The Rose of Florence by Angela Sims

BACK OF THE BOOK

1478: Gianetta and Matteo have a happy life, working in service to the wealthy Rosini family. They are used to entertaining rich and powerful members of Florentine society in Palazzo Rosini, where Lorenzo and Giuliano de’ Medici and Botticelli are regular visitors. Even when the Medici brothers narrowly escape the Palazzo with their lives (an accident, surely?), Gianetta and Matteo can’t imagine that the growing unrest in the streets of Florence would ever spoil their happiness.

When a bloody conspiracy erupts in the heart of Florence, in the city’s beloved Duomo, nobody is left unaffected by the aftermath. When the family hear that Matteo is among the conspirators, Gianetta knows that her life will never be the same

MY REVIEW

I enjoy stories based in historic times and this one joins my list of favourites. The time of the Medici’s is one that has always interested me especially with links to Leonardo Da Vinci.

The story is based around a Florence household before during and after the attempted murder or Lourenzo Medici and his family. The story gives us an account of those days but the main focuses are around the the love between Matteo and Gianetta but also gives an insight to the social classes as well.

A short read but with a lot of story and twists and turns

BUY LINK:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rose-Florence-Angela-M-Sims-ebook/dp/B0BZJM6TB9/ref=sr_1_

Rupert’s Snowman by Phillipa Warden

BACK OF THE BOOK

First Place Winner in the Picture Books 5 & Younger category and Honorable Mention in the Holiday category at the 2021 Purple Dragonfly Book Awards!

It’s Christmas Eve and a perfect snow day, or so it seems. Sledging, building snowmen, making snow angels and having snowball fights. But wait! What is this? Why is Rupert racing back up the hill? Join him and his mummy as they are forced to embark on a Snowy Adventure Rescue…

Written in a dyslexia friendly font so all children can enjoy reading this winter tale.

Clarion says: “Rupert’s Snowman is a captivating picture book in which a boy develops a creative solution to a snowman’s loneliness.”

MY REVIEW

Rupert’s Snowman is a great Christmas read for children aged between 3 and 5 years of age.

It is an endearing story about a mother and son going out on Christmas Eve to play in the snow including building a snowman. The book positively promotes the relationship between a mother and her child so promotes happy families.

The book is also written in a way that is inclusive for children with dyslexia which can not be spoken highly of enough given how many children have dyslexia and I wish I had a book like this available while my son was younger.

BUY LINK:

https://amzn.to/45bbxRO

Tuscan Enchantment by Kate Zarrelli

BACK OF THE BOOK

Librarian Antonia Gray has fled England for northern Tuscany to recover after an unhappy love affair and to work on the archive of a 17th century Italian explorer, a member of a centuries-old aristocratic family. There she meets his descendent, Lorenzo Quattromani, rich, arrogant, handsome – and engaged to the beautiful and ruthless Austrian Giselle. The last thing Antonia wants is to fall in love, least of all with someone so incredibly dangerous. His engagement, though, is not what it seems, but while Lorenzo breaks down Antonia’s resistance Giselle has other ideas.

MY REVIEW

Tuscan Enchantment is a modern day love story and at under 200 pages can easily be read in a day for those who enjoy a quick romance read.

The story focuses on Antonia who is currently living and working in Tuscany after running from the UK after a previous relationship ends. While working for Laura, a Countess, she meets Lourenzo who is visiting his Aunt, Laura, with his fiancé, Giselle.

After Giselle leaves for America, Antonia and Lorenzo grow close and fall in love but the story doesn’t end there.

For a short read this story gives the reader a lot from new romances with some hot scenes, to rebuilding family relationships, heartbreak and a few twists throw in.

A great read for romance lovers.

BUY LINK:

https://amzn.eu/d/fDsbPyL

The Blue Monsoon by Damyanti Biswas

BACK OF THE BOOK

A ritual murder at a Mumbai temple exposes the city’s dark secrets and ravages the personal life of a detective in this sequel to The Blue Bar.

Amid incessant rains pounding down on Mumbai, Senior Inspector Arnav Singh Rajput is called to a shocking crime scene. A male body is found dismembered on the steps of a Kaali temple. Drawn into his flesh are symbols of a tantra cult. The desecration of a body at a Hindu place of worship puts the city on edge and divides Arnav’s priorities: stopping a fanatic from killing again and caring for his wife who’s struggling through a challenging pregnancy.

Then video footage of the murder is uploaded onto the account of a Bollywood social media influencer, triggering twists in the investigation Arnav didn’t see coming. Caste systems at war. A priest under suspicion. And an anonymous threat that puts his wife’s welfare at risk. When more bodies are found, the savagery of the city begins to surface—and Arnav fears that no one is safe from a bigger storm brewing.

MY REVIEW

The Blue Monsoon is a sequel and having never read the first book I was pleased to discover that anything from the previous story that the reader needs to know is explained so doesn’t affect enjoying the book.

The author explains Mumbai in great detail allowing the reader to learn about its culture, social hierarchy and religions. I knew nothing about these aspects so was a great learning experience.

The story is a great read. The murders are gruesome but their is a tenderness to the story as well. Arnav is a great lead character for the series and I found I was behind the character very early on. A great human being in a culture of discrimination towards not only women but of different social classes.

BUY LINK:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Blue-Monsoon-Mumbai-Thriller-Book-ebook/dp/B0BLFCGXR2