Cross My Heart (Cross My Heart, #1)

Jan 23, 2012 ☆Jessie☆ (Ageless Pages Reviews) rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction, netgalley-arc, young-adult-fiction, mystery, 2011-reads, 2012-reviews, reviewed, hf-italy, arc

Read This Review & More Like It On My Blog!

3.5 out of 5

From the initial sentence of, "His gondola slips through the water like a knife cutting into dark silk," I knew I was in for an atmospheric historical read. I love when settings are strong, vivid and alive almost (see: Constantinople in Theodora: Empress. Actress. Whore; Prague in Daughter of Smoke and Bone; Prague again in The Book Of Blood And Shadow, etc.) and my hopes were set high for Venice and for Cross My Heart itself. The cover...more Read This Review & More Like It On My Blog!

3.5 out of 5

From the initial sentence of, "His gondola slips through the water like a knife cutting into dark silk," I knew I was in for an atmospheric historical read. I love when settings are strong, vivid and alive almost (see: Constantinople in Theodora: Empress. Actress. Whore; Prague in Daughter of Smoke and Bone; Prague again in The Book Of Blood And Shadow, etc.) and my hopes were set high for Venice and for Cross My Heart itself. The cover is pretty apt for the novel as well: showing both the light and dark sides to the fabled Italian city and foretelling a dangerous future for our intrepid heroine. Laura della Scala's tale didn't enrapture me as much as I'd anticipated from the eerie first sentence but instead grew on me slowly, involving me more and more as each chapter drew to a suspenseful close. A slow-burner rather than an instantly engrossing read, Cross My Heart should definitely be given the benefit of the doubt and read to the end.

Laura, a likeable if not totally remarkable teenage protagonist, was consigned to a convent at an early age. With an older sister to marry off ("through nothing but an accident of birth, she remains free, while I languish") and a spendthrift father Laura is nothing but a burden on her family. So once thrust from the convent, Laura is generally and genuinely unlike most girls her age of Venice: she is sheltered, naive and trusting - that is to say weak in a city of sharks above water. Laura's subsequent enrollment into the secret society of La Segreta exposes her to dark elements in her own hometown she never suspected. Going from under the thumb of the dictator-esque Abbess to the supervision of her father, Laura is never the one making the decisions about her own life: a situation many teens reading this will find easy to relate with and similar to their own modern-day lives. With that act of quiet rebellion that is simultaneously the first time Laura chooses something for herself, Laura eventually realizes she has only exchanged the convent's reins for her father's and her father's for the mysterious women in the society. There was only ever an illusion of control once she joined them, and Laura's life gets unpredictable and dark in the streets and canals of Venice.

The style of writing is elegant and feels entirely natural. I enjoyed Sasha Gould's consistently smooth writing and simple but steady style. Her style lends itself well to the tone of the book as well as to the city of Venice itself. I did wish for more detail and life from Venice the city; I loved what was there but I just wanted for more about the city and less about the colorful pageantry and parade of the noble class and their balls. There were several side plotlines threaded in with the mystery of Laura's sister's death that seemed slightly generic and fully predictable. The teenage romance with the painter, the "reveal" . . even the decades-long feud that was ended with a whimper... all seemed slightly underdeveloped. What kept me going and interested was Venice itself, as well as the original mystery of what happened to Beatrice and why she was murdered. That compelling plotline was pulled off marvelously well: I was genuinely fooled by many a red herring placed by Laura's suspicions/the author and the eventual villain surprised and delighted me with what it meant for the storyline. In a slowly paced novel, I just wished it had felt less rushed at the conclusion and more in pace with the meat of the story.

Ms. Gould's keen eye for setting and atmosphere provide an excellent - and darkly alluring - setting for a murder-mystery with a splash of teenage romance. Though it was not a perfect outing and better than my first impressions lead me to believe, Cross My Heart ended with me keen on getting my hands on the as-yet-unnamed sequel set in the same beautiful and deadly city. Keep an eye out for this one later in the year: it's scheduled to hit the shelves March 13, 2012.
(less)

3 likes · like · see review

Oct 17, 2011 Becky rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: bought, read-for-myself

Cross My Heart is a historical novel set in Venice. It is a tale of secrets, deceptions, power and love.

Laura was sent to live in the convent when she was twelve years old. She never understood why her father sent her away but she missed her older sister terribly. In the convent they call her La Muta – she is the silent one. She has learned not to ask questions and to wear her face as a mask to avoid the wrath of the Abbess. Despite her faith, Laura has never felt like she belonged in the conven...more Cross My Heart is a historical novel set in Venice. It is a tale of secrets, deceptions, power and love.

