Mona Lisa’s daughterfor

1 Bestselling author Belle Ami knows that Dreams do come true Belle Ami is an author of time travel romantic thrillers international thrillers and historical fiction Her latest 1 historical fiction novel is The Last Daughter based on the true story of her mother s survival of the Holocaust Whether she writes thrillers set in the art world with a supernatural twist or her new Lost in Time series of time travel historical romances for Dragonblade Publishing Belle s books are all meticulously researched with compelling stories that will usher you through breathtaking twists and turns and introduce you to captivating heroes and heroines Belle s books have won many awards including the RONE the Raven Readers Favorite Aw 1 Bestselling author Belle Ami knows that Dreams do come true Belle Ami is an author of time travel romantic thrillers international thrillers and historical fiction Her latest 1 historical fiction novel is The Last Daughter based on the true story of her mother s survival of the Holocaust Whether she writes thrillers set in the art world with a supernatural twist or her new Lost in Time series of time travel historical romances for Dragonblade Publishing Belle s books are all meticulously researched with compelling stories that will usher you through breathtaking twists and turns and introduce you to captivating heroes and heroines Belle s books have won many awards including the RONE the Raven Readers Favorite Award National Jewish Book Award and The Book Excellence Award to name a few. Mona Lisa’s daughterfor Belle Ami Book List Mona Lisa s DaughterLost in Time Series London Time Paris Time Tuscan TimeThe Last Daughter The Blue Coat Saga The Rendezvous in Paris The Lost Legacy of Time and The Secret Book of NamesOut of Time Series The Girl Who Knew Da Vinci The Girl Who Loved Caravaggio and The Girl Who Adored RembrandtTip of the Spear Series Escape Vengeance Ransom and ExposedThe Only One Series The One The One More and One More Time is Not EnoughWhen Bells isn t writing you can find her in the kitchen whipping up a delectable meal for her family to enjoy In addition to gourmet cooking Belle is an accomplished pianist avid skier and world traveler She lives in Southern California with her wonderful Giorgio Armani her regal Chihuahua site_link From acclaimed author Belle Ami renowned for her poignant World War II epic The Last Daughter inspired by her mother s survival of the Holocaust emerges a captivating saga that transcends the bounds of time Mona Lisa s Daughter entwines the fates of two remarkable women against the backdrop of history s glittering peaks and darkest depths In the resplendent glory of Renaissance Florence Leonardo da Vinci meets Lisa del Giocondo the wife of a silk merchant forging a friendship that transcends the conventional roles of artist and muse Their bond yields what many consider the greatest masterpiece the world has ever known but also harbors a shared secret that must be kept hidden at all costs Fast forward four centuries to the dawn of World War II where in the shadow of fascist rule fear grips the city of Florence It is here that young nun Valentina Amati shoulders the duty of safeguarding a hidden cache of letters exchanged between Leonardo and Lisa However as the malevolence of Hitler s Nazis marches ever closer Valentina finds herself haunted by her own past and ensnared in a perilous web of secrets that threaten not only her life but also the sanctuary she has vowed to protect Mona Lisa s DaughterBrilliant read I feel like Ami needs to go and write a story behind every famous painting Romance Thriller Historical Fiction The beautiful object was made of wood and carved with an inlay of two birds in flight Its metal hinges were free of rust No dust nor any cobwebs covered its exterior It was not overly heavy but it was locked so she stretched her hand again to the back of the secret compartment seeking a key to unlock the chest I see you ve discovered our treasure Suor Maria Vittoria s amused voice floated up the ladder. Mona Lisa’s daughterfor Valentina gasped again and would have lost her footing had the nun not steadied her Careful my child Mona Lisa s Daughter begins in 1882 at the convent of Santa Maria del Carmine when a young nun Suor Sister Maria Vittoria is tasked by an elderly nun Suor Ursula with looking after a treasure the convent has been hiding for centuries Suor Ursula is dying and there are only few chosen ones who would ever know of this secret box of delicate faded letters Suor Maria Vittoria swears to look after