Historical fiction can be a hit or miss with me, and this one was definitely a hit!

About the Book

1478: Gianetta and Matteo have a happy life, working in service to the wealthy Rosini family. They are used to entertaining rich and powerful members of Florentine society in Palazzo Rosini, where Lorenzo and Giuliano de’ Medici and Botticelli are regular visitors. Even when the Medici brothers narrowly escape the Palazzo with their lives (an accident, surely?), Gianetta and Matteo can’t imagine that the growing unrest in the streets of Florence would ever spoil their happiness.

When a bloody conspiracy erupts in the heart of Florence, in the city’s beloved Duomo, nobody is left unaffected by the aftermath. When the family hear that Matteo is among the conspirators, Gianetta knows that her life will never be the same

My Thoughts

I’ve learned that I have to really think about historical fiction before I pick it up. There needs to be romance or fantasy. I can’t do just dry historical fiction. And that’s okay, we need people who love all types of books. And the author delivered on the romance, the drama, the political intrigue – everything you expect a great historical romance to be. The narrative was peppered with references to 15th-century Italy that we’ve all come to expect – the Medicis, Botticelli, and even Leonardo da Vinci.

There was a bit of an adjustment period, but after that, I fell in love with the characters at the heart of the story. But don’t expect it to be light-hearted and happy. It has serious “Romeo and Juliet” and “Les Miserables” vibes, and I reference those for a reason. Full of love and some hope, but also great tragedy. I don’t want to spoil anything, but even for the rich life wasn’t easy in the 15th century. And the author doesn’t shy away from that.

The “downstairs” people also gave me some “Downton Abbey” vibes. The whole family interacted and lived together in a similar way to the Crowleys – only more pleasant and family-like. I really appreciated how the upstairs people treated the downstairs people. They were very kind.

The twists and turns, as well as the lengths the villains were willing to go to get what they wanted, all made for a fantastic story. I always enjoy a good villain, and the ability to write good villains as well as good main characters is a great skill. The author’s writing was engaging, and the story kept me turning the pages.

I am so grateful to the author and Love Books Tours for including me on this tour. I’d love to see more by this author if she decides to tackle more historical eras.

Who’s It For?

People who love historical fiction, especially romance, will enjoy this book. It gave me some serious “Romeo and Juliet,” and Les Mis vibes, so if you’re a fan of either, you’ll enjoy this.

Content Warnings: Infidelity, Homophobia, Sexual Assault, Murder, Torture, Violence, Religious Ideology, Adult Language, Adult Situations, and More. This is not meant to serve as a complete list of all subjects that all individuals may find offensive.

About the Author

(From the Author)

The Rose of Florence is my first novel, borne of a love for the history, art and city of Florence, grown over many years. I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed researching and writing it.

My background is in healthcare, and I have been a University lecturer since 2010. My writing experience was limited to a Masters dissertation, purely academic, but the research skills I learned during that process were soon put to use in researching my favourite topic, the Italian Renaissance. It didn’t take long before the seeds of a story began to germinate, and The Rose of Florence blossomed.

I joined the Romantic Novelists’ Association (RNA) and the New Writers’ Scheme (NWS) in 2020 and found the encouragement and resources available taught me so much about the process and skills needed to write fiction. I have been lucky enough to have the support of the same NWS reviewer since joining, and her advice and guidance has proven invaluable, and I am now a contender for the RNA Joan Hessayon Award 2023 for debut authors.

I am also a member of the Society of Authors.

While completing and polishing my work, I also started a website and a Facebook page.

On a personal level, I live in Cardiff, South Wales, with my husband and two slightly stupid cats. I have two grown-up daughters and a gorgeous granddaughter. When I’m not working, reading or writing, I love to cook, my garden gives me great joy, and at every opportunity, I travel to Italy to eat, drink and absorb the wonderful atmosphere. I like to call that research!

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