This review originally appeared on my blog at www.gimmethatbook.com.


ALICE OF THE ROCKS is many books at once: it’s a romance novel with time travel, with some history and suspense thrown in for good measure. We are thrown into the world of Leonardo Da Vinci and the grasping and evil Medici empire, mixed with present day Italy as Alice enjoys a summer vacation. The two worlds collide when Alice becomes enamored of a hotel employee. Her strong feelings confuse her, and when she learns she is just a scullery maid, running for her life in 1512, she is forced to make a decision that will not only affect her, but many other lives–both in 2029 AND in 1512. Lots of responsibility for a teenage girl!

Alice is mature for her age, even as she is thinking about where to go to college and how to tell her guy back home the relationship isn’t doing anything for her. All she’s trying to do is enjoy her time in Italy this summer with her parents and aunt and uncle. When she meets a boy her own age, and she starts feeling deja vu, she wonders what is happening. They get a bit closer, and promise to spend more time together. As she and the handsome Claudio tour Italy and see the sights, the truth becomes revealed to her slowly, and she is then given an opportunity to set things right in 1515.

The character of Alice is a strong one, and I enjoyed that. She is a girl with emotions, yes, but she is also imbued with a sense of responsibility and the desire to consider other’s feelings as well. She’snot your typical spoiled rich girl. In fact, her sense of justice is what makes the ending of this book so heart rending. The author paints a picture of two star crossed lovers, with time running out on them (both in the past and in the present). The emotion between them is strong, yet chaste–there are no awkward scenes between them to slow the action down.

Graziani’s knowledge and description of Italy, then and now, is superb. I could see the countryside before me, smell the air, taste the wine. She outdoes herself with the story of Da Vinci and Claudio Moro—there is intrigue, lust, and gossip going on behind those castle walls! Claudio’s relationship with his mother is delightfully familiar, and the manipulative Clarice is well written. She is my favorite “evil” ingenue.

The story moves back and forth from the past to the present, and after a few chapters I found the transition to be fluid and appropriate. The story builds and builds, and then at last Alice is empowered to make things happen. Time seems to speed up, and the suspense and action multiplies. This is the bast part of the book, when things come together and then the ending is dropped on you like a ton of bricks.

The author told me she is working on a sequel–and I’m happy to hear that. I really need to know what the future holds for Alice!

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Elisa lived in 16th century Florence Italy as a scullery maid in the Medici household. Accosted one day by two courtiers, her honour remained intact when she was saved by Count Claudio Moro.

Alice lived in the late 2020's and was on holiday in Florence with her aunt and uncle as her parents had to return early to their home in Canada. They were staying in a villa that belonged to friend of the family.

Alice of the Rocks is part historical fiction, part science fiction/fantasy and part clean romance. It was wonderfully imaginative. The story is told from the point of view of the characters in the 16th century and also from the point of view of the characters living in the 21st century. I thought the characters felt realistic to their time.

The plot of the story was quite interesting and quite likely would have theoretically fit in with what Leonardo da Vinci would have studied in his research of nature if it could have actually happened. I thought that what did occur was unlikely to ever happen, but if it could, it would be exceedingly dangerous. Travel of this sort has been explored in all kinds of science fiction stories.

There were a lot of plot twists and turns in Alice of the Rocks. Some of them involved jealousy, revenge, nature, the plotting and planning of various characters trying to manipulate events to their benefit. I found these twists very interesting to watch unfold as we moved from on time era to the other as the story developed and we could begin to see how the events from the 16th century were related to the 21st century.

I enjoyed the relationship that developed between Alice and Claudio and appreciated the fact that she did feel conflicted regarding her boyfriend back home. I think the decision she had to make near the end of the book would have been extremely difficult and I am glad that I was not in her position of having to make that decision and having to live with it.

The pacing of this novel was excellent. The speed varied appropriately according to the activity taking place in the story. I found Alice of the Rocks to be a very engaging novel. It held my attention all the way through without lagging in places.

The only thing I'm not sure about is why the book was titled Alice of the Rocks. I don't see any significance of that title to the story. Nevertheless, the story was very much worth reading and I would highly recommend it to readers of any of the following genres: historical, science fiction, fantasy and romance. I gave this book 5 stars out of 5.

Thank you to the author for providing a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. A positive opinion was not required. All thoughts are my own.

To see my full review to go Shelf Full of Books http://kathrynsshelffullofbooks.blogspot.com/2015/05/book-review-alice-of-rocks-... ( )