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Remember Me (Pictures of the Heart Book #1) Tracie Peterson

I just love this beautiful cover and can’t wait to read the others in the series.

About The Book

From the Yukon to Seattle, the hope of a new beginning waits just around the corner.

Addie Bryant is haunted by her past of heartbreak and betrayal. After her beau, Isaac Hanson, left the Yukon, she made a vow to wait for him. When she’s sold to a brothel owner after the death of her father, Addie manages to escape with the hope that she can forever hide her past and the belief that she will never have the future she’s always dreamed of.

Years later, Addie has found peace in her new life as a photographer, training Camera Girls to operate and sell the Brownie camera. During the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Expo in Seattle, Addie is reunited with Isaac, but after the path her life has taken, she’s afraid to expose the ugliness of her former life and to move toward the future they had pledged to each other.

When her past catches up with her, Addie must decide whether to run or to stay and face her wounds in order to embrace her life, her future, and her hope in God.

My Thoughts

I have long been reading this authors books. She has so many out, I call her the “Queen of Historical Fiction.” Her research is immaculate and makes each story relatable and realistic.
Her books have a beautiful faith message but it’s not overbearing.
Remember Me is the first book in the Pictures of the Heart series.
The setting is 1909 at the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Expo in Seattle.
Addie Bryant has had a very harsh and heartbreaking bringing up. Her brothers and father did not love her, and she had no one. After they betrayed her in the worst way possible, she was able to escape. With memories of a promised love from childhood she holds onto these happy memories as a way to keep going but doesn’t expect anything to come of it.
After she is reunited with Isaac, her past love, she doesn’t feel worthy of forgiveness or to be with him.
The theme here is your past is in the past and God is a forgiving God to be trusted and Addie does come to do this. A strong story line with themes of forgiveness, redemption and love.
I will continue to read books by this author as she’s one of my all-time favorites.

Pub Date: 07 Mar 2023
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

The Author

Tracie Peterson is the bestselling, award-winning author of more than one hundred books. Tracie also teaches writing workshops at a variety of conferences on subjects such as inspirational romance and historical research. She and her family live in Montana.

Visit Tracie’s web site at: http://www.traciepeterson.com

Your presence here blesses me. Thank you!

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Forged In Love by Mary Connealy

About The Book

In 1870, Mariah Stover is left for dead and with no memory when the Deadeye Gang robs the stagecoach she’s on, killing her father and brother. As she takes over her father’s blacksmith business and attempts to move forward, the old-fashioned townspeople meet her new occupation with disdain.

Handsome and polished Clint Roberts escaped to Western Wyoming from the painful memories he left back east. In the hope of a new life, he opens a diner where he creates fine dishes, but is met with a harsh welcome from the townsfolk who prefer to stick to their old ways.

Clint and Mariah are drawn together by the similar trials they face in a new town, and Clint is determined to protect Mariah at all costs when danger descends upon her home. As threats pursue them from every side, will they survive to build a life forged in love?

Mary Connealy steals you away to the atmospheric American West with an adventure-filled, charming nineteenth-century tale.

My Thoughts

I have been reading this author’s books for years and have always enjoyed the strong faith message in them.
Mariah Stover is no shrinking violet, despite being on a stagecoach that was robbed and that took the life of her father and brother she knows she must go on. She is left with no memory of the incident. I enjoyed seeing Mariah cast as a strong woman taking over her father’s blacksmith shop, a job at this time period known to be a man’s job. The town’s people are not accepting of her doing this as they are used to seeing men do this and are stuck in the old way of thought.
Hoping to escape painful memories Clint Roberts comes to town for a new start and opens a diner but the townspeople are not accepting of him either.
Mariah and Clint become friends bound together by a common ground of nonacceptance and find they have a lot in common. Despite this closeness danger seems to follow Mariah. Is someone trying to eliminate a witness because she is still alive after the robbery?
This is a wonderful start to a new series and it’s so refreshing to see women doing male dominated jobs including her friend Nell who as a talented seamstress makes chaps for cowboys. This story taking place in Wyoming has such a wonderful description of the barren and dusty area that I can just picture it now.
I was going to give this book 4 stars but I am removing one star for it including animal abuse. I could never condone animal abuse and including it does nothing to enhance the story. There are several instances where a dog is abused, and I was so disappointed to read this.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House through Interviews & Reviews for my honest opinion.

About The Author

Mary Connealy writes romantic comedy with cowboys always with a strong suspense thread. She is a two time Carol Award winner, and a Rita, Christy and Inspirational Reader’s Choice finalist.
She is the bestselling author of 65 books and novellas.
Her most recent three book series are: Braced for Love, A Man with a Past and Love on the Range for Bethany House Publishing. She’s also written four other series for Barbour Publishing and many novellas and several stand-alone books for multiple publishers.
Mary will be a published author for ten years in 2017 with nearly a million books in print. She has a degree in broadcast communications with an emphasis in journalism and has worked at her local newspaper.

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Boldwood Blog Tour for Where We Belong by Sarah Bennett

About The Book

Where We Belong

On paper, Hope Travers has an idyllic life.

Living in a bustling farmhouse with her mum, aunt and uncles, cousin and too many dogs to count, surrounded by the breath-taking Cotswolds countryside, she knows she is privileged and protected.

But all families have secrets, and the Travers family are no exception. Their farmhouse sits in the grounds of the Juniper Meadows estate, passed down through the generations and now being made to pay its own way with a myriad of businesses and projects. When a construction crew uncover what appear to be historical ruins, the history of the Travers family is put under ever closer scrutiny as a dig gets underway.

Hope may have found a blossoming romance with local archaeologist Cameron Ferguson who is running the dig, but when things start to go wrong around the estate and family secrets begin to be revealed, Hope wonders if she’s made a big mistake in digging up the past.

Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/3jQEYqg

My Thoughts

Where We Belong is the first book in the Juniper Meadows series. It is a contemporary romance. I am always excited to start a new series by an author who I’ve read their books in the past and have loved them. The characters are so relatable and realistic, after reading just this first book in the series I feel as though they could be friends. I found it interesting to see an archeological dig featured in the book, something not often seen. While preparing to break ground on the family home the dig team may have found ruins, so they bring in the archeologist and Cameron Ferguson, University lecturer. I found the story revolving around the testing digs to be wonderfully researched and fascinating. While we see a clear romantic connection between Cam and Hope, our leading couple, there are also side characters that I think will play an important role in the upcoming books. This book is just the foundation to work with there is plenty of material to work with, characters to elaborate on their stories and secrets to be divulged. I loved meeting the black labs they are right there sticking their noses in everything and so affectionate. The more the dig happens the more secrets are revealed in the archeological sense and in the family. I think more of a backstory will come to light as family secrets are unearthed. I can’t wait to read the next book in this series as I already feel a part of the community with its warm and welcoming characters and beautiful setting in the Cotswolds.

Published March 9,2023
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

Visit other blogs on the tour here.

Author Bio

Author Bio –

Sarah Bennett is the bestselling author of several romantic fiction trilogies including those set in Butterfly Cove and Lavender Bay. Born and raised in a military family she is happily married to her own Officer and when not reading or writing enjoys sailing the high seas.

Social Media Links –  

Facebook: Sarah Bennett Author | Facebook

Twitter: Sarah Bennett (@Sarahlou_writes) / Twitter

Instagram: Sarah Bennett (@sarahlbennettauthor) • Instagram photos and videos

Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/SarahBennettnews

Bookbub profile: Sarah Bennett Books – BookBub

Have a marvelous day. Thank you for stopping in today.

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Love Blooms at Mermaids Point: A glorious, uplifting read from bestseller Sarah Bennett

290 pages Boldwood Books publisher March 16,22 publish date

Fall in love with Sarah Bennett’s bestselling Mermaids Point series!

