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266th out of 390 books
—
185 voters
Tuscan Rose
A mysterious stranger known as 'The Wolf' leaves an infant with the sisters of Santo Spirito. A tiny silver key hidden in her wrappings is the only clue to the child's identity and so begins a story as intriguing and beautiful as the city of Florence itself. Belinda Alexandra's new novel, TUSCAN ROSE, is set in Italy during the time of Mussolini. This richly woven tale of...more
Paperback, 448 pages
Published
2010
by HarperCollins Publishing
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Belinda Alexandra has a way of transporting you back in time to the period her stories are set in. Tuscan Rose was very well researched and kept my attention the whole way through. I couldn't put the book down and was itching to finish it. Now I will need to wait another two years until her next book is published. I would highly recommend this book as well as her other three novels to anyone who hasn't read her.
This would have been better had the two storylines been separated into two separate books. The mystery of Rosa's birth and parentage seems to be overshadowed by her life story throughout an era of fascism and war. By separating the stories, Belinda could have developed the mystery of who Rosa was in much more detail. It's exciting and clever when authors are able to take more than one storyline and entwine them into one seamless story, however, this was not the case here.
It was an interesting s...more
It was an interesting s...more
After reading a few pages I knew this book was going to be good but when I got to the part where Rosa saw salami slices turning into sows, vomited up live live anchovies, squids and chickens I started to worry. Thankfully, Rosa's "gifts" were played down in the rest of the novel and it continued to be an exciting, page turning book.
First I'll start by saying that I don't know why people like this book so much.
Why I picked this book: I saw a few people reading this early in the year and thought it might be a good book. I didn't really pick it until I needed something to read and I was convinced by the blurb that this book could be quite good.
Characters: I felt that Rosa wasn't likeable. She certainly wasn't a heroine, she was like a typical YA damsel in distress disguised as a "powerful" character. I had no sense of conne...more
Why I picked this book: I saw a few people reading this early in the year and thought it might be a good book. I didn't really pick it until I needed something to read and I was convinced by the blurb that this book could be quite good.
Characters: I felt that Rosa wasn't likeable. She certainly wasn't a heroine, she was like a typical YA damsel in distress disguised as a "powerful" character. I had no sense of conne...more
'I shall gain mastery over my heart'
Signorina Rosa Bellocchi was taken to the convent Santo Spirito as an infant, with a key as the only clue to her identity.
We meet Rosa as a young 15 year old that is about to be sent to the Scarfiotti Villa to be the governess of the Marsche and Marschea's young daughter Clementina. While the Marsche appears to be kind-hearted his wife is a frightning women with a black mysterious shadow that surrounds her.
Okay the GOOD and the BAD..
The BAD..
*Knowing how old R...more
Signorina Rosa Bellocchi was taken to the convent Santo Spirito as an infant, with a key as the only clue to her identity.
We meet Rosa as a young 15 year old that is about to be sent to the Scarfiotti Villa to be the governess of the Marsche and Marschea's young daughter Clementina. While the Marsche appears to be kind-hearted his wife is a frightning women with a black mysterious shadow that surrounds her.
Okay the GOOD and the BAD..
The BAD..
*Knowing how old R...more
This novel had a subtitle ‘Passion, longing, secrets, and a dangerous time’ and is set in wartime Italy so it sounded just like my kind of book. Yet, despite its readability, I have to admit I was disappointed. I’m not sure exactly why. I should’ve loved sensitive Rosa, and I really adore romantic books set in wartime Italy ... yet ... I think it was too long, or the writing was simply too pedestrian, or because I never got to really like either of the two men Rosa falls in love with ... too muc...more
Really compulsive reading - especially at the moment when Florence is being swept by a tide of 30s fashion and discussion about that period due to the latest exhibition at the Strozzi Palace about Italian Art in the 30s. There are some rather obvious lead-ins where it is quite easy to guess what is going to happen, but you want to confirm your suspicions, which always makes a book difficult to put down!
