An engating tale in two different timelines with an interesting connection in between. Enjoyed reading it. Characterisation could have been better.

Beautifully descriptive novel of Italy, told in dual timeline of 15 year old Stella during WWII and current day, Tori, escaping an abusive spouse and going to Italy after the death of her beloved grandmother. Loved the connection between the 2 and reading the unraveling of the secrets!

Kat Devereaux’s Escape to Tuscany is a sweeping, emotional and dramatic tale perfect for Santa Montefiore and Lucinda Riley fans.

Romituzzo, 1944 and fourteen year old Stella has a big secret she daren’t reveal to her parents – she’s a member of the town’s resistance network. Working alongside her brother Achille, Stella helps to deliver messages, supplies and weapons to partisan groups hiding in the Tuscan hills. Although she faces danger and jeopardy every single day, Stella is not scared and ploughs on fueled by passion and courage – until peace is declared in 1945 and she vanishes off the face of the earth.

Florence, 2019, writer Tori MacNair has arrived in Florence to build a new life for herself after the end of her emotionally abusive marriage. Florence holds plenty of special memories for Tori as it reminds her of her grandmother who had taught her to love this beautiful part of Italy. Unable to resist doing some research into her family history, Tori is shocked when she uncovers a secret that has lain hidden for decades of a brave young woman called Stella.

Divided by decades, it soon transpires that the two women have got more in common than they initially thought. Will Stella’s bravery and courage inspire Tori in this new chapter of her life? Can Stella’s ghost be laid to rest? Or will long-buried secrets end up having catastrophic consequences for Tori as she tries to make a fresh start in Italy?

Kat Deveraux has the storyteller’s gift and with Escape to Tuscany has penned a heart-wrenching, captivating and enthralling tale of love and war that will bring many a tear to the eye.

Kat Deveraux writes with such a strong sense of place that she immediately transports her readers to this beautiful part of the world and they will feel as if they are part of the story alongside the characters of this superbly crafted novel.

Immersive, enjoyable and unforgettable, Escape to Tuscany is an impressive debut novel by Kat Devereaux.

Love and Sacrifice

An emotional WWII story told in two different timeframes. The story of the youngest resistance worker in 1944 and the story of her granddaughter Tori in 2019.

Stella's story as a courier in the resistance and the involvement of her brother and his friend with whom she became romantically involved with. Her losses during the war and how she came to leave Italy and relocate to Britain.

Stella's story is of the resistance, her work in it and her losses. Tori is a writer and needing a story she latches on to her grandmother's story. She goes to Italy to find out her grandmother's WWII history even though her sister and her mother advise her against it. Leaving her abusive husband behind she finds her story and a new life in Italy.

It was a story of love and of healing. A story of communication and reliving of history. Dealing with the past the present and the future.

It was a wonderful story and I enjoyed reading it.

Thanks to Kat Devereaux for writing a great story, to Aria and Aries for publishing it and to NetGalley for providing me with a copy to read and review.

A glorious read full of rich detail that made me ache to be back in Italy. I loved the characters and the story. As a lover of Tuscany and Florence, this book was a delight. I want to come back there!

This book was such an enjoyable read. It was fast paced and I loved the dual timeline element. It kept me hooked throughout and I really enjoyed reading about the war in Italy. I read this book in 24 hours as it grabbed my attention and I was so invested in the characters stories! Definitely recommend this one.

Thanks to Netgalley and Aria & Aries publishers.

It’s hard to believe this is the author’s debut novel! It’s beautifully written, evocative and poignant and thoroughly captivating.

The descriptions of the Tuscan countryside and Florence add a real sense of place and time to the narrative and certainly help add to the romance of the story, despite one half of the dual timeline being set in World War Two.

The past and present day are defined by chapters written either from Stella’s or Tori’s perspective. The historical aspect is particularly interesting and has clearly been well researched.

It’s hard not to empathise with Tori’s conflicted emotions in the present day as she embarks on a new romance with lawyer Marco, given the way she has been treated in the past by both her husband and family members and this aspect of the storyline is sensitively portrayed.

A delightful read and definitely recommended! I look forward to reading more from the author.

