A Secret in Tuscany

by Alan Hlad, Daphne Kouma (Narrator)

Italy, 1943. With war blazing through Europe, nowhere is entirely safe – not even the remote hills of the Tuscan countryside. It's here that Italian partisans, including thousands of women, risk their lives to provide Jewish refugees with an escape route to Switzerland. And it's here, too, that Gianna Conti travels to join the Italian Resistance in the wake of her brother Matteo's death at the hands of German soldiers.

While delivering weapons and intelligence for partisans, Gianna meets Tazio Napoli, an American working undercover for the Office of Strategic Services. Despite the growing odds of discovery, Gianna and Tazio conduct high-risk missions to sabotage German operations. With the aid of Tazio's OSS codebook, they encrypt secret messages to each other while apart, hiding them at a dead drop in an abandoned mine.

But as the Allies steadily fight their way toward Florence, the occupying German forces grow more desperate, leading to a shocking, unthinkable act of vengeance. Gianna's fate will rest upon her cunning, her resilience and her willingness to keep hope alive, even through the decades that follow...

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Audiobook, World War II, Historical

Audible Audio

Published October 28, 2025

About the author

Alan Hlad is the internationally bestselling author of historical fiction novels inspired by real people and events of WWI and WWII, including The Book Spy, Churchill’s Secret Messenger, A Light Beyond the Trenches, and the USA Today and IndieBound bestseller The Long Flight Home. A member of the Historical Novel Society, Literary Cleveland, Novelitics, and the Akron Writers' Group, he is a frequent speaker at conferences, literary events, and book club gatherings. He currently divides his time between Ohio and Portugal and can be found online at AlanHlad.com.

Reviews

[Karren Sandercock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chianti, Tuscany. Gianna Conti and her father Beppe work and live on their vineyard and both are involved with the Delegation for the Assistance of Jewish Emigrants or DELASEM. Beppe hides people on the estate and Gianna rides her bike to and from Florence, where she collects fake identification documents and so they can escape to Switzerland.

After her brother Matteo is killed, Gianna is determined to do more and on one of her trips she comes across Tazio, an American OSS agent, two were dropped in Italy and the Germans captured his partner was captured straight away, he’s not in the correct area and needs contact the resistance.

Gianna and Beppe help him, she takes him to meet the partisan leader Carmine, Gianna keeps track of German troop numbers, transports and locations and she passes this information in coded messages and using a dead drop near a deserted mine.

The narrative has a dual timeline set in 1943 and 2003 sixty years apart and it’s easy to follow.

Brooklyn, New York. Gianna Farro is an eighty three year old retired art teacher and widow, while painting with her grandchildren she sees a newspaper article and photo about a man in Tuscany finding a bullet casing with a metal detector and inside is a coded message. She recognizes the handwriting and knows it was intended for her and the next day she boards the plane for Italy. Her daughter Jenn can’t believe her mum left so quickly, and she has no idea what Gianna and her family did during the war.

I received a copy of A Secret in Tuscany from NetGalley and Kensington Publishing in exchange for an honest review. Alan Hlad is known for writing compelling historical fiction based on real life events and facts and this time it’s about the Second World War fought in the hills of Tuscany.

It highlights how the DELASEM provided food, shelter, money and fake identification papers to Jewish people in Italy, and the role of Office of Strategic Services agents, whose job was to relay information, train the partisans including women, to disrupt and harass the Germans and be part of the fight as the Allies head towards Florence.

Five stars from me, a story about family, courage, resilience, first and lost love, war and hardship, and how difficult and cruel life can be. A must read and I highly recommend.

My favourite quote “catch the moment” and Beppe’s advice to his children Matteo and Gianna.

[Grandma Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fast paced WWII novel set in Tuscany. Well researched and written. I loved the main characters. The author paints vivid word pictures. Outstanding narration. Highly recommend.

I was blessed with an audio ARC. Thank you, NetGalley. The opinions expressed are my own and unbiased.

[theliterateleprechaun · Rating 4 out of 5]

Historical fiction author Alan Hlad writes to illustrate the lasting repercussions of past choices.

