Does saving one life really matter? Is it wrong to look out for ourselves during times of trouble? Is love worth the risk?

I loved this book. While it was not a suspense title, there was plenty of mystery. I did not guess where the book was going to go in certain parts. Yes, eventually I did figure out other sections, but I still loved the title. Faith is a part of the book, but it is not emphasized. There is a touch of romance and important historical components. Ballet does play a part in the storyline, but those parts were also easy to follow.

Having read another recent one of Cambron's books that is set in World War 2, I was a bit worried that this book would read the same. I did not need to worry as the two had different concepts. This book was a split timeline title, so part of the plot was set in modern day and other parts were set in England and especially in Italy during World War 2. Because the book jumps across decades and does not go in order, occasionally it was a bit hard to follow. But for the most part, it made sense.

I can't decide which storyline I liked better. Watching how Court matured was definitely inspirational. But I also liked how a former Italian notable man was able to change his life as well. And the ladies in both decades are also worth emulating.

Originally I received a copy of this book through NetGalley. Because I seemed to have more time to listen, I actually ended up checking it out from my library. Regardless, the opinions stated are my own. I wanted to review this book.

As for the narrator, I thought she did a fantastic job. She seemed to tackle both male and female voices as well as accents with ease. This made a wonderful story even better.

The Italian Ballerina is a spectacular novel. I would say it is Kristy Cambron’s best one yet. I enjoyed every page. This dual time period novel was so well crafted. Readers get to jump between time periods (WWII & present day), gradually piecing together what becomes a beautiful, moving, thought provoking and entertaining story. Both time periods were excellent (historical fiction fans won’t be disappointed with the current day portion of the novel). Even the historical plot transitions between periods before and during the war. This made the story all the more interesting, allowing me to invest all the more in connecting the dots. Characters were so well done. Each unique and relatable. I highly recommend this read, it’s a favourite of the year for me.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed are entirely my own.

“Rome, 1943. With the fall of Italy’s Fascist government and the Nazi regime occupying the streets of Rome, British ballerina Julia Bradbury is stranded and forced to take refuge at a hospital on Tiber Island. But when she learns of a deadly sickness that is sweeping through the quarantine wards—a fake disease known only as Syndrome K—she is drawn into one of the greatest cons in history. Alongside hospital staff, friars of the adjoining church, and two Allied medics, Julia risks everything to rescue Italian Jews from the deadly clutches of the Holocaust. But when one little girl who dreams of becoming a ballerina arrives at their door, Julia and the others are determined to reunite the young dancer with her family—if only she would reveal one crucial secret: her name.”

Deeply moving. Inspiring. Majestic. This was a wonderful story that takes place during WW II. It was a nice change from previous historical fiction reads.
I don’t want to spoil the story but I can say that it will take you on a journey. You will grasp the importance of family, love, trusting one another, and loyalty. I highly recommend.

Rich in historical detail. I had never heard of Syndrome K and this story fascinated me.
Many thanks to Thomas Nelson Fiction and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Italian Ballerina is a captivating novel about WWII set in Italy. I wanted to jump on a plane after reading this! I love how the author weaved in historical information with the story. I never knew that doctors in Italy “invented” a disease, Syndrome K, to protect Jews living in Italy. Julia Bradbury, the ballerina, volunteered at the hospital when she encountered two American medics with a little Jewish girl. What follows is a riveting tale about faith and doing the right thing in times of great danger.
The thing that was confusing about the book was it jumped around too much. It went from 1941 to 1943 to the present day. The present day story was about one of the medics' granddaughter. It was hard to keep track of the story and I felt like the author didn’t give enough backstory about some of the characters right away.
I look forward to reading more books by this author. Many thanks to the author, Thomas Nelson Fiction and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of the book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
#TheItalianBallerina #NetGalley

Book received for free through NetGalley

Read 54% of the way into this book but kept starting and stopping and ultimately forgot about it. Figured it was better to review as is. It was written well just not my cup of tea.

Prepare to meet a lot of characters and deal with a lot of timelines, and very little chronological order.

Delaney has lost her beloved grandfather. In his possession was a small locked suitcase that he brought back from WWII. Now Delaney received a request from someone in Italy that they would like the suitcase returned. Delaney, curious, flies to Italy with the suitcase and meets Matteo at his family's villa. Matteo's grandmother, a WWII survivor, has dementia. As they try to unravel the mystery, more and more people are introduced into the story. We have Julia, the English ballerina who ends up in Italy. We have Court, a serviceman who is involved in the battle to free Italy from the Germans, his superior officer, A.J., the little girl who Court rescues after her parents are shot dead. We have Syndrome K, a fatal illness designed to keep the German soldiers away from the church and grounds. We have Penn, the mother of Court's child. The story ends with all the riddles tied up neatly, but it takes a long time to get there.

