A Harvest of Secrets

by Roland Merullo

From the bestselling author of From These Broken Streets comes a sweeping novel of love, resistance, and courage set against the backdrop of WWII Italy.

Italy, 1943. The seeds of terror planted by Hitler have brought Allied forces to Italian soil. Young lovers separated by war—one near a Tuscan hill town, the other a soldier on the Sicilian front—will meet any challenge to reunite.

Vittoria SanAntonio, the daughter of a prosperous vineyard owner, is caught in a web of family secrets. Defying her domineering father, she has fallen for humble vineyard keeper Carlo Conte. When Carlo is conscripted into Mussolini’s army, it sets a fire in Vittoria, and she joins the resistance. As the Nazi war machine encroaches, Vittoria is drawn into dangers as unknowable as those faced by the man she loves.

Badly wounded on the first day of the invasion, Carlo regains consciousness on a farm in Sicily. Nursed back to health by a kind family there, he embarks on an arduous journey north through his ravaged homeland. For Carlo and Vittoria, as wartime threats mount and their paths diverge, what lies ahead will test their courage as never before.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, World War II, Romance, Historical, Italy, Cultural

268 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 12, 2022

About the author

ROLAND MERULLO is an awarding-winning author of 24 books including 17 works of fiction: Breakfast with Buddha, a nominee for the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award, now in its 20th printing; The Talk-Funny Girl, a 2012 ALEX Award Winner and named a "Must Read" by the Massachusetts Library Association and the Massachusetts Center for the Book; Vatican Waltz named one of the Best Books of 2013 by Publishers Weekly; Lunch with Buddha selected as one of the Best Books of 2013 by Kirkus Reviews; Revere Beach Boulevard named one of the "Top 100 Essential Books of New England" by the Boston Globe; A Little Love Story chosen as one of "Ten Wonderful Romance Novels" by Good Housekeeping, Revere Beach Elegy winner of the Massachusetts Book Award for nonfiction, and Once Night Falls, selected as a "First Read" by Amazon Editors.

A former writer in residence at North Shore Community College and Miami Dade Colleges, and professor of Creative Writing at Bennington, Amherst and Lesley Colleges, Merullo has been a guest speaker at many literary events and venues and a faculty member at MFA programs and several writers’ conferences. His essays have appeared in numerous publications including the New York Times, Outside Magazine, Yankee Magazine, Newsweek, the Boston Globe, the Philadelphia Inquirer, Boston Magazine, Reader's Digest, Good Housekeeping, and the Chronicle of Higher Education. Merullo's books have been translated into Spanish, Portuguese, Korean, German, Chinese, Turkish, Bulgarian, Croatian, Slovenian, and Czech.

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

For my full review, visit me at https://mrsbrownsbooks.wordpress.com/...

I was really interested to read this book because my knowledge of Italy’s experience of the Second World War is limited and I like to learn about periods of history through fiction, knowing the extent that writers research different periods. However, this book from Merullo was not what I was expecting and I felt bored and disconnected from the narrative.

[Deacon Tom (Feeling Better) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well Written

I truly enjoyed this book of WWII in Italy. The plot unfolds many twists and turns.

It tells of how an Italian family are impacted by Germans, Italians, Italian underground and Americans. Brilliantly woven!

Very strong characters that draw the reader into the story. I highly recommend.

[Lewis Weinstein · Rating 5 out of 5]

I call this a historical fiction thriller ... which is what I try to write ... Mercullo has produced a compelling read, rich in history, conflict, and love ... the ending was somewhat predictable but it was so well presented it didn't diminish the read at all

[C.R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well Worth Reading

This beautifully written novel reminded me why I love historical fiction. However, I almost didn’t choose it as my First Reads pick, when I saw that it was set in WWII. “How many WWII historical fictions can one read in a lifetime?” I asked myself. Luckily, I decided to read one more.

A Harvest of Secrets is simply told from three perspectives. Vittoria, the daughter of a wealthy Italian vineyard owner. Carlo, her working class lover who is pressed into service to Mussolini’s army. And Old Paulo, a peasant vineyard keeper who harbors secrets, both past and present. As these perspectives shift from chapter to chapter, the reader is slowly introduced to the horrors of world war and the courage of those who fight against the injustices that such wars can reveal.

