Tag: Romance

Book Critic, Book Review, Books, Literary Criticism, Reading

Review: The Violinist of Venice: A Story of Vivaldi by Alyssa Palombo

by The Lit Bitch2 Comments on Review: The Violinist of Venice: A Story of Vivaldi by Alyssa Palombo

Oh how I love a great historical romance novel……add in some classical music and you have a wonderfully delightful read!

Adriana d’Amato adores music, except there is one big problem….her father has forbidden her to cultivate her gift for the violin. But do you think that’s going to stop her? Of course not!

She begins sneaking out of her family’s palazzo under the cover of night to take violin lessons from violinist and composer Antonio Vivaldi. However, what begins as secret lessons swiftly evolves into a passionate, consuming love affair.

Adriana’s father is set on her marrying a wealthy man….and though this suitor has things to love, Adriana’s heart belongs to Vivaldi. Besides the whole marrying another man thing there is a larger problem keeping the two apart…..Vivaldi is a priest which basically makes the relationship forbidden in the church and in society.

Vivaldi and Adriana know that their affair must end when she marries but there will be events that change the path of their lives forever.

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Book Critic, Book Review, Books, Literary Criticism, Reading

Review: Midnight in St. Petersburg by Vanora Bennett

by The Lit BitchLeave a Comment on Review: Midnight in St. Petersburg by Vanora Bennett

One woman and two suitors at the twilight of the Russian empire. This love story follows three very unlikely main characters, a Jewish girl running away from Jew hating South Russia, an Englishman working at famous Faberge shop and a radical Jew wanting to fight to live equally with the people of Russia.

This story starts in Sept 1911, pre-revolutionary Russia. Inna Feldman has fled the pogroms of the south to take refuge with distant relatives in Russia’s capital city. Welcomed by the flamboyant Leman family, she is apprenticed into their violin-making workshop.

Inna begins to feel at home in this very bohemian family but the fires of revolution are strong and things are rapidly changing in the city between the classes, especially among the Jewish people of Russia.

She loves her brooding cousin, Yasha, but he is wild, destructive and devoted to revolution, Horace Wallick, an Englishman who makes precious Faberge creations, is older and promises security and respectability. And, like many others, she is drawn to the mysterious, charismatic figure beginning to make a name for himself in the city: Rasputin.

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Book Critic, Book Review, Books, Literary Criticism, Reading

Review: Daughter of Sand and Stone by Libbie Hawker

by The Lit Bitch3 Comments on Review: Daughter of Sand and Stone by Libbie Hawker

I love reading about women in antiquity…..especially about women that I don’t know much about.

So when this book about Zenobia came across my nightstand for review, I was intrigued. Especially because I know virtually nothing about Zenobia…..I even had to Google her so I could at least put a name to the ‘face’ in antiquity.

Zenobia, the proud daughter of a Syrian sheikh, refuses to marry against her will. She won’t submit to a lifetime of subservience. When her father dies, she sets out on her own, pursuing the power she believes to be her birthright, dreaming of the Roman Empire’s downfall and her ascendance to the throne.

Defying her family, Zenobia arranges her own marriage to the most influential man in the city of Palmyra.

But their union is anything but peaceful—his other wife begrudges the marriage and the birth of Zenobia’s son, and Zenobia finds herself ever more drawn to her guardsman, Zabdas. As war breaks out, she’s faced with terrible choices.

From the decadent halls of Rome to the golden sands of Egypt, Zenobia fights for power, for love, and for her son. But will her hubris draw the wrath of the gods? Will she learn a “woman’s place,” or can she finally stake her claim as Empress of the East?

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Spotlight Feature: The Violinist of Venice: A Story of Vivaldi by Alyssa Palombo

by The Lit Bitch1 Comment on Spotlight Feature: The Violinist of Venice: A Story of Vivaldi by Alyssa Palombo

Out now just in time for the holidays come THE VIOLINIST OF VENICE by Alyssa Palombo. This book would be the perfect gift for the music lover, romance reader, or historical fiction aficionado on your list.

This book is a fictional account of 18th century Venetian composer, Vivaldi, and his secret mistress, is at its core, a story of passion. Passion for art, passion for love, and what happens when the two collide.

I have this one to review next month and I have to tell you…..I can hardly wait! It sounds so well written and engaging. Not to mention I am in serious cover lust!

With rich historical settings, forbidden love, and enchanting musical strains, this book has mass appeal for a lot of different readers. Here is the summary to entice readers:

Like most 18th century Venetians, Adriana d’Amato adores music-except her strict merchant father has forbidden her to cultivate her gift for the violin. But she refuses to let that stop her from living her dreams and begins sneaking out of her family’s palazzo under the cover of night to take violin lessons from virtuoso violinist and composer Antonio Vivaldi. However, what begins as secret lessons swiftly evolves into a passionate, consuming love affair.
Adriana’s father is intent on seeing her married to a wealthy, prominent member of Venice’s patrician class-and a handsome, charming suitor, whom she knows she could love, only complicates matters-but Vivaldi is a priest, making their relationship forbidden in the eyes of the Church and of society. They both know their affair will end upon Adriana’s marriage, but she cannot anticipate the events that will force Vivaldi to choose between her and his music. The repercussions of his choice-and of Adriana’s own choices-will haunt both of their lives in ways they never imagined.
Spanning more than 30 years of Adriana’s life, Alyssa Palombo’s The Violinist of Venice is a story of passion, music, ambition, and finding the strength to both fall in love and to carry on when it ends.

Praise for THE VIOLINIST OF VENICE:

Vivid and alive and thrumming with the exquisite strains of violin music, the novel explores the impossible choices between love and duty and the demands of art in the decadent world of early 18th century Venice.”

―Kate Forsyth, international bestselling author of Bitter Greens

About the Author

ALYSSA PALOMBO has published short historical fiction pieces in Black Lantern, Novelletum, and The Great Lakes Review. She is a recent a graduate of Canisius College with degrees in English and creative writing, respectively, as well as a trained classical musician. The Violinist of Venice is her first novel. She lives in Tonawanda, New York. You can find out more about her and her books on her website and be sure to follow her on Twitter!

Where to buy

If you are ready to start reading it immediately, you can purchase your copy on Amazon right now!

Book Critic, Book Review, Books, Literary Criticism, Reading

Review: Médicis Daughter: A Novel of Marguerite de Valois by Sophie Perinot

by The Lit Bitch1 Comment on Review: Médicis Daughter: A Novel of Marguerite de Valois by Sophie Perinot

Catherine de Medicis is one of my most favorite queens in history. I’ve read a lot of books on her…..I mean how could you not admire her in some ways? She was about as cutthroat and unapologetic as they come which I kind of admire in some of history’s most famous queens.

Her name is notorious so when this book came across my nightstand for review, I jumped on it. While it is not about Catherine herself necessarily, it’s about the Medicis so that was enough for me! Plus I don’t know much about her children, just about her, so I was really interested in reading this one.

Princess Margot is summoned to the court of France, where nothing is what it seems and a wrong word can lead to ruin.

Margo’s mother, Queen Catherine, is notoriously known as Madame la Serpente. Catherine is a powerful force in a country that is continually devastated by religious war. Margo must learn how to navigate the royal court. Margo is an obedient daughter and accepts that she will likely be a marriage pawn but she doesn’t plan on falling in love.

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