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The Florence Letter
Looking out over the twinkling city lights of Florence, Claire thinks of the letter that has brought her here. Written by a woman who escaped the Blitz, it holds a secret kept for a lifetime… but can Claire make the woman’s dying wish come true?Claire arrives at her new job as researcher at a grand English country house, nursing a broken heart. But tucked into the back of a long-forgotten drawer she finds a letter written in an elegant hand. It tells of a wartime secret about the beautiful Lady Violet – whose passionate affair with an Italian prisoner of war scandalised the village and ended in tragedy.Captivated, Claire promises to find Violet’s daughter, Tabitha, and reunite her with a priceless piece of her mother’s jewellery. With only the name of an Italian bakery, Pasticceria Mancini, to guide her, and the help of her handsome neighbour Jim, Claire travels to Tabitha’s last known location – Florence.Winding through the colourful streets, the sun warm on her bare shoulders, a tantalising scent of freshly baked bread floats on the air and Claire’s heart leaps at the sight of an ageing bakery Mancini. Although she learns that Tabitha hasn’t been there for many years, Claire refuses to give up. And as she and Jim talk late into the night over glasses of local chianti, Claire looks into his piercing blue eyes and finds herself growing closer to him…But when they finally track Tabitha down, it isn’t the happy reunion she expected and Claire is left reeling in the wake of discovering a devastating family secret.Violet’s story has an ending – but will the truth lead to forgiveness, or will it only bring more pain? And will Claire be forced to walk away from a chance of happiness with Jim at last?Escape to Italy in this gorgeous story of past and present colliding. Readers of Lucinda Riley and Fiona Valpy will be utterly enchanted by this sweeping, romantic page-turner.What readers are saying about Anita ‘Fabulous and fascinating… I was totally immersed in this book and honestly found it hard to put down… Beautifully written… Stunning.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘Mesmerising… This book had me entrapped from the very beginning.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘I thoroughly loved every page… I cannot wait for more from this author… A gorgeous story.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘A wonderful, sweet story!… Awesome… Highly recommended!’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘I absolutely loved this book. The dual time periods blended together beautifully… Can’t say enough about this book… Definitely want to see more from Anita Chapman. THIS IS A WINNER!’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘A wonderful story.
340 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 24, 2024
1174 people are currently reading
459 people want to read
About the author
Anita Chapman
6 books58 followersAnita Chapman enjoyed writing stories from a young age, and won a local writing competition when she was nine years old. Encouraged by this, she typed up a series of stories about a mouse on her mum’s typewriter and sent them to Ladybird. She received a polite rejection letter, her first.
Many of Anita’s summers growing up were spent with her family driving to Italy, and she went on to study French and Italian at university. As part of her degree, Anita lived in Siena for several months where she studied and au paired, and she spent a lot of time travelling around Italy in her twenties.
Anita likes to read journals and diaries from the past, and one of her favourite pastimes is visiting art galleries and country houses. Her first published novel, The Venice Secret is inspired by her mother taking her to see the Canalettos at The National Gallery in London as a child.
Since 2015, Anita has worked as a social media manager, training authors on social media, and helping to promote their books. She’s run several courses in London and York, and has worked as a tutor at Richmond and Hillcroft Adult Community College.
Many of Anita’s summers growing up were spent with her family driving to Italy, and she went on to study French and Italian at university. As part of her degree, Anita lived in Siena for several months where she studied and au paired, and she spent a lot of time travelling around Italy in her twenties.
Anita likes to read journals and diaries from the past, and one of her favourite pastimes is visiting art galleries and country houses. Her first published novel, The Venice Secret is inspired by her mother taking her to see the Canalettos at The National Gallery in London as a child.
Since 2015, Anita has worked as a social media manager, training authors on social media, and helping to promote their books. She’s run several courses in London and York, and has worked as a tutor at Richmond and Hillcroft Adult Community College.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
July 1, 2024
The Florence Letter: Absolutely spellbinding and page-turning dual narrative fiction by Anita Chapman was a captivating and engaging book that drew me in immediately. It was the first book that I had the pleasure of reading by Anita Chapman. I enjoyed that Anita Chapman chose to set The Florence Letter in both Surrey, England and in Florence, Italy. The two protagonists in The Florence Letters were both resourceful, strong and intelligent women. A dual timeline was used to tell each of these two women’s stories which eventually converged. It detailed the common thread that tied the hopes and the plight of both women together as they helped each other fulfill a promise that was made long ago. I listened to the audiobook that was narrated by both Emma Powell and Sophie Roberts. Their performance was enjoyable and kept me engaged throughout the entire audiobook.
Margaret or Mags as she liked to be called lived in London with her mother during The Blitz. She had secured a position at a popular department store and was enjoying her profession when the store suffered a direct hit from a German bomb and was destroyed. When her livelihood was eliminated, Mags’s aunt invited her to come to the countryside where she lived with the promise of helping Mags secure another job. Mags accepted her aunt’s offer and had hoped to live with her aunt for awhile before she sought employment. Her aunt, like many that lived in the countryside, had taken in boarders who occupied all of her aunt’s extra bedrooms. There was no room for Mags to live with her aunt. Her idea of an extended stay was not to be. Mags soon became a lady’s maid to Lady Violet at Gatley Hall. In a short period of time, Mags had earned Lady Violet’s trust and respect. Over the time Mags served as Lady Violet’s lady’s maid, she became privy to secrets, a scandal and the recipient of a promise she vowed to keep. At ninety-one years of age, Mags was still trying to keep that promise.
In 2015, Caire, a thirty year old woman, was ready to accept a new challenge. Her relationship with her boyfriend of many years was going nowhere fast. She finally realized that her boyfriend had no intention of marrying her and starting a family with her. It was time for Claire to move forward. She accepted a position at Gatley Hall. Claire was to put together an exhibition entitled “Under the Stairs”. She was to recreate what life at Gatley Hall had been like during World War II. While Claire rummaged through boxes and drawers, she hoped that she might discover something that could be useful for the exhibit. In a drawer full of letters, Claire came upon one letter written by a woman named Margaret who appeared to have served as Lady Violet’s lady’s maid during World War II. As Claire read the letter, she discovered that Margaret was searching for the whereabouts of a young woman named Tabitha. Claire’s interest was piqued. She was determined to find out who Margaret was. Her mission became clear. Claire must locate Margaret and find out who Tabitha was and why Margaret was so intent on finding her. Her quest began in Surrey and eventually led her to Florence, Italy.
Anita Chapman proved to me that she is a masterful storyteller. The Florence Letters was well written and it vividly described the landscapes of both Surrey and Florence. I really enjoyed learning about both Margaret’s and Claire’s lives and stories. They were both women who made some unfortunate decisions and choices but overcame them and became stronger as a result. I found it very interesting that the people in England that lived during World War II were encouraged to write in diaries and keep a record of their impressions and daily occurrences. There were a few twists in the story that kept me engaged and wanting more. I also enjoyed witnessing the romances that slowly took shape and grew for both Margaret and Claire. They both deserved to find happiness. By the way, I loved the cover of this book as well. I really enjoyed listening to The Florence Letters by Anita Chapman and highly recommend it. I will definitely look for books written by Anita Chapman in the future.
Thank you to Bookouture Audio for allowing me to listen to the audiobook of The Florence Letters by Anita Chapman through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Margaret or Mags as she liked to be called lived in London with her mother during The Blitz. She had secured a position at a popular department store and was enjoying her profession when the store suffered a direct hit from a German bomb and was destroyed. When her livelihood was eliminated, Mags’s aunt invited her to come to the countryside where she lived with the promise of helping Mags secure another job. Mags accepted her aunt’s offer and had hoped to live with her aunt for awhile before she sought employment. Her aunt, like many that lived in the countryside, had taken in boarders who occupied all of her aunt’s extra bedrooms. There was no room for Mags to live with her aunt. Her idea of an extended stay was not to be. Mags soon became a lady’s maid to Lady Violet at Gatley Hall. In a short period of time, Mags had earned Lady Violet’s trust and respect. Over the time Mags served as Lady Violet’s lady’s maid, she became privy to secrets, a scandal and the recipient of a promise she vowed to keep. At ninety-one years of age, Mags was still trying to keep that promise.
In 2015, Caire, a thirty year old woman, was ready to accept a new challenge. Her relationship with her boyfriend of many years was going nowhere fast. She finally realized that her boyfriend had no intention of marrying her and starting a family with her. It was time for Claire to move forward. She accepted a position at Gatley Hall. Claire was to put together an exhibition entitled “Under the Stairs”. She was to recreate what life at Gatley Hall had been like during World War II. While Claire rummaged through boxes and drawers, she hoped that she might discover something that could be useful for the exhibit. In a drawer full of letters, Claire came upon one letter written by a woman named Margaret who appeared to have served as Lady Violet’s lady’s maid during World War II. As Claire read the letter, she discovered that Margaret was searching for the whereabouts of a young woman named Tabitha. Claire’s interest was piqued. She was determined to find out who Margaret was. Her mission became clear. Claire must locate Margaret and find out who Tabitha was and why Margaret was so intent on finding her. Her quest began in Surrey and eventually led her to Florence, Italy.
