The Renaissance Club

The Timegathering Series

By: Rachel Dacus

Narrated by: Faith Fizer

A great artist of the 17th century meets his superfan from another century in a tale of passion transforming into true love and sacrifice....

If young, ambitious art historian May Gold could talk to one person about her life, she’d ask her idol, Italian sculptor Gianlorenzo Bernini. The question she’d put to him: "If I were trapped in stone, how would you chisel me free?” Because at just twenty-six, May is already trapped in a dead-end college teaching job and a slowly failing love affair. She yearns to fly free of both job and boyfriend, though he’s the one who has brought her to Italy with their teaching colleagues. May longs to soar with creative wings, like one of Bernini’s marble angels. Secretly, she also longs to be in his arms, the wildly adored partner of the man who created the world’s most beautiful art.

When the floor under the gilded dome of St. Peter's basilica rocks under her feet, May finds herself in the year 1624, staring straight into Gianlorenzo's eyes. Their immediate attraction grows each time she meets him during her tour, but her academic future begins to look brighter too. Passion for her artist shakes her to the core, but history says they have no future. Would she give up everything, even the time in which she lives, to be with her soul mate?

A captivating love story illuminating love’s enduring truth and the timeless power of beauty to uplift us. Perfect for lovers of art, Italy, and time travel romance.

©2018 Rachel Dacus (P)2024 Rachel Dacus

Narrator was great!

Faith Fizer’s narration made this book very interesting to hear! Her Italian accent was excellent as was her pronunciation of Italian artists and places.

The easiest adventure I ever took.

Rachel Dacus is a brilliant writer. Her attention to detail and ability to paint pictures with words were amazing. I loved that it had so much poetry as well. I cannot think of anything I disliked except that it ended and I had to come back home. I felt like I was actually in Italy. Beautiful book and Faith did a remarkable job with recording, and so many voices.

Amazing voices

The narration was fabulous! Just the right speed and the voice changes from character to character were great! Can’t wait to listen to her next one!

The story was good, the characters were not.

First I'd like to thank Bee Productions for The Renaissance Club audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

The Renaissance Club was full of time traveling and beautiful language. At times the language felt very hoity-toity because it was coming from modern-day women. However, when they were brought to the past - it helped make it feel like the characters were finally where they would belong.

The narrator was good, not great, but didn't hinder the story. The idea behind the plot was good, and throughout I did love the ripples in time and the influences it had on the character's growth.

However, what really hurt this story for me were the characters. They were insufferable and I hated 90% of them. The fact that May tried to force a pregnancy onto her partner (no matter how shitty and condescending he was) just sat so horribly with me and ruined the character for me. I felt bad for her at first, because her other co-workers were just so demeaning, but after that - it really turned me off May.

Bernini, while a little misogynic cause of his time, was the most enjoyable character in the story and I really did enjoy it.