As dea tries to unravel the truth about her husband's murder, Caterina single-handedly holds off invaders who would steal her title and lands. What philippa gregory has done for Tudor England, Jeanne Kalogridis does for Renaissance Italy. Her remarkable tale is told by her lady-in-waiting, Dea, a woman knowledgeable in reading the "triumph cards, " the predecessor of modern-day Tarot.

She ruled her own lands, fought her own battles, and openly took lovers whenever she pleased. However, dea's reading of the cards reveals that caterina cannot withstand a third and final invader—none other than Cesare Borgia, son of the corrupt Pope Alexander VI, who has an old score to settle with Caterina.

. Trapped inside the fortress at ravaldino as borgia's cannons pound the walls, Dea reviews Caterina's scandalous past and struggles to understand their joint destiny, while Caterina valiantly tries to fight off Borgia's unconquerable army. Her latest irresistible historical novel is about a countess whose passion and willfulness knew no bounds—Caterina Sforza Daughter of the Duke of Milan and wife of the conniving Count Girolamo Riario, Caterina Sforza was the bravest warrior Renaissance Italy ever knew.

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The Devil's Queen: A Novel of Catherine de Medici

In her latest historical fiction, Jeanne Kalogridis tells Catherine's story—that of a tender young girl, destined to be a pawn in Machiavellian games. But all too well. Confidante of nostradamus, scheming mother-in-law to Mary, Queen of Scots, and architect of the bloody St. Bartholomew's day massacre, Catherine de Medici is one of the most maligned monarchs in history.

From jeanne kalogridis, the bestselling author of I, Mona Lisa and The Borgia Bride, comes a new novel that tells the passionate story of a queen who loved not wisely . Against the lavish and decadent backdrop of the french court, Henry, and Catherine's blood-soaked visions of the future, Kalogridis reveals the great love and desire Catherine bore for her husband, and her stark determination to keep her sons on the throne.

. Born into one of florence's most powerful families, Catherine was soon left a fabulously rich heiress by the early deaths of her parents. Overshadowed by her husband's mistress, the gorgeous, and unable to bear children, conniving Diane de Poitiers, Catherine resorted to the dark arts of sorcery to win Henry's love and enhance her fertility—for which she would pay a price.

Violent conflict rent the city state and she found herself imprisoned and threatened by her family's enemies before finally being released and married off to the handsome Prince Henry of France.

The Borgia Bride: A Novel

Vivacious sancha of aragon arrives in Rome newly wed to a member of the notorious Borgia dynasty. Surrounded by the city's opulence and political corruption, Lucrezia, she befriends her glamorous and deceitful sister-in-law, whose jealousy is as legendary as her beauty. Caught in the borgias' sinister web, she summons her courage and uses her cunning to outwit them at their own game.

So when sancha falls under Cesare's irresistible spell, she must hide her secret or lose her life. Some say lucrezia has poisoned her rivals, Cesare, particularly those to whom her handsome brother, has given his heart. Vividly interweaving historical detail with fiction, The Borgia Bride is a richly compelling tale of conspiracy, loyalty, sexual intrigue, and drama.

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The Orphan of Florence: A Novel

Now, after spending two years as a successful pickpocket, an old man catches her about to make off with his purse, and rather than having her carted off to prison he offers her a business proposition. When giulia's involvement with him ends with his murder, Naples, she's drawn into a treacherous web of espionage and deceit involving the forces of Rome, and a man known as Lorenzo the Magnificent.

In this irresistible historical novel set in the turbulent world of the Medicis, a young woman finds herself driven from pick-pocketing to espionage when she meets a mysterious man. Giulia has been an orphan all her life. She chose neither, and after refusing an elderly suitor, Giulia escaped onto the streets of Florence.

But his identity is secret—he is known only as "the Magician of Florence"—and he is in need of an assistant. Accused of the magician's murder, and in order to survive, Lorenzo's henchmen, she must not only solve the mystery of the mystery of the Magician's murder, Giulia is pursued by the handsome policeman Niccolo, and foreign spies, but that of her own past.

