As always a wonderful treat of a trip with Julie Caplin, this time to beautiful Italy!
I loved the suspense from the first page, wondering how the intrepid Lia would get on with her quest to find her real dad.
I enjoyed the conflict between Raph and Lia and the sparks that also fizzled too. An enemies to lovers is always a favourite romance trope of mine!
So many beautiful places we visited throughout the story and some wonderful characters too. It was amazing to watch Lia find her way both emotionally and with her art work in a place that she was born to love!
Entertaining with a sprinkling of uncertainty, kept this story flowing beautifully and had me craving a trip to the Italian coast.

Another lovely romantic novel by Julia, this time set in Italy. Great characters, lovely locations and delicious sounding food.

An excellent choice of book for a dull and damp day in Wiltshire.

If you love romance, and you love to travel, the Romantic Escapes series by Julie Caplin is definitely the book series you need in your life. A Villa with a View is set on the Amalfi coast and the warmth and scent of lemons practically jumps out of the pages as you read. I am a huge fan of armchair travel via the medium of books, and this is sheer perfection.

The characters of Lia and Raph had so many similarities, both completely focused on their careers, and both very much felt like the outsiders in their respective families. I really loved the way they tried not to like one another, because they both had a level of distrust caused by the situation they found themselves in.

I loved Ernesto’s slightly chaotic family, and his wonderfully welcoming wife Aurelia, who was a homely and caring person who was exactly what Lia needed while she navigated through her feelings about her old and her new families.

A Villa with a View is a fabulous Italian romantic escape that had me rooting for Lia and Raph from the moment they met in the book. With this romance in a beautiful setting, it is the perfect holiday read, and if you’re stuck in a grey and rainy location it will bring the sunshine to you.

I always enjoy this author's romantic escape stories, and this one evokes the glamorous Amalfi coast engagingly through its food, geography, and people. Lia wants to meet the father she didn't know she had. The fact he is a famous actor makes this problematic. Raph, his stepson, is also his gatekeeper, which forces Lia into proximity with this attractive but annoying man. The sensory descriptions mean you can almost feel the heat and taste the delicious ice cream. The romance is enemies-to-lovers, and Raph is the perfect grumpy to Lia's sunshine. However, family, fame and secrets are central to this story, and the multi-faceted characters make this engaging. I like the Italian setting, the romance and the storytelling.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

The writing was immersive and had me gripped from the beginning right through to the end. The level of detail of the surroundings was excellent and balanced well with the overall story. You got the feel of where the characters were well whilst still being able to focus on the main story.

The chapters were long and some were split (indicated by a line). This meant that you got a good chunk of the story before moving on. The split in the chapters gave the story a good pace and was able to deliver a fair amount of detail without it being overbearing on the reader. The splits also helped signal to the reader that time had moved on. This gave a sense of realism and grounded the story well.

There was also a good flow to the book which made it easy for me to read through.

The characters were excellent. I loved that there was obviously a main character (Lia), but we were also able to see things from Raph's point of view. This style certainly added emotion and suspense to the story. Little things kept popping up and continued the will they, won't they, throughout the book.

I also enjoyed the relationships that the supporting characters had. It was very family orientated and the messages of love and support shone through. Some characters had a harder time than others and it was nice to see that the support network was there.

Lastly the settings. They were well described and made me want to visit this part of Italy! It wasn't just the sights of the area that I loved reading about, but the food as well. It added something extra to the story which I enjoyed.

Overall a lovely book full of love, tasty sounding food and amazing surroundings! I highly recommend.

Cute Italian romantic romp

I think this is the first book I have read by Ms Caplin, but it surely won't be the last. It is lighthearted and romantic, but has some serious undertones about the meaning of family and issues of trust and truth. The setting in Italy and the Villa referred to in the title add to the delicious froth. This is a great book to read when escaping a power outage or while lazing by a beach or fire.

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

I love this series, and this was another lovely book from Julie Caplin, one of my favourite authors. It’s set in Italy which also happens to be one of my favourite book settings!
I loved Lia right from the start, but wasn’t at all keen on Raphael, although his brother Leo was lovely and helped Lia out a the start of the book. As the synopsis says Lia is in Italy to meet her real father, who’s she’s only just found out about, and she’s not in the mood to be stopped by Raphael. They have a few encounters, and although they appear to dislike each other intensely, their inner thoughts are telling another story.
I loved following Lia on her journey of discovery, it was a really heartwarming story. The setting was gorgeous, it made me want to book a holiday to Amalfi straight away, especially with all the rain and gales we’ve been having.
The romance was more of a slow burn, but felt like it was more natural, which made the story more believable and so more enjoyable. It definitely wasn’t instalove!
If you’re looking for a romance I definitely recommend this one. In fact as usual I recommend the whole Romantic Escapes series!

