This is a very enjoyable read, with a plot of convoluted family secrets that must be unraveled for Kate to understand who she really is and to peacefully pursue her passion for drawing and painting. Although a bit slow-moving at times, the story is intriguing and the characters are well written. Kate grows up feeling that somehow she doesn’t truly belong in the Arden family and always longing to know the identity of her mother. She has vague childhood memories of having been pulled from the loving arms of her mother and remembers scenic places that could only have been in Italy. Set during World War II, Kate’s quest to find the truth that has been hidden from her takes her from the grand estate of Arden House near Stratford-upon-Avon to Italy, primarily the picturesque and romantic city of Venice. The ending is very satisfying with unexpected twists. A good read.

Set during WWII, The Secret Daughter of Venice by Juliet Greenwood has wonderful descriptions of Venice, the waterways, the culture, and the art. It also discusses the eruption of Pompeii and the destruction of the war. There are two main characters Kate and Sofia. Kate remembers parts of her past and that the mother of her siblings isn't her other. She longs to find her true heritage, but the war inconveniently intervenes. Sofia, Kate's biological mother, is searching for Kate and risks the dangers of war to travel various places.
I felt the plot was predictable and the characters were not easily engaging for the reader. The last part of the book was the best to me. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This was my first exposure to Ms. Greewood's work, and I must say it was rather enjoyable. She tells a tight tale, without a lot of fluff while keeping the story moving during one of history's more tumultuous recent periods. The Contessa is one you will certainly love to hate while Kate and others you will fall in love with. I was hoping for an epilogue to know if anything comes of the budding romance at the end, but I suppose the author felt it was enough to leave it open-ended with opportunity, instead of spelling it all out,

Either way, I found The Secret Daughter of Venice an entertaining tale with lots of vivid descriptions and sensitivity toward the great loss experienced by those who lived and died during WWII. Venice has always been somewhere I'd like to go, now all the more so.

I received an ARC; this is my honest review.

I enjoyed reading this book- it had everything I look for A wartime saga, great characters and beautiful settings. Even though the story was a little slow at times I still really enjoyed it. Recommended.

I always try to find something good in every book I read. Especially if the book is by a new author to me. It took me a very long time to get into this book. That is something I do not like in a book. I don't know if it was because its a war background book and I have read so many.

I did love the premise behind the book and the character of Kate herself. The book was beautifully written characters grew within the book which is something I always look for in a book. Maybe it was me and the subject matter that I found very hard to get into.

Thank you NetGalley and Storm for the ARC. Ms. Greenwood I would love to read something else by you. .

I absolutely adored The Secret Daughter of Venice by Juliet Greenwood! It captured my heart from the first page. (The cover is gorgeous, too!) This is a story about family roots and understanding who you are. The age old question of nature versus nurture comes to mind. This quandary is analysed and its effects are visible in the story. It is obvious that genes play a big part in our abilities, mannerisms and appearance. Our personality and our reactions are a product of our parents, too, along with the world around us. Character Kate is a good example of this and although her years on the Arden Estate have contributed to her development, she feels unfulfilled and needs to connect with her birth mother and the past to feel whole. And, most importantly, to move forward.

Kate has grown up feeling like a misfit in the Arden family. She loves her siblings—even her controlling Papa and hard-working stepmother. But there is a lot of mystery surrounding her origins that nobody seems to want to talk about. There are many hidden secrets that have kept her in the dark. But why? With ongoing flashes of images from her early childhood haunting her, she must get to the source of these troubling visions. And to do that, she must revisit locations that have been part of her past life. It is quite a puzzle to solve but her mother has left clues in some artwork for her. Of course, she also wonders why her mother gave her up in the first place. The answer to this question is a lot more complex than first thought— which becomes obvious when information slowly comes to light.

Art is Kate Arden’s passion. Where does this love of drawing and painting come from? She remembers loving arms and hands guiding her; encouraging her to exercise this gift. Kate is most at home with a pencil in her hand. It is her happy place away from the jeers of the towns people caught in the throes of gossip who claim she is illegitimate. Kate differs from other family members. She has dark hair and olive skin indicating her Italian heritage. But she has grown up in a long standing English noble family whose historic foundation is crumbling. A family who is fighting to save its legacy and regain its wealth. This creates real friction among its members. And it is a dangerous situation to be in for a girl. As various options are considered such as marrying the Arden daughters off to wealthy men. Kate, of course, rejects this proposition and as she escapes to follow the path her heart wants to go, she begins to grow, learn new things and find her feet.

During World War II, Kate finds a way to leave the Estate by taking part in a volunteer program. This sends her to another part of England where she teaches children who have lost family. Her search for her mother begins here and she finds some intriguing clues. She also ends up in Venice and I found this part of the story very fascinating. It was lovely to see her artistic talent blossom in such a beautiful setting and to see her meeting artists who help her feel a sense of belonging.