Bestselling author Alex Nelson is slowly coming apart at the seams after a failed marriage and an abrupt change in career leave him at a crossroads in life. When an unexpected opportunity arises to escape to the idyllic village of Mermaids Point, he’s hot on the heels of his brother, Tom, who has recently moved there. Buying a rundown bookshop might be just his latest harebrained scheme, but Alex has never been one to do things by halves.

After spending her early years caring for her mother, Ivy Fisher is finally ready to start living her own life. But when the impossibly charming, impossibly good-looking Alex Nelson swoops in and snatches her dream out from under her nose, it really is the last straw. Forced by circumstances to spend more time with him, Ivy finally gets a peek of the real man beneath the confident exterior, and she likes what she sees.

But just when things are starting to come together for them, Ivy is reminded why men can never be trusted. Is Alex who he says he is, or is he using Mermaids Point as nothing more than research fodder for his next bestseller?

Enjoy a gloriously uplifting, page-turning, romantic escape to the seaside with the bestselling author Sarah Bennett. Perfect for all fans of Trisha Ashley, Holly Martin and Milly Johnson.

My Thoughts

I read the Mermaid’s Point series out of order, so I am now finishing it up. I am really going to miss this series, I’ve enjoyed it quite a bit, meeting the characters, having them carry over into other books, plus the location of the seaside is so relaxing. The author really makes this into a place you’re ready to come and visit.
The book is an emotional page turner. With Alex Nelson going through a job change he relocates to Mermaids Point at the suggestion of his older brother who also lives there. When he gets the great idea to buy an old rundown bookshop from the owner who is retiring, he has his blessings to redesign it to suit his fancy. Will it be just what Mermaids Point needs or a bust?
Ivy is a creative woman designing clothing and toys and the bookshop would be the perfect place to sell her designs. When that falls through, she feels the loss even more so because she has the goods strewn about her home and her mother’s bedroom whom she misses terribly after her loss.
I loved seeing how Alex and Ivy’s romance plays out. They are such a wonderful couple. Heartwarming and gentle this emotionally moving story is a real winner. I’m looking forward to starting the next series she’s putting out.

Pub Date 16 Mar 2022
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

Grab A Copy Here

Hello and a very warm welcome to you!

Thank you for taking the time to check out my books. I write heart-warming stories set in small communities full of family, friendship and romance. My hope is that readers will fall in love with the places I create just as much as they do with the characters who live there.

I write in third person from a dual perspective to ensure readers can truly get under the skin of both the hero and the heroine. Every book can be enjoyed as a standalone story with a guaranteed happy ever after, but for the most satisfying reader experience I recommend following the arc of each series.

It is both a dream come true and a joy to be able to offer you a few hours of gentle escapism from the rigours of day-to-day life.

Settle into your favourite reading spot and let me whisk you away to beautiful settings you’ll wish you could visit for real.

Love, Sarah xx

Don’t follow your dreams, chase them!

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The Element of Love (The Lumber Baron’s Daughters Book #1) by Mary Connealy

295 pages Bethany House Publishers March 2,2022 publish date

About the Book

She mixed danger, desperation, and deception together. Love was not the expected outcome.

With their sharp engineering minds, Laura Stiles and her two sisters have been able to deal with their mother’s unfortunate choice in husband until they discovered his plans to marry each of them off to his lecherous friends. Now they must run away–far and fast–to find better matches to legally claim their portion of their father’s lumber dynasty and seize control from their stepfather.

During their escape, Laura befriends a mission group heading to serve the poor in California. She quickly volunteers herself and her sisters to join their efforts. Despite the settlement being in miserable condition, the sisters are excited by the opportunity to put their skills to good use. Laura also sees potential in Caleb, the mission’s parson, to help with gaining her inheritance. But when secrets buried in Caleb’s past and in the land around them come to light, it’ll take all the smarts the sisters have to keep trouble at bay.

