Book excerpt: Italy, 1938 - Elisa clings to Leo in the shadow of the Montevino mountains, the call to war ringing in her ears. They hatch a plan to wed in secret before Leo flees to the woods to join the resistance, and vow to find each other again when the war is over. But history has other plans... Texas, present day - Callie Di Giacomo, a waitress in a small town, is still reeling from the discovery that she is adopted when she arrives in Montevino in search of answers about her real family - the keys to the stunning hillside villa she just inherited clutched tightly in her hand. In her birth mother's wardrobe grief-stricken Callie finds a diary belonging to a woman named Elisa Stella, one of Italy's first ever female students of medicine, wrapped in pale blue ribbon. Page by page, Callie is swept away by Elisa's story, increasingly certain that their lives - and their fates - are somehow connected, and that the truth about her family is hidden somewhere within the crinkled yellow pages. But just when all the pieces look like they are falling into place, a devastating betrayal in the diary unlocks a heart-breaking secret about who Callie's mother really is. Can Callie, like Elisa, find the light in her darkest moment and use it to spark a new future? Inspired by true events, this unforgettable story of love, loss and resilience by the author of million-copy Amazon No 1. bestseller, Watch Over Me, is perfect for anyone who loved The Letter, The Tattooist of Auschwitz or The Dressmaker's Gift. Readers adore The Italian Villa 'Mesmerising! I was totally hooked... absolutely perfect and just flowed endlessly with such ease. I really can't praise this OUTSTANDING book enough!' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars 'I fell in love with this book! It was beautiful and captivating from start to finish. I loved Callie right from the beginning, she is such a relatable character. You laughed with her and cried for her throughout... Absolutely loved this entire book!' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars 'From the moment I opened this book I was hooked. This is a beautifully written story with characters that tug at your heartstrings from the second they're introduced. You can't help but fall in love with them and the tiny village in Italy where it takes place... you feel as though you're really there... I devoured this book in no time... you can't wait to turn the page to find out what happens next...which is why I finished this book at 3 in the morning!... I was so enthralled from the very first page!' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars