Anita Abriel

Inspired by an incredible true story of two Jewish friends who survived the Holocaust, this sweeping novel of love and friendship spans World War II from Budapest to Austria and the postwar years from Naples to Caracas, perfect for fans of The German Girl and We Were the Lucky Ones. It is 1946 when Vera Frankel and her best friend Edith Ban arrive in Naples. Refugees from Hungary, they managed to escape from a train headed for Auschwitz and spent the rest of the war hiding on an Austrian farm. Now, the two young women must start new lives abroad. Armed with a letter of recommendation from an American officer, Vera finds work at the United States embassy where she falls in love with Captain Anton Wight. But as Vera and Edith grapple with the aftermath of the war, so too does Anton, and when he suddenly disappears, Vera is forced to change course. Their quest for a better life takes Vera and Edith from Naples to Ellis Island to Caracas as they start careers, reunite with old friends, and rebuild their lives after terrible loss. Moving, evocative, and compelling, this timely tale of true friendship, love, and survival will stay with you long after you turn the final page.

A Novel

The Light After the War

New York in the 1920s--a time when fortunes are made and a woman's dreams are challenged against all odds in a sweeping historical novel by the international bestselling author of The Light After the War. 1926, Hyde Park, New York. Born to modest means but befriended by the wealthy, aspiring dress designer Pandora Carmichael has been surrounded by privilege yet never at home in it. That hasn't stopped her from dreaming--of a romance in a rarified world that could also give her the status and resources to start a business of her own. When she's introduced to a charismatic Princeton student, Pandora's future begins to fall into place. Marriage provides Pandora with a devoted husband, comfortable love, and the prominence and affluence to open a boutique. It's a fantasy realized, until scandal and tragedy upend Pandora's life and she flees Hyde Park with a heart-wrenching secret. As the Depression looms, Pandora must rethink everything she's ever wanted. From sprawling Gilded Age mansions in New York to the seedy underbelly of Greenwich Village and the stunning ocean vistas of the French Riviera, Pandora's escape is a journey of self-discovery, adventure, true love, and ambition. There are new dreams to be had, and Pandora is betting on herself to make them come true.

The Life She Wanted

From the author of the “fast-paced, heartbreaking, and hopeful” (Kristin Harmel, author of The Room on Rue Amélie) The Light After the War, a riveting and heartfelt story of a young woman recruited to be a spy for the resistance on the French Riviera during World War II. Paris 1943: Lana Antanova is on her way to see her husband with the thrilling news that she is pregnant. But when she arrives at the convent where he teaches music, she’s horrified to see Gestapo officers execute him for hiding a Jewish girl in the piano. A few months later, grieving both her husband and her lost pregnancy, Lana is shocked when she’s approached to join the resistance on the French Riviera. As the daughter of a Russian countess, Lana has the perfect background to infiltrate the émigré community of Russian aristocrats who socialize with German officers, including the man who killed her husband. Lana’s cover story makes her the mistress of Guy Pascal, a wealthy Swiss industrialist and fellow resistance member, in whose villa in Cap Ferrat she lives. Together, they gather information on upcoming raids and help members of the Jewish community escape. Consumed by her work, she doesn’t expect to become attached to a young Jewish girl or wonder about the secrets held by the man whose house she shares. And as the Nazis’ deadly efforts intensify, her intention to protect those around her may put them all at risk instead. With Anita Abriel’s “heartfelt and memorable” (Pam Jenoff, New York Times bestselling author) storytelling, Lana’s War is a sweeping and suspenseful tale of survival and second chances during some of the darkest days of history.

Lana's War

The author of the “unforgettable story of strength, love, and survival” (Jillian Cantor, USA TODAY bestselling author) The Light After the War returns with a sweeping and evocative story of love and purpose in WWII Italy. Rome, 1943: University student Marina Tozzi is on her way home when she finds out that her father has been killed for harboring a Jewish artist in their home. Fearful of the consequences, Marina flees to Villa I Tatti, the Florence villa of her father’s American friend Bernard Berenson and his partner Belle da Costa Greene, the famed librarian who once curated J.P. Morgan’s library. Florence is a hotbed of activity as partisans and Germans fight for control of the city. Marina, an art expert, begins helping Bernard catalog his library as he makes the difficult trek to neutral Switzerland, helping to hide precious cultural artifacts from the Germans. Adding to the tension, their young neighbor Carlos, a partisan, seeks out Marina for both her art expertise and her charm. Marina, swept up in the romance, dreams of a life together after the war. But when Carlos disappears, all of Marina’s assumptions about her life in Florence are thrown into doubt, and she’ll have to travel halfway around the world to unravel what really happened during the war.

A Girl During the War

For a beloved television star in 1950s America, image and reality clash in an insightful novel about fame, marriage, and secrets by the international bestselling author of The Light After the War.

New York City, 1950. Dreams come true for radio personality Maggie Lane when she gets her big break in the exciting new world of television. The Maggie Lane Baking Show is on the air.

All she has to do is act like the ideal housewife, create sumptuous desserts, charm the show’s sponsors, and sign a morality clause to ensure that her girl-next-door image remains untarnished. Although newlywed Maggie has never baked so much as a cookie, and knows even less about maintaining a home, keeping up appearances is a necessary ingredient for success. Easy. She has a supportive husband and a legion of fans who can’t wait to know her better and better, week after week.

That’s what she’s afraid of. Off camera, cracks are showing in her marriage, an old lover makes an unexpected return, and there are secrets from the past that could ruin everything Maggie has worked for. With every dream on the line, Maggie wonders if she can still have it all when the truth about what it really means to be an American housewife comes to light.

American Housewife

In pursuit of happiness, a young woman's dreams extend beyond money and marriage in this aspirational historical novel by the international bestselling author of The Light After the War. It's 1927, and Helen Montgomery is coming of age on Philadelphia's Main Line, where privileged young women are set for life. But Helen has desires of her own. Debutante balls, eligible bachelors, and marriage aren't among them...until her father is embroiled in a devastating scandal that jeopardizes the family's financial future and social standing, that is. Then it becomes up to Helen to repair both by marrying a man of wealth and connection. Edgar Scott is as independent as Helen. The black-sheep scion of a railroad magnate, Edgar's aspirations of becoming an author go against the grain of his own family's expectations. For a time, Helen and Edgar's marriage grows from attraction and convenience to genuine loyalty and respect. But as Edgar's frustrations and rejections mount and Helen's personal dreams recede, the cracks in the perfect life Helen wants are beginning to show. So begins Helen's journey of forgiveness, redefining the meaning of perfection--for herself and in others--and accepting with all her heart the mistakes humans make in the name of love.

The Philadelphia Heiress

A fearless Italian girl risks her life to save precious artworks from the Nazis in a gripping new novel from the bestselling author of The Light After the War. Rome, 1943: Marina Tozzi adores her father Vittorio and working together in his art gallery is her only escape from the reality of the Nazi occupation of her beloved city. Not only has she inherited her father's passion for art but Marina is gaining a reputation as an expert in her own right. However, Vittorio is keeping a deadly secret from her. He has been hiding a Jewish artist in their basement and one day she returns home to find her father has been brutally murdered by a German officer. Devastated, Marina flees to Florence to seek help from the man who owes Vittorio his life. Renowned American art expert Bernard Berenson offers Marina sanctuary in his beautiful villa outside Florence and puts her in charge of cataloguing his vast art library. As Marina gradually begins to heal, she becomes obsessed with finding a way to avenge her father. As the Germans and partisans fight for control of Florence, Marina discovers that Bernard is helping to save precious art from the Nazis. When handsome young artist Carlos approaches Marina to help the partisans by using her expertise to value artworks for the cause, she has at last found her purpose. In one daring act, Marina risks her life to save a priceless painting from falling into Nazi hands and proves herself to the partisans. But falling in love with Carlos was not part of her plan. When Carlos suddenly disappears, Marina's dreams about life after the war with him turn to ash - and she'll have to travel halfway around the world to unravel the truth. Praise for Anita Abriel 'I was utterly moved and transfixed' Kristin Harmel 'Fans of historical fiction won't want to miss this evocative, heartbreaking story' Beatriz Williams 'Beautifully written and heartfelt' Jillian Cantor 'Uplifting and sweeping' Booklist

The Italian Girl

Paris 1943. Lana Antanov is rushing to see her husband, Frederic, and tell him the news that she is pregnant. But as she arrives the convent where Frederic teaches music, she watches in horror as a Gestapo officer executes Frederic for hiding a Jewish girl in a piano. Overcome with grief, Lana loses the baby. A few months later, Lana is approached by a member of the French Resistance to work as a spy on the French Riviera and help save Jews from execution. As a 'White Russian' daughter of a Russian countess, Lana is the ideal choice to infiltrate the emigre community of Russian aristocrats who socialise with German officers. But Lana has a very personal motive for taking on this mission - the Gestapo officer in charge intent on exterminating all the Jews, Alois Brunner, is the man who shot Frederic. Lana's cover story makes her the mistress of a wealthy Swiss playboy, the darkly handsome and charismatic Guy Pascal, and her base his villa on the Riviera. Together they make a ruthlessly effective team. The information they gather at parties and the casino at Monte Carlo helps thwart several raids and enables countless Jews to escape to Morocco by boat. But Lana has not counted on becoming attached to a young Jewish girl named Odette or to fall helplessly in love with Guy. As the Nazis close in, her desire to protect the ones she loves threatens to put them all at risk. 'Filled with danger and romance, Lana's War is the story of a courageous woman waging her own battle against the Nazis ... Cinematic in scope, this novel will keep readers turning pages with twists and turns that lead to an unforgettable ending.' Renee Rosen, bestselling author of Park Avenue Summer 'Lana is a heroine to root for, and her story of loss and love is inspiring and life-affirming. I was completely engrossed in this lush, transportive novel.' Allison Pataki, New York Times bestselling author of The Queen's Fortune

A fearless Italian girl risks her life to save precious artworks from the Nazis in a gripping new novel from the bestselling author of The Light After the War. Rome, 1943: Marina Tozzi adores her father Vittorio and working together in his art gallery is her only escape from the reality of the Nazi occupation of her beloved city. Not only has she inherited her father’s passion for art but Marina is gaining a reputation as an expert in her own right. However, Vittorio is keeping a deadly secret from her. He has been hiding a Jewish artist in their basement and one day she returns home to find her father has been brutally murdered by a German officer. Devastated, Marina flees to Florence to seek help from the man who owes Vittorio his life. Renowned American art expert Bernard Berenson offers Marina sanctuary in his beautiful villa outside Florence and puts her in charge of cataloguing his vast art library. As Marina gradually begins to heal, she becomes obsessed with finding a way to avenge her father. As the Germans and partisans fight for control of Florence, Marina discovers that Bernard is helping to save precious art from the Nazis. When handsome young artist Carlos approaches Marina to help the partisans by using her expertise to value artworks for the cause, she has at last found her purpose. In one daring act, Marina risks her life to save a priceless painting from falling into Nazi hands and proves herself to the partisans. But falling in love with Carlos was not part of her plan. When Carlos suddenly disappears, Marina’s dreams about life after the war with him turn to ash – and she’ll have to travel halfway around the world to unravel the truth. Praise for Anita Abriel ‘I was utterly moved and transfixed’ Kristin Harmel ‘Fans of historical fiction won’t want to miss this evocative, heartbreaking story’ Beatriz Williams ‘Beautifully written and heartfelt’ Jillian Cantor ‘Uplifting and sweeping’ Booklist

Příběh o síle lásky a přátelství inspirovaný skutečnými událostmi Vera a Edita přijíždějí v roce 1946 do Neapole. Dvěma židovským dívkám se podařilo uprchnout z vlaku mířícího do Osvětimi a do konce války se ukrývaly na statku na rakouském venkově. Teď se ale ze všech sil snaží hodit temnou minulost za hlavu a vybudovat si nový život. První láska na sebe nenechá dlouho čekat, ale když Veřin snoubenec ze dne na den zmizí, vydávají se obě kamarádky znovu na cesty.

Anita Abriel

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