Kristy Cambron skillfully weaves together the separate storylines in this dual timeline novel into a beautiful masterpiece of courage and sacrifice. It tells the story of a young Jewish girl and the ballerina and two American soldiers who come to her rescue. Cambron's vivid descriptions and rich historical detail bring the story to life. As a reader, I felt as if the characters were real people and I very much cared what would happen to them. It is a story filled with raw emotion and timeless truths that will speak to your soul. One for the keeper shelf!

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book from the author/ publisher through Netgalley. I was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

This was a beautiful book. I love the way the stories started separate and we didn't really know how everyone was connected and then, as time went on, the stories started to braid together. It kept me interested right up to the end. I did want to note that even though this is marked as Christian fiction, it wasn't overwhelmingly religious. As a non-believer, I was ok with the amount presented and didn't feel like it took away from the book at all. I love that the book takes place in German-occupied Italy, and Rome specifically. It's not often an area we see in WWII and I appreciated that and the additional of the Italian language.

Thank you Netgalley for an advanced copy of The Italian Ballerina. This book was gorgeous, both the cover and the writing. I thoroughly enjoyed both characters abd their timelines.

I have finished 81 books this year. Only a few have stood out. This is one. The Italian Ballerina by Kristy Cambron will keep you wanting more all the way through and you won’t want it to end. When Delaney Coleman and her family receive a request for some of her late grandfather’s belongings to go to a woman in Rome, there is no way they will just let the item go without knowing more. So Delaney flies to Rome, where she meets calla and Matt. Calla was a famous ballerina and Matt is her grandson. During world war 2, Calla knew Delaney’s grandfather. As they discover the story, they will find family and hope. Definitely a great book. I hated that it was over. I could keep on reading! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.

I'm a little sad to say that I struggled with this one. I adored the characters but I feel like there were too many points of view for me to feel really invested in the story. As soon as I would feel like I knew what was going on, the perspective would change and I'd have to start over with finding my focus.
I will say that I really like the author's writing style but this one just missed the mark for me.

Thank you to NetGalley for my e-arc of this book. All opinions here are my own.

Stunning, moving, and poignant. Kristy Cambron takes the reader from a small American farm town to Rome and infuses the story with drama, tension, hope, romance, faith, and restoration. I absolutely love the idea of a suitcase and immersed myself into the story to find out why it was so important. The plot moves along at just the right pace with flashbacks to the events in WWII and the people involved. I love dual timelines, but often find I prefer one story over the other. I did not experience that with this story! I equally loved both stories and was simultaneously glad and sad when it moved to the other perspective. There are so many powerful points to this story: Italy’s experiences during the war with a Fascist government and the Nazi’s bearing down, the Italian Jews trying to escape the Holocaust, a ballerina determined to serve her country, and two American soldiers willing to risk everything for the right thing. The incorporation of Syndrome K was a thrilling angle and added a new dimension to this already layered tale. Court really captured my heart though as he grew into his faith and maturity and listened to Holy Spirit in the moments it mattered most. Calla is a beautiful and graceful survivor who shares her hope with others. The romances were tender and captivating, but the takeaway message for me was that God sees us, right where we are, and cares for us even when things don’t always make sense. A single life has massive rippling effects to so many others! I cannot say enough good things about this book. You must read it!
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley and all opinions expressed are solely my own, freely given.

** “War was a leveler. Regardless of age or nation or language spoken, it could not and never would be powerful enough to overtake love.” **

Kristy Cambron delivers a beautiful time-slip novel with “The Italian Ballerina,” a story that follows several sets of characters from just before World War II to the present.

After the death of Delaney Coleman’s grandfather, Court, she is contacted by an Italian family asking for a special item once owned by their grandmother, Calla. Joining forces with the woman’s grandson Matteo in Italy, Del wonders how the little suitcase with cherries on it relates to her grandfather and this mysterious woman she’s never even heard of.

During World War II, Court rescues a young Jewish girl from the Nazis. With help from his co-medic AJ, he joins forces with a former ballerina Julia to hide precious Calla from the evil forces that desperately want to destroy her and her people.

Jumping back and forth between past timelines and the present, “The Italian Ballerina” is a glorious story about grief and empathy and love and forgiveness and bravery. Cambron does an incredible job of weaving together the two stories, as well as developing lovely and intriguing characters.

She also fills her novel with several incredible themes, like grace can cover all things; beauty still exists, even when the world seems incredibly ugly; grief impacts everyone differently (“Grief is an unpredictable foe. My mother says there’s no easy way around it and no fast way through. You just have to walk in pace with it, however long that takes”); we must use our lives to help and not harm others (“Love did not harm. Nor did it manipulate or threaten. Real love didn’t do the breaking; it restored the broken”); and finding faith and restoration.

