What do you think?
Rate this book
Daughters of Italy #3
The Tuscan Villa
Italy, 1945. As war rages through Europe, a crumbling family villa that becomes a vital safe space for the people of Cortona during the war. But that sanctuary is lost the day its owner, Vivi, mysteriously vanishes…
Manhattan, 1953. Francesca feels smothered by lace as she tries on wedding dresses in an uptown boutique. Can she really start a new life with her fiancé without first answering the questions she has about her childhood in Italy? Confronted with the news that the bougainvillea-covered villa she grew up in is for sale, and the lavish gardens her father designed and cultivated are destined to be razed, she buys a plane ticket and doesn’t look back. She can’t stand by and watch it all turn to rubble.
Fran chokes back a sob as she finds the gardens wild and overgrown and the once-pristine follies crumbling under the baking sun. But the lingering scent of the Italian basil from the kitchen garden brings Fran closer to the father she lost. To save this sacred space she must uncover what really happened when Vivi disappeared.
But while standoffish locals treat Fran like an outsider, she knows she is closing in on a secret at the very heart of the gardens she ran barefoot through as a young girl; a tragic love triangle that plagued the villa, defied the authorities, and might change everything Fran thinks she knows about who she is. One thing is what happened to Vivi was no accident.
And just when Fran thinks she’s uncovered a truth that will shake the little village of Cortona to its foundations, she discovers a letter that changes everything once again. Can Fran find a way to save the gardens before they are destroyed? Or will she be forced to return home to a future in New York that no longer fits?
From bestselling author Ella Carey comes an utterly heart-wrenching and gripping World War Two historical novel that will transport you straight to the Tuscan countryside. Fans of Kathryn Hughes, Fiona Valpy and Victoria Hislop will be utterly enchanted.
**Each Daughters of Italy book can be read as part of the series or as a standalone**
Manhattan, 1953. Francesca feels smothered by lace as she tries on wedding dresses in an uptown boutique. Can she really start a new life with her fiancé without first answering the questions she has about her childhood in Italy? Confronted with the news that the bougainvillea-covered villa she grew up in is for sale, and the lavish gardens her father designed and cultivated are destined to be razed, she buys a plane ticket and doesn’t look back. She can’t stand by and watch it all turn to rubble.
Fran chokes back a sob as she finds the gardens wild and overgrown and the once-pristine follies crumbling under the baking sun. But the lingering scent of the Italian basil from the kitchen garden brings Fran closer to the father she lost. To save this sacred space she must uncover what really happened when Vivi disappeared.
But while standoffish locals treat Fran like an outsider, she knows she is closing in on a secret at the very heart of the gardens she ran barefoot through as a young girl; a tragic love triangle that plagued the villa, defied the authorities, and might change everything Fran thinks she knows about who she is. One thing is what happened to Vivi was no accident.
And just when Fran thinks she’s uncovered a truth that will shake the little village of Cortona to its foundations, she discovers a letter that changes everything once again. Can Fran find a way to save the gardens before they are destroyed? Or will she be forced to return home to a future in New York that no longer fits?
From bestselling author Ella Carey comes an utterly heart-wrenching and gripping World War Two historical novel that will transport you straight to the Tuscan countryside. Fans of Kathryn Hughes, Fiona Valpy and Victoria Hislop will be utterly enchanted.
**Each Daughters of Italy book can be read as part of the series or as a standalone**
- GenresHistorical Fiction
272 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 28, 2026
About the author
Ella Carey
41 books696 followersElla Carey is the USA Today and Amazon charts bestselling author of Secrets of Paris series, as well as the standalone kindle bestsellers, Secret Shores, The Things We Don’t Say and Beyond the Horizon, set around the brave, unsung Women’s Airforce Pilots of World War Two.
A New York Secret is the first in Ella's new Daughters of New York series and published on March 12th, 2021. Laced with all the glamour of New York, the book is set in an exquisite Uptown restaurant where Lily Rose is training to become head chef in the 1940's. Ella traveled to New York to research the book, which involved going incognito on foodie tours, visiting some of New York's most famous restaurants, and exploring the atmospheric streets of Greenwich Village. The whole experience resulted in her developing a serious addiction to cannoli, a passion for The Strand Bookstore, a love for The Village, along with six new novels set in New York, all to be published in the coming years.
The second book in the series, The Lost Girl of Berlin, released on July 12th, 2021, and is set in the aftermath of the Second World War amongst the ruins of Berlin and then, in fabulous post war New York, and the third book in the series is The Girl from Paris, telling the story of Vianne Mercier, a Parisian fashion designer who travels to New York, and for whom beautiful couture is a fairytale.
Ella was born in Adelaide, Australia, and was educated at the University of Adelaide, completing a music degree in classical piano at the Elder Conservatorium, and an arts degree with a double major in History and English Literature.
Ella lives in Melbourne, Australia with her family. Ella's house is run by one very elderly and adored Italian Greyhound, and one cute puppy called Sassy who thinks she is the boss! And Ella's garden is managed by four chickens, Miss Pertelote, Annie, Harriet and Fox's Dinner.
Ella has recently signed a nine-book deal with Hachette UK imprint Bookouture. Bookouture have published all of Ella’s previous books, which have reached over one million readers in English alone, and are also publishing Ella's New York series for publication in 2021, 2022 and 2023. This sweeping historical series of six books, featuring unforgettable characters, will tell the stories of dazzling hopes and difficult dreams in America, before, during and after the Second World War.
Ella's New York series and her Paris Secrets Series have been sold for translation into many countries into over twenty languages.
When she’s not writing, Ella enjoys studying Italian, walking along the beach, travelling when she can, and spending time with her family and friends. She also loves to chat with her readers, and would be delighted for you to join her lovely group of long time readers on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ellacareyaut..., and on her website at www.ellacarey.com, where you can find more information about the background behind her books, and join her mailing list for regular updates about her upcoming novels.
A New York Secret is the first in Ella's new Daughters of New York series and published on March 12th, 2021. Laced with all the glamour of New York, the book is set in an exquisite Uptown restaurant where Lily Rose is training to become head chef in the 1940's. Ella traveled to New York to research the book, which involved going incognito on foodie tours, visiting some of New York's most famous restaurants, and exploring the atmospheric streets of Greenwich Village. The whole experience resulted in her developing a serious addiction to cannoli, a passion for The Strand Bookstore, a love for The Village, along with six new novels set in New York, all to be published in the coming years.
The second book in the series, The Lost Girl of Berlin, released on July 12th, 2021, and is set in the aftermath of the Second World War amongst the ruins of Berlin and then, in fabulous post war New York, and the third book in the series is The Girl from Paris, telling the story of Vianne Mercier, a Parisian fashion designer who travels to New York, and for whom beautiful couture is a fairytale.
Ella was born in Adelaide, Australia, and was educated at the University of Adelaide, completing a music degree in classical piano at the Elder Conservatorium, and an arts degree with a double major in History and English Literature.
