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The Montesoro Legacy

Brandon Brothers, Book 3

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The Montesoro Legacy

By: Stella Riley
Narrated by: Alex Wyndham
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About this listen

A dangerous stepbrother...a letter from a Venice...a secret key...and London’s most fashionable portraitist. Dark doings and deceptions surround an unexpected legacy...and an equally unexpected love story.

Upon learning that his stepsister, Mariella Talbot, is the beneficiary of a surprise inheritance, Sir Jerome Farrell decides to seize it for himself. Already struggling to thwart her stepbrother’s other wicked intentions, Mariella realizes two things: To claim the Montesoro legacy, Jerome must make a lengthy journey...but without a certain item in her possession, he will return empty-handed.

Successful, sought-after, and contemplating marriage to a lovely young widow, Leo Brandon’s commission to paint Charlotte Farrell takes him to Surrey for three days. Had he known in advance how those days would rearrange his life, he might have made the catastrophic mistake of staying in London.

Meanwhile, the agents of M Section are interested in Sir Jerome for reasons of their own...and, unlike Mariella, are less than delighted when he leaves the country.

©2022 Stella Riley (P)2022 Stella Riley Historical Historical Fiction Regency Regency Romance Romance Romantic Suspense Suspense Heartfelt Feel-Good England

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Listener received this title free

The third novel from the Brandon Brothers series is another wonderfully written story by Stella Riley, and exquisitely narrated by Alex Windham.

Leo, the youngest of the Brandon brothers, already a renowned portraitist, has easily fallen in love many times before, but the flame was always of short duration. We find him being in love at the beginning of the novel. But is she the true one? Or does life reserve something else for him?

The story is Leo’s journey of finding true and lasting love sprinkled with some adventure, crime investigation and spying brought about by a misplaced giant cactus, a sharp-tongued relative spreading malicious gossip about Leo and Mariella Talbot, the heiress of a mysterious legacy from Venice and Mariella’s wicked step-brother’s unlawful activities.

Besides the well-known characters from the previous novels, the author brings in several new characters of which I would like to highlight Donato, Mariella’s autistic brother, a well-researched and multifaceted portrayal of an autistic person.
Witty dialogues and funny, laugh-out-loud scenes make the listening experience complete.

Enjoy your time travel back to Georgian England, especially London, and to 18th century Venice and the unfolding love story. A delightful and entertaining escape from today’s realities.

Delightful, entertaining and heart-warming

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Listener received this title free

Enough people have given a full synopsis, so I shall simply say this is a brilliant and very satisfying conclusion to the Brandon brothers trilogy. Not only 2 delightful characters who it is a joy to 'watch' their developing relationship, we also have updates of family and friends from previous books, including the Rockliffe series. As I said, very satisfying.

As ever, Stella and Alex are themselves a match made in Heaven, his narration perfectly complements Stella's writing. His voice is so distinctive, yet each character so clearly defined.
Overall - loved it!

Excellent as ever

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Listener received this title free

The Montesoro Legacy is a wonderful, captivating story from the pen of Stella Riley, beautifully performed by the incomparable Alex Wyndham.
This, the third and last book in Riley’s Brandon Brothers Trilogy features the youngest Brandon, Leo. He has already appeared briefly in books 1 & 2 but now takes centre-stage for his own riveting story.
An accomplished portraitist who takes London by storm, he agrees to paint Charlotte Farrell requiring him to spend 3-days in Surrey – 3-days that changes his life completely after he meets Mariella, Charlotte’s cousin.
As with all Riley’s books, we have outstanding characters and through the wonderful voice of Alex Wyndham, they literally come alive. No matter whether it’s young or old, male or female, happy or sad he manages to portray the writing with a deep understanding that is simply sublime drawing you in to their world and, in this case, culminating in a beautifully crafted love story between Leo and Mariella that ends in romantic Venice.
We meet new and complicated Donato, Mariella’s brother, who in modern terms is on the autistic spectrum, sensitively written by Ms. Riley and expertly performed by Mr. Wyndham. There is Hegarty - Leo’s valet; and the sinister Sir Jerome Farrell a particularly nasty person and his side-kick, Cox.
The plot has many strands along the way and previous characters play superb cameo roles. This is particularly moving when Leo unveils a portrait of Sebastian Audley. I will not say what Leo has painted but Alex Wyndham delivers the finished composition with so much emotion it brought tears to my eyes. I only wish the painting was real!
I love this audio. It has everything one requires of a complete story and because of Stella Riley’s writing and Alex Wyndham’s performance, I can truly say that this is a triumph from this outstanding perfect pair.
Thank you both. I look forward to more Riley/Wyndham productions.

A triumph from this outstanding perfect pair

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Alex Wyndham ALWAYS a good idea! and couple him with a novel by Stella Riley and you can’t go wrong:
Terrific story and impeccable narration

Perfect!!

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Listener received this title free

Stella Riley has done it again, we are transported into Leo Brandon's world where we move from Georgian London to a rural house party and ultimately to Venice. Alex Wyndham brings the characters to life in an effortless narration.

If you are considering downloading this book to listen to, then do not hesitate, you will not be disappointed.

