The first in a new series by the author. The Italian Daughter is a beautiful story, told in dual timeline, of two romances.

After Lily is given a box that belonged to her grandmother with just two artifacts—part of a concert ticket and a recipe, she sets off in search of the truth of her family history. Which means a trip to Italy, an Italian vineyard, a hot real-day Italian hero called Antonio–and a mystery to solve!

A trip to an Italian vineyard and Lake Como, romance with a sexy Italian lover, and a heart-breaking historical mystery. The Italian Daughter is pure joyful escapism packaged as a book!

The Italian Daughter was not at all what I expected. I've become conditioned to a certain standard framing of a dual time line historical fiction, and this one was a nice surprise. In the 1940s timeline in Italy, we have the ballerina, Estee, and the man she is in love with, Felix. They are from different social groups, but have connected at a young age and try to find their way to each other after the war. Families and events have worked against them, but true love finds a way. In the modern timeline, we have Lily who is both grieving her father and learning that her grandmother was probably adopted. She goes on a planned trip to Italy, to work at a winery and vineyard, where she will also try to learn the truth about her grandmother. The two stories then come together in a way that is both heartbreaking and hopeful.
Lane does not spend time in the trauma of the war, Instead, this is a story about family and about love. It's not a strictly romance genre romance for both timeline romances. That requires a central romance. While Estee and Felix's story is primarily about their romance, it is the result of the romance that is the heart of the entire novel. And their HEA together is still tinged by so much pain. Lily's romance with the Italian winemaker, Antonio, is not the central plot point in her story either, even if they end with a HFN. Instead the story there is about Lily learning about her grandmother, her extended family, and how to best honor her father's legacy.

Pacing is excellent, I could not put this down. I found the connection and story between Estee and Felix to be emotional and at times maddening. The differing social rules and snobbery of Felix's family was infuriating, and I applauded his strength. But I wanted him to be louder about it and stand up to his family earlier and more forcefully. Estee was too accepting at putting herself second. Estee had all the strength both with her mother's domineering, her work in the ballet, surviving the war (this is not explored, only referred to), and when she goes to London.

I thought LIly's story could have been explored further. I enjoyed the time with her Italian family. The brief discussions she had with her mother were colorful at times, very sweet at others. It was a lovely relationship. But I needed just a little more digging into her life, her emotions, her growth. I didn't have the same connection to her that I did to Estee.

This is a story about adoption, and that story is difficult. It is handled sensitively. The reality of the 1940s was women had a difficult time if they were a single parent, and choices were limited. I know there are many babies from the war era who don't know the story of their biological parents. Readers may find this difficult and should heed content warnings.

Because I could not put this down, I'm giving it 4.5 stars. My wish for more depth for the Lily character, is what keeps me from a full 5 stars. I am looking forward to the next in the series.

CW: disordered eating, domineering parents, unwed mother choosing adoption in 1940s, discovery of adoption story

“You need to give yourself permission to make mistakes, to fall in love, to let your life change direction sometimes and be okay with that.”

Rating: 3.5 (rounded down to 3)

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘐𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘢𝘯 𝘋𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘦𝘳 is a dual-timeline, intergenerational family saga that explores the immediate impact that love, secrets, grief, loss, and legacy have on our lives; and the extensive ripple of their repercussions. 𝘛𝘐𝘋 intertwines the stories of Esteé - a ballerina living in 1940’s Italy - and Lily - a winemaker living in present day London. The two share a secret that will forever alter the course of their lives.

I’ve been wavering on my overall thoughts on 𝘛𝘐𝘋. Within the first few chapters we’re introduced to an ambitious, well-traveled, independent woman and the mystery that she's presented with. I was intrigued, and couldn't wait to unearth more of Lily's heritage while simultaneously learning more about her passions as a winemaker. However, all of the previously mentioned seemingly lost precedence once Lily's mother suggested that the best thing to do in Italy is get laid… Lily - who had previously sworn off all relationships in pursuit of her dreams - then forms an insta-love connection with Antonio, the winemaker's son. What shortly follows is an angsty will they-won't they conundrum that spans the entire novel.

