Kate Furnivall is a new author for me and with such an eye-popping back catalogue I don't how I have got through my reading life without her. It was love at first sight as I turned the first few pages of The Liberation and I just knew that I was going to be in for an epic post-war adventure in beautiful Sorrento.

Caterina Lombardi is the backbone of her family. She lives with her brother and grandfather in the war ravaged city of Sorrento, in a post-war Italy where people are struggling to survive. Caterina has a rare gift that has enabled her to carry on her father's craftmanship of creating stunning woodwork. She takes her wares to Naples and despite a run in with the street children, the wily and tough scugnizzi, she sells her products to the British and American troops stationed there. It is there that she meets two intelligence officers, American officer Jake and British officer Harry. When they start asking questions about her father, Caterina won't believe that her father would steal from Italy herself but, as the evidence mounts up, she wonders if she really knew her father after all. Caterina is desperate to clear her father's name but there are those who want the secrets to remain buried and Caterina has no idea how much danger she is in. Caterina, however, is like a lioness defending her cubs as she does everything possible to keep her family safe.

I was completely swept away to Sorrento whilst reading The Liberation. Although ravaged by war its beauty still managed to shine out from every page, thanks to Kate Furnivall's warm and effusive writing. The Liberation was everything I could have hoped for (and more) with secrets, passion, danger, intrigue, skulduggery and a treasure-hunt style adventure. An absolutely stunning and breathtaking epic written with such vivacity that, although a fair sized weighty book, made each one of the 552 glorious pages turn over with ease.

It may be my first, but it definitely won't be my last Kate Furnivall book. They all look absolutely mouthwatering novels, but my love of Egyptian history has ensured that Shadows of the Nile is at the top of my wishlist. A well deserving 5 star read, I strongly recommend The Liberation - don't miss your own chance to visit Kate Furnivall's Sorrento.

I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion. ( )

Absorbing story ( )

How an author creates such a brilliant, complex plot is beyond me! Loved this book. Kept me guessing. Had me on the edge of my seat. It's on my top 10 of around 50 reads this year. Simply gripping. ( )

Gripping and compelling historical fiction set in Sorrento and Naples during 1945, just after WWII. Allied soldiers are in the process of rebuilding and restoring a bombed and ravaged Italy, as well as investigating the disappearance of valuable artefacts and paintings. Meanwhile, Caterina Lombardi is trying to protect her family and preserve their honour when her deceased father comes under suspicion for being involved in the looting. She finds her life increasingly in danger and ends up in a fight against time.

I found The Liberation very much a page turner. It's fast paced and such a roller coaster of a read with some edge of your seat moments. It's beautifully written and researched. It's easy to visualise, the imagery is fantastic. I felt I was there amidst the action! It gives an excellent sense of time and place. There are some great, well developed characters, especially Caterina who comes across as such a brave (if at times foolhardy!), passionate, loyal and resilient young woman. It's a fabulous read - I couldn't put it down! Highly recommended.

Reviewed for TBC on Facebook. ( )

Ah Italy. A place that is infrequently visited in my reading, but always a joy to read about. I know very little about the immediate post-World War II period in Italy, so when I was offered the chance to read this book, I grabbed it. I also haven’t picked up one of Kate Furnivall’s novels since The Russian Concubine – was it really nearly a decade ago? Anyway, so many things were pointing to me needing to read this book. At 553 pages, it certainly fits the definition of a chunkster but it’s a gripping read that will have the pages turning over quickly. Think of this book as a historical action-adventure with a touch of romance. So much happens and it’s an exciting ride to be on.

Our heroine is Caterina Lombardi, young woman of Sorrento who has been touched by the war like everyone else in Italy. Her father is dead after his wood veneer workshop was bombed by Allied forces. Her nonno is blind and her little brother would rather hang around the soldiers all day than go to school. Like the rest of Italy, they are nearly starving and Caterina crafts music boxes to sell to the soldiers in order to buy food. As for her mother…she left the family years ago amid a scandal that divided two families. But that was then and this is now. Italy is about survival, any way how. But when two soldiers question Caterina in relation to her father hiding and smuggling out Italy’s treasures, she knows she must try to clear his name. In trying to do so, Caterina comes up against some of the most dangerous men in Naples. It’s not a game, but a fight to the bitter end.

The main plot is about Caterina trying to find a jewelled table her father had allegedly made, but nobody reports ever seeing. Inlaid in the surface are a number of precious jewels that both Naples’ mafia and the soldiers trying to recover Italy’s treasures want. Both groups think that Caterina knows more than she’s telling them, which unluckily for her, she doesn’t. But Caterina is an inquisitive character and she will find out the truth, assisted by her ancient revolver. She’s determined and will stop at nothing to protect her family. Jake Parr, a US soldier investigating art theft, recognises this early on and assists Caterina in getting out of some of her scrapes. He also falls in love with this feisty young woman. But don’t start thinking that this is a romance novel, it’s far from it. It’s fast paced action, taking Caterina from the streets of Naples to mansions in Capri and back again. The finale is set in an unlikely place with a twist in the tale – not one I saw coming!

The book captures the atmosphere of the time and the desperation of the Italian people in a broken country but it’s not bogged down in detail. Kate Furnivall tells the reader what they need to know, then returns to the action. This is a book that both men and women would enjoy – it’s edge of your seat stuff that combines intrigue and mystery in a fast paced novel.

Thanks to Simon & Schuster for the copy of this book. My review is honest.

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