Laura was sent to live in the convent when she was twelve years old. She never understood why her father sent her away but she missed her older sister terribly. In the convent they call her La Muta – she is the silent one. She has learned not to ask questions and to wear her face as a mask to avoid the wrath of the Abbess. Despite her faith, Laura has never felt like she belonged in the convent. One night she is called to the infirmary to assist Sister Maria save a dying man. It is a night that will change her life forever. The next day she is called by the Abbess and told she is to leave the convent. Laura can hardly understand what would bring such a change. She has longed for the chance to see her family again and so she has many hopes for a happy future when she leaves.

Of course, there are great dangers ahead and Laura has not been educated as to the ways of the Venetian aristocracy. She is an innocent girl and so the plot unfolds with her becoming both a victim of deception and a deceiver in her own right.

The image of the mask and the concept of disguise are very much a part of this story. Venice is full of wealthy, beautiful characters with secrets – many of them dark and sinister. Laura has to navigate her way through this unfamiliar world of liars and false friends to find a truth. I don’t want to tell you which truth she is looking for as it is a bit of a spoiler.

Her father is a self-centred imbecile. He is determined to marry Laura off to whichever man can secure him a position on the Grand Council. His political position and his wealth are all he cares about. And so, poor innocent Laura is devastated when she meets her betrothed: Vincenzo – an old, decaying man who looks at her like a piece of succulent meat. Laura cannot face being married to such a man. She would rather return to the convent and be a bride of Christ. In among all this fear and anguish, there is the joy of first love too. But Laura’s father will never let her marry a poor man. An opportunity to escape the marriage is presented to her but it comes at a heavy price. Is it a price she is willing to pay? The consequences may be greater than she ever imagined.

I found Cross My Heart such an easy book to get into. The writing was elegant, the story was full of drama – think masked balls, cloaked figures, daggers and spies – and the love story was endearing. I loved all the gondola references, the way the author evoked Venice through her descriptions of the architecture and the feeling that the book was built on “secrets and lies”. Fans of Mary Hoffman’s David and Karen Wallace’s Emerald are sure to enjoy this book. I know that I certainly did.(less)

2 likes · like · see review

Jun 20, 2011 Jelena rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult

Historical books are not my cup of tea, so that`s the reason I can`t give this book high rate. There were too much stereotypes for me (regarding the historical time and the behaviour of the people back than). Apart from that fact I could say I enjoyed the quick reading.

The story is set in Venice during the Renaissance time, which adds an extra mysteriousness to the already existing one.

The story begins with a mysterious death of a young woman, who drowned in the canal (an accident?).
The next t...more Historical books are not my cup of tea, so that`s the reason I can`t give this book high rate. There were too much stereotypes for me (regarding the historical time and the behaviour of the people back than). Apart from that fact I could say I enjoyed the quick reading.

The story is set in Venice during the Renaissance time, which adds an extra mysteriousness to the already existing one.

The story begins with a mysterious death of a young woman, who drowned in the canal (an accident?).
The next thing we know is how monotonous Laura`s life goes behind the walls of the convent where she has spent the last 6 years. The only thing that brings some excitement in her predictable life, is the anticipation of receiving a letter from her elder sister, Beatrice, who is supposed to get married to the lovely Vincenco (or maybe not).
One night Laura is called to help in the ward where she finds a man on the bench tossing and apparently suffering a pain. When she manages to help him by giving him some herbs, he recovers from that mysterious attack and tells her no one in Venice should know about what has just happened. She promises to keep his secret.
For a moment I was afraid that half of the story will be set in the convent, which I wouldn`t have enjoyed at all. But than we find out Laura is getting out into the “big world”, but only to find out that her sister is dead and she is supposed to replace her in the marriage with Vincenco.
At the big party organiasied by the Doge of Venice, Laura is supposed to meet her future husband. There she also meet some new people, and some she already knew from before - friends from her childhood and the man from the ward (who turns out to be the Doge himself, but he dosen`t remember her).
Well, one of the first shocking things is that Vincencio is not the romantic young man Laura imagined him to be, but a ugly man, even older than her father. It takes her only one dance with him to know she would do anything not to merry him. But her father has other plans for her – the wealthy man is needed to take the family up into the elite again.
Desperate Laura is heading out of the house to take some fresh air. In the garden she meets the young painter of the Doge`s family – Giacomo, but she soon finds out she is not supposed to speak with people of a lower class, otherwise she would bring herself a bad name. Laura needs to catch up with too many things now when she is out of the convent – how is appropriate to behave, to dress, to speak and all those stuff.
But her biggest problem is how to avoid sharing the rest of her life with that awful old man. And here comes the Secret sociality, contained of numerous powerful women, who actually pull the strings in the hidden Venice`s life. They offer help to Laura, but not without its cost. What they ask for is more precious than money – they want is a secret. And if it`s worth it, Laura would get what she wants.
But does Laura have so valuable secret to share?

