The Lost Village

by Daniela Sacerdoti

1945, Italy. Two sisters give birth to two little girls on the same night, huddled under blankets, deep in the black woods that surround the village of Bosconero. They hold their babies close as footsteps approach. If they make even the slightest sound, the German soldiers will find them…

1996. Luce Nardini searches the cobbled streets of a remote Italian village for a house with a faded blue door. Since her only child left home, and with her estranged husband more distant than ever, she’s been completely untethered. Discovering why her mother cut all contact with her family and the village she loved feels like Luce’s last hope at understanding who she is.

Inside the house, she’s relieved to find the grandmother she never knew living out her final days. With a longing look at an ornate wooden box on her nightstand, her grandmother is just beginning to tell the heart-wrenching story of a little village ravaged by war, and why Luce’s mother swore never to return, when then the unthinkable happens: an earth-shattering disaster that shakes the little village of Bosconero to its core.

Feeling more lost than ever before, Luce fears that the secrets of her past have been buried forever. Her only hope is to win back the trust of the small community and find her grandmother’s little wooden box amongst the rubble of the village.

But will the surprise arrival of the husband she thought she’d lost help sew Luce’s family back together, or tear it apart for good? And will anything have prepared her for the devastating betrayal she finds hidden inside the box…?

An unputdownable historical novel about the secrets we keep to protect the ones we love by the author of million-copy Amazon No 1. bestseller, Watch Over Me. Perfect for anyone who loves Fiona Valpy, Lily Graham or The Letter by Kathryn Hughes.

Everyone is talking about The Lost Village:

‘WOW! Could not put it down once I started… Highly recommend.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars

‘All I can say is wow, to the twists and turns I never expected’ Merrick Library, 5 stars

‘A fantastic read, which I devoured… this is a book you are not going to be able to put down.’ The Book Blog, 5 stars

‘A beautiful and emotional read about family secrets and lies. Really well written with some wonderful characters and descriptions. I was shocked by the ending. I will remember this story for a long time.’ NetGalley reviewer

‘Gripping… Couldn’t stop reading till I found out the truth… So many surprises! Will keep you glued to the pages all the way.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars

‘Holding my breath through chaos and tragedy… Family secrets, twist and turns and a sea of emotions. Wow, what a ride!’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars

‘Utterly beautiful and poignant… totally captivating from beginning to end. I really can't praise this book enough.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars

‘Beautifully written… Well researched and gripping. I was in love with this book from the first page.’ NetGalley Reviewer

‘Mesmerising! I was totally hooked… absolutely perfect and just flowed endlessly with such ease. I really can't praise this OUTSTANDING book enough!’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars

Genres: Historical Fiction, Contemporary, Italy, Historical, Womens Fiction

270 pages, Paperback

Published November 12, 2020

About the author

Daniela Sacerdoti is a mother and a writer. Born in Naples, but brought up in a small village in the Italian Alps, she lives near Glasgow with her husband and sons. She steals time to write when everyone has gone to bed, or before they wake up. She’s a Primary teacher, but she chose to be at home with her children. She loves being with her boys, reading anything she can get her hands on and chatting with her girlfriends. But she also adores being on her own, free to daydream and make up stories.

Reviews

[Pauline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Daniela Sacerdoti is one of my favourite authors and I was delighted to receive a copy of her new book The Lost Village.
Luce Nardini has always wondered about her mothers family in Italy. Her mother never talks about them and won’t answer any questions.
Looking for clues online Luce finds she has a cousin Matilde and travels to Italy to meet her and connect with the grandmother she has never met.
This visit has far reaching consequences for her family and uncovers secrets and lies from the past.
I really enjoyed this story and I am eagerly waiting for the next book from this author.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Alayne Emmett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this sweet story which centres around Italy after the Second World War. The descriptions in this book made me actually feel the hot sun and taste the wonderful food. This was set in 1946 and present day and I found it an easy book to read. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

[ABCme · Rating 5 out of 5]

Make sure to have no distractions because this one will keep you glued to the pages all the way. Let's visit Italy!

Fast paced from the start, The Lost Village takes the reader to glorious Bosconero in the hills just outside Rome.
Empty nester Luce travels to her ancestral home in search of her roots. The sights, smells and people draw me right in and put a huge smile on my face. What a feelgood start!

But soon disaster strikes and the book seems to speed up even more. Holding my breath through chaos and tragedy, I watch the story unfold. Family secrets, twist and turns and a sea of emotions. Wow, what a ride!

Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC.

[Marg · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know if you take a look back through my blog archives you could be left thinking that I have no other aspirations other than to go back to France and to read all the books set in France, all of the time. Whilst that could be true, I am more of an equal opportunity reader and so I am happy to read books with other settings. And so it was that I jumped at the chance to read this book, set in a small Italian village. I am really glad that I did.

Luce Nardini (pronounced Lu-chay) is suffering from empty nest syndrome. She split up from her husband Ethan several years before, and now her son Eli has moved from Seattle to New York to go to college. Feeling adrift from family, Luce decides that now is the time to track down her Italian family, despite knowing that her mother would forbid it, if she knew. Luce's mother, Angelina, had not had any contact with her family back in Italy for many years, and would never talk about why that was.

When Luce finds a small clue as to where her family might have come from, she uses Facebook to connect with her younger cousin Mathilde who had no idea that Luce existed. Within a short time, Luce has made the decision to go to Italy and find out, once and for all, who she is and where she comes from.

Whilst Mathilde is very excited to welcome Luce, the two cousins are apprehensive about the reception that she will get when she meets her elderly grandmother for the first time, not to mention her uncle. Nonna is more than pleased to meet her, but her uncle is incredibly hostile. What could possibly have happened to have completely destroyed this family so irrevocably.


To read more head to

http://www.theintrepidreader.com/2020...