Anita Chapman proved to me that she is a masterful storyteller. The Florence Letters was well written and it vividly described the landscapes of both Surrey and Florence. I really enjoyed learning about both Margaret’s and Claire’s lives and stories. They were both women who made some unfortunate decisions and choices but overcame them and became stronger as a result. I found it very interesting that the people in England that lived during World War II were encouraged to write in diaries and keep a record of their impressions and daily occurrences. There were a few twists in the story that kept me engaged and wanting more. I also enjoyed witnessing the romances that slowly took shape and grew for both Margaret and Claire. They both deserved to find happiness. By the way, I loved the cover of this book as well. I really enjoyed listening to The Florence Letters by Anita Chapman and highly recommend it. I will definitely look for books written by Anita Chapman in the future.
Thank you to Bookouture Audio for allowing me to listen to the audiobook of The Florence Letters by Anita Chapman through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
June 24, 2024
“What on earth was a half-naked man doing in my house?”
Anita Chapman shows us the road bumps we encounter and the resilience that develops when we deal with loss and are forced to take a new and unfamiliar road in life.
It’s rare that I’m more absorbed in a contemporary timeline than a historical one, but such is the case with this book. Claire-with-an-i moves into a new home to start afresh after grieving the loss of a loved one. Settling into a new job is the least of her worries; she’s got a half-naked man who wanders into her house and takes a shower! I was caught up in her Gately Hall exhibition and the discovery of a letter that led her to Margaret ‘Mags’ Anderson. The author crafted a compelling story of self-discovery with Claire.
The story opens in 2013 with 91-year-old Margaret Anderson and her memories and then alternates Claire’s contemporary story with Mags’ WW2 historical one. Like Claire, Margaret also deals with loss and experiences growth in her ‘moving on’ journey. It takes a while before the title makes sense, but when it does I wanted to know if/when Tabitha was found and how it all linked back to Rose Cottage. As always, I’m drawn in by the secrets and feel compelled to find out what really happened. Chapman kept my interest with the secrets that united Mags and Claire.
Congratulations on a spectacular cover!
I was gifted this copy by Bookouture and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
Anita Chapman shows us the road bumps we encounter and the resilience that develops when we deal with loss and are forced to take a new and unfamiliar road in life.
It’s rare that I’m more absorbed in a contemporary timeline than a historical one, but such is the case with this book. Claire-with-an-i moves into a new home to start afresh after grieving the loss of a loved one. Settling into a new job is the least of her worries; she’s got a half-naked man who wanders into her house and takes a shower! I was caught up in her Gately Hall exhibition and the discovery of a letter that led her to Margaret ‘Mags’ Anderson. The author crafted a compelling story of self-discovery with Claire.
The story opens in 2013 with 91-year-old Margaret Anderson and her memories and then alternates Claire’s contemporary story with Mags’ WW2 historical one. Like Claire, Margaret also deals with loss and experiences growth in her ‘moving on’ journey. It takes a while before the title makes sense, but when it does I wanted to know if/when Tabitha was found and how it all linked back to Rose Cottage. As always, I’m drawn in by the secrets and feel compelled to find out what really happened. Chapman kept my interest with the secrets that united Mags and Claire.
Congratulations on a spectacular cover!
I was gifted this copy by Bookouture and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
June 24, 2024
Set over two timelines with two main characters, Margaret (Mags) during WW2 and Claire in 2015 the story has the backdrop of a Surrey landscape with the majestic Gatley Hall at its heart. I’m going to show my age here in referencing a UK 1970s TV programme but with the ‘Upstairs Downstairs‘ vibe during Mags’s part of the story of her life as a lady’s maid to Lady Violet at Gatley Hall, there is drama, secrets, scandal and tragedy including a promise that Mags, now 91, is desperately hoping to fulfill.
As sometimes happens with dual timelines, there is one era in particular that I am drawn to and here it was Mags – I was entranced by her life in service and indeed, what happened afterwards. In taking the maid’s role under sufferance when losing her much loved job following the bombing of her London department store, Mags showed a surprising adaptability and loyalty, sometimes misplaced, to those she was fond of.
Thirty year old Claire’s involvement came via a letter. Tasked with arranging an exhibition which focuses on life ‘Below Stairs’ at Gatley Hall, no longer in private ownership but which is now under the auspices of the Association of Treasured Properties, she comes across a letter which intrigues her and which pulls the two timelines together. With a complicated backstory- and an awful ex-boyfriend, Claire seemed, at least initially, the more fragile character and I was hoping that she would find the confidence to put a stop to her questionable decisions. Well drawn characters complete both parts of the story with even the minor supporting ones making an impact, whether for good or bad.
I loved the part set in Florence, a favourite city. Evocative and atmospheric, this was delightful armchair travelling. In fact all locations including the Surrey countryside were vividly described giving that all important sense of place. There was also a nod to ‘A Room with a View‘ – a book by E M Forster that I have never read but am now tempted by as it features several times in the story.
Background research which educates but does not overwhelm the story is always a welcome addition for me. Historical detail is included which has relevance to the story, including mentions of the wartime Mass Observation project, where volunteers from all over Britain took part by writing about their day to day experiences which were later published in the form of diaries. There was so much to like about Anita Chapman’s second historical novel. There is romance – a will/they won’t they situation, much drama and long held secrets with devastating consequences. A captivating read which I very much enjoyed.
As sometimes happens with dual timelines, there is one era in particular that I am drawn to and here it was Mags – I was entranced by her life in service and indeed, what happened afterwards. In taking the maid’s role under sufferance when losing her much loved job following the bombing of her London department store, Mags showed a surprising adaptability and loyalty, sometimes misplaced, to those she was fond of.
Thirty year old Claire’s involvement came via a letter. Tasked with arranging an exhibition which focuses on life ‘Below Stairs’ at Gatley Hall, no longer in private ownership but which is now under the auspices of the Association of Treasured Properties, she comes across a letter which intrigues her and which pulls the two timelines together. With a complicated backstory- and an awful ex-boyfriend, Claire seemed, at least initially, the more fragile character and I was hoping that she would find the confidence to put a stop to her questionable decisions. Well drawn characters complete both parts of the story with even the minor supporting ones making an impact, whether for good or bad.
I loved the part set in Florence, a favourite city. Evocative and atmospheric, this was delightful armchair travelling. In fact all locations including the Surrey countryside were vividly described giving that all important sense of place. There was also a nod to ‘A Room with a View‘ – a book by E M Forster that I have never read but am now tempted by as it features several times in the story.
Background research which educates but does not overwhelm the story is always a welcome addition for me. Historical detail is included which has relevance to the story, including mentions of the wartime Mass Observation project, where volunteers from all over Britain took part by writing about their day to day experiences which were later published in the form of diaries. There was so much to like about Anita Chapman’s second historical novel. There is romance – a will/they won’t they situation, much drama and long held secrets with devastating consequences. A captivating read which I very much enjoyed.
July 12, 2024
I have been following Anita Chapman on Social Media, as an aspiring author for some years. Just last year she had her debut novel The Venice Secret published, which I throughly enjoyed. So I am delighted that The Florence Letter has followed quickly.
A dual narrative with two female protagonists, Margaret during WWII and Claire in 2015. Their stories are a delightful romantic tale with some fabulous characters that together uncover some intriguing family secrets. To add to my reading pleasure both settings Florence and Surrey are familiar to me. I happen to have very fond memories of the property that the fictional Gatley Hall is partly based upon.
The author has certainly established herself as a writer of captivating stories with her first two novels. If you are a fan of historical fiction I can recommend you add her to your favourites list of authors.
It is with thanks to Bookouture, NetGalley and Anita Chapman that this title was made available for me to read and review.
https://lindyloumacbookreviews.blogsp...
A dual narrative with two female protagonists, Margaret during WWII and Claire in 2015. Their stories are a delightful romantic tale with some fabulous characters that together uncover some intriguing family secrets. To add to my reading pleasure both settings Florence and Surrey are familiar to me. I happen to have very fond memories of the property that the fictional Gatley Hall is partly based upon.
The author has certainly established herself as a writer of captivating stories with her first two novels. If you are a fan of historical fiction I can recommend you add her to your favourites list of authors.
It is with thanks to Bookouture, NetGalley and Anita Chapman that this title was made available for me to read and review.
https://lindyloumacbookreviews.blogsp...
June 13, 2024
Claire finds a long-lost letter in which a Lady Violet wants to bequeath her daughter a piece of her jewellery and sets about trying to make it happen, with very little information to go on other than the name of a bakery. So many thanks to NetGalley for the ARC/audiobook, and thanks to the narrator for a soothing voice.
