I requested this book because I was curious to read how the Lake Garda was represented and I can say the writer did a very good job.
On a general level and it's a pleasant and entertaining read, a feel good book that works wonderfully when you need some good escapism.
I liked the style of writing and I liked the characters.
I look forward to reading other books by this author.
Recommended!
Many thanks to Aria and Netgalley for this ARC

I really enjoyed this book, the story of two authors finding love while running a writing workshop on Lake Garda was engaging and well written. The setting was gorgeous and evocative and the characters believable. Thank you!

This has to be a dream book for a book lover, or anyone with any sorts of writing aspirations, or those who love Italy, or sexy heroes, or just an all around fabulous story.

I have no idea where to start in waxing lyrical about all aspects of this book, I really don't think I could fault anything.

I mean Brie is a romance writer that verges more towards the hot and steamy side of things, but her real life persona is a lot quieter, she is struggling after a rather high profile break up, to the extent her friends and family need to stage an intervention.

Throughout the book we get to know a lot about her writing process, and how the characters come to life in her head. She is writing two books at the same time, and gets involved in another one too, so that is a lot of Brie's fictional characters we get to know as she writes her books.

Thankfully, unlike some books where authors are the main characters, there isn't a full book within a book style approach here, which I am grateful of, as I always find it confusing, and besides hearing about the creative process was far more interesting to me.

The book really gets going when she takes over last minute as a teacher on a writing retreat for a month in Lake Garda, Italy. Such a stunning inspirational location, and the Villa which is so central to the story is owned by the rather more academic author Arran, who is not at all like Brie was imagining.

I loved getting to know the participants for the first week of the writing retreat, and also learning all about Arran too. Not to mention the gorgeous backdrop, interesting information about publishing from some of the workshops, plus Carrie - both Brie and Arran's agent, the Italian food, the couple of planned excursions.

And yet you may be thinking I'm portraying a rather simple book - but that couldn't be further from the truth as both Arran and Brie are complex characters, with all manner of things in their backgrounds that are influencing how they are.

Plus Arran is instrumental to so many of they key story lines. I couldn't get enough of our pair of authors, and was always eager to return, when real life dragged me away from the book.

Words... or at least my words can not do this book justice. You really need go read it for yourself to fully enjoy its wonderfulness!

Thank you to Netgalley and Aria for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

This is definitely a feel good book. Easy to read, hard to put down. Makes me want to go to Italy. Luckily I have been to Lake Garda, so I could easily envision where they were and there side trip to Verona. Loved the characters of Brie and Arran.

Thanks to netgalley for an early copy in return for an honest review
I felt this book lacked substance and direction safely not for me

A very sweet cosy romance. Brie and Aaran seemed to fit well together. Id be interested in reading more about the supporting characters.

I really enjoy Lucy's style of writing, it's quite formal in a way but at the same time really relatable. With this new one set in Italy it was so sunshiny and overall just really enjoyable and easy to read. This wasn't my overall favourite of Lucy's but it was still a nice read.

A simply beautiful love story about a woman who chose to live rather than exist. Because of that, she opened her heart and mind and in doing so, created a life far better than the love stories she writes about. I would read this many times.

I had been really looking forward to reading this book. But I just found it difficult to read from the word go. It was very long winded and I found it boring. It just wasn’t the book for me sadly