lunalavinia's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
wiccawillow666's review
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
jkenna90's review
4.0
Pretty good book. The romance was starting to get grating towards the end though. I wish the book had actually been without the romance. It would have been more interesting if they didn't hook up in the end.
Added (07/16): After an interaction with the author, I would not recommend this book. I'm not changing my review because I don't think that would be fair. But the author did not like what was said about the sex in her book and was rude and condescending. So I will not continue to support her on any platform.
Added (07/16): After an interaction with the author, I would not recommend this book. I'm not changing my review because I don't think that would be fair. But the author did not like what was said about the sex in her book and was rude and condescending. So I will not continue to support her on any platform.
kasfire's review
3.0
3/5 Stars
Trigger Warning: There are several instances where a character insinuates committing acts of sexual violence.
Alex Caine and Angela Renatus join forces in this romantic thriller as they try to uncover the mystery of an unknown Da Vinci painting. As they try to stay ahead of other treasure hunters, they stumble upon an even greater secret. This is a story filled with love and mystery and even a little bit of the supernatural.
This has such an interesting plot centered around a historically fictional painting. The best kind of historically fictional plot points are those with a touch of truth in them. Since there are always conspiracies when it comes to famous artists and their art, those kinds of conspiracies helps Belle Ami to create this unique lost artwork. Mix in a little bit of the supernatural, and you get a novel that will draw most readers in. The biggest positive for me was the time period and characters that the author chose. Everyone knows Da Vinci and at least has a general idea about the Medici. And the integration of WWII tugged at my heartstrings.
Sadly, there were moments when I was pulled out of the story due to dialogue. There are multiple times when it drags on with no show of actions or emotions. But I do ultimately love the way Belle Ami writes. I was instantly sucked into the mystery of this unknown painting and the hunt for it. Each individual character has a unique personality that breathes life into each one. Even for those based on actual historical figures! I absolutely love well-rounded characters, especially when it comes to thrillers and romances.
However, even though I am a huge romantic, there were several moments where the romance just seemed out of place. I went into this novel expecting a huge thriller with just a hint of romance, but the thriller part of the plot seemed to be pushed aside to focus on the romance. This was a huge negative for me; there were far too many moments when I longed for more action. But when we do get action, oh boy was it good!
Overall, I enjoyed the story Belle Ami created and will definitely pick up the rest of the series. It's definitely more for romance lovers that enjoy some smut with a hint of mystery and thrills.
Disclaimer: Review originally posted on onlinebookclub.org
Trigger Warning: There are several instances where a character insinuates committing acts of sexual violence.
Alex Caine and Angela Renatus join forces in this romantic thriller as they try to uncover the mystery of an unknown Da Vinci painting. As they try to stay ahead of other treasure hunters, they stumble upon an even greater secret. This is a story filled with love and mystery and even a little bit of the supernatural.
This has such an interesting plot centered around a historically fictional painting. The best kind of historically fictional plot points are those with a touch of truth in them. Since there are always conspiracies when it comes to famous artists and their art, those kinds of conspiracies helps Belle Ami to create this unique lost artwork. Mix in a little bit of the supernatural, and you get a novel that will draw most readers in. The biggest positive for me was the time period and characters that the author chose. Everyone knows Da Vinci and at least has a general idea about the Medici. And the integration of WWII tugged at my heartstrings.
Sadly, there were moments when I was pulled out of the story due to dialogue. There are multiple times when it drags on with no show of actions or emotions. But I do ultimately love the way Belle Ami writes. I was instantly sucked into the mystery of this unknown painting and the hunt for it. Each individual character has a unique personality that breathes life into each one. Even for those based on actual historical figures! I absolutely love well-rounded characters, especially when it comes to thrillers and romances.
However, even though I am a huge romantic, there were several moments where the romance just seemed out of place. I went into this novel expecting a huge thriller with just a hint of romance, but the thriller part of the plot seemed to be pushed aside to focus on the romance. This was a huge negative for me; there were far too many moments when I longed for more action. But when we do get action, oh boy was it good!
Overall, I enjoyed the story Belle Ami created and will definitely pick up the rest of the series. It's definitely more for romance lovers that enjoy some smut with a hint of mystery and thrills.
