Courage, My Love

by Kristin Beck

When the Nazi occupation of Rome begins, two courageous young women are plunged deep into the Italian Resistance to fight for their freedom in this captivating debut novel.

Rome, 1943

Lucia Colombo has had her doubts about fascism for years, but as a single mother in an increasingly unstable country, politics are for other people--she needs to focus on keeping herself and her son alive. Then the Italian government falls and the German occupation begins, and suddenly, Lucia finds that complacency is no longer an option.

Francesca Gallo has always been aware of injustice and suffering. A polio survivor who lost her father when he was arrested for his anti-fascist politics, she came to Rome with her fiancé to start a new life. But when the Germans invade and her fiancé is taken by the Nazis, Francesca decides she has only one option: to fight back.

As Lucia and Francesca are pulled deeper into the struggle against the Nazi occupation, both women learn to resist alongside the partisans to drive the Germans from Rome. But as winter sets in, the occupation tightens its grip on the city, and the resistance is in constant danger.

In the darkest days, Francesca and Lucia face their pasts, find the courage to love, and maintain hope for a future that is finally free.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, World War II, Italy, War, Historical, Adult Fiction

336 pages, Paperback

First published April 13, 2021

About the author

Kristin Beck first learned about World War II from her grandmother, who served as a Canadian army nurse, fell in love with an American soldier in Belgium, and married him shortly after VE Day. Kristin thus grew up hearing stories about the war, and has been captivated by the often unsung roles of women in history ever since. A former teacher, she holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Washington and a Master’s in Teaching from Western Washington University. Kristin lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and children.

Reviews

[Kezia Duah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Woah. Francesca and Lucia are my heroes! I wasn’t sure if their lives would intertwine, but then it did, and it was done so well. It didn’t feel forced or rushed. They were so brave and I love them so freaking much. Of course, the heartbreak was inevitable, along with scenes that just kept my heart racing. The pacing of the story was just right. I loved this story so much!

[Natasha Lester · Rating 5 out of 5]

Francesca and Lucia are two magnificent women. How could anyone not admire their bravery, their strength, their compassion and their fierce determination to do whatever they could to protect both those they love and the people of Rome from the Nazis sweeping through their beloved city. Courage, My Love is a beautiful story of female friendship, and the unheralded but hugely important Resistance work the women of Rome undertook, in the face of grave danger, during WWII. It’s a fascinating, nuanced and impeccably researched tale.

[Deanne Patterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful and encouraging historical story inspired by the stories the author heard from her grandmother, a wartime nurse.
Two women who lost a lot are very courageous and resilient become deeply entwined with the the Italian Resistance as they fight for their freedom when the Nazi occupation of Rome begins.
Through many dark days they find courage to go on for their family for their country,for their children. They maintain faith and encourage not only each other but others as they strive for a stronger future.
I can't wait to read another book by this author.

Pub Date 13 Apr 2021
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. Thank you.
All opinions expressed are my own.

[Renée Rosen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this novel! Review coming soon. In the meantime, if you're a fan of WWII fiction, add this to your shelf.

[Erika Robuck · Rating 5 out of 5]

COURAGE, MY LOVE, is a moving story about how ordinary people can do extraordinary things when working together for good. Beck crafts a tale of both heart-pounding intensity and deep emotional resonance, with characters who will stay with the reader long after the pages are closed. Poignant and beautiful.

[Erica (sand_between_pages) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you so much to Berkley Pub for the free copy of Courage, My Love in exchange for an honest review.
.
I want to preface this review by saying that three stars means I liked the book! Often, I think three star ratings get a bad rap, but for me, three stars indicate enjoying the book, but not one I will necessarily rave about nor re-read!
.
This is a story of the Italian resistance to Nazi occupation and Fascism toward the end of World War II. Most of the WWII books I have read take place in France, the UK, or America, so reading from the Italian perspective was incredibly interesting. I really enjoyed how this book focused on womens' roles in the resistance - there was a lot of flexing female that I was here for! I also associate Italy with being part of the Axis, but there were so many citizens of the country who hated Mussolini and aided the allies in victory.
.
This book just felt a little contrived and at times, way too slow. This is a debut, so I would absolutely be interested in reading more from the author, but the emotions that I felt the author was going for just were not there for me.

[Janie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hard to believe this is a debut novel. Well-crafted and moving, I loved this story set in WW2 Italy and the stories of two women from totally different backgrounds whose paths cross when they decide to take part in undermining the German occupation.

[Sydney · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5☆

This book is definitely a page-turner; by the time the action started I couldn't stop reading to find out what would happen next! The Italian setting was really interesting to me because I haven't studied that side of the war too much beyond the basics. The descriptions of the city and the Nazi occupation were immersive and pulled me into the story. I also enjoyed the characters and how their stories intertwined. I docked half a star for two reasons - It was a little too violent and a little too sad. I completely understand that realistically, German occupation was violent and I don't think the author was vulgar in her description. I would say this book leans more to the side of suspenseful than bloody, but I'm very sensitive to violence and so I did skim a few parts. I also think that I would have enjoyed it better if God were more involved in the story. This is not Christian fiction, but I was invested in the characters and felt all their struggles, and all I could think of was how much I wanted to tell them that their grief didn't have to be felt in vain and that He could be a comfort to them in their heartbreak. I would also note that this book does have some impolite language at times, but not true swears. Beyond that, though, I really did like this story!

[Carolyn Scarcella · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third Italian resistance story I’ve read so far. The book, courage, my love is beautifully written and well researched by Kristin Beck. This is her first book that she inspired by the stories she heard from her grandmother as a nurse during the wartime. This describes the history, there’s war, there’s romance, there’s betrayal, motherhood, relationships and how they change the resistance to fight for their freedom. Two women comes from a different background in 1943, Italy. Lucia Colombo is a single mother of Matteo. Her family obeys the law and support fascist government expect for her, she is opposed to Nazis ideology but doesn’t agree with her family politics. On the other hand Francesca Gallo is a young lady who survived polio and always suffered injustice and judgment from others. When her father is arrested for ant-fascist politics, and her fiancée also were arrested for helping the resistance. She decides to join the resistance. As a result I read this book in one day, I couldn’t put it down and I didn’t want this beautiful story to end. Did they survived?

[BookWormBecky · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

Despair, laundress, lemon tree pot…

The tale of two women in Nazi-occupied Rome. As a single mother, politics are not in Lucia’s focus. Her priorities are with her five-year-old son Matteo.

Polio survivor Francesca is very aware of unfairness and hardships. She and her medical student fiancé relocated to Rome to “start a new life,” but he was taken by the Nazis.

These two women with widely different backgrounds, will cross paths in their Resistance efforts. The courage of these women and others will inspire hope as they find the strength to fight for their families and friends.


Who was the link between these two women?

How will Francesca’s vulnerability become her strength in the Resistance?


* I liked Winter Orphans so much and decided to try this debut by the author. A worthy debut!

* With so many WWII books available, this is a different take. Haven’t read many set in Italy.

* Liked the epilogue!

* Would love to hear the author’s Grandmother’s stories!

[Katie Hughes · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️ - anyone who is looking for more WWII books set in Italy, “Courage, My Love” is a pretty impressive one. It starts you off right in the action, which I was a little unsure of at first, then I quickly became acquainted with these characters & I was hooked. It reminds me of The Alice Network, telling a compelling story that focuses on the contributions of Italy’s women to the resistance. The characters & relationships were developed well & the pacing was great. There’s a good balance between heartbreak & hope, & the author does a fantastic job explaining her research. I love that she included actual phrases from real propaganda posters, radio broadcasts, & war leaflets.

[Deacon Tom (Feeling Better) · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Winner

Fantastic historical fiction that entertains as well as informs.

A thorough immersion into the lives of the Italian Resistance in WWII. Strong characters with expressive emotions make this a 5 star winner.

[Abby · Rating 4 out of 5]

All the things you’d find in a good WWII book. Love, tragedy, heartache, spies, fear & more.

[Christine M in Texas (stamperlady50) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel follows two women in 1943 in Rome. Lucia Colombo is a single mother of Matteo. She has stayed out of politics but once the Italian government begins to fall and the Germans invade she makes a decision that can put her and her son in danger.
🇮🇹
Francesca Gallo is a young lady who survived polio and has always suffered injustice and judgement from others. When her father is arrested for his anti-fascist politics, and her fiancée is arrested, Francesca decides to become part of the resistance.
🇮🇹
Both Lucia and Francesco find their own ways to cope with the Nazi occupation even if that goes against their principles, they must fight. Courage, love and the strength they did not know they had will get them through this war.
🇮🇹
Be sure and read the author notes as the author talks about her ties to the novel and her family. Beautifully written and I highly recommend this novel. #couragemylove, #kristinbeck, #berkley, #bookreview, #bookstagram, #stamperlady50, #booksconnectus

[Alyssa Palombo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book, which follows two extraordinary women living in Rome during the Nazi occupation and who join the Italian Resistance. This book is a thrilling page turner as well as being a heartfelt (and at times heart-wrenching) story of horror and triumph in very difficult times. I absolutely got emotional at a few points while reading this (very much so during the scene where the Americans finally liberate Rome, a city I love very much). I also really loved the epilogue; loved seeing the peace the characters had found and how their lives had moved forward. This is an excellent book, and I recommend for all fans of historical fiction!

[Erin (Thrill of the Page) Malone · Rating 5 out of 5]

We are halfway through the work week and I’m excited to share an amazing historical fiction book that came out yesterday, Courage My Love by Kristin Beck. This is a beautifully written story about the Nazi occupation of Rome and the resistance that fought them. I love WWII historical fiction that places female resistance members front and center, which is exactly what Courage My Love did.

Our two main characters Lucia and Francesca come from different backgrounds, but the one thing they have in common is their strength and bravery. The story is told from each woman’s POV and Kristin Beck did an incredible job seamlessly weaving the two storylines together and joining them at the perfect time. I enjoyed seeing each character come to their own realizations about the occupation and decide what role they wanted to play. I appreciated that Francesca, a Polio survivor, was portrayed as a powerful contributor to the resistance.

The secondary characters were just as amazing and well developed as our main characters. Each one served a vital role in the overall story and contributed to Lucia’s and Francesca’s decisions. I especially loved Signora Bruno and admired her courage and her cheerfulness during such a dark time.

So much of WWII historical fiction is set in France and Britain and I love finding new locations to read about. Reading about the war and occupation of Rome was new for me and I had no idea how Italians, especially those in Rome, were impacted by the battles between the Allied and Axis powers. I found the background on Mussolini and his relationship with the Nazis to be interesting because I didn’t realize he was removed from power and then restored by Hitler.

If you’re a fan of historical fiction, but looking for a change of scenery I highly recommend Courage My Love! It is an emotional story, but one of resilience. Bravo Kristin Beck for such an incredible debut!

Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley Pub for my advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

[Elise Hooper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kristin Beck transports us right into the heart of war-stricken Rome and creates a riveting story about brave women who will stop at nothing to protect the people they love. A tale of resistance, resilience, and friendship—this is exactly the type of historical fiction we need right now. Brava!

[Donna Foster · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just wow!

[Kara Hansen · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. A lovely story about a friendship that forms despite being in the most horrific of circumstances. The characters and plot development were well done.

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been reading a few books set in Italy during WWII lately. I've realized over the hears that my general understanding of that war is based on specific points of view and am trying to expand that. But I've also realized recently that I find this kind of historical fiction comforting, especially given the worrying political trends in the countries I am associated with over the past several years.

This book contains some harrowing details. It's probably not what you might expect from "comforting". So let me explain.

Courage, My Love follows 2 women living in Rome in 1943-44. For those, like me, who do not know the details of the Italian situation at that time, it starts just before Mussoloni goes into exile, through the Nazi occupation, and ends with the liberation of Italy/Rome by the Allies. The situation is beyond dire. The 2 women come from very different backgrounds. One is from an upper class family who strongly support the fascist government of Mussolini and their German allies. The other is from a poorer background, came to Rome as a young woman. Her family have been active in the resistance to fascism but she is initially unaware of the extent or nature of that involvement.

Both are initially reluctant to be involved in politics much less active resistance. They fear for those close to them who are doing things to help those in need. They see the importance of helping but are not ready to take the risk. Until they are.

This is what is optimistic about this book. These women are not special. They have all the reservations many of us have about taking action that might put us at risk of anything from social shaming to financial penalties, to physical harm. The story carries us through the events that change their minds, the ongoing reservations about their abilities and actions, and the ways in which they face actual consequences (some of them severe), and carry on.

This book helps be believe that I will be able to adapt to whatever happens. That it is possible to survive some pretty awful things, even when you aren't sure you have any skills that will be useful. It does not sugar coat the risk, nor the fact that not everyone will survive. But it makes things feel possible. It counters despair.

It's also just a damned good story, very well told. The characters are complex and well developed.

[Jenna · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was OK!

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Pub for my advanced copy of Courage, My Love.

There were a couple of things that I really enjoyed about this book.

