What do you think?
Rate this book
A Letter from Italy
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.
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.
428 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 25, 2024
761 people are currently reading
398 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
March 27, 2024
OH MY ITALIAN BROKEN HEART!!!!!! A Letter from Italy written by Rose Alexander was raw, beautiful, pure, honest, gut wrenching, and even heart warming at times. When I saw the title and the cover for this book, I knew I had to get my hands on it immediately, and I'm so glad I did because I loved every single minute of this story despite how heart breaking it was.
If any book deserves a million stars, A Letter from Italy is that book.
That cover is just so beautiful, you would have never guessed how heart breaking this book is just by looking at the cover, but let me tell you, A Letter from Italy was absolutely gut wrenching. I can't even count the number of times I sobbed while reading this book, while my heart was just shattering into pieces. As an Italian myself, I can truly tell you Italy is a beautiful country, but as this book took place during World War Two, Italy was fighting for their country while people were dying, and their country was being destroyed. I can't recommend this book enough, please do yourself a favor and grab a copy of this book immediately because it truly was beautiful. I couldn't help but want to reach into my kindle and just hug all of these characters. Rose, you owe me at least two-five boxes of tissues because your book destroyed me mentally and physically.
THANK YOU TO NETGALLEY AND BOOKOUTURE FOR AN ARC OF THIS BOOK IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW!!!!!!
"Amo la mia vita perché mi ha dato te. Ti amo perché sei la mia vita".
A Letter from Italy is an emotional and gripping novel about a tragic love affair in World War Two and how a daughter lost for decades finally follows her heart home. One night in 1945, the tiny bundle of joy in Betty Bean's arms barely stirs as Betty runs out into the dark street to hand her baby to some woman she never met. Betty tells this woman she will be back to get her baby, but she never returns that night, instead she comes back a few days later. Betty Bean and Gianni Urso had a beautiful love story. Betty is just a young twenty year old caring for her father after her mother passed away, and Gianni is an Italian Prisoner of War staying in Yorkshire, England where he meets Betty. Betty and Gianni instantly hit it off and become love birds, but meanwhile Betty has a boyfriend, Samuel who is fighting in the Fall of Singapore. While Gianni is stationed in England, him and Betty start spending time together, Gianni teaches Betty Italian, while Betty teaches Gianni English. At the age of just twenty years old, Betty Bean becomes a cipher operator in Italy, after leaving Yorkshire, England and Gianni behind, honestly Betty had no choice but to go and serve as a cipher operator.
At twenty years old, Betty witnesses World War Two happening right in front of her face, Italy vs. Germany. During the Christmas season, Betty and Gianni get leave and decide to spend time in Rome, well in Rome, Gianni and Betty have a love affair, but Betty promised Samuel she would be waiting for him when he got back. Present Day, Sadie is cleaning out her parents house when she is looking through boxes and finds a piece of paper saying that Sadie is adopted. Sadie knew something was different while she was growing up because she had no siblings, and she had no resemblance to her adoptive parents. With nothing but the name of the crumbling palazzo Villa Theresa scribbled on a piece of paper, Sadie heads to Naples to try and find her birth parents. When Sadie arrived in Italy, she had no clue how to speak Italian, so that made it ten times harder, but in Italy Sadie meets, Luca Ricci, Luca is now Sadie's tour guide and translator. I adored watching Luca and Sadie work together trying to find her birth parents. Sadie's best friend and ex-boyfriend kept telling her she would never find her birth parents, but my girl Sadie, proved them wrong. That ending truly had me shocked, but oh my gosh, it was so so beautiful.
THANK YOU TO NETGALLEY AND BOOKOUTURE FOR AN ARC OF THIS BOOK IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW!!!!!!
"Amo la mia vita perché mi ha dato te. Ti amo perché sei la mia vita".
A Letter from Italy is an emotional and gripping novel about a tragic love affair in World War Two and how a daughter lost for decades finally follows her heart home. One night in 1945, the tiny bundle of joy in Betty Bean's arms barely stirs as Betty runs out into the dark street to hand her baby to some woman she never met. Betty tells this woman she will be back to get her baby, but she never returns that night, instead she comes back a few days later. Betty Bean and Gianni Urso had a beautiful love story. Betty is just a young twenty year old caring for her father after her mother passed away, and Gianni is an Italian Prisoner of War staying in Yorkshire, England where he meets Betty. Betty and Gianni instantly hit it off and become love birds, but meanwhile Betty has a boyfriend, Samuel who is fighting in the Fall of Singapore. While Gianni is stationed in England, him and Betty start spending time together, Gianni teaches Betty Italian, while Betty teaches Gianni English. At the age of just twenty years old, Betty Bean becomes a cipher operator in Italy, after leaving Yorkshire, England and Gianni behind, honestly Betty had no choice but to go and serve as a cipher operator.
At twenty years old, Betty witnesses World War Two happening right in front of her face, Italy vs. Germany. During the Christmas season, Betty and Gianni get leave and decide to spend time in Rome, well in Rome, Gianni and Betty have a love affair, but Betty promised Samuel she would be waiting for him when he got back. Present Day, Sadie is cleaning out her parents house when she is looking through boxes and finds a piece of paper saying that Sadie is adopted. Sadie knew something was different while she was growing up because she had no siblings, and she had no resemblance to her adoptive parents. With nothing but the name of the crumbling palazzo Villa Theresa scribbled on a piece of paper, Sadie heads to Naples to try and find her birth parents. When Sadie arrived in Italy, she had no clue how to speak Italian, so that made it ten times harder, but in Italy Sadie meets, Luca Ricci, Luca is now Sadie's tour guide and translator. I adored watching Luca and Sadie work together trying to find her birth parents. Sadie's best friend and ex-boyfriend kept telling her she would never find her birth parents, but my girl Sadie, proved them wrong. That ending truly had me shocked, but oh my gosh, it was so so beautiful.
March 26, 2024
“There is always a need for tea. Conversation is not possible without something to grease the wheels.”
I hope you made yourself a pot of tea and have a currant bun to keep it company - this is a book you’ll want to binge-read and you won’t want to set it aside for anything!
Grieving the loss of her parents and saddled with sorting out all the accumulated junk before putting the family house on the market, only child, 27-year-old Sadie, innocently and unwittingly uncovers an unimaginable secret.
I know what you’re thinking…this has been done before. Put away your preconceived notions. This is not like the others. I guarantee Rose Alexander’s skills will have you completely absorbed in this heartfelt tale.
Allow Alexander to whisk you back to 1945 where you’ll meet Betty Bean from Malton, North Yorkshire. When Betty decides to take control of her future, her paths cross with Gianni Urso, an Italian soldier captured in North Africa and brought to Eden Camp as a POW. Encouraged by her father to cut all ties with the ‘Eyetie’ that has captured her heart, and looking for a fresh start, Betty joins the ATS (Auxiliary Territorial Service) and heads out on the HMS Arcadia to serve Britain in Naples, Italy.
It’s on the transport ship that Betty meets three women who will change her life; Susan Davis the teleprinter, Deborah Castle the supply sergeant, and Lily French another cipher operator like herself. A twist of fate and a dash of serendipity brings Betty’s past colliding with her present and her future. I was glued to the pages.
