Hi there!
Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.
Today, we're playing host to a stop along Rachel's Random Resources tour for a Contemporary Romance that's set to whisk you away to the magnificent Tuscan countryside. We're talking family heritage, history, potential inheritance, and the possibility of "a leopard changing its spots"...with beautiful scenery, gorgeous architecture, and wonderful food to boot. Hey, a girl likes what a girl likes...so without further ado, let's get this show on the road! Ladies and gents, today's ebook of choice is...
by
Kate Zarelli
eXtasy Books Inc
About the book...
This was no cold marble—this was a man! Antonia goes to Tuscany to rebuild her life. The last thing she wants to do is fall in love, least of all with rich, arrogant, aristocratic Lorenzo.
Librarian Antonia Gray has fled England for northern Tuscany after an unhappy love affair to work on the archive of a 17th century Italian explorer, a member of a centuries-old aristocratic family. There she meets his descendent, Lorenzo Quattromani, rich, arrogant, handsome—and engaged to the beautiful and ruthless Giselle. The last thing Antonia wants is to fall in love, least of all with someone so dangerous. His engagement, though, is not what it seems, and Lorenzo breaks down Antonia’s resistance. But Giselle has other ideas.
This was no cold marble—this was a man! Antonia goes to Tuscany to rebuild her life. The last thing she wants to do is fall in love, least of all with rich, arrogant, aristocratic Lorenzo.
Librarian Antonia Gray has fled England for northern Tuscany after an unhappy love affair to work on the archive of a 17th century Italian explorer, a member of a centuries-old aristocratic family. There she meets his descendent, Lorenzo Quattromani, rich, arrogant, handsome—and engaged to the beautiful and ruthless Giselle. The last thing Antonia wants is to fall in love, least of all with someone so dangerous. His engagement, though, is not what it seems, and Lorenzo breaks down Antonia’s resistance. But Giselle has other ideas.
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Once upon a time, there was a girl...a librarian to be precise. She lived in England, had her life on track, and was perfectly content in her innocent little world...until the big, bad, ugly event occurred that threw a rock at her crystal world, shattering it to pieces unrecognizable from before. In truth, she was saved from a life that would have been twice as bad, but in practice, she still had a broken heart, broken trust, and a life that needed rebuilding. Enter the next perfect opportunity, a job in Tuscany. Beautiful scenery, beautiful people, and a change of pace from her current predicament. She scored big with the Countess, who seemingly doesn't like anyone, but I found more particular than rude. The friendship they built was just what she needed to start over, and everything seemed right as rain, until her nephew arrives with his fiancé in tow. No problem, they're just family...unwelcome, and self important, but related nonetheless. What would Antonia have to worry about? What indeed...
Our girl Antonia was a gem. Innocent, but with fire. A wealth of knowledge in her field, yet unlearned in many areas of life...part of which she got an unfortunate lesson in before arriving in her new home away from home. She knows her strengths and is learning the others she possesses in the eyes of the beholder. The Countess, I was quite fond of. Though some cast her in a harsher light, I felt she was very strong, knowing who she was, able to face her family history as well as its current state with a raised chin, yet not against altering her opinions when the time was right. Luigi (the butler) was even quite the interesting fellow, though we obviously don't get to know him THAT well, I got the impression he was much more family than some of the members.
The only ones I didn't really care for were George (who shall not be mentioned other than by name at this moment) the ex, Giselle the fiancé, and Lorenzo himself. Giselle was an out and out cold-hearted, came from money but only likes money, word that starts with a "b". She went through the motions because it looked good not because she actually felt anything...unless it was to tear love asunder when it was actually found. Lorenzo, I just couldn't take seriously. After his initial "introduction", he never really redeemed himself in my eyes...on a personal level, I mean. Familial wise, I did see his desire to actually be involved and make amends, so I could respect him on that front...just not the other. Story wise, it had potential; I'm just not certain it lived up to all it could be.
Okay, all that being said, there's definitely a few things I need to lay on the line.
First, I really wasn't a fan of the cover...other than the scenery. In my opinion (because really, that's what we're dealing with here), her dress is a bit short for the character being portrayed and her character, and he looks like a playboy whose full of himself...oh wait. He is...well still, he seems a lot more swarmy there than described in the book. SECOND, the way the "romance" came about. I mean THAT meet cute was anything but cute, let alone a "meeting" in any true sense of the word. In fact had it been myself, he probably would have been doubled over in pain on his way out. THIRD, we're back to that sense of romance and story building. I quite literally was sitting there going...WAIT, what?!? Love. How? When? HOW?! Don't get me wrong, I wasn't unhappy for the characters, she needed something "good" in her life and he definitely needed a change of well, EVERYTHING, but there was something missing to connect point A to point B.
In the end, it won't be for everyone, but that doesn't mean it's not for you. Do you dream of a Tuscan escape? Okay then, here you go...the descriptions of the land, the people, and the places therein are certainly attention grabbing. The ever-after definitely had a touch of sweet, both for the potential couple and their unique situation...and I did truly like the arrival of the "surprise guest" towards the end. It's the middle that kind of has me in knots, but one persons uber-awesome-read-of-the-century is not always another. I say if it grabbed your attention, give it a go! You'll never know unless you try.
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About the author....
Kate Zarrelli is the romance and erotica pen-name of Katherine Mezzacappa. Kate is Irish but now lives in Carrara in Northern Tuscany, between the Apuan Alps and the Tyrrhenian Sea, with her Italian husband and two teenage sons. She writes historical, erotic, feel-good and paranormal fiction, set all over Europe, and in her spare time volunteers with a used book charity of which she is a founder member. You can follow her on Facebook at Kate Zarrelli books or on Twitter @katmezzacappa.
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Special thanks to Rachel at Rachel's Random Resources for the chance to bring this reveal to you. (THANKS!) For more information on this title, the author, this promotion, or those on the horizon, feel free to click through the links provided above. Be sure to check out the rest of the tour as it makes its way through the blogosphere...
Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!
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