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Out of Time Thriller #1
The Girl Who Knew Da Vinci
In the spirit of The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown and the Art Forger by B.A. Shapiro . . . The Girl Who Knew Da Vinci by Belle Ami unravels an unforgettable mystery.
Three destinies, one remarkable painting.
Will her visions lead her to the truth?
Art historian Angela Renatus is haunted by dreams of Leonardo da Vinci and a mysterious painting of Giuliano Medici and his mistress Fioretta Gorini. A painting that, as far as the world knows, doesn't exist. Compelled by her visions, Angela is determined to find out the truth.
When Angela is contacted by art detective Alex Caine, she's shocked to learn that he too is seeking the same painting. Alex's client, a wealthy German financier, is determined to clear the name of his late uncle, Gerhard Jaeger, an art historian, who went missing in Florence, during World War II. In letters written before his disappearance, the historian describes his love affair with a beautiful young Italian woman named Sophia Caro and the discovery of an extraordinary painting by the great master himself-a painting depicting Giuliano and Fioretta.
Angela and Alex journey to Florence in search of the priceless treasure. Is it a lost da Vinci, potentially worth hundreds of millions of dollars, or a wild goose-chase that will only lead to a dead end? But someone else is searching for the elusive painting-Alberto Scordato is a powerful man in the art world and a sociopath who will stop at nothing to get what he wants, even murder. Scordato knows something about Angela that even she doesn't know, something that could threaten both Angela and Alex's lives, forcing them into the crosshairs of fate.
Three destinies, one remarkable painting.
Will her visions lead her to the truth?
Art historian Angela Renatus is haunted by dreams of Leonardo da Vinci and a mysterious painting of Giuliano Medici and his mistress Fioretta Gorini. A painting that, as far as the world knows, doesn't exist. Compelled by her visions, Angela is determined to find out the truth.
When Angela is contacted by art detective Alex Caine, she's shocked to learn that he too is seeking the same painting. Alex's client, a wealthy German financier, is determined to clear the name of his late uncle, Gerhard Jaeger, an art historian, who went missing in Florence, during World War II. In letters written before his disappearance, the historian describes his love affair with a beautiful young Italian woman named Sophia Caro and the discovery of an extraordinary painting by the great master himself-a painting depicting Giuliano and Fioretta.
Angela and Alex journey to Florence in search of the priceless treasure. Is it a lost da Vinci, potentially worth hundreds of millions of dollars, or a wild goose-chase that will only lead to a dead end? But someone else is searching for the elusive painting-Alberto Scordato is a powerful man in the art world and a sociopath who will stop at nothing to get what he wants, even murder. Scordato knows something about Angela that even she doesn't know, something that could threaten both Angela and Alex's lives, forcing them into the crosshairs of fate.
222 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 1, 2018
736 people are currently reading
659 people want to read
About the author
Belle Ami
50 books385 followers #1 Bestselling Amazon author, Belle Ami, knows that “Dreams do come true.” Belle Ami is an author of time travel romantic thrillers, international thrillers, and historical fiction. Her latest #1 historical fiction novel is The Last Daughter, based on the true story of her mother’s survival of the Holocaust. Whether she writes thrillers set in the art world with a supernatural twist or her new Lost in Time series of time-travel historical romances for Dragonblade Publishing, Belle’s books are all meticulously researched with compelling stories that will usher you through breathtaking twists and turns and introduce you to captivating heroes and heroines. Belle’s books have won many awards, including the RONE, the Raven, Readers’ Favorite Award, National Jewish Book Award, and The Book Excellence Award, to name a few.
Belle Ami Book List:
Mona Lisa's Daughter
Lost in Time Series: London Time, Paris Time, & Tuscan Time
The Last Daughter
The Blue Coat Saga: The Rendezvous in Paris, The Lost Legacy of Time, and The Secret Book of Names
Out of Time Series: The Girl Who Knew Da Vinci, The Girl Who Loved Caravaggio, and The Girl Who Adored Rembrandt
Tip of the Spear Series: Escape, Vengeance, Ransom, and Exposed
The Only One Series: The One, The One & More, and One More Time is Not Enough
When Bells isn’t writing, you can find her in the kitchen whipping up a delectable meal for her family to enjoy. In addition to gourmet cooking, Belle is an accomplished pianist, avid skier, and world traveler. She lives in Southern California with her wonderful Giorgio Armani—her regal Chihuahua.
Belle Ami Book List:
Mona Lisa's Daughter
Lost in Time Series: London Time, Paris Time, & Tuscan Time
The Last Daughter
The Blue Coat Saga: The Rendezvous in Paris, The Lost Legacy of Time, and The Secret Book of Names
Out of Time Series: The Girl Who Knew Da Vinci, The Girl Who Loved Caravaggio, and The Girl Who Adored Rembrandt
Tip of the Spear Series: Escape, Vengeance, Ransom, and Exposed
The Only One Series: The One, The One & More, and One More Time is Not Enough
When Bells isn’t writing, you can find her in the kitchen whipping up a delectable meal for her family to enjoy. In addition to gourmet cooking, Belle is an accomplished pianist, avid skier, and world traveler. She lives in Southern California with her wonderful Giorgio Armani—her regal Chihuahua.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 158 reviews
July 14, 2023
The Girl Who Knew Da Vinci is a book by Belle Ami. It is an intriguing suspense thriller about a purportedly missing painting. Art scholar Angela Renatus started having dreams about a lost Leonardo da Vinci painting that went missing following the absconding of Gerhard Jaeger. Gerhard's nephew, Alex Caine, who has been recruited to look into the portrait, introduces himself to Angela. An alliance between Angela and Alex quickly proves dangerous since Alberto Scordato, who is also seeking the painting, intends to assassinate Alex and use Angela as a guide to help him find it. Would Alberto's wish be fulfilled?
Belle has writing talent. She cleverly leads readers on a journey across many timelines without making them feel lost. We see Angela's contact with the lives of her other selves, Alex's thrilling encounters with Giuliano, and the unique feeling of being friends with one of the most significant historical artists, Leonardo da Vinci.
