An Italian Island Secret by Victoria Springfield
An
Italian Island Secret
By
Victoria Springfield
SUMMARY:
Escape to a beautiful Italian island with this wonderfully
romantic story, threaded with secrets and intrigue. It’s time to return to Ischia.
Alessia knows her
grandmother grew up on the beautiful Italian island off the coast of Naples.
But Ornella seldom talks about her life there – or why she never went back. So
Alessia is amazed when Ornella reveals that, in the months before she left
Ischia, she had worked on the set of a famous 1950s movie filmed on the island.
Is there a link between the film set and the tragic death of Ornella’s teenage
sister? Ornella has kept her past – and the heart-wrenching promise she made –
a secret for over sixty years. She has tried not to think about the love she
gave up. But now, perhaps the truth should finally be revealed...Travelling to
Ischia together, Alessia falls in love with the utterly captivating island. Meeting
handsome journalist Roberto helps her dig deeper into her family’s past, too.
Just what happened to Ornella’s sister? What heart-wrenching secret is her
grandmother hiding? This summer, can Alessia and Ornella put the past to rest
and find the happy ending they both deserve? A wonderfully escapist, romantic
and compelling story of secrets and sacrifice, love and loyalty, that is
perfect for fans of Karen Swan, Louise Douglas and Rosanna Ley
MY REVIEW:
Signora Springfield has done
it again! She’s given me another Italian island to explore sprinkled with Hollywood
glamour. What is not to love here? The
allure of Italian islands embodies glamour through their breathtaking natural
beauty, with crystal-clear waters and dramatic coastlines. The charming towns
and luxurious resorts inspire a sense of wonder, while their rich history and
renowned high-end cuisine reflect a lifestyle of elegance. Islands like Capri,
Sardinia, and Ischia where this wonderful story is set draw in sophisticated
visitors, offering a unique sense of exclusivity that captivates the spirit.
Italy offers a stunning
backdrop that has brought countless stories to life on the big screen and Hollywood
stars were like modern-day legends, almost like deities, who seem to rise above
the everyday world. Their incredible lives, filled with beauty and glamour,
inspire us to dream big and reach for our own version of greatness!
‘Ornella
mentioned her childhood on the Italian island of Ischia so infrequently that
Alessia treasured every word. She perched on the edge of Nonna’s second most
comfortable armchair, like the robin that sat quietly beneath the wooden table
on her patio, waiting for a few precious crumbs to fall.’
The author sets the scene not
only by watching a movie, which is travelogue escapism but there is an
immediate hook. What happened in Ornella’s past to make her leave and not talk
about the past? The reader is invested. Something happens to conjure up
memories for Ornella. The death of iconic movie star, Patrizia Manfredi, who
had embodied glitz and glamour, had made a film on the island of Ischia. Both
Patrizia and her co-star Maurilio Bellarmino had faded into obscurity not long
afterwards.
Will Ornella return? Will we
learn what happened? This is where the author uses the great tool of suspense
to make big promises to the reader. She sets reader expectations by controlling
information. How much will be revealed, when and how will it be revealed?
Of course, I want to pack a
bag and return to Ischia with Ornella and Alessia. Rather fortunately for the
reader, Alessia loses her job as a seamstress in a retro 1950s alterations shop
called Gladder Rags. The tickets are booked.
‘Alessia wheeled
their two suitcases onto the Naples to Ischia ferry. It pulled away from the
port. A frothy white wake trailed behind them through the deep turquoise sea.’
For Alessia, this is a
journey of discovery and excitement. For Ornella, this is like opening
Pandora’s box.
‘Ornella had
moved to England but the physical distance between her and the island had not
lessened her loss. It was always with her. Her grief could not be parcelled up
and left behind. Carmella’s fingers strayed to the small gold crucifix around
her neck. The population of Ischia had faced wars, earthquakes and mudslides.
She was only facing her past.’
Once on the island, she
meets an old friend, Carmelinda, a link to the past who invites her and Alessia
to stay with her and her granddaughter, Christina, on the verge of getting
married to the rather narcissistic handsome Gianluca. The author introduces
characters gradually throughout the story which I feel is a very clever technique
that creates intrigue and allows for deeper character development as the
narrative unfolds. We also meet a young journalist, Roberto, who is on the
island to write a story about Maurilio and his young wife Sonia, a rising star
in the movie industry. Inevitably, he is a love interest placed by the author
to evoke an
emotional response from the reader, as if we need another one! We also
meet Anna, the recluse who suffered terrible burns as a child when her mother
left a pan of hot oil in the kitchen and somehow Anna pulled over the pan.
The unfolding of the characters is cleverly described using flashbacks back to the 1950s, bringing depth
and complexity to the story, and the love interests of the movie stars deepen the character dynamics and create layers
of intrigue. What happened, and what is the connection between the actors,
Ornella and Anna? It’s a page-turner, it's gripping, exciting
and very compelling.
‘You’ve never
been a good liar, Alessia. I wish I could say the same. It’s been hard concealing
the truth, it's weighed me down like two heavy shopping bags pulling at my
neck. I did what I had to do, God forgive me.’
Why does exploring our
secrets often feel so threatening? When we try to talk about them, it can bring
up a defensive reaction, a protective layer over our most vulnerable aspects.
Secrets shield our deepest insecurities, and it’s completely understandable to
feel hesitant about delving into these areas. We may worry about the emotions
that can surface when we expose our vulnerabilities. This fear often arises
from not fully grasping the situation and how we truly feel about it. It's
natural to be unclear about why some things feel so important to keep hidden.
Why I recommend
this book
It will make you laugh, feel quite emotional at times and will most certainly give you that feel-good factor long after the last page is turned. It will leave you smiling and with a warm glow. The love interests in the story are relatable and certainly not predictable. Cupid can strike at any time, regardless of gender, age and sexual orientation. It gives the reader hope that they too, will be able to find love!
About the author - Victoria’s
feel-good books follow unforgettable characters of all ages as they deal with
love, loss, friendship and family secrets. Readers can feel the sunshine. ‘It
does what it says on the tin’ which colloquially means this is an accurate
description of its qualities. True!
I really like the author's
writing style and the knack she has for drawing you into the landscape with
beautiful imageries. The setting is more than just a background; it shapes
every event that unfolds. It feels alive, pulling you, the reader along with
it. Whether you control the place, or it guides you, the authentic sense of
place empowers her to craft a truly absorbing novel. In her acknowledgements, the
author talks about her research of biographies and magazine articles and her
love of the bygone glamorous days of Hollywood movies. The setting on the island is perfect and is a heady
combination of celebrity and style.
I love the author’s authenticity
in both describing an Italian way of life as well as the way in which she shows
her character's ability to be and show their vulnerability in front of others. The description of scents which permeate the
story is quite superb. The human sense of smell is intimately connected with
memory, which makes it a useful tool for writers. Scent is an incredibly
evocative detail to explore in creative writing, but too often writers neglect
the possibilities that scent descriptions open in terms of establishing setting
and emotion in their work.
‘A light summer
breeze moved the edge of the curtain by the half-open French doors, bringing in
the scent of next door’s newly cut lawn’
‘Exotic
turquoise and pink cascading orchids hung like Christmas garlands from the
branches above Ornella’s head, perfuming the greenhouse’s humid air. Lily pads
of all sizes were dotted over the surface of the pond. One stood out from
amongst the others, its huge green leaves large enough to hold a small child,
reminding her of the illustrations she’d read to her daughter Silvana, when she
was young.
I found the book thoroughly enjoyable
and thought-provoking with a really positive theme of embracing change and
leaving the past behind. The book will certainly leave you smiling and with a
warm glow; it is uplifting and heartwarming. It's a tale of family,
friendships, and relationships—showcasing love and reminding us that change can
often be the best thing that ever happens, even if it's not always easy to see
at the time. It also addresses the theme of loss.
BOOK BLURB:
Published by Boldwood Books
(Jan 2025)
Purchase Link -https://mybook.to/anitalianislandsecret
AUTHOR BIO
Victoria Springfield writes
contemporary ‘wish you were here’ evocative women’s fiction set in Italy. Her
feel-good books follow unforgettable characters of all ages as they deal with
love, loss, friendship and family secrets. Readers can feel the sunshine!
Social Media
Links
Facebook:
VictoriaSpringfieldAuthor
Twitter: @VictoriaSwrites
Instagram: @victoriaswrites
Comments
Post a Comment