The timeline flips back and forth, some in sequence, some not in sequence. I read an e-book version of this. Perhaps a physical book would have made it easier to flip back and forth and sort out the timelines.

The Italian Ballerina is a beautiful heartwarming story inspired by some true events at Italia during WWII. This is my first read from author and wont be the last. I enjoyed her mesmerizing writing style and hooked to the story since he first chapter.

Each MCs's stories arc journey are told separately in each chapters. Mostly told from present day in Roma and flashback at several wartimes. Flipping between multiple timeline make me little bit struggling to follow in the beginning. But with small note to tracking, I can continue my reading time smoothly and enjoy the intriguing effect of that. The part when stories from all characters met in one points and unraveling so many hidden facts really touching and make me feel so emotional.

Thank you Netgalley and Thomas Nelson.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

<b>Note:</b> I received an advanced copy of this book from Thomas Nelson via NetGalley.

Rome, 1943. With the fall of Italy’s Fascist government and the Nazi regime occupying the streets of Rome, British ballerina Julia Bradbury is stranded and forced to take refuge at a hospital on Tiber Island. But when she learns of a deadly sickness that is sweeping through the quarantine wards—a fake disease known only as Syndrome K—she is drawn into one of the greatest cons in history. Alongside hospital staff, friars of the adjoining church, and two Allied medics, Julia risks everything to rescue Italian Jews from the deadly clutches of the Holocaust. But when one little girl who dreams of becoming a ballerina arrives at their door, Julia and the others are determined to reunite the young dancer with her family—if only she would reveal one crucial secret: her name.

Present Day. With the recent loss of her grandfather—a beloved small-town doctor and WWII veteran—Delaney Coleman returns home to help her aging parents, even as she struggles to pick up the pieces of her own life. When a mysterious Italian woman claims she owns one of the family’s precious heirlooms, Delaney is compelled to uncover what’s true of her grandfather’s hidden past. Together with the woman’s skeptical but charming grandson, Delaney learns of a Roman hospital that saved hundreds of Jewish people during the war. Soon, everything Delaney thought she knew about her grandfather comes into question as she wrestles with the possibility that the man she’d revered all her life had unknown ties to Rome and may have taken noble secrets to his grave.

I definitely liked the past story involving Syndrome K than I did reading the present day story. I enjoyed that this book was based on real life events and I got to read about an event in greater detail than I had heard before.

A compelling read inspired by true events, about the courageous men and women who risked their lives to save Jews in Italy during WWII.

A multiple timeline read, it took me awhile to really get into it since it followed three main characters and then jumped forwards and back in the timelines of two of them, though I admit the mystery of what was going on did help pull me in. I loved how this book explored more of Italy's role in the war, as it is not as often represented as other places.

A well written read, with well developed characters. I liked how Julia didn't want to rely on her family name to keep her out of danger, as well as her heart for others and determination. Court was probably one of my favorite characters for his story arc, and how he changes over the course of the story.

Overall, this was a compelling and worthwhile read, with characters that slowly captured my heart and were hard to leave behind. A story of courage and hope resonating through time.

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

I have read every book this author has put out and will continue to do so.
Her books never cease to amaze me with their quality. I have learned so much about forgotten and hidden history through her books. The research is immaculate and the writing style just flows so much so that she makes it look effortless which I know it is not. This is a duel time level which is so fascinating,the time periods so easily coming together. Based on truth, I was impressed with the tactic the clever doctors used to save some of the people. Because saving even one life has a positive effect on so many others. Heartbreaking at times yet inspirational and heartwarming. Excellent .


Pub Date 12 Jul 2022
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

Kristy Cambron has outdone herself with this amazing story, complete with beautiful character and world building. Definitely a book I will be adding to my library!

This is the first of the author's work that I have read. It will not be the last! My reaction as I finished it was "wow!" There are three time lines; 1941, just as America is attacked by Japan, Then WWII in Europe, and present day. Present day involves solving a WWII mystery that involves loved ones. It is very hard to put down. You will find there is some truth in the story. I highly recommend this book.

What an incredible story! I was hooked from the beginning and was turning pages as quickly as I could to discover what was to happen for these characters. Both the characters from the present day as well as the characters from the past.

I thoroughly enjoy books from Kristy Cambron. I love how complex they are and yet how simple and tender they are. The struggles, the unknown, the search, the slow reveal, the mystery, the friendships, the sweet and tender love stories, all of the intricate pieces that come together to create a beautiful and touching story that bridges several generations.

If you haven't read a book by this author yet, my suggestion for you is that when you do, mark the different years and pay close attention to them. If you do then it will be so much easier for keeping track of the story. Usually the first few times the time changes between the eras it can be confusing. But if you pay close, after a few time changes you'll catch on and be turning pages very quickly as well.

