A delightful novel from Kimberly Sullivan. This is a dual timeline (or maybe triple timeline) story that takes place mainly in Rome in 1897, 2006 and 2018. The 19th century historical events conjure a world that reminded me of some of E. M. Forster’s Italian novels, like Room With a View. The author clearly loves her adopted country, and makes us do the same. The formal Victorian manners, the rebellious young woman with dreams of her own - the pluses and minuses of living in that era.. all combine to make one turn the pages. The modern character who comes to live in the same palazzo in Rome is someone to root for too. As always with this author’s books, I turned the last page longing to visit Italy again…

I really enjoyed this book. It was different than anything else I've read recently. I couldn't put it down! I will keep an eye out for this author's future work!

This is an absorbing, beautifully-written time-slip novel set in the stunning Palazzo Brancaccio in Rome. Sophie, a young American from Vermont, arrives there in 2006 to work on a Persian-Italian exhibition. Soon her nights are affected by lack of sleep because she hears footsteps and then the sound of sobbing in her attic room. Who could this presence be?

Isabelle, also an American, stays at the palace in the late 19th century with her aunt, Princess Brancaccio. Her ambitious mother and her aunt want to marry her off to a wealthy nobleman but Isabelle wants a career designing costumes. She also likes the charming opera singer Lamberto, but can he be trusted?

I found the historical setting very interesting, having stayed on the Via Nationale many times, and the characters were engaging. However, as with several novels today, the story was deeply depressing. I am not sure why depressing novels are all the rage! I will check out Kimberly Sullivan’s other novels, though.

I received this free ebook from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Thank you @KimBerlyInRome @KateRockBookTours @netgalley for my gifted book. My thoughts are my own.

I loved soaking in the Italian vibes in this historical fiction novel which is full of beautiful settings and rich food descriptions. I am ready to pack my bags and head to Rome!

In this novel, we have the dual perspectives of the two main characters, and multiple timelines.

ISABELLA (1896) dreams of designing elaborate costumes for Rome’s theatre environment. She lives in an attic room in the beautiful palace of her aunt, Princess Elizabeth Brancaccio. Princess Elizabeth is tasked with marrying Isabella off to a rich nobleman. While Isabella spends time designing dresses for her aunt’s friends, Isabella has different ideas about her future! Can Isabella gather the courage to face her dreams?

SOPHIE (2006 and 2018) is a doctoral candidate. In 2006, she is selected to intern in Rome’s Near Eastern Art Museum. She stays in an attic apartment on the museum property, the Palazzo Brancaccio. When Sophie experiences strange occurrences in her attic room, she starts to lose sleep and this affects her concentration on her project for the museum. Every night at 3:15 she hears a woman’s steps outside her door and a woman sobbing.
One night, something terrible happens.

In 2018, after her experiences in 2006, Sophie finally has the courage to return to Rome. Can she resolve her issues with the past and move forward?

I really enjoyed this novel. I preferred Isabella’s story over Sophie’s, and was pleased when the two stories intertwined in an unexpected way.

I recommend this novel if you enjoy:
*Historical Fiction
*Dual Perspectives and Timelines
*A Small Supernatural Element
*Star-Crossed Lovers
*Grand Palace Settings
*Strong Female Characters
*A Link from the Past to the Present

When I find just the right one, historical fictions have a special place in my heart for its gripping narratives that show me something spectacular from the past that I couldn't experience myself.

Rome's Last Noble Palace is exactly that. The novel is set in two different eras, one in the near beginning of the 1900s and one in the 2000s, and shows the stories of two different women who can't be anymore similar. Sophie Nouri is finishing her Persian art doctorate in an attic room where Isabelle Field, niece to the late owners of the palace, used to live---and where she encountered a horrific event that will haunt Sophie in the present.

I love the parallels between Sophie and Isabelle, how the two women are striving to reach their dreams against everything that is trying to stop them, be it societal pressure, lack of self-esteem, or something more. The writing is simply captivating without the need for deep language. I also love how the author managed to describe the Italian setting (where the book takes place) to the point that makes me feel wanderlust. Now I know what places to put in my bucket list.

This was such a nice, light read, but it's not by any means something one could easily swallow. There are triggering topics present, which I won't exactly tell for the sake of not spoiling anything, but discretion is advised while reading this book.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I only read this book in exchange for the promise of an Amazon gift card that I needed cause my cat had passed away. Cut to 30 days later and I even emailed them to let them know I hadn’t gotten the gift card. I take my librarian status on these sites so seriously. So I am editing this review 1/8/24 to let you know why I chose this book

Tv and film fans alike will find comfort in Kimberly Sullivan's novel available today. It's a little Sandy, a little Keanu and a little Bridgerton. Remember that episode of Charmed with the painting? This is like that but more regal, noble. It's the embodiment of that feeling that you KNOW someone is with you, but not in an evil way, to guide you.

