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Sisters of War #1
Secrets of the Italian Island
Italy, 1943. A castle once full of love and laughter is left in ruins by the Nazis, as three sisters are torn apart by one terrible mistake... New York, present day. Broken by the loss of her beloved grandmother Annalisa, who raised her all alone, Mia is shocked when she finds an old letter sent from Italy in her belongings. Annalisa never told Mia about the magnificent, vine-covered castle on Isola di Parissi where she spent one long summer under the Italian stars. Or that she was accused of something terrible in the darkest days of World War Two... Arriving on the stunning Italian coast just a boat ride away from Parissi, Mia is devastated to find the island closed to visitors. Desperate to find out what her grandmother was hiding, she finds dark and brooding local guide Leo , who promises to help her sneak in. As they explore the crumbling castle surrounded by lush olive groves, Mia begins to fall in love with passionate Leo and the beautiful country he calls home. And soon they find handwritten notes hidden in the walls, which confirm her grandmother's heartbreaking story. Annalisa arrived on the island with her two sisters but was forced to abandon them when the Nazis invaded. Mia soon realizes that the accusation against Annalisa might be true, and that Leo has his own reasons for wanting to dig up her family's past. The terrible mistake Annalisa made tore apart the island community. Will it force Mia to leave Leo, and Italy, forever? An epic, heart-wrenching tale based on the incredible true story of an island at war.
324 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 11, 2023
1403 people are currently reading
818 people want to read
About the author
Barbara Josselsohn
14 books250 followersBarbara Josselsohn is a best-selling author known for her captivating contemporary and historical novels, including her latest, The Forgotten Italian Island. This sweeping, multigenerational story delves into the lives of two women bound by a fateful mistake made one night during the Nazi occupation of northern and central Italy. Barbara's work is marked by richly developed characters, intricate emotional landscapes, and immersive settings that transport readers to the heart of each story.
With a talent for blending history and human drama, Barbara’s novels explore complex themes of love, loss, resilience, and the enduring power of secrets. Her storytelling often spans generations, drawing readers into a tapestry of personal and historical struggles. Known for her lush descriptions and evocative prose, Barbara has garnered praise for her ability to bring history to life while crafting deeply emotional, character-driven narratives.
Her books resonate with readers who appreciate stories that combine rich historical details with powerful personal journeys. Currently, Barbara is working on a new World War II novel set in the mountains of southern France.
In addition to her writing career, Barbara teaches novel writing at Sarah Lawrence College and other prestigious venues. When not writing, Barbara enjoys ballet, yoga, reading, and relaxing on the beach. She loves spending time with her family, which includes her beloved rescue pup, Albie.
With a talent for blending history and human drama, Barbara’s novels explore complex themes of love, loss, resilience, and the enduring power of secrets. Her storytelling often spans generations, drawing readers into a tapestry of personal and historical struggles. Known for her lush descriptions and evocative prose, Barbara has garnered praise for her ability to bring history to life while crafting deeply emotional, character-driven narratives.
Her books resonate with readers who appreciate stories that combine rich historical details with powerful personal journeys. Currently, Barbara is working on a new World War II novel set in the mountains of southern France.
In addition to her writing career, Barbara teaches novel writing at Sarah Lawrence College and other prestigious venues. When not writing, Barbara enjoys ballet, yoga, reading, and relaxing on the beach. She loves spending time with her family, which includes her beloved rescue pup, Albie.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 105 reviews
May 15, 2023
EXCERPT: . . . she put her elbow on the metal armrest and peered out her window, the noisy clatter of the rails changing to a gentle metallic purr as her train emerged into the outside air from the depths of Manhattan. The woman was right - the city landscape looked dramatically different from even fifteen minutes ago, when the lowering sun lit the sky as she'd entered Penn Station.
But unlike the woman behind her, she didn't mind. Each year she waited with growing impatience for fall to come and the days to grow shorter. She loved how streetlamps and traffic signals, headlamps on cars and flashlights on phones, became weak substitutes for daylight. They aimed to make the night appear tame and restrained, like a tiger tucked behind a glass enclosure at the zoo. But their power was an illusion. Nobody controlled the night. The best you could do was make it your friend.
ABOUT 'SECRETS OF THE ITALIAN ISLAND' (SISTERS OF WAR #1): Italy, 1943. A castle once full of love and laughter is left in ruins by the Nazis, as three sisters are torn apart by one terrible mistake…
New York, present day. Broken by the loss of her beloved grandmother Annalisa, who raised her all alone, Mia is shocked when she finds an old letter sent from Italy in her belongings. Annalisa never told Mia about the magnificent, vine-covered castle on Isola di Parissi where she spent one long summer under the Italian stars. Or that she was accused of something terrible in the darkest days of World War Two…
Arriving on the stunning Italian coast just a boat ride away from Parissi, Mia is devastated to find the island closed to visitors. Desperate to find out what her grandmother was hiding, she finds dark and brooding local guide Leo, who promises to help her sneak in.
As they explore the crumbling castle surrounded by lush olive groves, Mia begins to fall in love with passionate Leo and the beautiful country he calls home. And soon they find handwritten notes hidden in the walls, which confirm her grandmother’s heartbreaking story. Annalisa arrived on the island with her two sisters but was forced to abandon them when the Nazis invaded.
Mia soon realizes that the accusation against Annalisa might be true, and that Leo has his own reasons for wanting to dig up her family’s past. The terrible mistake Annalisa made tore apart the island community. Will it force Mia to leave Leo, and Italy, forever?
MY THOUGHTS: I really wanted to love this as I have previous books by this author. And there were parts I loved, but there were also parts that were boringly repetitive and I frequently felt that I was being 'told' the story rather than seeing it through the characters eyes.
I enjoyed the mystery of Annalisa's hidden life, even though some parts of it didn't hang together as well as they could have.
Am I going to continue with this series? At this point I am undecided but leaning towards yes, as I would love to know what happened to Annalisa's sisters Guilia and Emilia after they left the island.
⭐⭐⭐.1
#SecretsoftheItalianIsland #NetGalley
I: @barbara_josselsohn_author @bookouture
T: @barbarajoss @Bookouture
#contemporaryfiction #familydrama #historicalfiction #mystery #romance #WWII
THE AUTHOR: Barbara Josselsohn grew up on Long Island and lived for several years in her beloved New York City before moving to the northern suburbs. She began her career as a business journalist and then turned her attention to her first love, fiction. Barbara teaches writing at the Sarah Lawrence Writing Institute and other venues, and is the founder and coordinator of the Scarsdale Library Writers Center, which supports and promotes local writers. She and her husband live in Westchester, N.Y., and have three children.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Bookouture via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of The Cranberry Inn by Barbara Josselsohn for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
But unlike the woman behind her, she didn't mind. Each year she waited with growing impatience for fall to come and the days to grow shorter. She loved how streetlamps and traffic signals, headlamps on cars and flashlights on phones, became weak substitutes for daylight. They aimed to make the night appear tame and restrained, like a tiger tucked behind a glass enclosure at the zoo. But their power was an illusion. Nobody controlled the night. The best you could do was make it your friend.
ABOUT 'SECRETS OF THE ITALIAN ISLAND' (SISTERS OF WAR #1): Italy, 1943. A castle once full of love and laughter is left in ruins by the Nazis, as three sisters are torn apart by one terrible mistake…
New York, present day. Broken by the loss of her beloved grandmother Annalisa, who raised her all alone, Mia is shocked when she finds an old letter sent from Italy in her belongings. Annalisa never told Mia about the magnificent, vine-covered castle on Isola di Parissi where she spent one long summer under the Italian stars. Or that she was accused of something terrible in the darkest days of World War Two…
Arriving on the stunning Italian coast just a boat ride away from Parissi, Mia is devastated to find the island closed to visitors. Desperate to find out what her grandmother was hiding, she finds dark and brooding local guide Leo, who promises to help her sneak in.
As they explore the crumbling castle surrounded by lush olive groves, Mia begins to fall in love with passionate Leo and the beautiful country he calls home. And soon they find handwritten notes hidden in the walls, which confirm her grandmother’s heartbreaking story. Annalisa arrived on the island with her two sisters but was forced to abandon them when the Nazis invaded.
Mia soon realizes that the accusation against Annalisa might be true, and that Leo has his own reasons for wanting to dig up her family’s past. The terrible mistake Annalisa made tore apart the island community. Will it force Mia to leave Leo, and Italy, forever?
MY THOUGHTS: I really wanted to love this as I have previous books by this author. And there were parts I loved, but there were also parts that were boringly repetitive and I frequently felt that I was being 'told' the story rather than seeing it through the characters eyes.
I enjoyed the mystery of Annalisa's hidden life, even though some parts of it didn't hang together as well as they could have.
Am I going to continue with this series? At this point I am undecided but leaning towards yes, as I would love to know what happened to Annalisa's sisters Guilia and Emilia after they left the island.
⭐⭐⭐.1
#SecretsoftheItalianIsland #NetGalley
I: @barbara_josselsohn_author @bookouture
T: @barbarajoss @Bookouture
#contemporaryfiction #familydrama #historicalfiction #mystery #romance #WWII
THE AUTHOR: Barbara Josselsohn grew up on Long Island and lived for several years in her beloved New York City before moving to the northern suburbs. She began her career as a business journalist and then turned her attention to her first love, fiction. Barbara teaches writing at the Sarah Lawrence Writing Institute and other venues, and is the founder and coordinator of the Scarsdale Library Writers Center, which supports and promotes local writers. She and her husband live in Westchester, N.Y., and have three children.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Bookouture via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of The Cranberry Inn by Barbara Josselsohn for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
May 2, 2023
I’m so excited to tell you that this phenomenal story will rank in my top 2023 historical fiction reads!
It grabbed my attention immediately and had me eagerly flipping pages by the end of the first chapter! For her first foray into historical fiction, new-to-me author Barbara Josselsohn impressed me with her ability. I’ve read a lot of historical fiction, many stories of grandmothers with hidden secrets, many characters who head off to Italy in search of answers, and many books with a WW2 setting involving the Nazi invasion BUT this was refreshingly different!!!
This first book of the Sisters Of War series is a dual timeline centering around two equally strong females. In the modern timeline, Mia Abrams, a 32-year-old researcher who lives in Long Island, uncovers clues that lead her to Italy to understand the secrets of her grandmother’s past. Eighteen-year-old Annalisa, in the 1943 timeline, is Mia’s Italian-born grandmother who is living on Piccino Island when the Nazis invade.
There’s so much to love about this story! I know readers will be impressed with (1) Josselsohn’s intriguing plot which tests Mia and Annalisa to their core, (2) the relationships these two heroines create that bond them to supporting characters and connect themselves to each other, and (3) the Mediterranean setting that challenges all of the author’s carefully crafted characters. The Nazi invasion is the backdrop to Josselsohn’s story and is aptly used to reveal what’s in her characters’ hearts and souls. I was in awe at the author’s ability to balance the details and the drama. With this genre, oftentimes authors want to cram as much of their research into the story and it ends up ruining my enjoyment. Josselsohn, capably handled the visible and invisible (to the reader) research with visual and cultural nuances of the era.
When I feel compelled to search out an author’s backlist, I know I’ve found an auto-read author. I can’t wait for the second installment of this series as I KNOW there's much more to Mia and Annalisa's story.
I was gifted this copy by Bookouture and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
It grabbed my attention immediately and had me eagerly flipping pages by the end of the first chapter! For her first foray into historical fiction, new-to-me author Barbara Josselsohn impressed me with her ability. I’ve read a lot of historical fiction, many stories of grandmothers with hidden secrets, many characters who head off to Italy in search of answers, and many books with a WW2 setting involving the Nazi invasion BUT this was refreshingly different!!!
This first book of the Sisters Of War series is a dual timeline centering around two equally strong females. In the modern timeline, Mia Abrams, a 32-year-old researcher who lives in Long Island, uncovers clues that lead her to Italy to understand the secrets of her grandmother’s past. Eighteen-year-old Annalisa, in the 1943 timeline, is Mia’s Italian-born grandmother who is living on Piccino Island when the Nazis invade.
There’s so much to love about this story! I know readers will be impressed with (1) Josselsohn’s intriguing plot which tests Mia and Annalisa to their core, (2) the relationships these two heroines create that bond them to supporting characters and connect themselves to each other, and (3) the Mediterranean setting that challenges all of the author’s carefully crafted characters. The Nazi invasion is the backdrop to Josselsohn’s story and is aptly used to reveal what’s in her characters’ hearts and souls. I was in awe at the author’s ability to balance the details and the drama. With this genre, oftentimes authors want to cram as much of their research into the story and it ends up ruining my enjoyment. Josselsohn, capably handled the visible and invisible (to the reader) research with visual and cultural nuances of the era.
When I feel compelled to search out an author’s backlist, I know I’ve found an auto-read author. I can’t wait for the second installment of this series as I KNOW there's much more to Mia and Annalisa's story.
I was gifted this copy by Bookouture and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
May 19, 2023
'Not everyone understands what it means to want to know the past before finding a future'.
When Mia's grandmother Annalisa dies, the grandmother who raised her as a child and is her world, she is utterly devastated. However, after visiting the family lawyer, both a mysterious key and a cryptic letter cast doubt on just how well Mia knew her grandmother - despite how close their relationship was. Being the scientist Mia is she decides to get the facts, and to the bottom of this mystery, by visiting Italy; the home of her grandmother before her forced immigration to the USA during WWII.
Told using a dual timeline, 'Secrets of the Italian Island' revisits 1943 and Isola di Parissi, an island off the coast of Italy, where Annalisa smuggled herself and her sisters, in the hope of ultimately saving their sickly father. But this is the middle of a World War and rumour is, is the Nazis will soon invade their safe island. A rash decision puts everyone's fate in peril.
'Secrets of the Italian Island' is a story of secrets, love, lost love, and new beginnings. At the heart of the book is an unsolved mystery that keeps the reader genuinely intrigued and guessing at what may have happened. I also enjoyed drinking in the sights and sounds described throughout the book but I did, as which sometimes happens with dual-time narration, ultimately prefer one time over the telling of the other. However, as this book is the beginning of a series, there is plenty of complexity left to further be revealed in future editions. This was a good read for me and I anticipate a good read for most lovers of historical fiction and mystery.
When Mia's grandmother Annalisa dies, the grandmother who raised her as a child and is her world, she is utterly devastated. However, after visiting the family lawyer, both a mysterious key and a cryptic letter cast doubt on just how well Mia knew her grandmother - despite how close their relationship was. Being the scientist Mia is she decides to get the facts, and to the bottom of this mystery, by visiting Italy; the home of her grandmother before her forced immigration to the USA during WWII.
Told using a dual timeline, 'Secrets of the Italian Island' revisits 1943 and Isola di Parissi, an island off the coast of Italy, where Annalisa smuggled herself and her sisters, in the hope of ultimately saving their sickly father. But this is the middle of a World War and rumour is, is the Nazis will soon invade their safe island. A rash decision puts everyone's fate in peril.
'Secrets of the Italian Island' is a story of secrets, love, lost love, and new beginnings. At the heart of the book is an unsolved mystery that keeps the reader genuinely intrigued and guessing at what may have happened. I also enjoyed drinking in the sights and sounds described throughout the book but I did, as which sometimes happens with dual-time narration, ultimately prefer one time over the telling of the other. However, as this book is the beginning of a series, there is plenty of complexity left to further be revealed in future editions. This was a good read for me and I anticipate a good read for most lovers of historical fiction and mystery.
May 16, 2023
A story from WWII that leads to finding a secret her grandmother kept.
Italy...nothing better than that, right?
Along with secrets, it can't be beat.
We find out what Mia's Grandmother, Annalisa/Lucy, experienced in Italy while she worked at Isola di Parissi and we find out why Mia had to go to Italy after her grandmother died.
Visiting Isola di Parissi in 1943 has us enjoying the gorgeous Italian island and learning about Annalisa and why she left her dying father and took her two sisters there and what she found while there.
In 2018 we get to see the story unravel as Mia makes the trip to Italy to find answers and perhaps find love…what better place to fall in love than in Italy.
You will love both Annalisa's and Mia’s story.
A very enjoyable read with wonderful descriptions and great family discoveries.
When is the next flight to Italy? :)
Women's fiction fans will devour this book and not want either story to end.
Enjoy!! 5/5
This book was given to me by the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review.
Italy...nothing better than that, right?
Along with secrets, it can't be beat.
We find out what Mia's Grandmother, Annalisa/Lucy, experienced in Italy while she worked at Isola di Parissi and we find out why Mia had to go to Italy after her grandmother died.
Visiting Isola di Parissi in 1943 has us enjoying the gorgeous Italian island and learning about Annalisa and why she left her dying father and took her two sisters there and what she found while there.
In 2018 we get to see the story unravel as Mia makes the trip to Italy to find answers and perhaps find love…what better place to fall in love than in Italy.
You will love both Annalisa's and Mia’s story.
A very enjoyable read with wonderful descriptions and great family discoveries.
When is the next flight to Italy? :)
Women's fiction fans will devour this book and not want either story to end.
Enjoy!! 5/5
This book was given to me by the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review.
May 11, 2023
Secrets of the Italian Island is a dual timeline story with a family mystery set on an isolated island. When Mia's grandmother passes away, her lawyer gives her a letter from a lawfirm in Rome. Apparently a woman named Annalisa or Pippa stole something from the Castle Parisso and they want it back. Their search has brought them to Mia's grandmother, Lucy. Mia begins a search of her grandmother's house and finds items that she has never seen before. She is sure that her grandmother left her clues to find the items and now she is heading to Italy to discover the truth.
I loved this book! Both of the timelines were interesting and I was invested in both of them. Barbara Josselsohn did a wonderful job of tying them together seamlessly even when going back and forth. All the characters were relatable and well developed and I wanted to know what was going to happen next. Some of the reveals were predictable, but not the overall story. The family mystery pulled me in and I wanted to know why Lucy had kept the family secrets from Mia. Although the past storyline set in 1943 and during the second world war, this was not a war story. There are no battles etc. but we do find out that there was some fallout from the nazi invasion that effected several characters from the past story. The setting of this story was amazing. The descriptions of the castle, the island, the sea and even the lights in the sky allowed me to picture it. My only concern is that this is the first book in a series/duology/trilogy? and therefore several things were left hanging. I want to know more and don't know how long it will be until we get the next book in the Sisters of War series. If you enjoy stories of family, historical fiction, mysteries, island settings or books set during WWII, then I recommend you pick this one up. I definitely enjoyed it.
I loved this book! Both of the timelines were interesting and I was invested in both of them. Barbara Josselsohn did a wonderful job of tying them together seamlessly even when going back and forth. All the characters were relatable and well developed and I wanted to know what was going to happen next. Some of the reveals were predictable, but not the overall story. The family mystery pulled me in and I wanted to know why Lucy had kept the family secrets from Mia. Although the past storyline set in 1943 and during the second world war, this was not a war story. There are no battles etc. but we do find out that there was some fallout from the nazi invasion that effected several characters from the past story. The setting of this story was amazing. The descriptions of the castle, the island, the sea and even the lights in the sky allowed me to picture it. My only concern is that this is the first book in a series/duology/trilogy? and therefore several things were left hanging. I want to know more and don't know how long it will be until we get the next book in the Sisters of War series. If you enjoy stories of family, historical fiction, mysteries, island settings or books set during WWII, then I recommend you pick this one up. I definitely enjoyed it.
