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Four Hundred and Forty Steps to the Sea
Four Hundred and Forty Steps to the Sea | Sara Alexander
4 posts | 2 read | 4 to read
In a richly romantic novel set in stunning Positano, Italy, Sara Alexander weaves a story of love, family loyalty, and sacrifice spanning five decades . . . Nestled into the cliffs in southern Italys Amalfi coast, Positano is an artists vision, with rows of brightly hued houses perched above the sea and picturesque staircases meandering up and down the hillside. Santina, still a striking woman despite old age and the illness that saps her last strength, is spending her final days at her home, Villa San Vito. The magnificent eighteenth-century palazzo is very different from the tiny house in which she grew up. And as she decides its fate, she must confront the choices that led her here so long ago . . . In 1949, Positano is as yet undiscovered by tourists, a beautiful, secluded village shaking off the dust of war. Hoping to escape poverty, young Santina takes domestic work in London, ultimately becoming a housekeeper to a distinguished British major and his creative, impulsive wife, Adeline. When they move to Positano, Santina returns with them, raising their daughter as Adelines mental health declines. With each passing year, Santina becomes more deeply enmeshed within the family, trying to navigate her complicated feelings for a man who is much more than an employerwhile hiding secrets that could shatter the only home she knows . . . Praise for Sara Alexanders Under a Sardinian Sky Alexander paints a loving and breathtaking picture of the Mediterranean island, especially glorious descriptions of food. For readers who enjoy womens fiction set against a background of momentous events and clashing cultures. Library Journal Will leave readers riveted until the explosive conclusion. Publishers Weekly
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margoge@hotmail.com
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Pickpick

This was a beautiful, joyous read! It follows a young girl, Santina, from Italy to England and back. Her life unfolds like a beautiful flower. Not everything is perfect for her along the way but she manages and moves forward. This was honest, real and relatable. I loved it.

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robinb
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1. Our son is making his first trip home for a visit from college...so we‘ll be catching up with him! 😊❤️ And hopefully grilling out at some point.
2. I had several really good ones...this is one.
3. Tuna and refried beans
4. No...never. 🤷🏻‍♀️
5. Happy Friday! 🎉🎉🎉

#friyayintro
@jesshowbooks

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robinb
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Pickpick

Wow! This one packs ALOT into 416 pages and feels more like a chunkster saga. This is the life story of Santina, born poor in Positano and motherless by 12. She dreams of getting out, but for a brief couple of stints, ends up there most of her life. Her relationships with the men in her life are complicated and troublesome, with the women loving and easy. I loved this for its rich characterizations, its heartbreaks and ultimately its redemption.

49 likes3 stack adds
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robinb
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I will confess to some #coverlove as motivation for wanting to read this ARC beauty. 😊🤞

#NetGalley
#Kensington

Mdargusch It is beautiful! I hope the story is as good as the cover! 🤞🏼 6y
robinb @Mdargusch thanks, me too! 😊🤞 6y
52 likes2 comments