My colleague read this and enjoyed it -- and then I read "The Glassblower of Murano" by this same author and absolutely loved it. Looking forward to reading this one!

From the author's website:

In the heart of Medici Florence, part-time model and full-time prostitute Luciana Vetra stumbles across a deadly secret.

Asked by one of her most exalted clients to pose as a favour for a painter friend, she finds herself the model for the central figure of Flora in Sandro Botticelli's famous Primavera. During her time in Botticelli's studiolo, Luciana makes a startling discovery.

She enlists the help of the one man who has never wanted her – novice librarian Brother Guido of Santa Croce, in an effort to explain what she has found.

Monk and Courtesan find themselves in mortal danger as they are pursued through nine cities of Renaissance Italy in an attempt to decode the painting's secrets.

The pair soon realize that the Primavera's hidden message reveals a political conspiracy that reaches all the way up to Lorenzo de Medici himself.

I'm not really sure why I waited so long to read this book. Maybe it's because my colleague said she liked it, but that she had a hard time finishing it. Or, maybe it's because the book is rather long and daunting (514 pages). Whatever the case, I was a fool. I loved this book.

It sounds so cliche to say that this book was like the DaVinci Code -- but it was, in the fact that there is a mystery to be solved (on a grand scale) and the characters have to find and solve clues hidden in the famous painting "La Primavera" by Sandro Botticelli in order to get to the bottom of the mystery. Many of the clues take them to the major cities of Renaissance Italy, and the primary players in the game are nobility, royalty, and even heads of the church. Of course there is also danger, as the characters are pursued, and all of this is happening up against a clock. See, it all still sounds like a Dan Brown novel, doesn't it? Except that this book has romance, a bit of sex, and humor -- all the makings of an interesting read :)

I will say, though, that there were a couple things that put me off. First, Luciana's language and behavior is very crass, at least, in the beginning. It's part of her character, so the reader just has to deal with it. If she didn't talk or act like that, she wouldn't be who she is. Second, there are some fairly gruesome acts that occur, especially in the beginning of the novel -- but hey, that was the way it was back then, so again - deal with it. Finally, there was a bit of a lull in the story about halfway through, and whereas I would have preferred for the action to just continue, I can see how this section of the story was necessary to build up on the final piece of the tale.

Overall, a really great book, and one that I'll be recommending to others would I believe would appreciate this specific type of story.

p.s. After you're done reading the book, check out the author's website below -- read the section titled "Botticelli Secrets - Trivia about the book" for some interesting tidbits :)

http://marinafiorato.com/botticelli-secret/index.html

Loaned to Danielle ...

Received back from Danielle (she really liked it). I think my friend Beril will like this, so will see if she's interested...

Loaned to Beril -- she thinks she'll buy it on her Kindle. Back on my AVL!

Loaned to Jaye

Back on my shelf ...

Book is on its way to penelopewanders in Switzerland. Enjoy! :)

This sped to the Swiss Alps - thanks so much! Not sure what the status of this book is - is it a ring, is it a ray, is it a loan? anRABCK? is it superbook?? (sorry, got carried away). Thanks so much for sending - this will probably summer in Mallorca and get read there.

I think this came as an RABCK from a long time bookcrossing friend. It was an interesting read, and in the comments at the end the author explains her choice to be less than finicky with historical details. This is fine, although despite the absence of wristwatches, there were a few anachronisms which grated a bit. It was nonetheless an interesting flight of fancy and possible interpretation of the symbolism of this wonderful painting which captivated me as well when I first saw it in the Uffici as a teenager. My sole regret would be that there is no color photo of the painting which I referred back to constantly as I was reading. Thanks so very much for sending!
The book is currently in Mallorca.

At some point this traveled up from Mallorca to central France, and now, thanks to bookmooch, it makes its way over to New Hampshire. Enjoy!