I'm not much of a fan of historical fiction as I find it hard for me to get into, but something about From Sand and Ash just drew me in. It could be because I'm familiar with and enjoy Amy Harmon's writing or because the plot of this story is based on something all too real. It's no secret that Amy Harmon is a fantastic writer whether she writes dark romances, fantasy or historicals, she knows how to write in a variety of styles. And I can't wait to read more from her.

Ive started and stopped and restarted this book a handful of times. I am going to shelve it for now as I'm having a hard time connecting. This is my first historical romance and Im thinking the genre might not be for me.

A remarkable tale of two young Italians, Eva and Angelo, a Jewish girl and a Catholic boy; set during WW2. The author does an exquisite job of weaving this heartfelt love story, it is clear she did her research. From Sand and Ash is truly an enchanting story, set in one of the most horrific settings. Eva and Angelo have so many obstacles in their path, yet their resilience and strength moved me to tears more than once.

"When this war is over, I will be yours, first, last, and always. And you will be mine.

If you are looking for a historical romance that will make you feel all the feels, I definitely recommend this one.

Recently, I've been trying really hard to finish books that have been on my TBR for a long time. There are authors that I own almost every single book of theirs, and have only read one or two. Amy Harmon is one of those authors. I've bought all of her books because a Facebook group I am in hypes up her books all the time. I recently decided I wanted to read some of those books, so I started with From Sand and Ash. I'm so glad I did. It was a heartbreaking, beautiful book.

When going into From Sand and Ash, I expected it to be a hard hitting book due to the time period it was set in, and the subject matter. I still wasn't prepared for the emotion the book made me feel. I listened to it on audiobook from Audible, and I think that heightened my emotions. Amy Harmon wrote such an impactful story that the reader can't help but be moved while reading. There were several times where I just started sobbing because I was so heartbroken for these characters and what they went through, and what millions of people went through in real life. Before reading this, I knew quite a bit about WWII for the Germans, but never knew much about how it impacted the Italian community. It was eye opening, and heartbreaking, to learn about the issues they faced.

Not only did Amy Harmon write a great story line, but she wrote some of my favorite characters that I've read about so far this year. I loved watching the dynamic between Eva and Angelo. I loved seeing their love, not only for each other, but for those around them as well. They loved with all of their heart and soul, regardless of the consequences. They might be some of the most compassionate characters I've ever read about, which I loved. Amy Harmon has a way of making you fall in love with all of her characters, even the side characters. There wasn't a single character in this book that I absolutely hated. Even some of the villains, I felt a brief moment of compassion for. That's the sign of a reading a book by a great writer.

From Sand and Ash is one of those books that pulls the reader in, and doesn't let go until you've finished the book hours later. I loved it. I couldn't move from my seat until I had finished listening to the whole thing. It makes me even more excited to read the backlog of Amy Harmon books that I own. I think the next one I'm going to pick up will be What the Wind Knows, her most recent release, because I want more of her writing set in the early 1900s.

I read this book ages ago, but overlooked leaving a review. I have not deleted it from my kindle, as it's one of those rare books that i shall read again one day. I still recall the story, which was a very emotional read and one in which i can highly recommend. Will certainly read more books by this author.

My thanks to Netgalley and the Publishers for my copy.

Historical fiction at its best! My heart hurts just thinking about this beautiful story - absolutely LOVED it!!

No review was posted publicly on Amazon, Twitter or Goodreads for this title, unfortunately I never got round to finishing it, and feel it would be best to just remove it from my Negalley shelf without a review.

The author is hit and miss for me, and this one never really grabbed my attention from the get-go.

I loved this book! I.t was a beautiful tragic love story about a couple from the past. The author made me feel like I was a part of history. Like I was there during World War II. I adored Angelo and loved this emotional story.

Historical is typically not my genre of choice. But I adore Amy Harmon and will read anything that she writes.
This book started out a little slow for me, but as I got to know the characters, I was absorbed into their world. From Sand and Ash is heartbreaking and beautiful. An epic love story.

Loved this book, I'm having a hard time reviewing it. I normally don't like stories with religion but this was a beautiful novel. Great job of the author taking on a historical fiction romance. Recommend for everyone!

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I don't know what to say about "From Sand and Ash" by Amy Harmon. This book is the first I have read by this author and I will definitely be reading more from her. This book is a beautifully haunting tale about love, tragedy, and triumph during one of the most terrible times in history.

This is the story of Eva Rosselli, a Jew in hiding during WWII, who is determined to do what she can to help others also in hiding. It is also the story of Angelo Bianco, a catholic priest, who grew up with Eva and is posing as her brother. This is also the story of their forbidden love.

We are shown the atrocities of the war and it's impact on the Jewish people. We are shown their fear and the horror, but we are also shown their resilience and hope in a time when it seems impossible.

I highly recommend this book, even if you aren't a fan of historical fiction, the writing alone is worth it. I couldn't put this book down.

I acknowledge that I received this book free or charge from NetGalley in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion of it.

I have loved other books by Harmon, but this one has to be the best. It was incredible! It is unlike the others I've read by the author, but so wonderful! This is a heartbreaking and touching novel that takes place during WWII. It's the story of Eva and Angelo and the atrocities of war. The characters were wonderful and the storyline was engrossing. I have to say that it is now at the top of the list of the WWII books I have read!

Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the incredible book- From Sand and Ash
by Amy Harmon. Wow! I just loved this book. Taking place in Italy, during WWII, a young Jewish woman and her "brother", her soul mate, a priest, survive in a breathtaking journey through the war. I feel appreciative of the Catholic church, their priests and nuns which risked their lives for Jews and other refugees during the Nazi invasion and the Nazi brutalities. This was an amazing and fluid story, told beautifully. I highly recommend this book!

I read this as part of a read a long and I'm so glad I did. I learned so much I didn't know about how Catholics and Jews came together. It's a beautiful story that breaks your heart. It's about strength, faith, love, loyalty and not giving up.

I love the how Eva and Angelo met, how they bonded and how they grew together. It's about the heroes that saved so many lives and helped so many. There people who turn their backs on the Jewish people when they need them the most. There are those that betray them. And through it all Angelo knows who his family is and he does everything he can to protect them.

Eva is a strong young woman. She is afraid but she plays her part in helping as many people as she can. She loves Angelo and through it all her love for him is always there pushing her. And his faith keeps her moving.

A beautiful story that's a must read. Highly recommend it.

From Sand and Ash by Amy Harmon is a World War II love story about Angelo Bianco, an Italian priest and Eva Rosselli, the Jewish girl he grew up with. The story starts in 1929 when Angelo came to Italy from America after his mother died. He lives with his grandparents and meets Camillo Rosselli and his daughter, Eva. The two children quickly became friends despite their religious differences. Fast forward to 1938, the Anti-Semantic laws are slowly coming into play as the lives of the Jewish community are being restricted. The Italian Jews still live a relative peaceful life, despite the racial laws and they hear of the terrifying events which are occurring in Germany. They know it’s only a matter of time before it happens in Italy. By 1940, it happens. Arrests are being made and communities around up and sent to the German concentration camps. Angelo is determined to hide Eva and as many Jewish families as possible. He becomes a part of a Catholic underground organization which hides and even helps Jewish people out of the country. But too soon their network is discovered and Angelo and Eva are placed in harm’s way. Will they survive the war? Will they be able to full express their love for each other? Can they even be together?
From Sand and Ash is a haunting story of a cold, dark time in history. The callousness of the German and Italian fascists against the Jews gives the story its drama. The love story between Angelo and Eva give it its hope. The reader will cheer for Angel and Eva and their friends as they work against the Gestapo and free as many Jews as possible. The reader will cry as the horrors are experienced by the Jewish communities. I enjoyed this story as I have never really read about the experience of the Italian Jews during the war. Most historical novels of WWII focus on Germany. I recommend From Sand and Ash.

