Series Name: The Blossomwood Bay Series, # 1
She turned the key, twisted the throttle and to her horror, shot forward at speed, ploughing into several of the—thankfully vacant—café tables, knocking down chairs and scattering menus, cutlery and napkins in every direction.
‘Oh my God!’
Terrified, she clung onto the handlebars for dear life as the handsome waiter she had seen earlier dashed forward to stop her from doing any more damage or tumbling head first into one of the many ceramic flower pots that were stationed around the fringe of the café.
Tilly’s Tuscan Teashop is the perfect romantic escapist book.
When photographer Natalie Nicholson’s beach hut studio – and everything she’s spent the last two years working on – is destroyed in a fire, she doesn’t think things can get any worse. Until she sees her boyfriend Josh Clarke on Instagram frolicking on a palm-fringed Balinese beach with a fellow cabin crew member.
Devastated and heartbroken, she heads to Italy to help out at her sister’s English teashop in the heart of the Tuscan countryside, where she encounters sun-dappled hilltop villages with attractive terracotta bell towers, cobbled piazzas housing world-famous art and architecture, and a national fixation with getting from A to B as quickly as possible whether in a glamourous Ferrari, a scarlet Vespa, or a snail-like ape.
With handsome local filmmaker-cum-waiter Matteo Ferretti on hand to guide her, can Tilly learn to ditch her workaholic ways and embrace the Italian pursuit of la dolce vita? Or will she miss out on her chance at a happy-ever-after?
Tilly’s Tuscan Teashop was the perfect cure for those January blues. It’s been very cloudy and gloomy here in Ontario for the past few months. I miss the sun, which means I have been craving books that take me away to faraway places. This book takes its readers to the gorgeous countryside of Tuscany. It felt like the world around me was disappearing, and I was transported to San Vincente, a quaint village in Tuscany where Tilly spent her time working at her sister’s teashop. The setting was lush and vivid; I just wanted to pack my bags and go there. Daisy just knocked it out of the park when it came to creating a book that had a setting that truly was unforgettable.
Not only did we get to spend time in this lush place, but we were also treated to some delicious food talk. Italy is known for its mouth-watering foods, and the food talk in this book had my stomach growling. There was just so much food talk in this book; it really is a foodie paradise.
The story itself is typical of most charming romances. I didn’t mind that Daisy didn’t break the romance mold. In my mind, it allows readers to immerse themselves in the story and soak up the setting, the characters, and of course, the food without worrying about unexpected twists or turns. I enjoyed the story. All the story elements in this book were well-balanced and complemented each other. The book progresses at a great pace, and everything works together to create an enjoyable reading experience.
The romance was just what I expected it to be. Tilly and Matteo’s interactions were swoony, sweet, and just oh-so-lovely. It was the perfect vacation fling that turned into something more. Their time together definitely had my heart pitter-pattering, especially the scene where they were dancing in the rain. I like Tilly and Matteo as characters. Tilly is that typical romance main character. She is strong and smart but struggles to find what makes her happy. Watching as she opened up her heart, took chances, and grew into the person, she was meant to be.
Tilly’s Tuscan Teashop is that perfect pick-up romance story that takes place in the gorgeous countryside of Tuscany.
Thank you, Boldwood Books, and Rachel Random Resources for the ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.
