This is a dual timeline story which is something that I enjoy.
It is extremely well written and is a great novel

Callie Di Giacomo parents died when she was ten, she grew up in foster care in Texas, a solicitor contacts her on her twenty first birthday, she’s shocked to discover she’s adopted, and she’s been left a house in Italy. Callie arrives in Montevino looking for answers, she’s given the keys to a villa, and it’s her inheritance from her birth mother. She expected a rundown property, the villa is clean and has been well looked after. She meets the grounds keeper Tommaso Carpentieri, she discovers she has an aunt Flora and she’s been taking care of the house.

Why did Callie inherited the villa and not her aunt, she finds a diary in a wardrobe, it belonged to a woman called Elisa, and she hopes to find some answers between the pages? It’s about life in Montevino during WW II, Italy was divided by those who supported Mussolini and and others who were involved in the local Italian resistance. Elisa was a doctor, she married her childhood sweetheart Leo Bordet and she’s Callie’s great-great-grandmother.

Montevino is a small place, they don’t forget what happened in the past and many people don't like Flora Stella? Callie’s aunt's a naturopath, she owns a business in town called Passiflora and she’s a rather prickly person. The only relative Callie has in the world, is a bitter and difficult woman. Slowly, Callie pieces together her mother’s past, she uncovers a shocking secret and it makes sense why Callie was born in America and put up for adoption.

The Italian Villa, is a dual timeline story, where family traditions and secrets have been kept due to complicated relationships, and what happened in Montevino during World War Two. I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, it's well written by Daniela Sacerdoti and five stars from me. I have shared my review on Goodreads, Australian Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Twitter and my Facebook page Karren Reads Historical Fiction.

Family secrets, lies, love, WWII, and Italy! It makes for a very good read, although I just admit to enjoying the earlier time line more than the present. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC,

Loved it. Everything from the concepts of the hidden adoption, inheritance of an Italian villa and my favorite part, the finding of the diary, come together to make this book a story that you do not want to miss.

I really enjoyed this book. It is filled with hope and new starts. I love that the main character found a diary that leads her to explore a lost relative. Beautifully told. I highly recommend this book.

I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy free of charge. This is my honest and unbiased opinion of it.

Another excellent read by this author. I loved everything about this book , the story, the characters and the wonderful setting.

On her 21st birthday, Callie’s life is turned upside down when she learns that not only is she adopted, but that she has also just inherited a beautiful Italian villa. Desperate to learn more about her family, she immediately travels to Montevino, and soon finds a hidden diary detailing the life of a mysterious relative in WW2 Italy. But Callie has her own troubles to escape from, and as her time in Italy goes on, she finds herself forced to reflect on what she really wants for her life...

This was such a joy of a book! It was a lot lighter than I expected, less turmoil and sadness and more new beginnings and hope. Very much a feel good twist on the more traditional historical fiction, and one that I absolutely adored.

Callie was a complete star of a character, one you were immediately drawn to and encouraged to root for right from the very beginning! I loved seeing Italy through her eyes, especially when contrasted with the Italy viewed through the diary entries. A beautiful reminder of how much was lost and how much has changed since the war.

Overall, I loved it. The perfect combination of light and fluffy chick-lit with more poignant and serious historical fiction, definitely one I’d recommend and an author I can’t wait to read more from!

Disclaimer - I was fortunate enough to receive an advance reading copy from NetGalley. This has not affected my review in any way and all opinions are my own.

I was given a copy of The Italian Villa by Daniela Sacerdoti by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I have read many of Daniela's previous books so was excited to read this one. Daniela's previous books have been set in the UK but this book is set mainly in a small village in Italy. This book being a slightly different style to her previous books but I would say one of her best books yet. The story is based around Callie who lives in Texas. When her parents died in a fire she when she was 10 was put into care, when she is 21 she finds out she is adopted and has inherited a house in Italy. Along with tge house she is given a the diary of Elisa who was studying to be a doctor at the start of world war 2. Callie goes to Italy to find out more about her natural parents.
This book is beautifully written, the area described I felt as though I was there. A perfect read especially on holiday, hoping there maybe more books in this series.

The Italian Villa by Daniela Sacerdoti is one of a couple books set partly during the Second World War in Italy and touching on a partigiano theme that I have read in the last half year or so.

It's the story about Callie, an American-Italian orphan who suddenly inherits an Italian Villa on her 21st birthday and at the same time discovers that she was adopted as a baby. As it turns out her deceased parents weren't her biological parents and she still has some family in the north east of Italy, besides being the sudden owners of the house. Together with the deeds to the house she inherits the diary of one of her predecessors, Elisa, which tells the story of Elisa during the Second World War.
It's one of the three stories that are interconnected in this book, besides Callies own story and the story of her Mother and Aunt.

