Chiara doesn’t like Jack. Jack doesn’t like Chiara. The story should end there. Except . . . maybe Chiara finds herself daydreaming far too often about Jack. And maybe Jack finds Chiara aggravating in an adorable sorta way.Maybe Jack and Chiara find themselves falling in love.The problem, of course, remains. Jack is a ghost.And Chiara is not. Jack Knight-Snow has had a bad year for losing things. … has had a bad year for losing things. So far he has lost a ship full of ancient treasure, his family, his friends, his title, his lands and money, his fiancé, the century into which he was born . . . oh, and his physical body. Worse, feisty Chiara D’Angelo might just finish the job and make him lose his mind.
For her part, Chiara simply wants to help Jack get his body back and move on with his life. She doesn’t want to like his snarky humor or his gorgeous eyes or the way he accepts her exactly as she is. She’s a hot mess when it comes to romantic relationships. Case in point . . . she’s developing feelings for a ghost.
But tackling the problem of Jack’s ghostliness is not straightforward. Soon, Jack and Chiara find themselves embroiled in a mystery which creates more questions about the D’Angelo brothers’ gifts of Second Sight. Set against the backdrop of Tuscany, Italy, Jack and Chiara race to uncover answers about the past before becoming history themselves.
Though the third book in the Brothers Maledetti series, Lightning Struck is a full-length, standalone novel.
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4.5 Stars
Chiara has been a problem solver and a fixer from an early age. She can’t stand to see people in need and not help them. So it’s only natural for her to want to help Jack get his body back so he can move on with his life. But the more time she spends with him, the more she wants to throttle him. How can one man be so frustratingly irritating, yet so handsome?!
To say Jack has had a bad year would be an understatement. He has lost everything he has ever owned and loved. Now he’s just a ghost.. a clinging memory of what once was. His only bright spot has been Chiara. Yes, the woman drives him absolutely crazy and she’s a hot mess. But she’s cute crazy and an adorable hot mess.
As Chiara and Jack work together to figure out how to fix Jack’s ghostliness, they unknowingly unearth more of the mystery behind the D’Angelos curse. But the more they uncover, the more questions arise. With danger lurking in both the human world and the shadow world, secrets, and prophecies of the past and the future, will Chiara and Jack be able to figure everything out before it’s too late? And what does fate have in store for them? Are they doomed in love or will they finally get the HEA that they deserve?
Wow! All I can say is WOW! I will admit that this was a slow start for me. I wasn’t invested in it from the beginning like I was the other books. But all the sudden, about halfway through, things started to click and I could NOT put this book down! My emotions were all over the place and I couldn’t read it fast enough! There were twists and turns that I did not see coming! Just when I thought I *might* have figured something out… BAM! Plot twist! I have two words for you… mind blown! I LOVE it when that happens!
Have I mentioned before that I am loving this series?! I have devoured it! I cannot wait for Tennyson’s book! And I am definitely keeping Ms. Van on my radar! It’s always fun discovering a new author!
This is the third book in this series. It is the sisters story. Chiara is a complex character with a lot of emotional baggage. She drove me a little crazy, but overall I enjoyed this whole story. I love the twists and turns in these books. The men are just amazing and I love them all. Jack is no exception. So much was left undone at the end, but there were no cliff hangers. I am so excited for Tennyson’s story:} These are clean romances for 16 and up. Some steamy kisses that are just kisses:}
I love Nichole Van’s writing. It’s clever, witty, funny, intelligent, unconventional and a little bit wacky. Her books have intricately woven plots, wonderfully laid out twists and turns, and heart-achingly broken characters who stay with you even after the last page has been read. This third installment of the Brothers Maledetti series is no exception.
The author has a way with infusing such angst into her main characters, which I love….but, man….the angst of Jack tops them all. I mean, who can have more angst than a 19th century English baron stuck in a ghost-like form in the 21st century Italy, in love with a flesh-and-Blood woman who physically looks exactly like the ex-fiancée who left him at the altar? Jack is absolutely swoon worthy and so lovable. Sigh. Chiara, I had a bit more trouble understanding and loving. She is prickly, impulsive, immature and has a lot of emotional baggage which she doesn’t want to deal with. But her past, present, and future unfold slowly and carefully as the plot progresses and I found myself sympathizing with her, even if I hadn’t liked her at the beginning. Jack and Chiara’s dialogue is snarky, clever, and sometimes downright mean but they build a special relationship with that unique bond they have. And the mystery of the triplet brothers’ supernatural gift and what that means keeps building…..
