From Sand and Ash

When I saw that Amy Harmon was coming out with a new book, I was immediately relieved. I've been going through a book funk for a while, you know the one, where everything you read is either a 3 or a 4 star, and although enjoyable, it doesn't pierce the soul and awaken the mind, the way a 5 star book would. I must mention that A Different Blue is one of my all time favorite books to read. I cry every time I read it, and that's saying something, considering not much brings me to tears that's fiction. I was hoping From Sand and Ash would be another beloved favorite. When I read the plot summary before the book was out, I quickly clicked Pre-order and waited for my email. The summary said it was set in WWII. I was intrigued. Then it explained the hero was a priest. My breath caught. And of course, there was romance involved. I simply had to have this book. And low and behold, when it came out, it was kindle unlimited, so I got to read it for free. I'm almost offended that I read this awe inspiring, wondrous book..for free. I feel like I should go back and pay. But I digress. The setting is in Italy, during WWII, from 1929 when the heroine Eva (Batsheva) was a young girl, to after the war was over in the epilogue. She is spunky, passionate, and mischievous, which is my favorite quality in a heroine. She also doesn't hide her feelings from Angelo, and I find that enormously refreshing. There is no miscommunication between the main characters, so you won't be ripping your hair out over that. Angelo is American, but half Italian, and comes to live with Eva's family, which is predominately Jewish. He is Catholic, and is going to school to become a priest. He has a calling, and though he falls in love with Eva, he also falls in love with God. And I love how Amy Harmon so accurately describes what his thoughts are, fighting the love he has for Eva in ways that hurt them both, but feeling it's something he must do to be happy. But the love story isn't what made this book beautiful to me. As Hitler becomes more powerful, laws are changed, segregating the Jews and inviting hate amongst neighbors. Angelo uses his powers as a Catholic priest to save hundreds of Jewish lives, and although she fought at first, to save Eva's. Although they fight the lust they have for each other, their love is evident in all that they do, as they both try to keep each other alive while everyone they know gets taken away to death camps or is murdered before their eyes. Their bravery is beautiful, and the sanctity of human life this book possesses made my throat tight. It records actual events, reveals horrors easily forgotten, and highlights the human spirit's will to survive. And that is why this book gets 5 stars. Eva and Angelo are smart, rebellious, and do everything they can to save as many as they can. I was rooting for them not just as a couple, but as individual people, and wanted them to stay whole and unbroken in spirit even when their bodies weren't so lucky. So even if you're not into romance, this book is full of danger, heartache, action, suspense, and you feel like you're living throughout the war, waiting and praying for the suffering to just be over already. And when it is, at the end, it's bittersweet. Because even though we know the story's outcome, we know how many casualties there were, and not everyone you fall in love with survives in this book. But...the epilogue is wonderful. It's closure, and as much of a HEA as can be expected through Eva and Angelo's trials, and I was glad the author took the time to smooth things out and give the character's what they deserve. Each other.

