The Venice Sketchbook looks at the lives of two women. Juliette is in Venice pre-war where she meets the love of her life who is married. She's studying art and as the magical world of Venice changes around her, finds herself stuck in Italy during WWII. Caroline is her niece who finds she has inherited a 99 year lease on a building sets out to understand a sketchbook her aunt left in her former apartment. As always, I love the pictures Rhys Bowen creates and this is a great mixture of romance and historical fiction. I found Juliette frustrating at times as she continually put off going back to England while the threat of Venice becoming involved grew each day. I also liked how Caroline grew as a character to stand up against her husband.
I obtained this book through Net Galley and have left an honest review.

In 1918 Juliet Browning visits Venice with her aunt for the first time. It is an enchanting visit and there she meets Leonardo Da Rossi, the son of a nobleman. Their chance encounter is the beginning of a relationship that will span WWII and beyond.

Fast forward to 2001. Caroline Grant’s marriage is coming to an end when she learns that her great-aunt Lettie (Caroline never called her Juliet) has left her a final bequest. It includes a sketchbook and three keys and, with her final breath, Lettie whispers “Venice”. After only brief hesitation, Caroline travels to Italy to discover her great-aunt’s secrets.

The Venice Sketchbook is beautifully written. The characters are well-drawn and the storyline is interesting. The story is definitely a romance, with the historical aspects sometimes taking a backseat, and it is definitely a departure from the author’s previous mysteries. But, the story is well-crafted and enjoyable. No doubt, one of the true gems of this book is Venice itself – the sights, the food, the people, and the events all come together to make The Venice Sketchbook a good read.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a copy of this book for review.

The Venice Sketchbook by Rhys Bowen is a touching romance, well, two really, full of secrets and heartache. As her great-aunt Lettie lies dying, she directs her great niece, Caroline Grant to a box in her closet and whispers, "Angelo," into her ear. Not understanding at all, Caroline secures the box, full of things that appear to be random and unrelated. Foremost, a ring with keys on it and a portfolio of sketches. There is also the bequest of 1000 pounds which Caroline's mother convinces her to use to go to Venice, which is where the mystery seems to begin. Lettie had been there years before. Caroline needed the break right now. She had been having a rough time. She had taken a job at a magazine to support she, her husband, Josh, and their son, while Josh attempted to make his way in the world of clothing design. They had met as students in art school but financially only one could pursue their dreams, and that had been Josh. He was invited to go to the US to design for a singer on tour. Despite her misgivings he left and shortly thereafter announced that he was staying, pursuing his career and the singer, asking for a divorce. As part of the settlement, their son was to spend the summer with his father. Then came 9-11 and there were no planes; then, supposedly, the psychiatrist had said his mental health was at risk if he was forced to get on a plane. It was a ruse to steal her son, Teddy, and she knew it. There she was, bereft, no knowing what to do next. A vacation was in order. Upon her arrival in Venice, Caroline began to follow the leads her aunt had left: there were not many and what she discovered, she discovered by accident.

This story unfolded following two timelines: a literary way of telling two stories, which meet at some point.
Caroline's story was current; Lettie's took place during World War II. They both involved the wealthy Da Rossi family, Italian nobility. Both were beautifully told, expanding on personalities that were in part, hereditary. Caroline was at a crossroads in her life and her great-aunt Lettie provided her the means, accidentally, to spread her wings and find her place in the world. The two timelines melded seamlessly. They elderly, spinster great-aunt had lead a much more exciting life than anyone had ever known. As Caroline uncovered it, piece-by-piece, she was falling in love with the modern Da Rossi heir, Luca. Life had changed in the years since the war, as had expectations, for both of them. This was a beautifully written story, full of romance, horror, and betrayal. Bravo, Rhys Bowen!

I was invited to read a free ARC of The Venice Sketchbook by Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my won. #netgalley #thevenicesketchbook

Another great book from Rhys Bowen! After the death of her great-aunt Lettie and the end of her marriage, Caroline Grant travels to Venice. Lettie left her three keys and a cryptic message. While in Venice, Caroline learns more about Lettie's past in Venice and uncovers secrets she never know about her beloved great-aunt. In another thread Juliet (Lettie) keeps a journal of her time in Venice as a tourist in 1929 and as an art student during World War II. The two strands blend to reveal the truth about Juliet/Lettie and bring Caroline acceptance of her new life.

