The Italian Garden

by Charlotte Betts

Lake Como, 1919.
The garden of Villa Marchese was once a sight to behold. Now, overgrown and unloved, the flowers that once bloomed are nothing but a reminder of the tragic events of Flora Marchese's death.

When horticulturist Violet Honeywell is commissioned to restore the once exquisite garden, she immediately accepts and sets off on a life-changing adventure.

Violet instantly becomes enchanted by the Italian way of life, and under the beguiling warmth of the Bellagio sun, she falls in love with a man who can never truly be hers - Flora's grandson.

But when a discovery at the Lake uncovers buried truths that have haunted the family for decades, Violet starts to delve deeper into the dark secrets of their past, and she quickly begins to realise that not everything in the Marchese family is what it seems . . .
----
Why readers love Charlotte

'Lush, romantic and full of intrigue' Tracy Rees, Richard & Judy bestselling author

'A deeply romantic novel whose vivid characters will linger in your mind' Margaret Kaine

'Romantic, poignant and gripping . . . a fabulous holiday read' Deborah Swift

'A stunning and captivating read . . . full of drama, love, loss and life' Book Literati

'Lingers in the heart long after the final page is turned . . . a must read for anyone who wants to be absorbed as well as utterly enchanted' Carol McGrath

'A compelling story, beautifully written and brought alive with rich historical detail' Liz Harris

Genres: Historical, Historical Fiction, Romance

319 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 2, 2024

About the author

Charlotte Betts discovered a passion for writing after her five children had grown up and left her in peace. Demanding careers in hotel design and property force her to be inventive in finding time to write but she has achieved seven novels in eight years. One of her short stories was published in Scribble and others short-listed by Writers’ News and Real Writers’. She has won first prize in five short story competitions and wrote a regular column on interior design for The Maidenhead Advertiser for two years. She is a member of WordWatchers http://www.wordwatchers.net/ and the Romantic Novelists’ Association.

Reviews

[Lydia Bailey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really lovely read with Secret Garden vibes and a very good mix of intrigue and romance against the stunning background of a beautiful garden on the shores of Lake Como.

[Helen White · Rating 3 out of 5]

Flora is a widowed horticulturalist after WWI looking for employment and trying to care for her shell shocked younger brother. Luca offers her the perfect opportunity - come to Italy and restore his grandmother's garden as a surprise for his new wife. Everything is going well until Flora starts to get closer to Luca, decades of family secrets also start to emerge.

Enjoyable read with interesting characters it does head a bit towards melodrama but very readable.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

1862 Flora Marchese left her husband early one morning and took a boat into the lake and drowned. Umburto her husband was distraught and never fully recovered from her death. (Smashing up the beautiful garden she had created with her previous soul mate husband) Post war begins the story and where Violet an ex employee of Kew, and her war damaged brother Edmund accept a commission to rebuild “Flora’s Garden,” In Italy. A delightful story set around Villa Marchese and the extended family. I enjoyed it particularly the ending. The creation of the garden after 60 years, since it was destroyed and closed off by Umburto, was an arduous task and which uncovered some tragic discoveries. Romance, jealousy, intrigue, heartbreak and happiness it’s all in here.

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’ve loved everything Charlotte Betts has written but this one didn’t do it for me. In first 3/4 of the book there was so much on the gardening side I was honestly bored. Things got quite far fetched at the end but at least the last couple of chapters has some drama. There wasn’t much chemistry between the two leads and the whole time Luca came across quite dim while Violet came across like a prim nun. I’ll still read her next book because she writes beautifully but this Italian series doesn’t match the Spindthrift stories set in Cornwall.

[Sally Coles · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book from the first pages and being a lover of cottage gardens it was a perfect fit. Great characters and descriptions of the garden and what she was growing made it interesting reading with a bit of mystery thrown in to keep your interest. Couldn't put it down and read it in one go especially being transported to Lake Como with the beautiful sunshine after the constant rain at home!

[Emily West · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book that makes you feel that you can smell the perfume of the flowers in an English garden. A book for people that love gardening, historical fiction, and mysteries. I will confess that I thought I had worked out the ending very early on, but there was a little twist in the tale that surprised me.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very different book to my usual read, but a really well told story. Makes you think about the time period it’s set in and the way life has changed. A page turner that kept me reading and a couple of twists that I absolutely had not seen coming. Would recommend this book and would read more by this author.

[Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another good story, the second in the Italian series. Twists and turns galore plus some lovely descriptions of a garden coming alive again. Looking forward to book 3.
I can thoroughly recommend the Spindrift series, which I also enjoyed.

[Bethany · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mixed feelings for this one.
It started well, slowed down and then picked up all at once.
I could see where the romance part of the story was going to end up but I hoped it would be different the whole way through the book.
Otherwise, I enjoyed the story once something started happening properly.

[Jade aka MrsTosh · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book starts in post war England where Violet Honeywell is trying to find a better life for her and her brother Edmund after he has been left with PTSD after the war. She is hired as a gardener for an Italian family and her and her brother travel to Lake Como.

Whilst recreating a lost garden, Violet finds a peace she never expected and watches Edmund heal from his trauma and fall in love with a local girl. The Marchese family are welcoming but hide many secrets and as Violet just starts to feel like she belongs there with the family she is dismissed from her job.

This is the first book I have read by the author but it won't be the last. I really enjoyed this book about family, friendship and forgiveness. The description of the English garden she creates and the beautiful flowers were amazing. I could feel myself walking along and spending time in the grotto and watching the fountains. The book also has humour and a slow burn romance which I really enjoyed. The book is full of fun and wonderful characters which you can't help but like.

Thank you to NetGalley and Piatkus for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Gail · Rating 3 out of 5]

Audiobook.

[Minnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yet another fantastic read from
Charlotte Betts. Would love a sequel to this one.

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very enjoyable read, sweet, poetic, with some dark history that made the novel pretty engaging!

[Tara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Violet honeywell is let go from her job at kew Gardens after the war. Her brother Edmund returns from the war with shell shock, and after promising her mum, she would always look after him she takes to caring for him.
After a dream job offer arises, she feels like she can't take it because of Edmund, but he convinces her it would be good for her and him for his recovery if she accepted.
They travel to Lake Como Luccas ancestral home, where Violet begins the huge task of restoring flora's garden into an English flower garden for luccas wife's birthday.
Beautifully written historical fiction lots of past secrets revealed and mysteries solved.