This book is part of Julie Caplin’s very enjoyable Romantic Escapes series, the stories in which are set in a range of different countries, with a cast of characters who often crop up in more than one story. In this book, the author transported me to the Amalfi coast of Italy, with its rugged countryside and picturesque fishing villages, as illustrated on the book’s bright cover.



The story centres on textile artist Lia Bathurst, who is spending the summer in the beautiful village of Positano. As well as looking for inspiration for a project she is working on, Lia is hoping to meet the man she has recently discovered is her biological father. It has come as a shock to her that her mother has kept his identity secret all these years. Unfortunately, her father, Ernesto, is a famous film star and Raph, his stepson and business manager, will not allow her to contact him. When it emerges that Ernesto may well be Lia’s father, Raph is still suspicious of her motives. Afraid that Lia might be a fortune hunter, Raph keeps close to her, but can he ignore the obvious attraction that develops between them?



I loved this well-written, will-they won’t-they romance, and expect other readers will also. The story is brimming with strong, interesting and mainly likeable characters and full of scenes evoking familiar tastes and vistas of Italy. I liked Lia, a very determined, inspiring heroine searching for her true origins. I also admired Raph for his loyalty to his stepfather, but found it hard to like him for the first portion of the book when he appeared arrogant and judgemental. His fun-loving brother, Leo, injected quite a bit of humour into the book, making him a likeable character, but there was an underlying seriousness to his personality. Someone I really liked was Raph’s mother, who ably ran a large household and cooked the most delicious-sounding meals with very little effort. This was an entertaining addition to this series; I’m already looking forward hopefully to a next book.

A Villa With A View is pure escapism, regardless of whether you read it in winter or summer. Set near Positano on Italy’s gorgeous Amalfi coast, this book makes it easy for readers to immerse themselves in the sun, sea and laid-back life that is so typical of that partof the world. Textile artist Lia Caplin is not just extremely talented in her chosen field, she is also modest about her achievements and genuine in her dealings with others. As the book opens, she has alsi just discovered that she is the daughter of A-List Hollywood actor Ernesto Salvatore courtesy of an affair he had with her mother when they were teenagers. It was so easy to imagine the hurt she felt at only discovering the truth because of a DNA test she took for a friend rather than being told by her mother. Added to that, her early attempts to contact Ernesto are thwarted by his stepson and financial manage Raphael Knight, whom Lia has labelled as Mr Extremely Unhelpful. While Raph was just doing his job and protecting Ernesto,I did think he could have been a little bit nicer to Lia in their early encounters, I couldn’t help but like him as his true character was revealed and who could fail to drool over tall, dark, handsome and extremely well toned? Definitely the man of many dreams! I particularly loved the way Raph and Lia sparked off each other in their verbal jousts. I also loved Ernesto’s family, particularly his gorgeous, affable and gracious wife Aurelia, who is just the sort of woman anybody would be thrilled to call mother. This book is feel-good from start to finish while also showcasing the local scenery, the oppulent Salvatore Villa and the way that despite their obvious wealth, this family still managed to behave like a normal, everyday family. The romance at the centre of the story was the icing on the cake.

Another lovely book in the Romantic Escapes series! Caplin’s writing always has a way of drawing you in and making you fall in love with her characters and the communities they build for themselves in beautiful European locales. Really looking forward to the next book in the series!

I enjoyed this fun escape to the Amalfi Coast!! When Lia does a home DNA test, she discovers she’s half-Italian, much to her surprise. She discovers that he’s a famous Italian actor. While trying to meet her father, his handsome business manager thwarts her at every turn. Undeterred she heads to the Amalfi Coast in Italy to try and meet up with him there.


