Download or read book The Italian Villa written by Daniela Sacerdoti and published by . This book was released on 2020 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book The Italian Girl s Secret An Absolutely Gripping and Emotional WW2 Historical Fiction Novel written by Natalie Meg Evans and published by Bookouture. This book was released on 2021-09-10 with total page 380 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: An urgent knock on the wooden farmhouse door breaks the midnight silence. Heart racing, she tip-toes down the stairs, draws back the bolts and gazes into the eyes of a stranger. "Please, signorina. I must find a way to send my message. The war depends upon it." Italy, 1943. On her nonna's tomato farm in the hills outside Naples, sheltering a soldier with an English accent is the most dangerous thing Carmela del Bosco could do. But with one look at his wounds, Carmela is filled with hatred for those who would tear apart her beautiful home and decides to risk everything, hiding the stranger in an abandoned watchtower outside the village. In his pain and fever, he murmurs in English, but insists his name is Sebastiano and that he has a message to send that will end the war. Carmela tends to his injuries and smuggles fresh pasta from her grandmother to the watchtower whenever she can. But just as his strength returns - and passion grows between them - they are seen and betrayed by a member of Carmela's own family. With their lives on the line, the pair flee down the mountains into the city of Naples, where German soldiers patrol every street. Desperate, Sebastiano begs Carmela to send the message for him. But as soon as she hears it, her blood runs cold... Can she find the courage to do what's right for her country, if it threatens the lives of everyone she loves? Will she ever see her beloved nonna again? And can she trust Sebastiano with her heart - or will he lead her into terrible danger? An absolutely stunning and heartbreaking historical novel about the choices people are forced to make in wartime, and how one act of incredible bravery can change everything. Fans of The Nightingale, All the Light We Cannot See and Rhys Bowen will be captivated. Read what everyone's saying about Natalie Meg Evans: 'Wow, wow, wow is all I can say... tense and the surprises just kept on coming... tore at my heart.' Shaz's Book Blog, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Amazing stuff! I felt so many emotions and I highly recommend this book! Five stars all the way!' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'I was completely gripped... the writing was superb, the historical details completely immersive. I would love to read anything this author writes.' Squeezed Peach, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Heartbreaking, haunting... you are going to devour this one... a mesmerizing, poignant, emotional, gripping, passionate and compelling novel... powerful and evocative... I cannot recommend this enough.' Chicks, Rogues and Scandals 'Wonderful... one of the best love stories I've read... dramatic, passionate... suspenseful and cinematic... The emotion she conjures up is phenomenal.' Jthbooks, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'A beautifully written novel by an extremely talented writer. Excellent character depiction, plus an exciting storyline makes for a roaring success. Highly recommended.' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Download or read book The Italian Bookshop Among the Vines written by Amanda Weinberg and published by Embla Books. This book was released on 2023-04-17 with total page 289 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 'Brilliant... I absolutely loved this... the best book I have read in a long time. I couldn't put it down' Amazon Reviewer, 5* In a secluded Italian village, Jewish and Catholic families live side by side. As the storm clouds of war gather, everyone will have to make a heart-breaking choice to save the lives of those they love... Bella's Jewish family has run the local bookshop in her village for generations, sheltered by the olive groves and the purple vineyards surrounding it. On Bella's wedding day war is declared and Italy, like the rest of Europe, is plunged into deadly turmoil. Orphaned Jewish children from Nazi occupied territories arrive in the village seeking refuge and Bella knows she must do everything she can to keep them safe. Her neighbours also take up the fight and the children are welcomed with open arms. But when German soldiers arrive in the village, everyone is suddenly in terrible danger. Her father is forced to close the bookshop and go into hiding. Bella cannot bring herself to leave their home among the vines or abandon the children she has sworn to protect. She will fight for the home and the people she loves even if she must pay the ultimate price... An unforgettable story of the courage of ordinary people in the darkest days of war. Inspired by real events, perfect for fans of Kate Quinn and Pam Jenoff. This book was previously published as The Tears of Monterini. Readers love The Italian Bookshop Among the Vines: 'I haven't cried like that in a long time... I've read a lot of WW2 historical fiction and this is by far one of my absolute favourites' Reader review, 5 stars 'Wow...Makes every emotion so real and brings history to life' Reader review, 5 stars 'Stunning... Heart-breaking' Reader review, 5 stars

