The Taste of Light by Giovanna Siniscalchi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Pedro Daun, the Count of Almoster, has shut himself away from the rest of the world in his winemaking property. Feeling bitter over the loss of his bride to another man, an Englishman whom he hates, he drinks port in the hopes that he will be able to forget his painful past.

Anne Maxwell has recently moved to Douro to help her sister-in-law and is hoping to meet the perfect man with all the qualities she seeks. When Anne arrives at the home of Pedro it turns both of their world’s upside down.

Pedro and Anne appear to be exact opposites of one another. Pedro is abrasive and has been jaded by his past. Anne is naïve and yearning for unconditional love. When fate throws the two of them together as they outrun one of Pedro’s enemies, Pedro and Anne learn more about each other. She sees a softer, gentler side of Pedro that others have not seen, and knows that he too is yearning to be loved. Pedro sees Anne as an angel and although he yearns to be with her, he fears that he will ruin her with his sordid past.

This book was beautifully written, and the details were exquisite. Each scene was written so vividly that it felt as though you were there with the characters in that time, and at that place. The characters of Pedro and Anne were masterfully written. Pedro seemed harsh, cold, bitter, and cruel at first glance but as the story unfolded, we learn more about what he has endured and why he is that way. His pain, his, suffering, and his trauma, have all helped to shape him into the man he is. Underneath that cold exterior beats the heart of a man who yearns to be loved but is terrified of being hurt again. Anne comes across as naïve, and oblivious to the harshness of the outside world. Yet, as her story unfolds, we learn that there is much more to her than we think and that she is courageous and strong when necessary. Beautiful love story like no other!

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