WOW, when i started out this book im not sure what i was expecting, then i encounted the whole witches part and was like, oh here we go *rolls eyes*
I was proved massively wrong, this book was amazing, it managed to teach as well as evoke feelings, insipre, and yes ima say it made me cry!
the characters were so real to me. I really enjoyed this one, Thanks Sarahs mum :P
I was proved massively wrong, this book was amazing, it managed to teach as well as evoke feelings, insipre, and yes ima say it made me cry!
the characters were so real to me. I really enjoyed this one, Thanks Sarahs mum :P
It took me a while to get into this book, the beginning was quite slow. However it is action packed, with a beautiful love story woven through it. I found the historical elements fascinating - I had no idea what went on in Italy during the war, and I enjoyed that aspect of the story very much. A great read.
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I decided to read this book as I needed something new to read, and it was simply the first book that caught my eye when I went to the library.
This novel completes the category 'A book that teaches you about another time in history.' Honestly, I usually do not seem to enjoy novels written in an older time, and if I had known this story merged into world war two, there's a likely chance that I would not have opted for it. However, by the time this book turned into a war story, I was already hooke...more
This novel completes the category 'A book that teaches you about another time in history.' Honestly, I usually do not seem to enjoy novels written in an older time, and if I had known this story merged into world war two, there's a likely chance that I would not have opted for it. However, by the time this book turned into a war story, I was already hooke...more
An absolute gem. Loved every second of Tuscan Rose.
I really loved this book. It was rich and interesting. However I only had two problems with it that bring it down from a five star read. First was the heroine. Rosa is such a Mary Sue that if her story wasn't so fascinating I wouldn't have been able to stand reading. It's strange to find a Mary Sue in Adult literature but there you go. Seriously, she has a traumatic past, unusual gifts, is just so nice, beautiful and perfect that she was irritating.
Also as much as I love Belinda Alexandra's wri...more
Also as much as I love Belinda Alexandra's wri...more
12/04/11 - I am on disc 5 of this book. So far I am finding it a bit long winded and I wonder a bit about the story - it started off well - A man delivers a baby, Rosa, to a convent where she is brought up until she is 15 when a position is found for her as a governess with a prestigeous Italian family. When a tradegy occurs for some silly reason in my mind (did this really happen in these times) Rosa is taken to prison and left there with no trial for acts against the govenment and she is only...more
This book seemed to start out promisingly, but there were some rather strange and out-of-place fantasy elements included, such as the protagonist having psychic abilities and a preoccupation with witchcraft, which unfortunately turned it into a bit of a farce. Having skipped to the end after 100 or so pages, there is an interesting twist and the book covered a longer period of time than I thought it would. I would have liked to have gone back and filled in the gaps, but the writing had just beco...more
Brilliant. I loved this, if I had had the time I would have loved to devour this from start to finish in one sitting!
This is truely a story with a bit of everything.
It is essentially a war story set in Florence, Italy during the second world war. We follow the main character Rosa through her life.
I congratulate Belinda Alexander on how she portrays the fear, anger and pure hopelessness of a civillian during wartime. The incredible injustice is heart-wrenching.
The reason why I give this story...more
This is truely a story with a bit of everything.
It is essentially a war story set in Florence, Italy during the second world war. We follow the main character Rosa through her life.
I congratulate Belinda Alexander on how she portrays the fear, anger and pure hopelessness of a civillian during wartime. The incredible injustice is heart-wrenching.
The reason why I give this story...more
I thoroughly enjoyed this book which had me reading way into the early hours of the morning for many nights. The story was about an orphan Rosa in Italy and around World War 2 and around the reign of Mussolini. I loved the historical element and information and the pace of the book. I also felt this book contained a bit of everything and some great characters and twists. I just loved Rosa and was amazed with her life story throughout the book. "What a woman" she had me saying time and time again...more
I was deeply touched by this story. I live in a country that was a part of this war, and many many people died, and many were sent away. My grandfather lost his sight as a child because of an explosion in this war.
Do not be fooled by the beautiful cover, this is a story of second world war, a story of evil, of horror, of sadness ... but it's also an amazing story of strength, hope, and bravery.
