Great story and calming narrator

I hadn't listened to an audiobook in quite some time and forgotten how enjoyable they could be, how relaxing, especially when the narrator is so soothing to listen to. I found the story interesting which is not always the case when the subject is about art. I enjoyed how the author went back and forth from past to present. The book was thoroughly enjoying to listen to and I think I will listen to it again on the next rainy day.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

Harlequin romance

Hallmark movie or lifetime movie really not worth any effort.How stupid do authors think we are

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Tour of the Great Italian Painters

This is a charming contemporary tale that incorporates the lives of some of the great Italian artists from Medieval and Renaissance times such as Berlinghiero Berlinghieri, Daddi, Giotto, Filippo Lippi, and Michelangelo. Mackenzie is an engaging character with her skills in art restoration, her cat Octavius, and living with her dad Joe (a retired detective). She’s very excited to be working at the Cloisters restoring old paintings. Anthony Bataglia, a renowned restorer, will be mentoring her. Indeed, Mackenzie is on Cloud 9 with the direction her live is taking. But then she starts to suspect something else is going on with some of the paintings. She notices a small anomaly in a few paintings that span several decades. Her dad offers to help her dig into the matter and what they uncover doesn’t look good for Bataglia.

The suspense is well done, cranking the reader up chapter by chapter. There’s also small flashbacks to the lives of these renowned Italian artists. Eventually, it’s revealed what Bataglia’s connection is to these artists and Mackenzie is astounded. I really liked the flashbacks even though they didn’t linger over historical details. The flashback that had the most impact on me involved the bubonic plague.

At that point, Bataglia becomes the focus of the tale. Mackenzie falls to the background, turning into a pale reflection of Bataglia’s interesting life. I was a bit sad to see that Mackenzie lost a good chunk of her personality at this point.

The romance is a slow burn that I could see coming a mile off. At first, I didn’t mind. After all, the two are interested in the same things. However, I didn’t like how Mackenzie’s personality shrunk as the story became all about Bataglia. While he is arguably the most interesting character in the story, I needed Mackenzie to continue to stand out to bring balance to it. The romance turned Mackenzie into a silly girl who lost her head over her first serious love interest.

Getting back to Bataglia, he laid out a believable past and one that Mackenzie eventually came to believe. There’s a dramatic bit near the ending that pushed Mackenzie to bouts of tears and depression and I was surprised that she couldn’t see through the ruse. It was obvious to me. Then finally, that little bit about Bataglia getting a few grey hairs – Ah! That was genius because now I question if Bataglia is really what he says he is or just a master story teller and manipulator. I get to decide and I really liked that about the ending. 4/5 stars.

The Narration: Susan Fouche did a fantastic job with this narration. He New York and Italian accents really brought this story to life. Her pacing was perfect and her male voices were believable. She had distinct voices for all the characters. Plenty of emotions are on display in this tale and Fouche brought them all to life. 5/5 stars.

I received a free copy of this book.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Great art history & detail with a good twist.

This is a good listen filled with fascinating art history shared with a twist. My rating 4.25.

Mackenzie is excited to begin her new career as a restorer of fine art at the prestigious Cloisters Museum. She is partnered to work under a renowned restorer, a handsome Italian, Anthony Bataglia. Anthony specializes in restorations of pre-Renaissance works. He is quiet and dedicated and Mackenzie is learning as he mentors her, showing her how to inspect every corner and inch of the work, documenting any deterioration in color, paint medium, canvas, condition or other unusual anomalies.

Mackenzie notices an unusual detail regarding women in several paintings as well as a mystery about the signatures. Mackenzie’s father is a retired cop who has reason to be interested in art anomalies due to an old forgery case. They discuss the details of Mackenzie’s research and turn up some more interesting facts. Mackenzie’s investigation brings a possibility of romance while revealing some surprises and twists that are unique and fun.

