Download or read book The Night Villa written by Carol Goodman and published by Ballantine Books. This book was released on 2008-08-05 with total page 434 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: An evocative tale of intrigue, romance, and treachery, Carol Goodman’s spellbinding new novel, The Night Villa, follows the fascinating lives of two remarkable women centuries apart. The eruption of Italy’s Mount Vesuvius in A.D. 79 buried a city and its people, their treasures and secrets. Centuries later, echoes of this disaster resonate with profound consequences in the life of classics professor Sophie Chase. In the aftermath of a tragic shooting on the University of Texas campus, Sophie seeks sanctuary on the isle of Capri, immersing herself in her latest scholarly project alongside her colleagues, her star pupil, and their benefactor, the compelling yet enigmatic business mogul John Lyros. Beneath layers of volcanic ash lies the Villa della Notte–the Night Villa–home to first-century nobles, as well as to the captivating slave girl at the heart of an ancient controversy. And secreted in a subterranean labyrinth rests a cache of antique documents believed lost to the ages: a prize too tantalizing for Sophie to resist. But suspicion, fear, and danger roam the long-untrodden tunnels and chambers beneath the once sumptuous estate–especially after Sophie sees the face of her former lover in the darkness, leaving her to wonder if she is chasing shadows or succumbing to the siren song of the Night Villa. Whatever shocking events transpired in the face of Vesuvius’s fury have led to deeper, darker machinations that inexorably draw Sophie into their vortex, rich in stunning revelations and laden with unseen menace. Praise for The Night Villa “Visit The Night Villa: Carol Goodman’ s luminous prose and superb storytelling will keep you entertained into the late hours.”—Nancy Pickard “The pleasure of a Carol Goodman novel is in her enviable command of the classical canon–and the deft way she [writes] a book that’s light enough for a weekend on the beach but literary enough for a weekend in the Hamptons.”—Chicago Tribune

Download or read book The Night Villa written by Carol Goodman and published by Piatkus Books. This book was released on 2009 with total page 432 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The eruption of Italy's Mount Vesuvius in AD 79 buried a city and its people, their treasures and secrets. Centuries later, echoes of this disaster resonate with profound consequences in the life of classics professor Sophie Chase. Beneath layers of volcanic ash lies the Villa della Notte - the Night Villa - once home to the captivating slave girl at the heart of an ancient controversy. And concealed in a subterranean labyrinth rests a cache of antique documents believed lost to the ages: a prize too alluring for Sophie to resist. But whatever shocking events transpired in the face of Vesuvius's fury has led to deeper intrigues - and Sophie is swiftly sucked into their dark and terrifying vortex . . .

Download or read book Up at the Villa written by W. Somerset Maugham and published by DigiCat. This book was released on 2022-08-01 with total page 92 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: DigiCat Publishing presents to you this special edition of "Up at the Villa" by W. Somerset Maugham. DigiCat Publishing considers every written word to be a legacy of humankind. Every DigiCat book has been carefully reproduced for republishing in a new modern format. The books are available in print, as well as ebooks. DigiCat hopes you will treat this work with the acknowledgment and passion it deserves as a classic of world literature.

Download or read book The Villa written by Nora Roberts and published by Penguin. This book was released on 2001-03-19 with total page 553 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: #1 New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts exposes a proud family’s deadly secrets in this passionate tale of two Napa Valley rivals... PR executive Sophia Giambelli loves her job and has never worried about competition. For three generations, her family’s wines have been world-renowned for their quality. But things are about to change at Villa Giambelli. Tereza, the matriarch, has announced a merger with the MacMillan family’s winery—and Sophia will be assuming a new role. As a savvy businesswoman, Sophia knows she must be prepared for anything...but she isn’t prepared for Tyler MacMillan. They’ve been ordered to work together very closely, to facilitate the merger. Sophia must teach Ty the finer points of marketing—and Ty, in turn, shows her how to get down and dirty, to use the sun, rain, and earth to coax the sweetest grapes from the vineyard. As they toil together, both in and out of the fields, Sophia is torn between a powerful attraction and a professional rivalry. At the end of the season, the course of the company’s future—and the legacy of the villa—may take an entirely new direction. And when acts of sabotage threaten both the family business and the family itself, Sophia’s quest will be not only for dominance, but also for survival.

