Στη Σκιά της Ενοχής (Οι Κορέτι της Σικελίας #3) - Χρυσά Άρλεκιν #1655

Sicily's Corretti Dynasty #3

by Abby Green

Μπορεί να συγχωρέσει έναν Κορέτι;  

Η Βαλεντίνα Φεράντι κατηγορούσε πάντα τον Τζο Κορέτι και την απερίσκεπτη συμπεριφορά του για το θάνατο του αδερφού της. Την τελευταία φορά που τον είδε, στην κηδεία του Μάριο, του έκλεισε την πόρτα κατάμουτρα και απαρνήθηκε το νεανικό της έρωτα για εκείνον.

Τώρα, απένταρη και με την επαγγελματική της φήμη να έχει διασυρθεί από τη διαβόητη Καρμέλα Κορέτι, η Βαλ χρειάζεται βοήθεια. Και μόνο σ' έναν άνθρωπο μπορεί να στραφεί: τον ψυχρό, μυστηριώδη άντρα από το παρελθόν της, τα πράσινα μάτια του οποίου αστράφτουν από ενοχές, τύψεις κι ένα πάθος που την ελκύει επικίνδυνα.

Η Βαλεντίνα μπορεί να βρήκε το θάρρος να του ζητήσει βοήθεια, αλλά έχει τη δύναμη ν' αντισταθεί σε όλα όσα συνεπάγεται η επιστροφή του Τζο στη ζωή της;

Genres: Harlequin, Romance, Harlequin Presents, Contemporary Romance, Enemies To Lovers, Harlequin Romance, Fiction

160 pages, Paperback

First published June 18, 2013

About the author

Abby Green spent her teens reading Mills & Boon romances. She then spent many years working in the Film and TV industry as an Assistant Director. One day while standing outside an actor's trailer in the rain, she thought: "there has to be more than this". So she sent off a partial to Mills & Boon. After numerous rewrites, they accepted her first book and an author was born.
She lives in Dublin, Ireland and you can find out more here www.abby-green.com

Reviews

[StMargarets · Rating 2 out of 5]

The heroine was too angry for too long for me to enjoy this. She was also impulsive and her mouth got her in trouble one too many times. I don’t see how she could be a successful caterer with her attitude.

Hero was a nice guy who had a boatload of guilt inflicted on him when his bff (heroine’s brother) died in a horse accident. Heroine, at 17, blamed him at the time – and blamed him seven years later when they met again at the ill-fated Corretti wedding.

They dance around their attraction. Hero saves her father’s life and then pays for heart surgery but heroine stays prickly.

Finally, after many, many scenes where heroine stomps off in anger, she realizes she is in love with the hero – only to have him kicked by a startled horse, sending him to the hospital. Heroine finally declares herself. This is an ending where the reader is happy hero is happy – because who else would want that shrew of heroine?

[Vintage]

Heroine combines stupidity and bitchiness to an unpleasant level.

DNF.

P.S.
Please, can someone tell me if the vile Carmela gets a comeuppance?

Thank you.

[Desere · Rating 5 out of 5]

Someone's death is never really our fault but yet sometimes you do blame yourself or another, even though deep down inside you know it not to be true. The real regret comes when having to learn to live with you actions or accusations.

The new Abby Green read shows how two people learn to live with their actions of guilt, despair, anger, hurt and ultimately regret and love found. The read is about Valentina years ago her brothers best friend Gio's actions caused her brother Mario's death and she vowed never to forgive him or to ever let herself love someone that can be ripped away from her in a heartbeat.

However the time comes for her to swallow her pride and ask the wrap-your-legs-around-me-and-I'll-help-you-to-fly Gio for help when she realises she has no one else to turn to.

Gio immediately jumps at the opportunity after all she might hate him for her brothers death but at least he can help in any way he can think of, as for seeing the only woman that has always been the one fuel to his soul but also off limits, in pain and distress is something he cannot stand by and watch.

But very soon a series of revealing secrets open up old wounds from the past and the author shows just how much the past being revealed can possibly destroy a perfect future.

The characters of Gio and Val were both written perfectly and so well it was as if they were going to leap from the pages any minute, I could feel and touch their every emotion, feel their pain and suffer along with their heart ache.

I loved that the characters were both so very different from what the author has given me as reader before Val had a lot and I really mean a lot of pent up anger only she was directing the anger at Gio instead of herself, the author revealing the final mystery as to why completely took me aback and I was in total amazement, I truly did not see the truth coming. Normally we find a heroine that is in touch with her own feelings and accepting them instead of burring them until the point where it comes into perspective for her.

Gio, ah poor, tortured, lost and found Gio was absolutely the perfect hero, but again different from what I have read before, it is not often I find a hero attempting to rid the world of his presence at any and every given opportunity. No usually they want to make themselves known especially to the woman who they simply must have.

The backdrop setting was exquisitely depicted by the author, she let the isolation of of Gio's soul blend in perfectly with the area of Syracuse and his Castello. But the author also gave me as reader the painful moments of heart ache as she took us back in time to a fateful day and also the excitement from the action at the racetrack.

The dialogue was spectacular, the author used her words to really get deep to the heart of the matter at hand and let each and every word draw me deeper and deeper into wanting to learn the truth and get to what lies beneath.

This author's books have always been a favourite of mine but this time she has more than outdone herself, it was if she loaded this book of hers with so much more emotion, passion and a deeper meaning of life into it all, that I found myself not only crying but truly wishing I could step inside the world of Gio and Val and help them reach their happy ending.

And if you know Abby's books you will also know that she laces her sex scenes with blazing red hot passion, and this time around it was no different but even better, the absolutely incredible care taken during Gio and Val's first sexual encounter is guaranteed to bring any woman to her knees and instantly forgive this hero anything, yes ladies the man is that amazing and considerate unlike some hero's from these books that sometimes have no finesse and tend to just go through motions to get to the end and the ultimate satisfaction.

There is also no way I will ever be able to really look at a bike and not think of this book, Abby that bike ride was a gorgeous touch! This is without a doubt the best book ever written by this author.

I highly recommend this read for all fans of Abby Green but also if you have never tried a romance book this is the one that will change your outlook and you will never be able to turn back, you will be as myself begging for the next one to be penned by a truly remarkable, phenomenal author guaranteed to bring you a best seller each and every time.

5/5 star review
"Erasing the quilt of the past one heart soul searing kiss at a time"

[Jenny · Rating 2 out of 5]

Valentina Ferranti, Gio Corretti and Valentina's brother Mario were best friends since childhood. But one tragic accident leads to Mario's death and Valentina stricken with grief blames Gio for her brother's death. Years later she is in desperate need of money and she turns to Gio for help.

Both the hero and the heroine were quite different from the usual Harlequin types. Valentina is a very angry bitter woman who can't let go of the past. Gio on the other hand is nothing like your alpha arrogant hero. He is sensitive, a softie and carries a lot of guilt for his best friend's death. His deep integrity and tortured soul make him a truly lovable hero. Basically he is a teddy bear hero and I wanted to hug him forever.

I honestly think that a lot of people will love the book! The writing was good, the plot was (kind of) there...but there is just something...something I can't put my finger on that made me NOT want to give this book a higher rating.

I guess it was a struggle to read because it was full of internal monologues and descriptions and very little dialogue. Also I prefer my heroes more on the alpha evil side and Gio was nothing like that. But if you like your hero to be noble and a big softie this is the book for you!

On the plus side the epilogue was adorable and the sex scene steamy! Abby's fans won't be disappointed.

[Fanniny Moreno Zavaleta · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars, the h pretty much ruined it for me. She wasn't bad but I didn't like her hurting the H the whole story.

The blurb pretty much covers what's going on in the story so I'll save you the recount of the damages. Besides El chavo del ocho is about to start and even though I've probably watched the episode about 76654765 times I'll watch it again. Which tells you how much impact this book caused me.

I just want to add that shadow doesn't cover the guilt the H feels after his BFF's death.

Those who hate it when the h has to be almost killed for the H to realize he loves her, stay away. Well, in this case is the other way around but still.

[Saly · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good HP, the hero was certainly different and the heroine could be too cruel but I enjoyed reading an HP where the heroine had most of the power. The hero was the black-sheep of the family, who made himself and he had one friend, a friend who died. This friend was the heroine's brother and her crush on the hero turned into anger so when he comes back into her life, she is hurtful and cruel to him and he takes it and keeps taking it. I felt the heroine went too far sometimes, the hero saved her family but she had some misplaced feelings which she kept taking out on the hero. Overall, a different power equation HP.

[Vashti · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enjoyable entry into the Corretti Dynasty series.Lots of emotional angst on both the hero and heroine .Loved the epi.

