This book has it all! War, resistance, love and family. Beautifully written and set in three different timelines in Mussolino’s Italy, it tells the tales of Eva and her twin brother Elio and Alessia and Siena. Eva, studying art in Florence with her twin brother in the 1920s, falls for her professor, while Elio joins the Fascists.

In the midst of war, fierce Siena flees to Bari where quiet and calm Alessia lives with her Nonna and younger brother. Why has she turned up at Alessia’s door and what secrets does she hold? How are their stories intertwined?

The tragedy of war-torn Italy is vividly described and the story is so moving that the ending is almost sure to make you cry! I will certainly look for more books by Lelita Baldock.

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

Rome pre 1944. Siena works in an art gallery, working for a man she has come to care for as a grandfather and who has inculcated in her a love for art, and the need to protect what they have against the foreboding shadows of Nazi Germany. When the inevitable happens Siena flees to Bari seeking safety for one book containing details of paintings.

What follows is the death and deprivation that followed wherever the Nazis went. It also highlights the resistance displayed by ordinary citizens who against the odds, worked in insidious ways to hinder the enemy progress. Books written about this period of history are stark and destructive and it never fails to unnerve because it happens again and again.

The three timelines were difficult to follow (at times) but overall the story was a good one, well told.

Thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the opportunity to read The Keeper of Lost Art by Lelita Baldock a beautifully written novel covering two timelines, meticulously researched.

Art, War, Scandal and one gutsy woman. Welcome to the Keeper of Lost Art by Lelita Baldock.

The story is a gripping historical fiction set in World War II Italy, following Siena, a woman fleeing Nazi occupied Rome with a ledger of stolen art and a secret of her own. The story is told from multiple POVs of Siena, Alessia and Eva, and also from two different timelines, years before World War II and during World War II in Italy.

i love how the author blends fact with fiction seamlessly, this sent me down the rabbit hole to read more about the actual historical events like the bombing in Bari, the rise and fall of Mussolini and Italy's role in World War II.

The story is not all War and Art, it explores the harsh judgement faced by unwed mothers, conveniently forgetting that they did not get pregnant on their own 🤷🏿‍♀️, the suffocating traditional values of the time and the quiet rebellion of women who dared to live freely. One character I was furious with even though he later found redemption was Elio, his actions and decisions towards his pregnant unwed twin sister lead to so many avoidable consequences. Even after she dies, he sealed up her memory and Art like she never existed all in the name of family shame, it was heartbreaking.

Are you a fan of:
📌 Art and Intrigue

📌 Art Heists

📌History that hits hard

📌Women fighting back the patrichal system with courage

Then this book is perfect for you 🫵🏿. I rate this book an 8/10, Thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for an advanced readers' copy of this book and I have this author on my radar ☺️☺️

Once I started this book I could not put it down. It really brings to life what life must have been like for ordinary families in occupied Italy during the war. The mystery of Siennas past is gripping and there are twists and turns right the the very final chapters.

A beautifully crafted story which very cleverly is told on two timelines which only reveal their relevance at the conclusion of the book.
Set in Italy during the Second World War it deals with how people manage to exist in times of hardship and shortages of the basics of living.
The courage to act up against the suppression of the invading army and take action to prevent the loss of Italys inheritance.
It is a story of love and loss with a beautiful conclusion
I can’t recommend it enough

With thanks to Storm Books for the ARC.

WOW, I LOVED this book set in Italy in multiple timeline (pre, during and post WW2 Italy. I loved learning a little bit more about wartime Italy, the hardships the people endured, their strength and the resistance efforts, all told through an arts lens. The characters are well-developed and though it took a while to get into the flow of the multiple character POV and timelines, once I did, I devoured this book in just a couple of days. My first read by this author but not my last!

This is a story of a family in Italy during World War II with ties back to World War I. Alessia lives in Bari with her Nonna and brother, Nicco. Her father is away fighting. One night a young woman, shows up at the door. Alessia allows her to come in and to stay the night. Siena is running from Rome with a book of where the hidden art has stored to save it from the Nazis. The story is interesting. There seem to be multiple story lines that intercept.