Alexander has captured the push and pull of both love and duty extremely well in this heartfelt and compelling read. Her examination of regrets set in one of my favourite places is one I won’t forget for quite some time. I’ve visited Taormina, hiked Mt. Etna, had an espresso in Piazza Umberto town square, viewed the Faraglioni rocks from atop Capri, and been on the funicular from Marina Grande to Ana Capri and the chairlift to Mount Solaro. I believe that this, in conjunction with an extremely compelling historical fiction story and the author’s phenomenal writing skills made this worthy of all the stars. This will be near the top of my 2024 historical fiction reads.
So how do Sarah and the sleepy seaside town of Broadstairs fit into this story? You’ll have to read to find out!
I was gifted this copy by Bookouture and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
I hope you made yourself a pot of tea and have a currant bun to keep it company - this is a book you’ll want to binge-read and you won’t want to set it aside for anything!
Grieving the loss of her parents and saddled with sorting out all the accumulated junk before putting the family house on the market, only child, 27-year-old Sadie, innocently and unwittingly uncovers an unimaginable secret.
I know what you’re thinking…this has been done before. Put away your preconceived notions. This is not like the others. I guarantee Rose Alexander’s skills will have you completely absorbed in this heartfelt tale.
Allow Alexander to whisk you back to 1945 where you’ll meet Betty Bean from Malton, North Yorkshire. When Betty decides to take control of her future, her paths cross with Gianni Urso, an Italian soldier captured in North Africa and brought to Eden Camp as a POW. Encouraged by her father to cut all ties with the ‘Eyetie’ that has captured her heart, and looking for a fresh start, Betty joins the ATS (Auxiliary Territorial Service) and heads out on the HMS Arcadia to serve Britain in Naples, Italy.
It’s on the transport ship that Betty meets three women who will change her life; Susan Davis the teleprinter, Deborah Castle the supply sergeant, and Lily French another cipher operator like herself. A twist of fate and a dash of serendipity brings Betty’s past colliding with her present and her future. I was glued to the pages.
Alexander has captured the push and pull of both love and duty extremely well in this heartfelt and compelling read. Her examination of regrets set in one of my favourite places is one I won’t forget for quite some time. I’ve visited Taormina, hiked Mt. Etna, had an espresso in Piazza Umberto town square, viewed the Faraglioni rocks from atop Capri, and been on the funicular from Marina Grande to Ana Capri and the chairlift to Mount Solaro. I believe that this, in conjunction with an extremely compelling historical fiction story and the author’s phenomenal writing skills made this worthy of all the stars. This will be near the top of my 2024 historical fiction reads.
So how do Sarah and the sleepy seaside town of Broadstairs fit into this story? You’ll have to read to find out!
I was gifted this copy by Bookouture and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
March 30, 2024
Set in Italy during and after WWII.
Who are my parents?
Sadie thought the people that raised her were her parents, but as she was cleaning out her parents' home, she found a paper saying she was adopted.
Her search began even though people told her to just forget about it.
We follow Sadie in 1972 as she goes on her search and go back to 1943 and follow Betty as she leaves England and the man she loves to be part of the cypher/decoding team for the British.
Will Sadie be successful in her quest?
Will she find things that will be worth the journey?
An excellent, engaging, heartbreaking, heartwarming read that brings us straight into both lives of the characters hoping for the best and wanting to be there with both Sadie and Betty.
You will fall in love with both characters and the storyline as you read of the beauty of Italy and want to get on the next plane.
LOVED this book...anything about Italy has to be good. 5/5
Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
Who are my parents?
Sadie thought the people that raised her were her parents, but as she was cleaning out her parents' home, she found a paper saying she was adopted.
Her search began even though people told her to just forget about it.
We follow Sadie in 1972 as she goes on her search and go back to 1943 and follow Betty as she leaves England and the man she loves to be part of the cypher/decoding team for the British.
Will Sadie be successful in her quest?
Will she find things that will be worth the journey?
An excellent, engaging, heartbreaking, heartwarming read that brings us straight into both lives of the characters hoping for the best and wanting to be there with both Sadie and Betty.
You will fall in love with both characters and the storyline as you read of the beauty of Italy and want to get on the next plane.
LOVED this book...anything about Italy has to be good. 5/5
Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
April 15, 2024
Wow, what an amazing read,
About secrets and an adopted daughter’s need.
She hadn’t known she was adopted before
Till clearing her late parents’ home revealed this and more.
A story shared from different points of view,
And from different times, too.
Slowly secrets from the past are revealed
And connections made with family previously concealed.
A heartwarming story of love and romance
With war, drama, mystery, luck and chance.
It is a wonderful, moving read,
Keeping me hoping all will succeed!
About secrets and an adopted daughter’s need.
She hadn’t known she was adopted before
Till clearing her late parents’ home revealed this and more.
A story shared from different points of view,
And from different times, too.
Slowly secrets from the past are revealed
And connections made with family previously concealed.
A heartwarming story of love and romance
With war, drama, mystery, luck and chance.
It is a wonderful, moving read,
Keeping me hoping all will succeed!
March 24, 2024
This was a beautifully written book, historical and dual time-line. I really enjoyed this and got caught up in it very quickly. It was so absorbing. My thanks to netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.
February 17, 2024
This book is very different from the author's The Lost Diary. Although the prologue presents a shocking scenario, the story is more of a slow burn as compared to the sledgehammer impact of the previous book. This book is presented in two time periods, both in England and Italy. Betty's story begins in 1942 in Yorkshire where there is an Italian POW camp and follows her life from there. Sadie's story also begins in England in 1972, when she is shocked to learn, at age 27, that she was adopted, discovered after both parents have died. The plot may seem to build slowly but that only makes what follows even more impactful.
To me, this story was less about WW II than it was about honoring commitments made and family loyalties. For British women, by answering the call to serve, they were given opportunities and experiences they could never have imagined. They enjoyed their independence, being more than just a wife & mother but were expected to return to their traditional roles as soon as the war was over. Adoption, with all of the emotional trauma for both the child and the birth mother, is beautifully written into the story. I could feel Sadie's anguish but to me, it paled to the visceral pain experienced by her birth mother. And if you like a bit of romance, it's here in spades, in both timelines. Truly, there is something for everyone in this book. I couldn't read fast enough to discover the truth for Sadie and I was blown away at the ending! I loved it.
My thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the digital ARC. All opinions and the review are entirely my own.
To me, this story was less about WW II than it was about honoring commitments made and family loyalties. For British women, by answering the call to serve, they were given opportunities and experiences they could never have imagined. They enjoyed their independence, being more than just a wife & mother but were expected to return to their traditional roles as soon as the war was over. Adoption, with all of the emotional trauma for both the child and the birth mother, is beautifully written into the story. I could feel Sadie's anguish but to me, it paled to the visceral pain experienced by her birth mother. And if you like a bit of romance, it's here in spades, in both timelines. Truly, there is something for everyone in this book. I couldn't read fast enough to discover the truth for Sadie and I was blown away at the ending! I loved it.
My thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the digital ARC. All opinions and the review are entirely my own.
March 28, 2024
A Letter from Italy is the new novel from Rose Alexander. I really enjoyed her last book, The Lost Diary, so I was looking forward to this one. It opens with a very intriguing prologue set in London in 1945. A new mother creeps through the streets with a two day old baby and knocks upon a strangers door. A woman answers and the young girl leaves the baby with her promising that she will be back. She has an urgency about her as she is desperate to meet someone. Instantly, I wanted to know who was the girl? What were her circumstances? Who has she to meet and why? These questions along with several more ran through my mind but to get the answers the reader needs to be patient and go back to where it all began.