Like for example the books by Angela Petch this book is also set in the same period and in two, or in this case three, different time frames.
I found that because of the different story lines this book was lacking a bit in depth. The stories were interesting enough and it is a real feel-good novel, despite some tragic events during the war, and the setting and scenery in an Italian hill-town makes you long to get on a plane and go there.

I enjoyed the book but found it a bit lacking in comparison to other books with a similar theme. So, 3,5 stars at most.

I want to thank Netgalley and Bookouture for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Callie was taken into care when her parents were killed in a fire when she was ten but now has a flat and a job as a waitress and dreams of saving up to go to college but then out of the blue her whole world is turned upside down. She receives a letter from a solicitor and finds out that she was adopted and that her birth mother has left her a villa in Montevino in Italy and she has to go over there to sign papers. Arriving in Montevino she meets Tommasso and the sparks fly but then she also meets Flora her aunt who appears to hate her, will the beautiful villa be enough to keep her there and who is Elise the writer of the diary she is reading from the war and what secrets will that throw up!

A great book the two timelines worked well together and I enjoyed both of them equally, Elise's story was fascinating and I thoroughly enjoyed it, definitely a book I couldn't put down until I had finished it

What a talented writer Daniela Sacerdoti is. I was sucked in from the first page and as the story unfolded it was told like a beautifully sung hymn. The little village is described perfectly that I crawled under a blanket, poured a glass of fine Italian wine and dove right in. The characters were so lovely, the tale was so heartfelt and I read this so fast that I was sorry to have finished that quickly!

Thank you Netgalley for the eARC and being considered for this complimentary copy in exchange for my honest review.

Callie is a lonely young waitress who has just turned 21. Her parents were killed in a car crash when she was young and she has been raised in care all her life. She is working to get money to go to college although she has no idea what she wants to do. On her 21st birthday she gets a call from her social worker to call to see her. She wishes her a happy birthday and hands her a letter from a solicitors firm and to contact them. She calls to the office where she is told that she was adopted and her real mother has left a folder in their care for her when she turns 21. In it there is the keys to a house in Montevino Italy and an old diary belonging to someone called Elisa. Callie heads to Italy to find a charming house in a beautiful village where everyone seems to know her. She meets the lovely Tommasso and a woman who is her mirror image, her aunt Flora. She also reads the diary about Elisa a young woman from Montevino who trains to be a doctor in times when women didn't do it. But who is Elisa and how are they connected?
This was a beautiful story full of fabulous scenery, chocolate, wine and great history. I cant wait to read more from Daniela Sacerdoti
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for an ARC in exchange for an honest review

Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture to provide me with a free advanced copy in exchange of an honest review. This is my first book by Daniela Sacerdoti.

There are many books written on holocaust and WWII. The Italian Villa offers a story which is touching and emotional. The story is about 21 year-old Callie who learns about her real parents being the adoptive ones and is searching truth about her real biological mother. Her search lands her up in the town of Montevino, Italy. The revelation of her real mother not only offers her family home but her future as well.

I absolutely adored this book and was able to finish it in just one sitting, simply unputdownable. It is not a huge book, just under 300 pages but don’t let the size of the book fool you, it is absolutely spellbinding and leaves the reader with the thought of finding light in the darkest of the situations.

Daniela described the beauty of Italian villa, towns, city centres, woods and cuisines immaculately without overdoing it. I actually felt like roaming in the city of Montevino and eating pasta. The two timelines are blended nicely and answer the reader’s questions progressively.

If you are a fan of historical fiction, look no further than “The Italian Villa. Highly recommended.

This was my first introduction to Daniela Sacerdoti, and I was thoroughly impressed. Sacerdoti writes with beautiful emotion as she tells the story of Callie. A girl who lives in Texas and finds out her life is a lie. Loaded with new information, she travels to a small town in Italy to find her truth. While there, she bumps into Tommaso— a handsome groundskeeper. The two become inseparable, as fate unlocks more of her mysterious past.
This book was gripping and delightful; I enjoyed every bit of it.
If you’re in the mood for a historical romance that’s entertaining—this ones right up your alley.

A big thank you to NetGalley and the publishers and Bookouture for providing this complimentary ARC in exchange for an honest review.

We may not be able to travel at the moment, or is some cases not even leave the house, but in books we all have the ability to travel to new places, and where better to start the the beautiful Montevino in Italy. On her twenty first birthday Callie receives a present that changes her world. From the age of ten she was brought up in the care system after her parents died in a fire. However, it seems her parents were her adoptive parents and her mother was from the Italian village of Montevino, where Callie has been left a house. Once in Italy, Callie finds herself at Firefly House, her mother’s family home and inside it the diary of Elise, a doctor during the Italian Civil War. With a split timeline, The Italian Villa is a book about family, secrets, lies and the strength of the Stella women in times of adversity.