[Sydney Long · Rating 4 out of 5]

All of her life Luce Nardini was kept in the dark about her mother’s family. She grew up not knowing who her grandparents were, who her uncle was or the fact that she had a cousin. Her mother kept telling her, some things are best left in the past. But...Luce couldn’t let it go. She wanted to know her family and as her son has become a young man and shes separated from her husband...now is a great time to set out on a quest to find her family. She knows her mother is from a small village in Italy and thanks to the internet, finds a cousin she never knew she had. But upon meeting her cousin at an Italian airport, she learns that’s there’s bad blood between her mother and her uncle. Luce is determined to find out why. And then an earthquake destroys the village and her family is gravely injured. It becomes all the more important to learn the truth about her family before it’s too late but what she learns is a tale of secrets and lies.

This story makes me want to visit Italy. The pictures the author paints of the villages and the festivals before the earthquake is something I’d love to see with my own two eyes. I love how determined and strong Luce is...from wanting to know the truth but also wanting to be of use as the village digs out of the rubble. In discovering her past, Luce builds new relationships and strengthens old ones. I do wish it touched a little bit more on WWII and the story of Luce’s grandfather but I really enjoyed the book! Thank you NetGalley, Bookouture and Daniela Sacerdoti for the chance to read this early! It was truly a great weekend read!

[StinaStaffymum · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am excited to be taking part in the #BooksOnTour #BlogTour for Daniela Sacerdoti's wonderfully emotional tale THE LOST VILLAGE.

What drew me to this novel was the historical aspect that held a kind of mystery from the past as a key to the present. However, the historical story featured only very minimally and I was a little disappointed that it wasn't the main story as alluded to by the tagline "an emotional World War II historical romance set in Italy" and promised by the opening premise. It is more of a contemporary fiction and chick lit with a historical aspect rather than historical fiction as such. However, that aside, THE LOST VILLAGE was still a hugely enjoyable story that is easy to get lost in within the depths of Italy.

2006: Empty nester Luce Nardini leaves her home in America to travel to her ancestral home in Bosconero, Italy in search of her roots. Her mother Angelina has never spoken of her family or what made her leave the only home she has known and refuses to give Luce the answers for which she seeks. Angelina believes the past is best left in the past. But at 43, Luce feels herself floating adrift and not belonging anywhere since the collapse of her marriage three years before and her son moving away to college.

Her mother was born in Italy towards the end of the war when tensions were rife due to Mussolini's alliance with Germany. Aside from that, all Luce knows that is that she abruptly left some forty years ago at the tender age of 18. Why, is a complete mystery. But now desperate to understand the truth about her mother's past, Luce is determined to discover the family she never knew and the truth as to why her mother fled all those years ago. And the only way to get those answers is to travel to Italy herself.

When she arrives, she is greeted by her cousin, Mathilde, she found thanks to social media and the two women immediately click as if they had always known each other. Luce is desperate to meet her Nonna, her mother's mother, and so they make their way to "Rose Bianca", her family's ancestral home. As soon as she sees the ancient dwelling with the blue door framed by the trailing white roses just as her mother had described it, Luce knew this is where she will find her answers.

As soon as she walks through the blue door, she is greeted by a small elderly woman with her arms outstretched crying "Angelina! You've come home!" Mathilde explains that it is her granddaughter Luce, Angelina's daughter, as Nonna tearfully embraces Luce. But the three women could not foresee Carlo's anger once he learned of Luce's visit, banishing her from the house in which he shared with his mother. Mathilde tries in vain to bring her father around but he refused to entertain the idea of his estranged sister or his niece. Puzzled by the force of his resentment, Mathilde gives Luce a room at her flat to sleep off her jet lag and in which she is welcome stay for the duration of her visit.

Luce then meets Massimo, Mathilde's fiance, and his friends from the volunteer ambulance service, Andrea and Giacomo. With the summer festival in full swing in the village, Luce is introduced to the Italy's finest foods and wine as they dance and enjoy the atmospheric beauty. But she has not forgotten the reason for her visit - to learn the truth about her mother's past and the secrets of her ancestral home.

When she visits "Rose Bianca" again in Carlo's absence, Nonna begins to tell Luce and Mathilde the story of their family and how it all began...starting with her own father's embarking on an adventure that would change the course of their lives. She related the story of growing up with her little sister Nora and the poverty in which they were living. The story took so much out of Nonna that she had to tell it in parts with each separate visit, for at 90 years of age Nonna was no longer young and had a bad heart to contend with.

The relief at discovering the family she never knew, Luce was excited to learn to the truth about her mother's past at last. But she wasn't prepared for the tragedy that was to come when an earthquake decimates the village of Bosconero and the threat of losing her family before amends could be made became real. And as news of the earthquake reached America, her son Eli and ex-husband Ethan and even her mother pleaded with her to return home at once...but Luce refused to return until she had all the answers.

But was it too late? Would she ever discover the truth that caused her mother to flee her home? Would she ever resolve the bad feelings between brother and sister? Would she ever learn the truth about her parentage? And why her mother refuses to speak of the past? Will there be any happy endings?

A story that is equally heartwarming as it is heartbreaking, THE LOST VILLAGE is filled with love, loss and tragedy as one woman embarks on a journey of discovery for the family and a past she has never known. The descriptions are so vivid I felt as if I was right there in Italy surrounded by all it's sights, smells and flavours.

The characters are well-rounded and I loved getting to know them all. Luce is a strong and determined woman as in discovering her past she builds new relationships and strengthens old ones. Mathilde is an idealistic young woman just beginning her life. Massimo is a kind and gentle soul I loved to be alongside. Angelina had a real mystery to her in her refusal to revisit her past but she struck me as a strong self-reliant woman who brought up Luce single-handedly. As bitter and sullen as Carlo was I was eager to learn the truth behind his resentment. And Nonna...well, she is a multi-layered character who surprises us with the various facets of her nature. Whilst Luce is the main narrator throughout the story, it is Nonna who is the core of the story. She is the one who holds the key, not just to the past, but to the entire story.

While it is a dual timeline novel, the time-slips are flashbacks revisited by Nonna in her retelling of the past to Luce. I did enjoy the WW2 backstory but I would have liked to have more of a predominant feature, particularly as it was billed as a WW2 story. As it was, it took a long time to get to that part of the story I began to wonder if it was going to come at all.

