In the spirit of the Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown and the Art Forger by B. A. Shapiro, blended with an unforgettable romance . . . The Girl Who Knew Da Vinci by Belle Ami unravels a compelling mystery with an emotional love story.Three destinies, three timeless loves, one remarkable painting.Will her visions lead her to the truth?Art historian Angela Renatus is haunted by dreams of Leonardo da … by dreams of Leonardo da Vinci and a mysterious painting of Giuliano Medici and his mistress Fioretta Gorini. A painting that, as far as the world knows, doesn’t exist. Compelled by her visions, Angela is determined to find out the truth.
When Angela is contacted by art detective Alex Caine, she’s shocked to learn that he too is seeking the same painting. Alex’s client, a wealthy German financier, is determined to clear the name of his late uncle, Gerhard Jaeger, an art historian, who went missing in Florence, during World War II. In letters written before his disappearance, the historian describes his love affair with a beautiful young Italian woman named Sophia Caro and the discovery of an extraordinary painting by the great master himself-a painting depicting Giuliano and Fioretta.
Angela and Alex journey to Florence in search of the priceless treasure. Is it a lost da Vinci, potentially worth hundreds of millions of dollars, or a wild goose-chase that will only lead to a dead end? But someone else is searching for the elusive painting-Alberto Scordato is a powerful man in the art world and a sociopath who will stop at nothing to get what he wants, even murder. Scordato knows something about Angela that even she doesn’t know, something that could threaten both Angela and Alex’s lives, forcing them into the crosshairs of fate.
Please note: This novel is a romantic suspense/thriller with scenes of sensuality.
more
What a refreshing read! Time travel without someone absentmindedly knocking against a tree in the woods and waking to find herself in the arms of an eighteenth century laird. Am I alone in thinking that this particular plot has been used to the point of abuse?
Here we have two intelligent, sensible art historians who are drawn together by the young woman’s obsession with a painting in the museum where she has a fragile internship.
What follows is a lesson in history wrapped in an adventure with dips into three different centuries involving a masterpiece by the Master Artist of all, daVinci. The tale is beautifully drawn by Belle Ami who I thank for keeping me up, two nights in a row, too spellbound to put down her work! My puppy, who was aching to go to bed both those nights, perhaps may not join me in my sincere appreciation of a delicious read that never lost my attention!
If you are tired of the trite, but still want to roam among other ages, read this work and see if you don’t enjoy it as much as I did.
Brava, Belle!
I wished this book was longer. I really fell for the characters.
I enjoyed reading this book. Who doesn’t like to think that you could find your true love through time?
I love the series! Please do more!
I very much enjoyed this Romantic historical time travel mystery. It was interesting and illuminating about present and past art worlds. It had me thinking about how wealthy and influential patrons like the Medicis lived and influenced art during Leonardo da Vinci’s lifetime. I also liked how the history was presented in dreams and visions of the main character.
A little crime, a little drama, a little magic and a whole lot of history wrapped into an incredible romance story that spans three generations. The Girl Who Knew da Vinciby Belle Ami takes readers on a world wind love story as incredible as the historical figures it portrays.
The 240-page book inspired by The Da Vinci Code takes readers on a journey back to the life of Da Vinci through the eyes of Fioretta Gorgini, Sophia Caro and Angela Renatus. Three women from three different time periods, all connected to the same lost painting of Da Vinci. Men, driven by greed, seek to be the first to discover the lost painting and uncover its truth for monetary gain and they are willing to kill for it. Can Angela, a young art intern in the modern world, save the painting and her own life from their murderous hands and in the process heal century-old wounds? She’s frequented by nightmares of Fioretta’s and Sofia’s past that take her back to the incredible world of historical Italy in the times of da Vinci and world war two in hopes of bringing the fated curse of the da Vinci painting.
This book is the kind of book that authors dream of writing. It’s the kind of book that inspires readers to become writers. While it gets its inspiration from the likes of The da Vincie Code, I found this book even better. I honestly can’t say enough good things about it. The story of Fioretta is heart breaking and passionate. Sofia’s story is mysterious and sexy. Angela’s plot weaves a beautiful combination of the two. All of it centered around the unusual tell of the missing da Vincie painting, which acts as a fourth character in the novel.