The book then moves back and forth between 1972 and the war years.I definitely preferred the chapters set during the war years especially when the main character goes to Italy for war work. The chapters set in the more modern day although essential to the plot didn’t hold my attention as much as they perhaps should have. I think it’s because the story of Betty in the past really caught my attention and I was keen to see how her story would develop.
Broadstairs, April 1972 and Sadie is starting the arduous task of clearing out her mother’s house following her death from cancer. Her father has been dead for ten years and now she feels this incredible sense of desolation and abandonment. Clearing out the house is a form of closure, a final goodbye although through this process she is adrift and drowning and things don’t get much better for her as when she searches through the attic she finds a box that she has never laid eyes on before marked baby. Inside she discovers baby shoes, a hand knitted hat with photographs and a birth certificate and also hidden is a wooden heart with a wooden key which has the initials GU. Sadie’s life is torn apart to discover that she had been adopted. Everything she had thought true in her life is now clearly not and she can get no immediate answers as her parents are gone.
Sadie knows that she will not find comfort, peace or acceptance until she discovers her true heritage and hopefully locate her biological parents. That’s if they are still alive. She wants to know why she was adopted and sets about seeking answers.Her journey takes her back through the steps that her birth mother made during the war and yes it was a interesting journey and Sadie learns many things as she edges ever closer to the answers she so desperately wants and needs but it was actually going back to the past and reading all about Betty that really caught my attention. I found myself rushing through chapters that featured Sadie and I became completely enamoured up with Betty’s story especially when she went to Italy. Romance does feature for Sadie and it is also a very strong and tangible feeling in the past as elements of the story woven together.
Betty’s story is one of sacrifice, bravery, courage and determination. She was a character whom you wished would follow their heart but yet she has a dedicated sense of duty and loyalty and she can’t abide doing the wrong thing as the weight of expectation falls upon her. She grows up in the Yorkshire village of Malton. Her sister has married and moved away. Her mother is dead two years and she is left to be there for her father. She is a telephonist but war has made life bland and dull for Betty and she is angry about that. Her childhood sweetheart turned fiancée Samuel is away fighting in the war but has been captured and sent to a Japanese prisoner of war camp. Devastated as she is by this news Betty wonders were they ever truly deeply in love or were they just expected by their families and society to marry and rear children?
Betty questions her feelings for Samuel continuously throughout the story and the reader can’t blame her and nor did I judge her for it as I felt she had been pushed into a situation that she wasn’t truly comfortable with. With the outbreak of war everybody’s situation changed along with their feelings and is she had harboured doubts before these were only increased tenfold when she meets Gianni, an Italian prisoner of war, being held at the local internment camp - Eden Camp. To be honest, I was quite surprised that prisoners were allowed to meet with locals aside from the work they were tasked to do in the locality. But the friendship between Betty and Gianni that strays into different territory felt real and worthwhile and I just wanted her to be happy long term but still the thoughts of Samuel imprisoned and enduring god knows what prevent her from falling 100% under his spell. She holds herself back a little bit even though the connection they have is evident and believable. Deep down, Betty understands that for many reasons he can never be hers but that doesn’t stop the longing.
When Betty receives call up letters from the war office this is the point where I felt she really came into her own. She knows if she stays she will fall even more for Gianni and loyalty to Samuel and doing what is right and expected will only continue to hold her back and bring anxiety to her father. Betty proved to be adept at code and cipher work once her training was complete. She soon found herself in a world so very different from the small village she grew up in. She is a grafter and will not let her country down and time and time again she shows that she is brave, intelligent, knowledgeable and perceptive. All these characteristics will stand her in good stead, and I found myself wanting to read more and more about her exploits especially when she is sent to Italy specifically Naples and the Villa Teresa.
I adored the chapters set in Naples. It felt like I was there myself as the author brought the setting so vividly to life. I could feel the heat and visualise the vistas and the sea but also the destruction and devastation caused by the war. The inclusion of new characters came at the right time in the book as Betty makes friends with Susan, Deborah and Lily. The details of the work she undertook in the code room were fascinating and offered an insight into the essential war work that helped save the lives of so many. I loved the inclusion of the storyline involving some espionage. It added excitement and intrigue to the story and it made my opinion of Betty rise even more. But throughout it all Betty still questions who she owes her allegiance to as does the reader. It felt clear cut to me but for her it wasn’t.
So how does Betty’s story connect back to Sadie in the present day and do both women find the answers and contentment they seek? Will Betty be strong enough to survive the onslaughts of war that she is bombarded with? Will her end loyalty lie with Gianni or Samuel? Did I get the ending I had so desperately wanted? To discover the answers you’ll have to read A Letter from Italy to discover the answers. All in all A Letter from Italy was an enjoyable read. It didn’t pack the same punch as the previous book from Rose Alexander but I am definitely glad I read it as Betty is a character whose story was full of angst, passion and indecision.
The book then moves back and forth between 1972 and the war years.I definitely preferred the chapters set during the war years especially when the main character goes to Italy for war work. The chapters set in the more modern day although essential to the plot didn’t hold my attention as much as they perhaps should have. I think it’s because the story of Betty in the past really caught my attention and I was keen to see how her story would develop.
Broadstairs, April 1972 and Sadie is starting the arduous task of clearing out her mother’s house following her death from cancer. Her father has been dead for ten years and now she feels this incredible sense of desolation and abandonment. Clearing out the house is a form of closure, a final goodbye although through this process she is adrift and drowning and things don’t get much better for her as when she searches through the attic she finds a box that she has never laid eyes on before marked baby. Inside she discovers baby shoes, a hand knitted hat with photographs and a birth certificate and also hidden is a wooden heart with a wooden key which has the initials GU. Sadie’s life is torn apart to discover that she had been adopted. Everything she had thought true in her life is now clearly not and she can get no immediate answers as her parents are gone.
Sadie knows that she will not find comfort, peace or acceptance until she discovers her true heritage and hopefully locate her biological parents. That’s if they are still alive. She wants to know why she was adopted and sets about seeking answers.Her journey takes her back through the steps that her birth mother made during the war and yes it was a interesting journey and Sadie learns many things as she edges ever closer to the answers she so desperately wants and needs but it was actually going back to the past and reading all about Betty that really caught my attention. I found myself rushing through chapters that featured Sadie and I became completely enamoured up with Betty’s story especially when she went to Italy. Romance does feature for Sadie and it is also a very strong and tangible feeling in the past as elements of the story woven together.
Betty’s story is one of sacrifice, bravery, courage and determination. She was a character whom you wished would follow their heart but yet she has a dedicated sense of duty and loyalty and she can’t abide doing the wrong thing as the weight of expectation falls upon her. She grows up in the Yorkshire village of Malton. Her sister has married and moved away. Her mother is dead two years and she is left to be there for her father. She is a telephonist but war has made life bland and dull for Betty and she is angry about that. Her childhood sweetheart turned fiancée Samuel is away fighting in the war but has been captured and sent to a Japanese prisoner of war camp. Devastated as she is by this news Betty wonders were they ever truly deeply in love or were they just expected by their families and society to marry and rear children?
