I am exciting to be hosting the blog tour for The Girl from Portofino (Girls of the Italian Resistance) by Siobhan Daiko #BookReview #WW2 #HistoricalRomance @siobhandaiko @maryanneyarde

 

 

The Girl from Portofino

(Girls of the Italian Resistance: A collection of standalone novels set in Italy during World War 2)

By Siobhan Daiko

 

 

In 1970 Gina Bianchi returns to Portofino to attend her father’s funeral, accompanied by her troubled twenty-four-year-old daughter, Hope. There, Gina is beset by vivid memories of World War 2, a time when she fought with the Italian Resistance and her twin sister, Adele, worked for the Germans.

 

In her childhood bedroom, Gina reads Adele’s diary, left behind during the war. As Gina learns the devastating truth about her sister, she’s compelled to face the harsh brutality of her own past. Will she finally lay her demons to rest, or will they end up destroying her and the family she loves?

 

A hauntingly epic read that will sweep you away to the beauty of the Italian Riviera and the rugged mountains of its hinterland. “The Girl from Portofino” is a story about heart-wrenching loss and uplifting courage, love, loyalty, and secrets untold.

 

 

 

Don’t you just love it when you open a book, knowing before you have even read a word that you are going to love it? In this case, it was because I had already read a book by this author that I loved, the cover is amazing, the blurb is enticing… it all adds up, and made me all the more excited.

Gina travels to Portofino with her daughter, Hope, when her father dies, to attend his funeral. While there, Gina’s mother presents her with a diary, written by Adele, Gina’s twin sister. At first, Gina doesn’t want to read it, for Adele worked with the Germans during the war, while Gina fought with the Resistance, but curiosity wins, and she begins to read the diary.

As Gina reads Adele’s diary, she finds herself remembering the war, and her time, fighting. This book is a dual timeline novel, following Gina in both 1970, as she reads Adele’s diary, and 1944, where she is fighting. As part of the Resistance, Gina lives rough, and carries around a gun, but with the arrival of Enzo, an English soldier joining their ranks, Gina starts to feel things other than the need to protect her country. It seems strange for love to appear during a war, and yet, love is just the thing needed.

Both the historical aspects, such as the war, and the battles fought, and the romantic aspects of this novel are written wonderfully, and I loved every moment of this book. Gina was a wonderful character, although I couldn’t help wishing for Adele to have her own chapters, rather than just learning about her through diary entries. I would love to read a book from Adele’s perspective, as her journey was just as intriguing as Gina’s.

This book is absolutely brilliant. World War 2 fiction is incredibly popular at the moment, and I can see why, for it is utterly enthralling, especially when done right, as this book is. I cannot wait to read more by this author. 

 

 

This series is free to read with #KindleUnlimited subscription.

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 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 two rescued cats. After a life of romance and adventure in Hong Kong, Australia and the UK, Siobhan now spends her time, when she isn't writing, enjoying her life near Venice. 

Social Media Links:

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Thank you to The Coffee Pot Book Club for giving me the opportunity to showcase this novel.

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