Wanna get away? The Venice Sketchbook may be just the escape you need.

This book instantly transported me to the vibrant streets and canals of Venice with beautiful descriptions of the food, scenery, and lifestyle of the people.  It’s as close to being on vacation as many of us have been in a year!

SUMMARY:

Just before passing away, Caroline Grant’s great Aunt Lettie leaves her a sketchbook, three keys, and whispers the word “Venice”.  Caroline goes on a  quest to scatter Lettie’s ashes in the city she loved and to unlock the mysteries of the book and keys.

In 1938 art teacher Juliet Browning arrives in romantic Venice, a city full of history, art, and beauty. For Juliet, this is a chance to reconnect with the man she loves despite his future being determined by his noble family. However star-crossed, nothing can come between them. But 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.

REVIEW:

The Venice Sketchbook is told in a dual timeline with a dual POV. The story first follows present day Caroline who is in Venice to scatter the ashes of her beloved Aunt and solve a mystery. The story then flashes back to 1928 to the life of her aunt in Venice following the boy she loves and the choices she made.

It’s slow, it’s sweet, and a lovely little escape. I enjoyed watching the pieces of the puzzle come together.  However, it seemed a tad heavy on the location and scenery and light on plot. The main characters did not capture my attention and Caroline’s story felt rushed and unfinished.

I read a LOT of historical fiction and even host a monthly book club for historical fiction books. I would like for this one to dive more into the history or details of the war. Soemtimes it felt like it was lacking the depth of emotion that I usually get with this genre.

I do like the authors easy writing style and the slow burn romance. So if romance is more your thing, this may be the perfect book for you!

Thank you to @lakeunionauthors @amazonpublishing @authorrhysbowen and @tlcbooktours for sharing this story with me and providing a giveaway. You can enter on my Instagram post or tell me below a place you want to visit.

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