Tour Review - - Murder at the Ponte Vecchio

Murder at the Ponte Vecchio

by T.A. Williams

An Armstrong and Oscar Cozy Mystery - Book 11

Publisher: Boldwood Books

Release Date: May 4, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

An iconic bridge... 🌉

Private investigator, Dan Armstrong, lives and works in Florence and knows the world famous Ponte Vecchio well. Usually a magnet for tourists, on this occasion it is the scene of an unexplained death, and Dan finds himself involved in the intriguing case.

An uncompromising man... 😠

Dan quickly discovers that the victim, an elderly jeweller, was every bit as hard as the diamonds he sold in his shop on the bridge. Few people liked him, not even his adult children, and his business dealings look murkier than the waters of the River Arno. Dan suspects more secrets lie hidden…perhaps inside the massive safe in the old man's luxury villa…

A complex case. 💎🔍

As the evidence begins to mount up, so too do the suspects with their different motives. With a fortune in gold bullion and precious stones involved, Dan thinks the only way to catch the killer is to lay a trap, but might he be caught in the killer’s sights? Fortunately, he has Oscar, his canine wingman at his side, always eager to prove that he's as good as gold. 🐶

Can Dan and Oscar sniff out the killer’s tracks or will this case be a bridge too far?

PJ's Thoughts:

I'm a big fan of British cozy mysteries with protagonists of a certain age, quirky villagers, and a twisty (usually murder) mystery to solve. Midsomer Murders marathons have been known to on occasion occupy my entire weekend. That's the same vibe T.A. Williams brings to Murder at the Ponte Vecchio. However, instead of rural England, Dan Armstrong, his British ex-pat P.I. has landed in the culturally, historically, and atmospherically rich Tuscany region in and around Florence, Italy, a setting so vividly depicted it becomes a character in its own right.

I enjoyed the dry British wit of Dan, the joyous enthusiasm of his best canine buddy, Oscar, Italian police officers who may - or may not - be hiding secrets, and an array of intriguingly colorful supporting characters, some of whom bring out unexpected, entertaining facets of Dan's character. The pace is leisurely while also maintaining the strength of the mystery and offering up several possible villains along the way. It took me a while to figure out just who the bad person was.

This is the eleventh book of the Armstrong and Oscar Cozy Mystery series and while there were a few times where I felt like I was missing pieces of Dan's past, I was able to thoroughly enjoy this book without having read the previous ten books. If cozy mysteries are your jam, and you enjoy traveling to new places through the pages of a book, give this one a try. 

Review - - The Amalfi Curse

The Amalfi Curse

by Sarah Penner

Publisher: Park Row

Release Date: April 29, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

Powerful witchcraft. A hunt for sunken treasure. Forbidden love on the high seas. Beware the Amalfi Curse…

Haven Ambrose, a trailblazing nautical archaeologist, has come to the sun-soaked village of Positano to investigate the mysterious shipwrecks along the Amalfi Coast. But Haven is hoping to find more than old artifacts beneath the azure waters; she is secretly on a quest to locate a trove of priceless gemstones her late father spotted on his final dive. Upon Haven’s arrival, strange maelstroms and misfortunes start plaguing the town. Is it nature or something more sinister at work?

As Haven searches for her father’s sunken treasure, she begins to unearth a centuries-old tale of ancient sorcery and one woman’s quest to save her lover and her village by using the legendary art of stregheria, a magical ability to harness the ocean. Could this magic be behind Positano’s latest calamities? Haven must unravel the Amalfi Curse before the region is destroyed forever…

Against the dazzling backdrop of the Amalfi Coast, this bewitching novel shimmers with mystery, romance and the untamed magic of the sea.

PJ's Thoughts:

I'm going to need a nap today and it's completely Sarah Penner's fault. I was awake half the night finishing Penner's newest novel, The Amalfi Curse. Could. Not. Put. It. Down. 

This book has it all. Italy's Amalfi Coast (If you've visited, this will take you right back. If not, you'll be aching to go.). Sea witches (I believe). Dual timeline (I was equally invested in the stories and characters from both). Intrigue. Betrayal (I did not see some of those twists coming!). Forbidden love (in one timeline). Maybe fated love in the other? Complex, well-developed characters who tugged at my heart. Shipwrecks...sunken treasure...twists...turns...and OMG, what just happened??? I gasped. I cheered. I turned the final page with a big ole happy smile. Pretty sure I'll be reading this one again. 

