Review: An Escape to Remember

Title: An Escape to Remember

Author: T.A. Williams

Publisher: 24th March 2022 by Canelo Publishing

Pages: 279 pages

How I Read It: ARC book

Genre: women’s fiction, romance

My Rating: 3 cups

Synopsis:

She needed a getaway. What she found was a home. 

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…

A beautiful romance set in the hills of Turin.

My Thoughts

‘Maybe a life that saw her jetting off all over the place wasn’t the be all and end all. Maybe what she needed was to settle down and escape to the country. Why not put down roots somewhere like this?’

I have always enjoyed T.A. Williams books, easygoing romance written by a male is rather unique and he always does it well. This one is based in Turin (most of his books occur in Italy) and is overflowing with the beautiful Italian countryside, delicious food and engaging characters. 

This story is set in an old hotel in need of renovation and the lead character Louise’s job is to bring it up to scratch. Much like Louise, you are sure to fall in love not only with the aging workers at the hotel, or even the array of love interests. No, it is once again the Italian culture that T. A. Williams so perfectly captures - lush settings that shall have you pining for an Italian getaway to the hills of Turin and all the gourmet cuisine to accompany it. 

‘… leave all this?’ Louise indicated the surroundings with her hands. ‘This house, the hills, the vineyards, the woodland, not to mention the food and the wine. It’s your very own rural paradise.’

Even though this is a sweet romance and feel good book, I did find this one didn't quite hit the spot as others in the past have done. I felt there were too many love interests and that had the opposite effect for me. It made the story somewhat predictable rather than wondering who would ultimately win Louises’s affections with an ending that all came rather suddenly. That being said, I enjoyed venturing away with Williams once more - a nice story, with nice people that resulted in a nice piece of escapism. 

‘Something told her the Grand Hotel del Monferrato was going to prove to be a perfect place of escape and a little oasis of calm. And she could certainly do with some of that.’

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

Review: Chasing the Italian Dream

Title: Chasing the Italian Dream

Author: Jo Thomas

Publisher: 10th June 2021 by Random House UK, Transworld Publishers Corgi

Pages: 342  pages

How I Read It: ARC book

Genre: romance, fiction, contemporary, culture Italy

My Rating: 3.5 cups

Synopsis:

Lucia has worked hard as a lawyer in Wales, aiming for a big promotion she hopes will shortly come her way. Finally taking a well-earned break at her grandparents' house in southern Italy, the sunshine, lemon trees and her nonna's mouth-watering cooking make her instantly feel at home.

But she's shocked to learn that her grandfather is retiring from the beloved family pizzeria and will need to sell. Lucia can't bear the thought of the place changing hands - especially when she discovers her not-quite-ex-husband Giacomo wants to take it over!

Then bad news from home forces Lucia to re-evaluate what she wants from life. Is this her chance to carry on the family tradition and finally follow her dreams?

My Thoughts

‘Pizzas, made for sharing, with the simplest of ingredients, cooked and served with love. That’s what counts.’

Every now and again you just need that ‘breather’ of a book. You know the type ....  one that whisks you away where the sun is shining, people support each other and new ventures are undertaken. Chasing the Italian Dream is just the fresh air I was searching for.

‘Now it’s my turn to be brave. Do what I love. I need to live to work, not the other way round. I need to see that what I’m doing means something.’

If you enjoy books set in Italy, rural Italy with loads of sumptuous food, then this really is the book for you. You will find yourself seated in the piazza, eating antipasto or pizza and with a vino of course!  The range of characters are good - I particularly enjoyed the author's social commentary on the inherent patriarchal society prevalent in these older Italian communities - you know, women at home being wife and mother and not considered capable or appropriate to be a pizzaiola or restaurant owner. Credit to Jo for making one of the central themes of this book all about the role of women in conjunction with the contributions of all the ‘Nonna’s’!

‘... it made me see that life’s too short not to do the thing you love. Not to follow your heart, to feel like you belong.’

If you are after some pure escapism, especially as trips to the Italian countryside can only be via your armchair presently, then let Jo bring a little Italy to you. Visit Nonno’s Pizzeria and bask in the sun, eating and drinking to while away a few hours immersed in good Italian cuisine. 

‘Pizza-making is about tradition, the terrain and the craft,’ I say, repeating my grandfather’s words. ‘It should not be about what sex you are or where you’ve come from. It’s about you putting your story on the plate, wherever you’ve come from.’

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.