When a young woman from a disgraced aristocratic family in Venice and a Florentine master artist and duke cross paths, their lives and the Italian art world will never be the same. Fans of The Other Boleyn Girl, Wolf Hall, and Girl with A Pearl Earring will find much to love in this poignant and thrilling new saga by award-winning author Eleanor Chance. Celeste Gabriele's life has gone from wealth and privilege in the highest echelons of Venetian aristocracy to dismal poverty in the slums. With her drunk of a father missing and her mother dead, it falls upon Celeste to protect her younger brothers and sister from starvation. When the burden becomes overwhelming, and Celeste makes plans to escape her wretched life, her wealthy aunt appears and whisks her off to work as a nanny to young Federigo Benetto. One day as Celeste escorts Federigo to his art lesson with Maestro Luciano Vicente, the maestro discovers a sketch drawn by Celeste. He immediately recognizes her raw artistic talent and begs her to become his secret protégé. Celeste consents and soon becomes obsessed as she hones her abilities under the watchful eye of Luciano, whom she secretly loves. She carries on blissfully until their arrangement is discovered and she is thrown out onto the street with nothing. Will she survive in a world working against her to achieve her dreams and win the heart of the nobleman she loves?

When the love of home and family collide with desire for fame and fortune, Celeste Gabriele finds herself thrust into a life she's ill-prepared to handle. Fans of The Other Boleyn Girl, Wolf Hall, and Girl with A Pearl Earring will find much to love in this heartwarming second installment of the Master's Protégé Trilogy by award-winning author Eleanor Chance. Just as Celeste has achieved all she's ever dreamed of with marriage to a handsome Duke, three beautiful children, and a budding art career, her life begins to unravel. When her troubles escalate to the breaking point, and she sees no end in sight, Celeste is tempted to turn her back on all she holds dear to make her own way in the world. Will she have the strength to resist the lure of the siren song and brave the churning waters to find her way home?

It is 1497 in Renaissance Florence, and renowned artist Celeste Gabriele has discovered achieving her dreams was no guarantee of future bliss. Amid political intrigue, family betrayal, and personal tragedy, all Celeste has sacrificed to build is gone in a tragic instant. She is abruptly thrust into a life she never expected or wanted, and though surrounded by loved ones, feels utterly alone. She must claw her way out of the darkness to preserve her family and the legacy it has taken a lifetime to create, or risk losing all she holds dear. Will she have the strength and courage to conquer her demons, both inside and out?