A good read from Juliet Greenwood who does historical fiction with feeling. I always feel i learn something new, and am transported to a different place and time.

This book just wasn't for me. It started off slow and while I wanted to really dive into getting to know the character Kate, it seemed dreary and tedious. Perhaps there are too many pieces to the story - the brothers off at war, the sisters trying to escape the father who is trying to marrying them off, etc. I felt too torn hopping between wars.

I received this ARC for my honest opinion from the publisher.

When I read historical fiction set in Italy during WWII I have to forget my university exams on that time and enjoy the story as a sort of fantasy
This was entertainging and there's enough twists to kept me reading.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I really enjoyed this one! I love a good historical fiction. It was fast paced and unique! I will definitely have to read more from this author.

A solid story, just didn’t wow me like Greenwood’s other books have. Could have been edited down quite a bit. Lots of repetitive reflections and internal dialogue. I will still read future books in the series.

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced audiobook to review. All opinions are my own.

An engaging and compelling story with a mystery at its core, quite beautifully told, and with the most wonderfully drawn strong female characters and a range of enticing locations – my goodness I enjoyed this one!

Kate has never felt that she belonged with the aristocratic family who brought her up near Stratford-upon-Avon, and the threat of a convenient marriage and the discovery of some drawings in the spine of a volume of poetry hidden by her birth mother set her on a path to self discovery. First, she needs to escape – and, with the help of a friend, finds fulfilment caring for wartime evacuee children at a castle near St Ives in Cornwall. But her search is destined to take her to Italy – first to Naples, then to Venice and the island of Burano, where the pieces begin to fall into place as she slowly uncovers the secrets of her past. But her mother has also been on a difficult personal journey, betrayed by her family and surviving the dangers of the wartime fascist regime in the hope that her life too can follow a different path.

The settings are quite wonderfully described – this is writing that makes you feel present in the moment, whether in Kate’s childhood home, standing on the rim of a smoking Vesuvius, walking Pompeii’s ruins, and especially wandering the alleyways of Venice. I particularly enjoyed the time spent at the community of female artists – a feature in both women’s stories at different times, sharing the same passion. The historical period was also perfectly captured – the social landscape in 1940s rural England, and the rarely seen aftermath of wartime privation in Italy.

And then there are the women. Both Kate and her mother Sofia are particularly sympathetic and well drawn characters, but there’s also a very intriguing supporting cast. Kate’s grandmother, the Contessa, really is evil personified – but with a back story that’s entirely fascinating. Servant Magdalena is an equally complex character, ultimately showing the unexpected kindness that helps the women complete their search. And I also very much liked Miss Parsons, the village schoolmistress who had nurtured Kate’s artistic talents, passed on her mother’s legacy (while keeping a few secrets that weren’t hers to share), and played a significant part in facilitating her escape from her father’s control.

I will mention that this book follows on from The Shakespeare Sisters – which I hadn’t read, and that perhaps made getting a handle on Kate’s family relationships and history in Brierley-on-Arden a little more difficult at first – but I had no real problem catching up, and no-one would have any problem reading this book as a standalone. It’s such a powerful read, a story that explores the limits society imposed on women, the complications of family, the theme of belonging, and the importance of establishing your own identity – but it’s also a compelling mystery, with a conclusion that’s both emotional and wholly satisfying. I very much enjoyed it – and it’s a book I’d very much recommend to others.

Kate Arden has always known that she wasn't really an Arden. She had a vague memory of a life before she came to live at Brierley. Those memories are on the periphery of her brain, slight glimpses but nothing solid to grasp on to.

She also knows that she needs to get away from her home. She loves Brierley, with it's grand but crumbling house, the Roman mosaics that are just waiting to be further uncovered, and her three sisters, Rosalind, Cordelia and Bianca. But her father is domineering, determined to marry one of his daughters off to a wealthy member of the aristocracy. It actually doesn't matter which one of them really. More than anything though, she needs to pursue her passion for art.

When her Mama passed away she left each of her daughters an illustrated book of Shakespeare with the hint that there is a clue in the book for each of them.

Kate has looked through her book and could see no clues, until one day, she does find something. She finds an image of a terrace with a mountain in the background, which is something similar to one of the memories she has. She also finds a picture of Venice. What could it possibly mean?

And so Kate begins to follow a trail of clues that lead her first to Birmingham where she helps out a charity that is involved with children who have been orphaned during the war, to St Ives in Cornwall and then to Italy. Can this trail of clues help her to find out what or who she is looking for.