Well, I won`t give up much more of the story.
I can only tell you it`s just the beginning. There are more twisted storylines (and characters) to come with several unexpected turning points. No one is who he/she appears to be. Everyone has their own secrets and fears.

If you enjoy stories full of mysteriousness, betrayals, danger, half-truths, rumors, and romance in a historical settings, I would recommend you “Cross my Heart”.

Well, and just one last thing to add, if at the end you are wondering why not everything is completely clear and revealed, just keep in mind there is a second (and last) book to come (but it`s not announced when).
(less)

1 like · like · see review

Jan 21, 2013 Suzanne rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: peach-consideration

(Rounding up what is probably a 3.5)

I read this one almost right after another piece of historical fiction that deals with court intrigue and murder

, so it's tough not to compare the two. Only about 100 years earlier and set in Brittany rather than Venice, so what makes this historical fiction a bit more successful for me?

It's shorter, meaning there's less of a meandering middle in Cross My Heart. Laura, this heroine, though, is also a victim of birth--as are we all, I suppose--a second daught...more (Rounding up what is probably a 3.5)

I read this one almost right after another piece of historical fiction that deals with court intrigue and murder

, so it's tough not to compare the two. Only about 100 years earlier and set in Brittany rather than Venice, so what makes this historical fiction a bit more successful for me?

It's shorter, meaning there's less of a meandering middle in Cross My Heart. Laura, this heroine, though, is also a victim of birth--as are we all, I suppose--a second daughter to a once properious merchant and therefore sent to the convent while her older sister Beatrice is groomed for a good marriage, good for their father's failing fortunes, that is. After years attempting to make a cloistered and reverent novice, she is suddenly plucked back home as a substitute bride for wealthy Vincenzo--older and even more odious than her father--after the mysterious death of her sister in the canals. Only the Secreta, a masked group of noble women working power under men's noses. Their currency is secrets, so luckily, Laura has one from a mysterious man suffering a seizure once at her convent, a man she comes to learn is the Doge, the leader of all Venice, the leader whose secret weakness of the falling sickness is worth bringing some crimes of Vincenzo to light, ending the engagement.

Intrigue continues as Laura does not know whom to trust (just as the nun assassin in Grave Mercy did not). Laura has the testimony of their old nurse maid that Beatrice's death was murder at the hands of a man with gold teeth. A vendetta between the Doge's family and another noble family has brought violence into both their houses, and somehow Laura finds herself embroiled in this crazy Renaissance soap opera just by falling for the painter the Doge has hired for frescos in his palace--and a portrait of the lovely Laura.

Laura isn't particuarly brilliant, but she does manage to get herself out a few physical scrapes, uncover the culprit behind her sister's death, after a couple of missteps, and learn to stand up for herself against her bully of a father, all while the author maintains fairly good verisimilitude in her historical setting. Thus, overall, this non-magical and briefer tale gets my higher endorsement. Nonetheless, YA demand for ass-kicking from their heroines, even if it is in too limited quantity given the page count in Grave Mercy, will probably mean a greater readership for that novel. Oh, well, give 'em what they want. ANY historical fiction is a hard sell in my library. Assassin nuns in Grave Mercy will likely tend to sway more than all the local colors of a glittering Venice. (less)

like · see review

Dec 11, 2012 WovenMyst rated it 5 of 5 stars

Sasha Gould’s Cross My Heart goes far beyond spectacular palazzos and the frivolous concerns of higher society. In a world where Laura della Scala’s status as the second daughter gains her a place in a convent and where the darkest shadows of Venice hold the Segreta, Gould explores the power of secrecy and of the women who covet that power.

Readers are presented to Laura as her time in the convent comes to a close. Her days as La Muta, the Quiet One, will be no more as she’s taken home and learns...more Sasha Gould’s Cross My Heart goes far beyond spectacular palazzos and the frivolous concerns of higher society. In a world where Laura della Scala’s status as the second daughter gains her a place in a convent and where the darkest shadows of Venice hold the Segreta, Gould explores the power of secrecy and of the women who covet that power.

Readers are presented to Laura as her time in the convent comes to a close. Her days as La Muta, the Quiet One, will be no more as she’s taken home and learns of the death of her older, beloved sister Beatrice. The worst news comes when her father announces that she must take her sister’s place and marry the decrepit Vincenzo. Signora Allegreza di Rocco approaches Laura at an opportune time, when her reintroduction into Venetian society turns for the worst course. She provides Laura with a way out of her marriage if only she would divulge a secret. Here is where the game truly begins and Laura becomes part of the Society of Secrets, a deadly society that may have had a hand in Laura’s sister’s demise.

