Title: When in Rome
Author: C.J. Duggan
Publisher: Hachette Australia
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: November 26, 2017
Blurb
The fourth standalone
novel in CJ Duggan's Heart of the City series from the internationally
bestselling author of the Summer and Paradise series.
What's the saying again . . . when in Rome, do a Roman?
How did a self-orchestrated gap year turn into a less-than enthralling
lifestyle as a couch potato at her parents' house? Determined to get motivated
and join life again, Sammi Shorten books a budget Bellissimo Tour to Rome, the
Eternal City. What she hadn't signed up for was being stuck with an eclectic
group of binge-drinking foreigners in a bed-bug-infested hostel from hell.
Things in Rome really couldn't get much worse . . . could they?
When plans go completely awry Sammi's left with only one
place to turn, and it's the one place Sammi really doesn't want to turn – to
the man who might very well get her into the worst trouble of all: the gorgeous
local tour guide, Marcello Bambozzi.
When in Rome is
the fourth standalone book in CJ Duggan's sassy, sexy new adult series, Heart
of the City.
My Thoughts
‘I kind of enjoyed their ulterior version of me: the lone-wolf Aussie that rocks up late to gatherings and woos sexy local men in the dead of night, instead of the girl who couldn’t handle her vino and needed the gallant Marcello to put her to bed.’
When I came across the first of C.J. Duggan’s ‘Heart of the City’ series, I did not realise the fun reads I would be in for. With a common theme of an Aussie girl overseas in a big city coming across local suave guy, it was bound to be amusing. Each book is unique and definitely a standalone (although this time round it was good to catch up with Sammi’s sister, Claire and Louis from Paris Lights briefly) with Duggan providing you with many laugh out loud moments - C.J. Duggan’s writing is bold, lively and really quite funny at times.
When in Rome continues on with the romantic comedy of previous instalments. Here we have a heroine on her “trip of a lifetime”, only to land smack-bang in the middle of a disaster - everything from the tour group to the very sad bed bug infested hotel. Some scenes and situations are sure to resonate on some level with those having travelled on a budget at any time of their life. It was another fun journey of discovery, as C.J. Duggan takes you not only around all the tourist traps of Rome but also a journey of self discovery for the lead character Sammi. The imagery is most definitely engaging as it feels like you are wandering the ancient laneways of Rome, taking in everything from the Spanish Steps, to throwing a coin into the Trevi Fountain.
‘Although it was never really possible to be alone in a city where people flocked for the history, culture and romance, there was something rather spectacular about plunging into the essence of Rome with only myself for company.’
So whilst I thought Paris Lights was hysterical, New York Nights great - this book was on a par with London Bound - good but not quite up to the first two. This one seemed to venture a little more into the definite ‘young adult’ audience with its backpacking, bed-hopping, budget-holiday experiences.
‘It was like a love triangle from a seriously fucked-up YA novel. ‘Should I ask? No, actually, don’t worry—I’ve had my fill of teen angst for one night. Goodnight, Sammi.’
Setting aside these issues, I am still a fan of this series with witty banter, burning chemistry, hilarious and sexy encounters. If a quick, light and entertaining read is what you are after, then this is the book for you.
‘Being the youngest meant I always drew the short straw, and now, even on my independent, finally-becoming-an-adult holiday, here I was on the top bloody bunk again.’
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher and provided through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release
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Author Bio
CJ DUGGAN is the internationally bestselling author of over ten books. She lives with her husband in a rural border town of New South Wales. When she isn't writing books about swoony boys and 90s pop culture you will find her renovating her hundred-year-old Victorian homestead or annoying her local travel agent for a quote to escape the chaos.
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