4.5 STARS

What a powerful story!

It has been sooo long since I truly enjoyed a romance novel. I thought romance genre was forever lost to me. Guess, I just have been swimming in the wrong waters. This Christian historical romance novel was exactly what I needed. Profound and emotional, it made me teary on multiple occasions. War descriptions felt realistic to me and I loved it.

All main characters grew on me pretty quickly and I really liked all three POVs. I knew from the beginning that this was romance novel, but what I did not expect was three separated romantic lines. All three narrators got their own love stories and I enjoyed them equally.

However, constant switching between time periods was a bit disconnecting. Hence why I didn't give it full 5 stars. I love when we have past versus present chapters in novel. But in this case, chapters were sporadically jumping from present, to war time than to pre-war time and so on in no order whatsoever. And it slowed the flow of the story a little bit.

But otherwise I had no other complaint and I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. If you like war time historical romances, do not miss this one!

The first thing I will say about The Italian Ballerina is that it is extremely difficult to follow three different characters back and forth in the books with four (plus!) timelines. Even halfway through the book I was trying to piece together the story. Each of the three main characters stories do eventually weave together into a beautiful story as a whole, but it is written in a rather confusing way. That being said, the writing is well done and the story of discovering one’s purpose is worth the read. Court enlists as an army medic to try and prove his worth to his girl back home and fights to stay alive on the battlefield. Julia, a prima ballerina, struggles to do more for the suffering Jews in war torn Italy. In modern times, Delaney is struggling with the recent death of her grandfather and a mysterious summons to Italy. All considering, I would give 3.5 stars.

I will preface this with I love historical fiction so this book was right up my alley. Having read so many historical fiction novels, I feel like it does typically cause me to be a bit more critical as I’m reading them but this surpassed my already high expectations! I found it intriguing and emotionally gripping. I thought the two timelines were really well done and complemented each other. On top of that, the storylines were fascinating! I always enjoy learning more about a certain period of time and appreciate the work and research that went into writing it. Would highly recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson! I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

3.5 Stars rounded to 4. I enjoyed the characters’ stories and transformations, but the book followed (primarily) 3 main characters and 4 timelines. It was a lot to keep track of, and often felt like the book had ADD.

The Italian Ballerina conveys the story of Court and Julia, each having their own timeline separately, but also an additional timeline together at a couple years later. Their lives are interrupted by WW2, each dealing with their own battles and obligations pre-war, then they intersect in Rome, Italy as they, along with AJ, another medic, strive to sacrifice and save Calla, a little Jewish girl - and others in the hospital they find sanctuary in, in the process. Weaved in and out is also a present-day story of Court’s granddaughter and Calla’s grandson, trying to figure out their grandparents’ past friendship.

Each individual story I liked. I enjoyed the battles, the personal wars and struggles each fought and how they all morphed with fighting for someone else. Or in Matteo’s and Del’s case, for empathizing and finding grace while caring for an aged and deteriorating Calla. But following 4 timelines was a lot of work. I barely had time to be invested in anyone by the time I was yanked away to follow somewhere else - and remember what happened the last time and what year it was. It wasn’t enough time to be as invested as you wanted to be in them while being super confusing. I wanted more of the stories of each of them but with so much going on, I felt like I only got part of what they could have been. I’m ok with dual timelines but this was a whole lot in constant motion and I didn’t care for that.

Thanks to Netgalley and Thomas Nelson for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I really enjoy Kristy Cambron's WWII books and find them very insightful and gripping. The story rotates between Rome in 1943 and present day. In Rome, British ballerina Julia Bradbury is stranded and forced to seek refuge in a Tiber Island hospital. She stumbles into one of the greatest cons in history and risks everything to rescue Italian Jews as the Holocaust rages. In the present day, Delaney Coleman returns home to care for her aging parents. When a mysterious Italian woman comes into her life claiming to be in possession of precious heirlooms from Delaney's family, she begins to dig up her family's hidden past. This story travels around the globe through WWII and is a heart-wrenching story that kept me entertained and invested until the very end of the book.

This was an excellent book to read. There was a good story told in two timelines and l was surprised how they worked well together. The characters were intriguing and interesting.plenty to enjoy. Thank you for letting me read it.

