Jenn Park has a nose. I mean, most of us have noses, but Jenn has a particularly fine sense of smell which is exactly what she needs in her job as a successful wine taster. Her boss, Filippo, has sent her to the hills of Veneto in Italy in her first solo gig as a buyer. Her tasks is to get an in with the producers of prosecco wine and make a deal so that their wine’s can be stocked in the hotel’s locations around the world.

The only problem is her nose is very sensitive. And bubbles are something that doesn’t agree with her, causing her senses to explode. She therefore doesn’t like tasting prosseco. She also is great at tasting, but she is something of a lightweight when it comes to drinking. She also doesn’t have a drivers licence which is going to be a problem getting around the various wineries she needs to visit. She was never going to tell Filippo that though, given that she has had an unrequited crush on him for a long time.

Jenn is booked into stay in an old farm house where Tiziano lives in a converted out-building, helping out his Nonna as she needs, as well as numerous other friends and family. Tiziano gives every impression of being a bit of a layabout. He lives in his grandmother's barn, spends his time doing a bit of farming, a bit of fishing, a bit of this and that. But Tiziano isn't exactly what he seems. He has secrets from his past that still continue to impact him.

Jenn tries to bulldoze her way into the various wineries in the area, Tiziano tries to show her the way of the locals, the importance of relationships, of understanding the history and the traditions of the town, and of the vineyards.

After initially being resistant to her surroundings and to Tiz, uptight Jenn begins to loosen up, with Tiz by her side in various situations, often secretly shielding her from the things that trigger her, and yet fully respecting who she is. They both know that Jenn is going to need to go back to her life in London, so they have a limited time together, but it could be that this short time is going to prove to be a catalyst for them to both move on in their lives. The question is, will they move forward together or separately.

I have to say I loved Tiziano. When you read a fair amount of romance novels, you begin to think that a lot of male love interests are somewhat cookie-cutter. They are always tall and muscular, with great abs/pecs yada yada. Tiz is somewhat wirey, with a tongue piercing, a sparkle in his eye and a bit of a mischievous attitude.

Last year I read Leonie Mack’s Twenty One Nights in Paris. I was impressed with her sense of place, the way she described Paris. Now, she has turned her focus to the vineyards of Veneto and once again she took us right there. There are the hills covered in vines, the river, the food, the people and a lot of interesting information about the production of both prosecco and grappa and I found it all fascinating. For example, did you know that there is a type of prosecco which has a lower fizz factor? We also get Jenn's tasting notes for some of the wine throughout the book

I wonder where Leonie Mack is going to take us next? Wherever it is, I will be joining her through the pages of her book.

Rating 4.5/5

🎵IT'S ME, HI, I'M THE PROBLEM, IT'S ME🎵. A Taste Of Italian Sunshine written by Leonie Mack was <b>NOT</b> for me. I'm so sad to say I didn't love this book, which is disappointing because it takes place in my favorite country, I was so excited to get my hands on this beautiful book, the cover is so cute, but it just didn't work for me. The story was slow, I wasn't really getting hooked on the author's writing style, I felt no connection to any of the characters, nothing really happened until the end of the book when one of the characters started growing out of her shell. I'm not really sure how to share my thoughts for this book, so just bear with me. Every time I felt myself drifting off to sleep, I put the book down for a while, but when I went to pick it back up, it was like drifting off to sleep all over again. This book <b>COULD HAVE</b> had potential, but it wasn't there for me. The chapters weren't even that long, but it took me over an hour sometimes to get through twelve pages, which is a bummer because I thought I was going to love this book. Before picking up this book, I saw so many bright and wonderful reviews, I don't know maybe I should have went in with lower expectations. Don't let this review stop you from picking up this book, but it just wasn't for me.

THANK YOU TO NETGALLEY AND BOLDWOOD BOOKS FOR AN ARC OF THIS BOOK IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW!!!!!!

First off, I'd like to thank my gorgeous BBB, Cecelia for buddy reading A Taste Of Italian Sunshine with me, I'm sorry we didn't love this book as much as we planned to😭. Love you too pieces💓.

