The Venice Sketchbook: A Novel
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- Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
- Create Date：2021-06-17 12:31:14
- Update Date：2025-09-06
- Status：finish
- Author：Rhys Bowen
- ISBN：1713624389
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Summary
“Rhys Bowen crafts a propulsive， unexpected plot with characters who come vibrantly alive on the page。” —Mark Sullivan， author of Beneath a Scarlet Sky
Love and secrets collide in Venice during WWII in an enthralling novel of brief encounters and lasting romance by the New York Times bestselling author of The Tuscan Child and Above the Bay of Angels。
Caroline Grant is struggling to accept the end of her marriage when she receives an unexpected bequest。 Her beloved great-aunt Lettie leaves her a sketchbook， three keys， and a final whisper…Venice。 Caroline’s quest: to scatter Juliet “Lettie” Browning’s ashes in the city she loved and to unlock the mysteries stored away for more than sixty years。
It’s 1938 when art teacher Juliet Browning arrives in romantic Venice。 For her students， it’s a wealth of history， art， and beauty。 For Juliet， it’s poignant memories and a chance to reconnect with Leonardo Da Rossi， the man she loves whose future is already determined by his noble family。 However star-crossed， nothing can come between them。 Until the threat of war closes in on Venice and they’re forced to fight， survive， and protect a secret that will bind them forever。
Key by key， Lettie’s life of impossible love， loss， and courage unfolds。 It’s one that Caroline can now make right again as her own journey of self-discovery begins。
Love and secrets collide in Venice during WWII in an enthralling novel of brief encounters and lasting romance by the New York Times bestselling author of The Tuscan Child and Above the Bay of Angels。
Caroline Grant is struggling to accept the end of her marriage when she receives an unexpected bequest。 Her beloved great-aunt Lettie leaves her a sketchbook， three keys， and a final whisper…Venice。 Caroline’s quest: to scatter Juliet “Lettie” Browning’s ashes in the city she loved and to unlock the mysteries stored away for more than sixty years。
It’s 1938 when art teacher Juliet Browning arrives in romantic Venice。 For her students， it’s a wealth of history， art， and beauty。 For Juliet， it’s poignant memories and a chance to reconnect with Leonardo Da Rossi， the man she loves whose future is already determined by his noble family。 However star-crossed， nothing can come between them。 Until the threat of war closes in on Venice and they’re forced to fight， survive， and protect a secret that will bind them forever。
Key by key， Lettie’s life of impossible love， loss， and courage unfolds。 It’s one that Caroline can now make right again as her own journey of self-discovery begins。
Reviews
Alison Curtis
，
Amazing read！
Nicole
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 Just ended。。。no closure
Susan
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I had mixed feelings about this book。 As a love story， it worked for me。 The chemistry between Leo and Juliet was immediate and powerful， and their story kept me enthralled。 It is twisty and full of passion and pain， but at the same time somehow so very sweet。 As a historical novel， I didn't feel it was quite up to Rhys Bowen's usual excellence。 A large portion of the action happens during the build up to World War II， but somehow the stakes just never felt very high。 It was such a dramatic peri I had mixed feelings about this book。 As a love story， it worked for me。 The chemistry between Leo and Juliet was immediate and powerful， and their story kept me enthralled。 It is twisty and full of passion and pain， but at the same time somehow so very sweet。 As a historical novel， I didn't feel it was quite up to Rhys Bowen's usual excellence。 A large portion of the action happens during the build up to World War II， but somehow the stakes just never felt very high。 It was such a dramatic period in history， but it was almost like the drama was downplayed -- perhaps to better emphasize the romance。 It also worked well as a tribute to the beauty of Venice。 I have never been there， but between the writing of Donna Leon and now this book， I am truly aching to go check it out。 I am really on the fence about whether this was a four star or a three star book。 In spite of the few shortcomings mentioned， I did really enjoy it。 In fact， I found myself thinking about it while about my daily tasks。 I tend to consider that the ultimate compliment！ （And upon writing that， I just upgraded my rating to 4 stars。） 。。。more
Kristy Platt
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3。5 rounded up
Sandra Gonzales
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Incredible storyThis is a beautiful story of family， an ongoing love story that weaves it's way through from beginning to end。 Two women in Italy。 Joyful。 Incredible storyThis is a beautiful story of family， an ongoing love story that weaves it's way through from beginning to end。 Two women in Italy。 Joyful。 。。。more
Allyson
，
Thank you to NetGalley， the publishing house and the author for the opportunity to read a copy of this book in return for a review based upon my honest opinion。This book was a wonderful walk through Venice， you could almost hear the waves of the canal lapping on the banks。 The story was intricately weaved through the past and the present。 In the present we have the story of Caroline， smarting from her husband leaving her and his time with their son becoming way more than it should have been due Thank you to NetGalley， the publishing house and the author for the opportunity to read a copy of this book in return for a review based upon my honest opinion。This book was a wonderful walk through Venice， you could almost hear the waves of the canal lapping on the banks。 The story was intricately weaved through the past and the present。 In the present we have the story of Caroline， smarting from her husband leaving her and his time with their son becoming way more than it should have been due in part to unforeseen circumstances。 She then is called to her grandmother’s house as her great aunt， Juliet is dying and asking for her。 Her grandmother and great aunt are all the family she has and they have a special relationship。 Juliet gets there in time for cryptic last words from Juliet that end up leading her to Venice to try to figure out her aunts secret past。 In that past， we have the story of Juliet and her life as a young woman， from a chance meeting with handsome stranger， Leo， when she is 18 in Venice to her visits to Venice afterwards and the love story that she kept secret from all those who knew her。 She led an extraordinary life and it leads Caroline to a new life for herself。 This was a lovely book。 I enjoyed it and loved all the little surprises in the story and the side characters were well rounded and memorable。 I look forward to more books by this author。 。。。more
Diane Dunlap
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This book held my intrigue from the moment I opened the front cover until it’s conclusion。 I hated to see it end。
Pam Strachan
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A pleasant holiday read
pat knott
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AmazingThis book contains everything i love in a story。 The plot kept you wanting to read forward to see what was coming up and going to happen to the characters。 It contained love and mystery and tragety。
Susan
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A lovely story。 I enjoyed this book。 An entertaining read touching on events in history coupled with vivid descriptions of Venice。 I even liked the way the story comes full circle with family connections and leaving hints of a sequel？
Libbie
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My favorite kind of historical novel that takes me to a place I've never been with a parallel plotline in more modern times。 How common was the abandonment of apartments and belongings with WWII's outbreak？ I always enjoy unraveling the mysteries left behind for future descendants。 My favorite kind of historical novel that takes me to a place I've never been with a parallel plotline in more modern times。 How common was the abandonment of apartments and belongings with WWII's outbreak？ I always enjoy unraveling the mysteries left behind for future descendants。 。。。more
Kimberly
，
This is a great story line， but it was a little predictable。 Also， the ending was like suddenly walking off a cliff。 It was not developed at all。
Ron
，
Not bad。 I believe that it is the 1st Ms。 Bowen book that did not get 5 stars from me。I just wasn't that happy with the ending。 Not bad。 I believe that it is the 1st Ms。 Bowen book that did not get 5 stars from me。I just wasn't that happy with the ending。 。。。more
Myrsa R。Schrijver
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EnrichingBeautifully written & now I have a deeper historical understanding of Venice & it’s people。 You won’t want to stop until U get to the end & well worth the lack of sleep。
Pauline Duff
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A beautiful storyThis was an interesting story set in Venice during World War 2。 It really held my interest。 A beautiful story of true love。 I hated for it to end。 I hope there will be a sequel。
