Though I’m very late to reviewing this one, I really enjoyed it! It kept me interested, and I would recommend it to anyone who dabbles in this genre.

A 100% better than All Things Bright and Strange even though they are similar in the way that both of them have this weird mixture of magical realism, fiction and Christianity and the whole one magical place that heals people plot. There was a lot of Greek mythology in this which although interesting, felt unnecessary at quite a lot of parts. The writing was lyrical and had better flow but again, the plot dragged towards the second half of the book, especially the end and that was disappointing. This book was just strange, did I enjoy it more than I thought I would? Yes. Would I re-read it? Never.

A story of family, memory, and a magical hotel, James Markert’s Midnight at the Tuscany Hotel is easily as fascinating as its cover.

Vitto Gandy returns from World War II to be greeted by strained relationships and the effects of PTSD. When his father, suffering memory loss thanks to Alzheimer’s, disappears to the Tuscany Hotel one night, life changes in a miraculous way. People begin flocking to the hotel to experience the miracle themselves—but is it worth it?

With ties to mythology, the magical realism of Midnight at the Tuscany Hotel is captivating and thought-provoking. I enjoyed seeing this story unfold and look forward to reading more from James Markert in the future.

I enjoyed the magic/mythology that threaded throughout. I’m thankful to have gotten to read it, it’s characters and themes will stick with me. I like that not everything was tied up in a bow, but that many things are open for interpretation.

This book is a beautiful symphony of characters, life vs death conversations, and just a well-rounded, thought-provoking lovely read. I thoroughly enjoyed buying into this world.

Very interesting story that made me ponder what I would do. Well written and engaging. I'm still thinking on how I would deal with this

Lovely feel good summer read. What’s not to love sun sea and sadly ur reading about it instead of living it. Easy to read and flowed well. Perfect summer book

I thought this book was interesting just not really my cup of tea. I think that it will be very interesting to someone that prefers this genre.

I went into this expecting something along the lines of Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.
One thing I instantly noticed was that the formatting was horrible on kindle, so it took me a good few tries before I could actually get myself into reading this book. That kind of thing always puts me off, as its an unpleasant reading experience.

I liked the plot and the idea of the eccentric guests, but found the language of the book a little excessively florid.
I think because of that, I found it hard to connect with any of the characters and was jus glad to finish this book. It's not a poor story, but it's definitely an acquired taste.

I really liked this book. The characters and situations, mostly, felt timely and dealt with struggles many can relate to. The story with impacts of war, dementia/alzheimers, faded dreams, dreams unfulfilled and making a new life in pleasant, unexpected ways made for afternoons of enjoyable reading.

I was very intrigued by the premise of MIDNIGHT AT THE TUSCANY HOTEL and I thought the author, James Markert's characterisation was quality. The book was extremely well written, however, I couldn't get away with all of the Greek mythology and it wasn't really what I had been expecting. I could see that this book would have great appeal for many people, but, sadly, it wasn't for me.

I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel, at my own request, from Thomas Nelson Fiction via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

This gorgeous book joins my Best of 2019 list, pretty darn close to the top. This is storytelling at its best, with characters who twine themselves around your heart and pull tight until you think you’ll explode. The blend of Greek myth with a wholly original story about muses, memory, art, and love creates a narrative that leaves you emotionally spent.

Markert explores relationships here - between fathers and sons, mothers and sons, husbands and wives, and between friends - with special emphasis on aging and memory. There are beautiful love stories here - Magdalena and Robert, and Vitto and Valerie - that explore trust, passion, friendship, and deep love that transcends the ordinary world.

This would make a fabulous selection for a book club, and is one I’ll be recommending for a long time.

Vittorio Gandy has a father who helped create the most beautiful hotel in California, a nod to the Renaissance, a place where artists and writers and diplomats and all could come and be inspired in the twenties. Now it is the forties and Vitto has returned from war to find a son who doesn’t know him, and his wife who used to play violin beautifully now consumed with caring for her father-in-law, the hotel’s creator, suffering from Alzheimer’s. One night, after Vitto has checked himself into a hospital to help cope with his shell shock, his father runs off to the hotel, convinced that its water can restore memory, and help him return to the sculpting and creating that he loved. It seems an impossible miracle, and yet it’s working. But Vitto still struggles with burying his own memories, of the war, of his childhood and aloof father, and even of his mother who also struggled to remember.
"A return to the classical vision of the Greeks and Romans. Of beauty and light and reason and hope." This book is perfect for fans of Greek and Roman mythology, encouraging stories of those battling memory issues or struggling with PTSD, or who would like to escape for a bit to an Italian hotel in California where anything can happen, even a rebirth of the muses.

MIDNIGHT AT THE TUSCANY HOTEL by James Markert

Can you imagine what it would be like to have a place to take either yourself or your loved one to be cured ? One that had a magical potion that could reverse the ravages of time ? Can you allow yourself to believe for just a little while ? Well when you go to stay at the Tuscany Hotel that is exactly what what you will find, a magical place. Mr. Market has created a hotel in California where that is exactly what will happen. Let me tell you about it.

The story opens in California at the end of World War 2. Vito returns to his family a broken, damaged man. He returns to a son who doesn’t know him and a father deep in dementia. His wife has been holding it all together and is ready for some help. That unfortunately will have to wait. Vito does seek medical help but it is cut short because his father has left his home to return to the hotel. Here is where the magic happens. Robert, his father, has decided to reopen the hotel and the fountain that goes with it. You learn how Vito’s parents meet in the 19th century and along the way you get to revisit the Ancient Greek gods.

