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Library | Call Number | Status |
|---|---|---|
Searching... Monmouth Public Library | Fic McGowan, K. 2010 | Searching... Unknown |
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Summary
Summary
The Son of Man shall choose
When the time returns for the Poet Prince.
He will inspire the hearts and minds of the people
So as to illuminate the path of service
And show them the Way.
This is his legacy,
This, and to know a very great love.
Worldwide controversy surrounds author Maureen Paschal as she promotes her new bestseller--the explosive account of her discovery of a gospel written in Jesus' own hand. But a scandalous headline about her lover, Bérenger Sinclair, shatters Maureen's plans and sends her to Florence. In Tuscany, Maureen and Bérenger seek out their spiritual teacher Destino, who insists the besieged couple study one of history's great Poet Princes: Lorenzo de' Medici, the godfather of the Italian Renaissance. Bérenger is a Poet Prince of the ancient bloodline prophecy, and even across the centuries, his fate is intertwined with Lorenzo de' Medici's. Bérenger must uncover the heretical secrets of the Medici family--and the shocking truth behind the birth of the Renaissance--if he is to fulfill his own destiny. These heretical secrets were hidden for a reason, and there are those who would stop at nothing to prevent Bérenger's assumption of his rightful role.
The Renaissance comes vividly to life as Maureen decodes the clues contained within the great masterpieces of Lorenzo the Magnificent's friends: Donatello, Botticelli, and Michelangelo. Maureen uncovers truths connected to the legend of Longinus Gaius, the Roman centurion who used pierced the crucified Jesus with his spear. Could Longinus Gaius, doomed to live forever, be someone she knows? Could his infamous Spear of Destiny, sought even by Hitler, be the key to Bérenger's fate? As Maureen and Bérenger race to find the answers, someone is after them, hell-bent on settling a five-hundred-year old blood feud and destroying the heresy once and for all.
Rich in Kathleen McGowan's signature insights into art, architecture, and history and set in the beauty of Renaissance and present-day Italy, this is a spiritual detective story of the highest order.
The Truth Against the World!
Author Notes
Kathleen McGowan is an American novelist. Her first book, The Expected One, was self-published in 2005 and after selling 2,500 copies, the book was re-published by Simon and Schuster in July of 2006. It became a NY Times best seller. The Book of Love is the second book in the Magdalene Line series.
She lives in Los Angeles with her husband, Irish-born musician, Peter McGowan. (Bowker Author Biography)
Reviews (2)
Publisher's Weekly Review
In bestseller McGowan's breathless, at times overly melodramatic third Magdalene Line novel (after The Book of Love), researcher Maureen Paschal, who's been feverishly investigating the "Confraternity of Saint Mary Magdalen," uncovers juicy information about the gospel known as the Libro Rosso and the Order of the Holy Sepulcher. She heads for Florence, where her preternaturally ancient mentor, Destino, reveals the arcane past of Lorenzo de' Medici, "the great Poet Prince" and father of the Renaissance. Apparently, Lorenzo secretly married Lucrezia Donati, the "Colombina" or "little dove" featured in a number of Botticelli paintings. Maureen must also confront problems with her soul mate, Scottish oil mogul Berenger Sinclair, after a glamorous ex claims he's fathered her son. This quasi-Christian historical fantasy confection slips back and forth in time with seamless ease. Mary Magdalene fans who enjoy wildly romantic conspiracy theories will be thrilled. (June) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Library Journal Review
In the third entry of McGowan's "Magdalene Line" series (after The Expected One and The Book of Love), researcher Maureen Paschal uncovers the heretical secrets of the Italian Renaissance. Sharing theme and style with Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code, the time-shiftng narrative tracks artifacts and embeds the reader in the household of Lorenzo d'Medici. We become privy to the secrets of the Order, an ancient group whose devotion to God traces its origins through Jesus, Mary Magdalene, and the Apostles but whose beliefs in a loving God with a female counterpart put them at odds with the Catholic Church. Masters of the Renaissance figure prominently, as expected, with Botticelli being the focus. The modern story perpetuates ancient prophecies, vendettas, and traditions of the Order. Verdict While McGowan provides contextual references to help readers new to the series bridge information gaps, following the books in order enhances the reading experience. Leaving the ending poised for a sequel, the author ensures all the pieces fit together. Conjecture abounds in the art interpretation and history; however, the religious lessons may well be comforting in our increasingly grim time.-Laura A.B. Cifelli, Ft. Myers-Lee Cty. P.L., FL (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.