Gilded Dreams (Newborn Gilded Age Book Two) by Donna Russo Morin

Gilded Dreams. (Newport Gilded Age Book Two). Donna Russo Morin. Magnum Opus: Sold by Amazon. June 2020, 325 pp.; ASIN: B084GM8DC4.

For the last eight years, the women’s rights movement for suffrage is raging.  Donna Russo Morin brings us into Pearl’s Newport world. Beginning with a terrible tragedy, Pearl loses her father on the Titanic.  That awful event brings the reader to the event as she is forced to identify her father, the last member of her family, and the horrors she has to experience.  That loss makes her realize that she has lost everything as her husband inherits everything. She can inherit nothing as she’s a woman.  It is here that she sees the need for a women’s rights law. 

She finds her world as a novice suffragette as she meets the women involved in this far off fight. She continues to forge on, being a mother of two and drawing fashion and agreeing to do little things at the Newport level.   She and Ginerva are together through the thick and thin of it all. WWI is begun and she is separated from her beloved husband, Peter.  The hero he was emerges as she hears of his heroic action which saved the lives of hundreds.

Her world dissolves with the death of Peter and we experience it with Pearl.  A crisis develops and she must come up with the will of Peter which she does after much searching and worrying.  Who will inherit in this mess when a wife cannot inherit anything? 

The world is winding up the war.  During this time we meet the other upper echeleon of women’s rights supporters, such as the Lady Astor Brooke, whom Pearl supports.  Night and day is the picture of this lady.

Late in the novel, Pearl and Ginerva become opponents.  This is totally unexpected and shocks readers but doesn’t prevent the goal of achieving women’s rights which are signed into law. 

There are dozens of pages in which supporters help Pearl become the women she rises as she rises from little known Pearl to the leader of the Newport campaign.  She is a woman who reads a great deal and is a wise leader in sharing her knowledge. 

Donna Russo Morin is great writer who has done her research well and presented a lively and dynamic story.  This is historical fiction at its highest and all should enjoy the story!!!

Gilded Summers by Donna Russo

Gilded Summers. Donna Russo Martin. Creativia - Amazon Digital Services. Copyright June 2018. E-Book. 323 pp.; ASIN: B07BYTVSWJ.

Pearl is the daughter of wealthy parents in the world of the Astor and the Vanderbilt families.  Her father is kind, intelligent and artistically inclined.  Pearl’s first encounter with the art of Mary Cassatt changes Pearl’s vision of the future, inclining her to become an artist like the woman who has challenged the world of the Gilded Era.  Pearl’s mother is only interested in aspiring to be as well-loved, respected and inspired as the wealthy, surrounding neighbors who live in gilded castles filled with the finest paintings, architecture and furniture.  But she tries too hard and is scorned for her over-exertive efforts.  The reader is enthralled with this world but gradually grows to dislike the snooty airs and disdaining dialogue and gossip that fill the days of these women who could have done so much more with their influence.

Ginevra and her father are immigrants from Italy.  Her father has been hired by Pearl’s father to build elegant European furniture and create the best violins to play European classical music.  Ginevra is hired as a maid and eventually will rise to become Pearl’s lady’s maid.  However, Ginevra is embraced by Pearl and they gradually become best friends.  Ginevra is an extremely talented seamstress.  Together these two friends become confidants to handle the demands of their generation and social positions.  They then plan to become artists who will create their own houses of beautiful creations in art and fashion.

Both will fall in love with the same men which the reader will discover in unimaginable scenes of violence and lies.  The outcome is sheer stunning fiction!

What is most notable about this novel that glorifies and satirizes the well known Gilded Age of America focuses on the narrative voices of Pearl and Ginevra.  Their inner thoughts and external conversations are intimate and gradually revealing, including questions, dreams, visions and plans that flow seamlessly and naturally, with no sense of contrivance.  They alternate between mundane and revolutionary ideas, foreshadowing the future that will emerge to surpass the glory of the Gilded Age into an individual sense of worth and social responsibility.  They will become the foundations of new artistic perspectives.  They will literally change the world and the way persons perceive wealth, poverty, art and design!  They will become glorious rather than gilded!

This is remarkable historical fiction that this reviewer highly recommends.  Donna Russo Martin’s writing has evolved into something more meaningful, serious but joyfully engaging, and memorable in a creative, new style sure to endear readers of all ages!  Wonder-full!