The mystery of Beatrice’s death and what power the Segreta truly holds will fascinate readers. The plot flows at a steady pace that allows time for Laura to burrow into hearts and for the suspense to build and take hold of the plot. Gould adds a romantic situation between Laura and an acclaimed painter, Giacomo, that turns out be more than a relationship tested by the restrictions of class. While the story’s plot twists aren’t overly shocking or unbelievable, they lend a hand in the anxious, heart-racing emotions that Gould will certainly put in all readers.

Gould’s writing style excellently traverses time to place the audience in 16th century Venice. The dialogue, expressions and way of life are portrayed with ease and great creativity. The secondary characters are well-written enough to provide diversion from the truths waiting in the background to be revealed. Laura truly stands out as Cross My Heart’s heroine, from her growth into a strong, wise young woman to her capability to take care of herself and the ones she loves. Cross My Heart’s sequel, Heart of Glass, will absolutely be worth the wait!

Candace Hawkins(less)

like · see review

Oct 07, 2012 Izzy rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: people who can tolerate bad writing

Recommended to Izzy by: my school librarian

I received this book about 6 months ago as a present from my school librarian for being in her book club.

Now I don't mean to criticize her, but this is NOT a present.

The book was OK. It wasn't as bad as I'm probably saying it is, but it bugged me a lot and I felt it could have been done much better.

Cross My Heart got fast-paced in the moments leading up to a climax, but then it just fell back into a slow pace again. I would've stopped reading because it was so slow, but then a twist pulled me ba...more

like · see review

Jul 24, 2012 Brittany rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Laura della Scala thought she would live and die in the convent where she had been deposited at the tender age of 10, but there is a bigger fate in store for her and her family.

I really enjoyed this adventure, which reads like the perfect set up for a historical fluff movie. There wasn't anything particularly groundbreaking about the story itself but Laura is an immensely likeable character with a good head on her shoulders. The plot moves along at a quick pace and, while the identity of Beatri...more

like · see review

May 09, 2012 W rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-read

This YA historical fiction mystery/romance is set in 16th century Venice. After her sister's mysterious death, Laura is removed from her convent to take her place as the bride of a wealthy, elderly gentleman. Desperate for escape from the marriage, she accepts the help of a secret society of women -- though as the story progresses and she finds herself in more dangerous situations, she wonders if her trust in them may be ill-founded.

This book is chock full of drama, danger, and secrets. The plot...more

1 like · like · see review

Apr 24, 2012 Mj rated it 4 of 5 stars

Very intriguing book! Set in sixteenth century Venice, politics and social class play a large role in this storyline. After spending years in a convent, 16-year-old Laura della Scala is ordered to return home. She can hardly wait to see her beloved older sister, Beatrice. Arriving home to a desolate house with a coffin sitting in the front hall, Laura finds that her life is about to be changed forever. Beatrice has mysteriously drowned and Laura is to step into her role as fiancé to Vincenzo, a...more

like · see review

Apr 18, 2012 Adrienne rated it 3 of 5 stars

As the second daughter, Laura is shut up in a convent while her beloved sister Beatrice is living a life of luxury, engaged to a wealthy, powerful man named Vincenzo. When Laura is suddenly summoned to her father's house in Venice, she thinks that all her prayers have been answered. But when she arrives in Venice, she learns that her sister is dead, and she is set to marry Vincenzo in Beatrice's place. When her bridegroom turns out to be a disgusting old man, she is approached by a secret societ...more

like · see review

Apr 04, 2012 Angie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-debut-author-challenge

Originally posted at Beneath the Jacket:

I love history, so it should be assumed that I enjoy a good historical fiction novel. When I received Cross My Heart, I was so excited. It takes place during the Italian Renaissance and it revolves around a mystery! My mind went right to The Ruby in the Smoke which is one of my favorite historical mysteries. I didn't enjoy this one as much as The Ruby in the Smoke, but Cross My Heart definitely has its positives.

It should be said that Sasha Gould's writing...more

like · see review

Mar 26, 2012 Taylor rated it 3 of 5 stars

Main Idea: I would recommend picking up this book if you are in the mood for a quick, not too intense mystery/historical fiction book. It was very enjoyable from start to finish and definitely had me guessing!

This was one of the first historical fiction books I have read in a while, and I really enjoyed it! We follow Laura as she is released from the convent her father left her in to discover that her best friend and older sister, Beatrice, is dead. Her father now expects her to act as her older...more

like · see review

Feb 15, 2012 Crstn29 rated it 4 of 5 stars

As Cross My Heart opens we find Laura confined to life in an Venician convent. She is restless and pining for her sister who she last saw six years before when her father left her with the nuns. With no choice in the manner, Laura is set to be confirmed in just days when she receives word that her father is calling her home. Delerious with the news, the next morning Laura bursts into her former home and finds a coffin.

