy/man longing for a "one true love," versus, longing for a sexual conquest.
I wanted to give five stars for the story; yet, I only give four, due to the typo interruptions.
September 11, 2015
The Romantic is a story that is more original than the title would suggest. The protagonist, Hadriel, is on his deathbed when he travels back to the time his unrequited love for Sophia began. He met the object of his affection at the age of twelve, and has never been able to forget her. Now he has the chance to restart a journey that takes him from Santa Lucia to Chicago. On his way he learns important lessons about himself and the world, but the one question that matters is: Will he get the girl?
The writing style is vague and poetic, perfectly setting the tone but losing a little in key details. As such this is a whimsical tale in which you gain your understanding as much from what you feel as what you read. The word choices are particularly beautiful and the flow is effortless. The author is a master at depicting emotional turmoil. Hadriel is a well-defined character, and events present him with unexpected and interesting challenges that will keep you turning the page The Romantic is a fairly short read but substantial enough to justify the price. It is a true exemplar of the poetic love story.
The writing style is vague and poetic, perfectly setting the tone but losing a little in key details. As such this is a whimsical tale in which you gain your understanding as much from what you feel as what you read. The word choices are particularly beautiful and the flow is effortless. The author is a master at depicting emotional turmoil. Hadriel is a well-defined character, and events present him with unexpected and interesting challenges that will keep you turning the page The Romantic is a fairly short read but substantial enough to justify the price. It is a true exemplar of the poetic love story.
April 26, 2016
The Romantic by Felix Alexander is a departure from the usual genre I love to read in. I was pleasantly surprised by this memorizing story about love. You can tell the author is true poet at heart by his prose, use of imagery and how he writes about love and the human heart.
Hadriel, the protagonist, is a man cursed to love women who can’t reciprocate his amour is an interesting character. Through his eyes, and the women he loves, we see love in all its facets, the sacrifices, stupidities and shames we commit for it.
I will admit it took me a few chapters to get into the book, which could because it was a new genre for me, but then I was drawn into Hadriel’s journey. I wanted to know who he would find true love with. And the ending was not what I expected and made my eyes mist up.
The Romantic is a tale that speaks about love and the intricate dance it weaves in and out of our lives. I’m looking forward to reading more of Felix Alexander’s works.
Hadriel, the protagonist, is a man cursed to love women who can’t reciprocate his amour is an interesting character. Through his eyes, and the women he loves, we see love in all its facets, the sacrifices, stupidities and shames we commit for it.
I will admit it took me a few chapters to get into the book, which could because it was a new genre for me, but then I was drawn into Hadriel’s journey. I wanted to know who he would find true love with. And the ending was not what I expected and made my eyes mist up.
The Romantic is a tale that speaks about love and the intricate dance it weaves in and out of our lives. I’m looking forward to reading more of Felix Alexander’s works.
October 18, 2015
"The Romantic" was nothing like I would thought it would be, but I still totally loved it! Besides being romantic it had a dark side to it that made it so hard for me to put down. Future readers will definitely not be disappointed. From the very beginning, I was in suspense and wanted to know what happen to Hadriel and Sophia and why they weren't together. As a poet, I also really appreciate the poetic flow of the book too. It was just as beautiful and unique as the story. I read a lot of Romance novels, and I can honestly say that this is one of my favorites. I would definitely recommend this book to my friends.
December 11, 2018
The first few pages and the last few pages of this book pretty much tell the whole story. What is in between is a rambling story that jumps all over the place. The writing is often hard to follow as the author uses periods in place of commas, many incomplete sentences, and the odd, random “dictionary” words which detract from rather than add to the story. This book needs some editing, for sure. Then, perhaps, it would be worth taking the time to read. I couldn’t make it through the whole thing and ended up skimming to the end.
In the author’s defense, though, I did enjoy reading some of the historical details about St Lucia.
In the author’s defense, though, I did enjoy reading some of the historical details about St Lucia.
January 7, 2023
This review was originally posted at https://bit.ly/3WQvfPe.
Born in Santa Lucia, Mexico Hadriel had always been a hopeless romantic. After falling in love with his childhood best friend, and his advances spurned, he travelled to Chicago to begin his life. Here he will have three great loves, but will any of them stick? The angel of death has come to collect, but Hadriel has made a final request to see if his love waited for him.
I received a physical copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. I have to admit that I spent a fair amount of time judging the character for his 'poor pitiful me attitude' while chasing women that were in relationships with other people then not respecting the one he actually ended up in a relationship with. I didn't see him as a hopeless romantic for a large portion of the book, and I'm not sure that I do now that it is over. But, everyone has their own opinions on that.
This book is set after the main character's death as he is with the angel Adriel as they review his life. For the most part the book acts like it is set in present tense while it reviews events with only occasional references to Hadriel and Adriel's conversations. I will say that with the amount of Catholicism in the first chapter paired with the fact of an angel being portrayed I was a bit concerned. I don't read religious books, as you well know, but I was needlessly worried for once. While these are both aspects the main character doesn't seem to be religious nor is it a prominent feature in the work after the story leaves Santa Lucia.
There is a lot of cheating on partners in this book, which I can't say I loved. But, the book was well written and I was largely interested to see if he actually got any of the girls her pursued. I won't ruin it and tell you what happens, but it isn't a traditional HEA (Happily Ever After). The bittersweet notes of this story will stay with you, no matter your opinions of the characters within.
I can't say that I had a favorite character in this book. But, you can't win them all. If you are a lover of music there are numerous songs in this book, sometimes spanning multiple pages.
If you're searching for a very non-traditional romance of sorts look no further because this definitely fits that bill. I have just learned (when I went to Amazon to pull pricing) that this is book two in a series by this author called Forever Poetic. This book can absolutely be read as a stand-alone without having to read others. Everything is tied up by the end.
Born in Santa Lucia, Mexico Hadriel had always been a hopeless romantic. After falling in love with his childhood best friend, and his advances spurned, he travelled to Chicago to begin his life. Here he will have three great loves, but will any of them stick? The angel of death has come to collect, but Hadriel has made a final request to see if his love waited for him.
I received a physical copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. I have to admit that I spent a fair amount of time judging the character for his 'poor pitiful me attitude' while chasing women that were in relationships with other people then not respecting the one he actually ended up in a relationship with. I didn't see him as a hopeless romantic for a large portion of the book, and I'm not sure that I do now that it is over. But, everyone has their own opinions on that.
This book is set after the main character's death as he is with the angel Adriel as they review his life. For the most part the book acts like it is set in present tense while it reviews events with only occasional references to Hadriel and Adriel's conversations. I will say that with the amount of Catholicism in the first chapter paired with the fact of an angel being portrayed I was a bit concerned. I don't read religious books, as you well know, but I was needlessly worried for once. While these are both aspects the main character doesn't seem to be religious nor is it a prominent feature in the work after the story leaves Santa Lucia.
There is a lot of cheating on partners in this book, which I can't say I loved. But, the book was well written and I was largely interested to see if he actually got any of the girls her pursued. I won't ruin it and tell you what happens, but it isn't a traditional HEA (Happily Ever After). The bittersweet notes of this story will stay with you, no matter your opinions of the characters within.
I can't say that I had a favorite character in this book. But, you can't win them all. If you are a lover of music there are numerous songs in this book, sometimes spanning multiple pages.
If you're searching for a very non-traditional romance of sorts look no further because this definitely fits that bill. I have just learned (when I went to Amazon to pull pricing) that this is book two in a series by this author called Forever Poetic. This book can absolutely be read as a stand-alone without having to read others. Everything is tied up by the end.
November 12, 2016
I don't read Romance novels. Ever. I think watching my mom and her friends exchange bags of Harlequin Romance books every month turned me off. And as I got older, reading them was just to kitchy. When I saw the cover of this book, I was hesitant. After the first couple of pages, I was not. This book is labeled a romance, but it is so much more than that. The characters become the best of friends as children and as that friendship grows into love for Hadriel Alighgieri, he is reluctant to profess his love to Sophia Paula and when he finally does, she flees. The story takes us through their entire lives, each one not sure if telling the other will ruin the special friendship they share over the decades. This isn't a typical lighthearted, romp on the beach romance with a Fabio look alike and heaving bosoms. This book is about real people and real emotions. The characters are well developed and intelligent. When the Angel of Death gives Hadriel a little more time to find his one and only true love, then we find out what was behind all the decisions that each had made and why. The poetry is beautiful and the writing is pure. If this is the new Romance book, then I'm in all the way. But I'm not sure this should be classified as a Romance book. For Romance and Love are two different things. I read it twice, and even read some parts out loud to friends and they just sighed...and said, now that is love.
January 21, 2016
Does unrequited love never receive solace?
The Romantic,A Love Story
By Felix Alexander
4 stars
Does unrequited love never receive solace?
This plot is a love story about friendship, passion, and the echo of unrequited love. Hadriel Alighieri has harbored a secret love in his heart for his entire life when he at age 12 fell in love with his best friend Sophia. But as a young adult, Sophia leaves for America and falls in love with Joshua Abrams. They are engaged for years, but Sophia can never get him to the altar. It appears that Joshua actually has been in love with a young woman when he was a teenager and she pops up in his life again. And so this story goes, different couples pining over lost loves when they were teenagers and never getting over it. In real life, most teens have an unrequited love, but it doesn’t work out and they marry others and move on. Sometimes there are fond memories. This doesn’t happen with Hadriel. He gets involved with other women, has short affairs and then broods. The author doe a nice job of writing the story, but it becomes boring because it lacks realism and it is depressing.
I was given a complimentary copy for an honest review.
The Romantic,A Love Story
By Felix Alexander
4 stars
Does unrequited love never receive solace?
