Review: Daughters of Tuscany by Siobhan Daiko

Today, I'm delighted to welcome back Siobhan Daiko, author of wonderful historical fiction. I'm sharing my review for her new novel, Daughters of Tuscany, about two women of different backgrounds involved in the Italian resistance during WWII. Well worth checking out!

Daughters of Tuscany is currently on blog tour with Rachel's Random Resources. My thanks to Rachel, and to Boldwood Books, for a copy of the novel.

 

 

Daughters of Tuscany

Siobhan Daiko

 

Daughters of Tuscany is a novel about two women – one, Emma, is the daughter of a marquese; the other, Rosa, the daughter of one of their tenant farmers – who are thrown into the turmoil that gripped Italy during World War II.

Whilst Emma is grateful for the help of British POWs, Rosa is not so certain about welcoming them, having lost her husband to the Allies on campaign in Africa. But the men's help is desperately needed for harvesting.

Meanwhile, Italy is divided. With Mussolini's arrest, the pressure is on for the Allies to arrive as soon as possible. But as they are delayed in southern Italy, the Germans arrive in force from the north, taking strategic cities, and managing to free Mussolini. 

The balance seems to tilt towards the right, as the population is caught between the two sides, divided into fascists and resistance.

Emma is worried about her childhood friend, Marco, who is in the Italian army. Rose, meanwhile, feels drawn to Tom, a Scots Guard soldier helping with the harvest. She is torn between her loyalty to her late husband, and her budding attraction to the Scot.

When Marco appears, Emma's relief is short-lived as he immediately joins in the local resistance, clandestinely fighting the growing number of Nazis arriving in the area. When the POWs become at risk from being captured by the Germans, Tom and the other men flee, but he returns as the route to the Allies is blocked. 

As Marco and Emma grow closer, her fear for him grows. Acting as go-between for the resistance, Emma knows she takes risks, but those she takes willingly. 

With German Captain Hofmann breathing down their necks, Emma, her father, and the other partisans have to tread carefully. When he shows an interest in her, she reluctantly meets with him, whilst trying to find out their plans. But she puts herself in grave danger when trying to convince the cold officer of a ruse...

In the meantime, Rose and Tom grow closer, and even Rose's daughter becomes attached to him. But with their lives in danger, will there be a future for them both?

And will Emma, her father, and Marco succeed to keep their secret? Read the book to find out!

Daughters of Tuscany is a gripping account about the bravery of ordinary Italians who risk everything in face of the war machine of the Fascists. It shows the dilemma the country faced as its people were divided between those who supported Mussolini's hard line, and those who were eagerly awaiting the arrival of the Allies.

I read this novel in one sitting. The two plots surrounding the women kept me enthralled as I turned the virtual pages. Both Emma and Rose come across as realistic women of their era, who were pushed to their boundaries by external events and the daily threat to their lives.

Ms Daiko provides great detail about the situation in Italy, which I found fascinating to read about, and weaves it perfectly into the fictional plot. The occasional use of Italian expressions, cleverly 'translated' in context, makes for immersive reading.

The description of the Germans includes some stereotypes (not many Germans were blond and blue-eyed), but the overall brutality of the regime and its henchmen were shown in a realistic and rather sinister manner, which added to the immersive reading experience.

The situation of the Allies' slow advance, including their targets hitting innocent Italians and their cities, was very well shown, and the author doesn't try to make excuses for them. This, again, adds a strong sense of realism, as ordinary people wondered if they'd ever be safe from either side.

Daughters of Tuscany is a gripping tale, one that draws you into its plot, and doesn't let you go until you've finished reading the last page. Well-researched, and with an authentic setting and characterisation, it's a novel you shouldn't miss.

Highly recommended.

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Blurb:

Daughters of Tuscany

Two women, one community, everyone’s war…

With the arrival of English prisoners of war on Marchese Ginori’s farmhouse estate, Rosa is immediately wary. Her husband was killed by the Allies and she will not trust any inglesi around her daughter.

The marchese’s daughter, Emma, is thankful for the extra help. Especially when Italian soldiers are forced into hiding, fleeing the Nazis. Emma vows to protect her childhood best friend, Marco, at any cost.

It’s a dangerous time to be harbouring fugitives, and as the POWs prove their allegiance in helping the Italian men, Rosa begins to become close to one in particular – an alluring Scotsman named Tom.

Both women will do what it takes to protect their loved ones, but daring to hope for a better future in wartime is a dangerous dream. And what starts as a quest to keep their men safe soon turns into a mission to save their whole community…

A sweeping tale of love, loss and hope in times of strife, perfect for fans of Fiona Valpy, Rhys Bowen and Kristin Hannah.

 

 

Universal Buy Link: https://mybook.to/daughterssocial

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About the Author:

Siobhan Daiko

Siobhan Daiko is a British historical fiction author. A lover of all things Italian, she lives in the Veneto region of northern Italy with her husband, a Havanese dog and a Siberian cat. 

 

Siobhan was born of English parents in Hong Kong, attended boarding school in Australia, and then moved to the UK — where she taught modern foreign languages in a Welsh high school. She now spends her time writing page-turners and living the dolce vita sweet life near Venice. Her novels are compelling, poignant, and deeply moving, with strong characters and evocative settings, but always with romance at their heart. You can find more about her books on her website www.siobhandaiko.org

Connect with Siobhan: 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/siobhan.daiko.author

Twitter: https://twitter.com/siobhandaiko

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

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Bookbub profile: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/siobhan-daiko