Ella lives in Melbourne, Australia with her family. Ella's house is run by one very elderly and adored Italian Greyhound, and one cute puppy called Sassy who thinks she is the boss! And Ella's garden is managed by four chickens, Miss Pertelote, Annie, Harriet and Fox's Dinner.
Ella has recently signed a nine-book deal with Hachette UK imprint Bookouture. Bookouture have published all of Ella’s previous books, which have reached over one million readers in English alone, and are also publishing Ella's New York series for publication in 2021, 2022 and 2023. This sweeping historical series of six books, featuring unforgettable characters, will tell the stories of dazzling hopes and difficult dreams in America, before, during and after the Second World War.
Ella's New York series and her Paris Secrets Series have been sold for translation into many countries into over twenty languages.
When she’s not writing, Ella enjoys studying Italian, walking along the beach, travelling when she can, and spending time with her family and friends. She also loves to chat with her readers, and would be delighted for you to join her lovely group of long time readers on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ellacareyaut..., and on her website at www.ellacarey.com, where you can find more information about the background behind her books, and join her mailing list for regular updates about her upcoming novels.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
April 24, 2026
This is my ninth book by this author, and they’ve mostly been 5-star reads!
I enjoyed this third book in the Daughters of Italy series because of the multiple points of view and the multiple timelines. Carey swept me back to the village of Cortona in Tuscany to envision the beautiful gardens designed and cultivated by Francesca’s father so that I’d understand how distraught Francesca was at learning they were slated to be destroyed. I also enjoyed unravelling the mystery of what happened to Villa Aria’s owner, Vivi Carmichael. Carey crafted a great mix of characters through different stages of their lives and there was plenty to dislike and cheer on from the sidelines.
I was gifted this copy with no expectation of a review.
I enjoyed this third book in the Daughters of Italy series because of the multiple points of view and the multiple timelines. Carey swept me back to the village of Cortona in Tuscany to envision the beautiful gardens designed and cultivated by Francesca’s father so that I’d understand how distraught Francesca was at learning they were slated to be destroyed. I also enjoyed unravelling the mystery of what happened to Villa Aria’s owner, Vivi Carmichael. Carey crafted a great mix of characters through different stages of their lives and there was plenty to dislike and cheer on from the sidelines.
I was gifted this copy with no expectation of a review.
April 30, 2026
This is the kind of historical fiction I tend to gravitate towards, and for the most part, it delivered.
The dual timeline moves between wartime Italy and 1950s New York, and I liked how both threads were given room to breathe. The transitions felt natural, and the connections between past and present unfolded in a way that kept me engaged without feeling overly complicated.
The villa itself is really the heart of the story. It carries the emotional weight of everything that’s happened, and there’s a strong sense of place throughout. You can feel the history in it, the loss, the love, and the lingering questions that haven’t quite been put to rest. That atmosphere does a lot of the work here, and it’s done well.
This leans more into relationships and personal histories than plot-heavy drama. It’s a slower, more reflective read, which I didn’t mind. I tend to enjoy stories that sit with their characters and let things unfold gradually, especially in this genre.
That said, there were moments where I wanted a bit more depth, particularly when it came to some of the emotional reveals. A few things felt like they resolved quite quickly considering how much build-up there was. The ending, in particular, felt a little too neat and slightly rushed.
Overall though, this is a solid, engaging read. If you enjoy historical fiction that focuses on family, identity, and the lasting impact of war, with a strong sense of setting, this will work for you.
Thanks NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC in exchange for an honest review
March 25, 2026
Review of advance copy received from the publisher.
1945, and Francesca has moved from Cortona in Italy to America as a child due to World War Two. Her father and his employer, Vivi, wanted her to be kept safe and so she moved in with Vivi’s mother.
1953, and whilst out having a meeting regarding her wedding, Francesca spots an article about the home she spent so much time in as a child. The house is being sold to an artist who has big plans which Francesca is not happy about. Having had doubts about the wedding, she calls it off and heads to Italy, where she still owns the apartment that her parents lived in.
Once back in Italy, Francesca vows to not only stop the plans for the Tuscan Villa, but also to find out just what did happen to Vivi, who mysteriously disappeared from her home.
A beautifully written and descriptive story that captured my imagination. The detail of the exquisite garden and the beautiful roses was vivid.
An enjoyable story of love, grief and bravery. The characters were believable and I liked how the author spread the story over the 30s, 40s and 50s.
Although this book is part of a series, it can be read as a standalone story.
1945, and Francesca has moved from Cortona in Italy to America as a child due to World War Two. Her father and his employer, Vivi, wanted her to be kept safe and so she moved in with Vivi’s mother.
1953, and whilst out having a meeting regarding her wedding, Francesca spots an article about the home she spent so much time in as a child. The house is being sold to an artist who has big plans which Francesca is not happy about. Having had doubts about the wedding, she calls it off and heads to Italy, where she still owns the apartment that her parents lived in.
Once back in Italy, Francesca vows to not only stop the plans for the Tuscan Villa, but also to find out just what did happen to Vivi, who mysteriously disappeared from her home.
A beautifully written and descriptive story that captured my imagination. The detail of the exquisite garden and the beautiful roses was vivid.
An enjoyable story of love, grief and bravery. The characters were believable and I liked how the author spread the story over the 30s, 40s and 50s.
Although this book is part of a series, it can be read as a standalone story.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Tuscan Villa is the third book in Ella Carey’s Daughters of Italy series. It can easily be read as a stand-alone story as I felt there was the merest of hints as to the content of the previous books that a reader would only have spotted if they had already engaged with this series. Again as with the first two books the setting is stunning which is enhanced through vibrant, realistic and descriptive imagery which makes you feel has if you have been transported to the heart of Tuscany. Images of the countryside, vineyards, hills, olive groves, farmhouses and villas filled the pages not to mention the wonderful garden that our main character Vivi curates with her gardener Emilio at Villa Aria. Characters from before do reappear alongside those that are new and it was great to make connections and fill in gaps from previous books.
In the late 1930’s Lucia is the cook at Villa Aria in Tuscany for Vivi, an American who has settled in the area. Lucia originally came from Sicily and a difficult family background. She wishes to be more than a cook. She would rather the life that Vivi and Countess Evelina, who resides at Villa Rosa, have and she has her eyes set on Nico, the disgraced son of the Countess. I felt Lucia was aiming way above her station and the chapters from her viewpoint had her fixating on Nico who himself seemed to be more concerned as the book progressed with getting back into his mothers good books. But once you engage with and back up the ideas of the Germans during the war there is no coming back from it considering all the tragedy, heartbreak and destruction that unfolds in the Tuscan valley. I couldn’t quite understand what Lucia was getting such a prominent role throughout the earlier chapters of the book but as the story develops things became clearer. She was a strand of a much bigger story at play and all the dots do begin to join together.
Vivi was the character I enjoyed reading about the most and in fact I would have loved even more chapters from her point of view. In 1936, she ends her engagement in New York and makes the bold and brave decision to return to Italy where she had spent a period of time when she was 21. This was a time where she truly found herself and she has thought about it ever since. Her time in Venice changed her and ever since she had returned it was all she could think about. Travelling back to Italy she learns that the Villa Aria is for sale and instantly she falls in love with it and a purchase is made. It becomes a centre for artists, poets and a place of rest and retreat. Vivi is in her element and creates a garden alongside Emilio that becomes renowned and has significance throughout the book. We see how Vivi and Lucia operated during the war and dealt with the daily struggles, but I always felt like there was something niggling away at her. Things left unsaid or that the reader should have known. She became an enigma /conundrum and even more so when she disappeared at the tale end of the war.
Tying the three timelines together was Francesca (Fran) in 1953. Fran had been secreted out of Tuscany at the start of the war for her own safety. Her father Emilio and her postmistress mother Giulietta wanted the best for her and so Vivi’s mother took care of her in New York. Now being pressured to marry which she doesn’t feel ready for she is distraught to see a magazine article detailing that Matteo a sculptor has bought the Villa Aria and plans to change the gardens and the structure of the house. With both her parents dead and Vivi disappeared for the last 8 years Fran can’t let the villa which consumed so much of her past life and meant so much to her go without a fight. It embodies who she really was and the past life which was glorious and magical. Until she sorts out the past she can’t move on with her future. There are huge losses in the past which she needs to reconcile with first and foremost being the disappearance of Vivi. Again I felt more could have been explored with Francesca. I found that she arrived in Tuscany confronted Matteo and all of a sudden on first meeting serious feelings seemed to develop out of nowhere when she didn’t know him at all. Things were spoken about and glossed over very quickly regarding Matteo and his plans for the villa. She doesn’t want the past destroyed but has to try and come to some sort of compromise with Matteo. It was only in the later chapters that I felt Fran really put on her investigative hat and dug deeper and alongside her I was eager to uncover the truth. At times though things did just conveniently seem to happen.
I wouldn’t be truthful if I didn’t mention the issues that bothered me throughout my reading of the book as I have seen it mentioned in some other reviews also. There is a good, decent plot here with a mystery to be solved at its centre but quite simply the chapters were way too short and the timeline jumped around all over the place. I found I was only settling into the rhythm of a chapter familiarising myself with the characters and what was going on and then boom it was onto another chapter and a different timeline. It was a case of constantly being jolted and it never allowed for anything significant or truly deep and meaningful to occur. For sure, the chapters needed to be longer and more in depth. I felt the same with regard to the timeline. There were three different timelines running alongside one another and I never with a turn of the page which timeline I was going to get and which and what character. Yes they were mentioned at the start of the chapter but it wasn’t like they went late 1930’s, 1945 and then 1953 and then repeated. It was a mish mash and made things confusing for me and therefore resulted in me taking quite some time to become familiar with everything and to work out where the story was going. It was only in the last quarter or so (and even at that the book ended at 84%) that I found myself deeply invested in the outcome and things really became very interesting.
All this makes it sound like I didn’t like the book which is far from the truth but I just felt there was so much potential here and if the chapters were made longer and the jumping around of timelines didn’t occur so often the book would have been all the better for it.I love books set in and around World War Two and elements of the previous books came back to me as I read through this one which did make it enjoyable. The mystery of Vivi’s disappearance and the reasons for it will keep readers captivated. I was kicking myself that I hadn’t guessed the circumstances as there had been subtle hints that I hadn’t picked up on. The last few chapters had me in their thrall despite the abrupt ending but the series has been brought full circle and I am sad to say goodbye to Countess Evelina and those that surrounded her.
In the late 1930’s Lucia is the cook at Villa Aria in Tuscany for Vivi, an American who has settled in the area. Lucia originally came from Sicily and a difficult family background. She wishes to be more than a cook. She would rather the life that Vivi and Countess Evelina, who resides at Villa Rosa, have and she has her eyes set on Nico, the disgraced son of the Countess. I felt Lucia was aiming way above her station and the chapters from her viewpoint had her fixating on Nico who himself seemed to be more concerned as the book progressed with getting back into his mothers good books. But once you engage with and back up the ideas of the Germans during the war there is no coming back from it considering all the tragedy, heartbreak and destruction that unfolds in the Tuscan valley. I couldn’t quite understand what Lucia was getting such a prominent role throughout the earlier chapters of the book but as the story develops things became clearer. She was a strand of a much bigger story at play and all the dots do begin to join together.
Vivi was the character I enjoyed reading about the most and in fact I would have loved even more chapters from her point of view. In 1936, she ends her engagement in New York and makes the bold and brave decision to return to Italy where she had spent a period of time when she was 21. This was a time where she truly found herself and she has thought about it ever since. Her time in Venice changed her and ever since she had returned it was all she could think about. Travelling back to Italy she learns that the Villa Aria is for sale and instantly she falls in love with it and a purchase is made. It becomes a centre for artists, poets and a place of rest and retreat. Vivi is in her element and creates a garden alongside Emilio that becomes renowned and has significance throughout the book. We see how Vivi and Lucia operated during the war and dealt with the daily struggles, but I always felt like there was something niggling away at her. Things left unsaid or that the reader should have known. She became an enigma /conundrum and even more so when she disappeared at the tale end of the war.
Tying the three timelines together was Francesca (Fran) in 1953. Fran had been secreted out of Tuscany at the start of the war for her own safety. Her father Emilio and her postmistress mother Giulietta wanted the best for her and so Vivi’s mother took care of her in New York. Now being pressured to marry which she doesn’t feel ready for she is distraught to see a magazine article detailing that Matteo a sculptor has bought the Villa Aria and plans to change the gardens and the structure of the house. With both her parents dead and Vivi disappeared for the last 8 years Fran can’t let the villa which consumed so much of her past life and meant so much to her go without a fight. It embodies who she really was and the past life which was glorious and magical. Until she sorts out the past she can’t move on with her future. There are huge losses in the past which she needs to reconcile with first and foremost being the disappearance of Vivi. Again I felt more could have been explored with Francesca. I found that she arrived in Tuscany confronted Matteo and all of a sudden on first meeting serious feelings seemed to develop out of nowhere when she didn’t know him at all. Things were spoken about and glossed over very quickly regarding Matteo and his plans for the villa. She doesn’t want the past destroyed but has to try and come to some sort of compromise with Matteo. It was only in the later chapters that I felt Fran really put on her investigative hat and dug deeper and alongside her I was eager to uncover the truth. At times though things did just conveniently seem to happen.
I wouldn’t be truthful if I didn’t mention the issues that bothered me throughout my reading of the book as I have seen it mentioned in some other reviews also. There is a good, decent plot here with a mystery to be solved at its centre but quite simply the chapters were way too short and the timeline jumped around all over the place. I found I was only settling into the rhythm of a chapter familiarising myself with the characters and what was going on and then boom it was onto another chapter and a different timeline. It was a case of constantly being jolted and it never allowed for anything significant or truly deep and meaningful to occur. For sure, the chapters needed to be longer and more in depth. I felt the same with regard to the timeline. There were three different timelines running alongside one another and I never with a turn of the page which timeline I was going to get and which and what character. Yes they were mentioned at the start of the chapter but it wasn’t like they went late 1930’s, 1945 and then 1953 and then repeated. It was a mish mash and made things confusing for me and therefore resulted in me taking quite some time to become familiar with everything and to work out where the story was going. It was only in the last quarter or so (and even at that the book ended at 84%) that I found myself deeply invested in the outcome and things really became very interesting.
All this makes it sound like I didn’t like the book which is far from the truth but I just felt there was so much potential here and if the chapters were made longer and the jumping around of timelines didn’t occur so often the book would have been all the better for it.I love books set in and around World War Two and elements of the previous books came back to me as I read through this one which did make it enjoyable. The mystery of Vivi’s disappearance and the reasons for it will keep readers captivated. I was kicking myself that I hadn’t guessed the circumstances as there had been subtle hints that I hadn’t picked up on. The last few chapters had me in their thrall despite the abrupt ending but the series has been brought full circle and I am sad to say goodbye to Countess Evelina and those that surrounded her.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Another intriguing WWII novel by Ella Carey full of twists and turns and secrets! The setting is stunning with all the descriptions of this heavenly location. And the mention of roses everywhere! The Tuscan Villa opens with a prologue set in 1938 of sixteen year old Lucia, who gets hired as a cook at Villa Aria. This Sicilian girl is a dreamer with great imaginings of dancing out on the terrace, wearing silk and diamonds…She bends the truth about her job experience as she is so taken with the beauty of the Villa. Not only does the villa and its garden captivate her but also its’ inhabitants who immediately become the family she has craved. Little ten year old Francesca takes her hand and accepts her; as does Vivi, Nico and Emilio. She is made to feel welcomed. Nico tells her if their guests fall for her cooking, she will have no trouble being accepted in Tuscany. Her experience with this family though is a mixed one. Although she shares many good times with them, there are some bad ones, too. Some that will break her heart.
We leap ahead to year 1953 in NY with Fran now twenty five: a scene filled with fall wedding activities. It becomes obvious to Fran that her future mother-in-law, Alma, will be running her life. Fran has been subject to others making decisions about her life, too. Initially she was sent to live with Vivi’s mother, Caroline, in USA for safety at the start of the war. But she missed out on years with her family. And when she got news that Vivi was missing, it shattered her. And even more her guardian Caroline.
In this first chapter we get a clear picture of the contrast between Caroline and Alma: old money versus new. While these two are chatting about the wedding, Fran catches the headline of a magazine cover: Grand Old Villa To Be Converted To A Modern Hotel. She is shocked and upset that her old home and Vivi’s garden will be destroyed. She remembers all that her father taught her about the earth and to nurture and make it beautiful. And those memories trigger something powerful inside her. She then changes course and decides against marrying Everett. But that’s not all. She decides to go home to Italy to fight for the villa that ‘embodied’ her past life. And to find answers of what happened to Vivi. For she cannot move forward until then. She needs some inner peace in her life. But during her journey of discovery, what she finds in her old home will shake her to the core: a letter that reveals all. What a plot twister!
The novel is written in various timelines (30s, 40s, 50s) and also told from a few perspectives: Fran, Lucia, Vivi and Nico so we get a wide range of views and thoughts and what came before, during and after events.
This Villa is in many ways a character with a huge presence. It was a place where poet’s and artists stayed under Vivi’s care before the war. They spoke of equality, something that people like Lucia dreamed about. She was someone who wanted to rise above her original station. But when something bad happens, the blame game begins and she is on the run. She feels betrayed by those she thought cared about her and sorry for believing in their rhetoric.
There are a number of love relationships in this novel and a sour reminder of the issues and pain, class structure can cause. We see and experience this through Lucia and her love for Nico.
This is another excellent and moving Daughter of Italy story. Its setting is divine, its plot heartbreaking and characters memorable. We are presented with vivid reminders of the horrors of WW2. Including the unfair treatment of women: many of which suffered abuse at the hands of the Nazis. (Just think of Anna, a young orphan girl who was grabbed and brutally beaten). This was a war that changed everyone.
5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for the ARC.
We leap ahead to year 1953 in NY with Fran now twenty five: a scene filled with fall wedding activities. It becomes obvious to Fran that her future mother-in-law, Alma, will be running her life. Fran has been subject to others making decisions about her life, too. Initially she was sent to live with Vivi’s mother, Caroline, in USA for safety at the start of the war. But she missed out on years with her family. And when she got news that Vivi was missing, it shattered her. And even more her guardian Caroline.
In this first chapter we get a clear picture of the contrast between Caroline and Alma: old money versus new. While these two are chatting about the wedding, Fran catches the headline of a magazine cover: Grand Old Villa To Be Converted To A Modern Hotel. She is shocked and upset that her old home and Vivi’s garden will be destroyed. She remembers all that her father taught her about the earth and to nurture and make it beautiful. And those memories trigger something powerful inside her. She then changes course and decides against marrying Everett. But that’s not all. She decides to go home to Italy to fight for the villa that ‘embodied’ her past life. And to find answers of what happened to Vivi. For she cannot move forward until then. She needs some inner peace in her life. But during her journey of discovery, what she finds in her old home will shake her to the core: a letter that reveals all. What a plot twister!
The novel is written in various timelines (30s, 40s, 50s) and also told from a few perspectives: Fran, Lucia, Vivi and Nico so we get a wide range of views and thoughts and what came before, during and after events.
This Villa is in many ways a character with a huge presence. It was a place where poet’s and artists stayed under Vivi’s care before the war. They spoke of equality, something that people like Lucia dreamed about. She was someone who wanted to rise above her original station. But when something bad happens, the blame game begins and she is on the run. She feels betrayed by those she thought cared about her and sorry for believing in their rhetoric.
There are a number of love relationships in this novel and a sour reminder of the issues and pain, class structure can cause. We see and experience this through Lucia and her love for Nico.
This is another excellent and moving Daughter of Italy story. Its setting is divine, its plot heartbreaking and characters memorable. We are presented with vivid reminders of the horrors of WW2. Including the unfair treatment of women: many of which suffered abuse at the hands of the Nazis. (Just think of Anna, a young orphan girl who was grabbed and brutally beaten). This was a war that changed everyone.
5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for the ARC.
May 2, 2026
The Tuscan Villa is told in two timelines, eight years apart. When she was young, Francesca helped her father, who was the gardener at the grand Villa Aria in Tuscany. In 1945, the villa is crumbling, but is a refuge for the people of Cortona. The owner of the villa and friend to Francesca, Vivi has disappeared. When the war ended, there is nothing left in Italy for Francesca, so she moves with Vivi's mother, to the United States. It's now 1953 and Francesca is engaged to be married, but she feels empty. Something is missing. She also finds out that the villa has been sold and the new owner has plans to raze the gardens that her father had designed and they had worked on together. She calls off her wedding, and heads to Italy. Her parent's apartment is still there and she moves in there with plans to meet the new owner of the villa and offer to fix the gardens for him. The new owner is an artist and his plan is to tear out the garden to make it into a sculpture garden as well as renovate the villa and add a workshop. Francesca is devastated, but turns her efforts to the mystery of what happened to Vivi. What she finally finds out is a huge surprise to her and giant twist to the reader.