They were-

*The Dual POV- I love multiple POVs in books. It never gets old.

*The History- I read a lot of WWII historical fiction. I appreciated that Courage, My Love takes place in Rome. It was a new perspective on the war that I had never really thought about. Most books that I have read take place in Germany, France, England, Poland etc.

Where This Book Fell Short-

I loved the idea of this book and I expected it to make an impact. I'm an emotional reader and I felt detached to the characters and events. I wanted to love the characters and I wanted to feel something and I don't know why I didn't.

Overall- Very thankful to have finally gotten around to this book. I do recommend this book to other readers. It's a good story it just didn't grab me like I wanted it to.

[Charlotte Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

No one can ever say that WWII, or any war, is anything but horrific. The ways that people are forced to live, the lives lost, and the countries destroyed are nothing less that horrific. But out of these wars come some amazing friendships. In Courage, My Love I chose to focus on the friendship of Lucia and Francesca. They are two strong, fearless women who work together with the resistance to fight the Germans. As the war moves on their losses add up and their strength grows. The Allies are coming, and they must be ready.

The research that Kristin Beck put into this book had to be immense. She took a time in life when people were living in fear of being captured or killed and brought it to life. I could picture the ghetto as the soldiers rounded up the people living there. The sounds of artillery being fired and planes flying over headed were sounds that I heard as I read her book. I could see the Resistance hiding, running down alleys, and doing their dangerous work all while trying to keep themselves alive. Courage, My Love is a book that came alive to me as I read it.

I love WWII and learning about that era. Kristin Beck did a wonderful job in telling a story while teaching her reader the history of the time. I recommend Courage, My Love to any WWII readers, historical fiction readers, or those interested in losing themselves in a wonderful story of friendship and strength.

[Donia · Rating 2 out of 5]

This story lacked something. It seemed quite sterile except for a couple of chapters where there was violent action; though that isn't usually what I look for nor need. There was just a void and for some reason I felt no particular closeness to the characters. Perhaps the cause was the dual narrators. Had the story's narrator been only Lucia and the plot more focused upon her and her situation the story might have worked better. Everything moved so fast that I didn't feel the terror of war. She went from a head rolling in the street one page, to dreaming about a lost love in the next paragraph.

The author had some interesting notes at the back of book about her grandparents meeting in the WW2 European Theater. To me that could have been a more interesting story.

[Lois · Rating 4 out of 5]

A remarkable debut novel by a NW author. Was interested when I finished the book to learn that she got her Masters Degreee in Education very close to where I live. Seems like I have read more than my share of WWII novels, but this is the first one I read that is set in Rome, a city I visited and loved. I enjoyed that so much that was described was familiar to me! The story is of two remarkable young women whose lives intersected when they became part of the resistance. It is a remarkable story of love, friendship, forgiveness, courage and loss! I need to give a heads up to the fact that some descriptions of the torture from the Nazis are quite graphic (but unfortunately realistic!).

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was fantastic! I loved the writing. I loved the setting, so much WWII hist fic is based in other places and reading about what it was like for Italians (specifially Rome) was a nice break. There is a little bit of it all in this one and I couldn't put it down. I can't wait to see what else this debut author has in store.

[Vicki (sun.sand.and.books) · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Keep on pedaling, despite the wolf at your heels, despite fear, despite uncertainty."

This was fantastic!!!
The writing, the characters, the pacing, the inter changing POVs, and the way these two stories and characters came together was seamless. To see these women come together to show strength, fight, and hold each other up in such a dark time was phenomenal.

I ended up buying this book by chance and it did not disappoint. One of my favorite reads of 2021.

[Carol Simmons · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars mostly, but rounded up rather than down. Time period of this was during Mussolini’s rule, then Nazi rule during WWII, but Italy instead of the usual France, so found it interesting. Strong female main characters are like able and believable

[Bryn Turnbull · Rating 5 out of 5]

Powerful and immensely moving, Kristin Beck’s debut novel plunges readers headlong into the dark days of  WWII-era Rome. A beautifully written story of women at war, Courage, My Love will linger with you long after you turn the final page.

[Marie Galpin · Rating 4 out of 5]

~4.5 stars, this book did a beautiful job of telling the harrowing tale of two Italian women who summoned courage to help the Italian resistance against Nazis . From cover to cover, this book kept me engaged and silently rooting for the heroines.

[Joan Martinkovic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another powerful story about two women in Italy who join the resistance in World War II.