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The Village Trattoria

Casa Maria (Book 1)

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What to expect

Bloomsbury presents The Village Trattoria by Annabelle Thorpe, read by Sara Alexander.

Italy 1943

The village trattoria, Casa Maria, is famed for its food and for Elena, the formidable matriarch who runs it. But now war has come to Umbria.

Sophia di Luca cooks brilliantly and expects to take over the trattoria from Elena one day. But instead it is charismatic, unpredictable Giorgio Capaldi who has inherited it and now arrives from Rome to run it.

While Sophia and Giorgio clash, the town falls under Nazi occupation. And when no one knows who to trust, it is Casa Maria that becomes the centre for secrets, dangerous passions and ultimately betrayal.

‘A wonderful, joyous book, which really spoke to me about the indomitability of the human spirit.’ Elizabeth Enfield

** PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED AS THE ENEMY OF LOVE **

Praise for Annabelle Thorpe:

'Unputdownable!' Claire Dyer, author of The Last Day

'A pacy, engaging tale of human weakness and of passion so overwhelming it can make fools of us all' Daily Express

Critics Review

The Italian setting is lovingly described...a celebration of the resilience of the human spirit in times of extreme adversity
Historical Novel Review
‘A compelling plot packed full of emotion and drama’
My Weekly
Buy of the Week
Daily Mirror / Daily Express
Travel writer Annabelle Thorpe brings her love of Umbria, Italy, to a holiday read of two families living through the war-torn Italian summer of 1943
Daily Mirror / Daily Express
An evocative, beautifully written tale of love and community. The perfect immersive holiday read
Sussex Life
Author Annabelle Thorpe
Narrator Sara Alexander
Series Casa Maria
Duration 12 hours and 38 minutes
Release Date
ISBN 9781035920112
Format Audiobook
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing
Genre Historical romance, Second World War fiction
Availability AU, GB, IE, US

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