WOW!  Could not put it down once I started.
Lucy, a recently separated 43 year old mother, has decided to fly to Italy and once and for all uncover the secrets of her family her mother refuses to tell her.  She found her cousin, whom she had no idea existed, through social media and set out to meet her long lost relatives.  But, her arrival in Italy is not all happy reunions.  The tension and anger by those who remember her mother, especially her Uncle, startle Lucy.  She does meet her Nonna, who is desperate to tell her their family history and what made her mother flee from Italy.  But in the middle of the story, tragedy strikes the small village.  While still determined to forge a relationship with her long lost relatives, Lucy remains behind to help.  What she uncovers will change what she thought she knew about her life forever.
A great story of family, secrets, lies and sacrifice.  Highly recommend. 
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This is a very immersive experience,  once you start this book you won't want to put it down. It has a dual time storyline set between Italy during the war and  the modern day . Luce decides to travel to a small village in Italy in the hopes of uncovering a family mystery . Her Italian mother never speaks of the family she left behind to start a new life in America. 
    Luce meets her  Italian Grandmother and the past is told from her perspective . 
     You never quite know where the author is taking you , you think you are on the verge of uncovering the mystery , only to be taken in a completely different direction. The ending was very surprising and nothing is what it first appeared. 
     I thoroughly recommend this to readers who enjoy lucinda Riley and Rachel Hore.

A heartbreaking story of murder. betrayal and love. It's a journey through many emotions as you follow the tragedy of so many lives but a catastrophic ending brings a feeling that justice has been achieved. Excellent work.

3.9 Stars

“An emotional World War Two historical romance set in Italy”- this is the tagline of the book. 
The story deals with Luce (pronounced Lu- Chay), a 43-year-old woman, who goes to Bosconero, a small village in Italy, to trace her roots. With her mother refusing to answer her questions, her 19-year-old son away at Photography School. Separated from her husband for three years, Luce is determined to know why her mother has erased her past. 
She meets Matilde on the internet and flies to Italy (from Seattle) to meet her and connect with her Nonna and Uncle. A disastrous earthquake destroys most of the village and the nearby hamlets. There are tragedies and trauma everywhere. Luce is fighting her instincts (and her family) to not run away to safety. Ethan’s sudden entry surprises her in many ways. She needs to know what happened. 
What she uncovers has a much bigger effect than she realizes, but can there possibly be a happy ending, even if it bittersweet? What about her future with Ethan? Is there one? 
The cover, the blurb, and the setting made the decision for me. I had to read this book. To a great extent, I’m glad I did. The descriptions, the imagery, and details of the setting were vivid and wonderful. Watching David Rocco’s shows explore Italy, I’ve been fascinated by its countryside. I could picturize the villages, the houses, the people, and streets as I read the book. 
Some of the characters are well-etched, especially Luce (she is also the narrator), Matilde, Massimo, Angelina (Luce’s mom), and Nonna. Nonna takes the cake for the number of layers she has. Until the end, we are surprised by the turns in her character. She is the core of the plot. She holds it all together, and in a strange way (no spoilers). 
Other characters like Carlo and Ethan had more scope, but being women’s fiction, I suppose the focus was more on the ladies. The story goes into flashbacks in between (easy to follow) and gives us more information. 
What I liked was the portrayal of Luce after the earthquake. It’s realistic without being dramatic and overwhelming. She simply doesn’t decide she wants to stay. That doesn’t happen, does it? Her internal conflict, her confusion, her anguish, and her desperation are human and true. 
The story is paced well but became a bit too rushed towards the end. The actual reveal was immediately followed by another incident that soon flows into the conclusion and an epilogue. I wish this was paced better. As a reader, I’ve been invested in their lives (the writing is very good and flows beautifully) and wanted to let each incident sink into my memory. 
A little more breathing space at that place, and I’d have happily given the story a 4.2 or maybe even more. I had high hopes by then. This is the first book by the author I’ve read, but I’ll be reading more for sure. I like the writing style. Luce has a lot of thoughts; she does express them but doesn’t ramble on and on. 
There isn’t much about WW II, though it does play its role in the story. The story focuses on the characters, and the effects of war are just one aspect. It’s the humans who make decisions, and that’s the basis of the story. 
Being an uncorrected copy, it had a few typos. Nothing that hindered my reading. 
Overall, this is a beautiful book, one that touches various topics and ultimately leaves us with a soft smile. 
Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture, for the ARC copy. 