May 15, 2023
Saddened by the loss of her beloved grandmother Annalisa, Mia travels to Italy to solve a mystery. When she starts to go through her grandmother’s belongings, she makes a discovery that confuses her. She knows that she must find the answers to her grandmother’s past. The only way that she can do this is to go to Italy. She plans on traveling with her good friend, but that does not work out so she is on her own.
In dual timeline fashion, a story segues back to 1943 where three sisters had an important mission that had to do with their ailing father. They ended up working at a castle where their lives were irrevocably changed. This first book in a new trilogy by Barbara Josselsohn focuses on the oldest of the three sisters, Annalisa. Sadly, it took decades for something that she experienced to become clear.
Annalisa and her sisters worked at that castle on an Italian island that was eventually overtaken by the Nazis during World War II. In present day, Mia is determined to find the connection with what she discovered at her grandmother’s house, and what happened back during World War II. She has help in her quest when she meets someone named Leo while she is in Italy. While Mia’s intent is to clear her grandmother’s name, Leo has his own reasons for searching for answers at the same castle where Mia’s attentions are focused.
What a fabulous story! Aside from the talented writing, the drama was excellent, and I loved the similarities that existed between Mia and her grandmother Annalisa. I loved both of their stories and how the answers of the past were revealed. I look forward to the next books in the series as I want to know what happened to Annalisa’s sisters.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
In dual timeline fashion, a story segues back to 1943 where three sisters had an important mission that had to do with their ailing father. They ended up working at a castle where their lives were irrevocably changed. This first book in a new trilogy by Barbara Josselsohn focuses on the oldest of the three sisters, Annalisa. Sadly, it took decades for something that she experienced to become clear.
Annalisa and her sisters worked at that castle on an Italian island that was eventually overtaken by the Nazis during World War II. In present day, Mia is determined to find the connection with what she discovered at her grandmother’s house, and what happened back during World War II. She has help in her quest when she meets someone named Leo while she is in Italy. While Mia’s intent is to clear her grandmother’s name, Leo has his own reasons for searching for answers at the same castle where Mia’s attentions are focused.
What a fabulous story! Aside from the talented writing, the drama was excellent, and I loved the similarities that existed between Mia and her grandmother Annalisa. I loved both of their stories and how the answers of the past were revealed. I look forward to the next books in the series as I want to know what happened to Annalisa’s sisters.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
May 7, 2023
What's it about (in a nutshell):
Secrets of the Italian Island is a heart-wrenching and mysterious search for the truth that had been long since hidden away. When Mia's grandmother passes away, and Mia finds items among her grandmother's belongings that she has never seen before, she sets out on a journey to discover the truth about how her grandmother came to have them. This journey takes her to a small island off the west coast of Italy, where she learns more about her grandmother and herself.
My Reading Experience:
I love mysterious family histories, much like exploring my family's past. And when you add a mystery and intrigue around that history, let's say my attention was fully grabbed. I became instantly immersed in the story.
The past storyline (during WWII) where the mystery unfurls gripped me from start to finish as the stakes, personal and war-related, were always high as lives were in peril. My only critique is that the book left me hanging concerning some side plots and characters. So many questions were left unanswered, and I still want to know the what's and whys of Lucy's (the grandmother) story.
I also loved how this quest for Mia ended up as much a journey of self-discovery as it was to find the truth and clear her grandmother's name. I loved watching her bloom into the flower she was always meant to be and shed the toxic relationships in her life. Taking a risk and learning more about her grandmother helped her see herself more clearly, which is just so rewarding.
And that setting! The setting initially called to me, as I love spending my time off the Italian coast, even if it is just in book form. The descriptions took me to that island in every sensory way. The writing is so fluid and transportive that I can feel the sun beating down on me, see the turquoise waters surrounding the island, and smell the sea air fragrant with native flora.
Characters:
The characters are developed so well that they leap off the page, especially the ones in the past timeline. Their story took me on an emotional journey as I empathized with them, worried about them, and rooted for them to survive. They are all unique and interesting in their personal endeavors.
Narration & Pacing:
The story is told in two timelines – 2018 and 1943. I found that the past timeline flowed much better than the present, which suffered from some awkward dialogue and a lack of the things that made the past timeline so utterly compelling. The narration is told in third-person narration, focusing on Mia in the current timeline and Annalisa in the past. Since this is such a solid character-driven story, I wonder if first-person narration would have been a more emotional story with a much quicker pace. The pace stayed consistently medium throughout, which didn't bother me since I was so engrossed in the story. I was thankful it was not weighted down by too much exposition or a lack of action and mystery.
Setting:
The setting is one of the most memorable aspects of the novel. I love a beautiful setting, especially one on the water. And if it's an island with only a castle at the top, how could I not entirely fall in love with it. And I definitely did fall in love with this little island.
Read if you like:
Family history stories
WWII stories
Historical mysteries
Secrets of the Italian Island is a heart-wrenching and mysterious search for the truth that had been long since hidden away. When Mia's grandmother passes away, and Mia finds items among her grandmother's belongings that she has never seen before, she sets out on a journey to discover the truth about how her grandmother came to have them. This journey takes her to a small island off the west coast of Italy, where she learns more about her grandmother and herself.
My Reading Experience:
I love mysterious family histories, much like exploring my family's past. And when you add a mystery and intrigue around that history, let's say my attention was fully grabbed. I became instantly immersed in the story.
The past storyline (during WWII) where the mystery unfurls gripped me from start to finish as the stakes, personal and war-related, were always high as lives were in peril. My only critique is that the book left me hanging concerning some side plots and characters. So many questions were left unanswered, and I still want to know the what's and whys of Lucy's (the grandmother) story.
I also loved how this quest for Mia ended up as much a journey of self-discovery as it was to find the truth and clear her grandmother's name. I loved watching her bloom into the flower she was always meant to be and shed the toxic relationships in her life. Taking a risk and learning more about her grandmother helped her see herself more clearly, which is just so rewarding.
And that setting! The setting initially called to me, as I love spending my time off the Italian coast, even if it is just in book form. The descriptions took me to that island in every sensory way. The writing is so fluid and transportive that I can feel the sun beating down on me, see the turquoise waters surrounding the island, and smell the sea air fragrant with native flora.
Characters:
The characters are developed so well that they leap off the page, especially the ones in the past timeline. Their story took me on an emotional journey as I empathized with them, worried about them, and rooted for them to survive. They are all unique and interesting in their personal endeavors.
Narration & Pacing:
The story is told in two timelines – 2018 and 1943. I found that the past timeline flowed much better than the present, which suffered from some awkward dialogue and a lack of the things that made the past timeline so utterly compelling. The narration is told in third-person narration, focusing on Mia in the current timeline and Annalisa in the past. Since this is such a solid character-driven story, I wonder if first-person narration would have been a more emotional story with a much quicker pace. The pace stayed consistently medium throughout, which didn't bother me since I was so engrossed in the story. I was thankful it was not weighted down by too much exposition or a lack of action and mystery.
Setting:
The setting is one of the most memorable aspects of the novel. I love a beautiful setting, especially one on the water. And if it's an island with only a castle at the top, how could I not entirely fall in love with it. And I definitely did fall in love with this little island.
Read if you like:
Family history stories
WWII stories
Historical mysteries
May 12, 2023
This was another good book by this author. It’s book one in a new series and I’m already looking forward to reading the next one. This book had dual timelines, both just as interesting. There’s romance and a bit of a mystery too. I wasn’t ready for it to end.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the early copy
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the early copy
May 14, 2023
Secrets of the Italian Island was my first introduction to the writing of Barbara Josselsohn and boy was I impressed. This is a dual timeline story which moves between Mia in 2018 and Annalisa in 1943 as the Germans are strengthening their hold on Italy. The story is really gripping and rich in detail in terms of the descriptions and imagery used particularly when the Italian island of the title features. There is a good, solid storyline throughout which keeps the reader guessing and the fact that there is no messing around with an overly long introduction means that we get straight down to business. The premise of the story is clearly set out and off we go and what follows is an engrossing story of love, devotion and of reconciling the past with the present in order to right a wrong.
Mia lives in New York and is coming to terms with the death of her beloved grandmother Lucy. She was the woman who raised her following the death of her parents when she was very young. Mia misses her desperately but had always wondered what made her so unhappy as there was always an air of sadness around her. Mia receives a letter from someone in Italy claiming Lucy had a different name and asking after a bowl stolen from a castle on an Italian island. This is shocking news to Mia and she can’t comprehend that Lucy is perhaps not Lucy after all no matter that she would ever steal something in the first place. Mia searches for a key to a storage unit that she never knew existed. As she looks through her grandmother’s house, she discovers an exquisite wedding dress hidden in the attic and sewn into the dress is a key. Said key opens the unit and lo and behold there is the bowl in question.
So sets in motion an adventure of uncertainty for Mia and she asks herself why has her grandmother saddled her with these discoveries. Mia wants Lucy’s name cleared and faces no other choice but to go to Italy and to try and get to the island which is now privately owned, in the hopes that she will find conclusive evidence that her grandmother is being blamed in the wrong. By embarking on this trip Mia hopes to gain a deeper understanding of the woman that raised her-why did she appear cold and stilted at times? Why had she hidden so much? Everything she said and did seemed to be borne of great hurt, pain and loss? What were the roots of her problems and will this journey provide her with the answers or only cause more worry, anguish and confusion?
I did feel at the time of reading and this is the only fault I found with the book and maybe it’s just me reading it and others may feel differently but I thought there was just that little bit too much focus on the modern day aspect of the story. That it tended to dominate too much, and I wanted to get back to Annalisa’s story set in the past. Yes, the present day gave us great insight into the past, but I wanted to be back there in the past for much more of the book. That’s the historical fiction lover in me coming out and don’t get me wrong I thought both strands of the story were very well written but it was more of Annalisa I wanted rather than Mia.
