Burying the past comes at a high price… monarchy and momentum behind the Reschen Lake reservoir increases with plans to wipe out the Reschen Valley’s towns and hamlets. Katharina risks writing to Angelo Grimani, the man in charge, and begs to have the project reassessed.
But Angelo is hemmed in by a force that steers him far from his dealings with the Reschen Valley and that which binds him to Katharina. It’s the opportunity the Fascists have been waiting for.
Following No Man’s Land, The Breach is the second part in the Reschen Valley series. If you enjoy gripping historical fiction that won’t let you go, you will love Chrystyna Lucyk-Berger’s vivid saga. Buy or try now!
“An authentic, rich story.” Laurel Busch
“Well-executed…powerful…moved me to my core.” Ann Howard Creel, The Uncertain Season
“…vivid and intriguing…transports you to another time and place.” Kristi Saare Duarte, The Transmigrant
“Utterly atmospheric. I could not put this down.” Louisa M. Bauman, Sword of Peace
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The saga of this novel of the Reschen Valley continues very smoothly with Katharina, her husband Florian, their daughter Annamarie, along with their second child to be. Chrystyna Lucyk-Berger has Hund, Katherina’s dog become a character with a voice within their family. Katherina makes a new friend in Iris the Italian school teacher.
I am so angered by the treatment that the Carabinieri and the despicable prefect Emilio Rioba put Jutta Hanny and her son Alois through. They are trying to destroy Jutta and her strong spirit. She is a fighter, even though they try to break her by breaking all her porcelain plates & platters including the handmade water pitcher that her mother made, because it has a German stamp on the back. Rioba says “No German, Signora Hanny. Forbidden. No tedesco, capisce? We had this discussion before. No signs in German. No dishes in German. No postcards in German. No maps in German. Solo in italiano. Siamo in Italia. We are in Italy.”
We are also brought into the life of Angelo, his wife Chiara and their son Marco. You see the struggles in their marriage. Chiara tells Angelo “I see no difference between living with a wolf in sheep’s clothing and a lamb dressed up as a wolf.” The relationship that Angelo and Gina Conti have as friends has you asking what do they both seek from each other, which brings drama into both their lives.
The part when Colonel Grimani and his grandson Marco are on the beach making the dams in the sand is scary. To hear it being explained what happens when the water from the bucket gets dumped onto the sand. The horrible future to come for the Reschen Valley and the town of Arlund, unless Angelo Grimani can stop it from happening.
This book has everything a reader looks forward to reading; love, hate, sex, death, life, drama, right, and wrong. I cried with the death of one of the characters (no spoiler). Have tissues ready.
I gained such insight into the area which was once German speaking Tyrol, which is now under the control of the Fascists. Angelo Grimani’s father only wants to take advantage of natural resources to increase his wealth and could not care less about the human costs of his projects. The author makes the story so vivid with her writing, and tells a story with the background of the build-up to WWII that makes the reader feel as though they are watching the story unfold. I have now read all the stories in the series, and didn’t want to take time away from reading to leave reviews. I read this book in 3 days, and that was about the average length of time for each of these full length novels. Page-Turner for sure.
Captivating and intriguing
I loved Book 2 of the Reschen Valley series as much as I did Book 1.
The main character, Katharina, is so likable, I rooted for her immediately in the first book and even more while reading the sequel of her remarkable story.
The author expertly weaves political events (Tyrol and Italy 1920-s) and the undercover struggle of opposite parties into the lives of her characters.
I was engrossed in the book (read it in two sittings), taken by the intriguing storyline, involving not only Katharina and her family (and the growing divide between her neighbors) but also Angelo Grimani’s family and his environment.
I can’t help but applaud the author’s stunning nature descriptions that add to the beauty of the narrative.
I look forward to reading all the books in the series and highly recommend it to the lovers of historical fiction.
Another nice, intersting, historical, breathtaking book!
Unluchy the structure of the first Dam built by Grimani firm have some problem… the people of the valleys and also in Graun Arlund villages have angryu, fear for their future.
nice to read what the annexation to Italy influenced both the cities and the small mountain villages. good description of landscapes, thoughts, feelings.
all change: the thoughts, the life of the children as a students, the work, the names of people/streets/cities. unlucky also the friendships.