A sketchbook, three keys and a final whisper...Venice, a dying bequest by Caroline Grant’s beloved great-aunt Lettie, a wish that will bring Caroline to scatter Lettie’s ashes in the city she loved....

What a beautiful love story said with dual time-lines from 1928-44 when Juliet (Lettie) visited Venice with her aunt then when she returned in 1938 to attend Art College and hopefully rekindle her love affair with Leonardo Da Rossi. This sweet story said in a melancholic voice tells us what Lettie and Leo were up to. In alternate chapter we move forward to 2001 with Caroline reliving the precious moments of her gr-aunt and experiencing similar feelings. These two loveable women narrate their experience as it unfolds.

Venice seemed to be well known by the author. Ms. Bowen paints a stunning picture of the city with its vaporetto, narrow streets, many canals, festivals, churches, art exhibitions and of course the food, the colourful people and family ties . Yes, reading this story you need to pour a glass of Pinot Grigio, set aside a plate of prosciutto, some green olive, warm bread with some oil and voilà your taste buds are ready to savour succulent dishes and the Italian life style. yum...

As the story moves along at a snail pace just like a romantic gondola ride along the canal and lagoon islands, back and forth in time seamlessly we go to enjoy a story that mostly brings Venice and its people to life. Yes the author also mentions Venice’s Aqua Alta that floods the streets at high tide. What a sweet story this turned out to be even if part of the setting was during WW11. The characters are reasonably well developed even those who mysteriously disappear. I like following Lettie and Caroline in this story of doomed love....

The story line is fantastic but I felt like there were so many things that needed to be fleshed out more. I was frustrated with the main characters, both of them for not being stronger in some ways when they showed depth and strength in others. A better description for a mack could have been utilized in the many times it was used (it was repetitious). There were other holes and inconsistencies in this that made me feel ,like it was not complete. This does not take away from other work from this Author that I have enjoyed, but this particular book did not ring those same Venetian bells for me unfortunately.

What a gem of a story that kept me captivated to the very end. The story begins in Venice in May of 1928 when 18-year-old Juliet "Lettie" Browning is on a brief holiday to Venice with her Aunt Hortensia Marchmont. Juliet is out exploring when she tries to rescue a box of kittens that are floating in the canal and she falls in. She is rescued by handsome, very wealthy, Leonardo "Leo" Da Rossi . There is an instant attraction and the next night Juliet sneaks out to see Leo without permission from her aunt. Of course, someone spotted her sneaking out of the window and reported it to her aunt and they left Venice immediately.

Fast forward to 2001 when Caroline Grant, recently divorced from husband Josh and struggling to come to terms with the divorce, is summoned to her great-aunt Lettie's bedside. Just before she passes away, great-aunt Lettie barely audibly mentioned the box, the keys and some other things that did not make sense to Caroline. The box had been in the closet for years with Caroline name on it to be given to her after Lettie's death. When Caroline examines the box, there are sketches of Lettie's, a few other things as well as 3 keys. Lettie's wish was for Caroline to take her ashes to Venice and scatter them. The story alternates from Juliet's life from pre and post WWII to Caroline's quest to find the locks that the keys fit and to find out about Lettie's life.

Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the ARC of this fantastic book in exchange for an honest review. I love Author Rhys Bowen's books and this did not disappoint.

I have read most of Rhys books and love all of them! This was a real page turner! I loved it! Takes place in Venice and loved setting.. highly highly recommend

An enjoyable enough read if you're a fan of lighter historical fiction and are also craving a trip to Venice (who isn't?). Personally, not my favorite of Bowen's works. I felt it walked a strange line between being serious while also her usual, more fun historical fictions and thus didn't hugely succeed on either front. I wasn't a huge fan of the two different timelines and largely felt it unnecessary. Ending also was kind of abrupt.