The Flames of Florence: A Da Vince's Disciples Novel by Donna Russo Morin

The Flames of Florence: A Da Vinci’s Disciples Novel by Donna Russo Morin. Diversion Books. Copyright May 2018.; pb. 260 pp.; ISBN: 9781635763799.

The Da Vinci disciples grow and are even beginning to welcome new, younger members, just as full of talent and passion for painting Renaissance works of art beloved by all, even those who disapprove of women painting.  However, their unity and vision for the future is now about to come under virulent attack. 

Civil wars after the passing of the Medici family have calmed down.  However, in reaction to the celebrations of life through art, jewelry, real estate, architecture, dress, etc., the pendulum is now about to swing full circle to the fanatic zeal of religious reform! Friar Girolamo Savonarola begins his service to God by becoming a fine preacher who knows how to touch the minds, hearts and spirits of all Catholics and even some out of that fold!  But with the heady success of his popularity comes an inflated ego that turns into delusion and heresy that makes him believe he is the actual voice of God! The author’s depiction of this fiery preacher and would-be savior is amazing and probably never given so much attention and understanding!

Once kindled, Savonarola’s flames consume all of Florence, at first metaphorically.  The citizens are divided into those who take the monk’s words literally and those who hold him highly suspect, the Piagnoni and the Arrabbiati respectively.  Fiammetta Maffei becomes part of the Piagnoni, believing that all jewelry, furs, and anything of riches be surrendered so that these goods may be sold for the benefit of the poor.  A group of soldiers, composed mainly of hotheaded youth, pound on doors and demand the surrender of all riches.  Failure to respond results in terrible beatings and even murder!

When the order comes for all paintings be surrendered as well, the Disciples face a formidable challenge.  The remainder of the novel deals with how they respond and how this scourge on Florence results in a final challenge from both the Pope and the residents of Florence. 

The Flames of Florence… is the grand finale of his wonderful series and fully merits that description. The thoughts, jealousies, passionate love for art, self-examination, and determination to save what is precious and just as holy as prayers and offerings are revealed.  Ugliness and beauty are juxtaposed as each Disciple is called to choose what is divine and what is human wisdom gone totally awry!

Magnificent finale, Donna Russo Morin! Congratulations on this highly recommended work of Renaissance historical fiction!

Portrait of a Conspiracy: Da Vinci' Disciples - Book One by Donna Russo Morin

Portrait of a Conspiracy: Da Vinci’s Disciples – Book One.  Donna Russo Morin. Diversion Publishing. May 2016. 298 pp.  ISBN#: 9781682300602.

Intense brutality and chaos make the citizens of Florence in 15^th Century Italy fearful but lead five women artists to unite against a secret enemy.  Viviana, Fiammeta, Isabetta, Natasia and Mattea are painters and sculptors who practice in secret since women are forbidden to work as professional artists.  They come from a variety of families, some noble and some poor merchants.  When the Pazzi attempts to wrest power, with papal approval, from the noble rulers, the Medici family, a bloodbath follows, ending with the death of Giuliani Medici, revenge against the guilty and the innocent follows. 

When a painting, The Feast of Herod, and a sixth women artist, Lapaccia, disappear at the same time, the woman is believed to be guilty of the Pazzi and Medici feud and a fierce search begins.  Into the mix arrives Leonardo Da Vinci, anxious for revenge against those who killed his dear friend Giuliani but also deeply moved by the talent he recognizes when examining the works of these female artists willing to risk everything for love of their art.  The ravages of such conflict is saved in this novel by the perfectly placed descriptions of beauty, strength, hope, reality, love and hate vividly displayed in each production observed, whether in progress or completed. 

The remainder of the novel introduces the reader to a project these women believe will yield the plot behind all the increasing madness and conflict in Florence.   Viviana’s story parallels the larger conflict but is depicted so starkly that one cannot help but root for her deliverance.

Da Vinci comes to realize that women are more in touch with their feelings and perceptions about familial and political events than any man could ever experience.  He begins to teach them the skills he is admired for and the group becomes bonded to this Master.  The ending leads the reader to know that this connection is only just beginning and all are grateful for the knowledge.

Portrait of a Conspiracy… is a stunning work of historical fiction that cannot be put down because it is so realistically and artistically captivating.  One’s reluctance to read the last page is only modified by knowing more is to follow from this obviously highly skilled writer.  This reviewer highly recommends that all read this review, enjoy the comments at the end of the story and share the delight with the Reader’s Guide which ends this first book of Da Vinci’s disciples.  Stunning, passionate and memorable read!