The Prisoner of Paradise by Rob Samborn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was my first book by Rob Samborn. It took me a few chapters to get into this book, but then I couldn’t put it down. So much happened with the main characters: Nick and Julia. It ended up being a page turner! If you enjoy historical fiction, while also being action packed, then this book is for you!
The Prisoner of Paradise by Rob Samborn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The Prisoner of Paradise is the first book in the Painted Souls Trilogy. An enrapturing start to what i can already tell is gonna be an epic series. It’s full to the brim with twists and turns, action, and beautiful world building. Rob makes his books hard to put down, and I can’t wait to see what waits for me in the next book. I definitely recommend this work of art to anyone looking for a beautiful, action packed, page turner, Angelo will not disappoint.
The Prisoner of Paradise by Rob Samborn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Nick is an avid hockey player. One wrong move though and he found himself sidelined with a head injury that he is in denial over. When an opportunity for the trip of a lifetime to Venice comes along, Nick and his wife Julia are excited. Julia is concerned that it might be too much for Nick though. Eventually, they make the journey where Julia has an opportunity to write for a prestigious publication but they are going to soak up as much as tourists can while on a working vacation. When they visit an art gallery and see Tintoretto’s Paradise, things start to get a little interesting for Nick. He soon finds himself embroiled in a mystery that is over 400 years old with a need to release trapped souls.
This book is one that I wasn’t sure I would enjoy but I wanted to give it a chance and I’m so glad that I did. Normally, I struggle with dual time-line stories but this one was written in a way that didn’t affect me like others have in the past. I was engrossed in this story from word one page one. I’m super excited about other stories in this series! I love the mystery, intrigue, and the historical aspects of this adventure.
The Prisoner of Paradise by Rob Samborn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Intertwining timelines, thriller, history, magic, and of course romance. This book has it all!
Nick and Julia O’Connor are taking a dream trip to Venice, well due to Nick’s head injury, it was a much needed trip anyways. They find a painting named Paradise and a woman’s voice reaches out to Nick. This voice is a soul mate from a previous life. Julia doesn’t know what to do and thinks it’s all due to Nick’s head injury.
Very well written and it definitely kept me interested to read more!
The Prisoner of Paradise by Rob Samborn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
After a brain injury leaves Nick O’Connor somewhat confused, his wife, Julia is hesitant to travel to Venice for her career. Nick convinces her and his doctor that he is stable, and the pair goes on their trip. While exploring artwork, Nick believes that a beautiful woman inside of a painting called Paradise is talking to him, but only he can hear her. Unsure as to if it is real, or if it is his brain injury talking, he ignores it. Then, he passes out. Nick tries to write it off as his brain injury, but something pulls him to return to Paradise to see if the instance occurs again, and it does. During his return, Nick finds that the woman’s name is Isabella and that her soul is trapped within the painting. Julia starts to fear for Nick’s wellbeing, while Nick puts the two of them further into danger. What exactly is Paradise and who are the people who are protecting it? Answers are found, while more mystery behind the painting unfold.
The Prisoner of Paradise is full of relatable characters, action, mystery, and betrayal. The scenes the writer describes can easily be envisioned, as well as the emotions that the characters feel can be felt through the reader. The Prisoner of Paradise is a work of art within itself. I would not change a single part of it.
If you are looking for a thriller full of beautiful sights, mystery, twists and turns, and love, look no further. I cannot wait to pick up the sequel, Painter of the Damned.
The Prisoner of Paradise by Rob Samborn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Amazing! I’ve never been to Venice (always dreamed about going one day) but the descriptions the author gave us made me feel like I was there! I loved all the mysteries that kept me guessing the whole time. I had a hard time putting this book down and having to do adult things! You should check this one out immediately!
The Prisoner of Paradise by Rob Samborn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This novel is best described, in my opinion, as interesting. The plot is not at all what I originally anticipated, but it did not disappoint. The anticipation truly kept me on edge until the very end. The only complaint I have about this book is that I could not connect with the characters. Nick is a very determined but selfish man, married to Julia who is independent yet selfless. I have no idea how these two got married and have such an amazing connection, but if Nick was my husband I would divorce him in a split second after the trip he put Julia through.