The Venice Sketchbook by Rhys Bowen

The descriptions of Venice in both the 1928-44 and 2001 timelines are beautiful. Englishwoman Juliet Browning visits Venice with her aunt in 1928 and then she visits again in 1938 and 1939. Each time, she meets and spends time with wealthy nobleman Leonardo Da Rossi. Leo's path in life has been set since he was young, so there can never be a permanent relationship between Juliet and Leo but they will always be connected because of their actions in 1939. Much later, in 2001, on her deathbed, Juliet utters the word Venice to her great niece, Caroline. In a box, left to her by her aunt, Caroline finds a sketchbook and three keys. Off Caroline goes to Venice, in search of what her great aunt was trying to tell her. 

Juliet's "voice" seems so melancholy throughout her story and she has reason to feel that way. After her 1928 visit to Venice, Juliet's plans to attend art college are cut short by her father's financial losses and she must take a teaching job to support herself and her mom, after her father's death. In 1938 and then 1939, Juliet is able to travel to Venice and each time she runs into Leo. It's on what should be her year long visit to Venice in 1939 that Juliet knows she is in love with the married Leo. War is coming closer and closer but Juliet refuses to return to her home where she would be safer. 

It is through Caroline's timeline and visit to Venice, in search of where she can use the keys, that we learn more of what happened to Juliet, all those years ago. There are so many improbable coincidences, in both timelines, that push this story forward. Between the descriptions of Venice, that sound like they come from a tourist brochure, including the description of the fine cuisine, it is hard for me to feel connected to the women in either timeline. For Juliet, danger is approaching quickly and then it's upon her and those around her but her telling of the events are related in such a monotone voice that there is a lack of tension during events that are devastating and that should be very emotional. This is not a time in history that should have felt so flat but that's the way that it felt to me, in this story. 

Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC.

This is the story of Juliet ‘Lettie’ Browning from 1928 through the Second World War years and her great-niece Caroline Grant at the turn of the 21st Century. When Aunt Lettie dies in 2001 at a low point in Caroline’s life, she sets off to Venice to unlock the mysteries of Juliet’s well kept secrets. The story is told in dual timelines.

First of all the setting principally in Venice is very good though I do feel like I’m reading from my trusty DK guide as we take many a stroll or ride in a vaporetto. There are some good descriptions of this unique and stunning city which does transport me back there and captures its atmosphere through the narrow streets, many canals, food, festivals, churches and art. The art element is particularly interesting through the Biennale modern art exhibition and the discussions in the 1920/30’s sections on the ‘new style’ of art of artists like Picasso versus the old masters. The puzzle and intrigue is Juliet’s past is an interesting one but it doesn’t quite deliver on its promise. There are some good characters such as Juliet and although Juliet’s imperious Aunt Hortense is not in the book for long I find her rather delicious in her very definite views and the Contessa Fiorito who befriends Juliet is another interesting character. Other than that many of the characters are rather bland and colourless and we only get a superficial glimpse of any personality.

Caroline’s story is not especially interesting and I find it detracts from Juliet’s which has much more meat on the bones. However, the pace of the book is that of a snail as we take a sllloooowww plod around Venice rather than whisking along at a brisk pace and there’s little excitement. There’s too much Venice, too much sustenance (is the author obsessed with food? On a diet and torturing herself? 😁) and not enough substance. We get a whiff of war, a scent of a love story but there’s not much depth to either. There’s little sense of danger during the German occupation of Italy and the ending should have been dynamite and instead is a briefly ignited Roman Candle. There’s a lot of coincidence, contrivance and plot convenience especially at the end. Talking of which, what an abrupt end - what are we meant to make of it? It’s like the storytelling ran out of steam.

Overall, it’s a really mixed bag. The premise is good, parts of Juliet’s story are interesting but on the whole story is thin. I had the feeling the author wants to transport herself from her Covid bubble and grabbed a much thumbed Baedeker guide to Venice and bobs your aunt Hortense or Lettie. I don’t dislike the book by any means though I don’t think I’ll remember it and so my rating is in Switzerland with Lettie.

With thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the arc for an honest review.

This is not a genre I read very often (historical/WWII fiction) or even enjoy very much but there are exceptions, and the fact that it was largely set in Venice called to me.