I was asked to read this by Storm Publishing. I enjoyed the story more than I thought I would. I would recommend this to others even those who say “not one more WWII book”. #Netgalley

This is my 1st book by Lelita Baldock and I'll be looking for more of her books.
This WW II historical novel with a dual timeline is set in Florence, Italy in the 1920's, post WW I and in Bari, a small coastal town in the 1940's. It opens with a young woman fleeing Rome, to Bari, to the home of Alessia, her grandmother, younger brother as her older brother and father are away at war. The author's historical research strength shines here, with so many details about the war in relation to Italy, Mussolini and her ties to Hitler, Facism and the cultural norms of family, food and community, I learned quite a bit. Her descriptive language of the area, draws you in, making you feel cosmopolitan Rome and the beauty of Bari, along with the emotional states of the various characters of love, fear, betrayal, despair, hunger and romance. The women are the strongest protagonist's in the story, facing their struggles with grace, generosity, loyalty and strength.
There is some violence, appropriate for the era of war, some non-graphic sexual scenes and family conflict. The timelines were a bit clunky occasionally, but the unveiling of the various ties between the characters was well done.and kept me engaged to the satisfying end. If you are looking for an engaging and intriguing WW II dual timeline story filled with empathic characters, art, community, danger, suspense, love and reconciliation, I highly recommend this book.
A deep note of gratitude to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the privilege of the ARC, it was my pleasure. All opinions expressed are my own.

Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

This was an emotional dual timeline story set in Italy during 1920's in Florence and the 1940's in Bari, Rome.


It’s 1920 and Eva and Elio, twins both have arrive at an art academy in Florence, this is a well known academy. For Elio, she wants to live a better life after what’s she’s seen in the war, and Eva is just happy to be there.

The twins are close, but slowly they begin to move away from each other as they want different things from their lives.

Then in 1940 Sienna who lives in Rome and works for an owner of an art gallery, who isn’t just selling art, he also keeps a list in a book of 'lost art' which he hopes will be back with the owners.

Sienna leaves Rome, taking the book with her soon after the owner is taken into custody. She’s been advised to travel to Bari, where a family will help her.

The story was well written, hard to put down and you read about the way of life of people during the war, as well as those who want to protect the art. There was also secrets kept by families.

I highly recommend this book.

Really loved the story line and how the lives intertwined. The changing of perspectives and times was a little confusing at first until I got to know the characters. A sad but/and beautiful ending.

For me, the history underpinning this story was fascinating, opening up new aspects of the Second World War I’d known nothing about before. I would expect no less from this talented writer.
This is a tale of a country divided by war and by politics, occupied by invading forces and suffering bitter hardships. In the southern port of Bari, Alessia and her family eke out an impoverished existence in the absence of the men who have gone to war. Further north, Siena is working for an art lover, helping to catalogue treasures and smuggle them out of reach of Nazi looting. They share a connection which only becomes clear as the story progresses, although there are hints in the somewhat fragmented timeline (which did make things a bit confusing at first).
It’s an intriguing book although I felt the title could perhaps set up expectations that had little to do with the bulk of the story. The main characters are interesting and well drawn, and the conclusion was satisfying.
Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Keeper of Lost Art is a lovely story, but it is spoiled by the fact that the author flits between three timelines - 1921, 1938 and 1943 and that make it hard to flow the flow of the story. Every bit is important and the story would flow better if the book was spit into 4 sections: 1921, 1938, 1943 and Conclusions. Each section is important to the storyline and its final outcome and keeping each part separate would have helped the flow of the book. It is possible to read it this way, by checking the titles of each chapter and reading accordingly. With all this apart, it is a story worth reading, I fully recommend persevering with the layout.

Thanks to NetGalley & Storm Publishing for my digital ARC to read and review. All the views given here are my own and they are given freely.

An emotional dual time line story set in Italy during the 1920’s in Florence and in the 1940’s in Rome and a small seaside country town of Bari.
In 1920 twins Eva and Elio have been accepted into a prestigious art academy in Florence . Elio has returned from war and is seeking a better life. Eva is just pleased to be accepted into an art academy. Despite the closeness of the twins they start to drift apart as they see life differently.
In 1940 Sienna is living in Rome and working for an art galley owner who is doing more than buying and selling art. He is keeping a record in a black book of ‘lost art’ in the hope it can be returned to their rightful owners after the war. Sienna flees Rome with the black book when the Nazis arrest the gallery owner. Sienna has been told to go Bari and seek help from the family that live there.
This is an engaging historical fiction story about the hardship of life during the war and the bravery and commitment of those seeking to save the art of Italy. It is also a story of a family secrets, love and trust. A good weekend read.

“The world turned as it turned. The truth was that it was all right. Every choice, every mistake, every lie … was under pinned by love.”

