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Rhapsody in Black: An Elena del Carral Mystery (Rhapsody In… Series, Book 1) by Maria Elena Alonso-Sierra – Review by Trisha Cargile

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Rhapsody in Black: An Elena del Carral MysteryRhapsody in Black: An Elena del Carral Mystery by Maria Elena Alonso-Sierra
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

“Rhapsody in Black” by Maria Elena Alonso-Sierra takes readers on a thrilling journey into the heart of the dance world, where secrets and danger lurk behind the curtain. “Rhapsody in Black” is a thrilling rollercoaster ride that will leave readers breathless and eagerly awaiting the next installment in this compelling series. As a first time reader of this author, she definitely left a lasting impression and left me eager for her next installment. The ability to maintain mystery instead of the plot/next actions being obvious is a big positive and elevated this story to the next level.

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Rhapsody in Black: An Elena Del Carral Mystery(Rhapsody in Black Series Book 1) by Maria Elena Alonso-Sierra- Review by Heather Knalls

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Rhapsody in Black: An Elena del Carral MysteryRhapsody in Black: An Elena del Carral Mystery by Maria Elena Alonso-Sierra
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Elena has returned to her original ballet company as a guest dancer for their annual gala. However when she arrives she finds out that things have been happening leading up to the gala. Elena also has to tell the owner of the company and family friend that she owns the rights to the ballet Black Rhapsody that the company was hoping to perform and possibly finish. Once she breaks that news in front of everyone and shows proof that she owns the rights she lets them know that they will not be performing Black Rhapsody at the company at all. After all that several principal dancers start to get hurt and everyone is pointing their fingers at Elena. Will she be able to piece together what is actually happening before something happens to her?

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Rhapsody in Black: An Elena del Carral Mystery (Rhapsody In… Series, Book 1) by Maria Elena Alonso-Sierra – Review by Netania Lim

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Rhapsody in Black: An Elena del Carral MysteryRhapsody in Black: An Elena del Carral Mystery by Maria Elena Alonso-Sierra
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the first book in the Elena del Carral Mystery series. As soon as I read the blurb, I was intrigued, since I love ballet. I enjoyed this mystery novel, which reminded me of the movie Black Swan, with its suspense, drama, sabotage, secret romance, and of course the highly competitive world of ballet and dance. This is not a cosy mystery but I really enjoyed the way the characters were written and the way the plot unfolded. I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series.

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Rhapsody in Black: An Elena del Carral Mystery by María Elena Alonso-Sierra – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur.

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Rhapsody in Black: An Elena del Carral MysteryRhapsody in Black: An Elena del Carral Mystery by Maria Elena Alonso-Sierra
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Elena del Carral is a prima ballerina and an up-and-coming choreographer who is based in Monaco with the company Ballet Études, however, she has been invited to dance in a Gala Performance by the one and only Derek Micheals, the renowned owner of Terpsichore Ballet in New York City.

It is a great opportunity for Elena and so she jumps at the chance to perform, especially when it includes an audition for Black Rhapsody at the same time, it is a piece which was choreographed by René Fauchier, an outstanding choreographer who is known worldwide for his complex, yet beautiful creations.

The only problem is that Elena holds a secret close to her chest which involves the elusive and unfinished Black Rhapsody, so when she arrives, it is in the midst of a bit of trouble. When Elena drops her bombshell of a revelation however, things take a turn towards violence, and Elena has a mystery on her hands, but nobody can believe that she is not involved when one of their own is viciously attacked and Elena just happens to be the one to find them.

Will Elena be believed as she proclaims her innocence in the heinous act, or will the escalations continue and put more than just reputations on the line? This is a wonderfully choreographed mystery where secrets, lies, revelations and dance combine to create a story well worth reading.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

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Rhapsody in Black: An Elena del Carral Mystery (Rhapsody In… Series, Book 1) by Maria Elena Alonso-Sierra – Review by Charlisa Wahtomy-Alba

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<a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/205883576-rhapsody-in-black” style=”float: left; padding-right: 20px”><img border=”0″ alt=”Rhapsody in Black: An Elena del Carral Mystery” src=”https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1706118363l/205883576._SX98_.jpg” /></a><a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/205883576-rhapsody-in-black”>Rhapsody in Black: An Elena del Carral Mystery</a> by <a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7093896.Maria_Elena_Alonso_Sierra”>Maria Elena Alonso-Sierra</a><br/>
My rating: <a href=”https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6470700002″>5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
Don’t feel bad if you don’t know much a out ballet when you pick up the book. I feel that the author did a good job describing and explaining so I knew what was what. The characters are also well developed and they, along with how the author tells the story, draw you in. Elena has been invited to perform at a Gala that takes place in the school she used to attend. She has also been invited to audition for the unfinished play, Black Raphsody. Elena holds secrets and as they slowly come to light strange things start happening. All of the evidence points to her, but did she do it? This is a fast paced story with plenty of twists. You may think you have it figured out but then it switches up and you need to go back to the drawing board.
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Rhapsody in Black: An Elena del Carral Mystery (Rhapsody In… Series, Book 1) by Maria Elena Alonso-Sierra – Review by Shannen Kern

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Rhapsody in Black: An Elena del Carral MysteryRhapsody in Black: An Elena del Carral Mystery by Maria Elena Alonso-Sierra
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I am blown away with this amazing book! It is filled to the brim with suspense and mystery. I love ballet so seeing it woven into this incredibly book was wonderful. Our main character, Elena, is in for some very interesting secrets as she accepts the invitation of a lifetime. I thoroughly enjoy thrillers that are heavy with suspense, and this author knocked it out of the park. It was like a rollercoaster of twists and turns that I never saw coming! You’ll have to read to see for yourself what surprises are in store for Elena. If you enjoy mysteries that keep you guessing, this one is your next read!

Reviewed by @shannlynn

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Rhapsody in Black: An Elena del Carral Mystery (Rhapsody In… Series, Book 1) by Maria Elena Alonso-Sierra – Review by Jennifer Gordon

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Rhapsody in Black: An Elena del Carral MysteryRhapsody in Black: An Elena del Carral Mystery by Maria Elena Alonso-Sierra
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

An enjoyable and engaging cozy mystery with an intriguing storyline which had me hooked throughout. Elena del Carral has been invited to dance at a Gala Performance by the founder of the world-renowned Terpsichore Ballet in New York City, Derek Michaels. Elena will also be auditioning for an unfinished ballet named Black Rhapsody by the late René Fauchier. This performance will enhance her career both as a principal dancer and a choreographer. However, Elena has a secret regarding the ballet, Black Rhapsody, and by returning to New York her revelation causes a chain of events including an attempted murder. This story had me gripped until the last page and the mystery element really kept me guessing. The world of the ballet really came to life through the descriptive narrative and I felt immersed in the story. I love the likeable and relatable Elena, and I look forward to future books in this series.

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Rhapsody in Black: An Elena del Carral Mystery (Rhapsody In… Series, Book 1) by Maria Elena Alonso-Sierra – Review by Tara Johnson Barnes

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Rhapsody in Black: An Elena del Carral MysteryRhapsody in Black: An Elena del Carral Mystery by Maria Elena Alonso-Sierra
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Rhapsody in Black is an Elena del Carral Mystery full of mystery, suspense, action, danger, intrigue, tension, and secrets. It is set against the backdrop of the ballet world where the reader is quickly immersed in the cutthroat world of ballet dancing complete with accidents, threats, sabotage, and hidden agendas. The story centers around Elena, who is a ballerina and choreographer as she is invited to perform for Black Rhapsody, which will enhance her career. Elena quickly realizes why she left the ballet world behind because nothing seems to have changed and it has only become more sinister and deadly. The story is full of twists and turns, interesting characters, and a unique storyline that will leave you on the edge of your seat until the final scene.

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Rhapsody in Black: An Elena del Carral Mystery (Rhapsody In… Series, Book 1) by Maria Elena Alonso-Sierra – Review by Paula R Sayers

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Rhapsody in Black: An Elena del Carral MysteryRhapsody in Black: An Elena del Carral Mystery by Maria Elena Alonso-Sierra
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book is the first installment in the Elena del Carral Mystery series. The author’s own mother was the inspiration for this book. Elena del Carral is invited to audition for an unfinished ballet by the great choreographer Rene Fauchier. But, Elena has a secret that involves the Rhapsody in Black. A cozy mystery like none.