. The man claims to be a cabalist, a student of Jewish mysticism and ritual magic, who works for the most powerful families in Florence. But the talismans are not what they seem, and neither is the Magician. She accepts the job and begins smuggling his talismans throughout the city. Raised in florence's famous ospedale degli innocenti, her probing questions and insubordinate behavior made her an unwelcome presence, she was given an awful choice: become a nun, and at the age of fifteen, or be married off to a man she didn't love.

I, Mona Lisa

Lisa, now grown into an alluring woman, captures the heart of Giuliano's nephew and namesake. My name is lisa di antonio Gherardini Giocondo, though to acquaintances, I am known simply as Madonna Lisa. But when guiliano, treachery, meets a tragic end, her love, Lisa must gather all her courage and cunning to untangle a sinister web of illicit love, and dangerous secrets that threatens her life.

Set against the drama of 15th century florence, Mona Lisa is painted in many layers of fact and fiction, I, with each intricately drawn twist told through the captivating voice of Mona Lisa herself. My story begins not with my birth but a murder, committed the year before I was born…"Florence, April 1478: The handsome Giuliano de' Medici is brutally assassinated in Florence's magnificent Duomo.

The shock of the murder ripples throughout the great city, to a wealthy wool merchant and his extraordinarily beautiful daughter, from the most renowned artists like Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo, Madonna Lisa. More than a decade later, florence falls under the dark spell of the preacher Savonarola, a fanatic who burns paintings and books as easily as he sends men to their deaths.

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The Inquisitor's Wife: A Novel of Renaissance Spain

As the inquisition's snares tighten around her, a frank glance at a "saintly" queen, Marisol's love for Antonio and loyalty to her Jewish family is tested as never before…The Inquisitor's Wife reveals the real motivation behind the Inquisition, and the struggles of a maligned people against crushing forces.

. Its target: conversos, Christians of Jewish descent—specifically those who practice Judaism secretly in their homes. The penalty for "crypto-Judaism": Burning at the stake. Marisol garcia, a young conversa, a civil lawyer working for the Inquisition, is hurriedly wed to Gabriel, in hopes that he will protect her.

After becoming a favorite of the ruthless Queen Isabella, Marisol discovers a dangerous secret about her former lover, Antonio, and finds herself trapped in a life-threatening web of intrigue. From jeanne kalogridis, comes a tale of love, the bestselling author of The Borgia Bride and The Scarlet Contessa, loss and treachery set during the perilous days of the Spanish Inquisition1481 Seville: The Inquisition makes its first appearance in Spain.

But she still yearns for the childhood love who abandoned her four years earlier, and she's shocked when he reappears suddenly at her wedding. When her father is arrested and tortured, Marisol finds herself caught between her love for him and her desire to save the lives of her people.

The Most Beautiful Woman in Florence: A Story of Botticelli

Even before her marriage with marco is set, poets, Simonetta is swept up into Lorenzo and Giuliano de’ Medici’s glittering circle of politicians, artists, and philosophers. As simonetta learns to navigate her marriage, one that leads to her immortalization in his masterpiece, her place in Florentine society, she and Botticelli develop a passionate intimacy, and the politics of beauty and desire, The Birth of Venus.

Alyssa palombo’s the most beautiful Woman in Florence vividly captures the dangerous allure of the artist and muse bond with candor and unforgettable passion. But it is her acquaintance with a young painter, Sandro Botticelli, which strikes her heart most. Not to mention he is one of the powerful Medici family’s favored circle.

Marco is young, handsome and well-educated. In the tradition of tracy chevalier’s girl with a pearl Earring, artist Sandro Botticelli, Palombo has married fine art with romantic historical fiction in this lush and sensual interpretation of Medici Florence, and the muse that inspired them all. Booklista girl as beautiful as simonetta Cattaneo never wants for marriage proposals in 15th Century Italy, but she jumps at the chance to marry Marco Vespucci.

Botticelli immediately invites Simonetta, newly proclaimed the most beautiful woman in Florence, to pose for him. That she is educated and an ardent reader of poetry makes her more desirable and fashionable still. The men of florence—most notably the rakish Giuliano de’ Medici—become enthralled with her beauty.

