Italy, 1943—Germany occupies much of the country, placing the Jewish population in grave danger during World War II.
As children, Eva Rosselli and Angelo Bianco were raised like family but divided by circumstance and religion. As the years go by, the two find themselves falling in love. But the church calls to Angelo and, despite his deep feelings for Eva, he chooses the priesthood.
Now, more than a decade later, Angelo is a Catholic priest and Eva is a woman with nowhere to turn. With the Gestapo closing in, Angelo hides Eva within the walls of a convent, where Eva discovers she is just one of many Jews being sheltered by the Catholic Church.
But Eva can’t quietly hide, waiting for deliverance, while Angelo risks everything to keep her safe. With the world at war and so many in need, Angelo and Eva face trial after trial, choice after agonizing choice, until fate and fortune finally collide, leaving them with the most difficult decision of all.
I've never read anything from Amy Harmon before, but after reading From Sand and Ash, I'll be reading a lot more. I read this book very quickly. It literally is hard to put down. It's a story that takes place in Italy during World War II. The story is about two people Eva, a Jewish girl, and her close family friend she grew up with Angelo Bianco, a Catholic, American boy, being raised by his Italian grandparents.
Everything about this story is mesmerizing, from the beautiful lyrical writing style to the flat out reality and harshness of what Hitler and the Nazis did to the Jewish people and those that were brave enough to try and help them. This book is about good and evil, survival and death, helplessness and hope, and making hard choices that can define your life and those around you.
The beauty of this story contrasts so much with the ugliness of war and persecution, that at times you forget to breathe while reading. The love story is also so heartwrenching you want to fall down into a puddle of tears. From Sand and Ash is a book that you'll keep reading all night long. I know for me, Eva and Angelo's story will stay with me even longer.
