Thank you to the publishers, author and NetGalley for the free copy of this audio book.

Very interesting historical fiction. The different perspectives sometimes threw me off while listening but not terribly so. I guess there is a book before this one but I was fine reading it as a standalone. The narrator did fine.

An historical fictional novel based on real events that drew me in from the beginning. The author takes us to WWII and has clearly done a great deal of research and handled with care to create this emotional story. The characters and their experiences come to life through the wonderful storytelling of this author. It was a very emotional read that brought so much to life. My first by this author and now I am left wondering what took me so long to discover his work. The narration added to the experience.

"The Light Over Lake Como" by Roland Merullo is a historical fiction novel set in Switzerland and Italy around Lake Como in 1945 at the end of WW2. This is a sequel book, but I didn't know that, and it worked fine as a stand-alone. I did kind of enjoy this book.

This story focuses on Sarah, a young Jewish woman with an 18 month old daughter (Lydia) by her fiancé, Lucas, who was fighting with the resistance. Sarah had fled at the start of the war across the border to Switzerland. Now she has heard the war is over in Italy and thinks it is safe to return. Unfortunately, the war isn't quite over. Luca is still tasked with killing Mussolini.

We also learn about Benito Mussolini, Il Duce of the Italian Socialist Republic, fascist leader who worked closely with Hitler. Enzo is the right-hand man of Mussolini but is having second thoughts at the end of the war. Sylvio is a man who helps Sarah, but in the past, he had been a bad guy.

The narrator of the audiobook is David Marantz, who did an excellent job with the voices and drama.

Characters - 5/5
Writing - 4/5
Plot - 4/5
Pacing - 4/5
Unputdownability - 4/5
Enjoyment - 4/5
Narration - 5/5
Cover - 4/5
Overall - 34/8 = 4 2/8 -> 4 stars

Thank you to Netgalley, Brilliance Audio, and Roland Merullo for providing this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

I really had trouble getting into this book. I love historical fiction, but this could just not captivate me. I did not like the narrator which made the tough storyline even harder to get into. I am grateful for the opportunity to listen to this book, but it just wasn’t for me

real rating 2.5
This book just wasn't for me. I keep trying to find a historical fiction book that really peaks for me, but i haven't yet.

Thank you to NetGalley and Brilliance Audio for the gifted audiobook.

As a historical fiction enthusiast, I eagerly anticipated diving into this story. However, I didn't find it quite captivating. The narrative is set in Italy during World War II, tracing the journey of Sarah and Luca as they strive to reunite as the war draws to a close. Sarah's quest, as she returns to Italy from Switzerland following her mother's passing, was filled with intrigue. Meanwhile, Luca's final mission involves the assassination of Mussolini.

Regrettably, I found it challenging to fully immerse myself in the book. The narration seemed to lack the emotional depth that could have enhanced the storytelling, coming across as monotone. As a result, I believe that reading the book might be a more engaging option than listening to the audiobook.

This book is currently available for readers to enjoy.

Merullo puts us in northern Italy and Switzerland in April 1945, in the last days of World War Two. He follows a few main characters: Sarah, a Jewish woman who fled Italy to nearby Bellinzona, Switzerland while pregnant (her daughter Lydia is now about 18 months old); Luca, her fiancé, who stayed in Italy to fight with the resistance against the fascists and N*zi occupiers; Enzo, who has been a trusted aide to Mussolini (Il Duce) but has been having serious doubts lately. Silvio is another important character, a kind of wheeler-and-dealer in war-torn Italy. The journey back to Italy (on foot) that Sarah undertakes with her little one was so difficult; my heart went out to all young mothers who have been put in such situations over the centuries.

I didn’t know a lot about the last days of Mussolini so this was a very educational read while also being an action-packed story. Coincidentally my husband and I will be visiting Milan and Lake Como in the coming days and this was a great introduction to the 20th century history of the area.

I didn’t realize that this is a sequel to Once Night Falls, in which we meet Luca and Sarah and their mothers, so I believe this works just fine on its own.

I bounced between the audiobook and the ebook for this title, which was very convenient, and allowed me to continue with the story even when I could not sit down and read - or when I could not listen. The audiobook was nicely narrated by David Marantz. I tore through this in a single day.

Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a review copy of this book and to Brilliance Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to a review copy of this audiobook. All opinions are my own.

Although I love historical fiction, this one just did not resonate with me. Still not sure if it was the story, or the narrator…
Sarah and Luca were lovers, separated by war in Italy in 1945. Once Sarah realizes that her town is being overtaken, she flees to safety with her daughter Lydia. She meets many people along the way…some good, some bad, some terrible…
When she hears that the war has ended, she tries to head home to meet up with Luca again to see where they stand…

3 ⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #BrilliancePublishing for an ARC of the audiobook which releases on 6/4/24.

The Light Over Lake Como by Roland Merullo and narrated by David Marantz.

I requested The Light Over Lake Como because I recently visited and stayed there and thought it unbelievably beautiful. What I did not realize was how drawn in I would become into the story of the fascist dictator Benito Mussolini, his top aide, his mistress and his crimes against humanity. This was a fascinating read of page turning historical fiction. I listened to the audio book version and absolutely could not stop listening, I wore my ear buds down to zero charge and had to switch to head phones! The main story is about a young couple who must separate when Mussolini takes power and sides with Hitler. Sarah is Jewish, pregnant and must flee to Switzerland to save her mother, herself and her unborn child. Her lover Lucu stays behind to join the resistance against the nazis and fascist regimes. Two years later when Sarah hears the rumor that the war is coming to a close she bravely decides to return to Lake Como, Italy via a perilous journey over the mountains with her now 18 month old little girl to reunite with Luca. Luckily she is befriended by a kind and wealthy black marketeer who helps her financially and offers to help her find her lost lover. This novel was extremely well written and researched. I learned so much that I did not know about WWII, especially in Italy. I feel the description and explanation of how Mussolini came to power and kept it as long as he did was fascinating. He truly was a narcissistic cult personality of the era, much like his 'buddy' Hitler. I can highly recommend this work of excellent historical fiction. 5 solid stars.

Many thanks to Net Galley and Brilliance Publishing | Brilliance Audio for an ARC version of this audio book. Much appreciated!

"The Light Over Lake Como" by Roland Merullo, narrated by David Marantz, was a little bit disappointing. The story had a lot of potential, with a unique setting and intriguing characters, but the narration was flat and uninspiring.

The story takes place in 1945, during the final days of the Nazi occupation of Italy. Sarah Zinsi, a young woman with a young daughter, has been living in Switzerland for nearly two years, but she's desperate to return to her hometown on the Lake Como shore. She sets out on a perilous journey, accompanied by her daughter, to reunite with her lover, Luca Benedetto, who's a resister fighting against the Nazis.

As they navigate the treacherous landscape, they meet a charismatic black marketeer turned partisan spy who promises to keep them safe. But as the stakes escalate and the Nazis' final moves become increasingly desperate, Sarah and Luca must confront their demons and make difficult choices to survive.

The story is full of tension, fear, and darkness, but it's also punctuated by moments of hope and redemption. Merullo explores themes of faith and hope, as well as the complexities of human relationships and loyalty. It's a thought-provoking book that challenges readers to consider the grey areas between good and evil.

Unfortunately, the narration by David Marantz was a major letdown. His voice is monotone and lacks any real emotion or inflexion. It's like he's reading a list of facts rather than bringing the story to life. The pacing is also slow, which makes it hard to stay engaged.

Overall, I'd give this book 3 stars out of 5. While the story is compelling and well-written, the narration is a major drawback. If you're looking for a historical fiction novel with a unique setting and complex characters, you might want to try this one. But if you're looking for a gripping audiobook experience, you might want to look elsewhere.

I have read a lot of WWII historical fiction, but I have never read one set in Lake Como. My understanding of the tough realities of the final days of the Mussolini reign was enriched by the strong fictional but realistic characters. There are three different viewpoints, a Mussolini aide, a partisan fighter, and a Jewish woman who fled to Switzerland but wants to return to her home and her lover. Each adds a distinctive voice and information so that I had a deeper feeling of complexities of politics and war. Excellent historical fiction.

Thank you to Netgalley and Brilliance Audio.