Jenn and Tiziano are so different from each other, but you know what they say, opposites attract. Jenn has always insisted on being a city girl, she wants easy access to good coffee, great food from around the world, not to mention an easy commute. Jenn's job takes her to one of the most famous Italian wine regions in search of the perfect Prosecco. Jenn is so not ready to travel to meetings on a tractor, it's a complete shock for her. When Jenn arrives in Italy she has no clue what to do, she won't talk to anyone because she's too shy, she freaks out when there's no WIFI where she's staying. Let me just say one thing, Tiziano made me laugh so much, he was so hot, like this man had a tongue piercing, WOWZERS! Tiziano absolutely hates the city, he was made for the mountains and wine yards of Veneto. Generations of his family have earned their living from the land. The way Tiziano introduced himself to Jenn had me cackling. A Taste Of Italian Sunshine was okay, but I didn't love it. I feel like Jenn spent too much time hiding in her shell when everyone else wanted to get to know her.

My goodness, what a wonderfully drawn setting – Jenn might have been a bit of a fish out of water, a wine expert staying at an unexpectedly rural agriturismo among the vineyards of Veneto, trying to overcome her aversion to prosecco’s bubbles and secure the contracts to supply the hotel chain she works for, but I loved every moment of my stay. The author’s research really shines through – the community whose living is provided by the land, the detail about production, an introduction to grappa, the wine notes that punctuate the story – and the whole book had the feel of sun on your back and the many attractions of a simpler way of life.

And the book’s main characters and the relationship central to this lovely story were perfectly handled too. It’s difficult to like Jenn at first, very much the city girl – the loss of her driving licence means she’s dependent on unreliable public transport to get around, but that’s sometimes preferable to being perched in the cab of Tiziano’s tractor (even if it is a Lamborghini…). And she finds his proximity a little unsettling – his happy-go-lucky approach to life, the jokes and banter (so well written), his piercings and tattoos. But there’s a lot more to him than the carefree country boy with no responsibilities – and the author allows us to gradually find out his story, as we also see Jenn loosening up a little and revealing some of her own back story.

This book has some of the best use of dual point-of-view I’ve come across, along with some excellent character development. Unsympathetic – even dislikable – at first, knowing more about Jenn’s background and seeing her relax into the experience made her a much more nuanced character than she at first appeared. Tiziano, of course, is always likeable – a bit labrador puppy at times, but certainly hot and fanciable – but he has depth to his character and layers of sadness in his past that are largely unexpected.

Their developing relationship is something very special indeed – through all their exchanges, you can really feel the growing attraction, and their romance was one I entirely believed in. And that’s really helped by that dual point-of-view – sharing their separate thoughts and insecurities, creating so much engagement with them both, and building hopes for an unlikely happy ending. And do they have one? Well, all I can say is that my heart was in my mouth at the book’s climax – and that ending couldn’t have been more emotional and perfectly judged if I’d written it myself.

The wider characterisation is excellent too – Jenn’s boss, the man of her dreams, might prove to be something of a disappointment, but Nonna who runs the agroturismo totally won my heart, and the whole wider wine-growing community with their shared heritage and continuity of the seasons was just superbly drawn. The small Italian touches are lovely – yes, of course, all the food and drink, the special tastes and smells, the vistas across the vineyards, but one specific I really loved was the whole concept of “magari” (hope and fear and lots of…maybe) in its various contexts. And the writing, excellent throughout, is sometimes quite beautiful – at one point Jenn says Tiziano “smelled like the opposite of loneliness”, and it honestly brought a tear to my eye.

I’ve enjoyed every book the author has written – but this one really was particularly special. If you enjoy the same books that I do, it’s a romance to remember that I’d highly recommend you add to your summer reading list, and promise you won’t be disappointed.

A delicious summery read full of the warmth of Italian sunshine. Jenn ,a "nose" for a prestigious corporate group of hotels, is sent to Italy to source the best prosecco but her trip gets off to an unpropitious start as she's lost her driving licence following one speeding ticket too many. Too proud to tell her boss (on whom she has a crush) she ends up being reliant upon the grandson of her host, who offers various modes of transport,mostly his tractor.
He is a real slow burn of a hero as on first glance he falls short of one's typical romantic lead..though he does have hidden sorrows and passions that gradually come to the fore. City girl meets country man and something's got to give...worth sticking around to find out!

