The Girl From Lake Maggiore by Siobhan Daiko

 

                                            

Ebook:  314 pages

Genre: Historical Fiction, Romantic Fiction, WWII, Italy,

Publisher: 9 January 2026  Boldwood Books

Source:  NetGalley

Location: Lake Maggiore, Northern Italy, 1943 

First Sentence:  Guilia pressed down hard on the brakes of her bike. A woman was running down the middle of the road!

Review Quote: 'an exciting, impeccably-researched wartime adventure with lots of heart ... the perfect mixture of tragedy and happiness':  Reader Review

My Opinion:  

Siobhan Daiko was inspired to write this wartime novel set on the shores of Lake Maggiore after reading about the atrocities committed by the Nazis in the area during WWII. The author personally knows the area from a childhood summer spent there and has based the fictional town of Marta on her memories of Meina, where a local hotel hosted Jewish refugees that were brutally killed by the Nazis.

Some of her protagonists such as Raffaele and Aquila are based on real partisans active in the region. The novel is the story of how when Raffaele and Guilia, the daughter of the hotel owner start sheltering Jews, their lives change dramatically. Consequently their actions lead them into great danger.

A comprehensive and realistically, at times harrowing account of the day to day routines of those involved in the resistance, with as well a blossoming love story. Worth a read if you are interested in life in Italy during WWII.

With thanks to NetGalley, Boldwood Books and the author for the opportunity to read and review.

Précis Courtesy of Goodreads: 

A breathtaking story of friendship, love and impossible choices, perfect for fans of Fiona Valpy, Lucinda Riley, and All the Light We Cannot SeeLake Maggiore, Northern Italy, 1943 🇮🇹

In a quiet lakeside hotel nestled in the shadow of the Italian Alps, seventeen-year-old Giulia Leone lives a life untouched by war – until the day ruthless German SS officers arrive in the village.

Her father’s hotel is no longer a place of peace, but a trap for the Jewish guests who have taken refuge there. Among them is Ester, the bright, spirited girl who has become Giulia’s closest companion.

When a daring plan to help Ester’s family escape spirals into chaos, Giulia is the only one who gets away. Heartbroken but determined, she flees into the mountains and finds shelter with a band of courageous partisan fighters, led by Raffaele Ferrero, the hotel manager’s son.

Haunting memories of her family and best friend plague Giulia’s every waking thought, and she knows she must risk everything to fight back. But as a wanted person, finding where her loved ones have been taken – let alone saving them – may be impossible…

Inspired by true events, The Girl from Lake Maggiore is a moving and powerful story of resistance, resilience and the extraordinary lengths we go to for love.

Previous Review:  Daughter of Hong Kong

Author Profile

                                                    

                                                            Courtesy of Amazon

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 Siberian 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 high school. She now spends her time writing page-turners and living the dolce vita sweet life near Venice. Her novels are compelling, poignant, and deeply moving, with strong characters and evocative settings, but always with romance at their heart.

Photographs and Biographical Information courtesy of the following sites:

Amazon Author Page.  Author Official Website.   Goodreads Author Page

Twitter Profile

A Mother's Second Chance by Sarah Lefebve

                                              

Ebook:  463 pages Kindle Edition

Genre: Contemporary Fiction 

Publisher:  One More Chapter, Harper Collins, Dec 2025

Source: NetGalley

First Sentence: There are times when you just know.

Review Quote: 'Moving and heartwarming’ Reader Review

My Opinion: 

'A Mother's Second Chance' is the second novel from an author previously unknown to me. After reading this I am definitely looking forward to reading more her work.

Zoe is the protagonist of the story of the emotional upheaval her life undergoes after the death of Lou, her best friend of thirty years. Recently divorced with almost grown up children she suddenly finds herself as guardian of Lou's very young children. With this new direction in her life come so many dilemmas for Zoe and her family to cope with. Will they get resolved?

An emotional beautifully written story that tugged at my heart strings. The characters all feel very realistic and one feels one can empathise with the situations they find themselves in. Recommended if you enjoy a family novel that will draw you in.