Despite this, I still very much enjoyed the book. Daniela Sacerdoti is a new author to me I've not read before and I would be interested to read some more along a similar theme.

Overall, THE LOST VILLAGE is a beautiful tale that takes you through a range of emotions but leaving you with a smile at the end.

I would like to thank #DanielaSacerdoti, #NetGalley, #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheLostVillage in exchange for an honest review.

This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.

[Adele · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was totally captivated by this WWII historical time-slip novel. This is my first introduction to the work of Daniela Sacerdoti and after reading The Lost Village I know for a fact I'll be on the lookout for more of her stories.

This is a story that will transport you back to a time of bliss and beauty in the idyllic Italian countryside, to a time before the world became shattered in conflict. Then Italy enters troubled times and life for all becomes difficult and people become wary of each other. One young woman has experienced more heart wrenching pain than most and when a split second decision changes the course of not only her future but that of others it's the start of a catalyst of a turbulent time for all involved. A person that takes it upon them self to be the judge and jury of their loved ones but were these wise moves?

Many decades later Luce is desperate to understand her mother's past. She knew her mother was born and grew up in Italy and left abruptly forty years ago. Luce's mother refuses to talk about the past but Luce feels this rawness of pain in her mother's life needs to be resolved once and all. Luce embarks on a mission to find her lost family in Italy. However, to have lost and then found the fear of losing again is a pain like no other.

Whilst in Italy discovering her family history Luce becomes involved in a terrible tragedy and there's now a fight of survival and another challenge to find the truth of her heritage before it is lost forever.

A story that is equally fascinating, full of drama with emotional tugs of the heart. It's also a story of reflection. However, when the past reveals itself no-one could foresee the shattering effects it would have on the lives of many. The ending of this story broke me and I struggled to comprehend the impetus of events that led to the heart breaking finale. Life had been so cruel to Luce's family and it never ceased forming new cracks in the structure of the family until there were too many cracks to hold the past together.

A heart-stopping emotive historical time-slip novel.

[Tiffany www.instagram.com/tiffs_bookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Lost Village is a very moving historical fiction story of a woman's search to find her family.  Luce's mom wouldn't never talk about her Italian family so Luce travels to Italy to reconnect with them after finding a cousin on Facebook. In her journey we hear another story when two young women both gave birth to two baby girls on the same night and the struggles they went through to protect their babies. Luce also uncovers dark family secrets that destroyed her family and is the reason her mamma never wanted Luce to know that side of her family. I loved this story!!!!!!!! This was my first Daniela Sacerdoti and I will definitely look up her others. I highly recommend this book. Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for my early review copy

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

All I can say is wow, to the twists and turns I never expected in this novel. Luce is an American with an Italian born mother, estranged from her family in Italy. Luce was in contact with a cousin, Mathilde, and decides to go to their village of Boscanero to find out what happened to keep her mother away. Once she meets her grandmother, the back story intertwines with the present, with Luce experiencing a horrific earthquake. I loved the character of Luce, the setting in Italy, and the WWII back story. I highly recommend this one, and thank NetGalley for the ARC.

[Sandy McKenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

So many secrets and lies!

Luce wants to know about her mother's past in Italy; however, Angelina refuses to discuss it.
Determined to discover the truth, Luce tracks down a cousin in Italy, flies over to meet her, and hopefully learn more about her family.
There are so many secrets and lies revealed, as well as a major disaster to face.
Wow, what an incredible story; it is so well written, and I found it hard to put down.

[Pamela Rae Stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful and Heartbreaking

I loved this book. The description of the village was just breathtaking and I almost felt like I was there. It was a beautiful scene. A lovely story with many twists and turns and I have to admit I was surprised!
Can’t say more as I don’t want to give away any of the story and spoil it for anyone. The characters were really brought to life and there was a sweetness to many of the relationships that was wonderful to see.
There are quite a few typos, making you figure out the sentence but it’s doable.
A great book!
pamarella
PRCS

[Nicola “Shortbookthyme” · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a nostalgic tale!
A historical WWll fiction, told in alternating time periods from past to present. Talk about a family having secrets!
The Lost Village certainly takes you on a intriguing journey! There was so much to take in and remember within the story, I did have a bit of a time keeping it all straight in my head. I thought the second half of the book was my favorite. But, with that said, I did enjoy the writing style of the author.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture and author, Daniela Sacerdoti, for the opportunity to read the ARC of this book for my honest opinion. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Publish date: 16 Nov 2020

[theliterateleprechaun · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sacerdoti’s heartwarming story, The Lost Village, to be published November 16, 2020, will transport you to a little Italian hilltop village ravaged by a terrible disaster. This master storyteller focuses on what happens when we keep secrets to protect the ones we love.

Luce Nardini, a 43-year-old New Yorker separated from her husband, embarks on a quest to find answers. Luce grew up without knowing her father nor her grandparents. Since her only son has left for university and her mother refuses to talk about the past, Luce is determined to fly to Italy and search for answers. Sacerdoti expertly weaves the past with the present through Nonna Clelia’s stories and Luce’s adventure into self-discovery through family ties. Luce and her family soon learn that they can’t move on with their lives until they face and accept the past. Readers will be reminded that we all have a less than perfect life and few of us find it easy to move forward. Pain is a common thread in our lives; whether caused by loss or by a choice we’ve made. How ironic that Luce finds clarity and peace amidst the disaster - but here? and now? and him? The author will quietly captivate you with rich, real characters and a beautifully penned poignant storyline. It will make you laugh and cry and then stay with you for a long, long time.

Thank you to Daniela Sacerdoti, Bookcouture and Netgalley for this amazing gift of an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Raeesa · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Lost Village follows Luce as she travels to Italy in search of her estranged family. Once there, she discovers many family secrets while dealing with a tragedy.

I expected much more of this book to take place during the historical period. In fact, most of the book took place in modern day, with a few flashbacks. It was a solid three-star read, until the end.

There was a plot twist at the end that was just so bizarre and unbelievable that I could not rate this book higher than two stars. Also, it felt like every time the author didn’t know what to do with the story, she threw in a tragedy or disaster. Aside from the ‘plot twist’, I found the story to be very predictable.

The characters were all very flat, and I didn’t really connect with any of them. All of their actions seemed blown out of proportion, and the way they interacted with each other felt very scripted and unnatural.

It was a very atmospheric read, in terms of the description of Italy and the food. I did enjoy that aspect of the book.

Overall, it was a decent read up to the end. Nothing very memorable, but something to fill the time with.

*I received a free e-ARC via NetGalley from Bookouture in exchange for an honest review*

[Emma Crowley · Rating 3 out of 5]

The second book this year from Daniela Sacerdoti takes us once again back to Italy and boy does she have a way a wonderful way of writing about this beautiful country. The Lost Village moves effortlessly between the past and the modern day, perhaps the modern aspect is more dominant, with a story full of twists and tales, anguish, heartbreak, hope and love. I really enjoyed this story as it wasn’t too taxing but had just the right amount of detail and mystery to keep you rapidly turning the pages to discover the secrets as Luce Nardini attempts to uncover the reasons behind a family estrangement. A tense and unsettling opening sees a young woman escaping to see her boyfriend but on her way tragedy strikes and her father lies dead in the woods. Even from this brief introduction, I was left with lots of questions the answers only becoming clear in the final pages.

We then move forward to 2006 and Luce is boarding a plane to Italy. She has never been there before and her mother Angelina refuses to talk about her family, why she left the country she was born in and why contact with her family has ceased? This secrecy eats away at Luce and she wants to know the cause of it. She won’t rest until she has all the answers and the enigma surrounding her family has been unravelled. What are they hiding and why? What could have been so drastic that meant her mother left the safety of her home leading to a significant estrangement and silence on all matters connected to her relatives? For Luce, now is the perfect time to embark on this journey as she is experiencing empty nest syndrome now that her son has left for university. She has been separated from her husband Ethan for several years and as she feels a bit adrift now is the perfect opportunity to venture outside her comfort zone and in doing so she may very well find some much needed confirmation and conclusion. But is she really ready for what she will uncover or will it tear the family apart even more?

Luce is met off the plane by her cousin Matilde, whose existence she never knew of until recently, and from that moment on I felt a whole new Luce began to emerge. I got the impression that the Luce that resides in America was slightly weak and hadn’t enough confidence in herself but it’s like the moment she steps foot on Italian soil, she takes on a whole new persona. The change in atmosphere, a whole new country and with new family members to meet inspires her on to be someone different and her quest takes on a fervour that sees her grow in confidence and she becomes almost ruthless, but in a good way, to get to the bottom of all the family problems. Her mother has been carrying a burden inside that is eating her up and Luce is determined that this will not go on any longer. Luce doesn’t know where her roots are or who her father is and with Matilde and her fiancée Massimo working alongside her she hopes the answers will come thick and fast. She views Italy as being full of promise, possibilities and discoveries. But she doesn’t bank on tragedy striking the region and when this happens the sense of urgency to reach the truth only intensifies.

Luce finally gets to meet her grandmother Clelia who has this wonderful aura about her but her Uncle Carlo is less than welcoming and refuses to have anything to do with her. Here she comes up great resistance and it’s almost as if he is dangerous. Luce is clever enough to realise that her grandmother holds the key to what exactly happened and the answers are not straight forward but will take time to come to the surface having been surpressed for so long. She keeps pushing even when doors are closed in her face and the walls already erected just seem to grow taller. Italy provides so many new opportunities for her and she became like a butterfly emerging from its chrysalis transformed. The constraints and tensions surrounding her heart and mind were dissipating. I loved her determination to keep going as I think she really sensed this was the make or break time. It was now or never and even more so when an earthquake hits the region and the town of Bosconero is virtually destroyed.

The story had a steady pace to it right from the start but I thought towards the middle section the story does lose its way slightly. Then the from the moment the earthquake hit, everything really ramped up a gear and these scenes were incredibly well written. The emotions flowed from the page and the anger at what was unfolding combined with the danger, grief, loss and desperation that Luce experiences as she doesn’t know if the family she is finally starting to get close are gone forever was believable and real. The earthquake was an even greater catalyst for the truth to emerge and as Luce battles with her own feelings towards someone that are starting to stir and the torrent of emotions as things begin to spill forth I was with her all the way as she rushes about trying to find out were people safe after the disastrous event. Whilst at the same time the momentum she had been gaining in inching ever closer to what exactly had happened all those years ago, well she didn’t want to lose that and I am glad that she kept picking away at the wound until it slowly started to open. Luce had such bravery, courage and an inner strength that I deeply sensed she didn’t know she possessed. It really only emerged when she needed it to the most. I got the feeling that it took her by surprise and had she remained in America this new Luce would never have emerged and she would have gone about the remainder of her life just aimlessly drifting along. Happy enough but never truly contented.

A line on the cover suggests this is an emotional World War Two story and to some extent it is but I thought someone thinking this would be the sole focus would be left disappointed. There is more time spent with Luce in the modern day than with Clelia in the past but it suited me perfectly. It’s a different kind of world war story but one I did very much enjoy as the author only took us back to the past when she deemed it absolutely necessary and the information and insights given to us at these junctures propelled us back to the present with enough information to whet our appetites for more of Luce doing her best to right so many wrongs even if for most of the book she didn’t know what they were. It was necessary to have Clelia retell her story to Luce as it gave the reader a chance to delve back to Italy during World War Two and also it gave a tantalising clue as to the meaning of the books title. Clelia in the past is very different to the Clelia in the present and she surprised me many many times.