The three couples in the plot were some of the characters I adored. I admired how the author skillfully developed their romance. The chemistry between Angela and Alex was unmistakable, even though they had to deal with a past obstacle. I appreciated their desire to look out for one another. It was lovely to observe how their relationship gradually developed, making their union realistic and understandable. Sophia and Gerhard had an improbable romance. This was because Gerhard was a Nazi soldier and Sophia was a Partisan, and as a result, they naturally ought to have been adversaries. They nevertheless risked everything for love, a powerful emotion, because of their unquenchable need for one another. Giuliano Medici and Fioretta Gorini's relationship exuded innocence. They were a perfect match because of Giuliano's dignified demeanor and Fioretta's timid yet aggressive behavior.
Throughout the reading, I found the book to be engaging. Its conclusion met with some degree of satisfaction. I saw no errors, indicating outstanding writing and editing. The plot kept me interested and in suspense, and the romance further inflamed me. The humor that was included in the story was fantastic. I don't particularly like that the author left the reincarnation aspect of the story hanging, though. I'll give this book a rating of 4 out of 5 stars since I would have liked to see it more developed.
I recommend this book to people who adore suspense stories since it contains just enough to keep them riveted. It will appeal to readers who enjoy thrillers and literature with supernatural undertones. It would also appeal to those who relish history, romance, and the arts.
Belle has writing talent. She cleverly leads readers on a journey across many timelines without making them feel lost. We see Angela's contact with the lives of her other selves, Alex's thrilling encounters with Giuliano, and the unique feeling of being friends with one of the most significant historical artists, Leonardo da Vinci.
The three couples in the plot were some of the characters I adored. I admired how the author skillfully developed their romance. The chemistry between Angela and Alex was unmistakable, even though they had to deal with a past obstacle. I appreciated their desire to look out for one another. It was lovely to observe how their relationship gradually developed, making their union realistic and understandable. Sophia and Gerhard had an improbable romance. This was because Gerhard was a Nazi soldier and Sophia was a Partisan, and as a result, they naturally ought to have been adversaries. They nevertheless risked everything for love, a powerful emotion, because of their unquenchable need for one another. Giuliano Medici and Fioretta Gorini's relationship exuded innocence. They were a perfect match because of Giuliano's dignified demeanor and Fioretta's timid yet aggressive behavior.
Throughout the reading, I found the book to be engaging. Its conclusion met with some degree of satisfaction. I saw no errors, indicating outstanding writing and editing. The plot kept me interested and in suspense, and the romance further inflamed me. The humor that was included in the story was fantastic. I don't particularly like that the author left the reincarnation aspect of the story hanging, though. I'll give this book a rating of 4 out of 5 stars since I would have liked to see it more developed.
I recommend this book to people who adore suspense stories since it contains just enough to keep them riveted. It will appeal to readers who enjoy thrillers and literature with supernatural undertones. It would also appeal to those who relish history, romance, and the arts.
July 16, 2018
Pretty good book. The romance was starting to get grating towards the end though. I wish the book had actually been without the romance. It would have been more interesting if they didn't hook up in the end.
Added (07/16): After an interaction with the author, I would not recommend this book. I'm not changing my review because I don't think that would be fair. But the author did not like what was said about the sex in her book and was rude and condescending. So I will not continue to support her on any platform.
Added (07/16): After an interaction with the author, I would not recommend this book. I'm not changing my review because I don't think that would be fair. But the author did not like what was said about the sex in her book and was rude and condescending. So I will not continue to support her on any platform.
June 9, 2018
There is a difference between romance and sex. This is not a romance novel. It's a sex novel. The numerous sex scenes dominate the book. The subplot involving a completely fictitious painting by da Vinci is clearly an afterthought--something included to give the main characters something to talk about when they are taking a brief break from intercourse. The use of past-life regressions, rather than facts, to solve the underlying mystery makes the subplot even weaker. I only read this book as part of an online book club. I would not recommend this book for anyone.
September 16, 2018
Thought the idea really had potential, but the execution failed dismally, and there is very little art involved. Worst dialogue ever. If you enjoy the same books as me, just don't do it. 🙈
February 3, 2024
I'M RECLAIMING MY TIME.
This book had the potential to be good but unfortunately, it had the stilted and cheesy dialogue of a Passionflix adaptation. Cool cover though :)
This book had the potential to be good but unfortunately, it had the stilted and cheesy dialogue of a Passionflix adaptation. Cool cover though :)
September 5, 2018
Action-Romance
Had I known this book is more romance than action and adventure, I probably wouldn't have read it. However, despite the preponderance of t the romantic story line, the mystery is compelling and made me a bit more interested in the life of Leonardo da Vinci, and I'm reading his biography. The book is well written and flows in an interesting pattern between last and present. I very much enjoyed reading it. I think I missed figuring out who Madame X was, however.
Had I known this book is more romance than action and adventure, I probably wouldn't have read it. However, despite the preponderance of t the romantic story line, the mystery is compelling and made me a bit more interested in the life of Leonardo da Vinci, and I'm reading his biography. The book is well written and flows in an interesting pattern between last and present. I very much enjoyed reading it. I think I missed figuring out who Madame X was, however.
February 15, 2019
“The Girl Who Knew Da Vinci” is a fast-paced romantic suspense novel.
Read full review in the 2019 February issue of InD'tale Magazine.
Read full review in the 2019 February issue of InD'tale Magazine.
May 17, 2019
Big fat DNF at page 30. Piss poor writing. Laughed my ass off about the trashed apartment to retrieve a dream journal, because it makes so much sense when you’re looking for a dream journal THAT WAS ON THE NIGHTSTAND to completely trash the place. Then, in spite of the place being completely trashed, the heroine quickly retrieves sheets, towels and a fresh toothbrush from her neatly organized linen closet to make up the couch. I was hooting. I tell you hooting. That was after I quit laughing over the part where she can regularly enjoy drinks and a meal at the hottest and trendiest bar in LA but a freaking Keurig is a luxury.
How in god’s name does someone actually get this level of crap published?
How in god’s name does someone actually get this level of crap published?
