I probably would have rated "Villa of Secrets" higher had I not read "The Things We Cannot Say" recently which had a very similar storyline but done slightly better. However, I enjoyed following the lives of three strong women - Naomi, her sister, Rebecca, and their grandmother, Pandora (Bubba). The book alternated between the present as the two sisters reunite and 1944, through the pages of Bubba's diaries.

At the age of sixteen, Dora's life was forever changed when she managed to escape when her family was rounded up and taken away on a ship to the concentration camps. Although only a teen, Pandora Cohen showed amazing courage as she joined the resistance fighters. Her journal entries were powerful and heartbreaking, and I found them extremely emotional as I read about her losses, devotion and determination to stop the Germans.

I have to admit that I have given very little thought about the Greek Isles during WWII and knew nothing about Rhodes and the atrocities the Jewish community faced, so "Villa of Secrets" was a real eye-opener. Also, the author did a great job weaving the two timelines and three storylines together, and the ending was poignant.

An enjoyable read that was well researched and based on fact. ( )