What are the odds that the first few books that I’ve reviewed this month have all been so good? That rarely happens to me but for some reason the stars have aligned and this month has been a fantastic kick off to the new year book-wise!

The last few novels have all been set during war time and I love love love the drama and romance that comes from a war era novel. This novel was full of beautiful language and writing.

From the dawn of the twentieth century to the devastation of World War II, this exhilarating novel of love, war, art, and family gives voice to two extraordinary women and brings to life the true story behind the creation and near destruction of Gustav Klimt’s most remarkable paintings.

In the dazzling glitter of 1903 Vienna, Adele Bloch-Bauer—young, beautiful, brilliant, and Jewish—meets painter Gustav Klimt.

Wealthy in everything but freedom, Adele embraces Klimt’s renegade genius as the two awaken to the erotic possibilities on the canvas and beyond.


Though they enjoy a life where sex and art are just beginning to break through the façade of conventional society, the city is also exhibiting a disturbing increase in anti-Semitism, as political hatred foments in the shadows of Adele’s coffee house afternoons and cultural salons.

Nearly forty years later, Adele’s niece Maria Altmann is a newlywed when the Nazis invade Austria—and overnight, her beloved Vienna becomes a war zone. When her husband is arrested and her family is forced out of their home, Maria must summon the courage and resilience that is her aunt’s legacy if she is to survive and keep her family—and their history—alive.

At first I wasn’t entirely sure I was going to enjoy this novel. I am not sure why but for some reason the cover just kind of put me off. It seemed a little hokey and didn’t really capture my interest. so I almost passed on this one all together. But as the old adage goes, you can’t judge a book by it’s cover. The summary sounded interesting and so I agreed to review it.

This novel has two alternating story lines which worked really well for the flow of the overall story. I felt completely connected and invested in each of the characters stories. Adele was a woman that I could relate to the most I think. She was bold, charismatic and full of passion and an eagerness to learn. For me, I liked her the best, but that said, Maria also had likable characteristics. Maria always seemed to persevere and was able to get what she wanted through strength and hope.

I think one of the most memorable things from this novel was the attention to detail. This novel is very well researched in many aspects…..art and war are very broad topics and could easily have little nuances glossed over, but in this book the author does a fantastic job describing in full detail the time period and the art. It wasn’t boring or unnecessary either. Each little historic detail helped paint a truly magnificent novel.

I am now so glad that I picked this novel to review…..even though the cover was a little blah for me, the story inside was fantastic and one that readers should not miss out on!

Challenge/Book Summary:

Book: Stolen Beauty by Laurie Lico Albanese

Kindle Edition, 320 pages
Expected publication: February 7th 2017 by Atria Books
ASIN B01HMXRYXI
Review copy provided by: Author/Publisher in exchange for an honest review
This book counts toward: NA

Hosted by: NA
Books for Challenge Completed: NA
Recommendation: 4 out of 5

Genre: Romance, war lit, womens fiction, historical fiction

Memorable lines/quotes: NA

In 1900 Vienna, Adele settles down to a marriage with a man she barely knows. Leaving a life of luxury, her and her husband invest heavily in the arts. After meeting artist Gustav Klimt and posing for him, she quickly realizes what attraction and passion really mean. In the 1940’s Adele’s niece, Maria, is forced from her home when Nazi’s invade Austria. Her family’s artwork is stolen by the Nazi’s as they run for their lives.

This was an interesting and dynamic story. Adele and Maria’s story blend well together, creating a family legacy throughout the generations. I did feel that Adele’s story was abruptly cut off, it seemed unfinished, incomplete. In contrast, Maria’s story came full circle, ending with the battle over her aunt’s famous portrait. Overall, highly recommended.

An amazingly readable story about Adele Bloch-Bauer and her famous portrait painted by Gustav Klimt, The Lady in Gold. It also tells the struggle of her niece, Maria, to get the picture back from a museum in Vienna and have it given to her. The story is mainly set around pre-WWII and WWII.

I looked the portrait up and it is simply breathtaking. What an amazing work of art. I have also seen the movie with Helen Mirren about the story so I had some background information to bring to the reading.

The author really brings Vienna to life. Vienna, pre- WWII, seemed an exciting place that was vibrant and full of exciting new ideas. Adele married young to an older, rich man that gave her the freedom to move in intellectual and artistic circles. There she meets Gustav Klimt, an upcoming artist. He paints her not once but twice, an honor not given to anyone else.

The story fluctuates between Adele and her niece who struggles in a Vienna taken over by the Nazis. As a Jew, she struggles with violence and deprivation. She loses contact with her rich uncle. Adele's husband, and loses all the priceless treasures the couple had accumulated. The treasures end up in Nazi hands.

Years later and now an American, Maria struggles to gain control over the famous Klimt painting. It is hanging in a museum in Vienna where her aunt wanted it to be. I really struggle with this part as the aunt really wants it to be in the museum but Maria fights and wins the painting. She then sells it to a museum that is not even close to where she lives so she can go and see it. It was rather unsettling to me.

