Inamorata by Megan Chance | Review & Giveaway

Inamorata by Megan Chance 

Published: August 1, 2014

Publisher: Lake Union Publishing

Pages: 420

Received from publisher for honest review and blog tour stop

Find online: Amazon | Goodreads

American artist Joseph Hannigan and his alluring sister, Sophie, have arrived in enchanting nineteenth-century Venice with a single-minded goal. The twins, who have fled scandal in New York, are determined to break into Venice’s expatriate set and find a wealthy patron to support Joseph’s work.

But the enigmatic Hannigans are not the only ones with a secret agenda. Joseph’s talent soon attracts the attention of the magnificent Odilé Leon, a celebrated courtesan and muse who has inspired many artists to greatness. But her inspiration comes with a devastatingly steep price.

As Joseph falls under the courtesan’s spell, Sophie joins forces with Nicholas Dane, the one man who knows Odilé’s dark secret, and her sworn enemy. When the seductive muse offers Joseph the path to eternal fame, the twins must decide who to believe—and just how much they are willing to sacrifice for fame.

This is one of those books that bring you right into the story and make you feel like you are in historical Venice. You see and feel everything the way that Venice would have felt like in the 19th century by being able to feel as though you are one of the characters. It's written in such beautiful prose. Each word seems to be chosen to set the mood and tone of the book.

I adore books that deal with artsy people - poets, artists, and actors because they always seem to have some of the best writing. It's as if the author takes the time to find the right words to convey how artists of all kinds would think, feel and behave. 

The story itself follows four characters through their interesting lives and their stories are all so different, but somehow they interact so beautifully in this narrative and allow you to fall into the mystery. It's filled with intrigue and love.

It's also the kind of story that has so much detail and so many layers to it that you start to think that you have it all figured out. There are so many books that I think I've had it all figured out and then I let my guard down, and this happened in this book. I felt a little cocky that I had it nailed down, but Ms. Chance only let you see part of the answer and it was amazing to see that it wasn't quite how I thought it would be. I love that. 

Now part of my favourite bit of the book is the supernatural touches - like Odilé, the immortal courtesan. She is the muse to many artists and has given them greatness in the eyes of the art world. There is only one little problem, she is a succubus, but a great villainess in this story. She is most definitely one of the best characters in the book.

I highly suggest this book for anyone looking for a good supernatural mystery with a dash of love, family and intrigue. Even the cover has hints of what is to come: the old Venetian scene, with the beautiful woman and the twinkling lights behind her. The twinkles on the cover make me think of the supernatural spirit of the book and the charm of the entire story.

I'm actually thinking about rereading it once I'm caught up on my other review books just so I can fall back into enchanting Venice of 1879.

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About the Author:

Megan Chance is the critically acclaimed, award-winning author of several novels. Her first book won Romance Writers of America’s prestigious RITA award for excellence in Romantic Fiction, and since then, her novels have received several awards and award nominations. The Best Reviews has said she writes “Fascinating historical fiction.” A former television news photographer with a BA from Western Washington University, Megan Chance lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and two daughters.

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