This was a beautifully written intriguing novel set in stunning scenery, with a time-slip plot full of twists and turns, and a surprising dramatic ending.

Soon after the war, Marianne arrives in Italy at her friend Ruffina's insistence to mount an exhibition of the famous poet, Christina Rossetti's dresses. Grieving for her husband, she throws herself into her work, and discovers secret letters and jewellery which leads her to interesting research about Christina. This places her in conflict with the handsome curator of the museum.

The story also involves Christina, who is faced with either marrying someone she doesn't love, or a dull spinsterhood. When she finds out that her long-dead father has entrusted her to go to Italy to carry out a secret task, she falls in love.

I found the plot rather far-fetched, but I didn't mind that because this was just such a lovely novel.

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

I am a huge fan of historical fiction and truly enjoy dual timelines, however, M.A. McLaughlin book The Lost Dresses of Italy did not do it for me. The setting of Verona Italy was fabulous and certainly helped keep my interest. The intertwining stories (1947 and 1864) had plenty of twists and turns, creative love story and horrific consequences. If you are looking for a good historical mystery fiction novel this is for you.

Thank you #netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

“But what’s wrong with knowing the truth? We have to remember what came before to make peace with what comes after.”

What a fascinating combination - poetry and fashion - sewn together in an intriguing conspiracy surrounding a pre-Raphaelite poet’s secret life in Italy!

In the 1947 timeline, textile historian, Marianne Baxter, looking for a way to deal with grief, heads to Verona, Italy at her friend Rufina Rovelli’s insistence to mount an exhibit of recently discovered Victorian dresses. These textiles have intriguing provenance - they once belonged to the famous poet, Christina Rossetti. As Baxter diligently spends her three weeks before the exhibit opening, arranging the dresses, she uncovers a secret and soon discovers she’s caught up in a web of lies and murder. It seems that Rossetti had once travelled to Italy and the experience had been so memorable that it changed the direction of her life. Whatever happened, Rossetti felt the need to be secretive and left clues in three of her dresses.

In the 1864 timeline, Rossetti arrives in Italy and discovers a gift once given to her by her father. When she finds a secret compartment, it gives her solace (a letter from her father) and purpose (an urgent request). It’s the content of the ornate box that unites the two women and the two tragic timelines.

What you will get: an amazing fictional story that uncovers what may have happened to Rossetti on her trip to Italy.

Inspired by the real-life mystery surrounding poet Christina Rossetti, this book will transport you to the magical city of Verona and enchant and intrigue you with art and fashion. You’ll finish, agreeing that although Rossetti never felt free in her personal life to adopt bohemian ways (the focus of the pre-Raphaelite poets) she still found a way to be creative!

‘When I read about costume historian Baxter's discovery (and the discovery that led to the discovery), and dream come true, I wished I was a fly on the wall of the Fondazione Museo Menigatti.

I loved finding the similarities between the two women, decades apart, who arrive in Italy hoping to begin anew as much as I enjoyed seeing how Baxter dealt with her challenges: an indifferent museum owner, a less than friendly community and a hidden warning letter. The thread of (1) starting anew was echoed not only in both women’s lives, but also in the initiative to restart the fashion industry post-war. Reviving through the artistry of the past, McLaughlin demonstrates, it really where beginning anew starts. When allowed to “peer through a portal” into the past, we should consider ourselves thankful and seize the opportunity for growth. I appreciated the excitement the costume curator had in being given “a chance to connect with something tangible after the wearer was long gone.“ The thread of (2) seeking the truth joined the two timelines seamlessly. I valued the insight about garments and how they “show truths about our past as a society” and how “they have meaning just like any other release or objet d’art.” The author wove in the mystery of ‘fata morgana’ with such flair and the story about the jewels with such emotional heartache.

This story was so much more than I anticipated! I liken it to the box Rossetti was gifted. The more I read, the more I discovered and learned, and the more endearing the book became.

I can’t wait to return to Verona, visit the Arco della Costa and look up! Legend would want me to believe that it will fall on me….