[Nancy Crocker · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Shadow Of Guilt by Abby Green

I have been a fan of Abby Green’s for a number of years and she does not disappoint with her latest release. In A Shadow of Guilt, Giacomo Corretti “Gio” lost his best friend Mario Ferranti seven years ago in a tragic accident when Mario decided to ride Black Star, an out of control horse belonging to Gio.

Valentina Ferranti had a crush on Gio from a very young age. And that crush turned to love at the age of seventeen. But after her brother’s accident she blamed Gio and her love soon turned to hate. As you read deeper into this gripping novel you soon learn why Valentina feels guilty over the death of her brother, but I do not want to spoil it for readers.


Even though Gio did not force Mario to ride Black Star, Giacomo Corretti has felt the guilt of his best friend’s death. My heart just went out for this character. Not feeling like you are worthy enough for love. Imagine losing your best friend but also losing touch with Mario’s parents who you had grown to love also.

After seven years these two come face to face at what is supposed to be the wedding of the century. Valentina turns to Gio after his Aunt Carmela slanders her name and her business suffers. Gio soon hires Valentina to cater the Corretti Cup Race, but he also saves her father after he suffers a heart attack.

This story has a little bit of everything including forgiveness, understanding, passion and love. I really loved the first time that Gio and Valentina made love. It was very special.

Here is the complete list for anyone wanting to follow the series.

A Legacy Of Secrets by Carol Marinelli
An Invitation To Sin by Sarah Morgan
A Shadow Of Guilt by Abby Green
An Inheritance Of Shame by Kate Hewitt
A Whisper Of Disgrace by Sharon Kendrick
A Facade To Shatter by Lynn Raye Harris
A Scandal In The Headlines by Caitlin Crews
A Hunger For The Forbidden by Maisey Yates

5/5 Stars

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Roub · Rating 3 out of 5]

very nice one. i could not decide on whether 2 give a 4 or 3 star. but it lost one star as i did not understand heroine's cruel behaviour after what was revealed in the last part of the book, it did not make sense. my fav one in this series is still "A Scandal in the Headlines"

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG!! Can you say love, love, love? Because I loved it and I guarantee you will too after reading this book. The book was flawless and wouldn’t change a single thing about it. Abby Green truly outdone herself with this one. She hit it out of the park. It was just that good. I can’t rave enough about this book.

I don’t even know where to begin. Guess I will start with the facts. First of all, this is book number three in Sicily’s Corretti Dynasty with this book focusing on Gio Corretti, Alessandro's cousin, the one that got jilted by his bride at the wedding of the year. Gio wasn’t close with his family and was isolated from them and distanced himself especially because his father made fun of Gio for his stuttering problem and dyslexia. Anyway Gio was closer to his best friend, Mario and Valentina, the heroine and also Mario’s sister than he ever did with his family. Until one tragic accident took Mario away from them, which happened at Gio's place, and Valentina blamed Gio for a long time after her brother’s death and was bitter and hostile towards Gio ever since, and isolating him further from the ones he cared about especially Valentina, who he had an insane attraction to, and the same went for her, though they both denied it and vowed never to see each other again. The catalyst for them reuniting once more seven years later was the wedding of the year between Alessandro and Alessia. Gio reluctantly attended the wedding while Valentina was working as a caterer, knowing this would make her career doing the big Corretti event. Both were shocked to be reunited once again with intense emotions coming from both sides some unwelcome while others were plain hostile. When the wedding fell apart so did Valentina’s chance of making this a bit coo in her portfolio, being that she wasn’t paid and she was blacklisted thanks to witchy Alessandro’s mother, and Valentina needed that money to help her family out and support them and her ailing father. So the job meant everything to her and when that fell apart she felt she had no choice but ask for help. Ask for help from the one person she never wanted to be in the room with again, Gio Corretti. And that was when the fun began.

One thing that I loved was the fact that we actually started at Mario's funeral so I could see the interaction between Valentina and Gio. It was a smart choice on Abby Green part and it grabbed my attention and set up the conflict, friction, and angst between them. It also showed Valentina’s anger towards Gio and blamed him for Mario's death infleuncing her attitude towards him. While Gio was deeply hurt not only because he cared for Valentina and it hurt that she hated him, and he lost his best friend, leaving him in a deep pit of loneliness. A lot of emotional turmoil right off the bat and I was glad that was how it began because it showed me what an emotional roller coaster ride it was going to be from the first few pages. It packed and emotional punch, and I loved that.