Aside from the characters, I did quite enjoy the plot. It was intense and left me guessing until the end. If you enjoy thrillers, I would recommend picking up this novel. Just because I did not connect with the characters does not mean you won’t!
Review by @aware
The cover is very misleading. I thought this book would be a quick smash read while reading other books. This is not the case. I love time travel books, but this is more. This is a romance in the present and the past in two different lifetimes. The story takes place in Venice where Nick and Julia visit a museum. Nick begins to hear a voice, a faint voice, calling to him, from a very well-known painting. His wife Julia, is beside herself with confusion and worry for Nick. Throw in a conspiracy and mystery, romance and time travel, and you have yourself one of the best books ever to read. The characters in this story are so easy to get attached to. I loved this book. I cannot wait to read more about them in the coming books.
The Prisoner of Paradise by Rob Samborn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Nike and Julia head to Venice for vacation. While visiting the palace, Nick finds a painting he really likes by Tintorento. It’s intriguing because Nick hears the voice of a woman speaking from the painting. Then to make it even better, he can understand Venetian and finds he has memories of a past life.
This takes Julia and Nick into finding the story of the past which alerts the Venetian Order, who wants the eliminated from the story.
The story is full of danger and suspense and reminded me of reading Dan Brown.
The Prisoner of Paradise by Rob Samborn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Julia and her beau Nick take a trip to Venice. The city of romance, art, wine. All the things. Julia is there for the art, Nick seems to be more into the drinking aspect of their trip until they go look at paintings. Nick starts hearing a voice, Julia thinks he needs to be checked for a head injury.
Or does he? This book just kept going and it was such a great read.
The Prisoner of Paradise by Rob Samborn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Totally unique storyline in this book! I was engrossed with the dual timelines, the incredible visuals, and the intrigue.
Nick O’Conner suffered a head injury in a hockey game, but he and his wife Julia decide to take their dream trip to Venice, regardless. Julia wants to see Tintoretto’s painting “Paradise”, the largest oil-painting in the world. When they see it, Nick starts to hear a voice – a woman’s voice. Julia is sure he is suffering repercussions from his head injury, but Nick becomes obsessed with Isabella, the woman from the painting.
Isabella is Nick’s soul mate from the past, when he was known as Angelo. While Nick researches to find more information about he and Isabella, he also discovers The Order, those responsible for imprisoning peoples souls in the painting over the centuries. Thousands of them! While Nick is only concerned about releasing Isabella, releasing her would release all of the souls trapped in this eternal Purgatory.
Meanwhile, Julia doesn’t know what to think, but she DOES know she seems to be losing him to this soul mate from his past – or this head trauma, whichever it ends up being. Her position on it doesn’t protect her from those that are a danger to them, nor does it protect her from the possibility of losing her husband in this century. Will Nick succeed in freeing Isabella? Will he choose his past love or his current love? Will they all be able to evade those that pursue them?
I loved the mystery, the thrill, the danger, the romance, the back and forth, pulling you in both directions for both relationships – I never quite knew where this story would go next. I am thrilled for another novel in this series and pursuing this unique style of story!
The Prisoner of Paradise by Rob Samborn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Intriguing
This dual timeline thriller had me engaged from the start. It is a multi-layered story, centred on soul mates and discovering events from the past. I loved the descriptiveness, the imagery of Venice and the pacing of the adventure. The relationship between Nick and Julia was not overly done and felt a bit forced at times but that could be due to the contrast to the soul mate connection. This is book 1 and it will be interesting to see where book 2 goes.
The Prisoner of Paradise by Rob Samborn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Any novel that combines art, history, mystery and action is my kind of book. Add in a love story that involves time travel (but much more than your average time travel!) set in the beautiful city of Venice and you have one of the best debut novels that I’ve ever read. The author does such an amazingly beautiful job of describing Venice that you truly feel like you are there. The characters are well developed, and I became invested in them from the beginning. All of this plus a surprise ending- don’t miss out on this one. As one reader stated, “think The DaVinci Code meets Outlander”.
Great adventurous book. It will capture your heart and mind for the first chapter. It has it all history, love and art. Fast read and will keep you wanting to see what is going to happen next. This is mixture of thriller, suspense and mystery. I am looking forward to next book.