The story is multi layered and is very well told. The story of the fountain is the heart of the book. It is the water from the fountain which is able to reverse the ravages of time. Dementia patients return to the way they used to be. Vito doesn’t really believe it, but he goes along with it. The writing tight and the story moves along in a way that made a believer out of me ! I think that this book goes a long way to making the reader believe that some things are possible that have no rational basis and there is nothing wrong with that. Many of the discoveries that have made life wonderful came about because someone believed in a little magic!

The story ends in the present day. In the story, no one believes that there was any magic ever at the hotel. The fountain is long gone as are all of those who could attest to the magic ! The book lends itself to book clubs there is so much to discuss ! I hope that everyone who reads this book will enjoy it as much as a I did.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to read this book and I apologize that I am now going to say that I did not finish it. I did enjoy the mythology and the idea that there is a place where people with brain disorders could go to have their memories restored. Imagine the joy if modern medicine could find a way to make that happen! But the main character suffers from PTSD brought on by his war experiences, and although I know this is very real, and I sympathize with people who are dealing with this in their lives, I do not want to spend my time reading about it. I was not sufficiently engaged in the the rest of the story to want to continue to see how things work out. However, I am sure that there are people who will enjoy this book.

I have read all James Markert's stories and I love some and not so much others. But he is always interesting. Quirky and sometimes odd story telling, he does, even a bit strange at times, but he is always entertaining. I think his first is still my favorite.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson Publishers through Net Galley. Opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

It took me a bit to get into the story,to feel connected to the characters. I am glad I stuck with it as the second half was enjoyable. A unique story about memories and remembering as well I enjoyed the mythology as well as the two timelines.

I was extremely entertained by Midnight At The Tuscany Hotel. It combines, historical fiction, Greek mythology, and fantasy in a beautiful character driven novel. I was captured early by the complex characters. I must admit to enjoying the snippets of Greek mythology, but at first not realizing their place in the overall story. I really appreciated the way James Market pulled everything together. It definitely kept the promise of the premise. There are some pacing issues, it seems a little uneven at times, but that didnt break the story down. I can see this novel as a book discussion selection, as there is lots to discuss and debate.
I received my copy through NetGalley under no obligation.

This book is about memory, art, mythology, loss, beauty, and grief.

Vitto returns from the Second World War haunted by his memories. His father Robert, meanwhile, has developed Alzheimer's and can't remember much of anything.

The Tuscany Hotel was the place to be before the war. It is also where Vitto grew up and the place Robert built for his wife and muse.

The story meanders between the present, and the past and is told from multiple points of view. It is in many ways a re-telling of greek mythology.

I liked it very much.

This was a book that I wasn't really thinking about, until the time for me to start reading it was upon me.

For me, there was nothing that really stood out about it---not the cover, or the title, or even the description. I was beginning to wonder why I agreed to review it, but with a sigh, I had committed to reading it and thus I did.

As soon as I started reading it, I began to let me misconceptions and preconceived notions fall away, as this book indeed had a lot to recommend itself and I think that there will be a number of people that will love this book!

Summary

For years, guests of the Tuscany Hotel could leave their pasts behind and live among fellow artists. Now guests of a different sort fill the rooms, searching for their memories—no matter the cost.

Run by renowned sculptor Robert Gandy and his wife and muse, Magdalena, the Tuscany Hotel hosted guests of a certain kind—artists, actors, scientists, and engineers who left their worries behind so that they could create their latest masterpieces. Surrounded by lore, the hotel was rumored to free the mind and inspire artists’ gifts. But tragic circumstances force Robert and his family to move.

After thirteen months at war, Vittorio Gandy is haunted by memories, and his former life is unrecognizable. Once a gifted painter, now he can’t bear the vivid, bleeding colors on a canvas. His young son doesn’t remember him, and his wife, Valerie, is scared of him. But the most disconcerting change is in Vitto’s father, Robert Gandy, who has fallen from being a larger-than-life sculptor to a man whose mind has been taken by Alzheimer’s.

When Robert steals away in the night, Valerie, Vitto, and his new acquaintance and fellow veteran John go to the only place Robert might remember—the now-abandoned Tuscany Hotel. When they find him there, Robert’s mind is sound and his memories are intact.

Before long, word gets out that drinking from the fountain at the hotel can restore the memories of those suffering from Alzheimer’s and dementia. The rooms once again fill up with guests—not artists this time, but people seeking control over their memories and lives. Vitto desperately wants to clear his own mind, but as he learns more about his mother’s life and her tragic death, he begins to wonder whether drinking the water comes at a price.

A story of father and son, memories lost and found, artists and their muses, Midnight at the Tuscany Hotel explores the mysteries of the mind, the truth behind lore, and the miracle of inspiration (summary from Goodreads).

Review

One of the things that I liked most about this book was the material. I think the premise and subject matter of the story is something most readers can easily relate to and that is the idea of the past. Is it something we should just leave well enough alone?

Right away I felt connected to the plot and the general idea for the book. I think that most readers will find that this notion of the past and reconciling with it, is something we all struggle with so readers will feel an instant connection I think.

The story is well written, it has a very lyrical quality to it which sets it aside and leave readers feeling like they read something elegant and relatable. For me though, I don't know that I could fully appreciate this book. I personally am just not a huge fan of mythology. I mean, I want to be into it, but it's just not my thing. In this book there was a lot go Greek mythology and for me, I just couldn't appreciate it in the way that I think other readers could.

I know that a lot of people really loved this book, and I think there are certainly a lot of positives and things to enjoy, but for me I started to lose interest toward the end. I don't know if it was the mythology references or not, but for me personally this one just landed as ok. I ended it with a 3 star review which for me falls into the ok category. I think that others might love this one, as it received a ton of high marks on Goodreads, but for me it as just ok.