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The Peacock Room at Sammezzano Castle
The Peacock room in Sammezzano Castle is an actual place in Tuscany, Italy.
This story is a liberating, romantic read - an absolute page turner. It will take you to magical places, both in the past and the present; you will never want the story to end.
The Peacock Room at Sammezzano Castle.
When Allegra discovers her husband’s infidelity, her world crashes down around her. It is the ramblings of her elderly grandfather that awaken her interest in historic, interior architecture. On a trip to Florence she visits her grandfather’s birth village in Tuscany. Ready to meet someone new, Allegra ends up beguiled by a handsome Italian man and becomes involved in a dangerous situation that is the catalyst for an unexpected discovery. Allegra returns to London only to be confronted with bad news. In the wake of her grandfather’s demise she commits to the promise she gave him to solve a family mystery. Sammezzano Castle provides the perfect historic backdrop to stimulate Allegra’s love of architecture, and allow her to discover her true heritage while indulging in a passionate love affair.
This story is a liberating, romantic read - an absolute page turner. It will take you to magical places, both in the past and the present; you will never want the story to end.
The Peacock Room at Sammezzano Castle.
When Allegra discovers her husband’s infidelity, her world crashes down around her. It is the ramblings of her elderly grandfather that awaken her interest in historic, interior architecture. On a trip to Florence she visits her grandfather’s birth village in Tuscany. Ready to meet someone new, Allegra ends up beguiled by a handsome Italian man and becomes involved in a dangerous situation that is the catalyst for an unexpected discovery. Allegra returns to London only to be confronted with bad news. In the wake of her grandfather’s demise she commits to the promise she gave him to solve a family mystery. Sammezzano Castle provides the perfect historic backdrop to stimulate Allegra’s love of architecture, and allow her to discover her true heritage while indulging in a passionate love affair.
288 pages, Paperback
Published October 30, 2017
20 people are currently reading
39 people want to read
About the author
Merryn Corcoran
7 books9 followersMerryn Corcoran was born in New Zealand but has spent most of her adult life in London. She now divides her time between Menton on the French Riviera and London. Merryn enjoys telling stories with female heroines, based on historic facts, woven with a mystery tinted with romance and full of colorful descriptions of scenery, architecture, food and fashion.
Menton, her French base, is uniquely located between Monte Carlo and the Italian border, affording her unlimited stimulation and opportunity for charismatic story telling. Merryn also works in the family film company as an executive producer. Alongside a successful business career, Merryn has avidly fundraised for UNICEF and was awarded an Honorary Fellowship UNICEF (UK) in 2002.
Menton, her French base, is uniquely located between Monte Carlo and the Italian border, affording her unlimited stimulation and opportunity for charismatic story telling. Merryn also works in the family film company as an executive producer. Alongside a successful business career, Merryn has avidly fundraised for UNICEF and was awarded an Honorary Fellowship UNICEF (UK) in 2002.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
May 29, 2019
Thanks to NetGalley and RedDoor Publishing for a digital galley in exchange for an honest review
Drawn in by the absolute beauty of this cover and an adventure to Italy, I gave into temptation and selected this book. Although I don't regret taking the time to read it, I felt the book suffered from one dimensional characters and over the top ridiculous dialogue. I laughed a lot in this book at the things that would come out of the mouths of characters. Case in point, the main protagonist begins to date an Italian man who happens to be a police officer and she's anti-gun. Huh??? Also, I don't care how hurt a woman is by her husband's infidelity, it's still strange to approve of your teenage kids referring to their father's girlfriend as a "whore."
The mixture of romance/domestic drama/ mystery was alright, but maybe needed a bit more tightening to really engage me. Sadly, I couldn't get beyond other distractions and give this story any higher than a 2 star rating.
Goodreads review published 28/05/19
Publication date 16/05/19
Drawn in by the absolute beauty of this cover and an adventure to Italy, I gave into temptation and selected this book. Although I don't regret taking the time to read it, I felt the book suffered from one dimensional characters and over the top ridiculous dialogue. I laughed a lot in this book at the things that would come out of the mouths of characters. Case in point, the main protagonist begins to date an Italian man who happens to be a police officer and she's anti-gun. Huh??? Also, I don't care how hurt a woman is by her husband's infidelity, it's still strange to approve of your teenage kids referring to their father's girlfriend as a "whore."
The mixture of romance/domestic drama/ mystery was alright, but maybe needed a bit more tightening to really engage me. Sadly, I couldn't get beyond other distractions and give this story any higher than a 2 star rating.
Goodreads review published 28/05/19
Publication date 16/05/19
May 19, 2019
Visit the locations in the novel
Set against the stunning backdrop of Sammezzano Castle, past meets present in the glorious Tuscan sun! If ever there was a novel to transport you to a real life location of a gothic castle high up in the Tuscan hills, with years of secrets in its walls…. then this is the novel for you.
Allegra O’Brien has never forgotten her Italian grandfathers tales of the mysterious Peacock Room which inspires her to travel out to Tuscany to learn more about her heritage….and of course the mysteries within that room and castle….
One of the strongest and most striking locations I’ve ever come across in a novel in a long while. I had trouble believing such a fairytale like castle and room could exist. Happily it does. Although it’s fallen into disrepair now, the castle is very much a real fixture in the Tuscan countryside.
Allegra heads out there from England after her marriage collapses. Her grandfather has dementia but in his lucid moments often talks about a castle in Tuscany and so she heads out there to investigate. She needs a break and decides to spend her time looking into her family’s past. There’s a few dubious moments and bad decisions when she first arrives (Allegra, really) However, the mystery soon gets going and draws you deeper inside that castle and that room with the peacock colours….
It was the story about the family history and that gorgeous peacock room which grabbed me from the off. The grandfather had an interesting past! Sometimes this was overshadowed by family dramas and some very bad decisions on Allegra’s part but, on the whole, the mystery stood firm. I do think it would have been even stronger had it not been for the many moments of Allegra’s rather tangled love life though!
I will never forget this visit to Sammezzano Castle. How much time have I spent looking at the gorgeous Peacock Room and all that it represents. It’s a very clever idea for a novel as it’s real, mysterious, crumbling, gothic and has that dark fairytale vibe about it.
