I have to admit that I was a little underwhelmed by this book, which was disappointing because I had such high hopes, and maybe that was part of the problem. I set the expectation too high because the synopsis sounded so good. And the book wasn't bad by any means. It was well written for the most part, and there were moments that I loved. But there were also parts that felt slow and just in general I felt a a disconnect to the characters. I wanted to feel more. Be more invested. Root for them. But as it stood, it was a decent book with a few great moments but didn't quite meet my expectations.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. . I enjoyed the love story between Marianna and Massimo. The ending of the story was very sweet. Although the pacing was slow at times, I’d give this book 3.5 stars.

I received an advanced copy of this through NetGalley.
I thought this would be a nice, quick read. A fun little romance. I was wrong. It took me a long time to get into it. It started off kind of slow and just would not capture my interest. Because I knew I was going to have to give a review I kept plodding on and I am so glad that I did.
Once I was able to cross that threshold of interest the story opened up and became a really great read. It was intense, intriguing, sweet and fun. I really enjoyed the characters and their development through out the story.
To recommend it to others I would have to say stick with it. It doesn't take too long and the efforts are worth it. It isn't a deep, thought provoking book but for those seeking a romantic adventure it delivers.

Romance, clean; period
WW II novel with the story of Marianna and her family as war reaches their village. Massimo a soldier, comes to her village and they fall for each other. As war separates them, Marianna is faced with awful loss. As she takes charge of her situation, navigating it to the best of her ability, she is pulled into the war in a way she never thought possible. As they both navigate their circumstances and hold onto the memory of their heartfelt moments, war happens. Beautifully drawn in the cities and villages of Italy, lovely, heartfelt, tragic, and engaging story of these two people brought together by war and their hearts.
3 star is still a good read for me.

I have always been drawn to the WWII time period and this story is no exception. With an even pace and melodic diction I found myself transported to Italy. Amidst the horrors of war Sanchez is able to paint a picture of hope. A truly beautiful story.

I wasn’t immediately hooked by this book but having said that I did find it an easy and enjoyable read. I love books based on WW2, I haven’t read many about the Italians’ involvement in the war, I think this is only my second, so it was good to learn about their people, partisans and something about Mussolini: I liked the two main characters and how chapters change from the narration of one to the other. Their daily lives and surroundings were well described and of course towards the middle of the book things began to get exciting. I’d definitely recommend this one if you like WW2 novels with romance and adventure. I appreciate the digital copy from NetGalley and publisher in exchange for an honest review.

One of the best books I have ever read with the scenery and time period coming alive because of the authors descriptions.

tl;dr Review:

A slow start, but built up to a great read and satisfying historical fiction tale.

Full Review:

I won't lie, this book took a minute for me to get into it. At first, I felt like it kind of dragged along, setting the scene and laying out the characters for us, before it really got going.

Once it did though, I found I really enjoyed the book. The publisher described the tale in typical dramatic form:

Eighteen-year-old Marianna De’Angelis has grown up on her father’s fishing boat off the picturesque coast of Sicily, Italy. She traverses the nearby countryside on horseback and bicycle and works alongside her mother selling fish at market. It is a simple, happy life. But when WWII erupts and the Nazis overtake the country, Marianna’s peaceful world is shattered.

In the midst of chaos, Marianna encounters a handsome, young Italian soldier named Massimo Scalvone. Though she tries to keep her distance, Marianna finds herself powerfully drawn to Massimo. Yet all the while, the man she is growing to love conceals a deadly secret—a secret that ensures that in a world now ruled by politics and greed, Massimo is not free to give his heart. Devastated, Marianna immerses herself in helping her family and neighbors survive the war. But soon, merely helping is not enough, and the young woman undertakes increasingly dangerous missions for the resistance. Although Marianna and Massimo each harbor secrets, their only hope of survival is to trust each other with the truth of who they really are.

However, as much as it reads like it's going to be a soap opera and silly, it ends up digging deeper and showcasing a tough and gritty side. While I've read a number of books on WWII, I haven't read many about the Italian Partisans during that time. Though the book is obviously centered around the two main characters, it highlights aspects of the Partisan resistance and how every day Italians dealt with and fought back against the Nazis.

So long as you don't mistake this for a deep thinking read, you'll be ok. I'd recommend it for going to the beach or laying by the pool. It's got enough history to make it meatier than typical beach reads, but also enough romance and drama to make it perfect for enjoying on a warm summer day.

I give it 4 out of 5 thumbs up.