The author, Roland Merullo, is a subtle stylist who can capture the emotions of his characters without graphic imagery. Carlo’s fear in his first battle, punctuated by the ba-boom of rocket artillery. Vittoria’s passion for Carlo, now experienced only in her memories of their lovemaking. And Paolo’s frustration with those in power, who use the poor as grist for their wheels of war.

A Harvest of Secrets is well worth reading.

[Donna Foster · Rating 4 out of 5]

The duration in wartime, the fight to continue onto a place just out of reach and all the hidden secrets of the past finally endure.

[Dennis DiPaolo · Rating 5 out of 5]

A tight, beautifully crafted story of WWIII Italy by a master writer.

I love how Merullo makes me feel right in the middle of Italy. He has such a love of the country and its people. This story follows the mansion owners and the peasants who have worked the fields there for generations. Many of them have their secrets, and the Nazi occupation and final battles against the Allies crack those secrets open. Who are the Fascists, who are the Resistance, who are the spies and the turncoats? How do families survive the pressures when everyone has to take a side? Family is not just a name for your relatives. In Italy, it's who you are.

Oh, and I got to learn about growing grapes and making wine!

[Deborah Sherman · Rating 5 out of 5]

5.0 out of 5 stars Victims of War
Reviewed in the United States on August 26, 2022
Verified Purchase
This was such a good book I couldn't put it down; another reminder of why I really enjoy historical fiction. It takes place during World War II in Italy. But it is more than just a war story. It's about its country's culture and people being torn apart. Centered around a prominent vineyard owner and his family, the story is told from three perspectives. Vittoria, the daughter of the owner; Carlo, Vittoria's lover and vineyard worker; and Old Paolo, the vineyard keeper slowly introduce the reader to the horrors of war.

There are many secrets and hidden relationships that embodied this story of strength and love. Highly recommend and well worth reading.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars down from 4 due to length of book
This book is at times very melodramatic, painting emotional incidents and characters with just a tad too much drama. It does hold your attention due to the horrifying actions by the Nazi soldiers in Italy, 1943. Rather than political views/actions, the events are couched in drama with forbidden sex, hidden family history secrets and unpleasant experiences for the young woman who is featured. Her father pushes her toward being friendly to Nazis "in charge" so to speak. Not cool.
Had someone asked me to cut down the number of words in this book I would have easily found a good 1/3 of the book as unnecessary to the story. So...too emotional and too long in my opinion.

Kindle Unlimited

[JASARA HINES · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a gripping story. I've never read about them Holocaust from an Italian perspective and that made this story different. I definitely learned about this time in history from this novel. I think if you're into historical fiction and love stories, you'll like it. I'm not into either, so it was ok for me.

[Thelma · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best part of this book was the narration by Will Damron, I am a huge fan of his work and he always makes the stories even more interesting and even deep. I enjoy so much his work and this was no exception.

A harvest of secrets is the story of two young lovers separated by the war these young couples will have to fight to survive many things even secrets and lies from their own families.

A Harvest of secrets is another great book by Roland Merullo, his books are always very heart-wrenching in a good way and always make us feel what the characters are going through as if we were living during those sad times.

without giving too much away this is a story that will keep you immersed at all times, intriguing and wondering what will happen next with each character but especially for Vittoria SanAntonio, the daughter of the vineyard owner, A domineering man who was not kind and had many agendas. Vittoria is in love with Carlo Conte the vineyard keeper, making her situation even more endangered and difficult.

Vittoria is a great character I feel like the more we read the story we see how she starts to grow and become even more bold and fearless to fight for what she wants in life.

it wasn't an easy story as many of the ww2 books are hard to read and see what they went through but at the same time, it was a very good story and very enjoyable.

[Lee Deck · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m pretty sure I read this book before but never documented it in Goodreads. Vittoria and enRico are two children who live in the famous Italian winemaker manor with their dad. They lost their mom years before. WWII is happening and the Italians are just joining the war. Vittoria is having a relationship with carlo, the help who works on their farm. He is sent away to war and she is devastated. Yet both Vittoria and carlo work hard to get back to each other. Vittoria discovers that her mom
Had a secret side to her. She was a fighter and had an affair with a A farmer. By the end of the book, we learn that old Paulo is Victoria father. This is good news aide the kids father ends up siding with the Germans and abandons them. Vittoria becomes part of the rebel fighters and is surprised at her will and gumption. Togetherness will always , the farmers, Vittoria and enRico work together to survive. Carlo gets terribly injured during the war but is determined to make his way back to Vittoria. After killing others and fighting for their lives, old Paulo, enRico and Vittoria escape to her dead godfathers estates to live. Carlo makes it there at the end!

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Italy, nearing the end of World War II, a prosperous vineyard in Montepulciano and the family and workers that run it are caught in the crosshairs of the Nazis, the resistance and the Allies. At its center, the story is about Vittoria SanAntonio, the daughter of the domineering owner, and one of the workers who she has secretly fallen in love with, Carlo Conte. Carlo is sent to Sicily to fight for Mussolini against the Allies. Vittoria gets caught up in activities for the resistance. Carlo is injured on the battlefield. The story involves Vittoria and the vineyard's foreman, Paulo, increasing their involvement in resisting the despicable Nazis and Carlo arduously making his way back to the vineyard. Of course, it is wartime and much violence and cruelty occurs.

I found the story compelling and I really cared about the characters. Slowly, it was revealed who could be trusted and who could not. Secret identities and secret alliances were unraveled under duress in a time of extreme uncertainty and upheaval.

[Denise Hancock]

Wonderful entertainment.

The Italians had a confusing time during WWII. Follow their brutal ruler into the path of evil with the Nazi's; or, do the human thing and help those who needed at a huge price. Roland Merullo did a fantastic job of tapping into the conflicting emotions the Italians felt.

I also enjoyed the sprinkling of wine making procedures.

[Alice Tallent · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Horror of War

I “enjoyed” this book in the sense that I got to know the characters and setting, but throughout the story, the horrors of war show how a person’s whole perspective of life can be changed in a moment. A quote from the epilogue: “But he was coming to understand that it was the nature of war to ruin the earth and to separate people, to keep their fates unknown to the ones who loved them, and to fill the minds of the living with various kinds of fear, regret, shame, and anger, and deprive them of all but the most fleeting moments of peace.”

[Kristin S. Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love historical fiction and this book didn’t disappoint. It took me a little while to get into it, but once I did I really enjoyed the story, the characters, the twists.

[Meghan Cannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s definitely a fascinating historical fiction but didn’t really have anything that had it standing out to me of all the others

[Shannon · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's pretty hard for me to dislike a WWII novel. The story had a lot of potential but was slow and meandering. The last quarter was great and fast-paced, but not enough for me to up my rating.

And holy commas! Instead of splitting sentences, they often rambled on or were disjointed from 6 commas.

[Beth · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm really surprised that this has so many high ratings on Goodreads. I have read lots of WW2 fiction and this one is mediocre at best.

[Hillary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazon Prime monthly free Kindle books are often hit or miss. This one was pretty much a hit.

First, there's more to the book than the publisher's blurb. There are actually three major characters, Vittoria, Carlo, Paolo, not two. It's not just a love story, as the blurb suggests. There's much more. Here's what else it offers:

This is a WWII story, of which there are many on the market and in libraries. It's 2022; WWII ended in 1945, and we're still not done telling its stories. This one takes place in Italy, a somewhat less common literary setting than, say, Germany, France, or England, at least in my experience. If I had to describe what this book does well, I would say it's the description of what it feels like to live in a war-torn country. It's visceral. We experience the war through the wealthy, landowner characters, and the field hands and servants. The characters (main and secondary) are human, and balanced.

Italy's position in the war was unique. Mussolini allied with Hitler, and was pretty much worshipped by his people at the beginning. But at some point, he "disappeared." The Germans then invaded Italy, creating confusion for its people: Is Germany still our ally? Our enemy? How are we supposed to deal with this? Such is the setting of the entire story, which takes place over maybe two-three months' time.

There are wonderful descriptions of the delicious food and wine (most of the action takes place on a very successful farm/vineyard operation), and a beautiful home. There are horrific descriptions of violence, cruelty, greed, corruption. There are heroes and cowards and villains.

I'm glad I got a chance to read this. We need to remember what war does to people, to countries.

[Maddie Fox · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book! Historical fiction book from an interesting point of view in Italy before WW2. I liked the plot a lot and was very emotionally invested in the characters. Read through it super fast

[Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book. A love story about love in the time of war; some good history thrown in. This is about the German occupation of Italy under 'Il Duce". The suffering of the Italian people, the division between those that loved Mussolini and those that hated him and the distrust among Italians. The young woman who the center of the story is the daughter of a collaborator and is in love with a farm worker who is conscripted into Mussolini's army. The foreman on the farm is called into partisan work by the priest of the village and ordered to plant a bomb and murder a family friend, which begins a long string of events. If you like history and intrigue, and a good love story, this book is for you.

[JoAnn · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Harvest of Secrets is a slow burner, then halfway it ignites like gunpowder and the end is an emotional and deeply satisfying explosion, uniting all the storylines of the novel together in a kind of literary bonfire.

The novel is set in WWII, fascist Italy when much of the country has fallen under the control of the Nazi regime. The story unfolds primarily in a rural northern village where an old, aristocratic family grows grapes and produces wine. The San Antonio family and their estate have been lords over the land and the people for generations. There are tensions between the family who own the winery and its workers, age old class-based tensions that threaten to erupt under the additional strain of wartime food shortages and unpredictable Nazi raids. The war has also brought about new factions and exacerbated pre-existing enmities: resistance fighters and saboteurs against Hitler’s Nazis and Mussolini’s Blackshirts, deserters from the Italian and German armies, Il Duce’s spies, and Nazi collaborators. Caught in the cross hairs between these conflicting factions are two young lovers: Vittoria, the daughter of the proud noble family and Carlo, the orphaned peasant boy she grew up playing with. There are also others who find themselves trapped on one side or the other of the war: Old Paolo, the foreman at the winery, Umberto San Antonio, the noble man who owns the land, Enrico San Antonio, his son and Vittoria’s brother, Eleonora, the Jewish woman in their midst. They each have their obligations to family, country, and to those who have sheltered, raised, and loved them. These obligations tear the lovers and their community apart — and bring everyone together in other ways.

Merullo’s novel is not only about the lovers; it also about the many individuals whose lives intertwine with theirs. Indeed, the novel is more of a broad panoramic view of Italian society in this fraught period of the twentieth century. Some of the people Carlo meets are sympathetic to Mussolini, others seek freedom from the politics that engulfs them all, others are victims of Il Duce’s ill-conceived plans and ambitions. Vittoria is likewise surrounded by those who would do her harm and protect her from it. There are resistance fighters, Nazi soldiers and officers, Nazi collaborators, and Mussolini’s spies lurking and active all over the countryside, waiting to strike or entrap her and other innocent Italians who simply want to do what is right for themselves and their families, and by their conscience. As a woman of this period, Vittoria’s options are limited. Italian patriarchy places shackles on her that are made for women alone. She is meant to be a good daughter, a good woman, a quiet woman — but in the chaos of the war Vittoria cannot remain silent.

Woven into this larger cultural, social, and political vista of Italian wartime life is a domestic drama and mystery. Vittoria’s dilemma is at the center of this. She must bargain her silence for her freedom, sacrifice her morals to be a good daughter. But she is also a product of a longer history of women like herself.

Secrets held for decades, the kind begotten by forbidden love, are as much a part of the estate and the fabric of life in the vineyards as the vines themselves. These unraveling mysteries push and pull Vittoria, Paolo, Umberto, and Carlo in all directions. The emotional and real famine of war force these long buried secrets to emerge on the surface. As the Americans and Allies bomb Italy in order to free it, Vittoria, Carlo, Paolo, Umberto San Antonio, and others scramble for safety and try, hard as they can, to keep these secrets under cover.

