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The Apprentice

Love and Scandal in the Kingdom of Naples

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The Apprentice

By: C. De Melo
Narrated by: Andrea Zuvich
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About this listen

Naples, Italy 1600: In a desperate attempt to avoid an undesirable fate, “Carlo” dispatches an urgent letter to his estranged cousin, Giovanni Balducci, on the eve of the Florentine Maestro's departure to Naples. The deceptive youth convinces Giovanni that he needs an apprentice, so they travel south to complete important commissions, including the adornment of the macabre San Gaudioso catacombs. What began as an adventure takes a perilous turn when the apprentice falls in love with a local monk.

Carlo meets the famed nun, Sister Giulia di Marco, and her confessor, Father Aniello Arcieri, a few years later, while restoring an altarpiece in a church. The charismatic pair gradually draw the lonely artist into their scandalous Confraternity of Carnal Charity, whose wealthy noble acolytes believe divine glory can be achieved through sexual ecstasy. Unable to continue living a lie, Carlo confesses a big secret to Sister Giulia. The crafty nun wastes no time assigning the novitiate a prominent role within the cult, which soon captures the attention of the Holy Inquisition. To make matters worse, the priest leading the investigation is someone the artist knows all too well.

This gripping account of forbidden love and danger revolves around actual historical accounts. The author has spent considerable time researching in Naples, especially within the mysterious and bizarre underground catacombs.

©2022 C. (Christine) De Melo (P)2023 C. (Christine) De Melo
Fiction Historical Historical Fiction Renaissance Romance Italy

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Listener received this title free

This was just wow. I do love a book by this author and always the narrator suits and this one was no disappointment. This one was so different to the other books, it was so scandalous (hence the title) I just had to keep listening. All the other books have been great but this one just had such a different vibe.

You can tell how much research has gone into this book and it has made history so exciting.

Wow such a great listen

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Listener received this title free

The Apprentice is captivating - the reader’s voice is well suited to the story. An engaging experience.

History come to life

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Listener received this title free

Great historical/Romance book by C. DeMelo, thoroughly enjoyed listening, excellent narration, now listening to Vendetta

The Apprentice

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