Perfect summer read!

I have now read several books by Leonie Mack and loved them all. They are perfect for a light escape on that lounge chair in your garden, on the beach, or even at the fireside if it's cold. A Taste of Italian Sunshine gives you the hunky guy with his own secret demons, the gorgeous strong heroine who shows character and grit, and the beautiful Italian countryside, along with delicious details about Prosecco which just make you want to raise your glass. Highly recommended.

Thank you to the publisher who lent me a time-constrained e-arc via Netgalley. This review is optional and my own opinion.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me an advanced copy of A Taste of Italian Sunshine by Leonie Mack.

A Taste of Italian Sunshine brings uptight, but successful wine buyer Jenn to Italy's Prosecco hills and into the orbit of laidback Tiziano. She's arrived in the vineyards of Veneto to find the perfect vintages for her employer's posh hotel group. But the community of producers require a little more than a business-minded meeting and a handshake to close the deal.

Luckily, Tiziano teaches Jenn the way of building trust with the locals...and maybe show her a different side of life while he's at it. Under the rays of the summer sun, Jenn and Tiziano start to see each other in a new light. But can a simple country boy and a cautious city girl ever work out once the summer ends?

This is my first book by Leonie Mack and a great introduction to this author. I'm excited to continue reading her backlist.

Disclosures: I am online mutuals with the author

CW: On-page discussion of the death of a family member, depictions of toxic family dynamics

This book really is a taste of sunshine Italy, you can feel the aromas, the flavors and feel the beauty of the Italian country side
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I grew up with a Nonna and I know what I'm talking about it was a little piece of Italy to savor and dream about while these two characters meet and put their hearts together again
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Jenn Park is a young professional wine tester who is in charge of getting the best bottles of prosseco for her boss
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But when she arrive in Veneto and see the agriturismo with her own eyes, she must leave everything she think to know and taste with all her senses . Totally clueless, introverted and lonely Jenn must open up to others and ask for help when she needs it, even if it's her landlady's handsome tractor driver grandson who does nothing but point out her mistakes and introduce her to local people
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Between flavors and beautifully described landscapes, Jenn gets to know the townspeople, the local workers while discovering that there is more to Titziano than a farm man who hates the city
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I enjoyed this book trip to Italy, the beautiful and heartwarming story of Tiziano and Jenn. This is my second book by Leonie Mack and I can assure you that one falls in love with both the characters and the place in every page
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Thanks to Leonie Mack and Boldwood Books for give me a copy of this beautiful book in exchange for my honest and voluntary opinion

You can almost imagine yourself sitting in the Italian Sunshine whilst reading this book. Full of warmth and relatable characters.

The first thing that drew me in was the Italian countryside setting. I love being transported to a beautiful location. I appreciate Mack’s research efforts and attention to detail.

Jenn is a wine buyer with a secret weapon, her nose. She travels to Italy for work where she meets the charming farmer Tiziano and his grandmother Nonna. I enjoyed the funny and playful banter. Though, the romance did seem to take a backseat to the wine.

At times, the writing felt clunky. Never thought I’d say this, but there is too much focus on the wine. While I appreciated the tasting reviews, they were more of a distraction and took me out of the story.

Overall, the book had many beautiful moments and I learned a thing or two about wine. Leonie Mack is a new author to me, and I look forward to reading more of her work.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Boldwood Books, and Leonie Mack for the gifted ARC.

I was super excited to receive an ARC of this book but it unfortunately wasn't for me. I thought I would love the setting, the wine knowledge and the characters but unfortunately all of the wine and Italian terminology made this a bit difficult for me to read.
As far as our main characters go I was not impressed with them until about the 50% mark of the book. Tiziano is not my typical MMC interest but you grow to love him and his charm. I really loved his family and their dynamics as well. However, this ARC took me a lot longer to read than I wish to admit and the ending felt a bit rushed and abrupt.
I do think others would enjoy this however. I just can't say that I did unfortunately.