At 83 years old, Gianna Farro is still lamenting over the consequences of things she did and didn’t do during her wartime years in Italy. When she sees something in the paper about a metal detectorist unearthing wartime correspondence, she drops everything and heads to Italy.

Gianna was a partisan aiding Jewish refugees when she met OSS agent Tasio Napoli. He’d parachuted into German-occupied territory to aid the Resistance. Hlad writes to show that with a focus on the present and their lives on the line, people involved in the war effort found it difficult to imagine how they could have a life together until the war was over. Difficult choices had to be made with the present in mind and a focus on freedom rather than pursuing romance. Gianna and Tazio fought hard against this realization.

They learned to “catch the moment” and embrace the reality of a fragile life, realizing that what they created could be taken away at any moment.

Do you ever stop loving someone when your romance is cut short due to something that’s out of your control? Do you ever stop thinking about them? Wondering if they survived? Married?

What is this secret in Tuscany? You must find out. You won’t be disappointed.

I was gifted this copy and was under no obligation to provide a review.

[Stephanie Fitzgerald · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow. This was a powerful, intense, and very informative book.
In the discussion questions at the end, Alan Hlad asks right off, “What did you know about the German occupation of Italy in WW2?”
I am ashamed to say that although I am an avid reader of WW2 history, fictional and non-fictional, I would have had to answer Mr. Hlad’s first question with the reply of, “Not very much.” Thanks to this wonderful novel, I now know much more than I did when I started it! I’ve also learned about the Racial Laws, the Italian and Jewish resistance organization called DELASEM, and about the roles of the women who served in the Italian Resistance.
Thank you, Alan Hlad, for such a beautifully written, utterly intriguing book!

*I received a digital copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are strictly my own.*

[Elaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a phenomenal telling of Hitler's occupying Italy, and the fight that ensued...

Although this is noted as Historical Fiction, I'm going to guess that this is somehow based on reality in some form. I have read many books about Hitler and his awful war. I believe this is the 2nd I've read that involved Italy. YET, each and every time I am surprised and shocked at the horror that he brought to all of Europe. And again, each and every time I am touched and heartened by the strength, love, sheer will and endurance that so many people had in helping so many in need... at a time of such horror and menace... where their own lives were at stake.

This one revolves around Gianna and her Father, Pepe. The year is 1943. They live in Florence, Italy. And there, they are harboring people who are trying to escape, in their Italian vineyards. Her brother, Matteo (his son) is fighting in the Resisitance, and word reaches them that he has been killed. :(
At this, Gianna decides that she is going to take his place. SHE will help people. She will learn how to fight, and shoot, to protect her country and her Father.

This is where/how she meets Tazio, a US Soldier, who is there to help. They spend a lot of time together, due to the war....
She learns, and so does he...

Years later, (2003) she is living in NYC. Her daughter is a lawyer, and has two children of her own. Her husband is long gone. And, she has never shared with any of her family just what happened to her and her Dad, all those years ago....
UNTIL, one day she sees an article in the paper... and her heart stops.

She decides at that moment that she MUST return to Florence... alone.

And so the stage is set.
This one brought me to tears many times. It also brought me sheer joy, too. It is heart-breaking, and yet healing too. It filled a void in my life that I didn't even know existed...
I also felt very connected, as we just visited many cities in Italy this past summer...

****If this is something that you think you may like, please keep your eyes 👀 open for it! The release date is coming soon!! 10/28/25. ****

5 big, bold, bright stars for me!!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#ASecretInTuscany by @AlanHlad and narrated by @ChristaLewis.

Thanks so much to @NetGalley and @HighBridgeAudio for an ALC of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

You can find my reviews on: Goodreads,
Insta @BookReviews_with_emsr and/or
My Facebook Book Club: Book Reviews With Elaine

Thanks so much for reading! And if you ‘liked’ my review, please share with your friends, & click ‘LIKE’ below… And, let me know YOUR thoughts if you read it!! 📚⭐️

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best World War II fiction books I’ve read! Thank you for the win!!