A wonderful book that kept me enthralled from the beginning to the end. It painted such a vivid picture of Vienna and the times. It also gave a good insight into the life of the really rich of the time.

Thank you, Net Galley, for the book in exchange for a fair review.

I absolutely was amazed by this book and it was amazing to read since I have actually seen dele Bloch-Bauer painting.

1903 Vienna, Adele Bloch-Bauer meets painter Gustav Klimt. Nearly forty years later, Adele’s niece Maria Altmann is a newlywed when the Nazis invade Austria.

I loved this book and I will be reading more from this author in the future.

Adele Bloch-Bauer living in Austria in the late 1880's, from a family of means is a strong , passionate independent young woman with a thirst for knowledge of art , philosophy, literature . At a time when it wasn't acceptable for women to pursue such interests, she follows her brother's dying wish when he tells her , " Don't let them box you in , do you hear me? Don't let them do that ." Defying her critics and her husband, she embarks on a proposition to be painted by Gustav Klimt while also embarking on a liaison she hadn't planned . The results are beautiful, famous paintings of her, most notable of those, The Woman in Gold.

Her niece Maria in 1938 Austria is like her aunt - strong , passionate and independent, who with her husband and family has to endure the Nazi's move into Austria. They are Jewish and paintings from Uncle Ferry's collection of his wife Adele are confiscated by the Nazis . At the time, there are more imminent and consequential things happening such as imprisonment and concentration camps and the need to try to escape. Years later, in 2000, it becomes important to Maria to get back the paintings which were falsely claimed to have been given to a gallery in Austria , but by right belonged to her.

Their stories are told in alternating narratives and after exploring a little of the history, the story of this painting and these women seem to reflect a thorough job of research on the part of the author. It may seem to some that the art stolen by the Nazis is unimportant compared to the unimaginable loss of life as a result of the Holocaust but yet it represents that in addition to the suffering and lives lost , everything was taken . For Maria, fighting this to the Supreme Court was a way of getting something back . Highly recommended for lovers of historical fiction.

I received an advanced copy of this from Atria through NetGalley

"We were always alone unless we stood up for each other". This book is a powerful reminder of what we constantly face and need to fight for, justice, kindness and beauty in a world full of cruelty.

I was not sure I wanted to read this book because I felt I had read enough books about the Nazis. However, I am so glad I read this book. Stolen Beauty is more about two strong women that were determined to have their voices heard in a time when women did not have a voice. The novel based on fact was also about the strength of love and survival. It was so well written that I was totally captivated by the story and did not want the book to end.

This book is about the lives of Adele Bloch-Bauer and her niece, Maria Altmann and their connection to the painter Gustav Klimt.

Adele was raised in Vienna and as a child was bright and curious. Because she was a girl, she had been limited by her parents to what she could learn and study. She met her husband, Ferdinand at her sister’s engagement party. He was much older, established, and provided her with a cultured life with access to the artistic community.

Through a mutual friend Adele meets Klimt and he arranges for her to model for him. They meet weekly in his studio where more than a friendship develops. When the portrait Judith I is unveiled it reflects a bare breasted woman strongly resembling Adele featuring a unique necklace that she has worn at social events. Ferdinand is embarrassed by the revealing painting of his wife and the implications.

In 1938, Maria Altmann is a newlywed when the Nazi party invades Austria. Her husband’s family business along with their assets are confiscated. During this time, she finds out that her uncle Ferdinand has had his assets seized as well. He is forced to abandon his building containing all of his artwork, including portraits of the late Adele.

This book does a tremendous job of detailing the lives behind the famous painting commonly known as The Woman in Gold. I was aware of the lawsuit behind the painting, but not of the lives of these two women which the book pleasantly recounts. The dialogue between the characters felt genuine while making you feel their emotions. I really enjoyed this book and did not want to finish it!

Of course, most of us are familiar with THE PORTRAIT OF ADELE BLOCH-BAUER, Klimt's most famous and most controversial painting. This incredible novel brings the reader the story of both The Woman in Gold and her niece Maria Altmann, who sued the Austrian government for its return.

Lisa Lico-Albanese skillfully weaves together the lives of these women with the history of the painting, as well as the story of the Nazi looting of Europe's art. Yet, even with these heavy topics, the book is a pleasure to read filled with details of the period.

Adele and her niece Maria are bound by love, affection and their heritage. The novelist elects to include a possible affair between artist and subject as well as the sexual abuse of Maria which occurs before she is able to escape from Nazi occupied Austria.

Of course the reader is rooting for Maria recovering the stolen portrait and cheering as the it is returned and successfully exhibited at the NEUE Museum in NYC. It certainly inspires us to view the film WOMAN IN GOLD, with a greater understanding of the backstory.

I will be urging my students to read this novel. It is exactly what historical fiction should be, perhaps not true, but set within a strong historical background.