I think this is one of the stories every one should read, and learn from it. We should strive to unit...more
Do not be fooled by the beautiful cover, this is a story of second world war, a story of evil, of horror, of sadness ... but it's also an amazing story of strength, hope, and bravery.
I think this is one of the stories every one should read, and learn from it. We should strive to unit...more
I absolutely loved this book and could not put it down, I have recommended it to many friends and lent my book out but it is deffinately a keeper on my book shelf.
My favourite from this author. Loved it.
Great story couldn't put the book down.
The first novel I have read by Belinda Alexandra and the first novel I have read set in Mussolini-era Italy. I was taken in from the 1st chapter but was somewhat suprised by the abrupt twists and turns. The novel I excpected to read based on the 1st part bore no resemblance to the novel I ended up reading for the remainder of the book. Well written and wondefully researched I have troubled giving it a genre... Romance? Historical? Action? War? Read it and you be the judge.
I look forward to readi...more
I look forward to readi...more
Really I should rate this as 3.5 stars out of 5, but I don't know how to rate something with a half star, so it gets an upgrade! A very entertaining read. I have only ever read one other of her books (Silver Wattle) and, as with that one, I found the subject matter interesting and the adventure enjoyable. It will never be a life changing read, but it was thoroughly enjoyable and had an unexpected twist at the end- which is always good!
I would definitely recommend this for a fun holiday read.
I would definitely recommend this for a fun holiday read.
I am really getting into historical fiction at the moment. This book was set at the start of World War 2 in Italy. This is a tragic story with lots of twists and turns. It is amazing what one can do when there is no other choice. From convent to governess to jail, the main protagonist Rosa draws you into her world, her suffering, the highs and lows. Love found, love lost and twist that will keep you guessing until the very end. Can't wait to read Belinda's next book Golden Earring!
I really enjoyed this book, at times i just wanted to shake Rosa and make her do something in some situations but then she really blossomed into a heroine. I quite enjoyed reading about italian history and Mussollini, especially since i just got back from Italy and was able to visualise certain areas (obviously my visualisations would have been a lot more modern!).
I really enjoyed this book, was a little slow to start off with, but once it got going, was very hard to put down. The characters were SO real to me. I found the historical elements fascinating. Had lots of action and suspense and the romance was simply heartbreaking. I wasn't expecting the great twist at the end either.
To sum it up, This book was Amazing :)
To sum it up, This book was Amazing :)
Don’t let the cover full you this is no romantic love story. Get ready to launch into intertwined storylines that leave you wondering how much can a person go through in such a short lifetime. Alongside the storyline the enormity of the devastation of war is graphically portrayed in this book, making you thankful that you live in a different time.
I loved this story, Belinda was so descriptive I could visualise the scene. I loved her character Rosa, despite the hardship she suffered, stayed true to herself & her beliefs. Through the eyes of Rosa, Belinda takes you on a journey the people of Italy suffered at the hands of Mussolini and their fight for freedom. Well done!
This book turned out to be surprisingly addictive, I wasn't expecting the great twist at the end either, the love, passion and magic of the novel makes for an endearing read. I hadn't read anything about fascist Italy before and I found that tangent on the storyline very historically revealing .
No doubt one of the best books I have ever read in my life, and probably one of the best I will ever read. This novel is a WORK OF ART. Truly amazing, Belinda Alexandra is a genius! Such a shocking twist at the end as well. The story of Rosa is incredible. EVERYONE has to read this.
I really enjoyed this book. A great light read after all the heavy stuff I have been on!!
I fell in love with Rosa, and her family, and enjoyed how the story moved around her.
The only negative bit, is it is very long, and the war 'life' drags on a bit.
Anyway a GOOD READ!
I fell in love with Rosa, and her family, and enjoyed how the story moved around her.
The only negative bit, is it is very long, and the war 'life' drags on a bit.
Anyway a GOOD READ!
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Belinda Alexandra has been published to wide acclaim in Australia and internationally. She is the daughter of a Russian mother and an Australian father and has been an intrepid traveller since her youth. Her love of other cultures is matched by her passion for her home country, Australia, where she is a volunteer carer for the NSW Wildlife Information Rescue and Education Service (WIRES).
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