Alice
of the Rocks
by E. Graziani
Publisher: Morning Rain Publishing
Published: Sept. 15, 2014
ASIN: B00NMNQNOO
Amazon Synopsis:
“Promise that you will come back.”
Born in 1495 and raised in 2012, Alice Ferro’s life has been anything but normal. The only problem is, she doesn’t know it. As a 17-year-old in 2029, she has an ideal life, complete with loving parents, the latest technical gadgets, and a summer vacation in Italy. Upon arriving in Florence, sensations of surreal memories begin to surface, leaving her puzzled and confused.
Knowing that reconnecting with his lost love could be dangerous for both of them, but willing to take the risk, Claudio Moro seeks out Alice in her new world. His very existence in 1512 is at stake! Having been accused of both treason and murder, he needs Alice to help clear his name and redeem his family’s honour. The question is, will Alice remember their love and care enough to leave her perfect future to redirect his doomed past?
Born in 1495 and raised in 2012, Alice Ferro’s life has been anything but normal. The only problem is, she doesn’t know it. As a 17-year-old in 2029, she has an ideal life, complete with loving parents, the latest technical gadgets, and a summer vacation in Italy. Upon arriving in Florence, sensations of surreal memories begin to surface, leaving her puzzled and confused.
Knowing that reconnecting with his lost love could be dangerous for both of them, but willing to take the risk, Claudio Moro seeks out Alice in her new world. His very existence in 1512 is at stake! Having been accused of both treason and murder, he needs Alice to help clear his name and redeem his family’s honour. The question is, will Alice remember their love and care enough to leave her perfect future to redirect his doomed past?
Book
Links
Amazon * Goodreads * Morning Rain Pub (harcopy) * Morning Rain Pub (ebook)
My Thoughts:
Elisa
lived in 16th century Florence Italy as a scullery maid in the Medici
household. Accosted one day by two courtiers, her honour remained intact when
she was saved by Count Claudio Moro.
Alice
lived in the late 2020's and was on holiday in Florence with her aunt and uncle
as her parents had to return early to their home in Canada. They were staying
in a villa that belonged to friend of the family.
Alice
of the Rocks
is part historical fiction, part science fiction/fantasy and part clean
romance. It was wonderfully imaginative.
The story is told from the point of view of the characters in the 16th century
and also from the point of view of the characters living in the 21st century. I
thought the characters felt realistic to their time.
The
plot of the story was quite interesting and quite likely would have theoretically
fit in with what Leonardo da Vinci would have studied in his research of nature
if it could have actually happened. I thought that what did occur was unlikely
to ever happen, but if it could, it would be exceedingly dangerous. Travel of
this sort has been explored in all kinds of science fiction stories.
There
were a lot of plot twists and turns in Alice of the Rocks. Some of them
involved jealousy, revenge, nature, the plotting and planning of various
characters trying to manipulate events to their benefit. I found these twists
very interesting to watch unfold as we moved from on time era to the other as
the story developed and we could begin to see how the events from the 16th
century were related to the 21st century.
I
enjoyed the relationship that developed between Alice and Claudio and
appreciated the fact that she did feel conflicted regarding her boyfriend back
home. I think the decision she had to make near the end of the book would have
been extremely difficult and I am glad that I was not in her position of having
to make that decision and having to live with it.
The
pacing of this novel was excellent. The speed varied appropriately according to
the activity taking place in the story. I found Alice of the Rocks to be
a very engaging novel. It held my attention all the way through without lagging
in places.
The
only thing I'm not sure about is why the book was titled Alice of the Rocks.
I don't see any significance of that title to the story. Nevertheless, the
story was very much worth reading and I would highly recommend it to readers of
any of the following genres: historical, science fiction, fantasy and romance.
I gave this book 5 stars out of 5.
Thank
you to the author for providing a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and
honest review. A positive opinion was not required. All thoughts are my own.
About the Author:
E. Graziani resides in Ontario, Canada with her
husband and four daughters. She is a teacher and self-proclaimed life-long
learner who believes in constantly setting new goals for herself and working
hard to achieve them. Her love of history, word artistry, and storytelling help
to fuel these goals as do her students who particularly enjoy her classroom
read alouds.
Author
Links
Website * Twitter * Facebook * Goodreads * YouTube
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What's next for E. Grazini?
Launching April 30, 2015
Jess Under Pressure
“You
didn’t know? You seem like a perceptive, aware woman. You’re a doctor of
psychology and sociology. You have a book on the bestseller list about women
and coping – and you didn’t know?”
Dr.
Jessica Britton’s life sparkles with the sheen of success and happiness. Her
bestselling book, “Give More, Do More, Be Better!”, modelled after her own life
experiences, inspires readers all over the world to achieve a perfectly
balanced lifestyle that includes career, family, and happiness.
This
happiness is shattered when Jess’s husband is killed in a fatal car accident,
leaving Jess with the shocking truth that her perfect life was nothing more
than a carefully veiled wall of illusion.
Consumed
by grief for more than her dead husband, Jess unexpectedly leaves Toronto after
a particularly grueling interview and finds herself in the small town of
Gananoque.
Broken,
impaired, and in desperate need of healing, Jess is rescued by Susie, who takes
her home, and helps her deal with her situation by letting her know that no one
has the perfect life, but everyone can work through their issues and come out
stronger on the other side with the right kind of support.
Book
Links
Launching May 2, 2015:
War in My Town
Bruna is the youngest of seven children, living an idyllic life in a small Italian village in northern Tuscany. Though the Second World War has been raging in Europe for some time, the dangers haven’t seemed to reach her, and the Italian leader Mussolini’s allegiance with Hitler and the distant reports of fighting seem far away. But before long, Bruna's brothers are called to fight and by 1943 food rationing and shortages begin to take a toll on her family.
Soon the Italian people turn against their fascist regime and war comes to the region. When the retreating Nazis occupy her village, Bruna struggles to cope and help her mother and sisters stand up to the soldiers. Her peaceful life is shattered when her beloved village and its occupants find themselves in the center of the fighting between the Nazis and the Allied forces pursuing them - the final front defended by the Nazis in Europe.
Including a map and photographs, War in My Town is a true story based on the experiences of the author's mother and her family.
Soon the Italian people turn against their fascist regime and war comes to the region. When the retreating Nazis occupy her village, Bruna struggles to cope and help her mother and sisters stand up to the soldiers. Her peaceful life is shattered when her beloved village and its occupants find themselves in the center of the fighting between the Nazis and the Allied forces pursuing them - the final front defended by the Nazis in Europe.
Including a map and photographs, War in My Town is a true story based on the experiences of the author's mother and her family.
Signed copies of all
E. Graziani’s books can be purchased on her website.
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