When a young woman's spinster aunt dies, she gets sent on a quest to Venice to find out more about her aunt's past, and discover herself in the meantime. The Venice Sketchbook was an interesting look at how Venice survived during World War II, and the families and customs that ruled everyday life. Throw in art, a good mystery, and a little romance and it makes for a satisfying read. Rhys Bowen always delivers, and The Venice Sketchbook was no exception.

Love and secrets collide in Venice during WWII in an enthralling novel of brief encounters and lasting romance by the New York Times bestselling author of The Tuscan Child and Above the Bay of Angels.

This is a story of Juliet “Lettie” Browning from 1928 through the Second World War years and her great-niece , Caroline Grant from 2001. When Auntie Lettie dies in 2001, Caroline sets off to Venice to unlock the mysteries of Juliet’s well kept secrets. The story is told in dual timelines, outstanding.

While the story was pleasant enough and beautiful evoked Venice really well. The character are reasonably well developed even those who mysteriously disappeared. I liked how these two lovable women narrated their experience about love and secrets unfold in this beautiful written story.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Lake Union Press and author Rhys Bowen for the advanced copy of this book. Here is my honest opinion of it.

in 2001, just after 9/11 Caroline sets off to Venice in the footsteps of her great-aunt Lettie who always appeared to be a classical prim english spinster. Things got complicated for Lettie, or Juliet, who had had a rare opportunity to study art at the Academia in Venice in 1939, and she ended up stuck in Italy for the during of the war. Caroline slowly retraces her aunt's history, discovering hidden layers to her, while dealing with her own predicament - her husband leaving with their only child.
I found the story quite interesting and even believable for the most part, but something was missing here for me.
I feel as though the story should have left me feeling something, but no. I could not connect with either of the main characters., and the male characters even more so - They were there as props.
They were all strangers to me all the way through to the end of the book, which is a shame, because I really wanted to like them.

While this book is marketed as a historical fiction, it reads much more like a romance to me. That being said, I did enjoy the reading experience.

When the story begins, we are introduced to a scene between a woman and a man. The man is recruiting the woman to be a spy for Britain while she is living in Venice. The reader then expects to read a book about about a brave woman spying for her government. Instead, the story is mostly about Juliet's romance with an Italian man she cannot have and the city of Venice. The war and the spying does not really enter the book until the last 20% of the book.

The best aspect of this book is the Venice setting. The descriptions of the city and its canals and churches are beautifully detailed and create a lovely image for the reader.

The characters in this book are quite likable. Juliet is a protagonist for whom the reader can feel sympathy. She is talented and kind, and she tries to do what is right in most situations. Her love interest can be a bit frustrating at times because of his lack of concern for decorum. He often does not seem to realize the pain he is causing Juliet.

There is also a modern timeline featuring Juliet's great niece who travels to Venice after Juliet's death to scatter her ashes there. She learns a lot about her aunt's history while in Venice and even meets some relatives of Juliet's lover. This timeline is not as interesting and entertaining to read as the one that occurs in the time of the second world war.

Overall, I can say that enjoyed the book. However, it is not the story I was expecting to read based on the start of the novel and its synopsis.

This is great lightweight WWII fiction. If you’re not looking for something super heavy on your soul but you want to stick to historical fiction then this is the novel for you.

The setting descriptions are fantastic. Venice was brought to life through her words. It was beautiful.
I really enjoy Rhys Bowen novels, she’s incredible with her words. Pulling you in and keeping you captivated, however this wasn’t my favorite of hers. I did find it a little slow in parts especially the beginning. It took a bit of time to really take off.
I also found things a little too convenient and easy, but that follows along with the easier lightweight read. The romances fell a little flat for me, I just wasn’t as connected to the characters as I wanted to be.
I feel like this is a classic “it’s me, not you” moment. I’ve been having a hard time connecting to anything meaningful as I have heavy thoughts on my shoulders.
There were definitely things I enjoyed though. The duel time line worked well and figuring out the connections really kept my eyes glued to the pages. It was compelling and intriguing.
A great escape, for sure.

Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for a copy of this novel. All thoughts are my own.

... ahh Venice!

Two seperate times, two women who travel to Venice to discover the art world that exists there..
Juliet Browning has been before in 1928 but left hurriedly with her great aunt. She travels there again in 1938 to attend La Accademia di Belle Arti, the Academy of Fine Arts, a life dream. She’s reacquainted with a young man, Leonardo Da Rossi who Juliet had met on her previous visit. When war breaks out Juliet remains in Venice—until she can’t!
Caroline Grant, her great niece, who’d previous to her marriage had studied design, is in the midst of a divorce and child custody questions, all at the time of the Twin Towers attack. From her Great-Aunt Lettie she inherits some money, a box with Caroline’s name on it, containing three old fashioned keys, a ring and necklace and two sketchbooks.
Caroline decides to travel to Venice, to scatter Aunt’s ashes and to see if there’s anyway she can solve the mystery of the keys. I loved the way she uses her Aunt’s sketchbook to follow in her footsteps.
Questions are invoked, questions that open up the past and uncover some startling events that have had long term consequences.
I really enjoyed this dance between times.

A Lake Union ARC via NetGalley
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)

Time changes everything. We can never fully revisit those people and places we've kept frozen in still life hovering in chambers within our memories.

Rhys Bowen presents The Venice Sketchbook which travels in a time-spanning arc from 1928, then to 1938 and then to 2001. The points of destination leap from England and to Venice and back again. The cast of characters adapt to the years, the changing of locations, and the deep impact of historical events.

Juliet "Lettie" Browning first sets foot upon the beauty of Venice in 1928. She's being accompanied by her strict aunt, Hortensia. Both are hardly seasoned travelers. When Hortensia takes ill from an upset stomach, Juliet decides to tour the city alone. It's here that she encounters the handsome Leonardo Da Rossi from a noble shipping family. Although she and Leonardo are taken with one another, Leonardo is promised to marry another. They eventually part company.

The story fastforwards to 1938 when Juliet returns to Venice as an art teacher in charge of a group of students. Wondrously, she comes upon the dashing Leonardo once again. But the current times in Italy are lined with Mussolini's thugs and the seeping in of the Italian fascists. The flames of their affection have never quite gone out. But Leonardo is married and the thought of it dulls the spark and fills Juliet with deep regret.

Bowen ushers in 2001 with Juliet's great niece, Caroline Grant. Caroline faces the end of her marriage and the bitter fight over custody of their young son, Teddy. Fate will place Teddy living in New York with his American father after the Twin Towers have been attacked. The tremors of the time force Teddy to remain in America for the time being.

Caroline will travel to Venice on behalf of her great aunt Lettie who has passed away. Caroline wishes to honor her with dispersing her ashes in the lovely city. It's here that we will come upon secrets in the lives of these women.

I am an avid fan of Rhys Bowen and have read tons of her books. The Venice Sketchbook seemed formulaic to me with a predictable plot and characters that we have run into time and time again. Lost loves and all that. World War II stories have almost taken over most readers' reading lists as of late. Don't get me wrong. The Venice Sketchbook is still a fine offering from the highly talented Rhys Bowen. Perhaps there is a certain weariness nowadays during these times that have suppressed our mobility and put a damper on our usual desire and zest for life. Perhaps we're searching for something more that catapults us into a different dimension.......far from the pain of the past and far from the shadows of today.

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Lake Union Publishing and to the talented Rhys Bowen for the opportunity.

As someone who has read a lot of historical fiction (one of my favorite genres), I was really looking forward to this book. Venice, WWII... I should have loved it. While it had wonderful historical detail about life in Venice in the 1930's through the end of World War Two, the story was full of cheesy, unlikely scenarios, meant to throw the main characters together. It took me out of the story and had me shaking my head at how silly it got. I would recommend this book as a library read only.

