BLOG TOUR: The Less Unkind - Rosaria Giorgi

At the tender age of twenty-one, Pico’s world is one of linguistic puzzles and academic pursuits. A student at the University of Copenhagen, she is thrilled to get a summer job working for enigmatic antique dealer Antonio Bartram. When Antonio suddenly disappears leaving behind nothing but a series of cryptic messages, Pico decides to use her linguistic prowess to decode the clues – with fateful consequences.

As Pico investigates, she uncovers a labyrinthine plot that stretches back decades to the theft of a priceless Caravaggio from a church in Sicily. Caught in the crosshairs of an obsessive art collector, a police murder investigation and a Mafia-sanctioned vendetta, her quest takes her across Europe: from the shadows behind the veneer of Copenhagen’s Nordic serenity, down the sun-kissed streets of the Italian Riviera, and even along the secretive corridors of the Vatican.

As she fights to uncover the truth and witnesses the lengths one will go to protect the secrets of the past, Pico confronts the moral quandaries that emerge when the pursuit of art eclipses the bounds of right and wrong.

 

What did I think?

I don't have an interest in art so I nearly didn't pick up The Less Unkind and what a travesty that would have been as I thoroughly enjoyed it.   It's like a cross between The Sopranos and The Da Vinci Code with a Mafia boss trying to locate a stolen work of art and a student who may hold the key to its location.

The pacing is quite gentle at first as Rosaria Giorgi paints a vivid scene of Copenhagen with her beautiful words.  Pico is an Italian who is studying at the University of Copenhagen and her friend Leo recommends her for a summer job at A. Bartram Antiques.  Pico doesn't have any experience in art or antique dealing but she speaks several languages so she is a very useful assistant for Antonio Bartram.

When Antonio goes missing, Pico must use both her language and problem-solving skills to uncover Antonio's hidden past, which will give her the clues to discover his current destination.  I was completely drawn into the web of intrigue that the author had cast around me and the pacing rose to a crescendo as I raced towards the breathtaking conclusion.  

Based on a true story, Rosaria Giorgi weaves fact with fiction to create an intelligent, intriguing and multi-layered mystery in her breathtaking debut novel.  A recommended read for crime fiction fans and unmissable for anyone with a love of art.

I received an ARC to read and review for the blog tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from:

UK.Bookshop.org

Amazon

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BLOG TOUR: Costanza - Rachel Blackmore

Rome, 1636: In the scorched city of Rome, the cobbled streets hum with gossip and sin...

Costanza Piccolomini is a respectable young wife - until she meets Gianlorenzo Bernini, the famed sculptor and star of Roman society, whose jet-black gaze matches his dark temper. From the second they set eyes upon each other, a fatal attraction is born.

Their secret love burns with a passion that consumes them. But with every stolen kiss and illicit tryst, Costanza's reputation is at stake. Meanwhile, Bernini has a dangerous desire: he wants to make Costanza immortal. He vows to possess her not just in body and soul, but also in marble.

When Bernini unveils his sculpture of Costanza, she is exposed as his lover, marking the undoing of their affair - and the beginning of a scandal which will rock Roman society. For Bernini would rather destroy Costanza than let her go.

Betrayed. Abandoned. Banished. This was meant to be the end of Costanza's story. But Costanza is no ordinary woman: from the ashes, she will rise...

History calls her a Muse. Temptress. Fallen woman. This is her story. Costanza is a dizzying, sensual novel that brings to life a feminist icon who has been written out of history. This utterly addictive tale of desire and betrayal is perfect for fans of The Marriage Portrait and The Miniaturist.

 

What did I think?

Costanza is absolutely unmissable for historical fiction fans; it is as stunning inside as out, I mean just look at that beautiful cover!  I had no idea that Costanza Piccolomini was a real historical figure until I read the author's note at the end of the book.  Even more astonishing is that this is Rachel Blackmore's debut novel - brava!

The tantalising prologue haunted me throughout the novel and I couldn't read fast enough to discover whose life was in danger and how it came to be.  So I stepped back into 17th century Rome and devoured every single perfectly crafted word in this stunningly breathtaking novel.  

I was completely riveted as I discovered Costanza's story and my heart went out to her when her marriage didn't turn out quite as she planned.  If circumstances had been different, I think she still would have been attracted to sculptor Bernini but she would have been more reluctant to act upon it.  Bernini takes advantage of Costanza's situation and moulds her into the woman of his dreams.  Of course, he is completely blameless when it all goes wrong as he had been powerless to resist seduction by a temptress!