I enjoyed this historical mystery story. Francesca (Fran) is an interesting character trying to unravel the past and figure out what had happened. As we learn about the past, we read about a tragic love triangle (one plot device I'm not a fan of, but it is well done in this book). Once Fran realizes that you can't go home again and accepts that she has to move on, she really learns a lot about her time working at Villa Aria. There are several secondary characters that move the mystery along including Nico who has a lot of answers for Fran as he reveals several past secrets, Lucia - a young girl who works as a cook prior to the war, and some villagers who don't want to dredge up the past but eventually share some information. The story is a mystery, but it also deals with the trauma of war and how it changes someone. Memories are not always what they seem and how secrets can change the direction of someone's life. Once she finds out what happened to Vivi, her quest still isn't over. The final twist and reveal to Fran of a huge secret changes the direction of her life. I enjoyed Ella Carey's writing, her descriptions of the Villa Aria both before and after, and felt like I was there viewing Tuscany. If you enjoy a good historical mystery and some family drama, then I recommend you pick up The Tuscan Villa.
I enjoyed this historical mystery story. Francesca (Fran) is an interesting character trying to unravel the past and figure out what had happened. As we learn about the past, we read about a tragic love triangle (one plot device I'm not a fan of, but it is well done in this book). Once Fran realizes that you can't go home again and accepts that she has to move on, she really learns a lot about her time working at Villa Aria. There are several secondary characters that move the mystery along including Nico who has a lot of answers for Fran as he reveals several past secrets, Lucia - a young girl who works as a cook prior to the war, and some villagers who don't want to dredge up the past but eventually share some information. The story is a mystery, but it also deals with the trauma of war and how it changes someone. Memories are not always what they seem and how secrets can change the direction of someone's life. Once she finds out what happened to Vivi, her quest still isn't over. The final twist and reveal to Fran of a huge secret changes the direction of her life. I enjoyed Ella Carey's writing, her descriptions of the Villa Aria both before and after, and felt like I was there viewing Tuscany. If you enjoy a good historical mystery and some family drama, then I recommend you pick up The Tuscan Villa.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5★s
The Villa Aria in Tuscany had been Francesca's playground as a child. Her father, Emilio, was the gardener there for his employer, Vivi, but once the war began, Francesca was sent to New York to stay with Caroline, Vivi's mother. When she finally returned to the small village of Cortona, the war was over and many, many things had changed. Vivi had vanished in 1945; Lucia, Vivi's friend and cook for the ten years prior to Vivi's disappearance, was also gone; Francesca's mother and father were dead. She wished she'd returned much sooner than she did. And when she saw her beloved Villa Aria in a terrible state, with a new owner who was going to raze the beautiful gardens, Francesca was devastated. She needed to stop the desecration but she also needed answers...
The Tuscan Villa is the 3rd in the Daughters of Italy series by Aussie author Ella Carey and while I love this author's historical novels, this one chopped and changed all over the place. Almost every chapter was in a new time frame, and jolted me out of the story each time. We had 1938, 1945 and 1953 to keep up with, and not always in that order, which made it hard. The last part, all in 1953, was much better. As per usual, the characters are well written, heartfelt and poignant. I will read more by Ella Carey, hopefully without so much chopping and changing. Recommended to fans.
With thanks to NetGalley & Bookouture for my digital ARC to read and review.
The Villa Aria in Tuscany had been Francesca's playground as a child. Her father, Emilio, was the gardener there for his employer, Vivi, but once the war began, Francesca was sent to New York to stay with Caroline, Vivi's mother. When she finally returned to the small village of Cortona, the war was over and many, many things had changed. Vivi had vanished in 1945; Lucia, Vivi's friend and cook for the ten years prior to Vivi's disappearance, was also gone; Francesca's mother and father were dead. She wished she'd returned much sooner than she did. And when she saw her beloved Villa Aria in a terrible state, with a new owner who was going to raze the beautiful gardens, Francesca was devastated. She needed to stop the desecration but she also needed answers...
The Tuscan Villa is the 3rd in the Daughters of Italy series by Aussie author Ella Carey and while I love this author's historical novels, this one chopped and changed all over the place. Almost every chapter was in a new time frame, and jolted me out of the story each time. We had 1938, 1945 and 1953 to keep up with, and not always in that order, which made it hard. The last part, all in 1953, was much better. As per usual, the characters are well written, heartfelt and poignant. I will read more by Ella Carey, hopefully without so much chopping and changing. Recommended to fans.
With thanks to NetGalley & Bookouture for my digital ARC to read and review.
May 13, 2026
I received an eBook copy of "The Tuscan Villa" from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. In 1953 Francesca, fresh off a broken engagement, decides to confront her past. Vivi, her father's employer and ex-lover, has gone missing, and no one knows where to. At the end of WWII, Italy is in chaos. Having worked alongside her father in Vivi's garden and knowing Nico, the son of Vivi's best friend and Lucia, her cook, Fran decides to try and find out what happened to Vivi and reconcile this terrible time in her life, but Matteo, the new owner of the Villa is hellbent on tearing down and rebuilding a new garden, and home, where the villa stands. Overwhelmed by the loss of her Father, Mother, and Vivi, Fran must decide if she can move forward or not. Dealing with themes of grief, betrayal, a woman's place in the world, what being a good mother looks like, survival during dark times, and the need for human connection, the book interweaves several perspectives to tell the stories from two different time periods with two different women. The complicated web of intrigue and the moral delimma of living in a country that was allied with Hitler during WWII are explored, and the decisions the characters make about how to navigate this trying time are complex. While Vivi and her friends, including Nico's mother Evelina, have the money to not stay in Italy, the motivation to stay and try to make something good out of the bad is admirable. Lucia's unrequited feelings for Nico, and Vivi's wrestling with her feelings for Emilio, her past love who is now married, and Frans father, adds to the depth and tragedy of the story. This is a quick but hard hitting read, and one that is emotionally gripping.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was my first book by this author and I thank NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read this ARC. I was reminded very much of Fiona McIntosh's writing style and she's a favourite author of mine, so was thrilled to find Ella Carey.
The multi-person point of view and the multiple time lines are always something I enjoy in a book; it's a wonderful way for multiple stories to slot-together and reveal themselves in a way that adds to the mystery.
The Tuscan Villa, at it's heart, is a love story - not a love story of a single couple, but a love story in all facets of the word love - the romantic, familial, friendship, lifestyle and above all - the love of place - Tuscany.
The story is set before, during and after WWII but it focuses more on the hope - the pulling together of community, people who become family and the relationships that develop in-spite of war.
I really enjoyed the characters and loved the very descriptive setting, mostly in the beautiful Villa Aria and it's glorious gardens that are a central point to the entire story. My only criticism is that I felt the ending was a little abrupt, however it didn't take away from my enjoyment of the book. I couldn't put it down and only wish it had another 100 or so pages.
