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| Boldwood Books 10 July 2024 My thanks to the publishers and Rachel's Random Resources for the book and invitation to the tour |
Two women, one community, everyone’s war…
With the arrival of English prisoners of war on Marchese Ginori’s farmhouse estate, Rosa is immediately wary. Her husband was killed by the Allies and she will not trust any inglesi around her daughter.
The marchese’s daughter, Emma, is thankful for the extra help. Especially when Italian soldiers are forced into hiding, fleeing the Nazis. Emma vows to protect her childhood best friend, Marco, at any cost.
It’s a dangerous time to be harbouring fugitives, and as the POWs prove their allegiance in helping the Italian men, Rosa begins to become close to one in particular – an alluring Scotsman named Tom.
Both women will do what it takes to protect their loved ones, but daring to hope for a better future in wartime is a dangerous dream. And what starts as a quest to keep their men safe soon turns into a mission to save their whole community…
📖 My Review..
This descriptive historical novel, set during the latter years of WW2, takes us deep into the heart of Italy during the German occupation. We meet two young women, from different backgrounds, who, together with their families, try to keep hope alive. However, protecting their families from German hostility is really challenging but is their strength of spirit which sees them cope during the worst of times. Well researched, the story recounts this dark period in history especially in the descriptions of the harsh treatment given out to the fugitives and prisoners of war whilst at the same time championing the bravery of those who fought against oppression.
The author writes well, bringing both the beauty of place and the strength of the people alive in a very realistic way so that I soon became immersed in Tuscan life, watching as the olive harvest is brought in, the fields are tended and also enjoying the detailed descriptions of food, even though mostly peasant food it is described in a delicious way. The history feels authentic, the struggles of the people and the danger placed upon those who were part of the resistance is done well and with danger never far away there is always the anticipation of what will happen those characters who have such an emotional appeal. There are some nice romantic interludes which gives the story a lighter edge and I enjoyed seeing how these special relationships would play out especially when everything looked so hopeless.
The author has a great way of bringing history alive and whilst I have to admit that I didn’t know very much about the WW2 German occupation of Italy, it has been fascinating to learn a little more in Daughters of Tuscany which shows the strength and resilience of those who were fighting for freedom during a very harsh time in our history.
About the Author
Siobhan Daiko is a British historical fiction author. A lover of all things Italian, she lives in the Veneto region of northern Italy with her husband, a Havanese dog and a rescued cat. Siobhan was born of English parents in Hong Kong, attended boarding school in Australia, and then moved to the UK—where she taught modern foreign languages in a Welsh comprehensive school. She now spends her time writing page-turners and enjoying her life near Venice. Her novels are compelling, poignant, and deeply moving, with strong characters and evocative settings, but always with romance at their heart.
Twitter @siobahndaiko #DaughtersOfTuscany
@rararesources
@BoldwoodBooks #BoldwoodBloggers
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