The House in the Tuscan Hills by Anita Chapman

 

                                             

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

 Goodreads - Author Profile

The Italian Village in the Hills by Victoria Springfield

 

                                                

Ebook:   320 pages      

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

Publisher: Boldwood Books January 19th 2026

Source: NetGalley

First Sentences: Stella's napkin fluttered to the floor. She twisted around as far as her new dress would allow but a smiling waiter had got there first. He spread the fine linen back across her lap.

Review Quote: 'Gorgeous escapism and a complete joy to read!!'  Review of the authors writing overall.

My Opinion: 

As a self confessed Italophile I was delighted to discover the author, Victoria Springfield last summer when I read One Summer in Italy. Her books are set in Italy and are contemporary feel good fiction that draw you in with realistic characters and evocative scenes that make the reader feel immersed in the Italian lifestyle. She uses a mixture of fictional and real places but the inspiration comes from real life, this time from San Remo and the surrounding Ligurian countryside.

'The Italian Village in the Hills' is set in the fictional village of Leto and is a tale of families and loyalties that hark back to WWII.  The main characters are Stella, originally from the village who after many years trying to forget why she left, unexpectedly finds herself back there. Secondly we have Amy, a much younger woman who is mourning the death of her grandfather. Curiosity about his past also leads her to the village of Leto.  Both Stella and Amy make some interesting and surprising finds, but will these emotional discoveries lead them to find happiness in Italy.

This escapist read is recommended to those that enjoy a feel good romance and of course Italophiles.

Thank you NetGalley, Victoria Springfield and Boldwood Books  for the opportunity to read and review.

Goodreads Précis: 

Stella has spent decades trying to forget the heartbreak that made her flee the Italian village of her childhood. But when her new fiancé surprises her with a trip back to Liguria for her upcoming birthday, she is forced to confront the past, her first love and a tragic family rift.

Amy is mourning her beloved grandpa and curious to know more about the old coin necklace and mysterious postcard that he left her. Following his trail to the Italian Riviera, a chance meeting leads Amy to Stella’s village in the hills and to secrets that have lain buried since the war.

Against a backdrop of cobbled medieval streets, sunlit piazzas and rustic olive groves, both Stella and Amy make surprising discoveries about their families – and themselves.

By facing up to the past and opening their hearts, can Stella and Amy find happiness in the Italian village in the hills?

Escape to Italy with this warm, romantic and emotional tale of family, love and second chances.

Previous Review: One Summer in Italy

Author Profile:                

                                              

                                                           Courtesy of Amazon Profile

Victoria Springfield writes uplifting, contemporary women’s fiction immersed in the sights, sounds and flavours of Italy. Her feel-good stories follow relatable characters of all ages as they find adventure, friendship and romance. Her latest book is The Italian Village in the Hills set in Liguria. Previous titles: One Summer in Italy set in Venice, An Italian Island Secret set on Ischia, Invitation to Italy set on the island of Procida, The Italian Fiancé set in Lucca, A Farmhouse in Tuscany and her debut The Italian Holiday set on the Amalfi Coast.

After many years in London, Victoria now lives in Kent with her husband in a house by the river. She likes to write in the garden with a neighbour’s cat by her feet or whilst drinking cappuccino in her favourite café. Then she types up her scribblings in silence whilst her mind drifts away to Italy. Open a Victoria Springfield book and feel the sunshine.

Victoria is a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association.

Photographs and Biographical Information courtesy of the following sites:

Twitter Profile.     Facebook Profile.   Instagram Profile

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

Daughter of Hong Kong by Siobhan Daiko

                                            

Hardback:  320 pages

Genre: Historical Fiction, Romantic Fiction, WWII, Hong Kong,

Publisher:  December 2024 Boldwood Books

Source:  Tywyn Library

First Sentence:  A chill wind whipped around Will as he stood on the promenade deck of the P and O liner RMS Carthage.

Review Quote:  'A convincing and very moving romance, a fascinating slice of history. Coupled with the most wonderful story-telling, this book delivered everything I could have possibly wanted.'  Reader Review

My Opinion:  

This novel was recommended to me by a friend, due to my connections with Hong Kong.