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Rhapsody in Black: An Elena del Carral Mystery (Rhapsody In… Series, Book 1) by Maria Elena Alonso-Sierra – Review by Barbara Bohls

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Rhapsody in Black: An Elena del Carral MysteryRhapsody in Black: An Elena del Carral Mystery by Maria Elena Alonso-Sierra
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. If you don’t know much about ballet, like myself, you won’t find yourself lost. The author makes it easy to understand and even though it is a big portion of what the book is about; you will get swept away with all the suspense. I wasn’t sure what I was getting myself into with this book but I am so glad that I took that chance to read it. This book had so much suspense and it was so well written. It is one of those books where you think you’ve gotten everything figured out and then there is a curveball that you didn’t see coming and everything you thought just goes out the window. I truly didn’t expect the book to go the way it did and I completely loved it. There is romance in this book that is sprinkled throughout all the suspense. I just really loved this book. I can’t get into the specifics about it because I know that I will give away spoilers and I don’t want that because I want every reader to be as surprised as I was. I have found a new love for suspense and romance after reading this book.
Reviewed by: @bbohls
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Rhapsody in Black: An Elena del Carral Mystery (Rhapsody In… Series, Book 1) by Maria Elena Alonso-Sierra – Review by Emily H

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Rhapsody in Black: An Elena del Carral MysteryRhapsody in Black: An Elena del Carral Mystery by Maria Elena Alonso-Sierra

Elena del Carral has been invited audition for Black Rhapsody, initially she is thrilled with the opportunity until she realizes that something is amiss. Once Elena drops a carefully hidden truth, she finds herself immersed in mystery that puts another in danger as well as herself.

Entertaining mystery. I liked Elena, she is not a real warm fuzzy character, but I liked that. She is a woman who takes no nonsense and I really enjoyed her direct way of talking. I really enjoyed the ballet aspect of the story it kept me captivated. Great read.

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Rhapsody in Black: An Elena del Carral Mystery (Rhapsody In… Series, Book 1) by Maria Elena Alonso-Sierra – Review by Kerry Carr

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Rhapsody in Black: An Elena del Carral MysteryRhapsody in Black: An Elena del Carral Mystery by Maria Elena Alonso-Sierra
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the first book in the Rhapsody In Series and I found it really enjoyable. It is a cosy mystery with a touch of romance. There are twists and turns and I will admit I didn’t see the end coming which was a pleasant thing for me to experience.
Set in the world of Ballet school and productions it was a unique story.
Elena del Carral has returned to her old school to perform in a gala. However this wont be a happy return for her. When secrets are revealed she is left with a target on her back.
When incidents take place of vandalism and attacks happen on other dancers all evidence points to Elena. Is she jealous of the younger dancers successes? Is she behind all the vandalism and attacks? And if it’s not her then which other member of the school could it be?
This story is a fast paced read that I couldn’t put down until I got to the end and found out who was the person behind everything and to say I was shocked and surprised is an understatement. I really did not see it coming.
This was a great read and I look forward to reading more

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Rhapsody in Black: An Elena del Carral Mystery (Rhapsody In… Series, Book 1) by Maria Elena Alonso-Sierra – Review by Francis O’Sullivan

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Rhapsody in Black: An Elena del Carral MysteryRhapsody in Black: An Elena del Carral Mystery by Maria Elena Alonso-Sierra
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Rhapsody in Black is an intriguing ballet-themed mystery. Elena del Carral has returned to the ballet company she grew up with to participate in a Gala Performance. She reflects on the reasons she left the ballet company (and the country!) in the first place. Her return is complicated by the secrets she holds, and the array of secrets the other dancers are keeping.

I found this story immersive. The descriptions of dances might paint a clearer picture for those familiar with ballet terminology but I still enjoyed imagining the costumes and dances. Then there is all of the behind-the-scenes details, from rehearsals and preparations for performances to the administrative side of the ballet.

The characters are also great! Elena has a good group of friends who are happy to be reunited with her, and there are some interesting rivalries and personality clashes between the dancers. I’m interested in Elena’s brother, the film composer. I hope he gets to make an appearance in another book!

