Collects recipes for Italian desserts and pastry, including chocolate and cherry cake, Italian peach cookies, and custard tarts.

“This will be a bestseller, a must read! I could not put it down! This is by far the best book I’ve read in years . . . possibly ever!” —Reader review A Civil War–era secret brings modern-day consequences in a novel that asks: How long can the shadows of the past hang over one family? Philip Richards puts little value on his life. He avoids close relationships and blames himself for the sexual abuse his sister suffered at the hands of their grandfather. To drown his sorrows and evade his guilt, Philip drinks too much and engages in dangerous activities. When his father dies, two more life-changing events take place. Philip meets Edith, a free-spirited poet, with whom he feels an instant connection. He also comes across a manuscript, a stolen narrative that chronicles the Civil War relationship between his ancestor, Russell, and Fever, the slave who became his wife. As new details about Philip’s family and his own identity come to light, his perception of who he is and where he comes from is turned on its head. But even as Philip comes to terms with the issues that have loomed over his family for decades, fresh allegations bring the crimes of the past flooding into the present . . . Echoes of Our Ancestors is a dark and moving multi-generational saga that explores themes of trauma, race, and abuse—and the question of whether, and how, we can free ourselves from the past.

The New York Times bestseller—for fans of All the Light We Cannot See and The Tattooist of Auschwitz! “An irresistible tale which showcases the transformative power of literacy, reminding us of the hope and sanctuary our neighborhood bookstores offer during the perilous trials of war and unrest.”—KIM MICHELE RICHARDSON, author of The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek August 1939: London prepares for war as Hitler’s forces sweep across Europe. Grace Bennett has always dreamed of moving to the city, but the bunkers and drawn curtains that she finds on her arrival are not what she expected. And she certainly never imagined she’d wind up working at Primrose Hill, a dusty old bookshop nestled in the heart of London. Through blackouts and air raids as the Blitz intensifies, Grace discovers the power of storytelling to unite her community in ways she never dreamed—a force that triumphs over even the darkest nights of the war. “A gorgeously written story of love, friendship, and survival set against the backdrop of WWII-era London.”—JILLIAN CANTOR, author of In Another Time and Half Life “A love letter to the power of books to unite us, to hold the world together when it’s falling apart around our ears. This fresh take on what London endured during WWII should catapult Madeline Martin to the top tier of historical fiction novelists.”—KAREN ROBARDS, author of The Black Swan of Paris Don't miss Madeline Martin's next heartwarming historical novel, The Booklover's Library! Also by Madeline Martin: The Librarian Spy The Keeper of Hidden Books