{"title":"Rachel Blackmore","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRachel Blackmore\u003c\/strong\u003e crafts immersive tales that transport readers to richly drawn historical settings. Her works, such as \u003cem\u003eCostanza\u003c\/em\u003e, blend intricate character development with vivid period detail, offering a compelling glimpse into past lives and societies.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFans of historical fiction will appreciate Blackmore's skillful storytelling that balances emotional depth with dramatic plots. Her narratives invite readers to explore the complexities of history through authentic voices and unforgettable journeys.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"costanza-by-rachel-blackmore-9780349131122","title":"Costanza","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e'In Blackmore's striking fictional retelling of this true history, Costanza refuses to accept a fate as nothing more than a victim of male exploitation' \u003ci\u003eSUNDAY TIMES\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eRome, 1636: In the scorched city of Rome, the cobbled streets hum with gossip and sin... Costanza Piccolomini is a respectable young wife - until she meets Gianlorenzo Bernini, the famed sculptor and star of Roman society, whose jet-black gaze matches his dark temper. From the second they set eyes upon each other, a fatal attraction is born.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eTheir secret love burns with a passion that consumes them. But with every stolen kiss and illicit tryst, Costanza's reputation is at stake. Meanwhile, Bernini has a dangerous desire: he wants to make Costanza immortal. He vows to possess her not just in body and soul, but also in marble.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWhen Bernini unveils his sculpture of Costanza, she is exposed as his lover, marking the undoing of their affair - and the beginning of a scandal which will rock Roman society. For Bernini would rather destroy Costanza than let her go.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eBetrayed. Abandoned. Banished. This was meant to be the end of Costanza's story. But Costanza is no ordinary woman: from the ashes, she will rise...\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eHistory calls her a Muse. Temptress. Fallen woman. This is \u003ci\u003eher\u003c\/i\u003e story. Based on a true story, \u003ci\u003eCostanza\u003c\/i\u003e brings to life a feminist icon who has been written out of history. Perfect for fans of \u003ci\u003eThe Marriage Portrait\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eThe Miniaturist.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e'Emotionally intense' \u003cb\u003eDAILY MAIL\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e'Stunning' \u003cb\u003eJENNIE GODFREY\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e'This novel took over my life' \u003cb\u003ePATERSON JOSEPH\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e'I loved it' \u003cb\u003eELIZABETH CHADWICK\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e'This has to be my book of the year!' \u003cb\u003eSHEILA O'FLANAGAN\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e'A revelation' \u003cb\u003eELLEN ALPSTEN\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Hachette Aotearoa New Zealand","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47340699255020,"sku":"9780349131122","price":27.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/7764743482312.jpg?v=1772165911"},{"product_id":"costanza-by-rachel-blackmore-9780349131108","title":"Costanza","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e'In Blackmore's striking fictional retelling of this true history, Costanza refuses to accept a fate as nothing more than a victim of male exploitation' \u003cem\u003eSUNDAY TIMES\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e'Wonderful... This novel took over my life for the time I was buried in it. Powerful and deeply affecting' \u003cstrong\u003ePATERSON JOSEPH\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRome, 1636:\u003c\/strong\u003e In the scorched city of Rome, the cobbled streets hum with gossip and sin...\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eCostanza Piccolomini is a respectable young wife - until she meets Gianlorenzo Bernini, the famed sculptor and star of Roman society, whose jet-black gaze matches his dark temper. From the second they set eyes upon each other, a fatal attraction is born.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eTheir secret love burns with a passion that consumes them. But with every stolen kiss and illicit tryst, Costanza's reputation is at stake. Meanwhile, Bernini has a dangerous desire: he wants to make Costanza immortal. He vows to possess her not just in body and soul, but also in marble.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWhen Bernini unveils his sculpture of Costanza, she is exposed as his lover, marking the undoing of their affair - and the beginning of a scandal which will rock Roman society. For Bernini would rather destroy Costanza than let her go.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eBetrayed. Abandoned. Banished. This was meant to be the end of Costanza's story. But Costanza is no ordinary woman: from the ashes, she will rise...\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHistory calls her a Muse. Temptress. Fallen woman. This is \u003cem\u003eher\u003c\/em\u003e story. \u003cem\u003eCostanza\u003c\/em\u003e is a dizzying, sensual novel that brings to life a feminist icon who has been written out of history. This utterly addictive tale of desire and betrayal is perfect for fans of \u003cem\u003eThe Marriage Portrait\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eThe Miniaturist\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e'I loved it... Rich and evocative in its portrayal of 17th Century Rome. A fabulous, evocative novel' \u003cstrong\u003eElizabeth Chadwick\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e'From the first page I was hooked. Love, lust, fury and betrayal leap from the page. This is a must-read for anyone who wants to read a true feminist retelling' \u003cstrong\u003eLouise Hare, author of \u003cem\u003eThis Lovely City\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e'This has to be my book of the year! Full of passion and desire... A story of the resilience of women in the face of male power' \u003cstrong\u003eSheila O'Flanagan, author of \u003cem\u003eThe Honeymoon Affair\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e'A gorgeous tale of female resilience steeped in the glamour and danger of renaissance-era Rome. Blackmore restores the lively \u003cem\u003eCostanza\u003c\/em\u003e from a footnote in Bernini's story to the heroine of her own' \u003cstrong\u003eLuna McNamara, author of \u003cem\u003ePsyche and Eros\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e'A revelation... A splendid debut - brava! And a super summer read' \u003cstrong\u003eEllen Alpsten, author of\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Hachette Aotearoa New Zealand","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47383602856172,"sku":"9780349131108","price":37.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/7764603482312.jpg?v=1773378458"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.co.nz\/collections\/rachel-blackmore.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}