** PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED AS THE ENEMY OF LOVE **
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
***
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
1943. Wartime Italy.
Casa Maria sits at the heart of the small Umbrian town of Amatino, famous for its food, wine and the di Luca and Capaldi families who run it. But now Italy is consumed by war and everything must change.
For talented cook Sophia di Luca, the discovery her father has left the trattoria not to her, but to the volatile and charismatic Giorgio Capaldi, is a bitter disappointment. Still grieving the sudden death of his wife, and in no mood to compromise, Giorgio's return to Amatino threatens everything Sophia has struggled to achieve.
As Mussolini falls and the Germans march in, the two families find themselves in conflict not only with a terrifying new enemy, but also with each other.
Annabelle Thorpe's gripping novel does for wartime Italy what Victoria Hislop does for Greece.
'A joyous read, which really spoke to me about the indomitability of the human spirit. A wonderful book.' Elizabeth Enfield, author of Ivy and Abe
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
An evocative, beautifully written tale of love and community. The perfect immersive holiday read