Betty questions her feelings for Samuel continuously throughout the story and the reader can’t blame her and nor did I judge her for it as I felt she had been pushed into a situation that she wasn’t truly comfortable with. With the outbreak of war everybody’s situation changed along with their feelings and is she had harboured doubts before these were only increased tenfold when she meets Gianni, an Italian prisoner of war, being held at the local internment camp - Eden Camp. To be honest, I was quite surprised that prisoners were allowed to meet with locals aside from the work they were tasked to do in the locality. But the friendship between Betty and Gianni that strays into different territory felt real and worthwhile and I just wanted her to be happy long term but still the thoughts of Samuel imprisoned and enduring god knows what prevent her from falling 100% under his spell. She holds herself back a little bit even though the connection they have is evident and believable. Deep down, Betty understands that for many reasons he can never be hers but that doesn’t stop the longing.
When Betty receives call up letters from the war office this is the point where I felt she really came into her own. She knows if she stays she will fall even more for Gianni and loyalty to Samuel and doing what is right and expected will only continue to hold her back and bring anxiety to her father. Betty proved to be adept at code and cipher work once her training was complete. She soon found herself in a world so very different from the small village she grew up in. She is a grafter and will not let her country down and time and time again she shows that she is brave, intelligent, knowledgeable and perceptive. All these characteristics will stand her in good stead, and I found myself wanting to read more and more about her exploits especially when she is sent to Italy specifically Naples and the Villa Teresa.
I adored the chapters set in Naples. It felt like I was there myself as the author brought the setting so vividly to life. I could feel the heat and visualise the vistas and the sea but also the destruction and devastation caused by the war. The inclusion of new characters came at the right time in the book as Betty makes friends with Susan, Deborah and Lily. The details of the work she undertook in the code room were fascinating and offered an insight into the essential war work that helped save the lives of so many. I loved the inclusion of the storyline involving some espionage. It added excitement and intrigue to the story and it made my opinion of Betty rise even more. But throughout it all Betty still questions who she owes her allegiance to as does the reader. It felt clear cut to me but for her it wasn’t.
So how does Betty’s story connect back to Sadie in the present day and do both women find the answers and contentment they seek? Will Betty be strong enough to survive the onslaughts of war that she is bombarded with? Will her end loyalty lie with Gianni or Samuel? Did I get the ending I had so desperately wanted? To discover the answers you’ll have to read A Letter from Italy to discover the answers. All in all A Letter from Italy was an enjoyable read. It didn’t pack the same punch as the previous book from Rose Alexander but I am definitely glad I read it as Betty is a character whose story was full of angst, passion and indecision.
March 17, 2024
I really enjoyed this book! I found it riveting, like I couldn't put it down and wanted to know what happened. It's a typical WW2 drama full of romance and mystery, and it's plot-driven, easy to follow along, and written in pleasant prose.
Cons: While the writing was good and drew me into the story, there was some anachronism and plenty of cliche. There was some spy-related drama that was amateurish and written in a way very unlikely to happen in real life, plus the resolution was bland and a missed opportunity. The end of the book was flat and anticlimactic, which was unfortunate given the suspense throughout. I would have loved a bit more spice and drama to finish off an otherwise good novel.
3.5 rounded up to 4.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for an advanced copy for review.
Cons: While the writing was good and drew me into the story, there was some anachronism and plenty of cliche. There was some spy-related drama that was amateurish and written in a way very unlikely to happen in real life, plus the resolution was bland and a missed opportunity. The end of the book was flat and anticlimactic, which was unfortunate given the suspense throughout. I would have loved a bit more spice and drama to finish off an otherwise good novel.
3.5 rounded up to 4.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for an advanced copy for review.
April 13, 2024
Going through her Mother's house after her death was tinged with impatience as well as sadness. Facing the full attic was not something she would enjoy. however, it had to be done. In the attic, she reluctantly began the chose of going though the many dusty boxes. Her first find was a photo album with people she had no idea of knowing but felt she could keep. The second was a box of baby things that she assumed were hers. Then, to her surprise, she found her birth certificate which showed she had been adopted, What would tis mean to her? Why hadn't she ben told.
March 10, 2024
A Letter from Italy by Rose Alexander is truly a mesmerizing, captivating, and unputdownable book. This had all the wonderful makings of an WWII Historical Fiction novel.
In 1972, Sadie is twenty seven and her parents die. As she cleans out her parents attic, she discovers something that makes her heart stop: she is adopted. Torn between ignoring what she finds and wanting to track down her birth parents, Sadie weighs out what would be best. Should she pursue a path that may lead her to heartache, confusion, and turmoil?
In 1942, Betty is living her mundane, boring everyday life. Everyday she does the same thing and she feels weary about her future, as she has already been promised to her childhood friend, and they are to marry when he returns from the war. Until one day, she meets the handsome, yet mysterious Italian POW at the local POW camp in her town, Gianni. Slowly, they build a connection and before she knows it, she is falling in love. But, as fate has it, Betty is drafted into the Women's ATS and shipped off to Italy to do her part in the war effort, and Betty is whisked away.
What happens from 1942-1945 for Betty is a whirlwind of emotions, experiences, and dangers. What will her fate be?
Set in a dual timeline, and going back and forth, Betty's past and Sadie's future unfold and intertwine as their stories are told.
In 1972, Sadie is twenty seven and her parents die. As she cleans out her parents attic, she discovers something that makes her heart stop: she is adopted. Torn between ignoring what she finds and wanting to track down her birth parents, Sadie weighs out what would be best. Should she pursue a path that may lead her to heartache, confusion, and turmoil?
In 1942, Betty is living her mundane, boring everyday life. Everyday she does the same thing and she feels weary about her future, as she has already been promised to her childhood friend, and they are to marry when he returns from the war. Until one day, she meets the handsome, yet mysterious Italian POW at the local POW camp in her town, Gianni. Slowly, they build a connection and before she knows it, she is falling in love. But, as fate has it, Betty is drafted into the Women's ATS and shipped off to Italy to do her part in the war effort, and Betty is whisked away.
What happens from 1942-1945 for Betty is a whirlwind of emotions, experiences, and dangers. What will her fate be?
Set in a dual timeline, and going back and forth, Betty's past and Sadie's future unfold and intertwine as their stories are told.
February 27, 2024
A beautiful historical love story within a love story, two couples brought together by circumstance and their roads to finding love amongst heartache. Engaging, hard to put down, with characters you think of long after you turn the last page. Readers who love WWII romance will enjoy this slice of Italy and the happily-ever-afters that make for a satisfying conclusion.
**Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.**
**Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.**
February 23, 2024
Rose Alexander’s, A Letter from Italy, is a powerfully written story of two related woman, one mother and one bio daughter; the mother’s difficult journey beginning in the prologue and continuing via a WWII backstory which had me riveted from start to finish. The daughter’s timeline begins in 1975 as she cleans out her family home after her mother’s death and finds a brief note which sends her flying to Italy as the impact of its contents has her questioning her roots and who she really is. With WWII raging around the world, Betty is faced with familial obligations, one a commitment she made to a man when a young teenager. The man, now a POW in the Far East, whom she barely recalls loving, and the lure of a new romance she begins with an Italian POW in a camp nearby her hometown in England in 1942, is so different and so inspiring, I couldn’t wait for the two storylines to converge. Through a series of vivid, often comical, sometimes tragic character arcs, and rich settings touching all five senses, Betty’s story is told as she does her duty for the war effort as a codebreaker in Naples, running into her new paramour now a partisan for the Allies. Occurring simultaneously via a different timeline, circa 1975, her daughter, given away at birth, combs the Italian boot, to find out who she is, why her mother gave her away, finding her own version of forever love in the process. The story had me reading deep into the night with only a few hours' sleep before I put the kettle on again to finish. The vivid, realistic settings had me remembering my own trips through Italy, offering a vacation of sorts as I read a tale which pulled at my heartstrings. The story is one of love, duty, honor, and the impossible decisions men and women are forced to make to carry on duty to preserve family and freedom. At times, I cried, at times I laughed. I loved the way the author wove all her characters together for a fitting and beautiful ending. If you love WWII historical fiction, believe in the roles duty to country and family have in your lives, and want a touch of romance inside a bit of spy action, you will love this book. I simply couldn’t put it down. An easy, breezy, well-written, well-researched read that took me to Italy without leaving my own cozy library. Five stars all around. My thanks to Net Galley and Bookouture for the digital ARC. The review is entirely my own opinion of a great new book.
March 25, 2024
An intriguing prologue to this one, set in 1945 London, as a young mother – with increasing desperation – knocks on a door, thrusts her baby into the arms of the woman who answers, and disappears into the night.
What follows is a beautifully told dual timeline story. The first thread finds Sadie in 1970s Broadstairs, clearing out the attic at the home of the woman she always believed to be her mother, uncovering the fact that she was adopted, and embarking on a search that ultimately takes her to Italy. The second follows the life of Betty Bean from Malton in Yorkshire, called up in wartime, torn away from Italian prisoner-of-war Gianni at Eden Camp to whom she was becoming increasingly close – despite the expectations of her family that she will marry her childhood friend – finding herself living a very different life in a palazzo near Naples working with codes and cyphers with the ATS.
Both stories have that perfect emotional touch the author always has, and an Italian backdrop vividly drawn in both the slowly converging timelines. We share Betty’s wartime experiences, with plenty of drama from the moment the HMS Arcadia nears the Italian coast, and more to come when it becomes clear that there is a traitor in their midst who she must help uncover. But there’s also a moving and convincing romance when her path crosses Gianni’s once more, now returned to Italy, in constant danger while living and working with the partisans. And, back at the palazzo, there’s a particularly strong focus on female friendship – young women far from home, developing strong bonds despite their very different backgrounds, looking after each other.
Romance features strongly in Sadie’s story too, as she grows ever closer to Lucas, the journalist helping her find the clues that will help her find her birth parents. And as the time periods alternate, the details they’ve been searching for slowly begin to emerge, some of them wholly unexpected – a gripping story of wartime bravery and self-sacrifice, as Sadie draws ever closer to understanding why her mother was forced to give her away.
Both women are beautifully drawn and well-rounded characters, easy to take to your heart – and their shared story constantly intriguing and compelling, hooking me in from the beginning and keeping the pages turning through to its perfect ending. And I really must mention again the way the author brings the Italian landscape to life – the zest of the lemon groves, the brightness and warmth of the sunshine, but also the impact of wartime, the seedier Naples back streets, and the dangers of living in the shadow of Vesuvius.
If you’re a fan of wartime fiction with plenty of intrigue and more than a touch of romance, you’ll love this one as much as I did. It’s a little more gentle than the author’s previous books, and perhaps without quite the emotional impact I was expecting (and I’ll happily admit to rather high expectations…) – but this was a thoroughly enjoyable read I’d most certainly recommend to others.
What follows is a beautifully told dual timeline story. The first thread finds Sadie in 1970s Broadstairs, clearing out the attic at the home of the woman she always believed to be her mother, uncovering the fact that she was adopted, and embarking on a search that ultimately takes her to Italy. The second follows the life of Betty Bean from Malton in Yorkshire, called up in wartime, torn away from Italian prisoner-of-war Gianni at Eden Camp to whom she was becoming increasingly close – despite the expectations of her family that she will marry her childhood friend – finding herself living a very different life in a palazzo near Naples working with codes and cyphers with the ATS.
Both stories have that perfect emotional touch the author always has, and an Italian backdrop vividly drawn in both the slowly converging timelines. We share Betty’s wartime experiences, with plenty of drama from the moment the HMS Arcadia nears the Italian coast, and more to come when it becomes clear that there is a traitor in their midst who she must help uncover. But there’s also a moving and convincing romance when her path crosses Gianni’s once more, now returned to Italy, in constant danger while living and working with the partisans. And, back at the palazzo, there’s a particularly strong focus on female friendship – young women far from home, developing strong bonds despite their very different backgrounds, looking after each other.
Romance features strongly in Sadie’s story too, as she grows ever closer to Lucas, the journalist helping her find the clues that will help her find her birth parents. And as the time periods alternate, the details they’ve been searching for slowly begin to emerge, some of them wholly unexpected – a gripping story of wartime bravery and self-sacrifice, as Sadie draws ever closer to understanding why her mother was forced to give her away.
Both women are beautifully drawn and well-rounded characters, easy to take to your heart – and their shared story constantly intriguing and compelling, hooking me in from the beginning and keeping the pages turning through to its perfect ending. And I really must mention again the way the author brings the Italian landscape to life – the zest of the lemon groves, the brightness and warmth of the sunshine, but also the impact of wartime, the seedier Naples back streets, and the dangers of living in the shadow of Vesuvius.
If you’re a fan of wartime fiction with plenty of intrigue and more than a touch of romance, you’ll love this one as much as I did. It’s a little more gentle than the author’s previous books, and perhaps without quite the emotional impact I was expecting (and I’ll happily admit to rather high expectations…) – but this was a thoroughly enjoyable read I’d most certainly recommend to others.
April 5, 2024
Promised to one man but in love with another, that is the problem Betty Bean faces in WWII England. She has known Samuel her entire life, and everyone expects them to marry when he returns, but since the Japanese captured him, she barely hears from him, and he feels like a distant memory. Meanwhile, POW Gianni is handsome and kind, making her feel things she never has. But she knows she can't have a life with him; he will return to Italy, and her place is at home, married to Samuel, caring for her father like she promised her mother on her deathbed. So, she jumps at the opportunity to join the British ATS and be a chipor. A chance to see some of the world and get away from the man she has fallen in love with, perfect! But the ATS takes her to Italy, the place that reminds her most of Gianni, and before she knows it, he is again thrust back into her life. More is going on, though. Besides her love life, things are going missing at work, and Betty is positive one of the women she works for is secretly a spy! She is quickly drawn into a world of espionage, all while trying to figure out if commitment is more important than true love.
Meanwhile, in 1970s England, Sadie is reeling from the death of both her parents. While cleaning the house one day, she discovers her birth certificate, revealing a family secret. Sadie is adopted! More than adopted, she was abandoned by her birth mother. Sadie is determined to figure out why her real mother left her, but she only has a few clues: the name of the woman she was left with and a trinket carved with care from a place called Eden Camp. She may find more than she bargained for when her journey takes her to Italy.