With thanks to Kat Devereaux, Rachel at Random Resources and Head of Zeus publishing for the opportunity to participate in the tour.

Escape to Tuscany was a well written debut novel by Kat Devereaux. It was written in a dual timeline. The setting for this novel took place in and around the cities of Florence and Romituzzo in both 2019 and in 1944. Both female protagonists, although separated by decades, were strong, determined, committed and courageous women. Both women experienced a less than ideal relationship with their mothers. Each woman suffered from verbal and emotional abuse. One from her mother and the other from her husband. Both of these women chose to leave the abuse behind. They each left their old lives behind. All the people that knew these women expected them to stay no matter how they felt or how much they were made to suffer. After committing to leaving, both of these women found themselves in the midst of a newfound freedom. They both discovered the kind of love that some search their whole lives for. All that transpired in this book was told from the POVs of these two very different yet similar women.

Stella Infuriari grew up in a small town called Romituzzo. Since she had been able to remember details of her childhood, Stella knew beyond all doubt that her parents favored her older brother, Achille, over her in every way. Achille could do nothing wrong in her parent’s eyes. Whereas, Stella’s mother was constantly belittling her, finding faults with her and ridiculing her for not doing things right. Stella’s mother straddled Stella with more chores than necessary. The worst part was that her mother was never satisfied with the way Stella accomplished them and often made her do them over and over again. Stella was convinced that her mother, in particular, did not love her. Her mother only had love for her brother. Fortunately for Stella, Achille loved her very much. The two siblings were extremely close. It was no wonder that Stella became the youngest resistance member at fourteen years old in 1944. She never revealed her work to her parents because she knew they would have prevented her from doing it. Stella worked with her brother. She was asked to deliver messages, weapons and even medicine to various Partisan groups. When Father Anselmo, the priest from the church she attended with her mother, rescued her one day at a Nazi checkpoint, Stella and Father Anselmo forged the beginnings of long and devoted friendship and a agreement to help each other in their work for the resistance. Since her brother, Achille, often disappeared for days at a time when he drove his motorbike up into the remote hills surrounding Romituzzo as he and his Communist friends fought off the Nazis and the members of the Fascist Party, Stella began to work even more closely with Father Anselmo. Then just as the war finally ended, Stella disappeared and no one ever knew what happened to her.

Tori McNair had an extremely close relationship with her maternal grandmother, Margaret, so when she passed away she was devastated. She had lost the one person who had always been on her side, the one person who Tori confided in and knew that she would not be judged for what she had done, achieved or had not achieved and the person who had shared her love for Florence with her. Tori attended her grandmother’s funeral without her husband, Duncan. He and her grandmother had never been on good terms. Tori’s marriage to Duncan started out happy but very quickly became very difficult. Duncan demanded more and more from Tori. They lived on a big farm in the Scottish Highlands. Whatever Tori did or didn’t do, Duncan found fault with and started to abuse her emotionally. He made Tori feel bad about herself. Duncan prevented Tori from keeping up with her friends and family. He squandered money she earned and never discussed with her what he had done with it. His treatment of her was making Tori second guess herself and feel less adequate than she really was. When Tori discovered that Duncan had prevented her from attending a gathering honoring her grandmother the night before her grandmother’s funeral, that was the final straw. Tori was furious! She went to their farm, packed her bags and told Duncan that she was leaving. His reaction was a nonchalant response that indicated that he didn’t care what Tori did. Her grandmother had left her a generous amount of money in her will. Tori knew immediately that she was going to Florence to live.

When Tori arrived in Florence, she felt a new calm. She knew she had done the right thing by leaving Duncan. To her, their marriage was over. Florence was the best place to start over again. Her grandmother and her had shared so many happy memories here over their many visits. The first order of business was finding a place to live. Then Tori remained optimistic that everything else would fall in place. Her real estate agent, Chiara, reminded Tori of all the things she had to do to get citizenship in Italy. It was all very overwhelming for Tori so a very qualified lawyer was recommended. As soon as Tori met Marco, the lawyer her real estate agent and new friend, Chiara, recommended, there was an instant connection and attraction. Tori also had to deal with her publisher. She was a freelance writer. Before her sudden departure, Tori had been writing a book about life in the Scottish Highlands. Since that was no longer relevant or an option, Tori decided to write about Italy and her grandmother. One thing led to another. After Tori’s mother had cleaned out her grandmother’s house, boxes of her grandmother’s personal letters, keepsakes and diaries were shipped to Tori. Hidden in those boxes, was a whole other side of her grandmother’s life that her grandmother had managed to keep secret from her and her family. A lot of the letters and other documents Tori found were written in Italian. She sought out help from both Marco and Chiara. Tori was amazed when she came across a picture and article about an Italian race car hero. What was her grandmother’s connection to the famous Achille Infuriati? If Tori could piece together the puzzle of her grandmother’s earlier life, with assistance from Marco and Chiara, she might just have the makings for a great book. As Tori started her research, she discovered that Achille had a sister named Stella. In her attempts to learn about Stella, Tori was met with major roadblocks. There was no documentation of Stella’s existence after the war ended. Tori became even more intrigued with Stella’s fate. She was determined to uncover Stella’s and Achille’s story. How had her grandmother known them? What was the connection between them? Tori was intent to find out.

Kat Devereaux described the colors, food, quaint surroundings, shops, museums and smells of Florence so flawlessly in Escape to Tuscany. I was in Florence many years ago and this book made me wish I could travel there again. Giving voice to such strong and capable female characters always makes historical fiction novels even more compelling for me. Both Stella and Tori faced their own challenges and unique situations but they each became stronger, more confident and more determined to succeed. Both past and present came together in a way that made sense, brought closure and helped to bring about a sense of peace and acceptance by all involved. I enjoyed witnessing the transformation and growth that both Stella and Tori went through. This is a book that will spark your motivation towards a trip to Tuscany. I highly recommend Escape to Tuscany by Kat Devereaux if you enjoy historical fiction mixed with a touch of romance.

Thank you to Aria & Aries for allowing me to read Escape to Tuscany by Kat Devereaux through Netgalley in exchange for a honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Engaging and enjoyable. Characters that can feel familiar and likeable. A perfect setting to escape the real world for a time. Worth reading.

This was a beautifully written dual time story, set in Tuscany, present day and wartime threads equally strong and engaging – and one I very much enjoyed.

Prevented from attending her much-loved grandmother’s pre-funeral vigil by her controlling husband, Tori’s inheritance enables her escape – to flee to Florence, securing an apartment, reliving the memories of their many visits together. A writer, she finds herself unable to deliver the book she’s contracted for – about her life in the Highlands – and plans instead to write an account of her stay in Tuscany and any detail she can uncover about her grandmother’s past. With the help of lawyer Marco – and despite the unwelcome and far too frequent interventions from her family, urging her to return – she slowly uncovers the past, and her grandmother’s links with a notable racing driver, famous far beyond the small town of Romituzzo where he grew up, uncovering a wider and intriguing story of hardship and bravery in occupied Italy.

1944, and at fourteen, Stella Infuriati – like her more favoured brother and many of her friends, and without the knowledge of her parents – risks her life daily by carrying ammunition and supplies for the local partisans. Her first person account alternates with Tori’s – with particularly well written and dramatic accounts of day-to-day bravery and the atrocities she experiences. But as the war draws to a close, she disappears – something it’s particularly difficult to do given Italian bureaucracy – and the rest of her story, along with her connections to her grandmother, are for Tori to uncover.

The setting, in both wartime and present day stories, is vividly drawn and beautifully described – and while this might not be a true story, it’s clear that the story draws on extensive research around the Tuscan wartime experience to give Stella’s account a particular feeling of authenticity. And the pre-Brexit experience of moving to Italy is nicely done too – the mountain of paperwork and barriers to be negotiated, with the help of the lovely Marco. The storytelling is excellent, the threads of the story nicely entwined and slowly disentangled – it’s a compelling mystery, with some present day drama too, an ending I found entirely satisfying, accompanied by some well-handled emotional touches and a welcome and convincing developing romance.

