MY THOUGHTS AND BOOK REVIEW
"The Florence Letter" by Anita Chapman is a captivating tale that seamlessly intertwines past and present against the picturesque backdrop of Florence. At the heart of the story is Claire, a researcher grappling with a broken heart who stumbles upon a wartime secret hidden within the walls of a grand English country house. This secret revolves around Lady Violet, whose scandalous affair with an Italian prisoner of war left a lasting mark on a village and ended in tragedy.
Driven by curiosity and compassion, Claire embarks on a journey to fulfill a dying wish sparked by a letter penned decades ago. Her quest leads her to Florence, guided only by a bakery's name and aided by her charming neighbor Jim. As she delves deeper into Violet's history, Claire's own life becomes entwined with the mysteries of the past. Chapman skillfully crafts a narrative that evokes the sights, scents, and emotions of both wartime England and modern-day Italy, immersing the reader in Claire's quest for truth and redemption.
The characters in "The Florence Letter" are vividly drawn, each with their own compelling stories and secrets. Claire's determination to uncover the truth about Violet and reunite her family resonates throughout the novel, as does her blossoming connection with Jim amidst the backdrop of Florence's enchanting streets and delectable cuisine.
Chapman's writing effortlessly blends romance, historical intrigue, and the poignant exploration of family dynamics. The revelation of long-buried secrets adds layers of complexity to the narrative, ensuring that readers are kept engaged until the final page. The pacing is well-balanced, with each chapter unveiling new revelations that deepen the emotional stakes for Claire and those she encounters along her journey.
Ultimately, "The Florence Letter" is a testament to the enduring power of love, forgiveness, and the importance of confronting the past. It will appeal to fans of Lucinda Riley and Fiona Valpy, offering a richly satisfying blend of historical mystery and contemporary romance set against a backdrop of timeless Italian charm. Anita Chapman has crafted a novel that lingers in the mind, inviting readers to lose themselves in a story where the echoes of the past resonate deeply in the present.
Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for an advance copy of my review
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BOOK DESCRIPTION
Looking out over the twinkling city lights of Florence, Claire thinks of the letter that has brought her here. Written by a woman who escaped the Blitz, it holds a secret kept for a lifetime… but can Claire make the woman’s dying wish come true?
Claire arrives at her new job as researcher at a grand English country house, nursing a broken heart. But tucked into the back of a long-forgotten drawer she finds a letter written in an elegant hand. It tells of a wartime secret about the beautiful Lady Violet – whose passionate affair with an Italian prisoner of war scandalised the village and ended in tragedy.
Captivated, Claire promises to find Violet’s daughter, Tabitha, and reunite her with a priceless piece of her mother’s jewellery. With only the name of an Italian bakery, Pasticceria Mancini, to guide her, and the help of her handsome neighbour Jim, Claire travels to Tabitha’s last known location – Florence.
Winding through the colourful streets, the sun warm on her bare shoulders, a tantalising scent of freshly baked bread floats on the air and Claire’s heart leaps at the sight of an ageing bakery sign: Mancini. Although she learns that Tabitha hasn’t been there for many years, Claire refuses to give up. And as she and Jim talk late into the night over glasses of local chianti, Claire looks into his piercing blue eyes and finds herself growing closer to him…
But when they finally track Tabitha down, it isn’t the happy reunion she expected and Claire is left reeling in the wake of discovering a devastating family secret.
Violet’s story has an ending – but will the truth lead to forgiveness, or will it only bring more pain? And will Claire be forced to walk away from a chance of happiness with Jim at last?
Escape to Italy in this gorgeous story of past and present colliding. Readers of Lucinda Riley and Fiona Valpy will be utterly enchanted by this sweeping, romantic page-turner.
Publisher : Bookouture (June 19, 2024)
Language : English
Paperback : 338 pages
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Anita Chapman
Anita Chapman's first novel, The Venice Secret was published in March 2023 and spent six weeks in the overall Amazon UK Kindle Top 100, reaching number thirty-eight. The Venice Secret has had over five million Kindle Unlimited pages read and received more than 4000 Amazon reviews since publication. Anita’s next novel, The Florence Letter will be published by Bookouture on 24 June 2024 as ebook, paperback and audiobook. The ebook is available for preorder now.
Anita enjoyed writing stories from a young age, and won a local writing competition when she was nine years old. Encouraged by this, she typed up a series of stories about a mouse on her mum’s typewriter and sent them to Ladybird. She received a polite rejection letter, her first.
Many of Anita’s summers growing up were spent with her family driving to Italy, and she went on to study French and Italian at university. As part of her degree, Anita lived in Siena for several months where she studied and au paired, and she spent a lot of time travelling around Italy in her twenties.
Anita likes to read journals and diaries from the past, and one of her favourite pastimes is visiting art galleries and country houses. Her first published novel, The Venice Secret is inspired by her mother taking her to see the Canalettos at The National Gallery in London as a child.
Since 2015, Anita has worked as a social media manager, training authors on social media, and helping to promote their books. She’s run several courses in London and York, and has worked as a tutor at Richmond and Hillcroft Adult Community College.
Website and social media links:
Website: anitachapman dot com (also found at neetsmarketing dot com).
Twitter: at neetschapman
Facebook Page: Anita Chapman at facebook dot com anitachapmanauthor
Instagram: at neetschapman
TikTok: at neetschapman
Follow Anita Chapman on Amazon to receive notifications about upcoming books
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