The vivid description of the castle and its many unique rooms (365 one for every day of the year!) is a character in itself, one that will make you want to transport yourself there immediately.
And in a book where a location is such a strong feature and character, that’s no bad thing.
May 2, 2019
Also available on the WondrousBooks blog.
Ever since I visited Italy for the first time last year, I've had this fascination with the country that I didn't use to have. Therefore, I've also been craving books that would take me to Italy and make me relive the beauty that I witnessed last summer.
The Peacock Room definitely promised a world of beauty, history and mystery, but it only partially delivered. I had rather high expectations, at the prospect of a romantic novel set in Tuscany, which also goes into the family mysteries of the main character, Allegra.
While I definitely could imagine the sun and the lovely landscape, the architecture, the wine and castles, I fear a lot of this was on my own volition and came from me, not the book, per se.
On its own, The Peacock Room was trying to be too many things at once, and that was its downfall. It started with family drama, which turned into a historical mystery, which grew into a romance, wash, rinse, and start from the top. At one moment we were in Italy, trying to solve the disappearance of Allegra's great-grandfather (I absolutely refuse to go on with the "grandpapa" which was heavily abused in the book), next thing you know, Allegra is texting her soon to be ex-husband and flying back to the UK to deal with her family.
And the romance... my god, the romance. If there was one thing that lost this book one entire star, that was it. Allegra was at an age somewhere between 40 and 45, and she met not one, but two random men that she wanted to sleep with basically right away, while simultaneously being angry at her best friend that she went to Italy to have sex with her lover. What's so much worse than this hypocrisy, however, was this sentence (bear with me, she did hook up with one of the abovementioned two guys, and that was it, insta-love):
This, at least, was maybe about a week after they met.
This quote below, on the other hand, was from somewhere around their second date, and I might be wrong, it could as well be the morning after their first date:
If a guy spurts this kind of bullsh*t on your second date, that's one sleazy motherf-. Run.
This book could have been so much better if it had focused on being only one thing. Had it been a romance novel full of quotes as the two above, it probably would have appealed to someone, albeit not myself.
Had it been a thriller through and through, it would have been great. Who doesn't love historical mysteries full of culture and... well, Italy?
It could also have been a novel about a woman struggling through divorce and trying to find herself after so many years of being her husband's shadow. This is realistic.
Or maybe not even that - I could have gone with a mix of mystery and romance, had it not been so choppy and had the flow of the book not been interrupted by the change of story. You see, a romantic mystery is one thing, a chapter about this, then a U-turn and a chapter about something else entirely, all of those things clashing with each other, making you forget what was going on with that other story, is a different thing altogether.
I did find enjoyment in the richness of the background, as well as the tidbits of things that I liked, and which didn't manage to bloom into a full story in this book. Too bad there weren't more of those.
Ever since I visited Italy for the first time last year, I've had this fascination with the country that I didn't use to have. Therefore, I've also been craving books that would take me to Italy and make me relive the beauty that I witnessed last summer.
The Peacock Room definitely promised a world of beauty, history and mystery, but it only partially delivered. I had rather high expectations, at the prospect of a romantic novel set in Tuscany, which also goes into the family mysteries of the main character, Allegra.
While I definitely could imagine the sun and the lovely landscape, the architecture, the wine and castles, I fear a lot of this was on my own volition and came from me, not the book, per se.
On its own, The Peacock Room was trying to be too many things at once, and that was its downfall. It started with family drama, which turned into a historical mystery, which grew into a romance, wash, rinse, and start from the top. At one moment we were in Italy, trying to solve the disappearance of Allegra's great-grandfather (I absolutely refuse to go on with the "grandpapa" which was heavily abused in the book), next thing you know, Allegra is texting her soon to be ex-husband and flying back to the UK to deal with her family.
And the romance... my god, the romance. If there was one thing that lost this book one entire star, that was it. Allegra was at an age somewhere between 40 and 45, and she met not one, but two random men that she wanted to sleep with basically right away, while simultaneously being angry at her best friend that she went to Italy to have sex with her lover. What's so much worse than this hypocrisy, however, was this sentence (bear with me, she did hook up with one of the abovementioned two guys, and that was it, insta-love):
She so wanted to be his darling.
This, at least, was maybe about a week after they met.
This quote below, on the other hand, was from somewhere around their second date, and I might be wrong, it could as well be the morning after their first date:
When you smile, Allegra, the sun dances. So be assured I always want to make you smile.
If a guy spurts this kind of bullsh*t on your second date, that's one sleazy motherf-. Run.
This book could have been so much better if it had focused on being only one thing. Had it been a romance novel full of quotes as the two above, it probably would have appealed to someone, albeit not myself.
Had it been a thriller through and through, it would have been great. Who doesn't love historical mysteries full of culture and... well, Italy?
It could also have been a novel about a woman struggling through divorce and trying to find herself after so many years of being her husband's shadow. This is realistic.
Or maybe not even that - I could have gone with a mix of mystery and romance, had it not been so choppy and had the flow of the book not been interrupted by the change of story. You see, a romantic mystery is one thing, a chapter about this, then a U-turn and a chapter about something else entirely, all of those things clashing with each other, making you forget what was going on with that other story, is a different thing altogether.
I did find enjoyment in the richness of the background, as well as the tidbits of things that I liked, and which didn't manage to bloom into a full story in this book. Too bad there weren't more of those.
June 26, 2019
It was the cover that first drew me to this book.
This story is a wonderful family mystery, enriched with wonderful history and rich with culture, art and architecture.
This book was a breath of fresh air for me, in some parts of the book I felt transported into beautiful Florence, surrounded with the aromas, romance and excitement. Other parts of the book I was dropped into London with an obnoxious ex and commitments piled high, his took its toll on my moods I must say !
The images this conjured were magnificent , and the story line had me gripped, pulling me deeper and deeper , until the last few chapters completely consumed me.
On finishing the book I learnt that Merryn Corcoran gained her inspiration for this book after seeing a picture of The peacock room at Sammezzano Castle in Italy. I instantly looked this up and was bombarded with magnificent images that only dreams are made of.
For me it was a fantastic twist that the peacock room was a real place. Certainly another item will be added onto my bucket list now.
I voluntarily read and reviewed this book, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
This story is a wonderful family mystery, enriched with wonderful history and rich with culture, art and architecture.