The Prisoner of Paradise by Rob Samborn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Great adventurous book. It will capture your heart and mind for the first chapter. It has it all history, love and art. Fast read and will keep you wanting to see what is going to happen next. This is mixture of thriller, suspense and mystery. I am looking forward to next book.
The Prisoner of Paradise by Rob Samborn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Nick and his wife Julia go to Venice on a dream trip. When Nick starts to hear voices coming from a painting, his wife assumes it has something to do with a head injury from a hockey game. As Nick dives deeper into the voices he hears, he discovers that he is connecting to a past life and the voices are from his lover from that time. Secret orders are discovered revealing that souls have been trapped in the painting. Secrets, romance, and mystery, what more can you ask from a book?!
The Prisoner of Paradise by Rob Samborn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
The Prisoner of Paradise
Love through the ages. I was hooked from the start and could not wait to see how the story of Nick and Julia would unfold. Suspense, adventure, history, and a but of mystery. I am anxious to see what will happen in Book 2!
The Prisoner of Paradise, Painted Souls Series, Rob Samborn, Review, Itsy Bitsy Book Bits, Thriller, Historical
The Prisoner of Paradise by Rob Samborn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This was a fantastic read! It was very well written, and the story telling was so vivid. It was a little confusing at first, but everything fell together eventually so it’s definitely worth pushing through the confusion at the beginning. I found myself having trouble putting this book down. I was in awe of the rich history woven throughout the story. I’m really glad I picked this one up and I can’t wait to read the next book!
The Prisoner of Paradise by Rob Samborn
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This book was an interesting read. It was set in present-day and 16th-century Venice. This was very different from my normal reads but I liked it and I am glad I took the chance on it. It was a Suspenseful thriller and had historical notes that made it interesting. I would recommend it to a friend and I wouldn’t mind reading more by this author in the future.
Happy Reading!
The Prisoner of Paradise by Rob Samborn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This thriller was a jaw-dropping adventure that never let up throughout the entire book. I can’t believe I read through this so quickly, but that’s what happens when you forgo sleep to reach the end. I am absolutely thrilled that this is going to be a series!
As you stare down two different timelines throughout the book, the author does an amazing job weaving the two together with such intricate yet seamless detail. Nick is finally taking his wife to Venice, her dream trip, not long after he is injured. During their trip, a painting seemingly reaches out to him and the voice he hears is soul-stirring. Julia is terribly worried about her husband, but Nick believes that the voice is his love from a past life. Will he be able to serve what he believes is justice for the past souls or will his injury prove too much for his current wife to take?
Rob Samborn has released such a brilliant start to the Painted Soul Series! I am already pre-ordering the second book now. You won’t regret this elaborate time-travel experience.
Reviewed by @shannlynn
The Prisoner of Paradise by Rob Samborn
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
The history in this book was beautifully written. I am a big fan of mixed timelines and past lives. This book hit the mark! Some very beautiful love notes and quotes in this story which kept it captivating. The ending left enough for the reader to wonder and need to know what happens next!
The Prisoner of Paradise by Rob Samborn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Wonderful novel that brings you along on a journey and the dual timelines were easy to follow.
Nick and Julia were on holiday to Venice…..taking it all in sightseeing and coming upon a famous painting that would lead Nick into hearing voices from a woman from long ago. He is driven to find out about this voice he hears from the past…..Isabella…and what this painting has in store for the action and suspense with trying to free Isabella but knowing that other entrapped souls can be impacted and that The Order will have something else to say about that.
Wow what a story….I love the intrigue and adventure that this author took me on as I turned the pages and I am looking forward to reading book 2!
The Prisoner of Paradise by Rob Samborn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I really loved this story. I wasn’t to sure at the start as I know little about art or history in Venice but that didn’t matter. The author does an amazing job of making the story enjoyable for everyone. The writing and description of the events and areas and characters really brings the story to life.
I especially love the mix of the past and the present and the feeling of love lasting through decades, that was a very heartwarming touch. This story has everything from danger and mystery, to romance and heartbreak. It had historical and mystical elements that make the story unique. I especially loved how even years after the fact the spirit of the lover that escaped lives on and is still set on setting his lover free from the painting.
However that spirit is now with a guy called Nick, and while on holiday with his wife his life gets turned upside down when he hears a voice call to him from the painting. Is it real or his imagination? Who is it? Why are they calling to him?
With the help of his wife Julie they set out to uncover the secrets and set free the souls trapped there but there are people that don’t want that to happen and they are set to stop Nick and Julie anyway they can.
It becomes a race against time to.unravel the story and free the souls before the people behind the painting capture Nick and Julie.
It was a fast paced Thriller that I couldn’t stop reading.
The Prisoner of Paradise by Rob Samborn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This book was like nothing I have read before. It’s a passionate, haunting, mysterious, thrilling suspenseful tale with so much what if attached. The anticipation and twists were unpredictable. Nick and Julia were amazing. The story itself was front seat to explore history, religion, and faith. It was hard to put down and was pure excitement every step of the way!
The Prisoner of Paradise by Rob Samborn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
The book got me hooked in the first section taking place in 1589 A.D. in Venice. Angelo Mascari is fleeing his city and never expected to see a nobleman sacrificing his life to get Angelo away safely. As he is fleeing in a boat, Angelo is trying to make sense of what happened to his lover.
The author does a great job of world building, bringing us to imagine being in Venice with all its old world architecture and museums. The story is interesting in that it connects generations of family through a painting that using magic is keeping people hostage. Nick & Julia are visiting current day Venice and touring art throughout the city. Angelo and his lover Isabella are connected to the Americans in a way I didn’t expect.
I enjoyed reading this book and hope to find books by this author in the future.
The Prisoner of Paradise by Rob Samborn
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
The Prisoner of Paradise (Painted Souls Book 1) by Rob Samborn – Review by Maryn Belling
Entering this book with high expectations is unfair to the author & the story. Save yourself the disappointment. Instead, you can enjoy this book by forgetting everything you know about Venice, history, art, civilization, or historical fiction. Infuse yourself with “the girl has no name” Arya Stark storyline from Game of Thrones; layer in Beasts of the Frozen Sun (book 1 of Frozen Sun Saga), and a heaping portion of The Lost Apothecary.
If you enjoyed Lauren Groff’s Matrix or Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander, this book is for you. If you’re old enough to have read Time Traveler’s Wife in the mid-aughts when it first was published, you’ll probably do well with this text. If you’re more a reader of Sarah Dunant or Tracy Chevalier’s style of historical fiction, perhaps this book is better suited for other readers.
An admirable first in a series that’s sure to expand the libraries of ambitious readers.
The Prisoner of Paradise, Painted Souls Series, Rob Samborn, Review, Itsy Bitsy Book Bits, Thriller, Historical
The Prisoner of Paradise by Rob Samborn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
The Prisoner of Paradise is a love story that crosses space and time, combining art and history, and a refreshing unique plot. There are vivid descriptions of Venice that pull you into the story as if you were there. At the beginning I was thrown by the dual timeline, and play-by-play action scenes, but as the story progessed I found myself drawn to the mystery surrounding the characters and the painting. The plot builds as Nick and Julia uncover age old secrets. The end leaves you wanting to know more. I’m sure book two will be just as good!
Reviewed by @bilberrysweet
Brandy Vaughn, September 2022
The Prisoner of Paradise by Rob Samborn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Venice, a beautiful city and a trip that anyone would want to take. After a head injury, Nick and his wife, Julia still embark to the city that they have always wanted to visit. Things start to get a little weird after they see the painting “Paradise.” Nick swears he hears a voice in the painting, Julia thinks he is hallucinating. Nick believes that he is living another life right now and that his past life needs to be fixed. Will Nick be able to rescue his long lost love and return to life he knows now or will he lose his current love?
This book was action and romance all in one. What a wonderfully written book that draws you right in, pun intended. 😊
The Prisoner of Paradise by Rob Samborn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Nick and Julia O’Connor are on the trip of a lifetime to Venice after one of Julia’s photographs has been chosen to be in an exhibit there. While touring one of the local museums Nick is inexplicably drawn to a portrait of a beautiful young woman in Tintoretto’s work of art, Paradise, the world’s largest oil painting. When the woman in Paradise starts to speak to Nick, he feels as though she is his soulmate and becomes compelled to save her from being trapped in the painting.
Nick’s wife, Julia, is naturally concerned because Nick has recently suffered a concussion from a hockey injury, and she fears his hearing voices is a side effect of his brain injury. Nick tries to prove to Julia that he is not suffering from delusions and that this woman is his soulmate from a previous life which he lived in the 16th Century. Julia wants to believe her husband and even she is unable to explain how he understands a foreign language that he has never spoken before. Julia is unsure how to help Nick and begs him to get help from his doctor. When he ignores her pleas, Julia decides it is best to cut their trip short and return home. Unfortunately, Nick has now disappeared, and Julia is frantic to find him.
Nick’s obsession with the woman in the painting has consumed him and he seems to have forgotten that he is currently married to Julia in the present day. His focus is on learning more about this mysterious woman in the painting and he starts to investigate who she is. Through a series of blackouts, he learns this woman is Isabella Scalfini, a beautiful aristocrat that he had fallen in love with in 1589. As the blackouts continue, Nick is drawn back to his time with Isabella and the fate that brought her to her soul being forever trapped in Paradise. His obsession with the beautiful woman in the portrait leads him to uncover a secret religious Order that has been condemning souls to the painting for centuries. His beloved Isabella pleads with Nick to free her from the painting so he sets out on a mission to destroy the painting and save his beloved soulmate, only to discover that it is the Painter that he must destroy. However, the Order will never allow anything to happen to the painting and therefore have it heavily guarded. Nick now finds himself running for his life as the members of the Order are determined to destroy him so he cannot divulge the secret of the painting.
This book was very well written and both the past and present were beautifully interwoven together. I enjoyed reading the flashbacks as Nick was drawn back to his previous life in 1589 and his time with his beloved Isabella. My heart broke for Julia as she felt such deep concern for Nick and was worried about what was happening to him. She loved her husband and wanted to believe him but was also worried about his declining mental health. Then he just vanishes without a trace, and she has no idea of his whereabouts or if he is even still alive. How gut wrenching for poor Julia to be put through that. Nick was conflicted between his past love, Isabella, and his present-day love Julia which must have been confusing for him. Yet, at the same time, you just want to shake Nick and tell him to get a grip. How is he going to save a soul trapped in a painting? Why put your life in danger and that of your wife’s for a woman in a painting. I wanted to scream at Nick to get a grip, go back to his wife, and leave the country. Forget the painting, the Order, and get out of Venice while you can. I am anxious to see what will happen in book 2 to learn what became of Nick and Julia. Did their marriage survive? Does Nick still think about Isabella? Was Nick really suffering delusions? What will become of the souls in Paradise?
The Prisoner of Paradise by Rob Samborn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The Prisoner of Paradise (Painted Souls Book 1) by Rob Samborn. I really enjoyed this Historical Thriller. The writing is so vivid and real I felt like I was really in Venice! Its the story of Nick and Julia and Nick are on their way to Venice to hopefully book Julia a Art Gallery Showing. Right before they left Nick was involved in a hockey accident giving him a head injury. When they are in a gallery Nick is taken with a particular painting and swears the lady in it is talking to him. He truly believes its his soul mate from the 16th century. Once Julia finally believes Nick she works with him to try to figure out just what is really going on. What they don’t plan on is attracting the attention of a secret Venetian Order that wants them out of the way and to quit digging. This is a fast paced thriller that will have you believing you are in Venice present and past. I can’t wait for the next book in the awesome series!
The Prisoner of Paradise by Rob Samborn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The Prisoner of Paradise: A Dual Timeline Thriller Set in Venice is the first book in the Painted Souls series. I was interested because of the book description and was not disappointed. Focusing on Tintoretto’s Paradise located in Venice a couple’s vacation becomes much more than they ever expected. There is mystery, history, dual timelines between the 16th and 21st centuries, and much more. I was drawn into this story and didn’t want to put it down. I really enjoyed the characters and the storyline. The setting was absolutely amazing. I look forward to reading the second book in this series and looking out for more from this author in the future.
