Skip to main content

Featured

My (Not-so) Perfect Summer by Phoebe MacLeod #Review

I am thrilled to be taking part in the Publication Day celebrations for My (Not-So ) Perfect Summer by Phoebe MacLeod. It is published today on May 7th by Boldwood Books .   Autumn’s summer is off to a smashing start… sort of. Earlier this year, Autumn’s life looked great: she had a great relationship with her brilliant teenage daughter Chloe and from September she was all set to be Deputy Head at the London school where she works. And with a pay rise on the cards, she was excited for her and her long-term boyfriend Marc to buy their first home. But Autumn’s barely opened the estate agent's website when Marc vanishes with half their savings, leaving her no choice but to move into grandma’s rural home in Kent. And things go from bad to worse when Autumn is involved in an accident during the move, leaving the village’s dashing new baker Jake in plaster cast, and making her a local outcast before she’s even unpacked her bags. Determined to put things right, Autumn offers to

Under the Italian Sun by Sue Moorcroft #Review

 

What an honour to be on the blog tour to celebrate Sue Moorcroft's latest, Under the Italian Sun. It was published by Avon on May 13th.


The #1 bestseller is back with an uplifting, escapist read that will brighten the gloomiest day!

A warm, sun-baked terrace.

The rustle of verdant green vines.

The sun slowly dipping behind the Umbrian mountains.

And the chink of wine glasses as the first cork of the evening is popped…

Welcome to Italy. A place that holds the answer to Zia-Lucia Costa Chalmers’ many questions. Not least, how she ended up with such a mouthful of a name.

When Zia discovers that her mother wasn’t who she thought she was, she realises the time has come to search out the Italian family she’s never known.

However, as she delves into the secrets of her past, she doesn’t bargain on having to think about her future too. But with local vineyard owner, Piero, living next door, Zia knows she has a serious distraction who may prove difficult to ignore…

This summer, join Zia as she sets out to uncover her past. But can she find the future she’s always dreamed of along the way?


 My Thoughts

There are plenty of story threads to follow in this novel and all of them are rewarding. Most surprising is the undercurrent of controlling relationships, seen affecting both Zia and her best friend, Ursula, as well at least one other character. Zia has been raised by her grandparents and has an instinct to protect herself which kicks in to preserve her independence. In many ways, Ursula has become her family now and she is fiercely loyal. Family relationships and ties fill the story, as Zia searches for answers.

    The setting in Italy is stunning and full of the sights and sounds of the countryside. Piero's beautiful house, perched on the hillside overlooking his family's vineyard, sounds gorgeous. Who wouldn't want to be on its terrace, looking at the stars at night? Idyllic though it seems, there are some difficult problems posed by it for his family and Piero is torn between the needs of his family and his wish to stay there. There are plenty of secrets from the past which Zia has to discover. With some lovely descriptions and vibrant characters, this is a fabulous read to savour.

In short: Bask in the Italian sunshine...

About the Author



Sue Moorcroft is a Sunday Times bestselling author and has reached the #1 spot on Kindle UK. She’s won the Goldsboro Books Contemporary Romantic Novel Award, Readers’ Best Romantic Novel award and the Katie Fforde Bursary. Published by HarperCollins in the UK, US and Canada and by other publishers around the world.

Newsletter sign-up: here


You can follow Sue here:  Website  |  TwitterFacebook Author PageFacebook |  Blog  |  Instagram   |  Linkedin
    

Book link: Amazon UK   |  Kobo  |  Apple  |  WH Smith
                | Bookshop.org 

Thanks to Sue Moorcroft, Avon Books and Rachel of Rachel's Random Resources for a copy of the book and a place on the tour.

Check out these great bloggers!
 


Comments

  1. Thank you very much for your positive review! It's such a pleasure when my books are enjoyed. Thank you also for participating in the blog tour. :-)

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular Posts