Hi, everyone!
Today I am sharing my Feature Post and Book Review for A SANTORINI SECRET by Rose Alexander on this Bookouture Books On Tour blog post.
Below you will find a book description, my book review, and the author’s bio and social media links. Enjoy!
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Book Description
Santorini, Greece, 1944. A village nestled in the mountains where children play together beneath the endless blue sky. A cottage once full of the laughter of family and the joy of a new baby. But when the Nazis arrive on the island, a devastating tragedy and an impossible choice will break this family apart…
Present day. Single mother Carrie arrives on the sun-drenched island of Santorini, her adored uncle Sol’s tattered sketchbook clutched to her chest. Heartbroken at his death, Carrie is certain Sol – who refused to speak about how he spent the war in occupied Greece – was hiding secrets all his life: and that the drawings he made of a striking young woman with wavy hair will hold the answers. Tucked away with the sketchbook was a beautiful diamond ring engraved in Greek, and Carrie cannot bear the thought that her uncle never had the chance to give it to his love.
Even as she explores the winding cobbled alleys Sol drew in his book, Carrie is filled with childhood memories. And asking around the close-knit locals, the elderly women Carrie meets speak of a brave young woman named Vassia, and a secret allied mission to rid their beautiful island of German troops. But when pressed, they refuse to say more…
Then she finds a letter written by Vassia herself. She’s shocked to read how Sol was left stranded, fighting for his life, and how Vassia risked everything to save him before a terrible betrayal tore them apart. When Carrie finally unravels the truth, the secrets will shatter the small community, and change the course of her life forever…
A Santorini Secret is an epic tale of love, loss and secrets in World War Two that will sweep you away to the hidden coves and sun-kissed beaches of Santorini.
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My Book Review
RATING: 4 out of 5 Stars
A SANTORINI SECRET by Rose Alexander is an emotional dual timeline mash-up of historical fiction and women’s fiction with elements of mystery and romance. Both the past and present timelines kept me in a state of suspense and turning the pages.
A small village on Santorini is occupied by the Nazis in 1944. The daughter of the mayor, Vassia, assists as a guide in a SBS (Special Boat Service) raid to help hinder the Nazis and aid the British. One of the British soldiers is left behind and Vassia risks all to help him.
In the present, Carrie is having a tough time with her finances and her sixteen-year-old daughter. She gets the opportunity to return to Santorini and besides just enjoying the vacation and reuniting with an old friend, she is searching for information about her Uncle Sol’s mysterious time with the SBS on Santorini and the beautiful young woman in his sketchbook. Will Carrie find the answers she is searching for?
I was surprised by so many of the twists and turns this story took, not only in the past but also the present timelines. I enjoyed the descriptions of Santorini in both timelines and was happy for a change of pace location during a WWII setting. This new-to-me author did a great job of pulling me into the emotional decisions and consequences of both the female protagonists in each timeline. They were both heartwarming and heartbreaking. My only disappointment was with the secret that changed Carrie’s and her daughter’s lives. For sixteen years of emotional turmoil, it was a reason that was trivial and should have been discussed much sooner as mature adults and made me think less of her. Overall though, this book was emotionally more than what I was expecting, and I need to check out other books by this author.
I recommend setting aside some time to enjoy this poignant historical fiction/women’s fiction mash-up.
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Author Bio
Rose Alexander has had more careers than she cares to mention and is currently a secondary school English teacher. She writes in the holidays, weekends and evenings, whenever she has a chance, although with three children, a husband, a lodger and a cat, this isn’t always as often as she’d like. She’s a keen sewist and is on a mission to make all her own clothes.
Social Media Links
Website: https://www.rosealexander.co.uk
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rosealexanderauthor
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/rose-alexander
Purchase Link
Amazon: https://geni.us/B0DQVJSKHXsocial
Bookouture Links
Sign up to be the first to hear about new releases from Rose Alexander here: https://bookouture.com/subscribe/rose-alexander/
You can sign up for all the best Bookouture deals you’ll love at: http://ow.ly/Fkiz30lnzdo
