"What war destroys, only love can heal."
Truth be told this is not the norm by Lisa Scottoline and I'm pleased she ventured out to write this new historical fiction piece with so much tender emotion and appeal to her readers.
It gives many of us struggling hope that there's light at the end of this darkness we now reside in and I for one am grateful to have received this early ARC copy.
I've also been one of the most vocal reviewers of Lisa as her work can be hit or miss with me and unlike others I don't cherry coat responses for likes or fan appeal in popularity.
I absolutely had no idea what I was getting into with this as I didn't read up prior to entering my request at Netgalley but did know Lisa is a fan fave & was pleasantly surprised.
It started off extremely slow but when the setting was laid out, the characters in place, the historical aspects playing out, it took off and never looked back.
The overall appeal was centered upon loss, love, food, cultural heritage, community support, racial tensions, anti-semitism, and romance at all cost in the mist of the destruction and death during World War II in Rome when obstruction was advanced with the occupation against the Jews.
"autumn of 1937, all of that begins to change as Mussolini asserts his power, aligning Italy's Fascists with Hitler's Nazis and altering the very laws that govern Rome. "
When the Nazis invaded Rome the world stood still and it seemed like everything was in disarray.
The fact that these friends were united in faith as much as friendship was a testament to themselves between: Elisabetta, Marco, Sandro with the latter chasing the heart of Elisabetta and we must not forget Aldo.
The ultimate behaviors, attitudes, actions, and loss was apparent and when the Nazis walked into homes demanding anything of value to support these horrific actions for the war effort was beyond comprehension but relatable in today's turmoil.
What one must remember is the fight and will to survive was stronger than the hate and evil that existed and they overcame by staying united.
Taking a bullet is more than just a saying it's a way of life for many who faced the insurmountable odds and horror.
To be forced from their homes, taken aboard trains marked for death with tattoos to concentration camps, to face that type of evil by gunpoint or worse was unimaginable but portrayed with heartfelt emotion by Lisa to areas known as Collegio Militare and Aushwitz.
This was the story of two loves revolving during a tumultous time in which their may be only one left standing.
Marco's ultimate dilemma, the reading issue, the loving mannerisms displayed by Sandro and ultimately the end result of a new beginning was quite extraordinary.
I've read my fair share of WWII and I always come back to this time frame and period in history because there's so much to learn and still uncover.
It's a fascinating read that I hope you will embrace fully and unequivocally with a warm and loving invite.
Thank you to Lisa, the pub, Netgalley, and Amazon Kindle for this ARC in exchange for this honest review.
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