Magnificent, compelling and powerful, Costanza is an absolute masterpiece filled with passion and betrayal and it evoked such fury in me at the way women were treated and often still are.  I really must applaud Rachel Blackmore for giving Costanza such a strong and powerful voice and writing her back into history where she belongs.  

I received an ARC to read and review for the blog tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from:

UK.Bookshop.org

Amazon

About the author:

Born in Birmingham, Rachel spent her childhood in the Northeast, then the Midlands. She studied history at King's College London, where her fascination for women's history took root. After a brief stint in politics, Rachel built a career in corporate communications. In 2021, she was runner-up in the Harper's Bazaar Short Story Competition and won the Irish Writers Centre 2022 Novel Fair. Rachel lives in London with her three teenagers, two cats and one dog.

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BLOG TOUR: A Sicilian Affair - Susan Lewis

A fresh start where no-one knows her name is exactly what Catie is looking for from her Sicilian escape.

When Catie meets handsome Giancarlo, she has stumbled across a love that could last forever... If only she can admit the truth about her past.

But the scars of betrayal from her broken marriage and fragile family are only part of the story.

Some secrets are too devastating to share...

 

What did I think?

You're always guaranteed a good read with a Susan Lewis book and The Sicilian Affair is no exception.  I was completely swept away to the picturesque island of Sicily and I really enjoyed my virtual trip.

It's a dual timeline novel as Catie writes about her past in order to come to terms with the tragic events that have happened to her over the years.  Catie had more than her 10 minutes of fame in the past so she escapes to Sicily where nobody knows her.  Catie wasn't looking for love but when she meets the enigmatic Giancarlo the attraction is instant.  Both Giancarlo and Catie have secrets though and sharing them might mean the end of their fledgling relationship.

I really enjoyed the flashbacks to Catie's past and found it incredibly emotional as events unfolded.  It's also lovely to see a burgeoning relationship between two older people who deserve a bit of happiness as life is far too short and you should never stop looking for your other half.

Incredibly atmospheric, heartwarming and emotional, A Sicilian Affair is another fabulous novel from Susan Lewis.  It's the perfect holiday read but remember to pack your tissues.

I received an ARC to read and review for the blog tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from:

UK.Bookshop.org

Amazon

About the author:

Susan Lewis is the internationally bestselling author of fifty books across the genres of family drama, thriller, suspense and crime, including I Have Something To Tell You, One Minute Later, My Lies, Your Lies and Forgive Me. Susan’s novels have sold over three million copies in the UK alone. She is also the author of Just One More Day and One Day at a Time, the moving memoirs of her childhood in Bristol during the 1960s. 

Susan has previously worked as a secretary in news and current affairs before training as a production assistant working on light entertainment and drama. She’s lived in Hollywood and the South of France, but now resides in Gloucestershire with husband James, two stepsons and dog, Mimi. 

Follow Susan Lewis on:

Instagram: @susanlewisbooks

Twitter: @susanlewisbooks

Facebook: @susanlewisbooks

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BLOG TOUR: Tilly's Tuscan Teashop - Daisy James

Welcome to Tilly's Tuscan Teashop, the first book in a brand new series from the author of the Hummingbird Hotel and the Cornish Confetti Agency series. 

 

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? 

 

What did I think?

I adore Daisy James' books so I couldn't wait to grab my virtual passport and head off to the vibrant landscape of Tuscany in Tilly's Tuscan Teashop.  The story inside is as vivid and colourful as the gorgeous cover as the sights, sounds and smells of Italy are described so beautifully.

Italy is more famous for cappuccino and espresso so you might not expect to find a teashop in Tuscany, but that's where Tilly's sister Oliva has set up her business.  Just when Tilly thinks her life in Devon couldn't get much worse, Olivia asks her to look after the teashop and it's just the break that she needs.

It's an absolute delight to read Tilly's Tuscan Teashop as Daisy James takes the reader on a sensory adventure to experience the mouthwatering food and the breathtaking sights of Italy.  I've never been to Italy but I felt as if I was actually there, taking in the sights of Florence and Pisa with Tilly.

It's not all sunshine and merriment though and I love how the story is multi-layered with challenges for the main character; from Tilly's cheating boyfriend and her grief for her parents to a mystery saboteur who is determined to see the teashop close for good.

Filled with fun and entertainment, Tilly's Tuscan Teashop is beautifully written and I think it's one of my favourite Daisy James books to date.  I loved it - it's a sunny hug in a book that warmed my heart and gave me a huge smile on my face.  Highly recommended.