The Lost Village showed how Luce’s family were very complicated with their feelings tangled and unclear and so much left unspoken and enshrouded in secrecy, spite and jealousy. Luce does her best to repair the rip in the fabric of the family but in order to do this she had to understand the role the past played in how they reached the present situation. I couldn’t believe some of the truths and insights that poured out in the last quarter of the book many of which I had never seen coming and they were truly surprising and shocking. But to be honest it all got a bit too confusing for me at the major point of reveal as everything was coming forth in one sentence after another, and I found myself having to reread paragraphs several times to make sure I had all the connections and pieces of the puzzle correctly joined. Maybe stretching this out just that little bit more in order to give the reader time to digest something before another thing was made known would have been better. Aside from this issue, I experienced towards the end I did really really enjoy The Lost Village. It’s a great read that fills you with a range of emotions but in the end you will be pleased with the eventual outcome.

[Srivalli (Semi-Hiatus) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.9 Stars

“An emotional World War Two historical romance set in Italy”- this is the tagline of the book.
The story deals with Luce (pronounced Lu- Chay), a 43-year-old woman, who goes to Bosconero, a small village in Italy, to trace her roots. With her mother refusing to answer her questions, her 19-year-old son away at Photography School. Separated from her husband for three years, Luce is determined to know why her mother has erased her past.
She meets Matilde on the internet and flies to Italy (from Seattle) to meet her and connect with her Nonna and Uncle. A disastrous earthquake destroys most of the village and the nearby hamlets. There are tragedies and trauma everywhere. Luce is fighting her instincts (and her family) to not run away to safety. Ethan’s sudden entry surprises her in many ways. She needs to know what happened.
What she uncovers has a much bigger effect than she realizes, but can there possibly be a happy ending, even if it bittersweet? What about her future with Ethan? Is there one?
The cover, the blurb, and the setting made the decision for me. I had to read this book. To a great extent, I’m glad I did. The descriptions, the imagery, and details of the setting were vivid and wonderful. Watching David Rocco’s shows explore Italy, I’ve been fascinated by its countryside. I could picturize the villages, the houses, the people, and streets as I read the book.
Some of the characters are well-etched, especially Luce (she is also the narrator), Matilde, Massimo, Angelina (Luce’s mom), and Nonna. Nonna takes the cake for the number of layers she has. Until the end, we are surprised by the turns in her character. She is the core of the plot. She holds it all together, and in a strange way (no spoilers).
Other characters like Carlo and Ethan had more scope, but being women’s fiction, I suppose the focus was more on the ladies. The story goes into flashbacks in between (easy to follow) and gives us more information.
What I liked was the portrayal of Luce after the earthquake. It’s realistic without being dramatic and overwhelming. She simply doesn’t decide she wants to stay. That doesn’t happen, does it? Her internal conflict, her confusion, her anguish, and her desperation are human and true.
The story is paced well but became a bit too rushed towards the end. The actual reveal was immediately followed by another incident that soon flows into the conclusion and an epilogue. I wish this was paced better. As a reader, I’ve been invested in their lives (the writing is very good and flows beautifully) and wanted to let each incident sink into my memory.
A little more breathing space at that place, and I’d have happily given the story a 4.2 or maybe even more. I had high hopes by then. This is the first book by the author I’ve read, but I’ll be reading more for sure. I like the writing style. Luce has a lot of thoughts; she does express them but doesn’t ramble on and on.
There isn’t much about WW II, though it does play its role in the story. The story focuses on the characters, and the effects of war are just one aspect. It’s the humans who make decisions, and that’s the basis of the story.
Being an uncorrected copy, it had a few typos. Nothing that hindered my reading.
Overall, this is a beautiful book, one that touches various topics and ultimately leaves us with a soft smile.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bookouture and am voluntarily leaving a review.
#TheLostVillage #NetGalley

[Theodene · Rating 4 out of 5]

It seems so judge books by there covers, like a lot. I was captured by this cover in particular because it seemed like a place that holds tons of history and there must be so many stories to be shared! I’d love to visit a village like the one pictured here!

Rarely does a book I read begin with a transatlantic flight to Italy. I have no idea what any transatlantic flight might be like as I’ve never been to Europe, however I imagine it would be similar to a flight from Chicago O’Hare to Honolulu with lots of flying over the ocean. But I digress!

Luce, a divorcee and mother of a college-aged son, leaves for Italy without telling her family her plans. She didn’t want them to stop her. Her sudden trip was intended to find out about her mother’s family in Italy and why there were so many secrets that weren’t shared with her. Even her own mother forbid Luce not go because it’s dangerous.

But, after a lot of digging, she connected with a cousin in Bosconero, Italy on social media, who was going to pick her up at the airport. The two cousins had never met before, yet when they saw one another it was like they’ve known each other all their lives! Her cousin, Matilde, introduced Luce to some friends and did some sight seeing together as well as introducing Luce to their Nonna, grandmother, for the first time.

That Nonna is a story teller! In her 90s and with a heart condition, she creates such a vivid picture of what life was like beginning when she was just a child. Due to her age, Nonna tires easily, so her story telling comes in pieces. And after each piece of the story, Luce was left with even more questions. All the information she learned just didn’t add up.

I’ll admit my favorite character wasn’t even Luce or her Nonna. Rather it was a man who worked with Matilde’s fiancé, Andrea. He sounds handsome and mysterious. If this were a movie, he’d play quite a small part. He took Luce on a tour to a place untouched in over a century. It’s so fascinating I hope to someday visit such a place! Other than going on this excursion with Andrea and her excitement when speaking with him, I’m not quite sure why he needed to be in the story.

Another character, Luce’s uncle Carlos, was stern and angry with Luce and her mother. He refused to speak to Luce to explain his anger. Everyone just seemed to do whatever he said without question. It makes me wonder why no one ever challenge him. Or maybe it was because they were women? His character I felt was oddly part of this loving family.

Among all the questions Luce has, there’s a huge earthquake in the middle of a summer festival evening. The power goes out. Homes and buildings are in crumbles. The dark town of Bosconero is in chaos and everyone’s soon evacuated for safety. Where did Matilda go? Is Nonna safe?