From Sand and Ash
is available on Amazon
in paperback and on the Kindle

WWII stories have a special place in my heart, but if you add in romance then I am sold. Amy Harmon writes beautiful romances and I was so excited that she decided to write a historical romance set in WWII. It involves themes of family, religion, survival, heroism, and forbidden love. Every word and chapter were perfection.

Angie's blog review:

This book is by far, hands down, my favorite read of 2016 and it’s crawled it’s way into favorites in general.
I can’t say that I’ve read many historical romances or classics for that matter, I know, I know right?! But this one, this one is “the one,” and my basis for comparison. I started out with the e-book but then adulting and pure exhaustion continued to rear it’s ugly head. My friend/blogging partner pushed for the audio book but I was hesitant because I don’t audio. I’m apparently very picky. Who knew! *winks* I am SO glad that she persuaded me. Not only was the narrator, Cassandra Campbell, PERFECTION but it literally brought the story to life for me. Actually, hearing the story was a completely different experience for me. Being married into an Italian/Sicilian family, whilst reading myself, I was reading in an Italian accent but Cassandra’s was literally everything and a game changer.
Before I touch on the importance and weight of this book, I want to talk about Amy Harmon herself. This is only my second book by this author. My first read was Making Faces and Amy KNOWS. HOW. TO. STORY. She’s been blessed with the gift of the written word and storytelling and she does it beautifully, with grace and ease.
From Sand and Ash woke me up. I was in a horrible reading funk. HORRIBLE, the worst one yet. My real life responsibilities had me too exhausted to sit and read. My friend, Wil raved about this book, gave us the general idea of it and urged us to read it. She had me at, “It’s set in Italy, Angela.” This book threw me into an era of one of the harshest and cruelest realities that history has ever known. I felt this book to my core. I felt everything. I heard everything. And because of the beautiful narration, I saw everything as well.
Angelo Bianco. He is the epitome of strength, honor and unconditional love. I felt his struggle to choose and sometimes choosing to follow your heart is one of the worst things when lives hang in the balance. I LOVE everything about true, unconditional love and he has that for Eva in spades. This man was pulled in so many directions but his focus was always on Eva. He was always making sure that above all else, that she was safe.
Eva is a force. She is the heroine of all heroine’s in my eyes. What she does, how she does it, and why is definitely something to look up to no matter your station, race, ethnicity or religious background. She’s definitely no damsel in distress and proves that through and through with her courage. Even while in the belly of the beast her strength is beyond admirable. At times I was literally shaking from fear for her, truly. How, right? It’s a book. No, it’s Amy freaking Harmon.
Their story may have been fictitious but the historical foundation that it’s laid upon is by no means fake. What happens historically in this book was real and that alone ripped my heart right out of my chest. As a reader, you’re always craving something different and comparing the current book to one that’s similar and while I was doing that, this book was nothing like I’ve ever read. It read like a movie and I know I say that all the time but this one definitely needs to be made into one.

wow. Eva and Angelo are two people I would love to meet in real life. Such bravery in the face of horror. This is a beautifully written novel of a nightmarish time in our history. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. This is one to read for inspiration.

Eva and Angelo grow up together in a sort of mixed family. His grandparents take him in. They live with Eva and her father. She considers his grandparents as her grandparents. Her father considers him the son he didn't have. All of these bonds are tested by the events of WWII. Eva and her father are Jewish. Hitler has control of Italy. Eva and Angelo are getting older. They find that the love they have for each other is more than just familial. Angelo's goal has always been to become a Catholic priest. His position allows him to help people (especially the Jews) more than he could otherwise, but it also means he can never marry.
This book is full of beauty and tragedy. It follows two people in love and the conflict and consequences of everyone's choices. It portrays the best of worst sides of human nature. Mostly it focuses on the lengths people will go to help each other. My heart hasn't felt so much in awhile. From Sand and Ash is an experience that should not be passed up. It's an epic love story that will restore your faith in humanity.