Download or read book The Italian Villa An Emotional and Absolutely Gripping WW2 Historical Romance written by Daniela Sacerdoti and published by Bookouture. This book was released on 2020-02-17 with total page 270 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Italy, 1938 - Elisa clings to Leo in the shadow of the Montevino mountains, the call to war ringing in her ears. They hatch a plan to wed in secret before Leo flees to the woods to join the resistance, and vow to find each other again when the war is over. But history has other plans... Texas, present day - Callie Di Giacomo, a waitress in a small town, is still reeling from the discovery that she is adopted when she arrives in Montevino in search of answers about her real family - the keys to the stunning hillside villa she just inherited clutched tightly in her hand. In her birth mother's wardrobe grief-stricken Callie finds a diary belonging to a woman named Elisa Stella, one of Italy's first ever female students of medicine, wrapped in pale blue ribbon. Page by page, Callie is swept away by Elisa's story, increasingly certain that their lives - and their fates - are somehow connected, and that the truth about her family is hidden somewhere within the crinkled yellow pages. But just when all the pieces look like they are falling into place, a devastating betrayal in the diary unlocks a heart-breaking secret about who Callie's mother really is. Can Callie, like Elisa, find the light in her darkest moment and use it to spark a new future? Inspired by true events, this unforgettable story of love, loss and resilience by the author of million-copy Amazon No 1. bestseller, Watch Over Me, is perfect for anyone who loved The Letter, The Tattooist of Auschwitz or The Dressmaker's Gift. Readers adore The Italian Villa 'Mesmerising! I was totally hooked... absolutely perfect and just flowed endlessly with such ease. I really can't praise this OUTSTANDING book enough!' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars 'I fell in love with this book! It was beautiful and captivating from start to finish. I loved Callie right from the beginning, she is such a relatable character. You laughed with her and cried for her throughout... Absolutely loved this entire book!' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars 'From the moment I opened this book I was hooked. This is a beautifully written story with characters that tug at your heartstrings from the second they're introduced. You can't help but fall in love with them and the tiny village in Italy where it takes place... you feel as though you're really there... I devoured this book in no time... you can't wait to turn the page to find out what happens next...which is why I finished this book at 3 in the morning!... I was so enthralled from the very first page!' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars

Download or read book The Tuscan House written by Angela Petch and published by Bookouture. This book was released on 2021-04-07 with total page 386 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Corbello, Italy, 1947. A woman and a little boy stagger into the ruins of an old house deep in the forest, wild roses overwhelming the crumbling terracotta walls. Since the war, nowhere has been safe. But they both freeze in shock when a voice calls out from the shadows... For young mother Fosca Sentino, accepting refuge from ex-British soldier Richard - in Tuscany to escape his tragic past - is the only way to keep her little family safe. She once risked everything to spy on Nazi commanders and pass secret information to the resistenza. But after a heartbreaking betrayal, Fosca's best friend Simonetta disappeared without trace. The whole community was torn apart, and now Fosca and her son are outcasts. Wary of this handsome stranger at first, Fosca slowly starts to feel safe as she watches him play with her son in the overgrown orchard. But her fragile peace is shattered the moment a silver brooch is found in the garden, and she recognises it as Simonetta's... Fosca has always suspected that another member of the resistenza betrayed her. With Richard by her side, she must find out if Simonetta is still alive, and clear her own name. But how did the brooch end up at the house? And with a traitor hiding in the village, willing to do anything to keep this secret buried, has Fosca put herself and her young son in terrible danger? An absolutely gripping and heartbreaking page-turner that explores the incredible courage of ordinary people in extraordinary times. Perfect for fans of Rhys Bowen, The Nightingale, and anyone longing to lose themselves in the mountain landscapes and olive groves of rural Tuscany. Read what everyone's saying about Angela Petch: 'Fantastic read... I loved this book... will grab you and hold onto you long after you put it down... an amazing story.' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Loved it!!!... Beautiful... heartbreaking... The ending of the book was perfect... Definitely recommend... Loved everything about it.' Goodreads reviewer

