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The Island Villa
A story of two sisters, living in a time of fear and betrayal, and rumours of a stranger on the island. If you loved The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah or The Island by Victoria Hislop, you’ll devour this dramatic book-club read set in a beautiful Spanish villa where the walls whisper with secrets.
When Charlotte’s husband James tragically dies, he leaves her an unexpected gift – her grandmother’s beautiful villa, Marisal, on the Spanish island of Formentera.
As she begins to explore her new home, and heal her broken heart in the warm golden sunshine, Charlotte discovers that her grandmother Alba has been keeping secrets about her life on the island. Intrigued by her family’s hidden history, Charlotte uncovers a devastating love affair that put many lives at risk and two sisters torn apart by loss.
Can the heartbreaking truth of the island’s dark history finally be laid to rest? Or will the secrets of the past shake the new life and love that Charlotte is close to finding?
When Charlotte’s husband James tragically dies, he leaves her an unexpected gift – her grandmother’s beautiful villa, Marisal, on the Spanish island of Formentera.
As she begins to explore her new home, and heal her broken heart in the warm golden sunshine, Charlotte discovers that her grandmother Alba has been keeping secrets about her life on the island. Intrigued by her family’s hidden history, Charlotte uncovers a devastating love affair that put many lives at risk and two sisters torn apart by loss.
Can the heartbreaking truth of the island’s dark history finally be laid to rest? Or will the secrets of the past shake the new life and love that Charlotte is close to finding?
266 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 29, 2018
5344 people are currently reading
1649 people want to read
About the author
Lily Graham
18 books419 followersLily Graham grew up in South Africa and is a former journalist.
As a child she dreamt of being an author, and had half-finished manuscripts bulging out of her desk drawers, but it wasn't until she reached her thirties that she finally finished one of them. Her first books were written for children, but when her mother was diagnosed with cancer she wrote a story to deal with the fear and pain she was going through - this became her first women's fiction novel, which was published by Bookouture (Hachette) in 2016.
Since then she has written six novels, covering many topics, her first four novels were a blend of light hearted women's fiction and drama, but in recent years she has found her niche in historical fiction, after she wrote The Island Villa - a story about a secret community of Jews, who some believed were living on the island of Formentera during the Inquisition. It is a story about love, betrayal, and courage.
It took getting to her mid-thirties for her to realise that these were the types of stories she truly wanted to write. Since then she has written two other historical fiction novels, including The Paris Secret, a story about a woman, a bookshop and a secret that goes back to the occupation, and most recently, her most daunting book to date - The Child of Auschwitz, which was a story she never meant to write, but found herself compelled to after reading a story about a woman who gave birth to a child after surviving a concentration camp.
As a child she dreamt of being an author, and had half-finished manuscripts bulging out of her desk drawers, but it wasn't until she reached her thirties that she finally finished one of them. Her first books were written for children, but when her mother was diagnosed with cancer she wrote a story to deal with the fear and pain she was going through - this became her first women's fiction novel, which was published by Bookouture (Hachette) in 2016.
Since then she has written six novels, covering many topics, her first four novels were a blend of light hearted women's fiction and drama, but in recent years she has found her niche in historical fiction, after she wrote The Island Villa - a story about a secret community of Jews, who some believed were living on the island of Formentera during the Inquisition. It is a story about love, betrayal, and courage.
It took getting to her mid-thirties for her to realise that these were the types of stories she truly wanted to write. Since then she has written two other historical fiction novels, including The Paris Secret, a story about a woman, a bookshop and a secret that goes back to the occupation, and most recently, her most daunting book to date - The Child of Auschwitz, which was a story she never meant to write, but found herself compelled to after reading a story about a woman who gave birth to a child after surviving a concentration camp.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 196 reviews
May 29, 2018
The Island Villa by Lily Graham is a bit of a contemporary story mixed with a historical read. The book begins with Charlotte in the present time but as she is learning of her ancestry the chapters switch to what happened hundreds of years ago on the island.
Charlotte had just lost her husband, James, to cancer and is in the process of trying to figure out how to go on in life without him. With her daughter busy with college Charlotte finds herself struggling just to get up each day but that’s when her husband surprises her even in death.
James had known just how important is was to Charlotte to trace down her family roots so before he passed he had purchased her grandmother’s villa on the island of Formentera. But not only had James found the property he also had found that she still had family left on the island and when Charlotte makes contact she begins to learn of her roots and a past she had never known existed.
With a wonderful small town vibe on this tiny island the setting in this story won me over immediately. Then to mix the elements in this story giving it many layers to uncover while reading I found myself quite engaged with this one. Adding in the mystery of the past with overcoming grief and finding new beginnings made for a beautiful read with lovely characters making for a lovely summer read.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more review please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
Charlotte had just lost her husband, James, to cancer and is in the process of trying to figure out how to go on in life without him. With her daughter busy with college Charlotte finds herself struggling just to get up each day but that’s when her husband surprises her even in death.
James had known just how important is was to Charlotte to trace down her family roots so before he passed he had purchased her grandmother’s villa on the island of Formentera. But not only had James found the property he also had found that she still had family left on the island and when Charlotte makes contact she begins to learn of her roots and a past she had never known existed.
With a wonderful small town vibe on this tiny island the setting in this story won me over immediately. Then to mix the elements in this story giving it many layers to uncover while reading I found myself quite engaged with this one. Adding in the mystery of the past with overcoming grief and finding new beginnings made for a beautiful read with lovely characters making for a lovely summer read.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more review please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
July 3, 2018
4 Exquisite Stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟
What a heartbreaking story set in such a beautiful place... another book that seamlessly blended the past with the present... this book was about hope, heartbreak, healing,and Hidden family secrets... set on this beautiful small Spanish island making this the perfect summer read....Lily Graham has written a beautifully compelling story that at its very heart is all about love💕
Charlotte has lost her husband, but he has left behind a gift.... The gift of her grandmother’s childhood house and really so much more.... when Charlotte ventures to this small island she learns many Long held family secrets.... and I learned about a part of history I had no idea about... I found the historical part of this book extremely interesting, and I was impressed with the amount of research the author put into it....
The past story was all about two sisters, a secret, and a heartbreaking love story... don’t want to say too much about the storyline, because this story added a dose of mystery to the book... this book really was the perfect mixture of the past, the present, a mystery, and a love story... A little something for everyone...
Recommend when you are in the mood for a compelling story set in a beautiful setting...
*** many thanks to Bookouture for my copy of this book ***
What a heartbreaking story set in such a beautiful place... another book that seamlessly blended the past with the present... this book was about hope, heartbreak, healing,and Hidden family secrets... set on this beautiful small Spanish island making this the perfect summer read....Lily Graham has written a beautifully compelling story that at its very heart is all about love💕
Charlotte has lost her husband, but he has left behind a gift.... The gift of her grandmother’s childhood house and really so much more.... when Charlotte ventures to this small island she learns many Long held family secrets.... and I learned about a part of history I had no idea about... I found the historical part of this book extremely interesting, and I was impressed with the amount of research the author put into it....
The past story was all about two sisters, a secret, and a heartbreaking love story... don’t want to say too much about the storyline, because this story added a dose of mystery to the book... this book really was the perfect mixture of the past, the present, a mystery, and a love story... A little something for everyone...
Recommend when you are in the mood for a compelling story set in a beautiful setting...
*** many thanks to Bookouture for my copy of this book ***
July 28, 2021
3.75 ⭐🌞⭐☀️
When you see no future, why not look back on the past?
James knew his wife Charlotte; he knew that she would be devastated by his death to the point of falling apart, and he made it his mission to give her a push in the right direction by secretly purchasing 🗝️ the old family house (Marisal) on Formentera - at one time belonging to her grandmother Alba - and leaving her letters 💌 that would guide her in her first exploring steps on the island 🌅. As children, Charlotte and her brother Allan had been compulsively tantalised by the idea of one day discovering the family stories that their grandmother had been so completely reluctant to share with them. What follows is a family saga narrating the immensely intriguing unfolding of their ancestors' tales back in 1718, as related by Maria, grandmother Alba's sister whose existence was previously unknown to Charlotte. As she so thoroughly finds out, "Houses are often mysteries, and old houses have many stories to tell" 🏚️♥️.
The Island Villa by Lily Graham is the ideal Summer read. Charlotte's gradual recovery, her fresh start, is positively marked by her encounters with Isla and the band, Emanuel who helps with the restoration of the house, and - on a far deeper level - Maria. The island welcomes her with arms wide open and though her struggle is real raw and rough - for many months she carries around and talks to the urn carrying her husband's ashes🏺- Charlotte finds herself being little by little enthralled by the astounding history and overpowering mystique of Formentera, and slowly slips into a calm sense of belonging. What ought to have been a week of holiday in honour of her husband's efforts thus turns into a full-blown, life-changing, unexpected and meaningful journey of (self)discovery.