From Sand and Ash is a harrowing story of love and faith shrouded in death and despair. Amy Harmon brings together the best and the worst of humanity on these pages, paving this journey with violence and bravery, horror and love. It's a ruthless barrage of emotions, this story, a relentless war between life and death, between good and evil, illustrated exquisitely by an author whose writing prowess knows no bounds. I was torn between eagerly unearthing the twists and turns that would surely come with each turn of the page, and dreading what was to come, dreading this book ending at all. The story of Eva Rosselli and Angelo Bianco is as enchanting as it is chilling. The love they share is forbidden, both by duty and by law. But their attraction, the absolute truth of their lifelong love is a beautiful, palpable thing that consumes the reader despite the horrific circumstances in which that love exists. I've read many books of the true accounts of holocaust survivors, seen the movies and documentaries, taken classes concentrating on this area of study. But never before have I been made to fall in love with an individual, with a couple, with a family, before I took such a horrific journey with them. To feel as though you know their strength, to get to know their life up until the moment it is stolen away, to know their helplessness in the face of something so unjust and so terrifying, it changes the way you look at the world, to see such atrocities through their eyes. This may be a fictionalized account inspired by true events, but you won't convince my heart Eva and Angelo aren't real. This story weaves it's way under your skin and into your soul so you feel every step of their journey, of their fight, of this miracle. It's both beautiful and tortuous what Amy Harmon does here, but it's so right. It's so important. We don't truly know fear and loss and hopelessness until we take this journey ourselves. Opening this book, turning these pages, moving along with Eva and Angelo is taking the journey ourselves. This is absolutely a story of survival and love. But, more, From Sand and Ash is a poignant reminder of where we all come from, that no matter where we live or who we pray to or what we believe in, we all come from the same place. We are all made of the same things. We all seek joy, we all look to find purpose. We all love and play and pray and laugh and hope, and we all just want to be understood. Above all else, we just want to be understood. That message screamed at me on every page, in every word. Our world would be such a beautiful, peaceful, harmonious one if we sought to understand each other instead of judging each other for the ways we are different, for the God we pray to, for where each of our trees first took root. The Law of Moses taught me that we should be celebrating our differences instead of being afraid to point them out, to label them. From Sand and Ash takes that sentiment and drives it home in a way that simply can't be ignored. It's a brutal demonstration of what comes when we stop trying to understand each other, when we stop trying to relate, when we take what makes us different and use it as a means to divide us, to hurt each other, to push each other away. We need this message. We need this book. We need this reminder that when we refuse to learn from the past, we are doomed to repeat it. I'm asked often what book has changed my life. I can't say I've ever had a clear answer. I've read books I've loved, I've read books that have made me see things in ways I never have before, I've read books I'll never forget. But From Sand and Ash is a life changing book. This book will change the way you go forward by forcing you to go back. It'll change your heart, it'll change your mind, it'll make you seek to understand rather than condemn. It'll make you choose to see the good where there seems to be only darkness. It'll remind you that we're all the same where it matters, that we've all come from the same place regardless of where we're going. It'll inspire you to be better. It'll demand you pay closer attention to the opportunities to do something important. It will humble you, empower you, it'll strengthen your awareness of your world, your history, your place in it. You can't read this book and not come away changed. From Sand and Ash is a rich work of art, a stunning masterpiece that has moved me, altered me, captivated me. It'll take your breath away, it'll break your heart in ways it's never been broken before, it'll leave you speechless. I was overcome with so much emotion while reading this brutally beautiful story. I was painfully terrified. I was both angered and uplifted, both defeated and empowered, broken yet healed. These characters, this fictionalized truth swathed in Harmon's unparalleled storytelling and her breathtaking writing style make for an epic story of bravery, love, resilience and loss that is both haunting and heartwarming all at once. As long as I live, I will carry this story with me.

“Life is like a long note; it persists without variance, without wavering. There is no cessation in sound or pause in tempo. It continues on, and we must master it or it will master us.” . Wow, what a gripping story! No matter how many times I read about World War II and the atrocities of the Holocaust, I can never really quite fathom how humans can treat other humans so despicably. . This story is about Eva and Angelo. Eva is an Italian Jew and Angelo is a Roman Catholic who eventually becomes a priest. Even though their love is forbidden, it persists from their childhood and strengthens during the war. From Sand and Ash takes place in Florence and Rome and gives a look into how the war played out in Italy. I especially like reading this PoV as I gravitate toward anything with an Italian setting and about the Italian people. I appreciated this perspective very much. . I enjoyed Eva and Angelo's chemistry. I found the individual characters and their romance to be very compelling and I was cheering for them from beginning to end. I also enjoyed the many themes in this book, but especially humanization and a delve into how and why humans can treat each other in the manner they did during the war and the Holocaust. Additionally, the writing is beautiful. Amy Harmon has so many beautiful and thought-provoking lines in this book! . If you enjoy historical fiction, romance, and lyrical writing, read this book right now! :)

