Blog Tour: Daughters of Genoa by Kat Devereaux

 

Anna relies on the kindness of a select number of people like the banker to help her survive. Other than that, she remains hidden in her apartment with the days running into each other. That's what you have to do when you are a Jewish woman who has lost her husband and whose immediate family has already escaped to America. It's a big change from her previous life where she was a trusted worker in the office of a prominent shipbuilder in Genoa. 

Little did she know but it turns out that things could get worse, when her home is destroyed and she lost what little she had. Left dazed, while she was being comforted, she meets a Jesuit priest. Anna doesn't trust anyone, and certainly does not trust priests but when you have no other options then you have to take a chance.

This is how Anna finds herself hiding in the home of Bernardino and Silvia who are key members of a group that helps Jews escape from Genoa, which is in Northern Italy. Other key members include Father Vittorio, the priest that saved her, and mysterious Mister X. They all face danger as they provide new documents for the Jews who are fleeing the Germans.

Anna, who is using a different identity, uses some of her skills to become useful in helping create the identity cards, often accompanied by the cat. Soon she is spending extended time with both Father Vittorio and Mister X and their friendships and they begin to create a bond. There is, however,  danger in getting close to people when everyone is hiding their true identity and danger lurks around every corner. One unwise word could put the whole organisation at risk, along with the lives of everyone involved

This book really highlights the role of the Catholic church and in particular a group known as DELASEM or the Delegation for the Assistance of Jewish Emigrants, and some of the characters in the book were influential in real life. Several of them were honoured for their work

I really liked that there were several ways that the author connected the story to what was actually happening in Genoa at the time. Before the book even started there was some Essential Information painting the picture of the racial laws that had been enacted before the story in the book started. At the end there was a section called What Happened Next and then What Happened Afterwards. There was also notes on names and sources. 

I am sharing this review with the New Release Challenge hosted at The Chocolate Lady's Book Reviews and with the Historical Fiction Reading Challenge which I host. Thanks to the publisher, Rachel's Random Resources and Netgalley for the review copy. Check out the other stops on the blog tour as well!

Rating 4/5

About the Book

Daughter of Genoa

In Nazi-occupied Italy, keeping secrets could be deadly…

Genoa, 1944:

Widowed and alone, Anna Pastorino has been surviving on her wits since the Germans invaded. The daughter of a prominent Jewish antifascist, Anna lives a hidden life in her small flat near the harbour ... until an RAF bomb destroys her only shelter. When a Jesuit priest approaches her offering help, she has no choice but to accept. She follows her new friend, Father Vittorio, to a safe house above a printers’ shop in a quiet street near via Assarotti.

But the Tipografia Guichard is more than just a refuge. It’s a forgery workshop: a key part of the secret rescue operation headed by Massimo Teglio, the “Scarlet Pimpernel” of Genoa’s persecuted Jewish population. Drawn into a world of clandestine resistance, Anna discovers a new sense of purpose, a circle of friends, and a passion that brings her alive.

Soon, the little flat above the shop holds more secrets than anyone could imagine. As Anna grows closer to both Teglio and Vittorio, she must confront a past trauma of her own: a secret that might endanger her and everyone she loves.

Purchase Link - https://amzn.eu/d/fYISSnd

About the Author

Kat Devereaux was born near Edinburgh, and lived in the United States, Russia, France, Chile, Germany, and the Czech Republic before finally settling in Italy. She is a writer and translator with a special focus on Italian literature.

https://www.katdevereaux.com/

Social Media Links –

Publisher social media handles:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AriaFiction

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AriaFiction

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/headofzeus/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@headofzeus

Top Ten Tuesday: That smells so good!

 Welcome to this week's edition of Top Ten Tuesday which is hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. This week's theme is Literary/Bookish Candles I’d Make (Pick a book and assign it a fragrance or fragrance combo that would make a nice candle.) (Submitted by Heather @ The Frozen Library)

Originally, I wasn't 100% sure I would do the topic as written but then I remembered that there are plenty of foodie scents that would work in a candle. I have also been meaning to do a foodie books post so I am combining the two! Not all of these books are foodie as such but they do have food items in their title!

The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie by Rachel Linden - I just recently read this and really enjoyed it! The main character, Lolly, makes a lot of Lemon Drop Pie in this book. Think lemon meringue pie with a small twist!

