Read the Opening Scene
Friday, August 21, 1931 San Mirra, Campania, Italia
“Diavola! Strega brutta!” The hate-filled words of her neighbors sliced through the night, driving fear deep into Margherita Vicienzo’s heart.
Huddled in a ball, she trembled against the cold marble of the church’s interior wall. Above her rose a stained glass window depicting Jesus surrounded by the little children. If only her Salvatore could physically hold her now. Protect her. He wouldn’t cast her away for being … inadatta, incapace, crippled. Perhaps He would even heal her.
The shouting outside grew increasingly violent, accompanied by fists pounding against the large wooden doors. The loudest voice reverberated in her ears. “Tu perisci!” You die.
She curled into a ball, arms wrapped around her satchel, which held her most prized possession. Her nonno’s mandolin. She closed her ears to the vitriol and grasped for the music she loved so dearly.
Iesu, dulcis memoria, dans vera cordis gaudia, sed super mel et omnia, eius dulcis praesentia.
The Latin words of the 12th century hymn floated through her mind, her vocal cords vibrating with the Gregorian chant.
Jesu, the very thought of Thee, with sweetness fills my breast, but sweeter far Thy face to see, and in Thy presence rest.
Would she see her Salvatore’s face today?
Some days, she wished it. Why had God taken her best friend and left Margherita here on earth? Why, when they had both been trapped in the earthquake last summer, had Margherita survived and Maria died? They’d been spending that fateful July day together, singing as they baked, chatting about how they would soon be sisters of the heart because Maria’s brother had just proposed to Margherita.
And then the world had shaken beneath their feet, and the buildings collapsed around them. Two days they’d been trapped beneath the rubble. Margherita had watched her friend die, thought for sure she would be next. Then Paulo found them. At first, he gathered Margherita in his arms, kissed her. Declared his love. Until he realized his sister had not survived.
From that moment, the seed of bitterness stole Paulo Sorrentino’s love, stole his heart, and turned it as black as the shirt he now wore.
Margherita shivered. He’d pledged his allegiance to Benito Mussolini, to Fascism, to the purging of all that was unfit. Like her. Like the leg that had been crushed the same day as her heart.
“Come, child.” The priest’s robes swished as he wove between the pews. “We haven’t much time.”
Margherita could only nod. For months, Padre Benedict had tried to find her refuge while Paulo’s hate turned from verbal darts to threats to physical violence. Slowly, like a gangrene, he’d turned her very neighbors against her. Painting her as a stain on their community. Unfit because she was a burden to society. And when she’d survived him burning her house to the ground? He’d declared her a witch, a devil, with unholy powers to survive the flames from which she came.
Padre Benedict helped her stand and tucked her crutches under her arms. Over her shoulder, she hung the strap of her satchel. The few hastily gathered personal effects bumped between her ribs and the bowl of her mandolin. The neck stuck out from the sack, which couldn’t be helped.
“I have a friend in Inghilterra. A vicar.” Padre Benedict urged her toward the baptismal font and the side entrance of their small chiesa. “He’s found a family who will take you in. I have an associate who will see you out of town. You will be given only the barest of information, for your safety and the safety of the refugees who come after you. But trust these people, la mia bambina, they will see you safely off the Continent.”
“Inghilterra?” Margherita’s thoughts swirled, hope and light against hate and darkness.
America as a destination had made the most sense, originally. Margherita knew the Matrone family, who had moved to New York City. Bella, Maria, and Margherita were a trio, a sisterhood, until the earthquake broke them apart. But America had clamped down on Southern and Eastern European immigration, and with Margherita’s leg, she didn’t qualify for entry. Now she was being smuggled across the Channel into Inghilterra … England.
What Readers are Saying
This well-thought-out story combines a spiritual struggle of obeying man or obeying God with the real danger looming before WWII. ~ Paula, five-star reader review
I adored this little romance and all of the Italian, music, and baking woven into it. ~ Michaela, five-star reader review
I loved how much emphasis was on telling the truth but also how hard it can be sometimes to not tell it dangerous situations. ~ Melissa,five-star reader review
Do yourself a favor, get this book if you like 1930s historical fiction, and swoony romance. ~ Becky, five-star reader review
Michaela Hofer –
“One must follow God in the face of evil.”
Enter into England via Italy in the 1930s. Mussolini is grabbing for power and our crippled heroine’s life is in mortal danger. As she’s smuggled across the seas, Grandinetti tackles a very difficult moral issue that faces us as Christians – where is the line where we defy human authority to obey God’s? And, honestly, I don’t think most of us will really know where our line is until we are in a situation and forced with the choice.
This is the only story I’ve read in this multi author series. We find ourselves set on the edge of the North Sea in a tiny town. There is strength of character, family, faith, and community. I adored this little romance and all of the Italian, music, and baking woven into it. Our hero is a protector who is torn in life between many choices. I love how our characters were protectors of each other. This was a wonderful and cozy romantic suspense to immerse myself in. I wish it wasn’t over! I could feel the homey Ferryman welcomes, the cabin, and the bakery. It was a lovely read.
Christi Flores – Only By Grace Reviews –
I love when I can immerse myself in a story that is full of heart and imagination like I did with The Italian Musician’s Sanctuary. This novel is part of a new series that focuses on one special street and its inhabitants. Each novel can be read as a standalone, but I am excited to read the series in its entirety if this novel is any indication of what we can expect.
When I picked up this book, I was not having a great week at all and was in desperate need of an escape. Though it took me longer to get through because of this fact I still enjoyed every moment I was immersed in this world. Margherita’s story is truly heart-wrenching. Despised intensely by her ex-fiancé and her own Italian community turned against her, she has no choice but to run and escapes to a quaint English town in search of peace. This is where she finds the Ferryman family, who become not only a safe haven but a healing balm on the poor girls spirit. You can’t help but empathize with her as she’s shouldering blame for things beyond her control. Luke is such an amazing man, and I fell in love with him from the beginning. I adored him and his grandparents and the love and support they show one another.
Though the story progressed exactly how I had expected it was still great to see how everything played out. This is a beautifully written story of redemption that captured my heart and imagination. The picturesque scenery took me back to simpler times and I’d be lying if I didn’t say I’m now craving scones!
Paula Shreckhise –
This is part of a series of books about the Ferryman family by various authors but it is also part of the books written by Danielle Grandinetti that fits with her characters of Italian descent.
Luke Ferryman has a quandry to solve. He is expected to take over the ferry business from his grandfather. But he is also slated to inherit the bakery from his grandmother. He is only one person and is torn between the two but favors baking over rowing. Another expectation is to marry sooner rather than later.
Another dilemma presents itself when Margherita is smuggled into England from Italy when her life is in jeopardy. This is the beginning of the Brown Shirt persecution of unfit people.
This well thought out story combines a spiritual struggle of obeying man or obeying God with the real danger looming before WWII. I was pleased by the unity and friendship of the Anglican minister from England and the Catholic priest from Italy. They both strove to do what Jesus would do. The author showed how family and community supported each other. The romance was sweet and the characters were guided by God. The writing was interesting, informative and well researched.
*I received a complimentary e book from the author. I was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are mine alone.*