With thanks to One More Chapter, Harper Collins, NetGalley and the author for the opportunity to read and review.

Précis Courtesy of Goodreads: 

When Zoe Henry’s best friend Lou dies suddenly, her world shatters. But she must set aside her grief as she’s named guardian of Lou’s two young children – a role she never expected to be taking on.

With her own kids grown up, Zoe was finally beginning to rediscover who she was. Starting over as a mother was the last thing on her mind. But as sleepless nights turn into shared laughter, something begins to stir in her – a new sense of purpose.

But just as Zoe starts to believe this unexpected second chance might be the start of something beautiful, a secret left in Lou’s house threatens to unravel everything.

Now Zoe must face not only the secrets of her best friend’s past, but the fear that she might lose the fragile new family she’s come to cherish.

Author Profile:         

                                                  

                                                   Courtesy of  Goodreads

Sarah Lefebve is the author of two novels.

She grew up in a village in North Yorkshire before moving south as an adult. She now lives in Basingstoke, Hampshire with her husband and two children.

She is a former journalist who in her own words eventually "swapped sticking to the facts for making stuff up".

She wrote her first novel - The Park Bench Test - whilst forging a new career in event management, somehow fitting writing in around a full time job, being a mum, running as many miles every week as her love of red wine, cheese and chocolate dictates, and sharing the odd night out with her husband.

She values and treasures the friendships in her life and firmly believes that “friends are the family we choose”.

Her best friend loves and trusts her enough to look after her children if there were ever to come a day when she can’t, which provided the inspiration for her second novel - A Mother’s Second Chance. 

Photographs, Trailer and Biographical Information courtesy of the following sites:

Goodreads Profile.     Amazon Profile.    Facebook Profile.    Instagram Profile

The Secrets of Dragonfly Lodge by Rachel Hore

                                            

Hardback:   467 pages

Genre:  Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Historical Fiction,

Publisher: Simon and Schuster 2025

Source:  Tywyn Public Library

First Sentences: For a third night Nancy lay sleepless for hours, anxious thoughts chasing around in her head. Heavy rain battered the window and rattled through the downpipes, while the wind tossed the branches of the trees, made the landing ight flicker and the curtains shiver.

Review Quote:  'I loved it. I was completely immersed in the story and the setting. So clever and interesting and beautifully written' ELIZABETH BUCHAN

My Opinion: 

It was back in 2009 I first read one of Rachel Hore's novels and I have enjoyed them more and more over the years.  As with many of her novels, 'The Secrets of Dragonfly Lodge’ is dual narrative, this one set in 1940's/1950's and 2010-2013. The author was originally inspired by the experiences of her mother and aunt whilst studying Zoology at Imperial College, London in the 1940's when they both obtained PHD's and worked as scientists. Much of the detail of their lives during this period that they shared with Rachel formed the basis of the story, although of course the narrative and characters are all fictional.

The novel is a fascinating read as through the main characters we learn of the difficulties that female scientists have encountered over the years. Stef Lansdown is a journalist whose latest project is to write a book about women in science. By chance whilst visiting her mother in Norfolk, where she has recently moved, she meets Dr Nancy Foster who gave up her career as a scientist in the 1950's. Initially she is far from keen to be part of Stef's research because of the secrets in her past. Eventually Stef wins the older woman over and the story that she learns from her is engaging.

Once again Rachel Hore has written a captivating story which I recommended to those readers that enjoy novels with plenty of secrets to be uncovered.

My reviews of other novels by Rachel Hore:  The Memory Garden   A Week in Paris

A Beautiful Spy  The Love Child.  One Moonlit Night.     The Hidden Years

Précis Courtesy of Goodreads: 

Nancy Foster has harboured a devastating secret that shattered her professional and personal life.  On meeting her, journalist Stef Lansdown realizes that she has the power to restore Nancy’s reputation and to heal the wounds, if only Nancy will trust her. But someone else wants to get to the bottom of the story first, someone who doesn’t want it to be told. 