This book was a breath of fresh air for me, in some parts of the book I felt transported into beautiful Florence, surrounded with the aromas, romance and excitement. Other parts of the book I was dropped into London with an obnoxious ex and commitments piled high, his took its toll on my moods I must say !
The images this conjured were magnificent , and the story line had me gripped, pulling me deeper and deeper , until the last few chapters completely consumed me.
On finishing the book I learnt that Merryn Corcoran gained her inspiration for this book after seeing a picture of The peacock room at Sammezzano Castle in Italy. I instantly looked this up and was bombarded with magnificent images that only dreams are made of.
For me it was a fantastic twist that the peacock room was a real place. Certainly another item will be added onto my bucket list now.
I voluntarily read and reviewed this book, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
July 12, 2019
Really enjoyed this book and much better than I at first thought. Drawn into the story from the first pages and it just got better - I was completely carried away. Just want to pay a visit to the wonderful sounding places now!! Great read
May 6, 2019
I loved this book! It was reminiscent of a Nancy Drew book, only an adult version. The idea of the Peacock Room being real has my imagination. I really hate to see this story end. Thank you to Red Door Publishing and the author, Ms Corcoran, herself for the gift of this free ARC.
May 24, 2019
I gave this book one ❤️ because the cover is so beautiful!
Another ❤️ because the writing is gorgeous and so colourful. Merryn’s writing transports you right into Tuscany, Italy.
And another ❤️ because the story was well structured, the characters well defined and it was an easy read.
I had a hard time relating to Allegra and she was frustrating at times because of the poor decisions she made. I enjoyed the plot and the ending brought a solid closing to the mystery.
May 10, 2019
**RATING 3.5**
*I voluntarily reviewed this book from Netgalley
Brimming with mystery and drama, THE PEACOCK ROOM by Merryn Corcoran is an unusual tale of secrets from start to finish.
When Allegra discovers that her husband has been cheating on her and has fallen in love with a much younger woman, she is devastated. She put her dreams to one side for him and it was all for nothing. Needing a break, she travels to Tuscany where her family are from, and falls in love with history and architecture all over again. Determined to discover more about her grandfather and the mysterious Peacock Room that he always mentions on his lucid days, Allegra soon finds herself trying to solve a family mystery and there may just be a hint of romance along the way.
There is a lot going on in this story - from family betrayals, a mystery from the past, art history and architecture, and romance, so you will never get bored. The characters are interesting and I really enjoyed the descriptions of each setting that brought the beauty of Italy to life as I read.
THE PEACOCK ROOM by Merryn Corcoran is a blend of history, mystery, drama, and romance and is sure to have something for everyone among its pages.
*I voluntarily reviewed this book from Netgalley
Brimming with mystery and drama, THE PEACOCK ROOM by Merryn Corcoran is an unusual tale of secrets from start to finish.
When Allegra discovers that her husband has been cheating on her and has fallen in love with a much younger woman, she is devastated. She put her dreams to one side for him and it was all for nothing. Needing a break, she travels to Tuscany where her family are from, and falls in love with history and architecture all over again. Determined to discover more about her grandfather and the mysterious Peacock Room that he always mentions on his lucid days, Allegra soon finds herself trying to solve a family mystery and there may just be a hint of romance along the way.
There is a lot going on in this story - from family betrayals, a mystery from the past, art history and architecture, and romance, so you will never get bored. The characters are interesting and I really enjoyed the descriptions of each setting that brought the beauty of Italy to life as I read.
THE PEACOCK ROOM by Merryn Corcoran is a blend of history, mystery, drama, and romance and is sure to have something for everyone among its pages.
May 6, 2019
I loved this book! It was reminiscent of a Nancy Drew book, only an adult version. The idea of the Peacock Room being real has my imagination. I really hate to see this story end. Thank you to Red Door Publishing & the author, Ms Corcoran, herself for the gift of this free ARC.
May 20, 2019
This was a most enjoyable book. One that pulled my in right at the beginning. Unfortunately, I had many interruptions while reading it and if not for that, I would have finished it in a day. Oh well. No worries as I got to spend a little bit more time "traveling" to London and to the Castillo de Sammezzano in Florence, Italy (one of my favorite cities). Ms. Corcoran's descriptions of the Castillo were so detailed that I became fascinated with this Castillo that actually exists and had to look it up online. What an amazing and stunning place! I was mesmerized by the photos! The book had a great cast of characters. It was captivating and charming with a little mystery and some romance, and it is one that I recommend for a nice summer read! After reading The Peacock Room, I will be adding Ms. Corcoran's other books to my reading list.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy.
July 19, 2019
Excuse the slightly psychedelic banner, but I feel that this book deserved it. It is, after all, a book about peacocks. And castles, and a love story.
Encouraged by the beautiful cover, I picked up with book with some enthusiasm. What I ended up reading was somewhat of a mixed bag. Don’t get me wrong: I love a story set in Italy as much as the next person, and books that are all about family history are also great.
And it does start off promisingly. The story starts with Allegra, our heroine, finding out that her husband is having an affair. She promptly dumps him, has a makeover and travels off to Italy to unravel a family mystery: her great-grandfather went missing at the start of the 20th century and nobody knows why.
So far, so good, right? Ye-es. However, the characters made this book a three-star review (spoilers. Sorry!) for me. None of them felt particularly well-realised. Massimo, though lovely, is basically wish-fulfilment in literary form (complete with unnecessary secret-past plot twist), whilst Allegra’s ex-husband, Hugo, gradually becomes more and more of a cliched villain as the story goes on.
I wanted to give Allegra herself a bit of a shake. I’m all for female empowerment, and Allegra catering to her son’s every whim (seriously- his main line all through the book was ‘Mum, why haven’t you cooked dinner for me yet?’) made me grit my teeth. She stands up to him at the end, kind of, but seriously? Tell him to make his own damn dinner!
There were parts of the story I enjoyed. It was a nice change to read about a love story between older protagonists: both of them have baggage, and watching them work through it is refreshing and realistic. I had a chuckle at Allegra experimenting with freedom and trying both weed and magic mushrooms in quick succession- steady on!Allegra’s mother, though vain, was also a treat to read about, as was the dynamic between her, Allegra, and Allegra’s daughter, Kirsty. Yay for girl power! I would have liked to read more about Allegra’s great-grandmother, who pops up occasionally through diary entries. As it is, she works to further the plot, but we don’t really get a sense of her character.