I loved were there were a few flashbacks that were peppered in the story. It showed how much Gio was apart of her life for so long, and how he was there for her and her brother, and the fact that he truly cared about Mario almost like a brother. It also showed the attraction there between Gio and Valentina, though they both denied it but for different reasons, which created lots of angst goingon.

One of my favorite flashbacks from the book was when Valentina went to look under the guise of looking for her brother and found Gio instead. He was on a horse. At first she was scared and cowered away from the horse, and helped her overcome her fear by putting her on the horse with him. This moment was both sweet, tender, showed he cared about her. And it was also a little bit sexy as his arms wrapped around her and held her tightly and safely in front of him. It was really a great scene that struck a cord even though it was a short scene. It resonated with me because it showed that they cared for one another and already had this deep seated bond that would just grow and grow over time, but they had to get there first.

But that was what I loved about it. It was the roadblocks that blocked them from getting their happily ever after that made the story interesting. It was emotional and gut wrenching. I wanted to see if they could even overcome all that anger, guilt and bitterness that was tearing them apart in every way possible: physical, emotional, and spiritually, and it was totally believable. That was what made this story so good. It hurt me. I felt all the powerful emotions that were going on. It was just such an emotional intense love story that had major bumps in the road. And I was engrossed in it all. There was rawness there. But I loved that rawness, and it just made the story even better by having it in there.

I think what surprised me the most was how much I liked the whole guilt and anger issue angle through the book, which added to drama, friction, and intensity to the story. I loved how Abby Green portrayed of all the emotions that were on the page and made it even more real for me. Boy, could I feel her anger I don’t think I have ever met a character that was ever this angry, and that I could feel the anger waft off of her especially when with Gio. She focused on her anger, believing that was safer than what lie beneath and where her heart truly lied. She used her anger as a defense mechanism to keep her distance from Gio by insulting him and pushing him away. It worked, and it really hurt him.

What Abby excelled was showing the emotions and having them come off so rawly so me as the reader could feel them and actually believe that was what was going on with them. Another example of this was showing the emptiness, guilt, and hurt Gio felt not only loosing his friend, but loosing his connection with Valentina Whenever she made scathing comments about him about the accident, he would feel it deep in his soul and like she had stabbed him in the heart. I could feel is dissolution and his belief that he would never get her to change her mind about him so he accepted that he couldn’t have her in his life, even though it pained him. I felt so bad for him. He killed me a little. I could feel his pain.

Poor Gio. OMG. I fell in love with him as soon as I met him. That pain and sadness. He was just a great, sensitive guy, and I loved him. I wanted to erase his pain, and just hold him. That was what he needed. He was more hurt than angry at Valentina. He revealed the truth about his feelings over the loss of Mario, and that was heartbreaking to watch. It just took so much out of him. He was very understanding and patient with her along the way and acted very caring and loving towards her. That pull to her never wavered from her, while knowing he wanted what he couldn’t have. He had just been through so much and his true bond and trust was with Mario, and no one else. I just loved him as character and all the different sides he showed. He was genuine guy. And sexy. He was yummy in every way. Plus he showed everyday that he loved and cared about her even if he didn’t voice the words.

Valentina. I loved her as well, which was surprising since most of the book she was bitter and angry with Gio. He was the scapegoat. He didn’t deserve it, though he did accept it and he incurred her wrath multiple times. I liked her intensity and fire. She was a spark plug and firm in her convictions of not forgiving Gio over the accident. Her anger palatable, but I saw beneath the surface and saw the vulnerable, hurt girl she was over loosing her brother, who she loved deeply. Plus she had complicated feelings towards Gio, with the most being the incessant want to be near him and close to him and that scared her, which caused her to lash out. She used anger to push him away otherwise he would have been deeply entrenched her life to the point that she wouldn’t want to let him go, and it scared her to care about someone that deeply and feared of loosing them in the end like she lost her brother. She always wanted Gio and wanted him close, but her brother’s accident changed all that and she blocked it out. They had a connection from the beginning, but she hadn't dealt with her grief healthily or properly nor her fear. She was broken as Gio was. She just wanted to make a successful life for herself, but the death of her brother was shadow over her head for the last seven years. Gio helped her heal that as she helped him heal. Once she forgave Gio then there was no stopping her from turning to be the loving and caring person that she was meant to be. I loved how she wanted to comfort Gio, and pain after all the grief and pain he went through in his life. She realized how wrong she was about him. Her softer side emerged. And I loved seeing that change in her.