I was gifted this copy by Alcove Press and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

A dual time story set in the 1860s England & Italy & 1947 Italy. The historical time line is based around a real female poet, about who there's little known about. Her story is about the possibility of love and the unattainable possibility of a happy ever after & how it guided her life and writing. The more modern time is about an American who's a clothing historian who is given the chance to research and display 3 dress of a Victorian poet who spent time in Italy, where the dresses are found sealed up in the walls of a palazzo. The stories unfold beautifully, with some degree of action, suspense, & love, as the dresses are examined.
I received an ARC copy of the book from NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. All of the opinions are my own. Thank you Alcove Press and NetGalley!

That was such an interesting, and a bit dark story. There were mysteries, bit of romance, and fashion. Ok, the parts with fashion and textiles got me interested because I loved historical fashion very much. There were two timelines, which I really like. In speaking of "like", what I like about the book is the location. I like the Italian culture and language. Moving on, few parts of the book got me shocked, I thought, "Whoa, I didn't see that coming." Overall, a nice book to read. I will check out Christina Rossetti's poems soon!

Beautiful and well written historical fiction with dual timelines. Post WWII Italy and Victorian Era Italy.

The basis of the story involves fabric and dressmaking which I found fascinating. There's something comforting about it, maybe it's because my mom made all of our dresses growing up, but I found that the mystery surrounding the letter and the restoration of the dresses helped move the plot along seamlessly.

Any historical fiction fan will love this book and it's setting. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Historical fiction story of a trunk of dresses discovered in a damaged building in Verona, Italy after the Second World War. The dresses belonged to an English Victorian poet, Christina Rossetti, a real life poetess who lived in London in the 1800s. Rossetti is the poet writer of the song In The Bleak Midwinter, a well known Christmas carol. The novel imagines a reason for her to travel to Italy, and to write some of her real life poems. The 1800s timeline references real events and people in the life of Christina. The 1940s timeline references real events in the reconstruction of Italy after the war. The storyline of the dresses, Christina’s visit to Italy and her reason for never marrying is fiction. The novel is engaging and well written, with twists that were interesting and surprising. It is a mystery novel, as the modern historian is trying to discover details about the poet, as well as discovering a tie between a murder and a long lost emerald pendant that was worn with one of the dresses. There is a bit of romance as well. Overall an enjoyable read, and recommended.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for a temporary, digital ARC in return for my review.

I so enjoyed reading this book! Incredible story with great characters.

A dual time line story set in Verona. In 1864, Poetress Christina is on a long overdue holiday with her mother and one of her brothers. They're traveling to her deceased father's homeland to learn more about where he was born and grew up. In the current timeline, set in 1947, widow Marianne is a fashion historian that is visiting a friend from college after losing her husband. She's there to help set up a display, with the dresses Christina left behind in Verona years before. Why the trunk and those dresses are left is a mystery and Marianne is curious to learn more about the discover. The characters are intriguing, the story is fascinating, and really enjoyable.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for a temporary, digital ARC in return for my review.

Verona, 1864. Christina Rossetti, accompanied by her mother Frances and brother William returns to Italy for a long awaited holiday, she’s a successful poet and her latest suitor is keen to get married. After meeting an old family friend of her father’s Giovanni Pecora, she discovers a small ornate box with the three Muses carved into the lid and it has a secret compartment. Christina finds a letter from her father Gabriele Rossetti with an urgent and personal request, he wants her to return a stolen book of poetry and an emerald pendant.

The story has a dual timeline, it's set in 1864 and 1947 and is told from the two main characters points of views, Christina and Marianne and I had no trouble following it.

Verona, 1947. Widow Marianne Baxter is a textiles historian and her friend from college Rufina Rovelli has invited her to visit Italy, two years after the Second World War ended and restore three dresses that belonged to Victorian poet Christina Rossetti. They have been hidden away in a trunk for nearly a century, they were recently discovered at the Fondazione Museo Menigatti and will be part of it's opening display. The owner of the museum Alessandra Forni is rather curt and offish and only gives Marianne a few weeks to restore the dresses, get them ready to display on mannequins and that’s not long enough when handling delicate antique fabrics. Marianne discovers a mysterious letter with a warning message hidden among the dresses, she wants to solve the mystery and this leads her down a dangerous path.