If nothing else, this book has definitely instilled in me a healthy desire to go and visit Sammezzano Castle! Corcoran does a great job of describing the castle and the peacock room, and had me frantically googling to see what it really looked like. The concept is great, and I can’t help thinking that if it had been executed a bit better, the book would have been a winner.
Still. I’m inspired to go visit!
Encouraged by the beautiful cover, I picked up with book with some enthusiasm. What I ended up reading was somewhat of a mixed bag. Don’t get me wrong: I love a story set in Italy as much as the next person, and books that are all about family history are also great.
And it does start off promisingly. The story starts with Allegra, our heroine, finding out that her husband is having an affair. She promptly dumps him, has a makeover and travels off to Italy to unravel a family mystery: her great-grandfather went missing at the start of the 20th century and nobody knows why.
So far, so good, right? Ye-es. However, the characters made this book a three-star review (spoilers. Sorry!) for me. None of them felt particularly well-realised. Massimo, though lovely, is basically wish-fulfilment in literary form (complete with unnecessary secret-past plot twist), whilst Allegra’s ex-husband, Hugo, gradually becomes more and more of a cliched villain as the story goes on.
I wanted to give Allegra herself a bit of a shake. I’m all for female empowerment, and Allegra catering to her son’s every whim (seriously- his main line all through the book was ‘Mum, why haven’t you cooked dinner for me yet?’) made me grit my teeth. She stands up to him at the end, kind of, but seriously? Tell him to make his own damn dinner!
There were parts of the story I enjoyed. It was a nice change to read about a love story between older protagonists: both of them have baggage, and watching them work through it is refreshing and realistic. I had a chuckle at Allegra experimenting with freedom and trying both weed and magic mushrooms in quick succession- steady on!Allegra’s mother, though vain, was also a treat to read about, as was the dynamic between her, Allegra, and Allegra’s daughter, Kirsty. Yay for girl power! I would have liked to read more about Allegra’s great-grandmother, who pops up occasionally through diary entries. As it is, she works to further the plot, but we don’t really get a sense of her character.
If nothing else, this book has definitely instilled in me a healthy desire to go and visit Sammezzano Castle! Corcoran does a great job of describing the castle and the peacock room, and had me frantically googling to see what it really looked like. The concept is great, and I can’t help thinking that if it had been executed a bit better, the book would have been a winner.
Still. I’m inspired to go visit!
May 29, 2019
This is a light, frothy read laced with a touch of Italian history, art and architecture. It would be the perfect book to take to the beach as it doesn’t require too much thought or commitment. If you like romances where both parties are older (as in not twenty-somethings) and happy endings then you should be satisfied with this story. The Tuscan setting is of course beautiful and will make you want to go there yourself. The historical mystery was interesting and not entirely predictable.
Allegra inherits her great grandmother’s Cosima’s diary which gives us very brief glimpses into the past. I am a huge historical fiction fan and I would have liked for this historical aspect to be more developed. In other novels with a similar format I have enjoyed the historical story line just as much as, if not more than, the modern day story. In this case there wasn’t enough for me to become too involved. I wished for more of Cosima and her life and less of insipid Allegra!
I admit that I didn’t love the main characters. Allegra is such a vain, vapid character that I found it difficult to root for her as the heroine. She is silly and naïve even though she is a grown woman with nearly adult children. She lets her husband and son control her and yet she caters to their every whim. I was hoping that her character would grow through the course of the story and I suppose she did develop a bit of a backbone by the end, but unfortunately this seems to mostly be because of her love affair. Her Italian lover gives her the will to leave her terrible, misogynistic husband and to follow her dream to research her family history. It’s great that she finally grows into a semi-independent adult but it’s a shame that she needs the catalyst of a new man to do it. Her lover Massimo is ridiculously perfect. He’s gorgeous, a great lover who loves older, curvy women, a hero cop, and is understanding of all Allegra’s childishness. I’m not usually a romance reader so maybe this level of perfection is standard but I found it unrealistic and honestly not very interesting. This is 100% a fantasy which is totally satisfactory if that the type of story that you are looking for.
This book had a lot of potential it is perfectly fine as a quick read and a light distraction. I was expecting a bit more from it but it was still enjoyable. I am intrigued by this amazing abandoned castle and it’s quite shocking that it actually exists. Time for a vacation to Tuscany I think!
Thank you to RedDoor Publishing for providing an Electronic Advance Reader Copy via NetGalley for review.
Allegra inherits her great grandmother’s Cosima’s diary which gives us very brief glimpses into the past. I am a huge historical fiction fan and I would have liked for this historical aspect to be more developed. In other novels with a similar format I have enjoyed the historical story line just as much as, if not more than, the modern day story. In this case there wasn’t enough for me to become too involved. I wished for more of Cosima and her life and less of insipid Allegra!
I admit that I didn’t love the main characters. Allegra is such a vain, vapid character that I found it difficult to root for her as the heroine. She is silly and naïve even though she is a grown woman with nearly adult children. She lets her husband and son control her and yet she caters to their every whim. I was hoping that her character would grow through the course of the story and I suppose she did develop a bit of a backbone by the end, but unfortunately this seems to mostly be because of her love affair. Her Italian lover gives her the will to leave her terrible, misogynistic husband and to follow her dream to research her family history. It’s great that she finally grows into a semi-independent adult but it’s a shame that she needs the catalyst of a new man to do it. Her lover Massimo is ridiculously perfect. He’s gorgeous, a great lover who loves older, curvy women, a hero cop, and is understanding of all Allegra’s childishness. I’m not usually a romance reader so maybe this level of perfection is standard but I found it unrealistic and honestly not very interesting. This is 100% a fantasy which is totally satisfactory if that the type of story that you are looking for.
This book had a lot of potential it is perfectly fine as a quick read and a light distraction. I was expecting a bit more from it but it was still enjoyable. I am intrigued by this amazing abandoned castle and it’s quite shocking that it actually exists. Time for a vacation to Tuscany I think!
Thank you to RedDoor Publishing for providing an Electronic Advance Reader Copy via NetGalley for review.