Fans of historic fiction as well as World War II stories will love this deeply researched novel. Fans of authors like Rachel McMillan and Kate Morton and stories like Katherine Reay’s “The London House” will also truly enjoy “The Italian Ballerina.”

Five stars out of five.

Thomas Nelson provided this complimentary copy through NetGalley for my honest, unbiased review.

So I had to sacrifice some needed sleep to get this review up but was so worth it to to find out how The Italian Ballerina ended!​​​​​​​​ ​​​I'm such a fan of Kristy Cambron's books and I was so looking forward to her latest release! This book just ticked all the right boxes: World War II. Check. Ballet. Check. Swoony, heroic men. Check. Courageous, amazing women. Check. Fascinating tidbits of history. Check. I'd never heard about Syndrome K before and found it so fascinating to read about. I always find war stories a bit hard to read because there's never a true happily ever after in the end, because war means sadness and loss. Which is why I always admire Kristy Cambron's ability to weave in love and hope amidst tales of war's atrocities. The timeline does jump around a bit, so it takes a bit of getting used to at the beginning but once you have them straight in your mind, it easy breezy from there. This time around I wasn't as invested in the modern timeline as the historical one because I just wanted to know what happened so bad! ​​​​​​At first I was really confused as to what direction the romance was going but then it all of a sudden made perfect sense. The romances were sooooo achingly sweet! And that's all I'll say and let you discover the rest yourself.

This is a review for the Italian Ballerina by Kristi Cambron. This book is steeped in the Nazi occupation of Rome in the 1940's, and also the present day. It is one of those books that tells the end of the story at the beginning of the book, then tells how the story of how they got there. I struggled at little bit at first because the story jumps around a bit, but I am glad I stayed with it, because as I read on, the story made sense. This book was very exciting, and unpredictable, but throughout the story I saw the grace of God shown through the actions of the characters that really touched my heart. The characters in this book were thrown together, and they joined together and worked together to make sure each other survived the harsh conditions of WWII. Even though it was fiction, the occupation took place, and the places are real, and I know that there were real people who experienced what these characters did during that time. I loved this book, and the message it delivers, and I learned a lot that I didn't known about the occupation of Rome. It made me want to do a better job of showing Jesus to others, & even strangers, that God brings across my path! I give this book a 5 out of 5 stars, and makes me so thankful for the nurses, doctors, medics and the soldiers who fought to free the Jews from the Nazi control! They are all heroes in my book My hat goes off to all of them, and I'd shake their hands today if I could!!

In this story, the group starts with a little Jewish girl, Calla, who carries with her a little suitcase with cherries on it, which she wont let go, and follows an American medic, Court Coleman, who rescues her after her parents were shot in front of her, as they try to save themselves from the Nazis who take over Mussolini's territory, and then Mussolini falls from power.

Then another part of the group that ends up with them is Julia Bradbury who is an English prima ballerina, who in 1943 finds herself getting rescued by some Catholic friars after she experiences violence from Mussolini's followers. She finds herself volunteering at a hospital in Rome where she meets the American medic Court Coleman, and his superior officer A.J. Nelson.

A.J. and Court get separated from their unit, and Court gets injured saving Calla from the Gestapo, and all three of them seek refuge with the friars on Tiber Island, Italy. That's where they meet Julia, and they find out that she is helping the friars and a doctor hide Jews by claiming they have a fake sickness called "Syndrome K.". Court is unconscious and is hurt bad, and needs to stay in the hospital, so A.J. takes care of the little girl who will not leave Court's side, and works together with Julia to help save Jews.

The little girl, Calla, only speaks Italian, but her American savior, Court, nor his captain A.J. speak Italian, but Julia does. Julia, being a prima ballerina sees that Calla has been through a horrific ordeal, and needs to hide along with her American friends till they can get back to Court and A.J.'s unit, so she takes her under her wing and teaches her ballet, and draws Calla out of her shell.

Julia's life prior to that was fulfilling her dream as a ballerina, but her dancing partner, who she once trusted, ended up doing something to her that made her no longer trust him, but you must read the book to find out that story. You will also read Courts back story, and what led him to join up and find himself in Italy in 1943, but I don't want to spoil it. Also you will be taken to the present day, that will involve that little suitcase with the cherries on it, which will lead the ancestors of Court and Calla to their stories, where you will also find Julia, and those on Tiber Island who risked their lives to save so many Jews.

