I really enjoyed this book! I found it riveting, like I couldn't put it down and wanted to know what happened. It's a typical WW2 drama full of romance and mystery, and it's plot-driven, easy to follow along, and written in pleasant prose.

Cons: While the writing was good and drew me into the story, there was some anachronism and plenty of cliche. There was some spy-related drama that was amateurish and written in a way very unlikely to happen in real life, plus the resolution was bland and a missed opportunity. The end of the book was flat and anticlimactic, which was unfortunate given the suspense throughout. I would have loved a bit more spice and drama to finish off an otherwise good novel.

3.5 rounded up to 4.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for an advanced copy for review.

Emotional and touching. Betty was forced to abandon her daughter many years ago. Now, Sadie hopes to find her birth mother, with only palazzo Villa Teresa scribbled on a page for information. Luca is helping her in her quest. It is a Beautifully written, and emotional story of a daughter to find her home and answers to why her mother gave her up. I loved the plot and the writing. Characters, Betty, Gianni ,Sadie, and Luca , I loved them all and could connect with them. Tragedies suffered in World War ll were heartbreaking. A heart-wrenching and powerful book. Thanks a lot to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC.

A Letter From Italy by Rose Alexander is a marvellous dual timeline novel that totally consumed me.
The action is set during World War II in both Yorkshire and Italy, and also on the south coast in 1972. Each chapter alternates with the time periods as the reader connects the dots.
A shock surprise, following her mother’s death, totally rocks a young woman’s world. All she thought she knew about herself and her family is shaken to the core as the foundations of her life wobble. She seeks answers, as she searches for her identity. The search takes her first to London, and then to Italy.
During World War II we start off in Yorkshire as we follow a young telephonist until her papers, at aged twenty, see her sign up and posted to Italy.
Also, in Yorkshire we meet an Italian POW based at Eden camp. The locals realise that the young Italian men are no different from themselves, they just want to see the end of the war. Once Italy joins the Allies, the young man joins the partisans in Italy.
All roads lead to Italy! It is hot, sun-drenched and smells of lemons. The reader’s senses are assaulted by the author’s descriptive pen. Italy seems perfect – except for the fact that there is a war on.
The Allies are working to defeat the Nazis – but some are working from within, in order to aid the enemy. Who can be trusted? And who is a traitor?
Love happens where it will. Opportunities are seized but old promises run deep as a character sacrifices herself in order to keep her word.
I thoroughly enjoyed A Letter From Italy. It was frightening at times – due to Nazi strafing and Vesuvius erupting. The landscape was warm, welcoming and bright. It was in contrast to the grey landscape of Britain.
All the characters were well drawn, realistic and likable.
This was a most enjoyable read.
I received a free copy from the publishers. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.

I enjoyed this story! The characters were easy to love, and the story flowed well. I think the book could've been a little shorter and getting to the ending a bit sooner- and I never knew what letter the title was referring to. Other than that, a great read!

Where to begin.
I loved the historical elements and dual timeline of this book but it felt like it was lacking in some way. I didn’t quite connect with the characters and about halfway through I started losing interest and the book fell flat. By the end I was back to being intrigued but making it that far was a mission. I do feel the book has a decent storyline and would recommend it to friends and family but I don’t necessarily feel like it would be one I gravitate towards on a reread.

A charming story, totally captivating and enjoyable. The storylines from both WW2 and the near present, slowly come to life as the reader follows the love affair between Betty and Giovanni during the war years in Yorkshire and Italy, and Sadie in the near present searching for her birth parents with Lucas, her travel guide. The descriptions of the Italian countryside are beautifully portrayed that one can only be cheered. A story of the resilience of love during the hardships experienced during the war years and the determination to find answers to long ago events. A delightful escapism read.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers Bookouture for this e-APC copy and I look forward to reading Ms Alexander’s earlier novel, The Lost Diary in full.