'Daughter of Hong Kong' starts with the protagonists, William Burton and Constance Han meeting on an ocean liner bound for Hong Kong in the spring of 1939.  Their shipboard friendship makes them determined to continue to see each other in Hong Kong, despite knowing that any relationship between them would be fraught with difficulties.  As the inevitable outbreak of war draws closer, Will and constance both become involved in the defence of Hong Kong. Their lives become ever more intense as danger increases and their survival looks unlikely.

Although fictional it is based on historical events that happened during WWII when the Japanese invaded Hong Kong. I found the descriptions to be very evocative of Hong Kong, despite being set in an era well before any time I have spent there.  A moving story of determination that love will overcome, recommended to readers who enjoy romantic novels set in WWII.

Précis Courtesy of Goodreads: 

Based on a true story, a tale of love and survival against all the odds set in Hong Kong at the start of the Pacific War. Can love conquer all?

Spring 1939 - dashing young William Burton and the beautiful Constance Han set sail from London on the same ocean liner to Hong Kong.

Connie is intrigued by Will’s talent for writing poetry, and as romance blossoms she offers to give him Cantonese lessons to help him with his new job — a cadet in the colonial service.

But once in Hong Kong, Connie is constrained by filial duty towards her Eurasian parents, and their wish for her to marry someone from her own background.

When war breaks out, Connie and Will find themselves drawn into a wider conflict than their battle against prejudice. Can they survive and achieve a future together? Or will forces beyond their control keep them forever apart?

A sweeping tale of love and perseverance, perfect for readers of Dinah Jefferies, Fiona Valpy and Ann Bennett

Previously published as The Flame Tree

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

The French Affair by Theresa Howes

                                                 

Ebook: 362 pages

Genre: Historical Fiction, WWII,

Publisher: HQ Digital 2023

Source:  Amazon Purchase

First Sentence:  If the war had taught Iris anything, it was that it was easier to lie during the blackout than in the cold light of day, and so it was with good reason that she always insisted on meeting Guy Mason after dark.

Review Quote:  An exceptional tale, expertly crafted with endearing characters and an enthralling plot that will captivate readers.' NetGalley Reviewer,

My Opinion:  

This second novel by Theresa Howes was published back in 2023 and has been on My Kindle for two years. Far too long, but at last I have read!

Set during WWII the female protagonist Iris, who is French, has been working in London for the British Intelligence Service. Her current mission takes an unexpected turn and to complete it successfully she has to return to France. She bases herself in Dijon, which is under German occupation, where she has family connections.  With an extremely tense atmosphere in a town where everyone is under suspicion she does not have an easy task ahead of her.

Once again I found the author's style of writing appealing with a captivating storyline. Recommended to fans of the genre.

Précis Courtesy of Goodreads: 

A country at war. A dangerous secret. 

After a failed honey-trap mission for British Intelligence leads to the breakdown of her marriage, French journalist Iris escapes to Dijon, seeking refuge in the cottage of her beloved aunt, Eva. But Eva is gone, the streets are full of distrust, and Iris is soon followed by the very last man she wants to see – the British civil servant and traitor she was tasked with catching, now keen to rekindle their affair. 

Eva’s home used to be a comforting place, where the locals sought out Eva’s homemade tinctures and cures and gifted jars of fresh honey from the garden. Now it is a place of danger, where threats loom in every corner. And as Iris spends more time there, she discovers a secret that will change the way she sees her aunt forever – and the course of her own life too…

Previous Review:   The Secrets We Keep

Author Profile

                                                     

Theresa Howes grew up in Shropshire and has a background as an actor. Her historical fiction has been long-listed for the Mslexia Novel Award, The Bath Novel Award, The Caledonia Novel Award and the Lucy Cavendish Fiction Prize.

She lives in London with her husband and Claude, a larger than average cat. When she isn’t writing or reading, she enjoys seeing how many more plants she can cram into her tiny London garden, walking, and putting the world to rights over a gin and tonic.

Her debut novel, THE SECRETS WE KEEP was published in November 2022. Her second novel, THE FRENCH AFFAIR was published in December 2023. Her third novel, A MATTER OF PERSUASION, which is a Gilded Age retelling of Jane Austen’s Persuasion, set in 1882 in New York and Rhode Island, was published in January 2025. 