This book gets five stars from me! I’d recommend it to ballet lovers who are mystery fans, and mystery readers who are interested in learning more about ballet.

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Rhapsody in Black: An Elena del Carral Mystery (Rhapsody In… Series, Book 1) by Maria Elena Alonso-Sierra – Review by Tausha Treadway

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Rhapsody in Black: An Elena del Carral MysteryRhapsody in Black: An Elena del Carral Mystery by Maria Elena Alonso-Sierra
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Rhapsody in Black: An Elena del Carral Mystery (Rhapsody In… Series, Book 1) by Maria Elena Alonso-Sierra. I loved this book and I can’t wait for the next one. Its full of mystery, intrigue, murder and suspense. Its the story of Elena who has been asked by Derek Michaels to dance at a Gala event at the Terpsichore Ballet in New York City. She has also been invited to try out for the Black Rhapsody ballet that is by the famous Rene Fauchier and its such an honor. Elena accepts the invitation knowing that it will only increase her success as a dancer and her dream of being a choreographer. Elena does have a secret that is linked to the Black Rhapsody and it could come back and ruin everything. This book reminds us that Ballet is not only beautiful but it has a dangerous side and when Elena’s secret comes back to haunt her their could be murder, deceit and danger. Such a fun suspenseful mystery set in the gorgeous world of ballet.

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Rhapsody in Black: An Elena del Carral Mystery (Rhapsody In… Series, Book #1) by Maria Elena Alonso-Sierra – Review by Angela Hayes

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Rhapsody in Black: An Elena del Carral MysteryRhapsody in Black: An Elena del Carral Mystery by Maria Elena Alonso-Sierra
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

 

4 Stars

 

Rhapsody in Black: An Elena del Carral Mystery is the first book in the Rhapsody In… Elena del Carral Mystery series by Maria Elena Alonso-Sierra. It is an engrossing cozy mystery with a whodunnit element, crime & investigation, suspense, danger, tension, emotion, jealousy, secrets, sabotage, accidents, agendas, twists, & dramatic developments- all set on the ‘ballet-world’ stage.
This is another well-developed, multi-layered story- with a tightly woven plot that snagged my attention right from the beginning, and had me trying to piece everything together as the plot unfolded.
Elena del Carral is excited to be offered the opportunity to dance for the premier ballet troupe in New York City- but when secrets and agendas are added to the mix, a sinister shadow is cast- making for some suspenseful reading.
Engrossing. Intriguing. Interesting characters. Well worth the read!
Happy Reading…

Thank you, Maria Elena Alonso-Sierra!

 

Reviewed by @angelahayes

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Rhapsody in Black: An Elena del Carral Mystery (Rhapsody In… Series, Book 1) by Maria Elena Alonso-Sierra – Review by Brandy Vaughn

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Rhapsody in Black: An Elena del Carral MysteryRhapsody in Black: An Elena del Carral Mystery by Maria Elena Alonso-Sierra
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The reader is swept into the world of ballet through the eyes of the main character, Elena. I’m not familiar with ballet, and this this was an interesting story. This cozy mystery is filled with drama, scheming, sabotage, secrets, and a little bit of romance.

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Rhapsody in Black: An Elena del Carral Mystery by Maria Elena Alonso-Sierra Review by Heidi Woodring

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Rhapsody in Black: An Elena del Carral Mystery by María Elena Alonso-Sierra brings us Elena who has been invited to dance at the Terpsichore Ballet by the founder Derek Michaels. She knows that this would be amazing for her career as a dancer but also as a choreographer. Black Rhapsody is an unfinished ballet by a great choreographer. Little does anyone know that Elena has a secret and a connection to Black Rhapsody and her coming to New York is going to start a chain of events that no one is ready for!
I loved this book; I can go as far as to stay this is in the top 10 for me this year. This book had it all. Mystery, secrets, and romance. Everything there is to love in a good book and add in the Ballet and its PERFECT!!! I think the author brought so much to the book. The world that she created with amazing characters, the ballet, and everything in between truly makes this an amazing read!