[Larisa Molloy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Secret in Tuscany by Alan Hlad
The author Alan Hlad has the knack of creating a compelling story from a real life, historical event. His newest story is crafted around a coded message that was found in a bullet casing. This news article spurs 83-year-old Gianna Farro to return to Tuscany to find out what happened to Tazio, an American OSS agent sent to Italy in 1943.
We learn about Gianna’s life in 2003 as a grandmother of two in Brooklyn, NY, and her rocky relationship with her daughter, Jenn. Jenn knows nothing about her mother’s involvement in the resistance, and Gianna’s story unfolds while in Italy in search of what happened to Tazio and the last message he left for Gianna.
Shifting back to Italy in 1943, Gianna Conti is a part of the Italian resistance, DELASEM, helping to hide Jewish families to escape the Germans and Italian fascists.
As her family vineyard is occupied by the Germans, her activities become more dangerous. DELASEM is discovered, and she must part from Tazio, the love of her life.
Gianna must try to save her father, Beppe, and two young Jewish girls hidden in her cellar and survive until the Allies arrive in Tuscany.
The tension builds as the Germans destroy all that they can of Italy before they are pushed back.
By revisiting the past, Gianna and Jenn are able to find the truth of what happened to Tazio and begin rebuilding their relationship.
#netgalley

[Lesa Young · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to @NetGalley for an advanced review copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

In this dual timeline novel, we meet our young heroine in 1943 occupied Tuscany at her family's estate vineyard. Gianna quickly shows her courage through her involvement in the Italian Resistance where she helps her father hide and move Jewish families and children to safety.

In modern day, Gianna is 83, living in the U.S. as a retired art teacher who frequently spends time with her grandkids, teaching them to paint. One day, an article is the impetus of her mad dash across the ocean back to her home town. As Gianna reflects back on the war years, the part she played, the love she found and lost, she begins her personal journey to healing the past. When her daughter catches up with her, they travel the Italian countryside visiting places that played a signficant role in her life Gianna opens up and shares stories of the struggles, pain, loss, and heroism the young Gianna experienced.

Hlad created beautiful characters that demonstrate complexities and depth of emotion. He weaves a colorful tapestry that allows Gianna's experiences to unfold throughout the story. I highly recommend this book for anyone who loves historical fiction.

#ASecretinTuscany #NetGalley #historicalfiction #womenheroes #ItalianResistance #WWII

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very well researched and written World War II historical fiction read. It is based on some true events that actually happened during the war. The story is set in two time periods.

In 2003, eighty-three-year-old Gianna Farro, a widow and retired art teacher, sees an article and photo in the newspaper of a coded message found in a bullet in Tuscany by a metal detectorist. She recognizes the handwriting and knows that the message was intended for her. Without telling her daughter, Jenn; she boards a plane for Florence, Italy to meet with the detectorist that found the bullet. When Gianna gets to Italy, she calls Jenn to tell her where she is and the next day Jenn appears at her hotel. Gianna had never told her daughter about her involvement during the war, so they set out on an adventure together and Gianna reveals her past to her.

In 1943, Gianna Conti and her father, Beppe, were living on their vineyard in Tuscany. They were aiding the Italian Resistance by sheltering Jewish refugees that were fleeing the Nazis and trying to make their way to safety in Switzerland. Gianna would make trips back and forth to Florence where a fellow Resistance worker made new identification documents for the Jewish refugees to travel with in case they were stopped. On one of her return trips to the vineyard, she literally runs into an American OSS agent, Tazio Napoli, who was dropped in the wrong area and his partner was seized by the Nazis. He managed to escape and was trying to connect with the Italian Resistance in that area. Gianna and Beppe aid him in making that happen. Using OSS codebooks, Gianna and Tazio become liaisons in transmitting encrypted messages between the Resistance factions.

One of Hlad's goals in writing this book was to highlight the role that women played in the Italian Resistance. I like that he incorporates real events into his works of fiction.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for an Advanced Reader Copy provided in exchange for a fair and honest review.

[Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book as a giveaway here on Goodreads. I have read another book from this author. having read multiple books lately from the time period of WWII, I enjoyed this story based in Italy. The courage these people had to help others being persecuted and murdered for being different. I applaud them and their dedication. This was a heartfelt story of a woman's dedication to assist the Italian Resistance with all the means she could. The story telling was magnificent. I felt the characters come to life while reading. The only spoiler I will say, the tears at the end . Loved the ending.

