01 April 2019

Midnight at the Tuscany Hotel | Book Review

ABOUT THE BOOK


A once-beloved hotel and a fountain whose water suddenly can restore lost memories. But is it a miracle, or are there strings attached?

The Tuscany Hotel was once a haven for young artists. A place full of inspiration and a work of art in and of itself, the hotel was built by Robert Gandy for his wife, Magdalena: a woman of beauty beyond description who was orphaned as an infant in Florence and grew up without the ability to remember. A tragedy caused the hotel to close its doors, however, and it has been years since the fountain in the courtyard ran with water and inspiration.

Vitto Gandy, Robert’s son, returns from the horrors of World War II to a wife who fears him, a son who is too young to remember him, and a father whose memory of him is fading. As Vitto faces the memories that torture his heart and mind, his father runs off in the night to seek solace in the last place he was happy: the Tuscany Hotel. Instead of finding ruins, he discovers that the water in the fountain has begun to run again. And as he drinks it, his memory returns.

Filled with Alzheimer’s patients hoping for restored memories rather than artists longing for inspiration, the hotel is once again a source of life and art. But nothing is truly as good as it seems, and the mysterious gift of the hotel comes with a price that each must determine they’re willing to pay. Bursting with beauty, art, and inspiration, Midnight at the Tuscany Hotel is a story of parent and child, husband and wife, and the joy and pain of what it means to be alive.

Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Release Date: April 9, 2019


MY REVIEW

A story of family, memory, and a magical hotel, James Markert’s Midnight at the Tuscany Hotel is easily as fascinating as its cover.

Vitto Gandy returns from World War II to be greeted by strained relationships and the effects of PTSD. When his father, suffering memory loss thanks to Alzheimer’s, disappears to the Tuscany Hotel one night, life changes in a miraculous way. People begin flocking to the hotel to experience the miracle themselves—but is it worth it?

With ties to mythology, the magical realism of Midnight at the Tuscany Hotel is captivating and thought-provoking. I enjoyed seeing this story unfold and look forward to reading more from James Markert in the future.

★★★★

I received a complimentary copy of this book and the opportunity to provide an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all the opinions I have expressed are my own.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

James Markert lives with his wife and two children in Louisville, Kentucky. He has a history degree from the University of Louisville and won an IPPY Award for The Requiem Rose, which was later published as A White Wind Blew, a story of redemption in a 1929 tuberculosis sanatorium, where a faith-tested doctor uses music therapy to heal the patients. The Angels’ Share is his second novel, and he is currently working on his next historical, All Things Bright and Strange. 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.


TOUR SCHEDULE

2 comments:

  1. I really love this cover so much, but that aside, I really want to read this book because I am always fascinated how authors handle such heavy topics. Thanks for being on the tour!
    Sara @ TLC Book Tours

    ReplyDelete
  2. This is my first time visit to your blog and I am very interested in the articles that you serve. Provide enough knowledge for me. Thank you for sharing useful and don't forget, keep sharing useful info: tuscany candle

    ReplyDelete