This is a dual storyline book, not timeline, but storyline. Whilst we follow Kate as she tries to work out what her story is, we are also following Sofia who has returned to Italy after many years of living in America. She is also searching for her true self, for the facts about what happened many years ago which prompted her to run away to America.

This book is the second book in the Shakespeare Sisters series by Juliet Greenwood. Because I don't like to read a series out of order I actually read the first book, The Shakespeare Sisters, a few weeks ago. From a timeline perspective, The Shakespeare Sisters was set in the years leading up to WWII and the in the years after the war. This book is more firmly set in WWII and it's aftermath.

I really liked both of these books, and will definitely read the next Shakespeare Sisters novel whenever it comes out. I liked the descriptions of the various locations from Cornwall to Venice and to the Bay of Naples.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and Rachel's Random Resources for the review copy of this book. I am sharing this link with the New Release Challenge hosted by The Chocolate Lady's Book Review blog and with the Historical Fiction Reading Challenge which I host

The Secret Daughter of Venice was a very captivating historical fiction book by Juliet Greenwood. I had not read the first book in this series previously but that did not hamper my enjoyment of this one. The Secret Daughter of Venice was the second book I had read by Juliet Greenwood. After reading both of her books, I was quite impressed by her writing, impeccable research, choice of characters and points of history she had chosen to write about. There was a strong element of mystery throughout The Secret Daughter of Venice as well as a touch of love, romance, friendship, belonging and an overwhelming desire to find and solve a puzzle that lay just beyond reach.

Kate Arden had been told that she had been adopted by the Arden family for as long as she could remember. She lived with her very controlling father, Leo, her sisters, Rosalind, Bianca and Cordelia and her two brothers, Will and Jamie at the Arden estate located in Brierley at Stratford- Upon-Avon in England. Her mother had died and she had a stepmother now. Even though Kate loved her sisters and brothers dearly, she never quite felt as if she fit in, belonged and was truly a part of this influential and wealthy family. There had always been a nagging thought in back of her mind that she was not able to quite capture about her true identity and who her real family had been.

In 1941, Kate found herself at the Arden Estate missing her sisters and brothers. She tried to help with the plantings and gathering of vegetables as much as possible on the farmland they still possessed. Arden Estate, once very grand, was in great disrepair. Kate’s brother Jamie had unearthed and discovered remains of a Roman structure from long ago buried on their property. One day, as Kate worked in the garden, she came upon a beautiful cup made from glass. She was excited to discover the origins of the cup so Kate convinced her stepmother to let her accompany her to the market. Once in town, Kate planned to consult Miss Parsons, the local teacher and also the proprietor of the local museum, about the cup’s history. Miss Parsons had been a very close friend and confidant of the late Mrs. Arden. Celia Arden had asked Miss Parsons to present each of her daughters with a book of Shakespeare’s sonnets upon her death. Buried in each book was a hidden message from Celia that pertained to her hope for each of her daughter’s futures. After Miss Parsons examined the cup and promised to clean it up and try and trace its roots, Miss Parsons inquired if Kate had discovered the hidden message her mother had left for her in the book. Kate had forgotten about the book since she had found no hidden messages initially. She just assumed that her mother had left the message out of her book. After all, Kate had been adopted. Miss Parsons assured Kate that there was indeed a message hidden somewhere in her book and Miss Parsons encouraged Kate to keep looking. When Kate arrived back at Arden Estate, she went directly to her room to re-examine the book. What she found hidden in the spine of the book both surprised Kate and triggered memories she had only glimpsed at in her dreams. Before her, Kate stared at the drawings of places that she was sure had something to do with her and her past. She recalled a time long ago when someone had taught her lovingly and patiently to draw, too. Those drawings would be the catalyst to help Kate discover who she was and who her real mother was. Kate embarked on a journey that took her from Stratford-Upon-Avon to Cornwall, to Naples, to Pompeii, to Mount Vesuvius to Venice. She was able to cultivate her artistic talents, teach and care for innocent orphan children who were victims of the war, use her art as a healing mechanism to help the orphans cope with their losses and their grief and form several meaningful relationships and friendships on her journey. Would Kate be able to discover her own story and fill in the gaps that had been beyond her reach for all these years of her life? Will Kate be able to finally find her mother and pursue her dreams of becoming an artist?

