Cover Image: The Italian Daughter (The Lost Daughters Book 1)

The Italian Daughter (The Lost Daughters Book 1)

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Member Reviews

This was a really lovely book. Well researched, engaging characters and a great story line. It will pull on your heartstrings and stay with you long after you have finished it. Do read it. To find it is the first of a series was great to know. I can’t wait for the next one.

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This is such a wonderful book! I have read this writer's previous books and enjoyed them as well.
I am so happy about the next couple books coming up!
This is an amazing writer, do not miss out!

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Lovely heart rendering story of lost families and loves. The novel is full of insight into relationships and memories.

The novel never loses the readers' attention and grips the reader from the very first chapter

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I enjoyed this light and entertaining read about Lilly and her family’s history.
I loved the writing about Italy and the wine making. The author builds that world beautifully and I was transported completely. The older storyline was woven well into the current- day events and the romances involved in both stories were believable.
I had a laugh out loud moment when (spoiler) Lilly’s Italian family talk about the two great hazelnut producing factions of the family at war. But I can see how our author took a little creative licence there.
A sweet and creative read - perfect for the beach.

Thanks to netgalley for the ARC I received of this book.

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I loved this book!

A duel story between different times eventually brought together beautifully. I was transported back to one of my favourite places and travelled along with both Estee and Lily as their stories unfold from WW11 to now.

A beautiful charming story filled with love hope and tragedy! You will not be able to put it down.

Thank you Soraya Lane. I look forward to book 2?!

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Soraya Lane's writing style is one that I really enjoy and this book did not disappoint. The Italian Daughter is a dual timeline novel, with the first timeline beginning in 1937 Italy with young Estee meeting Felix and the two becoming friends and falling in love. The second timeline takes place in the present day with Lily, a winemaker, learning that her beloved grandmother was adopted and receiving a box with two clues to lead her to her grandmother's biological family. Lily travels to Italy to begin working as an assistant winemaker at a family-run vineyard and works with the son of the vineyard owner, Antonio, to interpret the clues and find out the identity of her great-grandmother. The characters are all very likeable and about half-way through, I couldn't put it down. No spoilers, but it has the happy ending that I love so much.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

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Slight Departure From Lane's Typical Approach, Same Great Storytelling. I think this may be the first dual timeline book I've encountered from Lane, who normally writes historical fiction - mostly WWII - under this name. Here, we get a WWII story... but it serves to fill in the holes of the current day mystery, which is the other timeline. This is potentially an excellent starter that does well to both set up a series *and* combine "both" sides of Lane's storytelling - she also writes actual romance stories as her name without the "M" middle initial, and the romance/ women's fiction element here is particularly strong in *both* timelines. Which arguably makes this Lane's strongest book to date, as she is finally able to combine her components into one full "self". Truly an outstanding work, and very much recommended.

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This is the first book in a new series. I felt swept away to Italy! Dual timelines, family secrets. The ballerina and the baker and the winemakers, all great characters and their stories are woven together brilliantly.

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I’ve long been a fan of Soraya Lane’s WWII historical fiction novels, but I was very excited and intriguing when she announced a new series called The Lost Daughters. I started this book last night, and finished it today—I was so invested in the characters and their stories that I couldn’t stop reading. This heartfelt book features a dual timeline, with the stories of two couples dominating each storyline. I was moved to tears by all of their stories; by their love, their heartache, their secrets, their passions, their hopes. Estee and Felix, Lily and Antonio—they all touched my heart in every way imaginable.

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A truly heartbreaking story of family secrets, love and hope.
It is 1937 and a young Estee is a ballerina and destined to dance for the famous Italian La Scala Theatre dance academy in Milan. There is to be nothing except dancing for her but she meets Felix and she sees that life isn’t all about dancing.
Present day in London and Lily has returned to her family home after a period of time working in New Zealand as an Assistant wine maker. Her mother is in Italy on holiday and Lily is to join her for a few days before commencing a new job with an Italian family run winery. There is a letter awaiting Lily in London inviting her to a lawyers office in regard to her grandmother’s estate. This meeting changes Lily’s life as she is told that her grandmother was born at Hopes House, a home for unmarried mothers and it is a shock to discover that her grandmother was adopted. A box containing a recipe and a program from La Scala is handed over to Lily and she is determined to find out what they mean and what is her family heritage when she gets to Italy.
I enjoyed this book very much and the dual timeline weaved the past and present together to provide a wonderfully engrossing read.

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This book grabbed me from page one! Dual timelines about two women, Estee and Lily. Lily is given a box which hold clues to who possibly was her great grandmother. She’s come to Italy to learn more about the wine business. While there she might find out about her great grandmother.
I liked Estee and Lily, both strong women. It’s a good story and book one in a series. I’m looking forward to her next one
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the early copy

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Having read nearly all of this fabulous authors books I was delighted to be reading this, what an amazing tale unfolds.
A twin timeline present day and the 40s a tale of undying love and what had to be done to move on, I cried buckets I laughed and totally loved it its a nice light read in many respects with a very powerful message go with your gut instinct ❤️.

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The Italian Daughter is the first of a series of books(Lost Daughters) by this author. Set in both the present and the 1940's, the story follows a young woman who has inherited a small box from an adoption agency left by her great grandmother. Her journey in Italy will have her meet long lost relatives and discover why her ancestor had made the choices that she had. I read this book quickly, it didn't particularly keep my interest, I just wanted to find out the ending. This book would probably be good for someone who wants something light to read and has a happy ending.

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The Italian Daughter is the first book in a new historical fiction series The Lost Daughters by Soraya M. Lane. The story is written in a dual timeline that weaves together beautifully. Lily present day who lives making wine and Estee her great grandmother a ballerina.
A captivating story that I was drawn into from the first page. A trip to Italy without having to leave my home. Someday i hope to take a trip to Italy to see those vineyards of grapes for myself. A compelling and enjoyable read.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read this book.

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“The Italian Daughter” is the first book in a new historical fiction series The Lost Daughters by Soraya M. Lane. I’ve read a number of Ms. Lane’s books and this one also didn’t disappoint. This book was a slight departure from Ms. Lane’s previous books in that while it takes place around a historical event (WWII), that event isn’t the main focus. In this case, the story is a dual-timeline between Lily (present day) and her great-grandmother (Estee). For once, I actually liked both timelines - it’s often common for me to like the older timeline - so that was a very pleasant surprise. This was a quick and enjoyable read and I look forward to continuing the series.

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Outstanding, I wanted to stay awake to read more and kept finding 5 minutes here and there to pick up the book! Such likeable main characters who I now feel sorry to not have in my life! Antonio sounded like the perfect man who most women could fall in love with!

The storyline was strong and captivating. There were twists and turns throughout the book that you didn't see coming.

Amazingly written that you felt like you were in Italy and it made you want a glass of cool crisp wine.

Thank you Soraya, your stories are brilliant and I eagerly await the next!

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I have read all of Soroya Lane’s WW II novels and they are outstanding. I have mixed feelings about this novel. It just didn’t hold my interest like the WW II novels. It is a dual time line story of a young woman very interested in wine making because of her father. She discovers that her grandmother may have been adopted and sets out to find the answer through two pieces of paper left by the birth mother. The story is well written and interwoven, so I don’t feel it would be fair to give it less than 4 stars.

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The Italian daughter was rich in detail, full of passion this is a delightful and fascinating read. Evocative, enthralling and enjoyable. A highly compelling, engrossing read.

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The story had alot of holes and the end was a bit predictable but I did keep reading. Probably a good beach read to keep you entertained for the afternoon.

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This was an emotional read. The author does a great job forming her characters.
There is mystery, heart break, and controlling parents. There is also joy and closure.
I learned a lot about vineyards and wine, along with ballet and Italy.
This storyline follows two different times in history, but I was drawn in from the beginning.

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