A delicate treat infused with glittering Roman sunshine.
An enduring feature of the Eternal City, the Palazzo Brancaccio has been a landmark for some 120 years. For Sophie Nouri, it’s been over a decade since she last experienced the sights and sounds of Rome, but a speaking engagement brings her back to the city and palace that once left her broken. The time away has been productive and therapeutic for Sophie, offering her a loving family and a satisfying career, and returning to Rome is sure to open old wounds. A century removed, Isabelle Field, a New Yorker by birth, is living abroad with family. Isabelle might be out of her element among elite Italian social circles, but not for lack of her own merit. It’s 1896, and etiquette dictates Isabelle act with the decorum of nobility even though she isn’t from a noble family and isn’t even native to Rome. Still, Isabelle makes the Palazzo Brancaccio her home after her mother ships her off to live in Italy, socialize with nobility, and marry well. Her life seems to be a balancing act between what her heart wants and what convention requires. One fateful night not only changes Isabelle’s life but leads her on a path that aligns closely with Sophie’s. Though separated by time, these women share a dark secret and an intimate connection that won’t easily be broken.
Come for the haunting story and stay for a whirlwind tour of Rome from both a modern and historical perspective in Kimberly Sullivan’s dual-timeline novel, Rome’s Last Noble Palace. From dealing with the aftermath of assault and sexually transmitted disease to grappling with unmet expectations and uncovering long-buried truths, this expansive story will touch your heart in every century. With sights set on opening her own fashion studio, Isabelle longs for the freedom to express herself, and she proves to be a woman with a forward-thinking mindset and a vibrant spirit. When the story focuses on Sophie, readers will become similarly enamored with this woman who has learned how to face her fears and stand up for herself. Like a canvas painted on two sides, the accounts of each of these independent women help complete the colorful impressions of their alternatingly tortured lives. A ghostly element underpins the story, adding suspense and release at just the right moments. Dramatically elegant and just a little bit eerie, Rome’s Last Noble Palace is a delicate treat infused with glittering Roman sunshine.