She learns quickly that not only has her beloved sister died (drowned in one...more As Cross My Heart opens we find Laura confined to life in an Venician convent. She is restless and pining for her sister who she last saw six years before when her father left her with the nuns. With no choice in the manner, Laura is set to be confirmed in just days when she receives word that her father is calling her home. Delerious with the news, the next morning Laura bursts into her former home and finds a coffin.

She learns quickly that not only has her beloved sister died (drowned in one of the many canals), she is to take her place and marry her sisters fiance, Vincenzo. When at a ball the next night, Laura is finally introduced to her betrothed, her situation goes from bad to worse. Vencenzo is a disgusting old man, with an even worse personality and is more than excited to call Laura his own. It seems her father has sold her hand in marriage to the old man to improve his standing in society.

Laura is distraught about her situation when she is handed a note from a woman from the ball giving her a time and place to meet. Desparate, Laura attends the meeting where she is greeted by a room of women all wearing masks. They demand from her a secret and in return they will take care of her situation with Vencenzo. Not seeing any other options, Laura discloses the one secret she has about the most powerful man in Venice. She leaves the meeting shameful, convinced that she has proved untrustworthy and doubtful that this secret society of women can actually help her.

The morning of her wedding, Laura awakes to the unbeliveable news that Vencenzo has been proven a traitor and arrested. The wedding is off! Thus begins a confusing and reluctant partnership with the Segreta society of women. As Laura learns, nobody is who they seem in Venice, including her sister's best friend, a devistatingly handsome painter who has taken an interest in her, and even her own father. Laura must quickly learn whom to trust and whom to avoid.

I was initially frustrated with Laura's character. Her father has condemned her to six years in a convent and then suddenly brings her back home only to tell her she is marrying a man three times her age. Laura, while disgusted with him plays the obedient daughter and obeys. It was only when I reminded myself what it must have been like for women in this time period where your life belonged to first your father and then your husband that I grew to really understand her. I was relived when, in later chapters Laura grew a backbone and began to stand up for herself to her father. It was fun to watch her navigate the social scene and grown stronger and more confident with her decisions. So many people had tried to break her spirit, but even six years in a convent couldn't turn her into a complacent society girl. The book summed up the story nicely, but left the door open to become a series featuring others from the secret society. I would definitly read books from Gould again.

(less)

like · see review

Feb 08, 2012 Jennifer Peterson rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: review-books

Cross My Heart by Sasha Gould is targeted at ages 12 and up. I am significantly over 12 and I enjoyed it a lot. Laura della Scala was sent to the convent as a young girl so that her family could afford to launch her sister on society. In Renaissance Venice, she anticipated staying there for the rest of her life, only able to correspond in writing with her sister. When she finds out her sister is betrothed to a man named Vincenzo, she is happy for her since it seems as though her sister is happy....more

like · see review

Dec 13, 2011 Charlotte Black rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arcs

Synopsis:
Venice, 1585.

When 16-year-old Laura della Scala learns that her older sister, Beatrice, has drowned, she is given no time to grieve. Instead, Laura's father removes her from the convent where he forcibly sent her years earlier and orders her to marry Beatrice's fiancé, a repulsive old merchant named Vincenzo.

Panicked, Laura betrays a powerful man to earn her way into the Segreta, a shadowy society of women who deal in only one currency—secrets. The Segreta seems like the answer to Laura...more

like · see review

Aug 30, 2011 Vicky rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. What is your secret?

Sixteen-year-old Laura della Scala has spent most of her life in the convent under the stern eye of the abbess. When her father frees her from her prison, she is happy that she will be reunited with her sister, Beatrice. Unfortunately, Laura learns that her sister is dead and she herself is now engaged to Beatrice’s fiancé, Vincenzo, a repulsive old man with foul breath and fouler manners.

In desperation, Laura appeals to the Segreta, a shadowy powerful society made up of wome...more

1 like · like · see review

Dec 28, 2012 Courtney rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction, mystery, series, teen-fiction

When Laura Della Scala's sister, Beatrice, drowns in the canals of her hometown of Venice, Laura is plucked from the convent she's been living in for the past six years. Thinking her life is going to become more exciting and comfortable, she is happy with the change. At least, that is, until she is finally told that her sister is dead and that she will be taking Beatrice's place in the marriage that their father had arranged. Laura must now attempt to take her late sister's place in high society...more

like · see review

Dec 07, 2012 Candace (Lovey Dovey Books) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Sasha Gould’s Cross My Heart goes far beyond spectacular palazzos and the frivolous concerns of higher society. In a world where Laura della Scala’s status as the second daughter gains her a place in a convent and where the darkest shadows of Venice hold the Segreta, Gould explores the power of secrecy and of the women who covet that power.

