Enjoyable, well-paced historical fiction. I loved "visiting" Venice.

*Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an e-galley in exchange for an honest review.

The Venice Sketchbook tells the story of Juliet Browning, a young English woman who has a love affair with Venice, Italy during the time of World War II. Juliet is an art student who visits Venice several times as she grows up and continues to encounter Leo Da Rossi, a wealthy young Italian man who completely enamors her. The novel also tells the story of Caroline Grant, a young woman in 2001 whose husband has left her and whose son is stuck in NYC, unable to return due to trauma from 9/11. When her great aunt "Lettie" passes away, Caroline is asked to go to Venice to scatter Juliet's ashes, and while there, she uncovers pieces of Juliet's history in the beautiful city, unveiling a heartbreaking story during the second world war.

The good:
I love Rhys Bowen's storytelling and I've read the majority of her books, so I was excited to get my hands on her newest historical novel. I love the way she describes Venice--I've never been there, but the most well-rounded "character" in this novel is the actual city of Venice. She brings the culture and people to life throughout this novel. I also found the novel more interesting as Juliet's story progressed. I would have loved to hear more about life in Italy during WWII and learned some interesting information about that time period.

The bad:
I really didn't like a lot of the characters. I found leo to be selfish and manipulative throughout the story. Though he redeemed himself to some extent at the end, I couldn't really like him. I also found Juliet naive and childish, even when she was older. I also found the story of Caroline distracting even though it did lend to the mystery a little. I would have prefered more time spent on Juliet's life, especially at the end of her story. Also, Caroline's romance grossed me out. Majorly. Almost enough to move this to three stars. But overall, a great book with an interesting storyline and beautiful writing!

Rhys Bowen truly captures the charm of Venice. Her writing is vivid, transporting readers to the sights, smells, and tastes of a city built along the canals. The Venice Sketchbook was VERY well set.

I also really enjoyed both timelines in this novel. Juliet's story is written in journal format and tells of a young artist who falls in love while on a trip to Italy. The love story is touching and I enjoyed how the plot spanned time as Juliet was continually drawn back to Venice.

The second timeline followed Caroline -- her story felt shorter but was no less intriguing. My only issue was that it seemed to end quite abruptly. I was hooked by the characters and wanted to read more! What happened next?

This story was a sweet read that had me thoroughly immersed. I definitely recommend The Venice Sketchbook for fans of historical fiction looking for a beautiful love story. Thanks to Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for this advance read!

Bowen always writes enjoyable reads that transport the reader to the time and place the novel is set. This book is no different and was enjoyable. The book is incredibly well written and the characters are believable and enjoyable.

I loved this book; if anything it is too short. It begins with Lettie, a young English girl, and her visit to Venice in 1928, accompanied by her prim and stuffy aunt, who is determined to protect her charge from anything modern or lively, and especially from interacting with strangers. Needless to say the delightfully named Aunt Hortensia’s does not altogether succeed in her endeavours and Lettie forms a brief but life-changing connection with a Venetian, leading us into a story that spans the decades, as we jump to the modern day and follow the story of Caroline, who is charged by her great aunt Lettie to visit Venice to uncover … something.

This is an easy and compelling read which I finished in one sitting. The bulk of the book concerns Lettie and her time in Venice as Europe was plunged into the tragedy of the second world war. The war is mostly at a distance but casts a shadow over everything, and author Rhys Bowen recounts some dark moments.

Reflecting on the book I am struck by how Bowen transports us to Venice, the city and its people, which in many ways is the heart of the story. She has obvious affection for this unique and wonderful place, its delicious food (if you know where to go), its beautiful works of art, its addiction to religion, and even its less savoury aspects, smells, frequent rain, and occasional “acqua alta” when the city is flooded.

The charm of the ancient and magical city more than makes up for what are perhaps slightly thin (though still likeable) characters. The only negative for me is that the ending was a little abrupt; I would have liked a little more detail about the aftermath.

No complaints though; I reviewed this book on a drab November day in lockdown and spending a few hours in Venice was a most welcome and enjoyable respite.

Ms. Bowen brings 1930s Vienna alive. Juliet visits with her aunt in 1928 and falls in love with the city and Leo. 10 years later she feels the same, but Leo is a married man. Alternating between Juliet's story and her great niece, Caroline, we learn Juliet's life story and the brighter future we hope await Caroline. A wonderful story of doomed love set in a fasinating city and time.

