Midnight at the Tuscany Hotel by James Markert
Published by Thomas Nelson on April 9, 2019
Pages: 368
Format: ARC, Paperback
Goodreads
For years, guests of the Tuscany Hotel could leave their pasts behind and live among fellow artists. Now guests of a different sort fill the rooms, searching for their memories—no matter the cost.
Run by renowned sculptor Robert Gandy and his wife and muse, Magdalena, the Tuscany Hotel hosted guests of a certain kind—artists, actors, scientists, and engineers who left their worries behind so that they could create their latest masterpieces. Surrounded by lore, the hotel was rumored to free the mind and inspire artists’ gifts. But tragic circumstances force Robert and his family to move.
After thirteen months at war, Vittorio Gandy is haunted by memories, and his former life is unrecognizable. Once a gifted painter, now he can’t bear the vivid, bleeding colors on a canvas. His young son doesn’t remember him, and his wife, Valerie, is scared of him. But the most disconcerting change is in Vitto’s father, Robert Gandy, who has fallen from being a larger-than-life sculptor to a man whose mind has been taken by Alzheimer’s.
When Robert steals away in the night, Valerie, Vitto, and his new acquaintance and fellow veteran John go to the only place Robert might remember—the now-abandoned Tuscany Hotel. When they find him there, Robert’s mind is sound and his memories are intact.
Before long, word gets out that drinking from the fountain at the hotel can restore the memories of those suffering from Alzheimer’s and dementia. The rooms once again fill up with guests—not artists this time, but people seeking control over their memories and lives. Vitto desperately wants to clear his own mind, but as he learns more about his mother’s life and her tragic death, he begins to wonder whether drinking the water comes at a price.
A story of father and son, memories lost and found, artists and their muses, Midnight at the Tuscany Hotel explores the mysteries of the mind, the truth behind lore, and the miracle of inspiration.
I read another book written by James Markert and enjoyed it, so when I saw Midnight at the Tuscany Hotel available through Booklook Bloggers, I jumped at the opportunity and definitely was not disappointed!
At the Tuscany Hotel, the water is said to have healing properties. The hotel itself is owned and operated by Robert and Magdalena Gandy and they host guests of a certain caliber — folks like artists and actors, engineers and scientists who come to The Tuscany Hotel to create their latest masterpieces while leaving their worries behind. Robert and Magdalena’s son, Vittorio Gandy comes home from war suffering with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). He’s haunted by bad memories and can’t forget what he saw in Europe. Vitto’s got photographic memory that allows him to copy famous Renaissance masterpieces from memory.
The author’s detailed descriptions of the Tuscany Hotel were so vivid that readers can easily picture themselves there with all the guests, the impressive beautify of the fountains and colored doors. Even more spectacular was the idea of a place where people could gather for a second chance at life.
It was very interesting to read about Greek mythology and how the author worked it into the story. By the end of the story, it completely fell into place and I loved how the details were worked into the story. The mystery surrounding the fountain was fascinating and the stories of the people that drank from it were interesting too.
Midnight at the Tuscany Hotel was very smart and original and I loved the storytelling. The story is beautiful and heartfelt and the characters are well written and will strike at your heart. Readers are driven by those engaging characters and will be very moved by Midnight at the Tuscany Hotel — I know I was.
James was raised in a household where creativity thrived, paintings and stained-glass windows beautified the walls, and the arts were as regular as the seasons. This upbringing will forever be his muse. James has a history degree from the University of Louisville, where, in his senior year, he was awarded a scholarship as the school’s most outstanding history major. He won an IPPY Award for The Requiem Rose, which was later published by Sourcebooks as A White Wind Blew. James has ideas for future novels that run the gamut of history from time periods and topics like Charles Dickens, Jekyll and Hyde, Prohibition, the Dust Bowl, the Sixties, both World Wars, the Golden Age of Magicians, and a series on Medieval Cathedral building.
James is the writer and co-producer of the feature film/tennis comedy 2nd Serve, starring several actors from popular television shows like Scandal, The Big Bang Theory, Gotham, Cougar Town, Shameless, and Ray Donovan. James is also a USPTA tennis pro, and has coached dozens of kids who’ve gone on to play college tennis in top conferences like the Big 10, the Big East, and the ACC. He lives with his wife and two children in Louisville, KY.
Connect with Mr. Markert on social media ~~
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I truly appreciate that BookLookBloggers provided me with a complimentary copy of this book to read in exchange for my personal and honest opinion and unbiased review.
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