I enjoyed the descriptions of the Amalfi Coast, as well as Aurelia’s delicious Italian food that she made. I also loved the descriptions of the fun, boisterous Salvatore family. It was harder to buy into the romance due to the trust issues, especially on Raph’s side. His mistrust of her was annoying, even though I could see where it came from. Overall it was a fun, beachy, romance set in the gorgeous Amalfi Coast in Italy. I could see myself sitting there on the coastline, enjoying the delicious food and the warm and friendly Salvatore family. I definitely want to read more of Julie Caplan’s stories.


Thanks to Rachel’s Random Resources, Netgalley, Harper Collins UK, and One More Chapter

Yet another wonderful book by Julie Caplin. With loveable characters and beautiful narratives making it a heart warming winter read. Julie's writing can easily transport you to the place she is writing about.

Although I was reading this book on a cold, wet day in the U.K. I was instantly swept into a book set in an Italian Summer. Just for a few hours I escaped into a much warmer and nicer place.
This book was so well written and had such vivid descriptions that I really imagined being there. I was sorry when I got to the end of the book.
I loved the setting and the characters, especially Lia. zi wanted her to have a happy ending This was a very enjoyable read.
Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for my ARC.

A Villa With A View by Julie Caplin

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

Escape to the Amalfi Coast and feel the warmth of the Italian sun on your face, hear the sound of the turquoise waves crashing on the beach and fall in love with a new enemies to lovers romance!

Lia Bathurst had always dreamed of escaping to the white sandy beaches and turquoise blue seas of the Amalfi coast – but that dream hadn’t included meeting her real father. A father she had never even known about until a few weeks ago! Yet here she was, standing outside the gates of a gorgeous pink villa being refused entry by the insufferable – and insufferably handsome – Raphael Knight, her father’s business manager.

When an old black and white photo proves Lia’s claim to be true, Raph is determined to make sure this stranger, with her long caramel waves and infectious smile, doesn’t have an ulterior motive. Even if that means not letting her out of his sight.

As temperatures rise, and not just from the heat of the Mediterranean sun, could Lia and Raph’s forced proximity lead to something more like… amore?

My Opinion

This is a series that can be read in any order. Whilst this is a series I am enjoying reading, the cover drew me and I knew that I had to it to my reading list. This was an easy read with some great descriptions - it will whisk you away to warmer weather. I can easily see this being a great summer or holiday read. I read over half of this book over the course of an evening, it was just so easy to keep turning the page.

Rating 4/5

this is a book that just screams summer and warm weather, and would be a perfect holiday read (i mean just look at the cover!), it made me very upset that the weather in the uk is so bad right now, the Italian summer vibes were everything and I cannot wait until the weather warms up and we get some sun again, or just a blue sky at this point i’m not picky i’ll take anything that isn’t rain 🌅

i loved the banter between the two characters but wasn’t a huge fan of the miscommunication between them, it’s a trope i never really find myself liking and i’ve found it only works in certain books without putting me off the relationship

to be completely truthful I did struggle to get into the book, but that is completely down to me and my reading slump and nothing to do with the story itself, it was an easy read once I started it, with characters that keep you engaged in the story. I will definitely be reading some of the author’s other books when it fits with the weather :’)

A Villa with a View is another captivating installment in the Romantic Escapes series.

