Category: book review

February 2, 2021

The Secret Life of Sofonisba Anguissola Book Review

Set in the sixteenth-century, The Secret Life of Sofonisba Anguissola tells the story of a woman’s passion for painting and adventure.

About The Secret Life of Sofonisba Anguissola

Set in the sixteenth-century, The Secret Life of Sofonisba Anguissola tells the story of a woman’s passion for painting and adventure. In a world where women painters had little to no acknowledgment, she was singled out by Michelangelo and Vasari who recognized and praised her talent. Gaining the Milanese elite’s acclaim, she went on to become court painter to Spanish King Philip II and taught his queen to paint. One can’t live such an extraordinary life without having stories to tell, and tell them Sofonisba does to Sir Anthony Van Dyke, who comes to visit her toward the end of her life. During their meeting, she agrees to reveal her secrets but first challenges the younger painter to find the one lie hidden in her tale. In a saga filled with intrigue, jealousy, buried treasure, unrequited love, espionage, and murder, Sofonisba’s story is played out against the backdrop of Italy, Spain, and Sicily. Throughout her life, she encounters talented artists, authoritative dukes, mad princes, religious kings, spying queens, vivacious viscounts, and dashing sea captains—even a Barbary pirate. But of all the people who fell in love with Sofonisba, only one captured her heart. The painter may have many secrets but the truth of her life is crystal clear from the beginning. Always a strong, passionate woman with a dream, she was an intelligent artist who knew her self-worth and in the end, as Michelangelo had done for her, Sofonisba passed her brush to a new generation.

My Thoughts

Sofonisba is a painter and a master story creator. This novel paints a vibrant story of an incredible, strong, independent woman as she navigates a male dominated field and time.

Sofonisba was born in the 1500s to a noble family who were rich in love, family and the belief of the power of a woman. Sofonisba and her sisters were each born with different gifts – hers being the gift of art and painting. Her portraits and paintings come to life with the way she captures the spirit of the moment and the individual. Her parents supported her love of art and ensured that she studied under the greats, both locally and in Rome. She quickly captures the eyes of some powerful people and she travels to the Spanish court, where her life takes some ups and downs. She led a life of passion, love and no regrets, full of adventure and danger.

Her story is one of mystery, adventure and inspiration. She was born during a time when women were not encouraged to paint and express themselves, and although she faced discrimination (she was not allowed to further her studies and paint bodies in the nude) she excelled in her paintings. She threw concepts of marriage and motherhood out the window – she decided who and when to love, although ultimately she ended in an arranged marriage at the ago of 40! She kept us on our toes throughout the novel with her sharp wit, sense of humour and adventure. She was and still is, an inspiration to female artists, she knew exactly what her self-worth was and did not accept any less from others around her. This is a definite must read novel, full of passion, history and mystery.

You can purchase a copy of this book on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Bookshop.

Rating: 5/5

About the Author

Melissa Muldoon is the author of four novels set in Italy: Dreaming Sophia, Waking Isabella, Eternally Artemisia, and The Secret Life of Sofonisba Anguissola. All four books tell the stories of women and their journeys of self-discovery to find love, uncover hidden truths, and follow their destinies to shape a better future for themselves. Melissa is also the author of the Studentessa Matta website, where she promotes the study of Italian language and culture through her dual-language blog written in Italian and English (studentessamatta.com). Studentessa Matta means the “crazy linguist” and has grown to include a podcast, Tutti Matti per l’Italiano and the Studentessa Matta, YouTube channel, Facebook page and Instagram feed. Melissa also created Matta Italian Language Immersion Programs, which she co-leads with Italian schools in Italy to learn Italian in Italy. Through her website, she also offers the opportunities to live and study in Italy through Homestay programs. Melissa has a B.A. in fine arts, art history, and European history from Knox College, a liberal arts college in Galesburg, Illinois, as well as a master’s degree in art history from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana. She has also studied painting and art history in Florence. She is an artist, designer, and illustrated the cover art for all four of her books. Melissa is the managing director of Matta Press

You can connect with her on her website, Twitter and Facebook.