Photographs and Biographical Information courtesy of the following sites:

Authors Official Website.  Amazon Author Profile   Goodreads Author Profile

Twitter Profile

The Secret Daughter of Venice by Juliet Greenwood

 

                                      

 Ebook:  384 pages      

Genre:  Historical Fiction, WWII,                                           

Publisher:   14 May 2024 Storm Publishing

Source:  NetGalley - My Kindle

First Sentences: On the Rialto Bridge a wind stirred. It set the paintings and prints outside the little gallery flapping, as they waited for the few tourists still defying the rumours of war, and eager to take home a memento of Venice and its 

Review Quote: I always love Juliet Greenwood’s books, partly because of the gorgeous qualities of her writing, but also because the very things she likes to explore are those which interest me.  Goodreads Reviewer

Setting:  Venice, Italy

My Opinion: 

I have read a few, but by no means all of Juliet Greenwood's novels. The first one was nearly twenty years ago, although she is an author I have always been aware of I have not read as many of her books as I would like to have done.

Set in an Italy ravaged by war, the story follows the protagonist Kate Arden as she yearns to discover why she has never been told who her biological mother is. Unaware of each other's search Sofia her birth mother is also trying to find out what happened to the baby that was cruelly taken away from her.

An emotional and intriguing story with a great cast of characters. This will appeal to Italophiles and those interested in the period setting.

Thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Précis Courtesy of Goodreads:

The paper is stiff and brittle with age as Kate unfolds it with trembling hands. She gasps at the pencil sketch of a rippling waterway, lined by tall buildings, curving towards the dome of a cathedral. She feels a connection deep in her heart. Venice.

England, 1941. When Kate Arden discovers a secret stash of drawings hidden in the pages of an old volume of poetry given to her as a baby, her breath catches. All her life, she has felt like an outsider in her aristocratic adoptive family, who refuse to answer any questions about her past. But the drawings spark a forgotten memory: a long journey by boat… warm arms that held her tight, and then let go.

Could these pictures unlock the secret of who she is? Why her mother left her? With war raging around the continent, she will brave everything to find out…

Author Profile:                

                                                                                            

                                                 Courtesy of Goodreads

Juliet Greenwood is the author of seven historical novels, her latest being with Storm Publishing. She has long been inspired by the histories of the women in her family, and in particular with how strong-minded and independent women have overcome the limitations imposed on them by the constraints of their time, and also with the way generations of women hold families and communities together in times of crisis, including WW2. 

After graduating in English from Lancaster University and Kings College, London, Juliet worked on a variety of jobs to support her ambition to be a full-time writer. These ranged from running a craft stall at Covent Garden to collecting oral histories of traditional villages before they are lost forever, and more recently as a freelance editor and proof-reader. 

She finally achieved her dream of becoming a published author following a debilitating viral illness, with her first novel being a finalist for The People’s Book Prize and her first two novels reaching #4 and #5 in the UK Kindle store. 

Juliet now lives in a traditional quarryman’s cottage in Snowdonia, North Wales, set between the mountains and the sea, with an overgrown garden (good for insects!) and a surprisingly successful grapevine. She can be found dog walking in all weathers, camera to hand.

Photographs and Biographical Information courtesy of the following sites:

Amazon Author Page.   Juliet Greenwood - Goodreads Profile.   Facebook Profile

Official Author Website   Twitter - Juliet Greenwood

The Secrets We Keep by Theresa Howes

 

                            

Paperback: 339 pages

Genre: Historical Romantic Fiction

Publisher: HQ, Harper Collins. 2022

Source:  Lent to me by a friend.

First Sentence: It would only take the crack of a twig to give Marguerite away as she crept through the park in the dead of night.

Review Quote:  Truly gripping… I loved it.’ Jill Mansell, Sunday Times bestseller

My Opinion:  

Essentially a love story ‘ The Secrets We Keep’ is an exciting debut from Theresa Howes. Her inspiration for this touching story is her love of art combined with visits to the Cote d’Azur. The latter prompting her to imagine what life must have been like under occupation for the locals.

Marguerite, the protagonist is an artist, though English she has moved to France to escape an unhappy past and live quietly in the countryside. The war has meant that she feels honour bound to help in any way she can, in the fight against the enemy. Into her life in an unexpected way comes Etienne, who as a priest finds himself, out of a duty to God, having to be agreeable to the occupying soldiers.

The story is an engaging one and is written in an appealing descriptive style. Recommended to fans of the genre.