it well. Mona Lisa’s daughterfor Next the action moves to 1925 when young Valentina Amato is taken pregnant to the convent by her irate mother Despite her initial reluctance she soon begins to warm to several nuns and eventually acknowledging Valentina s good education Suor Maria Vittoria employs her in the convent library In time they build up a trust and after Valentina discovers the hidden box she is tasked to transcribe the content of the 400 year old letters kept in the box Sworn to secrecy she is intrigued by what they reveal. Mona Lisa’s daughterfor Flashback to 1503 and we delve into the bustle of Renaissance Florence Powerful families rule the city which prospers under the benevolence of their masters But even renowned artists need to pay bills and for Leonardo da Vinci this means doing portraits He meets a mysterious lady who buys and then releases a pair of turtledoves Her demeanour and her beauty intrigues him This is the beginning of a slow fascinating intimate relationship between the artist and his younger muse Back in the 20th century the time arrives for Valentina to give birth to a daughter in the knowledge that the babe will be adopted She briefly meets her daughter s new parents a Jewish couple from Rome who adore the baby from the start Heartbroken she rushes away to leave them to their newfound joy. Mona Lisa’s daughterfor But returning home Valentina is being observed by the same man who stalked her previously And whilst her uncaring mother plans Valentina s wedding the girl hatches a daring plan of her own. Mona Lisa’s daughterfor Will Valentina escape the clutches of her tormentor And what happens with Leonardo da Vinci and Lisa del Giocondo Well read the book to find out An intriguing dual timeline novel set in Florence Mona Lisa s Daughter covers the Renaissance when Leonardo painted his famous portrait of a woman who belonged to another And it also delves into the dark era of pre WWII Italy under the firm command of Mussolini and his dangerous henchmen When Italy aligns itself with Germany and Jews began to be rounded up to be sent to internment camps far away from home the fate of Valentina s daughter and her adoptive parents comes dramatically into play. Mona Lisa’s daughterfor Several characters make this story so compelling Valentina who grows from insecure teenager to astute young woman as she takes an important decision that sets out her future Suor Maria Vittoria the friendly nun who gives the wronged girl a chance without judgment and Leonardo da Vinci famed painter who falls for another man s wife. Mona Lisa’s daughterfor For me Valentina is the undisputed star of this novel as she grows from a young innocent to a woman who knows her heart The choices she makes are born from necessity and we as readers empathise with her plight But it is through her that we uncover one of history s long kept secrets that of a liaison between da Vinci and Mona Lisa Valentina s character shines through and as she grows into an adult she brings a strong sense of realism into the plot Her fate probably resembled that of dozens of other young women through the ages and her decision must be respected admired even We follow her steep learning curve as external forces encroach into the sanctity of the convent where like many other convents or monasteries they harboured rebels Jews and other people endangered by Nazi politics. Mona Lisa’s daughterfor Suor Maria Vittoria is a kind nun caring intelligent and friendly Her support of the young girl who d arrived pregnant on their doorstep is incredible She is a steadfast character not only in her faith but also in seeing the good in the women around her Her trust in Valentina is rewarded by the girl s devotion Their bond is a close one among religious sisters and it s what makes this novel so heart warming. Mona Lisa’s daughterfor I m afraid I didn t care too much for Leonardo and Lisa s part of this novel I found them a little one dimensional and although the fictional plot has some merit Ms Ami explains this part in her Notes at the back of the novel I never found their story of much interest I have seen the painting repeatedly and I can well imagine there to be a small grain of truth in the plot but it just didn t do it for me. Mona Lisa’s daughterfor My focus was entirely on Valentina whose story was foremost in my mind Her life could have gone completely wrong especially had her devious mother had her way but with her mind made up Valentina chose the best path for her and one that kept her and her daughter safe Well most of the time Ms Ami has