Publisher: Bookouture
Format: ebook & paperback
Genre: Historical Fiction
Synopsis
The place seemed utterly still, the only sound was the wind rustling high in the pines above. Standing there, realizing she didn’t even know which house had belonged to her grandmother, Ava wondered just how crazy and desperate she’d been to come all this way with no hope or plan.
When Ava arrives in Greece, it’s with a heart that’s shattered into a thousand pieces. But as she pulls up in a tiny village nestled on a cliff above the glittering Ionian Sea, and steps out in front of a tumbledown house that once belonged to her grandmother Sophia, everything changes.
At first Ava almost wants to laugh at this bizarre inheritance—a home that has been uninhabited since the Second World War—that appears as close to collapse as she herself feels. But with nowhere left to run to, her only choice is to start putting the house together again.
What Ava doesn’t expect is for pieces of her grandmother’s story to emerge, as a local survivor from the war begins to share her secrets. Ava can’t help but be drawn to Sophia’s hidden past… even though the truth could change her own life forever.
Because Sophia’s story is one of devastating choices she had to make during the Nazi invasion of her beloved country. It’s a story of bravery, betrayal and tragedy. But most of all, it is a story about love…
An utterly unforgettable story of two remarkable women who find the strength to persevere against all odds and find hope, courage and light in the darkness. Perfect for fans of The Nightingale, The Lilac Girls and Victoria Hislop’s The Island.
Previously published as The Other Side of the Bridge by Katharine Swartz.
My Thoughts
After suffering a personal tragedy, to find some solace and take possession of a cottage she has inherited, Ava travels to a small village in Greece, the birth place of her grandmother, Sophia. Sophia left Greece in 1945 and had never spoken of her family there or her homeland.
On her arrival in the village, an elderly neighbour is upset by Ava's resemblance to Sophia and apologises. For what, Ava has no idea and is curious to find out, but the neighbour's daughter discourages Ava from asking questions. With only a handful of other people in the village who may remember Sophia and her family, Ava is disappointed. However, she does make some startling discoveries about Sophia, while also learning what life was like in the village, especially the hardships and devastating events that occurred during World War II.
Sophia's wartime experiences are told through a series of flashbacks, which are nestled within Ava's present day struggles, with the final details of a betrayal and its horrendous consequences revealed at a hospital bedside.
I found the historical setting of this novel very interesting. It highlighted a gap in my knowledge of World War II and encouraged me to seek out more information on the events portrayed here. Greece had a different experience to other occupied countries in that its Resistance groups fought each other as well as the Nazis, which developed into a civil war that didn't end until 1949.
Once again, I've been enlightened and entertained by a Kate Hewitt Novel. Beyond the Olive Grove will appeal to the many Kate Hewitt fans and also to those readers who enjoy World War II fiction with strong female characters.
Where to Purchase
Amazon
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