One Hot Italian Summer by Karina Halle: A Much-Needed Escape for Summer 2020

One Hot Italian Summer by Karina Halle

Published: July 30th, 2020

Publisher: Self-published

Tropes: Forbidden romance, single dad, forced proximity, holiday romance

Heat level: 🔥🔥🔥🔥

# of pages: 382

My rating: 4 stars

Acquired this book: From Valentine PR in exchange for honest consideration

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After the death of her best friend and writing partner, Grace Harper is struggling both with grief, and with her next novel, the first one she’ll have to write alone.

 

Fortunately, her new powerhouse agent, the formidable Jana Lee, has a solution for her. She can stay at her villa in Tuscany for a month, soak in the sunshine, relax, and find her confidence again. After all, Jana has a lot riding on Grace’s next book, and the last thing she wants is for her reputation as a “super-agent” to be tarnished.

 

At first the villa is a dream come true for Grace – that is until Claudio Romano shows up one day with his ten-year old son, Vanni, in tow. Turns out, this is Claudio’s house, and Claudio happens to be her agent’s ex-husband from long ago. Thanks to their annual father and son bonding trip being cancelled, Claudio and Vanni are here to stay.

 

So is Grace.

 

With the three of them sharing the same house, Grace’s writing plans are thrown out the window. But even if she’s not pounding the keyboard, she’s still finding beauty and inspiration... in none other than Claudio. He's unlike any man Grace has met before. He’s smart, charming, and wickedly sexy, plus a great father to Vanni. He’d be the perfect summer fling – if only he wasn’t completely off-limits.

 

But as the hot Italian summer wears on, Grace and Claudio are destined to succumb to the heat, no matter how hard they try to resist each other. One steamy encounter with Claudio could affect Grace’s chances of starting her career over.

 

Or he could be exactly what she needs.

 

The books of Karina Halle’s I’ve read typically fall into one of two categories: romcoms or super angsty contemporary romance. One Hot Italian Summer was somewhere in between - it was emotional without being angsty or dramatic, and it had Halle’s signature super-hot sexytimes. Add in a beautiful Italian setting and you have the perfect summer escape while the world is still in lockdown from the coronavirus.

 

Seeking inspiration and a break from rainy Edinburgh with its painful memories, Grace accepts an offer from her agent to spend a month at her villa in Italy. Grace has a lot of inner obstacles to overcome; she lost her best friend and writing partner, Robyn, a few months before, and hasn’t fully allowed herself to grieve yet. She's also afraid her inspiration and success came from Robyn and that she’ll have neither without her. She expects a quiet, solitary month in a beautiful, sun-drenched setting, but her plans are quickly derailed when the actual owner of the villa - her agent’s sexy Italian ex-husband, along with their son - return home unexpectedly.

 

As a writer myself, I love books about writers. It’s always interesting to get an inside look at how people work and the different processes they have. I related a lot to Grace’s feelings of self-doubt, her procrastination and distractions, and her search for inspiration. I loved that Claudio was an artist too - a sculptor - and that he encouraged Grace to own her art and her talent.

 

The sexual chemistry - and sexual tension - between these two was scorching hot, and I appreciated that it was a slow-burn romance where the pair had a chance to get to know each other and start to develop feelings before falling into bed together. Claudio was so passionate and romantic, and I enjoyed watching him helping Grace with her grief and also her uncertainty surrounding her career. He saw her potential and wanted her to see what he saw - that she was amazing and capable and could have and do anything she wanted. Grace really needed someone like Claudio who wanted to bring out the best in her, and she was able to do the same for him, even if she didn’t realize it. I also really enjoyed Claudio’s son, Vanni. He was hilarious and precocious, and he helped Grace in his own way too.

 

Full of romance and passion with a gorgeous setting that will make you feel like you’re really there, One Hot Italian Summer is a must-read this summer. 

Have you read One Hot Italian Summer? Have you read any books this summer that provided a much-needed escape from our current reality?

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Beach Read by Emily Henry: Is it Too Early to Call 2020 Favourites?

Beach Read by Emily Henry
Published: May 19th, 2020
Publisher: Berkley
# of pages: 384
Tropes: A mix of enemies-to-lovers and friends-to-lovers
Heat level: Hot and steamy slow-burn
My rating: 5 stars
Acquired this book: From the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for honest consideration
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A romance writer who no longer believes in love and a literary writer stuck in a rut engage in a summer-long challenge that may just upend everything they believe about happily ever afters.

Augustus Everett is an acclaimed author of literary fiction. January Andrews writes bestselling romance. When she pens a happily ever after, he kills off his entire cast.

They're polar opposites.

In fact, the only thing they have in common is that for the next three months, they're living in neighboring beach houses, broke, and bogged down with writer's block.