Rhapsody in Black: An Elena del Carral Mystery (Rhapsody In… Series, Book 1) by Maria Elena Alonso-Sierra – Review by Kerry Baker

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Rhapsody in Black: An Elena del Carral MysteryRhapsody in Black: An Elena del Carral Mystery by Maria Elena Alonso-Sierra
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book is another great addition to the series and is a well written mystery book. The book brings so much intrigue and suspense and had me hooked from the moment I started reading. I loved watching the mystery play out as the characters worked to solve it.
This is an author that I still haven’t read a huge number of books from and yet she has definitely made a lasting impression. I am excited each time I come to read one of her books and I always connect with the story she is telling. This book is another success and reinforces the fact that I want to read more of her work.

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Rhapsody in Black: An Elena del Carral Mystery (Rhapsody In… Series, Book 1) by Maria Elena Alonso-Sierra – Review by Julie Johnson

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Rhapsody in Black: An Elena del Carral MysteryRhapsody in Black: An Elena del Carral Mystery by Maria Elena Alonso-Sierra
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The reader is introduced to the world of ballet through the eyes of Elena. For someone who is not familiar with ballet, or any dance forms really, this was pretty interesting. This story is filled with secrets, twists, turns, a little bit of levity, and lots of intrigue. It was hard to put this one down and I look forward to future books in this series!

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Rhapsody in Black: An Elena del Carral Mystery (Rhapsody In… Series, Book 1) by Maria Elena Alonso-Sierra – Review by Sheri Schrader

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Rhapsody in Black: An Elena del Carral MysteryRhapsody in Black: An Elena del Carral Mystery by Maria Elena Alonso-Sierra
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Rhapsody in Black: An Elena del Carral Mystery is the first in a new series. The author uses her mother as inspiration for the main character, Elena, a world class ballerina and choreographer. Elena is invited to participate in a Gala performance by the founder of the Terpsichore Ballet, but also invited to audition in the unfinished ballet Black Rhapsody. What might sound like an exciting opportunity quickly reminds Elena of why she left the ballet world.
The story is filled with the wonder of the performing arts, intrigue, murder, obsession, and more. I always enjoy books diving into the dark side of ballet and this did not disappoint. Though many view this as a beautiful artform the story gets into the dark side of what could happen behind the curtain. I enjoyed the story telling and learning about Elena. It was interesting to see how everything fit together as the story progressed. The book is a fairly quick paced read and is worth the read. I look forward to the next book in the series to see where Elena takes us next time.

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Rhapsody in Black: An Elena del Carral Mystery (Rhapsody In… Series, Book 1) by Maria Elena Alonso-Sierra – Review by Megan Rea

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Rhapsody in Black: An Elena del Carral MysteryRhapsody in Black: An Elena del Carral Mystery by Maria Elena Alonso-Sierra

If you are looking for a suspenseful, mysterious, thriller with a dash of romance and more twists and turns that you can count then you’ve found it! Alonso-Sierra had me hooked from the first page and I had to force myself to put it down and be a “responsible adult.” The way she writes and develops her characters is superb. I didn’t see the twist at the end until Elena saw it herself and I was still like, “No, it can’t be.” The story revolves around Elena del Carral who has been invited to dance at the Gala Performance at Terpsichore Ballet, where Elena used to dance previously but moved onto bigger and better things. However, Elena is unaware of the secrets that Terpsichore and it’s owner, Derek Michaels has…but Elena has secrets of her own that just might turn Terpsichore on it’s head. And while all of this is happening, Elena is falling for the dark and handsome Jake. Such a fantastic piece of writing. I’m looking forward to reading more from this author.
Reviewed by @meggs1717

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Rhapsody in Black: An Elena del Carral Mystery (Rhapsody In… Series, Book 1) by Maria Elena Alonso-Sierra – Review by Katie Turner

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Rhapsody in Black: An Elena del Carral MysteryRhapsody in Black: An Elena del Carral Mystery by Maria Elena Alonso-Sierra
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Rhapsody in Black: An Elena del Carral Mystery, written by Maria Elena Alonso-Sierra, is a very intriguing mystery thriller as well as a tribute to the author’s mother- a former ballet dancer and teacher named Elena del Cueto. Our main character, Elena del Carral, is invited back to Terpsichore to audition for the Black Rhapsody ballet. While some of Elena’s former colleagues are genuinely happy to see her again, others are clearly offended by her return. When a series of events begins to unravel after Elena’s return, it becomes clear who the perpetrator is really targeting. But why? And what is this secret that Elena has been keeping?

