** Blog Tour ** The Maiden of Florence- Katherine Mezzacappa

I’m delighted to be one of today’s stops on the blog tour for ‘The Maiden of Florence.’

‘My defloration was talked about in all the courts of Europe. The Prince boasted of his prowess, even as preparations were being made for his wedding, as boldly as if he had ridden across that causeway with bloodstained sheet tied to his lance.’

1584, Italy: Twenty-year-old Giulia expects she will live and die incarcerated as a silk weaver within the walls of her Florentine orphanage, where she has never so much as glimpsed her own face. This all changes with the visit of the Medici family’s most trusted advisor, promising her a generous dowry and a husband if she agrees to a small sacrifice that will bring honour and glory to her native city.

Vincenzo Gonzaga, libertine heir to the dukedom of Mantua, wants to marry the Grand-Duke of Tuscany’s eldest daughter, but the rumours around his unconsummated first marriage must be silenced first. Eager for a dynastic alliance that will be a bulwark against the threat of Protestant heresy beyond the Alps, the Pope and his cardinals turn a blind eye to a mortal sin.

A powerful #MeToo story of the Renaissance, based on true events.

Purchase Links

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Maiden-Florence-Katherine-Mezzacappa/dp/1914148509/

https://www.amazon.com/Maiden-Florence-Katherine-Mezzacappa/dp/1914148509/

Author Bio –

Katherine Mezzacappa is an Irish writer of mainly historical fiction, currently living in Italy. She has published several novels under pen names with publishers Bonnier Zaffre and eXtasy. She works as a manuscript assessor for The Literary Consultancy. Katherine reviews for Historical Novel Society’s quarterly journal and is one of the organisers of the Society’s 2022 UK conference. In her spare time she volunteers with a used book charity of which she is a founder member.

Social Media Links –

Twitter: https://twitter.com/katmezzacappa

Facebook: https:/www.facebook.comkatherinemezzacappafiction/

https://katherinemezzacappa.ie/

Review-

Any regular readers of my blog will know I’m fascinated by anything Italian-related and I love anything set in the Renaissance period so this was perfect for me.

What makes it even more interesting was the fact it is based on actual events and therefore, gives a real sense not just of history but of culture and customs of the era too.

The author’s writing style is engaging and I found myself immersed in the story from the outset. I enjoyed the fact it is told from Guilia’s perspective and so clearly demonstrates how she was seen as a tool to gain power rather than as a woman in her own right.

A truly remarkable book, perfect for fans of historical fiction. It’s informative but simply written, giving it appeal for a wide range of readers.

With thanks to the author and Rachel at Random Resources for the opportunity to participate in the tour.

Further stops can be found here:

Giveaway to Win a vintage postcard, early 1900s, of the babies from the façade of the Innocenti orphanage. (Open INT)

*Terms and Conditions –Worldwide entries welcome.  Please enter using the Rafflecopter link below.  The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over.  Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data.  I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/33c69494586/?

** Blog Tour ** The Devil’s Tune- Fran Kempton

I’m pleased to be one of today’s stops on the blog tour for ‘The Devil’s Tune’.

Carlo Gesualdo, prince, composer and murderer has his wife and her lover killed in Naples in 1590. The wife’s maidservant, Laura Scala, witnesses the events and vows to avenge her mistress.

The princess, Donna Maria d’Avalos, rescued Laura in Sicily after she had been raped at the age of thirteen. Laura devotes her life to her saviour and after the murders she spends years of her life trying to be revenged on the musical prince.

The scene moves from Sicily to Naples and Venice, back to Naples and finally to the New World. Laura believes she is carrying a curse. Everyone she becomes involved with appears to suffers misfortune and death.

A Jewish girl in the Venetian ghetto is kidnapped and sold into the Sultan’s harem, Laura’s daughter is placed in an orphanage without her knowledge, the artist Caravaggio uses Laura as a model and meets a tragic end.

Three beautiful pearls given to Laura by her mistress play a part in the story. Is Laura really cursed – or is it her connection with the murderous prince who dabbles in the occult?

A gypsy woman is burned at the stake, a Venetian gondolier meets a mysterious fate and Laura becomes a skilled herbalist and poisoner by default before the story ends in the New World. The background to these  events is the strange and compelling music of Gesualdo.

Author Bio – Frances Kempton  is a reclusive writer fleeing from  the clutches of Jane Austen.

She has an obsession with Italy. This is the first book in an Italian trilogy.

Review-

This is an historical fiction novel based around the real-life events of Carlo Gesualdo, Prince of Venosa, a notorious composer, whose dark moods and melancholy led to a life of treachery and murder in Renaissance Italy.

The tale is told through the eyes of Laura Scala, a maid rescued by Gesualdo’s first wife Donna-Maria as she flees her countryside home after being sexually assaulted by a local villager.

Fiercely loyal to her mistress, she vows revenge on Gesualdo after he murders his wife and as the story unfolds, we discover how not only her actions, but those of the people around her, impact on her life choices and their consequences.

As the narrative unfolds, the reader is taken from Sicily to Naples and Venice, with the author expertly weaving in accurate descriptions of each setting fitting of the time. There are frequent references to potions and witchcraft which would also have been prevalent at the time, with Laura pondering using the knowledge she learnt early in life to seek her revenge on those who have wronged her.

Fans of historical fiction will find themselves enthralled by this tale; it is fast-paced, enticing and intriguing and truly transports the reader back in time. Highly recommended!

With thanks to the author and @rararesources for the opportunity to participate in the tour. Further stops can be found here: