The Scribe of Siena by Melodie Winawer FIC Win

In the modern day, Beatrice Trovato, a neurosurgeon, mourns the death of her brother, Benjamin.  A renowned medieval scholar and the person who raised her, Benjamin had moved to Siena to do research on the effects the bubonic plague had on Siena in 1348.  While visiting Siena to look over his research and decide what to do with all that he left her, Beatrice finds herself not only intrigued by the research path he was on but also with the painter, Gabriele Accorsi, from that same period who somehow painted her face in his paintings.

Suddenly Beatrice finds herself in Siena in 1347 only eight months before the plague infestation begins.  With no real knowledge of how she traveled backwards in time, she must make her way based on what she knows about life in that time period.  And when Gabriele crosses her path neither one is able to ignore the attraction they feel.

Beatrice finds herself conflicted - does she really want to try her way back to her own time?  Or is her life now in Siena, despite what she knows is coming?

Time travel novels always intrigue me and this one was no different.  The author does a very good job of making real the confusion that Beatrice feels at arriving in Siena in 1347.  Life in the Middle Ages in Siena comes alive and the attraction between Beatrice and Gabriele is very real.

I might have to put Siena on my ever-growing list of places to visit...

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