Readers are presented to Laura as her time in the convent comes to a close. Her days as La Muta, the Quiet One, will be no more as she’s taken home and learns...more

like · see review

Jun 16, 2012 Alicia rated it 2 of 5 stars

The setting, the gowns, the romance, the intrigue... I really thought I would love this book.

I ended up thinking it was okay. It just didn't grip me. I couldn't sink in and disappear to the rest of the world.

Why it just come off as okay:
I think Laura was a little too young for me to relate to (I like YA historical fiction, but I am not a YA so maybe that's why.)

The romance seemed a bit too rushed and surface level (again, I am too old and too wise to think falling in love in a rush is a good...more

1 like · like · see review

Mar 29, 2012 Tiffany rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-debut-authors, debut-author-challenge

There are no friends in Venice.

Laura della Scala has been in a convent for the last six years. Her father sent her there when he could no longer afford two daughters. La Muta - The Silent One - is what they call her there. She should remember that name. While there a man comes to the infirmary, thrashing and sick, Laura must subdue him and feed him medicine. Once healed the man, whom Laura does not know, make her promise to never utter a word of his condition. But who would she tell? She's just...more

like · see review

Mar 18, 2012 Allison (Abibliophobic) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical, net-galley, read-and-reviewed, romance

I have come to realize over the years, especially after starting this blog, I tend to judge a book by its cover. Well, that might not necessarily be true, but a unique cover will definitely draw me into a book faster. So, after requesting this book because of its awesome cover, I found that I enjoyed what was inside almost as much as the cover.

After spending the past six years of her life living in a convent in her beloved city of Venice, 16-year-old Laura, is suddenly released back into her fat...more I have come to realize over the years, especially after starting this blog, I tend to judge a book by its cover. Well, that might not necessarily be true, but a unique cover will definitely draw me into a book faster. So, after requesting this book because of its awesome cover, I found that I enjoyed what was inside almost as much as the cover.

After spending the past six years of her life living in a convent in her beloved city of Venice, 16-year-old Laura, is suddenly released back into her father’s care without any word or explanation. After returning home, she comes to realized the reason for her sudden return: her sister has been found dead in the canals outside her family’s villa. Laura’s father, a once rich and powerful man, now begins on a search for suitors to marry Laura to bring back his power and wealth. When Laura is betrothed to a wizened old man who already has grandchildren, Laura thinks her options have run out. That is until she discovers the Segreta. This powerful and secret society of Venetian women promise to help her out of her horrible situation and all they want in return is a secret. After revealing her secret and betraying the most powerful man in the city, Laura soon finds that the Venice she knew as a young girl was a fantasy. The streets and canals she knows as home are full of power struggles, political intrigue, and secrets…

I really did enjoy Gould’s story. The back drop of old Venice really set this book apart from other historical romance novels I’ve read in the recent past. After just finishing GraveMercy by R.L. LaFevers, I liked this transition into a second historical piece set in a different time and place. Gould’s writing is simple and beautiful although I wish she had gone into more detail about the city itself, rather than the balls and gatherings of the rich because in this story, Venice is almost a character in the book, along with Laura and her friends.

The plot that Gould created was as rich and detailed as the dresses that Laura wears. There is of course darkness that Laura becomes aware of in her city and as a reader, we really see Laura grow up from the girl she was in the convent. With her sister’s death, she begins to learn that life is not as simple as it may have seemed while she was hidden away.

There were some parts of the story that I thought could have been done better. I thought that the dialog was a little flat. Meaning that it could have been a little more detailed and complicated. I sometimes found myself a little bored reading conversation between characters and wishing that there were a little more detail in their speech. It was also disappointing that Laura’s romance with a young artist became part of the story only halfway through and I felt it was a little rushed at the end. Perhaps if the romance was quicker to be introduced and more budding it would have been more interesting to read.

I also found that I didn’t fall for our heroine, Laura, as much from the start. This could be because I’ve been reading a lot of novels with a main character whose prominent characteristic is that she is consistently kicking butt and taking names. While I didn’t love Laura at first, she did grow on me throughout the story and I did find myself really liking her in the end.

Overall, I thought this was a fun book that a lot of people will enjoy. With it’s Romeo and Juliet like romance and the ever present mystery surrounding the historic city of Venice and its’ inhabitants, it’s a book that’s hard to put down.

6 out of 10

-Allison

Review brought to you by imabibliophobic.blogspot.com
(less)

like · see review

Mar 09, 2012 Hafiza rated it 5 of 5 stars

ARC received from NetGalley

I am a sucker for historical fiction with unusual locations.
This is a beautifully written YA Historical fiction/mystery set in 16th C Venice (Yeah- not a Tudor in sight!)