Download or read book The Tuscan Secret written by Angela Petch and published by Bookouture. This book was released on 2019-06-26 with total page 356 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Il Mulino. An old crumbling mill, by a winding river, nestled in the Tuscan mountains. An empty home that holds memories of homemade pasta and Nonna's stories by the fire, and later: the Nazi invasion, and a family torn apart by a heartbreaking betrayal. Anna is distraught when her beloved mother, Ines, passes away. She inherits a box of papers, handwritten in Italian and yellowed with age, and a tantalising promise that the truth about what happened during the war lies within. The diaries lead Anna to the small village of Rofelle, where she slowly starts to heal as she explores sun-kissed olive groves, and pieces together her mother's past: happy days spent herding sheep across Tuscan meadows cruelly interrupted when World War Two erupted and the Nazis arrived; fleeing her home to join the Resistenza; and risking everything to protect an injured British soldier who captured her heart. But Anna is no closer to learning the truth: what sent Ines running from her adored homeland? When she meets an elderly Italian gentleman living in a deserted hamlet, who flinches at her mother's name and refuses to speak English, Anna is sure he knows more about the devastating secret that tore apart her mother's family. But in this small Tuscan community, some wartime secrets were never meant to be uncovered... A stunning tale, inspired by true events, about how the tragic consequences of war can echo through generations, and how love can guide us through the darkest times. Fans of Kristin Hannah's The Nightingale and The Letter by Kathryn Hughes will be captivated. Readers have fallen in love with The Tuscan Secret 'Wow! Why have I not read anything by this author before? The writing is magnificent... A story of love, lose, secrets and hope... I have truly fallen in love... A beautiful, touching story that I would recommend to everyone.' Cooking the Books 'A fabulous historical fiction story... wonderful... Angela Petch is now added to my favourite author list... The rich details of the story are captivating. A must read.' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars 'Wow what a story... could not put it down.' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars 'Fantastic read... I loved this book...I would highly recommend.' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars 'Excellent book!... will grab you and hold onto you long after you put it down.' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars 'A feast of a book... transports you to Tuscany.' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars 'This beautifully woven story had me captivated from the start... I could not help but LOVE the descriptions of Tuscany, the countryside, the people and the food.' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars 'I was gripped... The author weaves a magical tale... There is so much beautiful detail in the author's writing, one could almost taste the food, or feel the beauty of the surroundings.' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars

Download or read book The Stolen Letter written by Clara Benson and published by Bookouture. This book was released on 2020-09-24 with total page 427 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: ‘I knew in the first couple of pages that this story was going to make me cry and I was right... So emotional... I was left speechless. I absolutely loved every minute... One of the best historical fictions I’ve read.’ Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Italy, 1944: Stella stared at the envelope addressed to her, dated from the day of his death. With a trembling hand she opened it, tears rolling down her cheeks. She read the letter that should have made it to her years ago – the letter that had been ruthlessly stolen from her. It held his last words, and it changed everything. 