Grammar mistakes were minimal, and the few I noticed didn’t affect the writing. The author’s storytelling shone throughout the book with captivating and intriguing plot twist, though some outcomes were predictable, the storytelling that it took to get there was not. I laughed and cried with these women and men.
Not to mention that the bad guys are painted as realistic villains. Their each given their flaws and those flaws become the backbone that drives the story, as villains and characters should be written. Though at points, I wanted more from the villains, I realized instantly that this would’ve made the villain unrealistic and defeated the purpose of the story.
The ending was even more magnificent and left readers with questions to be answered in the follow-up story, which I’m already dying to read! Even with the few mistakes I mentioned above, I’m 100% invested in the story and have become a fan. Anyone who loves historical romances with a bit of magical realism involved will adore the modern twist on an iconic favorite. Though I wouldn’t suggest it to anyone under 18 because some of the graphic and sexual context. All things considered, I have to give this book a 4 out of 4 stars for incredible storytelling, brilliant plot and extraordinary characters. Hands down, I will be suggesting this book to any of my friends who love to read.
I very much enjoyed the three converging storylines happening in three different time periods! What a great idea! I wish I could see that painting!
Good Book
Exciting read
Carefully planned and beautifully executed work of fiction, The Girl Who Knew Da Vinci captivated me from the very first chapter. The center of the intrigue is a mysterious painting by Leonardo da Vinci. The author introduces the reader to an impressive cast of characters: Sophia Caro who works in the Gallery of Uffizi and Gerhard Jaeger, a German history professor; Fioretta, a stunningly beautiful girl and Guiliano Medici, the brother of the famous Da Vinci’s patron, Lorenzo Medici; Angela Renatus, an art intern in Getty Gallery, and Alex Caine, the former Navy Seals and now an investigator for the lost art, which has to be returned to their lawful owners. And of course, the most versatile talent of the Italian Renaissance. These characters are irrevocably bound to each other and to figure out how, one has to read this exceptional story, which is full of mystery and suspense, growing tension, twists and turns. At some point, the painting disappears (I won’t give away any spoilers here).
The historical facts are seamlessly woven into this fictional tale, convincingly written in terms of historical background.
Weaving in and out of different timeframes with astounding fluidity, the narrative alternates between Italy and USA, taking the reader now to 1475, now to 1944, then 2018 through the first unexplainable, seesawing from the past to the present dreams, which overwhelm and exhaust Angela, complicating her everyday life. And she is one-on-one with these dreams until she meets Alex. As though it was not enough to make her life miserable, more complications arise, which materialize in Angela’s boss, the Getty Gallery director, Alberto Scordato, and his cousin, Enrico Fortuna. The collision is inevitable: all parties have their own motives to find the mysterious painting. Much is at stake. For some players, it’s their future wealth. For some—life.
I can’t help but compliment Belle Ami’s voice and style, which I have found perfect for the story like this. The narrative flows easily expressed in the elegant prose. The author draws scenes I will never forget.
Fiorella’s friendship with Leonardo da Vinci is pure and touching in its simplicity, adding a special charm to the tale.
The story is not without scenes of a beautiful and steaming romance between Angela and Alex. Read the book to find out how special they are.
The book will take you to the world of art guided by the author’s expertly picked up details. You’ll stroll with the main characters along Florence, Montefioralle, and Rome, enjoying beautiful descriptions of its sumptuous architecture. Can’t help but express my surprise by how knowingly the author interweaves into the narrative the professional terms. This increased the book’s appeal for me. After reading the book, I felt like I’ve been there at all the times and places captured.
A warning: Don’t read the book in case you are hungry! You’ll remember my words when you discover how lavishly the author describes her characters’ dining and Italian cuisine with its tastes and smells.
I highly recommend this book to lovers of historical fiction and mystery with a time-travel twist.
The Girl Who Knew da Vinci follows art historian, Angela Renatus, on a quest to understand the puzzling visions she has been experiencing. Alex Caine is an art detective hired by Max Jaeger, a wealthy German gentleman who is eager to discover whether letters written by his Uncle Gerhard Jaeger during World War II are based on fact or fantasy. Soon the two are not only paired up to find out the truth, they also become romantically involved.
