Ebook: 304 pages
Genre: Contemporary Fiction, Historical Fiction,
Publisher: April 13th 2026 by Bookouture
Source: My Kindle Library via NetGalley and Paperback Copy
First Sentence: Saturday nights at Da Nonna were always especially busy, and tonight was no exception.
Setting: Italy
Review Quote: ‘A perfect read for long and sunny days.’ Pick of the Week in The Sun,
My Opinion:
I followed the rise of Anita Chapman as an aspiring author for some years as a blogger before she had her first novel The Venice Secret published in 2023.
'The House in the Tuscan Hills" is her fifth novel in the short space of just three years. A dual timeline story, a style that the author uses very successfully, this time set in WWII and 2019. The protagonists are Lilianna and her grand-daughter Jen, who have both had their share of heartbreak. An opal ring and a house both inherited by Jen, tying the two narratives together. A love story full of Italian charm and mystery.
The author's passion for all things Italian from the food to the scenery makes her writing so realistic. She has certainly deserved recognition as a writer of emotive and captivating novels. Highly recommended to Italophiles and fans of historical fiction.
With thanks to Anita Chapman, Bookouture and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review.
Previous Reviews: The Venice Secret. The Florence Letter.
The Tuscan Diary. The Italian Vineyard
Précis Courtesy of Amazon:
At her charming house in the Tuscan hills, Jen pictures the beautiful opal ring that brought her here. Will this inherited jewel finally unravel the secrets her family has been holding so close?
Italy, 1944. Despite the war raging across Europe, Liliana is overjoyed when her childhood love Salvatore proposes – ignoring the superstition that her opal ring will bring bad luck. But when Salvatore is injured fighting for the Italian resistance, Liliana’s heart fractures when he looks into her eyes and no longer recognises her. Distraught, she blames the ring and flees to England – hiding a secret she vows to protect until her dying day…
England, present day. Heartbroken after her fiancé leaves her, Jen is desperate to hide away and heal. But then a handsome Italian stranger called Matteo tells her that her great-aunt has left Jen an opal ring and a house in the Tuscan hills… She can’t resist the chance to find out why her secretive grandmother, Liliana, turned so pale at the sight of the glittering ring. As she and Matteo arrive at the charmingly rustic house with its pink walls and green shutters, Jen dreams of the life she could build here – and the answers the little opal ring might bring…
Author Profile:
Courtesy of Amazon Profile
Anita Chapman enjoyed writing stories from a young age, and won a local writing competition when she was nine years old. Encouraged by this, she typed up a series of stories about a mouse on her mum’s typewriter and sent them to Ladybird. She received a polite rejection letter, her first.
Many of Anita’s summers growing up were spent with her family driving to Italy, and she went on to study French and Italian at university. As part of her degree, Anita lived in Siena for several months where she studied and au paired, and she spent a lot of time travelling around Italy in her twenties.
Anita likes to read journals and diaries from the past, and one of her favourite pastimes is visiting art galleries and country houses. Her first published novel, The Venice Secret is inspired by her mother taking her to see the Canalettos at The National Gallery in London as a child.
Since 2015, Anita has worked as a social media manager, training authors on social media, and helping to promote their books. She’s run several courses in London and York, and has worked as a tutor at Richmond and Hillcroft Adult Community College.
Photographs and Biographical Information courtesy of the following sites:
Twitter Profile. Anita Chapman - Facebook Profile. Author - Official Website