Da Vinci's Disciples

In 15th century Florence, five women and a legendary artist weave together a dangerous plot that could bring peace - or get them all killed.Seeking to wrest power from the Medici, members of the Pazzi family slay the beloved Giuliano. But Lorenzo de' Medici survives the attack and seeks revenge on everyone involved, plunging the city into murderous chaos. Bodies are dragged through the streets, and no one is safe.Five women steal away to a church to ply their craft in secret. Viviana, Fiammetta, Isabetta, Natasia and Mattea are painters, not allowed to be public with their skill but freed from the restrictions in their lives by their art. When a sixth member of their group, Lapaccia, goes missing and is rumored to have stolen a much sought-after painting before she vanished, the women must venture out into the dangerous streets to find their friend.They will have help from one of the most renowned painters of their era: the peaceful and kind Leonardo da Vinci. It is under his tutelage that they flourish as artists and with his access that they infiltrate some of the highest, most secretive places in Florence, unraveling one conspiracy as they build another in its place.Vibrant and absorbing, Portrait Of A Conspiracy is the first novel in Donna Russo Morin's Da Vinci's Disciples series. Donna Russo Morin is an international bestselling author of historical fiction, women's fiction, and fantasy. Donna has dabbled as a model and actor, working on Showtime's Brotherhood and Martin Scorsese's The Departed. Branching out with her storytelling skills, Donna is now an award-winning screenwriter as well as a painter.A graduate of the University of Rhode Island, Donna lives on the south shore of Rhode Island close to the ocean she loves so very much. She is the proud mother of two sons, Devon and Dylan, her greatest works. Da Vinci's Disciples, a series of historical fiction by Donna Russo Morin.

In a studiolo behind a church, six women gather to perform an act that is restorative, powerful, and illegal. They paint.Under the tutelage of Leonardo da Vinci, the six show talent and drive equal to that of any man, but in Renaissance Florence they must hide their skills, or risk the scorn of the city. A commission to paint a fresco in Santo Spirito is announced and Florence's countless artists each seek the fame and glory this lucrative job will provide.Viviana, a noblewoman freed from a terrible marriage and now free to pursue her artistic passions in secret, sees a potential life-altering opportunity for herself and her fellow female artists. The women first speak to Lorenzo de' Medici himself, and finally, submit a bid for the right to paint it.But the church will not stand for women painting, especially not in a house of worship. The city is not ready to consider women in positions of power, and in Florence, artists wield tremendous power. Even the women themselves are hesitant; the attention they bring upon themselves will disrupt their families, and put them in danger. All the while, Viviana grows closer to Sansone, her soldier lover, who is bringing her joy that she never knew with her deceased husband.Power and passion collide in Donna Russo Morin's 'The Competition', a sumptuous historical novel of shattering limitations, one brushstroke at a time. Donna Russo Morin is an international bestselling author of historical fiction, women's fiction, and fantasy. Donna has dabbled as a model and actor, working on Showtime's Brotherhood and Martin Scorsese's The Departed. Branching out with her storytelling skills, Donna is now an award-winning screenwriter as well as a painter.A graduate of the University of Rhode Island, Donna lives on the south shore of Rhode Island close to the ocean she loves so very much. She is the proud mother of two sons, Devon and Dylan, her greatest works. Da Vinci's Disciples, a series of historical fiction by Donna Russo Morin.

Bestselling author Donna Russo Morin captivates readers once again with the conclusion of her Da Vinci's Disciples Trilogy, delivering an exhilarating narrative that shines a light on the secret women artists of Florence, all under the guidance of the iconic Leonardo Da Vinci.As the infamous "Bonfire of the Vanities" looms, a courageous group of female artists, known as Da Vinci's Disciples, must bravely maneuver through a city torn apart by religious fanaticism. With Leonardo mentoring them, they face the stifling ideals of Fra Girolamo Savonarola, a fervent figure whose radical campaign poses a dire threat to the very existence of art and literature, the very existence of the Disciples themselves.Alongside the ambitious young sculptor Michelangelo, these artists dare to risk everything, launching an underground operation to smuggle precious works out of the clutches of destruction in Florence.In THE FLAMES OF FLORENCE, Donna Russo Morin weaves a powerful historical tale that celebrates bravery and solidarity amid overwhelming odds, ensuring readers are left on the edge of their seats."Illicit plots, mysterious paintings, and Leonardo da Vinci all have their part to play in this delicious, heart-pounding work." ―Kate Quinn, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of The Alice Network Donna Russo Morin is an international bestselling author of historical fiction, women's fiction, and fantasy. Donna has dabbled as a model and actor, working on Showtime's Brotherhood and Martin Scorsese's The Departed. Branching out with her storytelling skills, Donna is now an award-winning screenwriter as well as a painter.A graduate of the University of Rhode Island, Donna lives on the south shore of Rhode Island close to the ocean she loves so very much. She is the proud mother of two sons, Devon and Dylan, her greatest works. Da Vinci's Disciples, a series of historical fiction by Donna Russo Morin.