July 25, 2019
I received this ebook from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Having read some of the other reviews of this book, I set lower expectations than usual. I judged it unfairly based on the thoughts of others.
While yes, this is likely not a Pulitzer Prize winner, I ended up really enjoying it. One of my dislikes for the book was that it ended sort of abruptly, just giving a brief prologue- when I really would have loved to see how Allegra coped with everything. How did her mom handle cancer? Did karma really bite Hugo in the ass in the end?
My other problem with the book was that Massimo's random UK storyline was kind of unnecessary. It wasn't really useful for any character development.
Overall I really enjoyed this book and would consider it a good beach or rainy weekend read.
Having read some of the other reviews of this book, I set lower expectations than usual. I judged it unfairly based on the thoughts of others.
While yes, this is likely not a Pulitzer Prize winner, I ended up really enjoying it. One of my dislikes for the book was that it ended sort of abruptly, just giving a brief prologue- when I really would have loved to see how Allegra coped with everything. How did her mom handle cancer? Did karma really bite Hugo in the ass in the end?
My other problem with the book was that Massimo's random UK storyline was kind of unnecessary. It wasn't really useful for any character development.
Overall I really enjoyed this book and would consider it a good beach or rainy weekend read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 19, 2019
I choose this book because of the beautiful cover. I enjoyed the story, but thought the dialogues and characters lacked depth. The mystery didn't really catch my interest. I did enjoy the setting, especially the castle. It sounds beautiful.
May 27, 2019
Uplifting, evocative, and a real page turner. It has it all, drama, intrigue, romance and loss. Not my usual kind of read, but a delight that I gobbled up in a couple of sessions.
May 26, 2019
Loved the descriptions of Italy, but the book was not engaging.
May 22, 2019
I wanted to like this book more. I’ve been obsessed with Sammezzano for years now, and hoped this would focus a bit more on it.
Instead, it mainly focuses on what clothes Allegra is going to wear, and how many brands she can name. I have to admit, I got halfway through the book and skim-read the rest.
Instead, it mainly focuses on what clothes Allegra is going to wear, and how many brands she can name. I have to admit, I got halfway through the book and skim-read the rest.
May 13, 2019
Dialogue should drive a story, not hold it back from offering up meaning or context. There is a nice romance, a beautiful setting, alluring mystery, and horrible dialogue. Stoic conversation that doesn’t showcase passion is hard to believe, especially when relationships are beginning or ending. I was also confused by all the “mom doesn’t like guns” talk, especially since it makes it look like police officers are the ones perpetuating violence, so it’s not really a relevant connection. But this book is to be read for location and love, not for boring conversations and politics.
June 7, 2019
Allegra's cheating husband has opened the door for discovery. First she will be able to focus her attention on the Italian architecture, pictures, and history that she loves. Second, she can gain her independence and self esteem that she has lost because of a controlling husband. Third she can research her family history and maybe discover what happened to her great-grandfather, who unexpectedly disappeared. And finally she may discover why her grandfather's stories to her as a child always contained the peacock room. And she may even discover love.
Great story, strong characters and amazing attention to detail.
Great story, strong characters and amazing attention to detail.
May 1, 2019
There are so many things I could write about the Peacock room. The Peacock room is enchanting and I was hooked from the very first moment I found out the Peacock room actually exists inside Tuscany. I instantly felt transported inside these pages. Reading this book has been a delight and I recommend it for everyone.
May 24, 2019
This is my first time reading a book from this author, and I have to say I really enjoyed her writing style. The book had a great pace, and it was an easy read, and interesting. I definitely would consider reading another one of her books!
The book follows a woman named Allegra, as she tries to navigate a home life that is falling apart, and a mystery involving her grandfather. She is trying to find out what happened to her great grandfather, who disappeared many years ago, and who has always been a source of mystery in her family and in their village in Florence. Definitely a great mystery just waiting to be solved!
The book follows a woman named Allegra, as she tries to navigate a home life that is falling apart, and a mystery involving her grandfather. She is trying to find out what happened to her great grandfather, who disappeared many years ago, and who has always been a source of mystery in her family and in their village in Florence. Definitely a great mystery just waiting to be solved!
October 19, 2019
This book kept me turning the pages from start to finish!
When Allegra discovers that her husband has been having an affair with a much younger woman she feels like her world is falling apart.
After putting her life on hold to raise a family she decides that now is the time to do the things shes always wanted to do. She travels to Tuscany and falls in love in more ways than one.
Her love and passion for historical architecture and her Italian family history takes her on a journey of discovery, not only to find out the truth to an old family mystery (along with great grandma Cosimas diary) but she also discovers more about herself and who she wants to be, going forward in life.
This book is well written and is a nice easy read. It has humour, romance, history, mystery, heartbreak and love.
There are some parts of the story that show real family life even though some readers may question the relevancy of adding that into the story. One of the characters becomes ill but that particular sub plot doesn't develop very much and some may question why thats in there. But that is real life. Unexpected things happen in life with no giant twists or conclusions for a long time. Some may also question why Allegra lets her kids say awful things about dads new girlfriend (who is not much older than the daughter) but realistically that is what would happen due to the feelings of betrayal and anger.
This book shows real life emotions and events in the family home and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.
The ending was both happy and sad. But a very good ending indeed!
When Allegra discovers that her husband has been having an affair with a much younger woman she feels like her world is falling apart.
After putting her life on hold to raise a family she decides that now is the time to do the things shes always wanted to do. She travels to Tuscany and falls in love in more ways than one.
Her love and passion for historical architecture and her Italian family history takes her on a journey of discovery, not only to find out the truth to an old family mystery (along with great grandma Cosimas diary) but she also discovers more about herself and who she wants to be, going forward in life.
This book is well written and is a nice easy read. It has humour, romance, history, mystery, heartbreak and love.
There are some parts of the story that show real family life even though some readers may question the relevancy of adding that into the story. One of the characters becomes ill but that particular sub plot doesn't develop very much and some may question why thats in there. But that is real life. Unexpected things happen in life with no giant twists or conclusions for a long time. Some may also question why Allegra lets her kids say awful things about dads new girlfriend (who is not much older than the daughter) but realistically that is what would happen due to the feelings of betrayal and anger.