September 22, 2018
The Girl Who Knew Da Vinci follows art historian Angela Renatus and art theft detective Alex Caine as they embark on an international journey to discover the mysteries behind a rumored lost Da Vinci painting. Lately Angela has been having the strangest dreams, ones all about Leonardo Da Vinci and the subjects of his supposed lost painting: his friend Fioretta Gorini and her secret lover Giuliano Medici. But they aren’t just normal dreams, they leave Angela completely shaken, especially when she begins to realize they may not be dreams, but Fioretta’s memories. And when Alex, investigating the painting for a client, discovers that Angela’s visions may hold secrets to finding this painting, he seeks her out. Soon their professional relationship turns romantic and Angela begins having visions of Sophia and Gerhard, the last couple to discover the lost painting, and Alex and Angela start to come to terms with the fact that Angela’s visions aren’t just visions; they are actually reincarnations of both significant couples. As the stakes get higher, the new partnership realizes that perhaps all of this was meant to be from the very beginning and they that in order to survive in the present, they have to listen to the past.
Right from the very beginning, I was enamored with the idea of a lost Da Vinci painting and this team up of an art historian and a detective trying to find it. I found the beginning of the novel a bit cumbersome, just because there were a lot of characters being mentioned in the present day and in Angela’s dreams of the past, but once their roles started to click, I became invested in the characters. I’m normally not a huge fan of paranormal novels, but this was done well enough and was such an important part of the plot that I found myself intrigued by Angela’s visions and the discovery of their reincarnated selves.
While the story truly follows Alex and Angela, my absolute favorite character was actually Fioretta, the first woman Angela has visions of. She was incredibly feisty and bold, especially for a woman in that time period, and I found myself aggressively rooting for her. While Fioretta and Giuliano and then Sophia and Gerhard were meant to be characters that only existed in the visions Angela had, the author did a great job of fleshing out their motivations and history. The visions were important for the plot, but they also were enjoyable to read because I appreciated the detail that went into forming those characters as well.
But as much as I adored the other women Angela embodied, I found myself really struggling with Angela’s character. Because so much of the plot came from her visions, that meant she was often incapacitated in order to further the storyline. And while that was understandable from a storytelling perspective, it made it hard for me to care about her character. For an incredibly brilliant and savvy woman, she was often the damsel in distress because her contribution to the investigation mostly involved her being passed out. She was constantly weak and Alex always had to be the hero. I ultimately wished that such an intelligent female character didn’t have to be the victim so often throughout the book.
To some extent, I was intrigued by the villain, Angela’s former boss who will go to any lengths to find the painting before Alex does. What he lacked in motivation (all he was really interested in was the money), he made up for in sheer villainy, which left me on the edge of my seat, wondering what extreme lengths he’d go to next. The downside of his character was that I was thoroughly uncomfortable by how often it was brought up that he wanted to rape Angela. Perhaps that was purposeful and the author meant it to drive home how awful Scordato really was, but it also felt very unnecessary and like lazy writing to not come up with any other ways to show how deeply evil the character was. Regardless of the reasoning, Scordato and his henchmen made for an excellent foil to Alex and Angela and their quest to do the right thing.
The major detraction for me though was surprisingly the romance. I’m normally a romance fan, but I had a hard time with Angela and Alex’s. I felt like it happened really suddenly and once their relationship turned physical, I felt like a significant portion of the book focused on their sex scenes, nearly to the point where I felt like it was gratuitous rather than doing anything to further the plot. In a more slow moving book, I maybe wouldn’t have minded as much, but in one that was relatively short and a quick read, I would have rather there been less sex and more time spent exploring the emotional side of their relationship.
Right from the very beginning, I was enamored with the idea of a lost Da Vinci painting and this team up of an art historian and a detective trying to find it. I found the beginning of the novel a bit cumbersome, just because there were a lot of characters being mentioned in the present day and in Angela’s dreams of the past, but once their roles started to click, I became invested in the characters. I’m normally not a huge fan of paranormal novels, but this was done well enough and was such an important part of the plot that I found myself intrigued by Angela’s visions and the discovery of their reincarnated selves.
While the story truly follows Alex and Angela, my absolute favorite character was actually Fioretta, the first woman Angela has visions of. She was incredibly feisty and bold, especially for a woman in that time period, and I found myself aggressively rooting for her. While Fioretta and Giuliano and then Sophia and Gerhard were meant to be characters that only existed in the visions Angela had, the author did a great job of fleshing out their motivations and history. The visions were important for the plot, but they also were enjoyable to read because I appreciated the detail that went into forming those characters as well.
But as much as I adored the other women Angela embodied, I found myself really struggling with Angela’s character. Because so much of the plot came from her visions, that meant she was often incapacitated in order to further the storyline. And while that was understandable from a storytelling perspective, it made it hard for me to care about her character. For an incredibly brilliant and savvy woman, she was often the damsel in distress because her contribution to the investigation mostly involved her being passed out. She was constantly weak and Alex always had to be the hero. I ultimately wished that such an intelligent female character didn’t have to be the victim so often throughout the book.
To some extent, I was intrigued by the villain, Angela’s former boss who will go to any lengths to find the painting before Alex does. What he lacked in motivation (all he was really interested in was the money), he made up for in sheer villainy, which left me on the edge of my seat, wondering what extreme lengths he’d go to next. The downside of his character was that I was thoroughly uncomfortable by how often it was brought up that he wanted to rape Angela. Perhaps that was purposeful and the author meant it to drive home how awful Scordato really was, but it also felt very unnecessary and like lazy writing to not come up with any other ways to show how deeply evil the character was. Regardless of the reasoning, Scordato and his henchmen made for an excellent foil to Alex and Angela and their quest to do the right thing.
The major detraction for me though was surprisingly the romance. I’m normally a romance fan, but I had a hard time with Angela and Alex’s. I felt like it happened really suddenly and once their relationship turned physical, I felt like a significant portion of the book focused on their sex scenes, nearly to the point where I felt like it was gratuitous rather than doing anything to further the plot. In a more slow moving book, I maybe wouldn’t have minded as much, but in one that was relatively short and a quick read, I would have rather there been less sex and more time spent exploring the emotional side of their relationship.
September 22, 2018
My first read/listen from author Belle Ami. An enjoyable romantic mystery. I'll be reading more in this series & from this author.
April 12, 2019
Carefully planned and beautifully executed work of fiction, The Girl Who Knew Da Vinci captivated me from the very first chapter. The center of the intrigue is a mysterious painting by Leonardo da Vinci. The author introduces the reader to an impressive cast of characters: Sophia Caro who works in the Gallery of Uffizi and Gerhard Jaeger, a German history professor; Fioretta, a stunningly beautiful girl and Guiliano Medici, the brother of the famous Da Vinci’s patron, Lorenzo Medici; Angela Renatus, an art intern in Getty Gallery, and Alex Caine, the former Navy Seals and now an investigator for the lost art, which has to be returned to their lawful owners. And of course, the most versatile talent of the Italian Renaissance. These characters are irrevocably bound to each other and to figure out how, one has to read this exceptional story, which is full of mystery and suspense, growing tension, twists and turns. At some point, the painting disappears (I won’t give away any spoilers here).