1938: When Stella arrives in Italy, it’s love at first sight. She is wowed by the rolling hills dotted with olive trees, the buttermilk villas with shuttered windows and terracotta roofs that glow gloriously in the sunlight. Even the breeze holds the scent of freedom ­– freedom from England, where the shadow of her past haunted her. Then there is Ted, an American journalist who is wild and mischievous, with an arrogance bordering on rude. Stella is infuriated by him – yet she cannot deny the lure of the danger and excitement he promises. But there is something dark under the bright surface of this beautiful country, with unspeakable tragedies just around the corner. When the Nazis take control of Italy, Stella and Ted – and whatever dreams the future held for them – are ripped apart. Ted is torn away, to report from the perilous frontline. Meanwhile, Stella is paralysed with fear as screeching bombs descend, destroying everything in their wake. There is nothing left to do but sit in darkness, praying to see tomorrow. And it seems that even in Italy, Stella’s past has found her. Somewhere in the winding streets of Florence there is a letter that will change the course of her fate. Unknown to her, it holds a secret with the power to rewrite her past, and everything she has been running away from. But will it come too late? And with the odds stacked against her, will she ever see Ted again? This totally gripping and heartbreaking tale is about the impossible tragedies of war and the miraculous possibilities of love. Fans of Kristin Hannah’s The Nightingale, Rhys Bowen’s The Tuscan Child, and The Letter by Kathryn Hughes will be utterly captivated by this spectacular historical page-turner. Readers absolutely love The Stolen Letter: ‘Oh my word I honestly cannot express how much I loved this book. A historical fiction book that was just simply brilliant. The story and the characters were fantastic and I read this book in one day it was that good. I will be recommending this book to everyone who loves reading, it is a must-read.’ Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Breathtaking and heartbreakingly beautiful… Be prepared to go on a very emotional journey where your heart will be ripped out and patched up over and over again. The characters are captivating and relatable. The twists and turns throughout the story are truly unforgettable. Clara Benson is an author that I would love to read over and over again.’ Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Oh my, what a gem of a story… I cannot recommend this book highly enough nor write a review that can justify why you should read it. Historical fiction at its best. This book has it all… Such a good book. High 5 stars!!!!’ Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I loved this book… It was so good I didn't want to stop reading, I read way too late into the early morning… Heartbreaking.’ Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘This novel is truly amazing… Stole my heart from the very beginning with this beautiful story… I could not put it down… Not one to miss.’ Breakfast w Rachel, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘So gripping – started reading and couldn't put it down.’ Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I loved this book… You won't be able to put this book down.’ Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Heartbreaking… Hooked me from the very first page… Captivating and brilliantly written.’ Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Brilliant… Out of this world… Loved it.’ NetGalley Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Download or read book The Tuscan Girl written by Angela Petch and published by Bookouture. This book was released on 2020-02-25 with total page 348 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: She ran away through the pine trees when the soldiers came. Staggering into the hiding place, she felt a fluttering in her belly, like a butterfly grazing its wings, and knew instantly she had something to fight for. Present day When her fiancé is tragically killed in an accident, twenty-six-year-old Alba is convinced she's to blame. Heavy with grief and guilt, she flees to her childhood home - the tiny village of Rofelle, nestled in a remote Tuscan valley. Out hiking one day to fill the long, lonely hours, she finds a mahogany box filled with silverware, hidden near the vine-covered ruins of an isolated house left abandoned after World War II. Could finding the rightful owner ease Alba's heartache, and somehow make amends for her own wrongs? In search of answers, Alba meets Massimo, an elderly man who wants to spend his final years pruning his fruit trees, alone with his painful memories. His face turns pale when Alba brings up the war, but she senses that their shared grief connects them. An unlikely friendship grows as little by little Massimo speaks of Lucia a wild young girl with sparkling eyes who fell in love with an enemy soldier, bravely stole precious Italian treasures back from Nazi occupiers, and whose selfless courage and sacrifice altered the course of the war - and Massimo's life. With each visit, Alba gets closer to unravelling the mystery of the silver, and they both start putting their ghosts to rest. But there's one part of Lucia's story that Massimo might never be able to share - and he's running out of time. Has Alba churned up emotions that are too painful to ever confront? Or, will unearthing a wartime secret that has lain buried for generations finally bring Massimo peace? An absolutely beautiful and heartbreaking read that will sweep you away to the rugged mountains and lush olive groves of Tuscany. Fans of The Nightingale, Rhys Bowen and Julianne MacLean will be captivated. What readers are saying about Angela Petch: 'Astounding... I don't think there is a single page that does not have you racing to read what happens next... heartbreaking... a riveting read, it is an enthralling experience... a must-read.' Giascribes 'Fantastic read... I loved this book... will grab you and hold onto you long after you put it down... an amazing story.' Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars 'Heartbreaking and compelling... A beautiful story, told with such emotion and feeling that it makes you forget where you are and what you are doing!' Stardust Book Reviews 'Boy what an emotional read... I felt myself welling up and on the verge of tears... written superbly.' The Ginger Book Geek 'Wow!... The writing is magnificent... A story of love, loss, secrets and hope... I have truly fallen in love... A beautiful, touching story that I would recommend to everyone.' Cooking the Books

Download or read book The Girl Who Escaped Utterly Heartbreaking and Emotional WW2 Historical Fiction written by Angela Petch and published by Bookouture. This book was released on 2023-04-19 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Italy, 1940. The girl sobs and rages as her father tells her the terrible news. "Italy is entering the war alongside Germany. Jews are to be arrested and sent to camps. We have to be ready." As fascists march across the cobbled piazzas and past the towered buildings of her beloved home city, twenty-year-old Devora's worst fears come true. Along with her Jewish parents and twin little brothers they are torn away from everything they love and sent to an internment camp huddled in the mountains. Her father promises this war will not last long... When they are offered a miraculous chance of escape by her childhood friend Luigi, who risks everything to smuggle vital information into the camp, the family clambers under barbed wire and races for the border. But Devora is forced to make a devastating choice between saving a stranger's life and joining her parents. As shots fire in the moonless night, the family is separated. Haunted by the question of whether they are dead or alive, all Devora can do for their future is throw herself into helping Luigi in the Italian resistenza in the fight for liberty. But posing as a maid for a German commander to gather secret intelligence, Devora is sure she sees her friend one night, in a Nazi uniform... Is Devora in more danger than ever? And will her family ever be reunited - or will the war tear them apart? An absolutely devastating but ultimately uplifting historical novel about how love and hope can get us through the darkest times. Perfect for fans of The Tattooist of Auschwitz, Rhys Bowen and Soraya M. Lane. Read what everyone's saying about Angela Petch: 'Wow! Just Wow!... phenomenal... A novel I will never forget... Brilliant... 5 glorious stars for whisking me away to Italy... beautiful... I LOVED this novel!' Cindy L Spear, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Magical... unforgettable... I was swept away... had me crying happy tears, I was hooked.' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Download or read book A Letter from Italy written by Rose Alexander and published by Bookouture. This book was released on 2024-03-25 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A heartbreaking wartime promise. A family torn apart. A letter that could change everything. 1945. The tiny bundle in her arms barely stirs as she hurries out into the dark street. Remembering Villa Teresa, a thousand miles away in sun-soaked Italy, Betty thinks of the letter she had to write to stop the bombing and save Gianni. Instead it cost her everything... And she will never see her beloved again. Now, letting her little baby go will tear her apart, but she knows it is the only way to keep her child safe... Naples, present day. With nothing but the name of crumbling palazzo Villa Teresa scribbled on the page, Sadie clutches the scrap of a letter she desperately hopes will help her find her birth mother. It's her only clue to go on. But with the heady scent of fresh lemons carrying on the breeze, and handsome local guide Luca by her side, she knows in her bones this is the right place. Then, lost in the local newspaper archives, the pair makes a shocking discovery about the woman Sadie believes is her mother... how she did something terrible during the war. Shattered, Sadie must ask herself if she should continue searching for a woman who did her best to disappear. Deep down, Sadie knows she can't give up. But what really happened in that beautiful palazzo all those years ago? What led a mother to give away her baby? And will uncovering this devastating secret destroy Sadie's heart for good? A Letter from Italy is an emotional and gripping tale about a tragic love affair in World War Two and how a daughter lost for decades finally follows her heart home. Perfect for fans of The Letter, Fiona Valpy and Angela Petch. What readers are saying about Rose Alexander: 'Wow... Hit me like a sledgehammer... Devastating... Gut-wrenching... The most beautiful... The most heartwarming... A privilege to read.' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Beautiful... unlike anything I've ever read before... Entirely consumed me from beginning to end... heart-breaking... powerful... my book of the year. Stunning, and quite unforgettable.' Being Anne 'I absolutely loved this book... One of the best historical novels that I've read... Beautiful... Perfect.' Monika Reads, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Took me on a rollercoaster of emotions, and I couldn't put it down... beautiful and emotional... kept me hooked from start to finish... Captivating and heart-warming.' Kelly Lacey, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Download or read book The Postcard from Italy written by Angela Petch and published by Bookouture. This book was released on 2022-03-16 with total page 374 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Italy, 1945. 'Where am I?' The young man wakes, bewildered. He sees olive trees against a bright blue sky. A soft voice soothes him. 'We saw you fall from your plane. The parachute saved you.' He remembers nothing of his life, or the war that has torn the world apart... but where does he belong? England, present day. Antiques-shop owner Susannah feels adrift. Her beloved father has died, and her grandmother Elsie's memories are disappearing. But everything changes when she stumbles across a yellowed postcard bearing a picture of a beautiful Italian stone farmhouse, tucked away in Elsie's dressing table. A message dated from the Second World War speaks of a secret love. Could her grandmother, who never talked about the past, have fallen for someone in Italy all those years ago? With Elsie confused and distressed by her questions, heartbroken Susannah tracks down the house on the postcard. Arriving at what is now a crumbling hotel by the sparkling Italian sea, she feels strangely at home. And after an unexpected encounter with handsome wine waiter Giacomo, she can't tell if it's his dark eyes or his offer to help solve her mystery that makes her heart race. Together they find a dusty chest tucked in a forgotten corner of the building. The white silk of a World War II parachute spills out. And the Royal Air Force identity tag nestled in the folds bears a familiar name... As a story of lost memories, terrible betrayal and impossible choices unfolds, Susannah comes closer to a devastating wartime secret at the heart of her own family. Did she ever really know her grandmother? And when she finally learns the truth, will it help heal her pain - or tear her apart for good? An absolutely stunning page-turner that will sweep you away to the olive groves and majestic views of the Italian coast. Perfect for fans of Kathryn Hughes, Fiona Valpy and Victoria Hislop. Read what everyone's saying about Angela Petch: 'A devastating, beautiful, heartbreaking, compelling and riveting page-turner... I was absolutely shocked by the two big reveals... I did not see them coming!!!... Absolutely fantastic... Will leave you thinking about the story for a long time... I LOVED it' Bookworm86, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Heart-breaking and compelling... A beautiful story, told with such emotion and feeling that it makes you forget where you are and what you are doing!' Stardust Book Reviews, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'I don't even know where to begin... beautiful... I absolutely adored this book... The picture that the author paints is both beautiful and devastating... the descriptions are so detailed, I could actually picture it in my mind.' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Fantastic read... I loved this book... will grab you and hold onto you long after you put it down... an amazing story.' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Download or read book The Girl in the Striped Dress written by Ellie Midwood and published by Bookouture. This book was released on 2021-08-09 with total page 316 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Auschwitz, 1942: This unforgettable novel, based on a true story, brings to life history's most powerful tale of forbidden love. Set within the barbed wire of Auschwitz, a man and a woman fall in love against unimaginable odds. What happens next will restore your faith in humanity, and make you believe in hope even where hope should not exist "I won't let anything happen to you," he whispered, pressing a note into her hand. Her entire body trembled when she read it: I am in love with you. Helena steps off the cattle train onto the frozen grounds of Auschwitz. She has twenty-four hours to live. Scheduled to be killed tomorrow, she is not even tattooed with a prison