I don’t usually read sci-fi or paranormal books but Nichole Van weaves an incredible world of intrigue and romance that I have become a fan. There are some aspects of paranormal in this particular book that I found a bit outside of my comfort zone, but the book overall was a worthy read.
I read book 2 so knew the background of Branwell and Lucy, but I did not read book 1 where Dante and Claire meet. Reading book 2 prior to this book may help in understanding the plot on a deeper level but isn’t necessary.
I received a copy of this book from iamareader.com. I was not required to write a favorable review. All comments and opinions are solely my own.
Wishing for the 4.5 option! I was looking forward to Jack and Chiara’s story, and I was not disappointed. Editing was well done.
Although these are probably considered stand alone, it is highly recommended that you read all of the books in the series in order to get the best understanding of the story line. In the last book, Branwell pulled Jack out of the Shadow Land he had been stuck in for about 200 years. However, Jack doesn’t exit his time unscathed – he is a literal shadow of his former self. Not really ghost and not really real, Jack is taken in by the D’Angelo family in order to keep him and his existence safe. Jack and Chiara continually verbally spar, even as they work to find a solution to bring Jack back into full reality. Eventually, they take a year long break from each other, in which Tennyson helps Jack recover a treasure horde he had found in the early 1800’s and was subsequently sunk in the Mediterranean. This discovery gives Jack purpose, wealth, and notoriety. The thread of the story picks back up, dealing with the paparazzi and news outlets seeking out Jack while Chiara lands in hot water during one of her investigations. And, new things are happening in the world of the GUT’s inherited by the D’Angelo siblings. What new trouble is brewing? What will it mean for the brothers? How will it effect Chiara? Jack?
This is a great continuation of the greater D’Angelo story. It is very interesting to see how Jack adapts to 21st century life, as well as how he copes with being more or less a ghost. We learn a great deal about Chiara and her issues – especially what lies at the center. I look forward to Tennyson’s story and the resolution of so many questions. Enjoy!
I am so hooked on this series!!! I love the details that are revealed with each book, and even though I’m not normally into paranormal, the characters and their relationships are so well grounded in reality that I find the unusual and super creative aspects of the plot fascinating. I had assumed that this third book would be Tennyson’s story, the third brother, so it was a surprise to find that Chiara, their younger sister was the main character. She is a hoot. Strong, confident, headstrong, and intimidating, so it was fun to see her internal thought process and learn about her vulnerabilities. The perspective is also from Jack’s point of view, and it was interesting to see how he adapts to the differences of modern day life. There is great chemistry between Chiara and Jack, and even though they drive each other crazy… they secretly love it 🙂 I loved that we got to know more details about Cesare, their father, and some more of Tennyson’s struggles and experiences. Even though this book wrapped up nicely, it also introduced more questions and I can’t wait to read the next book! Highly recommend this series, and be sure to read them in order for max understanding and enjoyment.
(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)
In the previous book, we are introduced to Jack Knight-Snow. His story continues alongside of the D’Andelo siblings. As it turns out, his interaction with Chiara is explosive. At first, they annoy each other, but as time progresses, the relationship develops into something neither can deny.
I love the author’s style and ability to create a vivid image in my mind. The characters have depth and the scenery is realistic. I also like how she does not abandon the storyline from the other siblings. The blend of romance, mystery, humor, and the paranormal totally works for me. It’s a combination that works so well that I’m disappointed when I reach the end.
Romance – PG, Kissing
Language – PG, mild cursing
Violence – PG, one character gets shot, nothing graphic
My rating – 5 stars
I have really enjoyed this series!! I love the paranormal mixed with the contemporary. And I love being in Italy! I feel like I’m transported there every time I pick up one of these books. This is my least favorite of the three so far, but it was still great.
I really liked Jack! He is a true English gentleman. I liked seeing how he adjusted to being in this century. He had so many new things to face! Not only was he suddenly in the future, but he was also a ghost. I thought he handled everything incredibly well! It was fun to see him use technology to help him do things.
I liked Chiara, but she also really annoyed me and got on my nerves. She and Jack had some great banter going on! Both are witty and liked to push each other’s buttons. And they were good at it! Especially Jack. The romance between them was great! The kissing scenes – oh, my! Swoon! I wondered what would happen to make it possible for them to be together. It worked out in a plausible way. For a paranormal universe anyway. 🙂
There are so many questions left unanswered at the end of this book. I can’t wait for the next one to come out!! I want to know what happens, and I really, really want to know Tennyson’s story!
I received a complimentary copy of the book, which I voluntarily reviewed. I have given my honest opinion.