Ebook: 278 pages
Genre: Historical Fiction, Romantic Fiction, WWII, Italy,
Publisher: August 2026 Boldwood Books
Source: NetGalley
Location: Verona, Northern Italy, 1944
First Sentences: 'I've made you potato gnocchi with tomato sugo', Claudia's mother said as she placed the dish on her kitchen table. 'Help yourself, tesoro.'
Review Quote: 'So much heartache but alongside this the love of the people who did so much in WWII' Reader Review
My Opinion:
This is the third novel I have read by Siobhan Daiko. I was first drawn towards her writing because of her Hong Kong and Italy connections, both places which are close to my heart.
Set in Verona, Italy during the latter months of WWII. A dual timeline story 'The Orphan From Verona' one part is set in 1944 when Elisa and her older brother Robi are trying to avoid being separated after the death of their parents in a bombing raid. The second setting takes us to 21C Verona when Elisa travels to Italy, having spent many years in America, with her adult daughter Claudia. The intention is after all these years to try and find out what happened to Elisa's bother.
The author's research about Verona's strategic position during WWII has enabled her to write a realistic storyline inspired by true events. An emotional read about the resilience of those living through these dreadful times. Recommended to fans of WWII stories with some romance.
With thanks to NetGalley, Boldwood Books and the author for the opportunity to read and review.
Précis Courtesy of Goodreads:
Verona, 1944. When an air raid strikes Elisa's home, she is left with nothing but the clothes on her back, the teddy bear clutched in her arms and her beloved older brother. Traumatised into silence, six-year-old Elisa can no longer speak and relies on Robi to guide her through this war-torn world.
Alone on the dangerous streets of Nazi-occupied Verona, the siblings must fight to survive. With the Nazifascists hunting for boys to conscript, Robi is at constant risk. So for Elisa, who cannot call out or cry for help, losing her brother would mean losing everything…
New York, 2000. Decades later, Elisa has built a life far from the shadows of war. But the past has never truly let her go. Separated from Robi during those desperate days, she’s spent a lifetime wondering what became of him.
But now, she is finally ready to return to Verona. With her daughter Claudia by her side, Elisa sets out on a journey into the past. Because some bonds can never be broken, and some lost souls are still waiting to be found…
A moving and heart-breaking wartime novel that shows that hope can endure and war is not always the end. Perfect for fans of Lucinda Riley, Fiona Valpy and Dinah Jefferies.
Previous Reviews: Daughter of Hong Kong. The Girl From Lake Maggiore
Author Profile
Courtesy of Amazon
Siobhan Daiko is a bestselling author of powerful, emotional wartime fiction. Her stories are perfect for fans of Lucinda Riley, Fiona Valpy and Dinah Jefferies. Set in Italy and Hong Kong, Siobhan’s books feature ordinary women dealing with extraordinary circumstances. They also celebrate courage, survival and unbreakable bonds. Siobhan lives in the Veneto region of northern Italy with her husband, a Havanese dog and a Siberian cat. She 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. Siobhan now spends her time writing books 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. You can find more about her books on her website siobhandaikodotorg
Photographs and Biographical Information courtesy of the following sites:
Amazon Author Page. Author Official Website. Goodreads Author Page