[Crystal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fiction>Historical fiction, WWII>Italy
I listened to this audiobook and very much enjoyed it! Well-produced, great narrator!
The story focuses on a young woman in Italy trying to do all she can to help her father's vineyard, local Jews, and her country survive the Nazi invasion. She collaborates with others and does all she can. If you are not a fan of dual-timelines, still consider giving this one a chance as there is not a whole lot of back-and-forth and it's very easy to keep track of when she is older and talking about the past versus when we are actually 'live' in the past.

[Ashley Tovar · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love a good WWII historical fiction, particularly with dual timelines & an Italian setting. This book has all that in the most beautiful, emotional, scenic way. The light accent in the audiobook was a very pleasant detail. The story is very well done with emotional depth & complexity. It is always clear when the author does the work of deep research on the subject matter & we get that here.

Big thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for allowing me to enjoy this.

[Trudy Dowling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alan Hlad's books never disappoint. I count down the days until I can get each book in my hands. I knew I would like the book. I just didn't know how much. A Secret in Tuscany goes above and beyond telling a story of Tuscany in World War Two. Grab your maps. Grab your history notes and get ready to follow along. Travel back in time to terrible time in our history. A Secret in Tuscany is very intense, emotional story that I won't be forgetting.

The story is told through two timelines, WW2 and 2003.. Gianna survives the German occupation. At times I don't know how she did it, making a genuine heroine. She worked for the Partisans. She helped rescue Jews. She was a liason for an American soldier helping the resistance. She did all of it while helping her father in the vineyard.

She is an amazing character. She will stop at nothing to help free her country. Every page, every chapter had me on the edge of my seat. I was both excited and fearful of what would occur next. We learn the basics in school, but when and author's words can bring it to life it is more impactful.

In 2003, Gianna reads a story about a bullet cartridge that had been found in Italy with a message inside being contained by bullet. She is sure it is a message to her. She has to see it. She has to read it. But how can she with out the codebook, long destroyed by the Germans. Without thought she gets on a plane on a mission for love and to face her past, showing that she is just as brave as in the war. When her daughter shows up in Florence there is nothing else to do but to share her past, to share the secrets of Tuscany.

A Secret in Tuscany is an intense poignant story. It is a journey through the challenges of war and its aftermath. It has a beautiful, touching ending worth every tear I shed. I guarentee I will be reading it again. I hope that you will read it as well.

[Megan Deemer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! It was a beautifully written historical fiction tale of humanity, love and resilience in the face of war.

The narrator, Christina Lewis did a wonderful job providing each character a voice complete with Italian flair.

My favorite character is the heroine Giana. She travels back through the time of her memories and shares her experience as an Italian member of the resistance.
Giana along with her kind-hearted father, Beppe, hide and help to smuggle several Jews to safety in the face of Hitler and Mussolini’s reign of terror.
They are aided by Italian-American Tazio, whose hope is to save his parents’ Italian homeland. Tazio becomes a pivotal force in joining the resistance along with Carmine, the local veteran leader of the resistance.

This story highlights the bonds of love between parent and child and embodies what it means to hope and persevere.

Thank you NetGalley and RBMedia for the opportunity to review this audiobook.

[Indra · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Secret in Tuscany is one of those rare historical novels that leaves your heart aching, your mind racing, and your soul just a little more awake ✨

Told across two timelines: Tuscany during the German occupation in 1943 and Brooklyn in 2003, this story follows Gianna Conti, a young woman driven by loss and courage, and her older self, Gianna Farro, still haunted by the decisions and secrets of her youth. What unfolds is not just a tale of war, resistance, and survival, but of enduring love, sacrifice, and the messages we bury, sometimes literally, for those we might never see again.

This book introduced me to so much I hadn’t known: the role of the Italian resistance, the bravery of women like Gianna in DELASEM, and the heartbreak of forbidden love when survival must come first. The coded messages, the abandoned mine, the secret OSS dead drops, it was tense, romantic, and beautifully written. And then in the present day, when elderly Gianna sees a news article and recognizes the handwriting in a found bullet casing? That moment absolutely gave me chills 😭💔

Hlad’s prose is clean and moving, never flashy, but it’s the quiet pain beneath the surface that makes this story unforgettable. This is a love letter to the resistance fighters—especially the women, who risked everything for others.