If dual-timeline mysteries with a touch of magic that sweep you away to stunning locations are your jam, add The Amalfi Curse to your book buying list. But, clear your schedule before opening the first page. This book is darn near impossible to put down. 

 

Review - - Escape to Florence: A Novel

Escape to Florence: A Novel

by Kat Devereaux

Publisher: Harper Paperbacks

Release Date: July 11, 2023

Reviewed by PJ

Moving between the Second World War and the present, an exhilarating debut novel in the vein of Jennifer Robson, Kate Quinn, and Natasha Lester, about two women, decades apart, whose fates converge in Florence, Italy.

Only fourteen, Stella Infuriati is the youngest member of her town’s resistance network during World War II. Risking torture and death, she relays messages, supplies, and weapons to partisan groups in the Tuscan hills. Her parents have no idea, consumed instead by love and fear for their beloved son, Achille, a courier and unofficial mechanic for a communist partisan brigade.

Then, after 1945, Stella seemingly vanishes from the records. Her name and story are overshadowed by the tragic death of her brother—until a young writer arrives in Tuscany in the spring of 2019, uncovering long-buried secrets.

Fleeing an emotionally abusive marriage and a lonely life on an isolated estate, Tori MacNair has come to Florence, the beautiful city her grandmother taught her to love, to build a new life. As she digs into her family history with the help of Marco, a handsome lawyer, Tori starts to uncover secrets of the past—truths that stretch back decades, to a young woman who risked everything to save her world . . .

PJ's Thoughts:

Escape to Florence is a promising debut from author Kat Devereaux. Set in the dual timeline of 1940's and 2019 Italy, it tells the stories of Tori MacNair, her late grandmother, and the surprising connection shared with Italian resistance fighters during WWII.

The stories that unfold during the book are both compelling in their own ways. I enjoyed watching Tori slowly reclaim herself after enduring years of an emotionally abusive marriage. Her evolution was presented in a realistic and relatable manner with steps forward - and backward - as would be expected in a real life similar situation. Marco was exactly the type of man she deserved in her life. In fact, Marco is the type of man we all deserve. Her sister and mother, on the other hand, deserved a long ride in a small boat with no oars. Endearing, they were not. 

I love history and found the story of Stella, Achille, and Tori's grandmother to be fascinating. Devereaux included enough historical facts with the fiction to bring their journeys to life. Her descriptions of the events that unfolded, vivid depictions of the Italian countryside, and the development of Stella (primarily) and her brother, Achille brought it all to life, as a movie rolling across my mind.

The only quibble I had with this book was the abrupt manner in which it ended. I would have loved an epilogue or at least a bit of a look into Tori's future. I like things tied up with a pretty bow, I guess. In this case, as much as I enjoyed the book up to that point, I felt like I was left with too many questions at the end. Not everyone will feel the same, I'm sure. 

If you enjoy dual-timeline stories, especially those set during WWII and present day, give Escape to Florence a try. I'm pleased to discover a new author writing in this era and will be looking forward to more books from Kat Devereaux. 

Review - - The Case of the Missing Botticelli

The Case of the Missing Botticelli

by Marilyn Baron

A Massimo Domingo Mystery - Book 1

Publisher: The Wild Rose Press, Inc.

Release Date: January 24, 2022

Reviewed by PJ

In this cozy mystery, American art history major Hadley Evans joins an art detective agency in Florence, Italy, working for Massimo Domingo, once a major player, now the Inspector Clouseau of the art world.

Determined to save the flailing agency and prove her worth, Hadley and her sexy carabiniere boyfriend, Luca Ferrari, take on a mysterious client behind her boss's back. While hot on the trail of a missing masterpiece, they discover a hidden cache of stolen Nazi art in a Venetian villa and encounter a dangerous enemy with a link to an evil past.

PJ's Thoughts:

It's been almost five years since my last visit to Italy, the country of my soul. Once I discovered that Marilyn Baron had set her new book there, it went straight to my must-read list. Situated primarily in Florence and Venice, with side trips to Lake Como and Milan, reading this story was like visiting my favorite places from my sofa. It's clear that Baron is both knowledgeable about and holds deep affection for Italy. The scenic, architectural, and cultural richness of the country shines through on every page. 

Something else that shines through is this author's appreciation for art, around which the mysteries in the book are centered, in particular, art with ties to WWII, Germany, and the Holocaust. I was fascinated by the blending of fiction with the obviously well-researched facts surrounding treasured paintings by European masters that were confiscated (stolen) from Jewish families in the 1930s and 1940s, some of which have been recovered and others that are missing still, as well as the ongoing struggle of surviving family members to reclaim their rightful property. I want to know more. 

