The Lost Garden by Angela Petch

 

Italy, 1930s. Tina lives in the crumbling castle of Montesecco with only her strict father and their maid, Allegra, for company. She’s never been allowed to ask questions about her mother, who died in childbirth. But the day Tina discovers a hidden, crumbling door, everything changes.

Inside is an overgrown garden. Ivy and roses adorn the stone walls. Fresh water springs from a fountain and the scent of wild herbs fills the air. How did she never know this beautiful place existed? Excitedly begging Allegra for answers, the elderly woman’s face turns pale. ‘You must never mention this to your father. It’s not safe. You’ve found your mamma’s garden.’

The Count believes Tina’s mother died because of the garden: but Allegra refuses to say more. Certain she can feel her mother watching over her, Tina secretly tends to the garden herself. And when war breaks out, Tina’s encounters with local resistance fighters mean the garden becomes a place of refuge, a place of hope – and a place of great danger when Tina must prove where her loyalties lie once and for all…

Will Tina ever discover the truth about her mother? Or was the garden, with all its secrets, never meant to be disturbed?

Amazon 

 

About The Author

I live in the beautiful Italian Apennines for several months each year. A truly inspiring location.

My love affair with Italy was born at the age of seven when I moved with my family to Rome where we lived for six years. My father worked for the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and he made sure we learned Italian and visited many places during that time.

Later on I studied Italian at the University of Kent at Canterbury and afterwards worked in Sicily, where I met my husband. His Italian mother and British father met in Urbino in 1944 and married after a war-time romance.

I wanted to write my first novel "The Tuscan Secret" not only for my amazing mother-in-law, Giuseppina, who sadly died in 2024, but also to make people aware of the courage of the resistance fighters and the generous hospitality shown by the poorest of families, including relatives of our Italian neighbours in our corner of war-torn Tuscany.

This first novel is a story about ordinary people who lived through extraordinary times. (Please note it is a revised version of indie-published "Never Forget" and "Tuscan Roots"). I was subsequently signed by wonderful BOOKOUTURE and the new title is "The Tuscan Secret" and has more tension and intrigue. I am so proud to be a part of this publishing "family", who have patiently helped me polish the original. It is available on Amazon and reached bestseller standard along with all my other books since published with Bookouture. I am finishing an eighth book at the moment. Watch this space!

 

My Review

This is the story of a girl that grew up motherless, in a crumbling castle in Italy. Thank goodness a friend of her mother's is the housekeeper, Allegra is there for Tina.
We meet this family when the country of Italy has joined forces with Germany, and Tina's father is in the thick of things. Of course, this is WWII time, and things go from bad to worse.
This is such a hard time here, and we are there as some resist, and give the ultimate. A very emotional story, some with such big hearts, and others whom betray their friends.
This read highlights Italy, and shows the heart of those that stood all along for the what was right, and I loved the sacrifices made here.
I did love the last chapter and thank the author for that!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Bookouture, and was not required to give a positive review.