What I Loved
• Gianna’s strength, especially when delivering intel on her bicycle 🚲
• The use of real history like DELASEM and OSS codebooks
• Dual timelines that actually worked and felt connected
• A late-in-life journey that tied past and present together so tenderly
• The quiet, tragic, yet hopeful tone 💛

What Didn’t Work for Me
• Some pacing lags near the middle
• I wanted a bit more time with Tazio in the present-day thread
• Not a flaw, but bring tissues... this one hurts 🥀

This story whispers and echoes. It doesn’t scream, but it stays. It reminded me that some loves, some sacrifices, live in the soil, in old notes, in the silence between generations.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - A powerful, quiet masterpiece.
Grazie, Kensington, for letting me hold this one 🫶🍷📜

[MarilynW · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Secret in Tuscany by Alan Hlad
Narrated by Christa Lewis

This is my third audiobook by Alan Hlad and this time he has us in 1942 Tuscany, Italy. We first meet Gianna, in her early 80s and living in New York, long after her younger years in 1942. In the present day, Gianna has lived a long and satisfying life and loves spending time with her young grandchildren. But she has memories from before she met her late husband, memories from when she, her father, and her brother did all they could to help Jewish refugees hide and then try to escape to Switzerland. Dearest to her heart is the memory of Tazio Napoli, an American working undercover for the Office of Strategic Services. They only knew each other for a short time but in that time they grew very close.

When present day Gianna sees an article mentioning a certain item has been found in the area where Gianna was, so long ago, she immediately flies back to the land of her past. She knows that item has to do with her and she is determined to talk to the man who found the item. I really felt for Gianna's daughter, Jenn, a career woman, single mother of two young children, and knowing how horrified she was to find out her mother had already set out on this trip alone. While this story teaches us so much about the Italian partisans and Jewish refugees in WWII, it also shows us the love between two women, both headstrong and holding on too tight to their thoughts and feelings. I enjoyed the present day part of this story because I enjoyed the relationship between a mother and daughter who weren't able to share so much they held inside of them until Gianna took off for Italy and Jenn flew after her.

As far as the early timeline, there is so much heartbreak. Whether the characters were people we spend much time with or who we only know of for a very short time, nothing was easy for them, things would go from bad to worse, and all each person was trying to do is survive. Or, in some cases, there were people who were willing to lose their lives in the hopes of saving others. When a person has lived through what Gianna lives through, it seems impossible to imagine her going on to having a "normal" life but this story shows that it is possible. Still, the past isn't forgotten and when she has a chance to claim a tiny piece of that past, age is not going to stop her. I enjoyed spending this time with Gianna and her daughter. Christa Lewis's narration brings this story to life.

Publication October 28, 2025

Thank you to HighBridge | Highbridge Audio and NetGalley for this ARC.

[Tarah Manning · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3 out of 5 stars)

A Secret in Tuscany by Alan Hlad

Italy, 1943: With war tearing through Europe, not even the remote Tuscan hills are safe. Gianna Conti’s family has been hiding Jewish refugees on their vineyard in Chianti, but after her brother is killed by German soldiers, she joins the Italian Resistance to fight back. Decades later, in 2003, we meet an older Gianna revisiting those memories - and the weight of what was lost.

This story alternates between the two timelines, blending wartime danger with reflection and grief. Normally, this setup is right up my alley - I love WWII historical fiction, and I was excited after enjoying Alan Hlda's other book, The Long Flight Home. Unfortunately, this one landed squarely in my “it was fine” category.

The setting was wonderful - I don’t think I’ve ever read a WWII story centered in Italy before, and that perspective felt fresh. The descriptions of the vineyards, the hills, and the quiet courage of the resistance fighters were beautiful. But the repetition in the writing started to distract me. Every time Gianna rode her bike, her muscles burned. Every time Beppe walked, he hobbled. Every time someone frowned or smiled, the “lines on their face” deepened or softened. By the halfway point, I found myself bracing for the next recycled phrase instead of sinking into the story.