It was obvious that they wanted each other but this guilt and anger got in the way of it all.I loved the whole push and pull of it all, and it made the story very engrossing. All those emotions going on gave a definite edge to the story, which again I love. The edge to this story was the emotional roller coaster ride. It was fun to watch. The emotion was definitely the focus of the first half with the physical attraction being there in the background and waiting on the sidelines before they let loose and had what they wanted. Each other.

They had an intense physical attraction, which was due to the fact that they had some deep feelings beneath the surface. Their times together was always more than about the sex. Sparks would fly both emotionally and physically. That first kiss was hot, as were the love scenes that followed. The love scenes were very much detailed and went on for pages and pages, and I was happy that it did. I was kind of surprised that the one scene was just a foreplay scene, but it was just as hot as the full blown one. It was beautifully described, emotionally intense, and just completely scorching and that was just the foreplay scene. The balance between the emotion and the physical was great. It just made it so much better and deeply intense. Now when the finally did the actually deed, it was just as hot and sizzling and beautiful and very connection affirming in my view. They finally let it all go and exploded It was so good. All love scenes should be liked that. Then there was another scene that was an anticipation/foreplay scene that was good. Hot! Hot! Hot! Two words. Motorbike scene. That’s all I’m saying. It not only increased their anticipation for one another, but also for me as the reader.

In fact Abby Green just did a really great job period. The way she created this emotional intensity in this story was just spot on. The way she amped up the anticipation between the characters was great. She knew how to draw out the anticipation so it was drool worthy not snooze worthy and almost annoy because it was too drawn out. There were deep seated issues to contend with that hadn’t dealt with over Mario’s death for both Gio and Valentina with many ups and downs along the way not only for them as a couple but individually as well. It was just a roller coaster ride the entire way through, and I loved every minute of it. It was great to see their story play out and actully fun to see it all play out on the page despite some dark emotions going on. It was entertaining which can be hard in a dark book, but Abby Green pulled it off. I loved that it wasn’t easy for them and they had to work before they could be a couple and be happy. They had to overcome because otherwise their relationship would be a fake and unfulfilling to both them. So they needed to overcome those obstcles thrown in their way and how they dealt with the death of Mario before they could get their happily ever after, and it was very believable and made them stronger as a couple. They grew from that, and also by having a relationship with one another, healing each other with the power of their touch and caring. And it was great and it was realistic with nothing seeming forced along the way. I believed they were in love by book’s end. I think I believed they were in love half way through and sometimes that’s not always the case in romance novels so that was great. And I loved that I could relate to them and be in their shoes and feel what they were feel throughout the entire book because this was a deeply emotional story. The emotions just swirled all around them from cover to cover, and reinforced for me that they were meant to be together. I wanted them to be together. I needed them to be together, and I was happy that they got their happily ever after in the end, as was I pleased with how they got there. It touched me because of that realism that Abby Green portrayed in this book.

It was perfect, and I really can’t praise this book enough, and I could on and on for hours more of why I did love it, but I hope this review gave you some type of clue. I sure hope it did. But you really need to read the book yourself and be the judge of it. I will warn you that it is emotionally intense, and there maybe times you don’t like how angry Valentina is, but see beyond that and see beneath her surface to see what truly is going on there and why she acted so cruelly towards Gio throughout. She tells you why at the end, but see if you can see it for yourself. It was just so good.

I highly recommend this book for romance readers, Harlequin Presents fans, and Abby Green fans alike. She really did a fantastic job on this book, and took the reader on a very highly intense emotional journey that will have you hurting for the characters and feeling for them on many levels. The emotions pour off the book in drove so if you want a light read this book isn’t it. Abby Green flawless brought the story to the page with beautiful writing and really knew how to bring to the surface painful emotions that is hard to watch in a third party setting let alone personally going through it. And you will feel like you personally go through it because the characters touch you and you can easily fall into their shoes and relate to them. You almost become them in the end, and it will tug at the heartstrings. So if that’s the kind story you like then read this book because it will be your cup of tea.

I will be re-reading this in the future, and I think that it may become yet another one of favorites on my shelves.

[TashNz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Abby Green's A Shadow of Guilt is the third installment from the fantastically crafted Corretti mini-series.

