The Tuscan Villa Book Review

The Tuscan Villa

Daughters of Italy Book 3

Ella Carey

Italy, 1945. As war rages through Europe, a crumbling family villa that becomes a vital safe space for the people of Cortona during the war. But that sanctuary is lost the day its owner, Vivi, mysteriously vanishes…

Manhattan, 1953. Francesca feels smothered by lace as she tries on wedding dresses in an uptown boutique. Can she really start a new life with her fiancé without first answering the questions she has about her childhood in Italy? Confronted with the news that the bougainvillea-covered villa she grew up in is for sale, and the lavish gardens her father designed and cultivated are destined to be razed, she buys a plane ticket and doesn’t look back. She can’t stand by and watch it all turn to rubble.

Fran chokes back a sob as she finds the gardens wild and overgrown and the once-pristine follies crumbling under the baking sun. But the lingering scent of the Italian basil from the kitchen garden brings Fran closer to the father she lost. To save this sacred space she must uncover what really happened when Vivi disappeared.

But while standoffish locals treat Fran like an outsider, she knows she is closing in on a secret at the very heart of the gardens she ran barefoot through as a young girl; a tragic love triangle that plagued the villa, defied the authorities, and might change everything Fran thinks she knows about who she is. One thing is certain: what happened to Vivi was no accident.

And just when Fran thinks she’s uncovered a truth that will shake the little village of Cortona to its foundations, she discovers a letter that changes everything once again. Can Fran find a way to save the gardens before they are destroyed? Or will she be forced to return home to a future in New York that no longer fits?

From bestselling author Ella Carey comes an utterly heart-wrenching and gripping World War Two historical novel that will transport you straight to the Tuscan countryside. Fans of Kathryn Hughes, Fiona Valpy and Victoria Hislop will be utterly enchanted.

**Each Daughters of Italy book can be read as part of the series or as a standalone**

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My thoughts:

 

Fran escaped Italy during WWII and is living in New York, engaged to be married and feeling truly stifled. Upon hearing that the beloved villa she grew up in has been sold and its beauty will be destroyed, she leaves her New York life behind to return to the gardens of her childhood to try to save them. Can she solve the mystery of what happened to the previous owner of the villa? Can she save the villa from ruin?

 

This story hits the perfect notes for me. It is wonderfully graphic in its descriptions of the gardens, the food, and the people in the book. Yet it is descriptive enough about WWII without being something that is super difficult to read. At the beginning of the book it can be a little challenging to follow along, as it is told from several timelines, but within a couple of chapters you'll be hooked! 

What readers are saying about the The Tuscan Villa:

“I longed to be swept away to Villa Aria with its lush gardens, and its peaceful, timeless surroundings. Ella Carey is a talented storyteller. A must read!” Layered Pages, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“A captivating tale… filled with intrigue, mystery, and suspense…The plot twists and turns kept me on the edge of my seat… I thoroughly enjoyed every page of this incredible story. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for an unputdownable read that will resonate with them for a long time.” Page Turners, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Full of twists and turns and secrets! The setting is stunning with all the descriptions of this heavenly location… What a plot twister!… Its setting is divine, its plot heartbreaking and characters memorable” NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Had me gasping! A moving and atmospheric read,” Lifechapterswithdanni, ⭐⭐⭐⭐

“This story is like walking through sunlit ruins filled with secrets, and it pulled me in with its blend of history and mystery… the setting alone, war-torn Italy and a crumbling villa, made it feel immersive right from the start.” rubie_reads, ⭐⭐⭐⭐

“The setting is stunning… makes you feel has if you have been transported to the heart of Tuscany… The mystery of Vivi’s disappearance and the reasons for it will keep readers captivated… The last few chapters had me in their thrall.” Shaz’s Book Blog

 

 

Author Bio

Ella Carey

Ella Carey is the international bestselling author of The Things We Don’t Say, Secret Shores, From a Paris Balcony, The House by the Lake, and Paris Time Capsule. Her books have been published in over fourteen languages, in twelve countries, and have been shortlisted for ARRA awards. A Francophile who has long been fascinated by secret histories set in Europe’s entrancing past, Ella has degrees in music, nineteenth-century women’s fiction, and modern European history. She lives in Melbourne with her two children and two Italian greyhounds who are constantly mistaken for whippets.

Ella loves to connect with her readers regularly through her facebook page and on her website.

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The Lucky Winners Book Review

They won their dream home. It’s about to become a nightmare…

When Merri and Dev buy a ticket on the last day of a national draw to win the house of their dreams, they never, in a million years, expect to win.

Less than a week later, they’re receiving the keys to their new Lake District mansion.

For Dev, it’s a dream come true – no more stressful rent negotiations or waiting for the landlord to finally fix the damp. Of course he’s delighted to be interviewed about their good luck.

But Merri feels a little uneasy. Dev doesn’t realise there’s a reason she’s never wanted to put down roots, always trying to run away from the memories of what happened the day her little sister died.

At first, it’s easy to think she’s imagining the shadowy figures in the lakefront garden. It’s silly to think that someone is watching her through the gorgeous floor-to-ceiling glass windows.

And then a body is found in the lake. And Merri’s new perfect life is about to come crashing down…

A completely addictive and unputdownable thriller from the number 1 ebook bestselling author K.L. Slater. The Lucky Winners will have you hooked! Perfect for fans of Lisa Jewell and Freida McFadden.

 

Amazon

 

My thoughts:

 

This story starts off as everyone's reality, behind on bills and struggling, then becomes a dream, as Merri and Dev win an amazing lottery for a dream home! All of their problems appear to be solved, but something feels wrong. Merri has a secret from her past that she is trying to keep hidden, and things start happening around them to make them feel like this may not have been the best idea.

 

The suspense in this story builds slowly until later in the book, and the chapters are told from different points of view, which makes for a very interesting read. Overall I really enjoyed this story! Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for the complimentary copy of the story. I am voluntarily leaving a review.

What everyone is saying about The Lucky Winners:

‘I was completely hooked from the very first page!… Left me breathless… Kept me turning the pages late into the night… Addictive… Utterly unputdownable!’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

‘Ohhh I was hooked from the start… gripping… had me on the edge of my seat the whole time!’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

‘An absolute 5-star thriller!… A super thrilling read that I genuinely couldn’t put down!… I was on the edge of my seat!… Kept me guessing until the end.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

‘My my!… incredible… genuinely unputdownable…I read in a day.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

‘I couldn’t put this down!… The tension that I felt as I was turning the pages was heavy!… Brilliant!!!!’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

‘Now this is what you call a THRILLER! WOW… Best thriller I’ve read in a long time.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

‘What a thriller… Twists and turns around every corner. I was gripped to the very end. Another banger!’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

 

 

Author Bio

K.L. Slater

For many years, Kim sent her work out to literary agents but never made it off the slush pile. At the age of 40 she went back to Nottingham Trent University and now has an MA in Creative Writing.

Before graduating, she received five offers of representation from London literary agents which was, as Kim says, ‘a fairytale … at the end of a very long road!’

Kim is a full-time writer and lives in Nottingham with her husband, Mac.

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Every Last One Book Review

Tucking her daughter into her hospital bed, Gail sent up a silent prayer. Her daughter’s heart is failing and without this life-saving operation she will die. But soon her peace is shattered when a nurse races into the room: “Lock the doors, close the blinds. The hospital’s in lockdown. We have a shooter.”

As a top negotiator for the FBI, Special Agent Sandra Vos is skilled at talking hostage takers down. But when four gunmen storm into Founders Hospital, plunging it into lockdown, she knows just how many lives depend on her.

With a total communications blackout and every aspect of the attack carefully planned out, it appears to have been an inside job. But when a surprise call comes from a victim trapped inside, Sandra realizes the situation is even worse than she imagined. A four-year-old girl is scheduled for life-saving heart surgery. If doctors can’t get to her by tonight, she will die.

With more pressure to bring this incident to a swift end, gunfire rings out, and it’s clear the hostage takers are prepared to kill to get what they want. But just when Sandra thinks all is lost, she learns the hostage takers’ motive is very personal.

Can Sandra use this information to urge them to surrender? Can she even meet their demands? With the clock ticking and countless lives at stake, this will be Sandra’s most heartbreaking negotiation yet.