A Faraway Smell of Lemon by Rachel Joyce - This is a short story and the only thing I have read by Rachel Joyce. I do mean to read more as I love the sound of this book. Bonus is that it is set at Christmas and so we can combine the smell of lemon with the smells of Christmas.

A Crown of Bitter Orange by Laura Florand - I love Laura Florand's books so it is a real shame that she isn't publishing any more. They mostly are foodie or about perfumes and set in France. This is the third book in the La Vie en Roses series.

White Mulberry by Rosa Kwan Easton - I read this earlier this year before our trip to Japan and Korea and learnt so much about the history in the 20th century between these two countries. (my review)

Strawberry Shortcake Murder by Joanne Flake - You could use just about any book by in the Hannah Swensen series for this prompt

It was the Pie's Fault by Elizabeth Sa Fleur - This was a super fun romance that I read a while ago now which features fake dating, grumpy/sunshine tropes and delicious sounding cherry pies!

Chai Time at the Cinnamon Gardens by Shankari Chandran - This is a two for one book. Chai and Cinnamon could both be candle flavours right. It is also an excellent read!

Cinnamon and Gunpowder by Eli Brown - I mean if someone likes the smell of gunpowder this could be a two for one too! I started reading this ages ago but other things go in the way and I never finished it! One day I will. 

The Tea Rose by Jennifer Donnelly - My favourite in this trilogy was The Winter Rose but this was a great read too. And another two candle flavours title.

The Full Moon Coffee Shop by Mai Mochizuki - If I am going to do tea then it is only fair that I do coffee too! This was such a fun read when I read it last year. The next book in the series is being released in English next month and I am looking forward to it! (my review)

Do we have any candle flavours in common?

This week

I'm reading

Bongiorno!

My reading over the last week has a very distinct pattern. 

I read The Lost Garden by Angela Petch which is a WWII novel set in Italy, and now I am reading  Daughter of Genoa by Kat Deveraux which is a WWII novel set in Italy. Fortunately, it is different parts of Italy but still. I reviewed The Lost Garden last week and the review for Daughter of Genoa will be up later this week. I do have another review book to read but that is a contemporary novel set in France.


I'm watching


We like to go and watch at least one movie during each of the international film festivals that are held at my favourite movie chain. This time it is the Italian Film Festival which is on, so we went off to seea movie called Diamonds.

It was an interesting movie, almost a movie within a movie. It starts with a producer inviting all of the favourite actresses he has worked with over the year to come for a big lunch where he asks them to read a script. We do come back to this scene a couple of times within the movie. 

All of a sudden it then switches to being the movie from the script which is about a group of women working in a costume makers house where they make the gorgeous and extravagant costumes for movies and theatres. We get to see glimpses of the lives of the women who own the business and the women who work for them. 

It is only at the end that we see why that particular movie within a movie structure is necessary. Here's the trailer

Life


It hasn't been a good weekend for us sporting wise. Well, I say us. Really I mean me.

In Australian Rules Football I am a fan of the Adelaide Crows. This year, my team was flying and finished on top of the league which was amazing given that last year we were 15th. However, on Friday night, they played Hawthorn (which is my husband's team) and we lost. We didn't get to watch the game as we were out watching my nephew play his basketball grand final, which they lost. And then my other nephew lost his football final on Saturday as well. 

It has been a busy week. I had a two day offsite for work which included an evening event, then went to the movies and to watch basketball, I am looking forward to a few nights at home this week. I do feel much more settled now at work than I haved previously.

On Saturday we had a whole group of people around for an open house because my step daughter went back to England on Sunday morning. We will most likely see her again next year, but we will see I guess. It was so lovely having some time with her over the last week. Robert took a couple of days off work so he could take her out to lunch. 


Posts from the last week


Top Ten Tuesday: V is for....
Blog Tour: Winter Nights at the Bay Bookshop
The Briar Club by Kate Quinn
Blog Tour: The Lost Garden by Angela Petch
Afternoon Tea Diaries: Ritz Carlton Melbourne
Historical Fiction Reading Challenge: August statistics


I've linked this post to It's Monday, what are you reading? as hosted by Book Date, Sunday Salon hosted at Readerbuzz and the Good Book and a Cup of Tea link up hosted at Boondock Ramblings

Historical Fiction Reading Challenge: August statistics

 Every month I share some of the statistics related to the Historical Fiction Reading Challenge. I try very hard to visit every post which has been linked (time permitting) and I find it interesting to see what are the books that people are reading and reviewing! I often end up adding a couple of books to my never ending TBR list.

In terms of the books read in August, there were 69 reviews linked up for the challenge, shared by 20 participants. There were 68 individual titles reviewed, written by 65 different authors, There were 6 reviewers who reviewed 5 or more books each. Thank you to everyone who shared their links whether it be 11 or just 1.

So which books were reviewed more than once in July? There was actually only one this month!

The House at Devil's Neck by Tom Mead is the fourth book in the A Spector Locked-Room Mystery Series and it was reviewed by both Cathy at What Cathy Read Next and Helen from She Reads Novels.

There was only one other author who was read multiple times this month. Kim over at Goodreads is working her way through Laurie R King's Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes series. This month she read four books in the series being The Moor, Justice Hall, The Game and Locked Room. You can check out Kim's Goodreads profile here. 

If you love historical fiction and reading challenges, it isn't too late to join us! All the details can be found in the sign up post.

I am sharing this with Sunday Salon hosted at Readerbuzz and A Cup of Tea and a Good Book hosted at Boondock Ramblings

Afternoon Tea Diaries: Ritz-Carlton Melbourne

It's time for another entry in my irregular feature of the Afternoon Tea Diaries. We love a high tea. We don't do them all the time because they are a treat but whenever we do one I like to share about it here. 

This time the location for our Afternoon Tea adventure was at the Ritz-Carlton here in Melbourne. This hotel has only been open a couple of years, and so it is very contemporary and beautifully laid out to make the most of the location, or should I saw the views! 

The setting for our tea was actually in the lobby bar/restaurant of the hotel but the restaurant area is open to both guests of the hotel and the public. The unusual thing about this hotel lobby? It's on the 80th floor of the building so all the hotel rooms are below the reception area. The building itself has no other tall building immediately near it so you end up with expansive views across the city to the bay, to Albert Park, to the mountains. There are windows nearly the whole way around the floor (except for where the kitchen is) so the views really are uninterrupted. 

Once we were seated the server bought over an envelope made from thick paper which had my name on it. Inside was the menu for our feast. It was a lovely touch which I haven't seen done in the same way before and it made us feel like it was a special event right from the outset. 

After a bit of a glitch when we had to send our water glasses back because they were full of floaties, we started with a glass of Moet Chandon and then we were invited to choose our tea from the selection that was available. The way that the tea selection was very neat and appealing although I did find myself having to pick up the actual containers in order to be able to smell the teas so they probably had to come through and tidy it all up again after I had been there. I chose White Rose and Goji tea which was very nice.

The appetiser was a delicious. It was a Spanner Crab Tartlet, Celeriac, Apple and Yarra Valley Gin Caviar that tasted as looked as good as it looked.

For me, the savoury items on the menu were actually the highlights of this afternoon tea experience. They were:

 Yellow Fin Tuna Ceviche, Romesco and Pickled Daikon 

Braised Lamb Shoulder Pithivier, Star Anise and Pomegranate Glaze 

Victorian Crayfish Butter Roll, Finger Lime Crème Fraiche, Celery Leaf 

‘Le Dauphin’ Double Cream Cheese Quiche with Shaved Winter Truffle

In particular, I loved the pithivier which was full of flavour both within the pastry and then with the glaze. Delicious!

The sweets course consisted of 

Apple Tarte Tatin with Cinnamon Cream 

Valrhona 70% Guanaja Dark Chocolate Mousse with Orange Marmalade 

Choux Mont Blanc with Blackberry Compote and Chestnut Cream 

Matcha Mille Feuille with Handpicked Local Victorian Raspberries 

The course that didn't impress me that much were the freshly baked scones which were served with Lavendar Honey Butter, Raspberry Jam and Vanilla Chantilly cream. The plain scones were quite dry and were definitely not light and fluffy, which you can even see in the photo. The fruit scones were better until I put the Lavendar Honey Butter on them. From the taste I thought that it was a savoury butter until I referred back to the menu later. Maybe I should have put less of the butter on the fruit scone. I did, however, really enjoy the warm lemon flavoured madeline, and there was a lovely touch with a chocolate each at the end. 

So, overall, it was a bit of mixed bag for me, especially given that this is probably one of the more expensive afternoon teas in the city. The servers were personable, albeit a bit slow, but they were also attentive enough to move us to a bigger table when one became available which was a postive. I can definitely see us going back to the Ritz Carlton for dinner or even brunch. We might explore some other options around the city before we go back again for high tea though.

One of the highlights of this whole experience was that we went with some friends and I am pretty sure that they will be more than happy to come on more of our Afternoon Tea adventures. We are already talking about when and where to go next!

Weekly meals

Saturday - 
Sunday - Out for dinner
Monday - Italian Meatballs
Tuesday - Out for dinner
Wednesday - Out for dinner
Thursday - Normandy pork and mash
Friday - Take away

Weekend Cooking is open to anyone who has any kind of food-related post to share: Book reviews (novel, nonfiction), cookbook reviews, movie reviews, recipes, random thoughts, gadgets, quotations, photographs, restaurant reviews, travel information, or fun food facts. If your post is even vaguely foodie, feel free to grab the button and link up anytime over the weekend. You do not have to post on the weekend. Please link to your specific post, not your blog's home page

Blog Tour: The Lost Garden by Angela Petch

Ernestina has lived a comfortable if sheltered life as the only daughter of an Italian count. Tina's parent's story was like a fairytale. She was a poor girl who caught the rich count's eye and they married quickly. After some disappointments finally Tina was born but the cost was high as her mother died in childbirth. 

Tina's father has always been very strict and distant with his daughter although he himself is something of a philanderer. Thank goodness for Allegra who was her mother's best friend and has practically raised Tina, showing her love and teaching her many skills. The one thing that Allegra won't do is talk about Tina's mother.

One day Tina finds a hidden path which leads to an overgrown garden. Tina can't believe that she has never known about the garden and soon she is inspired to try and coax the garden back to life. It turns out that the garden was her mother's passion and refuge from an unhappy marriage. Allegra warns Tina not to ever mention the garden to her father and warns her to stay away but Tina can't help herself. Soon she is weeding, pruning and reinstating many of the beautiful features

Whilst Tina has lived a very sheltered life, it is not possible for her to remain sequestered away forever. It is, after all, 1930's Italy and Mussolini's particular brand of fascism is forcing the poor to become poorer, and other people, like Tina's father, to grow wealthier. And even worse, war is coming.

One day Tina meets a group of young people who are around her age, her first friends. Among  them are Olivio, Luisa and Sergio. With the arrival of war the friends need to make choices about which side they are going to be on, and whether they can trust each other. After all, Tina's father is an influential fascist. Can Tina prove useful in the resistance movement? Can their friendships survive betrayal and tragedy? And how will they and their town all be changed by the events during the war? 

I have read several of Angela Petch's books now, and her love of Italy has shone through each of the books. This was an interesting read and featured a technique I haven't seen in the author's previous books. Whilst Tina's mother died in childbirth, she still managed to be a presence in the book and to influence the events. 

I am sharing this review with the New Release Challenge hosted at The Chocolate Lady's Book Reviews and with the Historical Fiction Reading Challenge which I host. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the review copy. Check out the other stops on the blog tour as well!

Rating 4/5

Buy Link: https://geni.us/B0FHBH86K4social

About the Book:

It hides a family secret that could change the course of the war.

Italy, 1930s. Tina lives in the crumbling castle of Montesecco with only her strict father and their maid, Allegra, for company. She’s never been allowed to ask questions about her mother, who died in childbirth. But the day Tina discovers a hidden, crumbling door, everything changes.


Inside is an overgrown garden. Ivy and roses adorn the stone walls. Fresh water springs from a fountain and the scent of wild herbs fills the air. How did she never know this beautiful place existed? Excitedly begging Allegra for answers, the elderly woman’s face turns pale. ‘You must never mention this to your father. It’s not safe. You’ve found your mamma’s garden.’

The Count believes Tina’s mother died because of the garden: but Allegra refuses to say more. Certain she can feel her mother watching over her, Tina secretly tends to the garden herself. And when war breaks out, Tina’s encounters with local resistance fighters mean the garden becomes a place of refuge, a place of hope – and a place of great danger when Tina must prove where her loyalties lie once and for all…

Will Tina ever discover the truth about her mother? Or was the garden, with all its secrets, never meant to be disturbed?

An absolutely breathtaking and stunning historical novel about the incredible risks people took in wartime, family secrets, loss and love. Perfect for fans of Fiona Valpy and Santa Montefiore.

 About the author

Angela Petch is an award winning writer of fiction – and the occasional poem.
Every summer she moves to Tuscany for six months where her and her husband own a renovated watermill which they let out. When not exploring their unspoilt corner of the Apennines, Angela disappears to her writing desk at the top of her converted stable.


In her Italian handbag or hiking rucksack she always makes sure to store a notebook and pen to jot down ideas.


The winter months are spent in Sussex where most of her family live. When she's not helping out with grandchildren, she catches up with writer friends.


Social Media

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AngelaJaneClarePetch/
Website: https://angelapetchsblogsite.wordpress.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/angela_maurice/
Bookouture email signup: https://www.bookouture.com/angela-petch

The Briar Club by Kate Quinn

So when I sat down to write this post I was intending to do a couple of mini reviews of some historical fiction novels I've read over the last couple of months. However, it turns out that I have plenty to say about this book. The other mini reviews will just have to wait as this is a maxi review!

This the second Kate Quinn book I have finished  over the last few months. The first book I read was The Diamond Eye and then I listened to the audiobook of The Briar Club. I already know that I will be reading more Kate Quinn as soon as I can find space in my reading schedule. It is easy to see why Kate Quinn is such a popular author. 

In this book she bring together a house full of women who are all boarders at Briarwood House. The ladies all live very separate lives with most of their interactions being fights over the bathroom until Grace March moves into the small apartment on the top floor. Soon they are regularly gathering together every Thursday for a supper club and they are sharing their lives and their food. Also joining them are Pete and Lena who are the children of the crusty and judgemental landlady Doilies Nelson. I loved the way that all the boarders become involved in the lives of the young people, providing them with the care and attention that they don't get from their mother and their absent father.

Among the boarders there is Fliss who is a young British mum who is married to an American doctor who is serving in Korea. She is determined that she should be the perfect wife and mother to her baby girl, but that is a hard facade to maintain when you are falling apart. Also living in the house are Reka, an elderly German art professor who is now poverty stricken and who holds a long standing grudge, Claire who comes across as being very tough, Bea who is a former professional baseball player, and Nora who is a policeman's daughter and works at the National library but falls in love with an unsuitable man. Oh, and then there is Arlene, a young Texan woman who is desperate to find a husband. 

I loved the way that Grace is able to break through the barriers that her housemates put up so that soon she knows all their secrets. We hear each of their stories, see them as they fall in love, find their direction, challenge society's restrictive norms, touch on many cultural and historical events and more. Yet, as someone points out, Grace manages to keep all of her own secrets in tact, until her past catches up with her.  

Set in Washington in the 1950s, this is the McCarthy era and lots of people were scared of the Red Threat of communism but there is plenty of other ground covered here too including racism and domestic violence, art and food

One of the surprises in this book is that Briarwood House is a character in the book. As the boarders in the house grow together then the house too begins to come to life. It loves the way that Grace begins painting the walls. It is also the narrator for the shocking events that are unfolding as we hear each of the women's stories. 

Given that one of the keys to this story is the Thursday night supper club, it is probably no surprise that food plays a big part in this story. I probably would have really liked to read this book as well as listen to it so that I could read the recipes. It was interesting how culturally varied the recipes were. Pretty sure I am not too worried about trying Arlene's Candlestick salad though! I did love Lena's story arc particularly in relation to her food journey.

It's fair to say I loved this book. When I finished it I was desperate to talk about it with someone who had read it, about books that one of the stories reminds me of, but I can't even say that now because it will then spoil the twist at the end!

The narrator was Saskia Maarleveld and she did a great job of telling the story. I was interested to hear the additional feature at the end of the book where the author and the narrator sat down to talk about the audiobook process. Kate Quinn even said that when she was writing she was thinking about the audiobook performance so that influenced some of the backstories for the women. This meant that it made it easier for the narrator to have different voices and intonations for each of the character. 

This is another fantastic read from Kate Quinn, and I highly recommend it.

I am sharing this review with Foodies Read hosted at Based on a True Story and with the Historical Fiction Reading Challenge which I host.  

Rating 4.5/5