One Summer In Italy by Sue Moorcroft

 

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Avon; ePub edition edition (17 May 2018)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0008260044
• ISBN-13: 978-0008260040

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Synopsis

When Sofia Bianchi’s father Aldo dies, it makes her stop and look at things afresh. Having been his carer for so many years, she knows it’s time for her to live her own life – and to fulfil some promises she made to Aldo in his final days.

So there’s nothing for it but to escape to Italy’s Umbrian mountains where, tucked away in a sleepy Italian village, lie plenty of family secrets waiting to be discovered. There, Sofia also finds Amy who is desperately trying to find her way in life after discovering her dad isn’t her biological father.

Sofia sets about helping Amy through this difficult time, but it’s the handsome Levi who proves to be the biggest distraction for Sofia, as her new life starts to take off…

 

Review

One Summer in Italy is one of those books that you just know will bring a smile to your face.  Sofia has cared for her father for half her life and after his death, she has to fulfil her promise to him and live her life and do the things she never had a chance to do.  For the main part the book is set in the beautiful Umbrian mountains of Italy.  There she meets Amy, who has run away after a family argument and the mysterious and handsome Levi.    Italy, romance and a bit if trouble make the perfect summer romance for your holidays.

I really enjoyed Sue Moorcroft’s characterisation, she shows a great understanding of the human psyche and relationships.  Sofia, has spent most of her life carrying for her father, giving up on the life most young women lead.  Now, at the age of thirty, she has the chance to travel, go out, maybe consider going to university and find love.  Caring is obviously in her nature, and not an easy quality to escape from, and she soon finds herself taking Amy under her wing, like a surrogate older sister; she even puts her plans on hold to be there for Amy.  Amy has run away from home after a shocking revelation from her mother.  I really admired her tenacity at traveling to Italy, taking a job and trying to stand on her own two feet.  However, she still has many of the traits of a typical teenager; moody, stubborn, selfish at times, impulsive and not always thinking of others. Levi brings out a passionate side to the caring Sofia, she is willing to break the rules for him; you can almost feel the electricity between these two.

The Italian setting is beautiful, and Sue Moorcroft really brings the beauty of Umbria to life; the heat of the sun, the beautiful mountains; the smell of the flowers, especially the lavender and the wonderful food and drink.  This backdrop is the stage for Sofia’s journey of self discovery, and the search for her father’s family as she deals with the past and her future.

One Summer in Italy is pure escapism.  The character’s and their problems will draw you in, the setting is a feast for the senses, and the story is fabulous; not everything is life is wonderful in the sun.   A fabulous read, perfect for those lazy days in the sun.

Thank you for reading my review of One Summer in Italy by Sue Moorcroft.  I hope I have inspired you to read this book and that you enjoy it as much as I did.  A really appreciate all your comments, likes and shares.