The Metal Heart by Caroline Lea

Orkney, 1940. As war rages across Europe, twin sisters Dorothy and Constance live a quiet life on a remote Scottish island — until hundreds of Italian prisoners of war are brought to build a causeway between the islands. Among them is Cesare, an artist and soldier whose kindness and talent awaken something long dormant in Dorothy. As friendship turns to forbidden love, the sisters find themselves torn between loyalty, duty, and desire. But on an island steeped in secrecy and suspicion, even the purest love carries a heavy price. The Metal Heart is a haunting, lyrical tale of courage, compassion, and the power of human connection in the darkest of times.