If you enjoy a well-written dual timeline story, as I do – and who wouldn’t enjoy a book set in this beautiful part of Italy, and to learn a little more about its difficult past – this is a book I’d thoroughly recommend.

Dual time lines and two strong female characters. It was a.gopd book, the.lovestory was sweet. And the atrocoties of the war was well written. But for me it gave to little details , it Just did not feel "finished". Thank you to netgalley for letting me read this e arc in exchange for an honest opinion

When Tori MacNair's husband Duncan stands in the way of her getting to farewell her grandmother it is the last straw. She takes her inheritance and flees to the Italian city of Florence, a place that holds cherished memories of trips with her grandmother.

Tori needs to spend times healing from her emotional wounds from her marriage, and on a more practical level she needs to get back to work as a writer. She has a book contract to write about her life in the Scotland but that's going to be difficult given that she doesn't even live there anymore. She needs to find a new story to pitch to her impatient agent and publisher...and fast.

Going through her grandmother's papers she comes across some letters which lead her to the story of a famous racing car driver who died back in the 1950s. How can the tragic story of this man be connected to her family? And can Tori find the people who her grandmother always used to visit whenever they came to Florence. Maybe they will help her put all the pieces of the puzzle together.

Tori is an interesting character to read about. Sometimes it is difficult to read as she is very damaged. Her marriage has left her without any confidence in herself, having been denigrated and undermined for years. And if her own sister will not believe her when she tells her how unhappy she was, why would anyone else? She needs to find her self belief, and to believe that she deserves to be happy. As she meets people in her new life, can she allow herself to take a chance at happiness.

This is a dual timeline novel and the historical part of the storyline focuses on a young woman named Stella. She is a young girl of 14 when we meet her during World War II. She is secretly risking her life by working as a courier for the resistance. Her brother Achille also is part of the resistance organisation and knows the risks she is taking but her parents are blissfully unaware. Through her eyes, we see the techniques used to smuggle arms, illegal newspapers and more. We also are with her in the midst of fighting where Stella is called onto provide medical assistance to her fellow resisters. One of the interesting things is that Stella disappeared from the records in 1945. Will Tori be able to find out what happened to her?

I am going to put it out there that I enjoyed this book. It was an easy read and I read it in a day, or should I say night. This is the author's debut novel and I will be looking for the next book from her, which will also be set in Italy. Having said that, I did wonder about the indirectness of the link between Tori and Stella in telling the story. It felt kind of forced, or maybe a better way to say it is that it lacked some cohesion. Then again, maybe the fact that it is not as direct as a lot of these books are is a point of difference.



Recently we had a friend around for lunch. The deal was that he would give us some handy tips about travel in Hawaii as we have recently book flights for later in the year, and we would do the same for him following our recent trip to Southen Italy. Part of the conversation was about whether it would be worth visiting Florence. My advice was absolutely, and reading this book definitely reiterated that for me.

I am sharing this review with the Historical Fiction Reading Challenge.

Thanks to the publisher, Netgalley and Rachel's Random Resources for the review copy.

Slow start for me. I enjoyed Stella and the historical aspect of the story. Stella's parent's favoritism for her brother Achille was apparent and their treatment of her appalling. The present day story of Tori was harder to enjoy, with her husband and sister being such despicable characters. The connection between the Stella and Tori was vague. Enjoyed the setting. Just an okay book.

Tori McNair had just lost her beloved grandmother, Margaret, and once again her husband Duncan neglected to tell her important information regarding the funeral. It was one thing too many, and Tori had had enough. She fled her husband and his abuse, as well as the mother she didn't get along with, and the sister who sided with her husband. Tori's arrival in Florence, the city her grandmother used to bring her when Tori was a child, soothed her, and as she found an apartment, and a lawyer, contacted her agent about the book she was writing, and set to finding out about divorcing Duncan, she gradually found some peace.

Researching her grandmother's life took her back to a young man named Achille, and his younger sister Stella. Both were active in the resistance during the war, and both survived. But when Achille was tragically killed, and Stella vanished, Tori wondered if she'd hit a wall. Could she discover more about her grandmother, and about the secrets long hidden?

