Sheer enjoyment from beginning to end… and isn’t it lovely when you feel you can start a review with words like that? I always think there’s a particular skill in writing the perfect dual time novel – both storylines equally engaging, characters you connect with, none of that painful wrenching when you move from one thread to the other – and everything about this book was quite perfectly managed. I sat down to read it late one morning, planning to just make a start, get on with other things in the afternoon – instead I found it totally impossible to put down, read it in one glorious sitting, and knew I’d read something very special indeed.

I knew absolutely nothing about Albania’s history during the Second World War (or, indeed, about the country and its people in the present day – I’m not sure I’ve ever read a novel set there before), and the fact that the historical story is based on well researched real-life stories of exceptional bravery and kindness made this book all the more enthralling. I was as intrigued as young Bekim seeing the strangely dressed people arriving on the quayside at Durrësi, until then largely untouched by the approach of war – they are Austrian Jewish refugees, fleeing in the wake of Kristallnacht, hoping Albania might be a stepping stone to a life of safety in America.

Bekim’s family have very little, but live by the lore of the Kanun which instructs that guests are next to God and must be protected at all costs, together with the paramount importance of “besa” (to keep the promise). He’s enchanted by young Hannelore, with her chestnut curls, and vows he’ll make her his wife – but as he’s only ten, that will have to wait a while. As the years pass, there are dramatic changes to his life and country – first the Italians, but then the occupation by the Nazis, bringing a massively increased level of threat for the Jewish guests and those who protect them. We learn about the partisans – Bekim particularly idolises his Uncle Altin, one of their number, who gave him his treasured knife – and as he grows and his affection for Hannelore deepens, he’s finally called upon to be a man and lead them on a journey fraught with danger to a place of greater safety.

In the contemporary thread, Ruth finds herself jobless and alone, taking an extended holiday in Southern Italy to lick her wounds and contemplate the future. She’s befriended by Zac, an Albanian businessman long resident in Italy, who shares his father Bekim’s story – and when he’s called home because of his father’s illness, she travels with him, drawn by the opportunity to see the country as well as trying to resolve the mystery of some significant missing “treasure” that his father is desperate to reunite with its rightful owner before he dies. Both storylines – historical and contemporary – are perfectly wrapped around each other, with Ruth’s adventures later taking centre stage as she finds herself in considerable danger when she stumbles across the darker elements of modern Albania.

Bekim tells his own story, and his voice is that of a child becoming a man – he’s exceptionally likeable (he certainly won my heart) and his voice is quite wonderfully consistent and sustained. But the compelling and all-consuming story and Bekim himself certainly aren’t the only reasons why I loved this book. It’s a perfect introduction to a country and people largely shrouded in mystery – the descriptions are quite wonderful, entirely transporting you to its unfamiliar surroundings while making you feel part of the twists and turns of the story, and the meticulous research that lies behind it all is amply evident and so well used to bring the settings and atmosphere to life.

I’m rarely a fan of the metronomic alternation of past and present, and the author doesn’t do that – the book’s construction is more fluid, following the separate threads for several chapters when the unfolding story demands it, and that was something I really enjoyed. The characterisation is really excellent, and the whole book perfectly paced – gentle at times (particularly in the present day), tense and gripping when danger escalates in either storyline – and the author’s emotional touch throughout is quite superb. I really didn’t want the book to end – but its conclusion was everything I wanted it to be, leaving me with both a tear in my eye and a smile on my face.

I really can’t praise this book enough – an extraordinary story of courage and bravery, of passion and loyalty, a tribute to the experience of a people about whom I knew shamefully little, and storytelling of the highest order. This will be one of my books of the year – and I recommend it very highly.

Fantastic read, dual timeline and history as well. Not to deep but you get to know the true meaning of life. Very well written and I can recommend this book. 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and publisher for this ARC

This is a Women's Fiction/Historical Fiction. There is two timelines in this book. The first timeline is 2019 told by Ruth while in Italy on vacation and the second timeline is 1939 told from Bekim in Albania. I have to say this is one of the best World War II Historical Fiction books I have read. I have not read any others that takes place in Albania. I loved all the characters in the book, and I feel this book is really well written. I think the timelines was handle very well, and it was easy to follow each of the timelines. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher or author (Rose Alexander) via NetGalley, so I can give honest review about how I feel about this book. I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.