The story is told from the point of view of Juliet (Lottie) Browning before and after the start of WWII and in 2001 from the POV of her great niece Caroline Grant. In 1928, when Lettie was 18 she visited Venice briefly with her Aunt Hortensia (that is some name). Naturally she met a handsome young Italian man, Leo da Rossi, son of a Count. They share a kiss. In 1938 Lottie is back in Venice, she is now an art teacher and is chaperoning a group of schoolgirls on a trip to the continent. Who should she run into - you guessed it. She sees Leo again. In 1939 she is granted a year’s bursary (is that the right word?) to spend a year in Venice at the Art Accademie. No prizes for guessing how it goes from there. But it is not all roses for these guys, there are dark clouds on the horizon.

In 2001 Caroline’s husband has taken their 6 year old son to New York to spend the summer with him and his new girlfriend. Then the twin towers terrorist hit happened and suddenly the boy is traumatised and cannot travel. Meanwhile Great Aunt Lettie is ailing and calls for Caroline who takes leave from her job and races to her aunt’s side. Aunt Lettie is on her deathbed but manages to give Caroline a garbled message and three odd keys and tells her to go to Venice.

So Caroline thinks to hell with her ex and jets off to Venice to solve the puzzle that Great Aunt Lettie set her. While the story was pleasant enough and it certainly evoked Venice really well, I thought the plot was a bit predictable and contrived. The war stuff was quite lightweight and the characters seemed a little cliched and one dimensional. If you like a quick, undemanding ‘feel good’ romance with a twist of mystery this one is for you. For me, I actually really enjoyed reading it but will probably forget it very quickly. My thanks to Netgalley, Lake Union Publishing and Rhys Bowen for providing a copy for me to review. My opinions are my own.

I have read a couple other books by this author, so was excited about the opportunity to read this one. The author does a good job of bringing the colors, smells and “life” of Venice to life for the reader.

The book has a good pace, and reasonably good character development although some of the characters (Franz) that could have been quite interesting just mysteriously disappear. Others (Vittorio) are a bit too obvious and lack nuance that could make them much more interesting.

This was an enjoyable read, but I thought many aspects of it were a bit far-fetched, so best to read purely for pleasure and not as a representation of true historical fiction.

Many thanks to the author, the publisher, and #NetGalley for this ARC copy, which I received in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion. #TheVeniceSketchbook

A lovely story that keeps you involved from the beginning right through until the final page. The historical aspects are fascinating and the artistic link that keeps you involved. Definitely recommended to those readers who enjoy reading this type of book.

When I first read the blurb for The Venice Sketchbook, which features art, star-crossed lovers, and war set in Venice, Italy, it jumped straight to the top of my list of must read 2021 releases. Thank you to Lake Union Publishing, Netgalley and Rhys Bowen for the advance copy.

The Venice Sketchbook is a historical fiction novel told in dual narratives, set (mostly) in Venice during the pre-war years of WWII and the months following 9/11.

Nothing in Caroline Grant's life seems to be going right. Her husband has left her for a pop star. Her son is visiting her husband in the New York when the trade towers are hit. After 9/11, her husband says their son is too traumatized to fly. But is he really or is her husband just saying that? Finally, her beloved Great-Aunt Lettie has just passed away, leaving Caroline with a few half heard words whispered from her death bed and a box containing three keys. She decides to set out for Venice to try to unravel the mystery.

In 1928, at the tender age of eighteen, Juliet "Lettie" Browning visits Venice for the first time and falls in love - with the city and a boy she meets named Leo Da Rossi. Eleven years later, she is given a chance to go back to art school in the city she loves and stay for an entire year. During her time there she runs into Leo and they fall in love again, but he's unable to be with her. WWII is approaching and foreigners are being advised to go home. Why does Juliet keep refusing to go home to England?

The good:
I loved the overall storyline. Juliet and Caroline's stories fit together like pieces of a puzzle. It has mystery, drama, romance all in one. The city of Venice itself. It's the one place in the world I most want to go and in a way I felt as if I was there through Bowen's descriptions of the city, food and culture. This book is a love letter to Venice. As an artist, I loved that the book featured the arts.