Sometimes, the setting of a novel can be more alluring than the characters themselves. Italy's Veneto region, known for its wine and delectable cuisine, is a dream destination for many. That's why I was eager to read A Taste of Italian Sunshine. However, the plot seemed to drag on like an endless summer afternoon. The characters - a British wine buyer and an Italian farmer - had potential, but the "opposites attract" trope fell short of my expectations. I wished the setting would have matched the caliber of the characters, but unfortunately, it did not.

This was a lovely story. Set in Italy. I loved the Prosecco descriptions at the beginning of each chapter. But it was a slow read till half way through when it improved. The two main characters both had issues . Jenn was half Korean and considering she was a wine taster she had some funny secrets. She was a stubborn character at times . Tiziano was was also hot headed at times and also not what he seemed. The ending was perfect and neat.

Enjoyed this tale of Jenn and her love interest Tiziano, set amongst the beautiful countryside and vineyards of Italy. At first Jenn is well out of her comfort zone, but as she gets used to the people and beautiful backdrop she has found herself in, she warms to it, especially with Tiziano the loveable rogue of a farmer to amuse her

Enjoyed reading this! Loved the detail of the places in Italy, felt like I could picture it. Appreciate the depth and complexity of the characters. Would recommend!

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

I absolutely loved reading this book.
I felt as if I was in Italy, the setting, characters, everything was so well written.

Jenn has gone to hopefully get a contract for her boss, in the Prosecco Hills, where she meets Tiziano on a tractor.

I loved the other characters and it had some fun parts as well as those that brought tears.

I highly recommend this book.

3.5 rounded up to 4 stars. I really enjoyed the beginning of this book. The author does an amazing job setting the scene in beautiful Italy. I could taste the wine and food just from reading the pages! She describes all things Italy beautifully and I loved all the Italian language throughout, I did have to google a bunch though. I kind of got lost in the middle as it got pretty boring and I was waiting for some hot and heavy romance! Overall I really enjoyed this book but wished for more romance. If you love Italy and wine be sure to read this book.

This story was so sweet and heartwarming. The amount of research that went into this book is obvious from the language and dialect used to the many types of wines. It was the perfect read before my upcoming trip to Italy next month.
I loved Tiziano - from the multiple nicknames he called Jenn, to his piercings and golden retriever personality, sense of humor, flirting lines, his troubled past, everything.
I loved how the community was described, how much research went into the many types of wine, how the plot was built - the drama at the end did not feel cliche at all and the grand gesture was so romantic and genuine.
The only thing I did not like that much was that at times, the switch in POVs felt a bit confusing, so maybe just mentioning in the chapter title whose POV is going to be, would be useful.
This is a perfect summer read which will definitely make you fall in love with Italy, and it will give you a severe Prosecco craving.
So thankful to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for giving me the opportunity to read the ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

Absolutely are this novel up—or should I say drank it up like a crisp Prosecco. Loved the description of Jen’s career, her detail about the Italian countryside. And the romance between jen and Titsiano was so lovely

This was a great book, the descriptions of Italy were so amazing, I could almost smell the vines growing, taste the wine and feel the heat on me. I really enjoyed the characters, the warmth of the relationship and how Jenn grew as a person.
I particularly liked the story unfolding and loved that there were no cliches in this book.
Thank you NetGalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

So as I’m writing this, I also have five tabs open on my computer planning my vacation to Valdobbiadene, and the vineyards of Veneto, Italy!
Leonie Mack’s enchanting descriptions of the farmlands in the Veneto countryside brought everything to life- I was completely immersed in this book, devouring all of the details of the wine, prosecco, grappa and friendship.
This book also had one of my favorite tropes, city girl meets country boy- the country boy being Tiziano, a swoon-worthy tall Italian guy that is also humble and makes you root for him. The magnetic attraction between him and Jenn builds up throughout the book which makes it impossible to put down since you want to find out what happens in the end! I love when two characters have something more to offer each other than just attraction- and Mack is a master at building that!
On another note- the author went into such detail with the different types of prosecco and their undertones that I almost felt as if I became an amateur wine connoisseur by the end of the book! Just be ready to grab a glass of prosecco, get a comfy chair, and be taken away to the Italian countryside with this book!