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A review by emilylovesbooks94
Verismo by E.M. Lindsey
5.0
I've read this book half a dozen times, but still the magic of Cedric and Nicolas's romance remains. It's difficult to put into words how much I adore every single piece of this story, from the intense emotions to the writing style to the wonderfully lifelike characters. Elaine has created something that stands apart from other romances I've read, and I can honestly say that no other story has touched me the way this one did.
By structuring this book into several connected parts, it was easy for me to see how Nicolas and Cedric were shaped by the events of their past into the men they were when they first met. After experiencing so much of their lives in vivid detail, it was impossible for me to feel anything but love for these complicated, imperfectly fantastic people. The entire idea of Cedric being Nicolas's equal, his duet partner that he'd been searching for his whole life, felt incredibly romantic. No, the two of them weren't the best at expressing themselves but the music told me everything that was left unsaid. The passion both Cedric and Nicolas had for music took my breath away, and though I'll never be able to understand how it feels to have symphonies dancing through my mind, the emotional impact of their work was crystal clear. I can barely play the piano myself but I found my fingers aching to touch the keys right alongside Cedric.
Though the music alone was enough to sweep me off my feet, Cedric and Nicolas's slow-burn romance added a whole other level to the emotional intensity of the story. These men had every reason to stay away from each other, but something unsaid kept pulling them together. Even before they professed their love, before they finally took each other to bed, I could sense a deep connection between them. To me it felt like Cedric and Nicolas were soulmates, because who else could understand each other as perfectly as they did? Despite how obvious it was that they were meant for each other, these men sure did put up a fight when it came time to put their unspoken feelings into words. Without Alessio and Remy to talk some sense into them, I think Nicolas and Cedric's love would have been doomed to failure. It was wonderful to see the four of them form a warm support structure in the second half of the story, and I especially appreciated how well they balanced each other out.
By the time I reached the climactic Christmas concerto, Nicolas and Cedric had already proven to me that their love could withstand any external pressures. In some ways, I wasn't surprised that Cedric had to confront his past one last time, but it was a huge relief to see him stand strong and trust that Nicolas would be there for him through it all. The two of them certainly deserved their happy ending, and it warmed my heart to see them in love and at peace at last.
**I voluntarily read an ARC of this book. This review expresses my honest thoughts and opinions.
By structuring this book into several connected parts, it was easy for me to see how Nicolas and Cedric were shaped by the events of their past into the men they were when they first met. After experiencing so much of their lives in vivid detail, it was impossible for me to feel anything but love for these complicated, imperfectly fantastic people. The entire idea of Cedric being Nicolas's equal, his duet partner that he'd been searching for his whole life, felt incredibly romantic. No, the two of them weren't the best at expressing themselves but the music told me everything that was left unsaid. The passion both Cedric and Nicolas had for music took my breath away, and though I'll never be able to understand how it feels to have symphonies dancing through my mind, the emotional impact of their work was crystal clear. I can barely play the piano myself but I found my fingers aching to touch the keys right alongside Cedric.
Though the music alone was enough to sweep me off my feet, Cedric and Nicolas's slow-burn romance added a whole other level to the emotional intensity of the story. These men had every reason to stay away from each other, but something unsaid kept pulling them together. Even before they professed their love, before they finally took each other to bed, I could sense a deep connection between them. To me it felt like Cedric and Nicolas were soulmates, because who else could understand each other as perfectly as they did? Despite how obvious it was that they were meant for each other, these men sure did put up a fight when it came time to put their unspoken feelings into words. Without Alessio and Remy to talk some sense into them, I think Nicolas and Cedric's love would have been doomed to failure. It was wonderful to see the four of them form a warm support structure in the second half of the story, and I especially appreciated how well they balanced each other out.
By the time I reached the climactic Christmas concerto, Nicolas and Cedric had already proven to me that their love could withstand any external pressures. In some ways, I wasn't surprised that Cedric had to confront his past one last time, but it was a huge relief to see him stand strong and trust that Nicolas would be there for him through it all. The two of them certainly deserved their happy ending, and it warmed my heart to see them in love and at peace at last.
**I voluntarily read an ARC of this book. This review expresses my honest thoughts and opinions.