
Paperback: 420 pages
Publisher: Lake Union Publishing (July 8, 2014)
American artist Joseph Hannigan and his alluring sister, Sophie, have arrived
in enchanting nineteenth-century Venice with a single-minded goal. The twins,
who have fled scandal in New York, are determined to break into Venice’s
expatriate set and find a wealthy patron to support Joseph’s work.
But the enigmatic Hannigans are not the only ones with a secret agenda.
Joseph’s talent soon attracts the attention of the magnificent Odilé Leon, a
celebrated courtesan and muse who has inspired many artists to greatness. But
her inspiration comes with a devastatingly steep price.
As Joseph falls under the courtesan’s spell, Sophie joins forces with
Nicholas Dane, the one man who knows Odilé’s dark secret, and her sworn enemy.
When the seductive muse offers Joseph the path to eternal fame, the twins must
decide who to believe—and just how much they are willing to sacrifice for
fame.
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Review:
"Or perhaps it's the other way around. Have you thought of that? Perhaps it's not half a life at all, but two instead. Two joined as one. Double instead of halved."
I really can't say enough good things about this book, it is alluring, with marvelous writing and characterization. The setting completely drew me in, the glamour, the mystery, the salons and the artistry created a world that I was completely immersed with. The changing point of view between the four characters gave me a sense of a fast-pace and a view into each of their points-of-view and their motives. Each of the characters was well developed and special. I loved learning about what exactly Odilé was and her history. Sophie and Joseph were an enigma, their relationship was obviously special, but it also had a a very dark component, but it is what ended up helping them the most in the end.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.

Megan Chance is a critically
acclaimed, award-winning author of historical fiction. Her novels have been
chosen for the Borders Original Voices and IndieBound’s Booksense programs. A
former television news photographer and graduate of Western Washington
University, Chance lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and two
daughters.
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