Download or read book The Villa written by Clare Boyd and published by Bookouture. This book was released on 2022-03-17 with total page 346 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: One perfect family. Two weeks in the sun. A secret that will tear them apart. Nora just wanted some time with her daughters, away from everything, in the stunning stone villa under the heat of the French sun. Lazy days by the pool, freckles appearing on tanned cheeks, laughter over cocktails on the terrace. She’s so proud of her girls. They might have their differences, but they’ve grown into confident, independent young women, with their own way of seeing things. But when Nora gathers everyone around the table on that first night, she realises it’s time to tell them. And as she tops up her wine, her hand shakes. She knows nothing could have prepared them for what she’s about to say. But what she doesn’t know, is that hers is not the only secret… A heartbreaking and totally addictive page-turner about motherhood at its best, and its worst, and the lies we tell to protect the ones we love. Anyone who adores Liane Moriarty, Jodi Picoult and Kerry Fisher will stay up all night reading. Readers love The Villa: ‘Wow… a FABULOUS book!!!! This will stay with me for a looooooong time… I cannot stop thinking about this novel.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars ‘OMG! I was gripped… Get ready to be emotional!’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars ‘Gripped me from start to finish, I couldn’t put it down.’ Goodreads reviewer ‘Amazing… I hung onto every word… A story of family, lies and secrets… kept me on the edge of my seat. As I had to figure out how this one ended. And it didn't disappoint… a juicy little mystery with a wow ending I never saw coming… will have you hanging onto every word!’ Rubiereadsbooks, 5 stars ‘Time to clear your schedule for the afternoon, coffee pot on and phone turned off – you won’t want to put this one down.’ NetGalley reviewer ‘Will keep you glued to the pages… If you're looking for a quick and entertaining read, then you have found your book!… you won't be disappointed.’ Goodreads reviewer ‘I absolutely didn’t see the ending coming on this one! Highly recommend!’ Washingtonlife, 5 stars ‘Prepare for an emotional rollercoaster!’ NetGalley reviewer ‘Wow!... I was completely consumed… could not put it down. Totally intriguing and addictive... A real “one more chapter” book… Kept me reading late into the night.’ SIBZZREADS, 5 stars

Download or read book Villa America written by Liza Klaussmann and published by Pan Macmillan. This book was released on 2015-04-23 with total page 481 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 'Immersive, tense, seductive' – Sunday Times 'Unputdownable' – Sunday Express Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald, Pablo Picasso, Cole and Linda Porter, Ernest Hemingway, John Dos Passos - all are summer guests of Gerald and Sara Murphy. Visionary, misunderstood, and from vastly different backgrounds, the Murphys met and married young, and set forth to create a beautiful world. They alight on Villa America: their coastal oasis of artistic genius, debauched parties, impeccable style and flamboyant imagination. But before long, a stranger enters into their relationship, and their marriage must accommodate an intensity that neither had forseen. When tragedy strikes, their friends reach out to them, but the golden bowl is shattered, and neither Gerald nor Sara will ever be the same. Ravishing, heart-breaking, and written with enviable poise, Villa America delivers on all the promise of Liza Klaussmann's bestselling debut, Tigers in Red Weather. It is an overwhelming, unforgettable novel.

Download or read book THE NIGHT AT THE VILLA written by Joe Robber and published by . This book was released on 2022-11-24 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: As the tañi leaves, I glance at the rearview. A woman is standing just outside the iron gates. She's holding a bouquet of calla lilies in one hand... and waving with the other. A chill runs down my spine. I whip my head around. Lothing.