The plot details are engaging and kept me eagerly listening. The historical elements of the paintings and the detailed explanation of restoration are very fascinating. The descriptions would pull in any art lover and even those of us who are familiar with some art periods and styles but are in no way art authorities. I recommend this to mystery lovers as well as art lovers.

Audio Notes: Susan Fouche does a wonderful job with the narration. She provides appropriate voices and energies to each of the characters. The presentation is clear and flows easily. I enjoyed this and highly recommend the audio version.

Source: Author Marketing Experts.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Great mystery with twists and turns

I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this audio book. The author was very knowledgeable about art restoration particularly pre-Renaissance works. There are flashbacks to the artists who created the early masterpieces, which creates an interesting point of view. The story starts with Mckenzie Ferrara, a recent art school graduate who is anxious to start her job with one of the most respected art houses in the country. She will be working with Anthony Bataglia, a brilliant art restorer from Italy. Mackenzie learns a lot from Bataglia, but some things don’t seem to add up. She begins to suspect that Bataglia is not all he seems. She enlists the help of her father, A retired NYPD detective, to investigate some of the strange happenings. There are lots of twists and turns that will keep you guessing until the end.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Great story with art history, romance, fantasy

I was totally engrossed with this book the story and the characters were enthralling. Definitely would recommend for lovers of The Time Traveler's Wife and for people who love The Cloisters on the East Coast. (I've only been once on a field trip but the descriptions were spot on). The obvious love of art history and art by the author definitely come through and made this novel very enjoyable especially for somebody who studied art history only as an amateur and hearing about the process of restoration...well I highly enjoyed this production. Audio was great as well!

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Fascinating

I've listened to a few audio books in the past. One thing I've noticed is if the story bores me, or the narrators voice is a certain tone, I fall asleep! I was wary of whether or not that would be the case with this one. Thankfully, it wasn't! The story its self is fascinating. Not only are the characters themselves put together quite well, but the interesting art facts make it so much more interesting. For someone like me who did a course of art appreciation in school, it was a great refresher. It also thrilled me that I was able to understand the techniques used. Mackenzie and Anthony's relationship starts off with a small spark or two and takes a few twists and turns as they learn more about each others and hidden truths! It has a lot of deep emotion, chance to learn, suspense and a few things that have you going "what was that?". Over all its an awesome audio book! I'm thrilled the narrator was able to convey the story in a manner that captured the essence of the whole book. Well done!

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Fun story!

I don’t usually listen to fiction audiobooks, but I am so glad I picked this one up. Once I got into it, I didn’t want to stop listening. Clocking in at 10 hours, I enjoyed this book while sewing, cleaning, and driving around town. I would even stay up late to listen to another chapter just to see how things were going to work out.
There are two elements of an audio book that need to be considered. The only negative I can offer is that the narrator used a breathy voice for our main character Mackenzie Ferrara that made her seem young and immature. Other than that the reading was great!
I found it difficult to review the book without spoiling the plot twist. It is a darn good one, and not one you see coming. I usually skip ahead in books to see how things work out, and I am thankful I did not have the opportunity in this instance. I definitely enjoyed the ride.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

A great read for my cross country adventure!

This book was such a pleasant experience while driving through the fields of Nebraska and Iowa. I felt instantly transported to not only Mackenzie Ferrara’s world, but also pre-renaissance Florence! The story flowed so seamlessly between each character and fit so well together. It was easy to follow along and I loved the description of the art pieces and painting processes. Having visited Florence and Lucca several years ago, I loved that portion of the story most. The idea of a son working under his father learning the process was so interesting to me, and I loved seeing how the two stories eventually tie together. Some parts of the story seemed a bit predictable but if you like historical fiction and suspense you won’t mind a bit!

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Five stars!

I listen to a great deal of audiobooks, and can tell you that regardless of the writing, the reader can make or break the book. The reading in this book was wonderful, as was the story so it was a win-win! While there is a great deal discussed about art in the story, it isn’t necessary that you be a big art fan in order to enjoy it. I liked the back and forth between the different time periods - it was done quite well. This book was a joy to listen to.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!