The Courtesan's Secret
A Venice Beauties Mystery
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5.0 • 1 Rating
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- $5.99
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- $5.99
Publisher Description
When an envoy from the New World comes to Venice, the elite courtesan Belladonna fears the secret of her origins may be revealed. The Spanish are after him, for he carries the map to a great treasure. When the envoy disappears, his enemies shift their pursuit to Belladonna, their only key to his whereabouts.
To avoid capture by the Spanish, Belladonna must abandon her luxurious palazzo, and take refuge in the Ghetto with her friend, Diana, the rabbi's daughter. Hiding in plain sight behind the Ghetto walls, she must find the envoy and confront her past. Faced with terrible choices and an uncertain future, Belladonna must decide whether to sacrifice all she has achieved for a love she has always desired.
Customer Reviews
Great Jewish content
The Courtesan’s Secret
A Venice Beauties Mystery
By Nina Wachsman
Book 2 of 2
Book review by Sylvia Jacobs
The beginning of the book shows you the cast of characters that are in the book. The title of the first chapter is called Villiers. Villiers is defined as an aristocratic family in the United Kingdom. Courtly entertainment with music and dance called the masque is to take place. All the courtiers and cavaliers will make a show. Among them, Sir George Villiers, apparently, a great favorite of the king. The ceremony will be attended by a large number of ladies very richly dressed and heavily loaded with jewels.His majesty will take part in the festivities, no doubt to enjoy the dancing of his favorite, Villiers, who will sit with his Majesty under his usual large canopy.
The masque took place on a cold night of winter.
Sir George Villiers was sure the invited quests would not be deterred by the wind. The boatmen would need to chip away at floating ice to get to the dock at Hampton Court Palace.
Hampton Court Palace was ablaze with much light on this very cold night. Its festivities were a beacon to all those who were seeking favors or status at the court of King James of England.
The king sat on his throne in a long golden robe without a mask. Beside him was a younger masked man in a plum velvet robe embroidered with gold who was a Prince. Villiers took the position on the other side of the King and like his Royal Highness, surveyed the masked crowd which was also in costumes.
A positive was reading that a special dress was worn for Shabbos and special holidays in the book by someone named Belladonna. One will also like how it describes shabbos and what we have to refrain from doing during that time. The question is asked: what can we do on Shabbos ? The answer is that we spend time with our family. It explains how the food is cooked ahead of time and kept warm.
It describes Shabbos and all its beauty. It is described very well for all to understand.
A negative was finding out that there was a missing brooch, who took it? Will it be returned? Would a maid be a thief?
One will rate this book 5 out of 5 stars for its great explanation and one will love the Glossary in the back of the book. One will learn in the Author’s Note at the end of the book, that this book as well as the first book in the series, was inspired by Rabbi Leon di Modena, a poet and a scholar etc.