number. As the snow falls around her, she shivers, knowing that she has been sentenced to death for a crime she didn't commit. When a gray-clad officer marches towards Helena and pulls her away, she fears the worst. Instead, he tells her that it's one of the guard's birthdays and orders her to serenade him. Inside the SS barracks the air is warm, thick with cigarette smoke and boisterous conversation. After she sings to the guard, Franz, he presses a piece of cake into her hands--the first thing she has eaten in days. On the spot, he orders her life to be saved, forever changing the course of her fate. What follows is a love story that was forbidden, that should have been impossible, and yet saved both of their lives--and hundreds of others--in more ways than one. Fans of The Tattooist of Auschwitz, The Choice, and The Orphan Train will be utterly entranced by this unputdownable page-turner. This completely heartbreaking yet beautifully hopeful novel shows that love can survive anything and grow anywhere. This book was previously published as Auschwitz Syndrome. Readers love The Girl in the Striped Dress: "Wow. Wow, wow, WOW. I almost have no words. This was an incredible, heart-wrenching read... Insanely captivating... I cried buckets reading this story... Wow... What a tale. I seriously can't get over this and I'm so glad I was able to read it." Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Wow!! Time to clear your schedule for the afternoon, coffee pot on and phone turned off--you won't want to put this one down." Avid Reader, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "I loved this... Wow! This stopped me in my tracks and made me shed a tear. We must never ever forget... Stunning." Nicki's Book Blog, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Download or read book The Italian Girls written by Debbie Rix and published by . This book was released on 2022 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: She began to turn the pages of the paper more quickly, searching for the details about the war, the scandal, the trial... She thought back to those days at the end, when trust in Italy was in short supply. Betrayal was everywhere and the world went mad. Italy, 2019: Each morning Livia Moretti sits in her favorite café in Florence, drinking espresso and reading the newspaper. To the tourists who pass by she is simply an old lady. They walk on without knowing the part she played in saving this beautiful city. To Livia too the dark days of war feel very far away. But one morning she sees the name Isabella Bellucci and is jolted right back to the past. To a time when Nazi troops marched through the city and you could trust no one. Italy, 1942: As a member of the Italian resistance, Livia monitors British radio transmissions from the secrecy of her little attic room, dedicating her time to decoding mystery messages that could have the power to save the lives of those she loves the most. Until the day her life intersects with Isabella Bellucci. And, in a strange twist of fate, a terrible misunderstanding will change the course of the war for both of them. One woman will never forgive herself. And the other will find herself betrayed...

Download or read book The Lost Village written by Daniela Sacerdoti and published by Bookouture. This book was released on 2020-11-16 with total page 272 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 1945, Italy. Two sisters give birth to two little girls on the same night, huddled under blankets, deep in the black woods that surround the village of Bosconero. They hold their babies close as footsteps approach. If they make even the slightest sound, the German soldiers will find them... 2006. Luce Nardini searches the cobbled streets of a remote Italian village for a house with a faded blue door. Since her only child left home, and with her estranged husband more distant than ever, she's been completely untethered. Discovering why her mother cut all contact with her family and the village she loved feels like Luce's last hope at understanding who she is. Inside the house, she's relieved to find the grandmother she never knew living out her final days. With a longing look at an ornate wooden box on her nightstand, her grandmother is just beginning to tell the heart-wrenching story of a little village ravaged by war, and why Luce's mother swore never to return, when then the unthinkable happens: an earth-shattering disaster that shakes the little village of Bosconero to its core. Feeling more lost than ever before, Luce fears that the secrets of her past have been buried forever. Her only hope is to win back the trust of the small community and find her grandmother's little wooden box amongst the rubble of the village. But will the surprise arrival of the husband she thought she'd lost help sew Luce's family back together, or tear it apart for good? And will anything have prepared her for the devastating betrayal she finds hidden inside the box...? An unputdownable historical novel about the secrets we keep to protect the ones we love by the author of million-copy Amazon No 1. bestseller, Watch Over Me. Perfect for anyone who loves Fiona Valpy, Lily Graham or The Letter by Kathryn Hughes. Everyone is talking about Daniela Sacerdoti: 'I really loved it... makes you want to curl up in a chair with a warm drink and read this slowly. I found myself not wanting to devour this, but to savour every page. It's emotional and empowering and the characters fill your mind completely long after you have finished the story.' Crossroad Reviews

