Jan Baynham

GUEST POST WITH ANGELA PETCH

This week I'm thrilled to welcome back the lovely Angela Petch to

my blog. One of my favourite authors, Angela's most recent novel, The Lost Garden, was published by Bookouture on September 11th.

Welcome, Angela!

Thank you so much, Jan, for inviting me to chat on your lovely blog.

I think you're going to tell us why you wrote The Lost Garden so it's over to you.

Why did I write The Lost Garden?

I have to admit after seven historical novels set in Italy during World War Two, I felt stale, worried I was falling into a rut. I needed to write something different. Locations in my books are very important to me. I like to visit the places and winkle out stories. The little town of Sant'Agata near to where we live had always intrigued me. When we drive back to England in October, it is usually wreathed in Octobetr mists, perched on the rock above higgledy-piggledy cotto rooftops of the town
below. It has always seemed unearthly to me and for years it hasn't been possible to visit because of restoration work. To my delight, it opened up a handful of years ago, but I was so disappointed. The inside is now dedicated to a display of stories and fairytales.

But I am an author. This shouldn’t disappoint me, surely? I met with a poster on entering which proclaimed that everything is a fairytale. (Tutto è fiaba). Rather tatty cut-outs of classical characters: Cinderella, the Little Prince, babes in the wood and the talking tree replaced what I had hoped to find: the history of the castle itself. Surely such a prominent building must have seen activity in World War Two? Even the local tourist office was unable to supply me with information. There was a dog-eared book about local men transported to camps elsewhere in Europe, but nothing about what had happened in the town or castle during WW2.

But this castle needed another story…

As I leant against the low wall that lines the steps to the castle, a ginger cat (Tigressa in the book) rubbed against my legs and then jumped onto the wall. He disappeared and I was terrified he had come to harm. I peered over to see he was grooming himself on a ledge which ended in a copse. And then my imagination started to crank up its creaking wheels and I thought, what if it was an old path that led to a secret garden? I turned around and an elderly lady shuffled across the cobbles in her slippers below where I stood and entered a humble
house. She had to be one of my characters: a housemaid to the rich folk who lived in the castle. And then I pictured a sixteen-year-old in front of her easel, a bossy, slightly frumpy English governess hanging over her. That governess went at the structural edit stages but I was off...and almost one year later, my story was published by Bookouture.

The Netgalley reviews are very favourable and I hope new readers will enjoy my new story that dips into history, the supernatural and mysterious, inspired by an ancient castle, perched on the Rock of the Wolves.It is such fun to magic up stories and I hope readers enjoy the latest.

Thank you, Angela. I'm sure they will. I haven't quite finished reading it but I'm loving it. To know that the story was inspired by a real town and castle, and especially by a real ginger cat, makes it all the more special.

BLURB

It hides a family secret that could change the course of the war.

Italy, 1930s. Tina lives in the crumbling castle of Montesecco with only her strict father and their maid, Allegra, for company. She's never allowed to ask questions about her mother who died in childbirth. But the day Tina discovers a hidden, crumbling door, everything changes.

Inside is an overgrown garden. Ivy and roses adorn the stone walls. Fresh water springs from a fountain and the scent of wild herbs fills the air. How did she never know this beautiful place existed? Excitedly begging Allegra for answers, the elderly woman's face turns pale. 'You must never mention this to your father. It's not safe. You've found your mamma's garden.'

The Count believes Tina's mother died because of the garden: but Allegra refuses to say more. Certain she can feel her mother watching over her, Tina secretly tends the garden herself. And when war breaks out, Tina's encounters with local resisitance fighters mean the garden becomes a place of refuge, a p[lace of hope - and a place of great danger when Tina must prove where her loyalties lie once and for all...

Will Tina ever discover the truth about her mother? Or was the garden, with all its secrets, never meant to be disturbed?

An absolutely breathtaking and stunning historical novel about the incredible risks people took in wartime, family secrets, loss and love. Perfect for fans of Fiona Valpy and Santa Montefiore.

Read what everyone's saying about The Lost Garden:

'Oh blimey. absolutely stunning... Spellbinding and beautiful... A favourite, top tier, stick-with-me forever book... Gave me a day full of joy... So much courage and strength... A definite must-read.' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Had me at secret garden!... Stunning... Gorgeous... Absolutely wonderful... A completely captivating and emotional novel that I will never forget!' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Something spell-like about this book... I found myself unexpectedly teary more than once... A novel that sneaks up on you... it gets under your skin. Five stars.' bookcoffeebrews. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Beautiful... I was swept away... it felt like stepping into another world... I found myself eager to return to the book every chance I got...Full of heart... Immersive and moving.' Goodreads reviewer. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

BIO

Angela Petch is an award-winning and bestselling writer - plus the occasional poem. Every summer she moves to Tuscany for six months where she and her husband own a renovated watermill which they let out. When not exploring their unspoilt corner of the Apennines, she disappears to her writing desk at the top of a converted stable. In her Italian handbag or hiking rucksack, she always makes sure to store a notebook and pen to jot down ideas.

The winter months are spent in Sussex where most of her family live. When Angela's not helping out with grandchildren, she catches up with friends.

LINKS FOR SOCIAL MEDIA

Blog: https://angelapetchsblogsite.wordpress.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AngelaJaneClarePetch

Instagram: @angela_maurice

BUYING LINKS

https://geni.us/B0FHBH86K4author

Add it to your TBR here: https://geni.us/B0FHBH86K4social

And more links here:

Audio:

UK: https://ow.ly/foW150WV3iA

US: https://ow.ly/sseh50WV3iC

: https://ow.ly/qCSq50WV3iB

The Postcard from Italy

The Girl Who Escaped

The Sicilian Secret

Mavis and Dot

website

Thank you for reading. I'm sure you enjoyed finding out more about Angela's fabulous new novel, The Lost Garden.

My Book News

This afternoon, I submitted the structural edits for book six, The Stolen Sister, partially set in Crete, and due out on February 24th, 2026.

A reminder for those of you who prefer to support independent bookshops, you can now order both The Secret Sister and The Silent Sister from Cover To Cover, a gem of a bookshop in beautiful Mumbles, Swansea.

https://cover-to-cover-mumbles.myshopify.com/collections/fiction