The world's largest oil painting. A 400-year-old murder. A disembodied whisper: "Amore mio." My love. Nick and Julia O'Connor's dream trip to Venice collapses when a haunting voice reaches out to Nick from Tintoretto's Paradise, a monumental depiction of Heaven. Convinced his delusions are the result of a concussion, Julia insists her husband see a doctor, though Nick is adamant the voice was real. Blacking out in the museum, Nick flashes back to a life as a 16th century Venetian peasant swordsman. He recalls precisely who the voice belongs to: Isabella Scalfini, a married aristocrat he was tasked to seduce but with whom he instead found true love. A love stolen from them hundreds of years prior. She implores Nick to liberate her from a powerful order of religious vigilantes who judge and sentence souls to the canvas for eternity. Releasing Isabella also means unleashing thousands of other imprisoned souls, all of which the order claims are evil. As infatuation with a possible hallucination clouds his commitment to a present-day wife, Nick's past self takes over. Wracked with guilt, he can no longer allow Isabella to remain tormented, despite the consequences. He must right an age-old wrong - destroy the painting and free his soul mate. But the order will eradicate anyone who threatens their ethereal prison and their control over Venice.
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1 primary bookPainted Souls is a 1-book series first released in 2021 with contributions by Rob Samborn.
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Nick, and his wife Julia, are vactioning in Venice. While taking in the sites, they make sure to stop and get lost in the beautiful art displayed at the Palazzo. When Nick sees Tintoretto's Paradise, it calls to him. Not because of it's beauty...but because of the voice he hears coming from it...
I am a huge lover of mixed timelines, past lives and secret orders. The Prisoner of Paradise is amazing. You start out with what is supposed to be a relaxing and fun dream vacation which quickly turns into absolute chaos.
You're hit with an unraveling mystery of self, thrills, action-packed scenes, and deceit. The dual timelines are told in past and present, and I LOVE the inclusion of Angelo as Nick's past life persona. The fact that there is also a dual love interest that, of course, results in emotional turmoil, is a plus as well.
If you love historical fiction and stories with past lives this is definitely one to grab. I sincerely appreciate the publisher for providing me with a review copy. All opinions expressed herein are mine and mine alone.