The narrative is exceptionally fast-paced with short chapters alternating between present Formentera and 1718. One thing is for sure: there is much in store for those who dive into the riveting history of calm collected rational Cesca and fierce temperamental Esperanza, Charlotte's ancestors - between threats to their secret Jewish community, caring for and hiding the ailing yet strikingly handsome Jew (Benito), arranged marriages going to nought, and love stories burgeoning in unexpected places, putting families asunder and endangering entire generations...
When you see no future, why not look back on the past?
James knew his wife Charlotte; he knew that she would be devastated by his death to the point of falling apart, and he made it his mission to give her a push in the right direction by secretly purchasing 🗝️ the old family house (Marisal) on Formentera - at one time belonging to her grandmother Alba - and leaving her letters 💌 that would guide her in her first exploring steps on the island 🌅. As children, Charlotte and her brother Allan had been compulsively tantalised by the idea of one day discovering the family stories that their grandmother had been so completely reluctant to share with them. What follows is a family saga narrating the immensely intriguing unfolding of their ancestors' tales back in 1718, as related by Maria, grandmother Alba's sister whose existence was previously unknown to Charlotte. As she so thoroughly finds out, "Houses are often mysteries, and old houses have many stories to tell" 🏚️♥️.
The Island Villa by Lily Graham is the ideal Summer read. Charlotte's gradual recovery, her fresh start, is positively marked by her encounters with Isla and the band, Emanuel who helps with the restoration of the house, and - on a far deeper level - Maria. The island welcomes her with arms wide open and though her struggle is real raw and rough - for many months she carries around and talks to the urn carrying her husband's ashes🏺- Charlotte finds herself being little by little enthralled by the astounding history and overpowering mystique of Formentera, and slowly slips into a calm sense of belonging. What ought to have been a week of holiday in honour of her husband's efforts thus turns into a full-blown, life-changing, unexpected and meaningful journey of (self)discovery.
The narrative is exceptionally fast-paced with short chapters alternating between present Formentera and 1718. One thing is for sure: there is much in store for those who dive into the riveting history of calm collected rational Cesca and fierce temperamental Esperanza, Charlotte's ancestors - between threats to their secret Jewish community, caring for and hiding the ailing yet strikingly handsome Jew (Benito), arranged marriages going to nought, and love stories burgeoning in unexpected places, putting families asunder and endangering entire generations...
July 2, 2018
Widowed at the young age of forty-five, Charlotte would like nothing else but to hide under her duvet and sleep the days away. But her husband has left her a surprise in the form of a villa on the Spanish Island of Formentera that used to belong to Charlotte’s grandmother. Arriving on the island, Charlotte soon discovers her grandmother has kept a large part of her life secret.
I do so adore a dual timeline in an historical fiction story and this one is done brilliantly. Parts of the story are set in the present day with Charlotte trying to put the pieces of her shattered life together, while discovering things about her family she never knew. Other parts of the story are set in the late 1700’s. These are centred around two sisters, Cesca and Esperanza. Sometimes I find myself being more engrossed by one of the timelines but in this case, both held my attention throughout.
I don’t want to give too much away about the plot but it deals with a part of history I knew nothing about and the author does a fabulous job of combining fact and fiction, turning it into a moving, evocative and thought-provoking story. Combine that with tales of the hardship that is island life, the struggles the sisters faced back in the day and Charlotte trying to find her feet after such a devastating loss and I soon found myself completely engrossed.
With vivid descriptions, the island of Formentara soon captured my heart, as did the characters. Charlotte is most definitely someone to sympathise with and root for and the characters she meets on the island are equally likeable in their own ways. This is a truly wonderfully immersive and enchanting story about family, love, loss and secrets and its idyllic setting makes this the perfect summer read.
I do so adore a dual timeline in an historical fiction story and this one is done brilliantly. Parts of the story are set in the present day with Charlotte trying to put the pieces of her shattered life together, while discovering things about her family she never knew. Other parts of the story are set in the late 1700’s. These are centred around two sisters, Cesca and Esperanza. Sometimes I find myself being more engrossed by one of the timelines but in this case, both held my attention throughout.
I don’t want to give too much away about the plot but it deals with a part of history I knew nothing about and the author does a fabulous job of combining fact and fiction, turning it into a moving, evocative and thought-provoking story. Combine that with tales of the hardship that is island life, the struggles the sisters faced back in the day and Charlotte trying to find her feet after such a devastating loss and I soon found myself completely engrossed.
With vivid descriptions, the island of Formentara soon captured my heart, as did the characters. Charlotte is most definitely someone to sympathise with and root for and the characters she meets on the island are equally likeable in their own ways. This is a truly wonderfully immersive and enchanting story about family, love, loss and secrets and its idyllic setting makes this the perfect summer read.
July 2, 2018
WHAT A BEAUTIFULLY WRITTEN BOOK
Review on Blog
This is the kind of book you want to read in the summer ❤
The Island Villa is so captivating that you can easily skip two meals over the book 😂😂 yeas i did that .
This book has everything I love ..
➡Spanish villa
➡ family's secret history
➡ Figs, Olives , Oranges and Lavanders
➡ beautiful seaside
Charlotte lost her husband to cancer and totally devastated but before dying her husband bought her a beautiful Spanish villa which was also her family villa .
There she found a new hope to live and come out of depression . She come to know of her family's secret history and the two
women , Cesca and Esperenza , who were her great great grandmother and her sister . The story is set in 1718 on a beautiful island of Formentera .
For me it was a captivating book and I read it as soon as i could read .
Happy reading ..
Review on Blog
This is the kind of book you want to read in the summer ❤
The Island Villa is so captivating that you can easily skip two meals over the book 😂😂 yeas i did that .
This book has everything I love ..
➡Spanish villa
➡ family's secret history
➡ Figs, Olives , Oranges and Lavanders
➡ beautiful seaside
Charlotte lost her husband to cancer and totally devastated but before dying her husband bought her a beautiful Spanish villa which was also her family villa .
There she found a new hope to live and come out of depression . She come to know of her family's secret history and the two
women , Cesca and Esperenza , who were her great great grandmother and her sister . The story is set in 1718 on a beautiful island of Formentera .
For me it was a captivating book and I read it as soon as i could read .
Happy reading ..
June 12, 2018
Beautiful and moving! This is a stunning tapestry of a book, the various strands beautifully and expertly woven into a tantalising, absolutely perfect, masterpiece of a story. I loved it from start to finish. Brilliantly researched, this story takes us to a time in history that I knew very little about and the author made the time and place come alive for me with her beguiling, vivid and vibrant prose. This story is one that will stay with me and I will definitely be re-reading this book if only to immerse myself in the beautiful world the author expertly creates for us with her perfectly chosen words.
June 28, 2018
I loved that the beautiful sounding villa conneted the stories of a grandmother and her grandaughter. The setting sounds so blissful that you can imagine the sights and smells. Secrets abound and Charlotte learns more about her family history, as her husband bought the villa for her before he died. I enjoyed both sides of the story and it really was beautifully written. I am keen to read more by Lily Graham
September 24, 2018
Unfinished
This was a fascinating read up to the point that felt like the author suddenly just had to wrap it up. We never discovered what the conflict was between the grandmother, Alba, was with her sister. Just a unfinished and unfulfilled story of great grandmothers....without even finishing THAT story satisfactorily. Good book until the ending....which was disappointing.
This was a fascinating read up to the point that felt like the author suddenly just had to wrap it up. We never discovered what the conflict was between the grandmother, Alba, was with her sister. Just a unfinished and unfulfilled story of great grandmothers....without even finishing THAT story satisfactorily. Good book until the ending....which was disappointing.
February 15, 2020
Bei "Die Insel der Leuchttürme" hat mich sowohl der Klappentext als auch das schöne sommerliche Cover neugierig gemacht und ich habe eine sehr emotionale Geschichte erwartet.
Zu Beginn lernen wir Charlotte kennen, die kurz nach dem Tod ihres Mannes erfährt, dass er ihr ein Haus auf Formentera gekauft hat, das ihrer Großmutter gehörte. Kurze Zeit später reist Charlotte dann nach Formentera, um sich das Haus anzusehen und sich auf die Spuren ihrer Vergangenheit zu begeben.
