One of the reasons I enjoy participating in book tours is because quite often I run across a gem of a book I may not have otherwise. One of those books is The Towers of Tuscany by Carol M. Cram which blends fact with fiction to deliver a captivating tale set in medieval Italy.
Sofia lives in a time when women had no rights and either bent to the will of their fathers or husbands. Sofia however grew up with a father who trained her secretly as a painter and it is her passion. Wanting to get out on her own though her heart is taken by Georgio and despite her father’s misgivings he gives his permission for her to marry him. While things are good in the beginning of the marriage it isn’t long before her wonderful husband turns into a tyrant and Sofia is left with an ever angrier husband as more time goes by and she doesn’t produce him a son.
The only thing that keeps her going is secretly painting for her father. At a party given for the unveiling of one of his paintings her father is killed and Sofia is devastated. Desperate now she decides to set up a way to escape his clutches by dressing as a boy and leaving for a short trip while never intending to come back. She goes to Siena where her father had contacts and she gets work as a painter but also as a boy being the only way she can stay safe. As she paints she reflects back on all the lessons her father taught her over the years and she misses him even more. When instructed to paint a piece for an important nobleman she ends up being discovered for the woman she actually is. Will he turn her in and have her beaten in the streets? Will she end up back in the hands of her cruel husband? Or will he love her?
Vividly descriptive of the time and place and rich in historical detail this novel takes us back in time on a wonderful journey. I was fascinated with all the detail on the painting techniques of the time period but even more so by the story woven throughout. I raced through this novel and it is a fine example of what great historical fiction should be! Highly recommended!
Other tour stops with Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours
Read an excerpt
Author Links: Website, Blog, Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads
Buy at: Amazon, Amazon Canada, and B&N
GIVEAWAY DETAILS (International)
I have one paperback or ebook copy (Winner’s choice) of The Towers of Tuscany to share with my readers. Even better it’s open internationally! To enter…
- Leave a comment for 1 entry to the giveaway.
- Tweet, share on Facebook, or blog for 2 extra entries.
Open Internationally
Draw Date May 3/14
Source: Review copy provided by the publisher. No compensation was received for this review and all opinions are my own.
This does sound like a gem. Love these times and the setting but most of all, what promises to be a great story. Thanks for the giveaway.
Sounds like a wonderful story .would love to read it.email follower lomazowr@gmail.com will tweet@rhondareads,
A most fascinating and lovely historical which interests me greatly. many thanks for this wonderful feature.
The novel sounds captivating, the locale and era are special. Thanks for this giveaway.
Hi Carol. I enjoyed your newsletter and reading about this story. It sounds interesting. Poor women back then. I shared this on my Facebook page. Please add my name for a chance to win. Maxie mac262(at)me(dot)com
Count me in on this one. It sounds like a winner.
melback at cebridge dot net
I just went to the National Museum of Women in the Arts yesterday and viewed some amazing paintings by women in the 17th and 18th centuries. I would love to read this book to learn more about what women had to go through to pursue their ambitions to paint.
It looks like a really good read. Thanks for the chance to win.
tweeted:
https://twitter.com/divavixenqueen/status/456893681241305088
This does sound like a good story and the characters sound interesting as well. I think we’d really enjoy it. Thanks.
I also tweeted a link to this post: https://twitter.com/carlrscott/status/456921610125971457
I am so excited about this book. I plan on visiting this region next year and love to read novels that are set there.
Please count me in for a print copy. I am putting this on my TRL. Sounds like a wonderful, emotion filed story. Happy Easter .
Carol L
I’ve been seeing this book all over the internet. I have it on my wish list.
marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com
This sounds quite interesting. I love the character of Sofia and the fact that she has to pretend to be a boy. Thanks for having the giveaway.
ayancey1974(at)gmail(dot)com
Shared on Facebook as Anita Yancey.
ayancey1974(at)gmail(dot)com
a must-read for me!!
thank you for the giveaway!!
shared on FB: http://www.facebook.com/cyn209
I didn’t realize that she is from Bowen Island. I’ve been there many times. It’s just a short ferry ride from Vancouver. The book sounds fab!
I tweeted and posted on Facebook.
teddyr66 at yahoo.com