It’s always nice to read books that are set in areas you are familiar with. As someone who lives in Greece and knows the region of Lamia fairly well, I found myself picturing the surroundings, the village and the locals quite easily.

This is a dual time-line story that follows Ava in the present day and her grandmother Sophia in 1942 during the time of the 2nd world war. Ava’s marriage seems to be on the rocks, she and her husband Simon have lost the ability to communicate and comfort one another after the loss of their baby daughter. Needing a break and a chance to heal, Ava decides to spend time at the home she inherited from her grandmother in rural Greece. There, Ava is befriended by some of the local villagers and begins to understand more about the difficulties that Sophia faced as a young woman. Through the voices of some of the elderly inhabitants we learn about Sophia’s difficult life and how she ended up in England from Greece.

The history behind the bombing of the Gorgopotamus Bridge was well told. I enjoy reading historical fiction and this one won’t disappoint. Fans of Victoria Hislop would likely enjoy this novel.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for granting me an advanced copy of Beyond the Olive Grove.

With grateful thanks to netgalley bookouture and Kate Hewitt for an early copy in return for an honest opinion.
Having read a number of this fabulous authors books was delighted to have an early copy, and it certainly didn't disapoint, set in a dual timeline it flowed seamlessly.
This is a tragic tale on both accounts of love and loss and trying to overcome what has taken place during the war years with Ava's grandmother and Ava herself secrets thats have lain dormant for a life time surface when ava inherited her grandmother's house in Greece and she decides to visit it and find out about her life as a young girl I found this book extremely thought provoking and it was quite mesmerising and can highly recommend this beautifully told tale.

Having always wanting to visit Greece, I was excited to read this book that is set during World War II just outside of Athens. Two stories are told here of strong and remarkable women who were faced with challenges. This is a story of strength, bravery, betrayal, tragedy and love that conquers.
Ava, a young fragile English woman coping with the loss of a child and a fractured marriage, flees to Greece to the rustic home she inherited from her grandmother Sophia she barely knew in order to find peace and new direction. There in the small mountainous village she seeks to discover the secrets about her grandmother’s life as a young woman before she came to England from Greece. A problem for Ava is that no one wants to talk about the past but rather move on. As Ava makes friends, she learns that there are a few survivors who knew her grandmother and were finally willing to talk about that awful time.
Sophia is Ava’s grandmother, a farm girl born in Greece lives with her father and younger sister whom she helps to raise after the loss of her mother. Even in this small rural mountainous town, they were affected by both the Nazis invading and the Italians closing in on them during World War II. To survive, those in this remote town rebelled in secret within either two opposite groups or tried like Sophia did to just keep her head down and be quiet, unlike her “butterfly” sister who flirts with the local communist. Ava’s quiet demeanor captures the attention of the leader of the resistance who recruits her to help which gives her no choice and she is caught in a conflict between the two resistance groups.
I loved this book as I enjoy reading about people in history and how it shaped them. Little has been written about Greece’s involvement in World War II and I found this fascinating. The author was very descriptive and keeps the reader on the edge of their seat with the intrigue that transpires. Sometimes in novels, switching back and forth between stories causes confusion but Kate Hewitt does this masterfully which only adds to the enjoyment of their stories and confirms how alike these two women are. Beyond the Olive Grove is a great book to add to your bookshelf!
Thanks to #BeyondtheOliveGrove and #NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Many people have written historical fiction novels of romance and war about not just the United States but Europe and countries in the near east and Asia set in the World War II era. This is the first I have read of the mountains of Greece and it is historically significant to those who enjoy the time period and a good romance with strong characters and two compelling plots. The heroine of this book is on a journey of sorrow. After trying for years and losing her baby pre-birth she makes a journey to a home she inherited from her Grandmother. The house is in the mountains of rural Greece and she has never been there, knows nothing of its history or of that of her Grandmother or her Grandmother's family. While there she starts to uncover the mystery of her Grandmother in one of the many World War II stories of bravery, resistance, and romance. Can she pull back the threads of a marriage shredded thru loss and will she uncover the truth about her ancestral home? This is a good book; well written with engaging and realistic characters and two very good stories. Due for publication in August you won't want to miss this boo. Thanks to #BeyondtheOliveGrove#NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