The historical facts are seamlessly woven into this fictional tale, convincingly written in terms of historical background.
Weaving in and out of different timeframes with astounding fluidity, the narrative alternates between Italy and USA, taking the reader now to 1475, now to 1944, then 2018 through the first unexplainable, seesawing from the past to the present dreams, which overwhelm and exhaust Angela, complicating her everyday life. And she is one-on-one with these dreams until she meets Alex. As though it was not enough to make her life miserable, more complications arise, which materialize in Angela’s boss, the Getty Gallery director, Alberto Scordato, and his cousin, Enrico Fortuna. The collision is inevitable: all parties have their own motives to find the mysterious painting. Much is at stake. For some players, it’s their future wealth. For some—life.
I can’t help but compliment Belle Ami’s voice and style, which I have found perfect for the story like this. The narrative flows easily expressed in the elegant prose. The author draws scenes I will never forget.
Fiorella’s friendship with Leonardo da Vinci is pure and touching in its simplicity, adding a special charm to the tale.
The story is not without scenes of a beautiful and steaming romance between Angela and Alex. Read the book to find out how special they are.
The book will take you to the world of art guided by the author’s expertly picked up details. You’ll stroll with the main characters along Florence, Montefioralle, and Rome, enjoying beautiful descriptions of its sumptuous architecture. Can’t help but express my surprise by how knowingly the author interweaves into the narrative the professional terms. This increased the book’s appeal for me. After reading the book, I felt like I’ve been there at all the times and places captured.
A warning: Don’t read the book in case you are hungry! You’ll remember my words when you discover how lavishly the author describes her characters’ dining and Italian cuisine with its tastes and smells.
I highly recommend this book to lovers of historical fiction and mystery with a time-travel twist.
The historical facts are seamlessly woven into this fictional tale, convincingly written in terms of historical background.
Weaving in and out of different timeframes with astounding fluidity, the narrative alternates between Italy and USA, taking the reader now to 1475, now to 1944, then 2018 through the first unexplainable, seesawing from the past to the present dreams, which overwhelm and exhaust Angela, complicating her everyday life. And she is one-on-one with these dreams until she meets Alex. As though it was not enough to make her life miserable, more complications arise, which materialize in Angela’s boss, the Getty Gallery director, Alberto Scordato, and his cousin, Enrico Fortuna. The collision is inevitable: all parties have their own motives to find the mysterious painting. Much is at stake. For some players, it’s their future wealth. For some—life.
I can’t help but compliment Belle Ami’s voice and style, which I have found perfect for the story like this. The narrative flows easily expressed in the elegant prose. The author draws scenes I will never forget.
Fiorella’s friendship with Leonardo da Vinci is pure and touching in its simplicity, adding a special charm to the tale.
The story is not without scenes of a beautiful and steaming romance between Angela and Alex. Read the book to find out how special they are.
The book will take you to the world of art guided by the author’s expertly picked up details. You’ll stroll with the main characters along Florence, Montefioralle, and Rome, enjoying beautiful descriptions of its sumptuous architecture. Can’t help but express my surprise by how knowingly the author interweaves into the narrative the professional terms. This increased the book’s appeal for me. After reading the book, I felt like I’ve been there at all the times and places captured.
A warning: Don’t read the book in case you are hungry! You’ll remember my words when you discover how lavishly the author describes her characters’ dining and Italian cuisine with its tastes and smells.
I highly recommend this book to lovers of historical fiction and mystery with a time-travel twist.
November 2, 2018
Great start to a series!
The Girl who Knew DaVinci is the first book in the Out of Time Thriller series by Belle Ami. While the book is part of a thriller series, Ami has incorporated quite a bit of romance, so I would call it a romantic thriller. The story unfolds in the present-day and past-life perspective of the main female character, art historian Angela Renatus. Art detective Alex Caine, is the male principal. Both main characters are fully developed and have interesting backgrounds.
The treasure in the story is a mysterious DaVinci painting that may or may not exist. Rumors of the painting’s existence attribute it to a student of DaVinci, and not to the Maestro himself. Max Jaeger, a rich financier, has hired Alex to locate this painting. Angela has become fascinated with a painting of Giuliano Medici in the Getty Museum where she works and begins to have visions and dreams that seemingly tie her to two long dead women associated with the painting. Alex encounters Angela at the museum and the two join forces to search for the lost artwork with Angela’s visions pointing them in the right direction. Others are also hoping to get possession of this potentially valuable art, if it in fact exists. This adds an element of danger that further enhances the mystery.
Angela and Alex travel to Italy in their search and a budding romance is begun. Their romance only adds to the complexity and continuity of the story. The relationship between Angela and Alex seems to mirror the relationship of Giuliano Medici and his lover Fioretta, as well as that of World War II German officer, Gerard Jaeger, and his lover Sophia. The cast of characters, past and present, could have been confusing but the author manages to introduce them in a manner that is fairly easy to follow. Ultimately, the converges with the present in a surprising way.
Ami has also incorporated background details and scenery that add to the richness of the storyline. Her detailed descriptions of the scenery and architecture mesh well with the historical references. Angela is especially enamored with the architectural beauty of Alex’s homes, the hotels they visit and the scenery surrounding each.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and would recommend it to readers who love a good mystery coupled with romance. Art history buffs would probably find it interesting, as well. There were a few minor editing issues but they did not detract from my reading and enjoyment of the novel. I give The Girl Who Knew DaVinci 5/5 stars.
The Girl who Knew DaVinci is the first book in the Out of Time Thriller series by Belle Ami. While the book is part of a thriller series, Ami has incorporated quite a bit of romance, so I would call it a romantic thriller. The story unfolds in the present-day and past-life perspective of the main female character, art historian Angela Renatus. Art detective Alex Caine, is the male principal. Both main characters are fully developed and have interesting backgrounds.
