Book Review: "The Last Valentine" by Felix Alexander

The Last Valentine by Felix Alexander

Blurb: When Olivia Villalobos finds a bloodstained love letter she endeavors to deliver it before Chief Inspector Sedeño finds it in her possession. A city along the southern coast of Puerto Rico emerges in the aftermath of the Spanish-American War. Olivia, daughter of a drunkard police investigator who never knew the truth behind her mother’s disappearance, finds a bloodstained love letter in the hidden compartment of her father’s coat. Convinced it belonged to the man recently found dead she sets out to deliver it to the Labyrinth of Love Letters. A mysterious place believed to be an urban legend where the transients of forbidden love leave missives for one another. She enlists the help of Isaac Quintero to find the Labyrinth and they soon realize their quest has opened the door into Old Sienna’s darkest secrets—the perils, madness and depth of tragic love. Amazon/Goodreads review: Set in Puerto Rico in the year 1935, "The Last Valentine" tells a story of forbidden love and the search for the mythical (or so it was considered) Labyrinth of Love Letters. After the death of a mystery man, a bloodstained letter - the only clue to the man's identity - finds its way into Olivia Villalobos' possession. Instead of giving the letter back to the police, Olivia begins her search for the Labyrinth of Love Letters with her best friend, Isaac, to ensure that the intended recipient of the letter receives it. Little did they know that they walked into a Pandora's box of corruption and mystery.  I received an advanced review copy from the author for an honest opinion.  I found the storyline intriguing and interesting - I was hooked from the start, wanting to know how it would all pan out. Felix Alexander set very descriptive scenes in a way that only a poet could. His descriptions were able to successfully paint a picture in my mind of the scenes. Though, I feel there wasn't enough dialogue in the story - some of the descriptions could have been changed to dialogue (especially ones talking about the past) and it would have helped the story flow better. I was invested in the story, but I would have liked to connect more with the characters and see the blossoming romances some more. There was a lot of looking into the past (memories etc) that sometimes interrupted the flow of the story because it was difficult to tell when it was talking about the present again. But once I got used to the style of writing, it became easier to determine the difference. Overall, it was a good read and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a romance story that would stand out. From the author: Felix Alexander (1976-Present) is a Mexican-born, American-raised novelist, and poet of Mexican and Puerto Rican descent. Acclaimed by readers for his poetic prose, his indie releases include: Dear Love: Diary of a Man's Desire, a collection of love letters and poems; The Romantic: A Love Story; and most recently an epic historical fantasy Shadows of Time: The Amulet of Alamin along with a mystery-thriller The Secret of Heaven. Being third-generation military, after a grandfather and uncle who served in the Korean War and Vietnam War, respectively, Alexander is proud of his service in the U.S. Army, and grateful for his experience. After his honorable discharge from the U.S. Army, he embarked on the long and arduous journey of a writer. Having made a name for himself during his tenure, serving his country, he vowed to himself and his fellow soldiers that he would answer his true calling. When not spending time with his children, a son and daughter, he journeys through the portals in his extensive, personal library. When he returns, he immerses himself in his writing, and pursues the scent of his muse. Recommendation: The Last Valentine is a unique romance story that differs to the usual romance. I recommend it for anyone who is looking for something a bit different and unique to read and to anyone who loves amazing scene-setting and descriptions. You can purchase The Last Valentine by Felix Alexander through Amazon here and leave him a review of your own. Follow him on Twitter! Note: All my book reviews published on this blog are honest reviews in exchange for a free copy of the book provided by the author or through BookTasters. This does not, in any way, influence my reviews.