Category: review

Authentic Arts: Venice Travel Guide

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I was blessed to be able to visit Venice while I was in my teens. I immediately fell in love with the history, romance and architecture. Every street has a story and being there was like taking a walk through history. I was able to see glass being made which was just an incredible tradition to be able to see. With its beauty, Venice can also be home to tourist traps as I know I was witness to some – many times with blankets laid out in the streets selling traditional Venetian items.

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The author of Authentic Arts: Venice Travel Guide, Laura Morelli,  is an art historian and trusted guide in the world of cultural travel and authentic shopping. She guides you to the best of the city’s most traditional arts: Murano glass, carnival masks, gondolas, lace, paper, and more. This indispensable guide includes practical tips for locating the most authentic goods in one of the busiest tourist destinations in the world. The Authentic Arts: Venice Travel Guide is full of useful information on pricing, quality, and value, and with a comprehensive resource guide, Laura Morelli’s Authentic Arts: Venice is the perfect guide for anyone wanting to bring home the unique traditions of Venice.

Artisans of Venice is the companion to Laura Morelli’s Authentic Arts: Venice, A Travel Guide to Murano Glass, Carnival Masks, Gondolas, Lace, Paper, & More. Put both books together and you’ll be the most knowledgeable traveler in Venice!

In Venice, it’s not easy to tell the treasures from the trash. This is true now more than ever before, as increasing numbers of carnival masks, glass, and other souvenirs flood into Venice, imported from overseas and passed off as authentic. There is no substitute for an educated buyer. Laura Morelli helps you locate the city’s most authentic artisans–those practicing centuries-old trades of mask making, glass blowing, wood-turning, silk spinning, and other traditions. Wouldn’t you rather support authentic Venetian master artisans than importers looking to turn a quick profit without any connection to Venice at all?

Venice boasts some of the most accomplished master artisans in the world. Here’s how you can find them.

Laura Morelli leads you beyond the souvenir shops for an immersive cultural experience that you won’t find in any other guidebook. Artisans of Venice brings you inside the workshops of the most accomplished makers of Venetian fabrics, Murano glass and millefiori, carnival masks and masquerade costumes, gondolas, Burano lace, mirrors, marbleized paper, hand-carved frames, and other treasures. This book leads you to the multi-generational studios of some 75 authentic master artisans. If you’re reading on your Kindle device, tablet, or smart phone, you can click directly on their street addresses for an interactive map, and link to their web sites and email addresses directly from the guide. A cross-referenced resource guide also offers listings by neighborhood.

Laura Morelli, an art historian and trusted guide in the world of cultural travel and authentic shopping, leads you to the best of Venice’s most traditional arts. Laura Morelli’s Authentic Arts series is the only travel guide series on the market that takes you beyond the museums and tourist traps to make you an educated buyer–maybe even a connoisseur–of Florentine leather, ceramics of the Amalfi Coast, Parisian hats, Venetian glass, the handmade quilts of Provence, and more treasures.

Bring Laura Morelli’s guides to Venice with you, and you’ll be sure to come home with the best of Venice in your suitcase!

About Laura Morelli

Laura Morelli holds a Ph.D. in art history from Yale University, where she was a Bass Writing Fellow and Mellon Doctoral Fellow. She authored a column for National Geographic Traveler called “The Genuine Article” and contributes pieces about authentic travel to national magazines and newspapers. Laura has been featured on CNN Radio, Travel Today with Peter Greenberg, The Frommers Travel Show, and in USA TODAY, Departures, House & Garden Magazine, Traditional Home, the Denver Post, Miami Herald, The Chicago Tribune, and other media. Recently her art history lesson, “What’s the difference between art and craft?” was produced and distributed by TED-Ed.

Laura has taught college-level art history at Trinity College in Rome, as well as at Northeastern University, Merrimack College, St. Joseph College, and the College of Coastal Georgia. Laura has lived in five countries, including four years in Italy and four years in France.

Laura Morelli is the author of the guidebook series that includes Made in Italy, Made in France, and Made in the Southwest, all published by Rizzoli / Universe. The Gondola Maker, a historical coming-of-age story about the heir to a gondola boatyard in 16th-century Venice, is her first work of fiction.