The treasure in the story is a mysterious DaVinci painting that may or may not exist. Rumors of the painting’s existence attribute it to a student of DaVinci, and not to the Maestro himself. Max Jaeger, a rich financier, has hired Alex to locate this painting. Angela has become fascinated with a painting of Giuliano Medici in the Getty Museum where she works and begins to have visions and dreams that seemingly tie her to two long dead women associated with the painting. Alex encounters Angela at the museum and the two join forces to search for the lost artwork with Angela’s visions pointing them in the right direction. Others are also hoping to get possession of this potentially valuable art, if it in fact exists. This adds an element of danger that further enhances the mystery.
Angela and Alex travel to Italy in their search and a budding romance is begun. Their romance only adds to the complexity and continuity of the story. The relationship between Angela and Alex seems to mirror the relationship of Giuliano Medici and his lover Fioretta, as well as that of World War II German officer, Gerard Jaeger, and his lover Sophia. The cast of characters, past and present, could have been confusing but the author manages to introduce them in a manner that is fairly easy to follow. Ultimately, the converges with the present in a surprising way.
Ami has also incorporated background details and scenery that add to the richness of the storyline. Her detailed descriptions of the scenery and architecture mesh well with the historical references. Angela is especially enamored with the architectural beauty of Alex’s homes, the hotels they visit and the scenery surrounding each.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and would recommend it to readers who love a good mystery coupled with romance. Art history buffs would probably find it interesting, as well. There were a few minor editing issues but they did not detract from my reading and enjoyment of the novel. I give The Girl Who Knew DaVinci 5/5 stars.
September 29, 2018
Reminiscent of The Da Vinci Code, it drew readers in with a mixture of time traveling and intrigue along with romance and action. There is quite literally something for everyone. The book deals with a supposed painting that has been attributed to a student of Da Vinci, when in truth the painting had been of a secret wedding painted by Da Vinci himself, that has gone missing. The book then follows a couple, Angela and Alex, as they try to find the painting.
I love the book. The Girl Who Knew Da Vinci calls to the very imaginative portion of us all as Belle Ami takes us on a whirlwind journey into Fifth Century Florence to World War II era Florence to Modern Florence. The descriptions that she has in the book is amazing and I am sufficiently hooked. The Girl Who Knew Da Vinci did exactly what the first book in a new series is meant to do, intrigue readers enough to make them want to get the next books.
I have a myriad of reincarnation books. Fallen by Lauren Kate, Elixir by Hilary Duff, and several others. Each had something different that were attractive to me but this book took the other books down. The Girl Who Knew Da Vinci made me feel for Fioretta and Guiliano and for Sophia and Gerhard and for Angela and Alex. It made me feel for people that lived but that I had no prior connection to. It established a friendship with Leonardo Da Vinci that I had not known was possible.
To me, Leonardo Da Vinci was simply an amazing person was before his time. Belle Ami made him more. She made him approachable. She humanized him and brought him down from the pedestal that most people have him on. Belle Ami also made the Medici family, one of the most powerful ruling families in the history of Florence, seem like any other family with familial disputes and bickering siblings.
The pace of the book, however, never really took off for me. Even in the action scenes, it seemed that the book was being told in slow motion. There was no frantic energy pouring off the pages. Despite the fact that it was essentially told in five points of view, three of which were pretty much the same person. Overall, the book hit all the amazing spots and more, I would have just liked a bit more of a frantic or fast energy for the climax.
I love the book. The Girl Who Knew Da Vinci calls to the very imaginative portion of us all as Belle Ami takes us on a whirlwind journey into Fifth Century Florence to World War II era Florence to Modern Florence. The descriptions that she has in the book is amazing and I am sufficiently hooked. The Girl Who Knew Da Vinci did exactly what the first book in a new series is meant to do, intrigue readers enough to make them want to get the next books.
I have a myriad of reincarnation books. Fallen by Lauren Kate, Elixir by Hilary Duff, and several others. Each had something different that were attractive to me but this book took the other books down. The Girl Who Knew Da Vinci made me feel for Fioretta and Guiliano and for Sophia and Gerhard and for Angela and Alex. It made me feel for people that lived but that I had no prior connection to. It established a friendship with Leonardo Da Vinci that I had not known was possible.
To me, Leonardo Da Vinci was simply an amazing person was before his time. Belle Ami made him more. She made him approachable. She humanized him and brought him down from the pedestal that most people have him on. Belle Ami also made the Medici family, one of the most powerful ruling families in the history of Florence, seem like any other family with familial disputes and bickering siblings.
The pace of the book, however, never really took off for me. Even in the action scenes, it seemed that the book was being told in slow motion. There was no frantic energy pouring off the pages. Despite the fact that it was essentially told in five points of view, three of which were pretty much the same person. Overall, the book hit all the amazing spots and more, I would have just liked a bit more of a frantic or fast energy for the climax.
June 30, 2018
It has been a few years since I have done my MA and I wonder whether I’m losing it when I see all the rave reviews. In common with The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown, I think this may look better as a film than a book. I found the mist and fog surrounding the regression scenes theatrical, but I’ve seen it done in other books and this may be just a conventional device, like the first-person narrative in YA novels.
Alex and Angela are the main protagonists and with no backstory or family details, their characters are very shallow. Their sex life, however, dominates the second half of the book. Readers will be forgiven for thinking Alex’s past life was a rabbit. Lovers of romance will complain there is not enough, and I assume erotic readers will be frustrated that it takes half the novel to get to it. What it is not, is a thriller, in the sense of the superb Gone Girl and Final Girls.
The reference to Da Vinci in the title only refers to a fictional painting and those expecting historical detail will be bitterly disappointed. As a story it has wonderful potential, as a book, it gained the nickname Fifty Shades of Tripe at home, mainly due to its boring erotic content, but I don’t like erotic fiction.
Alex and Angela are the main protagonists and with no backstory or family details, their characters are very shallow. Their sex life, however, dominates the second half of the book. Readers will be forgiven for thinking Alex’s past life was a rabbit. Lovers of romance will complain there is not enough, and I assume erotic readers will be frustrated that it takes half the novel to get to it. What it is not, is a thriller, in the sense of the superb Gone Girl and Final Girls.
The reference to Da Vinci in the title only refers to a fictional painting and those expecting historical detail will be bitterly disappointed. As a story it has wonderful potential, as a book, it gained the nickname Fifty Shades of Tripe at home, mainly due to its boring erotic content, but I don’t like erotic fiction.