Ich war sehr neugierig auf die Geschichte, aber so richtig einfangen konnte sie mich leider nicht. Ich hatte hier deutlich mehr Emotionen und Gefühle erwartet, aber leider plätschert die Handlung größtenteils vor sich hin. Es gibt neben der Geschichte von Charlotte auch noch einen Erzählstrang in der Vergangenheit, aber auch dieser bleibt in vielem leider nur an der Oberfläche und konnte mich ebenfalls nicht richtig mitreißen. Thematisch war dieser mit der jüdischen Minderheit im 18. Jahrhundert auf Formentera wirklich interessant, aber die Charaktere konnten mich leider nicht begeistern.
Die Charaktere waren nicht unsympathisch, aber sie sind meiner Meinung nach einfach zu blass geblieben und es fehlte ihnen an richtiger Persönlichkeit.
Ich hätte mir von dem Buch ein wenig mehr Tiefe und Gefühl gewünscht, so war es eher eine nette Geschichte für zwischendurch.
Zu Beginn lernen wir Charlotte kennen, die kurz nach dem Tod ihres Mannes erfährt, dass er ihr ein Haus auf Formentera gekauft hat, das ihrer Großmutter gehörte. Kurze Zeit später reist Charlotte dann nach Formentera, um sich das Haus anzusehen und sich auf die Spuren ihrer Vergangenheit zu begeben.
Ich war sehr neugierig auf die Geschichte, aber so richtig einfangen konnte sie mich leider nicht. Ich hatte hier deutlich mehr Emotionen und Gefühle erwartet, aber leider plätschert die Handlung größtenteils vor sich hin. Es gibt neben der Geschichte von Charlotte auch noch einen Erzählstrang in der Vergangenheit, aber auch dieser bleibt in vielem leider nur an der Oberfläche und konnte mich ebenfalls nicht richtig mitreißen. Thematisch war dieser mit der jüdischen Minderheit im 18. Jahrhundert auf Formentera wirklich interessant, aber die Charaktere konnten mich leider nicht begeistern.
Die Charaktere waren nicht unsympathisch, aber sie sind meiner Meinung nach einfach zu blass geblieben und es fehlte ihnen an richtiger Persönlichkeit.
Ich hätte mir von dem Buch ein wenig mehr Tiefe und Gefühl gewünscht, so war es eher eine nette Geschichte für zwischendurch.
October 2, 2018
I enjoyed the book, but I felt that it ended very abruptly. It was almost like the author got tired of the characters or met the quota of number of words. I definitely think the characters could have been explored more. Overall, it was a good book but the ending was disappointing.
July 26, 2018
When Charlotte's husband James dies she is devastated and can't see a way forward in her life until she she finds that before he died he bought her a house in Formentera, Marisal, the house that belonged to her grandmother's family for generations and one that had intrigued her and her brother Allen since their childhood. Arriving on the island she soon gets to know the locals and also finds out that her grandmother's sister is still alive and well and living on the island. Once she gets to know her family and makes new friends will she want to return to her old life in Surrery
A great book I loved the way that Charlotte found out the history of her family and the secrets that they had kept for generations. The story worked well slipping between the 1700s and the present day and it was definitely a book that I couldn't put down and had a great historical content as well
A great book I loved the way that Charlotte found out the history of her family and the secrets that they had kept for generations. The story worked well slipping between the 1700s and the present day and it was definitely a book that I couldn't put down and had a great historical content as well
July 1, 2018
https://donnasbookblog.wordpress.com/...
I do love this author's books so I was delighted to see that she had a new book coming out - and I have to say that this book is a completely gorgeous book to read!!
The writing style in this book is excellent, the words just flow so well you are captivated. The characters are lovely and at times I really just wanted to give them a big hug! The story is one that will stay with you. Very well developed and a lovely setting.
Five stars from me and really looking to see what she releases next - a fabulous summer read - very, very highly recommended by me!
I do love this author's books so I was delighted to see that she had a new book coming out - and I have to say that this book is a completely gorgeous book to read!!
The writing style in this book is excellent, the words just flow so well you are captivated. The characters are lovely and at times I really just wanted to give them a big hug! The story is one that will stay with you. Very well developed and a lovely setting.
Five stars from me and really looking to see what she releases next - a fabulous summer read - very, very highly recommended by me!
July 27, 2018
Great story, lovely setting. Recommended read if you like dual timeline books. It was interesting to hear the historical element.
July 6, 2018
For the most part, I enjoyed this novel. The premise is intriguing, as most family-secrets/dual-timeline stories are. But I did have some “cons” that out-balanced the “pros”. For me, the “cons” were:
A) The use of “smelt” for “smelled”. First of all, it was just used too much. I get that it was used in a descriptive nature since there were lots of fruit trees on the island, but it was just too much. And that spelling was just awkward. Is it common in British books? I just couldn’t get over that when I see “smelt” I think of ore or fish.
B) I couldn’t understand why the author chose the name Jim for Big Jim when the main character’s newly deceased husband was named James. Couldn’t the author have called him Big John or any other name that isn’t a version of James. Isn’t that something an editor should suggest?
C) Continuity. At one point, when referring to her mother’s relationship with her husband, Charlotte says her mother “loved her mother-in-law” when she meant son-in-law. Also, her grandmother’s last name is Alvarez and I believe Charlotte says it is her maiden name; however it is said mid-way thru the book that her grandmother married an English man. My guess is that his last name wouldn’t have been Alvarez.
D) Whenever the doctor was mentioned, it was ALWAYS “the doctor, Senor Garcia.” We get it, we know who he is; no need to clarify it EVERY time.
E) It ended too abruptly. Cesca’s and Esperanza’s stories just ended and we never really heard much about Maria and Alba. It was just all wrapped up in a few paragraphs and just slammed to an end.
A) The use of “smelt” for “smelled”. First of all, it was just used too much. I get that it was used in a descriptive nature since there were lots of fruit trees on the island, but it was just too much. And that spelling was just awkward. Is it common in British books? I just couldn’t get over that when I see “smelt” I think of ore or fish.
B) I couldn’t understand why the author chose the name Jim for Big Jim when the main character’s newly deceased husband was named James. Couldn’t the author have called him Big John or any other name that isn’t a version of James. Isn’t that something an editor should suggest?
C) Continuity. At one point, when referring to her mother’s relationship with her husband, Charlotte says her mother “loved her mother-in-law” when she meant son-in-law. Also, her grandmother’s last name is Alvarez and I believe Charlotte says it is her maiden name; however it is said mid-way thru the book that her grandmother married an English man. My guess is that his last name wouldn’t have been Alvarez.
D) Whenever the doctor was mentioned, it was ALWAYS “the doctor, Senor Garcia.” We get it, we know who he is; no need to clarify it EVERY time.
E) It ended too abruptly. Cesca’s and Esperanza’s stories just ended and we never really heard much about Maria and Alba. It was just all wrapped up in a few paragraphs and just slammed to an end.
July 5, 2018
I don’t know about you but I do love a good dual time story about families and secrets, and this is one fabulous read full of them.
Set on the Spanish island of Formentera, near to Ibiza this book tells two stories. Charlotte’s in the present day and Cesca’s and Esperanza’s her ancestors, set three hundred years earlier.
This was such a lovely read just perfect for this time of year. I really liked Charlotte and could identify with her all the way through the book, she felt so real . I loved the way her character developed from a grief stricken widow, to acceptance to learning to live with again without her husband. I enjoyed her story the most as I loved reading about her new life on the island, meeting long lost relatives and making new friends.
The second story set in 1718 was fascinating, truly drawing me into life back then on the island. The two sisters Cesca and Esperanza came alive on the page with their completely different outlooks on life and you could feel that something ominous was sure to happen.
I won’t say anything else as it will spoil this wonderful story. I definitely recommend it as the perfect dual time read this summer.
Thanks so much to NetGalley and Bookouture for my digital copy.
Set on the Spanish island of Formentera, near to Ibiza this book tells two stories. Charlotte’s in the present day and Cesca’s and Esperanza’s her ancestors, set three hundred years earlier.
This was such a lovely read just perfect for this time of year. I really liked Charlotte and could identify with her all the way through the book, she felt so real . I loved the way her character developed from a grief stricken widow, to acceptance to learning to live with again without her husband. I enjoyed her story the most as I loved reading about her new life on the island, meeting long lost relatives and making new friends.
The second story set in 1718 was fascinating, truly drawing me into life back then on the island. The two sisters Cesca and Esperanza came alive on the page with their completely different outlooks on life and you could feel that something ominous was sure to happen.
I won’t say anything else as it will spoil this wonderful story. I definitely recommend it as the perfect dual time read this summer.
