It’s such a pleasure today to be joining Bookouture‘s Books-on-tour – and today, on the last day of the tour, I’m delighted to be sharing my review of A Santorini Secret by Rose Alexander, published for kindle (free via Kindle Unlimited) and in paperback on 25th February. My thanks to Bookouture for inviting me to join the tour and for my advance reading e-copy (provided via netgalley), and to Sarah Hardy for her ongoing support.
Having discovered her books with Under an Amber Sky, way back in 2017, I’m a particular fan of Rose’s wonderful writing – she uses her research so very well, and this was a particularly compelling dual time story with an unusual Montenegran wartime setting, and a superb read (you’ll find my review here). Her next book, Along the Endless River (published by Canelo) might just have been my favourite to date – set in the Amazon rainforest in the Victorian era, and with such strong female characters (you’ll find my review of that one here). And then, in June 2021, there was Out of the Mountain’s Shadow – set in Albania, an extraordinary story of courage, passion and loyalty, and the same wonderful storytelling (you’ll find my review of that one here). Her first book with Bookouture was The Lost Diary, an emotional and unforgettable wartime story – it was one of my 2023 Books of the Year, and you can read my review again here. And her last book was A Letter from Italy – wartime fiction with plenty of intrigue and more than a touch of romance, a really enjoyable read (you’ll find my review of that one here). And this time? It’s another dual time story, and we’re bound for Santorini…
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. Fans of Victoria Hislop, Fiona Valpy and The Letter won’t be able to put this beautiful book down.
The prologue to this book is set on Santorini in 1944, as a young woman, clearly in emotional turmoil, writes a letter that puts her own life in danger but might save the man she loves. It’s intense and gripping, quite beautifully written, and I was immediately hooked – and the dual-time story that followed was absolutely everything I hoped it would be.
In the present day, Carrie grasps the opportunity – an invitation from a friend – to spend time on Santorini to escape her problems. It’ll give her the opportunity to spend some quality time with her teenage daughter Nell, who’s been going off the rails a little, not helped by her problematically close relationship with her father Jack – and that’s a constant reminder of the betrayal that forced them apart. But Carrie does have fond memories of the island from a previous visit, a special relationship that was all too brief – although she knows there’s little chance of their paths crossing again. But she’s also a children’s author, and hopes that her Uncle Sol’s story might provide some much-needed inspiration. Since his death, she’s found his wartime sketchbook, with a drawing of a beautiful but unknown woman, and hopes to uncover their story – and when her mother also shares a ring he left, with a Greek inscription, that makes her even more fascinated.
In 1944, Santorini is under German occupation. Vassia is the daughter of the mayor of Vourvoulos, and the family – her parents, her brother and his wife – are trying to carry on with their usual everyday lives. Until, one night, they have a night-time visitor – one of a group of commandos from the Special Boat Service, seeking the help of local guides in carrying out one of their lightning raids. They also need supplies of food and drink brought to their base in a cave on the shore – and Vassia becomes part of that effort. But she also becomes drawn to one of the group – the quietest man, happy to talk, passing the time with his sketchbook in hand. Having also been involved in helping with the raid itself, which was only partially successful, she discovers that one of the group has been left behind – and when she finds it’s the man to whom she’s become increasingly close, and despite the mounting threat of reprisals against the local community, she risks her own safety to help him hide and to give him the support he needs while he attempts to secure his escape.
This book is storytelling at its very best – intense and compelling, a difficult time in the island’s history and a devastating personal story vividly brought to life alongside a present day story with plenty of drama and emotion of its own, the shifts between both stories particularly smoothly handled, with the central mystery around Sol’s time on the island tying them together. The historical thread is particularly moving. Vassia is a wonderfully drawn and very real and sympathetic character, showing exceptional bravery in ensuring the survival of the man she grows to love – the betrayal that follows, albeit for the strongest of reasons, is entirely heartbreaking. Their gentle romance is quite beautifully drawn, a love you can really feel – and there’s a lingering sadness in the present day that Sol ended his days alone. Carrie’s story, as she tries to uncover their story, has elements of unexpected romance too, beautifully handled – and plenty of well-written drama of its own.
A story of courage and love, filled with emotion, the most perfect setting, totally compelling and superbly told – and I have to say that I loved every single moment.
About the author
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.
Sign up to be the first to hear about new releases from Rose Alexander here.
You can sign up for all the best Bookouture deals you’ll love here.
