About The Book
The Girl Who Escaped: Utterly heartbreaking and emotional WW2 historical fiction by Angela Petch
Italy, 1940. The girl sobs and rages as her father tells her the terrible news. “Italy is entering the war alongside Germany. Jews are to be arrested and sent to camps. We have to be ready.”
As fascists march across the cobbled piazzas and past the towered buildings of her beloved home city, twenty-year-old Devora’s worst fears come true. Along with her Jewish parents and twin little brothers they are torn away from everything they love and sent to an internment camp huddled in the mountains. Her father promises this war will not last long…
When they are offered a miraculous chance of escape by her childhood friend Luigi, who risks everything to smuggle vital information into the camp, the family clambers under barbed wire and races for the border. But Devora is forced to make a devastating choice between saving a stranger’s life and joining her parents. As shots fire in the moonless night, the family is separated.
Haunted by the question of whether they are dead or alive, all Devora can do for their future is throw herself into helping Luigi in the Italian resistenza in the fight for liberty. But posing as a maid for a German commander to gather secret intelligence, Devora is sure she sees her friend one night, in a Nazi uniform…
Is Devora in more danger than ever? And will her family ever be reunited – or will the war tear them apart?
An absolutely devastating but ultimately uplifting historical novel about how love and hope can get us through the darkest times. Perfect for fans of The Tattooist of Auschwitz, Rhys Bowen and Soraya M. Lane.
Buy link: https://geni.us/B0BYC1V9NHsocial
My Thoughts
Mesmerizing, I was captivated as I read this. As I was whisked away to Italy, I found the descriptions to be breathtaking as I imagined the beauty all around me.
The unimaginable happens as outspoken Devora and her Jewish parents and brothers are taken and sent to an internment camp hidden away in the mountains.
Trying to reassure her, her father tells her it won’t be long.
Another captivating read by this author. Her obvious attention to research leads to the authenticity of her writing. I have read many books on WWII but had little knowledge of Italian Jews during this time period. Devora was not one to sit back when offered help from a childhood friend she will do everything she can to help her family escape.
The book is not a light read but rather deals with the realism we see during a war. Premature death and unwarranted mistreatment and separation of families because of their religious belief are just some of the things present.
Even through times of turmoil we find glimpses of happier times, peace and love.
Devora is a courageous woman who though she goes through many hardships her strength and resilience shines through.
A must read for lovers of historical fiction. This book will not be soon forgotten.
Pub Date 19 Apr 2023
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.
Visit other blogs on the tour
The Author
Author bio:
I’m an award winning writer of fiction – and the occasional poem.
Every summer I move to Tuscany for six months where my husband and I own a renovated watermill which we let out. When not exploring our unspoilt corner of the Apennines, I disappear to my writing desk at the top of our converted stable.
In my Italian handbag or hiking rucksack I always make sure to store notebook and pen to jot down ideas.
The winter months are spent in Sussex where most of our family live. When I’m not helping out with grandchildren, I catch up with writer friends.
Author social media:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/angela_maurice/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Angela_Petch
Have a beautiful day. Thank you for stopping in.
Vegan Book Blogger 
7 replies on “Bookouture Blog Tour for The Girl Who Escaped by Angela Petch”
Good review. I was not aware of any concentration camps in the Italian mountains. I wonder if the location is real or fictional.
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Thank you. I do believe it is an actual location as this is based on true events.
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Good morning from Italy. Wow! Thank you so much for your wonderful review. I am so grateful to you for taking the trouble. In answer to “lghiggins” comment, – yes, I based my internment camp on a real location. It is near Arezzo. And it was one of the inspirations behind the story. If you read my comments at the back of The Girl who Escaped, I explain something about the camps in Italy. There is an excellent book written by an Italo/American lady too, called Elizabeth Bettina. She discovered that the home town of her immigrant parents in southern Italy had an internment camp. She was flabbergasted and did more research. I need to write my books from fact-based research and anecdotes in order to feel what I’m writing. And then I lace in my imagination. But Villa Oliveto is a real place. Very best wishes and huge thanks. Angela
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Good morning and thank you so much for your stopping in and for answering a question. I’ll bet you gobble up research like candy and this is what I absolutely love about your books the authenticity of them. Historical accuracy is key! I will be looking up this book, thank you for the recommendation. I know this has just been published but I greatly look forward to what you’ll be releasing next. I will be looking some of this up myself and reading more because I love to learn as well. Best wishes to you, you’re welcome and have a beautiful day!
Deanne
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You can learn so much from reading. Thank you for responding to my question. You have really done your research. I also know very little about the Italian resistance. Usually books focus on the French resistance. I am adding your book to my list!
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Excellent review, Deanne. I also read this story and was gripped by the story and the characters. I love how much research went into this book.
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Oh yes, her books are so well written.
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