Review: An Italian Secret

Title: An Italian Secret (Daughters of Italy Book 1)

Author: Ella Carey

Publisher: 22nd September 2023 by Bookouture

Pages: 270 pages

Genre: Historical Fiction | Women's Fiction

Rating: 4 cups

Synopsis:

Tuscany, 1944. Did she fight for the resistance or betray her people?

When the Nazis storm into northern Italy, Contessa Evelina Messina , the owner of the beautiful Villa Rosa, welcomes the Germans to her valley. In a dazzling rose silk dress, she entertains soldiers with priceless wine from her ancient cellars. Privately, she tells the townspeople this will keep the enemy at bay, but her disguise is so good, it is impossible to tell on which side her heart truly belongs…

Years later, American Annie Reynolds gazes up at the peach-coloured walls of the magnificent, empty house. Grieving deeply for her beloved father, Annie remembers his last words before he slipped away—he told her she was adopted and that the Villa Rosa was her birthright. Desperate for answers, Annie’s heart breaks when the locals tell her the Contessa had a child with a Nazi. She is devastated and ready to turn away from her dark past.

But everything changes when Annie uncovers a musty old diary from 1944 amongst the Contessa’s belongings. Pages have been meticulously cut out and Annie is sure these missing entries hold the clue to her past. As she frantically searches old papers, Annie sees how hard the Contessa worked to keep her people safe and wonders if the locals’ stories are wrong. Can Annie find the Contessa’s missing child, born at the end of the war? And will discovering the truth about what happened alter the course of her own life for good?

A gripping, sweeping page-turner that will transport you to the olive groves of Tuscany. With a truly heartbreaking family secret from World War Two at its heart, fans of Kathryn Hughes, Fiona Valpy and Victoria Hislop will be enchanted.

My Thoughts

Ella Carey is always on my automatic read list. I love her books and the Daughters of New York series was pure gold. An Italian Secret is the first in a new series - Daughters of Italy - and can be read as a standalone but I am hoping there will be links with future upcoming books.

‘She could look at the situation with the villa as a problem or an opportunity, and looking at it as an opportunity might give her the chance to make a new start.’

Ella is a phenomenal author. On this occasion she alternates the story between Annie in the present day and Cara during the war. The writing is engaging with plot lines of secrets, danger, family and love. I was a little surprised when the book ended just past the 80% mark on my device. It did seem a little abrupt or maybe I was just not ready for it to end?

‘People could be so complex, and right now, trying to fully understand Sandro, the Contessa, this family, felt as impossible as trying to grasp the history of this villa that she needed to unravel to get to the truth.’

I was in awe once again learning of the lengths people went to in order to provide resistance to the Nazis. On this occasion Ella highlights the crucial role Italian partisans played in paving the way for the Allies to liberate. With strong and inspiring characters and a gripping plot, Ella looks set to undertake another stunning series.

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the author in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

Review: The Paris Maid

Title: The Paris Maid

Author: Ella Carey

Publisher: 6th April 2023 by Bookouture

Pages: 270 pages

Genre: historical fiction, women’s fiction 

My Rating: 4 cups

Synopsis:

London, present day. I open my phone to find a message from my aunt: a black-and-white photograph with the caption “Paris, 1944”. A young woman stares up at me, her head shaved and a swastika painted onto her forehead. As I try to take in what I’m seeing, my heart begins to race. Could this be my beloved grandmother, branded a traitor?

Devastated Nicole Beaumont, a devoted schoolteacher, questions why her adored grandmother never spoke about her life during the war. Her unwavering love and protection taught Nicole lifelong lessons about loyalty and family, so this revelation rocks her very core. About to start a family of her own, Nicole sets out for Paris in search of answers.

But in war, nothing is simple and what Nicole discovers will alter the course of her life forever…

Paris, 1944. When Louise started working as a housemaid at The Ritz Hotel, she never imagined that the most powerful Nazis in France would make it their home. As she changes silk sheets and scrubs sumptuous marble bathtubs, she listens and watches, reporting all she can to the Resistance.

But when a stranger appears in the hotel’s ornate glass doorway, she has never been so scared—the secret she’s been keeping is suddenly in danger of breaking free.

