This one was well written but I had to read in small bursts. There was a lot of horror with a smattering of beauty that hurt my heart.

Side Note: It took me forever to finish this book because I only listened to it on the way to and from work. It was like a show to me and the narrator did an amazing job at pulling me into the book's environment. I will attempt to write this review without getting teary eyed but I can't promise you all anything. There were so many tears while I listened to this book - tears of despair as I felt the anguish and hopelessness of the characters, tears of happiness as I discovered the love blossoming even among the ruins of horrendous war, tears of relief at the acts of heroism displayed by all the different types of people I encountered in this book. So. many. tears. Eva and Angelo's story was fictional as the author states but their circumstances and the circumstances they find themselves in are not. It is really real what happened during World War II and I still don't fully understand my fascination with reading historical fiction from this time. Perhaps simply it is how the human spirit, no matter the odds, can never been broken. Amidst the chaos and calculated destruction of monsters among men, there will always be a glimmer of hope. The rebellious spirit and faith of the characters called to me and I will cherish it and remember it always. And since there is always a glimmer of hope in the darkness, I will give you all, whomever you maybe, some hope - this story is about redemption and love and finding that love no matter what obstacles come your way. Most WWII stories do not have happy endings, but this one does. I leave you with this quote: “My father told me once that we are on earth to learn. God wants us to receive everything that life was meant to teach. Then we take what we’ve learned, and it becomes our offering to God and to mankind. But we have to live in order to learn. And sometimes we have to fight in order to live.”

** spoiler alert ** This book was recommended to me by a friend and I finally gave it a shot, only to wonder why I didn’t read it sooner. From sand and ash is a beautiful historical fiction novel based in Italy during WWII. I’ve always been fascinated by WWII and constantly wondering how such an event could happen... how could one man convince so many that Jews didn’t deserve to live. That his words were greater than Gods actions. Eva and Angelo grow up loving each other only for Angelo to chose to be a Catholic Church. I loved and learned so much about how the Catholic Church hid Jews and protected them through the war and many lost their own lives. What drove Angelo to hide many Jews? Love.... I don’t know if I’ll ever forget this story. There were moment I had to stop and reflect on chapters or events that happened. I laughed. I hurt. And I fell in love A must read

I loved this book. It is the rare book that is about the Holocaust, yet uplifting. The only detraction is an implausible conclusion.

This book was so close to 4.5 or 5 stars for me! I feel like there were certain parts of the book that didn’t grab me as much as they should’ve, but if I read it again later, I might change my mind!

Right after reading Making Faces last month, I knew that I have found my new favorite author. Amy Harmon’s writing style is incredibly impressive and her stories are truly one of a kind. Shoutout to my bae/Ed angel Andrea for introducing me to Amy Harmon’s book. I’m so thankful that she forced me to read Making Faces. I got my copy of From Sand and Ash from the February Box of Once Upon A Book Club. I was excited when I heard that the featured book is a historical fiction/romance set in Italy during WWII. From Sand and Ash is a story of two different people meant for each other but were seperated by their religions and the cruelty of war. Eva Roselli is an Italian Jew. She is smart, lovely and a very talented violinist. She is living a wealthy and happy life with her father in Italy until the war reached their country and new laws are being implemented against Jewish people. Angelo Bianco, a Catholic living in the United States, has been sent to Italy by his father to live with his Italian grandparents after his mother died. His grandparents are working for Eva’s family. The two grew up together and became inseperable until Angelo decided to join the priesthood despite his deep feelings for Eva. Angelo is now a Catholic priest and Eva is one of the targets of the Gestapo. Angelo does his best to keep Eva safe but she cannot accept to do nothing and wait until the war is over. The characters in this book are extraordinary. Eva and Angelo make a perfect couple. They’re both determined, selfless, brave and passionate. The relationship they have is no doubt a forbidden one but this book is not all about it. This is definitely more than a romance story. I also love the impact of music in the story. As I’ve mentioned earlier, Harmon’s writing style is incredibly impressive and it’s the most favorite thing about her books. She writes in honesty. The narration is on point plus the story is very captivating. I felt the character’s pain and fear. I got nervous and scared for them. At some point, I felt like I was there laughing and crying with them. There are so many great lines (quotes) in this book which I love and here is one of them : Fear is strange. It settles on chests and seeps through skin, through layers of tissue, muscle, and bone and collects in a soul-sized black hole, sucking the joy out of life, the pleasure, the beauty. But not the hope. Somehow, the hope is the only thing resistant to the fear, and it is that hope that makes the next breath possible, the next step, the next tiny act of rebellion, even if that rebellion is simply staying alive. This book not only tells us the struggles of the Jewish people during WWII but also the danger that the Catholic Churches/people went through by helping and keeping the Jewish people safe. I actually didn’t have any idea that the Catholic Churches did this heroic thing during that time. I’ve learned something about Judaism, DELASEM, and other tragic events that happened in other parts of Europe during WWII. This is one of the reasons why I love reading historical fiction stories. I learn a lot of things about the past which is sadly, still happening in the present. Yes, the characters (and some of the events) were fictional but the emotions are real. You might be asking where did the .5 of my rating go. I originally gave this book a 4-star rating but as I was writing this review, I couldn’t think of any major things that I didn’t like about it except how the story wrapped up. It’s a little predictable and convenient. Like it’s too good to be true. I love the epilogue though. From Sand and Ash is a very inspiring and powerful read. A story of love, faith and goodness in mankind. This is definitely a must-read. My Actual Rating : 4.5 out of 5

What a beautifully written and story. I loved how the characters were well written and I found myself crying with them. I also thought it was respectful towards the people who went through the horrors of the second world war