Tuscan Rose

By: Belinda Alexandra

Narrated by: Caroline Lee

Length: 23 hrs and 30 mins

Publisher's summary

A mysterious stranger known as 'The Wolf' leaves an infant with the sisters of Santo Spirito. A tiny silver key hidden in her wrappings is the only clue to the child's identity and so begins a story as intriguing and beautiful as the city of Florence itself. Belinda Alexandra's new novel, Tuscan Rose, is set in Italy during the time of Mussolini. This richly woven tale of passion, love, longing, witchcraft and magic promises to be everything her readers love and more.

©2010 Belinda Alexandra (P)2010 Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd

Very timely read for 2016

The first half of this novel sets up the conclusions at the end.
Despite the inclusions of spirituality it is a read for all people all religions against war.

Wide really enjoyed this book

Wasn't sure at first if I was going to like this book , but by the end I was loving Rosa and journey of her life . The narrator was amazing .

Tall glass of water

Can we edit out drinking water and swallowing before reading? It takes away from the great narration and images of the story.

Great Story, poor production quality

The story was enthralling, and the narrator was okay but the whole thing was spoiled by sloppy sound editing. The sound engineer failed to edit out the narrator's inhalations, and there were frequent, annoying clicks and pauses, especially toward the end of the book.

Very depressing story and too drawn out

I do not like writing a bad review about a narrator as they work very hard and whilst I normally love Caroline Lee's narration, I found the forced Italian pronunciation very annoying. I think it was overdone and very distracting.

Brilliantly written & narrated

This was my first Belinda Alexandra book & I am so very impressed I have gotten into her other titles. For me this book gives me strength, no matter what life throws at you, it is nothing the strong girl in this book & her friends are dealt don't take within their stride. A gripping tale of a young Ophan living through the horrors of being wrongly accused in the age of fascism and surviving the war through the eyes of the Florentine Italians. Your credit will not be wasted with this great story.

A Lovely Read/Listen

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes. I'm not a big fan of historical fiction, but this was a book where the characters made such an indelible impression that I was enchanted. It was beautifully written, impeccably narrated and, despite its length, didn't last long enough.

What did you like best about this story?

The character development and the personal view of history in Italy before and during World War II.

Which character – as performed by Caroline Lee – was your favorite?

Rosa, of course, but most of the recurring characters are well-drawn.

If you could take any character from Tuscan Rose out to dinner, who would it be and why?

Luciano. Just to have a look.

Not her best effort

Would you try another book from Belinda Alexandra and/or Caroline Lee?

Yes this was the third book I've listened to. I could listen to Caroline Lee read the phone book! She's that good!

Would you be willing to try another book from Belinda Alexandra? Why or why not?

Probably not. I realize her stories are based on historical events, although they are fictional. This one was just too drawn out, too unrealistic for me. Took so long to get through and I was thoroughly bored by the end.

What about Caroline Lee’s performance did you like?

Everything. She's amazing!

Do you think Tuscan Rose needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

Definitely not! Ugh! The thought of that makes me cringe!

Loved it!

Excellent narrator....made the book even better!
Rivited by the story. Thank you for clean..tight writing....no unnecessary narrative which I really appreciated.

Faith, hope and love...

The descriptive talent of the writer allows one to feel the anguish and horror of war that scars all the lives it touches. It takes the heart and soul on many emotional journeys displaying what the human spirit can endure. It is an example of the importance in developing a higher level of consciousness so we recognize the futility of war before any thought of it can enter our minds.