I received a digital copy of The Lost Dresses of Italy by M. A. McLaughlin from Alcove Press and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Inspired by the real-life of Victorian poet Christina Rossetti, her poetry was about humanity, pleasure, divine love, abandonment and relinquishment. Which ties in with Marianne’s quest to restore and display the three gowns, she’s uncovers a sinister secret and is betrayed by someone she trusts and it wasn't predictable and took me completely by surprise.

I enjoyed reading about Italy, Verona, how it was still recovering from the Second World War and the restoration of the three Victorian era gowns. A story full of mystery, intrigue, secrets, murder, history and five stars from me. I'm keen to find out more about Christina Rossetti and read her poetry and she's a fascinating woman.

This is a book in two parts which entwine themselves over two timelines. Set in Verona in both 1864 and 1947 this book weaves a tale of love and deceit and will have you on the edge of your seat.

Textile historian Marianne Baxter goes to post-war Italy in 1947 to look for three dresses which once belonged to famous poet Christina Rossetti. The second part of the book revolves around Christina Rossetti back in 1864, her family, secrets and mysteries left by her father.

This is a story that has you wanting more so you just keep turning the pages, too good to put down. It is intriguing and exciting, there are twists and turns, there is love and there is heart-break. It is all encompassing. Well written, engaging and a book you will want to read.

Thank you NetGalley and Alcove Press for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

This is a dual story…the year 1947 and 1864. We come upon Marianne Baxter two years after WWII as she is traveling to Verona, Italy. She has been urged to come by her friend, Rufina Rovelli, former student of the College of Art and Design in Massachusetts. It seems Rufina is mounting an exhibit of Victorian dresses in the hopes of restarting Italy’s fashion industry. It is 1947 and Italy has all but been destroyed; now it is time to start over again. As a costume curator, Marianne couldn’t resist the invitation to restore the 3 dresses, yet further to that perhaps as a war widow it would keep her mind busy.

The dresses have been hidden in a museum just after the war ended. Once in Verona and at the Fondazione Museo Menigatti, Marianne finds the rather handsome and debonair museum director, Alessandro Forni, is not exactly the most welcoming. Yet even with his icy reception he honors her request to inspect the dresses. While looking into the trunk she finds that these dresses belonged to the Victorian poet Christina Rossetti. Along with these garments is a letter to Christina from her father explaining if she has found his letter than he is dead…explaining further what has happened in his life. There are family secrets that he kept from his family and is asking Christina to deal with them. The letter also alludes to a pendant and stolen book of Dante poetry that must be returned.

As mysteries abound, there is quite a bit to take in, but nevertheless this book is a page turner and a good read. My thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Lost Dresses is a dual timeline novel, with the first timeline taking place in 1947, after the end of WWII, with American war widow Marianne visiting her friend Rufina in Italy, at Rufina's request, as she has just discovered a trunk with three well-preserved dresses from the mid-19th century that had belonged to the British poet Christina Rossetti. Marianne works to restore the gowns while at the same time, try to learn why they were left in Italy. The second timeline is in 1865 and is told in the voice of Christina Rossetti herself. I enjoyed this novel although I had a hard time getting into it at the very beginning. No spoilers - but it tells the story of love and loss and finding love again so I liked the surprise ending. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Free courtesy of Netgalley

I have never read a book by this author but I absolutely loved it.

It is split over two periods in time, that intertwine with each other.

In 1947 Marianne was asked by her best friend from college to travel to Verona and help display dresses found Hidden in a museum just after the war ended. When she gets there she is faced with a reluctant owner, who does not share her passion for the dresses, which are over 100 years old and belong to the Victorian poet Christina Rossetti. To ensure that she does the best job, she starts researching Christina's life and her time in Italy and why the dresses were hidden.

In 1864 the British poet Christina, traveled to her father's home country with her Mother and brother William. She feels trapped in her life as she doesn't have the freedoms of her artist Brother Dante, and feels that she will have to marry a man she is not really attracted to, but as her family are not wealthy, she will not be able to better their fortunes. When her father died, he gave her a box, which carried secrets that he had kept from his family and asked Christina to deal with them. When his old friend makes her acquaintance, things change for her.

