In her little room, she pulled the shady curtains aside to peep out over the rooftops. Though she hadn’t been in Sicily three weeks yet, Ursula loved Ortigia, the Citta Vecchia or Old City and its bridge spanning a canal of blue seawater. She loved the Sunday morning tenor clamour of church bells and the daily market, the sheer number of boats moored in the bay and the marina, and the railings that ran all around the island, as if acknowledging that the views were too wonderful to hide with walls.
Will one summer in Sicily change her life forever?
An Italian Island Summer takes its readers on a heartwarming and unforgettable journey.
After her marriage falls apart, Ursula Quinn is offered the chance to spend the summer working at a hotel on a beautiful island off the coast of Sicily, Italy. Excited by a new adventure, she sets off at once.
At Residenza dei Tringali, Ursula receives a warm welcome from everyone except Alfio, son of the Tringali family. He gave up his life in Barcelona to help his mother Agata with the ailing business, and is frustrated with Ursula’s interference – and she in turn is less than impressed with his attitude. As they spend more time together, though, they begin to see each other in a different light.
But what with Ursula’s ex-husband on her tail, family secrets surfacing and an unexpected offer that makes Alfio question his whole life, there’s plenty to distract them from one another. Can she face her past and he his future, and together make the most of their Sicilian summer.
Sue has this remarkable ability to write love stories that have a tremendous amount of depth and heart. I’m always blown away by how many emotions I feel while reading her stories. An Italian Island Summer was such a fabulous book; I could not put it down. First, I need to gush about the setting. If you are looking for a book that will transport you to a lush and gorgeous destination, I highly recommend reading this book. Sue did a marvellous job transporting her readers to the island of Sicily. I fell head over heels in love with this setting and me wishing I could pack my bags and spend the summer there.
All the characters in this book felt so genuine and raw. They felt relatable, and I always love it when I can connect with characters. It allows me to make that deeper connection with the story. I found myself rooting for Ursula and Alfio. You want good things for these two characters. Their relationship has a delicious slow-burn feel to it. The chemistry between these two was so enjoyable, and I devoured every conversation and heated look between them. There are plenty of misunderstandings and secrets between Ursula and Alfio, which creates a few hurdles they must overcome before getting their HEA.
An Italian Island Summer is the perfect book to escape in this summer.
Thank you, Avon Books UK and Rachel Random Resources for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