July 7, 2024
predictable romance
Did I miss it, I don’t recall any secret Florence letter?
Predictable story and ending. Only 1 twist I didn’t see coming
Did I miss it, I don’t recall any secret Florence letter?
Predictable story and ending. Only 1 twist I didn’t see coming
June 29, 2024
As someone who absolutely loved my brief visit to Florence I was drawn in by this book cover and the hope of beautiful descriptions of Florence. Those did not disappoint. The city is lovely and the book did a good job of capturing that spirit.
This is a dual point of view story, Claire in present day and Margaret in the late days of World War II. Despite the name and the cover the majority of the book takes place in the countryside outside of London.
This is an easy read with both women having interesting stories. There were parts where it dragged a bit but then it would pick up the pace again.
Overall, this is a quick, easy read and fans of historical fiction especially those with a little romance will enjoy it.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher, Bookoutoure, for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This is a dual point of view story, Claire in present day and Margaret in the late days of World War II. Despite the name and the cover the majority of the book takes place in the countryside outside of London.
This is an easy read with both women having interesting stories. There were parts where it dragged a bit but then it would pick up the pace again.
Overall, this is a quick, easy read and fans of historical fiction especially those with a little romance will enjoy it.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher, Bookoutoure, for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
August 8, 2024
This is a captivating read with a beautifully woven dual timeline. The story is both emotional and intriguing, keeping me engaged from start to finish.
The blend of past and present is done seamlessly, and I thoroughly enjoyed the journey through the characters' lives.
A compelling and heartfelt story that I would recommend.
Not last, I would like to thank to NetGalley, the author and publisher for offering me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
The blend of past and present is done seamlessly, and I thoroughly enjoyed the journey through the characters' lives.
A compelling and heartfelt story that I would recommend.
Not last, I would like to thank to NetGalley, the author and publisher for offering me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
July 18, 2024
This one had history among all the romance and it made it unique and very cute. I loved all of the mystery and tense moment along with the cute ones. Plus, the setting of this book sounded incredible. I longed to be right there with her as she travelled her journey. An adorable Italian romance, something that we all dream about.
May 14, 2024
In the 1940's, Margaret finds herself working at Gately Hall as a Lady's maid to Lady Violet after the department store where she worked was bombed during the war. 2015 and Claire accepts a job organising a "below stairs" exhibition at Gately Hall. She finds a letter from Margaret begging for help to find Tabitha. In turn this sends her to Florence to discover what happened to Tabitha.
On the whole I really liked this dual timeline novel, I preferred the historical side of the story with Margarets life, I found Claires side more of a will they won't they scenario. However once she visited Florence the modern side became more captivating.
On the whole I really liked this dual timeline novel, I preferred the historical side of the story with Margarets life, I found Claires side more of a will they won't they scenario. However once she visited Florence the modern side became more captivating.
June 28, 2024
When I saw this title on NetGalley, I had to get it. For those of you that don’t know, I truly believe Florence is my second home. I’ve travelled there multiple times and it’s one place on this earth where I truly feel at ease & like I belong. I don’t know how to explain it, but my heart lives and lies in Florence.
I didn’t read what this book would be about … I know I know but what can I say, I like going in blind and raw dogging it. Again, I’m so pleased that I did because WHAT A STORY!
The Florence Letter is a beautifully written book that’s set in dual timelines of England during WWII & present day England (well 2015). We follow two MC’s Mags (Margret WWII) & Claire (2015) during their stay in Surrey at Gatley Hall. Mags was a lady’s maid to Lady Violet during the war, what a time it was for her … drama, sadness, scandal & a secret that Mags at 91 is desperately trying to fulfil, through Gatley Hall & Claire.
Claire is charge of putting together an exhibition called ‘below stairs’ which she is tasked to bring to life. In her office she find a drawer, which is full of letters that have been shifted aside due to lack of staff. In here, she find Mags letter, to which makes the dual timelines make sense and intertwine. Claire’s had a difficult past and is looking for a fresh start in Surrey.
I 100% loved the chapters set in Florence, Anita did a marvellous job on setting the scene and taking you there. She was beautifully descriptive and truely transported me to Florence and Surrey. All in all, this was a gorgeous written novel that encapsulated England during the war, what life was like and then honouring & remembering that time period in present times with also a splash or romance, scandal & drama!
𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺, 𝘈𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘢 𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘮𝘢𝘯 & 𝘉𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘤 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘺 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸.
I didn’t read what this book would be about … I know I know but what can I say, I like going in blind and raw dogging it. Again, I’m so pleased that I did because WHAT A STORY!
The Florence Letter is a beautifully written book that’s set in dual timelines of England during WWII & present day England (well 2015). We follow two MC’s Mags (Margret WWII) & Claire (2015) during their stay in Surrey at Gatley Hall. Mags was a lady’s maid to Lady Violet during the war, what a time it was for her … drama, sadness, scandal & a secret that Mags at 91 is desperately trying to fulfil, through Gatley Hall & Claire.
Claire is charge of putting together an exhibition called ‘below stairs’ which she is tasked to bring to life. In her office she find a drawer, which is full of letters that have been shifted aside due to lack of staff. In here, she find Mags letter, to which makes the dual timelines make sense and intertwine. Claire’s had a difficult past and is looking for a fresh start in Surrey.
I 100% loved the chapters set in Florence, Anita did a marvellous job on setting the scene and taking you there. She was beautifully descriptive and truely transported me to Florence and Surrey. All in all, this was a gorgeous written novel that encapsulated England during the war, what life was like and then honouring & remembering that time period in present times with also a splash or romance, scandal & drama!
𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺, 𝘈𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘢 𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘮𝘢𝘯 & 𝘉𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘤 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘺 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸.
June 20, 2024
Very interesting take on a dual timeline story!
Present day is told normally.
BUT, the past is told via diary entries of a woman who journaled, pretty much, her whole life…. And she is trying desperately to find someone in the present day!
This one begins in early 1940’s in the UK. War was ongoing, and so was the bombing…
When Mags loses her job (due to the store being bombed), she is forced to look for another. Although she does NOT want to be a servant (in fact she was very happy to get the job at the store and NOT follow in her family’s footsteps…), she is forced to look at whatever is available.
And so she finds a job as a lady’s maid…with Lady Violet.
One day her life is ‘saved’ by a very handsome man named Luca. He is a POW working on a nearby farm…and soon she begins falling…
Until one day, when she is out and about with Lady Violet, and they meet Luca…and he only has eyes for one…
As the story progresses we learn of life and times back in the 40’s, and how the war was not as bad as some other places, if you were of a wealthy nature…or working for one of these homes.
On the present day timeline we have Claire, who is putting together an ‘Under the Stairs’ presentation. As she is looking through items, she discovers a letter that’s hidden away. She tries to contact the woman who wrote it, and, after much work, finally gets a hold of her. As they begin corresponding, the story grows and grows!
In the meantime she is forming a friendship with a neighbor and work mate, Jim. and as the pieces of the puzzle start to come together, some lives begin to unravel…
Beautiful story with lots and lots of layers, and some very well built characters!
Thanks to #NetGalley and #BookoutureAudio for an ARC of the audiobook which is due for release in just a few days on 6/24/24!
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me!
#TheFlorenceLetter by #AnitaChapman and beautifully narrated by #EmmaPowell and #SophieRoberts.
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Present day is told normally.
BUT, the past is told via diary entries of a woman who journaled, pretty much, her whole life…. And she is trying desperately to find someone in the present day!
This one begins in early 1940’s in the UK. War was ongoing, and so was the bombing…
When Mags loses her job (due to the store being bombed), she is forced to look for another. Although she does NOT want to be a servant (in fact she was very happy to get the job at the store and NOT follow in her family’s footsteps…), she is forced to look at whatever is available.
And so she finds a job as a lady’s maid…with Lady Violet.
One day her life is ‘saved’ by a very handsome man named Luca. He is a POW working on a nearby farm…and soon she begins falling…
Until one day, when she is out and about with Lady Violet, and they meet Luca…and he only has eyes for one…
As the story progresses we learn of life and times back in the 40’s, and how the war was not as bad as some other places, if you were of a wealthy nature…or working for one of these homes.
On the present day timeline we have Claire, who is putting together an ‘Under the Stairs’ presentation. As she is looking through items, she discovers a letter that’s hidden away. She tries to contact the woman who wrote it, and, after much work, finally gets a hold of her. As they begin corresponding, the story grows and grows!
In the meantime she is forming a friendship with a neighbor and work mate, Jim. and as the pieces of the puzzle start to come together, some lives begin to unravel…
Beautiful story with lots and lots of layers, and some very well built characters!