The intertwining of the story and the twists and turns, create two love stories but have some terrible consequences.

I would suggest this book for people who enjoy historical fiction

I loved the dual storylines. History that intertwined and throwing in a mystery will always hook me. I loved Italian backdrop, fashion wasn’t something I had thought of connecting with ww2 but this opened my research side. Just enough romance in to keep me engaged. I was really interested in finding out more about Christina. There was a lot of description that did slow me down but still thankful for this ARC.

Thank you to Net Galley and Alcove Press for the chance to read and review this book. The opinions expressed are my own.
This story includes two timelines, which the author connects at the end of the story. Both take place primarily in Verona, Italy
The 1894 story line involves poet Christina Rossetti. When she finds a letter from her deceased father, he has asked her to go to Verona and fulfill his wishes concerning a stolen book and a pendant. During her visit, her life is changed. The 1947 timeline involves Textile Historian Marianne Baxter. She makes the trip to Verona because three Victorian dresses have been discovered in a trunk. Even though the story takes place in two different times, there is some connects which become stronger as the story continues. I enjoyed learning about the Rossetti family, and also the descriptions of the dresses. I thought the author basically did a good job telling the story, and the ending was a surprise.

I wanted to like this book more than I did. The (for me) overly descriptive passages were too much to get past. The Italian setting was great, the historical facts were good but it just didn't work for me. I got about 30% through before deciding to not finish the book. I do appreciate Netgalley and the publisher having provided the early reading opportunity.

This book covers 2 story lines covering 2 different centuries but in the end somehow by chance, they come together.

Christina Rossetti is a poet living in England in the late 1800s. After coming across a letter from her father Gabriele Rossetti along with some items, she rushes back to where he came from Verona along with her mother and brother.

Marianne Baxter is a special historian, one that specializes in textiles. A friend calls out to her in 1947 after 3 dresses have been in a trunk in a secret room in Verona. Marianne does not only want to find out the history of the dresses but the history of why they were hidden and why there is such a mystery.

Some might find one story more interesting than the other, whiles others will love both. The fact that it entwines mystery, love, history, suspense and more is amazing. Not all books are able to do this in the right way.

I was given an advanced copy by NetGalley to give my own option.

I like this one with its dual timelines and it’s fictionalized account of the life of Christina Rossetti during the war .
I felt it was well crafted and engaging.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me review the book

The Lost Dresses is a book that I will read again. I thoroughly enjoyed it. While this is a novel, I believe there's a lot of truth in it. It is the story of English Poetess Christina Rosetti. The two lead characters are Christina and Marianne. The book is set in two centuries: Christina's 19th century and Marianne's 20th century.

It begins with the murder of Tonio, the museum curator's nephew, followed by Marianne's friend, Rufina, inviting her to fly from Boston to Italy to complete and installation of three dresses that she found In a museum that had belonged to Christina. The curator of the museum, Alessandro, gave her three weeks to complete the project.

Marianne really sunk her teeth into the project and needed to learn more about Christina. So she paid a visit to a university professor, a Mr. Harrison, who gave her a couple of books on Christina, but it wasn't enough. So she delved deeper. In the box with the dresses was a letter from Christina's father which gave her some background on the man.

Christina's father, Gabriele, was extremely famous in Verona, Italy for his revolutionary exploits. Because of his deeds he had to escape so he migrated to England where he and his wife gave birth to four children: Dante Gabriel, William, Maria and Christina. He gave her a box which housed a book on Dante and a pendant. In his death bed letter to her, he asked her to return the book to the library in Verona. No one knew about the letter. But with a desire to see her father's homeland, she, her brother William and their mother took a trip to Italy. Before they left, Christina met a man, Mr. Pecora, who had been her father's best friend. So when they got to Italy he and his son, Angelo were among the first persons they saw.

When Christina met Angelo it was love at first sight. And it was the same for all him. When she and her brother took a cruise on the Como lake, the Pecoras accompanied them. And then, instead of staying in the hotel, Mr. Peqora invited them to stay at his villa.