Thanks so much to NetGalley and Bookouture for my digital copy.
July 1, 2018
Don't be fooled into thinking The Island Villa is just another one of those very easy to read, summer romance stories that will while away a few hours on sun lounger whilst on holiday and then is instantly forgettable. I wouldn't blame you for thinking that given both the title and cover but instead Lily Graham has provided her readers with a dual timeline story that deftly moves between the past and the present as Charlotte attempts to come to terms with the recent loss of her husband. The story proved to be intriguing and eye opening. In venturing on this journey, Charlotte discovers a fascinating family history that she had no idea about.
On first judgement of this book I would never have thought that historical fiction would very much form the main crux of the story. Fans of this genre might let this one pass them by if they saw the title and it would be a shame if they were to do so. I had only read one book by this author before and that was the book she published last Christmas. It was good but hadn't blown me away and there was an element of magic to it that I found hard to believe. So perhaps I was ever so slightly wary of starting this read but my fears were soon quashed as awaiting me between the pages was an intriguing and detailed story of romance set amidst a time of great persecution and unrest for a section of society that has been kept hidden for many years and is about to some to light.
Charlotte Woolf is putting on a brave face but inside she is slowly crumbling away due to the overwhelming feelings of grief, loss, loneliness and abandonment that threaten to drown her on a daily basis. It is not that long since she buried her husband James. She is angry at her loss but also depressed and turning to the bottle for answers that are just not forthcoming. She knows she can't go on like this and with daughter Sage back at university attempting to get back to some sort of normality Charlotte knows she to has to do the same but how can she with the love of her life now permanently absent? Lily Graham wrote about dealing with loss and attempting to move on very well. I felt every bit of Charlotte's pain and anger and as she says death is not something you get over rather you cope with it some days better than others. I couldn't agree more with this sentiment. But James had one last surprise in store for Charlotte and through a letter he left her she discovers he had bought Marisal, a villa on the small island of Formentera near to Ibiza.
Marisal had been the old family home of her grandmother and grandfather but it had fallen out of the families hands many years ago. James knew this had occurred and that one day in the future Charlotte had wanted to venture to the island to uncover the family secrets that surely must be hidden there. Even though James was gone I thought this was the ultimate act of love for the woman he held so dear to his heart. It was like he was reaching from beyond the grave to express this. He knew that Charlotte would be lost once he was gone and could venture down a path that might be very difficult to come back from. In buying the villa he has given her a second chance, an opportunity to uncover some truths but also the chance to find herself again before she looses herself forever.
Once Charlotte reaches the island I felt transported to a place that doesn't get as many mentions as its neighbouring island Ibiza. It seemed like a hidden gem away from all the night-life that Ibiza is famous for. The descriptions of the island were stunning and it seemed to have such a relaxed and carefree pace of life that maybe this was what Charlotte really did need. Although it would take her some time to realise this, to come to some form of acceptance and to find a way in moving forward in the grieving and healing process. Marisal was not in the best of shape but both the reader and Charlotte could sense it was steeped in history and had quite a story to tell. How said story developed was very well done.
Each chapter alternated between Charlotte in the present as she discovers Maria, a sister to her grandmother. A sister that she never knew existed. Maria recounts the past to Charlotte through stories, the heritage and secrets of the island are brought to life. Although the author does mention in an after note at the conclusion of the story that there is no definitive evidence to suggest what occurred to Maria's ancestors did happen in real life on island. I myself, would like to think this secret community did exist on the island and that there were so many selfless people willing to put their faith above all else and protect it to the core.
Initially I did enjoy Charlotte's story and could very much identify with it but the more the book developed I found myself rushing through the chapters featuring Charlotte as I was eager to return to Formentera during 1718. Charlotte's story seemed in my mind to peter out once we focused more on Cesca and Esperanza, yes the island did begin to work some magic on Charlotte and inspired her in more ways than she thought possible and she was also able to delve into the past but it didn’t hold my attention throughout and became slightly routine and with not much happening in the chapters that did feature her in the later half of the story. What did hold my attention though was Maria's retelling of her ancestors past and I found this really interesting as I had never heard any mention of any aspect of this storyline before.
On Formentera in 1718, the arrival of a stranger to the isolated island which has a very small population causes suspicion to arise. As it is many of the islanders are hiding a huge secret and they all work together to keep it that way. To all intents and purposes the islanders are Catholic but look beneath the surface things are hidden and behind closed doors the Jewish faith is practiced. This was very very dangerous during the time of the Inquisition and the bravery of the people was to be admired. Lily Graham brought the island alive during this time of danger, apprehension and mistrust. Formentera was a different world to the one Charlotte experiences in the present but the author made it feel real and authentic. A complicated love story develops as Antoni, a salt merchant brings home a chuetas ( a faith breaker, a traitor, a secret Jew) to the island to be cared for by his mother and sisters Cesca and Esperanza. So sets in motions a chain of events that will affect the lives of the family forever.
Cesca was a nurse on the island promised to the much older doctor where as to me Esperanza seemed much more of a free spirit reluctant to be chained by the shackles of domesticity. She much preferred to be out in the open not doing the chores as required by her mother. She was willing to do anything for her brother and with the arrival of the chuetas the different more wild life that Esperanza craved may just have been in store for her. Cesca was orderly and very much a person who liked logic. She was someone to be trusted and although she may have though Antoni was putting his families lives in peril she would always do what ever was required of her. I though Cesca and Esperanza put so much on the line, for if the cheutas had been discovered then the fate that awaited all of them would be unmentionable. But over the course of the second half of the book a subtle change of feeling began to occur for all the characters and the stranger as mentioned before now is makes himself known as Don Santiago Martinez. He will have a crucial role to play and there are many twists and turns to follow as the story makes its way to its conclusion.
Love, forbidden and complicated due to the nature of the time, very much features in the lives of Cesca and Esperanza. Jealousy and betrayal make an appearance too but it's how the story all panned out that made me enjoy the sections that were set in 1718. It brought to light the many sacrifices the characters made and I know some fact was blended with mostly fiction but as previously mentioned I would love to think that this did happen at the time as it shows the kindness of human nature. By Maria telling the story to Charlotte in modern day Formentera it allowed the theme of never forgetting who you are and where you come from to shine through. That the past undoubtedly impacts on the present and even when we are at our lowest times it can give us the boost and lift we need to go just that little bit further day by day. Charlotte found inspiration, solace and comfort on the island just like the many secret Jews did and Lily Graham has woven a beautiful and sentimental connection between the two. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed The Island Villa and think many other readers will be too should they choose to pick up this engaging book.
On first judgement of this book I would never have thought that historical fiction would very much form the main crux of the story. Fans of this genre might let this one pass them by if they saw the title and it would be a shame if they were to do so. I had only read one book by this author before and that was the book she published last Christmas. It was good but hadn't blown me away and there was an element of magic to it that I found hard to believe. So perhaps I was ever so slightly wary of starting this read but my fears were soon quashed as awaiting me between the pages was an intriguing and detailed story of romance set amidst a time of great persecution and unrest for a section of society that has been kept hidden for many years and is about to some to light.
Charlotte Woolf is putting on a brave face but inside she is slowly crumbling away due to the overwhelming feelings of grief, loss, loneliness and abandonment that threaten to drown her on a daily basis. It is not that long since she buried her husband James. She is angry at her loss but also depressed and turning to the bottle for answers that are just not forthcoming. She knows she can't go on like this and with daughter Sage back at university attempting to get back to some sort of normality Charlotte knows she to has to do the same but how can she with the love of her life now permanently absent? Lily Graham wrote about dealing with loss and attempting to move on very well. I felt every bit of Charlotte's pain and anger and as she says death is not something you get over rather you cope with it some days better than others. I couldn't agree more with this sentiment. But James had one last surprise in store for Charlotte and through a letter he left her she discovers he had bought Marisal, a villa on the small island of Formentera near to Ibiza.
Marisal had been the old family home of her grandmother and grandfather but it had fallen out of the families hands many years ago. James knew this had occurred and that one day in the future Charlotte had wanted to venture to the island to uncover the family secrets that surely must be hidden there. Even though James was gone I thought this was the ultimate act of love for the woman he held so dear to his heart. It was like he was reaching from beyond the grave to express this. He knew that Charlotte would be lost once he was gone and could venture down a path that might be very difficult to come back from. In buying the villa he has given her a second chance, an opportunity to uncover some truths but also the chance to find herself again before she looses herself forever.
