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The Montesoro Legacy (Brandon Brothers Book 3) Kindle Edition

by Stella Riley (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.4 out of 5 stars 480 ratings
B.R.A.G. Medallion honoree and Book Excellence Award Romance novel of 2024

A dangerous step-brother … 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 step-sister, Mariella Talbot, is the beneficiary of a surprise inheritance, Sir Jerome Farrell decides to seize it for himself.
Already struggling to thwart her step-brother’s other wicked intentions, Mariella realises 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 re-arrange 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.

“This author has a consistently high standard of writing and story-telling. Her use of appropriate language, manners and social mores of the day are meticulously researched and when I read her books, I am instantly transported to another, earlier time.” Book Readers Appreciation Group Review

"My sister, my son, and my nephew are all autistic. Sadly, I am usually disappointed with the 2-dimensional characters and stereotypical behaviours most authors use. This author captures conversation with a person with autism perfectly. I actually laughed because Donato reminded me so much of people I know .... how annoyed he gets when he's interrupted, his inability to remember to use social niceties and being rude without realising it. I think Stella Riley did a fabulous job of portraying autism and making us understand that, while Donato is clearly intelligent, his functioning is impaired by his lack of social skills." Amazon 5 Star review
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  1. Book 3 of 3
    Brandon Brothers
  2. Print length
    415 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Accessibility
    Learn more
  5. Publication date
    March 30, 2022
  6. File size
    927 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
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  9. Enhanced typesetting
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"This author has a consistently high standard of writing and story-telling which stands out in a genre in which some authors dress their characters in 18th/19th century costumes but give them the manners of 21st century men and women. SR's use of appropriate language, manners and social mores of the day, even the reality of the time taken to travel from place to place, is meticulously researched and when I read her books, I am instantly transported to another, earlier time." Book Readers Appreciation Review

"I appreciated this book from the standpoints of women's rights and the portrayal of people with high functioning autism." Book Readers Appreciation Review
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B09SD81GPC
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ March 30, 2022
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ 1st
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 927 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 415 pages
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Book 3 of 3 ‏ : ‎ Brandon Brothers
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 out of 5 stars 480 ratings

About the author

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Stella Riley

Stella Riley

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Winner of 4 gold medals (Readers' Favourite 2019, Book Excellence Awards 2020, Global Book Awards 2022, Book Excellence Awards 2023) and 14 B.R.A.G. Medallions, Stella Riley lives in the beautiful medieval town of Sandwich in Kent.

She is fascinated by the English Civil Wars and has written six books set in that period. These, like the 7 book Rockliffe series (recommended in The Times newspaper!) and the Brandon Brothers trilogy, are all available in audio, narrated by Alex Wyndham.

Stella enjoys travel, reading, theatre, Baroque music and playing the harpsichord. She also has a fondness for men with long hair - hence her 17th and 18th century heroes.

Visit Stella at https://stellarileybooks.co.uk for all the latest information on her books and her 'Who's Who' and Extras pages.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
480 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers enjoy the heartwarming romance and interesting plots in this book, featuring wonderful characters. They appreciate the themes of loyalty, with one review highlighting the strong family and friends relationships. Customers find the book readable, with one noting it can be read independently, and one describing it as a marvelous conclusion to the Brandon brothers saga.

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8 customers mention "Romance"8 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the romance in this book, describing it as heartwarming and beautiful, with one customer noting its interesting plots.

"...This book, like the previous ones in the series, offers a heartwarming romance between two honourable and strong characters, a backdrop of loving,..." Read more

"What a marvelous conclusion to the Brandon brothers saga! A delightful journey of love for Leo the youngest brother- who, not unlike Julian Langdon,..." Read more

"...Legacy was its own rompy bit of fun, with there being a multitude of storylines and the romance being a quiet almost B-plot...." Read more

"...Each one of these books is full of fun and adventure as well as the romance...." Read more

6 customers mention "Character development"6 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book, with one mentioning the very evil villain as a major player in the story.

"...flavour as well as the recognizable heartwarming effect of the honourable character and emotional depth of each Brandon brother and the loving bond..." Read more

"...and friends, particularly Adam and Camilla both who are major players in the story. As well as M Section's involvement...." Read more

"...I very much enjoyed the host of characters we got to hear from, but I loved the continued presence of Sebastian and Cassandra, and that Leo's..." Read more

"...She had complex characters, interesting plots, and lots of history to read about (especially in her Roundheads and Cavaliers series)...." Read more

4 customers mention "Loyalty"4 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the themes of loyalty and family love in the book, with one customer highlighting the perfect examples of peoplehood and another noting the great visits from old friends.