When Mia arrives in Italy, I enjoyed the confusion as she finds herself part of a group that she shouldn’t have been part of as this allowed for the introduction of Leo Bonetti. Leo will change everything for Mia both on a personal level and in terms of her discovering the answers she seeks. They begin to work together and surprising things are uncovered as Mia makes it to Castello di Parissi on the island. Connections become apparent and the pair edge ever closer to the truth surrounding the mysterious bowl and they also edge closer in terms of their friendship. Well I was there for it all and loving every minute of it. I just felt completely engulfed and consumed by the wonderful story unfolding.
In the timeline in 1943 a fascinating story unfolds of Annalisa and her two younger siblings Emilia and Giuila who are secretly travelling to the island in the hopes of gaining work there in order to get closer to the reclusive, Patricio Parissi. He is the one who could save her father’s life but as the world is very unstable and the Germans draw ever closer time is running out and Annalisa has a tough task ahead of her. The island has long been revered as a haven for great minds- artists, inventors, writers, scientists and philosophers have all stayed there and it is known as a centre of inspiration and creation. The descriptions of the island were so on point and magical and the more we delve into the reasons for Annalisa deciding to journey there the more fascinated I became.
A real mystery started to unfold, and it reminded me of Lucinda Riley’s books in a way that there were so many layers that were slowly pulled back leading to a great finale. Annalisa, always had a scientific mind and finding a cure for her father was always at the forefront of her every thought and action. She went through every hoop in order to get to Patricio and I admired her persistence in doing this as he really did hold the key. I loved the development of the storyline between Annalisa and Aldo also as it fed well into the overall plot and helped bring things full circle with Mia. But as I have mentioned I would have loved even more of Annalisa and the scenes set in the past than we got.
Secrets of the Italian Island really gave me that thrilling feeling of discovering a new author and subsequently wanting to read everything they have written in the past and will write in the future. It was brilliantly placed and plotted with an air of mystery with every turn of the page and a real sense of Mia delving into the past to uncover hidden secrets and at the same time this helped her to make sense of her own situation. It’s a book that if time allows you will want to devour in one sitting. I find it hard to believe that this is the author’s first foray into historical fiction as it read like she had been writing in the genre for years as there was such a strong sense of character, plot and setting. It was clear a lot of research had been undertaken in order to do the story justice and Barbara Josselsohn certainly has. The one thing I will say is that there were numerous unanswered questions at the end and I particularly wanted to know the fate/outcome of two characters in particular but as this is the first book in the Sisters of War series, I suppose I will just have to patiently wait for the next instalment to see whether my questions will have answers or not. In the meantime, I would definitely recommend this book. It takes you on an epic and memorable journey which you won’t want to end.
Mia lives in New York and is coming to terms with the death of her beloved grandmother Lucy. She was the woman who raised her following the death of her parents when she was very young. Mia misses her desperately but had always wondered what made her so unhappy as there was always an air of sadness around her. Mia receives a letter from someone in Italy claiming Lucy had a different name and asking after a bowl stolen from a castle on an Italian island. This is shocking news to Mia and she can’t comprehend that Lucy is perhaps not Lucy after all no matter that she would ever steal something in the first place. Mia searches for a key to a storage unit that she never knew existed. As she looks through her grandmother’s house, she discovers an exquisite wedding dress hidden in the attic and sewn into the dress is a key. Said key opens the unit and lo and behold there is the bowl in question.
So sets in motion an adventure of uncertainty for Mia and she asks herself why has her grandmother saddled her with these discoveries. Mia wants Lucy’s name cleared and faces no other choice but to go to Italy and to try and get to the island which is now privately owned, in the hopes that she will find conclusive evidence that her grandmother is being blamed in the wrong. By embarking on this trip Mia hopes to gain a deeper understanding of the woman that raised her-why did she appear cold and stilted at times? Why had she hidden so much? Everything she said and did seemed to be borne of great hurt, pain and loss? What were the roots of her problems and will this journey provide her with the answers or only cause more worry, anguish and confusion?
I did feel at the time of reading and this is the only fault I found with the book and maybe it’s just me reading it and others may feel differently but I thought there was just that little bit too much focus on the modern day aspect of the story. That it tended to dominate too much, and I wanted to get back to Annalisa’s story set in the past. Yes, the present day gave us great insight into the past, but I wanted to be back there in the past for much more of the book. That’s the historical fiction lover in me coming out and don’t get me wrong I thought both strands of the story were very well written but it was more of Annalisa I wanted rather than Mia.
When Mia arrives in Italy, I enjoyed the confusion as she finds herself part of a group that she shouldn’t have been part of as this allowed for the introduction of Leo Bonetti. Leo will change everything for Mia both on a personal level and in terms of her discovering the answers she seeks. They begin to work together and surprising things are uncovered as Mia makes it to Castello di Parissi on the island. Connections become apparent and the pair edge ever closer to the truth surrounding the mysterious bowl and they also edge closer in terms of their friendship. Well I was there for it all and loving every minute of it. I just felt completely engulfed and consumed by the wonderful story unfolding.
In the timeline in 1943 a fascinating story unfolds of Annalisa and her two younger siblings Emilia and Giuila who are secretly travelling to the island in the hopes of gaining work there in order to get closer to the reclusive, Patricio Parissi. He is the one who could save her father’s life but as the world is very unstable and the Germans draw ever closer time is running out and Annalisa has a tough task ahead of her. The island has long been revered as a haven for great minds- artists, inventors, writers, scientists and philosophers have all stayed there and it is known as a centre of inspiration and creation. The descriptions of the island were so on point and magical and the more we delve into the reasons for Annalisa deciding to journey there the more fascinated I became.
A real mystery started to unfold, and it reminded me of Lucinda Riley’s books in a way that there were so many layers that were slowly pulled back leading to a great finale. Annalisa, always had a scientific mind and finding a cure for her father was always at the forefront of her every thought and action. She went through every hoop in order to get to Patricio and I admired her persistence in doing this as he really did hold the key. I loved the development of the storyline between Annalisa and Aldo also as it fed well into the overall plot and helped bring things full circle with Mia. But as I have mentioned I would have loved even more of Annalisa and the scenes set in the past than we got.
Secrets of the Italian Island really gave me that thrilling feeling of discovering a new author and subsequently wanting to read everything they have written in the past and will write in the future. It was brilliantly placed and plotted with an air of mystery with every turn of the page and a real sense of Mia delving into the past to uncover hidden secrets and at the same time this helped her to make sense of her own situation. It’s a book that if time allows you will want to devour in one sitting. I find it hard to believe that this is the author’s first foray into historical fiction as it read like she had been writing in the genre for years as there was such a strong sense of character, plot and setting. It was clear a lot of research had been undertaken in order to do the story justice and Barbara Josselsohn certainly has. The one thing I will say is that there were numerous unanswered questions at the end and I particularly wanted to know the fate/outcome of two characters in particular but as this is the first book in the Sisters of War series, I suppose I will just have to patiently wait for the next instalment to see whether my questions will have answers or not. In the meantime, I would definitely recommend this book. It takes you on an epic and memorable journey which you won’t want to end.
May 19, 2024
Ik ben echt dol op de boeken van Soraya Lane (kan echt niet wachten op het volgende deel!) en toen @oceaanboeken mij vertelde dat dit dan écht iets voor mij zou zijn, sprong ik direct aan boord voor deze blogtour! 😏
Het verhaal speelt zich in zowel het heden als verleden af. Dit vlecht enorm goed in elkaar over en zorgt dat je steeds verder wilt lezen. Mia en Annalisa zijn heel interessante karakters en zijn goed opgebouwd gedurende het boek. De schrijfstijl is heel prettig en past erg goed bij deze historische roman met een mysterieus tintje. Het boek past ook perfect bij zonnig weer, dus ik kon mijn lol op toen deze in de brievenbus viel! ☀️
Een absolute aanrader om in je koffer te stoppen deze zomer!
𝑆𝑎𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑣𝑎𝑡𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔
New York, heden. Mia is diep bedroefd na het overlijden van haar geliefde oma Annalisa. Maar dan vindt ze een brief uit Italië in haar nagelaten spullen. Haar oma heeft haar nooit verteld over haar verleden, en al helemaal niet over het prachtige Italiaanse kasteel waar ze ooit een zomer doorbracht die haar leven voorgoed zou veranderen.
Italië, 1943. Annalisa reist in het geheim met haar twee jongere zussen naar het eiland van Parissi, om haar rijke oom om hulp te vragen. Wat ze niet verwacht is dat ze er haar passie zal ontdekken, verliefd zal worden en plotseling alles achter zal moeten laten wat haar lief is.
Het verhaal speelt zich in zowel het heden als verleden af. Dit vlecht enorm goed in elkaar over en zorgt dat je steeds verder wilt lezen. Mia en Annalisa zijn heel interessante karakters en zijn goed opgebouwd gedurende het boek. De schrijfstijl is heel prettig en past erg goed bij deze historische roman met een mysterieus tintje. Het boek past ook perfect bij zonnig weer, dus ik kon mijn lol op toen deze in de brievenbus viel! ☀️
Een absolute aanrader om in je koffer te stoppen deze zomer!
𝑆𝑎𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑣𝑎𝑡𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔
New York, heden. Mia is diep bedroefd na het overlijden van haar geliefde oma Annalisa. Maar dan vindt ze een brief uit Italië in haar nagelaten spullen. Haar oma heeft haar nooit verteld over haar verleden, en al helemaal niet over het prachtige Italiaanse kasteel waar ze ooit een zomer doorbracht die haar leven voorgoed zou veranderen.