This book is touted as a mystery suspense thriller. There is an element of mystery to the story, and the must-have bad guys do lend a bit of suspense, but the book would better be described as a historical romance. I give the book 3.5/5 See my complete review at https://forums.onlinebookclub.org/viewtopic.php?f=22&t=75407
Love, art, intrigue and a curse that transcends throughout centuries is destined to destroy the current day lives of Alex and Angela. When a beautiful intern at the Getty meets a handsome art detective, more than sexual attraction sparks. Angela shares a past with this charismatic, knight in shining armor of the art world. Their mutual interest in a missing painting sends them on an adventure of many lifetimes. The answers lie in the mistakes of their past lives and the threat of another young life extinction. Dan Brown meets Diana Gabaldon in this heated adventure of art, history, and steamy romance. I loved the timeless descriptions of Italy and it’s beautiful architecture and the amazing culinary experience of Belle Ami’s characters. Don’t miss this sexy thriller that spans across centuries of history and culture.
Wonderful time travel suspense. Art Historian Angela Renatus keeps being tumbled back into the past, drawn by visions she doesn’t fully comprehend. Art decective Alec Caine is sure Angela is the key to finding an unknown Leonardo da Vinci painting. This story takes the reader on a whirlwind tour of Florence and Tuscany – past and present with side trips to,Rome and Paris. History, food, a gripping mystery. And of course, Romance. What’s not to love? Also a definite hint at the end that there will be another mystery to solve. I can’t wait.
Pretty good book. The romance was starting to get grating towards the end though. I wish the book had actually been without the romance. It would have been more interesting if they didn’t hook up in the end.
Added (07/16): After an interaction with the author, I would not recommend this book. I’m not changing my review because I don’t think that would be fair. But the author did not like what was said about the sex in her book and was rude and condescending. So I will not continue to support her on any platform.
Wow! Let me say it again. Wow! I couldn’t put this book down. I can’t wait to read the next one. I’m a huge fan-new huge fan. Loved it!
Lynda Rees, award-winning author
Love is a dangerous mystery. Enjoy the ride!
Become a VIP, get FREE gifts and latest news https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/b4l5o3
Website: http://www.lyndareesauthor.com
Twitter https://twitter.com/LyndaReesauthor
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lynda.rees.author/
Amazon https://amazon.com/author/lyndarees
Bookbub https://www.bookbub.com/profile/lynda-rees
Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17187400.Lynda_Rees
I love time travel novels and art history, but so often there’s an unrealistic insult against physics. I really appreciated how this character traveled in mind but not body. Past life memories made it even easier for me to suspend disbelief. (I accept the possibility of reincarnation FYI) All that aside, I couldn’t wait to grab some free time each evening and get back to this romantic adventure. Leo didn’t have a leading role, but his influence and historical theories Re: his work interwoven into the story made for a delightful read.
Continuing stories are my favorite and this one definitely has places to go.
Interesting read about a well known subject!
Intriguing read.
The story is a mix of history, a little romance and some paranormal elements too.
Angela is transported to the past where she sees Da Vinci draw a painting for a friend. The entire story is about this lost painting which had not been missing in present times.
The romance between the characters seemed a little forced, but nothing that could detract the focus from the main characters.
The description of the past and the present and how it was connected, forms a wonderfully woven plot. Liked it.
I received this book for free. I am voluntarily posting this review and all opinions expressed herein are my own.
The book blurb described this book as being similar to The DaVinci Code – it is not. There is no real mystery to solve. The title is somewhat misleading as it only relates to the fact that there might exist a lost painting by DaVinci which the MCs seek to find. The premise of a lost Da Vinci painting and teaming up an art historian and a detective trying to find it was intriguing to me. I liked the reincarnation aspect of this story, but what detracted, for me, from the story was the sex scenes [or the fantasizing about sex], especially in the latter half of the book, almost feeling gratuitous rather than doing anything to further the plot.
The narrator, Gary Furlong, did a nice job.
I loved the premise of this book. Even though it was really impossible, the author made it believable & it was a very enjoyable read!!