It’s not often that I fan-girl over an author, but if I had to choose an author to fan-girl over, then it would absolutely be the magnificent Rosanna Ley. It’s been a fairly long time since I last devoured a Ley novel, so it’s fair to say that I’d quite forgotten what it was like to be in the hands of such a skilled and capable writer. Rosanna transports her readers in a way I don’t feel is done very often. I mean, sure, there are plenty of talented authors out there who will whisk you away from reality for a couple of hours, allow you to forget about your worries and anxieties, and it really is incredible, don’t get me wrong. But what Rosanna manages to do feels as though it is on an entirely different level to simply ‘whisking’ one ‘away’. I’m very much of the persuasion that Rosanna Ley is in a league all of her own.
Prepare to be taken on a truly sweeping, romantic and epic adventure in From Venice With Love by Rosanna Ley. Allow yourself to be enchanted by the sights, smells and sounds of Venice, Prague and Lisbon, as Joanna sets out to discover the mystery and secrets hidden within the very place she grew up. Rich with history and peppered with forbidden love, flowing with family tensions and the glorious journey towards self-discovery, this was a truly invigorating, inspiring and uplifting novel, positively bursting at the seams with that Rosanna Ley dazzle that draws me in each and every time. It was utterly mesmerising, and riveting to the point that there was little room for much else in my mind other than this juicy, sun-dappled story that swept me out of my front room and dropped me right between the pages.
From Venice With Love is a tale of sisters. Joanna and Harriet may have grown up together, but now, their worlds seem to have been split completely down the middle, leaving them appearing to be the polar opposites of each other. Joanna is the ever-busy city girl, a travel writer with a lifestyle that Harriet could only dream of, whereas Harriet never managed to leave the place she grew up in, feeling responsible for their mother, despondent and not herself, ever since their father passed away. Rosanna captures the differences between the two women in a captivating way. Having sisters myself, I find that the topic of sisters explored within fiction is something I thoroughly enjoy, because I feel you can sort of understand it that little bit better, and it feels much closer to your heart too, because you try to fit yourself into the picture and imagine how you’d react and feel about the scenarios and situations written on the pages. If there’s one thing Rosanna Ley does perfectly, then it’s capturing family dynamics in a genuine and believable way. Ley explores not only the bonds between sisters in this novel, but also the glaringly different experiences of a shared childhood. Ley brings to light how two children, later two teenagers, and finally two women, can experience the same situation yet take away such different things from it, and it was fascinating to say the least. Ley also explores the relationships between mother and daughter, and father and daughter, and I really felt that this was such an authentic take on how unique every family situation can be. The author also highlights, importantly, how not every family is as perfect as they first appear to be and even those within that family circle can sometimes be blind to the truth, blinkered by love and adoration.
Rosanna Ley is the queen of travel within her novels. Each book I’ve read of Ley’s has taken me to some far off location, allowing me to escape to a place I’ve never ventured to before, yet a place I feel as if I know inside out by the time I’ve finished reading. Rosanna Ley is so incredibly gifted at making a setting positively glisten and shine. Her vibrant, vivid descriptions and partiuclar focus on the senses have remained the absolute best I’ve ever read, and I’m certain they will remain so. The way in which Ley opens up a world to her readers never fails to take my breath away, and reading From Venice With Love only served as a reminder of how fantastically thrilling it is, to escape with this author. Joanna, after discovering a trunk of mysterious letters in the loft of her childhood home, is led on an exciting journey, following the footsteps of a woman she believes is one of her ancestors. Driven by love and passion, and an uncertainty that Joanna can’t put her finger on, these love letters unravel a thread from the past that takes Joanna on a journey she’ll never forget. We head to beautiful Venice, Prague and Lisbon, each destination a step towards the cracking of a long-hidden secret running deep within the very essence of these places. I was utterly mesmerised by these stunning locations and found myself absolutely immersed in each of them, as well as fascinated by the mystery of the letters and the incredible amount of history and depth that Rosanna had included within the pages. It was captivating, and took my breath away on numerous occasions.