"...while sharing their principles of kindness, respect, honour and loyalty – his artistic talent, his ability to see and understand people’s feelings..." Read more

"...We have some great visits from old friends, and the fantastic reveal of Leo's portrait of Sebastian Wingham..." Read more

"...to meet up with or hear about many of them, all of them more examples of perfect peoplehood, with everybody loving everybody and helping each other..." Read more

"...There was a love triangle for a time, a very evil villain and much family love and loyalty...." Read more

4 customers mention "Readability"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the book easy to read, with one noting it can be read independently, and several mentioning they loved all three books in the series.

"...herself well with her artist and his art, and gives the reader a warm understanding of their foibles and motivations...." Read more

"I have just finished The Brandon Trilogy by Stella Riley, and I loved all three books -- A Trick of Fate, Under A Dark Moon, and The Montesoro Legacy..." Read more

"...This one was my favorite of the three books. There was a love triangle for a time, a very evil villain and much family love and loyalty...." Read more

"...(It can be read independently, but you'll enjoy it more if you have read the first two books...." Read more

3 customers mention "Book series"3 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate this book as part of the Brandon Brothers series, with one customer describing it as a marvelous conclusion to the saga.

"...This is a wonderful addition to the Brandon Brothers legacy. Highly recommended." Read more

"What a marvelous conclusion to the Brandon brothers saga!..." Read more

"...This is the 3rd book in the Brandon Brothers Books. This one was my favorite of the three books...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • noagnes
    5.0 out of 5 stars Delightful romance of the third Brandon brother
    Reviewed in the United States on April 3, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    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, unlike his previous infatuations with ladies of fashionable society who had been attracted to his fame or his charm or his connections but lacked the integrity of character revealed by the heroine’s actions.
    The lady in question is Mariella Talbot, a descendant of 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 will lead to her inevitable heartbreak when she’ll have to end the pretence.
    Leo’s protective actions immediately extend to involving the protagonists of the previous book, Adam Brandon and his wife Camilla, and through them, members of the secret government agency readers encountered 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.
    This book, like the previous ones in the series, offers a heartwarming romance between two honourable and strong characters, a backdrop of loving, loyal family and friends, interspersed with humorous interactions between them. Its unique strengths are the way Leo is made different from his brothers while sharing their principles of kindness, respect, honour and loyalty – his artistic talent, his ability to see and understand people’s feelings and characters 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 (this resulting in a story thread that will delight longtime readers of the series, which I will not spoil here in the slightest!) and to support Mariella in all her difficulties.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Poetess
    4.0 out of 5 stars Mariella
    Reviewed in the United States on April 12, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    Leo's story is one I have been looking forward to since Adam's book. It was not the best week to really concentrate on it. It begs to be re-read. I really liked Mariella, her situation feels hopeless. And with the added responsibility of her younger brother Donato (who I am guessing is a high functioning autistic) her situation can only get better. It does with the entrance of Leo Brandon. There are lots of visits with Leo's family and friends, particularly Adam and Camilla both who are major players in the story. As well as M Section's involvement.

    It slows down in places. The trip to Venice is almost a travelogue.

    My favorite scene is Donato and the pot of blue paint. One of the villains gets his comeuppance in a most unusual way.

    This is a wonderful addition to the Brandon Brothers legacy.