August 6, 2018
Love, art, intrigue and a curse that transcends throughout centuries is destined to destroy the current day lives of Alex and Angela. When a beautiful intern at the Getty meets a handsome art detective, more than sexual attraction sparks. Angela shares a past with this charismatic, knight in shining armor of the art world. Their mutual interest in a missing painting sends them on an adventure of many lifetimes. The answers lie in the mistakes of their past lives and the threat of another young life extinction. Dan Brown meets Diana Gabaldon in this heated adventure of art, history, and steamy romance. I loved the timeless descriptions of Italy and it’s beautiful architecture and the amazing culinary experience of Belle Ami’s characters. Don’t miss this sexy thriller that spans across centuries of history and culture.
August 6, 2018
When I started this book, my first thought, was oh no, another time travel, but not even close. Angela has visions from the past where she becomes part of what happened and leads her to help put the ghosts to rest by finding what they are leading her to with the help of Alex. The past and the present merge at various points of the story.
Alex and Angela go from California to Florence, Rome and Paris and Montefioralle in Chianti. Along the way you learn a lot of history of the Medici period and the 1944 invasion of Florence. It was one of the most fascinating romps through history all tied up in a missing painting, engaging characters and a lot of mystery and intrigue. This is a book not to be missed. If I could give it more than five stars I would. Reviewed by Barbara.
Alex and Angela go from California to Florence, Rome and Paris and Montefioralle in Chianti. Along the way you learn a lot of history of the Medici period and the 1944 invasion of Florence. It was one of the most fascinating romps through history all tied up in a missing painting, engaging characters and a lot of mystery and intrigue. This is a book not to be missed. If I could give it more than five stars I would. Reviewed by Barbara.
June 25, 2018
Wonderful time travel suspense. Art Historian Angela Renatus keeps being tumbled back into the past, drawn by visions she doesn’t fully comprehend. Art decective Alec Caine is sure Angela is the key to finding an unknown Leonardo da Vinci painting. This story takes the reader on a whirlwind tour of Florence and Tuscany - past and present with side trips to,Rome and Paris. History, food, a gripping mystery. And of course, Romance. What’s not to love? Also a definite hint at the end that there will be another mystery to solve. I can’t wait.
August 15, 2018
This was a very interesting book. The idea was great and the storyline was honestly enjoyable, besides the romance. I feel like this book would have done extremely well on its own without the added romantic aspect.
June 18, 2018
The historical plot was good, the past lives was a little far fetched but interesting, and then the sex scenes were constant the last part of the book...and the sex was always amazing, a little too perfect to be realistic. Because Da Vinci is one of my favorites, I did like the book, but wouldn't read another one by the author.
July 1, 2018
Page turner
Great storyline. Great book. Great thriller with a paranormal twist. This book is about a woman who is an art historian who has visions which turn out to be about her past lives. These visions lead her in a hunt for a priceless painting. I have been up all night reading this book. I will get a few hours of sleep AFTER I check for more books from this author.
Great storyline. Great book. Great thriller with a paranormal twist. This book is about a woman who is an art historian who has visions which turn out to be about her past lives. These visions lead her in a hunt for a priceless painting. I have been up all night reading this book. I will get a few hours of sleep AFTER I check for more books from this author.
September 21, 2018
Enchanting romance
This is an unusual mix of art, history, mystery and transcendent love. If you are a Romance lover this book is for you. If you, like me, are not a lover of the Romance books, it will still entertain. Art, history and ancient mysteries intertwine with the present day.
This is an unusual mix of art, history, mystery and transcendent love. If you are a Romance lover this book is for you. If you, like me, are not a lover of the Romance books, it will still entertain. Art, history and ancient mysteries intertwine with the present day.
September 26, 2018
This was a good read. It could have been a great read. Gratuitous sex scenes were unnecessary, and in my opinion, quite frankly, bogged down an otherwise exciting, interesting, and entertaining story. Leave the bodice ripping to Harlequin, Stick to art and history.
June 4, 2018
Excitement & Thrills
Wow! Such an exciting story, at times very romantic and others thrilling. Could not put this book down. It's real!
Wow! Such an exciting story, at times very romantic and others thrilling. Could not put this book down. It's real!
June 12, 2018
This book was very romantic, historical, and mysterious. The plot felt pretty original and I enjoyed the characters. Unfortunately, there was a lot of errors, so I'm giving this book a 4 star rating.
September 13, 2018
Great read!
I enjoyed the story and speed of it. I look forward to more books from this author! 📚 when is the next one out lol
I enjoyed the story and speed of it. I look forward to more books from this author! 📚 when is the next one out lol
April 21, 2019
Belle Ami’s novel, [i]The Girl Who Knew da Vinci[/i], is an interesting, genre bending, thriller. Angela Renatus is an art historian interning for one of the most well-known art directors, Alberto Scordato, at the Getty Museum. During her internship she’s plagued by visions that she is unable to comprehend. She lacks sleep and sometimes wakes up finding herself places she did not remember going to. Alex Caine is hired to investigate the whereabouts of a lost painting by Leonardo da Vinci, and he meets Angela in the most auspicious of circumstances. As it turns out Scordato is after the same painting for his own financial gain and is willing to do anything to get it. Angela soon learns that her visions and the eventual romantic relationship she forms with Alex are the keys to unlocking the painting’s location. However, they would have to travel across the world and fend off Scordato’s deadly pursuit to find it.
I really enjoyed this book. I am a big fan of multi-genre writing. The author does a very good job at the beginning of the book setting the stage for the mystery. Ami’s development of Angela and Alex’s relationship is powerful and felt very natural. The story moved along quickly and kept me engaged. I especially liked the move to Italy and how that affected Alex and Angela’s relationship.
Scordato’s character was very well introduced but not really developed throughout the book. I thought he was a very good villain, but he seemed to disappear for much of the book’s main plot. This was my only disappointment in the story telling, I really felt like he could have been developed a lot more and been a stronger antagonist. Not a big enough flaw for me not give it five stars though.
The book is very well written, the author’s grasp on storytelling is strong. There are very few errors. The ones that stuck out the most had to do with the omission of quotation marks at the beginning and ends of some dialogue. I only had to re-read two paragraphs due to not knowing where the dialogue began/stopped.