Until, one hazy evening, one thing leads to another and they strike a deal designed to force them out of their creative ruts: Augustus will spend the summer writing something happy, and January will pen the next Great American Novel. She'll take him on field trips worthy of any rom-com montage, and he'll take her to interview surviving members of a backwoods death cult (obviously). Everyone will finish a book and no one will fall in love. Really.

THIS BOOK. Wow. There’s a ton of hype surrounding Beach Read, which always makes me nervous, but honestly, this book not only lived up to the hype, it exceeded it for me. I fell completely in love with January and Gus, their story, and Emily Henry’s writing.

From things other readers said, I knew not to go into Beach Read expecting a light, fluffy read. It dealt with themes like grief, cancer, infidelity, and abuse, but those heavy topics were perfectly balanced with humour, wit, and an incredible romance. I ran the gamut of emotions with this book - I laughed a lot, got angry, teared up, and even full-on cried. January and Gus were such wonderful characters; they were complex, flawed, sometimes messy, and they became real people for me. I was fully invested in them, and I alternately wanted to zoom through the pages to see what happened, while prolonging it and savouring it because I didn’t want to say goodbye to them.

As a romance writer myself, I related to January and her desire to tell stories about love. I also related to feeling stuck and, at times, a bit disillusioned. This book felt like a love letter to writing in a lot of ways - romance in particular - and I loved watching January fight for fictional happily ever afters while unknowingly getting her own. She proved you can still believe in love and happy endings even when life knocks you down and circumstances dim your inner light.

Beach Read is not only a new personal favourite, it’s hands-down one of the best books I’ve read in a long time. The writing was beautiful, and it completely captivated me from beginning to end. I loved that serious, difficult, painful subjects were dealt with head-on and were mixed in with hilarious banter, a swoony slow-burn romance, and great side characters. I fell head over heels in love with Beach Read, and I know it’s a book I’m going to recommend endlessly to fellow romance lovers.

Have you read Beach Read? What did you think? What's the best book you've read lately?

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The Happy Ever After Playlist by Abby Jimenez: All the Giggles, Swoons, and Feels

The Happy Ever After Playlist by Abby Jimenez
Published: April 14th, 2020
Publisher: Forever
Genre: Contemporary romance
Tropes: Friends to lovers, rock star, celebrity crush
My rating: 5 stars
Acquired this book: From the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for honest consideration
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*Read my review of The Friend Zone

Two years after losing her fiancé, Sloan Monroe still can't seem to get her life back on track. But one trouble-making pup with a "take me home" look in his eyes is about to change everything. With her new pet by her side, Sloan finally starts to feel more like herself. Then, after weeks of unanswered texts, Tucker's owner reaches out. He's a musician on tour in Australia. And bottom line: He wants Tucker back.

Well, Sloan's not about to give up her dog without a fight. But what if this Jason guy really loves Tucker? As their flirty texts turn into long calls, Sloan can't deny a connection. Jason is hot and nice and funny. There's no telling what could happen when they meet in person. The question is: With his music career on the rise, how long will Jason really stick around? And is it possible for Sloan to survive another heartbreak?

We’re only a quarter of the way into the year, but my list of 2020 favourites is growing quickly, and it now includes both of Abby Jimenez’s books. I recently read The Friend Zone and, while I admit I had a few issues with it, I ultimately loved it and ended up giving it 4.5 stars. I was glad I’d waited so long to read it so I wouldn’t have to wait for The Happy Ever After Playlist.

Abby Jimenez has a knack for writing realistic, relatable characters and the swooniest men imaginable. I loved Kristen and Josh and, if possible, I love Sloan and Jason even more. Sloan had been lost in a fog of grief for two years, unable to move on after her fiance’s death. Then suddenly one day there was this crazy dog that literally fell into her lap and eventually led her to Jason. I loved Sloan and Jason’s interactions via text and phone calls - they made me grin like an idiot - and it was such a joy watching them get to know each other and start to fall for each other before even meeting. When they finally did meet, Sloan continued to emerge from her fog with Jason’s help. He was sweet, understanding, and patient, and I fell in love with him right alongside Sloan. I also loved the friendship between Sloan and Kristen; their relationship made me laugh and pulled at my heartstrings in The Friend Zone, and continued to do both in this book.

I do have to admit that, like with The Friend Zone, there were parts of The Happy Ever After Playlist that rubbed me the wrong way and at times made me downright annoyed. Much like Kristen made decisions for Josh based on what she thought was best, Jason did the same thing to Sloan - more than once. It's a testament to Jimenez's storytelling ability that I was able to look past those things and still be completely captivated. The story and the characters had me hooked and I was rooting for them so much that the things that annoyed me didn't affect my overall feelings toward the book.

