
The Black Madonna
Roundheads & Cavaliers, Book 1
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Narrated by:
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Alex Wyndham
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By:
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Stella Riley
As England slides into Civil War, master-goldsmith and money-lender, Luciano Falcieri del Santi embarks on his own hidden agenda.
A chance meeting one dark night results in an unlikely friendship with Member of Parliament, Richard Maxwell.
Richard’s daughter, Kate - a spirited girl who vows to hold their home against both Cavalier and Roundhead - soon finds herself fighting an involuntary attraction to the clever, magnetic, and diabolically beautiful Italian. Hampered by the warring English and the quest itself growing daily more dangerous, Luciano begins to realize that his own life and that of everyone close to him rests on the knife-edge of success...for only success will permit him to reclaim the Black Madonna and offer his heart to the girl he loves. From the machinations within Parliament to the last days of the King’s cause, The Black Madonna is an epic saga of passion and intrigue at a time when England was lost in a dark and bloody conflict.
©2013 Stella Riley (P)2019 Stella RileyListeners also enjoyed...




















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This book follows the story of the Maxwell family before and after the start of the Civil War. A mysterious Italian enters their lives and their stories begin to entwine. Luciano is on his own mission to track down the people responsible for his father’s death. He grows close to Richard the father of the Maxwell family and slowly secrets come to light. To Kate, the oldest Maxwell daughter, he is both annoying and intriguing and she too is pulled into his orbit against her will. Tensions mount and lead to a very bloody war, dividing families and friends against each other. As the war winds on, each person is affected by it and relationships are strained to the breaking point.
Above all the fracas is Luciano, who remains neutral and uninvolved in the war, pursuing his purpose and remaining maddeningly aloof to a closer relationship with Kate.
Alex Wyndham skillful narration once again brings the characters to life and keeps you on the edge of your seat. He inhabits the characters, adding nuance to each one. His wonderful voice is a delight to listen to.
Each book by Stella Riley is a work of art, written in a style uniquely her own. She writes whole characters with strengths and weaknesses on display and who make mistakes but persevere. Her plots hold together beautifully and she makes you want more each time you get to the end. I was so happy this book was 22 plus hours as I knew the story would be all the more intriguing and balanced. I would give many more than 5 stars if possible.
Dazzling and beautiful, a tale of mystery and love read by a master narrator
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In Black Madonna, Alex outdid himself as the complex Luciano de Santi (and as the strong Kate Maxwell) literally taking the reader into a journey through 1639 England.
The eminent civil war, the religious tension, and the different backgrounds of the MC's are the ingredients of this amazing story.
This is the first book of the Rounds and Cavaliers Series and there is more of Luciano and Kate to enjoy in the next books (as side characters). I am crossing my fingers hoping they will also be released in audio soon.
What I like the most about Black Madonna and the other books in the series is how historical facts and figures are intertwined in the story.
Wonderful narration of a great story!
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Excellent, More Than Romance
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Long but good
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I have waited for 3 years to read the series because I was fairly certain that Alex Wyndham might one day narrate it, so when Audible released the audio, I decided to finally start the series. Alex Wyndham is the best narrator I have ever heard—and he was stellar! His voice is gorgeous, romantic, suave, and smooth.
The writing is brilliant. The dialogue is intelligent, with a lot of humor. The plot is fascinating and I never once got bored or hoped she would hurry up and get to the point. There were no foolish misunderstandings or miscommunications. All of characters were believable and fully sketched.
As an American, I wasn’t that familiar with the English Civil War, and while I learned a lot, it wasn’t dry or boring. There was the perfect blend of history, mystery and romance. I can’t express how much I loved it!
Since I am now so invested in these fascinating characters, and what will happen to them, I will continue reading the remainder of the books in the series, and just have to listen to the audiobooks when each one is released.
I can’t recommend this book and the author enough!
One of the BEST books I have ever read!
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Loved this book!!
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Some secondary characters’ story lines are left incomplete, but are addressed further in the next books in the series. I recommend reading “A Splendid Defiance” before this one, or at least right after, before moving on to the next book, “Garland of Straw.” Some of the characters from “Defiance” are found in this book in simultaneously occurring events but told from different points of view. Then, characters from both books are found in “Garland of Straw.” (I’ve read ahead just a little at this point.). Ms. Riley did an amazing job tying together the characters and events. I am looking forward to the remaining books.
Alex Wyndham’s narration is excellent, as always. His voice is perfect for Ms. Riley’s characters, especially her protagonists. Hopefully, he will continue on to record all of her books. Riley and Wyndham are a perfect match in the audio-recording world.
A wonderful story and superb narration
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Mindblowingly Thrilling & Romantic
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C'est Merveilleux!
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MAGNIFICENT!!!
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