This dual time novel plays mostly in Italy, during WWII and the 1970s. There are many of these types of books on the market and although this is not a bad read, I can’t say it was one of my favorites. A daughter tries to find her biological father and has very little to go by. Just when you think she’s out of options, there’s another angle that sheds new light and brings her a step closer. The story is too slow and drawn out for me with relatively little action. I did enjoy learning about the prisoner of war camps in the U.K., the Official Secrets Act and the ATS girls. I realize that I read a proof copy and I hope that the editor will go through the book before the publication date. When writing about Italy, surely one wants to make sure that the Italian words are correct. Perfetto instead of perfecto, for example. It feels to me that the author uses words that are not used all that often such as moue, totemic, ennui and inveigle. Or, the writer’s favorite, voluble. Overall, good writing, pleasant characters, good research, but way too long for my taste.

Many thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

A Letter from Italy by Rose Alexander is truly a mesmerizing, captivating, and unputdownable book. This had all the wonderful makings of an WWII Historical Fiction novel.

In 1972, Sadie is twenty seven and her parents die. As she cleans out her parents attic, she discovers something that makes her heart stop: she is adopted. Torn between ignoring what she finds and wanting to track down her birth parents, Sadie weighs out what would be best. Should she pursue a path that may lead her to heartache, confusion, and turmoil?

In 1942, Betty is living her mundane, boring everyday life. Everyday she does the same thing and she feels weary about her future, as she has already been promised to her childhood friend, and they are to marry when he returns from the war. Until one day, she meets the handsome, yet mysterious Italian POW at the local POW camp in her town, Gianni. Slowly, they build a connection and before she knows it, she is falling in love. But, as fate has it, Betty is drafted into the Women's ATS and shipped off to Italy to do her part in the war effort, and Betty is whisked away.
What happens from 1942-1945 for Betty is a whirlwind of emotions, experiences, and dangers. What will her fate be?

Set in a dual timeline, and going back and forth, Betty's past and Sadie's future unfold and intertwine as their stories are told.

There’s an intriguing dual timeline running throughout this book. It’s the riveting story of Betty in WWII 1942-1945, in both England, & then Italy where she’s posted. Amazingly Betty met her tall, dark & handsome Italian in a POW camp in Yorkshire. They coincidently meet again in a hospital in Naples, & love grows. Sadie, aged 27, in 1972, starts her story in England, where she discovers, on the death of her mother, that she was adopted. Later, she travels to Italy, in search of her biological father. It’s a compelling story of love & loss, heartbreak, betrayal, duty & expectations. Italy is vividly described…you can almost taste the fruit. The allure of Sicily is clear…& the ending truly wonderful. It’s a great historical WWII novel, with a modern twist.

I thought this was a beautifully written story. I think it was slow at times but I feel like that made me keep going-oddly enough! I don’t think I would re-read it, but I do recommend it!

A gripping and emotion World War Two historical fiction love story.
A Letter from Italy was an intriguing historical romance fiction.
If you are a reader of World War II historical novels with romance, you will enjoy reading this book.
Thank you NetGalley, Bookouture and the author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review.

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for the ARC. This is a beautiful story about Betty and Gianno and love and suffering through WWII in Europe and Sadie who finds out years later she was abandoned and subsequently adopted. I especially loved the women who served in various positions in communication and code breaking to aid the Allies against Germany. A great historical fiction romance!

#ALetterfromItaly #NetGalley

I enjoyed reading 'A Letter from Italy'. The book was very predictable and slow at times but the descriptions of the locations made me want to visit Italy! I am not sure I understand the title as there really isn't a specific letter that comes from Italy.... bur overall a decent read.

Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this dual timeline novel.

The story is about people brought together because of their circumstance, how they find love in between the hardships of war.

It kept me hooked, wanting to know what happens to the characters, and how their story ends.

I recommend this book.

