Italy, 1946. “Estee, I bought this ring years ago and have kept it safe ever since. You’re the only woman I’ve ever loved.” She reached for Felix’s hand and gently closed it over the box. “No,” she whispered. “I want you to propose only when you’re truly free.”

London, present day: Lily clutches a faded piece of paper in her hands, knowing that her life will never be the same again. Whilst grieving for her late father, she is told that her grandmother was born at Hope’s House, a home for unmarried mothers, the only clues to her past contained on a handwritten Italian recipe and an old theatre programme.

Desperate for answers, Lily accepts a job on an Italian vineyard in the heart of picturesque Como – a dream her father once shared. Arriving at the palatial home of the Martinelli family, Lily is captivated by the acres of vines that surround her and instantly feels at home. She is also struck by their charming son Antonio and as they chat long into the night over a candlelit dinner, he offers to help Lily discover her family’s heritage.

As Lily unravels the truth of her own legacy, she begins to fall more in love with Italy and with Antonio. And tracing the recipe back to a bakery in a hilltop village, she soon unearths a tragic love story that changes everything… But when Lily discovers who her grandmother really was, can she too have the courage to follow her heart and leave her old life behind? Or will her family’s heart-wrenching story force her home?

An utterly enchanting and heartbreaking novel about lost loves, family secrets and enduring hope.

"My darling B, my heart, my soul. I only wish we'd had longer. Longer to search for the daughter that I should never have given up. The daughter that I should have been brave enough to keep, brave enough to tell you about, brave enough to tell the world about." London, Present day. As Ella looks down at a faded black-and-white photograph of an unknown woman and child alongside a yellowing piece of sheet music, she wonders how the two things can possibly relate to her own family. The items were left for Ella at Hope's House, a home for unmarried mothers whose babies were adopted. Soon Ella learns that the photograph was taken on the picturesque Greek island of Skopelos, nestled in the calming turquoise waters of the Aegean sea, and that the woman in the photo holds the key to her heritage. Ella's new flame, Gabriel, urges her to unravel the mystery. He will wait for her for as long as she is on the island. Though torn, Ella decides to go and, once there, she discovers a heart-wrenching story of a royal family forced to leave their country for a new life in London, and of a girl with a unique talent for music who captured the heart of a young violinist. When Ella uncovers the sacrifice made by the two young lovers and comes face to face with her forgotten Greek family, her life is turned upside down. Will their story give her the courage to follow her own heart back to London and Gabriel, or will the beauty of the island capture her heart and lead her to a new love altogether? A totally addictive and heart-breaking novel about the strength of family ties and never giving up on true love. Perfect for fans of Santa Montefiore, Lucinda Riley and Victoria Hislop. What everyone is saying about Soraya Lane: "Outstanding, I wanted to stay awake to read more and kept finding 5 minutes here and there to pick up the book!... Amazingly written" NetGalley reviewer "Amazing... I cried buckets, I laughed, and totally loved it" Goodreads reviewer "I started this book last night and finished it today... I couldn't stop reading... Heartfelt... I was moved to tears... touched my heart in every way imaginable" Goodreads reviewer

"Estee, I bought this ring the day after I saw you on stage at La Scala, all those years ago. You're the only woman I've ever loved." Estee wanted to see it so badly, but instead she reached for Felix's hand and gently closed it over the box. "No," she whispered. "I want you to propose only when you're truly free." When Lily is called to a lawyer's office in London, she has no idea that her life is about to change forever. There, she is told that her grandmother was born at Hope House, a home for unmarried mothers, and is given a box containing the only clues to her true heritage. Peeling back the delicate layers of paper she finds an Italian recipe and a theatre programme. Travelling to Italy and taking a job on a vineyard, Lily is determined to unravel the mystery of her past. The vineyard owners, in particular their charming son Antonio, offer to help. They tell Lily that the recipe belongs to the wealthy Rossi family, known for their famous bakeries which opened after the Second World War. Antonio offers to drive Lily to the Rossis' village and deep down, Lily is delighted to have him as her guide. When Lily arrives and shows the recipe to the surviving members of the family, it is clear that she has unearthed a tragic love story: of a young girl named Estee and a boy named Felix. Of a childhood friendship which developed into a passionate love affair. Of a family torn apart by wealth and of two young people who were prepared to sacrifice everything for love. But when Lily finds out the truth about her family and who she really is, will she too be able to follow her heart? An utterly enchanting and heartbreaking novel about lost loves, family secrets and enduring hope. Perfect for fans of Lucinda Riley, Santa Montefiore and Victoria Hislop.