Review: The House Of Serenades

In 1910 Genoa, the Berillis are respected members of the upper echelon of society.  When eighteen year old Caterina Berilli falls in love with a humble baker, however, it is the beginning of the end for the proud family.  To keep Caterina from disgracing the family, the Berilli patriarch will stop at nothing . . . until there is nothing left at all.

Lina Simoni's novel is titled The House of Serenades (MoonLeaf Publishing, LLC, 2012), but it just as easily could have been called The Really Bad Stuff That Happens When Women Don't Have Control Of Their Own Bodies.  Forced virginity checks.  Baby selling.  Kidnapping.  Imprisonment.  Murder.  The House of Serenades is an incredible tale of misogyny, class, secrets, and greed.  Oh, and it's a love story, too.

Highly recommended.

I received a complimentary copy of The House of Serenades to facilitate my review.  No other compensation was received.  For full disclosure, see the sidebar.