The Historical Fiction Bloggers Round Table is hosting an event for C.W. Gortner’s latest novel The Confessions of Catherine de Medici beginning May 9!
book description:
“At the age of fourteen, Catherine de Medici, last legitimate descendant of the Medici blood, finds herself betrothed to the King Francois I’s son, Henri. Sent from her native Florence to [...]
Archive of posts filed under the Italy category.
The Confessions of Catherine de Medici
Giveaway: O, Juliet by Robin Maxwell
Here’s the giveaway you’ve all been waiting for! You have 7 other chances by visiting each member of the Historical Fiction Round Table (links on the sidebar), though Here’s the giveaway you’ve all been waiting for! You have 7 other chances by visiting each member of the Historical Fiction Round Table (links on [...]
review: O, Juliet
O, Juliet
by Robin Maxwell
Juliet Capelletti is the only child left to her parents when the plague takes her older brothers. To sweeten a deal between himself, a silk merchant, and a prosperous wool merchant (a loathsome, vile creature), Juliet’s father betroths the two, without, of course, her willing consent. Enter Romeo, and the fun begins!
The [...]
review: Signora da Vinci
Signora da Vinci
by Robin Maxwell
First of all, I have to say it – this is my favorite Robin Maxwell novel! Yes, even more than O, Juliet I’m afraid! I’m so glad to have saved this one for last, and though I was on a tight schedule to get it read, I savored it for [...]
review: Duchessina
Duchessina: A Novel of Catherine de’ Medici
by Carolyn Meyer
Duchessina is a young adult novel based on the early life of Catherine de’ Medici, niece of two Popes and later Queen of France. Catherine, orphaned at just a month of age, was raised in the Palazzo Medici with two distant cousins: the kind Ippolito and his [...]
new: Signora da Vinci
Robin Maxwell is one of my favorite authors and I’m happy to see a new book out! Leonardo da Vinci was featured as one of the young Anne Boleyn’s admirers at the French court in her novel, Mademoiselle Boleyn. It will be interesting to read her take on his early life.
Signora da Vinci
by Robin [...]
new: Mistress of the Vatican
Mistress of the Vatican
by Eleanor Herman
non-fiction
“We have just elected a female pope.”
—Cardinal Alessandro Bichi, 1644
“Today’s Roman Catholic Church firmly states that women must be excluded from church leadership positions, but they neglect to mention that for over a decade in the seventeenth century a woman unofficially, but openly, ran the Vatican. Now, Eleanor Herman, [...]
review: The Venetian Mask
The Venetian Mask
by Rosalind Laker
I knew I was taking on a bit of a heavy read when I started this novel, but I finished it in less than 3 days. Extremely detailed, the story takes place in Venice during the time of the French Revolution and the final days of Carnival and mask-wearing. [...]
Hello, my name is Arleigh... welcome to my book review site! Here you will find author guest posts, book news, reviews and various articles on the genre. My favorite author is Jean Plaidy, of whom I have built a 