Kimberly Beyer
，
Good book but…It was a little predictable and the ending left a lot to be desired。 I feel like the story was unfinished。
Diane Cadei
，
Another wonderful book from the pen of Rhys Bowen。 I loved this book。 The characters were wonderful and the story kept me reading even when I needed to do something else。
Christine
，
This book transported me to Venice。 I have visited Venice a few times and it made me feel like I was walking over the little bridges with Juliet， the main character。 There is plenty of suspense in the story and the characters are so strong and well rounded。 As we are unable to travel during lockdown this story felt like a holiday。 I just loved everything about it。 Highly recommend and will read more by this author。
Hope
，
3。5 stars rounded up。 It's kind of funny， but the book I read right before this one was also bouncing between WWII and modern times。 I enjoyed this book。 I quite liked both the protagonists。 There was one element in the modern day story that I found very offputting， which is why this story didn't get a higher rating from me。 3。5 stars rounded up。 It's kind of funny， but the book I read right before this one was also bouncing between WWII and modern times。 I enjoyed this book。 I quite liked both the protagonists。 There was one element in the modern day story that I found very offputting， which is why this story didn't get a higher rating from me。 。。。more
Nancy Haddock
，
The dual timeline seems to have evolved into a staple of historical fiction， and sometimes it can be initially confusing。 In this case， I followed along with no problem， and with every delight。The story primarily follows Juliet "Lettie" Browning on her adventures in Venice， first in 1928， then in 1938， 1939 and through the war years。 Woven in is Caroline Grant， Lettie's great-niece， who goes to Venice after Lettie leaves clues to a former life。 In no time， I was completely caught up in the story The dual timeline seems to have evolved into a staple of historical fiction， and sometimes it can be initially confusing。 In this case， I followed along with no problem， and with every delight。The story primarily follows Juliet "Lettie" Browning on her adventures in Venice， first in 1928， then in 1938， 1939 and through the war years。 Woven in is Caroline Grant， Lettie's great-niece， who goes to Venice after Lettie leaves clues to a former life。 In no time， I was completely caught up in the story and in all the moments from tender to terrifying。Ms。 Bowen's Royal Spyness series is still my favorite， but the stand-alones like The Venice Sketchbook are pure treasures。 。。。more
Jen Reardon
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One of her absolute best novels！
Terri
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This was awesome， one of the best books I've ever read！ This was awesome， one of the best books I've ever read！ 。。。more
Roberta Jones
，
rhys bowen is one of my fave author。。 her stand alones are the best， havent tried any of her series yet， but i am sure i will ！ 。 reading the victory garden next。。 take a go and read her books， if you havent already。。。。。
Valerie Weber
，
The Venice Sketchbook is an enjoyable book。 Rhys Bowen writing is so vivid told in dual timelines。 Love and secrets come alive in the story told between 60 years。Thank you @NetGalley， @LakeUnionPublishing @RhysBowen for the Advance Readers Copy for my honest review。
Nancy
，
DNF。 Do not like the writing style of this author。
Karen
，
The book was good but did t love it like her other books！ Definitely not one of my favorite Bowen books I love her mysteries series especially Molly Murphy
Diane
，
This story is told in parallel times of the period leading up to and including WWll years set against 2001 in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on 9/11。 The main characters are well developed and the author has intimate knowledge of Venice， which is the setting for most of the story。 I learned new things about Italy’s role in WWIi and developed a desire to experience the city of Venice for myself。 Rhys Bowen is a talented storyteller！
Vlora
，
So good。 Dual timeline。 Both timelines interesting。 Wish the ending provided some kind of closure， or rather， a better closure to hanna’s ending and caroline’s trip to ny。
Noreen Fitzgerald
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With Covid stopping travel I have been reading books about places I have or want to travel。 This book brought back Venice and my memories。 Loved the characters and don’t usually like characters in different eras， but this so worked and couldn’t put the book down。
Mary
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