The Venice Sketchbook - Rhys Bowen - 3 Stars

[Olivermagnus]

On her first trip to Venice in 1928, 18-year-old Juliet Browning falls in love with both the city and Leo, the handsome heir of a respected Venetian dukedom. Unfortunately, like Romeo and Juliet, things don't go smoothly. The trip sets in motion events that result in her return just before the start of World War II.

When her great aunt Lettie dies in 2001, Caroline retreats to the family home where her aunt leaves her a box containing two sketchbooks, three keys, a diamond ring, and glass beads. Caroline decides to go to Venice and see why it was so important to Lettie. What she discovers is her upright, prim, proper and utterly respectable great-aunt Lettie was once a young woman named Julietta, an art student trapped in Venice when Britain declared war on Italy. The story now switches between time periods as Caroline discovers her aunt's secret past.

Bowen brings Venice to life with descriptions of gondolas and canals, narrow streets, festivals, churches, art exhibitions, food, the colorful people, and culture. I thought this was an interesting story and enjoyed the Venitian setting. There's not much new on the WWII story but it was still filled with the ambience of Venice and plenty of details about the art, culture, and tradition. Rhys Bowen fans will enjoy it, as will anyone looking for an atmospheric historical romance.