We meet Gio, the youngest of the Corretti’s. Horses were always the center of his world. Gio is haunted by his past. Many years ago his best friend Mario, who had everything to live for, died riding one of his horses. The fault is being laid at his feet by Mario's family, by himself and by Mario's little sister Valentina. Horses eventually become Gio's life and he's now the owner of the racecourse that holds the famous annual Corretti Cup.

Horses have eventually become Gio's life many years after his best friend died as a result of a horse riding accident and a fault that is being laid at his feet by himself and by his best friends little sister Valentina.

7 years later they cross paths again. Both are completely shocked at seeing each other. Valentina still vehemently blames Gio for her brothers death. The pain still feels so real it was as if it all happened yesterday. She’s watched Gio grow from strength to strength while her life has slowly fallen apart. Valentina ends up blackening her name with Gio's aunt who refuses to pay her for the catering at Alessandro's failed wedding. Valentina swallows her pride and begs Gio for a job. Gio instantly gives her the job of catering for the Corretti Cup. Being in such close circles opens up a whole world of trouble, a whole world of feelings and emotions and a whole world of pain. All the ingredients that gives me another amazing story from the incredibly talented Abby Green.

I absolutely loved A Shadow of Guilt. I couldn't put it down. It was another Abby Green winner. She is so talented at crafting stories full of emotion with just the right mix of everything! I was completely caught up in Gio's emotional story, I felt Valentina's pain of having no choice in being so close to Gio and the tears welled when Gio and Valentina finally faced the past. I enjoyed the emotional dance of Gio and Valentina and as each revelation about the past is revealed another small barrier is broken and when Gio and Valentina finally decide to make a story of their own their two worlds combust. Gio's point of views aided the story and helped shape who he was. The dialogue was brilliant with not a wasted word and I loved the imperfections Gio had. The imperfections along with the loss of his best friend helped show why he lived in almost isolation. Valentina was a brave soul who is also haunted by her brother death and reemerging in Gio's world has thrown her sideways, there's more about the past that she needs to face than meets the eye.

Delights include the appearance of Sheikh Nadim and his lovely wife Iseult from Breaking the Sheikh's Rules, the appearance of Angelo Corretti from book 4 when he's at the race track betting against Gio's horse and Carmela Corretti getting her just deserts.

The Corretti series does not have to be read together but I highly recommend it. Abby Green is exceptionally talented at writing heart-breakingly emotional stories and A Shadow of Guilt is no exception.

Check out Abby Green's pinterest board here: http://pinterest.com/abbygreen3/a-sha...

[Susan (susayq ~) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is what I think of as a classic Harlequin book...lots of angst and anger and guilt and a sweet happily ever after. This book had all that. In spades. While this was part of the overall Coretti series, and the infamous wedding was mentioned, that was about all there was to it in series terms. The hero of this book is the brother of the one who ran off with the bride, yet he didn't mention it AT ALL. I don't care how little you see your family, if your brother runs off with your cousin's bride to be, you're going to say something about it ;) I did like that Gio was the one who fessed up to his feelings first, and truthfully, I wanted to smack Valentina at that point when she stood there speechless and then left without a word.

Overall, not a bad way to spend a day if you enjoy reading Harlequin Presents books :)

[Reads by Starburst · Rating 4 out of 5]

just when i think this series could not get better it exceeds my imagination and gets even better with the 3rd book which was so high on emotion and passion that i literally felt gio and valentina in the room with me

i loved the way the story unfolds and i was hooked to it from the start.The author has really outshined herself and so far this is the best book i have had from her.
the hero is totally adorable and he is going to stay with me for a really long time and though i really wanted to kill the heroine a lot of times,i did understand her too(kind of)in the end.

overall a very good read and i am sure all abby green lovers are gonna totally adore this..!!

[Patty Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Abby Green is one of my favorite authors. This book is so different from her previous books since this is a series continuation.
Valentina blamed Gio for her brother's unexpected death and she keeps on hating him but I loved the way the story developed and how hard Gio tries to help her and her family and supports them .
Gio had to undergo a lot of guilt mixed with lust and Val was hiding behind her anger for Gio .
Overall it was a good read another fantastic book by Abby Green

[Tanya Mayes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this read. it was very emotional and heartfelt. you could almost feel their pain. It was a forbidden love that was destined to happen. Abby Green worked this one out I even had to download his friend Maxim's story I just knew he had one.

[Dee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yet another great story by Abby Green and a great addition to the Corretti Dynasty.

[T · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is Gio and Valentina's story.

