Ashley and Jessica are serving their country by singing and encouraging the troops overseas during World War II. They board a plane in Greece to get  to their next assignment in Africa. A big show is planned, and the famous comedian, Bob Hope is set to perform.  They never make it. A storm causes the plane to go down behind enemy lines in Sicily. It doesn’t take long before the two young women are rescued by four members of the Castello family. Yet, the rescue offers no rest and relaxation for the ladies.  Instead, they are swept up in the adventures of a family who dedicate their lives to the service of God. 

Casa Bella has seen better days. The beautiful olive groves have long been neglected.  Worst of all, German soldiers have no problem coming and going from the  property. This would shake a lot of people, but not the Castello family. Their main concern is to try to make it seem like they are obeying the rules of a fascist government, all the while protecting as many Jews as they can. 

At the Villa Lucia Clinic,  doctors Lucy and Giovanni Castello treat patients and do their best to protect those in danger by claiming a false epidemic is on the rise.   Gio and Franco bring Ashley and Jessica to Villa Lucia Clinic for “treatment”. As an American herself, Lucy Castello warmly welcomes the young women into her home. While recovering, the Castellos tell  Ashley and Jessica of their plans to move a group of Jewish children from a convent to a secret hiding place on the Casa Bella property, called the iron door.

 Gio and Franco Castello are the young Italian men that rescue the two American young ladies. Gio and Franco travel with two older members of the family, Michele and Antonio Castello.  The two older gentlemen bring wisdom, faith, hope, a sense of humor and a fatherly presence to the four young adults.  Ashley and Jessica immediately notice how handsome the  young men are. With their chivalry and good looks, the ladies are quite taken with them. But the dangerous mission of transferring the children and helping out the clinic break the foursome up. Gio and Ashley’s mission is to transfer the children, while Franco and Jessica stay behind to help the clinic. The couples independently face the threat of Nazis, the effects of war, and near-death experiences. Ashley and Jessica don’t plan on falling in love with these Italian men, but God has other plans. It’s not just good looks and shared adventures that begin to create such a tight bond;  Ashley and Jessica find themselves falling  in love with two men who put God above everything. Gio and Franco have made a vow to serve God in life and if called, in death. 

The Iron Door is the third book in the Casa Bella Chronicles.  Characters from the previous novels make appearances in this one. Lucy and Giovanni still practice medicine in Sicily, but the war makes each day dangerous in the clinic. This story centers on the next generation of Castellos. Gio is the son of Lucy and Giovanni. He is a doctor like his parents and wants a marriage like them. Could Ashley be that woman for him? Franco is the son of Anna and Vincenzo. He was blessed with his parents’ good looks. He is a tense young man mourning his own losses.  Jessica is a bright light that awakens the dullness in Franco’s life. He has high hopes of making Jessica his wife.  Jessica is attracted to Franco, but will she let her guard down and follow her heart? Filipo, Vincenzo’s eldest son and Franco’s brother, is now a priest on a mission to save as many as he can from the fascists in Italy. 

Liz Galvano has once again written a thoroughly enjoyable Catholic romance novel. Gio and Franco are dreamboats not given to worldly vices. Jessica and Ashley are fun-loving American young women ready to take on any adventure that comes their way. I found myself caught up in these romances. Setting the novel in  World War II added to the enjoyment of the book. Galvano has a real talent for writing descriptions and I found myself wanting more.