"To the casual observer, Battista della Palla is an avid
art collector, or perhaps a nimble thief. In reality, the cunning Italian is an
agent for François, the King of France, for whom he procures the greatest
masterpieces of the day by any means necessary. Embroiled in a power struggle
with Charles V, the King of Spain, François resolves to rule Europe’s burgeoning
cultural world. When he sets his sights on a mysterious sculpture, Battista’s
search for the elusive objet d’art leads him to a captivating woman on
a mission of her own…
Having spent her life under the controlling eye of her
protector, the Marquess of Mantua, Aurelia longs for freedom. And she finds it
in Battista. Together, they embark on a journey to find the clues that will lead
him to the sculpture—a venture so perilous it might have spilled from the pen of
Dante himself. From the smoldering depths of Rome to a castle in the sky, the
harrowing quest draws them inextricably together. But Aurelia guards a dark
secret that could tear them apart—and chance the course of history…"
So summaries this gorgeous historical fiction that will keep any of you who love this genre on the edge of your chairs. Donna Russo Morin is a capable and alluring author. She can charm and mesmerize her readers into a world so glamorous and dangerous, we feel our hearts beating fast with the intrigue Aurelia and Battista are wrapped in. This is a book that will fit perfectly on your historical novel shelves. A beautiful book! A perfect story of mystery and suspense set in the most exotic of places...and decorated with ornate pieces of art and fashion. Who wouldn't want to read this one?! I loved it.
Particulars of the Book:
Published by: Kensington Books
Pages: 418 including Book Group Discussions
Genre: Historical Fiction
Author: Donna Russo Morin
You may wish to read more about "The King's Agent" and Ms Morin at her website: http://www.donnarussomorin.com
You can find an excerpt from the book on her website, as well.
Follow her on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/Donna.Russo.Morin
and on Twitter @DonnaRussoMorin
You can find an excerpt from the book on her website, as well.
Follow her on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/Donna.Russo.Morin
and on Twitter @DonnaRussoMorin
Recipient of a Publishers Weekly Starred Review!“Russo Morin (To Serve a King) skillfully blends historical fiction and fantasy in surprising ways. She draws effortlessly upon influences ranging from Dante to Raiders of the Lost Ark, and the authority of her presentation makes the world she’s created come alive. A wonderfully action-packed ride through the lush landscape of Renaissance Italy.”
About the Author :
Donna Russo Morin was born in Providence, Rhode Island in 1958. Her writing
endeavors began at age six and covered such timely topics as The Pink Pussy Cat
for President and The Numbers 2 and 4 are in Love.
Traveling through adolescence on the wings of the ‘60s
gave Donna a lot of grist for her writing mill. Feminism, civil rights, the
Vietnam War were all a disturbing yet highly motivating muse. Donna found her
voice in fiction and with the appearance of a new horror writer on the book
scene, a little known author named Stephen King, she turned her pen to the
gruesome and the grotesque.
After graduating from the University of Rhode Island,
Donna worked in marketing and advertising for large corporations and small
non-profit arts organizations. When she had her children, she knew with a
certainty that she needed to show them, by example, that if you believe in
yourself, anything is possible.
In addition to writing and teaching writing, Donna has
worked as a model and actor since the age of seventeen, when she did her first
television commercial for Sears. Since then she has appeared in more than thirty
television spots and print ads, everything from changing the oil in her car
(that was acting) to modeling fur coats. She also appeared in three episodes of
Showtime’s THE BROTHERHOOD, as well as in Martin Scorsese’s THE DEPARTED.
Donna lives peacefully, close to the beautiful shoreline
of Rhode Island that she loves so much, with her two sons, Devon and Dylan, her
greatest works in progress.
An Interview with Ms Morin :
Hi, Donna! Welcome to A Bookish Libraria! Let's chat...here are some questions for you so we can get to know you better. Thanks for coming on and answering them with me.
Thank you so much for having me and for the opportunity; but be prepared, I’m nothing if not an open book (pun intended)!
As for place and time, for The King’s Agent in particular, it came about through research for my previous book, To Serve a King. Battista della Palla was so much of a complex character and dashing countenance, that I knew I must write more about him. He was, in fact, one of Francois I’s art agents, his foremost art agent in Italy, instructed to obtain those masterpieces the King of France craved, at any cost, even—when all else failed— thievery. Yet he was the very definition of contradiction, deeply religious and loyal yet with the heart of a rogue. The timing of his life also allowed me to use another factual character of whom I’d been longing to write, Michelangelo. Now I am so enamored of the period, my current WIP is set in the same time and place, Renaissance Florence.
It has to have the merging of larger than life yet relatable characters and a story line that is simultaneously unpredictable and believable; not an easy task.
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The Dame's Final Word :
This is a book I highly recommend to not only historical fiction readers, but those who enjoy a suspense novel set in period detail! 5 stars
Deborah/TheBookishDame
3 comments:
Hello Deborah!
Thank you for the awesome interview, and the review is great too. I really enjoy historical literature, and am currently reading Wolf Hall.
You have a great taste in books. Loved your blog! following you now!
Please do visit my book blog at http://riversihaveknown.com/ and if you like it please follow. it will be awesome to have a reader like you!
This book sounds like a great read. I love the adventure element to make it exciting. I enjoyed the getting to know the author interview too.
Thanks!
Little Girl Lost, Coming over to see and follow you! Thanks for you kind comments.
Hi, Sophia! I think this is definitely one for you! :]
Deborah
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