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The Missing Half by Cinzia Zuccarini

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      The Missing Half (La Meta D’un Soldo) By Cinzia Zuccarini SUMMARY When an archaeological dig uncovers the remains of a young girl, the fragments of her short life are pieced together to reveal a rich and evocative picture of eighteenth-century Venice. Abandoned at birth, with only one half of a broken coin to identify her, the young Prudenza is raised in the Conservatorio della Pietà, the famed Venetian orphanage and music school. Her virtuosity as a violinist earns her a place in the household of the Palazzo Grimani, where her story unfolds through the pages of her poignant diaries. We hear first-hand her intimate accounts of life in one of Venice’s most powerful families – the intrigues, loves and scandals – as well as the artistic and social frustrations suffered by women of the time. Blessed only with musical accomplishment in a society where family status and connections are all, Prudenza must find her own identity in an alienating world. Winner of ...
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Butterfly Summer by Toni De Palma

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   Butterfly Summer By Toni De Palma   SUMMARY: Hollywood producer for the  Bride-to-Be  franchise, Anna is on top of her game. She’s helped generations of women navigate the ups and downs of romance. Ironic, since her own love life is a mess. When the  Bride-to-Be  finale is relocated to Ischia in Italy, Anna plans to use the opportunity to settle some family affairs. And perhaps solve an old mystery of her own. Delia. Decades before, at the age of seventeen, Anna had spent a summer with her aunt on the lush island. Far from an idyllic vacation, she made few friends and learned her aunt had been hiding secrets from the family. Now she’s going back to sell her aunt’s house and finish up the show’s season finale. As the crew get ready to roll the cameras, all havoc breaks loose. The newest bride-to-be is missing. The groom’s partying has been all over social media. And the sale of the house is shrouded in mystery, with an anonymous buy...
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Walking Italy (A Guide for Tourists and Armchair Travellers) By Rachael Martin

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    Walking  Italy (A Guide for Tourists and Armchair Travellers) By Rachael Martin   SUMMARY: Whether it’s setting off on a long walk or going walking for the day, it doesn’t get much better than doing it in Italy. Italy has it all: mountains, hilltop towns, medieval squares, olive groves, vineyards, Renaissance art, and routes which speak the stories of people and places. This is a book about walking that’s not necessarily for walkers. It’s for those who love walking and go regularly, but it’s also aimed at beginners, those of us who enjoy a walk followed by lunch or dinner in a medieval square and a night at a cosy B&B. Maybe you’ll never actually go on any of the walks. This is also the book for you. It’s full of the history and stories of routes and places, so you can go on your own journey from the comfort of your living room. It gives you all the relevant links you’ll need, such as up-to-date maps, detailed routes, GPS navigation, updates, furt...
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City of Silk by Glennis Virgo

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    City of Silk     By Glennis Virgo SUMMARY Bologna, 1575. A talented seamstress A powerful merchant A fierce battle of wills Bologna, 1575. A talented seamstress. A powerful merchant. A fierce battle of wills. Elena Morandi has gained a fragile foothold in a master tailor’s workshop, despite the profession being barred to women. But then Antonio Della Fontana, a powerful man from her past, crosses her path and threatens everything she has built. Fontana has every corner of the city in his pocket and Elena knows all too well of his past abuses. Driven to fight for justice, she hatches a daring plan to get retribution for herself, a lost friend and his other victims. The sights, sounds and textures of Renaissance Italy are brought to vivid life in this breathtaking historical fiction debut.   MY REVIEW: Haunting, powerful, compelling, sophisticated! This book captivates readers not only with its suspenseful storytelling but also...
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Dark Harvest by Orna O'Reilly

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    Dark Harvest    By Orna O’Reilly SUMMARY The romantic canals of Venice and the sun-drenched olive groves of Puglia provide diverse Italian backdrops for this story of love and betrayal involving three very different women, toxic neighbours and two men with evil in mind. Claudia, a survivor of an abusive marriage, dares to love again, but her ex-husband's vengeful threats force her to choose between her heart and her loved one's safety. Will she find the courage to overcome her past traumas and embrace a new future? Meanwhile, Janet grapples with a choice between a luxurious lifestyle with her wealthy new lover or her independence. Can Olivia, a countess who lives in a grand palazzo in Venice, finally bring everyone together? In this engaging tale of love and betrayal, Dark Harvest is Orna O'Reilly's spectacular work of fiction, filled with drama, romance and suspense. MY REVIEW: The title ‘Dark Harvest’ gives little away about the plot until you re...
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