The ending was sweet, and while it wrapped things up nicely, it also felt expected - the kind of resolution you could spot chapters ahead. I kept hoping for a twist or a gut punch that never came.

Overall, A Secret in Tuscany is a pleasant read - the kind of book that’s good if you’re in the mood for a gentle WWII story rather than one packed with intensity or emotional depth. Not terrible, just not one I’d rush to recommend either.

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

An overall good historical fiction, I just struggled for it to hold my attention. This story follows a family through dual timelines in Italy.

Italy, 1943: With war blazing through Europe, nowhere is entirely safe—not even the remote hills of the Tuscan countryside. It’s here that Italian partisans, including thousands of women, risk their lives to provide Jewish refugees with an escape route to Switzerland. And it’s here, too, that Gianna Conti travels to join the Italian Resistance in the wake of her brother Matteo’s death at the hands of German soldiers. Her father has been hiding Jewish refugees on their family’s vineyard in Chianti, but now Gianni is bringing the fight directly to the enemy.

While delivering weapons and intelligence for partisans, Gianna meets Tazio Napoli, an American working undercover for the Office of Strategic Services. Despite the growing odds of discovery, Gianna and Tazio conduct high-risk missions to sabotage German operations. With the aid of Tazio’s OSS codebook, they encrypt secret messages to each other while apart, hiding them at a dead drop near an abandoned mine.

But as the Allies steadily fight their way towards Florence, occupying German forces grow more desperate, leading to a shocking, unthinkable act of vengeance. And Gianna’s fate will rest upon her cunning, her resilience, and her willingness to keep hope alive, even through the decades that follow . . .

[Meredith DeBrunner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book from a Goodreads giveaway

What an enjoyable book! It has it all:!intrigue, suspense, family and of course romance. Secret in Tuscany by Alan Hlad is a historical fiction novel based in Italy in the Second World War.

The novel centers around Gianna Conti and switches between 2003 and 1943. Gianna was a young woman working with the Italian partisans when she meets an American, Tazio. The two work together to help liberate the Italian people from the Nazis. Gianna lives on her family vineyard with her father and together they are working to save the lives of Jews fleeing persecution. War separates the two as the liberation of Italy approaches and leaves them heartbroken.

In 2003, it is reported the a bullet casing has been found with an encrypted code on it. Gianna cannot believe the story, but drops everything to return to her homeland to see if it is one final message from Tazio. This trip forces her to come face to face with her memories of the war and to share them with her only daughter Jenn, who has no idea of her mother’s past.

I really enjoyed this book! It seems very well researched and stays close to the timeline of the war. The characters were all likable and the descriptions were very detailed. I did not know much about the Italian women who helped free their country, and loved learning about these brave women.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A young Italian woman and her father aided the resistance movement and helped hide and transport Jews during the Nazi occupation of Italy. She now lives in America but never told her family what she did during the war. When a metal detectorist in Italy finds a bullet shell with a an encoded message, it makes global news and the woman, now 82, recognizes the handwriting of her long-lost love, an American GI who parachuted in to help the resistance fighters. She decides she must go to Italy. Of course her daughter thinks she’s lost her mind. In alternating sections we are taken back to Italy in the 1940s and to the early 2000s as the two stories unfold.
It’s a mild, sanitized version as the story doesn’t describe the torture, starvation, and sexual abuse suffered by the Italian population during occupation. But there are murders listed. Many murders and beatings, just not graphic or detailed. The story itself is compelling and the characters sympathetic. It’s like a cozy Holocaust mystery story.
My thanks to the author, publisher, @HighbridgeAudio, and #NetGalley for early access to the audiobook of #ASecretinTuscany for review purposes. Publication date: 4 November 2025.

[Lisa A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A heartbreaking dual-timeline WWII story that gives insight into the measures people went to in order to protect others, risking everything, including their lives. I loved the relationship Gianna had with her father, her courage, spirit, and compassion, and the blossoming romance with Tazio was a lovely addition to the story. The story is well-researched, and I enjoyed the history lesson this book provided, inspiring me to Google more information about events mentioned. I'll be looking for more titles by this author and will happily listen to more books narrated by Christa Lewis. If you enjoy thought-provoking WWII historical fiction with suspense and a touch of romance, I think you'll enjoy this story!

Thank you to NetGalley, Highbridge Audio and Alan Hlad for a digital ARC for review. My review is voluntary, and all opinions are my own.

[Psusan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Secret in Tuscany is another WWII story by an author who writes such moving and poignant historical novels. Alan Hlad shines a light on Italy during that time along with the dire straits where many found themselves. An emotionally rich and vividly portrayed story of Gianna Conti and Tazio Napoli aiding the resistance as well as Jewish refugees. Theirs is a story of courage, daring, sacrifice, and love.

Told in dual times 1943 and 2003, Gianna Conti Farro is at the center of both. The story is easy to follow as she returns to Italy at eighty-three and going back over on what had happened during the war. She is a bold character, whose choices with the consequences that followed cannot be easily forgotten.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

In 1943, Gianna Conti is working with her father and brother in the Italian resistance, hiding Jews in their Tuscan vineyard. One day when returning from Florence, she runs into (literally) Tazio Napoli, an American servicemen with the OSS who has been separated from his group. He joins the resistance and helps lead Jews to safety. As the Nazis occupy Florence and later the Contis' vineyard, Gianna overcomes obstacle after obstacle to try to protect Jews and fellow Italians.

This dual timeline story alternates between World War II Italy and Gianna's return to her native Tuscany as an older woman.

I cannot get enough of novels about the Resistance during World War II and this was a good one. #ASecretinTuscany #NetGalley

[Debbi · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful book! Heartwarming, suspenseful, I couldn't put it down. In a remote part of Tuscany where the German's haven't yet taken over, Gianna Conti is part of a network rescuing Jewish refugees and getting them to safety. After her brother is killed Gianna wants to play a bigger role and gets more involved in the resistance. She meets Tazio, an Italian American with the OSS who also is supporting the resistance. A Secret in Tuscany is their story.

I love Alan Hlad's books and A Secret in Tuscany doesn't disappoint. The relationship between Tazio and Gianna, the daring and courage of the resistance, and the plight of the refugees just grabs you by the heart. A terrific read!

[Rob · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting storyline, but far too sweet & twee for my liking. A lot of the dialogue was explanatory, but was overstating the obvious, like the author was explaining something to a small child. I also thought the resistance were incredibly trusting & loose lipped, Jenna herself, befriended Tacio far too quickly. Given that she had Jewish refugees hiding in her home, it was totally unbelievable, that she would be so quick to not only trust someone she had just met, but to bring them to her home as well.

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first time reading a story involving the Italian resistance during WWII. I especially enjoyed reading how courageous women made an impact in the fight. We see the characters make the choice to do what is right and stick to their morals. While surrounded by so much evil, their humanity shines through.

Thank you to NetGalley and High Bridge Audio for an ALC in exchange for an honest review.

[Dorothy Mariotti · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read! I loved the story it told about the different characters but, also, the history it brought forth. I didn’t know about the Italian and Jewish resistance group or the Sant’Anna Di Stazzema massacre. It made me delve in to learning more about their history. It is one of those books that you don’t want to put down till you get to the ending. Looking forward to reading more novels by this author.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great novel by Alan Hlad… more than likely a part of my husband’s family tree.
I love how he weaves together facts and emotion and people who are real characters in history and those who aren’t. But each of them find a place in my heart and remind me that amidst all the evil of this Holocaust, the human capability to love is not lost.
A few surprises and great detail that transported me right into Italy. Another winner! I will never forget…

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book from Alan Hlad that I won in a giveaway. I have yet to be disappointed by one of his books.

I couldn't put the book down from the beginning. You got right into the story and the characters like you were a part of the story the whole time. I really enjoyed all the resiliency and strength in all the characters. I enjoyed how the story flowed easily from past to present.

[Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

The bravery of the Italian partisans versus the barbaric behavior of the Germans Nazi's is clearly chronicled in this historical novel. The characters are carefully developed throughout making this story quite believable. emotionally charged. Loyalty, family, bravery, survival instincts and more.
Surprising ending to a very very good read.