They were not her children. But she would protect them with her life… risk by kindly Agata and her husband until the terrible war is over.
Matilde and Anna’s tears are soothed by Agata’s bedtime stories, but she is always alert. So far no soldiers have ventured down the steep rocky hillside to their secret haven, but Agata knows they are constantly scouring the island for missing Jews. And then, on a day when Agata’s husband is away, a German soldier appears…
2006. Under a baking June sun, Amber and her husband arrive in Corfu from England, hoping for a fresh start. But not everyone is pleased by their arrival, and with the pressures of pregnancy, the couple grow further apart. Desperate to find a sense of belonging for herself and her unborn child, Amber finds herself drawn to the local story of two little girls, left by their parents and hidden for their own protection.
But there are some who would rather Amber left Corfu’s terrible history well in the past. Can Amber uncover the heart-breaking truth about the two little girls, and what happened after a German soldier took a swim in the bay by their house? If she does, can the secrets of the past help her find happiness, or will they send her running from the island, alone?
A gripping, heart-wrenching and compelling read about the shadows at the heart of the sun-drenched island of Corfu and survival against all odds. Fans of Victoria Hislop, The Nightingale and The Tattooist of Auschwitz will fall in love with Burning Island.
Readers are hooked on Burning Island:
‘Two tragic stories, both equally well told. I couldn’t put the book down. The book will keep you reading until the end. It is exciting and tragic at the same time. It will keep you on the edge of your seat waiting to find out what happens next. This is one book you will not want to miss. I recommend it.’ Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Told in two different time periods, this is a story that will leave you in tears, as humanity is exposed at its very worst, but also its very best’ Cayo Costa, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘The way this author writes I could feel what the Jewish people were going through… this story will make you cry in some spots so beware when you take up this book. You’ll not want to put it down! …you might want a box of tissues too. I highly recommend this book’ Red Headed Book Lady, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Beautifully written story with a dual storyline. Tragic and sad but filled with strong women this story will have you crying and reaching for that ray of hope… I had never read any book on Hitlers reach in Greece. Wonderful book. Definitely recommend.’ Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Wow where to start with this one… both stories are gripping in themselves and as both storylines continue you are gripped with each of them…willing them on’ Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Have to admit to shedding a few tears at the end and will be keeping an eye out for more of this author’s work, this book won’t disappoint and it highlights the journey of the Corfu jews and how they were treated by the Germans’ Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘A captivating novel… You will not regret reading this book. Suzanne Goldring did a fantastic job of writing this.’ Goodreads Reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
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A great read
The story was informative but not bogged down with facts
An unexpected ending
A very good read with twists and turns.
This was an interesting story of WWII on a Greek island. The occupiers were called Germans, not Nazis. Okay story. I did not recommend it to my book club.
It was new to me that the Germans had evacuated Jews from some of the Greek Islands during World War II. This book was a time slip, looking at a Jewish family and their struggle to at least have their two young daughters survive with a Greek family, and then current time with a couple trying to start a restaurant on that island. It wasn’t exactly uplifting but I am glad that I read it.
Interesting characters; a real page turner for me. This covered a piece of history I knew very little about so I was glad to learn something. I would recommend although not everything is happily ever after, just like real life.
I have been to Corfu and found the island enchanting. Although the book gets off to a rather slow start the description of the island, the characters in the book and the story itself is an enjoyable one.
One book, two stories on the Greek Island of Corfu.
In 1944, the Jews are being rounded up by the Germans. Isaac and Perla, are registered along with their 13 yr old daughter, Rebekka, who helps in their shop. But they are able to conceal their 2 youngest daughters (ages 3 and 5) and have made arrangements for a couple to hide them when the time comes.
In 2005, James and Amber live in London and are unhappy with their careers. They decide to quit their jobs, sell everything, and move to their favorite vacation place: Corfu. They want to find a place to open a restaurant where James can pursue his passion for cooking. An old farmhouse is perfect for the restaurant, plus it will provide living quarters for them and rooms for a B&B. But it needs some major construction and decorating. James meets Greg, who is willing to financially back his endeavor and can refer the right construction team. Amber finds the perfect decor at an old Mill where old furniture is repurposed. But things aren’t as they seem.
Their two stories are about love, loss, greed, discrimination, secrets, and death. Over 60 years apart while some things change, some stay the same. I loved this book!
I enjoyed the beginning but it soon took a downward spiral. Ba language, sorry I bought it.
A very moving dual timeline set on the island of Corfu during World War II and the present day. Well written and researched, it tells of the atrocities of war when approximately 2,000 Jewish citizens were deported to the mainland, most never to return. In the present day, Amber and James, a young English couple move to Corfu to pursue their dream of setting up a business.
I cannot recommend it highly enough for lovers of World War II history.
I have never heard of this place until I read this book.
This is the reason I love historical fiction. I’m always learning.
This is a new to me author and I have very much enjoyed this book.
The way this author writes I could feel what the Jewish people were going through. Their confusion, fears and sadness at what was happening to them came across the pages to me.
This story will make you cry in some spots so beware when you take up this book. You’ll not want to put it down!
This book will not let you forget about it’s characters or plot and will leave you thinking about it long after it’s finished.