What I Liked:

Historical Details:

The author does a credible job of showing life for a British expat living in Venice. As Lettie learns about the city, we see Venice in all it's magic. There are no cars, and streets bend and turn around on themselves. It's inevitable that people get lost. And that is the city's charm, turning a corner to find a hidden gem in this impossible city.

I also appreciated the details of life during WWII. For much of the war, Italy is aligned with Germany, so life goes along no differently than before. There are numerous festivals and traditions that only locals know about. Then, when Italy breaks from Germany, the reality of war finally sets in. Jewish people begin to be persecuted, there are checkpoints everywhere. People can be arrested and put in camps just for not having the right papers. It must have been terrifying.

Characters:

Lettie, Caroline's quiet spinster aunt, is anything but reserved in her youth. An art student with a thirst for life, she is torn over her attraction to Leo, a handsome Venetian. Leo is set to be married, so a relationship with him is impossible. But fate seems to always throw them together (which I found to be a bit much). I did like how strong Lettie was in a scary, stressful situation. And I could understand why she didn't ever speak of her time in Venice with her family in England, later in life. Perhaps her niece would have been impressed. But her family in the 1940's would have disowned her for what transpired.

What I Didn't Like:

Story:

There are many situations in the story that hinge too much on chance to be a credible way to advance the action. For instance, Caroline is given some keys, and the word, Venice, from her dying aunt. Somehow, she is able to get to Venice, and find out what the keys are for? This happens only be chance, as she walks by a bank with the same design on their logo as on one of the keys. Could it be a safety deposit box? Why, yes it is! I found this way too convenient to be believable.

In the earlier story, there are numerous situations where Lettie runs in to Leo at just the right time: as she falls into the canal, as she falls into the ocean, as she is in a prisoner camp. Wow, Leo has impeccable timing! I would have found all these situations more credible if there was more deliberate purpose to the characters finding each other in these encounters. Instead, it just seems incredibly lucky that these two are near each other in the exact right moment, again and again.

Romance:

I found the romance between Lettie and Leo to be very melodramatic. There is the convenient obstacle of Leo being married to a beautiful, yet cruel young woman. It's also handy to the story that he can't divorce his wife because her family are in the Mob (stereotype much?).

In the present day, Caroline (seperated from her husband) meets a Venetian who she might be related to, and jumps into bed with him. If I found out I might be distantly related to someone, my first reaction would not be, "Wow, he's just my type!". I was super icked out by this!

There has never been a book written by Rhys Bowen that I did not enjoy and this one did not disappoint. One of the things I enjoyed most was the setting of Venice. We got so many books set during WWII in France, etc but not many in Italy and certainly not Venice.
Dual timelines is always a favorite of mine and I enjoyed both greatly. I recommend this book for those that love great character development and a well told story.

I’m a fan on Rhys Bowen and so I was excited to read The Venice Sketchbook. It’s a dual timeline story about Juliette Browning who travels to Venice first with her aunt in 1928, then again in 1938 on a one year art scholarship, and Juliette’s niece Caroline who unravels her aunts mysterious past after her death.

Juliette’s story is really the star here. Caroline’s role is really to unravel the mystery of her aunt’s past, and her side story is really uninteresting and lent nothing to the overall plot in my opinion. Instead we learn about Juliette’s hidden past through her diary’s that she left behind and as Caroline reads them she unravels what turns out to be a very different and exciting past that what anyone thought her spinster aunt had led. Venice is the supporting actor in the story, and Ms. Bowen did a splendid job recreating it for us. In her notes she tells us that she spent summers their with her parents growing up, so she writes from experience which I appreciate.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publishers, and the author for an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Rhys Bowen has written several beloved mystery series, including the stories about Molly Murphy and the “Royal Spyness” novels. Readers may be less aware of her novels that relate to WWII, of which The Venice Sketchbook is one along with others including The Victory Garden and The Tuscan Child.

This dual timeline story is an immersive read. Readers share in romance, things to be discovered, keys, sketchbooks and more. Also kudos to the author for bringing the city of Venice so vividly into being in these pages.

Many thanks to NetGalley and this title. All opinions are my own.