I am a sucker for WWII stories. I've studied the history, art and just about anything that came from that time. It's so real and painful and heartbreaking for the human race, yet I love to just dive in and immerse myself. But each time I go into a little bit of a funk and reflect on the actions of the people during that time. This story was no different. Amy obviously did her job very well with her research of the subject, the places and the people. That's what made the story more real, more emotional, just more...... Eva is our Jewish heroine that is smart, full of life and perhaps a little boy crazy. But the day she meets Angelo, she knows she has met the boy of her dreams. Angelo is an American Catholic living in Italy. Eva's family is his family. They have taken him in and Eva and Angelo are practically brother and sister. But their feelings go so much deeper than that. Even when they are just kids. When the times change and the Jews are taken away many freedoms, we see Angelo, the Catholic priest, take many many risks for people that are just that. People. Family. Innocent citizens. We know the hardships and the horrible horrible history of WWII and what came out of that time, but this is a story of two people that took many risks for their people, for family, for innocent citizens of a country that deserved so much more. Theirs is a story of longing and survival. Theirs is a story of genuine truths that needed to stay hidden. It was a matter of life and death during the darkest of hours. But even in the dark, there was always light. That is the balance that Amy is always able to achieve in her stories. And that is why I will read them and reflect on the matter for days, weeks after. I am still thinking about these characters and everything they sacrificed for strangers and loved ones because of their beliefs. "I've never hated anyone before. Not a single soul. But I'm learning." I'm trying to think of words for a review that will do this book justice. They are none. It's a beautiful piece of art told during a very dark time. We see the history between a country and 2 souls. In between chapters we have "confessions" told by Eva. It's as if the Jewish girl was allowing herself a little bit of Catholicism into her heart by her confessions. If you are looking for a well written story that is well developed and told over many years, then look no further. The characters are real and leave you with a sense of hope. Even when being taken from their homes and their family, the characters are always leaving you with hope that something positive is going to come for another character. It may have bleak moments and parts where you want to take a breather from the story, but reflect. Just reflect on what you've read and what the message is behind the acts. You are not getting the concentration camps. You are getting a story that many people kept hidden because they could not be themselves. In itself, this book is heroic and beautiful and transcends all time. It's a piece of history from Eva and Angelo's point of view. Very little romance, but more a story of religion, of humans and the nature of our goodness when all is said and done. Such a great book that should be read by all. Definitely a top read of 2016!

It's been such a joy to discover Amy's books. She has the uncanny ability to grip hard human strengths and weaknesses. Breaking them down to simpler verbs and nouns, she spins a tale so fearsome and fearless, it fills you with dread and yet doesn't dim the light of hope. I was mesmerized by her skillful prose, emotional dialogues, and honest truths, it was as if she became instrument of God Almighty to bring such a wondrous story to fruition. I fell in love with her first book and my mission is to read all her books and keep hope alive that I shall meet her one day. It's a harrowing and tragic tale of forbidden love surrounded by death and danger. Two kindred spirits, childhood sweethearts standing in the rubble of devastation with their world exploding around them Angelo Bianco and Eva Batsheva Roselli are doomed from the start lovers, or wannabe livers, separated by sense of duty and Law. Church and Synagogue. Catholic and Jew. It's like the odds were always stacked against them and kept getting higher and higher. My name is Batsheva Rosselli, not Eva Bianco, and I am a Jew. Angelo Bianco is not my brother but a priest who wanted only to protect me from the very place I now find myself. This story is about wars and battles. Raging inside human beings and outside in the world in the tragic 1930's and 40's. World has gone crazy, Hitler is on a usurping spree, his greed and appetite growing by the second, his disillusionment and dementia reaching sky and he is racing to achieve Judenrien a Jew-free world. Blinded by rage, ordering elimination of an entire race, his ego crushes any person daring to think about raising any opposition against him or his Fascist party. History shall remember this as the blackest chapter in the history of the world (sounds familiar!) It's like the Panzer tanks, the SS, Reichswaffe, the Gestapo all rolled right through my heart, leaving deep imprints. My whole being just trembled as I read the atrocities committed by the Nazis, lying and playing with Jews as cat plays with mouse. Their chokehold restrictions, stripping Jews from their culture, dignity,banning them from education, jobs,literally wiping out their identities (sounds familiar!) And amidst of it all, a Jew girl falls in love with a Catholic boy and it's the most difficult of a love story as it can possibly be. She tries to hide in her music like her Uncle Felix does and "Babbo" Camille encourages. Music is a door, and the soul escapes through the melody. Even if it’s only for a few minutes. And everyone who listens is freed. Everyone who listens is elevated. Though affluent, Rosellis are in danger. War didn't spare any Jew in Italy in that era. The Jewish people have been stripped of choice. They have been stripped of liberty. They have been stripped of dignity. And they cannot save themselves.” They try and fold unto themselves trying to make themselves invisible and integrate in Italian culture but neighbours turn on neighbours, friends turn friends over and greed overshadows relationships. And churches become safe havens and portals to hide and distribute Jews in safer locations. The church was now in the business of hide-and-seek, and Angelo was the eyes and ears, a young priest with a limp and an affinity for languages, with a special understanding of the Jewish people.he was just another cog in the wheel of clergy who had begun the enormous task of trying to hide the hunted. One legged Priest limping around Rome, trying to save people, bartering for scraps, haggling & negotiating for supplies, food and hiding spaces. In closets, under ground, in crypt, basements, holes in the floors. It was a long way to Rome for a crippled man with a broken heart. This disgusted my senses, how could the world watch just mutely while a Hopping Mad Dictator was going around stomping on people, their culture and race, trying his best to wipe their traces from humankind !!!(SOUNDS FAMILIAR !!). His cronies & Bloodthirsty Sycophants all gathering around him , trying to come up with a Final Solution, herding people into cattle cars and driving them to gas chambers....i wanted to tear up in frustration at every unfortunate soul that perished, every piece of history that was wiped out and I'm jot even a JEW !- India wasn't even effected by Nazis. "It is one thing to kill someone. It is another to degrade and humiliate, to strip away a person’s dignity like stripping away flesh. One made a man a murderer. The other made him a monster. " Even though I've read many many books on WW2, Nazis, the Third Reich. (I was a history major and this was my research paper) I've been obsessed with this historical era ever since I read EXODUS by Léon Uris in 7th grade. This subject still fascinates me. The sheer scale of genocide, the astounding neglect from the rest of the world and then the Allied initiative to oppose it has been a topic of millions of books, movies, documentaries. Like Amy Harmon herself wishes My prayer is that the people of today will know the past so they won’t repeat it. Amen ! A sensitive and yet brutal tale of persistent and tenacious love, threatened and endangered by vicious times, is the most heartbreaking and heartwrenching love story I've read in recent years. The underlying theme of not ignoring your fellow world citizen's hardships ever again, has been poignantly penned by Amy. She's a very sensitive and dexterous writer. Words play in her hands and are brought to life as if it's God's mission. It was her calling to tell the story. HE chose Amy to highlight the sacrifices of Rabbis like Nathan Cassuto, Vatican Monsignors, Jake Priors and many many priests and churches that were instrumental in keeping a race alive. The Third Reich highlights the brutality of unnecessary wars to satisfy an egomaniac lust and let this be a lesson for all in present times, as to what it can lead to. Loss of life, resources,art, history, culture, environment and peace. At such times neutrality is a curse and compliance and cowardice. One cannot and must not stay as a silent spectator. Choose a right side and fight, oppose, rebel, revolt or history will never forgive you and you WILL have to pay the price of being an aider and abetter of Crimes Against Humanity by sheer dissasociation . This war isn’t about two equal but opposing forces who disagree. This war is about right and wrong, good and evil. And evil must be stopped. It will be stopped. And people like you will be caught in the cross fire when that happens.” I'm officially drained and exhausted and I don't want to pick up any other book for a while. THANK YOU Amy for enriching us with such a soulful and heroic book. It must've taken a huge toll on you too, so thank you for your tears, for our tears and tears shed for every victim of Nazi atrocity and racial bias. I loved the fact that it wasn't highly politicised and militarized, but the language was simple and broken down at people level. Even though there's gore and dread, it also has tenacity and resilience. pain and endurance go hand in hand. Hopelessness and hopefulness are juxtaposed. Role reversals of friends and does are miraculous and life saving. Bravery and survivalist Human spirit is celebrated with joy. Death and birth are balancing on thin line of chaos and safety. I loved that though God is silent, HE is definitely not quiet and Miracles DO exist ! . Our immortality comes through our children and their children. Through our roots and our branches. The family is immortality. And Hitler has destroyed not just branches and roots, but entire family trees, forests! All of them, gone. Eva was the only Rosselli left, the only Adler left. As Shoshanna and David Cassuto wrote we were 3 when we arrived in Israel and now we have 82 descendants. Children grandchildren and great-grandchildren. THIS is our answer to those who wanted to destroy us. Our story is a wondrous story of revival of a Nation on it's Land. Tell this story to your kids and tell them to pass it on,generations to generations. This history lesson shouldn't be trapped in pages of books, we should not forget those who perished.

#1 of 2016 MY TOP READ OF 2016 FROM SAND AND ASH BY THE BRILLIANT AMY HARMON $3.99 +$1.99 for the Audible It has taken me almost a month to write this review...for the simple fact- something as simple as a review can not do this book justice. Because this is my top read of 2016 i'm gonna give it a try, this will be long but hopefully it will make one person purchase and read this story. Many readers are put off by the fact this book takes place in the past and or is a time period piece. I implore you , do not let this hold you back!! Yes many of us are romance readers however if you enjoyed Outlander, The Bronze Horseman, The Thorn Birds, The Nightingale, you will enjoy this book. For those of you who have not read any of the above books I ask you...Has Amy Harmon EVER let you down? From Sand and Ash is an epic life story. A love story of epic proportions. Sometimes love can't dissuade war but love can be found in the depths of it. Eva is a strong girl who grows to be a strong young woman. She and her family befriend Angelo regardless of their religious differences but this too can sometimes have limits. Choices are made during an era when time and feelings can be taken for granted. Despite their religious differences Eva is confident and brave facing her growing feelings for Angelo. She doesn't run from them or push them aside until the decision seems to have been made for her. She finds herself surrounded by devastation, despair, and unbelievable circumstances. Circumstances she can no longer be sheltered from. Angelo, a young man, comes from a Catholic family and though society may feel his options in life are limited (you'll understand when you read the book) Angelo didn't seem to feel limited or restricted. It was part of him but I never once felt he was in need or felt sorry for him. The author does a good job at conveying his abilities and "manliness". He becomes a protector for many. Even though Angelo acknowledges his love for Eva he chooses to join the Catholic church out of his devotion and love of God and family. This is the love he recognizes and knows. Throughout the story readers feel the friendship and or romantic feelings these two yearn for whether together or apart. A relationship which buds during our immaturity in our youth and angst develops into the true meaning. The conflict of devotion and to whom to be devoted is questioned in different relationships throughout the story. Peril surrounds Eva, Angelo, and Italians during this time. Regardless of what I thought I knew from the atrocities of WWII I was not aware of the horrific devastation in Italy during this time. I can not imagine the toll some of the scenes took on the author, my heart literally shattered in many parts of this story. The author writes a well balanced story and it doesn't feel like a history lesson. Throughout the story I asked myself, 'could I do that?' 'would I be that brave?'. This poignant beautiful story is a reminder; we are humanity, we all are part of the same story. Romance, friendship, duty, integrity, grace, bravery, forbidden love, religion, history, sacrifice are all elements found in From Sand and Ash. Once the last page is turned the reader will be overwhelmed, more feelings than one word or thought can describe. The writing is poignant, poetic, layered, and beautiful. Will the beauty of acceptance and love prevail? The beautiful way in which the author crafts her words surrounding the religious aspects of this book alone is brilliant. I know I am a better person and reader for having read this book. A relationship between a reader and an author is a gentle unique one. One that is filled with trust, as books to readers and their reading time is so very precious. To find an author where each book surpasses the last, their craft continues to develop beyond what readers can hope for in a book, and their talent is so diverse no topic is out of reach is quite simply a gift. Amy Harmon is my Boo, my BAE , our relationship , though one sided, is a strong one. I will never read another blurb , teaser, reviews for her future works. They will be one clicked and devoured without question.

Amy Harmon is back with another historical romance. Its Italy 1943 and the Germans have invaded Rome removing Jews and sending them to camps. It’s a complicated period of time, yet that doesn’t stop a Catholic priest and Jewish girl from falling love. There are bigger issues warring within Rome. Angelo is a disabled men with limited options. He’s chosen to become a priest because it’s what his father believes is the best way for him to live. As a man living with a disability he wants to protect Eva and the only way he can is by becoming a priest. For anyone on the fence about reading From Sand and Ash because of its religious beliefs I’m here to set the story straight Amy Harmon isn’t preaching about religion or race. In fact, the romance is the primary topic. It just so happens that the romance revolves around WWII when Hitler forced Italians to come forward with any information about Jewish people. Race and religion are focal points to the romance becoming Eva and Angelo’s biggest hurdles to conquer. It’s important to note that this is a romance built around a time period where a Catholic priest and a young Jewish girl weren’t allowed to be married in the conventional sense. Eva Rosselli is Jewish, yet I found it fascinating that her character wrote confessions in her journal speaking of her Hebrew heritage. Through it all music continued to play a vital instrument in bringing about hope. Amy usually includes a paranormal element, musical element, or a disability in her characters. So it’s no surprise that Angelo has a disability. Amy Harmon finds beauty in the harsh world of the past with its racial laws against Jews. I come for her ingenuity within the beauty of a human soul when faced with obstacles. Historical romances are not my preference, but I never shy away from any book written by Amy Harmon. She’s got heart. I knew I couldn’t read this book on my own so I invested in the audiobook for the assistance of a well practiced voice actor. Personally it’s the best way to experience a historical piece especially one with words I can’t pronounce properly. Narrator: This is an unabridged audiobook allowing readers such as myself the opportunity to follow along with the ebook. I feel it enhances my listening experience. I listened at 2X speed using the audible app. Cassandra Campbell is the solo female performer. Her Italian dialect was magnificent. Listening to Cassandra bring life to Angelo and Eva was breathtaking. I’m going to miss listening to Cassandra speak Italian. I can still hear her voice. Cassandra created a masterpiece with her voice acting skills. I can listen to her read all day.

So. It has officially been over a month since I finished From Sand and Ash. 35 days later and I still don’t have the ability to put together words that will do this one justice. I’ve tried a few different times but today I have run out of time, so what you’re going to get is a bunch of my ramblings and you’ll just have to deal. In 2013 I read my first Amy Harmon book, A Different Blue. I remember reading it on the plane ride to Jamaica and being so in love with the writing and the story but more importantly sitting there in awe of how much time the author must have put into making the story perfect. There was so much history woven into the book in a way that was just perfect and never overbearing. I didn’t think any book would ever blow me away again like that one did. Since then, I have read every single one of Amy’s books and every one blew me away in one way or another. Whether it was the unique characters, the history lessons or the incredible “aha!” moments she always seems to get me with. Most importantly she continued to amaze me with her ability to step out of her box and try something new and then completely hit it out of the park as though she had been writing that genre since the day she was born. From Sand and Ash is no exception to any of these things. It is literally the most incredible story I have ever read and I can’t wait for the world to get their hands on it. Amy Harmon put her heart and soul into this story and it showcases every single bit of what makes her the best of the best. For me, this book is like A Different Blue in that it has a TON of history wound through it all and I truly appreciated every single bit of it. Sure, I know about the holocaust and how awful it was. I read The Diary of Anne Frank as a young girl and it will forever stick with me. I’ve seen documentaries, TV shows, and movies and I’ve read what the history books tell us. None of those things have ever impacted me like this story. This work of “fiction” taught me more truths about the ugliness that was than all of those other things combined. Without giving anything away, I will just quickly say that this book answered a question I have had most of my life. I always wondered how people could have just sit by and let this stuff happen right in front of their eyes. This book showed me just how wrong I was and how many people did play a part in saving lives. It showed me the involvement of the Catholic Church which I truly never knew a thing about and it warmed my heart in a way I can’t explain. This book isn’t all about history lessons though, please don’t get me wrong. It is a beautiful story of love, loss, friendship, family, bravery, selflessness, heroism, war, evil and so much more. It truly has everything anyone would want in a story and I just know that this one will touch the hearts of so many different people. Most importantly, the ever-present theme of faith and the power or prayer will hit home with people through all walks of life. Amy’s ability to show how alike we really all are despite our differences is one of the things I love most about her stories. At the very least, I will say that this story ripped my heart into pieces and then put it back together again more times than I can count. I was a ball of anxiety for much of it. I laughed. I cried. And then I cried some more. When I read the last line I saw there and sobbed for quite a while. Literally, the tears wouldn’t stop. Then I moved on to talk to my friends that had read it. And then I cried some more. This story will stick with me forever and I know it will for many others too. I truly hope you will pick up this story even if Historical Romance isn’t usually your cup of tea. I can’t imagine anyone not enjoying the writing, the lessons, the characters and every other bit of it. Infinite Stars for From Sand and Ash, a story more beautiful than the rest from one of the most amazing authors this world has to offer. Thank you for sharing your light with us, Amy. We are all better because of it.

I rarely reread books, but not because I don't want to, but because my TBR list is km-long and I have not enough time 🤷🏻‍♀️ But I bought my favorite book in Polish and I couldn't resist reading this book again. Yes, this is the third time I read this it 🤷🏻‍♀️ After the first time I read "From Sand and Ash" it took me days to get out of my emotional melancholy and start another book. I loved this book so much, that I talked about it to everyone and everywhere 🤭 My friends were so desperate that they read it, just so I stop talking about it 😂 And you know what, they loved it almost as much as I did 😍 Amy Harmon has the amazing gift of drawing people into the story and the protagonists lives. You feel like you know them and you are living, crying and laughing with them. From Sand and Ash is a story that takes place in World War II and the events in the war are of course terrible and hard to take or even understand, for us now. But it's the story behind the story that's makes this book even more heartbreaking and so damn emotional. A forbidden love story, between two people who have sacrificed everything for other people, from whom War has taken everything, who didn't believe that in the end they could been together and still fought with everything that they had for others lives. I recommend this book to all of you, who is not afraid to have an ugly cry for at least 50% of this book and other half mental breakdowns 🤭. Sorry, I can't help myself. I love this book so much ❤ So please read this book and enjoy! I loved every second of it (and cried not only the first time I read it) ❣

One of the best books I have ever read

Amo i romanzi di Amy Harmon. Le storie che racconta, i personaggi che descrive, le emozioni che trasmette e che suscita, a prescindere dalle ere, circostanze o luoghi raccontati. Questo romanzo è stato difficile. Ho dovuto spesso fermarmi,asciugarmi gli occhi, ricompormi e ricominciare a leggere. Sono italiana. Queste sono le storie dei “miei nonni” quelle mia dimenticate ma di rado raccontate, perché troppo dolorose, troppo vivide e presenti in un futuro che sembra voler sempre voltare le spalle alla storia. Una lettura meravigliosa, che racconta di un’Italia in uno dei suoi momenti peggiori senza togliere la bellezza ai posti, alle persone e alle atmosfere. Bellissimo.

In world war II 90% Italian Jew survived, but 90% European Jew killed. That is the fact and that is tree in which story moved from branch to branch. In the darkness of war love bloom, love generally always bloom beautifully when darkness become too deep to see. In the desperation of Vatican, sadness of christian world thousand of priest ready to give their life to help Jew. It is so painful that German forget that Christ was also Jew, but many priest never forget that. May be Angelo grow up with Eva as brother and sister, may be Angelo became priest, but love could't stop by building a thousand feet wall around you. May be they did't want to see their love, their attraction, but love is always showed more and that was why we wanted to see less. Story was excellent with lots of real life reference, but just one thing I had disappointed. I don't like happy ending, I always enjoy tragic end, but I believe that was my problem. In hopelessness of killing, destroying and devastation END should be happy, at least some people should find their loved one, should create a dream world out of darkness, should love till aged.

Loved it!! Go get it you won't regret it one tiny bit! Amy Harmon did an excellent work!! My heart feels broken hut so full at the same time!