Review copy was received from Author. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Series: Elemental Mysteries
Published by Self-Published on December 4, 2018
Genres: Paranormal, Fantasy
Pages: 183
Format: eARC
Source: Author
Goodreads
Amazon, Barnes & Noble




In Lost Letters and Christmas Lights, Christmas in Rome wasn’t quite what Giovanni and Beatrice had in mind, until a set of misplaced letters leads them back to their library in the heart of Italy. Serafina Rossi hadn’t expected vampires for Christmas, but the thought of meeting the cantankerous and intriguing ally of her employers was more than she could resist.
Giovanni Vecchio has a headache, and Richard Montegu is it. In Finding Richard, Giovanni and Beatrice head east to New York City in order to take care of a little problem who’s been spotted off-off-Broadway.
Giovanni and Beatrice return to Italy in Desires of the Heart. With their nephew growing older every year, Giovanni and Beatrice travel to Rome for the holidays, this time with a new vision for their future and the future of their family.
I was surprised with this anthology of novellas in the Elemental World series. It’s a fun and brilliantly placed group of stories. It begins with Lost Letters and Christmas Lights. This was the last published novella in the series as part of All the Stars Look Down (2014) which also had a Grace Draven story. It’s a perfect start in a familiar place where the series last visited Gio and B. I enjoyed recalling their personalities and style, along with a fun Christmas story with Zeno and Fina in Italy.
Finding Richard is next. This took us back to New York with Ben and Tenzin, Chloe and Gavin, which is exactly what I needed to prepare for the next book, The Blood Apprentice, which is next in the Elemental Legacy series, featuring Ben and Tenzin. Giovanni and Beatrice are also here since they started with Richard, long ago. I loved the way a smart solution was found to help everyone and who suggested it.
Desires of the Heart is a very personal story for Gio and B. A few years have passed since the end of their series, and now we get a closer look into their world and plans. Their desires were very realistic to me. I cried over this emotional journey. It ends at Christmas.
There is a preview of Blood Apprentice at the end. The Stars Afire is an enjoyable read, fitting for Christmas and ties things together beautifully to bring us up-to-date.
- 🎧 Emily Wilde’s Compendium of Lost Tales by Heather Fawcett #HeatherFawcett @Pottell @DoddsAndEnds @DelReyBooks @penguinaudio.bsky.social @PRHAudio #LOVEAudiobooks - February 13, 2025
- 🎧 Nemesis by Gregg Hurwitz @gregghurwitzbooks.bsky.social @ScottBrick @macmillanaudio.bsky.social @stmartinspress.bsky.social #LoveAudiobooks @GreggHurwitz@MinotaurBooks @StMartinsPress @MacmillanAudio - February 11, 2025
- Sunday Post – 9 February 2025 @caffeinatedreviewer.com @kimbacaffeinate @readingreality - February 9, 2025
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- 2018 New Release Challenge
- COYER WINTER
It’s been so long that I haven’t read any books by the author but I usually love her books so I need to return to them
I have been reading her stuff for year, in fan fiction before her published works. You should – they are always good.
I love an emotional read and this one sounds like a really good. Terrific review, Anne!
It is. It won’t mean as much unless you are reading the whole series and love the characters however. But I would encourage anyone to read the series because everything by this author is great.