Every book I have ever read by Rhys Bowen is totally captivating. She is one of the great storytellers of our times. She is able to conjure up ordinary people and place them in extraordinary situations so the reader is carried along on a great adventure.
The Venice Sketchbook begins in 1928 and ends in 2001 and in between recounts life in Venice in the years of World War II. If you have ever been to Venice or just dreamed of visiting, the scenes in this unique city are vivid and magical. Add to that the story of a love that can not be and the sacrifice and danger of war and you will find yourself inhaling this story as fast as you can. Do yourself a favor and get your hands on The Venice Sketchbook.

Trigger warnings: war, antisemitism, POW camp, children taken from parents

Caroline is going through separation from her husband in 2001. When 9/11 happens, her son is trapped in New York City with his father. She uses this time alone to travel to Venice, where her great-aunt Juliet left her an apartment.

Juliet's love of Venice started during a trip for her eighteenth birthday when she met the charming Leonardo da Rossi. She never forgets him, and on a trip with her students 10 years later, she spots Leo at an art event.

Juliet had dreamed of being an artist but had to leave art school when her family could no longer afford her tuition. She takes a position as an art teacher at an all-girls school and lives a solitary life. When an opportunity for one of the teachers to study in Venice comes up, Juliet jumps at the chance.

Juliet's life in Venice is easier, with art classes and other foreign students to spend time with outside of classes. She makes a friend with an Italian countess and art lover, who is also Jewish. The political situation is charged, with Mussolini's anti-Jewish laws and the threat of Hitler looming.

Juliet's situation becomes dire as the war progresses and it's unsafe to return to England. She must stay in Venice as an enemy alien and struggle to find food without a ration card.

Juliet's story is by far the more interesting of the two women, but Caroline's story also parallels Juliet's in many ways. The majority of the chapters focus on Juliet so the reader isn't left with Caroline for too long. This makes the novel fly by, as the chapters are focused on the wartime era.

Recommended for fans of historical fiction, women's fiction, and World War II fiction. Lovers of art and Venice will also find something to enjoy.

This may be a dual time line novel featuring Caroline in 2001 and Lettie in the 1930s but it's really Lettie's story. Lettie's deathbed wish is that her niece Caroline go to Venice- she gives her keys and a sketchbook but why? Lettie spent her youth in Italy and in love with Leo, who was married. This is a surprisingly unemotional love story, given the setting and the time, especially once the Germans arrive. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. There are no real surprises here but it's a good read for fans of the genre and those who long for a trip to Venice for both the scenery and the food.

RATING 3.5 STARS

I had high hopes for this one. One of my favorite genres is historical fiction during World War II and in the romantic Italian city of Venice. The narration is also one of my favorites of two time periods of the same family. The time periods themselves have an irony of the World Trade Center and World War II. There is more irony to the prose but I like the discovery of it myself.

Caroline Grant is about to discover there is more to her great aunt Juliet Browning. Aunt Juliet has always lived life single and helping others. They have a special relationship and her last words to her niece sends her to Venice with 3 very old looking keys. Caroline feels the trip will clear her mind with her relationship problems with her ex who lives in the United States and is keeping their son from her. Caroline's discovery of her aunt's past life is a discovery of her current life.

The narration goes back and forth when Caroline uncovers where the keys goes to and what they represent. Juliet's story is her love for the arts and finding love in Venice that becomes forbidden during war time. The cost of love and the duties one must do.

The narration was stronger at first and my anticipation slowly went away. Sometimes it can be because it didn't end the way I wanted it to how or it may have been to far fetched for me to connect. I think it was a connection issue for me. I did like the discovery of Venice and the descriptive narrative. I just wanted more with the characters.

A special thank you to Lake Union Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest revie

A story of two girls in Venice at different times: Juliet in 1939, just before war starts and her niece Caroline in 2001, not long after the Twin Towers in New York were destroyed by terrorists.

Juliet went to Venice on a scholarship to study art and revisits an old flame, a man she can never marry. Caroline goes because she has inherited her aunt’s flat and to take her mind off her impending divorce. Strong storylines with good characterisation and a satisfying ending make this a great book to curl up with on a long weekend.