The author takes you on her own journey to Tuscany and the meals she had, recipes, and then to the man she met. Not that simple they cook together she enjoys the chocolate cake that he makes and as she thinks maybe she could stay she goes back home to America. Her friends tell her to go back to Tuscany and the man she met to give love a shot. Here you have a love story of two people but also the love of food and of travel. These are two people who met and are connected. A good book.

This was a cute story. The author paints a vivid picture of living in Tuscany. I loved the details on her daily life and the villagers.

This was a rather enjoyable memoir of an American woman falling in love with Tuscany, falling in love with an Italian chef, and then moving there. Recipes are included with the story, and there are many I'd like to try. This book does repeat itself at times and could use a good editor, which is why I cannot recommend that my library purchase this title.

This was a delightful and lovely story about Tuscany (which I love!). I appreciated the opportunity to receive a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher.

Thanks to NetGalley and Concierge Marketing, Inc. for an ARC of this book, which I voluntarily reviewed.

So many of us never act on our inner longings (maybe we aren’t even aware of them). Sheryl Ness discovered hers on a trip to Italy when she was in her 30s, divorced and a successful nurse manager in Minnesota. It took her a few years, but then she quit her job and followed that inner voice, without any real plan, to the tiny village of San Gusme in Tuscany. And that is where she finally found life, love, food and happiness.

Her memoir of that journey is a heart-felt picture of medieval San Gusme and the beautiful countryside, of the unique local characters and practices, of finding her future husband in the kitchen of his restaurant, and of course of the glorious food.

I found the first few chapters a bit confusing, switching back and forth in time without warning, but then the narrative settled into a steady path forward. I can’t say that the tale really sang to me as the living of it clearly sang to Sheryl, but the love story was charming. The many included recipes are indeed tempting, and I’ve already tried and savored a few of them.

The Author, who is from Minnesota, decided to take a trip to Tuscany with a friend and falls in love with Italy. Later she had the opportunity to work for a friend in the travel business, and moves back to Tuscany to the small town of San Gusme, not too far from Siena. Here Sheryl helps her friend with her travel business and also takes care of her friends daughters when needed. She falls in love with this quaint little town and its people and eventually with a local chef Vincenzo Giangiordano. This book was beautifully written with wonderful description of the local people and the goings on in the town of San Gusme. She is known as the “Americana” but once she has mastered the language a bit more and after she marries her Chef, they call her “The chef's wife.” everyone has a label.
It was a lot of fun to see how she assimilates into the culture of Italy. To see how she makes friends, who along with her, go on hikes, or travel to the near by towns and soak in the beauty of the area.
She has some wonderful adventures and some crazy experiences with Vincenzo's family, Lots of family members, lots of food and good times. At first she had to get used to the family dynamics, which were often different to what she was used to, but she ends up loving the whole crazy atmosphere.
This book is full of mouth watering recipes, if you like to cook. This is a story well worth reading, as she gives us a fun look at what it would be like to live in that area of the world.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Concierge Marketing Inc. for the ARC of this book

*sigh* I love books like these, true romance, foreign cultures (especially Italy, France and Spain!) and recipes....! I can't wait until my next trip to Europe! I do plan on touring Tuscany as I have read so many stories about it. This book doesn't disappoint, even though it overlaps some of what I already have read elsewhere, who cares! I don't mind reading it all again! This in a keeper that I will buy and keep on my shelf to be read again and again. Beautifully written tale about life and love in Tuscany, Italy.

Sorry never got round to reading the book it expired before i had the chance. which is a pity as i was looking forward to it

Great descriptions that make you feel as though you are there. The author can make even mundane, everyday experiences seem magical. There are also a load of good recipes.

This is a charming book that transports the reader to all the indulgence of Italy without the cost . This is truly enjoyable armchair travel. I wish this book would be made into a movie it is so wonderful.
This is remarkably different because it is a true story. A story of embracing the food, culture and love of a new country. The author has so well developed this lovely story that the reader is instantly involved in her story. As she falls in love with a Italian chef over his chocolate cake and then his family, the aromas, taste and culture of Italy are in the forefront of this remarkable story. The characters are pure Italian small town fun as each adds their own special brand of Italian culture to the story. The love story is sweet and not overdone. A very enjoyable read.

I received a ARC from the publisher for my honest opinion. I highly recommend this book.

I chose this book because I love Tuscany and I wasn't disappointed. While not a traditional author, the book was well written. I loved the
descriptions of the people, food, smells, customs, and sights of Italy. Her story was interesting and flowed very well. It has some awesome recipes that I will certainty try! Glad I went on a limb and tried her book!

I really enjoyed this book. The description of Tuscan were lovely and realistic (I'm Italian) and the recipes yummy.
It's recommended!
Many thanks to Netgalley and Concierge Marketing

A fun and tasty reading adventure. The story of Sheryl, a woman from Minnesota, who decides to visit Italy, and finds a warm and wonderful people. Meeting Vincenzo, a local chef, she also finds her soulmate, and they start their life together. I really enjoyed reading this story, and the recipes look delicious, and meeting the many people introduced to the reader. I like the idea that Sheryl's teacher gave of writing down a goal, and speaking about it to make it more real. I will have to try that. I usually read fiction, so this was a different read, but highly recommend this book and author. Hard to put down, and looking forward to getting the ingredients to make fig jam.

This is a heart warming book bursting with the sights, smells and tastes of Italy. The best thing is that it is based on real life experience and love. I liked Sheryl very much and all her family and friends, and her life in Italy is like a fairy tale for real people. It isn't bursting with adventure and drama, just passionate tastes, smells, friendships and dreams of a beautiful place far away. Thank you it was a lovely visit to a wonderful place and life.

The title attracted me to this delightful book, next was the mention of romance and then food! A truly lovely story of a woman’s journey to the love of her life. Her writing style was so mesmerising, her descriptions of the places she visited made me feel I was there. It was like reading a private diary sharing her most precious memories.
The recipes sound delicious, I hope to try some soon, especially the hot chocolate ‘love’ cake plus, many others. This is a inspirational story, telling us, you can do whatever you want, you just need to believe in yourself. Wonderful, a must read.

This book takes place in Tuscany and even though I've never been to Italy, I feel like i know a lot more about it than I did. Descriptives of the scenery, food, the love story ... what a beautiful written story!! Thank you for this complimentary copy from Concierge Marketing Inc through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I enjoyed this book. The descriptions of Tuscany were beautiful and evocative, and I could tell that the author had deep ties to the area. The recipes sound delicious, although the way they are formatted in the book makes them hard to read.

Thanks to Tuscan Dreams LLC and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A personal account of the author's travels to the Tuscan region of Italy with the subsequent falling in love and marrying an Italian Chef. The book is well written and descriptive evoking the flavours and aromas of Italy through it's food of the region. Also the descriptions of Tuscany do the area justice and there are plenty of travel tips of places and restaurants to visit plus producers of local produce. The book is interspersed with photos which are presented in a postcard form and recipes which are charmingly presented, handwritten as though torn from a notebook. The recipes are usually from the area and often in the originator's head, in particular a local woman's soup recipe, and would be adapted to fit around the seasons so ever fluid in their content which is how recipes develop. The recipes are also adapted for the American market with cups and things which outside Europe are a bit of a mystery. There is a little repetition in the book, for example, the layout of the restaurant where her husband was the chef, why the walls around this hilltop village are ruined in one place and not repaired to name a couple that come to mind. Overall an easy read and hope this book makes the shelves in the UK as I can think of a few people who would appreciate it.