During WWII, Frank survives the landings on the beaches of Salerno, Italy. After being separated from his unit, he stumbles upon an Italian family who are barely surviving. Time and time again he returns to the family, helping them, telling them stories, and falling in love with the beautiful daughter. As the fighting heats up, Frank does everything he can to make sure they survive.

This book felt a bit amateurish. The author did not balance the time shifts very well, and spent long chapters providing us with Frank's history. I think some careful editing could make this a great book. Overall, 3 out of 5 stars. ( )

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The Caves of San Pietro by Susan Gayle is a historical fiction story set in Italy during World War II. Ms. Gayle a charter member of the New Orleans WWWII museum, and a physician. This is her first novel.

Frank Moster, a soldier from Texas, survives the landing on the beaches of Salerno. Born in New York City to an Italian family, Frank was relocated to Texas on the famous Orphan Train.

In Salerno, Frank gets involved with an Italian family and helps them survive the war. Unfortunately, all of their lives will be changed during the Battle of San Pietro.

I was pleasantly surprised by this historical fiction of World War II. I have not read much about the war in Italy, but The Caves of San Pietro by Susan Gayle certainly piqued my interest.

The author, who is a relative of the protagonists, created a vivid picture of life during the war, in Italy particularly. The experiences of both American soldiers and Italian citizens is indeed well researched and extremely well told.

Surprisingly, my favorite part of the book was the bike ride Frank and his brother took from Texas to New York City and back. Along the way they met especially fascinating people, got autographs of notables, and won a sizeable bet.

I do love road trips, and seeing the “real” America is second only to unquestionably meeting fascinating people. The author did a remarkable job recreating the journey, in all its awesomeness and hardships.

The Battle of San Pietro Infine was specifically fought in December of 1943. Allied forced attacked heavily fortified German positions around the town. The victory, nevertheless, was crucial to give allied forces a way to liberate Rome. Evidently, it was also the first battle where troops of the Royal Italian Army fought with the Allies.

I have not done much reading about the war in Italy. I can think of five, or so, books that deal especially with the subject. Generally, they all made fascinating reads and I’ll make sure to be on the lookout for more.

Do not skip the author’s notes at the end of the novel, along with the pictures. Ms. Gayle tells of her research, history, and the relatives which inspired this novel. ( )

Two remarkable stories, two memorable families, and a war hero at the center of it all are entwined in this novel based on a true story. Frank Peccaro Moster led an incredible life - encounters with the Mafia and the Spanish flu put him and his siblings on a train to Texas, where they were adopted and raised. A chance bet as a young man sent him and his older brother on an 8,000 mile bicycle trip across the U.S., meeting celebrities and dignitaries along the way. The bicycle trip narrative is interspersed with the drama, pathos, and romance of Frank's military service in the liberation of Italy. Born of Italian parents and raised by immigrant Germans in Texas, Frank was the right person at the right time for such service. A unique book. My only less than stellar comment is that the writing itself is pretty unadorned, and maybe that's ok given the density of the story, but it read more like a YA novel to me in terms of syntax. ( )

This historical fiction is based on the liberation of Italy from the Nazi’s when Italy changed sides in 1943 during World War 2. Caught between two military forces, the story revolves around two Italian families, orphans and an orphanage. Susan Gayle has researched and written an excellent novel around these families, portraying the devistation, that war brings upon civilians caught up in the horrors of war, while illustrating the bonds of love and human kindness that can be shown in such situations. A great book that everyone should read. 5 stars.
An electronic copy of this book was provided for review by LibraryThing Early Reviewers. Kintra ( )

I thoroughly enjoyed this book from beginning to end. It’s kind of like a true-story Forrest Gump, with the main characters meeting so many famous people and experiencing/seeing so much. I was sure most of the bike ride was imagination , but from the authors notes at the end it sounds like it is mostly true. I would love to read a little more background on some of the items and maybe more specifics on what are the fictional parts of the story. I loved how it bounced back and forth between present and past, incorporating the two stories seamlessly. My only complaint is the swear words. This book would be a great high school reading/history recommendation if it weren’t for that. ( )