This is an ambitious debut novel. Part family saga, part romance, part mystery thriller… but best not to try to pigeonhole it, rather just say it’s a cracking story.
Set in Florence in the 1470s, the book is based in the household of the wealthy Rosini family, both upstairs and downstairs. It is rich in description – to my only personal taste, a little too rich – but I never mind that, because at least I can skip over it. The plot is fast paced so it felt to me there was a slight conflict here, but it didn’t spoil my overall enjoyment.
The plot revolves around the 1478 uprising against the powerful Medici family and their friends the Rosinis and their household become caught up in it, none more so than manservant Matteo, and by extension, the love of his life, Gianetta. There are many twists and turns to this story, but the ending is ultimately satisfying for the romantics at heart.

This take ps you should on a great trip through Florence. It was filled fascinating details and some yummy recipes I may try out. Storyline was well written and the characters helped keep the storyline moving.
Look forward to what else the author has in store.

thank you to netgalley for the advanced reading copy. I really enjoyed this and will be getting copies for my shop.

Anything set in Florence has an appeal to me after taking our honeymoon there several years ago, the city certainly holds a place in my heart, and this book did not disappoint.

An historical fiction with a hint of mystery, murder and romance thrown in, it’s a beautifully woven story set within the renaissance period. The story revolves around the Rossini household, both the family and the help. We explore the world of Florence during this period under the lead of the Medici family, and the undercurrent of revolt and the changing political landscape in the city, as well as the personal relationships of our main characters and how they are caught up on this world.

I loved the writing style of this book, and how descriptive it is, and you can really imagine being in the city with the sights, smells, sounds and colour you are drawn into. The story is fast paced, and compelling, and despite having lots of characters and various storylines to follow, it’s easy to read and very enjoyable. I usually read crime fiction but now and again I dip into historical fiction, and I’m really glad I did with this one!

Thank you Netgalley and author for allowing me the pleasure of reading this book in exchange for an honest review and WOW! What a delightful read this was! There’s a passion for history and it shows in every line of this book. I’m honestly surprised to find out this is the author’s debut novel. Angela M Sims knows exactly how to paint renaissance paintings with words - because that’s how this book felt. A rich renaissance painting.

The writing is rich and elegant, filled with beautiful descriptions that instantly teleport the reader to Renaissance Florence. Historical and fictional characters come to life under the author’s detailed construction, from serving girl to head of house, everyone was richly brought to life. They are woven together so expertly, you almost believe the fictional characters actually existed in the historical events that frames this story.

The story starts with sweeping paintings of the setting, of the families, of the staff, their histories, their relationships, their connections to the town - all aspects to endear them to us swiftly. And then the drama hits and it really does not let down, nor let you put the book down! Knowing who to trust and who to suspect is honestly difficult as the path of the plot winds and curves through every clue and answer. The level of expert foreshadowing that later left me going “ooooooooooooooooh so that’s why” was masterful. The twist at the end was the final *chef’s kiss* that sealed my appreciation from the author’s storytelling skills.

Thank you for such a phenomenal and satisfying read! I look forward to the next book from Angela M Sims!

It's very descriptive and if you've been to Florence, or just really want to go, you'll enjoy that aspect of the book. It's also well written, in that the author shows rather than tells; the sentences flow beautifully, etc. But. I found it rather boring. The characters seemed blandly interchangeable, there were really too many of them, and all the 'good' characters were dully noble while the 'bad" characters were Disney villains. I kind of felt like I was reading a school girl's diary.

I appreciate that some will love this type of book, but it wasn't for me. Solid 2.5 starts
(Received an ARC from NetGalley)

An interesting if complicated story of one of the most flamboyant eras in Florentine history from the sidelines. This isn’t the tale of the Medici or the Pazzi, but of a family on the sidelines - and a meal.