Thanks to #NetGalley and #BookoutureAudio for an ARC of the audiobook which is due for release in just a few days on 6/24/24!
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me!
#TheFlorenceLetter by #AnitaChapman and beautifully narrated by #EmmaPowell and #SophieRoberts.
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June 29, 2024
Two stories in one, this novel feels like a rewarding investment of your time! Set in the same village, it narrates the parallel tales of Mags during the war and Claire in the present day. Eventually, these two stories converge, seamlessly fitting together like pieces of the same puzzle to reveal the poignant journey of our protagonists.
This dynamic storytelling captivated me; much like a detective gathering clues, I found myself constantly surprised by the twists. I particularly enjoyed the immersion into the worlds of the two protagonists, which highlights the evolution of women's conditions over the years. The romances depicted in the book are also touching and charming. All in all, a wonderful discovery.
Thanks to Boukouture, NetGalley, and Anita Chapman for a chance to read this book for free. I'm leaving this review of my own accord.
This dynamic storytelling captivated me; much like a detective gathering clues, I found myself constantly surprised by the twists. I particularly enjoyed the immersion into the worlds of the two protagonists, which highlights the evolution of women's conditions over the years. The romances depicted in the book are also touching and charming. All in all, a wonderful discovery.
Thanks to Boukouture, NetGalley, and Anita Chapman for a chance to read this book for free. I'm leaving this review of my own accord.
June 15, 2024
The Florence Letter AUDIO by Anita Chapman was a lovely story in two timelines: Margaret, a lady’s maid during World War II and Claire, a woman in transition, putting together a story of the downstairs workings of Gatley Hall. Claire comes upon a letter that is several years old and decides to follow up. She discovers an old woman, ninety years old, who wants desperately to fulfill a promise she made to her dying mistress over seventy years earlier. The story chronicles Margaret’s life, touching on the time she spent at the hall as well as her two marriages. It is a comprehensive and enlightening look at a life. In the second timeline, Claire is recovering from her father’s death as well as a bad breakup. Moving to Gatley Hall is her new beginning. The cottage in which she lives has been split into halves and she begins a friendship with her cottage-mate, that beings revelations.
This was a wonderful listen, not always pleasant, but always understated. The workings of human relationships can be complex and many of those relationships are detailed in this moving novel. Life is often not easy, often of one’s own making, but usually from lack of knowledge. It is a testament to long engagements, and friendship before love, if nothing else. The characters are interesting, all having backstories which make it a compelling overall read. The charms of the past are on full display as the story develops. Thanks Anita Chapman for a wonderful story.
Emma Powell and Sophie Roberts did an amzing job with the narration, keeping it low-key but moving the story along. Kudos!
I was invited to listen to The Florence Letter by Bookoutre Audio. All thoughts an opinions are mine. #Netgalley #BookoutreAudio #AnitaChapman #EmmaPowell #SophieRoberts #TheFlorenceLetter
This was a wonderful listen, not always pleasant, but always understated. The workings of human relationships can be complex and many of those relationships are detailed in this moving novel. Life is often not easy, often of one’s own making, but usually from lack of knowledge. It is a testament to long engagements, and friendship before love, if nothing else. The characters are interesting, all having backstories which make it a compelling overall read. The charms of the past are on full display as the story develops. Thanks Anita Chapman for a wonderful story.
Emma Powell and Sophie Roberts did an amzing job with the narration, keeping it low-key but moving the story along. Kudos!
I was invited to listen to The Florence Letter by Bookoutre Audio. All thoughts an opinions are mine. #Netgalley #BookoutreAudio #AnitaChapman #EmmaPowell #SophieRoberts #TheFlorenceLetter
July 15, 2024
A delightful dual timeline story set in England (1940 and 2015) and which features a trip to beautiful Florence. I loved the below stairs goings on at Gatley Hall and the nod to Downton Abbey in Margaret’s timeline. Claire’s timeline was also highly engaging, I enjoyed her interactions with feisty Jim and his insistence on coming into her flat wearing only a towel lol. The switch between the timelines was easy to follow and I liked that there were subsequent chapters devoted to the main character at times to pull you deeper into their stories. I won’t give any spoilers about the plot but I thought the author did a wonderful job with portraying Florence, especially the food. I look forward to reading Anita’s next book!
Read
October 3, 2025als je denkt 'goh het klinkt echt alsof de voorlezer een amandelontsteking heeft' is dat waar! 🤠 wel genoooten hoor met als hoogtepunt 'gravin-douairiére' en 'Brunelleschi-koepel' en 'terracottakleurig' casual zeggen iedere zin
July 16, 2024
#TheFlorenceLetter #NetGalley. This is the first book I have read by this author, my usual genres being crime fiction and thrillers but anything to do with Italy grabs my attention. A romantic saga told through two different women - Margaret mostly during the second world war and Claire in more present day of 2015. A story or love, deceit, relationships set in a background of war torn London/Surrey and the enchanting Tuscan city of Florence, and I don't mind admitting had me hooked from the start. This was a lovely read and I will be certain to look out for more by this author.
July 5, 2024
This is a good story following two separate women in two different time periods but also overlapping time periods. It includes love, loss, and discovery. This is a well-woven story that is enjoyable as an audiobook. The only downside I found while listening to this was that there were times when I felt like I lost track of where we were and who we were talking about because there were a good amount of characters to keep track of. Other than that, this was a good listen and I definitely would recommend this to other readers.
May 21, 2024
I liked how it started. A little intrigue to the story trying to figure how the two storylines would intersect. However, by about halfway through I started feeling like the story was dragging, the conversations didn’t flow. And I didn’t appreciate that there was a lot of sleeping around and back and forth emotions that really didn’t even help the story.
May 9, 2024
Found this cozy love story to be boring and not well written. Did enjoy the dual points of view. And certainly not enough taking place in Florence to match my expectations from the title.
June 28, 2024
The Florence Letter is the first book that I have read by Anita Chapman but it certainly won’t be my last. As soon as I started reading I quickly became engrossed in the dual timeline story that was unfolding which was full of twists and turns right until the very end. The comparisons to the writing of Lucinda Riley are very worthy and I could see echoes of this throughout and dare I say it Anita Chapman might just be the author that I have been searching for ever since I knew we would no longer have any books from one of my favourite ever authors. The title suggests that a lot of the story would be set in Florence but that wasn’t the case. This occurred more so towards the end but that didn’t disappoint me in the slightest as the story within the pages was strong enough that I wasn’t overly focused on the Italian aspect of the story as what was occurring was holding my attention and it had me rapidly turning the pages.
The book opens with a brief prologue. It’s March 2013 and Margaret is making one last effort to write a letter in order to fulfil a request to a friend. She has tried unsuccessfully several times before to complete this bequest. She is looking for someone called Tabitha who lived in Rose Cottage at Gately Hall during World War Two. Instantly, my interest was piqued. Who is Margaret and why is she so insistent that she must find this woman named Tabitha? What happened during the war and would this one final chance prove fruitful? These questions stayed with me as I delved deeper into the story and I was hoping to find firm and solid answers for them all.
The book then focuses on Claire and it’s January 2015 and she has just started a new job at Gately Hall which is in Surrey. She will live at Rose Cottage and work as a research and exhibition officer. She had worked as a curator in an art gallery but she needed a change following upheaval and stress in her life. Her father has passed away and the day after the funeral she had broken up with her partner Miles. She has no ties now and is eager to throw herself into her new job and curate her first exhibition once she can decide on a subject matter. Coming to Gately Hall was a means of escape for Claire. A chance to reset, reassess and process the grief and the hall offers that peace and comfort that she has been seeking
Claire discovers a book called Mrs. Field’s Diary, a book written as part of the mass observations of the war. This gives her an idea for the exhibition and whilst sorting through documents at the hall she falls upon a letter from Margaret looking for Tabitha. A spark is ignited within Claire and she is determined to help fulfil her quest before it’s too late. Finding the letter gives her a focus and I loved how determined she became. The words within the letter struck a cord within her and she also felt that it would make a good story and promote the hall and attract more visitors.
From this point on the chapters effortlessly move back and forth between the present and the war years and to be honest I found the chapters set in the past were really holding my attention more so that Claire’s developing story in the present. It’s not that Claire’s aspect of the plot wasn’t interesting. It was. I just felt completely caught up in the events of the past and there were so many twists and turns there that had my jaw dropping at some points. I loved Claire as a character for her determination and fortitude. The letter ignited something in her and she wouldn’t rest until she had all the answers even if some of the revelations were very surprising and a bit closer to home which she never would have contemplated in the first place. Claire was the one piecing together the pieces of the jigsaw and she needed to be present in the story to bind together the past and the present but Margaret’s story in the past and how she slotted into the overall picture was fascinating.