Italië, 1943. Annalisa reist in het geheim met haar twee jongere zussen naar het eiland van Parissi, om haar rijke oom om hulp te vragen. Wat ze niet verwacht is dat ze er haar passie zal ontdekken, verliefd zal worden en plotseling alles achter zal moeten laten wat haar lief is.
May 17, 2024
De geheimen van het Italiaanse eiland is het eerste deel in de serie over Het Italiaanse eiland. Het verhaal wordt vanuit twee perspectieven verteld. In het heden gaat het verhaal over Mia en haar oma Lucy is overleden. Ze krijgt kort hierna een brief te lezen, gestuurd door een advocatenbureau in Rome. Zij verdenken haar oma ervan een object te hebben gestolen uit Italië. Mia weet niks van het verleden van haar oma, behalve dat ze van Italiaanse afkomst is. Ze reist naar Italië toe om dit tot op de bodem uit te zoeken. In het verleden, 1943, lees je vanuit Annalisa. Zij reist samen met haar twee jongere zussen naar het Italiaanse eiland Parissi. Zij hoopt hier Patricio Parissi om hulp te vragen om hun vader beter te maken en zij wil hem hier graag bij helpen. Maar wat Annalisa niet weet, is dat het eiland gauw genoeg bezet zou worden door de nazi’s en ze alles wat ze lief heeft moet achterlaten.
Het verhaal start in het heden bij Mia en wisselt om de zoveel hoofdstukken naar het verleden. Deze wisselingen zijn goed uitgekozen, want de hoofdstukken in het verleden laten je steeds met nieuwe vragen achter. De schrijfstijl van Barbara leest prettig en vlot. Haar beschrijvingen van het eiland Parissi zijn zo realistisch, dat je haast gelooft dat dit eiland bestaat. Ook zet ze de gevoelens en gedachtes van de personages zo neer dat het net lijkt alsof je een bent met de personages.
Zowel Mia als Annalisa zijn lieve, sterke en ietwat naïeve vrouwen. In het heden worstelt Mia met het overlijden van haar oma en met haar huidige relatie. In het verleden worstelt Annalisa met haar zieke vader en de onverwachte liefde. Beide vrouwen maken een mooie ontwikkeling door en je zult van beide vrouwen gaan houden. Ook de twee zussen van Annalisa zijn fijne personages om over te lezen en zul je omarmen. En dat is maar goed ook, want de volgende twee delen zullen over deze zussen gaan.
De geheimen van het Italiaanse eiland is een fijn boek, een tikkeltje mysterieus. Het bevat verrassende wendingen, onderwerpen als familie, relaties en vriendschap worden mooi beschreven en je zult dit boek met een lach en een traan lezen. Echt een fijne start van een nieuwe serie!
Bedankt Oceaanboeken voor dit recensie-exemplaar!
Het verhaal start in het heden bij Mia en wisselt om de zoveel hoofdstukken naar het verleden. Deze wisselingen zijn goed uitgekozen, want de hoofdstukken in het verleden laten je steeds met nieuwe vragen achter. De schrijfstijl van Barbara leest prettig en vlot. Haar beschrijvingen van het eiland Parissi zijn zo realistisch, dat je haast gelooft dat dit eiland bestaat. Ook zet ze de gevoelens en gedachtes van de personages zo neer dat het net lijkt alsof je een bent met de personages.
Zowel Mia als Annalisa zijn lieve, sterke en ietwat naïeve vrouwen. In het heden worstelt Mia met het overlijden van haar oma en met haar huidige relatie. In het verleden worstelt Annalisa met haar zieke vader en de onverwachte liefde. Beide vrouwen maken een mooie ontwikkeling door en je zult van beide vrouwen gaan houden. Ook de twee zussen van Annalisa zijn fijne personages om over te lezen en zul je omarmen. En dat is maar goed ook, want de volgende twee delen zullen over deze zussen gaan.
De geheimen van het Italiaanse eiland is een fijn boek, een tikkeltje mysterieus. Het bevat verrassende wendingen, onderwerpen als familie, relaties en vriendschap worden mooi beschreven en je zult dit boek met een lach en een traan lezen. Echt een fijne start van een nieuwe serie!
Bedankt Oceaanboeken voor dit recensie-exemplaar!
June 22, 2025
FORMAT: Combo of Kindle & audio
RECAP: In 1943 Italy, the Nazi invasion tore apart 3 sisters & left a castle in ruins. Decades later in New York, Mia mourns her beloved grandmother, Lucy, who raised her alone. After discovering a hidden letter, Mia learns of a summer Lucy spent on vine-covered Isola di Parissi—and a dark wartime accusation. With brooding local guide Leo, Mia uncovers buried secrets & finds love, forcing her to face a heartbreaking truth about her family’s past.
REVIEW: This was entertaining, and I'll continue the series because it dives into what happened to the other sisters, if my understanding is correct. Quick listen if you can get past how atrocious the narrator's Italian accent is (I don't mean to be harsh, but it's really bad). Some parts were good, but others felt slow & repeated. I even liked the mystery aspect, although some parts didn’t fully make sense.
RECAP: In 1943 Italy, the Nazi invasion tore apart 3 sisters & left a castle in ruins. Decades later in New York, Mia mourns her beloved grandmother, Lucy, who raised her alone. After discovering a hidden letter, Mia learns of a summer Lucy spent on vine-covered Isola di Parissi—and a dark wartime accusation. With brooding local guide Leo, Mia uncovers buried secrets & finds love, forcing her to face a heartbreaking truth about her family’s past.
REVIEW: This was entertaining, and I'll continue the series because it dives into what happened to the other sisters, if my understanding is correct. Quick listen if you can get past how atrocious the narrator's Italian accent is (I don't mean to be harsh, but it's really bad). Some parts were good, but others felt slow & repeated. I even liked the mystery aspect, although some parts didn’t fully make sense.
May 30, 2025
ik geraak niet verder dan pagina 100, het verhaal kon me niet boeien ... ondaks de erg hoge score dat het boek kreeg. ik vond het maar wat gewoontjes. ook geen aangename personages.
May 6, 2023
Positive aspects of this book: family mystery, unanswered questions, hunting grandmother’s past, Italian setting.
Negative aspects: I am forced to wait for the next one in the series.
Hot Italian Leo turns out not to be so Italian. I loved the mystery of the wedding dress and bowl and finally getting the revelations behind Lucy.
I’m ready for the next book!
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the early read.
Negative aspects: I am forced to wait for the next one in the series.
Hot Italian Leo turns out not to be so Italian. I loved the mystery of the wedding dress and bowl and finally getting the revelations behind Lucy.
I’m ready for the next book!
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the early read.
May 15, 2023
Mia’s heart is broken when she loses her precious grandmother, Annalisa. Mia is a thirty-two year old researcher that lives on Long Island, New York. Mia is sorting through her late grandmother’s belongings when she finds an old letter. Annalisa had never mentioned anything about the Italian castle to Mia. Mia travels to Italy in search of answers to so many questions. Mia is amazed at the beauty of the Italian coast. She takes a short boat ride from Parissi to the island and is sad to discover the island is closed to visitors. She doesn’t want to just give up as she desperately needs to find out what her grandmother was hiding all these years. She meets Leo, a local and promises to get her into the castle even though it’s closed. As Mia and Leo begin searching the old, dilapidated castle, they find more handwritten notes in the walls of the castle. As Mia and Leo read through the letters, many answers to their questions are answered, but many more questions come up. The more time Leo and Mia spend together they begin to fall in love. Mia has so many decisions to make, does she return to New York with more questions than answers or does she stay in Italy with her new found love?
Secrets of the Italian Island, by author Barabara Josselsohn, was a heart-warming and amazing story of family, new beginnings and uncovering family truths. This amazing story was full of mystery, intrigue and grabbed my attention from beginning to end. This unputdownable book was absolutely phenomenal, unpredictable and hit all the emotions. I loved this book and am so glad that it is the first book in a new series. Barbara Josselsohn is a wonderful author that knows how to draw the reader into the story and won’t let them go until the last page is turned. Her detailed descriptions of Italy make you feel like you are actually there. Everything about this story is amazing, don’t pass this one up. This time slip, historical fiction is indescribable. I highly recommend this book, it was absolutely fabulous!
Secrets of the Italian Island, by author Barabara Josselsohn, was a heart-warming and amazing story of family, new beginnings and uncovering family truths. This amazing story was full of mystery, intrigue and grabbed my attention from beginning to end. This unputdownable book was absolutely phenomenal, unpredictable and hit all the emotions. I loved this book and am so glad that it is the first book in a new series. Barbara Josselsohn is a wonderful author that knows how to draw the reader into the story and won’t let them go until the last page is turned. Her detailed descriptions of Italy make you feel like you are actually there. Everything about this story is amazing, don’t pass this one up. This time slip, historical fiction is indescribable. I highly recommend this book, it was absolutely fabulous!
March 21, 2023
This book is the epitome of enchanting. Not only is the concept of the story phenomenal but the writing holds up to the weight and magic of the story.
The authors use of two timelines at the same time, which has been done before and can be confusing or annoying, but it serves this story beautifully.
This book is truly a story that unfolds at an amazing pace and I cannot recommend it enough. I even stopped reading halfway through to check to see if there would be more in the series, even though I was reading and ARC and the first wasn’t even published yet. This book will be one of my most recommended in the future and would be a really refreshing choice for a book club.
The authors use of two timelines at the same time, which has been done before and can be confusing or annoying, but it serves this story beautifully.
This book is truly a story that unfolds at an amazing pace and I cannot recommend it enough. I even stopped reading halfway through to check to see if there would be more in the series, even though I was reading and ARC and the first wasn’t even published yet. This book will be one of my most recommended in the future and would be a really refreshing choice for a book club.
