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The Year of What If by Phaedra Patrick #Review

  I am delighted to join in the celebrations for the latest novel by Phaedra Patrick , The Year of What If. You can read my review of The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper   here and The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessy  here Can the future be rewritten? On the verge of her second marriage, Carla Carter knows she’s finally found the one. She and her fiancé, Tom, met through Logical Love, a dating agency she founded for the pragmatically minded, and she’s confident that, together, they will dispel an old family curse claiming Carter women are unlucky in love. But Carla’s highly superstitious family insists she visit a fortune teller before her big day, and the tarot cards reveal that a different man holds the key to Carla’s happiness – someone she met while travelling during a gap year, twenty-one years ago. This startling information spurs Carla to trace and revisit the ex-boyfriends she met during that time before she walks down the aisle. From Barcelona to Am...

A Taste of Italian Sunshine by Leonie Mack #Review

 Having loved Italy Ever After and We'll Always Have Venice by Leonie Mack, I am delighted to feature her latest romance, A Taste of Italian Sunshine which was published by Boldwood Books on 12th May. 

 
Jenn has always prided herself on being a city girl – she insists on easy access to good coffee, great food from around the globe, not to mention an easy commute. So, when her job takes her to one of the most famous Italian wine regions in search of the perfect Prosecco, travelling to meetings on a tractor is a bit of a culture shock.

Tiziano hates the city.  He was made for the mountains and vineyards of Veneto, and generations of his family have earned their living from the land. But times are changing even in the Italian countryside, and the arrival of Jenn at his grandmother’s B&B opens up a window on a different world.

Jenn has two months to persuade the Prosecco producers to trust her with their business, and Tiziano has one summer to persuade Jenn that there’s more to life than the rat race. But can a city girl and a country boy ever find enough in common to see a future beyond one long summer of sun…


 My Thoughts

Jenn and Tiziano are unlikely central characters. It took me time to warm to Jenn but as you begin to look behind the surface, you realise that she has many vulnerabilities. Tasked to find the perfect Prosecco, she travels to the wine growing region and struggles at first to gain the trust of the locals. She has to learn to accept help from others and to meet people on their own terms if they are to take her seriously. Tiziano is not the sort of man she thinks she would be interested in. You realise pretty quickly that he has a mysterious backstory and can see his kindness and wish to support others.  The further into the story I got, the more I liked them both.

    You certainly find out quite a lot about wine growing and prosecco in particular throughout the story. The local scenery is a major part of the book and you certainly feel that this is an escape to Italy. There is a great sense of community and all the villagers come together to help each other at harvest.  I can see that it would be a perfect summer read.

In short: fun, fizz and romance in Italy


About the Author

Leonie Mack is the bestselling author of romantic novels including My Christmas Number One and Italy Ever After. Having lived in London for many years her home is now in Germany with her husband and three children. Leonie loves train travel, medieval towns, hiking and happy endings!

 

 

You can follow Leonie here:  Instagram  |  Twitter  |  Facebook                                                       |  Mailing List Sign up    |  Bookbub

Book link: Links to Book sites



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

Check out the rest of the tour!

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