The story within these pages is as beautiful as the cover!

This is my second book by this author; The Woman In My Home was a fantastic thriller/suspense. I remember being in awe of Kerry Fisher’s ability to evoke an emotional response that left me gasping and frustrated. This general/woman’s fiction book was no different!

In short, this is a story about a woman who is at a crossroads in her life and benefits from time away from home. She learns to radiate vitality and joy as a result of changing her perspective on life.

Time and distance have that effect, don’t they?!

The star of this book is the story’s internal arc! I was in awe of Fisher’s ability to pen her characters’ metamorphosis, especially that of Beth. At first, I wanted to yell at her for allowing her circumstances to control her and for her response to them. However, I stuck with it and was rewarded. I watched Beth develop through the changes Fisher had planned for her and appreciated the opportunity to traverse an arc of my own and expand my emotional self-awareness. My feeling of indignation metamorphized, too, and I became more understanding and supportive. I love how Fisher was able to explore feeling through introspection.

The setting is a close second. What’s not to love about Rome, right? You’ll enjoy the vivid descriptions and Villa Alba, Beth’s home-away-from-home. I grabbed my notebook and recorded places that Beth had discovered so that I could discover them for myself one day; Coppede, Pizza Mincio, My Dog Sighs, and Giardino degli Aranci and the keyhole.

I appreciated the reminders to allow spontaneity a starring role, to try “un buon Cesanese” and a negroni sbagliato, to give myself space to relish the freedom of not having a specific destination and most importantly, to find beauty in the small things!

The humour was fantastic. I loved the references to “nanna knits from Marks & Spencer.”

I can’t wait for book two!

I was gifted this copy by Bookouture and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

This book transports you to Rome. The descriptions of places in the city were fantastic and made me want to drop everything and book a trip there. The development of the characters was a bit slow; I wanted to Beth to wake up and see what was going on around her. Overall, a nice story with fantastic location descriptors.

What a wonderful start to a new series. It took me to the streets or Rome. Superb writing from this author, a very eye catching cover, this book will go far, 5 stars. Blindingly excellent ... This book should come with a disclaimer as once you start reading you aren’t going to want to walk away.

After Beth’s husband informed her he was moving to Paris for a part of his job and maybe they should take a break Beth life changed. Encouraged by a work colleague Helen she finds an advertisement in “The Lady” for short stay accommodation in Rome. The house is quite near to the Vatican in an old an interesting area. After a few days Beth starts to explore Rome and all it has to offer. She makes friends with her amazing land lady Ronnie and her tenant Marina, who is old but still full of life and opinions. Beth’s husband visits her in Rome but fails to answer her questions about what happened to change their marriage.
I loved this book it has the most wonderful characters and a vivid description of all the places in Rome worth visiting.

Who wouldn’t want to escape to a peaceful and beautiful apartment in magical Rome, Italy? Beth made the spur of the moment decision to spend a few weeks in Rome following her husband’s declaration that he needed a break from their marriage. He thought she was boring; what a jerk!! I would have left him in a heartbeat with a sassy wink and a nonchalant wave. Upon arriving in Rome she met her hostess Ronnie, and her best friend Marina. They were like much older, big sisters to Beth who offered her advice, wisdom and weekly challenges so she could find who she really was inside, besides a dutiful wife and doting mother.

I could understand Beth being a bit hesitant about venturing out alone, but she soon fell in love with all that Rome had to offer. Romance was the last thing she was thinking about but when she met Rico, a handsome and much younger singer, he quickly swept her off her feet with his kindness and infectious personality. Beth was at a loss at what to do because her feelings for Rico only got stronger as they spent more time together, which only added to her confusion. Should Beth even try to hold onto her weakened marriage or would she embrace the new woman she had become and take a chance on a new life filled with adventure and new beginnings?

Beth drops her only child off and college and then her husband of 24 years drops the bomb that he needs some space (and already has plans to move abroad for a time for work). The poor woman is all alone and has no idea who she is anymore. She goes in search of an escape, answering a magazine ad that promises to help her rediscover herself, find joy, and live life to the fullest, so she does it. Mostly to show her husband she's not the boring person he thinks she is.

But off she goes on a journey to discover herself and to find joy. The two women at the Italian villa are in their 70s, full of life's wisdom, and equally full of sass (especially in Marina's case). The interactions between these three women was delightful and Beth's slow roaming around the City of Love made this a really enjoyable read.

3.5 ⭐ This story had some wonderful characters, and it was a joy to discover Rome through Beth's eyes. I was a little disappointed in the main character. It's hard to feel sympathy for a character who lets herself be a doormat, and while we see tiny glimpses of growth throughout the story, it didn't feel like enough for the way things ended. I loved Veronica and Marina as the two (wise) old ladies at the Italian villa that helped guide Beth in this journey. Rico was another gem here. What's not to love about a handsome Italian musician wanting to make your life a little more musical?

[Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the eARC!]

I think this is a perfect summer book. Great pacing, with a middle aged main character on a self growth journey, and the setting is beyond gorgeous. I do wish the growth happened earlier, as Beth was a bit too sad too often in the first half of the story, but I guess it feels more organic this way.

What a gorgeous gorgeous book! I read it in only a few sittings and I am so happy it's going to be part of a series. Great cast of characters beautiful scenery what more could a reader want. I love books were women rediscover themselves and this was the perfect choice! Highly recommend