I received a digital ARC to read and review for the blog tour; this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Purchase Links: 

Amazon US 

Amazon UK 

About the author:

Daisy James loves writing stories with strong heroines and swift-flowing plotlines. She especially likes to create sunshine-filled settings in exotic locations - the Caribbean, Tuscany, Cornwall, Provence - so she can spend her time envisioning her characters enjoying the fabulous scenery and sampling the local food and drink. 

When not scribbling away in her peppermint-and-green summerhouse (garden shed), she spends her time sifting flour and sprinkling sugar and edible glitter. She loves gossiping with friends over a glass of something fizzy or indulging in a spot of afternoon tea - china plates and teacups are a must. 

Daisy would love to hear from readers via her Facebook page or you can follow her on Twitter @daisyjamesbooks, or on Instagram @daisyjamesstories. 

Social Media Links:

Twitter    

Instagram

Facebook

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Golgotha (The Necropolis Series Book 3) - Guy Portman

This sociopath is spiralling out of control.

Dyson Devereux is languishing in an Italian prison awaiting trial for murder. His capricious paramour Alegra is desperate for him to be released, so they can start a new life together. But all Dyson wants is to be back in the UK with his treasured mementos.

Time inside has not abated Dyson’s violent urges, and it won’t be long until he is hunting new additions for his collection. He will need to be wary, for hell hath no fury like a sociopath scorned.

Golgotha is a funny, frenzied crime novel boasting a sinister and sardonic protagonist.

Grab your copy and settle in for the ride.

 

What did I think?

The Necropolis Series is definitely my favourite series at the moment and I can't get enough of my favourite sociopath, Dyson Devereux, so I'm delighted that Golgotha is my first book review of 2023.  Golgotha is the third book in the series and it picks up where Sepultura left off, so it's advisable to read the series in order.

After a work trip turned deadly, Dyson is stuck in an Italian prison.  He's hundreds of miles away from his treasured memento collection and of course his son.  Without being able to be soothed by her particular token, Dyson's dreams are haunted by his cousin and his first kill.  He needs to get home to his precious fly fishing tin.

Dyson hooked up with a woman he met through work on his trip to Italy and Alegra has stood by him while he's in prison.  When Alegra is no further use to him, Dyson drops her like a stone and if she doesn't let him go quietly, she might be the next kill on his list.  I'm not saying another word about the fantastic plot but suffice to say that I loved every second of it.

I just love Dyson, in the same way that I loved Dexter on TV; you know what he's doing is very wrong but you can't help rooting for him and hoping that he doesn't get caught.  This would be a brilliant Netflix series and I'd love to see Dyson brought to life on our screens. 

Highly original and incredibly entertaining, Golgotha is absolutely brilliant from start to finish; it's dark and gory at times but Guy Portman weaves his wonderfully dry humour throughout the prose and it's impossible not to laugh out loud at times.  I love it so much I'm already planning to read the series again from the start.

An easy five stars - very highly recommended.

I received a digital ARC from the author and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from Amazon

Sepultura (The Necropolis Series Book 2) - Guy Portman

This sociopath is a ticking time bomb.

Dyson Devereux is a busy man with a new job and a young son. The cultured council worker would be coping just fine were he not a violent and compulsive murderer. His child’s mother’s hostile partner and an antagonising work colleague are becoming a serious nuisance. They better change their attitude, or it could be the end of them.

As his personal and professional lives threaten to spiral out of control, it is only a matter of time until the suave and sophisticated public sector employee explodes.

Sepultura is a darkly humorous crime novel featuring an unforgettable sociopath.

 

What did I think?

My favourite sociopath is back!  Sepultura is the second book in the Necropolis series and although it could be read as a standalone, I do think it is better to have read book 1, Necropolis as it gives you more insight into Dyson's character (and because it's absolutely brilliant and unmissable).

Dyson Devereux is such a fantastic character that I could read about his exploits for so many more pages than the 181 in the book.  If someone disagrees with Dyson, either verbally or just by their very existence, he simply gets rid of them.  Dyson's dark thoughts and actions are simultaneously shocking and hilarious, making Sepultura an incredibly entertaining novel.

I loved reading about Dyson's relationship with his son and his attempt to teach young Horatio Latin is very amusing.  I'm really looking forward to seeing how this unconventional father/son relationship progresses.