This story was fascinating because it brought so many people together during war time and then present day that would never have been brought together, just like really happened in WWII...Americans, Britains, and Italians, and so many other nations working together, as Julia, Court, A.J., the soldiers, doctors, nurses, medics, etc did during that war with a common focus which was to keep freedom alive. I think we could learn a lot from this story about how to work together.

But the main thing I learned from this story was the grace I saw between Court and Calla. Calla watched her parents be shot before her eyes, and Corut, who wasn't supposed to get involved, couldn't leave a Jewish child standing there to be killed or hurt by the Gestapo. He knew he was possibly risking his career, but he didn't care, because he had to save her. Then Calla wouldnt separate herself from him, loved him from the minute he saved her, and God used that little girl to show a grown man how to be loved, and how much he was valued even though he thought he was worthless. Calla, in turn, learned to trust again after her horrible ordeal. So even though they both went through horrible circumstances, God brought them together to extend His love, and help each of them to heal through this relationship. How awesome is that!!

So I loved this book, and I hope you will take time to read it, and stay with it as it will explain everything! Great book!!!

I loved the premise of this book and I enjoy reading stories about the WWII specially if they are about a part I don't know much about.

Hence my dissapointment that I couldn't get into this book. I tried several times, but just could connect to the story or the characters. I felt like I was missing the beginning and just dove into a story halfway.

This is the first book I’ve read by Kristy Cambron and definitely won’t be the last! I was completely swept away into the past with the beautiful prose. It’s a poignant, powerful, multi timeline story of sacrifice, mercy, and how one life can make a difference in the most difficult circumstances. It jumps back and forth between years before and during WWII and present day, also varying in location from America to England to Italy. I loved the historical aspects of the novel and endearing characters both fictional and nonfictional who risked their lives to save so many. It’s based on the actual story of Fatebenefratelli hospital in Rome and Syndrome K, a mysterious fictional illness Dr. Giovanni Borromeo invented to protect Roman Jews and antifascists during Nazi occupation.

Told from several different perspectives, the story begins with an incident happening at the Fatebenefratelli hospital. Nazis are storming the area where patients are quarantined for the supposedly deadly Syndrome K. An American soldier named Cort is trying to escape with a little girl and they are found by a soldier. Jumping back and forth in time, we learn who the little Jewish girl is and how two brave American soldiers and an exceptionally talented English ballerina end up protecting her. All the events in the story weave together leading up to that pivotal moment at the beginning.

In modern day, Matteo and Delaney are both trying to unravel the past of their grandparents. Delaney’s grandfather has just passed away and Matteo contacts her from faraway Italy determined to recover a piece of property he claims belongs to his grandmother. Returning the little suitcase brings Delaney to Italy and the story of how her grandfather came to possess it sets her on a journey of discovery and love.

I had a hard time deciding between a 4 and 5 star rating. At first, the multi timeline was confusing, especially because I listened to the audiobook version. It jumps back and forth between years during WWII and it took a while to straighten out when the events were happening. Once I got used to the writer’s style and the main characters involved, I was riveted and had a hard time putting it down. The audiobook version is fantastic with a terrific narrator who distinguishes each character brilliantly. The various accents she employed from English to American, to Italian really brought these characters to life. I enjoyed the heart wrenching story told with just the right amount of emotion.

The characters really make this story come alive and I enjoyed how the story of the past affected the modern day. Both Matteo and Delaney are at a crossroads in their lives, wanting to change and do something meaningful. In the past, Delaney’s grandfather Cort is suffering from a feeling of not being good enough and longs to prove himself. The heroic acts which bring the present and past together serve to give meaning and purpose to all involved. It’s definitely a story that will stay with me.

Highly recommend to historical and contemporary fiction fans alike! I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through NetGalley, but also purchased an audiobook copy from Audible. All opinions are my own and I was not required to provide a positive review. 4 1/2 stars.

While I wanted to love The Italian Ballerina, by Kristy Cambron, I found it to be just ok.  I love historical fiction and the time period in which it was set, but I found it challenging to connect with the characters and stay attentive while reading. I did complete the novel. Thanks, NetGalley and the publisher, for providing me with an ARC ebook in exchange for my honest review.

"The Italian Ballerina" has a very interesting premise - characters drawn together in the plight of World War II and in the midst of the tactics of the false-disease "Syndrome K." Mysteries abound in unknown identities and secrets kept over decades in this time-split novel that ties a family's past to the present.