The not-so-good
I didn't enjoy some of the characters as much as I hoped to. Juliet reads as somewhat naive and childish no matter what her age is. Leo comes across as nonchalant or blasé. The characters didn't really act like they were in love. The war part of the book is only about 20٪ at most and it seemed a bit rushed. To be called a WWII historical fiction I would have expected a lot more of the story to relate to that, but that's just me.

I would probably rate this a 3.5-4. I look forward to reading more from Rhys Bowen. I would recommend this novel to historical fiction readers. The feeling of the story stayed with me long after I finished the book.

If you love Venice, you will love The Venice Sketchbook. Juliet Browning travels to Europe with her Aunt Hortensia and Venice is their first stop.Juliet is enamored with the sights and sounds of Venice but is kept on a short leash by her aunt until her aunt falls ill. Left to her own devices, Juliet explores the lovely city and meets a handsome young Venetian when he fishes her out of the canal., then takes her on the town for the night.

Ten years later Juliet is back as the chaperone to girls at the school where she is the art mistress. By pure coincidence, Juliet meets Leonardo again and realizes they love each other. Unfortunately he is to be married in a business arrangement with his family and another wealthy family. Despite this Juliet wants to stay and finds herself an art scholarship to the and remains.

Decades later Juliet's niece Caroline inherits three keys and a sketchbook. With these clues, she sets out for Venice to discover what her aunt wanted her to learn. A poignant love story set during the build up to World War II.

I have previously read "Above the Bay of Angels" by Rhys Bowen and I think that I enjoyed this latest novel even more. Venice is described so well and draws the reader in to it's unique atmosphere. The two women, Juliet and Caroline, are discovering "La Serenissima" at different times (60 years apart) but both fall in love with the city and it's people. As Caroline discovers the secrets of the sketchbook of the title and the accompanying keys she finds that there was much more to her great aunt than she ever knew. Recommended.

Thanks to Net Galley and the publishers for the opportunity to review this book.

Rhys Bowen brings Venice to vibrant life in this dual-timeline historical fiction gem. We follow art teacher Lettie to the “Floating City” just before WWII, and her great niece Caroline, who visits in 2001 to scatter Lettie’s ashes and unravel the mystery of a sketchbook and three keys given as Lettie was dying. Romance, secrets, brutal war, astounding courage, and Bowen’s elegant writing make this a tale to savor. 5 of 5 Stars

Mille grazie to the author, Lake Union Publishing, and NetGalley for the Arc in exchange for my honest review.

Pub Date 13 Apr 2021
#TheVeniceSketchbook #NetGalley

The Venice Sketchbook may be Rhys Bowen's best stand-alone novel so far. The book has dual storylines, one set during the period leading up to (and including) World War II; the other is set around 9/11.

The WWII storyline follows Juliet Browning, an art student who goes to Venice and falls in love with a dashing man named Leo, even though he is engaged to another woman. Leo's engagement was pre-arranged by his and his fiancée's families, so it's a loveless relationship that can't be broken without destroying some important financial benefits. But this doesn't stop Juliet from pursuing the relationship. I can't reveal much more without giving away some major spoilers.

In the 9/11 storyline, we meet Juliet's great-niece Caroline, whose marriage has fallen apart. Her ex-husband is now involved with another woman. While their young son, Theo, is visiting his father in New York, the World Trade Center is bombed and Caroline's ex refuses to send their son back to Caroline's home in London, because of the psychological trauma that flying presents to Theo. At the same time, Caroline's great-aunt Juliet has suffered from a stroke. On her deathbed, Juliet whispers a cryptic clue to Caroline. This clue is the impetus that takes Caroline to Venice on a search for answers.

Reading this book is like taking a vacation to Venice. The plot moves swiftly, and the characters become like friends. This will be another hit for the ever-popular Bowen.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my review.

I loved this story. It is mainly set in wonderful Venice. I got emotionally caught up in the story. I wish it had been a bit longer. It seemed rushed at the end. I enjoy reading historical fiction and found this story really interesting.

Thank you to NetGalley for my copy.