The multi-person point of view and the multiple time lines are always something I enjoy in a book; it's a wonderful way for multiple stories to slot-together and reveal themselves in a way that adds to the mystery.
The Tuscan Villa, at it's heart, is a love story - not a love story of a single couple, but a love story in all facets of the word love - the romantic, familial, friendship, lifestyle and above all - the love of place - Tuscany.
The story is set before, during and after WWII but it focuses more on the hope - the pulling together of community, people who become family and the relationships that develop in-spite of war.
I really enjoyed the characters and loved the very descriptive setting, mostly in the beautiful Villa Aria and it's glorious gardens that are a central point to the entire story. My only criticism is that I felt the ending was a little abrupt, however it didn't take away from my enjoyment of the book. I couldn't put it down and only wish it had another 100 or so pages.
April 30, 2026
"The Tuscan Villa" is a historical fiction that covers the before, during, and after of WWII in Italy. The story follows three timelines and perspectives: Fran, Lucia, and Vivi.
Fran is the daughter of an Italian gardener who fled to America during the war, but comes back to her home to solve the mysterious, unsolved disappearance of her dear friend and mentor, Vivi.
Lucia is a Sicilian cook who works for Vivi and becomes Vivi's friend and confidante during the war until Vivi's untimely disappearance.
Vivi is an American who comes back to Tuscany to live the life she's always wanted.
While I enjoyed the historical aspects of this book, there were a few points that I think would have made this is a 4 star read. While typically a dual timeline is fairly easy to follow, I think this book would have been more engaging and easier to follow if it was organized in three parts, one with Vivi's story, one with Lucia's story, and ending with Fran's story. There were also parts from Nico's point of view that I felt were irrelevant.
This story was a tribute to those strangers who become friends, and will be by each other's side no matter what happens.
Thank you NetGalley for an advanced reader copy of this book.
Fran is the daughter of an Italian gardener who fled to America during the war, but comes back to her home to solve the mysterious, unsolved disappearance of her dear friend and mentor, Vivi.
Lucia is a Sicilian cook who works for Vivi and becomes Vivi's friend and confidante during the war until Vivi's untimely disappearance.
Vivi is an American who comes back to Tuscany to live the life she's always wanted.
While I enjoyed the historical aspects of this book, there were a few points that I think would have made this is a 4 star read. While typically a dual timeline is fairly easy to follow, I think this book would have been more engaging and easier to follow if it was organized in three parts, one with Vivi's story, one with Lucia's story, and ending with Fran's story. There were also parts from Nico's point of view that I felt were irrelevant.
This story was a tribute to those strangers who become friends, and will be by each other's side no matter what happens.
Thank you NetGalley for an advanced reader copy of this book.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I requested this book from Bookouture for review because I always enjoy WWII era fiction. I knew I’d like this one because I especially love stories that explore relationships between women. Still, the Tuscan Villa surprised me in a special way with a mystery I didn’t expect and some twists I never saw coming. It tapped that desire I have for a little bit of danger, a secret that hints at danger.
Author Ella Carey did an excellent job of immersing me in the historic story while making it feel completely natural and accessible. I enjoyed the relationships - and there were so many different connections between a few families. I also liked that we got to see these characters at two different phases of life. The character development was excellent and the impacts of the war were evident in both that development and the post-war storyline. The settings were another highlight, providing a lush, descriptive backdrop for romance, friendship, heartache, loss, and more.
If you enjoy 20th century historical fiction, WWII fiction, or even just fiction with excellent character development woven into a complex plot, then you’re going to love this.
Author Ella Carey did an excellent job of immersing me in the historic story while making it feel completely natural and accessible. I enjoyed the relationships - and there were so many different connections between a few families. I also liked that we got to see these characters at two different phases of life. The character development was excellent and the impacts of the war were evident in both that development and the post-war storyline. The settings were another highlight, providing a lush, descriptive backdrop for romance, friendship, heartache, loss, and more.
If you enjoy 20th century historical fiction, WWII fiction, or even just fiction with excellent character development woven into a complex plot, then you’re going to love this.
April 3, 2026
It was rather a short read, which I don’t mind as sometimes these stories tend to stretch out too long.
Apparently part of a series, yet a stand-alone read nonetheless.
The story has multiple timelines, which I’m accustomed too for Historical fiction being one of my favorite genres.
Yet it having only third person pov’s of more than three characters was a little too distant from the dept of the story for me.
I prefer to have a personal pov, and of viewer characters to keep it more intimate. But that’s not a dealbreaker either.
We have the Italian side of the story, and a shorter American side all set right before - during - after the Second World War.
It’s about slow life under the Tuscan sun, love under different forms, and finding out who we truly are in the midsts of it.
Women definitely play a leading role in this story, even if they belong to different classes. Some are wealthy, others are servants.
Yet it’s our choices that forge who we are and what will become of us.
And the truth shall catch up sooner or later.
Thank you to Bookouture, and Netgalley for this opportunity.
I enjoyed reading this story.
Apparently part of a series, yet a stand-alone read nonetheless.
The story has multiple timelines, which I’m accustomed too for Historical fiction being one of my favorite genres.
Yet it having only third person pov’s of more than three characters was a little too distant from the dept of the story for me.
I prefer to have a personal pov, and of viewer characters to keep it more intimate. But that’s not a dealbreaker either.
We have the Italian side of the story, and a shorter American side all set right before - during - after the Second World War.
It’s about slow life under the Tuscan sun, love under different forms, and finding out who we truly are in the midsts of it.
Women definitely play a leading role in this story, even if they belong to different classes. Some are wealthy, others are servants.
Yet it’s our choices that forge who we are and what will become of us.
And the truth shall catch up sooner or later.
Thank you to Bookouture, and Netgalley for this opportunity.
I enjoyed reading this story.
April 28, 2026
THE TUSCAN VILLA is the third novel in the Daughters of Italy series by ELLA CAREY, but it can easily stand alone. The story takrs place in the small village of Cortona in Tuscany during and after WW11, with our heroine Francesca returning in 1953 to the Villa Aria where she spent an idyllic childhood, to avoid a life in Manhattan following the dictates of society and a controlling future mother in law. She is determined to find out what happened to the owner Vivi Carmichael, and to foil the destruction of the beautiful gardens where she helped her father create a place of beauty during the war. The scenery in this magnificent part of the world is beautifully described, and the story, with all its twists and turns, kept me rivetted…..
Fran and Vivi’s lives follow a similar path with their decisions to return to Tuscany. There are several rather complicated love interests and many secrets which keep us guessing right up to the end …….
I highly recommend this exciting read to anyone who enjoys this genre.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Bookouture. The opinions in this review are completely my own.
Fran and Vivi’s lives follow a similar path with their decisions to return to Tuscany. There are several rather complicated love interests and many secrets which keep us guessing right up to the end …….