Stylistically, the author incorporates italics when emphasizing character thoughts. I don’t read much romance, but I realize that is a very common practice. I don’t particularly like that as I find it distracting. I know some people that like the italics so I didn’t penalize the author for it. Also, the romance aspect of the story comes at a time I was wanting the story to move towards discovering the location of the painting. I’m not a romance reader at all so I skimmed through the love scenes. Again, I did not penalize the author for this as I think its just a personal preference I have.
Overall, I really liked this book. I was engaged throughout and I connected very well with the main characters. With its many elements this book has something for almost any reader. The ending is very satisfying and left me smiling. I look forward to reading more books by this author.
I really enjoyed this book. I am a big fan of multi-genre writing. The author does a very good job at the beginning of the book setting the stage for the mystery. Ami’s development of Angela and Alex’s relationship is powerful and felt very natural. The story moved along quickly and kept me engaged. I especially liked the move to Italy and how that affected Alex and Angela’s relationship.
Scordato’s character was very well introduced but not really developed throughout the book. I thought he was a very good villain, but he seemed to disappear for much of the book’s main plot. This was my only disappointment in the story telling, I really felt like he could have been developed a lot more and been a stronger antagonist. Not a big enough flaw for me not give it five stars though.
The book is very well written, the author’s grasp on storytelling is strong. There are very few errors. The ones that stuck out the most had to do with the omission of quotation marks at the beginning and ends of some dialogue. I only had to re-read two paragraphs due to not knowing where the dialogue began/stopped.
Stylistically, the author incorporates italics when emphasizing character thoughts. I don’t read much romance, but I realize that is a very common practice. I don’t particularly like that as I find it distracting. I know some people that like the italics so I didn’t penalize the author for it. Also, the romance aspect of the story comes at a time I was wanting the story to move towards discovering the location of the painting. I’m not a romance reader at all so I skimmed through the love scenes. Again, I did not penalize the author for this as I think its just a personal preference I have.
Overall, I really liked this book. I was engaged throughout and I connected very well with the main characters. With its many elements this book has something for almost any reader. The ending is very satisfying and left me smiling. I look forward to reading more books by this author.
December 4, 2018
1 post • Page 1 of 1

goldengal1315
Review by goldengal1315
The Girl Who Knew Da Vinci by Belle Ami
Our story opens as art historian Angela Renatus is asked to join her superior in his office at the famed Getty Museum in Los Angeles, California. Alberto Scordato is not only the renowned head of the museum, but a well known leach among his female employees as well. His latest favorite being Angela. Her expertise on Italian Renaissance Art is exactly what he wants and needs in order to find a little known about and undocumented painting purported to be by the famous master painter Leonardo Da Vinci. His interest in the painting isn't purely professional of course, a lost or unknown Da Vinci could net millions of dollars at the auction tables or the private market. With that type of money Scordato could retire from his position at the Getty and continue to live the lifestyle to which he has become accustomed. Which brings us to Alex Caine, an art detective, he has been hired by the board of trustees to investigate some irregularities with Scordato's spending accounts. Alex also is looking for the Da Vinci on behalf of Max Jaeger, a private collector. It seems years prior Max's uncle, Gerhard was the last man to write about and see the painting before it went missing from the Medici Collection at the Uffizi Museum in Florence, Italy in 1944. Gerhard believed that a wedding portrait that had once been believed to have been done by an atelier or an apprentice of Da Vinci was actually by the Master himself. With the Second World War raging across Europe, Gerhard and his lover Sophia packed up the precious cargo and took it to safety so that it wouldn't be lost before it could be found. Unfortunately the letters home from Gerhard stopped after the one stating his intention of removing the painting, after the War the painting was never found and it was assumed that Gerhard stole the painting. Max hired Alex in order to at least be able to clear the family name and/or find the painting and return it to it's rightful place in the Uffizi. Little did Gerhard and Sophia know the long road the painting would travel before it would see the light again. In addition to these characters we also have Guiliano Medici and Fioretta Rossi they are the couple protrayed in the wedding portrait.
I must say Ms. Ami certainly did her research on Italy. Her descriptions of Florence and Rome and the countrysides of wine country were vivid enough that the reader is transported there on her words. Her obvious knowledge of art, religion and history is impressive. It is clear that she is a fan of the Master. She is fully knowledgeable about Leonardo's extensive accomplishments in Architecture and Engineering. Her dedication to the creation of her characters and the fact that they are multi-dimensional only adds to the mystique of the storyline as it spans several hundred centuries and six characters.
The painting is the central point of the story. It was painted by Leonardo as a gift to his friend Fioretta on her wedding day to Guiliano Medici. It showed a beautiful blushing bride facing with a Mona Lisa smile, alongside a dashing young man.Of course the marriage was not sanctioned by Guiliano's brother Lorenzo so the couple married in secret, and Guiliano was murdered before the marriage could come to light. The next time the portrait is seen it is in the Uffizi Museum in a back storeroom several hundred centuries later. At the time of the Renaissance the Medici's were the primary supporters of all artists. As the family grew older and died off the extensive art collection was willed to the Uffizi. It was there in the closet with some other lesser known pieces that Gerhard unearthed The wedding portrait while cataloging with Sophia. The year is 1944, the German's have occupied Italy and Gerhard has been assigned duty at the museum. With no documentation for the portrait they research further, Gerhard studies the strokes and determines that although it may have been thought to have been done by an apprentice, it was in fact a Da Vinci. But Europe is in shambles there is no guarantee that any treasure will survive. Not willing to leave anything more to fate Gerhard and Sophia make the decision to carefully wrap the priceless piece and protect it, so that it won't be lost again. They take it with them as they escape Florence for the Italian countryside, where the mysterious painting once again hdisappears. Until present day, when Angela who has some psychic connection to the painting is hired away from her position at the Getty Museum by Alex Caine. Together they begin a dangerous journey into the past to rescue the painting, the other couples and ultimately themselves.
I enjoyed the book immensely, it lived up to its billing as a romantic mystery thriller. I had a bit of a tough time at first deciphering between the two different past periods and the present, as well as the two couples but once I got them all sorted out we all got along swimmingly. I will be the first to admit I had trouble putting the book down, I was intent on solving the mystery and once I solved one clue it led to the next and so on. I enjoyed the many levels of the complexities and again marvel at her ingenuity and creativity. Once the hiding place of the painting was revealed I figured that the book would be filled with the usual filler and repetitiveness found with many books the market. I am happy to report that this is not the case. The book holds loyal to its mission of captivating the reader until the very end. Of note is that the book ends in an open ended manner, meaning that hopefully the author has plans to bring the characters back for other adventures in the future.

