Is Angela’s connection with her past selves a gift or a curse?

[Joy Boudreau]

This certainly made Angela's life more interesting, if you really want that sort of trouble in your life. In fiction, it could be a blessing. But, for real life, not so much!

[anwidmer]

This certainly made Angela's life more interesting, if you really want that sort of trouble in your life. In fiction, it could be a blessing. But, for real life, not so much!

I agree! For the fictional world it was a blessing to angela for many reasons (dont want to list possible spoilers) but in real life id say no thank you as well!

[Joy Boudreau]

This certainly made Angela's life more interesting, if you really want that sort of trouble in your life. In fiction, it could be a blessing. But, for real life, not so much!

I agree! For the fictional world it was a blessing to angela for many reasons (dont want to list possible spoilers) but in real life id say no thank you as well!

You're not kidding! real life is crazy enough without having flashbacks to other centuries and being on the run from assassions - haha!

[anwidmer]

This certainly made Angela's life more interesting, if you really want that sort of trouble in your life. In fiction, it could be a blessing. But, for real life, not so much!

I agree! For the fictional world it was a blessing to angela for many reasons (dont want to list possible spoilers) but in real life id say no thank you as well!

You're not kidding! real life is crazy enough without having flashbacks to other centuries and being on the run from assassions - haha!

Exactly!! Lol

[Yoli García]

Her regressions made the book interesting. I liked that the author created Angela with that ability. I think the visions intensified because she needed to solve the mystery. One can argue, though, that her gift is a curse because the past was overlapping her present life and overwhelming her. I wonder if she might be able to control her visions in the next book. Seems like María knows about the sight, so she might teach her how to deal with them.

[bookowlie]

Her regressions made the book interesting. I liked that the author created Angela with that ability. I think the visions intensified because she needed to solve the mystery. One can argue, though, that her gift is a curse because the past was overlapping her present life and overwhelming her. I wonder if she might be able to control her visions in the next book. Seems like María knows about the sight, so she might teach her how to deal with them.

It's so true that her past lives overwhelming her life in the present. It's difficult to get anything done on the job or at home if you are constantly taken over by your past lives. Dinner is probably never ready on time at Angela's house.

[Joy Boudreau]

Although Angela Renatus claims she does not believe in fate, she finds herself swept off her feet by the irresistible attraction she feels for Alex Caine, a man she barely knows.

Is Angela’s connection with her past selves a gift or a curse?
Do you think her visions of Fioretta and Sophia are credibly portrayed in the novel?

I think her connection is a curse. She has an irresistible attraction for Alex, to the extent she kisses him and converses without knowledge. That by itself is the stuff of nightmares. As the story progresses, she turns from a highly educated, strong woman into a weepy ghost of her former self. By the end of the story, Angela is hardly recognizable anymore.

I do not think either Fioretta or Sophia are portrayed credibly. Neither woman fit what would have been demanded of women in those time periods, but this novel was never meant to be strictly realistic. I have never met an old Italian man who would allow a female family member to go off by herself to a city, especially during war. Sophia's brothers would never have allowed her to stay in Florence during the war.

Assuming past selves are true, ignorance is the only thing that would save us from their faults. Angela may have found a painting, but she also agitated and upset an old woman to do so. Angela is even groped by the ghost of her past self's lover. Her knowledge of the past seems to bring no peace, despite the author insisting at the end that this is a gift, not a curse.

Well said. Some of the elements you mention are "okay" if you realize this is really a romance posing as historical fiction. However, realistically speaking, it is problematic that Angela was so deeply attracted to Alex in that way - good thing he was the "good guy" The rest of what you mention gives more indication that culture of the time/place really wasn't foremost in the author's mind.

[kfwilson6]

It's hard to tell whether this would be a gift or a curse; I guess it would depend on how she feels about. I think it could help her to grow as a person in her current time though.

We really didn't get much indication of how either Angela or Alex felt about the visions. I would venture to say that in a sequel we may get more clarification on this. I presume that based on the tidbit of conversation that happens with Maria at the end.

[bookowlie]

Although Angela Renatus claims she does not believe in fate, she finds herself swept off her feet by the irresistible attraction she feels for Alex Caine, a man she barely knows.

Is Angela’s connection with her past selves a gift or a curse?
Do you think her visions of Fioretta and Sophia are credibly portrayed in the novel?

I think her connection is a curse. She has an irresistible attraction for Alex, to the extent she kisses him and converses without knowledge. That by itself is the stuff of nightmares. As the story progresses, she turns from a highly educated, strong woman into a weepy ghost of her former self. By the end of the story, Angela is hardly recognizable anymore.

I do not think either Fioretta or Sophia are portrayed credibly. Neither woman fit what would have been demanded of women in those time periods, but this novel was never meant to be strictly realistic. I have never met an old Italian man who would allow a female family member to go off by herself to a city, especially during war. Sophia's brothers would never have allowed her to stay in Florence during the war.

Assuming past selves are true, ignorance is the only thing that would save us from their faults. Angela may have found a painting, but she also agitated and upset an old woman to do so. Angela is even groped by the ghost of her past self's lover. Her knowledge of the past seems to bring no peace, despite the author insisting at the end that this is a gift, not a curse.

Well said. Some of the elements you mention are "okay" if you realize this is really a romance posing as historical fiction. However, realistically speaking, it is problematic that Angela was so deeply attracted to Alex in that way - good thing he was the "good guy" The rest of what you mention gives more indication that culture of the time/place really wasn't foremost in the author's mind.

You make a good point about Angela's deep attraction to Alex. It seemed a bit naive for her to become involved with him so quickly, especially after being sexually harassed by her boss. It's a good thing that Alex didn't have an agenda - for example, the way Scordato was after the painting for greedy reasons. Also, it was a good thing she wasn't sexually assaulted by Alex, considering she so willingly went to another country with him after knowing him such a short time.

[Nicole42]

Even though her past lives connection is a curse. It put her in danger and caused her pain. It might have also been a gift in disguise all along. Perhaps she had to go through those awful times to find everything she needed.

[samiam013]

I feel as though her connection with her past selves was more of a blessing than a curse, though I do see it as a bit of both. If she had not had the connection she would not have met Alex nor would she have been able to solve the mystery of the missing painting. As for it being a curse, yes her life would have been less risky and dangerous. But overall, yes, most definitely a gift to cherish. Who knows how it will help them in the future as well?

[[Valerie Allen]]

What can I say? I was completely turned off by the whole afterlife (past selves) connections.

[garima597]

Angela suffers emotionally due to her visions. In the starting of the book, she is portrayed as a strong woman, however due to her visions she end up fainting or sobbing in most of the scenes of the book. Based on this, i may say that visions become a curse for her.

[Vscholz]

I think this question is akin to asking if immortality would be a blessing or a curse. Yes, there are pros in both situations but would they outweigh the cons?

In Angela's case, I think it could initially be viewed as a curse because the visions take so much out of her. However, she was able to recover a priceless piece of art and yeah, she met Alex and was able to get out of a bad work situation.

Perhaps, if Ami continues to follow Angela's story, she could grow stronger and not get as exhausted with her visions.

[ccrews0408]

It was a curse until it led her to the painting. It also led her to a life that she could have never imagined. She was also never harmed as a result of her gift.