Connect with Laura on Facebook, Twitter and her website.

The Bauta

The baùta is the quintessential Venetian mask, worn historically not only at Carnival time but any time a Venetian citizen wished to remain anonymous, such as when he may have been involved in important law-making or political processes in the city. The simplest of the traditional Venetian mask types, the baùta is a stark faceplate traditionally paired with a full-length black or red hooded cloak called a tabàro (or tabàrro), and a tricorn hat, as depicted in paintings and prints by the Venetian artist Pietro Longhi. Most baùte were made of waxed papier-mâché and covered most of the face. The most prominent feature is a distinctive aquiline nose and no mouth. The lower part of the mask protruded outward to allow the mask wearer to breathe, talk, and eat while remaining disguised.

venice

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A Stitch in Crime by Cathy Elliott #LitfuseReads

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Quilts tell stories of love and loss, hope and faith, tradition and new beginnings. The Quilts of Love series focuses on the women who quilted all of these things into their family histories. A new book releases each month and features contemporary and historical romances as well as women’s fiction and the occasional light mystery. You will be drawn into the endearing characters of this series and be touched by their stories.

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About A Stitch in Crime

Thea James, our main character, is hosting her first quilt show and it appears to be falling apart at the seams!

She had gladly accepted the assignment of co-chair for Larkindale’s first quilt show but she begins to find that juggling the show and running her antique business is leaving her feeling frayed.

Mary Alice Wentworth, the much adored town matriarch, respected quilt judge and Thea’s own dear friend, is covertly knocked on the head during the kick off of the quilt show which throws immediate suspicion on her guests. To add even more to the situation, Mary Alice’s valuable diamond brooch had been stolen during the attack! The family is furious but it is unclear if it is the theft or their hurt mother which angers them more.
When a renowned textile expert goes MIA and the famous Wentworth heritage quilt disappears, Larkindale’s reputation as a tourist haven is at risk. Thea attempts to piece the mystery together and save the town’s investment in the quilt show before Mary-Alice is attacked again with far worse results.
My Thoughts
I have loved all the  novels I have read so far in the Quilts of Love series and A Stitch In Crime is no exception! Full of mystery and just that little bit of budding romance combine to make a perfect novel.
A Stitch In Crime, while not full of nail-biting mystery and suspense, has enough twists and turns to keep you guessing. It is the perfect mystery for me – the kind that gets you thinking but is still light enough to read without being overwhelmed and frustrated. The community in A Stitch In Crime are your typical small town community who know and look after each other. This is what  makes the mystery that much better – how could someone do this to the much-loved matriarch?
Through in the comic relief from, Thea’s Mom with her ‘British’ accent and it tops it all of perfectly. I wish the romance between Thea and her friend evolved a little bit more but that may have been too much to accomplish in just one book. I do hope that there is a second part to come back to for this book as I think it was left off with enough to build on.
Make sure you check out the Litfuse Blog tour page for more reviews!
Rating: 4.5/5
Disclosure: I received a digital copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.
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Spotlight Tour: Ignite Your Book!

Ignite Your Book is THE place for readers and authors to get amazing deals on fantastic eBooks!

 

If you’re a reader:

 

Ignite Your Book for readers showcases great deals on today’s top eBooks. View all the books on our site and sign up for a free newsletter to ensure you get notified as soon as the top books are discounted or made available for free.

 

These discounts are available for a limited time so we make sure you never miss a great deal! Plus, all our newsletters subscribers are automatically entered into regular drawings for Amazon gift cards!

 

 

If you’re an author:

 

Ignite Your Book for authors is an easy to use platform that ensures your book gets noticed by avid readers and eBook fans. And while many eBook promotions sites have have raised their rates we’ve stayed very affordable. With both free and paid feature options there’s guaranteed to be something for every title. Plus there’s no limit on the number of titles you can submit and because we have such a big database, our quotas aren’t as strict as the other guys. We even give you free author tools to help you on your book promotion journey!

 

So whether you’re a reader, or an author, you can’t afford not to check out Ignite Your Book and sign up!