Gio and Mario were best friends, Valentina was Mario's younger sister. Mario died tragically and Valentina blamed Gio for the accident that killed him.

Gio and Valentina had to learn about forgiveness - Gio had to learn to forgive himself for his role in Mario's death and Valentina needed to forgive herself for blaming and hating Gio for something that was of her own doing.

The passion between the two was smoldering and the epilogue was wonderful to read.

[bombay_sapphire · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had an array of emotions while reading this book. From very irritated with the heroine's constant anger & blame towards the hero (which felt very unfair but at least she was honest with herself that it was irrational), to understanding and empathy for both of them because they were both suffering, especially in their need and want with each other but having the guilt of the death looming over their heads. Overall, loved it. Very much a love redeems/heals type of novel.

[Megzy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Third in the series.

Best plot and execution in the series. Although there is a big discrepancy in the scene that takes place between Angelo, Gio and Valentina I blame the author of the next book and the editor for not checking to see what was written before and making the appropriate adjustments.

[Esra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fiyuuuff.. Bitti sonunda! Kızın tutarsız ruh halleri, adamın kendini suçlaması yüzünden ezik halleri aralarda beni sinir etse de, kitabı sevdim :) Baya duygusaldı da aslında, arada gözlerim dolmadı değil :) Tabi düzenleme aşamasında sinir olmadığım zamanların dışında :D

[Amber · Rating 3 out of 5]

While the hospital bed confession is more than a tad cliched, I still really enjoyed this one.

[Komal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my favorite book from Abby Green. Too much fighting and not enough lovey-dovey romance. The last chapter was very sweet though.

[Riz · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75 Stars

[Agne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Labai pesimistiška ir autorei būdingas savigraužos efektas suteikiamas personažams. Skaičiau, nes reikėjo. Juk tai serija. Nors manau būčiau numetusi ties trečdaliu knygos

[Dr M S Bhagyalakshmi Bhat · Rating 4 out of 5]

It had a lot of emotional turmoil...let's not forget angst and morbidity too but was a beautiful story of love and forgiveness

[TashNz · Rating 5 out of 5]

2016 UPDATE: I accidentally deleted my original review. Lucky I posted it on Amazon. I really dont have anything else to add to what i wrote below. I agree with all of it and I was equally moved by everything. Gio is the youngest Corretti. He is cousin to Alessandro, the ditched groom and youngest brother to Book 2 Hero Luca. Turns out while Luca is in the maze with Taylor, Gio is inside, seeing ghosts from the past. This book also shows Alessandro's mum to be a B word. Gio is awesome and Abby Green has done a fantastic job of isolating him. I also enjoyed the Corretti Cup parts because I know it features in future stories. And of course just when you think everything has been revealed there is always a fantastic Abby Green twist. Well loved in the second read.


2013 REVIEW: Abby Green's A Shadow of Guilt is the third installment from the fantastically crafted Corretti mini-series.

We meet Gio, the youngest of the Corretti's. Horses were always the center of his world. Gio is haunted by his past. Many years ago his best friend Mario, who had everything to live for, died riding one of his horses. The fault is being laid at his feet by Mario's family, by himself and by Mario's little sister Valentina. Horses eventually become Gio's life and he's now the owner of the racecourse that holds the famous annual Corretti Cup.

Horses have eventually become Gio's life many years after his best friend died as a result of a horse riding accident and a fault that is being laid at his feet by himself and by his best friends little sister Valentina.

7 years later they cross paths again. Both are completely shocked at seeing each other. Valentina still vehemently blames Gio for her brothers death. The pain still feels so real it was as if it all happened yesterday. She's watched Gio grow from strength to strength while her life has slowly fallen apart. Valentina ends up blackening her name with Gio's aunt who refuses to pay her for the catering at Alessandro's failed wedding. Valentina swallows her pride and begs Gio for help. Gio instantly gives her the job of catering for the Corretti Cup. Being in such close circles opens up a whole world of trouble, a whole world of feelings and emotions and a whole world of pain. All the ingredients that gives me another amazing story from the incredibly talented Abby Green.

I absolutely loved A Shadow of Guilt. I couldn't put it down. It was another Abby Green winner. She is so talented at crafting stories full of emotion with just the right mix of everything! I was completely caught up in Gio's emotional story, I felt Valentina's pain of having no choice in being so close to Gio and the tears welled when Gio and Valentina finally faced the past. I enjoyed the emotional dance of Gio and Valentina and as each revelation about the past is revealed another small barrier is broken and when Gio and Valentina finally decide to make a story of their own their two worlds combust. Gio's point of views aided the story and helped shape who he was. The dialogue was brilliant with not a wasted word and I loved the imperfections Gio had. The imperfections along with the loss of his best friend helped show why he lived in almost isolation. Valentina was a brave soul who is also haunted by her brother death and reemerging in Gio's world has thrown her sideways, there's more about the past that she needs to face than meets the eye.

Delights include the appearance of Sheikh Nadim and his lovely wife Iseult from Breaking the Sheikh's Rules, the appearance of Angelo Corretti from book 4 when he's at the race track betting against Gio's horse and Carmela Corretti getting her just deserts.

The Corretti series does not have to be read together but I highly recommend it. Abby Green is exceptionally talented at writing heart-breakingly emotional stories and A Shadow of Guilt is no exception.

[Eka Situmorang-Sir · Rating 3 out of 5]

Novel yang penuh emosi. Naik turun perasaan setiap karakternya digambarkan dengan sangat baik sehingga saya bisa larut dalam setiap konfliknya. Namun sayang, plotnya terlalu lambat, sangat lambat malahan. Konflik pun berputar-putar di satu area saja sehingga sedikit membosankan. Walau begitu saya harus mengacungi jempol buat Abby Green yang bisa membangun konflik sedemikian dalam. Semua pertentangan batin yang dituliskan (walau berlebihan) namun terasa nyata dan dapat diterima. Nice, but it is just not my kind of reading.

Anw, salah satu buku dari seri Dinasti Coretti ini punya tokoh yang agak berbeda. Sang pria tidak digambarkan sebagai sosok dominan keras seperti para pria Coretti lainnya. Gio tidak sempurna, ia berjuang dengan gambar dirinya dan itu justru membuatnya terlihat lemah. Sementara Valentina dipenuhi kemarahan kepada Gio yang ia anggap sebagai penyebab kematian kakaknya. Cinta, kemarahan, kesedihan dan rasa bersalah bercampur jadi satu menjadikan novel ini dalam secara emosi. Semua perasaan yang timbul akibat kehilangan seseorang dalam kecelakaan tragis digambarkan demikian tepat olrh Abby Green. Tapi ya itu tadi, saya kurang suka tempo lambat jadi walau konfliknya dalam, tetap bukan kesukaan saya.

[Yulia Anggraini · Rating 3 out of 5]

biasax suka sangaaat am Abby green punya....tp utk skli in kurang cz gw g suka am cew x...!grrrr..

agak g adil sebenarx selera ni...klo c cew yg jd sasaran kekesalan n kebencian herox brasa biasa aj...tp klo herox yg jd "spesakitanx" x kenapa g tegaa yaa... ;p
kasihaaan Gio...

jadiiii c valentina amat sangaat membenci gio yg katax telah membunuh kakakx...padahal ni y, penyebab terbesar kebencianx itu adalah rasa bersalah valentina sendiri...dy lega banget wktu tw yg jatuh dr kuda itu bkan gio,jd klo bukan gio berarti itu mario...jd secara tidak langsung dy lebih memilih gio dr pd abangx sendiri...dy malu atas pikiranx itu n utk menutupix dy mengatai2 gio...padahal org tuax sendiri tidak pernah menyalahkan gio...ck!betapa egoisx valentina...udah dbantuin dy ttp nuduh gio begini begitu...iih gemeeezz...

[Jesica · Rating 4 out of 5]

BLOG: www.adictaxictoxico.blogspot.com

Primero diré que Gracias a Dios no he pasado por lo que paso valentina así que en algunas ocasiones fue difícil ponerme en sus zapatos y debido a eso hubo algunas ocasiones en las que quise sacudirla.... Sin embargo me gusto Gio y Valentina como Pareja. y cada vez mas odio a la tal tía carmela y eso que solo ha salido poco en estos tres libros...

PD: Que felicidad tiene epilogo.... y mi calificación es un 3.5 (que lastima que no se puede poner esa calificación)

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review Posted on HarlequinJunkie.com

There’s a fine line between love and hate. I’ve heard that a thousand times, but never was it more appropriate than in A Shadow of Guilt by Abby Green. Book three in the Sicily’s Corretti Dynasty series, this installment is about two people whose lives took a turn for the worse, one night when a …Read More