Renaissance Florence comes to passionate life in a vivid new historical romance series by “legendary”* New York Times bestselling author Bertrice Small.

Florentine silk merchant Giovanni Pietro d’Angelo and his wife want nothing more than to marry their daughters to wealthy men of distinction. But when their son’s dangerous indiscretion implicates him in a tragic accident, it is their eldest daughter who must pay the price. Blackmailed by the powerful and debauched Sebastiano Rovere, the Pietro d’Angelos must give beautiful Bianca in marriage to Rovere to buy his silence.

With the aid of her mother, Bianca flees her dark, cruel union, seeking shelter in a seaside villa. It is the shocking murder of her husband that allows her to find the possibility of love at last. But Florentine society would never approve of the man she’s chosen: Prince Amir, grandson of Memhet the Conqueror.

Two passionate lovers...two different cultures...two worlds determined to keep them apart...

Series: Silk Merchant's Daughters

Review

When Bianca Pietro d’Angelo’s father arranges her marriage, Bianca expects to be wedded to a rich, young Venetian man of strong heritage, and successfully fulfilling her mother’s wishes.  However, Bianca soon discovers her marriage is a product of blackmail when her father arranges her marriage to Sebastiano Rovere, a horrible-yet-wealthy Florentine man.

After months of living in a torturous marriage without communication to the outside world, Bianca flees her cruel marriage with the aide of her mother, seeking shelter in a secluded seaside villa. For her safety, Bianca is unable to let anyone know of her whereabouts, cutting her off once again from life outside her villa. However, when walking along the beach one day, Bianca meets Prince Amir, the grandson of Mehmet the Conqueror, and falls in love. When her husband is murdered, Bianca is finally free to marry again, but her parent’s plans differ from her own, leaving her future and happiness at risk, again.

Bianca is the story of a young beautiful woman whose life should have turned out much different than it does. The storyline explores some dark secrets and interesting cultural aspects of the characters.  I was drawn to Bianca and Prince Amir from the moment I was introduced to them. Each and every character in this story is well developed and engaging. I found myself immersed in their story, their cultures and their struggles.

Bianca is a steamy novel with a heat that shifts throughout the story. From an erotic beginning to a sweet ending, Bianca is a novel that accurately moves through the given time period, making the story realistic and easy to follow. With over 400 pages of story to read, Bianca is a passionate and vivid account of one young woman’s determination to find true love and a family of her own.

Reviewed by Tiffany

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