This plot is a love story about friendship, passion, and the echo of unrequited love. Hadriel Alighieri has harbored a secret love in his heart for his entire life when he at age 12 fell in love with his best friend Sophia. But as a young adult, Sophia leaves for America and falls in love with Joshua Abrams. They are engaged for years, but Sophia can never get him to the altar. It appears that Joshua actually has been in love with a young woman when he was a teenager and she pops up in his life again. And so this story goes, different couples pining over lost loves when they were teenagers and never getting over it. In real life, most teens have an unrequited love, but it doesn’t work out and they marry others and move on. Sometimes there are fond memories. This doesn’t happen with Hadriel. He gets involved with other women, has short affairs and then broods. The author doe a nice job of writing the story, but it becomes boring because it lacks realism and it is depressing.
I was given a complimentary copy for an honest review.
September 22, 2015
Strictly Magical. When I initially started this book I thought I was not going to like it simply because I'm more of a Mystery, magical world, sci-fi reader but when this book was recommended to me and I started the first chapter, I fell in love with it! I didn't want to put it down. It was one of those books that made you get up in the middle of the night wondering what was going to happen next! And you had to lose sleep over it to find out. If you're looking for a book that's going to lift your heart, break it, put it back together again and then encase it in bulletproof glass, this is the book for you. I don't know if this author has any more books out there but I'd love to see more from him. Completely moving. Already recommended this to co-workers and my family!
January 1, 2016
The writing and pace of this book was excellent but with that being said I have to say I didn't like this book much. When I started reading this book I thought it was set in the late 1800's or early 1900's that is until Hadriel said that Sophia's favorite movie was "Coming to America ". Hadriel was supposed to be this well read, poetic young man but he just seemed so pathetic. He whined from the beginning to end,literally. He fell in love with Celeste his best friends girlfriend and allowed him to lie and cheat on this girl for years. I really saw nothing romantic about this book.
January 16, 2016
I love reading romance novels. I did even before I was married and happily in love. They would give me the hopes and dreams of finding love for myself someday.
Hadriel has an undying love for Sophia that we all dream of. He has loved her for as long as he can remember. While on his deathbed he revisits his life and the love he has for Sophia.
This is a great book to curl up with on a cold winter’s day. You can get lost in the story and feel comfort.
I received this book for free in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions in this review are 100% my own.
Hadriel has an undying love for Sophia that we all dream of. He has loved her for as long as he can remember. While on his deathbed he revisits his life and the love he has for Sophia.
This is a great book to curl up with on a cold winter’s day. You can get lost in the story and feel comfort.
I received this book for free in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions in this review are 100% my own.
January 16, 2016
I love reading romance novels. I did even before I was married and happily in love. They would give me the hopes and dreams of finding love for myself someday.
Hadriel has an undying love for Sophia that we all dream of. He has loved her for as long as he can remember. While on his deathbed he revisits his life and the love he has for Sophia.
This is a great book to curl up with on a cold winter’s day. You can get lost in the story and feel comfort.
I received this book for free in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions in this review are 100% my own.
Hadriel has an undying love for Sophia that we all dream of. He has loved her for as long as he can remember. While on his deathbed he revisits his life and the love he has for Sophia.
This is a great book to curl up with on a cold winter’s day. You can get lost in the story and feel comfort.
I received this book for free in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions in this review are 100% my own.
August 19, 2016
I wasn't surprised to discover that Felix Alexander is not only a novelist but a poet as well. His poetic writing style is the best thing about this novel. I also liked reading about the topic of love from a male perspective. However, the will-they-or-won't-they plot ran too long for me.
May 9, 2017
Read with an Open mind.
I had great difficulty reading this book. By giving the mc Hadriel, Dante's last name, this story evoked memories of 'The Divine Comedy' although he doesn't visit the rings of Hell but rather the past rings of his love life. Dante had Beatrice, Hadriel has Sophia.
This was not a piece about a great romance through the ages but rather, life. Period. I do not know if Azrael, the angel of death, allows you to revisit where you've been in your life. Or if there IS an angel of death. All I know is that these two people became stuck in their lives apart from the other and I presume, were never able to recover. I say presume as I couldn't make myself finish it. I read 27%.
If you're feeling cynical about the entire game of love, skip this book.
Given this via Reading Alley in exchange for an honest review.
I had great difficulty reading this book. By giving the mc Hadriel, Dante's last name, this story evoked memories of 'The Divine Comedy' although he doesn't visit the rings of Hell but rather the past rings of his love life. Dante had Beatrice, Hadriel has Sophia.
This was not a piece about a great romance through the ages but rather, life. Period. I do not know if Azrael, the angel of death, allows you to revisit where you've been in your life. Or if there IS an angel of death. All I know is that these two people became stuck in their lives apart from the other and I presume, were never able to recover. I say presume as I couldn't make myself finish it. I read 27%.
If you're feeling cynical about the entire game of love, skip this book.
Given this via Reading Alley in exchange for an honest review.
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