 

Ignite your book and fuel your passion for great eBook deals at: www.igniteyourbook.com

 

 

For a chance to win a $25 Amazon Gift Card, write a post like this one about Ignite Your Book to help us spread the word, and then enter the link to your post’s URL in the giveaway.

 

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Here are our participating blogs. Thank you so much for posting!

 

Library of Clean Reads
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The Schwarzschild Radius by Gustavo Florentin Review & Giveaway

schwarzschild-radius

Murder, suspense and mystery collide in The Schwarzschild Radius by Gustavo Florentin.

schwarzschild-radius

About The Schwarzschild Radius

Rachel is an eighteen year old Columbia University student who descends into the worlds of runaways and predators to find her sister, Olivia, who has suddenly disappeared. After trying to follow Olivia steps, Rachel finds herself obtaining a job in the adult industry, the same one Olivia worked prior to her disappearance. She discovers that Olivia had begun to perform private shows in the homes of her rich clients. Rachel discovers her sister has been abducted by a murderer who auctions the deaths of the young girls in an eBay of agony. As she closes in on the murderer, Rachel becomes his next target.

About Gustavo Florentin

Gustavo Florentin was born in Queens, New York and received his Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering. He spent a decade in the defense industry working on the F-14 fighter jet and classified electronics projects. He then moved on to the financial sector in New York where he is currently a network engineer. His passions include the violin, travelling to exotic places and exploring world-wide conspiracies. He lives in New Jersey where he is working on his third novel.

My Thoughts

I wanted to start of by saying this is a very intense book but will not be suited to all people. It is graphic at times and discusses topics of an adult nature. The criminal aspect of the novel while interesting (kind of like a Criminal Minds episode) but is much more graphic due to the nature of the book. It is definitely geared towards an older target group so please keep that in mind if you are looking for a book for teens and older youth. It can be at times hard to read due to the gruesome criminal activity.

I love a good suspense and The Schwarzschild Radius delivers that to the fullest. Gustavo Florentin has an excellent way of building up the story and keeping you guessing in every direction. There were several times in the novel where I had thought I had figured out the murderer but each time I was wrong. He throws in several twists to the story and I love how he brings in the relationship between Olivia and her sister (whom she only recently discovered) in Thailand. It adds a whole new element of suspense and mystery to the novel.

While at times I was frustrated and angry with Rachel for the choices she makes in order to find her sister, I also admire her courage and strength in doing so. She makes poor choices in order to solve the mystery and at many times is told by authorities to keep herself safe and let them handle it but yet she still perseveres. She is a strong, bright young woman but her life could have been made much harder. The lives of Olivia and her sister in Thailand are struggles that many women face. Her sister is Thailand is sold and forced to work in an industry against her will. She will do anything to escape her life.

Again, while the book can be gruesome at times Gustavo keeps those  moments brief and to the point. It is still a great read that many will enjoy.

Rating: 4/5

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

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Start Fresh in 2015 with The Gluten Free Cookbook from DK Canada

gluten-free

Starting a gluten free diet can be extremely difficult and overwhelming. There is so much to learn, change and adapt to. This applies not only to yourself but to all the family members in your home. When I cook at home not only do the meals have to accommodate my gluten free status but still meet the likes of the family – no tough task there right?!

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DK Canada presents The Gluten Free Cookbook with a collection of over 200 gluten free recipes. The recipes are broken down by meal and contains a full nutritional break down to help assist you with eating a well-balanced meal.

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My favourite features of this book:

  • easy to follow recipes (directions are short, direct and to the point)
  • ingredients are all easily found in your home
  • wealth of information in the beginning of the book including: finding hidden gluten, a balanced gluten free diet, how to set up a gluten free kitchen and how to eliminate gluten
  • recipes broken down by meal (breakfast, appetizers, soups, pastas, meat,etc)
  • delicious variety of recipes (no getting bored here!)

IMG_1646I made the lasagna (mmmm yummy!) and British breakfast frittata – talk about delicious! Both recipes were simple, nutritious and satisfied every member of our house (bonus!).

Following a gluten free diet is no easy task but DK Canada makes it that much easier for their readers to adopt this lifestyle with a breakdown of recipes and helpful tools to follow a gluten free diet.

What have you struggled the greatest with since going gluten free?

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

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