I loved getting a glimpse of the dedication of these dancers as well as what the competitive ballet world can be like in this fast-paced thriller. The way the author brought this story to life with exceptional writing and well-developed characters kept the pages turning and my interest piqued from beginning to end. This is not the first story I have read by the author, and I felt that she has once again succeeded in executing a great suspenseful story. I highly recommend!

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Rhapsody in Black: An Elena del Carral Mystery (Rhapsody In… Series, Book 1) by Maria Elena Alonso-Sierra – Review by Alison Risher

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Rhapsody in Black: An Elena del Carral MysteryRhapsody in Black: An Elena del Carral Mystery by Maria Elena Alonso-Sierra
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Welcome to the world of ballet. The competitive, back-stabbing, cutthroat world of ambitions and dreams. Cue the classical music. The author explores dreams and delusions, and the lengths some characters will go to in order to keep their fantasies alive. There is mystery and romance in this novel, as well as a great deal of information about the world of ballet dancers and choreography.

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Rhapsody in Black: An Elena del Carral Mystery (Rhapsody In… Series, Book 1) by Maria Elena Alonso-Sierra – Review by Crystal Jimmo

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Rhapsody in Black: An Elena del Carral MysteryRhapsody in Black: An Elena del Carral Mystery by Maria Elena Alonso-Sierra
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Once I started reading, I couldn’t stop! We are introduced into the world of ballet from Elena’s point of view. She’s a principal ballerina that has been invited to audition for Black Rhapsody, at her old ballet theatre. She gladly accepts and is excited to audition, but not for the reason everyone thinks. From sabotage, to secrets to accidents, something is going on at the world renown theatre, and all fingers point to Elena. Just when I thought I figured out what was going on, Maria would throw a curve ball and I would have to rethink everything I knew and go back and go over everything all over again. This novella was beautifully well done, and the character development was absolutely phenomenal.

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Rhapsody in Black: An Elena del Carral Mystery (Rhapsody In… Series, Book 1) by Maria Elena Alonso-Sierra – Review by Bobbi Wagner

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Rhapsody in Black: An Elena del Carral MysteryRhapsody in Black: An Elena del Carral Mystery by Maria Elena Alonso-Sierra
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I enjoyed reading this suspenseful story. This is a newer author for me which I enjoyed their writing style and attention to details that made the twists and turns come to life. This is a well written story about Elena and a ballet performance that is good for her dancing. What she doesn’t expect is the events that lead to murder and secrets. I enjoyed Elena and what she brought to the story. She is a strong, connectable character that made the story easy to read. I enjoyed watching the growth of this story that not only made it engaging but hard to put down. This is a fast paced story that I truly enjoyed. It had me turning pages fast just to see what would happen next. I look forward to seeing what is next for this author in the future. I highly recommend this book.

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Review by @bjwagner

Rhapsody in Black: An Elena del Carral Mystery (Rhapsody In… Series, Book 1) by Maria Elena Alonso-Sierra – Review by Jenni Bishop

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Rhapsody in Black: An Elena del Carral MysteryRhapsody in Black: An Elena del Carral Mystery by Maria Elena Alonso-Sierra
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Rhapsody in Black by Maria Elena Alonso-Sierra is the first book in the Elena del Carral Mystery series. It is a tribute to her mother who was a famous prima ballerina.
This cleverly crafted mystery is fast-paced with some thrills that is as interesting as it is intriguing.
With accidents, drama, threats, scheming, sabotage, secrets, agendas, romance, and so much more Rhapsody in Black takes the reader in to the cutthroat world of dancing, ballet. But it is not all doom and gloom there are some laughs to be had as well.
The characters are well written, and the plot is cleverly crafted but some of the story is told by recounting of events that I feel would have been much better had they been made a part of the main story itself.
Elena a ballerina and choreographer has been invited to perform but she soon remembers why she left this life behind. Nothing has changed from when she was in it but now it seems it has only gotten more deadly.
Ballet enthusiasts will love this story and if you aren’t it is something different than your average cosy mystery.

