A story set during ww2 and in wonderfully described locales.

Kate Arden sets out on a journey to uncover her parentage. While the premise of the book seemed interesting, the writing style was a miss.

This story revolves around the mystery of Kate- her real mother, and her adopted family, during WW2.
I liked the character of Kate, and her brothers and sisters. However, a big part of the story hinges on Kate’s insecurity about her place in the family. I had difficulty understanding why she was insecure. She has very close relationships with all her adoptive siblings, and with her step mother. All of them struggle in their relationship with their father- so this plot point seemed forced.

I loved the description of Venice, but things seemed to be repeated over and over, and I struggled to maintain interest. However, the last few chapters do pick up. Everything is resolved, although I had it pretty much figured out.

Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the free ARC. This is my honest review.

Historical drama set during and after World War Two. A young girl searches for her mother which leads her to Venice.

A family saga told between 1941 and 1946 following the Arden Family and the mysterious Kates parentage
WW2 is still in full swing as the storyline begins and different family members are at war whilst others keep the home fires burning. Kate wants to find out who her biological parents are but can she find this information out with a strict home life and an even stricter Grandmother The Contessa. My only criticism is that I wanted more at the end of the book. Thanks to Juliet and her publisher. Thanks also to NetGalley

Honestly, I just found this kind of boring. The last 20-30% was the best part of the book, but even the reveals at the end were kind of anticlimactic and disappointing. I liked Kate as a character for the most part but found it hard to connect to the plot as a whole.

Thank you to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for the advanced readers copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. All thoughts are my own.

In this World War II historical novel, Juliet Greenwood weaves a tale of love, mystery, and art against the backdrop of war-torn England and the enchanting city of Venice. Kate Arden embarks on a journey to uncover her past, fuelled by a secret stash of drawings hidden within an old volume of poetry. These sketches lead her to Venice, where she hopes to find answers about her identity and the mother who abandoned her.

The premise of the book is captivating, drawing you into a world of intrigue and forgotten memories. As Kate unravels the mystery, we see her unwavering courage and determination. However, as Kate gradually distances herself from her aristocratic adoptive parents to aid war children and eventually settles in Italy, her persistent compliance becomes somewhat exasperating.

Peter struck me as a baffling presence in Kate’s life, his consistently icy attitude towards her remaining unexplained throughout the book. This left me questioning the reason behind his aloof demeanour and wanting clarity regarding his motivations.

Greenwood does bring Venice to life, however, evoking the rippling waterways, and the majestic cathedral dome, leaving you wanting to explore the enchanting city.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I usually enjoy historical fiction, but this one fell short for me. I was very distracted by the writing style and found it hard to follow. Some of the sentences were so long (a full paragraph) that I had to reread them multiple times to follow the purpose of the sentence. I did enjoy the scenery descriptions and this story makes me want to visit Venice even more!

Thank you to Net Galley and Storm Publishing for the ARC copy in exchange for this review!

A beautifully told story set during and just after WWII. Kate Arden always felt as though she didn't quite 'belong' at Arden House even though she was loved by her family. Having been brought to Arden House as a child, she always wondered about her past and her true parents. As a young woman she gradually uncovers various clues and hints to finding her mother, all while doing her bit to aid the war effort. Her journey leads her from Arden House down to Cornwall, from Naples to Sorrento and Venice. There's a very interesting twist in the end that made me sit up in surprise! Lovely writing full of beautiful descriptions of the landscapes and places.
Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book, the author was so good at setting the scenes of her locations and the story was well written with engaging and warm characters. I would absolutely read this author again and recommend. Many thanks

England 1941: Kate Arden has spent most of her life with her brothers and sisters in the family estate of Arden. She has always felt that she was an outsider, that her family was not really her family and when she discovers a secret stash of drawings hidden in an old book, her breath catches as she 'remembers' being torn from loving arms when she was a child. Kate has dreams of a time in Italy, of a villa with grape vines and the warmth of the love of a mother. Even in a time of war, she vows to go to Italy to find her true parents and to find out who she really is.

Kate discovers, through people who care for her, a part of her story...her dreams or memories make her determined to find out the truth. To help with the war effort, Kate, in the company of friends, travels with children orphaned and displaced by the bombing in London to the countryside in Cornwall. In the grounds of the castle where they are staying, Kate discovers a small, deserted cottage which gives her more clues to her past.

I loved this story by Juliet Greenwood. The family dynamic is interesting and encourages the reader to follow the dreams and hopes of not just one person, but several. I loved the characters, both good and not so good, the family mystery and Kate's journey to Cornwall and eventually to Italy.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this wonderful story prior to the book's release.

A really interesting read set in the 1940s with the main character, Kate, feeling she really doesn’t belong in the Arden family, but only having odd memories of her early childhood. This is such a nicely woven story, the descriptions of Italy during and immediately after WWII are very vivid and believable, as are the scenes set in England. Some of the plot lines felt a bit too much at times, but didn’t spoil my enjoyment of this book. Although the ending was obvious, it was the way the author got there that made it so enjoyable.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

A story of love - both beautiful and heartbreaking. A WWII memory comes to light. I enjoyed reading about the people involved. Such a great read.

It was a nice easy story, just a bit too predictable for me. I was not fully convinced by the characterization. Kate was a bit too negative about her place in her adopted family. It did not work with the apparent relationships she had with her siblings and step-mother. Repetitions of the same thoughts or events appeared a bit too often. I also wish we had been given more details about the work with the children. I found it interesting though to read about the archeological details.
I received a digital copy of this novel from NetGalley and I am leaving voluntarily an honest review.

Kate Arden's story is the second in Juliet's Shakespeare Sisters series. An artist who's been accepted by the Slade, but forbidden by her father to take up the place, Kate escapes to help evacuees and orphans in Cornwall. There, her childhood memories of the sea start to resurface, and she begins to discover the truth about her own heritage in Italy.

Fabulous story. Kate's a strong and very likeable character, and the friends she makes along the way are courageous - the sort you'd want having your back, too. I loved the scenes in Venice and St Ives in particular - Juliet's settings are so vivid that you really feel as if you're there. (And oh, the bombing in Birmingham was heartbreaking!)

Loved the way that Kate started discovering the mystery, too, through the volume of Shakespeare's sonnets that her mother left her. And your heart will break for Sophia.

Solid five stars.

Really
Enjoyed this fab read! Lots of different emotions .
Thank you net galley for the early read

I love books like this ~ someone who discovers a secret that challenges how they identify themselves!

First of all, THAT cover! Dare I say the best I’ve ever seen?!

Secondly, Greenwood’s ability to share her character’s journey was stellar. Kate Arden embarks on an emotional journey when uncovering a family secret. Greenwood carried her through the multitude of emotions after showing us how discombobulating the discovery was. Readers are aware of Kate processing the secret; dealing with the shame and anxiety and working through anger and denial. I loved that Greenwood allowed Kate space to realize the importance of not discounting her past while she was forging ahead with a new identity. Likewise, I appreciated the flip side. Reading about Sophia Armstrong's anguish and lack of choices was heartbreaking. Greenwood's ability to pull me into the story made all the difference in the world.

Greenwood had the perfect balance of history, mystery and romance. I was captivated by this story about unlocking secrets. I lost track of time and wasn’t aware of the 400 pages. I had to know the challenges in Kate’s background and why they occurred. Venice has a special place in my heart and I make sure we stop there every few years, so this made the story that much more appealing to me. I loved being transported back to the magical surroundings of La Serenissima.

Historical fiction lovers will want to put this story about what ‘finding yourself’ really means on your reading list this Spring!

I was gifted this copy by Storm Publishing and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

What a delightful book! So happy I have found this author and give thanks to the publisher and NetGallery for the advanced copy in return for an honest review! While I said delightful, it's a historical fiction/mystery/adventure that keeps you reading. It follows Kate's journey to find her mother through a difficult home life, a war plaguing the land and trying to find her true self. The pages turn themselves.

mystery meets historical fiction!! takes place is 1940s, and the author did a great job transporting the reader to that time!

I had to read this book in one sitting. I loved the strong female characters in this novel. It takes place as WWII unfolds. We read 2 stories taking place at this time in 2 different settings, England and Italy. The two story arcs will eventually be joined. The mystery of Kate, our main female character’, and her personal history drives the plot but all the supporting stories are gripping too. Kate’s drive for independence, her helping evacuee children near Stratford and Cornwall, and her siblings’ stories make for riveting reading.

This one ticked all the boxes for me. Historical fiction and an elusive mystery, set during and after World War 2., with a very likeable strong female character. Kate Arden doesn’t want to get married and take on that female role, she has painting in her heart. As her feelings of never quite belonging and her desire to find out more about her background strengthen, she accumulates clues, however, the start of the war impacts her life. The stories of her time looking after children who were bombed and evacuated were really interesting. After the war, the truth gradually comes out, despite the attempts of a couple of villains to thwart this. I enjoyed the characters and the way the pieces of the mystery fitted together, and I hope to read more by this author. Thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for an ARC to read and give an honest review of.