At the halfway point if felt to me that potentially the book could have been wrapped up pretty quickly. It needed a big twist but for me it came too early. I would have much rather been kept in suspense for much longer. Therefore the second half felt very different to the first in that it had more of a modern feel to it as Claire ventures to Italy in order to potentially find Tabitha. But the last quarter or so of the book had me falling in love with the story all over again and I realised my assumptions regrading the halfway point weren’t fully correct and that in fact the author had everything so carefully and expertly plotted and it reminded me of dual timeline books that had kept me riveted in the past. I love the element of surprise in that you firmly believe one thing because the writing has made you think and feel that way and then within a turn of the page a curveball is thrown and all you have thought to be correct is thrown out the window and the wool has been pulled over your eyes but in the best of ways.
So, what of the aspect of the story that focuses on World War Two. Well here is where we come to learn of Margaret. A city girl who finds herself jobless thanks to the bombings in London. She is given no choice but to leave London and travel to Surrey where her Aunt Edith resides but adjusting to country life after the hustle and bustle of the city will prove challenging. She soon gets a job as ladies maid to Lady Violet at Gately Hall and Edith urges her to keep her own diary observing what is going on in a wealthy family during the war years. Margaret is like a fish out of water in her new setting and feels that working as a servant is a step backwards for her after all she had achieved as a shop girl. But she soon comes to realise that life is not dull and boring in the country especially with Lady Violet around. A tentative but at times distant friendship is struck between the pair as Lady Violet’s husband is away in London. Margaret becomes accustomed to the rules and regulations of the hall and comes to understand that she will observe things that perhaps some people want secret.
Margaret meets Luca, an Italian prisoner of war, who is working on the farm run by the estate. She falls very quickly for him, hard and fast which seemed a bit unrealistic as they barely knew each other. But the author had a lot in store regarding this aspect of the storyline and to say things took a very surprising turn would be an understatement. I felt Margaret had to bottle up her own feelings and over time she became the conduit to the telling of another story. That she perhaps took a back seat and here is where her observations took over. She had to hide things and sacrifice her own feelings and come to comprehend that this wasn’t about her but rather someone else. The actions of these other person would reverberate for many years right down to Claire. Margaret’s journey goes on a different trajectory to what I would have initially thought it would have paned out to be. There are many layers that are peeled back as Claire ventures deeper into discovering what went on in the past as she tries to complete a quest that was issued during the war.The story started to span several generations and there were numerous unexpected reveals that had me thinking oh this really is a brilliant story and it reignited my passion for reading this genre of books which I had found myself becoming a bit jaded by.
The Florence Letter is a brilliant read and one which I really enjoyed from beginning to end. It’s easy to escape into Claire and Margaret’s worlds and see how they collide. There is a lot of pain for the characters and forgiveness will need to occur before any final resolution will be played out. Overall, this book was very well written but as previously mentioned don’t expect a full blown story set in Italy because this is not the case despite the title. None the less, it is a real page turner and I very much look forward to reading more from Anita Chapman in the future.
The book opens with a brief prologue. It’s March 2013 and Margaret is making one last effort to write a letter in order to fulfil a request to a friend. She has tried unsuccessfully several times before to complete this bequest. She is looking for someone called Tabitha who lived in Rose Cottage at Gately Hall during World War Two. Instantly, my interest was piqued. Who is Margaret and why is she so insistent that she must find this woman named Tabitha? What happened during the war and would this one final chance prove fruitful? These questions stayed with me as I delved deeper into the story and I was hoping to find firm and solid answers for them all.
The book then focuses on Claire and it’s January 2015 and she has just started a new job at Gately Hall which is in Surrey. She will live at Rose Cottage and work as a research and exhibition officer. She had worked as a curator in an art gallery but she needed a change following upheaval and stress in her life. Her father has passed away and the day after the funeral she had broken up with her partner Miles. She has no ties now and is eager to throw herself into her new job and curate her first exhibition once she can decide on a subject matter. Coming to Gately Hall was a means of escape for Claire. A chance to reset, reassess and process the grief and the hall offers that peace and comfort that she has been seeking
Claire discovers a book called Mrs. Field’s Diary, a book written as part of the mass observations of the war. This gives her an idea for the exhibition and whilst sorting through documents at the hall she falls upon a letter from Margaret looking for Tabitha. A spark is ignited within Claire and she is determined to help fulfil her quest before it’s too late. Finding the letter gives her a focus and I loved how determined she became. The words within the letter struck a cord within her and she also felt that it would make a good story and promote the hall and attract more visitors.
From this point on the chapters effortlessly move back and forth between the present and the war years and to be honest I found the chapters set in the past were really holding my attention more so that Claire’s developing story in the present. It’s not that Claire’s aspect of the plot wasn’t interesting. It was. I just felt completely caught up in the events of the past and there were so many twists and turns there that had my jaw dropping at some points. I loved Claire as a character for her determination and fortitude. The letter ignited something in her and she wouldn’t rest until she had all the answers even if some of the revelations were very surprising and a bit closer to home which she never would have contemplated in the first place. Claire was the one piecing together the pieces of the jigsaw and she needed to be present in the story to bind together the past and the present but Margaret’s story in the past and how she slotted into the overall picture was fascinating.
At the halfway point if felt to me that potentially the book could have been wrapped up pretty quickly. It needed a big twist but for me it came too early. I would have much rather been kept in suspense for much longer. Therefore the second half felt very different to the first in that it had more of a modern feel to it as Claire ventures to Italy in order to potentially find Tabitha. But the last quarter or so of the book had me falling in love with the story all over again and I realised my assumptions regrading the halfway point weren’t fully correct and that in fact the author had everything so carefully and expertly plotted and it reminded me of dual timeline books that had kept me riveted in the past. I love the element of surprise in that you firmly believe one thing because the writing has made you think and feel that way and then within a turn of the page a curveball is thrown and all you have thought to be correct is thrown out the window and the wool has been pulled over your eyes but in the best of ways.
So, what of the aspect of the story that focuses on World War Two. Well here is where we come to learn of Margaret. A city girl who finds herself jobless thanks to the bombings in London. She is given no choice but to leave London and travel to Surrey where her Aunt Edith resides but adjusting to country life after the hustle and bustle of the city will prove challenging. She soon gets a job as ladies maid to Lady Violet at Gately Hall and Edith urges her to keep her own diary observing what is going on in a wealthy family during the war years. Margaret is like a fish out of water in her new setting and feels that working as a servant is a step backwards for her after all she had achieved as a shop girl. But she soon comes to realise that life is not dull and boring in the country especially with Lady Violet around. A tentative but at times distant friendship is struck between the pair as Lady Violet’s husband is away in London. Margaret becomes accustomed to the rules and regulations of the hall and comes to understand that she will observe things that perhaps some people want secret.
Margaret meets Luca, an Italian prisoner of war, who is working on the farm run by the estate. She falls very quickly for him, hard and fast which seemed a bit unrealistic as they barely knew each other. But the author had a lot in store regarding this aspect of the storyline and to say things took a very surprising turn would be an understatement. I felt Margaret had to bottle up her own feelings and over time she became the conduit to the telling of another story. That she perhaps took a back seat and here is where her observations took over. She had to hide things and sacrifice her own feelings and come to comprehend that this wasn’t about her but rather someone else. The actions of these other person would reverberate for many years right down to Claire. Margaret’s journey goes on a different trajectory to what I would have initially thought it would have paned out to be. There are many layers that are peeled back as Claire ventures deeper into discovering what went on in the past as she tries to complete a quest that was issued during the war.The story started to span several generations and there were numerous unexpected reveals that had me thinking oh this really is a brilliant story and it reignited my passion for reading this genre of books which I had found myself becoming a bit jaded by.
The Florence Letter is a brilliant read and one which I really enjoyed from beginning to end. It’s easy to escape into Claire and Margaret’s worlds and see how they collide. There is a lot of pain for the characters and forgiveness will need to occur before any final resolution will be played out. Overall, this book was very well written but as previously mentioned don’t expect a full blown story set in Italy because this is not the case despite the title. None the less, it is a real page turner and I very much look forward to reading more from Anita Chapman in the future.
June 24, 2024
Time is running out for Margaret – now in her nineties – as she searches for the mysterious Tabitha and needs to carry out Lady Violet’s dying wish, to pass on a piece of valuable jewellery. Her letters to Gately Hall – where she lived and worked as a lady’s maid during wartime – have gone unanswered until Claire finds one in a drawer when she takes up her job of organising a “below stairs” exhibition at the hall. Initially seeing it as an interesting focus for her display – Margaret must have interesting stories about her time at the hall – Claire becomes caught up in the search for Tabitha, travelling to Florence and uncovering a number of deeply hidden secrets.
When a dual time story is this well written, with linked stories that are equally engaging, it’s fairly guaranteed that it’ll be a personal favourite. The timelines are beautifully managed, with Margaret’s experiences slowly revealed, the reader often a step ahead of Claire as she digs more deeply into the mystery – and I particularly liked the fact that the stories didn’t unfold over alternate chapters, but were allowed to flow as they needed to. The pacing is clever too – the story lingers over Margaret’s time at the hall, her experience of service and her developing relationship with Lady Violet, society’s constraints and expectations for a single woman at that point in history particularly well captured, with moments of drama and heartbreak, then skips through the major events in her difficult later life. Her whole story is tremendously engaging at an emotional level – and laced with secrets that later surface.
Claire’s story is equally well told – a fresh start for her after a difficult time, when she finds herself living in a cottage next door to ranger Jim, a friendship that might just develop into something rather more. But my goodness, she makes some very questionable choices along the way – and there are most certainly some obstacles to them ever being more than friends. I really enjoyed their will they/won’t they story though – and even more so when they found themselves, rather unexpectedly, travelling to Italy in search of the bakery that might provide the clues they need to solve the mystery of Tabitha’s disappearance. The Italian settings are perfectly handled, with the loveliest detail – I really felt I was there too.
While the mystery really is entirely enthralling, I also enjoyed the mirroring between the two stories – in different circumstances, both women make fresh starts, experience heartbreak, struggle with relationships. And, I have to say, I was totally invested in both their stories – and found their conclusion particularly satisfying. A really lovely read, and one I’d very much recommend.
When a dual time story is this well written, with linked stories that are equally engaging, it’s fairly guaranteed that it’ll be a personal favourite. The timelines are beautifully managed, with Margaret’s experiences slowly revealed, the reader often a step ahead of Claire as she digs more deeply into the mystery – and I particularly liked the fact that the stories didn’t unfold over alternate chapters, but were allowed to flow as they needed to. The pacing is clever too – the story lingers over Margaret’s time at the hall, her experience of service and her developing relationship with Lady Violet, society’s constraints and expectations for a single woman at that point in history particularly well captured, with moments of drama and heartbreak, then skips through the major events in her difficult later life. Her whole story is tremendously engaging at an emotional level – and laced with secrets that later surface.
Claire’s story is equally well told – a fresh start for her after a difficult time, when she finds herself living in a cottage next door to ranger Jim, a friendship that might just develop into something rather more. But my goodness, she makes some very questionable choices along the way – and there are most certainly some obstacles to them ever being more than friends. I really enjoyed their will they/won’t they story though – and even more so when they found themselves, rather unexpectedly, travelling to Italy in search of the bakery that might provide the clues they need to solve the mystery of Tabitha’s disappearance. The Italian settings are perfectly handled, with the loveliest detail – I really felt I was there too.
While the mystery really is entirely enthralling, I also enjoyed the mirroring between the two stories – in different circumstances, both women make fresh starts, experience heartbreak, struggle with relationships. And, I have to say, I was totally invested in both their stories – and found their conclusion particularly satisfying. A really lovely read, and one I’d very much recommend.
June 28, 2024
I read and reviewed Anita Chapman's first novel; The Venice Secret, in March last year. I loved it, it was one of my favourite books of the year. I was delighted when she secured a publishing deal with Bookouture after the success of her self-published novel, and have been looking forward to The Florence Secret for a while.
Once again, this clever and talented author has presented a dual time novel that will captivate the reader. Set mainly in Gatley Hall, a stately home in the Surrey countryside, we are introduced to two main female characters. Margaret who left London during the Blitz of World War II to take up a position as a lady's maid at the hall, and in the modern part of the story; Claire who has also escaped the big city to work on a special exhibition at the hall.
At the beginning of the novel Margaret is 91 years old and writing yet another letter to the owners of Gatley Hall. She has been desperate to track down Tabitha, a character from her past. Whilst Margaret has written many times, she has never had a response. When Claire discovers the latest letter stuffed in a drawer of paperwork, she is intrigued and becomes determined to solve the mystery of the missing woman.
Anita Chapman really does her research so well, she combines historical fact with this beautiful fictional story and expertly interweaves the modern day story too. I particularly enjoyed Margaret's story, the details about the hierarchy of servants was fascinating, the absolute dedication that is expected from a lady's maid, and the general running of the household is fascinating.
The modern day tale is also very well presented, Claire is a woman who has experienced difficult times and her adjustment to life in the country takes some time. She often does things that make me squirm, but she's a determined character and driven to find the answers for Margaret.
Claire's neighbour Jim is the only main male character and whilst their first meeting is quite awkward, they soon form a relationship. Jim and Claire travel to Florence in search of Tabitha and the author's descriptions of this beautiful city are just breathtaking.
Although divided by decades, Margaret and Claire's stories are similar, and I thought this was exceptionally clever of the author. The reader compares and contrasts the differences faced by women of different eras who are dealing with issues that mirror each other.
Another fabulous piece of historical fiction from a talented author. I look forward to her next book.
Once again, this clever and talented author has presented a dual time novel that will captivate the reader. Set mainly in Gatley Hall, a stately home in the Surrey countryside, we are introduced to two main female characters. Margaret who left London during the Blitz of World War II to take up a position as a lady's maid at the hall, and in the modern part of the story; Claire who has also escaped the big city to work on a special exhibition at the hall.
At the beginning of the novel Margaret is 91 years old and writing yet another letter to the owners of Gatley Hall. She has been desperate to track down Tabitha, a character from her past. Whilst Margaret has written many times, she has never had a response. When Claire discovers the latest letter stuffed in a drawer of paperwork, she is intrigued and becomes determined to solve the mystery of the missing woman.
Anita Chapman really does her research so well, she combines historical fact with this beautiful fictional story and expertly interweaves the modern day story too. I particularly enjoyed Margaret's story, the details about the hierarchy of servants was fascinating, the absolute dedication that is expected from a lady's maid, and the general running of the household is fascinating.
The modern day tale is also very well presented, Claire is a woman who has experienced difficult times and her adjustment to life in the country takes some time. She often does things that make me squirm, but she's a determined character and driven to find the answers for Margaret.
Claire's neighbour Jim is the only main male character and whilst their first meeting is quite awkward, they soon form a relationship. Jim and Claire travel to Florence in search of Tabitha and the author's descriptions of this beautiful city are just breathtaking.
Although divided by decades, Margaret and Claire's stories are similar, and I thought this was exceptionally clever of the author. The reader compares and contrasts the differences faced by women of different eras who are dealing with issues that mirror each other.
Another fabulous piece of historical fiction from a talented author. I look forward to her next book.
July 1, 2024
The Florence Letter is a split time novel. It tells the story of a young woman Margaret (Mags) who is forced to leave her job in London as a “shop girl” and all her dreams of independence behind due to the Blitz. Her Aunt finds her work as a Lady’s Maid at Gatley Hall. We then read of Claire in 2015, who has also moved from the bright lights of the city to the countryside, to the Gatley estate, where she is to set up an exhibition about the history of the Hall.
The letter of the title is the one found by Claire, one of several written by Margaret asking for help searching for a woman named Tabitha. Claire finds out who Margaret is, manages to meet with her and much of the rest of the story is Claire’s as she recovers from her own broken heart and learns of others broken all those years ago. We travel with the characters in both timelines, from the beauty of the English countryside to the beauty of Tuscany. The lush descriptions making the reader long to see the same sights and feel the warmth of the breeze in the two very different locations.
It is always interesting reading of how different things were for women in the past . Neither Margaret nor her Lady Violet seem to have much freedom to choose their own paths. The pressures of society and class hold both of them back but in different ways. Their friendship borne out of loyalty and trust is a fascinating one that is the pivotal point of the story.
I really enjoy reading dual timeline novels. In this one I found I was more invested in Claire’s story than the historical one. Margaret has had a long life mixed with heartbreak, misery and joy her story is told briefly and we learn of her first love and their link to Tabitha and Florence but it is really the mission to find Tabitha that had me reading on rather than the historical storyline. I was particularly keen to read about events in the present, discovering what became of the few whose lives were changed so significantly, in September 1940 when Margaret arrived when passions were roused and love, loyalty and secrets were held tight.
On the journey of discovery that Claire takes, hearts are mended and ultimately it is the unravelling of the mystery and a present day love story that had me reading on and smiling.
The letter of the title is the one found by Claire, one of several written by Margaret asking for help searching for a woman named Tabitha. Claire finds out who Margaret is, manages to meet with her and much of the rest of the story is Claire’s as she recovers from her own broken heart and learns of others broken all those years ago. We travel with the characters in both timelines, from the beauty of the English countryside to the beauty of Tuscany. The lush descriptions making the reader long to see the same sights and feel the warmth of the breeze in the two very different locations.
It is always interesting reading of how different things were for women in the past . Neither Margaret nor her Lady Violet seem to have much freedom to choose their own paths. The pressures of society and class hold both of them back but in different ways. Their friendship borne out of loyalty and trust is a fascinating one that is the pivotal point of the story.
