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The Treasures Of Venice (2009)

by Loucinda McGary(Favorite Author)

3.5 of 5 Votes: 2

ISBN

1402226705 (ISBN13: 9781402226700)

languge

English

genre

Romance

publisher

Sourcebooks Casablanca

review 1: Samantha Lewis is on vacation in Venice, Italy on what was supposed to be her honeymoon. However, weeks before the wedding she found her finance cheating on her with a younger co-worker. The trip was non-refundable, so she decides to go on it, if only to prove to herself that she can do something crazy like travel alone overseas. She is shocked when a handsome stranger comes up to her while she's sitting in a cafe and pretends to know her. Despite herself, she feels an attraction to him, and throws caution into the wind and follows him into his world...the handsome stranger is Keirnan Fitzgerald, and he needs to find the missing Jewels of the Madonna to help save his sisters life. He didn't need the distraction that was Sam Lewis, but he just couldn't get her out of his h... moreead. As for Samantha, she has to decide if Keirnan is the man of her dreams , or if the two are just being used to get the missing Jewels of the Madonna. The story goes back and forth between present day Italy, and that of 1485 when it tells the story of Serafina Lombardo and her secret love, Nino and the possible connections the two have to the present missing jewels...The Treasures of Venice is one of those books that is so cheesy that you can't believe that you're still reading it, and furthermore that you are enjoying it! This was a great book to read while I was sick, because it was a fun, light read. I really enjoyed the flashbacks to 1485, and found myself wanting more of that story-it flowed easily with the current story being told. I also loved some of the cheesy lines that were in this book like when Keirnan said (quite a bit) "Luv, come with me." or when Sam said repeatedly to herself: "That was the old Sam" or "Get a grip Sam." This book had so many more cheesy lines and cliched story lines-but somehow they all seemed to work for this book. Heidenkind called this an "escapist read" and I can't argue with that. It's a light read-perfect for when you're looking for a change from world building books. :) This book saved me from going crazy while I was sick with the stomach flu this past weekend. I couldn't do much but lay around, and in between feeling horribly sick and somewhat better, I read this book, and it made feeling sick seem not so bad.
review 2: I loved this novel by Loucinda McGary for its mixture of suspense, romance and historical fiction. There are two main stories happening throughout the novel as it switches back and forth between the 1485 characters and the present day characters both dealing with sinister forces amidst an all encompassing love. The novel opens up to the recently jilted Samantha Lewis trying to enjoy a much needed vacation in Venice, Italy when a gorgeous guy immediately involves her in a desperate chase against time and kidnappers. Their story is fun and well played as they learn about each other and the mystery of the Jewels of the Madonna, and we are transported back in time to 1485 and another clandestine love affair between Serafina Lombardo and a painter, Nino.Serafina is supposed to marry her dead sister's husband to fulfill the need for an heir, but Serafina is violently opposed to this fate as she is suddenly magnetically attracted to Nino, and they formulate a diabolical plan to help her escape the same predetermined destiny that took her sister. Fast forward to present day, Sam and her new friend, Kiernan, also share a magnetic attraction that could get them both killed as they try to unravel the mysterious past of Serafina and the mysterious legacy she left behind. There are killers on the loose, the pesky Interpol and other obstacles that still cannot hamper the love instantly shared between Sam and Kiernan. Their attractions are mirrored with Serafina's and Nino's, so there is more than a hint of reincarnation in the story. Even though the story jettisons back and forth frequently between the two time periods, it did not disturb the rhythm since all of the characters were intriguing.Sam occasionally has flashes of visions which also leads one to rely on the reincarnate factor, and there are other similarities between the two sets of star-crossed lovers. Serafina and Samantha also seem to mirror the same hair coloring and complexion so much so that one of the bad guys even mistakes Sam for Serafina. Kiernan is one of those guys that seems perfect, totally loyal to his kidnapped sister and ever the sensitive one when it comes to Sam. As the mystery comes to a close, the romance question remains if Sam and Kiernan can function together outside of the intrigue and mayhem that first threw them together. This was an enjoyable well rounded and fast-paced story that had me eagerly turning the pages to see what would happen next, but I would have enjoyed it even more if the historical story was more developed. As a whole, the novel had a great plot and breezed through quickly most of the adventures so that there was not any room for slow points.I enjoyed the mystery, the suspense, and the intrigue of this imaginative story line. Coupled with the strong romances and the hunt for the Jewels of the Madonna, this would also make an impressive film; a well-kept Matthew McConaughey would be an excellent actor as Kiernan, and Sandra Bullock would make an excellent Sam. The setting of Venice with its gondolas, old churches, cemeteries and palazzos are a magnificent setting for the story and you wouldn't go wrong choosing this read to spend your weekend on. less

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