This book shows real life emotions and events in the family home and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.
The ending was both happy and sad. But a very good ending indeed!
June 8, 2019
Fantastic book. I got sucked straight into the story and found it hard to put down. Fast paced and immersive writing throughout. Several storyline strands merge and weave throughout the main story. Amazing scenery and I was definitely googling the setting to see if my imagination matched up to reality. Definitely a must read book.
Thank you Netgalley
Thank you Netgalley
May 25, 2019
Love the cover of this book! Some romance and a bit of a mystery! It was a quick story which I enjoyed! Thanks to Netgalley for the early copy
September 2, 2019
The Peacock Room is the first book I have read by Merryn Corcoran, but it won't be the last. This book covers all my favourite topics, art, architecture and beautiful Tuscany. Allegra has been married for twenty years when her husband decides to leave her for a much younger woman. After originally being heartbroken, time passes and she realises how controlling her husband was and that now she can get back to her passion of art and architecture. After the death of her beloved grandpapa, she decides to look into a family mystery and find the Castello Sammezzano and the fabled Peacock Room her grandpapa told her about. Mystery, art, architecture, romance and the stunning landscape Tuscany come together to create a beautiful read.
What drew me to this book was the stunning cover that shows a woman in the most stunning room, an image of the Peacock Room with its different hues of blue that shimmer off the cover. What surprised me was finding out that the Castello Sammezzano is a real place, and the Peacock Room does exist, its just a shame it isn't open to the public. This is simply one of the gorgeous Italian setting in this book, all of which can't help but make me smile wistfully and dream of going back to Italy. A family is mystery is always interesting in a book as I love to be a voyeur in other peoples lives. This mystery surrounds Allegra's grandpapa's father who went missing at the same time as some art work from the Castello. His mother never believed he would have left her with a young son, and through her diaries, left to Allegra, we learn more about this period of time. Merryn Corcoran's writing is colourful and descriptive, in setting and character, and brings the rooms of the Castello and the architecture vividly off the page and into the imagination.
Allegra was a character I really warmed to. She has never reached her potential as a person, being controlled by her husband who didn't want her to work, but all this changes after the separation. There are many moments where a smile was on my face with Allegra's cutting comments towards her husband as her confidence grew, and she became more independent. It's not very often I say I hate a character, but in the case of Hugo, the husband, this was true. He was chauvinistic, arrogant, egotistical, condescending and smarmy; he doesn't deserve someone as nice as Allegra. All the characters were well rounded, different and true to life, making them and their lives more believable; although Allegra's new romance is a bit too perfect, but that is part of the charm of the book.
The Peacock Room is a beautiful book, in setting, story and characters. The mystery, romance and Italian culture perfectly combine to make this such a pleasure to read, and offers pure escapism. An uplifting, and easy read that will leave you with a smile on your face. Bellissima!!
What drew me to this book was the stunning cover that shows a woman in the most stunning room, an image of the Peacock Room with its different hues of blue that shimmer off the cover. What surprised me was finding out that the Castello Sammezzano is a real place, and the Peacock Room does exist, its just a shame it isn't open to the public. This is simply one of the gorgeous Italian setting in this book, all of which can't help but make me smile wistfully and dream of going back to Italy. A family is mystery is always interesting in a book as I love to be a voyeur in other peoples lives. This mystery surrounds Allegra's grandpapa's father who went missing at the same time as some art work from the Castello. His mother never believed he would have left her with a young son, and through her diaries, left to Allegra, we learn more about this period of time. Merryn Corcoran's writing is colourful and descriptive, in setting and character, and brings the rooms of the Castello and the architecture vividly off the page and into the imagination.
Allegra was a character I really warmed to. She has never reached her potential as a person, being controlled by her husband who didn't want her to work, but all this changes after the separation. There are many moments where a smile was on my face with Allegra's cutting comments towards her husband as her confidence grew, and she became more independent. It's not very often I say I hate a character, but in the case of Hugo, the husband, this was true. He was chauvinistic, arrogant, egotistical, condescending and smarmy; he doesn't deserve someone as nice as Allegra. All the characters were well rounded, different and true to life, making them and their lives more believable; although Allegra's new romance is a bit too perfect, but that is part of the charm of the book.
The Peacock Room is a beautiful book, in setting, story and characters. The mystery, romance and Italian culture perfectly combine to make this such a pleasure to read, and offers pure escapism. An uplifting, and easy read that will leave you with a smile on your face. Bellissima!!
May 11, 2019
The Blurb :
The Peacock room in Sammezzano Castle is an actual place in Tuscany, Italy.
This story is a liberating, romantic read - an absolute page turner. It will take you to magical places, both in the past and the present; you will never want the story to end.
The Peacock Room at Sammezzano Castle.
When Allegra discovers her husband’s infidelity, her world crashes down around her. It is the ramblings of her elderly grandfather that awaken her interest in historic, interior architecture. On a trip to Florence she visits her grandfather’s birth village in Tuscany. Ready to meet someone new, Allegra ends up beguiled by a handsome Italian man and becomes involved in a dangerous situation that is the catalyst for an unexpected discovery. Allegra returns to London only to be confronted with bad news. In the wake of her grandfather’s demise she commits to the promise she gave him to solve a family mystery. Sammezzano Castle provides the perfect historic backdrop to stimulate Allegra’s love of architecture, and allow her to discover her true heritage while indulging in a passionate love affair
My Thoughts :
Allegra sadly discovers her husband Hugo has been cheating on her and is now in love with another woman. She is heartbroken and decides to get away from it all by going to Italy.
Her family originate from the country so she is excited to go back there.
Once there Allegra falls in love with the history and country once again, she wants to discover more about her grandfather and what happened to him when he disappeared. There is also a connection with the Peacock Room which is in the castle she comes across while on a trip to Florence. Can she solve a family mystery or has she taken on more than she can handle!?.
Also added to the mix is meeting two handsome Italian men, she wants to get over the heartbreak Hugo has left her with and have some fun, jumping in feet first she only has to listen to the way they speak to her and she just melts at their feet.
There is a lot going on in this story, one that will keep you entertained throughout. You can see the passion Merryn Corcoran has in writng her stories, especially the descriptions and vivid surroundings of beautiful Italy.