undertaken some absolutely incredible research not only into the splendour and brilliance of Renaissance Florence but also into Italy between the wars Mussolini s growing power is mentioned and although the convent is fairly cut off from the world news does reach them The parts set in the Renaissance are exquisitely authentic and Ms Ami has created an enticing environment for two great minds the painter and the good wife to meet The detail of the era is so realistic you feel transported back in time For me sadly the emotional side did not work out but the historical setting was very well portrayed indeed through the graceful narrative. Mona Lisa’s daughterfor Mona Lisa s Daughter is a moving and intriguing dual timeline story of human actions hope obsession persecution and ultimately of enduring love As her fate echoes through the ages it is her story that sets the tone of this novel and it is her character who turns it into an unforgettable reading experience. Mona Lisa’s daughterfor Review by Cathie DunnThe Coffee Pot Book Club Romance Thriller Historical Fiction Readers Favorite Book ReviewTitle Mona Lisa s DaughterReviewed by Saifunnissa Hassam Belle Ami s Mona Lisa s Daughter is a well researched and wellcrafted story of art romance suspense and the stark reality of war The story is set in Italy in two timelines the 16th centuryRenaissance and the 20th century including World War II In 1925 after a terrifying experience 15 year old Valentina Amato of Fiesole finds sanctuary in the Santa Maria del Carmina Convent in Florence. Mona Lisa’s daughterfor She becomes a nun Suor Gianna With her love of learning and books she becomes a librarian under the mentorship of Suor Maria Vittoria Valentina is entrusted with deciphering and making handwritten and typed copies of treasured and precious letters from the 16th century The letters are the personal correspondence between the genius and artist Leonardo de Vinci and Lisa del Giocondo the wife of a wealthy silk merchant The correspondence lasted about 20 years beginning in 1503 when Leonardo was commissioned to create Lisa s portrait Valentina continues the transcription of the letters in WWII as Italy joins Germany to fightthe Allies Compelling and immersive I thoroughly enjoyed Belle Ami s Mona Lisa s Daughter with its unforgettable characters and complex plotlines I loved the worldbuilding of both centuries 16th century Renaissance Florence and 20th century Florence from about the 1920s to the end of WWII The artwork and graphics evoked beautifully the two periods the young nun Valentina in the 20thcentury Florence in WWII and the Renaissance painting of Mona Lisa The character development was outstanding particularly that of Leonardo de Vinci and Lisa del Giocondo I liked how the fictitious letters expressed the growing bond of love and affection between the artist and the muse and their discovery that they are kindred spirits The settings of their everyday lives and Leonardo sother art commissions added great depth to the story Equally I liked Valentina s character development her courage and her determination to face the daunting challenges in her life beginning from the time she became a nun through the terror of WWII when the nuns provided sanctuary to Italian Jews facing persecution I loved Mona Lisa s Daughter for its intriguing and poignant story of Leonardo and Lisa and the profoundly moving story of Valentina the nun and guardian of the treasured letters A haunting tale of love sacrifice and hope Romance Thriller Historical Fiction Even though I know the story of Leonardo and Mona Lisa is fictional It is rich and historical detail and beautifully researched. Mona Lisa’s daughterfor I ve read a lot Belle Ami s work and this is definitely my favoriteThe story deftly weaves between the 1500 s Leonardo s and Lisa s time And a second timeline playing out in the background of World War II in Italy where a treasure trove of Leonardo and Lisa s correspondence is safeguarded by an order of nuns It s just so well done Highly recommend Romance Thriller Historical Fiction

Mona Lisa’s Daughter By Belle Ami

9798989981106

English

417

Kindle Edition

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: Mona Lisa’s daughterfor I absolutely adored Valentina She is a wonderful character and together with the indomitable Suor Maria Vittoria makes a formidable duo, Mona Lisa’s daughterfor Recommended especially for readers of dual timeline mysteries in an exquisite setting who love an intriguing plot and characters who show incredible fortitude and unconditional love