I highly recommend this exciting read to anyone who enjoys this genre.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Bookouture. The opinions in this review are completely my own.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Francesca, engaged and happily trying on wedding dresses in Manhattan, feels held back by memories of her past. She wonders how to begin a new life with her fiancé when she has so many unanswered questions about her childhood in Italy.
Then, she receives news that the villa in Italy where she grew up is for sale. Without hesitation, she buys a plane ticket and arrives at the dilapidated building and overgrown gardens, which break her heart. If she’s going to save the villa, she must uncover the secrets of the past it holds.
“The Tuscan Villa,” a captivating tale by Ella Carey, is filled with intrigue, mystery, and suspense. Carey’s seasoned writing skills are evident in her ability to create vivid descriptions that draw readers into each page. The plot twists and turns kept me on the edge of my seat throughout the entire book.
I thoroughly enjoyed every page of this incredible story. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for an unputdownable read that will resonate with them for a long time.
Get your copy today!! https://amazn.so/TheTuscanVilla
Then, she receives news that the villa in Italy where she grew up is for sale. Without hesitation, she buys a plane ticket and arrives at the dilapidated building and overgrown gardens, which break her heart. If she’s going to save the villa, she must uncover the secrets of the past it holds.
“The Tuscan Villa,” a captivating tale by Ella Carey, is filled with intrigue, mystery, and suspense. Carey’s seasoned writing skills are evident in her ability to create vivid descriptions that draw readers into each page. The plot twists and turns kept me on the edge of my seat throughout the entire book.
I thoroughly enjoyed every page of this incredible story. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for an unputdownable read that will resonate with them for a long time.
Get your copy today!! https://amazn.so/TheTuscanVilla
April 28, 2026
What a powerful, heartbreaking and atmospheric story Ella Carey has written.
During the war, Vivi’s dedication to help protect the valuable, despite the danger, showed one of many of her attributes that drew people to her. Her kindness, giving and gentle spirit were a blessing to the town and her disappearance was a great loss. I felt that loss deeply and like Fran, I didn’t want her disappearance to be left behind in the past, I was on the same determined path as Fran to find out what had happened to Vivi.
This story has three timelines, I found each one to be equally as strong and absorbing.
Carey has marvelously created complex characters and not everything was as it seemed with them and I found myself pleasantly surprised by a few of them.
Many of the characters found their way into my heart and I longed to be swept away to Villa Aria with its lush gardens, and its peaceful, timeless surroundings.
Ella Carey is a talented story-teller. A must read!
Stephanie
www.layeredpages.com
I received an ARC from the publishers through NetGalley for an honest review.
During the war, Vivi’s dedication to help protect the valuable, despite the danger, showed one of many of her attributes that drew people to her. Her kindness, giving and gentle spirit were a blessing to the town and her disappearance was a great loss. I felt that loss deeply and like Fran, I didn’t want her disappearance to be left behind in the past, I was on the same determined path as Fran to find out what had happened to Vivi.
This story has three timelines, I found each one to be equally as strong and absorbing.
Carey has marvelously created complex characters and not everything was as it seemed with them and I found myself pleasantly surprised by a few of them.
Many of the characters found their way into my heart and I longed to be swept away to Villa Aria with its lush gardens, and its peaceful, timeless surroundings.
Ella Carey is a talented story-teller. A must read!
Stephanie
www.layeredpages.com
I received an ARC from the publishers through NetGalley for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I really enjoyed this ARC of The Tuscan Villa by Ella Carey—thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read it. All opinions are my own .
Set between wartime Italy and 1950s Manhattan, this beautifully written historical fiction explores how war fractures families—sometimes physically, as loved ones are sent away to safety, and sometimes emotionally, as loyalties divide between opposing sides.
The story is filled with heartbreak, sacrifice, and long-buried family secrets. I was especially drawn to the vivid imagery of the Tuscan villa and its gardens—they felt so alive, I could almost smell the flowers.
A compelling mystery surrounding Vivi’s disappearance, kept me turning the pages. And a plot twist that had me gasping!
A moving and atmospheric read that captures both the devastation of war and the resilience of individuals.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 stars)
Set between wartime Italy and 1950s Manhattan, this beautifully written historical fiction explores how war fractures families—sometimes physically, as loved ones are sent away to safety, and sometimes emotionally, as loyalties divide between opposing sides.
The story is filled with heartbreak, sacrifice, and long-buried family secrets. I was especially drawn to the vivid imagery of the Tuscan villa and its gardens—they felt so alive, I could almost smell the flowers.
A compelling mystery surrounding Vivi’s disappearance, kept me turning the pages. And a plot twist that had me gasping!
A moving and atmospheric read that captures both the devastation of war and the resilience of individuals.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 stars)
April 30, 2026
There’s a lot happening in this story. All connected to Vivi. We get the ‘before’, Vivi’s life in Tuscany at the beginning of WWII. We get the end of the war, when Vivi disappears. Then we get the after, young Fran’s return to Tuscany and her quest for answers to Vivi’s disappearance.
It took me a bit to get into this story. I wanted to connect more with the characters than I did. Around 30% I finally became a bit more invested.
The timeline that intrigued me the most was the time right after Vivi’s disappearance. I’m a sucker for a good mystery, and I really wanted to know what truly happened to her. Fran’s timeline made me sad. So much of her life was turned upside down because of the war. She was a young child sent away to safety in America but while she was away, she lost everyone near and dear to her.
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for my copy of this book.
It took me a bit to get into this story. I wanted to connect more with the characters than I did. Around 30% I finally became a bit more invested.
The timeline that intrigued me the most was the time right after Vivi’s disappearance. I’m a sucker for a good mystery, and I really wanted to know what truly happened to her. Fran’s timeline made me sad. So much of her life was turned upside down because of the war. She was a young child sent away to safety in America but while she was away, she lost everyone near and dear to her.
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for my copy of this book.
August 21, 2026
Fran escaped Italy during WWII and is living in New York, engaged to be married and feeling truly stifled. Upon hearing that the beloved villa she grew up in has been sold and its beauty will be destroyed, she leaves her New York life behind to return to the gardens of her childhood to try to save them. Can she solve the mystery of what happened to the previous owner of the villa? Can she save the villa from ruin?
This story hits the perfect notes for me. It is wonderfully graphic in its descriptions of the gardens, the food, and the people in the book. Yet it is descriptive enough about WWII without being something that is super difficult to read. At the beginning of the book it can be a little challenging to follow along, as it is told from several timelines, but within a couple of chapters you'll be hooked!
This story hits the perfect notes for me. It is wonderfully graphic in its descriptions of the gardens, the food, and the people in the book. Yet it is descriptive enough about WWII without being something that is super difficult to read. At the beginning of the book it can be a little challenging to follow along, as it is told from several timelines, but within a couple of chapters you'll be hooked!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Tuscan Villa by Ella Carey is a dual timeline set between World War II Italy and post-war America and Tuscany, revealing long-buried family secrets and wartime heartaches.
I thoroughly enjoyed everything about this book. It’s a masterful, beautiful story woven and filled with history, family and her descriptions of Tuscany are amazing.