My Thoughts

I haven’t read a Mary Connealy book in several years and I’m glad to be back into it. Her books are always so inspirational with such a faith filled message in them. I found this story to be unique. I enjoyed the plot and the pacing. There are three sister’s living with their mother and stepfather. There was great love in their house with their mother and father who had respect for women and taught the girls how to run his lumber business and they would have taken it over but upon his death it all changes. The mother remarries too quickly, and the stepfather reveals his true evil self after the wedding when it’s too late. He wants to marry them off and benefit from payoffs for doing so. Plotting to run away the sisters and mother leave but the mother goes home as she cannot travel on. The sisters wander until exhausted and hungry they find a find an encampment in California serving the poor and downtrodden led by a preacher man. I found it refreshing that the girls are so smart and are not afraid to show it. Intelligence looks good on you, girls! People wander in and out of this camp, some good people, some just looking for a handout and bringing trouble with them. As the preacher man sees how helpful and kind the oldest sister is he falls in love with her kind heart, and they decide to marry. On the eve of their wedding wanting no secrets between them she tells him about her past life. The preacher man is hiding secrets of his own but found his calling and became a man of God. When trouble comes a calling from his past life will she think she married the wrong man hastily like her mother has? I enjoyed this inspirational book so much and look forward to reading the stories of the two other sisters now.

Buy Link

About The Author

Mary Connealy writes romantic comedy with cowboys. She is independently publishing a contemporary romantic suspense series called Garrison’s Law, book one is Loving the Texas Lawman. Her new historical series, High Sierra Sweethearts begins with The Accidental Guardian. She is also the author of these series: Kincaid Brides, Trouble in Texas, Wild at Heart, Cimarron Legacy, Lassoed in Texas, Montana Marriages and Sophie’s daughters, and has man other books.

She is a two-time Carol Award winner and has been a finalist for the Rita and Christy Awards. She’s a lifelong Nebraskan and lives with her very own romantic cowboy hero. She’s got four grown daughters and four spectacular grandchildren.

Find Mary online at:

Her website: maryconnealy.com

Her blog for aspiring writers: Seekerville

Her blog for lovers of western romance: Petticoats & Pistols

Sign up for her newsletter at maryconnealy.com/newsletter

Mary is on Facebook at facebook.com/maryconnealy

And Twitter at twitter.com/maryconnealy

I hope you’re having a wonderful weekend. Thanks for stopping in.

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Happy Endings at Mermaids Point: Feel-good, festive read from Sarah Bennett

310 pages Boldwood Books Pub Date 01 Jul 2022 

Buy Link

My Thoughts

Happy Endings at Mermaid’s Point is the fifth and final book in the series. It’s the perfect book to pick up and get lost in on a lazy day while sipping from your tea or coffee cup.
We met Nick and Aurora way back in the first book, Summer Kisses at Mermaid’s Point but had to wait til now for them to get their own story, and oh what a delightful story it is.
Aurora is a singer and despite all things gets caught up in a media storm. As we all know more than half of the stuff you hear in the media isn’t true. Due to unforeseen circumstances she has to come home to Mermaid’s Point. Now Mermaid’s Points residents have the small-town, charming, will help you with anything feel. This is exactly what Aurora is counting on as she needs to enlist the help of Nick. He’ll pretend to be her boyfriend just until the media settles down. Well, we know how fake dating turns out so many times, it becomes the real thing, either right away or eventually.
The romance of Christmas is in the air and the residents of Mermaids are out and about celebrating.
So fun and festive this feel-good book will linger with you long after the last page has been read.

Pub Date 01 Jul 2022
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

Hello and a very warm welcome to you!

Thank you for taking the time to check out my books. I write heart-warming stories set in small communities full of family, friendship and romance. My hope is that readers will fall in love with the places I create just as much as they do with the characters who live there.

I write in third person from a dual perspective to ensure readers can truly get under the skin of both the hero and the heroine. Every book can be enjoyed as a standalone story with a guaranteed happy ever after, but for the most satisfying reader experience I recommend following the arc of each series.