Can Louise fight for freedom whilst keeping those she loves safe? Or will she be cast aside as a traitor by the very same people she is risking her life to protect?

Inspired by true events, fans of Fiona Valpy, The Nightingale and Rhys Bowen will love this heart-shattering historical novel. From top-ten bestseller Ella Carey, The Paris Maid is a totally gripping story about love, betrayal and a shocking family secret hidden for a generation.

My Thoughts

‘Who could be more invisible than a maid?’

I love Ella Carey books. She is one of those authors who you don’t even have to read details about the book because you know you will read anything of hers whatever the topic. The Paris Maid centers on The Ritz hotel in Paris during WWII with a group of resistance fighters operating right under the Nazis who are guests of the hotel.

It is a dual time narrative. Firstly, the past returns to the summer of 1944 with a number of characters: Louise, a maid at The Ritz who assists with The French Resistance, her family and some Allied fighter pilots shot down and forced into hiding. The contemporary timeline tells the tale of Louise’s granddaughter who is trying to research her grandmother's hidden past.

‘… the Ritz is not just any magnificent hotel. The Swiss-owned hotel is officially neutral, but the reality is everyone is tied to one side or the other, sometimes both.’

This was not one of my favourite books from Ella. To my mind, there were too many characters which did not allow me to bond satisfactorily with any one individual or couple. It also meant you had to pay attention to exactly whose point of view was taking place. I also feel that the contemporary timeline fell somewhat flat and was only there to serve the purpose of historical discovery. Whilst there was a great twist and the epilogue filled in all the gaps, I just somehow wished to have dived deeper with some characters and events earlier in the read. 

The Paris Maid is the latest novel from historical fiction author Ella Carey. It’s an emotional exploration of themes such as love, courage, betrayal, family and provides a unique insight into those who worked at the Ritz Hotel in Paris during the Nazi occupation of France.

‘This was a time of history that seems incredible to us now, and yet that is only a whisper of a generation away … the best thing we can do is to understand, and to honor the members of our family who fought so hard for our freedom.’

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

Review: The Lost Sister of Fifth Avenue

Title: The Lost Sister of Fifth Avenue (Daughters of New York Book 4)

Author: Ella Carey

Publisher: 7th July 2022 by Bookouture

Pages: 327 pages

How I Read It: ARC book

Genre:  historical fiction

My Rating: 5 cups

Synopsis:

Martha pulled the front door of her Fifth Avenue apartment closed and stood stock still, clutching the telegram, her heart thumping. Her beloved sister Charlotte was in France and the news told daily of the growing threat of the Nazis. Fearing what the telegram might contain, Martha hardly dared open it. But she knew she must.

New York, 1938: As Martha looks out of her bedroom window at the blossom-covered trees in Central Park, she is a world away from the threat of the Second World War. Working as a children’s librarian, she is happy with her quiet life in contrast to her adventurous sister Charlotte who moved to Paris and works at a gallery owned by close family friend Anita.

When a telegram from France arrives, Martha is shocked to discover that Anita has died and in that moment she has to make the bravest decision of her life. With the Nazi threat growing, she must travel to France to find Charlotte and Anita’s Jewish parents and bring them home to safety.

Arriving in Paris, Martha finds a city preparing for war. At Anita’s home, clutching her sister tightly, Martha knows that Charlotte has already decided to stay. As an American in Paris she believes she will be safe and will work for the Resistance carrying messages and hiding precious works of art. Through tears, Martha promises to get Anita’s parents to safety and join the war effort back in New York.

But as war rages across Europe, Martha and Charlotte’s determination will be tested like never before. And when Charlotte uncovers a shocking secret about her family, which threatens her own life, can she find the strength to protect those she loves the most?

From top ten bestselling author Ella Carey comes an utterly heartbreaking novel about the strength of sisterly love and the courage and strength of the women of the Resistance perfect for fans of The Nightingale, All The Light We Cannot See

My Thoughts

Ella Carey is always on my automatic read list. I love her books and the Daughters of New York series is pure gold. The Lost Sister of Fifth Avenue, the fifth in the series,  can be read as standalone but the experience is enhanced  if you have read them all -  especially when previous characters make cameo appearances. 

