O'Melveny, Regina

Inspired by the disappearance of her own father, as well as the memories of her Italian artist mother, O'Melveny has written a compelling drama with a strong female lead. The writing is superb, particularly when the author describes the exotic locales and ancient superstitions Gabriella encounters on her travels. The book will especially attract readers who enjoy female-centered historical novels whose plots are not driven by romance. [See Prepub Alert, 10/14/11.]