I was given an advanced copy reader of this book in exchange of an honest review. This book was incredibly inspiring and I couldn’t stop reading. It was amazing how the story tied together in the end. I highly recommend this book to everyone who enjoys reading.

THE ITALIAN BALLERINA by KRISTY CAMBRON is a well written WW11 novel which takes place in Italy, during the war and again in present time. The book is based on historical fact with unforgettable and very real characters. The time is split between Julia Bradbury’s story in 1943 where she and two Allied medics save Calla, a little Jewish girl, and that of Delaney, the granddaughter of Private Courtney Coleman, who goes to Rome with a lttle old suitcase covered in cherries, to meet the elderly Calla and unravel her recently deceased grandfather’s relationship with the Italian ballerina.
Julia is a world famous ballerina who teaches the little girl to dance in the garden between the church buildings and the hospital on Tiber Island where Jews who survived the attack on the ghetto are kept safe due to the invention of Syndrome K, a fictitious contagious disease. I like to see how she finds more fulfilment in what she is doing to help these endangered people than she ever did dancing for the rich and famous.
I also like to see how Court’s life changes after he saves little Calla and comes to know the brave little soul - in fact we see how one person affected so many people and served to draw them back to faith in God.
The story is full and exciting, heartwrenching in parts where we see the results of a horrific war, but also hopeful with special relationships, romance and a strong Christian message of redemption.
I am not going to tell you any more as I do not want to spoil the read for you.
I highly recommend The Itslian Ballerina as a worthwhile and inspirational read.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Thomas Nelson. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

Kristy Cambron’s books about World War II are gripping and emotionally challenging, based on true events. After releasing The Paris Dressmaker last year, Cambron has come up with another fascinating story based mostly in Rome. Themes of finding something to do that makes life worthwhile, the meaning love, family, and sacrifice - together with wonderful characters, make this a read you won’t soon forget. Adding in a present day thread with the grandchildren of some of the main WWII characters trying to figure out how their grandparents were tied together during the war, and it’s hard to put this book down. Hopefully the jumping backwards and forwards in time won’t confuse you – Cambron is careful to give date and location of each scene change. I loved the book!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
#TheItalianBallerina #NetGalley

Set in multiple timelines, this is the story of a fake plague that saved lives during WWII. An Italian hospital invented Syndrome K to protect Jewish 'patients' from the Nazis. The novel follows an English ballerina, an American soldier, and a young girl who finds herself swept up by current events. Much of the story is based on true events and historic fact, and it's such an amazing tale! The most difficult thing for me was that one of the characters speaks from multiple timelines. I'm ok with multiple voices, and multiple timelines, but struggled with having the same voice speak back and forth across times. It may just be me though...

The Italian Ballerina by Kristy Cambron is a great dual timeline, WWII-era historical fiction that takes is back to Rome 1943 and to the heroic acts that take place there.

This is such a great book! I have been a fan of Ms. Cambron for quite some time. I loved her previous book, The Paris Dressmaker, and loved that story. I also practiced ballet for 10 years, and pointe specifically for 4 years, so I knew I had to read this one. I was definitely not disappointed.

This is such a wonderfully depicted story full of courage, risk, action, love, loss, hope, despair, and kept me engaged from beginning to end. I loved the location to include Rome, as it just doesn’t seem like there are enough books depicting the horrific and unique events that took place there during WWII.

I also loved how the author weaved a complex and hauntingly beautiful tale by using two timelines and two sets of characters that intertwine and gave the reader an added perspective and an element of mystery. I was particularly partial to the historic timeline involving Julia and Calla and Syndrome K. However, adding Delaney did create an extra layer and also an additional viewpoint.

I always love a great historical fiction that is based on true events and individuals, and I especially enjoy novels that continue to give a voice to those in the past that should never, ever be forgotten.

The Author’s note at the end of the book really added to the story. She gives factual vs fictional specifics and to see so much rooted in truth and real events was both heartwarming and heart wrenching.

I am grateful to be able to read a story of such selflessness, courage, and faith. It restores my hope in the potential of humanity.

5/5 stars

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Thank you NG and Thomas Nelson 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 on 7/12/22.