Once Charlotte reaches the island I felt transported to a place that doesn't get as many mentions as its neighbouring island Ibiza. It seemed like a hidden gem away from all the night-life that Ibiza is famous for. The descriptions of the island were stunning and it seemed to have such a relaxed and carefree pace of life that maybe this was what Charlotte really did need. Although it would take her some time to realise this, to come to some form of acceptance and to find a way in moving forward in the grieving and healing process. Marisal was not in the best of shape but both the reader and Charlotte could sense it was steeped in history and had quite a story to tell. How said story developed was very well done.
Each chapter alternated between Charlotte in the present as she discovers Maria, a sister to her grandmother. A sister that she never knew existed. Maria recounts the past to Charlotte through stories, the heritage and secrets of the island are brought to life. Although the author does mention in an after note at the conclusion of the story that there is no definitive evidence to suggest what occurred to Maria's ancestors did happen in real life on island. I myself, would like to think this secret community did exist on the island and that there were so many selfless people willing to put their faith above all else and protect it to the core.
Initially I did enjoy Charlotte's story and could very much identify with it but the more the book developed I found myself rushing through the chapters featuring Charlotte as I was eager to return to Formentera during 1718. Charlotte's story seemed in my mind to peter out once we focused more on Cesca and Esperanza, yes the island did begin to work some magic on Charlotte and inspired her in more ways than she thought possible and she was also able to delve into the past but it didn’t hold my attention throughout and became slightly routine and with not much happening in the chapters that did feature her in the later half of the story. What did hold my attention though was Maria's retelling of her ancestors past and I found this really interesting as I had never heard any mention of any aspect of this storyline before.
On Formentera in 1718, the arrival of a stranger to the isolated island which has a very small population causes suspicion to arise. As it is many of the islanders are hiding a huge secret and they all work together to keep it that way. To all intents and purposes the islanders are Catholic but look beneath the surface things are hidden and behind closed doors the Jewish faith is practiced. This was very very dangerous during the time of the Inquisition and the bravery of the people was to be admired. Lily Graham brought the island alive during this time of danger, apprehension and mistrust. Formentera was a different world to the one Charlotte experiences in the present but the author made it feel real and authentic. A complicated love story develops as Antoni, a salt merchant brings home a chuetas ( a faith breaker, a traitor, a secret Jew) to the island to be cared for by his mother and sisters Cesca and Esperanza. So sets in motions a chain of events that will affect the lives of the family forever.
Cesca was a nurse on the island promised to the much older doctor where as to me Esperanza seemed much more of a free spirit reluctant to be chained by the shackles of domesticity. She much preferred to be out in the open not doing the chores as required by her mother. She was willing to do anything for her brother and with the arrival of the chuetas the different more wild life that Esperanza craved may just have been in store for her. Cesca was orderly and very much a person who liked logic. She was someone to be trusted and although she may have though Antoni was putting his families lives in peril she would always do what ever was required of her. I though Cesca and Esperanza put so much on the line, for if the cheutas had been discovered then the fate that awaited all of them would be unmentionable. But over the course of the second half of the book a subtle change of feeling began to occur for all the characters and the stranger as mentioned before now is makes himself known as Don Santiago Martinez. He will have a crucial role to play and there are many twists and turns to follow as the story makes its way to its conclusion.
Love, forbidden and complicated due to the nature of the time, very much features in the lives of Cesca and Esperanza. Jealousy and betrayal make an appearance too but it's how the story all panned out that made me enjoy the sections that were set in 1718. It brought to light the many sacrifices the characters made and I know some fact was blended with mostly fiction but as previously mentioned I would love to think that this did happen at the time as it shows the kindness of human nature. By Maria telling the story to Charlotte in modern day Formentera it allowed the theme of never forgetting who you are and where you come from to shine through. That the past undoubtedly impacts on the present and even when we are at our lowest times it can give us the boost and lift we need to go just that little bit further day by day. Charlotte found inspiration, solace and comfort on the island just like the many secret Jews did and Lily Graham has woven a beautiful and sentimental connection between the two. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed The Island Villa and think many other readers will be too should they choose to pick up this engaging book.
September 23, 2018
A beautiful story by author Lily Graham with visual descriptions that show the vivid tapestry of history. A poignant read wherein Charlotte, a widow, found out that her husband had bought her a villa, her ancestral home before his death. The story is told in dual timeliness going back into history of Charlotte's father and his family. The secrets revealed make this fun and the way Charlotte starts to live life again makes this an inspiring read.
A good read over the weekend.
A good read over the weekend.
June 14, 2018
Travel fiction is fast becoming one of my favourite genres; being transported to an unusual/undiscovered part of the world and learning the customs and history during a gripping story is pure escapism. This book is up there with my favourites.
It instantly takes you right in to the midst of a very difficult time for Charlotte, and you immediately bond with her trying to do her best whilst in the depths of grief and being handed a surprise letter that opens up all manner of emotions.
As Charlotte is lured to an island (Formentera in the Balearics) that holds many secrets from her family’s past, you, as the reader, are equally as drawn in to the mystery of Marisal villa and the island. It is a wild, natural retreat that is much quieter than it’s neighbour Ibiza, and the descriptions of the rambling paths, streets, coves and markets are wanderlust igniting.
The past secrets that Charlotte gradually uncovers takes you back to 18th century history on the island: the Spanish Inquisition, piracy, the salt trade and the secret plight of many from the mainland. This part was so wonderfully written, quite clearly researched in-depth and therefore informative and so interesting. You are introduced to another set of characters that are endearing and feel like family.
This book is about the mistakes of youth, history, regrets, rejuvenation, family and love and how a family’s legacy can pass through the generations.
It was gripping, dramatic and uplifting, perfect for a holiday/beach read. My only criticism is that it ended too quickly, I’d have loved to have read more about what came of the characters in both timelines and the outcomes of the decisions made, but it’s a sign of a great book when you are left wanting more.
It instantly takes you right in to the midst of a very difficult time for Charlotte, and you immediately bond with her trying to do her best whilst in the depths of grief and being handed a surprise letter that opens up all manner of emotions.
As Charlotte is lured to an island (Formentera in the Balearics) that holds many secrets from her family’s past, you, as the reader, are equally as drawn in to the mystery of Marisal villa and the island. It is a wild, natural retreat that is much quieter than it’s neighbour Ibiza, and the descriptions of the rambling paths, streets, coves and markets are wanderlust igniting.
The past secrets that Charlotte gradually uncovers takes you back to 18th century history on the island: the Spanish Inquisition, piracy, the salt trade and the secret plight of many from the mainland. This part was so wonderfully written, quite clearly researched in-depth and therefore informative and so interesting. You are introduced to another set of characters that are endearing and feel like family.
This book is about the mistakes of youth, history, regrets, rejuvenation, family and love and how a family’s legacy can pass through the generations.
It was gripping, dramatic and uplifting, perfect for a holiday/beach read. My only criticism is that it ended too quickly, I’d have loved to have read more about what came of the characters in both timelines and the outcomes of the decisions made, but it’s a sign of a great book when you are left wanting more.
May 22, 2019
SPOILER ALERTS AT THE END OF THE REVIEW. I wanted to like 'The Island Villa'. I really did. It had a lot of potential and an ambitious plot set on an exotic island in the Mediterranean. But it fell apart about halfway through the book. The elements that gave it promise were jettisoned, and at the end enormous plot holes make a mess of the conclusion.
The story is presented as the tale of Charlotte, a 40-something recent widow whose husband bought a villa in the Mediterranean that had previously belonged to her family. The posthumous gift is supposed to help her recover from her grief and reconnect with her Spanish family. As unlikely as this is, it is rather a sweet premise. Since Charlotte is experiencing extreme grief, it takes her a while to visit her new villa. At first she continues to avoid contact with the living and carry around her husband's urn, but finally she emerges and makes friends in the community and meets her great-aunt Maria, whom her grandmother had never mentioned. So we have the start of a good story--grieving widow makes new life and discovers family secrets. But then this promising start is squandered. Does Charlotte want to learn why her grandmother and her sister were alienated? Does she explore why her family was so divided? That plot element from the Spanish Civil War/World War II is disposed of in a paragraph (unsatisfactorily) and never revisited. Instead Charlotte and her aunt dwell on a tale of two ancestral sisters from the early 1700's and their secret religious background as Marranos--hidden Jews who had converted to Christianity. Ms. Graham does not really explore what it meant to be a Marrano, just using it as a plot point to create an element of secrecy in the life of the islanders. This religious element was both unrealistic and faintly disrespectful to both Christians and Jews. The story of the two 18th century sisters, Cesca and Esperanza, and their romantic rivalry dominates the latter half of the novel. Esperanza makes an unfortunate marriage and then [SPOILER ALERT] kills her husband in a fight. But nobody seems to notice that a Spanish Don has died violently! Cesca's rejected suitor, a doctor, covers it up, claiming he died of a fever. Were there no servants who found the body who could distinguish between a gunshot and a fever? But we are to believe that everything is tied to hiding the Jewish background of the whole island. And then this storyline is over.
