A letter from the past. A wartime secret buried on a Greek island. A truth that will echo across generations…
When Trisha receives an unexpected letter to her Liverpool home, it opens a decades’ old mystery, drawing her back into her family’s forgotten past, the horrors of war, and a small island off the coast of Greece…
Eighty years earlier, on the island of Milos, Dora is dreaming of a better life, free from the oppression of the occupying army and, closer to home, the brutal rule of her father, an infamous horse breeder.
Then a German cargo ship is bombed in the harbour, killing dozens of the men on board. The islanders trawl the waters for spoilage from the wreckage – finding among the debris a badly injured man, who may just hold the awful truth about what happened.
Dora soon finds this man under her care, and it changes her life forever, introducing her to the possibility of love and freedom for the first time… But Dora cannot know, as she nurses the stranger back to health, that her actions will have devastating consequences for her beloved island. Consequences that will last for generations…
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My Review
This book is about a mysterious letter that pulls a woman into her family’s long-buried past, uncovering wartime secrets, lost love, and the enduring ties between generations. In this story, Trisha’s quiet life in Liverpool is upended when a message leads her to the Greek island of Milos, where an eighty-year-old story begins to surface.
The novel unfolds through a dual timeline, moving between present-day discoveries and Dora’s life during World War II. Dora dreams of freedom from her controlling father and the occupying forces, but her world changes when a German cargo ship is bombed and a wounded survivor is pulled from the sea. Caring for him sparks danger, romance, and a chance at independence she never imagined.
The pacing builds steadily, drawing readers deeper as the emotional stakes rise and hidden connections emerge. The wartime chapters are particularly compelling, rich with atmosphere, danger, and heartfelt moments. Twists, romance, and family revelations blend seamlessly with the vivid Greek island setting.
Overall, this is an emotional, well-written historical drama that combines mystery, love, and resilience into a moving, satisfying read.
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