Reviewer: Connie Payne
Title: A Notorious Woman
Author: Amanda McCabe
Publisher: Harlequin
ISBN: 0373294611
Release Date: August 2007
Genre/Sub-genre: Historical (European) Romance
Year/Setting: 1525 Venice
Overall Rating: 3.5
Sexual Content Rating: Sensual/Sexual
Language (Profanity/Slang) Content Rating: Mild
Violent Content Rating: Minimal/Moderate
Amanda's Website:
ammandamccabe.tripod.com
Perfumer Julietta Bassano’s past is shrouded in mystery and speculation, but that doesn’t stop her from trying to live a productive yet quiet life in Venice creating one-of-a-kind scents for the rich. That quiet, however, is disrupted by the arrival of a dashing sea captain, Marc Antonio Velasquez, Il leone.
While she once took more care with her comings and goings (the Doge and his advisors have eyes and ears everywhere), Julietta’s emotions take charge leaving her more vulnerable than ever as she becomes involved with Marc. The air of danger about him seems to include her, though in what way she doesn’t know. She must take care! If her secret is ever found out it would surely mean her death.
But it's Carnival, a time for gaiety. Surely she can have this time with Marc, create memories of their passion. It's only for a little while after all.
Marc has been charged with watching Julietta, and learning all of her secrets. Yet as he gets to know her better he senses there’s much more at stake than he’s been told by Count Ermano. Danger lurks in every shadow causing Marc to take heed for he has his own agenda to complete.
As the ranks close in and evil threatens their love and their very lives, Marc and Julietta know their only chance of living life together lies in foiling those set to destroy them. But the best laid plans can go awry…
First off, let me get the negative out of the way. The "European" time in history, whether fact, fiction, or both, is not on my list of favorites. Yet, while I struggled through here and there, I did find the story intriguing.
Amanda McCabe gives the reader "more" in every scene, on every page. The characters are mysterious enough and fleshed out enough to capture the reader’s interest. The setting is painted in clear strokes bringing the story to life. The plot is thick with intricate detail and swirls with greed, duplicity, conspiracy, love and healing.
If you enjoy a story packed with all that, then you won’t go wrong with A Notorious Woman.
Connie
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