Laura is a 16 year condemned to a convent by her Father at age 10 because she is his second daughter.
He beloved sister Beatrice dies under mysterious circumstances, and Laura is pulled out from the convent.
In typical fashion her Father tries to force her to marry a repulsive but rich older man.
In order...more

like · see review

Mar 29, 2012 Marsha rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Young Adults

From the first moment I began reading "Cross My Heart," I was entranced with the mystery, intrigue, deception and secret society. It is a marvelous book set in old world Venice and the images are as beautiful as the city itself.

Sixteen year old Laura della Scala has learned so very tough lessons in life at an early age. At the age of ten, her mother dies and her father sends her kicking and screaming to a convent. While living with the sisters she is shown little kindness including the censorshi...more

like · see review

Mar 12, 2012 Erin rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-renaissance, italy, netgalley, read-in-2012

[I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review]

3.5 stars (rounded to 4)

Set in sixteenth century Venice. Laura della Scala was put away in a convent at a young age, so her father could concentrate his time and finances on launching her older sister Beatrice into society. Just before her wedding to a prominent nobleman, Beatrice is found floating in the canal, the apparent victim of a tragic, accidental drowning. Laura is plucked from the convent and presented...more

like · see review

Jul 30, 2012 Sarah M rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical, mystery, 2012-readers, cute-romance, foreign

Mystery, intrigue, secrets--Cross My Heart was a surprisingly pleasant read.

Cross My Heart takes place in the town of Venice in 1585. Sasha Gould does a great job of setting up the atmosphere for the book in a delicate and exquisite prose. I was immersed in this world, and I loved the aristocratic parties, the carriages, the gondoliers, the palazzos--it created a vivid image in my head, and I was able to admire Venetian Society while reading. The main character, Laura della Scala has just been r...more Mystery, intrigue, secrets--Cross My Heart was a surprisingly pleasant read.

Cross My Heart takes place in the town of Venice in 1585. Sasha Gould does a great job of setting up the atmosphere for the book in a delicate and exquisite prose. I was immersed in this world, and I loved the aristocratic parties, the carriages, the gondoliers, the palazzos--it created a vivid image in my head, and I was able to admire Venetian Society while reading. The main character, Laura della Scala has just been released from a Convent she's been in for six years because her father wishes her to return. Laura is expecting to come home to her sister and a real life, but ends up discovering her sister is dead, and Laura is now to marry her sister's fiance--an old and revolting man. She then joins a secretive society of women, the Segreta. In exchange for a secret, Laura is given a reprieve from her arranged marriage. But as she gets more entangled with the Segreta and learns that her sister's death was in fact a murder, Laura becomes suspicious of the secretive society and everyone around her.

The mystery in this book was definitely my favorite part. It's a guessing game, and Laura has plenty of suspects/clue to work with. Apart from the mystery, though, there were plenty of other plots going on in the book. We have a (secretive) romance with the doge's painter. There is another death of Laura's acquaintances that mysteriously occurred. The doge--who is the most powerful man in Venice-- has a longstanding feud with the de Ferrera's family. There's plenty of secrets about various people in the town, secrets that threaten to destroy lives and reveal lies. Laura is also dealing with her father, who is only concerned about the family's reputation and social standing. He is pressuring her to find a suitable and well-respected man to hurry up and marry. As a former nun, Laura deals with all this in a careful, but at times impulsive, manner. She is eager to experience the life she had missed out on, but at the same time is wary of what is out there, because obviously her sister was in some kind of danger somehow. She stands up to her father when she should. She's quick-minded at the right times, and acts as expected throughout the book. Her relationship with the painter, Giacomo, offers a few surprises later on, but was sweet and cute and grows at a moderate pace as the book progresses.

Because there was so many plots/side-plots going on, I felt that each one wasn't fleshed out as fully it could have been. There were a lot of unanswered questions at the end, lots of loose threads left untied. So, I'm guessing there might be a sequel. I didn't understand why the Segreta existed, or what even they exactly did. I did find them intriguing and neat, but their purpose wasn't as clear as I wanted it to be. The murder is resolved, but I was still confused as to what exactly snapped the murderer to be so vicious and cruel. The doge's secret is also left undeveloped, as well as Laura's consequences in the matter. If some of these plots had been given more attention, I would have given it more stars, but because the story seemed inconsistent and random, it's a solid four stars.

Regardless of the various plots going on, I enjoyed the book as a whole. It's well paced, with enough surprises and twists to keep me interested. I liked the characters, loved the atmosphere, enjoyed the mystery. It's a rich and vivid read, and if you enjoy quick, historical reads, this is a book for you.