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Disclosure: I received a digital copy of this book in order to facilitate this review, all opinions expressed are my own.

February 1, 2021

The Secret Diaries Of Juan Luis Vives Book Review

The Secret Diaries Of Juan Luis Vives chronicles the epoch-making adventures of Spanish humanist Juan Luis Vives.

About The Secret Diaries Of Juan Luis Vives

The Secret Diaries Of Juan Luis Vives chronicles the epoch-making adventures of Spanish humanist Juan Luis Vives. The novel begins as Vives writes in self-imposed exile in Bruges, Spanish Netherlands in 1522. He is on the run from the Spanish Inquisition which has devastated his Jewish family in Valencia. Later, Thomas More invites Vives to the English court to tutor princess Mary Tudor, daughter of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon. The plot reaches its climax as Vives navigates the murky world of English politics during the reign of King Henry VIII, ever trying to negotiate an escape from Spain for his family, and for the Jewish people. The early modern period in Europe was a time of incredible instability. Economic depressions were the norm in Northern Italy, the Holy Roman Empire, and large swaths of England and France. Wars were endemic, with power politics and religion playing leading roles in massive bloodletting. Despite the darkness, great men and women of courage and intellectual curiosity also defined the age as one of scientific discovery, humanism, and scholarship. One of the great titans of the early modern period was Spanish scholar Juan Luis Vives. In the novel, Vives is the embodiment of the cosmopolitanism of the intellectual elite during the Renaissance. As a secret follower of Judaism, and thus a major outlaw according to the thinking of his own Catholic monarch, Vives walks a swaying tightrope. He was a genius and a philosopher who had a lot to say (he has since been dubbed ‘The Godfather of Psychoanalysis,’ Zilboorg 1941, and the ‘Father of Psychology,’ Watson, 1915), however, if he speaks too loudly not only his survival but that of his entire people hangs in the balance. Along the way, the reader is given close up and intimate and unique views of well-known figures such as Henry VIII, Catherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Sir Thomas More and his devoted daughter, Margaret Roper.

My Thoughts

I love historical novels that encourages me to research and learn more and that tells an important story. This book was all of that and more.

This book follows the scholar Juan Luis Vives, whom when I looked up he has been noted as the father of modern psychology and was one of the first to shed light on key psychology ideas. He was born to a family that had converted from Judaism to Christianity and this has impacted his whole life. I never fully appreciated how persecuted those of Jewish faith were in this time until after this novel and looking further into this. They were forced to convert to Christianity, forced out of their homes and even executed (this is just a small picture of their history and I would strongly recommend researching it as many of the history courses I have taken at school have never covered these topics). Reading his account of the horrors his family faced – his father’s murder and his mother being exhumed and ‘murdered twice’, was horrifying and you could feel the pain from the writings.

What I loved the most was his fight for his people, and those who lived in poverty. He wanted to find a place for his people to find freedom from the fear of persecution and from the burnings. He felt strongly that the state should provide relief for those living in poverty, which was not being done – the poor were constantly punished for being poor and looking for hunger relief. Several times in the story, we encounter the murder of a criminal who in fact was an individual living in poverty looking for food.

This novel is a wonderful and powerful story, that is well written. I could not stop turning the pages, I had to know what was next in this man’s life. Would he be able to see his dreams envisioned? Will he be captured and killed for his beliefs? What would the fate of his people be? This novel does not disappoint you – a definite must read!

You can purchase a copy of this book on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Rating: 5/5

About the Author

Tim Darcy Ellis (BA BSc, MHSc) is a writer, physiotherapy business owner and formerly a professional archaeologist. Tim studied Archaeology at the University of York (BA Hons 1988) and as a professional archaeologist, worked on sites throughout England and Wales. He held posts at the Museum of London and the British Museum’s medieval galleries. Tim is currently Managing Director and Principal Physiotherapist of Excel Physiotherapy and Wellness. He qualified as a physiotherapist at the University of East London in 1998. He moved to Sydney in 2000 where he completed his master’s degree in 2002. Tim is chief writer of Excel Life magazine: writing and teaching extensively on health and wellness and specializing in the treatment of complex hip and pelvic pain.

