The Postcard from Italy

Italy, 1945. 'Where am I?' The young man wakes, bewildered. He sees olive trees against a bright blue sky. A soft voice soothes him. 'We saw you fall from your plane. The parachute saved you.' He remembers nothing of his life, or the war that has torn the world apart… but where does he belong? England, present day. Antique-shop-owner Susannah wipes away a tear as she tidies her grandmother's belongings. Elsie's memories are fading, and every day Susannah feels further away from her only remaining family. But everything changes when she stumbles across a yellowed postcard of a beautiful Italian stone farmhouse, tucked away in Elsie's dressing table. A message dated from World War 2 speaks of a secret love. Could her grandmother, who never talked about the past, have fallen for someone in Italy all those years ago? With Elsie unable to answer her questions, Susannah becomes determined to track down the house and find a distraction from her grief. Arriving at what is now a crumbling hotel by the sparkling Italian sea, she feels strangely at home. And after an unexpected encounter with handsome wine waiter Giacomo, she can't tell if it's his dark eyes or his offer to help solve her mystery that makes her heart race. Together they find a dusty chest tucked in a forgotten corner of the building. The white silk of a World War 2 parachute spills out. And the Royal Air Force identity tag nestled in the folds bears a familiar name… With Giacomo by her side, and before it's too late for her grandmother, can Susannah discover the truth behind a shocking wartime secret at the heart of her family? Or will it tear her apart? An absolutely stunning page-turner that will sweep you away to the olive groves and majestic views of the Italian coast. Perfect for fans of Kathryn Hughes, Fiona Valpy and Victoria Hislop. Readers love The Postcard from Italy: 'Wow! Just Wow!… phenomenal… A novel I will never forget… Brilliant… 5 glorious stars for whisking me away to Italy… beautiful… I LOVED this novel!' Cindy L Spear, ----- 'Magical… unforgettable… I was swept away… had me crying happy tears, I was hooked.' Goodreads reviewer, ----- 'Phenomenal… I forgot about my own life.' NetGalley reviewer, ----- 'Have the tissues ready!... will stay with you long after you finish it! Highly recommend!' NetGalley reviewer, ----- 'It sucked me in from the very first page!... I just couldn'tstop' Goodreads reviewer, ----- 'Absolutely stunning… I was swept away to Italy… gorgeous… captivating and heart-warming but also devastatingly heart breaking… I was absolutely hooked from page one until 2…

I'm an award winning writer of fiction - and the occasional poem.
Every summer I move to Tuscany for six months where my husband and I own a renovated watermill which we let out. When not exploring our unspoilt corner of the Apennines, I disappear to my writing desk at the top of our converted stable. In my Italian handbag or hiking rucksack I always make sure to store notebook and pen to jot down ideas.
The winter months are spent in Sussex where most of our family live. When I'm not helping out with grandchildren, I catch up with writer friends.