A totally gripping mystery thriller perfect for fans of Kendra Elliot’s Mercy Kilpatrick series, Mary Stone and Elle Gray.

 

Buy Link

 

My thoughts:

 

This story grabs you from the very beginning, with a hostage situation taking over a hospital, putting everyone in danger with no known reason for why the hospital was the target. It is crazy high stakes with so much danger, and Sandra Vos has to try to bring it to a peaceful conclusion.

 

As she works to save lives, the tension ratchets up and holds you throughout the whole book. As usual for Carolyn Arnold, this book is suspenseful, well thought out, well written, and very enjoyable. It can be read as a standalone book, but you'll likely want to go back and read the first book in the series.

 

Author Bio

To keep current on author news, sign up for Carolyn Arnold’s newsletter at http://dld.bz/jBtNt

CAROLYN ARNOLD is an international bestselling and award-winning author, as well as a speaker, teacher, and inspirational mentor. She has several continuing fiction series and has many published books. Her genre diversity offers her readers everything from cozy mysteries, police procedurals, and thrillers to action adventures. Her crime fiction series have been praised by those in law enforcement as being accurate and entertaining. This led to her adopting the trademark: POLICE PROCEDURALS RESPECTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT™. Carolyn was born in a small town and enjoys spending time outdoors, but she also loves the lights of a big city. Grounded by her roots and lifted by her dreams, her overactive imagination insists that she tell her stories. Her intention is to touch the hearts of millions with her books, to entertain, inspire, and empower.

She currently lives near London, Ontario, Canada with her husband and two beagles.

 

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Her Buried Past Book Review

The blade slices deeply into her neck, and arterial spray sweeps across her vision. She puts her hand over the wound, feeling the fight already leaving her. In a moment of surrender, she must believe something marvelous will come after she takes her last breath. Otherwise, she’ll be left with nothing but the blackness that is edging in.

After therapist Sidney Callahan is found dead in her home office, Detective Madison Knight drives out to her remote cabin. Also used as a spiritual retreat to explore past-life regression, the otherwise peaceful property stands out in stark contrast to the messy murder scene. With signs of a struggle but no forced entry, Madison must figure out who would want to harm this woman.

Madison soon discovers that Sidney had planned to release a book featuring her patients’ past lives, and she suspects one of them didn’t want their secrets exposed. But as Madison and her partner, Terry Grant, dig deeper, they make the shocking discovery that the therapist had her own dark past.

As they continue their investigation, Madison and Terry must navigate a web of lies and danger. But just as they are inching closer to the truth, someone tries to stop them with deadly force. Will they be able to bring justice to Sidney? Or will they become the next victims? 

 

A tense and completely addictive crime thriller that is perfect for fans of Lisa Regan, Angela Marsons, and Kendra Elliot.

 

Buy Link

 

My thoughts:

 

This is another great story by Carolyn Arnold, continuing following the career and life of Detective Madison Knight. Madison comes home from her honeymoon to find she has a new boss, and doesn't even have time to catch her breath before she's tossed into a new case.

 

But can Madison and Terry survive to solve this case? Someone is working really hard to hide their past, and are willing to do whatever is necessary to keep their secrets buried.

 

This is the 14th installment in the Detective Madison Knight series, but it can totally be read as a standalone. However, I will warn you that you'll probably want to go back and read the previous books because they're that good!

 

 

Author Bio

To keep current on author news, sign up for Carolyn Arnold’s newsletter at http://dld.bz/jBtNt

CAROLYN ARNOLD is an international bestselling and award-winning author, as well as a speaker, teacher, and inspirational mentor. She has several continuing fiction series and has many published books. Her genre diversity offers her readers everything from cozy mysteries, police procedurals, and thrillers to action adventures. Her crime fiction series have been praised by those in law enforcement as being accurate and entertaining. This led to her adopting the trademark: POLICE PROCEDURALS RESPECTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT™. Carolyn was born in a small town and enjoys spending time outdoors, but she also loves the lights of a big city. Grounded by her roots and lifted by her dreams, her overactive imagination insists that she tell her stories. Her intention is to touch the hearts of millions with her books, to entertain, inspire, and empower.

She currently lives near London, Ontario, Canada with her husband and two beagles.

 

Social Media

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorCarolynArnold/

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