#TheLostVillage #NetGalley

Being a fan of WWII historical fiction, this book was not at all what I expected, and was a surprise in such a good way!   Luce's story was a journey to find answers to why her family history was such a secret.  She travels to Italy to meet with relatives and to do some investigation as to why her mother didn't share anything with her.  The events of the journey were not the usual twist and turns in novels set in this era.  I have not read Daniela Sacerdoti before, but will be looking for more of her novels in the future.   It is a quick read which had me on the edge of my seat.  Highly recommend "The Lost Village".

A captivating story set in post war Italy. A story about family secrets and grow they effect so many lives... down through the years. My night time reading... that I thought about all day. 
Thank you to Net Galley for this advanced copy prior to publication. My review is my own and is in no way required by the publisher.

Growing up Luce Nardini always wondered about her mother’s estranged family in Italy. Separated from her husband and with her son off to college, she decides to travel to the small village of Bosconero with the hope of discovering what caused the rift between her long lost relatives. Finding her Grandmother still alive and an uncle that wants nothing whatsoever to do with her, she begins to learn the truth about her family’s history. When disaster strikes and lives are left hanging in the balance, Luce soon discovers that her family all have different versions of the truth.

A great story alternating between the second world war and present day. A gripping tale of family secrets and lies which was an excellent read.

Fantastic!
I have read other Daniela Sacerdoti books and enjoyed the cosy romance of them, but this book was more heart rendering and emotional. 
A woman travels to Italy and tries to find her family but finds secrets from long ago.
 It had me hooked from the first page. Looking forward to reading more of her books.
Thank you netgalley.

I loved this book, the descriptions brought Italy alive for me, having never been there I found myself feeling the hot sunshine and tasting the wonderful food. The story was a lovely read and kept me interested all the way through. I loved the fact that the author captured the family ties and how Italians are very hospitable welcoming relatives whom they have never met. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

Luce Nardini has always been curious about her mother’s family who live in Italy. Her mother always said “some things are best if left in the past”.

Luce is now an “empty-nester” her son is a young man and she is separated from her husband so believe this m=just might be a good time to find her family. She finds a cousin so travels to Italy to meet her grandmother whom she has never met.
She travels to the beautiful village of Bosconero in the hills outside of Rome.
Her cousin reveals that there is a family drama between her mother and her uncle. 

Not my typical read but my paternal grandparents were both born and raised in Italy. 
Unfortunately I never got to know them. My grandmother died young in child birth and later my grandfather married started a new family.  
My father kept in close contact with brothers/sisters and cousins but not my grandfather.
 We visited traveled to relative’s homes~ what seemed like every Sunday.
 I remember all too clearly as I got car sick  

Needless to say, this was a good and interesting read for me!
I love the inside info from the author in her “Letter from Daniela” as well as in the Author’s Note!
Ms. Sacerdoti tells us in her “Author’s Note” that although the story is based on the real 2016 earthquake in central Italy, she did use her imagination and took artistic license in describing the events that unfolded. 

Want to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for this early release granted in exchange for an honest professional review.  Opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for November 16, 2020

I absolutely adore Daniela Sacerdoti's writing, her books always escort you to a special place with incredibly emotional prose and description that fills the senses. I was not disappointed at all by this latest novel, once again exploring her Italian roots; The Lost Village combines the current journey of discovery for Luce (pronounced Lu-chay) surrounding her family in rural Italy with the secrets of the past in WW2. 
There was certainly a blending of nostalgia, romance and possibility, with darker themes of jealousy, death and tragedy. I was hooked throughout but especially the second half of the book, once things take a dramatic turn, I found I couldn't stop thinking about the characters and what was endured, both in the present and the past. 
Perfect for fans of historical fiction but also thriller/family drama.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review. I'm a massive fan of historical fiction so I was delighted to get my hands on this book. Beautifully written, with lush,  sumptuous descriptions. Well researched and gripping, I was in love with this book from the first page.

