4.5
-
62,207 ratings
“Rhys Bowen crafts a propulsive, unexpected plot with characters who come vibrantly alive on the page.” ―Mark Sullivan, author of Beneath a Scarlet Sky
Love and secrets collide in Venice during WWII in an enthralling novel of brief encounters and lasting romance by the New York Times bestselling author of The Tuscan Child and Above the Bay of Angels.
Caroline Grant is struggling to accept the end of her marriage when she receives an unexpected bequest. Her beloved great-aunt Lettie leaves her a sketchbook, three keys, and a final whisper…Venice. Caroline’s quest: to scatter Juliet “Lettie” Browning’s ashes in the city she loved and to unlock the mysteries stored away for more than sixty years.
It’s 1938 when art teacher Juliet Browning arrives in romantic Venice. For her students, it’s a wealth of history, art, and beauty. For Juliet, it’s poignant memories and a chance to reconnect with Leonardo Da Rossi, the man she loves whose future is already determined by his noble family. However star-crossed, nothing can come between them. Until the threat of war closes in on Venice and they’re forced to fight, survive, and protect a secret that will bind them forever.
Key by key, Lettie’s life of impossible love, loss, and courage unfolds. It’s one that Caroline can now make right again as her own journey of self-discovery begins.
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ISBN-10
154202711X
ISBN-13
978-1542027113
Print length
411 pages
Language
English
Publisher
Lake Union Publishing
Publication date
April 12, 2021
Dimensions
5.5 x 1 x 8.25 inches
Item weight
2.31 pounds
You cannot live someone else’s life. Your life is what you make of it. You have to decide what you want.
Highlighted by 1,174 Kindle readers
Experience makes one come to terms with life, to be at one with the mind and the heart. And most people are suffering in some way.
Highlighted by 1,015 Kindle readers
I survived. Her grandmother gave a sad little smile. Most of us survive the hardest things. We are quite resilient.
Highlighted by 290 Kindle readers
ASIN :
B08CV9SPDQ
File size :
5751 KB
Text-to-speech :
Enabled
Screen reader :
Supported
Enhanced typesetting :
Enabled
X-Ray :
Enabled
Word wise :
Enabled
“A clever prologue referring to Romeo and Juliet sets the stage for Bowen’s…diverting romantic adventure in Venice, complete with intrigue, mystery, and, woe…This novel’s engaging entertainment is enhanced by its dual time line that uncovers Juliet’s secrets, and a plot enlivened by coincidences and romance. A must-read for Bowen fans and historical fiction enthusiasts.” ―Library Journal (starred review)
“Bowen’s vivid storytelling style holds readers enrapt…Bowen has written a tender, poignant story balancing dark and light.” ―Historical Novel Society
“The Venice Sketchbook is that rare book, both epic and personal, and utterly compelling. Two women, decades apart, escape to Venice, each forced to grapple with the influence of world events on her own life. This is a tale brimming with secrets, romance, and possibilities, cast against the colorful setting of irresistible Venice. I was utterly captured.” ―Barbara O’Neal, bestselling author of When We Believed in Mermaids and The Lost Girls of Devon
About the Author
Rhys Bowen is the New York Times bestselling author of more than forty novels, including Above the Bay of Angels, The Victory Garden, The Tuscan Child, and the World War II–based In Farleigh Field, the winner of the Macavity and Left Coast Crime Awards for Best Historical Mystery Novel and the Agatha Award for Best Historical Mystery. Bowen’s work has won twenty honors to date, including multiple Agatha, Anthony, and Macavity Awards. Her books have been translated into many languages, and she has fans around the world. A transplanted Brit, Bowen divides her time between California and Arizona. To learn more about the author, visit www.rhysbowen.com.
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Rhys Bowen
Rhys Bowen is the New York Times bestselling author of two historical mystery series as well as several internationally bestselling historical novels, two of which were nominated for Edgar Award
Rhys was born in Bath, England and educated at London University but now divides her time between California and Arizona. Her books have been nominated for every major mystery award and she has won twenty of them to date, including five Agathas.
She currently writes two historical mystery series, each very different in tone. The Molly Murphy mysteries feature an Irish immigrant woman in turn-of-the-century New York City. These books are multi-layered, complex stories with a strong sense of time and place and have won many awards including Agatha and Anthony. There are 19 books so far in this series plus three Kindle stories, Rhys’s daughter, Clare Broyles, now cowrites the series with her
Then there is Lady Georgie, She's 35th in line to the throne of England, but she's flat broke and struggling to survive in the Great Depression. These books are lighter and funnier than Molly's adventures. They poke gentle fun at the British class system--about which Rhys knows a lot, having married into an upper class family rather like Georgie's.
As a child Rhys spent time with relatives in Wales. Those childhood experiences colored her first mystery series, about Constable Evans in the mountains of Snowdonia.
Her books have been translated into over 30 languages
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Customer reviews
4.5 out of 5
62,207 global ratings
Kindle CustomerMary
5
War history
Reviewed in the United States on August 31, 2024
Verified Purchase
Page turner!! Couldn't stop reading. This novel could be classified as suspenseful. I was captivated by both women's stories. Amazing
2 people found this helpful
Diane
5
Another great read
Reviewed in the United States on August 26, 2024
Verified Purchase
Fantastic story although thrilling and heartbreaking at the same time. It also go to ponder what are your families true stories and adventures.
Melody
5
Well written, hard to put down
Reviewed in the United States on August 11, 2024
Verified Purchase
The description of pre WWII Venice, Italy, the mystery, and love story were amazing. It was clever how the author was able to give the reader insight into the main protagonist while developing each character around her to an extent where the reader develops strong bonds with each one. A well-written, thoroughly enjoyable read.
2 people found this helpful
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