The Italian Ballerina by Kristy Cambron is a beautiful, well researched dual time novel. this book was based on actual events that took place during WW2 in Italy. I loved the story once I figured out the various time lines and places. I highly recommend The Italian Ballerina.

So brew up some coffee and maybe grab a few biscotti, and a box of Kleenex and settle in for a great read.

I was given a copy of this book with no expectations. All thoughts are my own.

My favorite trope of historical fiction! Those that have seen my NetGalley shelf or reviews know I am obsessed with dual timelines.
This storyline was one I hadn’t really read about before. The way this American ballerina had to flee but also how are helped save as many as she could. And how that came to play out in the present. Good writing, good story.

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by NetGalley.

I can't help it--I loved this book. The characters were so engaging and so well crafted that I fell in love with them. This being a WWII story, there are still moments of heartbreaking sadness, but it is also a story of hope and healing.

The narrative style is a little tricky to figure out with this one, as it contains two primary timelines, one historical and the other contemporary, with the historical varying between two different times during/after the war. There are also multiple points of view throughout, so be prepared to get to know multiple people at multiple times.

That said, I would 100% read this book again. Once I got used to the narrative style, I was completely riveted and could not put it down. It is a story that made me feel deeply, and left me believing in the goodness of others. The characters made the story come alive. The prose is beautifully written, and the story poignant, and I felt like I was almost a part of it.

I would recommend this to fans of historical and contemporary alike (while being aware that the multiple timelines and POVs does mean this takes a minute to get acclimated to). Particularly if you enjoy WWII fiction, you should give this one a try.

**I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I also listened to the book on Audio, via an app I subscribe to with my own funds.

The Italian Ballerina was a fabulous story. It's a split time novel set in 1943 and in present day.
I really liked this story. Historical fiction is a wonderful way to learn about hidden gems of history that you may know know. The way the author weaved the present and the past together create a compelling story.

I didn't know much about this "disease" and how it saved tons of Jewish people. It was well portrayed and I learned a lot.
I liked the family heirloom aspect of this as well. I always like a good mystery.

I recommend this book to my family and friends.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the publisher. I also purchased a copy for myself. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

THE ITALIAN BALLERINA

The Italian Ballerina is a dual timeline story set in the current day and in WWII. It centers around an actual event that occurred during the war on Tiber Island, a small island on the Tiber River in the middle of Rome. During the brutal fighting in Italy during the later years of the war, administrators in the Fatebenefratelli Hospital and friars in the San Giovanni Calibita Church, provided sanctuary for Jewish people during the Gestapo roundup of the Jewish Ghetto. They devised a clever deception called Syndrome K involving a fantasy pandemic complete with a quarantine unit, keeping the Nazis fearful and distant.

In present time, Delaney Coleman returns home to Starlight, Indiana after the death of her Grandfather Courtney Coleman. In settling his estate, a conflict arises between the family and Calla Santini, a mysterious elderly Italian woman over a little suitcase dating back to the 1940s. To investigate this odd request, Delaney travels to the Villa Adriano Trivoli in Rome, partially through the encouragement of the old woman’s grandson Matteo.

While in Rome, as Delaney and Matteo piece together how their families are connected, their grandparents’ roles in the WWII Tiber Island plot are revealed.

I really enjoyed this part historical fiction, part romance story. It involved bravery and growth of character in its telling. It was for the most part pleasant and hopeful. Because of the changing timelines and locations, it is helpful to note the place and date at the beginning of each chapter to avoid a bit of confusion.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Cristy Cambron, and Thomas Nelson of HarperCollins Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this book.

"The Italian Ballerina" by Kristy Cambron is a historical novel that dances its way through time and art. While it has its moments of elegance, it doesn't quite hit all the right notes.

One of the strengths of the book is its vivid portrayal of historical settings and the world of ballet. Cambron's writing brings to life the enchanting world of 18th-century Italy and the artistry of ballet. You can almost feel the passion and dedication of the characters in their pursuit of dance.

The dual timeline, which weaves between the past and the present, adds an interesting layer to the narrative. It offers a glimpse into the lives of two women connected by their love for ballet, and how their stories intersect across time.