The Happy Ever After Playlist is laugh-out-loud funny, sexy, and brings all the feels and all the swoons. There’s a wonderful balance of dark and light, and I loved that this story is ultimately about healing, rediscovering yourself, and falling back in love with life as you learn to fall in love with another person.

Have you read The Happy Ever After Playlist? What did you think? What was your last 5-star read?

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Maybe You Release Day!

Today is the day: Maybe You is out in the world! I’m so happy/excited/nervous/relieved this book is finally out. This is my thirteenth (!!!) time hitting that Publish button and it never gets less nerve-wracking, but it’s also exhilarating. Not a day goes by I don’t thank my lucky stars I’m able to do what I love - tell stories, entertain people, and hopefully touch and inspire them.

Meredith and Kieran’s story was so much fun to write. The idea of a ‘professional cuddler’ (yes, it’s a real thing!) fighting her growing feelings for a client - a client who happens to be adorable and Irish - really appealed to me. Especially since not only is Meredith fighting her feelings for Kieran, she’s also dealing with personal demons, namely grief and depression - two things I’m, unfortunately, well acquainted with. While Meredith learns to navigate the bumpy roads of her new life, plus try to deny her growing feelings for Kieran, she’s supported by incredible friends, reminded how much she’s loved, and she gets to have some fun along the way (including a trip to my favourite Canadian city, Kingston - more about that in the coming weeks!).

Read on for more about the book!

Some rules are meant to be broken...

Meredith has rules. As a “professional cuddler” at Human Touch Companions, it’s a necessity. Her number one rule: Don’t get attached to clients and don’t let them get attached to her. She’s never had a problem with that until she meets Kieran.

The adorable Irishman hires Meredith for emotional support in facing his estranged family, but he’s the one who ends up comforting her as she tries to come to terms with her beloved mother’s slide into the heartbreaking abyss of Alzheimer’s. It's only when Meredith sees how much she's leaning on Kieran that she realizes she's blurred the lines between professional and personal, but even worse? She’s broken her number one rule. She’s gotten attached to a client.

Meredith knows the best solution is to resume a strictly professional relationship. But Kieran makes her feel something she never thought she'd feel again. Surely that's worth breaking her own rules for?

☆☆☆☆☆

Buy MAYBE YOU for the special release-week price of 99 cents (regular price will be $2.99)

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Meredith was first introduced in my last book, Only You, as a side character. Only You and Maybe You can both be read as standalones, but if you'd like to read Only You this would be the perfect time to snag a copy because it's also just 99 cents! This one is currently only available on Kindle, and you can read it free if you have a Kindle Unlimited subscription.

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Review: One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid

One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Series: Standalone
Published: June 7th, 2016
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Canada
350 pages (ARC)
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Acquired this book: From the publisher in exchange for honest consideration
Warning: May contain spoilers
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 In her twenties, Emma Blair marries her high school sweetheart, Jesse. They build a life for themselves, far away from the expectations of their parents and the people of their hometown in Massachusetts. They travel the world together, living life to the fullest and seizing every opportunity for adventure.

On their first wedding anniversary, Jesse is on a helicopter over the Pacific when it goes missing. Just like that, Jesse is gone forever.

Emma quits her job and moves home in an effort to put her life back together. Years later, now in her thirties, Emma runs into an old friend, Sam, and finds herself falling in love again. When Emma and Sam get engaged, it feels like Emma’s second chance at happiness.

That is, until Jesse is found. He’s alive, and he’s been trying all these years to come home to her. With a husband and a fiancé, Emma has to now figure out who she is and what she wants, while trying to protect the ones she loves.

Who is her one true love? What does it mean to love truly?

Emma knows she has to listen to her heart. She’s just not sure what it’s saying.

When I read Taylor Jenkins Reid’s debut, Forever, Interrupted in 2013 I knew she was going to become a favourite author. Three years and three books later, TJR is still blowing me away with her ingenuity and storytelling ability. One True Loves is a beautiful, unique, honest, heartbreaking, but ultimately hopeful story about true love, family, loss, and finding the strength to continue living even when your whole world is ripped away from you.

Jenkins Reid has this amazing ability to take a story that should seem unrealistic and make it completely believable. One True Loves is no exception. I was hooked from the first page, and I felt like I went on an emotional roller coaster by Emma’s side. I enjoyed watching her fall in love with Jesse, grieved with her when she lost him, and felt so much pride when she slowly started growing stronger and living again, especially when she opened her heart to Sam. It was interesting to see Emma at different stages in her life and to essentially watch her grow up over the course of several years. And did she ever grow. Just thinking about all she went through makes me tear up and it also makes me proud because she felt like a real person and her struggles and triumphs rang so true.

As with TJR’s other books, One True Loves is a love story in every sense of the word. I loved Emma’s relationship with her family and how it evolved realistically over the years. Emma’s relationships with Jesse and Sam were both enjoyable to read and made me run the gamut of emotions. And, like with TJR’s other books, this one made me think about life, family, love, what true love really means, and how we change over the years in big ways and small.