More than anything else about this novel is the fact that, for me, it brings back memories of my visits to Venice. While I am enjoying the story, and Rhys Bowen is one of my favorite authors, I can see in my mind's eye the canals, the bridges, all of Venice. Ms. Bowen has made it possible for her readers to feel as if they are right in the heart of Venice with her characters. I will leave others to describe the plot and the characters, while I bask in her wonderful description of a most wonderful city. My thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Although the Venice Sketchbook is set at the time of WWII, this really isn't a WWII novel. This is the story Juliette, a budding artist, who gets to go to Venice for her 18th birthday and meets a man she can't forget. Ten years later she gets to take a group of art students back to Venice, which leads to a third trip to Venice. I hate to say much more about this story line as I don't give spoilers in my reviews. However, I can tell you that we also meet Caroline in 2020 and she is Juliette's great niece. Caroline knows Juliette as the epitome of a stoic English Lady. But clues are given to Caroline who has her own drama to deal with, that lead her to Venice to retrace Juliette's footsteps. So this is a dual timeline book, but quite easy to follow. Through both timelines you learn about Juliette and her time in Venice. Thank you #NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for allowing me to give my honest review on #TheVeniceSketchbook, it was a lovely book, I wanted more when it was finished!!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

I am rating this book 5 stars! I so enjoyed both storylines featuring love and loss during difficult times in each leading woman’s life. In the historical storyline, Juliet, an Englishwoman falls for a handsome Italian man of great wealth, Leo. And in the modern day storyline, an ancestor of Juliet, Caroline, visits Italy on a quest to learn about her great-aunt’s past and meets an ancestor of Leo.

I also loved the thread of art history that was woven throughout the chapters. I found it very interesting to read about. Rhys Bowen writes an excellent historical novel as usual!

With more twists than an old manor staircase, this dual timeline book is filled with intrigue, secrets, historical bits, love lost and found and enchanting glimpses of evocative Venice. Though there are several subplots they are beautifully done making this an easy read with perfect tension and suspense. The story has substance and heart.
We see...and feel...passion, heartache, desperation, beauty and forgiveness interwoven with adventures throughout.

Three mysterious keys, a sketchbook and a single word, Venice, surprise Caroline as her great aunt Lettie dies. How on earth will she find the corresponding key holes? We follow her as she discovers more than she contemplated. Her personal life is challenging so she welcomes distractions.

In 1938 Juliet returns to Venice to attend art school. She and Leonardo reunite after a long absence. Juliet becomes fluent in Italian...Venetian...and falls in love with Venice all over again. When WWII breaks out she must make a difficult decision. Actually, more than one. Several.

As I have been fortunate to visit Venice many times I was swept off my feet at the familiar descriptions, not just of history and art but the feeling of being there, unlike anywhere else. This book captures daily life very well.

Rhys Bowen fans, Historical Fiction and Mystery readers will be drawn in to this magical read.

My sincere thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of enthralling read in exchange for an honest review. Much appreciated.

A beautiful and dramatic dual timeline read, depicting the story of WWII lovers, intertwined with present day heartbreak m. The storyline flowed seamlessly and felt realistic. A wonderful and heartbreaking read!

With thanks to netgalley for an early copy in return for an honest opinion.
What a beautiful touching story set in Venice. Can highly recommend.

A beautiful stand alone novel that is captivating and difficult to put down. Wonderful depictions of Venice both in current day and 1930's and '40's.

I'm a fan of Rhys Bowen's books so I was positively thrilled t0 receive an ARC from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The story is told in dual timelines, with the first being the story of Juliette ("Lettie") Browning in Venice before and during WWII, and the second being in 2001, with the main character being Caroline Grant, Lettie's grand niece. After Lettie passes away, Caroline finds that she has been left a box with three keys and a sketchbook from her great aunt's time spent in Venice as a young woman. Caroline travels to Venice to try to solve the mystery of what those keys open and learn about the secrets that her great aunt never discussed. No spoilers - but both women overcome obstacles and sadness in their lives and come out stronger. I would highly recommend this book, especially for readers interested in novels set in Venice and the WWII time period.

Pour a glass of Prosecco, make yourself a plate of tramezzini or some bruschetta, fill a little bowl with olives and let’s pretend we are soaking up the sun on the balcony at Hotel Danieli whilst reading Rhys Bowen’s latest masterpiece, “Venice Sketchbook”.

Caroline Grant has shed enough tears for a lifetime. Not only has her husband left her for another woman overseas, he’s proposing that their son should live with him in New York, an act of terrorism has caused the Twin Towers to fall while her son is there, and now she’s received a letter that her ninety-year-old Great Aunt Lettie is dying. Rushing to make it in time, Caroline arrives to hear her aunt’s dying wish and receives a box containing some jewellery, 3 keys and a sketchbook. Why does her aunt want her to go to Venice? What do these keys unlock? Armed with fortitude, she heads off to La Serenissima to scatter her aunt’s ashes and uncover secrets hidden for 60 years.

Juliet Browning has made a dream come true! She’s come back to Venice as an art student and hopes to find the boy she kissed beside the Grand Canal. As luck would have it, the star-crossed lovers find each other, but fate has dealt a cruel hand; he’s unavailable. Furthermore, war is looming and foreigners are being asked to return home. That’s not an option for Juliet. You’ll have to pick up this fabulous historical fiction on April 13, 2021, to find out what choices Caroline and Juliet make and how it affects those they love.

A perfect read for those who love to travel and who love a great love story! It brought to mind being in Venice during Aqua alta and walking on tables in St. Mark’s Square, experiencing luxury at Café Florian, and pretending we were guests at Hotel Danieli so we could sneak in and wander in awe through the stately palazzo. Bowen will help to make your armchair vacation seem real with her vivid descriptions of food, sights and sounds all the while reminding you about the importance of family and doing what’s right even though it’s painful. I loved reading her blog while she was writing this book; she revealed that her least favourite part of writing was the “copy-edits”. It was worth the pain! Bowen’s characters are endearing and realistic and her plotline transitions are seamless. Her storyline unravels gently like a gondola on a leisurely ride down the Grand Canal…until a speedboat zooms past and you are hit with the wake of twists and turns! It’s everything you’d expect from an accomplished writer. I didn’t want to turn over the last page; it was THAT good. Buona lettura!

Thank you Rhys Bowen, Lake Union Publishing and Netgalley for this advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

This new release is a historical fiction novel that tells the story of a young English woman, Juliet, who ends up trapped in Venice with a baby during World War II. The story alternates between Juliet during the war years, and her great-niece, who has inherited a few inexplicable belongings and makes the trip to Venice to piece together the story of her beloved great-aunt that the thought she knew. Hint: she didn’t know her very well, at all.
I’m a fan of Rhys Bowen, and I think in general she does a good job of historical fiction, but this wasn’t my favorite. I felt a little ho-hum about the characters. They were a little wishy-washy, and I kept wishing they’d take some more decisive action. Although, it’s easy for us to say that now when we know the way the war played out in Italy. Juliet and her great-niece Caroline probably made the best choices they could with the information they had. I appreciated the outline of the plot, but it all felt a little superficial. Having said that, however, I loved the setting—“ah, Venice,” as Indiana Jones would say. It was a really lovely setting for a historical novel.

Loved the character of Juliet and thought she was such a strong young woman for her era,
Her great niece inherits some keys from Juliet after her death, and having recently separated from her husband goes to Italy to try and more about her great aunt.
Loved the romance of both eras, second world war and modern day. I have never been to Italy but this book made it seem such a beautiful, historic and romantic place.
I have read other Rhys Bowen books but I think this is my favourite, she is such a brilliant writer.
Thank you netgalley.

#TheVeniceSketchbook #NetGalley A delightful book that I read straight through, the best WWII so far for me( a genre I enjoy).Thanks Lake Union NetGalley and @Rhysbowen.

Venice pre-WWII ( 1938) finds Juliet Browning returning with a group of students and becoming reacquainted with Leonardo Da Rossi. This meeting will bloom into a love story that another generation in 2001 will continue.

Juliet's great niece, Caroline Grant inherits from "Aunt Lettie" her ashes, some artwork and 3 keys which will unlock secrets, some of which will remain. A compelling read with a fine ending. Recommended for WWII historical mystery fans.