That serves as a segue for my biggest critique of 𝘛𝘐𝘋: the portrayal of and stereotypes surrounding the Italian. In my opinion, it was rather tacky. And the thing is, it wasn’t just once. There were enough times throughout 𝘛𝘐𝘋 that mentioned how receiving the attention of and compliments from a "charming, bronzed Italian man" can make a girl feel ~special~, that I actually used the bookmarks feature to keep track. Spoiler: I had a lot of bookmarked pages once I finished 𝘛𝘐𝘋. This may seem like a superficial critique, but my partner is 100% Italian (i.e. born and raised in Italy and immigrated to the United States in his twenties), and often talks about how generalizations such as those throughout 𝘛𝘐𝘋 are prevalent and delusory. To apply this stereotype to seemingly every male featured throughout the novel perpetuates the stigma, and seems lazy.

With all of that being said, I didn't feel that it was fair to rate 𝘛𝘐𝘋 any lower than 3.5 stars given its redemption towards the finale. For one, I loved the concept of the dual-timeline. Once the fabric of Esteé and Lily's stories intertwined, I was enthralled. The last quarter of the novel developed a depth that I felt was otherwise lacking. Additionally, the exploration of the different forms of loss (mother/daughter and father/daughter) and the subsequent grief left in their wake was poignant. If the majority of the book had been crafted in a similar manner, 𝘛𝘐𝘋 would’ve been 5 stars for me. I think there was a lot of untapped potential.

Thank you to Soraya Lane and NetGalley for the chance to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review. The Italian Daughter will be published on September 23, 2022.

An excellent book written by an excellent author. Taking place in the vineyards of Italy, I loved this book and finished it in one day. I know Ms. Lane has another book, this one taking place in Cuba and am looking forward to reading this one too.

If you love all things Italian–food, family, wine… then you will love this novel by Soraya Lane about found family (along with a little romance!).

I am such a big fan of this authors writing and love her historical fiction novels. This one as so different to her usual offerings but it didn't disappoint! I loved to read a new side to this author and thought she did a great job at writing a more modern setting than is usually her norm. Despite the changes the book still felt warm and the writing familiar.

Lane is great at writing female characters and this book was no different - Estee in particular was fantastic. I loved the alternate POVs and the two female lead characters felt distinctive from one another.

Really enjoyable, touching read with two great female leads, great writing and quick pacing.

The Italian Daughter by Soraya Lane and Narrated by: Zoe Mills is the first book in the new The Lost Daughters series and I loved it. This book is beautifully written and tells the story of two woman, Estee, in 1937 from in Italy who was a famous Ballerina and Lilly from the present day who is a wine maker. I loved both of these characters.

Lily has just got home from her old job in New Zealand when she receives a strange invitation from a lawyer, to pick up a small wooden box that had her grandmother's name on it. Inside this box is a handwritten Italian recipe and an old theatre programme. Nothing else was in this box but the content will change Lilly's life forever.

Lily is on her way to Italy to her new job and she also follows the clues to discovers her family secrets. Lilly finds out about Estee and her childhood friendship with Felix, which turned into a life long relationship and lead to their child being put up for adoption. A heartbreaking story was that told and beautifully written from start to finish.

The narrator Zoe Mills was excellent and I loved the way she told the story. I felt I was there with Estee and Lilly.

I highly recommend this book especially as its the first in the series.I am looking forward to the next instalment in the lost daughters series. 5 star book,

Big thank you to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

The Italian Daughter is a dual time line story that pulls at a reader heart strings. It is about lost family and a found family.
I enjoyed this story. It was moving and heart warming.. Some mystery, some romance.
I highly recommend this book. It does not disappoint.

My grandmother was a ballerina in La Scala, and I am in Italy making wine and enjoying the vineyards?

Lily couldn’t believe it. She also couldn’t believe that her grandmother may have been adopted and was a Prima Ballerina.

We meet Estee in 1937 and Lily present day as Lily tries to find about her family's past.

She had some clues from a box she received that was addressed to her grandmother found at a home for unwed mothers.

Was her grandmother the one who was adopted or the one who had a baby out of wedlock.

And…how is she going to find out anything about her grandmother with the few clues she has from the box...a recipe for a chocolate dessert and the name of a theater, La Scala Academy.

When Lily went to Italy and stopped in a bakery with the recipe, the recipe definitely caused a stir when she showed it to the owner of the bakery.

In fact, the owner was furious that Lily had a copy of this recipe that she said has been kept secret for decades.

Want to find out the connection between the recipe, the bakery owner, and La Scala and why the bakery owner was not happy? THE ITALIAN DAUGHTER has all the answers for you.

A lovely read set in romantic Italy…and this book definitely doesn’t lack romance. :)

Loved it….you will cheer and cry along with the characters. 5/5

This book was given to me by Bookouture via NetGalley for an honest review.

The Italian Daughter by Soraya Lane is a dual time line story that pulls at a reader's heart strings. It is about lost family and found family.

On one level we follow the story of Estee and Felix, in Italy. She has become an excellent ballerina, and he belongs to a renowned baker's family. We meet them pre-war and then after the war. Their story is moving and heart wrenching in places, but ultimately resolution happens.

Lily, is learning to be a wine maker and is making her way to Italy to work in a vineyard. There she is welcomed with open arms and is soon entranced by the winemaker's son, Antonio. She carries with her a small box with two items that were linked to her grand mother. They will take her on a journey that has "gold at the end of the rainbow"

I enjoyed this story, it was both moving and heart warming. Each era moved along smoothly, I am not a great fan of dual timelines but this worked really well. Gently done.

So some mystery, some romance, some meddling as well. This is the first book in a series titled The Lost Daughters. Girls who for one reason or another were adopted out. If this first one is anything to go by they will make good reading.

Written in dual timelines, The Italian Daughter begins with the story of Estee, and Felix, who fall in love as young teenagers just prior to the start of the second world war. However, Felix’s family has betrothed him to the daughter of a rich family and their love is doomed. Estee goes on to become a famous ballerina. Eight years later, Felix turns up after one of her performances telling her he still loves her. He intends to face his parents with Estee by his side and tell them he will not marry the woman they have chosen for him.
Lily receives a letter addressed to her grandmother’s estate, requesting her attendance at a solicitor’s office. There, she is handed a small box containing a programme from La Scala in Milan together with a hand-written recipe. Her curiosity piqued as to the connection between this and her grandmother, she decides to travel to Italy to try and unravel the mystery.
Overall, I enjoyed this linked story of romance and family secrets. However, I did have one or two niggles. Lily’s mother was far too over the top and I found her irritating. Also, I felt the backdrop on both timelines lacked detail. I know the reader doesn’t want to get bogged down with fussy descriptions of places and buildings holding up the story, but I did feel La Scala could have done with a little more description other than it was a beautiful building. Post war London too, felt as if the city hadn’t experienced the damaging bombing it went through, especially Hope’s House with its greenery and flower tubs in the garden. I also had doubts about adoptive parents being able to take away a baby who was only a few hours old. Apart from this, I felt the book was well written and provided a pleasant, light read.
My thanks to Netgalley, Bookouture and Soraya Lane for an ARC of The Italian Daughter in exchange for an honest review.

BLOG TOUR REVIEW


Review for 'The Italian Daughter' by Soraya Lane.


Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Soraya Lane, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous


Publication Date 23rd September 2022.


This is the first book I have read by this author. This book was previously published as 'Death In Dulwich'. It is the first book in the 'Lost Daughter' series.


I was originally drawn to this book by its eye catching beautiful cover and intriguing sounding synopsis and title. The synopsis stated that this book is 'Perfect for fans of Santa Montefiore, Lucinda Riley and Victoria Hislop.' I am a huge fan of Lucinda Riley so am looking forward to seeing if this lives up to this statement. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).


This novel consists of a prologue, 34 chapters and an epilogue. The chapters are medium in length so possible to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!

This book is based in London, England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿, UK 🇬🇧 and Italy 🇮🇹. The bonus for me of books that are partly or fully based in the UK is that I live in the UK and have sometimes visited places mentioned in the book which makes it easier to picture.


This book is written in third person perspective with the main protagonists being Lily and Estee. The benefits of third person perspective with multiple protagonists are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out in anything.


Well I am ABSOLUTELY gutted to come to the end of this book as it ends my stunning sofa holiday 😭

This book is beautifully written and completely absorbs you in the stunning atmosphere of Italy completely sucking you in with the vivid descriptions leaving you feel the warmth of the the sun and smell of the wine. The synopsis and cover suits the storyline perfectly.

The storyline is authentic and realistic as well as easy to read and heartwarming. It is just one of those absolutely stunning books that promises the reader gets completely lost in the pages for hours. I absolutely loved the beginning where Lily picked up the box from Hope House along with the other women and am hoping the rest of this series continues with each of those women collecting their boxes while the readers watches it all unfold. However Soraya is planning the rest of the series it is guaranteed to be just perfect. I genuinely felt like I had packed my suitcase leaving rainy Wales for the stunning Italian sun. I could see the vineyards, taste the hazelnut chocolate and feel my heart pound while certain events were unfolding. It wasn't all happiness though and my heart really went out to Estee and Felix. What happened to them was unbelievably cruel and I had tears streaming down my face so make sure you have tissues at the ready. You will also want to book the day off whatever you had planned as once you pick up this book and turn the pages I can guarantee you will not want to put it down!! I found myself picking it up every spare second I had and not wanting to put it down so ended up reading it in one sitting in the end!! I loved that Lily started with just two clues and then following her as it took her all over Italy. It was definitely a unique way of exploring places and I am looking forward to seeing if this is how the rest of the series will go. The storyline was filled with a range of emotions and was heartwarming, devastating and had lies, lost and new love, relationships, family, friendship and history all going on in this beautiful atmosphere. I loved the fact that we get to read both past and present time lines and Soraya has woven them together absolutely perfectly!! It felt like a lovely break away from a rainy Wales!! I loved how the story ended and I would love to read more about the life in this gorgeous Italian place. An absolutely stunning read!!!

It is set over multiple time lines. When books show what has happened in the past and what is happening in the present I find it really helps the reader (if it is well done) understand why things are happening and what has lead to the present activities and decisions. It also shows the bigger picture.

This is one of the few books that I have listened to on Audiobook while also reading it on kindle. I must say a HUGE congratulations to the narrator Zoe Mills who did a great job bringing this story to life. I would listen to it in the car and while walking at any opportunity and Zoe did a fantastic job on both male and female characters voices!!! I'm not only looking forward to reading more books by Soraya but also to listening to more books narrated by Zoe!

Clear your schedules, grab your tissues and get ready to go on a journey of a lifetime!!!

It is always worrying when starting a new series as you have no idea who the characters are. It is very important for me to bond with not only the lead protagonists but also any characters that may make repeat appearances during the series too.

The characters were all unique with their own realistic traits, strengths and weaknesses. It was intriguing to watch
Estee and Felix's & Lily and Antonio's relationships grow, develop and change throughout the the storyline. I genuinely felt sorry for Estee throughout but also Lily as she had so much to consider while learning new things constantly about her family. It was also intriguing to see how not only Estee and Felix's & Lily and Antonio's relationships changed throughout the book but also how Lily bonded with Antonio and Matthew's families. It was absolutely amazing to watch the personalities and relationships between all the characters grow, develop and bond and although I don't believe their story will be told in this series again I would love to see what happens in the future with Lily, Antonio and the families. I adored Antonio's family and how they were so welcoming and loving and each of these characters stories would make beautiful books which I would love to read!! Hint hint Soraya!!! All characters worked perfectly with the storyline and I would love to meet them again and hope to see this made into a series or even a movie!!!

Well done Soraya on an absolutely stunning start to what promises to be a gorgeous new series, I will definitely be looking for your books any time I need to be swept off to another country!!!


A MASSIVE WELL DONE to Soraya on a HUGE success!!! I loved every page of your book and I cannot wait to read more of your past and hopefully future books. Congratulations you are now one of my favourite authors! Here's to your next success 🥂

Overall a true page turning, perfect and stunning romance that will sweep you off your feet and land you in Italy and in the past!!

Genres covered in this book include Romance, Literary Sagas, 20th Century Historical Romance, Historical Fiction, Mystery, Romantic Fiction, Historical European Fiction and Historical Literary Fiction amongst others.

I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of Santa Montefiore, Lucinda Berry, Sue Roberts, Nicholas Sparks, Victoria Hoslop and anyone looking for a stunning page turner.

305 pages

This book is just £1.99 to purchase on kindle or free on kindle unlimited (at the time of review), £7.99 in paperback and £16.99 on Audiobook via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!


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This book is gloriously good. Loved the unfolding story os Estee as her career and life unfold with the help from her pushy mother.
Felix sounds lovely but will this always be the case! Why do parents think they always know best?

In the present we read about Lily who is desperate to fulfil her fathers dreams, while forgetting to allow herself to make choices that matter to her life.
Love going through Italy as the story unfolded, just sad that it ended.

This is a good book. It goes from present day Italy to the mid-late 1940s. The 1940 story is told from Estee and Felix’s point of view. The present day story is from their great granddaughters point of view. Her name is Lily. The story flows really well. The characters are interesting and believable. The storyline kept me reading. Family is very important to both generations and so is love. I don’t want to give the story away and this isn’t a book report but I’m having a little difficulty not going into the story too much. Let me just say I enjoyed the book and will read others from this author. I also will recommend to family and friends. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an advance copy for my honest review.

A gripping heartbreaking story shared over generations. Two women. Two timelines intertwined into a story of love, courage, determination, family, travel, loss and mystery. a wonderful start to this serious I can't wait to find out where the clues in the box take us next.

Absolutely loved the romance of the winemaker! Soraya Lane makes the countryside of Italy so real that I can picture walking in the vineyards! This lovely story has all the feels and is a five star must read!

Lots of books these days use “heart wrenching and emotional “ in their title, but this absolutely was.

Ms. Lane is a must read author for me in the historical fiction genre, and it’s because of stories like this. Told in dual timelines, one story is about the sacrifices made in life. Estee had her career planned for her by her mother. She was to be a ballerina, the best ballerina, and her mother ruled her life to make it happen. Estee sacrificed food, companionship but managed to find love, but it got wrenched away as well.

Lily has the job she thought she wanted, carrying on her father’s dream of traveling through vineyards, learning their secrets and eventually coming home to grow her own varietals. When she finally finds out about her grandmother’s story she sets out to find her family and also finds her future.

This was a beautiful, well-written book and I highly recommend it for lovers of historical fiction.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book, but my opinions are my own.

Italy, 1946, Estee and Felix were childhood sweethearts and they always knew they would spend the rest of their lives together. When Estee is offered the opportunity of a lifetime to move to the big city and be a dancer. While the move would allow her to provide for her family, it would also make a better life for herself. Many years later Felix, who is engaged to the daughter of a prominent family, finds Estee. Felix is willing to give everything up to finally be with Estee, the love of his life. London, present day, Lily is grieving the loss of her father, and at the same time trying to find out everything she can about her past. Lily is desperate to find answers to her questions and she accepts a job at an Italian vineyard and meets the owner’s son, Antonio. Lily and Antonio's friendship develops, he tells Lily that he will help her to uncover everything he can about her past.

Wow, I truly loved this story. It quickly captivated me and I absolutely loved the characters. The dual time line was excellent and took the story to a whole nother level. I felt pulled into the story at the very beginning and couldn’t put the book down until I was finished. This book has all the feels, it left me heartbroken and tearful many times throughout the story. I was invested in the characters and cared about what happened to them. The detailed description of the lovely Italian vineyard was heartwarming. The family drama and romance made this historical fiction an absolute must read. I loved everything about this story.

Thank you Soraya Lane for such a wonderfully written story. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and I absolutely recommend it.

This Book! This is my first read by this author and I now automatically need the whole stack of the rest of her books to read right NOW!
This book is so amazing that I sped read it, losing sleep over it and it was so great I didn't even mind the lack of sleep .
With a dual time line I didn't quite make the connection at first between the two time periods but it did eventually become cohesive.
This book will really WOW you historical fiction fans with it's fabulous plot.
My favorite time period was the earlier time period with those characters . The author makes the character's step out of the pages and come to life. You can feel their emotions as they become your emotions. The book is absolutely heartbreaking and it makes you want to step back in history with them and chance the outcome. Despite the heartbreak there is a light at the end of the tunnel with blue skies ahead. There is healing for these characters you can not hold these characters back. They will persevere and make things right. This book and the emotions I felt with it will stay with me for a long time. Highly recommended as the best historical I've read this year!

Pub Date 23 Sep 2022
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

The Italian Daughter, the first book in The Lost Daughters Series by Soraya Lane is such a wonderful story. Family both the good and the bad is a major focus as characters from the fortes and characters in the present are so affected and influenced by strong minded parents.

Estee and Felix fall in love with family wanting to control their destiny. This leads to consequences that affected the life of present day Lily. The story flows smoothly with events happening naturally after the surprise visit to the lawyer’s office. I like how Lily and Antonio develop a strong relationship as he helps her solve her grandmother’s mystery. Also loved the last scene with Estee and Felix as well as the one with Lily and Antonio.

Recommend this book to all historical romance readers. The perfect amount of angst, drama, surprises, and wonderful romance. This book is complete with no cliffhangers. It also read as a stand-alone. So now I look forward to the next book, wondering where it will take place and who will be the characters.

An ARC of the book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley which I voluntarily chose to read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.