It is both a dream come true and a joy to be able to offer you a few hours of gentle escapism from the rigours of day-to-day life.

Settle into your favourite reading spot and let me whisk you away to beautiful settings you’ll wish you could visit for real.

Love, Sarah xx

Have a marvelous day. Thank you for visiting today.

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First Line Friday

Happy Friday & welcome to the First Line Friday! It’s time to grab the book nearest to you and leave a comment with the first line. Today I’m featuring the first line of Death in Irish Accents by Catie Murphy. Being that I am Irish I always enjoy reading a few books like this to celebrate the day.

And the first line is……………..

A body fell out of the closet when the barista opened it. The barista screamed, throwing herself backwards, and landed in a sprawl across Megan Malone’s lap.

Pub Date 21 Feb 2023

About The Book

After a long streak of avoiding murder investigations, Dublin limo driver Megan Malone thought her life had finally settled . . . but even her Irish luck can’t keep her out of trouble forever in Catie Murphy’s fourth Ireland-set cozy mystery…

It’s been over a year since Megan found herself entangled in a murder—much to everyone’s relief, including her girlfriend Jelena and Detective Paul Bourke. So when a body of a young woman quite literally lands in her lap at her favorite Dublin café, Megan tries to do the right thing and leave the crime-solving to the police so she can enjoy the St. Patrick’s Day weekend. After all, she has no connection to the victim. Or does she?

Megan’s latest client, world-renowned romance novelist Claire Woodward, is fascinated by Megan’s own history of catching killers. Claire also just happens to be the murder victim’s literary mentor. So maybe Megan can just sort of stay on the periphery of the case while trying to help out? Just a wee bit without causing too much fuss? Even Detective Bourke would approve since he has personal reasons not to trust Claire. The investigation leads Megan to the victim’s writing group, who think that Claire has plagiarized the poor young lady’s work. And when another member of the group is found dead, Megan will have to step up her sleuthing before the killer decides to write her off for good.

Now let me know the first line of the book closest to you.

Have a super day! Thanks for stopping by.

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Doors to the Past series, review of Passages of Hope by Terri J. Haynes

258 pages Barbour fiction November 1, 2022 publication date

About The Book

Discover the Story Behind a Secret Passageway
 
Walk through Doors to the Past via a new series of historical stories of romance and adventure.

Gracie Kingston begins renovations on the Philadelphia house inherited from her grandmother and finds a secret room. It is connected to a house nearby, the home of William Still, the man known as the father of the Underground Railroad. As she researches, she discovers a mystery in her house’s ownership. In 1855, Olivia Kingston helps a mother and her young child by hiding them in a secret room in her home. As she helps, she learns that there may be an impostor conductor in their community. As Gracie’s and Olivia’s stories intertwine, they learn the meaning of sacrifice and love.

Don’t miss other great books in the Doors to the Past series:
The Lady in Residence by Allison Pittman
Hope Between the Pages by Pepper Basham
Bridge of Gold by Kimberley Woodhouse
Undercurrent of Secrets by Rachel Scott McDaniel
Behind Love’s Wall by Carrie Fancett Pagels
High-Wire Heartbreak by Anna Schmidt
Love’s Fortress by Jennifer Uhlarik
A Promise Engraved by Liz Tolsma
Laura’s Shadow by Allison Pittman
Passages of Hope by Terri Haynes
In Spotlight and Shadow by Rachel Scott McDaniel
The Keys to Gramercy Park by Candice Sue Patterson

Grab A Copy Here

My Thoughts

I have really been enjoying the Doors to the Past series, of which Passages of Hope is a part of.
This book is told with a dual timeline.
Gracie McNeil inherits a home in the historical district in beautiful Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
As she’s having remodeling work done on the home to ready it for her yarn shop, she’ll open a secret room is discovered.
Olivia Kingston, a conductor of the underground railroad houses and hides many, many Blacks helping them as they go on their way seeking freedom from slavery. Olivia is able to change her childless marriage after she’s able to adopt a sick child.
The author tells her story about a terrible and unjust time in history in a gentle and respectful manner.
I absolutely loved this book. The bravery of these women during their time period is amazing.
Gracie is going through so much, missing her grandmother terribly, worrying about eviction from the home, money worries and not having the best relationship with her uncle. She is blessed with such a strong romantic relationship though.
The story goes back and forth between the two time periods smoothly and I enjoyed seeing how discovering a hidden room brought forth history studying and the discovery of such strong and dynamic women in Gracie’s family.

Pub Date 01 Nov 2022
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

About The Author

Terri J. Haynes, a native Baltimorean, is a homeschool mom, writer, prolific knitter, freelance graphic artist and former Army wife (left the Army, not the husband). She loves to read, so much that when she was in elementary school, she masterminded a plan to be locked in a public library armed with only a flashlight to read all the books and a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. She is a storyteller at heart. Her passion is to draw readers into the story world she has created and to bring laughter and joy to their lives.

Terri is a 2010 American Christian Fiction Writers Genesis contest finalist, and a 2012 semi-finalist. She is also a 2013 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award Quarterfinalist. Her publishing credits include Cup of Comfort for Military Families, Crosswalk.com, the Secret Place Devotional, Vista Devotional, Urbanfaith.com and Publisher’s Weekly.

Terri and her husband pastor a church where she serves as executive pastor and worship leader. Terri lives in Maryland with her three wonderful children and her husband, who often beg her not to kill off their favorite characters.

Visit her blog, http://www.inotherwords.terrijhaynes.com or her website, http://www.terrijhaynes.com.

Have a beautiful day and keep smiling.

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A Match in the Making (The Matchmakers Book #1) Historical fiction full of humor by Jen Turano

362 pages Feb 21,2023 publish date Bethany House publishers

About The Book

Miss Gwendolyn Brinley accepted a temporary paid companion position for the Newport summer season, believing it would be a lark to spend the summer in America’s most exclusive town. She suddenly finds her summer turning anything but amusing when her employer expects her to take over responsibilities as an assistant matchmaker. Tasked with the daunting prospect of attaining advantageous matches for her clients, Gwendolyn soon finds herself in the employ of Mr. Walter Townsend, the catch of the Season, but a gentleman Gwendolyn finds beyond irritating.

Walter Townsend is reluctantly in search of a wife for the sake of his unruly motherless children who cannot keep a governess for long. What he wasn’t expecting was Miss Brinley, an amateur matchmaker who turns his quest for a new wife into a complete and utter debacle. Constantly besieged by society ladies on a mission to win his affection, Walter must find a way to overcome their inundating attention–and his unexpected attraction toward Gwendolyn.

The more time they spend together throughout the Newport Season, the harder it is for Gwendolyn to find Walter a wife when she realizes his perfect match might be . . . her.

My Thoughts

If you read a Jen Turano book, you’ll be guaranteed of laughter. Her books are full of humor and always make me smile and put me in a good mood as I’m reading them. I really enjoy books set in places I’ve been to. This past Summer we vacationed in Newport and visited many of the opulent mansions of yesterday there. From doing this I could picture the descriptions the author offers in her writing, and it makes the book absolutely come alive.

I laughed out loud so many times imagining the hilarious scenarios being played out. 

Gwendolyn is one of my favorite female characters Jen has written about. The children, now they just make the book so charming and amusing. The dialogue is humorous and witty. 

I enjoyed reading how the assistant reluctant matchmaker does such a wonderful job with matchmaking but yet she becomes part of a perfectly matched pair herself.

If you’re looking for a historical romance full of humor and wit, may I recommend this one to you? I look forward to seeing what the author puts out next. I was given a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House through Interviews & Reviews for my honest opinion.

Enjoy your day and give a smile to someone who needs it today.