“We must all dance to the beat of our own drums. It is the only way to truly capture your fate in your own hands.”

Ella is a phenomenal author. On this occasion she alternates the story between Charlotte and Martha during the war and  their mother Chloe who died in Paris in the early 1920’s. This background helps provide context to the family friends and the current life of the girls and their father. The writing is sublime with plot lines of secrets, danger, family and love. Having three character viewpoints truly enriches this tale as all three are so very different - courageous Charlotte, steadfast Martha and kind Chloe.

“I shall stay and ensure everything is taken care of properly, until you return.” Charlotte grasped Élise’s hand. “I swear it. The Nazis will not touch your precious home.”

Having read all the books in this series I appreciated the minimal but significant inclusion of characters from previous books. It helped tie things together so beautifully. I was in awe once again learning of the lengths people went to in order to protect French art from the Nazis. The reference to Chloe working in Adrienne Monnier’s bookstore tied in beautifully with Kerri Maher’s, The Paris Bookseller and I love it when information from other books complement so well, like puzzle pieces coming together. 

‘Martha had adopted her usual routine: do what was necessary in the real world, and spend the rest of her time escaping from it.’

With strong and inspiring characters and a plot that is so gripping, Ella has completed another stunning addition to the Daughters of New York series. I could have kept reading about Martha and Charlotte (and was ever so grateful for the Epilogue) as their story really was heartbreaking. I can’t wait to see what Ella will offer her readers next as this one gave me all the feels. 

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

Review: The Girl from Paris

Title: The Girl from Paris

Author: Ella Carey

Publisher: 4th January 2022 by Bookouture

Pages: 388 pages

How I Read It: ARC book

Genre: historical fiction

My Rating: 5 cups

Synopsis:

Vianne rushes through the crowded streets of Paris as the German bombs begin to fall. As she rounds the corner she sees the familiar spires of the old church burst into flames. Too late, she realizes that her mother and sister are trapped inside…

Paris, 1918. The end of war is in sight, and young seamstress Vianne Mercier is longing for the day when she can stop sewing military uniforms and start creating the beautiful dresses that she has been dreaming up in her head.

But just when it seems like peace is within reach, Vianne’s mother and sister are killed in a terrible air raid. To make matters worse, Vianne’s brother has returned home a changed man. Controlling and cruel, he presents Vianne with an ultimatum; give up her dreams of becoming a designer, or be forced onto the streets, penniless and alone.

With nothing left for her in Paris but sad memories, she decides to sail for New York. Determined not to look back, she throws herself into her new life—spending her days sewing dresses for wealthy Upper East Side women, and her evenings dancing the Charleston to Duke Ellington in the new downtown clubs. When Vianne meets handsome Italian Giorgio Conti, he encourages her career, and she feels safe for the first time since she lost her family.

Then news of a terrible accident compels Vianne to suddenly return to France, where she discovers proof of a wartime secret that changes everything she thought she knew about her family. Facing the threat of sickness and ruin, the people who forced Vianne out of her home now suddenly need her help.

Will Vianne find the courage to follow her heart, return to New York and her life with Giorgio? Or will duty bind her to the family she had left behind and force her to remain in France?

From Amazon Charts bestseller Ella Carey comes an utterly gripping and emotional historical wartime novel about the terrible choices people made during humanity’s darkest days.

My Thoughts

I love Ella Carey books. She is one of those authors who you don’t even have to read details about the book because you know you will read anything of hers whatever the topic. The Girl From Paris is another sensational historical fiction read - third book of the Daughters of New York series but all can certainly be read as standalone.

“I want a feature on the girl from Paris so that all of New York know who you are.”

Things I loved about this particular book is that it takes place in post-war Paris and New York and it’s just fascinating to note the contrasts between these two great cities. At this critical phase after the end of WWII, the differences in socio-economic cultures, lifestyle and attitudes is immense. Ella has certainly done her research into this time period and I just loved the inclusion of real life people from the era. If you follow my reviews, you know I love searching up Google about the facts behind a fictionalised account of real people and here you will be introduced to the likes of Edith Cavell, Emilie Grigsby and Josephine Baker! So very fascinating. 

