Historical Romance Book Review: Undercover Wish by Danielle Grandinetti

There’s something deeply powerful about a heroine who refuses to stay silent – especially when the world expects her to. Undercover Wish by Danielle Grandinetti swept me straight into the grit and glitter of 1892 Chicago, where wealth dazzles on the surface and injustice festers in the shadows. This story blends immigrant struggle, social reform, and romance in a way that feels both tender and fierce. If you love historical romance with heart and purpose, this one absolutely delivers.

Title: Udercover Wish

Author: Danielle Grandinetii

Series: Di Stasio Giornaliste Agency

Genre: Historical Romance, Investigative

Rating: 5 out of 5 ⭐

Disclaimer

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I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

My Thoughts:

I couldn’t have asked for a more relevant story and character arc as this book and the main character Ali. She was an orphaned Italian immigrant in 1892 Chicago. Her home is the family she has at the orphanage where she was raised, and her passion in life is going after those that are hurting people.

She constantly puts her life in danger sneaking around in the shadows to expose the filthy underbelly of child labor and abuses. Her heart of gold is inspiring and well represented. The support system she has is amazing as well – from the nuns at the orphanage, to the nearby Priest and then twin sisters who all pitch in to help her mission.

The twist in the story is that one of the richest families in the area is under suspicion for underhanded dealings and the prodigal son has just returned from England. Ali wants to investigate Griff’s family, but quickly realizes that Griff is also suspicious of what his father has been up to while he’s been gone.

Working together, they reveal all dark secrets that are going on and establish themselves. Both characters are driven by their desire to help others that can’t help themselves. Even though Ali and Griff come from different backgrounds, they are drawn to one another in their shared passion of helping others.

A story about immigrant injustices, standing up for those without a voice, and being true to yourself are all core messages throughout this story. I loved it so much!

Publisher’s Blurb:

Wealth is but an illusion, hers to wield and his to escape.

CHICAGO, Ill., 1892—Stunt reporter Ali Di Stasio will risk anything to expose the truth and protect her fellow orphans, including rummaging through trash bins and putting herself in the crosshairs of the dangerous elite. After living on the streets, she knows every corner of her city, which means she can stay one step ahead of the cops, the powerful men who’d love to silence her before she can reveal their secrets, and the occasional wealthy bachelor wandering through her alleyways, lost and in danger of being mugged.

Griff Moorland, heir-apparent to his father’s shipping enterprise, is summoned home to Chicago’s wealthiest neighborhood for one purpose: marriage. Worse, his choices are to marry the conniving daughter of his father’s business partner or an heiress with a sizable dowry. If he doesn’t comply before the contract to bring in steel for the Columbian Exposition ends? His ailing mother will be stranded across an ocean, homeless.

Caught between keeping his mother alive and his father’s questionable business practices, Griff needs a way out of the bind his father has put him in. When Ali swoops in like a knight in shining armor, she insists the pen is mightier than a sword. But with the Chicago World’s Fair fast approaching, sinister forces conspire against them. Will love prove only a mirage, or will it be strong enough to set them free?
La Verità con Integrità. Truth with Integrity. The Legacy of a (Girl) Stunt Reporter.
A Di Stasio Giornaliste Agency origin story and a retelling of Aladdin and the Magic Lamp.

Fans of Danielle Grandinetti’s 1930s historical romance will enjoy Undercover Wish, the prequel that introduces the founder of the Di Stasio Giornaliste Agency and bridges Harbored in Crow’s Nest with this new series.