Overall, a good read, especially for readers who enjoy themes of class conflict, gender histories, and ensemble casts of characters, and domestic mysteries.

[Richard Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading Aftermirth, I wanted a book I could enjoy without raising questions I was not ready to answer. A Harvest of Secrets by Roland Merullo was set in Italy in 1943. The terror seeds planted by Hitler brought Allied forces to Italian soil. Young lovers separated by war—one near a Tuscan hill town, the other a soldier on the Sicilian front—will meet any challenge to reunite. Historical fiction is a genre I enjoy. Will this book fulfill my needs? The answer is yes.

The web of secrets that are harvested kept me on my toes. Usually, the surprises of a novel are ones that I know even before finishing the book. At least one of the secrets did surprise me.

I also found the background of the war and loyalty to Il Duce a reminder that blind loyalty to a leader can destroy a nation.

I recommend this book.

The Goodreads summary provides an overview.

Vittoria SanAntonio, the daughter of a prosperous vineyard owner, is caught in a web of family secrets. Defying her domineering father, she has fallen for humble vineyard keeper Carlo Conte. When Carlo is conscripted into Mussolini’s army, it sets a fire in Vittoria, and she joins the resistance. As the Nazi war machine encroaches, Vittoria is drawn into dangers as unknowable as those faced by the man she loves.

Badly wounded on the first day of the invasion, Carlo regains consciousness on a farm in Sicily. Nursed back to health by a kind family there, he embarks on an arduous journey north through his ravaged homeland. For Carlo and Vittoria, as wartime threats mount and their paths diverge, what lies ahead will test their courage as never before.

[Anne Gardepe · Rating 4 out of 5]

"This life is a dream, my son. For each of us. But, within that dream, we still must act in a way that pleases the Lord, so that, when we awaken beyond the river of death, we shall be rewarded with the peace of His presence. Let the light of goodness guide you in everything you do."
-Father Ascoltini to Carlo, from the novel
This is a compelling story of the Italian resistance in WWII. I have read several novels involving the French resistance but perhaps only one other set in Italy.
The author narrates the experiences, thoughts and emotions of three protagonists, all connected to the celebrated Vineyard SanAntonio. They are Vittoria SanAntonio, daughter of Umberto and Celeste, owners of the estate, the latter recently deceased; Carlo Conte, a vineyard worker and Vittoria's lover who has been called to fight in the war; and Old Paolo, the vineyard foreman who has been recruited to work in the resistance, called Partigiani, and in turn, has involved Vittoria.
Carlo has been injured in battle and tries to make his way back to Vittoria, encountering many dangerous obstacles. Vittoria tries to heed her mother's wisdom: "You can surrender to the evil or you can find a way to push back against it, that's the choice, Vita." Paolo fights his demons of guilt as he tries to protect Vittoria and her mentally challenged brother, Enrico.
One has to feel great sympathy for the Italian people of this time who not only had to deal with Mussolini's threat but also with the Nazi occupation. So difficult to know who to trust! And how brave these Partigiani were!
A Harvest of Secrets was definitely a page-turner. It gets a rating of 4 from me.

[Jph12 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a bad read, but a couple of things put me off. First, the petty. They are all Italians (except for the Germans, of course). They are all speaking Italian all the time. Why include some dialogue in actual Italian, only to follow it up with the English translation? It's annoying.

Now for the more substantive critique. I really hated that Vittoria was Paulo's daughter instead of San Antonio's. Not only was it the most obvious "twist" I think I've ever read, but in some ways it reinforces the very thing the book is criticizing about Italian culture at the time. At one point, someone says that it's like there are two different species of Italians--peasants and nobles. Having Vittoria be half-peasant makes it seem like the reason she doesn't think like her father (San Antonio, the one who raised her, not just the sperm donor*) is not because she is more enlightened but just because she is half-peasant.