May 13, 2023
Beautiful
I think I found my favorite new author!!! Words cannot describe how much I’ve enjoyed this book! There is something about this author's writing that pulls you right in. And there will be Book 2 out in December. Oh, my heart! I will be reading this author’s every book!
I think I found my favorite new author!!! Words cannot describe how much I’ve enjoyed this book! There is something about this author's writing that pulls you right in. And there will be Book 2 out in December. Oh, my heart! I will be reading this author’s every book!
March 10, 2025
Mooi verhaal!! Ik niet wel zeggen dat ik de verhaallijn van vroeger mooier (pakkender) vond dan dat van het heden!
May 17, 2024
Na het overlijden van haar oma Lucy vindt Mia een bericht uit Italië, en een bijzonder object. Haar oma heeft haar nooit verteld over haar verleden, en al helemaal niet over het prachtige Italiaanse kasteel op een eiland. Mia vertrekt naar Italië om het verleden uit te zoeken. In 1943 reist de jonge Annalisa naar een eiland om hulp van haar om te vragen, maar dan verandert de politieke situatie…
Net als de Zeven zussen of de Verloren dochters-serie, gaat deze serie Het Italiaanse eiland over twee vrouwen in verschillende tijden. Mia en Annalisa reizen beide naar het eiland Parissi, maar met een ander doel. Dit eiland is speciaal en door de levendige vertelstijl van Josselsohn zie ik het zó voor me. Haar gedetailleerde beschrijving zorgt ervoor dat ik het gevoel heb dat ik het eiland met eigen ogen zie.
De hoofdstukken tussen Mia en Annalisa wisselen elkaar af, waardoor je in het verhaal wordt gezogen. Mia wil het verhaal van haar oma achterhalen, terwijl Annalisa op zoek gaat naar haar oom, de enige persoon die haar vader kan helpen. Beide zijn op zoek naar familie en het verhaal van de familie. Op het begin moest ik even wennen aan de karakters. Grootmoeder Lucy is erg gesloten en zoekt weinig contact met andere ouders uit de klas van Mia. Gaandeweg het verhaal leer je haar kennen en begrijp je beter waarom ze het leven zo aanpakt. Lucy is in het verleden gekwetst en heeft moeite met mensen vertrouwen, maar ze houdt zo veel van Mia dat het van de pagina’s spat. Het verhaal van Mia is een gelaagd verhaal: ze is een karakter met een interessant verleden en ze komt heel duidelijk uit de verf. Dit maakt het makkelijk om met haar mee te leven.
Ook in het verhaal van Annalisa is de liefde voor familie de drijvende kracht achter haar beslissingen. Maar ze is niet immuun voor jonge liefde: ze ontmoet een jongen en moet kiezen: gaat ze voor haar passie en haar doel, of laat ze zich afleiden door de liefde? En de oorlog ligt op de loer, ook op het eiland Parissi is niemand veilig. Dit zorgt weer voor een extra laag in het verhaal. Er zijn veel parallellen tussen de twee vrouwen en hun thema’s en beweegredenen. Dit maakt het extra prettig om te lezen.
Het verhaal hangt aan elkaar van veel toevalligheden, het is soms net een soap. Maar dat is niet storend voor het verhaal. De verhalen zijn vernuftig in elkaar geweven. Ondanks dat je weet waar het heengaat, blijf je toch lezen omdat je wil weten hoe alles is gebeurd en wat de details zijn. Het gaat namelijk niet om de uitkomst, maar om het verhaal. En dat is zo meeslepend geschreven dat ik hélemaal in het boek zat: ik heb het boek in één dag uitgelezen. Ik kon het echt niet meer wegleggen!
De geheimen van het Italiaanse eiland is een meeslepend en gelaagd boek over familierelaties en wat je zou doen voor je familie. Met een snufje liefde, vriendschap en een prachtig maar mysterieus Italiaans eiland kun je wegdromen naar een andere plaats en tijd.
Deze recensie verscheen eerst op https://www.readalicious.nl/recensies...
Dit boek heb ik ontvangen via de uitgeverij in ruil voor een review. Dit had geen invloed op mijn mening over het boek.
Net als de Zeven zussen of de Verloren dochters-serie, gaat deze serie Het Italiaanse eiland over twee vrouwen in verschillende tijden. Mia en Annalisa reizen beide naar het eiland Parissi, maar met een ander doel. Dit eiland is speciaal en door de levendige vertelstijl van Josselsohn zie ik het zó voor me. Haar gedetailleerde beschrijving zorgt ervoor dat ik het gevoel heb dat ik het eiland met eigen ogen zie.
De hoofdstukken tussen Mia en Annalisa wisselen elkaar af, waardoor je in het verhaal wordt gezogen. Mia wil het verhaal van haar oma achterhalen, terwijl Annalisa op zoek gaat naar haar oom, de enige persoon die haar vader kan helpen. Beide zijn op zoek naar familie en het verhaal van de familie. Op het begin moest ik even wennen aan de karakters. Grootmoeder Lucy is erg gesloten en zoekt weinig contact met andere ouders uit de klas van Mia. Gaandeweg het verhaal leer je haar kennen en begrijp je beter waarom ze het leven zo aanpakt. Lucy is in het verleden gekwetst en heeft moeite met mensen vertrouwen, maar ze houdt zo veel van Mia dat het van de pagina’s spat. Het verhaal van Mia is een gelaagd verhaal: ze is een karakter met een interessant verleden en ze komt heel duidelijk uit de verf. Dit maakt het makkelijk om met haar mee te leven.
Ook in het verhaal van Annalisa is de liefde voor familie de drijvende kracht achter haar beslissingen. Maar ze is niet immuun voor jonge liefde: ze ontmoet een jongen en moet kiezen: gaat ze voor haar passie en haar doel, of laat ze zich afleiden door de liefde? En de oorlog ligt op de loer, ook op het eiland Parissi is niemand veilig. Dit zorgt weer voor een extra laag in het verhaal. Er zijn veel parallellen tussen de twee vrouwen en hun thema’s en beweegredenen. Dit maakt het extra prettig om te lezen.
Het verhaal hangt aan elkaar van veel toevalligheden, het is soms net een soap. Maar dat is niet storend voor het verhaal. De verhalen zijn vernuftig in elkaar geweven. Ondanks dat je weet waar het heengaat, blijf je toch lezen omdat je wil weten hoe alles is gebeurd en wat de details zijn. Het gaat namelijk niet om de uitkomst, maar om het verhaal. En dat is zo meeslepend geschreven dat ik hélemaal in het boek zat: ik heb het boek in één dag uitgelezen. Ik kon het echt niet meer wegleggen!
De geheimen van het Italiaanse eiland is een meeslepend en gelaagd boek over familierelaties en wat je zou doen voor je familie. Met een snufje liefde, vriendschap en een prachtig maar mysterieus Italiaans eiland kun je wegdromen naar een andere plaats en tijd.
Deze recensie verscheen eerst op https://www.readalicious.nl/recensies...
Dit boek heb ik ontvangen via de uitgeverij in ruil voor een review. Dit had geen invloed op mijn mening over het boek.
May 10, 2023
*Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC ebook*
'Secrets of the Italian Island' is an immersive and historically rich novel that transports the reader to a fanciful world of the castle on the Isola di Parissi, Italy, that is shadowed by the looming threat of the Nazi invasion in 1943. The dual narrative that parallels Mia in 2018 walking the footsteps of her Grandmother’s, Lucy (aka Annalisa), life in 1943, unravels the story of love, hope, secrets and tragedy. Through this path, Mia’s character transforms and her identity becomes clearer through discovering the hidden life of her Grandmother and her losses. Mia becomes an independent and hopeful character that continues the life and legacy of Lucy by continuing her passion of science. It is only through Lucy’s sacrifice and turning her back on hope and love after 1943, that Mia can confront her life’s purpose as a scientist, preserving Lucy’s legacy, family reputation, and pursuit of love.
Barbara Josselsohn’s dedication to description creates a vivid and vibrant life at the castle that emphasises the tragedy caused by the Nazi invasion throughout the novel. The guests, who were great thinkers, painters and inventors are murdered in their prime which provide a distinct and emotional reminder of the atrocities of the war. This novel is fast-paced, well written and full of mystery where the reader is left with a mixture of answers and even more questions by the novels denouement. This is a novel of hope, loss and family that creates emotionally driven and rich characters that help the reader relate to the character's struggles, thoughts and feelings.
'Secrets of the Italian Island' is an immersive and historically rich novel that transports the reader to a fanciful world of the castle on the Isola di Parissi, Italy, that is shadowed by the looming threat of the Nazi invasion in 1943. The dual narrative that parallels Mia in 2018 walking the footsteps of her Grandmother’s, Lucy (aka Annalisa), life in 1943, unravels the story of love, hope, secrets and tragedy. Through this path, Mia’s character transforms and her identity becomes clearer through discovering the hidden life of her Grandmother and her losses. Mia becomes an independent and hopeful character that continues the life and legacy of Lucy by continuing her passion of science. It is only through Lucy’s sacrifice and turning her back on hope and love after 1943, that Mia can confront her life’s purpose as a scientist, preserving Lucy’s legacy, family reputation, and pursuit of love.
Barbara Josselsohn’s dedication to description creates a vivid and vibrant life at the castle that emphasises the tragedy caused by the Nazi invasion throughout the novel. The guests, who were great thinkers, painters and inventors are murdered in their prime which provide a distinct and emotional reminder of the atrocities of the war. This novel is fast-paced, well written and full of mystery where the reader is left with a mixture of answers and even more questions by the novels denouement. This is a novel of hope, loss and family that creates emotionally driven and rich characters that help the reader relate to the character's struggles, thoughts and feelings.
June 13, 2024
Ik had waarschijnlijk te hoge verwachtingen...
Verhaallijnen waren prima en interessant, de uitvoering/vertaling minder.
