Such a lovely gentle read, which has ignited a passion to spend a month in Italy. I was surprised how the characters grew on me and I became horridly defensive of their hope and dreams, wishing that they came true.

Whilst the scenic descriptions did not delight me like those nature passages by L. M. Montgomery, I was still transported by the floral drenched aromas and sparkling sea vistas of San Salvatore.

Slow start and it took me a while to really settle into the story, but once I did - pages flew. A view into the complex mire of grief, loss, love and self identity, that is woven so truthfully that the character's pain is real. The book ended so well that it immediately gave it an extra half star from a solid four star read.

A quiet and heartfelt historical fiction that is bursting with vivid characters and beautiful prose. Rebecca Mascull sweeps you up into the world of Della Dobbs as she tirelessly works towards her dream of becoming an aviatrix, against societal expectations and the impending Great War.