Set in the beautiful environs of the Norfolk Broads in 2010, and in London in the '40s and ‘50s, when life for career-driven women was so different, The Secrets of Dragonfly Lodge is Sunday Times multi-million copy bestselling author Rachel Hore’s utterly compelling new novel, interweaving the past and the present. 

Author Profile:         

Courtesy of Amazon 

Rachel Hore is the author of fourteen bestselling novels, 

Full time writing only came after a career editing fiction at HarperCollins in London. She lives in Norfolk with her husband and they have three grown up sons.  

A full and interesting Profile can be found on the Amazon Author Page and even more on her Official Website

Photographs and Biographical Information courtesy of the following sites:

Amazon Author Page   Goodreads - Author Profile  Twitter - Rachel Hore

 Official Author Website

The Bordeaux Book Club by Gillian Harvey

                                                          

Ebook:  314 pages Kindle Edition

Genre: Contemporary Romantic Fiction 

Publisher:  March 2024 by Boldwood Books

Source: My Kindle Library via Amazon 

First Sentence: George was just stepping out of the cafe, takeaway coffee in hand, when he saw Grace appear in the window of the tabac opposite.

Setting: Bordeaux,  France

Review Quote: 'As delightful as it is moving – a true gem of a novel... enchanting, wise and wonderfully uplifting' Isabelle Broom - Author

My Opinion: 

Gillian Harvey is a prolific author who writes escapist stories often set in France. I only discovered her writing last year and ' The Bordeaux Book Club' is the third title I have read.

As the title tells us the novel is set around a Book Club in Bordeaux France when an eclectic group of ex-pats come together in a bid to make new friends.  The group consists of Grace, a divorced strong willed woman with an organised life, who is the instigator of the club. Leah, struggling with a moody teenage daughter and a seemingly depressed husband, living a life style she is not really enjoying. George a builder in the area whilst helping a friend with a renovation project. Alfie a sixteen year old who has only joined to please his Mum. Finally Monica, a new Mum finding herself struggling with motherhood and very lonely as her pilot husband is often away. This motley collection of individuals find the Book Club discussions draw them together as friendships and support networks form.

Real life dilemmas dealt with in a compassionate story. Just like the last title of hers that I  read I found this to be a touch of escapism that will appeal to those looking for a quick mood enhancing read.

Previous Review:   The Riviera House Swap.   The Little Provence Bookshop

Précis Courtesy of Goodreads: 

Love books? The Bordeaux Book Club is seeking new members!

When Leah and her husband moved to France, it was with the dream of becoming self-sufficient. But in truth, it’s not the ‘good life’ she’d imagined, as three hours of digging barely yield a single straggly carrot. Worse, her teenage daughter is acting up, and her husband seems to find every strange excuse under the hot French sun to disappear.

So when her friend entreats her to join the new bookclub she’s forming, Leah decides it’s something she will do for herself. The chance to make new friends, to drink a few glasses of wine, and to escape into stories that take her miles away from the life she’d thought would be her own happy-ever-after.

But the book club is a strange group of misfits. There’s prickly Grace, who lives alone and seems to know everybody and like no-one. Buttoned-up Monica, who says her husband is away and appears to be parenting her baby all alone. Handsome builder George, who has barely read a book before. And Alfie – who is a full two decades younger than everyone else, and is hiding a devastating secret…

As the stories they read begin to bring the new friends closer together, Leah is about to discover that happy-ever-afters don’t always look how you expect them to…

Author Profile:         

                                                                             

                                                   Courtesy of  Goodreads

Gillian Harvey is a British author and freelance writer, currently living in Norfolk, England with her husband and 5 children. She writes contemporary, uplifting and emotive fiction, often set in France where she lived for 14 years.

Photographs, Trailer and Biographical Information courtesy of the following sites:

Gillian Harvey - Author Website.    Goodreads Author Profile    Facebook Profile

Instagram Profile.   Twitter Profile