An advanced digital copy of The Lost Village by Daniela Sarcerdoti was provided complimentary by Bookouture via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I give this book 4 out of 5 tiaras because although I was engaged in the storyline and eager to hear the next part of Nonna’s story, I felt some of these characters were either unnecessary or didn’t seem to fit just right. I am curious about this author’s other books as many take place in Italy and I rarely read books about Italy.

[Hayley Sykes · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Lost Village by Daniela Sacerdoti has been one of the biggest roller coaster of emotions books I can remember reading! This novel takes the reader on an emotional roller coaster that spans the full spectrum of possible emotions from sadness, joy, and heartbreak to betrayal and anger. It was a wild ride and a joy to read!

Luce, is the narrator of our story. She is in her forties and is experiencing empty nest syndrome. Her son Eli has recently gone to college and she and her husband, Ethan, have been living separately for going on three years now. Luce has lived her entire life with her Italian mother never knowing who her father was or anything about her family history. Luce's mother has always been tight lipped about her past telling Luce that some things are better left a mystery because of the heartbreak that can come from knowing the truth. Luce now being a middle aged woman with a family of her own longs to know about her Italian family and their past so she decides to take a trip to Italy to get the answers to her family mystery.

Luce has been in contact with a cousin still in Italy through some social media snooping and set up a meeting to meet her extended family in her mother's hometown village without her mother's knowledge. Mathilde, a distant cousin, meets Luce at the airport and brings her to their grandmother's home affectionately called Rosa Bianca. Upon first meeting her grandmother, Nonna Clelia, Luce is overwhelmed with love and affection for her long lost grandmother and resentful towards her mother for denying her the right to know her family. Throughout the entirety of the novel Luce is being told by Nonna the whole history of her family, from the point where Nonna met her grandfather up until the point that Angelina, Luce's mother, left for America. Luce finds out some very troubling things about her family, for example, finding out that her grandfather was a Swedish spy during World War II and that her grandmother was a part of the resistance to the Nazis. Nonna paints a beautiful but troubled past that still leaves out the reason for Angelina's escape to America. The reader is left guessing until the last few pages of the book what exactly caused Angelina's departure, and wow what a reason!

I thoroughly enjoyed The Lost Village. I felt myself closely relating to Luce being separated from a husband and seeing her child grow and blossom into an independent person. I felt her heartache in descriptions of a relationship that went stale between two people that meant the world to each other and the joy in watching your child grow and succeed. The suspense and story telling peppered throughout kept me interested all the way through. One really can't ever judge a book, or a person, for that matter by its cover and The Lost Village was a perfect example of this statement. The individuals in the novel you think to be the most trustworthy end up with quite a different story to tell...

[Rosh · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Lost Village
Author: Daniela Sacerdoti
Genre: Historical Fiction, Women's Fiction

'The Lost Village' terms the story of Luce, who has always known only one family member in her life: her mother Angelina. As a middle-aged woman with an estranged husband and a son off to college, Luce is suddenly a free bird to dig deep for the roots of her family in Italy. During her stay there, a devastating earthquake occurs, leading to much more than buildings and old secrets toppling down.

Sacercoti's portrayal of Italy is so charming that you start visualising the scenery before your eyes and experience a longing in your heart to explore the Italian village. The other fabulous description in the book greetings to the earthquake. The vividity with which she portrays the devastations and the after-effects of the disaster are bone-chilling.

However, the most important part of any book is the story and its unfolding. This is where the book loses its steam midway. Upto about 60% of the book, the story maintains a slow but steady progress, engrossing enough for you to keep turning the pages. But after that, there are too many repetitions, delays and twists that lead to a dissatisfying end and a few unexplained plotholes.
- Why did Nin have a problem with Nonna?
- Why did Matilde's mom have a problem with Nonna?
- Nona, who is desperate to become a mother after multiple miscarriages, takes a massive risk of escaping into the woods while pregnant. Why?
- Why did Angelina never try to get in touch with Giuseppe, though he had nothing to do with the problems that had caused her to avoid her family?

The title can be interpreted in various ways. It could refer to the village lost in the earthquake, or to the ruins shown by Andrea to Luce on their outing, or even to the lost familial roots of Luce.

Overall, the first half is brilliant. It is the second half that brings the book down. The buildup to the grand reveal about Luce's family is much more enjoyable than the reveal itself. The characters are interesting but only a few are really well sketched.
Most of the plot twists are guessable with the ample clues provided by the author.

All in all, a decent one time read, nothing exceptional.


I received an advance review copy of the book from NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.


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[Gaye Teather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having read and loved Daniela Sacerdoti's Seal Island books I couldn't wait to get started on this. The setting was quite different but I loved the descriptions of the beautiful area of Italy where this story takes place. It was so perfectly worded that the sights, smells and feel of the place totally transported me to Bosconero. The female protagonist, Luce, travels from her home in the USA to this little village to meet with the family that she has never met. Her mother, living back in America, has also had no contact with her relatives for many years and Luce is determined to find out the secrets that have caused the split within her family and to try to heal the rifts. Her mother refuses to speak about it and Luce is therefore forced to undertake this journey of discovery for herself. The story takes us back, in flashback, to the war years but the story isn't wholly focused on the war but on the family drama that occurred during that time. Tragedy strikes however and horrific and terrifying events split the family even further. Although she is urged by her family back home to return to the USA Luce insists on staying on in Bosconero to help the victims in whatever way she can. Meanwhile, her Nonna, (grandmother) is very ill in hospital but she takes time to speak with Luce and relates her life story in bite size pieces. As her health deteriorates Nonna asks her granddaughter to retrieve a little wooden box from her home and take it to hospital for her. It is the opening of this box that is shattering and the revelations therein are absolutely shocking. I personally never saw that coming and this latter part of the book is just mind blowing! The further I got into this book the faster I read as it was so exciting. I did get a little bit bogged down in parts towards the end as there are a lot of characters which became somewhat confusing at times so I had to backtrack a few times to check who was who but, that aside, I loved this lovely book. The characters were very well written and I engaged with all of them. I can highly recommend this book and look forward to Daniela's next one. My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a pre release copy of this book in exchange for my honest, unbiased opinion.