This WWII historical fiction novel is filled with love, loss, and wartime anguish. It's a tale of duty and honor but also one of discovery and courage. These two women, years apart, are both learning what it means to be yourself and follow your instincts and heart. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good romantic historical fiction novel.
Disclaimer: While I received a free advanced readers copy of this novel, the above review is solely my own thoughts and opinions
Meanwhile, in 1970s England, Sadie is reeling from the death of both her parents. While cleaning the house one day, she discovers her birth certificate, revealing a family secret. Sadie is adopted! More than adopted, she was abandoned by her birth mother. Sadie is determined to figure out why her real mother left her, but she only has a few clues: the name of the woman she was left with and a trinket carved with care from a place called Eden Camp. She may find more than she bargained for when her journey takes her to Italy.
This WWII historical fiction novel is filled with love, loss, and wartime anguish. It's a tale of duty and honor but also one of discovery and courage. These two women, years apart, are both learning what it means to be yourself and follow your instincts and heart. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good romantic historical fiction novel.
Disclaimer: While I received a free advanced readers copy of this novel, the above review is solely my own thoughts and opinions
March 16, 2024
A Letter From Italy by Rose Alexander is a marvellous dual timeline novel that totally consumed me.
The action is set during World War II in both Yorkshire and Italy, and also on the south coast in 1972. Each chapter alternates with the time periods as the reader connects the dots.
A shock surprise, following her mother’s death, totally rocks a young woman’s world. All she thought she knew about herself and her family is shaken to the core as the foundations of her life wobble. She seeks answers, as she searches for her identity. The search takes her first to London, and then to Italy.
During World War II we start off in Yorkshire as we follow a young telephonist until her papers, at aged twenty, see her sign up and posted to Italy.
Also, in Yorkshire we meet an Italian POW based at Eden camp. The locals realise that the young Italian men are no different from themselves, they just want to see the end of the war. Once Italy joins the Allies, the young man joins the partisans in Italy.
All roads lead to Italy! It is hot, sun-drenched and smells of lemons. The reader’s senses are assaulted by the author’s descriptive pen. Italy seems perfect – except for the fact that there is a war on.
The Allies are working to defeat the Nazis – but some are working from within, in order to aid the enemy. Who can be trusted? And who is a traitor?
Love happens where it will. Opportunities are seized but old promises run deep as a character sacrifices herself in order to keep her word.
I thoroughly enjoyed A Letter From Italy. It was frightening at times – due to Nazi strafing and Vesuvius erupting. The landscape was warm, welcoming and bright. It was in contrast to the grey landscape of Britain.
All the characters were well drawn, realistic and likable.
This was a most enjoyable read.
I received a free copy from the publishers. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.
The action is set during World War II in both Yorkshire and Italy, and also on the south coast in 1972. Each chapter alternates with the time periods as the reader connects the dots.
A shock surprise, following her mother’s death, totally rocks a young woman’s world. All she thought she knew about herself and her family is shaken to the core as the foundations of her life wobble. She seeks answers, as she searches for her identity. The search takes her first to London, and then to Italy.
During World War II we start off in Yorkshire as we follow a young telephonist until her papers, at aged twenty, see her sign up and posted to Italy.
Also, in Yorkshire we meet an Italian POW based at Eden camp. The locals realise that the young Italian men are no different from themselves, they just want to see the end of the war. Once Italy joins the Allies, the young man joins the partisans in Italy.
All roads lead to Italy! It is hot, sun-drenched and smells of lemons. The reader’s senses are assaulted by the author’s descriptive pen. Italy seems perfect – except for the fact that there is a war on.
The Allies are working to defeat the Nazis – but some are working from within, in order to aid the enemy. Who can be trusted? And who is a traitor?
Love happens where it will. Opportunities are seized but old promises run deep as a character sacrifices herself in order to keep her word.
I thoroughly enjoyed A Letter From Italy. It was frightening at times – due to Nazi strafing and Vesuvius erupting. The landscape was warm, welcoming and bright. It was in contrast to the grey landscape of Britain.
All the characters were well drawn, realistic and likable.
This was a most enjoyable read.
I received a free copy from the publishers. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.
March 28, 2024
A letter from Italy was a novel that kept you wanting more. I'm really starting to love the double narratives where it goes back and forth between two characters. In this one, it goes from Betty, a woman finally coming of age and wanting to make a difference in the war in 1945 to Sadie, a young adult who's just lost her last remaining parent in present day 1972.
Starting with Betty- she's born to be a character you'll love- she's determined and wants to learn and make a difference and isn't afraid of standing up for herself or doing things that may get her in trouble. She's a character who will do anything to save someone, even if it means putting herself in danger or in a poor situation. I also think it's cool to hear exactly some of the work that a woman might've been asked to do back in the wartime.
Sadie made me so proud. The fact that she ignored her boyfriend and friends advice not to go looking for her parents made me so happy for her. I can't imagine having that knowledge of being adopted, but not wanting to do everything in your power to find them. While I'm not sure I could travel country to country to do so- it's quite a tale that she did.
As always, the ending had me wanting more- I wanted to hear more of how Sadie and Luca came to be and how Betty and Gianni came back together. You could predict each would- but it'd still be lovely to hear how and more about it. I'd also LOVE to hear how Susan got caught and if she was ever found or charged. She certainly turned out to be an unexpected character...
I'd like to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for providing this ARC.
Starting with Betty- she's born to be a character you'll love- she's determined and wants to learn and make a difference and isn't afraid of standing up for herself or doing things that may get her in trouble. She's a character who will do anything to save someone, even if it means putting herself in danger or in a poor situation. I also think it's cool to hear exactly some of the work that a woman might've been asked to do back in the wartime.
Sadie made me so proud. The fact that she ignored her boyfriend and friends advice not to go looking for her parents made me so happy for her. I can't imagine having that knowledge of being adopted, but not wanting to do everything in your power to find them. While I'm not sure I could travel country to country to do so- it's quite a tale that she did.
As always, the ending had me wanting more- I wanted to hear more of how Sadie and Luca came to be and how Betty and Gianni came back together. You could predict each would- but it'd still be lovely to hear how and more about it. I'd also LOVE to hear how Susan got caught and if she was ever found or charged. She certainly turned out to be an unexpected character...
I'd like to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for providing this ARC.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 28, 2024
It was 1945 and World War II was raging on across Europe. Betty reminisces of the letter she wrote when she was at the beautiful Villa Teresa in Italy. Her wish was to save her beloved Gianni and just like everyone else she wants the war to end. She was forced to make the hardest decision of her life, she had to give up her baby in order to protect her and give her a chance to live. Present Day, Naples Italy, Sadie holds in her hand an old tattered letter. She knows that this letter is the key to her finding her birth mother. She has Luca, a local that is helping her retrace her history. While combing through old newspapers, Sadie and Luca are shocked at what they discover about the woman they believe to be Sadie’s birth mother. But Sadie refuses to give up, now she must find her birth mother and uncover the truth before time runs out.
A Letter From Italy, penned by Rose Alexander is a wonderful historical fiction time slip story. I really enjoyed the characters, Betty, Sadie and Luca. Betty was a POW in an Italian camp during WWII. The story I about her life and how she survived. She endured horrible war time conditions as did many others. Sadie and Luca were a great team and I was hoping that Sadie would be able to find her birth mother. This emotional read is one that will stay with me. I am a huge fan of the author as I always enjoy her stories. Historical fiction and time slip novels are always a favorite of mine. If you are looking for a heartbreaking and emotional read, this is the story for you. Don’t pass this one up. I highly recommend this book, I loved it.
