Girls of the Italian Resistance

A breathtaking story of friendship, love and impossible choices, perfect for fans of Fiona Valpy, Lucinda Riley, and All the Light We Cannot See! ✨ 'A compelling story in a beautiful setting' Ann Bennett 🇮🇹 Lake Maggiore, Northern Italy, 1943 🇮🇹 In a quiet lakeside hotel nestled in the shadow of the Italian Alps, seventeen-year-old Giulia Leone lives a life untouched by war – until the day ruthless German SS officers arrive in the village. Her father's hotel is no longer a place of peace, but a trap for the Jewish guests who have taken refuge there. Among them is Ester, the bright, spirited girl who has become Giulia's closest companion. When a daring plan to help Ester's family escape spirals into chaos, Giulia is the only one who gets away. Heartbroken but determined, she flees into the mountains and finds shelter with a band of courageous partisan fighters, led by Raffaele Ferrero, the hotel manager's son. Haunting memories of her family and best friend plague Giulia's every waking thought, and she knows she must risk everything to fight back. But as a wanted person, finding where her loved ones have been taken – let alone saving them – may be impossible… Inspired by true events, The Girl from Lake Maggiore is a moving and powerful story of resistance, resilience and the extraordinary lengths we go to for love. Praise for Siobhan Daiko: '...like meeting an old, dear friend after a long absence. What a poignant, emotional, thoroughly enjoyable read this was! ... such beautiful prose and such a brilliant story that completely transported me.' Renita D'Silva 'A beautiful story with a compelling historical storyline that you won't want to put down' Ann Bennett 'I was completely absorbed by … all the characters and intrigue' Angela Petch 'an exciting, impeccably-researched wartime adventure with lots of heart ... the perfect mixture of tragedy and happiness' Reader Review 'A poignant and emotionally charged novel that explores the human spirit's resilience in the face of adversity and I was hooked from start to finish' Reader Review 'So much heartache but alongside this the love of the people who did so much in WWII' Reader Review 'a powerful historical novel that I just could not put down' Reader Review

A heartbreaking tale from wartime Italy, based on a true story Lucia loved her brother Dinu to the depths of her soul, but she also worried about him. He was intelligent yet ambitious, resilient yet hot-headed, and there was a dark side to him that could lead him into terrible trouble one day. Sicily, 1943: Lucia and her twin brother Dinu have always been inseparable, but their bond is threatened when Gero, the son of close family friends in America, arrives in their village. Although she finds herself developing feelings for him, Lucia worries about Gero's dangerous connections and their influence on her brother. As the chaos of World War II closes in, Lucia must navigate love and loyalty to make a difficult choice. Will she risk that the consequences of her decision could bring untold horrors and affect her family for decades to come? 2005: When Jess inherits a baglio, an ancient feudal farmhouse in Sicily, from the grandmother she never knew, she's determined to uncover the truth about her family's hidden past. Following the death of her parents and on the brink of divorce, Jess travels to the island alone. There, with the help of a charming Sicilian, she embarks on a quest to unearth a web of long-buried secrets. But answers come at a price, and Jess must decide if she's ready to confront a truth that could change everything… Inspired by true events, this breath-taking novel reveals the hidden secrets of one Sicilian family across generations. Perfect for fans of Fiona Valpy, Kristin Hannah, and Kate Quinn, this is an unforgettable tale of love, loyalty, and sacrifice.Readers love Siobhan Daiko's wartime Italy novels: '...like meeting an old, dear friend after a long absence. What a poignant, emotional, thoroughly enjoyable read this was! ... such beautiful prose and such a brilliant story that completely transported me.' Renita D'Silva 'an exciting, impeccably-researched wartime adventure with lots of heart ... the perfect mixture of tragedy and happiness' Reader review 'A beautiful story with a compelling historical storyline that you won't want to put down' Ann Bennett 'I was completely absorbed by … all the characters and intrigue' Angela Petch 'A poignant and emotionally charged novel that explores the human spirit's resilience in the face of adversity and I was hooked from start to finish' Reader review 'So much heartache but alongside this the love of the people who did so much in WWII' Reader review 'a powerful historical novel that I just could not put down' Reader review

A tale of courage, loss and heart-wrenching redemption. 1944 Bologna, Italy, and the streets are crawling with German soldiers. Nineteen-year-old Leila Venturi is shocked into joining the Resistance after her beloved best friend Rebecca, the daughter of a prominent Jewish businessman, is ruthlessly deported to a concentration camp. 1981 Exchange student Rhiannon Hughes arrives in Bologna and meets Leila, her landlady. Soon, Rhiannon finds herself being drawn into a web of intrigue. Leila's nephew seems to be interested in a far-right group, but how is the nefarious leader connected to Leila? As dark secrets emerge from the past, Rhiannon is faced with a terrible choice. Will she take her courage into both hands and risk everything? Perfect for fans of Rhys Bowen, Fiona Valpy, and Victoria Hislop.Praise for Siobhan Daiko: 'I was completely absorbed by … all the characters and intrigue.' Angela Petch, bestselling author of The Tuscan Secret. 'This is a beautiful story with a compelling historical storyline that you won't want to put down.' Ann Bennett, bestselling author of The Orphan House. 'Siobhan Daiko will tug at your heartstrings, and leave you desperate for more.' The Coffee Pot Book Club. 'This was one of those I never want it to end books.' Goodreads Reviewer

From award-winning author Siobhan Daiko, comes a hauntingly epic read that will sweep you away to the beauty of the Italian Riviera. A story of heart-wrenching loss, uplifting courage, and secrets untold. When Gina Bianchi returns to the beautiful Italian resort of Portofino to attend her father's funeral, she is beset by vivid memories of World War 2, when she joined the Resistance, alongside her identical twin sister, Adele. In her childhood bedroom, Gina reads Adele's diary, left behind during the war. As Gina learns the shocking truth about her sister, she's compelled to face the harsh realities of her own past. For readers of Rhys Bowen, Fiona Valpy, and Victoria Hislop.What real readers are saying about The Girl from Portofino: "I was totally blown away." Netgalley reviewer "If you are after quality historical fiction, this author is someone whose books you should be reading." Goodreads reviewer "The writing was really good with well developed characters and a great storyline." Netgalley reviewer

From award-winning author Siobhan Daiko comes an epic novel of love, betrayal, and finding where you truly belong. 1943 Lidia De Angelis has kept a low profile since Mussolini's laws wrenched her from her childhood sweetheart. But when the Germans occupy Venice, she must flee the city to save her life. Lidia joins the partisans in the Venetian mountains, where she meets David, an English soldier fighting for the same cause. As she grows closer to him, harsh German reprisals and her own ardent patriotic activities threaten to tear them apart. Years later While sorting through her grandmother's belongings after her death, Charlotte discovers a Jewish prayer book, unopened letters written in Italian, and a fading photograph of a group of young people in front of the Doge's Palace. Intrigued by her grandmother's refusal to talk about her time in Italy, Charlotte travels to Venice in search of her roots. There, she learns not only the devastating truth about her grandmother's past, but also about her own... Perfect for readers of Rhys Bowen, Fiona Valpy and Victoria Hislop.What real readers are saying: '…a beautiful story with a compelling historical storyline that you won't want to put down.' Ann Bennett, bestselling author of The Orphan House. 'Siobhan Daiko will tug at your heartstrings, and leave you desperate for more.' The Coffee Pot Book Club. 'One of my absolute favourite books and a must read for those who love a great escape into historical fiction.' Goodreads Reviewer.