The books blurb really intrigued me and I was quite looking forward to reading this book. I have to admit that, despite recognizing Casanova's name and his reputation did I not know much about the man himself more than he has written books about his female conquests. With that in mind did I set out to read this book. Which when I look back probably made me a bit cynical when it came to his courtship of Caterina Capreta. Actually, with a bit, I mean quite a lot...

Yes, I had a hard time taking their romance serious because I kept on waiting for Caterina to realize that Casanova is a cad. Now, I don't say that he didn't love her, it was easy to see looking back and see that his love burned brightly for a short moment until he moved on to the next woman. The problem is for the woman or in this case the girl was it not that easy to move on. I came to like very much the grown up Caterina who is looking back to her history with Casanova while taking care of a young girl that was in the same situation as Caterina was in 20 years ago. She didn't have an easy life, was very sheltered and then Casanova showed up and swept her off her feet. It's understandable that this fourteen-year-old girl would fall head over heel in love with him. Now, it may be hard to read a love story with a girl so young with an older man, but I never had a problem with that since one has to see to the context of the story. Although I have to admit that she now and then seemed much older than fourteen, but back then girls at that age probably were more mature than today's teenagers.

Casanova's Secret Wife is a book that I'm glad to have read. Yes, I had a hard time with the romance part because I pretty much knew that this would not end good, but the writing is good and I loved that Barbara Lynn-Davis added towards the end some notes about Casanova books and the mentions of woman that could be Caterina Capreta. I always like knowing more about a real life person after reading a book.

I want to thank the publisher for providing me with a free copy through NetGalley for an honest review! ( )

This book unfolds exactly the way I think of the city of Venice with a new layer always being pulled back. Caterina's story starts as a young love affair with the handsome Casanova and evolves into a love so consuming she just may commit murder to keep her lover. I had my doubts when starting this novel, but it's fast-paced, engaging, and absolutely fascinating. It made for the perfect weekend read. ( )

I will be the first to admit that I didn’t know much about Casanova going into this book other than the definition attached to his name as a noun rather than anything about the man as a person. This book uses Casanova’s diary as a starting point to create a story about a young (very young) woman in 18th century Venice who fell under his spell.

Caterina tells the story starting with her later life as she is asked to take in a young, pregnant girl who had been brought to a convent. It is a place she knows well for she had been sent there herself. The mother superior is an old enemy and knows that Caterina will be likely to accept the girl.

As the two settle in to living together Caterina slowly shares her story that starts when she is 14 and encompasses love, passion, deceit, betrayal, and more.

The novel takes what has become a popular method of storytelling lately – going back and forth in time with alternating chapters. Caterina also has her love letters from Casanova and they help to drive the chapters from the past. As she relives her past she hopes that her young charge can learn from her mistakes.

Overall I did enjoy this book. It was interesting to travel to Venice for a change in my reading. The city came alive in the book – the good and the bad. Ms. Lynn-Davis really brought the smells and sounds of living on the water to life. Caterina at times really aggravated me – especially when she was younger. Even when Casanova was treating her poorly she could see no wrong in him. Actually even looking back it was if she could still not see him for what he was – and what he was was a serial abuser of women. At least that is what we would call him in our time. Back then – who knows.

The story read quickly and was interesting, character flaws notwithstanding. It was truly fascinating to get a fictionalized peek into the life of a man who has left his mark on history. Maybe not in the best of ways – but we all know the name! ( )

Almost everything I knew about Casanova before reading this was from Heath Ledger’s movie. So not much… I did know he has written books about his conquests.

Knowing that I was somewhat cynical about the romance between Caterina and Casanova and I just kept waiting for her to realize what kind of man he was. And he did love her but he fell in and out of love very quickly. But she was 14 years old and very naïve. Which was little surprising considering who her brother was and how he behaved…

I liked the older and wiser Caterina who agrees to take care of a young woman who reminds her of herself 20 years ago. The abbess who asks this favor is an old enemy of hers and we learn the story there. And another side of Caterina too.

I enjoyed the book despite some problems with the romance and I can’t wait for the author’s next book. ( )

Caterina Capreta became entangled with the infamous Giacoma Casanova at the age of fourteen and has harbored a secret of her love affair and wedding to him for her adult life. When Caterina is called back to the Murano convent where she was a boarded for four years, the memories of Caterina and Casanova's love affair return to her full force. The Abbess, Marina, is an old acquaintance of Caterina's from her time there. Marina asks Caterina for a favor that she cannot refuse; to take in a young pregnant border until the child is delivered. Leda, has found herself in a compromising position from what she believed was true love. As Caterina recognizes herself in Leda, she shares her story of her turbulent time with Casanova. The two women find their similarities, gain friendship and realize the many definitions of love.

I was immediately pulled into Caterina's story along with the inviting setting of Venice. As an adult, Caterina secrets feel compelled to come pouring out. From the time Caterina meets with Marina, I knew there was something deeper there. The mystery of what happened between Caterina and Casanova and how it created a tumultuous divide intrigued me. Through Caterina's letters and stories that she tells Leda, we get to see Casanova in a different way, how he was with one woman whom he truly loved. I was also pleased to see that this is based on some facts that have been discovered. At first, I was a little put off by the fact that Caterina was 14, but apparently this is how old she actually was. I was happily surprised that this was not really a love story, but more of a story of acceptance and coming to terms with the past. With Leda, Caterina is finally able to review that part of her life with someone who understands and put in behind her. Overall, a historical retelling of one of Casanova's many loves and it's consequences from the women's point of view.

This book was received for free in return for an honest review. ( )