Century-old buildings carry secrets. Walking through a ruin or antiquated structure today imagined stories rise like ghosts. Who else once walked the halls? What lives once loved and grieved behind these doors? This is the intriguing premise of Sullivan’s latest novel. Written as a dual timeline, the stories take place in the same beautiful palace, the Palazzo Brancaccio in Rome. For present-day Sophie the palace houses an art exhibition; yet in 1896, Isabelle came to live there with an aunt and uncle soon after it was constructed. Though a hundred years apart, the women stay in the same attic room where—you guessed it—dreams and terror reside. This is one fast page-turner. And even though the time shifts mean the reader can be ahead of the characters, Sullivan throws in plot twists to keep us on edge. This is an artful, twisty, eerie, captivating story—bellissimo!

This book was quite the ride! And pretty different from my normal book choice which was super fun. The story is told in different centuries, with two different female main characters. I love the way the stories slowly start to overlap and how the information is slowly introduced, leaving lots in mystery until the end. Sophie's story too is told in different timelines that eventually make sense as you keep reading. The author did a great job with keeping the reader engaged and invested in the story. I was intrigued by the historical fiction aspects and loved every minute of the story.

I loved all of the location descriptions in this multi timeline book set in Rome.

The timelines are mainly in 1896 and 2006 with a few chapters happening in 2018.

The 1896 main character is Isabelle who is an American staying with her Aunt and Uncle, Prince and Princess Brancaccio. Isabelle is supposed to be making a marriage match, but she would rather be a dress designer.

The 2006 main character is Sophie also American, who is working as a Persian art specialist for 8 months at the Palazzo Brancaccio which has become a museum.

These two women both stay in the same room in the Palazzo over 100 years apart.

Each timeline has its own fascinating plot and there are some similarities between both Isabelle and Sophie.

There is also a ghost in the 2006 timeline which was an interesting bridge between timelines.

There are trigger warnings in both timelines.

Having never been to Rome, Sullivan did an amazing job of making me feel like I was walking the streets of Rome with both Isabelle and Sophie. I enjoyed the dual povs and the dual timeline. Sullivan did a great job of weaving together two characters that are separated by hundreds of years.

The pacing, however, was too slow for me. There were a few moments when the story lagged for me. That is the only thing that kept it from being a four-star review (For the purpose of Goodreads and Amazon, I'll mark this as a four-star review). The characters were relatable and likable enough. There was just enough mystery to spark intrigue.

I think this was better off being a duology instead of fitting everything into one book. Fitting everything into one book made it feel longer than it actually is. However, the story was beautifully told. While I think I may not have been the target audience (despite my being extremely interested in the synopsis because this wasn't awful by any means), I think there's an audience for this book, and they will love it.

I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys historical fiction with an element of the supernatural.

This story…wowzers! It was exactly what I’ve been looking for and was an absolute pleasure to read. Kimberly is truly an amazing writer and this story, is one everyone needs to read. I absolutely LOVED it!

We meet the beautiful American, Isabelle who is living with her aunt, the princess and her husband, the prince. Isabelle has come so that she may find a wealthy nobleman to marry. At least that’s why her Mom sent her. She has a friend and they enjoy designing beautiful gowns and then she meets her friend’s cousin who is also an opera singer. Isabelle and her opera singer fall in love and all seems to be good until it isn’t. Told in two different timelines, we also meet Sophie who is living in the same bedroom that Isabelle did many, many years before. Sophie has gotten the internships of internships. She is loving it until her nights become sleeplessly hard. She feels a “presence” in the room…

A dual timeline of two beautiful women going through oddly similar hardships, this story was hauntingly historical but filled with mystery and ghosts. It was tragic and yet, beautiful. It gave me everything I wanted in a story. The details were exquisite and I could picture it all in my head as a movie playing out. It was a wonderful read and I’m giving it 5 stars. Absolutely brilliant!

I love how Kimberly Sullivan always takes readers on a vacation and immerses them in the setting. "Rome's Last Noble Palace" takes readers into the heart of Rome with this dual timeline. Two women, a century apart, but both have ties to a location in Rome. With historical fiction, an air of mystery and likeable characters I was hooked! The pacing of the story was great! The dual timeline was well laid out and clear for me to follow who was who and when the events were occurring. Thank you to Kimberly Sullivan and Kate Rock Book Tours for an advanced copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own!

ROME'S LAST NOBLE PALACE
𝙺𝚒𝚖𝚋𝚎𝚛𝚕𝚢 𝚂𝚞𝚕𝚕𝚒𝚟𝚊𝚗
12/6/23

🖼️ 𝚂𝚢𝚗𝚘𝚙𝚜𝚒𝚜:
Two women whose lives are separated by two centuries but they share some similarities. Both are American living in the attic of the Palazzo Brancaccio and both have dreams which seem difficult to achieve.

