All That Was Before

Giacomo and his wife have come to Constantinople to open a trading office for his mentor. Once the greatest City in the western world, with over a million souls; it is now a shadow of its former self. Although there is still a hint of its previous splendor; it is mostly a collection of rundown buildings; many abandoned; on dark and in some places, unpaved streets and much of the City has actually reverted to forest and farmland. Even the once mighty walls, which have repelled many attempts at conquest, are in danger of tumbling down.
Still; for them, it proves to be the opportunity of a lifetime and they have great hopes for the future; business is brisk and profitable and as successful merchants; they are even invited to the Emperor’s New Year’s Ball. Residing in their own home in the Venetian Quarter, they have never been happier.
But there are dark clouds on the horizon that threaten to bring this all to an end when the Ottoman Sultan perishes and his son, Mehmet ascends to power. He is an ambitious, capable yet rather cruel young man, who has set his eyes on making the City his.
When Giacomo and his wife volunteer to help defend the city, they are drawn into the subsequent maelstrom and once again fate shall determine their destiny.
This is book two of the romantic adventure series: The Innkeeper’s Nephew which is currently available on Amazon Kindle.