This book took me by surprise. It is set during the war in Italy. A daughter wants nothing more than to help her ailing father & have her brother home from the war. A handsome stranger in town throws her entire life for a spin. This book had a little bit of everything: war, love, betrayal, grief & hope. I love that the main character is able to grow throughout the book. She doesn't let loss define her...she is a fighter until the end.

This is a good one. I highly recommend. I felt the beginning of the story started a little slow, but it picked up speed like ocean waves and the ending was very climatic. The writing was good, I liked the way the chapters switched between the two main characters. The author describes the places and scenery so well, that you can envision what is going on, and you feel as if you are there. I knew when she described the first time Marianna and Massimo meet in the field, this would be a good read.
The descriptions of some of the partisan activities to undermine the Germans were some of the best I have read. How she tells of Marianna’s family, selling their vegetables together, fishing with her father, sharing with the poor and unfortunate, truly portrays the family values of that time. Even though this is a fictional story she makes it feel realistic and believable. The crescendo building to the end was just wonderful, a couple times, I thought, oh wow, that was good and then we were off on another twist and turn.
This a five star book for me!! I thoroughly enjoyed several hours reading this one.
I thank Net Galley and Covenant Communications for allowing me the opportunity to read this for my review.

The Fisherman's daughter is happening during World War II in Italy with 2 characters who are involved in the war in their own ways but are doing it in secret. They fall in love - do they tell each other their secrets? Of course there is violence in this book and other things but the history and the vivid pictures made you feel like you were right there and how beautiful and yet how scary the time was. They are in danger of course but do they come out alive? The only way to find out is for you to read this amazing book.

Mariana is the 18 year old daughter of a Sicilian fisherman in 1943 when Mussolini is in power and they are allied with Germany. While out riding she meets a young man Massimo and the attraction is instant, but the life and times are dangerous and they try to stop their feelings. With her brother having to go and fight Mariana wants to do something to help Sicily and so joins the resistance putting her own life in danger...... but where does this leave her with Massimo?

A really good story, I always like books about the resistance and it makes a great change to be about Italy rather than France, and loved the descriptions of the island, that I have previously visited, and the local way of life

The Fisherman’s Daughter

by Melinda Sue Sanchez

Covenant Communications

Historical Fiction , Romance

Pub Date 01 Jan 2018

I am reviewing a copy of The Fisherman’s Daughter through Covenant Communications and Netgalley:

Marianna De’ Angelia is eighteen years old and has grown up on her Father’s fishing boat in Sicily Italy. She travels to the nearby countryside on horseback and bicycle as well as helping her Mom sell fish at the fish market. At first it is a happy life but World War Two breaks out and the Nazi’s take over the country. Soon Marianna’s Peaceful world is shattered.

During the Chaos Marianna meets a handsome young Italian soldier named Massimo Scalvone, though she tried to keep her distance, she finds herself drawn to Massimo but the man she has grown to love hides a deadly secret-a secret that ensures that in a world now ruled by politics and greed, Massimo is not free to give his heart. Devastated, Marianna immerses herself in helping her family and neighbors survive the war. But soon, just helping is not enough, and the young woman starts to undertake dangerous missions for the resistance .

Despite the fact that both Marianna and Massimo both harbor dark secrets they can only hope to survive is to trust each other with the truth of who they really are!

I give The Fisherman’s Daughter five out of five stars!

Happy Reading

I received a Kindle version of this book at my request, so that I could leave a voluntary review.

The Fisherman’s Daughter was an interesting take on WWII from a different perspective that you truly do not get very often from historical fiction set in that time period. I was very interested in reading Melinda Sue Sanchez’s version of this story as the female lead, Marianna De’Angelis gives us a first person view of what Italy was like during the war.

The book was well written as it described the vivid details of the coast of Sicily, the beautiful countryside while she rides her horse to sell her father’s fish at market, and how much she is drawn to the soldier Massimo Scalvone who is visiting his grandparents. Shortly after the first 10 chapters I felt as though the story tended to drag on and explain in exhaustive detail how Marianna starts to realize she’s falling in love with Massimo. The last 6-8 chapters really got exciting and had me spellbound as the war overtakes the family, Marianna, her neighbors who take she and her Mother in, Massimo, and Marianna’s efforts to help during the war. I wished that the last few chapters were told more in depth and more throughout the book instead of unveiled towards the end of the story.

This story sucked me in right away. It was very interesting to see WWII from the Italian peasants side of the story. I love learning history through historical fiction. Marianna and Massimo were lovely characters but really worked well to tell the story of the Italian resistance. I could feel the fear that the people were living through. Great story well worth a read!