I think the only real thing I had a problem with was how it was written in present tense. When written like this it makes it harder for to get into but once I got started I couldn’t put it down. I wanted to see how the characters got out of their delimma.
This book is a sit on the edge of your seat nail bitter!
Also you might want a box of tissues too. I highly recommend this book
My thanks to Netgalley. NO compensations were received and all opinions are my own.
One of the best historical novels I have read lately (and I have read quite a few), I found the subject matter to be fascinating. When people think of WWII, Corfu does not immediately jump to mind, but the Nazi reach did extend to the Mediterranean. The author does a great job of relaying the historical aspects while also weaving a contemporary plotline in; the two stories dovetail nicely. The author handles a difficult subject with a deft hand. I highly recommend this 5-star book. For a full review, please visit my blog at Fireflies and Free Kicks. Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for a digital ARC of this book.
The tragedy of Corfu
This is the story of the modern day tragedy of James and Amber and also the tragedy of the Jewish of Corfu during WWII. The story of Matilda, and Anna two Jewish children smuggled out to live with an older couple Georgiou and Agnes.
It is the individual story’s of the two time periods and how the intertwined with each other on the Greek island of Corfu in the Mediterranean sea. I had never heard of Corfu before reading this book. It sounds like a lovely place with a horrible history.
As the two young people James and Amber move from England to Corfu to build a new life, they could not know the heartbreak ahead of them. The built their dream restaurant , met new people and made friends. They didn’t know that in a short time it would all go up in smoke. The breakdown of their marriage, the birth of their child in the basement of a burning restaurant, and the loss of their enterprise and their home.
Amber was later to find out from her friends Inge and Marion about the horrible story of the Jewish people living in Corfu during WWII. How they locked them all in the fort in town, took them on long open barges to the mainland of Greece, then transported them by cattle car to Auschwitz. Most of them died on the trip and it is said the rest were sent to the gas chambers.
Amber later meets the two girls that survived with the older couple in the mountains above Corfu. She finds out that the old house where the remodeled and built their restaurant in the mountains was the same house where the girls hid from the German soldiers and were saved during the war.
Two tragic stories, both equally well told. I couldn’t put the book down. The book will keep you reading until the end. It is exciting and tragic at the same time. It will keep you on the edge of your seat waiting to find out what happens next.
This is one book you will not want to miss. I recommend it.
Thanks to Suzanne Goldring, Bookouture and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review an advance copy of the book.
Two stories, one historical and one contemporary, meshed beautifully together in one book intersecting in a tragically engaging way. The dueling time lines were flawlessly written by Suzanne Goldring as her story telling reveals snippets of intrigue slowly and honestly. While the first 20ish% started off a little slow to me the story really starts picking up as we get deeper into the truths of the two stories and how they are connected. I’d classify this as strong woman’s fiction. The heart of the story rests on the hope and pain of the female characters. I also loved how the setting of the story takes on a beating heart of it’s own. Steeped in unthinkable tragedy in the past yet so alluring and seemingly magical in the present, Corfu becomes a character in it’s own right.
Burning Island touches on a more obscure aspect of WWII that I never knew about making the fictitious story all the more interesting to learn and read. The depth of loss juxtaposed with love here was painful at some junctures of the story making it very emotional. To relive this time gives a reader a deeper compassion for what our fellow humans endured in the history of the world and how the history still evokes and challenges us today. Goldring’s story telling comes off as a bit mysterious when she leaves bread crumbs of more to come. Her chapters are mostly short and concise allowing readers to get just what they need while wanting more. She gives hope with the pain too which, to me, is the mark of a great story. This was a very illuminating, engaging read.
Burning Island is another dont want it to end, you will smile, you will cry wonderful read by Suzanne Goldring.
It is the story of 2 sisters in Corfu during World War 2 whom the parents sent away in order to save their lives and they were hidden and taken of care of. It is also the story of the Germans moving the Jewish out of their homes and into concentration camps if they made it that far. The dual story is that of James and Amber moving to Corfu to start a new life. Amber learns of Corfu’s history during the war and discovers what happened to the sisters.
I loved learning the history during the war of Corfu , something I was not aware of.
Suzanne Goldring has told another beautiful story and is well woth sitting down and getting lost in the story. Please take time to read her notes at the end of the book.
THanks to Net Galley and Bookouture for the privilege of reading Burning Island.
This story takes place on the island of Corfu during two different time periods. In June 1944, the Jews are being rounded up to be sent off to a “work camp.” Issac and Perla Nikokiris have 3 daughters, Rebekka 13, Matilde 5 and Anna 3. They did not register the two younger girls so they make the decision to have a doctor friend take them to live with a childless couple, Georgiou and Agata, who live in the mountains in order to keep them safe. Isaac, Perla and Rebekka begin their inhumane journey to the work camp and the little girls begin a new life in the mountains. The second part of the book begins in June 2006 when Amber and James decide they are sick of the stress and long hours of their jobs and decide to quit in search of something more peaceful on the island of Corfu. The book alternates between the different time periods and different POVs. I especially liked the chapters that dealt with WWII aspect of this book. I did not care for the chapters that dealt with James and Amber in 2006 because I felt there was too much time spent on his recipes and cooking and Amber’s decorating. Overall, it was a good read though. Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC of this very interesting book in exchange for an honest review.