From the Amazon #1 bestselling author of The Girl Who Knew da Vinci comes the second book in the breathtaking Out of Time Thriller Series.Art historian Angela Renatus knows she’s different. She can see into the past—into the lives of the greatest artists of all time—but are her visions a gift or a curse?Angela and her fiancé, Alex Caine—a former Navy Seal turned private detective—recover precious … detective—recover precious works of art for private collectors, museums, and galleries. Enlisted by the Uffizi Gallery in Florence Angela and Alex investigate what is considered one of the greatest art heists in history—the theft of Caravaggio’s “Nativity”. But the deeper they delve into Caravaggio’s life, the more Angela realizes that her visions about the tortured artist go far beyond the missing masterpiece.
A web of secrets and lies entangles Angela and Alex on a twisted and treacherous journey into Caravaggio’s very own heart of darkness…and the truth could propel the couple to a point of no return.
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Great Concept for a Series!
As someone who has recently been binge-watching The Medici on Netflix, I knew this book would be right up my alley. Within the first pages, the author mentions Simonetta Vespucci, the Florentine woman who inspired Botticelli. Right away, I felt like I was in for a good read, and I was right. I have to say, though, that I’ve never used Google Translate as often as I did for this book. While I knew or could guess a lot of the Italian the author liberally sprinkled throughout the book, she also included some very creative profanity that was completely unknown to me. The first three things I looked up were swear words in Italian! This book is a lot of fun. I love the way the author combines art history, Caravaggio’s real and fictionalized life, and the contemporary plotline with the romance. How fun about the past lives of the contemporary characters, too! I had not read the first book in this series that focused on DaVinci, but the author does weave in a little about that book and how it relates to the couple now and the heroine’s link to Renaissance Italy. The author has created a complex world, but she doesn’t fall victim to the dreaded info dump and artfully weaves in what she needs of the backstory into the current story. I love that in general, and it was particularly well done in this book. I do have one quibble with the book. Although the author thanked her editor, I found a surprising amount of errors in grammar, punctuation, and usage throughout the book. I did check the online published version, and the errors that I saw in the first 10% persist in the published version. Commas were problematic, missing in many important cases. The author used the incorrect phrase of “chaise lounge,” which I see all too often in historical fiction; it should always be “chaise longue.” There were enough problems that I did find it distracting at times, but I loved the flow of the story otherwise. I didn’t know that much about Caravaggio aside from his paintings before this book, but this novel certainly got me checking out what the man’s life was like. I like it when books inspire me to learn more. Highly recommended.
I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review..
Gripping and hard to put down reading. What an adventure through time following the characters through intrigue and mystery. Intense read and very entertaining.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Belle Ami awakens your senses to the tastes, sounds, smells, and potent actions in contemporary and Renaissance Italy. Get ready for love lost, love gained, and maybe some weight gain if you are a foodie…I received a free copy of this book for an honest review. Hadn’t read the first in the series, but I will!
Belle Ami has become one of my favorite authors to read. There’s nothing I can’t say about this entire series that wouldn’t be considered praise.
In book 2 of the Out of Time Thriller we get to see more of Alex and know more of his background and we get to meet both Alex’s and Angela’s parents in more detail for the first time in the series. As well, we get more point of views than just the main characters and the artists. Usually extra point of view take away from the story more than they give, but in this case it’s just the opposite. We get to learn new things that further the plot and add more mystery and detail equally.
Her background as an Art Major allows Ami to bring color into the story of Caravaggio’s troubled past and breathe it onto the paper through words. There’s no detail that doesn’t go unnoticed and doesn’t bring a new light to the book.
Every page promises more and more adventure, color, history and most importantly food. Every laid out detail makes you feel like you are journeying with Alex and Angela as you read the story.
The pace itself is not slow, while well detailed, it isn’t so lavishly worded that the writing bogs down the pace or the plot. The story flows easily and natural even with the breaks between time and point of view.
There were no grammar mistakes that I noticed and the formatting was strong. Once again, I say this is the kind of book authors dream of writing. It’s strong, something to be remembered and full of intriguing, well written characters and plots.
Over all, I give this book a 5 out of 5, just as the first.
This book would make a great movie like The da Vinci Code or a TV series like Ghost Whisperer. This book is definitely for adult women. Due to violence and sexual content, it wouldn’t be a good series for children or young adults under 18.
Ami is a new author for me, but since I like paranormal fiction, I took a chance. I’m glad I did. Her writing is crisp – a touch of romance mixed with a lot of mystery with history written in. She is wonderfully descriptive as well. Watch for the twists, they’ll sneak up on you. Highly recommended.
Though I expected similar complexity as in Book 1, with storylines crossing through different periods in time, Book 2 is uniquely different, loaded with page-turning action, culminating in an unpredictable surprise ending!
Eat, Search, Love—Belle Ami awakens your senses to the tastes, sounds, smells, and potent actions in contemporary and Renaissance Italy. Get ready for love lost, love gained, and maybe some weight gain if you are a foodie… Reviewed by Sally
Exciting Suspenseful Art History and Time Travel. I love learning while I read a book. This novel brings the painter Caravaggio alive, whisking us through time and space with a cracking good mystery.
Belle Ami has done it again! I couldn’t say enough good about book one, but book two is a continuation of this intriguing story. Blending past, present and now future, Angela and Alex are on a new journey that is just as fascinating as the first.
Art history, time travel, romance and the ability to overcome fear are some of the high points of this second novel in the Out of Time Thriller Series. I loved the descriptions of Rome, Naples, Florence and the California West Coast. I have walked the cobbled streets of Italy and knew the writer had truly been there. Her breath taking descriptions of the landscape and the exotic food were just a few of the high points that engrossed me in this adventure.
I loved delving into the rich history of Caravaggio’s life of art, chivalry and the love of his mistress. Don’t miss the twists and turns that expose the inner core of Alex and Angela’s eternal love in the hunt of another famous masterpiece.