Dyson's personal life is entertaining, but his work life is even more so.  It feels really bad to say, but I totally get what he means about a lot of his colleagues and I've had similar thoughts myself (apart from actually wanting to kill them, of course!).  The work trip to Italy is a fantastic addition to the storyline and turns out to be the perfect place for Dyson to deal with a troublesome colleague.

I absolutely loved Sepultura; I am completely hooked on this marvellous series and can't get enough of it. Sepultura is like nothing else I've read before; it's dark, funny, entertaining and I'd love to see Dyson brought to life on screen - please pick this one up, Netflix!  I'll definitely be reading it again after I have devoured the rest of the series.  

If you're looking for something different to read, then look no further.  Very highly recommended.

Many thanks to Guy Portman for sending me an ARC to read and review; this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

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BLOG TOUR: The Italian Job - Kathryn Freeman

I'm a huge Kathryn Freeman fan so I'm delighted to be one of the bloggers opening the Rachels' Random Resources blog tour for The Italian Job.  After you've found out more about the book and read my review below, keep on scrolling for a fab giveaway to win a paperback copy of The Italian Job.

Dream job. Dream house. Fake fiancé.

A year in a gorgeous Italian castle…

When Anna Roberts’ life implodes, an online search leads her to an ad for the ultimate dream job – management of a gorgeous castle on the shores of Lake Como, accommodation included. The only catch? Anna can’t do it alone…

…With the last man on earth she’d choose!

The castle owners will only accept a couple as caretakers, which means Anna needs a man on her arm at the interview. Enter her neighbour, Jake Tucker. Though Anna and Jake have never seen eye-to-eye, Jake’s had a rough few years and an escape to Italy sounds ideal. Yet, when they get the job and jet off, Anna and Jake face an unexpected challenge. Pretending to be a couple is difficult … but pretending the tension simmering between them doesn’t exist is quickly proving impossible!

What did I think?

It always makes me happy when a new Kathryn Freeman book drops on my kindle and I read most of The Italian Job with a huge smile on my face.  It's a little more raunchy than usual, as the sexual tension between the two characters sizzles throughout, but there's no graphic sex scenes.

I just loved the characters of Anna and Jake - they're not your typical girl next door and boy next door as they have always been at loggerheads.  Jake is a bad boy and Anna is a saint, or at least that's how they've always seen each other.  Jake happens to be in the right place at the right time when Anna finds the perfect job to escape her life (and her ex) and the pair find themselves running a castle in Italy.  

Jake would have been the last person I would have asked to help out if I was Anna but she's hardly a big fan of men at the moment so I can see why she'd pick Jake as he can't disappoint her when she doesn't expect anything from him.  He just needs to pretend to be her boyfriend, which isn't as easy as it sounds when they can't stand each other!  Of course, there's no surprises where their storyline goes but I enjoyed it as there are a colourful cast of characters to meet along the way.

Former pharmacist Kathryn should prescribe her novels as a drug-free pick me up; they never fail to put a smile on my face and The Italian Job is no exception.  I enjoyed every minute of my virtual trip to Italy - thank you, Kathryn!

I received a digital ARC to read and review for the blog tour; this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from:

Amazon UK

Amazon US

About the author:

For as long as I can remember, I’ve always wanted to write a book. It may have had something to do with my obsession with reading romance. Real life interfered and I headed off in a different direction – into the world of science, becoming a pharmacist before joining the pharmaceutical industry. I did end up writing, but it was about disease and medicines. Decades later, I’m finally doing what I always wanted to do.

With a husband who asks every Valentine's Day whether he has to buy a card (yes, he does), all the romance in my life is in my head. Then again, his unstinting support of my career change proves love isn't always about hearts and flowers - and heroes come in many disguises.

Social Media Links –

Website: http://kathrynfreeman.co.uk

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kathrynfreeman

Twitter: https://twitter.com/KathrynFreeman1

Giveaway to Win a PB copy of The Italian Job by Kathryn Freeman (Open INT)

*Terms and Conditions –Worldwide entries welcome. Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below. The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over. Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data. I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.

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BLOG TOUR: Talk Bookish to Me - Kate Bromley

 

Inspiration can be found in the most unlikely - and inconvenient – places…

Kara Sullivan is definitely not avoiding her deadline. After all, it's the week of her best friend's wedding and she's the maid of honour, so she's got lots of responsibilities. She's a bestselling romance novelist with seven novels under her belt, so she's a pro. Looming deadlines don't scare her, and neither does writer's block, which she most certainly does not have. She's just eager to support Cristina as she ties the knot. Right? Right.