I really enjoy reading dual timeline novels. In this one I found I was more invested in Claire’s story than the historical one. Margaret has had a long life mixed with heartbreak, misery and joy her story is told briefly and we learn of her first love and their link to Tabitha and Florence but it is really the mission to find Tabitha that had me reading on rather than the historical storyline. I was particularly keen to read about events in the present, discovering what became of the few whose lives were changed so significantly, in September 1940 when Margaret arrived when passions were roused and love, loyalty and secrets were held tight.
On the journey of discovery that Claire takes, hearts are mended and ultimately it is the unravelling of the mystery and a present day love story that had me reading on and smiling.
April 28, 2024
"The Florence Letter" is about two ladies whose lives are intertwined by the new lives they have to settle into and the hardships they endure along the way.
From the beginning, we're drawn into Margaret's perspective, where she copes with the aftermath of losing her dream job and finds solace in the countryside amidst the chaos of war. Through her journey, we witness her evolution from heartbreak to healing and eventually find peace.
Claire, our other protagonist, embarks on her journey of renewal following the loss of a loved one and a shattered relationship. As she navigates her new job and surroundings, a chance discovery of a letter from Margaret sets her on a path of self-discovery and growth.
We witness the protagonists' inspirational journeys where they learn from their past experiences, heal from their sufferings, and grow to become better versions of themselves. We also witness a bittersweet moment when Margaret fulfils her promise to Lady Violet after years of dedication.
Reading the different perspectives, I was captivated and excited to continue reading without wanting to put the book down and to witness how the story unfolds and how the two timelines connect and eventually come full circle.
My favourite part was Margaret's time with Lady Violet when they grew closer and Margaret's lifelong love for reading began, which I found quite relatable.
At its core, "The Florence Letter" serves as a reminder of life's imperfections, and the resilience required to navigate its twists and turns. It's a testament to the power of love and hope. Through its narrative, I learnt to be more grateful for the opportunities I receive.
It's an enjoyable story, perfect for a relaxing day.
Both narratives were engaging and interesting to follow, and they left me feeling warm on the inside.
I recommend this to anyone who would love a cosy, touching, and heartfelt read. 🌹💕
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley for review purposes. Many thanks to @NetGalley, @bookouture, and @neetschapman for the opportunity 🙏❤️
- Kiki
From the beginning, we're drawn into Margaret's perspective, where she copes with the aftermath of losing her dream job and finds solace in the countryside amidst the chaos of war. Through her journey, we witness her evolution from heartbreak to healing and eventually find peace.
Claire, our other protagonist, embarks on her journey of renewal following the loss of a loved one and a shattered relationship. As she navigates her new job and surroundings, a chance discovery of a letter from Margaret sets her on a path of self-discovery and growth.
We witness the protagonists' inspirational journeys where they learn from their past experiences, heal from their sufferings, and grow to become better versions of themselves. We also witness a bittersweet moment when Margaret fulfils her promise to Lady Violet after years of dedication.
Reading the different perspectives, I was captivated and excited to continue reading without wanting to put the book down and to witness how the story unfolds and how the two timelines connect and eventually come full circle.
My favourite part was Margaret's time with Lady Violet when they grew closer and Margaret's lifelong love for reading began, which I found quite relatable.
At its core, "The Florence Letter" serves as a reminder of life's imperfections, and the resilience required to navigate its twists and turns. It's a testament to the power of love and hope. Through its narrative, I learnt to be more grateful for the opportunities I receive.
It's an enjoyable story, perfect for a relaxing day.
Both narratives were engaging and interesting to follow, and they left me feeling warm on the inside.
I recommend this to anyone who would love a cosy, touching, and heartfelt read. 🌹💕
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley for review purposes. Many thanks to @NetGalley, @bookouture, and @neetschapman for the opportunity 🙏❤️
- Kiki
June 30, 2024
This lovely dual timeline book captured me from the start. With the story taking place primarily in Surry England at Gatley Hall, and touching upon a family in Florence, the author wove together a wonderful mystery, a little romance, and secrets - with happy ending.
The story began when Margaret writes a letter to Gatley Hall in 2013 searching for information about Tabitha, a girl who lived there when she did during WWII. As a shop girl in London, saw her place of employment destroyed in the Blitz and her mother suggested she go to her Aunt Edith's in the country where she might find employment and safety. Margaret (Mags) becomes a lady's maid to Lady Violet and moves into Gatsby Hall. While there , she meets Luca, an Italian POW who works at the adjacent home farm and falls in love with him.
The second story takes place in 2015 when Claire moves into a cottage on the Gatley estate following the recent death of her father, and a break up with her partner. Claire works as a researcher who is helping to prepare an exhibit about Gatley Hall when she comes across a drawer filled with correspondence about the place, as well as a diary of Mrs. Fields. In order to make the exhibit interesting, she works to trace Tabitha and other people mentioned in the letters and diary. This project brings her to Florence which the author describes in beautiful terms, even describing the gorgeous sunsets in this special city. The romance was predictable but it worked well into the story.
I am so pleased that NetGalley and the author offered me an ARC of this book and I thoroughly enjoyed revisiting one of my favorite places (Florence) through it. The opinions expressed are my own.
The story began when Margaret writes a letter to Gatley Hall in 2013 searching for information about Tabitha, a girl who lived there when she did during WWII. As a shop girl in London, saw her place of employment destroyed in the Blitz and her mother suggested she go to her Aunt Edith's in the country where she might find employment and safety. Margaret (Mags) becomes a lady's maid to Lady Violet and moves into Gatsby Hall. While there , she meets Luca, an Italian POW who works at the adjacent home farm and falls in love with him.
The second story takes place in 2015 when Claire moves into a cottage on the Gatley estate following the recent death of her father, and a break up with her partner. Claire works as a researcher who is helping to prepare an exhibit about Gatley Hall when she comes across a drawer filled with correspondence about the place, as well as a diary of Mrs. Fields. In order to make the exhibit interesting, she works to trace Tabitha and other people mentioned in the letters and diary. This project brings her to Florence which the author describes in beautiful terms, even describing the gorgeous sunsets in this special city. The romance was predictable but it worked well into the story.
I am so pleased that NetGalley and the author offered me an ARC of this book and I thoroughly enjoyed revisiting one of my favorite places (Florence) through it. The opinions expressed are my own.
June 24, 2024
Happy publication day 🥳🎉
A beautiful historical novel, about loyalty, friendship and courage told over a split timeline.
1940’s during WWII Margaret is working as a shopgirl, to the disappointment of her mother who has paid for elocution lessons, in the hope that she’ll follow in her footsteps and become a ladies maid, her mothers wish comes true when the city and the store Margaret works in are bombed and ablaze. It’s decided all round that she should get out of the city for the remainder of the war. Mags fancies being a land girl but instead ends up looking for live in work at Gately Hall. She must dull herself down in order not to outshine her charge Lady Violet. They get off to a bumpy start but end up as firm friends.
Claire has taken a job at Gately House, modern day, after stepping away from a prestigious city art gallery to be free from commute and following her fathers death, she begins work at office in old servants quarters which is being prepared for The Below The Stairs exhibition, in a bid to raise funds for the upkeep of the estate. Claire dresses up for work lives rose cottage, we discover that while Claire children, while Mikes did not, things come to a head and she is dumped by Miles and on the very same night applied for the job and cottage. She soon makes friends with Jim and Helen.
Working through archives and paperwork she finds a letter looking for Tabitha from Rose cottage, from Margaret.
Then - Margaret befriends Lilian and Tom and meets Italian POW Luca. She starts a diary to document the war. Post war Mags marries Tom, he drinks but works hard, and becomes quite verbally abusive and it’s not a happy marriage. When he dies and her aunt has left her a cottage and Tom has left quite a lot of money, she’s in a position like never before and inspired by A Room With A View she takes a trip to Florence with Nathan who she met at Italian classes.
Now Claire and Helen decide to visit Margaret - Margaret gives a copy of A Room With A view she urges them to watch the film, when she also offers to pay to find Tabitha in Florence possibly living as Lucia. Jim ends up going as (Helen ) has a bug - a created bug
When they arrive they track Luca down and discover he has seen Lucia, they wrote but they fell out, he remembered she married and her name is like a flower.
Can Margaret and Claire track down Lucia, and get the house ready for opening, and what secrets are waiting to pour out.
I really enjoyed the story, shamefully I’ve never read A Room With A View, but I’ve been inspired to add it to my reading list. The writing and narration were really lovely, this is a sweet and endearing book and an easy 4 stars.
My gratitude to NetGalley and Bookouture audio for this advanced copy.
A beautiful historical novel, about loyalty, friendship and courage told over a split timeline.