The story presents another perspective: Sophia. This provides additional insight and allows us to get to know the woman Kate seeks. My heart was racing many times when she also sets out on a journey to find her daughter. The trail is a hit and miss for a while as mother and daughter pass each other at various check points. But everything comes together in a fine blend with a positive resolution that brought happy tears to my eyes.

I must not forget to mention the one they called Lady MacBeth (Contessa). She was a real Ice Queen and it was hard to imagine any chance of warmth or kindness flowing from her heart. Kate gets to see who she is and shakes her head that someone could be so cruel and uncaring of their daughter and granddaughter. It just proves how the ruthless pursuit of money and position can twist the mind of an individual and drive them to horrid ends. Wealth can become a wicked taskmaster. Yes, this woman never wanted to go back to being poor again but her endless hateful schemes brought her nothing but failure and grief.

This is a fabulous novel that left its mark on my heart. I highly recommend The Secret Daughter of Venice but be prepared to free up many hours in your day as you won’t want to set this book down until you are done! 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to Storm Publishing and Netgalley for my review copy.

Kate has grown up in the English noble family of Ahern, in an historic but crumbling family estate. But she has grown accustomed to whispers around town that she is an illegitimate heir, with her dark hair and olive skin hinting at her Italian providence.

Kate has hazy memories of her life before England, of sun-drenched villas and learning art techniques that are now her passion, but not appreciated by her family. The need for volunteers during WWII allows Kate to journey away from her family estate, and also begins her search for her mother, whom she believes was an Italian artist who spend time in Italy. Her investigations take her to post-war Italy, to Naples, the Campagna countryside around Pompeii and, finally, to Venice. Slowly, Kate begins to piece together the mysteries of her past, thereby allowing her to project her future.

This was an engaging and fast-paced historical fiction novel, set in Britain and Italy, which slowly uncovers layers of mysteries and lies that help Kate to unravel the story of her past.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy - all thoughts are my own.

My Thoughts /

First and foremost, a huge THANK YOU to NetGalley, Storm Publishing, and author Juliet Greenwood, for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review. Publication date is currently set for May 14, 2024.

Have you ever wondered where your 'love' for something has originated from? Your love of a particular type of music, art, or history. Did it come from a parent, a grandparent, an aunt, or some other family member, or mentor?

Kate Arden has a passion for sketching, drawing, and painting. She's loved art, particularly sketching and drawing since she was a child. She has fading snippets of memories of elegant fingers and slender long arms guiding her own as she was drawing. A smooth velvety voice lovingly encouraging her to pick up and pencil and draw. She can't remember the face, but she can remember that voice and how it made her feel - loved and cherished.

Kate Arden grew up in England on the family estate. She had brothers and sisters, a loving mother, but her father was a very controlling patriarch. Although Kate loved her siblings dearly, she always had a niggling feeling that she was somehow different from those surrounding her in her immediate family. Her earliest memories are not from England, but from someplace else. She dreams about water, grape vines; of a villa filled with paintings. Before she died, Kate's mother gave her a book and told her that inside that book were the answers to her questions about her past. Taking a closer look, Kate discovered a series of sketched drawings hidden within the binding of the old book. Kate knew that these sketches were meant for her and the more she looked at them, the more her memories of a time long ago started to resurface. And now she begins her journey to discover the truth about her original heritage.

Author, Juliet Greenwood has written Kate's story in three parts, and I must confess to enjoying the later parts more. Chapters alternate between two locations: England and Venice; and two voices: Kate's and Sofia's (Kate's mother). And although the main plot thread is Kate's story, I enjoyed reading Sofia's story a little more. I think because Sofia's family dynamic was more interesting. I was a little detached from Kate and that detachment left me distanced from her part in the story - I needed something more to pull me in.

I did enjoy the Venetian setting. The descriptions of the waterways, waterbuses, and gondolas. The sights and the smells; the descriptions of the buildings and cafes; the artwork and the people - that all made compelling reading. It was just unfortunate that Kate's plot thread was slow and dare I say(?), became a little boring to wade through. I started skimming (not a good sign).

I did enjoy the ending, and thought Greenwood did a good job of combining the two stories together to end with a satisfying conclusion.

Finishing this one has sparked an interest to learn more about Venice and this time-period. The author also mentions Pompeii, archaeological excavations, and artifacts, which I'm also keen to know more about.

This is my first Juliet Greenwood read and am keen to read some of her other works to see how they compare.

#NetGalley #The Secret Daughter of Venice

A story set during ww2 and in wonderfully described locales.

Kate Arden sets out on a journey to uncover her parentage. While the premise of the book seemed interesting, the writing style was a miss.

This story revolves around the mystery of Kate- her real mother, and her adopted family, during WW2.
I liked the character of Kate, and her brothers and sisters. However, a big part of the story hinges on Kate’s insecurity about her place in the family. I had difficulty understanding why she was insecure. She has very close relationships with all her adoptive siblings, and with her step mother. All of them struggle in their relationship with their father- so this plot point seemed forced.

I loved the description of Venice, but things seemed to be repeated over and over, and I struggled to maintain interest. However, the last few chapters do pick up. Everything is resolved, although I had it pretty much figured out.

Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the free ARC. This is my honest review.

Historical drama set during and after World War Two. A young girl searches for her mother which leads her to Venice.

A family saga told between 1941 and 1946 following the Arden Family and the mysterious Kates parentage
WW2 is still in full swing as the storyline begins and different family members are at war whilst others keep the home fires burning. Kate wants to find out who her biological parents are but can she find this information out with a strict home life and an even stricter Grandmother The Contessa. My only criticism is that I wanted more at the end of the book. Thanks to Juliet and her publisher. Thanks also to NetGalley

Honestly, I just found this kind of boring. The last 20-30% was the best part of the book, but even the reveals at the end were kind of anticlimactic and disappointing. I liked Kate as a character for the most part but found it hard to connect to the plot as a whole.

Thank you to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for the advanced readers copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. All thoughts are my own.

In this World War II historical novel, Juliet Greenwood weaves a tale of love, mystery, and art against the backdrop of war-torn England and the enchanting city of Venice. Kate Arden embarks on a journey to uncover her past, fuelled by a secret stash of drawings hidden within an old volume of poetry. These sketches lead her to Venice, where she hopes to find answers about her identity and the mother who abandoned her.

The premise of the book is captivating, drawing you into a world of intrigue and forgotten memories. As Kate unravels the mystery, we see her unwavering courage and determination. However, as Kate gradually distances herself from her aristocratic adoptive parents to aid war children and eventually settles in Italy, her persistent compliance becomes somewhat exasperating.

Peter struck me as a baffling presence in Kate’s life, his consistently icy attitude towards her remaining unexplained throughout the book. This left me questioning the reason behind his aloof demeanour and wanting clarity regarding his motivations.

Greenwood does bring Venice to life, however, evoking the rippling waterways, and the majestic cathedral dome, leaving you wanting to explore the enchanting city.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

this uses the world war 2 element perfectly with what I was hoping for in this type of book. It had that emotional element perfectly. The characters were what I was hoping for and enjoyed getting to read this. Juliet Greenwood has a great writing style and left me wanting more.

I usually enjoy historical fiction, but this one fell short for me. I was very distracted by the writing style and found it hard to follow. Some of the sentences were so long (a full paragraph) that I had to reread them multiple times to follow the purpose of the sentence. I did enjoy the scenery descriptions and this story makes me want to visit Venice even more!

Thank you to Net Galley and Storm Publishing for the ARC copy in exchange for this review!

A beautifully told story set during and just after WWII. Kate Arden always felt as though she didn't quite 'belong' at Arden House even though she was loved by her family. Having been brought to Arden House as a child, she always wondered about her past and her true parents. As a young woman she gradually uncovers various clues and hints to finding her mother, all while doing her bit to aid the war effort. Her journey leads her from Arden House down to Cornwall, from Naples to Sorrento and Venice. There's a very interesting twist in the end that made me sit up in surprise! Lovely writing full of beautiful descriptions of the landscapes and places.
Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book, the author was so good at setting the scenes of her locations and the story was well written with engaging and warm characters. I would absolutely read this author again and recommend. Many thanks

England 1941: Kate Arden has spent most of her life with her brothers and sisters in the family estate of Arden. She has always felt that she was an outsider, that her family was not really her family and when she discovers a secret stash of drawings hidden in an old book, her breath catches as she 'remembers' being torn from loving arms when she was a child. Kate has dreams of a time in Italy, of a villa with grape vines and the warmth of the love of a mother. Even in a time of war, she vows to go to Italy to find her true parents and to find out who she really is.

Kate discovers, through people who care for her, a part of her story...her dreams or memories make her determined to find out the truth. To help with the war effort, Kate, in the company of friends, travels with children orphaned and displaced by the bombing in London to the countryside in Cornwall. In the grounds of the castle where they are staying, Kate discovers a small, deserted cottage which gives her more clues to her past.

I loved this story by Juliet Greenwood. The family dynamic is interesting and encourages the reader to follow the dreams and hopes of not just one person, but several. I loved the characters, both good and not so good, the family mystery and Kate's journey to Cornwall and eventually to Italy.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this wonderful story prior to the book's release.

A really interesting read set in the 1940s with the main character, Kate, feeling she really doesn’t belong in the Arden family, but only having odd memories of her early childhood. This is such a nicely woven story, the descriptions of Italy during and immediately after WWII are very vivid and believable, as are the scenes set in England. Some of the plot lines felt a bit too much at times, but didn’t spoil my enjoyment of this book. Although the ending was obvious, it was the way the author got there that made it so enjoyable.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.