[Debjani Ghosh · Rating 4 out of 5]

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The Lost Village by Daniela Sacerdoti is a gripping, smoothly flowing story.

It has flavors of mystery, romance, and self-discovery. However, it is the mystery that dominates. Luce’s mother, Angelina, has cut off all ties with her family in Italy and has settled in America. What happened in the past that forced Angelina to take such a step?

As if finding these answers was not compelling enough, a tragic event and its repercussions in the middle of the book made it even more difficult for me to leave the book. I could not stop turning the pages to find out if Luce’s family in Italy was safe.

Besides, I did not see the twists coming at the end. They were surprising, to say the least.
The web of lies and deceit that this story weaved left my head spinning.

As you have correctly guessed from the book cover, Sacerdoti has painted vivid descriptions of the breathtakingly beautiful locales of Italy.

Be aware of one thing, though. This is not really a WW2 story. Yes, those events do influence the story, but The Lost Village is more a story of family and relationships. It explores how lies can destroy a family and how truth can rebuild it.

Moreover, most of the story is set in the present time, but there are flashbacks to the past when Luce’s grandmother recounts her story.

However, I do have quibbles with the book. Sacerdoti builds up to the climax so well only to end up with a rushed ending. Also, I noted one inconsistency – why did Luce’s grandmother keep that envelope? I would not ruin the story for you by delving further.

Overall, I enjoyed reading The Lost Village by Daniela Sacerdoti. I recommend it to fans of historical fiction and mystery.

[Namrata Ganti · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Lost Village by Daniela Sacerdoti is a brilliant tale of love, loss, betrayal and the effect of secrets. Set in today's world, we meet Luce Nardini who travels to Italy to find out more about her mother's side of the family. Her mother refused to talk about her family and hints at secrets buried deep.

The author weaves a classic tale that is unputdownlable and gripping until the very end. Modern day is interspersed with the narration of times past. Luce's grandmother talks of her life during WWII and the impact it had on their lives, on Italy and the people. She talks of finding love, marriage, children, her love and hate for her sister Nora and more. As secrets once buried come to the surface, Luce has the choice to stop or hear it all as she tries to find her place and bring her family together.

Dealing with her own problems, Luce seeks to immerse herself in finding out the truth behind her family and as the story unravels, the reader feels all the emotions along with the various characters. I loved reading about Luce's cousin and her fiancé, Luce's relationship with her son and the bonds she forms with the people she meets in Italy. 

This story is mind-blowing and so well-written that all incidents that happen seem to be happening to the reader as well. There is not one moment when you will feel like stopping as the story flows seamlessly merging past with present and so on.

I truly loved this book and recommend this to all fans of historical fiction. This story is not just about the war, it is about the people who experienced it and the things they did to survive. But, secrets have a way of coming out in the end and the impacts are tremendous as can be seen from this book.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Lost Village by Daniela Sacerdoti was a World Ward II novel, which took place in the current day, through retelling. Luce has had it with her mother refusing to tell her who her father was and anything about her family. All she knew was that she had grown up with only her mother and that she had come from Italy. She sent her mother off for the day and rifled through her apartment, where by sheer luck she discovered a photo with the name, Bosconero, on the back. She quickly got on the Internet and connected with someone with the last name of Nardini in the correct place. A cousin! Twenty years younger but friendly and wanting to engage. She didn't think twice before she was on a plane to Italy. Matilde picked her up at the airport and took her to see her grandmother, who was beyond thrilled. Her uncle Carlo, Matilde's father, however, was not. Nonna began to tell the story. . .

As always, things happened along the way. The important one was at earthquake that had a huge effect on Luce and the members of her family. She proved her mettle as she dove into volunteer to help. She met new people along the way and her gentle soul was touched by all that happened. This was a terrific story of human beings with emotions and needs. Deceit played a huge part, several times. Do things like this happen? Absolutely they do. Did this? Probably not. But it made a good read, partly historical fiction, partly romance, all women's fiction. I loved the family history and story telling. I enjoyed it.

I was invited to read a free ARC of The Lost Village by Netgalley. All opinions and interpretations contained herein are solely my own. #netgalley #thelostvillage

[Shirley McAllister · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lost Roots

A story about a family set in two time periods. Luce Nardini has never known her father. Her mother refuses to talk about the past. After Luce's son Eli is in college, she is separated from her husband, and at loose ends she searches for her family in Italy against the wishes of her mother. Finding a cousin Matilda and learning her grandmother and an uncle are still alive she books a trip to Italy.

When Luce arrives in Italy and meets her cousin and her grandmother she feels like she has found some family. The second time period is during the war when her grandmother tells her story. She is happy to meet her family, however, her uncle wants nothing to do with her and will not speak to her and tells her she should leave. She wonders why is her Uncle so hostile toward her and why does her mother say she is not safe in Italy. What secrets are being kept?

Just when she is feeling good about her trip , finding out her grandmother's story in increments as her grandmother is not well, disaster strikes. There is an earthquake. Her cousin and her grandmother are both in the hospital.

Will Luce ever unlock the secrets of her family? Will her grandmother and her cousin survive their injuries and will her uncle ever speak to her. She need to know the answers. What she finds is more than she ever imagined.

I love the twist in the story at the end. The ending was wonderful. The setting was beautiful and the characters were great. The story was well written and I enjoyed reading it.

Thanks to Daniela Sacerdoti, Bookouture, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Barbara Schultz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Luce Nardini has always been curious about her mother’s family who live in Italy. Her mother always said “some things are best if left in the past”.

Luce is now an “empty-nester” her son is a young man and she is separated from her husband so believe this m=just might be a good time to find her family. She finds a cousin so travels to Italy to meet her grandmother whom she has never met.
She travels to the beautiful village of Bosconero in the hills outside of Rome.
Her cousin reveals that there is a family drama between her mother and her uncle.

