The Tuscan Secret

THE TUSCAN SECRET by Angela Petch

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Il Mulino. An old crumbling mill, by a winding river, nestled in the Tuscan mountains.
 An empty home that holds memories of homemade pasta and Nonna’s stories by the fire, 
and later: the Nazi invasion, and a family torn apart by a heartbreaking betrayal.

Anna is distraught when her beloved mother, Ines, passes away. She inherits a box of papers,
 handwritten in Italian and yellowed with age, and a tantalising promise that the truth about what 
happened during the war lies within.

The diaries lead Anna to the small village of Rofelle, where she slowly starts to heal as she 
explores sun-kissed olive groves, and pieces together her mother’s past: happy days spent 
herding sheep across Tuscan meadows cruelly interrupted when World War Two erupted and
 the Nazis arrived; fleeing her home to join the Resistenza; and risking everything to protect an 
injured British soldier who captured her heart. But Anna is no closer to learning the truth: what 
sent Ines running from her adored homeland?

When she meets an elderly Italian gentleman living in a deserted hamlet, who flinches at her 
mother’s name and refuses to speak English, Anna is sure he knows more about the devastating
 secret that tore apart her mother’s family. 
But in this small Tuscan community, some wartime secrets were never meant to be 
uncovered…

A stunning tale, inspired by true events, about how the tragic consequences of war can 
echo throughgenerations, and how love can guide us through the darkest times. 
Fans of Kristin Hannah’s The Nightingale and The Letter by Kathryn Hughes will be 
captivated.

This book was previously published as Tuscan Roots.

About me by Angela Petch

I’m an award winning writer of fiction – and the occasional poem
Every summer I move to Tuscany for six months where my husband and I own a renovated
watermill which we let out. When not exploring our unspoilt corner of the Apennines, I
disappear to my writing desk at the top of our converted stable.
In my Italian handbag or hiking rucksack I always make sure to store notebook and pen
to jot down ideas.
The winter months are spent in Sussex where most of our family live. When I’m not helping
out with grandchildren, I catch up with writer friends.

www.angelapetchsblogsite.wordpress.com

https://www.facebook.com/AngelaJaneClarePetch

https://twitter.com/Angela_Petch

My Review

There are a lot of books around at the moment detailing this period of Anglo-Italian history. This book stands out though, not only for the beautiful way in which the story is told but also because it's a wonderful story with an ending that is unpredictable. It started in a familiar way with Anne being left a box of letters from her Italian mother Ines. From then on, when Anna goes to Italy to find out more, I was completely captivated. As you might expect, dealing with this historical period, the book is quite heartbreaking in parts. Nonetheless, it is sensitively told and a great read.

One summer in Santorini

Sarah has had enough of men. It’s time to rekindle her first true love – travel – so she books a sailing trip around the Greek islands with a group of strangers.

The very last thing Sarah wants is to meet someone new… But then a gorgeous American man boards her yacht and she knows she’s in trouble. And when she also encounters a handsome silver fox who promises her the world, she realises that trouble really does come in twos.

Will Sarah dive into a holiday fling, embark on a relationship, or stick to her plan – steer clear of men, continue her love affair with feta, and find her own way after all?

 

I'm a writer and traveller with a lengthy bucket list and cheeky sense of humour. When I travel, I love exploring new places, outdoor adventures, and eating and drinking like a local. I’m also an avid reader, a film buff, a wine lover and a coffee snob.

My aim in life is to go, see, taste and do – and then write about it.

As well as blogging, I am a professional content developer and editor, a children’s playwright, and an occasional contributor to online magazines.

I am also an author and I write the heart – what makes it sing, what breaks it, and how it mends – and many of my travel adventures have found homes in my novels. My first novel, a romantic comedy set in Greece and inspired by my real-life love story, was published in June 2019 by One More Chapter (HarperCollins).

In 2018, my partner and I left Australia for a year’s sabbatical, living and working in Bali, the US, the UK, and Portugal. Inspired by stunning locations, incredible experiences and making new friends across the world, I wrote my second and third novels.

Now having settled back in Melbourne, I have just started writing my fourth.

My Review

This is not really a story about Santorini but a light-hearted story as Sarah, wanting to leave her broken love affair behind, embarks on a sailing trip around the Greek islands. I loved the descriptions of the various places they visit and the different relationships between the travellers. The book did make me think wistfully of my own youth when anything seemed possible but that is also the attraction of Greece. If you long to leave the humdrum daily life behind and can't afford to sail around the Greek islands, then this book is the next best thing.

His guilty secret

Secrets & Lies Are Dangerous.

                                                                                        

When Jacques's body is discovered in a hotel room his wife, Patricia, suspects he has been hiding something from her.

Why was he found naked and who is the woman that visited his grave on the day of the funeral? Significantly, who is the unnamed beneficiary Jacques left a large sum of money to in his will and what is the reason her best friend, also Jacques's sister, Coco, refuses to tell her what he confided to her?

Struggling to find out the truth, Patricia visits Malmö where her twin sister Jasmine lives and is married to her ex boyfriend. But the sisters relationship is toxic and when a family member dies shortly after, an old secret is revealed that shines a light on an event that took place on their tenth birthday.

As one revelation after another is revealed, Patricia is yet to discover her husband's biggest secret and what ultimately cost him his life.

His Guilty Secret is an unafraid examination of the tangled bonds between siblings, the lengths we go to in protecting our wrongdoings, and the enduring psychological effects this has on the innocent...and the not so innocent.

Hélene Fermont is the author of three books. Because of You and We Never Said Goodbye are also available on Kindle and in print from Amazon.

Author Bio:

Hélene Fermont writes character-driven psychological crime fiction with a Scandi Noir flavour. Known for her explosive, pacy narrative and storylines, she has published three novels – Because of You, We Never Said Goodbye and His Guilty Secret – and two short story collections – The Love of Her Life and Who’s Sorry Now? Her fourth novel is due for release in the summer of 2019. 

After 20 years in London, Hélene recently returned to her native Sweden where she finds the unspoiled scenery and tranquillity a therapeutic boost for creativity. Enjoying a successful career as a Psychologist, when she’s not working her ‘day job’, Hélene spends her time writing, with friends and family, or playing with her beloved cat, Teddy. All three novels can be purchased via her website helenefermont.com/books/

Social media links

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/helenefermontauthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/helenefermont

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/helenefermont/

Pinterest:

https://www.pinterest.co.uk/helenefermontwriter

My Review

This is not a typical psychological thriller as you might expect from the title. Instead of waiting until the last page to find out the devastating secret, the book opens with Jacques dying in a hotel room in the arms of his mistress. His wife Patricia suspects at the funeral that something had been going on and in fact, the rest of the book deals with her coming to terms with the realisation that her marriage wasn't what she thought. There are a lot of characters, which to be honest, took me a while to get to grips with and everyone seems to have their own secret or inner demon. this book explores the damage that can be caused when we try to cover our own guilt. The style takes a little getting used to as the prose is tight and crisp - however, it is in keeping with the analytical tone of the book. The exploration of the relationship between the two sisters is especially well done.

Overture

                                                                                 

What if you had a unique talent, but everything conspired against your dreams?

France, 1897. Born to a modest farming family, Marie-Thérèse has a remarkable singing voice and wants to become a professional singer. But too many obstacles, including her parents' opposition, stand in her way. And, through no fault of her own, she makes a dangerous enemy of the local landlord.

When the family circumstances change suddenly, Marie-Thérèse and her mother must move to Paris to work in her aunt's restaurant. Her ambitions rekindle, but the road to success is paved with setbacks until a chance meeting gives her a precious opportunity.

She is close to achieving all her dreams, but the ghosts of the past come back to haunt her and threaten Marie-Thérèse's life as well as her career.

Purchase Link

http://mybook.to/OvertureBook1

                                                                                 

Author Bio –

Vanessa Couchman is a novelist, short story author and freelance writer and has lived in an 18^th-century farmhouse in southwest France since 1997. French and Corsican history and culture provide great inspiration for her fiction. She has written two novels set on the Mediterranean island of Corsica: The House at Zaronzaand The Corsican Widow. Her third novel, Overture, is Book 1 of a trilogy set in France between 1897 and 1945. Vanessa’s short stories have won and been placed in creative writing competitions and published in anthologies. 

Social Media Links – 

Website: https://vanessacouchmanwriter.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vanessacouchman.author/

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/Vanessainfrance

Amazon Author Page: http://author.to/VanessaCouchman

My Review

When circumstances force Marie-Therese to move from her rural village in France to Paris, she is determined to pursue her dream of becoming a singer. This is a story of fulfilling your dreams against all opposition. I enjoyed reading about her family, her strict mother,  her aunt's restaurant and of course her mentor Frederick. Set at the turn of the century, this is just the 'overture' in a trilogy and this book spans the years 1897 to the end of WWII. I look forward to reading what happens next in Marie-Therese's desire to be a singer.

Confetti at the little duck pond cafe

Confetti at the Little Duck Pond Cafe

Wedding fever is in the air in the village of Sunnybrook. With Ellie and Zak's Big Day on the horizon, the sun is shining brightly on the Little Duck Pond Cafe community. But when dark clouds begin to roll in from more than one direction, several close relationships look to be under threat. Will the wedding of the year actually take place at all?

Purchase Link: 

https://amzn.to/2Iqghul

Author Bio

Rosie Green has been scribbling stories ever since she was little. Back then they were rip-roaring adventure tales with a young heroine in perilous danger of falling off a cliff or being tied up by ‘the baddies’. Thankfully, Rosie has moved on somewhat, and now much prefers to write romantic comedies that melt your heart and make you smile, with really not much perilous danger involved at all, unless you count the heroine losing her heart in love.

Rosie’s brand new series of novellas is centred on life in a village café. Confetti at the Little Duck Pond Cafe will be the sixth in the series

Twitter - https://twitter.com/Rosie_Green1988

My Review

It was great catching up with the inhabitants of Sunnybrook again. After the introduction of Kasia and her arch nemesis in the last book though, they were always going to be a hard act to follow. This book starts off on a serious note as an injury to Zak’s daughter puts the whole wedding of Ellie and Zak at risk. I liked this book but it felt a bit rushed and I didn’t enjoy it quite as much as the last one.  A quick and easy read that is perfect for a bit of escapism.

The Cornish Village School - Summer Love

Pippa Parkin thinks she has it all under control...

For teaching assistant Pippa, life in her home town of Penmenna is reassuringly predictable. Between managing the Easter Egg Hunt and dealing with her annoying but well-meaning family, Pippa thinks she has it all sorted. That is until gorgeous new substitute teacher Kam Choudhury arrives at Penmenna School, and turns everything upside down.

Pippa and Kam are instantly drawn to each other, but their priorities and their working relationship make it very hard to be together. Can they find a way to reconcile their differences and find their Happily-Ever-After?

This heartwarming romance is perfect for fans of Tilly Tennant, Holly Martin and A. L. Michael.

Links

Amazon (UK)

Kobo (UK)

Google Books (UK)

Apple Books (UK)

About the author

 

Author Bio: 

Kitty Wilson lived in Cornwall for twenty-five years having been dragged there, against her will, as a stroppy teen. She is now remarkably grateful to her parents for their foresight and wisdom – and that her own children aren’t as hideous. Recently she has moved to Bristol, but only for love and on the understanding that she and her partner will be returning to Cornwall to live very soon. She spends most of her time welded to the keyboard, dreaming of the beach or bombing back down the motorway for a quick visit! She has a penchant for very loud music, equally loud dresses and romantic heroines who speak their mind.

My Review

I am loving this series so far as the characters just get better and better. The addition of substitute teacher Kam is refreshing and I enjoyed seeing how much in common Pippa and Kam's mothers had. This is a lovely, light summer read that will transport you to Cornwall to a unique setting. I hope there are more books to follow.

Instant Indian

Instant Indian - Classic Foods from Every Region of India Made Easy in the Instant Pot

                                                                                             

                                                                                                 

Discover favorite foods from all over India with the first regional Indian cookbook authorized by Instant Pot!

Rinku Bhattacharya — cookbook author and founder of Spice Chronicles — has put together a collection of 100 authentic recipes that showcase the diversity and range of the foods of India, where every state and region boasts its own unique dishes. Whether you crave takeout favorites or want to be introduced to lesser-known specialities, this cookbook brings the best of India to your table in an instant!

The Instant Pot®lends itself perfectly to Indian recipes, making flavorful, nutritious Indian fare (like simmering-all-day dals, legumes and all manner of curries) in minutes instead of hours. Instant Indian features numerous vegetarian and vegan options , and nearly all recipes are gluten-free.

With step-by-step instructions and color photos throughout, Instant Indian makes Indian cooking easy and fool-proof using all the functions of this popular appliance. 

Purchase Links 

US - https://www.amazon.com/Instant-Indian-Classic-Foods-Region/dp/0781813859/

UK- https://www.amazon.co.uk/Instant-Indian-Classic-Foods-Region/dp/0781813859/

About Rinku Bhattacharya

Rinku Bhattacharya (spicechronicles.com) was born in India, and now lives in a house with a vibrant backyard in Hudson Valley, New York with her husband, an avid gardener, and their two children. Rinku’s simple, sustainable approach to Indian cooking is showcased on her blog, Spice Chronicles, and in her Journal News column “Spices and Seasons.”

Rinku has been teaching recreational cooking classes for the past nine years, and works extensively with local area farmer’s markets on seasonal demonstrations and discussions. Rinku is also the author of The Bengali Five Spice Chronicles (Hippocrene Books, 2012), winner of the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards 2013 for Best Indian Cuisine. She writes for the Poughkeepsie Journal, the Journal News, and several online sites, and is a frequent guest on CT Style TV.

https://twitter.com/Wchestermasala

https://www.instagram.com/spice_chronicles/

https://www.pinterest.co.uk/rinkub/?autologin=true

https://www.facebook.com/spicechronicles

My Review

Having followed the recent rise in popularity of the Instant Pot, an electric pressure cooker, the only thing which put me off, to be honest, was the price. However, if you love authentic Indian cuisine then by following the recipes in this book it could soon pay for itself.
I loved the information about the different regions and the use of different spices. The book has some lovely photos to give you an idea of what the end product should look like. More importantly, it breaks the time down into different sections eg preparation time, cooking time, sauce preparation time etc as well as having sections for vegan and gluten-free.
All in all, it's a  culinary guide to India with some great recipes as a bonus.

Summer season on the seafront

Summer Season on the Seafront

The Greenley Players are back practicing their Shakespeare and, as usual, things aren't going to plan.

Sarah Powell is fed up with her sad single status and when her estranged father walks back into her life things get even worse. Can dishy doctor Finn MacDonald mend her broken heart and help her figure things out?

TV star, Nate Hardy's career is going from strength to strength until his performance is interrupted and he has to flee the West End to hide away in Greenley. Will he ever get his career back on track or will Sarah and the rest of Greenley's madcap residents capture his heart forever? 

Purchase Links 

UK - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Summer-Season-Seafront-Katie-Ginger-ebook/dp/B07KQQ6856

US - https://www.amazon.com/Summer-Season-Seafront-Katie-Ginger-ebook/dp/B07KQQ6856

Author Bio 

KATIE GINGERlives in the South East of England, by the sea, and apart from holidays to very hot places where you can sit by a pool and drink cocktails as big your head, she wouldn't really want to be anywhere else. Summer Season on the Seafront is Katie's second novel. Her debut novel The Little Theatre on the Seafront was shortlisted for the Katie Fforde Debut Novel of the Year award. She is also the author of some cosy mystery short stories. Katie loves making her characters either fall in love, or killing them off - it depends on her mood! 

When she's not writing, Katie spends her time drinking gin, or with her husband, trying to keep alive her two children: Ellie, who believes everything in life should be done as a musical number from a West End show; and Sam, who is basically a monkey with a boy's face. And there's also their adorable King Charles Spaniel, Wotsit (yes, he is named after the crisps!). 

For more about Katie you can visit her website: www.keginger.com, find her on Facebook: www.facebook.com/KatieGAuthor, or follow her on Twitter: @KatieGAuthor

My Review

I loved this book. Speaking as a member of our local amateur dramatic society, Katie Ginger has got this book spot on. If you add in a dishy doctor and a TV star on the run with some over the top characters this book is engaging from the start. The seaside setting is so realistic I think I want to live there. An easy to read book that is just perfect for a little bit of summer indulgence. 

Dead Inside

Kept me hooked … excellent pace and a very satisfying ending’ Angela Marsons

‘An excellent read’ Martina Cole

'A brilliant debut – gritty, dark and chilling. Noelle Holten knows her stuff’ Mel Sherratt

A dark and gripping debut crime novel – the first in a stunning new series – from a huge new talent.

The killer is just getting started…

When three wife beaters are themselves found beaten to death, DC Maggie Jamieson knows she is facing her toughest case yet.

The police suspect that Probation Officer Lucy Sherwood – who is connected to all three victims – is hiding a dark secret. Then a fourth domestic abuser is brutally murdered.

And he is Lucy’s husband.

Now the police are running out of time, but can Maggie really believe her friend Lucy is a cold-blooded killer?

Author Bio:

 

Noelle Holten is an award-winning blogger at www.crimebookjunkie.co.uk. She is the PR & Social Media Manager for Bookouture, a leading digital publisher in the UK, and a regular reviewer on the Two Crime Writers and a Microphone podcast. Noelle worked as a Senior Probation Officer for eighteen years,

covering a variety of cases including those involving serious domestic abuse. She has three Hons BA’s – Philosophy, Sociology (Crime & Deviance) and Community Justice – and a Masters in Criminology. Noelle's hobbies include reading, author-stalking and sharing the booklove via her blog. 
Dead Inside is her debut novel with Killer Reads/Harper Collins UK and the start of a new series featuring DC Maggie Jamieson.

My Review

This is a gritty portrayal of domestic abuse, the author drawing on her years of experience in the Probation Service. To anyone who thinks domestic abuse doesn't happen to educated, employed women holding down challenging jobs then this book shows it can and does happen to anyone from all walks of life. Lucy Sherwood is the last person you would think of as a victim yet she has her own reasons for not leaving her husband. The pace is just right, allowing us to empathise and then in the next chapter wonder if she is actually a murderer. This is a well-written psychological thriller that a seasoned author would be proud of - hard to believe this is a debut novel.

Links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/noelleholtenauthor/

Twitter: (@nholten40) https://twitter.com/nholten40

Goodreads Author Page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18489795.Noelle_Holten

Blog: https://www.crimebookjunkie.co.uk

Instagram: @crimebookjunkie