20th Century Historical Romance

Behind the Pages: Sheltered by the Doctor

Explore the inspiration, characters, and historical backdrop of Danielle Grandinetti’s latest novel, ‘Sheltered by the Doctor’. Peek behind the pages and discover the journey behind this story.

Hands typing at computer

Welcome Danielle Grandinetti!

Tell us a bit about who you are and how you write?

I’m an award-winning inspirational romance author fueled by tea, books, and the creative beauty of nature. Mixing romance and suspense, I love bringing history to life while showing the discovery of home and hope in hard times. Married to my hero, I’m a second-generation Italian-American, a dairy farmer’s granddaughter, and a boy mom from Chicagoland who now lives along Lake Michigan’s Wisconsin shoreline

What is your book about?

Sheltered by the Doctor is book five in my Harbored in Crow’s Nest historical romance series. Here’s the blurb:
A fake relationship might keep her safe, but will it break their hearts?
Wisconsin, 1931—Mindy Zahn can’t understand why her parents deserted the family farm, leaving her mute younger sister in her care. Until her mother’s cryptic warning to keep her sister safe becomes a life-threatening task.
Searching for that elusive something to ease his weary heart, Dr. Nick Matrone is drawn to the cheery Mindy. He would never presume to bring such a sweet woman into his beleaguered past, so friendship is all he can offer. Except, he doesn’t expect needing to save her life.
As the danger grows, they both must battle through physical and emotional wounds to have a hope of their counterfeit relationship becoming true.
Welcome to Crow’s Nest, where danger and romance meet at the water’s edge.

Why this story and why now?

Ever since book 1, I couldn’t wait to give waitress Mindy Zahn a happily ever after. But who would be her match?
Then when Nick entered the series, he kept returning. In fact, in one of the Harbored in Crow’s Nest books, David Martins put it this way: “Yeah. Nick. The man arrives just when you don’t want him, and yet exactly when you need him.”⁠
And that’s the case for Mindy and her little sister Mabel. But with danger chasing them, romance is not part of the deal. Or is it?

Where did you go to research this story?

One of my favorite resources is archived local newspapers. They give news, prices, and the weather. That’s how I discovered June 30, 1931 is recorded as being the hottest day that year. I went searching deeper into historic temperature and, as far as I could ascertain, it was also the first time the temperature reached over 100 degrees Fahrenheit in recorded history for that portion of Wisconsin.⁠ and that heat wave became a significant part of the story.

Tell us a story you came across in research that didn’t make it into the book.

Sheltered by the Doctor touches on several historical stigmas like dyslexia, childhood mutism, and anti-Italian bias.⁠
On the day this story begins, news breaks that Al Capone has been arrested for tax evasion. However, as the story progresses, we learn why Dr. Nick was forced to leave New York City. And it’s a problem not isolated to him.⁠
While the prejudice was more blatant in the late 1800s, it continued through World War II since Italy was part of the Axis Powers. In fact, the bias against Italians was one of the impetuses behind the immigration laws that curbed immigration in the early 1900s and set up the battle over welcoming Jewish refugees from Germany during the coming war.⁠
Because of the trouble he’s leaving behind in NYC, Dr. Nick brings his sister with him to Crow’s Nest. However, she’s worried about her friend back in Italy. As the gears turn toward what will become the Second World War, actions in Italy affect those on both sides of the pond.⁠ That wasn’t within the scope of this story or series, however, I wanted to explore what that look like, especially for Bella’s friend.
Find out in a special historical romance novella, part of Our House on Sycamore Street, coming in August in The Italian Musician’s Sanctuary.

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Cover of Sheltered by the Doctor