He threw a party so that they could introduce them to some of their friends. Before Angelo's mother died, she gave him a pair of rare emerald earrings and a medallion to give to the woman he loved. The day of the party he gave that gift to Christina and asked her to wear the earrings to the party. The earrings were a match to the pendant that she wore. During the party Angelo and Christina wandered out to the patio. They were just talking when his father showed up and asked him why he was outside instead of entertaining their guests. When he saw that Christina was wearing the earrings, he became irate and asked his son what was the meaning of this but wouldn't let Angelo explain. Christina's family didn't have much money and he told Angelo that he would not marry a woman with no means, that he would marry a woman of prominence. That was a knife to Christina's heart and she fled to her room.

The next day, Angelo slipped a note under Christina's bedroom door asking her to meet him downstairs at 9:00 and to wear the earrings. He said that he had something very important to ask her. Before she met him, she sat down with her mother who tried to discourage her from getting involved with Angelo, to no avail. He took Christina on a carriage ride to the church where his father proposed to his mother. When Angelo proposed to her she responded with a resounding yes.

Before, the earrings had gone missing from Angelo's mother's wealthy family and Mr. Pecoro found them and made them a gift to Angelo's mother. The family was exceedingly pleased that the jewels had been returned and accepted him as their son-in-law even though he had no money.

And so, while Christina and Angelo were in the church, they decided to take the earrings and hide them there. Mr. Pecora had followed them there. He asked them where the earrings were and they didn't tell him. Then he told them the story of how he came by the earrings. It turns out he had killed a man for them. He also wanted the pendant that Christina was wearing and he had hired a man to try to snatch the pendant off her neck while they were in the streets of Verona, but the man was unsuccessful. His plan was to use them to give to the woman Angelo was to marry. Angelo still refused to tell him where they were so they got into a physical altercation. Angela ended up going over a cliff and falling to his death. Mr. Pecora never got the earrings and Christina never married.

Marianne was a widower. Her husband, Paul, had been killed in the war. She went to Italy to make a fresh start. And then she met Alessandro who she took a liking to. As she was getting the dresses ready for the exhibition, she found in one of them a charcoal drawing of Christina that Angelo had done. In another she found the medallion that Angelo had given her.

Mr. Harrison had found a picture that had all the jewels in it. He told Marianne he would bring it to her in Verona. He told her where to meet him and when she went there she saw him about to cross the street and a car came out of nowhere and struck him. It was clear that the person driving was out to get him. When she ran to him he handed over the picture.

Marianne came to realize that her friend, Rufina, wasn't who she used to be. The war had changed her. Oh, but there's more, but I can't say because it would spoiled it. I found myself taken by this book and I really was able to get into the characters. Even though it bounced back and forth between eras, I was never lost. I was able to easily keep up. I gave this book five stars.

I absolutely loved this Book, it ticked so many boxes for me, I have always loved Textiles, Museums & Art, plus Italy a country on my dream list of places to visit but now sadly never will, so beautiful books like this transported me there.
So to read about Dresses that had belonged to Christina Rossetti author of the Poem `Goblin Market' & others plus Gems & a Book by `Dante Alighieri ' whom her father had studied, & works by her brother Dante Gabriel Rossetti plus mysterious Jewels I was truly hooked just like the heroine of the story Marianne. This is a Book I will endeavour to purchase when it is published so I will start saving now or else I will ask for it as a Wedding Anniversary gift next year. #NetGalley, #GoodReads, #Amazon.co.uk, #FB, #Instagram,#<img src="https://www.netgalley.com/badge/8a5b541512e66ae64954bdaab137035a5b2a89d2" width="80" height="80" alt="200 Book Reviews" title="200 Book Reviews"/>,#<img src="https://www.netgalley.com/badge/ef856e6ce35e6d2d729539aa1808a5fb4326a415" width="80" height="80" alt="Reviews Published" title="Reviews Published"/>, #<img src="https://www.netgalley.com/badge/aa60c7e77cc330186f26ea1f647542df8af8326a" width="80" height="80" alt="Professional Reader" title="Professional Reader"/>.