I really enjoyed this book. Generally I find historical novels to be heavy and slow, but even though this book was packed with historical events, and their backgrounds I had a wonderful time reading it. Perhaps it's just the time and place described that are fascinating. The characters were masterfully crafted and interesting, and I found them thoroughly believable. The story is all the more fascinating knowing that it is based on a person that actually existed.

A wonderful and rich historical novel of the incredible life of a strong Jewish woman during the Italian Renaissance. Park has clearly done her research, but rather than it bogging down the story, she uses it effortlessly to move the plot forward. It's been a really long time since I read historical fiction this good.

I really enjoyed reading this book. I was skeptical about it at the beginning, the title did not win me over, however the story took me by surprise. The style is very engaging, I connected with the characters and the different events they were part of. I really appreciated the historical accurary, the main character seems to develop around the historical events and at no point I felt that the story was rushed or too slow. I enjoyed the references to Virgil's poems as well as the Italian, Latin, French sentences used. Some readers might find it a bit challenging to keep up with this, but how would you learn without challenging yourself? Excellent book

Usually books that contain a lot of historical accuracies tend to be heavy - the kind of read that you save when you feel full of patience on a cold winter's night (really, what else would there be to do!) This book was quite the opposite - it was probably the most researched historical fiction that I've read to date without compromising a plot and character development. The thoughtful memoir of Grazia dei Rossi's life brings a breathtaking world to life - images of royalty, discrimination, superstition, luxury, passion, hardship, self sacrifice are conjured by the literary genius that is Jacqueline Park. Grazia dei Rossi gives a voice to our inner most desires and our unspoken sacrifices.

Unusual time-frame, scholarly research, rich detail. Unusual for me, took a bit for me to warm up to the subject area and the heroine's motivation. Fascinated by details of Italy in the 1400's and the relationship plays made. Solid, well written and interesting.

It is very uncommon for me to struggle to finish a book and this is exactly what happened with this one. I found it to be well written, however I could not relate to any of the characters - least of all Grazia. Very slow paced, I thought it could easily have been edited by at least 100 pages. Apart from the great history lesson, I would not recommend this book.

This book kept me completely engrossed; an excellent read.

I enjoyed this Heather's Pick. It is definitely recommened for all of those historical fiction lovers. My only criticism is that the story dragged out in some parts. It easily could have been edited by 100 pages.

Well written with amazing and accurate details. Grazia's life story takes us through an immensly rich and important historical time period. While I found Grazia to be a character full of strength despite and in spite of her numerous obstacles, her end emphasized to me her weaknesses and not her strengths. I wasn't happy with the ending.

I really tried to get through this, but the story seemed to plod along with one depressing event after another. I couldn't bond with any of the characters, including the heroine who seemed hypocritical and bitter. I found the tone flat and slow, by page 380 I gave up and moved on to another book.

I had to work at getting through this book. The history lesson was the only thing that made it worth it. The title character is pompous and unjustly judgemental. As the reader, I certainly did not root for Grazia to prevail.

This was a great read. Grazia dei Rossi has written a secret book to her son to be read when he has grown up. In her book, Grazia chronicles her life as a Jewish woman in 1500s Italy. The novel is rich in historical detail, you really feel like you're really there with her. I have read many historical novels, and this is one of my favourites.

Jacqueline Park's historical-fiction, set in Renaissance Italy, tells the tale of Grazia dei Rossi, a resilient Jewess who falls in love with a Christian prince, considers converting to Christianity, but in the end settles for a much admired though older Jewish doctor who never consummates their marriage.

The Secret Book of Grazia dei Rossi is an enjoyable read because Park so adroitly handles historical detail, action & suspense and characterization.

Grazia's tumultuous life is scarred by banishment, bankruptcy, the Black plague, the inquisition, a pogrom, war, betrayal, discrimination, and the whims of papal and court politics. True to the facts of history, Park unfolds for the reader all the splendor and misery of Renaissance Italy.

Continually faced with issues of survival, Grazia must plumb the depths of her resources to face the many challenges life brings her way. She is the dependable daughter and wife who responds to the needs of her family, keeping them together, bailing them out, healing their wounds. Carefully plotted moments of suspense kept me turning pages. Just when I thought circumstances couldn't possibly get worse for Grazia they do.

Finally, perhaps Park's greatest accomplishment is her skillful characterization of the main character. She creates in the reader empathy for Grazia. The reader suffers with Grazia through her crisis of faith and her crisis of the heart. Park makes the reader care about her character.

Kudos for Jacqueline Park!

This book was great. Couldn't put it down!

I didn't really get to finish the book, (after losing it on a plane) but from the first half that I read, it was pretty interesting. I learned some things that i never knew before. I do recommend it... and I recommend that you do not put your books in the slip in the seat in front of you, it's possible that you may forget it. It was a great read.

this book was ...well a very good find! I was instantly enthralled by the beauty of the setting, the characters, the overall feeling of the novel. Grazia is the strongest female character I have ever met in paperback and I love her for that. I adore the passion in which she faces everything in her life. she is able to take the good with the bad and make the most of what she has. her forbidden love with Lord Pirro is quite amazing, and her resiliance to all setbacks stirs me with emotion for she is someone I would truly like to ...become, more within myself. I adored this novel. it is a pure renaissance gem. filled with all the necessary parts that make a book truly great. read it people.

This book has stayed with me long after I read it. It was years ago that I purchased the hardcover edition of this book and fell madly in love with it. I still, to this day, consistantly check to see if Jaqueline Park has written anything new. To this day I'm consistantly disappointed when I discover that she hasn't. But this amazing book makes me keep looking.

I recommend this story first to anyone who loved the movie Dangerous Beauty . Who loves history, the Italian Renaissance, romance, high melodrama and just a great story. (Or any one of those things on their own.)

Jaqueline Park creates rich, realistic characters who live out extraordinary lives and give you a wonderful opportunity to live those lives out right along with them. A true classic.

Set in Italian Renaissance, this historical novel embodies the timeless themes of motherhood and unrequited love. Grazia dei Rossi is an enchanting Jewess trying to protect her son from the warring fractions in Italy. In addition, she must struggle with her love for the nobleman she can't have, and her duty as the wife of a Jew. Park's descriptive passages are beautiful and flawless, never failing to transport the reader into the heart of history.

Grazia Dei Rossi is a Jewess living in Renaissance Italy. Despite the practice of the day, Grazia is educated in the family business of money lending which provides the catalyst for her fascinating life. During her life Grazia must travel accross Italy in order to flea the increasing prejudice against the jewish community. Along the way she encounters the infamous Borgia family, falls in love with a handsome Christian and saves her family's lives and livelihoods. A phenomenal read with impressive attention to historical detail.