Précis Courtesy of Goodreads: 

A heartbreakingly beautiful novel which captures the endurance and strength of ordinary people in the darkest of times, and the courage of one woman who put her life on the line to join the resistance. Perfect for fans of The Nightingale and The Secret Messenger . 1944, the Cote d’Azur.
Artist Marguerite Segal is recruited by British Intelligence into befriending Etienne Valade, a local priest. Her mission is to persuade him to pass on information from the high-ranking German officers who attend his evidence of their war crimes. Connected by a passion for art, Marguerite and Etienne soon fall in love, but their association increasingly puts her at danger of violent reprisals. With his church frequented by Nazis, Etienne is a suspected collaborator, and distrust is high. And Marguerite is keeping her own secret too. Like the Jews whose identity cards she forges to hide them from the Third Reich, she is hiding behind a false name, her true identity and past known only to her closest friend. Marguerite must get hold of the documents that will condemn the German officers but, in a world where everything is at stake, can she truly trust anyone – even the man she loves? 

Author Profile

                                                     

Theresa Howes grew up in Shropshire and has a background as an actor. Her historical fiction has been long-listed for the Mslexia Novel Award, The Bath Novel Award, The Caledonia Novel Award and the Lucy Cavendish Fiction Prize.

She lives in London with her husband and Claude, a larger than average cat. When she isn’t writing or reading, she enjoys seeing how many more plants she can cram into her tiny London garden, walking, and putting the world to rights over a gin and tonic.

Her debut novel, The Secrets We Keep was published in November 2022. This will be followed by a second novel, The Honey Trap in October 2023

Photo and words courtesy of Amazon

Photographs and Biographical Information courtesy of the following sites:

Authors Official Website.  Amazon Author Profile   Goodreads Author Profile

Twitter Profile

The Secret Shore by Liz Fenwick

                                           

Hardback:  471 pages

Genre: Historical Fiction

Publisher: Harper Collins 2023

Source:  Tywyn Public Library

First Sentences: Today I couldn't be late. Every minute was needed to review the most recent intelligence photographs before the Combined forces meeting at five this afternoon.

Review Quote: ‘Liz Fenwick weaves intrigue and romance into this profound, luminous novel’ Woman’s Own

My Opinion:  

I have read a few of Liz Fenwick’s previous novels from her debut ‘The Cornish House’ to the more recent ‘ The Returning Tide’ and ‘The River Between Us’, all of which were 5* reads. ‘The Secret Shore’ is no exception as it is a captivating read and cleverly based on real life people and events that took place during WWII.

The female protagonist Dr Meredith Tremayne has been obsessed with maps from a young age. It is no surprise therefore that she has chosen a career path, that finds her lecturing at Oxford University. When war breaks out she finds herself posted to London and then Devon working with specialist units. Her job is to update maps from aerial photographs and provide geographical information to the teams working in the field.

In my summing up I am repeating myself somewhat from an earlier review, but my opinion remains the same.  Recommend highly this author to those that appreciate well written fiction, with settings and characters that come alive on the page and that will take you through a whole range of human emotions whilst reading.

Previous Reviews:  The Cornish House.  The Returning Tide   The River Between Us

Précis Courtesy of Goodreads: 

As one of the Navy’s most skilled mapmakers, Merry knows the very lives of men far away depend on her work in the War Office

But when a family crisis draws her back to her beloved Cornwall, Merry finds herself working alongside an enigmatic American officer on secret operations spanning the rugged coasts of Cornwall and Brittany which she knows so well.

But not everything is as clear as the maps she draws. As rumours and suspicion swirl around her family, Merry is increasingly drawn to Jake, despite the defences she’s built around her heart. It’s a dangerous time to fall in love when there is everything to lose as the tides of war are rising…

Author Profile:

Courtesy of Goodreads 

Liz Fenwick was born in Massachusetts and after nine international moves - the final one lasting eight years in Dubai- she  now lives in Cornwall and London with her husband and two cats. She made her first trip to Cornwall in 1989, bought a home there seven years later. Apparently her heart is now forever in Cornwall, creating new stories.

Liz Fenwick describes herself as Novelist, wife, mother of three, slave to two cats and dreamer turned doer....

Photographs and Biographical Information courtesy of the following sites:

Twitter - Liz Fenwick   Amazon Author Page  Official Author Website - Liz Fenwick 

Facebook Profile   Goodreads Author Profile