The Montesoro Legacy

Brandon Brothers, Book 3

By: Stella Riley

Narrated by: Alex Wyndham

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

Entertaining as always

Stella Riley creates people I'd love to know and villains we love to dislike and weaves a wonderful story around them all

Another fun read in this series

Alex is a great narrator and Stella Riley a find for fans of Laura Kinsale etc. Nice series.

Worth the wait!

I have been waiting to “read” this final installment of the Brandon Brothers series by listening to the audio version with Alex Wyndham’s wonderful narration. Most of the characters from the previous Brandon Brothers and from the Rockliffe series make an appearance, or are at least referenced. I hope Ms. Riley continues these characters in some way, with audio versions by Mr. Wyndham. If I read any of the books from the Rockliffe and Brandon series, I hear the characters speaking in his voice, especially Rockliffe’s silky smooth sound. Hopefully, we can look forward to future collaborations between Ms. Riley and Mr. Wyndham. For now, I just might listen, again, to previous books (including those from the Roundheads and Cavaliers series). They are all great.

Lovely story, fast pace, entertaining characters

Stella Riley, Alex Wyndham and the Brandons....what's not to love? Stella Riley does it again with a delightful book with the perfect blend of romance, humor, mystery and Alex Wyndham. The Brandon family is delightful and all their stories are my favorites.

A Triumph

Lovely adventure and romance set mid 18th century in London and Venice. Stella Riley's writing style perfectly brings to life her tale of evil stepbrother, mysterious inheritance, intrigue, scandal, honor, art, and a heroine unconscious of the power her brave spirit and integrity have over others. Riley combines sparkle, glamor, danger, and humor with sensuous love. And Alex Wyndham's narration is spine-tinglingly rich and textured. A perfect audiobook with which to escape everything for just the right amount of time. I don't know if Stella Riley plans any further books in the two unequaled series which began with the Parfait Knight - but if she does, her delighted fans will follow her into whatever century and country she travels. Brava!

Always Learn Something New

I am always facinated about how Riley weaves her stories, not only are there numberous twists and turns in the plot, but she weaves history, art, and literature throught it giving you a browder understanding of the world around us.

I love these Brandon Brothers!

Stella Riley’s novels have a dreamlike and enchantingly romantic feel to them, that I can’t help but return to them time and again for comfort and escape. Leo and Mariella’s love story is no exception. Hoping to temper the effects of malicious gossip, Leo Brandon and Mariella Montesoro Talbot enter a fake betrothal, only for it to foster into real love.

Leo and Mariella are such a lovely couple. I adored their sweet romance. While romance is central to the story, there is also humor, mystery, and danger. I am really enjoying the M Section escapades. Of course, that means more Adam and Camilla, which I heartily approve! Max and Frances, too, are here. Gosh! I love Max and his customary wit and humor. Moreover, Mariella’s younger brother, Donato, pulled at my heart strings. I appreciate Stella Riley for depicting his character in such a sensitive and realistic manner.

The world of Rockliffe feels like home to me. I love reconnecting with these characters. I especially have a soft spot for Sebastian. That portrait unveiling scene was so emotional and poignant that it brought tears to my eyes. I wish I could see the masterpiece in real life.

Are we sure there aren’t more Brandon brothers out there, because I don’t want this series to end. These Brandon brothers have raised the bar too high. They are the perfect romance heroes in my eyes!

I highly recommend this book and series!

All superlatives fail when it comes to describing Alex Wyndham’s performance. Take a bow, sir!

Heartwarming romance of the third Brandon brother

Stella Riley managed to surprise and delight her readers again. The third book of The Brandon Brothers series, like the previous two volumes, has a unique flavour as well as the recognizable heartwarming effect of the honourable character and emotional depth of each Brandon brother and the loving bond of their extended family clan and circle of friends.
This book focuses on Leo, of whom the prequels had revealed that he is a very talented painter. He is starting to make a name for himself as a portraitist, when he is thrust into a scandal through malicious gossip involving him and a young lady relative of one of his clients. This results in a "fake engagement" type romance story, allowing Leo to find what he was looking for, "a wife who would be the centre of his being" in the unlikely young lady who fights her attraction and love for him to avoid forcing his hand, revealing the integrity of character lacking in his previous infatuations with ladies of fashionable society.
The heroine in question is Mariella Talbot, descended from the Montesoro family in Venice through her mother, which is where the “legacy” in the title comes from. Her initial situation includes the responsibility for a younger brother (Donato) who is somewhat different – I’d say he is on the autism spectrum – and the oppression of a stepbrother who, we soon learn, is up to no good: keeps the Talbot siblings under his thumb, refuses to allow them access to their inheritance, and seems to be more and more threatening. The compromise situation, for Mariella, results in the unexpected opportunity to receive the protection of Leo, but being embraced by Leo’s family and friends, and seeing Leo shine in his friendship and sensitive care for her brother Donato threatens with inevitable heartbreak when she’ll have to end the pretence.
Leo’s protective actions bring in the protagonists of the previous book, Adam Brandon and his wife Camilla, and through them, members of the secret government agency described in their story. This results in a storyline of secret agents against criminals sparkling with excitement and humour, counteraction of the gossips introducing Mariella into the aristocratic circle of friends from the previous books, helping Donato to integrate better with a new soon-to-be family, and in the end, revelation of the legacy and Mariella reconnecting with her family roots.
The book fits well into the Brandon Brothers series, but its unique strength is the way Leo is made different from his brothers – his artistic talent, his ability to see and understand people’s inner feelings and character enable him to form a bond with the reclusive and socially awkward Donato, to create portraits that illustrate the subjects’ character rather than their superficial features and to support Mariella in all her difficulties.
Alex Wyndham's talented portrayal of emotions and characters is perfectly suited to bring new life to this story, I love the way his use of different voices for different character types is consistent throughout the series; the way he never falters in illustrating young and old, male and female, aristocratic elegance, perfectly trained valet or seedy criminal... in this particular book, the palette of characters includes the awkward and lonely young man on the spectrum. I was entranced, carried away by emotions, and felt I was really part of this story.

Wonderful story, Excellent narrator

Extremely enjoyable romantic novel, superbly narrated. Charming, sensitive hero with a sense of humor, a refreshingly modest heroine who is devoted to protecting her autistic brother, and a cast of characters who are likeable and loyal (except for a few villains).
Very well-written.

Riley & Wyndham a winning team!

Stella Riley’s gift is her way of writing characters. It’s true she doesn’t write great literary fiction. But she does write are engaging and enjoyable yarns with absolutely fantastic characters. You can’t help but feel like you know them. The stories, as this book, are excellently paced and interesting with good historical detail. Riley is the comfort food of historical fiction. You can’t help but want to reach for them when you want a read that you know you’ll like and which will be worth the time put into it. When you have t the time or inclination to pick up an epic book and you want a ‘sure thing’, it’s Riley. As for narrator Alex Wyndham, let’s put it this way, I’d pay very good money to listen to him read my cereal box. He’s phenomenal. He makes any male lead dashing and devastating with an inflection or the merest change of tone. He’s brilliant. Narration’s best. So Riley and Wyndham together are a winning team. Enjoyable quick read.