After a tragic loss Ava escapes England to travel to the abandoned house in Greece left to her by her Grandmother Sophia. During her time at the house she discovers things about her Grandmother that she never knew. Sophia never talked about her life in Greece. Ava uncovers her Grandmothers secrets after only a few villagers talk to her. The villagers are very reluctant to talk about what happened during WW2.
This is yet again another beautiful read by Kate Hewitt. A dual timeline novel detailing Ava's life and Sophia's during 1942.
Such an emotional read, you lose yourself in both aspects of the story.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the advanced copy, my opinions are my own

BEYOND THE OLIVE GROVE by KATE HEWITT is a WW11 novel which takes place in Greece in 1942, and then in the present time. The split time frame works well as the author alternates with Ava and Sophie's stories.
When Ava Lancet goes to the little village of Iousidous in rural Greece to her grandmother Sophie's ramshackle cottage, we learn with her what the inhabitants went through during WW11, as the few willing survivors of the time talk to her and her school teacher friend Helena, gradually unravelling the truth about her incredibly brave grandmother.
It is a story about love and grief, as Ava battles to come to terms with her still born baby and Simon's apparent irritation with her. Will this time of separation, where she is learning about her grandmother's past, help her to deal with her own feelings?
The author has obviously done a great deal of research into Greek history and I found Beyond the Olive Grove a most interesting and exciting read.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Bookouture. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

Beyond the Olive Grove by Kate Hewitt is a great dual timeline WWII-era historical fiction that takes the reader back into the depths of what life was like for the Greek inhabitants during occupation.

I really enjoyed this HF that gave me a different viewpoint of what individuals experienced from a country that isn’t written about as much as some of the others, Greece. The occupation, the atrocities, the adversities, and the passion and strength of her people at this pivotal time was depicted effortlessly throughout this book.

The dual timeline took us between present day Ava and the past by her grandmother, Sophia. What unfolds is a story of suspense, drama, betrayal, mystery, sacrifices, and perseverance. The few twists and turns that were included really added to the narrative. I especially enjoyed the historical timeline of Sophia.

As always, Ms. Hewitt has hit a home run.

5/5 stars

Thank you NG and Bookouture for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication.

Beyond the Olive Grove is packed full of emotion: joy, sorrow, death, betrayal, regret. I loved the setting of the novel, which is a small rural community in Greece that has scarce residents but is replete in history. Dual time lines are used to explain both Sophia and Ava’s stories. The switching back and forth was effortless and added to overall drama of the tale. I was drawn especially to Sophia’s story because I love history, particularly WWII. I don’t know much about what occurred in Greece during that time and this helped me to understand the turmoil and sacrifice people endured during and after the war. Hewitt wrote a heartwarming story. My favorite scene was at the very end with Sophia.

I want to thank NetGalley, Bookouture (My favorite Pub ever) and author for this advance ebook!
I also have to add here that I never once read a historical fiction book until Bookouture. They have released some amazing HF reads and I've been so honored to read.some of them.
So thank you for expanding my genre list.

So Beyond the Olive Grove was a.deeply atmospheric, rich and compelling book!.
I honestly don't know how else to.describe it.
It was a beautiful story, very vivid. I felt like I was with these characters through all of their terrible experiences and I just wanted to shelter them from it all.
These characters showed incredible strength in this terrible time and I honestly couldn't imagine what that must have felt like!
The story was marvelous, inspiring, beautiful, compelling. I could go on and on!.

Just read it you won't regret it!
Thank you again for the opportunity to read and review another great amazing book! 😘

The cover and description drew me to this book and I’m so pleased it did. What a lovely story. Ava’s character was so lovely too. I was hooked from chapter 1. I wiped away tears… If you love a really good saga, then this is definitely the book for you I absolutely loved it! A heartbreaking story but one that gets you so engaged in it you cannot put it down… Will keep you reading and enjoying right to the very last page… and will desperately want more, loved every minute of the story… I couldn’t put this down… ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Kate Hewitt is on my list of must reads now!

Nursing a broken heart, Ava has journeyed to Greece and the ramshackle house that belonged to her grandmother, Sophia. Ava has no plan other than to find a quiet place to rest and lick her wounds. The house has been vacant since her grandmother fled during World War II and is in such bad shape, Ava worries a strong wind will blow it over. Trying to occupy mind and body, Ava begins trying to salvage the little house, and as she does, the stories about her grandmother’s heroism during the war come to light. This is a beautiful, moving story about courage, love and family