If I’m looking for an escape I love to read books set in Italy, my spiritual home. Daniela Sacerdoti certainly captures the feel and atmosphere of this beautiful village, and all the characters who live in it. The writing is beautifully descriptive, and Daniela has a wonderful way with words that draws you into the book. The landscape, beautiful flowers, fresh herbs sit alongside the wildlife of the wolves and the deer making the village seem even more magical than it first appears.

The same attention to detail is given to the characters in this book. Callie is only twenty one but has had a lot of heartache in her life; orphaned at ten, with no other family, being in the care system and then having to find out she was adopted. She really shows strength of character, flying to Italy on her own, into the unknown and finding family that may not be so happy to see her. I loved her tenacity, and having the confidence to face life head on; she surely has wisdom beyond her years.

In the late 1930’s into 1940’s Elisa records her life in a diary. She also faces difficulties being the only female at the University studying medicine, a prejudice that also continues after she is qualified. Her diary entries record life during the Civil War, where families were divided politically, the partisans fought the black shirts and people lived in fear. Elise’s story is one of courage, loyalty. love and heartbreak. the perfect juxtaposition to Callie’s story.

The Italian Villa filled my heart with the heat of the Italian sun, the scent of the flowers, the taste of the gorgeous food and the warmth of the Italian people. Callie and Elise maybe separated by many years but the connection between them really came through in this book. Wonderful characters, romance, secrets and a few surprises make this such a captivating and charming read. A perfect Italian escape!

I read this ARC for an honest review
All thoughts and opinions are my own

Bit of a slow burner for me but once I got into it, absolutely loved it

Loved the character development and the setting was just gorgeous

A great, relaxing read

The Italian Villa by Daniela Sacerdoti
Source: NetGalley and Bookouture
Rating: 4/5 stars

**MINI-REVIEW**

The Bottom Line: I want to say this is writing at its finest, but there are a few issues with this generally enjoyable book that can’t be overlooked in an honest review. First and foremost is the very slow start; it takes more than a hot minute to get Callie to Italy and the story doesn’t really pick up the pace until she arrives on Italian soil. My other major issue is how neatly and perfectly some elements of the story fit into place; life doesn’t really work so neatly and perfectly which makes parts of the story a bit hard to accept. With the negative out of the way, I must admit to still liking this book quite a lot. Callie is an utterly sympathetic and likeable character whose story is only just beginning even as she uncovers the story of her family’s sad and sordid history. The larger setting, the town, the villa, and her family’s local shop all serve to enhance the read and provide a wonderful backdrop for the story to unfold. When you throw in a love interest with a bit of his own history, well, this book has a bit of everything for everyone. Though I would have preferred things to have ended a little less perfectly than it did, I still can’t complain too much because the positive undoubtedly outweighed the negative.

Straight away you get thrown into the middle of what sounds like war with a scene where Elisa Is hiding from the enemy during the war.

Cut to Callie a Texan teen in the present day struggling through life and feeling quite lonely on her birthday.....she has her best friend and a cat which isn't hers as her main company. We follow the journey of Callie as she realises all she has known before has shifted and is not as it seems. Her parents died when she was 10 and then she went into care, with no other family she had to grow up quickly. However a meeting with her old social worker not only creates upset and confusion, but opens up a possible new life for Callie also when she finds out she was adopted.

Off she goes to Italy to find who she is and for answers when she finds out she has inherited 'Firefly House' an Italian villa. Callie begins to read the diary of Eilsa after her birth mother leaves it for her. As she immerses herself in Eilsa's story she begins to feel how real it is when it mentions the Italian area where she is and feels a strong connection to Eilsa.

She received a warm welcome by most of the town including Tomasso who she grows close to. Can her heart open to him as she begins to find herself.

Kind of like a sliding doors moment as she could of been living a completely different life in a different country all along.

Enjoyed how the stories of Eilsa and Callie are woven together and keeps you hooked as you want to find out the link between the two women. Filled with romance, heart break with a gorgeous Italian back drop.

In honesty, I tend to find war stories a yawn fest - but not this one....up there with my firm favourites! Didn't want it to end and the characters were left me long after the story finished.

Ok so it’s not great literature but it doesn’t pretend to be. This is a lovely feel good summer beach read kind of a book with a bit of history thrown in. What’s not to like about it?

I am a fan of historical fiction, but this one didn’t quite fit the bill for me. There was a story set during WWII, but it was told via diary entries, so it was fairly static. I think it might have been more impactful and dynamic if it had more connection to the contemporary storyline, as this is where the bulk of the story lies. I liked Callie’s story, but it seemed implausible at times. There were a few moments of connection between the two plots but would have been more enjoyable if it was correctly classified. As is, it was just okay. For a complete review, please visit my blog at Fireflies and Free Kicks. Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for a digital pre-release ARC of the book.