I went to Tuscany on holiday last year and stayed and toured around this beautiful part of the world. I was able to see where everything was set in all its glory. We stayed near San Gimignano and I was pleased to see that this medieval town was part of the authors inspiration. Dinah Jefferies writes with a depth that makes you feel for the characters and wish and hope for good outcomes. It was interesting to read a book based in the war that was told from the Italian perspective, and showed how despite living deep in the countryside you can still be touched by the fingers of war.

A really beautiful book with lots of colourful descriptions of the nature in Tuscany written with Jefferies' wonderful prose. A solid historical fiction book that I would definitely suggest it as THE beach read of summer of 2020. An escapist read that has the added bonus to be highly educational on the role of Italy in WW2. I love all of Dinah Jefferies work that I have read but I really enjoyed this one as it has a lot of action and "spy" elements. Perfect for those days that you want to escape to a different world...

Tuscany in WWII. Two women, dangerous game with Nazis. Suffering and hope.

Great historical fiction, joy to read.

I got The Tuscan Contessa by Dinah Jefferies from NetGally for fair and honest review.

The Tuscan Contessa, is set in Italy during World War II, from 1943 to 1945, the time after the country had been invaded by the Allies and Italy had surrendered to the allies and were now fighting with them against the Germans. The book does this by telling the story of two women one the Contessa Sofia de Corsi’s, a sleepy Tuscan village who helps the resistance with what she can, keeping this from her husband Lorenzo who is also helping the allies.

Into this world comes Maxine, with family secrets of her own, an Italian-American with ties to the area, who comes to help the local resistance. The Two women form a strong, bond together and soon both woman get drawn deeper in fighting the Germans.

This was a really good novel telling a story of World War II that does not get much publicity, as Italy not only tries to deal with the issues of the Nazi’s occupying them but the split of the country between those fighting for the Italian Fascists, who are loyal to the Germans and those that want the Allies to win

One thing I really liked was how with the men all gone it concentrated on how the Women left behind had to deal with the day to day issues of being occupied, and trying to live a normal life. The friendship between the two woman was well written, and seemed natural as though they would have been friends if they had meet under different circumstances.

The story also covered other issues that would have been going on such as romance but this felt part of the story, and natural between the couples involved. This allowed the story to seem more real as their was a life outside of the conflict around them, in addition there were mentions that about how the allies killed members of our family and we are meant to support them or they a bombing us.

I really enjoyed this novel of war time friendship and having to deal with the problems of being occupied, while dealing with the normal day to day issues of life.

This was a really enjoyable book to read, which I would recommend to fans of Dinah Jefferies,In addition if like stories of friendship during times of crisis as well as reading about the difficulties in Italy from the time Italy surrendered to the Allies until their liberation, then, The Tuscan Contessa, is for you.

A story set in Tuscany during the latter years of WW2.

I am a great admirer of Dinah Jefferies books, this is the third one that I have read, and it does not disappoint.

Ms Jefferies can combine a brilliant story with the most wonderful descriptive prose, and her books are always a joy to read.

In this story, she tells the tale of how the Italians had to cope in the last few years of World War 2. I was aware that they had suffered at the hands of the Nazis and their puppet dictator Mussolini but did not realise what had happened when the Allies were trying to march through Southern Italy towards Florence and Rome.

Sofia, the Tuscan Contessa, has had an idyllic marriage to Lorenzo but as the story begins is often separated from him as he is working in Rome ostensibly with the Germans but is passing information to the Allies. She has always tried to remain aloof from all the different factions, the Mussolini Blackshirts still revering their former leader and the partisans. They are trying to help the Allies and hinder the Germans.

However, when Maxine, a young girl, who, although from Tuscany originally has been living in New York, arrives at the Castello, Sofia has to decide what side she is going to be on and how much she can help without compromising herself or her husband.

Maxine’s task is to try and assist the partisans in hindering German movements and reporting to the Allies about the current conditions. The Germans are slowly losing the war but are retreating towards Rome. The Allies, therefore, are still bombing the Tuscan countryside in their effort to stop the German’s retreats but in so doing are killing totally innocent Italians.

This story is so sad and made me realise how awful it must have been for the Italian people to try and exist throughout this period. Their suffering is as complicated as there are still German officers around looting and pillaging and taking over peoples’ homes as and when they please. At the same time, there are so many different groups, the Blackshirts, the Partisans and then allied spies. Such is the suffering that it is impossible to know who to trust and who is betraying who.

This story is really about Sofia, and how she has to decide whose side she is on but set against all this unhappiness, there are wonderful love stories that begin and sometimes end tragically. Despite the sadness of the story Ms Jefferies has such an amazing way of describing the area she is writing about. I am lucky enough to have been to Tuscany, and this book almost makes me feel I am back there.

As I said at the beginning of this review, I am a great fan of this author, and despite the great sadness at times she was able to also convey the bravery, optimism and hope that the main characters displayed.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good story written with such beautiful descriptive prose. Each of Dinah Jefferies books (that I have read) have a completely different storyline but have all been exceptional. I am looking forward to Ms Jefferies next book.



Dexter

Elite Reviewing Group received a copy of the book to review

I read this ARC for an honest review
All thoughts and opinions are mine

I love Dinah Jeffries's books so was thrilled to be able to read this and it didn't disappoint

I love historical fiction and Dinah Jeffries is brilliant. This one is set in Tuscany, one of my favourite places. Clearly, there was a lot of research involved here and I learned so much.

I found the book absorbing, heart-breaking and just absolutely loved it

This is great historical fiction. Set in Tuscany during the second world war, this was something I didn't know much about so reading about it and being absorbed within the pages was brilliant.

The descriptions and research which Dinah Jefferies has woven into this story are wonderful. I really enjoyed it and think it's perfect for fans of historical fiction and also those who just love a story with lots of atmosphere.

This book deals with the struggle of people living in Tuscany at the end of the second world war, when Italy was invaded and run by the Germans. It gives a vivid picture of what it was like to be living in Tuscany at this time. It is well written, well researched and an interesting read.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance copy of this book.

Brilliant. I love historical fiction. The descriptions of the scenery and the plot had me glued to my seat. I knew so little about the horrific details of this part of World War 2. This was an interesting and in places heartbreaking read.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

Set in Tuscany during World War 2, this historical fiction was a delight to read. I particularly enjoyed the descriptive settings.

If a picture paints a thousand words, then the words in "The Tuscan Contessa" manage to paint a million pictures. This book is so full of vivid descriptions and emotions, not all of them pleasant, that I've finished reading feeling like I've lived a whole other life. The writing is superb, the plot is also superb, and the characters are believable and have a real depth to them. Pretty stunning.

My thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an advance copy to review. This review is entirely my own, unbiased, opinion.

Once again Dinah Jefferies does not disappoint. I was impressed by the attention to detail in describing the devastation of Italy during the second world war and the struggle of the partisans to try and protect their country. Dinah really brings her characters to life and you feel closely involved with the Contessa and Maxine as they risk their lives to triumph over evil, to such an extent that I couldn't stop put the book down! It seemed very appropriate that I was reading this just before VE day and it prompted me to re-visit my Father's diaries from when he was a prisoner of war in Italy. Highly recommended

Strong women, spies, sunshine and brilliant writing need I say more.
Another great book by Ms Jeffries if you enjoy books set in world war 2 with a good story and a believable cast if characters this is for you.

I’ve read all of the author’s books now, well most of them anyway. I continue to enjoy them more and more. She’s become a go-to author for well-written, emotive, powerful historical fiction. The setting is different than other books and all the more interesting for this. Tuscany is vividly realised. I don’t normally read spy novels but really enjoyed this. Although Sofia is a spy, she’s different than other spy’s I’ve encountered in fiction. The female characters are strong and formidable. This is well-written and engrossing. Another treat!

Dinah Jefferies once again combines powerful emotional writing with vivid description in ‘The Tuscan Contessa’.
An avid reader of novels set in World War 2 I found it quite refreshing that this was set in Tuscany, a region also affected by the war, but that I have found is less often used as a setting.
The Tuscan Contessa is the focal character, extremely strong and yet believable as she experiences the many doubts and fears you would expect as she aims to assist the local partisans.
Jefferies has managed to balance the terrifying elements of war-time occupation with the hope and vigorous fervour that existed, thereby providing a realistic portrayal that should appeal to both seasoned and new readers of historical novels.
Thank you to Penguin Books and NetGalley for this copy in exchange for an honest review.

Yet again this author has created a story that kept me on the edge of my seat. In a break from previous novels set in Italy during the war the Tuscan Contessa introduces us to Sofia and her household and Maxine an Italian/American spy. The characters are bold vivacious women who do all they can to assist both the Allies and the Partisans. With espionage, heartache and the terror of war, love is prevalent and makes this a gripping read.

Another lovely story from Dinah Jeffries based in Tuscany during the end of WW2. Sofia is the local Contessa married to Lorenzo who works for the agricultural department and who works away a lot. Italy is in turmoil, the Fascists have been overthrown by the Nazis, the Allied forces, who previously fought the Fascists,are fighting with the Nazis and the partisans are helping the Allied forces underground. Sofias parents are in Rome, helping the partisans and send a young American woman Maxine to Sofia to liaise with the partisans and the British forces. Sofia is pulled in to help Maxine in her pursuits. The problem is nobody really knows what side everyine else is on so it is very tense and they have to second guess everything.
The story is well written and you can feel the tension on every page, especially when German officers keep calling to the villa. The characters of Maxine, Marco, Carla and her family are very well written, I especially like Sofias parents Elsa and Roberto, although they were elderly they were very strong and courageous. However I found the character of Sofia very wooden, even though she was involved in very exciting adventures, I found her boring. Also I found Lorenzo a bit of a mystery, you never found out what side he was actually on.
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for an ARC in exchange for an honest review

In 1943 Lorenzo and Sofia de’ Corsi, a devoted couple living in the walled village of Costello de’ Corsi, find their lives turned upside down when the German forces arrive en masse. Lorenzo, purporting outwardly to support the Fascists , finds himself working away from home more and more, but unable to tell his wife whereabouts he is or what he is doing. The arrival of Maxine, a stranger sent to find her by Sofia’s parents leads to Sofia, and her housekeeper Carla joining forces to try and outwit the Germans together with Maxine who also finds herself unintentionally falling in love with Marco, one of the partisans. Sofia is forced into the difficult situation of having to entertain two of the high ranking Nazi’s from time to time whilst at the same time trying to protect everybody else. The lack of news from Lorenzo and several local assassinations leaves Sofia in despair. Fans of Diana Jeffries will not be disappointed by this gripping and sensitive novel . She paints a vivid picture of life in rural Italy at that time.

I would like to thank NetGalley and the publishers for asking me to read and review.
This story was a wonderful read.
It is well written with some great characters and as a reader you feel you are right there with them. The plot draws you in and keeps you turning those pages.
A brilliant, heartwarming read.

An excellent story that keeps you hooked from start to finish. Fascinating tale about life during WWII and the impact on the people affected by occupation. Definitely recommended.