‘Vianne fixed her gaze on the river. The Seine had always been her compass. She’d come here whenever she was at a turning point, no matter how small. The river had flown through and around her life in Paris, and here she was, back again, come full circle, unable to see anything but shadows in its depths.’

Another thing I loved was seeing New York in the 1920s! Ella writes so well that you just feel so immersed in what is happening, where people are going and what they are wearing. I loved reading about the fashions and work in the atelier. I wanted to eat at Giorgio’s Italian restaurant or dance the night away at one of the jazz clubs they frequented. 

“Welcome to New York. You ain’t seen nothing yet.”

Then there are the themes of the book: the era of women wanting to have both marriage and a career, or, the fallout for families after the war and the impact on their mental states and wellbeing. Ella weaves and structures an amazingly captivating tale that will take you from the war in Belgium, the triumphant liberation of Paris, starting afresh in New York or hiding in the Scottish Highlands. I didn’t think so many threads and locations could all be written together so smoothly but in the hands of Ella Carey, it’s a walk in the park!

“Because of that loss, I want to make the most of my life, be someone, not just exist, you see. I want to be my own person, in my own right, not someone’s adjunct.”

With strong and inspiring characters and a plot that is so engaging, Ella has completed another stunning addition to the Daughter of New York series. I could have kept reading about Vianne for much longer as I did not want her story to end. I simply can’t wait to see what Ella will offer her readers next. 

“You believe in yourself, and you make whatever you want of your life. Don’t follow trends, just follow your inner voice.”

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

Review: The Lost Girl of Berlin

Title: The Lost Girl of Berlin

Author: Ella Carey

Publisher: 12th July 2021 by Bookouture

Pages: 294 pages

How I Read It: ARC book

Genre: historical fiction

My Rating: 5 cups

Synopsis:

The truck stopped for a moment in the freezing, bombed-out street and Kate caught sight of a little girl in a ragged dress on the steps of a once-beautiful mansion. The child’s eyes were startling blue, a pair of endless pools, drawing Kate towards her…

1946, Berlin. War correspondent Kate Mancini is in Germany, reporting on the aftermath of the devastating war. For her readers back home in New York, she tells the stories of innocent families, trying to rebuild the wreckage of their lives now the soldiers have left at last. But in the Russian-held sector of Berlin on an icy winter’s day, Kate breaks all the rules, rescuing Mia Stein, a silent orphan who she fears will otherwise perish.

Together with her fellow journalist, handsome Rick Shearer, Kate manages to find a safe house for Mia before she returns to America and vows to keep in touch. Back home, the reality of post-war life for women is stark. Whilst Rick walks into his dream job, no newspaper will hire a woman. The editors laugh her out of their offices, telling her to get married and raise a family. Rick does all he can to support her, as she takes her first steps towards the new medium of television news, and their friendship deepens into something more.

Then tragedy strikes: Rick is falsely named as a communist sympathizer. He is arrested, blacklisted and faces prison.

Kate knows she must do all she can to free the man she loves. But that means returning to Germany, to seek out the little orphan girl who is her only chance at salvation. Kate and Rick saved Mia—will she help them both now? And even if Kate succeeds, freedom might never be hers when she returns home…

My Thoughts

I find myself drawn to yet another post WWII story as I find them so intriguing. Mind you, this story really is rich in detail especially given its shorter length. Ella Carey is yet again packing a punch and writing another fabulous tale. 

‘Editors say the war is done. That folks don’t want anything negative. They have moved on.” She studied the floor. “But how can that possibly be? If people saw this…”

Starting from the war’s conclusion and stretching to 1951, the story takes place in both Berlin and New York. Kate is a wonderful female lead, so strong and determined. You first see her as a news correspondent in Berlin desiring to save a war orphan. I was then pleasantly surprised with the unexpected route the story took. This was not just about the catastrophic devastation from the war but rather the place of women in this newly emerging world order. Kate is determined to pursue her journalistic passions despite so many doors being closed to her, deftly refusing to be shunted to housewife duties of any form. 

‘… a dark reality unfurled deep down inside. The woman who married Rick … would be expected to be a full-time wife, a society host ... A journalist from the Village would never do, especially one, who had political leanings. Keeping her career and her relationship with Rick would be all nigh impossible..’

Ella Carey’s novels just hit the mark for me time and again. From the contrasts of the clean up of Berlin and the Russian demarcation, to the role of women in a man’s world, to the impending communism culture and fears that burgeoned in America at this time. It is all written so well and convincingly. To switch from the appalling conditions of Berlin to the vibrant wealth of New York is confronting. 

The two leads are excellent and the obstacles they face tie in well together with all the themes of wealth and status, family cultures, unequal pay and opportunities, new immigrant prejudice, to even the new role of the television in news reporting. There is just so much to learn and read about all woven flawlessly into the story of Kate and Rick. Add in Mia’s war orphan experience towards the end and wow … just amazing storytelling. 

‘Mia’s silence felt like the silence of so many German people. Too afraid to speak, too afraid to draw any attention to themselves.’

Ella Carey has certainly cemented herself as a firm favourite author of mine. This is a rich tale where I fully appreciated all that Kate went through and how she persevered in dedicating  her life to so many areas. A truly inspiring tale that is not to be missed. 

“I’ve worked honestly to get where I’ve got, and I think women deserve exactly the same opportunities as men. I don’t believe in anything different. And I only hope that things change, one day, in America.”

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

Review: Paris Time Capsule

Title: Paris Time Capsule

Author:  Ella Carey

Publisher: 6th October 2020 by Bookouture

Pages: 290 pages

How I Read It: ARC book

Genre: historical fiction, women’s fiction, romance

My Rating: 3.5 cups

Synopsis:

New York–based photographer Cat Jordan is ready to begin a new life with her successful, button-down boyfriend. But when she learns that she’s inherited the estate of a complete stranger—a woman named Isabelle de Florian—her life is turned upside down.

Cat arrives in Paris to find that she is now the owner of a perfectly preserved Belle Époque apartment in the ninth arrondissement, and that the Frenchwoman’s family knew nothing about this secret estate. Amid these strange developments, Cat is left with burning questions: Who was Isabelle de Florian? And why did she leave the inheritance to Cat instead of her own family?

As Cat travels France in search of answers, she feels her grasp on her New York life starting to slip. With long-buried secrets coming to light and an attraction to Isabelle de Florian’s grandson growing too intense to ignore, Cat will have to decide what to let go of, and what to claim as her own.

My Thoughts

“Don’t you see? So many people exist, so few live. Do you want to look back on a lifetime of regrets?”

I am a fan of Ella Carey’s and although this is one of her earlier novels, I was attracted by the topic that I had read about some time ago. You may recall the story of the opulent Parisian apartment that had not been entered into for over 70 years and was like a time capsule when entered around 2010. The owner had been Marthe de Florian, a French demimondaine and socialite during the Belle Époque period in Paris (1880-1914). Fascinating stuff to base a story on - what might be a story behind this abandoned apartment?

I was enticed by the combination of fact and fiction surrounding this discovery and had looked forward to reading this book for some time. The book, however, mostly delves into the present day issue of ownership and attempting to trace the theoretical history of the apartment. There are a few themes aside from the mystery which is eventually revealed in an all too convenient letter presented towards the end. I would have loved more of a focus on the apartment itself and the history of how it came to be abandoned. Instead, this is more a tale of Cat and her personal journey of growth and discovery in the present day. Not a bad thing in itself but just not what I had been expecting. There is much to enjoy about time spent in Paris with lots of cultural things to partake of. However, at its heart this tale is about Cat’s growth and her romantic partners.  

I will always read Ella’s books but it was clear this was an earlier effort (despite revisions) as having read her latest books it is evident how much Ella had developed as a writer. This is a light and enjoyable read but not a dual time historical narrative as expected. This book falls neatly into contemporary women’s fiction and enjoyable if viewed for those reasons. 

‘Was she yearning for the past? The romance of it all, the beauty, the glamour: these would be enticements indeed if one was fortunate enough to have been born in the upper classes.’

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.