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Release Date: 6 December 2023
Pages: 388
ISBN13: 979-8-9868844-3-1

 Synopsis

Two women. Two different centuries. One attic room

American Isabelle Field has been shipped off to Rome to live with her aunt, Princess Elizabeth Brancaccio. Isabelle’s aunt and mother share a common goal – replicating Elizabeth’s success by marrying Isabelle off to a European nobleman.

But Rome in 1896 is on the cusp of a new century and Isabelle longs for more than a titled husband. She secretly designs costumes for Rome’s burgeoning theatre environment and dreams of opening a fashion atelier. Can she gather the courage to forge a life for herself, even if it means going against expectations?

Over a century later, doctoral candidate Sophie Nouri can’t believe her good fortune when she is selected to intern in Rome’s Near Eastern Art Museum. Even better, the position includes an attic apartment in the spectacular museum property, the Palazzo Brancaccio.

Overseeing a major exhibition is stressful, but tension alone can’t explain the disturbing nighttime presence in the deserted hallways of the grand palace – especially one no one else can sense. Almost as if a spectral being is trying to communicate with Sophie directly. Or warn her.

 

• Indies Today Book Award 2023 - Finalist
• Reader Views Award 2023 -2024, Silver Award- Historical Fiction
• The BookFest Awards 2024, Third Place -  Women's Fiction, Historical Fiction
• Chanticleer International Book Awards Somerset Award for Literary and Contemporary Fiction 2023 - Shortlisted
• Firebird Book Award 2024, 2nd Place - Historical Fiction

 

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Praise

"Sullivan is an experienced historical novelist, and in this novel she displays a great love of Italy, which she clearly knows well: her sense of place is meticulous throughout. ... The blending of the two well-paced stories is gracefully managed, as is the idea that social change is inevitable—even in 1896."

-Kirkus Reviews

"Libraries and readers interested in novels replete with vivid insights  on art, women's lives, and historical currents of change that move through Roman affairs will find delightfully realistic amd compelling Rome's Last Noble Palace's study of two seemingly disparate, yet connected women whose lives dovetail in unexpected ways."

-Midwest Book Review

"Come for the haunting story and stay for a whirlwind tour of Rome from both a modern and historical perspective in this dual-timeline novel. 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, this is a delicate treat infused with glittering Roman sunshine."

-Indies Today, Recommended Five-Star Review

"A thrilling tale set in two different centuries. The dialogue is witty and sharp, and the characters are incredibly likeable and well-developed, especially the two main female characters. The story will send shivers down your spine as the truth is uncovered, and you'll be hooked from start to finish. A thoroughly enjoyable story by a highly recommended author.

-Readers' Favorite, Five-Star Review

"A dramatic thrill for lovers of period dramas and supernatural tales alike. An ornate Roman palazzo with at least one century of secrets lies at the heart of this ghostly and lavishly detailed read, which artfully explores feminine expectations, the nuances of desire, and the long life of grief. As the mirrored lives of two dauntless women unfold in the late nineteenth century and the present day, readers are effortlessly transported to the linguistic, cultural, and aesthetic maze of Rome in all its historic glory, for an elegant blend of genres that culminates in a truly satisfying denouement."

-Self-Publishing Review

"Sullivan has achieved a winner with the historical fiction account combined with a haunting tale in Rome's Last Noble Palace. Readers will be drawn into the book by the amazing setting of Rome, while the eerie and thrilling ghost story will ensure that they remain transfixed until the last page."

-Feathered Quill

"A masterfully written book that skillfully combines supernatural and mystery aspects of historical fiction. It's evidence of Sullivan's storytelling prowess and her capacity to develop interesting, complex characters. The tale explores the human soul and its ageless search for identity and purpose in addition to taking readers through the corridors of a Roman palace."

-The Historical Fiction Company,  Five-Star, Highly Recommended

"This is a story of love, friendship, and strength, [that] would appeal to a wide audience that loves historical, paranormal, or women's fiction. An intriguing tale of two exceptional women, separated by a century, but connected by common relationships and traumas."

-Sublime Book Reviews

"The author has crafted a story that, while traversing through time, captures the essence of Rome and the perennial human struggle for self-determination."

-Literary Titan

"Sullivan is known for her dual timeline novels, and she does not let her readers down with Rome's Last Noble Palace. [...] An exceptional piece of historical fiction. Readers are kept well-engaged and will leave the story wanting to plan a trip to Rome.

-Reader Views