BOTTICELLI'S BASTARD by Stephen Maitland-Lewis

“At times I must have behaved like Botticelli’s little bastard.” –The Count

Giovanni Fabrizzi cannot relinquish memories of the past as he watches his young wife of six months attach a bracelet accessory to enhance her outfit to attend a social gathering. The bracelet of thin gold and silver strands once belonged to Giovanni’s first wife Serafina who passed away that he gave to his new wife Arabella. Sensing his angst, Arabella removes the bracelet while Giovanni insists she wear it for her outing as she states, “You’re either married to me or your memories, Gio. Not both.”

Giovanni has an art restoration business that was passed down from his father Frederico that was passed down to him by his father and now Giovanni has passed the business on to his own son Maurizio at a second location. Giovanni is working at the studio when he searches paintings in the storeroom for a friend who wishes to buy an art piece as a wedding gift for his nephew. He opens crates delivered upon Frederico’s death and hears a voice coming from another room in the studio but finds on one present. Giovanni leaves and returns the next date only to hear the voice again but finds the location and discovers a painting sent to his father from Frederico’s brother Max. Giovanni becomes obsessed with the unsigned portrait of Count Marco Lorenzo Pietro de Medici supposedly painted by the infamous Sandro Botticelli prompting him to investigate its origin, which eventually leads him to the events of the Jewish Holocaust and the discovery of a dark family secret.

Botticelli’s Bastard is a compelling fictional story of a man who learns to renew lost love and discover family secrets involving adverse events.  The author’s treatment of the Holocaust event is handled well along with fictional history of kings, queens, and counts from various continents. The novel pulls you at a constant and steady pace that may be read in one sitting and definitely recommend to readers of art, history, and romance booklovers.

I received this book free from Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) through the Net Galley reviewer program in exchange for an honest and unbiased opinion in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission guidelines.