**This is a review I did for the November issue of Historical Novels Review, the magazine of the Historical Novel Society. You can see it here on the Historical Novel Society website, as well as below.
In 16th-century Florence, Leonardo da Vinci meets Lisa del Giocondo, whose husband has commissioned a portrait of her. They begin a close relationship as Leonardo works on what will become possibly his greatest masterpiece. In 20th-century Florence, a nun, Valentina Amati, becomes the custodian of a box of letters written between Leonardo and Lisa. As the Nazis approach, Valentina tries to safeguard the precious letters, which her convent has protected for 400 years. But as she attempts to prepare for the Nazi threat, Valentina finds that she is also haunted by a relentless demon from her own past who will not stop until all she holds dear is destroyed. Also in 20th-century Italy, Meira and her parents, who are Jewish, are facing persecution from the Nazis.
This dual-timeline novel works on all levels. Both timelines support each other seamlessly, and the storylines and characters are balanced and make sense. The life of Leonardo da Vinci is well researched. The relationship between Leonardo and Lisa is fictional, but fascinating, and the author makes it utterly believable. The reader is also given an intriguing glimpse of the art world during the Florentine Renaissance, and we get to meet Michelangelo and see evidence of his difficult personality. The World War II Florence timeline is just as strong. Valentina is an incredibly brave and resilient woman, and her story is both heartbreaking and inspiring. Meira’s part in this book appears separate at first, but instead it is another layer that makes the complete work even more powerful. I felt transported to both periods of history and enjoyed the incredible stories in each one. Captivating, engrossing, and compelling. Highly recommended.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
(From the Author’s Amazon page): I’m Belle Ami, and if you’re reading this bio, then you may be a lover of historical fiction, historical romance, time travel thrillers with romantic elements, and romantic suspense because that’s my passion, and that’s what I write. I’m a #1 Amazon bestseller of THE GIRL WHO KNEW DA VINCI, THE GIRL WHO LOVED CARAVAGGIO, & THE GIRL WHO ADORED REMBRANDT – Books 1, 2, and 3 in the compelling OUT OF TIME SERIES—art thrillers with a time-travel twist.
Be sure to pick up a copy of my brand new historical fiction novel MONA LISA’S DAUGHTER, I believe this is my best book to date. A truly unique look at the maestro Leonardo da Vinci!
Historical Romance is a genre I’ve just begun to write, and I love it! My publisher, Dragonblade, is the cat’s meow when it comes to historical romance. There is no publisher better or more supportive. My release of LUCK OF THE LYON (Lyon’s Den Series) is quite a romp filled with challenges for my star-crossed lovers. I’m stoked to hear from my readers what they think of this new addition to my oeuvre. Be sure to drop me a note and let me know how you enjoy this book, because there are more historical romances coming! View the rest of Belle Ami’s Bio on Amazon.
BELLE AMI’S SOCIAL MEDIA: WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK
PURCHASE LINK
**Click the image below to purchase on Amazon.
You must be logged in to post a comment.