The Vatican Princess: A Novel of Lucrezia Borgia

But rome is seductive and dangerous: Alliances shift at a moment’s notice as Italy’s ruling dynasties strive to keep rivals at bay. Slandered as a heartless seductress who lured men to their doom, forced to choose between loyalty and survival? With the ascension of the Spaniard Rodrigo Borgia as Pope Alexander VI, was she in fact the villainess of legend, or was she trapped in a familial web, a new era has dawned in Rome.

Escaping her marriage offers the chance of happiness with a passionate prince of Naples, yet as scandalous accusations of murder and incest build against her, menacing those she loves, Lucrezia must risk everything to overcome the lethal fate imposed upon her by her Borgia blood. This unholy plunge into Rome’s darkest dynasty is wholly engrossing.

Allison pataki, new york times bestselling author of sisi: empress on Her Own“The world of Renaissance Italy is vividly brought to life—I’m captivated by this knowledgeable author’s take on the controversial Borgias. Alison weir, new york times bestselling author of Katherine of Aragon, The True Queen “Impressive research, a lush background, and deft characterization of these turbulent times make for a fascinating read.

Margaret george, new York Times bestselling author of Elizabeth I. Privileged and adored, Lucrezia yearns to escape her childhood and play a part in her family’s fortunes. For fans of philippa Gregory and Alison Weir, bestselling author C. Gortner has imagined Lucrezia Borgia’s life from a feminist perspective.

The Confessions of Catherine de Medici: A Novel

Bravo Mr. The confessions of catherine de medici is a dramatic, epic novel of an all-too-human woman whose strength and passion propelled her into the center of grand events. We all have sins to confess. So reveals catherine de Medici, the last legitimate descendant of her family’s illustrious line. In an unfamiliar realm, catherine strives to create a role for herself through her patronage of the famous clairvoyant Nostradamus and her own innate gift as a seer.

Expelled from her native florence, Catherine is betrothed to Henri, son of François I of France. Gortner's The Queen's Vow. Praise for the confessions of Catherine de Medici“Alison Weir and Philippa Gregory fans will devour this. Booklist“Highly recommended. Meticulously-researched, this engrossing novel offers a fresh portrait of a queen who has too often been portrayed as a villain.

A compelling and fascinating view of Catherine’s life and world. Historical novels Review“Remarkably thoughtful in its insight into an unapologetically ruthless queen. Publishers weekly “A fresh, well-researched and powerful portrait. Rt book Reviews. But in her fortieth year, catherine is widowed, left alone with six young children in a kingdom torn apart by the ambitions of a treacherous nobility.

Allegra: A Novel Set in the Italian Renaissance

In time, the exquisite jewelry designs of "La Castagna" are being praised in noble courts from Venice to Rome. 16th century florence, italy: Allegra Castagno harbors a secret so big that it can ruin her life and her father's reputation. Resentful of the male-dominated society in which she lives, Allegra rejects all suitors in order to maintain her carefully constructed farce—until an embittered man with a tragic past melts her icy heart.

. Faced with a serious dilemma, she seeks the help of her scandalous friend, Bianca Cappello, lover of the powerful Francesco de' Medici. Note: this ebook is available in print, and includes a generous sample of the exciting prequel, SABINA. Exceptionally talented, yet banned from the Florentine guilds, she devises a clever ruse in order to secretly ply her beloved craft.

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Sabina: A Novel Set in the Italian Renaissance

15th century florence, italy: Sabina Rossi's forced marriage comes to an abrupt end during the infamous Pazzi Conspiracy. Wealthy beyond her dreams, the young widow is free to pursue her passions—with the utmost discretion, of course. The patriarchal society of Florence is full of secrets, and women who don't follow the rules suffer dire consequences.

Three generations of Rossi women span the most intriguing period of Medici history in this stunning novel. An unexpected betrayal leaves Sabina facing a potential scandal. Now, she must pick up the pieces of her shattered life and save her reputation.