There is a romantic thread that weaves through the story as well, featuring Hadley, the (American) main protagonist and Luca, an Italian carabiniere (police officer). It's entertaining and does continue to evolve throughout the story with Luca assisting Hadley in her art detective role. This is the first book of a new series so, if Hadley continues to have a leading role in future books, I'm hopeful we'll see her romantic relationship progress as well. There are already plenty of opportunities for both conflict and humor in cultural expectations as well as those of Hadley's and Luca's American and Italian families. Italian mamas and Southern Belles (Hadley's mother) do tend to have opinions and aren't hesitant to voice them. 

If you enjoy cozy mysteries, "traveling" from the comfort of home, engaging characters and fascinating historical facts, all centered within the high-stakes world of stolen art, give this book a try. I enjoyed it and will be looking forward to the next Massimo Domingo mystery. 

Review - - A Rogue to Remember

A Rogue to Remember

by Emily Sullivan

League of Scoundrels - Book 1

Publisher: Forever

Release Date: March 9, 2021

Reviewed by PJ

After enduring five interminable seasons, Lottie Carlisle has had enough of shallow London society, her boring little life, and her uncle Alfred's meddling. When he demands she accept a proposal by the end of next season or else he will choose a husband for her, she devises a plan: create a scandal shocking enough to make her unmarriageable and spend her spinsterhood far enough away in the countryside where no one will ever recognize her.

Alec Gresham hasn't seen Lottie since he left his childhood friend without a word five years ago. So he's not surprised to find her furious when he appears on her doorstep. Especially bearing the news he brings: her uncle is dying, her blasted reputation is still intact, and Lottie must return home. As they make the journey back to her family estate, it becomes increasingly clear that the last five years hasn't erased their history, nor their explosive chemistry. Can Lottie look past her old heartache and trust Alec, or will his secrets doom their relationship once again?

PJ's Thoughts:

The first thing that drew me to this book is the fact that it's set in Italy. Any book set in Italy is going to set my heart to happy dancing, especially when written by an author who, through her words, immerses you in this unique, richly atmospheric setting. The scenes in Venice, in particular, are very authentic, especially at night when the back alleys and canals of this city by the sea can take on a mysterious, slightly sinister tone. She brought it all to life and put me right back in that country that speaks to my soul. 

I also enjoy a friends-to-lovers trope and this one, with a reunion/second chance plot added in, was right up my alley. Both Lottie and Alec are well-developed characters who pulled me into their stories. I was in Lottie's corner the whole way, cheering her on in her bid for independence from her controlling uncle. I loved her intelligence, her wit, her determination, and her hard-won self confidence. Alec, on the other hand, had to work for my approval, as well as Lottie's. I understood his reasons for the decisions he made years earlier, the ones that broke Lottie's heart, but I wasn't going to forgive him too easily. I enjoyed his evolution, hurt for him when certain details of his early life were revealed, ached at his yearning for Lottie and celebrated when he finally realized what was most important in his life. 

Secondary characters, as well as Alec's occupation, add a bit of suspense and action to the story that devolves into danger for Lottie. There's a twist near the end that took me by surprise as well as a mea culpa and forgiveness that seemed a bit too easy considering the pain and heartache the person's actions had caused. I would have liked to have seen that facet expanded a bit but it's a small quibble in the overall scheme of things. 

I enjoyed my first Emily Sullivan novel and am looking forward to seeing what this debut author brings readers next. I hope it will be more action, adventure, and romance in continental Europe. Another book set in Italy would be just fine with me. 

Winners - - PJ's Italy - Part 2

The randomly chosen winners from Italy - Part 2 are:

Carol L

and

lil

Congratulations!

Please send your full name and mailing address to:

theromancedish (at) gmail (dot) com

Italy: The Country of My Heart - Part 2

While the Amalfi Coast is known for its lemons there are other products that call this region home as well. In Positano, you can find some of the finest linens in the world. I had way too much fun buying table linens in - what else - a lemon motif! 












In Ravello, pottery is one of their claims to fame (wool and cashmere are two others). I only bought a small pitcher but I drooled over so much more. Sometimes, living in a condo is good for the bank account. *grin*

Ravello is a small town high in the mountains. We visited on a lovely Sunday afternoon when tourists were not thick on the ground, allowing us to leisurely stroll through the town and enjoy the open square that faces a church with an ancient bell tower and also offers beautiful views of lemon groves that line the hills as well as the sea far below. It was one of my favorite stops. 

Gotta love those massages!

Another favorite stop on the tour was at the "cow spa" as our tour guide, Marcello dubbed it. 

The actual name of this organic buffalo farm near Paestum in southern Italy is Tenuta Vannulo though in actuality, "cow spa" isn't far from the truth. The water buffalo who reside here are truly living the good life with classical music piped in every morning, self-milking stations, and massage machines.

This group is queueing up to be milked. Each cow (female water buffalo) has a tag around her neck that carries her name (Yes, they are all named. I was introduced to water buffalo Britney, named after Britney Spears.), rate of milking, output, etc. When the cow feels ready to be milked, she simply enters the queue to go into the automatic milking machine. 

Opening the gate after milking to head to the feeding station.

When she's reached the amount of milk output her tag says is optimum for her, the machine shuts off and she's gently nudged out. She then opens the gate (with her nose) and wanders over to the feeding station. After eating, they can snooze in the sun, hang out with their friends, get a massage, or cool off in the misters. It's one of the coolest places I've ever visited. 

All that care sure shows in the milk they produce which is used to make a variety of products, including some of the best buffalo mozzarella and gelato I've ever tasted. The organic farm grows the feed the buffalo eat as well as the fruits and vegetables that are served to the people who visit. Our lunch at the farm included fabulous organic cherry tomatoes and mozzarella we watched being made that morning! 








Food. There aren't enough superlatives to describe how much I enjoyed the food of southern Italy so I'll just share a few photos. Feel free to drool. I did. ;-) 

Gelato!

Eggplant, Pumpkin, and Fennel

Cheese! 

Fresh seafood platter.

Warm, freshly picked tomatoes at a vineyard on Mt. Vesuvius. An explosion of sweet, earthy, flavor in my mouth.

Antipasto at the same vineyard. I could have eaten an entire platter of just the sundried tomatoes. 

Tomatoes from the same vineyard drying in the sun. The volcanic ash from Vesuvius creates some of the best soil in the world for growing fruits and vegetables. I gave serious consideration to stuffing as many as I could into my bag. I didn't, but I sure wanted to!

Caprese Salad. I had nine of them during the trip. I could have eaten more. ;-) 
















Prosecco. A nice welcome to our hotel in Positano!

Seafood delight. Mussels, clams, and prawns straight from the sea. Yum!

Delicious lemon sorbet made with fresh, Amalfi Coast lemons.  













Custard filled dessert. 











Gluten-free pizza that actually tasted like pizza! Italian restaurants are very conscious of customers with Celiac disease and gluten sensitivities. The gluten-free dishes I ate were fabulous!

Making our dinner at an Agriturismo (tourist farm) in the mountains. What fun that was!

I couldn't have these (gluten) but there were plenty of moans and groans from everyone else at the table. The center was melted chocolate.












This lemon risotto was incredible. Made with fresh picked lemons from the restaurant's groves, it was my favorite dish of the entire trip. I could have happily eaten it at every meal!










Our final day in Positano was also one of our most enjoyable. After a leisurely walk from our hotel down to the docks, we boarded our private boat for a full day of cruising along the coast, including two swim stops (I was surprised by how cold the water was!) and lunch at a restaurant that can only be reached by water. Viewing the Amalfi Coast from the sea gives you a completely different perspective.

I'd probably give up boating if I had to climb up and down that path each time I wanted to go out on the water!

One of Sophia Loren's homes. We waved. Alas, nobody waved back. ;-)












They grow lemons everywhere!









 

I love the homes and villages tucked into the nooks and crannies along the coast. 

No helicopter on this yacht but they brought their own slide. Looks like fun!












Our final day in Positano. This was taken from my hotel room balcony. Believe me, it was no hardship waking up to this view every morning. Saying arrivederci? Not so easy. 

As lovely as Positano is by day, at night, the magic comes out.  








I hope you've enjoyed this brief peek into my Italy tour and a few of the (thousands of) photos I took. Sharing it with you has reminded me of how fortunate I was to take this trip and how very much I enjoyed it. 



Have you ever gone boating in an ocean or sea? Did you enjoy it?

Which of the food dishes above would you most like to try?

What would be your biggest indulgence if you traveled to the Amalfi Coast? Linens? Food? Wine? Pottery? Cashmere? Something else?

PJ's Birthday Month Giveaway

One randomly chosen person will receive a book from my conference stash and a bar of organic yogurt and honey soap from the cow spa. (U.S. addresses only)

One randomly chosen person will receive a book from my conference stash and a linen bread bag. (U.S. addresses only)