Publication date UK format 12/7/22, book 384 pages
I would like to thank the author, publishers and Netgalley for allowing me to pick this to read and review all my reviews are honest.
Synopsis
A prima ballerina. Two American medics. And a young Jewish girl with no name . . . At the height of the Nazi occupation of Rome, an unlikely band of heroes comes together to save Italian Jews in this breathtaking World War II novel based on real historical events. Rome, 1943. With the fall of Italy’s Fascist government and the Nazi regime occupying the streets of Rome, British ballerina Julia Bradbury is stranded and forced to take refuge at a hospital on Tiber Island. But when she learns of a deadly sickness that is sweeping through the quarantine wards—a fake disease known only as Syndrome K—she is drawn into one of the greatest cons in history. Alongside hospital staff, friars of the adjoining church, and two Allied medics, Julia risks everything to rescue Italian Jews from the deadly clutches of the Holocaust. But when one little girl who dreams of becoming a ballerina arrives at their door, Julia and the others are determined to reunite the young dancer with her family—if only she would reveal one crucial secret: her name. Present Day. With the recent loss of her grandfather—a beloved small-town doctor and WWII veteran—Delaney Coleman returns home to help her aging parents, even as she struggles to pick up the pieces of her own life. When a mysterious Italian woman claims she owns one of the family’s precious heirlooms, Delaney is compelled to uncover what’s true of her grandfather’s hidden past. Together with the woman’s skeptical but charming grandson, Delaney learns of a Roman hospital that saved hundreds of Jewish people during the war. Soon, everything Delaney thought she knew about her grandfather comes into question as she wrestles with the possibility that the man she’d revered all her life had unknown ties to Rome and may have taken noble secrets to his grave. Based on true accounts of the invented Syndrome K sickness, The Italian Ballerina journeys from the Allied storming of the beaches at Salerno to the London ballet stage and the war-torn streets of WWII Rome, exploring the sometimes heart-wrenching choices we must make to find faith and forgiveness, and how saving just one life can impact countless others.
My Review
This was a nice historical fiction story. I enjoyed reading this slow building and paced book. It has a unique story-line following the story of a ballerina who during the war started by entertaining people in bomb shelters and then troops during the start of the war. Then became involved in helping Jewish familys escape. Plus connecting with a small child and helping her learn to dance. I enjoyed the story-line and appreciated the uniqueness of the story line. However, the story failed to excite me and the atmosphere was missing for me to give the higher stars. The characters developed well throughout but I only partially connected with these. They were believable. For me this book is a great read but nothing really to write home about. This book had so much potential aswell which really disappointed me. But remember I am just one person my feelings may not be relatable to you. You may really enjoy this book. It may even be a 5 star read for you. You can always read a sample which is available on most retail websites. If you love slow building relaxed pace historical war stories then give it a go. I still enjoyed reading it.
Many thanks to the author and publishers for creating this nice unique historical fiction story.
Where you can buy this book
Amazon US K $8.67, AUDIBLE, PB $15.29
Waterstones PB £10.99
Google Books ebook £6.99
B&N PB $16.99, AUDIOBOOK, NOOK
Kobo audiobook £20.99, ebook £6.99
Amazon UK K £6.99, AUDIBLE, PB £10.99
All prices are subject to change at any time. Please remember to review all books you finish reading so others can find these amazing books. All reviews help just remember not to tell people what the book is about as everyone has already read the synopsis. Just include what you liked and felt when reading the book.
HAPPY READING