Thanks go to the publisher and Net-Galley for the complimentary digital copy of Out of the Mountain’s Shadow by Rose Alexander. I voluntarily agreed to read and review this book prior to publication. My opinions are my own, and nothing has influenced my rating.

Out of the Mountain’s Shadow is a well written novel with engaging characters and an emotionally charged plot. This book is written in dual timelines, one in 2019, and the other in WWII Albania. I thoroughly enjoyed this aspect of the book.

Ruth is the main character in the story set in 2019 in southern Italy. She’s on holiday where she meets Zak and agrees to help him solve a mystery for his dying father. I enjoyed her character a great deal. Her caring ways with her landlord’s young son stole my heart, and her determination to find Bekim’s first love made me love her even more.

Bekim is the main character in the story set in war-torn Albania and follows him from a young boy when he befriends Hannelore, a young Jewish child. As the war is fought around them, he falls in love while his family hides her family to keep them safe from the Natzi soldiers. He becomes a resistance fighter and fights to win his country’s freedom.

There are dual love stories in this book. Zak and Ruth are well matched, and I enjoyed their relationship a great deal. Then Bekim and Hannelore are wonderful. My heart wept for them when Hannelore leaves Albania bound for America.

This is a very emotional book, and it shows the stark reality of the brutal occupation of Albania by Natzi Germany. I loved learning about the resistance fighters and the fierce battle to protect their country.

If you enjoy historical fiction with amazing characters and an intriguing plot, then you will love Out of the Mountain’s Shadow. This is the first book I’ve read by Ms. Alexander but it will not be the last. Happy reading!

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

A dual timeline read.

It’s 1939: and war is on. Bekim’s family in Albania, are having to take in a Jewish family who are running from Nazi Austria.

It seems that the war will change his life on ways he couldn’t have imagined, as Bekim is falling In love with Hannelore, trying to do whatever he can to keep her safe. But will he or what he’s doing be enough?

It’s 2019, Ruth, who had to take redundancy, which was a shock to her, she’s taking a long holiday in Italy, where she makes friends with Zak. At the time of dying his father asks them both to solve a mystery, one from his past, Ruth jumps at the chance. Now they’re making a Journey through through Albania,

They try to find the hidden sacred artefacts, which were hidden in mountains when the war was on.

At first, I would like to thank Netgalley and Canelo for allowing me to review this book. Keep in mind that my review, however, is my true opinion on this book.

“Out of the Mountain's Shadow” by Rose Alexander is a beautiful and interesting historical fiction.


Albania in 1938. This is where the story begins. Then, the story heads to Italy in 2019, and the story goes back and forth between these two ages and countries.

The element of historical fiction works out well in the book. We hear about World War II, and the effects in Albania, when the war first broke out. I have not read any books set in Albania before this one, so this was a very unique setting for me to read about. I did, however, love the setting and thought it was a very interesting and good choice to place the story there.

Rose Alexander uses lots of details in her writing, which I love! You can definitely picture everything that is described.

This book is capturing by first glance. The cover of the book draws you in, and the incredible language keeps you reading.

At the same time, this book is emotional and beautiful.

If you love historical fiction and books about World War II, “Out of the Mountain's Shadow” should be mandatory for you to read!

I love historical fiction, amongst my favourite authors are Diney Costeloe and I think this book by Rose Alexander is for sure a book for people loving Diney’s books. The story alternates between 2019 and the period between 1939 and 1945 in which we follow Bekim, his family and the Frankl’s, Hannelore’s family.

The tiny minus I can say is that I did not find it that logical that you give a book, or a stack of papers with a life-story, written by your dad to somebody you have just met. But that does not change how I felt when reading about this country, Albania, which has been closed to the rest of the world for so long. Albania helping a lot of Jews in WW2 and being very humble about this. Bekim’s story is a compilation of stories you can read on the website of Yad Vashem about BESA which is a code of honor the Albanians have.

Alternating between Bekim’s story and Ruth and Zak in the present is a perfect mix. Zak being Bekim’s son living in Italy for a mere thirty years, meeting Ruth who is staying in an apartment just up the road where he lives. Zak giving Ruth the life-story of his dad and Ruth, as a former investigation journalist, is totally engrossed in the story of Bekim and Hannelore. Of course she says yes to Zak when he asks Ruth to accompany him to Albania, where she also meets his parents.

I loved how the story ended and find the mix of fiction and facts perfectly done!

C = 9 | A = 8 | W = 8 | P = 8 | I = 9 | L = 8 | E = 9 | Score 8.43 = 4 stars

Another FANTASTIC dual timeline historical fiction!

This one is unique because it is set in Albania in the 1939 timeline and Italy in the 2019 timeline. I’ve never read a book set in Albania before and I learned so much about their customs and how war affected this country and its citizens. The author’s meticulous research is deftly incorporated into the story and it never feels like an info dump. She is able to teach us about Albania through the protagonist as he helps his refugee friend blend and fit in to her strange, new surroundings. Her rich, detailed descriptions will enable readers to experience a new country as if they were travelling with the characters.

In 1939, Hannelore and her Jewish family had fled Austria and arrived as refugees in Albania. While she’s out playing one day, she meets 11-year-old Bekim, who is instantly enamored with her.

In Albania, it is customary to offer guests loyalty and hospitality and guarantee their safety. Once an Albanian has given a guest his word, his ‘besa,’ he must live up to it. It’s this tradition that contributed to giving Jews from throughout Europe safe refuge during WW2. What starts out as Bekim’s besa towards Hannelore’s family, develops into love as he does everything in his power to keep them safe.

This dovetails expertly with the 2019 timeline. Ruth is on holiday in Italy and meets Zak and learns about his father’s experience during the war. In the process of getting him closure, a romance blossoms as Zak takes her to his Albanian homeland. In both stories, characters were enriched by putting other’s needs first.

I had read Under an Amber Sky by the same author and loved her writing style so much that I couldn’t wait to read this unique historical fiction. It did not disappoint. You’ll want to broaden your perspective on WW2 historical fiction and add to your knowledge of Albania with this easy, informative read.

Out of the Mountain's Shadow
Rose Alexander

Five Stars⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Another emotional, exhausting and facinatinting book. For much of the book, I felt like I was reading two books, albeit two gripping, and interesting stories, tie in together in the end in a beautiful way.

The story starts with Ruth, who is on holiday in Italy after being “let go” from her job as a news presenter in London. All she wants to do is rest and relax and figure out what to do next. She’s booked to spend two months in a seaside village in Southern Italy, her only plans are to relax. There she meets Zak, a friend of the family who lets out her cottage, his good looks and easygoing charm are plenty to keep her intrigued, and his fathers story of growing up in Albania, during the war, gets her investigative nature back up and running.

The secondary story takes place in Albania in 1939 and is written from Bekim’s point of view, starting from when he turned 11 years old. When Jewish immigrants move to his poor fishing village, him and his family go to extraordinary lengths to protect them from the war.

These stories are powerful, gripping, and emotional. It’s another look at the horrors of World War II and how simple ordinary people went to great lengths to protect those that were being persecuted.

The characters are unique and well developed. The writing is descriptive, but with good pacing to move the story along and kept me turning the pages.

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.

I highly recommend this book for a look into the horrors of war, and the comfort of those that help and protect those that are under persecution.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Outstanding - the best book I have read in a long time. Before reading this book I knew nothing about the history of Albania but learnt from reading this novel and it has instilled me to find out more. The characters were all very likeable. I enjoy books which switch between the present and the past which this novel followed. All too often I am disappointed with the ending of a book but this was not so. I will look into reading others by the same author and look to follow future publications. Well done and thank you.

This was my first book by this author, It was pretty enjoyable. I would give this book a 3.5 star rating! It was a pretty Quick and easy read!

With grateful thanks to netgalley and Rose Alexander for an arc in return for an honest opinion.
Firstly I have to say my first book by this author and what a revelation.
Out of the mountains shadow is a tale of courage hope and love its quite a Harrowing journey, and I'm do delighted to have had the privilege to be on it Albania always mesmerized me growing up, as so little was known in Scotland about it and by reading this beautifully written story I actually understand so much more.
This book has been exacuted with such fine detail and the characters play there parts so well I have absolutely nothing but 5⭐ praise for this book
Thank you❤