The story introduces us to Viv, Francesca, and Lucia—and the Villa Aria itself. This is a memorable story with heart!
Ella Carey is a wonderful storyteller. This new title is another impeccably researched historical fiction. I love her books! This is Book 3 of the author's Daughters of Italy. I love the series.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.
I thoroughly enjoyed everything about this book. It’s a masterful, beautiful story woven and filled with history, family and her descriptions of Tuscany are amazing.
The story introduces us to Viv, Francesca, and Lucia—and the Villa Aria itself. This is a memorable story with heart!
Ella Carey is a wonderful storyteller. This new title is another impeccably researched historical fiction. I love her books! This is Book 3 of the author's Daughters of Italy. I love the series.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.
May 3, 2026
🌟🌟🌟 🌟
I know you’re not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but look at this beauty!
This story is told with the multiple POV’s of Lucia, Vivi, and Fran- three strong women living during WWII. I feel like the Villa Aria is also a character- holding the family’s secrets tight.
I was drawn in right away and I couldn’t wait to see how everything came together and I wasn’t disappointed! Ella Carey does a great job of making you feel like you are there in the Villa. Many thanks to the author, Bookouture and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of the book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
#TheTuscanVilla ##EllaCareyBookTour #NetGalley #BookLove #Bookstagram #NewBook #ILoveBooks #HistoricalFiction #BooksSetDuringWWII
I know you’re not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but look at this beauty!
This story is told with the multiple POV’s of Lucia, Vivi, and Fran- three strong women living during WWII. I feel like the Villa Aria is also a character- holding the family’s secrets tight.
I was drawn in right away and I couldn’t wait to see how everything came together and I wasn’t disappointed! Ella Carey does a great job of making you feel like you are there in the Villa. Many thanks to the author, Bookouture and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of the book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
#TheTuscanVilla ##EllaCareyBookTour #NetGalley #BookLove #Bookstagram #NewBook #ILoveBooks #HistoricalFiction #BooksSetDuringWWII
July 1, 2026
The Tuscan Villa is a gentle, addition to the Daughters of Italy series, set against the beautiful backdrop of Cortona, Tuscany. I loved the garden imagery throughout the book. The historical fiction elements were engaging and the mystery kept the story captivating enough to hold my interest. However, the structure didn’t always work. The chapters jump between 1938, 1945 and 1953, and at times the change felt a little abrupt, making the pacing uneven. While the story is heartfelt, the timeline jumps occasionally pulled me out of the narrative. Overall, it’s a lovely read and a intriguing mystery. 3 ½ stars
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
What a truly wonderful storyteller Ella Carey is. I love her books, and this new title is yet another deeply emotional and engaging read.
Set between WWII Italy and post-war America and Tuscany, the story introduces a cast of memorable characters—Viv, Francesca, and Lucia—each connected to the Villa Aria in their own way.
The narrative moves seamlessly between two timelines, gradually revealing long-buried wartime and family secrets. It’s a beautifully woven story filled with emotion, mystery, and heart
Set between WWII Italy and post-war America and Tuscany, the story introduces a cast of memorable characters—Viv, Francesca, and Lucia—each connected to the Villa Aria in their own way.
The narrative moves seamlessly between two timelines, gradually revealing long-buried wartime and family secrets. It’s a beautifully woven story filled with emotion, mystery, and heart
April 29, 2026
Fran runs back to Italy to lay some memories to rest and to find out what really happened to Vivi.
Told in alternating chapters representing the voices of Lucia, Nico, Vivi, and Fran, the entire story finally comes to fruition.
The results were a bit surprising as I read because I wasn’t prepared for some of the truths uncovered.
Fran lays some of her questions to rest but also new ones arise.
It’s a story about love, longing, and redeeming the past.
Thanks Bookouture and NetGalley for the advance read.
Told in alternating chapters representing the voices of Lucia, Nico, Vivi, and Fran, the entire story finally comes to fruition.
The results were a bit surprising as I read because I wasn’t prepared for some of the truths uncovered.
Fran lays some of her questions to rest but also new ones arise.
It’s a story about love, longing, and redeeming the past.
Thanks Bookouture and NetGalley for the advance read.
May 1, 2026
This book was a surprise hit! I only started it because I am so very fond of Tuscany that I can't ignore a book set in that gorgeous part of Italy.
The story skipped back and forth from 1920s, 1939-1943, 1945, 1953 with different POVs. But it all made sense and was so mesmerizing I felt I was part of the book too (just finished The Astral Library so that's not surprising).
Set largely around Italy's experience in WW II, it revolved around a Villa with splendid gardens. There was love, betrayal, murder, but most of all love. I wish it had gone on a bit longer.....
The story skipped back and forth from 1920s, 1939-1943, 1945, 1953 with different POVs. But it all made sense and was so mesmerizing I felt I was part of the book too (just finished The Astral Library so that's not surprising).
Set largely around Italy's experience in WW II, it revolved around a Villa with splendid gardens. There was love, betrayal, murder, but most of all love. I wish it had gone on a bit longer.....
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Tuscan Village is the third book in the Daughter of Italy series. It is a beautifully written, well researched story about love, loss, secrets and family. Vivi, Lucia and Fran are strong women whose lives intersect at the Villa Aria.
While part of a series, this book can easily be read on its own. The Tuscan Village is another wonderful novel by Ella Carey.
Thank you to the author, Bookouture and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.
While part of a series, this book can easily be read on its own. The Tuscan Village is another wonderful novel by Ella Carey.
Thank you to the author, Bookouture and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I’m a fan of historical fiction and while this was historical fiction, it was more paperback romance, which is not my favorite genre. It felt like watching a soap opera. The ending felt like a plot twist, just to have a plot twist. It really didn’t even make sense.
Thank you to NEtGalley for the ARC of this book.
Thank you to NEtGalley for the ARC of this book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This story had me daydreaming of being in a beautiful garden in the Italian countryside. As someone who loves to garden, I really connected to Vivi’s character. I typically love multiple pov’s, but at time this felt a little confusing. I thought the writing was a little underwhelming, but overall it was a short, enjoyable read.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC
May 5, 2026
The Tuscan Villa is a story of love, resilience, friendship and courage. It focuses on the lives of Vivi and Francesca and their friends and family. I loved how the story unfolded gradually, you think you know where it is going but then the story changes.
I was slightly disappointed with the ending, it felt unfinished.
Ella Carey is a great story writer, this is another good read from her.
I was slightly disappointed with the ending, it felt unfinished.
Ella Carey is a great story writer, this is another good read from her.
May 28, 2026
Review
I love all of Ms Carey's books but this one was especially good. It had a great story and fascinating characters. It makes me want to go to Tuscany. The ending was a great surprise.
I love all of Ms Carey's books but this one was especially good. It had a great story and fascinating characters. It makes me want to go to Tuscany. The ending was a great surprise.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
forgot to start updating my goodreads when i started this one 😂 read this since forever and now finally finished .
huge thanks to netgalley for the arc!
huge thanks to netgalley for the arc!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews