Description
Violante isn't supposed to be here, in one of the grandest courts of Renaissance Italy. She isn't supposed to be a lady-in-waiting to the beautiful Lucrezia Borgia. But the same secretive politics that pushed Lucrezia's father to the Vatican have landed Violante deep in a lavish landscape of passion and ambition.
Violante discovers a Lucrezia unknown to those who see only a scheming harlot, and all the whispers about her brother, Cesare Borgia, never revealed the soul of the man who dances close with Violante.
But those who enter the House of Borgia are never quite the same when they leave-if they leave at all. Violante's place in history will test her heart and leave her the guardian of dangerous secrets she must carry to the grave.
What Readers are Saying:
"Reading this book is like looking at every painting of Renaissance Italy you have ever seen. Full of dazzling colour, warmth, and vitality...Sarah Bower has done it again."
"A richly satisfying historical novel."
"Bower re-creates the world of the early sixteenth century unfailingly; the historical details of this novel are exquisite."
Violante discovers a Lucrezia unknown to those who see only a scheming harlot, and all the whispers about her brother, Cesare Borgia, never revealed the soul of the man who dances close with Violante.
But those who enter the House of Borgia are never quite the same when they leave-if they leave at all. Violante's place in history will test her heart and leave her the guardian of dangerous secrets she must carry to the grave.
What Readers are Saying:
"Reading this book is like looking at every painting of Renaissance Italy you have ever seen. Full of dazzling colour, warmth, and vitality...Sarah Bower has done it again."
"A richly satisfying historical novel."
"Bower re-creates the world of the early sixteenth century unfailingly; the historical details of this novel are exquisite."
About the Author
Sarah Bower is a literature development officer for Creative Arts East. She teaches creative writing at the University of East Anglia. She was UK editor of the Historical Novels Review for two years until the beginning of 2006, when she stepped down to make more time for her own writing. She is the author of the forthcoming novel The Needle in the Blood.Details
- Paperback: 544 pages
- Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark (March 1, 2011)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 1402259638
- ISBN-13: 978-1402259630
WANT TO WIN THIS BOOK BEFORE IT IS RELEASED?
Contest is open to anyone with a US or Canadian mailing addtress (NO PO Boxes)
The winner will be chosen by the most votes which will end on 2.11.11
Winner will have 24 hours to respond to email or the second place winner will get the book.
This giveaway is sponsored by SOURCEBOOKS and one copy is available.
Only one winner per household address!
This is a different sort of contest for me per the publisher's request to "do something different", so here we go:
PLEASE COMPLETE THE FORM BELOW
You get (5) extra entries for leaving a comment
and the best one will get an extra ten (10) entries!
Since the Borgias were known for there murderous ways, post a comment with the best way to fictionally murder an enemy. Comments will end at midnight PST on 2.10 and then I will post a poll for everyone to vote on the best one. The best comment will win the copy!
Be sure to leave an email address!
The best way to fictionally murder an enemy is to poison them with an undetectable poison in their food...at a meal you invited them to in order to prove that you really didn't see them as an enemy.
ReplyDeletelittleone AT shaw DOT ca
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteBest way to fictionally murder an enemy is definitely ninja-skills. Stealthy death!
ReplyDeletestarmetaloak(at)gmail(dot)com
Hmm... best way is to lay a trail that leads to another enemy. ;)
ReplyDeletebooks (dot) things (at) yahoo (dot) com
This is the first I have hear of the author and book. I am intrigued!
ReplyDeleteHmmm... fictional murder. I think holding them in a well, keeping them from the light with no food or water. Occasionally throwing creepy stuff in just for fun. Can you scream in the dark!?
robin [at] intensewhisper [dot] com
Thanks for the giveaway.
ReplyDeleteMy best fictional murder would be to cut the brake lines on the car. Then *CRASH*! Car blows up and all evidence is gone.
lizzi0915 at aol dot com
I think it really depends on the target...if you were tricky and trained enough you would be ready to take some one out in what ever way presented itself. Be it hand to hand, guns, knifes or the lamp sitting on the table!
ReplyDeleteThanks! mmafsmith@gmail.com
This sounds really good! Thanks for the giveaway.
ReplyDeleteDeath by chocolate? =P
ReplyDeletetiredwkids at live dot com
hmmm...I suppose it depends on the hit. car crashes, poisoning, and everything is good...I'd say make them listen to a mix of Justin Beiber and Miley Cyrus songs until they do all the work for you :D
ReplyDeleteHa forgot my emial...hense1kk AT cmich DOT edu
ReplyDeleteThe best way to fictionally murder somebody is to find out what their hobby is and give them something that they would love and definitely pick up and lovingly touch.
ReplyDeleteSince I love embriodery, the person murdering me would scatter poison that can get into the blood stream by touch on loads of beautifully colored floss.
CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com
LOVE the Borgia family history and I have not read this book, so thank you for the opportunity to win!
ReplyDeleteOh! This is a tricky question.
I think it depends on why the person is an enemy. If it is because they have wronged you and yours in some awful way then the choice would be different than if you just wanted them out of the way.
If I were a Borgia though... I would try glass shards mixed in with food, sending someone off to war, going for a hike on a cliff and "accidentally" pushing someone to their death.
day.paperbackdoll at gmail dot com
Hmm..murder a enemy by putting a hallucigen in their drink or food that they will want to kill their self when he/she goes crazy.
ReplyDeleteCool giveaway!
aliasgirl1976@yahoo.com
The best way to fictionally murder an enemy is to use some exotic, slow acting, undetectable poison... but of course they don't sell that at Walmart. In these days of high tech forensics, I'd say stick as close to an accident (push down the stairs type thing) as possible.
ReplyDeleteadrianecoros(at)gmail(dot)com
there is a very interesting background to this book.
ReplyDeletelisasworldofbooks@charter.net
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThe best way to fictionally murder an enemy is make them believe you are their friend to begin with so that they do not suspect a thing. Then when the lights go out, create a gas leak that leads to an explosion, while you walk away successfully under the starry sky.
ReplyDeletemoonlightgleam(at)gmail(dot)com
The best and cleanest way to fictionally kill someone is poison. There are a couple good ones that are relatively tasteless in food. Arsenic comes to mind, but it takes patience. A lot of patience.
ReplyDeleteJHolden955 at gmail dot com
MOONLIGHT GLEAM moonlightgleam - stop by the blog Moonlight Gleams's Bookshelf HERE
ReplyDeleteAnd here is the winning fictional murder:
The best way to fictionally murder an enemy is make them believe you are their friend to begin with so that they do not suspect a thing. Then when the lights go out, create a gas leak that leads to an explosion, while you walk away successfully under the starry sky.
An email has been sent to the lucky people named above (first part of their email address in case my note ends up in spam). The winner(s) has 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.
Thanks to all who entered.
PLEASE CHECK YOUR SPAM FOR THE EMAIL FROM BOOKHOUNDS @ HOTMAIL REQUESTING YOUR MAILING ADDRESS!