A Letter From Italy, penned by Rose Alexander is a wonderful historical fiction time slip story. I really enjoyed the characters, Betty, Sadie and Luca. Betty was a POW in an Italian camp during WWII. The story I about her life and how she survived. She endured horrible war time conditions as did many others. Sadie and Luca were a great team and I was hoping that Sadie would be able to find her birth mother. This emotional read is one that will stay with me. I am a huge fan of the author as I always enjoy her stories. Historical fiction and time slip novels are always a favorite of mine. If you are looking for a heartbreaking and emotional read, this is the story for you. Don’t pass this one up. I highly recommend this book, I loved it.
July 15, 2024
In 1972 Sadie is clearing the house after her mother’s death when she is astounded to discover that the parents she loved had adopted her. Her partner and her friends try to dissuade her from seeking her past, but she feels compelled to visit the house where a young woman had given her away in 1945. Following leads take her first to Yorkshire and then to Italy but the more she knows the more upsetting her story seems.
In dual time we follow Betty’s story during World War II. Working as a telephonist, she also looks after her father following her mother’s death. She becomes acquainted with an Italian prisoner of War but knows she must stay faithful to her long-term boyfriend who has been captured in Singapore. The time comes when she is called up to join the Services. Already competent at Morse code she is soon allocated to interpreting coded messages at a posting in Italy. On board ship she makes friends with 3 other young women but they have a dangerous journey before reaching Naples.
I particularly enjoyed reading the gripping scenes in Italy involving a volcanic eruption and espionage. When Betty unexpectedly meets Gianni again her world turns upside down. Her plight is to balance duty and love.
Sadie’s journey to Italy is also life changing and she learns a lot about herself as well as her parent’s story. I enjoyed both the scenic descriptions of Naples and the emotional plot. Once again Rose Alexander has written a thoughtful, exciting book.
In dual time we follow Betty’s story during World War II. Working as a telephonist, she also looks after her father following her mother’s death. She becomes acquainted with an Italian prisoner of War but knows she must stay faithful to her long-term boyfriend who has been captured in Singapore. The time comes when she is called up to join the Services. Already competent at Morse code she is soon allocated to interpreting coded messages at a posting in Italy. On board ship she makes friends with 3 other young women but they have a dangerous journey before reaching Naples.
I particularly enjoyed reading the gripping scenes in Italy involving a volcanic eruption and espionage. When Betty unexpectedly meets Gianni again her world turns upside down. Her plight is to balance duty and love.
Sadie’s journey to Italy is also life changing and she learns a lot about herself as well as her parent’s story. I enjoyed both the scenic descriptions of Naples and the emotional plot. Once again Rose Alexander has written a thoughtful, exciting book.
April 1, 2024
The story crossing two countries, several decades apart is an emotional one. A young couple divided by war and promises made.
Set in Yorkshire at a camp housing Italian prisoners of war, was where Betty first set eyes on Gianni. Fast forward to Betty being signed up for the war effort and her prowess in Morse, making her an ideal candidate for being a cipher. Her meeting up with Gianni again in Sicily was pure fate. Fast forward to 1972 and Sadie trying to recover from the loss of her parents and suddenly discovering she is adopted.
Even for 1972 Sadie seems very sheltered and her trying to go back step by step to discover her roots seemed to have been an ordeal. Starting off in Yorkshire then going back tracing her father from a memento with just his initials was a massive undertaking. Meeting several helpful souls on the way helped and the story of her parents love affair, Betty’s role in the war, Giannis life post the war all add up to a family saga very well told.
Weaving many strands into the story, encompassing many characters this was an excellent read.
Set in Yorkshire at a camp housing Italian prisoners of war, was where Betty first set eyes on Gianni. Fast forward to Betty being signed up for the war effort and her prowess in Morse, making her an ideal candidate for being a cipher. Her meeting up with Gianni again in Sicily was pure fate. Fast forward to 1972 and Sadie trying to recover from the loss of her parents and suddenly discovering she is adopted.
Even for 1972 Sadie seems very sheltered and her trying to go back step by step to discover her roots seemed to have been an ordeal. Starting off in Yorkshire then going back tracing her father from a memento with just his initials was a massive undertaking. Meeting several helpful souls on the way helped and the story of her parents love affair, Betty’s role in the war, Giannis life post the war all add up to a family saga very well told.
Weaving many strands into the story, encompassing many characters this was an excellent read.
February 21, 2024
A Letter from Italy by Rose Alexander
The prologue starts in London 1945 when a young woman cradles bundle and in desperation she knocks on a door a woman answers and the woman hands over the baby knowing it is the best thing for the baby. The book then starts in 1972 with Sadie breaking up the family home to be sold after her mother’s death and on going the the belongings she finds information in a box that completely turns her life upside down as her life as she knows it was based on a lie . Follow the journeys of Sadie and the woman who was her mother and the choices she was forced to take . The twists and turners and friendships made and lost as things are not always as they seem.
An excellent well written book though it was a little slow getting started do stick with it, it's worth it. Great read that will have you gripped with this dual timeline that has been done well. Great characters and traumatic choices along the way. 4.5/5
The prologue starts in London 1945 when a young woman cradles bundle and in desperation she knocks on a door a woman answers and the woman hands over the baby knowing it is the best thing for the baby. The book then starts in 1972 with Sadie breaking up the family home to be sold after her mother’s death and on going the the belongings she finds information in a box that completely turns her life upside down as her life as she knows it was based on a lie . Follow the journeys of Sadie and the woman who was her mother and the choices she was forced to take . The twists and turners and friendships made and lost as things are not always as they seem.
An excellent well written book though it was a little slow getting started do stick with it, it's worth it. Great read that will have you gripped with this dual timeline that has been done well. Great characters and traumatic choices along the way. 4.5/5
April 3, 2024
A new to me author and a title that I decided to read because of my love of Italy.
Written in the popular dual time-line style with in this case the prologue setting the scene. It is 1945 and in London a young mother abandons her baby although she had only intended it to be temporary. The first story line is set in the 1970’s and the protagonist Sadie discovers that she is adopted. The second story line tells us of the wartime adventures of Betty a young Yorkshire lass. The vividly described Italian backdrop appears in both timelines as the two women’s stories gradually merge.
If you find romance intrigue and Italy appealing in your choice of reading material then I feel you will find this an agreeable read.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
https://lindyloumacbookreviews.blogsp...
Written in the popular dual time-line style with in this case the prologue setting the scene. It is 1945 and in London a young mother abandons her baby although she had only intended it to be temporary. The first story line is set in the 1970’s and the protagonist Sadie discovers that she is adopted. The second story line tells us of the wartime adventures of Betty a young Yorkshire lass. The vividly described Italian backdrop appears in both timelines as the two women’s stories gradually merge.
If you find romance intrigue and Italy appealing in your choice of reading material then I feel you will find this an agreeable read.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
https://lindyloumacbookreviews.blogsp...
March 10, 2024
There’s an intriguing dual timeline running throughout this book. It’s the riveting story of Betty in WW2 1942-1945, in both England, & then Italy where she’s posted. Amazingly Betty met her tall, dark & handsome Italian in a POW camp in Yorkshire. They coincidently
meet again in a hospital in Naples, & love grows.
Sadie, aged 27, in 1972, starts her story in England, where she discovers, on the death of her mother, that she was adopted. Later she travels to Italy, in search of her biological father. It’s a compelling story of love & loss, heartbreak, betrayal, duty & expectations. Italy is vividly described…you can almost taste the fruit. The allure of Sicily is clear…& the ending wonderful. It’s a great historical WW2 novel, with a modern twist.
I received an Advanced Reader Copy from NetGalley & Bookouture. I am writing a voluntary honest review.
meet again in a hospital in Naples, & love grows.
Sadie, aged 27, in 1972, starts her story in England, where she discovers, on the death of her mother, that she was adopted. Later she travels to Italy, in search of her biological father. It’s a compelling story of love & loss, heartbreak, betrayal, duty & expectations. Italy is vividly described…you can almost taste the fruit. The allure of Sicily is clear…& the ending wonderful. It’s a great historical WW2 novel, with a modern twist.
I received an Advanced Reader Copy from NetGalley & Bookouture. I am writing a voluntary honest review.
March 12, 2024
A charming story, totally captivating and enjoyable. The storylines from both WW2 and the near present, slowly come to life as the reader follows the love affair between Betty and Giovanni during the war years in Yorkshire and Italy, and Sadie in the near present searching for her birth parents with Lucas, her travel guide. The descriptions of the Italian countryside are beautifully portrayed that one can only be cheered. A story of the resilience of love during the hardships experienced during the war years and the determination to find answers to long ago events. A delightful escapism read.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers Bookouture for this e-APC copy and I look forward to reading Ms Alexander’s earlier novel, The Lost Diary in full.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers Bookouture for this e-APC copy and I look forward to reading Ms Alexander’s earlier novel, The Lost Diary in full.
March 28, 2024
A Letter from Italy by Rose Alexander is a touching story that might require some tissues!
The narrative unfolds across different time periods. In 1943, we follow Betty Bean as she meets Gianni, an Italian prisoner of war held at Eden Camp. Their love story prompts Betty to make a life-changing decision. Fast forward to the present day, Sadie, while going through her mother’s belongings, stumbles upon documents that lead her on a journey to uncover her birth mother in beautiful Italy. Will she unveil the events of 1945?
The story revolves around strong women striving to reach their full potential. Rose's vivid writing style will immerse you in the tale. I was captivated from beginning to end.
The narrative unfolds across different time periods. In 1943, we follow Betty Bean as she meets Gianni, an Italian prisoner of war held at Eden Camp. Their love story prompts Betty to make a life-changing decision. Fast forward to the present day, Sadie, while going through her mother’s belongings, stumbles upon documents that lead her on a journey to uncover her birth mother in beautiful Italy. Will she unveil the events of 1945?
The story revolves around strong women striving to reach their full potential. Rose's vivid writing style will immerse you in the tale. I was captivated from beginning to end.
March 29, 2024
A Letter from Italy is a dual timeline story which begins with a prologue of a woman dropping off a baby at a stranger's home, which confused me but also made me want to continue reading to figure out who did what and what was going on! The first timeline takes place in 1972 with Sadie cleaning out her deceased mother's home and learning that she is adopted. The second timeline takes place during WWII in the UK with Betty, who lives in Yorkshire and is promised to her childhood sweetheart, meeting Italian prisoner of war Gianni and feeling a connection with him. There is so much going on in this novel - it's a story of the strong women involved with war work as well as a love story and one of second chances. I just loved it!
March 16, 2024
Emotional and touching. Betty was forced to abandon her daughter many years ago. Now, Sadie hopes to find her birth mother, with only palazzo Villa Teresa scribbled on a page for information. Luca is helping her in her quest. It is a beautifully written and emotional story of a daughter to find her home and answers to why her mother gave her up. I loved the plot and the writing. Characters, Betty, Gianni ,Sadie, and Luca , I loved them all and could connect with them. Tragedies suffered in World War ll were heartbreaking. A heart-wrenching and powerful book. Thanks a lot to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC.
Read
March 20, 2024I DNF'd this book...
I have only ever DNF'd one other book in my life... I just couldn't do it. I also got to 48%, so I promise I tried. I really think it was the style of writing. I can't tell you the last book I read that was in third person, and that is probably why I am not finishing this book. It seemed impersonal. I felt like it was cheesy but also the paragraphs were chunky. It took me 5 days just to get to 48%.
Maybe I will read a chapter a day just to finish it, because in the end, I do like the story. I liked the little bit of Italian thrown in there as well, as I am studying Italian. But in the end, it is not enough for me to try to take another 5 days to finish this story.
I have only ever DNF'd one other book in my life... I just couldn't do it. I also got to 48%, so I promise I tried. I really think it was the style of writing. I can't tell you the last book I read that was in third person, and that is probably why I am not finishing this book. It seemed impersonal. I felt like it was cheesy but also the paragraphs were chunky. It took me 5 days just to get to 48%.
Maybe I will read a chapter a day just to finish it, because in the end, I do like the story. I liked the little bit of Italian thrown in there as well, as I am studying Italian. But in the end, it is not enough for me to try to take another 5 days to finish this story.
March 24, 2024
The split timeline shifts from WWII to 1972. Sadie discovers a secret that transforms her life.
Betty is an English lass doing her part for the war effort and is dispatched to Italy.
It’s always heartbreaking to read about relationships that cannot be and there are a couple of them in this novel.
I loved all the rich descriptions of Italy both in WWII and the early 70s.
I also liked that both interrupted relationships and a good conclusion. It was rare for what happened in one of them to occur in the early 70s due to the nature of society.
This novel will take readers back when honor and integrity meant something.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the advance copy.
Betty is an English lass doing her part for the war effort and is dispatched to Italy.
It’s always heartbreaking to read about relationships that cannot be and there are a couple of them in this novel.
I loved all the rich descriptions of Italy both in WWII and the early 70s.
I also liked that both interrupted relationships and a good conclusion. It was rare for what happened in one of them to occur in the early 70s due to the nature of society.
This novel will take readers back when honor and integrity meant something.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the advance copy.
May 13, 2024
This historical novel has a dual narrative. One narrative follows Betty in the 1940s, and the other follows Sadie in the 1970s. Both of their stories began to come to life for me, after reading just the first few pages. I felt a strong connection with both characters, even though their journeys were different.
The story had some classic romantic elements that seemed familiar but timeless, and I became quite emotionally invested, to a point where I was tearful. I became so invested that I couldn't lay the book aside, until I had finished. It was beautifully written, and I would buy a copy to read again.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a free copy to review.
The story had some classic romantic elements that seemed familiar but timeless, and I became quite emotionally invested, to a point where I was tearful. I became so invested that I couldn't lay the book aside, until I had finished. It was beautifully written, and I would buy a copy to read again.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a free copy to review.
March 1, 2024
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for the ARC. This is a beautiful story about Betty and Gianno and love and suffering through WWII in Europe and Sadie who finds out years later she was abandoned and subsequently adopted. I especially loved the women who served in various positions in communication and code breaking to aid the Allies against Germany. A great historical fiction romance!
#ALetterfromItaly #NetGalley
#ALetterfromItaly #NetGalley
Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews