Series Name: Love From Italy, #2
Escape to the beautiful hills of Turin, Italy in this sweet romance.
“She walked down through the fields, breathing in the perfume of wild thyme in the air and admiring the myriad little clusters of wild flowers which had popped up in the hedges and verges. Above her a pair of big birds of prey circled, whistling to each other as they soared effortlessly over the hillside.”
When Louise surprises her boyfriend by returning early from a work trip, safe to say she wasn’t expecting to see him in flagrante delicto with another woman. Heart-torn and vowing to stay away from men, when Louise’s next project involves restoring an ageing hotel in Italy, she leaps at the chance to get away.
Managed by a crew of sextagenarians, the Grand Hotel del Monferrato needs all the love and care Louise can give it. But it’s hard to stay focused on the job when her thoughts keep straying to Vito, the reclusive and mysterious neighbour.
With his tragic past and her no-romance policy, Louise knows they can’t have a future. Yet something keeps pulling the two together…
As far as settings go, you won’t find a more delightful one than in this book. Turin and the surrounding countryside in Northern Italy wasn’t really even on my radar, and now it is definitely on my ever expanding bucket list of destinations. Williams describes the scenery beautifully and I appreciated learning about the rich history and delicacies of the region. The foodie in me was salivating over the descriptions of the food. I’ll admit, I even found myself seeking out a local Italian restaurant to satisfy the craving this book induced. It’s easy to see why MC Louise falls in love with the area.
There are some fantastic characters in this book and my favourite are the staff of the hotel. Even though they are in their golden years, their warmth, wisdom and hardworking nature really shone through. Domenica, the hotel Assistant Manager particularly stood out, but I felt like I wanted to hug them all. Bonus points for a wonderful dog character in Leo, Vito’s loyal and adorable companion.
Williams sets up four potential love interests for Louise which keeps the reader guessing as to whom (if any) Louise will choose. Her boyfriend Tommy makes a reappearance, her boss Joseph seems to be making passes at her, her ex from her university days Paolo returns, and then of course the handsome and mysterious neighbour Vito. Whom will she choose? You’ll have to read it to find out!
Overall this is a charming, quick read romance with a terrific setting.
Thank you, Canelo Escape for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
