The Tuscan Orphan is a beautifully told story of nursing on the front lines of WWII and a found family.

The Tuscan Orphan by Siobhan Daiko

Genre/Categories/Setting: Historical Fiction, WWII, Found Family, Front Line Nurses, Italy

*This post contains Amazon affiliate links.

My Summary of The Tuscan Orphan:

Thanks #NetGalley @BoldwoodBooks for a complimentary e ARC of #TheTuscanOrphan upon my request. All opinions are my own.

In 1944, Carrie is working as a nurse on the front lines and Vito is a resistance fighter. Vito is working to liberate a convent when he discovers a group of children in hiding. Vito rescues little Mimi and they both end up in the military hospital where they meet Carrie. With the help of Vito’s family, Vito and Carrie promise the youngster they will find her parents but this is an uncertain promise in wartime.

My Thoughts:

Compelling and Page-Turning

The author creates likeable, admirable, and multi dimensional main characters. She provides vivid descriptive details of the landscape and the action. I’ve read quite a few WWII stories set in France, Germany, and Poland but not many set in Italy. The horrors of war are juxtaposed to the beauty of the landscape, towns, and heroic individuals. The author also gives us an authentic look at the resistance movement and frontline nursing. This compelling story of two difference makers is well-researched, realistic, and page-turning.

I must mention for sensitive readers that because this takes place on the front lines, there is a great deal of medical trauma and content.

Themes

Of the many heartfelt themes, found family is one of the most poignant. A story with a found family trope is certain to win me over. Other thoughtful themes in The Tuscan Orphan include wartime romance, nursing on the front lines, friendship, loyal family, tragedy of war, endurance during difficult times, loss and grief, and hope.

Content Consideration: wartime injuries and death, loss and grief

Recommending The Tuscan Orphan

I’m happy to recommend The Tuscan Orphan for fans of heartfelt and compelling WWII historical fiction. If you love an Italian setting, you will appreciate this vividly told story. Readers (and book clubs) looking for stories of strong, independent women and medical content will not be disappointed.

My Rating 4.5 Stars

Meet the Author of The Tuscan Orphan, Siobhan Daiko

Siobhan Daiko is a British historical fiction author. A lover of all things Italian, she lives in the Veneto region of northern Italy with her husband, a Havanese dog and a rescued cat. Siobhan was born of English parents in Hong Kong, attended boarding school in Australia, and then moved to the UK—where she taught modern foreign languages in a Welsh comprehensive school. She now spends her time writing page-turners and living the dolce vita sweet life near Venice. Her novels are compelling, poignant, and deeply moving, with strong characters and evocative settings, but always with romance at their heart. You can find more about her books on her website http://www.siobhandaiko.org

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QOTD:

Is this “found family” historical fiction on your TBR or have you read it? \

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