But then who should show up at the rehearsal dinner but Kara's college ex-boyfriend, Ryan? Turns out he's one of the groom's childhood friends, and he's in the wedding party, too. Considering neither Kara nor Ryan were prepared to see each other ever again, it's decidedly a meet-NOT-cute. However, when Kara sits down to write again the next day, her writer's block is suddenly gone. Are muses real? And is Kara's muse . . . Ryan?

What did I think?

Oh I really rather enjoyed this.  For those of us who like value for money, it's also a book within a book as Kara is an author and we get to read the first draft of her historical romance novel tucked within the pages of Kara's story.  It's also a virtual trip to New York and Rome from the comfort of your favourite reading chair.

Ryan may not be the traditional squeaky clean love interest for Kara but it was clear from the moment they met in college that they were meant to be together.  Ten years have passed since they broke each other's hearts when fate throws them together again and the pages virtually crackle with sizzling chemistry.  Kara thinks she can avoid Ryan throughout Cristina's wedding but before she knows it she is offering Ryan (and his overweight bulldog) a sofa to sleep on.  

The minor inconvenience of having Ryan to stay has an unexpected side-effect for Kara as the novel she was struggling to write suddenly bursts back into life.  All the feelings that Ryan has awakened are transferred to Kara's novel and Kara needs to make the most of this before she leaves for 6 months in Italy just a few days after the wedding.  As the sexual tension increases it's no longer a case of will they/won't they it's more a matter of when, but neither of them are being completely open and honest with each other.  Will Kara ever get her own happily ever after?

Reading this book really reminded me how you should always listen to your heart.  It's like a horror novel when you look back over your own dating history and realise how often you have settled for Mr Not Quite Right on the assumption that he's the best you're going to get.  Don't ever settle - someday your prince (or princess) will come and you really will 'just know'.

Talk Bookish to Me is a fun and charming read that sizzles with chemistry.  Even though it's a bit of an emotional rollercoaster, I read most of it with a smile on my face.  Talk Bookish to Me is like catnip for booklovers as you can't get more bookish than a book about books that is also a book within a book.  Book-tastic!

I received an ARC from the publisher to read and review for the blog tour; this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

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BLOG TOUR: The Dressmaker of Paris - Georgia Kaufmann

I need to tell you a story, ma chère. My story.

Rosa Kusstatscher has built a global fashion empire upon her ability to find the perfect outfit for any occasion. But tonight, as she prepares for the most important meeting of her life, her usual certainty eludes her.

What brought her to this moment? As she struggles to select her dress and choose the right shade of lipstick, Rosa begins to tell her incredible story. The story of a poor country girl from a village high in the mountains of Italy. Of Nazi occupation and fleeing in the night. Of hope and heartbreak in Switzerland; glamour and love in Paris. Of ambition and devastation in Rio de Janeiro; success and self-discovery in New York.

A life spent running, she sees now. But she will run no longer.

Breathtaking and utterly enthralling, The Dressmaker of Paris is perfect for fans of Lucinda Riley, Kate Morton and Dinah Jefferies.

What did I think?

This book is as beautiful inside as out; just take another look at that stunning cover and let your eyes devour every little detail on there.  I usually read historical fiction at a slower pace than other genres but I was so completely enthralled by Rosa's story from the very start that I couldn't put the book down.

I adored the structure of the novel with chapter headings relating to an item that Rosa is using to get ready for her meeting but also causing her to reminisce about her past.  What a past Rosa has!  After escaping her Nazi occupied Italian village, Rosa has travelled the world and taken it by storm.  Rosa's life is not all glitz and glamour as she suffers more than her fair share of heartbreak but it's her strength and resilience that impressed and inspired me.

It soon becomes clear what sort of meeting Rosa is preparing for and I couldn't help but read most of the book with a lump in my throat.  Life can be so unfair at times but it's how you cope with it that counts; Rosa tackles each of life's hurdles with so much elegance and grace that it's awe-inspiring.  I think we could all learn a thing or two from Rosa.

Georgia Kaufmann's writing is so beautiful; her prose seems to flow like a babbling brook taking the reader on a journey over hills and vale.  Everything is described so vividly that I could easily visualise the stunning scenery and the designer gowns and I swear that I could even smell the fragrance of Miss Dior.  

So very elegant and completely captivating, The Dressmaker of Paris is a sweeping story of love and loss and a wonderful piece of 20th century historical fiction set in the world of fashion.

Many thanks to the publisher for sending me an ARC to read and review for the blog tour; this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from:

UK.Bookshop.org

Amazon

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BLOG TOUR: Christmas Secrets at Villa Limoncello (Tuscan Dreams Book 3) - Daisy James

I was delighted to be offered a spot on the Christmas Secrets at Villa Limoncello blog tour by Rachel's Random Resources as I love supporting local North East authors.  There are no local landmarks to look out for in Daisy's books as she whisks us away to foreign climes so read on to find out all about my virtual trip to Italy.

Escape to Villa Limoncello... where dreams come true in the most unexpected ways.

With Christmas around the corner, Izzie Jenkins is ready to kickstart the new ‘Snowflakes and Christmas Cakes’ course at Villa Limoncello with chef and business partner, Luca Castelotti.

However, secrets are stirring with their latest guests and when nasty accidents keep befalling the group it looks like Izzie will have to turn detective once more to protect the Villa’s fledgling reputation. On top of all this, Izzie’s been offered the job of a lifetime – back home in Cornwall. Will she be coming home for Christmas, or will Tuscany work its magic to keep her at Villa Limoncello with Luca?

What did I think?

Firstly I have to say that I haven't read the first two books in the Tuscan Dreams series, but now I definitely want to.  Having enjoyed it immensely, I can most definitely say that you can read Christmas Secrets at Villa Limoncello as a standalone as Daisy James covers enough of Izzie's back story in this instalment.  What it did for me though, is made me want to find out more about Izzie and Luca.  I usually don't like jumping in mid-series but I might not have found the Tuscan Dreams series otherwise; reading book 3 has definitely made me more intrigued to go back to the start of the story.

Daisy James has an uncanny knack of bringing her locations to life in her books with sights, sounds and smells.  There is plenty of opportunity to get the reader's senses buzzing with Izzie running a fabulously named 'Snowflakes and Christmas Cakes' course at Villa Limoncello.  I think I had a few smell and taste hallucinations while reading this book; I could certainly not get the smell of lemons and the taste of limoncello out of my mind, that's for sure.

Izzie's guests are a community choir from York who have come to Tuscany to rehearse for a singing competition.  With such a colourful array of guests, there are quite a few secrets and whispering in corners as passions run high and tempers fray.  Izzie tries to keep everyone's spirits up but she has enough to contend with as she tries to work out how villa owner, Luca, feels about her.  Izzie has been offered a job back home in Cornwall, which holds both happy and sad memories for her, but she really wants to stay in Italy.  If only she could pin Luca down and talk to him; it seems like they are passing like ships in the night but Izzie might be setting sail for the horizon if Luca doesn't open up to her.

I was a bit worried about reading a Christmas book in October but it's not overly festive at all, which is great!  With gorgeous blue skies and the glorious scent of lemons, it got me in the mood for limoncello rather than egg nog.  You always get a bit more than you bargained for in a Daisy James book as she does like to add a bit of mystery, intrigue and skullduggery to her romantic fiction.  You just never know what to expect and that's what makes the book such a good read.  

Christmas Secrets at Villa Limoncello was the perfect book to be reading as the temperature dropped in October; it warmed my heart, left me with a smile on my face and an unmistakable thirst for limoncello.  Speaking of which, I also have to say that Daisy James includes several recipes at the end of the book, including a recipe to make your own limoncello - I almost dropped my kindle in excitement!!  I have to try this although I'm sure I'll have difficulty leaving it for 30 days without having sneaky little tasters.

You don't need a passport to escape to Tuscany this winter, pick up a copy of Christmas Secrets at Villa Limoncello and let Daisy James transport you to Italy from the comfort of your favourite chair with her fabulous sparkly (and mouthwatering) new book.

I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Purchase Links

Amazon UK 

Amazon US

About the author:

Daisy James is a Yorkshire girl transplanted to the north east of England. She loves writing stories with strong heroines and swift-flowing plotlines. When not scribbling away in her peppermint-and-green summerhouse (garden shed), she spends her time sifting flour and sprinkling sugar and edible glitter. She loves gossiping with friends over a glass of something pink and fizzy or indulging in a spot of afternoon tea - china plates and teacups are a must.

Daisy would love to hear from readers via her Facebook page or you can follow her on Twitter @daisyjamesbooks or on Instagram @daisyjamesstories.

Social Media Links

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/daisyjamesbooks/

Twitter @daisyjamesbooks

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/daisyjamesstories/

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