Just posted a review of a wonderful new book released today. The Florentine Poet
If you know me pretty well, you know that I read a lot. I also write a lot of reviews on Amazon and Goodreads. I especially enjoy reading and reviewing books by author friends of mine, but often forget to share those reviews on my blog. I hope to do better at this in 2023.
My good friend and mentor Bill Bernhardt just released his newest book and it is a real departure from his usual thrillers. This book is a love story. Yes it involves a star-crossed couple, but it also expresses the author’s love of writing in a very personal way.
The book is titled The Florentine Poet. It is available in hardcopy and as an eBook through Amazon and all of the major vendors.
Here’s the review I just posted on Amazon and Goodreads for this fabulous book:
Five Star review of the Florentine Poet by William Bernhardt
A perfectly crafted, perfectly seasoned, and lovingly served gourmet meal of a novel.
Author William Bernhardt has repeatedly thrilled us with his stories from the Ben Kincaid series through the Last Chance Lawyer series and most recently with the Splitsville series. Fast paced plots, topical themes, and sharp crisp dialogue are his hallmarks. But with the Florentine poet, he turns an exciting new page and offers his readers a glimpse into his soul.
This story is a far-cry from his thrillers and only tangentially related to his excellent works of poetry. This is a stand-alone masterpiece. As I read this beautifully structured tale, I thought of Jonathan Swift, Neil Gaiman, and William Goldman. I felt it honored each of them without any hint of imitation. On occasion the author broke the fourth wall and smiled back at us through it, but always in good fun. It is not hyperbole to say that I was mesmerized by the luster and the flow of the writing. Bernhardt added just the right amount of each savory ingredient to produce a finished product with no wasted words that left the reader so much more than satisfied.
I kept thinking that if Rob Reiner ever read this, he would move heaven and earth to be allowed to direct the film version. Seat yourself in your most comfortable chair with a glass of vintage port at your side and allow yourself sufficient time to immerse yourself in this wonderful story.
I encourage you to buy it, read it, and enjoy it!
Rick
About the picture:
The cover for The Florentine Poet by William Bernhardt\