"No -- we're looking for something more precious and more powrful than coins or jewels."
"What do you mean?" I ask.
"Why," she says, drawing out the word, "we want a secret."
(less)

like · see review

Jan 21, 2012 Karen rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, historical, suspense, debut, teen, march

Laura thinks that she is being rescued from her monontonous life at the convent when her father summons her back home. She is shocked to hear that her beloved olders sister is dead and that Laura is now expected to marry her sister's much older and lecherous fiance to save the family's fortune. Laura is invited to join Venice's secret society of women with the promise that The Segreta will keep the marriage from happening. But, Laura soon learns that she can trust no one.
I was really looking for...more

1 like · like · see review

Mar 11, 2012 Christina (A Reader of Fictions) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: netgalley

My heart went out to Laura from the beginning. How could I not feel for all of the poor girls that were thrust into convents for such awful reasons, regardless of the girls' own inclinations. Laura's narration was rather heartbreaking. As you start reading, it's just so evident that she is completely without hope for her own life; she has given up entirely. So young and her life is already effectively over. Although she is not the brightest (and she lacks worldly knowledge because she spent so m...more

like · see review

Mar 23, 2012 Pragya rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: mystery lovers

Shelves: 2012, mystery, netgalley

3.5/5

Well, well, guess where I landed this time? Venice, in the place of gondolas and that too in the year 1585. I took some time to settle in that era. And though I kept reading, it was only the latter half of the book that captured me so intensely. So if you feel like abandoning the book after the first few pages, don’t. It’s all worth it towards the end.

This is the story of Venice, the city of secrets, where no one is to be trusted and danger lies everywhere. It is full of twists and turns t...more

2 likes · like · see review

Nov 11, 2012 Brandi rated it 3 of 5 stars

This was much better than Cinder, but I'm not sure it was meant to be a Cinderella story. You can read my thoughts of why Cinder was such a failure here if you'd like.

I thought that maybe I should rate this with an extra star because I read it in one sitting, but even with that fact weighing on me I couldn't quite do it. It was good don't get me wrong, but there were parts that made me roll my eyes just because of the wording, or the fact that a character should be using their head better or so...more This was much better than Cinder, but I'm not sure it was meant to be a Cinderella story. You can read my thoughts of why Cinder was such a failure here if you'd like.

I thought that maybe I should rate this with an extra star because I read it in one sitting, but even with that fact weighing on me I couldn't quite do it. It was good don't get me wrong, but there were parts that made me roll my eyes just because of the wording, or the fact that a character should be using their head better or something along those lines. Laura's father was a great villain and I hated him straight away, but the real villain of the story sort of surprised me for some reason.

The story is basically about a girl named Laura who is sent to the convent in her hometown of Venice, and while she is serving her time there (which she often likens to prison and having a cell to live in, and frankly it sounds close to hell to me too) she learns she gets to go home. Quickly she realizes that this homecoming will not be the joyous return to freedom as she hoped, because once she arrives home she learns her beloved sister has died. And she is to replace her in the marriage contract her deplorable father has arranged. Once she meets the old crone that is to be her husband she is approached by a woman who offers her a way out; as long as Laura agrees to share a secret worthy of receiving help. Laura shares her one secret and in return is saved from the certain hell that her life was to become, but all is not as it seems, and now she finds herself in even more peril than she had been before.

So as good as this sounds, and it was pretty good, there was just something not quite right for me. I can't put my finger on it, but it's like how sometimes it seems that Laura was thinking too much of herself (at one point she thinks that the death of a character is the fault of the "forces controlling" her, and I did not think it so), and other times she would be saying one thing and then doing another (like her flip flopping with her love interest). I did enjoy Giacomo, and he had some swoon worthy lines, but again, there was just something not quite on the level I wanted.

So basically this was good, but not the best, and far from the worst. I don't see myself ever reading it again, but it was a nice enough that I'm not sorry for the time I spent with it. (less)

1 like · like · see review

May 09, 2013 Niki rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya-fiction

More like a 3.5, for sure. I picked up this book after first reading about its sequel - one that I'll certainly be reading in the future - and generally enjoyed the story. Gould's writing was nice, very atmospheric. My only complaint was how Laura (and may I add: I desperately wished her name was more Italian, like literally everyone else named in the book) had her more bland moments. I wish the relationship between the painter and Laura had more time to develop, though I do try to keep in mind...more

like · see review

title link	preview: Cross My Heart
avg rating	preview: Cross My Heart Goodreads rating: 3.59 (606 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11788123-cross-my-heart?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1334173358l/11788123.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11788123-cross-my-heart?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Cross My Heart by Sasha Gould[/url]

Cross My Heart (Cross My Heart #1)

Friend Reviews

Lists with This Book

Community Reviews

new topic
Discuss This Book

combine
Other Editions (1)

Genres

Readers also enjoyed similar books

About Sasha Gould

Books by Sasha Gould

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website

Trivia About Cross My Heart

Quotes from Cross My Heart