I really enjoyed reading The Secret Daughter of Venice by Juliet Greenwood. At some point, I may go back and read the first book in this series but I am definitely excited about reading the next one. There were several secrets that were hinted at throughout the book. They were all presented by the conclusion of this very memorable book. I was totally caught off guard when one particular secret was revealed. I had not seen it coming. The Secret Daughter of Venice captured the love for art Kate encompassed, her natural artistic talent, mother/daughter relationships, love, taking control of other’s lives, loss, deceit, greed, friendship and family. All my emotions were stirred while reading The Secret Daughter of Venice. I highly recommend this book.

Thank you to Storm Publishing for allowing me to read The Secret Daughter of Venice by Juliet Greenwood through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

It is 1941 when we meet Kate Arden at Arden House near Stratford-Upon-Avon. Kate is a young women that knows she has been adopted into the Arden family, but has never been told anything about her parents. Kate is a talented artist and she believes her mother was also an artist. The novel is told in dual narration and Kate's mother, Sofia, is able to tell her side of the story. Kate is allowed to leave Arden House to support orphans during the war. While working throughout Europe Kate feels she is getting closer to finding her mother. As Kate becomes a successful artist she understands she needs to understand her past in order to have a bright future.

I believe this book is a part of the shakespeare sisters . Do not quote Me on that lol. It was an entertaining book, and very atmospheric.. But some parts of it ended to abruptly, i just wanted more from the story. Thank you to netgalley for letting me read this e arc in exchange for an honest opinion

The Secret Daughter of Venice" by Juliet Greenwood is a story about Kate Arden, a young woman who discovers a mysterious stash of drawings that spark memories of her past and lead her on a journey to uncover the truth about her identity and family.

As I read, I found myself completely absorbed in Kate's story. The writing is vivid and evocative, and the author's descriptions of the settings and characters are incredibly detailed. The audiobook narration by Hannah Curtis is also excellent, bringing the characters to life in a way that feels authentic and engaging.

The story is set against the backdrop of World War II, which adds an extra layer of complexity and tension to the plot. The author does a great job of capturing the mood and atmosphere of the era, and the historical context is well-researched and well-integrated into the narrative.

One of the things that stood out to me about this book is the way it explores themes of identity, family, and belonging. Kate's journey is about uncovering her past finding her place in the world and figuring out where she belongs. This is a universal theme that I think many readers will be able to relate to.

The book is not without its flaws, however. The pacing can be a bit slow at times, and some of the plot twists feel a bit convenient or contrived. Additionally, the last third of the book feels a bit rushed and could have been condensed down to make the story feel more cohesive.

Overall, it's a compelling and engaging story that explores big themes and features excellent historical research. While it may not be perfect, I think it's worth reading for fans of historical fiction.

The secret daughter of Venice is a moving story of secrets and deception, fractured families and tragedies, and being true to oneself.

Juliet Greenwood captures the time and social setting beautifully. The descriptions of hardships of life during the war and human suffering are poignant and harrowing. Evocative, vivid, inspired. Highly recommended.

Full review is published on my blog as part of the blog tour with Rachel's Random Resources.

This review is being posted as part of the The Secret Daughter Of Venice blog tour hosted by Rachel’s Random Resources.

The Secret Daughter Of Venice is the latest enchanting novel from historical fiction author Juliet Greenwood. Her last novel The Last Train From Paris was one of my standout reads from 2023 so I was eagerly anticipating the release of her next novel and it certainly did not disappoint.

Exploring themes such as identity, family and belonging, we follow Kate Arden as she tries to piece together her identity using the few memories she has of her life in Italy before she was sent to be raised in England. She also discovers that her birth mother has left her clues within a Shakespeare book and Kate uses these to help her discover who she is and where she belongs, after growing up feeling different to the rest of her family.

The Secret Daughter Of Venice is perfect for readers who are looking for a generally lighter historical read. Anyone who likes a good historical mystery will also enjoy following Kate’s journey and trying to piece together all of the clues as they are slowly uncovered. I was kept guessing throughout the story and thought the ending tied everything together really nicely.

Our story is split into three parts, with chapters set in both England and Italy, during and in the immediate aftermath of the Second World War. I particularly loved the chapters set in Naples and Venice as Juliet Greenwood’s captivating storytelling really made the Italian settings come alive on the page. With most WW2 fiction ending in 1945, it was really interesting to have the third part of the book set in 1946 to see how both Italy and England were recovering after the war. I also loved the vivid descriptions of Cornwall and exploring Kate’s work with the child evacuees.

Kate was a fantastic strong female protagonist. I particularly loved the feminist aspect to the story through her and her sisters’ refusal to marry men picked out by their father and have their lives controlled by a husband, even if it was the ‘done thing’ in the 1940s. Connecting Kate and her birth mother was a passion for art and through them we got to explore communities of female artists which existed in pre and post war Europe, which was really interesting.

Sofia was another brilliant strong female character. I loved how similar Kate and Sofia’s voices were within the story, showing the similarities between mother and daughter. The Contessa was a fantastically written antagonist whose story I thought would make a fantastic book in itself. She was cold, cruel and uncaring; completely opposite in character to what you’d expect from a grandmother.

Overall, The Secret Pianist is a powerful and easy read for fans of historical fiction. It has further cemented Juliet Greenwood’s place as a real must-read author for me within historical fiction.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

I have posted my review on my blog www.yourschloe.co.uk and the post is linked.

*I received a copy of this book in eBook format via NetGalley in return for this review. All reviews published are completely honest and my own, and are in no way influenced by the gifting opportunity. Thank you to Juliet Greenwood, Rachel’s Random Resources and NetGalley.

I enjoyed this story. Kate Arden has always felt she didn’t belong to her family. She has faint warm and happy memories from when she was younger and brought to the Arden House. She’s always loved art, but it was discouraged by her Papa.


When war comes to Europe, she sees it as a chance to escape and discover the truth about her mother. So she heads out to help the refugees and eventually ends up in Venice.


My thoughts:
It was an interesting mystery that kept me turning the pages to find out the truth about Kate Arden. Who was her mother and what is her connection to the Arden’s? I want to read more by this author.


Thanks to @stormpublishing, @rachelsrandomresources, @netgalley, and the author of this ARC.

I'm reviewing this via NetGalley, as part of a tour with Rachel's Random Resources.

From the start, I enjoyed how the author created an atmosphere. The characters and the story were brought to life, forming vivid images in my mind as I read. The imagery was beautiful, particularly the imagery related to Venice. The protagonist, Kate, had qualities that I found admirable - I thought she was very self-assured, and very brave. I enjoyed being part of her emotional journey. Throughout the book, I felt the writing had a haunting sort of quality about it, as though I wouldn't forget what I read in a hurry.

Thank you to Rachel’s Random Resources, the author and the publisher, for the opportunity to read and review this.

This book is told in dual timelines. Sophie is looking for her daughter and Kate is searching for her mother.
It’s a nice descriptive book. I found Kate’s story more interesting. I did think the story was a bit wordy at times. I do think historical fiction fans will enjoy this book.

A view on WWII through the eyes of Kate and Sofia in England and Italy. Definitely a different point of view on WWII that I have never read before. The story is sometimes slow, especially at the beginning, but as you read on you learn more about how England and Italy were impacted by the war and the family mystery is solved.

The Secret Daughter of Venice by Juliet Greenwood is a a saga that will wrench your heart from it's moorings but cradle it gently and put it back safely.

This is my first experience with the writing of Juliet Greenwood and within the first few chapters, I got the audiobook too so that I would not miss a thing when real life beckoned. What a great choice of narrator in Hannah Curtis! Curtis reflects the era with strength and grace and has a style that is perfect to encapsulate the famous films of the age

The novel follows the Arden family and their adopted daughter Kate. In the fraught times between 1941 and 1946 when Birmingham was being bombed relentlessly by the Luftwaffee, nearby in Stratford, there is turmoil on the family estate with familial conflict. Kate is desperate to find her roots, but she is under the strict control of her family who want to prevent her true identity from being public in a country that is at war, especially when their adopted daughter is from Italy, the right hand of Hitlers Germany

The book describes the geography beautifully and has great empathy for the sensibilities and mindsets of the era, on both sides. A wonderful read and listen and one I will be returning to

Thank you to Netgalley, Storm Publishing and the author Juliet Greenwood for this stunning ARC. My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own

This was a very interesting look at life in England and Italy during WW11. I was drawn into the characters and enjoyed the development of the main character Kate. But I felt like the full story took a long time to develop and by the end it was wrapped up rather abruptly. I guess I wanted to know more and have a different conclusion.

Wow! A brilliant book. Well written and with very believable characters.
A good sense of time and place, and a great story.
Most of all, to my great delight, a very well researched and accurate portrayal of Venice. I always approve of authors who do their research!
There were a few times I wanted to shout at the book, but that was mostly because the portrayal of the treatment and expectations of women was correct for that time, but would be different today. I guess that is true of all historical novels, if well written.
However, the story was absolutely brilliant, and I found the two POV to work well.
I will definitely look out for more books by this compelling author.