Download or read book Escape to Tuscany written by Kat Devereaux and published by Aria. This book was released on 2023-07-06 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 'A rich and engaging vision of life gone by and a lust for one woman's future, rolled into one. And now I want to move to Italy!' Mandy RobothamA gripping and moving debut novel about two women, decades apart, whose fates converge in Florence, Italy. Perfect for fans of Patricia Wilson, Carol Kirkwood and Lucinda Riley.Only fourteen, Stella Infuriati is the youngest member of her town's resistance network during World War II. Risking imprisonment and death, she relays messages, supplies, and weapons to partisan groups in the Tuscan Hills. Her parents have no idea, consumed instead by love and fear for their beloved son, Achille, a courier and unofficial mechanic for a communist brigade fighting the fascists.Then, after 1945, Stella seemingly vanishes from the records, her name and story overshadowed by the tragic death of her brother - until a young writer arrives in Tuscany in the spring of 2019, uncovering long-buried secrets.Fleeing an emotionally abusive marriage and a lonely life on an isolated estate, Tori McNair has come to Florence, the beautiful city her grandmother, Margaret, taught her to love, to build a new life. As she digs into her family history with the help of Marco, a handsome lawyer, Tori starts to uncover secrets of the past - truths that stretch back decades, to a young woman who risked everything to save her world....

Download or read book The Locket written by Natalie Meg Evans and published by Bookouture. This book was released on 2023-09-25 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: England, 1942. "It has to stay secret," he whispers, placing the locket around her neck. "If they find it, they'll send me away." As she holds the locket, glinting in the moonlight, she can't hold back the tears. "I just wish we didn't have to hide..." When farmer's daughter Irene meets Theodore at a village dance, sparks fly instantly. The war has brought him all the way from Louisiana to build a US airbase just across her father's fields, but as they sway together, there is nothing else in the world. Only his gentle touch and his deep brown eyes. But being together comes at a price. As Theodore is Black, the might of the US Air Force is against them, and all the members of the little village community disapprove of their relationship. And they will all go to terrible lengths to tear the two young lovers apart... Decades later, heartbroken Ruby is back at her family's crumbling farmhouse for the first time in years, after the loss of her beloved grandmother Irene. The roof has fallen in, family photographs are damaged - and her grandmother's jewellery is nowhere to be found. When Ruby uncovers her grandmother's waterlogged diaries, she discovers that Irene treasured one piece of lost jewellery above all. A locket from a man called Theodore. And the missing locket holds the key to unravelling a heartbreaking secret that changed her grandmother's life... Is someone in the village hiding the locket to keep the truth about Irene and Theodore buried? And can Ruby find a way to honour her grandmother's memory -- or in digging up the pain of the war, will she tear her family apart? An absolutely breathtaking World War Two story about the power of love in the face of adversity, and how the tragic consequences of war can echo through generations. Fans of Fiona Valpy, The Nightingale and All the Light We Cannot See will be addicted to this incredible read. Read what everyone's saying about Natalie Meg Evans: 'What a gripping story!... Immersive... Amazing... heart-stopping. It was gripping, captivating, addictive, full of intrigue, suspense, and twists... I couldn't set it down!' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Amazing stuff! I really felt my heart torn up... I felt so many emotions... I highly recommend this book! Five stars all the way!' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Download or read book Beneath a Scarlet Sky written by Mark Sullivan and published by Lake Union Publishing. This book was released on 2018 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A teenage boy in 1940s Italy becomes part of an underground railroad that helps Jews escape through the Alps, but when he is recruited to be the personal driver for a powerful Third Reich commander, he begins to spy for the Allies.