I was initially drawn to Escape to Tuscany by the beautiful cover, and the historical aspect cemented the need for me to read it. Escape to Tuscany is Kat Devereaux's debut novel and is set in Italy among ancient old buildings, restaurants, museums and art galleries - a divine place to find yourself, as Tori needed to. I enjoyed the historical side of the story the best, with Stella, Achille, their parents, the old priest, and many partisan friends - Tori was harder to like. But I definitely enjoyed it, and also recommend it :)

With thanks to NetGalley and Amy of Head of Zeus, for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

Tori heads to Florence after receiving an unexpected inheritance. It’s where she spent time with her Grandmother. She also needs to find a new idea for her book and just maybe her new friend Marco can help with that.
It’s a dual timeline story, I thought Tori’s story was more interesting.. I feel like some issues were left hanging.

Und hierum geht es auf Deutsch: Der Roman spielt auf zwei Zeitebenen. Einmal sind wir 1944 in Romituzzo, einem kleinem (fiktivem) Ort in der Toskana in der Nähe von Florenz. Stella ist 14 und das jüngste Mitglied der lokalen Widerstandsbewegung. Stella ist mutig, und sie kämpft wie eine Löwin für ihr Land gegen den Faschismus, gegen die deutsche Besatzung. Ihr Zuhause ist nicht wirklich liebevoll, hier spielt ihr älterer Bruder Achille die Hauptrolle. Achille ist aktiver Partisane in den Hügeln der Toskana, ein Held, und nebenbei auch noch bei allen beliebt. Als der Krieg zu Ende geht, beginnt für Achille ein neues Leben als Rennfahrer, während Stella einfach zu verschwinden scheint….
2019 kommt die britische Autorin Tori MacNair in Florenz an. Sie ist Hals über Kopf geflüchtet aus einer toxischen Ehe, Ihre Großmutter hat ihr ein kleines Erbe hinterlassen, mit dessen Hilfe sie es schafft, auszubrechen und einen Neuanfang in Italien zu wagen. Italien ist das Land der Sehnsucht, denn Tori war hier als kleines Mädchen öfters mit ihrer Großmutter gewesen, die hier viele Freunde hatte. Toris neuestes Buchprojekt soll sich um ihre Großmutter handeln, und je mehr Tori Nachforschungen anstellt, desto spannender wird es. Tori soll noch einige Geheimnisse der Vergangenheit aufspüren….
Die Geschichte wird abwechselnd aus der Sicht und Ich-Perspektive von Stellas und Tori erzählt, und die Verbindung zwischen den beiden Frauen ist schon bald klar, aber das tut der Spannung keinen Abbruch.
Mich hat dieser Roman gefesselt und berührt. Ich fand beide Erzählstränge richtig gut und packend. Die Erzählebene um Tori herum hatte mich schon nach den ersten paar Zeilen mitgerissen. Hier wird ziemlich eindrucksvoll peu a peu eine kaputte Ehe seziert, und man kann nicht anders, als mit Tori mitzufühlen und voller Spannung zu beobachten, wie sie ihre ersten Solo-Schritte unternimmt. Eine intelligente junge Frau, die Stück für Stück in ihrer Ehe ihr Selbstwertgefühl eingebüßt hat, und nun wieder sich berappelt. War richtig gut beschrieben. Interessant auch, wie der Rest der Familie, vor allem ihre Schwester, auf den Gatten reagiert hat, bzw, wie alleine Tori plötzlich dastand. Ich denke, das war schon ziemlich authentisch. Ja, Tori ist auf jeden Fall stärker, als sie anfangs dachte, und findet natürlich auch zaghaft ein neues Liebesglück (hey, wir sind in der Toskana im Sommer, dolce vita lässt grüßen, natürlich kommt hier auch amore vor 😉!)
Den Erzählstrang um Stella herum fand ich vor allem historisch interessant. Die letzten Kriegsjahre und auch die Nachkriegsjahre in Italien waren politisch brisant und interessant, und Romane / Erzählungen, die in diesen Zeiten spielen, finde ich per se faszinierend.
Flüssig und bildhaft geschrieben, konnte ich durch den Roman fliegen. Auch für Nicht-Muttersprachler war das Buch gut zu lesen, hat Spaß gemacht. Teils war es sehr emotional, aber nie kitschig. 2 starke Frauen in herausfordernden Zeiten – war gut gemacht, hat mich wie gesagt abgeholt.
Einzig das Ende war etwas aprubt, da dachte ich, hey, fehlen mir hier Seiten? Aber nein – da stand schon ENDE.
Ich bedanke mich bei Netgalley für das Rezensionsexemplar und empfehle den Roman gerne weiter! Von mir gibt es volle Punktzahl!