Verhaallijnen waren prima en interessant, de uitvoering/vertaling minder.
October 31, 2025
Aardig . Beetje veel introspectie soms.
Maar onderhoudend
Maar onderhoudend
January 31, 2025
Mooie verhaallijn, nodigt uit om door te lezen om te weten hoe het eindigt!
Benieuwd naar vervolg
Benieuwd naar vervolg
September 26, 2024
Love the trilogy and all the Italian history in WW2.
May 12, 2023
Secrets of the Italian island.
By Barbara Josselsohn.
Historical fiction.
Fabulous story about the past and the present.
Duel time lines. These books are some of my absolute favorites.
I have read several of this author's Books and well I must say each book is a perfect story. But this one is my favorite.
This story takes you back in time, a time when war was happening, but also a young girl was doing everything she could to save her father.
So much history for one family.
Then we have the present day 2018
Mia, Lucy granddaughter planning a trip with her best friend to Italy 🇮🇹. Looking for information that we'll she never knew. Before..
Will Mia Discover what she's looking for. Or will the secrets remain forever.. don't wait to find out get your copy today. Your going to love this one as much as I DO.
This was an amazing book Im Excited for a second book that is coming in december 2023.
Thank you Barbara Josselsohn.
By Barbara Josselsohn.
Historical fiction.
Fabulous story about the past and the present.
Duel time lines. These books are some of my absolute favorites.
I have read several of this author's Books and well I must say each book is a perfect story. But this one is my favorite.
This story takes you back in time, a time when war was happening, but also a young girl was doing everything she could to save her father.
So much history for one family.
Then we have the present day 2018
Mia, Lucy granddaughter planning a trip with her best friend to Italy 🇮🇹. Looking for information that we'll she never knew. Before..
Will Mia Discover what she's looking for. Or will the secrets remain forever.. don't wait to find out get your copy today. Your going to love this one as much as I DO.
This was an amazing book Im Excited for a second book that is coming in december 2023.
Thank you Barbara Josselsohn.
June 23, 2025
Ik had dit verhaal waarschijnlijk hoger gewaardeerd wanneer oma Lucy behalve een oude bruidsjurk en een of ander apparaat ook een bijbehorende - liefdevolle - brief had nagelaten . Ik snap dat het hele verhaal om het mysterie draait en dat er niet te veel "weggegeven" kan worden maar dit was toch een beetje te koud en kil .
Ik heb deel 2 al bij mijn bibliotheek aangevraagd want ik ben toch benieuwd naar de verhalen van de zusjes .
Ik heb deel 2 al bij mijn bibliotheek aangevraagd want ik ben toch benieuwd naar de verhalen van de zusjes .
July 22, 2024
Nachten onder de Italiaanse sterrenhemel
Titel: De geheimen van het Italiaanse eiland
Oorspronkelijke titel: Secrets of the Italian Island
Auteur: Barbara Josselsohn
Uitgeverij: Oceaan
Serie: Het Italiaanse eiland 1
Publicatiedatum: 25/04/24
ISBN: 978 90 468 3219 6
Engelse vertaling door Nellie Keukelaar- van Rijsbergen
In De geheimen van het Italiaanse eiland, het eerste deel van Barbara Josselsohn's nieuwe serie, worden de levens van Mia in 2018 en Annalisa in 1943 met elkaar verweven door een mysterieuze brief uit Rome. Mia ontdekt dat haar overleden oma Lucy betrokken was bij een waardevol object dat tijdens WOII verdween van een kasteel op een afgelegen eiland in Italië. Terwijl Mia het verleden van haar oma ontrafelt, reist ze terug in de tijd naar het geheime leven van Annalisa, die met haar zussen naar het eiland Parassi afreist op zoek naar hulp van de excentrieke Patricio Parassi. Een boeiende dual-timeline vertelling vol mysterie en familiegeheimen."
Barbara Josselsohn is een bekroonde auteur die zich richt op verhalen met sterke protagonisten op tweesprongen in het leven. Ze is vooral bekend van haar bestseller-serie "Het Italiaanse Eiland", die zich afspeelt in Italië tijdens de Tweede Wereldoorlog. Dit boek werd vertaald in het Nederlands door Nellie Keukelaar- van Rijsbergen. Naast haar romans heeft ze ook talloze artikelen en essays geschreven voor grote en regionale publicaties over familie, thuis en relaties. Ze deelt haar expertise als docent in romanschrijven aan The Writing Institute van Sarah Lawrence College, de Westport Writers Workshop, de Scarsdale Library en privé. Ze woont ten noorden van New York City en geniet ervan tijd door te brengen op het strand of in de bergen wanneer mogelijk. Naast schrijven is haar grootste passie haar gezin: haar man, drie kinderen, en haar dwergschnauzer reddingshond. Momenteel werkt ze aan twee nieuwe historische romans die gepland staan voor publicatie in 2024 en 2025.
In het eerste deel van "Het Italiaanse Eiland" ontvouwt zich een meeslepend dual-timeline verhaal dat het leven van Mia Abrams, een jonge wetenschappelijke assistente in het hedendaagse New York, verweeft met dat van Annalisa in 1943. Wanneer Mia's geliefde oma Lucy overlijdt, ontvangt ze een schokkende brief uit Rome waarin haar grootmoeder wordt beschuldigd van diefstal tijdens de Tweede Wereldoorlog, van een kostbaar object uit een kasteel op een afgelegen eiland in de Middellandse Zee.
Mia kan niet geloven dat haar oma iets dergelijks zou hebben gedaan, vooral omdat Lucy nooit Italiaans sprak of iets had verteld over een leven in Italië.
Vastbesloten om de beschuldigingen te weerleggen en om meer te weten te komen over het mysterieuze verleden van haar oma, begint Mia aan een ontdekkingsreis die haar terugvoert naar de turbulente jaren van de oorlog. Op het betoverende eiland ontmoet ze Leo, een intrigerende man die haar helpt bij haar zoektocht naar waarheid en verloren gewaande objecten. Terwijl Mia dieper graaft in de geheimen van het verleden, stuit ze niet alleen op verborgen intriges en verrassende onthullingen, maar vindt ze ook een onverwachte romance die haar leven voorgoed zal veranderen.
De schrijfstijl van "Het Italiaanse Eiland" kenmerkt zich door zijn dynamische en meeslepende karakter. Het boek maakt frequent sprongen tussen het heden, waar Mia Abrams haar weg probeert te vinden in New York, en het verleden, met name naar het jaar 1943 waarin Annalisa haar eigen strijd voert tijdens de Tweede Wereldoorlog. Deze afwisseling tussen tijdsperiodes gebeurt vaak in korte hoofdstukken, wat het verhaal een snelle, pageturner-achtige allure geeft.
Wat het verhaal echt uniek maakt, is hoe deze verschillende tijdlijnen en personages met elkaar verweven zijn. Mia's zoektocht naar de waarheid over haar oma Lucy's verleden leidt niet alleen tot onthullingen over diefstal en geheimen uit de oorlogstijd, maar ook tot het ontdekken van persoonlijke verbanden en onverwachte verbindingen tussen heden en verleden. Dit weefwerk van verhaallijnen zorgt voor een boeiende leeservaring waarbij de puzzelstukjes langzaam op hun plaats vallen, terwijl Mia en Annalisa beiden hun eigen persoonlijke en emotionele reizen doormaken. Kortom, "Het Italiaanse Eiland" combineert een levendige schrijfstijl met een ingenieus plot dat de lezer meesleept in een wereld vol mysteries, historische intriges en menselijke verbondenheid.
De geheimen van het Italiaanse eiland is een meeslepend boek waarin het hedendaagse leven van Mia Abrams en het historische drama van Annalisa in 1943 op indrukwekkende wijze samenkomen. Barbara Josselsohn weeft een intrigerend verhaal met verschillende tijdlijnen en personages die je van begin tot eind zullen boeien. De dynamische schrijfstijl en de ingenieuze plot maken dit boek een absolute aanrader voor liefhebbers van historische fictie met een hedendaags tintje!
Beoordeling: ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Titel: De geheimen van het Italiaanse eiland
Oorspronkelijke titel: Secrets of the Italian Island
Auteur: Barbara Josselsohn
Uitgeverij: Oceaan
Serie: Het Italiaanse eiland 1
Publicatiedatum: 25/04/24
ISBN: 978 90 468 3219 6
Engelse vertaling door Nellie Keukelaar- van Rijsbergen
In De geheimen van het Italiaanse eiland, het eerste deel van Barbara Josselsohn's nieuwe serie, worden de levens van Mia in 2018 en Annalisa in 1943 met elkaar verweven door een mysterieuze brief uit Rome. Mia ontdekt dat haar overleden oma Lucy betrokken was bij een waardevol object dat tijdens WOII verdween van een kasteel op een afgelegen eiland in Italië. Terwijl Mia het verleden van haar oma ontrafelt, reist ze terug in de tijd naar het geheime leven van Annalisa, die met haar zussen naar het eiland Parassi afreist op zoek naar hulp van de excentrieke Patricio Parassi. Een boeiende dual-timeline vertelling vol mysterie en familiegeheimen."
Barbara Josselsohn is een bekroonde auteur die zich richt op verhalen met sterke protagonisten op tweesprongen in het leven. Ze is vooral bekend van haar bestseller-serie "Het Italiaanse Eiland", die zich afspeelt in Italië tijdens de Tweede Wereldoorlog. Dit boek werd vertaald in het Nederlands door Nellie Keukelaar- van Rijsbergen. Naast haar romans heeft ze ook talloze artikelen en essays geschreven voor grote en regionale publicaties over familie, thuis en relaties. Ze deelt haar expertise als docent in romanschrijven aan The Writing Institute van Sarah Lawrence College, de Westport Writers Workshop, de Scarsdale Library en privé. Ze woont ten noorden van New York City en geniet ervan tijd door te brengen op het strand of in de bergen wanneer mogelijk. Naast schrijven is haar grootste passie haar gezin: haar man, drie kinderen, en haar dwergschnauzer reddingshond. Momenteel werkt ze aan twee nieuwe historische romans die gepland staan voor publicatie in 2024 en 2025.