A beautiful historical love story within a love story, two couples brought together by circumstance and their roads to finding love amongst heartache. Engaging, hard to put down, with characters you think of long after you turn the last page. Readers who love WWII romance will enjoy this slice of Italy and the happily-ever-afters that make for a satisfying conclusion.

Set in Italy during and after WWII.

Who are my parents?

Sadie thought the people that raised her were her parents, but as she was cleaning out her parents' home, she found a paper saying she was adopted.

Her search for her parents began even though people told her to just forget about it.

We follow Sadie in 1972 as she goes on her search and go back to 1943 and follow Betty as she leaves England and the man she loves to be part of the cypher/decoding team for the British.

Will Sadie be successful in her quest?

Will she find things that will be worth the journey?

An excellent, engaging, heartbreaking, heartwarming read that brings us straight into both lives of the characters hoping for the best and wanting to be there with both Sadie and Betty.

You will fall in love with both characters and the storyline as you read of the beauty of Italy and want to get on the next plane.

LOVED this book​...anything about Italy has to be good. 5/5

Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

A heartbreaking wartime promise. A family torn apart. A letter that could change everything.
Amazing story! I loved every page, so many twists and turns… Fantastic read, gripping story and so many surprises! Wonderful!

Rose Alexander’s, A Letter from Italy, is a powerfully written story of two related woman, one mother and one bio daughter; the mother’s difficult journey beginning in the prologue and continuing via a WWII backstory which had me riveted from start to finish. The daughter’s timeline begins in 1975 as she cleans out her family home after her mother’s death and finds a brief note which sends her flying to Italy as the impact of its contents has her questioning her roots and who she really is. With WWII raging around the world, Betty is faced with familial obligations, one a commitment she made to a man when a young teenager. The man, now a POW in the Far East, whom she barely recalls loving, and the lure of a new romance she begins with an Italian POW in a camp nearby her hometown in England in 1942, is so different and so inspiring, I couldn’t wait for the two storylines to converge. Through a series of vivid, often comical, sometimes tragic character arcs, and rich settings touching all five senses, Betty’s story is told as she does her duty for the war effort as a codebreaker in Naples, running into her new paramour now a partisan for the Allies. Occurring simultaneously via a different timeline, circa 1975, her daughter, given away at birth, combs the Italian boot, to find out who she is, why her mother gave her away, finding her own version of forever love in the process. The story had me reading deep into the night with only a few hours' sleep before I put the kettle on again to finish. The vivid, realistic settings had me remembering my own trips through Italy, offering a vacation of sorts as I read a tale which pulled at my heartstrings. The story is one of love, duty, honor, and the impossible decisions men and women are forced to make to carry on duty to preserve family and freedom. At times, I cried, at times I laughed. I loved the way the author wove all her characters together for a fitting and beautiful ending. If you love WWII historical fiction, believe in the roles duty to country and family have in your lives, and want a touch of romance inside a bit of spy action, you will love this book. I simply couldn’t put it down. An easy, breezy, well-written, well-researched read that took me to Italy without leaving my own cozy library. Five stars all around. My thanks to Net Galley and Bookouture for the digital ARC. The review is entirely my own opinion of a great new book.

A Letter from Italy by Rose Alexander

The prologue starts in London 1945 when a young woman cradles bundle and in desperation she knocks on a door a woman answers and the woman hands over the baby knowing it is the best thing for the baby. The book then starts in 1972 with Sadie breaking up the family home to be sold after her mother’s death and on going the the belongings she finds information in a box that completely turns her life upside down as her life as she knows it was based on a lie . Follow the journeys of Sadie and the woman who was her mother and the choices she was forced to take . The twists and turners and friendships made and lost as things are not always as they seem.

An excellent well written book though it was a little slow getting started do stick with it, it's worth it. Great read that will have you gripped with this dual timeline that has been done well. Great characters and traumatic choices along the way. 4.5/5

It was a bit of a slow burn but wonderful heartfelt, heartbreaking story.
Really enjoyed reading this and working my way through the family and emotional trauma.