Download or read book Villa Incognito written by Tom Robbins and published by Bantam. This book was released on 2005-08-30 with total page 258 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Imagine that there are American MIAs who chose to remain missing after the Vietnam War. Imagine that there is a family in which four generations of strong, alluring women have shared a mysterious connection to an outlandish figure from Japanese folklore. Imagine just those things (don’t even try to imagine the love story) and you’ll have a foretaste of Tom Robbins’s eighth and perhaps most beautifully crafted novel--a work as timeless as myth yet as topical as the latest international threat. On one level, this is a book about identity, masquerade and disguise--about “the false mustache of the world”--but neither the mists of Laos nor the smog of Bangkok, neither the overcast of Seattle nor the fog of San Francisco, neither the murk of the intelligence community nor the mummery of the circus can obscure the linguistic phosphor that illuminates the pages of Villa Incognito. A female fan once wrote to Tom Robbins: “Your books make me think, they make me laugh, they make me horny and they make me aware of the wonder of everything in life.” Villa Incognito will surely arouse a similar response in many readers, for in its lusty, amusing way it both celebrates existence and challenges our ideas about it. To say much more about a novel as fresh and surprising as Villa Incognito would run the risk of diluting the sheer fun of reading it. As his dedicated readers worldwide know full well, it’s best to climb aboard the Tom Robbins tilt-a-whirl, kiss preconceptions and sacred cows goodbye and simply enjoy the ride.

Download or read book The Seduction of Water written by Carol Goodman and published by Ballantine Books. This book was released on 2003-12-30 with total page 402 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Iris Greenfeder, ABD (All But Dissertation), feels the “buts” are taking over her life: all but published, all but a professor, all but married. Yet the sudden impulse to write a story about her mother, Katherine Morrissey, leads to a shot at literary success. The piece recounts an eerie Irish fairy tale her mother used to tell her at bedtime—and nestled inside it is the sad story of her death. It captures the attention of her mother’s former literary agent, who is convinced that Katherine wrote one final manuscript before her strange, untimely end in a fire thirty years ago. So Iris goes back to the remote Hotel Equinox in the Catskills, the place where she grew up, to write her mother’s biography and search for the missing manuscript—and there she unravels a haunting mystery, one that holds more secrets than she ever expected. . . .

Download or read book That Night at the Villa written by Sheila Bishop and published by . This book was released on 1968 with total page 183 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book A Mystery at Lili Villa written by Arathi Menon and published by Yali Books. This book was released on 2021-07-31 with total page 166 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Cousins Arj, Tam, and Mira are spending their summer vacation in Elathoor, a little village in Kerala when their family home, Lili Villa, is broken into and some jewelry is stolen. The Terrific Three set out to solve the mystery but soon discover that there is no shortage of suspects. Is it Pinching Kodavis or Dumdumchecchi, the milking lady? Is it the mean fisherwoman who starves the cat or the retired nurse who owns a luxury car? Or is it Mani with his upside-down Russian secret? Who could the thief possibly be? In a throwback to unscheduled summer vacations, this cozy mystery set in India will charm young readers with plenty of sibling sparring, some intrepid sleuthing, and an endless parade of mouth-watering snacks.

Download or read book Nights at the villa written by Nikolai Gogol and published by Newcomb Livraria Press. This book was released on with total page 31 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This is a new translation from the original Russian manuscript of Gogol's work "Nights at the Villa". This edition contains an Afterword by the Translator, a timeline of Gogol's life and works and an Index of Gogol's individual works. “Nights at the Villa” is a thoroughly autobiographical work. The “Villa” is referring to the Roman country villa of Princess Z. Volkonskaya , where in April - May 1839 the twenty-three-year-old count died of consumption IVielgorsky, who had recently arrived in Rome, in the retinue of the heir, together with A. Tolstoy and Zhukovsky Vielgorsky. His dying, attractive character and dying friendship with Gogol, who looked after him, found a response both in memoirs and in epistolary literature - in letters, including from Gogol himself.