When a secret isn’t yours to tell, how well can you walk the line between fact and fiction? How can you share your heart, when it’s tied to the secrets of your past? Set in Italy and spanning 3 decades, this non-linear story weaves together three women striving to survive. A story which beautifully depicts the complexity of life: struggle between what is right and what feels good, the sacrifice of self for another, the importance of community in the midst of adversity.

i really enjoyed this book. we dont usually see a dual timeline that switches to the before the world war we are in to reveal the secrets. we are usually taken to a more modern day search. so i appreciated# learning of times around both the wars. but my what a horrific time we still learn about going on in those times. in the war people were desperate. and still managed to be brave either for bigger tasks or simply keeping those they love safe at home whilst others were off fighting. i cant imagine the balance of trying to keep it all together at that time. particular if where you are living is going through worst times of strife than others. the fear you must carry with you daily must seem like a unimagined weight.
in this book we are given the earlier years story of a brother and sister. Eva and Elio come to study for bigger and better things. but its not an easy ride and what happens create a divide between them. but the consequences will change lives and shape futures. it also means secrets are long kept.
the modern day story is one of the second war. Sienna is a courageous woman. she is determined to do her bit and becomes involved in protecting and saving the art of Italy from the Germans. and she boldly does so when she is given a piece and told to run. she runs to the door of Alessia. Alessia once showed what Siena holds cant refuse her. so she takes her in even though she is struggling as it is to take care of her own family.
Bari isnt the safest of places to be at the best of times. but this new situation brings even more frantic risk to their doors. watching these two woman unwavering bravery as well as their growing trust and friendship was one of the best parts of the stories for me. they are both vulnerable but so strong in their own ways. and in ways im not sure i could ever be. and as the war comes closer they continue to show that strength of character and purpose still fuels them both.
this story has lots of hidden secrets that come to light and how the two timelines are linked was such a wonderful revealing. i was a tad emotional at times too and could clearly picture the locations in my mind.

Hiding the Italian artworks that Mussolini was gifting to Hitler was a dangerous undertaking but there were some who hid their own fears to save the heritage of their homeland. The backstory of a few of the women involved in this effort against a background of privations and fear is the beauty of this riveting novel. *****Review
I requested and received a free temporary uncorrected digital galley from Storm Publishing via NetGalley.
#TheKeeperOfLostArt by @lelitabaldockwrites @stormbooks_co #WW2 #historicalnovel #family #wartimeSurvival #romantic #Italy #hidingValuedArt #tense #action #danger #resist #goodreads #oppression

I never miss a book for lelita.
She's always got the style and the technique of grabbing me as a reader.
A fiction set at the time of ww2, full of paintings and secrets.
This story is written in two times, pre ww2 and after it, depicting the beauty of Italy before the war and moarning the ruined Italy after the war.
Her words are so alive that you feel like being a part of the family of Alessia. Alessia, the sweet-natured girl who I consider the real protagonist in the story.
The keeper of Lost Art is a highly recommended, page-turning story!

Siena worked at the art gallery in Rome, along side an elderly man she'd begun to love as a Nonno, helping him with the cataloging of Italy's art. But as the war moved closer, she realised that was not all they were doing. The black book which the Dottore secreted away needed to be kept safe, and when Siena finally fled Rome, she took it with her.

Arriving in Bari, a port city in southern Italy's Puglia region, Siena continued to the home she'd been sent to. When Alessia opened the door to the stranger, who begged for shelter after her exhausting journey from Rome, she and her Nonna couldn't refuse. Alessia, her younger brother Nicco and their Nonna lived as quietly and unobtrusively as they could, while waiting for the war to end, and their Papa, and Nonna's son, to arrive home. The rationing was harsh, they were always hungry, but Alessia did her best with what little they had. And although the British were manning the port of Bari, and assured the locals the Germans wouldn't come, they did. The bombing was horrific, the deaths and injuries terrible. Both Nicco and Alessia were injured, Nicco the worst, but they were still alive...

The Keeper of Lost Art is a beautiful story by Aussie author Lelita Baldock, only spoiled by the constant chopping back and forth in time. With three timelines - 1921, 1938 and 1943 - it was hard to keep up, and often broke the flow of the story. All sections were important to the story, but I think it could have been executed better. I enjoyed the section with Alessia and her family, and their hardship in Bari, the most. Recommended.

With thanks to NetGalley & Storm Publishing for my digital ARC to read and review.

The book describes the life of an Italian family in Bari, Puglia, Italy, before and during the Second World War. Alessia, Niccolas, and Nona Bianca barely survive the shortage of food and water. As Bari is a small village, the neighbors help each other in spite of all the difficulties, and they maintain their friendship. At the end of World War II, Alessia's father returned to Bari, and then some family secrets were revealed. Despite the difficulties, the family was happy to be reunited.