However, the pacing of the book can be a bit uneven. At times, the story feels slow, and it might take a while for things to pick up. This inconsistency in pacing can disrupt the overall reading experience.

While the historical aspects of the novel are well-researched, some readers may find the characters a bit underdeveloped. It can be challenging to fully invest in their journeys, and their motivations may not always be clear.

The prose in "The Italian Ballerina" is elegant and well-crafted, which adds a touch of sophistication to the storytelling.

In conclusion, "The Italian Ballerina" is a decent historical novel that shines in its depiction of ballet and historical settings. However, it struggles with pacing and character development. It's a book that may appeal to those with an interest in dance and history but might leave others wanting a more engaging and well-rounded narrative.

I must admit, I am late in writing this review. I read the book a few months back and can't recall many of the details. I can tell you the feelings and memories I have, which sometimes - when you can actually remember a book months later that is a good sign.

This is a book that leans more to the historical fiction and lighter on the romance, no chili peppers here. We jump back and forth between present day and the past in Italy as you come to see how all the modern day characters are really intertwined, based on the choices of the past.

I enjoyed learning more of how people placed in the horrible circumstances of WWII were able to use their wits, their expertise and their reputation in order to protect the marginalized - may we take those lessons from the past and be prepared to implement them now. The idea of a mysterious Syndrome K helping protect the helpless led me down another rabbit hole in history and I always appreciate a book that leads me to want to learn more.

It was a well written piece, pulling together an English Ballerina, US soldiers and an Italian Jewish girl to tell a story and demonstrate how the small and large actions of the past can really impact the future.

Love the split timeline and how the story is so poignantly intertwined. Feels like a dance of words culminating in a beautiful final performance.

A wonderful historical story, full of rich historical details and in a beautiful setting. I enjoyed this story and look forward to reading more by the author.

Beautifully written. Kristy Cambron does a phenomenal job weaving this story about the harshness of war and the holocaust. I loved the side stories and how well she flipped between past and present. Highly recommend!

There were so many things that had me excited to pick up this book and start reading. First of all, I typically love WWII historical fiction books. And I have loved previous books by Kristy Cambron. However, this book was a big disappointment to me. The constant moving around in time between chapters was very confusing. While the book did not really appeal to me, I was interested in learning about “Syndrome K.” This was something I had not read about in any of the other books which I have read about this era. The use of this fake illness to help protect Jewish people during WWII was amazing. I did not connect with the characters and I had to make myself continue picking up the book and reading one more chapter. There are plenty of positive reviews, though, so I would encourage you to give this one a chance and see if it appeals to you.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

For more reviews, please visit my blog at: https://www.msladybugsbookreviews.com/. Over 1000 reviews posted!

With beauty and clarity, Kristy Cambron has penned another inspiring and unforgettable story about ordinary people whose courage, sacrifice, and conviction led them to do extraordinary things during the darkest days of WW2.

I enjoyed the dual timeline aspect of this story, especially the historic storyline. The author does a great job capturing the details of the time period lending authenticity and the characters were well developed. I’ve read a lot of WW2 fiction and ‘Syndrome K’ was a new to me piece of history and I felt that good consideration was given to the personal struggles and sacrifices made by ordinary people wanting to make a difference in the war effort. A terrific read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Publishing for a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The Italian Ballerina was such a moving novel. There was so much that was unique about this World War II novel. I've been reading many books from this time period and this novel clearly shone above many others. It is a time lapse novel from Rome 1943 to present day. The time shifts were easy to follow. The characters were very much the highlight of the novel. The "band of heroes" as they are referred to are two American soldiers and an English ballerina. They do the very unselfish act of helping Italian Jews hide away from the Germans. The soldiers went into a war zone to save the life a young Italian Jewish girl. All of these people make up a puzzle that the later generation has to figure out.

This is my first Kristy Cambron novel and I can assure you it won't be the last. She has a beautiful, flowing writing style that completely immerses readers into another place and time. The emotions elicited from reading this novel are strong and heartfelt. Knowing that so many of these novels are based off of true events make the story even more intense. World War II was an ugly stain in world history but also brought out some of the most shining heroes ever found throughout time.

I highly recommend The Italian Ballerina to all adult readers. Reading this novel was an experience that will stay with me for a long time.

I knew I had to read The Italian Ballerina when I saw it was written by the talented Kristy Cambron and had this lovely cover. However, I wasn't sure I'd enjoy it as it begins with detailed WWII battle scenes, and the early chapters were confusing to me. But I'm glad I continued with the audiobook as this is a beautifully complex story. It braids two historical plots with a contemporary storyline, all set in Italy with a strong sense of place, from lush gardens to war-torn buildings.

The novel was inspired by a piece of true history. During World War II, clever medical staff at a hospital in Rome invented a fake illness to save the lives of Jewish people. The Nazis feared being contaminated with "Syndrome K" so they avoided inspecting the ward housing "patients" (Jewish citizens) with this false diagnosis.

Ms. Cambron adds a prima ballerina, two American medics, an orphaned Jewish girl, a devoted Italian grandson, and an adult daughter in time of transition to bring this multi-faceted story to life. It highlights the sacrifices ordinary people make for others during times of war and the far-reaching impact they have on future generations.

Thank you to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for the review copy of this emotional story.

No interest in this sadly :( I think it is too technical. I just have no passion for any of the characters and don't find any of the plot interesting. This might be a case of "it's not you, it's me" but I won't keep reading and don't think I'll recommend this book.

Loved this books. Was able to get lost in the WWII world and vividly picture the scenes. a roller coaster of emotions and thoughts, but a totally enjoyable ride!

Due to a personal difference in beliefs (WITH THE PUBLISHER) I will not be reviewing this book outside of Netgalley nor do I plan to support Thomas Nelson in the future due to their decisions of late and the lack of fiction with good Biblical values.

This does not mean I do or do not like the book, it just means I will not be reviewing books for this publisher anymore as I do not care to support them when I do not agree with the way they have left their former standards.

🩰 The Italian Ballerina - Kristy Cambron

3 ⭐️- This book was really beautiful given the time it takes place. I love US History and historical fiction so a story based on true events peaked my interest.

A ballerina, two American medics, and a young jewish girl with no name. It’s the height of WWII and Nazi control in Rome, Italy. Finding refuge in a hospital, we find out about the illness, Syndrome K (you must quarantine, how annoying 🤣), that is made up in order to save Jews from Nazi’s during the war.

This story was told in multiple view points and timelines, which normally I love. At the beginning of this book, I found it hard to keep track of. As it went on though and those storylines started to connect and make sense, it did get easier. It was a bit choppy but overall, I thought the story was beautiful, heartbreaking, and heartfelt during a dark time in history. Definitely recommend if you’re a dancer (lots of ballet references) or like historical fiction!

The Italian Ballerina by Kristy Cambron is another brilliant example of her historical dual timeline stories. I have fallen in love with her writing style, her deep understanding of historical events and how they impacted people's lives, and her challenging spiritual arcs. I cannot pick which timeline I fell in love with more–the contemporary or historical–as the characters are so incredibly written and full of life. As usual, she does an excellent job of blending the years between the stories, bringing the past to life in the present, and delicately intertwining the frailty of the past with the realities of the present.
This story is beautiful in its exposure of the goodness in humanity and the persistence of life to keep moving on despite the evil in the world. I fell in love with the story instantly. I hoped. I cried. I sighed as I closed the back cover. It will not disappoint.
For lovers of historical fiction/romance or dual timeline stories, this is a must-read and one of my favorites of 2022.
I was given a copy of this book by the publisher with no expectations of a positive review. All opinions are my own.

I admit that I was interested in this book because the title has "ballerina" in it. What does a ballerina do when the war interferes with your profession? This particular ballerina, Julia Bradbury, helps patients in a nearby hospital. She finds herself helping patients with Syndrome K, the deadly and highly contagious disease that was fabricated by doctors in Rome to save Jewish people from Nazi extermination.

This is a dual timeline story with events taking place in the past and in the present day. It took me a little while to get used to that but once I did the story flowed better for me. I found the Syndrome K storyline ingenious and fascinating as I'd never heard of it before. I didn't know how much the Italians helped the Jewish people. Learning new things is one reason I love historical fiction. The red suitcase in the present day ties into the past in a way I'd never have thought. I don't want to give anything away but I love little things like that.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher Thomas Nelson via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.