Looking forward to more soon from this Author.
The Peacock room in Sammezzano Castle is an actual place in Tuscany, Italy.
This story is a liberating, romantic read - an absolute page turner. It will take you to magical places, both in the past and the present; you will never want the story to end.
The Peacock Room at Sammezzano Castle.
When Allegra discovers her husband’s infidelity, her world crashes down around her. It is the ramblings of her elderly grandfather that awaken her interest in historic, interior architecture. On a trip to Florence she visits her grandfather’s birth village in Tuscany. Ready to meet someone new, Allegra ends up beguiled by a handsome Italian man and becomes involved in a dangerous situation that is the catalyst for an unexpected discovery. Allegra returns to London only to be confronted with bad news. In the wake of her grandfather’s demise she commits to the promise she gave him to solve a family mystery. Sammezzano Castle provides the perfect historic backdrop to stimulate Allegra’s love of architecture, and allow her to discover her true heritage while indulging in a passionate love affair
My Thoughts :
Allegra sadly discovers her husband Hugo has been cheating on her and is now in love with another woman. She is heartbroken and decides to get away from it all by going to Italy.
Her family originate from the country so she is excited to go back there.
Once there Allegra falls in love with the history and country once again, she wants to discover more about her grandfather and what happened to him when he disappeared. There is also a connection with the Peacock Room which is in the castle she comes across while on a trip to Florence. Can she solve a family mystery or has she taken on more than she can handle!?.
Also added to the mix is meeting two handsome Italian men, she wants to get over the heartbreak Hugo has left her with and have some fun, jumping in feet first she only has to listen to the way they speak to her and she just melts at their feet.
There is a lot going on in this story, one that will keep you entertained throughout. You can see the passion Merryn Corcoran has in writng her stories, especially the descriptions and vivid surroundings of beautiful Italy.
Looking forward to more soon from this Author.
March 10, 2020
I chose to read The Peacock Room because of extensive time spent living in Northern Italy. As a former artist and being well-versed in art history, I had high expectations. Author Merryn Corcoran does deliver on capturing the gorgeous landscape of Tuscany.
What was less enjoyable was the constant dropping of designer names like Missoni (while mislabelling Missoni clothing as made up of zig-zags). It is obvious from the story that Allegra lives on the upper crust of London society, and the name-dropping is unnecessary and distracting.
The dialogue is woeful. Much of the descriptions of the Peacock Room and Sammezzano Castle are info-dumped into conversations, making it seem like Allegra is lecturing to native Italians, some of whom are art historians themselves. These pseudo-lectures weighed down the dialogue. Even as someone interested in art history, I found myself skimming these sections. And the romantic dialogue between Allegra and Massimo is trite and overwrought.
The descriptions of Tuscan foods tend to be lists of what Allegra and her new love ate, but without sensory input as far as taste and smell and the tactile sensation of fresh mozzarella di bufala on the tongue.
There is a touch of magical realism as the ghost of Allegra’s great-grandfather guides her to hidden paintings in the Castello Sammezzano.
Overall, I felt the book tried to be too many things: a family drama with Allegra’s husband Hugo being unfaithful to her with a woman their daughter’s age; a thriller about missing paintings; a romance; a women’s fiction story about a woman returning to past interests in architecture after her career plans were sidelined by her marriage; a women’s fiction story about a woman helping her mother deal with breast cancer and a demented grandfather. Had Corcoran simply chosen one or two of these to put into one novel, the book might have been more cohesive. Two themes felt superfluous: the issue with Massimo using a gun in his job as a policeman (Allegra is anti-gun, but there is no basis in the story for why she feels that way) and her mother’s breast cancer.
What was less enjoyable was the constant dropping of designer names like Missoni (while mislabelling Missoni clothing as made up of zig-zags). It is obvious from the story that Allegra lives on the upper crust of London society, and the name-dropping is unnecessary and distracting.
The dialogue is woeful. Much of the descriptions of the Peacock Room and Sammezzano Castle are info-dumped into conversations, making it seem like Allegra is lecturing to native Italians, some of whom are art historians themselves. These pseudo-lectures weighed down the dialogue. Even as someone interested in art history, I found myself skimming these sections. And the romantic dialogue between Allegra and Massimo is trite and overwrought.
The descriptions of Tuscan foods tend to be lists of what Allegra and her new love ate, but without sensory input as far as taste and smell and the tactile sensation of fresh mozzarella di bufala on the tongue.
There is a touch of magical realism as the ghost of Allegra’s great-grandfather guides her to hidden paintings in the Castello Sammezzano.
Overall, I felt the book tried to be too many things: a family drama with Allegra’s husband Hugo being unfaithful to her with a woman their daughter’s age; a thriller about missing paintings; a romance; a women’s fiction story about a woman returning to past interests in architecture after her career plans were sidelined by her marriage; a women’s fiction story about a woman helping her mother deal with breast cancer and a demented grandfather. Had Corcoran simply chosen one or two of these to put into one novel, the book might have been more cohesive. Two themes felt superfluous: the issue with Massimo using a gun in his job as a policeman (Allegra is anti-gun, but there is no basis in the story for why she feels that way) and her mother’s breast cancer.
July 29, 2019
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the opportunity to rad an ARC copy of this book in return for a review based upon my honest opinion.
As I have booked a trip to Italy for this fall, I am obsessed with reading stories that take place in Italy and was so excited to see this book was centered around a very real and amazing estate. I, of course, started googling and reading about Castello di Sammezzano; wow, amazing property, I could see how one visit created this story for this author, it is amazing. I hope whoever has purchased it, restores it and opens it to the public for viewing; architectural artwork like that deserves to be seen.
As far as this book goes, while I loved the storyline, loved the characters overall, I found the author's writing to be lacking in maturity at times. There were a few things about the book that bothered me a bit, such as terrible romantic scenes and I found the main character very juvenile at times, it was hard to believe she was to be in her late 40s, That being said; the lovely storyline was worth a few irritations and inconsistencies. Allegra, finds out her husband is cheating on her, he then confesses when found out and moves out to start over with some young thing; this makes Allegra look at her life as a whole and she sees she was not very happy anyway. Then when Allegra's grandfather dies leaving her an inheritance and a mysterious box that contains, for one, the diary of her great-grandmother, so she then sets out like Columbo to solve the mystery of her great-grandfather's disappearance. I really liked the old diary entries and the cast of characters who come to her aid in helping to solve this mystery and I was very satisfied with the ending.