Escape to Tuscany is a dual timeline novel, set during World War II and present day. Alternating between then and now, first we meet Tori, who has just lost her beloved grandmother. Wanting to take some time away from her controlling husband, she decides to use the money her grandmother left to travel back to Tuscany and relive some of the memories she made with her.
The story then switches to the 1940s and Stella, a 14 year old who risks her life acting as a courier to help the local partisans. Drama and danger are never far away for those in the resistance. I have to say, this was the part of the story I found more interesting, and set in Tuscany, where I have holidayed on quite a few occasions, it was easy to visualise the wonderful countryside there.
Tori’s curiosity leads her to begin researching her grandmother’s past with the intention of writing about her life in Italy in the 1950s. As the story moves back and forth between the two characters, the connection between bot eventually revealed.
There is mystery, romance and, of course, the beautiful backdrop of the Tuscan countryside and the stunning city of Florence. A lovely summer read, especially for those who enjoy a dual timeline story. I can highly recommend this one.

3.5 stars rounded up.

Romituzzo, 1944, Just fourteen, Stella Infuriati is the youngest member of her town's resistance network - a secret she keeps even from her parents. She works alongside her brother Achille to relay messages, supplies and weapons to partisan groups in the Tuscan hills. Fuelled by courage and a fierce sense of purpose, Stella braves incredible danger and survives.,,, but when peace comes in 1945, she vanishes.

Florence, 2019. Writer Tori McNair arrives in Florence fleeing an emotionally abusive marriage, she's come to build a new life in the city her grandmother taught her to love. As she digs into the family history, Tori uncovers decades-old secrets about a brave young woman who risked everything to save her world. As Tori and Stella's stories intertwine, they reveal the power of love, community and sacrifice across the generations.

This story has a dual timeline and two strong female characters. It's also descriptively written. We learn of some of the atrocities that took place during WWII. What it was like living in fear and being part of the resistance at just fourteen. I did prefer Stella's story more. I found Tori to be immature and indecisive in some things. The story is told in alternating points of view from Stella and Tori. It also seemed to end abruptly.

I would like to thank #Netgalley #AriaAries and the author #KatDeveraux for my ARC of #EscapeToTuscany in exchange for an honest review.

Brother and sister Achille and Stella join the resistance in Italy during the Second World War. After the war Stella vanishes and Achille becomes a heroic racing driver. Present day , Tori leaves an abusive marriage to start a new life in Florence where her recently deceased Grandma used to take her on an annual pilgrimage.
These two/three stories interact beautifully, showcasing the wonder of Italy and the atrocities of war. I was pulled into the story immediately and the only problem was the abrupt ending

1944 - Italy. Stella Infuriati is fourteen and the youngest member of her town’s resistance, alongside her brother Achille. Her activities are kept from her parents as she delivers messages and helps with the wounded. She is faced with incredible danger and after the war seemingly vanished into thin air.

Current day, Tori has lost the grandmother she was closed to and in her grief, flees to Italy to remember her. She’s also running away from an emotionally abusive husband. While in Italy she discovers that there’s more to her grandmother’s story and starts to dig into the past. Realizing that her grandmother and Achille knew each other, Tori starts the research into their story. Tori and Stella’s stories start to intertwine and the past comes rushing back as Tori digs further into it.

This was an okay read. I hated both Duncan (the husband) and Charlie (Tori’s sister) as they both were blinded by their own issues. Outside of Marco and meeting Stella, I did not care for the modern day parts. I really enjoyed Stella’s parts, especially the amazing support characters that the author included.