The family and friendship aspects of her books are a major part of what draws me to them. But I also love the love stories. They make my heart happy. They're not all cut and dry but they're beautiful and touching and achingly tender. I loved how everything came together in the end. Beautiful!!!

Content: This is a Christian Fiction novel but it is not preachy. The Christian aspects fit well for the time periods and shows the characters believing in something bigger than them and trusting in finding their way. It is sweet and clean with the romance. Nothing more than sweet kisses. It is set during WWII and talk of death and beatings and much that occurs with war is included in the book. But I believe the author was very sensitive about the way that she wrote it.

I received a copy from the publisher, Thomas Nelson --Fiction, via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.

Happy Reading!!!

Delaney Coleman’s life hasn’t turned out anything like she expected. What 30-year-old wants to lose their job, move back home, and break up with their boyfriend? A quick trip home to mourn the death of her grandfather turns into so much more. A mystery over a family heirloom. An unexpected trip to Rome, and a chance at romance with an enigmatic Italian, and uncovering a side of her beloved grandfather no one ever knew about.

Julia Bradbury wants nothing more than to dance alone, but a choice from her past seems to harness her fate to a temperamental dance partner who will do anything to avoid the draft. Even if it means dancing in war-torn Europe. When Julia finds herself stranded on Tiber Island in Rome when the Fascist government falls and the Nazi’s move in, she becomes embroiled in one of history’s greatest cons—Syndrome K. Along with Allied medics, friars at a church, and hospital staff, Julia risks her life to save Jewish Italians from the Nazi’s final solution.

When a traumatized little girl shows interest in learning ballet, Julia once again risks her life to teach her.

What I Loved About This Book

I love how Cambron uses time split to take the reader between the present day and World War II. Delaney learns lessons about living in the present as she delves into the secrets of the unsung heroes of the greatest generation. Lessons in self-sacrifice, living for the greater good, and giving ourselves to others—lessons we all need to remember in today’s tumultuous world.

The Italian Ballerina by Kristy Cambron was told in three distinct time lines. It was based on true events and was impeccably researched. I have read other historical fiction novels about how the Italian people banned together to help save the Jews in their towns but this one tugged at my heart and stirred all my emotions. The Italian Ballerina was well written and extremely moving.

In London, shortly before the onset of World War II, Julia Bradbury had just gotten her lucky break as a talented ballerina to perform in the way she always dreamed she would be able to. Unfortunately, World War II would put an end to her dream. Julia would find herself transported to Rome, Italy where she would take refuge in a church that shared its walls with a hospital after sustaining some injuries. While there, Julia became involved with some of the patients and their care. She soon discovered a secret that the head doctor and priest had devised to help some Jewish countrymen that had managed to escape from the roundup of the Jewish ghetto. Julia continued to practice her ballet every morning in the garden by the church .

In Starlight, Indiana in the early 1940’s, Courtney (Court) Coleman had recently returned to his home town. His mother had recently died and he left right after her funeral only to return again.. He was a troubled young man and had gotten himself arrested the day he returned. He found himself working on Penn’s family’s farm to repay the bail Penn’s father had put up from him. Court rediscovered his feelings for Penn who he also discovered was pregnant. When Court heard that the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, he did not hesitate to sign up. Court was drafted as a medic. His father was the family doctor in Starlight so he had lots of medical practice. Before Court left, he pledged his love for Penn and promised to return.

On the morning of October 16, 1943 Court and some of the men in his army regiment witnessed the extreme cruelty of the Nazi Gestapo as they evacuated the Jewish ghetto in Rome, Italy. Court heard screams coming from a young girl as her parents were shot right before her eyes. He knew he had to save and help this little girl. Against the orders of his superior, Sergeant AJ Nelson, Court proceeded to go help the young girl. While trying to save the orphaned girl, Court got injured. His fellow medic, Sergeant AJ Nelson, got Court and the young girl to Fatebenefratelli Hospital which adjoined San Giovanni Calibita Church. Dr. Emory performed surgery on Court. The young girl would not leave Court’s side. She also clutched a small suitcase that she would not let out of her sight. No one knew her name so they began calling her Calla. The church which was located on Tiber Island gave refuge to any Jews that managed to escape the Nazis when they came to evacuate the ghetto. Dr. Emory and Father Bialek devised a plan to save as many Italian Jews as possible. They established a quarantine ward for patients suffering from Syndrome K. The deadly disease and quarantine ward was devised to fool the Nazis. There was no such thing as Syndrome K. The Nazis were so fearful of disease they never went to check or enter the quarantine ward. In the meantime, Court became very attached and protective of Calla and Calla considered Court her Savior. Julia began giving Calla ballet instruction whenever she could find the time to do so. The young girl was a good student and learned well. Court, AJ and Julia were determined to get Calla to safety after the war and reunite her with her aunt who they believed was still alive.

In present day, Delaney Coleman had recently returned to Starlight, Indiana when her beloved grandfather had died. Court had returned to Starlight, Indiana after the war, married Penn, became a doctor and loved his son and later his granddaughter very much. Shortly after Court’s funeral, Delaney’s family got a request from an Italian family for some processions of Court’s that they believed belonged to them. Delaney ended up going to Italy to meet with the family to try and uncover what was so special about the small suitcase and how her grandfather end up with it? Both Delaney and Matteo were hurting in their own ways. Through the discovery of Calla’s and Court’s story could Delaney and Matteo find happiness with each other?

The Italian Ballerina by Kristy Cambron was a gripping story. I found it deeply moving and loved the ending how it all came together. It explored the ideas of trust, family, love, sacrifice, belief, friendship and loyalty. This was the fourth book that I have read by Kristy Cambron and have enjoyed them all. She is a very talented writer. I highly recommend this book.

Thank you to Thomas Nelson Publishers for allowing me to read the digital version of The Italian Ballerina by Kristy Cambron through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Julia and Anton are prima ballerina and ballerino just before WWII comes crashing down on their dreams. He has a dark past and she has learned not to trust him, that his ruthlessness knows no bounds, and he is willing to do whatever it takes to achieve what he desires. She only wishes to dance, to let it be her joy, even forsaking her family’s wealth and power. And in the midst of what should be a grand tour and the dream of every ballerina, she finds herself once again beside the man she wishes to be free of, who doesn’t want to let her go.

Court was a small-town runaway, once in love with a girl but too afraid of his past to let himself be the man he fears he can’t be, not for her or his ailing father, now that his mother died. He receives a second chance to right his wrongs and help pay off a debt he owes, a gift of mercy he didn’t deserve, by working on the farm of the man whose daughter he loved. But then the young men hear on the radio about the attack on Pearl Harbor and the whole world changes, his more than once in the coming years.

Delaney Coleman is the granddaughter of Courtney Coleman, a man who spent his life as a small-town doctor, loving his family and his home. He has just passed away and she receives a strange request from an elderly woman in Italy named Calla, who wishes to have returned a red and white child’s suitcase Delaney’s family has found. Calla claims it was hers as a little girl, when she knew Court, whom she called “Salvatore.” Delaney, still raw from grief, agrees to visit their gorgeous villa in Rome, with a ticket paid by Calla, to speak with her and her handsome grandson Matteo about the significance of the suitcase, and the untold story of how this woman in Italy knew her grandfather.

Heart-wrenching, dramatic, and a beacon of light beaming on the darkness of Jewish suffering in WWII Italy, The Italian Ballerina is a beautiful, emotional story of redemption, love, pain, healing, being lost and found, and finding joy again after sorrow. This book shows “the impact just one life can have on the lives of so many others.” A must-read for fans of historical fiction, faith, Italy, split time dramas, WWII, or for those who wish to feel many things, but above all, hope that there lies a “strength to do what this little girl has done—offering to trust another, and in it, to bare the very depths of her soul.”

All opinions expressed here are my own and do not necessarily reflect that of the author or publishers. I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

I enjoyed this historical story. This is my first book by this author which I look forward to seeing what is next for them. This is a well written story that takes place in WWII and the choices that were made. This is a great story where the characters bring the story to life on each page. They are written with alot of heart and soul and you can feel that through the author's writing skills. They are connectable characters that I really enjoyed. They are supporitive and made the story easy to read. There is great growth of the characters as well as the plot throughout the story. You don't want to miss what happens in this story to these characters. The choices are heart breaking and the forgiveness that comes with it. This made such a great afternoon read. I highly recommend this book.

When Delaney learns about a mystery suitcase involving her family and an Italian family, she is astonished. The search for the truth sends her to an Italian villa in beautiful Rome and a handsome Italian, but the quest leads them both into an extremely dark past when the city was in the control of the Nazis, and nowhere was safe, especially the Jewish ghetto ..

When World War Two begins, Julia Bradbury is a famous ballerina, but she doesn't care about that anymore. She just wants to serve her country, but can she get away from the evil influence of her co-star? How will she find meaning in her life again?

Courtney Coleman has become disillusioned, and lost his faith. He wants to marry Penn, but he is not ready, so he decides to become a medic in the forces. His commanding officer, AJ Nelson is also on a quest. Court's service in the war will change both their lives dramatically by one simple act of kindness.

This is a powerful and moving story about fighting against evil, the restoration of faith, and never giving in despite terrible odds. Amazingly, it is based on an incredible true story of extreme bravery in a dangerous and bloody time. Kristy Cambron is one of my favourite authors, and I found this one superb!

I received this free ebook from NetGalley in return for an honest review.