Get ready to be swept off your feet with this charming romantic story. Julie knows how to transport her readers to whatever location her books are set in. This time, we get to go to the Amalfi Coast. I am always amazed at how masterfully Julie can bring a location to life with her writing. I felt like I was transported to the Amalfi Coast and was exploring this breathtaking place with Lia. This story immerses you, and you don’t want to leave. This book is chalked-full of lush and vivid descriptions, and the people and culture just come to life as you read the story. If that wasn’t amazing enough, this book also bursts with delicious food talk. We all know that Italy is known for its fantastic food, and Julie had my mouth watering with all the wonderful food descriptions she put into her book. There is also this theme around the importance of food and bringing people together. Food is meant to be enjoyed and savoured with those you love. Lia is also a textile artist and her passion for art leaps from the pages. You can visualize the pieces she is creating in your mind, and you just can’t help but be captivated by what she is making.
This story has all those wonderful characteristics that I have come to expect from Julie’s storytelling. When you read this book, you will get a warm and charming romance with authentic and relatable characters. This book has plenty of fluff and laughter, but Julie also shows her readers how complex families can be. Lia has travelled to the Amalfi Coast to meet her biological father. A man she didn’t know existed until she had done a DNA test a few months prior. Her mom tells her that she had a short relationship with Ernesto Salvatore (who is now a very famous actor) and that he is her father. Lia’s mother decided when Lia was a baby that it would be best if Ernesto weren’t in her life. Her mother’s decision hurts Lia, and is feeling like she doesn’t know where she belongs. I really loved how Julie handled this delicate family situation. Ernesto and his wife and children welcome Lia with open arms and hearts. There was none of that toxic drama or blaming others for what happened in the past. There is just warmth and happiness that comes from the Salvatore family. They are a crazy, loud, quirky group that just embraces life. I loved being with this family; they had me laughing at times, and I loved how they embraced Lia as one of their own. The whole family element of this book just captured my heart and was so charming.
Lia is a bit of a free spirit. She is delightful and a master at her craft. For most of this book, she is feeling untethered. She doesn’t know where she belongs. She feels like an outsider and doesn’t fit in with either of her families. It was great watching her build these new relationships with her father, step-mom, and step-siblings and learning to forgive her mom and step-dad. I just really like her character. She is a good person, and you can’t help but want great things for her. Raph was an interesting character. He had these two sides. One was VERY distrusting of anyone outside of his family, and the other was kind and sweet. For most of the book, Raph distrusts Lia and doesn’t believe that her motives for reconnecting with her father are pure. He thinks she is using her father’s vast movie star influence to help her career or looking for money. His distrust is the major conflict between these two and the main reason why the growing relationship between Raph and Lia is so rocky. As much as it is frustrating that Raph isn’t willing to trust Lia, as the story progresses, you start to understand why he is so hesitant to trust anyone.
The romance is sweet and slightly spicy. This is a great love story for anyone who loves vacation romances, forced proximity, meddling family members, enemies to lovers, opposites attract, and grumpy sunshine. Lia and Raph know right from the beginning that there is this attraction bubbling between them. The banter between these two for the first half of the book is sharp and prickly. They love keeping each other on their toes and doing things to get a rise out of the other. It is pure enemies to lovers' goodness.
A Villa with a View is a breathtaking vacation romance that has me wanting to pack my bags and fly to the Amalfi Coast.

I am a huge Julie Caplin fan and A Villa with a View didn't disappoint. I adored the Italian setting of Positano and at times I could feel like I was there too.

Tropes: enemies to lovers and grumpy sunshine.

I feel like this book had a little more spice than I'm used to from her other books.

This was an absolute joy to read and really brightened up this cold, wintery February. A wonderful romantic escape to the picturesque Amalfi coast.

4.5 stars ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Artist Lia suddenly find out that her dad isn't her biological father - who is actually an Italian film star. She travels to the Amalfi coast to try to meet him, only to be put off by his son, his business manager.
The author says in her acknowledgement at the end of the book that people keep saying that she should write "proper books". In my mind a book that makes you feel as if you are visiting sunny Italy (a real benefit sitting here in a dreary English winter as I write this), explores the complexities of modern family life with step children, half brothers etc and has an undercurrent of mutual attraction is a "real book". There are a couple of (not too explicit) spicy moments, but the emphasis is on the scenery and Lia's and Raph's highs and lows as their relationship develops. It does make you think about the pluses and minuses of being rich and recognised, not that I'll ever find out first hand. A lovely beach read or something to warm you up when it's cold and grey outside.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley, however this did not influence my review of the book.

It's downright cinematic in setting and pacing, and I mean that in the best way possible. Caplin's writing transports you to the Amalfi coast to a degree that you feel the sun and smell the food. Places, people, and food are written in a way that helps you have a clear vision of them. It makes reading a story set in a place you've never been to feel like a technicolor dream.
Every character is easy to connect with and you can empathize with where even unlikable characters are coming from. Lia and Raph are perfect together, with exquisite banter suffusing their every scene. The many Salvatore children were a bit too much at times, but they worked as a plot device to get Lia and Raph outside and looking for a quiet space, or even to add chaos to the quiet moments.
Overall, it's total escapist reading and I am 100% here for every single moment of it. My only selfish complaint is that I really liked Leo and it feels like we don't get enough of how his life is going to play out. Fingers crossed we get his story soon.

Massively happy thanks to NetGalley and One More Chapter for the delightful read!

What a good book! I was swept away to the Amalfi coast. It’s a beautifully descriptive book. You could taste the pasta and pizza. You could loose yourself on the beach or by the pool. It’s a really nice romantic story with great characters. You will wish you were there too.