You can connect with him on his website, Twitter and Facebook.

February 1, 2021

Mickey on the Move Book Review

In Mickey on the Move, a young boy with deafness in his ears is aided by his mother and teachers in navigating new school experiences.

About Mickey on the Move

In this bighearted book, the real story of a young boy with deafness in his ears is aided by his mother and teachers in navigating new school experiences. Mickey is just like everyone else, except he wears cochlear implants and has to do things just a little differently than most. This charming tale reminds us that we can all find happiness if we lean on and support each other.

Our Thoughts

The start of the school year brings challenges for all students – the unknown, new classmates, new classrooms, new teachers and so much more. While this can be tough for anyone, Mickey faces a different challenge. Mickey looks like any other child in this story but when he was born, he could not hear and he had bilateral cochlear implant surgery to help him. He is supported at school with a few modifications to ensure that he can succeed and enjoy school like his classmates.

In this book, we explore Mickey’s world at school and the small changes that are made that help Mickey thrive at school. I loved learning about the ways that the school and teachers adjusted to help Mickey (small microphone worn by the teacher and moving to a quieter classroom for some times for focused learning). While it may have been easier to identify the supports he would need before he entered the school, it was something that was hard to plan for that caused Mickey to not be spending time with his friends in the cafeteria. I loved seeing how quickly they managed to come up and implement a new solution to support Mickey.

This was a wonderful story about a young boy who is deaf as he navigates the educational system. It is a beautiful story of friendship and support – he is supported by his Mother, his friends and his teachers as they look at ways to support his learning and social engagement. I loved how his team of supporters came together to brainstorm a solution for Mickey. This is a great book for young readers to educate, and to inspire other children just like Mickey. It was easy to read and the illustrations were lovely.

You can purchase a copy of this book on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Mascot Books.

About the Author

Born and raised in Chicago, Michelle Wagner was always a very positive and outgoing woman. Her energetic love for children and zest for life was admired by everyone who knew her. Michelle is a realtor whose career background involved restaurants and always helping other people. She has dedicated time and support to charities and events to help other children with hearing loss and assist families as they work through the different approaches to raising a special needs child in a typical environment.

You can connect with her on her website and Instagram.

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Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

January 12, 2021

To Ride a White Horse

About To Ride a White Horse

Ireland 1846. With Ireland ravaged by famine and England unsympathetic to its plight, Kathleen Deacey faces a devastating choice – leave her country to find work or risk dying there. Despising the English for refusing to help Ireland, she crosses the ocean to support her family and search for her missing fiancé.

But when her voyage goes awry, she must accept help from an English whaling captain, Jack Montgomery, who represents everything she despises – and with whom she is reluctantly falling in love. As Kathleen fights to save her family back in Ireland, she finds herself facing yet another devastating choice – remain loyal to her country or follow her heart.

Award-winning author Pamela Ford captures the anguish of a devastating period in Irish history and delivers a historical saga of hope, loyalty, the strength of the human spirit, and the power of love. With more than a half million copies of her books sold worldwide, she is known for creating stories that are emotional and moving.

My Thoughts

To Ride a White Horse made me cry, made me smile, made me angry and also gave me hope.

The story is set in Ireland during the second year of the potato famine. We watch in horror as families are torn apart hoping to keep their families alive, we watch as people die and others turn a blind eye and even worse blame them for their own misfortune.

Kathleen faces a choice that no person should ever have to make – stay in Ireland, another mouth to feed with no food in their home, or make her way to North America to find a job that will save her family. While her first answer is a firm no, when her betrothed doesn’t return to Ireland, she decides to take the trip to Canada to not only save her family but reunite with her loved one.

What happens on the voyage is a both a disaster and a blessing in disguise. She almost loses her life when she is saved by an Englishman – the same people who are killing her people. Can she learn to trust him? Through a series of events that will make you giggle, they begin to form a fragile bond. But both are scared to love and trust again, especially when it means loving the enemy.