In het eerste deel van "Het Italiaanse Eiland" ontvouwt zich een meeslepend dual-timeline verhaal dat het leven van Mia Abrams, een jonge wetenschappelijke assistente in het hedendaagse New York, verweeft met dat van Annalisa in 1943. Wanneer Mia's geliefde oma Lucy overlijdt, ontvangt ze een schokkende brief uit Rome waarin haar grootmoeder wordt beschuldigd van diefstal tijdens de Tweede Wereldoorlog, van een kostbaar object uit een kasteel op een afgelegen eiland in de Middellandse Zee.
Mia kan niet geloven dat haar oma iets dergelijks zou hebben gedaan, vooral omdat Lucy nooit Italiaans sprak of iets had verteld over een leven in Italië.
Vastbesloten om de beschuldigingen te weerleggen en om meer te weten te komen over het mysterieuze verleden van haar oma, begint Mia aan een ontdekkingsreis die haar terugvoert naar de turbulente jaren van de oorlog. Op het betoverende eiland ontmoet ze Leo, een intrigerende man die haar helpt bij haar zoektocht naar waarheid en verloren gewaande objecten. Terwijl Mia dieper graaft in de geheimen van het verleden, stuit ze niet alleen op verborgen intriges en verrassende onthullingen, maar vindt ze ook een onverwachte romance die haar leven voorgoed zal veranderen.
De schrijfstijl van "Het Italiaanse Eiland" kenmerkt zich door zijn dynamische en meeslepende karakter. Het boek maakt frequent sprongen tussen het heden, waar Mia Abrams haar weg probeert te vinden in New York, en het verleden, met name naar het jaar 1943 waarin Annalisa haar eigen strijd voert tijdens de Tweede Wereldoorlog. Deze afwisseling tussen tijdsperiodes gebeurt vaak in korte hoofdstukken, wat het verhaal een snelle, pageturner-achtige allure geeft.
Wat het verhaal echt uniek maakt, is hoe deze verschillende tijdlijnen en personages met elkaar verweven zijn. Mia's zoektocht naar de waarheid over haar oma Lucy's verleden leidt niet alleen tot onthullingen over diefstal en geheimen uit de oorlogstijd, maar ook tot het ontdekken van persoonlijke verbanden en onverwachte verbindingen tussen heden en verleden. Dit weefwerk van verhaallijnen zorgt voor een boeiende leeservaring waarbij de puzzelstukjes langzaam op hun plaats vallen, terwijl Mia en Annalisa beiden hun eigen persoonlijke en emotionele reizen doormaken. Kortom, "Het Italiaanse Eiland" combineert een levendige schrijfstijl met een ingenieus plot dat de lezer meesleept in een wereld vol mysteries, historische intriges en menselijke verbondenheid.
De geheimen van het Italiaanse eiland is een meeslepend boek waarin het hedendaagse leven van Mia Abrams en het historische drama van Annalisa in 1943 op indrukwekkende wijze samenkomen. Barbara Josselsohn weeft een intrigerend verhaal met verschillende tijdlijnen en personages die je van begin tot eind zullen boeien. De dynamische schrijfstijl en de ingenieuze plot maken dit boek een absolute aanrader voor liefhebbers van historische fictie met een hedendaags tintje!
Beoordeling: ❤️❤️❤️❤️
May 16, 2023
Barbara Josselsohn’s foray into historical fiction begins with Secrets of the Italian Island. Based on a true story, this dual timeline is book #1 in the Sisters of War series. Main character Mia, grieving her grandmother Lucy’s recent passing in 2018, receives a letter claiming her grandmother is connected to an object of historical significance stolen from a castle on an island off the coast of Italy in the early 1940’s. Known as the Castle of the Poets for centuries, it had become a sanctuary for inventors, scientists, writers, and artists from all over the world. In the 1940’s the castle was stormed and overtaken by Nazis to house high ranking officials. The dual timeline continues with the saga of three sisters on a quest in 1943 to save their dying father. Papa, a Jewish tailor, should be leaving Italy, but due to his health must remain at home in his small village south of Rome. Annalise, oldest sister at 18 years old, has devised a daring plan to travel to the island, secure jobs in the castle kitchen, and find the owner, Patricio Parissi, who she hopes will help save her father.
Barbara Josselsohn’s well developed characters bridge the timelines for readers. In the current timeline, Mia’s boyfriend, Ryan, lacks empathy for her search to understand how the grandmother that raised her is somehow connected to a wedding dress found in a closet. When Mia travels to Italy, Ryan’s questioning phone calls and lack of support creates tension and distrust as the story progresses. Mia’s island tour guide, Leo, links readers to the latter timeline, as he shares the Parissi’s family history of the castle and the gruesome details of the Nazi takeover. Readers will also appreciate the impressive head of the castle kitchen, Signora Russo, and her intricate system of record keeping for guests in the castle.
Josselsohn’s prose is filled with anticipation, hope and fear in the sisters’ plan and her dialogue evokes emotions ranging from infuriating reactions to soul-stirring feelings shared on the dance floor. Along with analysis of the grandmother/granddaughter relationship readers can follow the sisters for an historic discovery and the threads of connection between artists and musicians of years past. Notes in walls and secrets leading to a love story on the Isola di Parissi, will be discovered in Secrets of the Italian Island.
Barbara Josselsohn’s well developed characters bridge the timelines for readers. In the current timeline, Mia’s boyfriend, Ryan, lacks empathy for her search to understand how the grandmother that raised her is somehow connected to a wedding dress found in a closet. When Mia travels to Italy, Ryan’s questioning phone calls and lack of support creates tension and distrust as the story progresses. Mia’s island tour guide, Leo, links readers to the latter timeline, as he shares the Parissi’s family history of the castle and the gruesome details of the Nazi takeover. Readers will also appreciate the impressive head of the castle kitchen, Signora Russo, and her intricate system of record keeping for guests in the castle.
Josselsohn’s prose is filled with anticipation, hope and fear in the sisters’ plan and her dialogue evokes emotions ranging from infuriating reactions to soul-stirring feelings shared on the dance floor. Along with analysis of the grandmother/granddaughter relationship readers can follow the sisters for an historic discovery and the threads of connection between artists and musicians of years past. Notes in walls and secrets leading to a love story on the Isola di Parissi, will be discovered in Secrets of the Italian Island.
June 29, 2023
Review of Secrets of the Italian Island by Barbara Josselsohn
As she was still aimless and reeling from losing her beloved grandmother, Lucy, Mia recalled her dispelling her nighttime childhood fears by explaining, “The night sky is bright if you look closely. It tells you exactly where you need to go.”
We remember that phrase much later when Mia not only has to look closely at the night sky but closely into the clues her grandmother left to unlock the mysteries of her past.
Mia was orphaned in infancy and raised by her grandmother. As much as she relied upon and revered her, Mia always felt that Lucy was never truly happy. After her death, Mia begins to follow cryptic clues left to her as part of her legacy. These clues, a letter describing a missing object, a set of keys, a vintage wedding gown, and ultimately the odd enigmatic object itself, the Schianto Grandioso, all led her to investigate further.
Against her insensitive boyfriend Ryan’s advice Mia traveled alone to the beautiful Sicilian island Parisi. She needed to find out where the schianto belonged and why her grandmother had it all these years. She’s unexpectedly aided in exploring the Castello del Poeta by the handsome, knowledgeable guide, Leo.
The novel’s narration is told by two characters in two distinct timelines. The reader has the fun of unraveling the secrets of the past and understanding the present along with Mia. I held my breath when the three sisters in the 1943 timeline, Guilia, Emilia, and Analisa, were in jeopardy. The threat of war hung over the 1943 timeline, and we are reminded of how difficult life was in Italy for so many. In the same way, I urged Mia in the present to learn from the lessons of the past and open her heart to what was being offered to her.
Barbara Josselsohn has crafted an intriguing historical novel that is also part mystery and romance—a winning combination of genres.
As she was still aimless and reeling from losing her beloved grandmother, Lucy, Mia recalled her dispelling her nighttime childhood fears by explaining, “The night sky is bright if you look closely. It tells you exactly where you need to go.”
We remember that phrase much later when Mia not only has to look closely at the night sky but closely into the clues her grandmother left to unlock the mysteries of her past.
Mia was orphaned in infancy and raised by her grandmother. As much as she relied upon and revered her, Mia always felt that Lucy was never truly happy. After her death, Mia begins to follow cryptic clues left to her as part of her legacy. These clues, a letter describing a missing object, a set of keys, a vintage wedding gown, and ultimately the odd enigmatic object itself, the Schianto Grandioso, all led her to investigate further.
Against her insensitive boyfriend Ryan’s advice Mia traveled alone to the beautiful Sicilian island Parisi. She needed to find out where the schianto belonged and why her grandmother had it all these years. She’s unexpectedly aided in exploring the Castello del Poeta by the handsome, knowledgeable guide, Leo.
The novel’s narration is told by two characters in two distinct timelines. The reader has the fun of unraveling the secrets of the past and understanding the present along with Mia. I held my breath when the three sisters in the 1943 timeline, Guilia, Emilia, and Analisa, were in jeopardy. The threat of war hung over the 1943 timeline, and we are reminded of how difficult life was in Italy for so many. In the same way, I urged Mia in the present to learn from the lessons of the past and open her heart to what was being offered to her.
Barbara Josselsohn has crafted an intriguing historical novel that is also part mystery and romance—a winning combination of genres.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 105 reviews