    Highly recommended.
    One person found this helpful
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  • D. Lloyd
    5.0 out of 5 stars Love and danger and portraits
    Reviewed in the United States on April 30, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    What a marvelous conclusion to the Brandon brothers saga! A delightful journey of love for Leo the youngest brother- who, not unlike Julian Langdon, is feted for his looks and charm and only secondly for what really matters to him, his art. Also reminiscent of the Rockliffe series #6 Cadenza, Ms. Riley acquaints herself well with her artist and his art, and gives the reader a warm understanding of their foibles and motivations. As an artist myself it was a real pleasure to see this care go into the portrayal of an artists' motivations and inspirations, as well as the real work that goes into their craft. She also sensitively portrays our heroine Mariella's brother- a young man most likely on the spectrum, but also previously denied the brotherly love that we see, in the person of Leo, is able to bring him out of his shell and on the path to more interactions with friends and family. I can only hope that Ms. Riley may grace us with a novella describing Donato's personal happiness with a suitable young lady. But back to Mariella and Leo- a truly dastardly villian in the person of Mariella Talbot's half brother- who is also in the sights of the deliciously intriguing M Section, provides much excitement. We have some great visits from old friends, and the fantastic reveal of Leo's portrait of Sebastian Wingham (which I with joyful tears guessed long before the moment). What a treat! I am very much looking forward to the audio of this book.
    2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Clare McQuin
    5.0 out of 5 stars Stella just gets better!
    Reviewed in Australia on March 30, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    Mostly set In and close to London, with characters from the Rockliffe and earlier Brandon Brothers books, this centres on the youngest Brandon brother, Leo. We already know he is an accomplished artist, who has changed his medium to oils in the last few years; studied for some time in Italy and has just started gathering clients among the ton. He is also a very charming young man and starting to consider matrimony. But he is asked to paint a young lady and is suddenly caught up in the machinations of her older brother and the effects these have on their family. Leo finds himself also embroiled in a scandal and losing clients, but this does have its bright side - he can concentrate on other tasks and people, with assistance from his family and friends.
    This book starts out peacefully, but the birthday house-party spins out in multiple directions and develops old and new personae from Ms Riley's G
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  • k2
    5.0 out of 5 stars Nice story
    Reviewed in Germany on May 23, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Nice story, and I like the author’s style.
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  • avidreader
    5.0 out of 5 stars Leo's story - and what an enthralling story to end the Brandon Brothers trilogy
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 31, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    The youngest Brandon brother, Leo, is a happy-go-lucky, extraordinarily good-looking, charming and very talented man, a portrait artist, who has caught the eye of the great and the good, and risen almost instantly to fame, thanks to commissions pouring in. Without vanity, he knows that he attracts women like bees to honey, and falls in and out of love, each time convinced it is the real thing - to the slight consternation of his two older brothers, who worry that he doesn't take life seriously enough. Nevertheless, they love him, have his back, as they say, and stand foursquare behind him, whatever the situation.

    Leo is pitchforked into a situation brought about by a malicious, meddling gossip, which pretty much scuppers his latest romantic fancy, and finds him in a false engagement to one of the author's most delightful female characters, Mariella. There is intrigue, mystery [THAT legacy!] and several unsavoury characters, one of whom is a step-brother to Mariella, who would like her out of the way and her brother committed to an institution to pave the way for his fraudulent use of their money. He is also involved, at a higher level, in what we would call organised crime, and it is this, coupled with his actions against Mariella and Donato, her brother, which bring him to the attention of M Section, first introduced in the middle brother, Adam's book, 'Under a Dark Moon'.

    How it all plays out is, as always with Stella Riley, told with great attention to historical detail and fact, and as always, with a great deal of the author's trademark wit and humour. It is exciting and fast-moving, the action moving from Surrey to London and ultimately to Venice, villainous plots being foiled, villains getting their comeuppance - and, of course, the deep love and devotion developing between Leo and Mariella.

    Characters from the Rockliffe series and the two previous Brandon brothers' books are involved, which is
    such a treat for those of us who have read the entire series - which I wholeheartedly recommend. However, the three main characters in this book - Leo, Mariella and Donato - are absolutely delightful. Leo is not just a sweetheart, he has depths of compassion and understanding which shine through. Particularly, his relationship and interaction with Donato, who also has artistic skills but some issues with social situations, is written so well. Leo doesn't force the relationship, but through his understanding, humour and kindness, and without the author fundamentally changing Donato's character, Leo wins Donato round, in a very gradual and realistic fashion. Mariella is, I think, one of the author's most appealing female characters. She doesn't come with any romantic emotional baggage, and her fierceness in her protection of her precious younger brother, safeguarding him from their step-brother's wicked plans, and her plotting and planning to find a way to rid them of his hold over them is a joy to read. She is a lady through and through, with a good upbringing, but circumstances have kept her in the country, so she is not at all sophisticated, is not especially knowledgeable about art or theatre and is convinced that Leo would never look twice at her. Even in London, she is charmingly unsure of herself, anxious about her situation - and I was rooting for her happy ending from the start.

    Hegarty, Leo's 'acquired' valet, is another memorable character - quiet, unassuming, but devoted to Leo and Donato. So is Charlotte, Mariella's younger step-sister, Donato's age, who loves and understands Donato. These are the details which make a book absorbing - characters who may not have major roles, but are so important in the unfolding of the story.

    There are some truly memorable events; two which immediately spring to mind concern a portrait commissioned by Sebastian [the Wicked Cousin] and the second, the meeting between Max [the oldest brother, 'A Trick of Fate'] and Donato. Those, in particular, brought a lump to my throat [and damp eyes!] and are worth rereading - which I have done several times.

    Delightful book, a very fitting ending to the Brandon Brothers series.
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  • Jill
    5.0 out of 5 stars Another wonderful story by such a talented writer
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 1, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    I loved this story. The title itself drew me in and I always enjoy “fake fiancee” tropes. However, as always with the Brandon series, the story is more than just the (lovely) romance. It involves adventure and jeopardy that added exciting, page-turning elements that kept me reading until the small hours.

