* REVIEW * - A Veil of Glass and Rain by Petra F. Bagnardi

Reviewer : Angie

Rating : 3 Stars

This book is mainly told via Brina’s POV, although there were a few chapters written via Eagan’s POV. We find out that they meet as children because they both have a parent who is a photographer. Brina’s parents leave her often (mother can’t stand to be away from father, so she leaves her child to be with her spouse) so Eagan starts taking up the slack, even in his teen years. She becomes dependent on him and eventually realizes she is in love with him. When she realizes this, she doesn't know how to act around him, so she abandons their friendship all together, not knowing that this is a time period he will need her more than ever. Eagan, years later, finds her in Rome and pursues the friendship.

The story has a lot of promise, and definitely has some very well-written erotic scenes, but I didn't feel that the character development went far enough or that the story flowed very well. I really didn't get why Brina was so needy and had some of the other issues she had. Because I didn't get that chance to know her back story, I felt annoyance instead of sympathy. I also felt that the ending was rushed.

Again, this story does have some great scenes. The scenes describing Rome had me wanting to visit the city and the erotic scenes were pretty hot, but the rest of the story just wasn’t my cup of tea, so I am giving it 3 stars.

*copy of book given for an honest review*

Across the ocean, over the years...

Brina and Eagan meet for the first time when she's nine and he's fourteen. They like each other from the very beginning, although their bond isn't immediate, but it grows over the years. What links them is the fact that their parents are photographers and are extremely devoted to their work and to each other; so much so that both Brina and Eagan have to learn how to take care of themselves from a very young age. Despite their differences, age, gender, nationality, Brina is Italian and Eagan is American, they find comfort in their growing friendship. 

Then Brina becomes a teenager, and her feelings for her friend start changing and deepening. New desires stir within her. As soon as Brina realizes how those feelings complicate her friendship with Eagan, she runs away from him. 

A few years later, Brina is twenty and Eagan is twenty-five, they find one another once again. Brina is studying cinema in Rome and she's also trying to become a musician. Eagan begins to work as an architect in the same city. Eagan wants to be a part of Brina's life anew. Brina, however, is still in love with him; she finds it difficult to act merely as a friend and she keeps pulling away.

Set in the beautiful Rome, this is a sensual and romantic story of friendship and love.

(Recommended for ages 18+, due to sexual content and language)