Disclaimer: Review originally posted on onlinebookclub.org
lisaputney's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Rape
mlsweeten's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
This is a thriller/ time travel/ mystery/ romance all wrapped into one. It was a fun dip into Italy and art history. The characters and story line were interesting and well thought out. There is quite a lot of steamy romance which was fine but sometimes was distracting from the main plot. I was anxious to find out how they’d find the painting and satisfy the ghosts who were obviously asking Angela for help.
inked_orca's review
5.0
*Review for OnlineBookClub. The Girl Who Knew Da Vinci by Belle Ami*
The story opens in Florence, Italy, in 1478, when Fioretta and Giuliano wanted their marriage to be accepted by Giuliano’s family, the Medici family. They had their dear friend, Leonardo da Vinci, as a witness to their secret wedding, and he gifted them with a painting. The painting was last seen in 1944, when Gerhard and Sophia were sheltering at the Uffizi Gallery during World War II.
The time shifts to Los Angeles, California, in 2018, where art historian Angela Renatus gets contacted by an art detective called Alex Caine. Alex was trying to help a friend clear the name of his late uncle, Gerhard Jaeger, by finding the lost painting of Giuliano Medici and his mistress, Fioretta Gorini. Together, Angela, with the visions she gets, and Alex, with Gerhard Jaeger’s letters, are searching for the missing Leonardo da Vinci painting. However, Angela’s boss, Alberto Scordato, is after the same painting that may be worth millions of dollars.
This is the first book in a series called Out of Time Thriller. The Girl Who Knew Da Vinci is better suited to adults because it contains a few potentially upsetting topics, like violence, sexual harassment, profanity, and sexual content. It has elements of time travel, romance, and suspense/thriller.
Belle Ami knows how to entice you to read her story word for word. I like how each time there’s a dialogue in Italian, the translation is right there after it. This makes understanding what’s being said easier for people who don’t know the language. Written in the third person, it becomes more intriguing because you wouldn’t see the complete picture if it was simply from one point of view. I liked how it was clear from the start that all of their fates were interwoven. I’ve never read a more engaging plot that unfolded so smoothly.
The three couples, Angela and Alex, Gerhard and Sophia, and Fioretta and Giuliano, are connected. Everything comes full circle. Past and present collide. Angela’s visions carry her into the past, revealing secrets worth a lifetime of sacrifice. It’s up to Angela and Alex to figure it out by locating the lost painting. The Girl Who Knew Da Vinci by Belle Ami is a timeless love story where soulmates keep finding each other.
madinotmaddie's review
2.0
a great storyline but a greater desire for everything to slow down
I love love LOVE the idea of any sort of blast from the past, bringing history in all it’s glorious adventures and beauty to the modern world. And while I believe the story of The Girl Who Knew Da Vinci accomplishes bringing the story to light, it fails to connect the reader to the characters through rushed scenery, choppy dialogue, and too many opportunities to make failed attempts to read between the lines of what the current problem of our heroes is. I liked the architectural descriptions as it fit the Italian mood and seemed an appropriate nod to the set and history. I just wish the same attention given to setting the scene would have been given to the formation of emotional connections to Angela and Alex, aside from their vibrant sex life. The spice scenes were great and tangible in the way every reader hopes them to be but where there’s always some form of build up, slow burn type of expectation, it did seem like we kind of just straight into bed. Overall, I think this story would be great on a middle school reading level (if you take out the language and sex scenes of course) and you have a stellar story. As an adult reader, it feels lazy, rushed, and void of connection.
I love love LOVE the idea of any sort of blast from the past, bringing history in all it’s glorious adventures and beauty to the modern world. And while I believe the story of The Girl Who Knew Da Vinci accomplishes bringing the story to light, it fails to connect the reader to the characters through rushed scenery, choppy dialogue, and too many opportunities to make failed attempts to read between the lines of what the current problem of our heroes is. I liked the architectural descriptions as it fit the Italian mood and seemed an appropriate nod to the set and history. I just wish the same attention given to setting the scene would have been given to the formation of emotional connections to Angela and Alex, aside from their vibrant sex life. The spice scenes were great and tangible in the way every reader hopes them to be but where there’s always some form of build up, slow burn type of expectation, it did seem like we kind of just straight into bed. Overall, I think this story would be great on a middle school reading level (if you take out the language and sex scenes of course) and you have a stellar story. As an adult reader, it feels lazy, rushed, and void of connection.
fae_bae's review
adventurous
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
abrudau's review
adventurous
funny
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
go to https://t.co/F38aLVO1Ze If you want to read a more in-depth review :)