In 1896, Isabelle is living in the attic of the newly constructed palazzo, as the niece of the Princess Brancaccio, who has plans to marry her into Italian royalty just as she did. Isabelle only wants to design beautiful clothes and love who she wants to love.

In 2006, Sophie is a doctoral student living in the attic of what is now a museum in the palazzo. She is feeling immense imposter syndrome being so young and in charge of such a vast collection.

Both women undergo traumatic events but each show strength and resilience.

🧵𝚃𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚜:

This was a beautiful novel. I’ve never been to Rome but I feel like I’ve walked the Vias and explored the churches and Piazzas with the richly descriptive text and exquisite connection to place that only someone who calls it home can have. Rome truly became another character.

This dual-timeline/time-slip novel allows us to get a birds eye view of the world in two centuries, as different as could be. Italy in the days of noblemen where a woman is simply a trade for a stronger line versus present day where a woman is seeking a doctoral degree. Two vastly different worlds.

I enjoyed both timelines. This historical fiction includes a bit of mystery and suspense, along with a supernatural element.

I was really captivated by the concept of this story. Two women in completely different worlds and lifetimes are living in the same space. And obviously, there is the ghost aspect. Isabelle’s story has such heartfelt moments and such tragedy. I think I was drawn more to her story. But I love how it all came to such a nice conclusion for Sophie, too. The Rome aspect was an entity all of its own. It really felt like it had its own role. Especially in the beginning, it was a little tough for me to get beyond Rome and into the characters.

Rome’s Last Noble Palace features two wonderful female characters in a dual-timeline novel where both women seek to shape their destiny. The suspense builds and builds and I could not put it down as I had to find out what happened. I also learned so much about the fascinating history of that time. I have read all of Kimberly Sullivan’s work and another thing I love is her focus on female friendships. I just love the author’s descriptions and I can feel the heat of the sun on my face and warming the buildings. I feel like I’ve just come back from a trip to Rome.

This dual timeline historical fiction will break your heart as Isabelle and Sophie’s connection in the attic is revealed. I enjoyed learning about Rome in the early 1800s and it is clear that author Kimerbly Sullivan did a lot of research and pulled from her experience as an American living in Rome when writing Rome’s Last Noble Palace. Overall historical fiction lovers will enjoy this story.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Kimberly Sullivan for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for Rome's Last Noble Palace coming out December 6, 2023. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author. I thought the subject matter was interesting. I haven’t learned much about Rome in the late 1800s, so I was excited for that time period. I really wanted to love this because of the dual time and I love Rome. Unfortunately there were a few things I didn’t like about this book. I won’t give anything away, but what happened to Isabelle and Sophie was a little much. I think it was an odd way to connect them across time if that was the goal. That whole plot point really made me not vibe with the book. I would check out other books by this author though.

Past and present gracefully intertwine in Rome’s Last Noble Palace. When Sophie lands a plum internship to curate an artisan exhibit at Palace Brancaccio, her anxiety at succeeding is heightened by the unearthly sobbing spooking her every night in her attic bedroom. In 1896, American Isabelle wants to become a fashion designer and marry a handsome opera singer, rather than the odious count her Princess aunt is trying to foist upon her. In the attic, both women suffer similar traumas that link them in a horrifying way. When Sophie finally returns to Rome years later, she can no longer avoid the tug of learning the story behind the haunting moments. The beauty and magic of the city are finely detailed in the dual timelines, enhancing the intriguing stories of two young women striving for their dreams.

Thank you to the publisher for making this ARC available.

Readers will enjoy this haunting dual timeline exploration of two women who lived in different centuries. Kimberly Sullivan brings Rome to life through its art and history, seamlessly threading details throughout. The dialogue is crisp and realistic. There is passion, intrigue, and a haunting. to add to the themes of friendship, heartbreak, and societal ills. The characters are complex and vibrant, and they come alive under Sullivan's pen to navigate the twists and turns of their lives. Secrets abound and keep the reader fueled through the unexpected ending. Readers who love Rome, art, women's fiction, women's friendships, women's expectations and possibilities, will love Rome's Last Noble Palace and look forward to Sullivan's next book.

Rome's Last Noble Palace is an excellent reminder that women continue to struggle for agency in society.

The book tells the story of two women who live two hundred years apart. There's Isabelle, who's being forced into an unwanted arranged marriage, and Sophie whose imposter syndrome and poor self-confidence are holding back her art history career. Both women long for more than they have, but lack the courage to chase their dreams.

Then, when they finally do find their voice, they suffer unthinkable consequences. The lesson in the story is that despite the advances women have made, misogyny and violence toward women still thrive.

Tying the two stories together is a paranormal subplot that plays out in a surprising way. I didn't see that twist coming. (Hee - neither did the antagonist.)

Sullivan is an ex-patriot living in Rome, and her love for her adopted city is evident on every page. She does a spectacular job of bringing the city's architecture and art to life. I felt like I was being given a mini tour in addition to the story.

Thank you to Netgalley for this advanced read in exchange for my opinion.