As I have booked a trip to Italy for this fall, I am obsessed with reading stories that take place in Italy and was so excited to see this book was centered around a very real and amazing estate. I, of course, started googling and reading about Castello di Sammezzano; wow, amazing property, I could see how one visit created this story for this author, it is amazing. I hope whoever has purchased it, restores it and opens it to the public for viewing; architectural artwork like that deserves to be seen.
As far as this book goes, while I loved the storyline, loved the characters overall, I found the author's writing to be lacking in maturity at times. There were a few things about the book that bothered me a bit, such as terrible romantic scenes and I found the main character very juvenile at times, it was hard to believe she was to be in her late 40s, That being said; the lovely storyline was worth a few irritations and inconsistencies. Allegra, finds out her husband is cheating on her, he then confesses when found out and moves out to start over with some young thing; this makes Allegra look at her life as a whole and she sees she was not very happy anyway. Then when Allegra's grandfather dies leaving her an inheritance and a mysterious box that contains, for one, the diary of her great-grandmother, so she then sets out like Columbo to solve the mystery of her great-grandfather's disappearance. I really liked the old diary entries and the cast of characters who come to her aid in helping to solve this mystery and I was very satisfied with the ending.
July 29, 2020
Good Storyline, But...
Certain aspects of this book I truly enjoyed, while others hampered my enjoyment of the story. What I loved was the author's descriptions of the art, settings, and history of the castle and Italy. She used evocative words to describe the physical places and objects that put me right there. I enjoyed the family mystery aspect as well as the little bit of Tuscan romance. Who doesn't enjoy a romance set there? What I didn't like was twofold. First, I thought that, especially at the beginning but sometimes throughout, the author told us more about what was happening than showed us through actions and words. I always find that distancing, and it doesn't sit well in my mind which prefers an immersive fictional experience—which can’t happen with telling. More disturbing to me personally is I just did not like the way both the heroine and her mother seemed to think that her husband's infidelity was explained and excused by the heroine's weight gain. Grrrrr…. and ugh! Even though this is fiction, this disturbs me as it perpetuates that a woman's worth is in inverse proportion to her weight. Also, I hate that it is used as an excuse for all manner of bad behavior by others. Should we accept others' poor treatment and disrespect because we don't look like the societal preference? Yes, this little aspect of the book rankled my last nerve and set my teeth on edge, eclipsing my full enjoyment of the story. Too bad, because I actually did like other aspects of the story.
3.5 rounded down because of the weight issue
I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.
My book blog: https://www.readingfanaticreviews.com
Certain aspects of this book I truly enjoyed, while others hampered my enjoyment of the story. What I loved was the author's descriptions of the art, settings, and history of the castle and Italy. She used evocative words to describe the physical places and objects that put me right there. I enjoyed the family mystery aspect as well as the little bit of Tuscan romance. Who doesn't enjoy a romance set there? What I didn't like was twofold. First, I thought that, especially at the beginning but sometimes throughout, the author told us more about what was happening than showed us through actions and words. I always find that distancing, and it doesn't sit well in my mind which prefers an immersive fictional experience—which can’t happen with telling. More disturbing to me personally is I just did not like the way both the heroine and her mother seemed to think that her husband's infidelity was explained and excused by the heroine's weight gain. Grrrrr…. and ugh! Even though this is fiction, this disturbs me as it perpetuates that a woman's worth is in inverse proportion to her weight. Also, I hate that it is used as an excuse for all manner of bad behavior by others. Should we accept others' poor treatment and disrespect because we don't look like the societal preference? Yes, this little aspect of the book rankled my last nerve and set my teeth on edge, eclipsing my full enjoyment of the story. Too bad, because I actually did like other aspects of the story.
3.5 rounded down because of the weight issue
I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.
My book blog: https://www.readingfanaticreviews.com
May 31, 2019
I received an ARC from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.
I wanted to enjoy this book more than I did. I love a good Romance and a castle in Tuscany? Sounds like a slam dunk! It started off slow. we meet Allegra just when she realizes that her husband of 20 years has been having an affair. Then we skip ahead 4 months and she's separated and going on a weekend trip to Florence with a friend. And then her inexplicable life choices begin. Going off with some random man and getting high and almost raped? What? Then getting rescued by a cop and falling in to bed almost immediately? It just seemed more than a little out of character. I loved everything regarding the castle and great-grandma Cosima and her diary, but all the stuff with the jerk of her in the progress of becoming ex husband was boring and more than a little irritating. It also did nothing to help the actual story or move anything along. And her kids. Man. I started off hating the daughter and being bored by the son, but that changed quickly and the daughter seemed all right and the son was a selfish little jerk and I wanted to smack him. And making the mom sick just seemed so pointless. Again, just random storylines that served no purpose. Everything was pretty predictable and the ending was weirdly abrupt with what seemed like a series of bulletpoints of "where are they now" that I'd more expect from the end of a movie. Overall it was enjoyable, but I can't say that I loved it.
I wanted to enjoy this book more than I did. I love a good Romance and a castle in Tuscany? Sounds like a slam dunk! It started off slow. we meet Allegra just when she realizes that her husband of 20 years has been having an affair. Then we skip ahead 4 months and she's separated and going on a weekend trip to Florence with a friend. And then her inexplicable life choices begin. Going off with some random man and getting high and almost raped? What? Then getting rescued by a cop and falling in to bed almost immediately? It just seemed more than a little out of character. I loved everything regarding the castle and great-grandma Cosima and her diary, but all the stuff with the jerk of her in the progress of becoming ex husband was boring and more than a little irritating. It also did nothing to help the actual story or move anything along. And her kids. Man. I started off hating the daughter and being bored by the son, but that changed quickly and the daughter seemed all right and the son was a selfish little jerk and I wanted to smack him. And making the mom sick just seemed so pointless. Again, just random storylines that served no purpose. Everything was pretty predictable and the ending was weirdly abrupt with what seemed like a series of bulletpoints of "where are they now" that I'd more expect from the end of a movie. Overall it was enjoyable, but I can't say that I loved it.
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