Cambron draws the reader into rich and detailed settings and right into the heart of the harsh realities of war. We follow Julia - the ballerina, and Court - a troubled Allies' soldier, and an unknown young girl in the past, and we meet and follow Court's granddaughter, Delaney, in the present time where she begins trying to piece together that past.

As a split-time novel, the timeline is very confusing, however, with non-chronological leaps forwards and backwards (even in the past timeline). This created a rather frustrating read for me, as I continuously tried to establish where the characters were and what had and had not happened yet. There didn't seem to be a reason for clear reason for this.

While an intriguing concept and while I was fascinated by the historical time frame and events, I found this was not a novel that kept my interest. I DNF'd at 40 percent. I give it a neutral 3 stars.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. All thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.

This story is going to linger with me for a long time. Kristy Cambron masterfully crafted the two time lines together. A beautiful balance between the heavy realities of WWII and finding the beauty in life to carry on. The Italian Ballerina is full of loyalty, love, and sacrifice.

I received an ARC through Netgalley and all opinions are my own.

Kristy writes such unique books. When I first begin one I am always a bit confused and wonder how this is all going to tie together, but it always does. The book was slowly woven together to create a beautiful piece of work.

It did not end exactly how I expected, actually something very sad happens that I didn’t see coming.

This book shows another aspect of WWII that I wasn’t aware of and I loved learning something new.

Overall, a well done book. If you like historical and contemporary books I recommend this one.

A copy of this book was given to me through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

I’ve read a couple of this author’s other books and always enjoyed her unique and fresh take on historic events. Her ability to bring a new perspective or highlight an otherwise overlooked part of a huge past event is amazing, and this book was no exception. I didn’t know much about Italy during WWII so I was able to learn something while also fall in love with the characters and plot of the story. Highly recommend for historical fiction lovers!

This well-researched split time novel is filled with information on events surrounding the clearing of the ghetto in Rome, Italy of which I was previously unaware. The fictional story that showcases the real-life heroism of Dr. Giovanni Borromeo and members of his staff at the Fatebenefratelli Hospital at Tiber Island is amazing. The heroics of the fictional characters are both heart-warming and heart-wrenching. Kristy Cambron has once again woven a tale that brings the generations together and demonstrates the impact the past has on the future, and that one life can have on the lives of so many others. The theme of both extending and receiving mercy is also well developed in this beautiful story.

I highly recommend The Italian Ballerina along with Cambron's other works. I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.

I was excited to read this book because it is based on true events. The story is a remarkable one, and the characters from the past are fairly believable, although I struggled to connect with them. I also got lost in the past timelines, as if I had missed a bit, although this was probably exacerbated by my sporadic reading of the book (I found it very put-downable). The “present day” storyline was romantic and a little too clichéd and obvious for me (millionaire footballer with love+rat reputation suddenly becomes sensitive marriage material.) I was looking for a depiction of Italy under German occupation but aside from the facts I’d already read in the synopsis, I don’t feel like I learned much of what it must have been like to live through those times. Thank you for the advance copy but I would probably not have finished it if I hadn’t had to write this review.

This is a beautifully written novel. There are multiple storylines to follow and it is not told in a linear format so it’s important to notice the dates at the beginning of the chapters. It’s set before WWII, during WWII, and present day, in multiple countries including America, England, and Italy.

Court and AJ, two American Army medics go from the battlefield to a hospital where they work with famed ballerina Julia to save the life of a little girl and countless other Roman Jews fleeing Nazi soldiers. The invented “Syndrome K” keeps the soldiers out of the hospital’s quarantine ward where doctors help Jewish refugees escape to safety.

In present day America, Delaney takes a trip to Rome to help solve the mystery of a child’s suitcase found among her grandfather’s things and linked to Matteo’s grandmother Calla. Del and Matt piece together the story through old letters, photos, research, and Calla’s memories as she struggles with dementia. It’s a story of love, family and sacrifice, and I already want to reread it.

I received a complimentary ebook from the publishers via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The Italian Ballerina by Kristy Cambron was the perfect read. A time slip novel set both now and the World War 2 Italy, this book captivated me. Hints of mystery and a tender romance bloom amid the backdrop of a desperate effort to protect an innocent Jewish child from the Nazis. Cambron develops her tale inch by inch, holding my attention as danger and new discoveries abound, uniting the characters in ways they never expected. The descriptions, timing, and ever present danger penetrated my heart, moving my emotions every step of the way.

When it comes to time slip novels, Cambron is at the top of my list You won’t be disappointed with this one!

I received this book from Netgalley. All opinions are my own.