The Girl in the Glass

About The Book:  Since she was a child, Meg has dreamed of taking a promised trip to Florence, Italy, and being able to finally step into the place captured in a picture at her grandmother’s house. But after her grandmother passes away and it falls to her less-than-reliable father to take her instead, Meg’s long-anticipated travel plans seem permanently on hold.

When her dad finally tells Meg to book the trip, she prays that the experience will heal the fissures left on her life by her parents’ divorce. But when Meg arrives in Florence, her father is nowhere to be found, leaving aspiring memoir-writer Sophia Borelli to introduce Meg to the rich beauty of the ancient city. Sofia claims to be one of the last surviving members of the Medici family and that a long-ago Medici princess, Nora Orsini, communicates with her from within the great masterpieces of the Italian Renaissance.

When Sophia, Meg, and Nora’s stories intersect, their lives will be indelibly changed as they each answer the question: What if renaissance isn’t just a word? What if that’s what happens when you dare to believe that what is isn’t what has to be?

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About The Author:  In her blog, Susan Meissner tells her readers that, "I write fiction for the restless reader. I love the power of story to plumb the depths of who we are and Whose we are. I post on the work-week's bookends — Mondays and Fridays. Most of the time."  Her blog is as enchanting as the story was.  Check her out at susanmeissner.blogspot.com.

My Thoughts About the Book:  I have been to the magical city Florence, Italy in my life.  It was one of those bucket list moments.  I went with my best friend and my daughter.  It was an amazing trip.  I was excited about reading this book and have to admit....was kind of disappointed at the beginning.  The book has a long and slow set up for Meg's trip to Florence and it is rather painful for her and for the reader.    There are several points of view in the book, Meg, Nora, and Sofia.  Nora's was a distraction for me.  The plot was somewhat tangled up with subplots.  As difficult as the beginnng was for me the story actually began when Meg landed in Florence.  Here is where the story unfolds, the mysteries begin and end, and the enchantment takes over.  I loved the book from this point on.  I felt as if I knew the characters.  Overall the book was well written and cohesively put together  without the father subplot.  The fact that the majority of the book was set in Florence delighted me.I felt as if I was visiting sites with Meg and Sofia all over again.   the Medici Daughter segment by Sofia Borelli attached to the end of the book was icing on the cake for me.  It made fantasy feel like reality.  This is a great book for a book club or discussion.  If you enjoy a lighthearted novel with a romantic twist set in a most romantic place like,  Italy, this is the read for you.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers as Part of their Blogging for Books Blogger Review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

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