Leo Brandon is the third and youngest of the Brandon brothers to have their story told, and I enjoy the fact characters from previous Brandon brother books and also the Rockcliffe Series make cameo appearances where it feels like I am catching up with old friends.

Leo is talented and an accomplished portrait artist with an easy charm and approach to life. He easily falls in love hoping each time that it is the 'real thing'. When attending a house party to complete a commission he finds himself embroiled in a false engagement following some petty but malicious gossip. Mariella Talbot is our heroine and she finds the unexpected engagement an opportunity to escape from her half brother (the most perfect villain, who has the most satisfactory comeuppance)! Mariella slowly comes to be drawn further into Leo's warm family and friends and finds herself falling in love with him.

This audiobook provides a wonderfully narrated heartwarming romance between 2 honourable and strong characters. There is the backdrop of loving family and friends, who we have met before and Alex Wyndham does a great job of providing all the voices and nuances for all the characters. It is a real treat to immerse yourself in the world of Leo and Mariella as well as the dastardly Jerome for over 12 hours of delicious romance, conspiracy and intrigue. Need I say more? You will listen to this story and immediately re-listen, or download anew the other books by Stella for many more hours of fabulous storytelling. Thank you Stella and Alex for a great partnership in bringing these stories to life. Happy listening!

Wonderful conclusion to the Brandon bros trilogy

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Listener received this title free

Stella Riley had again written a superb tale of romance and mystery wonderfully narrated by Alex Wyndham I particularly loved her sensitively written character of Donato the heroines autistic brother. Add in a greedy treacherous step brother ,a mysterious inheritance and romance and you have a book you will want to listen to over again.

An other excellent tale

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I enjoyed the story big time! Well written, the story bumbles along and if you put it down, easy to take up again

A good romp to the end

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Alex Wyndham 's dulcet tones are at their best with this type of book. He brings the characters to life effortlessly, using the expression of his voice and various accents, loved this. Stella Riley 's prose is again wonderful, Leo and Mariella are a memorable couple, and it was good to catch up with old 'friends'. It was so good I didn't want it to end.

Loved it!

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Alex Wyndham on top form, and Stella Riley at her best. Great to see all our favourite characters from previous books, popping up in the story. I love all these series from the parfait knight onwards.

Excellent as usual

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Listener received this title free

A new Stella Riley book is always a treat to be savoured and when that book is performed by Alex Wyndham there is an extra dimension of pleasure to be anticipated. I loved listening to Mr Wyndham’s narration. He has an impressive range of appropriate voices so that it is easy to differentiate between the characters. I particularly like the way he portrays the heroine, Mariella. At times she is shrewd, realistic, and practical and at others thoughtful, diffident, and overwhelmed by Leo’s family’s kindness to her. Mr Wyndham portrays her depths with subtle nuances. He is also skilled at conveying the emotion behind the words the characters speak and this increases the richness of the story.

I really enjoyed this book. It is the last episode of the Brandon Brothers trilogy and concerns Leo, the youngest brother. This trilogy sits very happily between the superb Roundhead and Cavalier series and the lighter but no less excellent Rockliffe series. Like the other books in this series, the well-developed plot has strong elements of suspense and jeopardy all wrapped up with a compelling romance. It has a nastily repellent villain and a vivid cast of supporting characters, notably Hegarty, Leo’s valet and Mr Cox, Jerome Farrell’s intermediary. I loved the involvement of M Section, seeing Adam, Milly and Rainham at work to help Leo and Mariella. As always, it is wonderful to see old friends from the Rockliffe series: all note-perfect in their characters. There are lovely moments of humour too. Blue paint has a lot to answer for!

One of Ms Riley’s greatest strengths is the way she creates gorgeously realised characters, especially her heroes. Leo is a case in point. He has had cameo appearances in earlier books and tantalised us with his dark good looks, humour and artistic talent. Leo has led a charmed and easy life. Adam and Milly wonder how he would cope with a little adversity. We soon find out. I love how Leo grows in authority and assurance but retains kindness and his innate decency. The way he deals with Mariella’s brother, Donato, is an absolute joy and would make any woman fall in love with him.

Donato is another triumph for the author. It must have been so difficult to make him three-dimensional so that the reader and the other characters will accept and love him. The oddities of his condition are portrayed with sensitivity and a light touch. We see him through Mariella and Leo’s eyes and cheer as Donato’s character develops throughout the story.

I was interested to see how Ms Riley would handle the fake fiancée trope. It is one of my favourite romantic literary devices, but it depends on the authenticity of the characters’ reasons and the believability of their ensuing romance. As always, with Ms Riley's novels, the love story is delicious. Mariella has strong and (mostly) altruistic reasons for fostering the false engagement. Leo is a little more reluctant but understands Mariella’s dilemma and trusts her to release him at the right time. While Mariella had fallen in love with Leo, almost at first sight, Leo takes longer to realise that he is in love with her. The process feels natural as Leo gradually understands how important Mariella is to his comfort and how much he desires her – for her character as well as her beauty.

I really enjoyed the closing section of the book. It is a bit different to normal endings to romances but very satisfying. I cannot comment more for fear of spoilers, but the author knows her subject well and delivers a spectacular finale. The Montesoro Legacy is a fabulous read and I heartily recommend it.

Leo's Story

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