by Anne Fortier
First published 2010
Julie receives devastating news when her beloved aunt dies. The inheritance surprises her: just a letter, a strange key, and a bank address in Siena, Italy. Julie travels to Italy and uses the key to unlock a safety deposit box containing yellowed documents. The papers tell the story of her ancestor, Juliette Tolomei, and her passionate love affair with a young man named Romeo. The similarities to Shakespeare's famous characters disturb Julie. She begins investigating the connection between her family history and the playwright's most celebrated tragedy. Her research reveals that the Tolomei bloodline carries an ancient curse. Julie realizes she faces the same deadly forces that destroyed her ancestor centuries ago. The more she uncovers about Juliette and Romeo's fate, the more she understands her own perilous situation. Julie must confront the truth about her heritage and break the cycle of tragedy that has haunted her family for generations.
Genres: romance, historical-fiction, mystery, contemporary
Vibes: atmospheric, emotional, suspenseful
Tropes: dual-timeline, family-curse, past-present-connection
Setting: Italy, Siena
Period: Centuries Ago
394 pages · Paperback · MICHEL LAFON