With thanks to netgalley for an early copy in return for an honest review. 
Having read most of this author's work,I was delighted to get an early copy  what an utterly beautiful and  poignant  story set in italy against lush backgrounds  a wondrous  tale unfolds  totally captivating from beginning to end  I really can't praise this book enough.

I loved this book from start to finish! I had been hearing about this book coming and since I fell in love with the last book she wrote I was very hopeful it would happen again. This author knows how to engage readers. The writing is perfect!
  Luce is a great character who learns so much about her history and who she is, plus secrets and twists abound. 

Pick up this book, you won’t regret it!

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by NetGalley.

This is a fabulous story set in an Italian village alternating between the Second World War/ present time. It is an intriguing story of love, hate, laughter and tears and the search for answers to family relationships. It kept me enthralled until the very last page, many thanks to the author, Netgalley and Bookouture for  giving me the opportunity to read this book.

Love a mystery and this book delivers. Luce an only child to an Italian born mother is in the search for her heritage. She is recently separated from her husband Ethan but  they are still friends for their son Eli who is starting University. Luce decides the time is right  to travel to Italy  and visit her only cousin that she has recently discovered and to learn about her family and their history. Luce”s  mother Angelina is not happy about the trip as she has never wanted to return to the little village she grew up in and to see her brother or mother and she certainly doesn’t want Luca to know anything about the past.  Luce learns more than she bargains for as her Uncle doesn’t want to know her and  although her Nonna welcomes her with open arms there is a lot about  the family’s past that doesn’t ring true. 
A gripping tale of family secrets and lies. Couldn’t stop reading till I found out the truth of the family’s past. So many surprises!

Make sure to have no distractions because this one will keep you glued to the pages all the way. Let's visit Italy!

Fast paced from the start, The Lost Village takes the reader to glorious Bosconero in the hills just outside Rome. 
Empty nester Luce travels to her ancestral home in search of her roots. The sights, smells and people draw me right in and put a huge smile on my face. What a feelgood start!

But soon disaster strikes and the book seems to speed up even more. Holding my breath through chaos and tragedy, I watch the story unfold. Family secrets, twist and turns and a sea of emotions. Wow, what a ride! 

Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC.

This was an interesting book as it has a WWII in Italy twist but it really centers around a more modern-day plot. I really enjoyed this take on historical fiction/mystery.  The author keeps the plot moving and you really care about the characters.  The plot centers around a woman traveling to Italy alone to find her family after having spent a lifetime not knowing why her mother was estranged from her own family.  The descriptions of Italy are really beautiful and transport the reader.  I recommend this book to my fellow historical fiction readers.

Sacerdoti’s heartwarming story, The Lost Village, to be published November 16, 2020, will transport you to a little Italian hilltop village ravaged by a terrible disaster. This master storyteller focuses on what happens when we keep secrets to protect the ones we love. Luce Nardini, a 43y old New Yorker separated from her husband, embarks on a quest to find answers.  

Luce grew up without knowing her father nor her grandparents. Since her only son has left for university and her mother refuses to talk about the past, Luce is determined to fly to Italy and search for answers. Sacerdoti expertly weaves the past with the present through Nonna Clelia’s stories and Luce’s adventure into self-discovery through family ties. Luce and her family soon learn that they can’t move on with their lives until they face and accept the past. Readers will be reminded that we all have a less than perfect life and few of us find it easy to move forward. Pain is a common thread in our lives; whether caused by loss or by a choice we’ve made. How ironic that Luce finds clarity and peace amidst the disaster - but here? and now? and him? The author will quietly captivate you with rich, real characters and a beautifully penned poignant storyline. It will make you laugh and cry and then stay with you for a long, long time. 

Thank you to Daniela Sacerdoti, Bookcouture and Netgalley for this amazing gift of an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Daniela Sacerdoti is one of my favourite authors and I was delighted to receive a copy of her new book The Lost Village.
Luce Nardini has always wondered about her mothers family in Italy. Her mother never talks about them and won’t answer any questions. 
Looking for clues online Luce finds she has a cousin Matilde and travels to Italy to meet her and connect with the grandmother she has never met.
This visit has far reaching consequences for her family and uncovers secrets and lies from the past.
I really enjoyed this story and I am eagerly waiting for the next book from this author.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.