I love books that have new perspectives on WWII and that period in history. This is the first that I have read that takes place in Venice. Bowen's description of Venice's buildings, festivals, canals and food has placed it high on my list of where I want to travel to next. As a side note, I will have to buy more expensive Prosecco to see if I can taste the difference!
I enjoyed this read that alternated between 1928 and 2001 and told by two different voices. I was captivated by the story and the characters and wanted to see how it ended. I did think the characters were painted with very bold strokes, as too was the story plot line. The way it was written made it a fast read, but it also made it one where your engagement with the characters was lessened. Since the pace of the book was fast there was never a sense of urgency, the reader was never gripped by dread or worried along with the characters. I would have liked more. Parts of me wonder if this is the first in a series and with more flashbacks we will learn more of the story.
Anyhoo, if you are looking for a general historical fiction of WWII taking place in Venice this is your story. It will make you long to wander the streets of Venice and pop into a small Trattoria and try octopus tentacles.

A beautifully written story with alternating points-of-views of lovely Venice in the year leading up to WWII and during the first years of the 21st century. I haven't read many books set in Italy during wartime so it was quite interesting to read about that time in La Serenissima.

I did find Caroline's story line to be distracting to the overall story and would have been perfectly happy with just Juliet's tale. And although romantic, there were aspects that were somewhat unrealistic, especially the speed with which Juliet and Leo fall in love.

Still, I would have no reservations recommending this book based on the moving story and the historical details. Thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for this advance copy in return for an honest review.

What a priceless story. It contains the whole of human experience and emotions. Juliet goes on a summer vacation tour with her aunt to Venice in 1928 when she is 18, falls in love with the city and returns again on a one year grant to study art abroad there in 1939. There she meets and falls in love with Leo, an Italian count and becomes pregnant with his child. Since he is already unhappily married to another wealthy Venetian girl, they cannot wed. Fast forward to her great niece Caroline who is undergoing an unhappy divorce and temporary separation from her beloved son Teddy who is in New York with his father for the summer in 2001 right before the Trade World Disaster and insists that Teddy cannot fly home to England for an indefinite amount of time because of PTSD. Caroline great aunt dies around this time and Caroline decides to take her ashes to Venice, a city that she always loved.. No spoiler alerts here. You'll have to read this fantastic novel for yourselves to get the full flavor of WWII intruding on the background of the story, the heartbreak of leaving her illegitimate child Angelo behind in Venice, survival in a POW camp and the death of Leo. Many thanks to Rhys Bowen, Net Galley and Lake Union Publishers for giving me the privilege of reading this fantastic novel.

When we hear of Venice, we think of, art, music, festivals, food, religion, beautiful architecture and the Grand Canal. In the late 1930’s there was a war looming but many of the people of Venice thought surely with their rich culture, and Mussolini’s pact with Germany, they wouldn’t be affected

Juliet “Lettie” Browning, an English woman, is a woman of strength and courage. The life she experienced and saw during her stay in Venice were during uncertain times. Her will to behave uprightly puts her in many dangers but her resilience is an example to us all. I will say at times I felt that she might be too perfect to be true but those thoughts didn’t take away my admiration of kindness towards others.

I enjoyed reading about the people Juliet met and formed relationships with in Venice. They are such extraordinary people in their own unique ways, you begin to feel kinship to them. The author’s character development is superb.

As an artist I appreciate the author’s focus on much of the arts in Venice. Reading about the people’s love and their understanding and importance of art brought richness to the story. There was a scene where Juliet was taking an art class and her professor, in so many words, talked about forgetting everything she learned and turn the objects, she was drawing, into one design. Bravo!

With dual time-lines, Caroline’s story intertwines perfectly with Juliet’s and find yourself fully immersed in their lives. I know this may sound like a cliché but I truly did not want the story to end. In fact, there are several character’s in the book that I would love to read more about their back story.

There were previous comments from me stating that I was burned out on Word War II stories but when I saw this one, I knew that I had to read it. Bowen does a marvelous undertaking in portraying the Venice culture and spirit of the people. I was not disappointed one bit and I highly recommend this story.

I’ve rated this book five stars and obtained a galley copy from the publishers through NetGalley. My opinions and thoughts of the story are my own.

Stephanie Hopkins