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A Venice Summer by Lynne Shelby #Review

  Having enjoyed Lynne Shelby's The Summer of Taking Chances,and Rome for the Summer,  I am delighted to be joining the celebrations for her new summer read, A Venice  Summer . It was published on May 12th by Shaldo Books.    Art conservator Rose Bennet is still reeling from a bad break-up when she is offered a dream job in Venice, restoring an art collection in the Ca’ D’Ambra, a six-hundred-year-old Venetian palazzo. Despite her fears about travelling to a foreign country on her own, Rose is soon heading to Italy for the summer. While she is awestruck by the breathtaking beauty of Venice, Rose finds the owner of the palazzo, the arrogant and short-tempered Luca Casserini, insufferable. When he questions her ability to do her work, she almost heads straight back to London, but decides that she won’t let herself be intimidated or driven away before she’s even had a chance to ride in a gondola. Losing her way in Venice’s picturesque maze of canals and al...

There's No Place Like Home by Jane Lovering #Review

 

We are off to the Yorkshire Moors for another novel by Jane Lovering. There's No Place Like Home was published by Boldwood Books on January 10th. 


Isabel, Izzy to her friends, has got nothing left to lose when she makes the bravest decision of her life.

A month living under canvas on the Yorkshire Moors with five strangers wouldn’t normally be her idea of a good time, even if there is prize money to be won at the end of it, but she’s all out of options.

Joining her in this wild goose chase, being filmed for a TV show, are farmer Seb, whose marriage is creaking but who is desperate not to lose his family. Sheltered Ruth who needs an opportunity to show she can make her own decisions. Glamorous socialite Kanga, who has been living a lie. American Junior who has his own secret that has led him there. And last but not least, mysterious and brooding Mac, who Izzy can’t help but be drawn to.

As the fickleness of nature tests them all to their limits, this disparate group come together to face the challenge. But when Izzy finally tells them the truth that has brought her out on the Moors, will that be the end of their adventure, or the beginning of her future? Because what Izzy really needs is a place to call home, and someone to share it with could be even better…


 My Thoughts

There are some entertaining moments in this story as Izzy and a disparate group of characters take to the Yorkshire Moors in the depths of Winter. Their task is to take part in the filming of a reality programme as they go on the hunt of a mysterious creature. None of them believe that this is anything other than a wild goose chase, but they all have a reason for wanting to be there and are willing to go along with the search. As the novel develops, you realise that they have some serious issues beneath the surface. Some are caused through family relationships. Others have relationship difficulties. 

    Izzy is the focus of the book and gets your sympathy from the start. She is at times the voice of reason and has a clear idea of what she wants to get from the programme. There are a few poignant moments but largely the emphasis is on humour. Romance is a slow burn but there nevertheless. This is an entertaining read which manages to sell the idea that this group of people would take part in the programme.

In short: romance blossoms as characters face up to what they want in the future.


About the Author

 

Jane Lovering is the bestselling and award-winning romantic comedy writer who won the RNA Novel of the Year Award in 2012 with Please Don’t Stop the Music. She lives in Yorkshire and has a cat and a bonkers terrier, as well as five children who have now left home.

 

You can follow Jane here:  Twitter  | Facebook |  Website   |  Bookbub  |  Newsletter Sign up

Book links: Amazon UK  

Thanks to Jane Lovering, Boldwood Books and Rachel of Rachel's Random Resources for a copy of the book and a place on the tour. 

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