    I was struck by numerous moments of jeopardy throughout the story. From Adam and Camilla’s initial doubts about Leo’s involvement with Grace Chartley to whether Leo would be forced to offer marriage to someone he hardly knew and on through all the twists and turns engendered by Sir Jerome’s headlong rush to obtain Mariella’s inheritance: these added a frisson of danger that made me want to keep reading.
    This novel works as an exciting, adventure story. There is plenty of action, full of danger and suspense, as Adam, Camilla and M Section hunt down Sir Jerome and Cox. It is a real battle of wits supported by good detective work, gritty determination and a certain imaginative panache.

    However, it is the central relationship between Leo and Mariella that is the beating heart of the story. Their love story is woven seamlessly with the thriller elements and is all the richer for it.

    Leo is a real triumph. We have had captivating glimpses of him in Trick of Fate and Under a Dark Moon, but it was wonderful to see the whole of his character revealed as the story progresses. We already know that he is handsome, intelligent, charming and very talented so I really liked that Adam and Camilla set the scene early on in this novel, wondering how Leo would cope with adversity. I enjoyed watching Leo increase in confidence and decisiveness in dealing with the problems that beset him. I loved his understanding, compassion and sensitivity, especially in his relationship with Donato. His dealings with Donato revealed the essence and depth of his personality, as did his amazing portrait of Sebastian. Who could fail to melt at his protective instincts and care for Mariella.

    Mariella is also an interesting character. She is more subtly drawn: she is quietly strong, intelligent, honourable and fiercely protective of her little brother. Her proposal to Leo was quite bold and demonstrates strength of character. Mariella’s shy pleasure in her new life in London; the way she immediately fit into Leo’s family and was accepted by his circle of friends; her sense of humour and her quiet dignity in dealing with the way she had been treated by Sir Jerome are all qualities that make her attractive to Leo.

    I really liked the way Leo’s love story with Mariella developed. There was no “coup de foudre” for him, although Mariella fell in love with Leo at first sight. The enforced proximity of the fake betrothal enabled us to see the rapport build between them to the point where Leo realised that Mariella was essential to his happiness. His realisation of his love is truly delightful.

    One of Ms Riley’s greatest strengths is her creation of wonderfully vivid and authentic characters. Donato is a lovely example. It must have been tricky to get the balance right but there are no false notes, and he is just delightful, adding so much depth to the story.

    Readers of Ms Riley’s novels will recognise many characters from her previous stories. This is another aspect of her writing that I particularly like. The new story is fresh and exciting but it is set against a recognisable background. It is lovely to meet so many old friends: Adam and Camilla, Sebastian and Cassie and the operatives from M Section. The novel does work as a standalone, but it is so much richer if you know the previous stories in the Brandon Brothers series. Indeed, if you have not read them or the Rockliffe novels, you have a veritable treat in store. They are all a similarly high standard.

    I don’t want to talk about the actual Montesoro legacy for fear of spoilers. However, the denouement of the story offers us the opportunity to go on a beautifully described journey and is a fitting conclusion to a wonderful story. I just loved it.
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  • Sarah
    5.0 out of 5 stars Wit, humour, romance and adventure aplenty!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 1, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    I found Leo the most appealing of the Brandon brothers in earlier books as he has quite a laid back character, so it is a delight to finally read his story.

    Leo has achieved success as a portraitist in London and is on the verge of making a proposal of marriage, so we find him at a point where his life seems to be coming together. However a somewhat awkward commission brings him into the orbit of Mariella and Donato Talbot and their wicked stepbrother Sir Jerome. An unfortunate encounter with a large and spiky cactus has unforeseen consequences and throws Leo’s best laid plans into disarray.

    Mariella meanwhile is desperate to protect herself and her brother from the greedy clutches of Sir Jerome, who plans to incarcerate her brother in an asylum and claim the Talbot and Montesoro fortune for himself.

    I really enjoyed this story which is my favourite of the trilogy. Leo is charming, handsome and wins everyone over with his easy manner. However as the plots twists and turns and he strives to protect the Talbots from danger we find he has a core of steel. Mariella is kind, engaging and fully deserving of Leo’s admiration. Best of all there is lots of humour throughout their journey to knowing each other, which made this reader chuckle out loud on more than one occasion.

    It was a pleasure to spend time with Adam and Camilla again. Camilla in particular shines in this book and seems comfortable and confident in her marriage. We also meet the agents of M Section once more who are trying to crack high society fraud ring. There is a particularly emotive side-story involving Sebastian Audley from the Rockcliffe series.

    All in all a brilliant end to the trilogy and a wonderful final few chapters with some breathtaking descriptions of scenery that draw you right into Stella’s colourful and finely crafted world.

    Encore!
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