A heartbreaking wartime promise. A family torn apart. A letter that could change everything.
1945. The tiny bundle in her arms barely stirs as she hurries out into the dark street. Remembering Villa Teresa, a thousand miles away in sun-soaked Italy, Betty thinks of the letter she had to write to stop the bombing and save Gianni. Instead it cost her everything... And she will never see her beloved again. Now, letting her little baby go will tear her apart, but she knows it is the only way to keep her child safe...
Naples, present day. With nothing but the name of crumbling palazzo Villa Teresa scribbled on the page, Sadie clutches the scrap of a letter she desperately hopes will help her find her birth mother. It's her only clue to go on. But with the heady scent of fresh lemons carrying on the breeze, and handsome local guide Luca by her side, she knows in her bones this is the right place.
Then, lost in the local newspaper archives, the pair makes a shocking discovery about the woman Sadie believes is her mother... how she did something terrible during the war. Shattered, Sadie must ask herself if she should continue searching for a woman who did her best to disappear.
Deep down, Sadie knows she can't give up. But what really happened in that beautiful palazzo all those years ago? What led a mother to give away her baby? And will uncovering this devastating secret destroy Sadie's heart for good?
A Letter from Italy is an emotional and gripping tale about a tragic love affair in World War Two and how a daughter lost for decades finally follows her heart home. Perfect for fans of The Letter, Fiona Valpy and Angela Petch.
What readers are saying about Rose Alexander:
'Wow... Hit me like a sledgehammer... Devastating... Gut-wrenching... The most beautiful... The most heartwarming... A privilege to read.' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'Beautiful... unlike anything I've ever read before... Entirely consumed me from beginning to end... heart-breaking... powerful... my book of the year. Stunning, and quite unforgettable.' Being Anne
'I absolutely loved this book... One of the best historical novels that I've read... Beautiful... Perfect.' Monika Reads, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'Took me on a rollercoaster of emotions, and I couldn't put it down... beautiful and emotional... kept me hooked from start to finish... Captivating and heart-warming.' Kelly Lacey, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