A Great Hope: A Prequel to The Beauty Of Secrets & Lies Series

by Faith Isabel Bloom

Lilian Young is a young and rebellious woman who yearns for adventures that will take her far from her well-heeled but dull existence amidst England’s upper classes. This opportunity presents itself when her parents take her to Italy for the summer in 1934 and there, in the beautiful surroundings of Amalfi, Lily falls in love with the country, its culture and Luigi Leoni.
All too soon she must return to England and the two young lovers agree to correspond and to meet again soon. But when Luigi fails to keep his promise, Lily is forced to move on and soon she is engaged to the dashing Winston Downing.
But her heart cannot accept that she and Luigi will never be together and before she succumbs to life without love or meaning she makes the momentous decision to go back to Italy to try and find him. At the time a country that has made a pact with Nazi Germany. There, in 1939, with the whole of Europe poised to go to war, Lily and her cousin Mary find that everything has changed.
Will she find Luigi? And if she does what can she do about it as war comes ever closer? Follow her heart or stay loyal to her country in its hour of need?

Genres: Historical Fiction

44 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 18, 2022

Reviews

[Shirley McAllister · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dangerous Love

A story of young love and dangerous times.

Lily meets Luigi when she is in Italy on vacation with her parents. They meet in secret and fall in love. They agree to write, but one letter is all she ever receives.

Lily knows she must go back to Italy and see Luigi to find out if he loves her or not. She talks her parents into letting here take a trip to Italy if her cousin goes with her. Her parents do not know about Luigi nor does her cousin.

When Lily and her cousin step foot in Italy they immediately know something is wrong. Soldiers are walking the streets. When Lily finds Luigi he tells her she is not safe in Italy. Then they find out no one can leave so they are stuck there. Luigi and his parents move them into their house where they will be safer. This causes more complications and soon they are all in danger.

An exciting prequel to what appears to be a great series full of suspense, spies, danger and romance set against the beautiful scenery of Italy on the brink of war.

Thanks to Faith Isabel Bloom for allowing me to read a copy of this book, all opinions are my own.

[Patricia (Irishcharmer) Yarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

After getting to Italy with her parents . A place she has wanted to go to for quite some time, suited her yearning for adventure and travel.
And as will sometimes happen, young girl meets young man...And they believe they're in !ove. But life steps in! Vacation comes to an end and she must return to America with her parents. He promises to keep in touch...but you know the end to come! That's not going to happen--(sigh)..
After some time, she wants to return so she and a cousin decide to go to Italy..Will they find Luigi ( the man she !oves?) And the war in Germany is rearing its ugly head! Will they get out to get back to America? Will they end up stuck in the middle because of the war?
I enjoyed this story! Yes, it was short, and the twist in the ending is not what I expected! What a shocker!! I will read more from this author!!
I did receive this story free from the author for an honest review and rating, and I thank her for it!!--P/

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great start to the historical series. The introduction of the characters and some of their ideals and strengths is fantastic. I am looking forward to getting to know them and seeing how they solve their problems as war is imminent. The setting is descriptive enough to make you feel like you are there. If you enjoy historical fiction with exciting characters, you will love this series. I received an advance copy of this book and this is my honest review.

[Steph · Rating 4 out of 5]

Young love during the start of the war....set on the Italian coast this tale of romance leaves you wanting more...and since it is a prequel - there is more. Enjoyed reading the backstory to the rest.

[Rosa Cline · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars
Thus starts in England where a teenager is getting ready to go to Italy on vacation with her very strict parents. She wants most of all to learn to draw, and is excited to go to a famous art school soon. But while I’m Italy she starts drawing some of the places and meets up with a boy her own age. She eventually sneaks out to see him as much as she can. They fall in love and “smuggle” letters to each other so her parents wouldn’t know. But letters stopped coming,… her parents found a socially and respectful young man for her to marry. They were excited when they heard he had proposed but she wasn’t. She convinced her parents to let her and her cousin go back to Italy so she can clear her mind and decide. When all along she’s going back to find her love! To have a deep love that withstands time, and miles that is a special thing. But war is beginning and they are stranded in Italy and can’t go home. Does she find her list love? If she goes is he still the same young man she fell in love with? Will she fall in enemy territory?
This was a wonderfully great book fir those of us that doesn’t get to travel. It had places I had never heard if. And things that happened that I didn’t know/understand ( so I asked my hubby or looked it up) but the storyline is wonderful if you like romance, drama, and ( drum roll) a cliffhanger! You don’t want to put aside the chance to read this book.

[Bobbi Wagner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved reading this historical romance story. This is a new author for me which I enjoyed and look forward to reading more from this author. This is a shorter story that I can't wait to read more from this series. This is a well written story where the author used details to make the story realistic and it just pops. I enjoyed being pulled into the story from the start. I read this book in one sitting as it was that fast paced. The characters pull you into their story and keep you engaged. They had me coming back for more. They are connectable, strong and I enjoyed their growth throughout. This is a great story that is entertaining and easy to read. I highly recommend this book. A must read and a great start.

[Yoniko Nikole · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the book !!! I was so shocked in the end when Winston showed up in the end to take Lily and Mary home not knowing Lilian is pregnant with Luigi child but she just admitted to being in love with him and he being the reason she returned to Salerno in the first place. But Lily shouldn’t have involved Mary on the journey not knowing they’re were going to Salerno to the middle of a war !!! This was such a great book I can’t wait to read book 1 Next…. The whole book was so interesting full of warmth . Faith is a good writer . You should check out the last memory box loved it also!!!

[Marilyn Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a story of a young woman in England that yearns for adventure. She gets her chance when her parents take her on vacation to Italy. She’s loves the country and the culture. Then she meets a young man and thinks she’s in love. But then she has to return to England and they promise to keep in touch. But she never hears from him and has to move on. But she still years for the love she left in Italy. Finally she and a cousin decide to go to Italy and find him but the War in Germany is looming. Will they go or if they do will they get to return home? I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

[A · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an engaging, well-written, short story of young love in the time of war. In a mere 40 pages, we deal with ethical issues and go through an impressive range of intense emotions. I look forward to more from this author.
Thank you to the author and publisher for a free copy of this book. My review is an honest one.

[Kristi Hudecek-Ashwill · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really short book and the prequel to a series. I received it as a free download from some romance thing that offers a bunch of free books in return for expanding the author's mailing list. It's so short, I didn't download it to a reader and read it on my computer.

The story was okay. I didn't develop any sort of connection to any of the characters, but that does happen with such short reads. It starts with Lily and her family going on holiday to Italy when she is 13. She meets Luigi and falls in love with him then goes back years later to see if she still loves him. She's got a marriage proposal on the table and doesn't love the guy who asked her to marry him. She and her cousin get caught in Italy at the start of World War II with no way out of the country until a British agent accosts her.

She gets pregnant by Luigi and things are so discombobulated with the war and soldiers in the streets, executions of entire families...a lot happened in this tiny read. It was interesting, but not interesting enough for me to continue with the series.

With it being such a short read, it should've been picture perfect, but there was an instance of wrong word usage. It should say martial law instead of Marshall law. Just thought I'd throw that out there.

[SEng · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the start Lily’s story of love for Luigi, the young Italian boy she meets in Italy while on a trip with her parents. I enjoyed this sweet heartwarming romance that pulled me into the countryside with her. I received an arc of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Rebekah Carulli Hanson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this “prequel “ free from one of the romance giveaways. I thought the writing was good but, there isn’t enough to justify buying the rest of the series. I loved the premise of a young lady falling in love with an Italian boy. It gets cut off very abruptly. R. K. Hanson

[Michelle Romano · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story read more like a memoir, but it still captivated me. The setting was in romantic Italy and begins with a British girl who meets an Italian boy. But will true love conquer all? Read the next book in this series to find out!

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an enjoyable historical romance. This is set during the beginning of World War II. I enjoyed the setting and the writing style.

[Spring Violet · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful story of redemption, hope, emotionally struggle and self- discovery! I loved this book and would definitely recommend this author.

[Stephanie Sloan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I definitely loved this novella! So crazy how much went in so few pages but it was so good. I'm definitely going to keep reading this authors work.

[TaniaRina · Rating 3 out of 5]

This really does give the proper background for "The Quest For Salerno".
Also, I liked reading a wee bit of WWII on the Continent from an English person's perspective.

[Trick Wiley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This tells the beginning of a love between two teens that lasted a lifetime! Before WWII, her parents take her to Italy and she not only falls in love with the country but she calls in love with a boy! After going back to England she never forget this boy!

[Rachelle Bachiu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow what a start to a new historical series. Lily goes to Italy on vacation with her strict parents and ends up meeting Luigi which she falls in love with. She goes back home and tries to find a way to see him again. She finally travels back to Italy, with her cousin, and ends up at the beginning of a war in Italy. She finds Luigi and ends up staying at his place since it is the safest place to be. Will their love survive during war time. Faith describes what is happening in such a way that you can picture yourself in the area. Looking forward in reading the next book in the series. If anyone likes historical romances don't look any further. Immerse yourself in this series. You will not be disappointed.