goldengal1315
Review by goldengal1315
The Girl Who Knew Da Vinci by Belle Ami
Our story opens as art historian Angela Renatus is asked to join her superior in his office at the famed Getty Museum in Los Angeles, California. Alberto Scordato is not only the renowned head of the museum, but a well known leach among his female employees as well. His latest favorite being Angela. Her expertise on Italian Renaissance Art is exactly what he wants and needs in order to find a little known about and undocumented painting purported to be by the famous master painter Leonardo Da Vinci. His interest in the painting isn't purely professional of course, a lost or unknown Da Vinci could net millions of dollars at the auction tables or the private market. With that type of money Scordato could retire from his position at the Getty and continue to live the lifestyle to which he has become accustomed. Which brings us to Alex Caine, an art detective, he has been hired by the board of trustees to investigate some irregularities with Scordato's spending accounts. Alex also is looking for the Da Vinci on behalf of Max Jaeger, a private collector. It seems years prior Max's uncle, Gerhard was the last man to write about and see the painting before it went missing from the Medici Collection at the Uffizi Museum in Florence, Italy in 1944. Gerhard believed that a wedding portrait that had once been believed to have been done by an atelier or an apprentice of Da Vinci was actually by the Master himself. With the Second World War raging across Europe, Gerhard and his lover Sophia packed up the precious cargo and took it to safety so that it wouldn't be lost before it could be found. Unfortunately the letters home from Gerhard stopped after the one stating his intention of removing the painting, after the War the painting was never found and it was assumed that Gerhard stole the painting. Max hired Alex in order to at least be able to clear the family name and/or find the painting and return it to it's rightful place in the Uffizi. Little did Gerhard and Sophia know the long road the painting would travel before it would see the light again. In addition to these characters we also have Guiliano Medici and Fioretta Rossi they are the couple protrayed in the wedding portrait.
I must say Ms. Ami certainly did her research on Italy. Her descriptions of Florence and Rome and the countrysides of wine country were vivid enough that the reader is transported there on her words. Her obvious knowledge of art, religion and history is impressive. It is clear that she is a fan of the Master. She is fully knowledgeable about Leonardo's extensive accomplishments in Architecture and Engineering. Her dedication to the creation of her characters and the fact that they are multi-dimensional only adds to the mystique of the storyline as it spans several hundred centuries and six characters.
The painting is the central point of the story. It was painted by Leonardo as a gift to his friend Fioretta on her wedding day to Guiliano Medici. It showed a beautiful blushing bride facing with a Mona Lisa smile, alongside a dashing young man.Of course the marriage was not sanctioned by Guiliano's brother Lorenzo so the couple married in secret, and Guiliano was murdered before the marriage could come to light. The next time the portrait is seen it is in the Uffizi Museum in a back storeroom several hundred centuries later. At the time of the Renaissance the Medici's were the primary supporters of all artists. As the family grew older and died off the extensive art collection was willed to the Uffizi. It was there in the closet with some other lesser known pieces that Gerhard unearthed The wedding portrait while cataloging with Sophia. The year is 1944, the German's have occupied Italy and Gerhard has been assigned duty at the museum. With no documentation for the portrait they research further, Gerhard studies the strokes and determines that although it may have been thought to have been done by an apprentice, it was in fact a Da Vinci. But Europe is in shambles there is no guarantee that any treasure will survive. Not willing to leave anything more to fate Gerhard and Sophia make the decision to carefully wrap the priceless piece and protect it, so that it won't be lost again. They take it with them as they escape Florence for the Italian countryside, where the mysterious painting once again hdisappears. Until present day, when Angela who has some psychic connection to the painting is hired away from her position at the Getty Museum by Alex Caine. Together they begin a dangerous journey into the past to rescue the painting, the other couples and ultimately themselves.
I enjoyed the book immensely, it lived up to its billing as a romantic mystery thriller. I had a bit of a tough time at first deciphering between the two different past periods and the present, as well as the two couples but once I got them all sorted out we all got along swimmingly. I will be the first to admit I had trouble putting the book down, I was intent on solving the mystery and once I solved one clue it led to the next and so on. I enjoyed the many levels of the complexities and again marvel at her ingenuity and creativity. Once the hiding place of the painting was revealed I figured that the book would be filled with the usual filler and repetitiveness found with many books the market. I am happy to report that this is not the case. The book holds loyal to its mission of captivating the reader until the very end. Of note is that the book ends in an open ended manner, meaning that hopefully the author has plans to bring the characters back for other adventures in the future.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 11, 2022
Check out the full review here: https://forums.onlinebookclub.org/vie...
My second foray into a novel that focuses on reincarnation (ironically enough the first one was also introduced to me by onlinebookclub), The Girl Who Knew Da Vinci is my first read by author Belle Ami. Dually narrated in a third-person voice by the two main characters, we meet Angela Renatus, an art historian who has been having odd visions while also battling with unhappiness at work. Enter art detective Alex Caine, who has been hired to find an elusive painting by renowned painter Leonardo Da Vinci, one which many believe does not exist. His search puts him on Angela’s path, and the two soon discover that they have a mysterious, but compelling connection which leads them right into the heart of danger.
My second foray into a novel that focuses on reincarnation (ironically enough the first one was also introduced to me by onlinebookclub), The Girl Who Knew Da Vinci is my first read by author Belle Ami. Dually narrated in a third-person voice by the two main characters, we meet Angela Renatus, an art historian who has been having odd visions while also battling with unhappiness at work. Enter art detective Alex Caine, who has been hired to find an elusive painting by renowned painter Leonardo Da Vinci, one which many believe does not exist. His search puts him on Angela’s path, and the two soon discover that they have a mysterious, but compelling connection which leads them right into the heart of danger.
June 15, 2019
I love mysteries and history, and that part of the book was great. I loved the relationship between Alex and Angela, but at times felt like I was reading a harlequin romance on steroids.
June 26, 2019
Very good book!
Best I had read in a while..started kind of slowish but once it got going it didn't let up! Well worth your time.
Best I had read in a while..started kind of slowish but once it got going it didn't let up! Well worth your time.
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