The Rose of Florence by Angela M. Sims - #bookreview #blogtour

 

Summer in the Tuscan mountains. The haze of dry, dusty soil and the smell of thyme and rosemary hung heavily in the air. The sky above was approaching that magical mix between the gold of the setting sun and the first blue of the approaching night, giving the rooftops of the surrounding farms a fiery glow. A lone buzzard circled in search of an evening kill. Beneath its beady eye, a dormouse scuttled into the undergrowth and survived another day.

Fiesole, the small town on the hillside overlooking the bustling city of Florence, breathed a soft sigh as it began to rest in the early evening. The farmers and shepherds had returned home from the fields. Wealthy businessmen and noble families rested in their summer villas, enjoying the cool breeze from the mountains, so different from the hot, dry, foul air of the city...

***

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 Matteocan’t imagine that the growing unrest in the streets of Florence would everspoil 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.

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The author's descriptions of Florence, where the book is set, are divine. She vividly depicts them and enables the reader to feel as though they were there.

It was interesting that this book is based on historical fact and Ms. Sims the events and period in a way that makes it feel very authentic. She has clearly conducted extensive research and it was no surprise to read that she has a particular interest in Italy during the Renaissance period.

She has created a wonderful cast of characters, and Gianetta made a wonderful leading lady in this story. However, the secondary characters are equally believable and easy to engage with.

The book has been divided into and compared with the courses of an Italian meal, and littered with recipes which all sound wonderful. I liked this unique method of presenting her prose and it was very successful, making this book a must not just for historical fiction fans but for food lovers too.  I cannot wait to try baking, Torta della Nonna, which translates as Grandma's Cake, which is presented as one of the final courses/sections of the book.

It crosses over many genres and is so much more than a historical romance. There is murder and bloodshed, poisoning and intrigue and all based around a delightful love story.

I enjoyed it very much and highly recommend it.

ISBN: 9781739117306

Publisher: Romaunce Books

Formats:  e-book and hardback

No. of Pages:  276 (hardback)

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About the Author:

Angela’s background is in healthcare, and she has been a university lecturer since 2010. Her writing experience was limited to a master’s dissertation, purely academic, but the research skills she learned during that process were soon used in researching her favourite topic, the Italian Renaissance. It didn’t take long before the seeds of a story began to germinate, and The Rose of Florence, her debut novel blossomed.

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(book, photo and author info courtesy of Random Things Tours)

*Disclosure: I only recommend books I would buy myself and all opinions expressed here are my own. This post contains an affiliate link from which I may earn a small commission.