This is a powerful story that you will not want to put down, I read this in one sitting as I had to know what happened to Kathleen and her family. A definite must read!

You can purchase a copy of this book on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple and Kobo.

Rating: 5/5

About the Author

Pamela Ford is the award-winning author of historical and contemporary romance. She grew up watching old movies, blissfully sighing over the romance; and reading sci-fi and adventure novels, vicariously living the action. The combination probably explains why the books she writes are romantic, happily-ever-afters with plenty of plot. After graduating from college with a degree in Advertising, Pam spent many years as a copywriter and freelance writer before inserting a plot twist in her career path and writing her first book. Pam has won numerous awards including the Booksellers Best, the Laurel Wreath, and a gold medal IPPY in the Independent Book Publisher Awards. She is a National Readers’ Choice Awards finalist, a Kindle Book Awards finalist, a Maggie Awards for Excellence finalist, and a two-time Golden Heart Finalist.

You can connect with her on her website, Twitter and Facebook.

The Giveaway

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Disclosure: I received a digital copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

January 12, 2021

The Princess and the Rogue

A princess in disguise is forced to live with a rogue in order to protect her from danger in this romance from Kate Bateman.

About The Princess and the Rogue

In The Princess and the Rogue, Bow Street agent Sebastien Wolff, Earl of Mowbray, doesn’t believe in love—until a passionate kiss with a beautiful stranger in a brothel forces him to reconsider. When the mysterious woman is linked to an intrigue involving a missing Russian princess, however, Seb realizes her air of innocence was too good to be true.

Princess Anastasia Denisova has been hiding in London as plain ‘Anna Brown’. With a dangerous traitor hot on her trail, her best option is to accept Wolff’s offer of protection—and accommodation—at his gambling hell. But living in such close quarters, and aiding Wolff in his Bow Street cases, fans the flames of their mutual attraction. If Anya’s true identity is revealed, does their romance stand a chance? Could a princess ever marry a rogue?

My Thoughts

A princess in hiding who has lost everything in order to keep her life. A sexy, mysterious man who comes to protect her. This story has adventure, romance and more.

Anya is a Russian princess living in London, but you would never know from meeting her. She lost so much when her brother died, and in order to protect herself she had to go in to hiding (an awful and very rich and powerful man has been trying to marry her for her title and money for quite a while and saw the death of her brother as a great opportunity). She takes on the role of companion to a wealthy woman and this is how she meets Seb.

Seb is a man who doesn’t believe in love nor marriage. He is a war hero with a lot of scars. He stands his ground against marriage and love, even when his own friends have found so much happiness. But will his chance meeting with Anya change everything?

Anya is an incredible character, and you can tell so right from the opening scene. She is no damsel in distress, she is determined to protect herself and her secrets at all cost. She is also kind and compassionate, caring about others even in the face of her own hardship. You want to see her finally happy, she deserves it after all that she has faced but will fate allow her happiness or just a glimpse of it?

This book made me laugh and kept me on the edge of my seat. It was a steamy romance but one full of pain and hope. I loved every moment of this story.

You can purchase a copy of this book on Amazon.

Rating: 4/5

About the Author

Kate Bateman, (also writing as K. C. Bateman), is the #1 bestselling author of Regency, Victorian, and Renaissance historical romances, including the Secrets & Spies series: To Steal a Heart, A Raven’s Heart and A Counterfeit Heart. All her books feature her favorite feisty, intelligent heroines (badasses in bodices!), wickedly inappropriate banter, and sexy, snarky heroes you want to both strangle and kiss.

Kate wrote her first historical romance in response to a $1 bet with her husband who rashly claimed she’d ‘never finish the thing.’ She gleefully proved him wrong. When not traveling to exotic locations ‘for research’, she leads a not-so-secret double life as a fine art appraiser and on-screen antiques expert for several TV shows in the UK, each of which has up to 2.5 million viewers. She splits her time between Illinois and her native England, and writes despite three inexhaustible children and that number-loving husband who still owes her that dollar.

Disclosure: I received a digital copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.