Reviewed by @jennadb

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Rhapsody in Black: An Elena del Carral Mystery (Rhapsody In… Series, Book 1) by Maria Elena Alonso-Sierra – Review by Shelly Kittell

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Rhapsody in Black: An Elena del Carral MysteryRhapsody in Black: An Elena del Carral Mystery by Maria Elena Alonso-Sierra
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I love a good mystery. This author does a tremendous job with setting up her stories. The premise of the story was built around a former student returning as an instructor. The story had great detail. I really enjoyed how it built its way up to the end. Everything was explained at the end. The characters were well written and easy to relate to.

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Rhapsody in Black: An Elena del Carral Mystery (Rhapsody In… Series, Book 1) by Maria Elena Alonso-Sierra

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~ ♦ ~ ♦ ~ ♦ ~ ♦ ~ BOOK SPOTLIGHT SHOWCASE ~ ♦ ~ ♦ ~ ♦ ~ ♦ ~
Rhapsody in Black: An Elena del Carral Mystery (Rhapsody In… Series, Book 1) by Maria Elena Alonso-Sierra
Hosted by Itsy Bitsy Book Bits
Genre – Cozy Mystery
Page Count – 269 pages
Cover Designer – Scott Carpenter

GOODREADS – Rhapsody in Black: An Elena del Carral Mystery (Rhapsody In… Series, Book 1) by Maria Elena Alonso-Sierra

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A different kind of cozy…
Elena del Carral has been invited to dance in a Gala Performance by none other than Derek Michaels, founder of the world-renowned Terpsichore Ballet in New York City. She’s also been invited to audition for Black Rhapsody, the unfinished ballet from the late choreographic master, Rene Fauchier. Delighted, Elena accepts the invitation, knowing this performance will enhance her career, not only as a principal dancer, but also as an up-and-coming choreographer, as well.
But Elena holds a secret, too, one which revolves around Black Rhapsody itself. Unfortunately, no one warned Elena, when she arrived in New York, that such revelation would spark a chain of events that would involve attempted murder and finding an almost dead body in the rehearsal hall.

~ AMAZON ~ SMASHWORDS ~ APPLE BOOKS ~ KOBO ~NOOK~STORYORIGIN~

Click here to view the Book Trailer for Rhapsody in Black: An Elena del Carral Mystery (Rhapsody In… Series, Book 1) by Maria Elena Alonso-Sierra

Click here to experience a Chapter Reading of Rhapsody in Black: An Elena del Carral Mystery (Rhapsody In… Series, Book 1) by Maria Elena Alonso-Sierra

Maria Elena Alonso-Sierra is an award-winning, bestselling author with a unique point of view: to give her readers and fans thrills and kills, with a twist. Her characters are placed in danger in ingenuous ways while, at the same time, her novels are set in locales across Europe and the United States, reflecting her international upbringing and extensive time as a Cuban exile and global traveler.

The author’s writing career began circa age thirteen with a very juvenile science fiction short story; but the writing bug hit, and she has been writing, in one capacity or another, ever since. She has worked as a professional dancer, singer, journalist, and literature teacher in both the university and middle school levels (and not necessarily in that order) and holds a Masters in English literature. She comes from a very distinguished line of ballet dancers in the international ballet world: her mother, Elena del Cueto, prima ballerina and choreographer in Cuban ballet, TV, and theater; her father, Alberto Alonso, dancer and choreographer, original member of the Ballet Russes de Colonel W. de Basil and Cuban ballet; her uncle, Fernando Alonso, dancer and teacher of the Cuban ballet and American Ballet Theater; and her aunt, Alicia Alonso, prima ballerina of the Cuban ballet. Ms. Alonso has been dancing with her mother since the age of seven, until she retired from dancing altogether.

All her novels have received different accolades, including gold, silver and bronze medals, as well as honorary mentions from respected book award institutions. Ms. Alonso-Sierra is currently writing full-time and loves to hear from her fans and readers. When not writing, she roams around to discover new places to set her novels.

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