Not my typical read but my paternal grandparents were both born and raised in Italy.
Unfortunately I never got to know them. My grandmother died young in child birth and later my grandfather married started a new family.
My father kept in close contact with brothers/sisters and cousins but not my grandfather.
We visited traveled to relative’s homes~ what seemed like every Sunday.
I remember all too clearly as I got car sick 

Needless to say, this was a good and interesting read for me!
I love the inside info from the author in her “Letter from Daniela” as well as in the Author’s Note!
Ms. Sacerdoti tells us in her “Author’s Note” that although the story is based on the real 2016 earthquake in central Italy, she did use her imagination and took artistic license in describing the events that unfolded.

Want to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for this early release granted in exchange for an honest professional review. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for November 16, 2020

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

🌄Top-notch storytelling: the secrets of the past split open like the earth under Bosconero😮

The Lost Village hit me hard, especially the earth-shattering tragedy that struck the innocent citizens of the small Umbrian hilltown of Bosconero in the contemporary part of the story. I found the multiplot, past and present, riveting and did not want to put the book down. Author Daniela Sacerdoti is a dab hand at these family sagas as I learned when I picked up her previous novel The Italian Villa. Her descriptions of Italian village life are spot on and she weaves a fascinating tale built around family secrets revealed after decades of cover-up and deceit.

Luce's American life is at a crossroads as her only son has left home for college and her marriage is over. On the spur of the moment she takes off for Italy to meet family she only recently discovered as her Italian-born mother refuses to speak of her family and past. What starts out as a simple visit to see the town where her mother grew up and meet a cousin, uncle and grandmother becomes so much more as Luce hears her grandmother's long-unspoken story of her upbringing and events during WWII that broke her family. And the beauty of a hot, sunny Italian summer turns tragic in the blink of a eye.

I wholeheartedly recommend this novel. It's gripping, emotional and unpredictable.

Thanks to publishers Bookouture and NetGalley for providing an advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.

[Allyson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley, the publishing house and the author for the opportunity to read a complimentary advance reader copy of this book in return for a review based upon my honest opinion.

This book was not at all what I expected, it was even better! I have read a previous work of this author and loved the Italian setting, when I saw her name again I was instantly interested in this book. I lost myself in this book was so good, I was expecting your typical dual timeline historical romance and it was not typical in any way. The events in this story kept me on the edge of my seat and had twists and turns I simply did not see coming.

Luce Nardini’s mother almost never speaks of her family and past in Italy. Luce has never met or even seen a picture of her grandparents; she does not know who her father is; and she longs to put the pieces of her ancestry together. Luce’s mother is loving and kind but secretive, Luce decides to research her family and finds a cousin and arranges a trip to finally meet her family. When Luce arrives in Italy, things look postcard perfect, but will she be accepted by her family; what secret is her mother keeping, and why does Luce’s mother’s warning about keeping safe scare her?

The events of the story are shocking; the characters are memorable and the past has a way of catching up with you. I really enjoyed this book and the author’s style of writing. I will definitely be looking for more books from this author.

[loopyloulaura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Luce Nardini travels to Italy to discover the truth about her mother's family who she has had no contact with until she used social media to find her cousin. Mathilde is thrilled to reunite the family and Luce is excited to finally meet her grandmother. Her uncle Carlo is determined to shut her out but then the power of nature also tries to destroy the happy reunion...
The Lost Village is a family drama with historical secrets at its heart. Luce's grandmother Clelia reveals the truth over the course of the novel, right up until the end. Her flashback sections are her telling her granddaughters the story of her life. The mystery of Carlo's animosity towards Luce and her mother are only revealed in the final chapter.
Luce is dealing with her own conflicting emotions in the present day. She is divorcing Ethan and now has more time on her hands as her son Eli is grown up. There is the hint of a romance in Italy but events take over. I enjoyed, and could identify with, the scenario of Luce acting as a daughter and mother, being able to see both perspectives.
I was swept away in the mystery of the plot and the vivid descriptions of Italy in the past and present. The characters of Luce and Clelia are likeable and I found myself hoping for a happy ending for the family after years of separation. The actual ending was dramatic and heartbreaking, although perhaps a little unrealistic.
Overall, The Lost Village was an emotional story of love, loss and hope

[Kerry https://likeherdingcatsblog.wordpress.com Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m not sure what exactly it is but it just flows wonderfully, and I became completely lost within the pages of the story. Her story telling is compelling and addictive and completely immersive.
So we visit Italy in the present and in 1945 – many differences but some things don’t change. The description of Bosconero is stunning and so much like the Italy of my dreams – beyond the tourist places and where local life thrives. The description of the setting is just breath-taking, and the community and way of life was a delight to read about.
The plot itself is intriguing and unfolds at a good pace with twists and new information regularly to keep the reader glued. Luce’s search for the truth in the present and the history of her family in the past are both so emotional. When disaster strikes Luce realises she has to learn the truth about her family and heritage before there is nobody left to tell it.
I enjoyed getting to know each character and understanding their points of view. The dual timeline narrative is fascinating, and I loved seeing some of the characters as younger people and then how their lives have been impacted by events.
This is a riveting novel with a wonderful writing style. Highly recommended.

[wellreadtraveler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Luce Nardini is in a transitional period of her life. Her only child has left for college and she is feeling extremely lost and lonely. Luce has always wondered about her family in Italy and why her mother cut all ties when she left as a young girl. Against her mother’s wishes Luce reaches out to a cousin living in a small village in Bosconero and the girls are equally excited to meet. Luce is extremely nervous to meet her extended family because she has no idea why they haven’t spoken to her mother or if they even want to have a relationship with her. She knows her uncle won’t welcome her with open arms but she is so happy to meet her grandmother who greets her with tears and a loving embrace. Her cousin has plans to show her around the village and introduce her to all her friends and family. Despite her uncle’s rage at her showing up and trying to stir up the past, Luce is enjoying her stay and is really feeling good about doing something for herself for once. When a disaster hits the village everything will change and truths about the past and why her mother fled will slowly start to surface. Luce will lose a lot but also gain something she hadn’t know she really needed. Such a beautiful story of love, loss, and the importance of family.