1940’s during WWII Margaret is working as a shopgirl, to the disappointment of her mother who has paid for elocution lessons, in the hope that she’ll follow in her footsteps and become a ladies maid, her mothers wish comes true when the city and the store Margaret works in are bombed and ablaze. It’s decided all round that she should get out of the city for the remainder of the war. Mags fancies being a land girl but instead ends up looking for live in work at Gately Hall. She must dull herself down in order not to outshine her charge Lady Violet. They get off to a bumpy start but end up as firm friends.
Claire has taken a job at Gately House, modern day, after stepping away from a prestigious city art gallery to be free from commute and following her fathers death, she begins work at office in old servants quarters which is being prepared for The Below The Stairs exhibition, in a bid to raise funds for the upkeep of the estate. Claire dresses up for work lives rose cottage, we discover that while Claire children, while Mikes did not, things come to a head and she is dumped by Miles and on the very same night applied for the job and cottage. She soon makes friends with Jim and Helen.
Working through archives and paperwork she finds a letter looking for Tabitha from Rose cottage, from Margaret.
Then - Margaret befriends Lilian and Tom and meets Italian POW Luca. She starts a diary to document the war. Post war Mags marries Tom, he drinks but works hard, and becomes quite verbally abusive and it’s not a happy marriage. When he dies and her aunt has left her a cottage and Tom has left quite a lot of money, she’s in a position like never before and inspired by A Room With A View she takes a trip to Florence with Nathan who she met at Italian classes.
Now Claire and Helen decide to visit Margaret - Margaret gives a copy of A Room With A view she urges them to watch the film, when she also offers to pay to find Tabitha in Florence possibly living as Lucia. Jim ends up going as (Helen ) has a bug - a created bug
When they arrive they track Luca down and discover he has seen Lucia, they wrote but they fell out, he remembered she married and her name is like a flower.
Can Margaret and Claire track down Lucia, and get the house ready for opening, and what secrets are waiting to pour out.
I really enjoyed the story, shamefully I’ve never read A Room With A View, but I’ve been inspired to add it to my reading list. The writing and narration were really lovely, this is a sweet and endearing book and an easy 4 stars.
My gratitude to NetGalley and Bookouture audio for this advanced copy.
June 30, 2024
This book was intriguing and fairly fast-paced and with lovely beautiful Florence in the story, how can you not read it right??
We have Claire, who has moved for a new job to Rose Cottage and to set up a display at Gately Manor. She finds a letter from the World War era written by Mags (aka Maragret) who is looking for Tabitha, daughter of Lady Violet, who lived at Gatley house. Lady Violet entrusted Mags to give her daughter her brooch. She also finds Jim, her neighbor at Rose cottage. They are mutually attracted but circle around each other. He's in a casual relationship with another woman, she is just on a rebound from a breakup.
Claire sets off on a journey to uncover the story of Lady Violet, Mags, Luca, Tabitha and hopes to include these discoveries in her exhibit. The journey leads her and Jim, who's accompanying her, to Florence, where they discover not only Tabitha but that Tabitha is Jim's mother (she abandoned him as a baby). The emotional turmoil causes a rift between Claire and Jim, but eventually, things work out, and they get back together.
The story is told in a dual point of view, Mags from the World War era and Claire in the current day. I listened to the audiobook and found the narration to the point and clear. The romance part of the story felt a little short. Jim and Claire are attracted, but the emotional build-up was a bit one-sided, with Claire being the main focus. The OW, OM aspect was also a bit off-putting. And Jim needed to grovel more in the end. He was such an ass.
#anitachapman #netgalley #theflorenceletter
We have Claire, who has moved for a new job to Rose Cottage and to set up a display at Gately Manor. She finds a letter from the World War era written by Mags (aka Maragret) who is looking for Tabitha, daughter of Lady Violet, who lived at Gatley house. Lady Violet entrusted Mags to give her daughter her brooch. She also finds Jim, her neighbor at Rose cottage. They are mutually attracted but circle around each other. He's in a casual relationship with another woman, she is just on a rebound from a breakup.
Claire sets off on a journey to uncover the story of Lady Violet, Mags, Luca, Tabitha and hopes to include these discoveries in her exhibit. The journey leads her and Jim, who's accompanying her, to Florence, where they discover not only Tabitha but that Tabitha is Jim's mother (she abandoned him as a baby). The emotional turmoil causes a rift between Claire and Jim, but eventually, things work out, and they get back together.
The story is told in a dual point of view, Mags from the World War era and Claire in the current day. I listened to the audiobook and found the narration to the point and clear. The romance part of the story felt a little short. Jim and Claire are attracted, but the emotional build-up was a bit one-sided, with Claire being the main focus. The OW, OM aspect was also a bit off-putting. And Jim needed to grovel more in the end. He was such an ass.
#anitachapman #netgalley #theflorenceletter
July 8, 2024
This story of two women from different centuries is set in a stately home in the Surrey Hills. Claire has taken a job with accommodation, researching and setting up a new exhibition. Recently parted from a long-term relationship she embraces a new start and is soon intrigued by an unanswered letter found in her desk drawer. The letter was from Margaret who had worked at Gately House during the war and became involved in a tragedy.
Claire’s life continues to be complicated when her ex-partner turns up and she has an odd relationship with her neighbour, Jim, Gately Hall’s Ranger. Living in adjoining houses on the estate they swing from a light-hearted friendship to misunderstandings. At least Claire gradually takes charge of her life making a valuable contribution to encourage visitors to the House. Discovering how close Margaret had become to Lady Violet she tries to solve the mystery of their close association.
Her investigations lead to a journey to Florence and she is pleased when Jim says he will accompany her there but their discoveries are devastating. Claire takes solace from the beauty and history of the city and she decides to develop her skills as an artist in its wonderful surroundings. With time, problems are faced, and the outcome is encouraging.
Anita Chapman’s writing conveys the excitement and emotional response of the characters visiting the city and deals with the problems of complex family relationships realistically. I am looking forward to reading her next novel The Tuscan Diary which will be published in October.
Claire’s life continues to be complicated when her ex-partner turns up and she has an odd relationship with her neighbour, Jim, Gately Hall’s Ranger. Living in adjoining houses on the estate they swing from a light-hearted friendship to misunderstandings. At least Claire gradually takes charge of her life making a valuable contribution to encourage visitors to the House. Discovering how close Margaret had become to Lady Violet she tries to solve the mystery of their close association.
Her investigations lead to a journey to Florence and she is pleased when Jim says he will accompany her there but their discoveries are devastating. Claire takes solace from the beauty and history of the city and she decides to develop her skills as an artist in its wonderful surroundings. With time, problems are faced, and the outcome is encouraging.
Anita Chapman’s writing conveys the excitement and emotional response of the characters visiting the city and deals with the problems of complex family relationships realistically. I am looking forward to reading her next novel The Tuscan Diary which will be published in October.
April 29, 2024
I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher, for which I thank them.
“The Florence Letter” by Anita Chapman is a dual-timeline historical fiction book. This book takes place both during WWII in the UK and in 2015, again in the UK. In the WWII timeline we follow Margaret as she moves from London (where she worked as a shop girl) to a small town to work as a lady’s maid. Skipping about a bit, in order to not give away too much of the plot, Margaret agrees to do something for her lady - but after nearly 50 years she is still stymied in fulfilling her promise. Enter Claire, who has taken a job in the small town and at the former estate, now owned by the government. While planning an exhibit, Claire stumbles across a letter Margaret has written, asking for help. Eventually Margaret and Claire meet - and eventually Margaret’s promise is fulfilled. This book took a while to get going for me - and, in fact, I keep wondering why it was given this title as everything was taking place in the UK. In fact, the Italian scenes are so late in the book, I think the cover image feels misleading. I think this book had a good plot, but it moved a bit too slowly for me. There’s also a romance that seemed so back and forth that I really wanted to shake two of the characters - or lock them in a room together so that they’d actually TALK to each other, opposed to making assumptions.
“The Florence Letter” by Anita Chapman is a dual-timeline historical fiction book. This book takes place both during WWII in the UK and in 2015, again in the UK. In the WWII timeline we follow Margaret as she moves from London (where she worked as a shop girl) to a small town to work as a lady’s maid. Skipping about a bit, in order to not give away too much of the plot, Margaret agrees to do something for her lady - but after nearly 50 years she is still stymied in fulfilling her promise. Enter Claire, who has taken a job in the small town and at the former estate, now owned by the government. While planning an exhibit, Claire stumbles across a letter Margaret has written, asking for help. Eventually Margaret and Claire meet - and eventually Margaret’s promise is fulfilled. This book took a while to get going for me - and, in fact, I keep wondering why it was given this title as everything was taking place in the UK. In fact, the Italian scenes are so late in the book, I think the cover image feels misleading. I think this book had a good plot, but it moved a bit too slowly for me. There’s also a romance that seemed so back and forth that I really wanted to shake two of the characters - or lock them in a room together so that they’d actually TALK to each other, opposed to making assumptions.
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