One True Loves is another beautiful book from Taylor Jenkins Reid. It’s an emotional journey that will put your heart through the wringer but also patch it back up. I think this book will be very healing for people who have suffered or are suffering from grief. As emotional and bittersweet as it is, it’s also hopeful and left me smiling through my tears.

{My review of Forever, Interrupted || My review of After I Do || My review of Maybe in Another Life}

Have you read One True Loves? What did you think? If you haven't read it, do you plan to? Have you read any of Taylor Jenkins Reid's other books?

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Review: Forever, Interrupted by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Forever, Interrupted by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Series: Standalone

Published: July 9th, 2013

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

352 pages (ARC)

Genre: Contemporary women’s fiction

Acquired this book: From Simon & Schuster Canada in exchange for an honest review

Warning: May contain spoilers

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Elsie Porter is an average twenty-something and yet what happens to her is anything but ordinary. On a rainy New Year’s Day, she heads out to pick up a pizza for one. She isn’t expecting to see anyone else in the shop, much less the adorable and charming Ben Ross. Their chemistry is instant and electric. Ben cannot even wait twenty-four hours before asking to see her again. Within weeks, the two are head over heels in love. By May, they’ve eloped.

Only nine days later, Ben is out riding his bike when he is hit by a truck and killed on impact. Elsie hears the sirens outside her apartment, but by the time she gets downstairs, he has already been whisked off to the emergency room. At the hospital, she must face Susan, the mother-in-law she has never met—and who doesn’t even know Elsie exists.

Interweaving Elsie and Ben’s charmed romance with Elsie and Susan’s healing process, Forever, Interrupted will remind you that there’s more than one way to find a happy ending.

 

 

I'll be honest: I was really wary when Simon and Schuster Canada contacted me and asked if I’d be interested in reading and reviewing Forever, Interrupted. In fact, I almost declined. I’m so, so glad I didn’t. Forever, Interrupted was not at all what I was expecting. I expected it to be really emotional and maybe even difficult to read, and while it was those things, it was also unexpectedly funny and charming, and almost disarming in the brutally honest way it portrayed grief.

Forever, Interrupted is told in an interesting, engaging way. It goes back and forth between the not-so-distant past - Elsie and Ben’s short courtship/romance - and the present - Elsie grieving over the loss of Ben and attempting to move on. Having gone through bereavement myself more than once, I found Elsie’s responses both realistic and poignant. I think Taylor Jenkins Reid made a really brave choice in her decision to make Elsie’s thoughts, responses, and reactions so brutally honest. Everyone grieves differently, but I related so much to Elsie’s whole grieving process. She said and thought things that people probably wouldn’t want to admit to saying or thinking while they’re grieving. That feeling of being swallowed by grief and how dare people have the audacity to smile or laugh or carry on living? How dare the world keep turning and the sun keep shining and lives continue on? It’s something that many people have been through and will probably be able to relate to. I loved that the author didn't sugarcoat it; grief isn't pretty, and she wasn't afraid to put it all out there. 

One of the things I loved best about this book was the humour. It was funny in a completely surprising, unexpected way. It really caught me off guard to be crying one moment and laughing the next. Some of it was unintentionally funny - Elsie’s responses to things that wouldn’t typically be funny, but were almost that ‘I know it shouldn’t be funny but it is it’ kind of thing. That levity was the best kind of surprise in such an emotional story.

I pretty much ran the gamut of emotions while reading Forever, Interrupted. There was the incredible sadness at the unfairness of Elsie’s situation, but there was also anger toward Ben’s mother, Susan, and Elsie’s own parents. Even while part of me understood Susan’s attitude, she made me so mad at first. I couldn’t imagine ever warming up to her, but I did. Her grief was as real as Elsie’s, and their interactions were alternately heartbreaking and heartwarming. Then there was the total swoon-factor provided by Ben. The fact that he was so utterly romantic was kind of bittersweet, knowing his fate, but it was also beautiful and had me sighing wistfully several times.

Forever, Interrupted was a love story in every sense of the word: romantic love, familial love, the love between friends. It was beautiful, touching, heartbreaking, engaging, funny, poignant, and romantic. It masterfully wove together the past and present in a way that kept me captivated from beginning to end. As of the time I’m posting this review, it’s been five months since I read Forever, Interrupted, and I still think about it regularly. If that doesn’t tell you that this book is worth reading, let me spell it out for you: this book is a must-read. Forever, Interrupted is a shining debut, and I’m eager to see what Taylor Jenkins Reid does in the future. 

 

 

Have you read Forever, Interrupted? What did you think? How do you feel about books that deal with loss and grief?

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