The Tuscan Villa: Utterly compelling World War 2 Italian historical fiction
by Ella Carey
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Italy, 1945. As war rages through Europe, a crumbling family villa that becomes a vital safe space for the people of Cortona during the war. But that sanctuary is lost the day its owner, Vivi, mysteriously vanishes...
Manhattan, 1953. Francesca feels smothered by lace as she tries on wedding dresses in an uptown boutique. Can she really start a new life with her fiancé without first answering the questions she has about her childhood in Italy? Confronted with the news that the bougainvillea-covered villa she grew up in is for sale, and the lavish gardens her father designed and cultivated are destined to be razed, she buys a plane ticket and doesn't look back. She can't stand by and watch it all turn to rubble.
Fran chokes back a sob as she finds the gardens wild and overgrown and the once-pristine follies crumbling under the baking sun. But the lingering scent of the Italian basil from the kitchen garden brings Fran closer to the father she lost. To save this sacred space she must uncover what really happened when Vivi disappeared.
But while standoffish locals treat Fran like an outsider, she knows she is closing in on a secret at the very heart of the gardens she ran barefoot through as a young girl; a tragic love triangle that plagued the villa, defied the authorities, and might change everything Fran thinks she knows about who she is. One thing is certain: what happened to Vivi was no accident.
And just when Fran thinks she's uncovered a truth that will shake the little village of Cortona to its foundations, she discovers a letter that changes everything once again. Can Fran find a way to save the gardens before they are destroyed? Or will she be forced to return home to a future in New York that no longer fits?
From bestselling author Ella Carey comes an utterly heart-wrenching and gripping World War Two historical novel that will transport you straight to the Tuscan countryside. Fans of Kathryn Hughes, Fiona Valpy and Victoria Hislop will be utterly enchanted.
**Each Daughters of Italy book can be read as part of the series or as a standalone**
What readers are saying about the Daughters of Italy series:
"Oh my goodness!... What a fantastic story... I had tears coming down my face... Emotional... Heartbreaking... Beautiful." Dee100309 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"Wonderful... Unputdownable... My heart broke... Amazing... I highly recommend this!" Page Turners ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"On the edge of my seat... Beautiful... A heart-wrenching story that I won't soon forget... Heartbreaking." Cindylspear ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"Ripped my heart right out of my chest and made me cry so much... My heart ached... Incredible." The Book Lover's Boudoir ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"Ohhhhh this book... I love this book... I was crying like a baby. That darn plot twist. I WASN'T READY OKAY?" Goodreads reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"Wow, wow, wow, wow!!!! I read this book in less than twenty-four hours. It was so gripping, it had me hooked and unable to put it down until I finished the last shocking page!... I was flipping the pages so fast to see what would happen!" DianeLikesToRead
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Book Details
- ISBN
- 9781835256817
- Binding
- Paperback
- Authors
- Ella Carey
- Publisher
- Bookouture
- Published Date
- April 28, 2026
- Language
- English
- Pages
- 270
- Physical Info
- 7.81 in L x 5.06 in W (0.59 lb)
This is charming story of what went on at the Tuscan Villa during WWIi. Loved the characters and the plot. However the 3 time lines confused me a bit. The book would have been better if this amazing story was told more in sequence.
Loved this book found it hard to put down thought the story was brilliant
"The Tuscan Villa" is a historical fiction that covers the before, during, and after of WWII in Italy. The story follows three timelines and perspectives: Fran, Lucia, and Vivi.Fran is the daughter of an Italian gardener who fled to America during the war, but comes back to her home to solve the mysterious, unsolved disappearance of her dear friend and mentor, Vivi.Lucia is a Sicilian cook who works for Vivi and becomes Vivi's friend and confidante during the war until Vivi's untimely disappearance.Vivi is an American who comes back to Tuscany to live the life she's always wanted.While I enjoyed the historical aspects of this book, there were a few points that I think would have made this is a 4 star read. While typically a dual timeline is fairly easy to follow, I think this book would have been more engaging and easier to follow if it was organized in three parts, one with Vivi's story, one with Lucia's story, and ending with Fran's story. There were also parts from Nico's point of view that I felt were irrelevant.This story was a tribute to those strangers who become friends, and will be by each other's side no matter what happens.Thank you NetGalley for an advanced reader copy of this book.
The Tuscan Village is the third book in the Daughter of Italy series. It is a beautifully written, well researched story about love, loss, secrets and family. Vivi, Lucia and Fran are strong women whose lives intersect at the Villa Aria.While part of a series, this book can easily be read on its own. The Tuscan Village is another wonderful novel by Ella Carey.
The ending was awful…. Really? A great story and that’s how you end it? It’s like you just lost the last chapters so dashed a quick “ending” Your story deserved better
