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tl;dr Review:
A slow start, but built up to a great read and satisfying historical fiction tale.
Full Review:
Once it did though, I found I really enjoyed the book. The publisher described the tale in typical dramatic form:
Eighteen-year-old Marianna De’Angelis has grown up on her father’s fishing boat off the picturesque coast of Sicily, Italy. She traverses the nearby countryside on horseback and bicycle and works alongside her mother selling fish at market. It is a simple, happy life. But when WWII erupts and the Nazis overtake the country, Marianna’s peaceful world is shattered.
In the midst of chaos, Marianna encounters a handsome, young Italian soldier named Massimo Scalvone. Though she tries to keep her distance, Marianna finds herself powerfully drawn to Massimo. Yet all the while, the man she is growing to love conceals a deadly secret—a secret that ensures that in a world now ruled by politics and greed, Massimo is not free to give his heart. Devastated, Marianna immerses herself in helping her family and neighbors survive the war. But soon, merely helping is not enough, and the young woman undertakes increasingly dangerous missions for the resistance. Although Marianna and Massimo each harbor secrets, their only hope of survival is to trust each other with the truth of who they really are.
However, as much as it reads like it’s going to be a soap opera and silly, it ends up digging deeper and showcasing a tough and gritty side. While I’ve read a number of books on WWII, I haven’t read many about the Italian Partisans during that time. Though the book is obviously centered around the two main characters, it highlights aspects of the Partisan resistance and how every day Italians dealt with and fought back against the Nazis.
So long as you don’t mistake this for a deep thinking read, you’ll be ok. I’d recommend it for going to the beach or laying by the pool. It’s got enough history to make it meatier than typical beach reads, but also enough romance and drama to make it perfect for enjoying on a warm summer day.
I give it 4 out of 5 thumbs up.