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The Tuscan House: Absolutely beautiful and gripping WW2 historical fiction

386 pages April 7,2021 publication date Bookouture Buy Link

About The Book

Corbello, Italy, 1947. A woman and a little boy stagger into the ruins of an old house deep in the forest, wild roses overwhelming the crumbling terracotta walls. Since the war, nowhere has been safe. But they both freeze in shock when a voice calls out from the shadows…

For young mother Fosca Sentino, accepting refuge from reluctant British war hero Richard – in Tuscany to escape his tragic past – is the only way to keep her little family safe. She once risked everything to spy on Nazi commanders and pass secret information to the resistenza. But after a heartbreaking betrayal, Fosca’s best friend Simonetta disappeared without trace. The whole community was torn apart, and now Fosca and her son are outcasts.

Wary of this handsome stranger at first, Fosca slowly starts to feel safe as she watches him play with her son in the overgrown orchard. But her fragile peace is shattered the moment a silver brooch is found in the garden, and she recognises it as Simonetta’s…

Fosca has always suspected that another member of the resistenza betrayed her. With Richard by her side, she must find out if Simonetta is still alive, and clear her own name. But how did the brooch end up at the house? And with a traitor hiding in the village, willing to do anything to keep this secret buried, has Fosca put herself and her young son in terrible danger?

An absolutely gripping and heartbreaking standalone historical read that explores the incredible courage of ordinary people in extraordinary times. Perfect for fans of Rhys Bowen, The Nightingale, and anyone longing to lose themselves in the mountain landscapes and olive groves of rural Tuscany.

My Thoughts

This is my first read by this author. I have always enjoyed reading historical fiction and this one was no exception. If you like a well-researched and very descriptive book, then this one is for you.
The book goes back and forth between time periods explaining things happening now were caused by things happening in the past. The characters, you could really feel their emotions coming through strongly. The book is mesmerizing, emotional and uplifting as well. A compelling read you won’t soon forget about once you are done with it. Though this is my first read in this series I feel the need to go back to read more of this series.

Pub Date 07 Apr 2021
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

The Author

Welcome to my author page – “benvenuti”!

I live in the beautiful Italian Apennines for several months each year. Such an inspiring location.

My love affair with Italy was born at the age of seven when I moved with my family to Rome where we lived for six years. My father worked for the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and he made sure we learned Italian and visited many places during that time.

Later on I studied Italian at the University of Kent at Canterbury and afterwards worked in Sicily, where I met my husband. His Italian mother and British father met in Urbino in 1944 and married after a war-time romance.

I wanted to write “The Tuscan Secret” not only for my amazing mother-in-law, Giuseppina, but also to make people aware of the courage of the resistance fighters and the generous hospitality shown by the poorest of families, including relatives of our Italian neighbours in our corner of war-torn Tuscany.

This is my first novel and is a story about ordinary people who lived through extraordinary times. (Please note it is a revised version of “Never Forget” and “Tuscan Roots”). I was signed by wonderful BOOKOUTURE for a two-book deal and one of these was a slight re-write of “Tuscan Roots”. The new title is “The Tuscan Secret” and has more tension and intrigue to the story. I am so proud to be a part of this publishing “family”, as they describe themselves, who have patiently helped me to polish the original. It is available on Amazon and has reached the bestseller slots.

A sequel to this original book was self-published way back, at the end of April 2017. “Now and then in Tuscany” features the same family that appeared in “The Tuscan Secret”. The background is the transhumance, a practice that started in Etruscan times and continued right up until the 1950’s. STOP PRESS: This has a new title: A TUSCAN MEMORY, re-published by BOOKOUTURE SEPTEMBER 7TH 2020.

Watch out for another Tuscan, war novel. “The Tuscan Girl” was published on February 25th 2020, inspired by the many ruins I see on my walks in the Apennines. Each dilapidated house holds a story for me, whether true or invented. I’m delighted to announce that my publisher, Bookouture, has commissioned another two Italian novels from me for 2021 and 2022. Watch this space, as they say.

How many of you have read an Angela Petch book? What were your thoughts? I really have enjoyed my first read by her and have several more in my files of hers to read.

You can do it. Do not accept less.