* It's interesting. The typical saying is that your father is the one who raised you, not the one who merely contributed sperm. But when we like the sperm donor, and not the one that raised you, it seems like that all goes out the window and the sperm donor is the real father.

[Kris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Italy, 1943. The seeds of terror planted by Hitler have brought Allied forces to Italian soil. Vittoria SanAntonio, the daughter of a prosperous vineyard owner, is caught in a web of family secrets. Defying her domineering father, she has fallen for humble vineyard keeper Carlo Conte. When Carlo is conscripted into Mussolini’s army, it sets a fire in Vittoria, and she joins the resistance. As the Nazi war machine encroaches, Vittoria is drawn into dangers as unknowable as those faced by the man she loves.
Badly wounded on the first day of the invasion, Carlo regains consciousness on a farm in Sicily. Nursed back to health by a kind family there, he embarks on an arduous journey north through his ravaged homeland. For Carlo and Vittoria, as wartime threats mount and their paths diverge, what lies ahead will test their courage as never before.

An interesting story with good characters and storyline. I always love a story set in the WWII time frame. The story being set in Italy gave a whole new angle on the war.

[Diane Kennedy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting WWII Story from Italian viewpoint, but story line fell flat.

I've read a lot of WWII stories that have taken place in Poland, France or Great Britain, but this is the first about Italy under the Mussolini regime, which I found interesting. I really liked this authors writing style, he's very poetic in his descriptions. But, I found the story lacking and felt the ending abrupt. You keep hearing from the two main characters about their love for each other, but they are never together in this book, even at the end, so I didn't develop any connection with their love story. To me it fell flat. There were a lot of secrets, but no great reveals that left me thinking, "Wow, that was unexpected." I would probably give this 3.5 stars if I could. I give it 4 stars because of the authors good writing skills and for historical content, but its not a book I will recommend to my friends and family.

[Peggy L DeBlois · Rating 4 out of 5]

I usually read a book a week or so, but this one took me a full month ONLY because I was traveling and for the first time in my life I didn’t read every day. Our trip started in this beautiful region of Tuscany, also the setting for the book. I was intrigued to learn (through fiction) of how the people of Tuscany survived during WW II, and this novel did not disappoint, introducing the reader to many facets of the war all couched in a very personal story. While in Tuscany, the reality of WW II was evident, both in the remarks of our Florentine tour guide and most especially in the sweeping drama of the American military cemetery. My only critique of the novel is that the storyline of the separated young couple really drove the entire story, but then the reunion was only implied in the epilogue. Personally, I could have used another 10 pages to see how the various characters reunited, but I do understand and respect the author’s choice.

[Penny · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found A Harvest of Secrets unique because the main setting is a vineyard in WWII Italy which offered me a new point of vantage of the war. Merullo allows us a peek into what it looked like to own and work a large, renowned vineyard just before and then after the impact of war. He shows us how Italy’s class system of the time complicates the characters’ relationships. I found the varied attitudes of the Italians toward Il Duce interesting.

Although I did enjoy these insights, there was a dark mood that hung over the entire story. There were secrets that kept me turning the pages to see how things would turn out, but I did not like the heaviness—almost depressing—tone of the whole book. I was also disappointed with the somewhat abrupt ending of the story.

Overall, I would recommend this book for its unique perspective but not if you are looking for an uplifting read. I rate it between a 3 and 4 star.

[Becky Filipek · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars (again, why doesn't Goodreads allow half stars?)

I appreciated that the text provided a translation for all the Italian words. While reading on the Kindle makes translating easy, and I can always use Google Translate for a printed book, it was nice to not have to waste my time on such a thing.

I appreciated the idea that war brings out the worst in people, and that it makes us all sinners as people react to the horrors around them.

I also appreciated that the ending brought people together, but that it wasn't drawn out by describing how the reunion went. Leaving an ending clear, but the details up to the imagination, is my preference, unless it is necessary to the story to be specific.

I give less than 4 stars simply because the book didn't captivate me, and I felt more that I needed to finish, more than really wanting to keep reading it. I wanted to know what happened, but also had a mind toward being able to move on to the next book.