Could this have been a good novel, a story of recovering from grief, exploring family secrets, and finding a new life? Yes, but instead we are presented a paint-by-number story that is neither interesting nor emotionally true.
From reading other reviews, it seems that many readers were delighted with this book. Personally, I am tired of books that present multiple historical storylines and fail to balance them or deliver on the promise of an emotional connection.
The story is presented as the tale of Charlotte, a 40-something recent widow whose husband bought a villa in the Mediterranean that had previously belonged to her family. The posthumous gift is supposed to help her recover from her grief and reconnect with her Spanish family. As unlikely as this is, it is rather a sweet premise. Since Charlotte is experiencing extreme grief, it takes her a while to visit her new villa. At first she continues to avoid contact with the living and carry around her husband's urn, but finally she emerges and makes friends in the community and meets her great-aunt Maria, whom her grandmother had never mentioned. So we have the start of a good story--grieving widow makes new life and discovers family secrets. But then this promising start is squandered. Does Charlotte want to learn why her grandmother and her sister were alienated? Does she explore why her family was so divided? That plot element from the Spanish Civil War/World War II is disposed of in a paragraph (unsatisfactorily) and never revisited. Instead Charlotte and her aunt dwell on a tale of two ancestral sisters from the early 1700's and their secret religious background as Marranos--hidden Jews who had converted to Christianity. Ms. Graham does not really explore what it meant to be a Marrano, just using it as a plot point to create an element of secrecy in the life of the islanders. This religious element was both unrealistic and faintly disrespectful to both Christians and Jews. The story of the two 18th century sisters, Cesca and Esperanza, and their romantic rivalry dominates the latter half of the novel. Esperanza makes an unfortunate marriage and then [SPOILER ALERT] kills her husband in a fight. But nobody seems to notice that a Spanish Don has died violently! Cesca's rejected suitor, a doctor, covers it up, claiming he died of a fever. Were there no servants who found the body who could distinguish between a gunshot and a fever? But we are to believe that everything is tied to hiding the Jewish background of the whole island. And then this storyline is over.
Could this have been a good novel, a story of recovering from grief, exploring family secrets, and finding a new life? Yes, but instead we are presented a paint-by-number story that is neither interesting nor emotionally true.
From reading other reviews, it seems that many readers were delighted with this book. Personally, I am tired of books that present multiple historical storylines and fail to balance them or deliver on the promise of an emotional connection.
February 7, 2019
I just didn't feel there was much of a story here. The events in current day were a bit unrealistic (who moves to a vacation spot and immediately befriends a group of people, and becomes a part of their band?), while the events in the past took a long time to connect to present day. Nothing outstanding about this read. Ho hum!
July 2, 2018
Oh my ‘The Island Villa’ was certainly a read and a half. In the end I did absolutely love reading it but more about that in a bit.
I really took to the character of Charlotte and I empathised with her a lot. Charlotte was happily married with a daughter but her happy life was soon to be shattered with the devastating news that her husband James has cancer and it is at as serious a level as it can get. In other words he is terminally ill. Sadly he dies and Charlotte is left behind. She has all sorts of conflicting feelings. At times she is cross with her husband for dying, she is cross with the world because it took her husband away, she is cross with how everybody else can carry on with their daily lives but she can’t because she is struggling to make sense of what has happened, she is mad at the cancer and initially she wants to find solace in the bottom of a glass of vodka. I say that I empathise with her because this perfectly sums up how I felt when my own father died of leukaemia, which wasn’t diagnosed until he was literally on his death bed. I know that Charlotte lost a husband and I lost a father, but some of the feelings that she goes through were similar to how I felt. James has one last surprise for his wife though and all is revealed when she is handed an envelope with her name on it. It turns out that he bought her a house and not just any house but a house which has great meaning for Charlotte’s family. It was her grandmother’s house, which her grandmother had to leave behind. Charlotte is encouraged to go out there and to try to find out more about her family history. She uncovers more than she bargained for. Whilst Charlotte is there on the island, I was crossing my fingers that she would manage to piece her life back together and who knows she might find happiness. Does she find happiness? Well you are just going to have to read the book for yourselves as I am not going to tell you.
Initially I found this book rather hard to read. I don’t mean that it is badly written as that couldn’t be further from the truth. I found it hard to read because of the death of Charlotte’s husband and the fact it was from cancer. This brought back memories of my father’s passing and I relived those dark days. I persevered with the book and I am so glad that I did because the story really is a feel good story. I soon became addicted to reading this book and the pages flew past in a blur. I simply had to read on to see what fate had in store for Charlotte and if she managed to discover the story behind the house and what happened in her family that made her grandmother leave the island. Oh my I was so disappointed when I finished reading this book because I was enjoying the writing style, the characters, the story and the setting of the book so much that I just wanted it to continue. ‘The Island Villa’ was one of those books that really put me through the emotional wringer somewhat. I felt everything that the characters were going through. I also found myself envious of Charlotte owning a house on a small island and the possibility of living away from other people. In fact if I could have packed my bags to go and join her then I would have. Overall this really is a feel good book and does what it says on the tin as the saying goes.
After a difficult start, I really enjoyed reading ‘The Island Villa’ and I would certainly recommend it to other readers. I can’t wait to see what comes next from Lily Graham. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a well deserved 4* out of 5*.
I really took to the character of Charlotte and I empathised with her a lot. Charlotte was happily married with a daughter but her happy life was soon to be shattered with the devastating news that her husband James has cancer and it is at as serious a level as it can get. In other words he is terminally ill. Sadly he dies and Charlotte is left behind. She has all sorts of conflicting feelings. At times she is cross with her husband for dying, she is cross with the world because it took her husband away, she is cross with how everybody else can carry on with their daily lives but she can’t because she is struggling to make sense of what has happened, she is mad at the cancer and initially she wants to find solace in the bottom of a glass of vodka. I say that I empathise with her because this perfectly sums up how I felt when my own father died of leukaemia, which wasn’t diagnosed until he was literally on his death bed. I know that Charlotte lost a husband and I lost a father, but some of the feelings that she goes through were similar to how I felt. James has one last surprise for his wife though and all is revealed when she is handed an envelope with her name on it. It turns out that he bought her a house and not just any house but a house which has great meaning for Charlotte’s family. It was her grandmother’s house, which her grandmother had to leave behind. Charlotte is encouraged to go out there and to try to find out more about her family history. She uncovers more than she bargained for. Whilst Charlotte is there on the island, I was crossing my fingers that she would manage to piece her life back together and who knows she might find happiness. Does she find happiness? Well you are just going to have to read the book for yourselves as I am not going to tell you.
Initially I found this book rather hard to read. I don’t mean that it is badly written as that couldn’t be further from the truth. I found it hard to read because of the death of Charlotte’s husband and the fact it was from cancer. This brought back memories of my father’s passing and I relived those dark days. I persevered with the book and I am so glad that I did because the story really is a feel good story. I soon became addicted to reading this book and the pages flew past in a blur. I simply had to read on to see what fate had in store for Charlotte and if she managed to discover the story behind the house and what happened in her family that made her grandmother leave the island. Oh my I was so disappointed when I finished reading this book because I was enjoying the writing style, the characters, the story and the setting of the book so much that I just wanted it to continue. ‘The Island Villa’ was one of those books that really put me through the emotional wringer somewhat. I felt everything that the characters were going through. I also found myself envious of Charlotte owning a house on a small island and the possibility of living away from other people. In fact if I could have packed my bags to go and join her then I would have. Overall this really is a feel good book and does what it says on the tin as the saying goes.
After a difficult start, I really enjoyed reading ‘The Island Villa’ and I would certainly recommend it to other readers. I can’t wait to see what comes next from Lily Graham. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a well deserved 4* out of 5*.
June 26, 2022
I really enjoyed this novel: the first one of Lily Graham's I have read. It is a beautiful and original cross of contemporary women’s and feel-good fiction mixed with a heart-breaking historical thread that takes us back to one woman’s family heritage on a Spanish island: a unique place that harbours many secrets of unusual circumstances and stories that surround its immigrants.
The current timeline with its intriguing journey into an exploration of the past is born out of loss. Charlotte, in the modern timeline, has lost her husband to cancer. After his death, she discovers he has bought her a villa on a Spanish island and wants her to explore her family roots. Above all, he wants her to be happy, even though he is gone. He obviously managed to do some research before his death and sets up this opportunity for her. Charlotte’s reaction of surprise is expected and although grief weighs heavy on her heart, she picks herself up and follows her late husband's wishes and goes to the Island.
Charlotte, as a character, is very likeable. Her dealings with grief may seem unusual to some but I found her actions understandable. I also found myself cheering her on to follow the leads presented to her and for having the courage to embark on a journey that would ultimately change her life. The purchase of this villa, that was once a home of her ancestors, allowed her to touch history in a way she may not have before. It gave her the chance to learn its story and that of her family's so she could pass it all on to the next generation. This is a beautiful legacy. Of course, the villa and island— harbour many secrets that will turn her world on its head. She will discover many surprising things about her more immediate relative through another.
This novel inspired me in ways I did not expect and I found each timeline equally intriguing. The past timeline (set in 1718) gives us the backstory of two sisters, the circumstances that surrounded them, and the outcome and dangerous reaction to betrayal that set these two at odds. These events also flow into the present in unexpected ways. But the story does not end there and when Charlotte learns what happened, she has a new appreciation and understanding of her family and a new confidence to move forward.
This was the first novel of Lily Graham’s I had read and now I am buying more. I loved The Island Villa’s depth, ease of story-telling, beautiful descriptions and heart-felt honest direction. I highly recommend The Island Villa to those who want something a little different that reflects both the historical but also manages to capture a number of other genres in its approach. It is a well-written, highly memorable and deeply touching dual timeline story. 5 Stars from me. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The current timeline with its intriguing journey into an exploration of the past is born out of loss. Charlotte, in the modern timeline, has lost her husband to cancer. After his death, she discovers he has bought her a villa on a Spanish island and wants her to explore her family roots. Above all, he wants her to be happy, even though he is gone. He obviously managed to do some research before his death and sets up this opportunity for her. Charlotte’s reaction of surprise is expected and although grief weighs heavy on her heart, she picks herself up and follows her late husband's wishes and goes to the Island.
Charlotte, as a character, is very likeable. Her dealings with grief may seem unusual to some but I found her actions understandable. I also found myself cheering her on to follow the leads presented to her and for having the courage to embark on a journey that would ultimately change her life. The purchase of this villa, that was once a home of her ancestors, allowed her to touch history in a way she may not have before. It gave her the chance to learn its story and that of her family's so she could pass it all on to the next generation. This is a beautiful legacy. Of course, the villa and island— harbour many secrets that will turn her world on its head. She will discover many surprising things about her more immediate relative through another.
This novel inspired me in ways I did not expect and I found each timeline equally intriguing. The past timeline (set in 1718) gives us the backstory of two sisters, the circumstances that surrounded them, and the outcome and dangerous reaction to betrayal that set these two at odds. These events also flow into the present in unexpected ways. But the story does not end there and when Charlotte learns what happened, she has a new appreciation and understanding of her family and a new confidence to move forward.
This was the first novel of Lily Graham’s I had read and now I am buying more. I loved The Island Villa’s depth, ease of story-telling, beautiful descriptions and heart-felt honest direction. I highly recommend The Island Villa to those who want something a little different that reflects both the historical but also manages to capture a number of other genres in its approach. It is a well-written, highly memorable and deeply touching dual timeline story. 5 Stars from me. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
July 23, 2018
Charlotte has lost the love of her life, her husband James, and can’t seem to find a way out of her grief. Of course her family is trying to motivate her to see the next day: she’s not particularly interested, even as she’s past due on her latest book contract, and can’t seem to write a word. Her days are spent carrying (and chatting with) James, his urn being a constant companion. But a surprise from James comes from out of the blue: purchasing her grandmother’s cottage on the island of Formentera (off the Spanish coast, next to Ibiza), and Charlotte feels duty-bound to investigate the cottage and his reasons. Because, you see, James always knew what could (and would) motivate Charlotte.
Arriving on the little isolated island to the small cottage named Marisal, Charlotte has few plans to do more than spend an allotted week in the warmth, before returning to her life in Sussex. But, James had other plans: leaving her a letter in care of the estate agent, with a link to her family, a great aunt, still on the island. Here is where the story becomes a must-read: Formentera was at the epicenter of the salt trade, many families relied on the salt mining and sale to make ends meet – with a dash of subsistence farming and fishing providing an existence to the very isolated and insular islanders. Charlotte and her brother only ever had the barest of stories about Formentera from their grandmother Alba, who left the island, she said, after the Spanish civil war. But, Alba had a sister left behind, a sister with the family story and history, and several revelations (and a quasi-explanation) as to Alba’s close-lipped unwillingness to share much about her life or the island.
Slowly, almost without realizing it, as Charlotte cleans and rehabs the cottage, meeting locals and learning of her family from her great aunt, little moments of sunshine and healing start to lighten her burden of grief: James did know how to help her find a way to live and move forward without him. A lovely story liberally sprinkled with history and hope from the past, giving Charlotte new insight into her own life and family traditions while providing her with a space that is open to possibilities, potential and light.
I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
Review first appeared at I am, Indeed
Arriving on the little isolated island to the small cottage named Marisal, Charlotte has few plans to do more than spend an allotted week in the warmth, before returning to her life in Sussex. But, James had other plans: leaving her a letter in care of the estate agent, with a link to her family, a great aunt, still on the island. Here is where the story becomes a must-read: Formentera was at the epicenter of the salt trade, many families relied on the salt mining and sale to make ends meet – with a dash of subsistence farming and fishing providing an existence to the very isolated and insular islanders. Charlotte and her brother only ever had the barest of stories about Formentera from their grandmother Alba, who left the island, she said, after the Spanish civil war. But, Alba had a sister left behind, a sister with the family story and history, and several revelations (and a quasi-explanation) as to Alba’s close-lipped unwillingness to share much about her life or the island.
Slowly, almost without realizing it, as Charlotte cleans and rehabs the cottage, meeting locals and learning of her family from her great aunt, little moments of sunshine and healing start to lighten her burden of grief: James did know how to help her find a way to live and move forward without him. A lovely story liberally sprinkled with history and hope from the past, giving Charlotte new insight into her own life and family traditions while providing her with a space that is open to possibilities, potential and light.
I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
Review first appeared at I am, Indeed
February 22, 2020
"Die Insel der Leuchttürme" ist der erste Roman, den ich von Autorin Lily Graham gelesen habe. Die Autorin entführt uns auf die kleine Insel Fromentera.
Hier auf dieser Insel hat Charlotte von ihrem verstorbenen Mann ein wunderschönes altes Haus als Geschenk bekommen. Dieses kleine Prachtstück trägt den wohlklingenden Namen Marisal und das ist noch nicht alles, denn Charlotte erfährt, dass dieses Haus in der Vergangenheit stark mit ihrer Familie verbunden war. Sie taucht ein in eine Geschichte, die Anfang des 18. Jahrhunderts begann und in der zwei Schwestern die Hauptrolle spielen. Die beiden Schwestern haben sich durch einen tragischen Verlust entzweit. Außerdem hat die Insel einen besonderen Zauber - Charlottes eigene Wunden beginnen langsam zu heilen.....
Wunderschön! Ich habe mich auf Formentera einfach pudelwohl gefühlt. Und durch die herrlichen Beschreibungen der Autorin - hier merkt man ihre Liebe zum Meer - kann ich mir ein genaues Bild machen. Die kleine Insel wirkt auch auf mich einen unglaublichen Zauber aus. Und dann sehe ich Marisal vor mir, was gibt es denn Schöneres. Die Geschichte spielt auf zwei Zeitebenen, was mir auch besonders gut gefällt. Wir erleben Charlotte, die den Tod ihres Ehemannes verarbeiten muss und auf der Insel wieder zu sich selbst findet. Was jedoch noch packender ist, ist die Reise in das 18. Jahrhundert. Hier lernen wir die ungleichen Schwestern Esperanza und Cesca kennen. Und ihre Erlebnisse und das damit verbundene geschichtliche Ereignis, geht wirklich unter die Haut. Eine andere Zeit - ein anderes Leben. Und doch ist das Leben der Schwestern und Charlottes Leben miteinander verwoben. Und dann die Entdeckung eines Geheimnisses, das fast nicht zu glauben ist. Einfach klasse!
Eine perfekte Unterhaltungslektüre, ein ganz besonderes Leservergnügen. Ein toller Sommer-Sonne-Gute-Laune-Roman. Gerne vergebe ich für dieses Lesevergnügen 5 Sterne.
Hier auf dieser Insel hat Charlotte von ihrem verstorbenen Mann ein wunderschönes altes Haus als Geschenk bekommen. Dieses kleine Prachtstück trägt den wohlklingenden Namen Marisal und das ist noch nicht alles, denn Charlotte erfährt, dass dieses Haus in der Vergangenheit stark mit ihrer Familie verbunden war. Sie taucht ein in eine Geschichte, die Anfang des 18. Jahrhunderts begann und in der zwei Schwestern die Hauptrolle spielen. Die beiden Schwestern haben sich durch einen tragischen Verlust entzweit. Außerdem hat die Insel einen besonderen Zauber - Charlottes eigene Wunden beginnen langsam zu heilen.....
Wunderschön! Ich habe mich auf Formentera einfach pudelwohl gefühlt. Und durch die herrlichen Beschreibungen der Autorin - hier merkt man ihre Liebe zum Meer - kann ich mir ein genaues Bild machen. Die kleine Insel wirkt auch auf mich einen unglaublichen Zauber aus. Und dann sehe ich Marisal vor mir, was gibt es denn Schöneres. Die Geschichte spielt auf zwei Zeitebenen, was mir auch besonders gut gefällt. Wir erleben Charlotte, die den Tod ihres Ehemannes verarbeiten muss und auf der Insel wieder zu sich selbst findet. Was jedoch noch packender ist, ist die Reise in das 18. Jahrhundert. Hier lernen wir die ungleichen Schwestern Esperanza und Cesca kennen. Und ihre Erlebnisse und das damit verbundene geschichtliche Ereignis, geht wirklich unter die Haut. Eine andere Zeit - ein anderes Leben. Und doch ist das Leben der Schwestern und Charlottes Leben miteinander verwoben. Und dann die Entdeckung eines Geheimnisses, das fast nicht zu glauben ist. Einfach klasse!
Eine perfekte Unterhaltungslektüre, ein ganz besonderes Leservergnügen. Ein toller Sommer-Sonne-Gute-Laune-Roman. Gerne vergebe ich für dieses Lesevergnügen 5 Sterne.
June 17, 2018
This review was first published at M's Bookshelf - http://mssbookshelf.blogspot.com
When we first meet Charlotte, she's just experienced one of the worst things imaginable: she's lost her husband, the love of her life. Heartbreaking and raw, those first few chapters almost feel like you're intruding on her grief. It actually hurt to read, at times. Beautifully written.
Slowly but surely, life - and the book - gets lighter, sunnier, once she starts finding her place on the island. I loved discovering her family's history along with Charlotte. It's set in a time and place I'm not particularly familiar with, which made it all the more intriguing and surprising. I would say though that there was a bit of a missed opportunity here in not elaborating more on her grandmother's story, as well as the ancestors some generations before. There could have been a story about love, loss, hope, family and tradition in three different generations, whereas now I felt like the connection between the earlier ancestors and her grandmother Alba's history wasn't explored enough. Both the story and I, as a reader, could have done with a couple of more chapters!
The scents, flavours and views of Marisal are described wonderfully and I could easily imagine myself sitting on the island, enjoying the sun and seeing these amazing characters' stories unfold. With lots of drama and hardship in the characters' lives and incredible attention to detail when it comes to their characteristics and personalities, 'The Island Villa' draws you in and keeps you glued to the page until the very last paragraph.
When we first meet Charlotte, she's just experienced one of the worst things imaginable: she's lost her husband, the love of her life. Heartbreaking and raw, those first few chapters almost feel like you're intruding on her grief. It actually hurt to read, at times. Beautifully written.
Slowly but surely, life - and the book - gets lighter, sunnier, once she starts finding her place on the island. I loved discovering her family's history along with Charlotte. It's set in a time and place I'm not particularly familiar with, which made it all the more intriguing and surprising. I would say though that there was a bit of a missed opportunity here in not elaborating more on her grandmother's story, as well as the ancestors some generations before. There could have been a story about love, loss, hope, family and tradition in three different generations, whereas now I felt like the connection between the earlier ancestors and her grandmother Alba's history wasn't explored enough. Both the story and I, as a reader, could have done with a couple of more chapters!
The scents, flavours and views of Marisal are described wonderfully and I could easily imagine myself sitting on the island, enjoying the sun and seeing these amazing characters' stories unfold. With lots of drama and hardship in the characters' lives and incredible attention to detail when it comes to their characteristics and personalities, 'The Island Villa' draws you in and keeps you glued to the page until the very last paragraph.
June 22, 2018
When you loose someone you love very much, you feel like the world has come to an end. It's hard to cope and then you receive his gift ...
This story takes you on a journey to a Spanish island. No, it's not a tale about sun, sand and beach. There is a lot more to it. You are taken back in time and brought back to the present. Little by little you fall back on your feet enveloped by the history of your ancestors and new friends. You realize you have a lot to live for and it's your turn to keep the past alive. Even though you miss that one person you would like to share it with, he will always be with you, having secured that big part of your heart.
I liked the set up of the book and I was fascinated by the historical part. Although it happend several years ago, it is the base of who and what you are now. I truely enjoyed it.
Thank you, Lily Graham, Bookouture and Netgalley.
https://bforbookreview.wordpress.com/
This story takes you on a journey to a Spanish island. No, it's not a tale about sun, sand and beach. There is a lot more to it. You are taken back in time and brought back to the present. Little by little you fall back on your feet enveloped by the history of your ancestors and new friends. You realize you have a lot to live for and it's your turn to keep the past alive. Even though you miss that one person you would like to share it with, he will always be with you, having secured that big part of your heart.
I liked the set up of the book and I was fascinated by the historical part. Although it happend several years ago, it is the base of who and what you are now. I truely enjoyed it.
Thank you, Lily Graham, Bookouture and Netgalley.
https://bforbookreview.wordpress.com/
June 23, 2018
Really wonderful story about a woman discovering her past- in a time and place I was not familiar with so that made this all the more special. Charlotte is grieving her husband when she inherits a family villa on Formentera, an island in the Balaerics. This does fall in the genre of a woman who uncovers family secrets but it's so well done (and informative) that it pulls you along. Alba had secrets, the whole family had secrets, some of which date back to the 18th century. The biggest one- that the family was Jewish, is not the danger it was in earlier days. I enjoyed the back and forth, the characters and the timeline. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. This could have been longer!
October 16, 2018
I was pleasantly surprised by the depth of this book, alternating between the 1700’s and present day in Formentera, an Island off of Ibiza. Charlotte’s husband dies, leaving her a note that he bought a villa for her. Charlotte goes to the island, and finds out her grandmother has a sister still living on the island. Explaining about the family’s history in the villa, Maria tells Charlotte about the secret Jewish community that hid in plain sight on Formentera during the Inquisition and afterwards, living as conversos but holding on to their traditions. I highly recommend this book.
June 5, 2018
I simply adored The Island Villa. I’ve always been a fan of Victoria Hislop’s books that are set between present day and the past and when I read the premise of this book I knew I wouldn’t be disappointed.
Set on the island of Formentera, two sisters live in a time of fear and betrayal. There’s a stranger on the island and everyone fears the worst.
In present day, Charlotte has just buried her husband James. With her daughter Sage heading back to medical school she feels alone. That is until she received a letter from James with an unexpected gift, her grandmother’s villa Marisal in Formentera. As Charlotte begins to explore her new home she uncovers family secrets, love affairs and the heartbreaking truth of the island’s history.
This book is beautifully written and I devoured it in a couple of days. A fantastic plot line with strong characters, I can highly recommend it.
Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and the author for the chance to review.
Set on the island of Formentera, two sisters live in a time of fear and betrayal. There’s a stranger on the island and everyone fears the worst.
In present day, Charlotte has just buried her husband James. With her daughter Sage heading back to medical school she feels alone. That is until she received a letter from James with an unexpected gift, her grandmother’s villa Marisal in Formentera. As Charlotte begins to explore her new home she uncovers family secrets, love affairs and the heartbreaking truth of the island’s history.
This book is beautifully written and I devoured it in a couple of days. A fantastic plot line with strong characters, I can highly recommend it.
Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and the author for the chance to review.
March 5, 2023
wonderful read!
Although when I began this book it was a bit of a challenge to follow four generations of a family. However, once that happened I absolutely loved this book. A fascinating tale of four generations of a family from the Spanish Civil War to the present. Couldn’t put it down and finished in less than a day!
Although when I began this book it was a bit of a challenge to follow four generations of a family. However, once that happened I absolutely loved this book. A fascinating tale of four generations of a family from the Spanish Civil War to the present. Couldn’t put it down and finished in less than a day!
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