Alongside the dreamy arm-chair travel aspect of this novel, and the deep exploration of family dynamics, there is also the added sparkle of romance which develops when Nicholas arrives on the scene, seemingly oblivious to the link that ties him to Joanna. Added to this, there is the promise of love for Harriet also, in a most unexpected place. Rosanna weaves these themes together beautifully, each of them dipping and diving above and below each other. Throughout the progression of the plot in From Venice With Love, there were so many surprises awaiting me and I savoured every moment spent discovering them.
I adored the striking contrasts between Joanna and Harriet’s lives, both of which were explored within their own chapters throughout the novel, the narrative switching continuously, allowing me a full 360 degree view of both of their separate journeys. While admiring Venice with Joanna, I also had the opportunity to watch Harriet going about her daily chores back at Mulberry Farm Cottage, their childhood home, alongside overseeing the antics of their mother who seemed to have a penchant for beckoning workmen to their home. Mulberry Farm Cottage was an undeniably wholesome setting, endlessly making me feel warm and cosy. It had such an endearing quality to it that I love so much, and I felt such an insane urge to go there myself, to revel in the Dorset countryside. Seeing into this corner of Harriet’s life certainly had me feeling sympathetic towards her in a way that I completely understood. It wasn’t hard to see that there was a small hint of bitterness when it came to her sister, Joanna, which we later begin to understand stems from their childhood, and the relationship each of them had with their mother and father. Following on from that though, it appears that Harriet has always felt tethered to the house, after making a promise to her father that she would take care of their mother. A promise, I think, she takes very seriously, resulting in Harriet only ever living a half-life while wistfully watching Joanna leave home, get married, forge herself a career in travel writing and head off to all of the beautiful locations she writes about. I really enjoyed seeing Harriet and Joanna engage with each other when Joanna heads back to Mulberry Farm Cottage. Their conversations, mannerisms and emotions towards each other positively leapt from the page and just felt so authentic and real to me, making their bond all the more memorable.
As if this wasn’t enough, there is the added mystery of the ‘prowler’ who appears in the novel a little later on, and Harriet’s late-night sneaky computer visits, layering yet more juicy mysteries within the plot. Intriguing to say the least, I really didn’t see the twisty little story of the ‘prowler’ coming and certainly couldn’t have predicted the turn that the book took later on in regards to this sneaky so-and-so who instantly has Harriet’s nerves on high-alert. There’s also the womens’ problematic mother to contend with and again, Rosanna tackles this topic with grace and integrity, something else I’m sure some readers will be able to relate to. Really, there is just so much to sink your teeth into in Rosanna’s latest book. The ending blew me away and I cannot reccomend this beautifully epic, breath-taking story enough.
My reading of From Venice With Love has only reminded me of how much I adore and enjoy reading Rosanna Ley’s books. Rosanna’s stories are incredibly well written, with so much attention to detail and emotion, it’s impossible to ignore the effect they have on you as the reader. From first page to last, this story wrapped me up tight within its magic and transported me to a world full of mystery, enchantment and secrets, a world I couldn’t bring myself to depart from. From Venice With Love by Rosanna Ley was absolutely stunning in a way words fail to describe. The depths in which this author dives in order to give her reader the most authentic and rich experience really is extraordinary. It’s fair to say I’m already waiting for news of Rosanna Ley’s next novel. Pure reading bliss.
With thanks to the publisher for the advanced reading copy of this book, that of which has no reflection on me providing a fair and honest review.
Read on to find out more about From Venice With Love by Rosanna Ley.
With her marriage in danger of falling apart, Joanna returns home to the beautiful but dilapidated Mulberry Farm Cottage in rural Dorset, where her sister Harriet is struggling to keep the Farm afloat and cope with their eccentric mother.
When Joanna discovers a bundle of love letters in the attic, written by a watercolourist named Emmy, she is intrigued and sets out to discover Emmy’s true story. Emmy’s letters take Joanna to the picturesque alleyways and bridges of Lisbon, Prague, and the most romantic place of all: Venice – where a whole new magical world seems to unfold in front of her.
Meanwhile, back at Mulberry Farm Cottage, a mysterious prowler adds to Harriet’s problems and interrupts her search for a perfect partner. Will she ever find true love? Where will Emmy’s mesmerising pathway lead? And more importantly, will Joanna and Harriet be able to rescue the cottage and finally be able to re-discover their sisterly bond?
You can purchase your copy of From Venice With Love by Rosanna Ley here.
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