The German occupation of Italy during WWII is an area that I don’t know much about, which meant that I was able to sit back, relax, and enjoy this book as a beautiful work of fiction. The details and the imagery transport you back in time, and the story itself reads like a war time Romeo and Juliet – and lets face it, who doesn’t love a good story with some star-crossed lovers?

I really enjoyed Marianna’s spunk and her country can-do attitude. I was pleased to see her join the resistance, especially after so much talk about it early on in the book, and I was genuinely touched by the relationship that she had with her family. I found myself more drawn to those scenes where she was on the fishing boat with her father, helping in the kitchen, or running the market stall than those with Massimo as I felt that they revealed more about her character. But, I am willing the chalk this feeling up to the way in which young lovers are know to get caught up in one another, and thus cease to be individuals – something I hate to say is entirely relatable!

Massimo too, is an interesting character. Initially I was desperate to know more about why he thought Marianna was a danger to pursue, but in retrospect I’m happy that this information was held until later in the story. It created a tension and drama that moved the plot through some of the sections that were more focused on character building and setting the scene. Although I was a bit prickly towards him in the beginning, he’s definitely one of the characters that grows on you over time.

And can we talk about the food?! Seriously, I think I gained a good ten pounds reading this sucker because all I wanted to do was eat pasta and almond cake! The descriptions are so vivid and flavourful that your mouth is constantly watering and when it comes dinner time you can only think of salad and spaghetti. Now add in the fact that kitchen is truly the heart of the D’Angelis home and bam! you’re wrapped up in a sense of nostalgia that brings you back to Nonna’s house and those pizelles!

The alternating view points, even though they weren’t evenly distributed or in any particular order, did a wonderful job of telling the story of this romance from both perspectives. It was fun to see where assumptions wrecked havoc, where missed communications caused issues, and how closely tied yet so far apart to individuals can be. The writing is evocative of a different time and place, and the intensity creeps up on you ever so slowly and then refuses to let go.

The only thing that I could have wanted more of, was to know what illness ailed Marianna’s father. Although the scarcity of doctors during this time is entirely believable, the vagueness regarding his ill health left a little to be desired. Beyond this though, the cast of characters is jam packed with variety – strong and weak, male and female, horrible and heroic. There is a little something for everyone in there, but definitely a touch more for the (empowered) romantic.

This was an excellent historical fiction with clean romance. I enjoyed the aspect of partisan warfare in Italy that is often overshadowed by the French resistance. The characters deep love and commitment to each other and family was refreshing. There are several side stories that could be spun from this novel like what happens to bruno, France or private Weimar. the author used very descriptive language. Excellent novel! Thank you for the advanceread copy.

This is a beautifully written book set in Italy in 1943 during Mussolini’s reign. Marianna lives with her parents and meets Massimo when she is out riding one day. She instantly finds him attractive and is embarrassed by this and runs off.

Much to her horror, she finds Massimo is her neighbour’s grandson after he is invited for dinner at her home. Fighting the attraction, they finally strike up a friendship of sorts and as much as Massimo tries to stay away from Marianna, his attraction turns to love and he finds himself in the impossible situation of trying to do the right thing and staying away from her or following his heart and telling her his feelings.

Marianna is in the same position but with the threat of the Germans winning the war and taking over their Country, she realises she must do more than provide food and warmth for the poor and engages in life threatening work in the resistance. Can she find her way through all these tragedies and finally get home to some kind of life or will she lose her life in the process.

This is a heart warming story filled with love and courage and I loved every word written.

Thanks to Netgalley and Covenant Communications for the opportunity to read and honestly review this book.

I was drawn to this book by the cover. I love to read about the Second World War, and have enjoyed many books lately that are based on this time period. I have never read anything from an Italian perspective and know very little about Sicily. I imagined they'd have less involvement in the war, based on their geographic location, so all in all this was an enlightening read.

When it comes to the story however, I really struggled with this one. From the very beginning I disliked the overuse of descriptive language. I appreciate when this is done well, because it has the power to transport you right in amongst the pages. Instead I found myself falling over the excess of it. I couldn't gel with either Marianna or Massimo - and their relationship seemed to develop quickly. The pace of this story is incredibly slow. I found myself skim reading huge passages and getting distracted by everything and anything.

I almost bought this book based on cover alone and I'm so glad I did. If you like your books at a sedate pace I can image you may prefer this more than I did.

Thank you to Netgalley & Covenant Communications for the eARC. This is my honest review.