Download or read book The House at the Edge of Night written by Catherine Banner and published by Random House. This book was released on 2016-07-12 with total page 431 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: “A perfect summer read [that] brims with heart . . . Don’t be surprised if you keep turning the pages long into the night, spellbound by its magic.”—The Denver Post A sweeping saga about four generations of a family who live and love on an enchanting island off the coast of Italy—combining the romance of Beautiful Ruins with the magical tapestry of works by Isabel Allende. NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY NPR • Los Angeles Public Library • Kirkus Reviews “Captivating . . . [Catherine] Banner’s four-generation saga is set on an island near Sicily, where myths of saints get served up with limoncello at the Esposito family’s bar. . . . The island is fictional, but consider this dreamy summer read your passport.”—People “A lusty page-turner that weaves romance, rivalry and the intricacies of family expectations into one glorious tale.”—Minneapolis Star Tribune Castellamare is an island far enough away from the mainland to be forgotten, but not far enough to escape from the world’s troubles. At the center of the island’s life is a café draped with bougainvillea called the House at the Edge of Night, where the community gathers to gossip and talk. Amedeo Esposito, a foundling from Florence, finds his destiny on the island with his beautiful wife, Pina, whose fierce intelligence, grace, and unwavering love guide her every move. An indiscretion tests their marriage, and their children—three sons and an inquisitive daughter—grow up and struggle with both humanity’s cruelty and its capacity for love and mercy. Spanning nearly a century, through secrets and mysteries, trials and sacrifice, this beautiful and haunting novel follows the lives of the Esposito family and the other islanders who live and love on Castellamare: a cruel count and his bewitching wife, a priest who loves scandal, a prisoner of war turned poet, an outcast girl who becomes a pillar of strength, a wounded English soldier who emerges from the sea. The people of Castellamare are transformed by two world wars and a great recession, by the threat of fascism and their deep bonds of passion and friendship, and by bitter rivalries and the power of forgiveness. Catherine Banner has written an enthralling, character-rich novel, epic in scope but intimate in feeling. At times, the island itself seems alive, a mythical place where the earth heaves with stories—and this magical novel takes you there. Praise for The House at the Edge of Night “A gorgeous, sweeping story set over four generations . . . calls to mind Captain Corelli’s Mandolin and Beautiful Ruins.”—Interview “Like pictures of a childhood summer, or a half-forgotten smell, this book is sweet and heady with nostalgia . . . [and] comforting as a quilt.”—NPR “Rich and immersive, this book will take you away.”—Vox “A masterful piece of storytelling, infused with the miraculous (both in stories and in everyday life) while maintaining the difficult balance between the explainable versus the inexplicable . . . captivating and beautifully rendered.”—Sara Gruen, author of At the Water’s Edge

Download or read book The Italian Villa An Emotional and Absolutely Gripping WW2 Historical Romance written by Daniela Sacerdoti and published by Bookouture. This book was released on 2020-02-17 with total page 270 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Italy, 1938 - Elisa clings to Leo in the shadow of the Montevino mountains, the call to war ringing in her ears. They hatch a plan to wed in secret before Leo flees to the woods to join the resistance, and vow to find each other again when the war is over. But history has other plans... Texas, present day - Callie Di Giacomo, a waitress in a small town, is still reeling from the discovery that she is adopted when she arrives in Montevino in search of answers about her real family - the keys to the stunning hillside villa she just inherited clutched tightly in her hand. In her birth mother's wardrobe grief-stricken Callie finds a diary belonging to a woman named Elisa Stella, one of Italy's first ever female students of medicine, wrapped in pale blue ribbon. Page by page, Callie is swept away by Elisa's story, increasingly certain that their lives - and their fates - are somehow connected, and that the truth about her family is hidden somewhere within the crinkled yellow pages. But just when all the pieces look like they are falling into place, a devastating betrayal in the diary unlocks a heart-breaking secret about who Callie's mother really is. Can Callie, like Elisa, find the light in her darkest moment and use it to spark a new future? Inspired by true events, this unforgettable story of love, loss and resilience by the author of million-copy Amazon No 1. bestseller, Watch Over Me, is perfect for anyone who loved The Letter, The Tattooist of Auschwitz or The Dressmaker's Gift. Readers adore The Italian Villa 'Mesmerising! I was totally hooked... absolutely perfect and just flowed endlessly with such ease. I really can't praise this OUTSTANDING book enough!' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars 'I fell in love with this book! It was beautiful and captivating from start to finish. I loved Callie right from the beginning, she is such a relatable character. You laughed with her and cried for her throughout... Absolutely loved this entire book!' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars 'From the moment I opened this book I was hooked. This is a beautifully written story with characters that tug at your heartstrings from the second they're introduced. You can't help but fall in love with them and the tiny village in Italy where it takes place... you feel as though you're really there... I devoured this book in no time... you can't wait to turn the page to find out what happens next...which is why I finished this book at 3 in the morning!... I was so enthralled from the very first page!' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars

Download or read book Sleeping Arrangements written by Madeleine Wickham and published by Macmillan. This book was released on 2008-07-08 with total page 304 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Chloe needs a holiday. She's sick of making wedding dresses, her partner Philip has troubles at work, and the whole family wants a break. Her wealthy friend Gerard has offered the loan of his luxury villa in Spain--perfect. Hugh is not a happy man. His immaculate wife Amanda seems more interested in her new kitchen than in him, and he works so hard to pay for it, he barely has time for his children. Maybe he'll have a chance to bond with them on holiday. His old friend Gerard has lent them a luxury villa in Spain--perfect. Both families arrive at the villa and realize the awful truth--Gerard has double-booked. What no one else realizes is that Chloe and Hugh have a history; and as tensions rise within the two families, old passions resurface. It seems that Gerard's 'accidental' double booking may not be an accident after all...

Download or read book The Villa Mystery in the Sealed Chamber Mystery of the Sealed Villa written by Yue Guan and published by via tolino media. This book was released on 2023-11-23 with total page 214 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: After a promotional forum, Joseph and Oscar, along with six other attendees, find themselves residing in a villa atop a mountain. That very night, Johnson mysteriously disappears from his room with both the door and windows securely locked from the inside. His unexplained absence sends ripples of confusion throughout the villa. Assisted by the villa's staff - Mr. Campbell and Patrick - Johnson's assistant, Peter, and guests including the couple Kevin and Jade, Isaac, and Dallas, Joseph spearheads a search. Yet, there's no trace of him. The staff confirm that the villa's main gate was locked, making Johnson's exit virtually impossible. As tension escalates within the confined space, the consensus surges: Johnson is hiding with nefarious intentions. Later, when Joseph rings Johnson's cell phone, the ringing echoes hauntingly in the silent corridors, but Johnson's whereabouts remain enigmatic. As the night unfolds, Patrick too goes missing, only for his body to be discovered in Joseph's closet. Joseph becomes convinced that a premeditated murderer lurks among them, and that Patrick's fate was sealed because he inadvertently witnessed the act. A torrential downpour ensues, rendering the mountain roads impassable, trapping the eight inhabitants in a cloud of suspicion and distrust. When the storm subsides, the police arrive to examine the crime scene and interrogate each individual. As Joseph had a longstanding friendship with Johnson, he's asked to assist in the inquiry. Officer Cox, leading the investigation, alongside Joseph, delves deeper by visiting Johnson's place of employment and probing into their interpersonal connections. This scrutiny unveils a crucial, concealed lead. Back at the villa, Officer Cox assembles all present, and with all eyes on him, Joseph identifies the killer and elucidates the crime's chronology. As it transpired, Johnson and Jade were business partners, and due to Johnson's intentions to withdraw a significant sum, both Jade and Kevin harbored murderous intentions. Complicating the plot, Johnson had an affair with Dallas's wife, making them bitter rivals. This trio devised an intricate plan, even bribing Assistant Cox to murder Johnson inside the villa, all the while fabricating impeccable alibis. Their plot only faltered when Patrick accidentally witnessed them moving Johnson's body, leading them to hastily silence him, causing an unforeseen oversight. With the evidence presented, the culprits, after a spell of evasive maneuverin

Download or read book The Villa written by Rachel Hawkins and published by . This book was released on 2023-07-06 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: