Sara is at the lowest point she's ever been in The Sicilian Inheritance by Jo Piazza. Her restaurant is going bankrupt and closing, her marriage ended creating a custody issue for her daughter, and her favorite great-aunt Rosie passes away. Life could not be worse, but a interesting wrinkle in the death of her aunt presents her with a piece of land in Sicily that she's inherited. The question is, is it legally her family's piece of the pie or will she be thwarted by those seeking to hide the alleged murder of Rosie's mother, Sara's great-great-grandmother Serafina, who originally was given the plot. Now Sara will go out of her comfort zone to find out the truth, which could mean her own demise.

Despite the juicy-sounding plot, I had some trepidation about the book. I read Jo Piazza's two books written with Christine Pride, We Are Not Like Them, and You Were Always Mine, which I both loved, so I wondered if the author could hold her own solo. I'm glad to say that this book was more than a satisfactory follow-up to these two novels.

This book captivated my interest from the start. It has romance, intrigue, history, incredible scenery, lust, and quirky characters. All these elements form to create an amazing book that you cannot forget. It's written in a style that will sweep you away with the scenery and descriptions of food that's eaten or prepared. You feel like you're on this trip with Sara, and you'll be concerned about her safety throughout the story, which takes some unexpected twists and turns. It's one of those books you eagerly return to and want to dive into even deeper. It seriously made me want to go to Italy, too, just to get a taste of the food, scenery, and culture she absorbs.

Alternating chapters show you two different storylines--Sara's quest to find out the truth about Serafina, and Serafina's life in the early 1900s. You'll find out what really happens to her great-great-grandmother and will be absorbed in both dueling plots, which is full of powerful women and descriptions of a time when the women had to take on the reins of life in the made-up town of Caltabellisa. It's a testament to the strength of the women that the town continues to operate even when most men had to flee to other areas of the country and America to earn a living.

I highly recommend this book if you're looking for some kind of escape and a really great story that will leave you satisfied. I can't say enough good things about this book.

Thank you to the team at @hqstories for sending over a copy of this wonderful book - firstly… look at the cover!! How beautiful 😍 This book is a real mixture of historical fiction, murder mystery and the realities of grief, loss, adventure, love and exploration. I am always a sucker of books that have duel timelines and this one does it so well. This story is filled with accounts from strong, independent, clever women across the ages and Sara’s journey to find the truth on behalf of her grandmother is beautiful, but little did she know that she’d be flung into a bit of a cat and mouse chase herself. The description of the little town in Sicily is atmospheric, both present day and past and if you didn’t want to visit this part of the world before, you certainly will after you’ve finished Sara’s story. This was released last week and should be toward the top of your #tbrpile.

This dual-timeline historical fiction novel is a captivating exploration of strong, unforgettable women across generations. Sara and Seraphina, linked by a shared family history and dark secrets, drive the narrative.

Set in the 1920s, Seraphina, a dedicated physician in a small Sicilian town, battles the Spanish Flu, while Sara, an American with a failed restaurant, delves into her Italian heritage and uncovers her family’s past connected to a piece of land. The book combines suspense, romance, and culinary delights, brought vividly to life in the audio version narrated by Rachel F. Hirsch and Carlotta Brentan.

The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

This book is wonderful. I was immersed in the world of the characters from the very start. Such a rich storyline and characters.

The story is told form two points of view, one in the modern day and one from the past. Both characters are women trying to make their way in the world.

The story is of women, of their lives and challenges, their empowerment and powerlessness.

The characters are so rich and detailed they jumped off the page. Some were loveable and others were horrible, but all were so well written.

A thoroughly enjoyable read. .Both Sara's and Serafina's stories were interesting and engaging. The mystery surrounding Serafina kept one riveted. The detail of the area in Sicily was better than any tourist area and had me wanting to visit. The historical context was well researched.
Fascinating to read the stimulus for this book was based on a real life occurrence

A recommended read

This is a delightful work of historical fiction, set in Sicily, in alternating time frames of the 1920s and the present day.
I found this book compelling, gripping and beautifully written.

Sara's marriage has broken down, her 4 year old daughter is living with her ex-husband and she has had to close her beloved restaurant. So when her great-aunt Rosie dies and leaves her the deeds for a plot of land in Sicily, is this the answer to her problems?
Sara has to go to Sicily to claim the land and non of the family has ever been back since they left when Rosie was a baby. What will she encounter and also what will she find out about her family?
A gripping story, well written.

This book is set over 2 timezones and both are equally gripping. This is a real page turner that I found difficult to put down. Highly recommended.

I love a book with a strong female lead - and in the case of Cantebellessa, there's an entire village!
The parallel voices of Sara and Fina are perfectly mirrored through time, as Sara investigates the violent death of her great-great grandmother nearly a century before.

I started off on the edge of my seat, prepared to book the first available flight out to Sicily - and by the end... let's say I was a little put off on going there (no spoilers, but don't think I'm as strong as Sara!). The arc of this tale is fantastic, a little spicy, and endearing.

Not all of the characters are likeable, but it's a reminder that gems might be hidden where you'd least expect them. Would highly recommend as a summer read if you're NOT travelling (or it's not as sunny as you'd hoped!)

I really enjoyed this book and it captured my interest straight away. A gripping read across two elements of time. Both periods of time had me hooked and had me rushing through the chapters to find out more. A very informative read and loved all the historical facts. Definitely one to read.

Dual timeline story set 100 years apart, The Silician Inheritance tells the story of two powerful women called Serafina. A compelling and captivating book, I read it in two afternoons.

A fabulously written gripping story that was a pleasure to read. I would absolutely recommend this book, it was brilliant

This is a curious read. Two stories, roughly 100 years apart, of women on the island of Sicily. One, an unofficial midwife and nurse at a time when the men were leaving for America, another, her granddaughter sent from America on a mission to discover what happened to her. All very simple, and truthfully this book makes a wonderfully light summery read. There are a lot of questions, some peril, a little amore, and enough talk of food and drink to gain weight just reading it. You can enjoy it happily on a beach, or a plane to Italy. You don't need to think much and you can just get lost in the fun of the story. But that also sells it short.

This book also plays on the great tradition of storytelling. Specifically oral history. It tells the stories of women that we've heard, but that rarely seem to get written down. No seriously, think about. I bet you know some version of a story from a few generations back about the weird old lady living on the edge of town who everyone avoids because there's something a bit odd about them, but who also seems to be the destination for anyone in need. But how often have you read it? Or seen it in a movie? Maybe the odd side note, a brief cameo of a character to drive the story, but how often does it become the main story? That only seems to happen when the story is told. That's what gives this book something more fulfilling. It's about setting down the history we've heard dozens of times, of the women making the world continue while the men are elsewhere.

This book tells the story of that woman, and countless others, making do, making their community work regardless. It leads up to the reveal of what did happen to Serafina Masala (thankfully! Whether you like the conclusion or not you can be happy it comes, and it doesn't feel hurried, even though I confess I was getting somewhat anxious about this as the end of the book loomed fast and I worried there wasn't room for anything let alone a satisfactory ending - so relax, you're good).

We also see Sara's personal changes as she researches the history to uncover this story for us. The fish out of water American exploring rural Scilly, recovering from the trauma of her life back home. It may not be the most original concept but Sara wears the role well. Not too young, not too old. Someone who has soared and crashed. In her family story she rediscovers herself. It just works.

It all just clicks. The parts are good, but the sum of them is definitely better. I wondered if the dual timeline would grow thin and feel laboured, but it turned out I underestimated the story - it delivered in both arcs. It was an easy book to get lost in, but a book that also has a deeper resonance.

Many thanks to Net Galley an HQ Publishing for an ARC of this book in exchange for a review.
This is a fabulous story, a mystery, was Serafina murdered, who murdered her and why?
Sara is Serafina’s great granddaughter and she is setting of to Sicily to hopefully claim her inheritance which is land, she will have to prove it belonged to Serafina, she is hoping the sale of the land will sort her financial problems.
The story is told in a dual timeline which flows seamlessly, with both stories captivating the reader.
The story covers Sicilian history, family struggles, relationships, friendships, courage, grudges, grief and love. Sara discovers Serafina’s story and learns that her great grandmother was strong, intelligent and courageous, she was a mother, a wife, a friend, a healer and a lover.
This author has told a beautiful atmospheric story.
A five star read.

I was offered this book to read as I had given feedback before. I enjoyed the read, very easy reading and a gorgeous country to dream about visiting. You are then taken into two storylines in The Sicilian Inheritance, that of Sara who is trying to find out what happened to her Aunt’s mother who is Seraphina. In the early 1900s. Married very young because of a pregnancy and the mother to several young sons when her husband leaves for America to try and make a better life. It is an inspiring read about the determination of the women who was left behind to survive. Loved the ending. Definitely want to visit Sicily one day.

This is a dual timeline novel which starts in the present day when Sara’s great aunt Rosie leaves her a piece of land in Sicily. The novel moves between Sara’s point of view and the story of her great great grandmother Serafina in Sicily, I really enjoyed the novel which is so well written and a good mix of a family saga and mystery. However, I was far more invested in Sara’s story and for me the sections of the novel about Serafina were a little drawn out and less absorbing.
3.5 stars.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.

It is a story about family, legacy and powerful secrets. It features Sara, in contemporary times and her great-great-grandmother Serafina, who lived in Sicily in the early twentieth century. It explores the lives of women in Sicily and the difficulties and prejudices they face, some of which remain. Sara's life implodes despite her determination and drive. Her marriage is in ruins, and she risks losing the daughter she loves. Her business, the reason she sacrificed her marriage, has failed and her great-aunt Rosa, who offered her the emotional support she now needs so much, has died. Rosa's dying wish is for Sara to go to Sicily, reclaim some land and find out what happened to Rosa's mother. It is a journey of emotional discovery for Sara that leads her into danger as the family secrets gradually reveal themselves.
Told from a dual point of view, both women are independent and face prejudice from misogynist communities. I like the storytelling, the female characters, who you invest in, and the blend of family drama, mystery and secrets that immerses the reader in this story.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

What a lovely story. Sara has a failed marriage and a failed restaurant business. She also has a young daughter who, through work, has not been present for and consequently has had to fight her ex husband for custody. Her great aunt passes away when she is struggling to get through her days. Guilt again as they were due to travel to Sicily together but work and life was in the way. Rosie left her a paid for trip to Sicily to find out about a plot of land which has been left to the family for many years and something Rosie wanted to find out about herself. Sara travels to Sicily with trepidation but delved into the history of the island and her family. The book toggles between then and now and sometimes I find this difficult to follow but this was anything but. The past was fascinating and the present compliments it so well. Sara’s great grandmother, Serafina, is a bright girl, pregnant at 15 and life becomes difficult. Her husband travels to America to make his fortune leaving her at home with the children. She survives by turning to helping others and starts to treat them for all sorts of illnesses and this makes her strong. She becomes the village “doctor”. The story continues with her life which is hard and has a sad ending or so everyone thinks but no evidence. Sara starts to find out more and more about Serafina and starts to uncover secrets which have been kept buried for years. I loved the characters, well the whole book really and cannot recommend it highly enough.

The Sicilian Inheritance is a wonderful read that takes you to stunning Sicily. Set in two timelines, the story follows Sara, a chef who heads to Sicily after inheriting land from her great aunt Rosie. As she starts looking into her family's history, she uncovers a web of mystery surrounding her great-grandmother Serafina - a strong-willed and inspirational woman who was well ahead of her time!!
The descriptions of Sicilian culture are to die for - I’d really love to go there in person one day. A real must-read

This book is set in Sicily, this is a great story covering two timelines, which are 100 years apart. There is a twist to the storyline which wants you want to know more. Sara's life is falling apart and everything changes when her great aunt passes away, leaving Sara a ticket to go to Sicily to scatter her ashes and claim land that she owned. Her great aunt was respected due to her knowledge and skills about remedies from herbs for ailments. The more you read the book, it got exciting and made you want to know more about the characters.